Chapter 116
Owain looked at the city from the window.
It was silent.
It was not like this a month ago.
Lights had flickered between the wooden houses, and the shadows of people were faintly visible.
“Countess, this matter was excessive no matter how one looks at it.”
Since the incident at the orchard, disappearance cases occurred consecutively.
The people of the castle stirred.
When even a proper investigation was not conducted, residents even began to escape.
Their empty spots beca a burden to the remaining people.
The work increased.
Even though the work was increased, the quota was not filled.
At this rate, everyone would die.
A dike a thousand feet high is bound to collapse from a single hole.
“We just need to receive more people.”
The Countess, Chloe Glover, said.
“Osmond of the guard forces said the number of visitors is gradually decreasing. Think about it. Most of the survivors visiting Stalia now are residents who lost their hos in this vicinity. We received them for months and kicked them out again. How many people could possibly be left now?”
No sense of crisis was felt in Chloe’s expression.
She believed that the current situation would continue forever.
“Don't worry. I plan to stay quiet and still for the ti being.”
“The agitation among the people is severe. I think it would be better to soothe their anxiety as well?”
“Do we have to massage even the hearts of commoners?”
Chloe answered coldly.
He did not think it was particularly her own stubbornness.
Nobles liked to despise those below them.
“More than that, how about that woman Lucille? If soone causes trouble, it will undoubtedly be her.”
Owain let out a deep sigh.
“There are no signs of that. But even if she causes trouble behind our backs, what do you plan to do?”
“Eliminate her.”
“It has been less than a month since we dealt with Sir Everett. Did you not say just now that you would stay quiet?”
“I must be careful of her, even if not others. The deeper her popularity, the more people will sympathize with her.”
Persuading her would only make his mouth ache.
She showed a smile full of coquetry and buried her face in his chest.
The sweet sll of flowers tickled his nose, and the full breasts revealed over the white silk lace collided with him.
His mind beca distant.
He wanted to grab her hand right now and throw himself onto the bed.
If he undressed her and their bodies intertwined, he would be beyond happy.
However, his reason blocked such an impulse.
“What are you afraid of?”
Chloe boldly pushed him, a man, against the wall and kissed him.
A breath was felt between soft and moist lips.
“The decrease in residents can be filled sohow. The problem is if the soldiers leave. If deserters occur, other groups will not leave us alone.”
“There is you.”
“I am not the strongest knight.”
“There are not many knights stronger than you.”
Her voice was alluring.
Normally, he would have leaned his heart on this voice and felt relieved.
But for today, he was not easily cald.
“You seem to still be anxious?”
“Do you know about the spy sent to the security forces?”
Chloe fell into thought.
The spy in the security forces was a man nad lor.
He did not have a particularly notable impression.
“What about him?”
“I proposed to him to join as a Knight of Red.”
Chloe’s eyes grew as wide as lanterns.
Owain had never recomnded anyone once since becoming the Captain of the Red Knights Order.
The reason was that no one was good enough for him.
Had a human appeared who could satisfy such a picky man, and that was lor?
“Well, I am not sure.”
“I think the Countess also has a good eye for people.”
“That is true. But I did not feel anything from him.”
“I think that boy is stronger than even Lucille.”
A boy?
He did not have such a youthful face as to be seen that way.
No, more than that, stronger than Lucille?
Chloe was confused.
“It is awkward to say this, but perhaps your judgnt is wrong?”
“There is an energy that cannot be hidden even if one wants to hide it for a human who reached a certain realm. I saw that in the boy.”
“Rarely, your praise for others is quite grandiose.”
“Because I have never seen a mage who reached such a realm at an age not even twenty.”
An awkward silence dominated the room.
Mage.
A word that could not be ignored was stuck in her ear.
If he were a mage, there was no way she would not recognize him.
Also, if he possessed such skill, he would have acted first before Owain proposed.
But she did not feel like prying.
She simply thought that he was mistaken.
“That child seems to bother you more than huh?”
“His gaze was great. That was the eye of a human who ca through a scene of carnage.”
“I wish you would stop praising other people in front of .”
Chloe tried to trigger his jealousy by changing her expression, but it was useless.
Owain could not escape from his other thoughts.
As a woman, she felt an unbearable sense of insult.
“So, that child is plotting a conspiracy to swallow Stalia?”
Chloe’s voice was clearly tinged with sarcasm.
“I don't know yet.”
“Think about it. If soone wants to bring down the castle, they would have to pass the main gate, and the guard forces are guarding that place. Even if they sohow break through, there is the second defensive line called the city, and next is the castle where we are. To pull this off, they would need twice as many soldiers as us. If such a force moved, there is no way we would not know, right?”
“……That is a good point.”
“Now stop and take to the bed as usual, my love.”
Owain decided to do as she said.
He wrapped his arm around her waist and caressed her shoulder with his remaining hand.
Once he began to hold her, this tedious anxiety would disappear as well.
Bang!
It was then that a giant roar was heard.
The outside beca noisy, and the sound of soone running toward the bedroom was heard.
“Sir Owain! It is a raid!”
Owain could not move imdiately even at the shout of his subordinate.
A raid?
How?
As if he were having a dream, the world flowed endlessly slowly.
Bang! Bang!
The subordinate pounded on the door once more.
This ti, his body moved.
Separating himself from Chloe, he packed the armor and weapons hung nearby.
Preparations finished, and he opened the door.
He faced the pale complexion of the subordinate.
“Status?”
“Engagent is ongoing in the hall.”
“What are the numbers?”
“It seems to be a little over twenty.”
It was more than he expected.
However, it was not a number that could not be blocked.
The castle was a place where the Red Knights Order and the Sunlight Knights stayed and lived.
If their personnel were combined, it easily exceeded forty.
“Where is Sir Carius?”
“He should be facing the enemies who intruded.”
“A fight must be happening in the city as well.”
“A-About that.”
The subordinate hesitated while breaking into a cold sweat.
“The city is quiet.”
“Then are you saying they just passed through the city?”
The subordinate was silent like a person who received a difficult question.
Without hearing an answer from him, Owain went straight to the nearest window.
A clear night without a single cloud unfolded.
The city visible below was silent as if dead.
“Should I send soone to request support from other units?”
“There is no need for that.”
Lucille betrayed.
Is she the ringleader?
There was no ti for long contemplation.
The lower floor was becoming more and more noisy.
“Their goal is the Lord. leaving this place might be what the enemies want. You all face the enemies while receiving instructions from the Vice Captain. We have more numbers than the opponent. If Sir Carius also helps, we can suppress them without much difficulty.”
“Understood.”
The subordinate left the spot in a hurry.
“What is happening?”
When he looked back, Chloe, who had been in pajamas, had also changed clothes.
She wore a turquoise robe and held a staff in one hand.
She was a mage.
Just as nobles learned the sword to protect themselves, she also polished her magic.
It was not a level for self-defense.
By rank, it was between Templar (Grade 5) and General (Grade 4).
“Enemies have invaded.”
“It is Lucille’s doing, undoubtedly!”
She spoke as if concluding who the culprit was.
By circumstances, it was highly likely that Lucille was involved in this conspiracy.
It was impossible to pass through the city without being caught by the security forces.
“If it is sothing she did alone, there will be no problem.”
Half of the security forces were the Starlight Knights Lucille brought, but the remaining half were people who entered by Owain’s recomndation.
Would they have abandoned what they enjoy now and participated in a perilous plan?
No, humans cannot do that easily.
If so, it was reasonable to assu that there was a mastermind helping Lucille.
“Let's finish quickly and go down. That way, we can see the sight of my disciples taking down Carius, yes?”
A voice was heard in the hallway where darkness had settled.
He gauged the number by the sound of footsteps.
It was two people.
“You are full of confidence.”
“Winning must be assud first. I am going to grade the content of the match. Whether they took them down in one blow, how many tis they were hit by the opponent’s sword, and so on. You also have to go see the skills of the mage unit kids.”
“Those children will be fine.”
“Haha, you are also full of confidence.”
The two people who were conversing soon ca into view.
Both were familiar faces.
One was the mage whose skills he had acknowledged.
The other was the knight who had stood shoulder to shoulder with him.
“Was it you? The person who joined hands with Lady Lucille to occupy the castle.”
Rodwell scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
“It has been a long ti, Sir Owain. First, let's get one thing straight. I have no mory of joining hands with Lucille.”
Owain’s face was distorted.
To tell a lie that would be caught imdiately!
He thought it was a trick to make him angry by mocking him.
“I know that the two of you were once in the sa knight order. Did you not send her first to establish a spot in the castle and then peek at this opportunity?”
“……That sounds very plausible even to . Wait, but seriously, I did not do it. This kid did.”
Rodwell pointed to the boy beside him.
At that mont, Chloe approached and whispered.
“Owain, that boy is not the spy I planted in the security forces.”
“……Then?”
“It seems he killed the spy and took that spot.”
Owain gnashed his teeth.
It ant this plan had been in progress from a very long ti ago.
He was angry at himself for not catching the tail until now.
“Sir Rodwell, I am disappointed in you. To think you would try to shift everything you committed onto that young boy. Is it to protect even your honor if things go wrong?”
“Wow, I am going to go crazy. I am telling you, I did not do it, he did.”
“It would be better to shut that mouth. In any case, only one person between you and will be able to stand in this place.”
“Well, I agree on that part.”
They both drew their swords.
Knights who had reached the realm of masters clashed while emitting bloodlust.
The air grew heavy, and a tremor flowed through their entire bodies.
“Ah, but let's get one thing straight. Since this will be an important matter as chivalry.”
Rodwell suddenly relaxed his strength and raised his hand.
“Please speak.”
“Are you going to fight one-on-one, or are you going to fight all at once? Looking at her, it seems that woman over there also packs a punch.”
Owain groaned.
The levels of himself and Rodwell were equal.
A very slight gap could beco a factor that decides the match.
To increase the chance of winning, there was only one way.
He had to draw in external factors other than himself.
“If that side does not mind, I hope it becos a many-to-many fight.”
“Good. Let's do that.”
I won!
If Chloe helps, this fight has completely tilted toward him.
Furthermore, even after winning, not a single scratch will occur to his honor.
Yet surprisingly, Rodwell had a face that was more joyful than Owain’s.
“Sweet!”
Sweet?
It was a truly frivolous way of speaking.
Even as a fellow knight, he was like a thoughtless young child.
“Hey, you heard him, right? Do your job properly.”
The boy took out a staff.
But the staff the boy took out was sowhat unusual.
A red jewel attached to the middle.
The energy of a mutant wafted strongly from it.
“Concentrate on yourself rather than worrying about , Rodwell.”
“Rest easy. I polished my sword while looking after Leo’s kids too.”
Sothing is strange.
Are those two not in a relationship of leader and subordinate?
Yet they treated each other without formality as if they were in an equal relationship.
“Sir Owain.”
“Speak.”
“Perhaps you might regret it quite~ a bit even in the middle, but there will be no backing down then.”
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