We live in the Foothills of Dragon Peak.
Collapse.
I didn’t understand.
I couldn’t understand what Alex was saying.
Kill?
Amira?
Moreover, Alex said “we” again.
Does that mean all the villagers?
“Wh-why!?”
I blurted out without thinking.
Perhaps startled by my voice, the wild birds quieted down.
Alex looked down at me silently.
“Why would you say such a thing, Alex? Amira is your precious little sister, isn’t she? And yet, you’re suddenly talking about killing her!”
If she’s your precious sister, isn’t it a brother’s duty to protect her no matter what?
And yet, you’re talking about killing her when the seal is broken!
It was good that it was far from the mansion.
If Maguld and Guildia had heard my voice, it might have become a disturbance.
Alex gently placed a hand on my shoulder as I pressed him. Then, with a serious expression, he said,
“I cannot tell you why. That is why I want you to take Amira away before something happens.”
“N-no…!”
We wanted to help Alex and everyone else. But we decided to be patient and wait for a request for cooperation, thinking that taking conspicuous action would only be a burden to Alex and the others.
And yet, the cooperation request itself is “kidnap Amira and leave this land”!
Moreover, Alex and the villagers are prepared to die to take responsibility for the disturbance.
Is this the cooperation request from Alex that we wanted?
Furthermore, if we refuse this request and, by some chance, the seal on Amira’s voice is broken, Alex and the others will have to kill Amira with all their might.
“What in the world is this seal on Amira’s voice?! Is there something so important that you must protect it to this extent!?”
“I’m sorry. I can’t say, even to you, Elnea-kun. However, if she is with you, I’m sure Amira’s seal will not be broken.”
In other words, Alex has determined that even without telling us the details of “Amira’s seal,” as long as we get through this disturbance and Amira leaves this land, there will be no worry of the seal being broken in the future.
And more than the issue of whether Amira marries an unintended man. More than his own life or the lives of the villagers. More than Amira’s own life. He fears the breaking of the seal the most.
“I’m truly sorry for this one-sided request. However, we still cannot have others know about Amira’s seal. Therefore, I want you to take Amira away without me saying anything.”
“I refuse!”
I had fully understood Alex’s earnest feelings.
However, I refused immediately.
“I understand Alex’s circumstances. Even so, I don’t understand because you won’t tell me the reason. But even so, we refuse that cooperation request!”
“Nyan.”
This is not just my decision alone. My family members who are not here would have refused as well.
“As I said at first, we will not choose to sacrifice something to save something else. Therefore, we will find a way to save not only Amira but also Alex and everyone in the village.”
This time, I conveyed my thoughts with a serious expression.
Then, Alex murmured “Is that so” and withdrew his hand from my shoulder. He then began to return the way he came, alone.
Alex did not look back at me.
I did not chase after Alex.
“…Hey, Nimia. I’m not wrong, am I?”
“I don’t think you’re wrong, Nimia. You’re just like your usual self, Elnea-onii-chan.”
Nimia swayed her tail on top of my head.
“Alex is serious, right?”
“He was serious, Nimia.”
“I wonder what Amira’s seal is?”
“I couldn’t read that, Nimia. Alex-onii-chan tried not to think about it because he knows I can read minds, Nimia.”
“I see.”
I thought Nimia might be able to read Alex’s mind and grasp something, but it seems it was impossible.
“Never mind. Well then, shall we go back and discuss it with everyone?”
“The bad lord said he might take Amira-onee-chan tomorrow, Nimia. We have to hurry, Nimia.”
We don’t have much time left.
According to Alex, Guildia might forcibly take Amira away tomorrow. And in some cases, an unexpected disturbance might occur at that time.
No, I think Alex expects it to happen almost certainly. That’s why he wanted me to take Amira away before then.
The seal on Amira’s voice.
Why is her voice sealed?
What is the reason Alex and the others are hiding it so closely?
And why are they so sure that the seal will be broken when she is taken away?
If no one other than those involved knows about the seal on Amira’s voice, they shouldn’t know how to break it. Even if they did, if they don’t know why her voice is sealed, they wouldn’t even try to break it.
If we hadn’t been told, “Amira’s voice is sealed,” we would have simply thought that Amira was a woman who couldn’t speak, right?
Moreover, I ponder.
What if the secret of the seal on Amira’s voice were revealed to Guildia and the others?
Given Guildia’s forceful and tyrannical nature, he might use his position as lord and the existence of the Imperial Honored Mansion to pry into Amira’s matters, or perhaps even plot to break the seal.
Alex, being cautious, must have not told Guildia and the others much about Amira’s voice, foreseeing such a situation.
Considering this, Guildia and Maguld, unlike us, might think that Amira is a “woman who cannot speak,” although it may be different for Guen.
Then, why did Alex think the seal would be broken?
I don’t think Guildia and the others, who don’t know about the seal on Amira’s voice, would intentionally break the seal.
Or is it still the tricky Guen who is involved?
Or is the marriage proposal to Amira by Guildia itself related to the seal?
“Conversely, what if Guildia and the others also knew about the seal on Amira’s voice? … No, that’s probably not it. If Guildia and Maguld knew, they wouldn’t use such roundabout means.”
“If they were aiming for Amira-onee-chan’s seal, they would have acted forcefully from the beginning, Nimia.”
“That’s right.”
If that’s the case, then Guildia simply wants to marry Amira.
But why would that lead to the seal being broken?
“Ugh, I don’t understand…”
“There’s something we’re overlooking, Nimia.”
“Surely, we’re overlooking something important.”
What exactly are we overlooking?
The story of Guildia’s forceful marriage.
The fact that Maguld is from the Imperial Honored Mansion.
Guen, the tricky one.
And the seal on Amira’s voice.
We are missing something in one of these, and we lack accuracy in the answer we should derive.
“When you can’t find the answer by thinking alone, we think together, Nimia.”
“Nimia, you said something excellent!”
I walk along the ridge and return to the longhouse.
Alex’s shadow was nowhere to be seen anymore.
Before returning to the center of the village, I conceal my presence so that Guildia and the others won’t notice that I went out. When I returned to the plaza, the mansion still had lights on.
“Is Guildia still awake?”
“Nyan.”
Sensing presences, there were multiple presences in the depths of the VIP room, just like before the walk.
Also, Alex seems to have returned to his room, but he hasn’t fallen asleep yet.
I also sense the presence of the divine soldiers. There were presences in the living room and guest rooms, and most of them seemed to be asleep.
“Alright, let’s delve a little deeper.”
“Nyan?”
To Nimia, who tilted her head, I conveyed telepathically.
We are still overlooking something.
But we may be out of time.
So, I plan to sneak into the mansion and observe Guildia and the others.
If they are still awake, they must be doing something.
Considering that Guen didn’t follow us, there must be a reason why he can’t leave Guildia’s side.
“Nyan.”
With Nimia on my head, I approach the mansion, suppressing my presence. Then, using Spatial Jump, I instantly fly to the window of the VIP room.
Holding my breath, I strain my ears to listen to what’s going on inside.
Then, I could faintly hear hushed voices.
“Lord Guildia. How long do you intend to leave those humans alone?”
“That again. I don’t want to cause any more trouble right now.”
“Tch. If only there weren’t two dragon-race women.”
“There are two miko. So, don’t be too rash yourself.”
“However, they are looking down on us, the divine race. They, who are mere slaves…”
It seems Maguld and Guildia are talking.
From their presence, Maguld and Guildia appear to be near the window. However, they don’t sense my presence, which is hidden outside, separated by a wall.
As expected, Maguld and Guildia don’t seem to possess any power that warrants such fear.
Then, I sense the other presence in the depths of the VIP room, the opposite end from the window.
This is definitely Guen.
Fortunately, there is a distance between Guen and the window where I am hiding. Just like last night, if I truly conceal my presence, even Guen shouldn’t be able to sense it.
While paying attention to Guen’s movements, I listen intently.
“So, how long do you intend to negotiate so half-heartedly? That man named Alex, taking advantage of Lord Guildia’s desire to proceed calmly, is using various excuses to stall the negotiations.”
I can’t help but think to myself, how is that calm when you’re trying to forcibly take Amira away!
“If I may say so, if you are too lenient, you will damage the Emperor’s authority.”
“I am aware of that.”
Guildia, a noble and a lord. On the other hand, Alex, by title, is merely a villager from the frontier. To Maguld of the Imperial Honored Mansion, it must be an unforgivable sight for the lord like Guildia to be struggling in negotiations with a villager.
After all, a lord is a symbol of the Emperor’s authority in the region.
Therefore, Guildia, who must display the Emperor’s authority, cannot afford to be outdone in negotiations by the villagers under his rule.
“However, he is a descendant of that Fighting God. We cannot rush negotiations so forcefully with the daughter of a family favored by the Emperor.”
From the exchange, it seems Guildia, as reported by Sefina, has a degree of common sense.
While his desire to marry Amira is very tyrannical, he seems to be conducting the negotiations politely and understands Alex’s position.
However, Maguld was different.
“No, that is incorrect, Lord Guildia.”
Maguld’s tone grew rougher.
“Do you understand, Lord Guildia? As I suggested earlier, by marrying the daughter of that descendant of the Fighting God, whom the Emperor favors, you can demonstrate your power even more than before. And for you, Lord Guildia, to demonstrate your power is proof that the Emperor’s authority has reached this land. Therefore, you must marry that girl at all costs.”
So that’s it!
In other words, Guildia is being instigated by Maguld to take Amira away.
At Maguld’s words, a simmering anger welled up within me.
I clenched my fists in anger. Then Nimia wagged her tail on top of my head. Seeing Nimia’s tail swaying before my eyes, I regained my composure.
This is bad. If I let my anger inflate my presence here, Guen will detect me, and my hidden position will be revealed.
I managed to calm myself and continued to observe for a little longer.
“Here, you should demonstrate that Lord Guildia is the lord by forcing the villagers and the descendant of the Fighting God to submit.”
“Specifically?”
“I propose to break off negotiations and forcibly take that girl back.”
“However, in that case, Lord Alex will not remain silent.”
“Then, tell them that the next negotiation will be at Lord Guildia’s mansion. A lord should not stay in the countryside indefinitely. Moreover, by showing the attitude of negotiating while having secured the girl, the villagers will once again feel Lord Guildia’s power.”
“I see, there is some truth to that.”
As expected, it’s going to be that kind of development.
Moreover, it seems that Maguld, not Guildia, is the one creating this bad situation.
Riding on Maguld’s smooth talk, Guildia’s thoughts are also becoming distorted.
What do you mean by negotiating while having Amira in hand? That’s no longer negotiation!
There’s no point in listening any further.
Guildia is being manipulated by Maguld. And, as Alex feared, he might forcibly take Amira away tomorrow.
I stepped away from the mansion window using Spatial Jump and returned to the longhouse.
I need to consult with everyone and devise a plan quickly!
However, before we could make a move.
Maguld made his move first.
The next morning. Even before the sun rose.
The sound of intense knocking echoed on the door of the longhouse. Then, the door was forcibly broken down, and divine soldiers rushed inside.
“Wh-what is going on!?”
The village chief, flustered by the early morning commotion, ran out.
“You people, can’t you have a little more restraint?”
Among us in the living room, Mistral tried to interject. However, he was forcibly pushed aside, and the divine soldiers and Maguld advanced towards us.
“Hand over that girl!”
Maguld reached out towards Amira.
“You! That’s enough!!”
This time, Alf stood in front of me, trying to protect his little sister.
We also prepared ourselves to protect Amira.
Seeing this, Maguld drew his sword with a fierce gaze.
Before I could even think “Ah.”
Maguld drew his sword from its scabbard without hesitation.
And with one swift stroke, he cut down Alf!
“Ngh!”
Before our stunned eyes, Alex, who had been cut diagonally, collapsed, spitting blood.
“…Ah.”
From behind me, I heard a small gasp.
“Ah… Ahhh…”
When I realized it was Amira’s voice.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!”
The world had collapsed.
