136 Episode 136 "Very Dangerous Remains and Reply from a Nobleman of Justice".txt (1/2)

Welcome back, Nay-kun!　Ladies and gentlemen!

””I'm back!”

The next day.

We arrived safely in the port city of Ilgafa.

When we got home, Cecil, Rita and Cutlass were greeted by Aine in her maid's uniform.

As if she knew when the carriage would arrive, she opened the gate of the mansion and waited for us with a 'Hagane's Mop' in her hand.

Until we arrived at Irgapha, Iris and I had been sending each other messages through ”Shared Consciousness (Mind Linkage) - Revised”, so I guess she must have calculated the arrival time backwards from the contents of those messages. Aine and Iris seem to have that much time to spare.

By the way, Iris and Rafilia are in the Ilgafa lord's house.

They are planning to sneak out and join us at night.

''You're Cutlass-chan?''

Yes. It's nice to meet you, sir!

Cutlass bowed deeply to Aine, who was smiling calmly.

Maybe it's because they're going to be living together from now on, but she seems nervous. Besides, it's the first time Cutlass has met Aine.

...... Thank you, for being Nay-kun's slave (thing).

But Aine took Cutlass's hand and smiled gently.

'Aine has always wanted someone like Cutlass-chan. Someone with good defense and someone to protect Nah-kun by his side.

...... Huh?　What, huh?

Cutlass rolls his eyes at the overly warm welcome.

But in the vanguard, you have the most powerful Rita, don't you?

Yeah. Rita-san is very strong. She's very beautiful and she loves Nai-kun. She's stylish, kind and very reliable. The beastman's straightforward loyalty is dazzling, and I can tell that he is always looking after Nah-kun. Rita-san is Aine's pride and joy, she is her slave companion. If Rita-san is at Nana-kun's side, Aine will feel safe.

Aine speaks to Cutlass in a soothing tone.

By the way, Rita is turning bright red next to me. Cecil is nodding, though, ”That's totally true.

But ...... Rita-san needs you to go take out the enemy .......

It was.

Rita's main method of fighting is to come forward and cross the enemy.

In the meantime, my defense will be stretched thin. Aine was worried about that .......

It's a good idea to have someone who specializes in defense as Nay-kun's bodyguard, Aine has always thought. It is a good idea to have someone who can help you. Thanks for being Nay-kun's companion ...... Cutlass-chan.

Aine couldn't stand it anymore and squeezed Cutlass in a hug.

''Aine, which is .......''

Cutlass is surprised that he can't keep up with the sudden turn of events.

But there were tears in his eyes.

Aine is definitely making Cutlass feel very welcome. Iris and Raphilia are probably the same.

'Is it okay ......?　I'll be here ...... as one of you, even if I'm in Arujido's house.

You know what you're talking about, right?

With a poke, I poked Cutlass in the forehead.

Come to think of it, Cutlass had been living her entire life hiding her identity until now. Because of her mother's desire to make her a knight, she couldn't even play with her friends her own age.

She has been freed from that wish and joined our party, but she's still very insecure about a lot of things.

I've allotted the rooms for Cutlass to stay, and I don't want him to leave,” he said. They are my friends ...... and they are like family to me.

Oh, yeah, I know. ......

Cutlass wiped his tears away with his fist and then, with a clunk, he raised his shield.

”I, Cutlass-Mutran, will serve you with all my might as Arujidono's bodyguard. I promise to be Arujidoran's shield, and that I will be the first one to catch all attacks!

Don't do that, because that would put my stress levels at Mach.

And now, I am to be the gatekeeper of this house!

Yeah.

Aren't you satisfied with me?

I just got back. Let's take a break.

I wouldn't be happy about that, sir. Let me, the gatekeeper.

Thirty minutes at the gate, with a 60-minute break. And I'll see you inside the gate.

............ What kind of gatekeeper are you, sir?

If you don't like it, just say no.

Well, it can't be helped, sir. I don't feel like working, but I'm going to be the gatekeeper of this mansion.

Cutlass nods and stands upright and immobile inside the closed gate.

Yup. I'll keep you on duty for 15 minutes. I'm going to be tired.

'I'm really looking forward to it, Cutlass.

Thank you, Aine.

Cutlass laughed with an innocent look on his face.

'For accepting me as a half-breed and a bumbling knight.

No. No, it's not. Cutlass could be the trump card of the party when the need arises.

In case of emergency?

For example, if Rita had to take a day off.

Good night?　Oh, it's a time of sickness, isn't it?

Yeah, it's when I get heavy for ten months or so.

Oh, yes, that's true. Sickness can linger, you know.

I know. So when Rita-san is pregnant like that, I need you to protect Nay-kun, Cutlass.

All right, sir!

With a pop, Cutlass tapped his chest, which was covered by the 'Balluar Breastplate'.

Good.

As expected of the party's big sister. It looks like she did a good job of relieving Cutlass's tension.

So, why is Rita covering my ears with her hands?　I think ”embarrassing” ...... is a good scene where Cutlass and Aine understand each other. Cutlass is a defensive cheat thanks to the artifact, and he has the skills to block the other person's actions, and as a guard, when Rita is not doing well, like Aine says...

Wow. ──────!

'Wow. Nagi-sama, Rita is at her limit. Let's go into your house quickly!

Uh-huh.

So, with Cecil and Rita pulling me from both sides, I returned to my home for the first time in a long time.

Before I can relax, there's one thing I need to do.

It's quite a hassle, and it's something that's hard to deal with, but...

''It's just as Iris-chan told me in 'Sharing and Changing Consciousness': ...... This is what the retired knight Galungara left behind.

With that, Aine laid out two things on the living room floor.

One was an old piece of parchment.

The other is a silver dagger.

These two are the leftovers left behind by the guy who controlled the Knight Ghost - the retired knight Galungara.

”'I leave my child in the care of the knight Galungara...'

Written on the parchment is just a short sentence. Underneath it is a signature. One is of the knight Galungara. The other is just the initials. But next to the initials there is a semi-circular stamp of sorts next to the initials.

To be exact, it's a mark that looks like an inked coin stamped on it.

'...... This mark is a royal coin, right?'

'Yes. It's the same one Mr. Cutlass showed me.

Cecil said next to me.

The three of us present here are me, Aine, and Cecil.

The items left behind by retired knights all looked dangerous, so we decided to talk to Aine, who found them, and Cecil, who has the 'appraisal' skill, first.

Of course, I'm going to let everyone know as soon as I get the information together.

”The initials written here match the current name of His Majesty the King.

...... Does this mean that it was the retired knight Galungara who took custody of Cutlass from the king?

I think there's a very good chance of that happening.

It's a nasty coincidence.

I mean, it was really bad, Cutlass.

If that retired knight had been involved in the knight examination, his identity would have been exposed the moment Cutlass told him about his background. If there was such a thing as fate, then he was too mean to Cutlass.

'I'll tell Cutlass about this.

He's the master.

The retired knight Galungara escaped somewhere yesterday. His whereabouts are still unknown.

But the Irgapha Lordship doesn't seem to want this matter to go public.

Surely they can't say that the retired knight who was the next lord's guard couldn't say that he took something of value and disappeared somewhere. Because it's too bad luck before an important ceremony.

'Cecil thinks that the retired knight is being chased by a ghost, right?

Yes. Mr. Nagi.

Cecil nodded without hesitation.

''Since Fynn-san intervened in the 'Armor of Balal' and broke the jutsu, the wrath of the Knight Ghosts must have been directed at the sorcerer. If that retired knight-san was the center of the summoning ritual, it wouldn't be surprising if he was ...... possessed.

I wonder what Cutlass would think if he heard that: ......

You think she wants to help you because you took her in the past?

I'll leave it up to her.

The question is, what about that other item?

A silver dagger with fine writing engraved on it.

This was said to have been in a bag along with a piece of an old kabuto. I heard that the Kabuto had traces of being used to summon ghosts, so this dagger must be related to that.

And according to Cecil's 'Appraisal' skill, this dagger seems to be like a communication device via magic power.

It was Cecil's guess that the retired knight Galungara was using this as a way to communicate with his companions.

'The Black Knight said that the ritual involved a mysterious wizard.

He also said that they were like people, like dragons.

In the past, 'visitors' and nobles have come after things related to dragons and ancient relics. The mysterious Guildmaster and the White Guild were involved behind this. And they like to get involved in the black business.

The knight ghosts have been attacking the cadets, and in this case, it's possible they were involved. And even more so when the retired knight Galunggala is involved with the royal family.

''I wonder if this dagger can be used to contact that mysterious wizard: ......