On the afternoon of the second day counting from the night of the battle against Niddle in the Proxian Empire, Rio was visiting the King's Capital of the Kingdom of Palladia. The state of the castle towns stretching out on the shores of the lake is, to say nothing, mediocre, showing a bustling degree of the local cities of the great powers. At the roadside of the commercial district, the appearance of loud merchants and shoppers was seen everywhere.

(Normal...... right)

That is Rio's first impression of the king's capital of this country. According to information obtained from Niddle after the battle at the Imperial Castle of Proxia, this kingdom of Palladia is now Lucius' place of work and has a connection with the First Prince -

There is a danger of a trap just because the source of the information is the source, and I only trust half the talk, but there's no way I'm not going to look into it more than there's no other noticeable information.

(When the sun goes down, hurry up and dive into the castle)

Rio looked to the royal castle, which soars on the small, high hills by the lake. Surrounded by tall and robust walls, its setting is closer to the fort than to the castle, and much more tight than the royal castles of major powers such as the Kingdom of Beltram and the Kingdom of Galark.

Perhaps at this time now, in that castle, the unnameable feeling creeps up in his chest to think that maybe there is Lucius, my mother's enemy, but Rio took a small, deep breath to calm himself down.

◇ ◇ ◇

And the sun went down at twilight (Hakubo).

The castle of the Kingdom of Palladia was firmly closed by robust castle gates and walls, as it rejected intruders. The castle is lit with bonfires everywhere, more guards roaming than during the day, and a tight security system is laid.

When Rio decided that the intrusion from the ground would break his bones, he flew through the sky in darkness and descended on the roof of the castle of the Kingdom of Palladia. He wears a black mask and outfit, brilliantly integrates with the darkness by turning off signs and sounds, and attempts to travel securely. In the meantime, I decided to look for a window that I might be able to break into while observing the garden of the castle in the roof telling.

Basically, the castle is designed not to create windows on the lower floors from a defensive point of view, but few windows are likely to break in, even on the higher floors, due to the fortified construction of the Kingdom of Palladia castle. Occasionally, I find windows that looked good, but they were all closed with internal keys.

Nevertheless, if you look, there is an intrusion route -,

(Do you want to enter through this lookout)

Rio decided to enter the castle from the spire used as a watchtower. I just can't inadvertently break in because there are two guards on the lookout inside the watchtower, and there could be soldiers on patrol in the aisle in the castle.

So Rio infiltrated the surrounding air with his own magic, exercising the spiritual art of the wind to form a special space that became invisible from the surroundings. However, it is necessary to proceed with caution, as the sound of things and the magic that is emitting cannot be deluded, and the rapid movement produces a dust.

I grabbed the torch, told him the wall, and gently snuck into the watchtower...

"Hmm?"

You captured a slight landing tone at the time of the break-in, and a nearby guard reacted perfectly. But when we make sure we don't see anybody but ourselves in the open watchtower, we immediately get out of consciousness.

As Rio nodded as he did for a few seconds while landing, he stood up, walked inside the watchtower to sew in the guard's gap and snuck into the castle. And -,

(This is the battlefield from here. Let's just find the First Prince's room or location)

And, pull yourself together.

You can't walk around in grandeur with soldiers exposed to roaming castles, but if you are inside a royal castle, there may be a sorcerer at work who is sensitive to magic, and in some places there will be a danger of sorcery and junctions being set up to detect magic reactions. It is the show of arms that successfully scratches the eyes of the guard to gather information, detecting signs of people, detecting suspicious magic reactions, and sometimes disappearing or showing up.

Rio is also used to it because he has had several experiences sneaking into royal castles in other countries. He began to move his legs without unduly cowering whether he had broken off that some thought was also necessary during these infiltrations.

Go down the spire stairs and reach the main castle. Along the way, he responded ad hoc when he disappeared in spiritual arts or lurked in shadows and ceilings when he was not like a soldier on patrol.

(Not as big as the Royal Castle of the Great Powers, there's no waste in placing watches)

And, with that in mind, Rio takes a broad walk through the castle. First I decided to walk around to get an idea of the structure and security in the castle. He remembers a section with a lot of soldiers on the lookout, and based on the building's construction and so on, he stares at places where there are likely to be high-ranking figures.

Thus, walking around the castle all the way, Rio decided to set up an operation in an unpopular place once to decide what to do afterwards.

(Royalty lives probably on the high floor of the main castle...... but the question is how do you get into the room)

The boulder Rio is also difficult to get into the closed doors where the guard soldiers stand. Of course I can be transparent and open the door ready to be perceived with some variation, but if no one does but the door opens on its own, it will definitely be a noise. As for Rio, it's not very funny to be noisy.

(Do you want to go outside once and check the windows?

However, it is likely that it is closed by an internal key, and sometimes there are no windows large enough for people to enter or leave your room. It is troublesome to try to open it poorly or to explore inside with spiritual art, even if it is distracted by those inside.

(Or wait for someone to enter or leave the appropriate room)

That's the easiest part, but it's inefficient because you don't know how long it's going to take, and you don't know which room has the first prince you're looking for. It would be a lot easier to infiltrate if there were Isiah who could be spiritualized, but now I can't do anything more than be with Celia in Marquis Rodin territory. In the end -,

(... Want to walk around the castle a little more and explore the First Prince's information? If you eavesdrop on the conversation, you might also know where the room is)

Hurry up and go around. Rio slowly and surely chose a third option in order to gather information.

Once on the lower level of the main castle to move to a section where there are many people within walking distance. The lower level of the main castle also serves as a waiting area for servants and soldiers serving the castle, so you will be able to hear many stories.

Then I was able to hear all kinds of rumors at the lower level. The servants who are sparing their free time talk about this in their spare time whether there is no entertainment other than flowering in gossip.

For example, they are talking about negative rumours within their colleagues that don't matter from Rio, or about the gruesome rumours of royal marquis nobles living in the castle. The difficulty is not guiding the topic, but it was a lot more convenient to know the public opinion in the castle.

As he listens for less than an hour, Rio learns that the first prince's name is Duran. Rumors had just broken out about Duran in the rest stop of the soldiers now. Rio listens softly to the clue of the First Prince who is finally going to be able to grasp it. Then...

"Have you seen the new woman Master Duran was taking? She looks like a billboard girl from a famous inn under the castle."

One soldier seeped his curiosity and waved the topic to the other soldiers.

"Uh, again. Fine. You can change a woman."

And another soldier says with envy. Also -,

"Not at all. Be a powerful man, too. Cheating is also approved, isn't it?

"Cheating, nothing. You're single in the first place. Find your daughter-in-law before you dream of cheating."

"Ugh, let it go. It's hypothetical, hypothetical."

and so on, and the other soldiers join the story, and bicker.

"Well, they say they prefer heroic colors. Master Duran's work in battle is tremendous, and I'm sure he can't say much around him."

"We're basically talking about letting you go when you get bored so you don't rot afterwards. How long will you get tired of this woman next time, bet?

And when one soldier suggests gambling...

(Sounds like a prince with a lot of bad femininity)

Rio thought so.

"But Master Duran, I'm talking about being taken out with mercenaries of goodwill and gestures. When will you be back?"

When a soldier says "mercenary of mercy of mercy," Rio reacts perfectly.

"Hmm. Is something wrong? I heard there's no particularly big fight right now. You got a problem like Master Duran putting out?

When one soldier shakes the subject with the intent of public discourse...

"You know what? I heard you headed for the west street..."

The soldier asked shrugged his shoulder and shook his cover. Rio got that soldier conversation...

(I headed west on the street with a mercenary of goodwill...... Does that mean there's no First Prince in this castle right now?

And it brings up a thought face.

What bothers me is the existence of a "mercenary of goodwill" spoken of in conversation. Rio thought that maybe the mercenary was Lucius.

◇ ◇ ◇

Meanwhile, in one rural area in the western part of the kingdom where Flora is staying. The time is evening. Not long before Rio snuck into Palladia Kingdom Castle.

Four days have already passed since the night Flora decided to stay in the village for a while with a fever. However, Flora's fever never showed signs of falling, and on the contrary, her symptoms had gotten much worse.

"Ha, ha..."

And, Flora's breath is rough, her body is eroded by high fever, muscle pain and arthritis, and she even has a hard time moving properly. As a matter of course, I continue to sleep well, but I can't help but fall asleep due to chronic physical pain.

Will, son of the village chief, transported the sick cannibal to Flora's room like that, knocking on the door a little stronger...

"Dear Flora, I brought you a meal..., may I come in?

And he called out to peek indoors through the door.

"... Ah, yes. Thank you."

Flora wakes herself up on the bed in pain and responds to Will with a painful voice. Then the door opened and Will with the tray showed up.

"Hi, good morning, is it?

"Yes, good morning. I was asleep until earlier."

To Will, who tilted his neck, Flora answers with her best grin. You still seem to have enough energy and leeway to act like you're not worried about others. Most of all, because my complexion is not very good, I know how energetic I am.

"Fever, won't you back down?

Will looked at Flora with a face he couldn't resist and asked her to push her impudence to death.

"... Yes. Sorry for the inconvenience."

Flora apologizes weakly, seemingly sorry.

"Yes, no, I can't believe it's annoying!

Will waves in a hurry...

"However, if you don't seem to be feeling very well, there's nothing you can do about it in this village without a medic, is your father noisy. He said we should rely on the lord's nobility..."

Somewhere excused, I said that. Then Flora just blues her bad complexion even further -,

"I'm sorry, I can't even rely on nobles in this country right now..."

And I said it backwards.

"But of course I'm talking about if Master Flora wants, so don't look like that! I'll tell my father well, so stay as long as you want in a house like this. Because Master Flora would welcome it!

Will eats bubbles and appeals to keep Flora from feeling.

"... thank you"

Flora lowered her head, as somewhere hoarse. Then...

"Oh, yeah, yeah. Speaking of which, since the day after Flora stayed at the house, the bastards in the village can't help but want to meet Flora."

Will behaves brightly and waves the topic as he remembers, trying to get rid of the awkward air.

"Really? Well, when I'm feeling better too, I'd like to see you all."

Flora had a hot face and managed to have a bright grin.

"Ha, but you're just a nasty bastard, so maybe you should stop. Do you remember Donner in particular? I was the first bastard to show Flora home."

"Oh, uh, if you mean the one who led me to this house. You're a big shot, aren't you?

When Will says something to discredit the donner in mild condition, Flora responds in some troubled way.

"Yes, that's him. I didn't ask him if he was going to visit Master Flora. Even though he's usually the kind of guy who doesn't say that when a village woman gets sick. The others were impressed by it, and they took a bad ride."

"Um, we can't transfer the cold, so we can't talk for too long, but if you're so worried, just a little..."

People are good. Flora said that by pushing impossible.

"Huh? Uh, well, just the way you feel is fine. You're sick, so don't force yourself to rest. I'll tell them. I'm sure they'll love it."

You didn't think I'd allow you to come visit the men in the village, Will laughs bitterly and flushes lightly.

"… well, thank you for sharing. Thank you for your concern."

Flora seemed to have cruised slightly, but she nodded heavily because she was aware that she was certainly not feeling quite well. It's really hard to just talk to Will like this, but in my natural temperament, I can't help but leave the person who is kind to me for my own good.

"Okay.... Oh, yeah. I brought you some sick cannibals. So, eat. I don't think it's very tasty."

"That's not true. It's delicious. Because your mother made it for you."

The truth is that his taste is already a lot paralyzed, but Flora waved slowly and for the first time.

"... but Master Flora is really sweet. Oh, I'll leave the meal here."

Will glanced at Flora as if she fell in love with her, leaving a tray with a meal embarrassed on her desk by the bed.

"Yes, thank you. Quickly, please."

And, Flora nods softly. And to eat, I gently bound my sweaty hair. When I put my hair together on one side, the noodles of Flora become dewy.

Will was sipping and staring at Flora's tricks like that...

"... well, here I am. If anything happens... hmm?

Returns to me, trying to sassy away from my gaze. But when he noticed that there were more and more black marks like moles on Flora, who unfortunately turned his gaze, he narrowed his eyes softly.

"... you know what?

When Flora realizes that she is stared at, she asks Will, who is afraid.

"Oh, no. It's nothing! Call me if anything happens. Because I'll be rushing right away! Bye."

Will shook his body frighteningly and shook it in a panic. Returning the heel as it is, stare at the noose of Flora as she exits the room -,

(... what marks? Master Flora hasn't noticed, has she? burns or like old wounds)

Really, I closed the door to the room.

◇ ◇ ◇

Then, when Will went down the stairs and went back to the living room on the ground floor...

"Hey, Will. How's it going with the nobles?

Will's father, the village chief, was waiting, asking questions.

"Hmm? Yeah, it looks like the fever hasn't dropped yet, but it's not particularly different."

Again, Will answers in a half fed up mood.

You think it could be a troublesome seed, Will's father doesn't feel very comfortable with Flora staying in the village. Plus, you're afraid Flora's going to be transferred because it's something you don't know what to expect, and you push Flora's nursing to keep her out of contact with her mother and siblings as thoroughly as possible, saying, "I'm going to stay a long time because of what you said, so you take responsibility and take care of her.

Will was annoyed to hear about Flora's petty father.

"... the fever still doesn't go down? You must be suffering from some kind of strange illness, don't you think?

And Will's father asks in suspicion.

"You know what? But I'm not feverish, am I?

"... Sounds like it. Fine. So, I guess you told him properly how to rely on the lord here?

"I told him, but he wants me to wait until he's feeling better."

Will whispers his eyebrows and says in a blurry tone. Then...

"That would be strange"

And the village chief reinforced his discourse and affirmed.

"What is it?

"How can you be reluctant to rely on the same nobleman? I'm guessing you're not hiding something, are you?

"Huh? I don't like it, are you hiding it? What are you doing?

Will opens his anger and asks back.

"It is decided that we should rely on the same noblemen rather than treat them in a village like this. I'm sure some of your pharmacists will."

"Well... if the fever doesn't go down, you can't even travel."

"Nevertheless, we can go out to the nobleman's mansion from here and ask for help. That might get you a medic, huh? I guess you explained everything around there well, too, huh?

"I didn't. It would be rude, so don't just imitate the nobility. My father said it first. Isn't it rude to go deep around there? Besides, if that's all you care about, why don't you ask your dad yourself, huh?

and to such a provocative statement of Will -,

"... I'm asking you if you're hiding something because I can't ask. You don't have any of those verses?

The village chief asked back in frustration.

"Saana."

"Hey, answer properly. It's too late for something to go wrong."

To Will, who answered all the questions, the village chief presses his precautions in a tight tone. Then...

"... Shit, I'm a nobleman, 'cause I'm afraid I'll be transferred sick. Isn't my father a little too careless? You're too suspicious."

Will spoke without concealing his contempt.

"You're too weather capable. Stretch under your nose, you fool."

"What!?

When the village chief says he lost, Will gets hot and breathes.

"Don't speak up. Relax, nobles will ask you."

The village chief admonished him with a harsh voice.

"Gu......"

"Okay. I have a responsibility as village chief. You can't be transferred a weird disease and spread it to the village, and you can't have something wrong and keep your eyes on the village."

"Han, can't the village chief's father get sick?

"That's right. Not simply because we're cute."

When Will asks to look down, the village chief answers immediately.

"Shit, then what's the problem? Master Flora is sweet. You're not the kind of kid who makes a scene with a little coarseness from a villager. What kind of problems do we have?

"For example, what if that nobleman suddenly dies? Who takes responsibility?

"Ugh..."

When the village chief answered, Will accidentally got stuck in the words.

"Besides, there are other suspicions about that nobleman, even if we leave the matter of illness aside first. I'm not pursuing you because it's rude to pursue you poorly. Don't you think so? Well, I guess you don't think"

That said, the village chief stares at Will as if he was frightened.

"... what makes you suspicious?

Will asks back in a mood.

"The very fact that nobles in other countries are in distress in such a rural village. Even if the nobles disappeared, it would be a major problem. That's not surprising that a search party has been formed. Even so, there is no way that a search party will show up in this village. It's been five days since that nobleman came to the village, isn't it? There's a verse that defers reliance on the lord, and isn't there something wrong with it?

"It's..."

When the village chief opens his belly, Will gets stuck in words again. I strongly thought that was not the case in my mind, but I could not say it back in reason.

"Surely that nobleman must be kind. I don't think it's the kind of villagers who beat their necks to the point where they worked a little rough. But what if that nobleman has something wrong and this village gets caught up in it? I don't want to keep the seeds of trouble as long as I can."

"... So what are we gonna do?

Will asks questions with a bitter face.

"I'm in trouble because there's nothing I can do. Though he seems nice on the surface, he might buy some anger from the boulder if he pursues the pain. Honestly, I think I have to rely on my lord."

The village chief answered with a deep sigh. Then...

"Come on, you're not asking Master Flora to rely on the lord without permission, are you?

Will changes his complexion haha.

"... of course you're going to put in a confirmation from me then. If the fever doesn't go down like this."

The village chief delicately broke between them and told them with some inclusive saying.

"Well, then a few days. At least wait a few more days."

And when Will pleads like he's in a hurry -,

"... then promise. I'm not saying don't fall in love with that nobleman, but if you make a mistake, you have to think about being a bad soul mate, etc. Don't go in there."

The village chief narrowed his eyes softly and spoke to warn him.

"Ha, ha, suddenly, what are you talking about!?

Will eats and accidentally blushes...

"It's a serious story. If you can promise, he says he'll wait for the fever to drop in the next few days. And tell me as soon as there are any strange signs. What do you say?

The village chief asked with a serious face.

"Ugh......, wow, okay"

Will nods embarrassingly.

"You promised? And since this is the time, tell me exactly the same thing about all the other young men standing around. You and your nobles live in a different world."

and the village chief tells him to admonish.

"... oh"

Will snorts, perhaps, as he frowns at the assertion that the world he lives in is different. There was no mention of a mole that was made on Flora's neck, whether she was losing it or not getting to associate it.