Chapter 493: The Real Deal

Tauro and his party returned to Marquis Halagoura’s castle.

Although the strict inspection they underwent on entering the castle was a little surprising, tight control over who entered and left wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“Security is tight. If they’re this thorough even with a Saint’s entourage, outsiders probably couldn’t sneak in easily.”

Tauro was relieved that they hadn’t tried to bring Maria into the castle openly on their own.

If they had, she would likely have been subjected to intense scrutiny and perhaps even refused entry, especially since they had no explicit permission from Matilda or the Kingdom of Luwan delegation.

Soldiers of the Halagoura Marquisate, ostensibly serving as escorts, guided Tauro and the others to the room prepared for them.

At the strong insistence of the Kingdom of Luwan representatives, it had been designated a special suite.

Even so, all five members of Black-Gold Wings had been put in the same room, so the Halagoura side didn’t seem to regard them as especially important.

While they were remarking that this was still better than sleeping in a shared hall, a messenger from Marquis Donaissun arrived.

“Marquis Donaissun wishes to discuss something privately with Lord Tauro and his companions.”

The messenger delivered the message succinctly.

“I understand. If it’s all right for all five of us to attend, we’ll go at once.”

Tauro nodded, thinking the timing was perfect.

“Then I’ll inform him.”

The messenger bowed and quickly left.

“Ragune, open [Dimensional Corridor]. I want Maria-san to know that we’re ready to carry out the plan.”

At Tauro’s request, Ragune opened [Dimensional Corridor], traveled to the Van Dyne Marquisate, informed Maria of the plan, and had her prepare.

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

Marquis Donaissun’s voice came from beyond the door.

The room lay just outside Saint Matilda’s private chamber, and everyone concerned appeared to have already gathered.

Tauro and Aeris exchanged a nod, opened the door, and entered.

Inside were Saint Matilda, Marquis Donaissun, several of his aides, and a few escorting knights.

“Thank you for coming, Lord Tauro. Lady Aeris, please have a seat as well.”

Marquis Donaissun offered seats to Tauro and Aeris.

Ragune, Ankh, and Zion were treated as bodyguards and remained standing.

Once seated, Tauro got straight to the point.

“So, what did you want to discuss?”

“The truth is, the Saint has once again become unable to use [Blessing]. We were hoping the two of you could help us with the same… arrangement as before.”

Ignoring Matilda’s sulky expression, Marquis Donaissun asked for their cooperation.

“The interference here is on a completely different level from what we encountered in Duke Barriera’s territory. Aeris has confirmed it herself. It’s too powerful for even magic similar to her [Blessing] to overcome.”

Tauro deliberately phrased it as though Aeris’s magic merely resembled [Blessing], concealing the fact that she had actually acquired [Saint].

“So Aeris-san really can use [Blessing] too?”

Matilda asked with a note of certainty in her voice. She had probably sensed it herself during the previous Blessing Ceremony.

In fact, Aeris had awakened [Saint] without realizing it, placing her in the same category as Matilda and perhaps making her even more capable. For now, however, that remained a secret.

Tauro answered on Aeris’s behalf.

“Something like that. But just as Saint Matilda can’t use [Blessing] here, neither can Aeris. Something in this city is interfering with that kind of magic.”

“That kind of magic?”

Marquis Donaissun picked up on Tauro’s wording.

“Yes. An extremely powerful magical barrier seems to cover the entire capital. It opposes certain kinds of magic, so neither the Saint’s power nor Aeris’s similar magic can function properly here.”

“Then our invited Saint is going to be humiliated!”

Marquis Donaissun was outraged, unable to understand what Marquis Halagoura could be thinking.

“But if someone used magic stronger than the spell covering this capital, [Blessing] should activate without difficulty.”

Tauro shifted into negotiation mode.

“That’s impossible! I can feel how strongly this city’s magic resists my [Blessing]. There’s no way Lady Aeris could cast something stronger than this!”

Assuming Tauro meant that Aeris would perform the ceremony in her place, Matilda rejected the idea at once.

“Please calm down, Saint Matilda. I just said that Aeris can’t do it.”

Tauro answered gently.

“Then what are you suggesting?! Are you trying to humiliate me?!”

“Please calm down. Aeris has a mentor. That person can use a [Blessing] powerful enough to overcome the magic surrounding this city. If we coordinate properly, we can make it appear that you performed the [Blessing] yourself.”

“Lady Aeris’s mentor…?”

Marquis Donaissun raised an intrigued eyebrow.

“Wait. There’s no way anyone can use a [Blessing] greater than mine, is there? I’m the only Saint to have appeared in nearly a hundred years. I know Aeris-san can use similar magic, but someone even stronger than me? That’s impossible.”

Matilda’s objection was understandable.

At least, it would have been if Aeris’s mentor were an ordinary human rather than a dragonfolk [True Saint].

“Aeris’s mentor can do it. But I must ask everyone here to keep her existence confidential. If word got out, the Kingdom of Luwan would lose the diplomatic value of Saint Matilda’s rarity, and the attention would only be a nuisance to Aeris’s mentor. May I bring her in now?”

“She’s nearby? Lady Aeris’s mentor?”

Marquis Donaissun asked eagerly.

“Actually, she’s already waiting in the next room.”

Tauro smiled, then moved toward Matilda’s private chamber with Ragune.

“Lord Tauro, that’s Saint Matilda’s private room. Surely you’re joking?”

Marquis Donaissun seemed to think Tauro was teasing them.

“Please wait just a moment.”

Tauro closed the bedroom door behind himself and Ragune.

Ten seconds later, it opened again.

Tauro and Ragune emerged first.

Behind them came a radiant beauty who seemed bathed in divine light.

Her presence was so awe-inspiring and otherworldly that Marquis Donaissun, his aides, and the knights all fell silent.

Even Matilda was speechless.

For this deliberately dramatic entrance, Maria had activated several of her [True Saint] abilities in advance.