Chapter 534 About the Seven Sages

“Speaking of which, Armen.” Luigi put down his mug and said, “If you’re here, that means Master has arrived too, right?”

“Pfft——!!!”

Monroe spat out his drink in an instant.

“Cough! Cough!”

He wiped his mouth, panicking as he glanced left and right.

“Master is here? Where, where is he?!”

“……Master went to meet friends; he’s not here. Senior Monroe, you don’t have to act so guilty.”

“Phew, good, good……” Monroe patted his chest in relief. “Wait, I’m not guilty! Quit talking nonsense.”

“……”

“When did you arrive, Armen?” Luigi asked again.

“We just got here today. You have no idea, Senior.”

“For the longest time, we camped in the wilderness every day. I almost forgot what a real bed feels like—and we knew nothing about what was happening in the world! Ah, speaking of which——”

“Senior Luigi, can you tell me what you’ve been through? And what the world is like now?”

“Mm……”

Luigi and Lore Kling exchanged a look.

“Our story is long. But the biggest thing going on right now……

is the establishment of the Seven Sages.”

“Seven Sages?” Armen leaned forward, instantly curious.

“What’s that? Tell me everything!”

“Simply put, it’s the High Council of Seven Sages—the world’s supreme governing body. The seven S-Rank experts who represent the world’s peak power are called the Seven Sages.”

“Huh? Then Master is one of them?!”

“Of course! Not just the Sword Saint—our Tower Master is also among them.”

“Tower Master?”

“……She’s the current Sage.”

“Wha——! Miss Lore, you’re a disciple of the Sage?!”

“Hmph~! That’s right!”

“What about the others? Who are they?!”

“The Seven Sages’ full identities aren’t public. Besides Master and Sage Esmelon, we know Lord Firuvin and Miss Irus. The rest we only know by title: the Immovable King, the Martial Emperor, and the newest one—the Seven-Star Witch.”

A provenance note for this page: NovelPhoenix is the author's publishing site, and this chapter was copied from it without approval.

“Wow! They sound amazing! Anything else?!”

“Other stuff……”

Before they knew it,

Armen had talked with Luigi and the others for ages, getting a clear picture of the Allied Forces’ current situation.

“……I see. So the Demon Vanguard was defeated. No wonder the crisis ended out of nowhere. This generation’s Heroes are incredible.”

“Your food, dear guest~!”

The waitress carried two trays, beaming, and set a stew and a paste in front of Armen.

“Ah, th…… thanks?”

Armen’s smile froze at the two dishes.

I swear I ordered Gudgeon Chicken Stew and Popom Porridge……

He looked up and met the waitress’s eager, expectant stare.

“……”

In the end, he had to hold back tears and eat the two unidentifiable dark dishes.

Mmph……

Never. Coming. Back. Here.

“Dear guest? Is there something wrong with our Black Brew? You haven’t touched it at all?”

“……”

Please…… spare me.

……

After leaving the tavern.

“Senior Monroe, you’re really not coming back with us?”

“Uh……”

Monroe stood there, awkward and stiff.

“W-Well! I just remembered something urgent! I have to do it right now! Later! I’ll come back later!”

“Senior Monroe……”

Armen clapped Monroe on the shoulder, speaking earnestly.

“If it’s about you stealing Master’s hidden stash, sneaking off the island to invest…… I don’t think Master would kill you.”

“Gah——?! Wh-What are you talking about?!”

Monroe’s face flushed red with panic.

“When did I do that?! Quit slandering me! Quit lying!”

“I’m not lying. Master was so angry he split a mountain in half.”

“Wh——! Enough! Shut up! I don’t have time for this! I’m really in a hurry! Later!”

With that, Monroe scurried off in defeat.

“Uh, well……” Armen scratched his head and looked at Luigi. “Senior Luigi, should we chase him?”

“No need. Now that Master is here, he can’t run far.”

“Right……”

“Take me to Master first.”

“Okay! Miss Lore, coming too?”

“Not today. The Sword Saint sounds like a pain. I’ll go check if little Ika’s back.”

Little Ika?

Armen didn’t know who she meant, but he said goodbye anyway.

Then he led Luigi back to the spot where they’d split up.

After waiting a while,

Arant finally returned.

“Master.”

Luigi stepped forward at once to greet him.

“Hm? Luigi?”

Arant stared at him in surprise, then his hand drifted to his sword.

“You being here…… that means——

that little bastard is here too, isn’t he?”

His eyes narrowed, and he began scanning the area, hunting for his target.

He finally locked onto a direction.

“……”

Armen could only silently pray for Monroe for three seconds.

Good luck, Senior Monroe……

“Hmph! I’ll deal with him later! Come with me. The Allied Forces assigned us quarters. Armen, gather the others later.”

“Yes, Master.”

Armen and Luigi followed Arant toward the living quarters.

“Master, were the friends you met other S-Ranks?”

“Correct.”

“Did you meet the Heroes too?”

“I did. We confirmed the Seven Sages Council—first meeting is tomorrow.”

“Really?! Can I come?!”

“No. Only specified personnel are allowed.”

“Huh…… Too bad. Can I wait outside?”

“Suit yourself……”

……

The next day.

“Master, isn’t this a little late?”

“Relax. The meeting starts only when everyone is here. The agreed time is when the last person arrives!”

“Huh???”

Armen stared blankly.

Was that what “agreed time” meant?

“Alright, we’re here.”

As they spoke, Arant and Armen had reached a newly built temple.

He led Armen inside, through the halls, to a square with a tall, standalone tower at its center.

“This is the meeting hall. You can’t come in. Wait outside wherever you want.”

With that, Arant left Armen behind, pushed open the tower door, and stepped inside.

“‘Wait wherever I want’…… As if.”

Armen plopped down on the tower’s stone steps.

“I’m staying right here until you all come out! I wanna see what all of you look like!”

“Hm? You are——”

A voice rang out ahead.

Armen looked up instinctively—and his mouth fell open. Even after years apart, he recognized her at once.

“Armen? Why are you here?”

“Hu-Hulim?!”

Armen jumped to his feet in an instant.

“Why are you here——?!!”