Chapter 153

Chapter 153

Before the start of Stage 4.

Just after recruiting Aegis Special Forces Team 8, who were there for Godhand.

I had given an order to Aider.

"Be on the lookout just in case, and report if anything happens."

"Me?!"

Aider had asked in surprise.

"Of course, you are the only free resource we have. We who are constantly caught up in defense battles and explorations cant do it."

The Aegis Special Forces Team 8 was composed entirely of elves, all of them were convicts sent from the capital.

The measure was taken as a precaution, as the existing party members were hesitant and uncomfortable with them.

However, they were loyal, fought valiantly and won the trust of everyone. Eventually, they integrated fully into this frontline against the monsters.

They were no longer Aegis Special Forces Team 8, but my Shadow Squad.

I had also come to completely trust the Shadow Squad.

So much so that I had forgotten about assigning Aider to keep watch over them.

***

But on the eve of Stage 5, Aider came to me with a trembling face.

"Your Lordship. I think you need to look at this information."

And what Aider showed me was a video, shot like CCTV footage.

"After you ordered surveillance that day, Ive been using the remaining system resources to monitor the Shadow Squad... This is what I caught today."

On the screen, there was the Lords mansion, where the Shadow Squad was staying.

It was the archery training ground behind the mansion. Godhand was out there alone.

"Coming to find me will cause trouble."

With an awkward look around, Godhand spoke softly.

"If anyone sees us, theyll discover our connection."

"Everyone in the castle will be too busy preparing for tomorrows defense. They wont even notice me. But what about this? What are you going to do about this?!"

The one who had come to find Godhand and was saying these things was...

Saintess Margarita.

"My assignment from the capital was only to monitor the dynamics of this fortress city! But now Ive been made to stand on the frontline! Isnt the inner reconnaissance of the front line your Aegis Special Forces job?!"

With these words, everything became clear.

Godhand, and Margarita.

Both of them were spies for the royal family.

As Margarita was hysterically screaming, Godhand looked around and asked,

"Did Prince Ash also request your participation in the battle?"

"Yes! He said he wanted me to participate as a reserve. This... this... damn it! This is not the mission I was given! I came to treat the sick, not to fight monsters!"

"Calm down. Someone might hear."

"Calm down? How can I! When I was first dispatched here from the capital, they said the monster invasion was dwindling and it would be safe, but not only is the invasion intensifying daily, now Im being placed directly on the wall!"

After venting for a while, Margarita seemed to calm down a little and took a deep breath.

Godhand, who had been listening quietly, nodded his head.

"Dont worry. I will protect you."

"Really?"

"Yes. If thats something I can do..."

"No, thats not enough. I need to contact the capital directly. No more-"

Thats when it happened.

"Godhand?"

From the direction of the mansion, Bodybag approached, her voice tinged with suspicion.

Surprised, Godhand turned around in a panic, and Margarita hastily lowered herself and ran toward the forest behind them.

"Bodybag? What are you doing here instead of resting in the mansion?"

"I just thought Id get some fresh air... What about you, Godhand? Who were you talking to..."

Margarita desperately fled into the forest behind the archery training ground, and Godhand blocked the path leading in that direction with his body and coughed.

"Conversation? Ahem! I was alone. I was just talking to myself."

Click.

"Thats all."

Aider stopped the video and chuckled wryly.

"Your Lordships insight in ordering the surveillance was accurate. I almost blindly trusted the Shadow Squad, theyre such reliable fellows..."

"Forget about the Shadow Squad. What about Margarita?"

"Huh?"

"Did you stop surveilling Margarita after this?"

Aider looked startled.

"I shifted the target of the surveillance to Margarita after their conversation ended. But shes just been praying in the temple, she hasnt done anything else-"

"Show me."

"Huh?"

"That prayer. Show it to me."

Aider turned the screen.

In the central hall of the temple, Margarita knelt in prayer before the statue of the goddess.

- I simply wish to be faithful to the task Ive been given...

Margarita gazed up at the statue of the goddess with a desperate look in her eyes.

- What should I do now...

As if the statue of the goddess would actually respond.

If another prince, holding real power within the royal family, decided to assassinate me.

These spies could sabotage the front lines and assassinate me - a plausible scenario.

They were like a ticking bomb the royal family had put around my neck.

"...Your Highness."

Godhand, who seemed to have made a decision, looked up at me with gritted teeth.

"The truth is that I was given a secret mission when I was sent here. However, Your Highness, none of my subordinates knew about this."

I glanced towards Bodybag and Burnout, who were tied up in the corner of the reception room.

They were trembling with surprise at the situation.

Godhand continued.

"Most importantly, I have already decided to dedicate my life here. My loyalty is genuine. Please believe me, Your Highness! And..."

"Enough! Godhand, Ill listen to your story later."

I cut him off and turned my gaze.

"I have to listen to our Saintess now."

"..."

Saintess Margarita was quietly closing her eyes without any reaction after being captured. As if she had given up on everything.

"When I declared my rebellion and gave you time, Saintess, you immediately ran to the temple. Not even knowing that my subordinate was watching you."

"..."

"I was curious. How you were contacting the upper ranks. And the identity of that communication device was quite surprising."

***

A little while ago, when I gave them an hour of respite.

Margarita immediately ran to the temple.

I continued to monitor Margarita through the surveillance screen of the system window.

She sat down in front of the goddess statue in the central hall and just started talking, completely abandoning any pretense of praying.

- I report. Prince Ash has declared rebellion. I repeat, Prince Ash has declared rebellion.

After a long silence.

A low-quality buzzing voice came out of the goddess statue.

- Rebellion?

It sounded like a very poor quality phone call, but it was clear.

- Say it again, exactly.

- Prince Ash has declared rebellion.

- Is it true? This matter is of utmost importance. There cant be a single mistake.

- Its true. I heard it clearly with my own ears.

Margarita reported my declaration of rebellion without a single mistake.

- ...

The goddess statue was silent for a moment and then spat out words.

- Prince Ash ordered to gather again in an hour?

- Yes, thats correct.

- Then, after joining Prince Ash, continue to monitor him. Whether he is really planning a rebellion, and if so, what method he is using, observe in detail and report again.

- But, this isnt my job anymore! Im just a priestess...!

- Everything is for the goddess and His Majesty the Emperor. Dont be petulant.

- ...

- Ill be waiting for the next report. Contact me before midnight. Thats it.

The conversation ended.

Margarita looked up at the goddess statue with resentment and left the temple.

And then she returned to my mansion.

***

I chuckled.

"I couldnt believe that there was a magic communication device capable of long-distance communication. Moreover, it was in the form of a goddess statue."

"..."

"How could we tell whether you were earnestly praying in front of the goddess statue, or reporting the situation here to the higher-ups?"

Communication magic is a famous ancient magic known to have disappeared along with teleportation magic.

But it seems that it didnt disappear; the royal family monopolized it and allowed only their spies to use it.

While we had to resort to sending messengers, writing letters, and releasing doves whenever we needed to communicate from afar - a total mess - these damn spies had the audacity to set up ultra-high-speed communication lines for their own use. The audacity of these bastards.

Margarita bit her lip hard. I brought my face closer to hers, dodging her averting gaze.

"Saintess. No, Margarita."

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Beating the palm of my other hand with a short cane, I murmured ominously,

"I dont doubt your faith. Your dedication to treating the sick, your nobility in providing medical care in these remote regions."

"..."

"But you were a pawn of the royal family, and a spy. And you hid that fact from me. You deceived me, the son of the Emperor, the commander of the southern front, and the lord of this city."

Thud.

I gripped the cane resting on my palm as if to shatter it, and I smiled softly.

"Youll have to pay the price, right?"

"..."

Margarita slowly opened her mouth.

"Are you... going to kill me?"