The Knight Who Devours Magic

Chapter 29: Identifying the Suspect

“Right. There were those bastards. The remnants of those damn cultists……”

The Count answered immediately, but Muno's expression only hardened slightly.

A feeling that he didn't take the problem as seriously as his granddaughter's runaway was subtly conveyed in his tone.

“They might not be remnants.

The power behind them……”

“Right. I heard that too. But there's too little evidence.

Didn't you say it was a story from your memory?

And one that you've only just remembered.”

It seemed his father had relayed more of the story than he had thought.

But it didn't seem to have convinced the Count.

“It's not that I don't believe your memory at all.

But I'm the one who risked my life to subjugate those cultists 10 years ago.

As someone who personally experienced that fierce war, it's not easy for me to accept those words.”

“Pardon?”

Muno, who was frowning, wondering what this old man was saying, had to close his mouth again when he saw the regret on the Count's face.

“……It was a difficult war.

So much so that half of my loyal knights died.

If there was a power behind that Kraymal fellow as you say, my territory would have collapsed at their hands, and I would have died.

And the entire kingdom would have fallen into chaos.”

“……”

“But the subjugation was ultimately successful, and 10 years have passed since then, and now you say there was a power behind them?

At best, they would be remnants.

That's what makes sense.”

The Count's words contained his own hopes, but they were also reasonable.

However, the memory Muno had dredged up from his trauma was as vivid as if he had experienced that time again.

“Still, I remember it clearly. Kraymal was definitely afraid of being held responsible by someone. I'm certain.”

He had added that, thinking that he probably wouldn't have heard this much if the story had been relayed through his father.

As expected, only after hearing those words did the Count's gaze become heavy.

“……Can you take responsibility for those words?”

“Yes.”

The Count's expression distorted slightly at the unhesitating answer.

“Have you ever heard that a magician doesn't even treat a non-magician as a person?”

“I've also heard that they disregard magicians of a lower rank than themselves.”

“Right.

They create fire and lightning in the empty air and freeze the desert.

The higher the rank of a magician, the more arrogant they become because they use a power that ignores the providence of the world.”

The Count continued, as if interrogating him, by confirming facts he already knew.

“Because of that, a high-ranking magician will never listen to someone inferior to them.”

“I know……”

“The Demon Cult Leader Kraymal was a 6-Circle magician. And a high-ranking one among the 6-Circles at that.”

“……I am. That fact too.”

“So, if your memory is correct, the power behind him would be at least a Seven-Star.

And you can still take responsibility for those words?”

“I told my father that I was certain.”

“Hah……”

The Count sighed, and then straightened the back he had been buried in his chair.

“Your past resentment may have distorted your memory.

You may have unconsciously fabricated a justification for chasing the remnants of those bastards.

Have you considered that possibility?”

“……After uprooting those bastards, there was no power behind them, and it was my misunderstanding?

Then in the end, it would be a good thing for this land, for this kingdom.”

Muno received the gaze that was now shooting at him like a flame without blinking an eye.

‘I will uproot them. With my own hands if possible.’

The death of his biological parents, whose faces he no longer remembered, and the terrible experiments and torture he had received as a child.

He hoped that the boiling anger and will that came to mind when he thought of them would be fully conveyed to the Count.

“If I were to start a commotion by believing your words, I would have to start by announcing that all the achievements my father and I made 10 years ago were wrong.

Are you saying this knowing that?”

He flinched for a moment, but this was also a problem he had already heard from his father and had thought about enough.

“There's no need for that.

In the first place, the cultists don't even know what information I have, so if we let them know, we might just awaken their vigilance for nothing.

You can just announce to the public that you are trying to deal with the remnants.”

“Heh……. You certainly know how to use your head better than your father.”

The Count let out a dry laugh, but he seemed to have accepted his argument.

“Do you believe me?”

“If your words are true, this country itself will be shaken anyway.

If there really is someone even worse than that Demon Cult Leader, I can't even imagine what they are plotting……. I will investigate, assuming that for now.”

“Thank you.”

No matter how much he announced that it was a subjugation of remnants, it would be no different from admitting that he had not finished the job from 10 years ago.

That was why he had said it, but the Count shook his head.

“What is there for you to be thankful for?

It's just a job that I couldn't finish anyway. I'll have to endure losing a little face.

Were you worried that you would be their first target?

Or are you just grateful that you can finally get your revenge?”

“Honestly, it's the latter.”

“You're quite shameless, hoho. Well, good. Anyway, stay in Trian for a while.”

“Pardon?”

“I wasted time investigating the Toisen territory after being baited by a strange tip.

The investigation into the Kannel County has just begun, so let's talk after seeing the results first.

And if they are after you, it will be safer here than in Drasen.”

Ack?

“I have no intention of staying safe……”

“If something happens to you, how can I face your father…… but. You want to fight, don't you?”

As the Count chuckled and his eyes lit up, Muno answered with firm resolve.

“Yes! Of course.

The fish won't bite unless the bait is fresh and wriggling, right?”

“Puhahaha. Right, you are indeed fresh.

Then we should send that bait to the place where there are likely to be the most fish.”

“Pardon?”

“Go to the Kannel family.

I've already sent a reliable investigation team, but if that friend Moeno Kannel is really involved with them, it won't be easy to find clues.”

“Then……”

“But if they really can't give up on you, there will be a proper bite.”

The Count made his decision with a murderous smile.

* * *

The remnants of the evil cult that had caused a tragedy in this land 10 years ago have reappeared.

That rumor, which had started in the Drasen territory, was already slowly spreading throughout Trian, and after the Count personally acknowledged it, it began to spread like wildfire.

“The, the cult that sacrificed people as offerings?”

“Oh my goodness. How could they……”

“Then that means the Count couldn't subjugate them all?”

“Shh! Don't say such things.”

Anxiety spread in an instant through the seven territories under Trian.

“Still, the Count will take care of it, right?”

“Of course. He's the hero of the north.”

“He succeeded in subjugating them 10 years ago too.”

“Let's trust the Count.”

The history of Enoch Trian, the bulwark of the north who had protected the security of the territory and ruled for 30 years, suppressed that anxiety.

And at that time, Muno had left Trian and was riding his horse towards the southeast.

Heeeeeigh!

“We should camp here for today.”

“Let’s do that.”

There was only one companion on the journey to the Kannel territory.

It was Klarm, the knight who had guided Muno to the Count in Trian.

And he was a knight of a higher rank than he had thought.

“As I've said repeatedly, please speak comfortably.

It's uncomfortable for me if you, a friend of my father, use honorifics.”

“I can't do that.

I'm escorting a guest on the Count's orders. And to be clear, Ryan Drasen and I are not friends.”

“Pardon? No, surely……”

“I'm his senior. 7 years older too. Well, as for swordsmanship, he's a liiittle better.”

“Ah……”

As Muno made a blank expression at the strange remark that had suddenly come in.

Pfft.

“I'm kidding. Kekehek.”

Klarm, who started laughing to himself.

‘……Was he this kind of person?’

Muno could only manage an awkward smile at the joke he didn't know where to laugh.

He had learned late, but Klarm was also a noble who had been granted the title of Baron for the incident 10 years ago.

However, due to the difference in merit, he was a single-generation noble who had not received a territory.

- Your father performed an exceptionally outstanding service. He was also originally from a fallen noble family.

- Klarm is also an excellent knight who received a title as a commoner.

He's more than enough as a companion for a fishing operation.

Even without the Count's words, he had no intention of ignoring Klarm, who had been born a commoner in this world and had obtained a noble title solely through his skills.

Moreover, Klarm was a peculiar person the more he looked at him.

“Seeing as you specifically requested me, it seems His Excellency the Count also thinks well of you, Young Master.

I had a hunch when you were dealing with Grand Prince Kane, but you are indeed amazing, Young Master.”

He speaks informally to his father but uses honorifics with him.

Just because he was the Count's guest right now.

People are so…….

“……You live a complicated life.”

This mouth of mine.

He regretted it as soon as he said it, but Klarm smiled brightly.

“Everyone lives a complicated life.

Just as it's uncomfortable for some people that the Young Master says everything he wants to say while being polite.

Ah, of course, I like it. Very much. Kekehekek.”

He's laughing again.

But I don't know why he's laughing.

‘I just can't stand it when my guts get twisted.’

As Muno instinctively tried to step back, their eyes met and he smiled awkwardly.

This time, Klarm wiped the smile from his face and brought up an unexpected topic.

“Not many people know that the two of us are heading to Kannel.”

“Pardon?”

“It's a fishing trip, isn't it? His Excellency.”

“Ah. Right. In the Kannel County……”

“In the first place, when the first traces of magic appeared in Drasen, there were people who reported the Toisen territory.

Anonymously.

They enclosed plausible evidence.

Of course, it was false.”

“Ah……”

“Thanks to that, when the real incident broke out, His Excellency was in the Toisen territory in the northwest.

On the opposite side of the Kannel County.”

“Yes, I've heard of it.”

“It means there's someone in Trian who is connected to them.

And the person in charge of the investigation team that is currently in the Kannel County is quite a scary person, so he must be very angry.

The Kannel County may have already been turned upside down.”

“Pardon?”

“In other words, if they are after you, Young Master, you might be attacked on your way to Kannel.”

……No way.

“In preparation for that, His Excellency told a few suspicious people different routes for us

. Some even had different destinations.

And there are people disguised as us following those routes.”

“Hoh, then……”

“Yes. If there's an attack, the suspect will be identified, and if there isn't, the suspect will also be identified.

Today is the first day of our journey, so we'll have to wait and see……”

Seeing Klarm, who was smiling as he trailed off, Muno smiled back.

“Ah. I see. Hahaha.”

“I see?”

“……Is there anyone among the suspects who is very close to the Count?”

“Hmm?”

“I'm already getting a bite. And quite a big one at that……”

“That is, what……”

“Don't show it and laugh with me. It's the forest on the right side of the main road. Ah. Hahaha!”

“Ah……? Ha, haha!”

“Magician‘s’. At least three.”

Muno's low voice was layered between the laughter.

“Ah. Ha. Ha. Ha. You're quite the joker, Young Master.”

Klarm's forced laughter was loud, but his expression was completely hardened.