Chapter 264 - Chapter 263: The Escape
【Gronoir Empire, Imperial Capital Karchi】
In Hildinlander's private quarters within the Emperor's castle.
"Kiiiiii, yaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
The sound of a glass shattering and a shriek rose up.
Hildinlander and "Fire《Ignis》" watched "Earth《Humus》" in a rage.
"You're full of energy."
"Earth" kicked over a chair and smashed a vase against the wall. "Fire" murmured a simple observation.
When "Fire" lined up twelve "Black《Artorum》" on the table, Hildinlander picked one up.
"More results than I expected. I never thought we could gather this much in just one go."
"Right. I was surprised."
"Fire" smiled brightly. Behind "Fire", "Earth" stomped on the broken chair with a dandan sound.
"I'll kill you! I'll kill you! I'll kill you! I'll kill you! I'll tear you to pieces!!!"
With bloodshot eyes and body thrown back, "Earth" barked.
"Ah... nn!"
Ignoring "Earth" who was thrashing behind them, "Fire" swallowed the "Black".
Breathing in slowly and deeply, "Fire" savored it for a moment with a dazed expression.
Suddenly, "Fire" made a deflated face, letting out a "hohee~".
Seeing this, Hildinlander nodded once and turned his face to "Earth".
"You come here too, 'Earth'."
"Gaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhiiyaaaaaaahhhhh!!!"
But those words didn't reach "Earth", who continued to thrash while turning their voice inside out.
Hildinlander shrugged lightly and swallowed one "Black" himself.
Seeing Hildinlander do this, "Fire" asked.
"So, what do we do from now on? Your plans are going to be messed up, right?"
Hildinlander exhaled deeply and directed a sharp gaze at "Fire".
"It is a somewhat troublesome situation, but not that bad."
At Hildinlander's words, "Fire" tilted their head.
"We should assume something happened to 'Water《Aquu》' and 'Wind《Ventus》' who disappeared. But since we've come this far, we can handle whatever comes next."
"Wind", who had attacked the capital city Istora together with "Fire", never arrived at the meeting point no matter how long they waited.
They waited a week, but since "Wind" didn't return, "Fire" had to return alone.
On the way back, they stopped by the Seven Duchies Federation's base to retrieve important items, then attempted to cover their tracks.
After carefully destroying everything, they set fire to turn the clues into ash.
Well, it was the "usual method".
Thus, they came to deliver the items retrieved from the base and the "Black" obtained from the battle in Istora.
Since they lost contact with "Wind", suspicion arose that "Water", whose contact had been cut off for some time, might also be in trouble.
"I was thinking lately that I haven't seen A-chan either. Maybe they're busy?"
"Fire" didn't think much of it, assuming it was usual.
The plan was approaching its climax, and they had been in contact fairly frequently for the past few years, but originally, they hadn't maintained such close coordination.
Not showing their face for a year or two was normal.
For the "Sons of God《Filius Dei》" who lived through long, long times, five or ten years was not a significant period.
"Water" was the one who showed up often, acting as a liaison between "Fire", "Earth", and others, and Hildinlander.
However, since the organization they were using as their limbs had been crushed, "Fire" thought they must be busy.
Hildinlander raised the corner of his mouth and looked down at the "Black" with cold eyes.
"With the share per person increasing, there's no need to do trivial tricks anymore. If we move on a large scale, we can go all at once."
"Collect the scattered hands?"
At "Fire"'s confirmation, Hildinlander nodded.
"It goes from five people to just three. We should focus on the main dish."
"So, should I take A-chan's role?"
To move the Empire significantly from now on, a few hands are needed.
"Water" was supposed to help, but it seems "Fire" will have to take over that role.
"Yes. Once the results of the army we just sent out come in, we'll move to the p-l-a-n. 'Earth' has almost finished their preparations. 'Fire', you get to work on your preparations too."
"Ooh ooh ooh, finally then."
"Fire", who hadn't expected things to progress this quickly, flushed with excitement.
But then, their eyes suddenly cooled.
"...Is it fine to leave the one who killed those two as is?"
Hildinlander calmly accepted that cold gaze, which would make an ordinary person faint just from looking at it.
"A user of [Dispel]. As for someone who might be able to handle 'Water' and 'Wind', well, that's about it."
It was a rather troubling problem.
If left as is, the plan would proceed, making them an existence that hardly mattered.
However, if they hindered the plan's progress, it would be preferable to eliminate them beforehand.
There, Hildinlander tapped his temple with his finger.
"This is exactly when 'Water' was needed."
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII......"
Hildinlander looked at "Earth" who was still thrashing and muttered with a sigh.
"Water"'s organization had blended into society and excelled at behind-the-scenes operations.
In terms of controlling human hearts, "Water" could do things that no other "Son of God《Filius Dei》" could possibly achieve.
Using "Earth"'s [Puppet Strings], one could bind will and ideology.
But "Water" could guide and incite without using such things.
[Puppet Strings] was optimal for forcibly twisting those with opposing ideologies.
But only "Water" could distinguish those with similar ideologies and make them worship.
Blending in naturally, gathering naturally, and uniting naturally.
If "Water" got serious, conquering this continent might not be impossible.
They were so skilled at manipulating people that it seemed possible.
However, relying on someone who isn't there now is futile.
"We'll just send them to Ektrem and have some ruffians attack them. Do you have any leads on that [Dispel] user?"
Asked this, "Fire" frowned.
"I heard they're called 'Dispeller' or something. Also, recently there's been talk about the Apostle or whatever."
"The Apostle...?"
Hildinlander made a suspicious face and hesitated.
"We'll eliminate both the 'Dispeller' and that Apostle. Let's order someone to do it. Use an Assassin Guild or whatever, just get rid of them. Honestly, we are no longer at that stage. If money can solve it, then that's fine."
"Is that okay? Should I go, kill them, and come back?"
"No, 'Fire', head back to the Empire. [Dispel] is only a threat right now. Once we achieve our purpose quickly, what is there to fear from even an ant?"
Hildinlander had one certainty above all else.
The one who dealt with "Wind" was not a [Dispel] user.
To be more precise, the ones thought to be [Dispel] users so far were likely not users of [Dispel].
Hildinlander was certain of this from the contents transmitted by taking in "Wind".
It was impossible to eat [Dispel] from [God's Miracle] and escape.
There was no way to escape and return in such an incomplete state.
Then, there was no need to fear such a fake excessively.
They should move forward quickly.
"I'll definitely kill youuuuuuuuuuuuu......"
Hildinlander looked at "Earth" who was screaming with a cold eye.
■■■■■■
【Warterelam's Perspective】
A rattling carriage.
Riding on a covered cargo bed, Warterelam gazed at the wilderness where sand dust danced.
A slightly strong wind caressed the dry ground, covering the three carriages in a line with a curtain of sand.
Warterelam and the others were heading for a town near the border with the Am-Tast Trade Alliance, leaving the Imperial Capital Karchi which was filled with an uneasy atmosphere.
They had sent Sestendof ahead to the Trade Alliance to prepare the reception.
But something troublesome happened.
The border was closed.
Only those with special permission could pass.
Therefore, they decided to enter the actual Trade Alliance later, and first establish a base near the border.
There were two main ways to leave the Empire.
By land or by sea.
If the land route was closed, they would want to choose the sea route, but it wasn't that simple.
The sea route was policed even more strictly than the land route.
First, obtaining permission to board was difficult.
If it were just Warterelam, they might have taken the means of smuggling.
But they couldn't bring themselves to abandon the retainers who had served them for many years.
Therefore, including Warterelam, Lambaluel, and Sestendof, it was a large-scale movement of seventeen people.
Considering the success rate and risk, the means of smuggling had to be said to be difficult.
So, they had been thinking of only the land route from the beginning, but since the border was closed, some sort of measure was necessary.
To explore these, they first moved to near the border.
Currently, in the Imperial Capital, those who do not cooperate with the country or the church are being lynched every day.
Warterelam had also been hiding at home, and although it had been several years since their contact with the church was cut off, the title of Cardinal remained.
Originally, Warterelam was often absent for long periods due to investigations, so they managed to avoid being viewed with suspicion by the neighbors.
However, one never knew when suspicion would be directed at them.
Therefore, Warterelam and Lambaluel agreed that they should leave the Imperial Capital.
Warterelam reached for a water bag and moistened their throat with diluted fruit wine.
Thus, they thought about the future.
(...First, how to cross the border.)
That was the premise.
If this didn't work, there was no need to think about what came next.
However, there was a feeling that the reign of Emperor-Pope Hildinlander would become a rather harsh era.
No matter how much they struggled, it seemed their remaining life in the Empire would be painful.
Most of all, even such a remaining life might be the only p-a-n-i-c.
But, if they could escape successfully to the Trade Alliance...
There was something they had to do.
(If my prediction is correct, the new Emperor's target is...!)
Fragmentary information read from ancient documents.
A number of somewhat unreliable pieces of evidence gathered by Warterelam, Lambaluel, and others.
The truth of what was happening in the Gronoir Empire derived from them.
A truth that could be called delusion, with speculation piled upon speculation.
(...Call me a madman or whatever you like.)
Even so, if by any chance this prediction was correct—
At that moment, the driver slowed the carriage.
Warterelam looked forward from the cargo bed through the driver, and there was a group kicking up sand dust.
For a moment, Warterelam's heart jumped.
Bandits?
Several adventurers hired as guards walked in front of the carriage.
Other guards kept watch all around the carriage.
To an amateur like Warterelam, they looked like well-trained guards.
Even so, half of them were still D-rank adventurers.
They had tried to gather C-rank adventurers of immigrant origin, but they couldn't get enough numbers.
The carriage pulled over to the edge of the road and stopped temporarily.
The guard adventurers were talking with a group of about ten riders coming from the front.
It seemed they were knights.
Knights of the Empire Army.
It was fortunate that they weren't bandits, but unfortunately, for Warterelam who planned to leave the Empire, the Empire Army was by no means an opponent they could relax around.
The adventurers returned to the carriage.
Behind them, three imperial cavalrymen followed.
Warterelam almost clicked their tongue in annoyance.
"Sir! Can I talk to you for a moment?"
The leader of the adventurers shouted to overcome the sound of the wind.
"Yes, yes, wait a moment."
Warterelam stepped down from the cargo bed, staggering... or rather, not acting.
Even though they were just riding, the ride on the cargo bed was by no means good.
They had sold the carriage they usually used and deliberately prepared a slightly dilapidated one.
Warterelam hugged a small bag under their arm and stood next to the horse the knight was riding.
"Thank you for your hard work."
"Hmm. Sorry, show me your permit."
"Yes, yes. Just a moment..."
Saying this, Warterelam opened the small bag... and dropped it.
"Sir, be careful."
"Oh, sorry. Long journeys are tough on old men."
The adventurer leader picked up the small bag and held it open.
Warterelam put their hand in the bag and searched noisily.
"Eh... and, I'm sure it was here..."
But, searching the small bag, the permit wouldn't be found easily.
"You're going from the Imperial Capital to Mihasnada?"
"Yes, yes. That's right. ...Ah, where did I put it?"
"Isn't it over there, sir?"
Answering the knight's question, they fished in the small bag.
But the permit wasn't there.
"Why go all the way to such a remote place from the Imperial Capital?"
"Well, you see, listen. It's a terrible story."
Warterelam looked up and gazed at the knight.
"Recently, the Emperor-Pope was enthroned. Well, that's a happy thing."
"It's not 'Pope'. At times like this, you're supposed to say 'Your Majesty', my mother told me."
"Yes, yes, Your Majesty, Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor-Pope."
Warterelam raised both hands and began to make a gesture of prayer right there.
Seeing this, the knight grimaced.
"...Just show me the permit."
"Oh, right, right. I'm sorry. I'm just forgetful. Ah, really... where did I put it?"
Warterelam put their hand in the small bag again and started searching noisily.
"No, everyone is celebrating, drinking, and getting drunk. Well, even I drink a little when it's a happy occasion."
"Sir, my mother told me you shouldn't drink anymore."
"What, what? Everyone is treating me like a drunkard."
Warterelam stopped their hands again and complained to the adventurer leader.
"Look, look, if you stop your hands, you'll get angry again. I'm sorry, really."
"Oh, right."
The knight watched the exchange between Warterelam and the adventurer and grimaced.
They must be thinking it's troublesome and they got stuck with this.
"Well, drinking on a happy occasion is fine, but recently there are more and more troublesome people."
One month had passed since Emperor-Pope Hildinlander's enthronement, but in the Imperial Capital, there was still a festive atmosphere somewhere.
And several incidents had occurred where some drunkards attacked shops in groups or destroyed houses.
"A drunkard broke my house. Please, Knight-sama. Please catch those drunkards."
"Hmm... ah, yes."
Hit on a somewhat painful spot, the knight made a guilty face.
"So, your granddaughter is in Mi-ha-sna-da...? Minasada? ...She lives there."
"Mihasnada."
The adventurer leader corrected them.
"Yes, yes, Mi-ha-sna-da. They asked me to live there with them. Listen, Knight-sama. My granddaughter is—"
"Hey, is the permit ready yet? Do you really have it?"
Just as the knight started to get impatient, Warterelam suddenly pulled their hand out of the small bag.
In their hand were several sheets of paper.
Warterelam checked the papers one by one.
"Oh, here it is. Sorry to keep you waiting."
Saying this, they presented the permit to the knight on horseback.
The knight pulled the permit and glanced at it quickly.
"—My granddaughter is truly a wonderful child. Like the other day?"
Even while the knight checked the permit, Warterelam kept talking non-stop.
The knight returned the permit immediately with a bored face.
"You may go. But next time, put it away at the top so you can produce it quickly."
"Understood. Thank you for your hard work, Knight-sama."
Warterelam bowed politely, and the knights signaled to the cavalry squadron waiting at a distance.
Thus, they passed by Warterelam's carriage and rode away.
"...................................................., isn't that a bit too obvious?"
"Hmph... No, this is fine. They returned it without even looking properly."
To the adventurer who worried it was a bit too much, Warterelam raised the corner of their mouth.
"They didn't even try to check inside the carriage?"
"Is that thanks to your acting, sir, or is that knight just stupid?"
They just annoyed them a little and left as if fleeing.
Indeed, there seemed to be a problem with the qualities of that knight captain too.
"Well, it won't be exposed immediately if they search, but I want to reduce risks as much as possible."
"The biggest risk is that guy."
Saying this, the adventurer pointed to the permit.
This permit was actually a forged document.
It was a very skillfully made forgery, but there was a risk of being exposed if scrutinized.
Therefore, it was better to distract attention from the documents.
As a Cardinal, Warterelam had obtained a separate permit stating they were heading to the Holy Land Uup Saktu, so on the surface, they were heading to the Holy Land.
This was something that had happened normally before, so it wasn't a particularly conspicuous move.
Separately, Warterelam used their retainers to move luggage little by little to a temporary base at the edge of the Imperial Capital.
If Warterelam packed large luggage into the carriage from the house, it would be revealed that they were trying to leave the Imperial Capital without permission.
Therefore, they hid their identity as a Cardinal and even had the adventurer contacts prepare forged documents.
It was a waste, but the house was left as is without being disposed of.
As for Warterelam, if the retainers disappeared, the neighbors might become suspicious.
Therefore, for the past few weeks, a certain number of retainers had accompanied Warterelam, and the steward was making small talk with the neighbors.
If they could buy a little time with this, they would just hide in the border town and make arrangements to escape the country.
It was indeed an escape with too much luggage, but this couldn't be helped.
The numbers were the numbers.
Above all, they prioritized not touching anything that would attract p-e-o-p-l-e-'s-a-t-t-e-n-t-i-o-n and packed it into the Magic Bag.
Thus, placing the remaining luggage on the cargo bed inevitably increased the number of carriages.
Even so, they had reduced it considerably.
Buying a large number of Magic Bags would solve the problem to some extent, but they couldn't waste funds.
Funds were the lifeline of the escape.
If they solved everything with money just because they had a surplus, they might not be able to prepare the necessary amount when needed.
Warterelam confirmed that the group of cavalry had disappeared into the sand cloud and exhaled.
"Recently, it's not just the Imperial Capital; I feel an uneasy atmosphere even in the towns along the way. Please."
"Yes, leave it to me."
The adventurer leader patted their chest.
When Warterelam nodded and returned to the carriage, Lambaluel was asleep.
What kind of nerves did they have? Lambaluel calmly slept even in the rocking carriage.
Warterelam sighed and thought about kicking their legs, but stopped.
Lambaluel would be noisy once they woke up.
Thinking it was best to leave them as is, Warterelam quietly sat on the cargo bed.
■■■■■■
1st Month of Wind, 5th Week, Day.
Marquis Leventein Domain.
The garrison of the Leventein Domain Army located almost halfway between the city of Sarbengeal and the border's protective wall.
Mika was guided to a large building and entered.
In the center of the room they were led to was a large table, with a map of the Daburandoru Plains and its surroundings spread out.
"Hello, Mika-kun. Long time no see."
"Long time no see, Haiden-san."
Haiden, who had been talking with several gruff knight uncles, welcomed him with a smile.
"What's this? You don't have wings today?"
Seeing Mika's figure, a gruff uncle murmured regretfully.
I think this person is...
"Was it Magnus-san...?"
"Yes. You remembered."
This was a reunion with Magnus after about six years.
The last time they met was during the interrogation of the Cleiria kidnapping incident.
And they didn't particularly want to meet.
This uncle also seemed to have survived the previous battle tenaciously.
Of course, there was a reason why Mika came to the front lines at this time.
Haiden tightened his expression slightly to confirm.
"So, Mika-kun. About the story of participating in the battle with the Empire Army."
Yes.
Mika had decided to participate in the battle with the Empire Army that was about to arrive.
Because, like last time, the Kingdom Army and the Domain Army would collapse easily, and eventually, they would have to intervene.
Mika didn't want to fight willingly.
Still, they absolutely could not accept the result of the fall of the Marquis Leventein Domain.
Cleiria's family and territory.
And if the Marquis Leventein Domain fell, the Baron Limpēre Domain would be finished too.
So, they had no choice but to help from the beginning.
That said, Mika wasn't going to crush the Empire Army alone.
Mika also had the feeling that "if you want to stand at the top, you have to struggle accordingly."
Therefore, Mika would only take on a single role.
Mika tightened their expression and looked straight at Haiden.
"I will crush the Empire Army's [Divine Wrath]. Leave it to me."
This was the purpose of Mika coming to the battlefield.