Aina thought she had misheard him.
But she had not.
“I’m thinking of moving around while concealing my identity.”
“Concealing your identity?”
“Teacher Kastel told me something interesting. She said that even though she slaughtered enemies while wearing a mask, most people couldn’t recognize her simply because she took it off. In that case, what if I put on a mask and wear different clothes? No one would recognize me.”
“I understand what you mean. But....”
Aina had never dreamed that he would say something like this.
She could not even tell whether Saul was being serious or joking.
Reading her expression, Saul made it clear that he meant every word.
“I’m not joking.”
“B-But Your Highness, it would be difficult for someone of your noble status to do such a thing.”
“It won’t be particularly difficult. I’ll conceal my identity with a mask and different clothing, then gain experience fighting humans and other intelligent races. Of course, I won’t cause trouble for House Hopkins or this region. In fact, I intend to help. I’ve heard that public security around here isn’t particularly good.”
“...Yes. That is true.”
As the lord’s daughter, and one who served as a soldier rather than living extravagantly within the estate, Aina knew the territory’s situation well.
No one believed that House Hopkins ruled the region tyrannically.
Its taxes were not particularly high even compared with lands directly governed by the king, and obligations such as labor service and conscription were not significantly heavier either.
Even amid the ongoing ‘Three-Hundred-Year War,’ House Hopkins had done what it could. Most of the territory’s inhabitants were not particularly satisfied with their lives, but neither were they deeply dissatisfied with House Hopkins’s rule.
The real problem was that numerous threats to public order existed both within and around the territory.
Their military forces were limited, and a significant portion had to be used against the Kingdom of Gamelda or to manage regions inhabited by the Other Races.
Inevitably, there were not enough troops left to properly police the territory itself.
And plenty of people took advantage of those gaps.
Deserters and criminals banding together into groups of brigands and roaming the territory in search of plunder was practically an everyday occurrence.
There had even been cases where the Kingdom of Gamelda sent spies to deliberately disrupt public order.
Then there were the monsters that appeared just when people were beginning to forget about them.
Although the armistice treaty with the Kingdom of Gamelda had been in effect for years, the lands of House Hopkins were still far removed from peace.
Public security was therefore a constant source of headaches for House Hopkins.
If someone could help resolve those problems, House Hopkins would welcome them with open arms.
If only that someone were not a prince.
‘Father told me to accommodate the prince’s requests whenever possible, but....’
If she carelessly agreed to something like this, the consequences could be frightening.
“I understand what Your Highness is saying. But....”
When Aina trailed off, Saul nodded.
“I know I’m asking something difficult of you. I also understand why you feel burdened by it. That’s why I thought of a way for my request to benefit you and House Hopkins rather than cause you harm.”
“Benefit... House Hopkins?”
“Yes. Let’s begin with what you’re probably most worried about. I won’t create a situation where House Hopkins has to take responsibility because I’m killed or seriously injured. Teacher will accompany me wherever I go.”
The Black Witch, Kastel.
She had barely appeared before the public in recent years, but the Black Witch’s reputation had not faded.
With Kastel accompanying Saul, the possibility of him being seriously injured or killed by mere bandits or thugs became almost nonexistent.
“There’s more. Teacher wants real combat training too, not just me. As you know, Teacher was unable to fight in actual battles for a long time because of the injuries she suffered against the ‘Garcia Sisters.’ So she needs personal training as well.”
“Then...?”
“Teacher will also make time separately to conceal her identity and help improve the territory’s security. If the lord makes a request, Teacher will immediately handle it. It doesn’t matter whether the target is a monster or a group of bandits.”
“Lady Kastel would....”
Could a single person really improve the security of an entire territory?
If that person was Kastel, perhaps she could.
It was certainly an attractive offer.
But the issue was far too serious for Aina to accept immediately.
She was not confident she could bear the responsibility if she answered carelessly.
“I’ll speak with Father first.”
“Yes. Please do.”
***
When told that Aina had urgent business, Duncan temporarily stopped what he was doing and waited for his daughter to arrive.
“What is it?”
“It concerns Prince Saul.”
Duncan’s eyes widened after hearing the circumstances from Aina.
“The prince said that?”
“Yes, Father.”
It was an unusual request.
No, it was bizarre.
Duncan could have understood it if Saul had simply made an unreasonable demand.
A sheltered prince ignorant of the world might see a frontier lord as someone little different from a commoner—someone he could simply disregard.
But this request was strange in an entirely different way.
Even more unusual was the fact that while making a somewhat unreasonable demand, Saul had also offered compensation substantial enough to make accepting it worthwhile.
It might not have been a scheme worthy of a seasoned politician, but for an idea conceived by a young prince who had only just come of age, it was remarkably thorough.
‘It is a burdensome request. But if my daughter and the Black Witch accompany the prince, even in the worst case, a major disaster is unlikely. It is unreasonable, but if we accept the risk and grant his request, the prince will owe us accordingly....’
Having made his decision, Duncan nodded.
“Very well. Help him.”
“You’re serious?”
“Yes. Didn’t you say Prince Saul is skilled enough to defeat you? If he has that level of ability, he should at least be capable of protecting himself. And even if something happens, with you and the Black Witch accompanying him, we should be able to avoid the worst. I give my permission. Help him as much as you like.”
“...Understood.”
After receiving Duncan’s answer, Aina immediately went to Saul and conveyed his decision.
“Thank you. I appreciate you going along with my strange behavior.”
“...You said you intend to conceal your identity. How exactly do you plan to do that?”
“I considered wearing a mask like Teacher, but I think a helmet would be better. I’ll wear a light helmet that completely covers my face and deal with the people disturbing the territory’s security. Together with Teacher.”
Saul repeatedly brought up Kastel to reassure Aina and, by extension, Duncan behind her.
Without Kastel as a safeguard, the two of them would have tried every possible means to stop the plan.
For that matter, Saul himself would never have devised something so irresponsible without such a safeguard.
In the end, Aina had no choice but to accept.
“Understood, Your Highness.”
***
Three days later.
Saul examined the equipment prepared to conceal his identity.
Safety came first, so he decided to wear the same ‘Magic Armor’ he had used during the monster hunt.
However, he put another light layer of clothing over it to keep the Magic Armor from being visible.
For his face, he decided to use a helmet.
Fortunately, the lord’s collection contained something suitable.
It was a leather helmet equipped with a face guard.
Highly skilled fighters often avoided excessively heavy armor or cumbersome helmets.
Protecting one’s body with mana or magic was far more efficient than relying on heavy armor or headgear.
At Saul and Aina’s level, fighting without a helmet was often more advantageous, which was why neither normally wore one.
A helmet felt unfamiliar to Saul, but fortunately, the lord’s leather helmet was comfortable while still concealing his face.
Its weight had also been reduced and its durability enhanced through magic.
As a result, it was far lighter and more comfortable than a metal helmet while still providing protection comparable to one.
Saul put on all the prepared clothing and finally donned the helmet.
Looking at him now, no one would ever imagine that Prince Saul was underneath.
Saul was satisfied with his appearance.
Gray, standing beside him, was not.
“Your Highness... do you truly have to go this far?”
Saul answered casually.
“It’s all part of becoming stronger.”
“But....”
Gray recalled Kastel’s words.
She had said the prince must be carrying some great anguish and pain.
Yet to Gray, Prince Saul’s current behavior looked little different from sheer eccentricity.
What frustrated him even more was that Saul carried out those eccentricities so thoroughly that it was difficult to find a reason to stop him.
Meanwhile, the two people who would be accompanying him arrived at the guest room.
Kastel was dressed plainly.
Aina wore leather armor of a different color and design from her usual equipment.
Both had concealed their faces as well.
Kastel wore a cloth mask, while Aina covered her face with a helmet like Saul.
They had decided to keep the number of people involved to a minimum.
There were a few others assisting from behind the scenes, but Saul, Kastel, and Aina would be the only three moving around directly.
Looking at the three masked figures reflected in the mirror, Saul once again realized just how unusual his behavior was.
If word of this ever spread, history books might record it as ‘the prince’s eccentric exploits’ for generations to come.
It was certainly bizarre enough.
Even so, Saul was convinced that this would be worthwhile.
He would gain real combat experience, become closer to the lord’s daughter and by extension the lord’s house, and personally experience the Gallet Region, which was completely different from the capital.
Even if people later called it ‘the prince’s eccentric exploits,’ Saul thought it was worth doing.
***
The plan was finalized.
Saul, Aina, and Kastel would conceal their identities and participate in maintaining public security throughout the territory.
Kastel had provided the idea behind the absurd plan.
Saul had taken that idea and turned it into an actual scheme.
Aina, in a sense, had been dragged into it against her will.
Still, once the decision was made, Aina adapted with surprising speed.
Apparently deciding that if they were going to do this, they needed to succeed, she began cooperating actively.
“Your Highness. I brought them.”
The documents Aina presented were impressively neat at first glance.
“Your writing is as impressive as your skill with an axe.”
Aina’s face reddened slightly at Saul’s praise.
“...My brother organized them.”
“Haha. I see.”
Saul had suspected as much.
Aina seemed like the type who excelled at taking action rather than organizing documents.
Her brother Kalland, on the other hand, appeared to be an expert at paperwork.
The documents Kalland had prepared were remarkably easy to read.
Text and illustrations were arranged appropriately, making them clear and orderly, while the information itself was thorough.
“So these are the current problems within the territory.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Areas marked with ‘M’ indicate monsters. Areas marked with ‘C’ indicate criminal hideouts or places where criminals most frequently appear.”
Marks for ‘M’ and ‘C’ were scattered across the territory map.
Saul focused on the ‘C’ marks.
“Monsters are a problem too, but Teacher can deal with some of those whenever she has time. Right, Teacher?”
Nod.
“Let’s focus on these ‘C’ marks.”
“Yes, Your Highness. The criminals currently active in our territory can broadly be divided into three groups. First are ordinary petty criminals and delinquents. Second are more capable and vicious thugs and bandits. And then there is the White Crow.”
Saul had heard of the White Crow before.
A person’s name slipped from his lips.