The Knights are a counterpart to the Adventurers Guild, established by the state.
　If the Adventurer's Guild works for the freedom of the people, the Order works for order.
　They crack down on criminals and maintain the security of the city.
　That's what the Knights are.

　The Knights are not only in the royal capital, but there are branches in each city.
　Me and Kanade asked for that branch.
　By the way, everyone else is away from home.
　It would be annoying to ask them in large numbers, and as long as we're being targeted by Edgar, we don't want to be too obvious.

'Excuse me,'

　Enter the building and talk to the receptionist.
　The system around here is no different than the Adventurer's Guild.

''Yes, how can I help you?''
I have some questions about criminal damage.
What is this?
If I file a report, they'll investigate, right?
'Yes, of course. We, the Knights, exist to keep order in the city.
So, will you accept our damage report?　It's about ... an abuse of power by the son of a lord.
What?

　The receptionist's complexion changed when I cut straight to the surface.

　Well.
　How do you come up with this next?

Are you aware of the riot that occurred in the square not long ago?
...Yes, of course. It's essential that we gather information quickly.
We were the victims of that incident.
What?
Two people were affected, myself and two people who aren't here. Yeah, this one's just my companion.
Hey, I'm just here with a friend.
Hey, cat spirit people?　 Now is not the time to talk about that. Be that as it may........is that story true?
Of course. If you say you need the testimony, shall I go gather it?　It was just a few moments ago, so I'm sure there are still plenty of people who will remember.
....
Can I get a form to file a damage report?
Well that won't be necessary.

　A voice came flying in from another place.
　A grand old knight in armor appeared and stared at us.

''Say?''
''It's true that the lord's son seems to have caused a ruckus, but I've heard that it's a trivial thing, a light fight. There's no reason for the Order to get involved in a mere fight. With all due respect, you're making the story bigger, aren't you?
I see.
Hey, what do you mean, it's just a fight?　Sola and Luna forced....Rain?

　He stopped Kanade, who was about to protest, with a look.

'So you're saying that the Knights aren't going to make a move on this matter?
'Incidents of that magnitude happen every day, and often. The Order doesn't have time to deal with every single little incident.
A small case...
''Besides, research has shown that such stories are highly suspected of being fabricated. It's being plotted in order to ruin the reputation of my lord.......
I'm not going to do it. And I don't intend to.
'Then will you try not to think about anything else?　If you speak out too unnecessarily, you'll be defamed, and we'll have to investigate you all backwards.

　I had all sorts of patterns in mind, but....
　Apparently, this is going to get worse.

''Thanks for the advice. We're not trying to embarrass our lord so we won't file a damage report.
It's a tough call.
Goodbye, then. Come on, Kanade, let's go.
'What?　Oh, yeah.

　We left the Knights' branch.
　As we left the building and moved to a less popular area, Kanade looked at us.

'Hey, hey, Rain. Are you sure?　Aren't you supposed to listen to me?
I was going to do that but first I wanted to make sure I had something to check.
Want to make sure, girl?
The question is, are the Knights connected to their lords?

　No matter how many times the state audits are conducted, they cannot find evidence of the Lords' misdeeds.
　How can one obtain such a perfect ability to destroy evidence?
　How do you keep a grip on the evidence when you've been witnessed by numerous city people?

　There are many possibilities, but....
　One of them is called 'collusion with the audit side'.

　It's simple.
　By spending money and so forth beforehand, they become close friends with the knights conducting the audit.
　By doing so, you will have the audit loosen up and come to the conclusion that no evidence was found.
　This way, no matter how many times they are audited, no evidence will be found.
　They could cover up the victim's complaints and do whatever they wanted forever.

　There was no proof.
　It was only a possibility.
　But what if the lord and the knights were connected in the background?
　It would be impossible for him to hear from the Knights.
　On the contrary, I might be turned in to the lord.

　So, I'll first make sure there's a backstory.......
　That knight's attitude said it all, so he quickly withdrew........

''Nyanya.......Rain, you have a lot on your mind.

　When I told Kanade my thoughts, he looked impressed.

'I wish I could have been wrong...'

　Lords are not the only enemies.
　The Knights who are supposed to be defending the city are also enemies.
　As to be expected, not all the members of the group are connected to the lord, but.......
　At the very least, the knights conducting the audit would be connected to the lords.
　No wonder they haven't turned up any evidence.

Well, oh dear...
''Nya.......If the Knights are on good terms with their lords, then no matter how much you sue them, it's all for naught, right?
''We must somehow expose the bad behavior of the lords. But the Knights who are supposed to be doing that are at the mercy of the lords.
What if we audit you and expose you for what you're doing?
'It's hard ... because there's no such thing as a personal audit allowed. Whether or not it's admissible as evidence I'm sure if it's not good enough, treason will be applied to it again.
Neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Really.

　The lords of the city are the enemy.
　The Knights are the enemy.

　We have to get out of this situation one way or another, but....
　Now, what's going on?

I'm sorry.

　I turned around and saw a woman dressed in knight's armor.

　She was older than me ... maybe 20?
　Her long hair was pulled back in a ponytail.
　His dignified expression was knightly, and a strong will could be seen in his eyes.

''Nyah, knight!　You've been chasing me!
Kanade, calm down.

　Kanade takes up an advance position, but he can't set things up in the city, and with a knight.

''...What is it?''
You were at the Order's branch earlier, right?
'Well?　You must have seen something wrong. I don't recall ever visiting such a place.
I was there, too. I was there and I overheard you guys talking. You were discussing the damage caused by the lords.
Eavesdropping isn't exactly in very good taste, is it?
'I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that, but I just got caught up in it... no, it's just an excuse. I apologize if I offended you. It's just the way it is.

　The female knight bows her head.
　I was surprised at how easily she lowered it.

　Normally, knights are proud.
　It is a profession that only those who have passed through many barriers can become.
　There are many who have an elite consciousness.
　And yet, to bow down so easily like this.....

　Is it the personality of this woman?
　Or is it a ploy to get us to let our guard down?

　........No, I can't decide.
　In this kind of situation, let's rely on Kanade.

"Well what do you think, Kanade?
Well I don't feel bad about it. It's like you feel really bad about it.

　At times like this, Kanade's intuition, or rather, his ability to see through people, is dependable.
　This is the kind of thing, but the cat spirit race is the closest to the wildest of the strongest species.
　Their intuition is keen and their ability to see through others is excellent.

　If this Kanade says so, then it looks like I can trust this woman.

''I accept your apology. I need you to raise your head.
Well, thank you.
So, what can we do for you?　I don't suppose you're here to remind me not to mention the incident?
No way. In fact, it's the opposite.
Reverse?
I'm sorry for my mistake. My name is Stella Emplace, I'm the Vice Captain of the Order, Horizon Chapter.
It's the Lane Shroud.
It's Kanade.
'My purpose is to bring the misdeeds of the lords to the light of day and to condemn them.

　The female knight..........Stella said something outrageous.
　This is completely unexpected.
　I can't help but roll my eyes.

''Nya...........................In other words, Stella's on our side?
That's what you want, and that's why you called him.
Why don't you just tell me a story?



----------



　The Horizon branch of the Order is apparently corrupt because of its cozy relationship with the Lords.
　Most of the members of the Order are at the mercy of the Lords.
　The captain is also drowning in money and never conducts a proper investigation.

　Stella, who has a strong will and a sense of justice, did not get involved in the bribes prepared by the lords.
　She was said to be working hard, alone, to restore the proper shape of the Order as it should be.
　I want to break the wind out of the corrupt system of the Knights.
　I want to reveal all the wrongs of the lords who are the source of everything.

　But there's only so much one person can do.
　There's nothing you can do.
　Who are our allies, who are the traitors?
　I had no choice but to continue my act of walking alone in the dark.

　That's when they heard our conversation.
　An adventurer with the most powerful species, the cat spirit race, is complaining about the damage done by the lords.
　This could be some kind of turning point.
　It seems that's why they approached us.

...I see.......I see......that's why.
Neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
'I'm embarrassed to say that I couldn't do this on my own and I'm grasping at straws, so I've reached out to you guys. Now, I need some information to help me move forward.
'That being said we don't have much information either, do we?　It's also the first time today that I've been involved in a case with the lords.
Mmm, is that...?
But we're all on the same page.
Yeah. We've just decided that we're going to do something about the lords, too.
'Is that...?　But why...
When you know what's going on here, you can't just let it go, can you?
....
....
'What?　Is that the only reason?
Yeah?
''I can't leave you alone, how dare you try to turn your lord against me for just that reason?　Are you trying to set things up with the Order?
'To me, that's reason enough. Do I need a reason to help someone in need?
"...pfft, hahaha.

　Stella laughs as if she can't stand it.

'No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make fun of you. It's just that I never thought anyone would take such a thing seriously.
It's just like Lane, isn't it?

　For some reason, Kanade has a smiling face.
　He looks happy, as if he's been praised.

'I think we can work together, what do you think?'
'Yes, of course. I guess I didn't make a mistake in talking to both of you.

　We shook hands firmly.

'But what are we going to do?　It's not just the lords, the Knights are the enemy, right?
'Well...'
I guess we'll just beat the shit out of them all together?
Well, that's a bad idea. If you do that without proof, we'll be accused of treason.
''Unya ... it's so annoying. I need proof, but, but the Knights won't budge...nyah, I'm thinking too much, I'm going to short-circuit my brain.
No.

　I gather my thoughts in my head.

　The Lords are the enemy the Knights are the enemy.
　What you need is proof...
　All you have to do for that is....


What the hell?
Lane, are you getting desperate?
'No way. I have a good idea.
What's it like?　Let me hear it, let me hear it.
'We need two things. Proof of wrongdoing and a righteous Order that will bring the lords to justice. First, we need to return the Order to its proper form as it should be.
'That's ... but what are you going to do about it?　Most of the group members are already tied to the lords. We're at a huge disadvantage, you know?
I'm going to go. Let's clean up.
Meow?　Cleaning?
"We will eliminate the corrupt members of the group, all of them.