Chapter 69

How long had I been walking?

I felt like I had spent a considerable amount of time and distance on the journey. It was fine for me and Fissel, as we were used to it, but Bishop Levious was quite out of breath. Well, his physique didn’t look like he exercised regularly.

"Professor, I have been waiting for you."

"Alyushia? You're here?"

Thus, we arrived at the headquarters of the Reberio Knights. Instead of a knight on night patrol, it was the Knight Commander Alyushia who greeted us. Her unexpected presence made my voice a bit high-pitched. Normally, this would be the time when she would have already returned home. Yet, she said she had been waiting for us. It seemed my arrival was anticipated. Since they had sent Kurni and Fissel, it must have been all planned out.

And similarly, Lucy and Ibroi’s strategy must have been known to Alyushia.

It worked out well in the end, but if I had failed, what would they have done? The knights and the mages were probably ready to fight before the summoning. What was the point of having Ibroi request me?

"Really... I get chills just thinking about it."

"Hehe, I had no doubt you would handle it, Professor."

When I expressed my feelings, I received Alyushia’s unconditional trust in return. Stop it, stop it, I’m just an old man.

"Commander, what about this one?"

"Take him to the basement. We will deal with him appropriately from tomorrow."

"Hai!"

The knights around Alyushia took Bishop Levious away. From the looks of it, the bishop didn’t intend to resist at this point.

Phew. I guess my mission is complete for now.

But that knight, Spur, was a tough opponent. If I hadn’t had this weapon, it might have been dangerous.

"Good work, Professor. And Fissel too."

"Ah, thank you, Alyushia."

"No... it’s just part of the job."

I responded to Alyushia’s words of encouragement. Fissel, as usual, seemed a bit shy. What a dear.

"Well, I’m heading back. See you, Professor."

"Yep, be careful."

We arrived at the headquarters and successfully handed over Bishop Levious, and Fissel left. Fissel has really grown. Although she started using magic relatively recently, she has managed to integrate it well with her sword skills. As I watched her leave, I thought about how her sword magic, if used, would be quite troublesome. Not only is her swordsmanship excellent, but she can also cast various spells from the tip of her sword, making her a formidable opponent. In that sense, she has a different strength from Lucy, who is a pure support type. While Lucy might have a higher raw magical output, in practical combat scenarios, Fissel could outperform her. She is a versatile and adaptable asset.

"Professor, are you going to rest today?"

"No, I have a few things to report, so I’ll need a bit of your time."

"Of course, no problem."

Upon hearing Alyushia’s words, I paused my thoughts. Now wasn’t the time to speculate about Fissel and Lucy’s match. It was late, and I could have reported tomorrow, but I thought it would be better to mention what had caught my attention today. I needed time to think about how to handle the information.

"By the way, what about securing the scene?"

"Based on Kurni’s report, we have dispatched a unit. It should be fine."

"That’s good to hear."

It seems Kurni managed to report before we arrived. Since she’s not here, she must have returned to the scene.

"...You look quite tired."

"Yeah, well... I am. There were some skilled opponents."

It seems my fatigue was showing on my face.

Indeed, I was tired. The opponents were strong. It’s rare to encounter such skilled fighters. I’m glad Balder’s longsword was sturdy. My victory was due to the weapon’s performance.

"An opponent skilled enough to make you struggle..."

"Cut it out, you’re exaggerating."

There must be many skilled fighters in this vast world. I don’t want to be measured by such a standard. It’s embarrassing.

"Indeed, they were strong... The knights with Bishop Levious were wearing plate armor and using estocs."

"Estocs..."

Estocs are rare in the Reberis Kingdom. After hearing my report, Alyushia muttered and fell into thought.

"As far as I know, the only organization in the Reberis Kingdom that primarily uses estocs is the Church Knights."

"Figures..."

This almost confirms it. Ibroi mentioned that if given time, he would call the Church Knights. It seems Bishop Levious’s faction had influence within the Church Knights. This means that capturing Bishop Levious won’t be the end of it. It would be helpful if his faction lost momentum and collapsed naturally.

Hmm, well, that’s fine.

Even though we are neighbors, I have no reason or obligation to get involved in another country’s affairs. It’s not my problem. I hope Ibroi does his best.

"There are also the knights I defeated at the scene. I think we can get the full story by questioning them."

"Yes, we will thoroughly investigate their background."

If knights from another country were causing trouble in our own, this would become an international issue. However, the investigation must be conducted carefully. We can’t just make accusations without evidence. We need to gather solid proof and then make a statement as a nation.

"Also... the bishop used a miracle. The person I cut seemed to be a controlled corpse."

"That’s..."

Alyushia looked a bit troubled at my words.

How should I explain this to Mui? I even think it might be better not to tell her. It’s better to keep this as my secret, for her mental health.

Yeah, decided. I’ll keep this a secret. It might be a pitiful conclusion, but since I couldn’t handle it on my own, it’s best to bury it.

Telling the truth doesn’t always lead to the best outcome. Considering the circumstances, timing, and limits, I think it’s better not to say anything.

Mui is already in an unstable state. I can’t add more psychological burden to her. Keeping quiet might not lead to a good outcome, but it won’t lead to a bad one either. Time will eventually resolve it. Time is a medicine prescribed equally to all humans. While it’s not always true as one gets older, for someone as young as Mui, time is the best solution.

"I also cut someone who looked like Mui’s sister."

"Is that so..."

However, this issue is too big for me to handle alone. Despite how pitiful it sounds, I felt it was necessary to inform someone who knows the situation. Alyushia also cared about Mui.

"She shouldn’t be told everything, right?"

"I agree."

Alyushia’s conclusion was similar to mine.

"Well, I’ll leave the aftermath to the knights and head back to the inn."

"Yes, good work, Professor. The rest is up to us."

I can report to Lucy and Ibroi tomorrow. I don’t even know where Ibroi usually is, but I’ll leave it to Lucy to handle.

With Alyushia’s encouraging words, I’ll leave the rest to the knights. The title of special instructor is useless in situations like this.

So, in any case, this matter is settled from my perspective. For today, the only thing left to do is wander the dark streets of Baltrain and return to the inn.

"Yawn..."

Shortly after leaving the headquarters, I yawned without realizing it. I’m tired. I want to get back and sleep in my bed. Staying up late is tough for an old man.

The next update is scheduled for the night of August 24th, depending on various circumstances.