第２９２堀：密談 (Part2)
This was a fact known to only a tiny fraction of the August Kingdom, and to the nation, this person was just as vital as Amanda the Dragon Knight.
The Old Master’s skill was incredibly valuable, and when it came to scouting enemy intelligence, he was in a league of his own.
"Indeed. Dragon Knight Amanda herself is not all that strong. At best, she is on par with you, Princess."
"What do you mean, 'not all that strong'? It’s not as if someone of my level is just wandering around everywhere."
"There are plenty of them at the Academy, are there not? Could you defeat even one of the instructors?"
"……That depends on the compatibility."
The instructors at the Academy were individuals hand-picked by Principal Popuri.
Even though I was a Single Number at the time, there was a gap in power so vast that the instructors could handle me with ease.
Well, looking back now, I suspect it was a matter of tactical formulation; if I had the chance to face them again, I don't think I would lose so easily.
"Compatibility... indeed. Even I could handle at most four or five instructors at once. And that is without considering that old hag waiting in the wings."
"I cannot imagine anyone defeating the Principal. Hmm, so that is the extent of Amanda’s ability? No, to have that much talent at her age... one should call it magnificent."
"Yes. If not for the Dragon Knight matter, I would have tried to recruit her myself. However, when I said she was not that strong, that is not what I meant."
"……What do you mean?"
"Let us just say that Dragon Knight Amanda and her husband, Eoid, are the weakest among them."
"Hah!?"
I let out an involuntary cry.
I had assumed that since he came along as a bodyguard for Dragon Knight Amanda, he possessed a reasonable level of strength.
But I never imagined that Amanda would be the weakest in that group.
"What are you saying? I can tell that Yuki, the leader of the mercenary group, and the women surrounding him are strong. But Samantha and Cleena are still students, are they not? Aren't they about the same as Amanda? And look, there were small children there too—are you going to tell me they are experts as well?"
"Yes. Literally, Amanda and Eoid are the weakest among them. You saw Cleena’s ability with your own eyes, did you not? A simple fireball possessed that level of firepower. Could you produce that kind of output, Princess?"
Indeed, at the Old Master's suggestion, I had allowed a playful skirmish to measure their strength and observed it myself; that level of power was not something one could easily replicate.
……I knew that better than anyone.
"Well, as you seem to have realized, Princess, we must assume something happened. That is why Cleena’s ability grew explosively. I cannot see the bottom of it, and if things go poorly, even I might find it difficult."
"……What does that mean? Can you not tell how strong someone is?"
"I believe I mentioned this quite some time ago, but when the gap in ability is too wide, there are times when one cannot gauge the opponent's strength."
"Ah, that was the case with Principal Popuri, wasn't it? ……Don't tell me."
"Yes. Aside from Amanda and Eoid, I cannot grasp the strength of any of them at all."
"Are you saying that not only the mercenary group, but even Samantha and Cleena might be on par with Principal Popuri?"
"Yes. That is why both the kingdoms of Zilba and Enaria went out of their way to claim they were of royal blood and offered their support..."
"To avoid making an enemy of the mercenary group?"
"That is how it should be viewed."
"Good grief, so this is the real main event."
I took another sip of my tea.
It had gone completely cold, but it was just right for moistening my parched throat.
"The main event... indeed. Since the Principal herself went out of her way to request them as bodyguards for Dragon Knight Amanda, it is safe to assume they already have the Academy as their backing as well."