Manuke FPS - Chapter 256
After the debriefing session held in the Royal Palace’s audience room was concluded, I, along with Chancellor Zephanel headed to the japanese samurai style residence on the outskirts of the palace. We joined Ashley and the others, who were cleaning up the ruined rooms. We then headed to the first rebuilt protective facility in the Royal Castle that was still under reconstruction.
The protective facility is about the size of a small warehouse, but it has been rebuilt with a strength that prevents it from collapsing easily even if attacked from the outside. A guard knight stands at the entrance to the facility, and soldiers stand guards around it.
And now there is only one thing in it――the copy magic circle that is the exit of a certain transfer magic circle.
This protective facility, which can be said to be a lump of concrete, protects the exit of the transfer magic circle that I own. It’s mainly a place to connect with the seaside city of Amar, and it’s also a place to set up a transfer magic circle for emergency evacuation after being contacted by mobile phone if the capital is attacked again while we’re in Amar.
“Ron-chan and the others are still not here.”
“Why is the old man’s meeting going on so long?”
“It was a meeting with the Knight Order executives and the magic nobles, right? Isn’t it time consuming?”
“That’s right, Sharle. The chaos around the capital has subsided, but we still need to be careful about the movements of neighboring countries, particularly the Drak Kingdom.”
LVTP-5 is already waiting inside the protective facility, and the front hatch is open so that people can be teleported at any time. The destination is at the large parking lot of a large shopping center set up at the shooting range.
Chancellor Zephanel sat in the crew seat of the LVTP-5, restlessly flailing her legs while waiting. Looking at that figure, it seems that the depressed emotions that she showed after the debriefing session have disappeared.
No, she’s just trying to not let Ashley and Sharle-san see it…
She despised herself as a doll and expressed disgust at her agelessness, calling it a “curse”. But, she never said a word about herself being a former NPC of a game.Perhaps it’s a fact that even the current King and Chancellor Bergman aren’t aware of.
After thinking about it for a moment, it seemed natural. Even if I say that I am neither a human nor an elf, but an NPC in the game world, there is no way the people of this world will understand me. Furthermore, who would believe that she was given sentience by the God of Creation, or the Goddess of Madness, and obtained a life as a human――?
It would probably be more believable to say that she was an Apostle of God. The reason why Chancellor Zephanel exposed her heart so much was probably because it was in front of me, who fell into this world under similar circumstances as the Founding King.
“I want them to come quicker! Schwartz going on an expedition means that I won’t be able to drink “Beer” while he’s away, so I’m going to bring a lot of it home today!”
“Yeah, that’s right! We’re going to collect a lot of “chocolate” as well as “ice cream”.”
Looking sideways at Sharle-san boarding the LVTP-5, Ashley, who was standing in front of me involuntarily let out a wry smile.
“How long are you going to stay in Filtonia?”
“I don’t think I’ll be able to return for at least two months. A normal merchant ship would take two weeks to get to the entrance of the Filtonia Islands Alliance. My ship would probably be faster, but it doesn’t mean I’ll be able to get there in a day or two.”
I have already told Ashley and Chancellor Zephanel that I’ll be going to the labyrinth island abandoned by the Filtonia Islands Alliance. Although they were opposed to the idea at first――since a large amount of magic stones will be needed for my future activities, the fact that it became noticeably harder to obtain not only non-elemental magic stone, but other kind of elemental magic stone in Kurtmerga Kingdom could not be ignored anymore.
In the first place――Why do I want non-elemental magic stones again?
I didn’t explain the exact reason, but just like how using magic tools requires magic power and magic stones, I explained that it I need non-elemental magic stone in order to use my pedigree skills because I am Magicless. I got them to understand the importance of collecting the stones directly on the labyrinth island.
Also, the people who have the pedigree skills like those at the Viceburn Empire will need to pile up non-elemental magic stones just like me, so with the intention of interfering with that, the whole kingdom will gather magic stones from all over the Orlando continent. From now on, Kurtmerga Kingdom and Viceburn Empire will secretly fight over the distribution network of magic stones.
In order to avoid that conflict, it is necessary for me to collect magic stones directly in the labyrinth.
However, doing so within the Kurtmerga Kingdom would entail even greater danger than exploring the labyrinth. If I act alone in the labyrinth exploration, the adventurers under the umbrella of the Rafflesia hiding all over the Kingdom will aim for my life.
In order to avoid trouble and obtain more magic stones, I decided to leave the Kingdom and go hunting the magic beasts and demi-humans that overflowed on the labyrinth island.
“But… Will you be alright on your own?”
“It’s safer if I’m alone. And――if the situation gets out of hand, or if I need reinforcements, I’ll come back to Amar via the transport circle as soon as possible.”
Yes, without that safety measure, Chancellor Zephanel and Chancellor Bergman wouldn’t have agreed to the expedition. Because of the consent of the two, Ashley was convinced, and the current King willingly agreed to let me leave the duties of escorting Prince Khan and Prince Ark.
However…
“Haa…so depressing. While Schwartz is gone, the person in charge of security in Amar will be that pig lemon…”
I heard Sharle-san’s murmuring from inside LVTP-5, as if she could hear our conversation.
“…Who is this “pig lemon”?”
I didn’t remember ever meeting anyone named “pig lemon”, so I had to ask Ashley.
“――Leichen Drumo, the eldest son of Viscount Drumo and the commander of the Amar escort fleet. They’ve remained quiet up until now, because the “Spark” clan that is serving as the escort for Prince Khan and Prince Ark is under the direct control of both Chancellor Zephanel and Bergman. Now that they know you’ll be gone, they’re getting a bit too excited.”
Ah…the noble who desperately tried to capture Jonah and the U-boat…
“It’s alright, Sharle-san. Roy and Rachel from Lily of the Valley will remain in the mansion. And if anything happens, please contact me through the mobile phone.”
I entered the LVTP-5 with Ashley, sat down on the legless chair in the passenger compartment, and continued the conversation.
“Mobile phone huh~ well, my ears are sore. It feels strange to hear voices coming very close to my ear.”
“You’ll get used to it if you keep using it. Ah――but please refrain from using it while I’m not here. If you use it too much, you won’t be able to refill the fuel gauge.”
“Ahー, hello, Ron-chan? It is us. How long are you going to drag the meeting? Come quickly!”
I had no choice but to restore the fuel gauge that had just decreased due to that call. Even though it has dozens of hours of call capacity, if you keep using it for small talk repeatedly, it will be gone in no time. Both Chancellor Zephanel and Chancellor Bergman were amused by the emergence of this new and convenient tool, and often used it for small nonsense talk.
But if used like that, the fuel gauge will deplete faster.I unconsciously directed my gaze at Chancellor Zephanel, which was mimicked by both Ashley and Sharle-san.
“Ron-chan’s meeting is already over. It’s about time――is there anything wrong?”
After finishing the call with Chancellor Bergmann, Chancellor Zephanel stopped moving when she noticed the stares from the three of us.
“Predecessor, please refrain from using “mobile phone” while Schwartz is away on the labyrinth island. If it runs out of power at some important juncture, wouldn’t that be a big problem?]
“Uh…I understand.”
Chancellor Zephanel nodded, slightly embarrassed. At about the same time Chancellor Bergman, Crown Prince Khan, Lady Anastasia, as well as Prince Ark and Lapitirica-sama entered the protective facility.
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