Chapter 73
The young lady's Talent Gem presentation ceremony was only two days away, but there still seemed to be no progress whatsoever regarding the attempted poisoning of Kurvshrat-sama.
The nobles who had gathered for the presentation ceremony had, naturally, been forced to remain in the Holy Capital for a full month since the "New Sprout and New Moon Banquet." The Count informed us that there could be no further delay, so the presentation ceremony would be held as scheduled.
Even so,
(—Rain...)
It had started raining the night the young lady promised to give me a Talent Gem. I hoped it would be sunny by the day after tomorrow, when the presentation ceremony was to be held.
The presentation ceremony called for nobles to dress up just as elaborately as—or even more elaborately than—they had for the banquet, though in different attire. Apparently, this was a "noble's duty," so the young lady had been holding discussions about her dress, accessories, and hairstyle since morning with the head maid and several ladies distantly related to the Count.
"We're here. Let's get out."
"Yes."
Meanwhile, I had come to the First Holy District with Maxim-san, captain of the Slyries family's knights, to discuss security for the day of the presentation ceremony. It was my first time entering this area. It was unfortunate that, despite it being noon, thick rain clouds had spread across the sky and left everything dim.
The First Holy District was where the country's central institutions were gathered. The streets were broad, and not a single piece of trash lay on the neatly cut and fitted cobblestones. Rain splashed against the stones, worn down by wheel ruts.
We were headed for the Altar Management Agency's building. It was a three-story structure made of white stone, with a large awning extending over the entrance. After getting out of the carriage, we took our place behind the guards from the various houses who had arrived before us.
(Everyone's fairly old.)
The youngest looked to be in their late twenties, while most were probably over forty. They wore knightly uniforms designed for ease of movement, with swords hanging at their waists. A few carried short rods, so there were mages among them as well.
The variety of genders and Races offered a glimpse of the diversity of the Kurvaan Holy Kingdom.
There were practically no people in their teens like me—though it was hard to say for certain, since some Races had appearances that differed greatly from their ages.
"—Well, well, House Guine too? They aren't among this year's recipients, are they?"
"—Yes, the Holy Prince-sama is attending this year, so I made time for it."
"—It seems there are many noble houses here for that very reason. Thanks to the month's grace period, high-ranking people have come from all over the country. This crowd must be larger than it was in the time of the First Holy Prince-sama."
"—It must be about the banquet..."
"—Don't discuss it so loudly."
"—Indeed... Still, I wonder what kind of Talent Gem Kurvshrat-sama will receive."
The knight captains of the various noble houses were ushered into a large conference room on the first floor of the Altar Management Agency.
The room was spacious enough for a banquet, with more than ten round tables set out inside. Everyone seemed to have seated themselves more or less according to noble rank, and Maxim-san led me to the table where the Count's knights were seated.
(It's the same topic everywhere.)
This year's presentation ceremony had drawn more nobles to the Holy Capital than any in recent memory.
Every noble already knew about the attempted poisoning at the banquet—or rather, it seemed they had all rushed here because not coming to the Holy Capital at this time might make people suspect they had something to hide.
And then there was the matter of the Talent Gem that was supposedly going to be given to Kurvshrat-sama.
(It doesn't seem like any information about a special Talent Gem has circulated. Just as the Count said, only a select few people within the Altar Management Agency know about it.)
According to the information I overheard, the current Holy King apparently received the Talent Gem 【Improvised Performance★★★★】 from the previous Holy King. There was no way the current Holy King actually used this Talent Gem. The presentation ceremony existed solely to demonstrate the Holy King's dignity and the standing of his noble house. Apparently, the previous Holy King had bestowed it upon him with the hope that he would become a Holy King well versed in the arts.
Kurvshrat-sama's older brother, the First Holy Prince, had been given 【Dual-Wield Swordsmanship★★★★】, while his older sister, the First Holy Princess, had received 【Holy Magic★★★★】. Apparently, the Holy King had not become a Holy King well versed in the arts.
The First Holy Princess's 【Holy Magic】 was the tricky one. If it had been 【Human Magic】—which could influence other people's emotions or strengthen one's own mind—it would have signified "one who stands above others." However, 【Holy Magic】 was used to fight undead monsters and purify tainted places—in other words, it was the sort of thing possessed by high-ranking members of the Church.
In other words, everyone believed it was a message from the Holy King telling her she was excluded from the line of succession.
...Though all that was merely secondhand knowledge I'd heard from the Count.
Incidentally, 【Fire Magic】, 【Water Magic】, and the other Eight Paths of Magic belonged to the blue Talent Gem category called "Magic Affinity," while things like 【Holy Magic】, 【Human Magic】, and 【Healing Magic】 belonged to the white Talent Gem category called "Mystic Affinity." Some people grouped them all together under the name "Mystic Magic."
(So nobody knows what the Skill builds of the current Holy King and the Holy Princes are...)
Well, if you were going to become the head of the country, you wouldn't actually be fighting with a sword, so you'd choose Talents that required more brainpower or that would keep your body healthy.
"Ah, everyone. Thank you very much for gathering here. Ah, I ask that you remain silent."
When I saw the person who had climbed onto the dais, I stiffened.
The person standing there was—a gigantic white rabbit.
No, was it a rabbit Beastkin...? It looked exactly like a giant rabbit wearing a ceremonial hat and a cape.
A belt was slung from one shoulder, and I could see a tool pouch and a rod holder attached to it beneath the cape.
The figure—man?—placed the thick bundle of papers they had been carrying on a side table with the help of their attendant, who was of the Human Race, and began to speak.
"I am El=Gu=Larun, a Special-Rank Priest of the Altar Management Agency. Ah, it is a pleasure to see you again. Ah, to those I am meeting for the first time, pleased to meet you."
El-san gave a little bow.
(That sounded like a YouTuber's opening greeting.)
Maxim-san quietly explained that El-san was an extremely experienced priest, and that he had already been a Special-Rank Priest around the time of the previous Holy King's presentation ceremony. Everyone wondered how old El-san was, but apparently that was an eternal secret.
From the thick bundle of papers, one sheet was distributed to each house, detailing tomorrow's presentation ceremony schedule and rules. In this world, where printing technology was still underdeveloped, there were even Talents like 【Writing Arts】, making one wonder whether they had been created to delay technological progress. The several dozen sheets being handed out could probably be copied by hand in just a few hours.
(The ceremony will be held at the ritual grounds in front of the One Heaven Altar, which adjoins the Holy King's Palace... Ugh, only the recipient and their parents may enter. If they have no parents, then only their guardian.)
All security at the venue would be handled exclusively by the First Division of the Holy King's Knights, an elite team led by the Knights' commander. In truth, security for the Holy King's Palace was under the First Division's jurisdiction, so perhaps they could not entrust it to anyone else. Well... this was the very center of the Holy Kingdom. If someone infiltrated a place like that, it would be an utter disaster.
(...Hm.)
When I happened to look up, I felt a gaze coming from the round table closest to the dais where El-san stood—in other words, the place occupied by the guards of the highest-ranking noble houses.
(Is that one of Etan-sama's guards?)
A Halfling guard was staring intently at me.
"Ah."
The guard smiled and waved at me. Since I wasn't sure what was going on, I gave them a little bow in return. Setting aside their role as a guard, they were simply beautiful, so I certainly didn't mind the wave.
Come to think of it, that guard looked to be in their early twenties... They were young. Though I suppose I'm not one to talk.