Chapter 39
Ignoring tearful Scarlet, we exited the room.
Then, just outside the audience chamber, a nervous-looking dog-eared man in a robe appeared with a high-speed somersault and handed us a document.
The heading read 'Kingdom Permit', and it stated we could use up to three wall surfaces on buildings along Greifner Street.
"Let me know once the location is decided."
Saying that, the dog-eared man ran off so fast it stirred up a whirlwind.
I folded it carefully and tucked it into my breast pocket.
That was way too fast to make a document. Seriously, Japanese city halls should learn from this.
"Ellie Golden. You're coming with me. The rest of you, go home."
Just as I was all pumped up with things to do, the bodybuilder-esque chief magician called out to me, draining my motivation.
"Would it be okay to do this another day?"
"Come now."
"That's no way to invite a lady."
"E-Ellie-kun!!"
Professor Harshüge has been worried ever since we came to the royal palace.
He probably lost a few of the remaining hairs on the sides of his head.
I'm not sure whether to tell him or not.
"No, it seems I was in the wrong here."
The bodybuilder—or rather, Ringo Jarlalabad—grinned, placed his log-like thick left hand on his overly massive chest, and bowed.
"Young lady, might I trouble you for a bit of your time?"
"Yes, with pleasure."
Ellie may be fat and ugly, but she's a noble and kind lady.
This level of treatment is only natural.
For some reason, the Ringo bodybuilder smiled happily and turned his back. That must mean 'follow me.'
"Ellie, I want to come too..."
Ariana looked on with a face that clearly said she wanted to come. Yeah, I'll bring her. So stop looking at me with those tearful eyes.
"Lord Ringo Jarlalabad, may my friend accompany us as well?"
He turned his muscle-built body toward us and gave Ariana a sharp glare.
Ariana stared back at Ringo Jarlalabad without flinching.
"Very well."
Ignoring this exchange, Ama Kuso was obnoxiously loud, repeatedly kissing the small medal he got from the king with a loud "Mwah!" Gross.
After briefly greeting everyone except Scarlet and telling Ama Kuso to stop because it was filthy, I turned on my heel and followed the musclehead along with Ariana.
The royal palace was just huge. I'd heard that its internal layout was complex for defensive purposes, and this must be what they meant. Going left, then right, even a genius like me couldn't remember it all.
Well, that's fine, but the furnishings and paintings on the walls were elaborately designed, with a level of quality I'd seen in British museums. Why is that? Why is the architecture and furnishings so high-level, yet the clothes are so lame? It makes no sense. Isn't it weird there are no miniskirts or short pants? Why? Why is it like this?!
At what seemed to be the far end of the palace, Ringo Jarlalabad opened a plain-looking door. Inside the room were lined-up weapons and a map of the country pinned to the wall. The map had red markings and flags pinned on it, suggesting some strategy was being planned. From the window, I could hear the shouts of men training.
"Sorry to trouble you."
Sitting down on a leather sofa, he offered seats to us as well.
"Excuse me, sir!" shouted an armored young man full of energy as he brought in tea, then promptly left.
Ariana and I sat across from Ringo Jarlalabad, who looked every bit the hardened soldier.
"You're the one who took down the Bone Lizard, right?"
Without a moment's pause, he threw a piercing gaze at me.
He's being awfully direct. I can't let myself get exposed here.
If they find out I can use lightning spells, it'll definitely lead to trouble.
"No, I did not."
"With that level of mana, among that group, you're the only one who could've turned the Bone Lizard to dust."
"It's not that much mana."
"Ho... possessing mana that rivals the chief magician of the Kingdom of Greifner, and you call that 'not much'?"
"Besides, I just recently became a Square. There's no way I could defeat an A-class monster."
Apparently, A-class monsters require ten or more Hexagon-level magicians to take down. There's no way a mere Quartet student could defeat such a beast. Not just 'like a beast'—it really was a monster.
"Well, whatever. It's natural to keep your ace in the hole."
Ringo Jarlalabad grabbed his cup and downed the tea in one gulp.
"Let's get to the point, Ellie Golden. Join the kingdom's strongest magic knight squad, 'Shield'. That mana of yours shouldn't go to waste. I'll personally train you into a battle-hardened warrior."
"Um, Lord Ringo Jarlalabad..."
"Just call me Ringo."
"Then, how about Shuwa-chan?"
"......That's an awfully sudden nickname."
"Is it not okay?"
"It's not."
"Lord Ringo, are there any women in 'Shield'?"
"About ten percent."
While sipping tea, Ariana tugged on my hem.
"Ellie, 'Shield' is a dream job for magicians, it's amazing..."
"You said your name was Grantino, right?"
Ringo flexed his triceps and leaned forward.
Compared to Ariana, his face and body were like that of a grown man next to a five-year-old.
"Are you the daughter of the 'Jet-Black Grantino'?"
"Yes..."
"Understood."
Ringo's eyes widened, and he flexed all his muscles as he processed the thought.
What the heck? Is he communicating with his muscles or something?
"I'll grant you until graduation. Grantino will also be eligible to take the entrance exam."
○
"So, what was the conversation about?"
"Yeah."
Surume and Gargaine, who had been waiting at the palace entrance, spotted us and ran over. These two are always hanging out together, huh.
"Ellie is amazing..."
"Ariana Grantino, when you say that, it only sounds ominous."
"Sorry..."
"That's why you're not popular."
"Ugh...... not again. So, what did that chief magician of the Kingdom of Greifner, Lord Ringo Jarlalabad, say?"
"Well, like, he told me to join."
I sighed, remembering Ringo's shiny, muscular face.
"The knight squad?"
"Yeah, that place called 'Shield'."
"Huh!? 'Shield'!?"
"I'm not planning to join. It seems all sweaty and stuff."
"Y-you said it earlier too, but you really are something else..."
"Really?"
"'Shield' is the pride of Greifner! And when you—Lady Ellie—talked back to Lord Ringo Jarlalabad about lady this and that, I swear my balls shriveled up!"
"You're incredible..."
I heard from Surume's passionate explanation that to join the kingdom's strongest magic knight squad, 'Shield', you need a recommendation from another member, and the test is so grueling that hardly anyone gets in. The exam lasts two months, during which candidates undergo training that's nearly torture, and only those with indomitable bodies and minds who survive to the end get accepted into this world-class elite force.
Just being a member of 'Shield' earns you respect and awe. They say it's the pride of the Kingdom of Greifner, always accomplishing any mission.
While listening to Surume's passionate speech, we headed for the magic tool shop run by one of Gargaine's acquaintances.
The shop was located on Diagois Street, just a block off the main street, Greifner Street.
The alley was lined with general stores and hidden gems, bustling with people. The road was so narrow that the four of us could barely walk side by side. With my fat self included, it was a tight squeeze.
I looked around the street, scanning my surroundings.
As expected of another world. As expected of a fantasy setting.
There were buildings melting like slime from ordinary open terrace cafés, entrances with crooked doors, magic tool shops you couldn't enter without knowing "Levitation", a dishware shop guarded by Cerberus, an herb shop where you have to beat a golem in arm wrestling to shop, and a staff shop that, despite being only three centimeters deep, turned into a gymnasium-sized space once you entered.
Magicians were flying around everywhere, blasting spells, drawing magic circles, arguing with street hawkers—it was total chaos. The bustling din, different from the main street, extended deep into the alley. Everyone was enjoying their shopping. There was even someone threatening the shopkeeper with their staff, trying to haggle over one Ron.
"Here it is."
Gargaine spat and grabbed the door with iron bars.
This shop exterior is easily top-tier in terms of insanity.
You wouldn't even question it if someone told you it was an S&M club. The barred windows were decorated with candles, whips, leather pants, spiked clubs, restraints, thick ropes, and the like.
"Hold up a second."
Surume couldn't take it anymore and grabbed Gargaine's arm.
"What?"
"This is the right shop, yeah?"
"Huh? Of course it is."
"You didn't pick this place because you're into that kind of stuff, right?"
"What the hell are you talking about? Keep the stupidity to your face."
"That's a casually cruel thing to say!?"
"It's fine. I was freaked out at first too, but no worries. Everyone has a first time, y'know."
"That's not a reassuring explanation at all!"
"I don't get what you're saying. Well, think of it as a door to a new world."
Gargaine raised one corner of his mouth with a nihilistic grin.
"That does not make me feel any better at all!! What the hell do you mean, a door to a new world!?"
"Can't you just shut up and follow along? Huh?"
"Who're you calling Surume, huh!?"
"No, I didn't say that."
"Oh really, didn't say it, huh."
Gargaine shrugged his burly dwarf shoulders in exasperation and pushed on the iron-barred door.
With a clunky mechanical creak, the door slowly opened.
Surume, Ariana, and I all instinctively gulped down our spit.