The Imperial Army's Knight Order

The next day.

I immediately decided to ask an expert about the operation we'd devised this time.

"That's a very Al-like plan."

"You think so? It's a pretty good plan, isn't it?"

"Yes. The fact that you'd calmly consider a surprise attack under the guise of a diplomatic mission is very Al-like."

I grimaced at Elna's candid expert assessment.

It was true that I was no believer in chivalry.

Sending a surprise attack force under the guise of an envoy was, in a sense, the height of cowardice.

But if it meant fewer casualties, we had to do it.

"But it's effective, isn't it?"

"That's true. But I don't think it can possibly succeed as it is."

Elna said so flatly.

Elna had traveled to various places as an Imperial Guard knight. In the course of her work, she had probably been to Vymme, the South's largest city and Duke Kruger's stronghold.

If Elna said it couldn't succeed, Vymme must be that heavily fortified.

"Is Vymme heavily fortified?"

"I don't think the outer walls will be a problem; we can get past them by posing as envoys. The problem is the castle within. It's large, and its interior is labyrinthine. Its complicated layout will make reaching the upper levels difficult."

"So we need a map of the interior..."

"Yes. Without one, we can't even begin. And that's assuming we have a map..."

Elna paused, then looked at me.

Her emerald eyes gleamed meaningfully. Then she pointed to herself and smiled brightly.

"If I went, it would be a sure thing, wouldn't it?"

"There isn't a castle anywhere on the continent that would open its gates if it knew you were there..."

"Think of something. A disguise, perhaps."

"Would a disguise alone fool them? A magic potion might let us pull it off, but... For now, help me think of something without you."

"I could flatten the castle with the Holy Sword in one blow."

"Having the House of the Brave Marquis pretend to be envoys and launch a surprise attack would be terrible for our reputation..."

The House of the Brave Marquis should only use its power outside the Empire. Otherwise, fear would spread throughout the Empire. In time, that could lead to a massive rift.

If it was possible to avoid using the House of the Brave Marquis, we were better off not using it.

"Besides, if you went south, you wouldn't be available to deploy to the border in an emergency."

"You want me to stay here as a deterrent against other countries?"

"Some countries might make a move if tensions over the civil war rise."

"Well, if that's what you say, I'll help you think of something that doesn't involve me."

Saying that, Elna rested a hand on her chin and fell into thought for a while.

Then she nodded several times and held up two fingers.

"There are only two units with any chance of making this operation succeed."

"I can guess one of them."

"Of course. The Imperial Guard, as you know. But that's out, right?"

"Duke Kruger is the Fifth Consort's brother. He's visited the Imperial Capital many times, so he knows the members of the Imperial Guard well. If he saw a familiar face, he wouldn't let us in."

"I agree. Which leaves only one, but..."

Elna pulled a sour face.

What was it? She looked as though she really didn't want to say it. That was an unusual expression for Elna.

"What's wrong?"

"Honestly, I don't really recommend them."

"Even so, tell me."

"Sigh... It's your own fault for letting Prince Gordon take the letter from you, Al. Why am I the one who has to worry about you...?"

Elna glared at me resentfully.

I blinked several times at the sudden complaint.

What was wrong with her?

"Are you angry?"

"I'm not angry. I'm exasperated. You could have just called me, and that would have been the end of it..."

"As if I could have called you..."

"You could at least have told me. When I heard later that you and Leo had gone to a place crawling with assassins, I nearly collapsed. And your only guards were Sebas and that bear? What were you thinking?"

"You would've come if I'd told you, right?"

"Of course I would have."

That's why I didn't tell you.

With that, Elna snorted and turned away.

I hadn't expected her to get upset over this.

I knew I'd done wrong, but calling her would undoubtedly create another source of trouble.

"I'm sorry... I'll be more careful next time. This incident was also a failure born of my own poor judgment. So lend me your wisdom."

"...I'll help from now on, too. I want you to agree to that."

"Help me...?"

"Of course, as long as it doesn't inconvenience me. Waiting at home for your report doesn't suit me after all."

Saying that, Elna looked me straight in the eye.

Elna was formidable. But like Silver, she had many restrictions.

Well, she probably understood that herself, so all I could do was nod.

"As long as it doesn't cause any problems, all right?"

"Of course. Then it's settled."

Elna smiled happily as she said that.

The fact that Elna had offered meant she had something she could do—or someone she could ask for help.

However, I couldn't think of any unit besides the Imperial Guard. That meant this was a unit that kept an extremely low profile. Convenient, but for such a capable unit to go unnoticed, there had to be a reason.

"They're inferior to the Imperial Guard, but they're probably better at infiltrating than the Imperial Guard. You may have heard the name, at least, Al. The only knight order in the Imperial Army: the Nelve Ritter."

"!? The Scarred Knights...!"

Of course I knew the name.

The Nelve Ritter were the only independent unit within the Imperial Army recognized as a knight order.

Every one of them was a former knight.

The reason these former knights were in the Imperial Army was tied to their pasts.

"Knights who, for various reasons, exposed their own lords' wrongdoing—and sometimes even cut them down. They chose justice over loyalty, and so lost their place in the world. They carried the crests of the lords they had served with scars carved into them, and were called the Scarred Knights."

"I hear it was formed as a place for knights like that—knights who corrected their lords' wrongdoing and upheld justice, but whom few nobles would take in after they'd once betrayed their lords."

People may praise them as knights of justice, but no one wants to keep one at their side. In fact, very few nobles are confident enough in themselves to do so. Few are completely upright, and even those who are sometimes have to act against their principles.

But if a noble took one in, the knight might cut that noble down the moment that noble acted against those principles. It was only a possibility; the knights weren't completely inflexible. But the mere possibility was enough to keep nobles from taking them in.

"Yes, that's exactly right. I once went to train them in swordsmanship, and they trained incredibly hard. Their skill was high, and many were seasoned fighters. They're probably among the Imperial Army's top three elite forces. On top of that, they don't belong to any faction."

Elna's answer was close to perfect.

But she probably didn't recommend them because of their past.

"Are you saying it'd be too dangerous to send them on a mission into enemy territory and entrust them with guarding a prince?"

"That's part of it, but... When you're operating in enemy territory, it's hard unless you can truly trust your comrades. They have strong personalities. Unless you win their trust completely, I think they'll do things their own way."

"A coordination problem?"

"I'm sure they'd guard the prince if ordered to, but if they aren't willing to undertake the mission themselves, I don't think this plan will work."

So the ideal would be for them to join in of their own accord, rather than simply act on orders.

It was a difficult proposition. The mission was too dangerous to begin with.

Building trust was the most important thing.

"Should I send Leo to persuade them...?"

"Hmm... I don't think that would work. Leo would be very appealing to a straightforward knight, but they aren't necessarily that kind of knight."

"Then what should I do?"

"You'll do what Leo can't, right, Al?"

Elna said that as if it were obvious.

Wait, what? No way. Me, convincing them? Former knights who clearly looked difficult to handle?

"No, that sounds too much for me..."

"It'll be fine. I'll go with you, too. This is only my opinion, but I think you'll have an easier time winning their trust than Leo would. If you win their trust and ask them to protect your little brother, I'm sure they'll cooperate."

Elna said it with a breezy smile.

I asked, my cheek twitching.

"And what's your basis for that?"

"Oh? You didn't know? I'm a former knight, too. I think you're the better choice—that's my basis."

Thinking that was quite a basis, I had no choice but to let out a deep sigh.