Chapter 170: Good at Making Excuses
After leaving the royal castle, I headed for Lynas, but there was no way I could reach it that day. I spent the night in Korché and arrived in Lynas shortly before noon the next day. Before returning home, I landed in the grasslands and changed clothes.
I sneaked down through the attic passage and ran into Ted on the way to the living room.
“Hey… what’s with that outfit?”
“I’m in the middle of a temporary job. Where are Mom and the others?”
“They’re in the living room as usual. Count Arkwright sent guards, so your mother is furious about how cramped everything feels.”
“That situation… I never thought catching the men who attacked me would turn into something this serious.”
“So how long will this commotion continue?”
“Just a little longer. Keep it secret until then.”
“And if you came back, that means…?”
“I’m here to check on them. I have two mothers, after all.”
“Hm? Besides the lady of the house?”
“My mother always helped in the hotel kitchen, and she kept working even after I was born.”
“So that’s why you can’t stand up to Lady Belinda.”
“Until my sister underwent the Independence Ceremony and began her apprenticeship at the Apothecaries’ Guild, Lady Belinda looked after me in Mom’s place.”
“So you owe her for raising you when you were a snot-nosed brat. Go and let her give you a proper scolding.”
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I took a deep breath, knocked lightly, and opened the door.
“I’m home!”
“You!…”
“Leon, where have you—”
“What’s that outfit?”
“I’m still working, but I stopped by to show my face.”
“Forget the strange outfit—that’s the royal crest, isn’t it?”
“I told you, I’m working. The arrests aren’t only happening in Lynas.”
“Then explain why you’re wearing that crest!”
“That’s what I’m trying to explain.”
“Belinda, let him speak.”
As expected of Mom… but why was my brother Ralph here too?
“Well, the arrests aren’t limited to Lynas. Other cities were involved as well. Count Arkwright asked me to deliver a report to Chancellor Brighton. When I took it to the royal castle, I was asked to carry messages from one end of the kingdom to the other. I’m holding Duke Barland’s identification, so I couldn’t exactly refuse, and flying is far faster than traveling by horse.”
“That still doesn’t explain the crest on your clothes.”
“These are important letters connected to arrests across the kingdom. I have to go directly to magistrates’ residences and noble estates, so they gave me this outfit—and this.”
I took the royal banner from my Magic Bag and waved it.
All four of them froze.
“I carry this flag into magistrates’ residences and noble estates, announce that I’m the king’s envoy, and act important. Everyone kneels, so I hand over Chancellor Brighton’s letter and leave before I expose myself. I’ve been too busy doing that to come home.”
“Is that so?”
“Probably.”
“Then we must hurry and prepare to open the restaurant.”
Good. I had covered things up exactly as planned, so it was time to escape.
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“Good grief. My son has become quite extraordinary.”
“Indeed. I never imagined he would be carrying the royal banner.”
“I was shocked enough when Duke Barland entrusted him with his identification.”
“Wait. If they trusted him with the royal banner, perhaps he also has royal identification.”
“Surely not… does he?”
“Even if Duke Barland’s identification led him to take royal assignments, they wouldn’t casually entrust him with the royal banner.”
“That boy… It’s difficult to believe, but after seeing the banner, perhaps you’re right.”
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“Hey, are you all doing well?”
“Leon, we were just discussing whether to go to Southern Rook because we’re running out of food.”
“Has this still not settled down?”
“It should be over in about another week, but I’m only the messenger. I’ll give you some of the food I have with me.”
“Could we also have a little of… that?”
“I miss the ale from the guild dining hall.”
“Then let’s drink tonight with some good meat.”
That day, we made grilled skewers from Sham meat, opened one bottle, and spent a relaxing evening together.
While drinking, I remembered something important and carved it into my memory so I wouldn’t forget.
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When I parted from Thaddeus and the others, I handed them another bottle and said, “Thanks for reminding me of something important.” Then I flew toward Leclerc.
Duke Langueille and Marquis Romberg were high-ranking nobles. Their wine cellars were sure to be full of much better liquor, and I had nearly overlooked them.
Thanks, Rings.
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When the king’s arrival was announced, knights entered the room.
“What are you doing? This is outrageous!”
“Duke Langueille, by order of His Majesty the King, you’re under arrest.”
“What? Chancellor Brighton, by what authority do you commit such lawlessness?”
“Because your son, Skoltin Langueille, raised arms against troops dispatched by me.”
“Impossible!”
“Your son Vincens was arrested for trafficking and murdering young girls. Skoltin then led troops to Vincens’s estate and demanded that he be handed over.”
“Impossible… He couldn’t have done anything so foolish…”
At Chancellor Brighton’s signal, the knights held their swords on the guards, disarmed them, and confiscated the duke’s Magic Bags, weapons, and other belongings.
“Young girls were rescued from Vincens’s estate, and we have ordered the places where murdered victims were buried to be excavated. Skoltin and his close aides, who attempted to reclaim Vincens, are also detained at Vincens’s estate. Remain quiet until His Majesty passes judgment.”
After being disarmed, the duke’s guards were removed from his waiting room and confined by the Royal Knights.
“Your Majesty, Marquis Romberg should arrive shortly.”
“Arrest him immediately, throw him into the underground cells, and begin the interrogation.”
“Then we may also seize his estate in the noble district and detain his family?”
“I leave it to you.”
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After flying past the royal capital of Leclerc, I lowered my altitude slightly. Beyond Jouelin, a large force was advancing in orderly formation.
At this pace, it would be simplest to have them camp before the territorial border, then send only the mounted knights ahead at dawn and seize the target in one rush.
Changing into the jester’s outfit was troublesome, so I raised the royal banner and overtook the column from behind.
I thought it would be difficult for them to see me directly overhead, so I moved slightly away from the highway and flew along the side of the formation. Then I noticed a line of carriages led by a knight carrying the royal army’s standard and stopped abruptly.
They began to halt the carriages when they saw my royal banner, so I gestured for them to keep moving and flew alongside them.
“Battalion Commander, it’s the royal banner.”
“Oh, is that the rumored man who flies through the sky? Where’s he?”
“To the right. He’s moving alongside the carriage—or rather, flying beside it.”
“He flies gracefully enough. Contrary to the rumors, he looks rather delicate.”
“More than delicate, he looks almost like a child.”
“Nevertheless, he reportedly subdued more than two hundred knights of the ducal house by himself. This time as well…”
“I know. We’ve been ordered to serve under his command. Our principal duties are to seize Duke Langueille’s estate and maintain public order.”
The adjutant fell silent at the battalion commander’s displeased tone.
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Still carrying the royal banner, I flew to the front of the column and stopped directly ahead of it.
The standard-bearer at the front stared in surprise, opened his mouth, and then thought better of speaking.
“Please halt here for a moment.”
After saying only that, I turned back and landed beside the carriage following the royal army’s standard.
“Excuse me. Has tonight’s campsite already been decided?”
“We plan to camp at a field used for outdoor exercises.”
“Then please tell your commander that, at daybreak tomorrow, I want only the mounted knights to ride for Daniera. Have everyone prepared.”
After delivering the instruction, I returned to the front, signaled the column to resume its advance, and left to make preparations for the following morning.
“Battalion Commander…”
“I heard him. Do as he said. Tomorrow, we’ll see what he’s capable of.”