Volume 2 - CH 219

“Ouren!! Give me the details of what happened when I wasn’t here!”

“Ah, yea. That’s what I intend to do. ……”

Uh, …… what should we talk about first?

For starters, it’s about the Knights.

“The captain and vice-captain of the Knights, Roiger and Tsuar, came to see us a while after Houen and the others had left. Then they told me why they couldn’t deploy.”

“So the prince came out there. But who gave the prince the authority to command the Knights? Where is the king?”

“Apparently, the king currently doesn’t seem to be around. The kingdom of Parvin, was it? He’s on a private visit there.”

“Hmmm… ……. Well, some countries might attack if they know the king is not there. …… That’s all well and good, but what do you mean by …… brainwashing!”

I will tell you that now, so for now, stay away- don’t cling to me…..

After pushing Houen’s shoulder to get some distance, I started explaining that to him.

“I thought it was weird, so I used a golem to sneak into the castle. I found the butler at that time, and you know what? There was a blob of matter clinging to the ceiling and floor, and it was talking.”

“What were they talking about?”

“The one on the floor was talking about how to handle the reports of monsters, and the one on the ceiling said he was completely in control of the butler. Then he said something about a magic crystal. Do you know anything about that?”

“The magic crystal? Never heard of that. ……”

This is something that even Houen has not known or heard of.

Maria didn’t know either, and there doesn’t seem to be any more information available.

I had tried asking the voice once, but that guy wouldn’t tell me without the actual thing.

So petty, really.

Can it just tell me the details since I already know its name?

“…… Oren. That fellow on the ceiling can control one person perfectly, can’t it?”

“Hmm? Hmm, they said something like that. ……”

“The guy on the floor can either …… tamper …… or maybe manipulate. It can manipulate memories?”

“Ah,…… the guy on the ceiling said it’s because it’s different from the other ones, so it might have some skills that fall into that category.”

“But you don’t know where it was anymore.”

“Yeah, I’ve been looking for them but I can’t find them……”

After hearing about the brainwashing, I wouldn’t sit idly by either.

But, if it’s not clear how to unbreak the brainwashing, but I can’t find that lump anywhere.

And the prince is gone, what’s going on?

I really wanted to talk to someone about it, but I didn’t want to let everyone near someone who could manipulate memories and brainwash people.

Moreover, usually I would get angry with him.

“We better pay attention to what’s going on inside as well as outside.”

“I wonder if we can even afford that. ……”

“Not sure. I don’t know, but we have to do it. I’m very mobile and I can move quickly.”

“Sometimes you give yourself a pat on the back huh. ……”

Well, whatever.

Then, Houen opened his eyes as if he had noticed something.

However, he immediately closed his mouth and began to think.

W-what is it?

I saw this Houen’s face when I was waiting in Maria’s office. ……?

When this happens, if I call out to him he’ll just tell me to shut up.

How sad.

“Ouren.”

“Woah, you surprised me! W-what’s wrong?”

“Let’s assume there are different types of brainwashing. The type that can completely brainwash one person. And the type that can play with one’s memory.”

Oh, what the hell, suddenly …….

” First, there’s one authority figure ……. In this case, it is the butler. But the butler was a man who could be said to be a close associate of the king who could be directly involved in the affairs of government. …… Is the butler already old?”

“Err- yea. He was an old man. He came out of the door of a rather spectacular-looking room.”

“That Vastie Rackle huh. The butler in the service of the prince and the king. Now that there is no king, it is this butler who is more likely to hold actual power. …… That’s not the case. Then there’s the queen……, who is also out of the country. She’s also incognito. So the duke should be in command ……. But why brainwash the butler ……? It would be enough to say that it was an order from the king, but he’s just a servant, right?”

S-somehow he’s entered his own world. ……

I’m not sure how much time we have left to talk about it.

Let’s have him explain it to me again next time.

So, what do you think, Houen-san?

Did you find out anything ……?

I would appreciate it if you don’t go into your own world after telling me that long ass analysis.

“Is the guy on the …… floor a diffusion type ……?”

“Diffusion brainwashing, what do you mean ……?”

“The guy on the floor said he handles reports of monsters, didn’t he? That means there are guards who have brought those reports many times. Then it’s not surprising that others who haven’t gone to report know about it. ……”

Well, whoever went to make the report would have heard about it from someone else, and that was normal.

And the people know about this, so they’re evacuating.

“…… hmmm – seriously, I don’t know any more!!!! What’s going on!”

“I don’t know either. Anyway, we need to find the blob that’s clinging to that butler. ……”

Ah, indeed. ……. I’ll leave the search to you. If you find him, kill all the blobs, because they might be a nuisance. Worst case scenario, everyone in the …… castle may have had their memories altered in some way.”

Huh?

“N-nah, there’s no way that’s happening!”

“Where else would a kingdom give a prince the authority to command the Knights! I don’t know how they messed with their memories, but they could have made them think it’s normal. That’s enough to explain it.”

“No, perhaps you’re right ……”

It’s not like I want to deny it …….

No matter how much you want to say it, no one can brainwash …… or tamper with the memories of everyone in the castle.

That’s a ridiculous argument!

As I was looking at Houen with skepticism, he suddenly grabbed me by the shoulders and said.

“Conventional sense is irrelevant in this world! There are many impossible things that are possible! The things that we call skills in this world are …… terrible …… things!”

“…… ah, yeah……”

Houen’s pressure prevented me from saying anything further.

There is certainly a great deal of potential for it,……, however.

This is the world of magic.

If you have a skill, you can produce a phenomenon depending on what kind of skill you have.

This existance of skill is kinda like a cheat

Skills that are useful for travel and healing injuries. ……

Looking back, it’s all so unbelievable.

“I need you to find the lump. All right?”

“Okay.”

That’s what I’m going to do without you telling me.

You can count on me.

Houen peeks inside the castle walls.

Perhaps the knights are waiting there.

However, Houen leaned halfway over and was startled by the sight below.

“WHA-!!”

“What’s going on, Houen?”

“Why are the people back there….. are not the Knights!!”

“Hah??”