Chapter 10

Lambert left the village and set off for the city of Ainzas, accompanied by three adventurers.

According to their accounts, this entire area was governed by Count Ouboc, who actually resided in the city of Ainzas. The city, a legacy of the war era, was designed with buildings arranged in a circular formation to prevent internal invasions.

Though it was a prosperous city, the security had deteriorated since the current count took over, and it was not uncommon to see suspicious characters wandering the streets.

"Hmm, I see. There seems to be a significant difference in the passage of time compared to what I had anticipated."

Lambert placed his hand on the chin of his helmet and muttered to himself, pondering various things. The three adventurers observed him with a slight air of suspicion. They had begun to doubt his true identity. Despite the old-fashioned armor that stood out, which suggested a connection to the royal family, he seemed unfamiliar with Ainzas, an important city of the Regius Kingdom. However, the strange aura Lambert emitted made them hesitant to directly ask about his true identity.

"Um, sir knight, may I ask your name?"

Fiona, the leader of the three adventurers, asked Lambert. She had been urged by the other two adventurers, Lloyd and Lily. Fiona was the most skilled and mentally strong among the three, but she had a kind nature that made it hard for her to refuse requests. As a result, she was often given tasks that others tended to avoid. Her leadership role was largely due to this trait.

"Name, huh?"

Lambert pondered for a moment.

If he revealed his true identity, it was clear that the royal family would track him down and eliminate him.

Lambert had complex feelings towards Aurelia, his former lord who had betrayed him, but he had no intention of assassinating her and overthrowing the country.

He simply wanted to quietly observe this country.

He did not want to cause unnecessary trouble or stir up the nation.

Lambert himself had not yet decided what he wanted to do about Aurelia.

Her decisions were ruthless, yet perhaps there were areas where compromise was possible.

However, he could not say that she was definitively wrong as a ruler.

Lambert understood this.

"......"

Seeing Lambert lost in sentiment, Fiona thought she had offended him.

(No, he must have a reason for not revealing his name. Perhaps I shouldn't have asked.)

She shook her head.

"My name is......"

"No, no! If you don't wish to answer, that's fine!"

Lambert's attempt to give a fake name and Fiona's decision to abandon the question happened almost simultaneously. For a moment, an awkward silence dominated the space between them.

"Um, well......"

"Actually, before I introduce myself, there's one thing I'd like to ask. There was a great war, wasn't there? A long conflict that unified the western part of the continent...... When did it end?"

Fiona's face showed confusion as she turned to Lloyd and Lily.

Lloyd and Lily were also perplexed.

It was natural, as everyone had grown up hearing about the Eight Kingdoms Unification War.

For someone claiming to be connected to the royal family, not knowing the year of the war's end was strange.

"Did you not hear me? Or, could it be that you don't know?"

Lambert pressed his question.

Even this question seemed strange to them.

"Two hundred and thirty years ago......"

Fiona said softly.

"Hmm? What are you talking about?"

"No, no, it's about the end of the Eight Kingdoms Unification War......"

"Two hundred and thirty years...... Is that correct?"

"Yes, that's right......"

Lambert staggered, his knees buckling from the shock.

Two hundred and thirty years...... It was far too long to have returned to this world as an undead.

But there had been signs of the passage of time. There were many.

Each time, Lambert had been troubled by the discrepancies.

Changes in the landscape, changes in place names...... Systems that had only existed in his dreams were now implemented as a matter of course.

It finally made sense why no one in the village recognized his magic golden armor, the 'Regius Orgazella Armor.'

It was fortunate that his identity had not been revealed, but he had been somewhat frustrated that no one recognized the armor of one of the Four Demon Generals.

They should not have known. It had long since become a relic of the past.

He had been considering how to disguise his armor before reaching the city, but now it was clear that his concerns were unfounded.

For Lambert, the fact that Aurelia was likely already dead was a significant shock.

He had wanted to see her, even from a distance, to confirm her current status as the ruler of the continent.

He did not know whether he would bless her or leave with feelings of resentment.

However, he had a firm belief that he needed to confirm it to rid himself of his lingering attachment and be free from his current body.

Originally, this was the sole reason Lambert had become one of the Four Demon Generals and continued to wield his sword.

Just when he thought his wish would be fulfilled, he found himself facing a generational gap.

His resurrection was about two hundred years too late.

"Such nonsense...... Could this be possible? H-His Majesty is no longer in this world......?"

"What's wrong with him!?"

Fiona was at a loss, seeing Lambert's disappointment.

"......Is he in shock?"

"Hey, isn't he a bit dangerous...... He seems off. We're grateful for his help, but......"

"He is undoubtedly a renowned swordsman...... But......"

Lily and Lloyd watched the mismatched conversation between Lambert and Fiona, feeling a slight fear at Lambert's emotionally unstable behavior.