CH 214

Punishment of the knights

***---***

I moved to the royal castle of Aldaros, where Hart guided me. Although it was surrounded by walls, there was no roof, and I could see the blue sky.

It was 20 meters square, covered with quarried stones, and the smell of blood hung in the air.

"Maou-sama, I apologize for the trouble."

Camilla walked up to me, knelt down and lowered her head, but my gaze was glued to the scene behind Camilla.

A man of good physique, with his hands tied behind him, was lying on his knees with his head thrust through a thick board about 50 cm high.

I was looking at it from the side, but the man's shoulders seemed to be stuck to the board.

A large pool of blood had formed at the base of the board, and a man's head was placed on a platform about two meters away from the board.

This must be the royal castle's execution site.

In one corner of the execution ground, five knights stood upright in a line, probably involved in the execution of the sentence.

"It has been determined that the people who committed immoral acts on Maou-sama's friend were three people, one who was with me, and two people who remained in Lastock, so I punished them as per your orders."

I was able to hear what Camilla was saying indifferently, but my brain was refusing to understand what she was saying.

"Maou-sama ... Is something the matter?"

"Two people from Lastock ..."

"Haa, I've already finished the execution."

"Are you sure? Did those three admit their guilt?"

"Yes, all three have admitted to the charges."

I strictly ordered them to be punished, but I never thought that they would be executed.

I didn't think about it, but now that I think about it, it wouldn't be strange for an execution to take place.

Lastock had already been attacked by hordes of monsters many times, and each time, they received my support.

I didn't mean to brag, but if it weren't for the work of me and my genus, it was possible that the people of Lastock would have been wiped out.

In addition to that, in a situation where Havre Calvine had escaped and was carrying out so-called acts of terrorism, I could not be allowed to become an enemy.

When I ordered them to be severely punished, I should have been able to fully predict the possibility of them being executed.

"I would like to inform Maou-sama. In this investigation, although they did not directly participate in the act, 17 people were aware of the actions of the three who were executed."

"So, they were aware of it but didn't try to stop it ... Is that what you're saying?"

"Yes, you are right."

Of course, even though they were aware of it, they didn't stop them from doing so, which wasn't a very commendable act. However, when I thought about how everyone was treated like monkeys when we were captured by Lastock, rather, I thought that it was good that it ended with merely three people.

"Maou-sama, could you spare the lives of these 17 people. If you say no, then, my life instead ..."

"Don't be ridiculous! I went through so much trouble to save you. I went so far as to use a booster and be unable to move for three days! I told you, I won't permit your heartbeat to stop without my permission."

"I, I'm extremely sorry. But, losing seventeen knights at once ..."

Recently, Camilla had been friendly with me, but today she seemed to be afraid of me.

Even the knights lined up had their bodies tremble just by looking at them.

"I agree to spare their lives. However, I can't say that there will be no punishment."

"Thank you very much. The 17 people will be stripped of their knight titles."

"What will happen if the title is stripped?"

"Yes, they will be deprived of their status as a noble, their family name will be taken, and their compensation will be greatly reduced."

"That's fine, I accept the punishment."

"Haa, thank you very much."

The knights had their lives spared, and Camilla took a deep breath as if a load was removed from her shoulders.

As for me, it was up to Watanuki-san, but I intended to spare the lives of those who actually committed the assault.

Camilla too, I talked about the importance of life when I made her submit, I'm sure I talked about the policy of not killing blindly, but has she forgotten over time.

Or, was there some other reason.

"Camilla."

"Y, yesh! What is it?"

Something was strange. Just by calling out to her, Camilla's body trembled, and it seemed that the gaze that was directed at me was trying to figure out my mood.

"M, Maou-sama ... Wh, what's wrong?"

"That's my line. What's wrong? Why are you so nervous?"

Camilla, after looking like she was hesitant about my question, asked me as if she had made up her mind.

"Umm, Maou-sama. That, didn't you feel that something changed after you obtained all the attributes?"

"Does it look like it's changed? Now that you mention it, when I was taking the last water attribute, my body trembled and I felt like I was being rearranged into something else ..."

"As I thought, was that the case ..."

"What, what is it? Please explain so that I can understand properly!"

"I, I'm truly sorry!"

I was annoyed by her suggestive words and unusually reserved behavior, and when I raised my voice, Camilla once again bowed her head.

"That ... Maou-sama was awakened as a Demon King by acquiring all the attributes ... I think."

"Awakened as a Demon King?"

"Yes. According to the legend handed down in the royal family, the Demon Kings of the past became more brutal and cruel as they mastered magic of all attributes."

"Ehh, well then, since I got all the attributes, I might become a cruel Demon King ... Is that what you're saying?"

Camilla nodded while displaying a timid appearance.

"Haa ... That's not the case. I'm me."

"However, if you were the Maou-sama until now, I don't think you would have told me to deal with the knights ..."(TN:処分 'Shobun' can mean punish/dispose/deal with. She misunderstood what he meant.)

"I told you to punish them, but I didn't tell you to execute them, right?"

"Ahh, th, then ..."

"I was planning to decide on the contents of the punishment later."

"Is that so."

"Sexually assaulting a woman who was tricked into wearing a Slave Bracelet, it's an unbecoming act for a knight, should I take away their lives, or should a different punishment be given, I wanted to make the best content for the girl who was a victim to recover."

"Th, then, Maou-sama, you're still the same Maou-sama, right?"

"That's what I believe."

Camilla let out a big sigh, relaxed her body and released her tension, then tightened her expression once more.

"Maou-sama, excuse my impertinent behavior, I'm sorry. However, the actions of the three people who were executed cannot be overlooked. I executed the sentence according to the rules of the Knight Order."

"Understood. Camilla Resenburg."

"H, haa!"

"This person paid for his crimes with his life. Bury the body with dignity!"

"Haa, as you wish."

"From now on, anyone who uses his knighthood to assault a woman should be given the same punishment. Anyone who defiles the pride of a knight in the Kingdom of Resenburg deserves death. I will not tolerate such despicable acts!"

"Haa, I will surely comply."

Following Camilla's kneeling and bowing, the knights also knelt, but when some of them looked up, they had expressions of dissatisfaction.

Perhaps the dissatisfied knights were not involved in the turmoil at the royal castle the other day.

I seemed to be gaining some popularity, but for those who saw me for the first time, I looked like just a kid.

"Are you dissatisfied with my punishment?"

"I'm not dissatisfied with the contents of the punishment, but ... We pledged allegiance to the Kingdom of Resenburg, not to a child like you bastard."

"How rude! I won't allow such rude remarks to Maou-sama!"

"Camilla-sama, you are the one who will become the King of Resenburg. Bowing to such a child will not be an example for the common people."

"You fool! So far, the Kingdom of Resenburg, just how much do you think we have been helped by Maou-sama. If it weren't for Maou-sama's help, our country might have been trampled by the soldiers of Barshania, and the country itself might have disappeared."

"However, Camilla-sama, was Barshania really trying to invade, did they really abandon the invasion due to the intervention of the Demon King, you don't have any evidence, do you."

"You are you saying I'm being deceived? He has saved me from the brink of death twice so far, and he is the one who shattered the ambitions of Havre Calvine in the Chamber of Proceedings the other day, are you trying to say that everything is my misunderstanding! Do you think you can fulfill your duty as a knight by blinding yourself with petty vanity and averting your eyes from the truth!"

Seeing Camilla's raging fury, the knights looked like they said too much, but it didn't seem like they acknowledge my existence.

"It's fine, Camilla."

"Maou-sama, I can't forgive it. I can't forgive such impudence ..."

"No matter how much you talk, they're not going to admit it until they actually see my power. I don't mind, I'm not acting because I want to be recognized by someone I don't know, if they get in the way, I'll just mow them down."

"What's that, bastard, looking down on me ..."

Hearing my words, the rebellious knight raised an angry voice and stood up, but immediately after that, his eyes widened and he stepped back.

I didn't call him, but Nero smoothly appeared from behind me, and approached me with a rumbling purring sound.

Staring at Nero's large golden eyes, all the knights stood up and put their hands on the swords at their waists.

"Don't panic, it's Maou-sama's genus."

Camilla, who had seen Nero in the Chamber of Proceedings, called out to them and they released the swords they were about to draw, but the knights' faces remained tense.

When I stroked the back of his ears and Nero narrowed his eyes, they seemed to finally breathe a sigh of relief and release their tension.

"Camilla, this is fine as a punishment for the scandal, but we need compensation for this incident as well, so keep that in mind."

"Haa, first I intend to calm down the country as quickly as possible, and then I will fulfill my liability for compensation."

"Yup, please take care of the attack by the Undead and the capture of Havre Calvine."

"Haa, I will do my best."

Camilla remained on her knees and bowed her head again.

"Ahh, that's right. It's a story about next year, but Princess Seraphima of Barshania is going to marry into Volzard, can you accommodate her on the way."

"The Princess of Barshania ... Is it the eldest son of the Volzard Family, Augusto-dono?"

"No, it's not."

"Then, the second son, Baldini-dono?"

"Nope ..."

"No way ... With Lord Klaus-dono, aren't they the age of parent and child."

"No, no, the other party is not Klaus-san."

"Then, who is ... no way?"

Camilla opened her eyes wide and stared at me.

Immediately after that, 'pota pota' drops fell and wet the floor.

Camilla, who's shoulders were shaking for about twenty seconds, wiped her eyes with her cuffs, and she looked up at me with red eyes.

"C, congratulations, Maou-sama."

"Thank you, Camilla. Although it's not permitted right now, some day ..."

"Yes, I understand."

I left the royal castle and returned to the Devil's Forest training ground while being sent off by Camilla's best smile.

"Haaa ... I thought I'd have to say it someday, but it's more awkward than I imagined."

[ Buhahaha, if you push the Resenburg matter to His Highness Diethelm and kidnap Camilla-jou, everything will be settled. ]

"That's right, nya, as Reinhardt says, nya, Goshujin-sama is too reserved, nya."

"It's not going to be that easy."

"Goshujin-sama thinks too hard, nya. It's the law of nature for a strong male to monopolize, nya."

"If that's all it takes, then I wouldn't worry so much."

I still had time to practice summoning magic until I visited the chairman's house.

I came up with the idea of asking all my genus to act as a mark for summoning from a distant place out of sight and sending things back to a place I couldn't see, so I gave it a try.

I went to the depths of the Devil's Forest, asked them to surround a rock with a diameter of about 1 meter with five heads, Sart, Sirt, Surt, Sert, and Sort, and summoned it from the training ground.

"Summon!"

I imagined summoning what Sart-tachi recognized, and I succeeded in summoning the rock as expected.

"Alright! With this, I can summon from far away where I can't see."

[ You did it, Kent-sama. ]

"Yup, there are still many things to check, but this is a big step forward."

Next, I asked Sart and the others to move to an unseen location and sent the rock back there.

After repatriation, when I moved to where Sart and the others were, the large rock was successfully repatriated.

[ Kent-sama is still cautious about trying to master both summoning and repatriation. ]

"Yup, I guess you could say that. As expected, the longer the distance, the more mana it consumes. Summoning and repatriating use about the same amount of magical power, so I think it would be better to repatriate them from Volzard."

[ There is also the consideration in the case where magical power runs out. ]

"Right, if I ran out of magical power in Japan, where there is no magic essence, I will not be able to come back to Volzard."(TN:Couldn't he just have a genus open a shield and he can go in?)

Another flaw was exposed in the summoning that used my genus as landmarks.

After summoning a rock, I tried summoning a tree, but I couldn't recognize how tall it was, and it was summoned in the form of a log that had been cut off halfway through.

Conversely, when repatriating, the height of the item to be sent could be recognized, so it was possible to send it back even if it was about 10 meters high.

"It looks like it's better to think about repatriation as the basic."

[ Kent-sama, it's a power that you can use after great pains, so why don't you try using summoning for work. ]

"Using summoning for work?"

[ Yes, if you can recognize the height of the summoned object, I think you can easily move an item without moving from Volzard. ]

"Hmm ... That may be true, but if I'm going to send something, I think it's better to have my genus carry it via the shadow space, it won't consume much magical power, and I feel like it will be certain."

[ I see, you can certainly use transportation via shadow space to move goods. ]

"So, currently, summoning and repatriation are mainly for the return of my classmates and teachers, and after that I am thinking about applying it to attack magic."

[ Attack magic, is it? ]

"It's possible to cut off a part and move it like the example of the Goblin's failure to repatriate, and it seems that the procedure for using the spear golem can be simplified."

[ I see, Kent-sama is becoming more and more vicious. ]

"No, no, compared to everyone else, it's still cute."

No matter how strong I became, I didn't think I would be able to blow off a Rock Ogre's head with a punch.

After that, I tried summoning a creature back to an unseen place using a captured Goblin, and I was able to succeed without any problems.

When I was trying to summon and repatriate using Goblins, I came up with something, so I figured I'd try it while I was at it.

[ What are you doing? ]

"Yup, just a little ..."

The Goblin was tied up with a rope and left standing, then sent back to a place a little further away.

"Repatriate!"

"Giii ... Gugya!"

Changing the direction in the middle of repatriation, the Goblin fell on its back to the ground and passed out.

"Yup, it's pretty good, isn't it."

[ Hohou, as expected of Kent-sama, you are thinking of something interesting. It's like being blown away in an instant. ]

"Yup, yup, it seems to be useful when I get entangled with something like small fries."

I've only just started practicing, but it seemed that summoning and repatriation techniques could be used in a wide range of ways, and they could also be used for powerful attacks.

[ Kent-sama, it's time to end your practice and get ready. ]

"Uuh, that's right. Well, let's go back ..."

I returned to Volzard after I mofu'd Sart and the others who were with me for practice.

After washing up at the boarding house, I changed into casual clothes, and when I visited the chairman's room, I also saw Manon.

"Yuika, may I come in?"

"Please ..."

It seemed that the garrison's clinic would shorten the hours for medical examinations during the holidays, and the chairman and Manon had just returned from the clinic.

"Yup, you've properly changed."

"Yuika and I were worried that Kent would come in his usual clothes."

"No, even I, you know, properly think about it."

"Have you thought of how you're going to greet them?"

"Uuh, that's ..."

When I went to say hello at Manon's house, it worked out somehow, and I was sure it would work out this time too ... Or rather, no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't think of anything, so I ran away to practice summoning.

"Maa, even if you try to be pretentious, in the case of Kento, it seems that his true self will come out right away, I wonder if it's better to be as it is ..."

"It's okay, Yuika. Even if it doesn't go well this time, that doesn't mean it's over, right."

No, no, Manon-chan, that's true, but I wanted you to say that things will go well this time ...

"Ahh, come to think of it, what's going on with the incident with Seitarou-chan? I haven't checked the internet."

"In that matter, Kento is still being criticized, but don't worry."

"But, if I'm being criticized on the internet, it's a bad image, isn't it."

"Maa, that's right, but it's probably okay, so go and show them the usual Kento."

"Really? Well, that's all I can do."

"It's okay, Kento is the boy I chose."

"That's right, it's okay. Kent is the boy I chose."

I hugged the chairman and Manon in turn.

That's right, I was the one chosen by the two of them, so I should be confident and show myself as I am.

The chairman contacted her family at home on her smartphone when I was about to leave, and I finally decided to return to Japan and greet the chairman's parents.