1014. Anyway, they’re worthless.
The gazes of those standing around the banquet hall instantly converged on one spot and pierced like arrows at Encred and the party entering.
“……The face.”
Someone muttered. The funny thing was, judging solely by appearance, he shouldn’t have stood out much given the abundance of fairies in the Empire, yet Encred possessed a unique aura.
If asked what the greatest beauty a human possesses is, the answer would be vitality.
Encred was exactly like that. Although he lacked the refined features of a fairy, his beauty was comparable, and the aura he exuded was like a fish just pulled out of a river.
Furthermore, his well-trained body possessed a sense of balance that surpassed even that of a beastman, let alone an ordinary fairy.
If giants are born with bulk and frocks with regeneration, beastmen are born with physical balance and athleticism.
Thanks to this, it is said that beastmen bodies possess the most aesthetically pleasing balance among all races, and Encred’s body was no less impressive. In a way, he
possessed the beauty of a fairy, the vitality of a human, and the physique of a beastman in equal measure. His black hair and blue eyes were far from ordinary, and his clothes suited him so well.
It was certainly a reward for the Emperor to have deliberately taken his measurements and chosen him to wear.
So, he’s not called the Bewitching Knight for nothing.
Someone else muttered
, and in between, curious glances mixed with hostility mingled. Saxony was absent, and the reason was that the very nature of such a banquet was uncomfortable.
Well, the real reason was that an invitation had arrived from the owner of an assassination guild called the Butterfly Circus.
In any case, Encreed let everyone do as they pleased.
“Ah, so that is the one from that kingdom.”
“You’re crazy, your face is crazy.”
“Don’t speak so undignifiedly. Still, well, yes, it is a face worth coveting.”
It was said among four ladies in dresses. They whispered amongst themselves, but it was clearly audible.
Encred had never deliberately put effort into grooming his appearance. He even considered dressing up to be pointless.
He still felt the same way, but to others, it was not. When he dressed up and came out, he was more than just presentable.
That’s excellent.
It was the words of a noblewoman in her forties. Every year, the Imperial nobility selects the “Illuminator.” The name implies an appearance that illuminates the world, but it was merely a pastime for those in power.
Whose appearance shines the brightest this year? That is the kind of thing they judge.
Even if one side is fighting the Demon Realm while claiming to wish for death, those within it continue to live by engaging in such activities. That is just how the world is.
Encred was not alone. Even though Saxony was absent, there were many to fill his void.
With a jawline that could hardly be called delicate, eyes that looked as if they would chop something with an axe if things went wrong, Rem also exuded his unique charm to the fullest.
Whatever else, this was certainly where the Empire was ahead of the Kingdom. Should one call it the art of dressing up?
The Kingdom of the Continent fought monsters, bandits, and civil wars, all while waging wars against other nations in the process. The harsh environment created by these continuous grim events was a factor hindering such cultural growth.
When you are too busy just trying to survive, where would you find the time to respect art or whatever?
The Empire was different.
Even when the Three Villains ran rampant, they lived within the walls established by the Emperor. Naturally, the Empire’s culture was more developed in many aspects.
Things like clothing, makeup, and art—which are not necessities but require leisure to develop—were far superior in the Empire.
Encred is also surprised by this. After all, the clothes he was wearing were different.
The deadline is different.
I tried on clothes made by quite skilled artisans in Nowril, but the Empire’s were softer and cleaner. They even took into account the tactile feel of the clothes against the skin.
“Everyone’s eyes are going to pop out, huh?”
In the midst of this, Kahal spoke to everyone. Only then did the banquet hall, which had been quiet whenever Enkrid passed by, start murmuring again.
“Anyway, you’re so bright.”
Kahal muttered again. It was a remark meant for everyone to hear.
“Is that something that should come out of Prok’s mouth?”
Encred gave Kahal a reprimand, but Kahal didn’t care.
Well, I do enjoy admiring appearances, but for now, I live true to my own desires.
The nickname “Foul-mouthed Frog” shone even brighter at the banquet hall. Because no one dared to come near him.
As soon as one of the nobles approached and spoke to him, Cahal…
“What?”
“Ah, I’d like to have a chat with the knight from Naurilia.”
“Get lost.”
“……Even if you are a knight of the Empire, what kind of rudeness is this?”
“What’s wrong with this kid?”
He was treated like this. One wondered if this was acceptable, yet no one really tried to stop him.
There were various reasons for this. It was due to the prestige of the Imperial Knights and the fact that the knight Kahal himself was so unique.
For these reasons, no one bothered him. Encreed had absolutely no interest in whether anyone approached him, watched him, or spoke to him.
He simply asked questions about other matters, the ones that interested him.
“I wonder if I’ll be able to meet the Knight of the Gale or the Little Giant?”
Among the Empire’s Four Great Knights, there are two excluding the Commander.
The Empire’s Four Great Knights are, after all, those who have entered the purification transformation of Will. The greatest of them is the Commander, but in Encred’s eyes, he was a master of deception.
While his swordsmanship in other concepts may be excellent, he possessed the most outstanding skill in tricking people.
If asked why, Kahal said that the opponent he had never once defeated was Bram Ritzer, the Commander.
On the surface, he seemed manageable, but this was proof that there was more to him. Naturally, his interest turned to the other two as well. That is why he asked.
“That Gale bastard is probably busy running around the battlefield right now. As for the little giant, well, he’s probably minding his own business.”
Telling Kahal to take an interest in worldly affairs was like telling Kreis to get rid of his anxiety.
While Prok was a being who knew only his own desires, Kahal was even worse. He was only sharing what he knew now because of Encred; under normal circumstances, he would have left long ago to delve into training, discipline, and the swordsmanship he had just discovered.
The very fact that Kahal attended the banquet was an extraordinary event to the others.
“Enough, Lord Kahal. If you are a member of the Imperial Knights, you must respect the laws of the Empire that have stood for so long. Otherwise, it is right for you to leave the Order.”
It was Lord Donapa. He approached, clad in a white coat adorned with gold trim. His demeanor was as stoic and composed as ever.
He was the kind of person who seemed more suited to maintaining a blank expression than a fairy.
If Trimache was a Knight of the Imperial Palace, Lord Donapa held a position akin to a spokesperson for the palace. Of course, that was none of Encred’s business.
Kahal did not act harshly toward Donapa, either. Though, he wasn’t just sitting there quietly listening.
“You’re still alive? I told you you’ll die young if you live like that.”
It was practically a curse, but the funny thing was, Kahal was actually looking out for Donapa in his own way. After all, it is a truth known even to Prok, who only cares about himself, that acting too obnoxiously and uprightly only earns you enemies.
“That is my business to handle; it is none of your concern.”
“Yes, I know. If I hadn’t respected the laws of the Empire, half of you would have died by my hand.”
“I thank you for that.”
What kind of conversation is this, anyway?
The self-centered Prok and the fanatic serving the god the Emperor were in a relationship where they couldn’t understand each other, yet they were considerate of one another.
It smells good.
Rem, who usually paid no attention to what the two of them were saying, twitched his nose at the smell of food. To be precise, he had found the liquor brewed only in the Empire through his sense of smell and sixth sense. It was clear that he had already located the place where the precious liquor was kept, using observational skills on par with a knight.
For instance, places where people dressed differently, or where they drank from a bottle held by a private servant instead of the liquor given by a servant.
I have to drink a lot while it doesn’t smell sour.
Saying that, Rem quickly stepped away. Then, Sinar stood beside him and spoke.
“Do not worry, fiancé. I will push away and cast away every woman who approaches you. Nothing troubles you. I swear.”
Was that really something to swear an oath over?
Encred filtered out the fairy’s trivial joke. It
had briefly captured everyone’s attention, and while many were interested, the banquet hall returned to its proper function in any case:
chatting, eating, and drinking. Then, a servant’s shout was heard.
“His Highness Kdianat Landius Nauril has arrived.”
I do not know what the laws of the Empire or court etiquette are like, but the introduction of Krang was quite polite.
However, there was none of the excessive rhetoric sometimes exchanged between nobles. The same was true when the Emperor appeared.
“His Imperial Majesty is arriving.”
One of the Empire’s cultural norms was not to attach unnecessary modifiers. Indeed, since such a culture had taken root, they were likely able to bestow the alias “Barley Harvester” upon their Knight Commander. It was
the Emperor who entered the room at almost the same time as Krang. His appearance was similar to what had been seen in the reception room, but he was a doll.
There are no branches behind the back.
A being who achieved immortality by connecting his body to an ancient tree—a tree large enough to be called the World Tree—that is the Emperor.
This is a fact known to everyone, including Encred.
In a way, is it similar to the Lord of the Demon Realm?
“The wind is different, but aren’t they the same in that they have achieved half-immortality?”
It was a fleeting distracting thought. Encred quickly turned his gaze away.
As he looked, he noticed Ilain, the head of the Rengadis Merchant Guild whom he had met on his way here. When their eyes met, she raised a glass to greet him. Encred merely nodded.
“Welcome, King from the continent.”
It is a greeting we exchange anew, despite having met several times and talked about all sorts of things.
Thank you for your hospitality.
Krang also maintained a formal demeanor. The two merely exchanged greetings and did not discuss anything else.
Enjoy yourself.
The Emperor’s words were the end of it.
The banquet was, quite literally, for the guests visiting the Kingdom. They ate dishes made with intensely aromatic mushrooms found only in the Empire and drank wine brewed by fairies.
Encred tasted it, too. Every single dish had an exquisite flavor. The mushrooms were ground into a powder and sprinkled over roasted duck; although it was a flavor he had never tasted before, it was not rough at all and clung to his tongue perfectly.
If Kreis had tasted it, he would have been deeply moved, saying this was the kind of dish that would be served at the salon he was set to open.
Even Ragnar, who has a picky palate, must have found considerable enjoyment here.
I’ll just take some with me on the way.
It may not be a particularly grand gift, but everyone will likely enjoy it once they taste it.
It is nice that it is unique, but if asked whether this is distinctly superior to the Kingdom’s cuisine, that is another story.
I felt there was no significant difference in the culinary culture itself. It is simply that everyone possesses their own distinct character.
A few ladies mustered the courage to approach, only to back away at Sinar’s gaze.
A noble and fairy who managed to withstand Sinar’s stare finally approached, but Encred was completely absorbed in listening to Kahal recount the chronicles of the Empire’s knights.
Kahal did not possess exceptional eloquence, but the stories themselves were incredibly interesting.
“There’s this guy called the Dancing Knight. That bastard is incredibly talented, but the problem is he likes dancing more than swordsmanship. You ask if there’s a correlation between the two? There is. Even so, he should focus more on swordsmanship. Do you think he’ll be better at swordsmanship just because he dances better?”
Encred nodded repeatedly, agreeing that it was true. One might wonder why he was here when he could have just gone out with Kahal instead of attending a banquet, but wasn’t this a banquet to which the Emperor had invited him?
He was simply maintaining an attitude of respect for the person who had invited him. Of course, if the Emperor were an ordinary noble, he would have been quite perplexed to see Encred acting this way.
Then, a sharp voice rang out through the banquet hall.
“Let me ask you one thing: how will you prove that you are truly a person who has not harmed the Empire?”
It was a remark suddenly tossed out by a nobleman. The target was Krang.
It wasn’t something said out of drunkenness. The tone was clear. That wasn’t to say it wasn’t confrontational, but judging by the content alone, it was clearly a challenge. Enkrid’s gaze naturally turned in that direction. “You?” Did he just say “you”? Even the form of address was offensive.
Anyway, they’re worthless pieces of trash.
Kahal muttered what he didn’t like.
