The Returnee Wants Peace

Before removing his clothes, she hadn’t realized it, but Froy’s injury was very serious.

It was an injury that couldn’t be healed even with an elixir.

“What, what is this?”

“…Rosha, step back a little.”

Ignoring his words, Rosha yanked aside the half-loosened collar of his shirt.

She had thought it was just a small area, but from his left shoulder to above his elbow, the skin had turned dark and discolored.

Though no blood was visible, strangely, the smell of blood was coming from there.

Moreover, even at this moment, it was very slowly expanding its range and moving down towards his chest.

“What on earth is this? It’s not a wound from a weapon, but it looks like a pitch-black cloud has formed.”

“I’m not sure. It’s the first time I’ve seen such a severe injury… Ugh!”

“Does it hurt a lot even when I’m not applying any pressure?”

“That’s not it…”

He flinched every time she touched the injured area.

The blackened skin was very hot, as if it were on fire, and seeing his neck and ears gradually turning red, it seemed the heat was spreading.

“It’s too hot, should I have some ice brought?”

“…It’s fine. Just sit next to me.”

“But…”

“I said sit next to me.”

Froy pulled Rosha’s hand as she tried to get up, making her sit down again.

He was stronger than expected, and she fell back onto the sofa without having a chance to resist.

“…”

For that man who so disliked contact with others to voluntarily act like this.

Seeing the Duke’s behavior so different from how he treated others, Koko and Cedric’s thoughts aligned for once.

“He’s showing off.”

“I agree with the squawker’s words.”

“…Tsk!”

Unfortunately, they diverged again after just 3 seconds.

“What exactly happened during that time?”

After briefly looking at Koko in puzzlement, Cedric recalled what had happened in response to Rosha’s question.

In the past, he hadn’t told Rosha and Cassis because he thought of them as children, but not anymore.

They had the right to know too.

“It was the evening before yesterday. The Duke and I were tracking suspicious movements in the Imperial Palace.”

Exchanging a quick glance with Froy, he calmly explained.

“In the process, we discovered several points within the capital where large amounts of magic stones and magic formulas were buried, and we found a place connected to those points by magical power. The water and sewage system connected to the entire capital.”

“Oh my…”

“But while examining the magic formulas engraved inside the water and sewage system, suddenly a thick fog rose up. The Duke… got enveloped in that fog while trying to save me.”

“It was clearly someone’s ability. If I had known in advance that the Young Count was immune to abilities, it would have been an injury I didn’t need to suffer.”

“…That’s”

“It’s fine. It’s already in the past.”

Froy concluded, shrugging his shoulders.

He pretended it was nothing, but the fact that he could barely move one shoulder looked quite serious.

Perhaps because of this, Cedric was gradually changing his perception of the Duke.

The softening of his gaze towards him was part of that change.

‘I think I’ve been misjudging him all this time.’

At one point, he had suspected the Duke of being the leader of a group threatening the Empire and the cause of his grandfather, the family head, falling into a coma.

The more he worked with the Duke, the more he found himself reconsidering that thought.

Although the Duke was involved in shady businesses like secret auctions and gambling dens…

And although ominous rumors periodically circulated about him backing criminals…!

From what he had observed briefly by his side, the Duke wasn’t as mired in the gutter as he had thought.

‘…I feel a bit sorry towards Rosha.’

He had strongly insisted that she stay as far away from the Duke as possible, but he never expected his own thoughts to change instead.

Of course, that doesn’t mean he intends to just watch them grow closer.

“You two, move apart.”

“Huh? Ah, no, it’s not like that.”

Rosha, who had been sitting close to the Duke and staring at his injured area, startled and moved her body away. Then, as if feeling guilty inside, she quickly changed the subject.

“But why did you send a knight saying that brother was in critical condition?”

“…It seems Cassis sent him. Worried that we might be tracked, and since it would be strange if only I was fine, I said I was too sick to meet visitors. It looks like he sent the news as soon as he heard that.”

Cedric, adding that Cassis knew now too but the knight had already left so it couldn’t be helped, glared at the Duke.

The Duke now seemed to quite enjoy Rosha’s attention.

He didn’t like the sight of him subtly flirting with his young sister.

“Rosha, can you figure out what kind of magic is contained just from the magic formula?”

“If the magic formula is perfect, I can figure it out. You’re talking about the magic formula that was engraved in the water and sewage system, right? But do you remember all of it?”

“Yes. It’s quite long, but the Duke probably remembers it.”

“What are you saying? The Young Count remembers it too. Surely you’re not asking an injured person to write out the magic formula?”

“Your left shoulder is injured, isn’t it? You should be able to write.”

Watching the two of them bicker, Rosha silently shook her head.

To remember the entire magic formula when they weren’t even magicians.

They were both truly remarkable intellectuals.

…By the way.

‘That injury, it feels oddly familiar…’

Was it just her imagination that the energy felt from the ability wasn’t unfamiliar?

It seemed Koko felt the same way, constantly peering at Froy’s shoulder. He seemed to find the bird’s behavior strange too.

“Why is Koko showing interest in me today?”

“…That bird’s name was Koko?”

Cedric, who had picked up a pen as if he had decided to write the magic formula himself after all, asked. He seemed to have just noticed Koko’s name.

‘What did he call him until now?’

Koko, who had been staring intently at Cedric, finally spoke.

“I thought it felt strangely familiar.”

“Did you figure something out?”

“Sniff sniff, this ability… it’s the same person as the one who put your old grandfather to sleep before.”

“…What? Are you sure?”

“Seeing how the smell of deception is wafting from the ability, it’s almost certain.”

“…”

After being dazed for a while, Rosha let out a small laugh.

The culprit who had put her grandfather to sleep for years.

It had happened so long ago that they couldn’t identify who it was and couldn’t catch them, but it seems they’ve finally caught a trail.

* * *

Unfortunately, there was no particular way to cure Froy’s injury.

An elderly lady with a healing ability, who was in a cooperative relationship with Froy, came to examine him but said she could only slow down the spread of the infection.

However, there was one thing.

“You need to kill the source of the ability. Then it will disappear.”

“…The source of the ability. In the end, we have to go after the Emperor’s side.”

Rosha sighed softly as she looked down at the snow-covered mansion garden.

While Cedric was writing the magic formula, Froy and Rosha were on the terrace of an empty room in a secluded part of the mansion.

Rosha gazed blankly at the servants clearing snow in the garden.

Three days until the conquest party returns. When they do, the Emperor will notice that she entered the capital before them.

‘I need to do what I can until then.’

Just then, Froy, who had been silent for a while, slowly opened his mouth.

“Did I ever tell you about the god I formed a connection with?”

“No. I did see a small shrine in Froy’s mansion before, though…”

The mansion referred to here is his capital mansion.

So she knew he had formed a connection with a god, but it was such a sensitive topic that she hadn’t dared to ask about it.

Froy continued:

“The god said a major turning point would come for me soon, and it seems that time is now. I always thought I would eventually clash head-on with the Emperor.”

The man, who had been gazing down at the garden along with her, soon spoke as if he had made up his mind:

“I have an army being trained in secret.”

“…What?”

“They’re spread around the capital. They should be able to be deployed anytime if something happens.”

“…Was the rumor about your connection with rebels true?”

“If I had to say, yes… but I’d like you to think that I consider you close enough to tell you even this.”

That was true. But this was a completely different field from demonic beast invasions, so she couldn’t help her heart pounding.

Rebels and rebellion.

Aren’t those terrifying words, especially for nobles?

‘If Cedric heard this, he’d tell him to get out of this mansion right away.’

As Rosha’s eyes widened and she closed her mouth, Froy smiled faintly and requested:

“So, if a life-threatening situation arises, promise me you’ll definitely avoid it.”

“…That’s”

“Won’t you?”

She couldn’t guarantee it.

But for now, she nodded, and he lifted the corners of his mouth as if satisfied.

“Good. When all this is over, I have something I want to tell you… I’ll say it then.”

What could he want to say?

Her heart fluttered for no reason. It was a different kind of thrill from when she heard about the rebels.

Looking back on her former self, what she’s doing now is unreasonable to the extreme.

And it will continue to be so.

‘…It feels like something’s about to happen.’

It felt as if she could vaguely see a huge whirlpool of fate above her head.

And about ten minutes later.

That premonition came true without fail.

Rosha’s expression hardened as she checked the magic formula Cedric had written.

‘My goodness… What is this?’