Former General Is Undead Knight - Act 4-35 - Judgment④

「…So the place from before was the hiding place for those people in black robes. You also entered one such hiding place after you escaped from Matai.」

Lambert asked Alvana.

When Lambert was touring Heinstia with Alvana, they met Matai, one of the Four Great Sages, in the execution place.

After he saved the girl who was about to be executed, he followed Alvana’s instruction and arrived at a suspicious gathering place.

Upon closer inspection, they were part of the forces prepared by Alvana to assassinate Cardinal Zebedai.

「Will you overlook me just this once, Swordsman-sama?」

Alvana shut her eyelids while playing her guqin.

Lambert kept his silence, standing still.

「I have to help them escape from the army and church after this. It’s my duty as the one who involved them in this matter.」

Lambert still kept his silence.

The sound of Alvana’s guqin stopped. Her closed eyelids opened, and she walked toward Lambert.

Seeing that, Lambert finally spoke.

「…Avenger, is it?」

He readied his greatsword, obviously raising his vigilance toward his opponent.

「…Indeed. The Etelbe tribe, my ancestor, was once a nomadic tribe that wandered around this continent. Although we once served a royal family during the war…we were betrayed once that kingdom was defeated. We were executed as scapegoats.」

Alvana spoke without any particular expression on her face.

「Some of them managed to escape, abandoning their lives in the palace. They headed to the frontiers, where they lived quiet and peaceful lives, playing music. Even if many of their direct descendants survived along with their art recorded in the old slate, the name of the Etelbe tribe itself has already become obsolete.」

Naturally, no emotion could be seen in her eyes as she spoke.

…That was why it was even harder to guess just what kind of violent emotions dwelled in her as she told such a story with a flat tone.

「When I was a child…the sorcerer from the inquisition squad came to that place. They killed all of my family, kidnapping only the children… All they wanted was the tune that controlled emotions.」

Alvana ended her story in one go.

Different from her usual bright and cheerful tone, that tone was flat yet precise.

「…I have no reason to join hands with 『Devil’s Piper』 anymore. I planned to spend the rest of my life away from people after this. I know that this might sound like an excuse, but…can you consider 『Rose of Subkingdom』 to have died in this incident?」

「So even back then, you already knew, eh.」

Alvana tilted her head in puzzlement, unable to understand what Lambert was talking about.

「You already knew that Manzi was about to massacre the citizens of Barreira City. …Or should I say that you came because you knew and wanted to ensure it happened? Your silence in that regard has caused the death and suffering of more than ten thousand people living in that city.」

Lambert spoke bluntly as he strengthened the grip on the hilt of his greatsword.

「Sorry, Alvana. I find no reason to spare you—even if I regard you as one of my friends after I awakened in this era.」

Alvana shuddered, taking a half-step back due to the pressure unleashed by Lambert.

From the very beginning, Alvana was far more sensitive than normal people. Thus, she felt Lambert’s pressure and killing intent even moreso.

It was obviously a negotiation breakdown.

Thus, she picked up her guqin again and ran her fingers down its string.

「…Is the daughter of Baron Diberto alive?」

Lambert asked in a small voice while readying his sword.

Alvana kept her silence. It seemed she was rather surprised to hear that question.

Thus, a light smile formed on her lips.

「…Yes, we got her out of the city before the start of the operation. The people to whom I entrusted her didn’t participate in the operation.」

「I see.」

Lambert swung his sword vertically and horizontally as he gave such a short reply.

That alone was enough to cause a sonic boom in the passage.

「Here I come, 『Rose of Subkingdom』!」

Hearing Lambert shout, Alvana replied in turn.

「Although I know that someone like me is no match for you, I shall fight you with everything I’ve got. Come at me, traitorous knight, pitiful phantom knight, Lambert De La Croix!」

Their shouts resounded in the underground passage and became the signal for the battle.

===

THE NEW PROJECT:

Journey of The Childhood Friend Who Got Betrayed by Sword Saint

The Protagonist of Isekaied Story With Cheat And Harem Has No Idea That All Of The Heroines Has Already Been Stolen By Me~Urgh, My Stomach Is Killing Me~

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