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“What, that’s nice.”

After finishing his training, Orcus quickly declared my passage after hearing my brief explanation along with the gloves I handed over.

The decision came faster than I had anticipated, but I didn’t feel like Orcus was being lenient on me. He was thorough when it came to official matters, and most importantly, his eyes gleamed with clear interest as he examined the gloves.

Perhaps because he was also an exceptional magician, he noticed the gloves’ value right away. Anyone could tell that, considering the abilities imbued in the gloves, they weren’t just ordinary items.

“By the way, I thought you came to talk about the recent incident.”

Orcus said this with a smile, but I could tell there was a bite to his words. The incident he referred to must be about Elteman being kidnapped yesterday.

Did he realize I stepped forward even after saying no need to do so? Well, half a day is more than enough time to handle it.

“I told you to leave the cleanup to me, did you think I couldn’t be trusted? Though I understand to some extent since it involved Elteman… but how did you manage to get cooperation from that stubborn old man? I know Damian, you’re involved, but once I gave the order, there shouldn’t have been anyone talking out of turn. Did you two perhaps have a bond?”

“Not really, just an acquaintance through others. I wanted to contact someone, but they said they couldn’t get through. So I agreed to their request and exchanged some details about the incident.”

“Tsk, I see.”

He looked a bit disappointed… Did he think I caught some leverage over that person?

What does he take me for?

After a brief conversation about what happened that night, we switched the topic back to the magical tools. It was already resolved, and there wasn’t much to discuss.

Orcus observed the gloves on my hands functioning properly and expressed his admiration with a small exclamation before asking me.

“Indeed, it’s hard to label this just an ordinary magical tool. But it seems there are more inscriptions on the gloves; why are only two visible? From what I see, it seems like it could function properly even without that artificial elemental.”

“Well, that’s because this isn’t a standard prototype. Originally, the two abilities I showed were the extent of it. The additional features were fixed up by Elena when she came along.”

“Whoa…”

Orcus nodded slightly, a look of understanding dawning on his face with my explanation.

“What on earth can’t that girl do…?”

He muttered softly, which was just an added remark.

I thought of Orcus as quite the versatile genius, but this time I couldn’t help but agree with his words. Elena Edelweiss’s genius was so exceptional that one could easily call it unparalleled. Just her portrayal in the original work was close enough to being all-purpose, but seeing her lately, she seemed to have surpassed that level; not a single flaw could be found.

Moreover, for some reason, the current Elena had completely awakened as a transcendent being.

She had now become such a high entity that comparing her with anyone else seemed futile. Of course, only I and she were aware of this fact, but the considerable gap between Orcus and Elena still remained.

Orcus scratched his head with one hand, leaned back, and sighed deeply.

Despite his training regimen, he was clearly still preoccupied with the recent duel.

I didn’t say anything and simply watched him, understanding his frustration. Unlike before, I wasn’t in a position to advise him now. Thankfully, Orcus soon calmed himself and faced me with his usual expression.

With a determined look, he pointed at the gloves on my hands and said, “Damian, let that go for a bit.”

“Why?”

“I want to examine it a bit more. Why? Do you need it for something?”

“No, that’s not it.”

I hesitated at Orcus’s request. Although it wasn’t mine originally, it was practically a gift from Elena. Handing it over lightly felt a bit uncomfortable.

But perhaps it was the fire in his eyes…

Ultimately, I handed the gloves over to Orcus. I didn’t want to extinguish that fire. He seemed to have his own motivation for growth, and as a friend, it wouldn’t be right to throw cold water on that.

“I won’t take too long.”

I nodded slightly at Orcus’s assured voice.

*

The business was concluded, but I didn’t head back to the dormitory right away. It wasn’t that I had more to discuss; it was because I encouraged Orcus to take a look around the Imperial Palace while he was here.

Although the Academy and the Imperial Palace were adjacent, the place I was currently in was generally reserved for royalty. Although I could come anytime with Noel and Orcus’s permission, it wasn’t a place I would frequently visit, so I decided to take this opportunity to have a look around.

“I’ll be your guide!”

The one who offered to be the guide was busy and had to back out. Since it wouldn’t do to have just one guide roaming the vast Imperial Palace, Noel, who had been supervising Orcus’s training, volunteered to show me around.

“Are you okay? I thought you wanted to train after supervising Orcus?”

“Well… ordinarily, yes! But today, since Damian is here, I can afford to take a break for a friend. Instead! I’ll take your training time tomorrow!”

“Sure. Sounds good. I prefer having a partner anyway.”

Thus began my tour of the Imperial Palace with Noel as my guide, a deal of sorts completed.

The reason I called it a tour was that viewing my friend’s home with a light-hearted attitude was far too grand and beautiful to just be a simple visit.

Even as a noble born into the family, observing the changes in the economic landscape through Damian’s eyes was like walking through a cultural heritage site.

I had seen some massive structures like the Magic Tower and Winter Castle of the Edelweiss family in this world, but the Imperial Palace felt entirely different.

If the Magic Tower was like viewing a giant skyscraper, this Imperial Palace felt like stepping into an awe-inspiring cathedral. Of course, while I had only seen the exterior of the Magic Tower, I had actually entered the Imperial Palace, which everyone likely felt similarly.

In truth, the Imperial Palace was as grand as a vast temple.

Making the ruler a representative of God has long been a common form of politics on Earth, but the difference lies in that the Emperor of the Empire is actually a representative of the divine.

Unlike on Earth, where the existence of God is debated, here, gods actually exist, and the royalty are descendants of Altair, carrying the blood of the divine. So, it is only natural that the place where they reside, the Imperial Palace, serves as both the house of Divine Lord Altair and functions as a temple.

Everywhere I walked, I saw symbols of Divine Lord Altair, and there was no place without inscriptions of the holy scriptures, so what else could this place even be but a temple?

The Holy Barrier enveloping all of Ruden is none other than this Imperial Palace. Even from the outside, one could easily see the divine power overflowing, and the interior would surely be the same.

Thus, while the sun in the sky was preparing to sink below the earth, it felt as if the warmth of morning sunlight still lingered here.

“This would be the worst working environment.”

“Huh? Why do you say that?”

“It feels like my eyes are gonna close. It’s not a place for work, that’s for sure. Orcus seems to be able to manage quite well in such a place, though.”

It felt cozy and ticklish, almost like being bundled in a warm blanket. It wasn’t hot, just perfectly comfortable, reminiscent of the feeling you get when you’re half-awake under the covers in the morning.

As I spoke with half-closed, sleepy eyes, Noel answered with a laugh.

“That’s because Damian has a high sensitivity to the divine. Most people can’t just accept it so comfortably.”

“Really? I thought everyone felt that way.”

“Some people feel peace and stability while looking at the sun, while others may be overwhelmed or feel too hot, you know? It’s like that. Usually, the blessings that priests give are refined so that people can feel it in that way.”

“I see… Ah, does that mean I might have an aptitude for being a priest?”

“Maybe! Or maybe not? The gods can be fickle. But still, Damian as a priest… somehow it fits.”

“Really?”

Imagining myself in priest robes doing blessings didn’t quite match up. I’d never really had much interest in religion, I guess, which made it hard for me to envision myself as a devout believer.

[…Kiya…]

“Um?”

“What’s wrong?”

“I thought I just heard something.”

Are there ghosts in the Imperial Palace?

Considering the place, while it’s likely not ghosts, it might be better thought of in terms of divine entities.

As I moved deeper into the Imperial Palace, the sound of someone calling me kept echoing in my ears.

As I widened my senses and looked, I couldn’t catch any presence, like the ghosts from stories. No, even if there were ghosts, if they existed, I should be able to feel their presence, but I felt nothing at all.

Since Noel, who was with me, also didn’t seem to notice anything odd, it felt like this might just be my issue…

‘My chest feels a bit tight…’

Is my physical state not quite right?

I haven’t really put myself in any kind of strain lately, have I?

It feels too sudden to be a psychological issue. I tried observing for external factors but couldn’t come up with anything as time passed. With no way to pinpoint the cause, I could only rationalize it to myself.

“No. I must be a bit sensitive today.”

It felt too ambiguous to say something was definitely wrong, just a slight annoyance. So I chose to ignore it. Thankfully, that seemed to work, as my responses to the disturbances faded as I paid them no mind.

Once I broke free from that strange feeling, I continued my stroll through the Imperial Palace, listening to Noel’s explanations.

After browsing around for a few minutes, when I thought I had seen a good portion of the Imperial Palace, Noel guided me into a grand hall.

If there were such a place in a castle, one might typically think of a banquet hall, but here was a space that served as both the Imperial Palace and a temple. The expansive hall gave off a solemn feeling akin to an ancient church, and at its center lay the source of the divine power I had been feeling.

A golden statue and the four objects that adorned it.

I could tell that these objects were what are commonly referred to as Sacred Relics. The divine power I felt was emanating not from the statue itself but from those four items upon it.

“….Noel, is it alright for me to be here?”

Even though it was a place of holy objects at the center of the hall, I instinctively felt like this was somewhere I shouldn’t enter. I casually glanced at Noel to see if she had mistakenly guided me here, but she only smiled without saying a word.

 

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