Side Story: The Commoner with Every Attribute (Richard's Perspective)

I stepped through the door to His Majesty's office in the Royal Palace, feeling a little nervous.

I am this country's chancellor, so I am not nervous simply because I have come to this room. I have to tell His Majesty about the boy named Leon who came to the residence yesterday, and that is what has me a little nervous.

Now then, I wonder how His Majesty will react...

His Majesty is the sort of person who readily appoints capable people, even if they are commoners, so I doubt he will object to the ducal house taking Leon under its protection. However, I wonder how he will react to the fact that Leon can use magic of every attribute...

I was truly shocked when I saw it yesterday. Even after seeing him use magic of every attribute with my own eyes, I can hardly believe it.

Leon said that he is not an Apostle-sama, but his intelligence, which is far beyond what one would expect from a commoner, along with his refined conduct, bearing, and speech, all serve as proof that he must be an Apostle-sama. And the crowning proof is the fact that he can use every attribute.

I am more than ninety percent certain that Leon is an Apostle-sama. I cannot say so to him, but I should call him Leon-sama.

Perhaps he is unable to reveal his true identity for some reason. If so, I must pretend not to notice and protect him with all my might.

For that purpose, I must secure His Majesty's cooperation.

"Good morning, Your Majesty."

"Ah, good morning, Richard."

"Would you have time to speak with me before beginning your work today? If possible, I would also like you to have the room cleared."

"All right, but... Is it serious enough to warrant that?"

"I believe that would be best."

"Very well. Have the room cleared, then."

His Majesty's name is Alexis Larslasia. He is the current king of this country. He is a wonderful and highly capable man who possesses both kindness and sternness.

Once only His Majesty and I remained in the office, we moved to the sofa and sat facing each other.

"So, what did you want to discuss?"

"Yes. It concerns a commoner boy named Leon."

"A commoner?"

"Yes. He is eight years old and the son of a restaurant owner on the western outskirts of the royal capital. Frederick happened to meet him and told me that he was an exceptionally capable commoner before inviting him to dinner at the ducal residence yesterday. At first, I thought there would be limits to what 'capable' could mean for a commoner. However, his speech, conduct, and bearing were on the same level as those of a properly educated noble child, and he seemed able to understand even difficult matters without any trouble. That alone would be hard to believe, but on top of that, he can use magic of every attribute."

"Magic of every attribute!? Could he be... an Apostle-sama?"

His Majesty is normally unshakable unless something truly serious happens, but he was extremely surprised. That was only natural.

"I thought he was an Apostle-sama as well. However, he says that he is not one. I believe the Apostle-sama may be hiding their true identity for some reason. What do you think, Your Majesty?"

"I cannot say for certain based on what you have told me, but being able to use every attribute and possessing such a wide range of knowledge certainly sounds exactly like an Apostle-sama. If the Apostle-sama is hiding their identity, we should protect them while pretending not to notice. It would be disastrous if a noble who hates commoners were to lay hands on the Apostle-sama."

As expected, His Majesty reached the same conclusion I had.

"I hold the same view."

"So what will Leon-sama do from here?"

"Leon-sama himself wishes to attend the Royal Academy. Frederick gave him some study materials, but apparently Leon-sama said he did not need the materials for reading, writing, and arithmetic because he could already do all of that. He plans to study only history."

"That's... Richard, there can be almost no doubt that Leon-sama is an Apostle-sama. There is a biography of an Apostle-sama that only someone who has become king is permitted to read. According to it, an Apostle-sama is perfect at reading, writing, and arithmetic, but learns history from the beginning."

Good heavens... I had no idea such a biography existed. This practically confirms that Leon-sama is an Apostle-sama.

"Then... We may safely assume that Leon-sama is an Apostle-sama. However, we must make sure that he does not realize we have figured it out."

"Yes. For now, let's keep this between us and tell no one else."

"Understood! What should we do about Leon-sama's ability to use every attribute? I told Leon-sama to keep it secret until he graduates from the Royal Academy."

"That will do for now. It would not be the Apostle-sama's wish for the fact that he can use every attribute to become known and cause an uproar. Once he graduates from the Royal Academy and is made a noble, even nobles who hate commoners will not be able to lay hands on him. Can the ducal house protect him until then? Of course, the royal family will provide as much assistance as possible as well."

"Of course. We plan to have him commute to the Royal Academy from the ducal residence. My eldest son, Lucien, is the same age as Leon-sama, so I hope they will become good friends..."

Lucien is a clever child, and I have heard that he harbors no prejudice, so he should be fine.

"That is good. Then my children are the same age as Leon-sama, too. Should I tell them that he can use every attribute?"

"No. Even if the children are clever, they are still children. It would be sufficient to keep his ability to use every attribute secret until graduation and simply tell them to befriend him because he is an exceptionally capable commoner."

"That makes sense. I would like to meet him myself, though. Would that be difficult?"

To have His Majesty meet Leon-sama, I would have to bring Leon-sama to the Royal Palace... That would attract far too much attention.

"That may be difficult. For now, it would be best not to draw attention to Leon-sama. Even if we can protect Leon-sama himself, I fear we may not be able to protect his family."

"That is true... However, once Leon-sama enrolls in the Royal Academy, he will attract attention whether he likes it or not. And he will have the Townsend Ducal House, the leader of a major faction, as his patron."

That was a problem I had considered as well. Kidnapping his family to lure Leon-sama out was entirely conceivable.

If anything happened to Leon-sama's family and angered him, the consequences would be terrible. We absolutely must not anger an Apostle-sama.

The best solution would be to announce that Leon-sama is an Apostle-sama and have him use every attribute, but since he is hiding it himself, that would be impossible.

Perhaps we should shelter his family at the ducal residence as well.

"I am considering assigning shadows to guard Leon-sama's family, or employing them at the ducal residence if they so wish."

"Yes, that would be best. If you decide to assign guards, I will lend you the royal family's shadows as well."

"Thank you very much."

The conversation reached a natural pause, and His Majesty and I drank the tea that an attendant had prepared for us, though it had grown slightly cold.

"Things are going to get busy from here on out. Do you think the appearance of an Apostle-sama at this point is related to the expansion of the Monster Forest?"

"I considered that as well. The appearance of an Apostle-sama at a time like this can only be divine providence."

"If we cannot somehow stop the expansion of the Monster Forest, this world will be ruled by monsters within a few decades. I hope the Apostle-sama can become a beacon of hope and prevent that from happening..."

"For that reason as well, we must protect the Apostle-sama with all our might."

"Yes. Could you compile a list of the noble houses that pose the greatest danger? We must strengthen our vigilance."

"As you command. I will have it ready by tomorrow."

With that, our secret meeting came to an end.

I had secretly long hoped that an Apostle-sama would become the savior who would rescue this world.

First, I had to somehow protect the Apostle-sama while pretending not to realize his true identity.

I did not believe that anyone in my household would let the secret slip, but I would remind them once more that Leon-sama's secret was not to be divulged.

Tomorrow would be busy again.

I steeled myself and began working.