Chapter 99 - Chapter 15: "It Was Nearly Me, Wasn't It"
Good day to you! I am Violia Nico Fortesia!
I have just achieved a complete victory and gallantly departed!
The Pin-Hane Girl was subjected to various suspicions and fainted miserably after exposing an unspeakably ugly state to the public eye!
Carol fully demonstrated her Saintly nature and must have left an impression on the people!
And! I!
Spouted meaningful lines like a revolutionary! Became a dark hero who protected the Saint candidates from 'another evil' that was the Pin-Hane Girl! And! After blowing away all the soldiers who were trying to capture me with an explosion, I made a graceful retreat!
If this is not called a complete victory, then what is?!
This is a complete victory! It is! Ohohohohohohohoho!
And so, I entered Chesta's Spatial Bag in the back alley and was able to leave the scene safely.
As for the results of the Saint election, I can just hear them later from the Elsemarin Guild or something.
...Well, the golems seemed to be moving well, so there is no need for concern. Carol's election is certain.
Ah, that final big explosion. I had the golems do it.
At that time, the soldiers were staring intently only at me inside the glass room. Therefore, their vigilance toward their rear had become lax.
Even if a civilian who looked like a mere onlooker came there, the soldiers wouldn't stop them one by one.
...They wouldn't think that the onlooker was actually a golem, and furthermore, that it was carrying a large amount of gunpowder in its belly and would self-destruct all at once just before 4:00 PM.
Thus, thanks to the golems' activity, the soldiers were brilliantly blown away, and we, who were inside the glass room where the guardian magic was applied strictly, remained safe.
Now.
When I headed to the room we were renting in the Royal Capital, Keeb, Giovan, and Rugel-sama were exhausted there, and Onii-sama was laughing loudly.
"Ah, Violia. You have returned."
"Onii-sama. What happened to them?"
"No, nothing. It seems that keeping the golems moving for half a day was quite a taxing task for them. I, as you can see, am energetic! Fuhahaha!"
"Really... why are you so energetic, Onii-chan..."
It is because Onii-sama is Onii-sama. Is any other reason necessary?
"Sorry, if I could use magic, I could have reduced everyone's burden... hmm."
Doran apparently had been keeping watch alone and energetically. Or perhaps he helped with reassembling the golems. Anyway, the only ones who are energetic now are him, Chesta, Onii-sama, and me...
"...Violia. I'm sorry, but please don't come near me."
Doran is slowly backing away toward the back of the room...
"Ah. Could it be that the poison still remains on me?"
I thought it had thinned out quite a bit, but come to think of it, I had unleashed the poison in a narrow room and stayed there for six hours. It wouldn't be strange if the poison had soaked into my dress and hair.
"It might just be that I have a good nose, but at least it works on me."
"Oh? Then I shall borrow the shower. I shall also dispose of the dress, though it is a waste."
It is a favorite dress, but since poison and blood have soaked into it, it would be better to dispose of it. Well, it cannot be helped.
...And so, well, I shall take a bit of a leisurely shower time. I was also out for half a day this time. I am indeed a little tired!
Now. While I was taking it easy, there must have been quite a lot of movement in the Royal Castle.
Since the soldiers were blown away all at once, they must be busy responding to that, and the tallying of the Saint election should be taking place now as well.
Ah, and they must be busy with the interrogation of the Pin-Hane Girl too. She is being confronted with my confusing testimony that 'she was joined in hands with Violia Nico Fortesia' and 'she betrayed both Violia Nico Fortesia and the Royal Family.' For the Royal Family, who let me escape once again, I think they would want to pull out a fragment of information from the Pin-Hane Girl here.
The problem is how long it will take for her to return to her senses... Since she had inhaled a plentiful amount of poison at close range... she might remain like that for a while even after waking up. My sympathies to the soldier assigned as her guard.
"By the way, did the operation of the golems go well?"
"Of course! There is no way it would fail with me present!"
"That is true. Since Onii-sama was with them. Naturally, it must have succeeded."
While I was inside the glass room, I couldn't really watch the situation at the polling station. When you act while being conscious of being watched, you don't have much time to watch others.
So, I didn't really know if the golems were able to vote well... but well, since Onii-sama was there, there was no way it wouldn't go well.
"...Well, young lady. The golems' voting went well. In exchange, we're exhausted, though."
"Contraus is just too far beyond common sense, this is... haah, even I'm tired."
"Contraus-kun is truly energetic. Even though I'm supposed to be the golem specialist, I'm quite tired."
Well, it is Onii-sama. It is only natural. Onii-sama has the rare talent of being able to use all magic a little bit, and at the same time, he possesses tremendous magical power. He is a berserker who is relatively tireless. Ohohohoho.
"And, Violia. Did things go well on your end? Report."
"Yes, Onii-sama. Things went well here too. However, it turned out to be a somewhat unexpected movement."
...And so, a report from my side as well.
The points that ended up being changed are... well, the part where I pinned the blame on the Pin-Hane Girl, and along with that, the part where I showed that I was favorable toward Carol.
...It changed quite a bit!
"...I see. Words and actions like a revolutionary... those who saw that, the masses, might have thought it was quite interesting in their hearts, perhaps?"
"Perhaps. Of course, even if they thought so in their hearts, I do not think there are any who can show it outwardly."
After all, they are a gathering of weaklings who hesitate to vote for Carol because they believe the rumor that 'voting for Carol will lead to sanctions from the Royal Family.' Even if my words and actions like a revolutionary who worries about the country's future accidentally shook the hearts of the masses, there would be no one who would take any action.
"Maybe there'll be some daredevils who vote for the young lady."
"No way."
"I wonder. If you acted coolly, punished the bad guy while being wounded, and saved the other Saint candidates on top of that. And you were kind to the most popular Saint candidate! If that were the case, I'd vote for you."
...I hadn't thought of that. W-Well, since there are golem votes, I don't think there is anything to worry about.
I mean, I registered under a pseudonym, so they aren't accepting votes for 'Violia Nico Fortesia' anyway...
...Yes. I think it is fine. There is surely no such foolish thing as me accidentally being elected!
And, the day after next.
It was decided that the results of the Saint election would be announced at 4:00 PM.
Since the polling station was blown up, it was decided that the announcement would be made at the square in front of the Royal Castle...
Naturally, I cannot go there directly, so I am having Chesta run the errand to see the results of the opening of the ballots.
Ah, even though I know it has succeeded, I am feeling nervous!
"Sorry to keep you waiting! Here are the results!"
Eventually, seeing Chesta return to the inn, we all swarmed around him at once.
And, peering at the paper on which Chesta had written down the results...
"We did it! As I thought, Carol is number one!"
As expected, Carol won the election with the highest number of votes! We did it!
"Ah, truly the desired result has been obtained...!"
I knew it would be so, but I feel relieved when the result actually comes out properly. Ah, good. With this, the Cathedral is mine!
Surely, the lot in the Royal Family must be feeling quite regretful! And the influential nobles too! It is truly a pity that I cannot see the regretful faces of everyone who wanted to place a Saint who would listen to them at the top of the Cathedral from up close! Ohohohoho!
...And, while I was immersed in the joy of victory.
"...Hey. Young lady. Take a look at this for a bit."
"W-What is it?"
Being beckoned by a smirking Giovan, I ended up looking at the result paper once more.
Of course, no matter how many times I look, the result does not change. Carol's number of votes is the highest. And the one who won the election is Carol. The next Saint is decided to be Carol. Yes.
"This, this. Look at the end."
The end?
...Let's see, the end of the results would be, well, the total number of votes, or the number of invalid votes...
"...Oh? W-What is this number? Chesta? Did you not make a mistake in writing?"
"Nope? I didn't make a mistake."
Chesta is smirking too! It's irritating!
B-But... this number...
"...The number of invalid votes is tremendously high."
The 'invalid votes'... are tremendously, many...
"Hey, young lady. If most of these invalid votes had one person's name written on them, they'd come in second, wouldn't they?"
"T-They would, wouldn't they..."
"And, if you add the number of votes for 'Jeanne Guillaume' to that number... what happens?"
...Even for me, who registered under a pseudonym, a fair number of votes have come in. I think they voted randomly... yes. For some reason, it is a result above the middle.
And, if all the invalid votes were added to that...
"...W-Well, it is an impossible story. In reality, Carol has won the election."
"Right. Invalid votes are invalid votes. They aren't Violia's votes. ...But, well, for now, congrats, Violia."
"W-What do you mean, congrats?! Keeb! Wait!"
"Fuhahaha! This is truly a delightful result! As your brother, I am proud of you, Violia!"
"Even Onii-sama! Honestly!"
...If what was written on the invalid votes was 'Violia Nico Fortesia,' and if we make the very strange assumption and even cheat by adding them to the number of votes for 'Jeanne Guillaume'...
...Indeed, I would have the most votes...
"Hahaha! You as a Saint! You as a Saint! It definitely wouldn't suit you!"
"Be quiet! I know that better than anyone!"
While dealing a slap to Chesta who had started laughing loudly, somehow, I do not hate this result that much...
"...That is how much the masses are grieving over the current state of this country. You are more of a revolutionary than a Saint, but there were this many people who thought to entrust their hope there."
That is true. ...Those who voted for 'Violia Nico Fortesia' even though they knew it would be an invalid vote must have intended it as a protest against the Royal Family. Or, a slightly dark joke. ...Either way, there is no mistake that it is a result brought about by antipathy toward the Royal Family.
Therefore... from now on, the Cathedral must be moved based on this result.
The Cathedral with Carol at the top is likely to be protected by 'public will' and grandly maintain an anti-Royal Family stance! Ohohohohoho!