An Old Man from the Countryside Becomes a Swords Saint: I Was Just a Rural Sword Teacher, But My Successful Students Won't Leave Me Alone! Chapter 93

Published at 9th of August 2022 07:02:17 AM

T/N: Apologies for the delay, I was consumed by a personal project.

“… Sir Gatoga?” I asked.

“! Ah, aah… it's my fault. I let him get away,” Gatoga said, seemingly snapping back to reality just then.

I'm worried about what he was muttering just now, but now is not the time to ask. For the time being, all of us were able to repel the thugs safely, so we'll have to put this situation to an end.

“Alexia,” I said.

“Yes, I know,” Alexia said.

She seemed to know what we'll do next. As expected of a Knight-Captain, she's used to responding to emergencies.

As long as an incident like this occurs, we cannot proceed with the theater watching as it is. We must hurry to ensure the safety of Prince Glen and Princess Salacia. Also, in order to end the turmoil of the crowds, we had to leave this place as soon as possible.

“Princess Salacia, I'm sure you can see the situation,” Alexia said. “Please return to the royal palace with Prince Glen.”

“Yes… understood,” Salacia said.

Alexia hands over the thug she captured to the other knights and accompanies Salacia.

The safest place in Baltrain from several angles is the Royal Palace of Rebelis. The Knights' HQ is also safe, but it's a little inconvenient to take a prince from another country there. Is it best to go back to the royal palace and think about our plans from there?

""

“Henblitz,” Alexia said. “You have command, secure this area.”

“Ma'am!” Henblitz shouted.

Seems he'll be the new commanding officer and continue without us in the escort. Well, I don't want to be left behind. In a situation like this, it's best to leave the experienced members behind.

“Citrus,” Gatoga said. “We'll be escorting Prince Glen as well.”

“Of course, I was about to ask,” Alexia said. “I'm counting on you, Sir Raizon.”

Gatoga seems to have recovered and seems raring to go.

Rose remains the same, with a smile on her face. Her skill at not showing panic under any circumstances is undeniable.

“We will return via the shortest route,” Alexia said. “Master, forgive me for the trouble, but can you accompany us outside?”

“Yes, of course I can,” I said.

I wouldn't be able to just relax in a carriage in this situation. It's no longer a time when you could use decoys. All the most talented members except Henblitz surround the carriage on which the royal family rides.

However, it is fortunate that the coachman and the general public were unharmed. It seems that those who attacked had their sights exclusively on their targets.

The attendants still follow in the carriage, but I can see the astonishment and anxiety in both of them. Even if you have combat training, experience is still important in the event of an emergency. 1 From that point of view, I also felt that the reliability of the attendants couldn't be that high.

“Alexia, what's it look like to you?” I asked.

We're standing next to the carriage that has begun to move again.

Of course, I have no idea what this attack was about. I'm not familiar with that world of crime. I didn't stray from the countryside for so long. I can't boast of anything.

“I can't say anything at this point,” Alexia said.

“Well, that's fair…” I said.

If you can make an accurate guess here, this wouldn't be so hard. In that sense as well, it's necessary to secure a safe place and have the opportunity to discuss the matter properly.

However, there is a reason why you have to make a prediction, no matter the circumstances.

Was this attack aimed at Prince Glen or Princess Salacia?

More to the point, is it a problem with the Kingdom of Rebelis or a problem with Supheniardvania?

It's possible that they were aiming at both, but it's a little hard to think of. The situation of either country must be involved, if you went so far as to aim for the royal family in the middle of the day.

I'm not familiar with that area of politics, but Alexia, Gatoga, and Rose should be familiar with the geopolitics to some extent.

If we do not make a guess at their goals, we will be involved in future diplomatic issues. Even someone like me who's ignorant of international affairs can understand that, it's impossible the other three aren't thinking about it.

We have to be vigilant of our surroundings. Still, each of the escorts seemed to be deep in thought.

What are they talking about inside the carriage now? Or are they both silently waiting for time to pass?

The theory that both royal families were being targeted cannot be abandoned. Or rather, if you think about it, that remains the most likely motivation.

However, it is a line that I can't say even under threat of torture, someone like me can't just out and say, “Did you know someone was aiming for your life?” to the royal family.

You'd only hear it at the last possible minute from the Knight-Captains, Alexia and Gatoga. To start with, it's not something you can say out in public. I don't even know where you'd say it.

“I wonder what's going to happen, huh~? Our future plans…” Rose mumbles as her eyebrows lower.

“Maybe most of it will be canceled,” I said. “This sort of incident was unthinkable…”

There are some thugs who have been arrested, and for a while, the Knights of Rebelio will be busy with the interrogation and investigation. I won't have much to do with either, but I'm not in a state where I can continue to enjoy the sights of the festival.

Whether Prince Glenn will return to his country or stay in the Kingdom of Rebelis is another matter, but in any case, it is no longer possible to go around the city.

Well, the decisions around here will be on the delegations and royalty, not the Knights, so we're basically waiting for orders.

It's a bit of a far-fetched dream that I might be released from a tough job early, but it's too unscrupulous. Apart from that, I'm neither a Knight nor have a strong loyalty to my country, but as a good civilian, I'm afraid of something going wrong.

At the end of my conversation with Rose, we silently walk around the carriage.

I think about this attack along the way, but after all, I can't come up with a good answer. If anything, that the target was supposed to be Salacia makes things even darker.

That's because if you're aiming for Prince Glen, you'll simply be much more successful if you sprung the ambush before the Knights of Rebelio, such as Alexia and Henblitz, join up with his security.

I don't know what route Prince Glen took from Supheniardvania to the Kingdom of Rebelis, but just keeping moving was your best chance. He may not have always traveled on flat roads, so it would not be out of the question that they would target them after he left the castle with the Princess, if only for the terrain advantage and the slower target.

Unless they go out in stealth, the chances of the royal family appearing in front of the people are surprisingly small. It's mostly because I lived in Bidden Village, but I've never seen them at all since I started living in Baltrain.

However, I'm also curious about the name Gatoga muttered earlier, “Hinnis.”

If I remember correctly, the name was probably the former Vice-Captain of the Knights of the Faith. With that in mind, there seems to be something wrong with the Knights of the Faith, or rather, the part of it back in Supheniardvania.

Well, if we interrogate the assassin we caught, some information will come out. I feel that waiting for it is the fastest option.

For a while, we moved forward while thinking about all that.

It was a little too early to return to the royal palace originally, but while the sun was still high, we returned to the North District.

“Princess Salacia, Prince Glen,” Alexia calls out to the carriage, looking warily at her surroundings.

After a while, the attendants warily stepped out of their carriage, and then Princess Salacia with the fear clear on her face, and then Prince Glen, who was still trying to put on a brave face.

“Alexia, can you please follow me?” Salacia asked.

“Yes, of course,” Alexia said.

“I'll ask it of you as well, Gatoga,” Glen said.

“Yes, leave it to me.”

We should have been parting ways here, but both royals seemed to call on their Knight-Captains as bodyguards.

Well, it's not as if I don't know how they feel. If something like this happened, it would be a very legitimate feeling to want to have someone you can rely on.

Furthermore, the titles they have are perfect for the role. Ordinary people can't just enter the royal palace, so you could say they'd fit right in.

“Princess Salacia, excuse me for a moment… Master,” Alexia said.

“Hmm, what's wrong?” I asked as she approached.

“Perhaps I'll be in a meeting after this,” Alexia said. “The escort mission will end there, so I'm hoping you'll go on ahead first.”

“Oh, I see,” I said. “Understood.”

In short, I'm dismissed for today.

I thought about waiting at the Knights' HQ, but I can't predict when Alexia and Henblitz will be back. I can't afford to be fatigued tomorrow, so I'll just go home today.

“Rose, go on ahead without me,” Gatoga said. “I'll give you orders later.”

“Yes, Sir~!” Rose said.

Apparently, the Knights of the Faith have the same view. They also dismissed their respective subordinate knights and they began to disappear into the royal palace.

“Well, then…” I said.

There's still plenty of sunlight yet.

The day's only half done, but I'm still pretty tired. Speaking of that, Alexia and Gatoga should be exhausted including those future missions, but there is a difference in age.

“Then, I'll be taking my leave now as well~,” Rose said.

“Ah, good work today, Rose,” I said.

Given her personality, I thought she might tell me that I now had time to show her around the city, but she wasn't so unreasonable.

In any case, the Knights of the Faith will continue to have a restless time. I may be in the same boat, but there are differences in job titles. It's not a very complimented feeling, but at times like this, my title makes things incredibly easy.

By the way, it seems that I will be returning home earlier than expected, so how do I explain it to Miu?

I thought of it on my way home.

Chapter end