This is the final chapter of the main story.
An unprecedented disaster had befallen the Royal Capital of the Kingdom of Claydale. In the Royal Capital, where reconstruction was underway, multiple merchant guilds invested their own funds to quickly reopen their stores, supporting the lives of the people living there.
Of course, being merchants, not all of them acted out of pure goodwill. Their motives were diverse: some sought to take advantage of the situation to outmaneuver other guilds and expand their sales channels in the Royal Capital, while others aimed to gain connections with the royal family or high-ranking noble houses. However, due to these circumstances, they sold daily necessities and foodstuffs at relatively low prices, which was well-received by the citizens of the Royal Capital.
However, not all stores belonged to the original merchant guilds. Although the number of casualties was relatively small considering the extent of the damage—partly because many victims were fervent believers of the Holy Church—some merchants had perished, caught in the flames while trying to save their household goods. In some cases, people claiming to be relatives no one had ever seen before opened shops on the sites of these defunct merchant guilds, using the same guild names.
“…We don’t need to do all this troublesome stuff. We can just do it directly.”
In the basement of one such newly established merchant guild of unknown origin, a man sitting on a wooden crate spoke with crude language, causing the middle-aged man calling himself the guild master to frown.
“Are you still saying the same thing… Wulf?”
“Tch.”
The dozen or so men and women present also looked at him with similar expressions, but Wulf paid their gazes no mind, clicking his tongue in annoyance. Swallowing the sigh that almost escaped him at Wulf’s attitude, the guild master spoke again.
“As I’ve said many times, she is in this kingdom.”
The calamity that struck the Royal Capital—the attack of the Greater Demons.
Three Greater Demons, appearing from goodness knows where, had left horrifying scars on the kingdom. It was said that the ones who defeated these demons were two young girls.
“One of ’em’s dead, right? That means there’s only one troublesome one left, ain’t there?”
Their investigation had confirmed that of the two girls who defeated the demons, the black-haired girl had died.
With her death, along with that of the First Court Magician in the battle against the demons, the number of Rank 5 individuals in the Kingdom of Claydale had decreased.
The objective of these men, members of the Solhorse Kingdom’s Shadow Unit, was to investigate the state of affairs in the Kingdom of Claydale and… to assassinate the First Princess, who had become the new Crown Princess.
According to the spies who had infiltrated beforehand, the First Princess’s abilities were so high as to overturn her childhood evaluations, causing panic among the Solhorse Kingdom’s leadership, who had based their assessments on the abilities of her elder brother, the First Prince.
The princess, who had ousted her brother through her own skill and political acumen to become Crown Princess, had also been involved in the previous destruction of their spy network. Deeming her a threat, the higher-ups decided to eliminate her amidst the chaos of the Royal Capital’s destruction by the demons.
However, the Kingdom of Claydale had the girl who defeated the demons, said to be the princess’s trusted right hand. For this reason, Wulf, one of the Solhorse Kingdom’s foremost Rank 5 individuals, had been conscripted to participate in this operation.
Even so, having someone like Wulf assassinate the princess through brute force was a last resort. If the princess were to be assassinated in such a blatant manner at this time, it would be difficult for any of them to escape the Royal Capital alive, and it would heighten tensions between the nations.
“…Tch.”
Wulf, who had risen through brute strength alone rather than being a member of the Shadow Unit from the start, was displeased by this.
He was a former adventurer whose misconduct had become conspicuous. He was about to be executed for killing a civilian, but was saved by Solhorse’s Shadow Unit, who valued his abilities. He had no complaints about that, but the highly prideful Wulf was dissatisfied with the current situation where his true strength couldn’t be displayed.
(I’m the strongest…)
Wulf’s overall combat power exceeded 2000, and he prided himself on being the strongest among the Rank 5 individuals in the Solhorse Kingdom.
The rumor that a girl—even if she had defeated Greater Demons, it was said to be a joint effort of two—was the strongest irritated Wulf, and this unchained his emotions.
“Just leave everything to me! If you do, I’ll decorate Solhorse’s royal castle with the princess’s head!”
“Wulf!”
Until now, they had conversed among themselves without touching on such direct details. Just as the guild master raised his voice at Wulf for so blatantly breaking this unspoken rule—
“—I have your incriminating statement.”
A cool, girlish voice echoed through the basement, where only allies should have been.
“—Hk!”
In that instant, one of their companions, a female scout, instantly pinpointed the source of the voice, drew a hidden weapon, and attacked.
As a Rank 4, her combat power exceeded 1000. While not on Wulf’s level, she should have been able to dispatch an ordinary spy instantly.
Snap…
With a sound like a dry twig wrapped in a wet cloth breaking, the figure in the black cloak, who had glided forward as if to disorient their senses, grabbed the woman’s neck and, in an instant, snapped it as if reaping her life.
Tension shot through the Solhorse Kingdom’s Shadow Unit members.
“Ughaaaaaaah!!”
Amidst them, Wulf, without a moment’s hesitation, let out a war cry and leaped forward, twin swords at the ready.
(This is the one!)
The moment Wulf saw the figure, he understood that this was a “strong one”—his true enemy.
Intoxicated by the elation of fighting a strong opponent and the pleasure of surrendering to violence, Wulf’s grip tightened on the hilts of his twin swords.
“Got you!!”
His twin swords, brought down with perfect timing and maximum speed, assailed the intruder. Unavoidable, unblockable. But—
“Wha—!?”
Two slender hands, extending from the cloak, bare as they were, pushed out and deflected the twin swords.
Wulf didn’t know. No, even if he had known, he wouldn’t have understood.
Combat power is nothing more than a guideline. No matter how high one’s Status, no matter how many trained skills are etched into one’s soul, the experience points gained on the brink of life and death can only be accumulated in the heart.
In the next instant, the girl’s gracefully extended leg kicked Wulf’s jaw upwards. A blade from her toe pierced him from beneath his chin, and Wulf, far from displaying his true abilities, collapsed without even realizing he was dead.
As he died, Wulf dropped his swords, his hand catching the intruder’s cloak. The guild master, witnessing the “pinkish-gold hair” that glinted in the darkness as it was revealed, stared wide-eyed as if seeing something unbelievable. In a trembling voice, he whispered the name of the “strongest,” feared by spies of neighboring countries.
“—The Iron Rose Princess—”
Half a year has passed since the battle and destruction in the Royal Capital.
The damage to the Royal Capital had been substantial, but thanks to support not only from the state but also from multiple noble houses, reconstruction was progressing at an astonishing pace.
This was largely due to the leadership of Elena, the new Crown Princess, who had secured the cooperation of the Fandora Theocracy, where the Holy Church’s main temple is located. Although it hadn’t been formally announced yet, she had made her presence known to both the nobility and the common people.
To be honest, there are parts of the Theocracy and the Holy Church that I can’t trust. But how far we go in swallowing that and joining hands with them depends on political judgment.
The “Saint” recognized by the Holy Church, Licia, colluded with demons and endangered even the royal family. While the Holy Church was also a victim in many respects regarding that incident, they were in a situation where if they didn’t voluntarily accept Elena’s demands and establish a cooperative relationship, they risked losing their influence within the Kingdom of Claydale.
Elena and the Holy Church reconciled. The Holy Church had its own agenda, of course, but the Kingdom of Claydale also needed their cooperation to eliminate the spy networks of neighboring countries trying to establish a foothold under the guise of reconstruction aid.
Through this, Elena gained the backing of the largest religious organization on the Searth Continent while simultaneously succeeding in curbing the Holy Church’s influence, thus solidifying her foundation as Crown Princess.
Offers of support came from the neighboring Condor Kingdom, Ils Duchy, Solhorse Kingdom, and Gordol Duchy.
The Solhorse Kingdom, which had previously sent the organization I crushed, was trying to establish another spy network within the Royal Capital, but at Elena’s request, I ended up crushing that one too.
It was a crude solution, making it as if it never happened from the start, but with the Holy Church’s cooperation, it wasn’t difficult. Besides, the Kingdom didn’t have the luxury of gathering evidence to eliminate them legally.
“Alicia-dono. I would like you to become the ‘Saint’…”
Hiram, an honored guest from the Holy Church who had come from the Fandora Theocracy, said such a thing.
He had originally come here from the main temple to certify Licia as a Saint. However, with the Royal Capital’s temple destroyed and many of the Holy Church’s higher-ups dead after being Allured by Licia, he had remained in the kingdom, helping to organize the Church’s personnel on this side.
Nasanitar-sama’s grandfather, the Temple Chief, had survived. However, upon awakening from the demon’s dream, he regretted being deceived by the demon and allowing his grandson to die, and so he had stepped down from his position as Temple Chief.
“I believe I told you before that I have no such intention, did I not?”
Without even using Intimidation, I merely looked at him, and Hiram-san momentarily gasped before lowering his head.
“If possible, please reconsider… You, who have been acknowledged by the spirits, are destined to become a ‘Hero’ recognized by the Holy Church.”
The reason the Holy Church was cooperating with Elena-san, even if it meant accepting all her demands, was not only to protect its position as the state religion in the kingdom, but also because of me.
This wasn’t a political matter, but an issue of religious doctrine.
According to an old legend of the Holy Church, a Saint wasn’t originally just someone who was certified, but one of the ‘Heroes’ who fought alongside the ‘Hero’ who appeared in times of crisis.
Heroes were those acknowledged by the spirits, and he believed me to be one, having witnessed that battle and seen me defeat the demon.
First the heroine, now a “Hero”…
I let out a small sigh, accepted the documents on the Solhorse Kingdom’s Shadow Unit organization, and left the Holy Church’s temporary facility.
“Alicia-dono!”
Hiram-san’s voice called out as if to stop me, and I glanced back slightly.
“I am ‘Aria’—just an adventurer.”
＊＊＊
After the battle with Karla ended, I returned to being an adventurer once more.
However, having appeared on the public stage as Alicia Melrose, I couldn’t return to being a Freeman, and my official registration remained with the Melrose Family.
In short, I was in the same position as Feld, who, despite having noble status, was an adventurer to avoid succession disputes.
But, while I was granted more freedom than Feld, I was in a delicate position where I was even less able to escape noble society than he was.
The cause of this was the “strength” I had cultivated to escape the shackles of nobility.
Having started to be called by the moniker ‘Iron Rose Princess’ by those who witnessed that battle and the knights of the Melrose Family, I became a feared existence that no noble house dared to touch. At the same time, I instilled in the nobility the fear that if I were to flee the country, I could become their greatest enemy.
It wouldn’t trouble me. But Grandfather, Grandmother… Elena-san would be troubled.
Therefore, instead of attending the academy, I was given a period called a “study period” and obtained five years of freedom.
Even after those five years end, I won’t return to being a noble lady, but a new employment path has been decided for me, combining it with being an adventurer.
Even now, if there’s a request from Elena-san, I sometimes act as an adventurer, like with the matter of the Solhorse Kingdom’s spy organization. But in five years, I’ll begin the handover to become Sera-san’s successor in the Shadow Unit, and in about ten years, I’ll become the Queen’s (・・) aide and combat attendant.
But this isn’t a fate decided by someone else that I shunned.
It’s my own will, wishing to be with Elena-san.
That oath is still alive within us.
“Hey, Aria! Hurry up!”
“Yeah, I’m coming.”
Jesha, who had gone ahead, called out to me. As I was gazing into the distance, Nero, who was in the shadows, used a Phantom Image of a black cat, waving its tail from my shoulder to get my attention.
Jesha seemed somewhat elated, as we’d had many jobs within the city lately, and this was the first adventurer-like adventure in a while.
This time, it’s the subjugation of several Wyverns that have appeared in a Monster habitat to the north. Wyverns, though not to the extent of Earth Dragons, have a habit of hoarding treasure, so she’s probably looking forward to it.
Elena-san, who knew Jesha, gave a wry smile but readily sent the enthusiastic Jesha off.
As for Elena-san, she has officially become the Crown Princess, and it seems marriage proposals for her royal consort have already arrived from other countries. Since one is from the Calfaan Empire, he, whom I also know, has probably finally made his move.
According to Mikhail, Roakwell also seemed to have feelings for Elena-san, but he is the heir of the Dandole Family, and things are apparently quite complicated.
It would be good if Roakwell’s younger sister, Clara, could inherit the family headship, but she, having acknowledged her own sins, along with Elvan, who similarly acknowledged his sins and abdicated his position as Crown Prince, had been decided to govern a Dandole-owned territory as a Viscount.
They probably won’t appear on the public stage in their generation and will likely live lives unrelated to the glittering world they knew before.
Some say that decision is lenient, others say it’s harsh, but to me, it seemed they were even relieved to become middle-ranking nobles.
Mikhail, who will become Elena-san’s aide, has begun studying under Grandfather to become Prime Minister and head of the Shadow Unit. Theo, as his assistant, is also diligently training every day to become a high-ranking knight of the Shadow Unit.
The last time I met them, they both said, ‘We haven’t given up yet’…
And then—
Karla’s death was officially confirmed. I heard that the Count Lester Family, now without an heir, would be succeeded by one of the court Magicians who had participated in that Dungeon subjugation, as he was a distant relative of the Lester Family.
There is no gravestone for Karla. That’s because she didn’t want one.
“Alright, let’s move out!”
Having reached a point where it was too dangerous to proceed further by carriage, we, the new “Rainbow Sword,” began to move at Dolton’s command.
“New” because Viro, who was our scout, officially retired as an adventurer and became a knight of the Shadow Unit. Age-wise, he could have continued a bit longer, but I heard it was because many spies from the neighboring country had infiltrated, and his fiancée, Mary, a former receptionist, had grown impatient.
Working in the Shadow Unit now is probably incredibly tough, but I had a feeling Viro would manage just fine.
Dolton, the heavy warrior shield-bearer; Feld, the swordsman; Jesha, the warrior; Mira, the spirit user; myself, the scout… and a newly joined Rank 5 Magician. The six of us make up the new Rainbow Sword.
“Do Wyvern scales sell for as much as Earth Dragon scales?”
“As materials, they’re decent. Though there’s about as much difference as between gold and silver.”
“Can we eat the meat, I wonder?”
“That stuff’s just lizard meat.”
There isn’t much tension…
Listening to my companions’ conversation, I look up at the sky.
The endlessly spreading blue sky.
When I was young, powerless, and always running away—even after gaining strength, I continued to fight against something.
The days of chasing and being chased, of only hurting and being hurt, are over.
From now on, it’s “freedom.” Freedom and lack of freedom, I’ll decide it all by my own will.
Thump—
“H-Hey!”
It seems I was also somewhat elated. As I placed my hands on Feld’s shoulders from behind and climbed onto him, Feld let out a bewildered voice.
“As I thought, the view Feld sees is wide, isn’t it?”
“Is that so?”
When I smiled and looked down at him, Feld grinned and started running with me still on him.
From behind, I heard exasperated-sounding voices.
In the corner of my vision, a young Magician girl wearing a white-robed hood, her wavy, pure white hair swaying, was giggling.
The blue sky, spreading endlessly far…
My heart no longer wavers.
From now on, my “story” begins.