The message came in on Rene's caller as he was leading the Bloodsuckers on a back attack on the city walls, a one-sided slaughter that could hardly be called a battle.

"Princess, I have two reports.
"What is it?
I've got some information on the enemy. ...... The holy beast has taken the enemy's wounds. When we attacked, we didn't slash the enemy, but a nearby holy beast was wounded.

　In the midst of the blood splatter and screams, Alastor on the phone reported. Rene listened to Alastor on the phone report the battle outside the city from the top of the wall of chaos.

　An army of undead besieged the city, and more adventurers than he could count on his fingers were struggling. The light of holy air from sacred magic flickers occasionally.
　It was a testament to the country's strongest party, the "Spear of the Underworld," that they were able to hold out despite the complete siege. But still, he was persisting.
　If they managed to score a clean hit, and the Holy Beast took the damage and died for them, the threat level would certainly be much higher.

　--So it was the power of the Holy Beast, not Morgana's.

　Well, the spear should be fine. I've also given Udanosuke the Key of the Fallen. It's Rene who's going to cut into the main body that we need to watch out for.

I'll keep an eye out. So, what's the other report?
"The Bloodsucker advance team has arrived at the city walls and begun engaging the garrison. They're struggling.
"When the city gates open, I'll head over there with a garrison I scouted out. In the meantime, use the discarded pieces to analyze their strength.
Huh. I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea.
You can see them at ....... Oh, you can see them from here.

　I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.
　In the event you're not sure what you're looking for, you'll be able to find a lot more information on the web. It was a caricature of a dragon, walking on two legs with stout hind legs. It is about five meters tall. Rene has never seen one in person, but it must be small compared to a real dragon.

It has a holy air breath and a fighting attack. In Bloodsucker, he's not even a pawn.

　Bloodsuckers are small arms. With no maintenance costs and the ability to self-propagate, they are useful for devouring cities, but they are a bit ineffective as combatants.
　Even if you arm them with things you find on the street or take from houses, they are no more reliable than a peasant revolt. They were no match for a holy dragon.

　--The dragon-like holy beast is our trump card.

I'm sure you'll be fine.
I'm sorry.
　I'm not sure what to make of it. I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

　It's a good idea.

　The area around the lord's castle in the center of the city of Teiracaines had already turned into a battlefield.
　At first, the castle was almost perfectly defended, with dragon-shaped holy beasts (which Rene had code-named "Illuminators", following the precedent set by the previous one) reaping the bloodsuckers that came rushing in, and shooting from the walls to eliminate those that could not be dealt with and attached to the castle walls.

　However, the arrival of reinforcements is changing the situation. The zombies and skeletons that had been defending the city walls earlier attacked the Illuminator.
　A single blow would almost certainly be the end of them, but those who had fought before they were born moved differently. They were also well equipped.
　A well-aimed arrow pierced the Illuminator's wing, and the sword swung down repeatedly, gradually tearing through its scales.
　At the same time, more and more undead appeared in the corridors on the castle walls by climbing ladders or by force, and the battle was gradually intensifying. The support for the Illuminator was also dwindling.

"...... Oswald Mikal Keeley.

　The knight, who was relatively lightly armored, turned to face Rene as Rene quietly called out his name. He wore a surcoat over his armor, which undoubtedly bore the family crest of the Earls of Keighley. A handy lyre-like instrument hangs from his waist.
　Oswald drew his sword from the bloodsucker he had just knocked down and lowered the point of the blade, not pointing it at Rene.

　In the confusion of the battle, Rene had magically disappeared and was climbing up the castle wall, out of sight.
　He could have continued to fight the Illuminator, but he decided that it would be better to eliminate the key part of the defensive forces on the castle walls first.
　In other words, Oswald, who was just in town to see Crown Prince candidate Gislain and was being forced to take part in the battle, was the one who had to be eliminated.

"Your Highness. Do you know who I am?

　Oswald said to René.
　The sudden appearance of René did not surprise him, and he was in a calm state of mind.
　Up in the sky, the hippogriff zombie riders and watchers were engaged in a dogfight, and feathers were occasionally fluttering like a light snowfall.

Ooooooooh!

　The Illuminator below me roars.
　The Illuminator below me roared. It flapped its wings as if to shake off the bloodsuckers that clung to it, and as soon as it appeared on the wall, it released a breath of holy air. A dazzling blue-white, clean light swept over the wall like a raging wave.

　Rene ducked out of the nauseating storm of holy air.
　The illuminator paused to catch its breath and was about to let out another breath when Oswald stopped it. Oswald stopped it.

"Head for the lower defenses, holy beast. I want to talk to you.

　The holy beast obeyed Oswald without complaint. The head on top of the wall retracted and the illuminator began to reap the surrounding undead again.

"Thank you for your concern, Count.
"...... Your Highness. What can I do for you?
"May I ask. Why are you here, fighting against my army, when you did not take sides with Hilbert the Pretender?



　I didn't want to blame him that much, but when I said it out loud, the words still sounded like an accusation.

　The reason why René did not kill Oswald without question was because he had doubts about his actions.
　He was not a member of Hilbert, nor did he have any particular relationship with Gislain or the Marquis of Edfelt. So why is Oswald here now?
　I wondered if there were some political developments that I had missed, and I was annoyed, but also simply curious.

　I also thought that perhaps I could persuade or negotiate them to withdraw, so I approached them. If the balance of power among the factions of the princes changes, it will be beneficial for René, so depending on Oswald's position, it may be worth keeping him alive.
　...... There are other reasons why people might want to kill Oswald, but they are relatively trivial. Rene did not dare to think too much about it.

　Rene's question seemed to have hit a sore spot, and Oswald's emotions seemed to be painful.
　Oswald looked around to make sure that no undead were attacking him, and then he put down his sword and lifted the armor covering with his fingertips in a salute.
　His gray eyes glowed with the radiance of wisdom.

"Your Highness, I am .......
"What are you doing, Count Keeley?

　As Oswald was about to say something, a magically amplified voice came out of nowhere.
　I've never heard that voice before, but I can tell from the situation. It belonged to Marks, Marquis of Edfelt.

"You're dealing with an undead villain!　He's attacked King's Landing and many other cities and killed many people!
　There's nothing to talk about!　I have nothing to say to you!
"Marquis!　Marquis! It is unbecoming of a knight to refuse to listen, to refuse to speak, and to subdue by force!　Your Highness is the daughter of King Elbert. You are the daughter of King Elbert, and as one of the lords, it would be disloyal of you to cover your eyes, ears, and mouth in the face of His Highness, whose life was unjustly taken during the frenzy of the coup!
"You've lost your mind!　...... Enough!　Enough! Holy Beasts, stop him! +$+. &=#@. *$@%.

　A moment before Marks was about to give the order to the Holy Beast, Oswald quickly took up the lyre on his hip and strummed it.
　This is the first time I've ever heard of a lyre, but I've never heard of one.

"Excuse me, Marquis.

　--The lyre disrupted the voice and stopped the command. ......?

　I don't know if it's the lyre or Oswald's power, but this was a momentary bargain between Marks and Oswald.
　If the holy beasts, including the Illuminator, flooded René, the others would be thin, and if Oswald took his time to chat, defeat would only be a matter of time. There was no way to negotiate with him. Marks wanted this to happen, and Oswald refused.

　Putting his lyre back on his hip, Oswald saluted again.

"Your Highness. I'm trying to preserve the shape of the country.
　People without power need a country to live in. We need a government. We need a king. You must understand that this is just an act to protect the people!

　Oswald's words were without hesitation, and his heart shone without flaw, like sunlight breaking through the snow clouds.
　Like a young man speaking of justice, Oswald insisted.
　There was no intention of excuse. On the contrary, Oswald was even hopeful. He hoped that René would understand his point of view.

　Forgetting to maintain his salute, Oswald put his hands on his chest and shouted as loud as the sound of battle could make him. "Calm your anger, sir.

"Calm your anger, Your Highness!
　If you continue to fight, it will be the innocents who will suffer and fall!　No matter what their crimes... Please have mercy!
　The sorrow of being torn apart from parents and children, the pain of losing one's life... ......!　Let no more of this be inflicted upon the people!

　I didn't think that was possible.

　--Yes, yes, yes. That's not who Oswald Mikal Keeley was. ......

　Rene was once haunted by Iris, an adventurer who had made the Earldom of Keighley her home, and caught a glimpse of her memories.
　The memories of the times when Iris was involved with Oswald.
　The story of Benedict, who was closely associated with Oswald.
　And the rumors of the townspeople.
　Renée knew what Oswald's heart was.

　There were no lies or deceit in Oswald's heart.
　He just cared about his people. He did not care for his people as his own property, but only for all the people who lived in this country, hoping for order for the nation and justice for the world.
　That is what Oswald believes in, the way of royalty and chivalry. It is the duty of a man who has been given a fief by a royal family and lives as a lord.

　Furthermore, Oswald is only trying to change René's mind by persuasion.
　He doesn't want to fight to get rid of René, whether it's possible or not.
　And Oswald thinks that ...... "if you talk to him, he will understand".
　Oswald doesn't think Rene is just an "exterminator".
　It was as if a sweet poison was being poured into the hole in his chest.

　--Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

"I wish all the people would die.

　Rene muttered, feeling like laughing while crying.