The Returnee Wants Peace

The knights of Echerzen Duchy are a group with a long history and high skill among the private armies of nobles.

Their characteristic was full-body black armor from helmet to toe, and they were famous for their extraordinary loyalty to the Duke’s family.

The knight visible before them was no exception.

‘…He looks really strong.’

Even just standing still, the aura emanating from him was unusual.

Although he hadn’t done anything yet, the Aper knights escorting the carriage could be seen tensing up nervously.

“This… isn’t he not going to let us in?”

“Surely he’s not saying only those who can win in a fight can enter?”

Some whispered like this.

It’s understandable. Even though three years had passed, not all the ominous rumors about the Duke Echerzen had disappeared.

‘Since the rumors about Froy being connected to rebels were true, they probably think other rumors are credible too.’

Of course, since the Duke himself had once accompanied Rosha, the Aper knights’ view of the Duke wasn’t that bad. However, they clearly seemed to think his personality was nasty.

“Miss, we’ve almost arrived… but please be careful. We’ll approach slowly just in case.”

Eola, who was escorting the carriage, said.

Eola was Marian’s favorite disciple, one of the few female knights in House Aper, and also one of the top five in swordsmanship.

Rosha nodded but thought to herself:

‘Ah, Froy wouldn’t act that extremely…’

“That fellow is an ability user. An extraordinary aura envelops his entire body.”

…Is that so?

Her expression became serious upon hearing Koko’s words.

Tsk… Surely he hasn’t turned evil because I woke up too late?

While she was pondering, the carriage approaching the fortress came to a smooth stop.

The lone knight guarding the fortress gate strode towards them. He was much larger than expected, which wasn’t noticeable from afar.

Everyone’s expressions hardened at his build, which was a head taller than them.

“The crest of Aper County… Is this the carriage Lady Roshanak is riding in?”

“It is.”

Everyone’s tension peaked as they saw the knight briefly checking her through the carriage window.

But at that moment.

After sending an unknown hand signal towards the fortress, he bowed politely.

“Welcome, Lady Roshanak. Echerzen Duchy welcomes your visit.”

And the gate opened.

Surprisingly, inside were knights in black armor lined up on both sides in perfect formation.

…Huh?

They’re welcoming us this much?

* * *

As expected, Froy wasn’t in the fortress.

However, the attitude of the Duke’s estate exceeded expectations and was extremely cordial.

First of all, wasn’t it considerate that all the knights of the Duke’s house came out to the gate?

“Why are they doing this?”

“Was Echerzen Duchy always this friendly?”

Even the knights trying to appear composed seemed inwardly perplexed.

During her stay at the fortress, Rosha was given the largest guest room, and each of the knights who came as escorts was also provided with individual rooms.

Moreover, a grand dinner was prepared, and now the head butler was personally giving Rosha a tour of the fortress.

Walking through the wide and bleak corridors, the head butler politely spoke:

“The road must have been difficult with the snow not yet melted, you must have had a hard journey. Did you travel to Aden via the spatial gate and then come here?”

“Yes. That’s the fastest way.”

The spatial gate refers to the spatial movement technology first commercialized by the magic academy.

Now that it only took 10 minutes to travel between Aper County and the capital, travel time had been dramatically reduced.

‘It seems this fortress hasn’t had a spatial gate installed yet.’

Aden was the most prosperous city in the entire northern region.

Looking out the window, the wide-spread city of Aden could be seen far beyond the snow-capped mountains.

It was somewhat distant from this fortress perched on a steep cliff.

She had heard on the way that this fortress was a stronghold for siege when the Duke’s territory entered a state of war.

“Haha, since His Grace the Duke has the power to cut through space and move, he doesn’t really like having visitors, so it’s been several years since a guest visited this fortress like today.”

“I see. No wonder…”

Their reactions seemed like they had seen something very strange.

As she walked down the corridor, Rosha suddenly asked as if she had just thought of something:

“By the way, why did Echerzen Duchy settle here instead of in the city? Wouldn’t Aden be more convenient for daily life?”

“Well… it was His Grace the Duke’s will. The first thing he did after inheriting the Duke title was to move the family from the mansion in Aden to here.”

“Why? Is there a reason?”

“That…”

The head butler smiled bitterly.

Feeling something was odd, she pressed for details, and after some hesitation, this is what came out:

“His Grace deeply dislikes his father, the previous Duke. So he distances himself from everything related to him. Moving from Aden to here was part of that.”

“Ah… Then the empty space for the previous Duke’s portrait in the lobby earlier…”

“Yes, that’s right.”

According to the head butler, every single knight in the Duke’s order was of top-tier skill without exception.

However, Froy left them alone and raised and operated new troops. Lovell, who was Froy’s subordinate, and the rebels showcased during the last rebellion were also forces he had separately arranged.

“His Grace even dislikes us calling him master. Everyone here is loyal to him and Duchy, and we hope you would trust us.”

The head butler’s eyes were extremely earnest.

‘…No wonder, I thought they were welcoming us too much.’

Now that she looked closely, although they didn’t say it outright, it seemed they wanted her to put in a good word for them to Froy.

In fact, Rosha didn’t know much about Froy’s past. Unless he spoke about it first, she didn’t want to pry unnecessarily.

“…”

But at least their feelings seemed sincere.

Walking down the corridor lost in thought for a moment, Rosha quietly asked:

“When will Froy… His Grace the Duke come here?”

“Well, I’m not sure either. He’s very unpredictable, and he doesn’t come to this fortress often. But he does come once a month, so perhaps you could wait a little?”

“…When was the most recent time you saw him?”

“He came and left once two weeks ago.”

Tsk… That means I’d have to wait too long.

As she was pondering, suddenly a suspicious passage came into her view.

A corridor that oddly connected to a place that didn’t match the fortress structure. Now that she looked, the space was strangely twisted.

“Head butler, where does that passage lead?”

“Ah, that’s a prohibited area. Entry is restricted to anyone except His Grace the Duke.”

“I see.”

Rosha nodded obediently. She could strongly feel the energy of Froy’s ability from that corridor.

…Wait a minute.

‘I may not know where Froy is, but wouldn’t it work if I could just somehow summon him?’

And she felt like she had just found that method.

* * *

That night.

Long after the dinner banquet had ended, in the dead of night.

“Now’s the time!”

Rosha sneaked out of her room with Koko stuffed in her pocket. The bird poked his head out and said:

“This reminds me of old times. It feels like we did this at your house not long after you returned.”

“Be quiet.”

The forbidden corridor.

Froy would probably have set up some kind of device here.

A trap to punish intruders, or some kind of warning system.

So she calculated that if she set foot here, Froy would come to catch her, the intruder, one way or another.

“Alright, let’s go in.”

“Don’t be surprised no matter what happens. He was already complete in terms of ability three years ago, who knows how much stronger he’s gotten now.”

“Well, I won’t die at least.”

She now had skills that wouldn’t be easily overcome, and Froy wouldn’t let her die anyway.

Rosha stepped into the forbidden corridor.

One step, then another.

Just as she thought it was a bit strange that there was no reaction even after taking more than ten steps.

“…Huh?”

Rosha made a dumbfounded sound as she suddenly felt her vision go pitch black.

It was already a night walk, but now she really couldn’t see anything, like pitch darkness.

Moreover, it didn’t stop there, but with the feeling of being sucked in somewhere, she kept going down endlessly.

Down, and further down.

It felt like her feet were caught in a deep, bottomless swamp and she couldn’t move an inch.

“Get a hold of yourself! We need to get out of here!”

Who doesn’t know that?

Rosha raised her magical power with her eyes wide open even though she couldn’t see anything.

She thought that ‘the flame that burns settings’ might be able to open a way out of this place.

But at that moment.

“…!”

Someone sharply grabbed her hand.