Vol 2: Chapter 36

* Ethan Ebene *

「Who is that?」

「Isn’t it Louis-sama from House Duke Rozier?」

「What does this mean?」

「It’s almost af if–」

Several nobles started asking those questions. Louis’ attitude was completely unexpected, and from their point of view, what Louis was saying right now was like–

—Criticizing His Majesty the Holy King.

It is unacceptable to publicly raise an objection to the Holy King of the Kruvan Holy Kingdom. Of course, that does not mean that the country allows the Holy King to be like a dictatorship, but that the Holy King is used as a symbol of this country where various races live together by using “The Holy King is absolute” as a system of governance.

Therefore, if the Holy King makes a mistake, he shall be advised via the 6 Great Duke Houses, or let it be known to the Holy King behind public eyes. And the Holy King is sensible enough to listen to the advice of his vassals.

Therefore, it was preposterous to question the Holy King’s method in the eyes of the public – even more so in the middle of a ritual unique to the “Holy Kingdom”.

The priests tried to remove the unexpected element that could interfere with the ritual.

「Priests, wait!」

It was none other than the Holy King who stopped them.

「..You are a child of the House Rozier, aren’t you?」

「Yes, but it doesn’t matter which House I belong to! To create equal opportunities–」

「No, it is most important that you are from House Rozier.」

「With all due respect, Your Majesty!」

「Silence!」

The head of House Rozier raised his voice from the viewing area, but the Holy King silenced him.

「L-Louis! What are you doing!? Are you trying to crash the award ceremony!?」

The children near Louis began to fuss.

Ethan, of the same 6 Great Duke Houses, grabbed Louis’ arm, but Louis, who has a better physique than Ethan, forcibly shook free from the grip.

「Don’t touch me!」

「Louis..?」

Ethan was surprised by the strong rejection. Louis’ eyes were clouded with anger.

「Eva-sama!」Mira cried.

When Ethan looked in Mira’s direction, he saw Eva – who seemed to be fainting – in Mira’s arms

(Strange.. this is too strange!)

Ethan hadn’t talked to Eva today, but he saw her several times before they came here. Eva seemed to be walking normally at that time.

(Did she run out of mana? And is that a magic tool on her left hand..?)

Eva was desperately trying to say something, but her words were too soft for Mira to hear.

「Louis Rozier. Then, will you be the one to accept the 8-star skill orb? If you are resolved and have the aptitude to accept it!」

Unbelievable words escaped the Holy King’s mouth, and the nobles became even more noisy.

「Your Majesty! Please stop! Louis, get down now! That’s an order!」the head of House Rozier shouted in a sad voice.

「Eh, Your Majesty. That is unreasonable.」El came up to the Holy King’s side.

(What is going on? Just what does an 8-star skill orb mean?)

Ethan found his father in the noble’s seating, but he just kept silent with a stern look. Apparently his father doesn’t know anything, either—no, to be precise, only the head of House Rozier knew something.

「I’m serious, El. House Rozier is a duke family. It’s also a descendant house of the Holy Royal Family.」

「Eh, Your Majesty, what is transmitted from ancient times is that “Grant the 8-star skill orb to the one who holds the《Holy King Color》and is《pure》.”」

「If you look at the bloodline, the Duke’s family is a fine descendant of the Holy Royal Family.」

「Eh, that is just sophistry.」

「Silence! This isn’t what I said, it’s what House Rozier said!」

「N-No! Louis has misunderstood– Louis! Apologize now!」

「—I accept. If I can control this 8-star skill orb, it will be the first step to changing the way things are.」

「LOUISSSSS!」

Ignoring his father’s cry, Louis looked straight at the Holy King.

(It’s abnormal. Louis is also acting strange, and His Majesty is also strange. What is going on?)

Ethan noticed that the eyes of the Holy King were not the usual dignified ones—they were the eyes of someone who was cornered, finding a faint gleam of hope.

The only person who didn’t know what was happening at all was Kluvshrat. He just stood with a blank look, and on the contrary, seemed like a normal person.

「Bring out the skill orb, El !!」

「Your Majesty..」

「El !!」

The rabbit high priest went silent for a moment.「..Prepare the skill orb.」he said to the priest, furrowing his brows. And he went down the stone stairs, intending to carry it himself.

「Oh, Louis.. stupid son..」

The head of House Rozier collapsed to the floor, covering his face with both hands.

「Just what’s going on here?」

「Was the 8-star skill orb part of the Holy Royal Family in the past?」

The noble started whispering as such amongst each other. On the other hand, Louis, the person who caused this problem, stood proudly.

El returned before long, carrying a tray covered with a holy yellow cloth.

「Wha–」Ethan was at a loss for words.

The skill orb was more than twice as big compared to any he has seen so far.

Originally, a skill orb is about the size of a ping-pong ball, but what El brought out was about the size of a baseball.

Furthermore, the colour — there was no doubt that it is a “unique characteristic” because it contained rainbow colors. However, there were many black swirling dots in the center, and the emitted light rapidly changed from red to blue to yellow.

(..I’ve never seen such a terrifying skill orb before.)

Ethan trembled. And he wasn’t the only one, the noble children nearby were also pale as a sheet.

The skill orb was too far to see its name.

「Louis Rozier, come here.」

「Yes!」

Louis started walking with a calm look.

「Louis!」

「Let go.」

Ethan grabbed his arm again, but Louis shook it off. Not only that, Louis didn’t even look at Ethan at all—as if Ethan didn’t even matter.

(Weren’t we friends?)

The distance between them as Louis walked away, seemed to symbolize the distance of their friendship.

Louis left the group and approached the Holy King. He climbed up the stairs. No one could stop him anymore.

「..You say you have the resolve and aptitude?」

There it is again, Ethan thought. The Holy King used the word “aptitude” again. There is no need for aptitude because using a skill orb is forcibly learning a skill. Of course, it doesn’t make sense to give a magic skill to someone who has little mana—but that doesn’t mean they can’t learn it.

「I do.」Louis replied, with no hesitation.

「Then I shall grant you the skill orb【???★★★★★★★★】.」

Although Ethan heard the name of the skill orb, it didn’t remain in his memory. Only that the name sounded ominous and disturbing. Everyone in that place experienced the same.

Louis reached out and picked up the skill orb. He raised the skill orb to the sky—to take into his body.

And then, the world was wrapped in darkness.