The Swordmaster Wants to Fall in Love! 88. Whoever It May Be (2)
Mirinae and Ausolate were swiftly exiting the city after accomplishing their objectives.
Yet Ausolate glared at Mirinae with a deeply displeased expression.
"Is this really acceptable?"
"What is?"
"The hostages."
"Ah, those?"
Mirinae chuckled, recalling Anya and Seolhyang left guarding Evan's mansion, and nodded briskly.
"It's fine, it's fine! We had to do this much to make them come looking for us."
"...I suppose so."
"Hey, talking back? If you've got a problem, you be the Great Mother! Erzsebet said to stop at nothing, didn't she?"
That was true. Erzsebet had ordered them to bring back the Swordmaster who destroyed the World Tree, by any means necessary.
She'd surely overlook this much. This xenophobic fool clearly disapproved of their methods, but...
"If you've got time to talk, move your feet faster. What if those kids catch up to us?"
"You mean... they followed us?"
Ausolate scanned the surroundings as if daring someone to try, his gaze landing on knights investigating the shattered mansion in the distance.
"If they can, they will."
"Honestly... you and Erzsebet are just as arrogant as each other."
"Thank you for the compliment."
"It's not a compliment, you brat!"
Mirinae let out a hollow laugh and turned toward the city walls. Far beyond them, her kin waited.
Before they waited any longer...
Mirinae's pace quickened slightly.
Inside the rattling carriage, Evan listened to a knight drenched in cold sweat deliver his report.
"The incident occurred around 10:30 AM! By the time city soldiers arrived, only the shattered remains of the mansion were left!"
"Why the delay of over an hour in reporting this?"
"Prioritizing the investigation and suspect search... the city soldiers didn't even realize the destroyed mansion belonged to the Swordmaster! It was only after investigators were dispatched that they discovered it was the Swordmaster's residence..."
This was a minor oversight stemming from the city lord's consideration. Anticipating that anyone and everyone might seek out the Swordmaster, the lord had kept Evan's address confidential, so soldiers didn't immediately recognize the ruined mansion as his.
Of course, even if they had known it was Evan's home, the sheer destruction would have made it unrecognizable to most.
Rather, it was miraculous that news reached Evan within an hour despite the confidentiality.
However.
"Who's the culprit?"
To Evan, none of this mattered. What mattered was who attacked his mansion—and whether Anya and Seolhyang were safe. Nothing else.
"Investigators suspect a mage's work... Only high-ranking Tower mages or black mages who've studied forbidden texts could do this."
"You don't even know who did it?"
"...We're currently pursuing them."
Evan fell silent, considering who might benefit from this chaos. The most likely suspects were elves—most believed he'd destroyed the World Tree, though some like Rainia and Mirinae knew the truth.
But he couldn't dismiss other possibilities. What if someone else knew of his conflict with the elves and orchestrated this to pit them against each other?
If that's the case, either I or the elves would be destroyed. Everyone who dislikes the kingdom and the World Tree Alliance could be the culprit...
Even considering that some groups might want to weaken others without any grudge, all organizations with Transcendents—the 12 Castle Lords, the 8 Great Families, and various kingdoms—could be the culprits.
As Evan wrestled with these thoughts, Elenoa cautiously spoke up.
"What are you worrying about, Evan?"
"...I don't know who did it."
"Nothing comes to mind? That can't be right, can it?"
"True, but if I'm wrong..."
"Why assume you'll be wrong before even starting?"
Elenoa smiled slyly. When Evan looked at her in confusion, she flicked her fingers side to side.
"So what if you're wrong? Let others benefit a little. What's the harm?"
"No, that's..."
"Worrying about others' losses is the culprit's job. It's not your concern, Evan—a Transcendent rivaling my father."
Culprits hesitate, considering how others will react. Kings don't. They act, leaving the aftermath to their subjects.
Evan was a Transcendent—a Transcendent compared to the Spear King. For him to act like a culprit was almost a social nuisance.
"Do what your heart tells you."
"...But if I do that..."
"War will break out? Evan, you know one thing but not the other."
Elenoa smiled with the air of a ruler.
"Every citizen in this country lives by the Spear King's grace. Without his mercy, these humans wouldn't even be allowed to exist... You're worried about their lives? You?"
Building this nation, eradicating dangerous monsters, surviving hostile Transcendents and beasts—all were the Spear King's achievements, his power.
As long as they lived in the kingdom, everyone on this land was ready to sacrifice their lives for the Spear King.
"Evan. Do what you want. You're someone who can."
"I... do what I want..."
"Yes! If you want it, anything is... possible, right?"
Ignoring Elenoa's blatant body language, Evan realized his role. His duty was to fight—to battle Transcendents and monsters, protecting everyone under the kingdom's banner.
Even if some were lost in the process, more could be saved.
"The culprit is the elves."
"Evan, I said it doesn't matter, right?"
"Ah, right. Then let me rephrase—" Evan's eyes gleamed. "I'm going to hit the elves. Starting now."
"—Good job."
"As the Swordmaster, I command you. Bring every soldier I can use."
Ignoring Elenoa's excited snort, Evan ordered the knight.
"From now on, this is war."
"Hahahaha—! This is funny, a declaration of war!"
Mirinae, returning from terrorizing Evan's mansion, burst into laughter upon seeing the declaration that had arrived before her.
Erzsebet fumed at Mirinae's reckless grin.
"What's so funny, Mirinae? I told you to bring the culprit, not cause this mess!"
"What did I do? You were the one who said to stop at nothing."
"I said bring the culprit! Not make him bring an army!"
Erzsebet shouted. Transcendents favored their side—the kingdom only had the Spear King and the Swordmaster.
But what if Transcendents from allied organizations joined the kingdom? If Nine Lives or No-Sword Castle sided with them, their Transcendent advantage would flip instantly—and by a wide margin.
"Don't get so worked up—you'll get another wrinkle."
"Because of who—! ...Do you even realize who's causing this?"
"Don't worry about the kingdom's army. They won't attack us recklessly."
"...How can you be so sure?"
"Huh? You haven't seen them yet? The hostages I brought."
"Hostages?"
"Yes, hostages."
Mirinae smiled, recalling the two humans she'd spared—Anya and Seolhyang.
"The Swordmaster seems to cherish them a lot. If he finds out they're here, he probably won't recklessly bomb the place."
"...Are you sure?"
"Of course. I didn't live this long for nothing."
Mirinae was certain. Evan would never attack the World Tree Alliance recklessly. He'd confront them head-on.
And this was the World Tree's rooted land. Though its upper branches had been severed by Evan, the sanctity of its roots remained.
Even a dog is fierce in its own home. Fighting here, even against superior forces, wouldn't matter much—
KWAANG!!!
"W-what is that?!"
"It's an attack!"
As if mocking Mirinae's thoughts, a massive explosion echoed.
Erzsebet glared at Mirinae, as if to say, "See?"
"H-huh...?"
This wasn't right...
Mirinae fled outside with a flustered expression.
—Numerous kingdom airships hovered in the sky.
"Ahaha, hahaha."
Mirinae, who had been laughing nervously, froze stiffly upon seeing two men leap from the airship. Evan Kalshutter. The Swordmaster was leaping from there.