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"What are you talking about?"
"You did call for Davian, right? Just now."
"The criminal is ordered to come forward?"
Davian was just as bewildered.
The Second Imperial Guard was the guard that protected the royal palace.
Even if Davian had unknowingly committed some serious crime, the Third Imperial Guard, which was in charge of the capital's security, should have come.
'Something's not right.'
Something he hadn't experienced in previous playthroughs, of course.
If it was an important event in the story progression, an event or quest would have popped up.
Like 'Escape from the Second Imperial Guard' or 'Prove Your Innocence'.
But not even a single notification sound rang.
Just then, a teaching assistant who was in the lobby stepped forward.
Professor Mateo and Professor Wendy had been assigned to different accommodations.
The current student manager of this accommodation was the teaching assistant.
"I am Lindsay Britt, a teaching assistant in the Department of Magic at Elton Academy. What's going on?"
"I am the First Unit Commander of the Eagle Guard. I am looking for Davian Naone of Elton Academy. I have received information that he is staying in this accommodation, so bring him forward immediately."
"He is a student of Elton Academy. I need to know what's going on..."
The Imperial Guard unit commander cut off the teaching assistant Lindsay.
"I'll give you one minute. If you do not bring Davian Naone forward, I will arrest you as an accomplice."
"What does that even mean..."
At that moment.
Davian stepped forward.
"I am Davian Naone."
"Are you Davian Naone?"
"Yes."
"Bind him!"
Two Imperial Guard members who were behind him went to Davian's sides and grabbed his arms and shoulders, pressing down on him.
"Ugh."
He had no choice but to kneel immediately because of how strong they were.
Another Imperial Guard member came inside and began to tie Davian up with rope.
Davian's mind became complicated.
'Should I run away before I'm completely bound?'
The problem was graduation.
As a fugitive, he obviously couldn't graduate.
He could run away now if he wanted to.
But he would end up injuring several Imperial Guard members.
That could also be a serious crime.
"Davian!"
His friends rushed over and surrounded Davian.
Bonita looked like she was about to draw her sword immediately.
Latia also put on her magic ring in preparation for any possible situation.
Luna stuck close to Davian's back and fidgeted.
Nubes grabbed the arm of the Imperial Guard member who was trying to tie Davian up.
The Imperial Guard member glared at Nubes with a fierce expression.
"What are you doing? Can't you let go of this? What is this? What kind of strength..."
The arm that he was trying to shake off lightly didn't budge, as if it were tied to a solid rock.
"Do you even know what you're doing right now?"
"I'm holding the arm that's trying to tie up my friend."
"Do you know who we are? We are the Royal Eagle Guard. You are committing a grave mistake right now."
"Nubes. Let go of that arm."
Davian's voice.
"Davian."
"Didn't you hear the noise outside earlier? This building is completely surrounded. There's nothing we can do."
"But..."
Bonita eventually drew her sword.
"I can take down a few of them, I guess."
"Bonita, that's always your problem. I know you're doing it for me, but what are you doing drawing your sword here? You dream of joining the Imperial Guard, right?"
"I don't know. I won't forgive anyone who touches my friend."
"Bonita. Put your sword away before things get really out of hand."
Bonita tilted her head.
Latia was already looking at Davian as well.
Davian's voice was excessively calm.
"I forgot. How could I forget something like this? I know what's going on now, so everyone calm down."
"You know what's going on?"
"Yeah. I forgot about that coming all the way to the capital. Nothing will happen, so don't worry."
At Davian's calm voice, Nubes also let go of the Imperial Guard member's arm.
Bonita also put her sword back into its scabbard.
The unit commander looked at Bonita.
"I'll let it slide just this once since you're still a young student. Don't ever draw your sword in front of the Eagle Guard again."
"Binding complete."
The rope with enhancement magic completely bound Davian's body.
"Let's go!"
Two Imperial Guard members grabbed Davian's arms and stood him up. Then, they began to go out the door.
The unit commander ordered an Imperial Guard member who was outside.
"Bring all of the prisoner's belongings!"
"Yes!"
His friends followed Davian.
"Davian!"
"Is nothing really going to happen?"
Thud.
The Imperial Guard members who were outside blocked the friends' path.
"That's enough. We're letting you off easy because you're young students. Go back to the academy for your friendship games. Of course, except for that friend who's being dragged away right now."
Davian turned his head back.
"I'm just going to the royal palace a day earlier than you guys. Don't worry, everyone. See you tomorrow."
Even while being dragged away bound by rope, Davian didn't lose his composure.
Latia asked with a worried expression.
"What's going on?"
"I know, right? What reason would Davian have to be arrested by the Imperial Guard?"
Liber opened his mouth.
"Is it because he was looking for traces of the Archmage?"
"No. The inauguration documents even had the royal seal stamped on them. It was something the royal family permitted."
"Then, why?"
Tears trickled down from Luna's big eyes.
"Davian..."
Inside the royal palace.
Somewhere in the Second Imperial Guard's garrison.
The floor was all made of well-cut stone, and tall stone pillars were densely packed around a circular plaza that could hold about a hundred people.
Between the stone pillars, Imperial Guard members in gleaming armor stood at attention.
Davian stood in the center of the plaza.
After a while.
Several Imperial Guard members entered the plaza.
The man walking at the very front was wearing armor gilded with gold.
The man in the golden armor went and stood in front of Davian.
The remaining Imperial Guard members lined up on either side of him.
The First Unit Commander who had captured Davian was on the far left.
The man in the golden armor who was standing in the center asked.
"Are you Davian Naone?"
"Yes."
"I am Gregory Garrett, the Commander of the Eagle Guard. Do you know why you have been arrested?"
"There is one thing I can guess."
Imperial Guard Commander Gregory stared intently at Davian's face.
This was the famous plaza for questioning criminals.
The encircling pillars and the Imperial Guard members standing between them.
The floor made of carved black stone and the tall pillars.
Only a few dim lights from magic stones illuminated the inside of the plaza.
And in front of him stood the imposing Imperial Guard Commander and the unit commanders.
It was enough to make a criminal cower.
But.
The seventeen-year-old Elton Academy freshman who had been dragged here today was simply standing quietly in his place.
Moreover, the interrogation had begun, but he was saying, 'There is one thing I can guess' with a nonchalant expression.
What kind of guy was this?
"Bring it here."
An Imperial Guard member brought Davian's belongings all at once.
After placing them in front of the Imperial Guard Commander, he took out a glove and handed it to the Imperial Guard Commander.
The item that had been in the inner pocket of his school uniform top.
Ferrarius's Glove.
"There was a report from a member of the Fourth Imperial Guard. An academy student wearing Ferrarius's Glove appeared in the training grounds. You know what kind of glove this is, right? Davian Naone."
Davian nodded his head.
It was the thing he had expected.
He hadn't shown it off on purpose, but he had thought that there might be someone who would recognize it.
In any case, it was something he would have to experience sometime.
"I know very well."
"It is the treasure of His Majesty, the founding king of the Alcancia Kingdom."
Swish.
The Imperial Guard Commander drew his sword and aimed it at Davian's neck.
How desperately had they been searching for it for the past few months.
An item that had disappeared without a trace from the very heart of the royal palace, the royal palace history archive.
It was such a big incident that all of the Imperial Guard members who were in charge of security at the history archive at the time were reprimanded and imprisoned.
Even the higher-ups in charge were dismissed one after another.
Gregory, who was the Second Imperial Guard Commander, had even submitted his resignation, but the king had said that he would not allow his resignation until he retrieved Ferrarius's Glove.
Such an incredible item.
A freshman at the academy in Elton City far away had it.
He even brazenly wore it when he was doing demonstration training with the Fourth Imperial Guard.
They were already about to go out to investigate because of the rumor that there was an academy student who used ice magic.
But he had come walking in here on his own two feet and was standing there with such a nonchalant expression.
"It is right to behead you immediately, ask about your sins, and recover the glove. But there is only one reason why I am not beheading you right now."
"What is it?"
Huh.
What is it?
A criminal was asking why he wasn't beheading him right now.
What on earth was making that young student so confident?
"How you took this glove from the royal history archive. If you didn't take it, who did you receive it from. Who is that person. You will have to confess everything. Before tonight is over."
"I know the person who took that glove. Should I call him now?"
Call him now?
Gregory's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
No way.
Was he saying that there was someone inside the Second Imperial Guard who was colluding with that guy?
"If you cause confusion in the investigation with nonsense, your crime will only become heavier."
"Then I will take it as permission and call him. Glacie."
Whoosh.
A cold wind blew from somewhere.
It wasn't a strong wind, but it was enough for everyone standing in the plaza to feel extreme cold.
Except for one person, Davian Naone.
"What kind of wicked thing are you trying to do!"
Gregory now pressed the blade of his sword completely against Davian's neck.
At that moment.
"Oh, come on. Get out of the way. Why are you all standing so close together?"
A woman appeared, pushing aside one of the Imperial Guard members who was guarding between the pillars.
Sky-blue dress, blue hair, blue eyes.
An existence that was unrealistically beautiful to be called human, but so cold that it was not easy to look at.
It was the ice spirit, Glacie.
The Imperial Guard member who had been pushed desperately tried to draw his sword.
But with a single gesture from Glacie, his arms and legs froze in place.
"I only froze you a little. But even if your arms and legs melt later, if you draw that sword, you're dead."
Clack. Clack.
Her ice shoes collided with the plaza's stone floor, making a clear and sharp sound.
Glacie's voice echoed through the plaza.
"You in the yellow armor over there. If you don't take the blade off of Davian's neck, you're dead."
Davian chuckled.
He had been feeling this for a while now.
When she appeared because she had something to do, she would appear in the form of a small winged spirit and act all fluttery.
When she appeared at a place with a lot of people and an important place like this, she would always appear in human form and make a showman-like entrance.
She could have appeared right next to him, but she had bothered to walk all the way here from outside the plaza, clacking her shoes.
'She's a funny spirit.'
Glacie, who had already gone and stood next to Davian.
"Did you call me? Davian."
"Yeah. I think you're going to have to be interrogated a little here today."
Glacie looked around.
"Interrogation? How dare any human interrogate me? In the Alcancia Kingdom too."
Glacie's gaze went to Imperial Guard Commander Gregory's left hand.
Ferrarius's Glove was being held.
"Hey, you. Aren't you going to put that down? How dare you."
A woman was talking down to the Second Imperial Guard Commander inside the Second Imperial Guard's garrison.
The Imperial Guard members, who had been momentarily flustered by her mysteriousness and coldness, were one of the strongest military organizations in Alcancia.
Swish.
The four unit commanders who were standing on either side of Imperial Guard Commander Gregory drew their swords.
"Who are you! State your name and affiliation!"
The Imperial Guard members who were standing guard between the pillars also all drew their weapons.
Only one Imperial Guard member, the one who had been pushed by Glacie, was still making a bewildered expression with his frozen arms and legs.
Shhh.
The air in the plaza turned cold.
"Looks like you all want to die."
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