Amidst battles erupting throughout Trisen Castle, there were those who lurked in the darkness. Among them were Shutra’s older brother, Tabula, the third prince of Trisen, and his entourage.
“Your Highness, is it wise to be rifling through the King’s private room?”
“Y-You’re right. If we’re caught, it’s instant execution…!”
“Silence! With the Allied Nations pushing us this far, it’s impossible to turn the tide! When that happens, I, as royalty— damn it, useless Shutra! If you had taken my advice, we could have avoided this worst-case scenario! Jean, Alba! Find anything of value, I don’t care what it is! Here, everything is priceless. And then I’ll head abroad, to the Western Continent! I’m not someone who ends in a place like this!”
“But how will we escape outside the castle? There are enemy soldiers at the main gate…”
“Don’t be an idiot, you don’t need to worry about that. The Magic Knight Corps Headquarters has an emergency escape route for situations like this! If we can reach it with sheer willpower, we’re golden!”
“W-With sheer willpower…”
“So, all of you, don’t worry about anything else and just focus on moving your hands!”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
The entourage, Jean and Alba, began to search for items that looked valuable. A few minutes after they started working, Jean, who was browsing a bookshelf, discovered something.
“Your Highness, I found this book.”
“What is this pitch-black book! It’s dirty… No, wait, this is…”
Tabula traced the title of the Black Book with his finger. As he did, his mouth contorted into an ugly grimace.
“So, Father obtained power with this… Hahaha, with this, I surely can too…!”
“That’s not good. It’s not something someone like you should use.”
A voice from the private room door, from behind Tabula, startled him.
“Hello, good evening.”
“Wh-Who are you!? Jean, Alba!”
Standing at the door was a figure in a black hood. Their face was hidden, and their identity was unknown. But since they had seen this place, there was no choice but to eliminate them. Tabula shouted Jean and Alba’s names, and trembled in fear.
“I’m sorry. You were too careless, so I already took care of them.”
Red blood rippled on the carpet on the floor. Jean and Alba, its owners, were torn limb from limb and lay dead, their expressions frozen in the conversation they had with Tabula just moments before. Did they understand they were killed? Did they perish without suffering? However, Tabula should not be thinking about such things now. This is because an extraordinary crisis loomed over him.
“Hahaha, sorry to intrude so suddenly. Still, it’s a shock. You forgot my face?”
“…How am I supposed to recognize someone whose face I can’t see?”
“Ah, right. The hood was in the way.”
The black hood briefly revealed its face to Tabula. However, Tabula did not react.
“…”
“You don’t recognize me? How disappointing. It’s been many years, so I suppose it can’t be helped. I was still a child back then, when you, Prince Tabula, killed me.”
“What—”
Tabula’s words did not continue. He couldn’t speak. His vision spun, and he couldn’t tell up from down. But the last scene he saw was vivid. His own headless body falling.
“…I, a slave to the Prince, died before I could blossom this talent. I didn’t know my parents, and every day was hell. It was dirty, smelly, and painful… But now, I’m grateful to you too. Because I’ve been reincarnated so magnificently. Ah, to our great master. Is that too much? But you know,”
The black hood stood atop Tabula’s head.
“You should at least remember the face of the woman you slept with, pig.”
The head, struck with a powerful kick, scattered into unrecognizable remains. It would be impossible to identify Tabula.
“Now, time to clean up~♪ I almost got in trouble with the Proxy.”
The black hood, tucking the Black Book that had fallen to the floor into its pocket, looked satisfied.
“Still, it was unexpected. The Demon King was defeated so quickly. They said he was supposed to be the strongest ever… Oh well. The assassin of the 8th Pillar is done here, so I’ll be going.”
Without a sound, the figure vanished from the room in the blink of an eye. All that remained in the King’s private room was a corpse.
***
Trisen Castle
The Spiral Super Storm Wall that had been swirling around had dissipated. The Ice Empress’s thorns that had covered the castle also fulfilled their role and flew away as sparks of blue light. Yes, we had won this battle. With Melfina’s potent Star, the Demon King Zel had completely disappeared. Not even a speck of dust remained.
Several hours had passed since then, and the subjugation of Trisen Castle was safely completed. The brainwashed inhabitants of Trisen had returned to their senses and were receiving explanations of the current situation from Azgrad and General Dan. Although there was considerable confusion, the two quelled it with their overwhelming pressure. They likely wanted to avoid further damaging Trisen’s standing, but the castle’s people were in a truly unfortunate situation. The Ironclad Knights and Dragon Knight Mercenary Group were also cooperating, so it would likely end peacefully. Knights from various countries had also arrived through the Transfer Gate.
Their, or rather, Trisen’s future treatment would be difficult. This war was initiated by the Demon King, and those who were brainwashed and unknowingly controlled were also victims. The Demon King, the King, died in battle. I don’t know who will be held responsible, but perhaps Colette, the Beast King, and Tsubaki-sama will sort it out. In any case, it’s not something I, as a mere adventurer, can interfere with. To be precise, I have more pressing matters to deal with.
“““Ooooooh!”””
Cheers of victory, for the umpteenth time, rose from various parts of the castle by the Allied forces. Originally, this should have been a moment for us to praise each other’s efforts and share in the joy. However, I was currently in seiza. Unmistakably, seiza. The castle garden was beautifully maintained, and the soft grass lessened the burden on my legs. This was in the middle of the garden, close to the main gate. True to the castle’s recent fall, people were bustling about. What would everyone think of me, sitting in seiza in such a place? Given how crowded it was, the fact that a large, empty circle had formed around me suggested they weren’t thinking positively. “What is this person doing at such a crucial time?” I’m sure that’s what they’re thinking. It’s irritating to have people stealing glances while they work.
“Hey, what are those people doing, they’ve been there for a while?”
I saw a man belonging to Delamis’s Holy Knights ask a passing Dragon Knight. My ears naturally turned to their conversation.
“Hm? Oh, did you just arrive? That person is the S-Rank Adventurer who defeated the Demon King, Kelvin, the ‘Grim Reaper’.”
“What!? I imagined someone more intimidating… Really?”
“He looks like a friendly guy, but they say he changes when it comes to battle. I haven’t seen it myself, but our captain fought him once and was completely outmatched. And that’s someone who can fight S-Rank Monsters on par when riding a dragon. S-Rank Adventurers are practically non-human.”
“And that non-human is apologizing profusely in seiza to a stunningly beautiful, red-haired woman… And next to him is a ridiculously beautiful, blue-haired young lady. What is going on?”
“Well, that red-haired beauty is Kelvin’s lover—”
“Unforgivable.”
“Huh? Ah, yes…”
The Holy Knight’s overly quick retort made the Dragon Knight flinch. Please stop aiming your killing intent at me.
“Did something happen?”
“No, well… This is just between us, but there’s a baseless rumor that Colette-sama, the shrine maiden revered by the Holy Knights, admired nationwide for her beauty and talent, has fallen in love.”
“Oh, that’s the first I’ve heard. And then?”
“…The object of her affection is that man.”
“Kelvin? No way, that’s impossible. It’s just a rumor, right?”
“R-Right! It’s just a rumor! Phew… if something happened to Colette-sama, the followers of the Rinne Church would riot. Some people even join just to see Colette-sama, not the Reincarnated Goddess Melfina herself.”
“Haha, someone like you?”
“Exactly! Hey—!”
Linking arms, their friendship blossoming, the two hit it off. No, something more serious is happening. If Colette’s fanatical devotion is leaked to Delamis, a certain segment of people will become enemies. I wish they’d limit it to Level 50 and above.
“Sorry for interrupting your conversation.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Uh, what was it… Ah, right. How did that situation come about? Well, right in front of her, and even during the fight with the Demon King, that blue-haired young lady proposed to him.”
“…Sorry, I don’t understand.”
“I know, but it’s true. Apparently, he confessed very loudly, and a Dragon Knight who happened to be nearby overheard it. I heard it from a colleague too. It’s now a famous story in the Dragon Knight Mercenary Group.”
…What?
“Ooh! What was it!?”
The Dragon Knight cleared his throat.
“Ahem… A world with a Demon King doesn’t suit you. So, I’ll kill him. Will you walk with me in a peaceful world? …Yes, with pleasure! Actually, I liked you too!”
“W-Wow… That’s making me blush too.”
Hey, that’s completely different! That’s a much more Japanese-style, straightforward proposal! Everything except the end is fabricated! Come to think of it, with the Spiral Super Storm Wall surrounding us, how could it be heard clearly! The first person who heard it must have filled in the gaps with their imagination!
“Well, I also got quite itchy all over when I heard it. But as I said, his red-haired girlfriend was there too.”
“Ah, I see. Now I finally understand. You mean—”
“A love triangle.”
Hey, you guys over there, we can hear you.
“Kelvin, are you listening properly!?”
“I’m listening, yes…”
Naturally, I didn’t miss a single word of Sera’s. This is the power of parallel thought.
“So, do you have any explanations? Kelvin?”
“Wait, how did it come to this!?”
“Ufufu~, my lord~♪”
Melfina, still clinging to my arm as I sat in seiza, stubbornly refused to let go. She rubbed her cheek against me without a care for our surroundings. It’s rare to see Melfina so relaxed, except when she’s eating or sleeping. …Wait, I see her quite often.
Sera, who was standing before me with her arms crossed, was exuding an incredible pressure. However, her eyes weren’t glowing red, so I think she’s not truly angry. I want to believe that.
“Why would you confess during a battle! You should have done it somewhere safer, like in bed, like you did with me! What if you got hurt!”
Huh, is that what it’s about?
“Sera, aren’t you angry about confessing to Melfina?”
“Not really? I told you before, didn’t I? As long as there’s love, it’s fine! Melfina’s feelings were obvious from her actions.”
“Well, that’s true.”
Normally, you wouldn’t get into bed with someone you don’t like.
“As expected of Sera, who excels at sensing things. You’ve deciphered my feelings behind my actions…”
Hey, you there, fake goddess.
“From the position of being preempted, I have always deferred to Efil and Sera. But since you have proposed, our positions are now equal. I will no longer hold back, so be prepared, my lord.”
“I am prepared. I am prepared, but…”
Ever since the battle with the Demon King, I’ve been feeling feverish. Is it a cold? No, it’s something else.
“K-Kelvin!?”
“You—”
Sera’s and Melfina’s voices faded. That’s why I said it, I have more pressing matters right now. Feeling someone support me, I lost consciousness.
Chapter 5 ends here.
What an abrupt conclusion!
