The Second Son of The Marquis Runs Away from Home ~ Lacking Talent, He Abandons Everything and Becomes an Adventurer ~ - 9

Chapter 9: Negotiation

After staying overnight at the inn, Hinowa and I returned to the Imperial Capital. I thought it would take a considerable amount of time due to the speed of Hinowa’s entourage, but her guards were so skilled that we made faster progress than anticipated.

The individuals who had been hidden at the inn—the guards known as Shadows—now disguised as ordinary attendants, rode in the carriage loaded with luggage. Although they appeared ordinary, their eyes scanned the surroundings meticulously, ready to respond immediately in case of emergency.

“You seem quite tense,” remarked Rakul, cautiously surveying the surroundings from the coachman’s seat. I replied in a low voice, barely audible over the conversation inside the carriage with Aria and the others.

“Yeah, but it’s not just the monsters we’re wary of.”

“…Us?”

“We’re probably being cautious of assassins from Hizuchi.”

There was no hostility towards us at the inn in Toa, but based on the movements of the five individuals I sensed while talking, along with the eight shadows riding in the rear carriage, it seemed they had been wounded.

They had likely already been attacked once. Considering they were hiding nearby while we were talking, it must have been shortly after the attack.

“I’ve heard enough… Hizuchi seems to be in quite an unstable situation,” Rakul observed.

“Yeah, and those outsiders who use forbidden arts… From what I’ve heard, they might have someone like Fifth over there.”

As Rakul and I conversed, the warnings we received, the disturbances in the Hume Continent, and the information Hinowa shared about Hizuchi’s situation all came to mind.

As the missing pieces gradually came together, a plan of action began to take shape.

“Rakul, ‘…'”

I conveyed my current thoughts to Rakul. After listening, he responded without hesitation.

“Understood. Leave it to me when the time comes.”

We exchanged smiles and bumped fists.

—

Without encountering any attacks on the way, we returned to the Imperial Capital after several days. Due to the requests from both Victoria and Hinowa, negotiations began immediately.

“First of all, I commend you for your long journey,” Victoria began.

“Thank you for your kind words of encouragement, and I deeply appreciate the opportunity to hold this meeting,” Hinowa replied with Imperial etiquette. Even among the dignitaries of the Empire, there were those who admired her firm demeanor during the negotiations.

“Now, let us get to the point. The disturbances occurring in our country… Furthermore, the letters mentioned that Zanma and Kamtsuhi are needed to resolve these disturbances. Is that correct?”

“Yes, and to explain the details, it is necessary for everyone here to understand the situation in Hizuchi,” Hinowa said.

“Very well, tell us,” Victoria said with a nod.

Hinowa bowed to Victoria before beginning to speak quietly.

“Hizuchi was divided into many countries, each observing a mutual non-aggression pact, thus avoiding war. However, Ozuma’s country violated the pact, invading neighboring nations and expanding its territory by summoning demons using forbidden arts.”

Summoning demons… Upon hearing that, I wasn’t the only one reminded of Fifth, and several people’s expressions grew grim.

“The art is called ‘Yellow Springs Sorcery’… It utilizes the power of a world equivalent to what we call hell on this continent, and if used continuously, it will manifest the gates of that world.”