Umarekawatta “Kensei” Wa Raku o Shitai

65. Identity of the enemy

By the time I arrived, the battle was already over.

Fortunately, there were no major injuries to the two of us, Iris and Merche, and we were able to make sure they were safe.

The Assassins also seemed to have come to Iris and Merche, but they ran away before we could rush - no, or maybe that was one of the calculations.

Perhaps I could have captured Ayna and I if we had followed one person like that, but at least in the present circumstances, the enemy would not have lost a single hand job.

(… in addition to at least the two people who came to us, there are two people who have the strength to just get away from Mr. Iris or Mr. Merche - four in total, or?)

It follows from Aena's words that Merche will also be of considerable strength.

Whatever, because the basics are acknowledged by Ayna, who tries to fight alone and makes it possible.

The assassins captured would be just a few matches or like lizard tail-cutting.

I may not get much useful information.

(Were you going to pull to the critical point and confirm this battle power? Well, it turned out to be a way to grasp the power of the other side, too)

There is also the possibility that they will increase the number of people. As for this one, we needed to be more vigilant.

(Well, the problem is…)

Even after my rendezvous, I head down to Illis, looking away with an unfloating expression.

She had scratches all over the place, she had just been treated with Merche earlier.

"Mr. Iris, are you okay?

"Ah, Doctor... I'm sorry, I let my enemies get away."

"No, because that's the same for me. Instead, I'm glad you two are safe. At one point, we captured some of them... but perhaps me and Mr. Ylis fought for them."

"... right"

To my words, Illis answers with a broken tooth.

That was enough for me to understand what happened to Illis. - Because the assassins I saw moved closer to Aria's.

"... was Mr. Iris' opponent in battle, Mr. Aria?

"... Huh!? Hey, why, give it...!

Listening to my words, Illis has a hazy look on his face.

After a few seconds of silence out of sight,

"... to the teacher, I thought I'd talk to him right away. But I don't know how to explain it..."

"Really?"

How can I explain it - that is, I guess I didn't want to refer explicitly to Aria as an 'enemy'.

But the person who attacked Iris in reality was Aria, that's what happens.

My expectations have fallen in the wrong direction. [M]

The timing of Aria's disappearance and the daughter of the Marshal who came from the Empire... could have been enough from the circumstances, but Aria went on to target Aena's organization. Alternatively, they belonged to the organization from the beginning.

(… No, is that unlikely? But suppose that was one of the maneuvers -!)

As I go through my thoughts, I get a good look at Iris.

The gleaming eye was something that Iris had never shown before.

"Doctor... I don't know what to do..."

"You don't have to do this."

It was Aena who brought Merche that blocked the words of Illis.

As usual, Aena stands in front of Iris with that look that even makes her feel intimidated.

"It is clear that this matter is aimed at us. So we'll deal with it."

"Hey, what are you gonna do about it...?

"It is decided. Clearly the enemy is after me... I will destroy that enemy. Is there more or less?"

"It's..."

Illis clogs the words.

They're after me, so I intercept you - Aena's right, for sure. With Aria among its opponents, I guess Illis can't answer well.

But it's my job to answer here.

"I understand what Aena thinks. It is our duty, the Knight of the Kingdom, to intercept the enemy."

"! You also needed to hear about the matter. No, I don't have to ask... the youngest knight in the kingdom, huh?"

"Later, I was going to introduce you formally."

"No, I don't mind. You usually lick children on escorts, etc. - That's what I'm talking about, but I listen to you. He said he could destroy the Swordsmen alone."

Apparently, much information is being passed on to the Imperial side as well.

... Well, since the son of The King planned the assassination of Ilis, one of the king's candidates, that can't be all the case to pass on. I think I'm about to investigate.

"Let me introduce you again, because at least I'm in charge of Ayna's escort."

"So don't get your hands on it," he said? You think I'll convince you?

"Of course, I don't think that convinces you. I was just wondering."

"What?"

"I do think it is likely that this was aimed at Master Ayna"

"... rather than expensive, that would be the only way"

"I think so, too. But Master Aena doesn't care about the captured assassin or anything, he only sees about the assassin who already fled, right? Isn't that because, hey, you already know who they are?

Aena listens to me and gives me a surprised look. [M]

Of course, if you have exactly the same idea as me, it's easy to truncate the captured assassin without information or anything.

But Aena is a soldier - even if it was a small possibility, it was somewhat uncomfortable to care about all those who fled, not even about the assassins who captured her.

"Huh, you're still funny. Strength, but also ability to calmly identify situations"

"It's an honor to compliment you"

"Sure, I knew I could be targeted, and I dared to be targeted"

That's what Aena answers - that I told her to reduce the number of knights in the escort, that she clearly wanted to make the guard look handy.

"Does Master Aena know about the enemy?

"Oh, I'm after them too.... they are - The Shadow Apostle is the enemy of the Empire."

Yes, Aena answers clearly.

It was a new understanding of the name of the assassin's organization and Aria's involvement there.