Chapter 347

C347. Voting (2)

Shortly after that.

“Did everyone arrive?”

Alon Palatio observed the five people present in the audience room, plus one more.

Yutia, Rine, Seolrang, Ryanga, and Magrina.

And also Historia, who was sitting with a somewhat downcast expression.

‘Why did Historia come?’

When Alon, bewildered, looked at Evan—

“Did something happen?”

Evan, for his part, answered him as if he didn’t understand anything either.

“Historia wasn’t on the list.”

“Eh? List?… The partner list?”

“Yes.”

“…The people gathered here were the ones on the partner list?”

Evan opened his eyes wide, as if he really hadn’t known.

Alon became even more confused.

“You didn’t know?”

“Of course not!”

“……Why don’t you know?”

“And how was I supposed to know?”

Alon tried to say something, remembering Alexion’s words from the day before, but—

“…Surely Alexion said that you already—”

“Ahem, Master. That isn’t important, is it?”

—He was interrupted in an instant.

“……It isn’t important?”

“The result is already out, isn’t it?”

“I think so too, Brother.”

“Me too, Master!”

“Ahem— me too, Boss.”

“That’s right, Godfather.”

Starting with Yutia’s words, the others began to support her as if they were a single body.

Alon was left speechless for a moment.

‘…But they told me they didn’t get along that well with each other.’

He glanced sideways at Evan, who seemed even more confused than he was.

“……Fine, let’s put this aside.”

There was no alternative.

He could only overlook how they had received the letter and even made it to an interview.

Of course, he hadn’t stopped being curious, nor was he too lazy to find out.

But he had an immediate hunch that even if he asked, he wouldn’t get a useful answer.

‘I’ll ask Alexion later.’

With a slight sigh, Alon spoke to them.

“As you must already know, the reason I called you here is regarding the dance partner matter.”

Alon observed them as they all nodded at the same time, and asked just in case:

“Does anyone want to withdraw right now as a partner candidate?”

Perhaps there was someone who had only attended out of obligation.

But the only thing that answered him was absolute silence, without even a breath.

No, on the contrary: everyone’s eyes showed a strange resolution.

Alon fell silent without realizing it.

Why were they so obsessed with the position of partner?

It was a bit awkward, but also pleasant. That they desired that position so much…

Not many of those present here understood the true “meaning” of becoming a partner, but still…

Since he was satisfied, he cleared his throat to dissimulate.

“Since you nominated yourselves, I find it difficult to choose personally.”

And that was true.

In any case, whoever wasn’t chosen might feel resentful.

And Alon didn’t want to cause that kind of emotion in any of those present.

That is why—

“So we will hold a vote.”

He pulled his ace up his sleeve.

“A vote?”

“Yes. Starting now, you will have approximately one hour. During this time, you will vote amongst yourselves, among those gathered here.”

It was a simple vote.

Although it didn’t actually change much regarding the initial pressure, Alon thought this would be more acceptable to all of them.

“A vote, huh?”

“Sounds fun.”

“I like it!”

Fortunately, the five candidates nodded without objections.

“Then, starting now.”

The voting began.

And exactly one hour later—

Voting Results

Yutia: 1 vote

Rine: 1 vote

Seolrang: 1 vote

Magrina: 1 vote

Ryanga: 1 vote

Historia: 1 vote

Although it was an anonymous vote, anyone could see who had voted for whom.

And furthermore… Historia wasn’t even on the original list, right?

Alon glanced sideways at Historia.

That typical distracted expression of hers.

But with resolute eyes looking at the ballot.

“…Since there was a tie, we will do it one more time.”

Seeing her tail wagging from side to side, Alon decided not to mention that Historia wasn’t even a candidate.

And another hour passed.

Voting Results

Yutia: 1 vote

Rine: 1 vote

Seolrang: 1 vote

Magrina: 1 vote

Ryanga: 1 vote

Historia: 1 vote

…Exactly the same.

Alon thought about it a little and—

“I will give you two hours. This time, talk amongst yourselves and share opinions.”

He said that.

“I will return later. I have matters to attend to.”

And he left the place.

After some time, following Alon’s words, Evan observed in silence when—

“…If we keep going like this, we’ll never finish.”

He heard Magrina’s voice, who had remained quiet until now.

“Mm— that’s true.”

“I agree.”

“Agreed.”

The others nodded as well.

Magrina added:

“So let’s decide on whom we are going to concentrate the votes.”

“Concentrate? How exactly, Magrina?”

“What if we decide it with a game?”

“..A game?”

“Mm— a game, huh…?”

Yutia nodded with interest.

“Fine, mention the game you want.”

The conversation advanced very quickly.

The chosen game: rock-paper-scissors.

Yes, rock-paper-scissors.

…But then—

“Magrina, come here a moment.”

“Yes?”

“You see~”

“Seolrang?”

“What is it, Yutia?”

“Will you come a moment?”

“Eh?”

Evan saw it with his own eyes.

They were all gathering in small groups, whispering blatantly in secret.

‘……But it’s a game with very clear rules. Why do they need strategies as if they were military tactics?’

What rule of rock-paper-scissors required that level of conspiracy?

But he only thought that for a moment.

Because in an instant, they all began to release a magical pressure so intense that Evan, with the strength of a normal knight, could not withstand it.

He stepped back, overwhelmed.

The result:

Magrina: 1 vote

Historia: 1 vote

…Another tie.

“……Yes, my lord.”

“Didn’t you say there was already a winner?”

Alon, who had just returned, asked, astonished.

Indeed, there was a winner.

It was Yutia.

Evan looked ahead.

The victorious Yutia, who had won a simple rock-paper-scissors with elaborate strategies as if it were a war, was smiling.

Only moving her lips:

“Hahaha… Not fulfilling what was promised… you are a bit cruel, aren’t you?”

Yutia smiled as she spoke.

But Magrina responded naturally:

“It’s not that we didn’t fulfill it. You cheated.”

“Cheated? What are you talking about?”

“Since it started, you used your holy power to analyze, at a muscular level, what we would throw the instant we played.”

“Everyone did that~”

“Besides, you threw your move a little late~”

“But no one said anything at that moment.”

“Because we knew you wouldn’t admit it.”

…All that burst of magic and divine power that almost destroyed the house was… for that?

That is what Evan thought, surprised.

Alon, looking at the ballots that resulted in a tie once again, said:

“If we keep going like this, there will never be a result. We will change the method.”

He made a calm decision. All gazes were directed at him.

And then Alon said:

“Exactly one month from now, we will hold a vote among the inhabitants of the territory.”

He declared a general territory vote.

It was natural for all of them to be surprised, but—

“…I will do what Master says.”

“Me too. It sounds fairer.”

“……If the Boss says so~”

“It’s my victory!”

“I have a lot to think about, but I suppose so.”

Historia left nodding, and all the others withdrew with expressions full of confidence, as if each one believed she had a hidden advantage.

Evan commented in a low voice:

“…With this, the result will definitely come out.”

“Right?”

“Yes. Although… this became a little bigger than expected. But well, sometimes a partner is chosen like this.”

“…Really?”

Alon had made that proposal to not choose personally, but suddenly he thought that perhaps he had exaggerated too much.

But hearing that precedents already existed, he was relieved.

It wasn’t that exaggerated after all.

Evan, thinking for a moment, added:

“It’s not that there are no precedents.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Although… in the majority of cases, they were royal families.”

“…What?”

“Kings have chosen a consort in this manner more than once.”

“Royalty?”

“Yes. But well, what does it matter? It’s not like only they can do it.”

“That is true…”

“If they see it, maybe they’ll think you are imitating them, but well, it won’t go beyond that.”

Alon felt calm again seeing Evan shrug his shoulders.

A few days later—

“My lord.”

“What is happening?”

“A caravan of pilgrims is coming from Rosario.”

“A pilgrim caravan…?”

“Yes, they are coming to coincide with the completion of the church.”

“Good, I’ll be aware.”

“That isn’t all.”

“Is there more?”

“In Colony, they are also sending various combatants toward the Palatio house.”

“…From Colony? Suddenly?”

“Yes, according to what they say, it’s for training… but also, do you remember the company with which you made a contract? The one that Elf Queen runs: they announced that they will arrive with a large retinue within a month. And furthermore—”

Alon understood by instinct.

Something was beginning to happen.

And—

“Is that all?”

“No, no. In fact, this is the most important thing.”

“What is it?”

“What you mentioned before… that we should send invitations to the kings.”

“…Was there a problem?”

“No, rather… it went too well.”

“…What do you mean?”

“All the kings accepted the invitation. Their representatives will arrive soon.”

“I see……………… What did you say?”

“That all the kings accepted.”

“……Why?”

“Eh? Well… how am I supposed to know that either…?”

When Evan finished the sentence with an awkward expression—

Alon stopped, but he understood instinctively:

“Evan, if they accepted… when will they arrive in Divine Land?”

“…In about two weeks.”

Something was spiraling out of control.

And gravely so.