Ch.63Establishment of the Guard (1)

“What are you saying right now? What are you talking about?”

“There’s someone who’s been falsely accused and is now wanted. I’m asking for your help so this person can rehabilitate themselves.”

“What does that have to do with Bellamy? Huh? Do you understand what I’m saying?”

The administrative officer shook his head at the mage’s question.

“I don’t really know either…”

“Does it make any sense that there are town matters even the administrative officer doesn’t know about?”

The mage narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

“First, make a promise. Will you really help? Of course, this will definitely benefit you, Administrative Officer.”

“Hmm. Should I at least hear it?”

“No. Just hearing isn’t enough. You need to make a promise.”

“I’ll do it, isn’t that enough?”

“Use an oath spell. For a period of one year.”

“Whaaaat?!”

The mage snorted in disbelief.

“What kind of oath lasts for a year?!”

“Then how can I trust you enough to tell you? This is aaall for your benefit, Administrative Officer.”

After repeatedly mentioning the administrative officer, the mage reluctantly cast the oath spell.

This was a kind of curse-like magic that prevents one from ever telling the contents of the promise to others.

“Good. Then I’ll tell you. Our town has an existing vigilante group called the knights. You probably know this.”

“And?”

“I see here that we can convert this vigilante group directly into a security force. That’s what we’re planning to do. We’ll need a security chief, and naturally, the person who’s been training the existing members would be the best fit, right?”

“Ah, get to the point. Stop dragging this out.”

“We’re planning to appoint one of our knights’ instructors as the security chief. And that person happens to be a wanted criminal who needs a clean identity.”

“Are you saying the Holy Knight is a wanted criminal…?!”

When the administrative officer shouted, the mage looked at me with an extremely bewildered expression.

“Really?!”

“No. Not the Holy Knight, but Adelheid.”

“Adelheid…? Hmm, she seemed a bit suspicious, but I didn’t know she was a wanted criminal…”

“She was the captain of the Remugen mercenaries.”

The mage and administrative officer closed their mouths and stared at me.

The mage was the first to respond.

“The Remugen mercenaries? Those troublemakers? Haven’t heard news about them in ages?”

“Our town’s Holy Knight disbanded the mercenary group.”

“Ah, what nonsense are you spouting again?!”

The mage finally lost patience and got angry.

It’s understandable since to someone who doesn’t know, it would sound like a made-up lie.

A town’s vigilante instructor who’s a wanted criminal and the infamous Remugen mercenary captain.

And the Holy Knight from the same town who crushed that mercenary group.

But it’s too early to be surprised.

“Jack… So it was Adelheid who kidnapped you…?”

“Haaa…”

The mage let out a deep sigh at the administrative officer’s words.

“I used an oath spell just to hear this nonsense?”

“It’s not nonsense. I’ll explain everything step by step.”

I told the mage the story from the time I was kidnapped.

After a while, the mage laughed dryly and drank his tea repeatedly.

“This is truly absurd. What kind of place is this? Bringing in the kidnapper as an instructor, and the Holy Knight who brought them down, and neither knows about the other.”

“That’s about it. We’re going to use Adelheid as the security chief. The Holy Knight belongs to the Order so that’s not possible, and there’s a former Imperial Knight but he’s too old. So Adelheid is the perfect candidate.”

“The Remugen mercenary captain, really. But this is funny.”

The mage looked at the administrative officer and asked.

“Bellamy, are you okay with this? Having a wanted criminal as your city’s security chief?”

“Mmm, I don’t mind… If Jack says so, anything is fine…”

“Sigh… Alright. If you’re fine with it, then I’m fine with it too. I’ll help you turn that mercenary captain into a new person.”

With that, I secured the mage’s cooperation. Next are Liberone and Adelheid.

* * * * *

“I see.”

Liberone, who was supervising the mine’s perimeter, spoke.

“So you’re saying Adelheid was the Remugen mercenary captain.”

“Yes, Liberone. She’s the captain of the mercenary group that kidnapped me and that you crushed.”

“I thought her skills were extraordinary. Being from the Remugen mercenaries explains it.”

“I’m telling you all this because I trust you.”

Liberone slowly nodded.

“I won’t confront Adelheid or harm her. She already lost everything when I intervened back then.”

“Good. Then help me. I’m going to make Adelheid the city security chief. To do that, we need to clear her wanted status.”

“I understand. I can roughly guess what you’re thinking. I’ll help you.”

Liberone is taken care of. Finally, Adelheid.

“No way!!”

The second squad captain bristled like a cat and shouted.

“What are you trying to pull! Security chief?! That would expose all her identities! Are you finally betraying our captain?!”

“Ah, be quiet. It’s not like that. I just want to appoint someone I know as the security chief.”

“Absolutely not!! I said absolutely not!”

“I didn’t say I was making you the security chief, so please be quiet.”

“Argh! Don’t push me!”

When I tried to push her aside, the second squad captain pushed me back instead.

How is she so strong despite being small and frail?! No, I’m just weak.

“Stand back, Miyumi.”

As I was shoved aside, Adelheid quietly spoke.

“You want to make me the security chief, Jack?”

“Yes. Honestly, you’re the only one in our village with experience running an armed organization, Captain.”

“I see. But I can’t be a security chief. As you know, I’m a wanted criminal. The kingdom wouldn’t let just anyone become a city security chief.”

“I have some ideas. It won’t be a problem. The only question is whether you’ll accept it or not, Captain.”

After a moment of silence, Adelheid asked.

“If I become the security chief… can I stay in the city permanently?”

“Of course. You can stay even if you don’t become the security chief. But I recommend taking the position.”

“Reason for recommendation?”

“Because I want you to.”

“Are you crazy?!”

The second squad captain interrupted again and shouted.

“Does the captain have to do whatever you like or dislike?!”

“I’ll do as you say.”

The second squad captain whirled around to look at Adelheid after her response.

“Captain!”

“Enough.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

When the second squad captain closed her mouth, Adelheid said.

“I’ll do it, Jack. But clearing my wanted status is your responsibility, right?”

“There are a few simple things you’ll need to do, but yes.”

“Alright. Miyumi and I have already lost everything, so we’ll just do as you say.”

“That’s not exactly it… Anyway, thank you.”

After greeting them and leaving the room, the second squad captain rushed to Adelheid and started chattering.

She seems to be badmouthing me, but I can’t hear clearly.

Well, she’s always badmouthing me anyway.

* * * * *

I began working on Adelheid’s identity cleansing.

The first task is selecting guarantors.

From my research, Adelheid is a Class 3 wanted criminal in the Empire.

Surprisingly, her classification isn’t that high because she was a mercenary captain.

Apparently, she didn’t commit crimes of her own volition but carried out evil deeds on behalf of others—well, that’s the game setting, so let’s go with that.

Very fortunately, Class 2 and above must face legal judgment, but below Class 3, leniency is possible with certification from reliable notaries.

Additionally, extremely fortunately, our Starting Village has just been promoted to a city.

The certification from our city mayor, Bellamy, who passed the Imperial Civil Service exam with top marks, carries considerable weight.

Add to that the certification from Sir Hostante, a former Imperial Knight, and myself, a certified potion shop owner.

And Blanchard, the royal palace mage and friend of the administrative officer, also offered to provide certification.

“If it’s for Bellamy, I’ll do anything.”

Finally, certification from the Holy Knight, who has even greater authority than the mayor.

The Order stands above the Empire, and the Holy Knights they select are walking judicial institutions themselves.

Holy Knights have the right of summary execution, which is why Liberone casually killed roadside bandits.

For a Holy Knight, killing is judgment.

However, Liberone didn’t readily provide certification. Even though she said she would help.

“It’s a procedural matter, Guardian Angel.”

That’s right. To receive certification from a Holy Knight, one must first confess their sins in a confession ceremony.

Normally, confession ceremonies must be done at a temple, meaning going all the way to Odelin City, but with a Holy Knight present, it can be done here.

A Holy Knight is convenient in many ways.

Anyway, Liberone decided to use her room as a confessional to receive Adelheid.

She drew all the curtains over the windows, lit subtle incense, and set up a screen, making it look quite like a temple confessional.

Beyond the screen, Liberone sat in her holy armor, eyes closed, hands clasped in prayer, looking incredibly sacred.

“I’ll go in first.”

The second squad captain stood in front of Adelheid and said.

Since we’re cleaning up identities, we decided to include the second squad captain too, and she apparently wants to go first to make sure it’s safe for her captain.

“As you wish.”

“Hmm, so I just have to confess all the sins I’ve committed so far. Fine. That’s not difficult.”

The second squad captain made up her mind and entered the room.

* * * * *

“Can I speak now?”

The second squad captain, sitting on the chair in front of the screen, asked in a clear voice.

“Speak, sister.”

“I’m not your sister, you know? I’m not even a believer?”

“During confession, everyone is a believer.”

“Ha, is that so? Then shall I begin? Don’t be shocked by what you hear.”

The second squad captain looked at the screen and began.

“I have committed a great sin. I had lustful thoughts while looking at my captain. Is this how I should do it?”

“Please continue.”

“Okay. I understand. Ahem.”

After clearing her throat, the second squad captain began pouring out her list of sins in earnest.

“Forgive me. I had strange fantasies about my captain. I imagined drugging her until she was completely intoxicated, then taking her to the bedroom, XX stripping her, tying her limbs tightly, spreading her XX, and then violently XX my XX into her…”

“Th-that’s not a sin, sister…”

For the first time, Liberone stuttered.