Chapter 39. I'm Just An Ordinary Citizen
“Rebellion?”
“Yes. It seems that a powerful noble quite far from the capital is leading it… because of that, several divisions of the Magic Knights have been dispatched.”
“Huh… even in such a peaceful country, there are people who rebel.”
“You… do you understand how serious this is?”
“If you’re telling a commoner like me, it can’t be that serious.”
Why did this woman start talking to me and then get mad?
“As a member of the royal family, I wanted to be involved in this matter.”
“But you couldn’t.”
“...That’s right! They told the inexperienced me to stay safe at the academy!”
What a hassle.
It all started when Princess Elissa came to me while I was lying in the academy courtyard, gazing at the blue sky, and started grumbling. I have no idea why she’s saying this to me… though she seems to genuinely think of me as a rival.
“At the very least, it’s completely unrelated to me, a first-year student and a commoner who isn’t even a Magic Knight. Save it for when something happens in the capital.”
“...I wanted to hear your opinion, as someone who defeated a dragon.”
“That has nothing to do with this.”
Ugh… what a bother.
Still, a rebellion… there’s no war, and there aren’t any heavy taxes, so a rebellion doesn’t make sense. Also, the fact that Magic Knights, who should be guarding the capital, are being mobilized in divisions is strange. You’d think they’d just send a small, elite force… there seems to be something more to this, though I can’t be bothered to think about it.
In any case, a rebellion in a distant territory has nothing to do with me, a non-noble. I’ll listen to complaints, but don’t expect me to agree.
“Oh, Theodore, there you are.”
“Hm? Ivy?”
“...So, Princess Elissa, you’ve heard about the rebellion?”
“You’re always the scariest to me, Ivy.”
How did she figure everything out in an instant?
“I thought it might be pointless to tell you, Theodore… but since we’re in the same faction, I thought I should let you know. Want to hear my ridiculous theory?”
“Don’t you have any other friends to talk to?”
“No. People seem to think I’m suspicious.”
That’s because I always call you suspicious.
“Well, let me tell you my theory.”
“It’s starting forcibly, huh?”
This is like one of those games where you get options, but the story moves forward no matter what you choose.
“The rebellion is happening in the territory of Viscount Pornord, quite far from the capital.”
“Viscount Pornord… wait a minute. Why do you have more detailed information than me, a royal?”
“...”
“Don’t smile so scarily!”
Ivy really is dangerous. Where does she get this information?
“The Pornord family has always been on bad terms with the surrounding nobles and has been somewhat ostracized in the capital.”
“That seems like a weak reason for a rebellion, but… alright.”
“But the Pornord family doesn’t matter now. The issue is… why did the highly esteemed 1st and 5th divisions of the Magic Knights move to suppress it immediately?”
That’s the question. I don’t know much about the Pornord family, but unless they have some mysterious technology, a regular army should be enough. Sending the Magic Knights means the royal family wants to hide something, or…
“Are there people who find the divisions’ presence in the capital inconvenient?”
“...Exactly. I suspect the rebellion is a decoy, with someone deeply embedded in the country’s core as the mastermind.”
“Hmm… that’s a wild theory, but if it’s true, it’s serious.”
The 1st Division is an elite group of Magic Knights, powerful enough to surpass the entire army alone. The 5th Division is known for its savagery, almost more beast than human. Their strength rivals the 1st Division.
“What about the 2nd and 4th Divisions?”
“...The 2nd Division is guarding the second prince on a diplomatic mission to a neighboring country, and the 4th Division is... unknown.”
“The 4th Division is supposed to be engaging with the Kloster Kingdom.”
“An unpublicized exchange, huh.”
Whatever the details, this means four of the five divisions are out of the capital. The remaining 3rd Division mainly consists of instructors at the Chronos Magic Knight Academy… essentially, they’re out of practice.
“The kingdom’s knight brigade remains, but… there’s something more going on.”
“The 3rd Division alone can’t handle it, I guess.”
If Ivy’s speculation is correct and not just wild paranoia, this could be bad.
I keep thinking about that shady guy in black and the crazy religious woman I met on my day off.
Ugh, how many times do I have to say it, what a bother.
“Can you take this seriously?”
Princess Elissa reacted to my sigh as I looked up at the sky.
“Listen… I’m just a student with no social standing. I’m a commoner with no backing; my father is a Magic Knight, but I’ve done nothing. If you tell me there might be some national conspiracy, what can I do?”
“Ugh…”
“This is ridiculous… tell me when the mastermind shows up and I can cut them down.”
No matter how you look at it, I’m just an ordinary person with a bit of skill. I can’t do anything about national conspiracies or political struggles.
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