Book 6: Chapter 23

「What a pain……」

Within a shaking carriage, Seira Necros muttered that.

Nefas Albania──no, now he was the Temple Knight of Wind Nefas, wasn’t it.

Seira thought about her friend of the past that had now become a key figure in the Jiol Forest Kingdom.

The fact that a Temple Knight that received the God of Wind Wyrm’s divine protection had appeared had given a huge impact on many nations.

After all, this was the first time mankind had made contact with the Gods ever since the legend of the Hero in the past.

Depending on what kind of intent the God of Wind Wyrm had made this contact with them was, there was a hidden possibility that the international situation could greatly change.

If it was the God of Wind Wyrm’s intention, it would appear like protecting the Jiol Forest Kingdom was his objective, but it was a situation where the St. Altlis Kingdom would not accept that so easily.

After all, the person who received that God of Wind’s divine protection, Nefas, was a Human, and the son of the St. Altlis Kingdom’s Albania Duke House.

If this was instead the God of Wind Wyrm’s intent of giving divine protection to the St. Altlis Kingdom, it meant that it would be giving the St. Altlis Kingdom huge power.

Therefore, the Jiol Forest Kingdom’s decision to quickly shelter Nefas so as to not allow that to happen could be said to have been appropriate.

The fact that his father, Duke Albania himself, had judged that it would be better that way was probably a big part of it as well.

Having already surpassed the limits of a normal person, Nefas would have no choice but to be material for political strife and war in the St. Altlis Kingdom, so it was clear that entrusting him to the Jiol Forest Kingdom was for the sake of both countries and his son.

Like this, Nefast ended up leaving the Albania House and became affiliated with the Jiol Forest Kingdom……but now that it turned out like this, the one troubled was the St. Altlis Kingdom.

For those involved with the St. Altlis Kingdom’s temple, which worshipped the God of Life Philia as the supreme deity, it was extremely bothersome for something like a Temple Knight of Wind to be in another country.

After all, the other party was a genuine agent of God.

To make a complaint about this was the same as making an objection to the Gods, and as long as those involved with the temple had the position of being those who served the Gods, they couldn’t say anything carelessly.

This would be the case even if it were a king. The king was the citizens’ superior, but to the very end, they were just a powerful person among the people, and not a position that was able to give orders to an agent of God.

Plus, now that Nefas had become affiliated with the Jiol Forest Kingdom, they couldn’t interfere with another country and tell him to come back.

Furthermore, since an official document saying 「this matter was the God of Wind Wyrm’s intent」 had already notified the other countries via Duke Albania and the Jiol Forest Kingdom, they couldn’t even criticize Duke Albania over this matter.

If they were to punish Duke Albania, it would turn into a declaration saying that they were dissatisfied with the intent of the Gods, and at that point, justice would vanish from the St. Altlis Kingdom.

Thinking about how they could defy this situation, they had no choice but to be honored with the God of Life Philia’s words, but up until now, the only ones that could hear that were the Head Priest at the time that the Hero Ryuuya was summoned, the Hero Ryuuya himself, and then his companions.

As for the ones among the Hero Ryuuya’s companions that were alive even now, there was only the former board chairman of the Edius Adventurer School, Luuty Rigas. However, since they had already been dismissed from her position as board chairman, the person herself was in her hometown, the Jiol Forest Kingdom.

Now that it turned out like this, where it were as if all of the strong measures that the St. Altlis Kingdom could take were sealed, what remained was nothing but a back entrance.

It was there that the one who was selected was Seira since she was the daughter of the Necros Duke House that was of a similar rank to the Albania Duke House, and moreover, she was a classmate to Nefas in the Adventurer School.

What was assigned to Seira was to take the appearance of going to bless a friend for receiving a God’s divine blessing to the very end, and skillfully win over Nefas.

「It’s not like I really got along with Nefas though……」

Seeing Seira leak out her discontent in mumbles, the royal palace knight that was disguised as her attendant chided her with a troubled face.

「Seira-sama, it is troubling for you to be like that.」

「Behー(sticks tongue out). To begin with, why do I have to go flatter the likes of Nefas. Even though everyone knows that I really hate that guy. This is a real mistake in personnel selection, a huge mistake!」

「……It’s the King’s orders, you know?」

In response to the words that the royal palace knight said with a suppressed tone, Seira made a face as if she bit a bitter bug.

「And that’s why I’m riding the carriage like this, isn’t it. What more do you want from me.」

「……Seira-sama. I can understand your feelings very well, but there might be fellows that would say that was lese majeste if they were to hear that. I fear that it would invite a troubling situation.」

「Ietta-san, it’s not like you would say anything like that, right?」

「I, am under a proviso. There is no telling who might be listening in and from where, and for me, I must prioritize the King’s orders. Please understand that.」

Seeing the royal palace knight, Ietta’s serious expression, Seira nodded looking like it couldn’t be helped.

She didn’t have the choice of refusing from the start.

Even if Nefas and Seira had a volatile relationship where they would grab each other by the collar when they saw each other, even if it was to the point where they had a countless number of serious fist fights, none of that mattered.

It was because for the St. Altlis Kingdom, there was no one more capable to do this than Seira.

「……I know that.」

Saying that, Seira fell silent.

During that time, the carriage continued down the path without any breaks.

Before long, the coachman notified them that they were approaching the country’s national border with the Jiol Forest Kingdom.

Soon after that, a clearly different voice from the coachman’s had resounded within the carriage.

「Halt right there!」

Due to the impact of the carriage’s sudden stop, Seira plunged into Ietta’s chest, who sat opposite of her.

「Uwappu!」

「Whoa. Are you alright? ……Oi, what’s going on!」

「Y, yes. That’s, um.」

As if to interrupt the words of the coachman who was hesitant to speak, yet another voice was heard.

「This is a checking station of the national border that continues to the Jiol Forest Kingdom. Answer whether or not you are familiar with the national border passage regulations. In the event you have points you are vague or unclear on, it is recommended that you declare them beforehand.」

「Wh, what is……?」

When Seira stuck her head out of the carriage’s window, it seemed that two knights were speaking with the coachman.

Since the knights wearing black, full-body armor had the visors of their helmets firmly down, she couldn’t infer what their expressions were, but giong by their movements, she could tell that they were considerably strong people.

At the very least, they didn’t seem to be knights that would be doing leisurely post jobs like border security.

Thinking that far, Seira remembered one rumor.

If she remembered correctly, the Jiol Forest Kingdom had joined hands with the Zadark Kingdom, a country of Mazoku, and there was talk that they had started doing military cooperation.

In the end, she thought that it was nothing but a rumor……but perhaps, although the knights in front of her looked like people, could they actually be Mazoku?

After the jet black knights received the necessary documents from the coachman and confirmed them, they turned their gazes towards Seira.

「The necessary documents have been confirmed. The one who is showing their face from the window over there, who is she among those written on this document?」

「R, right. That person is Seira-sama.」

「Is that so. Well then, we shall confirm the remaining number of persons as well, but is there a need to explain the regulations regarding this?」

「N, no……」

After the knights nodded, they opened the door of the carriage that Seira’s group was riding and looked inside.

Before long, after checking the attendants’ carriage that was behind Seira’s group as well, one of the knights stood next to the carriage that Seira was riding.

Turning towards Seira who was peeking out from the window, the knight asked her a question with a low resounding voice.

「It has been confirmed. Well then, I shall perform the final examination. Representative Seira Necros. Answer our question without any falsehood.」

「That’s fine. What?」

「Within the Jiol Forest Kingdom, all races are equal. There is absolutely no exception to this. Do you or do you not agree to this?」

Seira gazed within the knight’s helmet.

In that place where there would normally be a person’s head, there was nothing.

「Answer. Silence will be judged as a denial of agreement, but how is it.」

「Ahh, sorry about that. I agree, Mazoku knight-san.」

「Understood. It would seem that this is no longer necessary for you……but I will confirm that there was no falsehood in your answer.」

Saying that, the knight suddenly raised the visor of his helmet.

Seeing the inside of the empty helmet, Ietta unconsciously motioned to draw the sword on her waist, but Seira stopped her with her hand.

「……」

After the knight, who intently watched their looks, put down his visor, he turned to his companion knights that stood on top of the fort and raised his hand.

「Entry is permitted. However, bear in mind that drawing one’s sword with a difference in race as the reason will be treated as an unlawful action.」

「Okay, got it. I will say that often to Ietta.」

「Please do. Also, I will confirm this now but……the number of attendants that were recorded on the submitted list, is that all of them?」

In place of Seira, who showed a face that said she didn’t understand the meaning of the question, Ietta answered.

「Does it look like there is anyone else here?」

「……Understood. Beyond this, there is still quite a distance until the royal capital. There have also been reports of damage from fierce beasts. Pay plenty of attention to stay safe.」

And then, after seeing off the carriage that Seira’s group was on as it left, the knights readied their spears.

「Those without an application will not be allowed to pass through. Know that it is impossible to sneak or force your way in.」

This was a voice sent to someone who was lurking somewhere at this place.

That someone silently vanished to somewhere else.

Seeing them off, one of the jet black knights muttered to the knight next to them.

「……It’s been a while since there was someone that blatant. What do you think?」

「They’re probably an observer. It looked like it was quite the important mission.」

「So a report is required, huh. Honestly, this checkpoint always has reports like this.」

Saying that, the knight──the Magic Operated Armor breathed a sigh.