"...... Magecraft Meister?"

Yes, ma'am.

Yes, ma'am. I think I've heard of you. You're the Master Gin, aren't you?

This is the town of Loron, a provincial town in the Kingdom of Franz. <

"Your sister seems to be a very good ...... healer. At any rate, it was nice to make her acquaintance.

After Jin and the others left, the former duchess, Catherine de Lafayette, looked out the window half relieved and half disappointed.

From there, she could see the beautiful cityscape. But she knew very well that it was only a facade.

"So, did you find the person who attacked me?"

She met Jin and his friends when they passed by the place where her carriage had been attacked, where Gosha had been killed and overturned after running out of control.

The murderer of Gosha was never found, despite the efforts of the Resident Guard.

However, Catherine, as the former duchess, has a large private army. It was one of these private soldiers who is now reporting to her.

The man who is believed to be responsible has been found dead.

So... So they're trying to keep him quiet.

The former duchess, Catherine. There are only a few who could benefit from her death.

The Duke of the South. ......

The southern border of the Franz kingdom borders the Kingdom of Celuloa.

Because of this, the Oranje family, known as the Southern Dukes, had stronger ties with the Kingdom of Celuloa and boasted the second most power after the royal family.

On the other hand, many heads of the Northern Dukes, the Lafayette family, secretly wanted to leave the Kingdom of Celuloa and pursue their own path.

This was the case with Catherine's husband, the former duke, and also with his son, the current duke.

However, they could only grumble at the current state of affairs in this country, where any outspoken action would result in an immediate purge, even of the dukes' families.

"At least, if we can make the people's lives a little better.

That was the best they could do. However, as soon as the government sees even a small increase in profits, it sniffs it out and raises the tax rate.

<<>, I once felt a sense of despair when I heard that this was the way the common people were treated in the royal castle.

"But still, I didn't know that you were in contact with ...... informants. And you were researching the demon tribe?　I wonder what ...... they want?"

"Ma'am, you said that the demon tribe was attacked by radicals and burned in a fire. If that's the case, what's ......?"

"No, we know that Jin-dono went through the barrier to the Klein Kingdom. The attack had nothing to do with him."

Jin's alibi was perfect in that regard.

"...... Magecraft Meister, Jin-dono, a magic engineer certified by the Kingdom of Klein, the Kingdom of Egelea, and the Shoro Empire. I'd like to meet him again."

* * * *

"Fool!　You have the gall to burn our precious prisoners of war to death!

I'm sorry .......

As the knight bowed his head, an even harsher rebuke came at him.

"No, it's not a matter of apology!　This was a great opportunity to make a big difference to the Lafayette family, and now it's all over!

The man yelling at the knight is the Duke of the South, Lefort de Orange. Dull blond hair that is fading, blue-gray eyes. And a fat, flabby figure.

Typical of the country's leading aristocrats.

"The deputy, Kutaga Akhter, has done well. ......"

Kutaga Akhter, mayor and deputy of the town of Enak in the service of the Dukes of the North, was a servant of the Dukes of the North, but a man who had the support of the Duke of the South.

"It was the Duke of the North who successfully captured the demons and brought them alive to the capital, and was praised by the king. ......!

The southern duke gritted his teeth as he was about to take the credit.

He will do whatever it takes to get them to give up information about the demon tribe, and then he will be in command of the army to defeat them. Of course, he would be in the safe rear and it would be his soldiers who would fight.

Lefort was planning, or rather calculating.

"There was even a high official from the Kingdom of Celuloa scheduled to visit Genf. ......"

Yes, the traffic between the Kingdom of Celuloa and the Kingdom of Franz was not only via the secret road, but also via Lake Athol.

"My face is ruined!"

It was a good opportunity to sell more face to the Kingdom of Celuloa. But it turned out to be a blunder.

Lefort, the Duke of the South, is worried.

"Well, I guess I'll just have to give more tribute to the dignitaries coming from the Kingdom of Celuloa. ......"

* * * *

"Hmm, you've made contact with the nobles of the Shoro Kingdom, haven't you?"

A log cabin stands in the forest near the town of Loroon. It looks like a log cabin from any angle, but it is actually one of the strongholds of the partisans.

There are about ten men inside. They are dressed differently. Some of them are dressed as soldiers, some as farmers, and some as lumberjacks.

At the far end sits a man in a black robe, and Fernand, the informant, is talking with him about something.

Fernand, an informant, was talking with the man. I don't know what his purpose is, but he wanted to know something about the demon tribe, so I told him. He paid well and seemed to know what he was talking about.

"His name is Jin ......, right?"

"Yeah. That's what his friends called him."

Interesting. ...... is the imperial baron Shoro's name.

You know him?

I don't know. As far as I know, there is only one person who fits the description. Jin Nido, who was recently certified as a Magecraft Meister.

Magecraft Master?

Yes. And not only from the Shoro Kingdom, but also from the Kingdoms of Klein and Egelea, who have also been certified as Magecraft Meisters.

"Is that ......?"

"Mm. Aside from the Shoro Kingdom, the other two kingdoms are on bad terms with the Kingdom of Serlore and the Kingdom of Franz.

Do you think we can get them to agree?

No, it's best to avoid that. From what I've heard, they don't like conflict. And they have a very powerful golem with them. Have you seen him?

"Yes, the carriage ...... was pulled by a golem horse. The golem was a big golem.

"Perhaps that's him. When there was an incident in the Kingdom of Egelea where a golem ran amok, that one golem was able to neutralize most of the golems.

"Really? Is that amazing?　Is that so?

"Oh. A hundred human soldiers wouldn't stand a chance against him.

That's amazing. If we had 10 golems like that, we could fight a whole country.

"Yes, but Jin doesn't want to get involved in such power struggles.

"What about taking ...... hostages and making them do what you say?"

"That's a foolish idea. That's a stupid idea. They'll destroy us.

I don't think so.

But more importantly, this Jin nobleman had a sister with him. I heard she was called Eliza or Elsa.

Another man stepped forward.

"The day the ...... carriage ran out of control. They say they treated the injured townspeople and the former duchess in no time at all."

"Hmm. So the sister is a good healer."

"Hmm, I guess that means my sister is a good healer. And she didn't take any money from the women of the town. I'm sure of it from what I've heard from those who've been watching.

I'd like to bring this Elsa girl into our fold, but that's not going to be easy.

Why don't you just go get her?

You idiot. I told you before. If we were to go up against that man we'd be crushed in less than half a day.

"Yes. ......"

Another man stepped forward.

"I'm happy to report that we have one more friend. ...... hey."

The man turns around and looks at the young man farthest away.

"Yes."

The young man steps forward and makes a bow.

"My name is Scholdt. Pleased to make your acquaintance.

"Well, where are you from?"

I grew up in the Kingdom of Klein.

"Oh. So you know the ins and outs of that country?

Yes. Yes, to a certain extent.

Well, that's useful. But for the time being, you'll be under surveillance, yes?

It's a natural safety precaution.

Yes, of course.

The man bows once more to them all.

(Hmmm...) * * * * *

(Hmm, Regulus 41 seems to have successfully infiltrated the underground organization.)

On Horai Island, the old man was smiling.