20. Aphoris, the Fortress on the Sea

“Oh, no. That may’t be true. It’s Aphoris, not wherever else.”

“Uh, I do know one thing about it. It’s actual.”

“What? How have you learnt about Aphoris?”

At any time when two or extra individuals acquired collectively, the streets had been full of discuss Aphoris.

To not point out the taverns, the place many individuals got here and went.

The boys on the desk in the back of the store had been chattering away.

“A relative of my neighbor’s father-in-law, who’s the brother of a pal of a pal of mine, was accountable for transporting the prisoners to Aphoris, so I used to be capable of get some info.”

“Is that sufficient? I believe I’ve extra to do with the canine that walked by there.”

“Then you definately don’t want to listen to this, do you?”

“Effectively, I suppose I shouldn’t be speaking, I’m too curious.”

The person shrugged, having fun with the eye of his acquaintances.

Then he continued, his tone nearly boastful.

“Effectively, I’ll inform you one thing specifically: a relative of my neighbor’s father-in-law, who’s the brother of a pal of a pal of mine was transporting criminals and one thing unusual occurred.”

“That’s all effectively and good, however how lengthy are you going to go on about your pal’s pal’s brother blah, blah, blah, blah? Make it brief.”

“You’re being choosy. I see. Anyway, he’s loading up the wagon with criminals and heading to Aphoris…….”

“And?”

The person paused, and when he didn’t say something, the others within the room erupted in laughter.

“And also you’re going to take heed to this invaluable info along with your naked mouth?”

“I’ll purchase you a beer once you’re achieved, so go forward.”

“There’s no such factor as postpaid in my life. I make it my precept to be paid up entrance.”

“Ah. Wow. I’ve by no means heard something prefer it. Boss, give us a beneficiant portion of beer right here!”

The person’s acquaintances clucked their tongues however finally ordered beer.

The person grinned from ear to ear as he accepted the free beer and downed it in a single gulp.

Then his expression out of the blue stiffens.

“However then, the carriage out of the blue stopped.”

“Huh? What does that imply?”

By now, everybody within the tavern was perking up and listening to the person’s story.

“When he awoke once more, he noticed all of the knights guarding the carriage had fallen to the bottom, and when he rushed to test it out, he discovered it empty. The criminals had all fled.”

“What’s all this discuss? Didn’t he simply steal the criminals and lie about it?”

“No. What sort of energy does this fellow need to overpower the imperial knights and steal the criminals? Moreover, the knights and troopers instantly mobilized and scoured the mountains, and so they mentioned the criminals had been nowhere to be seen.”

“I see. That’s one other one.”

The others nodded in settlement as the person spoke.

“Heh. Certainly. I can’t consider it even after listening to it with my very own ears. How might that occur?”

“That’s proper. I can’t consider how this nation is making an attempt to function…….”

“Essentially the most surprising factor of all is that the imperial knights overpassed the criminals and couldn’t discover them.”

“I imply, there’s no assure this received’t occur once more.”

The individuals fidgeted uneasily.

“I don’t know what they’ve achieved, since we commoners don’t have the main points, however they’re clearly dangerous sufficient to be imprisoned in Aphoris. The streets are going to be nasty for some time.”

“Yeah. Let’s end this and get in.”

The boys clicked their tongues and swallowed their beer.

The subsequent day, the empire was turned the wrong way up as soon as extra.

The lacking criminals had appeared in Aphoris and had been imprisoned.

The boys within the tavern had been all speaking about it.

“No. However did the criminals enter Aphoris of their very own accord? Are they out of their minds?”

“After all they didn’t go voluntarily. Somebody discovered them and took them to Aphoris.”

“What? Who might have achieved such a factor?”

The one that did it was—

“I’ve come again with extra information. Collect spherical if you wish to hear it. It’s mentioned that the person who took the sinners again to Aphoris is the Mad Canine of Palesdon!”

“My pricey man, there are technically two mad canines in Palesdon, so you will need to inform us precisely which one you imply.”

“Ah. Proper. The Duchess of Palesdon, the mad canine of Brighton and the mad canine of Palesdon.”

It was Roselina.

* * *

Again in time, on the day of the Rose of Concord analysis presentation.

“I see. Let’s imprison these criminals in Aphoris.”

As I listened to the Emperor’s determination, a textual content popped up.

[A new quest has arisen. Would you like to check it out?]

‘Extra work to do?’

The system has no conscience.

‘Have a look at how a lot work I’ve achieved within the palace at present.’

I might have written dozens of novels about it.

‘I’m going to go residence and get some relaxation.’

[A new quest has arisen. Do you want to check it out?]

However as if to emphasise, a notification flashed.

Reluctantly, I checked the hunt.

[Quest scenario ﹤Hero of the Empire!(5)﹥

You have averted a foretold catastrophe and uncovered the secrets of the demons, a feat no one else has accomplished.

But you still have a long way to go.

The people who became demons as you guessed are the work of unbelievers, and if you kill them, they will live indefinitely and destroy the Empire.

So you can’t kill them, and you’ve come up with the idea of Aphoris, a fortress on the sea.

It’s a great plan, but it’s not an inherent solution.

So what should you do? Find an intrinsic solution!

The fate of the empire depends on you!

-Requirements: Resolve the Demon Crisis created by the Unbelievers

-Reward: Trigger the Scenario ﹤Hero of the Empire!﹥ buff]

‘What is that this?’

However after trying out the hunt, I’m despairing.

‘That is so absurd.’

It’s dangerous sufficient that I’m being requested to scrub up different individuals’s mess, however the reward is imprecise.

‘The buff from the state of affairs ﹤Hero of the Empire!﹥? That state of affairs has been auto-playing for some time, and it hasn’t achieved something for me, so what am I presupposed to do now?’

However finally I accepted the hunt.

‘In spite of everything, the system saved my father’s and Leodor’s lives.’

I used to be additionally bothered by the point out of “The Finish of the Empire” within the quest.

“The responsible will likely be held in Imperial Jail for questioning whereas we put together to move them to Aphoris. Nonetheless, I wish to request the help of the Duchess of Palesdon.”

“Why do you search my daughter-in-law?”

The Emperor out of the blue turned to me, and Catalina reacted earlier than I did.

“The Duchess of Palesdon is the one one who has succeeded in subduing them on this gathering of the continent’s biggest minds, so, simply in case, Godfather Palesdon, please forgive me.”

“Sure, my daughter-in-law is the strongest, however I’m undecided I need to…….”

Battle flashed throughout Catalina’s face.

Then she slapped Argention on the again beside her.

“You’re no use to me at a time like this! You shouldn’t be getting in my daughter-in-law’s method!”

“I apologize.”

What are you two doing……?

The sight of Catalina scolding her nephew, whom she cherishes so dearly, or Argention apologizing so sincerely for her outrageous comment made me dumbfounded.

I’m positive I’m not the one one who thinks so, and I really feel their stares sting.

“At Your Majesty’s command, I’ll keep watch over them to make sure they don’t do something silly.”

“Good. With the Duchess of Palesdon on our facet, I’m positive we will relaxation simple.”

I got down to arrange this example rapidly.

‘In spite of everything, I’ll need to make contact with them to unravel the hunt.’

All of a sudden, I felt an incredible push from the facet.

I glanced over and noticed Catalina’s expression was grim.

She was respiratory closely, and her eyes had been glazed over.

“Catalina, are you okay?”

“Ah! After all I’m high quality! I’ve at all times been wholesome! With such an incredible alternative, I’ve to be!”

“What? What’s that…….”

I requested cautiously, and she or he nodded gravely.

“I can’t ship my daughter-in-law off to a harmful place alone, so it’s solely proper that I provide you with an escort.”

“No, no. I’m high quality…….”

It was apparent that having another person in addition to me would intervene with my quest.

“Ah. I’m getting dizzy…….”

I used to be about to say no when Catalina made a sickening sound and staggered away.

“Girl Catalina. Are you okay?”

“No, I believe I’m going to break down with fear about my good, silly daughter-in-law, and I don’t know what to do about it…….”

“Your complexion is simply too good for that to be true.”

“Agh. This time I’ve a headache…….”

Catalina checked my expression as she spoke and narrowed her eyes.

‘It’s a trick. That is bullshit.’

I attempted to say no her supply firmly.

However I hesitated once I remembered Catalina’s weak point and her want for relaxation.

Lastly, as a final resort, I checked out Argention.

“Argention. Might you presumably…….”

“I must be your escort, I can’t let anybody else do that.”

I gave him a glance that was meant to say, “Do one thing about this,” but he blurted one thing out.

“Very effectively, then the Duke and Duchess of Palesdon can keep watch over them.”

The Emperor nodded his approval.

“What the…….”

I muttered in disbelief, then felt a slight heat in my hand.

“What do you assume? Did I do a great job?”

Catalina’s hand was wrapped round mine and she or he was me warmly.

‘She thought I used to be in love with Argention.’

Catalina had been looking for time for me and Argention to be collectively.

‘However it’s not like this……!’