Translator: AkazaTL
Pr/Ed: Sol IX
***
Chapter 137 : Trigger
…….
Two letters were placed side by side on my desk.
The sender of the first letter was Ritter, one of the mbers of the Haken Knight Order.
The sender of the second letter was Duke Gilmore McBride of the Esper Kingdom.
The one that first received my choice was Ritter's letter.
-The royal guard knights and hundreds of soldiers of the King of Esper have reached the entrance of the forest. It is considered that the capture operation will begin soon.
I, having confird the content which was as concise as the sender's usual personality, nodded my head.
'It seems McPhein heard the rumors about Taygete.'
No matter how much of a monster deer Taygete was, it would not be able to escape the siege operation carried out by a nation's royal guards.
The beast will soon be dragged to the royal palace of Esper.
Ultimately, things progressed according to my expectations.
'Crazy man. A full-grown adult wants to play monster gas, so he orders the capture of such a deranged deer.’
That is, including the expectation that McPhein was a trash-like king who did not care about the safety of his soldiers.
'……Is this side coming out like this again? It seems so variable has occurred.'
A slightly more distinct sneer than the one directed at McPhein a mont ago ford on my lips as I checked the second letter.
Gilmore's letter contained the ssage asking not to act prematurely as they were in the middle of capturing decisive evidence that could drive Kunde out of Esper's political circles.
'Decisive evidence…… There is no way such a thing exists, so the ulterior motive must be elsewhere. For now, he wants to stop from reporting to the White Dragon Knight Order at any cost, is that it?'
My concern for grasping what the intentions of Gilmore and Kunde were was not long.
'They intend to move up the date of the coup even further.'
The looters of Esper, who recently began to be even more rampant as if they were being chased by sothing.
Gilmore's action of trying to delay the intervention of the 'Imperial White Dragon Knight Order' as much as possible while using excuses that could never last long.
Combining these two facts, it was not very difficult to guess where the intentions of Gilmore and Kunde lay.
'If you're going to move up the date, I should cooperate, partner.'
I ordered a servant to call for Hendrick, who was serving as the squad leader of Haken Knight Order Squad 2.
"Did you look for ? Your Excellency."
"It seems you will have to go on a business trip."
"Please give the order."
"As soon as you return, select 5 mbers who handle work cleanly, then go to the forest located in the border area of Veradora and Esper. Ritter will be there. After joining Ritter, disguise yourselves appropriately and go to the capital of the Esper Kingdom."
I handed Hendrick a leather pouch containing a blue gem and a crystal ball capable of communication.
"Keep this pouch with special care. I will deliver additional instructions through this crystal ball, so do not forget to check it once a day."
"I understand, Your Excellency!"
"Ah, and you, do you like things like festivals?"
"A festival…… are you saying?"
"Yes. By the ti you arrive at the capital of Esper, a fairly grand festival will be held there. It is a festival celebrating the 20th birthday of King McPhein. And in the Esper Kingdom, there is a custom where the King tours the capital every ti a festival is held."
I handed over another pouch prepared in advance.
Inside were gold coins in an amount sufficient for Hendrick to use as expenses.
"Whether you give a bribe or pay for a spot, use any thod to secure a place where the sight of the touring King can enter your view."
"Exactly at what distance would it be best to secure it?"
I fell into thought for a mont, recalling the blue gem that would have to play a decisive role in this operation.
The effective range of the jewel was approximately 300 ters.
The closer it was to the target, the more imdiate the effect would be, but if it was activated too close, the mbers could be in danger.
"Between 150 ters and 20 ters would be appropriate."
"I shall follow your command. If there are no other matters, may I withdraw and prepare to depart?"
"Of course. You'll be doing so hard work."
After Hendrick withdrew after showing a disciplined motion as always.
I montarily imagined the appearance of Taygete, who would be dragged to the capital of Esper while harboring a bomb in its heart.
'Playing tricks is your will, but I decide the ti to pull the trigger.'
There was no need to tell the story to Veradora right now.
They would have already finished all preparations to punish Esper long ago, and they would be waiting with bated breath only for the long-awaited ti to co.
'Veradora are guests who suit visiting after the fireworks have started. There is no need to drain the excitent in advance before even setting off the firecrackers.'
I, having organized my thoughts, rose from my seat.
A few days of leisure remained until the first spark burst.
There was a person I had to et using that ti.
'I wonder if our Administrative Clerk Dorian is buttering up that stubborn blacksmith well?'
***
"Brother, there is one thing I would like to ask you."
"Is it a story about work? If so, how about setting that question aside just for a mont? I am spending a comfortable ti with you after a long ti, and I don't really want to talk about work."
"It's not a story about work. It's just a question related to my personal curiosity."
"You, Isabella? To ? Haha, that is indeed welco news."
Suleiman, who was sitting across from Isabella with tea that emitted a scent so sweet his tongue felt numb between them, burst into laughter.
"Since everything you've been curious about lately was related to work, I was feeling quite disappointed, but personal curiosity. If it's sothing like that, this brother can grant my cute sister's request as much as you want."
Suleiman waited for the question while wearing the good-natured smile he had shown in front of Isabella countless tis.
"You introduced soone called Sir Zephyros last ti, didn't you?"
"Did I? Wait…… Ah, yes. That's right. I introduced that friend when we were talking about the epidemic."
"What role does he play in your laboratory, Brother?"
"What role? Didn't I explain that he is a friend who is helping ?"
"Ah…… was that so?"
"Well, to explain a little more in detail…… rather than being in charge of specific research, he can be said to be a friend who helps widely across the overall managent of the laboratory. After all, there is no way I can manage that vast laboratory all by myself."
"Mhm, I understand. Brother."
Isabella nodded her head while showing an expression that was not refreshing for her usual self.
Suleiman said with a smile beyond his pale glasses.
"If you want, I can even make a place for a formal introduction."
"No. You don't need to go that far."
"Why? Isabella, it's okay to be honest in front of . I didn't realize. That our cute sister would prefer a cute type of man like Zephyros."
"Really, Brother, what are you saying? It's not like that, so don't say strange things."
"Why? What's wrong with Zephyros? Although that friend is a bit short, if you find out how clever his working skill is……."
"I said it's really not like that! Honestly, Brother, let make this clear, a man who is pretty beyond necessity like that is not my type!"
Suleiman, who handed over mischievous jokes repeatedly, unlike his usual self.
Isabella showed a wave of her hand while bursting into laughter.
But did Suleiman notice?
Unlike her mouth which was wearing a bright smile like a bursting flower bud, Isabella's eyes were sparkling while emitting a slightly different light.
***
Whoosh!
Clang! Clang!
A blacksmith's workshop where flas danced and cast iron sang.
Belfodil was preoccupied with tempering today as well, with his two eyes tightly covered by a thick blindfold.
"Phew!"
Belfodil, who controlled the surging heat by pouring half of the cold water contained in a large bowl into his mouth and the other half onto his torso, spoke while picking up the hamr again.
"For what business have you visited here again? Master."
"How did you know it was ?"
"If you do this for a long ti, things that can be seen even if they aren't visible are bound to be created."
Belfodil did not bother to give the explanation that 'that young butler who visits here every day and you are completely different from footsteps to breathing.'
"I checked the items you finished working on. It seed like I should say thank you to you."
I, too, did not point out the fact that Belfodil did not offer a greeting despite noticing quite a long ti ago that I had arrived.
"I am aware that there is no reason for to hear a thank you from you, Master."
"What do you an no reason? You accepted my request without turning it away. On top of that, you even made such excellent items. Naturally, I must convey my gratitude."
"I am thankful that you say so, but I receive paynt and do the work as much as that received paynt. Therefore, I would like you to take back those words of being thankful, Master."
Even at the response that could sound blunt, my smile did not disappear.
"Doing work as much as the money received, that is indeed welco news among what I've heard. Then, it ans that if I give more money, I can hire you for a bit longer, and more certainly?"
"……Master, what I said was not that, but……."
"You, do you have any intention of moving your residence?"
Only after hearing those words did Belfodil realize he had made a slip of the tongue and hurriedly tried to take back his statent, but.
I did not give him an opening.
"Actually, there are many things I want to entrust to you. But as I tried to move ore to the place where you stay every ti, it seems the work is getting slow. If it's okay with you, I'd like to invite you to my residence."
"Master, I am thankful for the words, but……."
"I will make the workshop perfectly just like this appearance. If there are any uncomfortable points, I even intend to modify it as many tis as you want until you like it."
"Master, please listen to my words first……."
"The paynt will be decided by you. No matter how much you say, I will match it unconditionally. If you want to receive paynt in minerals rather than money, I am even willing to obtain whatever can be obtained."
From my mouth, conditions that were truly like a dream, which an ordinary blacksmith would have pounced on with fire in their eyes, burst out without hesitation.
However, not even a slight movent could be found on the expression of the party involved in hearing the proposal as sweet as honey.
"I am thankful for the words, but I will decline. Master."
If there was anything that changed in Belfodil's attitude, it was only that the voice declaring the refusal beca a level higher.
"May I hear the reason for rejecting it flatly? Perhaps there is so part that is not to your satisfaction?"
"No. I think of your proposal as truly thankful. It is just that this humble one's nature is that of a drifter. It is only that I cannot accept your proposal because of this damn temper where I cannot stay and work in one place persistently."
He was saying he was thankful with his mouth, but traces of gratitude could not be found anywhere on Belfodil's expression.
But even so, my smile was not erased.
I spoke again while wearing a brazen expression that would have made Belfodil quite angry if he had seen it.
"Is that so? If you don't like it, it can't be helped. But honestly, I didn't think I'd be rejected so imdiately. Because no matter who says what, you are soone who needs very, very much money."
"……!"
The mont he heard the words that he needed a lot of money.
Belfodil's shoulders, which had seldom shown any movent, flinched.
'……This noble guy whose inside is unknown. Does he know that I am harboring a long-cherished wish, or what?'
The question that he had tried to bury after the last eting raised its head again.
"Because if you want to float a boat on Lake Isser, it won't be enough with just a penny or two."
Thud!
The mont the words Lake Isser ca out.
Belfodil ended up dropping the hamr from his hand without realizing it.
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