With His Majesty the King’s departure complete, the royal council is adjourned.
While I’d love to dash off, I’m worried Count Archiam might get tangled up with the Marquis. I glance around… Ah, I catch the eye of the man next to me. I never did get to ask what his position actually was. I suppose it’ll be fine since the King’s investigation is coming, but I’ll ask just in case.
“Are you the Leveling Lord?”
“Hii!”
He flinched dramatically. His reaction was so exaggerated that he must truly be the Leveling Lord. Since his punishment was left to His Majesty’s discretion, I wouldn’t dare pry further.
Since getting a straight answer from him seemed hopeless, I turned my attention back to surveying the extremist nobles around me, one by one.
“Are there any other leveling lords—”
“Run! They’ll take our positions!”
The extremist nobles, unusually displaying teamwork, moved in unison. With fluid collective action, they surged toward the audience chamber’s exit. Dashing home like that—it’s hardly proper for someone of our standing.
Count Archiam remained in the now-deserted space of the rear group.
“Good work today.”
The moment I bowed and the still-tense Count tried to reply, he appeared from the side—as expected. Marquis Prynan declared with boredom.
“Count Dolknes, that was clever maneuvering. I’ll give you credit for your skill at obfuscating everything with incomprehensible nonsense.”
“Incomprehensible… nonsense…?”
“Still playing dumb? His Majesty summons you. Archiam, you too. Follow me.”
I wasn’t playing dumb at all, but the marquis’s displeasure only deepened.
He turned on his heel and started walking, so I followed.
We passed through the door His Majesty the King had been entering and exiting, proceeding along the path at the front of the audience chamber. The count walking beside me was stiff with tension, his gait awkward.
The room we were led into was a compact study. Bookshelves lined both sides, but it didn’t feel like an office. I understood this must be a space with a strong personal touch belonging to the King.
Nestled between books, a writing desk faced the window at the far end. In the center stood a round table barely large enough for four, flanked by four chairs. It had a pleasantly intimate feel. I like this place.
Seated in one of the chairs at the center, His Majesty the King sat, having removed his ceremonial cloak.
He smiled upon seeing me enter after Marquis Prynan, then deepened the lines on his face upon confirming the appearance of Count Archiam behind me.
“Good, Darren has come too. Pull up two more chairs.”
The Marquis had already seated himself beside the King.
Since the Count Archiam would likely want distance from the Marquis, I sat opposite His Majesty.
The Count then attempted to sit in the empty chair between the King, but was met with a glare from Marquis Prynan across the room, causing him to flinch and shiver.
“Don’t give him such a hard time.”
Rebuked by the king, the marquis snorted and averted his gaze directly.
Tea was brought in at the study’s master’s signal, and the four silently sipped their cups.
Time passed in an atmosphere that was unclear whether it was calm or tense. Unable to bear the silence any longer, Count Archiam cautiously opened his mouth.
“Um… Why are we here…?”
Ah, he came all this way without knowing? That must be terrifying.
To ease the Count’s unease, I’ll explain this gathering first.
“This is a meeting to address the insolent individuals calling themselves Leveling Lords!”
“…Huh? Still playing dumb?”
Oh? I’d expected him to agree, but the Marquis denied it.
When I looked over to confirm, His Majesty the King said awkwardly.
“This matter… if we just let it end like this, it would leave lingering resentment. This meeting was arranged so the parties involved could speak directly.”
“What about the fellow calling himself the Leveling Lord?”
“…First, one thing. From what we’ve observed, no one actually exists who goes by the name Leveling Lord.”
“Ah, I see. There’s a dishonorable noble who claims to be the Leveling Lord but hasn’t earned the title, right? “
”…………Perhaps I should have brought someone else.”
The matter of the Leveling Lord seems to be postponed.
Discussions are limited to those directly involved. Frankly, it feels like a roundtable discussion. If things continue as they are, the Marquis and I will remain enemies for all eternity. Even if we don’t fully reconcile, we might be able to escape this path of complete hostility.
At the Imperial Council, the presence of other nobles often prevents us from speaking freely. I must first apologize to His Majesty for making him worry about such matters.
“I apologize for attending the royal council despite knowing it would cause unnecessary confusion.”
“No, it’s fine. As the head of a noble house, it’s only right that you participate. I should be the one apologizing for standing by while knowing Miss Yumiela was involved.”
“It wasn’t anything that required such trouble. Count Archiam decided to relinquish the position of Defense Lord only this morning. Even if I had consulted you beforehand, it would have been… troublesome, wouldn’t it?”
If I were to ask His Majesty the King directly to guarantee me the position of Defense Lord, I believe he would find it challenging to decide. While he cannot ignore my request, granting it outright would provoke discontent among the royalist nobles, starting with the Marquis.
That prediction seemed to be correct, as His Majesty nodded ambiguously.
In stark contrast to his evasive manner, Marquis Prynan stated his opinion plainly.
“If our sovereign bows to some young girl’s whims, the day I ascend the throne must surely draw near.”
“Prynan, such words should not be spoken aloud.”
As the Count and I froze at the declaration of rebellion, His Majesty replied without seeming particularly concerned.
Ah, it’s a joke. In a feudal kingdom, such words wouldn’t be dismissed as a joke, yet the exchange felt oddly practiced. If they’d had similar banter many times before, did these two actually get along quite well?
Watching them, separated by an age gap like parent and child, the parent laughed defiantly while the child sighed.
After exhaling, the King looked at Count Archiam and said.
“But… the decision to relinquish your position—it’s hard to say I’m grateful. I’m pleased Darren has begun making his own judgments, and I think it’s for the best.”
“N-no. I feel ashamed that I clung to a position that held no real substance.”
“There’s no need for shame. I rather envy you. I, too, am constantly bound by the shackles of past kings. One thing interests me… for whom did you change?”
“For myself and my wife, yes, but most of all, for my child.”
“I see. That makes sense. Children teach us many things.”
I doubt His Majesty the King learns anything from that prince.
I kept it to myself, never showing it outwardly, yet the Count was visibly startled.
“Your Majesty!?”
” Archiam didn’t grow by seeing how brilliant his son and daughter were, did he?”
“Ah, I see. I thought about it while dealing with a completely unruly infant. I had obeyed my parents’ instructions, so why did my son just cry? “
” You’re asking too much of a baby.”
” I knew it, I knew I had been like that too. But seeing it with my own eyes, I wondered if my father and mother had also been at their wits’ end with me when I was too young to understand.”
Hmm, I don’t quite get this conversation.
They left me behind and kept talking about their dad talk.
“Some parents don’t bother with their children’s well-being. While the truly demanding tasks were left entirely to the servants, the thought of not attending to Maurice when he started walking… it makes me shudder.”
“Quite right. Facing the young and immature forces one to confront one’s own youth and immaturity.”
I still don’t quite get it, do I? Ah, but before and after Ryuu-kun was born… I feel like I changed. Was that change growth?
While I was caught up in thoughts about Ryuu-kun, whom I hadn’t seen in days, someone oblivious to the mood spoke up without reading the air.
“Speaking of children, His Majesty’s child did cause us some trouble, didn’t he?”
Prince Edwin. He guaranteed Eleonora’s status, so I must thank him later.
I’ll make it clear to the marquis once more: keep his hands off anything related to Eleanora.
“The Eleanora-sama living under the bridge here is a different person from the Duke’s daughter, Eleanora-sama, you understand?”
“One doesn’t tell such obvious lies in a closed room. After all, Hillrose is still alive, isn’t he?”
He knows that much? He tried to put me in the Duke Hillrose position, and he must know the duke’s intent behind starting that near-rebellion. The only one left to consult is His Majesty the King, who knows everything.
Count Archiam, who knew nothing, was confused.
“Duke Hillrose? Alive? Why?”
The count looked around at everyone’s faces, clearly confused. The king spoke calmly and naturally.
“There’s no way Duke Hillrose is still alive. Miss Yumiela confirmed it.”
“Yes. Duke Hillrose was indeed devoured by a horde of monsters and perished.”
“…Is there no one here who can hold a private conversation?”
Gramps, please don’t say unnecessary things. I feel sorry for the count, who still doesn’t quite understand.
It is a private conversation, but frankly, this scheming marquis is the type who would likely use even a casual chat to find weaknesses. The pretense continues.
“I’m grateful to His Highness Edwin regarding the matter of Eleanora-sama under the bridge. I’d like to pay my respects before leaving the capital.”
“I’ll praise Edwin myself. He may be an incompetent son, but he did well.”
He said this with a complex expression, seeming both exasperated and pleased. Then he cleared his throat once. That alone made the atmosphere grow tense—finally, the main topic.
“About the Leveling Lord, right!”
“…No. Not yet.”
Not yet, he says. Frustrated by the King’s teasing, I listened silently as he continued.
“Prynan, keep your hands off Miss Yumiela.”
“Oh my, His Majesty the King is quite taken with an unmarried young lady?”
“This is no time for flippant remarks! What do you think you’re doing, trying to drag her into the political strife at court!?”
“Are you suggesting we avoid trouble by claiming it would cause chaos? Isn’t gaining advantage on a chaotic board the very essence of political struggle? It’s far healthier than letting filth accumulate beneath a peaceful surface.”
This old man is far too aggressive.
I’d been wondering what he’d do if I actually started intervening in central politics. Did he think I wouldn’t dare? But I was wrong. He declared he’d even exploit the commotion over Yumiela’s involvement.
The King rebuked Marquis Prynan, who seemed to welcome chaos.
“You underestimate Miss Yumiela! Everyone present was put in mortal danger!”
“I understand her strength, of course. But she also understands the drawbacks when power is wielded recklessly. She won’t act solely on military might.”
The marquis implied I was someone capable of politics, too. Hehe, that’s right. It’s not that I don’t want to—I could handle the political side too.
Seeing him stubbornly refuse to back down, the king sighed. Then he addressed me.
“The Minister of Finance is the Leveling Minister.”
“Huh?”
It slipped out of my mouth. Was the Minister of Finance the Leveling Minister…?
Unlike the Defense Lord, I couldn’t see how finance and levels were connected… but if the King said so, it must be true. And here was another insolent soul, a Leveling Minister who didn’t level up! Unforgivable!
“However, Minister of Finance Prynan appears to have an interest in leveling up.”
Ah, that makes things easier.
I latched onto it and pressed forward.
“What’s your level?”
“What… What are you saying, Your Majesty?”
“I’m asking what level you are.”
“Count Dolknes? Your eyes are playing tricks on you.”
This person never declares their level. Are they even interested in leveling up?
If I get angry, my leveling companions will disappear. Suppressing my endlessly bubbling irritation, I asked again.
“Level, number, what is it? Quick, tell me.”
“…15, I think. It was a long time ago, so—”
“Thank you for telling me! There’s no such thing as being too late to level up, even elderly folks can do it! No need to worry. Everyone starts at level 1. We’ll ease into it gradually, taking one… no, let’s say two years with plenty of breathing room. In two years, we’ll aim for level 99, okay? “
” Dolkne—“
” The sooner we start, the better. Shall we begin today? Fortunately, there are two dungeons right near the royal capital. It’s precisely because this is such a hotspot that the ancients built their capital here. But unfortunately, they’re not ideal for boss farming, so eventually you’ll need to venture further afield. Just keep that in mind. “
” Wh-what—“
” At level 15, that’s about right… We won’t know until we see your actual skill, so let’s head to the dungeon now.”
Marquis Prynan had tried several times to interrupt me. I get it, I get it. No need to worry—I forced a semblance of a smile with my barely moving facial muscles and continued.
“I understand. You’re worried about injuries, right? As you get older, healing takes longer. But rest assured. With my recovery magic, I can regrow an arm or a leg—or even two—as many times as needed. The only thing I haven’t tested is the head. If it looks like your head is about to get crushed, please avoid it even if it means sacrificing another body part. Though, the head might regrow too. But I’m not so sure about preserving the memories stored in the brain. But wait—if we consider regenerating the brain’s synapses and neurons entirely, maybe the memories would stay intact. Hmm, it’s like the Ship of Theseus paradox, isn’t it? If you break down a body into its quantum parts and reconstruct it elsewhere, is it still the same person…? That sort of paradox. That’s more philosophy than science, though. Ah, I digress. Leveling up, right? I try every day to meet people’s ordinary expectations. If you’re the type who feels uneasy about wearing anything other than a Guardian Talisman when venturing into dangerous zones, then just stick with the Guardian Talisman. Well, I’m also—”
While I was in the middle of talking about something super important, a hand reached around from behind and covered my mouth. Who the hell is that!?
I grabbed the arm that had come around from behind and spun around to deliver a Yumiela Punch—
“Huh? Patrick? What’s up?”
“…You called me. I came to pick you up.”
But right now, I have a ton of things I need to tell the Leveling Minister. Huh? I can’t see him.
My eyes swept the cramped study, and there was Marquis Prynan, cowering in a corner.
Before I could ask if he was okay, His Majesty interjected.
“My apologies. I mistakenly thought the Minister of Finance was the Leveling Minister.”
“Huh!? Is that so?”
“Finance and levels aren’t related, are they?”
“True… Ah, but Marquis Prynan is genuinely interested in leveling up, right? If you’d like—”
I’m the true Leveling Lord, so I can’t neglect my enlightenment activities.
Even though he’s a despicable, scheming noble, I tried to speak to him kindly, but he shook his head violently.
“No, it’s fine. I don’t need leveling up. I swear I won’t make any more unnecessary moves. And you, youngster, I won’t hold it against you for deceiving me. Just. Take. Her. Back. Now!”
With an uncharacteristic desperation, his voice rising to a near shout, he said this, looking more at Patrick than me.
I still had more to say, but Patrick pulled me out of the study.
“Even if you’re not Leveling Lord, your level is… Hey, stop pulling me!”
“My apologies. I’ll take her back immediately. Come on, Yumiela.”
I could resist if I really tried, but I didn’t exactly want to go dungeon-crawling with Marquis Prynan either.
Count Archiam had vanished without a trace. Sent off by the trembling marquis and the king’s wry smile, I was dragged out of the study.