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"An investigation?"
At that moment, everyone couldn't help but look at each other in blank dismay.
Fang Li also frowned slightly, stepped forward, and asked the guard: "Excuse me, what's going on here?"
Though the Royal Capital was indeed the capital of the Belzerg Kingdom and heavily guarded, it shouldn't have reached the point where even travelers needed to be investigated before entering.
If now even entering the city required investigation, then something must have happened.
In response, the guard explained:
"You don't know?" the guard said, "Not long ago, the Royal Castle was infiltrated by a mysterious and powerful thief. Princess Iris was kidnapped, though she was later safely returned. That news should have spread everywhere by now, right?"
The guard's words caused Fang Li's brows to raise slightly.
And not just Fang Li, even Darkness showed a reaction, sneaking a glance at Fang Li without a trace.
This rich Ojou-sama might have really figured out Fang Li's identity.
As for the others, they immediately began discussing it.
"Hey," Megumin said, visibly excited, "could it be they're talking about that Black Knight?"
"You mean the wanted criminal with a bounty in the billions of Eris, even higher than any leader of the Demon King's Army?" Kazuma seemed to know about it too. He looked at the inexplicably excited Megumin and asked, "Why are you so worked up?"
"Of course I'm worked up!" Megumin said without the slightest hesitation. "That Black Knight is my idol!"
Megumin's straight-faced declaration left Fang Li stunned.
Idol?
Megumin's idol?
She sees me as her idol?!
No way… right?
Even Fang Li was shocked, let alone Darkness, whose gaze toward Fang Li had become somewhat weird.
Meanwhile, completely unaware, Megumin continued chatting with Kazuma:
"You haven't seen the Black Knight's wanted poster?" Megumin's red eyes sparkled as she said, "Floating in mid-air, wielding a Moonlighht Dagger, with Ice Eyes… that pitch-black knight is just way too cool. I'm sure anyone from the Crimson Magic Clan would absolutely fall in love with him. Even Yunyun, who's usually called a rare weirdo, couldn't stop praising him! When I mailed that wanted poster back to my hometown, the guys all started mimicking his style, and the girls all said they'd definitely marry him in the future!"
Fang Li nearly tripped and fell over.
'Seriously?!'
'Those Chuunibyou-infected high-level mages actually did something like that?'
If his real identity were exposed now, it would probably cause a huge commotion, wouldn't it?
Thinking that far, Fang Li glanced at Darkness.
She was shaking her shoulders, seemingly trying her best not to laugh.
As for Megumin, she was still talking enthusiastically.
"Everyone knows it now, the Black Knight not only infiltrated the Royal Castle alone but didn't get discovered until he entered the royal treasury. And even after being discovered, he showed no fear, raising havoc throughout the entire castle with terrifying power. Even the Knight Order couldn't stop him and could only watch helplessly as he kidnapped the princess."
"After that, when the Demon King's Army attacked the Royal Capital and the city was in grave danger, the Black Knight suddenly appeared like a whirlwind, instantly killing the leading High-Class Devil and then single-handedly slaughtering the entire Demon King's Army corps. The Knight Order was completely shaken by him."
"And when he was about to leave, someone asked him: 'Who are you? Where's Princess Iris?'"
At that moment, Megumin covered one eye with one hand, raised her head in a pose she thought was cool, and said with a cold smirk:
"I'm just a daring thief, and your princess will return home by herself, no need to worry."
After saying this, Megumin's expression shifted to one of absolute reverence and admiration.
"Such a cool line! Such a cool scene! Such a cool person! Can you understand it? Can you?!"
As she said this, Megumin even began approaching Kazuma, causing him to back away in fear.
Kazuma quickly leaned over and whispered to Aqua, "Hey, that doesn't sound like something a normal person could do. Could it be that guy is another one of those cheat-holding isekai travelers you brought to this world?"
"How should I know?" Aqua immediately washed her hands of the matter, saying very irresponsibly: "If he is, I really wish he'd come and thank me properly for bringing him here. Then I could turn him in for that bounty. I want that billion Eris!"
Hearing all this chatter from behind, Darkness was struggling harder and harder not to laugh. In the end, she had to pat Fang Li on the shoulder, trying to comfort him.
But Fang Li had no intention of acknowledging this super masochist knight who was clearly taking joy in his misfortune.
After all, hearing someone describe the event in such specific detail, and that someone happened to be a member of the Crimson Magic Clan, a group collectively afflicted by Chuunibyou, just made the whole thing feel more and more absurd.
Why did I even do all that back then?
And also… how does Megumin know the entire story so clearly, even repeating his exact words from that day without a single mistake?
'Could it be… this story has already spread throughout the entire kingdom?'
Thinking that far, Fang Li felt that his mood had reached rock bottom.
Meanwhile, the guard, as if this was nothing new, spoke casually:
"In fact, lots of people now see that Black Knight as a hero. Even many noble daughters dream of meeting him one day. Not to mention, even Princess Iris seems to have a fondness for him. Rumor has it that ever since that incident, she not only kept his wanted poster as a collectible, but even murmurs his name in her sleep. The Royal Capital became so jealous that… cough cough… His Majesty got furious over his daughter being kidnapped, and ordered the city into full lockdown. He absolutely refuses to allow such a thing to happen again."
…Fang Li felt like he'd just heard something that defied all attempts at a proper tsukkomi.
Could it be that the reason his bounty was so absurdly high, even higher than the Demon King's top generals, was because of His Majesty's personal vendetta?
"Anyway, the Royal Capital is currently under full lockdown, and has been for several months now. If you want to enter, you'll have to provide proof of identity. Otherwise, you'll have to undergo an investigation."
The guard laid it out clearly:
"The investigation period is three days. If there are no issues after that, you'll be allowed entry. Until then, please be patient and stay at a nearby inn in the outskirts."
In other words, not only would they be investigated, but also monitored and effectively placed under house arrest.
The level of security was that intense.
"Sigh..."
Fang Li let out a deep sigh. Ignoring the noisy four idiots around him, he stepped forward and took out the invitation letter.
(End of Chapter)