by Funa
“Th-That’s because someone fed the animals, as a prank...”
Aragorn desperately tried to find an excuse, but Count Maslias was unrelenting.
“The crows and dogs acted with coordination, accurately picking out their targets. Are you claiming a human could possibly pull off such a feat? Aragorn, do you truly believe the things you’re saying right now?”
“...”
Aragorn grew quiet, unable to muster a retort. Even he knew that this couldn’t have possibly been the work of a human being. However, even though he had been worried at first, he didn’t believe that this was really divine punishment.
“B-But the Goddess Celestine has never punished men in such a roundabout way! In the past, she has always destroyed entire towns and nations with powerful lightning strikes, whirling infernos, tidal waves, fissures, or other cataclysms. And the last time she did so was several hundred years ago. Again, no matter what sort of crime has been committed, the Goddess has never judged an individual’s deeds or meddled with human affairs! She’s not concerned with the laws humans make for themselves, and the only time she’s really angered is when someone tarnishes the Goddess’s name, or uses it for their own selfish gain, or wreaks havoc on nature on a large scale...”
“What...?”
Count Maslias gave him a dubious look at first, which then turned to one of exasperation.
“You claim the last divine punishment was several hundred years ago... This has never been officially announced, but you do realize that there have been rumors spreading not just among nobles, but to the common people, through the priests and the merchants?”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
Aragorn was perplexed by the count’s response. Then, the count replied with a grave tone.
“The last time the Goddess brought divine punishment down upon the land was a little over four years ago. I’m sure you, too, have heard of these events: The defeat of the Aligot Empire’s invading army and the destruction of the Holy Land of Rueda...”
“Wha...”
Aragorn was lost for words for just a moment, then fiercely argued back.
“The ones responsible for defeating the Aligot Empire’s forces were the guardian of the Kingdom of Balmore, ‘Fearsome Fran,’ and her subordinates, the ‘Grim Reapers’! Then the Goddess descended upon the peace conference to convince the others to end the conflict...”
Count Maslias shook his head.
“That’s inaccurate information spread by the commoners. According to the report directly from the delegation attending the peace conference,
“‘The empire’s forces invading from the western region were repelled by Fearsome Fran’s party, and the Goddess sent her Angel to face the forces invading from the north. As a result, the Kingdom of Balmore sustained very few casualties and successfully captured all enemy soldiers.’
“Also, ‘The Goddess descended upon the peace conference to state that the Holy Land of Rueda would be annihilated. But thanks to the Angel’s pleading to spare the populace, the Goddess contained herself to the destruction of the rotten priests.’
“In other words, it has only been slightly more than four years since the last time the Goddess expressed her wrath, and it is likely that she has changed her method from direct punishments to indirect punishments, such as through another medium entirely. Perhaps she does it to bully— No, no, entertain— I mean, due to some change in her state of mind...”
Aragorn stood frozen, but he soon recovered and began defending himself again.
“I-I’ve done nothing to deserve this! And no one has accused me of committing any crime!”
Aragorn had hired “Black Ops” for the hit. Government intelligence organizations often had their own secret units to handle illicit or immoral operations, such as murder and kidnapping, but this was an illegal and private organization unrelated to the government groups. It consisted of former high-ranking hunters, those who had been banished, those who had been fired by their nation’s intelligence organization due to a highly problematic personality, and those who had fled from the intelligence organizations of other nations.
These individuals were highly skilled and fiercely loyal to their criminal organization, largely out of necessity, so they were “reliable criminals” who kept secrets and contracts at all costs. This was the private crime organization known as Black Ops.
He had little concern that the secret had been leaked, considering they were the ones who handled the entire job. It was nothing like hiring any random group of thugs or outlaw hunters. Aragorn knew he was under suspicion for “the incident,” but with no one to accuse him and no proof to be had, he was confident that even the parent house couldn’t make a move against him, given that he was the heir to a noble house.
However...
“Someone has already stepped forward with an accusation.”
“Wha...”
Mariel, who had been quiet until now, suddenly dropped that bomb of a comment.
“Uncle... No, Aragorn, the monster who plotted to take over my house by murdering the head of House Raphael and his entire family! I said someone has cast a formal suit against you!”
Mariel’s smiling face had transformed into an expression of pure anger, and even Count Maslias, along with Aragorn, couldn’t hide his expression of shock. The only ones who were unaffected by the sudden change were the members of Viscount Raphael’s household and the mysterious girl.
“I-Impossible! Who, what proof...”
“Proof? No such thing is needed. After all, they directly witnessed the incident with their own eyes. They saw you happily chatting with the individuals you hired to murder my father, mother, and brother!!!”
Aragorn was completely motionless, and Count Maslias was stunned. The count had come prepared to denounce Aragorn, but he hadn’t expected Mariel, who had already agreed to marry her uncle, to denounce him herself with such intensity. In fact, he didn’t think she had prepared at all for this moment, much less gone as far as to find witnesses.
“Then I’d like to see them! You’d better be prepared for the consequences if this is some sort of lie!” Aragorn roared back, and Mariel shot him down with an icy cold tone.
“Of course. And Aragorn! You dare speak so to the mistress of your head family, yourself a mere untitled man of a branch house, and in the presence of Count Maslias of your parent house? Have you no shame?!”
“Urgh...” Aragorn turned red with humiliation, but he couldn’t act out further in front of Count Maslias.
Considering how events had transpired, it was unlikely that Mariel would willingly marry him now, even if he somehow managed to talk his way out of this situation. However, if Aragorn claimed that Mariel had gone insane with grief after losing her family, he could potentially force her to give up her inheritance, leaving him as the new head of the house.
Aragorn quickly collected himself after coming to this conclusion. There was no way anyone could have witnessed the event, after all. It had happened on a public street corner, and his men were standing watch to make sure that no one had been around to see anything. And judging by how she phrased it, as someone having “witnessed the incident,” it would be safe to assume it wasn’t someone from the Black Ops organization. This meant she had hired someone to provide false testimony. He could still get through this.
It was only natural for Aragorn to think this way.
“Well then, please follow me, everyone.”
“Huh?”
Aragorn and Count Maslias looked rather perplexed as Mariel stood up.
“You wish to see the witness, correct? Please, this way.” All they could do was follow.
They all stood and the seven of them followed Mariel out of the room, at which point the guards posted in the room next door followed after them. Francette was among them, of course. There was no way she would let Kaoru enter enemy territory alone. She had been listening in along with the House Raphael and House Maslias guards, ready to burst thro
ugh the door as soon as something went wrong.
＊ ＊
Emile and Belle went into the city after they had parted with Kaoru and the others the previous evening. Not to enjoy the nightlife, of course, but to provide publicity.
They went around the Hunter’s Guild headquarters, the taverns, and other areas, spreading the following rumor, “Tomorrow, at the second morning bell, witness a miracle before the house of Viscount Raphael.”
And this morning, they woke up at the first morning bell (around six in the morning) to go around the common wells and morning markets to spread the same message.
No one stopped to question it, what with the rumors of House Raphael’s branch family’s “divine punishment” being so widespread. In this world, no one was foolish enough to doubt the existence of the Goddess or her judgment.
Afterward, Emile and Belle went to the stables where Ed and the other horses were being kept, then brought them out, claiming that they were needed for work. Of course, this included the newest of Kaoru’s horses, Carlos.
The horses would do as ordered, even without Emile and Belle escorting them, but if horses were seen roaming about without humans around, they would be at risk of being stolen by scoundrels or turned over to a guard post or guild by some well-meaning person.
Emile and Belle were sent to escort the horses to avoid such a situation, but they simply walked alongside the horses, without riding them. This was a key point: the horses had to move of their own will, without humans riding them. They walked on for a short time after leaving the stable, then stopped. Then, Emile and Belle placed masks on the six horses. The six horses began walking again.
After some time, a group of dogs joined them from the left and right sides of the intersection. Several more joined at the next intersection. And more at the next. And more at the one after. The horses increased their pace to a fast walk. Emile, Belle, and the dogs increased their own pace to keep up.
From intersecting side streets... Back alleys... Eaves of residential houses...
Dogs, dogs, dogs, dogs...
Dogs came running. Dogs came to join them.
Then, when the second morning bell rang throughout the city...
Crows came flying in out of nowhere, as if they had been waiting for the signal.
Crows, crows, crows, crows...
And so, the tanks (dogs) advanced forward, leading the fighter-bombers (crows) flying overhead. Along with the six horses...
In search of their prey.
“Where in the world are we going...?” Aragorn was expecting this so-called witness to be in another room, but Mariel led them through the front door, out of the manor, and toward the front gates. Despite his complaints, he had no choice but to follow. Count Maslias and the guards from both houses continued following, as well.
Behind them was a line of House Raphael’s servants. Butlers, cooks, maids, coachmen, gardeners, footmen, porters... and all the rest of the servants were in tow, their expressions hard. They all wore the same stoic look on their faces, as if they were barely containing a whirlwind of emotions. Only their eyes betrayed an intense, eerie glow.
Mariel walked a few meters out from the gate, then stopped.
There, a large crowd, having gathered from all over town, stood waiting.
“...”
The members of House Raphael and the girl seemed unfazed by the crowd before them.
On the other hand, Aragorn, Count Maslias, and the count’s guards looked rather tense. They had no idea why there was a crowd gathered there. What if they had some sort of grudge against House Raphael and suddenly turned violent? They had far too few guards to hold off an attack from a crowd of such a size. Cold sweat ran down their backs as the thought crossed their minds.
But even then, they didn’t allow their nervousness to show on their faces. As nobles, they could never show panic or seem undignified in front of commoners, even if they were straining to keep up a front.
“H-Hmph, are you saying your witness is someone in this crowd? Don’t tell me you’re going to claim that they’re all going to testify. This is a mere intimidation tactic, and seeing as you have to resort to this, you clearly have no proof, and...”
“Witnesses, please step forward,” Mariel raised her voice, speaking over the flustered Aragorn, and the crowd parted to let six horses through.
However, these six weren’t Ed and his crew, but the two riding horses and four carriage horses owned by House Raphael. Of course, these horses wore no masks. The six horses wore no saddle and were pulling no carriage, and were led by a coachman and horsekeeper, who were also on foot, stopping just in front of Mariel. Aragorn looked around in search of a rider who had dismounted from the horses, but there was no one but the men leading the horses and the crowd around them.
“What witness...”
Mariel cut him off and shouted, “Who is the one who hired the killers to murder my parents and brother?”
Then, each of the horses raised their front right leg and pointed... directly at Aragorn.
“The horses are the witnesses?!” Aragorn and Count Maslias shouted in unison.
Then, Count Maslias continued, “You were talking about horses this entire time...?”
But everyone ignored the question.
Why had the horses pointed at Aragorn in response to Mariel’s words? The reason was simple: Kaoru had taught them several patterns to perform in response to Kaoru’s signals. The horses had simply reacted to Kaoru’s gesture of pointing at Aragorn while bending her hand at the wrist in front of her stomach.
This had all been explained prior to this meeting, so they all understood what this event was for. The signals were simply for supporting Mariel as she made her case.
Upon seeing this, the crowd reacted.
“Oooooohhh!”
“The horses are denouncing their master’s killer!”
“An ordinary horse couldn’t do this! This is the work of the Goddess! The Goddess Celestine was moved by the girl’s will to seek vengeance and the loyalty of the horses, and decided to lend them her strength!”
Aragorn turned pale as the crowd continued to shout.
“...Well? What do you have to say?”
Count Maslias expected Aragorn to back down then and there. Now that the Goddess Celestine was said to be involved, there was no way for him to escape punishment for his crimes, after all.
“Whatever do you mean? An impertinent child taught her pet horses a little trick. That’s all there is to it. What’s more, she’s a vile little fiend who seeks to frame her noble uncle with underhanded tactics! She is a disgrace to the nobility, and should be stripped of her title and exec—”
Plop!
“...Huh?”
Aragorn felt as if something had fallen on his head and put a hand there to check.
“Bird... droppings?”
Plop! Plop! Plop plop plop...
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!”
Confused, Aragorn looked up to find a sight that was all too familiar at his residence as of late...
The sight of fighter-bombers (crows), flying in units.
“Look, the Goddess’s familiars...”
“Give it up already, or the Goddess will strike you down!”
“I hear the Goddess Celestine isn’t the best at aiming, so we— No, the entire nation could end up going down with you! Confess already!!!”
The crowd grew louder, but if he confessed now, he would certainly be beheaded. After all, he would be admitting to murdering the head of a noble house, along with that head’s wife and heir, all so he could take over. The crime was even more grave than being an arsonist or a thief.
“N-No! So what if a few crows came here looking for food?! The Goddess has no interest in human affairs... I-I mean, she must have sent them to denounce that girl’s evil deeds! The crows are really after House Raphael, and she’s the current head of House Raphael. I just happened to be here today, and...”
But Aragorn’s desperat
e excuses convinced no one, seeing as the only one being targeted by crows and being pelted with dung was Aragorn himself.
Just then, one end of the rowdy crowd suddenly fell silent. Then the silence spread through the rest of the crowd. The crowd parted from the back, the dividing line extending all the way to the front and toward House Raphael’s gates.
Through that new path walked six masked horses, followed by tens of dogs, dogs, dogs...
Clop, clop, clop.
Clop, clop, clop, clop, clop...
One in the front. One each on either side behind it. And three behind them in the third row. The six horses walked along in an arrowhead formation. At the front was, of course...
“Carlos!!!”
There was no way Mariel wouldn’t recognize him, even with the mask on. It was Carlos, Mariel’s personal riding horse that she had known for so long. Her beloved horse that she had heard was dead at one point, until the mysterious girl had informed her of his survival. But this was no time to be celebrating their reunion. The horse had to fulfill his role, as he had been instructed.
“The chief riding horse of House Raphael, Carlos! I commend you for seeking and finding the Goddess to send her my wishes! Now, along with the holy horses who have brought you here and the Goddess’s familiars, the crows and dogs, please witness the conclusion to this ordeal!”
The horses neighed enthusiastically in response.
“Oooooohhh!”
It’s over, Aragorn... Count Maslias thought to himself.
The horses, dogs, and crows haven’t said a word. And no one really knows the truth of what happened. But with her own words, Mariel just “created” the truth. No one will question Mariel’s words now, and no one will lend an ear to what Aragorn has to say...
Count Maslias was impressed by Mariel’s execution.
She had always been a bright girl, but that was just compared to an average noble girl. He never expected her to connect the Goddess to a riding horse... And not to a soldier riding a horse, but the horse itself. In fact, one normally wouldn’t think of such a thing, nor would they think it possible to pull off. If someone could have foreseen this result, they would be far from normal. Even if they ended up being right.