Chapter 91
"Gah!"
I'm alive.
Pedro felt relief at being alive, then recoiled in self-loathing.
"Why..."
Even though he had tried to kill him, why did he spare the assassin?
"Dad!"
"Laura...? How did you..."
Before the questions could pile up.
Flora came looking for him.
"The Count called for you! He said you were here because you're hurt. Are you okay? Where did you go to get hurt like this?"
Come to think of it, this is the Count's mansion.
Seeing that his wounds were treated, it seemed the Count had saved him.
His throbbing wounds brought back memories of being beaten black and blue on a rainy day.
"Laura, that's..."
"It's because of me, isn't it?"
"Huh?"
"You got hurt trying to earn money because of me, right? I'm sorry. I'll earn money from now on too! I don't want you getting hurt earning money."
Pedro pondered what to say, then let out a small laugh and stroked Flora's head.
"...Laura. Where is the Count?"
"Right here."
"Laura, wait outside for a moment. I need to speak with the Count."
"Mhm, okay! Are you hungry? I'll make something for you to eat, Dad!"
Pitter-patter.
As soon as her footsteps faded, Pedro immediately knelt and bowed his head.
"Thank you for saving me."
"It seems you've changed your mind. Yesterday you were so intent on dying."
"That was because I had no way to survive."
"And now you do?"
"I intend to make one."
"How?"
"I believe there must be a reason you kept me alive. As you said before—to save Carpe and to destroy the empire. I remember your words."
"And?"
"I imagine you would be curious about who commissioned my assassination."
"Are you going to tell me?"
"I would have had to either kill them or die by your hand anyway."
Killing Kallias had failed.
Now, he didn't even want to.
Even if by some chance he killed Kallias, the assassin's life wouldn't end there.
"I will tell you."
No.
"Give me a chance."
Looking down at Pedro with his head bowed low.
Kallias nodded.
"Why did you change your mind?"
"I am trash. I have lived a dishonorable life. But Laura... My daughter, I don't want the same for her. I want her to live honorably. She is different from me. She must take after her mother."
So.
"Help me."
* * *
The mansion's office.
I sat in the chair, deep in thought.
'Can I trust him?'
There was no falsehood in Pedro's demeanor.
If that demeanor were false, I would kill them all—whether Flora became a Sword Demon or whatever else.
Flora, regardless of the circumstances, would burn with vengeance if her father died—a sword I dare not wield.
I could kill them both, but I couldn't kill just one of them.
"Orcal."
"Yes. Did you call?"
"Keep an eye on Pedro."
"What if he betrays us?"
"Then it can't be helped. But he won't. Watch him carefully, and help him if he's in danger."
If my guess is right, Pedro will likely go straight to find those who commissioned the assassination.
That alone would be enough to consider that he's done his part.
"It's a world where it's hard to live comfortably."
"Pardon?"
"Never mind. Go."
"Yes, sir."
With Orcal closing the door behind him, I sank back into the chair. Nothing in this world is easy.
Killing Pedro would be easy.
A simple matter.
But that wouldn't do.
Nor did I want to.
Rising from my seat and opening the window, I saw the squad members training since morning and the children watching from the sidelines.
They held wooden swords, mimicking the trainees, and played among themselves throwing stones.
Flora's figure, training among them with a smile.
Pedro's figure, watching her.
All of it laid out before my eyes at a glance.
Watching the two of them, my mind needlessly grew complicated.
'Has their fate changed?'
I don't know.
Originally, Pedro was nothing more than a detonator for Flora.
I had set and assigned him as such from the start.
But now, I'm trying to keep him alive.
Truly, a complicated and subtle feeling.
"What are you doing?"
"...What brings you here?"
"I came to check on my adjutant's condition."
It was Xenos, the commander of the Heretical Inquisition.
He had taken off his shoes and sneaked into the office again to startle me.
'If you're only going to use Anibo like that, at least teach me.'
An incomprehensible fellow.
"There's a lot of talk about you."
"About what?"
"That you keep trying to squeeze more people into the Royal Academy."
Saying so, Xenos pulled a document from his coat—it was an academy admission recommendation letter.
It was clearly the one I had newly written and sent.
"Why are you so interested in me? What's the big deal about an academy recommendation?"
"Your daughter and extended family are one thing, but that child has no connections whatsoever. Why did you recommend her?"
"My choice."
I did it because I could.
Flora's talent is undeniable.
Right now she's overshadowed by Rivan and Rini, who have been on the elite track since childhood, but with a little polishing, she has more than enough talent to rise quickly.
"The old foxes are making noise, asking if it's acceptable to recommend a commoner."
"It seems the Order is also interested in the academy."
"No, I'm just interested. It looks fun."
"...I thought you hated me."
"I do."
"But now it seems like you're trying to help me. Is that correct?"
"That's right, you hit the nail on the head."
I crossed my arms.
"What's the reason?"
Xenos also crossed his arms and looked back at me.
"Because you're my subordinate."
"......"
"Even if that weren't the case, I hate that only noble children enter the Royal Academy, loaf around, and earn their knighthood. I'd like to turn it all upside down this opportunity."
He is a man of the Order.
But Xenos hails from the Four Great Noble Families.
The Gradas family of the East.
If he puts his mind to exerting influence, even the royal faction couldn't ignore him.
"I didn't know you were interested in the academy."
Was Xenos always this kind of personality?
I had thought he had no interest in worldly affairs.
"There are quite a few children among them with potential. I'll sponsor them too. I'll also spread the word to acquaintances who share my views. I have quite a few connections among this batch of academy instructors. Oh, and Esther has also agreed to teach the children briefly as a temporary instructor."
"I see."
Esther as an academy instructor too?
This is the first I've heard of it.
"How about you? You should be an instructor too."
"It's not something I can do just because I want to, and I don't particularly want to either."
"Your daughter will be enrolling too, won't she?"
"That's why I dislike it even more."
"Why?"
"Hmm..."
"I see. You want to teach her separately? That makes sense."
"......"
I left him be since I had nothing to say.
"You certainly love your daughter."
I let out a hollow laugh, but he nodded as if he had convinced himself.
"Looks entertaining."
"What does?"
"Academy swordsmanship instructor. My interest is piqued."
"Ah, yes."
"There are quite a few commoners among the knights and paladins. I'm thinking of gathering them separately to create a commoner class."
"...That would be good for Carpe. The intention isn't bad."
"You do it too."
"I don't wan—"
The moment I was about to refuse.
『Sub Quest』
【Academy Swordsmanship Instructor】
A quest notification appeared.
'Goblin Gold Coin, huh.'
A special gold coin minted in ancient times that allows trade with goblins.
That is the Goblin Gold Coin.
Goblins were a subspecies that flourished in ancient times but now barely have any surviving lineage.
They are skilled with their hands and adept at thievery, so the extraordinariness of the items they possess exceeds imagination. They might even hold ancient relics or sacred artifacts that have long since disappeared.
It was a quest I couldn't refuse.
"You don't want to?"
"Well, if it's just teaching occasionally..."
"You really do like children."
"...I have a condition."
"A condition? What is it? Just say it. If you're asking me to teach you Anibo, I refuse."
"No. It's just..."
As Kallias parted his lips, Xenos opened his eyes wide in surprise before nodding.
"That's unexpected, but alright. That much isn't difficult. I'll take my leave now. I have quite the upheaval to cause."
Xenos said so and disappeared.
As soundlessly as when he came.
After he left, I finished preparing to go out, donning my armor and cloak.
"Preparations are complete, my lord."
"Let's go."
A horse prepared by Brance was waiting. Naturally, it was fitted with a Humasis saddle.
"A fine beast."
"I searched high and low to find one worthy of you, my lord!"
"Let's go."
*Snort!*
"Oh, Captain, where are you going?"
"What, you make us train and then go off to play again?"
"Shut up."
"Lord Count, where are you going?"
"Are you really going out to play?"
As I appeared on horseback, the children and squad members chased after me.
Frowning at their silly questions, the squad members ran off, leaving only the children. To Rini and Flora's questions, I glanced once at where Pedro would be lying and answered.
"To catch some bad guys."
After answering, I called out to the fleeing squad members.
"You lot, come with me."
"Huh? Where are we going?"
"I just said. To catch some bad guys."
* * *
*Slash!!*
"They've definitely improved."
Looking down at the squad members fighting from horseback, Kallias could clearly feel their improvement from before.
Through concentrated training and harsh conditioning of their thighs, making them drink the special drink, and additionally building the swiftness of their movements through rock-dodging training.
It was still lacking, but there was definitely visible improvement from before.
'Since it contains troll and dragon blood mixed together, I wonder if I should call it TD Potion.'
Doesn't sound too bad.
The dilution is about a hundredfold, so it's practically nonexistent, though.
If long-term effects show, I think I could try consuming it after a bit more refinement.
"But why are we attacking the viscounty? You don't seem to have filed a report in advance. Is this okay?"
"None of the nobles whose heads I've taken so far were given advance reports."
Action first, report later—that's always the right approach.
Such deeds always have consequences to deal with, but the Judgment Sword could silence every one of them.
Besides, Kallias was not the kind of man to sit still when someone put a blade to his throat.
Anyone else would have been assassinated by the nobles without anyone knowing, but not Kallias.
If they send assassins, just capture them and kill the one who commissioned them.
In fact, he welcomed it.
That way, he could kill all the spies more quickly.
"I am guilty of nothing!! Count Zerban! Is this how nobles treat each other! His Majesty the King will be furious!"
"That's what you think. Viscount Arpen. Do you think His Majesty would stir himself for the likes of you?"
A mere viscount, really.
Such greed.
"Viscount Arpen. Then why did you order my assassination? A duel would have been better. Were you that lacking in confidence?"
"Nonsense!! I never did such a thing! Who spread such lies! Viscount Ilen? Or Count Valentine!?"
It wasn't the Viscount Arpen's order.
He was merely a puppet.
I knew that, yet spoke as if I didn't.
When accused of something they didn't do, people naturally feel wronged and become agitated.
And agitation tends to make people blurt out hidden truths.
"He's spilling the beans all on his own. Did you hear that? Brance, write it down well."
"Yes sir! But I don't know how to write?"
"...Just remember it."
"Yes sir!"
At Kallias and Brance's words, the viscount gaped in disbelief before his face turned crimson and he shouted.
"Are you mocking me!!"
"Don't be too upset. Your comrades will all follow shortly."
I couldn't let Carpe's parasites live.
It was then.
The viscount, still mounted on his horse, bellowed.
"Whoever brings me Zerban's head! I shall bestow my family's heirloom and appoint them as Arpen's guardian knight!!"
Arpen has an heirloom too?
First I've heard of it.
"Uwooooh!!"
The viscounty knights' morale soared.
I pondered for a moment, then offered the same.
"Whoever strikes down Arpen's head shall receive Arpen's heirloom."
"You son of a bitch!!"
"Kill them."
*Whirr~*
"You bug bastards!!"
"Aaaagh!"
Bugs swarmed from all directions, tearing and biting at the knights' bodies.
Orcal was nowhere to be seen.
Seizing that opening, the Sixth Squad ran wild.
"Arpen's head is mine!"
"Where's Arpen's heirloom!!"
*Clang-clang!*
"You should stop playing and come too."
"Aren't you going, Captain?"
"Scrubs play with scrubs."
"Tch, hyah!"
When Vice-Captain Diego also charged, a fierce sword aura rang out.
Caught off guard by the Sixth Squad's sudden assault, the Viscounty of Arpen was swiftly subdued, and the rumor that the viscount's head had fallen spread far and wide.
However, the renown of being called the Judge was only just beginning.