Torn Asunder by War, A Sword Saint for Tomorrow X The Knight Wizards!! – Chapter 139

Chapter 139: Perhaps Matters Should Be Discussed on a Case-by-Case Basis
  As the situation was somewhat complicated, and my inherent Japanese nature kicked in, I remained silent and observed from the sidelines. However, likely due to my status as a dignitary from a neighboring country, I ended up being stared at by everyone.
  
  While being nudged in the side by Revia who was standing beside me, and as I was struggling to come up with what to say, the officer who had introduced himself as Kurt during our first meeting spoke up, addressing Elbeato.
  
  “I want to confirm the most urgent and top priority matter. Were you the ones who attacked the carriage carrying Cedric-sama, the next Marquis of Rigsia, and kidnapped him?”
  
  “Absolutely not. Would you please vouch for my innocence, Knight King-dono?”
  “Well, even if you say so…”
  
  I have heard from my ally’s daughter that the father of the person pleading with a troubled face before me has defected from the Imperial Faction and become a colleague, and that he dispatched reinforcements to the fortress city of Zigrand territory. However, I cannot defend the fact that he was secretly engaged in covert operations.
  
  It’s natural for the Rigsia military personnel, who had their central city ravaged, to be suspicious. Their harsh gazes are directed towards us as well.
  
  “Excuse me, but it seems like you and this person are acquainted. Could you please clarify your relationship, Raizes-kyo?”
  
  “I don’t know him. I’ve only heard rumors that King Claude met him at the music festival.”
  
  The person who answered curtly was among those who remained at the encampment outside the walls. Except for Izana and the royal guards, only the Knight Commander and his daughter accompanied us to the concert venue, so no one here knows the actual situation.
  
  Therefore, attention gathered once again, waiting for my words.
  
  “…He is Elbeato-dono, a relative of Margrave Hazen who previously informed me about the situation in the Imperial Capital.”
  
  “Greetings everyone, once again. That being said, I would appreciate it if you would refrain from calling me a thief and treating me with such extreme disrespect, Officer-dono.”
  
  The second son of the noble family, true to his former Imperial Faction nature, asserted himself with a lineage-focused statement and began explaining the incident where he had spread rumors about the Marquis of Rigsia’s family throughout the city.
  
  He spoke at length about weakening the Imperial Faction with the future of the empire in mind, and about bolstering the defenses of the western region of the empire by bringing Nina Valer, the Margrave of Zephyrus, and her faction into the mainstream.
  
  “It’s safer to have a gift for Lady White Fox as a newcomer, and it gives the people who have lost their families and property an outlet for their unbearable feelings. If the Brigade Commander-dono of the territorial army is promoted to Marquis and receives territory, he can finally break free from being a lower noble who can only attach a title to his surname…”
  
  “And if the defenses on the front lines are strengthened, the Almaine territory in the central-west will also be safe.”
  “Yes, just like the Knight Kingdom that uses the Lichtea Principality as a shield.”
  
  It would be fine if they only had to fight off the occasional horde of Aberrations that infiltrate, but it’s obvious that they don’t want their territory to become the main battlefield. Although they are told not to point it out every time, the red-haired mage girl immediately tries to retort…
  
  “I think it’s different because we haven’t spared any effort in providing reinforcements and assistance, have we?”
  “That’s because you’re a small country that doesn’t have internal interference. I’m extremely envious of how united you are.”
  
  Certainly, our “Old Man Three Musketeers” are united, and because they are allowed to do as they please in a stable environment, his sarcastic remark is not entirely off the mark.
  
  I covered Revia’s mouth with my hand, reaching over her shoulder to try and forcefully silence her. In retaliation, she bit my index finger hard.
  
  “…She’s so naive, or rather, she disarms you, doesn’t she?”
  “Ah, she’s a valuable asset, so I treasure her.”
  
  Occasionally, when I’m troubled, she interacts with me just enough to pull me back from the brink of tunnel vision, and I’m nothing but grateful for that.
  
  When I conveyed this honestly, the physical assault stopped, and this time she blushed slightly. However, as the conversation wasn’t progressing, I went ahead and asked the Rigsia officer about his opinion regarding the succession of the Marquis title.
  
  “In exchange for the downfall of the current Marquis family, they are trying to instigate political change and solidify the western front under the leadership of Lady White Fox’s faction. Can you readily accept this scheme?”
  
  “We also suffered heavy casualties in the city battle. There are many soldiers and citizens who are dissatisfied with the blunders of the late Marquis. We believe that Baron Ramsey, who serves as the Brigade Commander, is suitable to be the next Marquis.”
  
  However, he prefaced it by saying, “The loyalty we dedicated to the deceased was not a sham,” and continued to request our cooperation in the search.
  
  This kind of etiquette-conscious remark resonates with the people of the Knight Kingdom, so Raizes is nodding frequently, and it’s easy to imagine everyone else showing a similar reaction.
  
  “We will also meet your expectations to the extent that it is commensurate with the reward… However, it will be difficult to delay the selection of the next Marquis with the capital city half-destroyed and all giant knights lost. It seems there’s not much time.”
  
  “I understand, Knight King-dono. If His Majesty the Emperor grants his pardon, the Baron will likely not refuse. It would be a crime of disrespect to defy him.”
  
  Based on the fact that there have been reigns of tyrants throughout the history of the empire, the young officer concluded his statement by making a gesture of cutting his own throat.
  
  Regardless of the truth of that, as the matter of how to handle the captured individuals hadn’t been decided, we both turned our gazes towards them, and Elbeato spoke up first.
  
  “I apologize for acting on my own. I intend to make amends by cooperating with the territorial army from now on.”
  “…How can I trust you after just hearing about your scheme?”
  
  “This is about a separate matter. I imagine you are severely lacking in funds and materials for reconstruction.”
  
  In other words, even though he would not contribute to solving the kidnapping case for his own reasons, he seems to have a plan to provide financial aid to the Rigsia territory, which is in a terrible state due to internal conflict and Aberration attacks, by utilizing the strengths of the Almaine territory, where people, materials, and funds gather from various places through river trade.
  
  Hesitant to jump in and incur a debt, the officer told the second son that he couldn’t give an immediate answer and suggested that they go to the territorial army headquarters with the female knight who was acting as his bodyguard.
  
  Contrary to expectations, the offer was readily accepted, and the meeting was dissolved. In less than ten minutes, the ravaged trading post was deserted.