Through the underground passage.
　Hmm. At this rate, it'll lead outside the dormitory as expected.
　And to the enemy's stronghold, Chenevale Castle.

　Avril and I left Lara and the others and made our way into Chenevale Castle.

"Are they okay?

　Avril asks.

There's nothing to worry about. Lara, Marise, and Cynthia are used to this kind of thing because they've been working with me a lot. I'm sure the other students will be able to guide us.
"How many pitfalls have you gone through at your age, ......?

　Avril was stunned.

　Shuraki.
　I'm sure you're not the only one.
　I've never had a problem with ......, but I've probably gotten into more trouble than most people.

I'm going to hurry up. Let's hurry up and get to the mastermind you're talking about.
Wait a minute. But first, we need to gather information.
"Gather information?

　Without answering Avril's question, I began to move around Shenubail Castle.
　What's going on in the castle?
　I want to know what's going on in the castle and where the mastermind is lurking,.......

　The inside of the castle is also on high alert.
　There were people in armor walking around everywhere in the castle.
　By the way, they were ordinary armor of the usual kind.

　I wonder if they were knights or something.
　Perhaps the mastermind is expecting me to somehow get inside the castle.

　Avril and I walked around the castle, using concealment magic to keep them from finding us.

"Kill them on sight!　According to him, a boy named Kurt is coming into the castle.
"Hahaha!　He's just a kid, right?　I'm going to beat him to death.
We can't let him get away with this. We can't let him get away with this.

　You're talking out of your ass.

He's got us all figured out.

　Avril sighs.

"Yeah. I've already broken into this castle, and they're ...... stupid.

　So, who is this 'the one' they speak of?
Is it the one who was creating the 《Shiro Armor》?

　But is it the higher ...... kings and princesses who are issuing orders and commands to the armorers?
　If so, there's a good chance that the mastermind I'm thinking of is waiting there.
　There's also the possibility that the king and the mastermind are the same person.

　As I walked through the castle, thinking about this...

No, stop it. ...... Bo, I didn't do anything wrong!
Shut up!

　"Shut up!" said the voice of two people, a child and a thick man.
　I also heard what sounded like a punch in the stomach.

　I stopped and hid in the shadows to see what was going on.

"There's chaos in the castle now. "There's chaos in the castle now because Master Messaias of House Fosind was killed by a boy named Kurt. It's no wonder you're upset when there are filthy slaves wandering around the castle, isn't it?

　The man in armor laughed.

　The man in armor laughed, and a small boy of about eight years old was lying on the floor, looking down at him.
　His clothes were tattered. His body is covered in bruises.
　The boy was trembling as he looked at the men in armor.

　And yet, with a dignified attitude.

"Oh, you guys are always like that!　You're always messing with us slaves just because you're pissed off!

　But that didn't bother the man.
　But that didn't sit well with the man.

But that didn't sit well with the man, who said, "Don't talk back to me, slave!　And ...... torment them?　What are you talking about? I'm just trying to educate you.

　I'm just trying to educate you." He took the child by the hair and forced her to stand.

"I've been pissed off at you all along. You're always looking at us like we're rebels.
"Well, that's because you're beating me up for nothing!
Oh, ......, you filthy slave, you talk back. There's a big gap between you and me. It's called status. I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

　The man in armor continued to punch the child in the stomach.

I'm not sure what to say. But ...... even if I kill you now, it won't be a problem as long as I blame it on this Kurt guy. I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

　A man in armor kicks a child.


　The child, who was light in weight, was lifted into the air and slammed against the wall by itself.

"So!　Now I'm going to be nice and give you a fun, fun education!　Be prepared. Try your best not to die, hahahahahaha!

　Fear in the child's eyes.
　He was shaking so much that I could see it from here.

"Kurt, ...... what are you going to do?

　Avril looked up at me.

　I don't owe that kid any help. I'd get in trouble, and I didn't see the need to get involved.
　But...


"You have an interesting story to tell. Can I hear it?


　I don't feel good about overlooking something as disgusting as this.

　And it's a good opportunity.
　Let me ask you a few questions.

　I show myself to the man in armor.

"Huh?　I've never seen you before. ...... No, you haven't!
I don't have to tell him who I am. Oh, and there's no point in screaming. I've put up wards around the place, so it will look like nothing is going on from the outside.

　As he said this, he approached the man in armor with slow steps.
　The man in armor held up his sword.

"You idiot!　You're an idiot for jumping in here. If I kill you, I'll get a lot of reward from him later. I might even get a territory. Then I'll stop this fishy knightly stuff and live there comfortably!
It's a big dream.
Die, die, die!

　The fearless and reckless man attacked with all his might.

　His stance is messed up.
　Not even a single piece of Orichalcon armor would be able to cut him in half.
　I sigh at the low level of the ...... empire that such a person calls himself a knight of the empire.

"0.1 seconds.

　That's how long it took him to get to me.
　Just as he was about to slash me, I drew my magic sword from its sheath and flashed it at him.

Hahaha, I got a good response!　I'm not sure what to make of that.

　Then the man in armor realized.

"What, why is the sword broken?

　The man in armor looked at the sword, which was broken at the root.

　It's simple.
　The moment he was about to slash, I just swung my magic sword to match him.

"You're using a very soft sword. I thought it was a cake sponge or something.
I thought it was a cake sponge." "No, that's ridiculous. ......!　This is an orichalcon sword. It's an orichalcon sword. It's not going to break easily. ......
Then it can't be helped. Orichalcon is a soft material.

　I raise my right hand and invoke the Nightmare spell on him.

I'd like to live a comfortable life in my own domain.
I'm not sure what you're talking about.　Aaaaahhhh!

　The man screams.
　Now, through my magic, he is being shown a dream where he is living in a remote land.

　There are no rice fields to cultivate, no people to rule.
　There are no fields to plow, no people to protect, no tools to use, just a dream of struggling in such a remote ...... and uncivilized land.

"There's nothing to eat. There's no water. There's nothing!　And there are demons attacking us!　I don't want to go back to ...... King's Landing!
If you're serious you can make it out of a situation like that. I'm sure you'll be able to make it out of this situation if you really want to.

　I don't think that's going to happen, though.
　A man who is shown a dream of eternity will eventually have a mental breakdown.

Kurt. Even if it's the other guy's own fault, he's still capable of some pretty terrible magic.
What are you talking about? What do you mean? You're making his dreams come true, isn't that great magic?

　It's a wonderful magic that is making his dreams come true.

"Oh, thank you ......!　You almost got me killed. Your brother is very strong!
"Well, that's nice of you to say. I'm in a hurry. Can I talk to you for a minute?
"A story?



　The child cocks his head.

"Who's the one who's ...... setting this up?　Who's trying to kill me?
"Oh, it's the king!　I think he's in the throne room because he's got a lot of time on his hands.
"What kind of a king is he?

　When asked, the child shakes his head and continues: "I don't know.

I don't know. ...... I've never seen the king's face. I mean, all the people in the empire haven't seen the king in a long time.

　You haven't seen the king?
　What do you mean you haven't seen the king? Does it mean that he hasn't been seen in public?

　But the word "all" is tricky.
　She's probably working in the castle too.
　Then it's not surprising she's seen the king at least once.

　I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.

You should go to the throne room, after all. I think I can find something there. Thanks. There's an underground passage a little further down. You should be able to get out through there.
"Uh-huh!

　I showed him where the passage was, and he ran in that direction, though he looked like he wanted to leave.

Kurt, was it good?
What?
Kurt, are you happy?" "What?" "Maybe the kid will ...... tell him about us. That could get us in trouble.
Don't worry. I've just cast a concealment spell and a silencing spell. If they try to talk about us, they won't be able to move their mouths.
"You did that in the last second?　You're a shrewd one, .......

　Of course he did.
　After all, for a thousand years, the Imperials of the Empire were dirty.
　I don't think that's the case with the kid, but ...... it wouldn't hurt to leave it there, just in case.

　In addition, ...... the purpose of this help was not just to blow away a disgusting person.

"Hmph.

　I grabbed the head of the man in armor, whose head was in a field of flowers, and slammed him down hard on the floor.

　The man fainted.
　I ripped the armor off the man and put it on him.
　The armor is a bit large and difficult to move, but if you use magic to compensate for the small details, you will be able to walk.

This will make it easier to walk around the castle. It will also make it easier to gather information. I don't want to waste my magic before the final battle with the mastermind.
I'm sure you'll be able to find something to help you out.

　Avril rolls her eyes.

The armor is for one person.
That's right.
Don't you have one for me?
No. There's no armor that fits Avril's size. I'm sorry, but you'll have to continue using your cloaking spell.
"Mm-hmm. ......

　When I said that, Avril looked unconvinced for some reason.