Chapter 196
The journey resumed with Adonis joining the group.
Although the destination was not far, Caron's mind was filled with confusion due to the information Adonis had provided.
The Holy Kingdom was far more corrupt than expected, the newly enthroned Cardinal's suspicious behavior, and the construction of a temple near the castle were just a few of the many pieces of information.
However, what truly baffled Caron was not such information, but rather...
'The Saint is a fake...'
Isabella, the person with the most divine power in history and praised for her compassion matching her beautiful appearance.
Her fame had long spread throughout the continent, beyond the Holy Kingdom and the Empire.
'According to the rat's information, she possessed tremendous divine power and he witnessed a miracle before his eyes...'
This was not second-hand information, but intel directly conveyed by the rat who had disguised himself as a high-ranking nobleman to meet Isabella in person.
Since others showed similar reactions, it was an undeniable fact that Isabella was the newly chosen Saint and the most outstanding among all previous Saints.
'But that Isabella is a fake?'
Caron couldn't help but be confused.
Where did the information go wrong in the first place?
No, did Saints truly exist in the first place?
What if it was an existence created by the Holy Kingdom to justify their actions?
'If all the oracles supposedly delivered by the Goddess were fake, and the Holy Kingdom's authorities issued oracles as they pleased?'
It meant that the continent had been manipulated by mere humans, those with filthy desires.
'How many wars have been fought due to the ambiguous content of the oracles...!'
As his thoughts reached that point, Caron felt nauseous.
"Caron."
"...Yes, Lord Adonis."
"I understand your confusion, but for now, focus on the task at hand."
Adonis was right. Now was not the time to be lost in thought.
The investigation of Kalos and the execution of the Black Mage were the priorities.
"Yes, I understand."
"Oh my, didn't I tell you to focus? Be at ease with me!"
Adonis's appearance was that of a young boy.
If Caron were to use honorifics with such a child, anyone would find it strange.
To prevent such mishaps, Adonis had advised Caron to be comfortable with him and use casual speech.
"...Alright."
"Hmm, that's still not enough. I know, how about thinking of it as an order? That might make it more natural."
"The vanguard looks dangerous. It would be... if you could assist them..."
"...What kind of grammar is that? Rather than the vanguard, it seems you need more help."
Despite several more attempts, it was not easy.
Because Caron clearly remembered the dignity Adonis had shown when he was 'Douglas', the hero of the Empire.
"Aren't you overthinking it? Just treat him comfortably."
Lucia, who had approached at some point, put her arm around Adonis's shoulder.
Seeing this, Caron immediately rebuked her.
"That would be making him uncomfortable!"
"Eh~ I have to do at least this much. Uncle's current behavior is no different from saying, 'This little one is actually Douglas'."
"Urgh..."
Caron had nothing to say.
Acting to hide Adonis's identity.
It was an undeniable fact that Lucia was far better at it than him.
"It doesn't seem like acting, but rather a sincere attitude of treating a child..."
"Eh~ That's just Uncle's misconception. I'm acting splendidly. Right, Adonis?"
"Yes, it's a magnificent act indeed. No, it seems to have been like this since we first met?"
Twitch!
Lucia thought to herself that Adonis was quite perceptive, perhaps because he was an old serpent.
Lucia hurriedly changed the subject.
"But aren't we too late?"
"What do you mean?"
"It seems those behind us already find it suspicious."
As Lucia said, everyone following behind glanced at them from time to time.
Curiosity, doubt, wariness, envy, jealousy.
All accompanied by gazes filled with complex emotions.
"...I made a mistake."
That's right. It was Caron's mistake.
Adonis's youthful appearance, looking even younger than fifteen.
It was surprising enough for such a child to join, but he was having a friendly conversation with the leadership?
It was only natural for them to find it suspicious.
'To think I would make such a mistake...'
It was due to the shocking nature of the first information Adonis had shared.
It was when Caron was racking his brain to come up with a countermeasure.
"Never mind, just leave it be."
"But..."
"Inferring who I am is also a skill, so it doesn't matter. If a fight breaks out, I'll have no choice but to demonstrate my abilities anyway... Above all..."
After examining each member of the subjugation force, Adonis smiled brightly.
"Aren't they the ones who will lead the Empire in the near future?"
That's right. Although over a dozen were missing, they were called the 'Rising Stars of the Empire'.
They would soon be responsible for the core of the Empire.
The information that Adonis was alive would help them rather than have a negative impact.
"The curse might be a problem... but I will die soon anyway, so it won't matter. I'll likely run out of life before the trial even ends."
"That's true. But why did you even come here in the first place? Instead of watching your grandchildren play in the back room."
"..."
Smack!
"Why did you hit me!"
"You deserved to be hit! What kind of way is that to talk to Lord Adonis!"
"You said to be comfortable, so I am!"
"You're being too comfortable!"
"That's no reason to hit me! Uncle should also get hit fairly!"
"No way!"
Thud thud thud thud-!
Ta-da-da-dak-!
Caron and Lucia, the two beasts, began to fight.
Seeing this, Adonis chuckled.
'Caron... I thought you had gotten old, but I was wrong. You can still work for over a dozen more years.'
Caron was just over sixty years old. From Adonis's perspective, he was still young (?).
Adonis shifted his gaze to the back with a satisfied smile.
'It's fine if my identity is exposed... but giving too many hints isn't good either. I should keep some distance from Caron while carrying out activities.'
Suddenly, Lucia's words about going home and watching his grandchildren play came to mind.
'Come to think of it, I haven't even seen the faces of my own children. To think I would receive orders as soon as I set foot on Imperial soil...'
Not only his children but he also wanted to see his grandchildren's antics after a long time.
However, it was impossible until this mission was over.
"Instead of that... I guess I'll have to settle for watching my juniors' antics."
Although it might not compare to the cute antics of his grandchildren, it would be enough to feel a sense of nostalgia for the Empire.
However, Adonis was completely unaware.
The fact that his adorable grandchildren who used to show cute antics.
Had already passed their twenties and were no longer at the age to display such antics.
*
The dust cloud created by Caron and Lucia's clash.
The members of the subjugation force following them fell into serious contemplation.
"Why are they suddenly fighting?"
"Could it be a battle for the position of commander?"
"To pick a fight with Caron... She must have lost her mind."
"Before that, shouldn't we decide which side to take first?"
"I'm with Lady Lucia."
"Me too."
Usually, in situations like this, there would be a joke about 'the winning side being my side'.
However, there was no sign of such remarks.
That's how much they feared Caron.
'No, it's not just Caron we should be wary of. That child should also be watched out for!'
That child. Referring to the young boy with golden hair, Adonis.
The one who feared Adonis was naturally...
'Monster! There's a monster living inside him!'
Kiel, the third son of the Jackfield family.
"Edwin, did you find out who that child is?"
"Hmm... I'm not sure. Based on his golden hair and appearance, he's definitely a nobleman... but I don't know any child like that among the spearmanship families I'm aware of."
Broad but shallow relationships.
If even Edwin, known as the social butterfly of the noble party scene, didn't know, it was safe to say that no one here knew.
That's when Adonis started walking towards them with slow, steady steps.
"He, he's coming this way! Everyone be careful!"
"...Kiel, is that really something to be so terrified of?"
"You, you guys don't find him strange at all?"
"Huh? Well, he is strange."
Suspiciously close to Caron and Lucia. However...
"He's just a child, isn't he?"
Asteon replied nonchalantly.
Kiel felt like screaming.
'That mere child nearly beheaded me! I couldn't even see him draw his spear!'
But he couldn't say that. It would be like admitting defeat to a child.
As Kiel was feeling frustrated to the point of insanity, Adonis arrived in front of them.
"Greetings to you all."
"Huh?"
"I merely greeted you. Is there a problem?"
People furrowed their brows.
Adonis's way of speaking was like that of an old child.
Kiel thought he was being arrogant because of his skills, while the others...
'Cu, cute!'
...found Adonis adorable.
Children from noble families tended to mature relatively early due to the education they received at home, but occasionally there were children like this.
Children who 'pretended to be adults'.
If real adults saw a child pretending to be an adult from their perspective?
It was only natural to find them cute and match their eye level.
Of course, the atmosphere also played a part.
A commander worse than a demon, a grueling march followed by heading to a battlefield where they had to risk their lives.
In such a situation, the appearance of the cute(?) Adonis was like a long-awaited rain in a drought for them.
People immediately bombarded Adonis with questions.
"Which family are you from?"
"It's a secret."
"What brings you here?"
"...I came to provide assistance."
"Eek! He says he came to help! How cute."
The women flocked around Adonis, while the men began a small discussion.
"He's too young. But if they called for him... does he have a special talent?"
"There's a high probability he's a scout type. Exceptional senses?"
"Maybe he's on guard duty. There could be an ambush. Well, he's likely to be with us until we enter Kalos."
Seeing this, Kiel was dumbfounded.
Far from being cautious, they were making misguided judgments and even finding the monster cute?
It was only natural for Kiel to shout.
"Wh, what... are you all doing! Have you gone mad as a group?"
"What's wrong, Kiel? Why are you suddenly like this?"
"That thing has a monster inside, I tell you. Everyone, get away from him. If you don't want to die."
"..."
From Kiel to Adonis, from Adonis to Kiel.
Everyone's gaze went back and forth a couple of times. And then.
"Well... yes. Every man is bound to have a monster inside. But he's still a child, isn't he? It's probably not like that for him yet."
"...Asteon, that's vulgar."
"I'm just stating facts. Look, my body also..."
"Kyaaah! Adonis! Close your eyes!"
Tremble tremble-.
Kiel trembled at the sight of the farce unfolding before his eyes.
"Oh my, is he jealous right now?"
"They say a man's jealousy is ugly. That's spot on."
The women whispered among themselves.
Kiel, who had suddenly become an ugly man. Edwin patted his shoulder.
"Hmm... you went too far with this. Being jealous of a child. Well, I'm always on your side, so don't worry, my friend."
To receive comfort from the mischievous Edwin of all people!
"Ugh, uwaaaaah...!!"
Kiel began to wail.
Fortunately or unfortunately, people's attention was focused on Adonis.
"Want some candy?"
Sylvia, Lucia's friend and academy classmate, offered a candy to Adonis.
As she had a three-year-old child, she carried sweets with her everywhere.
"Hmm... I shall gratefully accept."
Adonis did not refuse. Because.
'It's sweet.'
The curse had changed not only his appearance but also his taste buds.
He had developed the taste buds of a young child.
For him, the temptation of candy was not something he could resist.
"Carrying candy with you... You're quite a wonderful child."
"Eek! So cute."
The women could no longer hold back.
"Look at that soft, supple skin."
"His cheeks stretch so much? The elasticity is incredible."
"Doesn't his hair seem to glow?"
"Which brand do you use? If you tell this pretty big sister, I'll give you a candy."
Squeal! Squeal squeal!
The women went wild every time Adonis spoke.
Adonis, who had come to see the antics of his juniors, ended up being showered with cuteness instead.
--TL Notes--
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at /MattReading
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