In the morning, when I woke up, Fiona was already gone. I felt a bit sticky around my face, perhaps because I had been pranked right after waking up.
Still, after a night’s sleep, I felt somewhat refreshed. My worries and problems hadn’t been resolved, but nonetheless, my body felt revitalized. Perhaps having Fiona sleep beside me had an unexpectedly relaxing effect. It was worth it to step out of my comfort zone and be a bit needy.
However, in the end, Lily had not returned by morning. Since she hadn’t come back overnight, it seemed she had no intention of returning to us for a while.
It was rather discouraging, but still, a new day had begun.
“Well then, take care, Chrono.”
“Yeah, I should be back by evening.”
I finished breakfast without any issues—though there was an incident when Fiona rushed in to stop me as I naturally began feeding Sariel while holding an ‘Ainz Bloom’—but anyway, I prepared various things and left the dorm.
Also, for the first time in my life, I experienced the existence of a “going out kiss.”
Now, calming my fluttering feelings, I headed straight to my destination. It was only a five-minute walk away—a dorm exclusively for executive candidates located within the grounds of the School of the Gods.
“Come to think of it, this is my first time coming directly here.”
I was visiting, of course, my best friend, Wil. None other than the Second Prince of Spada, Wilhart Tristan Spada.
“—In any case, it’s a relief to see you back safe, Chrono.”
Thanks to my early visit before classes started, I was able to reunite with Wilhart without any awkward waiting or missing each other.
Wilhart, who had tears of joy streaming down his face during our emotional reunion, managed to regain his composure by the time I entered the room and the maid Celia served us tea. Seeing such an over-the-top reaction made me feel relieved that he truly hadn’t changed.
My relationship with my Element Master had changed far too much.
“I’ll ask just to be sure, but are classes okay?”
“Heh, since ancient times, it has been said, ‘A friend returns from the battlefield. Isn’t that a joy?’ Classes are simply no obstacle to celebrating a friend’s return!”
Though I wanted to admonish Wil for publicly declaring he was skipping class, at this moment, I preferred it this way.
“That’s good to hear. The conversation might take a while.”
“Indeed, I will listen as long as you need. I have plenty I would like to know as well.”
So, Wil and I settled in for a lengthy conversation.
The executive candidates’ dormitory was built sturdily, unlike our dilapidated house, so as long as we didn’t raise our voices, there was no worry about our conversation being overheard.
If I had to mention something, it was that the maid Celia was present and naturally eavesdropping, but… well, it was fine. After all, it wasn’t something I’d keep secret for long.
With that in mind, I first explained the conclusion of the Galahad War and how I was teleported there. I spoke about hiding in a pioneer village until the snow melted and then returning to Spada. I summarized the details.
“Hmm, it seems to be mostly as we anticipated. I received news from Lily about a letter from you confirming your safe return.”
Surely she had informed him on her way back to Spada to equip herself with gear like the Predator Coat.
“However, what I am most curious about is… what happened to the Seventh Apostle Sariel, the greatest enemy? Did you take him down? Or did you let him escape?”
“Ah, about that, I wanted to consult you, Wil. In fact, that’s the main topic for today.”
“Hmm, go on?”
“I captured Sariel alive. He is currently in my dorm.”
“Wh-what!?”
Wilhart’s mouth seemed ready to shout, but my hand and Celia’s hand from the side covered his mouth.
“Excuse me, Lord Wil. We absolutely cannot let this information leak to the outside.”
“Mmph! Mmm!”
Wil let out a strained acknowledgment gesture. With that, since he seemed to calm down, both Celia and I released our hands.
“I’ll say it in advance, but Sariel has no hostility now, and he has lost his abilities as an Apostle. Instead, he has awakened the Blessing of the ‘Dark Knight, Freesia.'”
“…So there’s no worry of escape?”
“Yeah, if he intended to run away, he would have done so long ago. Besides, Sariel could have easily taken my life if he wanted to.”
“Could it be that you lived together with the enemy leader for three months…?”
Well, that’s how it was, I nodded deeply in response.
“Hmm, that makes it all the more puzzling. Chrono, why did you spare the life of the enemy Apostle?”
Naturally, this question would arise.
To be honest, the whole situation regarding keeping Sariel alive wasn’t an enjoyable memory for me. I felt like it had almost become a trauma since Lily had cried and fled. Still, I needed to explain the circumstances.
For now, it was easier to talk to Wil, who was also a man, and above all, he already knew I was summoned from another world. The conversation would be swift.
“Actually, Sariel’s true identity is—”
And then, I revealed all the circumstances at last.
“—Ugh, what! So that was what happened… You must have gone through a lot!”
As a result, Wil cried and showed great sympathy for my circumstances.
I was happy to have such a loyal friend, but at the same time, receiving that much sympathy felt somewhat burdensome.
“It wasn’t just painful; well, I struggled a lot and even now, there are parts I cannot reconcile. But, Sariel was an Apostle and the commander of the Crusaders. It wouldn’t do to keep this hidden forever. I want to decide on how to handle Sariel’s situation first.”
“Hmm, I see… Now I understand perfectly what you want to consult about! I’m glad you came to me. Leave everything to me! I, Wilhart Tristan Spada, with my gray matter, will guide you to the answer you desire!!”
I received such a reassuring response. For some reason, Wil stood up dramatically, his cape fluttering, and with a shining monocle, he looked like an incredibly sharp-witted character.
“So, what exactly should we do?”
“First, to confirm, whatever the case may be, we need Sariel, the Crusader captive, to be in your presence.”
“Yeah, that would be ideal, but… isn’t that quite difficult? I heard the Eighth Apostle Ai has been sealed in the royal castle.”
Wil provided detailed explanations about the circumstances leading up to Ai’s sealing.
Ai, who was captured at Galahad, had her treatment decided through military trials because of her special status as an Apostle, but knowing the danger of her powers, King Leonhart immediately ordered her to be sealed in the royal castle.
Considering whether it was safe to bring her to the royal castle in the center of Spada, it was known to a few that the lowest level of the dungeon there was the most secure prison in the country. It was fundamentally different from an ordinary jail made merely of steel and sealed with magical barriers.
The “prison” using part of an ancient ruin, it seemed, had the peculiar trait of time stopping…… Apparently, contemporary magical technology couldn’t accurately explain its principles or effects. The details were unclear, but those imprisoned there seemed to be completely frozen in time, unable to move or even think.
It appeared as though they were encased in a gigantic block of ice, and thus, it was named “The Limbo of Cocytus,” derived from the frost hell described in ancient myths.
For now, Ai, sealed in such a magnificent prison, occasionally had just her head “defrosted” to be interrogated about the Crusaders and Apostles little by little. It seemed it would take some time to extract useful information from her.
“Even though Sariel has lost her Blessing, she still remains an Apostle. I worry she might be thrown into ‘The Limbo of Cocytus’ like Ai.”
“No, I’ve heard that the current Sariel only has her left arm remaining and has lost her dominant arm and both legs. Given how severely injured she is, there wouldn’t be the urgency for an immediate sealing order. Our army is likely eager for any information on the enemy, so they would prefer to keep her in a state where she could communicate.”
If they realized that with the armor’s limbs, Sariel could move freely with the Blessing of the Thunder Attribute and Blackening, their response might change. Well, it’s not like her limbs would regenerate immediately either, and there would be plenty of ways to handle it.
“At the very least, she would have to undergo a Blessing assessment by the priests of Pandora Temple. If we can prove the Blessing of the ‘Dark Knight, Freesia’ there, her caution level could be lowered further.”
“But wouldn’t that just determine whether she goes into the limbo or a normal prison?”
“Yes, precisely. The important part begins here. In handling Sariel’s situation, we must not sit idly by and wait. Chrono, you must personally petition my father, King Leonhart.”
A direct appeal to the king… that makes me nervous.
“Don’t worry; it’s not something to be overly concerned about. You are a member of the Fourth Unit ‘Gladiators’—Celia, please bring me the fourth book from the right on the third shelf and the third book from the left on the bottom shelf.”
Without even looking at the large bookshelf that took up a considerable volume in the room, Wil gave his orders. Does this mean he has memorized the positions of all the books? He must have incredible memorization skills or an obsessive personality. Either way, it was impressive.
“Is ‘The Complete Laws of Spada 1996 Edition,’ ‘Ancient Law Interpretation II, Volume 1,’ and ‘Doki Doki, Dungeon Exploration with Busty Elves: Demon’s House Edition’ sufficient?”
“Y-you fool! Don’t include the hidden titles! It should be the third from the left on the ordinary lower shelf!!”
“My apologies. Is ‘The Rights of Adventurers: Volume Three’ okay?”
“Yes, thank you. According to the Complete Laws of Spada—”
“Hey, Wil, I just heard a title that feels wildly out of place.”
“Heh, what are you talking about? As the master, you should overlook such minor mistakes from maids.”
“I-I see… Well, if it’s alright, loan me that one next time.”
“Of course, my collection is carefully curated. Take whichever one you like.”
After expressing my gratitude and deepening my friendship with Wil, I returned to the main topic.
“When an officially drafted adventurer, that is to say a member of the ‘Gladiators,’ is recognized for their merits on the battlefield, they gain the right to negotiate for their merits.”
Normally, they would go through an officer managing the ‘Gladiators’ from Spada or at most, they would negotiate with a general leading their unit, in this case, Prince Eisenhart. Thus, that would be the highest position to negotiate with. It would be overwhelming to have the king personally listen to all the minor achievements.
“However, your merits from this battle are significant enough to influence the outcome of our army. They can be said to rival my father’s achievements in holding back the Dragon King Gavinal in single combat.”
“R-really? It wasn’t that big of a deal…”
“Such a statement must be made. In a merit negotiation, the performance of how one can exaggerate their achievements is crucial. Your humility may be a virtue, but it seems unsuitable for situations like this.”
Indeed, that kind of thing makes me uncomfortable. Wil saw right through my personality.
“That said, it is clear to anyone that your achievements are heroic. It would not be surprising if a noble title was offered to you unsolicited.”
“I have no intention of becoming a noble… But if that’s how highly I’m regarded, I might be able to get away with some of my whims.”
“Indeed, we have a good chance.”
Nodding vigorously, Wil continued while flipping through a thick volume of Spada’s laws that Celia had brought.
“The fortunate thing is that we have yet to receive any rewards. It seems both Lily and Fiona devoted themselves entirely to rescuing you and were not remotely in a position to receive rewards.”
Though I was aware of my safety from the letter, concerns lingered. I couldn’t send a second letter, considering the risk of being detected by the Crusaders, so I avoided sending it twice.
After preparing for the rescue in Spada, Lily returned to Galahad Fortress immediately and spent three whole months with Fiona until the snow melted. Reflecting on it now, I realize how much trouble I caused them.
That I had enough fun in the pioneer village weighed heavily on my conscience.
“There are several types of rewards for adventurers. Typically, monetary payment is the norm, but there are also valuable weapons, magical tools, and land or trading rights. Additionally, there are historical precedents for titles of nobility being offered as rewards.”
The presence of precedents means that it would be easier to recognize requests. If there are similar cases to our demands, we could use that to help our case.
“But neither money, physical items, rights, nor titles can serve as conditions for releasing Sariel.”
“Ha ha ha, there’s no need to rush, Chrono! I have already found the perfect plan for this negotiation.”
“Oh, really!”
Amazing, I was right to consult Wil about this. If this goes well, it would solve about half of the pressing issues.
It’s a pathetic thing to admit, but with the stress I was under, I wouldn’t be surprised if I ended up developing a stomach ulcer, so I wanted to lighten my load as soon as possible.
“In truth, the answer is remarkably simple—”
With a perfectly executed look and angle, Wil declared.
“—You should take Sariel as your slave!”