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Volume 11 Chapter 5 Part 11

If they were to remove it, they would remove it only at night when no one should be coming.

However, there is a possibility that they forgot to remove it tonight.

If I insist that the contact person is lying to deceive us, the discrepancy in the testimonies can be restricted to tolerable limit.

Alternatively, If the guards were kicked out of the way, everything would be solved even if the emblem really were to be removed from the throne room’s wall.

We also would not have to worry about any testimonies if the guards were defeated. After that, I would not care about what was going to happen, working under the assumption that everything would somehow work itself out, since it would be assumed that the guards have died after removing the curtain from the wall.

In other words, if the emblem were removed but the guards were absent, there would be no choice but to catch someone from somewhere and make them out to be the guard….

Man… my thoughts have been going to some pretty dark places ever since I have started considering all the possibilities of how the situation would develop.

Ah well, it’s not like anything can be done about it now, so it cannot be helped, or at least I can’t think of any other way out of it.

Lending a hand to a military campaign sure is a complicated thing. The Duke, Cassia, Roxanne and the others all understand that too.

Although I do feel a little bit sorry for the Earl, his family and his men, this is a war, and that is how things are done in times of war.

「Everyone, take these.」

「Okay, master!」

I hand everyone a weapon and a helmet, since I already have those with me. I also prepare my Durandal.

「Where we are going now, there is a throne room with a curtain hanging on the wall behind the throne. I would like to check what is going on in there and its immediate vicinity. However, if we do end up seeing that the guards are going to be there, we are going to run away right then and there. I would also like to avoid engaging in unnecessary battles as much as possible. If I draw my hand like that, it will be the signal for us to retreat, okay?」

After ensuring that no one was around, I issue instructions to the girls.

If someone heard us just now, they would find the instructions of moving to the emblem curtain via the 「Field Walker」Skill and checking the area around it ridiculously strange.

As for the possibility of engaging the Earl’s guards in combat, I am ready to fight them, but only if the situation is going to absolutely demand us to do so. And if it turns out that the battle will indeed be unavoidable, I should be the only one to engage.

If it turns out that the guard are indeed present there and are keeping watch on the emblem from outside of the throne room, then we are just going to stay quiet and go back the way we came

「All the preparations required for the operation should be done soon. Is everyone ready?」

Before long, the Duke stands up in the innermost part of the room after he finished preparing his own equipment.

「It looks like everyone is as ready as they can be.」

Gozer, who is standing next to the Duke, says after the clatter across the room gradually calms down.

「Ladies and gentlemen, I will have you know the details of the operation. This operation is on the side of justice, for it has received the approval from the Supreme Council of the Representatives of All Elves. As you should all be perfectly aware, negligence and cowardice is a crime against peace and prosperity of our world, and it will never be permitted. The objective of this battle is to make amends for such cowardice and negligence, so don’t falter. Fight bravely and secure a noble victory for us. The future rests on your shoulders. For the glory of the households of the Duke of Hartz and the Earl of Selmar, I expect you to give it your best, ladies and gentlemen.」

「OOOOHHHHH!!!!!」

The members of the Knight Order of Hartz Duchy all shout in unison.

I was not aware that the Duke was capable of delivering such a motivational speech. It was surprising and unexpected to hear him use all those powerful words. However, it is to be expected of someone like the Duke.

「Then, we will scout out the area first.」

We proceed to the innermost part of the room, where a large drop curtain with the emblem of the Hartz Duchy has been put on the wall

This must be the place where I am supposed to use 「Field Walker」to get us into the Earl of Selmar’s castle.

「Lord Michio, once you get there, please move carefully. I would like you to think about your own safety first before anything else. I will shoulder all the responsibility no matter what happens.」

「Of course.」

I am pretty sure he wanted to say a lot of things. I am glad he didn’t.

Having been encouraged by the Duke, I stand in front of the curtain. There are a lot of people preparing for the operation inside the room. Due to it being so noisy inside, there shouldn’t be any problems with me omitting the chant for my Skill.

Using 「Field Walker’s」 incantation as a disguise, I cast 「Warp」onto the curtain with the emblem, and then I proceed to move through the created portal straight to the Earl of Selmar’s castle.

We emerged in the audience room which where the emblem was displayed the last time I came here.

The room we have arrived at was completely dark.

It is different from the Bode castle. It is pitch dark with no sound. I am grateful that there is no one standing guard; however, that doesn’t change the fact that I cannot see a thing around me. I don’t even know if the drop curtain is here or not.

「No one seems to be here, at the very least.」

Roxanne reports in a low voice.

Is Roxanne able tell if someone is here or not by the smell?

Unlike contemporary Japan, there is no infrared surveillance cameras or recorder microphones in here, so we don’t have to worry about getting discovered even if there is no one around.

「Curtain, desu.」

I hear Miria’s whisper. Apparently, Miria can see it thanks to her catlike eyes.

「Is there anything strange or suspicious about the curtain?」

「No such thing, desu.」

I am not even sure whether I entered through the curtain with the Hartz Duchy emblem on it or not, but there is no helping it right now. Since everything seems to be fine, I decide to head back to Bode immediately.

I remove Durandal and disband my current Party.

There is no need to chant the incantation for the 「Party Formation」Skill if I do it here.
Anyway, the conclusion of our recoinassence mission is that there doesn’t seem to be any guards or traps in the room with the curtain, which means that The Earl of Selmar doesn’t seem to be alert and didn’t take any precautions against being raided, and that we were the ones who were unnecessarily cautious.

Like I was saying: if he had an ample number of guards, he would put them to better use in the Labyrinth if only he decided to deploy them there.

「How was it, Lord Michio?」

「It looks alright.」

Once I returned to Bode, I tell the Duke what we found out, relieving him of his worries.

At almost the same time, I receive Party Invitation. His preparations are truly excellent.

「I see」

「Well then…」

This time around, I chant 「Field Walker’s」 incantation normally and go back to the Earl of Selmar’s castle.

One of the Party Members is holding a lantern in his hand, which causes the room to brighten up a bit. So no one is here, after all. Roxanne and the girls are safe and sound, too.

Strangely, however, they are on the side of the room, not by the drop curtain. At this point, though, I don’t think anyone would worry too much about it.

I head back to the Bode castle shortly after.

「Then, I will be going as well.」

「I am expecting a lot from you.」

「Leave it to me.」

When I come back, Cassia’s cousin, the next Earl of Selmar, was ready to move out as well.

I change back to moving via 「Field Walker」.