Chapter 69 - Episode 12: "What a Sad Accident!"
It's not a time for 'Gokigenyou.' I am Violia Nico Fortesia.
Right now, behind me, the place that was the masquerade ball venue is collapsing while engulfed in roaring flames...
...I am glad we escaped in time!
"Whoa... what's going on with that?"
"Onii-sama did say he had 'planted gunpowder.'"
"Is that the amount for 'planted'? It's become something outrageous."
Indeed... It is large-scale. Truly large-scale.
The screams of people can be heard from here and there, but likely, most of the middle and lower-class nobles who were in that venue are now in a state where they can't even scream.
...Between the time in Elsemarin and this time, the nobles of this country are disappearing in chunks. Well, lower-class nobles are hardly worth being called nobles to begin with.
"This is gonna be an uproar. Let's get outta here quick."
"Yes. We can meet up at the destination anyway."
We nodded to each other and quickly took out hooded cloaks from the Spatial Bag and put them on. It would be conspicuous to go down to the town in our ball attire.
The place we fled to was the warehouse district on the outskirts of the Royal Capital. Since it's the day of the festival, there are almost no people.
...Especially the site of the burned-down Fruitier warehouse; there are absolutely no people there.
"Sorry. Did we keep you waiting?"
"No, don't worry about—Hieee."
Doran, Keeb, and Chesta, who arrived there... had ended up in an outrageous state!
"What happened!? You're so covered in soot!"
"Who'd have thought it would explode that much!? Even so, we thought we'd taken plenty of distance!?"
"If I hadn't heard that your brother was behind it, our lives might have been in danger."
"I still don't understand the situation at all...?"
Ah... w-well, I'm glad you're alive. Yes.
"Ah, damn! This dress is really in the way! I'm taking it off!"
"In a place like this!? Change properly in a place where there are no eyes! You're a girl! How unrefined!"
"I'm a boy!"
Keeb has returned to being a boy. He tore off the soot-covered dress and changed with such vigor... sniff.
"...Once Keeb finishes changing, shall we leave? It's better not to linger in the Royal Capital."
"Ah, about that, could you wait a little longer?"
"Is there something?"
Stopping Doran who was urging our return, I looked into the distance... and there, I found him!
"Onii-sama! Over here!"
The figure of Onii-sama running toward us!
"Let me introduce you. This is my older brother, Contraus Gini Fortesia."
"I am Contraus. I hear you've taken care of Violia. You have my thanks."
Yes. It is Onii-sama.
Contraus Gini Fortesia. My brother and the firstborn of House Fortesia. From my perspective, he is 22 years old, five years older than me. He is smart, strong, and the brother I adore!
"...I'm Doran Parc. You've probably heard, but I'm working with Violia in Elsemarin."
"Yes, my sister is in your care. Nice to meet you."
Immediately, when Doran held out his hand, Onii-sama took it and they shook hands.
And there, Onii-sama suddenly looked at Doran's face and seemed to remember something.
"...Oh, you. By any chance, didn't we meet at the port of Elsemarin?"
"We did. I guess I was saved by you then. Thanks."
"Don't worry about it. My saving you was merely a result. ...If you had stayed there, I would have likely killed you too. I thought one person had escaped. Well, it seems it was the right choice to let you escape. Hahaha."
Doran is making an indescribable face, but well, since the result was good, let's have him not think about it.
"Giovan Bastorin. Nice to meet you. I've heard much about you."
Next, Giovan also shook hands with Onii-sama... and there, he stared at Onii-sama with a very curious face.
"...Uh? You're the young lady's big brother? The one who was laughing while swinging a steel pipe and beating the Fruitier lot to death at the port? ...Excuse me, but you don't look like that at all."
"Is that so? Then I suppose I've acquired the behavior befitting a noble."
At Giovan's words, Onii-sama nodded with a bit of joy.
...Onii-sama became a noble at the age of 12. Until then, while growing up in the Fortesia house with its somewhat wealthy but precarious economic situation, Onii-sama studied at public libraries and academies he snuck into... and meanwhile, as a way to kill time, he occupied himself with mugging and pickpocketing in the back alleys. Ohohoho.
Yes. So, even though Onii-sama 'doesn't look like that at all'... his inside is like the 12-year-old version of himself grown up. To put it simply, the type who beats people to death while laughing and swinging a steel pipe...
"...Well, the young lady's appearance and inside are also quite different. I guess the big brother is the same type."
"We were often told we were similar siblings."
Furthermore, we were also renowned for being very close siblings. Ohohoho.
"I'm Chesta Trapetta. Nice to meet you. ...Heh, you guys really do look alike. Your eyes are red too, big brother."
"Ah, Onii-sama. This Chesta Trapetta is a drug addict. Please be kind to him."
To Chesta, who peered into Onii-sama's eyes after a brief handshake, Onii-sama just laughed it off without being fazed.
"A drug addict, huh. ...I hope you haven't laid a hand on Violia?"
"If I had, I'd probably be dead by now..."
"Hahaha, indeed. No doubt about it."
Chesta looked like he felt a chill... and suddenly, he seemed to remember something.
"Ah. But I did drink Violia's blood."
"What!? What on earth does that mean!? Why are you alive!?"
"It was because it was diluted a million times..."
...And so, I briefly told Onii-sama about the 'Mystic Ruby.' Onii-sama was laughing at the part where you'd die unless it was diluted a million times. It's no laughing matter!
"...Keeb Old. Nice to meet you. I was picked up by Violia."
"I picked him up! Look, Onii-sama! Look at this! This silky black hair! These lapis lazuli eyes! Isn't he the most adorable!?"
Lastly, it's Keeb! I must firmly show Keeb's cuteness to Onii-sama!
...Or so I thought, but it seems Keeb has become grumpy because of the crossdressing until just now! His eyes are fixed and everything! Not cute! He's not cute at all! Please make a cuter face!
"I hope my sister hasn't been rude to you."
"She has."
"I see. Sorry about that. She'll be in your care from now on too."
"Hey, stop it! What do you mean 'from now on too'!?"
As expected of Onii-sama. He understands. Yes. It's 'from now on too.' Ohohohoho.
"It can't be helped. You are indeed beautiful. I can understand why my sister is attracted to you."
"Attracted, you say..."
"My sister was always saying, 'I want a younger sister or a girl friend.'"
"How many times do I have to tell you I'm not a girl!"
No matter how many times you say it, it's useless! Ohohohoho!
"...Now, while we're on the subject of my sister, I have a request."
By the time Keeb had become sulky and quiet, Onii-sama broached the subject.
"No, it's nothing much. I was wondering if you could shelter me with you for a short while?"
"Shelter you, huh. ...What are you being chased by?"
"Various things. No, I have no intention of hiding it. But there are so many that it's a bit of a pain to say each one. At the top of the list is the Royal Family. Also, private armies of several noble houses and adventurers. And, for very personal reasons, some thugs."
Ah, 'very personal reasons' here, in most cases, refer to Onii-sama's past mischief... in other words, victims of pickpocketing or mugging, people he beat up in street fights, lovers who fell for Onii-sama and caused a grudge... and so on.
"It wouldn't be difficult to escape, but it's not that big of a deal. I just need to disappear for a bit. And I want to stay in the country as much as possible right now. I want to avoid losing track of the situation. Also, I'm interested in what my sister is trying to do. If possible, I'd like to have a hand in it. What do you think?"
"That's how it is. What do you think?"
It would be reassuring to have Onii-sama with us. And... just as Onii-sama is curious about what I'm doing, we are also curious about what Onii-sama has been doing.
"I don't mind. Anyone else?"
"If he's the young lady's big brother, I don't have a reason to... well, I do. But if Doran says it's okay, it's not a reason for me to oppose."
"I don't mind either. Keeb?"
"...I feel like having this guy around is going to increase the trouble."
Oh, his intuition is sharp.
Having Onii-sama nearby certainly doubles the trouble. Though the fun increases by about four times.
"...But fine, whatever. Even if I oppose, the others are in favor. I'm not a kid, I'll deal with it."
Now then. It's decided!
"Hmm. It seems the matter is settled. Then I shall be in your care along with my sister for a while."
"I'll make you work since you're coming, you know?"
"Hahaha. Use me as you like. Since I'm imposing on you, I shall show you work that exceeds your expectations! Hahaha!"
...And so, Onii-sama also ended up living in the Elsemarin hideout!
I am happy! I am so happy!
A few days after returning to Elsemarin.
Information from the Royal Capital already reaches the Guild.
"In the end, the Kingdom Festival was canceled. Well, the masquerade ball venue... that was a royal dance hall, right? If something like that is blown up, even the King has no choice but to pull back."
Yes. Quite pleasantly, it seems the Kingdom Festival has been canceled!
I didn't think that just blowing up the dance hall would blow away the Kingdom Festival too! It was a happy miscalculation!
"Many nobles dead or injured, and many missing. Especially since the whereabouts of the 6th Princess, Scola-hime, are unknown, the Royal Castle is in total chaos. Well, I suppose so."
...Due to this 'sad accident,' many nobles are mourning.
Especially in the Royal Castle, the fact that the 6th Princess is missing... in short, a tragic death where even the body cannot be found, has left them in such mourning that they cannot move at all.
As for that Princess Scola, she is currently in my bag. I've put food in, so she shouldn't be dead. Yes.
Now then. While the Royal Capital is finally being swallowed by a wave of anxiety, let us proceed with our plans steadily!
"For now, I want to hold the slave market as soon as possible!"