Chapter 11

Chapter 11 \nVol 2: Chapter 11\n

The Earl’s residence is located in a high-end residential area, surrounded by incredibly long fences. Some say it is the “centre of the holy city,” but that’s not entirely accurate.

At the center of the holy city, is the “Holy Palace” housing the First Altar, and also where the Holy King resides.

Only a few people can enter the Holy Palace. Earl Sillys said he could only enter a few times a year (yet it is still quite a lot among the nobles).

Starting from the center of the city, 8 ring-like walls divide the city – named “1st Wall” to “8th Wall”. The 8th Wall is the outermost castle wall which prevents invasion of foreign enemies, but since many people gather in the holy city, many houses are built outside the 8th Wall.

The 1st Wall encircles the Holy Palace. Parliamentary Hall, various central government offices, and the State Church are located outside the 1st Wall. This area is where the Earl usually attends, which is called the First Holy District. The Holy Palace is located at the centre of the city, and since it is the first from there, it is called the “First Holy District”.

(It’s like Kasumigaseki in Japan.) [1. TL Note:”Kasumigaseki” is a district of Tokyo where most Japan’s government ministry offices are located.]

The “Holy City Central Church” is located outside the 2nd Wall, and this is said to be the largest and most religious site in the Holy City. The State Church is dedicated solely to nobles, as such it doesn’t seem to be that big. Well, in a country where skill orbs pop out of an altar, I suppose it makes sense to pray to God. The altar, where everyone wants to pray for a skill orb, is controlled strictly and not allowed access to.

Today, we are going to the banquet hall between 2nd Wall and 3rd Wall, near the Holy City Central Church in the Second Holy District. Since the Earl’s residence is in the same area, we don’t have to cross the walls. On a side note, the dormitory and the parade ground of the Holy King’s Knights Order are in the Third Holy District, and generally, only the wealthy can afford to live there. The district beyond that is called Block 4. You can guess the nobles’ sense of superiority from the name change.

It was also in Block 4 that I helped Earl Sillys. The Earl should have been home at that time, but why was he in Block 4? Well, he is in a line of work which incurs many people’s enmity, so I don’t think I even want to know the reason…

「Reiji, what’s the matter? You seem to be gloomy.」

「No, that’s not true…」

「What were you thinking?」

I had various thoughts, but the real reason was that I didn’t want to look directly at the young lady’s eyes. So, I was looking outside. I and the young lady sat across from each other in a space that is reasonably large but much smaller than a room. Even if the magic in the eyes doesn’t activate unless you gather mana, just looking at it gets my heart pumping. I am not really a lolicon and yet, how strange.

「Oh, I got it.」

「Your guess is wrong.」

「I haven’t said it yet!」

「I’m sure you were going to say, “reminiscing the past”, correct?」

「………」

「Bullseye.」\n

「That’s cheating!」

「If there is a cheat that can read other people’s minds, I’d like to have it too.」

Well, I guess the Earl’s “Magic Eye” is close to that.

I continued to have a silly conversation with the young lady, because I knew her heart was restless – like the mansion, which was also hung with a restless air. And because of her father, who rarely gives compliments. Even if people say that today is “special”, humans can’t understand until they actually experience it.

If she feels calm by talking to me, that’s fine.

(…I don’t know how long I would stay with her either.)

Earl Sillys is looking for the information I conditioned in the contract magic. I’m not sure whose information I will get first, whether Lark or Lulusha, but as soon as I do, I will have to leave the young lady.

「Have you gone through the list of today’s attendees, Reiji?」

「Oh, right. There was that too.」

I looked at the plant-based paper with a smooth feel. 22 people in all. The young lady’s name was written sixth from the top.

(The ones above her are…)

I checked the ones above the young lady to see if there were troublesome ones.

★ Holy Prince Kluvshrat

★ Duke House: Louis Rozier

★ Duke House: Ethan Ebene

☆ Marquis House: Charlotte Phrase

☆ Border Earl House: Mira Mule

Black star seems to be a boy and white star is a girl.

「I see.」\n「What do you see?」

「By looking at the name alone, I realized there is nothing much interesting.」

As I said honestly, the young lady waited for a moment, and then laughed out loud.

「My lady?」

「Ahahahahahaha! M-Mou, Reiji. Haha… You can’t say that out loud even if that’s what you’re thinking!」

「I see… but was it really that funny?」

「Of course! Because they are the children of the nobles at the center of this great country, and the first on the list is the Holy Prince–」

「Why did you stop?」

「………」

「?」

「…No, it’s nothing.」

The young lady waved off her hand and looked out the window.

I didn’t really understand what caused the young lady to change her mind.

「Hey, Reiji. Do you know?」

「What about?」

「I was complimented by my father today.」

「Yes, I know.」

「I am so happy!」

The young lady’s smile I saw was neither seductive nor the mysterious glow of her “Magic Eyes” — it was a pure and innocent bright smile.

For some mysterious reason, my heart skipped a beat.\n\nBut you know.

I suddenly realized at that time.

What I am aiming for is a society in which people wouldn’t have to humble themselves in the presence of nobles, just like Reiji. A society where everyone could live fairly and as equals.

But I was unknowingly bound by the “common sense” of noble society.

Reiji noticed and pointed it out with his attitude.

Then, I, as his lord, must also respond appropriately to Reiji.

「My lady, we seem to have arrived. I will get off first and escort you.」

「Yes, please.」

Reiji gets off the carriage so weightlessly, that it makes me wonder if he even has weight. Look, he doesn’t make a sound when his shoe touches the ground. It’s strange.

The evening sky is getting darker, and the stars are twinkling. Since it’s a new moon today, the darkness of the night is deeper than usual.

The outside of the carriage is the banquet hall – a place where a whole mansion is turned into the venue.

Candles are placed everywhere at the spot where carriages stop. The candles are warmer than a magic lamp, but it gives off a bright light.

Many carriages have already arrived, and the guard knights get down from their horses and wait for me to step out.

This is the first step.

My first step as a noble towards realizing a fair and equal society.

「Here, my lady.」

The very strange and very dependable escort, Reiji, holds out his hand to me.

I take that hand.

Not knowing that tonight would change everything.