Chapter 37 – Worst Case Scenario (2)

Episode 37 Worst Scenario (2)

“Jacques, get out first and go to the store.
Tell Master and Van Dark.
Until further instructions are given, I will be waiting on the 3rd floor.
And the emergency exit is marked here, so be aware of it and incinerate it.”

“Yes!”

I wrote a short letter with the pen moving like a fly.

[Cathedral proclamation.
The cause is Cathedral Terror.
The capital of the Templar Knights has been gathered.]

With my letter and the emergency exit note in his pocket, Zach hurriedly disappeared through the frenzied crowd.
When this excitement subsides, face-to-face investigations can be conducted one by one to investigate the connection with the raiding demons.
We need to hide Jacques and Ludwig beforehand.

“Camus.
Eventually, a great war will begin.”

“I know.
The instigated commoners will die countless times.
The same goes for the demons who oppose it.”

Since the Holy War was declared, it was obvious that not only knights and nobles would volunteer, but also the general public, who were swept away by crowd psychology and the propaganda system, would participate in large numbers.
It went the same way in the past.

And whether the assembled Templar Knights would rush to the battlefield right away, or whether they would recruit troops from here is also a question.

“… Van Dark, Ballack, Adolf.
I don’t know if the corps commander’s classmates will be okay.”

“Shouldn’t we prepare if Kamyu-sama informs us?”

“After the assassination of the demon king, the command system is messed up…
There is a high possibility that the response to the holy war will be done by corps, but if you make a mistake, all of them will be destroyed individually.
We need to come up with measures.”

As I share my concerns with Marianne, an officer of the Royal Knights approaches from behind.
A man in his mid-to-late 40s with a well-groomed appearance, brown hair and graying hair.
He was reading King Amity’s edict in front of the cathedral.

“Hello, this is David Bowie, commander of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Knights.
Could you cooperate with the investigation for a moment?”

“Ah, yes.
How can I help you?”

If he read the King’s edict to the battalion commander of the Royal Knights, he would be in a considerable position.
Even so, the way he speaks is humble and dignified.

“It was nice to see that you just ran away together from the raid and rescued the injured.
Still, procedure is procedure.
I will verify your identity.
What’s your name?”

“This is Camus.
We are operating the herbalist ‘Grande Army’, which was selected as the supplier of recovery herbs for the cathedral.
I fled together during the attack on the saintess and attended the villa yesterday as a witness.”

Calmly, he even talks about the saintess’ request for an audience yesterday and the fact that she testified to Princess Anne.

After hearing my words, David nodded his head and then put on a worried expression.

“As you may have just seen, the people who attacked the confessed criminals were dressed in the uniforms of the National Guard.
Those who appeared in the cathedral wearing hoods were demons.
Those whose identity cannot be clearly identified must be examined by the Royal Magic Division right now.”

“… !”

This.
I’m hiding my horns right now, but if I undergo a thorough examination by the Royal Magic Division, my true identity could soon be revealed!
If it’s at least fortunate that Ludvik and Jacques were sent, it’s fortunate.

Noticing my concern, Marianne came to my side and began defending me.

“This person’s identity was confirmed by Princess Catherine and Princess Anne at the villa yesterday.
And since he risked his life and escaped with me, did he have to be taken to the wizards and investigated?”

“You’re right.
I am also a business person, so if I leave the store so often, my livelihood gets in the way…”

Marianne and I earnestly ask, but battalion commander David only puts on a puzzled expression.
There was no sign of backing down.
Then…

“Is there a problem?”

Through mind control, he summoned Marianne’s escort knight, Thomas Abubakr.
There was a risk of being discovered because the situation was full of priests and knights, but he boldly called out by taking advantage of the confusion caused by the battle with the demon army.

“This person is actually…”

Thomas whispered in David’s ear.
The part I mind manipulated about my identity was that I was the half-brother of the Abubakr family, and the honorable Abubakr family hid that and sent me to be with my brother, Sir Thomas.
As proof of that, there is a ring from the Abu Bakr family on my finger.

“I couldn’t announce it because of my family’s circumstances, but after receiving confirmation from the two princesses yesterday, I personally accompanied them.”

“Hmm, to be sure, His Highness the King said yesterday that the identities of the important witnesses accompanying the saintess were confirmed through the princess…
All right.
Thank you again for moving the wounded men from the fight just now.
Instead, the crowd may be agitated, so what you have seen and heard here should never be disclosed to the outside world.
You may go if you promise.”

Phew…
I was worried about telling Sir Thomas to get the ring out, but I’m glad I did.
He was next to the saintess and a paladin from a noble family guaranteed his identity, so he didn’t look too picky.
But I can’t use this status anymore.
Are you bluffing in too much haste?

* * *

Trudge.

The time when the sun is slowly setting.
There is no strength in stepping.
I am on my way back to Princess Anne’s villa.
This is because my wagon, which transported the evidence and the recovered bodies there, is stored in the villa.

In the cathedral, a celebratory order was issued to leave all but the members of the cathedral and the investigators of the Royal Knights.
Marianne is Rebekah’s… He remained at the scene to recover the body.

According to Master’s research, she was more traumatized by the death of a female colleague in war than by the death of a male colleague, she said.
… Damn it

Trudge.

The dirt that has gone inside the boots can’t be that annoying.
When she arrived at the entrance to the villa, she showed the pass to the guard, and she was granted permission to enter while accompanied by another guard.

“Come this way.”

Huh, judging by the way the guards talk, did you say David earlier?
You can see that the person is particularly polite.

Check the shoes and health of the horses.
Then, as I was about to leave in the coachman’s seat for the carriage depot in the outer palace, a guard suddenly called.

“Um, what happened…”

“The high one is calling, just follow me.”

“…”

This road is definitely the way to the inner palace, right?
In the middle of the palace, you are led into a simple building.
Seeing the ladies-in-waiting standing on either side… Hmm.

Smart.

“I brought you, Mama.”

“Stop by.”

Sigh.

Upon entering the room, Princess Anne and her maids were sitting with a sickly face in a pink dress.

“Mama.”

“Come in and sit down.”

She was guided and sat down.

It seems that Princess Anne, who has a pale appearance due to her sickly body, has become all pale in the meantime.
The dark circles under her eyes also seem to have gotten worse.

“Mr. Kamu, I heard that there was a terrorist attack in the cathedral.”

… What?
Even if Battalion Commander David stayed in the cathedral, he would have been a messenger to the palace?
Why do you ask me that

“… It’s embarrassing to tell you, but even though I’m the second princess, I don’t have much access to information.”

“… You did.”

Are you telling the truth about something you’d be really ashamed of?
She is said to be directly involved in helping the poor, and she is a very free-spirited princess than I thought.

“I only heard that the situation that my father, I, and my younger brother were all worried about had happened.
So, I wanted to ask Mr. Kamu Abubakr, who was at the scene, about his situation.”

Oh, something like that.
Without the ability to mobilize outside personnel, it seems that he came to ask me, a member of the aristocratic family who visited with Marianne, various things.

“I want to ask what happened at the scene.
Can you tell me in detail?”

“Sure, Mama.
I will tell you without any lies what I have seen and experienced with my own eyes.”

I left out the story of Jacques and Ludwig and began to tell the story in as much detail as possible.

Until they went to the cathedral, the crowd clamored to punish Hanja for harming her Saint Marianne.

After reading the king’s edict in front of the cathedral, he was led into the cathedral.

While the pope came out of the building inside the cathedral to ask about the facts, those dressed as soldiers of the National Guard killed the criminals who confessed, including Chris.

And the demon king’s army came out wearing a hood and attacked.

The hero Alberic, who thought he had left the capital to pursue the demons, suddenly appeared and unleashed his special moves and wide-area skills.

In the process, several people, including Sister Rebekah, died.

Alberic killed the demon soldier in front of the crowd who were surprised by the demon soldier who went out to the square.

High priest Philip, who appeared at the right time, insisted on the declaration of the holy war in front of the crowd.

“So… Sister Rebekah is like that…
Black, black…”

“Oops… Unfortunately…”

She wiped her tears with the handkerchief Princess Anne had handed her.

“… Sister Rebekah was also a person who did charity work and volunteering with me many times.
She was the most kind person…
It’s too bad.
You said that she did several relief projects with Mr. Kamu as well, right?”

I just nodded my head, trying to shed tears.
When I go back, Jacques and Ludvik are there, so I just want to cry here.
I just wailed loudly.

“… The death and injury of Sister Rebekah and many others is truly unforgivable.
However, using this as an excuse, a high priest, not even the pope, insisted on proclaiming the holy war in front of the crowd…
It seems like an action to make the holy war a fait accompli.”

“That… Then, suddenly, has the holy war been declared?”

“Only one person has the authority to officially declare a holy war, the Pope.
Although High Priest Philip has many adherents in and out of the cathedral, he has no authority to declare a crusade.
However, given that many people witnessed the cathedral’s terrorism and the Pope was also attacked, the chances of not approving the proclamation of the Holy War are slim.”

Water already spilled.
The Demon King’s Cathedral Terror Incident is the best justification for the declaration of Holy War.
… No need for Marianne to die.

“Father saw that the Knights Templar had advanced near the capital, and he was wary of the Cathedral claiming to proclaim the Holy War.
That’s why I tried to quickly conduct an investigation into the attack on the saintess so as not to create an excuse…
Things are complicated.”

“Wait, then the investigation into the raid case is… ?”

“… It will be difficult to progress.
It’s too big that even the confessed criminals are dead.
Many witnesses were also injured, so I don’t know how many people will be brave enough to testify.”

I cried, leaning over the table.

“I am ready to risk my life to testify to uncover the truth!”

Half sincere
Half of it is strategy.
A chance to connect with the second princess in the palace.
It will be a good stepping stone to dig up the secret of Alberic as well as the star princess who has no way to know the news.

At my words, Princess Anne smiled softly.

“I really appreciate your courage.
If only there were brave people like you, what would Amitie worry about?”

But Princess Anne’s face darkened again.

“But in order to investigate the High Priestess of the Cathedral, confessions from the criminals are essential.
Even if all the remaining witnesses testified and presented evidence, it would be difficult to conduct a face-to-face investigation, let alone an arrest.
The power of the cathedral is such that it threatens the kingship.
Especially, right after an incident like today.”

Dalgrak.

Princess Anne silently touches the teacup set in front of her.
The shadow on her face is reflected in the tea water.

“Kamu Abubakr, I will give you a pass to the outer palace of my villa.
If your identity as a witness is threatened or if you have additional knowledge, please visit us without hesitation.
I will tell the maids and guards everything.”

“Thank you very much for the favor, Princess.”

“You’re welcome.
… I really, really regret Sister Rebekah.”

Once again I am speechless.

“My best friend… They were friends.”

She was a lover
Human too.
I… A human as a lover…

“He was a good man.
The loss of Sister is a great loss for the kingdom.
… Kamyu-san, how about staying in a guest room at my villa today?
There are so many suspicious things about this cathedral terrorism.
Even Kamyu, who is known as a witness, could be dangerous.”

Hmm… Jacques and Ludvik will be waiting for you.
We need to exchange opinions about what happened today.

However, it is rare for a princess to suggest that she stay overnight at the royal villa first.
Maybe I can get some other information from the palace.

How… ?