Chapter 24: Spear King Candidate

A few days after I made that one-sided promise—no, vow—to Alicia, the day finally came for my first official duty as the Sword King. As expected of a royal carriage, the ride was almost absurdly comfortable as we made our way to the city where the talks would be held.

The meeting this time would take place in a city near the border between the Yaranri Kingdom and the Sordia Kingdom. The place also had an arena prepared for a “King’s Match,” meaning that, depending on how things went, we could start fighting there on the spot.

It was the other side—the Yaranri Kingdom’s representative—who had designated this location. As the Spear King candidate, he was probably planning to fight immediately after the talks.

As for why… I wouldn’t know until I met him and heard it from him directly.

"Man, this really is hectic. You just got crowned king, went straight into training, and now you’ve got talks right after."

"It can’t be helped. These talks were already scheduled, and then I ended up becoming the Sword King afterward."

"Still, you’d think they could cut us a little slack. I’m basically a complete amateur here, you know?"

Hikari, dressed as a maid and sitting in the same carriage, clearly had a lot to say about this meeting. I understood how she felt, but from experience, I knew it was easier to just go with the flow in situations like this, so I didn’t resist.

It wasn’t worth pushing back anyway—and if I did, it would probably just create more trouble. I’m fundamentally the type who prefers to avoid conflict.

"This will be Lord Toma’s first official duty. I imagine Minister Depron intended to make use of a prearranged meeting so he could provide support."

Alicia said that with a gentle smile, though from my perspective—knowing what I knew—it was a perfectly natural one. Well, “smile” might be stretching it; there was a fair bit of wryness mixed in.

I had told myself I’d try to see the real her beyond the “Saint” persona, but maybe my eyes are useless—I couldn’t tell the difference at all. I mean, she’s been doing this for so long it feels completely natural.

The only things I’d managed to notice were surprisingly mundane—like how she actually likes well-built physiques, or how she loves sweets but restrains herself in public… though sometimes she sneaks out in disguise to buy and eat sweets in town without anyone noticing. Apparently, she’s even done street magic for pocket money and accepted offerings.

…Yeah, I’d thought she had a better personality than expected, but what really shocked me was how she handled Carol. Lately, Carol had been teaming up with Clarisse and seemed more and more likely to cause trouble—but when Alicia gave her a lecture, she actually started trembling.

Carol. Trembling. That’s honestly an emergency-level situation, so I’m really curious what she said… but I have absolutely no intention of poking that hornet’s nest.

"Oh, is that the meeting place? It’s got a certain vibe… like some fancy city where important people gather. Not quite the capital, though."

"Well, it’s designed with the assumption that multiple important figures will visit. And just so you know, Hikari, you’re associated with one of those important figures, so act the part."

"I know, I know. I’ve been drilled non-stop by Master Sebas lately on manners and speech. There will be no issues. I will fulfill my role properly, Your Majesty."

Halfway through, Hikari straightened her expression, perfectly adopting the demeanor of a capable maid. It caught me off guard, and I quickly looked away so she wouldn’t notice.

The gap from her usual self… yeah, I hate to admit it, but I like that too. Honestly, what is wrong with me?

"Hehe, Hikari really is talented. She picked up maid duties so quickly."

"If I put my mind to it, I can do most things. At the very least, I’ve learned the etiquette necessary to avoid embarrassing Your Majesty. After all, I am Your Majesty’s personal maid."

"Please, I’m begging you—don’t use that tone outside of work… seriously, stop…"

Her unusually polished, almost “service smile” made me flustered. No, really, I can’t handle this—she’s too much, too cute. I want to shower her with compliments right now, but I’d definitely regret it later, so I force myself to hold back.

The carriage continued on as we chatted, completely detached from any sense of tension. The moment marking the start of my life as the Sword King was drawing near.

—

"I demand custody of Saint Alicia. In exchange, we will offer a mining site. There are no changes from what was communicated in advance."

The moment the talks began, those were the first words spoken—by an androgynous young man with lustrous black hair, tinged like deep indigo, flowing down to his waist. Beside him stood a black spear taller than he was—proof, I’d heard, that he was the Spear King candidate.

The Yaranri Kingdom’s representative—Spear King candidate, Shion Ace.

"Sword King. I don’t know since when you began preparing for a ‘King’s Match,’ but I will never acknowledge you. I’m not naïve enough to believe some absurd story about you being found just a month ago."

"Yeah, that actually is the truth… but I get that you won’t believe it. You’ve already made up your mind."

Whether it was a misunderstanding or not, his conclusion was already set. He even shrugged at my response, looking like he was about to say, “Good grief.”

"Right after the Saint was put on the table, a Sword King suddenly appears and enters a ‘King’s Match’? There’s no such convenient coincidence. Couldn’t beat me in a personal match using knights, so you finally decided to step up yourself? You seem quite obsessed with the Saint."

"Hmm… I’d like you to correct that. I’m not obsessed with the Saint—I’m obsessed with Alicia. If all you want is the Saint’s title, feel free to take it."

Trading barbs like this matters. If I let myself get talked down, he’d control the flow from here on out. Besides, if I don’t push back, the silver-haired childhood friend maid standing behind me might actually explode.

I don’t even need to turn around to know. She’s definitely glaring with a perfectly expressionless, furious face. I can practically feel her resolve—once she reaches her limit, she’ll attack without hesitation.

"Hmph. If the rumors are true and you were just a rural commoner until a month ago, then you shouldn’t have the education to speak like that. That only proves you’ve been the Sword King all along and have been avoiding the ‘King’s Match.’ Or did you at least study how to conduct negotiations in advance?"

"Hahaha, why would I need to run from a ‘King’s Match’? There’s no reason to run from someone rude like you—especially when you’re beneath me. Ignoring national interest just to run from someone like you would be a complete waste, wouldn’t it?"

Whether he was serious or not, my words were pure provocation—not truth. In reality, if we fought, I’d definitely be at a disadvantage due to the gap in experience and training time.

I’d managed to win a portion of matches against the knight commander, but that was because I was used to him. When he started recreating battles against powerful foes he’d faced before, I got crushed. I didn’t even win one in ten.

Still, if he was going to approach this aggressively, I had no choice but to respond in kind. Though honestly… why aren’t his aides stopping him? Suspicious or not, this is a barrage of things you shouldn’t say to another country’s king.

"…I understand what kind of man you are now. Very well—let’s do this. In addition to the mining site, I will stake myself. If you win, you may treat me however you wish."

…Why go that far? I genuinely don’t understand.

Even Minister Depron, sitting beside me, looked stunned. He definitely just decided that on the spot. And we can’t exactly huddle up and discuss this in front of them… so I have to figure this out myself?

But no matter how I look at it, the stakes are unbalanced. Deals like this are supposed to be even. And for some reason, they keep piling more onto their side.

Putting my personal feelings aside—what we’re offering is one Saint, someone valuable but also someone who could cause complications later, though she could produce a successor. Meanwhile, they’re offering a mining site rich in magic stones and the leading candidate for Spear King—their future successor. There’s no way this is balanced.

There has to be some ulterior motive… but I don’t know what it is. I don’t have enough information. And I’m not skilled enough with words to draw it out of him.

Honestly, the moment Alicia was put on the table, I already wanted to walk out. The only reason I haven’t is because Hikari—who’s even angrier than I am—is behind me. Thanks to her being furious on my behalf, I can just barely stay calm.

"You say you’ve seen through me, but someone like you can’t see my depths. People aren’t that simple—no one can be understood at a glance."

"Not everyone in this world is so deep. Many are shallow, driven by greed… like you."

…This feels personal. I’ve never met him before, and I don’t recall doing anything to him—before or after becoming the Sword King. Yet he clearly hates me. He’s glaring at me even now.

"Well, no matter how much you sweeten the deal, I won’t wager Alicia. Do you have any other demands?"

"So you would run from a challenge? And still call yourself a king?"

"I think it’s more questionable for a king not to protect valuable people who must be nurtured. Do you have any idea how much money is spent to maintain the position and lifestyle people like you and me have? If you did, you wouldn’t say that."

Okay, I’m mostly bluffing—I don’t know the exact figures. But I do remember helping with Minister Depron’s paperwork and nearly shaking when I saw the amounts involved.

Still… I think I understand now. He just wants a ‘King’s Match’ with me. Whether that’s his own will or someone else’s, I don’t know.

Is it to gauge the strength of the new Sword King? Are they willing to risk losing their future Spear King candidate just for that? I don’t think my information is that valuable… but in a world without advanced communication, maybe it is. Information might be worth a fortune here.

No point overthinking it—I don’t have enough information. All I know is this:

Shion Ace wants to fight me.

That’s it.

"Besides, a ‘King’s Match’ is supposed to be a last resort. If things can be settled through discussion, that’s preferable. I do want the mining site, but it’s not a must. It’d be a huge loss for you too. This is my first official duty—cut me a little slack, will you?"

"…This decision was made by His Majesty the Spear King. I cannot change it on my own."

Now I’m confused again. Why would the Spear King create a situation like this? And this was set in motion before I even became the Sword King.

Do they really need Alicia that badly? If so, why not have the Spear King himself show up?

I really don’t understand what they’re thinking.

"………………Very well. We accept."

The one who spoke—ignoring my hesitation—was Alicia herself.