Chapter 66

Chapter 66 – The Right Posture (1)

“I would like to see it just once.”

Even though I was called the hero thanks to the achievements accumulated by history and ancestors, in fact, I could be seen as a legacy of the past with a bit of special power.

It was quite possible that this situation would be helpful, so perhaps I should say I welcomed it.

“However, it will take some time for the hero to play his role. I heard he’s just a 15-year-old peasant boy who may not even know he carries the bloodline of heroes.”

“That’s too much, isn’t it?”

Leber poured cold water on this. I clicked my tongue in disbelief at the notion that someone called a hero was not a reliable ally and didn’t even know the first thing about fighting. Proper training and activity would take at least several years.

“Iriliana, it seems the time is up.”

We could no longer waste time on the street like this. At Arisa’s words, I donned my hood once more and gestured for Leber to hurry along.

From this moment on, we were partners. It wasn’t difficult, just as I had done with Ethan, Renia, and the elves.

“You will move with me from now on. Everything is for this world, so just do as you have been doing. First, let’s correct the internal order of the church.”

“Understood. Let’s give it a try. You don’t have to worry about my assistant; he is one of my most loyal companions since childhood.”

Nodding, Leber got into the carriage and departed. That concluded the secret meeting of the night.

Aside from revealing myself, almost everything had gone as we had planned.

“If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better to just step out into the world?”

Patrick let out a wry laugh as he looked at me. It seemed he couldn’t understand why I was so intent on staying hidden.

Surely, if I revealed my identity to the world and began to act officially, it would come with many advantages.

“I’m not playing some behind-the-scenes game. This way is much easier and quicker. The fact that Leber joined hands with me is because I moved in the shadows; if he were to ally with a force known to everyone in the open, he wouldn’t have been able to.”

I emphasized that there were no choices. I still disliked being bothered, but I was trying to endure even greater annoyances.

“Everyone go back to the accommodations and rest. Arisa will return to Eluria at dawn. I’ll deliver the items to Leber.”

The remaining task was to hand over the promised cash to Leber. To avoid the enemies’ surveillance networks lurking near my home, the power of the spirits was necessary.

“It seems the opposing forces are definitely trying to take Leber’s faction down. They seem to think that as long as they securely guard a few parts, they can invest heavily without worry.”

“What happened then?”

“I delivered everything without any issues.”

Having moved since early morning, I returned to the meeting place in late afternoon. Using the power of the spirits, I had evaded the enemies’ surveillance and magic, and discreetly provided Leber with the funds.

It was up to Leber and his companions to use that to resolve the factional conflict and turn the tables to become the victors of the fight.

I didn’t think they would lose since I had filled in the most vulnerable and necessary parts properly.

“I think I might go back for a bit.”

Afterward, before any news came from the church, I returned to Eluria to observe the first diplomatic actions of the elves.

The delegation centered around Eluria successfully obtained nearly everything it desired from the Elf Council. The efforts to engrave the image of the elves in the minds of the world also proved to be successful.

“It seems that the past week was more enriching in terms of what I’ve seen and heard than the hundred years I spent before meeting you, Iriliana.”

Eluria lamented this sentiment to me. It seemed that my intention had allowed her to step into the outer world, and her eyes now held too much.

“The reason is erosion, but there’s no rule that you have to focus solely on that. If you just ponder and act a little more for improvement, why would you be unable to accomplish anything?”

I had no idea about the future either. I could not predict how the elves beginning to interact with the outside world would change.

“Iriliana, take a look at this newspaper. It’s about erosion.”

Rina handed me the paper, signaling that it was about time for news from the church to arrive. I spotted a familiar face in the illustration within the newspaper.

Fluffy fox tails and perked-up fox ears—none other than Renia.

Her achievements in presenting her research findings about erosion had reached this point.

“By now, almost everyone must have recognized the severity, so we need to prepare countermeasures.”

What erosion is and whether it truly exists might still be full of questions for the people of the world, but thanks to efforts like Renia’s, much of it had already been revealed.

If the problem was recognized, the response would be quick.

“An banquet?”

“They directly invited us from the royal palace. I thought it would be discourteous not to attend.”

Since arriving here to speak with the king, who is the ultimate decision-maker of the nation and the strongest noble, Eluria had to remain busy.

There were not just rigid occasions. Events called banquets or parties were held, and those lacking positions saw opportunities to work even there.

“That will definitely bring up many issues that can’t be said openly.”

It would be foolish to think that powerful figures gathered just to eat and drink at a party. It was certainly an extension of politics, and an opportunity to gauge the thoughts of those powerful figures.

While we had achieved all that needed to be achieved, simply being satisfied there would be a loss for the elves. Eluria knew this as well, so she intended to take advantage of this opportunity to be as active as possible.

“Do you have any thoughts about attending?”

“Why would I go there? Go have fun with Arisa.”

Eluria assumed I was interested, but I was quite the opposite. I was busy handling affairs right before my eyes and had no leisure to focus elsewhere.

It would be impossible to show my face confidently, and I despised crowded places.

“We have indeed been trapped in a narrow place for too long.”

“It’s good that you realized it, even now.”

A wind of change began to blow among the elves. Beginning with Eluria, chosen as the representative to step into the world directly, even the stiff elders would eventually change.

Whether the end of that change would be good or bad was something I honestly couldn’t guarantee. In the end, it was a matter of trusting them.

“–, —?”

“Yes?”

However, while I was leisurely resting in the accommodations for the first time in a while, the wind spirit returned with unexpected news.

It was something I had never thought of.

“What is it about?”

Rina, who was accustomed to conversing with spirits, asked casually. I had no intention of hiding it and simply replied as though it slipped out.

“It seems some forces with ill intentions are targeting Eluria and her company. I need to check whether it’s merely gossip or something serious.”

“What?!”

Of course, what I said was something that could not be easily brushed aside.

*

“Hey, it’s orders from above.”

“Lately, there have been many issues. Why is that? Isn’t the organization’s operation stable?”

“The rookie captain is quite proactive, and other captains support him. We can’t help it. We have to follow orders.”

In a shadowy alley of the capital of the kingdom, two people engaged in a brief conversation. Both were informants connected to the organization.

They had also received an urgent directive from Ethan regarding one task.

“Frank Medis. He’s from the Medis family. He’s quite famous; is there something to investigate?”

The informant raised an eyebrow, having confirmed the identity of the target they were instructed to investigate. After all, he was already far too renowned, so there wasn’t much to investigate.

“Don’t you know? They want something more discreet.”

However, what the organization desired was not noble and simple information that was visible to the world. It was a rather dangerous mission to uncover what the prominent figure needed to keep hidden—perhaps dishonorable.

“They know there are those willing to risk their lives to take care of this task for them.”

“In that case, fine. Have them find out what they can.”

“Does that rookie captain expect money to pour out of a cornucopia? How on earth…”

He was astonished by Ethan’s level of activity. Because they worked as a kind of collaborator, large sums were spent each time they operated.

Ethan was reaching out to the underground forces of the entire continent, which spread like a network, bearing all those costs.

“Is there no more to offer?!”

Of course, they were unaware that even at this moment, one of the mythical era’s relics disposed of by Ethan was being sold at a high price in an underground auction.