Episode 1

The sun had set, and the royal capital lay ruled by darkness. What faintly lit Spirito was the glow of streetlamps, the light leaking from homes, and the shimmer of stars.

Two shadows had slipped into a certain mansion under cover of the night. Black robes covered their bodies, and masks hid their faces. Their appearance was suspicious incarnate.

(Hmm… I checked every promising spot. This is about the only place left, right?)

(…If there’s nothing here, I’ll just put him in the ground.)

The reason the silent pair could “converse” without speaking a single word was the effect of a special magical tool.

The robed figures stood before a door. At a glance it looked ordinary, but countless layers of magical security had been woven into it.

(I don’t know if what we want is inside, but… this won’t do.)

(It triggers the instant you touch it, huh? …Restraint, status ailments, attack, alarm. Too much waste. What’s the point?)

With just a look, one of them accurately read and grasped the spell structure. They seemed to be someone well-versed in magic.

The two were dressed to blend into the darkness. When clouds blocked the moonlight, the intruders became even more indistinct. By the time the moon showed its face again, the two were gone.

(Phew… still impressive. That power to cross space. With that, no number of traps matters.)

(If you have time to run your mouth, do your job.)

Without touching the door, the two moved into the room. While continuing their telepathic exchange, they observed the space.

In stark contrast to the trapped door, there was nothing unusual inside—except for the ominous safe placed at the back of the room.

(This is ridiculously obvious. It practically screams “right here.”)

There was no magical mechanism—just a dial safe. Old-fashioned, yes, but simple, practical, and boasting high security.

(I don’t care. Start already.)

(Understood! This part is my job.)

One robed figure began decoding the dial lock. Meanwhile, the other examined the bookshelves installed in the room.

They found a wide range of books: politics, history, and works on magical theory.

(Hmph! Hmph♪ Hmph? Hmph!!)

Beside the table lay a face-down photo frame. In the slightly faded photograph, a man, a woman, and two children smiled together.

(No, no… which means this is the first attack.)

In a drawer were letters that appeared to be correspondence with a trading company. They described dealings in antiques.

(Click, clack, click? Click…?)

(…Hey, you. Stop sending useless telepathy. I’ll kill you.)

Not inner thoughts, but words one consciously intended to convey became telepathy and reached the target. It was an extremely high-performance, convenient magical tool.

(No need to rush. —Marvelous! Did I meet your expectations, my friend?)

The door opened with a clack. The ominous safe had been breached in only a few minutes.
Inside were a large sum of cash, precious metals, and several documents.

(If we were ordinary treasure hunters we’d go for the shiny stuff, but our target is this. —Hmm, this is…)

The handwritten letters recorded exchanges with local lords, the Adventurers Association, and major trading firms, but what stood out most was the content involving foreign nobles.

(It details the border security setup in precise terms. Looks like checkmate.)

(Hmph. Planning to use it as a gift for asylum? Let’s get out of here.)

Everything except the documents was carefully returned to the safe. Even the dial lock was restored to its original state—thorough enough to shock a professional thief.

The two robed figures vanished without a trace. All that remained was air chilled by the night.

The Knight Order and the Mage Corps served as the shield and sword of the Kingdom of Diabalet. The same roles were carried out not only in the royal capital Spirito but also in branches established across the cities. At times, they handled matters in cooperation with a lord’s private troops. Covering a vast nation with the regular army alone was not realistic.

And now, at the Knight Order headquarters, a discussion had been underway with part of the Mage Corps also present.

“That concludes the overview of incidents that occurred over the past two years.”

A civil official finished the report.

Monsters had entered villages and caused damage. Travelers along the highway had been targeted by bandits. There were suspicions of tax evasion by provincial nobles. None of it should have happened, but viewed across a full year, none were particularly rare cases.

Precisely because of that, they stood out—and one particular case was thrown into sharp relief.

“So… we should consider Apion the beginning?”

Apion was a provincial city in the west of the Kingdom of Diabalet. It was not a hub of trade or distribution, nor a vital artery of the nation—an unremarkable town with nothing especially notable.

“A curse, huh.”

Residents had collapsed one after another, losing consciousness. At first, an unknown epidemic was suspected, and it escalated into a commotion that even led to the city being quarantined.

“The attack on the royal capital and the entrance exam—both are highly likely to have been committed by the same organization. That was the conclusion of the investigation. …And yet, for some reason, it stopped dead these past two years.”

The suspects detained in each incident had something in common. Spell patterns unlike anything from the Kingdom of Diabalet were carved into their bodies, and a curse technique had been planted that would take their lives if anyone tried to forcibly extract information.

As a result, interrogations had stalled. There was nothing to gain beyond testimony, and the organization presumed to be behind it all remained a mystery—motive and purpose unknown.

“If there’s another common factor… it’s Zeke Lagias.”

At that single remark, tension ran through the room.

“…He’s involved in every incident. Almost too neatly.”

The “epidemic” in Apion had been identified as a man-made event caused by a curse, and the suspect was detained.

During the royal capital attack, he had made major contributions—subduing enemies, protecting civilians, and helping resolve the incident.

“Zeke Lagias staging it all himself. That’s not impossible.”

“If he knew everything, then sure.”

Knights and mages alike dismissed it as deliberate manipulation rather than merit. They condemned it as unforgivable barbarity—endangering people to gain fame.

“Isn’t it bad to jump to conclusions? I think we should look at it objectively.”

The one who had just spoken was a male mage with long brown hair swept to the side. It was Yorn, widely touted as the next “Sage.”

“Besides, the Apion matter was a concealed request from a ducal house. The guard detail for the Lords’ Council was an official request. Calling it self-staged is a stretch.”

If he had acted on his own initiative, that would be one thing, but ducal-house requests were tied into the chain of events.

The Astera Ducal House and the House of Lagias. Unless the two houses colluded, a staged “pump-and-dump” setup could not hold.

“Smoke doesn’t rise where there’s no fire. Lagias is evil. That is an unshakable fact.”

Negative opinions dominated.

The focus drifted from involvement in the incidents to judging the House of Lagias—and Zeke’s morality.

“Regimental Commander Brink. You seem to have had dealings with the Lagias heir. What do you say to that?”

The one addressed was Brink, a regimental commander in the Knight Order. Called the most beautiful blade in the Knight Order, he spoke about Zeke with a calm demeanor.

“There are many rumors, but the truth is known only to the person himself. …My opinion, given that he saved my son, isn’t a useful reference, is it?”

“I think it is. I want to hear what you think, too.”

“…I felt he was trying to change the House of Lagias.”

At first, Brink had strongly felt the boy matched his reputation, but as time spent with him increased, that impression dissipated.

Kindness toward others hidden within his arrogant behavior. A conviction that never bent. Absolute strength.

He seemed a presence wholly distinct from the current lord of the Lagias Domain.

“Harsh taxes on the people haven’t changed, but many shifts have appeared in the Lagias Domain over these past few years. Ruined highways were repaired, and many of the monsters infesting the area were exterminated. The fact that monster-related damage has been trending downward year after year supports that.”

As part of his adventuring activities, he had achieved one dangerous monster subjugation after another. The Adventurers Association—neutral by nature—had rated him as A-rank. It was unreasonable to deny everything just because of the name Lagias.

“Whatever his personal intentions may be, the fact remains that many people have been saved. We should show him respect, and if necessary, we should seek his cooperation.”

Brink spoke quietly but forcefully, and the others were overawed.

“…I’m not saying I agree with him, but I don’t think it’s wise to swallow bad rumors whole and reject him outright.”

A tall man with long hair tied back spoke carefully, choosing his words. It was Hares, also a regimental commander.

“I saw him with my own eyes. Zeke Lagias—and the private army…”

The entrance exam two years ago. A field exercise conducted by forming candidates into part of a squad. Repeated monster assaults had claimed the lives of many knights, mages, and candidates.

“They weren’t normal. —That private army doesn’t lag behind even our national forces. And Zeke Lagias was… a monster.”

It still felt unbelievable, but there had been a Unison Link activated on a scale of fifty people.
A magic that froze and destroyed every concept in existence.

Zeke’s actions had stopped the enemy assault, yet the scars of Unison Link remained even now. Where the magic’s domain had been, a void spread as if something had been cleanly cut away.

A dead land drained of mana. No living creature approached the faded space.

“He was a tyrant incarnate. If we provoke him carelessly, who knows what he’ll do. …That’s exactly why the ducal house took notice, isn’t it?”

“The Astera Ducal House and Zeke Lagias…”

The fact that he was an A-rank adventurer retained by the ducal house was widely known throughout the kingdom.

“There are even voices claiming the House of Lagias is cozying up to the ducal house, but…”

“That’s exactly what’s impossible. From the ducal house’s perspective, there’s no benefit at all. What matters is him personally. If anything, it feels like they’re deliberately making the relationship obvious.”

Over the past two years, Zeke had accepted and completed many official requests from the ducal house.

Guarding royalty, subjugating monsters called aberrant species. In a small clash that broke out with another country, he had ended the fighting alone—before the national army or domain troops could even act.

“An exceptional individual can sometimes provoke an organization, and in some cases, disrupt harmony.”

It was Hanhanberu Plant, the vice commander who led the Knight Order.

He was tall and thin. Deep wrinkles etched into his face conveyed fatigue. He was a remarkable figure who rose from the rank-and-file to vice commander, famous as a hardened field veteran.

“A breakdown in discipline leads to a breakdown of the nation. —We have no need for Zeke Lagias within our organization. Nor is there any need to maintain deliberate non-interference.”

Hanhanberu flatly rejected Brink and Hares. His words carried weight and force.

“The enemy will move again, without fail. For that day, we sharpen sword and magic. There’s no need to rely on some Lagias brat. We will protect the nation ourselves.”

He swept his gaze around the room, but there were no objections.

“Another mission completed safely!”

“…Stop shouting every time. You’re annoying.”

On the outskirts of the royal capital. In a house built in a quiet residential district, two figures were present.

Aaron, once called the prodigy of the Marquis Izosaar House.

Zeke, the delinquent of Lagias, despised and shunned.

To anyone who understood what they were seeing, it was a shocking pairing—but there were no witnesses here.

“Lately I keep thinking it was divine guidance.”

“Ridiculous.”

The guard detail for the Lords’ Council. A royal guard and an adventurer. The event that brought two people of different stations into contact was still vividly engraved in memory.

“And you gained a new position. I can’t wait. I want to see what you’re trying to accomplish.”

“…I don’t care what others do. But if you get in my way, I won’t hold back. Remember that, you too.”

The change in their relationship had begun two years ago. It had been triggered by a proposal Zeke brought to Actol.

“Someone from Lagias joining our intelligence organization? …Do you understand what that means?”

The Astera Ducal House. Those who inherited silver linked to the royal line. An organization in the shadows that had stood alongside the royal family since ancient times—supporting the nation from behind, and at times controlling it.

And Zeke said they should add him to it.

“Do you think you have the right to refuse? —Obey in silence. Otherwise, I’ll erase you.”

“…And what benefit does that bring to our side?”

In terms of achievements and ability, there was nothing to complain about. But Zeke came from the infamous House of Lagias, and he was like a tyrant beyond control.

How many times had Actol’s carefully drawn script been thrown off course? If he tried to exploit Zeke recklessly, ruin would be waiting.

“…If the ones stirring up the kingdom have set their sights on the ‘guide,’ what would you do?”

“!?Impossible—something even the royal family hasn’t been able to trace…!”

“Get it through your head already. The stage where you can handle this alone is long past. —Are you going to repeat history again?”

It didn’t sound like empty bluffing. Zeke understood. The foundation of this nation—sacrifice and darkness included.

“The string of incidents should be about finding the ‘key.’ They may already have it in hand, though.”

“Even the key… If that’s the case, then all the more reason someone from Lagias like you—”

“Are you stupid? I have no obligation to play along with what those incompetent predecessors decided on their own. Lagias ends with this generation.”

The end of Lagias—meaning it was practically a declaration that he would not inherit the pact and would instead break it.

“—!?A large part of why Lagias’s tyranny has been tolerated is because of that pact. —You won’t have any backing left.”

“Hah. No matter what their goal is, the truth is it won’t end well. If the nation itself disappears, king, nobles, and commoners won’t matter.”

“…You have no basis for what you’re saying. I can’t simply accept everything and believe it.”

“Of course. I don’t trust you. And you don’t trust me either. …If you want to verify what’s true, then from here on out, don’t look away from anything that happens.”

Thus, the two sides forged a new cooperative relationship.

On the surface, it was as an A-rank adventurer retained by the Astera Ducal House. In the shadows, they operated as an intelligence organization.

For the nation. To eliminate dangerous entities.

To survive. To control the flow from behind the scenes.

Their purposes were completely different—nothing more than a relationship of aligned interests.

And yet, steadily and surely, they moved forward.

—The will to rebel did not die out.