The Romance Fantasy Novel MC is Only Into Me

“It’s the pilgrimage group.”
“They’ve gathered again.”
Today, the air felt heavy. Everyone passing through the Plaza of the System could feel it.
The hundreds of pilgrims gathering from early morning were the cause.

Lancel watched them from the terrace of a restaurant some distance away.
“Attention! His Grace, Duke Mayril Dun, who will lead this pilgrimage, has arrived.”
A man clad almost entirely in expensive armor stepped onto a prepared podium.

Lancel frowned.
With how polished the armor was, every step he took reflected sunlight, flashing like silver and almost scorching his eyes.
“How pitiful! Truly pitiful, pilgrimage group. Citizens of the Empire. Descendants of the great gods.”

Duke Dun unfolded a prepared speech and began.
“Why does the evil that has taken root in this land still not vanish? Why do those who hinder the Empire’s dream of paradise never cease?”
Squelch squelch.

Lancel sipped his fruit drink with a bored expression. Quite the long speech right from the start.
“Therefore, I swear!”
By the time he ordered his third drink, Duke Dun’s speech had reached its climax.

“I, Mayril Dun, in the name of the royal family and the Martyrs’ Church! Will root out the sprouts of corruption and wickedness spread throughout this great Empire!”
Root out.
Though the pilgrimage group was all talk, that much was undeniably true.

Within just a week of setting out, cries from the lands where they uprooted the corrupt had spread throughout the Empire.
“Oh no, if you take this, we won’t have food until the harvest season!”
“How dare you resist the pilgrimage commanded by the gods? Look, this one is a demon! Put him on the gallows at once!”
“Ah! P-please spare me! I-I’ll give you everything!”

From alcohol and food to lodging, women, horses, and money.
They took whatever they needed, and even when not needed, they pillaged anyway.
“Hand it over. Everything.”

“Oldbottle region should be about now.”
Lancel carefully marked the pilgrimage’s route on a map.
There was no need to investigate.

The pilgrimage group themselves reported their daily achievements.
Every four days, detailed reports of their journey were posted in Rodness Plaza as a matter of routine.
—…The pilgrimage group has also dealt with the vile bandits illegally occupying villages and eliminated the monsters living in the lake!

‘Basically saying they turned villages that resisted their plunder into wastelands.’
Though mostly filled with splendid achievements and praise, it was enough to know where they were headed.
“If you’re so interested in the pilgrimage group, why don’t you just join them?”

Baron Ibil Shen eyed Lancel, who always recorded the pilgrimage’s movements, with slight suspicion.
‘There’s no other answer.’
Lancel had no intention of letting this round pass idly. After all, the pilgrimage procession event itself was rare.

Yes.
This was an opportunity.
Their existence, their arrogance, the atrocities they committed, even the pilgrimage route relatively close to the system.

All of it was an opportunity for Lancel.
“Lord Ibil, would you like to make a big profit with me?”
As soon as he had completed all the future pilgrimage routes, Lancel sought out Baron Ibil Shen.

The most successful stable master in this land. A miser. He intended to make an offer he couldn’t refuse.
“If this goes well, no one will dare look down on Lord Ibil in the System again.”
He leisurely drank tea but cast a nervous glance.

“Why so scary? Just say it. It’s not the first time I’ve lent you money.”
“This time, the amount is a bit large.”
“…How much?”

“About this much.”
Baron Ibil’s eyes widened as if they would tear.
“W-what on earth are you planning with this… amount…?”

“Business, wasn’t it? Business.”
“…Let’s hear it. What’s the scheme?”
Lancel lowered his voice and explained his plan. After listening for some time, Baron Ibil sighed deeply.

“This needs approval from the royal archbishop. Not just anyone can do it just because they want.”
“No need to worry about that.”
“Why?”

“You’ll get the approval, right?”
“Who? Me?”
Baron Ibil gave a dumbfounded look.

.
.
.
“Doing that? At this time?”
“Yes, Archbishop.”

Baron Ibil wiped cold sweat.
The royal archbishop was looking down at the top of his head with half-closed eyes.
The meeting was arranged under Lancel’s partly coercive request.

Of course, it went without saying that bribery involving five fine horses went into making this happen.
—I’ll take full responsibility if it fails. I swear on the honor of the Dante family.
That blasted Dante family. If it weren’t for past connections, he wouldn’t dream of such things.

Muttering inside, Baron Ibil cautiously gauged the royal archbishop’s expression.
“W-what do you think?”
After a long silence, the archbishop’s eyes slowly opened.

“I heard you’re a nouveau riche from the frontier, but now I see…”
A long and short silence followed. Sharp eyes scanned him up and down.
Fear of what would follow gripped Baron Ibil. His breath caught as if his chest would burst at any moment.

“You are a clever one.”
“Hah.”
Relieved suddenly, Baron Ibil exhaled the breath he had been holding.

“This is something I never thought of. Why didn’t I think of it earlier? Especially at such a good time.”
“…Yes?”
“With proper preparation, this can be an opportunity to glorify the pilgrimage. I like it very much.”

“Thank you! Archbishop, thank you!”
“But…”
The archbishop interrupted Baron Ibil.

“Do you think you can handle such a large festival all alone, no matter how much money you have?”
“Of course! Of course! Even if I have to sell all my assets!”
“No, I don’t believe it. Since it’s come to this, the Martyrs’ Church should chip in some money. We can’t let you have all the fun.”

“Ah, yes, th-that’s true.”
Baron Ibil could not hide his confusion.
The archbishop was not only agreeing with Lancel Dante’s reckless plan but digging # Nоvеlight # deeper.

—They will never refuse. Just trust me. Just do it.
Was his advice truly right? A chill ran down Baron Ibil’s arm.
“I guess we need to make the stakes bigger. It seems His Majesty also has time today.”

“Your Majesty...!”
Baron Ibil’s face turned pale.
“You must go and deliver this to His Majesty yourself. Understand?”

“Yes? Y-yes... yes!”
He felt his lifespan was being cut in half.
 
In the center of the System stood a large park where nobles spent their leisure.

Lancel and Merigold had been coming here every weekend for several months now.
Waterfowl flew around the lake, and wealthy System merchants gathered noisily with their families in the garden.
“Ah!”

“It’s okay. I’m holding you.”
As always, Lancel brought Merigold onto a small boat floating on the lake.
For her, blind as she was, the boat was a symbol of fear. Her lips trembled as if she might fall any moment, unable to hold her balance.

After rowing to the center of the lake, Merigold took a deep breath.
“Ready...”
“Then let’s begin.”

When Lancel snapped his fingers as a signal, Merigold’s expression changed instantly.
Her eyes closed, face serene.
Birds flapped wings around the rocking boat, but not a crack appeared in her calm demeanor.

Her appearance, which seemed almost sublime, evoked admiration.
After some time, Merigold slowly opened her mouth.
“Sir Knight.”

Lancel smiled.
In her quiet voice, there was almost an aura of authority. Compared to before, she was a completely different person.
“Tell me who you are.”

Lancel shifted his posture on the boat, knelt on one knee, and bowed his head.
“I am Lancel Dante.”
.
.
.

“Your loyal retainer, Lancel Dante.”
Lancel knelt before Merigold.
Next to him lay a knight who had just fainted after fighting with a sword.

Behind them was a small fence and the noisy cheers of dozens of spectators and gamblers.
“The winner of the first round of the Imperial Knights’ Tournament!”
Baron Ibil Shen, grinning widely, ran up and raised Lancel’s arm.

==========
—Regular Event: The finals of the ‘Knights Tournament’ hosted by Baron Ibil Shen and the Martyrs’ Church are three months away. Who will be chosen as the Empire’s greatest knight?
※ Due to the Martyrs’ Church’s guidelines, all holy knights from ‘all orders’ within the empire will participate in this tournament.

==========
“Lancel Dante of the Saintess Church!”
“Waaaaah!”
“Pay up, damn it!”