Chapter 97 - Chapter 13: "Betrayal Only Occurs Between Those Who Have Joined Hands, Does It Not?"
Good day to you! I am Violia Nico Fortesia!
I have just entered the glass room of the Saint election polling station and closed the door.
In other words, this means the soldiers cannot lay a hand on me for the next nine hours.
During that time, I will be confined in this room with the other Saint candidates, exposed to the public eye... well, in short, I will be a spectacle.
But even if I am dressed this flamboyantly, the eyes of the masses will likely turn toward the 'more interesting' Saint candidates. I look forward to it!
The moment I closed the door of the glass room, I could tell that the room was protected by guardian magic.
Since both the time limit and the spatial limits were set to be small, the strength of the magic is tremendous.
Thanks to that, the soldiers have ended up in a delightful state where they can see me through the glass but cannot touch me at all.
"Curse you, Violia Nico Fortesia! What on earth are you planning!"
"Oh? I have come here as a candidate for the Saint election. Is there some problem?"
"An arch-criminal like you, a Saint?!"
"I do not particularly think I shall be elected. It simply seemed a bit interesting, so I merely came for a bit of sightseeing."
At my words, both the soldiers beyond the glass and the surrounding Saint candidates became agitated.
...Soldiers aside, as Saint candidates, they must find it unpleasant to have someone step in here saying it was 'just for sightseeing because it seemed interesting.' Well, I couldn't care less!
While the soldiers were buzzing with excitement, panicking, contacting various people, and seeking instructions, I quietly observed Carol's condition.
...Ah, I was worried about Carol. After all, she had to prepare without me.
However, there was no need for concern. Even though Carol was wearing a plain sister's habit, she radiated a dazzling beauty. The effort I put into making her maintain her skin and hair thoroughly has paid off.
...Her attire is plain, but that actually makes her stand out. After all, while everyone else is choosing dresses with the thought of being as flamboyant as possible while remaining modest, if one person is in a plain sister's habit, naturally, only that girl will stand out.
Furthermore... if Carol maintains her sanity properly from now on.
She will undoubtedly stand out!
The soldiers were flustered and panicking, but in the end, the polling station was opened successfully without being closed.
Well, there are other Saint candidates as well, so they cannot possibly cancel the voting here! Ohohohoho!
Since Carol was safe, I naturally ignored her and gracefully took over the chair in the center of the glass room.
The other Saint candidates were either stunned or so intimidated by me that they wouldn't come near. Yes. Those who are intimidated by me should be driven into the corners of the room to their heart's content.
...And so, people began to enter the voting venue. And naturally, they would be surprised or tilt their heads upon seeing me smiling in the center of the glass-walled room. Watching the masses who come to watch us is also quite fun.
As I watched the people voting, I eventually saw someone familiar passing by. A figure that cast a moderate glance this way while heading straight to the ballot box to put in a voting slip. There is no mistake. That is a golem.
But it seems no one can notice that a golem is a golem. Well, it cannot be helped that they wouldn't notice if one or two golems were mixed in where a fair number of people are flowing through sequentially. After all, Rugel-sama's skill in golem-making is truly wonderful.
At this rate, the plan to have golems vote is a great success, I suppose. Even if a golem is found out to be a golem somewhere later, there is no way they can filter out the slips cast by golems from among the voted papers, and as long as they have managed to vote, it is our victory.
The only remaining concern is whether we can rotate the golems well enough to cast thousands of votes... Well, let us place our expectations on Keeb, Giovan, Onii-sama, and Rugel-sama, who was dragged into this as well.
While watching the golems steadily voting, I was watching the situation outside intently.
What was I timing? The time. The time.
...I plan to fill this glass room with the Succubus Poison, aiming for around 10:00 AM when the number of people increases all at once. Since it also involves the golems' behavior, I had decided on the time to some extent.
Now, the time is 9:30 AM. If the flow of people is good, it is almost time to unleash the poison.
Now, I shall watch the people and move the moment they increase all at once.
Inside the glass-walled room, the Saint candidates are spending their time as they please.
Some wave to the voters through the glass, while others act as if they cannot see anything outside the glass wall at all from the very beginning.
Or, those who are still trembling in the corner of the room, intimidated by me.
...Oh.
I have found a familiar face. Come to think of it, she had registered as a candidate... At first, I thought it was some kind of joke, and I thought she might even retire by the day of the voting.
"It has been a long time, Amavire-rent-san?"
The Pin-Hane Girl was trembling in a place away from me.
"It has been since we met at the Elsemarin Guild. ...Oh? Why do you make such a face?"
The moment I greeted her, the Pin-Hane Girl showed a terrified face. I would have preferred her to show more of her thick-skinned nature, though.
I wonder if she thinks I have come for revenge? That the person she sold out to the country has come to take revenge on her? Yes, of course, that is exactly right! Though she is just a bonus!
"I am glad to see you are well. I heard you quit the Elsemarin Guild? I was worried since I did not know your whereabouts. Where have you been until now?"
"E-Eh, ah..."
Of course, I have tracked her movements to some extent. I have already found out that she was likely in the Royal Castle. I do not know exactly what she was doing there, but most likely, the royalty decided to incorporate a commoner's perspective into their policies and hired her. No doubt about it.
"...You seem to have been terribly frightened for a while now. Is something the matter? Could it be that you are afraid of me?"
If I take one step closer, the Pin-Hane Girl takes one step back. How amusing.
If I drive her to the wall like that, the Pin-Hane Girl, having lost any place to run, finally does nothing but avert her eyes from me.
"It is a strange story, isn't it? You were wearing such a smile when you sold me to the Kingdom's soldiers. Are you scared now that you face me again?"
Well, she must be scared. She has that kind of face.
Did she not think I would come to get even? Is she looking for a way to escape somehow? ...It must be something like that, but either way, she is naive. She utterly underestimates the world and me.
"Look. You were the one who declared 'serves you right' with that mouth, weren't you? Where has that vigor of a petty villain from that time gone?"
"N-No! What are you saying?! T-That was! I only did the right thing! Isn't it your fault for doing bad things?!"
Oh. Her vigor has returned. They say a cornered rat will bite a cat, and I suppose that is the case. Though I have no intention of remaining just a 'cat.'
Well, that is fine. Prey is always better when it has some spirit.
"My, my. You do not have to bark so much; it is alright. I do not intend to eat you or anything. I simply wanted to chat with you. Come. Can we not chat like we did back then? It makes me feel distressed, as if I am doing something wrong."
"Y-You are doing something wrong... hie!"
I reached out to the Pin-Hane Girl, and taking the hand of the girl who had shrunk back with a cramped smile, I led her to the center of the room.
"Let us go to that table. It has been a long time. We have much to catch up on. Let us chat slowly, shall we?"
The Pin-Hane Girl was startled when she realized that eyes were gathering from beyond the glass before she knew it, but I ignored her completely and made her sit in the seat opposite the table. Since I am not speaking in a very loud voice, it must surely look like we are chatting amicably to those around us.
...And then, I shall ask her with a beaming smile.
"...So. Where are you 'residing' now?"
Her 'residence.'
After that, I had a delightful chat with the Pin-Hane Girl for a while.
...That said, since she was constantly terrified, it was basically me bringing up trivial topics, enjoying watching her tremble, and occasionally naturally threatening her to enjoy her reaction.
The Pin-Hane Girl might be thinking something like, 'If she finds out my address here, my house will be burned down,' but she is naive. Even if she doesn't tell me, I can burn it down as soon as I look it up. I will burn it.
...But while I was doing that, time had passed before I knew it.
"Oh dear, I cannot have that. It is already past 10:00 AM."
I hurriedly check outside the glass. Beyond the glass wall, the masses, who have been guaranteed a safe viewing of the 'arch-criminal mixed among the Saint candidates' cage' as a rare spectacle, are looking this way with curiosity.
Seeing their numbers, I realized that now was the right time.
"Well then, it is about time, so please excuse me."
"Eh?"
Having abruptly cut off the conversation, I gave a graceful bow to the Pin-Hane Girl, stood up from my seat, and headed toward the glass wall.
Naturally, the lot who had been watching me safely from the other side were frightened by that alone. Honestly, what strange people. They were staring at me without reservation precisely because they were shielded by the glass wall and guardian magic, yet even though not a single scratch has appeared on the wall or the magic, they are this frightened just because I turned my attention beyond the glass wall.
"Good day to you, everyone! I am Violia Nico Fortesia. I am a pitiful human being, framed for the assassination of the Prince and pursued by the country."
Now. Before these utter cowards, I shall finally show them the greatest show.
"First, I would like to state that I am not here to become a Saint and become a meaningless decoration. However, I thought this place was just right for me to convey my words to all of you."
First, I quickly assert that my purpose was something other than the Saint election. This will likely reduce the possibility of suspicion falling on Carol.
After that, if I fabricate something plausible, I can position my presence here as that of a 'thrill-seeker.'
"To all of you living in this rotten Kingdom, I am sure you have been looking forward to today's Saint election as one of your few entertainments."
A prologue is a nobleman's hobby. I raise my voice loudly enough that it isn't muffled by the glass wall, greeting the foolish masses who have decided to be spectators beyond the wall.
"I wonder if there are some among you who remember the day of my public execution? Do you remember what I said at that time?"
As I continue my greeting, the soldiers hurriedly approach the glass room and begin trying to stop my speech. But well, I shall not stop. If you can stop me, try breaking the guardian magic.
"This country will soon end."
I ignore the soldiers and incite the masses.
"What is the Royal Family doing? After framing me for a crime I did not commit and letting me escape, they even failed at the public execution. I hear that recently, even the Kingdom Festival was canceled. The farming villages are devastated by monster damage, and it is doubtful if they can even survive the winter. Even in the towns, the soldiers cannot stop the villains from having their way. The nobles not only ignore the masses but are also entirely riddled with scandals. Where is the value in such a country?"
When I speak again of the same content I spoke of on the execution platform before, beyond the glass wall, the masses stir, the soldiers shout, and yet they cannot inflict a single bit of harm upon me.
...The masses' interest is better than I expected.
They must have so much pent-up frustration with the current situation that they would listen intently to such a speech. Thinking about it that way, this country is finally finished. Just as my words say.
"The title of 'Saint' has no meaning whatsoever. What meaning is there in a woman who is merely a decoration at the top of the Cathedral? For example, what do the daughters of nobles here intend to do after becoming Saints? They have surely gathered here just to be decorated, have they not? If they truly intended to save the masses, they should at least throw away their own fortunes."
Now. Behind me, the Saint candidates are buzzing. I wonder if they think I have struck a sore spot, or if they are whispering to each other, 'An arch-criminal is saying things that make no sense.'
...Well, that does not matter. If there is one certain thing.
"Yes. I registered as a Saint candidate because I wanted to be of even a little help to everyone."
Only one thing is certain.
Only Carol is standing up to me grandly, and only Carol has the track record to stand up to me grandly.
"A Saint does not possess power. However, is the job of a Saint not something other than being decorated?!"
Carol's words resonated strongly in the glass room and reached the masses on the other side of the glass.
"Oh? Then what do you intend to do? Will you build a fortune and distribute it to the people? Or will you capture and execute arch-criminals?"
When I incite Carol while showing our confrontation, Carol stares at me intensely and states a perfectly sound argument.
"Is the job of a Saint not to wield the power of a single Saint, but to help various people while being helped by various people... to unite the power of the people?!"
Carol raised her voice even louder and stood up to me... and at that moment, she was shining more brightly than anyone else in the glass room.
"I shall become a Saint in order to hear the wishes of the people! In order to call for help from various people so that the wishes I heard can be granted! For that purpose!"
Carol's growth is a joyful thing. Toward Carol, who had finished speaking, grand cheers and applause were sent from beyond the glass.
There must surely be praise included for the one who stood up to the 'evil' that is 'Violia Nico Fortesia.'
Following that, I too gave Carol a leisurely round of applause. Carol looked bewildered by the reaction of both me and the people beyond the glass...
I clapped my hands loudly once. With that, the other side of the glass wall became as silent as if water had been poured over it. What well-trained masses.
"That was wonderful. What you are saying is truly ideal. It is very lovely. A person like you is surely the one suited to be a Saint."
I poured my gaze onto Carol, and while pouring the same gaze onto the masses beyond the glass wall, I said that and smiled brightly...
...Yes. Here, I was planning to say, 'But, can you still say she is suited to be a Saint after seeing this?' while unleashing the Succubus Poison.
But, it did not turn out that way.
"Watch out!"
When I turned around at Carol's voice, the Pin-Hane Girl was just about to charge in as if to interrupt my line.
From behind me, just as I was casting my gaze toward Carol and the masses.
In her hand, she brandished a holy silver knife.
...In other words, this Pin-Hane Girl must be trying to kill me. Of course, I will not make a blunder like being killed by an amateur.
Besides, with the blade length of that cheap knife, she cannot stab me unless she is in close contact. I can easily dodge it by shifting my body by one step, and I can also immediately tackle her to break her posture and pin her down.
...But, that alone would be a waste.
Since she has gone to the trouble of attacking me. I must give this Pin-Hane Girl a generous thank-you.
Therefore, I would like to do at least one thing here... something like a retaliation.
And so, I shouted!
"Wh... Amavire Rent! You, you have betrayed me?!"