Kwaaang-!
The knights stord in, smashing the front door while I was taking a nap on the sofa.
It felt like a bolt from the blue.
Even in my half-awake state, the knight's words registered in my mind.
"Lihen Schuitz, you are under arrest for colluding with Noark."
Colluding with Noark...
It was probably just an excuse to arrest . They would investigate properly once I was in custody.
There were too many suspicious things about .
'But they ca sooner than I expected.'
I had been ntally preparing for this.
I had attracted attention by associating with Erwen and by getting involved with Raven on the battlefield.
It was only a matter of ti.
Clank.
The knights quickly secured the living room and surrounded , drawing their swords.
They weren't underestimating .
They kept their distance, their gazes fixed on .
"Lihen Schuitz, drop your weapon."
The knight who seed to be the leader ordered .
And in that situation...
'Okay...'
I looked around.
'What should I do?'
There were no mages.
It ant that they had only sent knights to arrest .
Considering the knights' reputation in PvP, it was overkill... but it was also good news.
It ant I could break out and escape if I had to.
'But then I wouldn't be able to stay in this city...'
It was a last resort.
And it would conflict with my ultimate goal of reclaiming my identity as Bjorn Yandel.
'It's ti to enter the tiger's den.'
I would have to contact the royal family eventually to clear my na.
Of course, it would have been better if I knew their intentions beforehand...
But I had learned sothing.
[...The royal family knows the GM's identity.]
The GM was practically a spiritual leader for the players.
According to SoulQueens' information from the Round Table, the royal family knew his identity.
And not only that...
They had even suppressed the information to protect him.
It ant they weren't indiscriminately killing all evil spirits.
Even if my identity as Bjorn Yandel was exposed, and my status as an evil spirit was revealed... there was still room for negotiation.
But...
'I should at least try to gauge their intentions.'
I made up my mind and spoke.
"I'll cooperate with the investigation, but can I at least tell my companion before I go?"
The reason for this request was simple.
They knew my companion was Erwen.
If they refused, it would be a positive sign.
It would an they had deliberately waited until Erwen was away, and that they didn't know much about .
"If you're talking about the Blood Spirit Marquis, there's no need. You can see her when we arrive."
The leader's words stunned .
"..."
What? They arrested Erwen too?
Then what about Alia?
No, I had to confirm this first.
"How can I be sure she's there?"
The leader answered without hesitation.
"I swear on the na of the Lafdonia royal family."
Damn it, that ans he's not lying...
This is bad.
They even arrested Erwen, whom the fairies treasured?
It ant the royal family had prepared thoroughly. They had a reason to arrest and Erwen.
'Shit...'
I wanted to resist and run away...
But I couldn't leave Erwen behind.
"This is your last chance. Lihen Schuitz, drop your weapon. Or you will be charged with treason against the royal family."
The leader issued an ultimatum, and a powerful wave of magic energy, easily detectable even with my barbarian senses, pulsed from outside the house.
So there was a mage.
They had just been hiding.
'These bastards are thorough.'
I reluctantly lowered my hamr.
Swoosh.
I had no choice.
I would have to be extra careful from now on.
__________________
Things moved quickly after I surrendered.
I put my weapon away as instructed, and the knights confiscated my subspace ring.
And...
"Your belongings will be returned to you once your charges are cleared."
The leader's voice had softened.
And it wasn't just his tone.
The treatnt I received was far from that of a criminal.
"We have a carriage waiting for you."
A carriage awaited outside.
It wasn't a prisoner transport wagon.
It was a luxurious carriage, fit for a high-ranking noble.
"Get in. We're going to Karnon, the Imperial City."
And there was only one escort, the leader.
The other knights were on horseback, escorting the carriage.
It was a level of treatnt I had never received, even as Viscount Yandel.
Clatter, clatter.
The carriage started moving smoothly along the paved road, and I cautiously observed the leader.
"Is sothing bothering you?"
He asked, and I wanted to say, 'Of course!'
It was an absurd question.
But I couldn't be rude.
I asked cautiously,
"What are my charges?"
"As I said—"
"Don't say colluding with Noark. I wouldn't be treated like this if that was the case."
"..."
The leader fell silent and then frowned.
But he must have realized that I wouldn't stop asking.
"I can't tell you anything right now."
"But—"
"You'll find out when we arrive."
He drew a firm line, ending the conversation.
In the end, I only learned two things.
"What will happen to ?"
"That will be decided by 'him'."
Soone important was waiting for .
And...
"Was anyone else arrested with Erwen?"
"I heard she was alone."
Alia was safe.
We continued our journey in silence, and after about an hour, the carriage stopped.
We were at the 7th District military transfer station.
A facility with teleportation magic circles connected to each district.
It was originally built for rapid troop deploynt in ergencies, but it was mostly used by nobles for transportation.
This was my first ti here.
I had the right to use it after receiving the Viscount title, but the cost was exorbitant.
'I'm using it like this...'
We didn't even have to get out of the carriage.
We were teleported directly to the military transfer station in the Imperial City.
And...
'It's not the royal palace.'
The carriage entered a large mansion near the royal palace. Thanks to that, I could guess who had ordered my arrest.
The family crest was displayed prominently at the entrance.
A shield with a thorny rose.
It was the symbol of the Terserion family, a symbol almost everyone in the city knew.
For over a decade, the King had rarely appeared in public, and the Pri Minister of Lafdonia, Marquis Terserion, had been handling most of the official duties.
'The second most powerful person in the kingdom...'
I had thought it might be a mber of the royal family since the knights were wearing the royal family's emblem...
'But this isn't bad either. I'm eting the second most powerful person in the kingdom.'
I felt a surge of anxiety.
It felt like entering a tiger's den.
High risk, high return.
If I played my cards right, I might be able to solve all my problems with a few words...
But if I made a mistake, it could be disastrous.
"Get out."
The carriage stopped, and I was surrounded by knights. I was escorted inside, receiving their 'respectful' treatnt.
Click.
A lavishly decorated reception room.
"...Where's Erwen?"
I quickly scanned the room and asked, and the leader frowned.
"That was a lie."
"...What?"
My head spun.
He swore on the na of the royal family!
I glared at him, and he averted his gaze.
"I had to bring you here quietly."
"You'll be in trouble if they find out you lied about the King."
"I'll be fine as long as they don't."
...This guy is flexible.
I couldn't help but admire him.
"You would have made a good explorer."
"You can mock all you want. I was just following my lord's orders."
He had a way with words.
'Damn it...'
It was sothing I had often done.
Using the barbarian stereotype to make false oaths and deceive people.
It was an effective thod.
No one would expect a knight, especially one from the Royal Knight Order, to lie about the King.
'But...'
Forget about being deceived.
If Erwen wasn't arrested, it was actually good news.
It ant she was safe.
'And it's sothing I'll have to face eventually.'
The important thing wasn't dwelling on my mistakes, but figuring out what to do next.
"So, what happens now? Do I just wait here? For that 'him' you ntioned?"
"There's no need."
The knight shook his head and placed a crystal ball on the table.
I didn't have to ask what it was.
It was obvious.
That's why there weren't any other escorts.
They were going to use this to communicate.
"I'll be leaving then."
He told to activate the crystal ball after he left and then exited the room.
I was alone.
"..."
I quickly scanned the room for any hidden observers and then lifted the carpet.
'Holy shit.'
There was a magic circle underneath.
A complex, geotric pattern, filled with colorful magical circuits.
I felt a chill run down my spine.
'Are they going to blow up if I try to escape?'
The second most powerful person in the kingdom...
The scale was different.
This entire mansion was practically a giant execution device.
'...Let's just activate the crystal ball.'
I was overwheld by their thoroughness, but I followed the knight's instructions and pressed the button on the crystal ball.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
The crystal ball lit up and started projecting an image.
It was a familiar face.
The Pri Minister of Lafdonia, a high-ranking noble with the title of Marquis.
Ageny Rotten Terserion.
The man who had presided over the title bestowal ceremony in the King's stead.
[It's been a while.]
He greeted in a deep voice, and I froze.
'...Been a while?'
I felt a pang of unease.
Thump!
Was it just a mind ga?
How much did he know?
I swallowed my questions.
I had sothing more important to think about.
What should I say?
I quickly made my decision.
"Are you..."
I spoke cautiously and respectfully.
"Marquis Terserion?"
It was a natural reaction for an explorer who had been suddenly arrested and brought here.
But...
[You haven't forgotten my face already, have you...? You're quite cunning, unlike them.]
The Marquis chuckled and then called my na.
[Viscount Bjorn Yandel.]
It was my full na, a na I hadn't heard in a long ti.
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