Overlord: I’ve Been Recruiting Followers in Another World

"God Kael, I humbly request a moment of your time for an audience."

In the underground palace restaurant that morning, Kael and Saintess Leinas were enjoying breakfast, served by deft attendants. Head Maid Erica suddenly stepped forward to report to him.

Hearing the request from Lakyus, which had been previously relayed, Kael showed no surprise. He merely nodded, granting his assent.

Lakyus entered the restaurant, approached Kael, bowed respectfully, and greeted him, "Greetings, God."

Kael nodded at her, then gestured while delivering a piece of beef to his mouth, "Care to join me for breakfast?"

"Thank you for your generosity, but I have already eaten," Lakyus replied softly, shaking her head.

Her arrival this time was to convey one crucial matter to Kael: King Ramposa III had completed the task of summoning the residents of the Re-Estize Royal Capital, and the public interrogation of the Golden Princess was scheduled for thirty minutes later, in the ruined Royal Capital Square.

Upon receiving this information, Kael reacted little. Only a murmured "Okay, I know" escaped his lips.

Lakyus hesitated for a moment, yet couldn't help but ask, "Kami-sama, where is Princess Renner now? Do I need to pick her up?"

Hearing the question, Kael's hand movements paused. He turned, looking at Lakyus.

Just as Lakyus began to feel uneasy, Kael smiled faintly. He put down his knife, fork, and napkin, wiped his mouth slowly, then stood from his chair.

"After holding her for so long, it must have been difficult for you. Since you're so eager to meet her, I'll take you."

Speaking, Kael approached Lakyus, took her arm, and activated a teleportation spell.

In the blink of an eye, the scenery around them drastically changed. Both were now in Carne Village, ten kilometers from the capital.

Lakyus swept her gaze around, and quickly found Princess Renner strolling leisurely in the village. Her heart fluttered, a slight thrill bubbling forth. She instinctively wanted to call the princess's name.

However, just as her lips were about to utter the sound, the thought of the fate that awaited Princess Renner choked her. The voice caught in her throat, unable to escape.

Her complicated eyes were fixed on Princess Renner, who looked so relaxed, protected by two guards, wandering the village as if without a care.

At this point, as if sensing the gaze, Princess Renner suddenly turned her head.

"Lakyus!"

The princess's face was suddenly adorned with an expression of genuine surprise. Her skirt fluttered as she jogged towards Lakyus.

As if Lakyus was the only one in her eyes, Princess Renner hugged her friend tightly, seemingly uncaring of those around. In an excited voice, she said, "It's so good that you're alright! When I heard the news before, I thought it must be fake. After all, you're so strong that absolutely no one could kill you."

The way Princess Renner spoke, as if time for her had stopped on the day of the Eight Fingers' stronghold attack, showed Lakyus how sincere the princess's concern and happiness were at this reunion.

Lakyus couldn't help but return her friend's hug, a mix of emotions swirling within her.

She truly wished Princess Renner could be as simple as she appeared at this moment, always her unchanging close friend.

"I'm back, Renner."

Lakyus gently patted Renner's back.

After hugging for two seconds, Renner released her arms and, as if she had only just noticed Kael next to Lakyus, asked Lakyus, "Lakyus, who is this?"

"Oh, this adult..."

Lakyus slowly took Renner's arm, preparing to introduce Kael's identity, but was cut off a step earlier by Kael.

Kael smiled and said, "I'm just a friend of Lakyus. This time we came to pick you up to meet your father, he's been very worried about you, Your Royal Highness."

"...So that's it, I will trouble you."

As if seeing nothing amiss at all, Renner thanked Kael with a gentle smile on her face.

Heh.

Kael chuckled in his heart.

Whether Renner truly didn't notice or was pretending not to know, it didn't matter to him.

When they arrived at the Re-Estize Royal Capital later, there would certainly be a time when the mask would fall.

"Lakyus, let's go. Don't keep His Majesty the King waiting any longer."

Hearing that, Lakyus looked at Kael with a complex expression. The hand holding Renner unconsciously tightened.

Renner noticed the change in Lakyus's grip. She glanced briefly at Lakyus with no particular expression on her face.

Realizing that this was something unavoidable, after taking a deep breath, Lakyus's face became resolute. She bowed respectfully to Kael, "Yes, sir."

After saying this, she immediately activated the teleportation magic without waiting for further instructions from Kael.

A magic circle spread at the feet of several people, locking the target location as the Re-Estize Royal Capital, and the magic effect began.

"This..."

When Princess Renner was fully conscious, everything around her had changed.

She found herself standing on an impromptu stage. Her father and brother sat under a canopy not far away, while a sea of people gathered around the stage. Behind the crowd, the ruins of the city were visible.

Though devastated, she recognized it at a glance: it was the central square of the Re-Estize Royal Capital.

This feeling of being watched in public.

In just a fraction of a second, Renner anticipated something bad. The gentle expression on her face vanished, replaced by a cold composure.

Her eyes were fixed on Kael, who seemed unassuming yet exuded a faint, cold aura.

Kael merely pretended not to see the gaze, looking up at the bright sky, which felt a little glaring.

Slightly out of place.

With that thought, Kael immediately flew into the sky. His strange behavior immediately drew everyone's attention.

After reaching an altitude of about twenty meters, he released the spell [Control Weather].

The sky suddenly changed drastically. A strong wind seemed to sweep the clouds rapidly, and a large number of overcast clouds immediately gathered over the Re-Estize Royal Capital, blocking most of the warm sunlight.

Oh!

For the first time, the residents of the Re-Estize Royal Capital witnessed such a spectacle. The crowd couldn't help but exclaim in awe, many staring blankly at the figure in the air.

"Amazing," Princess Renner murmured, looking up, her eyes slightly sharpening her gaze.

At this point, a familiar call reached her ears.

"Renner."

Turning her head, King Ramposa III, accompanied by Prince Zanac, had already walked onto the stage.

Renner's expression returned to normal instantly. She saluted her father with a smile on her face, "Father, are you well?"

"Renner, you..."

Ramposa III looked at his daughter with a complicated expression.

After a moment of silence, his eyes slowly became resolute. He turned to face all the civilians below the stage, raising a ring on his hand which was enchanted with a voice amplification spell.

"Residents of the Re-Estize Royal Capital, I am King Ramposa III, and I have summoned you all here today for only one matter."

"My daughter, the kingdom's third princess—Princess Renner Theiere Chardelon Ryle Vaiself, is accused of colluding with the evil organization that destroyed this city, the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick, causing this catastrophe."

"Today, I am here to formally hold a public trial against her. Please bear witness."

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