Chapter 81

The audience chamber was divided by a set of about five steps, with a lavishly decorated chair placed on the upper level and those who came to pay their respects waiting below.

Already, the knights of Reisenburg were lined up below.

Rondal stood at the front, with Lebich slightly behind and to his right, and the remaining four knights stood in a row further back.

"Lord of the Fortress City Volzard, Lord Klaus Volzard, has entered!"

A soldier standing by the door on the right side of the upper level announced, and the Reisenburg knights all knelt and bowed their heads.

First, two armed guards entered and stood diagonally in front of the chair.

Then, Klaus entered with a stern expression and sat down.

Behind him, two more armed guards followed and stood guard behind the chair.

"You have come a long way, all of you, raise your heads."

It was a solemn voice that was unimaginable from the usual Klaus.

"I believe you have already heard, but Volzard has just overcome a great crisis. Both soldiers and citizens are in a heightened state of emotion, and I understand that you may have been treated harshly, but this is a time of emergency, so please bear with it."

"Yes, sir!"

Hmm? They were saying they would confront the lord directly with their grievances, but it's not surprising that they would be convinced by this Klaus.

"I have heard that you have come to Volzard at great risk during such a time to deliver a personal letter...?"

"Yes, sir! I am Rondal Dallman of the Fourth Knight Regiment of Reisenburg. This is a personal letter from the Third Princess of the Reisenburg Kingdom, Princess Camilla Reisenburg. Please accept it."

Rondal stepped forward alone, ascended the steps, and knelt at Klaus's feet, presenting the personal letter on a silver rectangular tray.

A guard took it, examined the seal, and then handed it to Klaus.

"Hmm, I have indeed received it, but what about the reply...?"

"Yes, sir! We have been instructed to receive a verbal response."

"Understood, wait a moment..."

Klaus took the letter opener offered by the guard, cut the seal, and began to read the letter.

As he started reading, Klaus's expression quickly turned puzzled.

"Hmm... quite an outlandish content. About a hundred and fifty people with the qualities of a demon king summoned by an evil sorcerer have escaped..."

Klaus glared at Rondal, who began to sweat profusely.

"First of all, does such a thing as a summoning spell even exist? Where did this evil sorcerer learn the summoning spell? What are the qualities of a demon king?"

"Yes, sir... the summoning spell is a secret of the Reisenburg royal family, but it is suspected that someone has stolen it."

"Hmm... so the Reisenburg royal family acknowledges the existence of a summoning spell, as mentioned in the legends of heroes and demon kings?"

"N-no... I have only been instructed to answer in that way, and it is unclear whether it actually exists."

Rondal, drenched in sweat, struggled to form his words.

It almost felt like watching myself during negotiation practice, and I couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for him.

"Unclear? How can you claim they were summoned when you don't even know if the magic itself exists?"

"Well, that... it's because... they had black hair and black eyes, which is an unusual appearance."

"Hmm... black hair and black eyes, indeed, an uncommon appearance around here, but that doesn't mean they don't exist in this world, does it?"

"Well, that... indeed, it might not be the case, but... there were traces of their summoning..."

"Hmm... where were these traces?"

"Yes, sir, it was in the wasteland between Lastock and the Forest of Demons, across the river."

"Who determined that these traces were from a summoning spell? What evidence was there to conclude that a summoning spell was used?"

"Well, that... Princess Camilla confirmed the traces..."

"Then, Camilla must have had evidence to determine that it was a summoning spell... meaning the Reisenburg royal family acknowledges the existence of summoning spells?"

"Well, that... I have not been informed of how Princess Camilla made her judgment, so I cannot answer that."

"Hmm... well, that's fine..."

Rondal let out a large breath, seemingly relieved that he hadn't been cornered.

Lebich and the others, who were watching, also seemed uneasy.

"Regarding the summoning spell, I will accept that it exists, but what are these qualities of a demon king? The letter states that you want them killed on sight, are they that dangerous?"

Klaus's words surprised even me, who was watching from the shadows.

I had expected them to request their return, but I never thought they would ask Volzard to kill them.

*What does this mean? Reinhart?*

*Well, I'm not sure, but they might have predicted that a request for their return as slaves would be refused, and decided to eliminate them before they could cause harm.*

*But do they think Volzard will agree to this?*

*Well, it's unclear. The reason for their execution because they possess the qualities of a demon king is also puzzling.*

Klaus's question made Rondal sweat profusely again as he answered.

"Those people possess higher magic power than ordinary people... they are somewhat lacking in ethics and are barbaric... it is considered dangerous to let them run free."

"Didn't Reisenburg let them run free? Are you asking us to clean up your mess?"

"N-no... that is... it is so..."

"When did they escape?"

"Yes, sir...?"

"When did they escape?"

"Yes, sir! It was last Saturday."

After hearing Rondal's answer, Klaus seemed to think for a moment, then nodded and spoke.

"To cut to the chase, they are not in Volzard. If they were heading for Volzard, they would likely be in the bellies of goblins by now."

"Oh... the Great Emergence?"

"Yes, if they were heading for Volzard at that time... they probably didn't survive. This matter is not just about you, listen well."

"Yes, sir!"

Klaus then turned his gaze to the knights standing behind Rondal and continued.

"The goblins began to appear around the evening of Wind Day. It started with a few goblins emerging from the forest. However, this indicated that the vanguard of the swarm had reached Volzard, and the forest was already overflowing with goblins."

Klaus seemed to have understated the day the Great Emergence reached Volzard by one day.

"By the next morning, the area below the walls was filled with goblins. The exact number is unknown, but it wasn't just tens of thousands, it was likely hundreds of thousands to over a million goblins."

"Million... how did you defeat such a number of goblins?"

"It wasn't difficult. We just had to sweep them from the walls. Their goal was only to fill their bellies."

"So, you let them eat each other...?"

"Exactly. They are despicable, they'll eat anything, even the bodies of their comrades. We just had to wound them from the walls, and they would eat each other, reducing their numbers."

"I see..."

"Still, it wasn't an easy battle. The pressure from the Forest of Demons was immense, and the goblins used the bodies of their fallen comrades to climb the walls."

Rondal, listening to Klaus's explanation, swallowed hard and shivered slightly.

"Volzard has walls, but is Lastock safe? The seasonal winds are changing, and the river water level is likely to decrease, isn't it?"

"We are also prepared, but if asked if we are fully prepared... we cannot say that."

"Before the Great Emergence, orcs and rock ogres also appeared in large numbers. You must prepare for a large-scale event to avoid significant damage."

Klaus's words made Rondal gasp, and Lebich and the others exchanged glances.

"After this, I will have the captain of the guard give you a detailed account of the Great Emergence. I will also prepare replacement horses for your return. If you have any concerns about your preparations, it would be best to inform us as soon as possible to make the necessary arrangements."

"Yes, sir! We are grateful for your consideration."

"Very well, Kalts, inform the Reisenburg people about the details of the Great Emergence. Also, select good horses and prepare them so they can leave at any time."

"Yes, sir!"

Klaus gave instructions to Kalts, who was standing guard, and then left the audience chamber.

After seeing him off, Kalts addressed the Reisenburg knights.

"Let's go, I will provide you with more detailed information."

"Thank you, sir."

I asked Basten to keep an eye on the knights as they returned to their quarters and then went to the study where Mr. Oda and the others were staying.

"Good work, Klaus."

"Hey, Kent, well, that wasn't tiring, but these formal clothes are uncomfortable."

Klaus smiled wryly, took off his jacket, and loosened his tie.

"Will the Reisenburg knights return soon?"

"Probably early tomorrow morning."

"Is that because Kalts will push them?"

"Exactly. In fact, that Great Emergence exceeded my expectations. If Reisenburg's preparations are based on the usual scale, they will surely be overwhelmed and suffer significant damage. It will take time to adjust their preparations. So..."

Klaus nodded confidently and then tightened his expression.

"Kent, the envoys can almost certainly be turned away, but the content of this letter is somewhat concerning."

"Can I see it?"

I took the letter from the envelope and read it.

The letter began with Camilla's greeting, stating that not slaves but an antisocial force had escaped, and the request to Volzard was to kill them on sight.

What was concerning was that the escaped people, including me and my classmates, were described as possessing the qualities of a demon king.

"Kent, what do you think?"

"Well... to be honest, I don't understand. Does a demon king even exist?"

"A demon king... is right in front of me..."

"Ah... not in that sense..."

"I understand. A demon king... is said to have existed in ancient times."

"Really...?"

"Yes... but not as a king of monsters, more like the leader of a powerful criminal organization that used magic."

In this world, there is a fairy tale about a hero from another world summoned to defeat a demon king, but it is said to be based on historical facts.

The leader of a group that wreaked havoc using powerful magic was the demon king, and the hero who defeated the demon king is the model for the hero.

"The exact era is unknown, so it's unclear where the facts end and the fairy tale begins, but it is likely that extremely evil criminals called demon kings did exist."

"Do the people in this world know that the fairy tale of the demon king is based on historical facts?"

"Yes, they understand, but since it's an old story, the boundaries are quite blurred."

There is a significant difference in perception between those who strongly believe in the existence of demon kings, heroes, and summoning spells, and those who consider them fairy tales.

"But, does Camilla really think that Volzard will agree to kill them for such a vague reason?"

"The royal family is said to have accurate historical records about the demon king and the hero."

"So, is Reisenburg's claim true?"

"Whether it's true or not is another matter, but it suggests the possibility that it might be true, and the proposal is made with that in mind."

"If the Reisenburg royal family, which is said to have accurate historical records, says it might be true... they might think it might be true... they might think it might be true...?"

"Confusing! But, yes, that's the idea. However, if asked whether they would immediately decide to kill based on this alone, the answer is no."

In other words, it might be a feint by Camilla.

"For Camilla Reisenburg, it was clear that a request for the return of the slaves would be refused. But, she doesn't want the escaped people to team up with me... the qualities of a demon king are a bit of a stretch."

I wondered if Camilla might have a bit of a middle-school syndrome, but I didn't say it out loud.

"But, in fairy tales, the one summoned is the hero, not the demon king, right?"

"Yes, that's true. If a demon king were summoned, it would be a problem."

"Right... so, the reason is even more of a stretch..."

"Well, you'll have to verify that when you negotiate with Camilla."

While Klaus can handle the Reisenburg envoys, we need to handle the negotiations with Camilla ourselves.

"From the content of this letter, can we assume that for Camilla, we, who have gained our freedom, are a hindrance?"

"Yes, that's likely. If she thought we were necessary, she would have requested our return, but in our current state, free from the control of the slave bracelets, it's difficult to control us."

"If that's the case, if we promise not to harm Reisenburg and return to our original world peacefully, there's a possibility they will return us, right?"

"Normally, yes... but from what you've told me, she's not someone who can be easily swayed."

"Yes, from her usual behavior, I can sense a certain resolve."

"Then, you need to thoroughly prepare your strategy before negotiating. They will be waiting for you without showing any weakness. To break through that, you need a keen eye to spot even the slightest weakness and a solid defense to maintain your stance. If you're like the Reisenburg envoys today, you'll be outmaneuvered."

"Yes, that's true..."

Rondal, facing Klaus, was so flustered that he almost seemed pitiful, even from an adversarial perspective.

Well, to be honest, if I were to negotiate with Camilla, I would probably make an even worse spectacle.

"Kent, keep this letter. It would be good to show it to Shuji and Ritsuko."

"Yes, thank you."

After thanking Klaus, I decided to report to Mr. Oda and the others after checking on the Reisenburg envoys.

In the reception room of the annex where the Reisenburg knights were staying, Kalts was explaining the course of the Great Emergence using maps and diagrams.

Most of this explanation was fabricated, as we couldn't reveal the existence of me and my followers to Reisenburg.

"The upper species of goblins, coordinated movements... that's troublesome."

"In Volzard, the walls were almost breached where the bodies piled up. In Lastock, the river will likely be shallowed by the bodies, making it a target."

The Reisenburg knights looked grim at Kalts's explanation.

"Damn, if the goblins can cross the river, Lastock is flat and has no walls. We need to prepare for a siege."

"Can we secure enough preserved food for all the residents?"

"Water, food is important, but first, water. We need to distribute water purification papers."

"We need to return to Lastock as soon as possible to start preparations, or it might be too late."

"Kalts, the... horse arrangements are...?"

Rondal asked worriedly, and Kalts nodded confidently.

"I have already ordered my subordinates to prepare twelve good horses."

"But we are only six..."

"You can choose six from them, or take them as spare horses. The burden is much different when carrying a rider versus an empty horse. There will certainly be monster attacks, and the horses might be injured. Please choose the method that suits you best to reach Lastock."

"Ah... I don't know how to thank you..."

"We are knights, and protecting the people is our duty, whether in Volzard or Lastock. Please protect the people of Lastock."

"Thank you! I will certainly report this to Princess Camilla and come back to express our gratitude."

"Then, you will need to discuss among yourselves. I will take my leave. If you need anything, please inform the servants of the manor. When you leave, we will send you to the gate by carriage, and the horses will be prepared at the nearby checkpoint."

Kalts shook hands firmly with each of the Reisenburg knights and left.

After seeing him off, Gert was the first to speak.

"Rondal, let's leave early tomorrow. We can't afford to waste time."

"I know, without being told. We can't fail to protect Lastock after receiving so much help from Volzard."

Everyone nodded strongly in response to Rondal's words.

"We can't waste this time. Let's draft a plan for the countermeasures here so we can act immediately upon returning to Lastock."

With Lebich's words, the Reisenburg knights began to draft their plan for the Great Emergence.

*Baschen, can I ask you to do some reconnaissance here?*

*Of course, Kent-sama.*

*Okay, then I'll go report and consult with Mr. Oda and the others at the temporary barracks of the guard. Let me know if anything happens.*

*Understood.*

With the content of the letter revealed, we have a bit more insight into Camilla's intentions.

The challenge now is how to use this information to our advantage in negotiations.

In any case, let's head to the temporary barracks of the guard.