Chapter 365: Into the Audience Chamber
As we entered the Noble District, private knight orders of the aristocracy began to attack us. At this point, capturing and dragging them away was becoming a hassle. With each throw of our enemies, only corpses were left in our wake. Well, not exactly corpses, but the knights we encountered had their mansions reduced to ruins along the way, which was a minor issue.
“What do you want?”
Upon reaching the Castle Gate, the guard noticed us from a distance and called out. Unlike the last time I brought a letter, the gate was now closed. The drawbridge was raised, but it seemed they had no intention of letting us enter the castle.
“I have business with the King and the Chancellor.”
“I see. Wait a moment.”
The guard said this and retreated to his post. However, he quickly returned and approached us.
“You can pass.”
With those words, he handed me a key.
“Is this really okay?”
I had half-expected him to come charging at us, so I was a bit taken aback.
“Yeah… You were the one who brought the letter before, right?”
“That’s correct.”
I hadn’t been hiding my face, so it seemed he remembered me. If it was only a ten-day journey on foot, I could cover it in less than an hour at full speed without needing to use teleportation, so there was no need to disguise myself. As I examined the key in my hand, I noticed it was smaller than I expected, but it didn’t seem to be the key to the Castle Gate.
“I was surprised when I read it, but I thought it might be a chance to correct this rotten country.”
He seemed to be someone who understood the situation, which was rare. Regardless of his true intentions, as long as he didn’t interfere, that was good enough for me.
“The key I gave you is for the side door next to the Castle Gate.”
Upon closer inspection, I noticed a small door beside the massive Castle Gate. However, it looked like the TYPE Series wouldn’t fit through it. The smaller models might manage, but the larger ones would definitely struggle. Plus, there were cages. Even though they were divided into several groups, the largest one was a cage.
“But be careful. The Royal Guards are waiting just behind the gate.”
As I listened quietly, the guard, having moved a bit closer, whispered this warning. I had already sensed with Presence Detection that there were people just beyond the gate, but they were Royal Guards.
“Thank you for the warning. However, I won’t need this key. I can’t fit through that small door.”
As I returned the key and glanced back, the guard followed my gaze and let out a wry smile.
“Haha… Well, if you’re an S Rank Adventurer, you might have a way around it…”
With that, I simply said, “Well then,” and walked toward the large Castle Gate. I could jump over it, but if I forced my way into a place where I wasn’t welcome, it would be considered trespassing. Since I was already labeled a criminal for the Crime of Overthrowing the State by the country, I might as well make a grand entrance. After all, there were no ordinary citizens around to witness it.
“Ah, if possible, please don’t destroy the Castle Gate—”
I cut off the guard’s words from behind by unleashing a barrage of explosive magic. I fired dozens of smaller spells aimed to thoroughly demolish the Castle Gate.
With a thunderous crash, what was once the Castle Gate was blown away. I caught a glimpse of the guard collapsing to his knees out of the corner of my eye, but I turned my focus back to the front. As the dust settled, a group of knights clad in splendid armor awaited us. One of them appeared injured, likely caught in the explosion’s debris.
“Excuse me for intruding.”
“Ugh, you shall not pass any further!”
The knight who seemed to be the captain stepped forward, weapon drawn, but it was only a fleeting moment. The Royal Guard squad was swiftly defeated by Rio’s Gravity Magic.
We blasted through the entrance, sent the knights attacking us in the corridor flying back, and without hesitation, tossed a noble who had been looking down from the upper balcony into a cage. Finally, we arrived just before our destination.
“In the end, there were hardly any reasonable people here…”
Ivan shrugged in exasperation, and I couldn’t agree more.
“Is this it?”
Phonia, who had been active several times along the way, pointed energetically at the door in front of us. There were no guards standing by the door, and the corridor ahead was eerily silent.
“Yep, this is it.”
“This is the Audience Chamber, right?”
“Yes. Currently, the King and the noble ministers are gathered inside. It seems there are quite a few Royal Guards stationed as well.”
In response to Rio’s question, El smoothly answered while pulling out a tablet. It was as if she already knew what was happening inside, but upon reflection, the TYPE Series had infiltrated earlier.
“Is the Chancellor there?”
“Yes, I saw him when I had the TYPE Series keep watch, so I remember his presence.”
“Right now, he’s sitting next to the King, looking rather flustered…”
Peering over El’s shoulder at the tablet, I saw the Chancellor’s expression, which was strained and drenched in cold sweat, trying to maintain a facade while speaking to the King. Although he seemed to be talking, I couldn’t hear anything since the tablet didn’t pick up audio.
However, there were plenty of ways to listen in.
“…We must escape! Your Majesty! The thieves are almost upon us!”
By connecting the space near the Chancellor with magic, I could hear his voice clearly.
“It would be troublesome if they managed to escape.”
“There must be an escape route.”
Surely, there would be one in the castle. I couldn’t imagine they would try to flee through the door right in front of us, so there must be a royal escape route or secret passage.
“I suppose we can seal that off.”
I scanned the Audience Chamber using Spatial Magic. Although the floor plan I received from Hinomaru hadn’t included it, scanning with Spatial Magic would reveal everything.
“Alright, let’s get ahead of them.”
I sent several TYPE Series units into the escape route using Spatial Magic, completing our preparations.
“Then, shall we charge in?”
With a decisive shout, I slammed my fist against the door leading into the Audience Chamber.