The Returnee Wants Peace

Unlike its grand start, the monster hunting competition ended early.

It was natural, given that a giant slime had attacked the tent where the Emperor was.

“How did this happen? Didn’t we check the forest just before the competition started!”

“We apologize, Commander. We have no excuse.”

The Imperial Knights who had last checked the forest were severely reprimanded by the Knight Commander.

They too seemed clueless, but what could they do when such a monster had emerged from the forest?

On the other hand, Rosha received many words of gratitude.

“Thanks to you, my life was saved. I’m grateful.”

“Me too. You’re my lifesaver.”

“Please convey my thanks to Quack Quack as well.”

Nobles who had been in the tent came one by one to express their gratitude. Even the young ladies who had initially been haughty and aloof were no match for the face of death.

‘What’s with Quack Quack?’

Tilting her head, Rosha exchanged greetings with people while glancing at the iron-masked figure beside the Emperor.

Though the hunting competition was over and she should have been able to relax, that person was too suspicious for her to feel at ease.

Koko, now back to being a small parrot, perched on her shoulder and whispered.

“The magic that guy used earlier was Marquis Lycaon’s magic. I know because I’ve eaten it.”

“I know.”

Black arrows mixed with lightning.

Hadn’t she seen the exact same magic when capturing Marquis Lycaon before?

‘Moreover, the magical power that person possesses has a similar aura mixed in with the Marquis’s.’

It was clear that this person was connected to Marquis Lycaon in some way.

And that wasn’t the only question.

“Doesn’t that guy resemble the slime a bit?”

“What? His face?”

“Not the face, the magical power!”

Well, that was true. Considering the similar chaotic flow and the mixture of various energies in both…

‘Could it be…’

A hypothesis suddenly occurred to her.

It seemed impossible, but considering the suspicious places within the Imperial Palace and Marian’s prohibition…

Given the cunning the Emperor had shown so far, it was entirely possible.

“Lady Roshanak.”

Rosha looked at the Emperor who was approaching.

Although there weren’t many casualties from this incident, some lives were still lost.

Seeing the Emperor smile gently while passing by people collecting the victims with devastated faces felt quite strange.

“Fortunately, you don’t seem to be hurt.”

“As I only attacked from afar, it wasn’t very dangerous for me, Your Majesty.”

“That’s enough modesty. You and the bird you raise dealt the decisive blow to that giant monster.”

He closely examined the parrot on Rosha’s shoulder.

Koko, who was busily preening his feathers, glared with his black eyes as if to say ‘What are you looking at?’

“Aide Cedric said it had a nasty temper, and it’s true.”

“…Haha.”

“Anyway, the winner of this competition is none other than you. Though I’ve decided this unilaterally, there should be no room for controversy. Some brought back quite large monsters from the forest, but the power of the monster we just saw was overwhelming.”

The Emperor glanced at the iron-masked figure beside him. Observing this, Rosha bowed her head and replied.

“It’s an honor, Your Majesty.”

“Normally, we should proceed with the award ceremony, but given the situation, we should disperse the event here. As a consolation, I’ll hand over the promised prize now.”

At the Emperor’s signal, Count Nigel handed over a small box. Checking the iridescent sphere inside, it was indeed genuine.

‘Good. I’ll ask Cedric once, and if he doesn’t want it, I’ll use it myself.’

At that moment, Count Nigel spoke in a subtle voice.

“Lady Roshanak, I have a favor to ask of you.”

“What is it?”

“I couldn’t find the magic stone of the monster you just defeated no matter how much I looked. Did you obtain it? If so, could you possibly hand it over to me? We need to investigate why such a thing appeared.”

“…”

It was a smooth pretext, but the intention was obvious.

He was asking her to hand over the magic stone.

‘I knew this would happen.’

With the Emperor watching, and having already received something, she couldn’t refuse here.

Rosha placed the slime’s magic stone in Count Nigel’s hand.

Unlike the round shape of normal magic stones, it had a spiky appearance, with various powers swirling and mixing inside.

After checking the magic stone, the Emperor said with satisfaction.

“Good. And if it’s alright with you, let’s have lunch at the Imperial Palace soon. I have a few things to ask, and someone to introduce you to.”

At the Emperor’s words, the iron-masked figure slightly nodded as if pleased.

“Anytime. I’m rather grateful for the offer.”

“Then I’ll send a messenger bird tomorrow.”

The Emperor, having finished all his business, left.

Not long after, Froy smoothly appeared out of thin air.

Looking at the now small figure of the retreating Emperor, he guessed:

“He’s being quite friendly, perhaps thinking we’re on the same side. Did you take that?”

“Yes. As expected.”

That’s right. As soon as Rosha saw the slime’s magic stone, she had guessed that the Emperor might take it.

‘Cedric said that maybe the Emperor had released the slime.’

It was somehow different from ordinary slimes.

So, Froy had already prepared with his ability to be able to move to wherever the slime’s magic stone was at any time.

There were already many suspicions about the Imperial Palace, so they thought they might be able to find out something with this.

After hearing what needed to be heard first.

“I have a lot to tell you. However, there are too many ears here now… May I visit your room tonight?”

“Of course. When did you ever ask before coming?”

“Well, there’s such a thing as manners.”

Froy, who chuckled, suddenly stopped speaking. Rosha too gently looked up at the sky.

“Ah, it’s snowing.”

Three or four white particles fluttered down, and then it started to pour heavily.

The ground, which had been murky from the melted slime, was now being repainted in a quiet white, and a snow-white blanket covered the remains of the victims who had lost their lives.

Crises come and people die every time, but the seasons still change and time still flows unchanged.

Rosha stared blankly at the scene, which was no different from a proof of truth.

It was the first heavy snow she encountered since her return.

* * *

“I won’t use it.”

“No, why won’t you use it? Isn’t it good to have an ability?”

“Well, if I say I won’t use it, just take it as that.”

At the Aper Count’s mansion in the capital.

Cassis and Cedric were having what seemed to be their third round of argument.

While an elderly butler was sweating trying to stop them, Rosha, who had brought the ‘winning prize’ in question, had already left the scene.

“Ugh, why is he like that?”

“Indeed.”

Nardil, following behind her as she walked down the corridor, agreed.

As it was a foreign country, he hadn’t particularly stood out in the hunting competition, but he had saved quite a lot of people who were in danger.

Nardil had saved many young ladies, and received quite a few flirtations from them, but he consistently wanted to be with Rosha.

Wasn’t that why he had settled in the Imperial capital, waiting for her return?

‘Why? Does he want to clear the trials that badly?’

Strangely, after returning, there were many such people. People who valued other things more than their own safety.

At that moment, Nardil spoke while looking out the window.

“By the way, you saw it too, didn’t you? The blood flowing from that woman’s eye.”

His gaze was directed at Marian, who was training the knights in the training ground.

Despite what had happened at the hunting competition, she was diligently drilling the knights at the mansion as usual.

“I saw it. You’re talking about the prohibition, right?”

“Prohibition? Is it what I understand it to be?”

“It’s a vicious method that binds the body to prevent the disclosure of certain facts.”

Although it varies depending on the type of prohibition, generally, the caster must be killed for the prohibition to be lifted.

Therefore, as even the caster was unknown at present, they couldn’t carelessly ask Marian about it.

‘What if something goes wrong because of the prohibition if I ask recklessly?’

However, after hearing her words, Nardil thought for a while and then said:

“If it’s the prohibition I know… There’s someone who knows a method to partially nullify it.”