Chapter 207
Chapter 207
'What kind of lunatics are these now...?'
My head was starting to ache.
By any reasonable standard, launching terror attacks to claim succession rights at this point was something no sane person would acknowledge. It was the kind of thinking only a madman would entertain.
In other words, there were now individuals using the pretext of the First Prince Clavis to carry out inexplicable acts of terror—but without knowing their motives, it was impossible to guess who was behind them.
"Who are these bastards?"
[All we know is that they claim to follow the First Prince...]
"The First Prince hasn't been the First Prince for ages. Even if that were true, they're just rebels now."
[Ah, yes. That's right. Anyway, aside from their allegiance to Clavis, we have no concrete information.]
Logan bit his lip in frustration.
He had only been away for half a year, and already this absurdity had erupted.
"Has Damian said anything?"
[No, nothing. He only sent a message apologizing, saying he's still in the organization-building phase and just spending money for now.]
"Tch. Yeah, figures."
His faint hope was dashed just as expected.
Then came another bizarre piece of news.
[However, the information guild Nox reported that among those who witnessed the terrorists, the number of people claiming to have seen Clavis is gradually increasing.]
"What?"
The real Clavis was alive?
Could there really be a deranged terrorist group operating under his name?
The sheer absurdity of it made him sigh involuntarily.
'No, no way. Someone must be using him as a pawn. I need to look into this.'
Another task had been added to the list of things he needed to handle within the kingdom.
At that moment, Logan's thoughts about these terrorists didn't go much deeper than that.
Of course.
"I need to return quickly."
Because of this, the journey from Ruspellheim to MacLaine was cut short by more than half.
"The Grand Prince has returned!"
After nearly half a year away, Logan's return to his territory was met with grand celebrations by the people of MacLaine Town.
Just the sight of the eight horse-drawn carriages—none of which had been there when he left—packed with treasures was enough to tell them that the Grand Prince had accomplished something significant again.
And when word spread that Luther Kyle, an Aura User, had decided to settle in MacLaine, the entire territory once again erupted in praise for Logan.
—As expected of the Grand Prince!
An expression that had practically become a catchphrase in MacLaine.
Amid the enthusiastic cheers, Logan tilted his head in confusion as he entered the administrative office.
The two people who should have been the happiest to see him were nowhere in sight.
"Um... You'll understand if you check the office."
Seeing Dwain avoiding his gaze, Logan cautiously opened the office door.
There, from behind a mountain of paperwork, a familiar face suddenly popped up.
Messy red hair, dark circles under her eyes.
"Who...?"
The owner of the exhausted voice froze the moment her eyes met Logan's.
"Ellen?"
"Prince Logan?! Wh-when did you get back...?"
She cut herself off mid-sentence as her head disappeared back behind the paperwork. A series of frantic rustling sounds followed.
Moments later, she reappeared—slightly more composed, though still visibly exhausted—standing before Logan with an embarrassed expression.
"I-I heard you were coming, but I got so caught up in work that I forgot today was the day. I must look... a bit rough, huh?"
"No, you're as beautiful as ever. But that's not the issue—why are you here, Ellen?"
"W-well, Father went on a business trip and left the approval authority to me. He said it's about time I learned how to manage the household."
Hah. This guy.
When did he ever discriminate against her for being a woman? And now he just dumps the entire workload on her?
Do people really change that much?
Dumbfounded by the absurdity, Logan only belatedly realized something odd.
"A business trip?"
"Y-yes, he said it was confidential... Just that he was handling something you entrusted to him."
"Ah—!"
The list Nox had brought him.
Only after Ellen's answer did Logan recall the task he had assigned to her father, letting out a gasp of realization.
'Then by now...'
As Logan sank into thought, Ellen—perhaps sensing the shift in mood—quickly changed the subject.
"Did anything happen in the Empire? You seem... well, better than before."
Logan looked up at his fiancée again.
Calling her beautiful despite her exhausted appearance hadn't been a lie.
Of course, he preferred her usual healthy glow, but even her tired, haggard expression made him want to embrace her.
'Just how exhausted is she?'
A mix of disbelief and pity clashed within him, leaving him momentarily speechless.
So instead, he simply raised his hand and summoned a golden radiance.
As a knight herself, she would understand its meaning...
"Aura?! W-wha—how did this happen?!"
"Ghk! W-wait, hold on—your hand—!"
Ellen, suddenly revitalized, lunged at him with such enthusiasm that Logan had to flare his aura just to calm her down.
"Well, ever since Ruspellheim..."
And so, the explanation began—and before he knew it, it had grown quite lengthy.
But after hearing the full story of his time in the Empire, Ellen's eyes sparkled even brighter than before.
Especially when he spoke of the Empire's Transcendents and his awakening.
Seeing that look in her eyes, Logan finally let out a sigh of relief and chuckled.
"See? You're not cut out for paperwork either, are you?"
"Yeah. Honestly, it's been too exhausting."
Her blunt honesty drew a soft laugh from him.
"Then why did you take all this on yourself? You have the female soldiers to manage too—you could've left this to Dwain."
"Ah! Speaking of the female soldiers, I have a report on them too. The training results have been good, and during the recent sparring session with the male soldiers—"
"Ellen."
"...I-it's going well, so we can probably start recruiting more now, right?"
"I get it. Rest now. I'm here—I'll handle things. You can submit a written report for that later. You look exhausted. Really exhausted."
"...I'm fine, really."
Despite her words, the way she subtly inched away from the desk made it clear just how much she hated paperwork.
With a wry smile, Logan took her seat and began stamping documents with gusto.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
With speed befitting his superhuman physique.
Ellen, now looking much lighter, paused at the doorway and stared.
"...Uh, Prince Logan. Aren't you going to read the contents?"
"I hired competent administrators so I wouldn't have to check these. Dwain must've already done the final review."
"B-but what if something goes wrong...?"
"Then it's the administrator's responsibility."
"Gasp...!"
Ellen's expression twisted into one of sheer injustice, her lips trembling.
Meanwhile, outside the office, the bearded administrator—who had been happily sorting through the treasures Logan's party had brought—suddenly shivered.
"B-brr. Why's it so cold all of a sudden?"
Though Logan had hastily cleared the paperwork, he made sure to get a full briefing from Dwain on the changes in the territory while he was away.
In reality, the only tasks requiring his direct involvement were the additional recruitment notice for the female soldiers and matters related to the fortress city of Taren. Understanding the overall state of the territory took just three days.
And just as Logan, finally free, began considering gathering more information on the terrorists—
Dwain burst into the office.
"Your Grace!! The rebels have launched an uprising in the northeastern part of the kingdom!"
"An uprising? Do they even have the forces left for that? Which territory?"
"The former County of Zahid—the land ruled by the Count who sided with the First Prince faction and was executed. But reports say the armies of nearby barons and viscounts have all been wiped out!"
"What? Where did they even gather such forces?"
"I've no idea either. The royal court has already called for an emergency council meeting. You'll likely need to head to the capital."
An unforeseen crisis.
Just three days after returning home, Logan found himself riding back to the capital.
After three days of frantic travel, Logan arrived in the capital, Gran.
Without even stopping by his residence, he went straight to his master.
"You've arrived."
His master looked haggard.
But the moment he saw Logan, a hint of color returned to his face.
"I heard about your time in the Empire. You made quite the spectacle."
"A spectacle?"
"Turning down the Emperor's offer, for one. I heard he even offered you territory as large as the kingdom?"
"Well, I am a man of Grandia."
Even as he spoke, a thought crossed his mind.
Unlike MacLaine, his master seemed remarkably well-informed about the events in Acerian.
'Maybe investing more funds into Damian would speed things up.'
Once again, he felt the acute need for a personal intelligence network.
Before he could dwell further, his master stepped closer, his eyes gleaming as he studied Logan.
"But you—don't tell me you've already...?"
"The trip to the Empire definitely helped."
Logan met his master's gaze with newfound clarity.
Just as his master had sensed his awakening, reaching the level of an Aura User gave him a fresh perspective on his master's presence.
The fact that he could now vaguely perceive his master's limits filled him with both pride and a tinge of gloom.
'He's undoubtedly far beyond Luther or Wycken. But...'
He was still nowhere near the Empire's Tris.
If he had to categorize them, Luther was low-tier, his master high-tier.
Lost in these complicated thoughts, Logan stared at his master—who, interpreting his gaze in his own way, clapped him on the shoulder.
"Thank you. For not abandoning this kingdom."
"Why would I abandon it? It's my home."
"That's why I'm thanking you, you fool."
"Did something happen while I was away?"
"No, His Majesty hasn't made any unusual moves. He's simply focused on governance—none of the concerns you had."
Yet despite his words, his master's expression darkened.
It couldn't be helped.
"His Majesty may be fine, but rebels? I truly never imagined this."
After all, that was why they had gathered.
"I heard the lower nobles in the area were all wiped out. How could such a force appear out of nowhere?"
"Exactly. An army comparable to a former Border Lord suddenly emerging is troubling enough, but it's reportedly growing even as we speak."
"Growing?"
"Lower nobles who fell during the civil war are joining them one after another. What possible future are they seeing...?"
"Tch... Do you have any leads?"
"No. That's why we're holding this emergency council. Someone must have information."
Even his master, with his extensive intelligence network, didn't know who was behind this.
The revelation made Logan frown slightly.
His hope that meeting his master would clarify things had been crushed.
'Unless these rebels are complete fools, they must have another objective.'
With this uneasy feeling lingering, Logan accompanied his master to the royal council in the palace's Grand Hall.
"Presenting His Grace Felix Esperanza and Count Logan MacLaine!"
Creak—
As the doors to the Grand Hall opened, the gazes of countless assembled nobles bore down on them.
Even in the brief moment it took them to approach the throne, the surrounding nobles bowed repeatedly in greeting.
"Welcome back."
"Your Excellency, we heard of your return. The Emperor of the Ares Empire was deeply impressed, wasn't he? Truly remarkable..."
"The Star of Grandia—the Emperor even bestowed a title upon you. As expected of you."
Having somehow learned of his exploits in the Empire, the nobles showered him with flattery.
"Is now really the time to be talking about me?"
His sharp retort instantly deflated them.
Suppressing a sigh, Logan knelt before the king.
"Logan MacLaine pays homage to the monarch of Grandia."
"Felix Esperanza pays homage to the monarch of Grandia."
"Long time no see, Grand Duke. And Sir Logan. I heard much has happened in the Empire—I'm glad you've returned safely."
The king's previous sharp demeanor was nowhere to be seen.
His gentle smile as he welcomed them back eased Logan's tension slightly.
"Thanks to Your Majesty's concern."
"What have I done to warrant thanks? A king's incompetence breeds rebels—and in just half a year of your absence, no less."
"...The rebels will be dealt with swiftly. Please don't worry too much."
"Your words reassure me. Now, let's discuss how to handle them."
The amicable exchange between the monarch and his most powerful vassal left the nobles who had heard rumors of their discord utterly bewildered.
And throughout the council, the king continued to show unwavering trust in Logan.
"With MacLaine personally stepping in, this should be resolved easily. Sir Logan, may I entrust this to you?"
The king's soft smile met Logan's crimson eyes.