---------- The Royal Palace -----------------------

The day after Kaede returned to Fotolen.
In the royal palace, the upper echelons of the nobility, the military and the guilds were gathered for a meeting.
There was no time to waste, so only those near the royal capital were gathered. ...... Still, there were more than 20 participants.
The king is also scheduled to attend, although he has not yet arrived.
What will these people be discussing when they get together? ......

"The capture of Neurel. Even though we expected it, ...... we're in trouble.

"It's not so much Neurel's idea as it is Soyl's. Well, the situation is still the same .......

This is about Kaede.
When he left the country, Kaede was given an inro, in which a recording device was placed, and from the contents of the device, the capture was discovered.
Incidentally, although Kaede did not seem to know it, the recording device was neither a secret nor a secret.
They are kept in order to be used as evidence in case something happens.
If Kaede had known about it, she probably would have put it in the item box and never taken it out.

"Hmm. There is even a possibility that Kaede will be pulled out if this continues. So we've gathered to decide what to do. ...... Anyone have any suggestions?

"He should be executed immediately!

As soon as the chairman finished his question, Count Gengar, one of the participants, shouted.

"Lord Gengar, I don't think so. Kaede the adventurer has brought benefits to the country and has done no wrong. There's no reason to execute him.

"But Kaede the adventurer went to a neighboring country to pick up some local products!　It is treason to establish friendly relations with a neighboring country!

...... Neurel is a friendly country, and it was Basis that sent them as reinforcements.

But isn't the fruit a private contract?

I'm not sure what to make of that. I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one.

"But ......

Even after all this, Gengar still persists.
The reason is simple. Kaede is a hindrance to Gengar.
For Gengar, who was in control of the back market where the illicitly sold Zunana grass was traded, and was profiting greatly from it, Kaede Trading Company was a thorn in his side.
Gengar wanted to destroy it at any cost.

"Gengar, you can't do that.

When Gengar interrupted his own words, he immediately tried to refute ...... them and immediately closed his mouth.
This is because the person who interrupted Gengar was the king, who had entered the conference room before he knew it.

Let's assume for a moment that there was a reason to execute Kaede. How would you execute him?

"How would you ......

The king sighed as he looked at Gengar, who did not understand the meaning of what he was being told, and asked the Knight Commander.

I'm not sure what to make of it.

"...... I think it's impossible. I don't think it would last more than five minutes.

I don't know. I wasn't surprised when you said five seconds. It's insane to make an enemy of the man who slayed the dragon that turned a continent into a clearing. ...... I think it would be best to give Basis territory before other countries do.

Hearing the king's statement, the conference room was filled with surprise.
That's understandable.
Receiving the territory would mean becoming a noble.
Adventurers have not become nobles for several hundred years.

You're giving an adventurer a fief?

"Yes. The adventurer, Kaede, has done well for himself. ...... And you have just the land for it.

The king then pointed to a point on the map.

---------- ---- ------------------------
...... Then, a few days later.
A letter arrived at my door.
The letter was decorated in such a way that you could tell at a glance that it was something unusual, and it had a number of large seals stamped on it.
When I opened the envelope and looked inside, I found that it was an invitation to bring Mercia to King's Landing in recognition of her achievements as an adventurer. Kindly, it even told me what route to take and where to stay.
As for me, why Mercia?

...... I'm not sure, but it's best to talk to him. He should know a lot more about commendations than I do.
At any rate, I peeked into the business and found Mercia easily.

"Hey, Mercia, I got a really nice letter.

"Not to the Chamber of Commerce, but to Ms. Kaede? It's unusual that it didn't come through the guild. What did it say?

It's a very ornate piece of writing, but ...... in short, it's a commendation for my achievements, and it's asking me to bring Mercia to the capital.

"An award ......?　I'm not sure what that means. As for me, I don't really want to leave Photoren. ...... Who is the sender?

The sender is ....... I didn't see that.

I was so distracted by the fancy decorations that I forgot to check the sender.
Thinking that I might have been a little upset about receiving a strange letter, I read out the name on the letter.

"Terrabad-Basis.

"Boom!　Keho, keho ......".



As soon as I read out the name, Mercia blurted it out.

"Mercia, are you okay?

That's my line!　It's from the king!

"The king?　But that's not what the letter says: ......

You don't have to write it down, no one will notice.

No, I'm here.
But if you ask me, having the same surname as the name of the country seems to be very royal.
I don't know if it's a good idea to put your name in front of your name, or if it's a bad idea to put your position in front of your name.
...... Maybe it's different in this world.

So, you're saying that I've been summoned by the king of this country?

That's what it means.

...... What am I supposed to do?

There's nothing to do but go. Well, it's best to be cautious, but as for the king himself, I don't think we have much to worry about.

Is that so?

I'm sure you're not the only one who has a problem with this. .......

I'm not sure what to make of it. I'm not sure what to make of it.

When you say aristocrats, do you mean the ones who blame others for their crimes, arrest them, and try to confiscate their property?

"No, sir. No. I don't think anyone is stupid enough to think that they can arrest Mr. Kaede head-on. Assassinating him while he's sleeping, that kind of thing.

There actually was such an idiot.
Well, assassinating someone while they are asleep would not be a problem as long as you maintain your magical armor.
But is there any reason why the nobles of this country would have to kill me?
If I kill the item box owner, I won't be able to get its contents.

"Who would benefit from assassinating me?

"I think Mr. Kaede, or rather the Chamber of Commerce, is in the way. There's been very little damage, but they've been messing with me more and more. Strangely well-equipped bandits appear in unnatural places, or try to assassinate me while I'm on the move. ......

Mercia is talking about it like it's nothing, but ...... assassination is important!
If you're looking at Mercia in front of you, it seems to be an attempt. ......

What happened to the assassination attempt?

I'm not sure. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. There were only about thirty of them, but I don't think the result would have been any different even if there had been three hundred.

Are the guards that good?

He's a former Desibatore.

I see.

Apparently, Mercia was in a position where she needed an escort without my knowledge.
Well, with the protection of the Decibatoreans and their magic tools, it seems that Mercia doesn't need to worry.

And the mastermind behind all of this is a nobleman in King's Landing?

I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but I'm sure it's a good idea. The most suspicious ones are Count Masheron and Count Gengar.

What's so special about those two?

They are both families that have been making money from the black market of Zunana grass. For both of them, this business would be a thorn in their side. Count Gengar, in particular, seems to have relied heavily on black market transactions, so it's not surprising that he would use any means at his disposal. He once tried to sink a ship.

There was no such thing as a black market for Zunana grass: .......
I'm sure you've heard of it.
Yeah. That's a nice backhanded compliment.
...... Okay.

Shall we destroy it?

"Shall we shut it down?

We're on the same page.
Let's use the trip to King's Landing to crush the people who've been causing trouble.
But to treat them as criminals just because they were dealing in black market Zunana grass would be too rough.
We need to find some other way to expose the mastermind.
...... Well, if they're going to go out of their way to assassinate me, I might as well take advantage of it.