Chapter 29

Kuwa... Hikaru stifled a yawn.

In front of him was the inn's breakfast. In the basket were freshly baked black bread, and on another plate was sliced cheese with a rather strong smell. Also, there were orange-colored fruits the size of baseballs piled up.

The mug contained warm milk—raw milk. It didn't seem to be cow's milk, with a unique, rich flavor and a distinct smell.

"Here's some more."

"Eh?"

Thud, a plate was placed in front of him. It had five sausages, each about the size of a banana.

I can't eat this much in the morning... Hikaru thought, but when he looked at the other tables, everyone was eating heartily.

"The plan for the day starts with breakfast. You won't grow if you don't eat."

Lavia, who was only sipping fruit juice, said authoritatively from across the table.

"It's not 'the plan for the year starts on New Year's Day'... Besides, you should eat too."

"Well, would you make a lady eat such a heavy breakfast? It's a lady's enemy."

"I can't eat this much either."

"Maybe it's assumed that you'll leave some."

This was the first time Hikaru and Lavia had eaten at the inn, so they didn't know how much food would be served.

Well, it's better to have too much than too little.

Incidentally, they managed to secure a two-person room. The issue of showing a "Soul Card" turned out to be unnecessary. It seems that even if the Soul Card was forged, it couldn't be verified, and in a city as large as the capital, it was impossible to check everyone.

However, it was necessary to touch a stone tablet to confirm the absence of a criminal record. It seems that every inn with an official license in the capital had such a stone tablet. Thinking that everything was different from Pounded, Hikaru and Lavia touched the stone tablet. Of course, they had no criminal records.

Incidentally, the room cost 500 Gilan per night (including breakfast). It was quite expensive, but because it was close to the Second Residential District, there was no reason to choose another inn.

They had prepaid for three nights.

Remaining: 21,780 Gilan (+100,000 Gilan)

Hikaru, who had returned in the early morning and had only slept for about an hour, had intended to sleep until noon.

"... I'm going to sleep too."

Lavia, who had been waiting for Hikaru to return, crawled into bed next to Hikaru, who had face-planted on the bed. Lavia had said she was "worried and naturally waited," but she had also been unable to stop reading the adventure novel she had borrowed from the bookstore—apparently, bookstores in this world primarily rented books rather than selling them. In any case, they both slept until just before noon.

Last night, Hikaru had attacked three knight captains as planned. The main purpose was to obscure East's death sentence by using the principle "to hide a leaf, use the forest."

If the knight captains could be defeated so easily, it would be reasonable to think that East's defeat in an attack was also understandable. It was unlikely that all of them, including the captain, would be sentenced to death.

If East wasn't sentenced to death, Hikaru could tolerate some effort from the people around him (not as a figure of speech). From the perspective of the attacked knight captains, Hikaru must have seemed quite bold.

There were two other purposes.

One was to check the security situation in the central part of the capital.

This turned out to be less impressive than expected. The gates separating the noble district and the First Residential District were guarded at night, but they could be passed through at any time. The number of guards didn't matter to Hikaru, who could pass through unnoticed. The same applied to the knight barracks, which were not locked due to constant activity. It was a free pass. Thinking about it, small houses like Gloria's private room were much harder to break into.

Entering the residence of the Sixth Knight Captain, Scott, took some effort. He first entered a neighboring building under construction, climbed to the roof, and then jumped to the roof of the apartment building where Scott lived. He lowered a rope from the roof to Scott's room.

Last night, Scott probably thought the thief had jumped out the window and escaped, but in reality, he had climbed back up the rope to the roof and then escaped from the neighboring building.

Hikaru learned the locations of the three captains he attacked from the "emergency contact network" in the knight barracks. It included not only addresses but also maps.

The second reason was to assess the strength of the knight captains. However, the battles didn't provide enough insight into their abilities.

Checking Scott's Soul Board revealed:

【Soul Board】Scott = Fi = Rance

Age 26, Rank 22

0

【Vitality】

【Natural Recovery】4

【Stamina】7

【Immunity】

【Magic Resistance】1

【Perception】

【Vision】1

【Taste】1

【Magic Power】

【Magic Power】5

【Spirit Affinity】

【Wind】2

【Strength】

【Strength】3

【Weapon Proficiency】

【Sword】4

【Dagger】1

【Spear】2

【Bow】1

【Shield】1

【Armor】3

【Mental Power】

【Mental Strength】1

【Faith】

【Holy】2

This was the skill composition.

It seemed he had used all his available points for training. Other captains and knights also had 0 or at most 3 remaining points.

This might have made it difficult for them to develop their strengths further.

Even with a "Sword" proficiency of 4, an unarmed knight captain level wouldn't be a match for Hikaru. However, if they wore plate armor, Hikaru, with a "Throwing" proficiency of 2 and a "Strength" of 1, wouldn't stand a chance.

"Well, then... Shall we go?"

In the evening, Hikaru, after informing Lavia, headed towards the royal castle.

The knights in the city seemed to be moving in groups of three, clearly a countermeasure against attackers.

However, the guards at the gates of each residential district didn't seem particularly alert. It seemed the news of the knight captains' attacks hadn't reached them.

(Hmm... There really are few knights.)

The "contact network" in the knight barracks listed about 500 names. However, the number of knights Hikaru saw at the barracks was much fewer, around 40 to 50. Of course, some, like the Sixth Knight Captain, Scott, had separate residences. But the number of empty rooms was noticeable.

(There's a war.)

There should have been three more knight captains in the knight barracks. It was reasonable to assume that the rest had been sent to the front lines.

Hikaru didn't know how the war had started or what the current situation was.

With fewer knights and soldiers, Hikaru welcomed the reduced risk of a chaotic attack.

By the time they reached the gate of the noble district, it was already dark. Torches were lit, and the tips of the guards' spears glowed. Of course, Hikaru entered without any trouble.

The knight barracks didn't have a captain's bedroom. Hikaru went to the private residence of the knight captain in the noble district, but it was closed, and it didn't seem like anyone was there. He knocked, but no one answered.

(Then the royal castle? That's unlikely... Wait, could it be...?)

Hikaru had a hunch.

He headed to the "indoor training ground," a related facility of the knight barracks.

It was a wooden building, about the size of a school gymnasium. It was the largest of the knight barracks' related facilities.

The floor was bare, with only wooden walls and a roof. It felt like a shed or a barn to Hikaru.

Eight pillars supported the ceiling along the walls. There was a catwalk, allowing a view from the second floor.

Four torches were lit.

The light was insufficient. The dim light from the open doors on all four sides was appreciated.

In the center, a giant man sat on the ground, wearing only minimal protection. A broadsword as tall as Hikaru was stuck in the ground.

(Knight Captain...!!)

Hikaru immediately recognized him.

The man's presence was overwhelming.

Despite being protected by the "Stealth" skill and "Occupation," Hikaru's body was enveloped by a dense aura, making him feel as if he were walking through a pool.

He was in a different league.

Clearly different from the knight captains Hikaru had attacked the previous night.

Moreover, he was prepared for an attack.

Hikaru, who seemed unnoticed by the man standing directly in front of him, sought the "shadow" and hid behind a nearby pillar.

From there, he slowly approached.

He reached the 5-meter distance where he could check the Soul Board.

【Soul Board】Laurence = Di = Falcon

Age 35, Rank 48

0

【Vitality】

【Natural Recovery】8

【Stamina】11

【Immunity】

【Magic Resistance】2

【Disease Immunity】2

【Toxin Immunity】1

【Perception】

【Vision】2

【Hearing】1

【Smell】1

【Strength】

【Strength】16

【Weapon Proficiency】

【Sword】3

【Greatsword】6

【Heavenly Sword】1

【Spear】1

【Shield】5

【Armor】5

【Mental Power】

【Mental Strength】4

【Charisma】1

【Intuition】

【Intuition】6

A monster...!

Hikaru quickly retreated to the wall.

His "Greatsword" proficiency of 6 was on par with Unken's "Dagger" proficiency of 6, but his "Strength" of 16 was in a different league. "Strength" could be increased to a maximum of 30, but this was the first time Hikaru had seen someone with over 10.

What was concerning was the "Heavenly Sword." It was clearly a derived skill from "Weapon Proficiency."

He had 83 points, all used up. He couldn't use magic, but he didn't seem to need it.

In contrast, Hikaru had only 32 points.

【Soul Board】Hikaru

Age 15, Rank 17

1

【Vitality】

【Magic Power】

【Strength】

【Strength】1

【Weapon Proficiency】

【Throwing】2

【Agility】

【Burst】1

【Stealth】

【Life Concealment】3

【Magic Concealment】3

【Perception Concealment】5 (MAX)

【Assassination】3 (MAX)

【Group Concealment】3

【Intuition】

【Detection】

【Life Detection】1

【Magic Detection】1

Laurence's total points were more than double.

What was more concerning was,

"... You've come, haven't you? Attacker."

He was caught.

It was the "Intuition" 6.

Even Unken only had 4.

(You're something else, Knight Captain. As expected, the strongest 'Sword Saint' in this country... No, the strongest, right? What if he's not? This guy could take down hundreds of people.)

"Where are you? Show yourself—no, it's your style to attack without showing yourself, isn't it?"

He slowly stood up.

His eyes scanned the surroundings. His gentle eyes had turned into a vigilant gaze.

The knight captain continued.

"I know your purpose."

Eh? Is he kidding?

Hikaru felt a chill down his spine.

Could he know about protecting East or Lavia? Why—?

"A test of strength, right?"

Hikaru almost fell over.

(You're mistaken! Well, I did think it might look that way!)

The knight captain continued to scan the surroundings. He could sense Hikaru's presence with "Intuition" but couldn't pinpoint his location.

"Be glad. I am indeed the knight captain, the strongest man in this country."

It was a self-proclamation, but it seemed Hikaru's assumption wasn't far off.

(If there were more like him, this world's wars would be like monster battles.)

"—Attacker. Will you show yourself?"

Laurence's tone changed, becoming calmer.

"I hear you're just a child. Your skills at your age are truly frightening. I want to welcome you into the knight order."

(Huh? What is he saying? I'm the one who disgraced the knight order!)

Hikaru quickly considered Laurence's intentions.

One, he genuinely wanted Hikaru in the knight order.

Two, he was trying to lure Hikaru out to cut him down.

Three—

(Waiting for reinforcements?)

There was a possibility that a high-level detection spell was being cast. Hikaru activated both "Life Detection" and "Magic Detection." He usually didn't use them because they overlapped his vision.

(... Hmm)

There were reinforcements, or rather, someone was already there.

One person was hiding in a corner of the second-floor catwalk. They didn't show up on "Life Detection" but did on "Magic Detection." They must be using some magic tool to block life reactions.

Hikaru set up a trap on the first floor and climbed the ladder to the second floor.

"How about it? I don't think it's a bad offer—"

Laurence continued talking on the first floor.

Hikaru quickly reached the person. They were just sitting and watching Laurence, not casting any high-level detection spells.

A woman, or rather, a girl.

The magic tool was blocking visual detection, but the magic reaction was clear. She had considerable magic power.

【Soul Board】Kujastria = Gii = Ponsonea

Age 17, Rank 4

0

【Magic Power】

【Magic Power】5

【Spirit Affinity】

【Fire】1

【Wind】1

【Earth】1

【Water】1

【Mental Power】

【Charisma】3

【Charm】1

【Intuition】

【Inspiration】

【Art】1

【Intelligence】

【Calculation】1

"Gii = Ponsonea." Hikaru recognized the name from Roland's memories.

She was royalty.

(... Why is royalty here?)

It was unexpected and confusing.

Princess "I came."