Chapter 16. Anceps (1)
The Benedict Kingdom's ergency eting showed no signs of ending, even after several days.
“Not only has Anticus left her nest, but she's returned with other dragons?”
“And what is this talk about building a paradise for dragons?”
“A gold mine? Did I just hear that correctly?”
The high-ranking nobles just shouted noisily.
Not a single one of them could offer a plausible solution.
To act rashly could endanger not only their own lives but also the kingdom.
Furthermore, the entirety of humanity could be at risk.
Finally, the king opened his mouth.
“According to Adel's report, Anticus has agreed to cooperate with Baron Frank. In other words, can we not assu she has no intention of being hostile towards us?”
At that, Marquis Moltke, who held the position of Lord Chief Justice, spoke cautiously.
“Your Majesty, Anticus alone is dangerous enough, but with other dragons present, there are too many concerns.”
The nobles chid in, agreeing with his opinion.
“That's right, Your Majesty. It's already dangerous enough that our land borders the demon territory, and now we have to build a paradise for dragons?”
“We must drive them out imdiately. What will other countries think of this?”
“Even if it's Baron Frank's land, is it not ultimately the kingdom's territory? You must refuse.”
Bruno, the new Finance Minister who had been watching the situation, also added a word.
“We must summon Baron Frank at once and question him about the details! If he has been plotting things with Anticus on his own, he deserves to be punished!”
Everyone agreed with Bruno's opinion, but Saintess Isabel was different.
She presented a counterargunt with a cold face.
“Count Bruno seems to think Anticus is quite the pushover.”
“No, Saintess, what do you an by that?”
“Anticus is a more terrifying existence than the Demon King. Do you really think Baron Frank could have moved Anticus to orchestrate this? I think not. There must have been other circumstances we are not aware of.”
Bruno shook his head with an awkward expression.
“However, does not Adel's report state that the mining rights to the gold mine belong to the Baron? This is clearly……”
“The location of the gold mine is within the barony. The mining rights there are naturally under the authority of the respective lord. If I am mistaken about the kingdom's laws, would you please correct , Marquis Moltke?”
When Isabel looked at Moltke and asked, he gave a bitter smile and shook his head.
“The Saintess is correct.”
Isabel continued to speak with a triumphant attitude.
“What is important now is not to bla Baron Frank, but Anticus. Wouldn't it be right to speak with her first?”
No one could easily open their mouths at Isabel's sharp rebuke.
She looked around the eting hall once more and raised her voice.
“You who are gathered here know better than anyone how reckless it is to try and drive out a dragon. It would be better to discuss how to cooperate with them instead. I believe this is an opportunity to keep the demon tribe in check.”
The king asked with an interested face.
“In what way?”
“The northern part of the Elburz Mountains borders the demon territory. Do you think the demon tribe could easily cross that place where dragons are holding out? I think not.”
“Indeed. I agree with the Saintess' opinion. Are there any other opinions?”
Only then did so of the nobles agree with the king and the Saintess' opinion.
“Co to think of it, that makes sense.”
“I too agree with Your Majesty and the Saintess' opinion.”
While Marquis Moltke remained silent with his lips firmly sealed, Bruno gritted his teeth and thought to himself.
‘Damn it. I was going to use this to push Frank into a corner, but it's not going as I planned. I forgot that the Saintess is his patron.’
Moreover, a gold mine was discovered on his land.
His plan to pressure Frank by tightening his purse strings was about to go up in smoke.
‘I must find a way to hold Frank accountable. My mind won't be at ease if I leave Frank as he is.’
The topic of the dragons' paradise, which was related to the survival of the kingdom, had long since disappeared from Bruno's mind.
A way to deal a blow to Frank no matter what.
That was the only thing that filled his head.
***
While I sent the villagers to the gold mine to construct the mine, I introduced Anticus to the people.
Of course, I kept her true identity a secret.
“Let
introduce her. Her na is Anonymous. She is a distant relative of mine. She will be staying with us here for a while, so I hope you will welco her warmly.”
While the majority welcod her with applause, only Elliot could not relax his heavy expression.
It was a few days ago.
“Elliot. Anticus will be living with us here for a while.”
“M-Master?”
“It's understandable to be surprised. But you must not reveal this to anyone. The fate of all humanity is at stake.”
I briefly explained the threat of the Unseen Ones and why Anticus had to stay at our house.
“So that's what happened. I will keep it in mind.”
Still, Elliot could not let his guard down.
It was no wonder.
The true identity of that innocent-looking girl was Anticus.
Who could have ever imagined it?
“Where should we prepare her room?”
“Iris' room is empty, so we can have her use that one.”
“Will that be alright? The second young lady won't stand for it if she finds out.”
I chuckled and shook my head.
“It's the fault of the one who left ho. Besides, wouldn't it be a hassle to bring in new furniture in this backwater place?”
“You are right, Master. I will do so.”
We could not just put shoddy furniture in the room where Anticus was staying.
On the other hand, Iris' room was plastered with luxury goods, so Anticus would be satisfied.
In fact, the quality was better than the furniture in my own room.
anwhile, my two daughters, excluding the servants, already knew Anonymous' true identity.
Both of them had seen her directly.
Anticus, no, Anonymous, showed great interest in my daughters from the first day she ca to our house.
“Hmm. I can teach Adel swordsmanship and Noemi magic. When would be a good ti? Any ti is fine with , so just let
know.”
At that, Belita spoke with a bitter smile.
“Miss Anonymous, those two are older than you. You should be polite.”
A startled Adel waved her hands saying it was fine, but Belita stubbornly said.
“Repeat after . Adel-unni, Noemi-unni, may I ask you a favor? You have to do it like this.”
Fortunately, Anonymous found this situation amusing.
“Ah, I grew up in the countryside, so I didn't know there was such an etiquette. Hehe. Adel-unni, Noemi-unni, would you grant
my request?”
Belita nodded her head in satisfaction.
“Very well done. The master of this place, Lord Frank, is a Baron, so it's best to maintain a minimum level of etiquette.”
Unlike the nonchalant Noemi, Adel looked at
with a flustered expression.
But I just shrugged my shoulders.
The fact that Anonymous was Anticus was a secret that must not be revealed to anyone.
***
anwhile, at that mont.
In the underground treasury of Frank's mansion, a man's voice and a woman's voice echoed alternately.
However, it was not a voice that was actually heard.
It was a voice imbued with a special magic that only the two of them could hear.
The identities of the two voices were the demon swords sealed here, Anceps.
They were swords, each with its own ego.
The sword on the left had a female ego nad An, and the sword on the right had a male ego nad Ceps.
The one who had spoken to Adel when she visited this place last ti was An.
An soothed Ceps and let out a long sigh.
Anceps had been the Demon King's swords for generations.
They had passed through the hands of several Demon Kings, but this was the first ti they had been sealed by human hands.
Because Frank had brought them here and spouted so nonsense like, "Without you, there might be no Demon King."
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