/
The Trio From the Royal Capital
It was a few days after the stampede started that this group of three appeared at the defense line that protects Ishka.
They claimed that they came from the royal capital, Horus, and each one of them had their own distinctive appearance.
A huge man who was in eastern region style armor.
A female who had glossy white hair and ruby-colored eyes. Her attire which consisted of a long-sleeved white garment with red arrow patterns and a long, pleated red skirt was something that was rarely seen in the Kingdom of Canaria.
As for the last young man, since he had the same white-colored hair and red-colored eyes as the female, he was probably her brother. Unlike the other two people, he wasn’t dressed like someone who was obviously from the eastern region at first glance; he was in a grayish-brown robe and his expression was ice cold.
All three of them carried a sword by their waist as they asked to participate in the defensive battle. It’s why they came from the royal capital, they said.
The defense force that was desperate for all the help they could get surely did not say no to them, and the trio was treated as adventurers as they joined the battle.
――Their strength was overwhelming. Every time the herd of monsters closed in, they stood before them like huge boulders that were blocking off a torrent, easily cutting down anything they were up against.
It truly looked like all three of them could each take on a thousand monsters on their own.
Initially, the strategy that Ishka’s government officials formed was to use the first bulwark that they built in a hurry to buy as much time as possible while a second bulwark is built, and then once the first one falls, the defense force will move to the second one.
From there, the defense force will stall for more time again while the third bulwark is built, executing a time-stalling battle as the officials prepare a defense system for the city itself.
However, thanks to the trio’s prowess, even the first bulwark that was supposed to be abandoned at the very beginning had yet to fall.
With the second, third, and even a fourth bulwark soon finishing at the rear, the defense line was becoming rock solid.
The stampede that was once even considered as a crisis that could lead to Ishka’s destruction might come to an end without reaching Ishka’s walls. Even such opinions began to come out.
The one thing that the public widely agreed on was that the ones who contributed the most were the three who came from the capital.
Canaria’s soldiers said, “Their power could rival high ranking knights, or even the dragon riders who are at the very top”.
The adventurers said, “In this country, only those three could rival the first-tier adventurers”.
The people who praised the three had no idea-
They had no idea about the words that the white-haired young man from the trio muttered out in disgust when he heard their evaluations.
――“Rival? More like stand above.”
◆◆◆
「Shiba, how long are we going to keep hunting small fries in a place like this?」
「You got a problem, Klimt?」
「Yes. In the first place, we came to this country to investigate the dead monk. And it turned out he was slain by that Duke Drag-whatever. So we just have to kill that duke and return to the island. Why do we have to mix in with these weaklings and hunt small fries here?」
The youngster named Klimt kicked the ground in annoyance.
「It pisses me off when they compare us to their dragon riders who they call first-class. I’m shocked because they meant to compliment us with that. I haven’t even brought out my soul equipment yet」
「The standard of strength between the main continent and the island is different. The common sense and values as well. Our mission this time is supposed to make you guys understand that too. As for why we’re fighting here, I have already explained it to you. As retainers of the Mitsurugi family, we have to make up for Jijinbou’s evil doings」
When “Shiba”――Gozu Cima said that, Klimt shrugged his shoulders a little.
「It’s too late for that.  Us fighting here isn’t going to make the humans who died because of that monk come back」
「Still」
Gozu responded with a heavy voice. He’s someone who is normally calm and composed, but right now his bitter emotions are slightly leaking out. Of course, they weren’t directed towards Klimt.
Gozu was furious after he looked into Canaria Kingdom’s commotion from before and discovered what Jijinbou had done.
His personal feelings, and as Mitsurugi household’s “Shiba”――An advisor to his master in military matters, he did not approve of Jijinbou’s actions at all.
「The phantom blade style is used to protect and save. In other words, to protect the ones without power. Jijinbou’s actions greatly went against that」
That’s why Gozu has no intention whatsoever to take revenge on Duke Dragunaut who defeated Jijinbou.
Truth be told, he wants to visit the duke’s residence to apologize to the duke for his peer’s villainy and praise his valor for defeating a soul equipment user as someone not from the island instead.
In response to Gozu’s words, Klimt nodded like it was a hassle.
「Well, I have no intention to go against your orders, Shiba. It’s just that I’m going to get rusty if we’re just going to fight nothing but small fries every day. Don’t you think so as well, sister?」
Klimt turned the conversation towards the female who has been silently listening to their conversation this whole time.
Then, the female who has similar features as Klimt responded by slightly shaking her head.
「Klimt, pride and arrogance are similar but not the same. We should never be conceited. Also, be a bit more careful with your choice of words. No matter how strong you are, it’s not a reason to look down on others, okay?」
「You always say that, big sis. No matter how I word it, small fries are small fries. Weaklings are weaklings」
Klimt spat out coldly after not getting his older sister’s acknowledgment. But in his expression, there wasn’t any hostility directed at her, only the unchanging colors of a sulking child.
From that alone, one can see the relationship of this pair of siblings.
Gozu observed the two silently.
The older sister is called Claira Berch. The younger brother is Klimt Berch.
The Berch family is one of the most distinguished households on Demon Island. To give an idea, the family Gozu belongs to, the Cima family, does not even come close to the Berch family’s social status.
In the Mitsurugi family, there are four key vassals called the four ministers who support the family head. Their titles were “Shito”, “Shikuu”, “Shikou”, and the one that was appointed to Gozu, “Shiba”. So when the Berch family holds two of those four titles, it shows just how much authority they have.
Claira and Klimt are also considered to be people who will someday sit at the center of the Mitsurugi family.
The secret mission that was given to Gozu this time was to see if these two will have what it takes to become key vassals in the future.
As Gozu thought about that mission, the older sister Claira spoke,
「Shiba, there is something I’d like to ask you. It’s about the capital’s Duke Dragunaut」
「About the duke? Hm, what is it?」
「Shiba
do you really think that person defeated a warrior who belongs to a flag of Green Woods?」
Gozu narrowed his eyes slightly to Claira’s words. When he prompted Claira to continue with his eyes, Claira followed up after a nod.
「From what I could see from afar, it’s true that the duke didn’t look that weak. His level is probably in the high 50s like us. He would definitely give me or Klimt a tough fight」
The younger brother was about to shoot her a glare after hearing that, but he held it in when he saw the bitter smile on Claira’s face.
「However, that’s if we don’t use our soul equipment. We would win for sure if we do. From what I heard, Jijinbou’s level is above 70, and he used his soul equipment. I think it’s a bit hard to believe that the duke would come out victorious against him」
「Is that the whole reason you doubt the duke?」
「If I have to give another reason, it would be the actions he took after he beat Jijinbou. I heard that in order to reconstruct the capital that was ravaged by the dead, the duke was actively helping out all around the capital. In other words, even though he was fighting Jijinbou who was many levels higher than him, he won without even getting injured. This is suspicious as well」
「I see」
Gozu nodded slowly.
In fact, Gozu was also curious about that too. It’s just when he was about to look into that, the news of a stampede had reached the royal capital, so he did not have time to investigate deeper.
When Gozu was about to explain to Claira that he planned to collect more information on that once the stampede is dealt with,
「Excuse me. Is sir Gozu Cima there?」
A voice came from outside of the tent that was assigned to the trio.
Gozu raised only his right eyebrow after he heard that voice. That’s because the voice that called for him belonged to a female.
Due to their participation in the defensive battle, the three of them were greatly respected by the soldiers and adventurers around them. While few in numbers, there are females in the defense force as well, and some among them would even invite Gozu or Klimt to spend a night together.
For a second, Gozu was wary as he wondered if that’s the case again.
However, when he listened further, the voice that was asking for him did not have any traces of flirting. Even the content of the conversation did not have a sexual scent.
Gozu invited the two females who claimed they came from the adventurers’ guild into the tent.
The two who were young, yet bold were the ones called Lidelle and Parfait.