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Translator: Kell | Editor: Weasalopes
Arrival of the Ambassador
Prince Austrin G. Ponsonia’s delegate had arrived in Agiapole. Security was tighter than usual inside the Tower as foreigners entered. Confidential jobs were suspended for a few days, their respective offices locked.
Three days later, Princess Kudyatoria G. Ponsonia’s delegate, the Foreign Minister, arrived. Preparations were already made in the Tower to welcome him. The old man watched the view outside the window of his carriage as it trudged on the bridge over the moat.
「My. This is quite an elaborate reception.」
Fully-armed soldiers lined up not only inside the Tower, but on the bridge as well. The Foreign Minister’s attendants trembled at the sharp stares drilling at them. It felt as if they were envoys entering an enemy country even though Bios was a neutral state.
「Shouldn’t we protest this treatment, Sir?」an attendant asked.
TOP ARTICLES1/5Mercenaries in Apocalypse Volume 1Chapter 29
「What will we tell them?」the Foreign Minister said.
「We were summoned here for an arbitration. But they’re being too harsh on us.」
Tension filled the air. It felt as though swords could be clashing any moment.
「Even if we complained, the Pope would probably say: “Two warring forces are being invited to the Tower. We deployed soldiers to make sure there won’t be any trouble”. Prince Austrin’s delegate would share the same sentiment and say we’re disregarding His Holiness’s thoughtfulness.」
「So it’s already beginning…」
The attendant looked weary. The Foreign Minister—a man who had survived countless battlefields—simply laughed, his expression calm at all times. His long hair had all turned gray, tied to the back, his long, white eyebrows hiding his eyes. His wrinkled face did well to hide his expression.
Above all, he was prepared to die in this place. He had lived a long life, and if he could spend his last moments to repay his beloved kingdom, then he would gladly do so. As such, he managed to stay composed.
「Welcome, Ponsonians.」
The Red Priest who greeted the convoy looked a bit perplexed. Austrin’s delegate was pale as a sheet from the tense atmosphere, and yet the Foreign Minister appeared to be calm.
「Haha. I somehow survived the long trip.」the old man said.「So, did the Queen’s messenger arrive?」
The Foreign Minister referred to Kudyastoria as “Queen,” implying the throne already belonged to her. His intention was to let them know Austrin was nothing but a rebel, and the present problem wasn’t a struggle for who takes the throne, but simply an uprising by traitors.
「Yes, the Princess’s messenger indeed made it.」
The Red Priest, on the other hand, knew this. He referred to Kudyastoria as “Princess,” indicating that they saw this as a power struggle. Katina taught him about this.
「Did they make it before the time limit? His Holiness’s demands were quite difficult to fulfill.」the Foreign Minister said, as though not making in time was understandable.
「They arrived in time without any trouble.」
「Oh. Our knights sure are promising.」
The old man thought ten days was a tough ask. Arriving before then was something to be delighted about. They would have the upper hand in the arbitration right off the bat. The Red Priest, however, shook his head.
「The knight arrived after the ten-day deadline. Apparently, it was an adventurer who made it in time.」
「An adventurer you say?」
The image of Senkun brimming with confidence back at the meeting popped in his mind.
Nothing less from a rank A adventurer, I suppose. I feel thankful for his suggestion.
The two parties were led to different buildings. The papers that the messengers brought beforehand had already been examined by the Tower. They already made a list of the points to be discussed in the upcoming arbitration.
「All right. Let us begin.」
The Foreign Minister’s party were shown to the room where the meeting would be held. A massive door slowly opened.
While tense atmosphere permeated the Tower, the whole city was the same as usual. People were busy with shopping for the coming New Year’s Eve. Every place was festive in this one shared holiday across the whole continent.
「Good job. Today was a success, huh?」
A monk called to Shuva Bloomfield as he got down the stage. Perhaps because a new year was coming, more people gathered to listen to his preaching, and they appeared to be more enthusiastic than usual.
There were also many ladies present who only wanted to see the handsome young monk preach, but that wasn’t new.
「Yes. Quite wonderful indeed. The Saints must be guiding us.」
「I’m sure the people of Agiapole can now welcome a much better new year.」
For a moment, Shuva’s expression darkened, but the monk continued, not noticing it.
「This is your last one, right? Are you going back to the Tower?」
「Y-Yes. I still have some shopping to do, and then I’m heading back.」
「I’ll see you around, then.」
「Bye.」
After parting ways with the other monks, Shuva started walking the streets alone. He greeted acquaintances along the way and dropped by familiar stores to buy things.
All that’s left is to visit the hardware store, and I’m done. I think this was a shortcut…
The route Shuva took was indeed a shortcut, although it went through the back alleys. Even Agiapole, a city that boasted beautiful streets, had crude shops and rather lawless areas. But Shuva was a man, and the sun still being high up, he proceeded without any worry.
Hmm…
He heard children’s screams from a different direction. He checked it out and spotted a temple knight.
「Hey, brat! Do you realize what you’ve done?! You bit me!」
「It’s your fault for showing that disgusting thing! A-And you want me, a boy, to suck it?!」the kid said.「Let’s go!」he told his sibling.
「’Kay!」
Sounds like kids. They were about to leave when the knight grabbed the boy’s back to stop him.
「Ugh!」
「Brother!」
「Who said you can go? You’re street urchins. You have no place to live here in Agiapole.」
「To hell with that! We’re trying our best to survive!」
「Shut up and do what I say!」
「No way—」
「Brother!」
The knight swung his fist, sending the boy rolling on the ground.
The kids’ faces were familiar to Shuva. Some Gray Deacons volunteered themselves to feed the needy, and these kids frequently showed up. The Pope’s policy eradicated slums in the city, but it wasn’t as though it worked a hundred percent. There were young boys and girls like them who were left out, and would probably die if neglected. Saint Rusalka encouraged giving to the poor, and so even though he knew the Church wouldn’t like it, Shuva continued giving food.
The knight tormenting the kids seemed to be getting too agitated as he tried to draw his sword. This is bad, Shuva thought. He was about to jump out when another man appeared.
「Hey. Whatcha doin’ out here?」
Another knight appeared from the other side. Shuva immediately hid himself, for the knight wore a blue cloak.
「L-Lord Gilbert!」
It was Gilbert Gabranth. He looked at the knight who had his hands on the grip of his sword and then at the kids, before smiling. He seemed to understand what was going on.
「Looks like you’re having fun here. Ah, the lack of discipline.」
Gilbert sauntered forward and kicked the boy in the stomach, sending him flying and rolling on the ground.
「Brother!」
「Oops. I may have put too much strength into that.」
The girl ran after the boy and helped him up. They then disappeared into the other side of the alley.
「You’re quite the eccentric guy.」Gilbert said.「What were you doing with those kids?」
「Hehe. It’s still early in the day. Did you have a shot already?」
「Yeah. I just had to patrol the perimeter and that’s it from me for today. It doesn’t matter if I drink before work.」
「One day, I’ll earn as much as you and go to those places filled with women.」
The men flashed vulgar grins as they walked. Shuva quickly left the area.
That was a Blue Knight? How dare they call themselves knights. They’re in no way similar to Saint Rusalka’s knight.
The incident he witnessed weighed heavy on Shuva’s mind. After running for a while, his legs gradually became heavy.
No… I’m no different. I couldn’t help those kids right away. I can’t save anyone…
He knew all along. Getting rid of the slums didn’t improve the lives of those who lived there. They were simply driven away outside of the city. He was aware that there were many Red Priests, Gray Deacons, and even Blue Knights who didn’t follow the Church’s teachings.
Shuva knew that feeding the struggling kids was nothing but a hypocritical act to deceive himself.
「What’s wrong, Shuva? Why the long face?」
He stumbled upon Conia the Blue Knight.