Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 1995: Asking a few questions

By the time the day drew to a close, exhaustion truly weighed heavy on me.

Even though I'd perfected the art of brushing off the nobles swarming around me, handling their constant presence still drained me completely.

In the end, their persistence showed no signs of breaking.

Their repeated attempts to get close revealed how accustomed they were to such pursuits.

Apparently, within the Solar Kingdom, internal conflicts were nonexistent, making the nobles here experts at flattery.

The explanation behind this was straightforward: the Lune Royal Family held a relic that suppressed any rebellious urges. Gaining higher status was out of reach because of that artifact.

Past challengers served as the perfect illustration of this reality.

Thus, even without actively wielding the relic, the Lune Royal Family faced no issues. Historical events proved it could activate independently, without their command.

All were aware that with this relic's safeguard, reshaping the Solar Kingdom from within was utterly impossible.

Yet, this also ensured the relic's presence prevented any turmoil from erupting in the realm.

It would forever stand as their unyielding protector.

"Such an artifact must stem from a binding contract, otherwise it wouldn't shield the royals autonomously like this. The mystery lies in whatever entity forged that pact with them..."

The deeper my understanding of the relic grew, the stronger my urge became to witness it firsthand and uncover its secrets.

However, accessing the relic remained completely out of my reach.

"Perhaps shifting my approach could yield some insights."

As dusk fell, I slipped away from the residence where I lodged.

No one monitored me directly, yet the area wasn't devoid of watchful eyes.

Guards had been assigned for my protection as a precaution. It stemmed not from distrust in our group, but from the dire consequences if harm befell me on their soil.

This explained the deployment of those sentinels.

Yet, I preferred keeping my actions hidden from view, prompting my covert departure.

Evading the ordinary guards proved simple enough, but obtaining the desired details was far more challenging.

Not due to a lack of potential sources, but because no useful knowledge emerged from them.

Despite the Solar Kingdom's strong emphasis on public order, absolute secrecy was unattainable.

Consequently, shadowy figures prowled the nocturnal alleys of the Solar Kingdom.

Finding such individuals was straightforward if you knew the right spots to search.

"What details do you have on the relic housed in the palace?"

"What relic? I have no idea what you're referring to."

Interactions like this were all I encountered.

Not one could provide answers to my inquiries.

Their responses indicated genuine ignorance, not evasion to shield some hidden agenda.

They truly possessed zero knowledge on the matter.

That realization struck me as profoundly odd.

After all, total concealment of any secret was impossible.

No matter their efforts to bury it, details about the royal family's relic couldn't stay entirely obscured.

This held especially true in the underworld, where information trading fueled survival. They'd exhaust every avenue to secure valuable intel.

Their lack of awareness suggested some force was actively obstructing access.

Yet, this blocking power bordered on the otherworldly.

"Could it truly defend itself to this extent? Has it reached a level where it can manipulate minds?" The thought crossed my mind involuntarily upon this discovery.

Now, a nagging doubt crept in, questioning if this was all an elaborate setup.

Nevertheless, with my presence here, turning a blind eye wasn't an option.

Neither the underworld dwellers nor the nobles yielded any leads, leaving just one path forward.

Come morning, the assembled nobles outside were taken aback upon learning I was en route to the castle.

The guards from the manor had spread the word, not me.

Truth be told, I wasn't even present, so spotting me was impossible.

Although the nobles itched to protest, the sight of the altered guard detail silenced them.

These were elite royal guards, loyal to the family and often nobles in their own right.

The cause for this change? I'd requested the previous guards relay a message to King Lune the night before.