Chapter 286 - Chapter 285: Wanted
Kernils regained power, and the Crown Prince was captured.
If one thinks simply, the one at fault is the Crown Prince who unjustly seized royal authority.
However, the Crown Prince did not resort to force out of personal greed.
Because I understand that, I am left wondering what to do.
In any case, right now we need to return to the capital as quickly as possible.
Ozendorwa, holding onto Mika's back, asked.
"Yaroibarov was heading to Wyedges, wasn't he."
"Yes, that should be it. ...The timing was bad."
When leaving the capital, I never imagined something like this would happen.
Therefore, I asked Yaroibarov to go to Wyedges in my place.
If Yaroibarov had been there, he would have been the strongest ally anyone could ask for.
While talking about such things, Mika and the others hurried back to the capital.
Mika looked down on District 3 of the capital and let out a sigh of relief.
"...It seems there are no abnormalities in the town."
"Yes. It seems the incident is limited to the Royal Castle."
Dusk was approaching soon.
Called to the Royal Castle from morning, rushed to the front lines, defeated the "Cursed Child Hibujiza", ran around the battlefield repairing the protective barrier, and returned to the capital.
But, a very regrettable reality.
The day had not yet ended.
(I'm going to collapse from overwork... this is ridiculous...)
I know this isn't the time for such whining, but please allow me to complain a little.
Sighing, Mika landed on the outskirts of District 3.
Ozendorwa also seemed to have accumulated some fatigue, turning his neck.
"First, let's make contact with the Information Broker Guild."
When Mika said that, Ozendorwa nodded.
As Mika looked around District 3 for a guild window, an old man approached leaning on a cane.
"The Nucho-Nucho Mansion."
Muttering that softly in front of Mika, the old man walked past without stopping.
"..................Huh?"
Mika was stunned and involuntarily turned around.
The old man disappeared into the back alley with his unchanged gait.
(...I heard something strange. Did my ears go wrong?)
An old man I met for the first time suddenly said something weird.
Sexual harassment?
Too unbelievable for words, Mika involuntarily picked his ear.
While Mika was picking his ear, Ozendorwa grimaced.
"Could that old man just now be the Information Broker Guild's window?"
"He............Eh!?"
Mika's hand picking his ear stopped.
Ah, is that how it is?
"Wait, you can tell just from that! What is that... 'Niyon-Nyon' Mansion!"
A name that is too indecent to say out loud.
Mika involuntarily lowered his voice and mumbled the words.
Ozendorwa let out a sigh.
"I know the general location. It should be on the edge of District 8."
Eh, Ozendorwa knows?
"Have you been there!?"
Mika asked that involuntarily, but a punch came down.
Ouch...
"For now, let's go from above. I'll explain there."
Following Ozendorwa's proposal, they complied for the time being.
It seems Ozendorwa doesn't know the exact location either.
A brothel newly built in District 3 on the side of District 8.
They have information that there is an unlicensed brothel operating, but details like the exact location are not yet clear.
"Do you need permission to operate a brothel?"
Is there something like the Fie Law?
"Of course. Do you think those operating illegally will pay taxes?"
"Oh, that's what it is."
It doesn't seem to regulate that such behavior is bad, but rather that since they are making money, they should pay taxes.
Mika and Ozendorwa arrived at their destination and descended to the ground.
"...How shall we search? The 'Something-Something Mansion'."
"Will the Information Broker Guild contact us again?"
While talking about such things, they entered the back alley for the time being.
And searched for the Information Broker Guild's window.
"...Mika-kun."
As they walked aimlessly through the back alley, Ozendorwa tapped Mika's shoulder.
Looking in the direction Ozendorwa indicated with his chin, a man sitting by the roadside was staring at Mika.
When their eyes met, the man indicated with his gaze.
Beyond the man.
A door at a place a little further ahead.
It seems to be the back entrance of some building.
"It seems to be over there."
"Yes."
When Mika took out gold coins from the Magic Bag, the man shook his head pretending to be casual.
It seems a tip is not necessary.
Perhaps it is inconvenient if the exchange of money is seen?
The man stood up with slow movements and walked away in the opposite direction of Mika and Ozendorwa.
Mika and Ozendorwa nodded at each other and headed for that door.
Click...
As Mika and the others approached, the door opened slightly.
Noticing eyes watching them from the gap.
But they did not come out, and it seems the person inside went back down.
When Mika entered the building, a man stood in a dimly lit corridor.
A gloomy-looking man grimaced at Ozendorwa.
"...I'll pretend I didn't see you."
Closing the door behind his back, Ozendorwa said with a sigh.
"If reports come from my subordinates, I will crush them."
I will turn a blind eye to what I learned today, but I have no intention of shielding you.
That seems to be the line of concession Ozendorwa can make.
The man said nothing and went inside, climbing the stairs.
The stairs and corridors were dimly lit, and even though it was not yet dusk, lights were lit.
"Aaaah, more~."
"Uwahahaha, like this! Like this!"
As they climbed the stairs, voices of enjoyment were heard even though it was still bright outside.
In a somewhat awkward atmosphere, they silently followed the man.
Going up another floor.
"Afu!? Sorry! I'm sorry for being arrogant! It hurts! More!"
"Really, you filthy pig! Do you want to be punished that much? You greedy thing!"
The sound of something being slapped and the lewd moans of a man were heard.
"Really, hearing that a pig like you is a Battalion Commander is shocking! Your subordinates are pitiful too! No, the most pitiful is the superior who has to discipline a pervert like you?"
"More! Scold me more, uhi~~~!"
Something was hit loudly, and the man raised a voice turned upside down.
Mika could not bear it and lowered his head.
Battalion Commander?
Above the Battalion Commander...
Glancing up at Ozendorwa, he held his hand to his forehead and hung his head.
Could he have recognized someone by the voice?
"Um..."
"Please say nothing... I beg you."
Yes...
I understand your feelings.
Mika and the others silently followed the man.
They wanted to escape this awkward space quickly.
Upon reaching the top floor, it seems there were no rooms in use.
For the time being, no voices could be heard.
The man knocked on the room at the very back and entered.
Following that, Mika timidly peeked into the room, where there was a bed and a table, and on the table were Minister of Military Affairs Tsudazen and Lebrantes.
The room was spacious and cleaner than expected.
Could it be a VIP room?
"I've been waiting, 'Dispeller'. Things have become serious."
Lebrantes spoke to Mika upon seeing his face.
"Hey! Couldn't you have done something about it!"
Don't make this place a hiding spot!
Mika involuntarily complained, but it seems he judged that this was the best place to evade pursuit eyes for now.
It seems the authorities do not know yet.
(...But the so-called Battalion Commander knew.)
And the Knight Commander knew too.
Well, it seems he will keep it secret.
When Ozendorwa entered the room, he went straight to the Minister of Military Affairs.
And looked down at Tsudazen with eyes full of anger.
"If there is an explanation, I will listen."
Throwing out that cold voice.
The Minister of Military Affairs had deceived all knights and soldiers of the Kingdom Army.
The Crown Prince unjustly seized royal authority and moved the army.
Originally, the duty to stop that belonged to the Minister of Military Affairs.
Abandoning that responsibility and siding with the Crown Prince cannot be forgiven as a knight.
Tsudazen accepted Ozendorwa's gaze head-on.
"There is nothing to explain. I did my best considering the Kingdom, the people living in the Kingdom, and the generals and soldiers who protect them."
Hearing that answer, Ozendorwa slammed the table.
"Insulting His Majesty, what is best!"
"How many soldiers do you think died in vain for that Majesty!"
Tsudazen stood up vigorously and glared at Ozendorwa.
There are parts of Tsudazen's argument that Mika agrees with.
In the war with the Gronoir Empire, thirty thousand soldiers died all at once.
Tsudazen probably petitioned His Majesty to use [Divine Wrath].
However, it was all rejected.
Of course, even if the Kingdom used [Divine Wrath], the first [Divine Wrath] could not be prevented.
However, there is a high possibility that the situation would not have become one-sidedly pushed back.
As a result, the Kingdom Army and the Domain Army collapsed, and the Leventein Marquisate became a battlefield.
Mika's intervention pushed back the Imperial Army, but that was just a coincidence.
If the existence of Mika had not been there, what would have happened to the Leventein Marquisate and the Kingdom by now?
Mika stood beside Ozendorwa and pulled his hand.
"Who takes what responsibility, let's leave that for later. First, we must confirm what is happening."
After that, we must decide what to do.
When Mika said that, Ozendorwa closed his eyes regretfully and stepped back.
Ozendorwa took a position behind the seat where Mika sat, acting like Mika's guard.
Normally, he should sit down or stand behind the Minister of Military Affairs Tsudazen, but he probably didn't want to do that.
And so, the three of them, Mika, Lebrantes, and Tsudazen, sat at the table.
Mika looked at Lebrantes.
"Myself and Ozendorwa-san only heard the preliminary talk. For now, there were irregular means in the procedures for the Crown Prince to become Regent. And today, His Majesty regained royal authority. Is that correct?"
"Yes, that seems to be the case. However, even we of the Information Broker Guild didn't grasp this until we heard it today. It was completely a bolt from the blue."
If we had heard it beforehand, it wouldn't be strange for it to reach Mika's ears.
Rather, such important information should have been notified.
For the sake of mutual trust.
However, that means the source of information must be Tsudazen.
Ideally, I would like information from another angle as well.
"The Guild is also desperately gathering information now. ...It seems to be going quite difficult."
"Well, that's natural."
It is an incident only within the Royal Castle.
People who talk casually about such things cannot work in the Royal Castle in the first place.
In any case, they were messing around only at the top, and when things seemed calm, they were overturned.
Normally, that would just be a matter of letting them do what they want at the top.
"The problem now is... what? Whether His Majesty or the Crown Prince is more beneficial to the Kingdom?"
"Mika-kun..."
At Mika's words trying to put the side with more benefits on top, Ozendorwa made a bitter face.
From Ozendorwa's standpoint, it is not a matter of such merits and demerits.
"Returning royal authority to His Majesty. If that is not a problem, then that is certainly the best. ...Personally, there are serious problems."
When Mika said that, Lebrantes raised one eyebrow.
"What is the problem?"
"...I'm hated, you know."
"Ah..."
Everyone agreed.
The Crown Prince became Regent, and Mika's punishment was officially cancelled.
However, if the Crown Prince's assumption of the Regency is invalid, then everything decided by the Regent should be invalid.
Of course, Mika's 'no punishment' is included in that.
"If the Prime Minister who was trying to settle things peacefully is also pushed aside, it will definitely be a prison sentence."
"That is certain."
Tsudazen, who watched His Majesty up close, endorsed Mika's prediction.
Well, it seems to be beheading rather than prison.
"In that case, what happens? Or rather, what do we do? Do we quietly take the prison sentence?"
To Lebrantes' question, Mika answered with a sparkling, nice smile.
Seeing that smile, Lebrantes sighed.
"Then it's just a change of toppling from the Crown Prince to the 'Dispeller', isn't it."
"It's not toppling. I don't want to be King at all. I'll shake off the sparks, but I don't know what happens after. Let whoever wants to do it do it?"
"...This guy is more vicious than the Crown Prince."
He is not averse to harming the king if necessary.
But Lebrantes was dumbfounded at Mika, who said to do whatever comes after on their own.
Knock knock.
At that moment, the door was knocked, and the gloomy man entered.
Seeing the man who entered following the gloomy man, Mika let out a surprised voice.
"Yaroibarov-san!? Why!?"
However, Mika was even more surprised by the person who entered following Yaroibarov.
"I'm here too."
"Rosalinde-san!?"
What is going on?
What is this?
Rosalinde walked confidently in front of the surprised Mika.
"...Are you reporting for duty?"
Mika involuntarily asked, and Rosalinde's left fist buried itself in Mika's face.
When Rosalinde swung her fist, Mika rolled over and was blown away along with the chair.
Donkagagashashan~, a terrible sound echoed in the room.
"Even for you, Mika-kun, there are things you can and cannot say...?"
Rosalinde, wrapped in an aura of anger, stood before Mika who was crawling on the floor.
Strange, I couldn't see the fist.
Mika, who applied [Heal] and wiped his nosebleed, sat seiza on the floor, and Rosalinde sat on the chair Mika had been sitting on.
Besides Yaroibarov and Rosalinde, it seems a messenger from the Information Broker Guild came, and Lebrantes left the room.
The five remaining in the room are Mika, Ozendorwa, Tsudazen, Yaroibarov, and Rosalinde.
"Really, even though Big Sister came worrying about you."
"Yes... I'm sorry."
The three men looked at Mika, who bowed deeply, with eyes full of pity.
"Um, various things are becoming unclear, so if you could explain it, it would be helpful...."
Yaroibarov gave a bitter smile at Mika, who was completely embarrassed.
And so, Yaroibarov explained.
"I thought I'd make some arrangements and run over because of the monk's request. But the promised knight didn't come."
It seems that when a messenger came from the Royal Castle, Yaroibarov was not at the inn.
When he returned to the inn around noon, a knight holding Mika's letter was waiting.
After reading the letter, he confirmed when preparations would be ready and told the messenger to go back, promising to meet at the West Gate of the First Wall at that time.
It seems he decided to deliver the Magic Bag containing relief supplies to the First Wall and take over from there.
However, when he went to the West Gate and waited however long, the knight who was supposed to deliver the Magic Bag did not come.
While waiting patiently, he was approached by a person from the Information Broker Guild looking for Yaroibarov.
By then, a commotion had already occurred in the Royal Castle, and the Information Broker Guild, having heard the story from Tsudazen, had been running around various places.
"It was a relief that Yaroibarov-san stayed in the capital. I thought he had already headed to Wyedges."
Getting Yaroibarov's cooperation here is huge.
It is a luck due to the Royal Castle's incompetence, but the difference between having him and not having him is a world of difference in fighting power.
Mika then looked at Rosalinde.
Regarding Rosalinde, I really don't understand the meaning.
Why is she in a brothel (such a place)?
"That sister was making a fuss that she had business with the monk. In front of the brothel (shop). Even though it was already a tense time, she was reckless enough."
Yes, Yaroibarov said with a dumbfounded look.
Hearing that, Mika looked up at Rosalinde with a glare.
"It's full of points to criticize and I don't understand the meaning at all...."
Why does Rosalinde know this brothel (shop)?
Even the Fifth Knights Order cannot grasp it fully.
Moreover, she came to see me?
Why does she know I'm in this brothel (here)?
I just came here a moment ago?
As Mika continued to look at her with a glare, Rosalinde blushed and twisted her body.
"Really, don't look at me with such a beast-like eye. Even if Big Sister is charming in such a place..."
"Damn, it doesn't matter. Anyway, just state the purpose."
If we check one by one, the conversation will never progress.
Let's focus on the most important things as much as possible.
But, perhaps not liking Mika's attitude, Rosalinde got upset.
"Fuu~n, you're going to say that, huh. That's fine, Big Sister is going home~."
Saying that, Rosalinde stood up.
Ah, damn, this Rosalinde (this guy) is really troublesome.
However, Rosalinde's actions are too mysterious in the current situation.
I can't even judge if it's okay to let her go like this.
"...Did you come all the way to such a place just to leave immediately?"
"Yes, that's right. Even though Big Sister brought information all this way. Mika-kun is cold. He says rude things~."
It seems the initial slip of the tongue by Mika is lingering.
"I'm sorry."
Rosalinde glanced at Mika, who apologized honestly.
"...Are you reflecting?"
"I am reflecting."
"Do you want forgiveness?"
"Please forgive me. I beg you."
When Mika bowed deeply, Rosalinde suddenly became cheerful.
"Really, it can't be helped. If Mika-kun asks me that much, Big Sister can't get any angrier."
Rosalinde sat back down on the chair humming a tune.
Mika stood up, rubbing his slightly numb legs.
Watching such Mika, Rosalinde muttered in a low, heavy voice.
"Probably, a wanted notice will be issued for Mika-kun soon."
"..................Huh?"
"What?"
"What do you mean?"
Everyone looked at Rosalinde with blank faces.
Rosalinde looked at Mika with a serious expression unlike anything seen before.
"It is not yet at the stage of clearly ordering it, but we should consider that preparations for that have begun. I think notifications will be sent immediately to the Knight Order, Information Broker Guild, Adventurer Guild, Bounty Hunter Guilds, etc. Of course, to the Church as well."
With this sudden news, the head could not keep up.
Wanted notice?
"Wait, wait, who are you, sister? Suddenly, what exactly are you...."
Even when Yaroibarov asked, Rosalinde did not move her gaze from Mika.
"Move quickly. This place will be exposed soon too. I will snitch."
"Rosalinde-san...."
Did Rosalinde come specifically to notify that she would snitch somewhere?
I have no idea what she is thinking at all.
Yaroibarov looked at Mika with his eyes, asking whether to catch Rosalinde or not.
However, Mika shook his head.
"...A wanted notice will be issued for me."
"Yes, that's right. It might take effect any moment."
To Mika's confirmation, Rosalinde nodded with a serious expression.
This is not the usual joking around.
That was conveyed vividly.
"It's not just the Knight Order. Such organizations can issue a simultaneous wanted notice. Who do you think can do such a thing?"
Asked by Rosalinde, Mika hesitated.
As Mika thought, Tsudazen seemed to notice something.
"You are... could it be the ear?"
Rosalinde still did not avert her gaze from Mika, just lightly raised the corner of her mouth.
Seeing that, Tsudazen nodded.
"I understand. Let's move to another place immediately."
"Hey hey, isn't this place safe for now? If that sister intends to snitch, isn't it enough to stop it here?"
However, Tsudazen shook his head.
"Probably, this brothel itself has been exposed to the organization. Either way, it is a matter of time."
Hearing that, Yaroibarov grimaced.
"What organization is this? And who issued the wanted notice, what is this all about?"
Yaroibarov's tone became a bit stronger.
However, Rosalinde did not speak any further.
She just stared at Mika with serious eyes.
Mika nodded at such Rosalinde.
"I understand. Thank you, Rosalinde-san."
With Mika agreeing to move, Yaroibarov did not pursue it further.
Mika looked at Tsudazen, who seemed to have guessed the circumstances.
"Who issued the wanted notice for me?"
Asked that, Tsudazen let out a heavy sigh.
"Knight Order, multiple Guilds, even the Church. The only one who can do such a simultaneous thing is His Majesty the King. Probably, the organization she belongs to is 'Nil Nomen'. It is an information organization directly under His Majesty."
At Tsudazen's words, Mika looked at Rosalinde with a surprised face.
Rosalinde remained silent, just closing her eyes.