The Devil Does Not Need to Be Defeated

On the day that Shien encountered and then took Airi to the Latrard home, a certain meeting regarding Shien was taking place within one of the noble residences in the capital.

That noble residence is one of the villas belonging to the Stalim family.

Stalim is one of the ducal houses of the Mitra Kingdom. Plus, it's one of the noble families considered to be fairly powerful among the dukes.

Their territory is to the north of the Kingdom, bordering the neighboring Ragna Empire. As one of the border nobility, they've always been defending the border against any Imperial aggression, and they have fought off the Ragna Empire many times. They were quite powerful in military might.

Plus, the Stalim famiy is also a Ducal house and is thus related to the royal family by blood. Although their blood relations have thinned quite a bit after all this time, the fact that the ancestor of the Stalim family was once royalty cannot be denied.

Thus, even the current King would have to adress the current head of the Stalim family as he would an elder brother. The political influence and authority of the family obviously doesn't bear mentioning either. They wouldn't lose out even compared to the Latrard and Arbin families.

In addition to all that, the current head of the Stalim family, Bali, has a very talented son.

His name is Limgir Stalim. He's 25 years old this year, and two years ago, via the Stalim family's recommendations, he joined the royal knights as one of those who personally guards the royal family.

In order to join the royal knights, one would have to either be directly invited by a member of the royal family or to have reached level 70+ along with the strong recommendations of a noble.

In other words, two years ago, back when he was only 23 years old, Limgir had already successfully leveled up to level 70.

Now, two years after, rumor has it that Limgir's level has already exceeded level 75, and that he has already learned the [Magic Sword] skill. Thus, he has already become one of the top members of the royal knights.

With such talent, Limgir has even been called by some to be "a second Aldia".

In other words, in the eyes of some, Limgir may very well in the future catch up to Aldia and become the strongest legendary class knight of the Kingdom.

This particular villa actually belongs to Limgir, but it generally goes unused most of the time.

After all, the knights are based in the northern district. Even Limgir would normally stay in the knights dorms in the northern district, so it's only natural that he'd have very few chances to use this villa.

However, this day, Limgir appeared here in full armor.

It was because he got the news that his father had come all the way from their far away territory to the capital in order to see him.

Thus, Limgir showed up at the villa now and headed toward the study.

He was a man standing at over 1.9 meters. He's tall and strong looking, with blond hair, green eyes, and a handsome face. All in all, he was a prince-like handsome man.

Given his looks, plus his achievement, Limgir was someone quite popular within the royal knights. He's also quite popular in the capital and the Stalim ducal territory. If one were to put aside those with cheat levels of fame like Lucy, then Limgir's own fame could definitely rank among the top five in the whole Kingdom.

With such fame and popularity, he has even been called by some to be the next captain of the royal knights. He truly was a man greatly sought after in the Capital.

Right now though, Limgir had arrived at the villa's study and met his father.

"Long time no see, father."

Limgir so greeted his father, who was standing by the window with his back turned to Limgir.

"You're here?"

The person in question turned around and showed himself before Limgir.

Wearing a military uniform without so much as a single crease on it.

With a straight and tall posture that makes him look extremely tall.

He looked to be around 40 years old or so. Although he did have a beard, it was trimmed very neatly.

This is the current head of the Stalim family – Bali Stalim.

"Do you know why I've come to talk to you about?"

Bali didn't beat around the bush at all, nor did he waste time on pleasantries. Even if the one before him was his own son who he hasn't seen in some time, he just acted like it was business and got straight to the main point.

Limgir gazed at his father, who hasn't changed a bit, and a slight coolness flashed through his eyes.

His father has always been this way. He's never bothered with any sort of love. He didn't even have any feelings for his own wife, who was the daughter of some other high noble that was chosen for him by his family. After the two got married, they just had Limgir like it was a business deal before living separately.

Therefore, Limgir and Bali had no real relationship or feelings to speak of. They only called each other father and son on the surface, and their interactions was no different than that between a superior with his subordinate.

Now was no different. The father didn't show any feelings as he spoke to his son. He just went straight to the point. The son didn't look at his father with any familial feelings either. He just purely treated him like a superior.

Thus, Limgir knew full well why this unfeeling father of his came here today.

"It's because of the matter with princess Lucilosti, right?"

Limgir thus brought it up.

"Indeed." Bali spoke without any emotions, "Do you remember for why I sent you to the Capital? What the goal I had you join the royal knights for?"

"Of course." Limgir answered without hesitation, "The goal is to get close to her highness Lucilosti and then, finally, marry her."

That's right.

Limgir is here for the sake of that one goal.

"Her highness is the first to be recognized by the Holy Sword in a thousand years. She even gained the blessing of one of the three great goddesses, the goddess of fate. Her talent and potential could match that of the Hero who founded this Kingdom." Bali spoke coldly, "Her talent could even be called the highest in the entire Kingdom, the Hero of the modern era. If you could become the husband of her highness, then our Stalim family's already thin Hero bloodline will definitely be greatly renewed, and we would return to the center of the Kingdom."

The rank known as duke might look like the highest nobility of the Kingdom, but to be more accurate, they are actually a kind of failure.

It's because they're the ones who lost the struggle for the throne. That's why they were kicked out of the royal family and made into merely a side branch. That's what a duke is.

The Stalim ducal family is the same. Their ancestor lost to the then king over 700 years ago. Thus, they were granted a new name and were made into a ducal house. Their territory was also at the border.

Thus, although it might seem like the Stalim family is highly ranked, in reality, they've already been kicked out of the political heart of the capital for many years now.

Thus, the Stalim family has only a single obsession.

And that is to one day return to the center of the Kingdom, to return to the capital and take their rightful place there.

For such a goal, ever since he was sent to the Capital two years ago, which was when the princess became an adult, Limgir was given an order from his family.

Marry the princess. Merge the bloodline of the two families, revitalize the Hero's bloodline of the Stalim family, which had already turned thin over the past hundreds of years, and then to take the throne.

That's very much possible.

"Given her highness Lucy's position, so long as you show yourself to be capable enough, you would be a top candidate for the position of the next King. Even if you can't get it yourself, her highness Lucy will definitely be able to get it. Should that come to pass, then your children will be properly of the royal family. Then, our Stalim family will be able to return to the Capital and take back our lost authority and positions."

Bali continued to speak without any emotions.

"And as for you, at that point you would become the captain of the royal knights at he very least. You would end the Arbin family's thousand year long reign over the royal knights. That that point, be it the kingdom or the royal knights, both would become the property of our Stalim family."

That's Balin's plan.

Unfortunately though, Limgir hasn't progressed at all in the past two years.

That's fine though.

Although he didn't manage to make any progress with the princess, over the last two years Limgir did at least managed to carve out a place for himself in the royal knights. Thus, Bali wasn't all that dissatisfied with him.

But things have turned worse recently.

"I heard that an obstacle had appeared."

Bali brought up a name that the nobility of the capital has recently been hating on.

"His name seems to be Shien, right?"

In response, Limgir's eyes started flashing.

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