This time, it’s an information-heavy chapter focused on conversations.
A demon appeared in the Royal Capital, and the people learned of its terror.
The number of casualties exceeded a thousand. Among the dead were young nobles, which became ammunition for the noble faction to attack the royal family. However, because many noble families and commoners testified that the one who defeated the demon was Crown Prince Elvan, accompanied by the Saintess, the noble faction’s attacks subsided. Due to various people’s schemes, Count Lester’s daughter’s name was not brought to light.
“――――――”
A hoarse, wheezing sound, like a draft, leaked out. Nasanitar, already unable to speak, looked up with clouding eyes at the girl who had come to visit him.
His already poor health had worsened further in the past few days. His skin, once vibrant with the vitality of a thirteen-year-old, was now dry and withered like a dead leaf. His once glossy brunette hair had faded. Nasanitar was so weakened he could no longer stand.
Of course, the Holy Church hadn’t just stood by and watched these unexplained symptoms. However, even the Cure magic of his grandfather, the Temple Chief, had little effect. Even if he temporarily recovered, he would be the same the next day. The Temple Chief, deciding he couldn’t keep using Cure meant for the common people solely on his relations, gave up on further treatment and entrusted Nasanitar to Saintess Licia, whom he adored.
“Nasanitar-kun… Please hang in there.”
Saintess Licia, accompanied by a maid in white, offered a gentle smile to Nasanitar’s eyes, which seemed to plead for something.
There was no way Cure magic could heal him. Nasanitar wasn’t injured, sick, or cursed; his very “soul” was gradually being whittled away.
Nasanitar was wasting away from the terror of his soul gently disappearing, bit by bit, as if being licked away, like wiping a baby’s body with a soiled cloth.
All of this was because the girl, his new contractor, had ordered it. To fulfill her own wish, she had offered up his soul.
“I love you… Nasanitar.”
Saintess Licia brushed her hair back with one hand and touched her own lips to Nasanitar’s cracked ones.
She needed him to live just a little longer. His love and despair were the price for her wish.
“—!”
“Don’t worry… I will find happiness.”
Licia gently pressed down Nasanitar’s trembling hand as he tried to reach out, and her face, reflected in Nasanitar’s tear-filled eyes, wore a twisted smile.
＊＊＊
“Welcome back, Aria.”
Elena-san, looking a little tired, greeted me with a relieved expression upon my return from the countryside.
I had stopped by in my adventurer’s gear just to show I was back safely, but when I offered to change before reporting, she told me to stay as I was and join the discussion.
“…So, there really was a demon in that land, then.”
“It was the Bone Devil that appeared at the academy. There were quite a few casualties, though.”
The Holy Church and the Saintess’s faction, whom Elena-san suspected. Just as she thought, the demon was in that land, but I couldn’t obtain any physical evidence.
“That’s… I don’t want to say it couldn’t be helped, but from what I heard, if it had been left alone, the entire town might have been wiped out. Besides, something terrible happened in the Royal Capital too…”
“…I’ve heard some of it.”
A demon also appeared in the Royal Capital. I heard the Crown Prince defeated it, but Elena-san believes it was actually Karla-san who did.
A demon that deceives people disguised itself as the Crown Prince and lured Karla-san into a trap. Knowing Karla-san, she must have been considered an extremely dangerous person. But Karla-san walked right into that trap herself. She’s seen as a madwoman by those around her, but Karla-san has never once put herself in a disadvantageous situation.
When Karla-san killed someone, she always made sure the other party attacked first, putting herself in the victim’s position. Even if she counterattacked excessively, Karla-san’s status prevented it from being a crime, and the accumulated fear of Karla-san made others even more afraid to make a move against her.
I did the same thing by antagonizing the underworld, but Karla-san pulled it off in noble society. That’s only possible because of Karla-san’s personality and power, though…
But what I don’t understand is, why did she let the Crown Prince or the Saintess deliver the final blow? When I voiced this, Elena-san nodded silently.
“We were just discussing that matter. Mikhail, please explain it to Aria as well.”
“Understood, Your Highness. Before that, Miss Aria… I’m glad you returned safely. It’s quite embarrassing, but there’s a significant difference in our fighting strength whether you’re here or not.”
As Mikhail said this with a smile directed at me, Roakwell, beside him, nodded with a difficult expression.
“Yes. I’m keenly aware of my own immaturity, but currently, only you and Count Lester’s daughter can defeat a Greater Demon single-handedly. However, because she yielded the credit to those two, things have become a bit troublesome.”
The plan to remove Elvan from his position as Crown Prince has been proceeding with His Majesty the King’s approval, primarily led by Elena-san and the Melrose Family faction. Many noble families supported Elena-san, who carries the blood of a pure high-ranking noble family, over Elvan, the son of a former viscountess. Thanks to Elena-san’s efforts, a portion of the less radical noble faction and the neutral faction had already leaned towards Elena-san.
However, this incident raised the Crown Prince’s fame, and opportunistic noble families began to rally in his defense again. Not only that, but the name of the ‘Saintess’ who defeated the demon also rose, and movements began, centered around the King’s younger brother’s faction and the noble faction, to make her the official queen consort.
I know almost nothing about this Saintess, but according to Mikhail, she seems to be someone connected to the Melrose Family, and the Melrose Family, including the Prime Minister, apparently hasn’t reached a consensus.
“No, I’ll handle the Melrose matter. I don’t acknowledge that person as being involved with us.”
“…” Mikhail glanced at me for a moment with a concerned look; perhaps he’s noticed too.
“However, in exchange, the Dandole Family, which had been taking a wait-and-see approach, has decided to join Her Highness Elena’s faction. The Dandole Family is thinking that if Clara is not to become queen, they are willing to have the engagement annulled amicably.”
Roakwell informed me of this after Mikhail.
Indeed, for the Dandole Family, it’s meaningless unless it’s a blood relative like Clara-san or Elena-san. “Amicably” means they intend to carry out the ‘dethronement of the Crown Prince’ in a way that doesn’t hurt Clara-san.
With the Dandole Family making their move, the major factions of the North and South have sided with Elena-san, but the existence of the ‘Saintess’ who caused all this has become a problem.
That was the background information, and from there, Elena-san took the lead in the conversation.
“…Currently, Clara’s position, rumored to be on bad terms with His Highness the Crown Prince, is not good. Normally, the Dandole name would still make her queen, but since the one who leapfrogged to become the official queen consort was His Highness the Crown Prince’s biological mother, we must prepare for the worst-case scenario.”
“Will it be like that this time too?”
“If His Highness the Crown Prince wishes for it… it’s not impossible. But in that case, we must be prepared for the country to fall into considerable turmoil.”
In that instant, Elena-san’s eyes narrowed, a dangerous light dwelling within them. Mikhail nodded in agreement, and Roakwell closed his eyes with a grave expression, which finally made me understand.
In the first place, because Elvan showed no growth as Crown Prince and became infatuated with the viscount’s daughter, Elena-san gave up on him and decided to become queen herself.
If he becomes king without any further growth, and someone questionable even as a noble becomes the official queen consort, the noble faction will gain power, and it will give other countries an opportunity to interfere.
Her eyes spoke of her resolve: before that happened, Elena-san would not hesitate to prepare a “poisoned chalice” for him.
“…However, it’s difficult for me to do that on my own authority. In my discussions with Father… His Majesty, it’s been decided that we will observe His Highness the Crown Prince until his graduation from the academy when he comes of age. Even if I try to persuade His Majesty by then, if we try to make a move before that, His Majesty might side with His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Saying so, Elena-san lowered her gaze and let out a sigh.
Elena-san’s goal is the peace and stability of the nation. If she were to cause an incident to achieve that, it would be treason, and if mishandled, could even lead to civil war.
“Elena-san… I remember my ‘promise’.”
“Aria…”
I swore that for Elena-san’s sake, I would kill even a king.
If Elena-san wishes for it, I will kill the ‘Crown Prince’ or the ‘Saintess’. If I become a hindrance because of it, then I can just be considered dead.
It seemed like most of the problems would be solved if I actually killed the Saintess. But—
“…It’s difficult. A little while ago, I might have asked you, but she has gained fame now.”
“…Yeah.”
Killing the Crown Prince or the Saintess is a last resort. If the Saintess had died before killing the demon, it wouldn’t have caused a big uproar. But at that time, even if she was making suspicious moves, to an outsider, she was just a girl who hadn’t committed any crime, and thus not a target for assassination.
But now, no matter how much of an obstacle she becomes, her death will be spun into a heroic tale, gathering sympathy for the Crown Prince and likely pushing him towards the throne.
“Even if it comes to the worst and we have to do that, first, rather than assassination, it would be better to find a reason for ‘eliminating the Saint’ that both the people and the Holy Church will accept… Mikhail.”
“Understood. I will coordinate with the Shadow Unit and, by the day His Highness the Crown Prince graduates, I will find a reason that everyone will accept.”
The Bone Devil I defeated was in the town where the temple head’s mansion is located. There’s no physical evidence that the Holy Church was involved, but since I went to investigate because I thought it was suspicious, my gut feeling is that they’re almost certainly guilty.
As a result, it turned out that the Crown Prince’s side made the first move before we could act, but now that we’ve reached this stage, I’m sure Mikhail will get it done.
“Well then, we will carry out the plan in accordance with His Highness the Crown Prince’s graduation, as decided by His Majesty. Until then, I shall persuade His Majesty and win over the noble houses. Mikhail, you will gather information and make arrangements. Roakwell, please continue to be my guard and work on winning over and coordinating with the Dandole faction.”
“”Yes!””
To Elena’s words, spoken with the air of royalty, Mikhail and Roakwell performed a vassal’s bow. Elena nodded in response and finally turned to me.
“I would like to speak with the Crown Prince… my brother, once, in a situation where Prince Amor and the Saint are not present. Preferably with Clara present as well.”
“What should I do?”
Even if they were political enemies, both were relatives to Elena, and she held some affection for them. She probably had various complex feelings, especially regarding Clara. I sensed that even if she decided to eliminate them, she wanted to determine where to draw the line and to ascertain their true intentions with her own eyes one last time.
“Aria, during that time, I’d like you to make contact with the Holy Church. Can I ask you to do that? I know it’s extremely dangerous, though.”
“…I see.”
Infiltrate the Holy Church directly and confirm things based on my own impressions. It was certainly dangerous, but I thought it was an effective method.
The girl who seems to be the “Saint,” whose true identity is still unknown.
The temple head who managed the town where the Bone Devil was, and his grandchild.
The existence of the “Incubus,” who still hasn’t shown itself and whose very existence cannot even be confirmed.
Clues to all of these lie within the Holy Church in the Royal Capital. There probably isn’t any concrete proof. That’s why, by having me—Elena’s bait—go there, we might be able to lure them out.
If there’s anyone who can notice it, it’s only me.
“Understood, Elena.”
“Then let’s begin, Aria. Our battle.”
Next time: The conversation between Elena, Elvan, and Clara.
And Aria finally confronts “Alicia.”