Subaru Natsuki, who returned from the new Three Kingdoms

Page 210

Beneath that outer shell, there was only a body that would repeat the so-called duties of a knight.

Wilhelm stood at a distance and watched for a while.

The alertness that had been lifted by Subaru's clues sank again upon seeing the red figure.

He had intended to go around the other side of the street to avoid running into Reinhard at this time.

But the other person's repeated actions along the street, and the hint of panic in their eyes when they stopped, made him unable to move.

The residents of the capital still see the swordsman who protects the city.

But what Wilhelm saw was a child who dared not stop.

If he stops walking, that chaotic night will catch up with him again, forcing him to confront the choices he made with his own hands.

Before being taken to prison, Natsuki Subaru was still smiling at him, defusing the situation where the grandfather and grandson were about to draw their swords against each other with absurd words.

[Later, the truth about the assassination became clear.]

Reinhard remained trapped in his "duty as a swordsman," rigidly insisting that his actions against his friend were not wrong to some extent.

[Until I learned that because of his one wrong move, Natsuki Subaru was taken away by that organization and has been missing ever since...]

Having witnessed all of this firsthand, Wilhelm understood the source of this pain.

Disowning even one's own family...

Invincible...

Reinhard could block the swords falling from the capital, but he couldn't bring back the people he had already hurt.

He could only alleviate his inner pain in his own way.

Using a more mechanical and paranoid approach than before...

Wilhelm had originally planned to just walk right past him.

Blaming him for what happened ten years ago is too late, and I can't bring myself to comfort him.

If it weren't for the deep-seated hatred for Theresa weighing on his heart, Wilhelm might have chosen to express his feelings to Reinhard by wielding his sword.

But his hatred for the beluga whale had already consumed almost half of his life.

Grandson or something...

We can only pretend these things never happened...

That's what I think.

But as that splash of red swept past his eyes, the old swordsman ultimately couldn't take away that silence.

Theresa...

Wilhelm eventually stopped behind Reinhard.

He raised his hand and patted his grandson's shoulder from behind.

Reinhard's body tensed up as he felt the dragon sword pulsating. A look of surprise flashed in his eyes, but when he turned around and saw that it was his grandfather, his expression darkened again.

"Grandpa."

He put on a polite smile again and bowed slightly.

Wilhelm did not respond to the courtesy, but simply said:

“I’m on my way to Anastasia’s Chamber of Commerce.”

When he said the first part of the sentence, Reinhard was still expressionless.

"We've found a lead on Subaru."

But after the second half of the sentence was uttered, the red-haired youth's pupils suddenly contracted.

"really?"

He leaned forward half a step, his voice breaking from its previous calm.

"Is there really any trace of Subaru?"

Reinhard realized his lapse in composure as soon as the words left his mouth. He straightened up and put on his gentle smile again.

This time, the smile didn't just stay at the corners of her mouth.

Wilhelm saw those eyes finally light up, and the pent-up frustration in his chest eased a little.

Although he still had that annoying look, at least this time, there was genuine emotion in his smile.

“It’s not fully confirmed yet,” Wilhelm said. “We need to take it back to the palace for Lord Crusch to examine.”

After saying that, he turned around and continued walking forward.

That's the limit of Wilhelm's emotional intelligence.

He did not extend an invitation to Reinhard, nor did he offer any further explanation.

But the footsteps behind them quickly caught up.

Reinhard followed behind him as expected.

As Wilhelm listened to the approaching footsteps, his fingers slowly loosened their grip on his sword, and his usually meticulous smile relaxed slightly.

He didn't turn around.

When the two arrived at the Hexin Chamber of Commerce, the entrance was already crowded with people.

Mercenaries, guild employees, and knights who had rushed over upon hearing the news crowded around the stone steps, their urgent voices mingling together.

"Has the healer arrived?"

"The president is still not awake?"

"Why is there a sealing array on the president's fox cloak?"

"We've searched the back door and the roof, but we haven't found out who sent the commander back!"

Wilhelm pushed through the crowd and saw Julius standing at the bottom of the steps.

And Anastasia, lying beside him, her face streaked with tears, clutching a knight's sword.

“Reinhard? And… Lord Wilhelm…”

When Julius saw Reinhard, his eyes lit up, but when he saw Wilhelm, his gaze clearly turned to scrutiny and examination.

At the same time, his eyes reflected the exhaustion of a sleepless night and his anxiety for Anna's safety.

Ordinary people don't have Subaru's calmness in the face of life and death; even Julius couldn't do it.

After learning he wouldn't die last night, Julius was so excited he couldn't sleep all night.

She wanted to immediately tell Anna and the newly acquainted Freuger about her good fortune.

But considering it was so late, he got up early this morning to come over.

Unexpectedly, this is what I saw when I arrived.

What happened here?

Julius glanced at Wilhelm, and, still trusting Reinhard, said:

"Commander Ricardo said that Lady Anna was kidnapped by thieves last night. When the members of the merchant guild were searching for her, they found her suddenly appearing at the guild's gate. Who brought her back?"

Wilhelm's brows furrowed, and the perceptive veteran naturally noticed the wariness in Julius's eyes.

Is he doubting me? No, he's doubting Lord Crusch.

This is normal, since rumors are circulating throughout the capital that Lord Crusch is about to target the other candidates for the throne so that he can ascend to the throne openly and legitimately.

Wilhelm knew that Lady Crusch would not do such a thing.

So who exactly targeted the candidates for the Wang election?

Is the intention to smear Crusch-sama's ongoing purge and create obstacles?

Was it a counterattack by someone from the organization that replaced the kingdom's top brass?

Wilhelm was interrupted by Julius's words before he could finish his thought.

"Lord Wilhelm, Reinhard, what brings you here?"

Wilhelm didn't voice his question; he simply shook his head.

"It's for the accountant at the Anastasia Merchant Guild, namely... Freugel."

Julius paused for a moment.

"Flugel?"

The name reminded Julius that he had been so worried about Lady Anna's condition that he had completely forgotten about it.

Why haven't I seen Freuger all this time?

Didn't he claim to be even more loyal to Lady Anna than I was?

Why can I only see the sword I entrusted to him yesterday in Lady Anna's arms, but not him himself?

"Commander Ricardo?"

Julius called out loudly to Ricardo Wilkins.

The tall werewolf-like demi-human was standing at the door directing his men when he heard the call and hurried over.

"Commander Ricardo, where is Friguel?"

"I don't know either." Ricardo scratched his head, looking confused and a little annoyed.

“I saw him come out of the room this morning. He came to help look for me, but he ignored me.”

He muttered a couple of words before leaving on his own.

"Words? What did he say?"

Julius stroked his chin, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"I was busy looking for the chairman at the time, so I didn't listen to the details."

Ricardo frowned, trying to recall, "He seemed to mutter something like 'a person's duty ends when they are in office,' and also something about guarding his post until the very end..."

He stopped abruptly at this point.

Ricardo looked up at the stone steps of the Chamber of Commerce, his eyes widening.

"and many more."

"The chairman suddenly returned long after Freuger left in the morning."

He turned to look at Anastasia, who was surrounded by people.

"Could it be that Friguel saved the president?"

Once this conjecture arose, it quickly took hold in Ricardo's mind.

When Flügel left, he was still carrying Julius's sword.

But now the sword is in Anastasia's arms!

“It must be him.” Ricardo clapped his hands. “Besides him, I can’t think of anyone else who could have brought the chairman back.”

"I never expected this kid to be so talented! He's not only good at math, but he also has this other skill!"

"No wonder Lady Anna has been paying so much attention to him lately, and even told me to spoil him and not let him drink."