episode_0137

Giant information guild. Giant assassination guild.

In fact, these two groups were concepts that could not exist from the beginning.

It does not mean that there are no such things as information brokers or assassins.

Of course, they must exist. If you look, you’ll find several organizations formed by a few of those people gathering together.

What I’m trying to say is that forming giant guild organizations with enough influence on a national scale by such individuals was impossible.

Why, you ask? Isn’t it obvious?

From simple rumors to national secrets, a massive information organization that collects and sells all the information of a country.

A huge assassination organization that influences the entire territory, willing to kill knights, nobles, anyone for the right price.

Would law enforcement really turn a blind eye to such organizations? Just having one of them could destabilize an entire country if misused.

Just the idea of it would make knights from kingdoms flock in and spill blood, wouldn’t it?

That’s why, even if the influence of information or assassination organizations was maximized, controlling just one city was the limit. They couldn’t expand beyond that.

In theory.

Of course, contrary to the hopes of all scholars, theory and reality rarely align perfectly.

In this world, giant guilds boasting kingdom-scale influence in information and assassination actually existed.

The Shadow of the Eagle, dominating the entire underworld of Herbor, was one such organization.

How was that possible? Didn’t you just say that if such an organization appeared, kingdom knights would destroy it?

The answer was simple.

The leader of the organization that knights had to destroy was none other than their future lord.

Like how corrupt politicians tied to power don’t get arrested unless they fall out of favor or the regime changes.

If the boss of law enforcement controls the underworld, can the authorities below really punish them?

Argantir Gardarik Herbor.

As the heads of the organization were the second princes and crown prince of the kingdom, the Shadow of the Eagle could smoothly expand its influence without interference from law enforcement.

By wiping out or assimilating criminal organizations scattered across the entire territory, they eventually came to dominate the entire underworld of the kingdom.

Yes.

The second princes of Argantir were far from the weak and ordinary individuals society perceived them to be.

Could someone who founded a mafia organization at fifteen and became the boss of the entire underworld within a few years really be a kind and weak person?

Emptying the pockets of investment scammers to divert their money into the organization’s funds was a ploy to discard them and groom loyal assassins from orphans.

Providing substantial support to orphanages was a guise to cultivate orphans loyal to him.

Disguising such abilities and posing as a mere petty criminal was to deceive someone wary of his competence.

I had approached him pretending to be a high-ranking member of the organization.

…Hmm, was this okay?

Now that I think about it, wasn’t it a bit reckless?

If he’s a despicable person who sends assassins in large numbers, then surely…?

◆◆

“…You should go this way.”

It was fine.

Two days had passed since I instructed the Eagle Masked Man to meet the boss of the organization.

The organization member who came to the inn where Freide and I were staying greeted me politely and handed me a small map.

“If you follow this location… It’s outside the city?”

“That’s right. If we leave after breakfast, we should arrive just before noon.”

The location marked on the map was a bit far from Ahillant, but not too distant.

Roughly two hours’ walk away, would we arrive? The task was faster than expected and closer than thought.

“Is it really okay…? It might be trying to lure us out of the city to kill us.”

Freid seemed a bit uneasy as she looked up at me and asked.

Even as she spoke, her lack of confidence seemed more like ordinary unease rather than her intuition kicking in.

I must have explained it poorly.

In Freid’s mind, Argantir was like a demon wearing the guise of a human who had shed blood and tears without mercy, reveling in betrayal and assassination.

It wasn’t that extreme.

“It’ll be fine. If they wanted to kill us, they wouldn’t have led us out of the city. Remember, this city wasn’t on our side from the start, right?”

“Oh… right, that’s true.”

I reassured Freid, tapping her forehead to correct her misconception.

Yes. If Argantir wanted us dead, there were much simpler ways than ambushing us outside the city.

He is, after all, the prince of this country outwardly.

By sending a trusted knight who knows his true identity to arrest us, the entire city would have turned against us.

Sending a map like this means they are at least willing to hear our story. So, for now, it was safe to relax.

“And besides, I have you, Freid, don’t I? So, there’s nothing to worry about. My knight will protect me just as I protect you.”

To completely dispel Freid’s unease, I jokingly reassured her with a smile, which had a good effect but significant side effects.

“…Is it okay if we’re a little late?”

“Huh? Oh…? Well, still, keeping the prince of this country waiting is a bit… Hey, Freid…?”

“We should walk faster!”

The self-inflicted disaster delayed our departure by an hour.

Sighs were replaced by groans echoing through the inn’s ceiling.

Argantir’s chosen meeting place was a small cabin in the woods outside the city.

Several drying animal hides hung on the log walls, possibly the hideout of an organization member disguised as a hunter.

“This place… hmm, seems to have more guests than expected.”

I sighed in frustration as I scanned the dense forest surrounding us.

Though not visible, I could sense it—the presence of people hiding among the trees. Or was it more like a faint smell of flesh and blood?

It seemed that His Majesty Argantir was extremely sensitive about his safety, judging by the dozens of assassins and knights he brought along.

“Should we kill them?”

What a grim question from him.

Freid asked sharply, eyeing the bushes, ready to draw her holy sword and unleash a flurry of slashes.

“No, calm down, Freid. That’s not it.”

I urgently calmed Freid down.

Drawing a sword against the forces Argantir brought would be akin to declaring the end of one’s life.

With charges of embezzlement of state funds and attempted murder of a hero party attached to me, along with accusations of collusion with Abyssal priests and multiple murders of pursuers, there was no way out other than fleeing to another race’s country.

If accused of regicide on top of that, there would be no way to survive.

“That’s just an escort or a show of force. If they were hiding to ambush us, they would have concealed themselves more carefully.”

“Oh, I see…?”

Perhaps my explanation got through, as Freid finally let go of her tension, narrowly avoiding a situation where Herborla and the Ironlands would become enemies.

“Ahh…”

A sigh of relief escaped involuntarily.

Freddie has a subtle recklessness despite his cute and innocent appearance.

…Even at night.

No, why am I suddenly thinking like that?

Is it because of this morning’s incident…?

I shook my head to clear the inappropriate memories that came to mind and walked briskly towards the log cabin with Freddie.

“…You’re here.”

The man standing in front of the log cabin looked at us and spoke.

A kingdom knight, perhaps. With a sturdy physique that exuded strength, the characteristic metallic sheen of armor was faintly visible between the cloak that covered his body.

If I were to fight him… Hmm, I feel like I could win.

Instinctively assessing the balance of power between us, I didn’t particularly sense any imminent danger.

Perhaps he knew we were coming and was on guard, which seemed to weaken the effect of our disguise.

“Unarm yourselves. If you attempt anything foolish, I will kill you immediately.”

The man pointed at the sword at my waist while issuing a low threat.

Knowing we would come, he seemed prepared and alert, making the effectiveness of our disguise weak.

“As you wish.”

After indicating that I had no intention of causing trouble, I loosened the sword at my waist and leaned it against the log cabin railing.

Similarly, I placed a dagger above the railing as well.

Freddie just stood there quietly.

Her beloved weapon, Nibelung, a sword stored in another dimension and summoned when needed.

There was no need to display it, as it could be summoned instantly from the void, rendering the act of disarming pointless.

“Hmm…”

After leaving the weapons aside, the man glanced over me and Freddie with a scrutinizing gaze, contemplating whether to conduct a thorough search or let us pass.

It seemed he was aware of my gender due to the weakened disguise. Freddie, of course, needed no explanation.

That must be what he’s pondering. While knights have the authority to search, it may not be appropriate to thoroughly search a woman’s body.

Normally, female knights or soldiers would handle such tasks, but it seemed that all the forces gathered here were men.

“Tsk. Fine, whatever. Go in.”

Finally, the man reluctantly stepped aside, allowing us to enter.

Seeing his muttered reassurance, it appeared he had great faith in the guards waiting inside, ready to defend the prince if we were to attack.

It was a comforting thought.

If this man had insisted on searching us, Freddie would likely have drawn Nibelung to start the internal search.

Thanks to that, we could enter the log cabin without an unpleasant experience.

“Finally meeting you. Your bold request for an audience was quite impressive, even more so than when I learned of your adventures as an adventurer.”

And there, we faced three men.

Two knights who seemed five times stronger than the kingdom knight guarding the door, and a young man with a handsome face sitting comfortably in a soft chair, accompanied by his guards.

“Well then, please sit. You mentioned you had something to tell me? It must be information unknown to me.”

The ruler of the Herbor Kingdom’s underworld.

The sole royal with the right to succeed the throne.

“As you requested my presence, please share your intriguing story. I am Brünhilde of the Line Kingdom, the warrior of Line, Freddie.”

Guard Argantir Gardarik Herbor.