THSK – Page 3 – Athena Translations

Chapter 4 – The Personal Knight and the Proud Imperial Noble

Late July, Kingdom Calendar Year 1241.

The bandit gangs infesting the Dyrst region were being systematically mopped up under Ritziareite’s command. The former bandit hideouts were repurposed as new forward bases for the Provisional Elite Corps, and preparations for the Reshfeld Kingdom’s invasion were proceeding smoothly.

And then, the Kingdom made its move.

“Rune-sama. A formal demand has arrived from the Reshfeld Kingdom, ordering us to cede the Dyrst region.”

“I see. Right on schedule. …And the operations against the other shadow organizations?”

“Proceeding well. Fadi has annihilated ‘Red Broad’s’ splinter groups, so we no longer need to fear interference from the anti-Princess nobles. ‘Izu Clan’ is still active, but the chance of them intervening in a war is extremely low. However… they may still conspire with the anti-Princess nobles to slander your name.”

“We’ll be wary of that. But for the most part, it seems we’re in the clear. Thank goodness…”

Despite her words of relief, her expression was clouded with worry.

“Is there something else?”

“…No. I was just… remembering.”

“You mean…”

“Yes. The time we failed. This exact demand… it came in the past, too.”

She was right. This declaration had happened in the previous timeline. The only difference now was that we were prepared for it.

“Regarding the invasion…”

“As you ordered, we are taking the utmost care to ensure this does not reach His Majesty the Emperor’s ears.”

“Good. If Father found out, he would immediately escalate this into a full-blown war.”

Princess Valtrune’s plan to deal with the invasion herself was a countermeasure to prevent the current Emperor from making a rash decision. She alone would control the timing of this war. The Kingdom’s demand would be ‘lost.’ If they protested, we would simply claim it never arrived.

“As for the Kingdom’s envoy… Fadi’s people have been dispatched to arrange an ‘unfortunate accident’ on the road. The envoy’s carriage should be under attack as we speak.”

With the official message ‘lost,’ the Kingdom’s attack will appear to be a complete surprise. And if we ensure that foreign dignitaries are present to witness this ‘unprovoked’ aggression, the Empire will not be isolated when the war begins.

“We will have the foreign guests arrive on the same day as the Reshfeld Kingdom’s invasion. …Will it work?”

This final piece depended entirely on how far Prince Ixion, our insider, was willing to go.

“He’s managed to adjust the timing. The attack will begin in the mid-afternoon. The original plan was a dawn raid, but Prince Ixion ‘persuaded’ them otherwise.”

“That’s… impressive.”

“Indeed. No one is wary of the ‘Ghost Prince.’ He apparently started the ‘right’ rumors to guide the military leadership. He plans to use the same method for the date.”

“Securing Prince Ixion as an ally was the right move.”

He would have been an impossibly difficult enemy. Having someone so skilled in subterfuge disrupting the Kingdom from within was a massive advantage.

“Prince Ixion is doing all he can. We will make this operation to destroy the Kingdom’s reputation a success.”

As Princess Valtrune smiled, I felt both her bottomless charm and a sense of awe.

She was manipulating the narrative, ensuring our version of events was the only one told.

‘This is an unjust and illegal act of aggression by the Reshfeld Kingdom.’

That was the message we needed to send. Officially, Princess Valtrune was merely inviting dignitaries to tour the Dyrst region. It was all a pretext.

“A sudden attack by the Kingdom’s army… The foreign guests will be quite shocked, won’t they?”

“Yes. But… if I then take command and brilliantly repulse the Reshfeld army…”

“Your fame will skyrocket, and the Kingdom will lose all credibility with the other nations.”

It was a perfect plan. If Princess Valtrune could gain this military achievement, all opposition to her succession would be silenced.

“All that will be left is to remove the anti-Princess nobles.”

Princess Valtrune’s voice was cold.

This plan would prove her fitness to rule. All that remained was to eliminate the thorns in her side. Once they were gone, the day she took control of the Empire was near.

“Rune-sama. I have a list of all anti-Princess nobles here. If we can control the enemy’s movements in the Dyrst region, we could ‘guide’ the Kingdom’s army toward the lands of those nobles.”

“The primary goal is to repel the Kingdom. That plan is a contingency, only to be used if we have a decisive advantage.”

“Understood.”

“But do not slack in its preparation. It’s a perfect opportunity to cull their power.”

“Yes!”

“Al. You must win this battle. A narrow victory is not enough. …It is time to show the entire world the true difference in power between the Valugan Empire and the Reshfeld Kingdom.”

“As you wish, Rune-sama.”

I knelt and bowed my head. She placed her hand on my shoulder and smiled.

“I am counting on you… my one and only knight.”

We were one step away. The path to the throne was finally in sight.

My job was to make it a reality.

“You, commoner… Come with us.”

I was walking down a castle corridor, on an errand for Princess Valtrune, when a hand grabbed my shoulder. I turned. A group of men were sneering at me.

“…”

“Hey. I’m talking to you. Sir Knight.”

I’d never met them, but I had their faces memorized.

The sons of anti-Princess nobles. Their eyes were filled with such pure, undisguised malice it was sickening.

“…Is there something a group of nobles needs from a mere knight?”

They just snorted. “We have something to discuss. You’re coming with us.”

“And if I refuse?”

“—!”

“A joke. Of course, I’ll accompany you.”

I could tell from their glares. They really, really hated me.

I put on a pasted-on smile and followed them, just as they’d planned, to a deserted courtyard.

‘You are the only one who can protect yourself.’

I remembered Princess Valtrune’s warning. She had predicted this.

‘The anti-Princess faction sees my growing influence as a threat. They will try anything to slander my reputation.’

She had been on guard from the start.

‘And as my personal knight, you are their most likely target.’

Just as she’d read, these noble sons were luring me away. Am I a fool for walking right into their trap? …No.

‘Al. If they try to use force… you will defend yourself. Just… don’t kill them. If we can prove they instigated it, we can destroy their families’ reputations.’

I would never make such a clumsy mistake. I wouldn’t be the one to ruin the reputation she had worked so hard to build.

This was Princess Valtrune’s trap. And I… was the bait.

“Heh. What an idiot…”

“Totally. He has no idea what’s coming.”

They were the idiots. They had no idea they were the ones who’d been caught.

…Let the culling begin.

I watched from the shadows as Al was led away. The anti-Princess nobles had taken the bait, just as I’d planned.

Al would be fine. He has the strength to overcome any adversity.

…Now, I just need one final push to seal their fate.

“Tch. Why’d that commoner just go with them?”

And using this man… will be easy.

Beside me, his eyes narrowed, was the second son of Duke Gerreschiff, the leader of my faction.

‘Linos von Gerreschiff.’

A proud Imperial noble who despises commoners. His elitist views make him an outlier… but…

“…I don’t like this.”

The truth is, he’s nothing like the rumors. He may dislike the low-born, but he despises nobles who have forgotten their noblesse oblige and act with simple arrogance. He is not one of them.

“Linos. May I ask something of you?”

…And that is why he will move exactly as I wish.

“Your Highness?”

“…It’s about my knight. I’m worried.”

“He just followed them, Your Highness. I understand your concern.”

Linos’s respectful reply made me smile. I looked down, my voice barely a whisper.

“This is… a terrible thing to ask. But… could you please… check on Al for me?”

“—Me, Your Highness?”

“Yes. You’re the only one I can trust.”

His eyes wavered. He was hesitating. He had never approved of Al’s appointment and was furious that a commoner was my shield. But he is also my most loyal supporter.

“…Linos.”

“—! …Understood. I will follow them and observe.”

Perfect. He’s exactly the man I thought he was.

Linos hurried off. As I watched him go, my innocent, worried expression vanished.

“Flegel.”

“…Yes.”

“You heard. Linos is on his way.”

“…And what would you have me do?”

“Fufu. Fadi taught you his sight-share magic, didn’t he? Would it be possible for my father and I to share Linos’s vision?”

Flegel’s brow furrowed. He knew immediately.

“…Are you planning to use him as a tool to crush your enemies?”

I shook my head, my arms crossed.

“Use him? No. I’m simply confirming the facts.”

“With His Majesty the Emperor?”

“Yes. With Father.”

My knight is an extension of myself. If those nobles were to lay a hand on him… and if my father, the Emperor, were to witness it… they would be severely punished. Traitors to the Empire, who tried to harm the Princess’s personal knight.

—Once that label is applied, their families will be ruined.

They will lose all power and will never be able to stand in my way again.

I rushed over to the collapsed Princess Valtrune. The blindfolded woman she was lying on top of twisted her mouth in annoyance, coughed, and muttered,

“…Heavy.”

Looking far too spry for someone who’d been on the brink of death, she pushed herself up.

“Lady Dorothea! You’re alive!”

“We thought you were a goner!”

“Shut up,” she snapped. “It’s ringing in my head. Keep your voices down, you idiots.”

“That’s her! That’s definitely Lady Dorothea!”

“What a stupid way to confirm it.”

The ‘White Smoke Lizards’ erupted in cheers, overjoyed at their leader’s revival. Dorothea, in contrast, just shot me a look of pure confusion.

“…Why am I alive?”

“Rune-sama used healing magic on you.”

I explained, but her expression remained clouded.

“Healing magic isn’t a cure-all. My wounds… they were fatal. For her to heal me this completely…”

Dorothea looked down at Princess Valtrune, who was still slumped over her.

“She’s… something else. I’m in her debt, more than I can ever repay.”

“If you really think so, then I’d like the ‘White Smoke Lizards’ to join the Provisional Elite Corps as intelligence agents. …For Rune-sama’s sake.”

She remained silent, then shook her head.

“Even after this, you still won’t join her?”

“No. I am honored to serve my savior. But… I’m not the one you should be talking to.”

“Meaning?”

“…I’ve already died once. This… this is a miracle. Before the fight, I told Fadi… ‘If I die, the ‘Lizards’ are yours.’“

“So you’re stepping down as leader?”

“That’s right. I’ve transferred all authority to Fadi. If you want to absorb the ‘Lizards’ into that ‘Provisional’ corps of yours… you’ll have to talk to him.”

Her words were, in effect, a total concession.

“…Are you sure? I thought a King never abandons their people.”

“Heh. You remembered that? …You’re right. I never intended to let go… But I think I’ve found someone I can trust to take over.”

She slowly stood up and walked over to Fadi, who was still unconscious from magic exhaustion. She lifted him into her arms and glanced at her surroundings.

“Alright, you lot! The fight’s over! Collect our dead, and let’s get the hell out of here!”

“””Yes, ma’am!”””

As Dorothea gave orders, I hoisted Princess Valtrune onto my own back. Right, I’d forgotten to ask one thing.

“Dorothea.”

“…What’s with the grim face?”

I pointed at the depot entrance.

“Didn’t you say the only way to open these doors… was for your magic to break when you died?”

That’s what I wanted to know. How do we get out?

Dorothea tilted her head, then looked away, as if playing dumb.

“…Stupid question. I never planned on any of us walking out of here alive. So, no. The doors won’t open.”

“You mean… we’re trapped.”

“Ah. Well… yes. That’s what it means.”

Her voice was calm, but this was a serious problem.

“Ah, it’ll be fine!”

“Yeah! As long as Lady Dorothea’s alive, who cares!”

The ‘Lizards’ clearly didn’t grasp the severity of the situation.

“Even if we try to force it, that door looks way too solid to break easily.”

“I know. And I reinforced it with magic. It’s tougher than it looks.”

“…Seriously, what are we going to do?”

“We’ll have to break it, won’t we? That swordsmanship of yours… the one that crushed ‘Red Broad.’ Show us what it can do.”

She said it, then let out a huge, lazy yawn.

“By the way, I’m… ‘recovering.’ So I’m leaving the rest to you.”

And with that, she walked to a corner and lit a cigarette.

Where did all that battlefield intensity go?

She was… unbelievably selfish.

“Hey, Aldia! Is that true? We’re trapped?” Flegel ran over, his brow furrowed.

“Yeah… afraid so.”

“Lady Valtrune and Fadi are both out cold… It’s up to us.”

Flegel, wasting no time, started blasting the sealed iron doors with magic. But…

“…It’s not budging.” He whispered, his voice full of despair.

“…Hah. I’ll help.”

“Please. My magic isn’t even scratching it…”

In the end, it took us over two hours to break the door down. And that was with the help of all the ‘Lizards’ (minus Dorothea). A normal iron door would have taken ten minutes… It just shows how powerful a mage Dorothea really was.

“Oh. You’re done? That was, like, ten times faster than I thought.”

Her complete lack of remorse… I had a feeling she was going to be a permanent headache.

“Next time… clean up your own mess.”

“Don’t get so worked up over little things. Stress will kill you, you know?”

“I don’t want to hear that from the person who actually just died.”

“Heh. I thought you were just some stiff-necked knight. You’re actually pretty funny. I like you.”

“…Thanks.”

We finally passed through the warped, mangled doorway. The mission was, at last, over.

…Now, for the mountain of paperwork.

“Hey! Hey! The ‘White Smoke Lizards’ are officially our allies!”

Fadi, giving me a cheerful thumbs-up, looked happier than I’d seen him in a long time.

I shoved a mountain of documents aside on my desk to look at him.

“…That’s great.”

“Huh? You don’t sound very excited.”

“Well… it was an absolute nightmare integrating the ‘Lizards’ into the Provisional Elite Corps. The negotiations, the paperwork, fabricating new identities for every single member, pulling strings for the new unit’s budget…”

Honestly, the battle was the easy part. Three days and three nights in this office, non-stop… I never want to go through that hell again.

“Ahaha! You look so alive when you’re fighting, but right now you look like a zombie!”

It had been five days since the battle. ‘The White Smoke Lizards’ were now officially an intelligence division under Fadi’s command, answering directly to the Princess. And among their members was Dorothea, who had, by Princess Valtrune’s hand, been pulled back from the brink of death.

“Just so we’re clear, the fact that they are the ‘White Smoke Lizards’…”

“I know, I know! My lips are sealed.”

“Good.”

It was, of course, a secret. As far as the official records were concerned, they were just a group of commoners from the slums who had been recruited.

“…And please, keep them in line, will you? If they cause any more trouble, I will die.”

“You got it, boss!~”

“…I’m not kidding.”

Was it really a good idea to make Fadi their leader?

Well, Dorothea is there to supervise him… which, now that I think about it, is probably worse. They’re just going to cause trouble together.

I was half-hopeful, half-terrified. What this new unit would bring to the corps was still a complete unknown.

“And then! And then! Dorothea said…!”

“Uh-huh, I’m listening.”

“She… she praised me! She actually…”

“I see. Wow.”

“And then…”

“Mhm.”

I was half-listening, half-working, when Fadi suddenly shouted, “AH!” I jumped, my shoulders lurching.

“…What is it now?”

“Oh! I… I totally forgot to tell you something.”

“Forgot?” Before I could ask “What?” he snapped to attention, straightened his back, and gave me a deep, formal bow.

“Thank you very much… for saving the ‘White Smoke Lizards’—my important people!”

It was a thanks filled with genuine sincerity. But I didn’t really do all that much.

“You should be saying that to Rune-sama, not me.”

“Oh, I already thanked her! And Flegel, too! You’re the last one. Hehe.”

He shuffled his feet, looking embarrassed.

“…If you guys hadn’t helped… the ‘Lizards’ would have been wiped out. And Dorothea… she wouldn’t have made it. So all of us… we’re just really, really grateful.”

Being thanked… it didn’t feel bad. And if they really felt that indebted to us, it meant things had gone exactly as I’d hoped.

“…If you’re grateful, then work hard for Rune-sama. That’s the best way you ‘Lizards’ can repay the favor.”

“Yeah! We will!”

A unit composed entirely of former underworld operatives. The potential for disaster was high. But I don’t think they’ll ever betray Princess Valtrune. Fadi’s gratitude… it felt real.

Fadi’s magic sent the enemy forces into chaos. The black fog clinging to their eyes stole not just their sight, but their composure.

“…We might be able to win this.”

“Yes. But, Fadi…”

Fadi was slowly collapsing behind us. He must have pushed himself to the brink of unconsciousness to cast that spell. We couldn’t let his effort go to waste. We had to finish this.

“…Rune-sama. I’ll handle this.”

“I’m going, too.”

“No…”

I put my hand on Princess Valtrune’s shoulder and looked behind her. Dorothea. The woman who had led the ‘White Smoke Lizards’ this far. Her lifeless form looked dead, but her chest was still rising and falling, faintly.

“Rune-sama, please, heal her.”

“…Healing magic isn’t all-powerful, Al. I can’t guarantee I can save her.”

“Even so, please.”

“…I understand. But don’t expect a miracle.”

I’d already guessed as much from her expression. Dorothea’s chances were almost zero. Healing magic closes wounds and stops bleeding, but it can’t replace the blood that’s been lost. It’s not some convenient miracle that can regrow limbs or pull someone back from the dead. On top of that, it was an advanced magic that consumed an enormous amount of energy. If Valtrune used it on Dorothea, she would likely exhaust her reserves and be unable to return to the fight.

—And yet, I wanted her saved. It wasn’t about sentiment. Dorothea is the spiritual backbone of the ‘White Smoke Lizards.’ Even if her chances were slim, if we can save her, it will put the ‘Lizards’ in our eternal debt. This was a necessary step for the future.

“Please, I’m counting on you.”

“Very well. I’m leaving the rest of the battle to you.”

We turned in opposite directions. I glanced up at Flegel. ‘Protect Rune-sama.’ I conveyed as much with my eyes. He gave a slight nod and immediately began firing spells at enemies near her. With that, the chances of her being ambushed were almost zero. I could focus on what was in front of me.

I stepped over the corpses and raised my sword.

“To grant Rune-sama’s wish, I need Dorothea’s strength. I’m more than enough for these grunts.”

My objective: rapid annihilation.

My job: to take their heads with minimal movement.

Nothing special. Just the same, simple massacre I’d carried out time and time again.

“—Hup!”

I kicked off walls and containers, blurring through the space. I ran my blade along the neck of a panicked enemy and swung.

“Gueh!”

“Ugh…!”

“Gik!”

Blinded by Fadi’s magic, they died without even fighting back. I’d expected more resistance, but the loss of their vision was clearly more devastating than I’d thought.

“Guh…!”

I’d pierce one’s chest, and the screams of terror would choke and die.

“…Looks like I won’t have to lose myself this time.”

I flicked the blood from my sword and moved to the next. My blade never slowed, cutting down dozens at once.

“Ugh!”

“Gyah!”

“Guha…”

There was no high, this time. No euphoria from the killing. Perhaps because Princess Valtrune was behind me. That single shred of pride, the part of me that refused to show her my ‘other’ side, was holding my baser instincts in check. And yet… I was killing them faster than when I was rampaging.

“I see. By maintaining a calm mind, even in an extreme situation, I can move to the next action more quickly. That’s good to know.”

I gave a silent thanks for the new discovery as I sent a spray of flesh into the air.

“And… you’re the last one.”

“Wha—!?”

“Everyone else is dead. And now… I’m sending you to join them.”

He still couldn’t see. The last survivor, the ‘Red Broad’ leader, was pouring sweat, screaming and swinging his sword at phantoms. I just watched his pathetic display and sighed.

“Well. No last words, then?”

“W-Wait! Let’s talk—!”

“There’s no need.”

“Gih… GAAAAH…!”

I ignored his plea and jammed my sword straight into his open mouth. Blood streamed from his jaw. His limbs began to twitch.

“Since you’re the last one… I’ll give you a special, long, drawn-out death.”

“—!”

“Can’t even scream? Oh, my bad. Looks like I crushed your throat, too.”

I twisted the blade, and his ruined larynx was exposed. As I listened to the air hiss from the new hole in his neck, I whispered in his ear.

“‘Red Broad’ is finished. You’ll all die pathetically in this filthy, dark depot. Heh… A fitting end for a bunch of stupid animals, don’t you think?”

“—!”

Because of them, the ‘Lizards’ paid a heavy price. They stole people who could have been a great asset to Princess Valtrune. That crime… is heavy.

“This was a chance to get the ‘Lizards’ on our side, and because of you, so many of them died. You’ll pay for that with your worthless life.”

“Uu…k…”

I shoved the sword deeper and sneered at his tear-streaked face.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be sending soldiers to all your other bases to root out the rest of your friends. Isn’t that great? …You all get to go to hell together.”

“Nnngh…!!”

Anyone who makes trouble for Princess Valtrune… deserves to die a thousand deaths. Don’t you dare think any of you are getting out of this alive. I looked down at the man and tightened my grip.

“That’s enough small talk… Let’s end this.”

“—”

I yanked the sword up, splitting his head in two.

“…That was anti-climactic.”

I watched the blood pool on the floor, and sheathed my sword. Every ‘Red Broad’ member here… was dead. Unfortunately, the ‘Lizards’ had also taken devastating losses.

But…

“…As long as Rune-sama is alive, that’s all that matters.”

The battle was harder than we’d thought, but we’d done it. We’d given the ‘Lizards’ their victory. Now, they would be under Princess Valtrune’s control.

I looked back at her, still kneeling by Dorothea, then at the surviving ‘Lizards.’ They were all transfixed, watching her, praying for Dorothea’s survival. They weren’t cheering their victory. Just… watching.

…Ah. This is perfect.

Whether Dorothea lives or dies, they’ve now witnessed Princess Valtrune’s compassion. They will be devoted to her.

“If she lives, it’s a bonus. If she dies… well… Rune-sama has still earned their trust. That’s a guarantee.”

The reek of blood… and the sound of rain.

We’d won. And we’d gained a loyal new asset. As far as I’m concerned… that’s a happy ending.

I think… she’s already gone.

I placed my hand on Dorothea’s wound, and my breath caught. The amount of blood… ‘Blood loss’ was the only thought in my head.

“…Please.”

I used the healing magic, pouring all of my power into her. The wounds… they were closing, but the blood just wouldn’t stop.

“…!”

The sudden drain of magic sent a spike of pain through my head.

“I will save you…!”

But I stubbornly kept pouring magic into her. Logically, I should have been fighting. Wiping out ‘Red Broad’ was more important than saving one person… that was the smart choice. But… I chose to heal her. The reason was simple. The one person I trust in this world, my personal knight, Aldia… he had bowed his head and begged me.

‘Please, I’m counting on you.’

I saw his face… so strong, and so serious. I couldn’t say no. He has such a kind heart… he just couldn’t accept her death. Or maybe… he couldn’t bear to see Fadi suffer… Either way, I wanted to honor his wish.

“I know you want to protect everyone.”

I want to grant his wish. I want to be the ruler he deserves. So I will save Dorothea.

“—!”

I kept pushing, but her condition wasn’t getting better. Her breathing… so slow. Her heart… so faint.

No. Not like this!

“Live… Please!”

I held onto her, and I shouted.

“—!”

Deep down, I knew it wouldn’t change anything. The wounds were closed. My magic was gone. All I could do was pray.

Whether she would wake… I just didn’t know. The men I’d seen with wounds this bad… ninety percent of them didn’t make it. And the ones who did, they were never the same. The chances of a full recovery were not even one percent.

I touched her neck. A pulse, so weak. Her forehead was covered in sweat. She looked like she was in so much pain.

“…She’s fading.”

She’s probably going to die. But still…

“Please… There are so many people who need you… The ‘Lizards’ need you. Fadi still needs you. No one wants this… You don’t want to die here, do you?”

—Live.

“Your people… they’re waiting for you.”

—You can’t die.

“I need your help to protect the Empire… to build a new future.”

—You’re not allowed to die here.

“—PLEASE! COME BACK!”

I screamed, pouring all my will into it, and my vision went white. A blinding flash, it filled the depot. It was coming from her hand. The one I was holding.

“What…?”

Magic… a torrent of magic was flowing into me. And through me into her. Her whole body was glowing.

—Ah. She’s going to be okay.

I didn’t know where it was coming from… but I knew.

“…With this, Dorothea is safe…”

The tension left me, and my vision blurred. My upper body grows heavy, swaying side to side before collapsing over Dorothea.

“RUNE-SAMA!”

And just before I lost consciousness… the cry of my beloved personal knight echoes in my ears.

A flash of steel, a single brilliant strike, cutting down our enemies and pulling us one step closer to victory. A blinding flare of magic, so bright it seared the eyes, burning the blood-soaked battlefield clean.

“…Hmph. They’re outnumbered more than three to one. And yet…”

Why are they all still so full of fight?

They could have just given up. Accepted their fate. That would have been the most realistic, the smartest way for this to end. But not a single one of them would allow it.

“Honestly… The Princess’s people, my people… they’re all idiots.”

My comrades, one after another, accepting their own deaths as they charge to the front line.

“Lady Dorothea, I’m going!”

“We’ll get you out of this alive, ma’am, I swear it!”

Every one of them said they were fighting to keep me alive. They raised their weapons, and they died. It’s foolish. Utterly foolish. Risking their precious lives for a worthless woman like me.

And that little brat, too.

“Dorothea! When this is all over, I’m gonna work you to the bone as my agent in the Provisional Elite Corps! You better be ready!”

Fadi isn’t one of the ‘Lizards’ anymore. His skills were recognized by the Princess, and he’s serving her now. He looks more alive than he ever did back here. He has no reason to help us. But he’s here, for me, and for his old comrades.

I knew he would be. I knew that no matter where he went, or who he served… he’d never just throw away his connection to us.

“…Nothing but idiots.”

The good ones, the stupid ones… they always die first. I’ve watched them go, time and time again, and I’ve survived. At some point, the tears just dried up. I chose to live for myself. I kept leading the ‘Lizards,’ telling myself I had to keep going, no matter how ugly it got, just to prove their deaths weren’t meaningless.

That’s the kind of cruel Queen I was.

Yes… I’ve made… cruel decisions.

But not this time.

“…Huh? Lady Dorothea?”

“I’m going.”

“Wha—wait! Please…!”

I cut off my subordinate’s confused protest. My magic is gone, but I ran, ran into that reeking hell.

“It’s time… this all ended.”

Being Queen… it was comfortable. And it was agonizing. I crushed my own heart. I watched my comrades die. I clung to a pathetic, worthless life.

But that…

“…is over.”

In the center of the chaos, Fadi was standing alone, surrounded. For all his big talk, for all his bravado… he was covered in cuts.

“Pathetic.”

“—! Wha…?”

He turned, his eyes wide with shock. I spoke in my usual, low, calm voice.

“It’s nothing. Just felt like it.”

Such a convenient lie. My entire life has been a lie. I’ve always hated myself, the me who faked everything.

But… this one lie…

“—!”

“Doro…thea?”

…It doesn’t hurt. And I don’t hate myself for it. It’s… a kind lie.

She tackled me, shoving me out of the way, and then… she just… lay on top of me, unmoving.

“Doro…thea?”

She was smiling, a smile gentler than any I’d ever seen. And she coughed, spitting up thick, dark blood.

“Kaha…!”

“Wh-What… did…”

Her back… there were arrows sticking out of her back. So many.

She whispered, her lips trembling.

“Damn… You’re a handful… right to the end…”

Red. Everything was red. My head felt like it was boiling. I could feel her warmth… her blood, all over me.

Why. Why. Why did you protect me?

My mind… won’t work. The blood… it’s just… gushing from the wounds, it won’t stop.

“WHAT DID YOU DO!? DOROTHEA!”

My scream tore through the warehouse.

“…Heh. Don’t… cry.”

“—!”

She was trying so hard, her blood-soaked fingers reaching for my face, to wipe away my tears. I grabbed her hand, her slender, fine-boned hand, and clutched it, my chest feeling like it was about to rip apart.

“Why…”

My throat was raw. I couldn’t speak. My vision blurred and warped as the tears welled up, and a deep, bone-chilling cold washed over me.

“…Are you… okay? You’re not… hurt?”

“I’m fine… because you… you protected me.”

“Good… Then… it was worth it…”

Her eyes… the black cloth was in the way, I couldn’t see them, but… I could feel the light, the strength… just… fading.

I shook her, my hands on her shoulders, as my own tears streamed down.

“I’m sorry… I… I let my guard down… it’s my fault… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”

I choked on my own sobs. There’s so much more I wanted to say. But all that came out was “sorry.”

She just… smiled at me.

“Fadi… a promise… The ‘Lizards’… they’re… yours…”

“What are you… talking about!? You’re… you’re still the Queen! You said you would be, until I was an old man… You said you’d never give up the throne! You said that!”

“…Heh. Sorry… Looks like… that’s not… going to…”

“Uu…!”

The warmth… was leaving her. I pressed my hands to her wounds, but the blood wouldn’t stop.

“Fadi… please… The ‘Lizards’… you… you lead… them…”

“No! Wait… Don’t… Don’t leave me… please… Dorothea!”

Her fingers went limp. Her hand slipped from mine, falling with a heavy, final weight.

“…Ah.”

Through my tears, I saw the corner of her mouth twitch, a faint, tiny smile. And…

“…Thank… you… I’m… glad it was you…”

“—!”

Wait. Wait. WAIT!

I shook her, my hands on her shoulders, shook her, but… she didn’t speak again.

“Why…”

I couldn’t hear the battle, couldn’t hear anything. I just… stared at her face.

“…Tell me. Why… why are you smiling like that? I… I don’t understand you… I never did…”

Her face, so peaceful. Her eyes closed.

She wouldn’t answer me.

‘…Thank… you… I’m… glad it was you…’

And then… she was gone.

His ugly, writhing agony filled my vision. The filthy, stubbled man, now unarmed, clung to my feet and begged.

“H… Help, guh!”

“…Don’t fuck with me.”

Before he could even finish pleading for his life, I slit his throat with my knife.

Seeing Dorothea’s lifeless form, an anger greater than anything I had ever known boiled up inside me. Her breathing was already faint. From the amount of blood she’d lost, she probably wouldn’t make it.

I couldn’t stand to watch the moment she stopped breathing, so I quietly left her side and began walking toward the enemy lines.

“…I’ll never forgive them. Never!”

Dorothea, so adored by the organization’s members. Seeing her stained crimson, every last member of the ‘White Smoke Lizards’ was seized by the same fury.

“Lady Dorothea…!”

“This happened because we weren’t strong enough…”

“‘Red Broad’… We’ll crush you!”

Our allies had been reduced to fewer than twenty men.

The inside of the weapons warehouse was lined with the corpses of friend and foe alike, lying in pools of blood.

Both organizations had lost too many. There was no turning back. This fight wouldn’t end until one side was completely wiped out.

“…Let’s go. We have no choice but to move forward.”

As my low growl echoed, the members of the ‘White Smoke Lizards’ trembled with regret and screamed.

“UWAAAAAAAAAAH…!”

“How dare you… do that to Lady Dorothea!”

“We won’t let you escape. We’ll kill every last one of you…!”

The group, now filled with hatred, lost all fear of pain, injury, and death. They became obsessed with a single purpose: killing the detestable enemy before them.

And the one leading this pitiful band, drowned in their own hatred, was the one grieving Dorothea’s loss more than anyone.

“Everyone, listen up! In Dorothea’s place, I will lead the ‘White Smoke Lizards’ from now on!”

Until this moment, I’d had nothing weighing me down. Living freely, unburdened—that was my way.

I had been in an environment that allowed it. But my time soaking in that lukewarm water is over as of today. The one who guaranteed my freedom… is gone. The curse she carried on her back—now, I will be the one to inherit it.

“By order of Fadi, successor to Dorothea as leader of the ‘White Smoke Lizards’! Kill every last member of ‘Red Broad’! It’s the only offering we can give to those who died!”

My allies all nodded as one, acknowledging and welcoming their new boss.

“Fadi! We were waiting for that order!”

“Yeah! I’ll take one of them down before I die!”

“We’ll carve our legacy into those ‘Red Broad’ bastards!”

The few remaining avengers steeled their resolve once more.

“All units, forward!”

It was an all-out assault with our remaining forces. The enemy still numbered over a hundred. For us, with fewer than twenty, the situation was beyond desperate.

The world isn’t kind enough that you can win on momentum alone. And so, even as they advanced, fueled by resentment, one after another, my allies began to fall, overwhelmed by the enemy’s numbers.

This is bad. At this rate, we’ll be worn down and wiped out!

We were losing on every front, everywhere I looked.

I can’t let it end here.

I can’t die, not until I’ve avenged Dorothea.

It was a gruesome scene of despair. But amid the chaos, there were two people who were not buckling to the violence of superior numbers.

“—Hah!”

“—Hup!”

It was Lady Valtrune and her knight.

Within their precise movements, I could see the trust they shared.

The Knight mowed down enemies with his sword, and in perfect time with his movements, Lady Valtrune unleashed one pinpoint-accurate spell after another. They probably wouldn’t die in this battle.

Even if every member of the ‘White Smoke Lizards’ was slaughtered, even if the entire remaining force of ‘Red Broad’ tried to kill those two, their seamless coordination would never allow a blade to reach them.

That’s right. Those two are our hope. The only ones with a chance of victory.

If that was the case, then we still had a shot.

“Buy me thirty seconds… no, ten seconds is fine! Can you buy me time?”

I shouted. The two of them exchanged a glance, took in the enemies swarming them, and nodded.

“Got it! We’ll buy you the time!”

“I’ll land one heavy blow, Rune-sama.”

“Right!”

As her knight lunged, Princess Valtrune leaped high and backward, beginning to prepare a spell.

“Like hell you will!”

“Die!”

The enemies that rushed her…

“As if rabble like you could stand before Rune-sama.”

…were sent flying by her knight’s black sword.

I won’t let them lay a single finger on my master. That overwhelming determination filled the battlefield air with tension.

In the moment the enemy faltered, Princess Valtrune created a thick wall of ice, completely cutting off ‘Red Broad’s’ advance.

“This should buy us some time.”

“Fadi!”

The two of them turned, their eyes filled with trust.

They had blocked the enemy’s advance with ease. For my sake, they had used time they could have spent killing enemies on a different maneuver. In that case, I have to do my part to repay that trust.

I had no magic left in my body. I’d used it all on the sight-sharing spell. But just because I’m out of magic doesn’t mean I can’t use it.

I downed a magic recovery potion in one gulp and squeezed out my power once more.

“I won’t even give you time to struggle!”

A black mist began to drift around the feet of the clustered ‘Red Broad’ members.

“It’s over. Just die in ignorance, without understanding a thing.”

The mist thickened, growing in volume, and inflicted an abnormal status on all who it faintly touched.

“…My eyes.”

“It’s dark! I can’t see!”

The exact opposite of Sight-Share—【Sight-Steal】.

It was a status-effect magic that used the black mist as a medium. It could completely steal the sight of those it touched for a minimum of two or three minutes. It was a short duration, but in this situation, its impact was decisive.

“…Ngh.”

Strength left my arms and legs. It was a spell that required far more magic than the potion could recover. The deficit must have been drawn from the physical stamina I needed to move my body.

And even that wasn’t enough. I feel like it drained some of my life force… my lifespan, too. Oh well…

“…Doesn’t matter.”

There’s no point in dying while holding back my trump card.

My consciousness grew hazy. A fierce headache crashed down on me, along with a sensation of crushing gravity.

“The rest… is up to you.”

I said it in a small voice to the reliable, black-clad back of the Knight, who was cutting down the confused enemies on the front line. He didn’t look back, but seeing him and the dignified Lady Valtrune beside him, burying our foes, filled me with a sense of relief.

“Lady Dorothea. The scouts have made visual contact with ‘Red Broad’s’ forces.”

Inside the weapons depot, the atmosphere grew frantic, with people moving everywhere.

“It’s finally beginning.”

Princess Valtrune squeezed my hand, hard. In response, I gently squeezed her pale, beautiful hand back.

“It’s fine. We’ll win this, too.”

“I’m counting on you.”

The ‘Lizards’ were already in position. Within our line of sight, just under twenty of them were in formation, ready to meet the enemy. All that was left was us…

“Dorothea. So, what do we do?”

“You’re the rear guard. Form up around me. If things go bad, you’re the last line of defense.”

Dorothea crossed her arms, her sharp gaze fixed on the massive double doors in the distance.

Fadi looked away from Dorothea’s serious expression and waved Flegel over.

“Okay, Flegel. Let’s get on standby over there.”

“Ah. Right.”

They deftly climbed the depot’s inner framework, positioning themselves up high.

From that perch, they could watch the whole battle and provide support as needed. Since they both use magic, they could also act as a deterrent to the enemy’s advance.

“…What should we do?”

Princess Valtrune could provide ranged support with her magic, but as a pure close-combat fighter, I’d be useless up high.

“I’ll join the ‘White Smoke Lizards’ on the ground, but…”

“Then, so will I.”

“Rune-sama, you don’t need to take such a risk…”

“Al? You’re forbidden from fighting alone.”

“But there are other people here this time…”

“No. I’m fighting at your side. Understood?”

“…Understood.”

Defeated by her words, I could only nod.

“…In that case, Rune-sama. Do not leave my side for an instant.”

“I won’t. I’ll be right by your side.”

It almost sounded like a love confession, but I was sure I was imagining it.

I was watching her long white hair sway, but a shout of “They’re here!” snapped my full attention to the battle.

The weapons depot was a maze of jumbled, rusted iron containers.

‘Red Broad’ couldn’t just charge in a straight line. They stood, weapons in hand, glaring at us from a distance.

“Well, well! If it isn’t the ‘White Smoke Lizards’! …You had a lot of nerve refusing our offer, didn’t you? HUH?”

As their leader roared, Dorothea stepped forward, the click-clack of her boots echoing. Her long gray hair swayed as she radiated a quiet fury.

“Offer? Hah. You mean that nonsense about becoming your puppets? How absurd. We’re smart. We have no interest in working for idiots.”

“You bitch… I’ll kill you!”

“Know your place, you brainless thug. Trash.”

The vile insults flew, and the mutual hatred between them peaked.

“Fine… We’ll kill you all. It’s too late to beg.”

“We’ll slaughter every one of you. Show no mercy.”

With those final words from their leaders, the battle began.

‘Red Broad’s’ numbers were far greater than expected. A quick glance showed well over three hundred. With the advantage in numbers, ‘Red Broad’ naturally began to push forward with overwhelming force.

“Uraaa!”

“Die!”

But Dorothea just stood there, watching them approach, her expression cool. And then, she slowly lowered her hand.

“Just like always. In the fog… kill every last one of them.”

In an instant, the entire interior of the weapons depot was enveloped in a thick, white fog. And then, a heavy thud… like a massive lock being thrown.

“Wh-What…?”

“Huh?”

I heard the confused shouts from ‘Red Broad’s’ side, followed by Dorothea’s demonic laughter echoing through the warehouse.

“Fufu. There’s no exit, you muscle-bound morons. This is your grave.”

“Wha—!”

Her taunt was met with enraged roars. ‘Red Broad,’ completely enraged, accelerated their charge. But that, too, was part of her plan.

“—Go.”

At her low, husky command, the ‘White Smoke Lizards’ near us, unfazed by the fog, rushed forward.

“Gaaah!”

“Ugh…”

There was no clang of steel on steel. Just the screams of men, caught defenseless, being cut down from all directions.

“What’s going on?”

I felt the same as Princess Valtrune, and called up to the rafters.

“Flegel! What’s the situation?”

I heard a faint, sharp intake of breath.

“It’s… a one-sided slaughter.”

“…Huh?”

“The ‘Lizards’ are just… tearing them apart! ‘Red Broad’ is blind and stumbling around, but the ‘Lizards’ are moving like they can see everything!”

The fog should have blinded both sides. I’d thought the fog was just a way to neutralize the numbers and turn it into a game of chance. So why were the ‘Lizards’ able to attack so decisively?

The fog was clearly Dorothea’s magic, but I couldn’t understand what was allowing them to bypass it. In fact, Valtrune and I were just as blind as the enemy, reduced to just listening to the sounds of the massacre.

“…Fadi, do you know what’s going on?”

“…”

“Fadi?”

“…Hm? Oh, sorry! I was focusing on the ‘sight-share.’ What’s up?”

His voice was relaxed, but his words were… intriguing.

“‘Sight-share’? Explain.”

After a mutter of “…Oops, forgot,” Fadi cleared his throat.

“Uh, right. ‘Sight-Share’ is a unique magic Dorothea taught me! It lets us share our vision with allies, so we can see the battle from different angles. It’s awesome. You two wanna see?”

Before I could answer, a high-angle view of the weapons depot flooded my mind. The battlefield, which should have been shrouded in fog, was crystal clear. The sight-share must cancel the fog’s effects as well. This was…

“The ‘White Smoke Lizards” ultimate trump card… a way to create a completely one-sided battle.”

“A powerful magic.”

The fog magic and the sight-share. The two of them, used together, allowed for this one-sided slaughter in a confined space.

“Awesome, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Buuut, since Dorothea kinda forced this magic into existence, it has downsides. The sight-share eats magic, and the fog… well, it actually blinds the caster, too, and messes with their vision.”

Those were major drawbacks, but the effect was undeniable. Just one person with this magic could elevate an entire organization’s combat strength. If this way of fighting became common, it would change the very nature of warfare.

“…With this, we can…”

“…We can fight.”

The high perch gave a view of the entire battle. It was unaffected by the fog. Therefore, we could unilaterally track the position of every enemy and ally.

“Haah!”

Princess Valtrune unleashed a spell forward.

“Ugah!”

“A direct hit… This is incredible.”

The disconnect in perspective—our viewpoint being so far from our bodies—would take getting used to, but the magic was extremely powerful.

…With this, I can go, too.

“Rune-sama. I’m moving in.”

“I’m with you!”

We moved past Dorothea on either side and entered the heart of the melee. We had been told to be the rear guard, but this was our chance to push, and we should take it. We slipped past our allies, taking the shortest route to the thickest concentration of enemies.

“Hey, wait! Even with the advantage, you’re going too deep—”

“We don’t need cover. Just follow Dorothea’s orders.”

“Tch… just two of them… Are they insane?”

The ‘Lizard’ tried to stop us, but it was pointless. Unlike them, who fought in tight, coordinated formations, we were a last-minute addition. Being near allies would just restrict our movements and keep us from fighting at our full potential.

“Al, left!”

“—!”

I swung my sword in the direction she pointed. It pierced an enemy’s heart, sending a gruesome spray of blood and gore.

“Rune-sama, behind you!”

“Right!”

The fireball she launched blasted several enemies at once. We were in the heart of the enemy line, no allies nearby, and certainly no hope of support.

“…Fufu. It’s been a while since we’ve done this.”

“It’s nothing compared to the old days.”

In this white, misty space, it was just the two of us, back-to-back. We parried countless attacks, striking back instantly. She unleashed spells in the openings my swordplay created.

The roar of explosions. Agonized cries and the weak moans of the dying, crawling on the ground for help.

We moved lightly over the blood-soaked ground, our strikes and her magic in perfect, deadly sync, without a fraction of a second’s delay.

“Hehe… What are those two? They’re… just too strong.”

“Aldia and Lady Valtrune… they’re moving as one.”

In this second life, we knew each other’s every move. We had, after all, guided the great war between the Kingdom and the Empire with our own hands.

“Al!”

“Rune-sama!”

The enemy numbers weren’t thinning, but their assault was definitely slowing.

Princess Valtrune’s transcendent magic turned them to ash, and my sharp blade pierced them.

“The Princess and her Knight… Their level is just… different. Alone, they’re destroyers. Together, a cataclysm… So that’s the ‘makings of a King.'”

Even under that sharp, appraising gaze, we continued to cut them down. We fought like that, lost in the battle, for over ten minutes. We’d killed dozens, but our pace never faltered. At this rate, we’d win. Easily.

A hope born in the white fog… But in the next instant, we learned just how fragile that hope was.

“Everyone, pull back! The fog is clearing!”

The shout came from Fadi, who was watching from above. Looking around, I could see the fog was much thinner than before.

“We’re pulling back.”

I took Valtrune’s hand, and we fell back from the front line.

“Tch. Out of gas.”

“Sorry. The sight-share just hit its limit.”

Both the fog and the mass sight-share consumed massive amounts of magic. As the fog vanished, the overhead view in my mind disappeared completely.

Fadi and Dorothea were out of magic. Which meant our huge advantage was gone.

“…Alright. How much did we even the odds?”

Dorothea, panting, wiped the sweat from her forehead and counted the remaining ‘Red Broad’ forces. A moment later, she let out a long sigh.

“Damn. We didn’t thin them out enough…”

“Looks like… there’s still about one-fifty. This is bad.”

“The original plan was to wipe out their numbers completely. That… failed.”

Dorothea ground her teeth, her eyes narrowing in regret.

They’d expected two hundred. ‘Red Broad’ had brought over three hundred. The fog strategy was sound, but it had been based on a fatal miscalculation of the enemy’s numbers.

“Lady Dorothea. We’ve lost four. And the scouts we posted outside haven’t returned… I’m assuming they’re all dead.”

“—!”

Our losses were small, but they were still losses. They had wanted a quick, decisive battle. Reality was not so kind.

“Rune-sama. From here on…”

“I know it’s dangerous… But we have no path of retreat, do we?”

I couldn’t deny it. The weapons depot was completely sealed. It was a trap set by the ‘White Smoke Lizards,’ and now it had become a noose, strangling its own creators.

“Is there a way to open the doors?”

I asked Dorothea, wanting an escape route, any escape route. But she just stared at the ground, clenching her trembling fist.

“…There’s one way. The magic breaks when I die.”

“Then—!”

“The only path left… is to fight against these overwhelming numbers. You understand. If you don’t want to die, then fight with all your strength.”

The ‘Red Broad’ forces were closing in. Slowly, they advanced, a shrinking circle, eating up the space within the depot.

There was no time to think. As I stared, my eyes wide, Dorothea roared at me.

“You knew this was a possibility, didn’t you!? Knight! If you don’t want your Princess to die, then kill all one-fifty of them! That’s your job! If you can’t… then die here with the rest of us!”

…That’s right. We knew the risks when we agreed to this.

It’s too late to think about running. I don’t need to taste the bitter sting of defeat. It doesn’t matter if it’s ugly or ‘un-knightly.’ I will cling to the victory that glitters before me. That is my duty.

“…Understood. But from now on… I’m taking charge.”

“Hmph. You’ve been the center of attention from the start. …Your fight is our lifeline. If you die, and the front line collapses… that’s the end for all of us.”

That was… a heavy responsibility. So many lives, all on my shoulders. A relentless battle where defeat is not an option. The pressure and tension were crushing. But…

“Aah. A total, exhausting war. Guess we gotta try…”

“…I refuse to die here. I can’t die until I see Mariana again!”

I had my comrades at my back. And right next to me, my strongest, noblest, and most beautiful liege.

“Al. Just like before… In fact, let’s aim to wipe them all out.”

My beloved Princess Valtrune was with me.

I closed my eyes, and I could hear our allies rallying around us.

“They won’t lay a finger on Lady Dorothea…!”

“We’re not losing to ‘Red Broad’!”

“Crush them!”

Our morale was high. The odds were low, but victory was still possible.

“…I’ll lead the vanguard.”

I gripped my black sword and glared at the roiling, vicious mass of enemies.

‘Red Broad’ was still pushing, stepping over the bodies of their own fallen, aiming to crush us with numbers. There were no obvious openings, but… I could see weak points in their formation.

“We’ll break them from the weakest flank.”

“Then I’ll be the decoy in the center!”

Fadi shot his hand up. Beside him, Flegel shook his soft, blond hair.

“Then I’ll provide magic support, so Fadi doesn’t die.”

“Right. Don’t overdo it, you two.”

The plan was set. We split up and began the charge.

Fadi’s decoy unit took the center. The right flank was a skeleton crew, just to hold them back. And the left… that was us. Our target. A wall of flesh and steel that promised only death. Our survival lay on the other side of that wall.

“All units, form up… GO!”

The warriors of ‘The White Smoke Lizards’ roared, and plunged into the kill zone. The clash of steel. The world shook.

“Kill them all! The ‘Lizards’ are finished!”

“Shut up! You’re the ones who are gonna die!”

“We will win!”

“We won’t lose!”

Blood sprayed. In an instant, so many lives, so many wills… extinguished.

We were splattered with blood, but no one cared. We were all focused on one thing… burning our lives in the heat of battle.

“Haah…!”

My sword tore through flesh.

“Fuh!”

Her magic flashed, ending them.

We pushed off the ground, flowing into the next move.

The Personal Knight of the Princess: Aldia Graetz.

The Imperial Princess of Valugan: Valtrune von Felsdorf.

Two souls, tossed by a cruel fate… now resisting that torrent with all their might.

“We will absolutely—!”

“We will, without fail—!”

“—Return to the capital alive!”

Two days after our visit to the headquarters of ‘The White Smoke Lizards’—the day of the battle with ‘Red Broad’ arrived with a ferocious storm.

Rain lashed against the windows, over and over. Deep puddles spread across the ground, and the visibility was so poor that the distant mountains were just a blur.

“Al. It’s time.”

“Yes.”

Even on a day this cold and ominous, there was no cancelling or postponing our plan. Princess Valtrune, a waterproof cloak over her head, stared up at the black clouds, map in hand.

“…Today will decide the future of the Provisional Elite Corps.”

It sounded like an overstatement, but she wasn’t far wrong.

‘The White Smoke Lizards’ was a massive organization, one of the three great powers, with many skilled members. Whether or not we could get them on our side would drastically change our fate.

“If we fail to form an alliance with them, our future battles are going to be incredibly difficult.”

“I know. That’s why we must win today! …By the way, just to be sure, the Provisional Elite Corps…”

“Yes. I’ve ordered the entire corps to rest. You don’t need to worry about them interfering.”

This battle cannot be known to the public.

If any of the corps members were to find out that Princess Valtrune herself was participating in a shadow war, they would likely faint. To prevent anyone from coming near the battle site, I had forbidden all activity in the capital’s outskirts for today only.

“I wasn’t able to stop the Imperial Army, of course. I asked Epika and Rudolf to ease up on security around the capital, but they said they couldn’t change their daily patrols.”

“The ‘Lizards’ have their own spies in the army. They’ll have to handle that part.”

“We can only hope so.”

Princess Valtrune looked paler than usual, perhaps from a lack of sleep. It was no surprise; she’d been up late last night, poring over tactics for this very battle.

“Rune-sama. Are you feeling all right?”

“I’m fine. Though, you look like you haven’t slept at all.”

“I’m used to it.”

“I see. But don’t push yourself too hard.”

It’s true that pushing oneself is bad, but this was a time when a little endurance was necessary.

“We can rest a bit in the carriage. If we need to, we can take turns sleeping before the battle.”

I suggested it, but I knew neither of us would. We couldn’t afford to lower our guard, not even for a moment.

“…Yes.”

A deep wrinkle of worry was etched between her brows.

With no time to rest, we plunged out into the worsening rain.

A plain carriage was parked near the castle gate. Flegel, disguised as the driver, his black hat pulled down low, was waiting for us, talking with Fadi, who was sitting in the back.

“Sorry to keep you.”

“No. You’re right on time.”

Flegel muttered in a low voice and gave a small nod.

We climbed in, and the carriage set off at once.

“Our destination is… right, the old large-scale weapons depot, far to the west of the capital…”

As Flegel confirmed the location, his voice grew heavy.

“…Even if it’s abandoned, that depot is massive. The ‘Lizards’ are really taking a gamble, choosing to fight indoors.”

An indoor battle. Four walls, limited exits. Retreat would be difficult.

For the ‘Lizards,’ who were at a numerical disadvantage, it was an incredibly bold, almost aggressive, choice of venue.

“…So, what’s the expert’s opinion?”

Princess Valtrune looked at Fadi. He just gave a wry smile and ran his fingers through his red hair.

“Eh, it’s very Dorothea. The ‘Lizards’ are masters of fighting in tight spaces. This just means she’s going for a guaranteed win.”

“A specialty in indoor combat? That’s unusual.”

“Less ‘indoor combat’ and more… ‘using a limited area to create an advantageous position.’ They’re awful at straight-up brawls on an open plain. In other words… they’re a cunning little organization that relies on ambushes, guerilla tactics, and other ‘unfair’ strategies.”

It was a calm analysis, laced with a bit of a sneer. But as the organization once led by Fadi, an assassin, it made sense they’d be experts at fighting with precision and tactics.

If that was the case, their value as intelligence agents was even higher.

“…They’re an asset we absolutely must acquire.”

“Of the three shadow organizations, they are certainly the most appealing.”

“Their aptitude for intelligence work must be, by far, the highest.”

“…Jeez, you two are overhyping us.”

Fadi looked exasperated, as if telling us not to get our hopes up. But based on his own track record, my estimation of the ‘Lizards’ had just skyrocketed.

Fadi, however, just sighed, a distant look in his eyes.

“…’Course, if we lose this fight, or if the ‘Lizards’ take massive casualties… forget an alliance, the whole organization’s survival will be in question.”

So, the ‘Lizards’ could just… die out, without ever having the chance to bare their fangs.

“That’s… not funny.”

“But Fadi is right.”

“It’s hard enough to fight two hundred with fifty, but now we have to keep most of them alive…?”

If we formed an alliance, only to find that all the key members were dead… this whole operation would have been for nothing.

“…This is a losing battle we’ve chosen.”

Flegel’s murmur was almost lost in the sound of the rain.

“…We didn’t have a choice.”

We were on a single path, lined with thorns. The dark clouds grew thicker, a heavy, unmoving wall between the sky and the earth. As lightning flashed and thunder rumbled, the carriage pressed on. It was five hours until the battle.

The rain was a steady, quiet drone. It was an unpleasant, ominous sound, as if implying the very worst was yet to come.

I could feel the dampness through the soles of my boots. Water dripped from my hair onto the ground.

“Lady Dorothea. Front, rear, and support units are all in position.”

The subordinate who reported was soaking wet, his face drawn and exhausted.

“Good work. Tell everyone, except the lookouts, to rest until ‘Red Broad’ arrives.”

“Understood.”

He left, and the area was suddenly silent.

“Tch. So damp, it won’t even light… Useless piece of junk.”

The small stick between my fingers wouldn’t catch, even with magic. I threw it onto the wet ground and crushed it under my boot.

…Hah. To think, the future of the ‘Lizards’ is riding on this stupid fight. This is what we get. We cut ties with Rigel, Fadi leaves… and ‘Red Broad’ and ‘Izu Clan’ think we’re weak.

If we lose, we’re all dead. If we win… we become the Empire’s dogs. Hah. Either way, this is the end of ‘The White Smoke Lizards’ as we know it.

I rested my hands on my knees, staring at the ground.

“Hah… Dammit.”

“…Tense, are we?”

I looked up at the light, airy voice. The red-haired, smart-mouthed brat was standing there, his own red eyes watching me.

“…Tch. Oh, it’s you, Fadi.”

“Hey, what’s with that ‘oh great, this pain in the ass’ reaction?”

“Heh. You know me so well.”

“Nnnngh!”

The idiot, who was running around like a child, puffed out his cheeks. He was completely relaxed, as if this wasn’t just before a decisive battle. Seeing him… I calmed down, just a little.

“Hah. If you’re here, just say so.”

“I did! I came right to you, first thing!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Then don’t complain!”

Ah. This… this is nostalgic. Back when Fadi was in the organization, we used to have these same, pointless arguments. I knew this wasn’t the time to get sentimental, but I could see the old days clearly in my mind.

Just then, Fadi clapped his hands.

“Oh, and…”

“Hm?”

“Here.”

He handed me a small box, one that fit easily in my hand.

“They’re cigarettes. Your favorite, right?”

A brand-new, unopened pack. My favorite brand.

I tossed the damp, ruined pack aside and immediately tore this one open. I took one out, sparked a flame from my fingertip, and lit it.

“Fuu… How thoughtful. What’s gotten into you?”

“Nothing! Just… happened to have a fresh pack in my pocket.”

“Hmph. Says the kid who can’t even smoke.”

“Shut up…”

The white smoke was thin, but it was there.

“Is it good?”

“…Yeah. It’s perfect.”

“Glad to hear it.”

Fadi, looking satisfied, sat down next to me.

“Hey, hey. If we win, you’re going to join the Provisional Elite Corps, right?”

“Idiot. We’re just ‘cooperating.’ I’m staying right here, as Queen of the ‘Lizards.'”

“…Ugh. Just hand your dictatorship over to Princess Valtrune already. Way more people would be happy.”

“Hmph. The pleasure of ordering people around? I’m not giving that to anyone. As long as I’m happy, that’s what matters. The people live for the King, and the King lives for the King.”

“You’re an awful person.”

I ignored his cold stare and took a deep drag.

The usual rush. But this one… this one tasted special.

“Fuu…”

“…”

The silence wasn’t awkward. Fadi just sat there, rocking back and forth, clearly in a good mood. And looking at him, I…

“Hey, Fadi… You want the ‘Lizards’ back?”

…I said, the thought just popping into my head.

His jaw dropped. He tilted his head.

“Huh? You’re serious?”

His voice was sharp. His surprised, unguarded expression was so funny… I couldn’t help but smile.

“Yeah. You can have it.”

“N-No way!”

“…When I’m dead.”

The moment I added the condition, his face went bright red.

“That’s the same as never! By the time you die of old age, I’ll be an old man, too!”

“Heh. Just teasing. You’ve known me this long, you should have seen that coming.”

“Haaaa… Why did I ever leave this person in charge…? Worst decision ever…”

I just watched him, as he clutched his head and thrashed around, still joking.

…Give the organization back, huh? It’s not… impossible.

After all, there’s no guarantee I’ll survive this battle. If I do die here… then that joke might just become reality. But even if I imagine that dark future, I’ll act as the Dorothea that Fadi knows. Resolute. No weakness, no fear of death.

“Unfortunately for you, I don’t plan on dying. This position is mine.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know.”

This feeling of reprieve won’t last forever. Not even I know when the end will come. That’s why I’m leaving these words behind, like a bit of insurance. So that, whenever I go… things will be okay.

“Hah… ‘Son’? Don’t make me laugh, you little brat. You should have just dropped dead in a ditch.”

The very first words spoken were a full-force insult aimed at Fadi.

She had bright gray hair and a black cloth covering both eyes. Her voice, raspy and unforgettable, carried a unique kind of authority.

“Hmph. But fine. ‘The White Smoke Lizards’ is mine now. Even if you came back begging, I have no intention of giving it up.”

“Still as harsh as ever, Dorothea.”

The current leader of ‘The White Smoke Lizards’—Dorothea. She was taking a drag from a cigarette, her legs crossed as she sat on a large sofa.

…So this is an underworld boss.

She was clearly different from a topside dweller. The people around her were radiating irritation and killing intent. The tension was so thick, it felt like if she gave the word, they’d attack in an instant.

We were in a large room, deep inside the tavern. This was the true headquarters of ‘The White Smoke Lizards.’

“…Fuu. So. Why are you back?”

“Oh, so we’re just jumping right in.”

“I hate wasting time.”

She maintained her insolent attitude, her sharp gaze piercing through the blindfold.

“Marquis Rigel is dead. Killed by Princess Valtrune herself.”

“Yep. That’s right.”

“And I also know that you’ve become the Princess’s dog.”

“…Eh? Dog?”

“That’s right. The rumor is that you, the great assassin, have really fallen.”

The moment the word ‘dog’ registered, Fadi’s expression darkened.

Dorothea, not budging from her arrogant posture, paused, then continued.

“…I can guess what you want. You want ‘The White Smoke Lizards’ to side with the Princess, right?”

“Almost. To be precise, I want your people to become intelligence agents for the Provisional Elite Corps.”

At that, Dorothea looked confused. “Provisional Elite Corps?” But she quickly let out a long sigh.

“And you really think… I’d agree to that?”

“C’mon, you’re nice.”

“Heh. Are you blind? …Of course I refuse.”

Her words left no room for negotiation. As if to say any further talk was pointless, she laughed in exasperation and snatched a cigarette from a nearby subordinate.

“Fuu… Are you done?”

Fadi, who clearly hadn’t expected to be shut down so completely, just stared blankly, lost for words.

“…I would think an alliance with the royalty and nobility would be to your advantage. Is there truly no room for consideration?”

Flegel stepped forward, taking Fadi’s place.

Dorothea’s condescending attitude didn’t change.

“I hate nobles. They’re arrogant and selfish.”

“And you’d refuse… for such a personal reason?”

“Fufu. What’s wrong with personal reasons? ‘The White Smoke Lizards’ is mine. Who we ally with, who we make enemies of… it’s all decided by my judgment. I don’t need outsiders lecturing me on profit and loss.”

She stated it as fact, pressing her fingers to her forehead.

Even Flegel, with his logical mind, was struggling to get a foothold in this conversation.

“Is our business finished? Then…”

“Wait!”

“…And now the woman speaks.”

As if she’d been expecting it, Dorothea turned her gaze to Princess Valtrune.

“I never thought someone this important would come in person…”

“Spare me the flattery. I want to ask you something. Are you afraid the same thing will happen as when you worked with Marquis Rigel? Is that why you won’t work with me?”

Fadi had been treated horribly by the Marquis. Considering the awful conditions he’d worked under, it was natural to assume the entire organization had suffered.

“…I see. So, the Princess herself rescued Fadi.”

“Yes. And I am not Marquis Rigel. I promise, I can be of use to you!”

The prim and proper Princess Valtrune.

Dorothea, her expression unreadable, suddenly looked down, her glossy gray hair swaying.

“…And the kind-hearted Princess… is going to save trash like us?”

“I don’t like that way of putting it. I want to borrow your strength.”

“And in return, I’m supposed to ‘join you.’ ‘Follow your orders.’ …Is that what you’re saying?”

“N-No, that’s…!”

“That is what you’re saying. Listen, little lady.”

Dorothea raised an index finger, her expression deadly serious.

“I am the King of ‘The White Smoke Lizards.’ As a Princess, a fellow ruler, you should understand. A King… does not simply bow to another.”

“—!”

“Not unless… we were to lose a war so badly that we had no other choice. A King does not sell their people. That is our most basic duty. A curse we cannot abandon.”

And that is why, she was saying, she wouldn’t just agree to our demands.

“…So you won’t join the Corps.”

Fadi asked, his voice strained. Dorothea nodded.

“No. Unfortunately.”

“Kuh!”

Fadi grit his teeth and looked down, clenching his fists. Then, all the strength went out of him. He turned to Princess Valtrune.

“…I’m sorry. Negotiations have failed. We can’t get them on our side.”

It was a deeply disappointing outcome. But it didn’t seem like her attitude would change, no matter how much we pushed. Dorothea, stubbornly keeping her distance, looked at us with a coldness that offered no openings.

“…What?”

I had been staring at Dorothea, and she’d noticed.

“No… it’s nothing.”

Negotiations failed. We have to leave. …And yet. Something bothered me. I felt a profound sense of… wrongness, about her response. She knew what we were going to ask, and she had already decided to refuse. But if there was truly zero room for negotiation, she could have just… not met with us. There was no need to see us at all. It was a waste of time for both sides. But she did agree to this meeting. Which means… they had an intention to talk.

Dorothea stared at Fadi, who was slumped, ready to leave. She took a deep breath.

“…Wait. You brat.”

“—!”

“Stop sulking. It’s annoying. We’re not done.”

A conversation that should have been over… Dorothea herself had just pulled it back from the brink.

“…Hmph. Well, depending on the terms… I might be willing to consider a… mutual cooperation agreement.”

Dorothea spat the words out, looking bored and staring off into the distance.

“Dorothea…”

“Don’t get the wrong idea. It’s not because it’s you. I just… had a change of heart. That’s all.”

“Dorothea!”

Fadi’s eyes were sparkling. He’s so easy.

She waved her hands to dismiss his excitement, then beckoned a subordinate over and whispered something.

The subordinate replied, “Yes… yes…” then pulled a map from his tunic and handed it to Princess Valtrune.

“It’s the location of the final battle with ‘Red Broad.'”

Before we could even ask, Dorothea started explaining.

“They’re mobilizing an estimated two hundred men. We… even scraping the bottom of the barrel, will have less than fifty.”

“Tch.” She clicked her tongue, loud enough for the room to hear.

A war between shadow organizations. And one where the ‘Lizards’ were at a severe disadvantage. The fact that she was sharing this information with us, total outsiders, meant…

“You want us to join this fight?”

“Ah. As expected of the wise Princess. Glad you’re a quick study. That’s right. I’m desperate for manpower. I don’t care if it’s only four.”

“But… even with four more, the numbers are…”

“True. But do you really think you have a choice?”

“—!”

“I want to win. You understand what that means? I’m well aware we’re outgunned. And knowing that… I’m giving you a chance.”

If the four of us fight for the ‘Lizards,’ and win against ‘Red Broad’… then she’ll consider an alliance. She was asking us to fight an enemy that outnumbered us more than four to one. It was an insane request.

“…”

I looked at Princess Valtrune. She met my gaze. And then she asked me one, simple thing.

“Al. We can do this, can’t we?”

The fight against ‘Red Broad’ would be incredibly difficult. But in her clear blue eyes, there was no trace of doubt. No matter how harsh the terms, if it meant securing an alliance with the ‘Lizards,’ she would not hesitate.

Her tone was so calm, as if she were just confirming something she already knew. And that everyday, simple question… filled me with absolute confidence.

“Of course.”

I nodded. She smiled, her white hair swaying, and turned back to Dorothea.

“—Very well. We accept.”

“Heh. It’s a deal.”

Princess Valtrune and Dorothea shook hands. From proposal to decision… in less than two minutes.

“I thought you were just kind, but you’re decisive, too.”

“You can’t protect anything by just being kind.”

“You’re absolutely right. Heh. The Princess has the makings of a fine King.”

Dorothea then looked over her subordinates.

“Listen up, all of you! The Princess has just promised us victory against ‘Red Broad’! So I don’t care how bad the odds are, defeat is not an option! Do not bring me shame! Fight with pride! You got that!?”

In an instant, the room erupted in cheers. Confetti flew.

Dorothea just watched them, looking exasperated. “So loud…”

As the cheering died down, she spoke again, her voice back to its gruff self.

“…The battle is in two days. I’ll give you the plan then. All you need to prepare… is your resolve to win. Any questions?”

“We’re fine. We’ll see you in two days.”

“Good. I’ll be expecting you.”

The bare minimum said, we turned and left the ‘Lizards’ headquarters.

“Oh, and…”

I was the last one out the door when, surprisingly, Dorothea called out to me. I hadn’t said much, so I couldn’t imagine what she wanted.

I looked back over my shoulder. She was smiling, a look of satisfaction on her face.

“…Take care of Fadi.”

It wasn’t a strange request, but coming from her, it was so… gentle. It was a shock.

“That idiot is impulsive, and frankly, he’s a pain in the ass. …But he’s not a bad kid.”

It was something only an old friend could say.

Every word carried the weight of someone who knew both his good and bad sides.

…So.

“It’ll be tough, putting up with him… but… I’m counting on you.”

…She’s just… not good at being honest. She cares about Fadi more than anyone, doesn’t she?

She looked away, not waiting for my reply. Her mouth was twitching, and her cheeks were red. She was probably embarrassed.

She should just say that stuff to Fadi himself, I thought.

But instead of replying, I just gave her a deep, respectful bow.

“‘Take care of him,’ huh?”

I stepped out of the tavern, into the cool night air. I muttered to myself, then hurried to catch up with the others.

The secret passage leading to the city streets ran deeper than I expected.

Part of it was that the castle itself is on the highest point in Aldan, but the main reason was probably that this passage led to the slums—the very edge of the Imperial Capital. A poverty-stricken district, more than a hundred meters lower in elevation than the castle.

We walked on and on through the dark, narrow tunnel, until we finally saw a place where pale moonlight was leaking in.

“Ah, the exit!”

Fadi announced, and stuck his hand into the tiny crack of light.

I heard the sound of metal scraping against wood. A moment later, there was a click, like a lock disengaging.

Fadi grunted and shoved aside a heavy, warped plank that looked like it was made of fused wood and iron. Above us, we could see the faded, ancient ceiling.

“Heave-ho!”

He poked his head out. We were in a small, abandoned-looking hut.

We brushed the dirt from our clothes and looked around.

“I can’t believe it connected to a place like this…”

“Hah. I’m starting to have serious doubts about the castle’s security…”

Flegel was simply surprised, but Princess Valtrune was already pressing her temples, a grim look on her face, having now learned how easy it was to get in and out.

“Don’t worry! This passage is for my exclusive use!”

“Which means there was a serious risk of you assassinating me in the past… I’m truly glad I made you an ally when I did.”

“Huh? You look super tired. Why?”

It was only natural for her to sigh in relief. If Fadi had remained with Marquis Rigel, she might have been assassinated long before the decisive battle in the Marquis’s territory.

For the two of us, who had already fallen into the abyss once, a peaceful life was probably not in the cards.

“We really are walking a razor’s edge, aren’t we…?”

“Yes. If we’d made even one wrong choice, there’s a future where I wouldn’t be here… No. Let’s not think about that. It’ll just make my stomach hurt.”

“Fadi. Stop giving Rune-sama so much stress.”

“Again!? Why am I always the one getting blamed!?”

Fadi’s loud protest echoed through the hut, scattering the dark mood.

And so, we, the top-secret mission-executors, had successfully snuck out of the castle. Even better, we’d made it to the slums via a completely safe, danger-free route. All thanks to Fadi’s private tunnel.

“So, what now?”

Flegel asked, his eyes nervously watching the floorboards, which looked ready to give way with every step.

“We’re heading straight to the ‘White Smoke Lizards’ headquarters.”

“We’re just… going for it? That sounds dangerous.”

For the safety-minded Flegel, his hesitant tone and anxious expression screamed, ‘I absolutely do not want to cross this bridge, even if you did tap it.’

“Don’t look so scared! This team has the best front-line fighters ever!”

“Don’t talk like fighting is a guarantee… You’re just reminding me I’m the only useless one in a fight.”

“Aww, don’t worry about it!”

The negotiators: Fadi and Flegel.

The fighters: me, Princess Valtrune, and Fadi (when needed).

It was true. Flegel was the only one who paled in comparison on the combat front. But considering his specialty was in strategy and intellect, it was understandable. And…

“A fight will only happen in the worst-case scenario. Right, Fadi?”

“Yep! I don’t know about ‘Red Broad’ or ‘Izu Clan,’ but the ‘Lizards’ are basically pacifists. They’re not the type to just start swinging knives and clubs at you.”

“See?” Valtrune said.

“…Right.”

She closed her eyes for a moment, as if to calm the high-strung Flegel.

“Relax. If all goes well, this will be over quickly.”

Exactly. We weren’t going there to fight. We were just going to see if we could join hands and build a good relationship.

“Yep, yep! If we bait them with a little funding and supplies, I bet they’ll roll right over!”

That was a pretty harsh assessment of his former organization.

“Does that mean the ‘Lizards’ are just… easy?”

“Oh, come on. It means they’re rational enough to talk.”

“The way you say that makes it sound like the other organizations are just rabid dogs…”

“Flegel, you’re not supposed to ask about that. A little more tact, please?”

…He says, with zero tact himself.

Fadi’s shamelessness was truly something to behold.

“…Should we get going?”

With the final check complete, Princess Valtrune stood up.

“Ah, the exit’s over here!”

The hut’s actual front door had several planks nailed over it, sealing it shut. Fadi, of course, went in the opposite direction.

“You…”

“From a place like this…”

He moved a bookshelf in the corner, revealing another door.

Do underworld types just… really like hidden contraptions?

Two heavily-hidden exits in one tiny hut.

“Come on, let’s go! The ‘Lizards’ are swarming all over the place out there.”

Fadi wiggled his fingers like a swarm of bugs, then opened the door and stepped out.

“Stop saying ‘swarming.’ You make them sound like insects.”

“Ahaha! Are you afraid of bugs, Flegel?”

“I’m not ‘fond’ of them.”

“That’s what ‘afraid’ means!”

Princess Valtrune and I watched the other two go, then exchanged a look.

“Al. It’s been a while since I’ve gotten to cut loose.”

She looked… excited to fight.

Since the regression, she hadn’t had a single chance to use her magic on a battlefield.

I remembered the sheer, overwhelming magic power she’d possessed, and a shiver went down my spine.

“…Rune-sama. I will handle any and all combat. You understand me, right?”

“Al, you understand, don’t you? I put a little rule on you: ‘No fighting alone.’ Which means…”

“N-No… you don’t mean…”

That rule… it wasn’t a punishment for my rampage. It was a setup… to justify her fighting at my side!?

This woman… just how many steps ahead is she? This is the talented, tenacious princess who guided the Empire.

“Fufu. Let’s do our best together.”

“…Yes.”

“Then, let’s go!”

Her pale hand pulled firmly on my arm.

I’ve been dreading this as a dark, heavy operation, but… maybe it’s not?

I still can’t seem to read her intentions.

There are three major organizations that fester in the Imperial underworld.

‘Red Broad,’ the largest faction, based in the capital city of Aldan.

‘Izu Clan,’ a militant group famous for operating all across the Empire.

And ‘The White Smoke Lizards,’ the assassin’s guild that Fadi used to lead.

These three are known as the great shadow organizations, all vying for supremacy.

We were in the outskirts of the capital, a place where shady-looking people walked the streets. We were heading for the headquarters of Fadi’s old group.

“Looks pretty rough, right? Trust me, it’s worse than it looks.”

He said it with a casual, experienced expression, his eyes scanning the passersby.

Flegel, a bead of sweat on his brow, nervously observed our surroundings and whispered to me.

“…Those guys are watching us. I think they’re sizing us up.”

“Yeah.”

“If they attack… I’m counting on you.”

“I know.”

His usual cool demeanor was gone. He was practically hiding his face with his hands.

“…They’re all staring.”

“Well, we do kind of stand out.”

Our armor was the custom-made gear of the Provisional Elite Corps. Our weapons were all custom-ordered.

On top of that, we had Princess Valtrune, with her regal posture, and Flegel, a former Kingdom noble. It was no wonder we were drawing eyes.

“…Hey, man.”

“Hm. If they get close, I’ll take them out fast.”

“So reliable! I love it!”

I wanted to avoid a fight if possible, but if we let them make the first move, our options would be limited. If a fight was coming, I’d be the first to draw. I kept my hand near the hilt of my sword as we walked.

Gradually, the hostile stares began to fade.

“Hey, hey!”

“Hm?”

Fadi, noticing something, tapped me on the back.

He whispered into my ear, “Your ‘don’t-mess-with-me’ aura is so intense, it’s scaring everyone off. As expected of the personal knight to the world’s most terrifying princess!”

“Are you… insulting me?”

“No way! I’m complimenting you! With an aura like that, you’d make a great underworld boss! How about it? Taking over the ‘Lizards’ would look great on you!”

“I’ll pass.”

“Ahaha, you look so disgusted!”

“…Hah.”

The moment the danger passed, he was back to this. Fadi’s mood swings were as volatile as Petra’s. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, but I just… get sucked into his pace, and it’s exhausting.

“Fadi, that’s enough. Don’t stress Aldia out.”

“Ooh, there it is again! Are you, like, his favorite?”

Even when Flegel gave him the cold shoulder, Fadi just grinned.

“I’m telling you to be serious. This won’t be a laughing matter if we’re attacked.”

“You’re so serious, Flegel!”

“…You’re the only one here joking around.”

“Hey! That’s so rude! …Is what I’d like to say, but you’re probably right, so I won’t argue!”

Flegel, like me, fell silent. He must have realized that arguing with Fadi was just a way to lose his mind.

“Aldia.”

“Hm?”

“…This guy is exhausting.”

I couldn’t help but smile wryly at his blatant, zero-filter complaint.

A building, surprisingly large for the slums, stood alone.

“We’re here! This is the ‘White Smoke Lizards’ HQ!”

Our destination was a large, filthy-looking tavern.

We opened the paint-chipped wooden door. Inside, it was small and dim. The air smelled of rust and stale alcohol. Fadi, without hesitation, walked up to the bar counter and sat down.

“We should go, too.”

“Yes… He’s waving us over.”

We joined Fadi at the bar. A woman in black clothes behind the counter spoke to us in a gruff monotone.

“What’ll you have?”

A short, curt greeting.

Fadi, completely unfazed by the terrible service, just tapped his fingers on the bar.

“…I’ll have… Dorothea.”

At his chillingly low voice, the woman’s mouth twitched.

“…I need your order.”

“Yeah, don’t need all that. Just go get her.”

The woman tried again, a little more politely this time, but Fadi just repeated his demand.

“…”

“Ahaha, don’t look so scary. Just tell her… ‘Your adorable son is here to see you.’ Got it?”

“…O-One moment. I’ll… go check.”

Reluctantly—or rather, looking like she wanted to curse him out—the woman disappeared into the back.

“Fadi, just now…”

“Yep. I told her to go get the boss.”

…I knew it.

He’s not the type to beat around the bush. He always takes the shortest, most direct route.

“Don’t give me that ‘don’t be hasty’ look. We were going to meet her eventually anyway.”

“Yeah. This is faster. It helps.”

We don’t have time to waste. I’m all for decisiveness. We can worry about the details when we’re at the negotiating table.

The only question is how they’ll respond.

“Thank you for waiting. She will see you. Please, this way.”

To my surprise, the woman returned in less than a minute, her expression now perfectly composed.

“Alright! Let’s go!”

“Hold up!”

“Ugh…!”

Flegel grabbed Fadi just as he was about to cheerfully follow.

“What’s the big idea? Don’t grab me by the neck!”

“Are you stupid? You’re just going to follow her, just like that?”

Flegel’s voice was sharp. Fadi’s complete lack of caution must have set him on edge. But Fadi just brushed his hand off, looking smug.

“No worries! Dorothea is a pacifist. She wouldn’t just… mistreat an old friend.”

Without waiting for a reply, Fadi walked off.

“Flegel, it’s fine.”

Princess Valtrune’s gentle voice seemed to calm him. He nodded and followed.

“Al. Be on your guard.”

“Of course.”

“If you sense danger, we act. Understood?”

“Yes.”

Her gaze was filled with complete and total trust.

A situation where one mistake is not an option. I placed a hand over my heart, praying for the mission’s success, and for all four of us to return safely.

A ‘shadow organization’ is a group whose very existence is not publicly acknowledged.

They are the outliers of the world, living in the shade, but in truth, they exert a massive influence on mainstream society.

Premeditated murder is a daily occurrence for them.

They facilitate the flow of illicit money, and much of the domestic trafficking of weapons, magic tools, and drugs—all of which are banned from private ownership—is done at their behest.

On top of that, there’s human trafficking, slavery, and organ harvesting. It’s said that the three great shadow organizations are involved in most of the illegal activities that violate Imperial law.

And that… is connected to the recent encounter between the Provisional Elite Corps and the bandits.

“The bandits you all subjugated in the Dyrst region… they were a splinter group of ‘Red Broad,’ one of the three great shadow organizations. And behind them… are the influential nobles leading the anti-Princess faction.”

“Yep! And just so you know, I’m the one who dug all that up! Praise me!”

Fadi puffed out his chest, looking proud.

As someone who’d just watched his comrades die, I couldn’t share his cheerful attitude, but there was no doubt the information was valuable.

“The shadow organizations again… Sending bandits at us… I guess that proves how dangerous they are.”

That battle was inevitable. And it’s guaranteed to happen again.

“We have to come up with a counter-plan, or this will get bad…”

“Exactly. But we lack the means to fight back.”

We have the Provisional Elite Corps as a conventional fighting force, but no other cards to play.

Right now, Fadi is the only one who can counter the shadow organizations, but there’s a limit to what he can do alone.

“…I see. ‘Fight poison with poison.’ You’re saying the best way to seal the movements of one shadow organization is to sic another one on them.”

Flegel, looking thoughtful, let out a long sigh and looked at Princess Valtrune.

“That’s right. We need to forge our own connections to the underworld, to ensure the anti-Princess nobles can’t interfere with the corps’ movements.”

“So, if we don’t take this risk, we’ll be crushed eventually. That’s the ‘agonizing decision’ you were talking about.”

“It’s not exactly a noble strategy, but we don’t have a choice.”

Princess Valtrune had probably been planning to use Fadi as her primary countermeasure against the underworld. But the recent attack on the corps must have shown her the limits of that approach, forcing her to commit to a full-scale reinforcement.

“The ‘White Smoke Lizards’ used to be tight with Marquis Rigel, but ever since I switched sides to Princess Valtrune, the whole organization cut ties with the anti-Princess nobles. Right now, they aren’t allied with anyone, so if we’re gonna bring ’em in, now’s the perfect time!”

“Plus, Fadi is the former leader. That should, in theory, make negotiations a little easier.”

“Ehehe! You should all be super-duper grateful to me!”

He had a smug look on his face, as if he were the star of the show.

I really wish Fadi would take this more seriously.

“We can’t let our guard down. We have no idea what they’ll think of you, Fadi, now that you’ve left.”

“Aldia’s right. Nothing is guaranteed.”

By preparing for the worst, we can better handle the unexpected. For all we know, we could walk into their headquarters and be met with a bloodbath.

“We should be prepared for a fight, just in case.”

“Of course. That’s exactly why you and I are going in person.”

Princess Valtrune’s fingers lightly brushed mine.

“—This is a top-secret mission that only the four of us can know about. It would be pathetic to have all our plans fall apart just because we lost a fight, wouldn’t it?”

“So, Rune-sama and I are the muscle…”

“And Fadi and Flegel will handle the negotiations. We’ll have to protect them, won’t we?”

Me and Princess Valtrune… on protection duty.

We’re more than capable as fighters, but as her personal knight, the idea of her being on the front lines makes me incredibly uneasy.

“With all due respect, Rune-sama, I’m not comfortable with you personally entering such a dangerous place. If we’re talking combat, General Ritziareite or Petra would be more suitable…”

“Al.”

“—!”

“I told you, this is not a noble strategy. I cannot, in good conscience, drag Ritziareite, with her strong sense of justice, or your precious friends into this mess.”

I could see the iron will in her blue eyes.

“This involvement with the underworld cannot become public. It would be too cruel to order them to ‘keep this dark secret forever.'”

She was right.

We four are united by the singular goal of winning the war, and we’re prepared to face whatever that entails. Fadi, as a former member, would have no problem dealing with his old organization. And Flegel, for the sake of his former fiancée, has the grit to push through anything.

“This is the right team. The four of us have the combat strength and the negotiating skills.”

Princess Valtrune took a deep breath.

“And, most importantly… if I drag you four into this mess, my conscience won’t hurt at all!”

And with that last-second, brutally honest confession, she ruined the entire mood.

“…I appreciate the honesty, Your Highness. It’s actually reassuring.”

“The four of us are now accomplices, sharing the same secret. We’re a fellowship of fate, destined to fall together if we fail. Are you prepared?”

“…Kuh. So I was just your choice of a suicide partner!?”

“Don’t worry, Flegel, I’m here, too! Oh, wait, me too! Ahaha, this is awesome!”

A top-secret mission with no guarantee of success, but where failure is not an option. A trial we must overcome to write a new future. We can only rely on each other. If even one of us falls, we all fall.

“All of us survive, or all of us die. Heh. An interesting mission, indeed.”

“You’re just as nuts as Fadi… God, I want to go home.”

“If I were a normal person, I’d have run away long ago.”

I brushed off Flegel’s jab and drew my sword, staring at its polished surface.

“My life is already a tightrope walk. Might as well get used to it.”

“…You’re right. We have to take the risk sooner or later.”

From the moment I chose to side with Princess Valtrune, I knew I was in for a series of uphill battles. But I chose to stay by her side… because I wanted to live a life without regret.

No matter what predicament we find ourselves in, I want to keep swinging this sword for her.

For her, I will carry everything I hold dear and see this through to the end.

“I’m ready. I can go whenever you are.”

I sheathed my sword and said it with conviction.

Fadi, twirling a knife in one hand, smiled fearlessly.

“Well, since I’m going, there’s no way we’ll fail.”

“…Hmph. Haaa… It’d be pathetic if I was the only one hesitating. If there’s no going back, then we’ve just got to see it through.”

Flegel scratched his head, but then gave a strong nod.

“The operation begins tomorrow, at sunset. Make your preparations and meet here again!”

“””Yes!”””

A secret meeting, held in the corner of an old shed. The four of us put our hands together, a silent vow.

A critical mission that will never be recorded in memory or history.

This is our quiet resistance, born in the shadows, against the fate that awaits.

“You’re dismissed.”

We nodded silently and went our separate ways. With our minds on the coming operation, we returned, just for one more day, to our normal lives.

The sunset sky was slowly fading to a pale violet. The sun vanished behind the hills, and the members of the Provisional Elite Corps finished their duties, returning to their free time.

“Sir Aldia, good work today.”

“Yeah. You too.”

I gave a slight nod to the soldiers I passed, and once I’d reached an empty area, I looked around.

“…”

No one. The soldiers’ cheerful voices were already distant.

“All armed… Good to go.”

I retraced my steps and headed for yesterday’s shed. I stuck to the quietest, least-used paths, taking a bit of a detour, and finally arrived.

…No one’s here.

In the dimming light, a slightly warm breeze blew past. The rustling of leaves in the wind was loud. Conversely, it was the only sound.

“Did I get the time wrong…?”

A flicker of anxiety. But the moment I heard the sound of boots on the dirt behind me, I relaxed.

“Sorry. I’m late… Oh, just you?”

“Yeah. No one else is here yet.”

The second one to arrive was Flegel.

He was carrying the iron sword he hadn’t worn in ages, and was fully decked out in sturdy armor.

His scholarly air was gone; replaced by the face of a soldier. I couldn’t help but smile.

“Haven’t seen you dressed like that since the academy.”

“Well, I’ve mostly been assisting Lady Valtrune since I got here. Haven’t had much time to see you, either.”

“Isn’t the armor heavy?”

“Don’t tease. I still go out on bandit hunts with Mia and Ambros, you know.”

He rolled his shoulders, his lips pursed.

The gesture was so… young. I couldn’t help it; I know it’s mean, but I chuckled.

“Don’t laugh…”

“Heh. Sorry.”

“You’re not sorry at all. Tsk, whatever.”

Flegel brushed back his neatly-kept bangs and glanced around. Then he put a hand on my shoulder.

“…Let’s go inside.”

He said, and opened the shed door.

It was darker than yesterday, and with no light coming in, it was pitch black inside. When we shut the door, the air felt even dustier. I coughed, and Flegel covered his mouth with his sleeve.

“I think… I’m going to sneeze.”

“Gah… It wasn’t this dusty yesterday.”

We grumbled as we walked deeper into the shed, to the spot where we’d met.

The floorboards creaked. Through the thin walls, we could hear the high-pitched shriek of a bird.

“…Hey, Aldia.”

“Yeah,” I replied quietly.

Our gazes were both fixed on a large, downward-sloping staircase in the corner of the room.

“…Was this staircase here yesterday?”

“No…”

It wasn’t.

A rectangular space gaped open, as if the floor had been cut away.

Below, a darkness even deeper than the room’s spread out, leading so far down it made one hesitate to approach.

“…”

We both stood in silence.

Unnerved by the change, we both took a step back.

As we were focused on the stairs, something soft and warm bumped into my back.

“—!”

A soundless scream caught in my throat. But it wasn’t a ghost or a monster.

“Calm down. It’s me.”

“R-Rune-sama… You scared me.”

My heart was pounding so hard I thought it would burst.

She looked at my pale face with concern and began to pat my head, as if to calm me.

“Hah, you jumping like that made me jump.”

“Sorry…”

Flegel was also clutching his chest, his voice sharp.

I’m used to enemy ambushes, but I’m terrible with unexplainable, supernatural-seeming stuff. I rubbed my shoulders and let out a long breath.

“You’re too jumpy… Come to think of it, you were surprised yesterday, too.”

“I… just don’t like surprises. Things popping out of nowhere.”

“Oh? That’s interesting to know.”

“Please don’t be planning any pranks…”

I put a hand to my forehead, dreading her words.

She was definitely plotting some mischief for later. I regretted, too late, revealing a weakness in front of her.

Three of the four team members were here. The only one missing was Fadi—the most critical piece of this negotiation.

“One more… When is he going to show up?”

“Huh?”

Just as Flegel grumbled, Princess Valtrune made a surprised sound. She looked thoughtful, scanning the inside of the shed.

“Rune-sama? What’s wrong?”

“Oh. I just… I assumed Fadi would be the first one here.”

She said, but… Fadi was nowhere to be seen, and we couldn’t hear anyone approaching from outside. Just a quiet, slightly chilly, empty space.

“Isn’t he just napping or something? Should I go check his room?”

Flegel, his patience worn out, started to leave, but Princess Valtrune shook her head.

“Wait.”

“But…”

“Fadi should have headed here even before me. We spoke in my office just before I finished my work. I’m sure of it.”

“If you say so…”

Flegel’s shoulders slumped, and he returned to his spot.

Still, the fact remained that Fadi wasn’t here. If she was right, that meant he’d run into trouble on the way. If so, we couldn’t rule out the possibility that it was shadow-organization-related.

“Rune-sama. If Fadi isn’t here, we should postpone. If something happened to him on the way, then, just as Flegel said, we should go look for him.”

The sun was completely gone, and we were well past the meeting time. My anxiety grew.

Princess Valtrune’s blue eyes wavered, undecided.

“…What should we do?”

“Huh? About what?”

“About whether to go get Fadi or… eh?“

That… incredibly relaxed voice.

The three of us turned. Standing behind us, his nose smudged with soot, was Fadi, looking at us as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

“Where… have you been?”

Fadi just tilted his head at Flegel’s question.

“I’ve been here the whole time.”

“No, but… huh? We didn’t see you at all…”

Even if he’d been hiding, he should have shown himself when we arrived. But… he wasn’t looking at us like he’d just enjoyed a prank; he looked genuinely confused, which was strange.

“…I’ll ask just in case. Where were you?”

Fadi pointed to the stairs we’d just found.

“In there! I was waiting waaaay down at the bottom.”

“Those stairs… Did you open them?”

“Open, or… they were just… here. Back when I was with the Lizards, I used this hidden passage all the time to sneak into the castle. You know, steal food and stuff.”

Looking closely, I could see the steps were caked in a thick layer of white dust, as if they hadn’t been used in a very long time.

“We can get outside from here without anyone seeing. Come on, come on, we’re already late!”

Fadi, completely oblivious to our worry, cheerfully herded us toward the passage, muttering, “Jeez, I was waiting forever and you guys never showed. Punctuality is, like, basic human decency, you know.”

…If he knew about a secret passage, I really wish he’d shared that information beforehand.

Following Fadi’s back, Flegel and Princess Valtrune let out huge sighs, then began to descend.

“…Well. At least nothing bad happened.”

Relieved that it was just a misunderstanding, I, too, turned my gaze into the deep, dark abyss.

Chapter 3 – The Inherited Soul of a Ruler

A week after the battle with the bandits in the Dyrst region, I was summoned to an unpopular equipment shed behind the castle.

As I racked my brain for the reason, my rampage during the bandit fight came to mind.

When I returned to the Imperial Castle, Princess Valtrune had scolded me.

‘Al, from now on, you are forbidden from fighting alone. Understood?’

I remembered her face, quietly admonishing me as if I were a child.

…Is this my punishment?

I thought, letting out a deep sigh.

Steeling myself, I headed to the shed, only to find an unexpected person waiting.

“Ah, hey! Over here!”

“…Fadi.”

He beckoned me over, and I reluctantly approached.

“…Why are you here?”

“Same as you.”

“Rune-sama summoned you?”

“Yep, that’s right!”

Fadi cackled, then looked around, his brow furrowing in confusion.

“She’s late, though.”

“Well, Rune-sama is busy…”

“Her, yeah, but there’s one more person coming.”

His words just added to my confusion. I tilted my head.

“One more?”

“She didn’t tell you anything?”

“No.”

I’d thought I was the only one summoned. But if others were gathered, too, then this probably wasn’t a punishment detail.

It’s no use. I have no idea what Princess Valtrune is planning.

“Can I at least ask who else is coming?”

Fadi toyed with his red hair and muttered.

“Flegel.”

I see. I have absolutely no idea what kind of criteria she used to pick us.

We waited for a while, and just as Fadi said, a winded Flegel appeared, wiping sweat from his brow.

“Yo.”

“How are you so calm about this…”

“Flegel! I’m here, too!”

“Ugh. And the annoying one is here, too…”

“Haha, my reputation really is the worst. I’m totally gonna cry~♪.”

Flegel looked completely fed up, while Fadi remained cheerful even after the jab.

These two seemed like complete opposites. Was this really going to be okay? As I watched them bicker, someone clapped me hard on the shoulder from behind.

“…Sorry to keep you waiting!”

“—Your Highness!?”

I jumped, my shoulders jolting. When I turned, Princess Valtrune was standing there, her cheeks puffed out slightly. She was radiating a dangerous aura, clearly unhappy with my form of address.

“Now, Al. What did you just call me?”

“M-My apologies. Rune-sama.”

“Fufu. Much better.”

She smiled teasingly, then looked at the three of us in turn.

“Good! That’s everyone.”

She counted us on her fingers, then took a breath.

“Operation: Provisional Elite Corps Intelligence Agent Reinforcement… begins now!”

She announced, out of the blue.

Princess Valtrune has more drive than anyone. Sometimes she leads the army on the battlefield, and other times she uses her intellect to actively manage domestic affairs.

I have sworn from the bottom of my heart to always be at her side, supporting her as she gives her all. …However, this current situation was a complete blindside. This was a new operation I’d heard nothing about.

“Operation: Provisional Elite Corps Intelligence Agent Reinforcement?”

“…What’s this about?”

Flegel and I tilted our heads in unison, our eyes asking for an explanation.

“Let’s talk details inside.”

Princess Valtrune pointed to the shed and gave Fadi a subtle signal.

Fadi immediately produced a key from his pocket, unlocked the door, and struck an exaggerated ‘welcome’ pose.

“Okaaay, right this way, everyone!”

…Ugh. I have a really bad feeling about this.

Fadi’s goofy attitude was only fueling our anxiety.

“Hey, Aldia. I want to go home.”

“What a coincidence. I was just thinking the same thing.”

This shady, unexplained operation definitely involved some new trouble Fadi had dragged in. I could feel it, and my feet suddenly felt heavier than they had all day.

“Oh, I forgot to mention,” Princess Valtrune said, turning to us as we hesitated. She flashed a bright, almost innocent smile.

“This is a top-secret mission that only a select few know about. So, trying to leave partway through will result in severe punishment.”

“…Huh?”

“Isn’t that just… forcing us?”

Flegel and I both went pale.

So, the moment we showed up here, we were already roped into this sketchy plot.

“So, you see, Al? I’m telling you, it’s best if you just come along.”

She placed a hand gently on my back.

‘I will not let you escape.’

I could feel her strong, unyielding will through her palm. At that point, I resigned myself to my fate and shot Flegel a look of pity.

“Flegel. It’s no use. Just give up…”

“Haaa…”

He, too, raised his hands in surrender and began to walk, defeated.

“Thank you, Al.”

“Well, I am your knight.”

In the first place, the moment she asked for my cooperation, I never had a choice.

There was only one path: to do whatever it takes to make this ‘Operation: Provisional Elite Corps Intelligence Agent Reinforcement’ a success, just as she wished.

“Fufu. I’m counting on you.”

“I will do everything in my power.”

In sharp contrast to Princess Valtrune, who held a hand to her lips and smiled softly, I put on a serious face and swore my absolute cooperation.

“Alright. I’ll explain the mission details. We’re going to use Fadi’s connections to add people skilled in intelligence gathering to the Provisional Elite Corps. That’s it!”

“Yep, that’s pretty much it!”

…That was the most concise ‘detailed’ explanation I’d ever heard. It was so vague, I was starting to question the very meaning of the words ‘mission details.’

“Um… that explanation doesn’t tell us why this is a ‘top-secret’ mission. If we’re just recruiting new allies, we shouldn’t need to be so secretive.”

“Al has a point. But think about it. I said we’re using Fadi’s connections. Which means…”

I started to understand what she was implying.

Using Fadi’s connections meant… contacting the shady characters who live in the Empire’s underworld. Considering her status as Princess, that was an enormous risk.

“…Are you serious?”

“Yes. It was an agonizing decision I came to after much deliberation.”

“…You have my sympathies.”

What? So she’s a victim in this, too?

She must have been begged by Fadi to let his old comrades join the corps, and with her strong sense of responsibility, she couldn’t refuse. Now that she’d taken Fadi in, she couldn’t just ignore his requests.

Seeing her press her fingers to her temples, I let out a sigh of sympathy and relief.

“Fadi. Could you not trouble Rune-sama so much?”

“Ehh!? You’re just going to pin all the blame on me now!?”

“Thank you, Al. To be honest, I was at my wit’s end… You’re a lifesaver.”

“You switched sides way too fast… Hey, man, she’s playing you!”

I tilted my head at his protest.

“What are you talking about? As if Rune-sama would ever lie to me.”

When I said that, Fadi just stared at me with the face of a man who has seen a profound, unchangeable truth.

“This is hopeless… He’s completely tamed.”

“Fufu. Just as I’d expect from my knight.”

“A little-devil princess… terrifying. I bet one of these days she’s going to use you and say, ‘Now, let’s go conquer the world!’“

“Oh, you figured it out? You’re quite sharp, aren’t you?”

“H-Hey, don’t take my jokes seriously! And that’s not a cue, okay!?”

Fadi, who’d been talking a mile a minute, was completely overwhelmed by Princess Valtrune. As expected of the next Empress. Her charisma was on another level.

“…Alright. Playtime is over.”

“Oh, man. She actually just called it ‘playtime.’“

She starts it, and she ends it.

Is this the spatial-control ability granted only to a true Empress?

“Truly magnificent, Rune-sama.”

“I… where was the ‘magnificent’ part? Your loyalty is so blind you’d agree with anything…”

“Um. Are we done with this? I’d really appreciate it if we could get to the actual point.”

Flegel’s common sense cut through the air, bringing our ridiculous charade to an end. The heavy tension had finally broken. It was time.

“…So, Rune-sama. You were serious about using Fadi’s connections? That wasn’t a joke?”

My voice was serious now. My eyes were fixed on my noble liege.

Princess Valtrune, in turn, met my gaze with a resolute posture.

“Yes. I am aware of the risks, but this is how I intend to strengthen our forces.”

“…Understood.”

She had often spoken of wanting to gradually expand the Provisional Elite Corps. I’d predicted that, sooner or later, she would have to connect with the underworld. And seeing her expression now, I knew this wasn’t a half-hearted decision.

“Fadi has strong ties to the underworld. Before he joined us for the fight with Marquis Rigel, he belonged to a certain organization.”

“A certain organization?”

“Yes. One of the Empire’s three great shadow organizations. ‘The White Smoke Lizards.’ Fadi is their former leader.”

“—!”

‘A notorious assassin.’

That was Fadi’s reputation as I knew it. But the real Fadi wasn’t someone who could be summed up by such a simple title.

The real reason she’d wanted Fadi on her side… was his pipeline to the underworld. …I had completely misjudged the situation.

Back when I became her knight and we first decided to contact Fadi… My expectations for him weren’t very high. He was a total unknown. That was natural. But now I understood why she had been so insistent on recruiting him.

He’s a major figure from the Empire’s shadow world, one whose weaknesses she knew, making him easy to bring in.

Princess Valtrune, more than anyone, knew the massive implications of acquiring an asset like Fadi.

It was the optimal move, one that only she—with her knowledge of the past and her deep understanding of the Empire—could have arrived at. It was an answer I never could have found.

My eyes widened. I stared at Princess Valtrune, whose powerful gaze had not wavered for an instant.

“…Did you know, from the very beginning?”

I asked, and she, instantly understanding my meaning, gave a slow nod.

“Yes. It was all part of the plan.”

“—! That’s… amazing.”

“It’s not… but, well, being praised by you does feel nice.”

She blushed and smiled, clearly pleased by my admiration.

Fadi and Flegel, who had been listening, were completely lost.

“…Um, what are you two talking about?”

“It’s not really helpful when you two have a whole conversation just by looking at each other…”

They both looked utterly baffled.

“Sorry. It’s just… our thing. Don’t worry about it.”

Princess Valtrune tried to wave it off, but that only made their stares more suspicious.

“This is…”

“Sus-pi-cious.”

“It’s really nothing!”

Princess Valtrune, her smile strained, tugged on my sleeve, silently asking for help.

“Al…”

Being looked at like that… I had to help her.

I put a knuckle to my lips and gave a loud, throat-clearing cough.

“…What?”

“No, I was just… Rune-sama is in a tight spot, so…”

“Then you explain what you were talking about.”

“…”

I can’t just casually say, ‘Oh, Princess Valtrune recruited Fadi because it meant she could potentially absorb the entire White Smoke Lizards organization.’

I was at a complete loss. But staying silent would just make them more suspicious.

I wracked my brain, and finally came up with something.

“It’s about… your reason for being here…”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yeah. Rune-sama was just saying… if we succeed in this, it’ll be a huge personal achievement for you.”

It was a complete deflection. But it wasn’t technically a lie. If Flegel was being roped into this, it was almost certainly to let him build that kind of record.

Flegel’s eyes went wide.

“You mean…”

“It’s your chance to rebuild your relationship with your former fiancée.”

To re-establish his engagement to Lady Mariana of House Rhein. That was the primary reason Flegel had abandoned his status in the Kingdom and come to the Empire.

“Y-Yes! That’s exactly what we were talking about!”

Princess Valtrune seized the opportunity and jumped right on board.

“Rune-sama is thinking seriously about your future.”

“—!”

“The only reason she’s using Fadi’s connections is because she wants you to establish an unshakable position here in the Empire. She’s taking this risk… because she supports you and Lady Mariana.”

The words just flowed. …Even if they were just an ideal scenario I’d invented on the spot.

“That’s… really… I… I’m speechless. I don’t know how to thank her.”

“Yeah. I know, right?”

It was a ridiculously convenient story, but for Flegel, it was incredibly effective.

“If that’s the case, you should have just told me.”

“Rune-sama doesn’t like to broadcast her own good deeds. You should be more considerate.”

“Ah… Right. I’ll be more aware… And, as for this mission, I swear I will give it my all!”

The topic was successfully changed. And, as a bonus, I’d managed to fire Flegel up.

Not bad, if I do say so myself.

Fadi still looked skeptical, but since Flegel had bought my story, he dropped his line of questioning.

“…Right. Can we just get on with this now?”

“Yes,” Valtrune said, nodding at Fadi’s weary suggestion. She then continued her explanation.

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