Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 14
Recruiting Talent (3)
The King's office.
There, the King was tending to his duties as usual. Amidst numerous ministers assisting him, when only the sound of his pen was heard in the room.
Thud! A hand striking the table cut through the solemn air. At that sudden noise, everyone froze on the spot.
"..."
Only then did the King stop his pen and look calmly at Ilene's hand that struck the table.
"I thought my daughter was all grown up now, but it seems that wasn't the case. Just what is this behavior?"
"Royal Father. Isn't this different from what was promised? Captain Carmil did not draw his sword against the 1st Knight Order. Yet why is the house arrest of the 4th Knight Order still not lifted!?"
"...So you interrupted this father's work because of just that."
"I will gladly accept the punishment for that later. So please answer first."
Although he glared sharply, Ilene didn't back down this time either. Everyone watched with bated breath at that unprecedented scene. Because unlike Camellia, Ilene valued the royal laws more than anyone else.
Yet such a person not only interrupted the King's work but also talked back to the King. No one dared to intervene.
The King pondered what to say, but seeing her looking like she wouldn't back down at all, he soon gave up.
"Phew. This is why I didn't want to send you outside."
"Royal Father. That is wrong. If I hadn't gone with the 4th Knight Order, I would have passed by without seeing this unjust treatment."
"Unjust, you say..."
The King leaned back on his chair and looked at her. And was inwardly surprised. To think she would take the side of the 4th Knight Order in a place where there are so many listening ears.
How could just a single journey change this child like this. The King was curious yet anxious. Wondering if his daughter would also be tainted like him someday.
He stood up from his seat and stroked her hair.
"Ilene. I also trust the 4th Knight Order Captain, but this time he crossed the line. I heard he tortured prisoners cruelly and mercilessly killed those who surrendered. This is me conceding a lot right now."
"I told you. That is all my fault. They were hiding weapons, and they had no intention of surrendering from the beginning. Rather, it was a fitting end for those who raped women and massacred villagers. Yet punishment instead of reward! If you want to punish, you should punish me."
"Haa, right. I understand what you mean. However, since the delegation from the North is here right now, let's talk again after it's over."
"Ugh..."
Ilene bit her lip slightly. If he said it like that, there was nothing more she could do. She came all this way to get a definite answer, but in the end, it meant he wouldn't lift the house arrest until the delegation leaves.
But making more fuss here would also have a bad influence on the 4th Knight Order. She eventually bowed her head.
"Understood. Royal Father. Please forgive this girl's rudeness just now."
"It is fine. Do not take it to heart."
"And I trust you will keep the words you said today."
The King lamented quietly watching her back as she left.
"Heo-uh..."
Just what happened outside that the child changed to that extent. He grabbed the pen again, but couldn't focus on work at all.
Meanwhile, one of the ministers who was watching all that scene was making a perplexed expression.
He was one of the 1st Knight Order's faction.
Inside the underground sewer where pitch-black darkness unfolded endlessly.
I was disposing of monsters inhabiting this place, same as yesterday.
Slash-
"Kieeeeek!"
The monster split in half melted down with a scream. I shook off the green blood on the sword and looked around.
Not far away, I saw a girl in a pure white dress swinging a huge double-bladed axe. Yuria struck down at the monster in front at once.
"━━!?"
Thanks to that, the monster died instantly on the spot without even being able to scream. Blood and flesh splattered everywhere, but she wiped only her face casually. Around her, monsters burst beyond recognition were scattered.
"Here is cleared."
"This side is finished too."
It's already been 2 hours since entering the underground sewer. Yuria, who suddenly appeared in front of my house, was helping my work right now with words that she would follow.
"Certainly, since monsters have no intelligence, they are comfortable to deal with."
Yuria said that and carried the axe she was holding on her back. Then the axe bigger than her height disappeared from sight.
"Is it invisibility magic?"
"Yeah. Because everyone stares if I carry something like this around. Besides, it's also good for making the enemy let their guard down."
She said that and tapped the axe on her back. I realized anew the fact that she is a warrior of the North.
"Are we going further like this?"
"Ah. They say there is a Poison Rat King if we go further from here. It would be burdensome for regular soldiers."
"Yeah. Good."
She understood my words and nodded. Like that, we went further along the sewer.
On the path where only footsteps echoed quietly, I walked side by side with her and asked.
"By the way, is it okay for you to be here? What about the delegation work."
"It's fine. Since His Majesty probably doesn't want to meet me particularly anyway. He probably wishes I just stay quiet and leave."
"Mmm, that must be so."
Everyone knows the fact that the North is currently at war with demons. But such desperate circumstances of theirs would likely be indifferent stories to people of other countries. Even though demons massacred villagers right inside the Kingdom, they are looking at it as if it's someone else's business here.
Do they think it's fine as long as it's not themselves. Maybe the peaceful years of twenty years blurred the alertness against demons.
So even the Royal Palace would want to give only minimal support and send her back.
"Anyway, the negotiation is decided for tomorrow, and if needed, Barg is there too, so it should be okay to roam around for about today."
"Well, if the Grand Duchess says so."
At least I won't have to be reprimanded for taking the Grand Duchess to an underground sewer.
Thinking that, she suddenly stopped walking.
"But you see, isn't it a bit strange?"
"What?"
I stopped at her words and looked around. Is an enemy I don't know hiding perhaps? But monsters or suspicious movements weren't seen.
There is no way a warrior of the North would say such things for no reason. Just in case, I put my hand on the sword, and then she pulled my collar.
"N-No! What I said is strange is about the title you call me."
"Ah. That side?"
I wondered what it was. As I took my hand off the sword, she stared at me intently.
"Excuse me, are you perhaps doing it on purpose?"
"If you say it like that in a place like this, of course, I have no choice but to misunderstand."
"That is true but... I still said it lovingly while smiling."
Looking now, she was raising the corners of her mouth with two fingers. Are there no mirrors in the North perhaps?
Leaving aside that smile that looks like picking a fight to anyone, her whisper just now was eerie like when my grandmother whispered scary stories when I was young.
"Right, well, I understand what you mean. But isn't Grand Duchess fine."
Originally, I have to be formal with her and show courtesy to each other. Since the first meeting was like that, somehow we ended up speaking casually.
Nevertheless, she didn't let go of my collar as if dissatisfied.
"I told you. I want to become your person. So I wish you call me comfortably."
"Wanting to become my person. I wanted to ask anyway, just what is your intention?"
"..."
At my words, she stared intently. If I don't do as she wants, I'll live tied here forever.
"Okay, got it. Then Yuria is fine, right? Instead, don't expect it in official places."
"Yeah. Then I will also call you as I want to call."
"It doesn't matter, but what will you call me."
Instead of answering my words, she went ahead of me. That walking back looked like she felt good. Thanks to that, I became rather anxious though.
'Well. At most, it would be Carmil.'
Going further along the sewer like that, the appearance of the Poison Rat King was seen as reported. We hid behind the wall at the same time upon discovery.
"I will draw attention first."
Saying that, she grabbed the axe and revealed that overwhelming majesty once again. She ran straight to the monster and swung the axe.
Kwaaang!
The head of the Poison Rat King, which was ambushed, was half cut off along with a roar. However, as it spewed poison from its whole body, she also couldn't attack further and retreated. The monster was examining her and the surroundings while spewing poison.
Aiming for that gap, I held my breath and jumped towards the back of the monster confronting her. And thrust the sword into the half-cut head as it was.
"Kueeeek!?"
The Poison Rat King rampaged with a scream, but that was also momentary. As I thrust deeper, that struggle didn't last long and it collapsed as it was.
I stabbed the monster's body a few more times and shook off the blood.
"With this, the mission is over."
"You worked hard. As expected of the War Hero. But..."
"Yeah. Something is a bit strange."
How should I put it. The Poison Rat King's combat style just now looked as if preparing for an ambush. There's no way a monster without intelligence would have that level of judgment.
Yuria also seemed to have the same thought, lost in thought looking at the monster's corpse.
"Is it a coincidence. Or our mistake?"
"Well. It could be simply the monster's survival instinct. We'll know if we go to other sewers too."
For now, there is no way to go further here, so I should go to other places and investigate tomorrow. She also nodded at my words.
"You said you have a negotiation tomorrow."
"I'll go after it finishes. So don't leave me behind."
She said grabbing my collar again. Certainly, her combat experience is helpful.
I nodded and stretched.
"Right. Then shall we return slowly."
Hearing the answer, she made a relieved expression and followed behind me.
By the time we came out, the sunset was setting before we knew it. Before coming out to the street, I wore a mask as usual.
She stared at me intently and pointed at my mask.
"You see. Why are you wearing a mask?"
"Because I am too handsome."
"Yeah. Then it can't be helped."
It was a joke though. She nodded seriously, then bought a similar mask and wore it as it was.
"..."
Although it wasn't visible because of the mask, I felt like she was smiling for some reason.
Looking around the market street like that, it was crowded with lively people as usual. Merchants' soliciting and children's running sounds were heard affectionately.
Amidst that, she couldn't take her eyes off snacks and toys all over the shops.
"Waa..."
Come to think of it, those would be things hard to see in the North. Since we haven't eaten dinner yet anyway, I proposed to her who was mesmerized.
"Shall we eat something here before going."
"Really? Is that okay?"
"Thanks to you, work finished quickly too. Tell me if there is anything you want to eat."
"Yeah. Thanks."
At those words, she started exploring the market street straight away. The footsteps stirring through the shops looked more excited than ever.
Like that, after going around one lap, I remembered the shops she picked and said.
"Then wait here. I will buy and come."
"It's fine. I have a lot of money."
Saying that, she shook the pouch hung on her skirt. She scanned the shops with sparkling eyes like a child who received plenty of pocket money.
"Wait a little. I will buy yours together."
Saying that, a chuckle came out at her back running looking at a balloon. If I had a younger sister with an age gap, would it be like this.
While waiting for her, I sat on a chair for a moment and looked up at the sky.
"The weather is nice for once."
Even though it became evening, the bright sky without dark clouds showed starlight very well today.
Here, no matter how much I look up, there was no need to see pitch-black crows or rising flames. That is a very fortunate thing, but sometimes I think.
Rather, isn't this peace right now becoming poison to the people here.
'If the Demon King resurrects someday...'
Then that sky will also burn pitch black in the end. Thinking that, I couldn't stay still.
Because at least I have to protect my people no matter what happens.
"Phew. I should do more training when I return."
While thinking that and waiting for Yuria, a familiar voice was heard from behind.
"Hoh. I wondered who this was, isn't it Captain Carmil."
"...Ha. Isn't it too perfect a fit for a coincidental meeting."
I raised my body at the artificial voice heard from behind.
I definitely warned him not to enter my battlefield.
I put my hand on the sword looking at Leohar, who was grinning, and the 1st Knight Order.