I’m an Appraiser, But What the Heck is a [Divine Eye]? ~I Want to Live Freely as the World’s Best Beginner Class~ - Episode 263: The Hero, the Sword Saint, and the Appraiser 4

Episode 263: The Hero, the Sword Saint, and the Appraiser 4

The room we were ushered into wasn’t the throne room as I had expected. It was a relatively modest chamber with simple furnishings. 

I wondered for a moment—could this new King of Shriden be as overly casual as King Winster? 

While I mused on this, the new King of Shriden entered from the door at the back.

“Oh, I’m terribly sorry for summoning you like this.” 

…So humble! His demeanor was so self-effacing that I almost forgot he was a king. 

Startled, I glanced at Ride-san to confirm if this was really the king. 

“That gentleman is none other than His Majesty, Orvis Resforest.” 

“Oh, I truly apologize. It’s hard for me to change this behavior so suddenly.” 

“N-No, it’s no trouble at all…” 

“Ah! Please don’t be so formal! I may be called a king, but I’m really just a temporary one.” 

“No, Your Majesty. You are destined to become the great ruler who will lead Shriden forward.”

From what I’d heard, King Orvis had been a moderate noble governing a remote region. 

Even so, bowing his head to us so deferentially even after becoming king felt a bit…….. off. And a “temporary king”? That’s not really a thing, is it? 

“Well, that may be true, Ride-dono.” 

“Just call me Ride.” 

“Ugh! …R-Ride?” 

“Yes, Your Majesty. That’s why I’m here in Shriden, dedicating myself as an advisor to the kingdom.” 

“Well, that’s true, but still…” 

I decided to interrupt. As much as they seemed comfortable chatting, we were in a hurry to get to the Rodgrul Kingdom. 

“Uh, Your Majesty? Could you tell us why you called for us?” 

I’d prefer to leave soon if there was no urgent business. 

“Oh, I’m terribly sorry. The truth is, I have a request for you on your way to the Rodgrul Kingdom.” 

“A request?” 

This didn’t sound promising. But if it was something small, and it gave us leverage with a foreign royal family, it might be worth considering. 

“Yes. I’d like you to ascertain Maria Shriden’s true intentions.” 

“Maria’s… true intentions?” 

What could that mean? 

Maria, like Gozef and Amanda, was part of the Shriden royal family. Hadn’t the *whole* family been aiming for continental unification? 

“To be honest, I don’t believe Maria Shriden shared the same ideology as Gozef and Amanda.” 

“And why is that?” 

“When she accompanied the army advancing toward the Rodgrul Kingdom, she also visited the territory I governed. Her demeanor was not that of royalty but rather that of a polite noblewoman.” 

“…So you want us to verify her true intentions?” 

“Yes, but only if it’s possible. After all, she may still pose a threat to your lives.” 

…….…Should I take his words at face value? 

While the King had maintained a humble posture until now, he suddenly exuded a more regal, noble aura when discussing Maria. 

If I thought about it carefully, I realized I didn’t know much about Orvis Resforest. 

What if his humility was a façade, and he harbored a completely different personality? 

He was a noble trusted by King Winster to rule a kingdom, so I couldn’t let my guard down. 

“…I suppose it’s only natural to be cautious.”

“Ah, no…” 

“Regardless of her true intentions, I must judge Maria Shriden. That much is clear to me. But I also believe that children should not be burdened with the sins of their parents.” 

“Even though she destroyed an entire kingdom?” 

“Precisely. Which is why I want to understand her true intentions. Did she march out of her own will, or was it merely because she followed her parents’ orders? Depending on the answer, the weight of her crimes must be judged accordingly.” 

I wanted to believe he wasn’t lying. 

But using my Appraisal skill here would be disrespectful. 

“You’re free to use your Appraisal skill if you’d like.”

“Ugh!” 

“No, no. I understand why you might not trust my words. But there’s no need for me to lie to someone like Maki-dono, who can see through everything with that skill of his.” 

“……You’re right.” 

Now that I remembered, Orvis was one of the few people informed about my Appraisal skill. It was thanks to King Winster. 

While I wasn’t thrilled about that, if he’d already anticipated my concerns…..… 

“Very well, then. I’ll trust you.” 

“…A-Are you sure?” 

“Yes. And only if it’s possible, correct?” 

“Of course. Your safe return is far more important than uncovering her true intentions.” 

After that discussion, we accepted King Orvis’ request.