Chapter 5

“–Ahhhh… it’s been a while since I’ve come near the imperial capital…”
 
Swaying in the carriage, Lucia stretches her back with a long groan.
 
Hearing Lucia’s words, Kurtz turned away from the window to face her.
 
“That’s right. Though now we’re based in Felmund, and the imperial capital has the duke’s house’s influence and many watchful eyes, making it difficult to move around freely. Unlike before when I had no position or power, now I have the status of Viscount Achimenes’ heir.”… Read more

“I understand that you harbor tremendous problems—past grave sins, cruel human nature, and much more—yet you are currently the only one who can handle the [Holy Grail], and I believe that human nature of yours will be useful in resolving the problems Sanctus faces. That’s why I approved of you becoming the [Saint].”
 
The problem that the Sanctus ducal house faced.
 
To resolve that problem, Sanctus had been advancing a certain plan, but it had been temporarily frozen due to the compact made with Eisenhud three hundred years ago.… Read more

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“Tch… If you understand that much, then don’t do unnecessary things…!!”
 
“That was punishment for being careless and stupid. I don’t care what you do behind the scenes, but don’t make such blunders that the other ducal houses notice it again.”
 
After chiding her father with an exasperated voice, Lucilia leaned back arrogantly in her chair and propped her cheek on her hand.
 
Even while glaring at such a Lucilia, Equitas swallowed his anger to proceed with the conversation.… Read more

“—Well then, Lucilia-sama, we shall prepare for the pilgrimage three days from now.”
 
To the imperial guard knight who came to report—[Saint] Lucilia-Sanctus smiled.
 
“Thank you. For the sake of the believers awaiting God’s words, I’ll also prepare for the pilgrimage by maintaining my health.”
 
“We are grateful for your consideration toward us believers. With Saint Lucilia-sama’s visit and words, everyone will surely put even more effort into gratitude and service to God.”
 
“I always think everyone’s faith is wonderful in their daily lives.… Read more

“If we’re selling them as gemstones, the value changes greatly depending on the craftsman’s skill and the place of origin. If I arrange for craftsmen, profits will decrease, and considering Felmund’s bad reputation, even if we process them into gemstones, the bad reputation will limit potential buyers. In that case, it’s better to wholesale them as raw stones where profit calculations are easier.”
 
“Yes, I also think that’s the best plan if we prioritize the stability of territorial management.”… Read more

The moment she saw the closing sentence at the end, Artesia’s eyes widened greatly.
 
She immediately searched for paper and pen, copying down the published statement.
 
[Celcis] is the name of a shrub that grows only in certain areas of the northern regions where the four seasons are distinct.
 
In that region exists a legend called [Celcis Flowers].
 
A small northern country that existed in the distant, now-dead past.
 
The small country used Celcis flowers as their crest, but when a knight captain, instigated by another country and driven by personal greed, betrayed them, leading to the king’s execution and the country’s destruction, the knight captain, regretting his betrayal, hanged himself from a Celcis tree.… Read more

Chapter 4

Around the time when the imperial capital gradually begins to bustle with activity.
 
Artesia’s daily routine was to wake up a little before that time.
 
However, this wasn’t due to habit or lifestyle patterns.
 
“………………”
 
After rising from her bed, Artesia lightly checked her body’s condition.
 
There was no drowsiness, fatigue, or hunger whatsoever.
 
Most of Artesia’s physical body was halted by her unique magic.
 
While the human body deteriorates and declines as [time] passes, Artesia uses [time]-based unique magic to interfere with the part where “the body deteriorates and decays as [time] passes,” so her thinking and bodily functions aren’t restricted.… Read more

With an exasperated expression, Edel quietly tilted a drink cooled with cooling magic tools.
 
Considering that the banquet would continue for a long time, the building framework had expanded the makeshift pool for the current situation.
 
Without doing so, it would be difficult to stay long in the volcanic region, but those two, despite being half-naked, continuing to operate calmly were clearly abnormal.
 
“But using this heat in a different way wouldn’t be bad either.”
 
“Ho ho.… Read more

“Mount Fleet was a resting place and also a place for the [Dragon King] to safely raise children who would carry on the next generation. That’s why that land is a [Cradle], and your ancestors were appointed as [Guardians] to protect both the land and the children.”
 
It wasn’t as if they had never harbored any doubts about their mission.
 
Was this really a place worth protecting, even while being mocked and scorned by others?… Read more

“In imperial currency conversion, about ninety million gald. That’s this time’s reward, and if I roughly calculate future reward amounts based on the scale of the surveyed ore veins, I think it will easily exceed one billion.”
 
It was an amount beyond Falsen’s comprehension.
 
But there was something even more incomprehensible.
 
“…Why would Kurtz-dono give us such an amount?”
 
“I don’t know. From my perspective as a merchant, I’d say it’s an impossible contract, and anyone else would clearly see it as disproportionate and excessive.”… Read more