episode_0333

Silver hair that looks like it was blessed.

Following that silver hair, there were eyes that shone like gold.

No one in this place can fail to notice this appearance.

Although he is the youngest, he is a member of the royal family. He is the ruler of the Peselos Empire and holds a proud position among the members of the royal family, and he even holds the right to be the successor to the ruler in the future.

At the princess’s single word to stop, a frozen silence flowed throughout the area.

Meanwhile, Arsien, who had been looking around, now realizes the reason.

‘…Now I understand.’

At this point, everyone is desperate to find Carcein.

The imperial family was no exception, so they moved to find Arsien as well.

Then suddenly a strange report comes in from a soldier.

-Your Highness, I heard there was a commotion in the Rusmeyer estate.

-From Ruthmeyer? Suddenly?

-Yes. I don’t know the exact reason, but… it seems there was friction between the residents and the soldiers of the noble families.

Upon reaching Rusmeier following this report, an unimaginable sight unfolded.

I don’t know what exactly happened, but everyone was trampled and crushed without a single soul being spared, and in severe cases, blood was gushing from deep wounds.

I don’t know why, but Arsien is the princess of a country and it’s only natural for her to step forward. A princess who doesn’t even know how to take care of her own people shouldn’t exist.

-What the…! Treat those in critical condition first. Right now…!

Then a mother and daughter suddenly came to her and bowed their heads.

-Your Highness, please go to Chatren immediately.

-We’re fine. We can recover on our own, so please go to Chatren right away!

They came here because of an urgent request to go to Chatren, saying that they were okay.

Yes, that was exactly the reason.

‘The maid at Rusmeyer earnestly told me to go to Chatren… Was it for this reason?’

There was no need to delve deeply into it. I had a feeling just by looking at it.

Residents resisted by bringing farming tools as if they were protecting Chatren.

A group of people aiming their swords at them and trying to force their way through.

Chatren was already on the verge of a full-blown fight.

But, logically speaking, there is no way that a fight could break out.

It’s a fight between trained soldiers and peasants who just grew up farming. Even if you hit them well, you can include the guards, but it’s not comparable.

Weapons and armor suitable for battle are also heavily focused on soldiers. Those guarding the territory are said to have some equipment, but only a few, and most of them are farming tools, and some are just random items that they have picked up.

This will end in one-sided suppression.

It will be a brutal, cruel suppression that will only leave you with pain if you try to resist.

Ruthmeyer is a past case where such a situation has already occurred.

And Chatren was in his current state, on the verge of the same thing happening again.

‘But these guys must know that it’s like throwing an egg at a rock.’

So, are you saying that you will stand firm guard at the Chatren’s door?

Are you going to build a wall of people to keep this path called Chatren from being opened by any means necessary?

It’s obvious what this means.

Just to buy time.

It’s to buy time for someone to get out of this place.

‘Just to buy time. What a pity.’

If Karsene had stayed here, things would have been easier. If you protect him under the pretext of taking him to the imperial palace, things won’t go as well.

But since the pursuers arrived first, Karsane would have had no choice but to escape from Chatren.

Arsien could only blame himself for being one step late.

‘If that’s the case, I’d rather waste my time here.’

In fact, it is nearly impossible to catch Karsane even if you chase him here.

Even if you chase after them, you won’t know how much time has passed, and even though it’s not as much as Rusmeyer, Chatren has its fair share of crossroads. If you try to search all of those paths and open a path, there’s a higher chance that the pursuers will find you.

Therefore, it is safer to stall here to protect Carcein.

Arsien dismounted and walked slowly towards the villagers. He then took up a position in the center as if to divide the two groups, and then cast a cold gaze towards the sword-wielding pursuers and warned them.

“How dare you continue to hold that sword in front of me, Captain Pergo.”

“Your Majesty.”

“These are powerless peasants, but to me they are one people. I will thrust a merciless blade at them.”

Then, the leader of the pursuing unit, Pergo, refutes the claim.

“As Her Royal Highness Princess Arsien knows, we are searching for Karsain Bagrand. They are blocking our path, so there is nothing we can do.”

The soldiers right next to him agree.

“Ma, that’s right. This is where Karsin is most likely staying. It’s also the area he originally ruled. ”

“But you don’t get out of the way. No matter how I look at it, it’s suspicious!”

“We have already investigated Rusmeier once, and we can guess that Karsin may have arrived here along the way. We must investigate!”

“He is the one who plotted treason, not anyone else. He must be caught!”

Arsien, who had been listening calmly, immediately frowns at the word treason.

“You should speak correctly. The Imperial Court has never once treated Karsain Bagrand as a reactionary or a criminal.”

“Huh, but…!”

“It’s just a rumor. Are you going to force someone to become a criminal and a sinner just by believing that rumor?”

Captain Pergo swallowed hard.

But they still have a cause.

“I will take back those words as advised by the Princess. However, I will have to suppress by force any attempts to prevent me from investigating this place. Isn’t there still a warrant from the Bagrand Duchy?”

It was a transparent action to hide it like this even though it was clear that everyone was aware of the wanted notice.

Even Arsien can’t do anything about that.

A wanted notice from the dukedom. And a bounty. This is the greatest justification for any imperial citizen to pursue Karsain without exception.

I had to block that excuse somehow.

But the number is not adequate.

If the Imperial Family says they want to investigate, they will try to open a secret path by saying that they are busy at the moment and that it would be better if we all search together.

However, the fact that the road is blocked here directly contradicts the wanted notice issued by the Bagrand Duchy. After all, Chatren is no longer under the Imperial Family, but under the Bagrand Duchy.

‘Is the threat to Chatren the only thing that’s useful?’

There’s nothing we can do. We have no choice but to use that as an excuse to waste time and block the road.

In that way, the princess of the empire tried to solve the problem by buying some time.

Unexpected reinforcements have arrived.

“I’m not a sinner!!!”

A girl runs from behind, screaming.

“Ugh?! Ph, Princess Flora?”

“Shit, shit! What did you just say! Did you call my brother a criminal?!”

“Oh, your majesty!”

“Princess Flora!”

“Who are you to be talking nonsense! My brother is not a criminal!!!”

A blonde tomboy girl is angry at Captain Pergo.

It really stands out as being very rude and forced.

According to the etiquette of aristocratic society, it is something that should be stopped and given a sharp rebuke.

This is even more condemnable since it is done by a member of the Bagrand family, of all people.

However, this was also an opportunity to fill in the missing quota.

‘Carcein. It seems that it’s not just the residents who have been influenced by you.’

Arcien, who was watching this, smiled brightly.

“There was a distinguished guest at Chatren. Captain Pergo, you didn’t even know there was a guest and tried to subdue the villagers by wielding your sword?”

“…!”

Flora’s eyes flashed. Captain Pergo, who had been beaten mercilessly by Flora, flinches in a sense of crisis.

“So, what do you think, Princess Flora? That guy wants to investigate this place. Do you want to open the way? Or do you want the imperial family to investigate?”

Although he didn’t say it directly, all the previous words were omitted.

To those who try to open this path by force without even knowing that there is a princess.

To those who do not listen to Bagrand’s words and try to ruin the territory because of the wanted order in Bagrand Territory, or something like that.

To the one who took a sword to the territory that my brother, my brother, had worked hard to nurture and keep alive.

To those who are trying to chase after Karsain, accusing him of being a criminal.

Any modifier is fine.

Because the answer is already set.

“I will never trust someone who called my brother a criminal! Her Highness Princess Arsien, please investigate!”

-Tiring!

▶Flora tied up the pursuers’ feet.◀

▶The pursuit speed is slowed down, and the traces are erased, increasing the time it takes for the pursuers to reach you.◀

***

Somehow I managed to escape from Chatren.

As with Ruthmeyer, this time he managed to escape safely.

And this time, it’s not just a simple escape.

▶Kelvia Allergy Stages Are Decreasing!◀

▶The power of the 5-stage field has been lowered to 2 stages.◀

▶Stat reduction amount is reapplied. Status effect is reapplied.◀

Now that he had acquired the power to resist Kelvia allergies, even his movement restrictions were much improved.

Thanks to that, I was able to change course and hide in the city center where Kelvia berries were abundant.

If the future episodes progress in this way, we can move while hiding as much as we want. We’ve also analyzed how traces are left behind, so if we cover this up, there shouldn’t be any problems with the episode progress.

But there are still remaining problems.

“… It’s chilly. Judging from the fireplace and chimney, this place isn’t heated with magic stones. I need to start a fire quickly.”

As soon as Harnie entered the inn, he walked straight to the firewood.

I immediately grabbed Harnie as if to stop him.

“…Now, go back. Harnie.”

You shouldn’t even give them a chance to change the subject.

It must be returned.

She has helped me for a long time.

Harnie.

“If you don’t return as a successor, everything you’ve worked so hard to achieve may fall apart.”

This is no joke.

Because the status window is already giving a serious warning.

▶Carcein’s reputation level drops to recognition level.◀

▶If you drop further in the recognition level, you may be demoted to the infamy level!◀

The reputation level has already fallen to awareness.

Below that is infamy.

Rusmeyer and Chatren would probably get beaten up, but from then on, they might be treated as real criminals. The person who helped me could also get a heavier sentence.

“Right. Are you still talking about that?”

Harnie puts her hands on her hips and responds indifferently.

“Yes. If I help you, I might be accused of being an accomplice and be sentenced to death. But don’t you think that’s not taking my situation into consideration? My family is a descendant of a marquis. It’s not that my power is weak, so what I’ve built up won’t fall apart.”

-Dalgrak.

She continued, putting logs in the fireplace.

“It’s true that when I was running the top, one mistake could have brought everything down. But things are different now. Karsain. Back then, I couldn’t use the title of Marquis, so I was able to fall down, but now I can officially be named Marquis. In short, it’s impossible for things to fall like dominoes. Since Velian isn’t a particularly good head of the household, he’ll try to put me in the position of Marquis even more.”

-Dalgrak.

-Knock knock.

She threw in some firewood, turned her hand, and lit a small flame, then blew on it to fan the flame.

She put out the fire with satisfaction and poked my body with her crescent-shaped eyes.

“Well, anyway, I have my own way. But, you don’t, do you?”

“…”

“You can’t hide here without me. You have no money, you don’t know the cost of living, and you can’t work anywhere. If you send me back here right now, how are you going to survive?”

The other words were at a level where I thought it could be done in Harnier…

This alone is difficult to refute.

There is no money in the water, no job. It is the worst situation for those who are being chased.

The one who opened the way out of this worst situation was none other than Harnier.

“I know you are the type of person who doesn’t want to rely on anyone. I know that too. I used to be like that too. But, in a situation like this, you can rely on someone.”

Harnie added, hugging me.

“I received a lot, so I think I should repay it. Even if I suffer a loss, I am confident that I can make up for it.”

“…”

…okay.

This guy would be okay.

I don’t know about other people, but I’m sure she would have made plenty of plans.

Because he’s a smart person.

Because I am a person who creates a way to live alone and makes thorough plans.

Even if she appears foolish, she is a woman who does what she has to do.

Like the author.

-Pinch.

“Ah.”

“I’ve been so cold I could die, aren’t you going to hug me?”

…I was wondering why you had such a pouty expression on your face earlier.

That’s why.

I opened my arms and hugged her.

“Hmm. It’s warm.”

Me too, it was warm.