Chapter 752 – Those Who Noticed the Twist

000

＂Sealed devil’s crystal. I definitely checked. It took about 10 hours… That’s as expected.”

When Cleon returns to Asteris and brings back the crystal in which Remilia is sealed, she claps and praises Cleon with a satisfied expression.

This and that happened, but no matter what, I could not help but sigh in relief at the fact that I was able to complete the request within time.

When I returned to Asteris with the huge crystal in tow, I felt everyone’s eyes on me and felt a little burdened, but I was also worried about how I would secretly enter the kingdom’s military base with this crystal.

I followed the soldier who approached me, saying that he had been sent by Namiri to meet me, and he let me pass through the entrance of the garrison as usual.

Apparently, while they were away from Asteris for a while, Namiri or Selena gave such an order to the kingdom’s army.

Of course, not everyone seemed to understand the order, so he received harsh looks from the kingdom’s soldiers until he arrived at Selena’s tent.

But in any case, it was an order from the superior – a woman who was the duke’s mistress and a legendary Inquisitor.

For them, as long as Selena and Namiri held back, they were in a state where they could not touch Cleon.

“It’s a mysterious crystal… Is this also a type of sacred magic?”

When Selena, who looked at her crystal for a moment, asked that question, Cleon nodded and explained that it was Kuon’s sealing magic.

The sealing magic ‘Metatron’ used by Kuon seemed a bit unusual even to modern wizards, as it was a mixture of ancient technology.

Since Selena is also a type of scholar called a wizard, she must be curious about the identity of magic that she does not know.

In her mind, she wanted to interact with Lila in various ways, but since she seemed tired in many ways, the first thing she wanted to do was get some rest.

＂… Is the request fulfilled with this?＂

When Cleon says that, Namiri smiles and answers as if of course.

“Yes. The request was completed safely. Where can I say that I can trust Mr. Cleon?”

Namiri answers with a smile, but Cleon’s expression still doesn’t brighten.

“Isn’t it okay to be a little happier? Cleon-kun has now gained the trust of the two duke families of the kingdom.”

＂… Did you know about Albain?＂

Selena tilted her head at the name that came out of Cleon’s mouth, but Namiri was still looking at Cleon with a smiling expression.

That smile – what meaning should we take?

When I thought there was a bit of silence between the two in response to Cleon’s question, Namiri seemed to be gathering her thoughts, and after sighing, “Hmm,” She spoke to Cleon. Br〉

“If it’s Albain, then he’s the hero boy you accused in Elesia, right? It was once a hot topic in the royal capital. How could it be that a warrior who was supported by a nobleman, as a result of plotting various conspiracies and destroying order in a corner of the countryside, became a criminal and was exiled?”

“Ah! There was such an incident! He was a man who felt disgusted just by hearing the charges at the trial!”

As Selena spoke as if she had only just remembered it, Namiri looked back at her daughter and spoke.

“Selena. You shouldn’t be so blunt.”

“I’m sorry.”

After hearing the two people’s story, Cleon continued talking while looking at Namiri without his expression brightening.

“That’s not what I’m saying. This devil – Remilia. No, I was wondering if you knew about the fact that Raymond of the Red Thorn was running away with Alvain.”

“Les, Raymond!? The hero of that volunteer army!?”

Selena looks at her crystal in surprise at Cleon’s point, but no matter what you look at, what’s inside the crystal is a female demon.

It was Remilia, a succubus who used her beautiful appearance to attract men’s affection.

However, Namiri slowly opened her mouth, leaving behind Selena, who was so surprised.

“… It’s a strange story, right? Albain was originally a criminal. He’s also a serious criminal, accused of escaping from a forced labor zone in the north. It’s normal for no one to know where they are now. So we too… Only knew the story that the devil took a certain ‘girl’ and ran away.”

“Albain was cursed by demons and turned into a woman. … Like many other men in the royal capital.”

Now that Astaroth has collapsed, those who were weakly cursed may have returned as men – but the men in Eustace and the monastery who have already accepted themselves as women are probably…

“We’re still in the middle of the story, Cleon.”

At Namiri’s words, which seem to be telling her to listen to her story to the end, Cleon closes her mouth and waits for her next words.

“What. Even if he is a devil, he is a defeated soldier. And if you have a human as a hostage, even if you escape, you can easily find their traces. That is, if you utilize your intelligence knights and knights efficiently. I guess I could have caught its tail and brought it back before it escaped the kingdom’s territory.”

“… But did she actually run away to the area near the imperial territory of the eastern country? Are you saying the drivers failed to track it?”

When Selena tackles Namiri’s words, she laughs and talks.

“The tracking was canceled midway. “I don’t have to chase the devil anymore.”

＂Eh…?＂

What kind of nonsense is it that you don’t have to chase down a demon that is not just a demon but has taken a hostage and escaped?

Selena was embarrassed, and Cleon looked at Namiri with the same expression.

“But… What you were chasing were intelligence articles and other articles, right? Is there a person in command who can stop their pursuit…?”

Both sides have the title of knight, but their commanding authority is completely separate.

The former is a central government official who manages the Intelligence Department, which is the upper level of the kingdom’s intelligence agency.

And, the highest commanding authority of the latter knights is the Minister of Defense of the Kingdom – that is, Sir Percy Tromeia.

Although both sides are kings and vassals of the kingdom, order in the kingdom has been maintained until now by keeping each other in check and sometimes cooperating while protecting each other’s territory.

If we could break that balance and move both at the same time-

＂… Is this a direct order from the king? ＂

“It would be right to think so. Of course, on the surface, no one would say that name.”

When Namiri nodded as if agreeing with Cleon’s guess, Selena remembered Cleon’s earlier story about the ‘Exiled Church’ using the royal family to rule the kingdom from behind.

“It was hard to think that the king would protect the devil, and I thought there was some secret there. It’s not just me. Now… Various changes are taking place in the kingdom and within the palace. And there are people who are beginning to doubt the change.”

“You are one of them. Is that what you mean? “

When Cleon asks that question, Namiri closes her mouth for a moment and then answers Cleon without erasing the smile on her lips.

“Well. I am a retired Heretic Questioner, and I am just an ordinary lady who is the mistress of a duke’s family. Although I don’t work in the royal castle… I know that a big twist is happening in the current kingdom. And that the twist is slowly spreading like a plague among the royal family and some of the middle class officials.”

＂Mother…＂

As Selena looked at Namiri talking like that, she muttered as if she was worried.

Even if someone else heard her remark and thought she had treasonous intentions, it would not be surprising to her.

“And Cleon? I was confident with this mission. There is no one who is facing that twist head-on, except Cleon-kun and your colleagues.”

When Cleon also looks surprised at her words while pointing at herself, Namiri stands up from her seat and approaches him, holding out her hand.

“Cleon. Return to the kingdom with your companions and Princess Amelia. No matter what happens, Namiri Regent will guarantee and protect your identity.”

＂──＂

That statement was something she honestly hadn’t thought about.

Gaining her trust… In other words, it was like saying that the kingdom’s two major ducal families, the Regent and Tromeia families, would become guardians of their party.

And- now you can return to the kingdom without being chased by it.

They can return to the royal capital – El Querdo, where other colleagues are waiting for them.

“Well, that’s good, Cleon!”

Selena is happy to hear the story, and Namiri speaks to Cleon.

“It would be better to go back as quickly as possible. “It would be better to prepare to return to the kingdom tomorrow… Or even today.”

Does she feel that the unusual atmosphere within her kingdom is in a serious situation?

Cleon heard her words and took her outstretched hand, but shook her head.

“… I’m sorry, but I can’t return to the kingdom right now.”

In response to his answer, Selena let out a high-pitched ‘Eek!?’, But Namiri flinched, twitched her eyebrows, looked at Cleon, and asked a question.

＂Can I hear the reason?＂

＂Just like the kingdom… A great crisis is now approaching this eastern country. It is impossible to pretend not to know that and leave this place now.”

The Exile Church will not stop its plans to use the Sky Fortress even if Cleon and his party leave this country.

Even though I knew that, I couldn’t leave this place without doing anything.

For the sake of Miyeom-gong and Herti, who accepted and protected them as they ran away from the kingdom… And everyone else they got to know here.

You cannot run away from that danger.

“… Okay… You are a person who moves based on that ‘sense of justice.’ Even though he is a magic swordsman, he acts like a warrior.”

“No. This isn’t about justice or anything like that… I just want to protect my friends as best as I can. To be called a hero… There are so many things I lack.”

I am not a warrior.

Cleon always thinks that he can’t be a warrior.

To him, being a warrior means absolute justice that saves everyone, without distinguishing between self and others, and transcending the concepts of good and evil.

This was because the warrior Lesia became the standard.

“─I understand. If that’s what you mean… Selena?”

＂Yes, mother?＂

＂Do you want to stay here and help Cleon with his work? If it continues even after the Five Elements Festival ends, then even there.”

At Miri’s words, Selena nodded her head as if it was natural and placed her hand on her chest.

“Of course! Selena, we can’t just ignore the crisis of the Kingdom’s ally, the Eastern Country! Oh, hohoho!”

“And, be sure to bring Cleon back to El Querdo safely. Okay? That is your new mission from now on.”

“Mission…! Well, I understand! Leave it to me to protect Cleon, whatever! I will take you there in perfect condition, without a single drop of blood or scratch!”

“… It feels a little strange because I think I’m protected to that extent.”

Cleon wondered if he had forgotten that she had originally come to catch him, but Namiri was smiling with her daughter as she saw Selena like that.

001

Cleon, who returned first to the mansion where the group was resting, explained everything to the waiting girls.

When they heard that she could return to the kingdom, everyone seemed a little relieved – especially Amelia, who reacted to the point where she clenched her fists without realizing it.

One person, Schrödinger, looked a little upset, but I wonder why…

＂What? But it was a good decision to refuse for now. It is a self-evident fact that in the decisive battle with Adam, the power of the Eastern countries will be needed.”

“Of course, there are things like that. After all, I have become close to many people here, including Riomes and Herti. “You can’t leave it behind, right?”

Kuon nods his head vigorously at Cleon’s words.

She, too, must have become acquainted with the people at her temple while taking the shaman’s lessons.

“… Thank you, Cleon. It’s all thanks to Cleon…”

When Amelia bows her head towards Cleon, Cleon shakes her head.

“It’s thanks to everyone being there. If I were alone today, I wouldn’t have been able to escape from the magic sword Bulgari.”

The warm atmosphere was forming, and just when I thought it would be a good idea to sit down at the table to have a cozy dinner.

“What. It’s a happy thing to be able to go back, but… Let’s solve the problem at hand first.”

When Lila stopped the group, as if to break the mood, her eyes turned to look at the children gathered in the living room and yard.

＂These guys… What are you going to do?＂

Cleon, Amelia, and the children Lilim brought out from the empire’s territory.

Da Capo’s body has completely healed, but he is still unconscious and is currently resting in a bed.

Moreover, Kuon said after examining the condition of his body, he may have to spend a few days convalescing while sitting in bed due to the excessive rebound.

In order to protect the children, the side effects of not sleeping properly and devoting time to researching alchemy came back.

“I’m telling you, not in the Eastern countries. It’s one thing to have all those kids, but you know-“

“… Ah. It’s an agreement signed between the kingdom and the Eastern countries. … Because of their physical characteristics, it seems difficult to hide them even from people in eastern countries…”

Although there was certainly less discrimination against demihumans in the Eastern countries, there was a high possibility that this would not be the case for children who were descendants of ethnic minorities who sided with the empire in the war against the empire.

Moreover, the government forces will try to arrest them first when they see them, and old emotional rifts will not be easily resolved even with the help of Miyeomgong.

“… I wish there was a safe place somewhere where the children and Dacapo could stay safe.”

When Cleon mutters like that, his companions become silent for a moment.

El Querdo, the royal capital, was out of the question in the first place, and if it was Elessia, Luti might be able to take care of them, but it was also a place where adventurers frequented and visited, and to put it simply, it was not a very good place for children to grow up.

But let’s send them to the academy, it’s a place with a lot of kingdom people. Moreover, it is difficult to cover the tuition fees for all of them.

If that happens, everyone in the group will nod and voice their concerns at the fact that there will be no place left.

＂Haaa~!＂

And there was Laila, sighing loudly.

When the eyes of everyone in her group turn to her, Lila speaks to them with her hand on her forehead.

“I thought so. As for Amelia and Cleon, I thought that their bodies would move before they thought, so I couldn’t help it.”

“It was all a condition for Mr. Da Capo to help us…”

Amelia was also reflecting, but when she said that she couldn’t help it in that situation, Lila stood up as if she really had no choice.

“Let’s go to a place I know. There… You’ll be safe for a while.”

＂Lila, do you know a place…?＂

When Sasha heard Lila’s words, what came to mind for a moment was a place like a village of wizards and witches full of magic potions, so her face turned pale for a moment.

“What are you thinking!? It’s an ordinary mountain village. There is also a hot spring…”

＂… Lila, could you-＂

When Cleon speaks to her as if he remembers her features, Lila raises the corners of her mouth and shrugs her shoulders.

“Yes, that’s right. My hometown, Helix.”

As she said that and snapped her fingers, Lee Dong-yong’s portal appeared before her eyes.