Chapter 314 – Ashes and Embers

Juergena also wonders how best to use the ignorant sword called Cedric Floyd.

I had a lot of concerns after hearing about the future direction from the head of Nema Natas.

‘Even if I look at it now, I won’t let it go.’

I did it just in case, but still.

He is a knight who, as he gets older, becomes complacent and his desire for growth fades.

It was unlikely that he would enter Nema Natas with a gambler who might become an enemy of the empire and have his family exterminated.

That’s right.

Will they blame the Mendes Pentagram for the death of their only son and make them fight?

‘It’s a waste.’

There is no belief or expectation that an aggressive style like Cedric will catch a seasoned catch like Morgan.

As long as there was no picture in Juergena’s mind that could entice the 4 knights, the purpose was decided.

“Aren’t you really curious about why something like that happened?”

“···.”

Those who know the 4th Knight through hearsay may think that he will be furious when he hears this.

Unfortunately, I was expecting her to remain as rigid as she is now.

Although the impulsive and emotional aspects are greatly highlighted.

As the ruler of a family, it would have been enough to forcibly create a person who had no experience or time on the battlefield.

But only the degree is different.

The black magicians who have delved into politics say.

Human nature does not change, and there are always words that hurt people ignore reality and want to hear.

Druk-

Cedric stood up, brushed off the glass dust and alcohol from his hands, took a new glass, and filled it with alcohol.

He leaned back and looked at me intently.

“Are we close enough to exchange such hidden information?”

“No. Let me add, I sympathize with the pain and sorrow of losing a child, so I’m not trying to tell a close story.”

“I guess so.”

If Yurgena had shown her sympathy by chopping up her child with his own hands for stealing from her training.

That would have been more ridiculous and insulting.

“A child who has lost a parent is called an orphan, but a parent who has lost a child cannot imagine their grief and does not even have a name for it. Do you want me to borrow that proverb and comfort you in a formal way?”

“…That’s enough. Let’s just get to the point.”

This was a big part of why Cedric was uncomfortable with Juergena.

Even though the purpose is not to insult, they only pick out uncomfortable words and stab them.

“Bottom line… Yes. Time is precious.”

“···.”

“The information I obtained by chance could be of great value to someone.”

“That’s amazing.”

Ignoring the 4 knights who were trying to boost their pride from time to time.

Widely. Widely. Widely.

Juergen I looked up at her high ceiling and tapped her sword at her waist with her finger before lowering her head.

“I had to hide it and keep it in my hand. I thought it would be detrimental to the bright future of the empire to turn a blind eye to the noble profession of knights being ostracized in favor of adventurers.”

“Huh! I don’t know when the three knights who didn’t even see her face became so interested in things other than the sword.”

“You are free to listen and believe, not coercion.”

“If you were so concerned about the future of the empire, wouldn’t you have stuck to the imperial family like Dritna?”

Since when has this man been interested in the survival of the empire?

Cedric was dumbfounded by the lies so shamelessly displayed and laughed.

I looked away from her reaction and listed her information one by one.

“Let’s start with the source. Like other nobles, I have my own eyes, and they are spread out even in the capital of the empire.”

“I don’t like long-winded tomes, so just give me the information I need. Even if I put that kind of information in front of you, it’s my heart that will accept it.”

He was, of course, a person who was always said to be impatient.

I gently lifted her glass, as if to tell Cedric, who was trying to vent his dissatisfaction, to listen first.

‘A simple one hurts your mouth more than a clumsy and detailed one.’

He decided to throw his stimulus one more time before bottoming out.

“···Try to point out the underlying situation and paint on top of it.”

The fact that the church announced to the outside world was that the people who dealt with the fallen Leo Floyd were holy men and priests led by a saint.

The more time Nema Natas spent digging, the more parts that were difficult to understand and corners that left doubts began to emerge.

“But I started to think that something was strange with the news I was hearing.”

“What’s the point?”

No matter how many saints there are, there are no deaths among the paladins or priests due to widespread black magic.

Big and small events in the capital that occurred just before and after that time period.

Nema Natas was still assembling the complete puzzle.

There is enough useful information here.

“On the day Leo Floyd died, there was a prostitute and a pimp who had him as a customer. They said he was extremely drunk and stumbled out of the store.”

“···Please continue.”

“From the store, the place where the fight was said to have taken place, the witness, and the place where we walked at a shaky pace was, as expected, the mansion where the Commander of the Knights of Eunik was located.”

Cedric’s upper body, which had been falling backwards, tilted forward and his eyes sparkled with interest.

“If you look at the time, they say there was an explosion at the mansion of Eclair Dritna, the 5th knight. They handled it independently without informing the outside world, but since it’s near the city center, it can’t be hidden. I’m not sure if it has anything to do with the incident, but I have a good sense of the connection. “I leave it to your judgment.”

“···.”

Since that day, how much money and manpower have been invested to obtain information?

Here today, I am sowing the slightest doubt about the saints and Eclair Dritna of the church who have proven to be impossible to recruit.

Nothing more was needed in the current situation.

“There is information that Roman, a platinum adventurer, came to the church for treatment right after the incident. Judging by the way he stayed and went for a walk, he must be the patient.”

Toward Cedric, who was stroking his red beard with a serious face, probably calculating in his head.

Juergena buried the embers among the remaining ashes.

“The facts announced by the empire and the church, the information you heard while sitting in the territory, and my information, there must be something that goes against all of these, right?”

*****

Roman and Seria returned later than expected with empty hands.

The characters in the mansion appeared, showing off progress beyond what was expected.

“What are you doing with your brother?”

Ricke asks in a soft voice.

Ceria answered, many women were paying attention.

“Well, it just so happened that the topic went in a different direction…”

Ricke and Roman went out again and came back after dinner, which was later than usual.

While Roman was away, saying he was going to wash up, everyone’s eyes were focused on the small girl.

“Huh~ I sent you to buy ingredients, but you almost forgot about it.”

“Ahaha…!!”

Seria let out an awkward laugh at her embarrassment.

Since she had no intention of pushing Rike too, she only asked for the conclusion.

“Is your brother feeling a little more comfortable?”

“Uh… Yes! That’s for sure!”

Satisfied with the answer, Rike tried to retreat.

Chloe seemed to be unable to contain her curiosity, so she put Alice on her back and stuck her head in from behind Ricke.

“How was it with you?”

“I’m dying to know what you’re doing!”

-Shh!

Eclair and Liline sitting politely at the table drinking tea.

I felt like everyone was listening to me, even though they were pretending not to be.

Isn’t it so nice to get tickled attention?

The red-haired girl began to explain in a serious voice the clues about her growth that the platinum adventurer had given her and the epic story that happened today.

“So, to begin with… He said we should think about other methods other than using swords and shields… So I stopped by a blacksmith shop and a workshop.”

“So you went on a date with your brother!”

“No!! Please stop thinking about that and listen to the end!”

When Chloe, a lover of genre novels, spoke with confidence, Ceria sighed, her seriousness shattered in an instant.

‘···Romance addict!’

Except for himself, this mansion was filled with the pink color of love and romance.

As he unpacked her bundle again and tried to attract her attention, everyone’s eyes moved behind him.

When Seria followed her gaze and turned her head, Roman was standing there with a moist residue on the end of her hair.

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh, no!”

Why is it so quick to get out of the shower?

When Roman returned just in time to have a cup of tea, Seria shook her head.

Roman conceded that if she had anything to say to Ceria, she could.

The girl took refuge in the seat next to her older sister and passed the time to Roman.

“Everyone gather together!”

I guess the meal is over.

Roman gathered everyone at the table and began to tell Rike about what happened today.

··
··

“The Marquis of Skadi…”

After hearing what happened today, Eclair looked back with a serious expression on each and every rumor she had heard recently.

“There’s no news, right?”

Although I ask about rumors about a family whose authority has now died, I do not have high expectations.

If there was a trick that would reach the ears of the imperial family or Eclair, I would know by now.

“I don’t remember, but I might have missed it, so I’ll look into it tomorrow.”

“Please.”

“Thank you, sister… For letting me get involved in a family matter that I have to resolve…”

Eclair was surprised by the unexpected reaction of Rike, who was hesitant, saying he was in disgrace, but smiled with satisfaction.

‘That look is your true color.’

Eclair knows that if she or any other family member were in a similar situation, she would have come forward without any hesitation.

When he actually tries to receive favor, he seems to be dripping with regret.

We were able to see the soft side of Rike, who always tries to show her composure.

“It’s for my cute little brother, so of course I can do this.”

With everyone telling her that she would try her best, Rike was able to let go of all her worries that she had been secretly harboring and fall into a deep sleep.

And the next day.

Roman and Alice headed to the academy to learn about the curriculum for practical classes.