“Well if it isn’t Princess Lobelia and Princess Spirito. Oh, and Qualia as well. It is an honor for me to be received despite my sudden visit.”
“It was truly terrible, but you did a wonderful job protecting our country’s citizens. Everyone is thankful to you, Woodhorse. Come sit down.”
There seemed to be no quarrel between Lobelia and Woodhorse, as they broke the ice warmly as always, and each sat on a sofa.
Meanwhile, Qualia and Spirito observed not just Woodhorse, but also the knights behind him.
There seemed to be a fuse squirming just under the surface, that could be lit at any moment.
“I heard you were dealing with remnants from Azure Skies, but how are things?”
“They appear to have settled down more than I thought. More beast people gave up and surrendered due to the fluke that was Ddos’ rampage.”
“And I assume you have not been needlessly violent to the captured beast people?”
“Yes, we… Have not.”
Woodhorse’s response seemed to hint at something, as he continued with a troubled expression.
“…I would say we have more trouble with humans. Especially with the ones from the Truly Wonderful Clear Skies Church. They have been lynching beast people, and causing some casualties.”
“I figured. To the Clear Skies Church, beast people are sandbags.”
Cursed blood. The Truly Wonderful Clear Skies Church saw beast people as demons.
“Of course, we are currently cracking down on them. But, as ashamed as I am to say, resistance from influential people is making it hard to make progress.”
“The cardinal body has such influence even while on an expedition…”
The Truly Wonderful Clear Skies Church had the position of cardinal.
Queen Route stood at the top of this organization as their pope, and cardinals were high priests who assisted her. This was known as the cardinal body.
As it was a worldwide church, cardinals were not just high priests of the Kingdom of Acacia, but it was only natural for the Kingdom of Acacia, of which Route was queen, to grow in power. And in turn, cardinals of the Kingdom of Acacia held tremendous power.
But there were no cardinals currently in the country.
They took in an ‘offensive chivalric order’, and were on an expedition to hunt heretics.
“I understand. I will try to talk Queen Route into stopping. She is here in this country.”
“Big sister…”
The moment Queen Route’s name left Lobelia’s mouth, Spirito looked worried. Lobelia gave her a thumbs up to reassure her, and turned her eyes back to Woodhorse.
“And Princess Lobelia, we have another big problem on our hands. The fact that ancient magic stones Black Holes were diverted.”
Woodhorse cut to the main point.
He brought up the ancient magic stones of all things.
“We, Troy, take the responsibility of finding the culprits.”
He declared, full of confidence, which Qualia could not question. Spirito told him earlier that Woodhorse might have been the culprit, but he was forbidden from saying that.
And so, he kept on analyzing him.
“We have pinpointed knights who helped with that crime, but… You might know this already, Princess Lobelia, but they all died suddenly yesterday.”
“…Do you think it was suicide?”
“That is what the situation indicates, but clearly, there was someone else behind them. Someone who would benefit from Azure Skies receiving these ancient magic stones…”
Woodhorse looked at Lobelia with a lot of strength in the glint in his eyes.
Lobelia nodded, as if accepting it as something serious, and Woodhorse responded with a mild squint, before Lobelia spoke again.
“Yes, we do need to find out who did it as soon as possible. There are even rumors beginning to circulate that it was Troy.”
“…”
For just a brief moment, Qualia detected an unusual value in Woodhorse’s expression when he heard that. And that slight distortion felt darker than Liebe’s dark matter.
But he quickly put a lid on it with an encouraging smile that offered no contradictions.
“Precisely. It makes sense for Troy to be suspected, considering its history of corruption. But that is precisely why this new, reborn Troy needs to eliminate the threat that is the bomb that could destroy the capital.”
Woodhorse’s clenched right fist trembled, and he acted in a way that gave off a strong sense of duty.
“And so, please leave the rest to Troy. I swear on my honor that I will clean Troy’s name, and I will find this ancient magic stone that is being stored to destroy the capital!”
“…In that case, recommend that you search outside of a fifty kilometer radius from this location.”
Qualia’s sudden advice ripped through this space.
“There are presently no ancient magic stones within a fifty kilometer radius. There are no readings in the radar system.”
“W-why are you saying that…?”
Woodhorse was not baffled, but he was clearly somewhat confused.
And Qualia responded as he activated his 5D printer in front of him.
“The radar system was created after the composition of the ancient magic stones Black Hole was unraveled. If you are looking for a Black Hole, it is recommended that you equip this contact lens and continue your search.”
“…But…”
With that contact lens, he could search for it within a fifty meter radius. But even after hearing that, Woodhorse’s expression remained iffy.
And it remained the same when Lobelia backed it up.
“It does sound unbelievable, but this ‘technology’ of Qualia’s is real.”
“…Still, I cannot believe that so suddenly. We will first check if the remnants of Azure Skies are in possession of the ancient magic stone. Qualia, you are still young, so leave this complicated affair to us.”
“You are wrong. It is judged that searching for the ancient magic stone black hole is a task that carries a great degree of priority. That is why Hello World is planning to deploy another radar system in the suburbs of the capital, and expand the search range soon.”
“…”
It was not yet decisive, but Woodhorse’s face was beginning to tense up.
Lobelia did not miss this, and smiled daringly.
“You seem pale all of a sudden. What is the matter?”
“No, there is no problem. As ashamed as I am to say it, my head cannot keep up with all these explanations.”
“Could it be… That there is something in the suburbs you don’t wish us to see? Like an ancient magic stone you have hidden?”
“…”
“I’m joking I’m joking. I’m sorry, please think nothing of it.”
After pressing Woodhorse with a smile that surpassed a wintry mountain with its coldness, Lobelia switched smoothly into an innocent, girly smile. And after seeing Lobelia’s two faces, Woodhorse exhaled and looked away.
“Please don’t joke about such things…!”
“I said I was sorry.”
“Well then, I think it is time I…”
“Mister Woodhorse, we won’t allow a bomb that could destroy the capital to be activated.”
Woodhorse maintained his smile, even as he tried to leave quickly, but Lobelia stopped him. But she simply spoke to his back.
“Also, I think it is important to judge bad people while following the law. Strictly within the bounds of the law. Not through cheating via assassination. Mister Woodhorse, you really haven’t done anything wrong, right?”
“…What do you mean?”
“Nothing. Goodbye.”
Lobelia let Woodhorse take his leave, putting an end to this meeting.
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