We live in the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The Will of a Descendant
“I’ll bring the food.”
Alex-san emerged from the longhouse, carrying plates of meat dishes and fruits prepared for Guildia. Amira-san watched his retreating figure with a worried expression.
“Now, Amira, eat a lot and get your strength back.”
Mistral, having finished washing and drying the animal furs, returned and showed concern for the dispirited Amira. Amira-san managed a smile and nodded, but she seemed even more strained than yesterday.
Alex-san was negotiating with Guildia to ensure that Amira-san, who couldn’t speak, wouldn’t be made any more unhappy. Alex-san was also doing his best to accommodate her. However, Amira-san herself could do nothing to influence her own future, which was hanging in the balance.
Worse yet, she might have to marry Guildia, whom she disliked, and she could see herself being toyed with.
Thinking of Amira-san’s anxiety made us feel down too.
But if we let ourselves be dragged down by the current situation, we would only cause Amira-san more worry.
Oh, come on!
It’s all Guildia’s fault, isn’t it!
If Guildia hadn’t stirred up trouble, Amira-san and the villagers would have been living in peace.
I can never forgive Guildia for disrupting the lives of the people in our small village with his selfish desires!
Therefore, I will absolutely protect Amira-san and shatter Guildia’s arrogance.
“Nyan!”
Nimia, who avoided speaking human words lest she attract the attention of the Heavenly Race, nodded in understanding of my feelings.
“Alright, I’ll eat a lot and build up my strength!”
“Elnea-kun is getting fired up for the night. We won’t be able to sleep tonight,” Yufi said.
“Elnea-kun’s energy is surging for the night. Tonight will be intense,” Nina added.
“What are Yufi and Nina saying?! I wasn’t talking about that kind of night!”
My enthusiasm wasn’t directed in that direction, you know?
Priscilla-chan, perhaps misunderstanding, smiled broadly and picked up the largest piece of venison, saying, “Let’s eat a lot and play together, okay?”
Our casual, everyday banter seemed to ease a little of Amira-san’s anxiety.
“Well, I said that to Yufi and Nina, but…”
Tonight, I secretly slipped out of our longhouse again.
Judging by last night’s events, everyone except the village chief, Grandfather, and Priscilla-chan probably knows.
“Nyan.”
And tonight, Nimia is my companion.
Nimia curled up on my head, her long, fluffy tail swaying gently as she relaxed.
“Well now, shall we take a leisurely stroll tonight?”
I looked around at the center of the plaza, deciding where to go, and my gaze was drawn to the lights of the mansion.
“You’re up late tonight?”
Unlike last night, the mansion next to our longhouse was still illuminated, with light spilling from its windows even late into the night.
I wonder who is awake?
I could sense multiple presences from within the brightly lit room, so Guildia and his companions might be awake. So, that room must be for guests.
I carefully exited the plaza, trying not to be seen peeking from the room. Then, I started walking as I had last night.
I passed through the small plaza, entered a narrow path, and followed the ridge road that wound its way between the fields.
Then, just like last night, I sensed a presence following me.
Oh, honestly. Is it Guen again? I sighed, feeling the presence approaching from behind. I wonder what he’s doing, not even guarding his master who is up late.
But tonight’s follower wasn’t Guen.
“Elnea-kun, could I trouble you for a moment?”
“Alex-san!?”
I was utterly surprised by the unexpected appearance.
“Nyan noticed, nyan.”
“I apologize if I startled you. I sensed you leaving as you did last night. I thought we could walk together for a bit, but I hope I’m not being a nuisance.”
“No, it’s alright. I was just truly surprised.”
After all, Alex-san had been constantly busy with Amira-san. Besides, with eyes watching them, they couldn’t afford to act carelessly.
It’s a beautiful night again, with the moon and stars illuminating the night sky.
Alex-san and I walked leisurely along the narrow ridge road.
“I wonder if Amira is doing well?”
Alex-san asked with concern. Due to the negotiations with Guildia and the constant surveillance, Alex-san had barely been able to attend to Amira-san. That’s why he was so worried.
“Yes. She’s staying with the village chief and spending time with everyone. But… honestly, I feel like she’s gradually losing her spirit. She puts on a brave face for us, but I think she’s still anxious.”
“I see…”
Amira-san is such a resilient person. Even though she’s the one going through the most, she’s considerate of us and goes out of her way to do things.
“I thought Amira-san, with her determined personality when she fought the Demon King, was the same person, but it seems I was wrong. She’s actually a very domestic and gentle person.”
“Amira, as she may seem, is also a descendant of the Fighting God. When it comes to combat, she fights more bravely than anyone else, my sister. But deep down, she’s gentler than anyone. That’s why…”
For some reason, Alex-san stopped there.
I wonder what he intended to say next?
Also, I’m curious about why Alex-san would sneak out of the mansion in the middle of the night to approach me.
Why did Alex-san act now? There must be some reason. Otherwise, Alex-san wouldn’t take such a rash action that would draw Guildia’s attention.
Speaking of which, I carefully scanned my surroundings for any signs of presence.
However, I detected no signs of Guen or any other followers.
“That’s strange? The absence of Guen, let alone any other Divine Soldiers, seems too careless?”
Despite being up late, did they not notice Alex-san leaving the mansion? If he’s on night guard duty, that tricky Guen would definitely be awake and would have noticed Alex-san moving stealthily, wouldn’t he?
As I tilted my head in confusion at Guen and Guildia’s lack of vigilance, Alex-san, walking beside me, gave a slight bitter smile.
“Lord Guen is a formidable opponent, but I believe there will be no issues tonight. Lord Guildia is still awake, so he likely cannot leave the mansion for escort duties.”
“But I think Guen would surely notice both Alex-san leaving discreetly and me sneaking out? Even so, why wouldn’t he be vigilant?”
“Even if he noticed, he wouldn’t act. That’s just the kind of man he is.”
“That kind of man?”
I believe Alex-san and Guen knew each other from before, right? Guen visited this village several times when he was still a subordinate of Wender-san. They likely weren’t hostile back then, so it wouldn’t be strange for Alex-san and Guen to be on friendly terms.
So, Alex-san doesn’t fear the tricky Guen all that much? When I asked, he surprisingly shook his head.
“No. He is the one I should be most wary of. With Lord Guen keeping a close eye on Lord Guildia during this matter, it’s been extremely difficult.”
“To think he’s a man who makes you say that… But Guen is just a bodyguard, isn’t he?”
Having been a subordinate of the God of War in the past, his abilities are undoubtedly sufficient. Coupled with his peculiar personality, he’s a very troublesome individual. However, his current position is that of the Lord’s bodyguard. If Alex-san were to exert himself, even Guen could be dealt with, couldn’t he? Or is Alex-san wary of something else entirely? Something we’ve overlooked.
Alex-san walked quietly along the night ridge road. I walked alongside him, waiting for his reply.
Wild birds chirped deep in the forest. Occasionally, the distant howl of a beast could be heard in this small border village. Alex-san, surveying the quiet village illuminated by the moon and stars, uttered a determined voice.
“…Ideally, I would like you to abduct Amira.”
“Eh!?”
At his unexpected words, I stopped and looked up at Alex-san. Alex-san also stopped and turned back to me. Alex-san’s face, floating in the darkness, was serious.
“Not just Amira, but I want to help Alf escape as well.”
“W-Wait a minute, Alex-san! Why did you answer my question like that!?”
I only asked about Guen, so why did it turn into an arrangement to abduct my siblings!? Alex-san said to me, who was bewildered:
“Have you heard from anyone why Amira’s voice is sealed?”
“No, I haven’t heard from anyone?”
I had wondered why Amira-san’s voice was sealed since our first meeting, but since Alex-san and the others hadn’t said anything, I hadn’t pursued it deeply. I assumed there was a reason why it couldn’t be spoken of. We had tried to find out during the day, but no one had talked about Amira-san’s voice. So, I thought it was a topic we shouldn’t pry into. But how does that connect to us abducting Amira-san and Alf-san, and my question about Guen?
Alex-san, with a troubled expression, answered my question.
“We don’t want anyone to know about the sealing of Amira’s voice. However, as you know, Lord Guen is an uncontrollable trickster. Therefore, before he finds out anything, we would like you to take Amira and Alf out of this village.”
“But if you do something like that, we don’t know what Guildia or the people of the Imperial Honored Mansion will do to you, Alex-san, and the villagers! Magrud is also from the Imperial Honored Mansion, so surely terrible things will happen!”
“Nevertheless, we want to protect Amira.”
“We…”
Does that mean it’s not just Alex-san’s idea, but the will of all the villagers? And if you want Alf-san to escape with Amira…
“No matter what punishment we receive, as long as Alf and Amira survive somewhere, we believe that the aspirations we have inherited will eventually be fulfilled. Besides, there are others who are away from the village.”
“No, absolutely not!”
Alex-san and the villagers are saying they’re willing to die in exchange for helping Alf and Amira escape! Even if it’s the lord Guildia or the Imperial Honored Mansion, once they leave the Empire, they can’t do anything. So, they want me to take them far away. However, if they cause a disturbance that defies the lord, they will have to take responsibility. Therefore, they are trying to settle the disturbance with their own lives. And they believe that if those who are currently working outside the village can gather to Amira and Alf-san someday, they can entrust their generations-old wishes to posterity.
But I will never choose an option where I have to sacrifice one to save another!
“If you are going to ask me, I want it to be about overcoming this difficult situation safely for everyone!”
Alex-san looked troubled by my strong resolve.
“Actually, when Guildia arrived, we sent a messenger to Baron Mondo. We were hoping he would mediate.”
**”He is the former lord of this region, and he is a good person, isn’t he? Then…?”**
“No, unfortunately, we haven’t received a reply yet. It would take several days for those of us without wings to reach the island where Baron Mondo lives, but we sent a heavenly messenger, so we expected a reply within a day or two at the earliest. However, we haven’t even received any news about his current circumstances.”
“Does that mean…?”
“Baron Mondo may have decided not to intervene in this matter.”
“N-No way! Could it be that some kind of agreement has already been reached between Guildia and Baron Mondo!?”
Originally, it was strange that a lord known for his integrity would so easily cede his territory to an arrogant upstart. This means that Baron Mondo is obeying Guildia for some reason. In that case, he likely won’t mediate, and there will be no one to stop Guildia’s tyranny. Therefore, Alex-san is resorting to the last resort of helping Amira and Alf escape.
“It seems we have very little time. Guildia gives the impression he might forcibly take Amira back tomorrow. So, before that…”
“Please don’t give up until the end! I also care deeply about Alex-san and the villagers, just as I do about Amira-san and Alf-san.”
Alex-san is a good person. Despite being of the Heavenly Race, he treats us with gentlemanly courtesy. Alf-san and Amira-san are also kind to us. Although I haven’t had much interaction with the villagers, I respect their earnest loyalty. That’s precisely why I cannot agree with Alex-san’s current way of thinking.
There must be something. A way for everyone to be happy.
Therefore, I cannot give up until the end.
When I conveyed my renewed determination, Alex-san said nothing further. We started walking along the ridge road in silence. I walked alongside Alex-san.
How can we stop the tyrannical Guildia? To do that, Magrud of the Imperial Honored Mansion is certainly an obstacle, isn’t he? It feels like things are getting more complicated because Magrud is watching everything. Also. Another bodyguard came to mind.
“As expected, Guen’s movements are too difficult to decipher, and it feels like our actions are restricted.”
“Indeed, I agree he is a man befitting Guildia’s bodyguard. However, please remember this. What I am most worried about now is…”
Alex-san stopped again and looked directly at me. Then, he continued.
“Amira.”
“Eh!?”
I stood there, unable to comprehend, as Alex-san said with a serious expression:
“If Amira’s seal is broken, we will have to kill her with all our might.”
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