Chapter 42 – Case Investigation Record (1)

The invasion of the Ruhillen Viscounty by the Rochear family was a monumental event that shook the entire kingdom. Fortunately, the damages were minimal, and the incident did not escalate into a full-scale armed conflict. However, the royal capital decided to send an investigator to manage the situation.

This wasn’t just a skirmish between two neighboring noble families. Edenbury and Farencia were in the northern and central parts of Pennheim, respectively, and had little interaction. Moreover, this wasn’t just another petty feud between minor provincial nobles. This was a clash between the kingdom’s most prominent mage family and a merchant family. It was an incident of shocking proportions, like wet straw suddenly catching fire.

Thus, from Thessalon, Gallahad, a second-level civil officer of the Military Inspection Department, was appointed as a special royal inspector to start the investigation. Wearing a white uniform with a red epaulet, he was a young knight recognized even within the royal capital.

Born as the eldest son of a northern viscount’s family, Gallahad rose to the mid-level ranks of the Alcide Tower of Magic. Later, in a rather exceptional move, he served as a centurion in “Bluemoon,” a battle mage division, one of the Twelve Alliances in the Lavierre Mountains that were not on good terms with the Seven Towers.

Afterwards, Gallahad took on a mid-level administrative position in the royal capital. Not only was he skilled in combat, but he was also well-versed in northern affairs. Hiding his hopes of possibly being promoted to a first-class official if he resolved this incident properly, he boarded a war carriage bound for Edenbury.

However, when he arrived in the North Sea for the first time in his life, every small boat was moored in the harbor.

There was no way to cross over to the largest island where the lord’s castle stood.

Gallahad approached an old man who seemed to be the owner of a fishing boat, wandering around the harbor.

“Has something happened around here, sir?”

“Huh? Who the hell are you?”

“I’m from the royal capital. I have business with the Rochear Count family, but it seems I can’t cross the sea.”

“Hmm, you can’t go right now. The soldiers have blocked the sea routes.”

“Why is that?”

“I don’t know, huh! It’s been like this for about a week now. No one’s come or gone except for that little miss with a flower in her hair who left with some bastard.”

The little miss? Could he possibly mean Adela Silvesta, who had gone missing from Farencia?

Rochear had not yet issued any official statements. Gallahad asked the old man again.

“How did that boat manage to leave?”

“Well, I took them! There’s a hidden waterway that stretches just behind that island.”

“Hm… then, is there any way you could do the same for me?”

“Well, as long as you pay up…”

The old man looked Gallahad up and down, his gaze flickering between his sword and his uniform.

“Do you use magic, son, not just that sword?”

“What?”

Gallahad realized what he meant the moment he boarded the boat.

Splaaash!

A massive sea monster, at least seven meters long, lunged at the small boat, trying to swallow it whole. The old man skillfully maneuvered the vessel to evade it, and immediately, numerous marine creatures emerged from beneath the waves, intent on devouring the two men.

“What the hell…!? How did you get across here before?!”

“I don’t know, huh huh. Last time, those bastards stayed hidden in the sea like they were dead.”

After finally escaping from the monsters using magic, he arrived on the island, his uniform soaked.

The view of the island where the lord’s castle was located was even more shocking.

Debris littered the streets, reminiscent of a war zone. The spire of the grand castle, which stretched high into the sky, was half-broken and crumbling.

The faces of the Rochear soldiers tensed when they saw Gallahad. He kept a stern expression as he showed his royal insignia to a soldier with a dark look who was clearing away the debris.

“I am Gallahad Bernhardt, Special Royal Inspector. I’m here to investigate the invasion of Farencia by the Rochear family this past April, which occurred without any prior notice.”

“We have nothing to say.”

“Are you refusing to comply with the demands of an investigator sent directly by His Majesty the King?”

“We’re just saying we don’t have the authority to speak on this matter.”

“Then I will see the Ice Duke directly. Lead me to her.”

“The lord is…”

“Is there a problem?”

“No, please follow me.”

Following the soldier’s guidance, he entered the gloomy interior of the lord’s castle. The deeper they went, the colder it became, visible breaths forming in the air.

The soldier who had brought Gallahad stopped him in front of a large door and knocked. There was no response from inside.

“Lady Esther hasn’t come out even once for the past week.”

“Why? What happened here?”

“…”

The soldier remained silent. And it wasn’t just him; all the soldiers on this island were the same.

Surely a mage family that valued practicality wouldn’t fail to recognize the possible consequences of obstructing a royal investigator’s inquiry. The way a report might be written could be disastrous.

Yet, for them to keep their mouths shut so thoroughly suggested only one possibility in Gallahad’s mind.

They’d suffered such a humiliating defeat that they wanted to bury the incident entirely.

This often happened in the Tower of Magic when a winner was declared after a power struggle between factions.

The more a great mage took pride in their accomplishments, the more devastating the despair when it was shattered—

But the Ruhillen Viscountcy hasn’t made any moves, so why has Rochear suffered such damage?

In the end, Gallahad couldn’t understand why Rochear, who had initiated the attack, had ended up in such a state. He knocked on the door of the room where the Ice Duke was said to be. He introduced himself, stating his rank and name, requesting the courtesy of a response.

But there was no answer. No response at all.

Even with magically enhanced hearing, he couldn’t hear any breathing. It was impossible to tell if anyone was in there or if the soldier had just led him to a freezer.

“Sigh…”

As a last resort, Gallahad waited until the soldier’s attention was elsewhere and then placed his hand on the doorknob.

With a bit of magic, he could break down the door, though it would be somewhat rude.

But that idea proved to be a big mistake.

Crack!

As soon as he grabbed the doorknob, white frost formed, freezing it solid. He quickly withdrew his hand, narrowly avoiding frostbite, when finally, a faint voice came from inside.

—Go away…

He doubted his own ears. Having been in the Lavierre Mountains, Gallahad had heard many rumors about Rochear’s Ice Duke, who blocked Pennheim’s frontline.

He was said to be as cold and sharp as to be called Iron-Blooded. Yet, that voice was so weak?

Unable to meet Esther, he had no choice but to turn back. Sighing deeply, Gallahad decided to head to Farencia next.

***

Returning to the academy from the North Sea with Adela, what awaited me was a half-destroyed convenience store.

Fortunately, it seemed like the basement and the second floor were untouched, but the first floor, trampled by Rochear’s knights, was in such a shambles that it needed serious repairs.

There were cracks on the floor, broken windows… No way I could run the store like this.

Should’ve just chopped their heads off.

It would probably look pretty eerie at night. Hanging the Ice Duke’s head on the roof like a haunted house might have turned it into a tourist attraction.

But of course, it was just a thought.

I kicked aside the scattered stationery and shards of glass on the floor and headed up to the second floor.

A cozy interior, arranged as closely as possible to the house I lived in on Earth. I felt a sense of relief, finally feeling like I was home.

But maybe it was time to let go of the thought that this peace would last forever.

Lying back on the sofa, I sank into my thoughts.

The student council’s business, Adela’s kidnapping—these turbulent times were causing my small, precious store to sway like a sailboat caught in a storm.

Farencia was no longer the peaceful countryside it had been when I first settled here. I couldn’t continue living like this forever.

I need to fortify the store against further attacks. And…

The battle with the Ice Duke. I won, yes. If I had taken a hundred hits but managed to land one at the end that took the opponent down, then it was my win.

But was this really the best I could do?

Without Eris by my side, I couldn’t afford to be reckless like I was back in Heljeb. If I had used more than three <Unique Magics>, ignoring the strain on my body, I wouldn’t have been able to get out of the North Sea with Adela and would’ve collapsed.

Maybe I should take up the sword again.

Even if it wasn’t a holy sword, it might be wise to have at least one weapon. During my time as a warrior, I wielded a sword and shield, but I didn’t feel like carrying a cumbersome shield anymore.

A light sword to protect my body would suffice.

Ten years is a long time. I hadn’t used one in earnest for so long that my skills must’ve rusted.

But still, I thought it might be worth picking up a sword again.

And the next day—

“Hup!”

As I was about to leave the academy to order materials from Bill for the store repairs, I heard a spirited shout from a distance.

By coincidence, someone was practicing swordplay in the clearing where I had once taught the students.

A first-year boy I had seen at the Magic Duel. Wasn’t his name Carl?

He was being trained by a blonde female knight. His sweat-soaked back looked quite impressive.

“Hmm?”

Then, the female knight noticed me.

“You are…?”

***

After Louis’s lecture on ‘Practical Training for Identifying Doppelgangers,’ the small clearing behind Priviti Hall had turned into a no-man’s land.

Just being near it would trigger the students’ trauma, so no one dared to visit.

It was the perfect place to teach Carl swordsmanship away from prying eyes, so Everett, the royal princess’s bodyguard, often called Carl here.

Today, as she watched him train, Everett was startled to see Louis suddenly appear.

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“It’s fine.”

Though he was dressed casually in slippers and shorts as if he was heading out for a stroll, Everett didn’t let her guard down.

There weren’t many in the knights who knew exactly how to identify a doppelganger. Louis must have been a member of a knightly order in the past or someone well-versed in magic.

“Are you training him? That’s interesting.”

“It was at the princess’s request.”

“Erzebert?”

“Yes. I am Everett Windguard, the princess’s bodyguard.”

“Oh, now that I think about it, you were there during the last class… I’m Louis. Nice to meet you.”

When she shook his hand, she felt his moderately strong forearm and palm.

No calluses…

This meant he hadn’t held a sword for a long time. Everett realized that Louis’s gaze was fixed on the sword Carl was holding.

Naturally, a desire to test this man’s skills began to grow within her.

“That’s enough for today.”

“Huh? Yes, ma’am.”

Everett sent Carl away. Then she handed Louis the sword Carl had been holding.

The princess shows no interest in Louis, often grimacing whenever his name is mentioned.

She even badmouths him sometimes, calling him a pitiful man. Could her assessment be accurate?

“Would you care to spar with me?”

“Oh? Really? Can we?”

He seemed genuinely delighted, as if he had found an old toy hidden in a closet.

And when he saw the Hookslaw emblem—the claw of a hawk—on her chest, he nodded.

“That’s the order Wiblet is in, right?”

“When referring to the Border Duke, you should use proper titles. Yes, that’s correct.”

“So particular. Then, you must be strong too? That’s good.”

What could he mean by that? Did he expect her to go easy on him?

Of course, Everett intended to hold back. Even in a sparring match, if a member of the strongest knightly order in Pennheim sent a mere store owner to the infirmary, it would tarnish her reputation.

She would only check his strength, nothing more. With that in mind, she drew her sword.

“Would you like to go first?”

“Sure? Alright.”

He nodded without hesitation. The distance between them was about three steps.

Everett quietly measured the distance, waiting for his attack.

If he swung from above, she would deflect it to the side.

If he thrust, she would step back immediately and push his sword down.

If he used magic, she would use <Silent Flame> and <Wind Cutter> to strike his wrist and waist, rendering him unable to fight.

The most effective method of personal combat she had learned in Hookslaw.

As she ran through these scenarios in her mind, Louis’s sword came down on her.

Clang!

Blocked it…!

Boom—!!

What?

Thud! Bang! Crash…! Her head spun as her whole body tumbled across the ground. Her arms, legs, and shoulders slammed into the earth.

Regaining her senses, Everett realized she had been thrown into a flower bed at the edge of the clearing. She hurriedly swept her disheveled blonde hair aside to clear her vision.

What the hell hit me?

“Cough, cough!! Ugh…!”

It had been a strike too fast to see. Shadow blade? A surprise attack using rapid swordplay?

The sword she thought she had blocked was now lying far away. Sword break? Or was it a glued grip?

Her wrist throbbed with excruciating pain. Had he mixed <Shockwave> with <Dark Vision> for a quick attack? She had assumed he was just a swordsman, but could he also use magic?

Just as endless questions raced through her mind, Louis approached and offered his hand.

“You alright? Sorry about that. I didn’t think you’d fly that far. You looked heavier with your armor on, but I guess you’re lighter than I thought.”

Right. Hookslaw Knights’ standard equipment included basic defense magic and impact-absorbing barriers.

Her whole body trembled. That meant Louis’s strike had pierced through even an artifact and sent her flying.

As Everett stood up with his help, still in shock, she stammered out a question. A question so foolish that she wouldn’t have dared ask another knight.

“H-how did you do that?”

“Hm?”

“What kind of sword technique is that? What secret family technique…?”

But he responded with a look of genuine confusion.

“Sword technique?”

The words that came next, along with his broken steel sword, sent Everett into a shock like never before in her life.

“Why would you need a technique to swing a sword?”