Chapter 86
Franz was dumbfounded.
Members of the Hero’s Party had appeared out of nowhere.
It was rare enough for those three to gather voluntarily, but this was the mansion of the Ducal House of Phrygia, of all places.
It was so unbelievable that it would be more fitting to call it a dream.
A shocked Franz was blankly watching them from a distance.
“Haha-, the weather in the North is a bit cold, isn’t it?”
Ballak burst into hearty laughter and led them inside.
To Franz, they were merely close friends, but to others, they were heroes who had saved the world, so it was only natural that they received such exceptional treatment.
Judging by the situation, it seemed they had come because they had some business…
At that moment, a thought flashed through Franz’s mind.
“Did they perhaps come to get me…?”
No less than three members of the Hero’s Party had gathered. It was likely a matter of that much importance.
Furthermore, if they had gone out of their way to visit the mansion of the Ducal House of Phrygia where he was staying, there was no need to say more.
It seemed something unusual was about to happen.
Having organized his thoughts, Franz immediately stepped forward, and soon ran into Arian at the entrance of the mansion.
Arian was wearing a somewhat blank, yet displeased expression.
Seeing that, Franz became even more certain that something was definitely going on.
Franz spoke to Arian.
“Arian, what’s going on?”
“Magic Tower master, would you mind hiding for a moment…?”
“What is it…?”
At Franz’s question, Arian let out a deep sigh.
There wasn’t exactly any problem, so she couldn’t give an answer.
Even so, the reason she wanted Franz to hide was, naturally, that she didn’t want him to meet them.
“Those damn thieving cats coming all the way here…!”
It had taken over ten years for her, who wasn’t even in the Hero’s Party, to come on a trip like this with Franz.
And yet they came to interrupt that time; they couldn’t possibly be more shameless.
Of course, there was no way Franz could know Arian’s feelings.
“Is it something incredibly serious…?”
Franz ended up having a huge misunderstanding.
Since Arian couldn’t speak properly, he thought it was that serious a matter.
As expected, feelings could not be conveyed unless spoken aloud.
“It’s okay. I’ll handle it somehow.”
Franz patted Arian’s shoulder and stepped inside the mansion.
Completely unaware of what kind of feelings she was harboring.
Eventually, when Franz arrived in front of Ballak’s office, familiar voices could be heard from inside.
Just as expected, it seemed they were inside.
Knock, knock…
Franz knocked on the door without hesitation.
Normally, it would have been proper to have a servant announce his arrival, but he didn’t have the peace of mind for that.
“Come in.”
Soon, Ballak’s voice was heard from beyond the door.
Since permission was granted, Franz immediately opened the door and stepped inside.
“What brings the Magic Tower master…?”
The first to react upon seeing Franz was Ballak.
Unaware that it was he who knocked, he had given a command in informal speech, so embarrassment spread across his face.
Anyway, Ballak wondered what brought him here - had he not heard an explanation of the situation yet?
“I heard acquaintances had arrived, so I came with a glad heart, but…”
Franz said so and turned his head.
At the end of his gaze were the members of the Hero’s Party.
“Ah, I see. Please, have a seat.”
Franz took a seat in a suitably empty spot.
The gazes of the three from the Hero’s Party were naturally directed at him.
Yuna’s eyes were filled with gladness, Yusti-ah’s with dissatisfaction, and Hera’s with curiosity.
They were clearly facing the same situation, yet fascinatingly, they each showed different reactions.
Franz withdrew his gaze from them and asked Ballak.
“What were you discussing?”
“The saintess mentioned there was some sort of code, so we were talking about that.”
“Is it perhaps about the Ice Spear…?”
“The Magic Tower master already knew.”
Wait, if that’s the case…
Franz realized a very important fact from Ballak’s answer.
The reason they had gone out of their way to visit the Ducal House of Phrygia wasn’t because of him, but because of the code left by the cultist.
However, a question still remained.
There was no need for three members of the Hero’s Party to gather just to solve a single code, was there?
The Goddess Church could easily have someone handle it internally, after all.
Franz immediately voiced that question.
“Yusti-ah, how did it end up like this?”
“That’s what I want to say…”
Yusti-ah said that and let out a sigh as if the world had collapsed.
Seeing the deep crease between her eyebrows, it seemed her worries were quite significant.
At that moment, Yuna, who was next to her, spoke up.
“So here’s the thing, right? I came to the Imperial Capital to see you, but they said you weren’t there. So I was just going to look around the cathedral and head back, but I happened to hear that Yusti-ah was going to the Ducal House of Phrygia. After that, well, I tagged along under the pretext of being an escort. I ran into Hera on the way and brought her along while I was at it.”
“I see.”
After hearing the story, he could immediately understand why Yusti-ah was showing such a reaction.
Since it was Goddess Church business, it would have been difficult to accept Yuna’s accompaniment, but also difficult to refuse it.
Matters related to the Seven Great Evils were being handled somewhat secretly, too.
Well, at least her escort was guaranteed.
Since it was none other than the hero.
“But Yusti-ah, I already solved that?”
“Pardon…?”
At Franz’s words, Yusti-ah tilted her head.
“The former head of the family solved the code for me. I just got back from there.”
“Then what on earth did I come all the way here for…”
Yusti-ah let out another sigh.
In truth, even though she was saying that, her inner thoughts were a bit different.
Because the one who insisted on coming here personally was none other than Yusti-ah herself.
“I was planning to scold him for lazily enjoying a party…”
If he handled the job this cleanly, she wouldn’t have anything to say.
Thinking that, Yusti-ah put on a needlessly sullen expression.
“Well, let’s talk about this later.”
Franz neatly wrapped up the conversation.
It wasn’t a topic to be openly discussed in a place with many people, after all.
“By the way, I don’t know if you’re aware, but there’s a magnificent castle on the Second Peak.”
“Are you referring to the second hill?”
“Yes, isn’t there an unusually tall peak in the Mountain Range of the territory.”
At Franz’s words, Ballak shifted his gaze out the window.
This was to see the castle he had mentioned.
“Uh…? There really is a castle…”
“Wow, it’s true. There’s a castle on top of the mountain.”
“It really is.”
“Is it a castle made of ice? It has quite a bit of charm, doesn’t it?”
Not only Ballak, but the three from the Hero’s Party also looked out the window and left their respective impressions.
It was definitely a good idea to leave the castle intact.
Seeing it from afar, they thought it was definitely cool.
At that moment, Ballak suddenly turned his head and looked at the three.
“However, if the Magic Tower master has already resolved it, doesn”
At Ballak’s words, the three shut their mouths.
Because he had hit the nail right on the head.
Because he had worked too hard and made the three of them take a wasted trip, Franz also felt needlessly self-conscious.
“What will you do for your schedule from here on?”
“Th-that’s…”
Yusti-ah trailed off and looked at Franz.
It was a kind of silent plea.
Instantly grasping the meaning of that look, Franz spoke to Ballak on her behalf.
“Wouldn’t it be better for them to return together with me when I head back later.”
If they wanted, he could send them back right this instant.
If he used teleport, they would arrive in the blink of an eye.
But since they had traveled by carriage for quite a long time, it would be better to let them relieve their travel fatigue.
It would also be a shame to just go back after coming all the way to the North.
Fortunately, Ballak understood Franz’s thoughts.
“It would certainly be better to do that. I can provide as many rooms as you need, so please make yourselves comfortable.”
“Then we will shamelessly impose on you.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m sorry. I will definitely repay this debt next time.”
At Ballak’s generous consideration, the three took turns expressing their gratitude.
However, there was one person who did not like Ballak’s decision, and naturally, it was Arian.
“Pardon? I’m to guide them?”
“An urgent matter has come up, so I must go now. Therefore, Arian, I leave it to you.”
Ballak said that and immediately left his seat.
Arian stared into the air with a blank expression.
It seemed the shock was quite significant.
'Come to think of it, I don’t think they got along very well.'
Surely they wouldn’t fight after coming all the way here, but still, you never know.
He was worried since he was the only one who could mediate between them.
He earnestly hoped that nothing would happen between the women.
Franz wished desperately in his heart.
However, that wish of Franz’s was shattered to pieces not long after.
“…Ah, you’re saying you’ll get married in a year…?”
“But isn’t that invalid if a marriage partner appears within a year.”