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"Baron Musou" Chapter 29: Audience
🕑 Added 2023-06-05 10:44:49 +0000 UTCThe next day, Lucius and the others were in the hall of Lord Strauss's castle.
"Listen, first I will communicate with His Majesty," Lord Strauss spoke firmly, and Robel nodded.
But the capital city is far away.
It should take several days on horseback to reach.
—Is the king coming to Barondia?
There's no such feeling.
It's a quiet morning after the festival.
"It's time. Please."
When Lord Strauss called out, several men and women appeared from one end of the hall.
From their attire, they seemed to be servants working in the castle.
The servants exchanged a few words with Lord Strauss and stood behind Lucius and the others.
One of them placed a hand on Lucius's back.
"Prepare yourself."
As soon as he felt the surge of magic behind him, his consciousness was blown away.
"Waah!"
He wasn't unconscious, he was literally blown away.
Only his consciousness was soaring through the sky at an incredible speed.
Leaving the castle, gliding over fields and meadows, overtaking the clouds.
There was no sensation of flying on his own.
It felt as if someone invisible was embracing him.
"What is this!?"
"I'm using the formula to transport only our consciousness."
Looking sideways, he saw Olivia, who had become translucent, flying through the air.
Behind her were Lord Strauss and his father, Robel.
Everyone's souls seemed to have been forcibly ejected from their bodies and were gliding through the air in their transparent forms.
Only their consciousness, at an unbelievably fast speed, leaping over mountains, passing through forests, and crossing rivers.
—This is also the power of the formula.
Bewildered, they passed by numerous villages and towns they had never seen before, and just as they were getting used to it, a strange sight came into view.
In the far distance on the horizon, an incomprehensible thing was towering.
—Lines connecting the sky and the earth.
A gigantic vertical line.
"What is that?"
"That's the Tower. A divine structure said to have existed since the Blue Age."
The current era is called the Green Age, with the previous era being the Red Age.
And even earlier than that, it is said to have been the Blue Age.
In other words, it is a building constructed in ancient times.
Lucius and the others approached the Tower.
It seemed that their destination was somewhere around there.
As they got closer, it was indeed a structure.
However, it was beyond the classification of a tower.
After all, it pierced through the clouds, and the end couldn't be seen.
When they looked down to the ground, a huge city built around the structure spread out.
Looking again, they could understand the enormity of the Tower.
The building, which was probably several kilometers in diameter, stretched to the end of the clouds.
"That is the capital city, Bloodford."
Olivia pointed and descended rapidly towards the center of the town, in other words, towards the castle built leaning against the tower.
Ignoring the castle walls, she approached the castle directly from above, passing through the gate while still semi-transparent.
Along the way, the guards saluted and caught our attention.
- Can they see us from around here?
We passed through numerous corridors and doors at high speed.
And finally, we arrived at an exceptionally large hall.
My consciousness, which had been flying freely, suddenly came to a halt.
I slowly landed on the floor, polished to the point where reflections were visible.
At the moment of landing, Count Strauss quickly knelt with his transparent body.
"Your Majesty, I hope this message finds you in good health. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule."
- Your Majesty?
Olivia, Robel, and Lucius followed suit.
"Greetings are unnecessary. State your purpose."
In front of Lucius and the others sat an elderly man whom they had met when they were three years old.
Around the king were numerous sturdy knights and courtiers.
He had aged since their last meeting, but his gaze seemed even stronger.
" I have four reports to make, for which I have been granted an audience."
Count Strauss continued speaking while still prostrated.
"First, I take full responsibility for the recent disturbances. Upon Olivia's coming of age, I will pass the title of Norris Windsor's head to her."
The king's eyes moved as if lost in thought.
"Hmm, so be it. The nobles' trust may not be with you, Count."
Regardless of the outcome, the fact that he took the daughter instead of the noble cannot be twisted.
To maintain trust in the family, it seems that Count Strauss personally must bear all responsibility and abdicate.
Count Strauss bows lightly.
"Secondly, I have allowed Olivia to challenge the next throne. She has defeated the Griffon and demonstrated her resolve to the northern nobles."
The king's eyes widen.
The gazes of the guards flanking him also focus on Olivia all at once.
"I have heard the rumors, but was it true?"
"Yes, it is true."
"Then, is the other story also true? It's hard to believe at first glance."
"That is the third matter. Lucius, the eldest son of the Dragon family, has defeated the Evil Dragon."
The king rises from his chair.
The guards instinctively step forward, one step closer to the king.
Everyone eagerly peers at Lucius, who is prostrating.
"Is there no mistake!?"
"There is no mistake. We have received a formal report from the former head of the Orléans family as well. A letter is expected to arrive shortly."
"...As expected, the Quartet of the Four Elements. What kind of creatures reside in the other magic cores?"
"Currently, only the Evil Dragon."
The courtiers and knights begin whispering among themselves, causing a low wave of murmurs to fill the hall.
"Nonsense! Are you saying you defeated the Evil Dragon without even holding a formula!? Unbelievable!"
"It is indeed the truth."
"Lucius, is this true!?"
The king addresses Lucius.
- Can I talk about this?
I look to the side and Count Strauss and Robel exchange a meaningful glance.
"Yes, it is true. I have been saved multiple times by the sacred sword bestowed upon me by Your Majesty. Without the sword, I would have perished. I express my gratitude once again."
"Is it true that the report from the spy that you are proficient with swords true..."
- A spy... Sending such a thing to a mere child.
"According to what I heard from Olivia, you confronted the Evil Dragon in order to save your maid."
"I still find it hard to believe. It would be different if I could see the Evil Dragon with my own eyes."
The advisors standing nearby raise their voices.
"Your Majesty, please stop! While entry into the capital is allowed in the form of a doppelgänger, we cannot allow the presence of an Evil Dragon within the royal city."
"I understand. After all, it was someone from the Orléans family who reported this. There should be no mistake... However, what should we do?"
- What is he hesitating about?
Count Strauss and Robel remain silent, not uttering a word.
Seeing Lucius confused, the king adds an explanation.
"Once upon a time, the Dragon family, your ancestors, defeated a dragon and were ennobled as barons. That is a historical fact. If we give nothing this time, it will disrupt the standards we show to the nobles. We need to give something equivalent to a title."
"Thank you. I understand."
"Lucius, do you have any requests?"
To be honest, I'm at a loss for an answer.
If there were any, it would be support for the financially struggling Silverheart territory, but it felt inappropriate to ask for money. I have enough savings to live as long as I don't indulge in luxury. That's just being much more modest than the average noble.
All that's left is knowledge.
I definitely want to know the method to evolve the Evil Dragon, both for my own survival and beyond.
Gufel has offered her cooperation in this matter as well.
It's too late for mediation now.
"...There's nothing in particular."
"You have no desires at all?"
The king pondered for a while.
"Very well, then I shall grant you what I can. I bestow upon Lucius the title of Baron. After succeeding him, he shall integrate it with the title of Dragon Baron."
A commotion erupted in the surroundings.
Among them, a courtier standing closest to the king stepped forward to advise him.
"Your Majesty, I respectfully disagree! Granting a title to a child who has not yet reached adulthood is highly unusual!"
"Then, what shall we grant him? He himself has stated that he doesn't want anything. Shall we give him a stipend? Or perhaps another treasured sword? I possess no sword greater than the one he already has. Furthermore, it is not unprecedented for a person not yet of age to hold a title."
"However, that is usually the case when a child inherits their parent's title before reaching adulthood. Granting him the title he will eventually inherit now is somewhat..."
"It is a carefully considered decision. Lucius must bear the responsibilities befitting his title."
Robel, who had remained silent, spoke up.
"Your Majesty, I respectfully disagree. Lucius is still a child. He is currently in the process of learning his duties within the territory. It is too early for him to engage in activities outside the domain."
"Lord Dragon, I understand your sentiment. However, once the dragons have appeared, it is no longer confined to the Silverheart territory alone. Therefore, it is understood that Lucius must be brought here to this place."
"...I understand."
Although I sense some underlying meaning, I can't quite keep up with the important parts of the conversation.
Since the word "integration" came up, it is likely a title without a territory.
Just because there is no territory doesn't mean the status is low.
In fact, many nobles working at the court do not possess any territory.
In other words, will he be working in the capital? No, but earlier they mentioned that he couldn't enter the capital in his human form.
As I spun my thoughts around, the king returned his gaze to Lucius.
"Lucius, I decree by the authority of the king. You shall house the most superior-level magical beasts within the remaining three magic cores and hold a ceremony. You shall become the cornerstone of national defense. How you utilize your title is up to you."
"I understand. I will definitely present the most superior-level magical beast in the ceremony."
Robel, still dissatisfied, maintained a disgruntled expression.
Count Strauss, perhaps considering the conversation concluded, continued speaking.
"There's one more thing. I would like permission for the engagement between my daughter, Olivia, and Lucius."
For Lucius, it didn't quite register.
Undoubtedly, Olivia would become beautiful in the future.
However, the memories from his past life were stronger, and he couldn't see a ten-year-old girl as a potential romantic partner.
Moreover, in his past life, his parents never allowed any romantic involvement, so he had no experience in love whatsoever. Since leaving the forest, Olivia has shown affection towards him for some reason, but he didn't know how to respond.
In essence, concepts like marriage and betrothal held no realism for him.
Despite Lucius's confusion, the king responded without hesitation.
"That won't do."
"May I ask for the reason?"
"You should understand. As I mentioned earlier, since the Evil Dragon will be part of the ceremony, we cannot treat him as the heir to the Baron household. Furthermore, if the lord's daughter is to ascend to the next throne, it becomes even more important. If it's a concubine, you can do whatever you want, but Lucius's marriage partner shall be determined by me or the next king."
"I understand."
Lord Strauss seemed to have anticipated this to some extent and wore a face that said, "As I expected."
"Very well, this will be the final matter. Olivia Norris Windsor, daughter. If you are to ascend the throne, you should be familiar with the customs."
Olivia respectfully lowered her head.
"Of course, Your Majesty."
"In that case, I shall bestow upon you the Tacto territory in the eastern region. Within your domain, establish yourself as Viscountess Olivia and prosper."
"I have received your command. I will govern the Tacto territory as you wish."
—The eastern region?
Lucius didn't understand why a prominent noblewoman from the northern region would go to another state's territory.
"T-Tacto territory!?"
Lord Strauss panicked.
"Do you have any objections?"
"N-No, it's not that, but aren't there other lands that have lost their lords?"
"Those lands have already been claimed by other candidates. I declared my candidacy for the throne at this time. Only the remaining lands that no one has taken are available."
Lord Strauss hung his head.
"That concludes our discussion. As for Lucius's future, I will inform you later. You may leave."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Both Lord Strauss and his father, Robel, voiced their agreement with pained expressions.
After saluting, Lord Strauss quietly gave instructions to someone.
Immediately, the field of view went dark.
As everything became invisible, a light and floating sensation enveloped them.
With a start, Lucius opened his eyes to find himself in a room in Lord Strauss's castle.
It seemed that he was lying down.
As he half-raised himself from the sofa, covered with blankets, Lord Strauss and the others were also waking up from the sofas arranged in the same manner.
—Returning was instant.
"Why? Why the Tacto territory?"
Soon after returning, Lord Strauss raised his voice in anger.
"Father, it can't be helped. Other families had already put forward candidates."
"I can see the reasoning, but why the eastern region?"
When Lucius asked, Lord Strauss answered with a tone of admonition.
"The king is chosen through the votes of all the noble families."
In this context, the term "noble families" refers specifically to those who hold noble titles, meaning individuals with peerage. It does not include spouses or children like Lucius' mother, Emily.
"However, if it were simply based on a vote, there is a risk that someone who gains support through organizational backing would rise to power, leading to the weakening of the country. To prevent this, candidates for the throne must go to territories where the lord has been lost and govern there, demonstrating their abilities internally and externally. Naturally, if they were assigned to their home state, they would easily receive support from their family, so they are allocated to other states where support is less likely to reach them."
It is not uncommon for the lord's family to become extinct. There are various reasons such as the death of the current lord or the heir, whether due to illness or in battle. Typically, such territories are allocated to neighboring lords or court nobles who do not have their own territories. However, in this case, they are temporarily assigned to a candidate for the throne to assess their governing abilities.
"I see. In that sense, it's somewhat fair, isn't it?"
"The Tacto territory is a place where the lord was killed in a rebellion. It is the worst place in terms of trust towards nobles."
—The lord was killed?
Robel also looks bitter.
"Do Lord Strauss and Olivia have to go to such a dangerous place?"
"No, only Olivia will go. It is not permitted to bring retainers."
"Huh?"
A ten-year-old child heading alone to a territory where the lord was killed in a rebellion.
It's unthinkable, and Lucius directs his gaze towards Olivia.
"Lucius, I am prepared. I will definitely accomplish it."
"Olivia—"
When Lucius was about to say if she would be okay, Olivia covered his mouth with her finger.
"See you later."
With those parting words, Olivia disappeared into the depths of the castle together with Lord Strauss.
