... Zanoba, have you the resolve to die?"
Instead of waiting for anything else he has to say, Perugius asked.
Zanoba looks blankly back at Perugius.
"Why are you so certain?"
"I can see it in your face, the look you wear, I've seen it on many men in my lifetime."
Perugius unhappily said.
Even though I wonder how he knew from just looking at Zanoba, but if Perugius wants to stop him, I concur.
It's perfect if he tells Zanoba not to go to Shirone Kingdom.
If that happens, then I won't fall for Hitogami's trap.
"If that's true, what will you do?"
Zanoba keeps his poker face. Perugius smiles lightly.
"If you need to fight someone, I'll happily give you a hand. Discussing art with you is important to me. If someone gets in the way of that, I'll get rid of them. A... false king, for example."
"That won't be necessary."
"Ah, of course."
Perugius suddenly checks his surroundings, before stopping on me.
Am I supposed to say something?
This is what they call exchanging a glance, right?
While I'm thinking, Perugius has already looked away and continues his conversation with Zanoba.
"Zanoba... going to your death, does he know of it?"
"No, he just wants to come along--"
"Oh, and you didn't refuse him?"
"Because once Shisho sets his mind on something, even if I refuse he will come to Shirone Kingdom."
When I said I'm coming, Zanoba didn't particularly object.
I guess he realized objecting won't do any good.
Well, it's true.
"Rudeus will protect your life like his own."
"Haha, what are you talking about, Perugius-sama."
Zanoba laughs like he heard a joke.
But his smile is forced.
"Shisho will have another baby soon. There are things he must do. When it comes to it, certainly he will save himself first."
"Are you the student of someone who would watch his friend cornered and leave him to die?"
"Of course not! Shisho is an amazing man. He will definitely come to my aid and survive as well!"
I'm no superman.
Well, leaving aside whether Zanoba seriously thinks I'm superman or not...
Zanoba and Perugius's meeting has been going smoothly.
But [Don't go to Shirone] doesn't seem to be an option here.
Perugius seems to realize something.
Losing interest rapidly, he props himself up, and sighs with a face of boredom.
"Well then, you shouldn't be here just to say goodbye, what can I be of help with?"
Zanoba nods before answering.
"I wish to borrow your magic teleport circles to Shirone Kingdom, for permission to bring the Magic Armor to the castle, as well as... permission for Shisho's wife, the Magic Race Roxy Migurdia."
"I can prepare a magic teleport circle for you, and permit entry for the Magic Armor... but Magic Race are not allowed in this castle."
Perugius replies with a frown.
Previously Arumanfi had also denied entry for Roxy, also because Perugius refused to allow Magic Race from entering the Sky Castle.
"Even if this, Zanoba Shirone, asks you as a once-in-a-lifetime favor?"
"Zanoba Shirone, you said this, so you think you're that important to me?"
"I am a rare friend who can discuss art at your level with you."
"So you said this Armor Dragon King Perugius Dola has befriended some prince from a little kingdom like yourself?"
"Excuse my impudence, but when it comes to art, race and stature are irrelevant."
Perugius stares down Zanoba.
Zanoba fearlessly returns the favor.
Sylvaril also glares at Zanoba.
Only my eyesight wanders back and forth.
The situation is tense.
If it's me, I'd start apologizing.
"Ha!"
Perugius raise his chin and laughs.
"Fine, I'll permit that Magic Race's entry."
"Thank you very much for your consideration."
"But, I have conditions."
Afterwards, Perugius lays out his ground rules.
Roxy is barred from speaking, touching anything, from appearing before him, inside the castle...
Basically, she's only allowed to use the castle as a way station. I accept the conditions.
"Then, Sylvaril, prepare the magic circle for them."
"Yes!"
After giving Syvaril instructions, Perugius looks back at Zanoba with disinterest.
A cold glance, but in there somehow I saw he has resigned himself.
"Zanoba Shirone."
"Yes."
"It's a pity."
Perugius and Zanoba stand up together.
Towards the Perugius's back, Zanoba bows quietly.
Perugius's outline looks particularly lonesome, but perhaps that's just an illusion.
Part 5
After the Magic Armor has been disassembled, it was sent to Shirone Kingdom via the magic circle.
Afterwards Ginger contacted a craftsman she knew to encase the Magic Armor in stone blocks as camouflage, and had it sent to a warehouse near the capital.
I didn't go along.
But I did instruct her to also start investigating the situation inside Shirone Kingdom.
If the north invading turns out false, that gives me a good reason to dissuade Zanoba from going.
Even though, the northern Kingdom of Bista really looks poised for attack.
Bista has mobilized for war, with large number of mercenaries and hoodlums inside its borders.
"King Pax seems to have brought 10 able knights from the Kingdom of Dragon King with him, and used them to rid the country of rebels."
10 able knights.
Just 10?
Well, including Pax, the coup has eleven members, but the coup's success are no doubt the doing of these ten individuals.
In that case, they might be the trap set by Hitogami.
"Ginger-san, did you learn of the names of these 10 knights?"
"No, unfortunately I haven't got that far with my investigation... Only that it's rumored King Pax has a man with a skull-looking face by his side. Also the rumor that man is among the Seven Great World Powers, the Death God."
"I see."
Yikes, another one of the Seven Great World Powers...
Well, I hope that the Kingdom of Dragon King won't bother to lend Pax one of the Seven. Maybe that skull guy is someone else. Either way I should report this to Orsted.
"Oh, if the northern kingdom is ready to invade, then we have to hurry."
Hearing this, Zanoba looks anxious to immediately head out.
He is ready to go.
His tone is like usual, but I can sense his unease.
Nothing I can do to dissuade Zanoba now, so we will set out in a few days.
The party will be me, Zanoba, Ginger, and Roxy. Four members.
Julie is temporarily left with my family.