Game Opportunity Becomes Reality Episode 121
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Game Opportunity Becomes Reality Episode 121
31. Reshuffling of Power (1)
Allen, a mining town in the southern part of the Robert Kingdom.
Allen, whose main product was tourmaline, frequently used in alchemy, had all its residents stop working and tremble in anxiety due to an abnormal phenomenon that had been occurring for about 30 minutes.
"Why on earth is communication down?"
"Did a war break out somewhere nearby?"
Communication never goes dead without a reason.
This world's communication was based on the Hollywood System, which used mana in the air as a medium.
To cut off communication, one would have to interfere with the mana in the air, which was an artificial phenomenon that could never occur naturally.
Communication jamming magic was a 7th Circle technique using methods similar to Spatial Movement Interference Magic, so it was only natural for the residents to worry about war.
-Thud! Thud!
"There it is again!"
"What on earth is happening?"
Furthermore, a low rumbling noise accompanied by vibrations from far to the north grated on their nerves.
"This sounds like the bombardment of the Heaven-Piercing Fortress. I heard it on the battlefield when I was young."
And at the village hunter's following remark, the residents, who had never imagined the noise could be cannon fire, could not help but turn pale.
"Shouldn't we evacuate?"
If something major were happening, they would normally be notified before communications were cut and bombardment began, but with no measure taken by the kingdom, their anxiety only grew.
"Huh!? What's that?"
It was then.
The village had a stream connected to the swamps of the northern jungle, which was unusable as drinking water due to parasites and was used for irrigation and from that stream, a drenched person emerged.
The residents naturally stepped back, wondering what was going on now.
"A-a person?"
"Is that a mythical beast?"
A figure that appeared to be a small-statured woman staggered toward them with the help of a mythical beast controlled by a spell.
Whatever else might be uncertain, a mythical beast could tear a person apart with ease, so the residents could only cower in fear.
"P-please give me a vehicle."
But as she said that and closed the distance, the people's expressions turned to horror.
"Your Highness the Princess?"
"Is it not Her Highness Princess Rin?"
"I I must be seeing things."
No matter how caked in mud she was, a gem was still a gem.
The residents recognized her at once from her fair face and sharp, distinct features.
Princess Sia Rin was a figure hailed as the treasure of the Robert Kingdom.
Moreover, her fame had swelled even further recently due to the Saintess contest.
Why would someone like that be in such a state?
A puzzle piece clicked into place in the residents' minds.
'Yesterday, rumors circulated online from the capital's residents that something seemed to have happened at the royal palace.'
'The sudden paralysis of communications.'
'The sound of the Heaven-Piercing Fortress's bombardment echoing from afar.'
'A princess fleeing as if being chased by someone.'
'A rebellion!'
When the residents fell silent, Princess Sia Rin bit her lip.
She had spoken to them because the situation was so urgent, but showing herself to so many people had been a mistake.
However, what happened next made her blink in surprise.
"It's too dangerous for you to drive alone. We have a commercial truck we use at the mine let's disguise you as cargo. I'll do the driving."
Then the women hurriedly brought blankets, covered her with them, and helped her into the truck.
Princess Sia Rin nearly shed tears in that moment, but she swallowed them back.
"I can't put you all in danger. It would be safer to just say your truck keys were stolen."
She knew she was in no position to be picky, but she could not help worrying about the residents going out of their way for her.
But they responded to her concern like this:
"No matter how ignorant I am, I can tell that whoever attacks Her Highness the Princess is in the wrong. We're doing what we believe is right, so please don't stop us."
A pure heart with no political calculation.
They rather forced her into the cargo bed of the truck as if kidnapping her.
Even though this was a sudden, unannounced situation, their actions were utterly resolute.
The residents' unwavering actions seemed to prove to Princess Sia Rin, who had been trembling with rage at the betrayal of those she trusted, that her life had not gone wrong.
"The sound came from the north, so we'll head south. You have the teleportation artifact, right?"
It is common knowledge among ordinary people that the Heaven-Piercing Fortress uses Spatial Movement Interference Magic.
They had already cut off communications, so there was no way they would leave teleportation coordinates untouched.
It made no sense for royalty to have no evacuation artifacts at all, yet here they were in this state the only explanation was that teleportation itself was blocked.
So the best course now was to head to a place where teleportation was possible.
The truck departed without even waiting for the princess's permission, and the princess, overwhelmed with gratitude, finally let the tears she had been holding back spill over.
-Wheeeeng!
It wasn't a flying car, but an ordinary truck running on the road still, it was far faster than a person could move on foot.
The vehicle glided smoothly along the road with a driving hum reminiscent of an electric car.
At this rate, it seemed they would reach the safe zone before long.
"Oh no..."
But...
As life rarely goes according to plan, the driver and the princess soon found themselves facing a crisis.
[Stop]
[Checkpoint inspection]
Had they barely driven three kilometers?
Soldiers had appeared from who knows where and were blocking the road, conducting inspections.
Worse, among them were even warriors wearing Vanguard equipment.
Naturally, the driver's and the princess's faces turned deathly pale.
Sensing their fate, the princess apologized to the driver with tears streaming down her face.
"I'm sorry. It's all because of me..."
At the princess's apology, the driver thought:
'Once we're stopped for inspection, it's over.'
If Princess Sia Rin were captured like this, he, as a witness, would be disposed of.
With that, the driver made a quick decision.
"It's not over yet. Hold on tight!"
If he was going to die anyway, wasn't it better to choose a more meaningful death?
With that, the vehicle veered off the main road and tore down a side path.
"Wha What!? Stop that thing!"
"Catch him!"
Naturally, the eyes of the soldiers and warriors all snapped toward the truck.
"Your Highness the Princess! Is teleportation ready yet!?"
The princess's heart was heavy with the driver's spirit of sacrifice.
Because of her, he was going to die, helplessly.
"Your Highness the Princess!?"
"Ah, not yet!"
And so began a chase between the army and the truck.
-Bang! Rat-a-tat-tat!
As if their goal was the princess's life, the soldiers opened fire on the truck with magic guns without hesitation.
But the skilled truck driver weaved this way and that, pressing forward steadily, and before long, the princess could feel the Spatial Movement Interference Magic growing faint.
"Your Highness the Princess! Are we close!?"
"Almost there now!"
However.
-Booom!
"Ghk!"
"Grrk!"
That chase came to an abrupt end the moment a Vanguard on a Hoverboard appeared.
With a single Force Attack, the ground exploded, and the heavy mining truck was sent flying helplessly through the air.
-Crash! Crunch!
"Guuaaah!"
The driver, who crashed down amid the truck's debris, suffered severe injuries that shattered his entire body.
"P-Princess... Are are we there yet?"
Even with his terrible injuries, he spoke to the princess.
But no answer came back to his question...
"The princess is gone!"
"Damn it!"
The flustered shouts of the soldiers answered in her place.
* * *
The Royal Palace of Lionel, the capital of the Kingdom of Rhinehearts.
I walked the central avenue toward the King's Palace with Arcia, leisurely taking in my surroundings.
The Royal Palace, on a vast park-like grounds, features twenty-two castles and mansions set against green groves in a classical style, but every building and bit of landscaping is arranged to form magic circles it is considered the most "appearance-versus-reality" facility in the world.
It saw no use in the recent civil war, but each building is practically a magical weapon, and the serene-looking Royal Palace is said to be capable of fighting ten Heaven-Piercing Fortresses simultaneously in an emergency.
Among all the spaces in the Royal Palace, the most important is undoubtedly the King's Palace where the King resides.
That is why the palace buildings are arranged to encircle the King's Palace as if protecting it.
Because of this design, moving from one building to another often meant passing in front of the King's Palace, and the central avenue was naturally crowded at all times.
Administrators, maids, soldiers, academy students, and even nobles who had advanced into the center.
All kinds of people came into view.
"I greet the Duke and the Lord Marquis."
"Yes, hello."
As Arcia and I passed by, everyone stopped and bowed their heads.
Soldiers and maids were one thing, but even the haughty administrators and nobles with official positions did the same.
Originally, the Kingdom of Rhinehearts had two Dukes and six Marquises, but after the Second Prince's rebellion ended in failure, the power structure was reorganized, reducing the numbers to two Dukes and four Marquises.
As one of the two Dukes and one of the four Marquises, it was only natural for Arcia and me to receive such reactions when walking through the Royal Palace.
I was now one of the pinnacles of the kingdom's power.
"Your Grace Duke Lawrence, Lady Marquis Klein, it is an honor to meet you. I am Baron Zerd, Lord of the Zerd domain in the northern Cornell region. I currently serve as the Director-General of the Triton Continent Bureau under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."
"As befits the kingdom's greatest couple, you are beautiful as always today. I am Viscount Marco, Department Head of the Planning and Coordination Office in the Ministry of Justice."
Was it because there were so few nobles around me now who could be called close associates?
The nobles who had been walking with their necks held high as if they were the best just moments ago now came rushing over, rubbing their hands together eagerly to offer greetings.
They act as if they'd tear out their own livers and gallbladders for me, yet in their own domains, every one of them plays king.
They approach thinking that seizing a spot among my close associates where competition is low would guarantee their rise to success, but since I have no interest in politics or public office yet, I merely accepted their greetings formally.
"I'm sorry, but I have an appointment with His Majesty."
"Ah, well, that can't be helped then."
The moment I invoked the King's name, the nobles fell silent with looks of regret on their faces.
But they only closed their mouths every single one of them kept glancing at my side.
It was obvious why they were doing that.
After all, a man they'd never seen before was occupying the spot next to me, alongside Arcia, as if it were his right.
They all seemed curious about which family he belonged to.
"He's our kingdom's new treasure."
"Pardon?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
With those words as my last, I led Arcia on my right and the tall man on my left up the steps to the King's Palace.
"What's the matter? Is the nobles' attention uncomfortable?"
When I asked the man walking beside me, he scratched his cheek.
But unlike such a seemingly innocent gesture, an incredibly deep voice rang out.
"It's not that I just never expected to be dragged into the spotlight so suddenly."
Having cast off the pitch-black attire he usually favored and donned a neat suit, he was none other than Gregory Hayden Blue Moon's Aura Master and the partner of the Mental-series Spirit Summoner, August.
With dark circles under his eyes and pale white skin, he had an appearance that evoked a vampire that should never see sunlight.
Why did I bring him to the King's Palace?
Simple.
It was to grant him an official position.
"Please announce us."
Shortly after, I arrived before the 'Great Hall of the Throne' in the King's Palace, and spoke to the court administrator standing guard before it, who served as both butler and secretary.
At my request, the administrator bowed deeply and announced toward the great hall beyond the door.
"Your Majesty, Duke Lawrence and Marquis Klein request an audience."
[Let them in.]
The answer came through a speaker.
At the same time, the thick metal doors opened, revealing the 'Great Hall of the Throne.'
The Golden Lion Throne sat upon a high dais, looking down upon all.
But the King was not on the throne he was seated at a desk placed below it.
Two desks were arranged side by side at a certain distance; one was the King's seat, and the other was the Crown Prince's seat.
The reason the Great Hall of the Throne had come to look this way was for the handover of power.
It meant the King would soon step down.
"I greet the Golden Lion of Rhinehearts."
As I paid my respects to the King, he nodded his head out of habit and gestured for me to rise.
"So, our comet of Rhinehearts wishes to see me?"
The Comet of Rhinehearts.
It makes me cringe, but that is my epithet.
Having risen from the second son of a backwater viscount family to Duke in merely half a year, it was only natural such a title would stick.
"I have something to report, so I requested an audience."
"Rather than reporting to Crown Prince Michael beside me?"
The King, who intended to pass the throne to the Crown Prince, was no longer the man everyone once knew.
He seemed completely drained of strength, exuding the atmosphere of a retired father.
His eyes no longer held ambition or zeal.
As you can tell from his reaction, he doesn't like me much.
He seems to think the recent turmoil inside and outside the nation is my fault.
It was the Crown Prince who originally planned the Second Prince's death doesn't he realize it was me and Arcia who ended the civil war without major losses?
No, I suppose he simply doesn't want to know.
'I understand. He was always a father who worried about his children's futures more than the nation's.'
He just needs someone to vent his frustration on.
"Your Majesty, that is too harsh."
At his words, the Crown Prince beside him tactfully chimed in to take my side.
The King let out a deep sigh, then nodded for me to speak.
With the King's permission, I gestured toward Gregory and spoke.
"He is Sir Gregory Hayden."
As the King's gaze fell on him, Gregory bowed his head politely.
But the King's expression remained sullen.
As if to say, 'what do you want me to do about it?'
A flicker of irritation rose in me, but the Crown Prince beside me gave an apologetic look asking for understanding, so I let it pass.
"I believe the goddess's blessing has descended upon our nation since the Saintess was born in the Kingdom of Rhinehearts. A new Aura Master has appeared in the kingdom."
"W-What did you say!?"
"...."
At my follow-up words, the King shot up from his seat, and the Crown Prince's perpetually narrow eyes widened slightly.
"Sir Gregory."
At my instruction, Gregory took a pen from his jacket pocket and formed an Aura Blade over it.
An Aura Blade of deep blood-red, contrasting with Arcia's pure white light.
At that, the King's face was filled with bewilderment rather than joy.
"Is he a vassal of the Duke?"
"Yes, he is my retainer."
"And will he remain so?"
"Unless he wishes to leave my service."
"Hah, your fiancée is an Aura Master and your subordinate is also an Aura Master? There are nations in the East that barely possess a single Aura Master..."
"I was fortunate. My fortune is the nation's fortune, is it not?"
The reason I requested this audience was simple.
To introduce Gregory and secure him a Count's title.
But right now, the King's expression was filled only with wariness.
Here, the discerning Crown Prince needed to step in.
"Having a subordinate become an Aura Master how enviable. Congratulations to you as well, Sir Hayden. I hope you will assist the Duke and become a beacon for this nation."
"Yes, I will keep that in mind, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
As expected, the Crown Prince was different from the King.
Unlike the King, who showed wariness at the thought I might become a threat to the Crown Prince, he offered congratulations with a smile first.
What followed was an excruciatingly uncomfortable exchange of pleasantries, doubling as a probing session.
From 'how did you come to know Gregory' to 'when will you marry Arcia.'
Throughout it all, the King's grumbling and the Crown Prince's efforts to smooth things over while keeping my mood from souring formed a strange harmony.
'The King needs to step down now. Rational conversation is impossible with him.'
'The Crown Prince grows more unfathomable by the day. Truly a daunting figure to deal with.'
That was my assessment of the two.
"It seems the two of us are the only ones talking here."
"Haha, indeed."
As the conversation dragged on, only the foxy Crown Prince and I were speaking.
"I trust Sir Gregory's treatment won't be a concern?"
"Treating people according to their ability is only natural. You will hear good news soon."
"Thank you."
Deciding this was formality enough, I ended with a request to take good care of Gregory's title, paid my respects to the two, and headed out of the great hall.
"Y-Your Majesty!"
Actually, I was about to leave.
But the sudden arrival of the Minister of the Royal Household stopped me in my tracks.
"At the royal palace's emergency teleport gate just now!"
Emergency teleport gate?
'Ah, the one used to provide refuge between allied nations?'
The King shot me a look to hurry out, but curious about what came next, I pretended not to notice and stayed put.
The flustered Minister of the Royal Household paid me no mind and continued.
"Princess Sia Rin of the Kingdom of Roberto has appeared with severe injuries!"
At the minister's report, the King and Crown Prince and I as well all widened our eyes.