Vol 2 Chapter 74 – The King and the Prime Minister【Vol 2 – The Condemned Knight Edition】

“We’ve squeezed out the pus.”

In the Royal Castle of the Kingdom of Vilemse, King Rei nodded with satisfaction.

“There’s still much that runs deep… but it’s a fact that we’ve dealt with one of them.”

The Prime Minister, his loyal knight, also nodded and smiled.

They had known Natan was part of the anti-royalist faction.

And they’d thoroughly investigated his recent suspicious behavior.

However, they lacked evidence. Without it, they couldn’t condemn him.

So they used Erik.

Without telling him the truth, they maneuvered him into acting alongside Natan…

Natan wasn’t stupid, so he’d used a trusted pawn instead of acting himself… but it was amusing how that pawn turned away from him.

“However, he had an interesting piece. Eleonora Blatukhina… her power is tremendous.”

“Yes. If it had been directed at anyone other than the hero, most would have lost their lives.”

Eleonora’s overwhelming violence. Probably only Erik could withstand it.

The Immortal skill—it had proven far too effective.

“However, that knight has grown attached to the hero.”

The Prime Minister’s concern was that they hadn’t been able to draw Eleonora into the royalist faction.

Instead of joining the royalists, she’d gone to Erik’s side.

They could forcibly separate them and pull her to their side… but he doubted they could control that intense obsession with justice and blind personality.

Together with Debora at the hero’s side… militarily speaking, his faction had already become something that couldn’t be ignored.

“Ugh… Debora, why did you go to that man…!”

“Oh no…”

The Prime Minister held his head, having triggered the doting father’s weak spot.

King Rei could handle both the clean and dirty sides of politics and was a cold but competent king, but his love for his daughter ran far too deep.

It made him slightly anxious whether the king could remain resolute if Princess Debora were taken hostage.

“However, what surfaced during the investigation was that Biriel Hegstett and Natan Byutou were connected. This is a major problem.”

At the Prime Minister’s words, King Rei’s rational atmosphere returned.

Yes, this was a major problem.

Biriel, who’d caused a rebellion that ultimately didn’t lead to large-scale chaos, and Natan, who’d been trying to infiltrate the nation’s core.

Was their connection truly limited to just the two of them?

“I’ve bought resentment from many places.”

“It would be troublesome if those proved too significant. The organization called ‘Knot Fall, Hand of National Salvation’ is also a threat.”

At the Prime Minister’s words, King Rei laughed derisively.

“Hmph. What threat? No matter how reverent a name they give themselves, aren’t they just a gathering of nobles who want to kill me and seize power? I won’t hand over my nation to such people.”

“…Yes, sir.”

The Prime Minister bowed at King Rei’s words.

This boldness was extremely important for someone in the position of king.

If most people learned that those trying to kill them existed not as individuals but as an organization, they would cower in fear.

However, King Rei had the fortitude to accept it.

This was precisely the quality as a king that the Prime Minister sought.

“Well, in that case, I can’t mobilize the knight order on a large scale unless something significant happens. So I’ll have the hero work himself to death instead.”

“Indeed.”

King Rei chuckled darkly.

He seemed to enjoy tormenting the man Princess Debora had grown attached to.

Well, there probably wasn’t a more convenient piece than Erik.

His individual combat ability couldn’t be called particularly high, but his great advantage was that he wouldn’t die.

An unbreakable tool was very attractive.

The reason they could keep Erik obedient was the generous support for his homeland.

…But I couldn’t do it.

The Prime Minister knew Erik’s missions were extremely harsh.

The fact that he accepted them for others and accomplished them without complaint… that was likely why he was called the Altruistic Charity Hero, the Guardian.

It meant he possessed a character worthy of such titles.

Using such a person so harshly was painful… but this was for the nation.

Between nation and individual, there was no comparison.

However, fortunately, the hero doesn’t seem to hold resentment or hostility toward us… toward the royal family. His partner, that girl, seems different though…

Despite being given what could be called unreasonable orders from King Rei countless times, Erik had never once directed hostility at them—he hadn’t even shown signs of it.

It made him anxious in reverse, wondering if Erik’s benevolence was too strong.

In that case, someone like Miriam who showed hostility clearly was somewhat better.

However, they couldn’t remain as complacent as before.

Recently, people with quirks but tremendous power had been gathering around Erik.

The “Spoiled Princess” Debora, who was positioned with the royal family, received abundant affection from King Rei, and possessed the extremely powerful skill “Explosion” if mastered.

The “Knight of Judgment” Eleonora, whose sense of justice was abnormally strong, who inflicted severe punishment on evil but was kind to ordinary citizens and had helped many people with her high combat ability.

If these two became concerned about Erik and bared their fangs at the kingdom… that would be extremely dangerous.

Though it shouldn’t come to that…

The Prime Minister laughed at his own needless worry.

Debora’s father was King Rei, and Eleonora was a knight who should swear loyalty to the kingdom.

“Your Majesty!!”

While the Prime Minister was contemplating various things, a knight burst through the door.

“What is it, making such a racket? If it’s not important, you’ll receive appropriate punishment…”

“Princess Debora has escaped!”

“Whaaaaaaaaaaat!?”

King Rei was clearly more flustered and noisy than the knight.

He leapt from his throne, eyes bulging.

“Wh-where did my Debora go…!? No, she’s definitely with the hero! Damn that hero! The moment we catch him, I’ll have him executed!!”