Chapter 44 – The Royal Capital

“Is there any news from the people who went to the Duke Balratona’s house!?”

“Ha! As usual, it seems that we cannot even enter the grounds of the Duke’s house!!”

Inside the Royal Castle of Rideiran Kingdom, a disturbing air flowed within the audience hall.

“Why? Why can’t you enter!? Why isn’t that Galdt responding to my summons!?”

Sitting on the Throne was the King of Rideiran Kingdom who expressed his annoyance.

“What is the situation of the approaching decisive battle with Rulan Kingdom?”

“Ha! Starting with Duke Balratona, there are no responses from Marquis Armoine, Marquis Leroute, Baron Inmania, Baron Haute, and Viscount Liuchina either. According to the reports of those who have been sent to their respective estates, it seems they are experiencing something similar to Duke Balratona where they cannot even enter the grounds as well.”

“What in the world is even…… what about the others?”

“There have been responses from the other nobles, but very few replied that they would respond to your summons. The remaining nobles will not leave their territories.”

“……Have you found Akari and her entourage yet?”

“We still have yet to find them. Out of the 5 areas that are to be purified, only 2 remain. We know that Manrinia is the last destination for the purification, so I have told my men to go ahead and stand by in the remaining area.”

“I see…… How is the advance of Rulan Kingdom’s army?”

“They will be reaching the Port city of Rakayan in a month. If we don’t leave this city by now, it will affect the progress of our army.”

“Understood. Very well, you may go.”

The King let out an audible sigh as he watched the soldier who had made the report leave the audience chamber and looked around, idly.

“Is Keyhart around?”

“I am here.”

A bespectacled man with black hair and eyes came forward at the King’s call.

“How is the progress of The Special Command Force?”

“We’re working diligently to get the supplies. We’ll be dispersed in groups of three to each place, with each group procuring horses, food, and weapons.”

“I see. What about the battle participation……?”

“That is impossible. Even if I say that Captain Famiras has entrusted me with The Special Command Force in the absence of the Captain and Vice-Captain, I am merely there to unite the squad. I cannot hand out orders to the troops, and even if I could, no one would obey me. At most, please be thankful that we are even procuring the supplies.”

“……”

The bespectacled man possessing black hair and eyes was called Keyhart, an officer of The Special Command Forces.

Now that Captain Famiras and Vice-Captain Heine have disappeared, this man is the one uniting the Special Command Force.

He did not kneel before the King and simply stated the information in a matter-of-fact manner.

The wrinkles forming between his eyebrows indicated that he was not in a good mood.

“O King, it is not too late yet. We must inform the citizens of the war with Rulan Kingdom.”

“There you go again. Even so, my answer will not change. I have no intention of informing them. Look at the state of this country right now. Frightened by the demons and robbed of their homes and wealth by the taint, the people became bandits and started incidents all over the place. The brunt of their anger is directed at us. Go ahead and try to publicize the war with other countries here and now. It is us whom the people will bare their fangs to.”

“However, there is no way that this kind of thing can be hidden forever. They will find out one way or another. At the very least, it would not be hidden from the people living in Rakayan where the battle with Rulan Kingdom will take place. It is with your order that the information not be leaked to the outside, but once it does, the facts that have been concealed from the people will surely incite their anger.”

“And when that happens, it will be you Knights who will silence everything with force! If they are against me, then, they are no longer my people!”

“……Is that so?”

As opposed to the emotionally rough voice of the King, Keyhart nodded as he answered in an eerily quiet voice and, no longer having a purpose to stay, curtly bowed and turned on his heel.

Panicking, the King called out to stop him.

“Wait!! Where are you going?”

“I am also a part of The Special Command Forces, so, I am on my way to procure supplies.”

“You cannot!! You have to stay with me!”

“O King, have you forgotten?”

Keyhart let out an exasperated sigh, as he turned around to meet the King.

“The Special Command Force will only obey, no one but Captain Famiras’ or Vice-Captain Heine’s orders. Therefore, even if you are the King, we shall not obey your orders.”

“You are stubbornly selfish!!”

“But, was it not you who allowed it?”

“……!？”

“Well, then, please excuse me.”

Keyhart slightly narrowed his eyes as he looked at the King’s hate-filled face, and, compared to earlier, politely bowed and exited the audience chamber.

“Haaaaah……”

“Hey hey, you look pretty tired Keyhart!!”

A voice immediately called out to Keyhart as he let out a heavy sigh after leaving the Royal Castle.

With a tap on his shoulder, Keyhart turned to face two men.

“Lunard, and Sesshura, too. Sorry I made you wait.”

“If you say that again, we won’t wait for you anymore. And? How was the King?”

Between the two, it was the one called Sesshura who asked.

“I’m shocked, really. I was already aware of it, but he truly does not have the qualities fit for a King. His foolishness is outstanding……”

“Ohhh, if you’re going as far as to say that, then he must deserve it.”

“Only valuing his own reputation, he refuses to inform the people and says that those who oppose him are no longer his people. Moreover, he also said that the Knights will be used to silence everything with force.”

“That’s a cruel thing to say, oi…”

“But, if the king affirms that, it means he can’t say anything about what we’re going to do.”

“So, it’s going to be like that, huh?”

If you want to silence everything by force, then that’s what we’re going to do.

However, be it fortunate or unfortunate, it is not the people of this country whom the force will be directed to.

We don’t really want ‘power’.

What we want to accomplish is ‘revenge’, what we want is ‘land’.

Neither status nor power is necessary.

Of course, if they were to turn their blades on us, we would not condone it, but it is unlikely that their blades would be directed at us.

“Well, shall we depart as well? Heine-sama is waiting.”

“That’s right. Manrinia, huh. It’s pretty far, but will we make it?

“We are supposed to join up with someone from The Dipterous Sword along the way. From there, it seems that that person will secure transportation, so let’s ride the horses until we get there for the time being.”

“Heeeh! It’s my first time meeting someone from The Dipterous Sword guild, who isn’t the Captain or the Vice-Captain. Are they a Two-Name Holder?”

“Yes. The Witch of Foresight, Clarina Hamillee-sama.”

“Uwaa. That’s a pretty famous one. Wasn’t there another Two-Name Holder in Manrinia?”

“Yes. The Thunder God’s Spearman, Rain Nanasight, is there.”

“It’s just as Famiras-sama said, the Two-Name Holders are really running the operations. Amazing.”

“In terms of war strength, they can really take over the country. And if we join in, it’s about two times the strength instead of one. Now, we’re going nowhere talking like this, we should go.”

“Okay.”

“Yes, siree.”

Nodding at Keyhart’s order, the two fetch the horses tied to a nearby tree.

As he mounts one of the steeds, Keyhart looks back at the Royal Castle once.

“The Armed Forces aren’t there to silence something. It’s there to take and protect something.”

Keyhart knew full well that the words he whispered would never reach the people inside.