Chapter: 16 Shadow of the Royals

 

Arc 2: Tutorial

Having witnessed the opening event, Al once again confirmed that this world is progressing according to the game’s story.

But at the same time, he also realizes that there are differences in the details and that not everything is as in the game.

To begin with, there were status, level, job, skill, quest, inventory, liking, etc. in the game, but Al had never seen or heard of such things.

And the biggest difference. In the game, there is normal revival magic, and the main character and party members are revived. In the game, there were some explanations such as “within a few hours after death” and “limited to those with strong blessings from the goddess”…. In short, it is just a convenient setup to make the events related to “death” consistent and not to cancel out the excitement.

There is no such thing as resuscitation magic in this world. The dead can only be brought back to life by deadly spirits. The reality is that when you die, you really do, that’s the end.

In such a world, Al focused on the “war against the demons” from the middle to the end of the game and wondered if there was anything he could do.

War impacts everything in a nation. If we were to lose the war, not only ourselves …… but also the Baron of Falconer, my home in this world, would not get off scot-free.

Even if the war is won as the story goes, the people will not be able to survive if the land is scorched to ashes. This world is not kind to humans because of the fierce competition for survival with demons.

Memories of a previous life. Memories of game settings. As a member of the nobility of this world, Al is seeking a result to protect the powerless. He doesn’t mind that the course of …… activities is very bloody.

But …… the opening event of the game. I “saw” the protagonists and had second thoughts.

(Huh. If he’s as good as he seems to be, he’s going to lead this country right. I’m sure I’m still better than him in terms of simple combat ability. …… but strength doesn’t really matter to him, ……. He is truly a hero of light.)

It has already been a few days since I witnessed the protagonists. Al, who had completed the procedures long before, was officially enrolled at the “Radford Royal Academy of Magical Arts” on the last day of the procedure deadline.

Although the flurry of activities at the dormitory has settled down, Al still only looks at Daryl, the main male character, from afar in the dormitory, and has not made direct contact with him.

The female protagonist also remains uncontacted. She has not been seen since the opening event, partly because she is in the women’s dormitory. This may be a problem before contact.

Incidentally, according to royal family customs, His Highness Adam is also supposed to use a regular grade dormitory. but due to security issues, His Highness has almost the entire fifth floor, the top floor, to himself. Because of this, it is said that some students have given up on entering the school this term because they could not get into the free regular grade dormitories.

Although it is an annoying practice, it was probably a measure to increase contact with His Highness Adam in the game.

(In fact, …… I can only remember memorable events and episodes anymore. …… I might remember them if I run into them, but I don’t think I can do something about it ahead of time. Besides, I feel like it would work better if I didn’t get directly involved with those two main characters. The world seems to love them and …… yeah. From now on, I won’t touch the events involved in the regular storyline. I will only focus on the war with the demon tribe. Let’s go with this policy: …… I’ll only contact the main characters and other important characters if it is under the common sense of this world.

It’s fortuitous that we figured out …… that we could get by without having to unnaturally go out of our way and let the protagonists take care of it.)

Once again, I set my own course of action.

In the first place, it is a matter of etiquette not to interact too deeply with people from other families, even within the academy, even if it is in a game.

Of course, this is not the case when looking for a marriage partner or a place to serve. …… But even these require an introduction. If you suddenly say, “Take me as a vassal! Marry me!” Only the protagonist of a game is allowed to say such things. If anyone else were to take the same action, he or she would just be treated as a fool and receive general scolding.

Although Al does not know it firsthand, the fact is that if the family name “Falconer” is given, there is no need to worry about marriage partners or places to serve. The reality is that you will not have any trouble finding a place to work, let alone a marriage partner. There are many people who will be drawn to the Falconer family name.

(Now, that I have decided to do so, I will stay in the dormitory until tomorrow’s entrance ceremony. Let’s not make any unwanted contact. Classes would be divided between frontier aristocratic families and others anyway. After that, I’m sure we will be able to greet the main characters naturally, since all of us are from the same aristocratic family.)

Even though I say that I try not to touch on the regular story events, it is also true that I would like to have information about the protagonists’ developments from time to time. If possible, I would like to build a relationship with them to the extent that we can talk lightly together.

If the main characters wanted to make acquaintance with the highness, it would be difficult, since they share a frontier noble family, and their family titles are not so different. Al thought that if he had hid his ulterior motives, there would be no problem.

****

“You are Baron Albert Falconer, aren’t you?”

Uninvited guests, despite Al’s desire to stay in his room …… until tomorrow. Those who clearly wear an air of disquiet.

The hidden guards of His Highness Prince Adam, whom Al recognized in the Great Hall the other day.

“Yes. Yes, indeed. What can I do for you?”

(This guy …… Clearly doesn’t care what anyone does to him, even if it’s rude. He knows us, after all.)

They are, as Al predicted, shadow guards. They are the servants of the royal family, and only a few of them can give orders to them.

They are described as “the royal family’s dagger and secret shield.

Although he does not know that much about them, Al knows that they are not ordinary people. He also knows that the son of a baron probably wouldn’t be a problem for them.

“Thanks for talking so quickly. Would you mind if I ask you to come over for now?”

“I understand.(Must have been something they recognized at the Great Hall the other day.)

There are three opponents.

One is acting like an aristocrat.

Two of them are waiting like followers, and one of them is the one who noticed Al in the Great Hall. She is a fragile-looking girl in men’s clothes, with silver-white hair and deep indigo eyes. Probably the best of the three.

(What’s going to happen to ……?)

For the nobles of the capital, the royal shadow is like an inspector under the direct control of the state. Even the mere sight of them is a serious matter that could lead to their personal destruction and the downfall of the family.

Al, however, is not so concerned. It is only natural that he does not know them in the first place, but even if he did know what they were like, he would still ask, “So what?” It will only be a matter of time.

The secrets that should not be revealed are past lives and game stories, but such things are just the ramblings of a madman.

A countryman in a remote area does not have the same “things to lose” as an aristocrat in the capital. If I dare say so, it is only their lives.

A person from a remote area does not have the same “things to lose” as an aristocrat in the capital. If I had to say so, I would say that their lives are the only thing they have to lose.

Al obediently follows the aristocratic one in front. Behind them are two people posing as followers. As for the arrangement, I feel like I am being taken in.

(Well, I don’t want to run away, but …… When I saw it in the main hall, it felt more like …..[Master Magician] this, but ……now it seems so ordinary …… or maybe she’s so good that I can’ t read at all ……. ……?)

Al doesn’t notice.

In the Great Hall, they felt they were the best by a long shot, because they had people (Weakligs) around them to compare them to.

In fact, the shadows of the royal family are so skilled that they are almost unmatched by anyone of their age in the capital’s aristocratic society.

Those who were selected for the Imperial Guard were skilled in both the literary and military arts, and could navigate both the front and back sides of aristocratic society. They are also willing to do the dirty work.

Those who have a different kind of …… quality of strength than the strength on the frontier and in Falconer’s territory.

But that different kind of strength is not what interests Al the Berserker.

****

After being walked around the grounds of the academy for a long time, he was blindfolded and put in a horse-drawn carriage.

After a short ride in the carriage, they arrived at a mansion, which Al was unaware of.

In a place like a reception room in the mansion, the blindfold was removed with great care.

Al could not tell whether the mansion was on the grounds of the institute or in one of the districts of the royal capital.

(They carry things out quite discreetly. I guess it’s from the higher ups, but it’s a lot of work …… and the palace service too. You don’t have to go through all this trouble, but since someone associated with the royal family is involved anyway, why don’t you just wave your authority over them and ask them what you want to know? …… If you want, you can do it in your dorm room.

I heard gossipy rumors that the old nobles who have too much time on their hands are having conflicts in the court with the royal family and the new noble families by increasing useless rituals. …… With this situation, isn’t the royal side similar?)

Al is unmoved. On the contrary, he even begins to pity them for being tied up and criticizes the royal family, inwardly, saying, ‘You’re wasting your time.

One of those who continue to watch in silence senses Al’s “dismayed”…… mana and reacts with a twitch.

(What is this guy? You must be aware of who we are to some extent, but …… Why is there no sway in the mana so far? I was wondering if there was a slight reaction to …… dismay? To what? Are you stunned by …… us?)

Vera, a girl dressed in men’s clothes, does not understand Al’s inner feelings and the state of his mana. What she sees is too unnatural.

The spirit of the ever-present battlefield is also present in the shadows of the royal family. However, it is only with the assumption that they are dealing with other people. They are dealing with mages and insolent people of the human race who can understand their language.

However, frontier aristocratic families like Al’s are dealing with demons.

They do not speak the language. The demons do not consider the anger, sadness, impatience, hatred, and resignation of the human race,……, and the human race side does not care about the emotions of the demons. Live or die. Kill or be killed.

In some places, there are goblins, orcs, and other demons that can communicate to a certain degree. And there are also some individuals and races of “old demons” such as dragons, that can even understand human language. …… What unfolds in the great southern forests bordering Falkoner territory is a pure battle of attrition between humans and demons. Pure killing of demons. Only struggle for survival.

In deep forests, any emotional swing can lead directly to life and death.

Whether a friend of yours is dying in front of you or your own body is shredded into a thousand pieces, you will only think and fight the same way you would in normal times.

Among the frontier noble families, the Falconers in particular are known as berserkers, but in the heat of battle, they are more calm and ruthless than anyone else. If the situation is to turn around, even their own lives are only a factor in that decision. They are the ones who wear madness with flat heat. And they have the mindset of an ever-present battlefield. In other words, they do not distinguish between the whirlwind of battle and peacetime.

Aside from their abilities, their thoughts and ways of being are inevitably seen as alien even from the shadows of other frontier aristocratic families and royal families.

“Uh. How about after this? As a countryman, I am not familiar with the etiquette of aristocratic society in the capital, and I may be rude. If anyone is offended, I would like to ask you to teach me the necessary behavior beforehand.”

The blindfold was removed as they were ushered into the room, but only the three people mentioned earlier were around. They were also waiting, and it was foreseeable that someone would arrive later.

“First of all, Mr. Albert, I would like to apologize for all the rudeness that was shown to you earlier. My name is Yoel. The two men behind me are Rauno. The woman is Vera. I’m sorry …… but I can’t reveal my real family name. As you are probably aware, we are the “Shadow of the King” and officially I am a member of the Count’s family. The two are my squires, and are treated as being related to the Viscounts.”

First, Joel, the aristocratic-looking boy who seems to be the leader among the three, is the first to say something meaningful here.

“This is polite. I accept your apology for the rudeness. However, if I may say so, I don’t really mind. I am aware that Mr. Yoel and his colleagues have their own positions. So …… after all, there will be someone from the higher ups of the Yoel family after this?”

“It will be. No need for anything special about courtesy. You will just have to answer what you are asked. I must tell you first that we can sense even the fluctuation of your mana. Any lies or deceptions will be immediately known.”

Joel urges caution, but from Vera’s point of view, who actually senses mana, she sighs inwardly, ‘It’s hard to detect this person’s lies and deceptions.’…… Of course, she doesn’t let it out.

(As long as the royal family is involved, there is no way I can tell lies or deceptions. I swear to tell only the truth. (Well, if it’s mana-sensing, I can handle it. Perhaps. The one who is sensing it is Vera, the girl in the back. I can faintly feel her interference from a moment ago.)

Al is quick to tell lies and deceptions. However, Vera is unable to detect the wavering.