Chapter 58: Townsperson A Receives Another Summons

We departed on Vuitol early that afternoon. I cherished the flight to the Royal Capital, pressed close to Ana the entire way. It was the last bit of time we had to forget our social standing, and we took in the view from the sky as if trying to etch the memory into our souls.

By the way, just before we left, Ana received an accessory called a Fairy Hairpin as a gift from the Elf Queen. With that, Ana should be able to navigate the Forest of Bewilderment on her own.

Though she probably won't ever have a reason to.

In the original game, that was an item Amy was supposed to obtain, but I didn't see it as a problem. Since there were no monsters to fight, the Elven Village likely wouldn't have welcomed Amy’s group anyway. Even if they did wander into the Forest of Bewilderment, the Crown Prince and his entourage would probably just end up getting themselves lost as a group.

Wait. Wouldn't that actually solve a whole lot of problems in one go?

Well, whatever.

Let’s see. Oh, right. Regarding that pervert—perhaps because Ana could finally see their true form, they had been playing nice the whole time. However, when they whispered in my ear at the moment of parting, "Did you get everything out of your system, meow?" I nearly shouted right then and there. I barely managed to keep it together.

A pervert is a pervert, no matter how you slice it. I was grateful for the help, but still...

Furthermore, since the Holy Blessing that was meant for Amy in the game had been granted to Ana instead, the route for Amy to become the Saint should be completely closed off. Without the title of Saint, she was just the daughter of a Baron. In a world where monogamy was the standard, I figured it was now impossible for her to reach a "Reverse Harem" ending.

To be blunt, Amy was checkmated. I doubted I was the only one who saw it that way.

The day after I delivered Ana back to the Ducal Mansion, I received the expected summons from the Duke.

"Now then, Allen. You understand why you’ve been called here, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Then explain yourself. What is that ring? Why is my daughter wearing a ring like that on her left ring finger?"

"It’s a gift from me," I replied.

The moment the words left my mouth, the Duke’s face twisted into a mask of pure rage.

"You absolute fool! Have you forgotten that I acted as your patron during that duel scandal? That I shielded you from the Royal Family!?"

His reaction was well within the parameters of my simulations.

"Was that not a mutual arrangement? Or would you have preferred Lady Anastasia to be defeated by such atrocious means, leaving the honor of the Ducal House tarnished?"

"Silence! You are a commoner! My daughter is a noble—the daughter of House Ramslett! Her station is not to be compared to the daughters of petty lords!"

"I am aware. That is exactly why I gave her that ring."

For a moment, the Duke looked as if he’d been struck. He stared at me blankly before flying into a renewed rage.

Good. This is exactly how one of my many predicted scenarios plays out.

"Don't talk nonsense! A daughter of a Ducal House wearing a ring from a commoner? And on her left ring finger, no less!"

Still according to plan. Time to cool him down.

"Duke Ramslett, that is no ordinary piece of jewelry. It is an Epic-grade accessory known as the Ring of Substitution. It is a legendary item that acts as a decoy to save the wearer’s life exactly once if they are ever killed. I cannot be by Lady Anastasia’s side to protect her at all times. Therefore, I gave her that ring as proof of my devotion."

"What? An Epic-grade!? How on earth did you get your hands on something like that?"

Upon hearing that the ring was an Epic-grade treasure—the kind of thing a King should be wearing—the Duke’s focus shifted.

Predicted pattern confirmed. This is going well.

"I am an adventurer, after all. I delved into the famous Wind Mountain Labyrinth and found it myself."

"What!? The Wind Mountain Labyrinth? That's a top-tier difficulty labyrinth! It’s only been conquered up to the eighth floor!"

"I recovered it from a hidden room on the twenty-eighth floor, within the floating island gimmick section."

"The twenty-eighth floor!?"

"Yes. The Wind Mountain Labyrinth consists of thirty floors in total. The boss of the final floor was a Blizzard Phoenix."

"A Blizzard Phoenix!? Are you claiming you actually defeated one!?"

"I am. As I mentioned to you once before, I am the one who succeeded in its solo subjugation."

"What? No... that’s impossible..."

The Duke seemed completely overwhelmed by my claims, yet he still looked as though he couldn't quite bring himself to believe me.

To settle the matter, I reached into my bag and pulled out the Blizzard Phoenix’s Magic Stone, its tail feathers, and its primary wing feathers. I held them out to him.

"This is...?"

"The proof. These are the Magic Stone and feathers of the Blizzard Phoenix. I can obtain more of them whenever I wish, so please, accept these as a gift."

The Duke fell silent for a long time.

After a grueling, heavy silence, he finally spoke.

"What is it you want?"

"A chance to earn enough military merit to be granted a peerage. And if I achieve sufficient results, I want the right to stand by Lady Anastasia’s side—the right to spend the rest of my life protecting her."

The Duke knit his brows, another long silence following. Finally, he spat out his answer.

"Three years. I will wait that long. But I will not permit this relationship to progress a step further until then."

"Understood. You have my gratitude."

I bowed my head. The Duke fixed me with a sharp, piercing glare and added, his tone harsh:

"Be prepared. I’m going to send you to a battlefield so grueling you’ll wish you were dead."

"...I wouldn't have it any other way. If I have to, I’ll storm the enemy’s headquarters all by myself."

"Fine. We shall see."

Having made my declaration, I turned and left the Ducal Mansion.