This is the final episode of the main story.
An unprecedented disaster befell the Royal Capital of the Kingdom of Claydale. In the recovering capital, multiple merchant guilds quickly reopened their stores at their own expense, supporting the lives of the people living there.
Of course, not all of them were acting out of goodwill, as they were merchants. Some took this opportunity to outdo other guilds and expand their sales channels in the capital, while others sought connections with the Royal Family and upper-class noble families. However, due to these circumstances, daily necessities and food were sold at relatively low prices, which was well-received by the people of the Royal Capital.
However, not all the stores were from the original merchant guilds. Although the number of victims was small compared to the damage, with some being fanatical followers of the Holy Church, there were also merchants who were engulfed in flames while trying to salvage their belongings. In the former locations of these guilds, people claiming to be previously unknown relatives were opening stores under the same names.
“…You know, you could just do it directly without all this hassle.”
In the basement of one of these newly built, shady merchant guilds, a middle-aged man calling himself the guild’s chairman frowned at the crude language of a man sitting on a wooden box.
“Are you still saying the same thing, Wolf?”
“Tch.”
The dozen or so men and women in the room also looked at him with similar glares, but Wolf didn’t seem to care, clicking his tongue in annoyance. The chairman swallowed a sigh and spoke again.
“I’ve said it many times, but ‘she’ is in this kingdom.”
The disaster that struck the Royal Capital—the invasion of Greater Demons.
It is said that three Greater Demons appeared from somewhere, leaving gruesome scars on the kingdom, and that two young girls were the ones who defeated them.
“One of them is dead, right? That just leaves one troublesome one.”
It has been confirmed that the black-haired girl, one of the two who defeated the demons, is dead.
With the death of the black-haired girl, as well as the Chief Court Magician, who also died in the battle against the demons, the number of [Rank 5] individuals in the Kingdom of Claydale had decreased.
Their goal, as members of the Shadow Unit of the Solhorse Kingdom, was to investigate the situation 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 far greater than her childhood reputation suggested, which alarmed the upper echelons of the Solhorse Kingdom, who had been basing their assessment on the First Prince’s abilities.
The Princess, who had ousted her brother with her abilities and political skills to become the Crown Princess, was also involved in the destruction of the previous spy organization. The upper echelons, considering her a threat, decided to eliminate her during the chaos caused by the demons’ destruction of the Royal Capital.
However, the Kingdom of Claydale has a girl who defeated the demons, said to be the Princess’s right-hand woman. For this reason, Wolf, one of the most prominent Rank 5 individuals in the Solhorse Kingdom, was conscripted to participate in this operation.
Even so, having someone like Wolf assassinate the Princess by force was a last resort. If the Princess were to be assassinated in such an obvious manner at this time, it would be difficult for everyone to escape the Royal Capital alive, and it would escalate tensions between the countries.
“…Tch.”
Wolf, who had risen through the ranks with his strength alone, not being originally from the Shadow Unit, didn’t like that.
He used to be an Adventurer, but his bad behavior stood out, and he was about to be executed for killing a civilian. However, he was saved by the Solhorse Shadow Unit, who valued his abilities. He didn’t complain about that, but Wolf, with his high self-esteem, was dissatisfied with the current situation where his abilities were not being fully utilized.
(I’m the strongest…)
Wolf’s Overall Combat Strength exceeded 2000, and he was confident that he was the strongest among the Rank 5 individuals in the Solhorse Kingdom.
The “rumor” that the “girl” who defeated the Greater Demon, even if it was a two-person effort, was the strongest irritated Wolf, and that caused his emotional restraints to come undone.
“Just leave it all to me! I’ll decorate the Solhorse Royal Castle with the Princess’s head!”
“Wolf!”
The chairman raised his voice at Wolf, who had openly broken the unspoken rule of not discussing the specifics, but at that moment—
“—I’ve got the evidence.”
A cool, young girl’s voice echoed in the basement, where only their comrades should have been.
“—!”
Instantly, a female scout among the comrades identified the location of the “voice” and attacked, taking out a Hidden Weapon.
Her Combat Strength as a Rank 4 exceeded 1000. Even if she wasn’t as strong as Wolf, she should have been able to dispose of an ordinary spy immediately.
Bokin…
A sound like breaking a dry twig wrapped in a wet cloth echoed, and the figure in the black cloak, moving with a disorienting, slippery motion, grabbed the woman’s neck and snapped it in an instant, reaping her life.
Tension ran through the Solhorse Kingdom’s Shadow Unit.
“Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
Among them, Wolf, without a moment’s hesitation, let out a roar and leaped forward, wielding his twin Blades.
(This is it!)
Wolf understood at a glance that this was the “strong one,” his enemy.
Intoxicated by the exhilaration of fighting a strong opponent and the pleasure of indulging in violence, Wolf’s grip tightened on the hilts of his twin Blades.
“Got you!!”
The twin Blades, swung down with perfect timing and maximum speed, attacked the intruder. Impossible to dodge, impossible to block. But—
“What!?”
Slender hands extending from the cloak deflected the twin Blades as if pushing them away with bare hands.
Wolf didn’t know. Or rather, even if he knew, he couldn’t understand.
Combat Strength is just a guideline. No matter how high your Status, no matter how deeply ingrained your skills, the experience gained in the realm of life and death is only stored in the heart.
The next moment, the girl’s lithe leg kicked up Wolf’s chin, and Wolf, impaled by the blade from his jawline to his toes, collapsed without even realizing he was dead, let alone displaying his true abilities.
As Wolf’s hand, which had dropped his sword at the end, grabbed the intruder’s cloak, the chairman, witnessing the “pinkish-blonde hair” shimmering in the revealed darkness, widened his eyes as if seeing something unbelievable, and muttered the name of the “strongest” feared by spies in neighboring countries in a trembling voice.
“—The Iron Rose Princess—”
Half a year has passed since the battle and destruction in the Royal Capital.
The damage to the Royal Capital was considerable, but with support from the nation as well as multiple noble families, reconstruction was progressing at a surprising pace.
This was led by 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 has not yet been officially announced, she has made her presence known to the nobles and the people.
To be honest, there are parts of the Theocracy and the Holy Church that I can’t trust. But it comes down to how much I can swallow and how far I can shake hands. That will change depending on political judgment.
The “Saint” recognized by the Holy Church was in league with demons and endangered even the Royal Family. The Holy Church was also a victim in many ways, but unless it voluntarily accepted Elena’s demands and built a cooperative system, the Holy Church would lose its influence within the Kingdom of Claydale.
Elena and the Holy Church reconciled. The Holy Church had its own motives, but the Kingdom of Claydale also needed cooperation with the Holy Church in order to eliminate the intelligence organizations of neighboring countries that were trying to create a base in the country under the guise of reconstruction support.
As a result, Elena gained the backing of the largest religious organization on the Searth Continent, while also succeeding in suppressing the influence of the Holy Church, solidifying her position as Crown Princess.
Offers of support came from the neighboring Kingdom of Condor, the Duchy of Ills, the Kingdom of Solhorse, and the Duchy of Gordle.
The Kingdom of Solhorse, which had sent the organization I had previously crushed, was trying to create another spy organization in the Royal Capital, but I was asked by Elena to crush it.
It was a rough solution of pretending it never happened, but with the cooperation of the Holy Church, it wasn’t difficult, and the Kingdom didn’t have the luxury of gathering evidence and legally eliminating them.
“Lady Alicia, I would like you to become a ‘Saint’…”
Hiram, a guest from the Holy Church who had come from the Theocracy, said such a thing.
He had come here from the main Temple to certify Licia as a Saint, but with the destruction of the Temple in the Royal Capital and the deaths of many of the upper echelons who had been Bewitched by Licia, he remained in the kingdom to manage the people on our side.
The Temple Head, Nasanitaru’s grandfather, had survived, but after awakening from the demon’s dream, he regretted being deceived by the demon and letting his grandson die, so he stepped down from his position as Temple Head.
“I believe I’ve stated before that I have no intention of that?”
I simply directed my gaze at Hiram without any Intimidation, and he flinched for a moment before bowing his head.
“If possible, please reconsider… You, who have been recognized by the Spirits, are destined to become a ‘Hero’ recognized by the Holy Church.”
The Holy Church was cooperating by accepting all of Elena’s demands, not only to protect its position as the state religion in the kingdom but also because of me.
It wasn’t a political matter but a matter of religious doctrine.
According to the Holy Church’s old legends, a Saint isn’t just certified but is one of the “Heroes” who appear in times of crisis to fight alongside the “Yuusha”.
Heroes are those recognized by the Spirits, and he believed I was one, having witnessed that battle and defeating the demon.
After the Heroine, now a “Hero”…?
I sighed softly, accepted the Solhorse Kingdom Shadow Unit’s documents, and left the Holy Church’s temporary facility.
“Alicia-dono!”
Hiram called out as if to stop me, and I turned back slightly.
“I’m Aria—just an Adventurer.”
After the battle with Carla, I returned to being an Adventurer.
However, having appeared on the stage as Alicia Melrose, I couldn’t return to being a Free Citizen, and my registration remained with the Melrose House.
In short, I was in the same position as Feld, who was an Adventurer to avoid the succession battle while still holding noble status.
But I was in a more delicate position than Feld, being granted more freedom yet unable to escape the noble society as much as he could.
The reason for this was the “strength” I had cultivated to escape the constraints of the nobility.
Those who witnessed that battle and the knights of the Melrose House began calling me the “Iron Rose Princess,” making me a feared existence that no noble family could touch. At the same time, I instilled fear in the nobles that if I were to flee abroad, I could become their greatest enemy.
I wouldn’t be troubled. But Grandfather and Grandmother… Elena would be.
Therefore, instead of attending the academy, I was given time under the guise of a “study period,” granting me five years of freedom.
Even after those five years, I wouldn’t return to being a noble lady, but I could decide on a new job while working as an Adventurer.
Even now, if Elena had a request, I would act as an Adventurer, like in the case of the Solhorse Kingdom’s spy organization. But in five years, I would begin the handover to become Sera’s successor in the Shadow Unit, and in about ten years, I would become the Queen’s (..) close aide and combat attendant.
But this wasn’t a fate decided by someone I loathed.
It was my will to stay with Elena.
That vow still lived within us.
“Hey, Aria! Hurry up!”
“Okay, I’m coming.”
Jesha, who had gone ahead, called out to me, and Nero, who was in the shadows, used a black cat Phantom to shake its tail on my shoulder, pulling my gaze away from the distance.
Lately, there had been many jobs in the city, and Jesha seemed somewhat excited to be going on an Adventurer-like adventure for the first time in a while.
This time, it was the subjugation of several Wyverns that were said to be appearing in the Monster Habitat to the north. Wyverns weren’t as valuable as Earth Dragons, but they had the habit of hoarding treasure, so she was probably expecting something.
Elena, who knew Jesha, smiled wryly at her enthusiasm but readily sent her off.
As for Elena, she had officially become the Crown Princess, and it seemed that marriage proposals from other countries to become her royal consort were already coming in. Since one of them was from the Calfaan Empire, the person I knew was probably finally making a move.
According to Mikhail, Rookwell also seemed to be in love with Elena, but he was the heir of the Dandole Family, and things were quite complicated.
It would be good if Rookwell’s sister, Clara, could inherit the family estate, but she had admitted her sins and, along with Elvan, who had also admitted his sins and stepped down from the position of Crown Prince, had decided to rule the Dandole-owned territory as a Viscount.
They probably wouldn’t appear on the stage in their generation and would live a life unrelated to the glamorous world they had known.
Some said that decision was lenient, while others said it was harsh, but it seemed to me that they were even relieved to become middle-class nobles.
Mikhail, who would become Elena’s aide, began studying under Grandfather to become the Prime Minister and the head of the Shadow Unit, and Theo was diligently working hard to become a high-ranking Shadow Knight to assist him.
The last time I met them, they both said, “I won’t give up yet”…
And—
Carla was officially declared dead, and the Count Leicester Estate, which had no successor, was inherited by one of the court Magicians who had participated in that Dungeon capture, as he was a distant relative of the Leicester family.
There was no tombstone for Carla. That was because she didn’t want one.
“Alright, let’s go!”
We, the new “Rainbow Sword,” began our mission at Dolton’s command, having reached a point where it was too dangerous to continue by carriage.
The reason for the “new” was that Viro, who had been our scout, had officially retired from being an Adventurer and had become a Shadow Knight. He was still young enough, but I heard that Mary, his fiancée and former receptionist, had become impatient.
I thought it would probably be very difficult to work in the Shadow Unit now, but I felt that Viro would be able to handle it well.
The heavy warrior Dolton as the shield, the swordsman Feld, the warrior Jesha, the Spirit User Mira, the scout me… and the six of us, including the newly joined Rank 5 Magician, would become the new Rainbow Sword.
“Can Wyvern scales be sold for as much as Earth Dragon scales?”
“They’re decent as materials. There’s about the difference between gold and silver.”
“Can we eat the meat?”
“That’s just lizard meat.”
There wasn’t much tension…
While listening to my companions’ conversation, I looked up at the sky.
The endless blue sky.
When I was young and powerless, I kept running away—and even after gaining power, I kept fighting something.
The days of chasing and being chased, of hurting and being hurt, were over.
From now on, it would be “freedom.” Both freedom and inconvenience, all would be decided by my will.
Tap—
“Hey, hey.”
It seemed I was also somewhat carried away. Feld let out a bewildered voice as I placed my hands on his shoulders from behind and climbed onto him.
“As I thought, Feld’s view is wide.”
“Is that so?”
When I smiled and looked down at him, Feld grinned and started running with me on his back.
I heard an exasperated voice from behind.
At the edge of my vision, the Magician girl in the white robe, her hood covering her head, shook her wavy white hair and chuckled.
The endless blue sky…
My heart would no longer waver.
From now on, my “story” would begin.
This concludes the main story. Thank you for your long companionship!
It was supposed to end a little shorter, but before I knew it, it became such a long haul.
The resolution with Carla and the final episode were decided from the beginning, and Aria’s Pendulum, the Blade of her boots, and the gesture of riding on Feld’s shoulders were all preparations for this.
At first, it was just an experimental novel to see if this format would be accepted, hoping that there would be people with the same interests, but I received more support than I expected, and it even led to a book publication.
Thank you all so much. The fully written Volume 4 will be released in July, so please check it out.
The main story is over, but Aria’s adventure continues. It will be an after-story like a side story, but instead of the weekly serialization like before, I will take a short break and then continue leisurely with a monthly serialization.
I’m thinking it might be good to see Aria from the perspective of the Magician girl…
Who is that girl…?
To tell the truth, I’ve been so busy with multiple book publications that I haven’t had much time for new works!
I have so many ideas stored up, and there are stories with only one episode in the folder (laughs).
As new work candidates…
1 Heartwarming (madness type)
2 Pleasure (madness type)
3 Serious Violence (super sweet)
These three seem to be suitable for serialization. None of them are normal lol. The rest are more suitable for short stories.
Well then, everyone, let’s meet again in this continuation or in a new work.