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Chapter 223 ~ A Warrior’s Request

“Ja, dear Vater. That is all. However, I do suspect they will come to request your might again soon… Of course! I shan’t disappoint you! Yes, dear Vater.Guten Nacht!”

Pandora’s Actor, still adorning his form of the tall, massive figure of the Supreme Magic Caster – that in his opinion, barely captured the greatness and majesty that his father had – bowed grandiosely into thin air, with a hand in his chest and the other spread opened, as the message ended.

The soft moonlight illuminated the darkened room through the windows. But any one or thing that would attempt to see into the room, physically or through magical means, would be disrupted. The caster would suffer from psychic damage, and Pandora’s Actor, the caster of the protective array, would be informed. 

The scrolls Demiurge had been able to produce, with the resources given to him by Yuuji-sama, were truly potent and useful. They’ve been extremely helpful during missions. 

Pandora’s Actor walked towards the windows and looked out into the courtyard of the castle and the cityscape that beheld him. A peaceful night of tranquility. 

‘No attempted assassinations… yet. No one asking me to help overthrow the King or soliciting me into a faction. The golden princess did an excellent job.’

He praised his colleagues, Albedo and Demiurge, for finding such a useful tools for the advancement of his Vater and the Supreme Beings’ goals. 

Though perhaps this too was all according to the Supreme Beings’ plans. He heard from Albedo that Yuuji-sama was the one who informed her of the golden princess’s usefulness. 

Truly, what incredible minds. Their wisdom was truly beyond comprehension. 

He thought to himself, until the tranquil silence of the evening was disturbed by a knock on the door. 

“Yes?”

“Ah, it is Climb. I am Princess Renner’s bodyguard. Please… my lord, may I come in?”

The broken voice of a boy nearing manhood carried through the thick wood. 

The expected visitation came, and so he rose, went to the latch, and opened the door. 

The boy entered, but not alone. 

There was a second figure, hooded and cloaked, and stooped over like an old woman, held over the back and at one arm by the young blone knight. 

“Thank you, Lord Gown. Thank you.”

Climb said with his eyes down at the stooped figure he held onto. 

The master of disguise himself, Pandora’s Actor immediately saw through the disguise, blinked, and gestured to the table. 

“You are welcome. And please, King Ramposa. Take a seat and make yourself comfortable.”

The stooped figure rose up straight and gestured to his ‘escort’ to let him go. 

Then, the old king threw back the hood that concealed his face, revealing an astounded expression with a helpless smile to the magic caster. 

“What spell did you use to tell who I was, Lord Gown? I consider myself well versed in magic, at least as non-magic casters go. But I’ve never heard of a spell that gave a man’s name.”

The King had dropped all formality in that moment, and Pandora’s Actor felt like he was seeing another man altogether. For an instant, he could see what he must’ve been like in his youth. 

A powerful leader who commanded great respect from his warriors. A king who led not from the rear, but at the very front, personally leading the charge. May it be in the field or in the castle. 

The Ever Changing Faceless Phantom simply chuckled and snapped the lock shut over the closed door. 

“No magic, King Ramposa. Just a simple glance to young Climb here who looked very much like he was holding a tighter by the tail, and closer look to the figure beneath the loose and heavy clothing.”

“Forgive me, your majesty. I inadvertently revealed your disguise without meaning to.”

Climb immediately bowed in embarrassment and apologized. 

Ramposa took the magic caster’s invitation to sit and sat down in the chair with a heavy grunt. 

“No. Anyone else I would have fooled completely. We made it past plenty of nobles without more than a glance when you said you were taking a servant to be healed by the new caster. It is just this one is more clever than most.”

King Ramposa raised a respectful chin towards his guest and smiled at the young knight. 

“Thank you, your majesty.”

CLimb expressed his gratitude for the forgiveness. However, the King immediately went to the main objective of his visit. 

“I have no time for games, Lord Gown. How powerful are you? Are you on par with Fluder Paradyne?”

“I am more. More than you can even imagine.”

“I see… Then I wish to hire you. Knowing my Gazef, he must’ve already been here to beg for your help on my behalf. I promise I did not put him up to it. He’s simply… very enthusiastic in his defense of the nation. A trait I wished upon every single minister and nobles within these walls. Though, perhaps he could do with less of his bluntness. I hope we didn’t offend you.”

“It is fine. As for hiring me… Just what do you wish for me to do?”

“Help me win the war abroad. I shall not withhold my generosity if you’ll just turn your magic on the Baharuth Empire. Land, goods, produce, coin, I shall offer it all to you for every knight killed, with extra for a promise to use your magic for no other kingdom. I shall grant you a title of Court Magus and even arrange a suitable marriage to ensure you are properly compensated for your service.”

Pandora’s Actor looked at the king deeply. 

“You seemed very confident in a magic caster whos e skills you have never seen.”

At this point, he didn’t know if his estimation of the King should go down, or if his estimation of the Re-Estize Kingdom’s dire situation should go up. 

Perhaps… It was both. Albedo’s scheme in using her succubi and agents to stir up the corruption within this kingdom seemed to be more than effective. 

“I am aware. But this is simply how grave matters are. I am very old. Zanac would have no one following him if I were to pass the crown to him. Barbro… He will destroy the loyalty given to him. My daughter… My dear Renner’s only value politically is for marriage, despite how much wiser she was than anyone credits her.”

From the corner of his eyes, he could see Climb losing control of his face and his mouth formed a sudden O shape, surprised, before he forced it to close again. 

“A man should know his children, regardless of their sex. And a father should believed in them more than anyone else. I did believe her, but perhaps… it was still not enough. She is far more clever than most, and I only came to fully understand it once Baharuth began adopting some of her ideas that we ourselves rejected, and benefitted from doing so.”

“... If I use my magic for your cause, you won’t even need to raise an army. But that won’t change anything inside your borders.”

Pandora’s Actor continued to probe, to gain insight on the King’s plan. To confirm if he would move as his father, Yuuji-sama, and Lelouch-sama expected. 

“Wouldn’t you be weaker? This war seems to be a good opportunity for you to proof your leader and provide unity and power under your banner. What good would it do if you have me win it for you?”

King Ramposa looked at him for a long, good while. 

“A true genius beyond even my imaginations. To see so deeply into the subject.”

He smiled. A tired, helpless smile that came with the realization that he must show his cards to gain his assistance.

“I already have a plan for that in the works, Lord Gown. I can’t ask for your help in that affair, but I already planned on turning to another for help. For now… can you tell me your answer?”

Pandora’s Actor folded his hands together and closed his eyes as if in thought. His words, though vague, confirmed everything. And he could not praise the Supreme Beings once again. 

“You are asking more of me than you know. However, your proposal is tempting. Let me consider it deeply. I shall give you an answer at the conclusion of the feast. Will that be acceptable, your Majesty?”

“A few days is nothing. It is more hope than I had this morning. I look forward to your response.”

For the first time since he had seen him, King Ramposa smiled brightly, as if a bit of the weight weighing down his shoulders and heart had been lifted. 

He raised from his chair, donned the hood, and exited along with Climb, and acted just like how they came. 

--------------------------------X--------------------------------

Morning the next day. 

Yuuji, Aika, Momon, and Lupu made their way to the palace on their horses. The now familiar constant clip clop noise of hooves against the ground accompanying the peaceful morning. 

Soon, they arrived at the palace of the King and leapt down from their horses with practiced ease and unity. 

Yuuji, adorned in his draconic holy knight full plate armor, appeared like a warrior of the heavens, the gleaming white and gold armor shining brilliantly under the morning light. He kept Ascalon on the side of his waist to Est’s annoyance. She was grumbling through the mental connection she shared with Yuuji, demanding explanations and compensation for the emotional damage he had caused by wielding another sword despite having the best sword in all universes; her. 

Standing to his side, Aika had chosen to wear a white dress with crimson red embroideries under her mage’s robes in place of the practical traveling outfit she normally wore during adventures. A crimson red ribbon was tied under her breasts and around her arms, and a long slit to the left of her dress revealed the length of her long, slender legs up to her milky white thighs, giving a glimpse of heaven hidden underneath her robes. 

She had the appearance of a Goddess of Magic, one that would bewitch all who laid their eyes upon her if she hadn’t kept her fox’s mask to hide her visage. 

Meanwhile, Momon was adorned in a dark velvety purple, double-breasted military suit that matched the dark and purplish robe he wore above it and long dark pants.

And lastly, Lupu wore a variation on her battlemaid outfit, wearing a black and white dress slit at the thighs that was tight at the belly and up, emphasizing her figure but granting her full freedom of movement. 

At her side was an enchanted mace, while on her face was the deadliest weapon a beautiful girl could wield against the unwary; a smile.

Aika’s supreme, jaw-dropping beauty that shone through her bewitching figure and grace, and Lupu’s beautiful smile disarmed the guards with but a glance.

They were both entranced, first in awe from Yuuji’s armor, then bewitched by the two beautiful Goddesses. 

“Alexander, Lilith, Momon, and Lupu of Providence, here to present ourselves to His Majesty, King Rampossa III.”

Yuuji said, and the guards snapped out of their daze, almost falling over themselves, before rushing to the door for them to enter. 

“Yes! P-Please enter! We have been expecting you. We shall lead you to where his Majesty would be!”

They strode through, following after the royal guards, down the long stone hall leading to the throne room. 

Yuuji and Aika looked around. This was the first time they would be in a true, genuine castle, like those from fantasy stories. 

They were regular students just a few months ago. But now, they wielded otherworldly powers and were now striding through a real castle for an audience with a genuine ruler. 

But… perhaps because they’ve been desensitized by the much more luxurious displays of grandeur and beauty within Nazarick that they could only consider their first trip to a genuine palace as a novelty. 

Soon, they reached the door to the throne room where a herald stood before it and asked them for their names. 

Yuuji gave their names (alias) to him, and after a short bow, the herald pushed open the door. 

“Announcing! Alexander, Lilith, Momon, and Lupu, Adamantite adventurer party Providence!”

All eyes went to the four, and awed gasp and whispered amazement filled the chamber. 

Adamantite ranked adventurers were rare. Extremely so. They were the pinnacle of adventurers, with strength capable of defeating catastrophes. Heroes and legends of the generation. And the ones before them embodied the very notion in both achievements and appearance. 

Yuuji and Aika, though accustomed to attention, could feel the deep scrutiny of the nobles around them. However, they did not falter in their composure, and walked forward, leading Momon and Lupu, towards the throne. 

Momon, on the other hand, felt the gamer inside him becoming more giddy by the second. 

‘We’re on the cusp of an event flag! An audience with a king, never thought I’d experience something so fantastical!’

Momon followed after the two and kneeled in unison to the King. 

Lupu at his side did the same. She wore a radiant smile, her bright yellow shining brilliantly in excitement. 

Though, hidden beneath the sparkling surface, was a dark thought that lived within the depths of the black heart. 

‘I can’t wait to get the chance to kill everyone here who expects or sees the Supreme Beings to kneel…’

The daydream of their screams, the warmth of their blood in her claws, and the look of pain and terror on their faces were a pleasant comfort. At the very least, pleasant enough to hold herself back from actually doing so after her sharp nose was filled with pheromones of desires the males emanated as they raked their eyes over her and her mistress’s body. Bodies that belonged solely to her beloved master. 

“Greetings, your majesty.”

“Alexander, Lilith, Momon, and Lupu. Welcome to the capital. We are please with your arrival, and with your steadfast, brave, and impressive efforts at the protection of our people.”

The king bore a noble voice that rebounded from the far stone walls. A voice that belied his old, tired appearance that Yuuji could easily see through despite his forced bravado. 

“We permit you to rise. In gratitude to your efforts, as per our invitation, we shall be holding a feast for you and your companions beginning this evening. Your quarters have been provided, so please indulge yourself to your heart’s content.”

The king finished his words then clapped his hands. A young boy, clad in red and gold clothing stepped forward from his spot at the wall.

“See them in their rooms. Give them a tour of the palace if they so desire. The feast shall begin at Sunset. 

“Yes your majesty! Dear heroes, please this way.”