The Returnee Wants Peace

“Grandfather! Are you feeling better?”

“…The air is stuffy. Did something happen while I was sleeping?”

“It wasn’t anything major.”

“Is that so?”

Grandfather didn’t seem to believe the answer, contrary to the response. Probably because he saw the blood splattered on Cassis’s clothes.

After thinking for a moment, he soon called Rosha closer.

“No matter how I think about it… it’s better for our youngest to have this.”

Grandfather took off something he was wearing around his neck and held it out.

It was the ‘Crystal of Life’ necklace that Rosha had given him.

A necklace made from the ‘Crystal of Life’, the reward from the sixth trial, which guarantees three lives to its bearer.

In fact, even if Count Nigel had touched grandfather, he would have survived.

“No. Just keep it, grandfather.”

“What use would an old man have for it? I just inhaled some strange smoke earlier and was asleep until now. It’s better if you have it.”

“But still…”

“Our family has always had good intuition. Even now, I don’t have a good feeling. Since you’re the rightful owner of this anyway, take it and don’t make this old man regret it later.”

After a bit of back-and-forth, Rosha put the necklace around her neck.

But grandfather’s words weren’t over yet.

“I’m not sure how we got here… but Duke, come over here. I have something to talk about.”

Although he wasn’t the type to go just because he was called, Froy obediently went to grandfather’s side. Then he divided the space and the two whispered together.

“What’s this? I’m the one carrying him.”

Cassis grumbled.

But that was brief, as his eyes lowered. Cedric made a shushing sound and nodded towards the front.

Not far away, a considerable number of enemies could be felt.

After climbing these stairs, of which less than twenty remained, they would have to face them.

‘…It seems grandfather has no intention of avoiding this.’

Although he didn’t say it, grandfather seemed to already guess the truth of this place. Cedric and Cassis also had no intention of running away.

Of course, neither did Rosha.

‘We need to see this through to the end here.’

Endless trials, the truth related to Hardmode. Adding the Emperor’s existence to this was too overwhelming.

Although all three seemed to be connected, it felt right to settle at least one of them before moving on.

Soon, the end of the stairs came into view.

It was the very place where Count Nigel had spread the sleeping gas earlier.

“…Quite a lot, isn’t it.”

Froy, who had finished talking with grandfather, muttered softly.

An indoor garden in full bloom.

With beautifully decorated tapestries as a backdrop instead of windows, hundreds of Imperial Knights were lined up.

Although they hadn’t attacked yet, seeing the overwhelming numbers, it seemed like all the knights in the Imperial Palace had gathered.

And a beautiful man who had been listening to the woman with the rifle slowly turned around.

It was the Emperor.

“…Grandfather. How about taking the necklace back?”

“No take-backs.”

Grandfather said firmly.

Meanwhile, the Emperor, scanning the group, asked:

“What happened to Count Nigel?”

“…”

“A valuable talent has died.”

His gaze, after calmly muttering this, turned to Sir Nox. There was a brief commotion among the Imperial Knights at his appearance, which was the spitting image of the Emperor.

“Do you intend to stay on that side, Sir?”

“…I am currently a prisoner, Your Majesty.”

“I don’t think you’re incapable of breaking such ropes. But it seems you like Lady Roshanak even more than I thought.”

The Emperor smiled, looking at Rosha who was holding the end of the rope binding Nox.

Seeing him like this, Koko warned in a small voice:

“That bastard… his eyes look crazy. Be careful.”

As the bird said, the Emperor looked transcendent, like someone nearing the end of a game.

He even seemed carefree, as if he no longer had any attachment to the Empire.

He slowly continued speaking, looking at Rosha.

“Your disregard for my orders… I’ll take it to mean you’ve regrettably rejected my offer. I’d like to talk to you separately, but it seems that can wait until later.”

…Later.

“Then…”

The Emperor declared, looking around at the surrounding knights:

“As of this moment, I strip Lady Roshanak of her position as Empire’s Guardian Knight. Furthermore, all those belonging to Count Aper family are to be arrested on charges of noble murder and treason.”

“We obey, Your Majesty!”

The Imperial Knights, bowing their heads in unison, quickly tightened their encirclement. Their movements were coordinated as if they had discussed this beforehand.

‘…It’s a bit early.’

In fact, the Emperor’s appearance was earlier than expected.

Fortunately, it wasn’t too far off from the prediction, but they would have to struggle a bit.

“What is this! We came here at Your Majesty’s invitation. How can you speak of treason when in fact, in the underground laboratory here… Agh!”

Realizing it was useless to explain, Cassis quickly drew his sword.

At this, the Imperial Knights also unsheathed their swords at an imperceptible speed.

Clang clang clang!

Knights with dramatically increased physical abilities.

At their forefront stood an unfamiliar man.

‘…The knight captain should have died.’

He was chatting quite intimately with the woman holding the rifle. Next to him was also an old veteran with plate-reinforced armor and a large greatsword.

Three in total.

Judging by their subtly different clothing styles, they were clearly the ‘traitors’ who had sold out the old era and crossed through the crevice.

‘The numbers match what Nox said.’

Although there were things to find out from them, that would have to come after surviving this place first.

Assessing the situation, Rosha quickly spoke:

“Brother, listen carefully. We need to buy as much time as possible without getting hurt. Focus on defense rather than attack. Understood?”

“Why, are you planning to use grand magic here?”

“That’s not it… Watch out!”

Cassis blocked a sword thrust coming at him slowly. Perhaps due to the Emperor’s order to capture them, it wasn’t threatening enough to be life-or-death.

Of course, whether that would continue to be the case remained to be seen.

Crackle!

Rosha, after applying the body enhancement magic she had used once on Cedric to Cassis, concluded:

“Anyway, I’ll cover you from behind when I can!”

Right now, there weren’t enough warriors compared to magicians to form a formation. If so, they had no choice but to use magic to keep them from approaching.

Whoosh!

Surrounding grandfather and Cedric in a circle, Rosha raised a semicircular curtain of fire high. Froy and Koko took care of the other directions.

Although Nox was also a magician, they decided to leave him be, as it was already a big decision for him to not attack them.

“What are you doing! Don’t be afraid, just break through!”

Cassis faced the knights who bravely came through the flames. Fortunately, thanks to the body enhancement magic, he wasn’t overwhelmed even when directly confronting the knights.

However, there was no helping the sheer numbers.

“Duke! This isn’t what we talked about!”

Grandfather, who had been anxiously watching Cassis swinging his sword, roared at Froy.

“Didn’t you clearly promise that if we were framed for treason, you would take my children and get them out of here!”

“What?”

Ah. Hearing this, it became clear what conversation the two had earlier.

‘Grandfather must have been trying to take on the treason charges alone.’

Cedric, understanding the inside story, glared at Froy with sharp eyes.

However, Froy, while using his ability, replied with feigned composure:

“Please be patient and wait a little, Count.”

“What do you mean?”

“Isn’t it unfair? Far from treason, you’re actually the victims, yet you have to bear such dishonorable charges.”

“W-well, that’s true, but.”

“Since it’s come to this anyway… how about turning the lie into truth?”

“…What do you mean? Surely not…”

“It seems they’re coming right on time.”

The surroundings were already becoming noisy.

Grandfather looked around with an uncertain expression, but with no windows, he couldn’t see outside.

At that moment.

Boooom!

One wall of the indoor garden collapsed, and a third force poured in from there.

Among them, who were skillfully facing the Imperial Knights as if long-trained, some familiar faces could be seen.

Lovell, Froy’s subordinate and coachman, Nardil with his face hidden by a hood, and even Marian.

“Attack! They are the ones who have committed outrageous acts, using the lives of imperial citizens as collateral!”

Marian’s two eyes, having thrown off her eyepatch, were glowing bright blue.

Seeing this, grandfather’s mouth fell open.

“Are you… are you really going to do this?”

“Rosha, did you know about this?”

At Cedric’s sharp question, who had become a traitor in an instant, everyone’s gaze poured onto her.

Facing this, Rosha subtly averted her eyes.

“Well…”

This is why she didn’t say anything in advance.