Chapter 470: Audience・Back

「This way」

「Yes」

「Nn」

Fran and Forrund sat down on the chairs that had been prepared for them, just as the chamberlain had told them to do.

What Fran and Forrund were taken to was a room that looked like a drawing room. The room was much smaller than the hall they had used for the audience, and was quite cozy.

But my nervousness was nothing compared to what I had just experienced before.

「You may make yourself comfortable. This is an informal meeting」

How can anyone really ease up when the king tells them toーー

「Nn」

There she is! That's my girl! No, she's still hunched over, just a little out of position! We could still recover!

『Fran! Don't really take it for granted!』

(?)

『Uh, anyway, just keep your spine a little straighter here!』

(Understood)

Fuh, that was a close one. Look, she already got her back on straight! Don't stare at her like that, silver-haired knight! If a strong person like you stares at her like that, my Fran will be thrilled! It's not a good idea to get involved with this knight who looks very strong and seems to have a high rank.

「I am Wissola Bred Kranzel」 (1)

The king himself, whom we met in the audience hall. Isn't he too careless for this? I searched for any presence around us, but there was only the king, two knights, and a chamberlain in this room. I was under the impression that there was usually a hidden door or something and an escort waiting inside of them.

Fran also tilted her head, but it seems that the king saw through it.

「My daughter, what's wrong?」

「……You don't bring more guards with you?」

「You mean that huh. My knights said it was unnecessary. He said that if he wereto be serious, the other knights would be a burden to him」

As he said this, the king looked at Fran.

「You're not that strong in my eyes huh……」

I can't be sure, but it seems that the king himself has appraisal skills. And it seems that the effect of the appraisal disguise makes her look like an ordinary adventurer.

However, the silver-haired knight beside him would not be able to be easily deceived.

「She's more than equal with me」

「If Ruga says so, I'm sure he's right. Let me introduce you. He's captain of the guard and knight of the King. Ruga Mufuru」

「Nice to meet you」

Ruga Mufuru bailed lightly, not taking his eyes off Fran and Forrund. He's not showing any gap.

「You are two of the most powerful people in our country. There's no harm in knowing each other's faces, right?」

The king put a strange emphasis on the "our country" part. I guess he wants to bring Fran and Forrund into the Kingdom of Kranzel.

He's very different from the Beast King. The Beast King was more like a high king, or a king with a majestic air. However, the man in front of me does not radiate any sense of intimidation. He's the politician type huh?

However, it was not like he did not have the dignity of a king. I haven't made a clear hierarchical relationship with him, but I naturally felt that he was the most superior person in this place. He had the presence of a king, or perhaps I should say that he was a born superior.

It's a good thing that he's not a fool, but I'm not going to let my guard down.

「Now, let's get down to business. We're running out of time」

Then the king gave some instructions to the chamberlain with a glance. Then the chamberlain brings out two small boxes, about 30 centimeters long. The boxes are placed in front of both Fran and Forrund.

Inside the box was what looked like a jewelled medallion.

「You are hereby granted the rank of first class baron. You may accept」

Uwaah, you've hit the nail on the head. We can't use a roundabout way of saying no or anything like that anymore. Is he doing it on purpose? Or is it just plain? I can't read his expression at all.

(Master?)

『Aah, wait a minute. Forrund, what do we do』

(…Hmm. Fran doesn't want to accept the title, does she?)

『It's obvious』

(Very well)

Then Forrund nodded lightly. Oh, how dependable!

「I'm grateful for this, but……」

He shook his head as he said it.

「You want to refuse?」

「By all means. She's too」

「Nn. I have to refuse」

Wait a minute, Fran! Your words! Thanks to her court etiquette skills, her movements are fine, but her words is!

I panicked and made her rephrase it.

「I'm sorry. But I want to continue becoming adventurer」

「Even after I said that I’m giving it to you?」

The king frowned in displeasure. Ruga Mufuru also increased the intimidation he was emitting. Are we going to do this?

This situation would definitely make a weak-minded or power-hungry person nod their head. The room was filled with that much pressure. Ugh, my stomach hurts.

「…I'm sorry」

「I'm sorry」

With Forrund bowing with a short apology, Fran also bows her head.

「…」

Kuh, the silence feels heavy! The King is still looking at Fran and Forrund with a sullen look on his face.

「…Hmm. It's as you said huh, Ruga」

The king sniffs lightly and sinks down on the sofa with a bored look on his face.

「Yes sir. Because they are adventurers」

「It's correct to do this in a place without any lower ranked nobles. I can just see them making a scene」

Hmm? Apparently, the king and Ruga were expecting Fran and Forrund to decline.

「Too many people don't realize how much adventurers have contributed to their territories. These days, even the nobles of the great domains are becoming more and more incapable of caring for adventurers……」

Apparently, the nobleman, who doesn't like adventurers, wanted to give Fran and Forrund a knighthood so they wouldn't antagonize them. Could it be that the sullen attitude is an act? However, he still maintains his uncomfortable expressions.

「As for Forrund of the Hundred Swords, he had turned it down several times in the past, so I knew it would happen again this time. But, Fran, the Black Lightning Princess? Why do you refuse? It's a title, remember? In addition, being a first-class baron is like being a count without a territory. You don't want to be bothered with running a fiefdom, right? A first-class baron has a nobleman's annual salary attached to it, but you do not have to run the estate. Are you sure you won't consider it once again?」

In other words, it's probably a title for adventurers. By giving her a nobleman's annual salary, she would be bound to the country as a war power in case of emergency. Since they are no longer adventurers, they can be used for war. In exchange, the adventurer gets the backing of the country and honor.

「What is it that you are dissatisfied with?」

However, Forrund's reply to the king's words was short.

「It's freedom」

「…Hmmm. That's a word I'm not familiar with. But aren't you interested in money and power? What about you, my daughter?」

「…I don't need such a thing」

「Such a thing huh…This is why an adventurers is……! I had enough of this. Go away」

Have we offended the king? However, there was no sign that Ruga was going to do anything about it. After all, he probably already knew that he would be rejected. Even so, if he was refused, he would still be dissatisfied huh.

Then, as Fran and Forrund were leaving, a voice called out to them.

「Forget everything that happened in that room. And I will do the same too」

Does that mean you're not going to question the fact that he lost face? His anger didn't seem to subside yet, but he didn't want to antagonize her.

『Huh. We manage it somehow huh? To be honest, I was ready to flee this country』

(As I said the other day, the king is a man who puts the interests of the nation first. He won't make the mistake of antagonizing us. Of course, if he judged that it would be in his interest to retaliate against us for destroying his face, he would have ordered an attack without hesitation)

How's that working out for him? He was a scary opponent, in a different way than the Beast King.

『Well, I hope we made it through』

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