"We, the R6, have been duped.　The master Reemsma wanted a handout, and he offered his life to sign a truce agreement with the Second Third Order!　I'll never forget this!　The intermediary is the First Order!　An agreement has indeed been made!　So what about it!　A few days later, the pact was ignored and even the First Order began to oppress us!

　In the fountain plaza in the center of the royal capital, Bicide, a survivor of the righteous R6, gave a speech at the top of his voice.

　Most of the people gathered around him, who must have numbered over a thousand, did not utter a single word, but simply listened to his words.

I still remember it vividly. We had gathered the remains of our comrades we had lost through the fierce oppression of the previous years and held a funeral. On the spot ...... on the spot!　They are!　Stomp on the flowers!　Kick the wreckage away!　Set the house on fire!　They took us by surprise when we were unarmed!

　Gagging and clenching his fists, Bicide continues his speech.

　Finally, I can say it. We can tell them all. We can let the people know of their outrage. The hellish scene that has been tormenting them for so long, which they have been reminded of unexpectedly, will be transformed into a powerful weapon only for this moment. He must continue to wield this weapon until the battle is over. He was firmly determined. That's why his words ring as true as anyone else's.

'I clearly remember the face of the fellow at the head of the raiding party!　Klaus Castell!　There's no mistake!　It's Klaus!　It's the First Knight of Klaus!　It's the First Prince Klaus!　I'll never forgive him!

　The people were suddenly in a state of excitement. And rightly so. Because whether the beiside's statement was false or true, it was a big deal.

　Nevertheless, the Beside did not stop speaking. What had happened that day and that night? He described in detail the hellish time he had experienced himself. How badly he had been hurt and how angry he was. The people who listened to each of his bloody words, which could be described as a cry from his heart, were disgustedly aware of it. And their suspicion of the First Prince Klaus grew doubled.

'Bicide, that's enough!'
'Kashira!　But not yet.
It's like the time limit.

　After a while, Cubero stopped them. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do that, but I'm going to have to call it off because the third knight is getting close enough to call Bicide out for insulting him.


...... Did I make sense to you?

　In the middle of escaping from the plaza, Bicide said something like that.
　Cubero snickered at the words as if he had a premonition that he was about to die.

'Even if your speech is the only one of its kind, it's sure to leave a hole in their walls. After that, the people will widen the hole on their own. I didn't say, Master Second, that you had to make a speech until you were killed.
Well, ......, to tell you the truth, I'm really relieved. I was just beginning to prepare myself to witness the rebirth of the R6 with my own eyes.
The Second Master will consider the rebirth of R6 and the search for the few remaining survivors. He said he would be happy to consult with his mentor if the search for survivors is at all difficult.
...... I don't know anything more reassuring than that.
'Yes, I agree. Master Second's chivalry brings tears to my eyes. I'm sure Master Winfiled will settle the matter aloofly and single-handedly.
I can't sleep with my feet up against the Second Lady and her sister. ...... But I'll paint a fearsome picture.
I'm with you on that one.

　Behind the two men fleeing, a quarrel was taking place between the people and the Third Order.
　As early as possible, I should say. The people, inspired by Bicide's speech, had interrupted the Third Order. 'We must not let them get the Bicide,' many thought, and acted accordingly.

　Winfild had expected this to happen and instructed Cubero to "draw the Third Order to the very edge". Hence, the quarrel was bound to happen. And the more the conflict between the people and the Third Order progressed, the greater the suspicion of Klaus and the First Order would become.

　In addition, missing out on catching him here made the First Prince's camp very difficult to deal with against the Bicide. As time went on, the testimony of the beside spread and public sentiment continued to worsen. However, if the beside is not silenced, the story will continue to spread. The only means left would be assassination, but that is the biggest bad move, a poisonous bun that should never be touched.

　So. As for the First Prince's camp, when they allowed Vicide to make his speech, they were already in a deadlock.

　What on earth had they been reading this phase from before? Only the military strategist knows.

　Second and Winfiled, only these two people should never be enemies ...... The two of them reaffirmed such a natural thing. Cubero was truly proud of his master and his warlord, while Bicide shuddered in awe.

　And so, the political battle finally entered the middle to the endgame--.



　　* * * *




Why?　Why am I being beaten up like this?

　The First Prince Klaus was throwing a tantrum in his room at the royal palace.

　The Vins newspaper has been reporting allegations about the suppression of the righteous bandits every day. The other newspapers, not to be outdone by Vins, kept gathering information and publishing articles alleging the violation of the Order's agreement.
　Some of the articles were far-reaching, criticizing the First Prince, or mentioning the official documents, or anonymously revealing the truth of the agreement's violation.

　On the other hand, the agents of the empire were desperate for maneuvering, staging small-scale demonstrations in defense of the First Prince and, by extension, the vizier, and publishing articles from their own breathtaking newspapers in defense of the First Prince's camp.

　As a result, not a few of the agitated people came to the surface. Hence, the people of King's Landing were divided into two camps, the right and the left, and were in direct conflict with each other.

　What would happen then? As long as the confrontation continued, the story would continue to grow. The allegations of the First Order's alleged violation of the artful pact had been replaced by the First Prince faction vs. the Second Prince faction, and it had reached the point where both sides were unable to back down.


''I was only suppressing the rebels!　Violation of the agreement is a hoax!

　Klaus couldn't help but be convinced.

　Because Klaus himself did not know that a ceasefire agreement had been signed with the R6.

　He had simply gone out in high spirits, having been told by his vizier that he was "suppressing the rebels". As a result of this, Klaus did not know what to believe anymore.
　Is it a mere hoax that has caused such a fuss, or were they tricked by the Prime Minister? Klaus couldn't decide.

　As of now, there were no voices from the First and Third Knights saying that there was a violation of the agreement. Naturally, Prime Minister Baru and the head of the Third Order of Jarmu have silenced them.
　However, as a result of the investigation by the Second Knight Commander of Memphis, there were several voices from the Second Knight Order. It's impossible to know if it's a lie or true, and it's not conclusive proof, but even so, the story becomes even bigger because the "voices have been raised".

　In other words - give me the public record, he said.

　If the official documents mentioned the agreement with R6. Presumably, Klaus would be held accountable as the First Knight Commander. Responsible for violations that took place on their own without their own knowledge.

''d*mn it!''

　There was no way I was going to be convinced.

　With this one incident, the next king's seat is definitely a long way off.

　And it's no longer clear that his brother Klaus, but his brother Mine, will be sitting in that chair .......


'-- Klaus!　Oh, Klaus!　Poor girl. You didn't do anything wrong.

　Suddenly, Klaus's room is visited by Klaus's own mother, the First Queen White.

　As soon as White saw Klaus breathing hard and hitting things, she ran up to him and hugged him on the back.

"Don't worry, I will silence any newspaper that says bad things about you. I don't care what they say about you, you're going to be the king in your own way.
'Mother, ...... if you act like that now, it will be written even worse.
'If you write more, I will silence you even more. You must let them know who in the world they are insulting!
...... But,
"Klaus. All you have to do is to be the next king. Oh, but what has he done? I can't believe my son is being mistreated like this and he doesn't even protect me!
............

　Klaus was not good at White.

　An annoying woman who didn't know politics but only had power. ...... That was his opinion of his mother.

　In his 20 years of life, he had never felt any real affection from his mother. Every word that comes out of White is a "trick". It is a selfish expectation cloaked in the veneer of affection. "Be the next king," he would whisper to me every time I met him. It was ingrained in him from a young age that he must not be defeated by that mistress. Hence, Klaus is obsessed with the throne and looks at Mein with an uncanny degree of suspicion.

''I'm going to cool off a bit.
Yeah?　Yeah. Have a good day.

　To the first prince's maid, "Is the tea ready yet? Klaus let out a small sigh as he left his room, with White urging him to leave. You're going to stay again," he muttered, and walked slowly and aimlessly down the opulent corridor to return as late as possible.


　He wandered out to the balcony, as if the autumn breeze was inviting him.

　There he saw a beautiful woman and her maid of honor.

　It was exactly who he had been expecting to see for the briefest of moments in the depths of his consciousness while he made his way to this balcony. It was Mine's own mother, the Second Queen of Fron, the Second Queen of Fron.


''Well, well, well, it's Queen Huron II. 'Is this a leisurely teatime in a place like this? It's very elegant and nice of you.

　Aggressive words that came out of his mouth. Such a situation of Klaus was received by Huron with a gentle smile, as if he was watching his own child's rebellion.

''It's only when one loses the margin that one needs the margin, you know. 'First Prince Klaus,'

　Huron bothered to get up from his chair and pulled the chair across from him out of his hand to look at Klaus. The smile on his face looks just like Mine's, and Klaus sits down roughly in that chair with a single "tsk" and an uncomfortable click of his tongue.

　Tea is poured into a teacup by the maid of honor. Klaus didn't touch it, but opened his mouth.

'What are you doing? You and I are enemies. Are you trying to be charitable?
It's the same now and always has been. It's always the same with you. Whenever you're having a hard time, you sneak up on me and secretly pamper me before you leave.
"Nah, .......

　Klaus' face suddenly flushed. He hadn't been aware of it until now, but if you ask me, he felt like a figurehead.

''You were too mean.

　Ufufu and laughing like a mischievous child, Hron was still very much like Mine. Klaus regained his composure as he remembered the face of his hated foolish brother.

'Are you satisfied with humiliating me in front of the maid?　After all, she's just that soft, cowardly mother. It's quite insidious.
A child, if you take your eyes off him, is growing beyond your expectations. You mustn't think of them as being soft and timid forever.
I don't need you to tell me that!
'I'm sure you did. The boy seems to have met a good match.
...... tch.

　The mention of Mine came out of Huron's mouth and Klaus was in a bad mood. I can't get rid of the idea that "I'm better than him". This is because of the education of the First Queen White.

"I hope you do, too. I think so.
Hmph. I'm not a weakling who needs others to influence me to be strong. I'm going to do things my way, and I'm going to beat my foolish brother and be the next king.
...... when the only way to be rewarded is to be king. It's still not your fault for not realizing that.

　Klaus, talking about his dreams, looked pained, contrary to his words. Huron, who had been watching him for years already since he was a child, muttered quietly with a sad look in his eyes.

''What are you talking about?　Say it so I can hear it.
In the not-too-distant future, you will be trapped in a corner. And there will come a time when you will have to pay for it with your own body. And yet ...... still, you have a heart to be saved. It's a good thing. I'm the only one looking at your heart, no matter who else is out there. Don't forget that.
'It's ......, so what. Are you asking me to give up the next king?

　To Klaus, who listened back with sharp eyes, Huron smiled gently and said


''Think of the Prime Minister as an enemy. You will be the next king in your own way, won't you?




　　　* * *



It's so effective it makes me feel sorry for you.

　Three days have passed since the Vicide's speech.

　The contents of the morning newspapers that lined up on the dining table were mostly "knocking the First Order". There were some newspapers that published articles in defense of the First Order, but according to the maid who was in charge of investigating the matter, the newspaper was written by a traitor and no one paid any attention to it. I've been told by the maids that the people of the capital are "anti-first prince".

　...... It's a scary thing about politics that the mere mention of the "suspicion" that we set up a false ceasefire agreement and took the city by surprise is enough to make it look like this. I thought to myself, "But, you know.

I thought to myself, "But you know what? I thought to myself, "But you know, when the national government is flailing in the face of petty bickering like this, something bad can happen behind the scenes.

　Winfiled mutters next to me. I'm not going to get the tweak that that stupid argument is winding up like this mainly because of what you've done.

'A bad thing?'
An invasion or a third force or something.
Yeah. Chance for you, Chance.
Yeah, yeah.
It's you anyway, you've already got your hands in it, right?
Yeah. It's okay. It's okay.

　Winfiled said, "So, chu," and mooed at me with a kissing face. If a tall, de-powered cool beauty spirit tries to do that, even if it's a joke, I could really do it.

　Immediately afterwards, I was sent back with a hyphenated "repatriation". It seems that I've gone against Yukari's better judgment.

''Master. You were scheduled to be in a dungeon with the First Court Wizardry Division today, right?　We don't have time to sell oil here, sir.
'Oops, yeah. I should have left a little earlier. We can't stay here too long.

　Today is the day of experience gaining that we've been waiting for. If you want to call it like Commander Zephyr, it's a day for experience training.
　No, it's a "day" because we're going on a three-day, two-night trip. An experience training "trip"?　It's kind of like a school trip, and I'm excited for my age.

You can still take it easy, Second-dono. And a cup of tea is fine. I'll help prepare Eco in the meantime.

　In order to ensure the safety of all the members of the group, I'm taking Silvia and Eco along with me this time. "Even though it's a C grade dungeon, we won't let our guard down. It's better to be prepared, and to be well prepared for the challenge.

Eco-friendly. Eco. We're done eating.
Mmmmmm.
Come on, get the shells out of your mouth. How much do you put in your mouth? Don't try to eat the scallops.
Hmmm!
'Not mmmm!　Eco!
Mmmm!
Hey!　Let me out!　Let me out!
Mmmm!

　The attack between Sylvia and Eco lasted at least three times longer than I expected. Finally, Eco was satisfied by using the other shells out of her mouth to rip the scallops off and make her eat them.

　Eventually, we were just short of late. Well, as usual.


　And so. Me, Silvia, and Eco joined up with the members of the First Court Magical Division and left for an experience training trip.

　The destination is the commercial city of Renyadaw.

　The C grade dungeon, "Gultum" - a dungeon of the C grade.