Chapter 50. The Supre Deity Order's Temple in Marcellent
As expected, it was a familiar pattern.
"……I know I cannot erase all the irreverent things I have done to Your Highness, but would you not give a chance?"
Radel was no longer surprised.
He let Edward's long confession go in one ear and out the other.
He decided to think that all of this was happening because his Affinity had surpassed 50.
He hoped it would end on a good note like that, but…… Edward was extrely serious.
"My family, the Paradik earldom, has a considerable standing in high society. I wish to be of help to Your Highness in the future."
In other words, he wanted to repay his debt to Radel from now on.
When the word 'family' ca out of Edward's mouth, Radel sensed that things were getting serious.
"Do you know what you're saying?"
At what sounded like an official declaration of support, Radel's expression hardened.
Edward alone was one thing, but if his family behind him also supported Radel, things would get too big.
"I do. I am saying this after giving it a great deal of thought."
Edward's expression was extrely serious.
"Please use . I know that Your Highness's standing in the Empire is narrow. If you use , you will be able to live more comfortably than you do now."
Comfortably?
Radel steeled his wavering heart.
Accepting Edward's offer could be like adding more trouble while trying to live comfortably.
Suddenly, Inette and Leon's followers ca to Radel's mind.
'First, let's see the status window.'
Na: Edward Paradik
Age: 17
Title: Imperial Magic Academy Freshman, Heir to the Paradik Earldom
Stats: Health 28, Magic Power 33, Strength 22, Agility 24, Intelligence 35
Overall Ability: B-
Skills: General Magic (B), Summoning Magic (B), Transformation Magic (C), Grace of a High Noble (C)
Traits: Social Butterfly of High Society (S), Friend of a Friend (A)
Affinity: 50
Radel was a little surprised after opening Edward's status window.
It was because his traits were better than he thought.
[Social Butterfly of High Society (S)]
The stories told through his mouth are persuasive.
Everyone in high society wants to talk to him.
What kind of trait is this?
Edward had said earlier that his family had a considerable standing in high society, and if he had a trait like this, it was only natural.
No wonder Edward had so many friends at the academy.
Radel had never been to high society, and he was also ignorant of the political situation of the nobles.
It seed Edward would definitely be helpful in that regard.
On top of that, hadn't he recently realized the power of rumors?
Radel's dilemma deepened.
* * *
Radel told Edward he would think about it and sent him away.
'Did you hear anything when the queen spider was dying?'
'I did not hear anything.'
He had asked just in case before Edward left, but Edward said he hadn't heard anything.
In that case, there was a possibility that it was only audible to the one who had killed the boss.
High-level monsters in dungeons had high intelligence, so sotis it was possible to communicate with them.
Monsters that could speak human language communicated with words, and those that couldn't sotis conveyed their will through thoughts.
If the queen spider had a high level of consciousness, it might have left a thought just before it died.
'I don't know what "master" ans…… but it's unlikely it would have called master.'
It seed there was so secret in the academy.
It was just as Radel was thinking that he should find out more about the academy.
Knock, knock.
Soone knocked on the door of Radel's treatnt room.
"Yes, co in."
This ti, the visitors were Gusto and Inette.
Seeing that Radel looked healthier than they thought, the two seed relieved.
"What, you're more okay than I thought!"
"I'm glad you're healthy."
Gusto, who had seen Radel's serious condition up close, was especially relieved.
Just by looking, the internal damage was severe, and the bleeding was so bad that it wouldn't have been strange if he had gone into shock at any mont.
Recovering this quickly was nothing short of a miracle.
Gusto voiced the possibility he had been guessing all along.
"Could it be that Your Highness's Ability is related to recovery?"
"Ah, right. I never told you properly."
It wasn't that he was trying to hide it, but it was true that he hadn't bothered to ntion it until now.
Inette's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"What is it? I was so curious!"
"It's not that great of an ability."
In Radel's opinion, the Troll's Heart was not that great.
The other royal family mbers had omnipotent aspects to their abilities, as if bestowed by God, but this was closer to a legacy of the past, obtained by recalling mories of his past life.
"It's called the Troll's Heart, and it heals any wound."
"What?"
Inette's mouth fell open in surprise.
"That's exactly what you need! Isn't it a good thing since Heal doesn't work on you?"
"That's right, it's an ability that is truly helpful to Your Highness."
"But it hurts like hell when it heals."
"Yikes. That's not so great."
Inette crossed her arms as if she finally understood.
"No wonder. Since you have an ability like that, you were able to save people without sparing your own body."
"Ah, you found out."
"Found you out? A rumor about you has spread all over the academy. That you saved Edward Paradik's life? You've beco a total hero."
This ti, it was Radel's turn to be surprised.
Listening to Inette, it seed that the battle in the dungeon had been exaggerated a bit more than the truth and was being talked about by people.
"The mont the queen spider stabbed with its giant foreleg! Your Highness's noble sacrifice, gallantly blocking Edward's path! Edward couldn't help but burst into tears!"
Radel wiped his face at Inette's words.
'The Social Butterfly of High Society trait is really sothing.'
While he was at it, Radel brought up Edward's story to Inette and Gusto.
Inette laughed as if she found it amusing.
"So you're getting a follower now? Right, you should experience this feeling too if you're a royal."
"Not yet. I said I'd think about it."
"The Paradik earldom, they're a pretty decent family."
They had a standing in high society, were good at business, and had several businesses under their family na.
They had remained neutral for a long ti, but now it seed they were aiming for the central political stage, and Inette's words made Radel even more conflicted.
"Then they shouldn't choose even more. It would be better for them to choose you or Leon."
" and Leon already have a lot of followers, don't we? The other royals are the sa. So they might think you're a better choice."
Even among followers, the competition to get in the good graces of the royal they supported was fierce.
In that respect, Edward had made a pretty smart choice, Inette added.
"He must have seen so potential in you. It's your power that you've captured the heart of a noble of that caliber. It's only natural for him to beco a follower. Did you think you could be born a royal and live without any responsibilities?"
It was Inette, speaking quite like a royal.
Gusto, who had been listening quietly, opened his mouth.
"Isn't it you, Princess, who refuses followers?"
Inette's face turned red.
"This is different from that! I didn't choose them."
Inette ground her teeth as if the thought of her followers was making her furious.
"It would have been better if they had co out like him, saying, 'I want to help you, Princess, from now on.' Since our families are intertwined, I can't do anything about it!"
It seed Inette was also under a lot of stress because of her followers.
"And you may not know this, apprentice holy knight, but I am also fulfilling my duties as a royal."
Although the 3rd Imperial Consort had her influence, Inette said she had also been resolving various large and small incidents in the Empire from behind the scenes.
They were mainly things like diating disputes between territories that the Emperor couldn't pay attention to, or finding the culprit in murder cases.
If she achieved results there, it seed she would get in the Emperor's good graces and her reputation among the nobles would rise.
Of course, her reputation among the commoners would also be good.
"Inette, I'm seeing you in a new light."
"These are things you'll have to do too. You'd better be prepared."
It was Radel, who now had to start doing the things that were natural for the royal family mbers who had manifested their Abilities, one by one.
* * *
Weekend morning.
Radel had almost recovered and was able to go out to Marcellent.
By his side were Gusto and Armandy.
Armandy didn't want to go out, but since there was a condition that the entire team had to go out, he had no choice but to follow along.
'Why is he so perfectly fine?'
Honestly, Armandy had not expected Radel to recover this quickly.
'If I had known the Troll's Heart was this good, I wouldn't have done that then.'
He was embarrassed to think of himself running with a potion, forgetting that he was undercover.
It was a good thing Radel was unconscious then; if he had known the truth, he would have teased him endlessly.
"Let's go to the ingredient shop first."
Radel, with a composed deanor, gathered the byproducts and headed to a shop in Marcellent.
Carrying the preserved Swamp Serpent's tail, scales, and bone fragnts, Radel, who was haggling with the shop owner, shook his head.
"I won't sell at that price."
Radel turned his back firmly.
Haggling was a ga you lost if you lost your montum.
As expected, the surprised shop owner grabbed Radel again.
"You're not an easy one, young friend. Alright, how about this much?"
"……That much is fine. And I'd also like to see so ingredients for a Detoxification Potion."
Armandy clicked his tongue inwardly at the sight of him even checking the market price of the Detoxification Potion ingredients.
On top of that, he even sold the glowing mushrooms at the shop that offered the highest price after visiting several places.
"Everyone, gather around for a mont."
Radel distributed gold coins to Armandy and Gusto.
"You worked hard catching the Swamp Serpent. And this is the money I got from selling the Detoxification Potion ingredients to Inette."
Armandy was bewildered as he received the gold coins Radel handed out.
As the gold coins were placed in his hand, he felt that all his hard work had been worth it.
'Maybe moving with the 8th Prince isn't so bad.'
Armandy found himself following Radel and Gusto as if possessed.
He had originally planned to slip away in the middle, but he had to keep an eye on him anyway…….
And when Armandy ca to his senses, he was in front of the Supre Deity Order's temple in Marcellent.
"The temple in Marcellent is quite big too."
"Yes, it's quite large because a Bishop resides here."
Radel and Gusto were naturally chatting as they entered the temple.
But Armandy's feet wouldn't move because he knew what kind of place this was.
The Supre Deity Order's temple in Marcellent was the headquarters of the Inquisitors. A place where it was rumored that heretics were tortured in the basent every day.
It already felt like he could sll blood, and Armandy shuddered inwardly.
Oblivious to Armandy's inner turmoil, Radel asked nonchalantly.
"Aren't you coming in?"
He really didn't want to go in, but if he said he would stay out here, he would surely look suspicious.
Armandy swore inwardly and moved his reluctant feet.
'You're crazy, Armandy. To be tempted by a few coins and co all this way!'
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