フォカロルの人口は、領主が変わる前の実に三倍に増えている。難民や移民がかなりの数にのぼるのだが、早い段階で住民の管理体制ができていたことと、外部から勉強のためにやって来て、お金を落として行くタイプの住民も相当数いたために、全体的にバランスは取れていた。
商工関係に関しては、国内どころか国外と比較しても、抜群に生産力と販売力を伸ばしている。
一二三の指示により商業は許可制にして整理をし、申告による税制度に切り替え、トロッコを使って領内における街と街の流通は領主が完全に主導権を握って、そこからの売上だけでも領地運営にかなり貢献している。
工業においてはこの世界で初めて規格の統一をし、一二三が発明した事になっている“ネジ”によって、木工と鉄工に大きな変化をもたらした。それまでは溶接か釘による不可逆的な固定が一般的だったのが、ネジの登場と規格化された工業品が爆発的に広まった事により、気の早い者は「フォカロルが全て工業品の基準を作る」などと言い出す状態だ。
知識面だけではなく、各領地からその軍事的な部分においても注目され、部隊ごと訓練に参加するために滞在し、結果として街に落ちる金銭は増えていく。
フォカロルに注目が集まると、人口が増える。結果として職員と彼らを束ねる文官奴隷達は再び忙しくなっていた。
「ギギギ......」
歯を食いしばりながら、般若の表情で書類を片付けているのは、文官奴隷の一人で軍務を担当しているミュカレだ。
文官奴隷のための執務スペースで、ミュカレは不機嫌を隠そうともせず、バッサバッサと音を立てて書類をさばいていた。室内にはデュエルガルとパリュもいたが、全員無言で仕事をしている。
「なに?!」
恐る恐る声をかけたデュエルガルに、ミュカレは投げつけるような視線を向ける。
「そんなに睨むなよ......。領主様が言っていた、引退兵士の受け入れだけどよ。鉄工関係で準備が出来たぜ」
「そう。それじゃ、引退を考えている兵士たちに通知して、希望者を工業ギルドに紹介するわね」
入れ替わりに入ってきた一人の職員が、ミュカレの表情に一瞬ギョッとした顔をして、足早にパリュのデスクへと向かった。
顔を上げたパリュは、眠たそうに紫色の目を半分閉じているが、いつもの事なので職員は特に気にせず、手に持った書類を渡す。
「パリュさん、王都から連絡が来ました」
「ありがとうございます。確認しますね」
職員が去ると、パリュは渡された書類に目を通す。戸籍の作成と処理ですっかり書類仕事になれた彼女は、書類を読むのも早い。一枚の書類に記載された内容をものの数秒で把握する。カイムほどではないが、領内の職員の中では書類処理能力は高い。
「......ミュカレさん。王都の戴冠式が終わり次第、アリッサ軍務長官が帰還されるそうです」
前置き無く伝えられたパリュの言葉に、ミュカレは椅子を倒す勢いで立ち上がった。
「本当に!?」
「この書類が偽物でなければ。領主様のいつもの読めないサインがあるので、間違いないかと思いますが」
「なら大丈夫ね! お帰りなさいのパーティーが必要よね!」
店はあそこがいいか、いっそホテルでも予約するか、とニコニコというよりニヤニヤという言葉がぴったりなだらしない顔をしているミュカレに、パリュはもうこれは病気だと思うことにした。不治の病だと。
「領主様も帰ってこられます。それに、ヴィシーから預かった兵士を数名連れて帰ってくるので、研修訓練に参加させる用意をするようにとの事です。宿泊施設はわたしが押さえますが、訓練に入れ込む段取りはミュカレさんしかできませんから、お願いしますね」
「任せておきなさい! 時間はあまりないはずよね。戴冠式って、いつだったかしら?」
「今日ですよ」
レオナール子爵がロシーに接触し、ヴィシーとのつながりを作ろうとしている動きは、城内監視をしている近衛騎士隊には筒抜けだった。
前日、最初にレオナールがヴィシーの随行員も交えて話し合いの場を持った時、「他にも貴国と友好関係を結びたいと願っている貴族はいる」と語り、戴冠式前に他の貴族も交えての会談を希望し、ロシーもそれを承諾したため、一網打尽にするために泳がす事になった。
そして本日、昨日同様にヴィシーからの使者たちのための待機室を舞台とした会談が始まった。
貴族たちは順番にロシーに対して丁寧な挨拶をして、貴族らしからぬ下手に出た態度だった。
対してロシーは充分な警戒をしているつもりではいるようだが、ここで結果を出す必要があり、焦っているのは明らかだと、彼らを少し離れて見ていた随行員の隊長は冷静に見抜いていた。
随行員は所詮はおまけに過ぎない、とオーソングランデ貴族たちはろくに言葉も交わさずに無視しており、それが随行員たちにとっては好都合だった。こっそりと位置を移動し、部屋の出入口を塞ぐように立っても、誰も気にしなかったからだ。
密かに監視をしていた、ヴァイヤーのみがその動きに注目していた。
「それでは、早速ですが我々の友好を形にするための話し合いをいたしましょう」
レオナールが音頭を取る形で話し合いは進む。
「単刀直入に申しますと、我が国としてはオーソングランデ国内へ流通させる商品の受け取り先になっていただければと考えております」
ロシーの言葉に、貴族たちはすぐには理解できない様子で、レオナールがその真意を問う。
「今後、我が国の商人が貴国へ入るにも制限がかかる可能性がありますし、敵対していた国の商品は、売れにくくなるでしょう。そこで、どなたかに一度買い手となっていただき、オーソングランデ国内での販売元となっていただければと」
そこまで言われて、なるほどと口に出しつつも、いまいち反応が薄い事に、直接的な言葉で言わないと理解もできないのか、とロシーは内心苛立っていた。
「......もちろん、ご協力いただけましたならば、格安にて商品を卸させていただきますから、貴国で販売される際の利ざやも大きく確保できることは間違いないでしょう」
「おお、それは素晴らしいご提案です! ロシー殿にご協力できるうえ、利益までご提供いただけるとは!」
「実に気が利いたお話ですな!」
ここまで説明されてようやくメリットを理解した貴族たちは、口々にロシーを誉めそやしながら、お互いに顔を見合わせて利益争奪のタイミングを伺っている。
(こいつらは本当に貴族か?)
随行員の隊長は、そんなやり取りを見ながら心底呆れていた。貴族といえば金と権力を持ち、無駄に愛国を語るお花畑連中だと思っていたが、薄皮一枚分すら欲を隠す事ができていない。
これなら、ヴィシーの商人連中の方が100倍は欲を隠して話ができる、と隊長は評した。
目線を配り、作戦を決行する合図をそっと他の随行員たちに伝える。何人かはそっと頷き、貴族たちの視界の外にいる者は、既に剣の柄に手を添えている。
「では、早速取引の量や内容についてお話を......」
ニヤニヤとした笑いを浮かべたレオナールが身を乗り出した。その目の前にいるロシーの向こう側で、随行員隊長が剣を振り上げるのが見え、次の瞬間にはレオナールの顔に血しぶきがかかる。
「残念だが、仲良しごっこはここで終わりだ」
首をザックリと斬られたロシーは即死。椅子から転げ落ちたその死体を踏み越えた隊長は、血濡れの剣を構えた。
「き、貴様! 自分の国の使者を......」
レオナールが糾弾しようとする間にも、流血沙汰に驚いた他の貴族たちは、我先に逃げようと、転がるように扉に向かうが、そこにも随行員たちが剣を構えて立ちはだかる。
「ここで全員死んでもらう。話し合いがうまく行かず、激昂したオーソングランデ貴族はロシーをナイフで傷つけ、俺たちが何とか反撃するもロシーは死亡。お前らも死亡。そういう事だ」
驚いて何も言えなくなっているレオナールに向かって、剣が向けられた瞬間、どこからか飛来した手裏剣が隊長の右腕に刺さり、衝撃で剣は手を離れて飛んでいった。
「うぐっ!? 一体なんだ!」
腕に刺さった見慣れない金属片に戸惑ううちに、隠し通路から騎士たちが雪崩込み、あっという間に室内は乱闘状態となった。
手裏剣を投げたヴァイヤーは、鎖鎌を手に隊長の前に躍り出た。
「オーソングランデ近衛騎士隊だ。この連中は私たちが処理する必要がある。お前たちも城内で剣を抜いた罪で拘束する。大人しくすれば殺しはしない」
「バカが! そう言われて投降するわけがない!」
叫びながら左手で剣を拾った隊長は、向き直ったところでヴァイヤーが投げた分銅に顔面を強かに打たれた。
再び剣を取り落とし、顔を抑えている所を鎌の柄で殴りつけて気絶させた。
他の隊員たちも傷を負ったものが数名出たが、全ての随行員を殺害するか捕縛する事に成功していた。鎧を着た騎士たちと、簡素な布の服だけの随行員では、ほとんど勝負にならなかった。
腰を抜かして座り込み、安堵の溜息をついたレオナールの前に、ヴァイヤーが立つ。
「騎士隊の者か。ここは礼を言っておこう」
「何か勘違いしているようですが」
ヴァイヤーは鎖鎌からロープへと持ち変えている。
「貴方がたも捕縛の対象です。新たな女王に処罰を決めていただくまでの間、牢の中で大人しくしておいていただきましょう」
「ば、馬鹿な! 何の罪があって......」
「貴方は無害だから大目に見られていただけです。有害であれば、排除されるのは当然でしょう」
手早くレオナールを縛り上げたヴァイヤーは、他の貴族たちと共に騎士隊管理の牢へと入れておくように指示をした。
転がったロシーたちの死体も、騎士隊によってさっさと片付けられていく。その間、ヴァイヤーはしきりに周囲を気にしていた。
「どうかされましたか、副隊長」
「いや......こういう戦いの場だから、トオノ伯が出てこられるかと思ったのだが......まあいい、間も無く戴冠式が始まる。目立つ場所はサブナク隊長に任せて、我々は引き続き影から監視を続ける」
ヴァイヤーの言葉を聞いて、騎士たちは足早に配置へと向かった。
戴冠式一時間前。
事件が動き出したのは、イメラリアの執務室からだった。
「貴方は......確か騎士隊の方でしたね。城外の警備を担当されていたと思うのですが、何かありましたか?」
執務室を訪れたのは、騎士隊所属のバールゼフォンだった。
ほとんど顔を合わせたことの無い騎士の、突然の訪問に疑問を感じたイメラリアは、何か違和感を感じた。
入るなり、さっと室内を見回したバールゼフォンは、イメラリアの前に立ち、恭しく一礼をしたが、跪いて臣下の礼を取らなかった。
信じられない非礼な態度に、周囲に居た侍女たちは驚き、イメラリアも流石に注意をすべきかと口を開こうとしたところで、バールゼフォンが先に言葉を発した。
「王女殿下、私はバールゼフォンと申します。第二騎士隊に所属しておりましたが、この度統合された騎士隊に所属する事となりました。王女殿下のもうされます通り、近衛騎士隊が城内を警備し、我々は城外の警備となっております。......ですが」
力を込めた目で、バールゼフォンはイメラリアの目を直視した。
「なぜ第三騎士隊出身者が近衛隊長なのでしょうか? ろくに剣も触れず、トオノ伯に媚を売るだけが能の人間ではありませんか。副隊長はヴァイヤーですが、あれは命じられた事をただこなすだけの愚鈍な男です。第二騎士隊の中でも、重要な仕事を任せられることはありませんでした」
「......どうやら、わたくしの人事に不満があるようですね。しかし、貴方のやり方は不敬でしょう。この場は見逃しますから、早く退室しなさい」
注意を受けたバールゼフォンは、フン、と鼻で笑った。
「いいえ。この場を支配しているのは俺......いや、俺たちだ。王女殿下には大人しくこの部屋で大人しくしておいて頂く。これから城内を少々掃除しますので、その間は今後傀儡の女王としての一生を過ごす心構えの時間としていただきましょう」
「何を言って......」
イメラリアが疑問を口にすると、不意に側に立っていた騎士が剣を抜き、イメラリアにつきつけた。
「!......貴方は!」
キッと睨みつけられ、騎士は僅かにひるんだが、剣はひかない。
「彼も俺と同じ第二騎士隊出身です。サブナクや元第三騎士隊の連中がいなくなるタイミングを作るのは大変だったよ。貴族は馬鹿しかいないし、ヴィシーの連中も囮にすら使えない無能ぞろいだった」
「バールゼフォンと言いましたね。貴方の狙いは何ですか」
剣を突きつけられるのはこれで二度目。あの時一二三に向けられた殺気に比べれば何てことは無いと自分に言い聞かせ、イメラリアは落ち着いて問いかけた。
「名誉」
「えっ?」
「俺たち騎士は敵と正々堂々戦って勝つ事が名誉だ。第三騎士隊の連中のように影からコソコソ覗き見をして具にもつかない会話を記録したり、ヴァイヤーのようにわけのわからない武器を振り回して悦に入ることじゃない。元はと言えば王女殿下があの男を重用し始めてからおかしくなった。それを元に戻すだけだ」
室内に居た他の騎士たちも剣を抜き、怯える侍女たちを一ヶ所に集めた。
「今頃は他の仲間たちが、ロトマゴとサブナクを始末しているだろう。元第三騎士隊連中を制圧したら、王女殿下には国民に向かって堂々と宣言していただきましょう」
バールゼフォンは、自分に酔っている、とイメラリアは見ていた。
「トオノ伯をこの国から追放し、無用な戦争を起こしたヴィシーとホーラントに対しては、賠償とは別に騎士隊が懲罰を加える、と」
「そのような無意味な戦いで、騎士の名誉とやらが保てるのですか?」
呆れたようにイメラリアが問うと、バールゼフォンは足早に近づき、平手でイメラリアの頬を打った。
これには剣をつきつけた騎士も驚いたが、睨まれて口を閉ざした。
「俺たち騎士隊を無意味に減らしたのはこの国の責任だろうが。これはホーラントとの戦いで死んだ第一・第二騎士隊への弔いでもある。侮辱は許さん」
頬の痛みを堪えながら、イメラリアは目の前の男よりも一二三の事を気にしていた。この事態に乗じて、あの男は何をしでかすかわからない、と。
The population of Fokalore has in fact increased three times after the change of feudal lords. Although its number has gone up quite a bit due to immigrants and refugees, the release of an early phase of a population management system and because there was a considerable number of residents, who were the kind to spend money coming from outside for the sake of education, an overall balance was attained.
Those related to commerce and industry have been outstandingly developing their sales proficiency and productivity even if compared to outside the country, let alone the domestic companies.
By Hifumi's instruction a license system for businesses has been set up. The tax system has been changed to declaring the taxes owed each time. The feudal lord has completely seized the opportunity to circulate goods and money from city to city within the territory by using the rail cars. Even just the sales from this enterprise are contributing to the territory's operation heavily.
As for the industry, the standards have been unified for the first time in this world. Due to the "screw", which had been invented by Hifumi, carpenters and ironworkers experienced a great upheaval. Until then it was popular to affix things irreversibly by using nails or welding, but with the introduction of screws and by explosively spreading the industrial products, which were standardized, hasty people are starting to say things like [Fokalore creates the standards of all industrial products] .
But it's not only the aspect of knowledge. All territories are also closely observing its military parts. Staying for the sake of participating in the training of each unit, the money spent in the cities is increasing as result.
Fokalore gathered the attention and its population is growing. As outcome, the staff members and the civil official slaves, who were controlling them, became busy once again.
"Gigigi..." (Miyukare)
Miyukare, being the sole civil official slave in charge of military affairs, is finishing the documents with a dreadful expression while holding down her temper.
In the space for the sake of the civil official slaves performing their official duties, Miyukare, without even concealing her ill humour, processed the documents with a sound of the pen scribbling across the papers rapidly. Doelgar and Paryu were in the room as well, but both of them are doing their jobs in silence.
"What?!" (Miyukare)
Miyukare turns her sight as if pouncing down on him towards Doelgar, who timidly called out to her.
"Don't glare at me like that... Lord-sama told us that he agrees about the retired soldiers. We were able to procure the participation of the ironworkers, too." (Doelgar)
"Right. Then, I will notify the soldiers, who are considering to retire, and have them introduced to the industry guild as applicants." (Miyukare)
A single staff member came entering as replacement, but seeing Miyukare's expression, he made a startled face for an instant. He went towards Paryu's desk at a quick pace.
Paryu, who raised her face, has her violet eyes half closed as if being drowsy, but the staff member doesn't particularly mind it as it is the usual and hands her the documents, he held in his hands.
"Paryu-san, a message from the capital came."
"Thank you very much. I will check it, okay?" (Paryu)
Once the staff member has left, Paryu looks over the documents given to her. Becoming completely familiar with dealing with paperwork and drawing up a family register, she reads through the documents quickly. She grasps the contents, written down on one sheet of the documents, in several seconds. It's not at the level of Caim, but her documents throughput is high amongst the staff members of the territory.
"... Miyukare-san. As soon as the coronation ceremony in the capital finishes, Director of Military Affairs Alyssa will return, it seems." (Paryu)
Miyukare stood up with a force that knocked down the chair due to Paryu's words, which were conveyed without any preface at all.
"Really!?" (Miyukare)
"Unless this document is a forgery. Since it has Lord-sama's usual, unreadable signature, I believe there's no mistake to that." (Paryu)
"In that case, it's alright! It's indispensable to throw a welcome home party, right!?" (Miyukare)
"Will the restaurant at that place be fine? Is it even better to reserve a hotel?" Towards Miyukare, who shows a slovenly face and says exactly these words with a smile or rather a broad grin, Paryu decided to consider this to be already an illness. An incurable illness, that is.
"Lord-sama will come back as well. Since he's coming back leading several soldiers he was entrusted with by Vichy, we've been told to prepare their participation in military training. I will find a boarding house for them but since there's no one but you, Miyukare-san, who can put them into a training schedule, please do that, ok?" (Paryu)
"Leave it to me! There shouldn't be much time, right? When was the coronation ceremony?" (Miyukare)
"It's today." (Paryu)
Viscount Leonhart coming in contact with Roshi is a move trying to create a link to Vichy. It was leaked to the Royal Knight Order, monitoring within the castle.
The day before, at the time when Leonhart had the first session of discussions together with the attendants of Vichy, he said [there are also other nobles, who are hoping to form a friendly relationship with your country] . Hoping for a conference with the other nobles before the coronation ceremony and as result of Roshi also agreeing to that, it had been decided to let them freely do it in order to arrest the whole lot at once.
And today, just like yesterday, with the scene playing out at the rest room, provided for the envoy of Vichy, their conference started.
The nobles politely greeted Roshi in turns, in a modest manner which didn't seem noble-like.
On the other hand, although Roshi seems to intend being plenty cautious, there's a necessity for results to come out here. The commander of the attendants, who made sure to be slightly separated from them, calmly saw through him obviously being impatient.
"The attendants are nothing more than extras", it was convenient for the attendants that the nobles from Orsongrade failed to even exchange a decent amount of words with them. No one cared about them even as they moved stealthily to their places and blocked the entrance of the room's door.
Only Vaiya, who was monitoring them secretly, noticed those movements.
"Well then, even though it's sudden, let's discuss the shape of our friendship." (Leonhart)
The discussions advance in a way of Leonhart taking the lead.
"If we get right to the point, for our country I consider it satisfactory if we proceed with the previous set up circulation of goods and money towards Orsongrande." (Roshi)
As the nobles are showing that they haven't understood Roshi's words right away, Leonhart inquires about his real intention.
"There is also a possibility of our country's merchants being restricted from entering your country from now on. It will likely be difficult to sell the merchandise of a hostile nation. Accordingly, we can have someone buy them temporarily if we are able to set up a selling agency within Orsongrande." (Roshi)
Even while expressing their understanding as I went this far to put it into words, their reaction is weak and lacking. Won't they be able to understand it unless I tell them directly?
"... Of course, if you were to agree to the cooperation, there is no doubt that you will be able to secure large profit margins at the time of selling the items in your country since we will sell the merchandise cheaply to you wholesale." (Roshi)
"Oh, this a great suggestion! On top of a cooperation, you go even as far as offering us profits, Roshi-dono." (Leonhart)
"It's a truly thoughtful story!"
The nobles, who at last comprehended the benefits after he explained up to there, are praising Roshi unanimously while exchanging glances amongst each other inquiring about the timing of the contest over the profits.
(Are these guys really nobles?)
The commander of the attendants watched these exchanges while being disgusted from the bottom of his heart. Speaking of nobles, he thought of them as a group pointlessly and flowery talking about their love for their country while holding money and authority, though unable to hide even a single part of their desire through their thin skin.
In this case, Vichy's merchants are 100 times better at talking while hiding their greed
Shifting his line of view, he secretly gave the other attendants the sign to carry out the plan. Some nodded silently. Those being outside the noble's view have already drawn their hands to their sword's hilts.
"Then, let's talk about the details and volume of the business right away..." (Leonhart)
Leonhart, whose laughter changed into a broad grin, bent himself forward. With Roshi being in front of him on the other side, he can see the attendant's commander raising his sword overhead. In the next moment Leonhart's face is sullied by a spray of blood.
"Bad luck, we will end the play-friends game here."
Being deeply cut into the head, Roshi died instantly. The commander, who stepped over his corpse, which fell off the chair, prepared his blood-soaked sword.
"B-Bastard! Your own country's envoy..." (Leonhart)
While he was about to attack Leonhart, the other nobles, who were surprised by the bloody event, are scrambling for running away and head towards the door visibly tumbling about. However, even there they have been awaited by attendants standing in the way.
"Have everyone here die. As the discussions haven't gone well, the enraged nobles of Orsongrande have stabbed Roshi with knives. Even though we were able to somehow counterattack, Roshi has passed away. You guys have passed away, too. That's how it will go."
At the moment he pointed the sword at Leonhart, who has lost the ability to say anything due to surprise, a shuriken came flying from who-knows-where and pierced into the commander's right arm. The impact caused his sword to leap out of his hands.
"Ugu!? What the heck!?"
While being bewildered by the unknown piece of metal that pierced his arm, an avalanche of knights flowed out of the hidden pathway. In the blink of an eye the situation within the room changed into a state of fighting.
Vaiya, who threw the shuriken, jumped in front of the commander holding a kusarigama in his hand.
"We are Orsongrande's Royal Knight Order. There is a necessity for us to deal with this lot
"Are you an idiot!? There's no way we will surrender just because you tell us to do so!" (Commander)
The commander, who picked up his sword with his left hand while yelling, had his face severely struck by the counterweight thrown by Vaiya as he turned around.
Dropping his sword once again, he fainted by being hit with the sickle's hilt as he was holding his face.
Although several of his group's members were injured as well, all of the attendants were successfully arrested without being killed. For the knights, who are wearing armours, the attendants, who wear nothing more but simple clothes, were almost no contest.
Vaiya stands in front of Leonhart, who sighed in relief while sitting down unable to stand up due to fear.
"Are you someone from the knight orders? You have my thanks." (Leonhart)
"It seems you are misunderstanding something here though." (Vaiya)
Vaiya changes from holding the kusarigama to holding a rope.
"You are a target for arrest as well. During the time until you receive your punishments from the new queen, I will have you obediently wait in prison." (Vaiya)
"W-What foolish thing to say! What kind of crime did..." (Leonhart)
"You have been tolerated since you are harmless. If you were harmful, you would have been removed by now." (Vaiya)
Vaiya, who quickly tied up Leonhart, gave the order to put him together with the other nobles into the prison managed by the knight order.
Even Roshi's fallen corpse is quickly disposed of by the knight order. In the meanwhile Vaiya constantly paid an undue amount of attention to his surroundings.
"Did something happen, Vice-Captain?"
"No... I thought Earl Tohno would appear because of a battle scene like this, but... well, it's fine, I guess. The coronation ceremony will start soon. We will entrust the conspicuous places to Captain Sabnak. We will continue to monitor from the shadows then." (Vaiya)
Hearing Vaiya's words, the knights headed quickly towards their stations.
One hour before the coronation ceremony.
It was Imeraria's office were an incident started.
"You are ... if I remember correctly, you were someone from the knight order. I believe you were in charge of guarding outside the castle, but did something happen?" (Imeraria)
It was Balzephon, affiliated to the knight order, who visited the office.
Imeraria, who felt doubts about a knight, whom she hardly ever met, suddenly visiting, experienced some uncomfortable feeling.
Balzephon, who quickly surveyed the room while entering, stood in front of Imeraria and bowed respectfully. But, he didn't choose to kneel following the etiquette of retainers.
The maids, who were close-by, are surprised by his unbelievably impolite attitude. At the moment Imeraria tried to open her mouth to warn him that he should be more careful, Balzephon spoke first.
"Your Highness, I'm called Balzephon. I was a member of the Second Knight Order, but now I belong to the unified knight order. Just as Your Highness' said, the Royal Knight Order is protecting inside the castle and we are to guard outside the castle. ... However." (Balzephon)
Balzephon took a straight look at Imeraria with forceful eyes.
"Why is a former member of the Third Knight Order the captain of the Royal Knight Order? Isn't that person only talented at flattering up to Earl Tohno without even being able to properly handle a sword? Although the vice-captain is Vaiya, that person is an imbecile, who only does what he's told. He was never entrusted any important tasks at the Second Knight Order." (Balzephon)
"... It looks like you are unhappy with my human resources. However, your manner of handling that is disrespectful. Quickly leave this room and I will overlook this situation." (Imeraria)
Balzephon, who received that advice, laughed scornfully with a "Humph."
"No, I'm the one controlling this situation... no, we are. I will have you obediently stay in this room. Given that there will be a small cleaning within the castle after this, during that time, let's get you ready to spend your entire life's time as puppet queen hereafter." (Balzephon)
"What are you saying... ?" (Imeraria)
Once Imeraria voiced her doubt, the knight, who stood at her side, suddenly drew his sword and thrust it at Imeraria.
"! ... You are!" (Imeraria)
The knight slightly falters due to her stern glare, but he doesn't lower the sword.
"Just like me, he is originally from the Second Knight Order. It was difficult to create an opportunity where Sabnak and the bunch of the former Third Knight Order isn't present. The nobles are nothing but dumb. They were unusable incompetents even for acting as decoys with Vichy's group." (Balzephon)
"You were called Balzephon, right? What's your goal?" (Imeraria)
With this, it's the second time I have a sword thrust in front of me. Compared to the blood-lust I faced from Hifumi at that time, there isn't anything like that present currently
"Honour." (Balzephon)
"Eh?" (Imeraria)
"For us knights it is honourable to win by fighting our enemies fair and square. It's not to be pleased with not knowing how to wield a weapon like Vaiya and neither is it to record useless conversations while stealthily peeping from the shadows like the bunch from the Third Knight Order. Originally it all became ridiculous starting with Your Highness appointing that man to a responsible post. We only want to reset that." (Balzephon)
The other knights, who were present in the room, also drew their swords. The frightened maids gathered at one spot.
"Right now our other companions are likely getting rid of Sabnak and Lotomago. Once we suppressed the bunch of the former Third Knight Order, we will have Your Highness grandly announce this feat to the citizens." (Balzephon)
Balzephon is elated of himself
"Earl Tohno will be banished from this country. Regarding Vichy and Horant, who caused a pointless war, they will receive punishment from the knight order in addition to the reparations." (Balzephon)
"Can you hold onto your honour as knight with such meaningless action?" (Imeraria)
Once Imeraria asked as if being disgusted, Balzephon quickly approached her and hit Imeraria's cheek with his open hand.
Even the knight thrusting the sword at her was surprised by that, but he kept his mouth shut while glaring.
"Though it was the responsibility of these countries to meaninglessly decrease our knight order, don't you agree? This will also serve as memorial service for the First and Second Knight Order, who died in the fight against Horant. I won't allow you to insult that." (Balzephon)
While enduring the pain of her cheek, Imeraria worried more about Hifumi's situation than that of the man in front of her.
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