Chapter 2

The location shifted once more to Lagias Manor.

It was an unusual situation, with the master absent, but as expected, they could not simply leave royalty unattended, so the servants judged it best to guide them to a guest room.

“It seems we have made them worry about us…”

“Given the circumstances, I imagine it cannot be helped.”

Van’s group, Arnica, Baccus, and the other royal guards. There was not a single person connected to Lagias in this room. The servants had also been confused, but they judged that sitting in with them would be out of place, and as a result, this was the group that had gathered.

“However… it seems we missed each other.”

“That appears to be the case. We were also about to head to the royal capital in pursuit of Zeke-san.”

The one who answered Arnica’s question was Glanz. There was also the fact that he was the eldest among Van’s group, but if the other party was royalty, the others would end up shrinking back. Even though Ciel also carried royal blood, the difference in status between the royal family and a ducal house was far too great.

“Your Highness. Shall we hurry after them?”

“…No. My original purpose was to guide Zeke to His Majesty. Still… the lord of Lagias has passed away, then.”

Arnica turned her eyes out the window. The way she gazed somewhere far away made it seem as though she was grieving over something.

“Passed away… Is that all? Judging from your reaction, the royal family knew, didn’t they? The truth about Lagias.”

“H-Hey, Selen, stop.”

Selen spoke quietly and coldly, without raising her voice. Her words were like a bare blade. Even Van, who tended to run wild on a regular basis, stepped in to stop her.

“…It was only recently that I learned deeply about Lagias.”

After the Samaris attack incident, the king gathered a portion of the people involved and revealed the truth about Lagias. Arnica said that she was not certain why it had happened at that timing.

“To return to the topic, there is no Lagias here. If you wish to address your words to someone, he alone is enough.”

“I see. Then allow me to see what kind of words you will use to reward them. Do you intend to say something like, ‘You did well for so many generations over so many long years’? How ridiculous.”

Selen made no attempt to hide her distrust. As someone from another country, she had nothing but dissatisfaction. Why had Zeke, who had continued producing achievements, been treated unjustly? Why had sacrifices been forced only upon Lagias?

She could not forgive the royal family, who had known everything yet had not explained anything to the people and had simply left Lagias alone.

“…I feel relieved. Zeke has them too, then. Friends.”

“Oh? What is with that composed attitude? As royalty, your position is far too different from his. …Why not obediently attend a ball in the royal capital instead?”

“Selen, no more! You really will be arrested!”

Ciel hurriedly stepped in to stop her. Arnica looked at them and smiled gently. She was happy that not only Zeke, but Ciel too had made friends. …Though she felt slightly caught on Selen’s words, she did not voice it now.

“…Perhaps I should speak of it. All of you should know. —About what will happen to Lagias from now on.”

“What will happen to Lagias? Do you mean… Zeke?”

Arnica nodded at Van’s question.

Arnica deeply felt that truly distinctive people had gathered around Zeke. The Sword Saint’s grandson, the Sage, a former foreign noble, a young lady of a ducal house, and a promising young knight. There were many others too.

“How much do all of you know about the incident in Samaris?”

“We understand that the residents of Samaris were saved through Zeke-san’s efforts. …And that Samaris collapsed as well.”

“I see. Then this will be quick. As you said, Samaris was indeed saved. …However, naturally, there were circumstances that led to that point. We were there, so we understand the truth of the matter better than anyone.”

A series of incidents had been causing unrest in the Kingdom of Diabalet. Samaris had also been involved in those events. A battle had broken out between the enemy who targeted the lives of Arnica and the residents, and Zeke, who stood in their way.

“Because of the enemy’s scheme, Samaris was in danger of disappearing. Along with everyone there, including its residents.”

“…And Zeke saved them.”

What Atri said was correct, but Arnica explained that the truth differed slightly.

“Zeke demanded a certain deal from me. —If I wanted to save Samaris, I had to accept it.”

“He threatened royalty right before the place was going to disappear? That guy is unbelievable…”

“That is true. From our side, it was a situation where we had no choice but to accept.”

Arnica wore a somewhat sorrowful expression. Seeing that, Van grew fearful about just what Zeke had demanded. In a sense, it would not be strange no matter what Zeke said.

“Zeke had three demands.”

“Protection for those fools who followed me, even though I am a Lagias.”

Zeke had been placed on the wanted list under suspicion of murdering the Sword Saint. There were people who had abandoned their positions in order to help him. Zeke had demanded that the royal family use its authority to protect them.

“…I see. I heard that Eris and the others fought the Knight Order head-on.”

“There were also people like Yorn-san, who held the position of regimental commander. If members of the national army did something like that, they would hardly be able to avoid actual punishment.”

Even if the wanted order had been unjust, Zeke had not been in a position where he could explain himself. No matter how much power Zeke had, fighting the country while protecting people other than himself was nearly impossible. That must have been why he made the deal.

“And the remaining terms are precisely what concern Lagias’s future.”

The abolition of the House of Lagias.

The nationalization of the Lagias Domain and the guarantee of the lives of its people.

These were the terms Zeke had especially emphasized in his demand. Conditions he had wanted secured badly enough to threaten that he would destroy the country if they were not upheld. As a deal in exchange for saving Samaris, they were extraordinary terms from the country’s perspective.

“Most likely, Zeke understood everything. He understood what kind of response the country would take once the role of Watchman disappeared from Lagias.”

From the outside, Lagias was a stain on the country and a villain. If the country left Lagias alone as it had up to now even after the role of Watchman was fulfilled, it would only invite more public resentment, and the country had no benefit in keeping Lagias around either.

Dead men tell no tales. Lay every sin on them and abolish the House of Lagias. Arnica thought that perhaps Zeke had predicted that path, and that was why he had made this deal.

“If the lord changes, the lives of the people in the domain will change greatly as well. …However, even if the lord changes from one called a tyrant of Lagias to some other lord, that does not mean the people’s lives will be guaranteed.”

There was also the possibility that they would be treated unjustly because they were people from the former Lagias Domain. That was why he had indicated the path of nationalization rather than rebirth as a different domain. He was telling the country to take responsibility and manage it.

“What the hell is that…? How is that a deal? Every single part of it is for someone else. He’s trying to act cool all by himself too much.”

“…We have to go. We have to chase after Zeke.”

Van and Atri rose from their seats. Ciel and Selen followed them. Glanz also slowly stood up.

“We will accompany you. Originally, we came here to connect him with the king. …To begin with, it would be impossible for Zeke alone to gain an audience with His Majesty.”

They headed for Spirito, the royal capital. To become strength for a self-righteous hero.

The fierce battle that had continued until then suddenly stopped. Two forces faced one another.

Zeke and Luke, who from the national army’s perspective were two rebels, and the Knight Order’s elite units, the Brink unit and the Stork unit. A sense of tension unlike any before drifted through the area.

“Luke. Do you understand what you are doing?”

“Father…”

Brink and Luke, father and son, belonged to the same organization. A regimental commander and a platoon leader in the Knight Order. Experience as a knight, and the time he had lived. Brink was Luke’s predecessor in every respect, and his words had a different weight.

“Have you forgotten that I once taught you that knights are symbols who protect the nation?”

“…I haven’t forgotten.”

“Then surrender immediately. Throw down your weapon and lie down where you are.”

Brink and Luke’s dialogue continued. Zeke, Stork, and the other knights had no intention of interfering. However, neither side relaxed their vigilance.

“Father. I’ve always watched you from close by. …Your conduct as a knight, your figure as a father, and your teachings. All of them are precious memories to me.”

“…”

They were a family of only two. For Brink, she had been his beloved wife, and for Luke, she had been his mother. That woman had already passed away.

“I remember well how hard it was for you after Mother died. …Even so, you stayed by my side. That was why I wasn’t lonely.”

Luke knew that when he collapsed from mana sclerosis, Brink had even quit being a knight, his calling, to search for a treatment. —He also knew that this had led to his meeting with Zeke.

“Because you were there, I am who I am now. Your teachings—I never forgot a single one.”

He had been happy and proud to become the knight he had admired and to reach a position where he could chase his father’s back. —That was precisely why he must not mistake what was truly important.

“I will become Zeke’s—my friend’s—strength. …Because I’m sure you would have done the same.”

Luke took a white envelope from his breast pocket. Written on it was “letter of resignation.” He clearly showed it to Brink and gently placed it on the ground.

“I’m quitting the Knight Order.”

The sword Luke gripped shone with a strong light. He readied a magic sword, a sword imbued with magic. He was challenging Brink, a master of magic swordsmanship who could be called the best in the Knight Order—no, even the best in the country—using magic swordsmanship. It was Luke’s own expression of resolve.

“I see… Luke. So that is your path.”

“Yes. I will no longer make mistakes. I will open the future together with Zeke.”

Luke did not flinch even before the pressure Brink emitted. The strong will that said he would never back down was visible in his sword. Seeing that, Brink strengthened his pressure even further—no, he smiled.

“You’re quitting the Knight Order, then. In that case, there’s no reason for you to obey my orders… right, Stork?”

“…If it is a path he carefully considered and chose, I have nothing to say. I will respect your choice.”

“Huh? What are you… saying?”

The tense atmosphere relaxed. Every knight who had been readying a sword had sheathed it.

The Brink unit and the Stork unit spread out as though opening a path for Zeke and Luke, then proceeded along the bridge away from the royal castle.

Luke was shaken by the sudden development, while Zeke watched silently.

“We had originally received separate orders. I feel sorry for Sir Carlos, but we must obey the chain of command.”

Brink advanced first, and Stork followed after him. As they passed each other, Zeke opened his mouth.

“Hey, old man. …Near your Eris—your daughter—there is the next duke and a regimental commander of the Mage Corps. If you have time for pointless worry, work seriously.”

“…I’m not old yet. …Thank you for the information.”

Somehow, Stork’s steps seemed to have become lighter.

In the end, the two regiments passed by without crossing swords.

“Zeke. What in the world is this…?”

“Leave it alone. Now then, it’s about time we finish this.”

“Report, sir! The Stork unit and the Brink unit ignored the two intruders for some reason and crossed the bridge!”

“You fool! I told you I can tell just by looking! But why…? How could they possibly ignore those two and leave? I do not understand at all!”

The Stork and Brink regiments, which had been the main force, had effectively allowed them through. The Royal Guard’s main forces were already under the bridge, and the Knight Order was useless. When Carlos turned around, there were only foolish, insane young guards and rookies there.

“Damn it. I have no choice but to go myself. You fools, follow me!”

“But what about the defense here?”

“It won’t matter if we suppress them! Follow me, follow me!”

Carlos rushed out of the castle, and his subordinates followed after him.

The battle for the royal castle was entering its final phase.

A rain of magic poured down, and Zeke’s ice wall blocked it. Unexpectedly, the battle between the Royal Guard Corps led by Carlos, mainly composed of young guards and rookies, and Zeke and Luke had turned into a stalemate.

“Hahaha! What is this, you fools? You can do it when you try!”

The magic of various attributes released by the royal guards struck the ice wall without pause.

No matter how excellent a mage was, they could not continue firing magic in succession forever, but the story was different when there were enough people. By dividing the unit into multiple groups and having them fire magic in order, they made continuous long-range firing possible.

“Potion deployment complete, sir!”

“Good! That is how you do it! The more time passes, the more disadvantageous it becomes for them.”

Zeke and Luke were only two people, but the Royal Guard Corps had enough personnel and abundant supplies such as potions. A prolonged battle while recovering mana was not impossible.

“Listen, there is no need to defeat them by force. Even at this moment, our allies are gathering. We will crush them with the power of numbers! We, the shields that protect the silver, will not waver!”

The royal guards were able to fight calmly in large part because of the presence of the experienced vice commander Carlos, but another reason was that they were young and had not been dyed by strange ideologies.

Because the one who had rebelled was Luke, the leading young knight of the Knight Order, his superiors became eager to defeat him. Zeke was a Lagias, the evil of the country, and suspected of killing the Sword Saint. They grew impatient, wanting to pass judgment on a great sinner with their own hands, and leaned too far forward.

The disturbance in their hearts shook the foundation of their units, and Zeke and Luke had exploited that.

“Good, you fools! Keep them pinned down like this. There is no way the country can lose to only two intruders!”

“—Oh? Do you think you have already won with this much?”

A chill assailed his whole body. It was not a metaphor. By the time he noticed, it was already too late. Ice covered their feet, and cold air drifted through the atmosphere. The death god’s scythe had already reached their throats. …This was the demon of Lagias. He was on a different level as a living being.

“M-My body won’t move… Was this Lagias’s doing? When did he set it up?”

“Vice Commander… the magic…”

Every spell the royal guards had launched had stopped. They were speechless at the sight of magic being frozen down to its very concept. Literally, they could do nothing.

The demon of Lagias shattered the ice wall and took one step forward.

“…Sleep now, you pieces of trash. I’ll show you something nice at the end.”

“!? —This is… impossible. Why!?”

A mystical light enveloped Zeke. The silver radiance that symbolized the Kingdom of Diabalet. Zeke was using sacred arts, which only the royal family guarded by the Royal Guard Corps should have been able to wield, as though they belonged to him.

“That silver hair… You are supposed to be a Lagias!?”

“Of course. Not a single drop of the royal family’s filthy blood flows through me. —Lagias is more special than anything else in this world.”

Carlos had served the royal family as a member of the Royal Guard Corps for many years. He could hear the sound of all his common sense and pride shattering.

“Open the way. If you do not want to burn to death.”

“Impossible… That can’t be.”

Blazing heat enveloped the great bridge. Hot air spread throughout the royal capital. A god of destruction summoned from a flaming hell manifested. —The Flame Demon God.

It was a single stroke the deceased Sword Saint had once swung down to end a war. Because of it, the enemy soldiers immediately raised the white flag. The ground dividing the two armies had vanished without a trace. —They had judged that if they received that attack in their own country, there would be no country left to protect.

Carlos had experienced that war. His will to fight had been completely stripped away.

“—Calm yourselves, everyone.”

A dignified voice echoed from behind the Royal Guard Corps, who had lost their fighting spirit. It was a powerful voice not amplified by magic, joined by a slender yet trained body. And silver hair, the symbol of royalty, fluttering in the roaring flames and hot wind.

“Y-Your Majesty…”

“Carlos, that is enough. I need to speak with those two. Withdraw the soldiers.”

It was Alderic von Diabalet, the king of the Kingdom of Diabalet.