I met up with everyone before noon, but it seemed they had already heard my nickname “Heavenly Wing Knight” and teased me relentlessly.
Incidentally, Prim’s nickname had been decided as “Crimson Wing Knight.”
After that, time was taken up by final preparations and meetings, and before I knew it, it was time for the ceremony.
Only Prim and I would receive awards at the ceremony, but since we were in the same union, everyone except Rika was to enter together, wearing their Armor Coats.
I heard that Rika would be attending as a noble, being the head of the Marquis Amatista family.
“It kinda feels like we got dragged into this,” Ed grumbled.
“Stop complaining? You’re here now, so just face it.”
Ed was complaining, but the matter of the alloy had only just been reported to the Grand Crafter’s Master yesterday, so it hadn’t been announced at the Amister Crafter’s Guild yet.
They said that preparations for the report would take some time, so it would be a while.
However, it was expected to be announced tomorrow or the day after.
“Ed-san, you’re still in a better position. Both Rebecca and I are clearly caught up in this, aren’t we?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Raus and Rebecca drooped their shoulders and complained, but don’t think you’re in the clear, either!
“I know. Especially at the standing reception after the ceremony; they’ve been threatening me and Rebecca that we might be targeted.”
“Rebecca might be, but for Raus, it’s a realistic problem.”
Prim, who had been blushing all morning from everyone prying into what happened last night, seemed to have returned to her usual self.
“Ugh… I’m so nervous…”
“Even though we’re not directly involved… we’ll be under the watchful eyes of the nation’s esteemed figures, won’t we…”
Mina and Flam, unaccustomed to such events and practically strangers to them, were stiff with tension.
“With this kind of thing, it’s a win if you can just accept it?”
“It’s not about winning or losing, but I agree that accepting it is better,”
Lydia and Ludia, who had apparently been invited to several ceremonies in Valentia, offered advice to the two, but it was doubtful if it would be helpful.
After all, neither Mina nor Flam had such brazen personalities.
“Are you thinking something impolite?”
“Of course not.”
I quickly responded to Ludia’s mind-reading, hiding my momentary panic by not showing it on my face.
“No, it’s incredibly obvious. And your eyes are darting around.”
It seems my reaction was quite evident.
Also, why can you read my mind?
“I’m not reading your mind, you know. Yamato-san is just that transparent.”
“If you were to cheat, you’d probably confess it yourself.”
“If that were to happen, your nights would be very difficult.”
The Dragonewt twin sisters uttered unsettling words.
Anyway, I would never cheat on you!
Helios Orb did have a word for infidelity, but it primarily referred to married women having affairs with men.
It was common in Helios Orb, where polygamy was the norm, and tended to happen when the husband lost interest or during a period of marital fatigue.
However, the reverse was not unheard of.
Male infidelity often meant taking another woman without the wife’s permission, unilaterally creating single mothers.
Although still unmarried, Leonas, the former second prince of Valentia, fit this description.
In either case, the cause was often on the husband’s side, so infidelity was viewed extremely poorly and could sometimes lead to punishment.
I had no such intentions, so it was painful even to be suspected.
“If you find a woman you’re interested in, let me know in advance, okay? I might approve it, depending on the circumstances.”
I received these words from Prim, which were not at all appreciated, and I probably had a sullen expression on my face.
“Well, it’s almost time.”
“Huh? Oh, yes.”
“Just act as you always do.”
Marina was also a little nervous, but she had a thick skin, so she’d be fine.
“Thank you for waiting. When the doors to the Audience Chamber open, please proceed with Yamato-sama and Primrose-sama at the front.”
“Understood.”
I had already asked how far we needed to go, and since Prime Minister Lalaina would be leading the way, that was not an issue.
“Then, let’s go.”
Oh, the doors have opened.
Following Lalaina, Yamato and Prim lead the way, with Mina and Flam behind them, followed by Lydia and Ludia walking side-by-side.
Behind them were Raus and Rebecca, and at the very rear were Marina and Fiana, walking with Ed in between them.
Once we entered the Audience Chamber, private conversations were forbidden, so we were all silent.
But I was nervous, and I imagine everyone else felt similarly.
Only Prim walked with an undisturbed expression, perhaps due to her upbringing as a former noblewoman.
I moved my gaze around to survey the room.
The Audience Chamber was a two-tiered structure. On the throne at the top of the stairs sat Emperor Iver, of course, with Queen Roena and Sazanka on either side. Next to Roena were Prince Reinhard and Princesses Elis and Maruca, while Mana and Yuri were on Sazanka’s side.
Prince Reinhard was wearing the golden sword I had given him yesterday.
It was ostentatious, but he wore it well for a prince, which was impressive.
On either side of the stairs, at the very top tier, were the Grand Order’s Master and Associate Order’s Master. Below them, the Royal Orders were arranged with one tier in between.
Ah, Dianos, the Associate Order’s Master, was also wearing the sword I gave him yesterday.
I had intended it for a new design for his surcoat, but it looked perfectly fine on the luxurious armor of an Associate Order’s Master.
And below the stairs were nearly thirty nobles who supported Amister.
Of course, Rika was among them.
There were also individuals who were clearly identifiable as Hunters, possibly G-rank Hunters in the Royal Capital?
At the head of the audience group below the stairs were the Grand Hunter’s Master and Grand Crafter’s Master Alfred, along with several other individuals who appeared to be Guild officials.
Given that the Healer’s Guild Headquarters was in the Royal Capital, the Grand Healer’s Master was confirmed. The others were likely the Head Trader’s Master, Head Butler’s Master, and Head Hunter’s Master.
Actually, I thought it might be the Head Priest’s Master, but the attire he wore strongly resembled a hakama.
Well, female Priests were almost entirely in shrine maiden outfits, so it wasn’t entirely inexplicable, but as the son of a shrine priest, it felt jarring.
“Stop here. When I give the signal, kneel.”
Following the Prime Minister’s hushed instructions, we stopped and bowed at the signal.
We were told not to raise our heads, so I had to be careful.
Incidentally, Rex and Iris were already kneeling before us, and behind them were Muse, Riala, and Dart.
These individuals were also receiving awards, so they had entered before us.
“Be at ease. And now, for today’s main recipients: Rex Fallheight, Order’s Master of the Feel Branch; Iris Servant; Muse Couvel, of the Headquarters Escort Order; Riala and Dart; and Union Wing Crest.”
Upon being addressed by His Majesty, we stood up and bowed.
The bow, by the way, was a gesture of respect, with the right hand clenched and placed over the chest.
“I wish to recount their achievements prior to this ceremony. First, regarding the Orders.”
With that, His Majesty began to loudly proclaim the details of the recent Alliance.
The Demise Species and An Species were omitted, and the King and Queen of the Catastrophe Species were described as having been defeated one by one, with the King by me and Prim, and the Queen by Holy Grave and the Orders, mirroring the account in Feel.
Nevertheless, the fact that multiple Catastrophe Species, and a mated pair at that, had appeared was said to be an unprecedented event, eliciting great surprise.
Even though private conversations were forbidden in the Audience Chamber, murmurs and groans could occasionally be heard.
Not to change the subject, but the achievements of Holy Grave, who was not present, were also announced. A simplified award ceremony would be held upon their return to the Royal Capital.
“And now, for the achievements of Wing Crest. These are somewhat, or rather, fundamentally, beyond common sense. Everyone, listen carefully.”
This was supposed to be a ceremony to praise achievements, but I felt like we were being belittled.
Although I thought that, when they announced the subjugation of two monsters, Black Fenrir and Green Fang, right at the start, all eyes immediately pierced me and Prim.
Then, as the An and Catastrophe Species defeated by me and Prim were announced one after another by their specific names, and the demon stones used as proof were brought out, the gazes fixed on me and Prim felt even more intense.
“At that time, or rather, it’s strange to say, they apprehended a certain individual. That individual was Princess Marianne of the Retisentia Empire.”
It was at this point that the eyes finally shifted away from us.
Until now, it had been about defeating monsters, even if they were An or Catastrophe Species.
Of course, this was a significant matter, but the ones who had caused it were Princess Marianne and the Retisentia operatives. This was of higher importance.
“As a result, all the Hunters in Feel were apprehended, and furthermore, the former Hunter’s Master Saches Trennel, who had targeted my daughter Yuri’s life, was also taken into custody and brought to the Royal Capital the other day. An impartial investigation is currently underway, but Princess Marianne Rethysentia, Saches Trennel, and the leader of Hunter’s Raid Patriot Pride, Barbatos Jav, will be publicly executed in one week from today in front of Amagi Castle.”
Ah, the date for the execution had been set.
I personally didn’t want to see it and had been told there was no need to, but since Prim and I were the ones who captured them, I was contemplating what to do.
“And as you may have expected, two members from Wing Crest also participated in the Alliance and succeeded in defeating the Orc King.”
They described the battle in a way similar to the presentation in Feel, but to those who knew the truth, it was a gross understatement.
Well, it was true that we defeated the village King and Queen in passing, so perhaps that could be said.
“Finally, the leader of Wing Crest, Yamato Mikami, has evolved into an Ancient Human. Although only seventeen years old, it is a great blessing to have such a transcendent being in our country; it is truly a miracle.”
No, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, isn’t it?
It was true that I transferred to Amister from Valentia, but I moved to Amister immediately and decided to base myself in Feel, so perhaps it was appropriate to say that.
Well, it was a coincidence that I transferred, but if something like that hadn’t happened, I would have been more low-key.
“This award ceremony is to honor Yamato Mikami, the hero who saved our country from crisis, and the Orders who participated in the Alliance and prevented the crisis of our nation.”
I was a little bothered that the Orders seemed to be treated as an afterthought to me, but I would apologize properly later.
“Please wait, Your Majesty.”
At that moment, a man interrupted.
Who is this guy?
“To interrupt during a ceremony, as usual, the people of Retisentia have no manners.”
His Majesty raised an displeased voice, making no effort to hide his annoyance.
Is this the ambassador from Retisentia?
“It’s rather the country bumpkins of Amister who have no manners. Setting that aside, Your Majesty, are you truly considering the execution of Princess Marianne?”
“After what she’s done, why would you think she wouldn’t be executed?”
The ambassador was incredibly rude, but realizing that dwelling on it would not advance the conversation, His Majesty urged him to continue without concern.
“Naturally. Princess Marianne’s reason for visiting Amister was to marry Prince Reinhard for the friendship between our two nations.”
This was a troublesome development.
Executing a princess who came to marry, regardless of the reason, would be more than just a bad look.
Furthermore, although it had not yet been publicly announced, Prince Reinhard would ascend to the throne in the spring, and if they were to marry, Princess Marianne would become Queen.
It was a choice between public image and internal stability, and either way, it was sure to be troublesome.
“That’s an interesting claim. If she came to marry Reinhard, why was there no report to me or Reinhard? Why was Princess Marianne attacked by an An species, a Murder Bee, on the outskirts of Feel?”
“The lack of a report is simply your oversight, isn’t it? Honestly, you can’t even convey a single piece of information properly. That’s why country bumpkins are such a nuisance.”
The nobles were furious at the ambassador’s outrageous remarks.
I felt sick too.
“As for why she was in Feel, that land originally belonged to Retisentia. However, it has now been unwillingly occupied by Amister, which has even established a city there. Even Princess Marianne, had she entered Feel head-on, might have been unjustly detained, despite her purpose of marriage. In fact, I hear that Amister has not only detained Princess Marianne but has also used enslavement magic on her.”
He always had an answer.
These guys really only said what was convenient for them.
Mylight had been territory since Amister’s founding, and had no connection to Retisentia, which was founded after conquering small nations.
This was a fact acknowledged not only by Amister but even by Solemne.
“However, as an ambassador, I regret that such an event would ruin Princess Marianne’s betrothal. Therefore, His Imperial Majesty the Emperor has decreed that this transgression be forgiven in exchange for the cession of the entire Mylight Mountain range and the handover of the Ancient Humans residing there.”
I don’t know, at this point, it was so self-serving that it was almost laughable.
“Hahahaha! Ambassador, you would make a fine comedian. This is the first time I’ve laughed so much in a situation like this.”
It seemed I wasn’t the only one thinking this; His Majesty, the Princes, the nobles, and the Orders were all laughing.
“Ignorant fools…”
The ambassador muttered softly, but his words were clearly audible not only to me but also to Prim and the Prime Minister.
“So, Ambassador, you are acting under order from the Imperial King, is that correct?”
“Of course. Our country is an absolute monarchy with His Imperial Majesty the Emperor at its apex, and we are a disciplined nation.”
I felt like cracking open his head to see what was inside, to figure out what kind of discipline he was talking about.
“I see. Then I shall inform you in advance. Everyone, listen carefully. I will abdign my throne to Reinhard. I had originally intended to do so in the spring, but given the current circumstances, it would be better to abdicate here and now, and hold the formal coronation ceremony in the spring.”
Whoa, an abdication declaration on the spot!
I had never heard of such a thing during an award ceremony!
“Although I am abdicating, there are still transition matters to attend to. Reinhard will be the new King from now on, but I suppose I shall act as Regent until the formal coronation ceremony is complete.”
So, there will be two kings?
I don’t quite understand, but isn’t that a bad thing?
“I will explain in detail. I will serve as Regent, but I will continue to perform my duties as before until the coronation. The new King, Reinhard, will add the duties of a King to his current responsibilities. However, due to the suddenness of this, for the next few months, things will likely remain the same.”
That’s understandable.
I certainly didn’t expect him to abdicate on the spot, but if the system remains the same until the spring coronation, the confusion won’t be too severe.
“Oh. If you are abdicating to His Highness Reinhard, or rather, to Emperor Reinhard, does that mean you will accept Princess Marianne as Queen?”
Their thinking is entirely self-serving.
It’s the opposite, of course. Reinhard was forced to abdicate!
“Reinhard, it is up to you to respond to the Imperial King. This will be your first task as King.”
“This is an unpleasant first task. I’d rather be buried under a mountain of paperwork.”
Prince Reinhard replied with a genuinely disgusted expression. Seriously, paperwork sounds like a real chore for him.
“Well, you have no choice but to accept it. Ambassador, this is the response from the new King, Reinhard, to the Imperial King of Retisentia: ‘Stop dreaming and talk when you’re awake.'”
“…What?”
“Did you not hear? ‘Stop dreaming and talk when you’re awake.’ That is my reply.”
Wow, Prince Reinhard, that’s cool.
“…What do you mean? Do you, a mere country bumpkin of Amister, intend to refuse the betrothal of our First Princess of Retisentia?”
“Refuse? I have no intention of becoming a traitor who colludes with an enemy nation. As my father just announced, the public execution of the princess will not be changed. If you choose to raise an army on that pretext, Amister will meet you with full force. No, we will march into the Imperial Capital and take the heads of the foolish Imperial Royal family.”
The ambassador turned pale. After insulting us so much, he really couldn’t be serious.
“I-impossible! You, Amister, to destroy Retisentia?! Know your place, country bumpkin!”
“You are the one who needs to know your place. Our Amister has the largest territory and military strength on the Philia Continent. If you mobilize even half, no, a third of the Order’s Guilds, we could occupy your Imperial Capital in no time. Isn’t that right, Grand Order’s Master?”
“With all due respect, Your Majesty, a third is a bit of an exaggeration.”
Tolman’s words brought a smirk to the face of the Retisentia ambassador.
But that smile was about to freeze over with the next words.
“Even if it is Your Majesty, you are underestimating the Order’s Guild. Even a third is too many. For a mere Retisentia, one-fourth is sufficient.”
Tolman is ruthless.
It was said that if even a third of the Order’s Guild mobilized, the Imperial Capital could be occupied in an instant, so with new equipment, it felt like one-fifth would be enough.
“I apologize for that. And Yamato-kun, you have my permission to speak. Say whatever you wish.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
I hadn’t expected to be given permission to speak, but since I had the chance, I’d give them a scare.
Prince Reinhard, no, His Majesty now, was probably aiming for this too.
So, I stepped forward and unleashed my Manaring.
“Hieee!!”
“Now then, Ambassador of Retisentia? You’ve been saying whatever you please. I never expected you to be so disrespectful in front of His Majesty, but normally, that would be grounds for execution. Of course, you were prepared for that, weren’t you?”
“I-impossible…! Could it be… could it be that you were a Winged Tribe!?”
I had succeeded this morning, so I was confident I could do it again. It was a relief that it worked.
If I had failed, it would have been more embarrassing than anything.
“No, I’m just a normal Human. But I’ve caught on to a little trick. Well, it doesn’t matter to you, since you’re about to die.”
Saying that, I grabbed the ambassador in an Iron Claw and lifted him up.
Of course, gore in the Audience Chamber would be extremely disrespectful, so I was careful not to crush his head.
“Unhand me!!”
The ambassador struggled, trying to pull my arm away, but he was no match for my strength.
“We were also quite inconvenienced in Feel. Mina and Flam over there could have been in serious trouble if things had gone even slightly differently. Do you really think I would forgive a nation that caused such things?”
In fact, Mina had almost been captured by the Noble Dears on the night she arrived in Feel, and Flam had been on the verge of being kidnapped by the Cerberus Fang.
Since both the Noble Dears and the Cerberus Fang were Retisentia spies, I had no reason to forgive Retisentia, who used them.
“His Majesty just said it, didn’t he? If you want to raise an army, go ahead. But if you do, I’ll be the first one to fight back. If you’re prepared for that, bring as many thousands or tens of thousands as you like.”
“H-hieee!!”
Since I was using Manaring at full power, the pressure I exerted was immense.
The ambassador’s face contorted in fear as he desperately tried to escape my grasp, but I had no intention of letting go.
Careful not to crush his head, I slowly increased my strength and glared at him with focused eyes.
Oh, he just peed himself.
How disgusting.
“That’s enough. You, Yamato-kun, I’m sorry.”
At that point, Emperor Reinhard called out to me.
I gave His Majesty a slight bow, then carelessly tossed the ambassador aside and lowered my Manaring to its usual level.
I didn’t forget to use Supplication Magic Cleaning on the floor of the Audience Chamber, and on the ambassador.
“That’s how it is. If you have the resolve to make enemies of our proud elite Order’s Guild, and even Ancient Hunters, Amister will accept your challenge anytime. Understood? Then get out of here immediately!”
“Hieee!!”
As the ambassador fled the Audience Chamber with a shriek, the nobles looked satisfied.
Well, Rika just looked astonished.
I tried my best, you know?
“You overdid it, Yamato.”
Prim’s exasperated murmur reached my ears, but I didn’t think so.
