Chapter 90: The Knight Returns (Patreon)

Istasia gave Emilia the highest-grade reception.

Admittedly, Istasia was a bit greedy, but on the whole she was someone who liked deals that benefited everyone, herself included. Show her an inch of respect and she'd return a yard and more. That temperament had let her gather a large circle of allies in the business world with ease. After all, who doesn't like a win-win?

And what did it matter to her that Emilia looked like the Witch? She had a little white fox, Echidna, wrapped around her own neck. As long as the partnership was mutually profitable, nothing else was a problem.

Not to mention that working with Emilia really had brought her plenty of benefits. The investigation into the nobles who'd been replaced by the Beloved Children alone had earned her a hefty sum.

After all, the ones sent to investigate those nobles were mercenaries who specialized in purely physical criticism. We're barbarians, after all. If we raid the home of a treacherous official like you, we might as well grab a few things on the way and call it travel expenses.

Duke Crusch and Miklotov both expressed full understanding. They couldn't let everyone work for nothing, and so long as things didn't go too far and left some dignity for the original owners, should any of them be found later, the kingdom could turn a blind eye.

Of course, the Iron Fang weren't a bunch of morally bankrupt scoundrels, either. The work of collecting the spoils was mainly handled by the three Mimi siblings, who held the highest level of education in the whole company, so it was done with considerable restraint.

If anything, the corruption of Lugnica's royal capital nobles was staggering. Even skimming only a little off the top, as one plucks a feather from every passing goose, had yielded a profit equal to thirty percent of a whole year of the Hoshin Company's operations.

By this point, Istasia had fully grasped the bloodsucking potential of this wretched place. Let whoever wanted the throne of this unlucky country have it. I really didn't have the fortune to be your Lugnican king.

The only motive keeping her here was that working with Miss Emilia was profitable. Otherwise, she would have packed up and gone back home to Kararagi long ago.

And as it turned out, the troubles in this unlucky place called Lugnica were far more numerous than she could have imagined.

"So... what Emilia-tan means is that the Witch Cult's Sin Archbishop of 'Sloth' plans to attack the royal capital while Lady Crusch leads her army out to subdue the White Whale?"

After hearing Emilia's account, Istasia set down her teacup, and a rare trace of gravity flashed through her eyes.

"Yes." Emilia nodded, her hands, resting on her knees, clenching slightly. "They don't just want to attack the royal capital. They're planning a massacre inside the city!"

"As far as I know... their goal is to use the blood of innocents as a sacrifice to awaken a terrifying power residing inside Subaru."

At the name "Subaru," Julius, standing behind Istasia, twitched his fingers and almost instinctively pressed his hand to his sword hilt.

Since the incident in the throne hall, he hadn't seen Natsuki Subaru for several days. He'd heard Subaru was helping Reinhard sort out some "family troubles."

It was clear that the sworn brotherhood Subaru had spoken of was no joke. He truly regarded the two of them as his brothers.

Unfortunately, Julius still knew very little about this black-haired young man who came and went as he pleased. He'd never have imagined that the fellow carried a power the Witch Cult would covet.

Without a doubt, this meant Natsuki Subaru was a dangerous person.

But did that make him an enemy of the kingdom?

Impossible!

If someone as righteous as Reinhard could trust him without reservation, and if Natsuki Subaru, despite carrying a dangerous power within him, still devoted himself to upholding justice, then he undoubtedly had a magnificent soul!

"I gets it now. So the Witch Cult has set its sights on Emilia-tan's sweetheart."

Istasia laid both hands on the table, her mind quickly weighing gains and losses. Before long, she was sure she had to take part in this operation.

"If those lunatics succeed, not only will the royal capital become a pile of ruins, but all of the Hoshin Company's holdings here will be finished, too."

"And if Duke Crusch's plan to subdue the White Whale falls through, the deal she promised to help us sell mana ore in the name of House Karsten might collapse as well. We can't have that!"

She raised her head and looked at Emilia.

"So Emilia-tan must have already made up her mind, right? Otherwise you wouldn't have come straight to I."

"Mm."

Emilia took a deep breath and laid out her plan in detail.

"I'm going to use my identity as 'Envy' to lure Petelgeuse into the royal capital's sewers. Meili will control the Mabeasts in the sewers to seal off his escape route, and I... will personally deal with the Sin Archbishop."

"Before that, I'd like the Iron Fang to work with me to completely wipe out the Witch Cultists hiding in the royal capital."

"It's a long story, but those people see me as the incarnation of the Witch and are quite obedient to me. We can use that. I'll provide them with disguised identities and areas of activity, and then Miss Anna's Iron Fang can strike openly and destroy them completely."

"No interrogations. Once someone's identity is confirmed, eliminate them on the spot." Emilia's voice was so cold that it hardly sounded like her. "We can't take the risk of those madmen blowing themselves up. Ending their lives is the only option."

"Oh my, Emilia-tan, you're honestly scaring I a little..."

Istasia was a clever woman, and she quickly understood Emilia's aim. This operation would not only root out the hidden Witch Cultists but also let Emilia gather the remnants under the image of a "savior." If both sides coordinated well, it would raise Emilia's credibility among the cultists. It was, one could say, killing two birds with one stone.

Still, looking into Emilia's cold eyes, with their faint hint of hesitation, Istasia sighed inwardly.

She couldn't tell how much inner struggle this innocent, kind-hearted girl before her had endured in order to devise such a cruel, merciless strategy.

Just then, Julius, who had been standing in the corner, slowly stepped forward.

He stopped three paces in front of Emilia, then knelt gracefully on one knee, his right hand over his heart, and performed an impeccable knightly salute.

"Lady Emilia."

Julius raised his head, his golden eyes shining with a resolute, burning light.

"Please allow me, Julius Juukulius, to join this battle."

Emilia was taken aback and looked at him in some surprise. "Julius? But you're a member of the Royal Guard, too. If you act on your own..."

"I'm not doing this in the name of the Royal Guard, but in my own name, and... as a friend."

Julius rose to his full height, a gentle smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"I admire your resolve to protect the one you love. As Natsuki Subaru's friend, and even his 'brother,' I must do something for him."

The news that Reinhard, Julius and Natsuki Subaru had sworn brotherhood hadn't actually leaked. It was simply that the three had jointly overthrown the Council of Wise Men in the throne hall that day, and the whole affair was so shocking that in recent days the royal capital had dubbed them the "Three Heroic Brothers."

One was the current Sword Saint, whose strength was beyond question. One was the Finest Knight, famous across the land. One was the one chosen by the Divine Dragon, mysterious and impossible to pin down.

Just the three of them together was enough for any crowd of busybodies to spin countless stirring tales of brotherly comradeship.

Julius rarely paid attention to such street gossip, but there was one thing he had to admit: Natsuki Subaru was truly a man worthy of respect. In his heart, he had long since accepted the title of "brother."

Since his eldest brother and third brother were both preparing to subdue the legendary Mabeast, the White Whale, how could he, as the second brother, stand by and watch those rats from the gutter try to destroy everything the three of them held dear from behind?

"My sword is a shield that protects the weak, and a blade that cuts down evil."

"For those villains who would endanger the royal capital and harm my friend, my sword will show no mercy."

He looked at Emilia and continued.

"Lady Emilia, please let me join the decisive battle against the Sin Archbishop. I promise you that not a single Witch Cultist will be able to disturb you, and not a single madman will leave that darkness alive."

"Thank you, Julius. With you there, I can rest easy." Emilia was deeply grateful.

Istasia sat to one side watching this scene. The corners of her mouth curved up in a satisfied smile. She lifted her black tea and took a sip, her emerald eyes glinting like a fox's.

"Oh my, if I's own knight says so, then of course the Hoshin Company will back you with everything we've got. From here on, the Iron Fang's elites and Julius are yours to command. Show those lunatics what we're made of!"

"Emilia-tan, we've bet all our capital on you in this deal, so you'd better win!"

"Mm!"

Emilia nodded firmly.

Meanwhile, in the noble district, the gates of the Karsten estate were bustling with traffic. One dragon carriage after another rolled into the courtyard under Russell's direction, carrying countless war supplies and heavily armored soldiers to be stationed at the estate temporarily, in preparation for the coming battle.

"This is quite the big business, Lady Crusch."

Russell approached with a smile, carrying his account books.

"Buying earth dragons and dragon carriages on such a scale, you've nearly bought out the royal capital's merchants' entire stock. I suppose only House Karsten could mobilize resources like this."

"I'm deeply grateful for your support, Lord Russell."

Crusch nodded. She was clad in finely crafted battle armor, her long green hair tied back in a ponytail, and she looked gallant and dashing. At her side stood the solemn-faced Sword Devil, Wilhelm, and Ferris, now dressed in a Royal Guard uniform.

"Lord Russell, before we set out, I need to confirm one last time. How far along is the sweep of the Witch Cult forces in the royal capital?"

"You may rest easy on that point, Lady Crusch," Russell said with a smile. "Thanks to the efforts of Lady Emilia and Lady Istasia, those people are no longer a threat. You could say the royal capital's rear is as solid as a rock."

"Speaking of which... how has Lord Miklotov been lately?" he went on.

"He has largely recovered his health, only..." Crusch's expression turned complicated. "After everything that's happened, he no longer has any thought of rebuilding the Council of Wise Men."

Russell wasn't surprised in the least. Stroking his beard, he said thoughtfully:

"Evidently, His Lordship must also be thoroughly disappointed in the Council's conduct over these past decades. By the look of it, he means to hand the affairs of Lugnica over to you, the Dragon's Maidens."

"After all, you all stepped forward in the kingdom's darkest hour and took charge. Whether it's you or Lady Emilia and the others, each of you is an outstanding leader with the qualities of a king. That being so, there's a bit of healthy competition in it, too."

"Is that so..." Crusch replied noncommittally, her gaze deep.

"Then I won't trouble you any longer, Lady Crusch. May you return in triumph! Oh, and... a certain guest asked me to introduce him to you."

The words had barely left his mouth when a red-haired man in a white Royal Guard uniform strode in.

He had shaved off his unkempt stubble, and the flush of drunkenness was gone from his face. His eyes shone with confident resolve, and his whole bearing was so different from before that he seemed a different person. Or rather, this was how he was meant to be.

His appearance instantly drew everyone's attention. The warriors belonging to House Karsten all stared at him in shock.

"Th-that's..."

"Vice Captain Heinkel of the Royal Guard?!"

"Why is he here? Wasn't he long since..."

Standing behind Crusch, Wilhelm was even more shaken. His pupils contracted sharply.

In that instant, Wilhelm seemed to see in Heinkel the shadow of the spirited young man of years ago, who had sworn to become a hero.

"Heinkel..."

Wilhelm's voice trembled slightly, but he quickly forced it down, and his face turned cold again.

"What are you doing here?"

Heinkel walked up to Crusch and stopped. He knelt on one knee and gave her a knightly salute. Then, meeting his father's cold gaze head-on, he said solemnly:

"Royal Guard Vice-Captain Heinkel Astrea requests to join the White Whale subjugation force!"

Heinkel's voice rang out, loud and firm, echoing through the whole courtyard.

"Fifteen years ago, I ran away out of cowardice. Today, I ask to stand on the front line and fulfill the duty I left unfinished, to avenge Mother!!"

The entire courtyard fell dead silent.

Ferris's mouth fell open, and even her ears shot up. "N-nya... is this guy really that drunkard vice captain?"

Crusch looked at Heinkel. Her Divine Protection of Wind Reading, which could see through lies, detected no disturbance in the air currents.

This man was telling the truth.

Every word weighed a thousand pounds, without a trace of falsehood.

Crusch turned to Wilhelm, as if seeking his opinion.

Wilhelm stared hard at his son kneeling on the ground, his hand gripping his sword hilt tightly, a rush of mixed emotions surging through him.

Fifteen years had passed.

After that tragedy, nothing had passed between father and son but cold stares and quarrels. He had believed his son was utterly ruined, a hopeless wretch for good.

But now this wretch had stood up again, wearing the white uniform that symbolized honor.

"Permission granted... but you'd better remember: on the battlefield, no one will protect you."

"If you drag us down, I will release you from your misery with my own hands!"

Heinkel raised his head, and a smile of release spread across his face.

"I wouldn't have it any other way, Father."