Alfine's point of view


　We were summoned to Lloyd the frontier count's house and shown into the parlor.


I'm sorry to call you out. I'm sorry to call you out on this, but we're experiencing a lot of problems as well.


　Fatigue was evident on the faces of Lloyd, who was sitting in his chair, and Meis, who was standing beside him, and I could see that the trouble they were in was quite hard to deal with.


''No, it's just that we're in a lot of trouble here too,''

That's nice to hear. I called Al and the others up today because I had a request to make.

A request?　For us?

The only way to do that is to send someone who knows what's going on, and I have a feeling we won't be able to do anything about it. I'm not sure how many people are familiar with the Abyss Falls case. It's not like me or Mais can go and explain to them.


　Come to think of it, other than us, there were only two people in front of us who knew the details of the facility's story.

　The adventurers and knights who participated in the event are under strict information control, and only a few people know the details.


So that's why you're asking us to help you: ....... But we're only adventurers, right?

It's better that way. A mere adventurer is a better way to loosen their guard.

What does it mean to let your guard down?

To tell the truth, a large number of members of the Kingsguard have entered the Yggernotes under false pretenses. I have reports from my own staff that such a person is prowling around, sniffing around for things.


　A bunch of Knights of the Kingsguard: .......

　I think that's what they're referring to when they come looking for me: .......

　They were probably looking for information about us escaping from King's Landing.


　I'm sure that Lloyd the frontier lord thought that the knights of the Kingsguard, who have infiltrated the Yggernotes looking for me, were gathering information on whether Giles was aware of the existence of the facility or not.


　I wasn't sure if I should reveal my identity to Lloyd the frontier lord.

　However, if they found out that the Swordsman Alfine was in Yggernotes right now, Feen, who might still be in the city, might go into hiding again.

　When I thought that, I found myself hesitating to reveal my identity.


''Eh, eh. I didn't know that was going to happen. I had no idea.''


　He shielded me with the appropriate ministerial words.

　The words that came out so quickly made her feel self-hatred that she was truly a cowardly woman.

　You know that this kind of self-centeredness is the reason why Feen left you, but you still can't repent of it, because you feel like a truly spiteful and unfair woman.


I heard they are using the search for people as a cover. They're looking for a young black-haired woman from the capital. It's just an excuse to gather information.

'I'm sure it is. So what's the request for Al and me?　If you don't do your job, Maribel won't be able to take care of you, so I'll take any request you make.


　Meira, sensing that the conversation was about to take a bad turn, tactfully pulled the conversation back to the request.


''Oh, right. It was about the request, wasn't it? In fact, I want you to meet my daughter Noelia, who is on a trip, and tell me more about the underground facilities in Abyss Falls.'

For the Countess of the Frontier's daughter?


　According to the rumors I heard in King's Landing, Noelia, the only daughter of the frontier count, is an adventurer and a severe magic geek in spite of being a young lady.

　What is the meaning of telling such a girl about the underground facility?


Aye, he's in the village of Devon, Inverness, under secret orders from me, along with a skilled adventurer named Flick the Crimson Mage. Maribel is from the village of Devon, right?

'Oh, yes. Yes.

Do you know there's a crystal mine near there?

The Lachman Mine. Our fathers worked there. Maribel helped with the work in the mine.

Then it makes sense. Those Rahaman miners seem to be the same guys who were repairing the underground facilities at Abyss Falls.


　I'm sure Lloyd the frontier earl was on the same page, but I had no idea what he was talking about.


I've been told by Master Noelia that the people in the Rahman mine are connected to Lord Gilette and that they may be using Abyssal walkers ...... and that some of the beastmen who worked in the mine have gone missing. ......


　When I looked at him in wonder, Myth noticed my expression and gave me an additional explanation.


I see," he said, "if Maribel and the others who worked in the Rahman mine had come to the underground facility in Abyss Falls...


　At last, the story makes sense to me.


I'm sure it means that the leader of the Kingsguard, Jairus-sama, is working behind the scenes in various ways. There's also what happened in Al's royal capital.

That's what I suspect. But you are dealing with one of the most powerful aristocrats in the kingdom. If we don't have proof of this, they will have a way to get away with it. That's why I'm doing everything I can to prevent that from happening. So, I'm sorry to Al and the others who are looking for someone, but will you accept this request?　If Giles suspects me, it would be too dangerous to write to him. I will send someone I trust.


　Lloyd, the frontier count who easily professes to trust a mere adventurer, seems to be quite an oddity for a nobleman.

　If you are a nobleman in the royal capital, you would never give me a chance to talk to you in a roundabout way.

　The majority of the noblemen are able to lead their adventurers by shirking the blame for their actions so that the blame does not fall on them.


You can't expect me to bring that information to the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard?

I pride myself on my ability to judge people well. You're not such a good judge of character, are you?

Uh-uh.


　I was at a loss for words in the frontier count's reply.

　Maybe if he saw Jair's face in the current situation, he was confident that he would draw his sword and fly his head off as fast as he could.

　He had always been a huge hater, but now that he knew he was involved in even darker things, he had changed his perception from a hater to an evil to be defeated.


'With that reaction, I doubt Al would ever sell me. Therefore, I want you to accept this request. Things are urgent.


　Lloyd, the frontier count, bowed his head in a pleading voice, asking us to accept the request.


"...... I understand. I will accept your request, Mr. Count of the Frontier.

'Oh, yes!　Then I'll take care of it right away.


　As soon as I decided to accept the request, I prepared to leave for Devon, a village south of Inverness, with Meira and Maribel in tow.