WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Potter
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◈ The Protagonist of a Romance Fantasy Only Likes Me ◈
Chapter 20: Saintess Marigold. (4)
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8.
“It’s the pilgrimage party.”
“They’ve gathered again.”
The air felt unusually heavy today, enough for everyone passing through the imperial capital’s square to notice.
The cause was the hundreds of pilgrims swarming in since early morning.
Lancel watched them from the terrace of a restaurant some distance away.
“Silence! Duke Mayril Dun, who will lead this pilgrimage, has arrived.”
A man clad almost head to toe in expensive armor stepped onto the prepared platform.
Lancel frowned.
The armor had been polished so thoroughly that every step sent flashes of sunlight blazing into his eyes.
“How lamentable! Truly lamentable, pilgrims! Citizens of the Empire! Descendants of the great god!”
Duke Dun unfolded a prepared sheet of paper and began his speech.
“Why has the evil rooted in this land not yet vanished? Why is there no end to those who obstruct the Empire’s dream of building paradise?”
Slurp. Slurp.
Lancel drank his fruit beverage with an indifferent expression. Long-winded from the very start.
Only when he ordered his third drink did Duke Dun’s speech finally reach its peak.
“Therefore, I swear!”
“I, Mayril Dun, in the name of the Imperial Household and the Church of Martyrdom, shall surely root out the seeds of corruption and wickedness spread through every corner of this great Empire!”
Root out.
The pilgrimage party was full of hot air, but that much was undeniably true.
Only a week after they set out, the wails of subjects uprooted from their homes had spread across the Empire.
“Please, if you take this, we’ll have no food to last until this year’s harvest!”
“Do you dare defy a pilgrimage commanded by god? Look! This man is a demon! Take him to the gallows at once!”
“Eek! P-please spare us! We’ll give you everything!”
Liquor and food, lodging and women, horses and money.
They took whatever they needed, and even when they did not need anything, they plundered it anyway.
“Hand it over. Hand over everything.”
* * *
“They should be in the Oldbottle Region by now.”
Lancel carefully marked the pilgrimage party’s route on a map.
He did not even need to ask around.
The pilgrimage party announced their achievements every single day.
Every four days, a notice detailing the events of their pilgrimage was posted in Rodnis Square. It had become routine by now.
“...Furthermore, the pilgrimage party has punished the vile and wicked bandit force illegally occupying a village and dealt with the monster that lived in the lake!”
‘So they turned a village that resisted their plundering into a wasteland.’
Most of it was endless praise for their dazzling achievements, but it was enough to let him know where they were headed.
“If you’re so interested in the pilgrimage party, why not join them?”
Baron Evil Shen looked at Lancel strangely whenever he recorded the pilgrimage procession’s route.
‘There’s no other answer.’
Lancel had no intention of letting this iteration pass him by. A pilgrimage procession was not a common event to begin with.
Yes.
This was an opportunity.
Their presence, their arrogance, the atrocities they committed, even the pilgrimage route that remained relatively close to the imperial capital.
All of it was an opportunity for Lancel.
“Lord Evil, would you be interested in making a fortune with me?”
As soon as he completed the pilgrimage party’s future route, Lancel went to see Baron Evil Shen.
The most successful stablemaster in the land. A miser.
He intended to make him an offer he could not refuse.
“If this goes well, no one in the imperial capital will ever look down on you again.”
Evil Shen, who had been drinking tea at leisure, gave him an uneasy look.
“Why are you being so frightening? Just tell me. It’s not like lending you money is anything new.”
“The amount is a little large this time.”
“...How large?”
“About this much.”
Baron Evil Shen’s eyes opened so wide they looked ready to split.
“W-what exactly are you planning to do with an amount like th-this...?”
“Didn’t I say it was business? Business.”
“...Let me hear it. What exactly are you plotting?”
Lancel lowered his voice and told him his plan.
After listening for a long time, Baron Evil Shen let out a deep sigh.
“The Imperial Archbishop has to approve something like this. It isn’t something just anyone can do because they want to.”
“You don’t need to worry about that.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’ll get the approval, won’t you?”
“Who? Me?”
Baron Evil Shen looked dumbfounded.
.
.
.
“You want to do something like that? At a time like this?”
“Yes, Your Eminence.”
Baron Evil Shen was drenched in cold sweat.
The Imperial Archbishop looked down at the crown of his head with half-lidded eyes.
He had come to this meeting at Lancel’s half-coercive request.
Needless to say, arranging it had required a bribe equivalent to five fine horses.
‘If anything goes wrong, I’ll take full responsibility. On the honor of House Dante.’
That damned House Dante. If not for their past connection, he would never have dreamed of doing something like this.
Grumbling inwardly, Baron Evil Shen cautiously watched the Imperial Archbishop’s expression.
“W-what do you think?”
After a long silence, the archbishop’s eyes slowly opened.
“I heard you were an upstart from the frontier, but now that I see you...”
A brief but agonizing silence followed. Sharp eyes swept over him from head to toe.
Fear of the next words overwhelmed Baron Evil Shen. He could barely breathe. It felt as though his heart would burst at any moment.
“You are a clever man.”
Gasp.
Relief washed over Baron Evil Shen, and he released the breath he had been holding.
“I never even considered it. Why did I never think of it? Especially at such a perfect time.”
“...Pardon?”
“If it is prepared properly, this will be a chance to raise the pilgrimage party’s honor. I like it very much.”
“Thank you! Thank you, Your Eminence!”
“However.”
The archbishop cut him off.
“No matter how wealthy you are, can you manage such a grand festival alone?”
“Of course! Even if I have to sell all my property, I will certainly...!”
“No, I do not trust you. Since we are doing this, the Church of Martyrdom should contribute some money as well. We cannot let this benefit only you, can we?”
“Ah, yes, th-that’s true.”
Baron Evil Shen could not hide his confusion.
The archbishop had not merely agreed with Lancel Dante’s absurd plan. He was becoming even more deeply involved.
‘They will never refuse. Just trust me. Just do it.’
Had Lancel truly been right? Goosebumps rose along Baron Evil Shen’s forearm.
“We should make the spectacle even bigger. As it happens, I believe the Emperor has some time today.”
“Your...!”
Baron Evil Shen’s face turned gray.
“Go and relay it to the Emperor yourself. Understood?”
“Pardon? Y-yes!”
It felt as though his lifespan had been cut in half.
9.
At the center of the imperial capital was a large park where nobles spent their leisure time.
For several months now, Lancel and Marigold had come here every weekend.
Waterfowl flew around the lake, while affluent families from the imperial capital gathered in the bustling garden.
“Eek!”
“It’s fine. I’m holding you.”
As always, Lancel brought Marigold onto a small rowboat floating on the lake.
To someone who could not see, the rowboat was a symbol of fear. Her lips trembled as though she might lose her balance and fall at any moment.
Once he had rowed to the center of the lake, Marigold took a deep breath.
“I’m... ready.”
“Then let’s begin.”
When Lancel snapped his fingers to signal her, Marigold’s expression changed in an instant.
Her eyes were closed, her face peaceful.
Birds fluttered their wings around the rocking rowboat, but her gentle expression did not so much as waver.
There was even something sacred about her appearance. It was enough to draw admiration.
After some time, Marigold slowly opened her mouth.
“Knight.”
Lancel smiled.
There was even an air of authority in Marigold’s quiet voice. Compared to a moment ago, she seemed like an entirely different person.
“Tell me who you are.”
Lancel changed his position on the rowboat. He knelt on one knee and lowered his head.
“I am Lancel Dante.”
.
.
.
“Your loyal servant, Lancel Dante.”
Lancel knelt before Marigold.
Beside him, the knight he had been fighting moments ago lay unconscious on the floor.
Behind him stood a low fence, while dozens of spectators and gamblers shouted noisily.
“The winner of the first preliminary round of the Imperial Knight Tournament is!”
Baron Evil Shen rushed over with a broad grin and raised Lancel’s arm.
==========
Regular Event: The finals of the “Knight Tournament,” hosted by Baron Evil Shen and the Church of Martyrdom, are three months away. Who will be chosen as the Empire’s greatest knight?
※ Due to the Church of Martyrdom’s directives, holy knights from every religious order in the Empire will participate in this Knight Tournament.
==========
“Lancel Dante of the Saintess Church!”
“Wooooah!”
“Give me back my money, fuuuck!”
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