Inside the grand chamber of the Palace of Glory.
“What did you say? Say it again.”
I slamd my hand on the desk as I spoke, and the Pri Minister and current Supre Commander, Marquis Terserion, replied without changing his expression.
“I will say it one last ti. As Supre Commander, I cannot approve your reassignnt.”
That was the response to my request to be sent to the frontline where my clan was stationed.
It was an expected answer, but hard to accept.
Because none of the reasons made sense to .
“Why is reassignnt impossible?”
“You are a titled noble.”
“I heard that reassignnt is possible if the person requests it?”
“In the military, decisions ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) are made for the good of the group, not individuals.”
“How is going there not in the interest of the group?”
It might seem uncharacteristic of a barbarian, but this ti I laid out my argunt as logically as I could to persuade him.
But...
“You have duties within the Military Command. I have judged those duties more important than you fighting directly on the frontline.”
“Duties...?”
“I am telling you in confidence. Ecliptic Karnon is not safe. Ruthless Noirark have infiltrated here that day, and the Intelligence Division has yet to uncover what plots they hide.”
“...And what does that have to do with ?”
“No matter how sturdy the building, if its pillars collapse, it must fall. The titled nobles gathered here are those pillars supporting this nation.”
“I asked what that has to do with .”
“There’s no one more specialized in ‘protection’ than you. I don’t ask much, only that you stay here to prepare for ergencies.”
“Ha...”
Despite the sigh, I could understand why they clung to like this.
Of course, that didn’t an I accepted it.
‘After all, I’m a barbarian.’
A simple brute warrior who knows nothing but fighting.
A barbarian of this era unbound by laws or etiquette.
‘Still, I’m a little worried about what happens behind.’
Sigh. Then what should I do?
Ignore everything and smash the fool?
‘Or...’
Just then, sensing my strange thoughts, the Marquis muttered to soothe .
“But well... the reason I can’t send you out is because of those Noirark hiding in this city. If you can find and eliminate them all, who knows? Then I might consider your request.”
At those words, so sort of ‘ding!’ alert sounded in my mind.
‘A kind of preliminary quest...’
So all I have to do is solve this?
In gas, sotis there are places you can’t enter due to ‘No Entry’ signs, but certain quests unlock them.
In so ways, this situation was just like that.
[Exterminate all Noirark special forces hidden in Ecliptic Karnon.]
Completing this quest would allow to leave the Ecliptic and legally join my comrades at the frontline.
However, there was one downside...
“Then bring my clan here. I’ll take full responsibility to find them.”
“Impossible.”
“So you want to find them all alone?”
“No matter what you say, it’s not possible. If only your clan gets special treatnt, how would other explorers feel? No one would truly fight for the royal family.”
I considered scheming, but the Marquis dismissed it imdiately.
“Of course, you’ll need personnel. I’ll assign suitable people to you.”
Getting so manpower made it not a totally pointless attempt.
“Let tell you in advance: you and your assigned personnel will be specially organized for this mission, but their affiliation is the Military Command.”
“Understood.”
“You seem not to get it, so I’ll say again: never leave Ecliptic Karnon without permission. Doing so will be considered desertion.”
“...I said I understand.”
“Good. Then you may leave.”
With that, my private eting with the Marquis ended, and I returned to the main hall of the Palace of Glory to chat and gather info with other nobles.
“Haha! What’s there to worry about? This incident is nothing but their last desperate spasm. The royal family’s power is absolute, after all.”
“I’ve heard they plan to ‘cleanse’ everything soon, but who knows how it’ll turn out.”
“Also, His Majesty the King has not appeared even now, so it seems his health shows no sign of improvent.”
Most of it was useless talk, but I tried to talk with as many as possible to gather news.
And how long had passed since then?
“Baron Yandel, all the troops the Supre Commander ntioned have arrived.”
I was able to et the ‘personnel’ the Marquis ntioned sooner than expected.
Nineteen people total.
Including , that makes twenty, who will be organized as a ‘Special Search Squad’ under the Military Command...
I didn’t really care about that.
Only one thing surprised .
“...Yandel?”
“Raven...?”
Haha, I never thought the Marquis would assign this guy to join us.
“Are you seriously the leader of this Special Search Squad...?”
Raven was also shocked, probably not having known beforehand.
“Well, that’s how it happened. Let’s work well for now.”
Knowing Raven’s ability, I was glad and reached out my hand.
But Raven had a troubled expression even while shaking it.
“...I’m really starting to feel nervous.”
“Nervous?”
“Nothing much. I just suddenly realized this mission is going to be very dangerous.”
“Don’t worry. I don’t plan to screw up.”
“When have you ever done that?”
...Hey, that’s harsh to a barbarian.
“Anyway, what exactly will we be doing?”
“Hmm? Didn’t you hear anything before coming?”
“No, I only know we’ll be searching for sothing. It was so urgent I only guessed it must be important. So, what exactly is it?”
Because it seed we were dragged in knowing nothing, I explained the mission.
“In short, we’ll start from scratch and find those people even the royal intelligence hasn’t located?”
Raven’s expression soured, as if sighing.
Feeling a little sorry, I swallowed my pride and bowed.
“Please take good care of this.”
“Well, even if you say that... I don’t have any supernatural powers or anything...”
“You can only do this if you want to reach your comrades.”
Seeing my desperate gaze, Raven finally exhaled.
“Ha... I understand. I’ll do my best.”
“That’s enough.”
I wasn’t just flattering him. After all the ti spent together, I knew him well.
Given his personality, such words ant he was sincerely ready to roll up his sleeves and help.
‘The Marquis actually cared enough to send us.’
It was strange for him to do sothing I liked, but I shook hands with the other new squad mbers.
“As you know, I’m Bjorn, son of Yandel. What’s your na?”
“Marcus Beitlan.”
“Oh, from the Beitlan baronial family?”
“Not direct line, collateral branch, Baron.”
I took ti to check each person’s identity and skills.
There were ten knights, three mages, and five ‘search operatives’ treated as special posts even within the military...
“Do the search operatives have detection abilities?”
“Yes, Baron.”
“How strong?”
“No one can escape our sight within a 20-ter radius.”
Their voices brimd with genuine pride.
It wasn’t baseless.
“You know, even when the royal knights guard the city gates, at least one search operative always participates.”
If the royal family uses them for gate security, their abilities are definitely proven.
I stopped focusing on the operatives and looked at the last man.
He wore plain black uniform with no markings or insignia.
“You’re from the Intelligence Division?”
“Yes, Baron.”
“Na?”
“I ask your broad understanding that I cannot disclose that under Intelligence rules.”
“Then at least answer this: is your na or surna ‘Hans’?”
“...?”
“This is important. If you don’t answer, I’ll have to kick you out regardless of Intelligence.”
“I don’t know why you ask, but I am not Hans.”
“Swear by the royal family’s na?”
“...I swear.”
Okay, so no Hans at all.
A mber of the Intelligence Division wouldn’t lie under the royal family’s na.
“Then what should I call you?”
“Call Naless.”
That tone, that outfit, and that na ‘Naless’—
Definitely soone without many friends.
Alright, decided.
“Naless is too long.”
“What do you an by Naless is too long—”
“I’ll call you Mumu from now on.”
The new na ‘Mumu’ had no aning to him; his face was puzzled.
“...How is that shorter?”
“Mumu and Naless. Isn’t the pronunciation shortened?”
“...?”
“If you hate it, tell your real na and I’ll call you that.”
Saying that slyly, Mumu sighed deeply and shook his head.
“Enough. What does a title matter? Call whatever you want.”
“Alright, Mumu.”
“......”
Even after consenting, he still looked like he’d just bitten into sothing sour over the na.
Well, I didn’t care.
Clearly, the Marquis planted this guy here; no reason to treat him well.
“Anyway, before we start the search, I want to hear what Intelligence has found so far.”
“I ca prepared for that.”
Mumu then shared everything the military had searched, what was found, what clues were uncovered.
Of course, nothing useful.
“So basically, they searched everywhere but didn’t find a single hair?”
“Basically, yes...”
“Hmm, then maybe all the Noirark hiding here are bald.”
“...Are you serious?”
“No, just kidding.”
Does he really think barbarians are a brainless race?
“Alright, let’s head out.”
“Any leads?”
“No, but wandering around might jog so ideas.”
“......”
Mumu looked like he wanted to say a lot but held back.
Like he thought this was just wasting ti.
“But thanks to you, we narrowed it down a bit.”
“...?”
“ans the Noirark didn’t hide in normal places.”
Mumu looked at like I was stating the obvious but this was important.
“Looks like noble family mansions haven’t been searched.”
When I pointed out the areas Intelligence hadn’t checked, Mumu flinched and hurriedly spoke.
“Baron? Surely you don’t an...”
He sounded doubtful as he spoke, but I wasn’t willing to compromise on this point.
“It wouldn’t be strange if so families were colluding with the Noirark.”
“W-We’re not ignoring that possibility, you know?”
“Raven, does our Special Search Squad have authority to search inside noble mansions?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then let’s say we do.”
Mumu looked shocked at my casual answer, glancing at Raven, who simply nodded.
“Yes. Since the Marquis ford this unit, he’ll handle the aftermath. Besides, all the branch leaders are gathered in the Palace of Glory; servants won’t dare stop us.”
“What are you two talking about?”
“Good, then it’s settled. Hurry up. We must raid many families before the branch leaders catch wind and intervene.”
“Yes, but what does ‘raid’ an exactly...?”
“Who knows? If we find suspicious items, we take them for examination.”
“Ah...”
Raven’s disdainful look showed he understood I ant secretly pocketing useful things while searching noble houses.
Maybe he was just tired of stopping .
He gave a resigned look and asked:
“Which family do we start with?”
Oh, that one?
Of course.
“Our first destination is the Terserion marquisate.”
I wonder what the Pri Minister is hiding in his mansion?
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