-King Esmaruit of Entor’s POV-
「Is that true?」
The prime minister of Entor Kingdom asked the knight kneeling in front of him again.
Impatience can be seen on his face.
「There is no doubt. The forest protected the commander of the 1st knight order of Emperors, Ganmirze….sama.」
The knight hesitated for a moment because he’s before the prime minister but after a moment, adds “sama”.
The entire hall became silent.
The prime minister knit his brow but seemed to have controlled his emotion by giving out a sigh.
A knight of Entor will never add an honorific like that to someone of equal position even if it is from another country.
However, Dadavis, the leader of the 3rd knight order of our country, has added “sama” to Ganmirze meaning he admits his superiority.
I am very satisfied with his ability to immediately make an independent judgment about what happened in the forest.
「I see.」
As my voice echoed through the audience hall, the other murmured for a moment but was silenced again.
I look around the nobles who are looking at me and finally, turn my gaze to the knight.
「The forest has recognized Ganmirze as someone necessary. Is that what you concluded, commander of the 3rd knight order, Dadavis?」
「Yes」
The prime minister showed a very difficult expression as Dadavis answered without hesitation.
I managed to hold back the laughter that was about to break out inside me.
It must be frustrating that his plan has failed.
A few days ago, the prime minister had suggested that we attack the Emperors before they gained power.
I could see that he had already gained the support of many nobles and I already felt bitter with my failure to stop them.
However, today’s report changes everything.
-0-
A few days ago, a light like a membrane appeared and it enveloped the forest.
I could feel high purity magical power from that light and it even caused confusion in our country.
However, the light disappeared as if it had been sucked into the forest and it is unknown what happened to it.
The mages investigated but they could not find out what caused that light to appear.
However, the 3rd knight order, who had been investigating the forest, came back with the answer.
And the identity of that light.
No one would have imagined.
No one had thought that the forest protected the people of the country that had been attacking it.
However, the forest showed its will.
That’s all there is to it.
-0-
This kingdom, Entor, is a country of beastkin.
There are elves, humans, and dwarves, but beastkins have the highest population.
Also, unlike other countries, this kingdom has many half breeds of every race.
Dadavis, who’s kneeling in front of me, is half beastkin-half elf.
It is said that the reason why this was deemed acceptable was because half breeds are defended by the forest.
Entor Kingdom has lived with the forest.
Entor Kingdom will never disregard the forest’s decision.
「The next king will be, without a doubt, Ganmirze. Prepare a messenger.」
「….that is.」
「Prime Minister, do you have any objection?」
「Still…..」
I don’t know how much has he prepared for war but he might have poured his own money into it.
And it looks like he has no intention to give up.
Ridiculous.
「I told you so, didn’t I? I told you not to be hasty and to be cautious with your actions.」
As my voice echoed in the audience hall, I saw a good number of high rank nobles looking at the floor.
They are probably the prime minister’s allies.
….there’s quite a few who were following the prime minister.
「Yes, but….」
「Is there a problem?」
The prime minister turns his gaze to me.
「Ganmirze is someone who has oppressed the beastkins in Emperors. Isn’t it a mistake for the forest to allow that?」
The shoulder of the vice commander next to Dadavis shook a little.
That’s probably true.
The prime minister is complaining about the commander’s report.
He did that even though he reported that he had actually seen the light enveloping the forest with his own eyes.
Denying the report of the commander at this moment means you are picking a fight against every 3rd knight order on duty, do you understand that?
「Then, are you saying that the knight’s report is a lie?」
「That’s…..but we also have information that he killed beastkins.」
「True」
「Then…」
「Then, what?」
「Eh?」
「I also heard that he killed beastkins. I’m asking you what about it?」
「You approve of a man who kills beastkins?」
「…..prime minister, he is a knight of Emperors. You can never escape doing something harsh if you want to gain rank.」
「Are you saying it is okay to kill beastkins to gain rank?」
「Looking at the actions of Ganmirze’s men, I’d say it’s necessary.」
「But.」
「Fumu. When the former king of Emperors dies, where were most of the 1st knight order? They’re not even at the royal capital.」
「That’s….」
「Answer!」
「They were in villages and towns.」
「And why is that?」
「……」
「To keep the chaos at bay after they had defeated the former king. In addition, a few days before they strike, they evacuated children who had been sold by the poor and it was confirmed that many beastkins had been mixed in that group.」
「That’s true but….」
「What did the 1st knight order do in various places?」
「Kuh…」
「After the declaration of the liberation from slavery, they protected the beastkin children who can’t fight and negotiated with the lords of each village and towns. These things can’t be done in a day or two of preparations.」
「…..」
「It probably took him more than ten years to prepare. Just how hard it is to make everyone from your knight order to fight with you behind the scene!」
The prime minister looked down in frustration.
Various information flowed at the same time the former king of Emperors died.
Even I can’t believe all of those pieces of information.
However, every report has the name Ganmirze, the commander of the 1st knight order.
-0-
I even laughed when I saw the selected people gathered to make the survey corps for the operation called “Ruins Survey”.
New and weak mages. They are just children who started their apprenticeship.
Above all, the slave guards were newborn slaves with their mothers.
No matter how much I think about it, I could instantly tell that they’re not there for survey.
And of course, that group did not head to any ruin but rather, a town where they hid as soon as they arrived.
And that town was the one ruled by Ganmirze.
-0-
In the report from the spies who had been spying on the royal castle, there was a certain detail on the day the king died.
On that day, the back door of the castle had been opened without any guards.
As soon as the light attacked, the beastkins ran out of the castle while being protected by knights.
The crest on the knights was that of the 1st order.
They went into a warehouse near the castle and when they came out, they were already dressed differently.
As if waiting for them, people appeared from all over the place, divided them into several groups, and immediately started moving.
From the reports from other towns and villages, we could see that everything had been planned.
-0-
I wonder how much time was spent on all the preparations. That is something impossible to do in just one or two years.
In that country, Ganmirze’s opinion must have been in the minority.
How hard it would be to find companions who felt the same way.
He probably had been making preparations little by little, going through the eyes of not only the spies of other countries but also those of his own country.
If he only needed to change his country, he would have ignored the beastkins.
However, it is obvious that he has prepared to free the beastkin slaves at the same time.
「Dadavis」
「Yes」
「Thank you for your hard work.」
「Yeah」
「Our country respects the will of the forest and given what happened, we will strive to have a friendly relationship once Ganmirze become the king.」
I made that declaration and left the audience hall.
The commander of the 1st knight order followed me behind.
「Garfa」
「Yes」
「Can you do what Ganmirze did?」
「….please don’t be absurd.」
Hahaha, indeed.
Even I can’t do that.
If I do something similar, can I do it?
I can’t even imagine.
Such a person will be the king.
There’s no way our country can choose another path but be his friend.
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