Kays Translations

Chapter 97: Royal Capital

“Baron Lucius Norris Dragon, I bestow upon you the title of Lord of a Thousand Dragons,”

The audience chamber.

Stained glass was generously used on the high ceiling, with rainbow-colored light pouring down, enhancing the solemnity of the room.

On both ends of the long red carpet, courtiers and knights stood in rows.

In front of Lucius, who knelt, was the king.

Deep wrinkles were etched on his face, and flesh had withered away from his fingertips.

However, his clear black eyes still held power, reminiscent of an aged lion.

“Much obliged,”

Lucius bowed even deeper with his eyes closed.

In this world, bestowing a title, or a second name, had a special significance.

As with former imperial generals who held positions like ‘marshal’ or ‘lord,’ the bestowment of such titles implied the transfer of authority by the giver.

With a deep voice, the king declared to his vassals.

“Lord of a Thousand Dragons has liberated Burgia, which was long occupied by monsters, and brought great benefits to the kingdom. Therefore, in the name of the king, I grant two privileges,”

The courtiers, especially the senior officials like ministers, held their breath.

“One, diplomatic privileges. And two, conscription rights,”

The audience chamber buzzed all at once.

And for good reason.

Diplomatic privileges allowed representation of the country in negotiations with other nations, but it wasn’t noteworthy for that reason alone.

The significance of the privilege lay solely in the fact that it authorized the use of force against other nations. In other words, it allowed for the declaration of war.

Furthermore, conscription rights were the authority to levy military forces from the feudal lords, and it was one of the royal prerogatives that only the king should possess.

The prime minister, somewhat intimidated, stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, with all due respect, traditionally, only the heads of the four major noble families hold diplomatic privileges. And conscription rights should belong to the king alone.”

“Lucius defeated the empire’s War Emperor in the previous battle and harbors a thousand dragon knights within him. He is not only our country’s strongest force but also the entity that can exert the greatest mobility. It’s a necessary measure for the kingdom. The Royal Guards cannot leave the capital, after all,”

The knights standing immediately behind the king straightened their posture.

All of them wore polished white plate armor.

It was the formal attire of the Royal Guard, the protectors of the king.

“However, Your Majesty…”

“The times, and the great powers, are moving. Anything can happen. Clinging only to past customs will eventually sink the country,”

“Yes, Your Majesty,”

Even the prime minister couldn’t help but yield when the king spoke so decisively.

The king took a breath and moved on to the next matter.

“Lucius. Your sword,”

When the king raised his hand, a soldier holding two swords appeared from the side, holding them downward.

It was the commander’s great sword and the vice-commander’s piercing sword.

“I heard from Dion that these were prepared for your commendation, but someone ruined it,”

“…No, it’s nothing,”

Lucius glanced sideways and caught a glimpse of Dion, the king candidate from the west, glaring at him.

The king grabbed the two magic swords and offered them.

Lucius raised both hands and received the two swords.

“Haha,”

The king smiled at Lucius, who received them.

“What’s the matter?”

“Well, you’ve grown quite large. You almost stumbled when you received a magic sword last time,”

The king laughed heartily.

“Yes, I showed you a rather unsightly side,”

It was only natural since it was a story from when he was three years old.

“You have indeed grown just as I expected. I won the bet,”

“It’s an honor beyond measure,”

“But that also means I’ve grown old, doesn’t it, Lucius?”

“Yes,”

“I want you to support the next king as well, whoever it may be,”

“As you wish,”

Lucius bowed humbly.

“Commander of the Royal Guard, Mark, I’m counting on you,”

Commander of the Royal Guard Mark, who was standing behind the king, bowed.

After the commendation ceremony, the king, supported by several retainers, disappeared into the back.

“The king won’t be with us much longer,”

“Who will be the next king?”

“I’ll have to discuss that matter with the lords…”

As soon as the king disappeared into the throne, the courtiers in the audience chamber began to leave the room, whispering to each other.

―― He hasn’t passed away yet.

For the nobles of the royal capital, the only concern was the next king.

“Lord of a Thousand Dragons,”

Lucius turned around to see a man in his forties. His hair was a dull brown, and the muscles visible through his armor seemed to pulsate.

He was none other than Mark, the Commander of the Royal Guard.

His demeanor alone indicated that he was no ordinary person.

He was called the strongest knight in the kingdom, possessing the highest-grade status.

However, Lucius felt a slight discomfort in his subtle movements.

It might be something that most people wouldn’t notice.

―― Is he wounded?

If it was just an external injury, it should have been irrelevant with the healing magic.

While thinking such things, Lucius returned the greeting smoothly.

“I am Lucius Norris Dragon,”

“I am Mark Weshite Dumont. I am entrusted with the position of Commander of the Royal Guard,”

Commander of the Royal Guard, Mark offered his hand for a handshake.

A baron was a higher rank than a knight, but as far as positions and titles were concerned, the Commander of the Royal Guard was an existence far above.

Therefore, Lucius needed to be humble.

“Pleased to meet you,”

“In the evening, could you drop by the Knight Order? There’s something important to discuss,”

It was probably about the king’s parting words.

“I understand.”

After telling him as much as I could, Mark, the commander of the Imperial Guards, and his friends disappeared into the depths, as if chasing after the king.

The Royal Guards were the central force of the kingdom’s knightly orders.

Everything was scheduled down to the minute.

As Lucius turned to return to his quarters, someone appeared before him.

“Hey there, Lucius-dono.”

He was around thirty years old, with a dusky complexion and long reddish-brown hair tied back, a slender man.

“Commander Karan!”

He hailed from one of the four major noble families in the south and led a division stationed in the east.

When Lucius had been in the east before, for better or worse, he had been under Karan’s care.

In Lucius’s country, each of the four regions was governed by its own lord, all of whom belonged to the royal family.

“You seem well.”

“It’s been a while. Why are you in the western capital?”

“I had some business. And then it turned out to be your commendation ceremony, Lucius.”

“I’m glad to see you.”

“You’re heading to the Knight Order headquarters to meet with Commander Mark, right? Want to go together? There’s someone I want you to meet.”

“Yes, of course.”

With Karan leading the way, Lucius left the audience chamber.

They headed to the Knight Order headquarters located in the royal capital.

The Knight Order’s headquarters were in Bradford, the capital of the kingdom.

It was right next to the royal castle.

In fact, it was more accurate to say they were connected.

Passing through the castle and down a covered walkway, they soon saw a massive building.

It was a sturdy building covered by high walls.

In times of crisis, it served as the final defense point for the royal castle.

“Wow, the Knight Order’s headquarters is impressive.”

“The west is far removed from war, so it’s just a façade.”

They passed through the gate and entered the building.

They proceeded down the corridor, passing many knights along the way.

Karan was both a division commander and from one of the four major noble families.

Naturally, his status within the Knight Order was quite high.

Without any identity checks, they were able to pass almost unhindered with just a slight nod of the hand.

And then, they were led to the deepest underground chamber of the headquarters.

“Who do you want me to meet?”

“If you wait a bit longer, you’ll find out.”

Karan, who usually had a carefree demeanor, had a tense expression.

They arrived at a dungeon in the depths, which was particularly heavily guarded compared to the prisons they had seen along the way.

Inside, there was someone hanging from chains.

It was probably a woman.

Probably because there was no certainty.

Her entire body was lacerated, with the skin torn open.

Marks of torture.

But above all else…

――Her face was burned.

Her face, completely burned, was black.

The woman opened her eyes, her white pupils standing out against the blackness.

“…Hey there.”

Her voice was familiar.

Perhaps because of the screams during the torture, her voice was hoarse, but it was unmistakable.

“…Lucial…Your Highness…Why…”

Lucial was a candidate for the throne from one of the four major noble families in the south.

In other words, she should be Karan’s real sister.

If she was genuine.

“Haha.”

Lucial weakly laughed.

“This person claimed to be my sister, Lucial, and tried to assassinate Lucius-dono. We’re interrogating her now to find out who ordered her to do it. But she’s not talking…that’s right.”

Karan clenched his lips.

“Imposter?”

“Of course. My sister Lucial’s magic is the magic of abundance. Everyone in the south knows and has seen it. But this person’s magic is something that unleashes blades…a different person.”

Lucius looked back at the captive once again.

“Why…am I here?”

“I’m just reporting that we’ve caught the person who attacked you, Lucius.”

Karan’s smile didn’t reach his eyes, forced as it was.

“Lucius-dono has the right to expedite her judgment. The Ministry of Justice will try to accommodate the requests of the nobles as much as possible. Especially your request is likely to be taken seriously.”

“What will happen to Her Highness Lucial?”

“It’s not Lucial. This imposter who used her name tried to assassinate a noble, so unless she’s of the same nobility, her death sentence is certain.”

“So if I appeal to the Ministry of Justice, I can hasten the execution of the death penalty.”

“Exactly. That’s all I wanted to convey.”

Karan took a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling.

As if avoiding eye contact, he turned back in the direction he had come from.

And without saying a word, he left the solitary cell behind.

Left alone, Lucius looked at the woman hanging in the cell.

Unfamiliar relics were scattered at her feet, as if her magic had been sealed.

“Your Highness Lucial, I appreciate your help before. Thank you.”

Lucius bowed his head.

Lucial had undoubtedly protected Lucius when the undead attacked as Crane handed the magic spear to him. There was no mistake.

As a result, the magic spear ended up in Lucius’s hands, and they were able to defeat the magic dragon.

“Is it normal to say thank you to someone who tried to kill you?”

“It’s true that someone saved by Your Highness Lucial’s judgment exists.”

Lucius thought without a doubt that she was Karan’s relative.

That gaze wasn’t that of someone seeing a criminal.

Was burning her face evidence of concealing her identity as a relative?

But Karan, the commander, wouldn’t have given such an order.

So, it must be someone higher up.

In other words, instructions from the Four Great Nobles, perhaps?

“It’s fine. After all, once the assassination failed, the mission was over. What matters now is finding the best way to make as many people happy as possible.”

Lucius couldn’t believe Lucial was a malicious person.

“Could it be that I’ve earned Your Highness’s resentment for something?”

Lucial’s clear eyes, contrasting with her blackened skin, pierced Lucius with a gaze.

“I have no personal grudge against you. In fact, Lucius, you’re my type. But sometimes, you just make me so damn mad.”

“Why is that?”

The chains binding Lucial rattled.

“Lucius, you only save those within your sight. With the power you have, you only see your own territory and those related to it. That’s what makes those outside of your protection anxious.”

“That’s not true.”

“It is. For someone like me with no power, if I want to save as many people as possible, I have to choose. Who to abandon, who to save. So I chose. I chose to abandon myself and you, and save the people of the South.”

Why saving the people of the South was connected to assassination, Lucius didn’t understand.

But it seemed there was no deception in Lucial’s eyes.

“I see.”

“I accept the consequences of my actions. Besides, didn’t the dwarves suffer casualties too? Well, I never imagined there’d be a barrier to ward off the undead. Bowing to you politically, Lucius, is nothing but a disadvantage.”

“Destroying the barrier was indeed a mistake. Some dwarves died. However, it doesn’t warrant a death sentence. Nor does it require torture.”

“My brother seems eager to dispose of me soon. Well, he’s always been an odd one in the family, leaving home early like that.”

Lucial smirked ironically.

“Commander Karan… I believe he’s trying to lessen your suffering.”

“None of your business. I can’t die yet, you see. Because I’m waiting.”

“Waiting? For what?”

Lucial closed her eyes.

It seemed to be a sign of not intending to answer.

“Understood. I’ll come again.”

Unable to find any more words to say, Lucius left the cell behind.

He climbed the stairs and emerged onto the ground floor of the Knights’ Headquarters.

It was a small room.

At the top of the stairs, one of the knights was waiting.

“I’ve come to pick you up. Follow me.”

It must be an envoy from Commander Mark’s Guard.

“Please lead the way.”

They continued down the corridor.

After about ten minutes of walking past knights, they were led into the courtyard.

Surrounded by walls on all sides, the ground was unusually bare earth in a sturdy place.

“Lord Senryu, this way.”

――Training ground?

Commander Mark’s Guard stood in the center.

“You’ve come.”

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