The room was about 20 tatami mats in size, considering it was quite large in terms of Ray's sense.
　But considering the room as a gathering of the emperors and their children of the Vestian Empire, it would be better to describe it as a small room.
　In the room were Trajist, the Emperor of the Empire of Bestia, Prince Schles, Princess Fritzione, and Prince Mercurio, the third.
　And, perhaps meaning their respective bodyguards and lieutenants, there was Amale on the side of Schles, Angela on the side of Fritzione, and Teorem on the side of Mercurio.
　Behind the emperor are the figures of people in gorgeous armor.

(Thinking of this, Vichela is a deputy or a bodyguard... or, in the first place, a bodyguard is not necessary for Vichela.)

　With the ability to defeat the notorious Rank A adventurer, Vichela's bodyguards around the corner would only be a distraction.
　If something happens, a bodyguard who is nothing but a drag can't be called a bodyguard.

(In that sense, am I expected to play the role of bodyguard?)

　Ray thought of it all at once, but most of the people here don't have weapons in their hands.
　The only exception is the ten or so knights behind the Trajist.
　The knights, who, to Ray's eye, seem to have more strength than they have, are probably guardsmen to keep the emperor safe.
　It is certain that he has the right rank among the Knights of the Guards, as long as he is equipped with equipment that Ray can clearly see as a good article.

(He's the Emperor's bodyguard, so it's only natural there.) ...I don't think I was there at the time of the competition.)

　Ray recalls the fight, but soon convinced.
　There was noise right next to the emperor at that time.
　There was no way there would have been a man of things who would interfere with the emperor, even though the noise of the emperor's friendship was on his side.

(In that sense, if I am treated as a winner of the noise, will I be the object of caution?) ... well, if you think you're looking at me strangely, that's the reason. In my case, even if my weapon is taken away, I still have the red armour of the Emperor.)

　Of course, being an adventurer from the Kingdom of Milliana is another reason for alarm.
　With that in mind, Ray turns to the royal family sitting on the sofa in the center of the room with Vichela.
　As he did so, a sudden question arose in Ray.

"Vihela, is there no one like you or Fritzione'

　When asked in a low voice, Vihela shook her head.

"Me and Mercurio's mother are dead, but Schles' brother's mother is still alive." But basically, in the Bestian Empire, the queen has no political power. Is that what it looks like, at least on the surface. I'm pretending to show my family's face, but it's actually about politics."
"...what a strange thing!" Isn't a family that usually has empresses or concubines have considerable power?"
"Do you think he'll make you behave like that?"

　With that word, Ray is convinced of everything.
　Trajist has a strong presence.
　I knew that at once from a speech I heard at a competition.
　It would be impossible if such a person were asked to allow the Queen to have her own way.

"Why, come this way?" I called you all because I wanted to hear you in person."

　A Trajist sitting on a one-man sofa calls out to Ray and Vihela.
　If urged by the emperor, Ray and Vihela cannot be ignored, and they head to the center of the room.
　Ray was deeply impressed when he felt the knights turned their eyes on Ray so as not to miss him every move.
　However, it was not his attitude towards himself, but his impression that he didn't seem particularly surprised when he saw Vihela's outfit, so Ray was out of place.
　Ray and Vihela bow deeply as they move to the center of the room.

"It's been a long time, my dear father," I didn't expect you to call me out of the country..."
"Nice to meet you, Your Majesty Trajist," My name is Ray, a Rank B adventurer from the Kingdom of Milliana."

　For Mercurio, Schles, Kabazid, and so on, Vichela's ... brothers and sisters of friends, but it seems that he could not imitate Trajist, the emperor of the Empire of Bestia.
　Of course, it is true that if we had to take such an attitude here, it would have been an international problem if we were not good at it.

"Well, I'm glad that Vihela seems to be doing well. But isn't that a bad dress for a man?"

　Fritzione's eyes wince at the words from Trajist.
　What is it that makes you look like to appear in a place like this. She was scolding Vihela with that look.

"Hmmm. If I had remained the second princess, I might have worn a dress... I'm not a member of the Imperial family, I'm just an adventurer." So I came here in these clothes to show it."

　At the words of Vihela's mouth, Shurus opens his mouth to say something... but before that, the laughter of the Trajist echoes through the room.

"Hahaha! I see. If you recognize yourself as an adventurer, so be it. To be honest, I was expecting you, too. Was Vihela more than I expected? No, it's pleasant."

　Laughing, Trajist picks up a glass of wine from the table in front of the sofa.
　Drink it up in one gulp and pour it in your own hands.
　The next thing I looked at was Ray.

"It's the first time I've ever seen such a close friend,"
"Yes, I'm sorry about the awards ceremony."
"Don't worry. There was no noise at all. Thanks to your absence, it was a pleasant event for the awards ceremony in which both the winner and runner-up did not participate. And... you were already busy at that time?"
"...what are you talking about?"

　They understand that their actions are completely discovered, but they can't be honest enough to admit them, and they fall in love.
　The sight of Ray brings a fierce smile to Trajist'
　That was the only change in facial expression, but the atmosphere emanating from the trasist has definitely changed now.
　Mental pressure is released toward Ray, but it feels like physical pressure.

(I see. This is...Emperor, Trajist)

　The same feeling that I felt when I was in a sports competition. ...or perhaps it's because they're so close to each other, and the Trajist's gaze is on Ray alone. His presence was even greater than it had been in the competition.
　It's not Ray's imagination that he saw the person in front of him and felt a clearer impression of a lion at that time.

"Father, can you not provoke Ray too much? You know he looks strong, right? He must have been collecting this information during the civil war, since it was my father anyway."

　Vihela's voice echoes through the tense atmosphere of the room.
　At Vichela's voice, Schles looks incredibly surprised, Fritzione breathes a sigh of helplessness, and Mercurio smiles with his sister.
　Although there were three ways, the atmosphere in the room was soothing.

"I see. He certainly seems to be a man of a sort. ...it was a crimson ray. What do you think? Do you not want to serve the Empire of Bestia? If you do, I promise you the right treatment."

　The sudden question was surprising to Ray.Because he understood the damage he had inflicted on this country, he never expected the emperor to invite him this way.
　In fact, if you see more or less surprise on the faces of others who have heard the story, you'll understand how out of the blue it is.
　But it's not unusual to take in someone you don't want to be hostile to.
　Because they are troublesome opponents, their power becomes reliable if they are taken in as allies rather than enemies.
　In Ray's case, in particular, there is a widespread rumor that he has won over the noise.
　Ray himself didn't admit it, but it's true that Noise himself left him.
　And the soldiers of the punitive force were watching the scene.
　Not only because of his real ability, but also because of his reputation, as the emperor of the Westian Empire, he would like to take Ray in.
　Knowing that, Ray shakes his head because he knows it.

"I'm sorry," I... no, I'm not going to serve in the Empire of Bestia. I have no intention of serving not only the Empire of Bestia, but also any country or nobility. -- at least now."
"…how calm are you, refusing my invitation?" have a lot of nerve That's the only way to the finals in a competition. I'm starting to really want it. All that is needed in the Empire of Bestia is strength of all meaning. Isn't it difficult for a man like your lord to live in the Kingdom of Milliana?"
"That may be the case in the royal capital," But what I usually live in is the remote guillem. I don't say that there's no one there to say what their status is, but there's very little of it."


　The face of a merchant who once used his power to seize the likes of Seto and Mistyling passes through Ray's mind.
　The man was not an aristocrat, but he still held great power in the city of Gilm.
　But even that person ended up being ousted by Ray.
　However, it was not Ray's design, but the merchant's own fault.

(Come to think of it, it involved an alchemist from the Westian Empire. It was the first time I had fought directly against the Mystery.)

　Suddenly, Ray remembers the past fondly.
　In fact, it was only a year ago, but what happened in that year was so dense that I naturally felt like it was a long time ago.

Well, why are you reluctant to serve such a powerful person? Many of the people I knew said that they wanted to serve Ningyo Province, gain the status of nobility, and become more powerful.'
"I understand that many people aim to go above them, but I'm not interested in power. And isn't there someone in the Westian Empire who is not interested in the power of noise?"
"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. But you can also think that noise is because there are only three Rank S adventurers in the world."

　Trajist, speaking to Ray with laughter around him, was beginning to feel pressure again.

"Because you have power, you can get your own way. Is that the case?"
"I'm not mistaken," Noise is so powerful that no one can blame it for its own free movement. unless you have done anything against the law."
"Certainly,"

　No matter how much force is everything, if we do something that is clearly against the law, we cannot allow it as the Empire of Bestia.

"...well, I'm off the subject." At any rate, the present-day Westian Empire needs strength. Do you know that?"

　Defeated in the spring war, civil war broke out in the country. It would also include that the runner-up in the competition was an adventurer from the Kingdom of Milliana.
　It is almost coincidental that Ray is involved in all of them, but as a result, the perception that the Westian Empire is not afraid is spreading to neighboring countries.
　Some people are wondering if they can win even if they don't go that far.
　They are being despised by neighboring countries and their subordinates.
　Of course, even as a trajist, he was aware of that and overlooked the civil war.
　I don't think it's a problem because I've been able to get a stronger successor to the throne.
　But apart from that, if we leave it as it is, there is no doubt that subordinates and former occupiers will not launch an independence movement.
　It would have been best as a trajist if Ray had been able to get in, but the officer refused.

"Then... what about the honorary nobility? They are the nobility of name, who do not give them any kind of territory, who need not do anything special, but are free to move within the Empire of Bestia? Well, I will give them the title of count."

　Sipping wine, Trajist says so, staring at Ray like a carnivore who never misses his prey.