Chapter 42 – Incident Investigation Record (1)

The fact that Roshyar invaded the Viscounty of Ruhilen was a major event that shook the entire kingdom.
Fortunately, the damage was minimal and it did not escalate into a full-scale armed conflict, but the capital decided to dispatch an investigator to resolve the incident.

It may be a fight between two neighboring families, but Edanbury and Farencia are in the northern and central part of Penheim. There is no exchange of any kind.
In addition, it was not a conflict between small local nobles that broke out on a random day, but a clash between the kingdom’s best magic family and a merchant family.
It was an incident as devastating as wet straw burning.

Therefore, in Thessalon, Second Class Gellerhart, a political officer who was part of the military’s inspector general’s office, was appointed as a special inspector for the royal family and began an investigation.
Wearing red epaulettes over a white uniform, he was a young knight recognized even within the royal capital.
Born as the eldest son of a northern vassal, he was promoted to the middle level of the Alkaid Magic Tower. Afterwards, he served as a centurion in the battle wizard group ‘Blue Moon’, one of the 12 alliances of the Ravier Mountains, which was quite exceptionally at odds with the Seven Magic Towers.

Gellerhart, who later took on a mid-level administrative position in the royal capital, not only had excellent military power, but was also well-versed in the northern world.
Concealed in the hope that if he could solve this case properly, he might be promoted to the rank of first-class official, he boarded the carriage heading to Edanbury.

However, in the North Sea, which I visited for the first time in my life, all the small boats were tied up in the port.
It was impossible to cross to the largest island where the castle was located.
Gellerhart spoke to an old man wandering around the harbor who appeared to be the owner of a fishing boat.

“Has something happened around here, old man?”
“Ugh? “Who do you think you are?”
“I came from the royal capital. “I have some business to do with Count Rocheire, but I can’t cross the sea.”
“Huh, I can’t go now. “The soldiers blocked the sea route.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know, heap! “It’s been like that for about a week now, and apart from the little lady with the flower arrangement in her hair coming out with some sleazy guy, no one has come and gone!”

Little woman? Are you talking about Adela Sylvester, who went missing in Parencia?
Rochear has not yet released any official statement. Gellerhart asked the old man again.

“How did that boat come out?”
“Well, I gave you a ride! “There’s a hidden waterway behind the island.”
“Hmm… “Then how could I not?”
“Well, it’s okay as long as you give me money…”

The old man looked at Gellerhart’s sword and uniform and asked him.

“Do you think you can use some magic other than a sword?”
“Yes?”

Gellerhart learned the meaning of those words immediately after boarding the ship.

Wow!!!

A huge monster that was just seven meters long lunged at the boat, trying to swallow it in one bite. As soon as the old man skillfully turned the hull to escape the spot, numerous marine creatures appeared from beneath the waves to devour the two men.

“This is crazy… !! “How did you cross this place!?”
“I don’t know either, heheul. “Last time, they didn’t come out of the sea like they were dead.”

In the end, he escaped the monster by using magic and arrived at the island with his uniform completely wet.
The panoramic view of the island where Yeongju Castle is located was even more shocking.

The debris strewn across the streets was reminiscent of a wartime situation. The tip of the old castle, which stretched high into the sky, was half broken and tattered.
The faces of Rochear’s soldiers tensed when they saw Gellerhart. He showed the royal family’s seal to the dark-looking soldier who was clearing the rubble with a hardened expression.

“This is Gellerhart Bernhard, the royal special inspector. “We came to conduct an investigation into the Rochear family that invaded Farencia without notice last April.”
“We have nothing to say.”
“Are you saying that you will not comply with the request of the investigator sent directly by His Majesty the King?”
“I’m just saying you don’t have the authority.”
“Then I will meet Ice and Snowball in person. Guide me.”
“The matriarch…”
“Is there some problem?”
“No. “Please follow me.”

Guided by a soldier, he entered the shabby Yeongju Castle. The further I went inside him, the stronger his cold became, and his breath leaked out.
The soldier who brought Gallahert stopped him in front of a large room and knocked on the door. There was no sound inside.

“Esthel hasn’t come out once in the past week.”
“Why? “What happened here?”
“…”

The soldier remained silent. Not only that, but so did all the private soldiers on this island.
If the Magical family, which pursues practical interests, does not cooperate with the royal investigator’s investigation, there is no way that they would know how the record would be prepared.
Nevertheless, Gellerhert guessed that there was only one case of such complete silence.

He was so offended by something that he tried to bury the incident.
This often happened when a winner was decided after a power struggle between schools in the Magic Tower.
The more a good wizard is proud of the magic they have created, the more frustrated they feel when it is broken——

‘But there was no movement of any kind from Viscount Ruhilen?’

In the end, Gellerhart had no way of knowing why Roshoir, who attacked first, suffered such damage.

He opens the door to the room where the ice ball is located! I knocked. He told me his title and name and asked me to be polite.
But the point was unwavering. There was no reaction at all.
Even if I strengthened my hearing with magic, I couldn’t even hear the sound of breathing, so I couldn’t tell if there was someone in there or if this soldier had just parked himself in front of the freezer.

“Ha…”

As a last resort, Gellerhart placed his hand on the doorknob while the soldier’s guard was relaxed.
If you use a little bit of magic, you may be able to break through the door, although it may be a bit rude.
But that thought was a big mistake.

Damn it!

As soon as he grabbed the doorknob, white frost covered it and the handle froze. Geller Hurt barely escaped frostbite by hastily removing his hand, and only then did he hear a small sound from inside.

– Get out…

He couldn’t believe his own ears. As he had been in the Labiere Mountains, Gellerhart had also heard many rumors about Rochear’s ice and snow attack that was blocking Fenheim’s front line.

He was said to be a cold-blooded and sharp person who could definitely be called iron-blooded. He has such a weak voice?

In the end, unable to meet Esther, he had no choice but to turn back. Sighing deeply, Gellerhart headed towards Parencia this time.

***

When I returned to the Academy with Adela from the North Sea, what was waiting for me was a half-destroyed canteen.
Fortunately, the basement and second floor seemed untouched, but the first floor store, which had been trampled by the Knights of Rochear, was in such a mess that it needed repair work.

There are marks on the floor, and the windows are all broken… Business will not be possible for the time being.

‘I should have just slit my throat.’

This would look quite spooky at night. Wouldn’t it have become a tourist attraction if they hung the head of an ice and snowman on the roof like a haunted house?
Of course, it was just a thought.

I roughly pushed the writing utensils and glass pieces scattered on the floor with my feet and went up to the second floor.
A cozy interior decorated as close as possible to a home on Earth. I was filled with relief as I finally felt like I was back home.
But it seemed like it was time to change the idea that that peace would last forever.
I was lying on my back on the sofa and lost in thought.

As the storms of the world, including the student council incident and Adela’s kidnapping, became stronger, my small, precious canteen began to sway like a sailboat caught in a storm.
Parenzia is no longer the peaceful countryside it was when first settled. I couldn’t live like this forever.

‘First of all, we need to prepare against the store being destroyed again. And…”

Battle with the Ice and Snowball. Of course I won. If I get 100 hits and then 1 hit and finally knock the opponent down, I win.
But was this really the best?

Since Eris is no longer by my side, it is difficult to do anything unreasonable like I did when I was active in Helzeb. If she had used more than three unique magic spells despite the strain on her body, she would have collapsed without being able to get out of the North Sea with Adella.

‘I’d rather pick up the sword again.’

Even if it is not a holy sword, it would be a good idea to have at least one weapon. When I was a hero, I used a sword, but I didn’t want to carry a shield that was difficult to carry.
A light sword would be enough just to protect yourself.

10 years is by no means short. It’s been so long since I’ve wielded a sword in earnest that my skills are probably rusty, but first of all, I thought about picking up a sword again.

And the next day——

“Haaap!!”

As I was about to leave the academy to order materials to fix the canteen from Bill, I heard a strong cheer from afar.
Coincidentally, someone was swinging a sword in the vacant lot where I taught students the other day.
A first-year male I saw at the Magic Battle. Did you say knife?
He was receiving sword training from a blonde female knight. His sweaty back looks quite impressive.

“Huh?”

At that time, the female knight facing me noticed me.

“You are… ?”

***

After Lewis’ lecture on ‘Practical Learning on Distinguishing Doppelgängers’, the small vacant lot behind the Freedom Hall turned into a no-man’s land.
Just by going nearby, the students’ trauma worsened and no one came looking for them.
A place where people could avoid prying eyes was the perfect place to teach Karl how to use a sword, so Everett, the princess’s bodyguard, often called Karl here.
Everett, who was watching him practice today, was surprised to see Lewis suddenly appear.

“Oh sorry. “I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“It’s okay.”

It was the store owner walking in wearing slippers and shorts, as if he was about to go out for a drink, but Everett did not let his guard down.
There are not many people within the Order who know exactly how to identify doppelgängers. Lewis must have at least been a member of some knightly order in the past or is skilled in magic.

“Are you making me practice? That’s interesting.”
“I have a request from the princess.”
“Erzebet?”
“Yes. “My name is Everat Windguard, the princess’s bodyguard.”
“Oh~. Come to think of it, I think I was next to you during the last class… It’s Lewis. Please take care of me.”

As he held his outstretched hand, his moderately strong forearm and palm were touched.

‘There are no calluses…’

At the very least, it means that the sword has been put down for a long time. Everett noticed that Lewis’ eyes were focused on the sword he was holding.
Then, naturally, he felt a desire to check out this man’s skills.

“That’s it for today.”
“Yes? Yes.”

Everat returned his sword. And he handed Lewis the sword he was holding.

The princess says she has no interest in Louis and frowns every time she brings up his story.
He is said to be an unsightly man and sometimes shows signs of mischief. Is that assessment really correct?

“Would you like to give it a try?”
“Uh? Really? Is that okay?”

He looked very happy, as if he had retrieved a toy that had been locked in the closet.
And when he saw the Hawk Claw symbol on Everat’s chest —— the symbol of the Hooks Claw Knights, he nodded.

“Isn’t that the Order of the Knights with Hubblet?”
“Be polite when calling the Margrave. You’re right.”
“It’s tricky. So you must be strong too? Thank god.”

What is fortunate? Do you think it will control its strength on its own?
Of course, Everrat intended to take matters into his own hands. Although it’s sparring, if a member of Penheim’s strongest knights hospitalizes a store owner, his reputation will be damaged.

Just to the extent of checking the power. He thought so and pulled out his sword.

“Would you like to attack first?”
“Okay? Okay.”

He nodded his head straight away without even hesitating. The distance between each other is about three steps.
Everat quietly measured the distance of the sword strike and waited for his attack.

If you hit the top, it will spill to the side.
If you stab him, he will immediately fall back and push his sword down.
If you use magic, you will use 〈 Martial Arts 〉 and 〈 Wind Blade 〉 and then hit your wrists and waist to render you unable to fight.

The most effective interpersonal combat method learned from Hooksclaw.
As she was repeating that, Lewis’s sword fell on her head.

Cheaeng!

‘I blocked it…’ … !’

Kwaaaaang——!!

Uh?

Thud! Bang! Kwakwang… ! Her head shook and her whole body rolled on the floor. Her arms, legs, and back hit her shoulder hard.
When Everat came to his senses, he realized that he was stuck in a flower bed that someone had planted at the end of a vacant lot. He quickly flipped through his messy blonde hair to clear his vision.
What on earth hit me?

“Knock, call!! Gagging… !”

It was a sword strike so fast it wasn’t even visible to the eye. Shadow sword? Was it a surprise attack using quick sword techniques?
The sword I thought I had blocked was already thrown far away. Sword break? Or glue?
A crazy pain shot from my wrist. Did they attack in an instant by mixing 〈 shockwave 〉 and 〈 dark vision 〉? I thought he was a swordsman, but could he even use magic?

When endless questions were chasing her, Lewis approached her and held out his hand.

“Are you okay? I’m sorry. She didn’t know she would fly so far. “I thought it would be heavy because I was wearing armor, but it was lighter than it looked.”

Right. The armor of the Hooksclaw Knights had basic defensive magic and a shock-prevention barrier built into it.
My whole body was shaking. In other words, didn’t Lewis’ blow even pierce the artifact and send him flying?

Everett, who was lifted up by him with a bewildered expression, stammered and asked. It was a question that was so stupid that I thought it would never be answered if the other person was a knight.

“Uh, how did you do it?”
“Huh?”
“What kind of sword method is this? Because this is the vision of a certain family…”

However, he asked back with an expression that he did not understand at all.

“Sword law?”

The horse that returned with the iron sword broken in half shocked Everat like never before.

“Why do we need the law on the sword?”