Gin appeared to believe Kanata’s advice.
“This is an important matter concerning Princess Rose’s safety. I wish to tell the Princess herself.”
“Don’t you know that I am the shield that protects Princess Rose? Or do you find me insufficient?”
This silver-haired female knight was the “Guardian God” Ashes… the True Silver Shield that Princess Rose boasted of.
Even with the same silver hair, there was a difference in class compared to me. It was no exaggeration to say they were hailed as the Empire’s Twin Pillars.
“Then, please deliver a message to Princess Rose.”
“Very well, I shall listen.”
I had come all the way from Kamurangaamranga. I had no choice but to deliver it… but couldn’t he have come up with a better message, Kenrou?
“This is a message from Kenrou, and its content is: ‘I’ll reveal that you have a mole on your butt.'”
“……..”
Sparks of killing intent flashed in her eyes. It was only natural, considering.
As a former yakuza, this is what would happen if I delivered such a message to a princess of the Empire.
I knew this would happen, so why did I decide to believe Kenrou’s words… I don’t understand myself.
“You don’t seem to be seeking death, do you?”
“My life may not hold much value, but I have no intention of throwing it away with such a foolish message. It’s too idiotic. And I was told to give you this.”
When I handed over the Pendant, the True Silver Knight gasped.
“Th-this is! …Please wait a moment.”
The female knight, her silver hair fluttering, exited the tent which served as her quarters.
“Princess Rose will see you. Follow me.”
The Guardian God, who had returned, told me so, and I silently followed. …To think I’d actually get to meet her with such a message.
After walking for a while from the tent, I spotted a land battleship with graceful curves.
A statue of a goddess holding a sword and shield at the bow… This was the flagship of the Rose Cross, Pallas Athena.
I was guided to the captain’s room of the flagship and shown inside.
Waiting inside were the Empire’s Princess, with a white capuchin monkey perched on her shoulder, and two knights. The golden-haired knight, hailed as one of the Empire’s Twin Pillars alongside the Guardian God, was Sword Saint Quester… and the other was the handsome Clifford.
“I am Stinrose Ringvolt. I have heard the message.”
“I am Sergeant Major of the Mechanist Army, Gin. To deliver such a rude message to a princess of a nation…”
“Please don’t mind it. It is not you who is rude, but Kenrou.”
“Knowing it was rude and still delivering the message, I consider myself an accomplice…”
“Hmph, as expected of someone with a criminal past, you are quite knowledgeable about criminal law terms.”
The Guardian God, standing behind me, threw a sarcastic remark.
I don’t mind sarcasm, but I don’t like someone standing behind me. Perhaps it’s natural caution from the Guardian God’s perspective.
“Ashes, come over here. Do not stand behind our guest.”
“Then, after I confiscate your weapons…”
“That is also unnecessary. Sergeant Major Kurogane, you know it’s impossible to harm me.”
…Indeed. It’s a distance where she could close the gap in a single step, but she couldn’t do anything.
Engaging the Sword Saint and the Guardian God in a major battle would be beyond unfavorable; it would be suicidal. I have no intention of doing that, though.
“Sergeant Major Kurogane, I have reviewed your profile. Your wish is the safety of Mr. Samezujirou Samezu, is it not?”
The Princess, with the Empire’s Twin Pillars flanking her, inquired.
“Yes. While my father was a yakuza who broke the law and became absent from society, he disbanded his group and is now on the straight and narrow. He deserves fair treatment.”
“Absent from society… Ah, you mean imprisonment. But Sergeant Major Kurogane, if you wish to be protected by the law, you must also abide by it… don’t you agree?”
“You are correct. Any yakuza is still a yakuza. But Samezujirou Samezu is… my benefactor and father.”
It was mistaken to have expected anything. A pampered princess could never understand the reality of the slums.
My father protected his territory from the spread of drugs with his own life.
He fought against the drug organizations with violence, yes, but I wouldn’t call that absolute evil. I’d call it a necessary evil.
Besides, you rulers…
“You want to say that if we rulers had maintained public order and rescued the impoverished, there would have been no need for that, don’t you?”
Damn it. Did my dissatisfaction show on my face? I had underestimated her, thinking she was just a little girl, but this Princess is sharp.
There’s no point in staying here any longer. Angering those in power would only worsen my father’s situation.
“…Excuse me. I have wasted your valuable time.”
As I turned to leave, the Princess’s voice pierced my back.
“Please wait. The conversation is not over.”
Let the upper-class princess play at politics in her ivory tower. I saw no value in turning back.
“Our worlds are too different to find common ground. It is fruitless and a waste.”
“You speak with such narrow-mindedness. Politics is the process of bridging differences in values. I shall fill the loopholes for the executive agencies that threaten to revoke your parole at any time.”
“Why would you do that?!”
I turned around before I could stop myself. Did she investigate all that in such a short time?!
“So that was it. Even if you were the leader of a criminal organization, I cannot overlook unjust treatment. I shall protect Mr. Samezu, so please be at ease.”
Was that a bluff? This Princess… she’s different from the young ladies who are only interested in balls.
“Thank you. I have no regrets if my father can live in peace.”
“I have investigated Mr. Samezu’s criminal record. Gambling, violence against drug organizations… He was a kingpin of the slums, a necessary evil, I presume. But even a necessary evil is still evil.”
“I have no intention of being defiant. Nor do I intend to justify my father’s or my own actions. But if you want to help people who are starving to death, stealing bread is the only reality in the slums.”
“Then let’s smash that reality to pieces. It looks like something worth smashing.”
What is she saying with that smile?! Is this Princess sane?
“Are you serious?! Slums exist all over the world, and it would be impossible to change that without changing the world itself.”
“Of course, I am serious. Changing the world, bring it on. I am not one to give up easily, and there’s no way I’d give up before even trying. Sergeant Major Kurogane, will you lend me your hand too?”
This Princess’s opponent is the distorted reality of the world, and she shows no fear.
She has more backbone than me, a Hitman.
“I will repay the debt my father owes. Command me as you see fit.”
“You, who are known as a Hitman, have only one thing you should do.”
Naturally. I am someone whose only skill is assassinating enemies.
“Who should I kill?”
“Hmm, I wonder? Assassins don’t announce themselves, do they…”
“What do you mean?”
“Sergeant Major Kurogane will ‘hit’ the assassins who target me. You, with your epithet as an assassin, are a pro at assassination. I want you to become a Hitman’s Hitman, who knows the ways of assassins inside and out.”
I finally understood why Kenrou sent me to the Princess. It was to protect her, wasn’t it, Kenrou?
“Leave it to me. …Though, ‘me’?”
“Hahaha, my ‘going out’ switch has been turned off. It seems there’s still an issue with the duration.”
“Kiki! (Don’t worry about it!)”
The Princess, so different from her demeanor moments before, playfully interacted with the capuchin monkey on her shoulder, eliciting an involuntary smile from me.
“So, Sergeant Major Kurogane, hmm, that’s a bit formal. How about Gin?”
“You don’t need the ‘san’. Please call me Gin.”
“Okay, I will. Gin, did Kanata say anything else?”
“He only said that Princess Rose would prepare the best path for my father and me…”
“Really? Did he say anything about me? Any message for me?”
“The only other thing I heard was about the mole on your buttocks…”
Princess Rose’s face turned crimson, and she flailed her hands in a panic.
“No, no, no! I don’t have a mole on my butt! Honestly!! Kanata, why didn’t you tell him a different message! The next time I see him, I’m going to slap him hard!”
…Kenrou, what kind of relationship do you have with the Princess?
The favor of handling this troublesome affair was settled with a bowl of char siu ramen.
But now, I seem to owe Kenrou a debt.
I believe your policy is “Leave no stains on your heart.”
My policy is “Repay kindness tenfold, and grudges thirtyfold.”
I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I’m supposed to protect this Princess, right?
Princess Rose will protect my father. Therefore, I will protect Princess Rose. That is the way of the world.
I attempted to create a formation diagram, but gave up. The result was not of a quality that could withstand anyone’s viewing.
