Chapter 791

Allen, working with Mels, used the awakened skill "Homing Instinct" of the Bird A summoned beast to teleport his companions and the Allen Army.

First, ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????they sent Ryback and the human unit to the Academy City in the Ratash Kingdom. Apparently, King Inbuel and the royal family had come from the royal capital for the ceremony marking the completion of the academy city's expansion. Through Ryback, they had requested that the Allen Army's human unit be sent there so the King could hold a departure ceremony for the battle against the Demon King's Army. The royal family also took the initiative to gather the families of the Allen Army soldiers in the academy city as much as possible. Princess Laylana, from the same party as Ryback, was also in the academy city for this important ceremony. Ryback, deeply loyal to the royal family, seemed to want to pay his respects before departing.

Next, ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????they sent Kiel to the town of Carnel. Also present were Krena, Dogora, Pelomus, Fiona, and Zenoff, who planned to greet the Granvelle family to deliver a letter from Allen.

"Brother ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Kiel!!"

As ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????they teleported near the mansion's gate, Nina, holding her skirt, came running.

*(She's ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????the same age as Mash. Nina has grown so much.)*

Allen ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????thought like a neighborhood uncle.

"Hey, settle down. You need to calm down."

"That's not it. First, you should say 'I'm home,' right?"

Behind Nina, family members and servants emerged from the entrance, coming toward Kiel, the head of the Carnel Barony.

"Oh, Kiel. Welcome home."

"Welcome home, Kiel."

*(The former Viscount Carnel was so skinny when he got out of prison, but he's filled out quite a bit.)*

"Father, Mother, I've just returned."

Though exasperated by Nina, who still had a childlike air, Kiel was on the verge of tears upon being told "welcome home" by his parents. His parents had been accused of crimes like forcibly abducting Cecil; the former Viscount was imprisoned, and the former Viscountess was held under house arrest. However, thanks to Kiel's achievements, they were allowed to return to their territory.

The former Viscount Carnel, Kiel's father, hadn't regained his portly physique but seemed to have returned to a much healthier build.

How long had it been since they had a family gathering like this?

*(Is that the church? It's huge. Well, he is the future Pope of the Elmea faith. Pilgrimages seem popular too. Did Cardinal Crimpton work hard?)*

The church in the capital of the territory governed by Kiel, who defeated the evil cult leader Gushara and became a Pope apprentice, had been renovated by the Elmea Church. Believers from not only the entire kingdom but also the central continent, including the Giamut Empire, reportedly came to pray without end.

Hearing that the Pope apprentice was fighting the Demon King's Army as the healer of an S-rank adventurer party formed to battle the Demon King, the number of visitors had increased significantly. The story of how he sacrificed his own reward to beg the King for a pardon for his harsh parents had begun to be told by someone, somewhere, and was even becoming a picture book for children.

As Allen thought Kiel was becoming a living legend, a strong gaze from Krena made him want to return home too.

"Alright, enjoy this important family time. Please be in front of the mansion tomorrow at 9 AM."

"O-oh!!"

Kiel, who had forgotten Allen's presence until now, flusteredly replied as they headed for Rodan Village.

"Alright, you two go home to your families first."

*(I told everyone I'd return in the afternoon. It's already quite late.)*

Depending on the teleportation schedule, he had informed both the Krena and Dogora families, including those in Rodan Village via summoned beasts, that they would return home around 12:00 today.

"Huh? Aren't you coming home, Allen?"

Krena questioned Allen, who said he would leave them in the square.

"No, I need to deliver a letter to Count Granvelle. And I need to drop off Zenoff and the others too."

"That would be helpful."

Zenoff thanked Allen.

*(Not just delivering the letter; if the conversation drags on, I'll have to make them wait, which would be rude.)*

After sending off Krena and Dogora, he teleported to deliver Cecil's letter to the Granvelle family. He felt sorry for Count Granvelle, who had been expecting Cecil to come home, so he planned to at least explain the situation. The Count had returned to the capital for this day, having fulfilled his duties in the royal capital.

When Allen arrived at the pre-prepared Granvelle Count's mansion with Zenoff, he was immediately greeted. Count Granvelle, the Countess, Thomas, and the servants came out to greet them, having all been waiting.

*(Oh? Thomas. Shouldn't he be at the academy city ceremony, especially with the Princess? Did he come back to the capital just for Cecil?)*

Thomas, who was close to being an attendant to Princess Laylana of the Ratash Kingdom, seemed to have been allowed to return home for Cecil's sake. Wondering if he should have brought Cecil home now, even though she was training hard, Thomas spoke.

"Hey, we've been waiting for you, Allen."

"Mr. Thomas, sorry to keep you waiting."

"Hmm, welcome back, Zenoff."

"Yes! I have returned before the important battle."

"Hm? Where is Cecil?"

"My apologies. Cecil is still training in the divine realm. This is a letter from her."

"Oh my, Cecil isn't coming back..."

The Countess dramatically covered her mouth with both hands in surprise. However, she didn't reach for the important letter; instead, the Count, as head of the household, accepted it, showcasing the feudal values of this world.

"I see. That's unfortunate. Is she well?"

"Of course. It's just training."

He couldn't absolutely guarantee her safety under the gods' harsh training, but there was no need to worry them unnecessarily.

"This is troublesome. I have important matters to discuss..."

"Important matters?"

"That can wait. Allen, sorry, but I'd like you to stay and talk for a bit. Zenoff, you too."

"Of course."

"Yes!"

Allen thought he'd have to inform his waiting family in Rodan Village via the Spirit A summoned beast stationed there that he'd be slightly delayed.

*(Zenoff must have family too. Is it about the Granvelle family? This seems serious. Maybe I should let Pelomus and the others go ahead to their families first.)*

Zenoff's hometown was in this Granvelle territory.

Allen didn't know the details about his family, but he'd heard from Zenoff that he'd been made a Baron and had a fine mansion built for him near the lord's residence.

When the Granvelle family was elevated from Viscount to Count, they immediately used the lord's authority to make Captain Zenoff a Baron. Although he later joined the Allen Army, Allen knew he occasionally returned to his own home as head of the Baron family.

"Pelomus, you go on ahead. We'll meet at this mansion tomorrow at 8 AM."

"O-okay, I understand."

"Pelomus, let's go. Our family is waiting."

"Okay."

After firmly instructing them, Fiona took his hand, and they boarded a pre-arranged carriage headed for her family home in the town of Granvelle. Though the child of the Krena village chief, he was apparently staying at a luxury hotel run by Chester, a wealthy man in Granvelle town, which also served as his wife's family home.

Pelomus's family had also come to Chester's house for today. Since Pelomus was participating in the upcoming battle against the Demon King's Army, Allen thought he probably had much to discuss.

After parting with them, they were led to the dining room, where Allen nearly exclaimed aloud.

"At least have some tea before you go, Allen, since you went to the trouble of bringing my daughter's important letter."

"Sigh..."

Honestly, he wanted to see his family, but it was Cecil's fault for continuing her training.

The Count, with the Countess and Thomas on either side, faced Allen, with Zenoff beside him. Sebastian the butler diligently prepared tea.

Allen ate the served tea and snacks while explaining why Cecil couldn't return home.

*(But the head chef's snacks are still delicious.)*

The skill of the head chef, who had once cooked at the royal castle, was still evident; the fluffy, scone-like pastries were delicious. It reminded him of the taste of the snacks he used to get in exchange for monster meat he hunted as a servant.

"Ancient magic... So such a thing exists."

"So Cecil won't be fighting the Demon King's Army with that!"

"Currently, if she doesn't achieve results in her training, she cannot participate in the battle."

"That's a relief."

At Allen's words, the Countess sighed with relief. Beside her, the Count, who bore the noble duty of fighting the Demon King's Army, silently let out a slow breath of relief.

*(Can't blame them. They lost Mikhail to the Demon King's Army.)*

Allen thought no parent would be truly happy about their daughter gaining power to fight the Demon King's Army in the face of humanity's crisis.

"Nevertheless, Allen. Remember your words when you became our guest? You truly will fight the Demon King."

*(Though it seems Cecil might not participate. This feels nostalgic.)*

When Allen stopped being a servant of the Granvelle family and became a guest, he had declared, "I will defeat the Demon King with Cecil." How many years had it been since then? Allen had lived through intense and fierce times.

"Father, we should proceed. Allen doesn't have much time either."

"Y-yes. Quite right. Actually, ah, yes. Zenoff, I want you to listen carefully too."

*(How solemn. What is it?)*

"Yes!"

While Allen leaned forward, wondering what required such a long preface, Zenoff sat up straight.

"Actually, Thomas has officially become engaged to Princess Laylana."

"Oh! Congratulations!!"

"That's wonderful! Well done, Lord Thomas! Splendid!!"

*(Zenoff stood up!? Ah, right. Laylana is first in line for the Ratash Kingdom's throne, right? Is Thomas going to be Prince Consort?)*

Zenoff's eyes widened, and he stood up with a loud exclamation, as if celebrating his own child's success.

"Don't get ahead of yourselves. We are former lower nobles. Thomas's real challenge begins now. Don't let your guard down."

"Y-yes. Of course. But the Marquis's family ran away..."

*(I feel like I've heard about that. Well, only Thomas could handle that tomboy princess.)*

Thomas, the second son of the Granvelle family, had known Princess Laylana, daughter of the current King Inbuel, since attending the noble academy in the royal capital. Currently, they were in the party "Hundred Flowers Blossom," and he'd heard that the Princess and Thomas, despite the six-year age difference and his role as her attendant, were in a relationship. For years, he'd heard that the King and the Count had held tea parties together, tacitly approving such actions.

Furthermore, Allen recalled the "can't-miss stories" he'd occasionally shared with the Count through summoned beasts placed in the Ratash royal capital. Apparently, a marriage proposal between Princess Laylana and a son of a prestigious Marquis family in the Ratash Kingdom had been arranged. To test the candidate's strength and courage, Laylana suggested forming a party and entering a dungeon with him. As a result, the talented candidate from the prestigious Marquis family reportedly wet himself and fled within a day, breaking off the engagement. This rumor spread through the royal castle, causing an unprecedented situation where the King's tightly scheduled audiences suddenly stopped. The nobles seemed to want to avoid any possibility of marriage talks between Laylana and their sons.

It seemed Thomas had resigned himself to being the only one who could handle the Princess.

"Congratulations. If the wedding proceeds, please allow me to attend."

"There are several ceremonies before coming of age. When it comes to the wedding, we will certainly invite you. But that's actually what I wanted to discuss..."

*(He said engaged, so are they moving toward marriage? But still...)*

"Isn't that the matter you wished to discuss?"

"That is part of it, but following that..."

"Huh?"

"..."

"..."

Allen and the Count stared at each other in silence.

"I see. That kind of talk. Now that Lord Thomas's matter is settled, it's even more pertinent."

Beside them, Zenoff voiced his understanding.

*(Hm? Did Zenoff understand what this is about just from that?)*

While Allen wondered what the Count's fragmented speech was about, Zenoff seemed to grasp it. The Countess and Thomas seemed to know what the Count wanted to say and urged him on with their eyes. Under their gaze, the Count slowly spoke.

"...Following Thomas's engagement, we wish to discuss Cecil with you."

"Eh!?"

"To be plain, I am asking if you intend to marry Cecil."

This time, it was Allen who stood up abruptly beside Sebastian.He had just received a marriage proposal for Cecil from Count Granvelle.

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