Farucci. In the Royal Capital’s Highest Parliamentary Chamber.
As usual, Klund III was sitting in the highest seat in the Parliamentary Chamber and overlooking his subjects.
In the past, the stairs-like seating below would be filled with nobles from all over Farucci. The decisions made in the some three hours long parliamentary sessions would more often than not alter the future direction of the nation of Farucci.
However today, only four people were seated in the Parliamentary Chamber.
This meeting was called on a short notice. It was not an official parliamentary session.
“Your Highness, the Demon Realm is filled with vicious demons. They are creatures more terrifying than magical beasts. You must not sent Farucci’s most outstanding performers to their death in that savage land.”
A stooped old man spoke of his worries to Klund III.
“Simederin, calm yourself. Didn’t you praise ‘Hachiko: A Dog’s Tale’ endlessly? That movie is written and filmed by a demon from the Demon Realm. Did you really think that someone who made that movie could be a ‘vicious monster?'”
Klund III glanced at the four nobles seated below him. There was a common aspect to them — their children were members of the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe.
The news of the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe’s upcoming visitation to the Demon Realm was something that cannot be concealed in Farucci.
In only a single day, people in Farucci already learned that their most prized theatrical troupe was to proceed for the Demon Realm, a place rumored to be a ‘dangerous hell.’ Many nobles felt it to be something completely unimaginable, completely unreasonable.
“But Your Majesty, not all demons are…” The old man seemed to stubbornly believe in the proclamations made by the Nation of the Holy Church.
“Simederin, I will accept your decision to not have your grandson participate in the visitation to the Demon Realm. I hope that you will properly comfort him about this matter. Does anyone else have anything else to say?”
Klund III seemed to be determined to send a group of envoys to the Demon Realm. The atrocities committed by the Nation of the Holy Church had violated his baseline already.
While Klund III cannot directly declare war on the Nation of the Holy Church out of consideration for his people, he refuses to tolerate those damned missionaries.
In the end, that old man had no choice but to withdraw himself. Then, a burly noble walked forward. The most eye-catching aspect about this noble was the sinister-looking scar on his forehead.
His emotions were not as uncontrollable as the old man from before. He merely lowered his back and declared a stern fact to Klund III.
“Your Majesty, the Nation of Frost is currently at war against the Demon Realm. If we are to send envoys to the Demon Realm at such a time, it will affect our future diplomacy with the Nation of Frost.”
“General Rockmond, what you’ve said is a matter that I worry about too,” Klund III paused before continuing, “Even though our relationship with the Nation of the Holy Church is beyond repair now, there is still a need for us to maintain our trade alliance with the Nation of Frost…”
“Your Highness, I do not believe the journey to the Demon Realm will be able to provide us with any benefits apart from filming that so-called ‘Avatar’ movie.”
General Rockmond’s beloved youngest daughter was a member of the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe. Yesterday, his youngest daughter told him ‘Father, I will be leaving for the Demon Realm in a couple days! I’ll be able to meet many Mr. Zenarths there!’
When the aged general first heard his daughter mentioning her leave for the Demon Realm, his mind turned completely blank and wasn’t able to react properly.
Later, he asked his daughter who was ‘Mr. Zenarth.’ After a great amount of hesitation, his daughter finally revealed ‘Sin Demon.’ When he heard the words ‘Sin Demon,’ he felt as if his head was about to explode.
He had only ever enrolled his daughter into Farucci’s Royal Art Institute. That daughter of his had never learned any offensive magic. Yet now, she suddenly wanted to proceed to the Demon Realm and meet the rumored Sin Demons?!
That was something that this old general wouldn’t dare do back in his prime, something he wouldn’t dare do even if he was to lead an entire army!
Because of that, he hurriedly rushed to seek an audience with Klund III. When he arrived, he discovered that he was not the only person worried about his child’s journey.
“We cannot ascertain as to what the Demon Realm could provide us with this diplomatic exchange. Moreover… the Demon Realm had not dispatched anyone of equivalent status to our emissaries to visit Farucci.”
General Rockmond was offering a much more rational argument compared to the old man from before. He took a glance at an old man about his height standing at the other corner.
“Farucci must not be allowed to be humiliated because of the rash actions of the Donnell family!”
That old man was none other than Madam Schroder’s father. He was also a general of Farucci.
He was about to explode with rage hearing the insult to his family when a guard rushed into the Highest Parliamentary Chamber and half-kneeled before Klund III.
“Your Majesty, the Blackwood Elves and envoys from the Demon Realm seek your audience.”
“They’re finally here?” Klund III waved his hand to instruct the guard to leave.
“Envoys from the Demon Realm?”
All the subjects turned their eyes to the entrance of the Highest Parliamentary Chamber behind them.
The entrance gates were slowly being pushed open. A figure much taller than General Rockmond and Madam Schroder’s father emerged from the entrance.
That figure was donned in a giant cloak. But, one could tell from his walk that he was definitely not a human.
Subconsciously, General Rockmond started searching for his weapon. Only then did he recall that weapons were not allowed in the Highest Parliamentary Chamber.
Damn it… why would such a dangerous creature be allowed in Farucci!
General Rockmond could tell that the lofty figure was trying hard to contain his aura. However, this experienced general still felt oppressed by him.
“Your Majesty… this is…”
Panicking, a mage emerged from behind Klund III.
“Master Fedori, what’s wrong?” asked Klund III.
The mage hiding behind Klund III was his personal bodyguard. He was also one of the strongest mages of Farucci.
General Rockmond noticed the panic on the face of the powerful mage. The lofty figure by the entrance had already arrived before them.
The lofty figure removed the cloak covering his head, revealing his lion-like face.
Sin Demon… Seeing this demon, General Rockmond was left speechless with his eyes wide open. His mind had crashed momentarily.
The demon before him was an extremely dangerous monster on the battlefield. Ordinary human mages and knights were simply no match for it.
Yet, such a demon actually appeared on a place as important as the Farucci’s Highest Parliamentary Chamber!
Exactly who allowed such a terrifying monster here?!
Compared to the panic of the ministers and generals, Klund III was much more composed. The reason for that was because he noticed his mage bodyguard’s fear did not originate from the Sin Demon.
Instead, he was feeling fear toward an unremarkable silhouette standing beside the Sin Demon.
“I am the Third Price of the Demon Realm’s Annerlaude Royal Family, Joshua Annerlaude.”
Joshua walked out from behind his retainer Zenarth. Walking out together with him was the Blackwood Elf Elder Safran.
Together with Joshua, Elder Safran did a human noble gesture of etiquette toward the figure seated on the throne.