Ch.381Is This My House?

The next day, the Ka’har warrior underwent brain washing… or in priestly terms, “mental purification,” becoming a being who had abandoned all desires and entered enlightenment.

In other words, he became a truth dispenser.

With this, he could depart to a world without pain and find rest, but I couldn’t tell whether he would have preferred a prisoner’s life of suffering or a doll’s life without any sense of self.

I’ll probably never know.

Still, it was a necessary measure. Torture can extract many testimonies but lacks credibility, while brainwashing can confirm exact truths but limits the amount of information obtainable.

By using both methods together, we were able to extract quite a lot of truth.

This bastard told the truth about everything else but mixed in some exaggeration about the enemy forces. It was truly absurd.

Even while electricity was being poured into his nerves, he couldn’t resist bragging about his unit.

Anyway, now that his words were proven true, I had no reason to remain in Landenburg.

I informed Ludwig that I would return to the capital, then went to tell my companions.

“Ugh, but there’s still so much left to learn…”

Minea looked somewhat disappointed, apparently having just started to enjoy swordsmanship.

“You can learn swordsmanship in the capital too, so come along. Or what, are you planning to live here?”

“N-no! That’s not it!”

Right. She probably wouldn’t be fond of this bleak city either.

Sword training could be entrusted to the Rose Cross Knights, who would teach her well in a practical format.

Since they owed their positions to Leonore’s backing, they wouldn’t give Minea, who entered under my backing, a hard time either.

“This means we won’t be seeing each other for a while. What a shame.”

“What are you talking about? You’re coming with us too. Lord Landenburg said so.”

“What…?”

Nigel’s eyes widened. Was it that unexpected?

Well, I was a bit surprised when I first heard it too.

When I told Ludwig I was returning to the capital, he unexpectedly told me to take Nigel along.

The reason was that following me would be more beneficial for improving her skills than endlessly waiting here.

“Is that really okay…?”

“Yes. There won’t be any eastern invasions for a while, so he said it’s fine if one Master leaves the forces.”

“I see. If the Lord said so, then it must be fine.”

A gentle curve formed on Nigel’s lips.

She seemed pleased about accompanying me.

“Nigel is coming too? That’s great!”

“Yes. I look forward to continuing our journey together, Priestess Lena.”

Lena seems happy about it too.

Though there was a subtle distance between them, they appeared to be getting along better than before, thanks to spending time together.

—-

The next day, we left Landenburg Castle and headed back to the capital.

Since our party had grown by two, we switched to a larger carriage and added another horse.

It was a peaceful and leisurely journey back.

I spent time chatting with Lena, who clung to me and chirped in an affectionate voice, while Nigel taught Minea swordsmanship during rest breaks.

They even used the occasional bandits we encountered as practical training materials.

Minea was overwhelmed with gratitude for receiving sword instruction directly from a “Master.”

“Is this how I should do it?”

“Yes. From there, twist your wrist slightly and bring the sword down like you’re stabbing… that’s right.”

Nigel, who had maintained formal speech with Minea when she was just a hired adventurer, now spoke casually to her, treating her like a junior now that she had become something like an apprentice knight under me.

Minea also seemed more comfortable being treated as a subordinate rather than receiving formal speech from a Master-level knight.

“You have quite good potential. If you continue like this, becoming a knight won’t be difficult.”

“Thank you!!”

Minea nodded vigorously with a bright smile.

Wait, she didn’t react like that when I taught her.

Back then she was completely intimidated, but now she’s all excited.

Anyway, it was a happy journey for everyone.

Even the slaughtered bandits must have been happy to escape from this world of nothing but pain.

Perhaps Jahan was the only one who might have complaints?

Though it was more like discomfort than complaints.

It was understandable. Coincidentally, everyone in our party except Jahan was female, and one of them was his lord.

It must have been like sitting on pins and needles for Jahan.

Even so, I couldn’t let him out of the carriage except when resting in secluded areas.

A wild Ka’har would be too shocking for imperial citizens.

He wanted to ride a horse or at least sit in the driver’s seat rather than being confined in the carriage… but how could that be possible?

If he caught people’s attention, it would clearly cause unnecessary commotion.

—-

And commotion did break out.

“Ka-Ka’har…!! My goodness, a Ka’har! What in the world…!”

The knight guarding the gate collapsed in shock.

“A Ka’har has appeared!”

What an extremely intense reaction.

I wouldn’t make such a face even if I found half a cockroach in my breakfast.

“Ka’har…?”

“Ka’har? Isn’t that Baron Median? Why now…?”

Due to the knight making a fuss, all eyes in the vicinity turned toward us.

Right. I suspected this would happen when they asked to check our identities.

Until now, there had been no problems since Jahan stayed quietly in the carriage, but once we were subjected to inspection, he had no choice but to show his face.

Originally, we could have skipped the inspection thanks to Landenburg’s influence, but for some reason, that didn’t work this time.

Did something happen in the capital while I was away?

Anyway.

“Why are you so surprised? Is this your first time seeing a Ka’har? Technically, I’m half Ka’har too, you know?”

In situations like this, it’s better to be brazen.

From the perspective of the people here, bringing in a Ka’har of unknown identity might seem like smuggling a bomb into the city.

It was only because I had built up enough standing within the Empire that this was possible; otherwise, it wouldn’t have been strange if they had immediately pointed their weapons at us.

“I-I apologize, Baron Median. But who exactly is this…?”

“My subordinate. Like me, he’s a Ka’har who betrayed his people and requested asylum in the Empire. I have permission from the Margrave of Landenburg, so there shouldn’t be any problems. I vouch for him.”

“I-I see…”

The knight still looked unconvinced. From my perspective, you’re the one who’s unreliable, sir.

How can someone entrusted with guarding the capital’s gate collapse at the mere sight of a Ka’har and still call himself a knight?

True, Jahan did look somewhat fierce, but contrary to his appearance, he had a good personality for a Ka’har.

No, honestly speaking, if he could tolerate Hersella’s tantrums, his personality must be Buddha-level among Ka’har.

“So, can we enter now? Or are we supposed to remain here as a spectacle? I’m tired and want to rest, and these stares are quite unpleasant.”

“…If the Baron vouches for him, then it should be fine. Please enter.”

The knight bowed in salute and stepped back from the carriage.

He seemed quite pathetic, but… at least he had some minimal awareness.

If we had been detained here any longer, I might have gotten a bit annoyed.

“Good, carry on.”

After waving to the knight, I got back in the carriage and we entered the capital.

—-

“So this is the heart of the West…! From the walls we saw earlier, it’s clear that the Empire is truly a powerful nation. Such prosperity…”

Jahan exclaimed in admiration as he peeked at the capital’s scenery through the carriage window.

His reaction was like that of a country bumpkin visiting the capital for the first time. Nigel couldn’t help but smile proudly.

She had an expression that would perfectly match a line like “Can you feel the Empire’s power, barbarian?”

Though given Nigel’s personality, she wouldn’t say such things.

—-

The carriage arrived at a massive mansion located in one corner of the capital.

It was a grand mansion that originally belonged to Isabella but was now mine. Actually, this was my first visit too.

Before visiting my professor’s residence or the imperial palace where Leopold would be waiting, I planned to drop Jahan off here first.

It would also be a good opportunity to introduce Jahan to my knights.

The mansion we finally arrived at was… beyond mere description of splendor.

“Just… just how much money was sunk into this place?”

I couldn’t help but blurt out.

My companions likely felt the same way.

“…Even the imperial family’s secondary palace isn’t this extravagant, is it?”

Nigel muttered in a daze.

“Your sister was incredibly wealthy…”

“Yeah…”

The mansion was so dazzling it was almost blinding.

Isabella, you crazy witch. Did you build a house out of gold? And a mansion at that.

How much tax money did you embezzle?

If this mansion were melted down and converted to gold, one could live in idleness not for three generations but for thirty.

Compared to this, the academy’s professor residence was nothing but a cheap shanty.

Leopold gave me something like this? My goodness.

Even someone like me with little material desire felt patriotic fervor rising in my chest like flames.

Long live the Emperor.