Reincarnated as the favorite of an obsessive goddess: gave me a system-Chapter 29: On the verge of a conflict.

The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of the royal suite in the palace of Athelgard. Kai woke up slowly, feeling the comforting weight of responsibility on his shoulders, a sensation that had become his constant companion since he decided to rebuild the village. Beside him, Lyla slept with a serenity that stood in stark contrast to the political storm beginning to brew in the palace corridors.

Kai looked at her neck and saw the small wooden heart he had carved for her during their return from their last trip to Athelgard. She wore it even while sleeping, a symbol of their connection. With a small, sincere smile, he carefully reached out and delicately held the small heart, seeing how well it suited her as a pendant.

"Pervert," Lyla murmured with that now familiar mischievous grin.

He started, realizing she was awake. "How long have you been up?"

"Since you started staring at me," she responded, stretching.

Kai let out a laugh as he got out of bed and walked over to the windows. Looking out at the palace gardens, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of unease. King Gabell’s invitation wasn’t a simple gesture of courtesy, there were matters of gratitude and business that required a face to face meeting.

Shortly after, Allice entered. Her expression was serious, devoid of the lightness she sometimes showed back at the village.

"We need to talk," Allice said. "What we saw in the gardens last night was no coincidence. Those three new nobles Gabell received aren’t acting the way they should. Their movements are too precise, too coordinated. Normally, nobles don’t act like that, as if a simple mistake would mean their death. They are soldiers. Infiltrators."

Kai nodded. "I remember the ring you mentioned last night. It’s a ring worn by certain people who belonged to the religion of Malk." He paused, thinking. "We will investigate this very day."

Lyla listened intently, rubbing her eyes with a playful gesture but maintaining a sharp gaze that reminded everyone that, despite her physical weakness, she still possessed the wisdom of a deity.

"Gabell is a man loyal to my faith, but the palace is a nest of vipers," Lyla commented as she adjusted her dress. "If those men are here, it’s because someone opened the door for them."

The group headed to the great hall for breakfast, where King Gabell awaited them. The setting was opulent, with tables laden with exotic fruits and warm bread, but for Kai, the air felt heavy. As they walked through the corridors, Kai was more alert than ever, watching for any kind of threat.

They crossed paths with one of the new nobles in the east wing. He was a tall man with a cold gaze, wearing the same ring Kai remembered. Kai exchanged a quick look with Allice, her hand was already near where she usually kept her daggers. The noble gave an excessively formal bow and continued on his way.

"He’s not a noble," Kai whispered once the man was out of earshot. "His bow was too exaggerated, as if he wasn’t used to it. Besides, his gait is very robotic, very military."

Lyla and Allice looked at each other.

"This can’t be a coincidence, Kai. Something is happening here," Allice murmured.

"We have to inform Gabell," Lyla added, leading the way through the halls.

During breakfast, the King seemed distracted. Although he was hospitable, his eyes constantly drifted toward the guards at the door. When the servants withdrew, Gabell leaned forward.

"I am glad you accepted my invitation," the King said in a low voice. "But I must be honest. My throne is not as solid as it seems. I have had to accept these advisors from Zenit to maintain diplomatic peace, but I suspect their intention is to sow discord."

Kai set his cup on the table. His resolve was firm, he would not allow the power games of gods or neighboring kingdoms to destroy the peace he had worked so hard to build for his people.

"Allice noticed that some of them wear a ring with a scythe," Kai intervened, watching Gabell’s reaction.

The King turned slightly pale. "I should have realized sooner. I simply thought they were similar rings, but if you thought so too, then it is no coincidence."

Lyla spoke up with a voice that, while soft, cut like the wind. "It’s not just politics, Gabell. These men are here to overthrow you. Allice and Kai will investigate them closely today. We need proofs"

After the meeting, Kai and Allice decided to infiltrate the guest wing of the palace. Kai used his inventory for the first time to store his daggers, allowing him to move with greater freedom and only summoning them when necessary. On the other hand, Allice’s agility, honed by years of patrolling Athelgard and fighting formidable monsters allowed her to move like a shadow among the marble columns.

They reached a restricted area near the back gardens. There, shielded by a rose hedge, they observed the three supposed nobles sent by Zenit talking to a group of guards who did not wear the royal uniform of Athelgard.

"Listen," Allice whispered.

"...the timing must be precise," one of the three men was saying. "Once the King is eliminated, Zenit’s troops will cross the border to restore order. Malk will be pleased with the expansion of his influence."

Kai clenched his fists. The mention of Malk brought back memories of deities who mocked humans as if they were pieces on a board game. He felt rage coursing through his body. These infiltrators weren’t just spies, they were the executing arm of a divine will seeking to devour Athelgard’s sovereignty. They wanted to end the peace of this kingdom simply to please a god who didn’t even care for them, a god who only used them for his own amusement.

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE ]

Investigation Mission Updated: Shadows in the Palace.

Objective: Collect physical evidence of the treason.

Kai saw one of the men hand over a scroll with a black wax seal. He knew that document was the proof they needed so Gabell could act legally and sever relations with Zenit. However, the area was heavily guarded by at least ten C Rank men.

"Allice, can you create a distraction?" Kai asked, remembering how they worked together to save Roshia.

"Always," she replied with focus.

Allice moved with blinding speed toward the other end of the garden. A moment later, the sound of breaking pottery and the cry of an alarmed guard drew the attention of most of the escorts. Kai seized the opening, slipping through the shadows of the pillars.

He reached the table where the leader had left the scroll. Just as his hand closed around the paper, he felt a presence behind him. He spun on his heels with visible tension. A guard had returned early.

"You? The King’s guest..." The guard tried to shout, but Kai was faster.

Without drawing his daggers from his inventory to avoid the metallic ring, Kai used a precise strike to the throat, a hand to hand combat technique he had learned in his life in Japan. The guard fell unconscious before he could make a sound.

Kai took the scroll and reunited with Allice and Lyla in a safe place. Upon opening the document, their suspicions were confirmed, it was a detailed map of the palace with entry points for an invading army and a direct order signed by the Zenit high command.

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE ]

Investigation Mission Successfully Completed!

+50 XP

Level: 21 (350/500)

"This is more than a plot," Kai said as they returned to the King’s quarters. "It’s a covert declaration of war."

Upon reaching Gabell, Kai spread the scroll across the oak table. Lyla stood by Kai’s side, her presence lending him an authority that even the King deeply respected.

"Your Majesty, here is the proof," Kai declared firmly. "The Zenit infiltrators plan your assassination for the next full moon. They aren’t here to negotiate or for diplomacy, they are here to conquer and raze everything in their path."

Gabell read the document, and his expression shifted from disbelief to a cold fury. The King stood up, looking toward the horizon where the Kingdom of Zenit lay.

"They have abused my hospitality and conspired against my people under my own roof," Gabell roared. "Kai, Allice, Lyla... I thank you for your vigilance and help. Athelgard will not fall while I still breathe. But now, we must prepare. If we attempt to arrest them, they will fight. The palace will become a battlefield before dawn, and they might even attack civilians."

Kai nodded, feeling his mana flow strongly, ready for the confrontation. He knew this was only the beginning, leading them to face not just men, but an indirect battle against the gods themselves.

"We need to put together a plan they won’t expect. We have the advantage of having discovered them before they could cause major trouble."

Lyla nodded, stepping closer to Kai. "They won’t expect a response. They think this will be easy and fast."

Silence fell over the room as the four of them focused, thinking of a way to end this directly without causing harm to the civilians.