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Chapter 75. Direct Confrontation

"He was an interesting person, wasn’t he?"

"Well... that’s how he is at home."

Jeremiah described my father as interesting, but he’s always like that at home.

It seemed like he still had a lot of things he wanted to ask, but he had to go back to work...

Dad, the corporate slave and middle manager, keeps up the good work.

"I heard that the Vice Captain was the 3rd Division Commander two generations ago."

"Does that role change so frequently?"

Huh, is the position of Division Commander really one that changes so often?

"The 3rd Division is special. Since their work is near Chronos Magic Knights Academy, they’re busier than any other division during peacetime... Everyone wants to quit quickly and aim for a higher position like the Vice Captain."

What a cursed position. And why is Liester-san able to do whatever he wants... is his corporate slave resistance monstrous or what?

"Liester, don’t go wandering off as you please."

Standing behind Liester, who was nodding happily, was Londor, the 5th Division Commander, who had appeared without anyone noticing.

"Sorry. The Vice Captain was here, so I thought I’d greet him."

"The Vice Commander... Misla? That’s rare... He’s usually cooped up in his office doing paperwork, and yet he’s come out for the Founding Festival."

Wow... Dad’s a total corporate slave.

"Well, never mind. Hurry back."

"I understand... Theodore, I’m looking forward to your match."

"No need to."

I’m sure the preparations will be done before I even get to fight.

The Founding Festival has progressed, and the skilled fighters are starting to clash. Since I only really know the Division Captains when it comes to the Magic Knights, I don’t know much about these skilled fighters. I can recognize the Butcher Knight since I’ve seen him before, but no one has used their Grimoire yet, so it doesn’t feel very exciting... Maybe it’s just me, though.

Incidentally, even though I said there was no need to look forward to it, my match happened anyway. I quickly destroyed my opponent’s weapon and made them surrender, so I don’t think there was much to see.

"Theo!"

While I was lazily watching the match with Jeremiah, Nina came running toward me, calling my name.

"What’s up?"

"They’re here."

"Huh?"

What? My preparations are here?

"Really? I’m not ready yet."

"They seem more eager than I thought."

"Is that so... We’d better move quickly then."

Apparently, the special rebellion we had prepared had already begun.

I wanted to guide the civilians to safety first, but it couldn’t be helped.

As I nodded to Jeremiah and was about to move, a giant fireball fell into the arena.

Its target... the seats where the nobles are sitting.

"An enemy attack!"

"An enemy, you say!?"

As the fireball slowly descended, causing panic in the arena, I heard a Magic Knight bring the news to the Minister of the Interior, Frodil. The clearly shaken voice of Frodil made me smile a little.

That aside, I didn’t want the damage to spread, so I thought I’d do something about the fireball, but Londor, the 5th Division Commander, was already in the air.

"An enemy attack during the Founding Festival! Magic Knights, respond immediately!"

Just like when he sliced up the Earth Dragon, Londor cut the fireball into tiny pieces with a single swing and called on all the Magic Knights in the arena to respond.

Amidst all this, I saw Frodil looking toward the royal family and trying to walk toward them, so I immediately stepped in front of him.

"...Could you step aside?"

"Why?"

"You should evacuate quickly too... It’s an enemy attack."

"This might be something you orchestrated. I can’t let you go."

Well, since I’m the one who did it, Frodil isn’t to blame.

"I see. You seem to understand exactly what I’m trying to do. And you’ve created this chaos."

"Do you seriously think a mere student could create a fireball like that?"

"No, that fireball wasn’t created by magic. That was... the work of a drake."

Correct.

"A drake is coming!"

"A drake!? Why would a dragon target the Founding Festival?"

"No, that’s not it... Someone’s riding on its back!"

Drakes are different from dragons; they’re magical beasts that can be tamed by humans, though it’s difficult, so they aren’t common in the Kuria Kingdom. If they could be controlled, they’d be a powerful military force, but some say that Magic Knights are enough. However... as a fact, the Drake Squad is showing its overwhelming power like this.

"A military force riding drakes. The only place with a Drake Squad is the Lucas Confederation... So, this is an attack you facilitated."

"I didn’t know the name Lucas Confederation existed... In the Kuria Kingdom, we only learn about the Western Countries."

Indeed... All I did was tell the Western Countries that with the royal family gathered defenselessly for the Founding Festival, it was a perfect opportunity to kill them all...

"Do you realize that inviting foreign aggression is an act of treason punishable by death?"

"Killing the royal family is also a capital offense, isn’t it?"

It’s the same thing.

"A Drake Squad from the Western Countries!? What was the Elgrant Empire doing!?"

"They must have bypassed the Elgrant Empire to get here! That has to be it!"

"Nonsense... Even a drake can’t fly that far!"

"The Elgrant Empire betrayed us! That must be it!"

"What is the military doing!? Kill the invaders at once!"

Wow, these pompous people are saying whatever they like... Have they forgotten that they’ve been calling for military disarmament all this time?

"Your plan is to have the Lucas Confederation attack the Founding Festival and obscure everything in confusion, isn’t it? You think of some rough things... but this is an act of war. Even if I don’t stop you, this will lead to war with the Lucas Confederation."

"War was inevitable anyway. The Western Countries have been eyeing this continent for a while now."

Well... on their continent, they’re always at war because they hate the magical beasts that come out of the giant hole created by the ‘Dragon of the End.’

"...Well, that’s fine. Now those nobles who only talk won’t be able to complain about military expansion. There’s no longer any need for me to kill the royal family."

"I see. Then let’s stop the Lucas Confederation together."

"No, you’re dangerous. I can’t just ignore someone who invites foreign aggression for their own gain. You’re the kind of person who would easily sacrifice the few to save the many."

"Sorry, but I don’t intend to debate this."

"Your actions will eventually harm this country... I’ll stop you here."

Why did it come to this... I thought that if I could bring in the enemy and force a ceasefire with Frodil, it would be enough, but I didn’t expect to end up fighting him directly. Still... I understand where he’s coming from, so I guess it can’t be helped.