712 Episode 0712



Not long ago, it was in a magic tent where a large group of rebel leaders, such as nobles and adventurers, gathered.
 There were still enough people there, albeit fewer than before.
 The people present here are Mercurio, the portable shrine of rebels, Vihela, Teorem, Tiyur, and Gurgast. And Ray.
 Up to this point there were some other members, such as aristocrats and adventurers.
 It is a group of aristocrats, adventurers and mercenaries who came together as soon as they formed a rebel army.
 Conversely, those who are not here are those who joined after a complete victory in the first battle against the punitive force.
 In other words, the people here are those who can be trusted and trusted as rebels.
 And...

"Your Highness Mercurio, it's all made up by an adventurer named Ray to fit him! Nothing wrong with him!"
"Yes! And the adventurer Ray is, after all, an adventurer of the Kingdom of Milliana, even though he has a nickname." We are only doing this civil war for the good of the kingdom of Mileana!"
"We have been loyal to the Bestian Empire for generations. We and the man of the adventurer who is no match for the horse. Who do you believe?"

 the three nobles treated like sinners, their wrists tied together by ropes in front of the crowd.
 The nobles were clamoring for Ray's cruelty and shouting out loud that they were right.
 After hearing these aristocrats' cries, the other aristocrats are wondering what to do, and Ray is waiting to see how things turn out without saying nothing in particular.

"I see. Ray heard these three were talking about betraying the rebels."

 Mercurio nods and opens his mouth.

"He said that if it was a battle between the rebels and the punitive force, he would betray us and go over there. But before that, I learned of the story from Fritzione, and I thought that it would be a good achievement to let you know of it without going out of your way to do anything dangerous."
"... Ray says, but do you have any objections to this?"

 As Mercurio asks, the three roped aristocrats exclaim.

"It's absurd! He's just trying to make his achievements look as good as possible, and he's trying to fit in a trap in this mutiny to increase his presence and influence!"
"Yes! After all, this man belongs to the Kingdom of Mileana!"
"If it's in the interests of our country, we hope this civil war will last."

 The three screamed like that, but there was something they didn't know.
 In other words, this rebellion was launched from the beginning with the help of... neutrals and aristocrats.
 Knowing it was probably inevitable, given that only a small fraction of the rebels were aware of it.
 Listening to these aristocrats, Mercurio frowns slightly, pretending to be troubled.
 Seeing Mercurio look like that, you've probably figured out that one more push here will do you no good. Before Ray opens his mouth, the nobles talk to each other with force.

"His Highness Mercurio! His Highness is a man who has been loyal to the Vestian Empire for many years, and an adventurer who caused great damage to the Vestian Empire in the Spring War. Which of them can you believe!?"
"Yes, I'd love to hear about it!"

 The other two shout in unison, so that the first person's words can be covered.
 Mercurio, listening to the situation, eventually waved his hand to silence the nobles.
 Next, Mercurio's eyes were turned to Ray, who had been watching the conversation away from the nobility.
 In addition, since it's going to be in the magic tent with Mercurio, the death size is already stored in the mystery ring.

"From what I hear of them, I feel like you're trying to disparage them... what's going on around that?"
"Your Highness! Such a man!"

 When Ray opens his mouth, it's only against them to come out.
 Knowing this, one of the nobles opens his mouth to keep Ray from speaking.

"Would you mind keeping quiet for a moment? Now that I've heard enough of you, should I listen to Ray next? Is there anything wrong with him? Or... even if it's inconvenient for him to open his mouth?"

 Mercurio's eyes, contrary to his soft language, were very sharp.
 The aristocrats, gazed at by the keen gaze, gasped reflexively.
 He knew instinctively that he was indeed a member of the royal family...that is, of the blood of Trajist Gnose Bestia, the present emperor of the Empire of Westia.
 I suspect that by any chance they have discovered their true intentions.
 However, Mercurio himself encourages Ray to express his opinion regardless of the aristocrats.

"And, Ray, if you have anything to say, I'd love you to tell me."
"I have said everything I have to say. I want you to judge the rest."
"I see. If that's all right with you, I don't mind if you say something later."
"Oh, that's all right. I don't think I understand this situation so badly that I don't understand it."

 It is no wonder the roped aristocrats were delighted by Ray's words.
 It's not just this case, but maybe we can create a rift between Ray and the rebels.
 In other words, we may be able to get rid of trump, the greatest force in the rebels.

(If this is achieved, there will surely be no equal in the achievements of 儂 and so on.)

 It's probably a rotten aristocrat who is so excited in his heart but doesn't express himself.
 The other two nobles see it as a golden opportunity to turn their lives around.
 Theorame, watching such nobles a little further away, smiled inwardly.
 Indeed, as far as verbal communication is concerned, it is safe to expect discord between Mercurio and Ray.
 There is also a groundwork for Mercurio's displeasure with Ray in his relationship with his older sister, Vihela.

(But... still, Prince Mercurio does not misjudge according to his feelings. He does not pretend to expel Ray, who is the greatest rebel force, out of jealousy.)

 With that conviction in mind, Mercurio thinks about something as he looks at Ray and the three nobles.
 The other nobles around them shut up and look at each other with their eyes and eyes, telling them not to disturb Mercurio.
 For the aristocrats here, naturally they have a friendly and mild sense of irritation towards the aristocrats in front of them.
 Friendship is, of course, the same aristocracy as yourself. And the irritation is because the nobles in front of them joined the rebels like weathercocks after the last battle.
 Another source of irritation is the apparent desire to expel Ray's powerful force from the rebels.
 As many people around her thought so, Vihela smiled slightly without showing any sign of protecting Ray.
 ...but his eyes don't smile at all.
 The gaze from Vihela was, of course, directed at the three nobles who had been held before Mercurio.
 But the aristocrats who are looking at them look at the bright future they are supposed to visit without realizing it at all.
 That's probably why. I didn't notice that Mercurio's lips had drawn an arc when I saw her.
 The fact that he made his sister feel uncomfortable would be fatal to Mercurio, who was already watching this farce.
 It's a great deal to say that he saw the funny thing in the discussion about a letter from his half sister that took place.

"Well, I understand that you are loyal to me and at the same time willing to risk your life for the rebels. Let me ask you the last question, just in case. If you really think so, you may think that you are loyal to me, rather than just a verbal hoax?"

 the last word asked to confirm
 By the time these words came out, the three nobles were already in a state of hopelessness, but they smiled and nodded back without realizing it.

"Yes, of course," Prince Mercurio is worthy of the next heir to the throne, and if that is the case, he will risk his life.""So do I,"
"Yes, if it's for your Highness Mercurio, please use our strength as much as you like."

 Yes, I wanted to hear those words.
 If Mercurio had heard what he had muttered in his heart, the nobles would probably have shuddered from the bottom of their hearts.
 But the nobles, who could not read the other person's mind, therefore could not understand what Mercurio said the next moment. ...no, I didn't want to understand.

"Well, then, if there is a battle against the punitive force, shall we have the three of you lead the van?"
"...what?"
"What?"
"What?"

 Mercurio spins his words with a quizzical expression on his face.

"Huh? What's wrong with you? You've been saying a lot of high‐spirited things before, haven't you? I just wanted you to do it' What's the problem?"

 He uttered a genuine question. That was Mercurio's remark, but it was not a collection of words for the nobles.
 Look around in a flurry and see everyone nodding to Mercurio.
 Yes, I finally realized that there was no one on our side here.

"No, Your Highness Mercurio," Well... yes! The spearhead of the army is not in full force."
"Oh? Have you already forgotten what you said for yourself? Are you loyal to me, and are you willing to risk your life for the victory of the rebels? Or what you said was a complete lie and nonsense. Is that what you want to say?"

 be deeply in doubt Mercurio asks me that way, and the aristocrats are at a loss for words.
 In fact, it's true that you've said such a thing, and now that you've said so much, you've actually got to act.
 But for these three nobles, the rebels are nothing more than food for their own exploits.
 Given this recognition, we wanted to avoid wasting our troops for the rebels.
 Above all, if you fight against the punitive force as the spearhead of the rebel army, it will be almost impossible to switch sides.
 It's hard to move troops as if they're turning over in the middle of a battle, and if the rebels know this poorly, they're more likely to be attacked from behind.
 With that in mind, the nobles could not have accepted Mercurio's orders.
 But of course I can't refuse it.
 If we turn down Mercurio's orders here, they ask if what they said was a lie, and then Ray's words... would prove implicitly that they were trying to betray the rebels.
 It is impossible to bring the information on Fritzione that we have already obtained today to the expeditionary force.
 If he made such a gesture, he would not be able to escape from the rebels in this situation, which is undoubtedly suspected by those around him.

(What shall I do... what shall I do... what shall I do?)

 I've got my head screwed up to break down the current situation, but I can't help but come up with all the tricks.
 The aristocrats thought of escaping with Mercurio in their hands, but with Vihela and Theorem on Mercurio's side, they would only be killed if they attacked them.
 So shall we take Mercurio's orders here, and then manage to get out of here?
 The aristocrats seemed to have only that much to do, but they must have thought that they were trying to escape.
 Then it's unclear when the opportunity will come. Failure to do so could result in a battle with the punitive force before the opportunity comes.
 But...

(That's all I can do, is that it?)

 Time might have allowed them to find more effective means, but the only thing the three nobles could come up with in this short time was a chance to escape from a rebel force that was almost as close to being crushed.

(Why? Why did this happen! Until recently, it had gone according to the aims of the others!)

 How did this happen? With such a murmur of anguish in their hearts, the three nobles could only take the lead.