Helios Orb Chronicle – Chapter 103

“Prim! Oh, thank goodness, you’re safe…”

The moment Daina and I arrived at the royal castle for our audience, I was tackled into a hug by a girl. She had beautiful platinum blonde hair that reached her waist, skin as white as any High Elf, and two large breasts quite rare for an Elf. She was a stunning beauty.

Though I’m confident in my own looks, I feel I pale in comparison to her.

“Prim, do you know her?” Yamato asked, sounding surprised by the sudden embrace. I could tell he wasn’t sure how to react either.

“Calm down, Mana. A lot happened, but I’m fine,” I said.

“After making everyone worry so much, that’s all you have to say?”

She had a point, but I had my reasons! It wasn’t like I could just casually get in touch.

“Please calm down, H.R.H. Manalease,” Rika said, trying to soothe her. Finally, Mana let go of me.

This is Manalease Reina Amister, the second princess of the Amister Kingdom and my childhood friend. She’s also an S-rank hunter at level 41, so don’t be fooled by her cute and beautiful appearance, or you’ll regret it.

“Marquis Frederica… you knew about this too, didn’t you?”

“I’m the provincial governor of Feel, so I had some inkling. However, I wouldn’t have known without her achievements and his.”

His achievements… Well, maybe “unprecedented” isn’t too strong a word.

“What do you mean…? And speaking of him, he’s that Human, isn’t he? Could he be…?” Mana looked at Yamato, but her eyes shifted. She looked like a girl infatuated. Oh well.

“Yes, Yamato Hydrangea Mikami. He’s the same guest as your great-grandmother, and he’s my husband.”

“And my fiance,” Yamato added.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Yamato Hydrangea Mikami,” he said, offering his right hand. I linked arms with his right, and Rika with his left as we introduced him, which surprised Mana greatly.

It’s said that the last guest Mana’s great-grandmother, Sayuri Reina Amister, had was her own grandfather, and his knowledge brought great progress not only to Amister but also to the Helios Orb. Yamato has also completed alloys of Lapis Laz, Jade Silver, and Blue-Gray Iron with Ed’s help. He’s also presented Supplication Magic, Ee-quipping, and Staggering Magic, and advised on Craft Magic, Melting. Thanks to Yamato’s knowledge, I was able to complete a new feather-weaving magic, Extreme Flame Wing, as my Unique Magic, and I now have several trump cards.

“Husband…? You did mention it in your letter, but it was true after all… And Marquis Frederica, you’re engaged too? What is going on!?”

That’s what surprised you?

“You always boasted that you wouldn’t marry a man weaker than you. Anyone would be shocked to hear you got married. So, does that mean he… Yamato, was it? Did Yamato defeat you?”

“I did. And Mana, aren’t you going to introduce yourself?”

There’s a lot I want to discuss, but first, she should introduce herself. Not just Yamato, but everyone has been at a loss on how to react.

“Ah, right. My apologies. Please excuse my late greeting. I am Manalease Reina Amister, the second princess of the Amister Kingdom. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

As expected of a princess, she’s so polite. I wish some other princess would learn from her.

“Ah, yes, likewise,” Yamato replied, clearly flustered.

I heard that Yamato’s world has no royalty or nobility, but I also heard that among Engravers, there exists an absolute power. They are called the Seven Master Emperors, the seven strongest Engravers in the world, and Yamato couldn’t defeat them even if he stood on his head. Yamato’s father is apparently one of the Seven Master Emperors.

“Please, you don’t need to be so formal. I’m a hunter too, and besides the Holy Grave that Feel introduced me to, I have other hunters I’m on good terms with.”

That’s understandable. While she’s associated with the Holy Grave, she doesn’t form a raid party with them every time. For simpler requests, she might go with someone she knows. Moreover, Mana is known as the Hunter Princess even in the royal capital, so hunters would be thrilled to hunt with her.

“Sister, lingering here is rude to everyone.”

“Oh, sorry, Yuri. You’re right, I’ll guide you right away.”

We were just past the entrance gate of the royal castle. It’s true that this isn’t a place for a long conversation, and since I’ve reunited with Mana, I’m all for moving to a more suitable location.

The castle of the Amister Kingdom is built within a giant tree, named Amagi Castle. This giant tree is called a World Tree, and there are thirteen of them scattered across the Philia Continent, the same number as the gods of the Bacion religion, including Father God. The World Tree in the royal capital, Float, is exceptionally large and is called the Heavenly Tree, hence the castle’s name.

The other twelve World Trees are also hundreds of meters tall. There are also smaller World Trees, roughly the size of ordinary trees. These are also called Cherry Trees because they bloom with cherry-colored flowers year-round. Feel also has one, and since Cherry Trees are top-tier timber, they are strictly managed by the Trader’s Guild.

World Trees are found in various locations, often deep within difficult terrain. The World Tree in Torencia is located on Mount Seryado, floating in a boiling lake of magma in the center of the Golud Great Glacier. In Libertà, it stands atop the Temellario Great Sky Wall, which reaches into the clouds. Valentea’s is deep within the Gagun Great Forest, and Alegria’s is in the center of Enigma Island. Bacion’s is on the summit of Mount Wilness, a sacred site for Dragonians, and in the center of Lake Amore in the Solpreza Mountain Range.

The World Trees of Retisencia and Solemne are not in particularly difficult locations, but they are both on islands in the center of lakes. Furthermore, these two nations do not follow the Bacion religion and view the World Trees simply as giant trees. In contrast, the World Tree of the Bacion faith is in the religious capital, Esperanza, and the Esperanza Great Temple is built using the World Tree itself, making it incredibly sacred. It’s quite a contrast.

Amister has four World Trees, including the Heavenly Tree. Of the three besides the Heavenly Tree, one is in a city called Gallia in the Ballman Count’s Territory, another is said to be on the summit of the Ideal Mountain Range in central Amister, and the last is said to be atop the Mylight Mountains. It’s unclear how these World Trees are judged, but they somehow recognize changes in national borders and seem to adjust the climate within the country accordingly. In the past, some countries without World Trees were influenced by the nearest one, and it’s believed that these environmental changes affected their people, shaping their national character. However, by that logic, it’s hard to explain the national character and customs of Retisencia and Solemne.

As I pondered these thoughts, we were led to a room in Amagi Castle.

“Your audience with Father will be tomorrow. I think today would be fine, but with the issues regarding Retisencia, he’s completely occupied. Ah, don’t worry. Prim’s and Lady Apricot’s asylum will be processed immediately.”

“I appreciate that, but aren’t you aware? The Beast King and the Anti-Beast King Organization are in conflict, and if things go wrong, it could lead to a civil war.”

Upon entering the room, Marisa, a Vampire who serves as Mana’s lady-in-waiting, immediately prepared tea. Marisa is an S-rank Butler dispatched from the Butler’s Guild in the royal capital. The Butler’s Guild, which educates and dispatches butlers and maids, has its headquarters in Torencia. While the Butler’s Guild, like others, doesn’t inquire about applicants’ social status, royalty itself cannot register. There’s no point for royalty to register with an organization that trains people to serve others.

Butler’s Guild members start at T-rank. For three years after registration, they undergo intensive training in etiquette, speech, and literacy, during which their rank does not increase. Upon graduation, they are automatically promoted to I-rank. Of course, graduating doesn’t make them fully qualified. The three years of T-rank training only cover the bare minimum; graduates are expected to continue their studies and acquire skills through the Butler’s Guild. Acquiring even one skill promotes them to C-rank, but it’s quite difficult, so most people learn only two or three at most.

Upon reaching C-rank, they are finally approved to be dispatched by the Butler’s Guild. C-rank butlers are dispatched for shorter periods, but after several successful assignments without issues, they are promoted to B-rank. B-rank butlers also get promoted to S-rank through repeated assignments. It’s said that only then are they truly recognized as having completed their training, so the Butler’s Guild is quite demanding. However, the Butler’s Guild has a strict system of rewards and punishments. If a butler makes a fatal mistake or causes significant trouble or damage to the house they serve, and it’s deemed their fault, they are immediately demoted. Those demoted to I-rank are dismissed from the guild. Conversely, rank-ups from G-rank onwards require a recommendation from the house they serve and a certain number of acquired skills.

This means Marisa is a qualified butler, and Mana saw her potential and hired her as her lady-in-waiting a few years ago. I believe the Grand Butler Master was an A-rank butler, but I can’t quite imagine what kind of person that is. Also, Yamato was yelling earlier about why she’s a butler when she’s a maid, but that’s just her title, so I don’t know.

Yuri also has a lady-in-waiting who attends to him. She’s a B-rank Butler from Tigari named Viola. In Feel, Count Archlight’s butler attended to us, so Viola was also studying at the Butler’s Guild during her vacation.

“Of course, I knew. Knowing Leonas, he’d likely concoct a story about an engagement with Prim and try to force her for himself. I predicted that long ago.”

Leonas’s womanizing is infamous, and he’s challenged me to duels multiple times, so it’s only natural I’d anticipate something like that. But considering it, it means she has something planned.

“Do you have something in mind, Sister?”

“Yes. I intended to have him engaged to my brother. Of course, with the understanding that the engagement would be annulled later.”

You were thinking of that? But if that were made public, it would definitely involve Amister. Moreover, Yamato looks unhappy. His magic is leaking out, so he’s quite angry.

“However, this plan is invalid because Prim is not married. So please don’t be so angry? The leaking magic is scary too.”

“Ah, sorry.”

That’s a relief. As for me, getting engaged to another man now, even just nominally, is something I absolutely don’t want.

“However, the fact that Prim is married to Yamato over there is even more convenient than being engaged to my brother. After all, he’s an Ancient Human. Publicizing this will clearly establish him as affiliated with Amister.”

She’s essentially using Yamato for political purposes, but it’s similar to my engagement with Yuri. Furthermore, anyone interfering would be treading on dangerous ground, provoking an Ancient Human. Normally, even a country would hesitate. In fact, Yamato could probably overwhelm an entire army.

“Yamato, what do you think?”

“I don’t mind that much. It will mean I’m officially affiliated with Amister, but I owe a lot to the people of Feel, and I’m engaged to Rika, Meena, and Flam. Of course, if anything happens in Valentia, I intend to lend them a hand as well.”

Yamato didn’t forget to mention Lydia and Ludia, which is wonderful.

“It’s a great help that you say so.”

Mana smiled radiantly at Yamato. Could it be that after reading my letter, she became interested in Yamato, and that developed into affection? I’ve heard that longing can grow into love when you can’t meet someone, but I never thought Mana would become like that.

I wonder what will happen now.