The Returnee Wants Peace

“What else is there?”

“It’s about that monster called ‘slime’ that appeared at the hunting competition. I think it was released by the Emperor, what do you think?”

It was a different topic from what they were just discussing.

However, thinking it must be related, Rosha replied candidly.

“Certainly… the possibility is high. But there’s no motive, is there?”

Why would the Emperor suddenly release such a monster at a hunting competition he hosted? Wouldn’t it just result in people dying?

‘…Wait.’

Unlike Froy, she already knew clear circumstantial evidence that it was the Emperor attacking her old companions.

Perhaps because of this, a hypothesis suddenly occurred to her.

As she was lost in thought, the man quietly continued.

“Even if we don’t know the motive, we can guess the primary objective. It’s to eliminate people, especially combatants who can face monsters. Ability users tend to appear more among the nobles, after all.”

“…”

“If this is the case, we can also guess who’s targeting your old companions. Although it was a brief encounter, even I could see they were optimized for resolving trials.”

“…So, you mean the Emperor has no intention of resolving the trials?”

“Yes. Furthermore, I think the Emperor caused this situation.”

It was a shocking statement.

But Rosha wasn’t that surprised.

‘If someone was the culprit behind this situation… the probability of it being the Emperor is quite high.’

The Emperor’s suspicious behavior wasn’t limited to just one or two instances.

In fact, she was confident she wouldn’t be shocked even if told that the Emperor was the creator of the slime, that the slime was a failed experiment, and that the iron-masked person was a successful experiment after long trials.

‘…Is this going too far?’

Anyway, that’s how suspicious the Emperor was.

But…

“As of now, we only have suspicions, no clear evidence or motive.”

This was the problem.

What benefit would the Emperor gain by deliberately killing combatants? It’s obvious that if this world perishes, the Emperor himself would be in danger.

At that moment, she recalled words she had heard from the Emperor before.

-What if there was a way for you to escape the fate of the apocalypse?

-Even if the world cannot be saved, what if there’s a way to save you?

…Certainly, there was something she didn’t know.

As it had been until now, she felt an even greater need to investigate the Emperor.

Froy, who had keenly perceived her mood, gently replied.

“You’re right. So let’s go find out now.”

“…Now?”

“Yes, now.”

Rosha stared blankly at him as he extended his hand towards her.

So this man was suggesting they move to where the slime’s magic stone, which he had prepared earlier in the day, was!

‘Why such a rush?’

Although she was inwardly flustered, Froy’s eyes were sparkling like someone who had found a signpost in the middle of a vast desert.

It was rare for that man to show such a direct reaction.

“Won’t you come with me?”

He even threw a somewhat whiny line at her.

At his gaze that seemed to say ‘Isn’t it obvious you’re coming along?’, Rosha let out a small sigh but stood up.

She didn’t dislike Froy’s behavior.

If anything, it was refreshing.

Moreover… a reason to go out had just conveniently arisen.

“Before that, can we check over there first?”

Rosha glanced towards the window. Froy slowly turned his head in that direction.

In the dark night, they saw someone quietly leaving the mansion across the snow-covered garden.

It was Marian.

* * *

Marian passed through the narrow and winding alleys of the capital without hesitation.

The capital was such an old city that a first-time visitor would surely get lost due to its complexity, but she was someone who had served in the Imperial Knight Order for nearly 20 years in her prime.

She knew the streets of the capital like the back of her hand.

‘…Is it around here?’

There was a reason she was wandering these back alleys late at night.

She had someone she was supposed to meet.

Sure enough.

Not long after, a burly man revealed himself from a nearby alley, removing his hood.

It was the current Knight Commander of the Imperial Knight Order.

“Dame Marian. It’s been a while.”

The Knight Commander was three years older than her and a senior in the Knight Order, but for some reason, he looked a bit younger than his age.

Attributing this simply to the darkness, Marian slowly opened her mouth.

“It’s been a while, Commander. Is it about 6 years since we last had a conversation like this?”

“Probably. I was surprised when you asked to meet first after leaving like that. Has there been a change of heart?”

“Rather than a change of heart… I have something personal to sort out.”

“Something to sort out?”

She took a small deep breath.

Although she feared the pain that would soon come, she had decided not to avoid it anymore, if only for the sake of her disciples who were struggling in various ways.

Moreover, if the Commander didn’t know yet, it was courteous to tell him.

“You were curious about how I lost one eye before I left the Knight Order, weren’t you?”

“…I was. You never told me the reason.”

“I saw something I shouldn’t have seen in the Imperial Palace.”

Although it wasn’t a direct statement, perhaps because it had an intention that went against the prohibition, her eye began to hurt as if being stabbed with a needle.

But Marian instead completely removed her eye patch.

Her exposed eye, unlike the deep blue one on the other side, was white. The pain was so severe that blood was slowly pooling under her eye.

“I can’t say in detail, but Commander, you should also keep your distance from His Majesty the Emperor.”

“…”

“I might be saying this too late, but seeing those around me, I felt I should step up too. So, wrap things up and get out, Commander. No, Senior.”

Having said everything she intended to in one breath, Marian belatedly let out a groan and clutched her eye.

She had known the Commander for almost 20 years.

Their first impression was the worst because he didn’t acknowledge her as a junior due to her being a woman, but later he did look out for her a few times when he saw her pouring all her efforts into swordsmanship.

‘He’s actually a decent person once you get to know him.’

However.

Despite Marian’s sincere advice, the Knight Commander remained silent.

At the same time, she sensed unfamiliar presences nearby.

It was five or six Imperial Knights.

“…”

Noticing them approaching, Marian narrowed her eyes and placed her hand on her sword hilt.

Although half of the faces were familiar, she had been through too much to take this situation lightly.

Glancing at the Commander, she saw him looking past her at the diagonal sky.

“…Marian, I told you not to stick your nose in too far, didn’t I?”

He muttered quietly. There was no surprise at all on his face.

‘The Commander already knew.’

About the atrocities committed by the Imperial Family and their faults.

But… he remains in the Knight Order despite knowing this?

Looking at Marian who had frozen in place, the Knight Commander continued in a low voice.

“His Majesty said early on that you might try to approach the Knight Order. That time when you drew your sword for Lady Roshanak, who had become a target.”

“…”

“Why didn’t you end your rebellion that day? Then you wouldn’t have ended up like this.”

Right after that, one of the knights suddenly rushed at Marian.

An impossible speed. It was so fast and powerful that even Marian, who was skilled in quick-drawing, could barely block the attack.

Now that she looked, his eyes were bloodshot.

‘What is this…’

Her wrist was already tingling after just three or four exchanges. The speed and strength were unbelievable.

Something was strange. But before she could question it, another sword came flying. This time from a knight who was behind her.

Clang, clang! Clang!

The alley was narrow, making it difficult for more than two people to attack simultaneously.

Unfortunately, it was just as difficult for Marian.

“Ugh…”

Marian’s body was now full of sword wounds, having barely avoided fatal blows. Her stamina was dropping, and her vision was becoming blurry, possibly due to anemia.

As the thought that she might not make it out alive here occurred to her, she suddenly remembered Count Aper’s family where she had recently stayed.

The knights there.

And the faces of her two disciples, Cassis and Rosha, flashed by in order.

‘Those kids… I hope they’ll be safe.’

She hadn’t properly finished her work. She just hoped this incident wouldn’t harm them.

As she was making this wish while watching a sword flying towards her face.

Bang!

Something shot from somewhere powerfully deflected the opponent’s sword.

The impact was so strong that the sword the knight lost grip of spun around before plunging into the ground.

“…”

Everyone momentarily stopped moving, and Marian slowly turned her head.

A familiar silhouette was standing at the end of the alley.

It was her frailest disciple, with hair fluttering in the moonlight.