kscans

Chapter 128 - Chapter 127: The Fifth Knights Order in Chaos

The third month of Water, the first week, the day of the Sun.

After finishing the designated requests in the morning, Mika arrived in front of the Fifth Knights Order's station.

Ideally, he wanted to go to the Adventurer Guild immediately to report the completion of the requests, but if he went to the Guild, that old man would follow him again.

So, he decided to handle the Fifth Knights Order first.

The Order's station secured a wide plot of land in the middle of the town.

A slightly weathered three-story building stood on the left immediately upon entering the grounds.

A large sign reading "Fifth Knights Order" hung at the building's entrance.

Farther within the grounds, knights could be seen training.

Mika entered the grounds and looked up at the building.

Is the so-called Commander here right now?

It was an unannounced visit.

It wouldn't be strange if he wasn't there.

Well, since he's been pestering me regardless of my convenience, it's only fair that I suddenly show up.

Last week, he had jokingly told Gaeras it was a "raid," but actually, half of it was serious.

However, he certainly didn't intend to make a big scene against the authorities.

If he did such a thing, getting arrested would be certain.

He intended to discuss things peacefully. ...For now.

Let's finish the talk quickly and get him to stop stalking me. ...If I'm going to be chased around anyway, I wish he'd turn into a cute girl.

Well, if that happened, he couldn't help but feel he might run away again.

Mika entered the station building.

Inside the building, it was quite dilapidated.

The walls were scratched and cracked in various places, and the floorboards were covered in scratches.

He walked briskly down the hallway, searching for the stairs.

Fools and smoke like high places, they say.

Those who wanted to act important, or those who wanted to boast that they were great, would be on the third floor.

Making that assumption, he headed for the third floor.

He had done plenty of infiltration in a certain game.

He had played it so much that he could clear even the highest difficulty.

"Hm?"

"Ah."

But he was spotted immediately by a knight coming from the end of the hallway.

"Hey, you can't just come in here without permission."

The knight quickened his pace and came toward Mika.

Mika quickly slipped into a nearby room.

"Ah, hey! Wait!"

He could hear the knight's voice, but he ignored it and quickly checked inside the room.

It was a room with only chairs lined up.

All the chairs were lined up facing one direction.

A briefing room?

It seemed he had hit a dead end.

There was nothing there that could hide him.

If only there were a cardboard box...!

Well, there wouldn't be one.

It might not even exist.

But, instead, he found a door at the back of the room.

Giving up on the cardboard box, he quickly headed toward the back door and entered.

Was this a conference room?

A long table was arranged to form a large square.

This room also seemed to have no place to hide.

But, he found a door leading out to the hallway.

"You! Stop it already!"

It seemed the knight had entered the briefing room from before.

Mika exited the conference room into the hallway and dashed toward the back.

And then, he found the stairs located in the middle of the hallway.

But, unfortunately, a few knights were coming down them at that moment.

What should I do?

For now, he dashed past the stairs without stopping and headed toward the back.

Is there somewhere easy to hide anywhere?

Just as he thought that, he was spotted by another knight.

Too many knights.

Well, it's a station, so it's natural.

Mika jumped into a nearby room again.

"Ah, eh? A child?"

"Hey, where did he go!"

The voices of a knight confused by suddenly encountering Mika and the knight chasing him echoed down the hallway.

The room Mika had jumped into seemed to be a waiting room for the knights.

Tables were lined up facing each other, and about five knights were playing Buattre Heed or chatting while holding cups.

"Hm?"

"A child?"

"Where did he come from?"

One of the knights came toward Mika.

"Miss, what's wrong?"

That knight looked puzzled, but it was clear he was trying hard to be gentle.

At that moment, the hallway began to get a bit noisy.

"A child got in!"

"Where did he go!?"

Several such voices could be heard.

The knight who had spoken to Mika seemed to notice those voices too, and listened intently for a moment.

Taking advantage of that opening, Mika slipped past the knight.

"Ah, hey!?"

Escaping the arm trying to catch him, he ducked under the table.

He could hear the sound of chairs rattling, and realized the other knights were moving, asking "What is it?" and "What happened?".

"Hey, did a girl come here!?"

A knight jumped in from the hallway.

While the attention of the knights in the room turned that way, Mika slipped under the table, moved using the table as cover, and quickly entered the room he found at the back.

"He went under that table."

"No, he's not there! Where did he go!?"

Leaning his back against the door from inside the room, he eavesdropped on the commotion in the waiting room.

Since there was a loud rattling sound, it seemed they were moving chairs and tables to search for Mika.

Phew... What a commotion.

He let out a sigh.

Strange... I was planning to infiltrate properly.

He twisted his neck.

He had been quite good at it in games.

It seemed reality and games were different after all.

It was natural, of course.

Then, he suddenly noticed several boards nailed to the wall of the room.

And in the corner of the room, he discovered some debris of broken boards.

What's that?

Boards nailed to the wall.

Debris of broken boards.

...No way...!

"Hey."

At that moment, a voice cut through Mika's thoughts.

Looking toward where the voice came from, he saw a man working at a desk.

Probably around thirty years old.

Casual attire, not wearing armor.

He looked young, yet had quite a lot of white hair.

Perhaps he was actually quite old?

"Why is a child in a place like this?"

Saying that, the man leaned back against the chair's backrest.

The desk was directly in front of the door.

In other words, when Mika entered, this person was right in front of him.

I didn't notice at all...

Even without [Detect Presence], not noticing someone right in front of you.

Even if I rushed into the room, I should have noticed if he was right there.

Was Mika immature?

Or was this man's presence so faint?

"...................."

The man silently watched Mika while leaning against the backrest.

But, he suddenly sat up straight.

"..., Mika?"

The man muttered.

Hearing that mutter, Mika let out a long sigh.

"Is this your doing, Mr. Ozendorwa Solnitax?"

The man knew Mika's name.

In other words, it was highly likely that this man was the one who investigated Mika's name and sent the bearded knight.

Fifth Knights Commander, Ozendorwa Solnitax.

As the rumors said, he really did punch a hole in the wall, this guy.

And I thought he was on the third floor, but of course, he was on the first floor.

When Mika called him by his full name, Ozendorwa's eyes widened.

"...Where did you get that?"

"There are plenty of people who know about you, right? Is that so surprising?"

Mika said it as if it were nothing.

Ozendorwa was surprised at first, but seemed to regain his composure quickly.

"What about Shesbarno?"

Shesbarno?

Who is that?

Ah... Now that you mention it, the knights in the forest called him that, didn't they?

He felt the name of that bearded knight was Shesbarno.

"Well? I haven't seen him today. Maybe he's watching the Guild again."

When Mika said that, Ozendorwa let out a large sigh and leaned back against the backrest again.

Knock, knock.

At that moment, the door was knocked on.

"What is it?"

Ozendorwa did not permit entry and asked only for the business.

"Excuse me, Commander. An intruder has been detected—"

"Deal with it over there."

"Ha, my apologies."

Ozendorwa gave a ruthless reply to the knight speaking through the door.

If it's an intruder, he's right here.

Is this okay?

Mika turned around and looked at the door.

On the other side of the door, it was now a huge commotion.

Perhaps they were searching for Mika throughout the entire building.

"How long did it take?"

Suddenly, Ozendorwa asked Mika.

"Huh?"

"How long did it take from entering the building until you got here?"

Time since infiltration?

"Well? I don't think it took more than five minutes..."

When Mika said that, Ozendorwa looked up and covered his face with both hands.

"Hah, hah..."

And then, for some reason, he let out a laugh.

Ozendorwa looked straight at Mika and raised the corner of his mouth.

"...Thank you. Thanks to you, it became a good exercise."

Ozendorwa kept a smile plastered on his face while his temple veins twitched.

His hand placed on the desk was gripped so tightly it trembled.

Scary... He's really angry about this.

Probably, it wasn't directed at Mika.

It was likely anger toward the Knights Order for allowing Mika's infiltration.

"I never thought they would be this incompetent..."

He muttered something like that.

While watching such Ozendorwa, Mika remembered the purpose of his visit.

"What is your objective?"

When Mika asked that, Ozendorwa looked toward Mika.

"Objective?"

"The purpose of sending a knight named Shesbarno. He's annoying and troublesome."

"Oh, I see."

Ozendorwa tapped his fingers on the desk.

"What are you?"

"...What do you mean by that?"

"Exactly what I said."

Ozendorwa sat up, rested both elbows on the desk, and looked straight at Mika.

"A mere child would not go against a magic beast. Moreover, even adults cannot defeat a composite magic beast ."

"That depends on the person, doesn't it?"

"That is true, but you are too strong. I hear you use [God's Miracle] to an impossible degree."

"To those who think it's impossible, it is impossible, isn't it?"

Mika answered with a bored expression.

Mika's attitude was almost brazen, but Ozendorwa didn't seem to mind it much.

"Why can you use [God's Miracle] to that extent at that age?"

"Are you going to answer such a question?"

During the battle with the composite magic beast , he had used "Stone Bullet", "Fire Breath", and "Ice Breath" non-stop.

It was impossible to explain that with [God's Miracle].

So, until he produced the Mage's seal or cage.

"Can't you answer?"

"Yes, I cannot answer."

Mika calmly refused to answer.

"Do you underestimate the secrets held by Mages? If you leak them carelessly, you'll be in an asylum for life? Or is your true purpose to frame me?"

It wouldn't work against a Mage, but for someone who isn't a Mage, this was enough.

Turning the law to his advantage, he maintained his silence.

Hearing Mika's words, Ozendorwa fell into thought.

With this, I can reject everything regarding [God's Miracle]. Even if anything seems related, I'll just say I'm being cautious and remain silent.

Mika smiled inwardly, but didn't show it even a little.

He pretended to look at Ozendorwa with a cold gaze.

Ozendorwa thought for a while, then let out a breath.

"...I see. It seems you won't answer even if I ask."

"Yes. We are risking our lives too."

Good!

I tricked him!

Mika made a victory sign in his heart.

"Then, since you understand—"

"If asking is no good, I have no choice but to test it directly."

Huh?

While Mika was stunned, Ozendorwa stood up.

"How far we go. I can't tell just by listening. Come with me for a bit."

Saying that, Ozendorwa passed by Mika and headed toward the door.

"Ah, no, I suddenly remembered I have something to do. Let's do it next time—"

"Don't be so cold. It's just a little play."

A sudden turn after being confident of victory.

Mika tried to retreat in a panic, but it didn't seem to be accepted.

It seemed such an obvious lie didn't work.

Hey, hey, hey, seriously!? Forgive me!

As Mika stood there blankly wondering what he would be made to do, Ozendorwa opened the door.

Immediately after—

"All hands! Attention!!!"

Ozendorwa's voice, loud enough to shake the entire building, echoed through the air.

At once, the knights who were making a huge commotion throughout the building stopped moving all at once.

Mika instinctively covered both ears, but it was too late.

A faint ringing sound echoed in his ears.

Ozendorwa , he does have a good physique as a knight, but he's not that out-of-scale big. Why can he make such a loud noise?

The Marquis Leventein would be superior in physique.

But with this volume of voice, he wouldn't have trouble giving orders outside even without a megaphone.

It seemed he could be heard no matter where he was.

While Mika shrank back, covering his ears and freezing, Ozendorwa turned around.

"This way."

Saying only that, he quickly left the room.

Do I have to go...?

For Mika, it would be enough if he could eliminate the Shesbarno who was pestering him.

But, at this stage, it probably hadn't reached that point yet.

He hadn't convinced Ozendorwa.

Mika let out a huge sigh and left the room.

At that very moment,

"Aaaah!"

"That child from before!?"

"What!?"

The knights who saw Mika raised their voices.

But, glared at by Ozendorwa, they immediately clamped their mouths shut.

The desks in the waiting room had been moved chaotically; one would want to ask what kind of search they had conducted.

While receiving the gazes of the knights all at once, he followed behind Ozendorwa.

"Why with the Commander!?"

"What is going on!?"

As they walked down the hallway, the knights' voices rose again.

And, glared at by Ozendorwa, they fell silent.

After that, suspicious eyes were directed at Mika.



As he followed behind Ozendorwa heading outside the building, that was what Mika was thinking.