“—Ornament is unlikely to make a move.”
While explaining his prediction of Ornament’s movements, Kurtz walked alongside Lucia.
Listening to his explanation, Lucia nodded in understanding.
“Well yeah… Even if they say misfortunes keep piling up, if their investigation turned up nothing, they’d write it off as coincidence. And in their position as a ducal house, they’d get arrogant too, wouldn’t they?”
“Less arrogance and more an unwillingness to act rashly and draw the other ducal houses’ attention. For the ducal houses, their greatest enemies are the other ducal houses.”
That’s why Ornament itself won’t take action.
Even if using someone from their affiliated faction, without clear information, they would maintain the status quo until the events they anticipate occur, rather than make a move.
“Besides, thanks to you taking the lead, we were able to buy a considerable amount of time. Give her that much time, and ‘she’ should be acting according to the instructions.”
“Ah! That’s what I remembered!”
Lucia suddenly poked her head out towards Kurtz after exclaiming.
“…What is it?”
“I worked hard, so I want you to praise me.”
“I already gave you your reward.”
“But you said before that if I worked hard, you’d pat my head.”
Lucia puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction.
Seeing her reaction, Kurtz let out a sigh before patting the head presented to him.
“…Is this okay?”
“Ehehe, you’re such a kind boy.”
“Given your actual age, isn’t it strange to be pleased about getting your head patted?”
“But it’s not like you get chances to have your head patted unless you’re a child, right? Or would you prefer I teach an innocent boy like you about more…adult matters?”
“That would just make dealing with you even more troublesome, so please let me keep patting your head.”
“Nihihi, now I’ve earned the right to get head pats from you!”
Lucia smiled happily in a childlike manner.
Considering her circumstances, she likely didn’t have many opportunities to get her head patted or praised by others in the past.
Even if it came at the cost of sacrificing her lifespan, she had managed to reclaim that lost time.
So perhaps her childlike behavior stemmed from enjoying experiences she previously couldn’t––
“Ah, if I pretend to want head pats so I can hug you, I get the feeling your face would turn pale.”
“In that case, my hand would turn into a slap.”
“Aw, it’s wrong to use violence to force your maid to do whatever you want!”
“What are you even talking about…”
Finding it too tiresome to think further, Kurtz decided to drop the matter.
“By the way, are you really sure Ornament will fall by using your method?”
“I already explained the process to you.”
“I understand the explanation itself, but…since I haven’t actually seen it, I can’t fully grasp it. I’m half-skeptical that they’d just retreat after losing one piece.”
Lucia tilted her head and crossed her arms pensively.
Her doubts were understandable.
Ornament was a ducal house at the very top of the imperial hierarchy, with its authority and influence extending far beyond just the Empire, affecting the entire continent in various ways large and small.
For such a powerful entity to falter from a single misstep was normally unthinkable.
However––
“There won’t be an issue. We’re not planning a direct confrontation against them.”
“That’s right, since we have information about the future…”
“Exactly. I know Ornament’s goals and the critical matters they deem important to achieving them. Even if they realize an outsider is interfering, they would never suspect a poor commoner child like me as the mastermind.”
“So you’ll stab them in the back while they’re unaware. Underhanded, isn’t it?”
“It’s the most reliable approach. Besides…I don’t consider my actions just, nor do I aim to judge the Six Family and become a hero.”
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.PAGES.DEV
All Kurtz wanted was to save Artesia from her doomed fate and restore the Eisenhud household.
That was his sole purpose; nothing else mattered.
“Well then…let’s start by acquiring the ‘arrow’ that will pierce a hole in Ornament.”
Saying that, Kurtz looked up at the signboard of their destination.
‘Weltfoncé Trading Company’
While the signboard displayed those words, the letters were not the imperial script,
but rather the ancient hieroglyphs used by elves.
Not just this building, but the surrounding ones also had signs written in a variety of scripts, with the common tongue provided in smaller text for translation.
They had arrived in the ‘Demi-Human District’ within the imperial capital.
This district was established for the demi-humans who conducted trade with humans, which explained why there were few actual humans walking about.
Elves with distinctively long, pointed ears and graceful appearances.
Dwarves with childlike statures carrying massive iron boxes.
Two dragonians with horns on their heads, conversing and laughing while coordinating their scaly limbs.
A beastina swishing her animal ears and tail enticingly as she solicited customers.
Among these diverse demi-human crowds, there were also winged folk floating effortlessly and others who almost seemed to glide across the ground.
Casting a sidelong glance at these surreal scenes, Kurtz stepped into the company.
“––Welcome. How may Weltfoncé Company assist you today?”
A nearby elven man greeted them while brushing back his hair to show his ears,
Since elves are the closest in appearance to the human species,a customary elven greeting.
Following suit, Kurtz displayed his own ears before responding.
“I have an appointment to meet with your master. Please inform her that ‘one who knows the ancient oath has arrived.'”
“…The company president, Sedoru, is out on other business today. Did you have the date wrong?”
“Not the company president, but rather your true master for you elves. Convey that message, and she will understand.”
“…Very well, I shall confirm. Please wait a moment.”
Kurtz’s emphasis on “her” and mention of an “ancient oath” seemed to clue the elf in on something.
The other elves present were also closely watching the visitors, suggesting they had been forewarned about potential arrivals.
After a while, the elven man returned to Kurtz’s group.
“It has been confirmed. Please allow me to escort you.”
He led them to a room deeper inside that had a staircase descending underground.
The brilliantly lit steps guided them down below.
Following the back of the guide leading the way, Kurtz proceeded to the basement.
And just after the door at the end opened––
“––I’ve been awaiting you, the ones who know the ancient oath.”
The one waiting in the room was the slave girl Kurtz had seen at the auction house.
However, her appearance now was drastically different.
A white-based dress.
Her green-golden hair groomed to regain its beautiful luster.
Vivid rubine eyes filled with vigor, unlike her listless gaze before.
This was her true, dignified self.
“Thank you for granting us an audience, Lady Feiyu Blaskas.”
Kurtz respectfully bowed his head as he spoke her name.
Considering her true status, even nobles would struggle to gain an audience with her, let alone commoners like Kurtz.
“It is an honor to meet a princess of the Elven Kingdom of Sylvayu.”
Kurtz announced to the elven princess seated before him.
Various countries exist on this Etruria continent.
Among them, the largest human empire is the Divine Tree Empire Albusage, which currently holds most of the southern continent as its territory.
Human nations exist in other areas besides the south, mainly in the northern part of the continent separated by mountain ranges, with demi-human nations scattered along these mountains.
One of these is “The Green Forest Nation Sylvayu,” a country of elves.
While their racial population isn’t particularly large, they have the longest lifespan among the long-lived demi-human races and are a legitimate nation with a history second only to the empire and northern countries.
And for the elves, the name “House Blaskas” holds great significance.
The girl before us… Feiyu Blaskas is a collateral relative of the Sylvayu royal family, and House Blaskas was a distinguished family that supported the nation through external activities like diplomacy and commerce.
Because of this position–she met with tragedy in the world before the regression.
[The Lady Blaskas Kidnapping and Desecration Incident]
Through the guidance of noble faction elves who opposed the royal family, she was kidnapped by people connected to House Ornament, sent to the imperial capital as a slave, and died a horrible death.
In the end, even her “death” was used by Ornament, and as the incident sparked internal collapse and external invasion… the Green Forest Nation Sylvayu disappeared from the continent.
But now, Feiyu, who was the trigger for all this, is alive.
This should mean the worst tragedy can be avoided.
In this situation, what Kurtz should do next is–
“–It was absolutely HORRIBLE!!”
Listen to Feiyu’s complaints as she openly displays her anger with a pout.
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