アドル宰相の部屋にも騎士隊が現れたが、戦力となる可能性が低いと見られていたせいか、騎士隊の目標としては後回しになった。
そのため、ロトマゴの部屋の制圧を終えた騎士たちが踏み込んだ時には、すでにフォカロル兵による警備体制が整った後だった。
「な......」
剣や槍、中には鎖鎌を持った者もいるフォカロル兵が、総勢10名ほど部屋の中にひしめいているのを見て、5人体制で勢い良く部屋へと入り込んだ騎士たちは声を失った。
その代わり、フォカロル兵たちから口々に文句が飛んできた。
「おせーよ」
「そんな動きだとフォカロル領軍だと見習い扱いだな」
「剣も抜かずに入ってきたぞ。馬鹿じゃねーの」
「というか、狭い部屋に割り振り多すぎだよな」
「お前それはアリッサ長官を馬鹿にしてるのか?」
「それはないわー」
わいわいと無秩序に話しているフォカロル兵たちに、騎士は自分たちが虚仮にされた思い、黙れ、と叫んだ。
「貴様らどこから入って来た! 兵士は城外の警備担当だろうが!」
柄に手を掛けながら、戦闘の騎士が吐き出した言葉への返答は、顔面への分銅だった。
鼻血と前歯を吹き出しながら昏倒する騎士を見て、その同僚たちは唖然として、フォカロル兵たちは顔を見合わせて苦笑い。
「騎士様の言葉を邪魔したらまずくね?」
「どうせ倒すように言われてるし、いいんじゃないか?」
「さっさと片付けて次行こうぜ」
緊張感が無く、自分たち騎士に対する敬意がかけらも見られない兵士たちの言動に、残った騎士たちは次々に剣を抜いた。
「貴様ら、兵士の分際で騎士に手を挙げるか!」
威圧するつもりの言葉だったが、フォカロル兵たちはまったく萎縮する事なく、武器を持って踊りかかった。
フォカロル兵たちは、領主館内などを想定した訓練の甲斐あって、室内での戦闘はお手のものだ。剣は振らずに突きを主体として集団で騎士を囲い込み、一人が対応する間に他の兵たちが背後や左右から斬りつける。
対して、第二騎士隊出身の騎士たちは、基本が野外戦闘担当であり、剣をおお振りしては柱に当てたりと、思うように動けなかった。
結果として、騎士たちは5人全員が数分と持たずして、なます斬りにされた。
「うっ......なんというか、凄絶だな......。君たちは、フォカロル領でもこういう戦いをしているのかね?」
戦いが終わったところで、隠れていた宰相がそっと出てきた。無残な死体となった騎士たちを見て、軽くえづく。
「戦争が終わってから、そうそうありませんよ。フォカロルで暴れる奴は滅多にいませんし」
おかげで遠征が無いとなまるよな、と口々に言う。
「それで、さっき聞いた話では、私は君たちをロトマゴ騎士隊長の所へ案内すれば良いのかね?」
「はい、お願いします。俺たちは城の内部に詳しくないんで......」
「では、急ぐとしよう」
足早に部屋を出て行くアドルに、ゾロゾロとフォカロル兵たちが付いていく。
一人の兵が呟いた。
「あっちの班じゃなくて良かったぜ」
フォカロル兵で別部隊となった同僚たちを思い出し、全員が同意した。
「まったくだ。狭くて暗い所を走るなんて、怖くてチビりそうだ」
背後で起きた笑い声に、アドルは注意するべきか迷って、やめた。
(彼らも国軍兵士出身が中心のはずだが)
同僚に哀れみと笑いを提供したフォカロル兵の一人が、盛大に唾を撒き散らした。
「汚ねぇな」
「悪い悪い」
「静かにしろ。そろそろだ」
三人組になった彼らが進んでいるのは、城内の隠し通路だ。班分けされて一二三から指示を受けて、ずっと頭に叩き込んできた地図通りに早足で進んでいる。
彼らが割り振られたのは、城の3階の一部エリアだ。
鎧をつけず、音を立てないように金属は剣を腰に下げただけで、金属パーツはつけていない。
「例の玉は持ってるな?」
「俺が持ってる」
一人の兵士が、右手に持った小さなボールを見せた。
薄暗い通路の中で、はっきりと赤く見えるボールは柔らかく、つままれた指の間で少しだけ潰れていた。
「おいおい、ここで潰すなよ」
「わかってるよ」
「しっ......この先にいるな」
三人とも押し黙って、そっと足音を立てないように道を進むと、明かりを持って立っている二人の騎士が見えた。
向かい合って話をしているようで、フォカロル兵たちには気づいていない。
「......近衛騎士の連中は、この辺りにはいないようだな」
「何人かは斬ったらしいが、こっちも被害がでているらしい」
「チッ......バールゼフォンの計画は大丈夫か? 被害が多くなると、城内を掌握できなくなるぞ」
「もう始まってしまった作戦だ。なんとかするしかない」
会話の内容から反乱部隊だと判断。お互いに顔を見合わせて頷き、先ほど見せた玉を騎士に投げつけた。
「うわっ?!」
ビチャ、と音を立てて、鎧に当たった玉は弾け、赤い液体を撒き散らした。
「うっ、おええ!?」
液体からは卵が腐ったような匂いが広がり、混乱した騎士たちは驚きながらげえげえ唾を吐いた。
投げつけられたのは、熟した実を潰すと酷い匂いを出す植物の実だった。味は甘いらしいが、匂いのせいで誰も食べようとは思わず、子供がいたずらに使うので有名だった。
「国に剣を向けるようなクズ騎士には、腐った木の実がお似合いだ」
「まともに戦ってやるのも馬鹿らしい阿呆ども」
散々挑発してやると、涙目の騎士たちは剣を抜いて追いかけてきた。
「のろまども、お前らの剣なんかあたるわけないだろ」
フォカロル兵たちは息を合わせて駆け出した。
鎧を着た騎士たちは遅い。追いつけそうで追いつけない距離をうまく調整しながら、敵を惹きつけて目的地へ走る兵士たち。
「こりゃ大変だ」
「こけたら死ぬな」
「変に引き離してもダメだ。目的地はどこだったっけ?」
「忘れるなよ」
薄暗い裏通路をひた走る。
他の場所でも、同様に騎士たちを釣り出してかけているフォカロル兵たちがいた。全員が同じ場所を目指している。
城の中央にある、この建物で最も広い場所。ダンスホールへ。
「宰相を始末しに行った連中はどうした! ロトマゴを押さえた奴らからの連絡も無い!」
怒りの声をあげるバールゼフォンに、仲間の騎士たちは顔を見合わせる他ない。
「......返り討ちにでもあっているのでしょう? なぜ貴方がたの方が強いなどと根拠も無く言えるのですか」
冷静に語るイメラリアを、バールゼフォンは憎らしげに睨みつけた。
「諜報などというコソコソと動き回るしか能がない第三騎士隊の連中に、戦いを続けてきた俺たちが負ける訳が無いだろう!」
「そう思うなら、貴方の目で確かめてくればいいのです。......今、この城の中にいる最も強い者が誰なのか、嫌でもわかるでしょう」
涼しい顔をして言い放ったイメラリア。
「......良いだろう。この戦いの盟主たる俺が言って、直々に反抗する者を叩き潰してやる」
イメラリアの横で剣を握ったままの騎士に見張りを任せ、バールゼフォンは腰の剣を抜き、残りの騎士たちを連れて行くと言った。侍女たちは、イメラリアの側にまとめて座らせる。
「待っていろ。全てが終わった時には、名ばかりの女王として国民の前に立たせてやる」
大人しく待っていろ、と言い残し、バールゼフォンは出ていった。
ドアが閉まり、見張りに残った騎士が改めてイメラリアとその横に並んで座る三人の侍女たちを見据えた。
「おかしな事を考えるなよ。問題が起きるくらいなら、切り捨てるつもりだ」
低い声で脅すように言った瞬間、その首を背後から横なぎに剣が襲った。
首の半ばまでを切り裂き、頚椎にあたって硬い音を鳴らす。
血を撒き散らして倒れた騎士の後ろに立っていたのは、ミダスだった。
「イメラリア様、遅くなりまして申し訳ございません」
剣を納め、ミダスは跪いてイメラリアに詫びた。
「頭を上げてください、騎士ミダス。貴方の働きを大いに評価いたします。......一体、どこから現れたのですか?」
「はっ。実はトオノ伯の依頼を受けまして、隠し通路から状況を監視しておりました。敵が減りましたので、好機とえました」
たれた時点で出てこなかったことを恥じているらしい。それに気づいたイメラリアは、くすりと笑った。
「良く我慢してくださいました。もしあの時に飛び出していたら、貴方が殺されて助かる機会は訪れなかったでしょう。改めてお礼を言います。それにしても、この状況を一二三様は予想していたのでしょうか?」
「数名が反乱を企てている事には気づいていたようです。誘われて断れば殺されるだろうから、護衛ついでに隠れているようにと言われまして......」
「現状、どうなっているかわかりますか?」
イメラリアの質問に、ミダスは視線を落としたまま首を振った。
「申し訳ありません。私は早い段階で現場から離れましたもので」
しばらく考えたイメラリアは、ミダスを立たせた。
「ミダスさん、わたくしたちはこのままこの部屋におります。万一誰か反乱側の騎士が来たとして、そうそう殺される事は無いでしょう。それよりも、サブナクさんたちと合流してください」
「戴冠式を行います。準備をしてください」
「えっ?」
「間も無く、反乱部隊は一二三様が片付けてくれますでしょう。気にする事はありません」
きっぱりと言い切ったイメラリアに、ミダスは従う以外に無かった。
「まったく、せめてわたくしを颯爽と助けてくだされば、多少は評価いたしましたのに」
ポツリと呟いた言葉はミダスにも聞こえたが、すぐに忘れることにした。首を突っ込んでもろくな目に遭いそうにないからだ。
「貴様は......」
ロトマゴもアドルも、執務室には数名の騎士の死体が転がっているだけで、肝心の部屋の主が見当たらず、バールゼフォンの苛立ちはいや増すばかりだった。
どすどすと足音を立てながら、次にサブナクの部屋を目指して歩いていたバールゼフォンの目の前に、小柄な女の子が立っていた。
「むほんの代表者?」
首をかしげて訪ねたのは、アリッサだ。
「無礼な小娘だな。斬り殺されたくなければ、そこをどけ......いや」
抜き身のまま持っていた剣を、振りかぶった。
「騎士に軽口を叩いた罪を償ってもらおう」
思い切り振り下ろした剣は、バールゼフォンの予想を大きく外れ、床を叩いただけだった。
アリッサが、逆手に持った脇差で軌道を逸らしたのだ。
「その剣は......」
片刃で少しだけ反りがある剣。その特徴は、バールゼフォンが聞いたことがある、一二三が持つカタナという名前の剣と同じだった。
「一二三さん......じゃわからないかな。トオノ伯から伝言だよ」
斬りかかられたというのに、少しも動じていないアリッサは、懐からゴソゴソとメモを取り出して読み上げた。
「馬鹿騎士はダンスホールへ集合。以上」
わざわざメモまで出して、たったそれだけの事を言われたことがバールゼフォンの神経を逆なでした。
「おっと」
風を切って振り回される剣を、二度三度と軽く避けたアリッサは、軽い身のこなしで飛び下がった。
「昔から、避けるのは得意なんだよね。それじゃ、お爺ちゃんの護衛の仕事があるから」
「待て!」
バールゼフォンが呼び止めた時には、アリッサは既に窓の外へと飛び出していた。
しばらくはウロウロと歩きながら迷っていたバールゼフォンだが、ここまで死体以外の仲間の姿を見ていない。少なくとも40人前後は仲間が残っているはずなのに、誰にも会っていない。
舌打ちをして、城の中央にあるダンスホールへとノシノシと足早に進む。
ほどなく、ダンスホールへと入る大きな扉の前へとたどり着く。
足で乱暴に蹴り開くと、そこに見えたのは、十数名ほどの死体に囲まれ、更にその外側にぐるりといる騎士に剣を向けられている、一二三の姿だった。
大きな音を立てて開かれた扉の音に、その場の全員の視線がバールゼフォンへと集まる。
「ば、バールゼフォン! この男を何とかしろ! 既にかなりの人数がやられた!」
汗だくで叫んでいるのは、先ほど木の実をぶつけられ、ダンスホールまで誘い出された騎士だった。
「お、首謀者がやっと来たか」
一二三がそう言った瞬間、部屋に入ったバールゼフォンの背後で、ドアが閉められた。
「さあ、まだ残りは30人以上いるじゃないか。頭を使え。気を張ってしっかり周りを見ろ。今まで練習した事を思い出せ。それでようやく俺とまともに戦える」
呵呵と笑った一二三に、バールゼフォンは剣を強く握りしめ、怒りに震えた。
ざっと見ただけでも、反乱側についた騎士のほとんどがここに集められている。要するに、どいつもこいつも誘い込まれて、あげく短時間で十名以上が殺されている。
自分も誘い出された事も忘れ、バールゼフォンは叫ぶ。
「貴様ら、どいつもこいつも持ち場を放棄して誘い出されやがって! しかも一人相手になんてザマだ! 恥を知れ!」
その言葉に、視線を落とす騎士もいたが、反感を覚える者もいる。
「バールゼフォン! お前もここに来ているじゃないか!」
「そうだ! 大体、作戦がうまくいかないのはお前のせいだろう!」
状況を忘れたかのように言い争いを始めた騎士たちに、一二三は呆れた顔を見せた。
「仲良くしろよ。今から頑張って殺し合いをするんだから」
刀を大上段に構え、一二三は嗤う。
「さあ、続きを始めようか」
バールゼフォンも剣を構えた。
とにかく、ここで目の前の男を殺せば全てはうまくいくのだ、と血走った目を見開いて走り出した。
A knight unit appeared in Prime Minister Adol's room as well, but because they believed him to become an unlikely combat potential, he was postponed as target of the knight unit.
For that reason, at the time the knights broke into Lotomago's room and concluded gaining total control, it was already after the guard system of the Fokalore soldiers was put in place.
"Wh..."
Seeing the about 10 in total Fokalore soldiers, with some among them even holding kusarigama's, swords and spears, crowding the room, the knight unit, which consisted of 5 knights, lost their speech when they vigorously charged into the room.magic
On the other hand, the Fokalore soldiers jumped into complaining severally.
"Slo~w."
"You will be treated as apprentices in the Fokalore territorial army with such movements."
"You came entering without even drawing your swords. Are you morons?"
"Rather, too many have been assigned to this small room, right?"
"Are you making fun of Military Director Alyssa?"
"Of course not."
Due to the Fokalore soldiers chaotically clamouring about, the knights believed to be made fools of and shouted "Shut up!"
"From where did you bastards enter!? The soldiers are in charge of guarding outside the castle, aren't they!?"
While laying his hand on his sword's hilt, the leading knight spit out these words. A counterweight sunk into his face.
Watching the swooning knight, who is spewing out his front teeth and bleeding from the nose, his colleagues have become dumbfounded. The Fokalore soldiers look at each other with bitter smiles.
"Is it inopportune for me to interrupt the words of Knight-sama?"
"Isn't it fine as we were told to kill them anyway?"
"Let's hurry up with getting rid of them and go to the next place."
The remaining knights drew their swords due to the speech and conduct of the soldiers, which didn't try to show a splinter of respect towards the knights and had absolutely no tension.
"You lowlifes are raising your hands against knights as inferior soldiers?"
Those were words intended to daunt them, but without even caring at all, the Fokalore soldiers started to let the weapons, they held, dance.
As result of the anticipatory training the Fokalore soldiers received in buildings like the Lord's mansion, they are experienced in indoor combat as well. Enclosing the knights as group thrusting without swinging the sword as core of his attacks, a single soldier is dealing with the knights at front while the other soldiers slash away from left, right and the back.
In contrast, the knights originating from the Second Knight Order are basically in charge of fighting outdoors. As they were hitting pillars with their large sword swings, they couldn't move as they wanted.
In the end, all of the five knights didn't last more than a few minutes and were sliced apart like Kuai.
"Uh... how to say it, it's extremely gruesome... Are you fighting like this even in the territory of Fokalore?" (Adol)
Once the battle finished, the hidden prime minister quietly came out. Looking at the knights having been turned into miserable corpses, he feels slightly nauseated.
"Not so often after the war has ended. There's rarely anyone acting violently in Fokalore."
"Thanks to that we will grow dull if we don't go on expeditions", several of them say.
"So, about the talk from just now, it will be fine, if I guide you to the place of Knight Captain Lotomago, correct?" (Adol)
"Yes, please. With us not being well-accustomed to the interior of the castle..."
"Then let's hurry." (Adol)
The Fokalore soldiers follow Adol, who has left the room at a quick pace, one after the other.
A single soldier muttered.
"I'm glad I wasn't in the other group."
Remembering their colleagues, who were assigned to another unit, all of them agreed.
"Good grief. Something like running in a narrow, dark places is ideal for scary midgets."
Due to the laughter occurring in the rear, Adol was puzzled whether he should caution the soldier, but decided against it.
(He should also be in the core of the soldiers belonging to the national armed forces though.)
A single Fokalore soldier was offered smiles of pity by his colleagues, as he had magnificently scattered his spit.
"Ugh, how filthy."
"Bad, bad boy."
"Be quiet. We are almost there."
They, who merged into a three-man cell, are advancing through the hidden pathways within the castle.
The area, they had been assigned to, is a section of the castle's third floor.
Not wearing any armour and with a sword affixed to their waists being the only metal in order to not make any sounds, no metallic parts are attached to them.
"Do we have the aforementioned ball?"
"I'm holding onto it."
One of the soldiers held out a small ball in his right hand.
Within the dim pathway its red colour could be clearly seen. Being soft, the ball was crushed between the fingers holding it.
"Whoa, don't smash it here."
"I know."
"Shh! ... don't go beyond this point."
As the three advanced silently along the path taking care to not make any sounds with their feet, two knights, holding lights, could be seen standing.
With them chatting while facing the other way, they haven't noticed the Fokalore soldiers.
"... It doesn't seem like the lot of the Royal Knight Order is around here."
"Looks like some people were killed, but apparently we have suffered some losses as well."
"Damn it... is Balzephon's plan really going to work? If the losses become too large, it will be impossible to seize the castle."
"The operation has already started. We have no choice but to follow through now."
The Fokalore soldiers judged the two knights to belong to the rebelling forces by the contents of their conversation. Looking at each other's faces and nodding, the previously shown ball was tossed at the knights.
"Uwah!?"
With a splashing sound the ball hit the armour, burst open and scattered a red fluid.
"Ugh, blegh!?"
A smell similar to rotten eggs spread from the liquid. While being confused by the surprise, the knights spit out with sounds of vomiting.
The thrown ball was a plant's fruit that gives off a terrible stench once the ripe fruit is crushed. Apparently its taste is delicious, but due to the smell no one intends to eat it. It was famous because it was used by children to play pranks.
"For trashy knights, who turn their blades against the nation, a rotten fruit is only befitting."
"Only stupid simpletons would fight from the front."
As they thoroughly provoked them, the teary-eyed knights drew their swords and approached in pursuit.
"You blockheads, there's no way your swords will hit anything."
The soldiers from Fokalore matched their breathing and broke into a run.
The knights, who wore armour, are too slow. While skilfully adjusting the distance so that they think they can catch up though they won't, the soldiers are running to their target location while pulling the enemies along.
"This is difficult."
"Don't die if you fall over."
"It's also no good to unexpectedly separate them. Where was the target location again?"
"Don't forget that."
They are running and running through the gloomy, hidden paths.
Even at other places, there were Fokalore soldiers luring knights in the same way. All of them are heading for the same location.
Towards the largest place in this building. Towards the dance hall.
"What happened to the group that went to get rid of the prime minister? There isn't any contact from the guys, who were restraining Lotomago, either." (Balzephon)
Due to Balzephon raising an angry voice, his knight colleagues look at each other's face and nothing else.
"... They likely also had the tables turned on them? Why are you saying something like you being strong without any basis?" (Imeraria)
Balzephon turned a scornful glare at Imeraria talking calmly.
"There is no way for us, who have continued to fight, to lose to the lot of the incompetent Third Knight Order, who only move around in secret for things like intelligence!" (Balzephon)
"If you believe that, it's fine if you go checking it with your own eyes. ... It will likely be unpleasant to realize who is the strongest person within this castle currently." (Imeraria)
Imeraria declared that in a nonchalant air.
"... I guess that's fine. I, who is the leading power of this battle, tell you, I will personally defeat those resisting crushingly!" (Balzephon)
Entrusting the guarding to the knight, who continues to hold his sword at Imeraria's side, Balzephon draws his sword at his waist and takes the remaining knights along. The maids are sitting in a huddle next to Imeraria.
"Look forward to it. Once everything's finished, I will have you stand in front of the people as queen in name only." (Balzephon)
"Just wait for that obediently", Balzephon left with these words.
Once the door closed, the knight, who remained to keep watch, stared at Imeraria and the three maids, who were sitting lined up side-by-side, again.
"Don't get any strange ideas. If any problems occur, I plan to cut you down."
In the instant he told his threat in a low voice, his neck was attacked by a sword sweeping sideways from his back.
Cutting as far as half through the neck, a hard sound rings as the cervical vertebrae is hit.
It was Midas, who stood in the back of the knight, who collapsed while scattering blood.
"I'm very sorry for getting here this late, Imeraria-sama." (Midas)
Lowering his sword, Midas kneeled in front of Imeraria and apologised.
"Please raise your head, Knight Midas. I'm valuing your work very highly. ... Just where the heck did you appear from?" (Imeraria)
"Ha! As a matter of fact, receiving a request from Earl Tohno, I was observing the situation from a hidden passage. Because the number of enemies decreased, I used the opportunity." (Midas)
It seems like he is feeling ashamed for him not coming out at the time when Imeraria was hit a dozen times. Imeraria, who realized that, laughed unintentionally.
"You endured it well. If you had rushed out at that moment, you would have likely been killed and the chance to rescue me  wouldn't have appeared. Once again, you have my thanks. At any rate, did Hifumi-sama foresee this state of affairs?" (Imeraria)
"It looks like he was aware of several people plotting a rebellion. Because I would probably have been killed if I had declined the invitation, he told me to take the opportunity to conceal myself as guard..." (Midas)
"Do you know what is currently happening?" (Imeraria)
Midas lowered his head and shook it in reply to Imeraria's question.
"I'm sorry. I left the scene at an early stage." (Midas)
Imeraria, who thought for a little while, made Midas stand up.
"We will stay in this room as is, Midas-san. If by some chance some knights of the rebelling forces came, they wouldn't kill us quickly. Leaving that aside, please join up with Sabnak's group." (Imeraria)
"The coronation ceremony will be held. Please prepare for that." (Imeraria)
"Eh?" (Midas)
"The rebelling forces will be cleaned up by Hifumi-sama before long. It's not a matter to worry about." (Imeraria)
Midas had no choice but to abide to what Imeraria clearly declared.
"Good grief, if you at least helped me gallantly, it would raise my evaluation of you a little." (Imeraria)
Although Midas also heard the words she muttered, he decided to forget them right away. It's because it extremely unlikely for him to do something crude as sticking his nose into the affair of others.
"You bastards are..."
With only discovering several corpses of knights scattered in the offices and without finding the crucial masters of the rooms, Lotomago and Adol, Balzephon's irritation only increased.
Before the eyes of Balzephon, who next headed towards Sabnak's room while making stomping sounds with his feet, stood a small girl.
"The representative of the rebels?" (Alyssa)
Visiting with her head inclined to the side, it is Alyssa.
"You rude lass. If you don't want to be slain, get out of the way... no." (Balzephon)
He brandished the sword with its blade blank.
"I will have you atone for the sin of having made fun of a knight." (Balzephon)
The sword, swung downward with all his strength, only hit the floor causing Balzephon stance to grandly fall apart.
Alyssa had averted its trajectory with the wakizashi she held in a backhand grip.
"That sword is..." (Balzephon)
It's a sword with only a slight curve having a single edge. Its characteristic, as Balzephon had heard before, was similar to the sword with the name katana, which Hifumi possesses.
"Hifumi-san's... I wonder if you don't get it. It's a verbal message from Earl Tohno." (Alyssa)
Even though she was assaulted with a sword, Alyssa, who wasn't perturbed in the least, retrieved a memo from her pocket with a rustling sound and read it out loud.
"The stupid knights are gathering in the dance hall. End." (Alyssa)
It totally rubbed Balzephon the wrong way that she even went as far as especially taking out a memo just to say only this much.
"Uh-oh." (Alyssa)
Alyssa, who easily avoided again and again the fast-moving, swung sword, jumped around with nimble movement.
"Since olden days my speciality is to evade, you know. That's because I have officially worked as ojii-chan's guard." (Alyssa)
"Wait!" (Balzephon)
At the moment Balzephon called her to stop, Alyssa immediately jumped out of the window.
Balzephon wavered while wandering around aimlessly for a while, but he doesn't see any figures except the corpses of his colleagues up until here. Although there should at least be 40 of his colleagues remaining, he doesn't meet anybody.
Clicking his tongue, he advances towards the dancing hall located at the centre of the castle with heavy feet at a quick pace.
Soon he arrives in front of a large door leading into the dance hall.
Once he opened it with a violent kick, he saw Hifumi's figure there, surrounded by ten-odd corpses and furthermore encircled by knights beyond the circle of corpses turning their swords at him.
Due to the loud sound of the door opening, the gazes of everyone present gather on Balzephon.
"Ba-Balzephon! Do something about this man! He has already done in quite a few of us!"
Yelling while dripping in sweat, it was a knight, who had been earlier hit with the fruit and was lured up to the dance hall.
"Oh, at last the ringleader came?" (Hifumi)
The instant Hifumi said that, the door in the back of Balzephon, who entered the room, closed.
"Well then, aren't there still around 30 of you remaining? Use your head. Brace yourselves and properly look at your surroundings. Recall the things you have practised until now. With this it will be possible for you to finally fight me decently." (Hifumi)
Due to Hifumi's laughter, Balzephon grasped his sword strongly and trembled with rage.
Even if he only looked roughly at it, almost all of  the remaining knights of the rebelling side have been gathered here. To put it simply, every last of them has been lured here and in the end more than 10 have been killed in a short amount of time.
Forgetting about himself being led here as well, he shouts.
"You idiots, all of you have been lured here abandoning your own stations! Furthermore, what's this sorry state with only a single opponent! You should be ashamed!" (Balzephon)
There also were knights, who lowered their sight due to his words, but there are also those feeling antipathy.
"Balzephon! Haven't you come here as well!?"
"Right! In the first place, it is likely your fault for the operation going badly!"
Due to the knights, who started to quarrel among themselves as if forgetting the situation, Hifumi made an astonished expression.
"Get along with each other. After all we will do our best to kill each other from now on." (Hifumi)
Holding the katana above his head, Hifumi laughs.
"Well, then let's start now, okay?" (Hifumi)
Balzephon readied his sword as well.
At any rate, if we kill the man in front of my eyes here, all will turn out well
Summoned Slaughterer
呼び出された殺戮者
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/summoned-slaughterer/
Action Adventure Fantasy Martial Arts Mature Psychological Romance Shounen
Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Arrogant Characters Average-looking Protagonist Beastkin Beautiful Female Lead Betrayal Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Cunning Protagonist Dark Demi-Humans Demons Determined Protagonist Different Social Status Dwarfs Elemental Magic Elves Enemies Become Allies Enemies Become Lovers Evil Protagonist Fantasy Creatures Fantasy World Fearless Protagonist God-human Relationship Gods Kingdom Building Kingdoms Knights Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Beasts Magical Space Male Protagonist Marriage Monsters Nobles Obsessive Love Overpowered Protagonist Politics Power Struggle Protagonist Strong from the Start R-15 Royalty Ruthless Protagonist Samurai Schemes And Conspiracies S*aves Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Summoning Magic Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Transported to Another World Underestimated Protagonist Unique Weapon User Unique Weapons Wars Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4399ci/
井戸正善／ido