Torn Asunder by War, A Sword Saint for Tomorrow X The Knight Wizards!! – Chapter 112

Chapter 112: The Beginning of an Unwelcome Upheaval
  At the same time the mixed brigade, mainly composed of Zephyrus Domain’s forces, was advancing through the rural landscape of a fertile low basin with vast lignite deposits, having passed through the forested area that stretches from Legald territory, and was approaching the core city of Leipzig, about ten kilometers away, Heisel, having heard the report from a guard officer at his castle, nodded with a listless expression.
  
  “Understood. Proceed with preparations to receive them.”
  “……… Is that alright?”
  
  The subordinate officer questioned the lord, who was utterly disheartened after losing many knights and mages, including Knight Captain Valph, a distant relative, and immediately realized his own foolishness.
  
  Normally, he would have been shouted at, but Heisel, who was remarkably lacking in spirit, only ground his teeth in displeasure, swallowed his anger, and calmly replied.
  
  “There are only three giant knights left in Rigsia territory, including the returning Cannondale. On the other hand, the White Fox and the Knight King possess 37 units. It can’t be helped.”
  
  “I apologize for asking something pointless.”
  
  As the officer bowed deeply and left, only a heavy atmosphere remained in the office, and old Aldabert, who was present in preparation for the meeting, could only shrug his shoulders.
  
  Nevertheless, not wanting to waste time, he chose his words carefully and addressed the Marquis, whom he knew, with concern.
  
  “It was I who persuaded you to accept the unfavorable terms of the peace treaty. Leave the matter of passing on your title to your son after retirement to me. If you need help, I’ll lend my wisdom.”
  
  “I’m grateful, old Aldabert. I’m sorry to ask more of you, but…”
  
  Hesitantly, Heisel brought up the topic of those who had surrendered to the neighboring country, saying that if they wished, he wanted to get them back.
  
  If one were to suspect that he intended to keep them in his territory because, due to Clawsolas aptitude, personnel capable of being deployed in actual combat were hard to come by, Heisel shook his head after a slight hesitation.
  
  “It’s the duty of the ruler who gave the order, nothing more, nothing less.”
  “Hmm, I hear that those who surrendered to the Knight Kingdom have been promised asylum with their families.”
  
  “Choices made in desperate situations are not always genuine.”
  “Indeed… I’ll try talking to that young man. But your personality is quite troublesome, too.”
  
  It couldn’t be helped that, due to his rigid aristocratic beliefs, he couldn’t tolerate a Rare Human from another world ruling an Imperial territory, and he plotted to eliminate him, only to self-destruct.
  
  Even if he couldn’t shake off his suspicions about the White Fox’s actions in strengthening her forces and providing technology to other countries, he should have judged that it was premature when most of his peers limited themselves to economic support and didn’t send troops.
  
  ‘Was it a Yamato word that said, “Regret comes too late”?’
  
  “Wasn’t there a chance you could have admonished Heisel when he was getting hot-headed?” A pointless hypothesis briefly crossed old Aldabert’s mind, and he mocked himself inwardly for being senile.
  
  As he was gathering his thoughts during a pause in the conversation, wondering if there was anything else to discuss beforehand… a sudden, indescribable chill ran down the old man’s spine.
  
  Immediately afterward, without warning, a powerful earthquake shattered all the windows in the room, and after the bookshelves against the wall toppled over, a deep rumbling sound echoed as if the outer walls and ceiling were about to collapse.
  
  “An earthquake!?”
  “Is this it?!”
  
  Both of them were bewildered by the phenomenon, which occurs only once every few years because the ground in the Western countries, including the Aius Empire, is stable. However, after about ten seconds, the shaking gradually subsided.
  
  Heisel, concerned about the damage to the city due to his position as lord, walked over to the broken window and looked out at the central square, which would likely be crowded at this time of day, and saw something that shouldn’t be there: “a shining, dull-colored, floating polyhedron,” in other words, a Spirit Gate.
  
  “No way, this is impossible!”
  “I can’t believe I’d see this in my lifetime… It’s a bad omen for the afterlife.”
  
  Old Aldabert, with the wisdom that comes with age, ignored the faint commotion coming from the nearby square and watched as smaller Aberrations emerged from the spatial distortions and attacked the slow-reacting people.
  
  As more than a dozen people were already being brutally murdered by two-headed magical beasts and owl-headed bears, the old man slipped his hand into his pocket, and the poorly fitted door was knocked softly.
  
  Without waiting for a reply, two beautiful maids entered the room and bowed. They were the attendants of Fau Zaumel, also known as the White Fox, who was responsible for Clawsolas development and material procurement in Rigsia territory.
  
  However, their appearance had changed somewhat. Their skin was pale to an almost sickly degree, and combined with the long, pointed ears characteristic of elves, they exuded an air of pure otherworldliness.
  
  “We have a message from our mistress. Listen carefully.”
  “”Farewell. We shall not meet again.””
  
  Sensing a faint killing intent in their parting words, old Aldabert immediately activated the short-range teleportation Magic Sealing Stone he had been holding.
  
  The old man instantly vanished, reappearing on the second floor of his hideout. Although several of his elite guards in plain clothes were stationed downstairs… he never reunited with his carefully selected protectors, and his relatively long life came to an unexpected end.
  
  “Gah… Did… they follow… me through the teleportation?”
  
  A wind blade, pursuing him through the spatial jump, struck him directly, severing his upper body diagonally. His torso slumped to the floor, sinking into a pool of blood and spilled viscera.