Ch.319EP.68 – The Knight Act at the Appointed Time (1)

Time is relative.

When doing something you hate, it drags on endlessly, but pleasant moments pass in the blink of an eye.

And so…

“I can’t believe winter break is already over. It feels like we just went home yesterday.”

“We’re second-years now? Hmm, what did we even do to become second-years?”

“…Exactly.”

The confused murmurings of cadets who had gathered after their winter hibernation.

Well, it wasn’t strange.

This was how cadets always looked when winter break ended and they moved up a grade.

It was also a symbol of peace.

Just a few years ago, the Academy frequently closed due to war, and cadets either returned to their families or steeled themselves to participate in battle.

But now they could enjoy spring and even complain about trivial matters. How amusing is that?

Peace.

Yes, despite various incidents, peace permeated the kingdom.

Without any chaos…

BANG─!

“You call that an explanation?!”

Flinch…!

However, those who knew this peace stemmed from ignorance were furious.

“You’re hiding what happened in Modred?! Is that really what you should be saying? No, is that something any human being should say?!”

The one raising his voice was the head of a prestigious family.

He was known for valuing chivalry and was considered a conscientious figure even in the nobles’ council, which was known as a hotbed of corruption.

“Councilor, please lower your voice. This is a place for discussion, not fighting.”

“They’re making me angry! Angry!!”

“Even so, this is the Kingdom’s Grand Council Chamber. Also… noble personages are present.”

“…Hmph!”

At the moderator’s intervention, the nobleman who had been shouting suddenly found himself at a loss for words.

The Kingdom’s Grand Council.

It was a meeting of representatives from southern powers including the Noble Council, Guild Association, Merchant Union, Mercenary Alliance, and the Temple. This meeting was held perhaps once every three years.

Nobles, merchants, guild executives, mercenaries, and priests.

None of them were without busy schedules.

The fact that they made time to gather made such grand councils rare.

…And what made this council especially significant was probably…

*Rustle*

‘I never expected those people to attend. Well, I suppose it’s natural since they participated directly in the [Defense of Modred].’

The heads of families that stood apart even among the kingdom’s nobility were present.

‘I’ve met Marchioness Jeminia briefly in private settings, but it’s my first time seeing those people up close.’

The nobles—no, the executives of all factions—were unanimously sweating.

The Grand Council was typically known more for fights than actual discussions, with people freely spouting nonsense.

But unlike usual, now only silence prevailed.

…All because those people were present.

“You haven’t returned to the North yet, I see?”

“I need to resolve matters before leaving. I have representatives, so it’s fine. What about you, Blake? Shouldn’t you be heading home? You’re always holed up there anyway.”

“Hmph, that’s none of your business, Magnus.”

The lords of Galahad and Lionel.

With those two lords present, people dared not spout nonsense or engage in petty squabbles as usual.

If they did, they would incur the displeasure of those two families, which was something they wished to avoid.

Better to displease the royal family than them!

…However.

“…But everyone’s talking nonsense. I might somehow understand concealing the Modred incident, but hiding the existence of vampires, High Demons, and the Great Saint? What kind of lunatic suggested that? Raise your hand, I won’t get angry.”

[……]

“I said raise your hand.”

……Though it seems they’ve already incurred their displeasure.

It was Princess Isis speaking, and in silent agreement with her words, the two lords wore grave expressions. Some of the more timid individuals trembled like sick chickens, their complexions turning deathly pale.

And their anger was justified.

After all, they were trying to hide all information from the citizens.

<The fierce and honorable war that took place in Modred>.

<The appearance of the legendary monster, the vampire>.

<The Blood Crusaders’ soul evasion method>.

<The descent of a High Demon>.

<The Great Saint who descended after a thousand years>.

And even the noble sacrifice of this Great Saint…!

Each piece of news could shake the entire kingdom, no, the entire southern region. The lords narrowed their eyes at the factions insisting all this should be concealed.

Of course, one could dismiss it all as empty talk, but…

“If you don’t believe me, I can show you the [Image Sphere] again. There couldn’t be more definitive evidence.”

Image Sphere.

It was the name of a magical tool recently invented jointly by magicians and alchemists, along with the camera. It was a device with the mysterious ability to store images.

Though its price was so exorbitant that few possessed one, all those who participated in the battle now called the Defense of Modred had one and had even recorded their own battle footage.

Thus, evidence was overflowing, and no one could claim it was false.

Rather…

‘I saw it. That’s why we can’t say anything now.’

‘How much I doubted whether the footage was fabricated. Those monsters…’

‘Never, never make enemies of them. Our Merchant Union would be swept away in an instant!’

Those who had seen the footage were trembling.

They had witnessed their overwhelming strength and confirmed the true power of the great families.

Therefore, they had no desire to make enemies of them, and no one at this meeting wanted to display greed or try any tricks.

Why?

…Because if they did, they might be dead by tomorrow, and it wouldn’t be surprising.

Those with much to lose instinctively want to live longer, and they had no intention of defying them.

…However.

“I, I understand what Her Highness the Princess is saying. Yes, such matters shouldn’t be hidden. Of course. But, even so, now is not the time.”

“Hmm.”

Someone was brave enough to object.

“D-Don’t you know, Your Highness is too intelligent not to know? If this information gets out, the South will fall into uncontrollable chaos. And it would be tremendous…!”

“…Continue speaking.”

“Hah, haah….”

The one granted additional speaking time was a cabinet member currently active in the Prime Minister’s Office.

He was also a disciple of the former Prime Minister and current Chancellor of Pendragon Academy.

“…First, let me express my gratitude. Thanks to all of you who fought and shed blood, the kingdom can enjoy its current peace. If it weren’t for you, the kingdom would have ‘collapsed.’ So, thank you sincerely!”

This wasn’t flattery.

It was simply the truth.

‘It gave me goosebumps…’

He had seen the footage too.

Over 600,000 monsters.

If they had been unleashed on the kingdom, it would have been reduced to ruins.

But monsters were actually the least of their worries.

A demon. What if a High Demon had descended upon this world?

Especially when even the Temple, the counterforce to demons, couldn’t fulfill its role in this mess?

“Perhaps the kingdom would have had to prepare to return to the Stone Age. This is not a joke or speculation. A High Demon has that kind of power. So thank you. This is a sincere expression of gratitude on behalf of the Prime Minister’s Office.”

However.

“We, the Prime Minister’s Office, must look at reality despite our gratitude. So I must apologize in advance to the Princess and the other two lords. …This matter must be kept secret. At least for the next ten years.”

“…Is it because of the economy?”

“As expected, you already know….”

As expected of Princess Isis, someone who understands.

“What do you mean?”

“Why is the economy suddenly being discussed here?”

“?”

…It was rather depressing that others couldn’t understand.

The cabinet member found it pathetic.

While the high-ranking individuals already understood, other nobles couldn’t comprehend and were asking for explanations.

These fools are good with swords but have never read a single sentence from an economics book!

“Sigh, before explaining to others, the kingdom’s current economic situation is in crisis. The massive financial losses from the war with Britain three years ago are problematic, but due to recent consecutive incidents, the kingdom’s economy is facing an extreme crisis. There’s a possibility that Pendragon’s economic credit could be shaken.”

“Economic credit?”

“Is that such a big problem?”

“Anyone who just spoke should just leave the council chamber! How can you be here without knowing basic common sense?!”

BANG!

He slammed the table in excitement, but no one reprimanded him.

Indeed, it was shameful to be in the same room with people who couldn’t understand even this.

As the saying goes, if you’re mediocre, you’re halfway there. Those who didn’t know to keep quiet when ignorant received glares from others, their faces turning bright red.

“Shaken credit means the kingdom’s economy will be disrupted! It’s a serious problem in diplomacy with other countries, and even foreign merchant groups trading with the kingdom will doubt Pendragon’s capabilities! You might dismiss it as a minor issue now, but that’s only for ordinary people. We can’t treat this as trivial! Countries with collapsed economies fail even without war! They collapse because of money!”

“The important thing is the economy, the economy!!”

“Do you understand, you fools!”

Some nobles look down on commercial nobles as undignified money-handlers, but that’s only because they have economic freedom due to their abundant resources, not because of their competence or nobility.

How many noble families have collapsed and ended up on the streets because they relied solely on their resources?

The cabinet member’s expression showed his displeasure at being classified as a noble alongside these incompetent ones.

“Sigh, anyway, for these reasons, this fact must be hidden. I’m not saying to hide it forever. Just 10 years, just 10 years. By then….”

“-Everyone will forget.”

“……”

…Suddenly, the cabinet member was at a loss for words.

“You’ll repay them then? Fine words, but everyone will forget. They’ll forget that the reason we can be so safe, the reason we can enjoy this peace, is because of someone’s sacrifice.”

“T-That’s….”

“Keep listening. You keep talking about reality, but is pursuing reality unconditionally the answer? If we don’t take care of intangible faith as well as tangible credit, who will stand up for the kingdom? If we don’t repay those who sacrificed themselves for a lifetime, the heroes who saved the kingdom, who will believe in us?”

“……”

“A friend of mine mentioned the phrase ‘discarding the hunting dog after the hunt.’ It means eliminating a hunting dog whose usefulness has ended to erase all traces.”

“!!?”

“Yes, of course I’m not saying you’re going that far. After all, how could one treat a hunting dog and the noble Great Saint the same? However, what I’m trying to say is don’t just look at practicality. If we only consider profit, how can we gain the trust of the people? I hope the Prime Minister’s Office will strive to gain not only economic credit but also the credit of the people.”

“……”

The cabinet member was momentarily speechless at Isis’s words.

After all, losing the people’s trust was just as frightening as losing economic credit.

“……”

Silence pervaded the council chamber, and no one broke it.

To break this silence, one would need to make a statement that convinced everyone, but such a masterstroke couldn’t be produced instantly….

At that moment.

BANG!

“E-Excuse me for a moment!”

The silence was broken.

And in an unpleasant manner.

“What are you doing, you fool!”

The nobles raised their voices at the knight who dared to intrude on the sacred Grand Council, and others also expressed their displeasure.

No matter how urgent, barging in without permission was an act of disrespect to their authority.

Despite the hostile glares, the knight was too frantic to notice and spoke urgently.

“T-The mountain has been carved away! A g-giant statue…!”

“What are you saying?”

“A s-statue has appeared! A giant female statue, 100 meters tall!!”

“??”

“Please go outside and see for yourselves.”

“……?”

They wondered what this rude knight was talking about, but soon, due to his urgent tone, they began to leave the council chamber.

What nonsense is this…

“W-What is that!?”

“???”

“Y-Yesterday there was nothing there! I-I’m sure I saw it!!”

They knew.

They were certain that yesterday, there was no structure in the direction they were now looking.

But now.

“A s-statue?!”

Despite being clearly far from the Grand Council Chamber, a massive, beautiful female statue was visible, asserting its presence powerfully.

And it was incredibly huge.

Regardless of status or profession, everyone stood with their mouths agape, at a loss for words.

…It was nothing short of a mystery, no different from a natural disaster.

And then…

“Come to think of it, my younger brother has been busy moving around for the past fortnight….”

“Lac, my disciple was always a strange one, but he wasn’t this reckless.”

“…Maximus, this troublemaker brother of yours…”

The lords who immediately identified the culprits—or rather, those capable of such a feat—seemed to feel their blood pressure rising.

They had been wondering what these suddenly united individuals were up to…

“They’ve caused quite an incident.”

The lords realized what happens when three idiots who should never be together join forces.