Etude of the Sacred Treasured Sword | Chapter 2

[healingbonds]

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Arthur runs to his room in a hurry. After a short while, I catch sight of him on his broom soaring into the sky.
And then he disappears in the direction of the castle. Nero looks up at his vanishing figure, heaving a sigh.

Nero: Is Mister Prince all right...? I hope he’s not pushing himself; I’m a little worried......
The Central wizards volunteer to take on what the Eastern wizards are bad at above anything else.

Riquet: What are you bad at, Nero? Am I of help to you too?

Nero: It’s a secret. But you’re always helping me.

Nero laughs wryly as he pats Riquet’s head. Riquet looks slightly mystified, but instead of asking further, he looks at Cain.

Riquet: Cain. Did something happen at the castle? Is there anything that I can do to help?

Cain: You, Riquet?

Riquet: I’m a Central wizard too. I always guided the followers when I was at the religious organization.
If misunderstandings exist just as Prince Arthur said, I can guide everyone by showing them the correct teachings.
That way, as a disciple of God, I can offer you the comfort and the salvation that you wanted, Cain. Please, try talking to me.

Cain falls silent, looking doubtful. But then he slowly nods, his mind made.

Cain: That’s true..... You’re a Central wizard too. After dinner, let’s invite Oz to talk.

✦✧☾✧✦

We invite Oz, and gather in the parlour. Riquet grips his pen with a prim expression.

Riquet: I will be the secretary. A secretary is in charge of taking down meeting notes. I heard that from Mister Cock Robin.

Oz gazes steadily at Riquet’s hands. It feels like it’s been a while since I last saw him.
Noticing my gaze on him, Oz languidly raises his face.

Oz: ......So, what’s the matter?

Akira: (......He looks like this is a huge pain.....)

Cain: We’re trying to deploy the Sage’s wizards by acting as an organization that solves mysterious incidents around the world, but we’ve run into unexpected trouble regarding procedures and approval.

Riquet: The sage’s......wizards......solve mysterious incidents......
Solve..... S-o-l-v......

Riquet tilts his head to one side and glares at the air in front of him, trying to recall the spelling for "solve." Unable to watch any longer, Oz sketches out the word midair using his fingertips.

Oz: ......Like this.

Riquet: I see, thank you.

Cain: What’s that? I’ve never seen letters like that before. Isn’t that an ancient alphabet?

Oz: ...... Now that you mention it, I feel like I’ve been told that before......

Riquet: I’d prefer not to use ancient letters. Please teach me with the new ones.

Cain: Um, it should be like this. Hey, can I borrow your pen? I’ll write it in a corner for you.

Riquet: No. I’m the secretary. Also, I want to keep this notebook tidy.

Cain: Got it. Then, I’ll write it on my palm......

Due to the sheer amount of time it takes to prepare the meeting minutes, we end up derailing considerably from the point of the meeting. In the end, we decide to just record a simple memo.

Riquet: Well then, let’s start. We’ll pick up from Cain’s statement.

Cain: Yeah, thank you. Now where did I leave off......?

Oz: Solve.

Riquet: Solve.

Cain: Ah, that’s right. I was talking about how we’re trying to deploy the Sage’s wizards as an organization that solves mysterious incidents around the world.
Until now, we’ve only used the magic headquarters as a place that provided accommodation for the Sage and wizards; as an established organization, it can play a part in everyday life for the first time.
If I’m being honest, I want to get to work straightaway. There’s been report after report of unbelievable incidents coming from all around the world.
But if we ignore the royal families and the government and stick our heads in all over the place, we might be accused of intervening with internal state affairs.

Riquet: What does "intervening with internal state affairs" mean?

Cain: It means butting into the politics of another country. Take Central Country giving assistance to Eastern Country, for example. As long as the government approves, it’d be a moving story.
But without the government’s approval, it’ll just invite unrest and suspicion.
They’ll accuse us of sowing seeds of rebellion, recruiting talented individuals, or planning to smuggle resources elsewhere.

Riquet and Oz simultaneously make a face.

Oz & Riquet: Huh......

Cain: I get it. I really do...... I’m also the type to find those kinds of things annoying. But if we make one mistake, it might lead to war with other countries.

Riquet: War? Father Priest said that war is a bad thing.

Cain: Of course. But if a neighboring country has powerful weapons, it’s natural to feel uneasy and want to fight back.

Riquet: What do you mean by "powerful weapons"?

Cain doesn’t answer; he steals a glance at Oz, hesitant to speak.
Oz seems to take his explanation completely in stride. He crosses his legs on the sofa, his smile filled with contempt and scorn.

Oz: I see how it is...... So it’ll cause trouble if they think Mithra and I are acting under Central Country orders.

Cain: Well, yeah...... Plus, you have a connection to Arthur. That’s why people are wary of him as well.

Oz: I have no connection to the prince of Central Country.

Cain: You do. Why are you denying it? Don’t call him "the prince of Central Country"; that sounds so distant.

Oz: It’s the truth. I raised him in order to obtain his mana stone, and he managed to escape my clutches before that happened. That’s all there is to it.

Cain: Oz. I understand that you want to distance yourself from Arthur. But don’t say that in front of him!
He must have wanted to see your face today. But he left without meeting you. He’s been holding it in, but he’s still just seventeen years old!

Oz remains silent at Cain’s scolding tone. And Cain is the one who apologizes first.

Cain: ......Sorry I yelled at you. I just remembered what happened to Arthur earlier today, and felt bad for him.

Riquet: Earlier today....? Did something happen to Prince Arthur?

Riquet leans forward, pushing Oz aside. He levels an earnest stare at Cain.

Cain: The High Priest of the Holy Church of Faust, Father Celio, showered Arthur with insults due to the situation surrounding the treasured sword Caletvwlch.

Akira: The treasured sword Caletvwlch......?

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