Vol 1 Chapter 22 – Ill Tidings【Vol 1: The Beastkin Hero Arc】

The peaceful atmosphere dissipated, and a rigid tension dominated the area.

The sound of armor rubbing together, played by the cavalry, overlapped with the clatter of hooves. Several knights clad in armor adorned with blue decorations had arrived in the village.

They proceeded down the path drawn through the center of the village and rode right into the plaza. And then, right before the villagers’ eyes, they displayed a magnificent formation.

“—People of Log Village, please forgive our sudden visit.”

From among the knights, a long-haired young man who appeared to be the leader dismounted his horse and stepped forward.

He seemed to be a person with a soft demeanor.

“My name is Frais, serving as the Vice Commander of the Blue Sword Knights. Is the Commander—no, is Sir Branford present in this village?”

At those words, the villagers’ gazes gathered on the middle-aged man standing with a mask in one hand.

Allen, having finished changing clothes and currently disguised as the masked mercenary Noir, watched the knights’ behavior.

“…Commander, it has been a long time.”

Following the villagers’ gazes, the long-haired knight bowed his head with a serious expression.

“Frais! Stop with the ‘Commander’! I am already someone who has resigned from his post!”

“…This is no time to be saying such things. For now, Commander. Due to a state of emergency, please return to the Central Capital.”

“…Huh?! Coming here all of a sudden, what are you—”

Frais approached and stealthily whispered into Branford’s ear. Was it something he couldn’t let the villagers hear?

Upon hearing the news, Branford peeled his eyes wide in astonishment, and in the next moment, he directed his gaze toward Allen.

(…Eh? What’s with that reaction?)

Allen, who had treated this completely as someone else’s problem, inwardly tilted his head.

“I cannot discuss the details here.”

Frais continued with a somewhat tense expression.

“…Understood. We will talk at my house. There is someone I wish to have sit in with us.”

“Excuse me?”

“…I’m begging you.”

“…Who is this person?”

“…He is an acquaintance of mine. Naturally, he is someone I can trust. Please, do it for my sake.”

“…Understood.”

Branford was speaking in an unprecedentedly quiet voice. Seeing that state, the villagers also realized that some major incident had occurred.

Or rather, I’m just impressed he can actually speak in a quiet voice, Allen thought admiringly.

Having finished his conversation with Frais, Branford headed straight for Allen.

“—Sir Noir. I would like you to sit in with us. Is that acceptable?”

Being asked so sincerely with a pale face, Allen had no choice but to nod.

Honestly, he had wanted to sit in anyway, but he never expected Branford to plead with him to do so.

(Could it be something related to me? Well, I was thinking I’d like to hear if Leonhardt and Eufaria had finally recovered from my death and were energetically dedicating themselves to their duties by now.)

It was convenient in a way, but Allen felt a strange premonition in his chest.

And that premonition would turn out to be right in the worst possible way.

(Eh…? Leonhardt murdered the Holy Emperor…?)

As soon as they arrived at Branford’s house, Allen exposed a foolish look beneath his mask at the ill tidings he was told by Branford as the major premise of the conversation.

Outside the house, the subordinates Frais had brought along were standing guard.

Sitting in the chair directly opposite across the table, Frais took a sip of the unsteaming hot water and licked his dry lips.

“…Lady Leonhardt, the Sixth Seat of the World Knights who saved our Rig Aqua Kingdom, has currently fled to the Beast Kingdom of Eugrasia. The situation is that she is being sheltered there.”

Why did things turn out like that?

His understanding couldn’t keep up. Remembering his disciple—whose behavior was noticeably rough but who was kind at heart—Allen tightly clenched his fists.

“Confusion was spreading within the Empire, but under the new Holy Emperor, a subjugation force for Lady Leonhardt was formed. In an urgently convened World Council due to the emergency, Lord Helmis—who served as the Commander of the Holy Emperor’s Special Task Force, the Secret Guard—was appointed as Allen-sama’s successor. He was entrusted with full authority over the subjugation force just like that and departed from the Holy Capital of Whiteworth.”

“…Lord Helmis… The Holy Emperor’s right-hand man, huh.”

An unfamiliar name made an appearance.

(…Five years ago, he was the guy who fought with you over the seat of a World Knight.)

(…Ah. Now that you mention it, there was a guy like that.)

He recalled a young man with blood-red eyes and hair. For some reason, he felt like that guy was always glaring at him.

“The main topic starts here. At the World Council, the Empire requested that the nations across the world also direct their subjugation forces toward the Beast Kingdom.”

“What did you say?!”

“However, our King rejected this demand. Because this country was saved by Lady Leonhardt. He stated he could not repay a debt of gratitude with enmity.”

Allen instinctively felt relieved. Even at this stage, Allen couldn’t bring himself to blame Leonhardt.

She wasn’t a madwoman who would murder someone without reason. There had to be a reason. To begin with, World Knights were appointed not only for their true strength but also because their character was recognized.

She, too, was chosen because she had been recognized.

“…What is the reaction of the other countries?”

“They are split right down the middle. Between voices saying a World Knight who committed high treason should be captured and executed, and voices of defense saying there is no way Lady Leonhardt would murder the Holy Emperor without reason.”

“T-That’s right…! The crucial reason!! Is anything known about it?!”

Branford asked while casting sidelong glances toward Allen. While staring dubiously at that attitude, Frais said,

“…According to the Beast Kingdom’s statement, pushing the Demon Lord’s danger level all the way to a world-class threat and expanding the damage was due to the Empire’s assistance.”

“…Huh?”

(Eh…?)

Branford stiffened with a dumbfounded expression.

Allen, too, widened his eyes beneath his mask. What came to mind were the words the Demon Lord casually let slip at the very end.

(Was that actually true?)

The Demon Lord had said she gained power by receiving sacrifices.

“W-Why would they do such a thing… What benefit does the Empire have in strengthening the Demon Lord?!”

“…The Beast Kingdom has announced that it was all a plot to eliminate Allen-sama.”

“Huh?!”

Once again, Branford awkwardly turned his head toward Allen.

Allen was fed up with this conversation that was intensely related to him.

“After the Great Human-Demon War, the Holy Empire distributed massive amounts of reconstruction aid to countries across the world. Ostensibly, it was for the recovery of areas exposed to damage by the Demon Lord’s Army, but among the kings, it was implicitly understood as a message to agree to the proposal of a counter-invasion into the Demon Continent at a later World Council. However, Allen-sama—the linchpin of their military strength—expressed opposition to the Demon Continent invasion operation, and the Holy Emperor considered his existence a hindrance.”

(…Come to think of it, I feel like I was invited to a dinner party and made to listen to the Holy Emperor’s dreams. Back then, he wanted me to participate in the war, so he asked what it would take for me to cooperate. When he told me he’d prepare whatever I desired, I unintentionally answered ‘paid time off’.)

He had desperately tried to excuse himself to smooth things over. He was so desperate he didn’t remember what he ended up saying.

“…To eliminate the Hero who tried to create peace… they strengthened the Demon Lord?! Thirty percent of humanity was wiped out… and countries like the Runeflame Kingdom were completely destroyed, you know?!”

Slamming the desk, Branford leaned forward. With his head slightly bowed, Frais said,

“This is strictly a statement from the Beast Kingdom’s side. The Empire denies it, but… I do not believe Lady Leonhardt would murder the Holy Emperor without reason. And if the Empire truly cooperated with the Demon Lord to eliminate Allen-sama, the people of the world will not forgive them. I too… when I think of Allen-sama even now…”

Pressing his eyes firmly, Frais began shedding large drops of tears. The sound of sobbing could be heard from the knights outside as well.

“Even though Allen-sama… threw away his life for the sake of peace… he is far too unrewarded…!”

Looking awkward, Branford glanced at Allen out of the corner of his eye.

Harboring his own awkward feelings, Allen hardened his resolve.

(Did Leonhardt get consumed by anger because I faked my death…? I never thought she adored me that much… If that’s the case…)

He felt his dream of a slow life slipping further and further away, but his disciple was in danger as a subjugation force from the Empire was being sent after her.

He wanted to save her. However, he couldn’t think of a good excuse for being alive.

(…That’s it. Let’s go meet her in this getup—as Noir.)

That was the only path.

Everything started because he faked his death. That was exactly why he couldn’t just come out and say he was alive now.