Chapter 346.1. People Can Fake Their Address

The car came to a stop, and with a thud, they tumbled out of the car. Rolling gracefully, Mii-chan struck a pose.
Though my knee hurt a bit, I couldn’t help it. I wanted to make a cool entrance. She didn’t stumble; it’s true. Maybe she doesn’t like this car because it has steps.
“Could it be none other than Marchioness Takano?”
The warrior who was talking to Shin noticed me and called out. On a closer look, he’s not a samurai but a Royal Guard.
Or rather, I recognize that face.
“Captain Gotou, hello. Takano Miu! Is here”
“Please don’t be humble with me, Marchioness Takano. It puts me in a difficult position.”
Striking a pose, Captain Gotou responded seriously with his ice-blue eyes sparkling. I know, sanjou is a humble language. Mii-chan knows.
But, the sanjou used by the masked heroes isn’t humble language; it’s hero language for a cool entrance. Really. If not, they end up appearing humble to villains and evildoers!
It smells like a match fix. Today, too, please let be the one who gets beaten up, and there’s a possibility the hero is rubbing his hands together behind the scenes.
Well, leaving aside the analysis of the entrance scene, it seems that Captain Gotou has happily returned to his position as the Royal Guard captain. Good for him.
Is the first mission to accompany Shin voluntarily? He seems energetic. The new magic armor looks cool!
“Thank you, Captain Gotou. Are you helping the Warriors today?”
“Yes. In this matter, the Royal Guards want to assess the situation ahead of time.”
He gives a straightforward answer, but the idea that the Royal Guards want to capture the former Empress is faintly visible. Well, it’s understandable. It’s a big scandal if a Royal Family member is the culprit.
“Weren’t you just fighting remnants of Nidhogg in the imperial palace until a while ago?”
“Yes. Since that’s settled, I came here.”
What vitality. Mii-chan is surprised. He can go here and there. She can feel his determination. During the undercover investigation, he didn’t find evidence connecting Duchess Ryusui to Nidhogg, so he must be motivated.
“Are you also going to meet Baron Kanna?”
“Yeah! It’s a confusing situation, so I came to hear Shin’s story!”
I raise my small hand and snort. I came to hear an explanation of how this situation came about.
I glance around. Although it’s on the border between the noble district and the commoner area, it’s off the main street and on a narrow back alley. Trash is scattered on the street, and many houses are old. Not just old but shabby.
There are no people, and in a narrow space, there’s a dilapidated two-story apartment that looks like a ruin. Shin and the others were standing in front of it.
It gives a very obvious feeling of decline. Shin is relatively tidy, but he’s wearing slightly worn-out old clothes. His mother, on the other hand, seems to be wearing a dress that looks like a rag.
Hmm, oh well. I feel sorry for them, the former family of the powerful Kanna Dukedom.
“This is Her Highness, the Imperial Princess, Marchioness Takano, Teijou-san, Aburage-san, and Masatoshi-kun. Welcome.”
Despite embodying complete downfall, Shin, without forgetting his pride as a noble, greets us with a clean bow. His mother, on the other hand, looks down, muttering incomprehensible things under her breath.
“Thank you for your polite greeting, Baron Kanna.”
Sena grabs the hem of her skirt and curtsies. Yamiyo and Tamamo also curtsy, as if it were a greeting at a party.
There’s a somewhat unpleasant attitude. Of course, Mii-chan also curtsies and greets.
“So, are you also here about Spatial Witch?”
“Yes. The Spatial Witch had manipulated my older brother’s mind. She did the same to me. That’s an unforgivable act and a great sin. Do you know why she did such a thing?”
Sena steps forward. Her eyes harbor a fierce light, and it seems she has no intention of hiding her hostility.
Shin turns his face to Captain Gotou, then faces us, covering his mouth with his hand, nodding as if dejected.
“Yes, Your Highness. It seems Spatial Witch deceived us. She said Marchioness Takano proposed an alliance with Nidhogg and aimed for the Emperor’s throne. I received training to support Masatoshi-kun and prevent that ambition.”
“Eeeeh! Support me? Wasn’t I supposed to support Shin!”
“I, who no longer have any power, cannot possibly fight Marchioness Takano. Why would you say such a thing? No, I’m just a humble baron. Is that the reason?”
Surprised by the unexpected statement, Masatoshi grabs Shin’s collar and starts shouting. However, Shin, with an unexpected remark, wears a lonely expression, exhales as if resigned, and lowers his head.
What is this? Captain Gotou’s gaze turns toward Masatoshi. The surrounding palace guards change their formation from surrounding Shin to surrounding Masatoshi.
“I never expected you to come so quickly, to seal my words…”
“W-What are you talking about, you weirdo!”
In confusion, Masatoshi stammers. This contrasts sharply with Shin, who seems to have given up on the whole idea and is speaking calmly. He looks like a petty villain who got caught doing something mischievous.