Record of Wortenia War: Volume 2

by Ryota Hori

  With anger surging up in his heart and making him shiver in rage, Mikhail sent a hateful glare in the young man’s direction.

  “What... are we going to do with him now?” The blond girl asked the young man.

  The expression on the girl’s face told that she was already tired of Mikhail’s insistent silence.

  “Looks like he’s not too eager to answer us right now. Can’t blame him, I suppose...”

  But in contrast to the girl’s bewilderment, the young man’s face didn’t seem particularly bothered.

  “Laura, step forward.”

  Abiding by the young man’s words, Laura stepped forward, her silver, glittering hair swaying. The blond girl spoke her final question.

  “My last question, then. Was she the one you were attempting to kill?”

  Mikhail’s heart beat rapidly and wildly. Ryoma’s fingers indisputably picked up on his pulse accelerating at that question.

  “Bullseye...” Ryoma whispered softly and removed his fingers from Mikhail’s neck.

  So this was the plot Wallace Heinkel of Pherzaad’s guild had brewed up, and the reason behind this raid.

  The truth need not necessarily be put into words; insistent silence like Mikhail’s could speak volumes in its own right. The more he tried to stifle his expression, the more those around him were capable of reading into his feelings. And that wasn’t limited to just Ryoma, but also to Lione and the others who were watching over the scene.

  “I see... That slimy bastard Wallace... He used us as bait, he did...” Words thick with vitriol slithered from Lione’s lips.

  Thanks to Ryoma’s predictions, the Crimson Lion mercenary group avoided taking any casualties, but quite a few were injured in the raid. While most of the injuries were not serious, that observations was only possible with the benefit of hindsight; they only took so little damage because they were prepared. Had Ryoma not been there to make his prediction, or had Lione not taken it seriously...

  This was all hypothetical, of course, but it would have come as no surprise if this raid would have claimed great casualties on the Crimson Lion’s side.

  Judging by the circumstances of how Ryoma’s group had gotten their request and Mikhail’s attitude, it was clear Wallace the guildmaster was involved in the raid somehow. It was a betrayal by the guild, which advocated itself as being neutral. And this betrayal made hatred surge in Lione’s heart, in equal proportion to the amount of trust she once harbored toward it.

  “I think it’s safe to say that son of a bitch Wallace duped us.” Ryoma said, prompting nods out of everyone present but Mikhail.

  “The next issue is what comes next, though. What do we do...?”

  “How about we report to a guild in another town?” Boltz replied to Ryoma’s whisper with a hesitant tone.

  “Nah, I think that’s a bad idea. That piece of shit definitely pulled a fast one on us, but we ain’t got no proof. If we go crying to another guildmaster and they ask for evidence, we’ll have nothin’ to show for it.”

  Ryoma nodded in agreement of Lione’s objection. They may have been tricked, but they couldn’t prove it. Even if one were to be tried on false charges, losing the trial would lend them the verdict all the same. What mattered in court wasn’t truth or even justice; everything hinged on being able to get the verdict one desired out of the judge.

  And Ryoma’s greatest problem lay in his inability to prove their innocence. Without any physical proof, any attempt they made to indict Wallace would conclude with him playing dumb. Worst-case scenario, he would pin false accusations on them instead.

  Boltz himself didn’t seem to consider his proposal a realistic one, and didn’t seem to be all that confident in it himself. An oppressive air fell over them, as if they were groping their way through a fog that obfuscated their sight in all directions, where if they took one wrong step, they would end up dead.

  It was for this reason everyone doubted their ears when Ryoma spoke what sounded like borderline optimistic words.

  “Well... There is a way out of this.”

  “Are you serious?!” Lione regarded Ryoma with a clinging look as he smiled softly.

  While she truly wished for a way out, some part of her heart naturally doubted something so convenient could be true. Boltz, who was standing at her side, seemed to feel the same way. But even with their anxious gazes clinging to him, Ryoma’s face remained composed.

  “Yes. I mean, we just got our hands on a useful pawn.” Ryoma said with a smile and cast a meaningful look in the still-taciturn Mikhail’s direction.

  “What are you saying?!” Upon hearing Ryoma’s words, Mikhail broke his silence and raised his voice.

  From the perspective of not giving his enemies any information, this was a poor decision, but those rules held no meaning for Mikhail at the moment. If only he’d have killed the silver-haired girl standing before him, this Laura, all would have been well. If nothing else, this was absolute truth to those belonging to the knights’ faction.

  It had been two months since the King of Rhoadseria’s passing, and that report reached the ears of First Princess Lupis, who was striving to inherit the throne. That report came as a bolt from the blue for the knight’s faction; a girl who was purportedly heir to the blood of Rhoadseria’s King Pharst the Second appeared in their neighboring country of Myest.

  An illegitimate child was by no means an unusual occurrence. The stronger the ruling class grew, the more valuable their blood became, which perhaps came across as natural when one’s bloodline is what decided the legitimacy of their rule. As such, rulers produced many children, so as to prevent their bloodline from dying out. They carried many wives and concubines, and at times even ravished the daughters of commoners on a whim.

  And the result of such acts was illegitimate children. In which case, the existence of an illegitimate child wouldn’t have been cause for such surprise in and of itself. But the timing of her discovery was far too poor. The fact she had announced her existence only now, when the former king had passed away and the throne stood empty, and claimed to be the legitimate heir to Rhoadseria’s throne, at that...

  When the report reached the capital, everyone simply dismissed it as “impossible” and “nonsense,” and paid it no mind. But while they thought the rumors might disappear, they instead began spreading through the kingdom like wildfire in the blink of an eye. And before long, the rumors began to take on a more realistic meaning.

  Duke Gelhart, head of the nobles’ faction, announced to all of Rhoadseria that he would support this illegitimate child as heir, and made a will supposedly left behind by the late king public... And at first, everyone in the kingdom suspected a forgery. The timing was simply too ideal.

  But as lacking in authenticity as the will may have been, it did support the illegitimate child’s right to the throne, and split the Kingdom of Rhoadseria in two. Princess Lupis concurrently also held the position of commander of the royal guard to begin with, and as such had a close relationship with the knights’ faction. Due to this, and her lack of involvement with political affairs, she had little connection with the nobles’ faction.

  And thus, Duke Gelhart, head of the nobles’ faction, declared his backing of the illegitimate heir, turning Rhoadseria’s political balance from a state of opposition of 30% to the knights’ faction, 40% to the nobles’ faction and 30% to the neutral faction into 30% supporters of the princess, 40% supporters of the illegitimate child and 30% neutral.

  Fundamentally, the knights’ faction was a group of military men, and a powerful group with much martial prowess, but unsuited for politics; they struggled to bring the neutral faction to their side. On the other side of the spectrum, the nobles’ faction lacked the military might of the knights, but were far superior to them in terms of political experience; they made efforts to bring the neutral faction to their side, and indeed, many of the neutral nobles did indeed switch over to their side.

  As the knights’ faction were in that plight, good
tidings arrived; information that the illegitimate heir was being moved from Myest to Rhoadseria’s borders.

  Having learned of this, the knights’ faction mocked the nobles’ imprudence. Allowing such important information regarding the transfer of their precious banner stood as proof that the nobles’ faction was far from monolithic... If the girl were to be eliminated before she reached Rhoadseria, all would return to normal, with the nobles’ neutral faction swinging back to their prior stance.

  And while it was true this information was carried in urgently, and having to strike while in a neighboring country meant they would have to make do with limited manpower, Mikhail couldn’t pass up this golden opportunity. Even if it meant ignoring the wishes of his Lady, who was opposed to the assassination...

  But in contrast to Mikhail’s resolve, all the gazes of those around him were ones of pity and mocking.

  “I don’t know if I can make myself much clearer, friend...” As Ryoma glared at him like a teacher lamenting a bad student, everyone else present nodded silently.

  They’d already seen this play out, and were merely checking their answers at this point.

  “Well, let’s put it this way: you were duped. By the nobles’ faction, that is.”

  Even while Ryoma explained it in the most succinct manner possible, Mikhail’s mind refused to accept it.

  “Th-That’s... nonsense! You won’t fool me!”

  “Call it nonsense all you want, but...” Ryoma shrugged, as Mikhail refused to listen. “Well, just calm down for now. Let’s go over things one more time, from the top.” As he spoke, Laura stood in front of Mikhail. “Let’s start by setting one thing straight. This is not the girl you’re looking for.”

  “You lie!” Mikhail’s bloodcurdling shout echoed through the woods.

  If Ryoma was right, the entire purpose of going on this raid was null and void. He would have taken this counterattack and sacrificed his men for nothing. That feeling spurred Mikhail’s heart forward.

  “To begin with, did you think Laura was King Rhoadseria’s illegitimate daughter because of her silver hair?”

  “That’s right! She’s a silver-haired adolescent girl!” Mikhail affirmed with a raspy voice, as he brushed away the faint suspicion in his heart.

  “Well, Laura certainly is a silver-haired adolescent girl, but... Okay, let me ask you this instead. Are those the only physical attributes you have to identify the illegitimate daughter by?”

  Ryoma’s question made Mikhail sink into thought.

  Silver hair is rare in this continent, and she’s the right age, too.

  “That’s right! That’s all the proof I need!”

  The most striking visual attribute of members of the Rhoadserian royalty was their beautiful silver hair. Of course, that didn’t mean that every person with silver hair had to belong to the Rhoadserian royal bloodline, but all those who did definitely had that hair color; that was what kept Mikhail going.

  “...I’m sorry, but you guys are pretty dumb...” Ryoma answered Mikhail with a complicated expression. “I’m sure there’s plenty of silver-haired teen girls on this continent.”

  “If anyone is the fool here, you are! We’re not searching for just any silver-haired girl, but one who attempts to travel from Pherzaad to Rhoadseria at this time of year! Do you honestly think a girl who would fill every other requirement would just happen to be here in this place, at this time?!”

  Mikhail’s face was overtaken by a smile.

  That’s right! A silver-haired girl wouldn’t happen to be in this place at this time by pure coincidence! I don’t know what this man is getting at, but I won’t be fooled!

  The information that led him on this raid was provided by one of his fellow members from the knights’ faction. Of course, Mikhail knew that not everyone in the knights’ faction was necessarily on his side, but they were all united in their antagonism toward the nobles’ faction. Even if that weren’t so, they wouldn’t think Mikhail— who in spite of some lack of prudence was still given education as a high class knight— would so easily resort to assassination.

  “True, that probability is extremely low.” Ryoma said, eyeing Mikhail’s convinced gaze with pity. “No, to be honest, it’s probably closer to zero. But what if one such girl passed by here deliberately?”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Unable to comprehend the meaning behind Ryoma’s words, Mikhail’s expression was awash with doubt.

  “What I’m saying is, a bunch of people who have nothing to do with this— i.e., us— were sent to Rhoadseria from Pherzaad on some arbitrary request, and that information was intentionally leaked to the knights’ faction. And of course, being at a disadvantage means the knights’ faction would have to jump on this chance to break the deadlock while they safely smuggled the real illegitimate child into the country. How about it? I don’t think it’s that hard to wrap your head around. If anything, I’d start wondering if the people who delivered you that information might be in cahoots with the nobles’ faction.”

  As Ryoma spoke, Mikhail’s proud, elated expression gradually froze over.

  “I-It can’t be...” As those words squeezed out of his lips, Ryoma shook his head and continued speaking.

  “Someone from the knights’ faction having that kind of insight into what the nobles’ faction were doing is pretty suspicious to start with, if you ask me.”

  Everyone’s expressions turned puzzled at those words.

  “That illegitimate daughter is an irreplaceable ace in the hole for the nobles’ faction. If they were going to smuggle her into the country, they’d put all the power at their disposal into planning it meticulously, and exert all the caution they could to make sure the information wouldn’t leak. And yet, it still leaked to the knights’ faction.”

  Ryoma then stopped talking and looked around at everyone present, as if making sure they understood what he meant.

  “So they leaked it on purpose, then? Is that it, boy?” Lione asked, and Ryoma replied with a silent nod.

  “If you think about it reasonably, that’s what it comes down to, yeah. Plus, it seems the nobles’ faction got Wallace in their pocket and got him to hire mercenaries. Namely, a silver-haired mercenary girl in her teens.”

  “And that... would be me.” Laura said, to which Ryoma nodded.

  “But Wallace is a guildmaster. Would he really act in such a risky fashion?” Sara asked hesitantly.

  The guild advocated neutrality. If they didn’t have absolute trust from both their clients and the mercenaries, they wouldn’t be able to manage requests the way they did. From that perspective, Wallace’s actions were extremely inappropriate. He’d gathered people under the pretense of guarding a caravan, and intended to use them as bait without consent.

  The chance of Wallace not being aware of this wasn’t zero, and Laura mentioned that possibility. But Ryoma shook his head in denial.

  “No, the chances of Wallace being unrelated to this are slim. We had to take this job because of a compulsory request, after all.” Ryoma then turned the conversation to Lione, who was standing next to him. “Let me ask you too, Lione. Aren’t compulsory requests assigned to high-level guys only... Specifically, people with a rank of single B or above? And it only applies to highly urgent requests, if I’m not mistaken?”

  “Yeah, that’s all written down in the guild’s protocol.” Lione gave a slight nod at Ryoma’s question.

  “Ergo, there was no grounds for us to have this request forced on us. In all likelihood... He was looking for a silver-haired, adolescent mercenary, and only found Laura. He then counted on us being inexperienced, and bluffed on the compulsory request to force us to accept. Then we’d just have to die in the knights’ faction raid, and that would be that. On the off chance we survived, we wouldn’t suspect the caravan’s merchants— or rather, the nobles’ faction soldiers disguised as merchants— who would go on to finish us off. And no one would be the wiser.”

  As they listened to Ryoma’s expl
anation, the image of the whole incident was pieced together in everyone’s minds. The caravan’s wagons were all empty because they knew an attack was coming. The calluses on the merchant’s hands and their toned physiques were owed to them being knights and soldiers in disguise. Ryoma’s group alone got the canopied wagon, in order to fool Mikhail and his men into thinking the illegitimate child was in there. And the formation was set up so as to block Ryoma’s path once they attacked, to ensure they were killed.

  All of those seemingly unnatural factors came together to form one conclusion.

  “Impossible... This is far too...” Words of regret and agony escaped Mikhail’s lips as he heard Ryoma’s reasoning. “But that would mean he fooled us... No... But, in that case...”

  The person Mikhail was speaking of was likely the person in the knights’ faction who supplied him with the information on the nobles’ faction. As Mikhail sat there devastated, Ryoma made him a proposal.

  “Well, there’s no point in crying over spilled milk.”

  Mikhail raised his head powerlessly, his gaze questioning.

  “I mean, you and us both were set up by the nobles’ faction, so this is kinda our problem too now and all.”

  That much was obvious. This request was supposed to be an escort for a caravan, and false as it was, it still existed in the guild’s records. Ryoma had attacked the merchants’ carriages, even though it was the only road to getting out of the situation alive, and fled the attack, leaving the merchants behind.

  If one were to look at the situation on a surface level, Ryoma and his group were despicable cowards who abandoned their guard duties and killed the merchants in order to escape. To make matters worse, if Wallace were to claim the raid was a bandit attack, it would be very easy to make it seem as if they’d been bribed to sell out their employers.

  And the worst part was that they had no way of stopping Wallace from doing so. After all, everything Ryoma had said was conjecture based on circumstantial evidence. Even if they were to use Mikhail as a witness, there was zero chance he’d testify truthfully, because this whole incident was a stain on the honor of the knights’ faction.