Published: July 3, 2025
Ryo delivers documents to Cardinal Graham of the Holy See every morning.
This is done to discreetly explore the insides of the Holy See.
Of course, he doesn't roam around but uses magic akin to passive sonar.
He hopes to catch a glimpse of Neil Anderson, whom he had seen before, but unfortunately, he hasn't seen him since then, nor does he appear on the sonar.
Instead, he can sense Cesare's gaze.
Always from the same spot... the corner room on the third floor across the courtyard.
It's unclear whether he can leave that room or not, but he is always there.
After delivering the documents to Graham and exiting the Holy See... he finds himself constantly being watched.
This isn’t by Cesare, of course.
It’s by someone else...
About three to four people.
After leaving the Holy See and crossing a larger road, he finds himself at the kingdom delegation dormitory.
Therefore, being watched is not a problem at all.
That said, Ryo doesn't always stay holed up in the dormitory.
There are those known as the "Kingdom Delegation Welcome Team" who serve as points of contact for the kingdom delegation.
These individuals are straightforward watchers.
Their ostensible job is to facilitate various conveniences for the delegation members.
Of course, their true purpose is as watchers to prevent delegation members from going to unnecessary places or learning unnecessary things, but as long as they are presented as the "Welcome Team," they will work to fulfill many of the delegation's requests.
For instance, they assist water attribute mages in researching at the specialized library in the Holy Capital Marromar.
Initially, Ryo suggested this, but recently, Priest Eto and Zeek have also been spending time in the specialized library...
For these priests, who also have aspects of truth seekers, the origins of the Western Church are fascinating matters.
It differs significantly from Ryo's engrossment in alchemy-related books...
In any case, Ryo occasionally visits the specialized library.
It’s about two blocks away from the dormitory.
And even while walking, Ryo remains a subject of constant observation...
((Three people at this time again. I was also being monitored in the Republic, but they were more refined than the two at that time.))
((Ryo has a lot going on, huh?))
The king, connected through the echo of the soul, expresses concern for Ryo, but in reality, he doesn't think much about it.
((I know that!))
((No... that wasn't my intention, but I'm sorry about it. But... Ryo, you want to be attacked, don't you?))
((Yikes.))
The king, who has been associated with Ryo for a long time, sees right through his desires.
((N-no way! But still, if that were the case, how could I have someone attack me?))
((...You do want to be attacked, don’t you?))
((For example, for example!))
Abel let out a deep sigh.
((If it’s just observation, they won’t attack no matter what.))
((Certainly...))
And then, Ryo suddenly had a realization.
((There is a term in the world called force majeure.))
((...I will pretend I didn't hear anything. I will just tell the Grandmaster to stay vigilant from this royal capital.))
The king seems to have a hands-off approach...
(Today, he's particularly active.)
This was the thought of the surveillance squad leader on that day.
For the past ten days, they had been monitoring the target with three people in a team, rotating every eight hours.
They switch with the previous squad at two in the afternoon and hand over to the next squad at ten at night.
Currently, it’s four in the afternoon.
It has been two hours since the handover, but the movements are different from usual...
The target goes back and forth between the Holy See and the dormitory every morning at nine.
After that, he often reads books inside the dormitory.
Sometimes, he heads to the specialized library.
When he returns, he usually carries about five or six books.
Naturally, the specialized library does not lend out books, but the target seems to have negotiated with the "Welcome Team" and obtained permission to borrow them.