"People in the Empire are quite simple, aren't they?"
At Jack's words, I shrug my shoulders.
The Imperial Kingdom supports Wilhelm because they have their own motives.
The supporters of Erik, led by the Altenburg Duke family, are influenced by Erik.
However, the nobles and people in the South have readily accepted Wilhelm.
Currently, the South is almost entirely under Wilhelm's sphere of influence.
Although they are not explicitly hostile, the situation is worse than when Gordon had the North as his base.
Wilhelm has risen to become a force that threatens the Imperial Capital, quite easily and brilliantly.
And what supports him is the support of the people in the South.
Isn't it too easy to accept him?There was groundwork, but would they so easily accept someone they thought was dead?
Wouldn't they normally doubt if he's the real deal?
"I don't know the reason. There's no information. If he appeared like a savior... maybe people would believe that someone who was supposed to be dead has come back to life."
"There might be people like that. But I can't believe that everyone in the South is that gullible. So, what's your guess?"
Urged by Jack, I sigh.
I don't want to say something without much basis.
However, there is one guess with a high probability.
It's an absurd reason that explains everything.
"—The power of a demon. The possibility is high."
"Is it a power that controls people?"
"It might be such an ability."
Humanity has fought against demons, but we know little about them.
Demons don't speak, and researching them has been avoided.
The first appearance of the Demon King was due to a summoning by a certain magician.
If you summon a demon to investigate, the same thing could happen again.
That's why we don't know about demons.
It's dangerous. Not knowing about the enemy you're fighting is like being in the dark.
So it's best to be overly cautious.
"If you can control people, there's no need to complicate things."
"It may not be as convenient as we think. Or it may be weakened. There are all sorts of possibilities. So we have to carefully find allies."
"I see. So why are we slowly moving in a carriage? Shouldn't we go by your teleportation?"
Jack taps the window of the carriage in a fed-up manner.
Currently, we are moving in a carriage.
Henrik's teleportation magic tool is valuable. We can't use it here.
As for me...
"My condition has recovered, but my magical power hasn't returned yet. Thanks to the effects of the Holy Ring, it's gradually coming back, but I need to conserve my magical power. In other words, I'm genuinely a penniless prince right now."
"Who asked you to say it so eloquently? Geez..."
Jack sighs and rubs his waist.
He must be sore from the long ride.
"Even an SS-rank adventurer like Jack can't beat age."
"Who's an old man!? I'm much younger than the young guys around here!"
Henrik's words make Jack react sensitively.
He must be conscious of it.
But still...
"You have a daughter who's not much different in age from us. You're an old man."
"I don't like being called an old man. Call me 'Ojisan,' 'Ojisan.'"
"...You shouldn't say that to your daughter. She'll be turned off."
"W-what...?"
He must have been quite serious.
Ignoring the shocked Jack, I mutter to myself.
"So, we've entered the North now."
"The first ally is Marquis Zweig?"
"Charl is a strong candidate, of course... but the real deal is different."
"The real deal?"
Facing Henrik's puzzled question, I grinned in response.
In the northern part of the Empire, Marquis Zweig's territory.
We arrived there and sneaked into Charl's mansion quietly.
We can't afford to be found.
However, even though it's a Marquis's mansion, the security was surprisingly lax, making it easy to enter.
The reason is that there was a sudden visitor. And it wasn't us.
"Your Majesty! Please don't make me say it again! I can't go to the Imperial Capital!"
"I must insist! The Chancellor and my mother need me!"
"I dare to call you Prince Traugott, but you are already in the position of a vassal king. You are a king of another country. You are not allowed to enter the Imperial Capital without permission."
"The situation has changed! My father and Leonard are missing... Arnold's status is unknown... There are only a few adult Adlers left. I have a duty to protect the Empire, my mother, and my siblings! Above all! The ghost of my elder brother raised by Erik is in the South! It's my role to ascertain the truth!!"
"I understand your feelings. But if you move, it will be disadvantageous for you. If you enter the Imperial Capital now, rumors will spread that you are aiming for the throne."
"That's what I want! If the ghost of my brother takes the throne... I will take it! My brother is dead! We all saw his body... To come out now and say he was alive... it's as if the blood that flowed was meaningless! My brother would never do that!!"
Hearing the shouting from the room, Henrik quietly turned on his heels.
"Aren't you going to meet him?"
"I'm... no longer an Adler. I can't afford to be noticed. That person is... sharp."
"Understood."
Henrik disappeared from sight.
He's probably watching from nearby, but he won't show himself.
"Is the vassal king of the Dominion your ally?"
"The only other brother I can unconditionally trust right now is this person. He has some quirks, but... he's a good person."
"I have no objection. The one who rapidly rebuilt the Cornix Dominion is the current vassal king. Of course, you must have contributed as well."
"I just helped. So now, I'll ask for his help."
Saying that to Jack, I slowly put my hand on the door.
There's no one around, probably because they've cleared the area.
"Don't you regret it, Charlotte-sama!? Leonard and Arnold desperately climbed the ladder of the throne succession... and to end like this! Their efforts are about to be stolen!!"
"The situation is not yet clear... There's still a good chance that both are alive."
"Leonard maybe, but... I received a report that Arnold was blown up along with his room... Even if it's Arnold..."
"Please... don't say any more."
"..."
"..."
Awkward.
My hand on the door stops.
In response...
"What's the matter? Aren't you going in? The supposed-to-be-dead Prince Arnold."
"...I was prepared, but still."
"You can't blame them for blaming or hating you. The loss and sadness you've given them... the giver won't understand."
Jack says this while looking far away.
Jack suddenly lost his wife and daughter.
But even before that, Jack had been engrossed in his missions, not looking after his family.
His wife left home because he was never there.
Jack was the first to disappear from his family.
That's why he says this.
And because he's experienced it, it's heavy.
Even so...
"Am I allowed to meet them?"
"That's not for you to decide. I'm a coward, so... I have no intention of revealing myself. But you're different, right?"
"..."
Pushed by Jack's words, I slowly opened the door.
Charl and Traugott-niisama glare at me as if to say who's interrupting.
But their eyes gradually widened.
"Am I... interrupting?"
The moment I muttered that, I was tackled by Charl.
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