episode_0202

-There is no place. I asked people, but they all said they didn’t know a guy like that.

-It wasn’t even in the shopping area. I thought merchants who are sensitive to news would know… … .

―There were people who saw him leaving the academy, but no one saw him return.

I massaged my eyebrows as I sorted out the information my friends at the Knight Academy had brought me.

It’s already been a month since we realized we were headed down the rebellion route and started preparing. They searched the entire royal capital for a month, but the investigation into Cromwell, the leader, was slow.

The good news was that the defenses centered around the Academy were being steadily completed, but if Cromwell, the instigator, was not captured, it would inevitably lead to a war of attrition. If that happens… … .

“Ha… … .”

If we could prevent the rebellion in advance, there would be no need to fight… … .

No matter how much I thought, I couldn’t come up with an answer, so I sighed and tapped the stack of paper with my finger.

“Seria.”

When I raised my head at the voice calling me, I made eye contact with Ramina, who had brought me food.

“Ah, it’s Lamina… … . Yeah, what’s going on? Have you received any other information?”

“No. That is the last information I received from you. There is nothing else.”

“I see… … .”

Even while this is happening, Cromwell is probably preparing to revolt… … . What on earth should I do… … .

As I placed my forehead against my pounding head, Ramina came over and placed the food she had brought in front of me.

“Eat and do it. You didn’t eat a single meal today.”

“Ah… … . Was it like that?”

I blinked blankly at Lamina’s words, then smiled awkwardly and scratched my head at the hunger I felt along with the growling sound.

“Ahaha… … . I was so focused on this that I didn’t even know I was hungry… … .”

“Don’t push yourself too hard. But my body is tired.”

“Hehe, thank you for your concern, Lamina. still… … . It’s still okay.”

As I said that, I lowered my gaze back to the paper where I had organized the information.

If Cromwell is not found even if you search the royal capital, it means that Cromwell has already left the royal capital. So where did Cromwell go?

“Laminae.”

“Ha… … . Looking at that face, I can’t even tell you to eat.”

Ramina clenched her chin as she said that, and I smiled bitterly.

“I think Cromwell has already left the royal capital. We searched the royal capital for a month, but we couldn’t find anything about Cromwell.”

“I think it might be a bit of a stretch to think that he left the royal capital simply because he couldn’t find information… … .”

“I also thought it was strange that it was too much of a leap, but it is a little strange that there is not this much information about the person who is said to be causing a rebellion. I searched the entire capital for a month.”

“Hmm… … . surely. Anyone preparing for a rebellion would attract attention and attention in some way, but it’s strange that there isn’t any such thing. But the guy who is said to be starting a rebellion would give up the advantage of being able to launch an attack from within and go out? Why?”

“What if they are moving to start a rebellion not only in the royal capital but also in other territories?”

Some people might hear what I say and think it’s just a conspiracy theory, but I was confident in what I was saying.

Because I entered the rebellion route a few times to see all the endings of the game.

Of course, the rebellion route is a direct route to a bad ending as soon as you enter it, so there were only a few lines of description, but the things that came out of those few lines of description were so shocking that I still remember them.

[The people rose up all over the country, and the king and nobles all hung their heads. And you, as the wife of a rebel–no, revolutionary leader–will spend your whole life on a peace built on corpses.]

All over the country. In other words, a rebellion is taking place in all territories, including the royal capital. So, as soon as I confirmed entering the route, I immediately started talking and tried to find Cromwell… … .

I couldn’t find it in the end. And that’s why I’m wrapping my head around it.

“They are gathering rebels from other territories… … . That’s definitely a likely story. Assuming the worst, if a rebellion occurs in every territory and the rebels in those territories gather together, the number will be truly enormous.”

“If all those people gather together, how many people will there be?”

“Well. If you combine the residents of all other territories except the royal capital… … . It will be 2.5 million. If vagabonds, slaves, and other personnel join the rebellion… … . It will be at least 3 million. Maybe there are more than that.”

3 million… … . It’s a truly enormous number. Just looking at the number of students at the academy’s entrance ceremony, just over 200, it seemed like a huge number, but the number was 10,000 to 5,000 times that number.

It’s really hard to tell how many there are by simply playing with numbers.

“This is a story assuming the worst situation, so don’t worry too much.”

“Laminae. What if, really, what if the worst happens? How long can the royal capital endure?”

As I said that, I looked at Lamina, and at my words, Lamina crossed her arms and groaned.

“Well… … . If you add up the Royal Guards that protect the king, the Holy Knights that protect the church, and the students at the academy, there will be a little over 20,000… … . well. Assuming we fight a defensive battle along the walls, we should be able to hold out for a month.”

“It is unclear whether the Royal Guard and Holy Knights will help?”

“That’s right. If those two were to escape, we would have to fight a defensive battle at the academy, not the castle walls. If that happens, I won’t be able to last even a week.”

“One week… … . First of all, it would be important to somehow receive cooperation from the Royal Guard and the Holy Knights.”

“More importantly, you don’t know if they will believe you. Even if that’s the case because we’ve seen what we’ve seen so far, would the captain of the royal guard or the leader of the Holy Knights believe what a single student says? That nonsense that there will be a rebellion? Well, I guess I’ll be lucky if I don’t get punished for rebellion or conspiracy… … .”

There was a grain of truth in Lamina’s words, but they were all correct, so I couldn’t say anything.

After quietly looking down at the paper for a moment, I let out a small sigh.

“But that doesn’t mean you can’t do nothing. First of all, let’s prepare as much as we can. If there is a hint of rebellion, the Royal Guard and Holy Knights will also move in.”

“If we hold off the rebels until they move, what kind of story is that?”

“Yes. That will happen.”

Ramina looked at me for a moment and nodded slowly.

I smiled while looking at Lamina.

“Thank you for always believing in me, Lamina.”

“Mmm. There’s no point in coming here and talking. Well, to be honest, I still can’t believe it. It means that there will be a rebellion.”

Ramina said that and scratched her head, and I smiled and nodded.

Yes, that’s right. No one will believe it. Who would believe me if a rebellion suddenly broke out in such a peaceful world?

“But, well, like someone said before. I’m going to believe it because it’s what you say.”

“Hmm, something feels unfamiliar. lol… … .”

When I said that, Lamina looked at me with a sullen face and then laughed.

“But, what if the rebellion doesn’t occur?”

“It’s a good thing. It’s really what I want the most.”

“Even if you are accused of being a liar?”

I answered that question without any hesitation.

“Yes. It’s okay if I become a liar.”

“… … You too are seriously ill.”

I smiled at Lamina, who shook her head.

* * *

A week after that.

―… … !!

――!!!

While I was waiting in the tent for a tramp who had not yet returned, I quietly got up when I noticed that there was a particularly noisy atmosphere outside the tent.

As I walked out of the tent, the commotion became much clearer. The place where the commotion occurred was near the entrance to the temporary camp.

“What’s going on?”

When I caught up with the tramp boy who was heading somewhere in a hurry and asked if he was going to pick up something, he answered with a bright smile.

“Ah, boss! The guy who went to the Duchy of Rochelle has finally returned! The citizens there also said they would help us!”

“… … Yes.”

“Then I have to go and tell the other leaders this news, so I’ll just go!!”

The kid smiled brightly and ran past me, and I quietly turned my back while still looking at the commotion.

―It’s finally starting!! Let’s give them a hard time!!

―The real deal is in two days, so let’s drink today! alcohol! Bring me a drink!

– Hahaha, I’m already getting itchy thinking about beating up those rotten nobles!

I returned to the tent, leaving behind the sounds coming from beyond, and quietly lay down on the wooden bed and closed my eyes.

Finally everyone gathered together. Now all you have to do is start a rebellion at one time every day.

of course… … . The royal capital, where there were more people living relatively prosperous and peaceful lives than other places, had not yet been completely crossed, but that didn’t matter.

As soon as the rebels from other places finish their work, they will all gather at the royal capital.

“Please wait a moment… … .”

Mother, Mia. I will soon kill all the nobles who made you two like that.

Not a single one left behind, everything.

* * *

As I was walking down the extravagant hallway of the palace, I stopped for a moment when I saw my brother walking from the other side.

My brother also stopped walking for a moment as if he saw me, and my brother and I faced each other with about three pillars between us.

“… … .”

“… … .”

I was looking at my brother without thinking, but he frowned slightly as if he didn’t like something and opened his mouth.

“I will be leaving in a few days, so what am I doing here?”

“Going home means traveling. And no matter what I do, isn’t it your brother’s business to worry about?”

When I answered with a grin, my brother’s face distorted a little more. Do you feel bad that I’m talking back to you or something?

“Hermel Rey del Trueno. Don’t forget that you are royalty, and be careful about what you say and do. This is royal castle.”

“No, there was a time when I didn’t talk back… … .”

―Hermel Rey del Trueno. Be careful with your words and actions. There is a limit to what you can look at.

Again. This again. A strange sense of déjà vu… … . okay. This is why I decided to go on a trip.

I chose to travel because I thought that if I travel around the wide world, one day I will be able to find out the identity of this sense of déjà vu.

Well, I’m not sure if that was a good choice.

“Anyway, thank you for your concern, brother. But don’t worry, I’ve already prepared everything.”

“I never had any worries.”

“Ah, it bounces again. Ah, it hurts me a little that he says this as soon as he sees the face of his younger brother, who is about to go on a trip. That’s why he’s not popular because he always treats people so harshly.”

My brother frowned at my words and glared at me, and I smiled playfully and took a surrender stance.

“Ah, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. So don’t stare at me like that.”

“Tsk, nonsense.”

The moment I heard those words, I frowned at the slight headache that was pounding.

“… … It’s not nonsense.”

After muttering that, I felt that the headache had subsided before I knew it, so I relaxed my frown and looked forward again.

Fortunately, my brother didn’t seem to hear me muttering.

“What did you just say?”

“No~ Anyway, I need to replenish my stamina before leaving in three days, so I’ll go in first!”

I said that and passed by my brother.

If you travel, you might meet one day.

―Speak nonsense████… … .

I can’t hear it very well, but the owner of the voice touches my heart every time I hear it.