Chapter 450: Called by the Prime Minister

Several days after rushing into the kidnapper’s house, a summons, no an invitation came from Prime Minister Cromwell. The business was the suspicious "Please come to drink tea occasionally." But, since called, one has to go.

When going to the Prime Minister’s room, as expected Her Majesty the Queen was there. When going to the Prime Minister’s place, Her Majesty the Queen is mostly there. Is this not rumored as an affair between Her Majesty the Queen and the Prime Minister? Well, since one cannot think red blood is flowing in the Prime Minister, no one would even think such a thing.

I had thought the call was about the uproar of the kidnapper’s house, but it was different.

"Ambassador Marie, sorry for having you come specially. There was something I wanted you to hear. In fact it is about the heroes."

Without seasonal greetings, the Prime Minister cuts to the main topic. I have only just sat down, and tea and sweets have not come out yet.

"Is it all right for me to hear about the heroes?"

Thinking that is national secret, I try asking.

"That is so. I would like you to make it the form of having overheard me and Her Majesty the Queen talking."

Thinking that then, when erasing presence,

"No, no need to go that far! It is as if I am talking toward the wall. Please do normally."

I was told. There seemed no need to use "Stealth" and "Concealment," of course. For the time being, it seemed to have been received by Her Majesty the Queen, and she is giggling. There was an effect of softening the place!

"Well, please listen. In fact a troubled thing is occurring about the heroes. The heroes cannot kill people."

The Prime Minister says plainly. But the content is not something to say so easily. When I remain silent,

"It has been decided to eventually throw the heroes onto the battlefield. What is assumed is the border area with the Empire. The opponent is the Empire army so it will be fighting Empire soldiers. Rarely there might be fighting magical beasts, but mostly it is against humans. As for us, we thought it would be difficult to suddenly make them fight Empire soldiers, and have been conducting training with the knights. There they are showing excellent results. That is also quite excellent, the knights are also becoming unable to match in mock battles. As expected of heroes.

There, according to the knights, no matter how excellent results are achieved in mock battles, when actually standing on the battlefield there are cases it cannot be utilized. They say the biggest problem is cutting people. Therefore based on the proposal from the knight order, it was decided to make the heroes kill people."

The Prime Minister talks plainly as if talking about the lunch menu. I who had not thought I would be made to hear such a thing am just listening in silence.

"If a criminal who becomes death penalty, it would be fine to try making the hero cut, so we tried making the hero try, but the hero could not. Until holding the sword it was fine, but after that he became completely unable to move, it seems. The whole body trembled and he only said ’I can’t, I can’t do it,’ it seems."

A gulp sound of swallowing saliva was heard. That is natural, I think. Even saying a hero brought from Japan, when in Japan he was probably an ordinary high school student. Ordering that one to cut a person, there is no way he can cut. All the more, cutting an unresisting human he probably cannot. I think the psychological barrier is too high.

"It seems they tried several times but it was impossible. It seems they made him drink alcohol and tried making him do it with a big attitude, but when standing in front of the criminal he trembles, it seems."

That is not unreasonable. Eventually it might become trauma?

"The knight order tried various ingenuity, but it seems they cannot. I tried asking if there is no good wisdom inside the royal palace, but no good plan comes from anyone. There, it became the talk from Her Majesty the Queen of trying to ask Ambassador Marie. Ambassador Marie despite being a prince, is heard to not hesitate in cutting people. Normally, high-ranking nobles do not cut people even once in a lifetime. Despite that, Ambassador Marie while being a prince cuts people. Cutting without hesitation, and the number is rumored to exceed one hundred. If that number is true, I think he is the human who has cut the most people in the Mainz Kingdom regardless of noble or commoner."

The way I am said is terrible. It feels as though I am being said to be a murderous prince. Might be called Person-Cutter Robbie or something?

"There, I want you to teach how Ambassador Marie became able to cut people. Thinking about it, even if I am handed a sword and ordered to cut the criminal in front of me, I think I could not. But Ambassador Marie can do that, right? I want you to teach the reason."

While saying I want you to teach, the Prime Minister is not facing me. Is it a posture of saying a monologue as if I am not there.

"I have one question."

"What?"

"I have heard there are ones summoned together with the heroes. Can those ones kill people?"

The Prime Minister falls silent. My question seems not to have been thought of. He says something in a small voice to the aide beside, and is whispered to.

"The other two also cannot kill people."

"Why is that? Did you make the two also train to kill people?"

"We are making them. However it seems they cannot. One is a sage and uses magic to defeat enemies, but there is no good teacher to teach magic, and it seems he cannot yet use magic enough to kill a person in one blow."

"No good teacher? Is Division Head Hütter not teaching?"

"Ah, he is not teaching. Division Head Hütter has circumstances and cannot teach the sage."

I have heard from Her Majesty the Queen that Division Head Hütter has disappeared. However, in this place I talk as if I have not heard, and tried seeing the Prime Minister’s response. Still, publicly it is a secret.

※At this point, the Empire’s Hero Summoning ceremony has not been performed, and therefore Division Head Hütter’s disappearance is also hidden.

"It seems one who teaches magic must be able to use 10 times the knowledge and techniques of the one being taught. The sage has already reached the level of the ones teaching. However, it seems the ability has hit a ceiling there. Now they are searching for a teacher."

"The other summoned one?"

"The remaining is a warrior, but this seems more than fighting to protect the hero, an ability to repel every attack. Therefore, against attacks he is strong, but the ability to attack himself does not seem that high. Against the knights’ attacks he is showing unmatched strength of defense, it seems, but the knight order evaluates that the ability to kill people is not high. Therefore they are not making him kill people."

"Hmm."

Hearing what the Prime Minister says, I thought not only the heroes but also the sage and warrior should train to kill people. Holding a sword, stabbing a person. Even if it does not become a fatal wound, I thought it is necessary to know the sensation of the sword entering that person’s flesh.

Being on the battlefield, there are times one has to protect one’s body with one sword. When it becomes a scene of fighting the enemy with a sword, one must not hesitate to stab the enemy.

"Regarding Ambassador Marie’s question, is this answer fine? Is there any opinion about this?"

"Thank you."

I only answered. I cannot say how about making the sage and warrior also train to kill people. Even if I do not say it, someone seems likely to notice.