Chapter 97

"Good work today, Alyushia."

"No, thank you, sir. You worked hard too."

In the knight headquarters, where the sun was beginning to set, after guarding the prince and princess all day, Alyushia and I were exchanging words of appreciation, signaling that it was time to disband for the day.

"But... it was quiet today, wasn't it?"

"Yes, eerily so."

Naturally, the conversation turned to the security for the royal tour. There were no incidents today, which was a good thing. However, what was strange was that there had been no follow-up incidents since the initial attack.

Nothing happened at all, not even a hint of suspicious activity.

Despite the attack, the royal tour remained a major event, and there were still many onlookers. However, the atmosphere that I had sensed at first was completely absent, which surprised and left everyone feeling a bit let down.

What was that commotion all about? I spent these few days with that question in mind, which was my honest feeling.

"Well, it's best if nothing happens..."

Of course, it's better if there are no attacks. However, if we expected more to come after the first one, it was a bit disappointing.

Incidentally, after the first incident, everyone was on high alert, but the one who was most on edge was Gatoga from the Church Knights.

His intense gaze and intimidating presence were overwhelming. It wouldn't be surprising if the attackers were deterred by Gatoga's demeanor.

In contrast, Rose remained as cheerful and carefree as usual. I wanted to believe that she wasn't slacking off, but rather that her natural disposition was just that way.

"But, in the end, we didn't get any useful information..."

"I also admit to being somewhat complacent. But to that extent..."

Alyushia's expression darkened slightly in response to my words.

We were talking about the captured attackers. They were detained in the basement of the knight headquarters, just like when Bishop Revious was captured.

We had hoped to extract some information about their motives and background, but all the captured attackers, with slight timing differences, committed suicide. This shocked the knights, and in the end, we gained no useful information, and the matter was buried in darkness.

So, we never found out their purpose or any other details. Since the royal tour was to continue, we had to be even more vigilant and guard as usual.

There was a possibility that the attackers were all present at the first incident. However, since Gatoga let one escape, we couldn't afford to be complacent.

But, thinking about it, if we consider that it would all be over in one more day, a sense of relief began to emerge.

"Only tomorrow remains."

"Yes, there will be no security on the final day."

Alyushia picked up on my muttered words. According to the schedule, today was the last day of security. The final day of the diplomatic visit did not include a royal tour, so the knights' duties would end today.

It was strange that there had been no activity over these few days, but if something were to happen, it would likely be tomorrow.

Of course, the best outcome would be for nothing to happen. However, it was hard to accept that the attack would end with just one incident after such a display of hostility.

Well, there's no point in overthinking it. Whether something happens or not isn't up to me, so there's no need to worry too much.

If something happens, we'll deal with it, and if it doesn't, that's even better.

"Alright, let's call it a day."

"Yes, good work today."

Since nothing significant happened, there were no issues with the reports from the squad leaders. There wasn't much to discuss, except for the accessory shop that Prince Glen visited on the first day, which was still busy and required constant security.

So, it was just a matter of going home, eating, and sleeping.

Oh, and I still had the important mission of talking to Mui. It was a casual conversation to check if she had any complaints or issues with her school life.

Mui was still somewhat reserved and not the type to openly share her feelings, so I was trying to build daily communication with her. It was a pleasant time, and since I was used to dealing with children at the dojo, I hoped to gradually close the distance.

With that in mind, I decided to head home.

Stepping out of the knight headquarters, the bustling central district of Baltrayn greeted me. It was lively from morning to night, especially during the festival.

The day of the attack was chaotic in many ways, but the negative atmosphere had subsided over the past few peaceful days.

I hoped that everything would proceed without incident. With that thought, I set off for home.

"Thank you for your hard work today."

"Hmm."

The next day arrived.

Today, as usual, I was guarding the royal family. I moved to the front of the palace to greet Prince Glen and Princess Salakia. It was reassuring to see their expressions improving, as the shock of the first incident was gradually fading.

"..."

On the other hand, the expressions of the Church Knights, especially Gatoga, were not good. With a fellow knight being a suspect, he must have been under constant stress. Despite his robust build, he looked somewhat fatigued.

"Are you okay, Gatoga?"

"Hmm... Yes, no problem. We'll get through the next few days."

I was a bit concerned and asked, but his response was strong, though it didn't fully alleviate my worries.

Unlike us, the Sphendyardvania Church Knights' mission wasn't ending today. After the royal tour, they still had to escort the prince back to their homeland. The return journey, with the risk of attacks, would be more challenging than today's joint patrol with the Reberio Knights.

Perhaps the attackers who struck the other day had given up on attacking in the city and were planning to strike when Prince Glen returned home. Conversely, if Princess Salakia was the target, today might be their last chance.

"Let's go."

Well, whether we can get through this final day of security or not.

As I was thinking this, the carriage driver's voice rang out.

Today, we were heading to the southern district to see the vast agricultural region that Baltrayn prides itself on.

While not flashy, agriculture is the foundation of the country. Since the Reberis Kingdom is relatively blessed in this regard, it made sense for the Sphendyardvania delegation to see this cornerstone. Probably.

Different countries have different land sizes and climates, so it's hard to say how much they would find useful, but there was no point in me questioning the tour schedule.

"Wow... it's so vast and beautiful."

"Hehe, isn't it? This is the agricultural region that the Reberis Kingdom prides itself on."

We arrived in the southern district of Baltrayn.

The area was a sea of green, with vast fields stretching as far as the eye could see.

"Truly magnificent."

It was my first time visiting the southern district, and everything was different from my hometown, Bidden Village. The small, modest fields of Bidden Village couldn't compare to this. It was truly a magnificent sight, and I even thought it would be a great place for a picnic.

Bidden Village had its own charm, but seeing such vast fields in a bustling city was a unique experience. If the situation were different, it would have been a pleasant moment.

"..."

However, we couldn't afford to be complacent.

Unlike the central and western districts, there weren't many tall buildings, but the abundance of crops created many blind spots. The vast open space meant we had to be vigilant in all directions, and it was difficult to pinpoint where an assassin might be hiding, despite the knights securing the perimeter.

So far, there were no suspicious signs.

But if they were going to attack, this would be the moment when the prince and princess were out of the carriage. Today, this was the only such opportunity, as the rest of the day had no significant events, and the schedule was to return to the palace.

"Who's there!"

While enjoying the scenery, I was also keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings.

Suddenly, Gatoga shouted in a tense voice. At the same time, the crops rustled.

"It's just a rabbit."

"Sorry."

A small, fluffy white rabbit emerged, startled by Gatoga's loud voice, and hopped back into the undergrowth.

Gatoga's embarrassed voice and expression were quite memorable. He was on high alert, so it was understandable.

"Hehe."

Princess Salakia couldn't help but smile at the scene.

The tense atmosphere from earlier gave way to a more relaxed one. The surrounding knights also seemed to catch the mood, and laughter could be heard here and there.

It was much better than being overly tense. Being a bit more relaxed allowed for better performance.

Besides, there was no immediate threat. Unlike the previous attack, there were fewer tall buildings, so the need to be vigilant from above was less critical.

"Shall we head back?"

"Yes, it was a good view."

Satisfied with the agricultural region, the prince and princess turned to return to the carriage.

Due to the location, they couldn't get into the carriage right away, so they had to walk a short distance to where it was parked.

"Wait! You, stop... ugh!?"

As we approached the carriage, a shout of alarm came from one of the perimeter knights.

At the same time, the prince and princess flinched, clearly still affected by the previous incident.

"..."

Here they come. I knew it. I had a feeling this might happen.

Looking over, I saw multiple black-clad figures breaking through the knights' defenses. They were dressed the same as before, clearly trying to conceal their identities.

But this time, it wasn't a surprise attack. Everyone was prepared, and there were no assassins dropping from above.

Given the previous battle, if the attackers were of similar skill, we could handle them.

I drew my sword, a Zeno Graybull model, and readied myself.

Alright, time to work. Let's stay focused and fulfill our duty.

The first volume of the manga has been reprinted.

Thank you to everyone who has supported it. I hope you will continue to enjoy both the novel and the manga.