Chapter 201

Darshe Principality’s Seventh Great Duke, Bastaraf
For the time being, since we couldn’t keep talking in the bedroom forever, we moved to the parlor.
There, we found an old man sipping tea.
The aroma... it's green tea.

“Hmm. Sazaby, have you found Lady Plum?”

“Yes, I did, Grandpa Bastaraf. I apologize for having you teleport all the way here.”

“Not at all. That girl is like a beloved granddaughter to me as well.”

The newly appeared old man was apparently called Bastaraf.
Since Lord Sazaby was speaking to him so familiarly, he must be from the Darshe Principality as well.

“Hm? Sazaby, who is the young girl behind you?”

“Oh, her? This is Lily, the one who rescued Plum.”

“I see, I see. My name is Bastaraf. I am the head of the Lich family, one of the Seven Great Ducal families of the Darshe Principality.”

“So, you’re a nobleman...”

“Yes, but there’s no need to be overly deferential to the nobles of the Darshe Principality. While being overly arrogant is also a problem, treating us as equals is sufficient. After living for thousands of years, there’s not much that can anger me.”

Thousands of years... that's on a completely different scale.
I’m only 16 years old (according to the Goddess’s setting).

After sitting down in the parlor, Lord Bastaraf himself brewed some green tea for us.
The warm green tea somehow soothes my heart.
People in this country are not used to the bitterness and find it hard to drink, but I’m fine with it.
In fact, if I said I wanted to import it privately, they would arrange it through the embassy. How lucky!

Soon after, Plum, who had changed clothes, came and told us about the events that had happened.
Although Lord Bastaraf said that most things wouldn't anger him, he was quite furious about this.

Is everything going to be alright...?

“Lord Bastaraf, do not be so hasty. We do not have conclusive evidence yet. If it turns out to be true, we need to thoroughly investigate how the Inquisitors infiltrated, but for now, that’s all we can do.”

“Hmm... I’ve lived for thousands of years, but I’ve only ever been tormented by the heretics of Gaze. There's nothing more troublesome than those who have misconstrued faith and no longer fear death. What should we do?”

“Grandpa Bastaraf, restoring order in our country comes first. I’m worried about Plum, so I’ll stay for a while. Can you return first and give the necessary orders?”

“Yes, that sounds best. I’ve already positioned the airborne troops in advance. But don’t strike first.”

“I’m not that foolish. This is just preparation in case they strike.”

“That’s good. Then, I will return. Oh, Lily. Here’s today’s tea. Since it’s already opened, drink it before it gets damp.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Mm. I’m glad to have gained another granddaughter. Farewell then.”

The area around Lord Bastaraf distorted, and his figure vanished.
This must be some form of teleportation magic.
I’d like to learn it myself. If I can, that is.

After Lord Bastaraf left, Rumaja summarized the potential actions the Kingdom might take.
Some of them were unbelievable, but considering the incompetence of the Knights, they weren’t out of the question.
We gathered the other adventurers who participated in the mission and discussed it again, but no one disagreed with Rumaja’s opinion.
Is the King of this country really that incompetent?

After a while, things got noisy outside, and a servant rushed into the parlor.
Something must have happened... or rather, Rumaja’s scenario was spot on.

“Lady Rumaja! The Royal Knights have come to capture you! They accuse you of stealing the Royal treasure!”

So, it’s the Royal treasure...
This means the Kingdom is definitely in the wrong.

What do you think about this chapter?