Chapter 48: Those whose lives were to be taken and those who were supposed to take their lives (Part one)

Days passed, and when the commotion in the Baldor Mountains was being widely talked about in the Imperial City---- the Imperial Castle was being hit by commotion day after day.

The fact that the center of the unprecedented commotion was about the world-renowned and prestigious Imperial Cadet Academy.......

There was no way this was not going to be a major problem, and they would do everything in their power to find out who was behind it and for what purpose.

Ironically, it had given the factional struggle a level of cooperation it had never had before.

The parents of the candidates who took part in the Imperial Academy's prized special class ---- its final examinations shared their anger without regard for each other's factions.

The anger was naturally directed at the Imperial Cadet Academy's board of directors, which is in the midst of a harsh pursuit.

Naturally, there were those who sought to place the blame on the dean of the academy, Klonoa Hyland, but she left the country before the final examinations began, according to the decision of the government.

Furthermore, the minutes in the possession of the Board of Trustees also state that she stated that the Baldor Mountains were not an option, so the investigation turned to who had a hand in the decision after she made it.

“I heard an Interesting story. Edgar."

After leaving the large conference room set up in the Imperial Castle.

Normally it’s a quiet and solemn space where one rarely hears anyone talking, but now the hallway is filled with noise, said Marquis Ignat as he walked down it.

Edgar, who had been accompanying him, squinted at the morning sun coming in through the window and said.

“I’d be very interested in hearing about it.”

“Of course. I learned about it today. A nobleman belonging to the Council was found dead.”

"...... hmmm. Are you referring to the nobleman who made the final confirmation of the magic ship that Fiona-sama will be riding in?”

“As expected of you, Edgar. Yes, I heard that the man committed suicide by slurping down poison. He died before this incident came to light. Thanks to this, the knights are rushing to the mansion to gather information.”

“They won't find it anyway.”

“I don't think so either.“

Marquis Ignat stopped, leaned his back against the wall and crossed his arms.

“I heard that he was very much decomposed, but the interesting thing is that he seemed to be smiling in death.”

“As if he wasn't afraid to die.”

“Yes, or perhaps he was happy about it. For example, if the man had a master, and this disturbance was for his master’s benefit---- that would mean he was happy to die for his master and felt that way, wouldn't it?”
"It seems that he was a loyal subject along with me."

"Yes, I see."

Marquis Ignat laughed, and then his whole body was filled with a strong feeling of murderous intent.

Although he still had a smile on his cheeks, his supremacy was so powerful that everyone passing by couldn’t help but gasp.

“It seems that the time has come when even factions cannot be trusted.”

The reason is that the culprits in the recent disturbance targeted the examinations attended by those involved, regardless of whether they were from the Heroic or Imperialist factions.

“The demon king’s cult, wasn't it? I heard that the adventurer who rescued Fiona-sama ---- or Ren-sama, mentioned it.”

“Oh, the adventurer. I was told it was overheard at the guild, but thanks to that, we've been able to confirm its existence. Now that we have, we just need to grab it by the tail and get in touch with it. ...... That's where the problem begins."

Marquis Ignat recalls this with a gentle smile.

“I'm going to ask you one more time. Fiona was saved by an adventurer, and Asval's end was almost self-destructive, wasn't it? 』

“Yes, just as you said father. 』

“...... I see. After that, your power also calmed down a bit. Is this also correct? 』

When Fiona returned to Marquis Ignat, after the joy of reunion and relief that she was alive, this was the result of his subsequent conversation with his beloved daughter.

However, as a parent, he couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable with his daughter's words.

At the same time, he instantly realized that his daughter was speaking with the awareness that she was hiding something from him.

All of this was just as Ren had expected.

『Really...... both him and my daughter are so sweet. 』

“Father? What did you just say? 』

“Nothing. I'm just muttering that I'm glad my daughter is alive. 』

Marquis Ignat exhaled tiredly as he finished recounting the conversation between father and daughter.

“I’m out of the loop, my dear girl. If I were to make an inquiry of the Knights of the House of Clausel, they would be obliged to tell me what adventurers they had.”

“I think you’re right. Perhaps Fiona and the adventurer were too tired to think much about it. Or perhaps the adventurer had no intention of hiding it.”

“Perhaps it was the latter. He trusted that I'll get the hint, and he himself just asked Fiona to give him some time to calm down.”

Marquis Ignat, while realizing the plot, didn’t feel bad about it.

He didn’t doubt the possibility that Ren was involved in the demon king’s cult here.

He had a mental picture of the being who had saved his daughter not once, but twice, and he was determined to respect the words of that being.

“I would eventually receive word through Baron Clausel. It’s only information that the knight of the Clausel family has seen and heard. I’m sure the boy won’t make a mistake in his judgment.”

So instead of rushing Ren's case, Marquis Ignat decided to do what he could.

He had information and clues.

In addition to the information from Fiona, there was enough information coming from the Baldor Mountains along the way, even if the investigation hadn’t yet been completed.

Ulysses Ignat would have no problem at all.

“I have no further business in the capital. We have more important business to attend to. Let's go, Edgar.”

As a longtime squire, Edgar felt a little weirded out that his lord hadn’t made a bigger move in the capital than he had expected.

He thought it wouldn’t be surprising if they at least buried a few nobles.　

But it was as quiet as a lie.

They were making the necessary references and assigning blame, but to tell the truth, the other nobles were speaking much more loudly and noisily than they were.

“Are you sure? I thought that since it was the Lord, he would return home leaving behind a trail of claw marks.”

“Hmm… I have a lot of thoughts on the matter, but this is a farce anyway. With no information at all about demon king’s cult, no matter how we act, we'll all be blaming each other, won't we? It's a waste of time, and it's going to be meaningless, so I'll pass. If that's the case, it would be better to go back to Fiona's side.”

But it’s not without thought.

Marquis Ignat had a definite goal in mind: ----

At the same time, a man and a woman were walking down a different corridor from the one in which Marquis Ignat and Edgar were walking.

One was a boy with a dignified face and silver hair, almost the same age as Ren. The girl walking next to him is not much older, but she’s not purely human.

She was a mixture of human and Cait Sith, a race of cats that look like people.

"That's why, nya!"

“What do you mean ----? Don't skip the explanation, explain it again.”

The girl's light voice was met with a sigh from the silver-haired boy, who looked at her with a handsome face.

The boy repeated with a look of disappointment on his handsome face.

"There was an imprint on the body of the board member who committed suicide, wasn't there? That's where it started. Keep going."

The half-breed girl giggled as she was told that she had no choice.

Perhaps it is because she has inherited many human characteristics, or perhaps it is because the girl has only remnants of Cait Sith in her cat ears and tail, but she’s adorable with her well-defined face.

But the silver-haired boy lightly pinched the cheek of the giggling girl.

“W-why was I pinched nya!?”

“Because you were out of line… fool. Besides, I pinched your cheeks lightly.”

“Yes nya! Good work your highness. You're a genius to be able to control the amount of pinch you get.”

“I'm not happy to be praised for that. ---- Come on, let's get on with it."

Then the girl cleared her throat.

Releasing her loose attitude, put a sincere expression on her cheeks, and hardened her voice tone somewhat.

“The imprint on the director's body confirmed the same magic power that had resided in the bodies of the Demon King's subjects in the past.”

“In other words, it’s either a remnant of the Demon King's army or someone who is plotting the Demon King's resurrection.”

“That's what I think nya.”

“If that’s the case it’ll be troublesome. If there are people in our country who have been seduced by the power of the Demon King, we can no longer trust them just because they are nobles of the royalist faction.”

“Then, what will you do, Nya?”

“Isn’t it obvious. We need to gather trusted associates to find out who is in league with the Demon King.”

The mixed race girl growled with difficulty even though she was told in a strong tone of voice.

"I think it’ll be difficult to find someone who can move with the same thought as His Highness, Nya.”

“But I can't do anything without friends. To be honest, if the Demon King is involved, It’s too heavy a load for me to carry alone. Even if I bite him, I will end up being eaten.”

“But Your Highness! Finding a companion is fine, but His Highness needs to choose a dedicated knight quickly, nya!"

“I know, but I don't have a knight I like, so I guess I can't help it.”

"Haa~... That's why you're telling me to replace the royal guard nya. I want you to think about my feelings as a sidekick nya."

The silver-haired boy sighs once more and opens his mouth to the half-breed girl who called herself a side kick.

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