第３４０堀：白の森へ (Part1)
**Chapter 340: To the White Forest**
**Side: Yuki**
After that, the preparation period ended without any particular issues, and the day finally arrived for us to head to the White Forest.
Well, that was to be expected.
Though the Sword King had acted with his usual lack of restraint, the incident itself was a major affair. At first, I thought it was just another one of his typical rampages, but it turned out to be a rebellion by the Dokusen family, one of the martial houses responsible for the country’s defense.
They only managed to meddle with us on that first day. After that, the heavyweights serving in the Royal Castle were in an absolute uproar. The members of the Dokusen family desperately tried to cover up the facts, but their mansion was quickly secured by the Royal Guard and the Magic Security Corps led by Samantha’s older sister. It was already a lost cause.
In fact, they had already started preparing to flee in the middle of the night. To catch them, we set up emergency checkpoints at the entrances and exits of the Royal Capital. In a sense, because this is an absolute monarchy, we were able to deploy forces immediately, and almost all members of the Dokusen family were apprehended.
If this were modern Japan, that would be impossible. There’s no way you could just shut down Tokyo’s traffic network. It’s only possible in a situation where you’re surrounded by medieval European city walls, where blocking the traffic network doesn’t have that much of an impact, and where the King’s word can mobilize everything instantly.
As you can tell from this explanation, even if it’s possible, it’s no small task. There was so much to do: capturing the rebels who aimed to overthrow the state, presenting evidence, explaining the situation to the high-ranking officials, and identifying who was pulling the strings from the shadows.
"Hey, Yuki. As a close friend, I have a request."
"I refuse."
The middle-aged man standing before me, calling me his close friend with dark circles under his eyes, was Blade, the King of Roday, known far and wide as the Sword King.
His subordinates had been in a state of chaos on the first day, but things had started to settle down from the next day onward. However, he hadn't been able to play at all due to a constant stream of document reviews and emergency meetings. And that situation was still ongoing.
In other words, the words that were about to follow from this man were...
"Why not!? You just need to let me accompany you to the White Forest!! That way, we can breeze through the checkpoints and such!!"
"On the contrary, having a King in tow would only cause problems. Especially in your case, old man."
When I said that, Huge, who had come to see us off, and Chancellor Ronri nodded and spoke up.
"Indeed. In this time of crisis, it is unthinkable for the King to leave the country."
"That is correct. There are many things you must do, Your Majesty. Primarily, organizing documents and attending meetings."
"The content hasn't changed at all!! Isn't there anything that involves moving my body more!!"
"“No.”"
The two subordinates immediately shot down the old man’s cry.
"In the first place, even this farewell is a waste of time."
"Indeed. We have assigned Captain Runo of the Magic Security Corps to accompany the mercenary group, Yuki-dono, as both a guard and a representative of Roday. Your Majesty, please return to your office and get back to work."
Just as the two said, this man called the Sword King had come all the way to the castle gate, insisting on seeing us off. He probably intended to tag along if he got the chance, but the two subordinates who saw through that had come along to ensure he couldn't.
Not that I would ever let him, anyway. No matter how you look at it, it would only be a hassle.
"Your Majesty. I understand well that you are anxious about Yuki...-dono. However, I will be going, so please rest assured."
...However, even if the old man wasn't coming, the fact that someone troublesome was tagging along remained unchanged. I had reached this day without ever reconciling with Samantha’s older sister, Runo.
It couldn't be helped, as Runo had been incredibly busy for the past three days. Well, even if we had the time, I doubt we could have reconciled. After that incident, Runo hadn't been able to join us for the video viewing; she had been working non-stop. Not that I’d want her to see those videos anyway.
As a result, Runo’s attitude toward me clearly showed that she didn't like me. I thought Samantha might have been fine, but Samantha is, after all, still a student. Moreover, she is a student at the Lancer Magic Academy—a unique position—and it was deemed hesitant to have her represent the country.
Therefore, when considering who could be seamlessly inserted into this mission with minimal friction, it ended up being Runo. She had been involved in this issue from the beginning, had the King’s deep trust, was the eldest daughter of the Huge family, and was Samantha’s sister. She would be able to coordinate with the academy, so there was no better candidate, but...
"Sister. Yuki-sama is truly a wonderful person. You have nothing to worry about!!"
"…I hope that’s the case."
As you can see, my relationship with her was over before it even began. As a candidate, she was perfect, but our personal compatibility was the worst. The reason was that I had married her sister, Samantha, without her permission.
It seemed unforgivable to Runo, who adored her sister, and she wasn't very convinced by the explanations from her father, mother, or even Samantha herself.
"…Don't worry. I won't do anything to hinder the important mission. Well, that only applies if you don't make any mistakes yourself."
...In other words, she was going to monitor my actions. What is she, a nagging sister-in-law?
"Hahaha!! It’s a shame I can't go, but Yuki, you should take this opportunity to get along with her sister!! Though it looks like it’ll be quite tough."
"…While His Majesty finds it amusing, I also hope you take this opportunity to get along with my daughter. It’s painful for a family to be at odds. Well, as Runo says, if she gets in your way, feel free to tell her off."
"…Father. Are you saying I am inferior to this Yuki-dono?"
"You are already inferior. The problem is that you don't understand that. If you keep going like this, you won't be able to make a name for yourself in the Royal Capital. Your vessel is too small."
"Wh-!?"
Huge is quite strict. He has a policy of not spoiling his own kin, and thanks to that, Runo glared at me even more.
"…I understand. I will properly try to get along with my brother-in-law on this occasion."
"Good. Do your best."
*Sigh.* I need to find a way to get along with her somehow. Right now, my wives are watching and laughing, but if things go too far, Runo’s life might be in danger.
"However, this vehicle... could you somehow make arrangements for us to have one?"
"Hmm. The production system isn't fully established yet, so it’s still under research at my father’s place. So, regarding that..."
"I see. So it’s a matter of consulting with Huge, just like with the video cameras. In that case, Huge, about the car..."
"Calm down. I’m here to see my son off right now. We’ll talk about that later."
"Ah. My apologies."
I understand why Chancellor Ronri would be so interested. Since the main mode of transport in this medieval Europe is the horse-drawn carriage, a car must look like something truly magnificent. I said something vague, but I’m sure Huge will handle it.
"For now, I have entrusted the letters of introduction and passes from the Roday side to Runo, so if it’s faster to go through her, please use those."
"Thank you very much."
"Also, regarding the supplies for the journey... were you really sure this was enough? The White Forest is completely covered in snow at this time of year. If you aren't prepared, you’ll freeze to death. Honestly, I don't know the performance of this car in detail, so I apologize if this is meddling."
Ronri-san, who worried about us like that, must be a very good person. But the car is equipped with gear for snowy plains, and the heating is perfectly installed. As for the supplies, it might look like we only have what’s loaded, but we have plenty stored in our item boxes, so there’s no problem. It’s far better than any shoddy tent.