CH 44

“Will His Majesty allow you to go to the Deltora Peninsula?”

“Well, that’s probably impossible.”

Brad answered Rosie’s question immediately.

They were at the corridor of the royal palace which had majestic pillars.

After confirming the schedule of King Castral, Brad had confirmed that he was in a meeting with princess Carol of Dastoria and was heading there to have an audience with him.

“Eh… if you know it’s impossible, then why bother to meet him desu!”

“For later, I suppose.”

Brad shrugged his shoulders.

Brad has always been free to do what he wants, including his training at Sky Mountain and he will continue to do so if he needs to.

But after saving the royal capital from the clutches of the “Four Demon Generals” Lionetta and the disappearance of his brother Prince Albert, Brad’s presence in the country had increased greatly, if he may say so himself.

So, even if he couldn’t get permission from his father, King Castral, he felt that he should share information about Albert and his intentions in public to prevent the people around him from misunderstanding when he took action.

“Anyway, please don’t be too reckless desu. It seems you were also very reckless at Sky Mountain”.

Rosie’s lips pursed in frustration.

“It’s okay, I’m not going to overdo it. I don’t want to take any risks either.”

“I don’t trust you at all desu.”

As Rosie regarded him with suspicious eyes, Brad responded with a wry smile and speedily walked towards the audience hall.

When he reached the front of the audience hall,

“Your Majesty, what do you mean!?”

I could hear someone shouting from inside the audience hall.

Since the entry permission was given in advance, Brad entered the room and saw King Castral and Carol arguing.

Carol frowns with her natural good looks and frowns at Castral.

“I know I owe Pistel a lot for letting me stay here for so long, but you have no right to stop me from returning, do you?”

“I have no right, but I have a duty. Because that is the promise I made to Lord Cascade.”

Castral says in a calm voice as he admonishes Carol.

“Returning home? What happened?”

Brad asked while walking over to them, and Castral nodded,

“Princess Carol has just requested to return to Dastoria. But I was asked by Lord Cascade not to let her leave the capital. That’s why I’m stopping her.”

“Right now, my country Dastoria is at war with the Ernade. I can’t be carefree about studying abroad when my home country is in dire straits!”

Brad’s eyes widen at Carol’s words.

(Hey, how did she know that?)

Due to Beelzebub’s plot, Dastoria and Ernade will be at war. Brad told Carol about that before the Sword Dance Festival.

But at that time, a man from Dastoria, named Jasper, denied that it was true and Brad was called a liar. So Carol wasn’t supposed to have believed it, so how did she know?

It’s true that behind the scenes, Beelzebub’s scheming has been going on as steadily as it did in Final Quest, and Beelzebub has Carol’s mother and brother in his clutches and framed it as the work of the Ernade, sparking a war between the two countries.

“How did you know you were at war with Ernade?”

“It’s no longer a secret. It’s a matter of a great power struggle. Brad, I’m sorry I called you a liar before. You were right about everything. It seems that it was Jasper – our man – who was lying.”

Carol bowed deeply, and Brad thought, “I see”. When it came to war between nations of great power, information was quick to spread.

Brad was convinced.

“No, there’s no need to apologize. I’m sorry I didn’t make you believe me.”

“It’s not your fault. It’s my fault for not suspecting Jasper. What we need to do now is prevent more casualties. That’s why I can’t afford to waste my time here.”

Carol turns her head to King Castral who shakes his head.

“I’m sorry, Princess Carol, but my answer remains the same. You are not allowed to return. Rather than that, Brad let’s hear your business.”

Castral said, as if to give Carol no chance to argue.

That’s right, Brad thought, straightening his back.

“It’s about Albert. Merlin has told me that Albert has apparently left for the Deltora Peninsula.”

“What? He’s gone to the Deltora Peninsula?” (King Castral)

“Are you sure? Why would he go there?” Castral kept asking. That’s how much he cared about Albert.

“I don’t know why to be honest. When I asked Merlin about Albert, he just told me it was the Deltora Peninsula. But because of his position as the leader of the magic city, Endymion, he couldn’t tell me anything more.”

“I see. It’s a shame you couldn’t get more details, but it seems like a reliable source of information.”

“So, I would like to ask your permission to visit the Deltora Peninsula this time”

When Brad made this request, Carol chips in from the side.

“That’s convenient. You can take me with you. If Brad and I are together, we can stay out of harm’s way.”

She said this as if it was a good idea, but Castral didn’t change his sour expression.

“That won’t do.” He said.

“Why?” Carol narrows her eyes sharply and Castral shakes his head.

“It’s true that you’re strong, but your safety cannot be guaranteed. I’ll leave the search to the Knights, and you stay put. It would be foolish to put even Brad in danger now that we don’t know whether Albert is safe or not. The same goes for you, Princess. We must not let anything happen to you.”

Castral was right.

Losing Brad now would be the same as losing the rightful heir to the throne of this country. And it’s the same with Carol. There’s no need to risk them both. Brad guessed.

(My father seems to have concluded that he has no intention of letting either of us leave the country)

If that’s the case, we’ll have to give up on asking for permission and just ignore him, Brad thought quickly.

“If that’s what you have decided, then I’ll do it myself.”

Carol had the same thought.

She turned around and tried to leave the audience hall.

But–

“……?”

Immediately after. Carol stood still for a moment.

Suddenly the “Seven Heroes” Glace stood in from of her.

“Glace-san… why do you stand in my way?”

“As a servant of the king, it’s only natural to stop those who try to defy his will!”✩

Glace gleefully shrugs with his usual frivolous smile on his face, which hides what he’s actually thinking.

“I never thought you were so loyal to him.” 

“Anyway, I’ve decided not to let you guys go, so you and Brad just give up and be quiet✩.”

Glace’s tone was light as though he was joking, but on the other hand, the intimidating feeling of his magic power was no joke.

It seems that he’s serious.

“Ugh…”

Carol grits her teeth and frowns.

Since Glace himself had come to stop them, she realized there was no possibility of forcefully breaking her way out and escaping the country. 

In fact, they were just too different in rank.

Glace is the monster of all monsters among the “Seven Heroes”, and he is one of the best at fighting. It’s almost impossible to outsmart him.

Even Brad, who has reached level 56 and is on equal footing with Lionetta, is still no match for Glace in a straight fight.

(I still need to get stronger. There’s a good chance we’ll be fighting in the peninsula.)

If I’m going to be able to successfully lead the historical events of Final Quest, I want to be able to defeat the Seven Heroes one-on-one.

Fortunately, there’s a hunting ground on the Deltora Peninsula that’s upward compatible with Sky Mountain, so I should find time to train there.

“Princess Carol, I’m sorry, but you’re going to be held under house arrest for a little while.”

At the sound of Castral’s voice, two knights moved to restrain Carol’s arms.

“Brad, you’re a clever one. I trust you won’t cause problems, will you?”

“Of course. I have faith in the people of this country. I trust them to bring Albert back to us.”

Brad promptly made his vassalage to Castral to show his reverence.

Carol gave Brad a look of disdain as the knights took her away.

“That’s very nice of you to say when your brother is in danger. I had second thoughts about you after the sword dance festival, but it looks like you’re still a black pig at heart.”

But as Carol was being taken away, she spewed venom…

“—-“

Brad listens to Carol’s words and feigns mock hurt so as not to look suspicious.

Carol’s eyes widened in astonishment and gazed at him as she was taken away without uttering a single word.

Soon, the audience came to an end.

*

“Brad-sama, you’ve been strangely good at listening today, haven’t you? Well, you’ve always had a tendency to be too reckless, so I guess you’ve grown up enough to understand His Majesty’s words properly!　　I’m glad desu!”

“Huh, oh… yeah. That’s right.”

Brad smiles dryly at Rosie who talks happily.

I can’t say it, but the moment I knew I couldn’t get permission from King Castral, I was planning to escape quickly.

“You’re not thinking of going to the Deltora Peninsula without permission, are you?”

“Oh, no!.”

“No, you’re lying desu! I’ve never seen anyone agree that loud before…” 

Brad shrugged and breathed a sigh of acceptance, thinking there’s no choice now that he has been caught.

“Of course I’ll go. I can’t just leave Albert, Dastoria and Ernade like this.”

“I was right after all desu! But then why were you obediently listening?”

“If I disagreed and had my movements restricted, would there be any chance for me to sneak out?”

“You’re so…”

“Are you disappointed?”

“No, it’s the reverse desu, you who was not praised as a heir rushes to your younger brother’s aid even if it’s against the will of his majesty. As expected of my master. I’ll cooperate as much as I can desu!”

Rosie said and slapped her chest, but it seems the momentum at which she hit it was too strong.

“It’s painful desu!” she said as she painfully pressed her chest.

“As expected of my exclusive maid, your understanding is very fast.”

“Hehe, It’s not so much desu!”

Rosie scratches her head shyly and immediately frowns her face.

“But how do you plan to leave the country? If Glace-sama really comes to stop you, will it be really possible?”

“Well leave it to me, I have an idea.”

Brad replied with a mischievous smile, then he briefly told Rosie about his plan to get rid of Glace.