Just before meeting Alec, Kousuke had visited the Moon Altar on the forty-seventh floor.
His goal was to have a Divine Union with Jal.
This was because after hearing Eris’s oracle from Silvia, there was something he absolutely had to confirm.
The Divine Tool wielded by Silvia had, by now, become exclusive to Silvia, and Kousuke could not use it.
Provisionally, he had tried to get Silvia to check for him, but perhaps due to being busy, there was no response.
Therefore, he had come to have a Divine Union with Jal.
“Hmm. So, I’m second best?”
This was the first thing Jal said the moment he touched the Moon Jewel and tried to initiate the Divine Union.
“…Please forgive me. It couldn’t be helped, could it, that it’s faster through Silvia’s Divine Tool? …Right?”
Sensing Jal’s displeasure, Kousuke, while trying to backpedal, answered provisionally.
“Boo. I wish for you to create a Divine Tool for personal use! Of course, exclusively for you.”
“…Don’t say things so carelessly.”
“Oh? What are you saying. With your current abilities, you could easily create something like that, you know?”
“…Eh!?”
Kousuke was surprised by Jal’s words.
“….Did you not notice, perhaps?”
“….Yes….”
“…How should I put it, you can be a bit dense sometimes…”
“…I have no excuse.”
Kousuke could only feel dejected by this.
If such a convenient thing could be made, he would have prepared it sooner.
If he had prepared it, he wouldn’t have had to come all the way here.
For now, Kousuke decided to make it immediately.
“Putting that aside, didn’t you say you were short on time?”
“Ah, that’s right. …Is it, by any chance, that some god is involved in this matter?”
“…Why do you think so?”
“….A hunch?”
Kousuke tilted his head as he said this.
It wasn’t based on logic.
Of course, there was also the fact that Eris had conveyed the message in such an unusual way.
However, if asked whether that oracle was the deciding factor, he would tilt his head.
In the first place, with just those words, there were too few hints to connect it to a god being behind it.
Even so, it was also true that as soon as he heard Eris’s oracle, he had a vague idea.
That was precisely why he had come all this way to confirm.
“…A hunch, huh… Hmm… Well, it’s fine. For now, that hunch is correct. But I can’t tell you anything beyond that.”
“I see. Hearing that much is enough. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. As for payment, the Divine Tool for oracles I mentioned earlier is fine.”
“I will handle it with due diligence.”
“Incorrect. Political statements are not allowed. Unlike my sister, I have free time, so please make it as soon as possible.”
The moment Kousuke was about to answer, another voice interjected.
“…If you have free time, please help me with this.”
“Wha-!? S-, Sister!? Why are you here of all places!?”
“Of course, it’s to find you, you slacker. Therefore, I’m sorry Kousuke, but this is goodbye.”
“Ah, yes. Well then, see you again.”
“By the way, I would also like to request a Divine Tool for Divine Union for myself.”
“…Eh!?”
He wondered how long she had been listening, but by then, the presence of both of them had already vanished.
Kousuke, not being able to stay there forever, headed towards the temple on the Fifth Floor.
♢♦♢♦♢♦♢♦♢♦♢♦♢♦♢♦♢♦♢♦♢♦♢♦♢♦♢♦♢♦♢♦♢♦♢♦♢♦♢♦
As expected, Alec quickly recovered from the tense atmosphere.
He immediately smiled and said to Kousuke, “What do you mean by that?”
“It means exactly what I said… Ah, no, please let me explain first.”
Alec was about to say more to Kousuke, but Kousuke stopped him and explained.
“I’ll ask, but are you aware of the Crown Card’s Status?”
When asked, Alec nodded once. “Yes, of course.”
“That, actually, was created based on the skills I possess. To be frank, I can read the Status of others even without a Divine Power Engraver.”
At Kousuke’s words, Alec fell silent.
He seemed to be pondering whether what Kousuke said was true.
Without minding Alec’s reaction, Kousuke continued.
“It’s my first time meeting royalty directly, but it clearly states ‘
Kousuke, for his part, had never doubted it, nor did he doubt it now, but he deliberately said that to Alec.
After looking at Kousuke for a while, Alec’s expression suddenly softened.
“….There’s one thing I’d like to ask, does that also appear on that card?”
His tone and demeanor had changed from before. It wasn’t simply that he had become more arrogant. The atmosphere he exuded had clearly become that of someone accustomed to being in a position of authority.
Kousuke, being asked, didn’t know the answer to that, so he looked towards Wahid.
“…I haven’t had royalty register, so I haven’t been able to confirm.”
“It’s also my first time directly meeting royalty, so I don’t know if all royalty will appear.”
“I see.”
Alec nodded once, with a hum of acknowledgment.
“…So, as a Prince, I’m not allowed to be a Deputy?”
“As stated in the recruitment requirements. This tower has no intention of being bound by a single organization.”
Perhaps no longer intending to hide his identity, Prince Alec stared fixedly at Kousuke, who stated this frankly.
“That’s a naive ideal.”
“Is it?”
Kousuke tilted his head, but Prince Alec didn’t dismiss his words. He realized that Kousuke had already understood what he was thinking.
This tower was located in a place that had never been conquered since its discovery. The fact that a town exists now is merely a benefit of the Teleport Gate.
If Kousuke decided to close the Teleport Gate immediately, it would be easy to eliminate external influences, just as Kousuke said. Of course, before closing the Teleport Gate, those who wished could remain in the town. While it wouldn’t be as rapid a change as now, it would still be possible for the tower to grow at a leisurely pace. While he didn’t intend to do so at the moment, the fact that it was possible to do so was important.
“….Are you serious?”
Ultimately, what Kousuke was aiming for was equivalent to creating a nation centered around the tower.
“….What do you mean?”
“Do you seriously intend to create a nation?”
“Well, who knows? I won’t say such an outrageous thing as ‘I don’t need a nation,’ but at least for now, I don’t see the point in creating one.”
One of the roles of a nation is to protect its citizens and property from external enemies (primarily other countries). However, at present, the tower is hardly attacked by other countries. In the first place, there are no nations on the Central Continent, and it’s unlikely that nations from other continents would bother to come all this way. Even if they forcibly came through the Teleport Gate, the Teleport Gate itself could be closed immediately.
“…Why?”
“A nation is only established when there is a culture and people to protect. Currently, there is no necessity to protect citizens or property, so even if you say you’re protecting a culture with no history, it would have little meaning, wouldn’t it?”
“Is that so? I at least think there’s meaning in declaring it.”
“It’s too early for that. At least until the population increases somewhat to be called a city-state. Wouldn’t declaring it at this point just make you a laughingstock?”
To Kousuke’s question, Alec looked straight into his eyes. He had been looking at Kousuke’s eyes throughout the conversation. Seeing that, Kousuke understood that he was serious. Alec, as a member of the royal family, had the pride of having seen many people. Even to him, he had never met anyone like Kousuke. At the same time, a feeling of genuine enjoyment welled up from the bottom of his heart.
“Kukukukuku.”
Kousuke could only stare blankly as Alec suddenly burst out laughing.
Even though I included a part about confirming divine involvement, the conversation didn’t get that far. It will surely happen in the next chapter. …Probably.
May 11, 2014 – Typo correction
June 19, 2014 – Omission correction
