Rebellion (2)
… … Something went wrong.
Wrong and wrong for a long time.
Perhaps it was around the time when he realized that the headquarters of the Knights Templar was under siege in the twilight just before dawn.
“Boo, vice-captain! No, it’s blocked without even a leak!”
“Even the secret passages are completely blocked!”
“… … sh*t.”
The vice-captain of the 1st Royal Knights Brigade quietly lifted the curtains covering the windows and checked the situation outside.
Those who surrounded them now were none other than the Argon Knights.
That existence that handles intelligence for the sake of internal order… … For them now, it must be clear that they are like judges.
“Why are they here… … .”
“Mo, I don’t know!”
“You stupid bastard! If you have an idea, roll your head!”
“Sorry, sorry… … .”
The vice-captain bit his thumb nail and trembled at his subordinate’s apology.
‘… … Why?’
I never asked because I didn’t know.
So it was even more suspicious.
Only a small percentage of the nobles who participated in the rebellion knew that they had decided to follow Duke William and help the rebellion from within.
‘… … It’s impossible for a secret like that to be leaked.’
But, unless you were the instigator of the rebellion, you were exposed to such a fact that you couldn’t know?
A fact that should be hidden until the very end with strict security?
The situation itself is completely incomprehensible to him.
It was then.
“Vice-captain, maybe they weren’t looking for our Royal Guard Knights.”
“What do you mean?”
A voice that became extremely sensitive followed the knight under his command.
Then the knight lowered his head slightly and added an explanation.
“In the first place, it didn’t seem like the royal family felt any hint of rebellion.”
“… … yes. Because there was no sign of moving the troops.”
“However, it was only a matter of hours before the mutiny broke out. No matter what you think, it means that the betrayal of the 1st Knights cannot be revealed in the meantime.”
“… … surely.”
I didn’t even know if I made a mistake because my feet were numb because there was something that just made me nervous. There was no element to infer the betrayal of the 1st Knights.
The vice-captain wet his dry lips with his tongue and nodded.
They waited inside until the end and were the last weapon to strike the heart of the capital.
Perhaps even more secretly arranged than Duke William’s rebellion.
There was no need to ‘even’ consider the possibility of being caught from the beginning.
“Then why did they surround this place?”
“I don’t know, but I think it’s most likely that you are looking for the captain.”
“Commander Arnold?”
Those words reminded me of something, so the vice-captain stroked his chin and continued.
“… … Yes, because of the previous call.”
“That’s right.”
The 1st Order of Knights under direct control of the royal family.
Because they were the so-called royal guard knights, also called the king’s bodyguard, all life was on the side of being done inside the palace.
But now, Arnold, the commander of the knights, and some knights were with the duke for the operation. So, of course, I couldn’t answer the call.
It means that they may have found this fact strange and visited this place.
“As the city is a city, I must have visited because I was worried that there might be something wrong with the headquarters.”
“Hmm… … .”
“As evidence of that, aren’t they just watching the situation from the outside instead of immediately attacking?”
“… … that’s right. I’m sure you heard that.”
In such a chaotic situation, it was a natural flow to find troops who could move quickly.
So they must have sent someone to check its safety.
After repeating the fact that he could never have been caught, the truth was finally revealed.
“Then we can pretend we don’t know and send someone.”
“That’s right.”
“… … good.”
The vice-captain of the Royal Guard Knights lifted his lips and stood up.
My legs, which had been shaking before I knew it, were stepping more confidently than anyone else.
“Follow me. If you act naturally, they won’t feel abnormal either.”
“All right.”
Like that, the knights immediately left the headquarters and followed the vice-captain.
The 3rd Knights, revealed through the darkness, showed no movement even after they were seen.
Relieved by that, the vice-captain gradually approached.
“Look.”
“Vice-captain Slaughter Tesla.”
“hmm?”
A voice as if confirming his identity.
… … Was it an illusion?
The vice-captain tilted his head and played ‘natural virtue’ again.
“Can I ask what the fuss is about in the middle of the night?”
“Is that all there are in the Knights?”
“… … About twenty people, including Captain Arnold, have already been out for a few days. The only ones left at headquarters are thirty knights.”
“Right.”
At that moment, the vice-captain’s eyebrows twitched in displeasure.
“Before that, I am the vice-captain of the 1st Knights. Who are you to treat me badly?”
“… … .”
“Hey?”
“Sorry, Arnold isn’t here… … .”
“… … what?”
“It doesn’t seem likely that this information is false. rush in.”
“insect!”
“What, what… … !”
Vice-captain Slaughter took a step back in embarrassment at the sight of the Argon Knights suddenly rushing at a single command.
As if prepared in advance, the fully armed knights began to attack the headquarters.
“Rush in!”
“Some should be captured alive for interrogation! You don’t even need to have a limb!”
“Damn it!”
Only then did the knights of the 1st Knights Recognize the situation and pulled out their swords in fright.
However, the number of opponents reached 100.
That, too, was in contrast to those of them who went out with minimal armaments to avoid suspicion.
Even if the Argon Knights were not knights specializing only in combat, there was no way they could stop it while under siege.
squeak-
“aaagh!”
“Uh, step back… … Gagging!”
hooked!
dump-!
“This, this… … !”
… … got caught
Seeing that there was not even the slightest hesitation, it was clear that they knew from the beginning.
The fact that they betrayed… … The vice-captain realized how stupid he was and clenched his teeth.
Whoa!
“These bastards!”
A blue aura was overlaid on the vice-captain’s sword.
Indeed, the density of the aura was so thick that it was worthy of being named the vice-captain of the 1st Knights.
But the moment it was swung,
visor!
Break-!
“… … !”
In vain, that sword was blocked by another sword and broke.
It was such a simple suppression that it was colorless to wield it with full power.
The vice-captain muttered in disbelief as he looked at the person who blocked his sword and the golden aura.
“You, you… … .”
“You have the guts to personally provide information to the Argon Knights.”
At first, the man who gave the order to rush in while talking nonsense to himself.
When his face was reflected in the radiance of the aura, he finally recognized the middle-aged man’s face.
“… … Edward, the commander of the 3rd Knights.”
“Originally, I was planning to keep it under siege until His Highness arrived, but since you stepped up and created an opportunity to rush in, I’m just grateful from this side.”
Edward’s eyes contained cold anger.
Anger at those who betrayed my royal family and created chaos by those who should have taken the lead in protecting it.
It was the look in the eyes of the worms who did unbecoming knights in the country of knights.
“You won’t even be given a chance to explain.”
“This, this… … It’s not like that… … .”
“Also, that cheeky neck will be hung on the walls of the capital and treated worse than a mere bastard.”
“… … sh*t.”
Facing it, vice-captain Slaughter realized it only then.
perhaps himself.
… … no, they are
The fact that there is no way to survive here even if there is even a chance.
* * *
“Five seriously injured people who will die if they are not treated in 20 deaths. The remaining five people surrendered and were captured.”
“Not bad.”
On the other hand, the Argon Knights suffered no damage.
Looking at the five trembling knights dragged in front of me, I coldly recited:
“I think I told you to wait until I go.”
“Rather, it seemed that there was no need to keep me alert by constant pressure. As long as we have figured out the number of people inside, hesitation will only be poison.”
“Right.”
My gaze landed on Edward for a moment, then fell.
Are you sure you can win ‘without damage’?
As expected of the head of the knights who deal with intelligence, he had quick judgment.
Swoop-
Sitting in a chair, I quickly read through a simplified report.
“Unfortunately, it seems that there is no ‘body’.”
“That’s right. It seemed that the number of people who would attack from the outside and the number of people who would attack from the inside were divided.”
“Even so, it is a great harvest. If they had been hiding inside and had come in, it would have caused damage.”
“It’s all thanks to Your Highness’ insight.”
My shoulders shrugged.
It was true that it was a great harvest. It should not have happened that my soldiers were harmed by traitors.
… … okay. A ‘bad’ job.
I’ll express that it’s such a waste to be harmed by these guys.
They may think that they are doing something great, but to me it was just that much.
“Well, let’s postpone the disposal of the remnants. It’s just a difference in time, but dying is an unchanging fact.”
“All right.”
“It’s just a pity that Arnold isn’t here.”
Surprisingly, the Royal Guard Knights were also a place where the conflict was stronger than any other knights.
This is because they had to select ‘only’ the materials of nobles with a certain status because they were the ones who escorted the king’s closest relatives.
While there are people with the same interests, they also face each other’s well-developed families.
Such was the case with the royal family.
It was inconvenient, but since only the nobles were gathered, it was something I had to endure.
… … But what if you could control it?
What if you could unite an entire force with individual abilities?
Perhaps the one with absolute power among them was the knight commander who was entrusted with the authority to select knights.
If I had just one word from him, I wouldn’t have to face an uncomfortable person.
So, like a private organization, the royal guard knights were festered as much as they were, and the self-purification function inside them was already in a state where they could not be hoped for.
The first knights, who should have been more honest than anywhere else, were drunk and corrupted by petty power.
And it started after Arnold, the current Knight Commander, took office. To be exact, since they started receiving the patronage of Count Asus.
Perhaps it was because they were pessimistic about their fate as knights without inheriting the family?
The power and money they share in a small well… … It would have been enough to create their own world.
okay.
I’m sure that’s why they helped the rebellion.
even before regression.
… … And even now.
If the rebellion succeeds, thanks to the merits of helping the ‘King’ on the front lines, he will be able to gain greater power than he does now.
well, anyway.
From noble mtl dot com.
‘It’s probably because he got a bit of a reprieve.’
I thought briefly while looking down at the knights.
Then he flashed a cold gaze.
The waiting was also great fun.
At the very least, it was clear that if everything he had supported in his anxiety collapsed, that expression would also become a spectacle.
Promising that happy moment, I only gave orders.
“Kill the rest.”
* * *
a few days after that.
The rebels have reached the vicinity of the capital.
“It’s strangely quiet.”
Duke William, who was advancing, felt a sense of incongruity.
I didn’t even encounter a single soldier on my way here.
The peacock frowned as if he was in a bad mood.
Then, his right-hand man, Count Valmons, approached and began to flatter him gently.
“Isn’t that what you were aiming for? It’s clear that they probably didn’t even have time to react.”
“… … yes.”
surprise attack.
Because that was the most important factor in planning Duke William’s plan this time.
Relatively speaking, the kingdom’s troops are strong.
However, the troops are scattered in all directions because they are surrounded by a powerful country, so it is impossible to gather them all at once.
That’s why he had no choice but to finish it as soon as possible.
That’s why I averted my eyes, deceived, and made various schemes.
Of course, there were ‘variables’ prepared after that, but anyway, this rapid advance was the thing he cared about the most.
“It would have been impossible to mobilize troops in just these few days. They will have to wait, at best, to recruit them to the capital from the nearby direct lands. Isn’t that why it came to this?”
“hmm. It means to take advantage of the defense.”
“That’s right.”
Certainly, I didn’t feel any suspicious presence while they were coming.
In order to make the discovery as late as possible, the gateway was also turned around.
In the end, they used the highway for speed, but the nearby fortress simply locked the gate and did not even check them.
No matter how you look at it, it looks like they are preparing for a long-term battle.
That was enough.
This sense of incongruity was useless in the face of 20,000 rebels and rapid progress.
It was said that he was full of confidence, at least for now.
“… … uh?”
At that time, the wizard who was examining the walls of the capital, which began to be vaguely visible from afar, expressed a questioning voice.
The duke cast his gaze there and asked.
“What is going on?”
“No, that… … .”
The wizard let his horse’s tail hang down as if he was perplexed.
“The walls are empty.”
“… … empty?”
“There are people, to be exact, but… … .”
The magician spread more mana and made his vision clearer.
Then… … .
“All I can see right now is a middle-aged man who looks like a wizard.”
“… … what?”
He was just talking nonsense like that.
Duke William’s eyes narrowed fiercely.