Kingdom of Humanity - Lower-level - morning
In an alley between two houses, king Relius and I hide from the crowds of people as they pass by. The king refused to talk to me until we reached this alleyway. We avoided detection from the knights while making our way here.
“If someone were to look into this alleyway, they would think of us as dubious men plotting a nefarious scheme,” king Relius mentions the idea with a jovial grin.
“King Relius, why were you trying to sneak out of the castle?”
“Is it not obvious by now? If I must, then I shall enlighten you; I am bestowing myself a personal day off. I feel as if I deserve it after all this time.”
I can’t help but leave my mouth a gap, stunned by his reasoning. I was brainstorming several possibilities of a threat on the king’s life as we made our way here, I even had my hand on my sword’s hilt the entire way. But now, I learn he was just getting away from his duties.
“You’re ignoring your duties?”
I pose my disapproval as a question.
“Do not be ridiculous, I would never abandon my throne. I am simply temporarily leaving it to take a breather.”
“Wouldn’t that mean you are abandoning it?”
“Absolutely not! Abandoning and taking a leave of absence for a few hours are two completely different concepts.”
“I’m not so sure about that…”
The king places a hand on my shoulder. “Poor child, you have much to learn about the life of a king, and as much as I would be enthralled to teach you, I must be on my way.”
“Hold on, why are you suddenly acting like this?”
“Hm, I don’t follow?”
“You’ve been nothing but diligent as a king, but now, you’re acting as if you’re a student skipping school. I wish to understand what your real reason for leaving the throne is.”
King Relius scratches the back of his head, sighing as he does so. He turns his attention to me for a moment, turning away with an expression that shows he’s pondering something. Then he turns back to me with a playful grin on his face.
“Legion, if you wish to understand why I’m away from my throne, then accompany me around the kingdom.”
“Why can’t you just answer me now?”
“I shall do no such thing.” He denies me without any leeway for discussion. “Of course, you do not need to accompany me, you can simply run along if you wish.”
He has a point, I can leave him to his own devices and go on about my patrol. But if he were to get attacked, then the responsibility would fall on to me since I left him on his own. However, I am also curious to know the exact reason he’s outside the castle, other than just taking a break.
“...Very well, I shall be your bodyguard for your break,” I solemnly declare.
“Excellent, however, we must change your clothes.”
“No, I cannot.”
“Come now, you stick out like a sore toe.”
“Even so, I cannot. This uniform is proof of my status as a representative, so I cannot take it off; except when I’m going to sleep, of course.”
The king sighs to himself once again from my stubborn attitude. Hopefully, he isn’t too annoyed by it.
“Fine, since you are attached to the outfit, I shall allow you to accompany me with it on. Come now, the day waits for no man, not even a king.”
He casually strolls out of the alleyway and into the public with his hood up. He’s quite energetic than he usually is, I’ll say that much. However, I'm starting to doubt his devotion to his kingdom the way he’s acting so far. For now, I’ll see where this leads, and if I don’t like it, then I’ll voice my opinion on the matter, but no more than that; I’m not able to change or manipulate how this kingdom is run, so all I can do is say how I feel.
The kingdom of humanity - Lower-level - morning
The king is walking in front of me, insisting that he'd like to be the point man for our excursion. So far, no attention has been drawn on to us. At first, I thought he would be unaccustomed to the lower level, but he's blending in well. Still, where he intends to go is unknown.
The streets are filled with citizens going about their day by either working or heading somewhere by themselves or with someone else. A jumble of voices mixing in with one another as they all talk amongst themselves.
“Isn’t it wonderful?” the king asks with a prideful tone.
“What is?”
“The peace that is this kingdom. Come now, speak your mind.”
“Yes, it is quite wonderful. There’s always a sense of ease whenever I walk the streets, even at night.”
“I’m satisfied to hear that you feel such ease on these streets. Though there is still work to be done to reign in complete peace. For one, we must be able to stop crime from happening within this kingdom.”
Is it even possible to accomplish such a feat? Even the Church is struggling to achieve such an accomplishment, despite our best efforts.
“...The first crime we must stop is a serial killer,” the king urges, his voice grim.
The news of a killer shocks me as my eyes widen. “A serial killer!? I never encountered such a person during my patrols in the lower-level of the kingdom!”
“That is because he is killing Nobles.”
“Why?”
“No idea, their motives remain a mystery.”
I doubt that they're killing Nobles by random chance. There must be more to it.
“Do you suspect it to be personal?” I question
“At first, yes. We looked into the victims to find a reason. Their first victim was a man who had a share of the markets down here, in the lower-level. He gained a profit from each vendor down here, massing money from them by supplying them with products such as food, weaponry, resources by the outside, and any other products the shops they have a business agreement with needs. However, we couldn't find anything that would suggest he took more than 60% of the profits from the vendors according to his financial documents, let alone treated them unfairly. So I doubt a shop owner killed him since they would not benefit from such an act."
That does seem to be less likely. Maybe he was killed by another noble?
"Can you continue on about the rest of the victims?"
"Certainly. The second victim was a man who used bounty hunters to find rare artifacts and treasures outside the kingdom. He was killed in the streets as he was walking home with his mistress. She said the killer was going to kill her too, but a knight spotted them. She was quite shaken from the event and has yet to recover from it. The third victim was the head of a noble family. The head member of the family would be a knight; this has been their tradition for generations."
"For generations?"
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
"...Their family was one of many who served mine over the generations. He was sworn in while my father was young. He left behind 2 kids; one male, the other female… The older one is female."
"Will the daughter become a knight?"
"Who can say. I don't care if she does or doesn't, but they must contribute to the kingdom's prosperity when they get older."
Three victims, each of them being nobles. One being a man who hired others to find treasures and relics, the other having a hand in the lower-level marketplace, and the last being a knight for the kingdom... I can't see the similarities between the three.
"Each of them had nothing to do with the other. There was nothing to show they knew one another."
How did he know what I was thinking? Can he read my mind!? No, that is outrageous.
"How did you know I was thinking that?"
"Just an educated guess." Quite the guess. "But back to the killer, I think the killer is killing Nobles for someone else. However, while it does benefit some Nobles who want to control a portion of the lower-level marketplace, and hire bounty hunters that were employed under one of the dead Nobles via a contract, we have no proof to pin an accusation on any of them. So until we do, we'll simply rule it as a maniac out for blood."
I suppose it is a sound conclusion to stick with for now. Still, if there is a killer that only kills Nobles, he must have a grudge against them or is working for someone. When the day is over and the king is in his castle, I'll begin my search for him.
"Okay, we have arrived," the king says as he stops in front of a bar, spreading his hands apart from each other. "Come, let us partake in lower-level culture."
"In a bar?"
"Of course, but not any bar, a bar that is well established and respected by the people down here. Fine food, swell beverages, and fine waitresses. Nothing compares."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, enter to see for yourself…"
He enters the bar without any hesitation. Granted, I have never entered a bar since I'm a minor. However, since it is to accompany the king, I must push aside my reservations.
Lower-level - Leaky lagoon - morning
I expected the bar to be filled with drunkards causing a ruckus and acting belligerent, but for the most part, the patrons, while having fun, are keeping to themselves while drinking by themselves or with a group.
“Let us go seat ourselves,” king Relius commands as he leads us to a table.
We take a seat on a round, wooden table near the wall on the left side of the bar. I take off my holstered sword from my waist since sitting with it is uncomfortable. Waitresses zip around the bar, taking orders and serving customers. So this is what he meant by the girls. Speaking of which, one of them is approaching us.
“Welcome to the Leaky Lagoon, what can I get you two?” she says with a vibrant, casual energy to her.
“I’d like the Leaky special with a side of Hogbog cutlets,” he fluently lists off his order.
“How about you?”
The waitress directs her attention to me.
“Uh… May I order water, and the food he ordered?”
“Okay, so: 1 leaky special, 2 Hogbog cutlets, and water. Okay, I’ll be back with your drinks in a sec.”
She scurries off to the bar area that houses a kitchen behind the counter.
“Water? How plain.”
“Excuse me for not being familiar with the menu,” I bite back.
He lets out a humorous laugh. "I am a forgiving man, so I shall ignore your embarrassing lack of experience.” He certainly knows how to get under my skin with that laugh. “Ah, would you look at that.” He points to three waitresses at the right end of the bar. They’re looking at us, faintly giggling as they ogle us. “It seems as if you strike their fancy,” the king says.
“Me, why?”
“How dense can one be? You are obviously their preference in a man, so of course, they would stare.”
“Seriously!?”
“Do they not teach you basic social skills at this church of yours?”
“Of course, they do! It’s just, I’ve never been ogled before.”
“Are you confident in such an answer, my young naive representative?”
I never thought of that. I did train alongside female cadets, but I don’t think they gazed at me with such charmed expressions. I also work with female companions during missions, so maybe… No, what am I thinking! This train of thought is ridiculous, nonsensical, outright idiotic!
“I-it doesn’t matter! I must ask you to cease further investigation into this foolish question!”
King Relius lets out an exuberant laugh that blends in with the other voices in here. “I jest, I jest. No need to be serious.”
So he says…
“Hey, boys!” the waitress is back with our drinks in her hands. She places them on top of the table. “Your food will be out shortly, so enjoy the drinks until then!”
She moves towards the bar once again. King Relius chugs his drink in such a way that isn’t fitting for a king. He stops drinking, holding up the cup with a face of pleasure from the taste of alcohol.
“This is the time to be alive,” with bliss, he enunciated his joy with the drink.
“Is it that delectable?” I ask.
“Of course, care to try?”
He thrusts the drink in front of me. Droplets of it come out of the cup as the liquid inside the cup swirls. The smell is overwhelming, I feel a bit lightheaded from the intoxicating smell.
“No thank you. I'm underaged, and it smells horrid,”
“Haha, so the church shelters you from such things?”
“Of course, we at the church are meant to bring in a prosperous future, succumbing to alcoholic substances would get in the way of such a mission.”
“I see…” He takes a moderate drink out of his mug. “...I'm curious. Tell me, what does the Church of Mana mean to you?”
“It means a great deal to me.”
He leans forward like an eager child. “Why is that? Well, come now, tell me the exact reason.”
“Well… I’m grateful to them.”
“Why so?”
I stare into the mug of water, it reflects my face.
“I was a baby when I was adopted by them. My mother and father left me with them. Ever since then, I was given a proper education from strict but kind mentors, who taught me how to act as a person. Some acted like siblings to me, and as a parental figures to me. Each of them treated me and the other kids like family.”
“Other kids?”
“The church takes in orphaned children, giving them a chance at a normal life. At the age of 7, we had the opportunity to lead a normal life with a family willing to adopt any of us.”
“You did not wish for that?”
“...While I was flattered by the idea of living with a nice family, I already had one. And I couldn’t leave them, not without paying them back. So, instead of leaving, I requested to join the Church officially. I was warned about the work I would perform, but I was not perturbed. I was trained with other cadets my age, excelled at the top of my class, and was said to have been the best cadet of that class. However, while I am glad to have been praised, I was just glad I was able to give as much as I owe to them.”
“Is that why they sent you here?”
“Yes, they told me my straightforward nature was the best fit for peaceful negotiations with the king of this land.”
I remember the pride and joy I felt when they said that to me. It’s as if I’m well on my way to paying them back in full. However, even when I do, I will still be a soldier for the church, since I also like helping people.
“I would agree with such sound judgment, and I do… However…” His humored expression washes away as he takes on a serious look. “...But tell me, which king are you referring to? It wouldn’t happen to be…”
“Hey, boys!” The waitress walks up to us, with our food on a tray. She places it on the table Two plates of meat cutlets with a faint spread of sauce on them. The smell overwhelms my nose, registering a delectable smell. “Hope you enjoy the meal! Let me know when you want the check!”
Once again, she scurries off towards the bar area. This time, she meets up with the same group of waitresses who are eyeing me.
“Ha, would you look at that,” the king laughs.
I’m rather embarrassed to say anything, so I’m just going to eat my meal.
“So… King--”
“Just Relius, no need for king.”
“Okay, Relius. What were you about to say?”
“Oh, nothing...is what I would like to say, but I know that won’t go past your notice. I asked who are you really here to meet?”
Should I lie about who I’m here to meet? No, he’ll most likely see through it.
“Yes, I am here to meet with another king, but yet, you had knights to escort me here, why?”
“Cause I was asked, by our mutual associate, to house you for some time. Care to shed light on why?”
“We...are performing a trade.”
“Trade, with what?”
“A person.”
“Why so?”
“He has an item of interest to the person in mentioning, so we were given the task of bringing that said item in. In exchange, we’re allowed to come here to search for the item of interest to the church, as well as meet with this other king.”
“Oh, and have you found it?”
“Yes, but there are altercations with it.”
“How so?”
I don’t know if I should tell him about the deal I made with Quincy since I gave my word to keep this to myself.
“I cannot say.”
“How dull.” he slumps back into his chair, annoyed by my secrecy. “Well then, shall we eat?”
“Yes, let’s.”
The table was quiet as we ate. The king seems to be enjoying himself as he ate, and I can’t help but enthrall myself in the fun atmosphere of this bar. At first, I was skeptical about entering this establishment, but with the good nature of this place and the bar waitresses ogling me, I let go of any negative pretenses I had for this place; It’s allowing me to let my guard down… However, this thought is soon shattered by a child running off with my sword the moment I gazed at him near it.
“Get back here,” I shout.
The king and I jump out of our seats to chase after the child. Just when I drop my guard, this happens. The world does know how to catch someone with their pants down!