Chapter 127

"Why are you asking about Lord Harold?"

"I wish to speak with him regarding this attack and our future plans. However, I’m afraid I don't know his current whereabouts."

"So, you've come to ask me instead?"

"Precisely. I thought that you, given your close ties to Harold, might have some idea."

Erika’s eyes wavered for a fleeting moment at his words. She pressed her lips into a thin line, as if swallowing back a surge of emotion. However, after a long, steadying exhale, she regained her usual dignified composure.

"I do have a grasp of Lord Harold's movements. However, I cannot say that our relationship of trust is deep enough for me to share that information with you."

Erika spoke flatly, meeting Vincent’s gaze head-on. Her bluntness was so refreshing it almost made him smile, but he knew showing such an attitude would only widen the rift between them.

"I will be perfectly honest: I distrust you—or more accurately, I distrust the high command of the Knight Order."

"……I see."

Vincent understood exactly what she meant. Five years ago, during the incident in the Bertis Forest, the Knight Order Commander and the captain of the expeditionary force had both supported Harold's execution. Given that history, Erika’s suspicion toward the organization was entirely justified.

"You believe that the Order’s leadership, myself included, still harbors hostility toward Harold?"

"I am aware that you opposed his execution at the time. However, there is no guarantee your stance hasn't changed."

Erika likely suspected—or perhaps was certain—that the Knight Order had been compromised by an outside will. In truth, the Order of the Holy King had originated generations ago as the private soldiers of the current King’s ancestors. While it was common knowledge that this influence still lingered, Erika’s tone suggested something else entirely. She believed a power other than the Crown's was pulling the strings.

"That is a fair point. Then, let me begin by disclosing some information of my own."

"I’m listening."

"There is no doubt that an outside influence has reached the upper echelons of the Knight Order. That individual is Dr. Justus Freund. Harold is currently in opposition to him, and I believe the doctor is the true mastermind behind the attack on Travis."

The atmosphere in the room grew tense the moment Vincent mentioned Justus. It was clear that Erika’s group also held information regarding the man. Amidst the rising tension, Erika’s expression remained unreadable.

"Does this influence include you as well?"

"It did. But no longer."

"And what proof do you have of that?"

"Should I call it brainwashing? It’s a shameful admission, but I was being manipulated by Dr. Freund. It was Harold who saved me from his control."

Vincent hesitated, wondering how much more he should reveal. Since Erika was close to Harold, there might be no need for secrets, but he suspected Harold wouldn't appreciate the disclosure.

Judging by his actions, Harold was a secretive man. To be more precise, Vincent felt he was the type to shoulder every burden alone, never seeking help. Was it confidence born of his immense talent, or was he simply trying to keep others from being dragged into the dangerous affairs he pursued? If it was the latter, revealing everything now might betray Harold's intentions.

"If that is your basis for trust, then I assume the Knight Order was only able to deploy to Travis because Lord Harold warned you of the coming attack?"

Erika reached the truth instantly, leaping over Vincent’s internal deliberation. While the connections were there to be made, the speed at which she processed them proved she was remarkably sharp-witted.

"Um…… what are you talking about?"

The red-haired boy tilted his head, clearly lost. The girl with the ponytail beside him looked equally confused.

"Rainer, you know Harold has been moving around to crush Justus’s schemes, right?" Lifa interjected. "Freeing the Commander from brainwashing so he could send the Knight Order to Travis was just part of that."

"Well, that’s assuming we believe what he’s saying," the blue-haired youth added.

"Hey, if we start doubting everything, we'll never get anywhere."

Since they could doubt him indefinitely if they chose, it was only natural for their opinions to clash. However, Vincent didn't have time for bickering; he needed to earn their trust immediately. Above all, it seemed they knew far more about the situation than he had expected. Given their connection to Harold, perhaps that shouldn't have surprised him.

"Nearly two months ago, Harold gave me a direct warning. He told me to 'Allocate personnel to Travis' because 'That place will eventually become hell.'"

"As I thought. Lord Harold knew Travis would be targeted."

"Yes, there's no mistaking it. Then, a while after that warning, I received a letter from him."

"And what did it say?"

"He informed me that he had discovered a massive swarm of monsters nesting beneath the town of Burston."

"Are you serious……?" the blue-haired youth muttered involuntarily.

Erika’s expression stiffened slightly, and the weight of the silence in the room grew heavier.

"Based on that letter, I dispatched knights to Burston as well, where we confirmed the presence of the horde. I came here wanting to discuss information and countermeasures with him as soon as possible—"

"Please, wait. Is the Knight Order not yet aware that Burston has already been attacked?"

"What?"

Vincent had received no such report. While they had been overwhelmed with the crisis in Travis for the past few days, a disaster in Burston should have reached him immediately.

(What on earth is happening……?)

The simultaneous attacks on Travis and Burston were undoubtedly linked. It was entirely possible they happened at the same time. But if so, the lack of communication was inexplicable.

"It seems this is news to you. How does the Knight Order intend to proceed?"

"First, we need immediate confirmation of the facts. As soon as the situation is verified, we must dispatch reinforcements."

"I suppose that is the only procedure you can follow. Even if it means arriving in a week at the earliest."

Erika was right. That was the reality of their logistics. Even with airships, the Order couldn't commit a specific force until they knew the scale of the damage. While Vincent could exercise some field discretion in an emergency, Travis was currently a disaster zone itself. Excluding the knights guarding the Royal Capital, nearly every mobile unit was already here. Moving men out of Travis now would be a logistical nightmare, and selecting which units to divert to Burston would take precious time.

"As an organization, we have certain constraints. Even so, we must do what we can."

"Then, I have a proposal. Tomorrow afternoon, a Santia Trading Company airship arranged by the Sumeragi will arrive in Travis. It is carrying food, medical supplies, and daily necessities."

The Santia Trading Company was one of the largest in the kingdom, frequently dealing with the Royal Capital and boasting a fleet of merchant vessels. A company of that size maintained massive stockpiles and could mobilize resources through their private channels with incredible speed. They were exactly the kind of allies who shone in a crisis like this.

"……A prestigious house like the Sumeragi certainly has the connections. Still, that is remarkably fast."

"Yes. In truth, those supplies were originally secured by the Sumeragi for a different purpose."

"What do you mean?" Vincent asked, puzzled.

"Some time ago, Lord Harold sent a similar letter to the Sumeragi. To summarize, he warned that Burston was at risk of a monster attack and that he would be evacuating the residents. He asked the Sumeragi to prepare to receive the refugees."

In other words, while Harold warned the Knight Order about the military threat to Travis and Burston, he had simultaneously coordinated with the Sumeragi to handle the humanitarian side of the Burston evacuation. That explained how they had been able to move so quickly.

"Once the supplies are unloaded, I have arranged for us to board that airship. If you agree to my conditions, we will share everything we know about the situation in Burston."

If they had sent people to Burston in advance, they undoubtedly had a clearer picture of the disaster than he did. Accepting Erika's terms would save the Order the week it would take to scout the area, allowing them to act immediately.

Ordinarily, Vincent would be wary of such an offer. But the woman before him was Harold's former fiancée, and she was still fighting to support him. Harold was a man of many mysteries—outwardly abrasive and arrogant—but after meeting him, Vincent knew he was someone who would risk everything to save others. He was a man worth trusting.

Looking at Erika, Vincent saw that same underlying character. He made his decision.

"Very well. What is your condition?"

"I ask that you, along with as many knights as possible, accompany us to Burston. We depart the morning after tomorrow. We should reach the mountains near the town by that afternoon."

"……That hardly sounds like a condition. It only benefits us."

Sharing the reconnaissance and providing the fastest possible transport to the site was something Vincent would have normally had to beg for.

"Indeed. My actual condition pertains to what happens after we arrive. Yuno, if you please."

"Understood~"

A woman with a relaxed, drawling voice stepped forward. She appeared to be Erika's maid, but her movements were surprisingly disciplined, betraying none of her easygoing aura. She handed Erika an object, which was then placed on the table: a metal plate roughly the size of a palm.

"What is this?"

"A Magic Item. It can capture a scene from reality and record it as an image."

Magic Items varied wildly from the mundane to the miraculous. While Vincent wasn't an expert, he understood the immense value of a device that could record visual evidence. The image displayed on the plate was devastating.

"This is…… horrific."

"Yes. But this is the reality of Burston right now."

Vincent was speechless. The carnage in Travis was bad enough, but Burston had suffered just as much, if not more. Mounds of monster corpses were piled in the streets, and houses were shattered or burned. Most shockingly, nearly a third of the town’s land had simply vanished into a massive sinkhole.

"Fortunately, no residents were caught in the attack. However, there were those who stayed behind to fight to buy time for the evacuation."

"Was it…… him?"

Erika gave a small, solemn nod.

"The residents and the knights who fought alongside Lord Harold are reportedly safe. However, Lord Harold himself remained until the very end. He was caught in the collapse and…… is currently missing."

"……I’m sorry to hear that."

"No…… it’s alright."

Erika remained stoic, facing Vincent without letting a single tear fall. Vincent didn't know the full history between her and Harold. However, he could tell she still cared for him deeply, and the news of his disappearance must have filled her with grief and terror. Her strength in suppressed that pain earned his profound respect.

"As you can see, Burston is currently a very dangerous place. Knowing that, I will state my condition: You will cooperate with us in the search for Lord Harold."

"And that is all you ask?"

"Yes."

"Accepted. I shall begin preparations at once."

Vincent stood to leave. As he turned to go, he thought he saw a glimmer of tears in Erika's eyes as she looked down, but he chose to act as though he hadn't noticed.