Chapter 256

“This is more chaotic than I imagined.”

The empire is buzzing with excitement, nobles and royalty are at odds, and neutral parties are sneaking glances everywhere, all part of a heart-pounding game of political intrigue and plots.

In the midst of it all, if you were to ask how the Tin Knight and his party, who can be considered the trigger point of this whole incident, were faring:

[The ‘Tin Knight’ graciously yields the first move, showcasing the confidence of the strong!]

“I’m not losing this time!!”

With a rectangular court and a net strung across the center, the Tin Knight and Adelheid were caught up in something mysterious, prompting Alingd to ask Dorothea with an expression that was hard to define.

“…What are they doing?”

“They call it badminton! Apparently, it can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of age or gender.”

Dorothea replied while sitting cross-legged in her chair, flipping through the pages of a book.

Beside her was a table with a large parasol, stocked with drinks and snacks, creating a perfectly idyllic relaxation mode.

Alingd shifted her gaze again.

Adelheid tossed a ball into the air with one hand while using a tool in her other hand to send it toward the Tin Knight, who deftly hit the ball before it touched the ground.

Both were sending the ball over the net, but it wasn’t just random swings; they were aiming to drop it within a defined area, so it was easy to guess the rules.

The problem was:

“Anyone can play regardless of age or gender…?”

Alingd’s voice dripped with thick skepticism.

She looked at the ‘ball’ they were using.

It was a strange object with a feather-like design tightly packed on a round head, forming a triangular pyramid.

The design itself was already quite different from the ball Alingd was familiar with, but the material was even more concerning.

That was undoubtedly a chunk of metal.

To top it off, the tool used to hit this ‘ball’ was each of their weapons, a one-handed sword and a two-handed sword.

Every swing from the Tin Knight and Adelheid echoed with sharp metallic clings, and as the ball traversed the air, it made a somewhat chilling cutting sound.

‘The ball won’t… shatter, will it?’

Both the Tin Knight and Adelheid were carefully manipulating their sword skills to avoid cutting or denting the ball, but the Tin Knight was taking it a step further by infusing the ball itself with magical energy to reinforce its durability.

With each swing, he was adding a bit of magical power to prevent any loss of strength, as if that were just an extra bonus.

“Ah!”

With a short exclamation from Adelheid, the ball veered off course and flew towards Alingd.

What should have been the exterior wall of the original building was instead a makeshift wall that looked like it was made from a pile of skulls, and upon impact, the skull wall spectacularly shattered, sending debris flying.

Clatter, clatter.

A nearby Skeleton Soldier A picked up the ball and tossed it back into the coat, while Skeleton Soldiers B, C, and D were fixing the broken skull wall with some sort of tools in hand.

Add in a Skeleton Referee flipping the scores to announce the Tin Knight’s points.

Even Alingd, typically thought to be ‘beautiful yet doll-like’ due to her inscrutable expression, found it hard to maintain her composure at this spectacle, her lips quivering slightly.

“Does ‘anyone can play’ mean it’ll turn them all into half-wits regardless of age or gender?”

“It seems the people of the empire are well-fed and healthy, considering they can engage in such a thing and only end up half-wits. In the kingdom, they’d probably just drop dead.”

“……”

“Honestly, that guy’s nonsensical chatter is just business as usual, so don’t take it too seriously.”

After saying this nonchalantly, Dorothea returned to her book.

With her calm demeanor and absence of tension, Alingd couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disbelief.

Isn’t it said that the eye of the storm is calm?

In the middle of the empire’s clamor and chaos, it seemed particularly appropriate to describe the tranquility of this group enjoying a peaceful respite at the mansion provided by Alingd.

Perhaps that’s why Alingd couldn’t resist throwing out a teasing comment.

“Isn’t this a bit too relaxed? So far, things are going according to plan, but there’s no guarantee it will continue that way. Don’t you feel worried or anything?”

“With you all around, there’s really no need to worry.”

“I didn’t expect such trust from you.”

“You see, when it really gets urgent, no matter how we try to move, you’d still make good use of us, right?”

Without tearing her eyes from the book pages, Dorothea spoke without a care.

“This situation is different from the Tower of Control. If the fight there began because of us, this one is more like a conflict you all were set to have on your own with us mercenaries jumping in. What good would it do for a mercenary to scramble and try to dictate the whole flow? Just follow orders from above and that’s all.”

“…….”

“Doesn’t sound very convincing, huh?”

“To be honest, that’s right.”

Alingd didn’t hide her true feelings.

Ever since their first encounter in the city of struggle.

No, since she first heard of them during the events in the Taros Labyrinth, she had been observing Goodwitch and the party.

Goodwitch had watched their moves, tracked their pasts, and even occasionally guided their future actions.

So, it was even more clear to Goodwitch how uniquely disruptive and revolutionary this party was.

Those who, if displeased, wouldn’t hesitate to bite back even against a legendary witch or the continent’s strongest nation.

That these individuals would so willingly put on a leash raised suspicions for her.

And to that, Dorothea provided a succinct answer.

“It’s a contract.”

With a snap, the book was closed.

Sitting up properly from her slouched position, Dorothea fixed her gaze on Alingd.

“We’re not particularly interested in your goals. Whether it’s removing opposition forces or reinforcing imperial authority, do as you please. Just make sure the compensation follows afterward. Hand over Lilium’s pouch. Set up a stage for the execution of those responsible for Friedel’s incident. Then there’ll be no problem.”

Which goes to show.

If Alingd or the Empress’s side were to breach the contract, meaning they weren’t going to deliver the compensation properly,

That would be a declaration that she’d crush them no matter what means necessary.

Alingd’s mouth shut tight.

Just as she seemed to fall into contemplation, preparing to speak again, there was a commotion outside the mansion, and soon a flustered attendant approached the group.

“I apologize, but a guest has arrived.”

When the attendant uttered the word “guest,” both witches noticed a slight tremor in their voice simultaneously.

While the current residents of this mansion were the Tin Knight’s party, the original owner was Alingd.

Alingd countered,

“I thought I ordered to send all outside personnel away?”

This wasn’t to imprison the Tin Knight’s party.

Rather, it was an attempt to utilize the authority of the South Witch to fend off pesky flies loitering around them.

…To prevent these oblivious goofballs from inadvertently triggering a volcanic eruption, you know?

“T-That’s. They said they would wait until you come out.”

Alingd’s eyes darkened.

The refusal of her invitation to guests, yet still having them ignore that and squat here, meant they were disregarding the authority of Goodwitch, the mansion’s owner.

In which case, there were two possibilities.

One was a fool who thought he could handle the authority of her apprentice, even if it was the South Witch herself.

The other was a heavyweight who knew that and could comfortably handle it.

“Maris von Lenart, the Duchess, and Werner von Lenart, the Northern Commander, have come to visit.”

To Alingd’s dismay, it appeared the visitor was of the latter kind.

***

The woman Maris von Lenart had hardly ever experienced receiving a ‘ proposal one could not refuse’ in her life.

As the leading figure of the Lenart Dukedom, the most powerful in the empire, and the daughter of the Empire’s dual powers, the Minister of Defense.

If you searched among her peers for someone of more noble lineage than her, the royal family would be the only candidates available, as the legitimate heirs born between the Ironblood Emperor and the Empress had all fallen victim to illnesses and accidents, while the other royal family members who sought to become emperor over the last bloodline of the Ironblood Emperor had all perished in the struggle for power against the Empress.

Since the founding of the empire, an unspoken rule had been in place that did not allow marriages between the royal family and the dukedom (breaking that rule would have immediately exposed the child’s appearance), ensuring that, had there been a blood connection between the two, it would have been an extraordinary ancestry that could well lay claim to the throne.

It wasn’t without reason that Maximilian, who had been stirring up trouble among the nobles as a leader of the Patriotic Youth Corps and nephew of the Empress, had tucked his tail around her.

With the family name alone, threatening words had little chance of backfiring, maintaining a position that stayed just short of causing an uproar.

Whenever Maris requested something from someone, they would bow their heads and respond, “Just say the word!” yet the opposite was almost unthinkable.

Yes, almost.

“I heard you have connections with that girl named Adelheid. I’d like to meet her for a moment; could you be a guide?”

Werner von Lenart.

He was the famed general who amassed numerous military achievements during the intensely fierce war with the Magical Kingdom, receiving immense admiration and support from the soldiers of the empire.

Due to his age, he was less mentioned now, but before Maris’s birth, he was dubbed the strongest man in the empire.

Even the Duke Lenart treated him with respect as an uncle, marking the highest rank within the family hierarchy.

So when this figure said, “I have a favor to ask,” Maris didn’t have the gall to respond with something like, “Oh, that sounds tricky.”

To immediately express ingratitude to Adelheid, call her a traitor for tarnishing the family name by feeding off the Empress’s faction, or declare her a fool for believing the absurd rumors spread by the Magical Kingdom—

‘…Ugh, just thinking about it makes my blood boil.’

A sound of frustration escaped Maris’s lips.

Even though they were united under the name of the Lion Duke’s Bloodline, the reality was a gathering of relatives numbering in the hundreds.

It wasn’t unusual to have hell break loose with just a handful of a couple’s children during family gatherings; so, when the number reached the hundreds, the terror was beyond comprehension.

While Maris was not oblivious to the importance of socializing and diplomacy, she usually maintained a benign smile to keep the peace, but the current situation, with the likes of uncles and distant cousins ruthlessly bashing Adelheid, left a severe distaste in her heart.

Now that she had learned the full, even more sordid backstory behind the Friedel incident than she’d known from her own investigation.

‘If the content spread by the Tower of Control is indeed the truth, the entire family should band together to oust the instigators and apologize.’

Of course, Maris was well aware that such a task was no small feat.

Not because the content was something trivial that could be brushed aside.

But because it was exceedingly disgusting and shameful.

To acknowledge it would be to stain the resplendent name of Lenart, leading even those who weren’t directly related to the incident to deny its contents.

So severe was the situation that even though Maris knew Adelheid was near the capital, she found it difficult to visit her indiscriminately.

However.

‘If it’s Werner Grandpa (okay, the detailed kinship makes this sound more complicated, but let’s simplify it), who’s asking me to go, who would dare say anything.’

This was the very proposal she couldn’t refuse. No, it was a proposal she didn’t even want to refuse, so Maris visited Alingd Goodwitch’s ‘White Mansion’ without her escort (going to apologize with a crowd would be rude and having any other guards other than Werner would be unnecessary).

The result:

“…To think I was about to meet the unfortunate descendant of fate, and instead, I find a monster sitting here.”

[‘Tin Knight’ wonders why a final boss-like figure suddenly appears without any preamble!]

Strange beings have crossed paths.