“…”
Shen started chuckling excited at the thought that this seal might be a reason why he’s unable to fully expose his powers but only of the devil’s, making him imagine just what kind of ridiculous individual he’ll become the moment he’ll release the devil and defeat him.
The main reason why he became a cripple after the Alfheim incident was because his meridians got busted while his chi and mana-pool got emptied. Now, pure energy flowed through his entire body while his meridians seemed to be a few times tougher and wider than before, such having him many times stronger even without the devil’s powers. Adding the fact that his already enchanted senses got even more empowered, he was sure to be able on achieving new heights. Even so, at this moment he was unable to use any spell, skill, or martial art form without the devil’s energies; energies that are hostile to Shen, making him limit his own powers and having to use more mental strength than anyone else no matter the spell or martial skill. The thought of actually having his powers sealed down by the seal together with the devil seemed to be extremely plausible for Shen, and also the only reason why he might have no power on his own at the moment.
Hearing him and watching his serious eyes, Sabin couldn’t help but pray that the seal will never be broken.
He’s already ridiculously strong as he is, if that seal truly holds his powers in check, then it better remain there, for the collective good.
Shen then laid down in his bed to relax and started chatting with Sabin about the future plans for around two whole hours when an urgent knocking sound resounded at his door.
“Yes?-“
Not even able to get up from his bed and the door opened widely with a slam, a maid rushing inside desperately.
“L-Lord Johan! Your attendant is nowhere to be-…”
“… Yo?”
While seeming to be hyperventilating from panic, her eyes fell on Sabin who calmly stood by the window, saluting her with a confused face.
“………”
The maid couldn’t help but freeze momentarily. She asked for every maid inside the palace to search for him, only for him to be actually hiding inside Lord Shen’s room.
I-I’m pretty sure I was guarding his room, while my friend guarded Lord Shen’s… J-just how did he appear here-… The window?!
The thought of him actually simply crawling on the wall and circling the tower to reach Shen’s room completely flew out of her mind, thinking that a simple assistant should never be able to do such things.
Seeing her still not saying a word, Shen took the initiative to ask after getting up from his bed,
“So? I guess we have been summoned by now, yes?”
“Eh? A-ah! Yes! P-please, this way!”
The maid immediately woke up from her daze and turned around to show them the way, not before to throw a last sharp glance toward Sabin for making her worry like that, Sabin answering with a wink.
Guess I already got a fan. And faster than Boss Johan no less. Damn, I’m good.
After 20 minutes of walking, they finally reached the main hallway where at the end of it two tall doors stood tall, behind it being the throne hall and where the queen was waiting for them to arrive.
“As I thought. I damn hate uselessly large houses.”
“But boss, this is a palace.”
“Still a house for me….”
“Ahahaha~ as expected for boss!”
The maid couldn’t help but sweat while hearing the two chat so lively behind her, thinking that if any of the maids or guards were to be heard saying such words about the imperial palace, their own necks would’ve been placed at stake for that.
In front of the great doors toward the throne’s hall, two fully armoured imperial guards stood tall. After they saw them, one of them entered the hall and announced their arrival. The initially noisy hall turned silent and the maid gave them the signal to enter.
“Woah. This really makes me feel nervous.”
“Why? Everything has been explained already. All you have to do is to bow your head and let me speak. After that, we can go and search for a place to stay in. My butt still hurts after sitting for 3 damn days straight in that flying carriage. I need a bed.”
“Alright.”
“Lord Shen, Sir Sabin, the queen is waiting…”
The maid was already at her wit’s end for having the two of them make the queen wait. Seeing her almost starting trembling with teary eyes, Shen and Sabin complied and entered in the end, a loud shout resounding just as they entered, lightly startling Sabin.
“LORD JOHAN! HERE TO GREET HER HIGHNESS! QUEEN LORANA OF VICTORIA!”
“”…….””
Many eyes fell on them just as they entered, especially on Shen who walked without much interest in front, Sabin following shortly after, a serious and even a nervous expression on his face.
Shen looked upwards toward everyone around and observed some familiar faces. There were the elite warriors of Victoria, together with Yuri, Elder King Leorio, and even Jian was there as well, a smile forming on his face after seeing Shen.
After reaching in front of her highness at a good enough distance, Shen shortly inclined his head in respect while Sabin bowed his waist 90 degrees, afterwards standing tall while only looking downwards.
“I, Founder Johan of Antara Kingdom, greet her highness Queen Lorana of Victoria Kingdom.”
Lorana then got up from her throne and lightly bowed her head the same way, showing that the conversation will be held on equal standings with her on her feet.
“Queen Lorana greets Founder Johan of Antara. I am glad you made it here, Lord Johan. Wish your way here was not too uncomfortable.”
“It was fine, especially because Elder King Leorio kept me and my servant some company.”
Shen lightly bowed his head to Leorio as well and Leorio answered just the same, a great smile on his face. The nobles around couldn’t help but look with curiosity, contempt, and even with some suspicion at Shen and Sabin, some even staring daggers at Jian, already knowing bits and pieces about their relationship.
The queen then announced, a calm expression on her confident face,
“Elder King Leorio together with my assistant Yuri have both narrated me the happenings of Antara and, together with my trusted nobles, we reached a conclusion over our alliance. Victoria will be gladdened to open up a trading road with Antara for brute resources at the market price, while keeping a martial alliance of mutual assistance. King Tian and his army will also assist us in the upcoming wars against Urius. As for Lord Johan, your promise with Lord Yuri will be respected as I invited my master here to include you inside the educational ranks.”
“…”
It sounded extremely favourable for both parties. However, Shen didn’t like one thing,
Mutual martial assistance? No, no, little girl, you’re wrong with one thing.
He smirked lightly and Leorio had a bad feeling about what he was about to say.
“My queen, I guess there was a misunderstanding?”
“Pardon?”
The queen and even the nobles frowned, the tension inside the throne’s hall raising and Sabin staring at Shen with some urgency, instinctively reaching out for his dagger in case of anything.
With a confident smile, Shen then continued, sharply announcing and correcting one mistake,
“Your highness said something about mutual martial assistance. Right?”
“Yes? Am I wrong?”
“No, of course not. However, maybe us, or maybe your assistants forgot to add a little detail~. There will be a mutual martial assistance, but only against Urius. If we wish to assist your kingdom in wars against other kingdoms, then we’ll need to restart negotiations or sign a separate martial treaty for other kingdoms.”
““What?!””
The nobles couldn’t help but get up from their seats in a revolting manner as even the queen wasn’t pleased with what she was hearing. Afterwards a loud tiger-man noble roared out in indignation,
“So you’re saying that Victoria should help Antara against any and all external threats, while Antara will help Victoria only against Urius? Just what nonsense is this?! Being so close to the borders, not only Urius, but Sava and the Nostrung Empire itself has freeway toward us! And not only, but Leorio and Shoro kingdom, the North-Western and the Western kingdoms, have since long eyed us, even though we’re under the same empire! Now you tell us Antara will offer their assistance only against Urius? What nonsense is this?!”
Following his words, many other nobles started shouting and chatting between themselves of how dishonest and unfair Antara could be.
“So you take my words as unfair?”
“Of course we do!”
Another human noble shouted without even waiting for the queen to open her mouth.
Sabin couldn’t help but tense up, trying to hold back his annoyance for as much as possible. Even so, he still whispered in Shen’s ear.
“Boss… Should I make some order in here?”
“Don’t. I got this.”
Shen answered back while grinning and Jian, who already knew what will happen from his past experience when they first met, covered himself with a barrier and proposed to Leorio and Yuri to do the same for themselves and the queen. The old man beside the queen heard Jian, and without even thinking twice he did just that. At first confused, they both quickly understood what he meant and hastily did as told. Just as they enveloped the queen with a barrier-
-BOOM!-
Shen’s aura exploded and every noble, general, guard and even the elites quieted down in an instant as they all felt their breath cut for a short period of time with their hearts beating wildly. At first, they all couldn’t comprehend what just happened, but then they felt Shen’s burning red gaze shining over them all. Shortly after, Shen retreated his aura, but for the ones who felt it, it seemed as if Shen released it for around 5 minutes when in truth it was just 2 seconds. With a calm tone and a wide smile but sharp gaze, Shen then started talking,
“Now that everyone has calmed down, let me tell you my reasons as well. You think my requirements are unfair, but you forgot that the reason why I’m here in the first place is to teach the next generation a much more powerful form of magic out of this world.”
“…”
Although they felt quite a huge amount of suspicion for his words, nobody dared to say anything against someone who proved himself with his aura alone. Seeing that nobody said a word, Shen then continued with the same natural confidence,
“As you may or may not know, I’m coming from another world, as I am a player. What many don’t know is that because of the lack of mana from our world, our ancestors came up with ways to enchant this mana and our perceptions through various ways. Through severe diets, forms of training the spirit, mind, and body, excessively complicated magic circles, runes which connect the mage to the Universal System, entering in contact with spirits and forming contracts with them, such using their powers for a respective price, detailed forms of circulations through breathing. So on and many more other forms which help the mage to create spells that need the minimum amount of mana.”
His voice resounded powerfully inside the room and everyone listened intently. Seeing that he got their full attention, Shen continued,
“However, from all of this knowledge, only a few actually have profound knowledge of how to apply them as well. Now here a good and a bad part. The good part: I am part of those who have knowledge of such information. The bad part still remains, which is, I only had enough time to learn but a small percent of such hidden knowledge from back in my world.”
“… How small is that percent?”
The queen asked curiously while Jian and Leorio listened intently. Yuri already knew the answer as he was in the same predicament,
“I dare to say that not even 5%.”
-BOOM!-
The tiger man that talked before slammed his table furiously then roared again,
“And you’re telling me that your much more powerful magic is actually just 5% of the total of information from your world?! You’re not just insulting the Victoria Kingdom, but the entire Sario!”
Shen then waved his hand amused and laughed while saying,
“My, please calm down~. Who said I’ll teach them all of my 5%?”
“W-what?!”
“If they can scrap at least 5% of my 5% alone then you can say you’ll get quite the elites in your numbers.”
“YOU LOWLY BASTARD-“
“General Steward!”
It was the queen’s turn to shout annoyed and looked at Shen with a conflicted gaze,
“May I know what you mean by your words? You ask us to give you martial help whenever the need, while Antara will offer theirs only against Urius, together with not even 10% of your whole knowledge? Which is not even 5% of the total magic knowledge of your world? Just how does that work? Founder Johan.”
“It will work just like that. Think of it this way, Queen Lorana: My knowledge is like multiple doors, and I’m someone who has so many doors through different forms of spells and magic that even I’m not sure which to go through and continue researching. Hence, here come the children you will bestow upon me to teach. My job then will be to show a befitting door and let them walk through it and show them how to master the path they walked onto. Because this world’s mana is abundant, I can guarantee it that even if one of your children will be able to grasp 0.1% of my knowledge alone then understand it and give it a form to make it their own 100%, then I’m sure that one child will turn out to become the strongest mage or fighter in this kingdom. With the exception of Yuri who is also of my world and has a similar amount of knowledge.”
“?!”
The nobles, the queen, and even the elites turned toward Yuri who smiled awkwardly, raising his arms in surrender.
“W-well… Lord Johan is right and wrong at the same time.”
“Oh?”
Shen looked confused at Yuri, thinking that the actual reason why he wasn’t the one to teach the Victorian’s students was because he was actually not good with teaching. For him to hear that it was actually another reason made Shen listen curiously.
“It is true that I’m from the same world as Founder Johan, but actually, those who have such knowledge don’t even number in 5%, and even between these few individuals, even less actually know how to put this knowledge in practice. When I was still in my world, I was never able to materialise my spells, no matter how much I tried, but Johan is one of the few who was able to do so even with the barely existent mana from Earth.”
“…”
This time nobody could say another word, but their dissatisfaction about the negotiations and how they soon will have to introduce an outsider inside their ranks still prevailed in the air, making the air polluted with tension.
Feeling the unfriendly tension in the air, Shen thought to get straight into business as he wished to leave that place as quick as possible, having to prepare for his future classes as soon as possible.
I can’t have my time be wasted on some arrogant buffoons who suspect one another after a rebellion.
“Your highness, for personal reasons I’d wish to have my assignment bestowed upon me as soon as possible. Wish this selfish request of mine won’t incite any malice between the two kingdoms.”
-Murmur, murmur-
The nobles became more agitated after hearing such words and even the queen seemed somewhat confused as for why he was in such a hurry. However, she still nodded and with a respectful tone, she showed the old man that stood right beside her.
“If so, then Founder Johan, please meet Patriarch Astaroth, the head of the church and also my greatly respected master.”
“Greetings, Young founder.”
Astaroth bowed his waist lightly and smiled respectfully, showing great courtesy to Shen. Seeing him so courteous, Shen did the same, bowing his waist and greeting with a polite smile.
“Greetings to you, Patriarch Astaroth.”
Seeing how the two were actually able to communicate without much difficulties, Leorio, Yuri, Jian, and even the queen, smiled reassured then she continued talking.
“Because the schools can’t interfere with the kingdom’s political matters, the royal family won’t be able to interfere with the church’s system, either. Such, we will have to change our meeting place to the Patriarch’s throne hall.”
So the Patriarch also has a throne… Now I understand why it was said that the patriarch has almost the same amount of power as the King or Queen of a kingdom… I wonder, is there a Matriarch as well? I guess there should be someone here on Sario.
Just as everyone prepared to get up, Leorio then interfered and asked for everyone to sit back down.
“Before changing from one throne’s hall to another, let’s also discuss who shall go inside Antara’s kingdom as a representative of Victoria.”
“Huh?”
“Ah…”
Many nobles stared surprised at first, while Yuri’s face paled for a moment, remembering about the last and the most politically important term in case Antara fell into the losing champ: A representative of Victoria Kingdom will be welcomed inside the Antara’s ranks.
This term was also Antara’s way of saying: If we lose, then we’ll openly accept a spy in our ranks and we won’t be able to do anything. And knowing that Shen lost the duel, Victoria was now hastily balancing the political might between the two powers as Shen already was supposed to become somewhat entangled into their business as he’ll acquire the rank of a teacher soon enough.
Shen was staring calmly at Leorio and Leorio couldn’t help but feel his forehead sweating, even so, a triumphant grin was slowly forming on his face.
I beg your forgiveness Lord Shen, but everything has been decided at that time and there’s no turning back.
Although he didn’t know how to contact him telepathically, Leorio knew that Shen was now listening to his thoughts, trying to understand his plans.
Just as he expected, Shen indeed listened to his thoughts, but what he heard only made Shen smile amused while his eyes turned sharp.
Indeed, there’s no turning back. A promise made shall never be broken, even by royalties.
“Hm?”
Shen answered telepathically, but what made Leorio have a bad feeling wasn’t the fact that he was inside his mind, but the fact that his eyes shone with an expectant glint as if he was waiting for such things to happen.
“Indeed, we are now supposed to choose a trusted great noble to become our Victoria’s representative inside Antara. Elder King Leorio and I have already reached a conclusion, but we’ll still need to ask for everyone’s assistance on choosing the best person for such a mission.”
The queen didn’t suspect anything as she already began making plans for a loyal and great spy to be sent inside Antara.
Yuri and Jian also felt like something isn’t right. Jian thought that things went too smoothly for Victoria to suddenly have a legal spy inside Antara, while Yuri also felt like Shen was letting such a weakness appear inside his kingdom just way too easy.
Is he going to actually use that representative as a prisoner against Victoria…?
Both of them thought at the same time as nothing could stop Shen or Ryu to do so if they wished. Although that would risk a war with Victoria, depending on the value of the said person, Antara could truly have Victoria under their foot.
While Leorio was racing his mind trying to figure out what Shen was planning, Yuri and Jian smiling warily at themselves, and Sabin staring around with a sleepy face, queen Lorana finally announced the person they thought of sending inside Antara.
“Showing incredible political might and proving himself as an elite of Victoria Kingdom, I nominate Count Darius as Victoria’s representative to become one of Antara’s ranks!”
Applauses and agreeing noises resounded everywhere inside the hall, everyone showing a considerable amount of respect for the dark fairy who was also part of the elites that visited Antara. Darius got up from his seat and bowed his waist with a neutral look, showing a composed air and a firm spirit. Everyone thought that he was the best choice to scout out Antara inside out, but only Shen seemed somewhat disappointed.
What… Just a Count? I expected a Duke at least… but a count? Sigh~….
Shen shook his head then he coughed once, resounding loud enough to make even the windows to vibrate. With a neutral tone and expression, Shen then continued, taking out his secret card in case there was no great individual sent into his kingdom.
“I’m sorry to break it to you, but I’d wish to have King Leorio remember the promise we made right before defeating the corrupted noble.”
“”?!””
At that moment, the entire hall muted and their gazes turned toward Leorio. The queen started remembering of that hectic moment and the promise he made with Leorio in exchange for his immediate assistance: For my assistance, one of your requirements will be nulled, and a price of one thousand gold will be paid.
“One of your requirements will be nulled… Don’t tell me…?!”
The queen’s face paled and king Leorio’s expression also seemed as if he aged another few years, never expecting for Shen to use that one nulled request here and now.
“I’m glad you remember it.”
Shen smiled brightly, amused by their grieving expressions and the confused nobles. He then looked at Darius who was just as confused, telling him:
“Your services are no longer needed. Aren’t you happy? You’ll be able to stay home and enjoy your free time.”
““W-what?!””
Darius exclaimed revolted with a frown on his face, while Fify, the bluish-white lightning fairy, did the same but with some happiness shining in her beforehand emotionless eyes. Darius was also surprised by her reaction, but he simply sighed out, still wanting to understand what happened.
“M-my queen! I beg for an explanation!”
The tigerman from before interjected with worry and the queen answered as if for everyone. Sabin, even though he showed no interest in what was happening just now, seeing how the snobbish nobles suddenly changed their expressions like that, made him listen with quite the amusement visible on his face.
“To defeat the fallen noble, Count Gerald Daluz and his evil tricks, we asked Lord Johan for his immediate assistance. In exchange for that, we had to pay him one thousand gold coins and to null one point from the agreement of the duel. And it seems the point he wishes to null is exactly the one of having a representative inside Antara…”
““!!!””
“H-how can we let that happen?!”
“We got tricked!”
“Such crafty thoughts! And are we supposed to ally with them?!”
“This is like shaking hands with the devil!”
That last one… aint that wrong…
The nobles started revolting and even Sabin was left baffled after hearing the queen’s description, thinking that some of the nobles’ feelings were justified. However, the one who boomed now to silence everyone was no one other than Leorio,
“QUIET!”
At his thunderous roar, nobody dared open their mouths, some having them agape. With a furious expression, Leorio shouted as if disappointed by his people.
“At that time Donaria was going through a huge crisis! Victorians fought Victorians and the capital was in flames! Just from estimations, we can say that almost two hundred innocent residents died as more than one thousand of our own soldiers meet their ends because of our incompetence while our loses continues especially inside the residential and royal areas! Without exaggerating I could say that this was one of the harshest blows Victoria Kingdom had to suffer the past two thousand years!”
Everyone wore grave expressions as nobody could talk against Leorio’s words. They all understood that such an unpredictable event made Donaria suffer an incredible amount of damage. And his next words made the nobles even more dissatisfied but with even less possibilities to comment back.
“All of this could have been a few times worse if not for Lord Johan’s timely assistance! For only one thousand gold coins and one request, Lord Johan decided to not accept Daluz’s request of making him king over Victoria, but to immediately defeat, capture, and handle him to us alive and completely extinguish the flames which almost destroyed the entire Donaria! And are you all still crying over a few requests?! Victoria was supposed to be a kingdom of warriors! Not of little sassies!”
““WE WERE WRONG, MY KING!””
All nobles lowered their heads with their right fist at their hearts, an expression of solemnity covering their faces. Most of them couldn’t help feeling ridiculous over their own reactions, others were still revolted but not daring to show.
