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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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Chapter 131
About a week after searching for hidden pieces all over Asternon.
'I've got just about everything I need, haven't I?'
There was an end in sight to this whole endeavor.
From Sector 7 all the way to Sector 2. I had obtained every hidden piece I could get my hands on.
Now there was only one sector left.
But.
'Hmm... should I go there or not?'
I was having some serious doubts.
The last remaining sector was none other than Sector 1.
It was definitely a place with a lot of useful hidden pieces, but it was also a place with a lot of tricky stuff.
'Getting in is going to be tough, though... and it's not like I took the royal route.'
Just getting in was a problem.
Royal Commander, Royal Guard, Royal Mage, and so on.
There were a lot of jobs that could get you into the royal palace, but thanks to my decision to go all-in on the Magic Swordsman tree this time around, I was miles away from any of them.
In short, it meant that getting into Sector 1 was going to be difficult.
Of course, you don't necessarily have to have those jobs to get into Sector 1... but the other options were the same.
In many ways, they were not relevant to me.
While I was wondering what to do, I suddenly had an idea that seemed at least possible.
'The only thing I have going for me is the Royal Commander... should I try to use that?'
It was to ask for help from 'Elbert Tyran', who had offered me the position of Royal Commander.
Just enough to get me inside Sector 1.
As a nobleman, Elbert Tyran might know a way to get into Sector 1.
I didn't take long to make up my mind.
'Let's give it a shot.'
I had nothing to lose anyway. It wasn't like I was going to be worse off for trying.
More than anything.
"Hehehe, Mr First Place. Are we really going to get to go into Sector 1? That place where only royalty lives?"
"I'm curious to know what kind of food the royalty eats."
"But is this even possible?"
My party members were looking forward to it.
Well, even if I managed to get in, I didn't know if I could bring them with me.
"I'll see what I can do. Don't get your hopes up too high."
After saying that, I went straight to Elbert.
Elbert's residence was in Sector 2.
This place wasn't easy to get into either, but thanks to the 'High Mage's Guarantee' that Asion Gale had written for me, I was fortunate enough to get in without much trouble.
And so I met Elbert again.
I couldn't help but smile when I saw him.
"It's good to see you again?"
"It's only natural. You develop a bond with your comrades who have fought together."
"I'll take that as a 'nice to see you too' from the Commander."
"...You're not wrong. Tell me."
While Elbert was answering, he suddenly raised one hand.
Then, as if he had been waiting for it, a middle-aged man bowed his head.
He seemed to be Elbert's butler.
"Yes, sir. The preparations are complete."
The place we were currently in was Elbert's mansion.
As such, the hospitality was no joke.
Clatter, clatter, clatter!
At a signal from the man who seemed to be Elbert's butler, a dozen or so servants wheeled in carts full of food and began setting them up.
At first glance, the food looked like high-end dishes that were worth their weight in gold, and there was a ridiculous amount of it.
"...Are you telling me to eat all this?"
I was already worried about how I was going to finish all this.
"Of course not. Just pick and choose what you like."
'......Yep, he's got money to burn.'
It was a moment that reminded me once again that Elbert was a nobleman.
Anyway, after chatting about this and that and starting our meal, how long had it been?
Elbert brought up the main topic first.
"So, what's the reason you came to see me? You don't seem like the type to come without a reason."
"Do I have that kind of image?"
"Do you need to ask?"
"......I guess I do."
It seemed that Elbert had realized that I had a purpose in coming to see him.
Without hesitation, I immediately told him what it was.
"Is there any way to get into Sector 1? With me and my party members all together."
"Sector 1? Why?"
"Um...... sightseeing?"
"......?"
Elbert looked at me with a look as if he was looking at a crazy person.
Well, I guess he had a point.
Who would go to Sector 1, where only royalty lives, for sightseeing?
Of course, I knew that from the start, but I didn't bother to make excuses.
If I gave another reason and ended up having restrictions on my range of movement, it would be worse than not going at all.
Right now, I needed to get into Sector 1 in a way that would allow me to move around as freely as possible.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"......I've never met anyone who wanted to go to Sector 1 for such a purpose in my entire life."
"Is it difficult?"
At my question, Elbert, who had been stroking his chin, suddenly nodded his head.
"It's not possible for reasons like sightseeing, but there is a way to get into Sector 1."
"What is it?"
"Do you remember what I told you before? About becoming a Royal Commander."
"Of course I remember."
"For now, accept that offer."
"......Excuse me?"
My eyes widened at the unexpected words.
Accept the offer to become a Royal Commander? What was he talking about?
Despite my bewildered feelings, Elbert calmly continued his explanation.
"There are three processes involved in becoming a Royal Commander. First, proof. Second, perseverance. And finally, third, a duel."
Proof, perseverance, and duel.
I was aware of these three processes as well.
To put it simply, proof is about proving that you have the qualities of a commander.
Perseverance is about enduring the harsh training.
The duel is about proving your skills in a real fight through duels with other current commanders.
And the reason Elbert brought up this story was the first step, 'proof'.
"As a royal commander, the proof must be seen and judged directly by His Majesty. In other words..."
"You're saying I have to go to Sector 1 no matter what."
"That's right."
I seemed to know what he was talking about.
What Elbert was saying was that I should accept the Royal Commander offer and enter Sector 1 temporarily.
Let's think about it for a moment with my mouth shut.
'Not bad?'
I felt that it was quite reasonable.
If I did as he said, I would naturally be able to stay in Sector 1, and I would have plenty of time to get the hidden pieces.
After getting everything I needed, I could just naturally drop out saying I couldn't do it anymore.
But there was one thing that bothered me.
"Then only I can go in, right?"
The fact that my party members could not enter through this method.
It didn't matter much, but it was a bit disappointing because there were some hidden pieces in Sector 1 that required four or more people to obtain.
But.
"It's possible. All you have to do is say that you need your companions to prove your qualifications."
Unexpectedly, Elbert told me that it was possible.
"You already have a history of working with your companions several times, so if you explain that it's necessary for the proof, the royal family will probably understand."
"......That's really going to work."
The more I heard, the more it seemed worth doing.
I was glad that I asked Elbert.
Of course, there were some things that I was worried about.
"But just in case, what if, just in case, I get stuck being a royal commander?"
The situation where I would have no choice but to be a royal commander no matter what I did.
If that happened, it would be more difficult than anything else.
I had come all this way, and now I was going to become a royal commander? I could never accept that.
Even more so because I couldn't catch Baal as a royal commander.
But that didn't seem to be important to Elbert.
"Then just do it, what's the worry? Being a royal commander is not something to worry about, it's something to celebrate."
Rather than worrying about such a situation, he seemed to think it was fortunate.
"If that really happens, I'll treat you to a big meal."
No, it wasn't just fortunate, it seemed like he was welcoming it...
'Is this guy recommending this method to make that happen?'
I couldn't help but have such a suspicion.
Well, that aside.
"Okay, I understand. It seems promising."
The fact that the method Elbert told me was pretty good was undeniable.
"Please tell them that I will be a royal commander."
"Alright."
And so, I began my adventure to get the hidden pieces.
***
Three days later.
A letter arrived at the Asternon Royal Palace.
"Hmm, is it Elbert?"
From the crest, it was a letter from Elbert Tyran, the 7th Knight Commander.
Ttuk, tteuk!
The King of Asternon eagerly tore open the letter.
Elbert Tyran was one of the knight commanders who had served him for quite some time.
Moreover, he was a man known for his taciturnity.
As such, he was very curious to know what kind of content was contained within.
[Greetings, Your Majesty. I hope this letter finds you well. As Your Majesty's health and well-being are directly linked to the safety and security of Asternon, our knights pray for your peace every day...]
The beginning was, as always, nothing special.
A greeting wishing for his well-being, saying that he must be healthy for Asternon.
The king, curious about the main point, immediately turned his gaze to the place where the core content was written.
[Therefore, I would like to recommend a talented individual suitable for the position of Royal Knight Commander. It is the mage, Yuhan. Yuhan is an experienced mage who has dedicated himself to the safety and prosperity of the kingdom...]
Understanding the context, the king nodded his head.
"A letter of recommendation."
It was a letter of recommendation for the Royal Commander position from Knight Commander Elbert.
He had received countless such letters of recommendation, but perhaps because it was sent by Elbert?
"...Yuhan."
After reading the entire letter, the king became intrigued by the person written in this recommendation.
In a way, it was a natural thing.
Elbert Tyran had been in the position of commander for over 10 years, but he had never recommended anyone before.
And that meant.
"...Just how talented is he?"
It meant that the Yuhan mentioned here was no ordinary talent.
To the point of capturing the heart of Elbert, who had such high standards.
While recalling the name in his head, the king suddenly struck his knee as if he had remembered something.
"...Yuhan. I've heard of him."
If his memory was correct, he was a mage who was reported to have played a major role in the recent [Blood Moon Prophecy] war.
Even a mage who defeated a legion commander-level powerhouse.
Strangely enough, since he was a commoner, he didn't pay much attention to him at the time.
But to hear about him again like this, there must be something about him.
Thump.
Feeling his own heartbeat, the king quietly opened his mouth.
"I will judge him with my own two eyes."
If he was such an outstanding talent, he could never escape his sight.
And depending on the results, the life of this mage named Yuhan would change.
In these days full of only mundane things, this recommendation was a welcome news to the king, which he had heard after a long time.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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