Chapter 66

Summary of the previous chapter:

Matryoshka is cute

12

"Captain has been restrained? That's ridiculous..."

The words that Kan彦 burst into the room and said brought a shock to me.

Captain and Kan彦 had visited Count Laurenz, who resided in Seratta, to request the protection of the imperial soldiers stationed at Cheria Fort and to use the long-distance communication facilities at Seratta Fort to inform other places of the fall of Cheria Fort.

But why would it come to the point of being restrained?

"What happened, Master?"

"It seems something happened."

Rose and Gerbera, who were in the next room, also came when they heard the commotion. I closed my eyes once to calm my mind before turning to Kan彦 again.

"Exactly, what happened?"

"Yeah. Actually—"

Kan彦 began to explain the situation.

After leaving the inn town, Kan彦 and Captain arrived in Seratta after half a day and were immediately welcomed into the fort after making an appointment.

There, Kan彦 was led to a different room from Captain.

While Kan彦 was an outsider in terms of position, he had to accept that there were things that could not be said in front of outsiders.

Captain agreed, and Kan彦 reluctantly accepted it.

However, Captain did not return even after a long time. When Kan彦 questioned the people of the Laurenz family, they evaded the questions.

This morning, Kan彦 finally learned from one of the maids that Captain was being held under house arrest in one of the rooms in the fort. Determined not to just sit by, he used his position as a hero to leave the fort and came here, being careful of the surveillance.

"After making the appointment, I waited a bit in Seratta, but actually, during that time, Captain had talked to me about what to do if this happened."

"Wait. Are you saying Captain anticipated this?"

"Maybe. He laughed and said it was unlikely, and it seemed like something he thought of on the way, but—"

Still, the fact that he talked about it suggests that Captain might have had some premonition. That's why Kan彦 is here.

"Look. I told Kousuke before. Captain might be held responsible for the fall of Cheria Fort. I couldn't meet Captain, who was under house arrest, and I couldn't question anyone who knew the details, so I can't say for sure, but I think this is the reason Captain was captured."

"Is there no other possibility?"

"However, Kan彦. Isn't Count Laurenz's action too forceful?"

Shiran interrupted our conversation. Her face, half-hidden by an eye patch, was visibly tense. The knights behind her felt the same way.

"Captain is the princess of Aker. While Aker is a small country and lacks the power compared to the Empire, it is not so weak that it would accept such forceful actions. The other five northern countries would also agree, and it would worsen the relationship. Moreover, Count Laurenz, who governs the trading city of Seratta, benefits from trade with other territories and countries. It's hard to imagine he would do such a thing."

"What kind of person is Count Laurenz?"

While organizing my thoughts, I asked Shiran. What she said makes sense, but rulers are not always rational, especially in a feudal society.

"I haven't met him directly, but he is known to be cautious in his actions. It's hard to imagine he would do something that could worsen relations with other countries."

"Captain said he was a bystander and a do-nothing. That's why he thought the possibility of something like this happening was low."

Shiran, who chose her words carefully, was followed by Kan彦, who spoke bluntly. Hearing his straightforward evaluation, I frowned.

"If that's the case, why was Captain restrained?"

If our predictions were wrong, it would be that. But it didn't feel right.

The situation was worse than Captain had anticipated. Perhaps something significant was happening in a place we didn't know about.

I had a bad feeling. I hoped it was just my tendency to think the worst, but...

"I can't say for sure, but there is one thing that concerns me."

Kan彦, with a sharp gaze behind his glasses, spoke.

"While gathering information at the fort, I learned that Margrave MacLaurin is currently in Seratta with his entourage."

"Margrave MacLaurin... the famous elf-hater and a great noble of the Empire?"

Surprised by the unexpected name, I nodded at Kan彦's confirmation.

"Perhaps it was a bad time. He might have come here, taking advantage of the news of the fall of Cheria Fort."

"Taking advantage of it...? Wait. Are you saying Margrave MacLaurin had Captain restrained?"

"Just a guess."

As he spoke, Kan彦 turned to Shiran for her opinion. Shiran hesitated for a moment but nodded.

"The MacLaurin family has been at odds with the five northern countries for generations. Tracing back the history, it goes back to the war between the Empire and the Alliance. The Margrave family itself was appointed due to their contributions in the war against the Alliance countries. They are still political enemies."

The conflict between the Empire and the Alliance dates back hundreds of years. The memory of the war is distant, but such historical facts cast a long shadow. The difference in how elves are treated is just one of the divides between them.

"Given the opportunity, they would eagerly take advantage of it, and even deepen the wounds. Moreover, to say this myself, Captain is known for being 'elf-friendly'—"

Shiran's words reinforced Kan彦's opinion.

...Does this explain it, then?

I don't know Margrave MacLaurin personally. Considering Shiran is from Aker, one of the five northern countries, her evaluation might be biased. However, the divide between them is undeniable.

Captain's miscalculation was that a great noble who didn't care about the deteriorating relationship with Aker was staying in Seratta.

"I understand the situation."

There are still some unclear points, but there's no point in thinking about it further. I decided to stop there.

"So, what will happen to Captain from now on?"

At Cheria Fort, over a thousand people, including the Imperial Southern Army, the Imperial Knights, and the Alliance Knights, died due to the incident caused by Jūji. If the fall of Cheria Fort, an important strategic point for humans, is attributed to Captain, I can't even imagine what will happen to the person held responsible.

"Surely, they won't execute Captain and hold her responsible for the fall of Cheria Fort, right?"

I stopped mid-sentence, noticing Shiran's pained expression. I shouldn't have said that.

"No. That's unlikely."

Fortunately, my concern was dismissed by Kan彦.

"The Aker royal family is beloved by the people. Restraining her is one thing, but if they do something unreasonable, it could lead to war with Aker. Other northern countries wouldn't remain silent either. If the situation in the northern region worsens, even Margrave MacLaurin, a powerful figure in the southern Empire, would be in a difficult position. In the worst case, the Cathedral Knights might intervene."

"The Cathedral Knights?"

"Yes. The Cathedral Knights, who are supposed to challenge the forest with the hero, also maintain the order of the world on behalf of the church. They are the strongest military organization in the world and have religious legitimacy. If they move, the Margrave would be destroyed."

Unless he has a death wish, he wouldn't take such a risk. Margrave MacLaurin came here to harass his hated political enemy.

If he were to be destroyed, it would be counterproductive.

What Kan彦 said made sense.

"Still, all of this is what Captain told me. In any case, it's impossible for Margrave MacLaurin to execute Captain on his own."

"Then, we don't have to worry about Captain's safety, right?"

Kan彦 nodded but then his expression darkened.

"However, by restraining her, Margrave MacLaurin will try to hold Captain responsible as much as possible. Whether it's justified or not, Captain was in a position to be held responsible. Captain will be escorted to the capital, where she will be interrogated and punished."

"...What exactly will happen?"

Bracing myself for an ominous feeling, my voice, slightly lowered, was absorbed into the quiet room. The noise outside the window sounded even more desolate.

"According to Captain... she will probably be dismissed from her position as Captain."

"Such a thing!"

Shiran let out a cry. I gave her a sympathetic glance, but Kan彦 didn