21. trial (5)
“Give me one piece of land.”
There is a reason why I can say this confidently.
It is because in the past, the emperor tried to bestow land on me along with the title of count.
Of course I refused.
I was going to travel here and there with the warriors anyway, so I wondered what it would mean to have land.
Although I would assign a manager, it was annoying to have land to be responsible for in my name.
It’s a little different now.
After installing the soon-to-be-invented Warp Portal at each major base, the time spent wandering around will be drastically reduced.
Then you can stay in the designated place and help the training more systematically and reliably.
Above all, it will make Malion and Galatea more comfortable.
I’ll be able to make more stable contact with the elves sent to distant lands, and occasionally let them rest in my land.
You might be able to afford a building or even a room for your party to stay in.
While the emperor clenched his forehead, the prince laughed and said,
“… If anyone hears it, they’ll think you’ve entrusted the land to the imperial family.”
the emperor was
“First of all, the land I was going to give you has already found its owner.”
“Yes. I am not that conscientious. Land is not something you ask for and take out like gold coins in your pocket.”
“okay… . It’s not difficult for Ian to give you a piece of land. It will take some time.”
“it’s okay.”
Although sudden and overly brazen, it’s not an offer they’d refuse.
“Are there any conditions?”
“I do not know… . If I have to choose, I want it to be a place where it is safe and where the residents are kind.”
“You make the toughest demands.”
At those words, the prince smiled bitterly.
“It’s not like you’re interested in politics, so you’ll need a trustworthy acting authority to manage it instead.”
“You are correct.”
“Okay. I will try to match it as best I can.”
After a few small nods, the emperor added.
“Hmm. It’s good that you, the prophet, came.”
Calling me a prophet.
That means I need some pretty important advice.
“Is there any way to completely replace the human body?”
I could understand the meaning right away.
Kylie and Beatrice.
I haven’t been able to properly decide how to compensate for the damage to their bodies.
You may have some ideas of your own, but you may need my advice.
“completely… It’s difficult to say.”
I know of a method similar to that.
From what I remember, it was very unstable, but if the imperial family actively helped, it might be completed properly.
It’s not that I don’t have good feelings for Kylie and Beatrice.
I didn’t have any ill feelings left to say this to play tricks on them.
It was just a matter of doing well in each position.
But I’m worried about Beatrice going wild again.
Looking at it today, it seems that Sylvia and Kylie can properly control themselves.
“The Magic Tower Master knows a similar method.”
“… Is that so too?”
It must have been the way the emperor thought.
The magic tower itself is a mysterious and enigmatic place, and it is also a place where such people gather.
In particular, it goes without saying that the magic tower master, their pinnacle.
Since nothing is well known outside, many people rather believe in the mystery of the name ‘Magic Tower’.
“i get it. You may as well leave.”
“Yes.”
“See you next time.”
The moment I got up, the door opened and Grace entered.
“Ah, Ian! I finally met you!”
Grace wasn’t even on the jury today.
The reason she is here… It would be obvious if you didn’t ask.
“Are you going to leave already? Even though I just arrived?”
“I’m sorry, poor princess. It may sound presumptuous, but I am also busy.”
“Hmm… . great! I’m a kid who knows respect! So let me see you off!”
“… it’s okay.”
After confirming the emperor’s twitching brow, I quickly avoided Grace and left the place.
“Ian Niyim-!”
***
The four members of the first hero party were in the waiting room in the basement.
They are in the same space, but not close to each other.
Except for Sylvia, who was acquitted, the three received a stay of execution by complying with a judicial deal.
Beatrice will be undergoing rehabilitation for the time being, and the rest of the three will be busy following the orders of the imperial family and put into battle.
Kylie’s right arm was cut off, but she was able to fight right away.
It will start immediately from tomorrow, and Sylvia will be the representative.
She decided to settle her profits at the same rate as the rest of the party, and donate the rest to the royal family’s charity.
Sylvia, who was sitting in the center, summarized the conversation she had just had with the imperial family in a notebook.
I was organizing it to show off when I met Ian later.
“Sylvia.”
Beatrice, who was sitting in the corner with her back against the wall, called out to her.
Sylvia only moved her eyes to look at her.
“The one I always write. what?”
“This one? just… .”
Sylvia looked down at the wrong answer note with sad eyes.
“The things I did wrong. to Ian. I wonder if the day will come when I will apologize… .”
I wrote something to brag about, but I didn’t bother to say it.
It was because he knew that he had no shame in himself.
“… okay. If I apologize while showing it, will Ian come back?”
Beatrice asked in a weak voice.
She didn’t seem to expect a very positive answer either.
Sylvia felt the same way.
I replied with a bitter smile.
“… no. That’s not going to happen. You can’t even wish for something like that.”
An apology must be a full apology.
If you want something from the target in return for that apology, that can no longer be an apology.
“… is it. I have a question, why did you stay? It doesn’t matter. If you want to apologize to Jung Ian… You might as well go find him.”
“… … .”
Sylvia couldn’t answer immediately.
There was a superficial reason.
It was to control Kylie and Beatrice, who didn’t know how and when they would run amok.
Although their bodies have been damaged, it will not be easy to subdue them if they decide to go on a rampage.
There will also be human casualties.
It’s different when you’re together.
‘But my true intention is… .’
I was just afraid.
Because I know nothing will change even if I see Ian face to face.
Once Ian is free to see, I will visit him whenever I have a chance to disturb him.
I would expect something from him, lean on him.
I know now that I am such a selfish person.
So, I rather chose to distance myself from Ian.
I decided to overwork myself so that I couldn’t afford to go to him.
“… Because I made a mistake too.”
Sylvia briefly summarized her many worries.
“It is my punishment that I have decided to stay here and be with you all. To be honest, it also has the purpose of monitoring and controlling you.”
“… … .”
“You won’t like it. Maybe you want to break the law deal and run away. However.”
Sylvia looked back at the remaining three of the party.
Beatrice listens to her story with dead eyes.
Kylie pretends not to listen with a furrowed brow, but is listening.
And Aria, who shrunk her body with her hands tightly clenched as if impatient.
“Now you guys can’t beat me. I won’t stop you from serving your sentence separately, but if you start a riot, I’ll go find you. certainly.”
Disaster Wizard.
Although there are evaluations that it is a bit inferior to Beatrice in terms of firepower that focuses on one point.
In any situation, considering the range of magic that can continuously project a certain amount of firepower and cover an entire city, Sylvia can never be said to be underpowered.
Even though they were colleagues, there were times when the party stuck out their tongues while watching Sylvia overturn the terrain.
Because of her, there is even a joke that the Empire cannot complete a standard map of the continent.
Kylie said with a frown.
“Why are you even bothering me when I’m still?”
“… Yes. Kylie, I’m so puzzled that you’re still.”
“… huh.”
“I’m not doing this to annoy you either. just… .”
Sylvia looked back at the three of them with rather pitiful eyes.
If it was sympathy, it could be sympathy, but if I had to question it, it was a sense of sympathy.
Although acquitted, Sylvia thought she was no different from them.
“Let’s apologize and atone together… . That’s it… .”
Kylie clicked her tongue at that.
Arya, who crouched with her hands together, said.
“Couldn’t Lee, Ian help us? I think that would be better… .”
She had been that way ever since she realized that her value in the world was gone and that only Ian could bring it back.
Instead of answering, Sylvia looked at her face and shook her head.
“ah… .”
Above the aria’s low moan.
“In this situation, what can I do… .”
Beatrice’s self-deprecation mixed with tears flowed.
The waiting room was enveloped in awkward silence again.
Among them, Sylvia, as usual, took out a notebook for incorrect answers and wrote them down.
Write down what you did well today.
Thinking of the day when Ian will praise you one day.
I wasn’t expecting much.
***
“Now I’m trying to match the sum of the three.”
Now that the trial is over, there is no reason to stay here.
As I prepared to leave immediately, I told my companions.
Until now, Lucia’s joining was delayed, so I had to solve several dungeons separately and observe her abilities.
It’s time to slowly merge.
While Kati trains separately with the help of Galatea and Malion, the other three will grow rapidly.
The party looked at each other with a somewhat nervous look, then turned their heads back to me.
It is quite common for warriors who do not agree to cooperate and attack their allies.
Moreover, they know each other’s strength well.
Even a minor mistake can lead to a non-trivial injury, so you have no choice but to be more nervous.
In particular, the biggest culprit of misidentification of allies during battle is the wizard.
“Ugh… .”
So, it’s understandable that Vivian is making a little sick sound.
But I believe you will do well.
Because Vivian has a strong tendency to underestimate her abilities.
“And you might think it’s a little early.”
I looked back at the three for a while.
The growth of the three is much steeper than I expected and anticipated.
So, I think it would be okay to advance the schedule and challenge for a higher place.
“I hope you all take the formal hero promotion test soon.”
“Nue?!”
“Yes?!”
“A regular soldier?”
Unlike the idiots, those who can be called ‘real’ warriors.
The criterion for that is, ‘regular warrior’.
Seeing the results of this cooperation, I will challenge my party to the qualifications of the official warriors.
That’s our group’s next goal.