- Five years ago.

(b) Isa calendar year 933. Amazir, king's capital.

Hours after Harold was sentenced to beheading and forced to take himself to a chamber in the Council basement. Cody's appearance was in Fincent's office.

"Why would Harold have to be executed!

So Cody inquires about the Lord of the Office. That face is never safe.

Fincent, stuffed against, too, whose expression was distorted as it chewed up the bitter bug.

"It's a unanimous verdict by everyone but me, including Captain Cox. This verdict is too heavy to even confirm the facts yet..."

Surely Harold has some suspicions and suspicions of espionage. Still, it was a common perception that the verdict handed down this time was a jump over the stage to be taken, and that it was very difficult to say that it was legitimate.

"... you mean there's a guy who turned his hand on the councillor?

"Probably. The only way to stop Harold's execution is to find that person."

As Fincent, I have some thoughts about Harold, but I guess you don't think he's guilty of a sin that deserves to be killed. Cody also tells me the truth.

The suspicion may not have been completely dispelled, but it is nevertheless a position against execution.

"Deadline is a week..."

Too little time. In the meantime, it's hard to put exploration in and sear out the mastermind and its aim. Besides, it doesn't necessarily mean we can stop it where we've found the mastermind.

But if you don't do it, Harold dies. Then I'll have to do anything I can't.

That was the intention. Cody and the others moved, but things got even worse the next day.

Ever since the execution was decided, bad reviews about Harold have spread instantly within the Knights and to Shirai. It also had maliciously twisted the contents of this deliberation, or even something as if it were virtually rootless.

Cody is convinced that someone is trying to kill Harold. The air has been created that it is reasonable to be executed.

And if that happened, it was natural for that bad review to reach her ears, too.

"I apologize for the sudden visit of the day"

That's what I said and lowered my head to Erica, Harold's fiancée. She came back to visit Cody.

I know why. It would be about the veracity of Harold's execution or malicious rumors of unknown origin.

Honestly, Cody doesn't know what's going on either, so there's not much we can talk about. The verdict of beheading handed down to Harold is true, but whether to pass it on to Erica, his fiancé and still a child, is a very mind-boggling issue.

A visitor, for one thing, passes Erica through the same room as yesterday. The squire woman does not speak a word and when she follows Erica into the room, she forms the corner of the room.

Sitting across the street, Cody just cut out.

"What can I do for you today... how wild can you just ask"

"Yes, I would like you to tell me what the situation is, Mr Harold, in the light of the judgment published by the Council"

"... Clearly, the situation is so bad. Still listening?"

"Please."

Erica answers that without hesitation at all. Perhaps he also assumes the worst.

It's a big deal this year.

"First of all, the verdict for beheading is a fact. Six days from now, Harold will be executed."

Erica closed her eyes to Cody's words so that she could calm down and exhale small.

There is no agitation in those next opened eyes, returning a straight gaze to Cody.

"…" If it stays this way ”means that we have the means to overturn the status quo?

The girl in front of her calmly read the sincerity hidden in Cody's words.

That's just Harold's fiancée. That's what they honestly thought.

"I'm sorry to make you expect it, but you can't say enough about it. This is it. That's a pretty bad bet."

"Still, I don't mind. If there's any chance you can save Harold even if you want to."

I guess it's not that you don't understand the desperate situation, or that it's not accepted. After accepting it was all true, Erica still only thinks about helping Harold unwavering.

Cody explores the surrounding signs and makes sure no one is asking. It would be okay to talk about this.

"Normally, I can't override the judgment of the Council. But this deliberation wasn't normal."

Cody didn't hide the story from Erica.

That the verdict is too steep. That Harold's remarks and actions were not taken into account in the deliberations. On the contrary, it is believed that it was proceeded with with with the sentence of execution.

The faces of Erica and her squire listening to it are gradually stretched out.

"... this is the situation where Harold was placed. There's definitely a guy trying to kill Harold."

"Who is that?

"Unfortunately"

Cody shakes his neck left and right as he poses for you.

It's a pitiful story, but I really don't see any point in it.

"But we have to find him in the time we have left. There's no guarantee that Harold will help where he could."

Clearly, it's almost packed. Flipping over the board from here is nearly impossible.

She didn't give in to grief or despair, though it wouldn't be Erica who doesn't get it.

"Then we have to move now. Dear Cody, who ruled in this deliberation?

"What? Uh, sure, six human beings in the council and three captains of the Knights, deputy captains, and expedition troops. Among them, only the deputy commander opposes execution."

An odd number of deliberators are assembled in the Council to pass judgment after they have had an argument. Nine is the largest number of councillors.

It is unusual that sentences should be handed down in just two weeks, even though it is such a serious deliberation.

"Which position is Master Cody in?

"Honestly, riding a winning horse is my doctrine. I'm ready to serve as your lord this time."

Cody grinning like trouble. When I saw that, Erica spilled a really small grin.

Has it gained credibility?

"Then do me one favor. Can you give me a list of those who voted in favour of execution? A name, title, or background would suffice."

"That's about as good as I can prepare..."

"Then please. Yuno, you're cleared for boarding. I'll be on my way later."

Erica skipping instructions without hesitation. The squire bowed his head and left early enough.

Cody also goes back to his room, saying, "Wait a minute." Among the materials collected was also a list of deliberators.

Take it and turn back to the room and hand it to Erica.

"Yes. So, what are you gonna do?

"... regrettably, I have no power to make things better. I'll have this list delivered to my father to help him withdraw and reconsider the verdict."

Tasks Smeragi. The current head of the Smeragi family, many of whom know their names even in the people of the King's capital. Influence is not an aristocratic ratio of juxtaposition.

Some nobles would follow it if the Smeragis raised their voices loudly. That alone will cover the verdict, though the answer is no.

"The rest will also be conducted in parallel with the councillor's background checks. We just have to find out who we had contact with before the verdict was handed down and wash it out as far as possible. There won't be enough time to trace it from the source of bad reviews..."

"I was entrusted there. Because there are stories that only get hooked up with residents' own information networks. Still got a good face for the city folks, huh?

It is a gift of stopping at various shops in Savoli, which we called a break during our daily patrols.

Never praised, but thanks to it, Cody is more widely connected to Wang Du residents than other knights.

"The lieutenant Fincent is putting an exploration into the captain. You can throw a round at him, you can do it."

Finn St. would get some information. I have that kind of trust.

Erica snorted too, feeling it.

"So there's Fincent about the captain. I'll find out where the captain of the unit and his bad reviews come from."

"The Smeragis will do their utmost to persuade and investigate the remaining councillors."

Finally, check the respective roles sharing. The absence of Fincent is also incorporated, but Cody decided he wouldn't have a problem with his ex-post consent.

Whatever it is, a Harold Rescue Alliance has now been formed here. It's going to be a week I can't sleep properly.

"Then I beg your pardon. Thank you for all your cooperation, Dear Cody."

"Uh, wait a minute"

Cody calls Erica to rest so she can't contain her feelings of deviation. This may be an extra favor, but I just wanted to go.

"Don't be in a hurry. It won't be possible to order, but don't be in a hurry. Even if you can't, eventually you can just break into the council and help, it's better if you have enough room, your head turns and your horizons widen."

"If you do that, even Master Cody will be expelled from the Knights, right?

"If that happens, Mr. Smeraggi, you can hire me at home. I have confidence in the arms of the sword, so I can be of service there."

"Hehe, right. I'll talk to my father then."

A smile that attracts the beholder, regardless of gender age. I might have been able to relax Erica's tension a little bit.

When I told him about Harold's situation, his expression was calm, but he was gripped so hard that his hands grew white. I guess he was desperate to endure the anxiety and despair of losing Harold.

My shoulders were shaking slightly too.

That's about her. I felt like I was going to rush so hard that I couldn't see around to shake off the terror that struck me.

But you have to be cool to save Harold.

The live path is very thin and very unstable. You won't be able to cross the line with momentum.

"Please do me one favor like that."

"Yes, thank you"

Take your time and thank Erica for leaving the room behind. I dropped that back off this time.

"... you're a strong kid"

Cody leaked those words naturally in the room where he was alone.

Inner strength like a solid core goes through your soul, not an outer strength like strength or combat ability.

I suppose you care about Harold too much, even such a loving human predicament tries to be calm. No, I guess it's because of the predicament.

It's not something you can do inside.

For Harold's sake, for Erica's sake, I'll definitely rescue him. That kind of thought springs up. Even if they were to expel the Knights, they're superior.

There was something heartfelt about that appearance of not running away from brutal reality.

"It's the role of adults to help their hard-working children."

Could this be how parents feel? He was a cody with goosebumps on himself thinking about that.