#026. The King's Request (1)
A magnificent and splendid chandelier.
Golden sculptures surrounding this grand artwork, each and every bead infused with mana.
Solemn murals densely painted upon the walls and a large portrait hanging at the center.
'Leonard de Roun'.
A man who was one of the ten heroes who saved the continent, called the ideal of knights.
Beneath it, the throne was placed.
*Bang!*
This space, which should always be solemn, was rowdy today.
The king struck the armrest of the throne and pressed hard on his temple.
Because of the carnage that occurred last night.
The vassals lined up before him could only swallow dryly.
"A... r... rabbit?"
A grand physique and a bushy beard.
Though the time to lay down royal authority was imminent, his dignity remained unchanged.
Even compared to the three princes beside him, he did not fall short in the slightest.
"Y-yes, Your Majesty.... I-it was certainly a rabbit...."
At the words of the knight prostrating before the throne, the king's expression twisted even further.
"So... a rabbit raided the witch internment camp, killed the Order's regional commander, and even murdered Count Rodrigo?"
"Yes.... It is so, Your Majesty...."
"Ha! Haha! Kwahahaha!"
The king began to laugh loudly, throwing even decorum to the wind.
What could possibly be so amusing?
The vassals lined up before him could not offer any reply and only bowed their heads deeply.
After laughing for a long while, the King of Roun spoke again with dignity.
"The people must see me as a damn cripple."
"Y-Your Majesty! How could...!"
At the vulgar words, the vassals started in surprise and bowed at the waist.
"Fabian."
At the king's call, the First Prince standing at the right took a step forward.
"Yes, Father."
"You shall resolve this. Is the witch hunt not under the jurisdiction of the Black Lions?"
Then the Second Prince on the left took a step forward.
"Father, my elder brother is busy with affairs of state. How could he waste his time on such a criminal?"
"Then Theo, will you do it? I suppose running the Academy leaves you with much free time these days."
"No. How could that be."
Prince Theo continued with a pleasant smile.
"In my opinion, I would like the youngest to take this matter."
"Wha, Brother!"
The Third Prince, who had been standing blankly by the side, was startled.
Public security within the city was under the jurisdiction of Fabian and the Black Lion Knights.
If the Third Prince were to capture a criminal who had drawn the city's attention instead of them, it could damage Fabian's authority.
As Luke tried to refuse, Theo continued with a slight wink.
"With the coronation ceremony approaching, it is a well-known fact that the youngest's power is the weakest. Would it not be good to share some merit and lend him some strength now, showing the people Father's fairness?"
At his words, First Prince Fabian snorted, and the King of Roun made a displeased expression.
"Luke."
"Yes, Father...."
"Is it possible?"
"......."
"Why do you not answer? I am asking if you, who cannot even swing a sword properly, can face such a cruel and atrocious fellow."
At his mockery, Theo at his side opened his mouth instead.
"It is only because my younger brother lacks opportunity. He is of the king's blood and a knight of Roun. Please have faith in him."
"Hmm... Fabian, what do you think? Will you share the authority?"
At the king's question, Fabian answered slowly.
"Well, it doesn't matter. As long as he doesn't die, it will be fortunate."
"Hey, Brother, don't be like that and cheer him on, please."
When Theo wrinkled his nose, Fabian turned his head away indifferently.
The King of Roun stroked his beard and tapped the armrest of the throne.
"Yes, give it a try. If you cannot even accomplish this, you had better not go around claiming the blood of Roun flows in your veins."
"...Yes, Father."
Luke answered, hiding his displeased expression.
"Listen, all of you."
-Yes, Your Majesty!
"Hereafter, this matter shall be entrusted to the Third Prince, so you shall all assist him wholeheartedly."
-Yes!
"Now...."
Just as he was about to move to another agenda, the door beside the throne room opened and the Chief Steward entered.
"What is it?"
The King of Roun asked.
"Your Majesty, it is...."
He approached close and said something in a low voice.
The king's expression brightened slightly upon hearing him.
"Ho, that is welcome news to hear."
"Then...."
The Chief Steward looked at the vassals below the throne.
The King of Roun, understanding his meaning, spoke in a low voice.
"You shall all withdraw. Today's court ends here."
At the sudden order to dismiss, the vassals only exchanged glances.
In the thirty years of his reign, the number of times court had ended early could be counted on one hand.
The last time was when a horde of monsters had laid waste to the surrounding villages.
Because of this, the knights looked at the king with restless, tense faces.
The King of Roun, regardless, cried out solemnly toward the main gate.
"Let him enter."
The heavy doors of the throne room began to open slowly.
A gap widening with a small sound.
Between them, a man with a robust physique was visible.
The man immediately handed the greatsword on his back to the knight beside him as the door opened, and the knight could not keep his balance at the unexpected weight.
"Huh...."
The eyes of everyone in the throne room went wide.
Because the staggering knight was an elite knight of the Royal Guard.
As the man walked into the throne room, the assembly fell silent, and his footsteps sounded even louder.
*Thud. Thud.*
Distinct and confident steps that asserted his presence.
Even though this was an audience with the king, rather than nervousness, his eyes contained a sharp intensity.
'A tremendous powerhouse.'
The princes, as well as the vassals, were all knights by origin.
Possessing excellent discernment, they all had the same thought upon seeing the man.
"What are you all doing? Did not His Majesty order you to withdraw?"
When the Chief Steward spoke in a loud voice, the vassals glanced at the man and surged out of the throne room.
Now, only the King of Roun, the three princes, the Chief Steward, and the black-haired man remained in the throne room.
The king stroked his beard and spoke.
"I imagined a gloomy figure for a demon hunter, but you are nothing of the sort. What is your name?"
"Virgil."
A rabbit entering a tiger's den calmly revealed his name.
At that brief self-introduction, Fabian shouted in anger.
"You! What audacity!"
He strode up and stood before Virgil.
Their builds were roughly similar.
"Do you know nothing of etiquette?"
Virgil met Fabian's bulging gaze without backing down.
"The warriors of Morha do not learn honorifics."
At those words, Prince Theo took a step forward.
"Ho, you have crossed the sea?"
"Indeed."
"Father, I have read of it in books before. It is said that the warriors of Morha never bend their will to anyone no matter who their opponent is. It is the tradition of a distant foreign land, so would you not magnanimously understand?"
"Yes, what is the big deal. Fabian, step back."
"...Yes, Father."
The setting Virgil had thought up in advance had worked properly.
Since he had entered a game anyway, he had no intention of bowing his head and living even if his opponent was a king.
That was also why he had insisted on using the stiff formal speech that did not come naturally.
"Tch."
Fabian glared at Theo sidelong before returning to his place.
When his large frame disappeared from view, the King of Roun could be seen properly.
A lofty predator seated comfortably upon the throne.
The bearing of a sovereign as imagined.
"Hmm, I feel a strange energy somehow."
The King of Roun, staring openly at Virgil, spoke.
Because he sensed the blood of a half-demon.
If he had trained his body focusing on magic rather than physique, he might have noticed immediately and drawn his sword.
For now, he simply thought,
'There must be some reason.'
And overlooked it without much ado.
Virgil stood before the throne.
"I give thanks for the invitation."
"Yes. By the way, why has someone other than Hellsing come? I distinctly called for him."
"I was nearby."
"No wonder there was a reason you arrived earlier than expected."
"He is busy."
"What is your relationship with him?"
"Comrades."
"I understood that demon hunters moved individually."
"At times, we gather."
"Hmm...."
The King of Roun leaned his body completely against the chair back.
"Do you know the details of the request?"
Of course, he knew them very well.
"I do not know the details. I only came knowing it was a matter related to the royal family."
"Correct. It is a matter concerning my one and only daughter."
He stroked his beard and continued.
"In other words, it also means I cannot entrust this to a foreigner whose identity has not been properly verified."
At the firm voice, Virgil's brows furrowed deeply.
"Rest well for a day and then return. Or, feel free to sightsee in the city. Is it not a beautiful city?"
*Damn it.*
The plan had gone awry.
"Steward."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Relay the message to Hellsing again. I shall wait, so tell him to come personally."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"You may take your leave now."
"...Understood."
He would withdraw for now.
Just as he was about to leave to formulate another plan, a loud voice was heard from outside the throne room doors.
-Your Majesty! An envoy from Javelin has arrived!
The Chief Steward at his side received the news.
"Ah, Your Majesty. Last night we received word that the Gate with Javelin had been reconnected; it seems they arrived today."
"Who has come?"
"It is said that the lord has come personally."
"Sophia? So it seems the curse upon Javelin has truly been lifted."
"Yes. It is so."
"Hurry and let them enter. I wonder how much my dear friend's child has grown."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
When the Chief Steward signaled, the doors of the throne room began to open.
At the same time, the loud voice of the Royal Guard knight was heard.
-The Lord of Javelin, Sofia Javelin, enters!
The heavy doors opening slowly.
Virgil waiting in front of them with a relaxed and leisurely face.
*Screech.*
When they opened completely, a noisy scene outside the door was visible.
"My lord, you must not do this."
The flustered knight of the Royal Guard and the soldiers of Javelin surrounding him.
"Oh my, my lord! Let go of that hand! You must maintain your dignity!"
Though the soldiers of Javelin tried to dissuade Sofia, she obstinately grabbed Virgil's greatsword.
"This sword! Are you not asking where it came from!"
"My lord, please enter now. Further disturbance is difficult."
The Royal Guard could not bring themselves to lay hands on a lord, so they only pressured the innocent soldiers.
"Hurry, you lot, attend to your lord!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Do you not know? This is the sword our savior wielded!"
At the commotion coming from outside, the King of Roun personally came down from the throne.
He slowly approached the main gate and spoke.
"Sophia! You rascal! If you see this uncle, you should greet me first!"
At his affectionate voice, Sofia's head whipped around.
"Un-Uncle, Your Majesty, I apologize. The truth is, this sword... this... ah...."
Sofia stopped speaking.
Her pupils dilated and her lips trembled.
Her eyes reddened and tears welled up.
The reason was that she had discovered a man standing aside near the main gate.
At the same time, her maids and soldiers cried out in surprise.
"S-savior!"
They knelt and showed reverence.
At the polite etiquette not even shown to the king, the King of Roun's brows furrowed.
Not because he was offended, but from surprise.
Just who in the world were they looking at to behave so?
When the King of Roun cast his gaze in that direction, there was Virgil with a calm expression.
"Sophia."
He had merely called her name, yet her tears burst forth.
She ran over and buried her face in his chest.
"Why! Why did you leave like that without a word!"
"I am sorry. The situation was urgent."
"But how could you leave like that! Do you know how devastated I was when I woke again to hear that Lord Virgil had departed! When I chased after you, only the horse was left alone in the forest!"
Pouring out her heartfelt sorrow, she began talking only of her own concerns as before.
Virgil patted her back and made her stop.
"We shall talk later. This is Roun."
"Ah!"
Only now coming to her senses, Sofia wiped her tears and stood before the king.
The rest of the party also lowered their heads following her.
"I apologize. I have committed a discourtesy. Having encountered the great benefactor of our Javelin here, I unintentionally...."
"It is fine. But, a benefactor? Explain in detail."
"It is...."
As Sofia began to speak, and the princes who had come down joined in, maids prepared chairs for them to sit in a circle.
The King of Roun and the three princes listened to Sofia's words and nodded.
Someone admired his exploits, someone was curious, and someone showed anger toward the Order of Blood.
"Goodness! Those bastards deserve to be torn apart! Had I known, I would have rushed there immediately! Steward!"
"Y-yes, Your Majesty."
"Arrest all the gate repairmen and punish them!"
"B-but, Your Majesty!"
And someone thought inwardly:
'So this is the person the teacher spoke of. He doesn't look particularly outstanding....'
After that, Sofia's exaggerated tale continued, and it finally concluded with a story of love between a demon hunter and a lord.
"...And that is how it happened."
"Goodness...."
The King of Roun stroked his beard and called the Chief Steward.
He spoke in a quiet voice.
"I nearly made a grave mistake. Hurry and guide him to the audience chamber."
"B-but, it is...."
He continued, squirming like a puppy that needed to relieve itself.
"Just a moment ago, he was certainly standing right there, but he disappeared."
"What?"
He whipped his head around.
In the spot where Virgil had stood, only the Royal Guard knight remained, looking up at the ceiling.
"Ah...."
Sofia covered her mouth in a daze.
"What happened?"
The King of Roun asked the Royal Guard.
"It is... around the time when the part about killing five thousand ghouls ended, he told this humble subject to stand here, and simply left."
When the king glared silently, the knight knelt on one knee on the floor.
"You were so focused... I-I apologize! It is this humble subject's fault!"
"Steward."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Go and escort him here respectfully at once."