“…Elena-sama is returning.”
In the dimly lit room, illuminated only by a faint light, Clara Dandole’s voice spilled out.
A report had arrived from a civil official connected to the Dandole Family—one whom Clara, stationed in the royal castle, had bribed. It stated that Elena, who had gone missing following the Evil Race’s attack, had been found and would be returning to the country along with her escort, the baron’s daughter.
Within the kingdom, the official story was already that ‘the princess, who had fortunately (・・・) gone on a short-term study trip to the Calfaan Empire before the Evil Race’s attack, was cutting her studies short and returning home early out of concern for the academy’s students.’ Everyone except for the high-ranking noble families and the noble faction accepted this as truth, and though it was unclear who had painted this picture, Elena’s reputation had risen.
Some noble families claimed the princess had been kidnapped, but the only ones who had actually witnessed it were those connected to the royal family. Thus, these nobles’ statements, lacking evidence, only served to disparage the princess, leading sensible nobles to frown upon them.
This was because Elena’s efforts up to that point had earned her the recognition of so many nobles.
Even if those disparaging words were believed, Clara’s 【Divine Protection (Gift)】 of Foresight had read with high probability that it wouldn’t have a significant impact on the potential future.
In the first place, noble daughters detest scandals because they are to be married into other families. However, Princess Elena had decided to depose Crown Prince Elvan and become queen herself.
As a result, while the definite future of what would happen to Elvan couldn’t be seen, in the worst-case scenario, there was even a future where he would fall at the hands of the princess’s escort, the baron’s daughter.
That Elvan was currently delving into a large-scale Dungeon south of the academy, along with the viscount’s daughter he was infatuated with.
Normally, as the Crown Prince, he should have been diligently attending to his official duties to fill the void left by the princess’s absence, all while worrying about his younger sister Elena’s safety. However, Elvan did no such thing, and without a care for public appearances in these times, he delved into the Dungeon.
Naturally, Prince Amor, acting like a guardian, and Nasanitar, whose wounds had healed, were accompanying him. Elvan had asked Clara once, as a mere social courtesy, if she would also join them, but Clara refused. She wasn’t sure if she could maintain her composure being with that viscount’s daughter (Heroine).
Of course, she did worry about Elvan, but according to Clara’s Foresight, he would likely return safely, albeit with many sacrifices.
In that Dungeon, just like the previous one, there existed a secret path known only to the royal family.
The King’s indulgence in teaching this secret path—one that even Karla, who had supposedly delved into that Dungeon many times, didn’t know—to his beloved prince was enough to make one sigh.
Learning from the last lesson, Elvan and Amor had brought many knights with them. Not the Royal Guard, who were close to the princess’s faction, but the Second Order of Knights, with whom Amor was familiar. In exchange, they should have been able to prepare a large number of knights.
Not only that, but Nasanitar, the robed noble, had borrowed the power of his grandfather, the High Priest of the Holy Church, and brought many Priest Knights proficient in light magic, so at the very least, Elvan would not die.
However… teaching a royal secret to those who weren’t even Royal Guards tasked with protecting the royal family was bound to be a considerable blunder, not just for His Majesty the King, but for Elvan and Amor as well.
As a result, Clara foresaw that the probability of Elena deposing Elvan had risen even further.
“…You all understand, don’t you?”
“Yes, Clara-ojousama.”
At Clara’s call, four women who had been in the shadows of the room responded in unison.
One was Hilda, a former member of the Assassin Guild who had become a devotee after being saved by Clara. The women in maid outfits beside her were her former comrades whom Hilda had summoned for Clara—survivors of the annihilated northern borderlands branch of the Assassin Guild.
The Slaughtering Ash Covered Princess had killed all the key figures of the northern borderlands branch. Even so, there were some who had been away from the branch on assignments at the time. Most of them had sworn revenge and were subsequently killed in retaliation, but those who hadn’t… primarily three women who had a friendly relationship with Hilda, responded to her call.
At first, though they claimed to have responded to her call, they all seemed like people of the underworld, harboring something in their hearts. However, Clara, through her Foresight, understood their ‘reasons for not seeking revenge.’ And Clara, a former commoner from modern times, skillfully melted their hearts with her words, completing their conditioning to the extent that, despite any ulterior motives, they would not betray her.
“Some of you may still harbor resentment towards her. However, no one who has laid a hand on her has survived. Unless you have a plan that you believe will guarantee victory, you are forbidden from making a move on her. Rather, it would be better to think of ways to use her for our own purposes. Our ‘target’ is just one person…”
If Clara’s Foresight was correct, by the time Elena returned, Elvan and the others should also be back on the surface. She didn’t think the academy would reopen immediately, but by the time Elena returned to the academy, Elvan would likely return as well… along with that “girl.”
“The target is tentatively named ‘Heroine’… Viscountess Alicia Melsis. We will eliminate her, even if it means taking her life.”
＊＊＊
“Setting sail!”
Along with the captain’s voice, the bell signaling departure rang out in the port town of the Calfaan Empire. As the ship carrying Princess Elena and us pulled away from the harbor, the children of the port town waved, and the good-natured sailors waved back.
To see us off, representing the Calfaan Empire, was Ron… Third Prince Lawrence.
Normally, as ‘a princess on a short-term study abroad from a friendly nation,’ she should have received a state guest-level send-off. However, due to certain circumstances, the extravagant farewell was canceled, and only a few dozen people, including Ron and the Prime Minister, came to see us off.
“…Aria. Did you do something?”
“…”
As Elena-sama narrowed her eyes, her gaze like a glare, I offered a vague smile to deflect it, and she let out an exasperated sigh.
“Honestly… You mustn’t do anything too dangerous, alright?”
“I’ll try to be careful.”
The reason for the simplified send-off was said to be some trouble involving the Crown Prince and the concubine’s faction. The details weren’t conveyed to us from the Kingdom of Claydale, but from the way the Calfaan Empire’s Prime Minister was explaining it to Sera-san, I gathered it was a situation that might drastically change the power balance between the Empress and the concubine’s faction.
…That’s all well and good, but why is the Prime Minister of a major power so deferential to Sera-san, who is merely the wife of a baron? He was vague in what he said, but wasn’t that pretty critical information concerning national affairs?
Later, when I asked Sera-san about it, she gave me a mischievous smile and said, “The adult world is a complicated place, you know.”
Initially, the Empire had proposed delaying our departure by a few more days, but the astute Elena-sama sensed trouble brewing and put on an act, tinged with sorrow, saying, “I wish to show my face to Father as soon as possible…” thus ensuring our departure went ahead as scheduled.
Sera-san is one thing, but Elena-sama is amazing. I’m not talking about her acting; she accurately reads situations and knows how to turn them to her advantage. This current matter might not seem like a big deal from an outside perspective, but what she’s doing is close to predicting the future.
Elena-sama has decided to become queen. She has given up on the Crown Prince, who is infatuated with a woman who uses my real name, a woman just like a ‘Heroine,’ and has resolved to oust her half-brother.
Because of that, not only the noble faction that had tried to manipulate Elena-sama as a puppet, but also a part of the royalist faction with old-fashioned ideas, who had been her allies until now, will likely become her enemies. Among them, there will surely be those who approach Elena-sama not just for political strife, but to resort to direct measures.
To thwart them, the new power I’ve obtained should prove to be an effective means.
Illusion Magic, 【Real Breaker】.
Light and darkness. Normally, it’s a high-level composite magic that surpasses human limits, but by using it in conjunction with 【Iron Rose】, I was able to manifest it in this world, albeit with a time limit.
Projecting a Shadow with darkness, and giving it substance with light.
With it, I could create illusions indistinguishable even to a dragon, but that is merely one aspect.
If creating illusions of reality is the “light” of 【Real Breaker】, then the technique I used that night would be the “darkness” of 【Real Breaker】.
If the unreal can be made real, then the reverse is also possible. The technique and principle are the same as Shadow Wielder Lada-san’s art of lurking in shadows, but by becoming unreal through Illusion Magic, I could even make my real-world mass unreal, allowing me to leap several ri in an instant.
However, as a practical matter, it’s not spatial teleportation, so I can’t pass through obstacles, and I can only jump to places I can see.
Furthermore, when attacking from my side, I need to deactivate 【Real Breaker】.
If my presence is exposed, there’s a chance I’d be counterattacked the moment I deactivate it and move to attack. I can’t just switch between states; it requires deactivation and reactivation.
That night, by visually tracking the dark Magical Element emitted by the enemy and detecting their Killing Intent, I was able to follow their trail. Due to the time limit, I had two choices then: capture or eliminate. But the man, who seemed to be Rank 4, moved at considerable speed and leaped into a prime estate in an area around the castle where wealthy merchants and nobles lived.
After that, I followed him, infiltrated, eliminated Ron-san’s opposing faction who were present there, and returned in mere seconds.
There’s a time limit, and there are drawbacks, but even so, being able to eliminate a Rank 4 assassin confirmed a certain degree of its effectiveness.
Anyone who harms Elena-sama, I will definitely eliminate.
“Aria, if you’re free, let’s have a mock battle!”
As I was contemplating my abilities, perhaps I looked idle, as someone called out to me like that.
The one who called out was Jesha-san, the Mountain Dwarf heavy warrior. She initially intended to get hired by Ron-san, but after seeing the strength of Dolton-san, another Mountain Dwarf, she somewhat forcefully came along with us.
According to Elena-sama and Mira-san, though, that wasn’t the only reason.
“Sure… but is your discussion over?”
“Yeah… well, more or less. It’s like, ‘looking forward to working with you from now on.'”
“Understood.”
The ‘discussion’ was about Jesha-san’s affiliation. There was talk of her joining Claydale’s Shadow Unit, but it wasn’t really a suitable path for her.
Then, it seems Mira-san extended an invitation, and with Viro-san already set to join the Shadow Unit eventually, it was apparently decided that Jesha-san would join the ‘Rainbow Sword’ to bolster their strength.
After this, we’d want one more Magician, but there are hardly any high-rank Magicians who would want to become adventurers, so in a way, it can’t be helped.
The sea route to the Kingdom of Claydale, perhaps due to ocean currents, is slightly faster returning to the Kingdom than heading to the Empire. This ship belongs to the Melrose Family, but the captain said we wouldn’t be returning to the port in Melrose territory from which we departed, but rather heading to a port in the Royal Family’s direct domain near the Royal Capital.
I’m basically always with Elena-sama, but when Elena-sama was conferring with His Majesty the King using a Long-Distance Communication Device or performing official duties, I’d have mock battles with Jesha-san and others.
In terms of combat power, Feld-san and Dolton-san are close, but since I just became Rank 5, I had Sera-san and Viro-san, my close-combat masters, train me to adjust my senses.
That said, it’s not like all I did was physical training.
“Why me too…”
“Jesha-san, no complaining. Adventurers need intelligence too. Aria-chan here isn’t saying a single word of complaint, you know?”
“…”
Including Elena-sama, I’m still a student too. Elena-sama is fine, but I had some rather weak areas, so we were studying together, and that’s when Mira-san volunteered.
As for why she suddenly suggested such a thing, it seems that out of rivalry towards Master Serejyura, Mira-san also wanted to do something teacher-like for me. But if this is the case—
“Could Jesha-san also attend the academy as a guard?”
“…Eh?”
Four weeks into such a sea voyage…
“We’ve returned… Aria.”
“Yeah.”
As a port town came into view across the sea, Elena-sama murmured with deep emotion, and I nodded, truly feeling it myself.
We… had finally returned to our homeland.
We’ve finally returned.
Clara-san, who hasn’t appeared in a while, will also make an appearance.
Next time, an audience with the King. And what about the fake heroine’s movements?
The manuscript for Volume 2 is also progressing smoothly.
If you have any thoughts on Volume 1, please post them in the activity report.
Please look forward to Chapter Four as well.