Chapter 81: The Grandes Knights
Deolus saw off the express messenger on a swift horse, who was to report the Earl’s death. That was his last task.
“Well then, lastly, there’s something I’d like the next Earl-sama to do.”
“What would that be?”
“At the time the compulsory summons was lifted, there were three nobles and their escorts, besides the Guild Master, in the Adventurers Guild’s meeting room. And when we were lining up our prey at the Dismantling Area, their escorting knights were watching.”
“That would be Viscount Endura Remleed-dono of Belsum territory, and Earl Malcolm Faranes-dono of Assid territory, I presume.”
“Since their thoughts seemed to be the same as Earl Deolus’s, I want them to recall the agreement between the Royal Family and the Adventurers Guild, and I’d like you to warn them not to do anything unnecessary.”
Since Eldora promised she would definitely convey the message, I decided to take my leave of the Earl’s Residence.
Eldora saw me off to the town’s entrance in a carriage she had prepared, but once I was in the carriage, I was thoroughly subjected to Fran’s complaints and sarcasm, leaving me speechless.
Well, I thought that might have been a bit harsh for her without any prior knowledge, but since I just wing things as they come, she’ll just have to give up on complaining.
As an apology, I presented her with one Medium Bottle filled with Gold Mash powder.
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After parting ways with Glen and the others from Tanza’s Shield, I walked towards the Royal Capital with Fran and the members of Osius’s Fang.
I wanted to travel alone and quickly run through the Grassland, but Fran and the others said they wanted to see my house in the Royal Capital, so I couldn’t refuse.
The town of Klyunza in Assid territory is Earl Malcolm Faranes’s domain capital, so I was nervous that someone might say something unnecessary. However, since the compulsory summons was lifted and many Adventurers were passing through to return to their own towns, I was relieved we passed through smoothly.
Fran probably felt the same way; with a somewhat tense expression, she showed her Guild Card to the Guard.
Thinking “good grief,” I leisurely headed for the Royal Capital, but it was in the town of Darssen in Brandle territory that Hoo-chan and the others were refused entry with, “Beasts are not allowed in this town.”
When I was heading to Tanza, I had taken a detour, so I didn’t know they refused entry to Tamed Beasts. It was careless of me.
This town is Consort Cindyra’s birthplace. I’ll quietly back down without showing the Queen’s Identification.
I asked Dorado-san and the others to wait outside the south gate, bowed my head to the Guard, and decided to turn back.
It’s just the difference between cutting through the town or going around it, but if I run a bit, I’ll get there faster.
Just as I was thinking that, a voice called out from another direction.
“I heard there’s a man accompanied by two Forest Wolves. What’s your name?”
In the passage for nobles, there were a dozen or so mounted knights. The man at the front asked while looking at me with appraising eyes.
Fran casually moved away from me. Was it because of her memories from Tanza, or her danger perception ability?
Noticing that, he said, “Aren’t you lot with this man too?”
“Companions, you say? The compulsory summons in Tanza was lifted, and we are merely fellow travelers accompanying him to the Royal Capital on our way back to Zandra.”
Dorado nonchalantly feigned that they were fellow travelers but not companions.
From their experience of being summoned to Earl Halewood’s Residence with Fran, he replied that way, as per their agreement on what to do if trouble arose during their journey.
However, everyone except Dorado and Fran was watching the exchange between me and the knight with undisguised rubbernecking curiosity.
Seeing that, he probably judged they weren’t my companions. He told Dorado, “You can go,” and turned back to me.
“The man with two Forest Wolves and a kitten. You’re Shinya, aren’t you?”
“If you know, why do you ask?”
“What, it’s for confirmation. Come with us for a bit.”
“If you know me, then you must also know I’m an Adventurer, right?”
“You seem quite skilled. As a knight, I challenge you to a match.”
“If you really knew about me, you wouldn’t say such a thing.”
“There are rumors you freely control Bees, but no matter how skilled a Tamer you are, Taming insects is too far-fetched a tale.”
Is this guy acting alone? Or is it a connection to Marquis Grandes, or Earl Halewood… the Viscount?
《Bee-chans, if you can hear me, everyone gather!》
《Ah, it’s Master!》
《Master is calling!》
“Enough with the pointless talk. I’m an Adventurer, so I can’t go picking fights with knights-sama. If you want to do this, draw your sword right here. I’ll take you on, along with those guys behind you.” (Bee-chan will, that is, I thought to myself but didn’t say aloud.)
“It’s too cramped here and we’ll be in the way. How about we step outside the gate?”
《Bee-chans, don’t come down until I call you. Stay up high.》
《Okay, call us anytime! ♪》
《Our stingers are all shiny!》
《Everyone’s gathering! ♪》
《Mii-chan, Hoo-chan, you guys move a little further away and hide.》
Mii-chan and Hoo-chan, who had been concerned about the buzzing sound from above, quickly moved away from me.
“Do you know you’re going to lose? Your Tamed Beasts are running away.”
“They just don’t want to get caught in the crossfire. Can I ask one thing?”
“What is it? If you’re begging for your life, save it for later.”
“Is this the instigation of Marquis Grandes or Consort Cindyra? Or is Earl Halewood… the Viscount’s family involved?”
“You sure chirp a lot of unnecessary things. Don’t worry about it and just die!”
He drew his sword and attacked, but I stepped back one pace to dodge it, then lunged in and slapped him.
With an open-handed slap, there was a WHACK! sound, and four clear finger marks were left on his face.
“Inter…esting…man…you are…”
Did the impact give him a concussion? He said, trying to act tough while swaying.
“You probably won’t need it anymore, but you’ll be surprised if you look in a mirror.”
《Bee-chan, you can sting the guy in front of me.》
《The rest of you, surround the guys in front of me and don’t let them escape.》
《Yay! ♪》
《I’ll go!》
《I’m first!》
《Aww, I was too slow!》
《I’ll get ready to sting the next one!》
《Protect Master!》
《Master, which one is next?》
The man looked up in surprise at the buzzing sound of the Killer Bees descending all at once from above, and Bee-chan and the others enveloped him.
His figure struggled, enveloped in a deep hum. Sounds like screams leaked out, but he soon collapsed and stopped moving.
《Ah, they’re running away!》
《Don’t let them escape!》
《Sting ’em!》
《Everyone, stop stinging and wait up above.》
《It’s Master’s request!》
《We’re going back up!》
《Master, we’ll sting them anytime!》
Ahh, one person in front of me and four a little further away have collapsed and are groaning.
I went over to the men who were standing there trembling and asked for their affiliation, but no one answered.
If you don’t want to say, you don’t have to.
I tossed the man who had attacked me and his fallen sword into my Magic Bag. I left the ones who had collapsed and were groaning.
I went over to the eight men who were pale and trembling, and addressed them.
“It’s just as you saw. I only slapped the guy who attacked me. He was stung by Killer Bees and died.”
“Y-you, you’re controlling them?! The crime of killing our captain is severe!”
“Are you blind? Didn’t you see him get covered in Killer Bees and collapse right in front of you? Those four collapsed over there were stung because they moved while the Bees were agitated. If you think I’m lying, try attacking me.”
“Don’t run away! We can’t let you, who killed the captain of the Grandes Knights, escape! Surrender quietly!”
“The Grandes Knights, are you a bunch of idiots? You wouldn’t identify yourselves when asked, but now you’re shouting your affiliation. Since you’ve identified yourselves as the Grandes Knights, there’s no doubt you’re subordinates of Marquis Grandes, the lord of this land. I now have a complaint or two for your master, so guide me to the Marquis’s residence!”
I kicked the knight who had shouted in the stomach, intimidated the remaining knights with King’s Pressure, and demanded they guide me to the Marquis’s residence.
I called back Mii-chan and Hoo-chan, asked Bee-chan and the others to remain on standby overhead, kicked the shouting knight’s butt, and stepped into the nobles-only passage.
“Let me tell you, I have the Divine Protection of the Tamer God, and if you attack me or show hostility, the Killer Bees will fly in and protect me. You guys hate me and are eager to attack, but I’m asking them not to sting you. If you don’t like it, just say so. The Killer Bees will deal with you anytime.”
When I told them that, they shook their heads vigorously.
Mii-chan and Hoo-chan had their fur bristling, so while reassuring them that they definitely wouldn’t be stung and it was okay, I thrust my Identification at the Guard.
The Adventurers and townspeople who had been waiting at the town’s entrance had scattered and fled. As for the Guards, only one man, who looked like a pale-faced rookie, remained.
“Ah, uh, um…”
“You can see the crest on this Identification, can’t you? This permits me to bring Tamed beasts into the Royal Capital or any territory. If you try to stop me, you, along with your lord, will have to explain yourselves to the Royal Family.”
The Guard stood frozen, saying nothing, unable to utter a word.
His superior probably dumped his duties on the rookie and ran off, so I decided to refrain from tormenting him.
I kicked the pale-faced knight and ordered him to go to the Marquis’s mansion. As for the remaining seven, I threatened to spread rumors that they were cowards if they ran away.
I stepped into the town, but word of the swarm of Killer Bees and the scattered, fleeing people had spread, and there wasn’t a soul on the street corners.
The doors and windows of the houses were shut tight, but it was completely obvious that people were peeking through slight openings.
Even the Guards who rushed over partway didn’t come close after seeing the Killer Bees swarming tens of meters in the air.
The braver ones were the Adventurers. Wearing leather trousers and with fur draped over their heads, they approached, shuffling along, and challenged me.
I was impressed by their ingenuity in avoiding Bee stings, but their appearance, with rags wrapped multiple times around their faces and necks, made them look completely suspicious.
I felt like I was the one who should be asking who they were.
“Stop! What are you doing?”
“What am I doing, you ask? I’m having these knights here guide me to the mansion of Marquis Grandes-kakka.”
Perhaps my words were unexpected; a dumbfounded “Heh?” was heard, and that was it.
I kicked the knight at the front, ordered him, “Get a move on!” and ignored them after that.