Chapter 43-49. One way or another"
When the image returned, they were faced with the same scene with four people in a carriage.
However, inside the carriage there was chaos. Cale looked at Neo, whose legs were shaking, and mentally clicked his tongue. Neo seemed distraught and very worried. Most of the nobles looked quite agitated.
"Venion's face was also extremely perplexed."
Cale remembered the face of Venion Stan, which he had looked at before getting into the carriage. Venion had been filled with righteous anger.
Venion's expression was truly something to behold. Rosalyn had never known that a human face could be so distorted without the help of external physical intervention.
The little dragon's soul sang. Seeing his own tormentor suffer made him feel smug.
Who would have expected something like this?
Taylor Stan, the eldest son of the Stan family, who had been rejected and pushed aside by everyone, walked on his own two feet without a wheelchair. In addition, a person from the Stan family stood next to Crown Prince Alberu. No one expected such a development.
"He managed to bargain for the Star of Healing."
Cale was curious about how Taylor and Cage managed to get the Healing Star from the Crown Prince, but he didn't look at young Stan.
"Since it is very beneficial to me, I think Young Master Taylor and I came to a compromise very quickly.
It made perfect sense. Even without the knowledge that Marquis Stan was connected to the Hand, he was still supporting the Third Prince, something that Albert Crossman on the other side of the screen was prepared to stop by any legal means. And Albert Crossman in the black room knew that there were bigger problems than the Third Prince.
Neo Toltz sat there shaking his leg and not even looking at Taylor. At that moment, Amira spoke up:
"Does this guy even have a straight face? It's absolutely ridiculous." Rosalyn looked at Neo Toltz like he was a flea. In her opinion, this guy wasn't even fit to be a flunky. "He's too nervous. Taylor isn't even his brother."
"That's a really strong reaction. There's a chance that Venion will take all his stress out on him. That's why he's afraid," was the Crown Prince's thought. He noted with regret that the amount of popcorn in the bag was approaching zero, and the swordsman's black hair was in no hurry to bloom with new corn "flowers."
- Perhaps you are right, Your Highness.
— Young Master Taylor, are your legs completely healed?
The carefully posed question was a direct reflection of what everyone in the room was thinking. Taylor smiled before answering.
- It was a blessing from Heaven. They were fully restored.
- My congratulations.
- Thanks a lot.
— Hmm… Khem.
Neo Toltz let out a mock cough before looking from Taylor's face to his feet and back again. He then spoke carefully.
"Young Master Taylor, will you now return to the Marquis's estate now that your legs have been healed?"
"It's not Venion's reaction that worries him," Rosalyn chuckled. "I think I've figured out what really worries him."
- And what is this? - The sword master was genuinely interested. The more he understood the nobles, the less he understood the nobles. A paradox.
"If Taylor Stan returns to the Marquis's house and becomes the heir, Venion will be thrown off his pedestal. Which means Neo, like his faithful dog, will also lose all influence in the faction. Not that he had any influence as an individual, but he won't be able to go around insulting other people like he tried to do with Cale.
"But everyone else will get a wonderful opportunity to go and insult him when the opportunity arises," continued the thought of Vitira's red-haired friend. The little bastard's mental anguish delighted her.
Taylor looked at Toltz and spoke:
— Return?
It was a gentle voice, which contained a hardness and coldness towards Neo.
- This has always been my home. Isn't it obvious that I'll be there?
"That was hot! Young Master Eric needs to be careful, he might get pushed aside," Rosalyn even waved her hand in front of her face in an attempt to cool down.
Everyone basically agreed. Not with the statement that "it was hot," but with the fact that Taylor Stan, despite his soft appearance and pleasant, kind voice, was a strong-willed person and could stand up for himself right on the spot.
Neo flinched even more at the coldness in Taylor's voice. Cale, however, chose not to look at them. He could see Taylor's reflection in the window.
Of course, Taylor himself didn't make it obvious to others; it seemed to everyone that he, just like Cale, was simply looking out the window.
The young man could read the message Taylor was sending him when their eyes met:
"Young Master Cale! I want to tell you everything! It's an incredibly interesting story!"
Alberu wondered how much this willing disclosure of the details of a personal agreement bothered him. On the one hand, Cale had sent Taylor to him and had every right to know the details. On the other hand, even Taylor didn't know whose tip he had come to the capital on. And, as far as he could remember, he had never directly mentioned to Cale why he was going there. He winced, but let it go. Given the sudden recovery of the previously hopeless patient, the fact of the deal would not remain a secret in any case.
- Ah, I need to go out now.
As soon as the carriage left the Plaza of Glory, Neo Toltz quickly left the carriage to leave his companions. Since it was obvious to everyone that he was working for Venion, it was extremely inconvenient to stay there. Neo probably also wanted to report Taylor's current condition to his "master".
— Young Master Cale, I will return with Young Master Eric.
— She's going to leave Cale with Taylor like this?
- She is the only one from the "LOCHI" squad who knows that Cale is much calmer than he was before.
— What kind of "LOCHI" squad is this, Eruhaben-nim?
- Oh... Never mind. Unlucky bastards.
It didn't explain anything at all, but it explained everything, on the other hand.
Amiru was worried that Kayle might do something if she ran into the other northeastern nobles, so she rushed towards Eric and Gilbert's carriage, wanting to bring them here, and therefore risked leaving the two young men alone.
"Nothing should happen, as Young Master Taylor and Young Master Cale have no relationship. Based on the latter's personality, he will not initiate a conversation with anyone."
"That's where you're very wrong, Young Lady Amiru. But it's not your fault."
This is what Amira was thinking, however, she was eager to find and bring Eric and Gilbert as quickly as possible.
This resulted in Cale being rewarded with a bright smile from Taylor.
- Finally, we are left alone.
These were words Cale didn't like to hear. He let his feelings show on his face, but Taylor seemed to find it funny.
The eldest son of the Stan family laughed quietly before telling Cale bluntly,
— I got my legs by promising to become the head of the Marquis's estate.
— Did you promise your loyalty?
- No. I made a deal.
Cale nodded.
- That's good. Congratulations on healing your legs.
Cale turned away from Taylor as if he had nothing more to say. Taylor decided that this was just the man's style, and pulled a small envelope out of his pocket and handed it to Cale.
- Taylor is the second person to react like this.
- How?
- Ignores Cale's dissatisfaction with himself, as if that's how it should be.
- And who is the first?
- Choi Han!
The sword master sat with a blank face, without a single emotion in his eyes. But his ears were treacherously red.
- This is the content of our deal.
— … I don't need to know about it.
Cale's face showed indifference, and Taylor replied:
- You will be interested to know about this, Young Master Cale.
Then, as if by accident, he threw another phrase at Cale:
- Cage will be excommunicated from the church.
— Is it because she does whatever she wants?
- Exactly. She is very happy about it.
Cage has finally begun her journey down the path of the Mad Priestess. She will now progress as an excommunicated priestess who is perceived by others as very brave, at least in the novel.
- This is good.
Eruhaben suddenly thought of another strange thing. If the priestess of Kage was so beloved by the Death God that he spoke to her periodically, essentially making her the most trusted person in the entire Church of Eternal Peace, then why didn't she join them? After all, it was logical to bring her here. If "God" was not lying, then for them in reality only a moment would pass, which meant that she had not stayed outside the room to protect Taylor. He decided to leave this question for now. Perhaps something would happen, and it would be explained.
Cale saw Taylor nodding his head happily at his words. But suddenly young Stan began to frown, as if all his emotions had suddenly crashed down on him and sucked him into a whirlpool. He began to speak:
- This is just the beginning. We will win. Right, Young Master Cale?
"Why does he include me in his victory?"
— I wonder what he means?
- I don't get it either. Maybe he considers Cale some kind of... accomplice in the conspiracy?
- Well... he helped him get to the capital, so it seems true.
Cale was interested in this, but decided to answer the question in his own way:
- You will win.
- Thank you very much. I'll go out first.
Taylor stood up and looked at his feet before saying goodbye to Cale and leaving the carriage:
— The three of us should have a drink together after our victory.
— The Hanitiuse wine is delicious.
- This is not consent.
- But not a refusal either.
- Do you remember that he doesn't want to have anything to do with him?
- Ah! Exactly.
Taylor finally opened the carriage door and left Cale, who opened the envelope left for him when he was left alone.
Then he tore it apart.
— Tsk.
The young man clicked his tongue and stuffed the scraps deep into his inner pocket. There was indeed the secret of the Crown Prince's birth. Cale shook his head and also got out of the carriage.
"I was really curious about what was written there," Alberu raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't tell Young Master Taylor about my origins."
"Young Master Cale often comes to interesting conclusions based on the information he receives. Perhaps there is nothing scandalous written there, but he could connect it with what he learned about you the day before." Actually, Rosalyn was also very interested in what was written in the note. She was extremely curious by nature.You're probably right, Miss Rosaleen. It's just that this is still a very sensitive subject for me.
Everyone nodded in understanding. If anyone could come to the same conclusions as Cale, then dark times would begin for the Crown Prince.
— Cale.
The young man turned to see Eric. The entire Slava Square could be seen over his shoulder.
- Young Master Cale, let's go. It's our turn to enter the square.
In the novel, Choi Han was interested in these people who were ranked higher than the ordinary citizens of the kingdom. Today, Cale should have been in the same place. However, he was still at the bottom dedicated to the royal family, the holy of holies of the kingdom.
Vitira felt the nervousness growing in the room. And although everyone understood that they could not influence these events in any way, in that world they had already happened, the anticipation, mixed with fear, continued to grow.
"The square looks very beautiful, Your Highness. Everything looks very elegant, but not pretentious," she tried to distract those present.
"Thank you, Miss Vitira. I am very pleased to hear that," Alberu smiled majestically at the Whale Princess. He noticed and appreciated her attempt.
Hearing this, Choi Han decided to really look around. His double was currently too focused on finding the magic bombs, and he himself was about to do the same in reality. So now might be the only time he could appreciate it.
The square was indeed magnificently decorated. The atmosphere of a festive celebration reigned in the square. There was nothing superfluous in the decorations, except for Venion and Neo. These two, of course, spoiled the overall appearance. Not only by their existence, but even by their sour expressions.
Choi Han also noted how many people were gathering in the square. There were a lot, a lot of them.
Cale looked at the bell tower at the entrance to the square. It had a giant clock on it.
The current time was 8:25. It was time for the nobles and priests to take their places. The knights began to hinder the commoners who were rushing to the square in order to free the corridor for the nobles.
- Let's go.
Cale nudged Eric and the others in the right direction and walked on his own. As he approached, he saw a crowd of people in the square. There were so many people that he couldn't even tell how many had come to the square. However, the number wasn't so huge that it was comparable to sardines in a barrel. This was because the Glory Square was quite large, and the crown had limited the number of people, which also had an effect. In response, some people crowded into the shops near the square and occupied the rooftops of the nearby buildings to try to catch a glimpse of the celebration in honor of the king.
"It's only now, seeing how many people there are, that I begin to understand the scale of the disaster that was about to happen," Rosalyn said this almost in a whisper and covered her mouth with her hand. In the Kingdom of Breck, such events were quite rare. So, even taking into account the attendance restrictions, it was rare to see such a crowd.
"We know that four out of ten bombs will be defused before it all starts. That's already good news. Let's just hope that the Mana Disruption Tool works as it should," Alberu leaned closer to the screen and rested his chin on his folded hands. "They're not going to kill you. If they can get more than one bomb off people, that's already better than it should be. Not perfect, of course, but still.
— Young Master Cale, is this your first visit to Glory Square?
Cale nodded slowly at Gilbert's question.
- Yes, I was passing by in my carriage, but this is the first time I've stepped into it.
Cale looked around as he said this.
Tea shop to the south.
Tavern to the west.
Flower shop to the east.
The dome of the Ceramic Association building in the north.
These were the four places Cale focused on as he looked around.
The location mark sheet has been adjusted.
— The area is quite large.
Cale checked the locations of the Magic Bombs. At the same time, he looked at the fountain to the south. A boy was waving a flag as if he wanted to welcome the King. That boy was Lock.
"Things are going as planned."
Cale knew that Choi Han and the Black Dragon would be looking at him right now from the bell tower.
- Why are they on the bell tower?
- Most likely, they are waiting for the signal to start. Two bombs, the location of which they know, for each team. Twenty-five minutes will be more than enough for them to deal with them without attracting attention.
Current time: eight hours and thirty minutes.
- We are opening the way now.
The knights blocked all the entrances to the square to allow the nobles to enter. At the same time, Cale snapped his fingers.
*Click*
It was a simple gesture that no one would have noticed.
"I see," Choi Han was the first to figure out the reason for the delay.
- Do you understand? - Locke looked at him curiously.
- Cale is in the most strategic position. He is on a high place, so he can see the entire square, and "we", in turn, can see him perfectly from any point on it. And he gave the signal to begin the operation as soon as the guards' attention was distracted by the nobles. No one will simply watch what we do. All attention is focused elsewhere.
Lock nodded understandingly and returned to watching. He didn't understand such subtleties yet, but he was learning. He already understood that such lessons were much easier to perceive in theory at first, and only then through personal experience. The same Choi Han was an excellent example of the previous lessons.
Locke disappeared the moment it happened. It was time to find the hidden objects. Of course, it wasn't necessary.
"The answer will appear at nine o'clock and one minute."
However, it would be easier if they could find everything beforehand. Also, since Cale didn't have to move, it would be good to find these hidden items.
- Everyone, please sit here.
Cale walked to his seat and began to frown.
— We seem to constantly run into each other, Young Master Cale.
— It seems so, Young Master Taylor.
Rosaleen, simply because she was Rosaleen, couldn't keep quiet:
"I'm beginning to suspect that His Highness has nothing to do with it and that Taylor himself asked for a place next to Young Master Cale."
Vitira's lips stretched into a grin. What about Vitira, even Alberu himself was beginning to believe that this was not his "insidious plan" to protect Taylor, but Taylor's "insidious plan" to curry favor with the red-haired man. He raised an eyebrow slightly.
"What's wrong with the Young Masters in Roan?"
It was the same as during the festival. Cale sat next to Taylor and looked down at the people below the platform. Then he looked up at the bell tower.
The young man remembered the contents of the story.
The only place Choi Han managed to find a bomb in the novel was not one of the explosives locations this time. There were many changes in the story.
"The tower will also need to be properly examined," said the prince, drawing another cross on the piece of paper.
However, at least there shouldn't have been anyone dying from the buildings collapsing, unlike what happened in the novel.
Looking at the number of people in the taverns and on the rooftops, everyone winced a little.
The Mana Destruction Tool was hidden under the bell tower.
The sphere was drawn next to the cross. They probably wouldn't find a better place to hide it anyway.
The prince nodded his head affirmatively and popped some more popcorn into his mouth. He was nervous.
The current time was eight hours and forty minutes. Cale turned to the left, hearing Eric's voice:
- Cale. Stay calm. Okay?
- Hyun-nim...
Eric felt nervous when he heard the tone in which Cale spoke to him. The boy who used to only wear the latest fashions and constantly bragged just two years ago, now suddenly began to wear only dark clothes and began to act completely different.
Rosalyn noted again that the people who were most likely to question Cale's new behavior were the ones who had either known him in absentia or for some time. Two years in this case. It seemed very strange to her that the family had not asked a single question yet. She had already realized that the old Cale was hiding something. From everyone. She could understand that. She herself had hidden her magical training up to a certain point. And she was still hiding her true power.
So she had only two options. Either the Hanituses knew the reason for the old behavior and were just glad that Cale no longer had to deal with it. Or… She didn't like the second option.
Choi Han, to his surprise, thought about the same thing. But he put these thoughts aside.
- I'll stay calm. I don't want to do anything at all.
Eric was fascinated by Cale's voice and nodded unconsciously in response. Cale seemed pleased with this reaction, after which he laughed and looked at his watch again.
"Damn charming voice works even in a noisy crowd."
No matter how much he scolded the "voice", he couldn't help but admit that the red-haired aristocrat had very good skills in manipulating people. This could no longer be explained by knowing Choi Han's personality from the book. Taylor, Eric and Amira didn't appear in the book, if he understood everything correctly. Except for the episode with Taylor, but there should have been an emphasis on the crazy priestess and the Ancient Power.
Eight hours and forty-five minutes in the morning. He heard the voice of the Black Dragon. He looked at him, as the young man had expected.
- Fifteen minutes left.
Dragons were truly capable of anything. Their magic was simply incredible. Cale praised the Black Dragon before it moved from its place.
The black dragon munched on popcorn with an air of incredible pride in himself and all the dragons for that matter, and radiated waves of majesty. Well, that's what he thought. He looked like a kitten, causing smiles to appear on the faces of the onlookers.
— The stars of the Crossman family! Our royal family is coming out!
At this time, only one entrance to the square was open. The Crown Prince led the procession, the second and third princes walked slightly behind and on either side, and the remaining princes and princesses followed directly behind them.
A group of people with beautiful blond hair entered the square. They were the royal family, who were blessed by the Sun God and were the pride of the Roan Kingdom.
- Your Highness.
"Miss Rosalyn?"
"I don't understand how there haven't been any questions about your origins yet."
"What do you mean?" The prince tensed. Were there any signs that someone in the know could discern? If so, that was a problem.
- You shine brighter than the entire royal family combined. You are too sweet to be human.
Vitira laughed loudly again. The dragon giggled, the prince had a very funny expression on his face. Everyone else hid their grins.
Alberu just rolled his eyes.
— Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
The citizens' cheers filled the square. It was so loud that it seemed like the ground was shaking. Cale remembered the Black Dragon's words.
"The Crown Prince's hair and eyes are brown."
"You don't want to get involved, but you're still interested, right? You poor bastard, I understand."
Brown was known as the most common color for eyes and hair. Cale looked at the royal family and clapped his hands lightly. And then, finally, eight o'clock fifty minutes.
- His Majesty, King Zed Crossman! The sun of the Roan Kingdom rises!
— Woooo
The majestic fifty-year-old king appeared in the square in a ceremonial carriage. Cale watched the king before moving his gaze to another place in the square. He could see a flower pot on the dome of the Ceramic Association building to the north. The current time was eight o'clock and fifty-five minutes.
"They neutralized her."
Cale started to smile.
Everyone had regained their serious attitude. Although one could say that they had lost their truly serious attitude as soon as the two princesses became friends.
Rosalyn, Black Dragon, On and Hong were now hidden among the crowd in the plaza. King Zed was slowly walking towards the center of the plaza from a distance. Zed Crossman had become king at the age of twenty, after the sudden death of his predecessor. He had used this time of peace to his advantage, killing all of his siblings to solidify his position at the helm of power.
"Probably, no matter how good and prosperous the kingdom was, the royal families were all pretty much the same," Rosalyn recalled as she recalled the history of the ruling families of the Western Continent. King Zed Crossman was not much different from most young kings.
Alberu winced. It was unpleasant to hear that about his family, even though it was common knowledge. He dreamed of becoming King, but he had no intention of getting rid of his brothers and sisters. At least, not that radically. He needed his nephews to pass on power when the time came.
— Tur-tu-tu-tu!!!
The fanfare for the king was especially loud. King Zed walked through the entrance to the plaza and headed towards the highest platform. Cale simply watched the proceedings calmly.
A special platform for His Majesty was organized in front of the bell tower.
The King and his wife waved to the crowd before stepping onto the platform. The Queen stood in front of her chair as King Zed walked up to the magical voice amplifier.
Cale glanced at his watch again.
It was now eight hours and fifty-eight minutes.
If anyone was listening to the King, they were only half-listening. All eyes were on the clock. There were two minutes left. In two minutes, they would find out if the Mana Disruption Tool could affect magic bombs. There were still many buts. Everything had to happen in a short period of time. Plus, a magic bomb, although a magic tool, still exploded from direct detonation. They could still explode.
The king looked very happy. Unfortunately, it was now nine o'clock.
- A?
Cale heard Eric's confused voice:
- What is this?
Then Cale heard Taylor's worried voice and slowly raised his head to look at the top of the bell tower.
- What?
- Who is this?
- What's happening?
The crowd dispersed and the shouts grew louder and louder. King Zed looked at what was happening behind him, and then looked up at the bell tower. Cale also looked up at the top of the bell tower and began to smile.
- Stop smiling, you're acting suspicious.
- But one good thing is that the magician showed up exactly where he was supposed to. That hasn't changed.
King Zed shouted:
- Who are you?!
A man appeared at the top of the bell tower, and then more people in black outfits began to appear on the roofs of nearby buildings.
- Get out immediately!
— Everyone head to the tops of the buildings now!
Cale heard the voices of knights nearby and looked at the man standing on top of the bell tower, he was dressed in black and had a mask on his face. It was the bloodthirsty mage, Redika.
- Now we know his name.
- Theoretically, this could even be useful to us...
"I was worried that it would be different from what happened in the novel."
If Redika hadn't appeared, he would have needed the Black Dragon to reverse the flow of mana coming into the Magic Bombs to find the hidden Redika and allow Choi Han to kill the mage.
"It would definitely be more difficult," Eruhaben wondered if the child could perform such a delicate manipulation. The kid was smart and learned everything quickly, but he would be doing it for the first time. One child against six magic bombs. The results would be debatable.
Cale felt relieved that he didn't have to do that and remembered the description in the novel.
Redika's hand was covered in red mana. This bastard was unique because people could see the color of his mana even if they weren't mages. He then turned his hand and declared, just like in the novel:
[This should be fun.]
- It should be fun.
A cold voice, reminiscent of the sound of metal parts screeching against each other, filled the square.