Chapter 102 - If You Can't Avoid It, Use It

Claudio Renart Abellon, the First Imperial Prince of the Abellon Empire, was spending his mundane days when he suddenly felt his consciousness separating from the material world.

From a certain point, it was a dreamlike sensation of being in a dream.

"Hmm."

The Prince, unfazed by the sensation, calmly looked at his hand, clenching and unclenching it.

Such a calm reaction was entirely natural for the Prince, as this was not the first time he had experienced this phenomenon.

The Prince slowly turned his head and surveyed his surroundings. And there, was a world shining in pure white, which he never got used to, no matter how many times he saw it.

'The feeling of standing on clouds, and... a beautiful landscape that felt as if it would blind me.'

It was a scene reminiscent of heaven depicted in religions, its very archetype.

Although he had been here more than once or twice, Claudio couldn't help but be surprised by himself, feeling beauty in this landscape.

It must have been an appreciation bordering on admiration, that he, who lived in ennui, could feel such emotions.

'Does this mean 'The One' has something to tell us?'

Claudio thought, calmly observing the surrounding scenery.

Yes, as Claudio said, this was how 'The One,' the master of Ad Astra, summoned a meeting.

The only way to gather the members of Ad Astra, who were almost impossible to assemble in one place due to various reasons like social status, physical location, and scrutiny.

It was one of 'The One's' powers, which ignored the laws of the material world and transcended causality.

This was possible because it involved contacting the minds of those who shared blood, rather than directly interfering with the material world itself.

After a short while, the Crown Prince felt his hazy and faint perception becoming clearer.

And he also became aware that he was sitting somewhere.

A pavilion in the style of a traditional gazebo and a table set upon it slowly entered his perception.

And then, a voice reached the Crown Prince.

"Is that the Crown Prince?"

A deep, resonant male voice, echoing like a cave in his throat.

When Claudio slowly turned his head, he saw a middle-aged man with disheveled brown hair sitting at the table.

"Ah, Grændal."

Grændal, the former top-tier Master Knight with the infamous title of Knight Executioner.

The Crown Prince smiled genially and called his name. As fellow First Astros, they naturally knew each other.

"I told you to drop the 'Sir,' I feel like we repeat this every time we meet."

"Ah, my apologies."

After that brief exchange between Claudio and Grændal, a booming voice was heard from another part of the table.

"Hahaha! It's been a while since 'The One' commanded a meeting!"

Salvatio, a man in full armor with his arms crossed, spoke with a hearty voice.

"Well... there were various unforeseen circumstances."

Claudio dismissed it with an appropriate remark, but it wasn't difficult to guess the general topic.

Many upheavals had occurred recently.

But Claudio did not explicitly voice it.

Speaking prematurely about what would be discussed shortly was merely inefficient.

"Well, wouldn't it be about the child who turned that slippery eel, 'Dismantler' Gabriel, into a permanent guest of the underworld?"

The woman known as 'The Queen,' always wearing a jet-black veil and a dress of the same color, added a remark in an antique tone.

She was, as always, seated closest to the head of the table.

"...I merely await 'The One's' words."

"..."

Finally, a man dressed in the attire of a border tribe, Akmandar, threw out a remark and fell silent again.

And a young girl with navy blue bobbed hair, Stella, who unlike her usual cheerful self, kept her mouth tightly shut.

Claudio confirmed that all First Astros were gathered there.

However, there was one difference from previous gatherings...

"Hahaha! Duke! This situation must be quite awkward for you!"

As Salvatio's remark suggested, there was one individual present who was not a First Astro.

It was Mateus el Enlight, the head of the House of Qualification, one of The Three Founding Families that had existed since the Empire's inception.

***

However, Mateus did not respond to Salvatio's words.

"..."

He merely glanced at Salvatio with an indifferent eye, then returned his gaze forward.

This was not solely out of an intention to ignore Salvatio.

It would be a lie to say there was no such intention at all, but it was primarily because a being deserving of respect and reverence had appeared.

"...You have finally arrived, our 'One.'"

The woman called 'The Queen,' her veil lowered, murmured, and indeed, as she spoke... a single ray of light descended upon the head seat.

And what emerged from that ray of light was.

"It's good to see everyone at peace."

A boy-like figure, entirely composed of pure white, but with eyes that shone with brilliant gold.

At the boy's appearance, no one failed to bow their head.

The authority of those present here was irrelevant.

That authority was a God-given, inherent right bestowed by the divine at creation.

Therefore, before God, such authority was merely a trivial and cumbersome title.

"Shall we begin?"

The voice of the boy, shining in white, was simply calm and composed, but it held something that resonated in people's hearts.

A being who inspired awe simply by his voice and presence.

Everyone present must have reconfirmed that fact. Except for one.

"'One,' for what reason have you gathered us here?"

Breaking the silence, surprisingly, was Akmandar, the most taciturn man in the attire of a foreign border tribe.

And to Akmandar's question, 'The One' responded.

"Ah, a variable has appeared in the fundamental flow of this world, you see."

A variable.

Though the noun implied a somewhat ambiguous meaning, everyone present knew what that variable referred to.

"You mean that young lad, Rain Enlight."

The Knight Executioner, Grændal, said in a low voice.

"Exactly. Gabriel's defection shouldn't have happened at this point... something foreign has appeared in the fundamental flow."

'The One' affirmed, then continued.

"...That poor child, falling without even unfolding his own world."

Could that be called a story? It was closer to a murmur imbued with self-sorrow.

Now, everyone's gaze was no longer directed at 'The One.'

Everyone's gaze was fixed on a single spot, and the subject of that gaze was... Mateus el Enlight.

The head of the House of Qualification, one of The Three Founding Families from the beginning of time.

And, Rain Enlight's biological father.

It was enough to draw their gazes.

"Hmm, Mateus, it seems like it's time for you to speak. An excuse is fine, and a confession is fine too."

At the Crown Prince's gentle words, Mateus, who had maintained silence until now, slowly raised his head.

"There are no excuses or confessions. I am merely faithfully upholding the great covenant of 'The One.'"

And he spoke calmly.

"But, isn't it an undeniable fact that your child has emerged as a variable?"

Even at Claudio's remark, which hid a sharp sword beneath a smiling face, Mateus' expression remained unmoved.

"If I harbored impure malice, I would not have offered my legitimate son and daughter to His Royal Highness' plan, would I?"

"Is there any meaning between people who have lost their human hearts?"

"They are clearly useful pawns."

And then, a voice cut through the arguments.

"Hmm! The important thing now isn't responsibility. What's truly important is how we should respond to that variable!"

It was the hearty voice of the man in full armor, Salvatio.

"A response, indeed. While his personal strength was negligible when I faced him... seeing how he dealt with Gabriel, he must be harboring some immense power."

As if in agreement, Grændal calmly recounted his impressions from encountering Rain Enlight.

"Anything to add, kid?"

When Grændal directed his gaze towards Stella, Stella replied with an expressionless face.

"...It felt bad, you know?"

"Felt bad?"

"Acting as if he knew everything in this world... it was disgustingly unpleasant."

"Hmm..."

At Stella's words, Claudio clasped his hands and pondered for a moment, muttering.

"Even if Gabriel's matter was a coincidence, that he could interfere with Miss Stella's actions... Hmm. Should that also be considered a coincidence?"

"Does that mean the brat is reading our intentions?"

To Akmandar's question, Claudio shrugged.

"For now... there's a 50/50 chance."

Either coincidence or inevitability.

"Well, to determine that possibility, I have prepared a move."

"Hmph."

As Claudio spoke, the boy at the head of the table—'The One'—wore an expression that seemed intrigued, or perhaps even fond.

"It's about the artifact matter from before. It seems my sister, through some means, followed me."

"Oh ho, Imperial Princess Regina! She's grown quite a bit!"

At Salvatio's words, Claudio let out a small laugh and continued.

"She will probably... follow to the Railroad Mysterium. My sister would certainly do so. It's both the best option for her and a critical blow to me."

Claudio also knew that Regina had planted an unidentifiable informant within the Crown Prince's Faction.

He simply hadn't done anything about it because truly weeding them out would require considerable effort.

No one flips over an entire anthill just because one ant is annoying, do they?

However, the Crown Prince did not allow the situation to be used against him in a purely negative way.

If you can't avoid it, use it.

Regina and Rain Enlight would come to the Railroad Mysterium.

Therefore, he would greet them with a conspiracy at the Railroad Mysterium.

That was the Crown Prince's way.

"If Rain Enlight is determined to be a 'variable' in the true flow through this incident... then it won't be too late to act decisively."

And at his words, 'The One' nodded with a benevolent smile.

"Indeed, that is correct."

Followed by the innocent boy's remark.

That single remark contained the intention to respect the 'world' the Crown Prince aimed for.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.