Ch.528528. Beastkin (2)

Those who wandered through the sleeping city wrapped in dark robes. Their eyes glowed with a mysterious amber light.

Unlike ordinary humans, they possessed the ability to gather moonlight and see clearly in the night despite the lack of light. Today, as always, they were checking the streets that bore the active touch of the Baron’s hand, looking for any subtle movements within the territory at this late hour.

One who had been dissatisfied with the lack of results for several days took the lead in complaining.

“Captain, how long must we continue this pointless task?”

The woman who had been steadfastly leading the group stopped in her tracks at the petulant voice.

She had a massive build for a woman. In the face illuminated by moonlight, a vertical scar stretched across the eyelid of her left eye.

When the captain’s heavy gaze fell upon her, she could only swallow hard.

“I’ve already told you many times that we won’t be making any judgments about anything on this journey.”

“…But still. Even during the day when there are many people around, we couldn’t hear anything about heretics or cults. What difference would it make wandering the streets at this late hour?”

“……”

“You know it well, Captain. The Baron’s actions are closer to what the people of the Holy Nation call justice. Even in the Holy Nation, it’s hard to find someone willing to open their granaries to feed the poor like this.”

But she had already started speaking.

“I don’t understand why we free people have to wander around in strange attire like criminals, looking for signs that couldn’t possibly exist.”

She conveyed her thoughts to the captain for the sake of herself and her group.

“We are… collaborators helping the Holy Nation through the contract we discussed before. It’s time for you to speak up for our authority, Captain.”

“You say I should speak up.”

“…I’m saying we should stop wandering around the Karpel Barony, which isn’t the County and wasn’t even in the plan. We’re not their convenient errand runners.”

“……”

“Even with the Holy Nation’s pressure, you as the tribe’s greatest warrior and all of us—”

A cold voice interrupted her increasingly heated words.

“If it were just this level of task, I could dismiss it as no problem and end it. After all, we hold a somewhat important position in the Holy Nation, at least nominally.”

“If you know that, then why—”

“I’ve already told you the reason. We won’t make any judgments about this matter. So that we don’t have to take responsibility.”

The already tense relationship with the Holy Nation was giving them enough headaches.

If the Beastkin Alliance created more friction with other countries, it might become difficult to endure.

“…Don’t forget that this matter involves not just the Holy Nation. The Kingdom and the Empire are involved as well.”

At the captain’s words, her subordinates did not direct their anger at their incompetent leader.

They could only sigh at this unavoidable situation.

The captain turned away, leaving only final words.

“If you’re not satisfied with my judgment, feel free to challenge me to a duel anytime. If you defeat me, it means your conviction is stronger and more righteous. Then I’ll follow your opinion.”

If you want to uphold your beliefs, do it the Beastkin way.

Let’s fairly compete to see whose fangs can more sharply grip the opponent’s neck.

“Perhaps it’s because of the full moon. Tonight’s air is especially fragrant, like our homeland. It would be a good night to test our mettle against each other.”

With those words, the Beastkin disappeared beyond the dark path.

“…I’ve gathered all the sounds and winds.”

A young boy who had been secretly eavesdropping on their conversation from a distance suddenly popped out.

Elvis, who had perfectly hidden himself by blending with nature, had divided his presence among thousands of wind currents to avoid detection by their spiritual senses. He had gathered their scattered voices and trapped them in the wind.

“Got it!”

Having obtained the information, Elvis held the winds tightly to his chest and returned to the lord’s castle.

* * *

“How is it, Dad? Beastkin are more sensitive to our energy than humans, so I gathered the sounds from quite a distance. Can you hear the conversation well?”

“This is more than enough. Thanks to you, I can breathe a sigh of relief.”

“Hehe, I was surprised when you called just me instead of sis. So… can I go play with these winds for a while before coming back?”

“Don’t go too far.”

“Got it!”

As expected of a top-tier spirit.

Perhaps because he had considerable experience gathering information like this.

Although his abilities were reduced compared to his top-tier form, his presence was also weakened, increasing his stealth capabilities. I had given him just enough mana to maintain a mid-tier level.

I didn’t expect such good results even in that form.

From the brief conversation Elvis brought back, I was able to infer some information.

‘As expected, the relationship between the Beastkin and the Holy Nation doesn’t seem very good.’

Well, I’ll skip this since my wife already told me about it.

‘That woman called the captain clearly said it was a matter involving the Kingdom and the Empire.’

The reason why the Beastkin unit had planned to move toward the County in the western part of our Kingdom.

If that reason is that the political powers of both the Empire and the Kingdom are simultaneously involved…

Their intention is clear from the fact that they’re trying to find something to criticize in our Barony.

‘Adelheid wouldn’t do such a thing.’

If the Kingdom and the Empire are plotting something together, without even involving the Second Prince who maintains neutrality as an independent force…

It’s obvious that this is related to the Third Princess, who has close ties with the Empire.

“I heard that the First Princess ended up being the royal representative for the delegation to the Empire—”

I suspect she’s starting to take revenge because I didn’t take her side.

I wonder why she’s doing this to me, who’s barely surviving with just a small barony. But then again, our barony does have quite a strong influence.

Well, if you choose one side, it’s natural to accept that you might fall out with the other side.

And I have a friend who said she would prevent that damage.

“Could you connect the communication artifact for me?”

“If it’s a coordinate that exists in our family’s artifacts, I can help you right away. May I ask which person you wish to contact?”

“I want to have a conversation with the Lephelia Duchy.”

“The Lephelia Duchy…”

“Ah, and I have one of their coordinates, so please connect me using this.”

“Understood!”

Leona gave me her communication coordinates last time, asking me to take Adelheid’s side and to contact her if anything happened.

‘I should use whatever resources I have.’

I’m already busy taking care of our territory’s people and gathering Divine Power.

It would be too much to handle if I had to deal with their interference as well.

Thanks to the magician who completed the confidentiality oath, I was soon connected to the communication crystal artifact of the Lephelia Duchy.

—I’ve received your communication, Baron Karpel. Have you been waiting long?

“Not at all, Your Highness. I’m already grateful enough that you’ve accepted my sudden call.”

Both of us understood what it meant to be speaking through this communication crystal.

We skipped the tedious formalities and moved straight to business.

—Then, what is the reason for your call, Baron?

“To get straight to the point, I think the Third Princess’s attack has begun.”

—Ah… Could you explain the situation in more detail?

“A Beastkin unit from the Holy Nation has appeared in the Karpel Barony. After secretly capturing their conversation, it seems they came here due to pressure from the Holy Nation, the Kingdom, and the Empire.”

—Since Adelheid said she had already persuaded my younger brother to some extent, the only person who would engage in such behind-the-scenes maneuvering would be Princess Amelie. I understand the general situation.

As expected of someone with a background in magic.

She seems to grasp the situation just from hearing this much.

—The Holy Nation and the Empire are quite strange, aren’t they? They despise each other behind closed doors, yet they work well together when devising such sinister plans.

“I simply uncovered old history and cared for the poor, I never expected it would come to this…”

—The Divine Power of priests benefits the world, but the leaders of the Holy Nation dislike changes to history that has already been recorded and involves them. They also dislike having their roles taken away because it reduces their donations.

As expected of someone on Adelheid’s side.

We understand each other well.

—I’ve heard about the Holy Nation’s Beastkin unit. If this involves not just those two but Amelie as well, they could be considered quite troublesome opponents…

“Does that mean there’s no suitable way to resolve this?”

—Of course not. As the future Duchess of the Lephelia family, I promised my friends I would handle the aftermath, so it must be perfect.

The reassuring words of the future Duchess.

—I will secretly send our family’s best illusion magician to you.

“Then on the Baron’s side—”

—If you could just provide the information that the magician who will arrive soon will request, everything can be resolved. If you continue as usual, they will report satisfactory results on their own.

“Is that really true?”

—Of course. There’s nothing to gain by lying between friends. Don’t worry about their abilities.

Through the crystal, I could see the Lephelia Duchess’s smile that seemed warm but was actually ice-cold.

—Any magicians who have failed such important missions in the past have already been appropriately punished and expelled from the family.

“I see…”

Having glimpsed the dark shadow of the Duchy, I was quite impressed.

And so I couldn’t help but think:

It would be much scarier to fall out with her than with Amelie.