We left the Healer’s Guild and headed for the Order’s Guild first.
At first, they refused to detain the Order’s Master, citing the reason that the Sub-Order’s Master had been captured. They even ordered the Orders to detain us, but by showing my license and exercising my authority as an O-Rank Order, I was finally able to apprehend him.
The moment that Order’s Master was taken away, cheers erupted from the Orders, which showed what a bad person he was.
After that, the Orders went out into the city under Yuri’s command to capture Jezal’s followers.
Of course, we also requested Chris’s escort.
Then we headed to the orphanage, but contrary to our expectations, it was quiet.
Fortunately, a hunter from the orphanage was on patrol, so it was lucky that we were able to explain the situation and have him guide us.
“I see, not only the Sub-Order’s Master, but the Order’s Master as well.”
Rest Ilsione, the Healer’s Master, a woman of marriageable age, looked down with a grave expression as she received our visit.
“Yes. My sister is now going to float to summon the Grand Order’s Master, so I think things will calm down by the end of today.”
According to Rest, who was looking after the orphans, Jezal had been targeting the orphanage itself.
Apparently, this orphanage was the former residence of the previous Order’s Master, who had appointed Jezal as Sub-Order’s Master. He had been forced to give it up due to his fall from grace.
The reason for the fall of the previous Order’s Master’s family, who had been a baronet family, was that his father, a trader, was discovered to be smuggling weapons and other goods to Retisencia. Fortunately, his family was proven to be uninvolved and was not punished.
Therefore, although his father was executed, the Order’s Master was able to register as an Order and even rise to the rank of Order’s Master.
The previous Order’s Master did not get along with his trader father, so he ran away from home at the age of 15, registered with the Order’s Guild at Float, and had served as an Order until now. It could be said that his appointment as Order’s Master of Memoria was the cause of all this.
He didn’t have any attachment to the mansion, but he seemed to be displeased that the orphans were using it. He dismissed the Sub-Order’s Master who didn’t obey him under some pretext, granted a Knightly Title to Jezal, who was a hunter, and simultaneously appointed him as Sub-Order’s Master, ordering him to make the orphanage unusable as a condition.
Furthermore, he succeeded in gaining Jezal’s allegiance by hinting at an engagement with Rika, but it was a violation to unilaterally grant a Knightly Title, and the dismissal and appointment of a Sub-Order’s Master were decided by headquarters. Dianos, who received a report from Marquis Frederica, came to Memoria, not only dismissing the Order’s Master but also expelling him from the Order’s Guild.
However, Jezal outwardly performed his duties as an Order properly. It was judged that there would be significant problems in maintaining public order if both the Order’s Master and Sub-Order’s Master were dismissed simultaneously, so he was merely warned about his past misconduct during his time as a hunter.
“But Jezal completely ignored that warning and did whatever he pleased in Memoria until now, right?”
“That’s right. For a while, for about a year, we kept quiet, but since Marquis Frederica’s marriage issue surfaced, he has been supporting delinquents in the town and sending them to various guilds, causing public disorder. Furthermore, the former Order’s Master who was expelled is acting as a ringleader for the delinquents, so those targeting the orphanage are not subject to punishment.”
“I see, the former Order’s Master was gathering delinquents. And for the selfish reason that he didn’t like the orphans using it, he targeted the orphanage?”
Yuri is really on the verge of exploding.
“What about the current Order’s Master?”
“His reputation is bad. Memoria has few dangerous monsters, and there are hardly any thieves. So he rarely does anything himself, leaving all the work to his subordinates.”
That’s also problematic.
“Does that mean he won’t take responsibility even if the Orders make a mistake?”
“Not only that, but I’ve heard that he blames his subordinates even for his own mistakes. The Sub-Order’s Master is doing as he pleases, so no one has any trust in him, and public order is being maintained by the instructions of the provincial governor, Elisabet.”
Ah, Rika’s mother.
I heard she was a B-rank Outside Order, so it’s not impossible for her to handle it. It seems that Chris was dispatched because a report from Rika’s mother arrived.
As for why nothing was done until things reached this point, in reality, reports had been made much earlier, but the use of birds had caused problems.
In other words, the bird was eaten by a monster on its way to Float.
That didn’t happen during the Feel incident, but it’s not uncommon for birds to be eaten by monsters, so it’s probably a matter of luck.
“Of course, we also commissioned reliable hunters to deliver letters to Float, and we guild masters also contacted Float, but it seems to have been postponed because the fact that Retisencia was targeting Feel was discovered right after.”
Ugh, that means it’s indirectly our fault.
Jezal began to move in earnest in July, which was when Rika was assigned as provincial governor to Feel.
He probably wanted to move at the same time as Rika’s appointment, but in spring, there is the felling and transportation of cherry trees, so not only traders but also many hunters who received escort requests become busy, and it’s not uncommon for Orders from headquarters to come. He probably couldn’t move until things settled down.
After all, this year, Mana was with Holy Grave, and Emperor Reinhardt, H.R.H. Elis, and H.R.H. Maruca came to Memoria with Trial Hearts, according to what he said.
Moreover, since they came at different times, if he had moved carelessly, he could have been punished on the spot.
He started to move in July, when transactions related to cherry trees calmed down, but that’s around the time I came to Helios Orb. At the end of the month, I even reported the current situation of Feel using Count Bismarck Ballman’s Wyvern, so it’s understandable that it would be given priority.
“Well, that makes me feel responsible in a way.”
“It’s not your fault, Yamato. Rather, because you were there, Feel was safe, wasn’t it?”
“That’s right. Rather, we are the problem, blinded by the magnitude of the situation and overlooking the problems in Memoria.”
That may be true, but this is a different matter.
Besides, critical situations haven’t occurred yet, so we should think about what to do next.
“I think so too. In fact, if the Feel incident had been left unattended, it could have led to the country splitting, not just war.”
“Understood. The first thing we need to do is deal with the former Order’s Master who is gathering delinquents…”
As Yuri was quickly summarizing what needed to be done, there was a sudden sound like something breaking.
What is it?
Let’s activate Sonar Wave and use it as a target to activate Dolphin Eye and see what’s happening.
“…I see, they’ve come to us.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can only guess, but it’s probably them.”
I don’t know if it’s the former Order’s Master, but there’s someone who clearly looks like the leader, so there’s a possibility.
“Oh? Did they come because we came to the orphanage?”
“Or maybe because they found out Jezal was captured?”
“Jezal. Both are possible, but it saves us the trouble of searching. Let’s capture them quickly.”
Both Ludia’s and Athena’s predictions are plausible, but considering they broke into the orphanage directly, Athena’s prediction seems closer.
I myself wouldn’t know about Yuri, of course.
“Here I go!”
Oh, they’ve already reached this far.
Well, he lived here originally, and if he was the Order’s Master, it’s not strange for him to know the interior of the orphanage.
Still, kicking down the door, what a rude thing to do.
“Recon Barklight!?”
“It’s been a while, old woman Rest.”
So it’s the former Order’s Master, Recon Barklight.
He was said to be a sincere Order member until he became the Order’s Master of Memoria, but as he is now, he looks like the boss of a bunch of thugs.
He should be a Level 45 High Human.
“W-what are you here for!?”
“What do you think? I heard Jezal was captured by the Order’s Guild, so I’m not going to hold back. Get out of this mansion immediately. And take those filthy brats with you!”
Recon said this with bloodshot eyes.
He might not have any attachment to the mansion, but he’s still displeased about it being used without his permission.
What brats is he talking about?
“I heard you were a sincere and skilled, fine Order in the past, but you’ve fallen low.”
“Huh? What do you know, kid!”
“It’s true that I’m not an adult yet. However, I have no reason to be spoken to so disrespectfully by a scoundrel like you. Lord Yamato, Ludia, Athena.”
“Okay.”
“Leave it to me!”
“Understood.”
Ludia, Athena, and I stand in front of Yuri and Rest to protect them.
“Oh? You want to fight me? Don’t get cocky, you brats! You guys, attack!”
The delinquents also drew their weapons, but this is inside the orphanage, and children could be taken hostage.
So I created Mirror Ring and activated the Earth-attribute A-rank wide-area-target magic, Yggdrasil.
It’s a magic circle of the World Tree type, like Niflheim and Vanaheim, but A-rank Earth Engraving Magic is often used in indoor battles.
The reason is that it can suppress damage by fixing the molecular structure.
Of course, the extent to which it can be fixed varies by caster, and it is an attribute that I am not good at.
However, I am an Ancient Human now, so I believe it will be quite effective even with an attribute I am not good at.
Furthermore, since it is a target-type magic, even if a child is taken hostage, it is possible to rescue them immediately.
“W-what is this guy!?”
“They’re light and slow! Here!”
“Gahhh!”
Ludia, who blocked the sword with her arm enhanced by Mana Ring and Ether Burst, unleashed a kick that sent the man flying.
However, nothing in the orphanage was broken, so Yggdrasil’s effect is clearly working.
“Hah, hah, hah!”
While I was checking if Yggdrasil was functioning properly, Ludia repeatedly punched and kicked the attacking men, sending them flying one after another.
She’s even kicking them while spinning like in a break dance.
“Hey, hey, save some for me, will you?”
I deployed Ice Sphere and used Accelerating Magic to send ice balls flying.
Although I’m holding back, every time an Ice Sphere hits, the men freeze, so it’s troublesome to be careful not to shatter them.
“Y-you brats too, why do you have such power!”
“Why, you ask? I don’t really know either, do I!”
A man aimed his spear at Athena, but Athena, holding the spear shaft with one hand, didn’t budge and took the spear, then used the butt to send him flying.
Oh, some people got caught up and were crushed under the man who was sent flying.
While it’s the strength of a Hydragonian, it’s also influenced by the Dragon Resonance Contract with me. Eos mentioned that Physickling and Manalring are further enhanced, which I recall now.
“W-what… what are you guys!?”
“I could tell you, but it would only bring you despair.”
Yuri looks at Recon with a cold gaze.
If he knew Yuri’s true identity, it would indeed only bring despair.
Normally, he would reveal his identity first, but this time he is prioritizing beating him up, which shows how strong Yuri’s anger is.
“Here.”
“Yes.”
Ludia and Athena threw their licenses ahead of Yuri and me.
I can retrieve them with my Telekinetic Magic, and Athena can also use Telekinetic Magic, but I’ve done it often myself, so I can’t say anything.
“Im-impossible! Level 57 and 47!?”
“Let me tell you, we’re not that great, right, Yamato?”
Ludia throws the question to me, but that’s not true.
I give a wry smile and take out my license, throwing it in the same way.
“What!?”
“That’s why I said it. There is only despair for you.”
As if to deliver the finishing blow, Yuri throws his Healer’s License.
“Th-the Third… Princess!?”
“Even though we met when I was appointed Order’s Master, why didn’t you recognize me? Honestly, I find it hard to understand.”
The appointment of Order’s Master and Sub-Order’s Master takes place at Float.
At that time, one meets with the Grand Order’s Master and Associate Order’s Master, as well as members of the Royal Family, so there is no reason why Recon would not know Yuri’s face.
Yet, he didn’t realize it until Yuri presented his license, so it’s understandable that he’s saying this.
“Unlawful entry and attempted assault on royalty. These alone are serious crimes, but you have many more offenses. The investigation will be left to the Order’s Guild, but consider capital punishment decided.”
Condemned by Yuri, Recon sinks to his knees with a look of despair, but it seems he didn’t understand the gravity of the crimes he committed. However, as long as he is conscious, we don’t know what he might do, so I activate Shock Flow to take Recon’s consciousness and then restrain him firmly with Lightning Band and Arresting.
