Chapter 37 (2) - A Depressed Kendo Player Possesses a Bastard Aristocrat

"I heard you summoned me, Your Majesty."A graceful voice echoed through the spacious chamber.

I turned my head towards the familiar, somewhat nostalgic voice.

Standing there was a golden-haired girl with a slightly stiff posture.

"You've arrived, Lucy."

"I greet the Star of the Empire."

Milliam and I stopped talking and greeted her.

Lucy hesitated for a moment, then took a breath and spoke.

"Yes, Your Majesty. And… it's good to see you too, Young Master Lishite."

As expected, Lucy completely ignored my greeting… Huh?

I widened my eyes, wondering if I had misheard.

As our eyes met, Lucy quickly turned her face away.

"......?"

What…?

Did I just receive a 'greeting'?

Just a few days ago, she would avoid even making eye contact with me.

I'm touched, but… it's kind of…

Awkward, I guess? Her sudden change in attitude is throwing me off.

As I stood there dumbfounded by Lucy's unexpected greeting attack, Milliam, who was watching us, chuckled as if he found the situation amusing.

"Chuckle… Yes, it's good to see you two getting along."

"......?"

"......"

One person laughing, one tilting their head in confusion, and one remaining silent.

This awkward standoff continued until the Crown Prince and Neria, who had also been summoned by Milliam, entered the audience chamber.

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"I apologize for my lateness, Your Majesty. I was attending to some matters."

"It's alright, Seon. Raise your head."

Neria entered after Lucy, and finally, with the arrival of the Crown Prince, everyone was present.

Milliam began to address the main topic.

"Now, everyone is here."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Seon, do you know why we are gathered here today?"

"I believe it is to reward Young Master Lishite for his great contribution during the recent attack."

"Yes, that is correct."

Milliam nodded in satisfaction at Seon's concise summary.

He then turned his gaze to me, standing at attention.

"Young Master Lishite, you have done a great service to the Imperial family. I do not know how to repay you."

"You honor me, Your Majesty."

"Is there anything you desire as a reward? Whatever it may be, I will grant you even more."

I quickly glanced around at his words.

Now, this is important.

Currently, there are eight people in the audience chamber, including us and Sir Austin.

According to the original story's knowledge, they were all trustworthy.

"Your Majesty, if I may… Before we discuss the reward, there is something I must inform you of."

"Hmm…? Very well, speak your mind."

"It is already an open secret that the perpetrators of this attack were the 'Seekers'."

"Indeed."

The Seekers.

A group obsessed with magic, known for their human experimentation and various inhumane acts. Terrorists, in short.

This is the publicly known identity of the Seekers.

"…But don't you find it strange?"

"What do you mean?"

"If they were simply madmen obsessed with magic… wouldn't there be no reason for them to target the princesses?"

Lucy and Neria had no talent for magic.

Unless they had awakened some strange unique ability that I was unaware of, both princesses were skilled in martial arts.

Therefore, there was no reason for the Seekers to target Lucy and Neria.

The same applied to Raiden.

If the Seekers were truly crazy about magic, why didn't they continue to target Raiden after failing to kidnap him?

If Raiden's unique ability was their true objective, wouldn't it make sense for them to attempt the kidnapping two or three more times?

"Do you have any idea why they targeted the princesses?"

"Hmm…"

"Oh?"

Seon frowned at my question, while Milliam listened intently with a sparkle in his eyes.

As expected, he already knows.

Well, he's called a genius for a reason, seeing through everything.

"The reason is… there is actually a faction controlling the Seekers from behind the scenes."

"A faction…?"

"Yes, they aimed to weaken the authority of the Imperial family and increase their own power."

Yes, the reason they attacked the Lishite Dukedom, the closest family to the Imperial family, and targeted the princesses at the banquet hall…

It was all an attempt to cut off the limbs of the Imperial family in order to devour the Empire.

"Do you know their name?"

Milliam asked with an expectant look.

I answered in a calm voice, living up to his expectations.

One of the main villains and masterminds of the original story [Sorrow-erasing heroes].

The true identity of this faction, revealed only in the latter half of Volume 5 after Allen eliminated all the Seekers, was…

"The Cult."

"......?"

"The force behind the Seekers… is the Cult."

"What...?"

My sudden bombshell declaration left everyone in the audience chamber speechless.

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