Chapter 92: Criminal investigation using dowsing method doesn’t exist

Chapter 92: Criminal investigation using dowsing method doesn’t exist

Becht directs a sharp gaze at me but leaves the commander’s office without doing anything more.

「He still hates me.」

「I’ll plead his case. He certainly discriminates against the common populace but he properly comprehends noblesse oblige. If need be, he’s prepared to lay down his life for the country. Besides, Becht is very competent not only as a warrior but also as a mediator for the nobility. Our Genryuu Knights’ vague role as the versatile unit is in no small part, due to his negotiating skills. Thanks to him, we can move smoothly without being involved in troublesome factional strife.」

「Sounds to me that you’re not very good at those things.」

Real has a flexible mind and her head isn’t bad per se. She’s capable of reading the surface and also between the lines but at her roots, she’s too straightforward.

「………Hearing that directly makes me slightly grieve but it’s an undeniable fact, so I can’t deny it.」

Real is a little miffed after hearing my straight ball commentary.

Still, from her words, Becht is probably not the foolish sort of noble who would act upon his arrogance towards commoners.

As I got up from the sofa…

「I’ll be going now. You don’t have any problem with me walking around the city, do you?」

「True. However, I am supposed to keep you in our custody. I don’t intend to restrain you more than necessary but I’m going to have you show up here regularly. If there is anything, I’ll contact you through Lydeal-sama via Miss Cindy.」

「Sure.」

In Real’s hand is the new instruction brought by Becht. She still has a job to do and since I’m a nuisance, I reach for the doorknob to leave the room.

「………Sorry, Kanna. Hold on from leaving.」

Before I can open it, she told me to wait. Looking back, Real isn’t looking at me. Instead, she’s scanning the document Becht delivered with a serious gaze.

Hmm?

This work is hosted on mananovel.com

Despite being puzzled, I approach her desk. Considering the situation, she was reading the document when she told me to stay.

「First, take a look.」

「………I’m an outsider though.」

Although I’m currently in the custody of the Genryuu Knight, this and that is a different matter. I reflexively avert my eyes from the presented document.

「As far as [this] is concerned, you can’t claim to be an [unrelated party].」

「Won’t there be a problem with top secret information or some such?」

「Don’t worry. It won’t be a problem as long as you don’t divulge anything.」

Although I wanted to reaffirm if her [don’t worry] has the same definition as the one used in the dictionary, I received the document from her and scan over it.

ーーーIn welcoming the daughter of a count, Falmarias Alnabeth as a state guest, her escort duty are assigned to the Genryuu Knights.

That’s the gist of it. Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

When I raise my head from the document, Real has the face of someone with a swirling thought. If I could look at my face in the mirror, I bet similar look would be pasted on it.

「………At this timing, moreover with this name huh.」

「Falmarias is without a doubt Miss Faima.」

I return the document to Real.

「Is it a coincidence that Faima’s escort mission came to you?」

「Perhaps. The upper brass should not be privy to the personal connection between me and Miss Faima. Ultimately, this is no more than an order given to the Genryuu Knights.」

I heard that the strength of the Genryuu Knight is the ability to act quickly in the event of an emergency.

「Is the role of an escort also included in your versatility?」

「In a broad sense, more or less. However, we have only been on guard duties for facilities, ceremonies and festivals. We’ve never been entrusted with personal protection. The Steel Dragon Knights should be more suitable for guarding dignitaries………」

「This Steel Dragon Knights, are they the ones who chucked me into jail?」

「Don’t phrase it like that. They merely obeyed their given duty faithfully.」

Certainly, there was almost no ill will or feeling of malice from the leader and the rest of his armored guys.

The sole exception was the one who pricked my back. Compared to the rest, he feels more youthful and radiated clear hostility. I’ll make sure to sock him later.

「It’s just that, the commander of the Knights of Steel Dragon is famous for his seriousness, for better or worse. The serpents inside the military loathe him. Well, same could be said to the Genryuu Knights.」(real)

「I told you earlier that our smooth sailing is thanks to Becht. Inside the military, the mindset of treating [jurisdiction] as something close to a territory exist. There are those who are not comfortable with us jumping over it and moving around.」(real)

It is often seen in drama depictions that the real world police also have territory over jurisdiction and it’s not easy for the HQ to disregard this and mobilize them freely. Trouble always happens at the crime scene if they do.

「If Becht hadn’t done a good job of being an intermediary, our knight order might have been ostracized by now.」

The more I listen, the more competent Becht becomes. Does ikemen equals to a competent officer?

Gimme some of that ikemen factor. Just a bit is fine.

「Makes me wonder, won’t this order be a direct hit to the pride of the Steel Dragon Knights?」

「There is no problem on that part. The commander of the Steel Dragon Knights is certainly a straightforward person but he is flexible in dealing with his duties. If need be, he will not hesitate to request assistance from other knight order.」

A straight-laced person who is also flexible according to the situation. I wonder if he’s an ikemen. Probably an ikemen.

「Going back to our topic, what do you think of this mission?」

「You’re asking me? Someone with no military experience?」

「Even so, I want to hear your opinion.」

「Let’s see………From the viewpoint of an ordinary person, I think it’s going to be very troublesome.」

Instead of the specialist unit for guarding important people, they’re taking a roundabout method to rope in the versatile unit.

「I have the same feeling. We have a general grasp about the know-how of personal protection but in terms of experience, we can’t hold a candle to the Steel Dragon Knights.」

「They’re leaving it to the Genryuu Knights, so isn’t it flexible response that they’re looking for?」

「Still, the Steel Dragon Knights have a higher degree of proficiency for any unlikely event.」

I’m running out of ideas as to why the Genryuu Knights are entrusted to be Faima’s bodyguard detail.

That said, allow me to show the experience of a light novel reader cultivated back on earth.

「I got no basis to lay this on but how about the pattern where someone’s scheme is involved in this?」

「………Hmm.」

Instead of being exasperated after hearing my noncommittal words, Real is pondering while putting her hand on her chin.

…………

…………………Eh?

「H-Hold yer horses there. That just now was a complete guesswork. It ain’t meant to be taken seriously.」

「Ah no, what you said was the very first thing that came to mind.」

「………Hey, can it be that the Genryuu Knights are really a black sheep?」

All of a sudden, the strong stench of a conspiracy is stimulating my nose. Seeing my cramped up face, Real lightly shrugs her shoulder.

「No matter the organization, each one will have somebody alienated.In fact, this knight order and me personally have been forced into troublesome situation with the aim of defaming us. Well, once I identified the mastermind behind that affair, I made sure to properly pay them their due.」

I’m a lil’ curious whether it was a legal measure or something more physical. ⚔️

「………They are properly punished through legal measures. I think it’s high time for us to have an hour long talk about your recent assessment of me.」

《lol song ‘face can be read’ shuhang. ops wrong novel :P》

Oops, did it show on my face?

Well, if you’re going wild on the battlefield while swinging around that big-ass weapon, anyone will arrive at the same conclusion.

「Geez……… That is not the reason why all of the attempt to cause our downfall did not go beyond the realm of possibilities. Truthfully, every knight order has their hands full. They were cornered so much that even our knight order had to be roped in.」

A good example of it would be the case at the mine where I was dragged into. At the time, it was only Real’s knight order that could mobilize swiftly.

At the moment, a conspiracy is just one of the possibilities and we couldn’t delve into it any further.

「So, in the end, what’ll you do about this mission?」

「This is an official order from the top. Unless we have a clear reason, as part of the army, the knights have no right of veto.」

Though she said that, Real’s expression is a bit grim. As the head of a unit leading a number of people that could not be referred to as small-scale by any means, she has a lot to take into consideration.

Real continued brooding for a while when suddenly, her visage changed into one struck by an idea.

And then, my gaze which were aimed at her matched perfectly with hers.

「………Come to think of it, you’ve already become a C-rank adventurer, haven’t you?」

「Well………was a matter of course? Forced development?」

「Why is it a question…………?」

Well, y’know, I was half coerced into it by the intimidation of a former S-rank. While I’m at it, I also had the terrible experience of getting my arm sliced off by an active A-rank. That promotion wasn’t on my own accord, to say the least.

「But at least requests concerning [escort] are cleared now.」(real)

「That’s true.」

「In that case, I entrust this matter to you. I would like you to participate as an external collaborator in the escort mission of the young lady Falmarias Alnabeth.」

………………………………………………………………。

……………………………

……………

……

「………No, hangonwaitaminute. Let’s calm down first.」

「I am calm though.」

「Even more so. What in the blazes were you thinking that leads to an outsider like me joining the mission?」

「It doesn’t mean I’m being whimsical.」

Real takes out a document I recognize from her desk drawer and began to fill it out with black ink. It’s a request form that is also used in the Adventurer’s Guild.

「The commander of each knight order has the authority to employ outside collaborator from the public at their own discretion and of course, member’s of the adventurer’s guild are also included within the [public]. On this occasion, as the leader of Genryuu Knights, I’m going to commission a personal request for Kanna (you) through the guild. To the public it will appear to be as such.」

「Wait, I never even heard about that arrangement whatsitsname. If you’re gonna make a request anyway, hire a B-ranked expert. Better yet, an A-rank.」

I’m not skilled enough to shoulder such a difficult role to eliminate enemies while protecting someone.

「First of all, you are much more reliable than the other adventurers. In particular is your ability to act in an unforeseen situation. As far as I know, you’re the best. From the standpoint of preparing for a surprise attack, there are none better than you. Besides, I won’t have to worry about betrayal if it’s you.」

「In other words, I’m an insurance against any unlikely happenings, is it? But I’m not yet cleared from the charges of attempting to kidnap an ojou-sama. Would it be possible to employ such a suspicious person?」

「I’ll deal with it from my side. Although she’s from a different organization, if the guild master Lydeal-sama and a knight leader (me) vouch for you, things will work out one way or the other.」

Ah, it’s the same face Ayana makes when she’s concocting her sinister design. Her [one way or another] probably will put a nail on the lid.

「In addition, I’m sure Miss Faima is currently anxious about your situation.」

Saying that, Real rotated the document she had filled and presented it to me alongside a brush.

「Now, all it needs is for you to write your name on the acceptee column and the contract is complete.」

「………I’ll be careful but I don’t know what’s gonna happen.」

I couldn’t exactly predict what would happen, so I can’t help but to say that. Real nod satisfactorily to my words and seeing her so, I resolve myself and sign it.