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Engaging in conversations among nobles is quite the torture for me.

They go so far as to attach meanings to every word I utter. Not only that, they slather their words with tricks to lure me in and drag me toward their advantages.

Instead of being direct and concise, they embellish everything unnecessarily, stretching the time we spend talking—twisting and turning their words just to confuse people.

“It just doesn’t suit someone like me who’s been a Hunter all this time.”

The complicated discussions were resolved with the aid of my company that I diligently absorbed.

Most of the conversations I’ve had were during post-party festivities, fueled by beer, and. Before entering the dungeon, the vast majority were straightforward briefings that hit directly without any beating around the bush.

Unlike my last conversation where I had to predict various outcomes from a single word and even consider the variable known as the Empire.

Now, however, I found the rapid-fire dialogue with straightforward topics quite enjoyable.

“I don’t need to ask how you’ve been since we saw each other yesterday. I trust that you, the Young Lady, and the Baron have become quite accustomed to each other… So instead of chit-chat, I’ll get right to the point. Have you thought enough about my proposal?”

“How could we refuse a suggestion personally endorsed by Your Highness, the Princess? The Baron and I have chosen to become your allies and walk the path you wish to take.”

“That’s a relief. Gaining you both as friends means securing the most reliable allies on the continent.”

“You’re overly generous, Your Highness.”

“How can this be called overly generous?”

For a brief moment, Adelhaite’s expression chilled at Shione’s humility.

Did I say something wrong? The flicker of embarrassment reflected in her widening eyes gave it away.

Unlike the other women in this world, it seemed Adelhaite was satisfied by my special brand of cuteness, as her lips turned up into a smile.

“If those with the power to change destinies were to turn against us, it would be the most foolish and dangerous thing. Conversely, having you as allies would be the most reassuring thing.”

I thought she had realized our silver-haired coward’s cuteness by playing around with Shione. But it turns out, something else had brought her joy.

From the Princess’s perspective of reading destinies, Shione and I were variables. Given her grand ambition to build an empire, it seemed far more prudent to keep variables like us close rather than distancing herself from us.

After a while of genuinely celebrating our union, the princess regained her composure and returned to her cold demeanor.

“Now, let’s start talking about what I promised to inform you after hearing your response.”

“You mentioned it was a means to achieve peace for the kingdom.”

“That’s right. Young Lady, and Baron, you must have heard that I’ve recently visited the northern noble family.”

The northern noble family refers to the clan of Siabel’s friend, Aria, and the wizard Epheana, who belong to the Alenarr Marquis Family. It appears Adelhaite spent time at the Marquis Family before arriving at the Count’s House.

Finally, since the topic I had long anticipated was brought up, this time I nodded even faster than Shione, already engaging with her.

“Then do you know why I visited the Marquis Family, Baron?”

“I cautiously suspect that it was because of the cult or demon activities in the north.”

“Oh? I’d like to hear your reasons for thinking that.”

“I eavesdropped on a conversation among the demons at the Academy and got it out through interrogation. It seems like their base was lurking somewhere in the north. Moreover—”

That group’s old shaman utilized bizarre arts more than anything else.

“Their shaman handled divine power while harboring demons… With strange abilities different from the existing cultists, not to mention the audacity of even targeting the academy, I thought that if left unchecked, they would surely bring chaos to the kingdom down the line.”

“…….”

“If my thoughts are correct, then the north, where their base is hidden, can hardly be considered peaceful in the eyes of Your Highness.”

Starting with shaman seeking to handle divine power while harboring demons.

Suddenly realizing that the Gluttony Demon I had just thought of as a mere adversary might have been ensnared by a cult filled with malicious intent, being fed pieces of meat laden with demonic energy—there was a possibility it could become a demon through that.

Our Count once eradicated monsters beyond the mountain range. The creatures descending toward the colder northern region, in the current state where we’re yet to properly deal with them, would certainly be evident enough in Adelhaite’s eyes that the frozen land was more dangerous.

“It seems the Young Lady already knows what the Baron said, so that makes things much easier.”

Seeming pleased with my response, Adelhaite caressed her lips with her index finger, offering a gentle smile.

“You’re right, Baron. Recently, there have been more unsettling incidents in the north. Have you all heard the tale of the Dragon’s roar from forty years ago?”

The roar of a dragon from the north.

Certainly, when I helped save students at the Academy and stepped into the canyon, Epheana had mentioned the same.

It appeared that this incident in the north revolved around the dragon’s roar, so I focused intently on Adelhaite’s words.

“Forty years ago, the headmaster of the Academy was the most outstanding woman among the royal sorcerers. The people of the kingdom celebrated the roar, calling it an explosive sound caused by her powerful magic, but the reality was different.”

“The royal family had determined that the descent of those monsters was all due to the activities of the dragon that had been sleeping at the edge of the permafrost. The monsters seemed horrified, moving in terror.”

“And… we’ve just confirmed signs resembling that from back then.”

Now it wasn’t just demons we had to worry about, but dragons as well.

“The territory and power structure of the monsters living in the frozen ground are rapidly changing too. It seems they’re moving slowly but surely toward the Alenarr Marquis Family from the far north.”

Adelhaite elaborated.

The monsters living in the north maintain their territory, and their power structure doesn’t shift easily.

The only times their power structure changes is when a powerful monster that could break the existing balance appears or when a slumbering dragon awakens.

Then Shione cautiously said, “Is a dragon that’s been sleeping in the north awakening?”

“Usually, that’s what you’d think. But I have a different opinion. Dragons haven’t attacked the kingdom so far, and now that we’ve entered the twilight, it’s hard to believe that one dragon could bring bloodshed throughout the entire northern kingdom.”

Taking a moment to breathe, Adelhaite sighed and continued.

“And in that scenario, we’ve found a variable, haven’t we, Baron?”

“Specifically, you mean the cultists who’ve set their base up in the north?”

“Exactly. There have been numerous signs of bandits lately, and rumors of monstrous appearances are proliferating. I feel those bandits and those monsters point towards the cultists; they possess wicked arts capable of manipulating even the northern beasts.”

She seemed deeply convinced that the strange occurrences in the north were the work of the cultists, and such belief came with a strong hatred.

After all, her own coming-of-age ritual almost turned into a funeral due to those scoundrels, so it was only natural for her to harbor malice towards those who handled demonic energy.

As a loyal servant of the kingdom, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for its bright future.

“While I and the Alenarr Marquis Family intend to manage the situation in the north… Destiny rarely changes easily. Thus, if I find a disaster starting due to them in the north or a definite signal of it, I personally wish to request your assistance.”

Thus, Adelhaite sought our strength against the ominous energies brewing in the north.

To definitely overturn the predetermined destruction, we needed the butterfly effect we would create.

Certainly, once the great disaster commenced and the royal family called for help, it made sense to assist, but before either Shione or I could respond to such matters, it had only begun to thaw in the war’s aftermath.

It seemed the Princess wanted us to resolve this before making the royal family call for aid, as it might look too meager to only support with Shione and me, and perhaps the Special Mission Team knights.

‘Adelhaite wants me and Shione. And if absolutely necessary, she probably expects the Special Mission Team forces to join as well.’

Trustworthy characters often sought by the Princess. With such humility, it would certainly allow a greater freedom engaged as friends rather than being called through royal decrees.

“Then from now on, as friends, let’s work well together.”

Although I couldn’t quite grasp what exact future Adelhaite envisioned.

She seemed pleased with the answer she heard today.

“The next meeting will likely take place at the Alenarr Marquis Family, so I look forward to that day.”

At last, my unexpected meeting with Adelhaite at the Count’s House came to an end.

That being said—

“The monsters of the north are said to possess large bodies to adapt to the cold climate.”

“Indeed? They also say their hides are incredibly tough, making them hard to catch.”

“Then it would be prudent for us to practice catching large monsters moving forward.”

“Is that even something we could accomplish at our Count’s House? How would we even do it?”

“Let’s just say, we need to create arrows with enough power to pierce through and penetrate their hides. We should definitely increase our practice loads moving forward.”

“…That sounds really difficult.”

“If you don’t meet the practice quota, consider that day’s kiss off the table.”

“……!”

Having left a wealth of curiosities about the information concerning the north, given that the situation had already escalated to this extent, it wouldn’t be long before larger upheavals reached us after our expedition.

‘We need to be adequately prepared for the Gluttony Demon too.’

It would be wise to lay a solid groundwork. After all, there were dragons living in the north as well.

The demon might have devoured the dragon, or in the worst-case scenario, both could rampage about.

For now, I put thoughts about our imminent future aside and turned my attention to Shione, who was puffing her cheeks and expressing her complaints.

“No, no to kiss strikes…!”

“……?”

“I’m holding back so much normally—No wait, the more I think about it the less it makes sense…! If I can’t have that, what on earth will I live for?!”

Pouting, Shione was preparing to charge at me to bind me!

 

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