A baritone's voice echoed from the study of the Earl of Keighley's castle.

　The study is a room for relaxation and often serves as the office as well.
　However, since the castle separates the office from the study, the study was purely a private space for the lord of the castle, Oswald.

　Oswald sang the tragic story of a man who fell in love with a fairy queen, accompanied by a small magic lyre that played automatically.
　As an aristocrat, one must master at least one of the arts or be accused of being illiterate.
　This may seem surprising because of his stiff image, but Oswald was very good at singing.

　However, when he was about to reach the climax (the chorus), Oswald stopped singing and turned off the automatic music.
　This was because he felt the presence of a person behind the door.
　As Oswald stops singing, someone knocks on the door and enters the room.

"Father. Am I interrupting your training?

　The man who comes into the room is a young man in a dark blue suit with the same citrus-colored hair as Oswald. His movements were square-shaped and jerky, as if he had wires in his body.
　Trevor Henrik Keeley. Oswald's eldest son and next lord. A man with the air of a competent official, in other words, much like his father.

"No. No, it's just a distraction. What's the matter, Trevor?
Steve's arrived.
Hey, Dad!　It's been a long time!

　A shadow about two sizes too big peeks out from behind Trevor, who is a little less than dignified.
　I'm not sure what to make of it. He looks like a bandit wearing a beast skin cape over his scarred armor.
　This is Steve Adrian Keeley. He is the third son of Oswald.
　He is the third son of Oswald, a man who has been living as an adventurer in the Gilesh Hathar Commonwealth since his semi-abandonment.

　Trevor poked him in the head when he heard Steve's light greeting.

"Hey. Say father.
　I haven't seen your face in ...... years, and you've gotten all vulgar.
"You said it, brother.
"Ha-ha-ha, but you're getting tougher, too.

　Oswald greeted Steve and patted him on the back, which was now much wider than it had been.
　When he left home as an adult, he was still an immature boy swordsman, but now he is a full-fledged adventurer. I had talked to him a few times at the communications station, but it had been a long time since we had met.

　I'd like to be happy to see him again and have a leisurely chat, but ...... that's not going to happen.

I heard Priscilla is back too?
Yeah. She's hanging on to Catherine 24/7.
Steve. I'm sorry to be the first to arrive, but we're on a clock. Let's talk about where we are and where we're going.
　Trevor, go get Priscilla and Hadley. And ......, Catherine.

　*

　The entire Count family, except for the Countess, was gathered in the study.
　It was not a place that would normally be used for a family meeting, but it was to use the materials in the study.
　Books on demons and magic were pulled out from the bookshelves and piled up.

It's been a while since we've seen each other, though.
"Yes. I'm really surprised. I didn't expect that Steve would come back as a great bandit.

　The man who'd made fun of Steve was Hadley Kasper Keeley. Oswald's second son.
　He and the eldest son, Trevor, are twins and look exactly alike, so it was decided that Trevor would wear blue and Hadley would wear red.
　Although Hadley was not a legitimate son, he was a reserve in case something happened to Trevor, the eldest son. He never left the house like Steve did, but helped his father run the estate.

　When teased, Steve shrugs his shoulders in a tone of annoyance.

That's what most adventurers are like.　I'm sure you've heard of it.
　...... By the way, Dad. Why is Catherine here?

　I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but I'm sure you've heard of it.
　Considering the agenda of this family meeting, Steve thought that Katherine's presence would be unavoidable and not something to be heard.
　But Oswald shook his head with a somber expression.

It's necessary. Catherine was one of the parties involved, and she was voluntarily investigating ...... the Rose of Hell."
"...... Catherine?
Well, anyway, let's start with what happened. Can you talk?　Catherine.
Yes, Father.

　And then Catherine told me about the events of that day.

　That day when the royal capital was raided by the Rose Princess of Hell and she herself was taken prisoner.
　That day when Teiralare, which boasted a history of over a hundred years, was attacked by an immortal army in just a few hours.
　I'm not sure what to make of this, but I think it's a good idea.

...... The First Order was almost completely destroyed. The second knight order has only a few survivors, including the commander. It is believed that not only his Majesty but even his courtiers were almost all killed.


"Jesus Christ, man. ...... It's even worse than I thought.

　Steve let out a shuddering sigh as Oswald concluded his story.

　Incidentally, Catherine was sitting on Priscilla's lap being hugged the whole time they were talking about this.
　When Priscilla finished listening to Catherine's story, she hugged Catherine deeply as if to reassure her that Catherine was safe.

I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do this, but I'm going to do it. I was so worried about you that I couldn't even eat. I was so worried that I couldn't even eat. I tried to contact you through the communications station, but I couldn't get through. ......!
　When I heard that the mighty undead had invaded King's Landing, I was so worried that I doubled the number of times I kissed your likeness, and the next day I increased it fivefold, and on the third day I threw everything away and ran out of the academy.
　I can't believe I'm in King's Landing and I'm being held captive by the Rose Princess of Hell!
　Oh no!　I'm so glad you're okay!　I'm sure this is God's will for me.

　A tall woman with long, citrus-colored hair braided like a crown. She had a mature face and body, but with a girlish innocence about her.
　She was holding Catherine tightly and was swooning over her.
　She was holding Catherine tightly and was holding her firmly in place, not caring if Catherine twisted around in annoyance.

　Her name is Priscilla Mayu Kiely. Oswald's eldest daughter.
　With her mother's talent for sacred magic, she is an elite cleric's egg studying at the Temple Academy of the Holy Kingdom of Diretta.
　She wore the Temple Academy uniform, a white dress similar to a monk's uniform. She was wearing a white dress that resembled a monk's uniform.

"No, Sister. I was allowed to live because of the whims and nobility of the ...... princess.
　There was no such thing as God's will for that place. ......
So ...... if Catherine says it, it must be right.

　I'm sure she's right.

Has there been any talk of our country in the Temple Institute?
Of course. Everyone is always interested in international affairs.
　It would be a disaster for the Temple if a country was destroyed by an undead monster.
Have you heard anything about the Temple's activities?
There was a rumor that they were going to send a team to investigate with the Adventurer's Guild.

　Steve smiled sarcastically at Priscilla's story.

"A joint effort? I'm not sure how much help we can get from them. ......

　"I can understand why you would want to join forces in order to proceed with caution, since we are both working to investigate the Rose of Hell.
　But there is no guarantee that two organizations with different goals and philosophies will not drag each other down.
　There was a famous story about a temple and an adventurer's guild that sent a strike force against the same demon at the same time, and while they were dragging each other down, the target ran away.

The Adventurer's Guild will probably send out an investigation anyway. Depending on the situation, the Federation guild might even send adventurers.
"But unfortunately, politics won't wait for that.

　Oswald said sadly.

　We can't wait for the chaos to be over and for safety to be assured.
　We cannot wait for the chaos to be over and for safety to be secured, but rather for politics to act to end the chaos.
　......, or perhaps some kind of fire and brimstone.

"This is still a private matter, but ...... His Highness Prince Ghislain is planning to run for Crown Prince.
"...... What?
"His Highness Prince Zhislan?

　I'm sure you'll be able to understand why.

　Gislain has a reputation for being a mere bookworm who keeps his distance from the political scene.
　With no anecdotal evidence of kingly talent, and no ambition, he did not seem like a man who would make a move now.
　In fact, Oswald, Trevor, and Hadley all thought so.

"I'm surprised. He didn't seem like the kind of person who would be inspired by a national crisis.
"Priscilla. Think about it. What about His Highness Prince Zhislan's mother?

　Hadley said with a hint of annoyance.
　Priscilla looked as if she had eaten something bitter.

"No way. ......
The Marquis of Edfelt has a hand in this.

　We all know how the coup was structured.
　The Marquis of Edfelt was a nobleman with close ties to Noah Curio, and was one of the first to go to Hilbert. If he was involved, the retaining of Gislain would instantly become very suspicious.
　Something may be about to happen that will further drive a wedge into the rift between the lords.

"I'm planning to go to Teiracainé soon. I would like to see His Highness Prince Zithran and ascertain his intentions. I'm not sure if it's really His Highness himself.
　But ......, in any case, I believe that there is no way to change His Highness' decision to ascend to the throne.
"I think His Highness Prince Ghislain is not bad. But I don't like the fact that the Marquis of Edfelt is behind it.
"Regardless of whether you like it or not, once the formalities are completed and you are crowned, your father will have no choice but to support you as one of the lords.

　Trevor admonished Steve for expressing his dissatisfaction straightforwardly.
　But even Trevor looked as if he had bitten off more than he could chew. But even Trevor seemed to have bitten off more than he could chew.

"Steve. Priscilla. Can you help us?
Help with ......?
Help you with what?
My escort. To put it bluntly, an escort.



　Steve and Priscilla look at each other.

"This country is in danger right now. The Royal Knights have been almost completely wiped out, and security and demon extermination has virtually ceased. We don't even know how much of an impact it's having. It hasn't been long since the lawlessness began, but there have been stories of bandits targeting refugees, or of refugees who lost their lives to bandits.
　However, under these circumstances, my territory would be in jeopardy if I were to bring a whole army of knights to escort me. Adventurers are also .......

　Oswald cut his words off with a poke and closed his eyes painfully.

The party he favored was wiped out.
　I've hired as many as I can get my hands on, but they're not enough.
So you want us to come.

　Steve rolls up his arms, revealing his well-hardened, steel-like hips.

All right, if that's what your father wants.
I've only done a few exercises at the ...... academy, but if I can still help your father, I'd love to.

　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure I'll be able to do it.
　The seal, sanctified in a temple ceremony, is the catalyst for the use of divine magic, a miracle of God.

"You can use recovery magic, right?　Then you can just wait with my father until we're hurt.
Thank you. With you guys, we'll have something to work with in case of emergency.
Father, are you going to do that?
Yeah. If ......, hypothetically. If I had any hope of surviving an attack by the Rose of Hell, it would be this.

　At Oswald's words, the air in the room became heavy and cold, as if the room had been submerged.
　The air in the room became heavy and cold, as if the room had been submerged.

"Father, it's ......
"...... we talked about bandits and demon ricochets, you know what's the most dangerous thing in this country right now?
　It's the "Rose Princess of Hell" and her army.
　"The Rose of Hell let Catherine go unharmed once, but I don't know if she'll show that kind of mercy again. I think it is rather unlikely.
　The candidate for the crown prince pushed by Marquis Edfelt, who had given his support to the former King Hilbert, would certainly incur her wrath. How would I be seen as a party to that?

　At that moment, Catherine tried to stand up ............ but couldn't shake Priscilla, so she was forced to stay in the embrace and said decisively.

"Father, please ...... let me accompany you.
"Catherine!