Chapter 166
－From the Perspective of the Captain of the First Order of Knights of the Emperas Kingdom－
"I found them!"
The one who barged into the room without knocking, raising his voice, was my close friend Mizerost, captain of the Fourth Order of Knights.
"Please knock."
I called out, reflexively showing him the sword in my hand.
Things had begun to calm down, but we were still in a situation where we didn't know when we'd be attacked.
I might accidentally draw my sword.
"Ah, sorry. ...Anyway, we found the captain of the Third Order of Knights and Duke Gihald."
"Where were they?"
"It seems they're being sheltered by the lord of Totolos, the town closest to the forest."
The town closest to the forest, huh.
That place should have been the first to notice the forest's changes, but...
Since it was the town farthest from the royal capital, maybe they hadn't connected the emancipation of the slaves with the forest's changes?
Come to think of it, the other town already causing problems was also close to the forest.
To put it another way, it was a town far from the royal capital.
If news of the capital's abnormality reached them days after the forest's changes, would they even think the forest was the cause?
Information isn't getting through properly.
"Phew... Now, what should we do?"
"We can arrest them for stealing the magic stones."
"I know, but..."
There's no king in the Emperas Kingdom right now.
I'm temporarily handling the king's duties as his proxy, though.
"Why don't you just take the throne already?"
"..."
After the king's death, I'd planned to put the queen or one of the children in charge, but I never imagined not a single one of them would be left.
No, there is one, but... she can't do it.
Her mind has been shattered.
"Make up your mind already."
"...It's not that simple."
"Is that so? It's better than this limbo we're in now, isn't it?"
"What will they think?"
"The former slaves have no objections, but..."
"Huh?"
At some point, the door to the room had opened, and Gazy, a former slave who now served as my aide, was standing there.
It had been a while since I'd seen Gazy.
They'd been busy traveling to villages and towns to persuade the former slaves there.
Gazy had been one of the adult slaves in the castle.
They were also the first of the former slaves to cooperate with us.
After word spread through the castle that a small crack had appeared in the magic stone, I once had occasion to work alongside a slave on a certain task.
That was when I met Gazy.
When I met Gazy, something about them felt off.
At first, I didn't realize what it was, but as I watched them, I noticed their gaze moving unnaturally.
Then, when our eyes met, they hurriedly looked away.
I was shocked.
I couldn't imagine a slave whose consciousness had been sealed away looking away.
I arranged an opportunity to speak with them without drawing anyone else's attention, and after talking to them, I was certain.
They couldn't speak, but their consciousness had returned.
I picked them for work several times, using that as an excuse to build a connection.
Before long, Gazy was able to speak, and I learned that the other slaves were gradually regaining consciousness as well.
Meanwhile, the magic stones were getting more and more battered by the continued attacks from the forest.
Though I hesitated, I accelerated all at once the preparations I'd been gradually making.
I secretly gave books and maps to Gazy and the other slaves whose consciousness had returned, and began preparing to help them escape.
Rumors spread that the forest's wrath would fall on anyone who laid hands on a slave, and things progressed faster than I'd expected.
In the meantime, I began preparing to bring down the king. I couldn't afford to fail.
But, thinking about what would happen if I failed, I didn't ask Gazy and the others to help.
That day—the day I made my move to bring down the king.
Gazy and the others, who were supposed to have escaped, gathered around me as if it were only natural.
Even now, they go to various places, rallying the former slaves and helping me.
"Is something the matter?"
"No, it's nothing. I've received your report. Thank you for your hard work."
It seemed I'd gotten lost in memories without realizing it.
Gazy's voice brought me back to the present.
Reports had come in that the former slaves in the villages and towns Gazy had visited were relatively calm.
I was truly grateful.
"And what did you mean by, 'I think that's a good idea'?"
"That you should become king, Captain."
"No, surely there'd be opposition, wouldn't there?"
"There won't. They're already asking when you'll take the throne."
Thanks to my grandfather's diary, I knew about the forest and the beastfolk, so I hadn't treated them too cruelly.
Even so, there had been times when I'd taken slaves into the forest and couldn't bring them back.
I could say I was just following the king's orders, but...
"Give it up already."
Mizerost grinned.
Honestly, it pissed me off. He was acting like this had nothing to do with him.
Still, unless we chose a king soon, we wouldn't be able to set the country's course.
It was also a problem that we were leaving an opening for other countries.
"Sigh... The nobles will put up a lot of resistance."
"It can't be helped. That's just how it is."
A deep sigh escaped me.
Could I really become king...? Or Mizerost?
When I looked at Mizerost, he shook his head hard.
"No way. The knights and our supporters would oppose me. I can see myself getting killed."