Vol 2 Chapter 5 (2/2)
「What business do you have here?」
「I was called for by his Majesty the emperor」
Hiro dropped the jute bag that was on his back onto the ground and carelessly thrust his hand into it
When he pulled his hand out, in it was a single sheet of paper which looked like a piece of trash
「This」
「… It looks like garbage no matter how you look at it」
Indeed Hiro thinks so, too It looks even worse than when Liz handed it to him
After being handed the letter and reading it, Aura tilted her head
「I understand the gist, but how do you intend on entering the Imperial Palace?」
「… With my black hair and eyes」
「That won’t work right now It see the different factions in the Iive you the time of day」
「If I show them this letter…」
Aura sighs and shakes her head with her hand on her forehead as if she were troubled
「… Do you think anyone would believe this garbage-like letter to be from his Majesty the emperor?」
While calling it garbage, Aura deftly folded the letter with one hand and handed it to Hiro
「A letter fro one may never receive in their entire lifetie is unheard of Even if you were allowed passage with this, you’ll be executed for lese majeste」
「That’s true, huh…」
「There’s no choice I will go along with you」
「Eh?」
「If I go with you, you will be allowed entrance」
「I would be grateful for that, but…」
As he looks behind her, it seeathered around them at some point
Further behind her, the Ihts, who are known as the elite of the Third Imperial Army, have been knocked down by the children
「Big thith Aura! Where are you going?」
A young girl with a lisp tugged at Aura’s sleeve
Aura pats the young girl’s head and smiles
「I aed man here, Alfred-man, will play with you」
Hiro is certain that Alfred had a startled look on his face
Aura ignored hian to walk ahead of him
「P-Please wait a moment! Lady Aura, whaaaaa!」
Not knohat you would call restraint, the children rush Alfred In no tiure
「S-Stop that I am a noble! Do you think it fine to do this?!」
「I am his Majesty Schwarz, and I will defeat the mummy man! 」
「Then, I’eneral Celia!」
「Then I’m his Majesty Altius!」
「Wh-What are you… stop that! Don’t touch me there!」
Alfred tries to speak, but the children sinore him
Children are fearsoht Hiro
They walk back the path they ca the way, Aura speaks to Hiro
「Listen, the place to which we are heading is thought of as a brilliant place where only the chosen people of this world live, and that is not incorrect However, please do not forget that it is also a haunt of wickedwith jealousy and desire You absolutely uard down」
「Okay」
「Be careful of those who coo carelessly to those who call out to you Be especially careful of the wo to ruin because of a woman」
「Are you worried about me?」
She glared at him sternly after he said that
「Please listen silently」
「Okay…」
「Unfortunately, I can not follow you all the way in The one his Majesty called for is you after all」
「You’re right Well, I’m a bit iffy on the etiquette, but I think it’ll work out somehow」
「I hope it does…」
After that, they both fall silent and si
After they cliate about five tiht came into view
The end points are sharpened like spears, and it gives off a solemn air
Seeing Aura, a soldier runs over
「Brigadier general What brings you here today?」
「I was couide this person to the Imperial Palace」
Aura pointed at Hiro
The palace guard opened his mouth to speak as he stared at Hiro to evaluate him
「… I have not been given such notice I apologize, but I cannot allow entrance」
A large crease appears between Hiro’s brows That’s impossible
The emperor personally sent him a letter
There’s no way the palace guards weren’t told that Hiro would be co
(I wonder if someone’s behind this…)
There’s a high possibility of so Hiro’s visit
It’s also possible that the palace guard may be under someone’s control
Aura spoke quietly
「Is that so? Then give me your name and affiliation」
「I’m sorry?」
「You doubted me, a close aide of Third I punishment」
In other words, this is a threat on his position if he doesn’t allow him entrance
「Th-That’s…」
The palace guard’s face twists in mortification You can see fro
After a while, the palace guard hung his head
「Please, pass through」
He felt just a bit sorry for the dejected soldier, but Aura passed through the gate indignantly, so he followed after her
There were rounds as security, with a small platoon constantly on patrol
Hiro walks along a wide path surrounded by a rose garden as guards glare at hi for any suspicious movements
Moving directly ahead, there is a large fountain and a four way split
On the west side is an area lined with mansions of pro grounds for the elite “Golden Lion Knights” of the First Imperial Army
On the north side, is the center of the Grantz Grant Empire, the Imperial Palace Wenezein
As he comes abreast to Aura, she speaks to him
「That palace guard earlier, he’s under the patronage of the Krone house of the Five Great nobles They support the First Imperial Prince, so please be careful They do whatever it takes to get what they want Do you know the incident regarding the death of the head of the Kelheit house of the Five Great nobles?」
The Kelheit house is the house of great nobles who oversee the east
Because they lost the head of their house about threeas his deputy
Publicly, it is said to be due to an accident fro off a horse In actuality, it seems the theory of an assassination is plausible
「I assume that it is the work of the Krone house I don’t have proof… but they’re going as far as proposing e to duchess Kelheit, who only just recently lost her husband They’re likely ai to take over the Kelheit house Because they’re such a shameless bunch, I doubt they would hesitate to poison you in the Imperial Palace」
「I understand I’ll be careful of the Krone house」
After Hiro gives his thanks to Aura, they arrive at the Imperial Palace and he catches his breath
It was not because of the beauty of the I up from within his chest
It looks like it’s been reconstructed a nues of the Io
(… It almost feels like I’ve come back home)
This was the first place he visited when he was summoned to this world
This is where everything began
He exchanged vows to be blood brothers with Altius, welcoh a world of wars
It is also the place of ending, where the kingdom became an empire, the wars came to an end, and where he said his farewell to Altius
The place of beginning and ending
(No matter what awaits me ahead of here, I won’t stop)
While e, a new tale, the “hero” from a 1,000 years in the past steps into the Imperial Palace once more