Volume 2 - CH 211

Uhmm, Ouren reporting here.

Now I’m back at the guild and sitting in a chair.

Beside me sits Tsuar, who was just beaten to a pulp …….

Uh, he’s not dead, is he?

Isn’t he off-colored?

Where’s the bravado you had a moment ago? ……

” So, you are Ouren-kun. I’m sorry abaut earlier.”

“Uhh …… you’re his brother, weren’t you? That’s what I thought from the conversation you had with him. ……”

“Yeah. I am the Knight Commander Roiger Karfeld. The person next to you is my older brother ……. He’s a jerk, but …… he’s a good guy at heart. I hope you will forgive him.”

“Ah- alright.”

The Knight Commander ……?

The younger brother is the leader and the older brother is the vice leader.

This is kind of confusing or troublesome, but it’s …….

Normally, the elder brother is the leader of the knighthood, right?

I don’t want this kind of a leader to be like this guy, but….

I mean, he’s a jerk.

I think it’s not a good word to use to describe his brother. ……

“So? You came to me for something, didn’t you? Why don’t you just tell me what you want, Sir Knight Commander?”

“I-I understand, so can you please pull back that intimidating presence of yours? ……”

I’m not sure if Maria is in a better spot than me.

It’s surprising …….

Maria was told so, and she brushed off that atmosphere, which could not be called a killing intent.

After sighing heavily, Roiger proceeded to talk.

“About this matter. We are unable to participate in this battle.”

“Why not? The Knights are there to protect the country. Why am I being turned away?”

“This is something that only a few people know. …… The king is currently absent.”

“The king? What does that have to do with anything?”

Wait a minute, Maria!

“You said you had an audience with the king, but you haven’t met him!”

“I had no choice! I asked for an audience with the king, but I was turned away!　And they made it very clear! [The Knights won’t be going to war with you!] I mean, Roigar! They’re your men, what’s going on!”

“That is why I came here to explain it to you. ……”

Speaking of which, that’s right.

For now, I have some questions, but first let’s hear what he has to say.

“The king is in the kingdom of Vulpan on a secret visit. The reason for this is unknown to us. And although I am the Commander of the Order, I do not have the authority to move the army. The Order belongs to the Kingdom. The Kingdom belongs to the King. Therefore, it cannot move without the king or his representative.”

“Do you have a representative?”

“There is.”

“What is he doing?”

“He’s at …………, that ……, uh, …….”

Hmm?

Roigar looks like he’s having a hard time saying that.

Is there someone who can take the place of the king?

Well, there must be someone in his entourage, someone who manages the country and …… handles the political affairs. ……

Uh, why do you make it sound so hard to say?

“Speak up.”

“…… Actually, …… it …… is the prince ……”

“”Huh?””

Excuse me, hold on.

“How old is the prince again?”

“This year he will be twelve years old. ……”

” He hasn’t even finished his social debut! What do they think they’re doing!”

Don’t give that kid the authority to manage the Knights!

Seriously, what are they thinking?

Who the hell thought of this!

Uh, but there’s no way a kid would keep quiet in the face of a crisis like this. ……

Monsters are coming from outside.

Should they use the Knights?

What should they do?

Of course they’d say they’d do it.

Because children are simple and pure.

So, how did it happen?

“I don’t know why it happened. …… Either the king is just sweet on the prince, …… or someone is plotting against him, ……. Whatever it is, we can’t move until the prince tells us to go, and we’re left to guard the castle.”

“Then why not just tell the prince directly?”

“If we could do that, we wouldn’t have any trouble. …… How many nobles do you think there are who would try to attach themselves to the prince? ……”

Ah, so there is such a thing. ……

I don’t have any idea what that’s like, so I can’t comment on it, but I think it’s the intention of not even trying to make contact with anyone who might get in the way.

I mean, can’t they move on their own?

In the meantime, the country is in a pinch, you know?

“If I move on my own, the first thing that will happen is that I will resign as Commander-in-Chief.”

“Whoa, ……, what a pain…..”

“That’s a big hassle. ……”

In terms of the Knight Commander, he wanted to move after all.

That’s good.

At least there was no malice intended.

But I think it’s a hell of a mess. ……

It’s amazing that the Knights belong to the Kingdom, and the Kingdom belongs to the King.

Is this normal ……?

Well, I guess there is, that’s why this is happening.

It’s very different from the Knight’s Order that I know.

Well, I don’t know much about that kind of thing. ……

No, but it’s strange that they leave it to the prince.

He’s still a kid, right?

Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to entrust it to someone in the king’s entourage or someone serving in the military?

That’s exactly what Roigar is for.

But why …… the prince?

Who approved it and who suggested ……?

Hm, I don’t get it.

But I’m sure he’ll join in the defense effort.

Otherwise, we’ll be in trouble.

Well, I guess the adventurers won’t take kindly to that.

The question is, will we be able to persuade the prince ……?

I don’t know much about national affairs, and I don’t know the position of the knights and the nobles.

I can’t say much about it.

“Let me try to arrange an audience with the prince so that he can hear all this directly from you.”

“I really beg you. Please, at least come to our defense.”

“How long will it take to get ready, though? ……

“Who cares how long it takes to get ready? If they want to come, they can come! Okay?!”

“I-I understand. ……”

Hm……?

“Uh, Roigar? Does the prince not know what’s going on here? I mean, about the monsters hordes coming in…”

” Eh? No,…… that shouldn’t be the case,……. I have not reported it yet. I also learned of this fact after the Maria Guildmaster left. I have not reported it myself, but I am sure others have.”

“…… really?”

“Yea, no. ……. I can’t tell you any more than that…….”

The fact that monsters are coming is something that the adventurers, as well as the other residents, know about.

Maria went to the castle to inform them of this, and I would not be surprised if this information was passed on by the guards.

That would make …….

“I guess the prince really doesn’t know about this, doesn’t he ……?”