Even though she has the mind of a human, Elise, who got all hot and bothered in this situation, nudges me playfully. Just a moment ago, her breath was quickening, and now she’s standing next to me with a completely different expression.
“I want to change my panties.”
“Ugh…”
I barely managed to refrain from saying something harsh. Nobles with impressive names were staring at us in front of the throne—would they want to hear something like that?
Elise took a deep breath and cautioned me.
“Watch your words. If you had cursed just now… ah, I imagined it.”
“…”
I’m never bringing her to a place like this again.
The good thing is that she was wearing a long dress, so whatever happened below would be easily hidden.
I could already see Bertia breaking out in cold sweat.
After a simple greeting to His Majesty, Elise opened her mouth.
“Your Majesty, the reason I have come here today is none other than to discuss the future of this continent.”
“The future of the continent?”
The king, who had looked like a skeleton and appeared worn out during his encounter with the Priestess of Time and Oliver the First Prince, now radiated a majestic presence.
Of course, signs of that past ordeal lingered everywhere, but the king’s golden eyes still sparkled as they firmly held his throne.
King Frisia seemed puzzled by the sudden topic and turned to me with a questioning look before asking Elise again.
“What do you mean by the future of the continent?”
Other nobles couldn’t speak but were visibly treating me like a cult leader by their expressions. To be precise, the way their eyes shifted from the Priestess of Time to me felt loaded with suspicion.
“Ugh, damn it.”
Even when I tried not to curse, it slipped out uncontrollably.
Wasn’t the Priestess of Time the one who was lurking in the shadows, sucking the life out of the nobility and royalty, claiming that the apocalypse was coming soon?
They must think I’m just another parasite trying to drain the royal blood.
“Though I am actually receiving power from the Goddess of Time…”
Thinking like that made it feel as if they wouldn’t listen to me at all.
I know about the apocalypse and I need your help to prepare?
Isn’t that what the Priestess of Time would say!
But Elise maintained her composure and continued with her prepared explanation.
“A calamity will soon befall this continent. One that will annihilate all existence across the continent, not just the kingdoms or races. A truly terrifying catastrophe.”
Ahem.
“Ugh, here we go again…”
The nobles finally couldn’t hold back, clearing their throats and throwing sharp glances my way. I thought the way I entered the scene mirrored the timing of the Priestess of Time, but Elise began to shout vehemently, clearly unfazed. It was a face-off.
“Do you remember the Priestess of Time? She was an exceedingly wicked sinner. In collusion with the heinous traitor Oliver, she assassinated my older sister, Ilina de Frisia, who was the First Princess, and reached her black hands out to you, Your Majesty.”
“…”
“There was a time when such a person had that kind of power. And the Priestess of Time always warned us, saying a calamity would come, so we must remain alert.”
“What are you trying to say?”
He didn’t seem eager to hear more about the Priestess of Time and Oliver. Well, his son trying to assassinate him while blinded by the throne wasn’t exactly a fond memory either.
“What I want to say is… she was evil but powerful. Before being an assassin, she was an ideologue gone astray.”
Is this really the same princess who just moments ago mentioned her panties getting wet? Did she somehow transform into a different person while I wasn’t paying attention?
That thought crossed my mind because Elise was fiercely captivating the audience.
“Didn’t you all see? The power that the Priestess of Time possessed! She referred to herself as the earliest step forward. We called her the wise observer, always ahead of others, thus labeling her as ‘jeonjeongdo’ (前程到).”
“Stop talking about that.”
King Frisia, clearly not enjoying the conversation, waved a hand to silence her. Elise, not wanting to expend more words about the Priestess, lowered her head and continued.
“What I wish to convey is that while she was twisted, she was not wrong. The calamity is indeed coming. A violent death is watching over us from above the continent.”
Truth be told, the calamity the Priestess of Time saw was about the “Following Apocalypse,” not the “Earliest Apocalypse,” but that wasn’t really a crucial detail.
“Your Majesty, this boy here is Daniel McLean, a student who attends the Academy with me. As you well know, he was instrumental in stopping the Priestess of Time and played a significant role in Oliver’s arrest.”
At that, several nobles gasped as they recognized me. I guess after such a long time and in this urgent situation, they hadn’t put two and two together.
I was the one who single-handedly faced the Priestess of Time at the banquet organized by Prince Oliver.
“He is the complete opposite of the Priestess. While she sought to ‘use’ everything to prevent calamity, he is requesting our ‘cooperation.’”
“…”
“Your Majesty, we must be prepared.”
As Elise bowed deeply while speaking, several nobles started to exchange glances, sharing their respective opinions.
The consensus leaned toward at least hearing the story, but King Frisia thought differently.
“Don’t you lack reliable evidence?”
“…”
“The Priestess showed us her power, proved it, and took a long time to instill trust. That’s why we believed her.”
The king’s expression revealed an undeniable shadow of worry.
“However, even if a hero brings us good tidings, we wouldn’t easily trust it. Having been burned once, we wouldn’t easily forgive again.”
That was true.
An Academy student suddenly jumping out to announce that the continent might collapse? Who would believe that?
“Even if the continent is truly facing ruin, bring people or evidence we can trust.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Surprisingly, Elise accepted that without a fuss. It was as if she had already anticipated this response, slowly pointing behind her with her hand.
“That’s why I have brought those you can trust.”
The door to the audience room opened with the silence of a stealthy operation. It swung open smoothly as if lubricated.
And in walked numerous beings of different races.
“Oh?”
As they were all familiar faces, I couldn’t help but blurt out in astonishment. Just before I could piece together how these people made it here, the answer emerged in my mind.
“Ah, it’s the Cheonggeuk Chariot.”
The train operated only by royal family members. A monstrous train capable of traveling without hindrance even to the edges of the continent.
Its fuel efficiency was outrageous, and one could even consider it cruel since well-trained horses dropped dead from drug use before their time.
Using that train, they had come all the way from the far-off kingdom of beastmen.
“Master of one of the Seven Heavy Hammers, Hatsim Velok!”
The dwarf boldly proclaimed. Their tribe’s lack of rules and decorum was a unique trait.
“Guardian of Yggdrasil, Eris Anen Seriere. I have come here to lend credibility to Daniel McLean’s words.”
Eris, the elf, gracefully greeted us. The other nobles gawked at her beauty, wide-eyed, while Eris winked at me.
“Ahem, I am Lord Raizer, the Beast King. This is my first official meeting with the human king.”
Perhaps he was the most surprised person in the room. The hall rustled with the commotion surrounding Lord Raizer’s direct appearance.
Kurika was also visible at the back, though he didn’t bother to introduce himself, probably thinking people wouldn’t recognize him since Empress Kaliyus was well-known in our history.
Finally.
A girl with black hair stepped forward.
Carefully utilizing her powers, she manipulated the shadows at her feet—a feat no mage could replicate.
With calm eyes, Rin locked gazes with King Frisia.
“Hello, I am Rin. I am one of the calamities that will cover the continent, as mentioned by the Priestess of Time.”
An even more shocking commotion erupted compared to when Lord Raizer introduced himself. Nevertheless, Elise gestured onward, as if stating it wasn’t over yet.
And lastly.
Bertia was dragging Ares along with her, who looked utterly bewildered by the situation.
Without any hesitation, Elise pointed at Ares and shouted, “And that boy, Ares Helias, currently holds the title of Honorary Paladin in Batian, is the next calamity to come!”
