Ch.331EP.70 – Why the Knight’s Hatred Is Justified (1)

Despite the small earthquake the previous night, people showed little concern.

There was no significant damage, and since Mount Vulcan occasionally caused tremors, the citizens of the royal capital were generally accustomed to minor earthquakes.

Instead, their interests lay in last night’s social gossip, like which couples had fought and broken up, and therefore…

“Whoa, did a meteorite fall or something?”

“If that happened, astronomers and alchemists would be in an uproar by now. They go crazy trying to get their hands on meteorites.”

“Then how did this crater appear?”

They hadn’t even noticed the sudden appearance of a massive crater on the outskirts of the royal capital.

“I wouldn’t know. Hmm, maybe a giant magical beast struck the ground with full force?”

“Grow up. Stop saying such strange things.”

“…Sorry.”

Though soldiers had come to the scene, even they could only tilt their heads in confusion at the unidentified crater.

If there were any traces or evidence of someone’s presence, it would be different, but there was nothing.

With just an empty crater, the soldiers could do nothing, and so the mysterious case of the suddenly appearing giant crater remained an unsolved mystery.

Well, who could have possibly guessed?

“Was I too harsh?”

That the crater was created by a single individual.

And that just last night, over 50 assassins had gone to meet Durahan.

For soldiers investigating with common sense, solving such an extraordinary case would be nearly impossible.

However, the reason all traces except the crater could be so thoroughly erased was because-

“Thank you. This was resolved well thanks to you.”

“Not at all, we actually gained information too. We should be thanking you, Lord Ihan. For calling on us rather than someone else.”

“…I didn’t call you, weren’t you just hovering around me?”

“Hoho, let’s just say it worked out well for everyone.”

“……”

Luna de Brigitte.

A female knight belonging to Galahad’s Shadow, and as her green hair indicated, she was the spear-wielder’s sister.

Befitting her bloodline, she was quite skilled, and she was also among those who had helped erase the traces of the assassins annihilated last night.

However, gratitude aside…

“Why were you around me?”

“That person gave me advice.”

“That person?”

“My biological family member.”

“……”

…Does she dislike calling him her brother that much?

Just as Ihan was starting to feel a bit sorry for the spear-wielder, his sympathy instantly vanished when he heard:

“‘That scoundrel is, though I hate to admit it, more extraordinary than any beast. A beast with an excellent sense of smell. If you hover around him, you’ll naturally catch wicked things. …By the way, stay far away from that scoundrel. He’ll immediately notice if you’re watching him.’ – That’s what he said. So I was watching from very far away, as that person instructed.”

“…Who’s a beast?”

Ihan clicked his tongue, muttering that he would have thrown a punch if the man had been present.

He had felt grateful, but now that feeling was gone.

Still…

‘I suppose we’re even now, which is satisfying.’

Tit for tat, he thought he owed a debt, but essentially there was none, so it was a gain.

“But next time, just ask to cooperate.”

Feeling a slight but definite displeasure…

Ihan let his words trail off, but Luna, understanding his meaning perfectly, immediately apologized.

“I’m sorry, Lord Ihan. I had no intention of using you. It’s just that you prefer to be alone, so it was difficult to request cooperation.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you always prefer to handle matters alone.”

“That’s…”

“If I asked for cooperation, I thought you might be displeased… Since you don’t particularly like nobles…”

“W-well, that’s not wrong…”

Through their conversation, Ihan could indirectly sense how other factions viewed him.

There seems to be a misunderstanding… No, it’s not really a misunderstanding…

‘Wait, what kind of image do I have?’

Ihan felt strangely wronged, but he didn’t dare to directly ask about his reputation.

…It was too uncomfortable to hear.

* * *

Before Ihan could dwell on the new discovery that rumors of him being a “personality disaster” were circulating, new information began pouring into his ears.

“There’s been a rumor lately. That one of the great nobles has been employing fugitives who fled from the Empire to the South…”

“Interesting rumor.”

“Isn’t it? What’s even more interesting is that this rumor is likely true. Especially if it’s Lohengrin who’s absorbing this criminal organization, it becomes even more intriguing.”

“……”

…Though his expression showed neither interest nor amusement?

Just looking at her eyes filled with killing intent, one could tell why she was related to the spear-wielder.

Of course, Ihan didn’t openly display such thoughts and simply nodded quietly.

“I hate to say this, but criminals can be extremely useful depending on how they’re used. They’re illegal residents without citizenship, so there’s no problem in using them urgently and then discarding them.”

Thoroughly disposable pawns.

Once called the Empire’s elite assassination organization, Blood Wind, but in the end, they were merely fugitives.

Well, if they succeeded in their mission and proved their worth, that would be a different story.

“Unfortunately, they challenged Lord Ihan, so their luck has run out. It’s like a toddler just learning to babble charging at a hungry beast.”

“You’ve been treating me too much like an animal.”

“…Anyway, to continue…”

“Hey.”

The important point here wasn’t that Ihan was a beast.

What mattered was who had employed this organization, and why they specifically identified Lohengrin as the employer.

“No fool would openly employ a criminal organization. Common sense dictates using intermediaries, creating double or triple layers of separation to ensure their identity remains hidden. …But no matter how thoroughly they work, nothing is impossible to discover.”

Padadak!

“Good job, Arpi.”

“Squeak!”

“…A squirrel?”

An unusual squirrel, or rather, a flying squirrel.

A blue flying squirrel, and judging by the subtle energy it emanated…

‘A spirit animal?’

It was clearly an animal with spiritual energy, and sure enough.

“This is Arpi. An elite agent raised by Galahad. Say hello, Arpi.”

“Squeak!”

“Oh…”

The flying squirrel even gave a sharp salute, causing Ihan to exclaim in admiration.

“In Galahad, we raise many spirit animals related to fairies. Among them, special individuals are born occasionally, every five to ten years, and Arpi is one of them. Born with spiritual energy. Long-lived and more intelligent than most humans. Oh, and it’s learned some martial arts too, so it could take down a lion if it wanted.”

“……”

“Above all, it’s the most excellent member among the Shadows. Its infiltration skills are top-notch, and His Majesty has awarded it medals three times!”

“Squeak!!”

“…Wow.”

…Could it be more intelligent than the white cats?

* * *

The excellent intelligence agent, or rather, the flying squirrel, took out a neatly folded paper from the miniature bag on its back.

“Squeak.”

The paper contained various drawings and writings.

People’s faces and characteristics were detailed, presumably drawn by the flying squirrel.

“I see, Arpi. So this person is Lohengrin’s spy.”

“Squeak.”

“But do you have definitive evidence?”

“Squeak squeak.”

“Hmm, so you’ve been monitoring for days and noticed they’re buying more food? As if they’re feeding someone?”

“Squeak…”

“Yes, you’re right. It’s certainly suspicious.”

Can they actually communicate?

‘It just sounds like squeaking to me.’

Is it because he’s not pure-hearted?

Ihan was staring blankly at her and the excellent flying squirrel when Luna de Brigitte turned her gaze to him.

“Lord Ihan, would it be alright to consider us in a cooperative relationship now?”

“…Though not by choice, I received help, and you need me, so yes, that would be a cooperative relationship.”

“That’s a relief. Then I’ll share information, so could you please help us investigate Lohengrin?”

“…Not storming in?”

Ihan tilted his head in confusion.

He had expected Galahad, with its resources, to immediately mobilize forces against Lohengrin, but since they weren’t doing so, he was puzzled. Seeing his reaction, Luna gave a bitter smile.

“Frustrating as it is, this level of evidence isn’t enough justification to mobilize forces. Of course, if we recklessly attacked Lohengrin, no one would dare criticize Galahad, but that could lead to other great noble houses arbitrarily raising armies too. That means potential conflict, and His Majesty has no desire to instigate meaningless warfare.”

“…I understand.”

Indeed, while great power brings strength, it also comes with inconveniences when taking action.

So then…

“Should I attack alone?”

“What?”

“It shouldn’t matter if I, not Galahad, confront Lohengrin, right?”

“Th-that’s… you’re joking, right?”

“……”

“……”

“Ha, yes, it’s a joke. How could I alone attack a great noble house, haha.”

“…Ahaha, r-right?”

…But why did Luna feel that those words were not at all meant as a joke?

It sounded extremely…

‘I think he was being serious?’

– Don’t even think about controlling that scoundrel. He’s dangerous. If he decides someone is his enemy, he’ll turn even the royal family into an enemy.

Recalling what that person had said before cooperating with him, Luna broke into a cold sweat.

‘There really is someone even more reckless than that person…’

Terrifyingly so…

‘Her expressions change a lot.’

Ihan was puzzled by her sudden change in expression, but he had another question.

“By the way, there’s something I’m curious about.”

“Yes?”

“Why do you, I mean Galahad, hate Lohengrin?”

“……”

“Am I mistaken?”

Strangely, Galahad seemed to harbor murderous intent toward Lohengrin. Ihan wondered about this and asked.

And as if confirming his opinion wasn’t wrong, she didn’t deny it…

“You’re perceptive, Lord Ihan.”

“I just took a guess because you’re so obvious about disliking them.”

“Sigh, you’re right. We do hate them. Terribly so…”

“You’re honest.”

She answered more readily than expected, and soon…

“There’s no need to hide it. Most people probably know anyway? That Galahad hates Lohengrin, or rather, the current head of the Lohengrin family.”

“Why?”

“…It’s nothing else but…”

“……”

…Listening to her subsequent answer, Ihan’s mouth fell slightly open.

And in his opinion…

‘How did the Duke manage to let such a person live?’

He wondered why someone who should have died long ago was still alive.

‘…Confessing to a married woman and asking her to bear his child isn’t sane behavior.’

Ihan lost all words at the part where the man had openly said this to Duke Blake’s woman.

‘Indeed, these nobles are…’

Disgust was the right answer.