The Healing Solaris Cleric-Chapter 313: Divine of the East (4)

To be honest, this is a bit too much.

That was the first thought that came to Kai when Paval offered to guide him because the relationship between him and Paval was nothing short of complicated.

“Umm.”

The first time they had met, Kai had completely beaten him up. However, the one who had been thoroughly beaten claimed to have gained great realization and now treated Kai like a benefactor. Regardless of what Paval truly felt, Kai couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.

But aside from that, Paval as a guide was excellent.

This is more convenient than I expected.

Even the palace, which seemed so solid and secure, opened its doors with just one nod from Paval.

Just like outside, the interior of the palace was bustling with people.

“Are the fireworks ready?”

“What about the kitchen?”

“They said there’s no problem.”

“Today, there must not be even the smallest mistake.”

People, appearing busy, rushed about carrying out their tasks.

Watching them, Kai glanced at Paval with a curious expression and asked, “Is there something special going on today? Everyone seems so busy.”

Paval suddenly froze like a broken doll.

He slowly turned his head and made a serious expression.

“... Kai. Are you seriously asking that?”

“What?”

“You're asking what day it is... Sigh, judging from your face, you really don’t know.”

With a light sigh, Paval rubbed the back of his head with his palm. Every time he did so, it made a squeaking sound, like wiping a car hood with a clean towel.

“Why did you visit the royal palace today?”

“Because His Majesty the King summoned me.”

“May I ask why he summoned you?”

“It’s not a big deal, just a simple matter of transferring two of Count Hind’s territories into my name.”

Hearing that, Paval's eyes widened in surprise.

Then, with an amused expression, he looked at Kai.

“Ah, so that’s what it was...” Paval nodded with a smile that showed he found something entertaining. “Since you seem to have received no notice, allow me to explain briefly. Today is His Majesty King Beoruk’s birthday. That’s why nobles from all over the country and representatives from the Wizard Tower have gathered to offer their congratulations.”

“Birthday? Today?” Kai asked again with a bewildered look.

A birthday, in other words, was a celebration of one’s birth.

So, the invitation in my inventory was for a birthday party?

Why didn’t anyone say that? Seriously, why.

With a troubled expression, Kai looked down to check his outfit. He had worn clean clothes in anticipation of visiting the royal palace, but that was all. The plain and simple outfit was hardly appropriate for celebrating the king’s birthday.

“Would visiting in this outfit be a bit rude?”

Paval looked over Kai’s clothing and gave a short evaluation. “There doesn't seem to be a big problem, but compared to the nobles wearing all sorts of fancy outfits...”

That meant his outfit was lacking in class.

After hearing that, Kai nodded and asked, “Is there somewhere I can change clothes?”

“Oh! Did you perhaps bring another set of clothing?”

As Paval’s voice brightened, Kai smiled and slowly nodded. “I know someone who can lend me something quite fancy.”

***

An entire floor of the royal palace was used solely for King Beoruk’s birthday celebration. There were all kinds of extravagant decorations and glittering chandeliers. Dozens of appetizing dishes and wines so expensive that ordinary people could hardly ever even look at them were laid out. It was clear just how much effort the Kingdom of Rashion had put into this party.

“It’s been a while since we’ve all gathered.”

“As I get older, even leaving my territory feels like a task.”

“You say that, but you look younger with each passing year.”

“Haha, thank you, even if it’s just flattery.”

Everyone gathered here today was someone of significance in the Kingdom of Rashion. After all, only those ranked at least a baron or part of a world-renowned merchant family could receive an invitation. Naturally, before the king made his entrance, the banquet hall was full of nobles bustling about to network.

“Count Sten, have you been well?”

However, Count Sten was different from the other nobles.

“Mhm.”

He neither wandered around nor spoke much. He simply sipped his wine, and when nobles came to greet him, he would just nod his head slightly.

His immense power allowed for that. There weren’t many high-ranking nobles in the Kingdom of Rashion. Since the era of war, no ducal families had emerged, and so the highest-ranking nobles in the Kingdom of Rashion were counts.

Of course, not all counts were equal. There were those known as the so-called great lords. Hind of the north, Sinva of the west, and Sten of the south were precisely those three. Only the eastern region had no one referred to as a great lord, and that was because the power of the counts in the east was evenly matched.

“Count, have you heard what happened this morning?”

“What are you referring to?” Count Sten asked back to the viscount, who could be considered part of his faction.

“I mean Count Sinva of the West. They say he was publicly humiliated while waiting in line at the palace.”

“Tsk, that uncultured chatterbox?”

Count Sten, who believed a noble should always uphold dignity, disliked Count Sinva. The man was overly talkative and lacked the grace befitting a noble.

Just to think I'm lumped together with that kind of guy as one of the Three Counts of Rashion makes my blood boil.

Irritated, the count took another sip of wine and asked again, “But who in the world could’ve humiliated him? There shouldn't be anyone capable of that.”

Though he looked down on Count Sinva, he didn’t deny his power. With his vast wealth and cunning, Sinva had risen to become the Great Lord of the West, and no one could afford to ignore him.

“They say it was a baron.”

“A baron?” A look of pity appeared in Count Sten’s eyes. “Unfortunate.”

If a mere baron had humiliated himself, he would never forgive such a person, and Sinva was certainly no more forgiving than he was.

But the viscount who had been relaying the story shook his head. “No. I don’t believe any kind of retaliation you’re imagining will happen.”

“What do you mean by that?”

A baron had made a fool of a count, and yet there would be no retribution? Count Sten couldn’t understand that from his perspective.

“The name of that baron is Kai.”

“Kai... Wait, by Baron Kai you mean...”

“Yes. He governs Libertia, Arkan, and Haveros in the East. He’s the one stirring up a storm lately due to the dispatch of dwarves.”

“I’m aware. I even sent a gift recently in hopes of bringing in one of those dwarf blacksmiths.”

“Ah! I heard the competition for that was incredible, but as expected, you’re impressive.”

At the viscount’s praise, Count Sten smiled and swirled his wine glass. “Still, even if he’s the so-called Divine of the East, I don’t understand how he could act up against a count and be safe.”

“Oh, I heard it from someone who witnessed the scene, but apparently the captain of the Guardian Knights protected him.”

“Captain Paval, you say?”

Count Sten’s eyes narrowed. Captain Paval was known to act solely for King Beoruk and his own family. There was no reason for him to help a mere baron.

“Yes. For unknown reasons, they say he treats Baron Kai with utmost respect.”

“This makes less and less sense.”

Baron Kai, what kind of man could he be?

I’ve only heard rumors, but now I’m genuinely curious.

Even Count Sten’s own son was attending Arkan Academy.

The Arkan I saw in the footage was a city overflowing with elegance.

A man who had planned and built such a place would surely be a model noble.

Count Sten began to look forward to meeting with Kai.

***

“It’s been a while.”

“Yes, it has.”

Vulcan and Minerva exchanged awkward greetings.

Though they were both guild masters of the world’s eight guilds, the two didn’t have much contact. After all, they were competitors as they both operated within the Kingdom of Rashion.

However, since neither of them used dirty or underhanded tricks, they were rivals engaged in a relatively fair competition. Because of that, they neither held ill feelings toward each other or particularly good ones.

It’s just like having a coworker.

Like meeting someone from a different subsidiary of the same company... a workplace colleague.

The two of them, maintaining an awkward silence, couldn't go around greeting the other nobles, as both of them were merely barons. In a place where all the kingdom’s nobles had gathered, they had to be cautious with both their words and actions.

“Now that I think of it, Unknown should be coming today too.”

“Most likely.”

“Hmm. No matter what the occasion, he usually arrives early, but he seems a bit late today.”

“He’s usually early? What are you talking about?”

Vulcan and Minerva looked at each other, confused.

From Vulcan’s perspective, Unknown had never once been late during the Zatan raid, not even to minor briefings.

But things were different for Minerva.

He’s always late... It's like second nature for him.

During the Invasion Event and the inauguration of the Holy Blood Order Commander, Kai was the type to arrive late rather than come early and wait in Minerva’s perspective. In fact, he still hadn’t shown up today yet, either.

“The Pray guild’s been relatively inactive lately. Is there a reason?”

“I’d say we’re focusing on strengthening our foundation.”

Though she answered that way, Minerva wore a faint smile.

Vulcan is probably only thinking about what’s happening in Rashion.

That would explain why he believed the Pray guild was keeping quiet, but in reality, things were different.

As part of the Holy Blood Order, the Pray guild had been touring the continent recently, achieving major things. Of course, the Holy Blood Order was a secret force veiled in mystery under the Solarian Church, so no players were aware of that fact.

“Strengthening your foundation, huh. I hope it brings good results.”

“You too.”

Just as the somewhat pleasing conversation between the two awkward individuals came to an end, the banquet hall doors opened.

“Please present your invitation.”

When the royal butler at the entrance requested an invitation, a man dressed in elegant clothing handed over his invitation.

Upon receiving the invitation, the royal butler looked at the man in surprise. “Ahem!”

The man wore a navy-blue suit that seemed to declare that was what elegance was supposed to look like. The suit, crafted by an unknown artisan, had white accents placed throughout.

“B-Baron Kai is entering!”

At the butler’s announcement, all eyes turned toward the entrance.

First, Count Sinva from the western noble circle looked at him with a gaze full of discontent, while Count Hind of the northern nobles greeted him with a smiling face. Lastly, Count Sten, the head of the southern nobles, captured Kai in his eyes with a gaze of curiosity.

“Hmm, as I thought, I wasn’t wrong.”

As soon as he changed clothes, Kai was dragged by Paval to have his hair done by a court lady, and his appearance looked more elegant and dignified than ever.

Kai calmly accepted the various gazes directed at him as he continued walking forward. “Hm.”