After that, he explained the situation to the soldiers who had gathered.
He blushed over the public display of affection, but somehow managed to allay their suspicions and get them to lower their guard.
Rest secured an audience with His Majesty the King and was shown into the throne room without much delay.
"I see... So this was what was happening with the foreign tribes, was it?"
Upon hearing Rest's report, King David Aiwood nodded with a pained expression.
The king's expression was grim. He had dark circles under his eyes and looked unusually exhausted.
Crown Prince Richard Aiwood was also present in the throne room.
Richard too had a stern look on his face, as if he regarded the situation with grave seriousness.
"So, this so-called 'Curse Caster' was pulling the strings from behind the scenes, stirring up the foreign tribes. What a troublesome mess."
"Father, I suspect this 'Curse Caster'..."
"I know. That must be the case."
As Richard interjected from the side, the king let out a heavy groan of acknowledgment.
"Forgive my impertinence... but does Your Majesty know something about this?"
Rest, the only one in the dark here, timidly ventured to ask.
It might be a sign of disrespect to interrupt a conversation amongst royalty... but still, Rest was already deeply involved in this matter.
If they knew something, he wanted them to tell him.
"'Takfiil Kahen'... That is what this 'Curse Caster' called himself, correct?"
"...Yes. Does Your Majesty know of them?"
"I received a warning from the 'Council of Sages.' They said there are those who wish for the overthrow of the state, or perhaps the chaos of the world."
"Is that 'Takfiil Kahen'?"
"Mm-hmm."
The king explains, tapping his fingers on the armrest of the throne.
"'Takfiil Kahen' is a shadowy organization that has been active in the world's shadows since before our kingdom's founding. They are unknown individuals who bring chaos to the country, cause strife among people, and sow malice. They are opposed to the 'Council of Sages' and continue to fight in the shadows."
"Only a few people should know of their existence. Even my younger brothers haven't been told."
"The exceptions are those responsible for national defense, like the knight commander or the chief court mage. If you hadn't actually encountered them, you wouldn't have been informed either."
"I see..."
So, Marquis Cattleya, his father-in-law, also knew of their existence.
Rest sighed, thinking that he should have consulted him from the beginning.
"I cannot say this loudly, but it is said that in the past, even among the royalty, there were those who sided with them... It is a shameful part of our kingdom."
The king lowered his voice only for the last part.
The king's mother... Queen Dowager Frederica Aiwood was also one of the people who cooperated with 'Takfiil Kahen'.
"I do not know why, but regardless of status or position—royalty, nobles, or commoners—people who agree with them appear. I cannot understand what drives them to such a goal as world annihilation."
"............"
Rest knew one common point among the people participating in 'Takfiil Kahen'.
That was that they were reincarnated persons.
People who were reincarnated into this world and hated that fact.
(The queen dowager had her family killed and was forced to become the previous king's wife... That was why she resented the world.)
The 'Curse Caster' also spoke words of resentment.
I don't know what happened to him, but perhaps he had enough reason to hate the world and wish for its destruction.
(I wish I had talked to him more before defeating him...)
There was no time for that, and the opponent was fully intent on fighting, leaving no room for conversation.
Even so, I felt a desire to speak with him as a fellow countryman.
"It seems their evil influence is closing in on our country as well. And the empire has already fallen into their hands."
"What do you mean...?"
"I haven't reported this to you yet... The empire has invaded our country. Currently, a battle is raging at the eastern border, and Margrave Lavender and Knight Commander Cattleya are handling it."
"......!"
Rest's eyes flew open at the king's words.
He had heard that something unsettling was happening at the eastern border, but he never expected an actual invasion.
"War..."
This was no longer a matter of subjugating foreign tribes.
A full-scale war had broken out—perhaps the first since Rest reincarnated into this world.