The day after arriving in the imperial capital, G. Quinbland, Hikaru was summoned to the palace. It was a rather unusual summons, with a wagon coming to pick them up.

「You stand out too much, Silsil. I hope you don’t mind this wagon.」

「It’s fine. The Empire sees us as mere luggage anyway, right?」

「You’re so mean!」

Hikaru couldn’t help but poke fun at Alice. He knew why Kaglai did it, of course. Since they were unofficial guests, they had to enter the palace secretly.

Although it looked like a wagon, there was a large space for all three of them to sit in inside. Kaglai didn’t only invite Hikaru, but Star Face and Flower Face as well. Apparently, Alice wouldn’t be riding with them.

「I’m kind of nervous…」Paula said, fidgeting.

「We should be fine. The carriage seems to be heading for the palace.」

Both Hikaru’s Mana Detection and Detection Expansion were maxed out. Combine that with Soul Blaze’s amplification, he had a detection range of more than five kilometers. However, it put too stress on the brain, so he didn’t use it at its maximum value unless absolutely necessary.

Hikaru could sense a complex mana signature in the direction of the palace, most likely from a defensive magic item, but it could also be seen as a landmark. Even blindfolded, Hikaru knew immediately where the palace was.

The driver didn’t say anything to them either. He simply exchanged a few words with the gatekeeper at the palace’s side entrance, where goods were brought in.

The wagon eventually stopped at a deserted area.

「We’re here.」was all the driver said before leaving.

「Well then, let’s go.」

「Are you sure? Normally with a summons from the royalty, someone would get in touch with us.」

「We’re not treated normally, apparently.」

「I’m Lavia the Adventurer, so I don’t mind at all.」

Lavia pushed the curtain aside and disembarked from the carriage before anyone else. She found herself in an empty warehouse.

「Ah, I was a little late.」

As soon as Lavia stepped out of the warehouse, she saw a man in his forties or fifties coming toward them. He had gentle yet serious eyes, and unmemorable, plain features. If you came across him in town, you wouldn’t even remember him.

「Well, we weren’t told to wait.」Hikaru said.

「The driver is a trustworthy man, but he’s a bit quiet.」

Hikaru looked around. They were indeed in the palace grounds. He spotted structures that he saw before when he snuck at night. There was a stable in front of them, and the smell of fodder filled the air.

「Who is this gentleman, Silver Face?」Lavia asked, wary.

「Right, you haven’t met. We’re somewhat acquainted.」Hikaru said.

「Somewhat? You hurt my feelings. We travelled together to Vireocean.」

The man’s eyes remained calm and composed. Lavia and Paula watched their exchange curiously.

「This is His Excellency, Marquis Sakakimiya. He’s the Prime Minister of the Empire.」

「Wait… What?」

Lavia didn’t expect the man coming here in this dim and filthy place alone to be the Prime Minister.

「I am Sakakimiya, as introduced by Sir Silver Face.」The Prime Minister bowed.

「Uh, um…」

「Let us go. His Majesty is waiting.」

Leading the way, the man started walking.

「Uh, what?」

「Let’s go, Star Face. His policy is “simplicity and frugality is everything”, so he doesn’t have attendants following him.」

Hikaru sensed several people watching them. Even though the man didn’t have attendants, knights and spies still ensured his safety.

The Prime Minister led them to an unfrequented area—a library, built like an atrium three stories high. Lavia’s eyes glistened as she regarded the bookshelves standing in rows.

「You are free to read whatever you want.」the Prime Minister said.

Receiving the Marquis’ permission, Hikaru and Paula stayed in the reading room.

「Is it okay for you to give me permission so easily?」Hikaru asked as he sipped some herbal tea. It had a deep green color, brewed by the Prime Minister himself.「There must be a lot of valuable books in your collection. Though personally I appreciate it.」A pleasant sensation ran down his throat and into his stomach.

「You needn’t worry about it. Any nobleman who visits the imperial palace can read them.」

「Okay.」

「You asked for a rare book as a reward for your escort mission, yes? Is it for her?」

「Star Face is a bookworm.」

「I see. Books are good. They can impart wisdom throughout ages. But sadly, young people today don’t read books.」

Hikaru couldn’t help but laugh. He didn’t expect to hear the phrase “young people read less these days” even in another world.

「Is something funny?」

「Ah, I apologize. I just thought such problems exist even across time and space.」

「I see. It is true that when we were young, our elders used to say to us, “Young people these days don’t read.” There were many outstanding thinkers back then, and we thought we wouldn’t even begin to compare to them…」

「Well, that kind of assessment is not absolute. Ages pass, and people will say the same thing all over again.」

「I suppose you’re right.」

A knock came at the door, announcing the Emperor’s arrival. Being a Man Gnome, he was a head shorter than Hikaru, and he looked young, despite being over seventy years old, a special characteristic of his race.

He was accompanied on either side by two fierce-looking knights. One look and Hikaru knew they were skilled fighters. They watched Hikaru closely, not missing even a slight move of his fingertips, not out of caution, but out of curiosity.

They look familiar, Hikaru thought. Must be the knights guarding the convoy to Vireocean last time.

Kaglai quickly sat at the table.「It has been a while, Silver Face.」he said.

「For a Man Gnome, a few months is probably like a blink of an eye.」

「It is.」Kaglai said without so much as a grin, and turned to the Prime Minister.「Marquis Sakakimiya. How goes Silver Face’s reward?」

「I have not given it to him.」

「I seem to recall telling you to tell him.」

「Indeed. And I seem to recall refusing that order.」

Kaglai stared at the Prime Minister, but the latter showed no concern at all.

What are they talking about? Hikaru wondered. We came here to receive my reward. Although they also received an invitation to visit the Man Gnomes’ hometown.

「Silver Face. As for the book, you may take whatever you like from the library storeroom.」

「Great. I think that would make Star Face happy.」

This was the library of the imperial capital, after all. There should be many books here that were difficult to obtain. Though I’d rather have access to this library than get a single book.

「But there are more interesting books in my home. Why don’t you come visit?」Kaglai asked.

「I must decline.」Hikaru replied.

The knights behind Kaglai looked shocked at Hikaru’s immediate refusal. An invitation to the Emperor’s home was an honor in this empire.

「I see…」

「Were you trying to get the Prime Minister to invite me?」

「No, no… You see, I wished to ask if you would be willing to work for the Empire.」

「…What?」

「I want to hire you. For an annual salary of 100 million gilans.」

One of the knights coughed at the absurd amount. The other one had his eyes wide open.

「No thanks.」

Hikaru’s instant rejection made the first knight snort out loud, while the second one’s eyes widened even more, his eyeballs looking like it would fall out.

「I see…」Kaglai was visibly dejected.

「I warned you, Your Majesty. I told you money would not sway this man. You could have offended him and turned him into an enemy of the Empire.」

「Wait, hold up, Your Excellency.」Hikaru said.「Did you really think I was that quick-tempered?」

「People of our position always assume the worst.」

「I-I see…」

Hikaru was a bit shocked. He wouldn’t get mad at a government job offer.

「So you wish to be free, like adventurers.」

Kaglai’s words startled Hikaru for a split-second. After all, Hikaru—not Silver Face—was actually an adventurer.

「Well then, Silver Face. You may stay at the palace tonight. Surely you have time for some friendly conversation at night, yes?」

「I, uhh… don’t really mind. But are you sure about letting some guy you know nothing about stay near the Empreror?」

「It is too late to be wary of you at this point.」

Indeed, it was too late for that. The three of them had traveled together in the same carriage on the way to Vireocean before.

「I see your point.」

「So it is decided.」

Kaglai immediately left his seat and exited the library, the Prime Minister following him. They had meetings and gathering to attend to today. Big-wigs sure have it tough.

Hikaru’s party stayed in the library, free to read whatever books they wanted. Guards watched them, of course.

Lavia couldn’t narrow down the books she wanted. She kept groaning until the very end, and ultimately decided she didn’t want any of them.

「What counts is the contents.」she said.「Sure, they have elegant bindings, but they’re difficult to carry around.」

In a way, the books here were rare. Some were ornamented with gems, some too bulky to carry with only one hand. They were not supposed to be carried around.

Lavia decided that reading all the books she could read here until the last minute would be the reward, to which Hikaru agreed. Books are best kept where they belong.

I found some interesting books to read too.

Hikaru planned to tell Paula about them later—books that contained magic of the holy attribute.