After making Erune fall, I took a little break, then straightened my clothes to get myself ready.
Of course, I fixed her dress has well.
After all, we cannot afford to go outside in this state.
As soon as we finished our preparations, we left the room.
The office was located at the far end of the hall, so they shouldnât have heard the sounds, probably.
âI want to get my companions insideâ
I said to Erune, who was walking next to me.
She walked in a pose so splendid that you wouldnât think this is the same woman that I broke a while ago.
âThat may be difficult, even for me?â
âEh? but youâre the head of the knights!â
Erune just affirmed through my words.
Great, and here I thought the commander here had a so much powerâŠ
This country doesnât trust anything other than Bivnaheim.
In that case, it is the army here should have at least that power.
Because they were once destroyed by the demons, they invested more in their war potential, becomeing more of a militarist country.
It is the knights that protect the center of such a country, so Erune who is a leader must have considerable powerâŠ
As if she caught what I was thinking, Erune explained to me.
âThough there is a king in this country, below that is a parliament elected by citizens.â
âParliament? Oh, I see âŠâ
From there, I immediately understood.
After all, there was also a parliament in the country where I lived in the previous life.
âIn this country, the power of the king and the power of the parliament are always at odds. And the knights, like me, are an organization that belong to the king.â
Erune went on to explain this countryâs government.
It seems that the king had the most of the power before it was heavily damaged in the previous war.
After they have been defeated, he was forced to take the blame for the huge losses.
Then, the said parliament was born, in order to contain their criticisms to the king.
If so, then it seems that the military forces of this country is headed by the parliament.
âThe knights remained to be under the king. However, they were downgraded to just an organization to protect the cityâs security.â
It was very unlike the image I was looking for, and to think they became similar to the police nowâŠ
âThatâs why not all your friends can get in. It will make you stand out too much.â
Certainly, Iâm sure itâll create much more uproar than Bivnaheimâs.
I worry about Effie this time.
âIf everyone is impossible, what if I only take a single person with me?â
âThen I may be able to secretly lead you to the King. Though I canât manage several people, one or two is possible.â
âThank you. This will be a great help for us.â
I patted Eruneâs back in gratitude.
If Iâm alone, I wonât have anyone to send to the outside when something happens to me.
So Iâm going to choose Cecil as my companion.
âBy the way, to your other companions that will be standing by, have them stay at the Knightâs facility just in the outskirts of town. Their level of accommodation is similar to an innâs so they should be fine.â
âThank you. Iâll let them knowâ
At least, they can rest much more than compared to sleeping in a tent.
After that, I went into the city with Cecil as planned.
We wore hooded robes to hide our sharp ears.
Then, we were led by Erune to the castle where the king is staying.
âI thought this town would be much different because it hates other races, but this is surprisingly normal.â
Cecil who walks next to me said unexpectedly.
âThatâs right, it looks no different from the city of Bivnaheimâ
People are coming and going, and the shops on the street are full of vigor.
Dark emotions could not be felt from the faces of these inhabitants.
âIt because inside this cityâŠâŠ inside these walls is a living space only for humans. For them, itâs like a sanctuary.â
Erune explained to us with a proud tone.
The peace of this city is thanks to the work of the Knights after all.
âLetâs hurry on ahead. If they find out who you are, even I wonât be able to stop the commotionâ
We nodded in earnest to her words.
We reached the castle while using the back alleyways so as not to stand out.
We even went in from the back door so that the citizens would not find us.
There were also guards in the back, but when Erune made up a few words, it became easy for us to pass through.
The knights are an organization close to the king, so Eruneâs persuasion is quite effective in the castle.
After we walked inside to some extent, we were guided to a certain room.
âThis is my office. YouâŠâŠCecil, correct? You should stay here in the meantimeâ
âIf something happens to me, contact the others. Iâm counting on youâ
âIt will be done, your Highness. Please be carefulâ
Cecil bowed toward me and stepped into the room.
âToday Iâm supposed to be at the gate, so no one will come to visit hereâ
Erune assured the safety of Cecil.
I could only nod to her. This time I will now face the King.
There seems to be similar to an Oval Office of the king of this country here, and itâs located at the top of the castle.
âIâm going to check with the King. I will return soonâ
Erune left me and proceeded to the office first. After that, several minutes passed before she came out.
Was there a heated debate inside? Her face is a little flushed.
âThe king is now willing to see you. You may now come inâ
Urged by her, I have entered the room at last.
The interior of the room is surprisingly simple, and to describe in simple terms, gave a feeling of being really sturdy as well.
At the desk at the back of the room, there was a man in his fifties. Is he the King?
He had a body so toned that if he called himself a warrior then I wouldnât deny it at all.
âIt is my outmost gratitude to see you for the first time, your Majesty. I am Allan vi Aling, Alinheimâs princeâ
âSo, you lowly being are the Elven Prince that our Knight commanderâs been talking aboutâ
The king looked at me from head to toe, as if appraising my value.
It is good if I were to be gazed by a woman this way, but I feel goosebumps when itâs a man like this. Worse, I feel like Iâm being licked over.
âThen first of all, show the branch of the King Tree. I would like to confirm it with my own eyesâ
âAs you wish. Here it isâ
The king carefully examined the branch I took from my pocket.
âHmmm. It is certainly a branch of the King Tree. However, how can I tell if this is a branch from the Elven Country?â
As if waiting for those words to come out, I took out the remaining branches of the King Tree.
âThere are three kinds of King tree branches here. All of them are different, as each branch comes from a different King Treeâ
Though the King Trees are of the same kind, their differences rely on the surroundings of the country where it grew up.
ââŠâŠIt is different from the King Tree in my country, and I donât think those Demons can raise such a tree considering how splendid this branch isâŠâŠâ
He seemed pretty reluctant, but though indirectly, he admitted that I am a prince of the Elves.
âI have heard you lowly beingâs purpose. However, are you really serious?â
âYes, we are. After all, after this country, we will be going to the Country of Demons nextâŠâŠ to Lachmaheimâ
âAnd here I thought you are forming a coalition to defeat the demon raceâŠâŠ but forming a reconciliation? I cannot accept thisâ
The king shook his head and denied me.
âI have only heard rumors, but just how many in this country hates the demons? Also, is it not good for the country to treat one entity as an enemy for eternity just because you once stood against it?â
âHmmmâŠâŠâ
The king could only refute back with a groan.
He, of all people should be aware of that the most.
A country develops more if it improves relations with others rather than making an enemy of them.
Itâs because the funds that should have been for the army can now be diverted to other projects.
âHowever, the citizensâŠâŠâ
âThis is the problem of your country. In order to resolve it, I would like to make a gamble with you, Your Majesty. If you entrust me with the branches of your King Tree, I will change your life and all the relationship with the demons will be improved. My bet, of course, is my life.â
Thinking it was time, I approached the king and pushed it a little more.
âI understand your enthusiasm. But if by any chance you were captured by the demonsâŠâŠWhat about the branches of the King tree?â
Indeed, it is likely to be misused to Demon race.
But I already have an idea for the sake of it.
âIf that is the case, can you lend to me your knight leader? I know her feelings for her country wellâ
âI see what you meanâŠâŠ Commander, what do you think?â
Erne who was waiting behind comes out and salutes.
âHa! I will not let the Demons take it, even the cost of my life!â
ââŠâŠ Very well. Letâs try it, that method of yours. If it works, then Iâll try to persuade the Parliament and the peopleâ
After the king said that, he pulled out the tree branch from the tight safe in the room.
And then, I received it.
âLetâs hope it to go well. Use the empty room of the castle tonight. And get out early in the morning so they wonât find you tomorrow.â
After he said so, he sat on his chair again.
I bowed towards him, and I left the room with Erune.
Just like that, I have obtained our fourth King Tree Branch.
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