CH 125

[Derangement]

Fully armed Royal Guard knights and the kingdom’s army soldiers come and go in the plaza, which is usually crowded with people who come to the morning market for shopping.

In front of the fountain in the center, an impromptu execution platform is set up with many knights and soldiers on alert around it.

We are watching the preparation progress Concealment magic activated on a roof overlooking the plaza.

[Looking at a glance, there are about 200 people…] (Frick)

[So it seems. However, the majority are the Royal Guard knights who have poor skills, while the forcibly mobilized soldiers seem to have low morale.] (Noelia)

[The question is why the other party is trying to kill Linus, Director and Sensei in such a conspicuous way. Even though they can execute them without a problem if they were to do it quietly in the underground prison of the royal palace.] (Frick)

[I think it is because they are intending to use them as lures.] (Noelia)

[Is the target us or the Henestrosa family?] (Frick)

[Both, I think.] (Noelia)

So they do it such a way to lure us all out, huh.

Well, from Vigo and Gile’s perspective, we and the Henestrosa family are nothing but hindrances after all.

[In any case, we have limited time, so we have no option left…] (Frick)

[Indeed… Let us rescue the three from this place, and buy time until Father arrive at the royal capital.] (Noelia)

I nod silently.

Before long, I see a convoy escorted by showy knights entering the plaza.

Those are the crests of the Radcliffe family and, the royal family!?

Is King Frederick coming?

When the convoy come to a stop, Gile comes out from the carriage with the crest of the Radcliffe family, while from the one with the royal family’s crest, comes out King Frederick.

And from a shabby carriage, the bandaged Director Danton and Philia-sensei, and the haggard Linus-shi are dragged out by the soldiers.

[To think that Gile and King Frederick would show up, we made a miscalculation.] (Noelia)

[Nevertheless, this is no time to hold back.] (Frick)

After Gile and King Frederick sat on the stage seats built by the soldiers, the three are pulled and forced to kneel on the execution.

[Noelia, please cause disorder among the soldiers and knights. In the meantime, I’ll use Mirage Body and rescue the three.] (Frick)

[I understand. I will incapacitate the soldiers and knights in the area with Sleep Cloud and Dark Mist.] (Noelia)

I pat the shoulder of Noelia next to me and start chanting.

[O’ mana, gather in mine hand! Become mine clone and manifest here! ‘Mirage Body’.] (Frick)

I leap toward the execution site below along with the created mirage bodies.

At the same time, the Sleep Cloud that Noelia activated put the surrounding soldiers to sleep, and in addition, the Dark Mist that she activated following it throw the knights and other soldiers into disorder.

“E-enemy’s attack! Someone’s attacking! Protect His Majesty and the Commander!”

“Where is the enemy! I can’t see the——gofuh.”

“They’ve already slip into our midst! Get them! No, we have to protect His Majesty and the Commander first!”

“Which is it! Please make your order clear!”

“Not good, the Captain’s down! Hey, someone take command! What the hell should we do!”

Due to me incapacitating knights and soldiers who seems to be the ones giving command as first priority, the scene falls into chaos, and the remaining soldiers and knights moves about in confusion.

“Eeei! It is clear who came to attack me! Only Alfine who hold a grudge against me or the dogs of the Henestrosa family would! Kill! Kill all the suspicious people!” (Gile)

Gile, who have distinct dark circles under his eyes, becomes frantic and screams at the surrounding knights with spittle flying out of his mouth.

Alfine?

Do Gile think that Alfine is the one perpetrating this assault?

Then, should I try messing with him?

I cast Camouflage magic, before changing the appearance of the mirage bodies to that of Alfine when she was still the Sword Master.

With black hair and black eyes, the third Sword Master of Hartford kingdom, Alfine, who was hailed as the Sword Goddess.

Even in my eyes, it looks so similar to her, so similar in fact, that I end up getting shocked.

“I-it’s Sword Master Alfine! There are a lot of Alfine-dono! What’s going on!”

“Strong! This is impossible! There’s no way we can win against the Sword Master! Throw down your weapons! Otherwise you’ll be killed in the blink of an eye!”

Thanks to having enhanced their bodies, the mirage bodies are able to display moves that are close to the sword technique that Alfine had shown in the past.

That sword technique, which is refined and have no wasted movement, is the ideal sword technique that I have always admired.

“Eek! Alfine’s coming! I-I am not at fault! Vigo was the one plotting everything!” (Gile)

Having seen Alfine’s appearance, it looks like Gile has a mental breakdown; he sinks down on the spot and screams.

Now everyone’s eyes are directed toward the mirage bodies.

This is an opportunity to rescue the three.

After approaching the execution platform, which has fall completely silent as though unrelated to the chaos in the plaza, I kick the executioners who are holding axes flying and untie the ropes of the restrained three.

“Director, Philia-sensei, Linus-shi, I came to rescue you. Let’s go hide immediately and wait for Frontier Count-sama to come before proving your innocence.” (Frick)

““Finn-kun…”” (Danton & Philia)

“Frick-dono” (Linus)

The three who are released from restraint look at my face and make a complicated expression on their faces.

“Frick-dono, I admit my past sin and accept that I must be punishment. I am resolved to submit my life. I am gratified that you come to rescue me, however, would you please let me die here as is?” (Linus)

Linus refuses to be rescued.

“Linus-sama, your disciples, me and Philia, are also equally guilty. It is not your sin alone. Finn-kun, we have to pay for our sin. We have decided to die here with Linus-sama.” (Danton)

“Finn-kun, you don’t have to worry about us and just live freely. However, I’m sorry to ask this of you, but please make up with Alfine. Bring Noelia-chan with you and have a proper talk with her, then surely, things will work out well between you three. Please.” (Philia)

Director says that he wants to die together with his master, Linus, and Philia-sensei seems to have that intention too.

Why all three of them say such a thing…

They’re not guilty at all.

They were just caught up in Gile’s evil scheme, and yet why, why did they say they want to die?

“Please! Please live on! I beg you! Let’s run away from here!” (Frick)

I shake the three’s shoulders and urge them to run away from this place, but they all just shake their heads and do not try to move.

“E-eek. Alfine, don’t come! Don’t get close to me! Don’t get close! Stop! Don’t come any closeeeeer!” (Gile)

Looking at the mirage body Alfine coming at him, the frenzied Gile swings around the sword from his waist and screams.

“Gile, what on earth is going on! Didn’t you tell Us that Alfine-dono had died? Then, who is the one before Us?” (Frederick)

King Frederick, who doesn’t lose his composure even in the plaza that has become chaotic, asks Gile, who has fallen on his bottom, about Alfine.

“She is actually still alive and well! Y-your Majesty, Alfine is coming to attack in order to take revenge on me! I beg of you, please persuade her out of it and save me from her!” (Gile)

Gile clings to King Frederick’s leg and requests him to arbitrate.

“Gile, are you saying that you made a false report to Us?” (Frederick)

“Eek! No! You’ve got it wrong! She had certainly died! I had ordered to be killed! However——” (Gile)

“What on earth is going on! Does that mean the reports you gave Us were all lies!” (Frederick)

King Frederick pulls the clinging Gile apart from his leg and shows wrath.

“E-eeeeeek! No, no, no! It wasn’t my fault! It was you, you persistently asked about Alfine to me again and again, so you was the one at fault! That’s right! You was the one at fault! Everything’s going to be fine as long as you’re gone! Fuhihihi!” (Gile)

Gile, whose eyes are out of focus, stands up using the sword in his hand as a support, before pointing the sword at King Frederick’s neck.

“Alfine, throw away your weapon! Otherwise, blood will spurt from this geezer’s neck! I’m not good with sword, but I’m not gonna miss his neck at this distance! Now, hurry up and throw it away! Kuhihiii!” (Gile)

Gile restraints King Frederick and urges the mirage body Alfine to abandon its weapon.

“Gile-sama! Are you out of your mind! How could you point your sword at His Majesty! As a commander of the Royal Guard Knight Order who is said to be the shield of the kingdom, you should be ashamed of your act!”

Even the surrounding soldiers and knights seem surprised by Gile’s sudden derangement.

“Your Majesty…! At the very least, I have to save His Majesty!” (Linus)

“Linus-shi!” (Frick)

Linus, who has been released from restraint, breaks into a run towards Gile and starts chanting magic.

“Linus! All of this wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t given His Majesty that weird report! Do it, Genocider! Don’t leave even a single piece of his flesh!” (Gile)

The next moment, I see a pale light appearing behind Gile, before Linus’s body scatters and disappears.