Episode 5

Spirito, the royal capital. The capital of the Kingdom of Diabalet and a defensive stronghold where the headquarters of the knight order was located. At that knight order headquarters, the regimental commanders who led each unit had gathered and were holding a meeting.

“That concludes the contents of the report, but are there any discrepancies? Regimental Commander Hares?”

The only woman present, and considerably younger than the other regimental commanders. With hair cut above the shoulders and a pale hair color, she gave off a youthful impression. — Eltia Rosecircle. A prodigy who held the record for becoming a regimental commander at the youngest age.

“…That’s the general outline, but.”

“? Do you have some complaint? To begin with, weren’t you the one who felt a strong sense of danger toward Zeke Lagias?”

Eltia questioned Hares as though it were the most natural doubt. In contrast, Hares was frowning.

“My instincts weren’t wrong. Two years ago and this time, I saw that bastard’s power with my own eyes. It’s only natural to feel a sense of danger.”

Fear was visible in Hares, but at the same time he wore a look of confusion.

“But listen — why does the report make it sound like he killed the Sword Saint? There’s suspicion, sure, but it’s not confirmed.”

“Well, considering he has vanished from sight, I do not think it is that strange…”

“He might be close to black. But there’s no proof.”

“I understand what you are saying, but even if you tell me that…”

Eltia brushed aside Hares’s glare with an unfazed attitude. From Hares’s point of view, the contents of the report had changed significantly. It was no wonder he felt anger.

“I’m not trying to take his side. But precisely because it’s him, he should be handled carefully. Considering the relationship between Zeke Lagias and the ducal house, even more so. Have the proper arrangements been made?”

The relationship between the Astera Ducal House and Zeke was now common knowledge, both publicly and privately. For a risk-averse ducal house to take Lagias in, there had to be some sort of benefit and reason behind it. In the first place, the story was that it was Actol, the next duke, and Zeke who had exposed the traitors within the knight order and the national military.

“The ducal house seems to be staying out of it, so isn’t it fine? Besides, that troublesome vice commander and those old fossils at the National Military Headquarters are gone now.”

“You…”

Eltia shook her head as though to say good grief, without showing the slightest sign of remorse. The other regimental commanders wore expressions that could not quite decide what to make of it.

“In a sense, I’m grateful to Zeke Lagias. After all, he buried the darkness of this country. …The National Military Headquarters cannot make a move out of fear of the ducal house and him. Proof of that is that they have not said a single word. At last, we can fulfill the knight’s code, everyone!”

Eltia’s expression changed constantly. Hares muttered that she was emotionally unstable.

“…You two are rather quiet today, aren’t you?”

Eyes turned toward the two people being addressed. They were Strohk and Brink, among the most skilled of the regimental commanders and the central pillars of the knight order.

“There was no need to interrupt the flow of the discussion.”

“Given our positions, you would not want us to say too much either, would you?”

“…You seem quite composed.”

The atmosphere of the meeting, which had been Eltia’s one-woman stage, changed. Overwhelming strength and achievements. Charisma and leadership that drew others in. With the vice commander absent, it was no exaggeration to say that these two were supporting the knight order.

“It should be fine to leave this matter to me, correct? The two of you would hardly be suitable for it.”

Strohk and Brink offered no objection.

“Regimental Commander Brink. You have a personal connection with the person in question. I hear you even taught him swordsmanship in the past?”

“That is true. To me, it was precious time.”

“And it was also him who cured your son Luke, the squad commander, of his strange illness. …Well, that aside. Regimental Commander Strohk, your circumstances are different.”

The other regimental commanders also seemed interested, as their eyes turned to Strohk.

“Eris Larc. An adventurer active in the royal capital. She is suspected of aiding the escape of the suspect. Isn’t that right, Regimental Commander Hares?”

“…Whether it was aiding an escape or not aside, it’s true she vanished together with him.”

“It’s the same thing,” Eltia said with a smile.

“What are your thoughts on your daughter’s actions?”

“Even as parent and child, we are not the same person. I respect my daughter’s will.”

“Even if that were a criminal act?”

“Then when that time comes, I will take responsibility. I will deal with my daughter myself.”

“I’m relieved to hear tha—”

“However…”

He was not raising his voice. His tone was calm. But his eyes were not smiling. Those eyes were fixed on Eltia.

“The same goes for my daughter, but also for Zeke Lagias. If it is proven that he bears no guilt — you understand, do you not?”

Strohk moved his gaze as though surveying not only Eltia but the entire room. No objections would be accepted. One could feel the strong will to surely root out those who had twisted the report.

Eltia smiled as though maintaining her composure. But the corners of her mouth were stiff.

“Strohk, enough. That’s unbecoming of an adult.”

“…Eltia Rosecircle. I’m assigning this matter to you. Uncover the truth.”

“Understood. — Acting Vice Commander.”

A provincial city far from the royal capital. Compared to Spirito, its population was much smaller, but Mahat still had a fair number of residents. In that provincial city, the topic of conversation was a certain incident.

“I heard the Sword Saint was killed.”

“Looks like it. Since it was announced by the knight order, that means it’s true.”

Two men walking down the road were talking with interest. If one listened to the surroundings, the same topic filled the air everywhere.

“How frightening. He’s still on the run even now, isn’t he?”

“That’s right. He might even be in this city.”

The sight of everyone engaging in conversations about the exact same thing looked distorted. They just kept talking about it as though possessed.

“Zeke Lagias. I always thought he was suspicious.”

“An A-rank adventurer who killed the Sword Saint. What a vile villain.”

The suspect was Zeke Lagias, and he was still on the run.

After the knight order’s announcement, the citizens showed various reactions. Some accepted it, some were outraged, some remained neutral.

Most of the reaction, however, was negative, with calls to strip him of his noble status and complaints being sent to the Adventurers Association. Yet neither the country, nor the royal family, nor the Adventurers Association had made a move even now. That situation only served to further inflame the people’s emotions.

“Seriously, what a terrifying story. You be careful too, miss.”

“Yes, thank you.”

A conversation between a fruit seller and a young woman. That woman had pale pink hair tied up short and wore her hat low. — It was Eris, who had left the royal capital with Zeke.

(For the information to have reached even a place like this…)

Eris had traveled from town to town. Following Zeke’s instructions, she had chosen a journey that took them farther away from the royal capital, but no matter where she went, all she heard were stories about Zeke, and she never got a moment’s peace.

(No matter how you look at it, this is way too fast. That regimental commander… she didn’t look all that competent, though.)

Thinking such rude thoughts, Eris browsed the fruit. Since the two of them were traveling together, food was essential.

Eris’s own money was not reassuring, but Zeke was a noble. In the carriage there had been a staggering sum of money stored away. She felt bad about it, but surviving came first. She had been using it as an advance payment on the request fee.

(I want to get something with the best quality possible… I wonder what that idiot likes.)

Zeke remained asleep, even during travel. He seemed to wake from time to time to eat, but he had not recovered. She continued to treat him regularly with healing magic, but the effect was minimal.

(These really aren’t normal injuries. I have to do something…)

To an outside observer, she looked as though she was seriously examining the fruit, but in truth Eris was thinking about something entirely different. Her concern for Zeke made her blind to her surroundings.

““Ah…””

Their voices and hands overlapped. Eris and another customer had both reached for the same apple. Its overall redness and slightly yellow tip were signs that it was ripe. Even if it was by chance, she did not want to give up this apple.

“Um… what should we do about this?”

“That’s true. What should we do, I wonder?”

What entered her sight was a young man. He was an ordinary, unremarkable youth one might find anywhere, but the one noticeable thing about him was that he was not from Diabalet, but a foreigner.

(What a plain guy. He looks kind of dumb…)

“I feel like I just got thought about in an incredibly rude way.”

Judging from his clothes, perhaps he was a tourist of some kind. She could not imagine Mahat having any tourist attractions… Or perhaps he was an adventurer from another land. Looking at his build, he did not seem to excel physically, and the mana she sensed from him was weak as well. Whether tourist or adventurer, his presence was below average either way.

“…I don’t really get it, but I also feel like I just got looked down on by something else too.”

“What are you mumbling about? You’re creepy.”

“!?”

The young man’s face stiffened. He looked like he was about to say something, but the fruit seller cut him off.

“You’ve both got good eyes. But hey, foreigner, let the young lady have this one. Otherwise you might end up like Zeke Lagias, you know? Gahaha!”

“Zeke Lagias…”

At the fruit seller’s words, the young man’s expression darkened. So obviously that even Eris, who had just met him, could tell.

“In this country, there’s no one who doesn’t know that great villain. A murderer who used dirty tricks to kill the Sword Saint. You be careful too, kid.”

“…Sorry, miss. You can have the apple. It looks like there’s nothing here that I want.”

The young man walked away wearing a sorrowful look, as though weighed down by something. It was not because he had failed to get the apple. It was because something else, something precious to him, had been denied. Eris knew this feeling.

“Hey, you. Have you only been in this country a short while?”

Eris chased after him and called out. The young man widened his eyes slightly in surprise.

“Like that old man said, be careful around Zeke Lagias. If you’re unlucky, he’ll kill you.”

“…Thanks for the warning. But I’ll be fine.”

“Will you really? You look very weak.”

“Ugh, I can’t deny that…”

His face instantly turned troubled in such an obvious way that it was almost comical. Was he the kind of person who simply could not lie?

“Zeke Lagias is a wanted criminal. He’s also a corrupt noble hated across the entire country. You shouldn’t get involved with him.”

“I know. He’s foul-mouthed, selfish, and never listens to what people say. But… he’s a kind person who can help someone else without regard for his own life.”

Even though Eris had spoken badly about him, the man had not directed his anger at her, and instead spoke as though gently correcting her for denying Zeke.

“You’re defending him? You might get arrested with him, you know.”

“That doesn’t matter. Zeke is my friend. If a friend is in trouble, then helping him is only natural.”

The young man had given off a soft and weak impression, but now he looked like the exact opposite. — This person could be trusted.

“I see. …Then let me teach you one thing. — I know more about that idiot than you do! I know a lot more than you!”

She puffed out her chest and declared it proudly. There was someone who treasured the friend who had been denied over and over until now. That alone was enough to deserve trust. And more than anything, it made her happy.

“Um… huh!? What suddenly got into you…?”

The young man looked bewildered at Eris’s words.

“Don’t argue. If your words are genuine, then you’re going to help me. — Do you have the resolve to make an enemy of a great nation?”

“!? …Of course I do. To me, and to Ignote, he’s a hero who saved the nation, and our benefactor.”

There was firm will in his strong gaze. Ignote was not a country name she was familiar with, but compared to the people of Diabalet who judged others only by appearances, he was far more trustworthy.

“I’m Eris. And you are?”

“I’m Kratz Line. Right now, I’m — just an ordinary tourist from a foreign land.”