The Returnee Wants Peace

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▷ Recruiting Conquest Party ◁

We are looking for volunteers to join the conquest party facing the sixth trial. No age limit, no qualifications required.

Special note – Prince Nardil of the Kingdom of Atica and Empire’s Guardian Knight Lady Roshanak Aper will be participating.

Application period is until one week from now. For inquiries, contact the Trial Response Department at the Imperial Palace.

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After reading the notice brought by Berri, Rosha could only say one thing.

“I think the Emperor has finally gone mad.”

“Oh, Miss! Someone might hear you!”

“There’s only the two of us here anyway.”

Both Cedric and Cassis had left the mansion since morning due to work.

She was enjoying a rare moment of leisure, popping a cream puff filled with custard into her mouth, when seeing the notice suddenly made her lose her appetite.

‘Who recruits a conquest party like this?’

In her previous world, conquest parties were structured with large guilds at the center, gathering smaller teams and freelancers. That made it easier to balance the overall composition of the conquest party.

Before guilds were properly established, the government and military had played that role.

‘So I thought the Imperial Knights would step up this time too…’

Her expectations were off.

The Emperor must know that conquering the trial with such a ragtag group recruited this way would result in great sacrifices.

Hearing that they had not only sent carrier pigeons to noble houses but also distributed notices in the central square, Rosha jumped to her feet.

“This won’t do. I need to go to the Imperial Palace.”

“What? But didn’t you promise the young masters to rest well at the mansion until the trial begins? Just yesterday at lunch!”

“…Ahem.”

That was true.

When her family learned that she had told the Emperor she would participate in the sixth trial, they had strictly ordered her to rest well until the trial for the sake of her condition.

Since Marian was also away due to the restriction, she couldn’t even go to the training grounds.

‘They even had Koko check on the princess’s condition.’

But in such an unexpected situation, shouldn’t she move regardless?

“You know the saying that promises are meant to be broken, right?”

“What are you saying, Miss? Miss!”

Though she felt sorry for Berri, she needed to know what the Imperial family was planning.

The ‘Trial Response Department’ newly established in the Imperial Palace a month ago was said to be overseen by Count Nigel. Since she was already acquainted with him, she thought she should visit and try to uncover his true intentions.

But there was someone who had similar thoughts to hers.

It was Nardil.

“I said I would participate in conquering the trial to allow ordinary people to live their daily lives, not to lend my name to such an endeavor that deludes people.”

The second prince of Atica, whom she met at the entrance of the Imperial Palace, had a stony expression.

He seemed to understand well the meaning of his name being included in the notice.

Indeed, seeing the adoring gazes of people passing in the corridor, it was impossible not to notice.

The two, agreeing that they needed an explanation from Count Nigel, hurried to the ‘Trial Response Department’.

“Oh my, I sincerely apologize for including your names in the notice! But it was unavoidable this time. As trials continue to occur, we need to discover outstanding talents as quickly as possible.”

“You never know when and where abilities will manifest, right? There might be people with good abilities among commoners as well as nobles, and if they step up for their families, country, and humanity, it would be good for the Empire. Just like the two of you now.”

In the innermost room of the building that smelled distinctly new.

At the Count’s eloquent plea to lend their names for the greater good, Nardil stopped his protests with a disgruntled look.

His words flowed smoothly and were even ingratiating, and they were somewhat true.

But Rosha still had one more question to ask.

“Isn’t the Imperial Knights participating in the conquest? With this scale, you’ll surely need capable combatants to form the core of the conquest.”

“We have the capable Lady Roshanak and His Highness the Prince, don’t we?”

“Please don’t joke around.”

“Haha, did you perhaps not hear anything separately from His Majesty?”

“No.”

Should there have been something?

Hearing her answer, the Count nodded as if he finally understood.

Then he suddenly lowered his voice and said:

“The Imperial Knights… of course, I would like to mobilize them for the conquest. Now that I’m in charge of the Trial Response Department, isn’t the goal to end the trial with as little damage as possible?”

“And?”

“But… this is confidential, but the captain of the Imperial Knights died a few days ago. It seems he was attacked by an unknown assailant in a back alley of the capital.”

Having played a part in the captain’s demise, Rosha was at a loss for words.

“An attack? W-what about the culprit?”

“Well. They’re still searching, but it seems all evidence was destroyed due to an explosion. They say nothing has been revealed except for faint sword marks.”

“Oh my…”

“Ah yes, the explosion at the Imperial Palace was on the same day too. Explosions in two places on the exact same day, it’s really an ominous incident. Anyway, the Imperial Knights are in internal disarray and need to conduct investigations within the capital, so it’s difficult to deploy them.”

“…I understand.”

The longer you talk, the more likely you are to slip up. Rosha thought to herself while letting the Count’s words of gratitude for her understanding wash over her.

‘It’s too late to withdraw the notice now.’

In fact, they could if they tried, but it seemed the Emperor’s side didn’t want to.

The hunting competition was like that, and now this conquest party too.

The Imperial Palace somehow kept feeling like it was constantly pushing people into danger.

Suddenly, the second illustration about paradise came to mind.

The tree roots spreading densely above the door to paradise. The suffering people living on the land above it.

‘I tried not to get deeply involved in Imperial Palace affairs…’

At this rate, everyone would die, so she thought she should at least share some basic information for a smooth conquest.

After all, they should at least be kept alive until the trial ends.

Having made up her mind, Rosha immediately asked the Count:

“Before heading to where the trial will occur, could I take a look at them first?”

* * *

Nardil watched Rosha talking with people inside the ‘Trial Response Department’ building.

Count Nigel, the overall director, said he couldn’t call in the volunteers for the conquest party right away, but he would gather them a few hours early on the departure day.

So she was making do with examining the people who were here now.

“It’s truly an honor to meet you like this, Lady Roshanak.”

“Sir, I’ve been learning magic for a few months, but it’s not progressing as I want. What should I do in this case?”

“Is it true that you’re participating in the conquest party? And Prince Nardil too!”

In fact, it was the people who recognized her that approached first.

‘Fortunately, most of them are friendly.’

Unlike the hunting competition hosted by the Emperor, this place seemed to have people who volunteered for the conquest party.

While conversing with them, Rosha was also separating those who might be suitable for the conquest party from those who weren’t.

Her love for humanity was evident as she persuaded those who lacked the skills for the conquest party.

Nardil had seen a similar sight during the trial in the Kingdom of Atica.

‘Even when she became a target and received attacks from people, she didn’t strike back, but rather went to resolve the cause in the middle of the night.’

Perhaps because that impression was so strong.

If possible, he wanted to observe her actions up close. The reason he came all the way to the imperial capital was because of her.

Nardil watched Rosha talking to people with a faint smile.

At that moment.

‘…What’s this?’

Suddenly, a strange gaze was felt in this space.

The direction of the gaze was empty air where nothing was visible. Even that feeling of eye contact disappeared in an instant.

“…”

The Emperor, and that Count Nigel they just met. Even the captain of the Imperial Knights who had turned into a demonic beast and met his death last time.

This Imperial Palace. He couldn’t pinpoint it, but the overall feeling was very unpleasant.

To the point where he worried about the future of this conquest party.