As I was stuck in this situation where I felt like Leila was definitely thinking I just snagged another princess, Amanori was cackling like an old man and the King had a wry smile.
"Also, I am Rekka's soon to be Fiancée." As Leila said this from behind Lana, Lana seemed to stagger a bit but then the king changed the conversation.
"No wonder Sir Rekka looked rather comfortable and casual even while talking to a king. I had guessed as much.."
As Leila came forward. She looked at Lana. well at least there was no hostility, although I felt a chill there, it was definitely directed towards me… but Leila still looked smug… She is still a kid, you know? I thought… What is that smug face for?
"Ooh….i-ss… t-that so.. My Sir Rekka has a beautiful f-fiancée.." she was staggering on her word.. I mean I was sure I didn't hit on her and I was absolutely sure I didn't see her with a sexual scenario in mind….
Well she could also just be intimidated by Leila's adult self… anyway I am safe! I would hardly fall for a kid! And since Leila is my fiancée, I am sure nobody would want to grab at me anymore.
[Say what you want but that girl's down for the count.]
Ignoring Amanori's dialogues. I moved towards the king. since Leila had already seen the king hesitate to talk much… She tried to offer Lana a tour around here.
"Princess Leilana, why don't you come join me for tea?"
"Y-yes! I will gladly accept the offer." It seems that Lana had found her spirit back as she went with Leila with new found resolve..
...….
"I thank you for saving my daughter's life. I have heard from Ripple that it would have ended if you were not there Sir Rekka." The king said bowing feeling grateful. After Lana left, the king lost his luster. I see.. He was putting up a strong front… his shoulders now slumped… although he was healed… the same couldn't be said to his ruler side…
"Just Call me Rekka, your highness. And I just saw that saving you and your family would be best for that situation…." I didn't want to hide it. Even though I would have saved them without the need for a reason, I had a reason to save them there. If he gets this dejected… well.. I think my plans would fall out again… man.. Why is there so much drama here? Since you're alive can't you just rule your people again?
"You are quite honest… I see. So tell me, am I to assume that you are working under The overlord?" the king got straight to the point.
"Well in this case, I am just fixing my mistakes… other than that, I am not really involved in The overlords business." As I said so, the king nodded, I was surprised at how readily he believed me..
"You are in the Treastein kingdom as I said before. I had gone to the kingdom of Stein seeking to meet with you." As I said, the king was surprised..
"To meet me?"
"Yes your highness… a few months ago the market was flooded with high grade materials.."
"Yes I do remember that... even we of the Royals got some s-class Items." as the king said so, I nodded.
To think they called it S-class… I still had the strong monsters in my storage, even I knew what not to sell after all.
"Yes and people had gotten the idea that Treastein had gotten all those from the edge of the world where a monster hunt was made. Of course this news was false. The Edge of the world is a dangerous place, Barely any adventurers tried to go in there… but the materials were from the Edge of the world, so I presume this made your nobles want to go to war. The flames that had been controlled had burst in that moment. I am sorry to say this, but my actions had caused all those materials to go out like wildfire… now the main thing… As the Overlord told me to stop this war however I could, I elected to go to you and maybe in some way help you to control this unfortunate situation. Since I had also found that you were against the war…"
"But you were late and the kingdom had already left my hand…" the king finished my words.. he didn't even ask if I was making a haughty remark of saving his country, I think he has the ability to learn ones true strength, maybe that was why he did not question my power.
"Then why did you still save me? As you can see right now, I am no better than a runaway king weak as a commoner." he said such a disappointing word..
There is value in every life, you didn't need any reason to save it. Why do you even need to say such a thing… as I felt disappointed at a king who didn't value his life at all… I finally got the reason why the coup had happened… the king.. He had lost his way….
...…...
As I looked at the king who had lost all hope to ever rule… I know the reason behind his hopelessness… he believes that he has no worth left in him…. Such a thing… it was bound to get his place usurped by others… as I looked back at him…
He said.. "Then why did you still save me? As you can see right now I am no better than a runaway king weak as a commoner."
"What? That was because you guys were in trouble and clearly the villain was someone else?" Hearing me, the king laughed a bit. I know I gave an answer that he probably was not hoping for, he probably wanted to hear me say that as a king he should take the throne and deal with it.
"Ha ha well I see you are a weird one…" he sighed...
"Anyway… I would like to stop this war. Your highness tell me, ``What do you want to do?" I asked again.
"Hmm? Do I even have options here?"
"Of course you have. You can ask me to let you go to a safe place, provide you with protection until everything settles down, you could even meet the Overlord if you want. I will not tell her about you if you don't want to." hearing me he got surprised again, of course I wanted him to take the throne… with my power… he probably knew that if I said that and would want that, I could get him to the throne too… but I didn't say that… if he still has confidence in himself… I hope he asks me for it..
"Well those are really some huge helps you talk about… and in return I presume you only want to stop the war?"
"Yes I want to stop this war from happening." I replied seriously…
"Thank you… It would be good if I could meet with the overlord too but the one I really would need to meet is… Merlin…." he said looking a bit sorrowful…
"What? that's it?" he was saying it as if it was impossible..
"Well that would be rather easy, you see I am his Grandson." I think my comment made the room fall into silence… the king was bewildered… I hadn't told them my last name which was Wolford so that they wouldn't get too wary of me but since the king had shown much trust in me I had finally revealed it. Not to mention… he uttered my grandpa's name with sorrow… as if he had something to tell him...
"Well… ha ha ha ha ha ha ha... how life plays tricks on me… even at this age.. I would like to meet them then will that be possible? It would be fine if the overlord comes at that time too." As I was told that, the king laughed as if his worry had all been removed. I didn't know what kind of connection they had but I realized that the king was certainly not accusing me for his current situation. As I heard that, I nodded and left the king to get my grandparents and Lilith over here for the private talks.. As I left… I felt glad… uttering names about the hero's… the king had found his zeal back.. Was this what it meant to be called a hero? Just knowing that it was possible to meet with Gramps… the king changed completely… my heart had suddenly filled with pride at seeing someone admire my gramps to this degree… even a king from an enemy nation… haah… I am so far behind him...
"Mai, got any news about gramps and granny?" as I got out, I asked Mai...
"No, Master, I think they are still in the capital."
"Hmm… They probably thought I would go back there first.."
"Alright Mai, stay here and see what everyone needs. I will go get them here…. In the meantime don't disturb the king."
"Understood." As Mai bowed, I went through a portal straight to the overlords castle…
I had stepped in the audience room, since that was the only room I remembered clearly..
"Whoa! That is one hell of a way to come here." Lilith was sitting at her throne and as convenient as it was, the room was also empty.
"Call my Grandparents." Hearing my serious tone, Lilith didn't think much and did what I wanted. as gramps and granny teleported here in a few moments, I felt the surrounding get covered by a barrier. Lilith was very perceptive; she knew I was going to talk about sensitive stuff here..
As everyone was surprised to see me, they held it in and listened to what had happened until now.. All the information dropped on them like a rock. The most harsh one was that the war might even begin faster than the said time table… and… the enemy was wielding a cursed item… it may not be a weapon… but a cursed item was a cursed one after all.
"You have done well in this short time.. I have to say I really want to make you my successor.."
"Nope!" I declined Asap! I don't want to get into dirty politics! Not a chance!
"A straight up decline! You really are their grandson!" I couldn't disagree with Lilith even though my Grandparent was against noble hood. They just didn't want all the hassle...
"Then what do you want to do?" I asked which Lilith smiled…
"In 40 years a chance this good has never come… We will absolutely meet the king. Master, what do you say?"
"Hmm… My grandson certainly did something amazing…"
Everyone seemed fine meeting him and so I opened a portal straight to the king. Although all of them were surprised, they were already used to me doing these things.
...…
As I seemed to see them looking at each other, the scene looked more like it was a reunion… I excused myself from there since it would be a state affair from now on.. I would rather be hearing Rose's nagging then go and hear what they wanted to talk about.
And the atmosphere there felt kind of pressuring… all of them were rulers, My grandparents were the rulers of the battlefield if judged. I soo don't wanna be there. Finding their secrets would be more hassle than good.
"Wha! When did you get in?" This surprising over the top response came from Ripple. she gets like this every time something she didn't get happened. the reaction was so over the top that me opening the gate made her jump and thunk to the wall.
"Don't go in there. A state meeting is happening Between the King, the Overlord and the heroes." Hearing me she overreacted again saying 'what?!' But Quickly composed herself and stood near the gate doing her duty as a knight… at least she dosen't cause much trouble even if she is an idiot.
I left Ripple to get back to my room. I was going to get some thinking done since I had to take care of that Hitherto guy too… Although I had devised a plan to get him trapped and give him the 3rd degree again, that guy.. What if he even absorbs the barrier too… I needed to put him in a locker that was unbreakable… even with his monstrous strength.. Fighting someone with a cursed weapon might actually be a problem here... since he does have that infinite regeneration or something.
[Are you forgetting me?]
Amanori? Do you have a plan?
[Isn't it easy? I am a superior cursed item. if we destroy his only weapon, he will just become a weakling.]
Oooh! I didn't think about that… Now that I think about it, it didn't really affect me much.
[That's that, we can just crush him and incapacitate the army he has]
Wow Amanori you didn't say slaughter….. I will reward you with a long polish season!
[Humph! I will take it as my advice's payment]
"What are you thinking, Master? you look really worked up." Mai said from beside me. It looked like she had come to my room at some point.
"Nothing much, I was just thinking how to take back the kingdom without much damage…the soldiers I saw weren't that bad… so I don't want to damage them for no reason." Hearing me she chuckled.
"Master, there will be an army who has already defeated the Royal knights… how can you want to get that country back without any damage? Not to mention, the king has already lost the high ground, it will be hard to make them stop their advance much less surrender."
she was laughing… well probably that was true for a normal person, it would be somewhat impossible but I was irregular… I could just brainwash the whole army.. Using Amanori it wouldn't even take much time but the soldiers would probably die after that. So it is best to avoid that plan since the bigshots were the ones who are at fault here...
"He..he you're right, I should use some help in this case…. Hmm I wonder where Systy is…" As I said, Leila came with Lana. Alice and Systy were also here, that was convenient!
"Here look what I got!" Alice said as she brought out something from her hand…. It looked and smelled like…. Coffee!
"Where!? Did you get this?" I asked in excitement. It was coffee! I was a big fan of coffee, even while training, I had told them about the thing and showed them an image of the fruit too. I can't believe Alice just found it! sure tea was great and all, but I grew up being used to coffee and no matter how much I tried, tea just doesn't make me feel right.
From the coffee bag, the seeds were still not prepared but the smell was reaching my nose. I might get drunk in this...
Ah! What a nostalgic smell...!
"Thank you! I missed this so much!"
"Wha!" as I hugged Alice with bliss over a long lost drink, I could only get in my first life, I came to understand, It was true happiness… I didn't mean to make her uncomfortable so I let her go and saw that she was blushing leaving everyone in the room smiling. I said to Alice.
"Where did you even find it? I searched for this in the entire capital but no one had even seen this thing?"
"I told them where they could find it." It was Rose! I hadn't seen her since last night. She had told me to take the decisions from now regarding the mission so I guess she had been with Alice and the Others…
"Really thank you too Rose… Well you guys gave me quite the surprise."
"No matter but to see you hugging Lady Alice so openly… you really are a pervert…" as Rose said that and scooted in a corner… I ignored her…. Yeah… Alice was my Fiancée… it was fine.
"Hm! I will take your thank you! Since you have helped me grow, it is nothing to me!" Alice said in a haughty manner she had already recovered from her embarrassment. When we are with people she can partly deal with her shyness.
"Thanks, I love how you remembered something so insignificant. You really do care about me huh.." as I said that Lana was the one who had frozen in place. I was too happy to notice that though.
"Hmph! I-its fine… yeah you should love me I am great! Aren't I!" As Alice showed a praise me more vibe even while being embarrassed, I didn't mind following her through with it with a head pat.
"Well then, I was just thinking about you guys but Gramps and the others are currently talking with the king, so they might decide something." As I explained what had happened till now everyone gasped with surprise. Still Alice Looked as If I had really done something unthinkable.
"To go to the enemy Nation, save the king and his daughter then take them back and now you are saying you will even be going to fight that brainwashed Army! I knew I was right. I can't find a more suitable husband than you! This is so out of the world I never even read such heroic tales!" Alice could be called this world's otaku. Her haughtiness came from some messed up novels where the heroine is super haughty and is powerful beyond measure even her partner would be like that and they would go around the world fighting….. of course the world got razed up by the fight too, in the end it wasn't a story about saving the world or anything, it was just about fighting and destroying stuff.
"Master can certainly do it quite easily." Systy said which made everyone but Alice look back at her. Only these 2 people knew how much stronger I had gotten, so It was obvious. Heck Alice and Systy can do it single handedly too, although it would make casualties arise...
"Yeah, even though that lady knight called herself a 2nd class something she is weak as hell." such harsh comments left from Alice's mouth, Lana already looked bewildered from Alice earlier saying that I was her husband but this topic made her head spin like she was on a rollercoaster.
"You guys, what are you even saying?" Lana had at last burst. If you concentrate you could probably see her head was letting out smoke… haha just kidding…
[I told you that all of you are over human power level, if you are going against a whole army like that not even flinching someone staying calm hearing that would be the weird one.]
I get it, I get it.
"Well you know the Heroes Lana? Yeah, he is their Grandson. Do you need to know anything else?" Hearing this from Leila, although it made her surprised again but she nodded and said.
"Yes.. now it all makes sense." That was quite easy. I guess my grandparents were radical themselves too.
Still, Lana seemed to look down than her usual self… the spark I had seen this morning wasn't there I wonder why….As I was wondering that, I was called by Mai.
"Master, they have Asked for you. They said they want to discuss things with you." What the heck? I didn't know the heads or tails of political talk. I don't want to be there, being with cute girls is good enough for me!
I thought so but didn't say those things though…
"Alright I'll be there.." I said sloppily. Leila gave me a kiss on the cheek and sent me away with a "hang in there!" Cheers. Although all the girls become embarrassed, it goes to show that she really was becoming the leader of the girls around me…
Still though As lovely as she is, the chill I felt this morning was terrifying! Even if I need to talk to other girls or be around them, I should probably tell her first if I went around any girl she didn't know of.