The office was spartan.
A desk in the center. A bookshelf. A small table and sofa for visitors. At first glance, that was all.
Usually, places like this are lavishly decorated.
But Alverud's office prioritized function.
The only fancy thing was probably the large, crimson curtain behind him.
And a sword mounted on the wall for display. Though it was a purely practical blade with no ornamentation whatsoever.
That was thoroughly Alverud-like.
Alverud sat at what was probably an ebony desk, elegant in its simplicity.
Hair of a golden hue that shimmered softly, catching the light. Dark eyes that seemed to seize and hold everything without letting anything slip past.
His features were beautiful, sharp, and exquisitely refined.
He exuded an androgynous aura where a sense of the sacred was simply taken for granted.
A handsome young man, like a statue brought to life from myth, meticulously crafted.
In his usual attire of a red mantle over pure white armor, simply standing there made him look like a painting.
But even now, dressed in casual clothes, signing documents in his office, he still looked like a painting.
That was Alverud von Lutbelt.
"Sit there and wait just a moment, will you?"
"Sure."
He gestured, and I settled onto the sofa. It was white and soft.
The table was made of glass.
In my past life, it would've been normal, but in this world, it counts as rare.
Then Karla served me tea.
A fancy-looking cup, filled with fancy-looking black tea.
"Itadakimasu."
Oh. It tastes fancy.
Rich and mellow. Yeah. Fancy.
I glanced at Alverd, who was writing something on some documents.
He signed the papers with a serious face, then picked up the next set.
"..."
Come to think of it, I'd never done desk work in this world.
The only time I'd used a desk was when I learned to write at the Seihou Church back in the village.
In my past life, this was just everyday stuff, though.
Eventually, Alverd set down his pen.
He looked at me.
"That's it. Sorry to keep you waiting."
"No, I'm sorry. You're busy, and I—"
"Don't worry about it."
Alverd rose from his desk and moved to the seat across from me.
Karla immediately poured more tea.
Alverd thanked her, picked up his cup, and took a slow sip.
He set the cup down and looked at me.
"So, what's this about?"
"Didn't Carla tell you anything?"
"She just said it was urgent and that Wof was here."
I couldn't help but glance at Carla.
"I figured it was important enough that I should explain from the beginning myself."
That was fair enough, I supposed. Oh well.
I took one more sip, savoring the refined flavor, and then began.
"…Alverd, do you know about a Relic called 'Transmutation'?"
"I've heard of it. The Paredo incident in Hydrangea and the commotion in the royal capital both reached my ears."
"It happened in the royal capital too?"
"It did. An extremist group that had been operating in the shadows used 'Transmutation' to turn into monsters and were put down."
"I had no idea…"
The transmuted monsters must have been Anomalocaris. No doubt about it.
Come to think of it, could the ones the Witch fought in the royal capital's dungeon have been Anomalocaris too?
"If I recall, you were involved in the Paredo matter together with the Witch."
"Yes. So the thing is, that 'Transmutation' Relic was a mass-produced Relic."
"…An artificial Relic. I've heard the royal capital's Relic research institute did achieve some success, even if the effects were limited."
"Really?"
"You didn't know? I heard the Witch was involved."
"Fair enough… though I'm just an apprentice, so it's not like I know everything."
Seriously, is that woman involved in everything?
Alverde smiled faintly.
"You'd be right about that."
"The real question is who created that Transmutation. You could call them the mastermind behind the whole thing."
"Who is it?"
"A monster. Not just any monster—a treasure-class monster: Kuun."
In that instant, Alverde's aura shifted.
The relatively relaxed composure he'd maintained vanished in a heartbeat, replaced by a sharp pressure that bore down on the room.
Even Carla-san, standing beside us, drew a sharp breath.
"…Kuun…?"
"Yes. Kuun has been mass-producing Transmutation Relics by applying the talisman's eternal egg."
"The talisman… that egg—does he have it?"
"He does. And Kuun is currently in the royal capital."
The air grew heavier still.
Carla-san looked like she was struggling to bear it.
I felt perfectly fine.
"The royal capital… the royal capital. So that's how it is. That explains everything. No wonder I couldn't find a single trace of it in the dungeon. I knew he was somewhere in this kingdom, but I never expected… the royal capital."
I'd had a vague feeling about it.
That was why Alverde had been actively exploring dungeons all over the region—he'd been searching for Kuun.
"Lord Alverde…"
Carla's voice caught in her throat.
"I won't ask how you know, but why did you tell me?"
"Alverde. I need to get my hands on the Talisman's perpetual egg no matter what. That's the situation."
"So your target isn't Kuun — it's the Talisman's perpetual egg?"
"Yes. I have no interest in Kuun."
I have no interest. But the mastermind who created the Anomalocaris — I won't forgive them for that.
That won't change. I'll leave the subjugation to Alverde.
But let me at least land one punch.
"And my target is Kuun. I have no interest in the Talisman."
"That's exactly why I came to tell you this."
Alverde stared straight at me.
Those black eyes — it felt like they could pull my very soul in.
I remembered that Alverde's Relic had something like that.
"So you want to form an alliance?"
"Yes. Shall we join forces for our respective goals?"
"So that means using each other, doesn't it?"
"Yes."
I nodded honestly.
My little tricks wouldn't work on someone like Alverde.
A witch could probably wrap someone like that around her finger. Definitely not me.
"Heh, that's more like us. Very well."
"Thank you."
"That said, I can't move right away. Part of me wants to rush to the royal capital and take Kuun down immediately, but clan reform takes priority. I can't just abandon it."
"I understand."
"So I'm entrusting all activities in the royal capital to you."
"To me?"
"You're going to the royal capital, aren't you?"
"That is, yes."
"All expenses and base operations in the royal capital will be covered entirely by me."
"So that means you want me to find Kuun?"
"Do you have a complaint?"
"No. If you're going to provide thorough support, I'm fine with that."
Besides, if Alverde made his move, it would draw way too much attention.
After all, he was far too famous as a First-Class Delver, and on top of that, he was a noble.
At the very least, if he came to the royal capital, Kuun would be on guard.
He wouldn't believe that Kuun didn't know about a clan called the Kuun Hunt.
Well, I'd expected it would come to this, and I'd been planning to ask for support anyway.
That he brought it up himself was actually a relief.
"The Kuun Hunt will also send liaison personnel and support staff."
"Understood."
A message, then.
Communication terminals have zero time lag, so they really come in handy in situations like this.
But the royal capital is too far — I can't reach Hydrangea from here.
Oh, right. I should talk to MASTER.
If it's the technology on the ship, something should be doable.
I'd also like to get the hang of the newest PO model I'll be getting.
It should definitely be useful for the Kuun search.
Besides, in the royal capital there's the Witch. Ken no Ken is there, too. And his disciple Celest.
And — oh, right.
In the royal capital,
she
— the
girl
I keep
thinking
about —
she's
right
there.
Hmm. What should I do.
Ah, what should I do.