CH 469.5

–Roen and Marianne were on their way to the castle soon after Lars and the others had taken off.

“Where are the keys?”

“Don’t worry, I’ve asked Nina and Trim-kun to look after the house.”

“…… Trim-kun’s throwing tantrums, isn’t he.”

“Well, I can’t blame him, since he’s always with Aina and Tilia-chan. But it’s a place where your life will be in danger, after all.”

It was a light conversation, but the expression on their faces was grim as they walked quickly and straight to the castle.

When they eventually came to the reception desk at the entrance, Roen called out to them that he wanted to have a discussion with a certain person.

“…… Sorry to keep you waiting, Roen-sama. I would like you to come directly to the office of the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.”

“Thank you. Let’s go, Maria.”

“Yes.”

And–

“It’s Roen=Irving and my wife, Marianne.”

“Come in.”

“Excuse me.”

I walked into the room, frowning at the same absent-minded voice as before. Then Basleige, who was working on paperwork at her desk, waved her hand and opened her mouth.

“Welcome, Roen-san and Marianne-san! It’s unusual for the two of you to come to see me …… but it’s the first time, isn’t it? Have Lars-kun and the others left yet?”

“Yes. They just left on Sarge.”

“Oh, that’s nice. I wanted to go as well, but I had a lot of work to do, and I couldn’t get caught …… Oh, no, I’ll remain quiet. So, what can I do for you today? Oh, I understand! You’re want to hear about Lars-kun’s activities, who has been away! That was–“

Basleigh stood up to prepare the tea, but Roen stopped him with his hand and asked Basleigh.

“Don’t mind me, Minister Basleigh. It’s true that it’s about Lars, but I’m a little concerned about something.”

“…… Hmm, let’s hear it.”

Basleigh urged them to sit down on the sofa, and when she sat down on the other side of them, she looked unusually serious. Marianne was the first to say something that had been bothering her.

“Um, was it the devil called Regal? The one who is borrowing Minister Basleigh’s body.”

“Yes, that’s right. What about it? Oh, you can call me Basleigh-san or Basleigh-sensei. I’m not used to being called Minister, after all.”

“Yes, sir. Then, Basleigh-san, can you call Regal now?”

“Hmmm …… what do you think, Regal-san?”

Basleigh said meditatively.

“Yes, yes, it’s fine. You want something from me, yes?”

“I’m sorry to be so rude, but I came to ask you about Lars. I didn’t ask because there were so many people there, but did you give Lars his skills?”

“Yes, it was. I’m glad you were able to regain your position as a lord thanks to Lars-kun’s skill.”

“That’s true, but why did you give Lars a rare skill? And God should have given it to him, but you’re saying you’re a demon ……”

When Marianne said this anxiously, Regal smiled and held up a finger before replying.

“It’s just a coincidence. I knew he was going to be born into a poor family, so I took pity on him.

“……”

Roen squints and asks to Regal, who laughs. The tone of his voice is low.

“Then why does Lars know that the Ten Chief Priests are ‘demons’ …… just like you? It was called true name, right? Jack-kun said that he had guessed it. That’s what’s been bugging me …… What the hell do you want Lars to do?”

Depending on your answer, Roen mumbles a little, folds his hands in front of his face, and says. And then she stopped laughing, looked at both of them, and said–

“…… There are some things in this world that you don’t need to know, you know. This time it’s a complete accident ……Well, it’s not unrelated, though ……Isshishi ……”

“What do you mean! Didn’t you give Lars power to make him fight the Gospel’s Descent? I thought that was what it was all about.”

“Oh …… it really is an accident. I’m not lying. I may know where he will be born, but I don’t know what kind of life he will lead, after all.”

Regal continued to explain to Roen and Marianne, mixing truth and lies. But Roen, still unconvinced, immediately replies to what she just said.

“You said you don’t know what life is like, right …… Then, why did you give him Super Jack-of-all-Trades if you know that we’re poor? If you were willing to give Lars a free skill, it could have been something that would not require a lot of money.”

Roen asked with certainty that Regal was hiding something, and Regal began to close her eyes and think about something.

A silence falls, and no one speaks, waiting for Regal. After a while, Regal opened one eye and asked a question back to them.

“…… As I mentioned earlier, there are always things in this world that are better left unknown. Even so, do you still want to follow the truth?”

“……!?”

In contrast to the light-hearted atmosphere of earlier, Roen and Marianne felt suffocated by the person in front of them. He remembered Lars and the others saying that ‘demons’ were terrifying, and he broke out in a cold sweat, thinking it might be true for Regal too.

But they did not change their mind.

“…… It’s about my son, we’ll hear about it. Whatever it is.”

“I’m the same way. The boy has too much family feeling, I’m afraid he will lose himself one day.”

Marianne replied with a dignified expression, but Regal shook her head with a sobbing smile and opened her mouth with a shrug of her shoulders 

“Haah …… what stubborn parents. However, Hi …… Lars is happy …… do not be surprised no matter what you hear, Isshishi …… And one thing is for sure, Lars-kun is the biological child of the two of you. That’s the only thing that’s true.”

“Yes, of course. I gave birth to him with great pain in my belly.”

“Good. This is something that even Basleigh does not know–“

Regal spoke up. Both of their faces turned astonished and pale …… and then they shed tears.

After an hour of talking by herself, Regalo exhaled and concluded her story.

“–That’s the thing. I hope that you will protect Lars-kun from losing his home. Isshishi …… Now then, I guess we have talked too much …… I was literally going to take this to my grave, but I am relieved to see that you are intelligent people. Well then ……”

“Oh, w-wait a minute! I still–“

“…… She seems to be a little tired. I’m sorry, but please let her rest. At any rate, I never thought there’s something like this ……”

The color her his eyes and the pattern on her face disappeared, and when she returned to Basleigh, she gently shook off Roen’s hand that tried to grab her shoulder and lowered his eyes.

“…… But even so, Lars is our child. Dear, let’s go.”

“Oh, oh, …… I’m sorry, Basleigh-sensei. Thank you for your time ……”

“It’s okay. Please don’t tell ‘Lars-kun’ about this.”

“I know. Then–“

Basleigh lets out a sigh as she looks over at Roen and Marianne, who look tired but determined.

And then–

“…… Do you think this was a good idea? Basleigh.”

“I don’t know. But by defeating the Gospel Descent, your worries will disappear. We will definitely defeat them.”

As she looked at the door, Basleigh answered Regal’s question emphatically.