Chapter 39 (1/2)
Chapter 39: The Fog of Malice
(Part 2)
During breakfast the next day.
Anyone would be curious upon hearing that a person capable of crus.h.i.+ng anki armies or nests with meteors has suddenly showed up and is just wandering around town.
All the more so for the city’s powerbrokers.
Which is why the mountain of requests for a face-to-face that have been flooding Irudo’s place is only natural.
The best method to handle this kind of situation is to proactively offer information from my side to convince them all that I pose no threat to the city.
“...... and that’s what I think. How is it?”
“...... It is exactly as you say.”
After listening to me, Irudo mulls over it for a bit, then nods.
“I really doubt there’s anyone looking to bring your wrath down on themselves. There’s also the report that I delivered, so I agree that there is no need to react in an extreme manner.”
In comparison to me, who has knowledge even less than that of a child in regards to this world’s common sense, Irudo’s judgment is way more reliable. Especially in matters such as these.
“But it still feels wrong, doesn’t it?” (Mora)
Mora’s mouth does her usual へ thing. She is right, of course.
And although I know this sounds terribly unrealistic, but her words seem like the harbinger of bad things to come. I don’t want to say this, but yes, it sounds like a flag.
“Well, I don’t think anything will happen, but just in case, I’ll lend these to you two.”
So saying, I hand over two magic items—a ring for Irudo, and a pale green mantle for Mora.
“Amazing, this mantle is so light! ……Eh?”
“Wha-! Mora?!”
As soon as Mora put on the mantle, her lovely figure vanishes. It is the D&B basic magic item Elven Mantle.
“Calm down. Mora is still there. That’s a mantle that makes the wearer invisible. She can return to normal just by taking it off.”
“Really……? Ah, I’m back!”
Mora’s figure reappears in her previous location.
“Normally, you can keep it folded up and bring it along.”
“Such valuable items…… we are not worthy of them.”
“Are you two not among my small number of collaborators and friends? I would be greatly troubled if something truly befell you two. Irudo’s item is called Genie’s Ring. When you rub it, a spirit of wind, called a genie, will appear and grant you three wishes of anything you ask. I say ‘anything,’ but it’s restricted to combat or physical labor.”
The genie is a relatively strong monster, clocking in at level 12. If it’s Irudo, he should be able to use use it well.
Irudo reverently holds the ring in both hands and bows. Mora also deeply lowers her head.
“Thank you greatly for your regard. These items, we shall hold onto them with the utmost care.”
“Th-, thank you very much, Gio-san!”
“Please keep these secret, alright?”
As a further precaution, I cast [Invisible Demon] once on each of them. The demon summoned by this spell can only obey one command, and would retaliate if the words of the command are not chosen with great care. The upside to this spell is its long duration. The command I gave the demons this time is “If anyone attempts to cause Irudo (Mora) harm, restrain that person for 1 hour.”
I also summon one more demon for myself and give it the same order, add [Detect Enemy] and [Emergency] for good measure. For the immediate future, let's make sure to always have these three activated.
♥♦♣♠
Several hours later, I am swaying inside the carriage that Irudo had prepared for me, on my way to the Council Hall.
The purpose is for a meeting with the Chairman of the Council of Lelis, Zatou Braus-s.h.i.+.
While watching the bustling streets of Lelis flow by on the other side of the carriage’s windows (not gla.s.s windows), I mentally sort through the information that Irudo had provided me.
The area around Liuus Lake used to be the territory of the Kingdom of Liuus,which was va.s.sal to Shulendal. When the kingdom crumbled due to internal strife and civil insurrection about 40 years ago, influential merchants and n.o.bles in Lelis advocated for autonomy. Their success gave birth to the present-day independent city-state of Lelis.
Lelis is currently being managed by the Council’s conferences. The criteria for becoming a Council member is to either be the head of the Lelis branch of a Guild (and also an extremely affluent merchant), or be a member of one of the n.o.ble families that helped with the struggle for autonomy. The merchants and n.o.bles have formed factions and are constantly fighting to wrest power from each other. Well, that’s only natural, I suppose.
The current Council Chairman, who I will meet soon, is also concurrently the Head of the Merchants Guild. Although he has reigned for a long time as the top of the merchants faction, he is one of the few people capable of thinking about the city’s benefit as a whole (according to Irudo).
Therefore, he is the most suitable person to explain to that I am harmless to the city of Lelis—that I can rather be of great benefit.
In the midst of my thoughts, the carriage stops in the wide, open plaza in front of the Council Hall.
The entrance of the grave, solemn building that seems to weigh on anyone who approaches is decorated with two statues: one of the G.o.d of Commerce, who is this city’s guardian deity, and the G.o.ddess of Winter, who protects all people from anki.
“Are you the Great Wizard, Gio Margils-sama? We have been expecting you. Please, this way.”
The city official that had been standing ready at the entrance escorts me to the parlor without delay.
♥♦♣♠
“You are most welcome, Great Wizard-dono. I am the Chairman of the Council of Lelis, and go by the name Zatou Braus. Please pardon my rudeness for having you come all this way.”
The Council Chairman is a man in the prime of his life with a splendid beard. There is absolutely zero sense of servility from his deep bow of respect.