Behind the Road

In Lucifar's room at the First Knight Order's headquarters, his aides, including Hinov, had gathered. Everyone wore grim expressions—except Lucifar, who sat at the front.

One of them, Sharis, asked Lucifar, "Are you really all right with this?"

"What do you mean?"

Lucifar deliberately asked.

"Of course, I'm talking about the road ceremony. The king is going to attend, yet instead of us, his royal guard, the Tenth Knight Order and the like are pushing themselves forward."

At Sharis's words, Lucifar calmly replied, "It is Zackhart-sama's request. It can't be helped, can it?" But Sharis was not convinced.

"Even if it is Zackhart-sama's request, has he mistaken us for children left behind to mind the house or something?!"

Lucifar narrowed his eyes as he gazed at Sharis, who had let his tone grow sharp. Sharis was the youngest among them. For better or worse, he was frank and straightforward.

.... Perhaps I should eliminate him.

By ordinary standards, Sharis had a pleasant personality, but depending on the circumstances, he might become an obstacle to the plan.

But Lucifar kept those thoughts hidden and gently admonished Sharis with a smile.

"I hear that the old man adopted a young girl despite his age. That girl is in the Tenth Knight Order. At this stage of his life, the old man must be seeking human companionship. In that case, let us give him a memory to cherish in his twilight years."

The other aides laughed at Lucifar's lighthearted remark. Sharis still looked dissatisfied, but he said nothing more.

Yes, a memory for his remaining years.

It was not only Zackhart. King Zeurasia, Raiz—all of them. They would all become fleeting memories, like candles just before they burned out.

I suppose I could allow them that much.

Lucifar had already lost interest in the ceremony. Quietly, he began plotting how to eliminate Sharis.

〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜

"Lufa! You came!"

"Father Zack!"

Zackhart-sama picked Lufa up and spun around with her, laughing merrily. It was a familiar sight to us, but those seeing it for the first time were left dumbfounded.

King Zeurasia looked down, his shoulders shaking.

"What is it? Is there something you wish to say?"

Overwhelmed by Zackhart-sama's imposing aura, the first-time onlookers shook their heads vigorously. Unable to hold back any longer, King Zeurasia began laughing aloud.

"I never thought I would get to see Zackhart like this. I had heard about it, but going to the trouble of bringing the Tenth Knight Order here was worth it after all."

Whenever King Zeurasia left the royal capital, the First Knight Order, as his royal guard, was naturally supposed to escort him. Yet this time, the king had designated the Tenth Knight Order instead. Even though Zackhart-sama had requested it, this would normally have been unthinkable.

And to make matters worse, the reason King Zeurasia had insisted on it was that he wanted to watch Zackhart-sama interact with Lufa.

"Your Majesty, if you carry this jest too far, my thunder will strike again," Zackhart-sama warned ominously. But King Zeurasia laughed and retorted, "But you were the one who requested this, Zackhart, weren't you?" Zackhart-sama was left speechless.

Putting that silly exchange aside, the highway was unquestionably complete.

We had actually traveled from the royal capital to Gadeland along the new highway, and it was more comfortable than I had imagined. The king, riding in the carriage, was delighted as well.

Though the highway's effects would not show up in the statistics for some time, road construction throughout the country would be promoted before long.

Of course, that was only if Rudek survived.

The ceremony ended amid great fanfare.

It was striking that the loudest cheers came not from the people of Gadeland, but from merchants of the Southern Continent coming and going through the port.

If Lururia's words were true, the Southern Continent was further ahead in road development than our own. The Southern Continent's merchants seemed to have been deeply dissatisfied with the poor state of the roads in our country.

King Zeurasia looked satisfied by the cheers.

And so, Rudectrad and Gadeland were connected by a broad, well-maintained highway.

The ceremony ended without incident, and we returned to the royal capital in high spirits.

〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜

A few days after the opening ceremony.

In a room in a certain mansion far from Gadeland.

"Prince Zeland is undergoing the royal ritual?"

"Yes. Apparently so."

It was Hinov who had brought the information to the master of the mansion.

"Why have you brought me this information?"

The richly dressed figure's sunken eyes held a hint of madness as Hinov answered with an amiable smile.

"Of course. Because we wish to support Prince Ural as well."

"When you say 'we,' do you mean your master?"

Hinov did not answer. He merely gazed at the figure with a smile.

"Very well. In any case, if things continue like this, our situation will only worsen. Thank you for the valuable information."

"Not at all. Please forgive me for troubling your ears with this, Sembria-sama."

"... You may go."

At those words, Hinov bowed deeply. His dark smile remained hidden from Sembria.