The next day, we began our journey. Sofia and I used Movement Magic, but the problem was Richard—

Well, I’ll make sure not to bother you two.

He said that… and in the few days he spent Information Gathering, he created a Monster like a Griffin.

It was Jet Black. Created to avoid drawing attention, it could only carry Richard, but it became a means of transportation with sufficient speed.

For now, a means of transportation has been secured, so we head straight to where the Rebel Organization is located. In terms of the Continent, it’s in the South Eastern Region. It’s outside the Emperor’s Direct Domain, within the territory of the Four Dragon Marquises.

What about the Army’s travel speed?

Sofia asked on the way. I contacted my Familiar and—

Since they’re advancing from the center, they’re definitely slower than us. We’ll want to get a lot done before they arrive.

First, whether we can even get into the Rebel Organization.

Richard said. I nodded and,

If we ask to be let in directly, they probably won’t trust us… So, let’s infiltrate the Town that serves as their Book base and observe the situation.

“Lord Ruon, are you going to look for the Protagonist?”

“Yes… and even if I tell the Rebel Organization that the enemy is coming, they probably won’t believe me. The method is a bit questionable, but I have no choice but to use the Enemy Army.”

“Use them?”

I smiled at Sofia, who had asked again.

“To put it simply, it means we will repel the enemy with our own power.”

“I see, with your abilities, Ruon, it wouldn’t be too difficult to defeat the enemy. And you’ll use that to infiltrate the organization.”

Richard had a look of understanding… As he said, it seems like we can manage that part of the plan no matter what.

“…Sofia, just to confirm.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t think anyone will find out that you are the Princess of Barukusu Kingdom unless we tell them.”

“That’s right. I haven’t met anyone from this Nation myself, so I don’t think it will be a problem.”

“Understood. We’ll avoid talking about that.”

“Yes.”

“Alright…” Just then, Richard asked me a question.

“Ruon, am I being counted as a combatant?”

“…If you can control a large number of Monsters, that will increase our fighting power. The Rebel Organization is in a dire situation. I think Richard’s help is invaluable.”

“I hope they don’t fear me.”

Richard shrugged his shoulders with a teasing remark.

“So, Ruon. Once we get into the Town where the organization is, are we going to observe for a while?”

“That’s the plan… well, I at least want to find the Protagonist and the leader.”

“I see… Oh, and Ruon. Just to confirm, is the Extermination Army specifically targeting the Rebel Organization?”

“No, judging from what they’re doing now, they might be planning to burn down the entire Town.”

“So they’re going to destroy everyone equally, even those who are merely suspected?”

“Yes. I’m sure of that.”

“All the more reason we must fight.”

Sofia said forcefully… I agreed, and we hurried on together.

I would have liked to procure a Weapon if possible, but currently, I only have enough funds for travel expenses, so I had to give up on that. Things that can stand against the Four Dragon Marquises are still expensive… so it seems I have no choice but to give up on this battle.

Well, if the Magical Compatibility is right, I can use it, so in the worst case, I could borrow someone’s Weapon… We continued our journey while I thought about various things.

Eventually, we arrived at a Town without any particular obstacles—its name was Puorite. The Town was of a decent size, but since it wasn’t on a trade route, the number of traveling merchants walking through the Town was small.

The Town did have City Walls, albeit short ones, but it honestly wasn’t a place where a defensive battle could be fought. Even if the Rebel Organization received information about the Army’s invasion and prepared for it… it would be difficult to counter them in both numbers and quality.

“You two, arrange for an inn.”

Richard responded to my words with, “Leave it to me,” and left. I, left alone, began to walk through the Town.

I had already investigated the Town’s situation using my Familiar. The effects of oppression were evident here too, and the people’s expressions were grim.

Furthermore, the people of the Town would soon be trampled by the Imperial Army without understanding why… There must be some who cooperate with the Rebel Organization, but not all. For those people, it would be utterly unreasonable.

“I definitely have to stop such atrocities.”

If I have to fight… even if I have to face the Four Dragon Marquises, I can handle it. I can’t defeat them, but I can stop them, so there are many ways to go about it.

So, what kind of actions is the Rebel Organization taking… I’m walking around now, hoping to find that out. Currently, the situation deviates from the Story, but I would like to investigate what’s happening within the Rebel Organization if possible.

As far as I investigated with my Familiar, I couldn’t confirm Yusuka’s presence… Well then.

I entered a Tavern on the Town street. It was open during the day, and there were a few people inside. Sometimes, a member of the Rebel Organization… or rather, the leader, is in this place—

“Ah…”

At the counter in the back of the establishment. There was the person I had been looking for.

She was probably waiting for someone at the Tavern… Her beautifully styled blonde hair was so out of place in this Tavern that I could sense her elegance just from her back. Even her sitting posture was out of place, giving the impression that she was a Noble.

The truth is, he is a Knight—no, a former Knight, so that’s not entirely wrong.

His name is Abel Fontias. He leads the Rebel Organization ‘Sword of Heaven,’ to which Yusuka belongs, and is one of three people who possess the Qualification to become Emperor.

Being handsome, a leader, intelligent, and skilled with a sword, it’s almost impossible to find any flaws in him. However, his adeptness at navigating the world must have backfired. Nefmeiza took notice of him, and realizing this, he left the Knights. Afterward, he formed the organization due to the Emperor’s rampage.

In the Story, he gathered considerable public support, and thanks to the achievements of Yusuka and others, he was almost deified. He possessed enough charisma, a crucial element in forming an organization, and could be definitively stated as qualified to lead the organization.

I sit down and watch him. I ponder his feelings as I look at his unmoving back. The organization faces a crisis of survival. In addition, an Extermination Army is pressing in from the Capital… I don’t know if he’s aware of that information, but—

Suddenly, as if feeling my gaze, he turned around. I averted my eyes once to let it pass. After a while, when I looked again, he was talking to someone who appeared to be a Mercenary.

It’s not close enough to eavesdrop, but… Garuku then spoke.

“I can hear the conversation if I use my Magic.”

“…You could do that?”

“While traveling with Lord Ruon, I constructed a bit of Magic.”

“Why is that?”

“Lord Ruon seems to have a nature for sticking his nose into trouble. I was looking for ways to provide support, and I thought eavesdropping on enemies for information would be a good idea.”

“I see…”

“Let me tell you, I don’t usually use it. I’m only doing it now because I thought the situation was highly urgent.”

“I understand. I don’t have a hobby of eavesdropping either… But I’ll ask you to do it right away.”

When I called out, Garuku used Magic.

Just a tiny bit—Magic Power that Abel and the others wouldn’t notice enveloped me. I wondered if they’d suspect something if they looked my way, but the two were focused on their conversation.

Then, their conversation reached my ears.