Chapter 26

"Hikaru... It's fine. You don't have to feel so responsible."

"This is just a whim."

Yes, it was just a whim.

The knight's death sentence was his own doing.

Hikaru had indeed promised Lavia that he wouldn't kill anyone when he saved her. After that, it shouldn't matter what happened to the others.

Lavia herself, the one he made the promise to, was saying it was fine for him not to feel responsible.

However,

"I don't want to regret it, or maybe I just don't like it."

"Don't like it?"

"Why should others kill them when I let them go? I'm a bit irritated by their way of doing things."

"..."

Lavia sighed.

"You... are really confident, aren't you?"

"Are you annoyed?"

"No. I think that's part of who Hikaru is. If you feel that strongly, do as you like. But I want you to promise me—don't overdo it. Don't take unnecessary risks."

"Understood."

After dropping Lavia off at the inn, Hikaru headed to the knights' garrison. He assumed the Earl of Murgstadt's residence would be vacated.

His assumption was correct. The garrison housed the knights, including East and the others, as well as the investigators from the capital.

The garrison, while called such, was a mansion that rivaled the earl's residence.

"...Is he an idiot?"

In one of the rooms, three people were present.

The investigator wore a blue jacket with white stripes, a trademark of his position. His hair was cut short above the ears, giving him a sharp, almost mohawk-like appearance.

Across from him sat two knights, the ones who had been with East.

"I've brought tea."

"Ah, thank you."

A maid pushed a cart into the room.

Working late into the night often left one's throat dry. The investigator preferred hot tea, even in the summer.

After confirming the maid had left, the investigator spoke.

"He was the second son of a baron, correct?"

"Yes. He's a court noble."

Nobles without land are called "court nobles."

In the Kingdom of Ponsania, a law requires one to be a noble to hold certain high-ranking positions. This system of court nobles was created to allow capable individuals to hold office without granting them land.

The title is not limited to one generation, and the annual salary is fixed regardless of land ownership, making the "noble title" attractive to capable individuals.

However, if left unchecked, the number of nobles would increase. Therefore, land-owning nobles are encouraged to absorb court nobles through marriage.

"His father isn't related to the knights, right? The records say he's a 'participant in the National Tax Bureau.' Essentially, the number two in charge of tax collection."

"I've heard he's a strict father. He recognized East's lack of talent in arithmetic early on and made him a knight."

"How is East evaluated within the knights?"

"He's amazing. No one trains as hard as he does."

"...But if he trains so hard and still loses to bandits, it's a problem, isn't it?"

"That's the thing! I can't believe East lost to bandits..."

"He says he lost to a young bandit."

"Hmm..."

The knight grunted, and the other knight, known for his womanizing, chimed in.

"Is there some reason he can't tell the truth?"

"That's not the case. Through a magic that can detect lies, he was telling what he believed to be the truth."

"...So, it's possible he was deceived by an illusion, right? Essentially, if East believed it to be the truth, that's all that matters."

"Yes, I think that's possible."

The two knights relaxed, seemingly relieved that the investigator wasn't being too harsh on East.

"...Please don't misunderstand, but my duty is to uncover the truth, not to protect the knights' honor."

"We understand! Right?"

"Right."

"...If you understand, that's good... Now, about the murder of Earl Murgstadt."

The investigator flipped through his report.

"At night, a thief entered through the balcony and killed the earl. Afterward, the thief fled. The murder weapon was a short sword with the inscription removed, 32 centimeters in length, left at the scene. The alarm bell rang, and two knights—yourself and Knight East—rushed to the scene, but the earl was already dead. The earl's daughter, Lavia di Murgstadt, was already there. ...Is this the report you submitted?"

"Yes."

"Given that, it's reasonable to consider the earl's daughter as the primary suspect and to transfer her to the capital for further investigation."

"Well... I suppose so. But that girl didn't kill him."

"Why do you say that?"

"There would be blood on the short sword. Her clothes had none."

"Then, how long did it take you to reach the earl's room after hearing the alarm?"

The two knights exchanged glances, but only one had been on duty that night.

"Less than a minute?"

"Probably, no matter where you were in the mansion."

The womanizing knight agreed.

"Then, consider this: the thief entered from outside. It was raining that night, so the balcony door was closed. Opening it would naturally alert the earl, who would then trigger the alarm. The thief approaches and kills the earl. Then—before you arrived, the earl's daughter opens the door and confirms the thief, who had already fled, right?"

"Ah..."

The knight seemed to notice something odd.

"Lavia said she didn't see the thief..."

"Yes, that's in the report. In such a short time, it would be impossible to kill a resisting victim and escape. Are you suggesting the earl didn't notice the thief's approach? Even with the rain, the sound of the window opening would be noticeable. Besides, the earl had a magic item that could protect him, even if he only spoke a few words."

"Those items don't activate if they're in close contact..."

"Exactly, it's strange that it didn't activate until it was too late."

"Ah, I see."

"Thus, the earl allowed the thief to get close enough to be in contact. The thief didn't enter through the window. If we consider this, there's only one person the earl would allow to get that close: his own daughter."

"..."

The two knights exchanged glances again.

"You seem to think there's something wrong with this theory."

"...No, I think it makes sense, but it doesn't feel right. Right?"

"That's what I'm saying, investigator. A father would naturally allow his daughter to get close, but a daughter wouldn't kill her father, especially such a cute one..."

"Looks don't matter, fool. —I apologize, investigator. We weren't close to the earl. We were only supposed to guard him for one day in Ponsd. But even in that short time, we noticed something."

"Go on."

The investigator's eyes gleamed.

"The earl was wary of his daughter."

"Wary?"

"Lavia has been confined to this mansion for several years, not allowed to go out. Even though he has a much larger mansion in the capital."

"Was she under house arrest? ...In a way, that suggests she had a motive to kill the earl."

"Yes. But this also means the earl wouldn't let her get close. They weren't on intimate terms."

"I see. That's a valuable insight."

"...But you're not even taking notes."

"Yes."

The investigator closed the report.

"I believe the earl's daughter is almost certainly the culprit, given her flight. The capital has ordered us to find any clues that might lead to her whereabouts."

"Magic communication... How much does that cost?"

Magic communication was a magical device installed in the residences of local lords, used only in emergencies due to the high cost. A single communication could cost several gold coins.

Ponsd didn't have a lord's residence, but the knights' garrison did. Using it for this purpose was unusual—after all, it would take only half a day, or four hours, to ride from the capital to Ponsd.

"I'm sorry, but it's too late to panic now that she's fled. Moreover, I suspect the adventurers who were escorting her."

"Knight East thought the same, didn't he?"

"Yes."

"If the C-rank adventurer and the bandits who attacked East are connected, it would clear East's name."

"! That's right! Then we should—"

"The investigation is already underway. —This is confidential, but a special task force has been dispatched to the adventurers involved in the escort."

The two knights were momentarily speechless.

"A special task force? They're the ones who excel on the front lines of war, right?"

"Adventurers are unpredictable. They don't respect the authority of the state."

"But isn't that overkill?"

"Listen."

The investigator tapped the table.

"This case has the king's attention. I must conclude my investigation as quickly as possible and report back to the capital. I leave for Ponsd tomorrow morning. I need to gather all necessary information by then."

"..."

The two knights flinched.

"Depending on the outcome, Knight East could face the death penalty. Were the bandits and adventurers connected? Did Lavia really kill the earl? —If the thief did enter from outside, you and Knight East could face the same fate."

"Ah!"

The knight who had been on duty with East that night paled.

"Please, spare me. I have a wife and children."

"I'm not the one who will make that decision. However, there are several unclear points in your story. I sense contradictions. To prove you're not lying, I need to use a magical device. I can't force it on you, but I need your permission."

"Alright, I'll do it. Right?"

"Agreed."

A glass pen-like device was placed on the table. It contained a magic to detect lies.

(......)

The three men didn't notice that someone was watching them. Hikaru, who had entered with the maid's cart, had been listening to their conversation until it ended.

---

The next early morning.

The sun had just risen, and the adventurer's guild was about to open. In the winter, it would open before dawn, and the early morning shift was disliked by all the receptionists, except for Aurora. She opened the guild calmly, even preferring the quiet mornings when there were few adventurers.

"...Oh."

A young boy entered as soon as the doors opened.

With no other adventurers around, Aurora addressed him.

"Is there a request you'd like to make to the guild?"

She assumed he wasn't an adventurer, thinking he had come to make a request. He looked so young.

But he showed her an adventurer's guild card and said,

"No, I came to take on a request."

"Oh... I see. I'm sorry... You're Hikaru, right? I haven't seen you before."

"It's understandable. I've only worked with Jill and Gloria so far."

Aurora was surprised to learn he had already taken on requests with his two colleagues.

"So, um, you are..."

"I'm Aurora. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, too."

Aurora's polite bow made him seem his age.

"Aurora, I'm looking for a request."

"What kind of request are you looking for?"

The boy smiled.

"Something like delivering a message to the capital. I want to go there once."

To the important people in the capital, run!