Chapter 27

"Once, there was a dark guild that took on all sorts of dirty jobs that even the upper echelons of the country found difficult to handle... He was one of its members."

One of Antimishka's knights pointed at Gara and said this.

I looked at Gara.

He didn't move a muscle, just staring straight ahead.

"That dark guild... handled espionage, cover-ups, and assassinations—any and all dirty jobs that came down from the upper echelons of the country. It was a famous guild in the underworld. He was a standout member, known in certain circles. No, he was even said to be a legend."

"......"

The knight spoke as if he knew Gara's face well, continuing his words.

"There was an incident where an evil dragon, sealed in an ancient ruin, was accidentally revived due to the negligence of the noble who managed the land. He is said to have single-handedly—rumor has it, with his bare hands—defeated it."

... Didn't some incredible story just come out of nowhere?

Antimishka also reacted to the story with a puzzled expression, saying, "What... is this fairy tale?"

"Defeating a dragon is not something that would be ranked as S-class in difficulty. It's something that adventurers would undertake in groups, with proper equipment and weapons, right?"

"That's why it's a legend. It can never be made public..."

"... It's too much embellishment."

At that point, Gara, who had been listening silently, spoke up.

Scratching his head, he corrected the exaggerated story.

"At that time, I had about ten companions supporting me. We used various tricks to increase our chances of winning. Well..."

With sharp eyes, Gara stared at the knights in front of him.

"I won't deny that I was the one who delivered the final blow to the dragon with this arm."

... Wow, the aura is intense.

The knights were clearly intimidated by Gara's words.

It's hard to tell how much of it is true, but Gara... seems to be an extraordinary person. But, indeed, when he says it, it's convincing. I've been living with him for a few days, so I know.

"You know a lot about me, don't you?"

Gara turned to the knight who had been explaining behind Antimishka.

The knight, though his face was hidden by armor, was clearly locking eyes with Gara.

"From the way you speak... you were involved in the 'underworld,' weren't you?"

"Yeah, I heard plenty about you... Gara Quillon."

In response to Gara's words, the knight replied—right then.

"Sister, I will fight too."

By my side, Entia stepped forward.

Her massive white body crouched, her four legs poised like coiled springs.

She growled, baring her fangs.

"It's been a while since I've shown the descendants of the divine wolves' power to these unworthy ones."

The knights reacted to Entia's presence.

These knights, who fight in this fantasy world, must have faced many monsters.

They must have felt that Entia was not just any wolf or monster, but a descendant of the divine wolves, a being of a different caliber.

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't forget about us!"

"This is our village, Abatos Village!"

"Mako! We'll protect our land ourselves!"

Furthermore, the Beowulfs raised their voices, holding their farming tools.

"To be honest, until recently, I didn't have much attachment to this barren land!"

"Yeah! If they told us to leave, we might have just gone along with it!"

"But now, it's become something we can't easily let go of! Thanks to Mako!"

"... Everyone..."

The Beowulfs' passionate words made me a bit teary-eyed.

"... So what?"

However, even in the face of such a scene, Antimishka was not intimidated.

"So what? What does it matter if you, a few dozen people, resist or throw a tantrum?"

The pain in her abdomen from my punch must have been fine by now. With a haughty expression, she spat out her words.

"I am the Third Princess, Antimishka Antelope Grouga! A princess! A princess! The daughter of the king! To defy the royal family is to defy the country! Do you think that by driving us away, everything will be fine? You simpletons!"

Antimishka's increasingly foul-mouthed words.

Is she really royalty? Her repertoire of insults is incredible.

"The forces I can mobilize are not just this! I can lead thousands, tens of thousands of soldiers to attack you with all my might! And once you defy me, I can thoroughly blacklist you, leaving you with no place to hide in this world!"

"......"

"Once you have nowhere to run, you'll be ground into dust! ... Do you understand your position now?"

The Beowulfs, who had been heated up until now, fell silent.

Yes, this is actually a good state.

Everyone is calmly assessing the situation.

Antimishka's argument is valid.

This is a kingdom, a country ruled by the king.

To defy the royal family is to defy the country, and it's no longer a simple matter of "move or don't move."

We must remain calm and deal with this situation.

Seeing our cooled-down state, Antimishka smiled with satisfaction.

"Haha, did you really think you could defy me and win? You powerless, insignificant people—"

"Then, what about this?"

Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed in the air.

Between us and Antimishka's troops, right in the middle, between me and Antimishka, someone stepped forward—

"What if the Seventh Prince, Iksa Raven Grouga, by royal authority, forbids any interference with this village?"

... My heart leaped.

His familiar golden hair, his ever-charming good looks.

Wearing the uniform of the Magic and Magical Artifacts Research Institute, with a magical bag that can store anything slung over his shoulder.

Behind him, a stylishly dressed woman in a black suit—Ms. Suaro.

"... Iksa?"

"Hey, Mako. Long time no see, how have you been?"

Iksa approached us and said this with a light expression and voice.

"Iksa...!?"

On the other hand, Antimishka was stunned by Iksa's sudden appearance.

"Prince Iksa!? Nonsense, why are you here!"

The knight behind Antimishka... is he the captain of this knight order? ... He reacted similarly.

"You... what are you up to?"

"I just said, this village is a place of some importance to me. I have a deep interest in it."

Iksa looked around the village... and then at me.

"Therefore, it can't be erased for the whims of the royal family. On the contrary, it should be protected, I believe."

"Have you forgotten how much you've insulted Father?"

Antimishka's eyes became even sharper.

She seemed to harbor more hatred towards Iksa than anyone else.

"You defied Father by saying that 'beasts and humans should live equally,' and then abandoned your duties as a prince, leaving the capital to indulge in your whims... How can you be recognized as a prince—"

"Yes, I defied Father by saying that 'beasts and humans should live equally,' and then abandoned my duties as a prince, leaving the capital to indulge in my whims... yet"

Iksa, undaunted by Antimishka's murderous aura, said calmly.

"The king has not yet stripped me of my title as Seventh Prince."

"...!"

"Antimishka, if you wish, I can swear an oath here. I've been quite relaxed until now... but I've been thoroughly annoyed by the harassment from other princes. So I've decided."

Iksa continued.

"From now on, I will fully participate in the struggle for the throne."

"...!"

"Princess Antimishka, I understand your feelings, but this is a bad situation."

The knight captain behind Antimishka, with a strained expression, quickly warned her.

"Prince Iksa has many supporters... merchants in the market cities and the Magic and Magical Artifacts Research Institutes across the country are under his influence."

"... I know."

"Furthermore... the woman behind the prince, Suaro Sukuna, is a genius of the Sukuna clan, which serves as the royal family's swordsmanship instructor. She is not to be underestimated—"

"I said, I know!"

Antimishka raised her voice.

The knight captain, who is giving a detailed explanation, is actually a kind person, maybe?

In any case, quite a formidable group has gathered here.

Iksa, Ms. Suaro, Gara, Entia.

Their titles, achievements, and the auras they emit overwhelm those who know them.

Fortunately, they are all on our side.

"... I understand."

After a few moments of intense staring and silence, Antimishka turned her back on the scene.

Would she just leave quietly...?

"... Iksa, your 'oath'... I accept your declaration of war."

... No, it wasn't that easy.

Antimishka, with eyes filled with anger, said in a trembling voice.

"I will attack this village you want to protect with all my forces."

With her iron fan, she pointed at Iksa, then at me.

"I will crush you, the trash of this village, and that woman, both physically and mentally, and trample you into the mud. Since you've made such grand statements, you won't run away, right?"

"... Yes, I'm prepared."

When Iksa said this, Antimishka's lips curled into a sinister smile.

Then, she and her knights retreated from the village.

"Iksa..."

"... It's been a long time, Mako."

I turned to Iksa.

As he said, it has been a long time since we last met.

I never expected it to be in this way.

"Why are you here?"

"Well, actually, you see..."

In response to my straightforward question, Iksa hesitated, searching for words.

"... I've known for quite some time that you were in this village."

"Huh?"

"I'll explain that later."

Iksa took a deep breath and looked around the village.

"From here on, things will get tough."