Side Story Chapter 86

Side Story Chapter 86

Around the time when winter passed and warm spring came, brilliant fireworks filled the sky in Avalon—magic firecrackers made by Iceline, the First Queen Consort of the Avalon Empire and Class 7 archmage. When the celebrations officially started, nobles from around the continent made their way into the Palace.

“Thank you for coming here today. The journey couldn’t have been easy,” Iceline said to a guest.

“Not at all! His Majesty has returned, so of course I should come. By the way, you’re still beautiful, Your Majesty. It looks like you haven’t aged at all.”

“Not at all... If anything you’re the one who’s become more handsome, Alliance Leader Zirfel.”

“Hahahaha! The vegetables from the Allied Powers of Palentine are known for their freshness! They seem to be the reason why I look healthy and handsome, so I brought a carriage full of them here. Ah, it’s a specially made, refrigerated carriage to keep the vegetables fresh, so you don’t have to worry about them spoiling.”

Iceline continued to smile despite Zirfel’s overwhelming chattiness. “Then I should pick out some of my artifacts for the Allied Powers.”

“What? The artifacts you made, Your Majesty? Oh, my. I think you’re overpricing the vegetables I brought.”

“It’s okay. You must have been busy, but you still came all the way out here. This is the least I can do.”

“Haha, to be honest...” Zirfel trailed off. Iceline tilted her head curiously. “...I never envied the Martial God before since he’s on a totally different level than me, but I envy him so much for marrying a woman as beautiful as you, Your Majesty.”

Iceline elegantly shook her head. “No, not at all. In fact, I’m grateful to His Majesty for taking me in as his wife despite my many inadequacies.”

“You’re also humble... My, my. Anyhow, I’d like to express my sincerest congratulations on His Majesty’s return. Oh, right—will we be able to meet him today?” Zirfel asked.

Iceline just smiled, but she was secretly feeling quite anxious. The season had changed already, but Joshua hadn’t sent any messages about when he would return from the west.

‘Where is he? What is he doing...?’ Iceline wondered. Thanks to Joshua, Iceline and Icarus, the Queen Consorts who were present in the Palace, were busy as hell trying to cover for Joshua.

“Your Majesty Icarus! We finally met again!”

“Oh, my! Duke Edgar from the Fordran Kingdom!” Icarus approached Edgar. “I’m so grateful to you for coming all the way from the south.”

“Haha, I’m here too, Your Majesty.”

“Duke Triman! It’s been so long! The last time I saw you was during the summit—has it been five years?”

“It’s close to six, Your Majesty. Our Draia Kingdom is really cold, so we’re glad to come here. It’s like having a vacation.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve been really busy. I couldn’t even come out to greet you when I received word that you two had arrived,” Icarus said with an apologetic look.

“Don’t mention it. We’re busy prepping our team; the other delegations must be as well.”

“Pardon? Prepping their teams?”

“It’s a tournament hosted by the Martial God himself! Who could have imagined he would start such a grand event right after he returned? Hahahaha!”

The corners of Icarus’s mouth trembled, threatening her perfect smile.

‘Oh, for goodness’s sake! I’m going to give him the scolding of his lifetime! He started all this, so why did he disappear again?!’

* * *

Meanwhile, Kireua and Selim were welcoming the knights who had come to participate in the tournament. All sorts were gathering in the arena.

“Oh, no. I didn’t mean it that way... Is that what it sounded like to you?”

“If this is about what happened earlier, it’s a pretty childish move, Duke Uraxen.”

“What happened earlier? I’m not sure what you’re talking about, Your Highness.”

Kireua scowled. Even if he brought up what had happened, no good would come of it. Besides, Ulabis had told Kireua that he needed to keep his temper in check in front of foreigners.

“First of all, I apologize. I would like to state once again that that wasn’t my intention. In any case, I see that His Majesty still hasn’t made his appearance. It’s my personal opinion that it would be discourteous to not show up until the end when he invited all these guests... Ah, don’t worry. I don’t want to make an issue of it as long as the other distinguished guests don’t mind,” Uraxen said.

At this point, even the knights from the other countries became certain that Uraxen was intentionally provoking Avalon’s princes, certain that the Emperor of Avalon wouldn’t show up.

“Even if we don’t get to meet His Majesty, I hope we still go through with this tournament. It’d be a shame not only for me but also for all the other guests if their journeys were meaningless, wouldn’t it? They’re all awfully busy to go back empty-handed.”

Kiruea clenched his fists so tightly that his fingernails dug into his flesh. Although Selim didn’t know the full context, he also glared at Uraxen, who was smiling slyly.

And there were other people who had seen everything. Joshua and Cain were looking down at the arena from atop the high rooftops of the Palace.

“It looks like things are taking an interesting turn,” Cain remarked. “Are you going to sit out until the end?”

Joshua nodded. “Yeah, I should let the next generations take charge, so my children will have to handle this matter.”

“But the delegations will raise complaints if you don’t make an appearance until the end. We now have a common enemy—the Hubalt Empire.”

“I will, but not right now. I can’t solve all their problems forever.” Joshua shrugged. After Joshua’s disappearance, another civil war had broken out in Avalon. The cycle was likely to repeat.

“Maybe we should have brought Ranger. He’s officially the vice-commander of the Imperial Knights, so this might not have happened if he was around...”

“Anyhow, those guys bug me more.” Joshua looked elsewhere.

Cain frowned. In the remote corners of the Palace, glimpses of shadow could be seen. Of course, no one other than Absolutes like Cain or Joshua would ever have noticed them.

“Rats are sneaking into the Palace,” Cain observed.

“They’re moving very subtly... I have an idea where they’re from, but I had no idea they’d be so brazen in the center of my Palace.”

“Well, they must have had no idea that you would notice them since everyone is focused on what is going on in the Palace.”

“That’s why life is funny.”

“Pardon?”

“No one can see the future.”

Cain smiled faintly. “I agree.”

“Get some rest here. You must be tired after so many days taking care of the business in the west, so let me take care of them.”

“Are you going to be okay?” Cain asked.

Joshua broke into a wide smile. “I’ll bring all of them to their knees in five minutes.”