I'll Borrow the Second-in-Command (1)

Two in the kingdom. One with the vampires of the South Forest. And one lost somewhere in transit, its whereabouts unknown.

That was the remaining stock of spatial magic scrolls my master had once mentioned. Across the entire continent there were only four of the precious things left, and with no human still capable of casting the magic itself, the rest might as well have been lost forever.

Which was why he ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had helpfully added the completely useless remark that I would never so much as lay eyes on one in my lifetime. Yet less than a year after leaving his side, I twisted my lips and shook my head all over again.

"Another load of hot air. That damned old man."

The scenery around me had changed in the blink of an eye—the result of the woman burning the scrap of paper she had pulled from her coat. Even a complete ignoramus when it came to magic like me could tell this was the work of one of those spatial magic scrolls.

And yet he had claimed there were only four left on the whole continent. If that were true, they would have used it on someone far more important than me. He had also been wrong about me never getting to see one, which meant every last word out of my master's mouth had been nonsense from start to finish.

"If he ever heard that a nobody like me got to use one, he'd have a stroke."

The irritation of being played for a fool yet again made me toss out one more grumble. Then I shook my head and looked around, trying to get my bearings.

The first thing that seized my attention was the impossibly high white ceiling. I let out a small breath of awe at the chandeliers hanging so far above they seemed suspended from the sky itself—so high that even craning my neck would never bring them within reach.

"...Huh."

The scale was comparable to the manor in Beimesher, yet it possessed a grandeur of a completely different flavor. Spotless white walls studded here and there with lavish ornaments. An aesthetic of excess, one might say. Unlike the understated Lia, the owner of this place clearly had no reservations about expressing themselves.

And that self-regard reached its absolute peak in the enormous statue standing in the center of the room. It was the very same white-armored knight I had encountered in Ernia, reproduced with startling fidelity. I was just reaching out a hand in surprise when a quiet voice spoke from behind me.

"A ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gift bestowed by His Majesty himself. He said he would like it displayed wherever I reside, so I obliged."

"I haven't said a word yet, Lu."

"I simply... wished to avoid any misunderstanding."

Pretty shameless for a kidnapper. While I shot her a sidelong glance, she walked to the far end of the space and closed the door. Only then did I realize this was all one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠single enormous room, and a dry laugh escaped me.

"It's awfully big for one person's quarters. So where exactly is this?"

"My home. The order of things may be a little backward, but welcome to the Capital nonetheless."

"Welcome, huh. I hate to say it, but strictly speaking, I've been kidnapped, haven't I, Lu?"

"...Perhaps we should discuss that part at a more leisurely pace."

Offering the flimsiest of excuses, Lu pulled over a nearby chair and sat. When I finally looked properly, I saw she had already changed into a simple shirt and trousers.

"That look suits you far better. By the way, when did you even change clothes?"

"You may not remember, but you were unconscious for roughly ten minutes. A common reaction for those experiencing spatial magic for the first time. Some people remain out of it for more than a day—your recovery is impressively swift."

"Getting complimented by a criminal doesn't exactly fill me with joy."

"Ah... well. I suppose not."

Her voice was far softer than it had been back in the prison, but that was no reason for me to turn gentle in return. When I continued to keep my edges sharp, Lu wordlessly slid a cup of tea toward me.

"Earlier you were throwing around words like 'arrest' and coming down hard. Is this the carrot after the stick?"

"Wet your throat first and then we can talk. I'll admit my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠methods were a little rough."

"How about just sending me back right now? My companions must be worried."

"I cannot do that. Those very companions of yours have been branded as a criminal organization of the worst notoriety across the entire kingdom. Even if you yourself committed no crime, the fact that you were with them means I cannot simply let you go."

Unlike the time she had introduced herself as Louis, her speech was now stiff and authoritative. It clashed rather badly with that pale, delicate face of hers.

Honestly, I could not shake the impression of a sheltered noble young lady play-acting at being a knight. The thought even crossed my mind that I might currently be humoring some spoiled girl's game of make-believe.

"So what are you exactly, Lu? Something like the captain of the guard?"

"I am merely a faithful servant of His Majesty the King. No different from anyone else."

"Then why drag me to your house instead of the guardhouse?"

"That is..."

Still couldn't answer, huh. I gave her another suspicious look, then shook my head and folded my arms.

"Fine, whatever. So when can I go home? I've got a fair amount of work waiting for me."

"Once the investigation is complete. And if it is truly confirmed that you are without guilt, then of course we will have no choice but to release you."

"Then let's do it right now. I'm ready whenever."

"You truly are quick."

Lu forced her lips into the most awkward smile imaginable. Instead of beginning the investigation at once, however, she rose from her seat with deliberate slowness.

"There is still such a thing as procedure. Would you mind waiting just a little while?"

"How long? Do I have to sit around forever again?"

"Nothing like that. Investigating someone affiliated with such a dangerous criminal organization simply requires me to seek counsel from various parties."

"They're not that dangerous."

"That is something you will come to understand as we talk."

My curt reply earned a somewhat sharper answer in return. Having briefly revealed a properly knightly side, she turned back toward me one last time and spoke in a low voice.

"Rest."

...

"I will return shortly."

As expected.

This man was no pushover.

For the first time in over twenty years, Lu chewed on her fingernails. It was a habit from childhood—something she did whenever anxiety became unbearable—and one she had completely forgotten after becoming the strongest sword in the kingdom.

Back then her father had always scolded her for such unladylike behavior, yet this time he made no comment on it. Instead, in a weary voice, he asked about the man who had entered the manor.

"So that man is the Black Lady's closest aide?"

"Yes, Father. That is correct."

"He looks surprisingly ordinary. One would never guess he was capable of such things."

"But it is him."

"If you say so, then of course it is."

There was no sarcasm in the words. He merely wished to show trust in his daughter. Of course a sliver of doubt still lingered in his own heart, so he carefully voiced it.

"Then why bring him here instead of to a prison? And without so much as a single restraint, at that."

"One cannot casually clap irons on a man who has committed no crime."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I found no grounds for criminal charges. I was too hasty. Officially, that man has not violated a single statute written into the laws of this kingdom, Father."

The father of the White Knight was wise enough to grasp her meaning at once. That did not mean there was no room for rebuttal.

"Naturally. On the surface they run a charity, and even if he appears to belong to an organization, we have no means of proving it. But this is the land ruled by His Majesty the King. If someone is under suspicion, we are free to treat them as a criminal."

"And countless innocents have died that way. As you know full well, Father."

"Yet you yourself said that man is the Black Lady's closest aide. That is a fact known to us all."

"Then do you believe I should join in that barbarism you call justice?"

"..."

He could not answer her question at once. Justice carried out solely by law, based on fact, and relying on procedure—that had been the conviction he had upheld since the age of savagery, and the family creed he had instilled in his daughter as well.

It was both the greatest strength of the flawless White Knight and her sole weakness. Knowing that the root of it lay with him, he eventually steered the conversation elsewhere.

"Then why not take him to the Round Table? They might have offered a better alternative than this."

"I can no longer trust the Round Table. A traitor has emerged from among its members themselves."

"I heard. To think Dyke, that upright young man, would forsake a knight's oath. But the other knights—"

"The Round Table is the gathering of this kingdom's most noble knights. That a traitor appeared from within cannot be dismissed as the deviation of a single individual. Moreover, is Dyke not the son-in-law of none other than Count Gramont?"

"That man's name has been cropping up ever since last time. An unwelcome development."

Count Gramont. In the Capital, no one was ignorant of his vulgar nature, yet the fortune he had amassed through it wielded no small influence over the kingdom.

Even the Round Table—an order assembled purely for honor—was not free of his grasp. One could safely say that every knight except Lu herself had accepted his patronage at some point.

"Therefore, the fact that we have secured that man must remain confidential for the time being. Even if we are forced to release him for lack of proof, I would rather do so with my own hands."

"You truly were too hasty. Why act so recklessly? It is unlike you."

"I simply could not stand by and watch any longer. A traitor of the Round Table was right before my eyes. If I had delayed further, there is no telling how many more knights would have gone over to the Black Lady's side."

"Even so—"

"And we can no longer afford to keep dancing to their tune. Had I remained idle, everything would have unfolded exactly according to their design. It is time our side showed bold action as well."

Firm resolve shone in Lu's eyes. It was a gaze that always inspired confidence, yet as her father he could not help but voice his concern.

"The Black Lady's side will move. This time she may come herself."

"I would welcome it. I will finally be able to see the result of the match I could not settle in Ernia."

"I only hope you are the one who emerges victorious. So how do you intend to keep that man? He is surely thinking of escape."

"He will not. He is well aware we have no lasting justification for holding him. For him, walking out the front door with his head held high would actually be more advantageous."

"Because it would amount to us proving he is no criminal. Still, we cannot allow the man free rein of the manor."

True enough—they needed to impose at least a minimum of restriction. At her father's words Lu fell silent for a moment in thought. Then a certain idea struck her, and she carefully spoke.

"There is a method."

"That is a relief. Are you certain of it?"

"Well..."

At that point she let the sentence trail off, then offered an answer that was neither affirmation nor denial—something strangely ambiguous.

"I suspect you will not care for it much, Father."