Karma
Karma
Zeke's disgusting antics brought our imperial visit schedule to a close.
As soon as dawn broke the next morning, it was Marquis Bende alone who greeted us at the gate as we moved, just like the first time.
"A short schedule, but you've left quite the footprint behind."
Esmue didn't show herself, only sending a single letter through the marquis saying we'd see each other again soon. Honestly, considering the gravity of the incident that happened this time, it was only natural she'd be insanely busy for a while, so I didn't feel even a bit of regret about it.
"Eventually the day will come to commend your contributions, but as one who serves the imperial household, I'd like to express my personal gratitude to you for dedicating yourself and earning merit for Her Highness the Princess."
Getting straight to the point, what Marquis Bende, who proceeded with the conversation, handed me directly was very simply made...
Gauntlet? Fist armor? What do I even call that thing?
"According to the accounts of your prowess I heard this time, most of your wounds were from magic. A decent piece of equipment happened to remain in the family, so I wanted to gift it to you at this opportunity."
This thing, which felt something like an armadillo lizard armor but with a softer feel, was too combat-oriented to simply call a gauntlet and too thin to call fist armor. Judging by the color alone, it subtly matched my dwarf-made longsword well, so it didn't really matter, but it was definitely not a standard design.
Since I had no intention of refusing now that he'd handed it over, as I was putting the gauntlet that reached up to my elbow on right there, Marquis Bende added an explanation.
"The Empire has made efforts in various fields over the years to counter the Demonfolk. One of them was collaborating with the dwarves to produce armor that could better resist Demonfolk magic, and this gauntlet was a relatively successful product among those attempts."
"Relatively... you say?"
An item that a marquis would unhesitatingly give to the person who saved the princess had to be top-quality, yet the nuance trailing behind it was deeply ambiguous.
At my question, Marquis Bende continued his explanation with a bitter smile.
"The basic durability and magic resistance were beyond reproach thanks to the dwarves' help, but because the Empire's magical engineering was lacking, the spell placed on it was terribly inefficient. It takes far too much Mana to activate the enchantment."
"May I ask what kind of magic was bestowed on it?"
"A Magic Blocking Barrier. Once activated, it's a robust magic that mages of considerable potential wouldn't be able to penetrate."
The problem was fuel efficiency and efficiency.
He said it required as much Mana to activate as casting four simple protection spells, making it practically unusable. And since it wasn't any more efficient than that, it ultimately ended up stuck somewhere in the marquis family's warehouse until it came into my hands.
"Still, it's good enough equipment to block simple projectile magic without issue."
"Thank you. It seems like it will be a great help."
"A modest gift. Anyway, I hope we'll have more chances to talk next time you visit."
As I distanced myself slightly from Marquis Bende, who had finished talking with me and started chatting about various things with Ragnis, Asilie, who had been quietly watching our conversation, fiddled with her own ear and spoke.
"That person's quite an incredible mage."
"You've met?"
"He was there when Princess Esmue visited Ogwen in person. He was also the one who demonstrated something called a portable gate."
"A portable gate? Is that even possible?"
I nearly raised my voice involuntarily at the shock, which was as great as a walkie-talkie turning into a smartphone overnight, but Asilie calmly expressed what she'd seen, even using hand gestures.
"I was surprised too. He pulled out something about this big? A square metal box-like thing, and when it unfolded it created a gate."
"Something a little bigger than my fist becomes a gate...?"
Apparently Asilie had caught a glimpse of the Empire's cutting-edge technology. The gauntlet I'd just received was the same; Marquis Bende might be a very intellectual figure in charge of the Empire's magitech.
Being handsome and also highly capable was pretty damn aggravating, but I, who'd received a gift and turned nice, held back.
"Speaking of which, what are you going to do now, big sis?"
"For now, I decided to impose on Ragnis. It's not like I've completely cleared out my house. First, I should go back to Ogwen."
"Are you planning to move to the capital entirely?"
"To be precise, I'm going where Eldi is. If you go, I'll go too."
Saying 'because I've made up my mind now,' Asilie smiled with a resolute look and tightened the arm she had linked through mine.
"Since it's come to this anyway, how about Eldi also goes to Ogwen for the first time in a while? You can make that much time, can't you?"
"Ogwen, huh..."
Originally I'd been considering this imperial visit as a kind of vacation... but honestly, I was mentally exhausted from being put through the wringer by one rushing incident after another.
Looking back, it was so incomprehensible that so much had happened in such a short time that I was starting to be inwardly drawn to Asilie's suggestion, when Ragnis, who had finished her conversation with Marquis Bende, began giving orders to Renisa and moving the servants. Asilie led me and spoke.
"Let's go back first and think about it after seeing the situation. They're calling us back in such a hurry, who knows what other problems might crop up?"
"Come on, big sis. It's not like I committed a crime; it's no different from having achieved merit, so what problems could there be."
Wouldn't I be praised for creating a good opportunity for peace with the Empire?
What greeted us, who returned to the achingly familiar capital of Itisel crossing gate after gate with such a relaxed heart, was shockingly, spears and swords.
Those cold weapons were indeed spears and swords. With no time to be dumbfounded at the at least thirty spear tips tilted toward us the moment we stepped out of the gate, the one who appeared to be the captain opened his mouth.
"Ragnis Lien da Levien, Margrave. Charges of treason have been applied to you as of now. You will comply quietly, as you are to be placed in temporary detention at this time."
I barely swallowed down the curses that were practically about to burst from my throat and looked at Ragnis, but she too seemed considerably flustered by this completely unexpected situation. Though, if she hadn't been flustered, I'd have been even more flustered.
The somewhat fortunate point was that Ragnis wasn't just purely flustered.
"You dare arrest me without even a royal proclamation?"
"The charges against you were submitted and passed by the Itisel Noble Council. The Itisel Noble Council holds the authority to temporarily secure the persons of nobles below the rank of marquis for charges based on legitimate cause and evidence."
"Are you saying the Noble Council now has cause and evidence solid enough to suspect me of treason?"
"At the very least, that is what the Noble Council has judged. The details will be addressed at the noble trial tomorrow morning, so for now, comply quietly."
I didn't know well either how the laws of noble society operated. Ultimately, all I could do was examine Ragnis's complexion again to judge whether this was a legitimate claim or stupid sophistry.
And utterly, preposterously, Ragnis gritted her teeth but couldn't really retort.
"The Margrave of Levien's servants may return to the manor. As this is only temporary detention, visitation is permitted, and all acts to provide convenience for your mistress are allowed. However, do not forget that resisting the Noble Council's decision and interfering with her detention will incur appropriate liability and punishment."
Huh? What about me?
Wondering what was going on, I kept staring at the captain, but the bastard acted like someone who didn't even know I existed and only bound Ragnis. At that attitude, Ragnis also tilted her head with puzzlement but seemed to keep her mouth shut for fear of making things worse.
If Ragnis had treason charges, then wasn't I, who'd been the most active in the Empire, a prime collaborator? But they didn't lay a finger on me at all?
This was why I hated politics. Because an ignorant guy like me couldn't understand even a little what the hell they were thinking as they moved.
"Eldmia. First, go to Sheryl and find out about this situation."
Ragnis, who left me with that clear request, looked me straight in the eyes and shook her head slightly, as if her goal was to prevent me from going on a rampage.
"Renisa. Accompany me to confirm the temporary detention area, then put in a word with the Ogatorf household."
"...Yes. Understood."
And she didn't forget to give orders to Renisa, who was grinding her teeth and glaring with bloodshot eyes as if she'd draw her sword at any moment. A look I'd never seen on her before, she was so completely filled with murderous intent that anyone could see it, and if Ragnis's order had been even a little later, she looked like she would have swung her sword to behead the captain right then.
Fortunately, Ragnis's restraint worked, so it entered a lull for now, but considering it was a state where the long-term was unpredictable, I left them receding behind and hurried back to the Ogatorf household with Asilie as quickly as possible.
Hoping desperately that someone, anyone, would know how this shitty situation came about.