STGAAB Novel MTL - Chapter 783
Chapter 783: Upgrade (1)
What is the day that people most commonly make resolutions on? If someone were to ask that, most would agree on a single day.
January 1st. The day when one year ends and a new one begins.
On this day, everyone is filled with hope. Those who felt they’d gained weight set diet plans, and those who idled away at home vow to find a job in the new year, building up their motivation. However, only a few make their plans a reality. What they seek is ‘change,’ yet the world is not so kind to those who desire it. If you want to emerge from the egg, you must break the shell. And ironically, the path to hope is followed by pain.
‘Well, there’s a reason they say resolutions only last three days.’
People’s resolve is often fragile and malleable, softening and wavering with time, no matter how firm it initially seemed. Of course, there are some strong-willed people…… Hmm, well… Would such people even need a new year as an excuse? Anyway.
“Did you rest well during the final days of the year?”
“More or less.”
On the first day of the new year, I visited the palace to meet Astarota. It was to make last night’s resolution a reality. After all, last night was the first time in a long while that my dulled mind felt sharp again. What must I do to live—not merely survive—and achieve that dream in this unforgiving city? After a night of contemplation, I reached a conclusion.
Commit treason and become king. Or, at the very least, acquire power equal to the king’s. Only then could I negotiate or do whatever necessary to get what I want from an equal position. So I came here the very next day.
“Astarota Berun.”
“You’re making me nervous, calling me by my full name all of a sudden. What is it?”
“Is Countess Peprok still in that state?”
“Yes.”
Although it was the answer I expected, it still solidified my suspicions. The Marquess had said that in time, Ragna would regain consciousness on her own. That’s why he left the diary in the first place.
‘But she still hasn’t woken up……’
Clearly, if Ragna hasn’t awakened yet, it’s because of these people. Well, though I don’t have proof yet.
“Then can I see her again as I leave later today?”
“Of course.”
I’ll need to talk with Hyeonbyeol later to figure out what they are doing to Ragna. Though I doubt I’ll get a clear answer.
“By the way……”
Astarota spoke with the eyes of a gambler.
“When you killed the Marquess, did you happen to see a ring nearby?”
“A ring? I didn’t see anything like that.”
“Hmm, is that so……”
“What kind of ring are you talking about?”
“Oh, it’s nothing important, just one of the royal treasures. But it seems he must have hidden it before his death. Or maybe it was stolen.”
“Well, I didn’t see it.”
“Right, I see…… Then it’s most likely in the hands Noark now.”
At those words, I felt a sense of relief. The royal family believes the statement I gave at the time. However, bringing up this matter now, when it wasn’t mentioned before, likely means their internal ‘investigation’ has finally concluded.
‘Have I passed a hurdle……’
Come to think of it, it made sense for them to believe me. The royal family knows that the Marquess and I were enemies. They might have had suspicions, but ultimately there was no reason for the Marquess to hand Thunder over to me and my testimony that he fired Thunder to try and take me down with him must have seemed much more credible. In this sense, showing excessive attachment to Ragna could be risky. There’s a chance the royal family could detect the terms of that deal the Marquess offered me at the cost of his life.
“Ah, have you heard the news? A new Prime Minister was appointed during the royal council meeting you missed.”
“…Who was it?”
“Duke Kealunus.”
“I see.”
“You don’t seem particularly surprised?”
“Honestly, there was no one left for the role except the Duke.”
Originally, the nobility was divided into three major factions. The Prime Minister’s faction, the Duke’s faction, and the minor nobles’ faction. Oh, and there’s also Melbeth, a coalition of non-human races to which I belong, though it’s too small to be counted…… Anyway, the Prime Minister’s faction was effectively dissolved when the Marquess committed treason, and the minor nobles’ faction lost most of its power as many of their members perished when Thunder struck the Palace of Glory. Unlike them, the Duke’s faction managed to preserve its strength throughout the war.
“Yandel, what do you think of the Duke?”
“He’s lucky, I’d say. He didn’t really do much, yet his biggest rival, the Marquess, self-destructed. And judging from this recent war, he didn’t seem to suffer major losses.”
“Lucky, you say……”
But there was something odd about the way Astarota muttered to himself.
“…Do you have some information?”
“No, nothing like that. Just that, in my experience, those who appear fortunate often have something shady in their background. But… well, maybe he really was just lucky, as you say.”
“If you find out anything, let me know.”
“Of course.”
That concluded our discussion about the Duke, and I continued having various conversations with Astarota. Most of the conversations involved me gathering information, and among them, the most memorable was…… This one, definitely.
“Ah, and Yandel…… Your promotion has been finalized.”
The Baron Yandel house would now become a Viscount house. Though, to call it a ‘house’ is a bit much when there’s no estate or retainers.
‘…Ah, or maybe I do have retainers?’
In fact, in terms of numbers, I probably have more retainers than any other noble house. Since I accepted all the refugees from Bifron.
“Did the Duke, soon to be Prime Minister, have any objections?”
“Even if he wanted to, he couldn’t. You’re a hero who killed the Marquess in the heart of enemy territory and temporarily ended the war. Oh, do you have any conflicts with the Duke?”
“Nothing like that. Although we’re not close either.”
“Then he has even less reason to block your promotion. Though, he did seem a bit annoyed. Apparently, the Prime Minister’s induction ceremony will be held alongside your promotion.”
“What does that matter? I don’t see why that would be a reason for complaint.”
At my question, Astarota looked at me for a moment and smirked.
“I see you’re genuinely asking because you don’t know. That’s a relief. Otherwise, it would have seemed rather tasteless.”
“Never mind that, just tell me.”
“Think about it. If both ceremonies are held together, who do you think will be the center of attention?”
“Ah……”
I hadn’t thought of that. Surely, more attention will go to a war hero like me than to a Duke who did nothing and ascended to the Prime Minister’s position by default.
“From what I hear, he even suggested delaying his own inauguration ceremony so the two events could be held separately. But that was denied since the current circumstances are too pressing to allow for that sort of luxury.”
In any case, it seems my promotion ceremony and the Duke’s inauguration ceremony will be held at the same time and place……
“Are you going to see Countess Peprock?”
“Just briefly.”
“How devoted.”
As the conversation was wrapping up and I was about to get up, Astarota suddenly brought up a new topic, as if he had just remembered something.
“Ah, right. There was something I wanted to ask you.”
“……?”
“Are you close with Jerome Saintred?”
…Why is the Village Chief suddenly being brought up?
“We’re not especially close. We explored the first basement floor together, but that’s about it. Why are you asking about him suddenly?”
“On the day Thunder struck the Glory Palace, Jerome Saintred also went missing.”
“…And?”
“Some think he should be classified as one of the fallen, but somehow I have a feeling there’s more to it than that. I just wondered if you knew anything.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t know anything.”
“…I’ve wasted your time then. You can go now.”
With that conversation ended, I left the reception room where I talking with Astarota.
‘Missing, huh……’
To be honest, I don’t think the village chief died, swept up in the chaos of war. He probably got caught up in something, or went into hiding by his own choice.
I recalled my last meeting with the Village Chief. Just before the Thunder struck, he had come to me in the underground prison and left me with a cryptic message.
[It will begin soon. The day that everything burns.]
Right after that, Thunder struck, and he hurriedly departed, leaving with one final remark.
[Survive. After that, I’ll have something to tell you.]
At the time, I was too preoccupied to think much of it, but in hindsight, it’s strange in many ways. Contrary to his ominous words, there was no moment during the war when everything burned—.
‘…Or was there?’
During the war, Districts 7 and 8 were completely set ablaze. However, I was the one who set that fire, and the tone of the Village Chief’s words felt completely different. When he spoke those words, he sounded as if he foresaw the end of the world.
‘But in the end, it didn’t go that far……’
The war paused, and I survived. The Village Chief, who said he had something to tell me if I survived, not only hasn’t come to find me, but news has spread that he’s gone missing.
‘What did the Village chief know that made him so desperate?’
I still don’t have the answer. But if there’s one thing certain, it’s that I need to find the Village Chief. I must prevent ‘Heart of Karui’ from falling into the royal family’s hands at all costs. Currently, the ‘Heart of Karui’ is in his possession. Though honestly, I have no idea what he’s planning to do with it.
***
Before leaving the palace, I stopped by Ragna’s room. Ragna was still sleeping like a princess, Hyeonbyeol keeping watch by her side.
“Are you really planning to stay here until she wakes up?”
“I don’t know what might happen if I leave her here alone.”
Well, if the royal family is planning something, I doubt it would make a difference whether she’s here or not…… Of course, I didn’t say that out loud.
“Has anything happened while you’ve been here?”
“Nothing worth mentioning. I’m dying of boredom. Even that Prime Minister’s son was released, so I don’t have anyone to talk to……”
“Yeah… I suppose it must be pretty boring.”
Eltora Tercerion, the son of the treasonous Prime Minister, was recently released after his trial. His cooperation in helping me and his betrayal of his father were taken into account…… But honestly, it was Astarota’s influence that made the real difference. Of course, I was the one who persuaded Astarota.
‘I wonder what he’s going to do to survive now……’
Eltora managed to keep his life, just as he’d hoped for. of course, he lost all his privileges as a noble, but that was inevitable.
‘He’s probably got a lot of enemies……’
In these times when the war has created hundreds of thousands of refugees, there must be countless people who would grind their teeth at hearing the name ‘Tercerion.’ He might be better off discarding his family name and just living as ‘Eltora.’
‘Well, maybe I’ll check on him later if I get the time……’
With that, I put thoughts of Eltora aside. My curiosity about his situation was just personal interest, but other than that, it wasn’t really important.
“See you next time.”
“Eh… Already?”
“I’ll be back soon.”
“You said that last time, and yet it took you ages to visit again.”
“This time, I mean it. I think I’ll be coming to the palace more often from now on.”
“……The palace?”
Hyeonbyeol gave me a slightly meaningful look, scanning me up and down.
“Something… seems different about you?”
“Different how?”
“I can’t quite put it into words, but just, something’s changed……”
“Is it good or bad?”
“Good, of course! To begin with, your expression looks much better.”
I had to admit, she was eerily perceptive. Even I noticed my expression hadn’t looked great whenever I saw my reflection in the mirror lately.
“I’ll be going then.”
After wrapping up my visit to the palace, I returned to the holy land, only to be greeted by a visitor.
“Ah, you’re finally here!”
It was Erwen’s uncle.
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