4. Rynella’s fate is decided by Rynella (22)
Come to think of it, Arthur’s answer was natural.
There was no way the Dark Church could be caught so easily. Even if the Dark Church had been discovered by chance, they wouldn’t have dispatched just this amount of forces.
At least, the Imperial Guard Knights or the Heretic Inquisitors from the Holy Land had to come to weigh it.
The danger factor that penetrated even the royal aides of the Empire was the Dark Church.
Not only the Holy Nation, which has no choice but to fight with the Dark Church from birth, the Empire and the Ten Kingdoms probably want to cut out the risk as soon as possible.
Being able to touch the imperial family also meant that there was no existence that I couldn’t touch if I set my mind to it.
I don’t know, but the royalty and nobles of the ten kingdoms must have been cold for a while.
Yeah, I was expecting it.
However, it was also true that the pulse was relaxed when such a simple answer came back.
However, Mr. Reynolds had a slightly different idea.
“Other than that, there is no other reason to take the useless poor. To put it bluntly, even if you set up an orphanage and exploit children, you can legally secure free labor.”
“… … Sir Reynolds.”
Arthur dissuaded Mr. Reynolds in a weary voice. But Mr. Reynolds only sneered.
It was after the conversation had gone on for a long time.
Nonetheless, my question was still ongoing.
It was because there was so much information all of a sudden.
I pressed my temples to calm my throbbing head. I needed time to organize my thoughts.
In the past, the place my questions were headed was Mr. Reynolds.
“No, didn’t you come to pick up Elsie-senpai?”
“I came with both company and company, otherwise there would be no need for me to come to this country estate.”
That is why the Rainella family’s magic corps itself was scheduled to be dispatched, but that seems to be the reason why Mr. Reynolds, who had a high rank among them, was dispatched.
Because the only person who could subdue Elsie-senpai was Reynold-san, who had a higher level than him.
Even so, the head of the household, Countess Rainella, could not be away for long.
Only then did I figure out the circumstances, and I had no choice but to laugh.
Now that I see it, it’s not just Elsie-senpai’s problem. Numerous issues were intertwined with the case I was investigating.
Should I call this luck or misfortune?
Arthur bumped his palms as I looked confused.
Pair, the sound had the effect of arousing the atmosphere again.
Arthur slammed the table in the conference room with his frail arms. It didn’t even sound good, though.
“… … Anyway! His Majesty was very alarmed when he saw the demonic attack on the academy last time. That’s why we have been instructed to investigate suspicious cases first.”
If it was the emperor’s order, even the Rainella family had no choice but to follow it.
According to the explanation that followed, it seems that cases of disappearance within the Rainella estate have become quite rare. They did not have to go all the way to House Percus.
However, the problem was that the emperor was interested in this case.
After all, it was just an incident in which unknown persons gradually disappeared.
In the first place, the poor living in the suburbs were not subject to management. It was because there were limits to what power could do.
Even so, since the emperor’s order had fallen, it was impossible to handle it roughly.
Anything had to result.
Perhaps one of the reasons Arthur’s complexion darkened was the pressure.
“And fortunately, isn’t there a proud hero in the Percus Territory? You are the helper that His Majesty the Emperor directly designated… … .”
“… … Can I fold it?”
It was a question posed just in case, but the answer to these questions was usually the same.
“Yes, sir Ian Perkus.”
I put my hand in my bosom and touched the imperial seal.
Even if I didn’t have to show the dragon blood text, the moment I showed it, I could get all kinds of convenience.
The official seal of the imperial family also meant that he was recognized by the imperial family.
Fortunately, neither Arthur nor Reynolds seemed to know that I was the owner of the Imperial Seal.
Arthur treated me a little excessively, but it seemed to be because I was a talented person enough to catch the emperor’s eyes.
It was a really embarrassing thing.
To think that the lower nobles of the empire, especially the second son of a rural viscount, would be treated so undeservedly.
But Mr. Reynolds snorted again at Arthur’s words. His transparent eyes were looking at me.
“… … Let’s see if there’s a guy who could be Elsie’s mate.”
There were many discussions after that, but there was only one conclusion.
Eventually, as soon as I came back, I was told to go back to work.
It was the ending I was expecting, but I had no choice but to accept the documents Arthur handed over with a gloomy face.
There was a lot of information organized there.
In particular, among the Percus Territory, a map showing the places where disappearances frequently occurred stood out. I murmured as I secretly looked into Mr. Reynolds eyes.
“The map depicting the geography of the territory is a strategic asset… … .”
“Are you sure you don’t believe me?”
I had to keep my mouth shut.
If it wasn’t for Elsie’s uncle, he might have done a great distance at least once.
But anyway, senior Elsie and I were no different from a community of destiny.
There was no need to have a conflict with Elsie’s family.
Even so, I couldn’t completely dispel my dissatisfaction, and a long sigh leaked from my mouth.
“… … When should I start investigating? Even now, thinking that Young Ji-min is disappearing makes me sick.”
“First of all, get rid of your travels, and start tomorrow.”
At Arthur’s words, I clicked my tongue and put the map into my bosom.
I didn’t know when senior Neris would arrive. Until then, I had no choice but to rely on the information Arthur provided.
“Then, at least tonight, I will have to speak to my companions.”
If I had to investigate alone, that would have been many times better.
In the first place, there was no evidence yet, but I was convinced that the Dark Church was involved in this case. It was because the letter from the future hinted at this.
And if the Dark Church was behind it, it would never be an ordinary incident.
In particular, it was something that the Dark Church had been skillfully preparing for several years.
I would never let that get in the way.
I suddenly remembered the head of a woman who had burst into madness.
Dark Priest Mitram.
His organs were biomodified. Oddly enough, I had a hunch that my relationship with him was not over yet.
Because you said you wouldn’t make me wait long.
If he was the main culprit of this incident, it was hard to imagine what kind of suffering the missing people would be suffering.
It was when I left the meeting room with such a gloomy face.
Mr. Reynolds spoke to me in a still subdued voice.
“… … The Rainella family has yet to acknowledge you.”
I never asked for it to be acknowledged in the first place.
Elsie-senpai just declared ‘Master’ at will.
Such an objection lingered in my mouth, but I endured it. Anyway, it was Elsie senior, not me, who would suffer a loss if she rebelled now.
“Rinella’s fate is decided by Rynella. So, Elsie’s fate is still undecided… Whether you can become the son-in-law of the Rainella family depends on this.”
After that, Mr. Reynolds walked away with his back to me.
I tried to swallow a laugh, but then I shook my head.
I also understood Mr. Reynolds’ mind.
It was a situation where the nephew suddenly called the stranger man ‘Master’. In his eyes, I’d look like trash among trash, and he’d be worried that I was playing with Elsie-senpai.
So, I shouted at Mr. Reynolds broad back.
“… … Senior Elsie.”
Mr. Reynolds’ steps stopped abruptly.
His blue eyes, unable to read his emotions, turned towards me.
“He is a precious person to me. There may be some misunderstanding.”
Hmph, Mr. Reynolds snorted and took another step.
However, the one word that came back was the most positive thing he had ever thrown at me.
“I will watch.”
A bitter smile came to my lips when I heard that.
Nothing to disappoint Mr. Reynolds would not happen for a while.
If there was a possibility, Delphine-senpai or Neris-senpai would act unexpectedly. However, it was impossible for the two of them to do so.
Delphine-senpai had social prestige, and Neris-senpai was someone who could reveal his identity.
I sighed and looked at the Percus estate seen through the window.
In my hometown, in this countryside.
I would have left another bloodstain.
**
And that night, when I heard the news that a beautiful female knight had come, I went out into the yard.
There stood a beautiful woman with impressive blue hair. The woman with her back to the moonlight seemed hesitant as soon as she saw me.
Then, he lowered his head and said.
“Eh, just as you said, we have arrived! Master!”
It was a remark that instantly dropped the temperature around me by several degrees.