S1199. Summertime.
Today's fun had come to an end. At least, that is what I initially thought. But I wouldn't necessarily call this "fun". The reason why I got that sense of deja vu is because the exact same thing happened a year ago when the Jaeger King paid me a visit. Then the whole North Ambria battle took place. He's not here again with another mission, is he?
Thankfully, today's activities are now over. Crow and Vita have already departed into the city, so it was just Angelica, Kloe and I. Tamamo already retreated back into the bed, dozing off into dreamland. Hearing this knock, Kloe raised her eyes, since she was here last time this happened. The only difference now was Angelica being here, instead of Emma. Still, both of them seemed interested, wondering who it was. It came from the veranda. I looked at the two, and they nodded their heads.
Being in agreement, I walked toward the veranda, and saw it was well into the night now. The crescent moon was hanging high in the starry sky above. Silky, white clouds could be seen scattered across it. A pleasant evening if I do say so myself.
After approaching the sliding glass window and opening it, I felt a cool breeze strike my face. Shortly after, I heard a familiar voice reach out to me. It was familiar, but it wasn't the Jaeger King.
"This day is just full of surprises, isn't it, Your Highness?", A playful voice said, speaking out to me. My body froze, as I caught a glimpse of a green-haired figure standing outside, casually resting their back against the window. Seeing this, I immediately shut the window, which left me alone with the figure.
"C-Campanella!?", I exclaimed, not expecting to see Enforcer No. 0 of all people here.
"In the flesh.", Campanella said, and grinned at me. "I am honored that you have not forgotten my face, even with the passage of time. You're hardly the person you were previously made out to be back on the Glorious. These years have done you well."
Campanella...is actually handing out a compliment? I mean, he isn't wrong. Puberty has begun, and my growth spurts have been explosive. Even at thirteen, I'm already around six feet tall, and somewhat packed with muscle. Likely due to a combination of factors. The Gamer System, and blood ties. I'll probably be amongst the taller crowd like Father or the Jaeger King. I wouldn't be surprised if I end up being over seven feet tall at the end. A far cry from my previous life, where most asians, or half-asians like myself don't even meet that standard. I'm not sure if I'll enjoy this perk.
"Hah...", I said, and slouched over a bit, sighing. If Campanella was here, he likely had something to tell me. He often runs around the continent delivering many forms of news and such. He also speaks on behalf of the Grandmaster whenever one of her big plans begins. I don't think it's reached that point, so it's probably something else. "Well, you don't like to beat around the bush. I take it you've something to tell me."
"Boy do I~?", Campanella replied with a smirk. "And might I add, encountering the Azure Abyss here was a nice touch. You two haven't met in what, like three years?"
"Give or take. But you called Vita the Azure Abyss...She accepted the seat of the Second Anguis, hasn't she?", I asked, becoming serious. Not necessarily a bad thing, but if she's an Anguis now, she has much less freedom like Enforcers do. Right now, it's still very early and even the Gospel Plan is still in its infancy. Vita doesn't assist during that, so she likely has a lot of free time right now.
"Indeed she has. But the reason why I am here tonight is not because of another seat of the Anguis being filled in. I have come for a different matter. It isn't exactly serious per se, but it is a matter nonetheless that requires your attention, Your Highness.", Campanella began to explain.
"Something that requires my attention, specifically?", I responded, wondering what Campanella was referring to. While we might be working together as partners, I haven't exactly joined the Enforcers roster, even though the position is currently available for me to take. "And I would have thought you would have sent one of your phantoms or something instead of your actual person."
"Haha!", Campanella replied with a laugh. "I very well could have done that, but why ruin such a blissful evening? I was in town, so I decided to drop on by and say hello~"
"Uh-huh...", I uttered, half-expecting that to be false.
"Anyway. Consider this little meeting a calling card of sorts, Your Highness. Your actions are due.", Campanella stated, getting down to business.
"My...actions are due? Even if I haven't given my final answer?", I asked.
"Unfortunately.", Campanella replied, and shrugged his shoulders, acting like he didn't care. "I am only here as a messenger. The Grandmaster has accepted your position as Enforcer No. IV, The Emperor this last year. Even if you haven't fully accepted it, you are considered one of us, Your Highness. And with that being said, what I am about to say is completely optional, considering it is not finalized on paper."
"The Grandmaster accepted me, without accepting me? How does that even make any sense?", I responded, shaking my head. I mean, I do see myself aligning with Ouroboros for the time to come, and working as an Enforcer does grant me the most freedom of what they do. I'd be in the same position as Renne, in that case. But Enforcer No. IV, The Emperor...
How ironic. Is this intentional? Either way, I saw Campanella shrug his shoulders again.
"Like I said, I am merely here as a messenger. Everything is the will of the Grandmaster.", Campanella replied. "And as you know, members of Ouroboros are required to partake in missions, at least once a year, to keep a hold of their current seat. It doesn't matter what rank you hold. A mission has been prepared for you, Your Highness."
"A mission...", I uttered. And straight from Ouroboros to boot. One that happens once every year? Guess Ouroboros doesn't want its members to continuously slack off, so it makes sense, haha!
"Yep. And as I have also brought up, Enforcers have the right to turn it down, and accept another if it doesn't tickle their fancy. As for you, Your Highness, you will not get penalized. You can completely turn it down, and we'd just go about our separate ways until the next opportunity presents itself.", Campanella explained.
After Campanella said that, he did a quick snap of his fingers. Shortly after, he reached his hand outward, and a holographic panel of sorts appeared above his palm. Was this his illusion trickery at play? It looks oddly similar to the Gamer System's interface...
"...What's this supposed to be?"
I was just staring at the presentation itself, not what it actually presented.
"Hahaha!", Campanella laughed again. "Oh come on. Can't you have a little fun? I'm presenting this to you in a manner of what you're used to. "Gamer Notifications", as they were called? Such a wondrous and peculiar ability. You're a walking, talking anomaly. Not only can you twist and distort the real world, but you can also give your allies basically whatever they want. If they want to get stronger, they can. That sorta thing."
"Heh.", I replied, revealing a smirk. "You know so much about me already. What if I end up not choosing to join in the end?"
"Then we would be losing out on one big ally. Plain and simple. Whoever you decide to partner up with, you will be tipping the scales. No doubt about that.", Campanella responded. "And what's more, this Unification Plan of yours sure is something alright. Wanting to unify half the country through the power of love, was it~?", Campanella continued, and smirked at me.
"...That is one way to put it. I won't deny that.", I said, and sighed.
"It's already starting to take root too, with Her Majesty permitting the Royal Harem you now have. How about I join it? I'm sure we could have a boatload of fun!", Campanella continued in a teasing tone.
"FOR THE LOVE OF AIDIOS, NO!", I exclaimed, doing a fast motion of my arm. "You can only take those jokes so far, Fool. You have stated your business here already. Cough up the details."
"Fine, fine. Way to kill the mood."
"There was no mood to begin with!", I retorted again.
"Anyways...", Campanella said, shrugging that comment off, acting like he didn't mean it to begin with. "I could see it in your eyes, Your Highness. You recognized what is displayed here right away."
Hearing that, I took a moment to regain my composure, and had a look at the realistic illusion before me. It really does look like the blue panels the Gamer System has. What he showed me was indeed an insignia of sorts. It was composed of four sections. Smaller symbols could be seen on each one.
The top left had the image of a sword. The top right had an image of thorns. The bottom right is a rotting tree, while the bottom left is a cluster of gold ingots.
"This is what remains of the Order of the Moonlight Horse. A shadowy group who calls themselves The Gardens, courtesy of none other than The Oathbreaker, someone who I have yet to meet. I've heard somewhat about it already from Ennea, considering she used to come from the same group Harwood was a part of. The Order of the Moonlight Horse. Honestly, I would love to meet the guy. Haven't had a chance to do so yet.", I responded with a firm nod.
"Bingo~", Campanella said. "And why rush it? If you're that interested, then why don't you meet the Oathbreaker yourself, Your Highness?"
"Eh?"
Sure enough another teleportation circle that likely was triggered by Campanella suddenly spawned on the veranda. It wasn't just one figure, not two, but three in total. Oi, our veranda is not a playground for you to waltz in on!
Seeing these new arrivals, I couldn't help but be shocked.
"Yo. At last we can meet, Your Highness. Nice place ya got here.", A lazy-sounding man said. The moment he showed up, I got a big whiff of cigar smoke, almost causing me to have a coughing fit.
"Oh come on now deary, we're the ones intruding here. It isn't every day we get an opportunity like this. If His Highness takes a fancy to us, who knows. We might be able to get more chances to come here.", A woman's voice said, carrying a thick, and refined accent. She currently hid her face behind a large, brimmed black hat and a dark-colored veil.
As for the third person, it was a girl who was four years older than me, making her seventeen this year. I recognized that bluish, indigo-colored hair from anywhere. A large bow currently could be seen equipped on her back. Not long ago did this girl join the Royal Harem as its second member. Who else could it be but Ennea? It happened on the sidelines, but it triggered [Ennea's Blessing], marking this the sixth blessing I have received thus far. The rest came from Aurelia, Prince Olivert, Roselia, McBurn, and Angelica.
"It sure has been a while, hasn't it, Master? You've started growing rather splendidly in the time we've been apart. I almost hardly recognized you.", Ennea happily said, quickly approaching me. Before I could do anything, she ran up and gave me a big hug. Her...assets started to squeeze me. Let's leave it at that.
"Oh my. I did not expect things to take an unexpected turn already. You really are a part of this boy's, ahem, 'Royal Harem', as it is called?", The golden blonde-haired woman said, looking interested at this scene playing out before her.
"I couldn't give two shits about that.", The man said, taking another moment to enjoy his cigar.
Ennea disregarded the two and simply smiled at me. Before I could do anything else, my eyes turned wide, only to see Ennea lean in, and plant a kiss on my lips. It wasn't anything heavy, but it sure caught me off guard. Ennea smiled again after she pulled backwards from me.
"I have returned home, Master.", Ennea said, smiling at me.