Stealth Kid Meets a Transcendent Being – Part 02

The capital of the Theocracy of Bios was the Holy City of Agiapole, dominated by the Tower at its center. Though its walls and moat gave it the unmistakable appearance of a castle, it was officially called the Tower to avoid the controversy of a religious organization overtly flaunting military might.

Despite the late hour, lights still glowed in the top-floor chamber of the Tower. Inside, a quill scratched steadily across parchment, signing document after document—reports of missionary disputes, requests for budget increases, calls for aid from the Confederacy of Einbiest’s Army, plans for repairing fortresses damaged from battle. The stack was endless.

Pope Luvain, head of Bios and the leader of the continent-spanning Church, was working late into the night, as he always did. His sharp, aloof features and almond-shaped eyes that caught every wrongdoing made him unapproachable. Even his attendants rarely knew what he was thinking.

As he finished signing one report and allowed himself a quiet sigh, a voice spoke from behind him.

“Do you really review even the tiniest expenditures yourself?”

Luvain’s eyes grew wide.

“You scared me, Silver Face.”

“You sure don’t look scared to me.”

“Perhaps my endless workload has dulled my emotions to the point where others can no longer perceive them.”

Silver Face stood a short distance from Luvain, leaning against the wall.

“Are you sure about that? You looked like you were enjoying yourself.”

“Did I?” Luvain looked surprised.

Moments earlier, he’d felt quiet satisfaction approving a proposal to resolve a long-standing issue, one that had nagged him since his days as a priest. Though it involved only a minor sum, the resolution felt like pulling a splinter lodged deep in his throat. Was he… pleased? The realization startled him.

And he was more surprised that Silver Face had noticed it.

“If you micromanage like this, you’ll burn out.”

“Where money flows, corruption follows,” Luvain replied. “I plan to monitor a bit longer.”

“Fair enough.”

“Anyway, Silver Face, I have countless questions for you.”

“Funny, I came here to ask you a few. We can have an equal trade of intel, then.”

“Equal? I don’t think so. You’re withholding vital information about the Great Labyrinth of Runay-aas, which appeared within our territory. As Pope, I am entitled to a report.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously. Now, tell me. How far in the Quinbrand Empire did the labyrinth go? You probably know its current location. And you entered the labyrinth, didn’t you? What did you find there? We’re getting nothing from Quinbrand. It’s vexing.”

“Slow down. One question at a time.”

“Fine. Go ahead, then.” Luvain poured tea, sat back down, crossed his legs, and leaned back in his chair. Curiosity was written all over his face.

Hikaru couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight.

“All right. I’ll tell you what I can.”

Hikaru had his own questions for Luvain, so a trade wasn’t a bad deal. Besides, Luvain’s relaxed demeanor—even when dealing with a suspicious person sneaking in during the night—was oddly amusing.

He explained that the Great Labyrinth of Runay-aas had flown far north, landing beyond the Quinbrand Empire. A scouting party from the Forestia Federation had likely discovered it. He also mentioned that the deepest section of the labyrinth was just an empty ruin, with no valuables.

As for the charred Tally for the Black Wedge Gate he had found deep underground, Hikaru decided to keep that detail to himself.

“Hmm… the Forestia Federation? That would be within the Jarazack domain.”

“Is that so?”

“You’ve really done your homework.”

Luvain gave Hikaru a scrutinizing look, but Hikaru just shrugged. Luvain, unaware of the Black Wedge Gate, didn’t suspect that Hikaru had investigated it himself.

“So, what exactly is it that you want to know?” Luvain asked.

They ended up talking for quite some time, including about what the Jarazack territory was like. The tea had already gone cold, and in about an hour, the eastern sky would start to brighten.

“I want to know about the Dwarves.”

“That’s a broad question. Are you asking about their racial traits, the history of their nation, their customs, or their way of life? Or does this concern recent events?”

Recent events? Hikaru wondered.

“You’re aware, of course, that the Dwarven nation of Ironforge is facing a crisis.”

Luvain spoke as if it were common knowledge. Hikaru had no idea what he was talking about.

“Bios shares its western border with Einbiest. Beyond that, farther west, lies Ironforge. Dwarves fleeing their land have reached not just Einbiest, but even here. We’ve been getting fragmented reports.”

“W-Wait a minute. What’s happening in Ironforge?”

“I don’t know all the details. Isn’t that what you came to find out? From what we’ve gathered, there seems to be a civil war, or something close to it. Either way, the country is very dangerous right now.”

A civil war. The news was completely unexpected.

---

After leaving Luvain’s room, Hikaru wandered the silent halls of the Tower, lost in thought.

He had learned quite a bit about Ironforge.

The Dwarves ran their nation through a parliamentary system made up of twelve clans. As such, they didn’t have a king, but they did have a god.

This god, Brigid, was unlike the deities that provided Hikaru his Blessings. Brigid was a living entity, said to have existed for thousands of years and was worshipped within Ironforge.

The Dwarves revered them not just for their longevity but for bestowing the Progenitor’s Forge, a flame capable of forging any metal. Naturally, the Dwarves, devoted to blacksmithing, settled there and revered Brigid.

A race that lives for thousands of years? What even is that?

Among the races Hikaru knew, Elves were the longest-lived, but even they barely reached a thousand years. Man Gnomes only topped out around three hundred.

Whatever Brigid’s race is, going back to a country on the brink of civil war is risky. I hope Dodorono will be okay.

When they arrived in Agiapole, Hikaru’s party parted ways with Dodorono. The Dwarf headed straight to his older brother’s smithy, while Hikaru’s group went to book a place to stay. Talis had disappeared at some point, which worried Hikaru a little, but since Agiapole was her destination, she must have her own plans or places she wanted to visit.

Hikaru’s job was to escort Dodorono to Agiapole. Dodorono was supposed to reunite with his brother, Dodonno, and then continue on to Ironforge.

That was the plan. But what concerned Hikaru was the state of the country, which was bad enough to drive its citizens to flee.

Luvain wasn’t able to provide a clear picture. The Theocracy of Bios was too preoccupied with internal turmoil from a papal transition and its recent conflict with Einbiest to investigate a distant nation.

A civil war was no small matter. It was the worst possible time to deliver the national treasure, the Progenitor’s Shield.

The question is: how bad is this civil war?

It gnawed at him. His job was technically over, but could he really just let Dodorono go? If something happened to him, Hikaru knew he’d regret it.

“I’ll think about it after checking the whereabouts of the Four Eastern Stars at the Adventurers Guild tomorrow.”

Dodorono wouldn’t leave for Ironforge today anyway.

“I gotta say…”

Hikaru paused for a moment. Just earlier, Luvain was going over a detailed budget proposal before Hikaru spoke with him, and he seemed oddly cheerful about it.

“Finding joy in work… what a workaholic.” Hikaru almost felt sorry for him. Yet, when Luvain spoke with Silver Face, his mood seemed even lighter.

Silver Face was a person shrouded in mystery. Hikaru was well aware of his rude behavior. And yet… the man enjoyed his company?

“Well, maybe not. I’ll never understand a scheming villain like that, so it’s pointless to dwell on it.”

With that, Hikaru decided to head back to the inn.