Chapter 94: Rehabilitation (3)
As Sanders came out of the conference room, the temporary barracks, the Knights of the Shroud saw him.
Although no one showed it, anxiety was visible in their eyes.
One of them approached Sanders.
“What happened?”
“I plan to meet the head of the Ampere family now.”
That means it didn’t work out.
The knight looked worried.
“Are you sure you don’t mind? I heard that the head of Roach does not allow any objections. “In that case, there will be severe punishment.”
“It’s better than everyone dying here.”
Sanders spoke confidently at first glance, but he also felt a sense of fear creeping up on him.
Ampere, matriarch of Roach.
With the name of Iron Wall, he is the object of admiration for many citizens and knights, but he is not perfect.
The easiest weakness to recognize is stubbornness.
Ampere rarely recanted or revised his original opinions.
In the Knights’ strategy meetings, most things are left to Sylvain, but when Ampere speaks, no one can object.
Of course, this was Ampere’s own disposition, but it was also unavoidable for the absolute vertical military discipline necessary to protect Göranhes.
He must not waver or make wrong decisions, and even if he does make wrong decisions, the knights under him must trust him and follow his orders.
However, it is true that there were aspects of it that were excessive. Atjie and Frondier were completely influenced by it.
Jump and jump.
Sanders headed to the barracks where Ampere was staying. When he arrived in front of the entrance, he raised his hand and lowered it.
I tried to knock, but of course knocking was impossible. This alone made me feel how nervous I was.
“… … Lord Roach. “It’s Sanders.”
And there was a very brief moment of silence. For a moment, Sanders felt like he couldn’t breathe.
“What’s going on?”
Ampere’s voice coming from inside. Sanders said as he naturally felt strength going into his side.
“I apologize, but I came here because I had some doubts about this standby order. Drivers’ anxiety is increasing.”
It was a somewhat direct remark, but it would be worse to talk back to Ampere anyway.
Still, Sanders continued, perhaps feeling uneasy. For some reason, I felt like I was going to get kicked out like this.
“… … “If you give me a little bit of explanation, I will try to persuade them well.”
“Come in.”
Ampere interrupted Sanders. However, the content was the exact opposite of Sanders’ expectations.
“Well, what I meant by asking you to come in… … .”
“Is there any other meaning to it? “Didn’t you say you wanted an explanation?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Sanders rolled up the tent and went inside with a little hesitation.
Ampere was alone looking at the map widely hung on the wall.
He said.
“The knights are anxious?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
In fact, it was Sanders who felt the most anxiety, but he couldn’t say that.
Instead, Sanders first spoke of the reason for his anxiety.
“It’s been over a week since the standby order was issued. This is a place completely separate from the empire. “Not only is it not protected by a barrier, but there is a risk that monsters from the abyss will appear if you go this far.”
A monster of the abyss.
The Cyclipse that Frondeer defeated, and the Minotaur group that Aster defeated.
Mangot is the western end of this continent. Now that we’ve gone this deep, there’s no guarantee that someone like him won’t show up again.
Ampere said:
“As you know, this is Mangot. There is a good reason why those who have lived here have survived for such a long time. In fact, if a problem arises, we have already secured an escape route into the cave at Mangot. “Isn’t that right?”
“Yes, that’s right. But I don’t know why. “The drivers are becoming more and more suspicious of waiting for such a long time while making such preparations.”
Of course, Sanders knows the general reason.
This is because of the warning that the ‘devil’ will attack.
However, this was just something I heard from Sylvain, and it was too absurd for the knights, so it was kept a secret.
When I asked Silvain about the source of the information, he said he heard it from Ampere, and he does not know how Ampere received the information.
This made Sanders uneasy.
“Matriarch. The appearance of the devil on this earth is a rare occurrence. Why are we worried about demons out here in the far west, beyond the realm of the Empire?”
“Because this is the western end.”
After speaking, Ampere placed his finger on a part of the map. This was the cape where they were staying.
“The empire’s scholars were planning to thoroughly investigate the interior of Mangot’s cave soon. There was a lot of research material and traces of what they had researched, so they wanted to find out what they were looking for. Originally, the work should have already started. But new information came to my ears.”
After saying that, Ampere’s finger moved further west, towards the sea.
“There is a new continent other than here. And it was said that demons were flying from there.”
“… … “Are you saying the demons are on the western continent that we haven’t seen yet?”
“Originally, the empire’s move to expand its territory to Cape Bay was also aimed at sailing across distant seas. The Empire doesn’t yet know what lies beyond the sea. “There is no guarantee that there will not be another land like this.”
“But that land is the land of devils. Aren’t they in the demon world?”
“Everyone thought so. “All demons will be in the demon world.”
As Ampere spoke, his eyes gradually sank.
“But then, the people of Mangot are also people who should have been in the empire originally.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“… … !”
“If we know the history of Mangot, we cannot naturally ignore the possibility of an ‘abandoned devil.’”
Sanders fell silent at those words.
If there really is another continent to the west, and demons live there, it might be reasonable for the Empire’s strongest knights to stay here.
As if to support that thought, Ampere continued.
“Recently, many corpses of unknown origin have been discovered within the empire. It’s not like they’re hiding their faces, but people who aren’t related to them by blood show themselves. Especially the nobles. “It is said that a note was left on the body saying that this person was the devil.”
“… … There was such news. “It’s been a while since I left the empire, and I haven’t received any recent reports.”
Sanders is so far away from the Empire now that he doesn’t know the Empire’s news. Sage phone doesn’t work either. This is the same for Sylvain.
But Ampere knows. why? Ampere said while Sanders had those questions.
“We had a war with Mangot. And the leader of Mangot was a devil. A devil with the name of the Seven Sins. The keyword ‘devil’ appears one after another after his death. I don’t see this as a coincidence. Most demons are naturally capable of using auras, and use their wings to fly. “It would be difficult for an ordinary soldier to deal with that.”
“… … No way, matriarch. The person who relayed the information that demons from the west would attack… … .”
Only then did Sanders guess.
Why Ampere is reluctant to talk about the devil, and why he does not reveal the source of the information.
That’s because the information isn’t very reliable, and yet Ampere believes it.
There are really, really not many people who can give Ampere that much faith.
“It is deplorable if knights are afraid of death. It means that the minds of those who existed to protect the empire have rotted. However, if you are afraid of dog death, don’t worry. “That will never happen.”
“Matriarch… … .”
“Sanders. We must be here. Trust me.”
Ampere, like the knights, knows that this place is dangerous. But it’s not because of the monsters outside. Something more dangerous could invade this place at any time.
They will be the first to face the devil’s attack and deal with it, and while they stop it, the empire will realize the devil’s attack.
‘… … surprised. To be honest, I didn’t expect you to tell me.’
Sanders was prepared to be scolded when he visited Ampere. I was glad it ended with me getting scolded, but I was afraid of what kind of severe punishment would be handed down.
But now, Ampere was showing a completely different side from Sanders’ expectations.
“… … “Matriarch, you have changed a little.”
Sanders closed his mouth, surprised by the words coming out of his mouth so casually. Oh my, how relieved I must have been to say that to Ampere! Are you crazy about wanting to die, Sanders?
“It has changed… … .”
But Ampere calmly accepted even these words.
“That’s right. “I’m trying to do that.”
“… … !”
Sanders was even more surprised than before. It was surprising that Ampere would say such a thing, but more than that, I saw the feeling of regret in his eyes.
It may have been Sanders’ illusion, but it was clearly quite different from the face Ampere always showed.
… … Ampere has a voice that has always lingered in my ear since one day.
─I know that you were a distrustful child to your father.
It’s my son’s voice.
The second child, Frondier, was weak and helpless compared to his older brother, so he had no expectations.
So Ampere was prepared to be hated by him from a long time ago.
Roach’s burden is too heavy for that weak child. However, Roach cannot be an exception. It would be unseemly to Ajie and the knights of Roach.
That’s why I stayed away from Frontier even at the risk of being excommunicated. I believed that escaping Roach would make my son happy.
That’s why it’s okay to be hated. It has to be that way. Frontier’s resentment and anger that started there will burn out his laziness.
But.
-I have to pay for my laziness.
Frontier doesn’t blame him.
He understood Ampere, saying that it was all his fault.
Even Frontier’s laziness was ultimately nothing more than a curse from the devil.
I lived under the curse of the highest devil, called the Seven Sins.
He said that the laziness was all his fault.
Ampere tried to excommunicate him, Malia stayed silent, and Azier betrayed his expectations for his younger brother.
He was ridiculed and ridiculed by all of Constel and was given the derogatory title of ‘human sloth’.
He said it was all his fault.
“Sanders.”
“Yes, yes?”
Ampere called Sanders.
The voice was so unfamiliar that Sanders even stuttered to answer.
“Have you ever apologized to anyone?”
“… … Ah yes. If I made a mistake or did something wrong, I apologized. Of course, sometimes the other person forgave me, sometimes they didn’t.”
“Well, what if?”
After saying that, Ampere paused for a moment. In that brief moment, he sighed.
“If the other person has already forgiven you even before you apologize.”
And the next thing Sanders said, his mouth stopped.
“What should I do?”
* * *
There was one thing Frontier overlooked.
Elysia, who had come down from her position as a member of the royal family and was overwhelmed with the daily demands of living, had little idea of the macroscopic situation of the empire.
Especially about Frontier.
“──So, I will gather the hidden demons and move from place to place, because I want to avoid being hit within the empire, especially the imperial palace. If you get His Majesty’s permission first and the Zodiacs help, moving from place to place won’t be that difficult. “The knights will find the demons in the west first, and they will need your help there.”
“Now, now, just a moment.”
Elysia interrupted Frondier’s explanation.
“Who, who gets dad’s permission?”
“Yes, I will take it.”
“Who asks for Zodiac’s help?”
“Yes, I will do it.”
“… … how?”
“huh?”
The conversation is out of focus. As Frontier tilted his head, Elysia continued speaking.
“Well, why is Dad, Zodiac, helping you? I’m just a student at Constell. “Aren’t you getting too excited just because you played a part in the last war?”
Elysia looked at Frondier with a sullen expression.
Elysia knows exactly that. Frontier made a contribution in the war. Just that much.
Understanding that, Frondier made a short sound like “Ah.”
“That’s how it happened.”
As Frondier says so, he raises his finger and lowers it again.
Frontier pulls the corners of his mouth.
“… … “I think it will take more time to make you understand this.”
I sigh. Even if I try my best to explain everything, I wonder if they will believe me.
Frontier changed his mind. In this case, action is faster than explanation.
“Let’s go to the imperial palace.”
“what?”
“I was planning on going anyway, so it would be quicker to see it in person.”