“Princess Delphina.”
“Sir Aser. You are safe.”
“I didn’t do much. It was this person over here who took care of everything.”
“Ah.”
While the methods were somewhat extreme, Aser chuckled bitterly, recalling the chaos caused by a single barbarian. It was a laugh mixed with various emotions, particularly as the captain of the Royal Guard, feeling the inadequacy of the palace’s defenses being breached so easily. Though the defense of the palace was primarily the duty of the royal guards and royal knights, the Royal Guard wasn’t wholly unrelated.
The palace’s defense being breached so easily implied a direct risk to the safety of the royal family. Even if the security was breached internally, being toyed with to such an extent was too much.
‘After this is all over, we need to overhaul the palace’s security system.’
Even though the breakout of prisoners from the underground prison was unprecedented, attributing the poor initial response to inexperience was not justifiable. Too much gold was spent maintaining the royal guards and knights to excuse such failures.
“By the way, it seems no one has tailed us. Given the current chaos in the palace, if anyone saw us, we would definitely have been followed.”
“Oh… That’s…”
Princess Delphina attributed it to the skills of the ‘monkey’ sent by Khan.
“It was as if he had already seen the palace’s internal structure. He seems to be extremely adept at stealth.”
“Hah.”
Aser couldn’t help but marvel again. So the captive carried by Khan, who killed the Palace Steward, possessed such abilities. The thought that Khan had seen through this and kept him alive from the start made Aser shiver. It suggested that Khan had planned from the beginning to send this prisoner outside the palace.
‘A terrifying insight.’
Even with superhuman strength that single-handedly overturned the entire palace, such power would not be granted to an individual. He also possessed the wisdom to judge people’s abilities and foresee future events?
For Aser, who had realized the intelligence of the barbarian race through Pashantu, this was an uncomfortable reality to accept.
“… I see.”
“Yes. It is fortunate. It seems you believe we need to enter the royal ‘Forbidden Territory,’ so it wouldn’t help to draw attention, would it?”
“Yes, you are correct. But before that… Are you alright with this, Your Highness? I look foolish asking this after suggesting it, but opening the Forbidden Territory to outsiders is a significant crime—”
“It’s alright. It’s not like you would decide to open the Forbidden Territory without reason. Besides, I am concerned that my father headed there himself.”
Her judgment aligned precisely with Aser’s thoughts.
“Warrior Pashantu. Could I ask you to focus on protecting Her Highness along with Sir Maxime?”
“Hmm.”
“I am aware of your reputation, but given the current state of affairs, I must request this. If you are not inclined, my father and you could have a duel later…”
“Alright!”
Offering a carrot that Pashantu, who was desperate to defeat the Black Wing Duke, couldn’t refuse, Aser moved straight towards Khan’s group, who were conversing at a distance.
“Use this if necessary. It should be enough to save your life.”
“Thank you, My Lord.”
“We don’t know what might happen. If a battle starts, team up with Leo.”
“Yes.”
Having passed the ‘Skull of Scream’ to Maya, Khan’s gaze shifted to Aries, who was scouring the damaged palace. Sensing his stare, Aries turned her head, their eyes meeting. Her expressionless gaze seemed to say, ‘Causing trouble again?’ The peculiar situation of being regarded as a troublemaker by a kid made Khan frown.
“The situation was unavoidable.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
This little one seems to be getting more impudent by the day.
“… So. I called them, but are you sure this is alright?”
“What do you mean?”
“It might be seen as a paladin interfering in the kingdom’s internal affairs.”
“I don’t care.”
Aries answered immediately as if such concerns were the least of her worries.
“My task is to escort Khan. Until we reach the Holy Sanctuary.”
“Even if Dame Aries says so, that doesn’t mean there won’t be any issues. Even if they asked for help.”
Retainer Leo expressed a differing opinion from Aries. He believed that revealing Aries’s presence, given her special position within the Paladins, could cause problems.
“Yes, it’s a political issue unrelated to the duties of a paladin. However, it can’t be entirely ignored. Some cardinals in the Holy Sanctuary are trying to reduce the autonomous operational authority of the paladins. There will certainly be some harsh words. But…”
Leo chuckled heartily.
“Well, what can you do? I think I’m starting to understand Dame Aries’s perspective. Just being with her means encountering and solving all sorts of incidents across the continent. Compared to the days when we wandered aimlessly looking for demon worshippers, it feels like trouble finds us now.”
“Quiet.”
Khan frowned as Aser dismissed his jest. They were treating him like a walking disaster.
*
Nonetheless, there was no reason to stop those who were willing to go along. Following the enthusiastic Princess Delphina, Khan headed towards the largest part of the inner palace.
“We’ll inevitably encounter many people as we move to the mausoleum. Sir Aser and I can smooth things over to some extent, but…”
Rumors had spread throughout the palace about a barbarian and prisoners causing chaos. The sight of the princess accompanying two barbarian would not likely be greeted warmly.
“I have already taken steps for that. The Royal Guard, the Royal Knights, and the palace guards are focused on securing the palace and capturing the prisoners. Infiltrating the inner palace unnoticed is not entirely impossible.”
“… It’s a bit thrilling to think about sneaking into the palace I usually walk into like my home.”
Princess Delphina’s lighthearted comments were typical of a naïve princess, but Khan noticed she was trying to ease the tension among the group.
“You don’t need to worry about them. They can handle themselves. Just focus on your own safety.”
“Thank you for your concern.”
“It wasn’t meant as concern.”
Khan frowned at Delphina’s amused response. As naïve as she was for a medieval royal, she seemed to harbor some sort of illusion about him, which made him uncomfortable. She should be thankful he’s a modern intellectual at heart, merely in a barbarian’s shell.
“Boss. Scouting completed!”
At that moment, Alejandro returned from his scouting mission. His movements were so stealthy it was as if he possessed a related skill. He weaved through the palace, avoiding detection with remarkable ease.
“What’s the situation ahead?”
“It’s going to be tougher than expected. The Royal Guards are guarding the main palace entrance tightly, and there are quite a few knights as well.”
“Did you check the insignia?”
Alejandro nodded at Aser’s question.
“There were long shields with spears depicted on them, sir.”
“It seems the high-ranking officials aligned with the Palace Steward have taken action.”
“Trying to sneak in will be difficult, right?”
“Yes, probably.”
Aser and Delphina became visibly serious. Entering the inner palace was a necessary step to reach the Forbidden Territory, and their plan hit an obstacle from the get-go.
However, Khan’s group responded with calm indifference. If there’s an obstacle, just break through it. After all, the kingdom’s knights were hardly an insurmountable threat considering their current strength. Silently, they began preparing for combat, embodying Khan’s straightforward approach.
Sir Maxime, one of Delphina’s guards, voiced his concern.
“It’s unlikely they’ll let in prisoners and unidentified individuals. Forcing our way in might jeopardize Her Highness’s standing…”
“It’s already too late.”
“What do you mean, too late?”
“The royal authority is already at its lowest. The fact that a princess has to act cautiously is proof enough.”
“Watch your words! What do you know, foreign paladin…!”
“No one can obstruct an imperial royal event.”
Aries hit the nail on the head.
Even without comparing it to the Empire, the truth held. Interfering with royal events was unthinkable unless done by another royal. How’s the Argon Kingdom faring? Just the influence of high-ranking officials forced Princess Delphina to act cautiously.
“This country is anything but normal.”
“… It can’t be helped. During His Majesty’s absence, the power of officials like the Palace Steward has grown immensely. Things were a bit better when Alan was around.”
Even Alan eventually fell under the Palace Steward’s influence and went on a rampage. This further tarnished the royal family’s authority, leaving the Black Wing Duke as the only one capable of checking the Palace Steward’s power in the current Argon Royal family.
Whether Aries was aware of all these circumstances when she made her comment was uncertain, but Delphina and the others couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.
‘Where did she learn to talk like this? She’s getting incredibly cheeky.’
Khan thought it unnecessary to go that far. No matter how much they discussed it, the decision would ultimately fall on Delphina, who would bear the political burden.
Indeed, Delphina lowered her head into a thoughtful silence. Khan was prepared to accept whatever decision she made. After all, his objective of finding the ‘Forbidden Territory’ wouldn’t change.
‘Worse comes to worst, I’ll just turn this whole palace upside down.’
There was also a significant chance that the Resentment Spirit would detect the aura from the ‘Dragon Scale Fragment.’ To study the transcendent gene, something related to dragons would be essential.
“I will…”
With a determined look, Delphina opened her mouth.
“I will…!”
But before she could complete her resolve, there was a loud thud.
“What is that commotion?”
“It’s coming from inside the palace…!”
“A sound? No, it’s more like a vibration…?”
Confusion spread among the knights and guards at the entrance of the inner palace. As if to announce that this was just the beginning, the Draupnir at Khan’s waist emitted a piercing scream.
Woooooong!
The thoughts transmitted by the Resentment Spirit were too muddled to comprehend. Feelings of fear, hatred, and murderous intent seemed to flood Khan’s mind.
Thud…!
“Kyaaa!”
“Your Highness!”
Delphina screamed. Blood vessels swelled on her beautiful face, down to her neck, and blood tears began to flow from her eyes, which she covered with her hands.
Thud──!
‘Shit…!’
Khan’s face contorted with pain as he struggled to maintain his sanity amid the torrent of emotions pouring out from the Resentment Spirit. He shoved the boiling hot Dragon Scale Fragment into subspace and, feeling slightly relieved, grasped the hilt of Draupnir. Get a hold of yourself, you fool!
Perhaps his urgent call reached it, as the intensity of the overflowing emotions subsided, and the Resentment Spirit sent a clearer message.
『A dragon is resurrecting—! Areolus! That accursed golden dragon…!』