Volume 2 Chapter 72 The Conflicting Moon And Sun I
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
In the end, Natra’s armor settled on the custom-made white and red kimono.
As for the Windsong Blade and the magic-draining bishop staff, Kian would carry them, but the problem was Natra and Tengu’s long sword.
It would have been solved by materializing Natra and having her carry some of the load, but he couldn’t introduce her to Waterman as “the new Natra” on the morning of the ceremony.
Given her perfect Azraelian appearance, there was a risk of unnecessary suspicion.
Besides, she was the attacker.
In the end, Tengu’s long sword would be left underground.
As for Natra’s long sword, Kian decided to hang it at his waist, as it might be needed later.
The weight of the equipment was manageable thanks to improved strength, but being covered in weapons and tools made movement clumsy and noisy.
During combat, I would need to lower my backpack and quickly hand the long sword to the materialized Natra.
”Ugh…, why didn’t you wake me up? Now I’m all flustered this morning.”
”I thought it would be rude to wake you while you were sleeping so peacefully. But I did wake you up in time, didn’t I?”
”That’s true… Ah, I hope I look okay. I’ll be meeting many people at the ceremony today.”
Christy walked alongside, adjusting her blue beret while grumbling.
Kian gently guided her to the side of the road, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
A luxurious black carriage passed right by them.
They were heading up this slope──toward the arena that towered into the sky.
The venue for Oswald’s succession ceremony was already bustling with people coming and going, and the sound of trumpets echoed from the blue sky.
Occasionally, the sound of blank blast could be heard, suggesting that the ceremony organizers were conducting final checks on the equipment since morning.
”Christy, let me borrow that.”
”Ah…”
He brushed back her black hair, which had been bouncing like bird feathers, after taking off her hat.
As he ran his fingers through her black hair like a comb, it straightened out.
He then placed the beret on her head and stepped back.
”T-thank you…”
The witch twirled the ends of her hair that had just been brushed.
Kian smiled gently.
”You look beautiful today, Christy.”
”Yeah… You look handsome too, Kian.”
(It’s the first time someone has called me handsome.)
’They say love is blind. Even if the partner is an orc, they appear as a handsome man.’
(I think I look better than an orc, at least.)
’I mean no offense. Do not worry about it.’
As Kian made a strange face, Christy suddenly furrowed her brows and opened her mouth.
”Are your bruises all right?”
”Bruises?”
”Yeah. You’ve been training underground for the last 3 days, haven’t you?”
”Ah… I’m sorry I couldn’t pay more attention to you.”
”No, I wasn’t saying that to be sarcastic. I understand that training is part of your job. I’m just genuinely worried. You were being beaten up by familiars while I watched.”
Christy leaned in with a concerned look.
The scent of her Roses perfume wafted gently.
It’s her favorite scent.
”Haha… she’s definitely pulling her punches. There’s no pain left at all.”
”I hope so.”
”More than that, I’ve shown you my clumsy side──getting beaten by familiars.”
”No, at first I thought it looked painful, but then I started to think Kian was amazing for swinging the wooden sword so diligently. It made me feel… you are a man.”
”I am a man, indeed.”
”I thought you were handsome!”
Christy said this while slightly blushing.
Her body fidgeted, and the dangerous curves, enveloped in a deep blue dress, wiggled subtly.
”I think it’s incredible how dedicated you are. I could never imitate that, nor would I want to.”
”I wouldn’t want you to imitate that either.”
’What an empty conversation this is.’
(I agree. Lately, my conversations with Christy have often turned out to be like this.)
’There is no substance to it.’
(Hmm? What is that…?)
In front of the arena, guards were moving about among the nobles; 5 of them near the entrance approached as soon as they spotted Kian.
Though he thought it was a case of mistaken identity, their eyes were definitely fixed on Kian.
The guards who came from the arena were knights under Waterman, though he couldn’t name them.
”Rank 8 adventurer Kian.”
”Yes, do you need something from me? I was just about to begin my security duty.”
”You don’t need to worry about security. We need you to come with us.”
”Huh? What do you mean? The ceremony is starting soon, right? Where are you taking Kian?”
”Lady Christina. This is an order from Sir McCutchen.”
”Sir McCutchen’s?”
”Yes.”
”Ugh, fine. I have to go with him, right? I’m his watchperson after all.”
”No, it seems you should remain at the entrance, Lady Christina. Only Kian is needed.”
”What does that mean? You don’t want me to listen to the conversation?”
Christy frowned, but the knight only looked at Kian with a blank expression.
Even if he protested here, nothing would change; he should just be taken to McCutchen.
’Are you alright?’
(Well, I don’t really understand what that old steward is thinking. For now, there’s no point unless I just go.)
”Christy, I’ll see you later.”
”Okay.”
A black-haired witch, holding her staff close to her chest, wore a worried expression.
The knight, surprised by Christy’s demeanor, ordered Kian to “come along” with a thumb gesture.
”──────”
He complied with silence, following them.
Entering the entrance, he stepped out into the hallway through a door on the left.
He moved with a clatter along the hallway that curved around the circular arena, and after a while, he entered the northern section of the arena.
This area was close to the VIP seating.
The hallway had stairs leading to the kitchen and doors for the nobles’ waiting rooms.
The guards opened the comparatively larger waiting room door at the front.
Among them were McCutchen, Waterman and his subordinates, Maribel, Oswald, and even Renaud.
It was quite the illustrious gathering.
He wonder if Oswald doesn’t need to change into formal attire for the ceremony.
He was still wearing his usual expensive noble attire.
”Kian, good morning.”
”Good morning, Your Excellency Maribel.”
”Good morning, Kian. It’s a lovely morning. Clear skies.”
”Good morning, Sir Oswald. Yes, it’s a fitting weather for the birth of the new Knights of the Sun.”
”──Hey, enough of this silly greeting. Let’s get straight to the point.”
The old fat steward was as irritated as ever today.
There must be better ways to manage his blood pressure, but it seems this old man’s fate is to lead such an emotional life.
Maribel appeared to be at the mercy of this steward, but looking at his age and health, he seemed to have little time left.
McCutchen approached Kian, shaking his round, protruding belly.
”What have you done?”
”……?”
”Lord Steward, that won’t convey our intentions.”
”Lord Oswald is right. We should properly explain the situation.”
”That said, we have merely received reports from Oswald and Renaud. To convey the information accurately, it would be better to hear from either Oswald or Renaud.”
”I’ll explain.”
Oswald said this briefly, then turned to Kian, lightly swinging a sun earring.
”Kian, actually, the night before last, a group of Azrael’s warrior monks attacked our large port in Châtillon. They seemed to be attempting to illegally enter our country.”
”No way, are you suspecting that I helped them?”
”No, I know you’ve been at Christina’s house the whole time. You haven’t gone out much these past 3 days, have you? If teleportation is used, even the Head Magician of the fortress would notice, not just Christina. So, there’s no way a mere adventurer like you could guide them. The reason I called you here is different. I’ve captured a few members of the warrior monk group, and they all seem to have agreed on their reason for illegal entry: ‘to kill the adventurer Kian.’ They have no intention of invading the Margrave Izerland territory, and they say they’ll quietly return if we can just hand you over. But they didn’t say why they are targeting you or who requested them to come into our country.”
”Hey, you. Are you perhaps caught up in some political strife over there?”
McCutchen puffed up his already stout body and asked that.
Kian had received information from Natra, so he could predict the warrior monks’ intentions, but it was understandable that McCutchen and the others, who were unaware of the situation, would suspect such possibilities.
After a brief silence, Kian said,
”I have had no contact with the politicians over there.”
That was all he answered.
”Then why does Azrael’s apostle want to kill you?”
”Is it not because I am an exile?”
”Nonsense, would they illegally enter just to kill an exile from 15 years ago? Moreover, the one who came was the former Twelve Divine Generals’ Nizaam!”
”…Sir Nizaam? Then it’s an assassin from the Malc family. I’m sorry, but I have no idea what this could be about.”
”I spoke directly with Nizaam, but it seemed he appeared at the port on someone else’s request. With hostages involved, we promptly sought an explanation from the head of the Malc family along with a ransom demand. However, they only said, ‘Nizaam acted on his own.’ Yet, given his demeanor and the fact that Azrael’s operations are not small-scale, it is certain that there are strong reasons for wanting to kill you. Is there a powerful figure in their country who harbors a deep grudge against you? Kian. No, Kian Vahid. What reason did you have for being exiled from Azrael?”
It seems Oswald had heard about Kian’s background from McCutchen.
His eyes were fixed on him with an intensity he had never seen before.
Surely, he had learned the identity of the man he was curious about, and it must have sparked various realizations and excitement within him.
Unfortunately, he was not exiled for any grand reason.
He was disliked by his father.
He was exiled because he was inferior to his brother.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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