Chapter 62

The members of the expedition learned their assigned rooms for the first time by looking at the numbers on the keys handed to them by the staff.

That means only the staff and the expedition members who were nearby knew Viela's room number.

Clement reported that the floors were scattered, with Viela alone on the second floor, and that no other expedition members had been seen entering the room or confirming the key numbers.

"Since the expedition was decided on suddenly, it would be difficult for the culprit to infiltrate the hotel conveniently in time. It's more reasonable to assume that the hotel, which has a collaborator, was chosen as our accommodation."

"I knew this hotel was often used by those with positions in the palace, but it wouldn't be strange if someone from the underground organization had infiltrated to extract information. Understood. We'll proceed with caution."

If the criminals found out about the method to locate Viela, they might interfere. It would be best to discuss this with only a few trusted people.

However, there was one person who couldn't be avoided, regardless of trust.

Lukas took a deep breath and bowed to Clement.

"I'm counting on you for the magic device."

"I'll work on it all night. I'm counting on you too, Mr. Lukas."

Clement returned the charm to Lukas's hand.

They nodded at each other and headed to their respective destinations.

Lukas informed the most trusted of his fellow Divine Beast Knights to prepare for the mission and explained the situation to the Supreme Commander Gerald.

Due to the nature of the compass, searching from the ground would take too much time, so he proposed searching from the air. Lukas, who knew Viela's characteristics well, would be more likely to find her quickly, and fewer knights would be mobilized, shortening the deployment period. Considering the possibility of an insider, he wanted to keep the number of people to a minimum—among other reasons, he justified the operation's legitimacy.

Gerald moved to seek the king's approval for the deployment, which was initially granted, but...

"Lukas Herring and the Divine Beast Knights are not permitted to leave my side to search for Viela Yubert."

On the morning of the day the deployment was scheduled for the evening, the king summoned Lukas to his private room and announced this.

It turned out that a threatening letter had arrived at the palace the previous night. The content suggested revenge or rebellion: "We will return the arrows of suffering that have been bestowed upon us to this throne." Additionally, information came in that the rebel organization was on the move.

The king, believing his life was in danger, decided to tighten security and revoke the knights' deployment.

This sudden decision was new to Lukas and Gerald, who had not been consulted. Gerald, of course, could not accept the king's unilateral decision.

"As I explained last night, the palace will be guarded by the Royal Guard. Please continue to trust them!"

"But Gerald, if this is an organization on the level of an army, the palace itself could be targeted. The greatest force should remain in the palace."

"Not all the Divine Beast Knights will go on the search. The deployment request is for a minimum of three, including Lukas, who knows the palace mage well. The next commander, Jackson, will stay, and I, the former commander, will also remain by your side. Please, grant permission to search for Viela Yubert."

Gerald pressed, but the king frowned and said dismissively,

"We cannot compromise the safety of the palace, and by extension, national defense, for one palace mage."

A heavy silence fell over the room.

The atmosphere around everyone except the king—Lukas, Supreme Commander Gerald, and the four Royal Guards—turned cold.

The king, sensing the change in the air, looked around nervously, but no one met his gaze. Only Lukas did, with a gaze so cold it was not the kind one would direct at a sovereign.

"Your Majesty, are you serious?"

A calm, emotionless question.

The king gasped but, with his pride, jutted his chin and glared back at Lukas.

"The kidnapped palace mage was, I believe, your fiancée. I understand your desire to rescue her, but I cannot allow personal feelings to interfere. Lukas, you are the commander of the Divine Beast Knights, the face of the nation. Be aware of your position and focus on national defense."

Lukas, who had been told this, quietly clenched his fist on his knee.

(I see, the king is... my enemy.)

The moment he recognized this, a burning anger rose in his chest, but his thoughts became clearer. How to corner the enemy and secure victory. Whether to use the enemy effectively or crush them mercilessly.

The feeling of facing an enemy during the war returned.

He directed a gaze filled with hostility and contempt, even colder than before, at the king.

"I cannot agree with that order. I am not acting solely on personal feelings. It is disappointing that Your Majesty does not understand."

The king, who had been opposed in a manner that could be seen as insolent, raised his voice, losing his composure.

"What? Are you saying my thinking is wrong!"

Lukas, on the other hand, showed no sign of being shaken.

"During the last expedition, there was an incident where the barrier stone's magic stone was rewritten. If the same thing happens, who can solve it? The new barrier spell to prevent recurrence is not yet complete, and no mage of the same level can undo it. If something happens to Viela, we will lose our trump card, which could be a crisis for national defense."

"That is a valid point. However, the important areas with barrier stones are currently patrolled by Divine Beast Riders. The risk of the same incident is low, and the immediate danger to the palace should be prioritized."

The king hesitated but refused to change his mind. Just as during the war, he only thought about his own safety. The victory in the last war had made him arrogant, and he seemed unaware of the other crises.

The knights' loyalty, including that of Lukas, a talented young man he had recently promoted, was rapidly eroding, but the king had not yet realized this.

"Lukas Herring, you and the Divine Beast Knights will remain in the palace. Understand?"

"I cannot comply."

"…Are you defying me?"

The king, whose face had turned red with anger, faced Lukas's cold, expressionless demeanor.

"Yes, please punish me. House arrest? Salary cut? Demotion isn't bad either. No, if you fire me, I'll be free, which would be a relief."

"Fired!?"

"Didn't I already submit my resignation, saying I wanted to retire? It was a forced position. I would regret losing my severance pay, but a knight who doesn't follow orders is unnecessary. I want to quit as soon as possible, so please declare my punishment here. Or, if you prefer, imprison me for disrespect, or even execute me?"

Lukas himself sought punishment, and the king, perhaps shaken by the severity of the punishment he imagined, lost his redness. He cast a glance, wondering if Lukas was sane, but Lukas's attitude did not waver. He returned a defiant gaze, as if daring the king to act.

The king, flustered, turned his gaze to Supreme Commander Gerald for help—

"I cannot advise Your Majesty. Considering the capabilities of the Royal Guard and the Palace Knights, the impact of the Divine Beast Knights' deployment is minimal, and sending just three would not be a problem. I was just told a few minutes ago that this judgment was negated. It seems I am just a figurehead. I do not believe I can be of any help to Your Majesty."

Gerald stated this in a detached, emotionless tone, lowering his gaze as if drawing a line. If he had taken away the commander's authority, he should take responsibility himself.

The king looked to the guards, but if the commander could not do it, they certainly could not. The knights also lowered their gazes, showing their refusal.

With no allies, the king finally realized he had strangled himself, and his breathing became shallow.

Moreover, he had to answer the significant issue of how to handle the hero.

The king's support, which had once waned during the war, had been fully restored thanks to Lukas, a hero who embodied the ideal. By appointing the hero as commander and embracing the Ambrosh family, the king had restored the royal family's authority and support. The image was skillfully manipulated: since the hero was loyal, the king must be wonderful.

It was natural that he did not want to let go.

It was also easy to imagine that sympathy for Lukas, who wanted to save his beloved fiancée, would be widespread. If the hero, who was in pain, were punished, and the reason for the punishment became known, the king's position would be greatly shaken.

(The king must be thinking, 'Why, after giving me a favor...' He has always consulted others but ultimately left everything to capable people without thinking deeply. He cannot understand what it is like to be in a situation where he must accept an unwanted favor unless he experiences it himself.)

Lukas smiled softly at the king's anguished expression.

The king, startled by the sudden change in his subject, could not look away from the beautiful knight's smile. It was so radiant that it made the previous cold, expressionless face seem like an illusion.

"I am not a demon, Your Majesty. There is a simple solution."

In a desperate situation with no allies, the angelic, dazzling smile, gentle tone, and attractive words were effective. Normally, the king would have felt distrust at the forcefulness, but now, completely losing his composure, he felt it as the only salvation, forgetting who was causing his distress. The king, eager to win the hero to his side, leaned forward and asked desperately.

"Lukas, what should I do?"

"Your Majesty, it is simple—"

Lukas deepened his smile and offered a 'proposal' that was an 'irresistible favor.'