When I was working as a civil servant, I was found out to be a muscle-brained knight by the princess knight and got sent to the front lines - Episode 213

Episode 213

Around the time when Jamil Al-Faz was beginning to truly bloom as a military leader, Ole Halvorsen was discovering the forbidden allure of official attire, and Lady Cynthia was about to take on even more unnecessary burdens.

A group of five troublemakers, consisting of Seraphina, Lucretia, Edelmar, Jez, and Victor, who seemed incapable of staying out of mischief, had left the ancient city of Paradis and were now riding their horses toward the Holy City of Sancturia. It had already been about a week since they left Paradis. Since their mission required covert movement to infiltrate the Holy City, they avoided the main highways, which made the journey take longer than expected.

But there was no other option. If they were spotted by enemy forces, their mission would become meaningless, so they proceeded with caution. They traversed narrow animal trails and deliberately cut through forests where people rarely ventured. Normally, these uncharted paths would be dangerous, filled with beasts, monsters, or even bandits and outlaws, and should be avoided. However, for this group of five, explaining such risks would be pointless.

Edelmar, who was familiar with the terrain, led the way, while Seraphina, Lucretia, and Victor formed the center, and Jez guarded the rear. In this formation, they quietly but steadily advanced toward the Holy City of Sancturia.

At night, they camped, but both the Pope and the Saintess were tough and didn’t mind such inconveniences. Seraphina, having experienced numerous expeditions with the Holy Knights, was no stranger to camping. Lucretia, too, had often visited battlefields near the frontlines in the Kingdom of Tashman to offer comfort. It had earned her strong trust from both soldiers and civilians alike. 

By the way, the one who was the most particular about his sleeping conditions in the group was Victor. It was amusing to note that, despite his eccentricities, he had somehow found a way to sleep peacefully on a mysteriously fluffy pillow—a detail that suited his character as an alchemist.

Meanwhile, during this week-long journey, Jamil and his forces had already conquered over ten cities. Sergius Calidius, unable to ignore the overwhelming mobility of the Tashman Kingdom’s forces any longer, had to dispatch part of the elite unit meant to protect the Holy City of Sancturia to aid in the defense of the provincial cities.

Things seemed to be progressing exactly as Jez and his companions had planned.

・　・　・

“There it is.”

About half a day’s distance from the Holy City of Sancturia. Jez’s group, hidden within a mountain forest just off the main road, finally caught sight of their destination. Even from afar, the city of Sancturia stood silent as always, but its imposing presence was unmistakable. The towering spires and the vast cathedral visible even from a distance were a fitting testament to the religious power that ruled over the continent of Azelion. This was the Holy City of Sancturia, the heart of the Divina Papal State.

Victor, seeing it for the first time, gazed in awe. His eyes were sparkling with excitement, much like a student seeing Kyoto on a school trip for the first time. Jez, visiting for the first time in four years, offered a more mundane remark, 

“It’s still such a beautiful city, isn’t it?”

Edelmar maintained his usual calm expression, while Seraphina and Lucretia looked at the city with stern faces. 

For Seraphina, it was the home she had lived in and protected, an everyday part of her life just a few months ago. For Lucretia, it was the nest of her enemies—those who had torn her from her family and banished her from this land. Despite their different inner thoughts, they all had the same goal: to confront the First Saint Anastasia Eterna and uncover the truth. That was why they had come this far.

“So… what’s the plan from here?” 

The Holy City of Sancturia was an enormous metropolis, and its surroundings were fully developed. To approach the city, one had to take the main roads, or if avoiding the roads, cross open plains that would leave them exposed to the city’s watchful eyes.

Jez posed this obvious question to Seraphina.

“I told you it’s fine, didn’t I? Just follow me.”

From the start of the operation in Paradis, Seraphina had assured them that infiltrating the city would not be a problem. But she had not elaborated on the details of her plan. Following her lead, they moved for several more hours along a mountain path that seemed to take them farther from Sancturia. Eventually, they arrived at what appeared to be a natural cave, unremarkable at first glance. However, Victor immediately perked up.

“Well, well, Sancturia sure knows how to hide its treasures, huh?”

“Oh? You’ve figured it out already, Victor? Sharp as always,” 

Seraphina said casually as she passed by the cave and stopped in front of an ordinary-looking cliff. Without a word, she unsheathed her holy sword. The sword, still in its scabbard, was plunged into the cliff.

After a moment of silence, a low rumble echoed as the hidden passage to Sancturia opened. This was a secret underground tunnel prepared by the Lorentzi family, one of the Original Five founding houses of the Divina Papal State, meant for emergencies.

“Well then, everyone, how about we take a break here before heading to Sancturia?”

Who could have imagined that this infiltration mission would actually go so smoothly with these five? Most would have expected them to try storming through the front gates. But, that aside…

The group quietly stepped into the underground tunnel leading to Sancturia. They proceeded cautiously for several hours before reaching a dead end, signaling their arrival at the Holy City. Seraphina touched a specific spot on the wall, causing it to silently open. They found themselves inside a large, dimly lit chapel—one of the major sanctuaries of the Lorentzi faction, often visited by many believers during religious holidays, according to Seraphina.

Despite it being daytime, the room was shrouded in darkness. There were no signs of destruction, but the facility appeared to be closed. After emerging from the hidden passage, Seraphina made sure to completely seal the door behind them. They had successfully infiltrated the Holy City of Sancturia.

“Now, shall we rest for a moment before heading to the First Saint?”

Just as the five were about to relax on the chapel benches, the room suddenly lit up brightly. In an instant, countless enemy soldiers appeared out of nowhere.

“Seraphina Lorentzi. We’ve been expecting you.”

“…Sergius Calidius.”

It was Sergius Calidius, the leader of the Calidius faction, accompanied by fully armed Holy Knights. Among them was none other than Lucius Agrippa. It seemed they had been using some kind of stealth barrier, perhaps even a relic of artifact-class power, since Jez and Victor hadn’t noticed their presence.

And thus, the infiltration mission of the “Musclehead Five,” also known as the Civil Servant Squad, predictably ended in mere seconds. 

Next time, you will witness the truth of battle. Musclehead Five, Ready, Fight!