Volume 19 Chapter 3 Discussion With Naresh Part 1️⃣
Regarding the entry procedures for the Kingdom of Messina, Lord Duran had said that it would not be completed in a day, and as he predicted, by the next day noon, the entry permit for the Sylvester Kingdom diplomatic delegation to the Kingdom of Messina had still not been issued.
In the atmosphere where the delegation felt relaxed as it seemed unlikely they would depart today, Gustave, Al, and Orville were on guard duty in front of Serena's tent.
'Hey, is there any chance I could go look for a place that sells spellbooks in Orion's town?'
'No way. You're the only one who can be wary of magic.'
'That's true, but...'
In silence, Al and Gustave consulted using the 'Telepathy' spell.
'Either way, isn't it impossible? I can't stay awake forever... Oh! How about consulting with Sir Naresh to ensure we can coordinate effectively with Lord Zora?'
In reality, since Glee doesn't need to sleep, it is possible to continue monitoring even while resting, and they had managed this way up until now. However, since Lord Zora likely brought a few disciples, from an outward perspective, it would be more natural to collaborate and secure the area together.
In fact, the tents were not even 20 meters apart, so it should not be impossible.
Moreover, considering the possibility of something happening, it is also important to establish a cooperative system beforehand.
Thinking of various excuses like that, they stated what they could.
'I understand. It would be rude to suddenly apply for 'Telepathy' to Lord Zora after something has happened. I will explain the situation to Lady Audrey and get the approval of everyone now.'
'Please!'
'It's just about staying vigilant and cooperating in case of emergency. I'm not allowing you to go to Orion's town.'
Al was happy at first, but Gustave immediately reminded him.
Although there was a slight age difference, they were still brothers.
'Uh, I get it. But that's also important somewhere... right? Collecting useful spellbooks is also very important for a magician.'
Gustave silently stared at Al.
'Please.'
'It will only be when I determine that it's safe. First, I need to talk to Lady Audrey about the negotiations with Baron Sennett, whom you call Naresh.'
Gustave turned away from Al and faced the entrance of the tent.
That's right.
He reaffirmed that in formal settings, it was better to refer to Naresh as Baron Sennett.
"This is Gustave. Excuse me. Lady Audrey, I have something I would like to discuss."
* * *
Al, because of his position as Serena's guard knight, left Gustave behind, who said he couldn't stray too far, and went alone to the tent where Naresh was.
"Excuse me. I am Alfred, Lord Gustave's attendant. I have brought a letter from Lady Serena and Lord Gustave to Baron Sennett. It must be delivered personally."
At the entrance of Naresh's tent stood a squire known to Al, Lord Radyard.
He gestured for Al to enter, indicating that it was alright.
Al went inside as he was.
The tent was spacious, with a table inside, and it seemed that Naresh, Lord Radyard, and Lord Zora were seated, discussing something.
In the corner of the tent near Lord Zora, 2 attendants dressed similarly to him were sitting.
Craig (Naresh's servant) was also in another corner of the tent, appearing to be organizing some belongings.
"Welcome, Al. You're late. I thought you might come last night... Lord Zora has been looking forward to your arrival for a long time."
"Thank you...umm, is it okay to speak in a normal tone?"
Al was confused by Naresh's words, and while checking Lord Radyard's expression, he asked back.
"Lord Zora is a member of the family. I've brought along some trustworthy retainers, so you'll be fine. However, I don't know who's out there, so please speak in the same way you did at the entrance."
With Lord Radyard's permission, Al took a seat that Craig had recommended.
"Thanks. There's a lot to discuss, but first, I'll hand over the letters from Lady Serena and Gustave. Gustave is my eldest brother, and eventually, he's supposed to take over the position of the knight known as Lord Channing from my father. The content of the letters is somewhat embellished, but ultimately, it boils down to the fact that I can't stay alert all day and night on my own, and it's difficult to respond in emergencies, so I'm wondering if we can work together to keep watch around us."
"Did he have that written for you, Lord Al?"
Lord Zora inquired.
Al paused for a moment to think, but upon being asked, nodded in agreement; it was indeed true.
Seeing that, Lord Zora smiled slightly.
"I adjusted the discussion to ensure that Lady Serena and Lady Audrey are not overly aware of Lord Al's powers, and it seems that was indeed the right call. In reality, it's dubious whether Lord Al truly needs our cooperation, as it appears you can keep watch at night in ways I'm unaware of..."
With that said, Lord Zora paused for a moment before continuing his words.
"For now, I understand. I have already heard from Sir Naresh that the magic unit of the Margrave Lester's knight order possesses only regretful strength, and I had prepared for us to take on the duty of protecting Lady Serena. As long as you remain close to Sir Naresh, like at the current campsite, it shouldn't be a problem."
"Thank you. Hearing that puts my mind at ease. If anything happens, please send me 'Telepathy'. If necessary from my side, I will also use 'Telepathy', or if the message is far or complex, I will send a letter through the Send Mailbox spell."
Lord Zora seemed a bit surprised by Al's answer.
"Oh, so you can use the Send Mailbox spell. That's quite convenient. I thought that was a spell only specialized professionals in the trading guild or church could learn. The spellbook shouldn't be in circulation, right? How far does it reach?"
"At least within the Margrave Lester territory, it seems there aren't enough specialists, and it's being recommended as a temporary job for magicians. As for the range, I think it's still about 30 kilometers. If you need the spellbook, I can pass it on to you once we get back."
The information exchange with Baron Zora seemed quite beneficial.
Naresh, while smiling wryly at Al's eagerness to hear more, raised his hand lightly to calm him down.
"Al, before that, what's the movement of the magician from the Marquis Prentis family? You reported that to Lady Serena yesterday, right?"
"Ah, yeah, that's right. About that matter... I'll share what I know..."
* * *
With that said, Al explained how a man, likely a magician from the Marquis Prentis family, was feeding and increasing the number of Barbarians in a settlement that included orcs along the Milton-Outis town road, as well as in the Sipree mountains and near the Channing Village iron mine.
"So they were trying to weaken the Margrave Rain family's power by using the Barbarians. Could it be that we encountered a powerful group of Barbarians in the pioneering village before?"
"That's possible. If we had lost that battle, the Barbarians would have increased in numbers even more. Even the frontier city of Lester might have been in danger."
Lord Radyard agrees with Naresh's words.
This story largely matches the information Al got from his assistant device, which he named Tess.
"That's right. It's unacceptable to use barbarians without considering the people who live there. Listening to such things makes one feel grateful that Margrave Lester's aide has shifted from neutrality to actively participating."
According to Naresh, this time the head of the diplomatic mission, Prince Theodore, is the second prince of the Sylvester Kingdom, and also the captain of the kingdom's second knight order. He had a strong interest in the internal conflict of the Tempest Kingdom from the start and was very eager to accept the invitation for an alliance from the Marquis Tagard family.
Although the kingdom's leadership was initially reluctant, they were positively inclined towards intervention. Naresh had also been appointed Baron Sennett due to the prince's strong intentions.
However, Margrave Lester's leadership had been opposed to participation for quite some time, resulting in a prolonged state of indecision.
About a month ago, though, they suddenly changed their stance to actively participate, leading to the dispatch of this diplomatic mission.
"I wonder if something happened that caused this sudden change?"
Naresh shook his head in response to Al's question.
"Viscount Parker said he didn't know. It might be related to the fact that Viscount Eugene, who was in the position of Secretary of State, has become the captain of the knight order."
Naresh's reply made Al tilt his head in confusion.
He had no real understanding of the power struggles among the nobility.
"By the way, why was the purpose of this mission kept secret from Guildmaster Levy and the others?"
"Information about war has a big effect on prices. No matter how much support we receive, I can't leak information about the start of a war to the Levy merchant guild. Also, by the way, war hasn't been decided yet. Prince Theodore and Lady Serena will make the final decision on whether there is a chance of victory after looking at the military strength of the Marquis Tagard family. Without a proper military strength, there can be no alliance. That goes without saying."
Al nodded, thinking that was the case.
"By the way, Al, check this out"
Naresh said this and presented his palm.
"Huh? What?"
Al stared intently at his hand.
'Light'
As Naresh chanted, a softly glowing white orb floated above his palm.
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