Nadia and Sylvan’s report, which described an emergency involving other nations, reached the Chancellor within minutes of their briefing.
To avoid confusion, the details were not disclosed widely, but the knights were immediately mobilized. Their first task was to check whether any other delegations were present within the palace.
This led to the discovery that there were no issues with other countries, and it was confirmed that the disappearances involved only the delegations from the Kingdom of Ghazal and Martina.
Now, the only remaining questions were why this abduction occurred and where the three members of the Ghazal Kingdom’s delegation and Martina were.
“I can’t say this too loudly, but the Ghazal Kingdom’s delegation must have abducted Martina!”
In the office, the king clenched his fists, his anger clear. The Chancellor and the Minister of Military Affairs nodded in agreement with the king’s words.
“…That prediction is almost certainly correct. There’s no reason for the Ghazal Kingdom’s delegation to abduct Martina, but there is a reason for Ghazal to do so.”
“The Ghazal Kingdom has provided no useful information whatsoever… It wouldn’t be surprising if they abducted Martina to monopolize the Saint.”
The king, agreeing with the Chancellor and the Minister of Military Affairs, furrowed his brow and stared intently at a detailed map of the palace that had been placed on the table.
“However, what I don’t understand is where they left the palace. With so many guards stationed, it would be impossible to leave the palace unnoticed.”
“Yes. I, as the Minister of Military Affairs, can assert with full responsibility that it would be impossible. The only possible exit might be a servant’s entrance… but the Ghazal delegation should not have known about it, so it’s still hard to believe.”
At this, the room fell silent. The king, maintaining his angry expression, spoke again.
“In any case, mobilize the knights and search the entire palace. Also, let’s station knights at the outer gates just in case. If it’s confirmed that the Ghazal delegation abducted Martina… I will show no mercy. She is a hope for saving the world, but she is also an important official of our country. We cannot stay silent if they lay a hand on her.”
The Chancellor and the Minister of Military Affairs nodded, their eyes filled with determination. The three men exchanged looks and nodded in agreement.
In the carriage being prepared by the Ghazal Kingdom’s delegation, Martina was lying on her side, hands and feet bound. She seemed to be unconscious, likely due to something she was forced to inhale when she was taken.
“Hey! Move the carriage quickly!”
“W-wait a moment! I left water and food, but it seems there’s not enough. The horses won’t move until they eat…”
“You useless fool! Hurry up!”
The man attending to Ghazal was red with anger. Ghazal, irritated, kicked the carriage in frustration, causing a sound and vibration that made Martina’s consciousness flicker.
Her eyes moved slightly and began to open, though the three outside the carriage still hadn’t noticed.
“…Where… am I?”
Martina murmured in a hoarse voice, her eyes scanning the surroundings to assess the situation. She soon pieced together the context, understanding that she had been abducted by the Ghazal Kingdom’s delegation.
—That voice belongs to the Ghazal delegation. I was attacked before I lost consciousness, and now I’m inside what seems to be a carriage. My hands and feet are bound, and the conditions are far from ideal. So… I was abducted by the Ghazal Kingdom?
Having come to this conclusion, Martina’s mind raced as she tried to figure out a way to escape.
But though Martina possessed special abilities, she wasn’t physically strong, and she couldn’t think of a way to break free from her bindings.
—I’m unable to use magic, I can’t fight with a sword, and with my hands and feet tied, I can’t do anything…
As Martina reflected on her dire situation, she suddenly heard a loud crash, followed by the floor of the carriage shaking violently.
“Ugh…!”
Martina, unable to brace herself due to her restraints, was thrown and collided with the wall. Wincing in pain from the blow to her forehead, the carriage door opened, and she was pulled out by a strong arm.
“Martina, are you okay!?”
“Roland…?”
“Thank goodness…”
Roland, having confirmed Martina was conscious, smiled in relief and gently sat her on the ground while glaring fiercely at the three members of the Ghazal delegation.
The three men’s faces, illuminated by a small lantern, twisted with fear and anger.
“Y-you… you broke our carriage!”
“You’re the ones who kidnapped our people!”
“Hah, what can one person do? You three, quickly take Martina from him!”
“Y-yes…”
The two attendants of Ghazal, startled by Roland’s intervention, took a step forward, but suddenly stopped in their tracks.
“What’s wrong, are you scared?”
“No! Something’s grabbing our feet…!”
“—Could it be that you’re using Dark magic? And you can even control shadows. You must be quite powerful.”
The words from one of the attendants stunned everyone in the scene. The one most shocked, however, was Martina.
“…That’s right. And that’s why you can’t win against me.”
The moment Roland spoke those words, shadows moved freely, binding the two attendants and Ghazal to a nearby tree.
