Chapter 158

# Chapter 158: The Tin Knight and a Brief Interlude

“Hey, did you guys hear? An angel appeared in Justitia!”

“An angel… like the heavenly lion with wings?”

“Why would such a thing just show up out of the blue?”

“Apparently, there was a necromancer causing chaos in Justitia, and he killed a lord. People got hurt, and the city went wild. So, to punish the evil necromancer and comfort the spirit of the deceased lord, the angel showed up.”

“Oh, I heard about that too. They say the necromancer turned to ash before the holy light, and healing rain fell over the city. Those who were soaked in that rain had their injuries and illnesses all vanish!”

“Pfft! That’s such a ridiculous story! It’s gotta be made up, right?”

“Ha! Have you always been this gullible? If you don’t believe it, just go to Justitia. They’re even bottling the rain that fell during that time, selling it like it’s some miracle cure. People are throwing around crazy amounts of cash to get their hands on it!”

The events that unfolded in Justitia sent major ripples across the continent.

But among all that, very little was said about the coercive trials or the broken scales throughout Justitia.

What buzzed around was only about the ‘angel’ and the healing rain it brought.

This was partly due to the intensity of the miracles the angel had shown, but also because the higher-ups in various lands had done a good job keeping their mouths shut.

“—It’s laughable. The Holy Kingdom hasn’t made any official statements or comments. It’s pathetic how they’re scrambling to appease the situation. Usually, they care so much about their image and authority, yet they all act the same way when it comes down to it.”

These disdainful words dripped from one man’s lips, belittling the noble bloodlines scattered across the continent.

It sounded like drunken slander from a tavern, but even if those ‘noble bloods’ heard it, it would be hard for them to show their anger.

There was a reason for that.

The meaning behind words varies drastically depending on who’s spouting them.

It wasn’t something anyone could just brush off if it came from Duke Lenart, the highest-ranking power in the Empire.

Not to mention, there were hardly any people who could comfortably engage in a conversation with him.

And sadly, Maris von Lenart wasn’t one of the few who could.

Thus, under the Duke’s gaze, Maris instinctively stiffened.

“Maris.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Do you have anything to say about this incident?”

It was the question she had anticipated.

So, she brought out the answer she had prepared.

“It is undeniable that I misjudged the capabilities and boldness of the Holy Kingdom. However, I don’t believe the operation itself was bad.”

“As a result of your operation, two of our clan members are dead. And you still say that?”

“If we had not acted but remained there, the damage would have been far worse. Either way, we managed to seize this opportunity to withdraw, and the resulting damage to our reputation was minimized.”

Her original plan to stain the honor of the Holy Kingdom couldn’t be deemed successful.

The targeted hunting perpetrated by her blood relatives had gotten lost in the chaos that followed, burying the aftermath.

However, on the flip side, hardly anyone cared about the Lenart Dojo leaving Justitia.

Even the dojo instructors and students, who could have felt their pride hurt over the dent in their honor, seemed utterly deflated, caught off-guard by the recent events. Although word from the main family was still buzzing, Maris had expected that much.

She had succeeded in her goal of relocating the dojo without spending unnecessary funds.

“That’s just how it turned out. It’s just luck that it landed in a halfway decent spot. It’s tough to call it an outright success on your part. Don’t deny it.”

“…I acknowledge it.”

As Maris begrudgingly admitted, the Duke didn’t press her further.

It seemed he felt there was no need to push her on what he already knew.

“There won’t be any rewards for you. Similarly, whatever fallout arises from this isn’t your responsibility. Convey that to the council.”

“Understood.”

“What remains is about the sprout you discovered…”

A flicker of interest sparked in the Duke’s calm gaze.

“Is it true that the magic of that child named Adelheid transformed into the shape of purple lightning? You aren’t mistaken?”

“I saw it clearly.”

“Interesting. Conrad, how old was Elza when her abilities first manifested?”

“She was twenty-two, Your Grace.”

The answer to the Duke’s question came from the empty air.

No, it wasn’t entirely empty.

Maris only thought it was, but the man had been there all along.

He blended in with his surroundings, exuding a presence that was faintly noticeable.

The man who emerged looked remarkably simple-minded.

He appeared to be slightly younger than the Duke.

While the Duke’s mere demeanor could intimidate others even without hostile language or expressions, the man named Conrad wore an appearance that suggested he had nothing to do with violence.

He would blend in better holding a farming tool than a sword at his waist.

Of course, Maris didn’t underestimate him.

Conrad von Lenart.

He was undeniably one of the swordsmen often mentioned when discussing the strongest fighters of this age, a knight feared by the Duke’s political enemies.

“So, that means about four years earlier? How old were you?”

“I was in my mid-thirties; I had no talent.”

“Stop with the lies. Isn’t it true that the manifestation of ‘that’ doesn’t necessarily correspond with the individual’s level, as your uncle has proven?”

“Still, having it is helpful. Training magic can pay off, but it’s clear that having innate abilities is beneficial. A master may not care for weapons, but I’ve never seen a good master refuse a good weapon.”

Watching the Duke and the escort knight continue their private conversation, Maris quietly observed.

How long did it go on? Suddenly the Duke asked.

“So, where is that child right now? With your personality, you would have invited her to meet me, right?”

“Um, well…”

Maris stammered for a moment.

Then, with an awkward expression, she answered, “I did intend to. Adelheid and her mentor, the knight, seemed keen on it. But the party leader opposed it, claiming there was no time.”

“Oh? The leader of that party, is it the Witch’s Apprentice from the east? Seems she has quite the say in the group if capable individuals willingly bend to her wishes.”

“…No, she just beat up the rebellious knight with her staff to drag him along. She said she would drop by later, but…”

“Is this witch the same one I’m thinking of?”

—

[The ‘Tin Knight’ complains about wanting to go to Duke Lenart’s place!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ grumbles wanting to spar with the Duke’s escort knight!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ insists that something must happen in the Imperial capital, like a terror attack or assassination, and claims he has to get involved!]

“Shut it, you crazy tin can!! Are you not satisfied even after causing all this ruckus?!”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ protests that it was basically Sophia causing most of the trouble and he was just a sidekick this time!]

“Hmm, can’t argue with that.”

A carriage was moving along one of the roads in the Rokria Federation.

The carriage was quite large and extravagant.

While it was essentially a cargo cart in structure, the size of the cargo compartment was unusual enough for several people to comfortably lay down, even featuring a second level.

It had a roof to block out rain and sun above the driver’s seat, and it was connected to the cargo compartment, allowing smooth passage between the two.

Inside, there was even space for a boiling pot and a fire, making it closer to a mobile base than just a carriage.

Despite its massive size, it didn’t leave much of a trace on the road, thanks to the top-notch parts used throughout and a lightweight magic inscribed on it.

The single horse pulling it was, in fact, a golem mimicking a real horse.

It looked just like a massive horse, but beneath the skin was solid metal. It could move without eating or drinking as long as it was supplied with magical energy. It could even navigate the road on its own unless it hit a fork.

Truly an extraordinary carriage, pulled by an extraordinary horse.

This was one of the results the group had achieved from their time in Justitia.

Or rather, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it was their original purpose for stopping by Justitia.

While Adel and Sophia were smashing and creating chaos everywhere, Maris discreetly bought her items and slipped away without attracting attention.

The Tin Knight’s gaze scanned the carriage up and down.

Then he turned his eyes toward Dorothea.

With a very intense, probing stare, no less.

“What’s up? Got something to say?”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ is curious if they spent too much money!]

“……..”

After a moment of silence, Dorothea glanced around.

This was quite the unusual reaction for a witch, who was usually so confident.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ pointedly questions why she said she was only going to buy a few items in the first place!]

“Well, I needed a new carriage anyways, so it’s practically a two-for-one.”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ insists that as long as the items work, it doesn’t matter how fancy they are, and that she previously mentioned she hates flashy things because of how people stare!]

“…If it’s gonna match the horse, it has to be like this. If the horse is that big, having a small carriage would be strange, don’t you think?”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ argues that even considering that, a two-story carriage is excessive!]

“…Every time we arrive in a new city, setting up a base and putting up barriers is a hassle. If I have a mobile base, I won’t have to lay new barriers, so it’s practical.”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ comments that her tone sounds like she’s repeating someone else’s sales pitch!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ observes that the carriage’s design being unusually dark feels just like Dorothea’s taste!]

“………”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ suggests that when someone suddenly gets a lot of money, they often overspend and offers gentle advice to be careful before getting out of control!]

With a slight blush, Dorothea lowered her face.

She trembled a bit but couldn’t swing the staff now in her hand; she seemed quite disconcerted even to herself.

This was a tragic honesty—pointing out others’ mistakes while unable to turn the lens on herself and practicing violence while holding double standards.

“Ahem, but Witch. Didn’t you originally say you wouldn’t head toward the Imperial capital? I’m curious about why you’ve changed your plans.”

Adelheid, who had been observing all this from the side, suddenly chimed in, clearing her throat.

While it was unfortunate for the Tin Knight, who had finally seized the initiative and was excited about it, she felt they couldn’t just leave it as it was. After all, she couldn’t just watch as the Tin Knight accrued death stacks like a spark in a powder keg.

In response to Adel’s question, Dorothea changed her expression as she answered.

“That was the plan. One of the compasses was pointing there, and unlike other treasures whose owners we didn’t know, we knew Alingd had it. But after this incident, my thoughts changed a bit.”

Her gaze shifted toward Sophia.

“You realize this incident was pretty dangerous, right?”

Sophia didn’t deny it.

“Yes.”

“Hah. I won’t lash out at you since you upheld the promise of not revealing the divine power, but breaking one of their holy artifacts and indirectly causing the death of a lord means the fallout will be significant. Thankfully, the rumor itself is somewhat distorted, but there are still those in the know.”

“That makes sense. Although they won’t say it blatantly, they’ll be listening through their informants.”

“But in a situation like this, being active alongside Duke Lenart’s side… how do you think others would view that?”

“They’d treat us as allies. We could be accused of intentionally murdering the lord from the start.”

Dorothea shrugged as if to say she’d said all that needed to be said.

“So, for a while, we will keep our distance from the Lenart side. Adel, you might be unhappy about it, but…”

“No, I’m fine. I’ve already received my token, and Ms. Maris said I’m welcome to visit anytime. But where are we headed next?”

Dorothea answered simply.

“The Magical Kingdom of Aeolia.”

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