Wait, I could kinda understand if Rook was observing someone who talked a lot, but how’s he doing it with a guy who doesn’t say anything? And how’s he getting so much out of him?
“Is that all correct?” Azurite asked. KoT nodded in response, and you could tell by his raised eyebrow that even he was surprised by Rook’s feat.
“He says ‘More or less,’” Rook translated.
“Why do you not speak for yourself?”
“‘There are personal circumstances that make it somewhat difficult for me to present information using voice. I am capable of it, but my efforts are inefficient. Even after several years here, I cannot say more than a few words at once. Additionally, the nuances of my language may cause difficulties with communication. Even if I were to write, my original language would be incomprehensible to tians. In the common language, all I can give are names and a few words. Because of all that, I generally communicate using gestures.’”
He sure says a lot for someone who doesn’t talk! I thought.
“Did the president give you any other orders?”
“‘No. I was only ordered to participate in The Tournaments. I was not even told why. She said I was free once it was over. Additionally, she said that if I went to the reception at her designated time, I would win the Tournament lottery.’”
His answer made Azurite fall silent, deep in thought. The president had sent him here almost like a blank slate, and had given him orders as if she knew the exact timing he needed to win.
That was just baffling.
“Do you know if there is anything else Caldina is doing in Altar?”
“‘Fellow Sefirot members, Carl and Yumeji, accompanied me on the way here, but in Caldina’s west, we encountered Legendaria’s King of Curses and Summon Princess. The resulting trouble separated us, and I have been operating on my own ever since. I am not involved in nor do I know anything about the orders the president gave to them.’”
“I see.” Two more Superiors had approached the kingdom. That was important information, and it felt like a strategic move by Caldina.
It was strange, though, that he was giving us all this information without even attempting to obscure it.
KoT wasn’t hiding a thing, but the president’s intentions weren’t becoming any clearer.
Also, I couldn’t understand how Rook was picking up specific names and stuff like that.
I ended up asking about it, and it turned out that the deduction skills he practiced in real life had been greatly enhanced by Dendro’s mechanics. Rook regularly leveled up before I even realized he’d gotten stronger, but it looked like it wasn’t just his stats that were improving. Honestly, this was basically another superpower at this point.
“If a war broke out between Altar and Dryfe, could we expect you to fight on our side?” Azurite asked.
“‘I belong to the kingdom now, so I have no objections about aiding them in their effort. Though, war or not, I would like to refuse actions that cause tian casualties.’”
“What if only Masters participate?”
“‘Then there would be no problems. I would gladly assist Altar.’”
After saying that—well, having Rook say that—KoT gave a nod.
That was nice to hear.
Based on Rook’s translations, KoT seemed like a good-natured and diligent individual despite his stern appearance. Honestly, if you ignored the fact that he didn’t speak, he might’ve been the most normal Superior in Altar.
“‘Speaking of which, if I am to participate, I believe I need to join a clan. Is there any you recommend?’ Oh, you can come to our Death Period. We’re second in the rankings,” Rook interjected before continuing. “‘Thank you. I will gladly join.’”
“Hold on!” Basically talking to himself, Rook had casually made a pretty big decision for us.
We’re getting another Superior?!
“Oh? Do you object? I assumed you would approve.”
“I do, but still!” Rook was reading every inch of my mind and personality! This really is a superpower!
“No it’s not. Anyone can do this with enough training. It’s similar to how you understand what Juliet is saying.”
“But Juliet talks out loud! Normally!”
“Huh?”
That aside...
I really did have nothing against him joining our clan.
The Tournaments’ goal was to keep the participants from committing crimes and attract foreign Masters to increase Altar’s forces in the coming war.
For some reason, there were fewer foreign and freelance Masters than expected, but KoT was a skilled Superior who could hold his own against Figaro, and him joining Altar would be a great asset. While we didn’t know what the Caldinan president was planning, I felt that we could trust Albert just fine. Rook and Shu would surely notice if he had some ulterior motives.
Azurite still seemed to be pondering something, though. She’d been lost in thought ever since Albert said how he ended up in Altar, and I could hear her whisper something like “When did...?”
“Azurite?”
“King of Termination... I have another question... When did you depart from Caldina?”
“‘When?’ Is that important?” I asked. “I know Caldina’s pretty far, but still.” Crossing the desert to travel all the way to Altar surely wasn’t an easy task. AGI builds could get through it at supersonic speeds, but based on his duels, Albert seemed pretty slow. Did he travel in some sort of vehicle?
“Huh?” That voice of confusion came from Rook, and I assumed it was caused by Albert’s answer to Azurite’s question. With a dubious expression on his face, he went and translated it. “...‘In terms of time on this side, I was ordered to go to Altar about a month ago.’”
Shock filled the room. I finally understood what had Azurite so lost in thought.
A month ago in Dendro time... That was before even the peace talks—before Altar had even gotten the idea to hold The Tournaments.
Despite that, the president had already sent Albert to participate in the final day, and even given him the time that would let him win the no-show slot lottery.
Maybe she really could see the future...and that prospect made us all shudder.