My spell certainly had the power to bury Chris Lagnica.
But she and Mashiro Liche stood unharmed.
All because these two had blocked it……!
“Heh. We can’t leave our beloved son’s precious people unattended.”
“To think — exactly as you said — [Lightning] Floné would be the criminal.”
“Glad you came along, Enchan.”
“Don’t use my school-days nickname, Gordon! Call me Enju!”
The current head of Ducal House Veret, Gordon Veret.
The current head of Ducal House Lebetsenka, Enju Lebetsenka.
Their roles differ, but both have been heavy hitters with magic since their younger days.
“Tch…… why are you here!?”
“A letter from my son. I hadn’t expected you to know we were in Lamdarb.”
So saying, he pulled out a slip of paper from his coat, which read:
“Father. For tomorrow, just one day, please keep watch over Mashiro Liche.”
“I’d come to Lamdarb by chance, as well. ……No — I had business with you. Bringing Enju along in case.”
“To suspect our nation’s hero Floné Milfonti — I thought I’d gone mad, but as it turns out, the one who’s mad is you.”
“The factory has already been secured. All that’s left is to capture you…… no — this you.”
”…………”
A former Captain of the Holy Knight Order, two current ducal heads, and a Dual Magic Caster.
…… Even I am at a disadvantage.
I can’t risk anything with this aging body.
”…… Fine. I’ll spare you only today.”
“How high-handed. You think you can escape?”
“You’d also rather avoid direct conflict, no?”
Gordon and Enju’s gazes sharpened. They knew.
If we fought here, they’d take wounds too. And victory wasn’t guaranteed.
That’s how heavy the name [Floné the Lightning Strike] is — and even she, aged, fighting four, was at a disadvantage.
The optimal move is one: sheath the blade.
”…… Next time, I’ll catch you. Be ready.”
“Try, if you can. ……Now.”
I looked at the vessel candidate (Mashiro Liche), shielded by Chris Lagnica.
“We’ll meet again, girl. I’ll come to take you.”
”…… It won’t be. Because Ouga-kun is going to defeat you!”
“Heh, you have such blind faith. Fine. I’ll look forward to that day.”
Next time, not an incomplete substitute (Reina), but a vessel that can withstand my mana.
Bearing their glares, I leapt into the sea.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
House Veret has several secret rooms unknown even to the servants.
They were made to keep confidential information from leaking.
Passed down only verbally through successive heads, used as workrooms — but today I’d invited a guest into one such room.
”…… You won’t kill me here, will you?”
“Ah ha ha! A funny joke. Don’t worry. I trust Enchan, you see.”
”…… Just for today, the drinking venue lets it slide.”
“I appreciate your generosity, Duke Lebetsenka.”
So saying, I poured wine into his empty glass.
He frowned but drained it as if to settle himself.
”…… You called me out here. I expect you’ll explain the whole thing.”
“Of course. ……A story not to be heard by anyone.”
It’s our nation’s hero, [Floné the Lightning Strike], after all.
A person we’d both been indebted to had committed grave crimes.
We must prepare carefully and announce it once we’ve thought through the chaos.
“To start with, you suddenly hauled me along…… were you suspecting Floné from the beginning?”
“Yes. A tip from a certain source.”
The trigger was information from a man named Aliban about [Body-Strengthening Extract].
He confessed his crimes, and shared the dangers of the extract and information on the supplier.
Why he came to me — branded a corrupt lord publicly — was because the one who’d reformed Aliban was my son, and he thought the father could be trusted.
When I explained that far, Enju made a bitter face.
”…… Your brat again.”
“Aah, having a truly outstanding son is a delight! Enchan, you must be pleased too — your daughter’s fiancé is this magnificent!”
”…………Just continue.”
Haha. Always the same, never honest.
“Tracing the supplier, I realized the factory was in Lamdarb Kingdom. That raised a doubt. The woman who worries for the nation’s future and pours effort into raising talent — could she really not have noticed the evil happening in her close ally, Lamdarb?”
“And that’s why you took only me and infiltrated secretly.”
“Yes. Although I had no certainty Floné was involved. What gave my hypothesis confidence was——”
”…………”
“Yes! Just as Enchan says — my beloved son Ouga!”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Your expression spoke for you.”
In the letter from my son: “Father. For tomorrow, just one day, please keep watch over Mashiro Liche.”
At that point, he must have already noticed Floné’s scheme.
Otherwise there’d be no need to ask me to watch Mashiro. He’d realized, somehow, that she was being targeted.
He himself went to persuade Reina Milfonti, and brilliantly succeeded — saving the girl.
Come to think of it, his earlier letter even mentioned the possibility of bringing Reina Milfonti home.
On this matter, Ouga is many steps ahead of us.
Heh…… Watching my son’s growth up close is a joy.
I must have a detailed conversation with him later.
”…… Hmph. I thought your conclusion was just doting-parent talk, but there were proper reasons.”
“Indeed. The hero must be properly rewarded. ——So, all credit for this incident will go to Ouga.”
The reason isn’t only that, of course. I have to keep playing the corrupt lord.
I don’t need recognition for moving for the country.
If we maintain it was the son’s doing alone, there’s still leeway.
The fact that we infiltrated Lamdarb is known only to a few — linking the incident to me will be impossible.
“And we did fail to capture Floné. Even given the situation, that’s a major mistake.”
”…… Hmph. Let’s leave it at that.”
“And Enchan, you’d be pleased your daughter’s fiancé gains prestige, no? Hmm?”
”…………”
“Haha. So many emotions on your face.”
Enjoying the various long-unseen expressions on my friend, I tilted my glass.
”…… Take this as idle talk. ……I think Ouga will, in time, be a person who stands at the top of the nation.”
“You…… that’s far too disrespectful.”
“Fufu. From you, Enchan, who once wanted royal blood more than anyone, it lacks credibility.”
”…… Disrupted by some stranger of unknown origin.”
“Better than continuing to ride a sinking ship, no?”
”…………”
He’s silent because he agrees.
It’s long been the consensus among those who serve that Crown Prince Arnia won’t improve the country.
With the engagement break to Karen Lebetsenka, hopes pinned on him died.
Which is why nobles are scrambling to make him a puppet and grab power.
The King has noticed and been agonizing over it…… and there appeared a savior-like presence.
“With this incident, Ouga’s name will resound more than ever. And if Ouga succeeds in defeating Floné……”
”…… Your son becomes the nation-saving [Saint].”
“So — let’s get along, like the old days. Duke Enju Lebetsenka?”
”…… Hah. Past or present, you’re always the clingy one, Duke Gordon Veret.”
He clinked my outstretched glass with his, as if to extinguish the sigh he’d leaked.