Torn Asunder by War, A Sword Saint for Tomorrow X The Knight Wizards!! – Chapter 84

Chapter 84: To Zephyrus Domain
  Immediately, my adopted daughter’s words of rebuttal, such as “Oh, you were in a good mood, so I was concerned,” reached inside, and the Knight Captain Xenos, who is my father-in-law, laughed awkwardly.
  
  “She’s grown up to be a bit too logical…”
  “She probably learned from your lackadaisical attitude, which isn’t a bad thing.”
  
  The Chief Magician, who responded with a straight face, approached me and handed me a letter as he cast a dubious look at me, asking what about his free-spirited only daughter.
  
  The opened envelope bore the Valer family’s seal, indicating that Blaze, who also holds the position of Chancellor, had inspected it, as the Chancellor’s authority is strengthened during the Knight King’s absence in anticipation of emergencies.
  
  “It seems to be largely as King Claude predicted.”
  “Ugh… Does this mean the postponement of the Knight King Festival is certain?”
  
  While keeping Knight Captain Xenos’s frustrated voice in the corner of my mind, I perused the document, which formally requested reinforcements.
  
  As one might expect, Nina, who is treated like the “female fox,” was also aware of the suspicions directed at her and the unavoidable fact that the Inquisition would be convened. It seems she intended to make a request to the Knight Kingdom in accordance with the decision of the Senate Council.
  
  She has already contacted some of the Zephyrus Knights who have been dispatched to the three western territories. However, due to the increased activity of Aberrations near the border for the past two months, only about a dozen knights can be summoned within the territory.
  
  The fact that the pro-Imperial faction can force a decision is probably also due to the current situation on the western front.
  
  ‘…I can’t shake the feeling that this is too convenient for some people.’
  
  I handed the personal letter to Izana, who was peeking in with interest, and recalled the skeletal knight and the pilot of the floating Mechanical Magi, both belonging to the upper echelon of the “Hour of Ruin.”
  
  There’s a high probability that other intelligent individuals exist, and they might be aware of the internal affairs of the Aius Empire through some means.
  
  Just as I was harboring concerns about whether spies had infiltrated the Knight Kingdom, a small sigh escaped from beside me.
  
  “…It would be better if there were no battles.”
  “I agree, but looking ahead, it’s not something we should avoid.”
  
  Nina Valer, a utilitarian who seeks the benefit of all, is an indispensable figure in the alliance of nations. If the Empire, having excluded her, were to act solely in its own interest, it would become impossible to unite and counter the threat of the Aberrations.
  
  It would be putting the cart before the horse if we were to avoid immediate tragedy only to face a greater catastrophe later. Of course, Izana, who is astute, also understands this, so she closed her eyes for a moment and slowly nodded.
  
  Taking this opportunity, Vice-Captain Raizes turned to the Chief Magician, with whom he had a close relationship, and asked him directly.
  
  “How are the departure preparations progressing?”
  “We are in the process of organizing the transport corps, including maintenance soldiers, and the Scout Unit. It will be done the day after tomorrow.”
  
  Even if a summons to the Inquisition arrived immediately after Lady White Fox sent the personal letter, if the story we heard from Lord Hazen’s second son is accurate, there should be a two-week grace period, including the journey to the Imperial Capital.
  
  While the pro-Imperial faction will maintain appearances and wait for the date set by the Senate Council, considering the number of days it takes for the forces gathered in Rigsia to march south, we should not be disgracefully late.
  
  “It seems there are no major problems.”
  
  “In terms of schedule, however…”
  “Hmm, is there something, Blaze?”
  
  When Knight Captain Xenos gave the hesitant red-haired Chief Magician a questioning look, he let out a light sigh with a troubled expression.
  
  “It’s due to my incompetence, but some of the officials, including those in important positions, are opposed to dispatching troops. Moreover, some commoners may share the same sentiment.”
  
  “If we move now, the cancellation or postponement of the Knight King Festival, which is currently being prepared for, will be unavoidable, and we will incur unnecessary displeasure. The timing is bad, King Claude.”
  
  As the Vice-Knight Captain with a grim expression said, many people are looking forward to the festival, where the citizens of the country gather before the harsh winter, which requires austerity.
  
  It would create a negative impression if we were to interfere in another country’s internal conflicts, which are ultimately caused by human factors, unlike natural disasters.
  
  “…By the way, is your relationship with the “Assembly of Scholars” good?”
  “Yes, in addition to funding, we have also granted them permission to give lectures in the plaza under certain conditions.”
  
  “Then, let’s have the eminent scholars spread the word that ‘although not officially acknowledged, the technology for developing domestically produced giant knights was provided by Lady White Fox of Zephyrus Domain.'”
  
  This would provide some explanation for the seemingly unnatural dispatch of reinforcements, and the people of Lizel, with their strong sense of obligation, would understand to a certain extent, if not fully.
  
  Originally, we had kept it a secret to prevent suspicion from falling on Nina, but disclosing the information indirectly in the current situation is within the acceptable range.
  
  “So, being flexible, huh… Many officials within the castle have connections with the “Assembly of Scholars.” We can expect it to have an effect on them as well.”
  
  “Can I ask you to do it, Raizes?”
  “No, Blaze should handle this matter.”
  
  The Vice-Captain, though intellectual, cast a dubious look, dismissing impractical theories not based on experience as a waste of time, and glanced at the Chief Magician, whose name was listed among the eminent scholars of the “Assembly of Scholars.”
  
  “Wait, what’s with that attitude? It’s because you arbitrarily made me the developer of the Magic Core that I ended up receiving passionate invitations!”
  
  Moreover, since the lie couldn’t be exposed, he had to desperately learn about giant knight-related technology from Chief Jax and the twin elves to keep up appearances. As a result, the hardworking man expressed his dissatisfaction with a slightly irritated tone.
  
  It was a blessing in disguise that he, a scholarly type, unexpectedly fit in with the “Assembly of Scholars,” but it seems his friend, the Vice-Captain, is not pleased.
  
  “I don’t mind as long as you don’t get too influenced.”
  “Lord Raizes, I don’t think that’s an appropriate thing to say.”
  
  Izana admonished the middle-aged knight who brushed it off lightly, and while the atmosphere became a little more relaxed, the arrangements for dispatching troops to Zephyrus Domain were progressing smoothly.
  
  We departed from the royal capital, where a ten-day lockdown had been declared for information control, prohibiting all but essential travel. We secretly traveled north through the Empire’s territory and arrived near the central city of Winzard, two days behind schedule via the shortest route.