Ch.294294. Overlaid Truth (1)

Pushed back. Pushed back again.

Retreating and giving ground, Muniher and Jake were forced to take yet another step backward.

Until most of Levrant’s buildings were neutralized and the front line was on the verge of collapse.

But they couldn’t find it.

No clues for dealing with the two Named Beasts were discovered anywhere, and while the leaderless Tembris wavered and disappeared, the Duchy’s forces staggered heavily.

Now, they had reached the end.

“…Jake. I might have to say something unpleasant.”

“What is it? Tell me.”

“If it’s just one, we might be able to hold it down, don’t you think?”

“Hah, really.”

Against two Named Beasts, they would try to hold down at least one.

That one would likely be Feltibourgos. If so, I can roughly guess what he’s planning.

“Aren’t you asking me to die a bit too casually?”

Jake asked with a bitter smile, seemingly dejected.

“That’s why I said it was unpleasant.”

“Good grief. I understand why you’re saying this, but…”

It wasn’t hard to understand. Right now, the Duchy’s forces were in such dire straits that they had to retreat from the capital Levrant to the Academy district, using buildings as cover.

Though they were conducting a quasi-siege defense led by the Alcaide building, he had a gut feeling that wouldn’t last long either.

If they were breached here, with no other preparations in place, there would be no hope. And calculating the time it would take to contact the Empire and for Imperial forces to arrive, even under the best conditions, it wouldn’t be long enough.

So the current command of the Duchy’s forces had to choose the option that showed even a glimmer of possibility rather than one with no hope at all.

“What exactly do you want me to do?”

To Jake’s question about what needed to be done, Muniher responded plainly.

“Somehow try to stop Feltibourgos’s movements. Just you and me, the two of us.”

“Haha. Really, you know this is an unreasonable request, right?”

“Well, will you refuse?”

“No. I couldn’t do that. I’ve already figured out what you’re thinking.”

Even without Muniher spelling it out, if asked whether there was anyone with exceptional insight among the Duchy’s forces, Jake would firmly shake his head.

Someone who could face two Named Beasts while holding the command staff to lead the entire Duchy’s forces.

At least such a person did not exist here. It would be fortunate if they didn’t flee, and taking on such responsibility would be nothing but recklessness.

The young people of the Academy—rookies with barely any battlefield experience—how effective could they be wielding weapons? How many among them could devise strategies to overcome this crisis in such a short time?

None. Since they couldn’t even keep up with Muniher’s vision, such a person simply couldn’t exist. Not among this ragtag group.

But conversely, that meant while such a person wasn’t here, they existed elsewhere. Jake directly mentioned the name of the person Muniher was thinking of.

“Is it Junon?”

“…Yes.”

Muniher reluctantly confirmed.

“Sigh, I somewhat expected it, but hearing it directly feels strange.”

Tveshar Lowlands. Osoftera Defense. Dubé Building Occupation. Dubé Building Hostage Crisis. Plague of Shanberesh. Distortion of Pimpert.

That boy had always faced crises, and always broken through them.

Although not everything went perfectly, he minimized casualties and did his utmost to achieve positive results.

Just one person.

That boy was the one who could take command in the crises facing the Duchy of Ardelion and clear away the dark clouds.

However, there was clearly one point of concern.

“But if that kid takes command…”

“…I know. That’s why we need to make it clear not just to Renias but also to Tembris. Absolutely, he must not sacrifice himself in a fight with no chance of winning.”

The fate of Alcaide.

He must avoid the situation where, designated as God’s apostle, he accepts that power and grinds himself down.

***

It was a wartime situation.

Although Goden’s death was grievous, upon hearing that beasts had invaded Levrant, they should have returned immediately.

Yet the members still hadn’t returned.

When would they come? Since it was difficult to send people, signals had been sent their way, so at least one or two should have noticed by now.

Suddenly, a sense of foreboding swirled in Erica’s mind.

‘Could it be… Junon already…!’

He was a person skilled at deceiving others with his tongue. No wonder Goden had handed over the Tembris armband and designated him as the next party leader.

Although he hadn’t been officially appointed yet, so she had been wary of him, there was a bigger problem.

The fact that Tembris had now headed to the ruins.

What if the person who had been deceiving members all along deliberately moved Tembris to the ruins?

Some might call it an excessive leap. But the news that Junon had disappeared from his hospital room had spread far and wide even before Professor Muniher sent someone to find him.

Tembris heading to the ruins and Junon suddenly disappearing.

If he didn’t care what happened to the Duchy’s forces and only wanted to summon Tembris to save his own life.

‘That bastard…!’

She thought it was entirely possible.

But it didn’t take long to discover that this excessive hypothesis was not just speculation.

“Michelle!”

Because Tembris, returning from the ruins, appeared right before her eyes.

‘So you couldn’t go that far. Then!’

Erica resolved that right now, she needed to firmly establish that Junon’s agents were extending their reach to Tembris as well.

“Perfect timing, everyone. I have something important to tell you. Junon…”

“Miss, I’ll explain that.”

“Oh, um. Yes. That would be good.”

And she left the explanation to Kelnur, who said he would elaborate on this opinion in detail.

But, a moment later.

-Crack!

“Ah!”

Before the explanation was even finished, Senia suddenly swung her scabbard.

Not at anyone else, but at Kelnur, who was about to reveal all the actions Junon had been hiding.

“W-What is this all of a sudden…! Ugh!”

Senia’s scabbard pressed hard against Kelnur’s chest. The magical energy emanating from the hidden blade’s tip was nothing short of a threat to cut down the target at any moment.

It was strange. Why would Senia strike down Kelnur with her scabbard, the scribe who was presenting evidence of Junon’s schemes? It made no sense.

‘No. Rather, that’s…’

Like facing an enemy.

She was exuding intense hostility.

“Urgh…!”

As Kelnur broke into a cold sweat, unable to resist the force of Senia’s scabbard pressing down on him, Erica finally came to her senses and rushed forward.

“Stop it! What are you doing to this innocent child?!”

“Cough, hack…”

Kelnur would have explained well. As a scribe, organizing and arranging meeting minutes and records was part of his daily routine, and he would have handled troublesome documents well.

But.

The fact discovered while deflecting Senia’s scabbard. Although she knew at a glance that hostility was being displayed, there was an even stronger emotion carried in her sword.

If that much.

If she had swung that sword.

Kelnur would certainly have died.

And at that moment, Erica felt a great sense of dissonance.

‘Why… is no one trying to stop this situation?’

While Senia was laying hands on Kelnur, not a single person showed any sign of intervening.

Charlotte. Cain. Aris. And even Michelle.

None of them seemed inclined to step forward. Meanwhile, Michelle took a step and approached.

I guess she’s the only one among them making a normal judgment, Erica thought. But at that moment.

-Riiip.

“Michelle? What are you doing…!”

Whoosh!

-Riiip!

The emblem on Erica’s right shoulder, symbolizing Tembris and serving as a seal, was torn off by Michelle’s hand.

Despite trying to prevent it by turning her body, Michelle instead used blue flames to completely tear off the seal.

“Since the current leader is unable to act, Senia, as deputy, has temporarily acquired authority. On her orders, I’ve just expelled both of you from the Tembris party.”

“…What? What are you saying…!”

“Erica. My leniency ends here.”

-Thud.

Erica’s torn piece of clothing fell lifelessly to the ground.

“The scribe role will be replaced by Lumia. Our party’s buffer position is now vacant.”

“Hey, do you… do you even understand what that means?!”

“I understand perfectly. And I also just heard that you two have been spreading bad rumors about Junon all along.”

“What? Then you must know too! What Junon has been doing…”

-Shing!

As if telling her not to utter such nonsense, Senia’s blade left its scabbard and reached Erica’s neck.

Blood trickled from her slightly cut neck.

“That’s enough. I’m tempted to cut your throat right now, but I’m holding back out of our past friendship.”

“Huh. You all… have lost your minds?”

“The one who’s lost their mind is you.”

Senia, putting her sword back, struck Erica’s collarbone with a fist holding a piece of paper.

The paper fluttered down.

It was a map pointing to somewhere.

“Go check what you did before. You murderer.”

“What?”

Murderer?

She was about to retort in disbelief, but Senia said she wouldn’t accept Erica even as part of the Duchy’s forces until she returned from that place.

It was clearly telling her to go to those ruins.

“What… what did the oracle say?”

By this point, she was curious about what had happened there. Erica immediately turned her steps toward Sirah.

***

The five Tembris members who returned to Levrant apologized for their absence.

But more important than that was the upcoming operation. Muniher had already informed them as well.

“…Professor? No, Count Zelbarten?”

“Hand this over to your leader.”

Muniher and Jake were trying to entrust all command authority to one person.

“This is sudden, but…”

“…!”

“I see no way to defeat the beast with my eyes.”

She thought about questioning him, but he seemed sincere.

“W-Why is that?”

She thought there must be a reason for him to give up his position as commander of the Duchy’s forces and step down from command.

“I’ve determined we cannot face two Named Beasts. So, pass it to the new commander. While we buy time.”

“Professor… then could it be…”

“If it’s just Ashpern, that kid would surely find a clever move. Though I don’t know much about it.”

Senia’s insight was sharp.

There was no one better than Professor Muniher among the commanders leading the Duchy’s forces. It was surprising enough that he would suddenly step down, but even more bewildering to be told to find a new commander.

Yet this too was sincere.

“Tell Junon I’m sorry. And… Senia, Cain, you two have vaguely noticed Junon’s power, haven’t you?”

“”…!””

“Stop him from using it. Absolutely, absolutely do not let him use it anymore.”

That was the final order from the one who had held the command staff of the Duchy’s forces.