The next morning, before breakfast, Ryu released the assassins he had stored in subspace and interrogated them.

It wasn't a true interrogation for Ryu. He didn't need confessions, so it was over quickly. He simply asked his questions and used his Divine Eye to read their minds.

However, this time, the assassins readily answered his questions without hesitation.

Ryu had stored them in a subspace where time passed, not just a space with air. As a user of time-space magic, Ryu could create such a space freely.

The space he created for the assassins wasn't just a space where time flowed, but time flowed eight times faster compared to the outside world. One hour outside was eight hours inside. Since six hours had passed since Ryu woke up in the morning, two whole days had passed inside.

To prevent them from suffocating, the space was vast. It was just a vast empty space.

There was no light, and nothing touched their bodies except air. They had a ground-like surface, but it wasn't dirt; it was a dimensional wall, so they couldn't dig or carve into it. All that was left was endless darkness.

Suddenly thrown into a world of nothingness, without food or water, forced to wander for a long time with no sense of how much time had passed, the assassins were driven to speak truthfully if it meant being released.

They were assassins, so they were likely tougher than ordinary people. They shouldn't have gone crazy from being locked in a cell for a couple of days without food or drink, but being completely left alone in empty darkness had been terrifying, taking a considerable mental toll... enough to make them spill everything.

However, they had been hired by a dark guild, so they didn't know who had given them the assassination order.

Ryu obtained information about the dark guild that had issued the order and reported it to the King. He then cut off the assassins' arms, legs, and head, sending their dismembered bodies to the dark guild through teleportation.

It was a warning: mess with him again, and he would destroy the entire guild.

The dark guild master reacted quickly. He immediately decided "the opponent was too dangerous," disbanded the guild, and disappeared.

With the ongoing war, manpower was scarce, so they wouldn't be pursued immediately. However, once the situation calmed down, the palace knights would likely investigate. The master had decided to escape before that happened.

Those who lived in the darkness were sharp about sensing danger and quick on their feet.

After dealing with that matter, Ryu, realizing the possibility of intruders, decided to cover the palace with a dimensional barrier at night. This would prevent anyone from entering until morning... and no one could leave either.

He also considered the possibility that they were already infiltrated during the day. After setting up the dimensional barrier, he scanned the palace with his Divine Eye, searching for anyone with hostile intent. Unless they were being manipulated unconsciously, there was no escaping his detection.

In the midst of all this, both good and bad news arrived at the palace.

The good news was that the Sword Saint Reinard had arrived at the palace and was willing to help. Reinard was an old friend of the King. He had even been the captain of the palace knights in the past.

Reinard was greeted by the King, who was surprised to see him younger than before. There was so much to talk about, and the King wanted to catch up with his old friend, but this wasn't the time for that. After brief greetings, Reinard expressed his desire to immediately head to the front lines.

The nobles from across the kingdom were bringing their troops to the front lines, but it would take at least a week, and some might take even a month or more.

Until then, they had to hold the line with their current forces. Having the Sword Saint Reinard on their side was a huge relief.

At the same time, bad news also came in. The fourth and fifth princes, who had been leading the front lines, had died in battle.

"Malim-nii and Trim-nii..." Sophie murmured, heartbroken.

"The battle situation is unfavorable. First Prince Regisild, who joined the front lines, is now in command, but the line has been significantly pushed back..." the Prime Minister reported grimly.

"I'll head there immediately!" Reinard declared, about to depart for the front lines. However, he stopped and turned to Ryu, remembering Ryu's teleportation ability.

"Ryu, can you teleport me to the front lines?" Reinard asked.

"If I know the location... can you show me a map?" Ryu replied.

"Actually, aren't you going? Most of the adventurers have already joined the front lines. Wait, you're not an adventurer anymore, are you?" Reinard asked.

"Ryu, if you lend your strength, we can defeat the enemy, can't we?" Sophie pleaded.

"Ryuujin-dono's already declined my offer. He said he wasn't interested in joining the war," the Prime Minister explained.

"Not interested in joining the war? Why?" Reinard inquired, puzzled.

"There's no single right answer...," Ryu replied enigmatically.

"Right answer?" Reinard echoed.

"If there are a hundred people, there are a hundred different right answers. Everyone believes they're right.

But what about when your position changes? What's right also changes.

For example, from the animal's perspective, wouldn't humans who kill and eat them be evil? Some might say they don't eat animals, but then, is it okay to take the lives of plants?

No matter how much humans believe they're right, can you really say it's truly right from God's perspective?" Ryu asked, provoking Reinard's thoughts.

"…" Reinard contemplated this, pondering Ryu's words.

"Even if the opponent is a villain, they have their own perspective.

Even if you believe you're absolutely right, who's to say which side is truly right in the grand scheme of things? Only God can judge that," Ryu continued.

"So you don't want to participate in the war because there's no right or wrong?" Reinard deduced.

"That's it... but...

...Ultimately, it's true that people can only do what they believe is right.

If you don't know what's right, you have no choice but to act according to the rules you believe in.

And one rule that's certain...,"

Ryu turned to Sophie.

"…" Sophie tilted her head, confused.

"When your family and friends are about to be trampled upon, fighting to protect them is also a form of rightness, I believe," Ryu stated firmly.

"I want to confirm something. The enemy claims they are only trying to reclaim territory that was once theirs?" Ryu asked, probing for details.

"That's a lie. They're simply fabricating a history that suits their needs," Reinard refuted.

"Are you sure?" Ryu questioned.

"Yes, there's no record of this country ever being part of another nation," the Prime Minister confirmed.

"This country was founded by my ancestor, King Galija. We have never invaded and taken territory from another nation," the King declared with pride.

"The Chagamga Republic often lies and invades surrounding nations," Sophie added, her voice filled with anger and frustration.

"I see. If this was just some trivial power struggle, I wouldn't have been interested in participating...

But... if the enemy is attacking to seize what's rightfully yours, it's your right to fight in self-defense.

So, I'll lend my strength to protect the family of my friend," Ryu declared, his resolve hardening.

"Ryu!" Sophie exclaimed, a glimmer of hope returning to her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Sophie. If I had acted sooner, maybe your brothers wouldn't have died," Ryu said, his voice heavy with regret.

To be continued

Next time

Ryu kills someone who looks like the enemy commander.

Don't miss it!