Chapter 784 – Absence Case Log -8-

000

The queen who introduced Vedika like that must have suddenly changed her mind, so she returned to her throne where she had been sitting and sat down once again.

It seemed like she was trying to keep an eye on the conversation between the knight commander and Illenu.

However, Illenu instinctively knew that the knight commander in front of her was someone she could communicate with better than the queen.

At least, unlike the other knights who seemed to have fallen in love with her or Queen Arteas, there was something in her eyes that could make people trust, with a kind of firm belief.

After they introduced themselves one by one, starting with Attis, the knight commander Vedika immediately bowed, as if his guard against them had eased a little.

“You were the scholar who created the opportunity for us to escape from underground. Sorry.”

While the words of gratitude, praise, and praise I had received so far were somewhat formal and pretentious, Vedika’s words seemed to come from her sincerity.

‘What. If there was a place like this, it would have been discussed once before excavation.’

Attis was smiling at Vedika, expressing her gratitude on the outside while thinking this in her heart.

＂And… You.＂

Vedica soon raises her head and looks towards Illenu. And she bowed her head once again.

“I’m sorry for trying to attack you earlier without knowing the situation. We are traitors to our cursed homeland – we are at odds with the vampires you call. She mistakenly thought that a vampire had come to harm Her Majesty.”

After receiving an apology that was more common sense than expected, Illenu felt that her suspicions and hostility toward her had eased a little, and most of all, thinking about how calmly Emma stayed by her side, it was the only conversation among the fanatics of this Holy Kingdom. I had a hunch that he was a person I could relate to.

“… Ha. Are you okay? “Thank you, too, for saving Emma from Initrad.”

“It was just our mission.”

Vedika lifts her head and answers, saying don’t worry.

“What. Is that all?”

At that time, the queen, who was watching the conversation between the two people, showed a somber reaction, as if she found it somewhat uninteresting.

“I thought I could watch a more interesting conversation, so I sat on the throne. It’s the end with such a trivial self-introduction and showing a humble side. It’s extremely disappointing.”

“… I apologize. Your Majesty.”

Vedika bows her head and apologizes to her for telling her messed up story.

The position of a person of common sense among madmen seemed like it would be very difficult.

“No, no no… Isn’t it possible to make things fun? Vedika, she hasn’t forgotten the rule of being a miracle child, right?”

“… But Your Majesty. That is, when her child has no parents…”

“For a moment. What is a miracle child?”

When Illenu, who feels that the reason the queen is having fun is that things are not going well for them, asks for an explanation, Vedica turns to Illenu and Emma with a somewhat uncomfortable expression and speaks.

“… It is one of the methods of recruiting members of our Holy Knights of Kabalon.”

＂Recruitment measures up~?＂

When Schrödinger reacted as if he had no idea what he was talking about, Vedica explained it to her group with her brows still furrowed.

“… The miracle child is when our Holy Knights discover the child during a mission. It is a long-standing Kabalon tradition to fill the number of knights by accepting and nurturing the child as a member of the knights. But─＂

“Okay. Vedika, the child you brought with you is truly a miracle child. “For the revival of the Holy Kingdom, you fully understand that more knights are needed than now, right?”

Illenu opens her mouth as if she is dumbfounded by the queen’s words.

＂… Such arbitrary sounds─＂

“─But Your Majesty. Miracle Child is, after all, a discipline targeting children without parents. If the child you are protecting has parents, you must first tell the parents that you wish to accept the child into the Order. Of course, if the child’s parents refuse, the child is returned to her parents.”

“Still, it seems to be a tradition with a bit of common sense.”

Schrödinger responded to Vedica’s words like that, but the Queen spoke while looking at Vedica.

＂Yes… But Jim has never seen the parents of a miracle child not offer their child to the Knights. That means their patriotism is faithful. And above all, Vedika. Do you think that traitor and human hybrid are the child’s parents?”

＂It is…＂

In response to the queen’s rebuttal, seeing Vedica trailing off, Illenu grabbed Emma’s hand and turned her body.

“Stop. Because I didn’t stay here to listen to such nonsense. If she finds Emma, ​​she has no more business here. You are free to hunt vampires among yourselves or not.”

“Yes, that’s right. There’s no way such reckless behavior, such as arbitrarily raising other people’s colleagues into knighthood, will work.”

Schrödinger also spoke as if he was tired of talking to this group of fanatics, while Artis was quietly looking at the queen.

“Looks like you have something to say? Scholar.”

＂There are many things… But there are many. First. Let me tell you one thing. If Your Majesty really intends to revive this Kabalon Holy Kingdom. Rather than hiding and doing this and that. I think it would be faster to confidently go out and talk to neighboring countries, including those in the East. Rather than sticking to the foolish ways of the past that destroyed them.”

＂…＂

Unlike the queen who was silent for a moment, the surrounding knights who heard this immediately pulled out their swords, probably because they thought Attis had insulted her queen.

＂What blasphemous words are you speaking to your Majesty!＂

＂No matter how favored a scholar is, insulting His Majesty—＂

＂Shut up.＂

Then, the queen silenced her knights with a single word and still looked at her helpless eyes.

“It is the king’s job to decide the path the country takes. If the road is shaken, the country will be shaken. Do you understand what this means?”

＂…＂

Artis didn’t say anything in response to the queen’s words, but Schrödinger was muttering quietly.

＂… In the end, we are not going to change the current way.＂

However, when he remembered that he had tried to catch him by saying something earlier, he was shocked and covered his mouth –

“Heh… Well, you can think of it that way.”

This time, unlike before, she did not hold her pod, but the queen rested her chin on the armrest of her throne with the corners of her mouth raised.

＂Vedika. She says her guests are passing away, so guide them to the border area.”

“… I will follow your orders. Your Majesty.”

And then, Attis, who was looking at the queen who was talking as if everything she had to say here, turned around and left her throne room with her companions.

001

Artis climbing up the ladder at the excavation site, just like when he came in.

And just like when they entered this place, a group of knights dressed as investigators from the excavation team moved to where they were standing to prevent people from entering.

You call this place the border.

The group sighed, thinking that they must have completely lost their minds.

“You guys, I will take over the guard duties for this place from now on. Go back and rest.”

When Vedica spoke to the knights present, the two looked at each other for a moment and then spoke to Vedica.

＂But leader, have you returned from your mission-＂

Vedika exerts silent pressure on such members.

＂…＂

＂S-sorry. No, thank you.”

Then, the members immediately left the scene and headed toward the ladder leading down to the basement.

Apparently, the leader, Vedica, was both respected and feared by the members of the Knights.

Vedica, who was watching the knights disappear, bowed his head deeply towards his companions once again.

＂… I am truly sorry that you had an unpleasant experience.＂

“It’s not your fault. What’s strange is that, excluding you, the knights and the queen are treated like idols by those knights.”

Although Ilenu used some pretty harsh words, Vedika did not get angry when the queen was insulted like other knights, but smiled bitterly.

“Your Majesty… Is merely borrowing your current body. Its identity is a ruler who lives for eternity, with the souls and selves of all the queens of the past united as one.”

“I know. The scepter she holds in her hand is the body of the one you call the queen, right? … It is difficult for us to understand that she would make the queen, who continues her eternal life through such external methods, as their leader.”

In response to Ilenu’s words, Vedica nodded, saying that she understood her attitude, and answered her question to some extent.

“Originally, the royal family of Kabalon was weak by nature. Royalty members were often born with disabilities, and most of all, they had weak immunity to diseases, so they fell ill easily. … He even had a king who died suddenly three days after becoming king. … If a king dies at a time when the government should have continued for a long time, those who had to inherit the policies at that time had to read what the predecessor was thinking through the work left behind and their daily experiences. Moreover, if there were no legitimate children every time the king changed, problems with legitimacy arose and the country became confused.”

“… In order to solve that problem, they chose to pass on the king’s personality to the next king.”

Attis listens to Vedika’s explanation and nods her head.

“Yes, that’s right. For Kabalon, it was an inevitable choice that led to this point. Moreover, as the number of her souls began to accumulate in her scepter, she also learned that her queen’s body also gained strength as long as she held the scepter in her hands.”

Come to think of it, Illenu frowned, recalling Arteas coughing and coughing up blood the moment she let go of her scepter and her original personality returned.

＂It’s a cursed item, completely. As expected, I don’t quite understand.”

Rather than continuing the king’s position just because of his blood, wouldn’t it be more rational and reasonable to nominate someone from another family as king if he or she is weak?

However, such a thing was not applicable in ancient times – no, it would not be applicable in modern times either.

＂There is no shame. However, as knights of the Holy Kingdom, we follow Him and will not stop working for the resurrection of the Holy Kingdom as He wishes. Even if it is a vain dream.”

＂… Just as the queen wishes… ＂

In response to Vedika’s words, Atis muttered in a meaningful tone.

Vedika nodded her head once again, perhaps feeling that this was merely reaffirming her intention.

“Okay. ─But I think we can cooperate. Dhampir.”

＂… Illenuya. What is cooperation? “

＂It is the annihilation of Initrad Dan. They are… An ancient secret organization that existed even when our Holy Nation existed. Nowadays, the scale has become smaller, and it seems to have taken the form of a mercenary group, but in ancient times, they were assassins, politicians, and sometimes they took over a noble family and worked in secret, spreading the disease called vampires.”

As Vedika spoke like that, the fire of hatred towards vampires was visible in her eyes.

It was a spark that bordered on obsession, something I couldn’t imagine from the common-sense person I had seen before.

“They act upon receiving a mission. I don’t know exactly what their mission is, but I’m sure they kidnapped Miss Emma and that they are against you. This time we were able to save them by chance, but there is a high possibility that they will target you again next time. Besides-“

“Furthermore. Because you massacred the members of Initrad. … There is a possibility that it may be considered our doing. Is this what you mean?”

In response to Ilenu’s answer, Vedica nodded his head once again.

“It wasn’t intentional.”

“I know. … As long as we cooperate, I don’t care. We are not inflexible either. Unlike someone there.”

“… Thank you. I hope we can join forces, at least until we can drive out Initrad from within this eastern country.”

At Vedica’s words, Schrödinger nods his head.

“Isn’t it bad? It is true that the knights annihilated the vampires in the hideout, so we can trust their power.”

“For the sake of a quick end to the situation, it would be better to cooperate.”

Artis also nodded his head as if he agreed with Schrödinger’s opinion.

“Since these two people are talking like this… I have the same opinion. However, the only thing we can trust is you, the leader of the Knights. As for your subordinates and the queen, please be alert.”

“I know. I will speak well to Her Majesty the Queen and her subordinates in the Knights. … And…”

She took out her small scroll from her bosom and handed it over to Illenu.

When Illenu opened it, it was a hand-drawn map of the surroundings of Asteris, with three red X’s.

＂This is…＂

＂This is the hideout of Initrad Dan that we have identified that exists around Asteris. Of the three locations, the one expected to be the smallest was raided today. “I plan to attack the next hideout as early as tomorrow.”

＂Hmm… Which one?＂

＂It is a hideout north of Asteris. However… Unlike today’s base, which was a small base of activity, the remaining two locations are expected to have the main unit. Since there was an attack today, the vigilance must be tight.”

As she said that, she pointed to the hiding place to the east.

“In one of these two hideouts, there is the leader of Initrad.”

“… Speaking of leader, I’ve seen him before. He’s a vampire that’s at least hundreds of years old. Although he looked like a kid.”

＂Okay…＂

Hasn’t it changed? Vedika mutters.

“If we’re going to deal with it, we’ll have to put in all the knights’ power. Even so, it is a difficult opponent to guarantee victory over. So… I hope you will join us in our subjugation operation.”

“Well… That’s the same for us too. Speaking of the leader, it might be a bit difficult to deal with him with just his strength alone. If we supplement that with each other’s strengths, at least the odds of winning might be quite high, right?”

Vedika nods her head in response to Ilenu.

“Then let’s set the time. Let’s meet at the entrance of the northern hideout around 10:00 tomorrow night.”

“Okay. … Don’t betray me?”

Vedika responds to Ilenu’s words by raising her fist to her chest.

＂With the honor of a knight at stake. I won’t do anything to betray you.”

002

The group and Emma board the Unicorn car heading back to Asteris.

Emma was dozing off in Ilene’s arms, perhaps because it was night, and Schrödinger was sighing with relief, as if he had just had a blast.

“I’m glad we somehow found Emma. It was unexpected that there was a country of fanatics at the excavation site.”

“… It’s true. That queen… If you really think she’s dangerous, wouldn’t it be better to report it to the Eastern Bureau?”

＂If we protect it now, it will be difficult to move the knights. After dealing with Initrad Dan.”

Even as Artis spoke like that, it seemed like he was still thinking about something.

“… What’s the matter? Artis. Is there anything that catches you?”

“… Little. The queen ─ a monster that has been reborn through her 66 generations. I know she’s arrogant, moody, self-indulgent, and paranoid. … But─＂

When she asked her if she was thinking of reviving her sacred kingdom, she did not answer immediately.

For a madwoman who seemed to live by her pride, it was somewhat awkward to hesitate to answer such a question.

＂No way…＂

Artis placed her hand on her forehead and pondered, as if she didn’t know how much of her attitude was true and how much was false – if her suspicions were true. 〉