Free Web NovelChapter 154: Audience with King Wistaria
"—Hou. So that is the full story of this war."
"Yes, Your Majesty!!"
Rigel answered while prostrating himself.
This was the audience chamber inside the royal castle. Rigel was currently facing the king. Around them stood knights guarding the king, as well as Rigel’s father, Balzac.
"It is a story that is hard to believe at first... However, it matches what your father, Marquis Balzac von Goussel, has reported. There are no discrepancies with Count Blade’s report from the site either."
"Yes, Your Majesty!! I am deeply honored!!"
"Well done, Rigel von Goussel. With this, our kingdom will achieve even greater prosperity."
"I am truly grateful!!"
Rigel bowed deeply. Thanks to his continuous string of victories in this campaign, his reputation had skyrocketed.
"Now then, I must bestow a reward upon you."
"No, that is far too much! Everything was possible only thanks to Your Majesty’s august glory!!"
"How modest. However, I cannot simply give you nothing. Is there anything you desire?"
Hearing King Wistaria’s words, Rigel thought for a moment. There was something he had been considering for a while.
"In that case, could I humbly request that these weapons be officially granted to me?"
Rigel took out two weapons from his breast pocket. They were the Divine Staff and the Divine Spear.
"I took these from the Valestain royal family—"
"Hold it right there!! You are before His Majesty!!"
"To bring weapons into the audience chamber without permission... What are you thinking?!"
The surrounding knights immediately raised their voices. They drew their weapons and moved to restrain Rigel.
"Enough. Be silent."
"But...!!"
"This is my royal command."
"...Understood."
"Forgive us."
The knights reluctantly stepped back. Formally, Rigel’s actions were problematic. However, since the king himself had permitted it, it would be strange for the knights to press the matter further.
"Rigel. Are these the national treasures of the Valestain Kingdom mentioned in your report?"
"Yes. As you can see, they bear the crest of the Valestain royal family."
Rigel held up the Divine Staff and Divine Spear one after the other. Both were adorned with beautiful decorations.
"I see... It is understandable that you would be captivated by them. I can feel quite powerful magic from these."
"Yes! When I first held them, I was overwhelmed by their incredible power."
"Hmm..."
"I was only able to seize these from the Valestain royal family thanks to Your Majesty’s prestige. I fully understand that they should originally be offered to you."
How much of the spoils of war could be recognized as legitimate reward for the one who achieved them, and how much belonged to the king or the nation... The boundary was not clearly defined. It usually followed precedent.
When ordinary soldiers plundered from common townspeople, it was often recognized as their rightful spoils. The same generally applied to valuables taken when raiding noble houses. However, things like land and national treasures were a different matter. Those basically belonged to the country and would later be distributed according to merit.
"...You could be called the greatest contributor in this war. However, I must say it is difficult to grant you the Holy Staff and Holy Spear."
"May I ask why?"
"Because these weapons have a matter of compatibility. They should be given to those who can wield them to their full potential and used for the further development of our nation."
"Compatibility..."
"I will prepare another reward for you. You may accept that."
"But..."
Rigel showed a slightly dissatisfied expression. The knights, who had been silent until now, could not stay quiet.
"Hey! Watch your attitude!!"
"No matter whose son you are, we will not tolerate any further disrespect!!"
"Exactly! Do not take advantage of His Majesty’s generosity!!"
"To behave this way in front of His Majesty...!!"
"..."
Rigel remained silent for a moment, then quietly stood up.
"Your Majesty, may I have permission to cross blades with these knights?"
"What?!"
"What are you saying?!"
"Don’t think such nonsense will be tolerated!!"
The knights grew noisy again at Rigel’s statement. They made no attempt to hide their anger.
"Hmm... This is the first time I’ve met a man who would say such a thing in the audience chamber. Interesting."
"Y-Your Majesty?!"
"Please wait! There is no need for you to personally deal with such a person!!"
"I believe this insolent man should be removed from the premises immediately!"
"Besides, wasn’t he famously known as incompetent...?! His achievements this time must have been some kind of mistake!!"
Seeing the reactions around him, King Wistaria smiled wryly. While he found Rigel’s behavior intriguing, he also understood the knights’ loyalty to their duty.
"Rigel. Why do you wish to fight these men? If they are disturbing our conversation, I can order them to leave."
"There is no need for that. I wish to demonstrate my compatibility by fighting the knights."
"Compatibility? Compatibility with what?"
"Of course, with the Divine Staff and Divine Spear."
"Hou..."
King Wistaria narrowed his eyes. He looked at Rigel with clear interest.
—-
Rigel was in the middle of his audience with King Wistaria.
The knights standing by were reaching the limit of their anger toward Rigel, who had taken a somewhat disrespectful attitude toward the king. On the other hand, the king was watching Rigel with great interest.
"Rigel von Goussel. Do you understand what you just said?"
"Yes! I possess compatibility with the ’Divine Staff’ and ’Divine Spear’, the national treasures of the former Valestain Kingdom. I wish to prove it."
Rigel answered powerfully. His attitude was filled with clear confidence.
"Your Majesty! There is no need to listen to the words of such a man!!"
"It is unforgivable for an incompetent to waste Your Majesty’s precious time!!"
"He should be removed from this place immediately!!"
Voices rose one after another from the knights. However, King Wistaria raised his hand.
"It is fine."
"But...!!"
"This man may become one who carries the future of our kingdom."
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The knights showed expressions of bewilderment at the king’s words. The king then turned to one man.
"Marquis Balzac von Goussel. What do you think?"
"...Yes. Even I find it difficult to believe that Rigel possesses compatibility with the Divine Staff and Divine Spear."
"Hmm. Even you, the Commander of the Royal Guard Knights and Rigel’s own father, say so. Does that mean your son is a habitual liar?"
"No... Setting aside my bias as a father, my son’s growth recently has been remarkable. While it is hard to believe, I cannot completely dismiss the possibility that he may indeed have compatibility with those weapons."
"I see... If you say that much, then it may be true."
The king folded his arms and looked at Rigel.
"Rigel. If you truly possess compatibility with the Divine Staff and Divine Spear, then it is worth testing."
"Thank you very much!!"
Rigel bowed deeply. Now that the king had given permission, the knights no longer had the right to object.
"Then you may choose the knight you wish to fight. I shall permit the duel. —Ah, we will also need to change the location."
The king looked around the throne room. He judged that a fight with Rigel would be best conducted in a wider space.
"Your Majesty! With all due respect, there is no need to choose a specific knight or change the location!!"
"Hmm...? Rigel, what do you mean?"
"The Royal Guard Knights who protect Your Majesty are all elites, but they are still merely individual knights. Even if I were to win a prepared one-on-one duel, I do not believe that would sufficiently prove my compatibility with the Divine Staff and Divine Spear."
"Hmm... So what exactly are you saying?"
The king urged him to continue. He could not yet see Rigel’s true intention.
"I will fight all the knights present in this room at the same time, excluding the Commander. And I will finish them all in an instant with overwhelming power. That is why there is no need to choose specific opponents or change the location."
"..."
"..."
A heavy silence fell over the audience chamber. Everyone except Rigel was stunned.
"Fuhahahahahaha!!"
Eventually, the king burst into laughter.
"This is amusing. You are the first man I’ve seen like this."
"I am honored."
"Fighting all the knights at once is not something a sane person would say... but very well. If you truly possess compatibility with the Divine Staff and Divine Spear, then even all the knights together might not be able to defeat you. Balzac, what do you think?"
"...I believe he is underestimating my subordinates, the Royal Guard Knights. While I am happy about my son’s awakening, he may have become somewhat arrogant. As both the head of the Goussel Marquis family and the Commander of the Royal Guard Knights, I cannot overlook his behavior."
Balzac spoke with a firm attitude. He loved and trusted his son, and was genuinely pleased by his awakening. However, he could not bring himself to believe that Rigel could simultaneously overwhelm multiple knights.
"I see... Very well. We shall see the truth once it is done."
"I am truly grateful!!"
Rigel bowed once more. With the king’s permission granted, all that remained was to defeat the knights.
"Come on then. I’ll send you all flying at once."
Rigel wore a fearless smile and provocatively called out to the knights.
"You bastard...!!"
"Don’t get cocky!!"
The knights flew into a rage. They surrounded Rigel and drew their swords.
"Hahaha! There’s no escape for you, brat!!"
"We won’t hold back just because you’re the Commander’s son!"
"Knights believe in strength! It doesn’t matter where you were born!!"
"Your arrogance from those fluke achievements ends here!!"
"..."
Rigel stayed silent. He quietly closed his eyes and concentrated his mind.
—Or so it seemed.
"Fwaaah~..."
He let out a big yawn. He didn’t seem to care at all about the knights’ angry roars.
"Hey hey, don’t make so much noise. I was having such a nice nap, and now you’ve woken me up."
"What did you say?!"
"Are you still fooling around at this point?!"
"Enough! Die!!"
The knights attacked all at once. It was a desperate, overwhelming situation.
However, Rigel’s relaxed attitude did not waver in the slightest.
