Chapter 45: Since We're Already Here
"Zani, my heart is just drowning in bitterness..."
"...And then? It's only been a few days since someone left without a word or even a backward glance."
"I didn't expect things to turn out like this!"
In the guest room of the Fisalia residence, Aeron was pouring out his grievances to Zani through a terminal.
This was already the third day since he'd been sent to the Fisalia household.
These past few days, all Aeron could do was wander aimlessly around Porto-Veno Castle, occasionally picking some local specialty sea apples from the Fisalia garden that would kill you if you ate them.
Damn it, even though he didn't have to do anything, Aeron felt deeply dissatisfied.
Goddammit, back when he wanted to slack off he got caught, but now that he doesn't want to slack off he's being forced to take a vacation!
"You... even your complaints reek of workplace mentality. You've really been well-conditioned."
"Is that what it was?"
Though labor is supposed to be glorious, most people in society are simply trading their blood and sweat for survival resources... damn, capitalism is so terrible—wait no, Aeron seems to be more of a feudalist.
So, bored out of his mind at Porto-Veno Castle, after requesting a terminal from Cantarella, Aeron started venting his frustrations to his dear work partner.
Hearing Aeron's voice, Zani chuckled on the other end. Seeing Aeron's previously determined, death-defying attitude, she thought they wouldn't see each other for a long time.
Though she didn't quite understand why Aeron was at the Fisalia residence.
"So you want to come back? Really, what am I going to do with—"
"Ah no, since I'm already here I definitely can't go back empty-handed."
Before Zani could finish, Aeron immediately cut her off.
What nonsense—if he returned without gaining anything, wouldn't his trip to Fisalia be completely wasted?
Although being sent here disrupted his plans, as the saying goes: one bug is a bug, but a bunch of bugs can work. Since he was already at Fisalia, Aeron decided to simply change his approach.
Originally, he planned to go alone to Penitent's End, essentially a leveled-up solo adventure, then hitch a ride with a certain troupe's captain when Carnevale was approaching, making a lightning-fast return during the festival.
Unfortunately, at Fisalia, he couldn't spend Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays playing soul games with remnants like at Penitent's End, or Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays transforming into a greatsword master to spar with the Dragon of Dirge.
Looking at the map, crossing the Disalai Ridge on foot, traversing the Mistsoft Waters, and then breaking through the Wailing Ascent seemed slightly challenging, but considering time constraints, this plan was naturally rejected.
So, Aeron decided to simply make use of local resources.
Ultimately, his goal of eliminating Fenrico remained unchanged, and everything he'd done so far was working toward this objective.
With Aeron's current capabilities, eliminating Fenrico wouldn't be difficult, but before dealing with him, Aeron had another problem he absolutely needed to handle: Threnodian: Leviathan.
After Fenrico's death, the Order of the Deep without its master seat, and indeed all of Ragunna, would inevitably fall into chaos, and the Threnodian might seize this opportunity to infiltrate.
Aeron had originally planned to first find a hundred ways to die on Penitent's End to strengthen himself, then return to Ragunna during Carnevale. By then, he could at least weaken the Threnodian's influence over Ragunna to some extent.
In Fisalia, although he couldn't continuously enhance his strength like on Penitent's End, he could maximally diminish the Threnodians impact on the entire Rinascita.
Over the long years, the Order's doctrines had deteriorated under the Threnodian's influence, yet Fisalia's faith remained steadfast.
Since part of the Threnodian's power came from the Order, Aeron decided to strike right here.
If the Order were besieged simultaneously by Ragunna's youngest and oldest families, their influence would naturally wane. After that, all he needed was to select a chosen one capable of leading all of Ragunna, and Aeron could eliminate Fenrico under the safest conditions.
Of course, all this hinged on one premise: that Fisalia's thirty-sixth family head, Cantarella, was willing to cooperate with him, Montelli, and Rover.
"...Anyway, since I've come to Fisalia, I definitely can't return empty-handed. How else could I face you all?"
Without explaining his reasons to Zani, Aeron steered the conversation in another direction.
After a brief, disappointed "tsk" came from the other end, Zani knew she couldn't persuade Aeron to return now and fulfill his promise.
"What else is there? Calling during my work hours—you couldn't just be making small talk, could you?"
"Can't it be that I missed you?"
"...You'll pay for saying such things so casually."
After chatting idly with Zani for a bit, Aeron felt much better. Now it was time to get down to business.
"How's Ragunna been while I've been away? Any other incidents?"
"...You have the nerve to ask that?"
"Huh?"
But Zani's response left Aeron baffled.
Then, he learned about Ragunna's current situation:
After Aeron's speech, seeds of doubt had indeed been sown in some people's hearts, and Rover's deeds began circulating among the populace.
Hearing this, Aeron breathed a sigh of relief—it seemed his performance hadn't been in vain.
"You think that's all?"
"Huh? What else is there?"
Then, Aeron heard a weary sigh from the other end of the communication.
"The Blessed Maiden you left with Montelli—according to the second young lady, she stayed in her room all day."
"And that bard who delivered things for you... she's been taking her lute to the streets even more often. Montelli had to put in considerable effort to protect her."
"As for the second young lady... your sudden departure alone was enough to anger her, but she's been too busy with recent events to deal with it."
Zani filled him in on the others' situations, as per Aeron's pre-departure request.
But she never expected Aeron had only confided in her, without hinting anything to anyone else—even she found it somewhat excessive.
After receiving Zani's report, Aeron fell silent for a moment.
"...What's strange about that? Seems perfectly normal to me."
"..."
Zani selectively let this sentence go in one ear and out the other—it seemed she still viewed Aeron too much as a human in this regard.
"Speaking of which, where's Rover? Where has she been making a fortune lately?"
"Oh, she went to Penitent's End to chase after you."
"...?"
Wait, who's chasing whom?
"Hey, but why?"
"Who knows? The only information I got was that she visited the Order. Did you cause trouble with your old employer again?"
"I have no idea."
Could it be that Fenrico set another trap for him without Aeron's knowledge?
Ah, whatever. Rover would eventually have to visit Penitent's End to meet the Fool's Troupe anyway. Right now, he had other matters to worry about.
"Anyway, it all sounds normal. Thanks, Zani."
"Don't mention it. After all, it was your request." Zani's voice carried a hint of weary teasing, but mostly relief.
"I should get back to work. Remember to fulfill your promise when you return, or you're done for."
"...I'll try?"
With that, Aeron cut off the communication.
He didn't need to worry about Ragunna—at least now he could focus solely on his own affairs.
Just then, a knock came from the door of Aeron's guest room. The voice of a Fisalia family maid sounded from outside.
"Mr. Aeron, the family head wishes to see you."
"...Coming."
Aeron set down his terminal and stood up, heading toward the door.
For now, he'd better figure out how to deal with the Fisalia family head first.
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