Clashing Prides and Border Warfare – Part 06

About an hour later, there was increased activity within the tent. The number of campfires had doubled, and sentries dotted the area. Tense voices emanated from the tents.

Thanks for this annoying job, Luvain. Maybe I should have stayed inside.

Hikaru considered it, but realized it would have been too risky. The Empire was at war, and he could easily be killed without question. The cramped interior of the tent was not ideal for him.

So for the time being, he roamed around the area where he could see the tent.

What now? What if they don’t call me by morning? I won’t be able to keep hiding once it gets bright. Besides, I don’t even know what’s in that letter. If its contents upset Daimon and lead to an attack on Parametria, we’re doomed. I wouldn’t be able to return.

Hikaru contemplated his predicament.

“It’s that tent over there.”

“What does he want at this hour?”

“Sir Daimon can be quite demanding. But it’s my duty to respond.”

Hikaru heard several people walking and a familiar voice. He promptly appeared before them.

“Who are you?!”

The knights placed their hands on their swords.

“Silver Face! What are you doing here?” asked the young man in the middle.

His guard relaxed, a mix of surprise and caution. It was Galeicrada G. Nightblaze, the heir of Duke Nightblaze.

“This is Silver Face?”

“Acquaintance of Her Majesty Queen Kujastria and even His Excellency Duke Nightblaze.”

The escorting knights seemed familiar with Silver Face.

Hikaru had once saved the young man’s life, though it was officially attributed to Sophie of the Four Eastern Stars, a narrative that Galeicrada believed. During the tumultuous events that led to Kujastria’s ascension to the throne, Hikaru had to step into the spotlight, and he ended up dueling Crown Prince Austrin, Kujastria’s brother, ultimately taking his life. Galeicrada should be privy to all these.

Good for me, but I’m not sure how to feel about it.

Being known as a killer was uncomfortable. Nonetheless, the mission’s success was his top priority for now.

“I’m currently working with Bios’ new Pope, Luvain.”

“Luvain…?”

While Daimon knew the name Luvain, Galeicrada apparently did not.

“I delivered a letter from the Pope to Daimon, and as you can see, it caused quite a commotion.”

“By delivered, you mean you used your special ability to sneak in?”

“Well, yeah.”

Galeicrada and the knights wore looks that said, “Of course that would cause a commotion.”

“A-Anyway, Daimon summoned you, right? It’s definitely about my message. So, I have a favor to ask. Can you vouch for me?”

“Why would you need vouching?”

“Daimon doesn’t trust me.”

Galeicrada and the knights wore looks that said, “Of course he wouldn’t trust you.”

“I’m in a bit of a hurry. I doubt he would have agreed to see me if I came normally.”

“Hmm. My father had told me about you, but I imagined someone a little different. He said you were a calm and level-headed man who doesn’t make mistakes in judgment.”

“…”

Hikaru didn’t know how to respond.

“I understand. My father also said that he owes you a great debt of gratitude, so I will help you. Let’s go to Sir Daimon’s tent.”

“Thanks.”

As they started walking, Galeicrada said, “By the way, do you know where the Four Eastern Stars went?”

Right, this guy’s in love with Sophie. Telling him they went to a different world would require a challenging explanation.

“Nope. They live in a completely different world.”

“I see.”

He likely didn’t expect much anyway. Galeicrada’s gaze seemed to be searching for Sophie.

As Hikaru followed Galeicrada, the imperial soldiers who knew he was an intruder hastily took up defensive positions. Galeicrada vouched for him, and when Daimon emerged from the tent, the soldiers lowered their weapons.

“Come inside. You too, Sir Galeicrada.”

“Are you certain?”

“Of course. We’re in Ponsonia’s territory.”

“Hold up,” Hikaru interrupted. “Please tell the others to leave.”

“Why?”

“I came here as an envoy of Bios, but I don’t want to die here.”

“The insolence,” a soldier growled.

“You’re not an envoy if you don’t put your life on the line,” another added.

Daimon sighed. “Very well. However, I need my guards.”

“That’s fine. You can have as many people as you want inside, but everyone else outside has to stay at least a hundred meters away from the tent.”

“…”

Daimon gave him a questioning gaze, but for Hikaru, an environment where he couldn’t use Stealth at any moment was exceedingly dangerous. It didn’t matter if the enemy was in plain sight, but if they were hiding from view, the risk was significant, even with Mana Detection.

Go on. Laugh and call me a coward. I’m neither a soldier nor a person in a position of power. I’m just a student.

He had experienced things that were far from what a student should, though.

Daimon ultimately agreed to withdraw his soldiers, and with ten attendants, he entered the tent first.

“Please, come in. It’s safe inside,” the man said sarcastically.

Hikaru followed after Galeicrada.

“It’s safe inside, but there are three behind the tent and two on top. Get rid of them quick,” Hikaru said sharply.

Daimon furrowed his brow. “I don’t know anything about that. Is what Silver Face said true?”

“Yes sir,” one of his men answered with a pale face. “It’s an emergency, after all.”

“Silver Face is alone, and there are ten of us. Pull them out. You can also leave.”

“…Sir.”

Bowing respectfully, the attendant left the tent, muttering, “Coward” as he passed by Hikaru.

I’ll take that as a compliment. In this world where life is so easily disregarded, you need to exercise extreme caution, or you’ll end up dead in no time.

Using Mana Detection, Hikaru found soldiers surrounding the tent about a hundred meters away.

“Are you satisfied, Silver Face?”

“Far from it. I’m doing a job I don’t want to do. Let’s just get on with it.”

They moved to the table with a map. In addition to the sealed letter that Hikaru had brought earlier, there were several other documents.

“So Silver Face, what kind of mission did you come here on?” Galeicrada asked.

“I have no clue, and it’s giving me a headache. I don’t even know the contents of the letter.”

“The letter says that Luvain, who claims to be the new Pope, wants to go to the imperial capital, G. Quinbrand,” Daimon said, sitting in his chair. “He wishes to meet with His Imperial Majesty and negotiate a ceasefire.” He flicked the letter with his finger.

That was within Hikaru’s expectations, but Galeicrada was genuinely surprised, his eyes wide open. Despite being the eldest son of a duke, Galeicrada had been bedridden for a long time, so his political intuition hadn’t kicked in yet.

“So, what’s your answer?” Hikaru asked.

“The audacity!” a guard barked. “He should be bowing his head and begging for forgiveness. Don’t even think he can set foot in our Empire that easily.”

Similar sentiments were echoed by the other guards. Galeicrada and his entourage flinched under their hostile gaze.

Daimon was calmly observing the situation.

Crafty fellow. Is he trying to figure out what kind of person I am? He seems more like a politician than a military man.

In plain terms, he was the type that Hikaru didn’t like. He would have loved to see Luvain argue with him.

“Don’t you have anything to say?! Say something, you coward!”

“I don’t think there’s any need to.”

“What?!”

“Look, here he comes.”

Hikaru let them say whatever they wanted because he had detected someone approaching. This person was using Stealth, but he wasn’t skilled enough to evade Hikaru’s Mana Detection.

He entered quietly from the back of the tent and deactivated his Stealth behind Daimon. Hikaru’s announcement of his arrival made him feel awkward.

“Lord Rosworth. I have come with a message from the imperial capital.”

It was an imperial intelligence agent whom Unken had introduced to Hikaru back at the holy city.

“What’s Silver Face doing here?” the agent wondered.

“You seem to know quite a bit about Silver Face. What do you know?”

“Sir. I don’t think there’s anyone in the imperial capital who doesn’t know about Silver Face by now. He played a significant role in obtaining the cure for the Black Rot disease that was plaguing the city. Furthermore, his companion, a Healer known as Flower Face, used her healing magic to save the lives of many citizens.”

“Wh-What?!”

Daimon looked at Hikaru with wide eyes. The other soldiers had the same reaction.

Hikaru was surprised, too.

Played a significant role? Really? I had to get it because you guys failed.

Apparently, their intelligence agency had downplayed Silver Face’s efforts to prop themselves up.

“I-Is that true?”

“Of course, Your Excellency. The message we received included a request to treat Silver Face, who is expected to be in the holy city, with utmost respect when you make it there. I suppose you were not aware of the happenings in the capital.”

“Hmm… I heard that the Black Rot problem in the city had been resolved, but that’s about it.”

He probably received skewed information due to being on the frontlines of a war.

With a stern expression, Daimon turned to Hikaru. “Silver Face, you are to blame for this, too. If this information is true, the Empire is indebted to you. Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Would you have believed me?”

“…”

Daimon fell silent, and the other soldiers began to murmur among themselves. Their attitude until now was far from respectful, but they had gone too far now to back down.

Hikaru sighed inwardly. None of that really mattered to him.

“So, what’s your response to the letter?” Hikaru asked.

“If you’re on Bios’s side and acting as their representative, it’s a different situation altogether. Let me confirm one thing: Do you agree with the Pope’s idea of going to the imperial capital?”

“Yeah.”

“Will you be coming, too?”

“Yup.”

“…Very well. In that case, we have no choice but to permit your entry into the capital.”

Soldiers expressed their disapproval of Daimon’s decision. They wanted to destroy Bios. Currently, a significant number of Bios’ soldiers stationed at Parametria’s fortress had been injured, and there was a shortage of Healers. If nothing was done, Parametria would have fallen in the near future.

“Does your permission mean that you will stop attacking Parametria?”

“We will confirm that through long-distance comms.”

“Your Excellency,” said the agent, “isn’t long-distance communication prohibited for security reasons?”

“There’s no point in worrying about security when we need to confirm a matter coming from Bios,” Daimon replied.

Hikaru had heard that magic items for long-distance communication, such as the Linga Quill Pen used by the Adventurers Guild, could be intercepted. From what he knew, these magic items used the mana flowing underground.

I guess it’s like unencrypted radio communication.

While arranging the communication, Daimon told Hikaru, “We will likely receive a response tomorrow. Are you going to stay here?”

No way.

“I’m leaving. And… Sir Galeicrada, I have a favor to ask of you.”

“Hmm? Me?” Galeicrada, not fully following the conversation, pointed to himself.

“I need you to send someone to the royal capital.”

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