Day 61 Evening, Murimuri Castle

An imposing band of knights. Their orderly conduct suggests a high level of experience.

And they are carrying the flag of the Royal Prince. Meaning, its the entourage of the current regent.

Everyone is clad in splendid armor, with some wearing pretty extravagant pieces.

They are giving off the air of awe and dignity, characteristic for elite units in full battle gear.

There is something fascinating about bands of knights in expensive full plate armor that makes it hard to take ones eyes off them.

Even so, the most noticeable detail there was a gorgeous and luxurious carriage the likes of which have never been seen before in the kingdom.

It was far too gaudy to be called a carriage, and appeared more like a moving mansion.

Moreover, it moved with ease one wouldve never imagined for its large build. Moving as smooth as if it was floating, it didnt show a slightest sway as it was pulled by a horse.

Wearing armor of exquisitely fine work, the shiningly beautiful Knight Princess is riding ahead of it, like a leader of the escort, while the Flower Knights are following it on the sides, completing the defensive formation.

That part alone looked as beautiful and sparkling as if it was straight out of some fairytale.

It commanded such an overwhelming power and authority, that any king on the continent wouldve found themselves compelled to lower their heads.

The aura of majesty seemed enough to make anyone prostrate themselves in awe and respect.

Just by advancing it overflowed with such awe-inspiring dignity that it felt even oppressive.

Its a prisoner. When we locked him up he started living a life of extravagance. From time to time he strolls out, and after wandering to his heart content returns to the carriage on his own, but he is prisoner.

A herald informed with a tired expression.

Apparently that dazzling carriage that mesmerized everyone, inspiring them to drop to their knees, was a prison?

I cant comprehend it. Well, thats a usual occurrence, so Im already used to this.

This world has a great many inexplicable occurrences, but those of an utterly incomprehensible sort are usually linked to that boy.

As the luxurious door to the majestic carriage swings open, the captive strolls outside on his own.

A boy in a black mantle casually alighted from the carriage, and with the Knight Princess by his side he advances surrounded by flower knights.

The knights hurriedly open the way through which he proceeds with an air of composure.

Not sparing even a single glance to the regent, the Kings younger brother, he walks forwards.

The level is different.

That is the caliber of a supreme ruler.

The status at which yapping of nobles, lords, royalty, or kings are of no concern to him.

So overwhelming that it blurs any authority, influence or power.

An overwhelming superiority that forces one to realize their standing, regardless of their position, birth, status, or stature.

The Royal Prince, the representative of the king, his brother, clad in armor passed down through generations of the royal family, is treated as part of a common mob.

Everyone is overawed by that boy that lives free of worldly cares neither bragging nor showing off his power.

And he walks with his usual composure and leisure, forcing the state to yield to him the way he sets the king aside, while having a princess follow his steps.

Im baack~, for some reason they brought us right back, just what did I leave for? I only managed to make preliminary preparations to set up a souvenir stall, but it was already time to return? Kind of? Eh? Meripapa-san, what are you doing? Did you come to apologize, finally getting kicked out by Murimuri-san? Even kobolds wouldnt get involved in a marital quarrel, but the bitches might eat that up? Wanna borrow them? Theyll tear apart literally anything? Thats really painful? Kind of?

I welcome the boy with a smile. There is nothing left but to smile. The difference in caliber is too vast. Akin to a man challenging a mountain or a sea, they wont even be taken as opponents.

Hey, Haruka-kun, looks like the princess caused you some trouble. Well, why stand outside like this, how about we talk at ease in Murimuri Castle Wait, Murimuri Castles name took hold throughout the frontier before I noticed? Just how did this happen? Also, I simply came to welcome you, we didnt have a fight or anything, so please lets not involve violence? Or rather, dont you think it would be cruel to do such a thing to a person chased out of home by his wife? I would appreciate it if you dont, or rather, its not like I was chased out of home or anything?

Having the aides guide Haruka-kun I head to greet His Excellency. He seems dumbfounded, stiffened in a stupor, so lets welcome him.

He was always a stiff person ever since his childhood. At the time, the King, who was still a crown prince back then, would tell him that one of these days he might demand even a mountain to bow, since its in a kings presence. Looks like he was right.

Courteous, diligent, caring of his elder brother and hard working, but incredibly inflexible. And way too honest and straightforward.

Having to step in as a regent in such a situation he mustve been in constant distress. Haggard, with dark circles under his eyes, he has an utterly exhausted expression plastered to his face.

While he was anxious about his brothers illness, the kingdom that he was entrusted with, began falling apart. He mustve blamed himself enough to go mad, and then, finally resolving himself, decided to come here.

Even though laughing voices of the supposed captive and his friends can be heard non-stop in the background, the Kings representative is trembling with a grim look in silence. He suffered too much from his sense of responsibility.

Greetings, Your Excellency, we are extremely honored to have Your Excellency personally come with a visit to our remote domain. As the head of Omui House I bid you welcome. Its a very modest (glance) a very fine castle, but please step inside. We would like to receive Your Excellency with proper hospitality.

There is no need for such excessive courtesy, since we arrived at the frontier, we are the ones who should be bowing. For us, Diorer, the frontier is the land where we are supposed to lower our heads, we dont deserve to be bowed to here. Lord Mellotosam Mellotosam-sama, Im sorry Im sorry.

The sorrowful expression as if he might begin crying any moment. Good grief, he didnt change since he was a child at all. Unlike his freewheeling brother, this one is a straight-laced person, made up entirely of authority, courtesy, etiquette, and a conservative sense of responsibility. The royal family hasnt done anything, and I already heard about the effort to protect the frontier from Shariceres-sama He mustve come here as the kings representative to shoulder all of the responsibility.

He seems to have a wild misunderstanding, which brought him to apologize and atone for the downfall of the frontier.

Even though the frontier has not an inch of intention of falling just because the kingdom and the Theocracy, or in the worst case the entire continent, became our enemies. This being unwinnable doesnt matter to us anymore. We have no intention of losing and no plans on perishing either. Giving up and wailing in despair is not permissible for us anymore. That is how great of a thing we received from the boy laughing in the back, how magnificent of a thing was given to us by him.

However, while it was said that he will eventually force mountains to bow, he seems yet to realize that he made a feat of arresting the very boy that defeated the Great Dungeon and exterminated the Evil Forest. Well, it seems that Haruka-kun is not aware of that fact either? Im sure its best not to seek an explanation, Ill later ask the translator about this.

The Royal Prince, who still had his head deeply lowered, mustve been lamenting the tragedy that is about to befall the frontier, so out of his own volition he came all this way seeking to atone for it.

Lowering my voice, I whisper to the royal prince Musjiks.

We can talk inside, and even if you are a representative, a king shouldnt bow before vassals. If you came in the kings stead, then stand tall, Musjiks

Having said that, I pat him on the back, after which he finally raised his head, showing a gravely fatigued face. We havent met for only a short while, but he grew thin and aged a few years. Lets feed him something nice By asking Haruka-kun.

We have a great deal to talk about, but first, we have to make him rest. Everyone is exhausted, in dirty equipment, and for the kings entourage, there are too few of them. So even the Royal Prince was attacked As I thought, the Theocracy is behind this, huh.

He mustve come to tell us about the war, turmoil, and ruin threatening the frontier. And also to apologize for it in the Kings stead.

However, even if a disaster is on the way, to be perfectly frank, I cant think of any way to take down the frontier?

Its just the basics of warfare, but when defending, one is ought to think how he wouldve attacked such a position. Thats why the frontiers military leaders and strategist thoroughly thought about this. Listing all of the possible ways to assault the frontier, they investigated, analyzed, reviewed, deliberated, and carefully studied them. It cant be done. War of attrition was the only remotely plausible option, but even then, no matter how large of an army one is to bring, they will be worn down and annihilated before the frontier falls.

I wonder what they have planned?

Moreover, assaulting the frontier while that boy is around is nothing short of sheer madness. In the first place, even the strongest royal guards led by that Sword Princess couldnt make it into a battle. Its not even a question of warfare. That is the biggest issue here.

That boy is well versed in military affairs, he can be called an expert in tactics and strategy. The book he brought, sayingHere is the white paper for Omo-something, anyway, for the frontier? I mean, I properly wrote it, so its not really white?had warfares everything packed in it, things beyond our imagination. As if he researched everything about tactics, studied the findings, and refined them into this book, that might even be justly called the Art of War. And as I thought, he has yet to remember the name of the town.

However, the boy that has reached the height of tactics, casually saidWinning without fighting is the best? Or rather, its a loss if we let them fight? Kind of?. And its terrifyingly true.

No matter how I think about this, that boy and his friends are way harder to take down than the frontier. If they could handle them, they wouldve done something about the Great Dungeon and Evil forest a long time ago.

With those kids laughing like that, hearing that the frontier might fall only makes me want to ask backBy what means?. Should I maybe go and ask them directly? For future reference?