Chapter 493: The Real Deal
Tauro and his party returned to Marquis Haragura’s castle.
although I was taken aback by the strict inspection we were subjected to upon entering the castle, having strict entry and exit procedures is not necessarily a bad thing.
”Security is tight. If they’re this thorough even with a saint’s entourage, it’s likely outsiders wouldn’t have been able to sneak in.”
Tauro was relieved that they hadn’t tried to bring True Saint Maria into the castle through their own arrangement.
If they had, she likely would have been subjected to intense scrutiny and possibly denied entry—especially since they didn’t have explicit permission from the Saint and her companions.
Thus, Tauro and his group were guided by soldiers from the Haragura Marquisate—who claimed to be escorts—to the room prepared for their stay.
The room was designated as a special suite, prepared at the strong insistence of the Kingdom of Luwan’s representatives.
However, since all five of them were placed in the same room, Marquis Haragura’s side doesn’t seem to view them as that special.
While Tauro and the others were saying that this was still better than a shared hall, a messenger from Marquis Donaisson of the Kingdom of Luwan arrived.
”He wishes to discuss something privately with Lord Tauro and his companions.”
The messenger conveyed the message concisely.
“…I understand. If it’s alright for all five of us to attend, we’ll head over there.”
Tauro nodded, thinking the timing was perfect.
”Then I’ll go ahead and inform him.”
The messenger bowed and quickly left the room to deliver the message.
”Ragune, open a ‘Dimensional Corridor.’ I’m going to let Maria-san know about our plan now.”
At Tauro’s instruction, Ragune opened the corridor, allowing her to travel swiftly to the Marquis Van Dyne’s domain, tell Maria-san and got her prepared.
Knock knock.
”Come in.”
Marquis Donaisson’s voice came from the other side of the door.
This was the room just outside Saint Matilda’s quarters.
It appeared that the people involved had already gathered there.
Tauro and Aeris nodded to each other, opened the door, and entered the room.
Inside were Saint Matilda, Marquis Donaisson, several of his aides, and a few knight escorts.
”Thank you for coming, Lord Tauro. Please, have a seat.”
Marquis Donaisson offered Tauro and Aeris a seat.
Ragune, Ankh, and Zion were treated as bodyguards and remained standing.
After sitting down, 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 her ‘Blessing.’ So we were hoping the two of you could help us with the same… arrangement as before.”
Marquis Donaisson, ignoring the sulky saint matilda, asked the two for their cooperation.
”Compared to the interference magic in the Bariella Duchy, the magic here is on a whole different level. Even Aeris has confirmed it—it’s too strong to fake even similar magic like Aeris’s .”
Tauro subtly implied that the magic Aeris was using wasn’t a real Blessing while still explaining the situation.
”…So Aeris-san can use ‘Blessing’ as well, huh?”
Saint Matilda asked, her tone carrying a hint of certainty. She had likely felt it firsthand during the Blessing Ceremony in the Bariella Dukedom.
Aeris has, in fact, awakened to the “Saint” skill without realizing it—making her equivalent to, or perhaps even stronger than, Matilda. But that was a secret.
Tauro answered Saint Matilda’s question on Aeris’s behalf.
”It’s something like that. But just like Saint Matilda’s Blessing, Aeris can’t use it here. There’s something in this city preventing that kind of magic.”
”That kind of magic?”
Marquis Donaisson interjected, questioning Tauro’s choice of words.
“Yes. It seems that a very powerful magical barrier has been cast over the entire capital city. It appears that it is counter to certain types of magic. Therefore, neither the Saint’s magic nor any of the magic Aeris uses work here.”
“Then that just means our invited Saint is going to be humiliated!”
Marquis Donaisson was outraged, unable to understand Marquis Haragura’s intentions.
“—But, if someone were to cast a spell stronger than the one cast on this capital city, I think the ‘blessing’ will be activated without any problems.”
Tauro shifted into negotiation mode.
”That’s impossible! I can feel just how powerfully this city’s magic resists my Blessing firsthand. There’s no way lady Aeris could cast a spell stronger than this!”
Saint Matilda assumed Tauro was suggesting Aeris perform the Blessing and rejected the idea outright.
”Please calm down, Saint Matilda. I just explained earlier that Aeris can’t do it.”
Tauro replied gently with a smile.
”Then what are you suggesting?! Are you trying to humiliate me?!”
”Please calm down, Saint Matilda. Aeris has a master. That person can cast a Blessing stronger than the barrier magic enveloping this city. We can make it appear as though you performed the Blessing that day.”
”Lady Aeris’s master…?”
Marquis Donaisson raised an intrigued eyebrow.
”Wait just a second. There’s no way someone exists who can use a greater Blessing than me, right? I’m the only Saint to have appeared in nearly a hundred years. I know Aeris-san can use a similar magic—but someone stronger than me? That’s impossible.”
Saint Matilda’s objection wasn’t unreasonable.*
… unless that person was from the Dragon people tribe.
“Aeris’s mentor is capable of that. But I must ask you all to please refrain from disclosing this to anyone. If it were to become known, the Kingdom of Luwan would lose its diplomatic card—Saint Matilda—and it would only be a nuisance for Aeris’s master. —May I bring her in now?”
“She close by? Miss Aeris’s so-called master?”
Marquis Donaisson asked, desperate.
”Actually, she’s already waiting in the next room.”
Tauro replied with a smile and he and Ragune moved to the next room.
”…That’s Saint Matilda’s private chamber, Lord Tauro. Aren’t you being a bit too silly?”
Marquis Donaisson seemed to think Tauro was teasing them.
”Please wait just a moment.”
Tauro said as he closed the bedroom door.
Ten seconds later, the door opened again.
Ragune and Tauro came out of the bedroom first.
Followed by a radiant beauty, as though bathed in divine light.
Her appearance was so awe-inspiring, so otherworldly, that everyone—Marquis Donaisson, his aides, the knights—fell into stunned silence.
Even Saint Matilda was speechless.
In order to stage this grand entrance, the True Saint Maria had activated many of her True Saint abilities beforehand.