Chapter 414 Episode 412: The Former Self

"The Northern Plenipotentiary, Arnold Lakes Ardler, orders Marshal Rezelotte. Lead the Eastern Allies and the Northern Border Guard to invade the clan."

"I understand."

My ordered sister Reese joined the Northern Border Guard with the knights she followed.

The clan army still doesn't know Abraham's failure.

They will definitely launch a pre-emptive strike, but we have a chance.

I've already sent a message.

General Harnish, who temporarily holds the Northern Border Guard, will begin preparations for an invasion with an unfamiliar face.

As soon as my sister Reese arrives, the invasion begins.

The aristocracy hasn't finished, but Princess Marianne is safe. There is no doubt that the enemy will be upset, and if the Reese sister destroys the clan army at the border, they will come near from over there.

Don't worry about the clan kingdom. It's no longer a matter of time.

More than that.

"How are you feeling?

"It doesn't taste good....."

"Is that it?

"The wounds are pretty deep, but that's not the problem. The power of that magic sword. The magic of healing is in the way."

Mia's wound was deeper than I expected.

He was pierced through his left shoulder and right foot, and an arrow was piercing everywhere.

"The healing magic my men use amplifies their natural healing power. That's what blocks the wound. But the effect of that magic sword is getting in the way, and the wound won't stop."

"Does it make the wound unblockable....."

Whatever the principle, the result is clear.

There was also a troublesome magic sword.

The Magic Sword is already in strict storage. There is no magic sword that manipulates the owner. We also need to find out why Abraham got it.

I have a lot to do, but I can't get it right now.

"Help me anyway."

"I'll do my best. But we're not healing experts. How far can I go....."

"Do you have it to the Imperial Capital?

"I can't. I can't stop bleeding. I'm trying to stop it somehow...."

Are you injecting something to inhibit, or is that magic working?

Either way, you'll need a powerful healing magic.

I feel like I can defeat it if I activate it with all my might, but if I use it now, I will definitely find out who I am.

We have to find a gap somehow.

Worst case, should it appear as silver even if it is forced?

What do you think?

"Prince Arnold"

My name was called with a loud voice.

Looking back, a man in a blue mask stood there.

Elna, who had pulled out her sword one day, revealed her vigilance to the man who was standing behind her.

"Who is it?

Farter, it's a clan thief.

"Bandit?

Mia had the strength of being a thief.

But this furter slightly outweighs it.

It's not Elna I don't know about.

If you have any doubts, you should check with the princess of the clan.

"Elna, take the sword, I'm on your side."

"You don't look like an ally. I don't believe in masks."

"Still on my side. Can we talk for a minute? Farter"

"I was hoping to do that."

In the face of Erna's frustrated gaze, I invited the furter to the tent that had been prepared.

■ ■ ■

"Well, I'm doing everything I can to treat Mia. Is that what you want to hear? Farter, no... Jack"

"Did Silver tell you everything?

"Originally, the rear turmoil in the clan came from Silver. I was refused, but I was surprised to install the cooperation of the SS Adventurer instead. More surprisingly, Mia was the daughter of an SS Adventurer. But I got your help on that edge. Thank you."

I didn't do it for the Empire.

Take off the mask and Jack drops his shoulders as he sits on the chair.

I understand.

It's all for Mia.

"As promised, we are about to reverse the invasion. The nobles will be punished first. Now there's no reason for Mia to continue banditry."

"... as long as I'm alive."

"You heard me... I'm sorry I couldn't protect you intact. It's all our fault."

"I was the one who advised the princess of the clan to hasten the exile... I thought it would be okay if I took over the chase from King's Landing..."

"Is that why you didn't show up before? What happened to the King's Guard?

"Almost destroyed."

"Thank you very much. For the Empire."

Saying so, I stand up.

That's all I have to say.

I don't think Jack's in the mood for a long story.

"Prince Arnold...."

"I'll tell the Kintetsu Knight. You can go see him if you want to. However... there are limits to what can be done here. I'll do my best, but don't expect too much."

"... thank you."

Jack, who answered briefly, held his head there and turned down.

If Jack hadn't contained the King's Guard, Mia would have been pursued forever, and the nobles who helped Princess Marianne would not have been safe.

The overall damage was minimal.

But if Jack had been by Mia's side, it wouldn't have been like this.

Of course, I don't know if Mia accepted it.

If you regret it, you won't be able to do it.

It would be superfluous if it had enough power to protect it.

I know the feeling of helplessness well.

What's the point if you can't help someone you care about no matter how strong you get?

I needed Leo's help to get back from there.

With Jack and myself in the past, I left the scene behind.

■ ■ ■

Night.

I was in the tent where Mia was being treated.

The Knights of the Guards continued their healing without rest.

Even if the wound is not blocked, regular healing magic will keep the bleeding down.

But that's all.

"How's it going?

"Unfortunately... I can't hit anymore..."

"Really... do you mind if I take it off a little?

"It won't take long."

"I don't mind."

That's how I got the Knights off the spot.

Meanwhile, Jack appeared in a mask.

Without saying anything, I enter the tent.

Mia was sleeping on the bed.

The wound is wrapped with a bandage. I guess the healing magic still works a little now.

Mia and Jack approached and knelt in front of her.

He took a fearful hand and put his forehead on it.

"... don't you think I'm a bad parent?

"I don't know. Each person feels like a child."

"... I can't be a good parent. When this child was born, I gave up being my father. I left everything to my wife, and I leaned on myself as an adventurer. It was easy to be a strong adventurer who depended on someone. My wife limited me like that....."

……

"But... my wife, my wife's father, my master... I wouldn't have raised a girl like this if I had raised her... to be a child who can protect someone..."

He won't deny it.

Mia's way of life.

Are you the only one blaming me?

Everything can't happen because of you unless you're such a big bad guy.

But Jack's feelings of helplessness don't allow him to feel that way.

A helpless self is the worst.

Your sinking back looks terribly small.

"... I wonder why I don't have the power to cure someone..."

"... I thought the same thing once."

"I see... how did you recover...?

Jack took off his mask and looked at me.

Tears are spreading through my cheeks.

I didn't expect a man like Jack to cry in public.

I wonder how important that is.

I finally found her. Of course.

I take a vial of water out of my pocket and quietly hang it in Mia's mouth.

"Is that...?

"It's just water. Not very effective. For us."

"What do you mean...?

I laugh bitterly at Jack asking questions.

I can't help it.

It overlapped too much with me.

And sooner or later, Jack will connect the dots to the line. I was too involved.

Then let's have them play a part in deceiving us.

"In fact, the SS class adventurer, Farter, gave him expensive medicine. This improved Mia's wounds. That's how it works."

"What are you saying...?

"Did you hear how you recovered? Still, I thought my power was not in vain, and I wanted to help someone who was beaten helplessly. My magic is never in vain."

That said, I will first build a shielding boundary, where I will develop a healing magic boundary for Mia.

Healing magic with large magic consumption. But this time, I didn't consume much magic. Permissible consumption.

Maintains healing boundaries for a while.

Mia's wounds healed little by little. My healing bond wiped out the power of the Magic Sword.

That's where I broke the line. It is astonishing to be completely cured.

"No way... has it healed...?

"It's not perfect. But now the Knights' healing magic won't be a problem."

……

Jack grabbed Mia's hand with both hands and wept without a voice.

Turning my back on Jack like that, I try to put the tent behind me.

But Jack stopped me.

"Wait...."

"What? Oh, I'll tell you who you are. Not for the Knights of the Guards. Do you think you should disappear before they ask you all about it?

"Okay... let's do it... thank you... silver"

What are you talking about?

"... thank you... Prince Arnold"

"You're welcome."

That's how I get out of the tent.

Then Sebastian appeared behind me.

"A sermon?

"No way... Jack, the SS Adventurer, is far from the Empire War. And Mia is our only weakness. Breaking bones for Mia would be a big loan. Even if you know who you are, you will keep your mouth shut tightly, and I think it's a good idea."

"Let's do that."

"Let's do that."

When I answered Sebastian's words with a bitter smile, Sebastian answered with a bitter smile.

The result was good.

But in the end, I would have done the same.

If we keep prioritizing our plans over there, Mia's condition will get worse.

Trying to pull Jack away is troublesome.

Jack would be dissatisfied if he did that.

After all, this was the best.

My feelings, too.

Jack was once a helpless man.

I can't abandon you.

"Now, let's talk to Erna about the situation."

That said, I'll walk with a light stretch.

The next day, knowing what was going on, Elna looked for Jack, but he wasn't anywhere.

If the SS Adventurer finds out he helped the Empire, it's a big problem.

Therefore, I forbade talking about this matter, including telling him to take charge of the Kintetsu Knight.

This settles one case.

Yes, it was a letter from my father who was waiting for me to return slowly to the Mansion of the Marquis of Zweik.

"Return to the Imperial Capital with Princess Marianne..."

"We can't just ignore this."

"It's hard to leave, it's hard again....."

After sighing, I threw a letter on my desk.

How does your father intend to treat Marianne?

Depending on it, it will move a lot.

But no matter what, it doesn't make sense to meet once.

Let's go back to the Imperial Capital.

"Yes, sir."

That's why I decided to return to the Imperial Capital.