Torn Asunder by War, A Sword Saint for Tomorrow X The Knight Wizards!! – Chapter 21

Chapter 21
  Now, Count Radglyph of Fosses who welcomed us was different from the image of a noble I had. He was a tanned, large man who embodied practicality and fortitude, and I felt he had the potential to go toe-to-toe with the well-built Captain Xenos.
  
  “It’s been a while, Sir Raizes… And who might this gentleman be?”
  “Yes, this is King Claude, ruler of the Lizel Knight Kingdom.”
  
  “I’ve heard he’s a Rare Human martial artist. We might get along.”
  “Pleased to…”
  
  The moment I grasped the hand offered to me, a similar exchange I had with the Captain flashed through my mind, and I put all my strength into my right hand so it wouldn’t be crushed.
  
  “Hmph!”
  “Grr!”
  
  “What are you doing, Claude… King?”
  “Milord, please stop playing around here.”
  
  Revia, who had remembered to add an honorific as if just recalling it, stopped me, and a female attendant standing behind Radglyph stopped him.
  
  “Hmm, His Majesty the Knight King has good muscles…”
  “No, I don’t need that compliment.”
  
  Exasperated by how much of a déjà vu this was, I understood from the very first meeting that he was a physical, martial type, and I decided to think of it as easier to get along with.
  
  “Anyway, let’s not stand around chatting at the entrance. Follow me.”
  
  His brisk footsteps as he turned and started walking had their center of gravity at the base of his big toe, and his unconscious, consistent stride showed that the Count had undergone considerable training. Following the attendant who was following his strong back, we also began to move through the mansion.
  
  After a short while, we arrived at a reception room where a three-seater sofa with legs, which I had never seen before in this world, was placed facing another one, with a beautiful glass-topped table set between them.
  
  “Well, have a seat… Lidy, could you bring some tea?”
  “Certainly.”
  
  Glancing at the female attendant who nodded and left, I sat down on the recommended sofa, and a gasp escaped from Revia, who sat next to me.
  
  “Wow, it’s so fluffy… Hey, Claude, I want this in Asia’s castle too!”
  
  Perhaps because her mind was distracted by the sinking comfort, she showed her unguarded side, and Raizes’ sharp rebuke flew at her.
  
  “Revia, this is a public place!”
  “Eek!”
  
  “I don’t particularly mind. It’s furniture I bought from a Zephyrus merchant for a high price. I’m actually happy with that reaction. But still, what’s this… Calling me by my name without honorifics, is she your mistress, Knight King?”
  
  Averting my gaze from the Count who was teasing me with a grin, her face flushed the same color as her red hair, and she muttered a small reply.
  
  “Th-that’s not true… Because it would be bad for Izana…”
  “Don’t tease her too much. This girl is my accompanying mage.”
  
  “Hmm, then it makes sense that you’re close, but the red-haired girl doesn’t seem to mind either.”
  “… It’s not admirable to torment a young girl, Radglyph-dono.”
  
  Raizes, who had interrupted the conversation, forcefully cut off the flow and cleared his throat as if to say that the small talk was over.
  
  “My apologies, I got carried away with my jesting.”
  “I don’t mind, but that aside…”
  
  After briefly glancing at the otherworldly items placed in the reception room, I leaned back against the sofa and asked the Count, who seemed relaxed, a question.
  
  “Judging by the furnishings, it seems you’re doing extensive business with the Zephyrus Domain.”
  
  “Let me tell you upfront, I’m a neutral party within the Empire. I have no intention of getting involved with those opportunistic fools of the Imperial Faction in the rear, and unlike those on the front lines, I don’t trust Nina Valer.”
  
  Having seen through the intention of my casual question, the Count declared with an exasperated expression. Judging by his attitude, it seemed he had been repeatedly probed by some of the Imperial nobles without any real reason.
  
  However, when I decided it was time to at least ask why he distrusted the White Fox… or rather, Lady Nina, whom we were about to meet, the attendant from before brought in tea for everyone and placed it on the table.
  
  I took a sip of the tea, which had a pleasant aroma of tea leaves, and moistened my throat before making eye contact with the Count and asking.
  
  “Has she done anything suspicious?”
  
  “I apologize to His Majesty, but the current situation where other countries possess a certain number of giant knights and have the same level of maintenance, operation knowledge, and technology as us is already strange.”
  
  That was something I had vaguely sensed as well. Because of the fact that we were able to fight the “Hour of Ruin” thanks to Lady Nina, it was easy to forget… but she was being too generous in disclosing her technology.
  
  According to the Count’s detailed explanation, she had even provided giant knights and documents to countries in the far east and dispatched a small number of instructors.
  
  Thanks to early preparations, despite losing some territories to the Spirit Gates and the Aberration forces that suddenly appeared in the east, the allied local countries succeeded in establishing and maintaining a frontline.
  
  “Even if that side becomes a nest of monsters, the western countries will eventually be exposed to a pincer attack… Lady Nina’s foresight is prophetic and unsettling.”
  
  “Therefore, you’re saying she’s not to be trusted?”
  “Yes, you should see for yourself.”
  
  The Count answered somewhat dismissively, changing the subject. After that, he asked to see the Spirit Gate fragment we were going to give to Lady Nina and so on. Our meeting with the Count, which lasted for about two hours, came to an end.
  
  After that, we had dinner with his wife and stayed the night. After confirming that the rare ores, including mithril, which were our parting gifts, had been delivered by Cavalry Captain Aldo’s arrangements, we set off on our journey again, heading for the Zephyrus Domain.