The Original Web Light Novel Project

  Volume 02, Chapter 24: [ Suspicion ]

  Original work. By the author 'Pili.'

  (Italic dialogues represent character inner monologues)

  Miles away from the capital, in the isolated regions of the great kingdom of Yumix, the sun had begun its slow descent over the village of Jiika.

  Same as usual, that evening was peaceful. Or at least, that’s just how it seemed on the surface.

  Inside the small public office of the local Kingdom outpost, Honoka Kurosawa sat behind her desk. She was smoothly twirling a pen between her fingers.

  The room was modest. One desk. One cabinet. A single wide window on the left that overlooked the street.

  She let out a sigh and looked at the pile of paperwork scattered on her desk.

  "I feel kind of bored…"

  She leaned back in her chair. Her boots rested casually on the edge of the desk as she stared at the ceiling.

  "Nothing ever happens here. Picking this path so young really locked me in."

  It didn't take long before someone opened the door.

  A young officer rushed in, carrying a fresh report. He looked flustered.

  "Detect—I mean, Honoka-san!"

  Honoka didn't even look. "What is it, novice? Has anyone gotten lost heading to the capital again?"

  "No! It's a report… from the Capital!"

  He approached hesitantly and slid a paper down on her desk.

  Honoka didn’t react at first.

  "Mm…?"

  "This is the second incident," he continued. "Night Crows… again."

  "Second?"

  In an instant, she lowered her feet from the desk and corrected her posture, seeming interested.

  "Y-Yeah!" The officer nodded frantically. "It’s the Western district this time. Many buildings were also damaged by their fires. People are saying the capital might not be safe anymore for much longer."

  Honoka hummed thoughtfully. Her eyes landed on the report in front of her, where she quickly noticed something.

  "Oh… it seems something is interesting on it."

  "Huh?" The guard blinked.

  "Read it properly."

  He glanced at her with curiosity, then shifted his gaze to those papers.

  "The Royal Guards' response was delayed. Suspected coordinated timing. There was also a message accusing the Kingdom of corruption."

  "What might that mean?"

  "Well… you don't see enemies showing up out of nowhere just for fun."

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  There was a brief, deafening silence for a moment. Honoka tilted her head slightly to the side as she looked outward.

  "The first incident had already been strange. It had drawn attention. Too precise," Honoka spoke quietly to herself, thinking.

  "But a second one… so soon?" She pondered internally.

  "Yeah… That’s bold," The young officer shrugged. "They’re terrorists. That's what they do."

  Honoka lowered her head slightly.

  "No…"

  She stood up slowly and walked toward the window.

  "Terrorists usually want chaos. Fear without pattern. You won't see them as ones who attack and then retreat."

  She rested her hands on the lower window frame, gazing at the distant road to the capital.

  "This isn’t random… What if…"

  Her mind went back to the shelter from a few months ago.

  Back then… where a group of four teenagers who had stood against her. At that time, they seemed as if they were heading towards a place in the north… the capital.

  "So, Kurogane was his name, I think." A chilling smile formed on her face, her expression unreadable. She then turned directly towards him.

  "They didn’t come back."

  "H-Huh…?" The officer tilted his head to the side.

  "If they went to the capital," she continued calmly as she moved her gaze back to the window, "that means they probably have found a way to survive there."

  "Them…? You mean the name you mentioned earlier?"

  But Honoka just carried on speaking.

  "It isn't easy to live in Praga without work or a strong financial base. They… probably had joined the PHG. Or some other guild."

  "Maybe they went home?"

  She gave him a flat look.

  "Do they look like kids with stable homes?"

  "Fair point…" He scratched his cheek.

  And then… a thought struck her. Her facial features shifted immediately.

  "Wait a minute," she sat up straight.

  "The Shelter incident involved the Royal Guards responding. But then… none of the official investigations received any follow-up."

  She narrowed her eyes.

  "Furthermore, there were some PHG members who observed the incident, but we haven't heard from them since. And now, attacks are happening in the capital, targeting areas where the Royal Guard is weak."

  The room fell quiet. Honoka pondered with her hand on her chin.

  "Which means," she continued, "either someone powerful is backing them… or, during that period, someone was feeding them information… especially from the PHG."

  The officer’s mouth opened slightly.

  "Is corruption possibly arising from within?"

  "Probably. Who knows. And if those four kids joined them…"

  Her lips curled faintly.

  "Then that would be interesting…"

  The officer stood stunned, speechless by her well-detailed analysis.

  She then walked back toward her desk and grabbed her coat from the chair.

  The officer stared at her, confused. "Umm… Honoka-san?"

  "So… when is the next transport trolley coming?" She asked.

  "Huh?" The officer blinked. "You mean the cargo carriage?"

  "Yes. We will move to the Capital for a special mission."

  The officer’s jaw dropped. "HUH?! Are you serious? Are we going to focus on this? That's beyond our responsibility!"

  Honoka walked over to him, leaning in close with a charming smile.

  "Well… you can stay here if you want."

  She patted his shoulder.

  "Congratulations. You are now the co-responsible of the station until I return."

  The officer’s face turned red. He straightened his posture immediately.

  "I… I will get you the nearest fancy carriage soon!"

  "Good boy. Make sure it’s comfortable."

  He directly rushed out to arrange the transport.

  Honoka approached the window slowly, watching the officer as he went with what she requested from him.

  The sky had deepened into gold and red.

  "I don’t know what may happen in the next days," she admitted quietly.

  "Things are moving really fast."

  Later that evening, back in the capital, the sky deepened to a rich purple as night approached.

  Ryuuji Yamaake walked calmly through the main hub of the PHG. He had just returned from his meeting with Seina. He was unaware of what had happened that morning, since he had been absent.

  As he reached the other side, he took a moment to pause; ahead of him was the administrative platform, flanked by two corridors.

  "The place is unusually messy, as if something happened in here."

  He glanced around the area until his gaze landed on the PHG announcement board. He spotted something he didn't recognize before.

  "What's that post over there? Is it new?"

  Ryuuji approached the board. His eyes landed on the large poster pinned to the center.

  [ NIGHT CROWS STRIKE AGAIN ]

  His gaze fell on the bottom text, and his face went still.

  "The Kingdom is rotten. This is our judgment. The false King will fall."

  Ryuuji’s expression darkened.

  He reached out and ripped the poster down in one swift motion.

  "Who put this here?! It's not even official!"

  He gripped the torn paper tightly, his face filled with anger.

  "The PHG does not post news from outside sources. Especially not propaganda aimed at inciting panic."

  Ryuuji sharply faced the other way and started walking decisively. His firm voice resonated around, but he was alone in there.

  He crushed the paper in his hand. He rounded the corner, where the left corridor is, and threw it into the nearby trash can.

  His gaze remained fixed on it.

  "Seina was right," Ryuuji’s jaw tightened.

  "This wasn't just a random act of provocation. Someone put this here deliberately. They want to spread panic among the people… and turn them against the Kingdom."

  He stared at the second-floor stairs, the ones leading to the recruits' quarters.

  "There’s a mole in our ranks."

  His eyes narrowed.

  "Maybe more than one."

  [TO BE CONTINUED…]