"Nathan! Is that the sign left by the Duke this time?"
Upon hearing the Peletta Knight's question, Nathan Zuckerman lifted his eyes, silently nodding as he folded the piece of paper he held in his hand.
"Yes."
"And there are no peculiarities again?"
"He advises us to follow at a slower pace."
"A slower pace?"
A knight with a grim scar on his face scratched his cheek, lost in thought.
"Is he intending to delay our rendezvous? I hope there hasn't been an incident."
"..."
Instead of answering his question, Nathan placed the folded note in his mouth and swallowed it.
"Ah, of course. If that were the case, you wouldn't be this calm. Haha. I worry too much."
Even though Nathan did not laugh in return, making his demeanor feel rather bleak, the knight, accustomed to his ways, did not take it to heart.
"What is the condition of those in the wagon?"
After disposing of the note completely, Nathan asked, and the knight turned his head to glance at the shabby wagon parked behind them. Although it seemed quiet as if no one was aboard, inside were two attendants of Prince Ejain.
"Same as ever. Neither fighting nor conversing... Utterly silent. It's as if they've given up completely."
"Even so, we must remain vigilant. They could change their demeanor and attempt to escape at any moment. Especially as we are about to enter the Great Sarain Forest."
"I know. But they surely can't be stronger than you, Nathan."
The knight, aware of Nathan Zuckerman being a hidden swordmaster, chuckled and patted his shoulder.
"But Nathan, are you not at all worried about entrusting the Duke to those of the Cavalry alone?"
Nathan, pushing off the hand on his shoulder, slightly furrowed his brow and looked at the knight. Noticing the cold demeanor in Nathan's gaze, the knight quickly lowered his head as if to say he did not doubt his intentions.
"No, it's not that I doubt the Duke's judgment. If the Duke has decided so, then it's undoubtedly the right decision. I merely worry whether these unknown individuals will truly be able to serve him well."
'Serve.'
A single word from the knight suddenly sprang up in Nathan Zuckerman's mind. Although now a significant power within the Peletta Knights and a freeman, there was a time when he was more accustomed to a life serving at the lowest ranks, cleaning someone's shoes. Therefore, he understood better than most what a multitude of meanings could be included in the word 'serve'.
Kishiar was a complex individual who, due to his unique circumstances and secrets, put a complex and thick wall around himself, independent of trusting those around him. There were only a few, including Nathan, to whom he showed even a glimpse of his true feelings.
To him, both the Peletta Knights and the Cavalry members were all just figures of similar weight. He wouldn't differentiate between who was more familiar or comfortable.
'Except for one.'
In Nathan Zuckerman's mind, the image of a man with dark hair and a pale face surfaced. A peculiar man, quiet and cold like an unlit dawn, yet at times, his gaze weathered like that of a veteran who'd crossed the threshold of life and death countless times. It was Yuder Aile.
Kishiar's attitude towards Yuder Aile was somewhat special. So special that, at times, even Nathan found it difficult to grasp his lord's thoughts. At least, Nathan had never seen him show such long and persistent attention toward anyone before.
Nathan could not understand what kind of emotion his lord was feeling towards him, but he was certain of one thing from his observations so far.
There was an odd resemblance between the two. It was hard to explain what exactly was similar. Although they were completely different in appearance, personality, status, life trajectories, and even age, Nathan felt there was a fundamental commonality between them. Who would understand this, though? Even Nathan sometimes found it difficult to understand why he felt this way. However, the weight of this intuition occasionally thumped against his chest so heavily that he could not dismiss it as a mere illusion.
'Yes, for instance....'
What if there was a being who could give the same answer as him, even when they were scattered on different paths? A being that could reach the same conclusion, despite having different beginnings and processes. A powerful sense of homogeneity only those who have walked the same path for a long time could feel, or perhaps something even stronger. The 'resemblance' Nathan felt for them was close to that.
Nathan guessed that Kishiar's deep interest in Yuder Aile, and the reason he enjoyed his company so genuinely, was perhaps because he had realized this.
In that sense, wasn't Yuder Aile the most fitting being to serve their lord?
Other Peletta Knights might not understand what this meant, but to Nathan, who had served Kishiar since childhood, the meaning was very different.
"It's not our concern. As long as one person is there, it's enough."
"One person? Who is it?"
The knight asked curiously, but Nathan turned his head without answering.
"What, you can't tell? Who is it, really?"
"...The backup team in charge of cleaning up the safehouse is coming. The atmosphere doesn't look normal, get ready."
"Huh?"
When the knight turned his head in surprise, something that looked like a dust cloud from a distance too far for the naked eye to see well caught his eye. Shortly after, their companions who had run up in a flash, gasping for breath, jumped off in front of Nathan.
"Nathan, there were intruders in the safehouse."
"Intruders?"
"Yeah, they weren't ordinary skilled ones. There were five of them, two fought us as soon as they entered, and the other three searched the interior without hesitation, dug up the body of the servant buried in the backyard, and just left."
"What are you talking about? They dug up the body and left?"
When the knight with the scar on his side asked in surprise, the exhausted knight thought, ‘That's what I said,’ and then replied briefly.
"Looks like they had attached a tracking tool to the dead guy. They seemed to have just recovered that and disappeared... I couldn't confirm what it was, where they went, they disappeared too quickly. I'm sorry."
Upon hearing the knight's report, Nathan's eyes narrowed sharply.
"...Tool? Weren't all the belongings on the body checked when it was buried?"
"I've confirmed it. There was nothing suspicious. Not even a trace of magic artifacts."
The knight with the scarred face frowned, shaking his head. Lost in thought for a moment, Nathan quickly came to a conclusion.
"Then they must have used another method. We'll have to check."
"To whom?"
"If the target is the prince of Nelarn, we'll have to ask those who have come from there. So, what's the situation with our injured?"
The newly arrived knights looked at each other's faces and cautiously reported to Nathan, who was immediately checking the next situation.
"Beddy and Jean were slightly injured by a sword. The others are still fine."
"I see. Those who are injured should get treatment right away."
"Understood."
Nathan immediately led the remaining knights toward the carriage. As he swiftly swung the door open, the two servants, their eyes wide with alarm, met his gaze.
"New assassins who followed the trail of your deceased colleague were found in the safehouse they had left. It seems like they used a tool we can't predict for tracking, then took it back. You might know better about such methods. Any ideas?"
"What, what are you talking about? Assassins following the dead Faity..."
"…They might have been carrying a tool with a special scent that only trained individuals can detect."
While the servant named Jenn was shocked and questioning, Melbon quickly responded with a pale face.
"The mother of the Third Prince, the greatest enemy of the Prince, is from the land of Aeril. I've heard that assassins from there possess such technology."
"A tool with a special scent… could it trace even a buried body?"
"They say it takes several days for the scent once buried to disappear, so it might be possible."
"If they left the safehouse directly, it can be assumed that they left to track the Second Prince. Is there a chance that such a tool could be attached to the Second Prince?"
"…There is."
After a moment's grimace of thought, Melbon swallowed hard and widened his eyes.
"There is one thing. A gift that Faity gave to the Prince a few days ago…"
"What is it?"
"A hairband. The prince has a hairband that he always carries with him, a relic from the deceased second queen. He lost it while packing in haste to leave the Empire, and a few days later, Faity returned it, claiming it was mixed in his luggage. This happened just recently."
"I remember that too."
Jenn murmured.
"But Faity, he wouldn't go that far..."
"Well. You went that far, so it's not impossible for Faity."
"What, what did you say, Melbon? You are also..."
"Quiet."
The two servants shivered and closed their mouths at the sharp aura exuded by the Swordmaster, Nathan Zuckerman. Nathan closed the carriage door, turned around, and briefly summarized the situation to the Peletta Knights.
"The situation has become serious, so we'll abandon the previous instructions and move immediately along the fastest route. I'll send a messenger right now, the rest of you prepare."
"Nathan! Is that the sign left by the Duke this time?"
Upon hearing the Peletta Knight's question, Nathan Zuckerman lifted his eyes, silently nodding as he folded the piece of paper he held in his hand.
"Yes."
"And there are no peculiarities again?"
"He advises us to follow at a slower pace."
"A slower pace?"
A knight with a grim scar on his face scratched his cheek, lost in thought.
"Is he intending to delay our rendezvous? I hope there hasn't been an incident."
"..."
Instead of answering his question, Nathan placed the folded note in his mouth and swallowed it.
"Ah, of course. If that were the case, you wouldn't be this calm. Haha. I worry too much."
Even though Nathan did not laugh in return, making his demeanor feel rather bleak, the knight, accustomed to his ways, did not take it to heart.
"What is the condition of those in the wagon?"
After disposing of the note completely, Nathan asked, and the knight turned his head to glance at the shabby wagon parked behind them. Although it seemed quiet as if no one was aboard, inside were two attendants of Prince Ejain.
"Same as ever. Neither fighting nor conversing... Utterly silent. It's as if they've given up completely."
"Even so, we must remain vigilant. They could change their demeanor and attempt to escape at any moment. Especially as we are about to enter the Great Sarain Forest."
"I know. But they surely can't be stronger than you, Nathan."
The knight, aware of Nathan Zuckerman being a hidden swordmaster, chuckled and patted his shoulder.
"But Nathan, are you not at all worried about entrusting the Duke to those of the Cavalry alone?"
Nathan, pushing off the hand on his shoulder, slightly furrowed his brow and looked at the knight. Noticing the cold demeanor in Nathan's gaze, the knight quickly lowered his head as if to say he did not doubt his intentions.
"No, it's not that I doubt the Duke's judgment. If the Duke has decided so, then it's undoubtedly the right decision. I merely worry whether these unknown individuals will truly be able to serve him well."
'Serve.'
A single word from the knight suddenly sprang up in Nathan Zuckerman's mind. Although now a significant power within the Peletta Knights and a freeman, there was a time when he was more accustomed to a life serving at the lowest ranks, cleaning someone's shoes. Therefore, he understood better than most what a multitude of meanings could be included in the word 'serve'.
Kishiar was a complex individual who, due to his unique circumstances and secrets, put a complex and thick wall around himself, independent of trusting those around him. There were only a few, including Nathan, to whom he showed even a glimpse of his true feelings.
To him, both the Peletta Knights and the Cavalry members were all just figures of similar weight. He wouldn't differentiate between who was more familiar or comfortable.
'Except for one.'
In Nathan Zuckerman's mind, the image of a man with dark hair and a pale face surfaced. A peculiar man, quiet and cold like an unlit dawn, yet at times, his gaze weathered like that of a veteran who'd crossed the threshold of life and death countless times. It was Yuder Aile.
Kishiar's attitude towards Yuder Aile was somewhat special. So special that, at times, even Nathan found it difficult to grasp his lord's thoughts. At least, Nathan had never seen him show such long and persistent attention toward anyone before.
Nathan could not understand what kind of emotion his lord was feeling towards him, but he was certain of one thing from his observations so far.
There was an odd resemblance between the two. It was hard to explain what exactly was similar. Although they were completely different in appearance, personality, status, life trajectories, and even age, Nathan felt there was a fundamental commonality between them. Who would understand this, though? Even Nathan sometimes found it difficult to understand why he felt this way. However, the weight of this intuition occasionally thumped against his chest so heavily that he could not dismiss it as a mere illusion.
'Yes, for instance....'
What if there was a being who could give the same answer as him, even when they were scattered on different paths? A being that could reach the same conclusion, despite having different beginnings and processes. A powerful sense of homogeneity only those who have walked the same path for a long time could feel, or perhaps something even stronger. The 'resemblance' Nathan felt for them was close to that.
Nathan guessed that Kishiar's deep interest in Yuder Aile, and the reason he enjoyed his company so genuinely, was perhaps because he had realized this.
In that sense, wasn't Yuder Aile the most fitting being to serve their lord?
Other Peletta Knights might not understand what this meant, but to Nathan, who had served Kishiar since childhood, the meaning was very different.
"It's not our concern. As long as one person is there, it's enough."
"One person? Who is it?"
The knight asked curiously, but Nathan turned his head without answering.
"What, you can't tell? Who is it, really?"
"...The backup team in charge of cleaning up the safehouse is coming. The atmosphere doesn't look normal, get ready."
"Huh?"
When the knight turned his head in surprise, something that looked like a dust cloud from a distance too far for the naked eye to see well caught his eye. Shortly after, their companions who had run up in a flash, gasping for breath, jumped off in front of Nathan.
"Nathan, there were intruders in the safehouse."
"Intruders?"
"Yeah, they weren't ordinary skilled ones. There were five of them, two fought us as soon as they entered, and the other three searched the interior without hesitation, dug up the body of the servant buried in the backyard, and just left."
"What are you talking about? They dug up the body and left?"
When the knight with the scar on his side asked in surprise, the exhausted knight thought, ‘That's what I said,’ and then replied briefly.
"Looks like they had attached a tracking tool to the dead guy. They seemed to have just recovered that and disappeared... I couldn't confirm what it was, where they went, they disappeared too quickly. I'm sorry."
Upon hearing the knight's report, Nathan's eyes narrowed sharply.
"...Tool? Weren't all the belongings on the body checked when it was buried?"
"I've confirmed it. There was nothing suspicious. Not even a trace of magic artifacts."
The knight with the scarred face frowned, shaking his head. Lost in thought for a moment, Nathan quickly came to a conclusion.
"Then they must have used another method. We'll have to check."
"To whom?"
"If the target is the prince of Nelarn, we'll have to ask those who have come from there. So, what's the situation with our injured?"
The newly arrived knights looked at each other's faces and cautiously reported to Nathan, who was immediately checking the next situation.
"Beddy and Jean were slightly injured by a sword. The others are still fine."
"I see. Those who are injured should get treatment right away."
"Understood."
Nathan immediately led the remaining knights toward the carriage. As he swiftly swung the door open, the two servants, their eyes wide with alarm, met his gaze.
"New assassins who followed the trail of your deceased colleague were found in the safehouse they had left. It seems like they used a tool we can't predict for tracking, then took it back. You might know better about such methods. Any ideas?"
"What, what are you talking about? Assassins following the dead Faity..."
"…They might have been carrying a tool with a special scent that only trained individuals can detect."
While the servant named Jenn was shocked and questioning, Melbon quickly responded with a pale face.
"The mother of the Third Prince, the greatest enemy of the Prince, is from the land of Aeril. I've heard that assassins from there possess such technology."
"A tool with a special scent… could it trace even a buried body?"
"They say it takes several days for the scent once buried to disappear, so it might be possible."
"If they left the safehouse directly, it can be assumed that they left to track the Second Prince. Is there a chance that such a tool could be attached to the Second Prince?"
"…There is."
After a moment's grimace of thought, Melbon swallowed hard and widened his eyes.
"There is one thing. A gift that Faity gave to the Prince a few days ago…"
"What is it?"
"A hairband. The prince has a hairband that he always carries with him, a relic from the deceased second queen. He lost it while packing in haste to leave the Empire, and a few days later, Faity returned it, claiming it was mixed in his luggage. This happened just recently."
"I remember that too."
Jenn murmured.
"But Faity, he wouldn't go that far..."
"Well. You went that far, so it's not impossible for Faity."
"What, what did you say, Melbon? You are also..."
"Quiet."
The two servants shivered and closed their mouths at the sharp aura exuded by the Swordmaster, Nathan Zuckerman. Nathan closed the carriage door, turned around, and briefly summarized the situation to the Peletta Knights.
"The situation has become serious, so we'll abandon the previous instructions and move immediately along the fastest route. I'll send a messenger right now, the rest of you prepare."
