115 - The Shape of Revenge
The royal castle of the Laurel Kingdom. Two men are walking down a corridor leading deep into the castle. One is the Head of the Intelligence Agency. The other is a man whose face is half-hidden by a black mask. He has a thoroughly suspicious appearance.
The Royal Guard Knights standing guard in the corridor are about to raise their voices at the suspicious sight, but they hesitate once they realize the man walking with him is the Head of Intelligence. The Head of the Intelligence Agency is also a suspicious existence to the knights. It is not strange for someone he brings along to be suspicious as well.
However, as they approach the private area of the royal family, things are different. No one, regardless of who they are, is permitted to enter and leave freely unless they are a member of the royal family with a room in that location.
"I wish to see His Majesty."
The Head of Intelligence stated his business to the two Royal Guard Knights who blocked his path.
"We have been informed. However, and who is that person?"
The Royal Guard Knights' gazes were directed at the man standing behind the Head of Intelligence.
"Have you not heard from His Majesty? He is a guest."
"We have heard that. But... we cannot let him pass as he is."
They could not let a man with his face hidden meet the King. Even if it was the Head of Intelligence speaking, they could not believe him on his word alone. Such lax security was not permitted.
"Hmm..."
Should he have used the secret passage the Royal Guard Knights didn't know about? That thought crossed the Head of Intelligence's mind, but it was too late now. Besides, he could not let his companion know the location of the secret passage.
"It cannot be helped."
The Head of Intelligence turned his gaze to the man standing behind him. The man seemed to understand the Head of Intelligence's intention and removed the mask that had been hiding his face.
"What!?"
However, rather than convincing the Royal Guard Knights, this produced the opposite effect. The Royal Guard Knights hurriedly drew the swords at their waists.
"This is Lord Ray Tsukiya."
Without paying any mind to the swords pointed at him, the Head of Intelligence announced that his companion was Ray.
"We know that! Why is this man here!?"
The Royal Guard Knights knew Ray's face. Not only from when he served as Princess Ekaterina's slave knight, but they had also accompanied the meeting between the King and Ray near the Forest of Bewilderment as guards.
"...Tell His Majesty. A guest has arrived. I will wait here until then."
"And His Majesty is aware of this?"
"If he weren't, why would I have brought him? It is a waste of time. Hurry and confirm with His Majesty."
"...Understood."
While remaining vigilant that he might do something, one Royal Guard Knight walked toward the King's room. The result was—.
"Please enter."
It turned out like this. It was only natural. Ray had come to the castle because he was summoned by the King. Ray himself had almost hoped to be turned away. Though, in that case, he probably wouldn't have been allowed to leave so easily.
The Head of Intelligence and Ray headed toward the King's room. The Royal Guard Knights followed them. Even with the King's permission, it did not mean all anxiety had vanished. It was a natural response.
They arrived at the King's office. Unlike the public office, this was a room for working without being disturbed by anyone. It could be called a study.
"Entering."
The Head of Intelligence called out and opened the door. Following the Head of Intelligence as he entered the room, Ray also went inside. The Royal Guard Knights remained in the corridor, waiting in front of the door in case something happened.
"...You've come."
The King, despite having summoned him, wore a look of distaste. Ray almost thought about turning back right then.
"I heard that your work in the royal capital is finished."
Unaware of Ray's feelings—and likely not caring even if he were—the King began to speak.
"I haven't been able to confirm if everything is truly finished. However, our work is done."
As Ray said this, his gaze was directed not at the King, but at the Head of Intelligence. The Demon Race who might still be captured. Their rescue was to be carried out by the Head of Intelligence's organization. It was a gaze meant to ensure that promise would not be broken.
"Still, I take it that a conclusion has been reached."
The King naturally knew this as well. There was no way the Head of Intelligence could make such a promise without the King's permission.
"I suppose."
"Then, the conditions you presented have been fulfilled. Orders have been issued to the garrison to abandon the forts within Nordende and withdraw to the border."
"What about the bases in the mountains?"
The bases seized by the Undead Legion. Their formal transfer was also one of the conditions. While it was given a plausible name like transfer of ownership, in reality, it was a promise not to take action to reclaim them by concocting reasons such as them not being within Nordende.
"...There is no point in having them returned now."
This was a fact. Even if they moved to reclaim them, they were bound to fail. Even if they succeeded, they would be taken back immediately. They didn't know what kind of traps had been set in the garrison.
"Then, that is also cleared."
"But I cannot hand over the Forest of Bewilderment."
"...I didn't intend to take it?"
"As a matter of fact, my people are unable to enter the forest. What His Majesty is saying is that you should do something about that situation."
The Head of Intelligence supplemented the King's words. As Ray said, just because it was within the territory, the Laurel Kingdom's governance did not extend to the Forest of Bewilderment. It had always been a dwelling for the Demon Race.
"...That will be resolved when I return to Nordende."
The reason the Head of Intelligence's subordinates were currently kept out of the forest was because there were members of the Demon Race who had just been protected. When the time came to take them to Nordende, that would no longer be necessary.
"Will you recognize it as territory of the Laurel Kingdom?"
"No one lives there, you know?"
"But it is close to the royal capital. If it becomes known that the Demon Race live in such a place, it will lead to results neither of us desire. You understand this, don't you?"
Should the same tragedy as before be allowed to happen? The Head of Intelligence appealed with words that would not provoke Ray too much.
"...Then, let us do this. Please permit the Forest of Bewilderment to be used as an emergency evacuation site. If you inform me that comrades have fled there, I will send a party to collect them and move them to Nordende."
"...Strictly as a place of refuge. If it is for any other purpose, I may take different measures, correct?"
He could not stand the thought of it becoming a base for actions harmful to the Laurel Kingdom under the pretext of emergency evacuation.
"Of course. However, please ensure that you do not abuse that as well. I would like a report before any action is taken."
"Hmm... I cannot promise absolute certainty, but I will make an effort."
"The reason you cannot?"
"For example, it is difficult to grasp every movement of the knight orders. Stopping those movements as well."
What was being discussed now was a secret pact. It could not be said that there was no possibility of an organization taking independent action without knowing about it.
"...Understood. And so."
With this, the matter of the Forest of Bewilderment was also resolved. There were many ambiguous parts, but that was fine. The priority was the ceasefire. First, they had to finalize that promise.
"Now, those are all the conditions that can be achieved at this moment."
The King confirmed that all conditions had been met. There were other conditions that would continue after the ceasefire was established, such as stopping nobles if they seemed likely to cause trouble in Nordende, but those were simply promises to do so.
"I agree."
"The ceasefire is established."
"Yes."
With this, the secret pact was formed. In reality, they had long been in a state of ceasefire, but formally, this day would be the beginning.
"............"
The King remained silent, staring intently at Ray.
"...Then, I shall be going."
Unable to bear that gaze, Ray tried to leave, but—.
"Wait."
If he were to allow it, the King would have told him to leave. He had remained silent because he had something to say and was debating whether he should say it.
"...Something?"
"...What do you think of the Hero?"
"Is there a need to ask that?"
Fumiya was the person he hated most. The King should have known this without even asking. Naturally, that was not what the King wanted to hear.
"You were acquaintances from your original world, were you not? What kind of person was he?"
"Ah, that sort of story. But why now? Did he do something?"
"Just tell me."
"...Am I in a position to do that?"
"What do you mean 'that sort of position'? I have no intention of acknowledging you."
The King's eyes narrowed. He thought Ray was acting arrogant as a father-in-law. He had misunderstood that Ray had said such a thing.
"Um... I am certain I am not a subject."
Ray, unaware of the King's misunderstanding, did not understand why he was being glared at. Though being glared at was not uncommon.
"...I see. Will you tell me what you know?"
In the end, while muttering in a low voice that the King hadn't explained why he wanted to know, Ray began to speak in response to the King's request.
"Is it okay if I talk about his personality?"
"Not only that, but yes, tell me that as well."
"He pretends to be a good person, but that is because he wants to gather all the goodwill of those around him for himself. His actions were conscious of his surroundings. I suppose you could say he is calculating."
"Playing the part of a good person... that is a bit surprising."
Since coming to this world, Fumiya had been as selfish as he pleased. He hadn't been that way from the start, but the King only had the impression of him after he had become so.
"It is the same. He wants to be the center of attention. He wants to be the best. Being a good person was likely for that purpose."
"I see... I can understand it when put that way."
"I don't know much about what has happened since he came to this world. But I can imagine. Having come to another world where he can do whatever he wants, isn't he just floating in excitement?"
In reality, Fumiya hadn't been floating in excitement from the start. For a while, he had stayed quiet and observed the situation, and once he realized he wasn't an unfortunate Hero, he gradually expanded his demands. He had taken reasonably calculated actions.
"...What is it that he seeks?"
How far would Fumiya's demands expand? The King began to feel uneasy.
"This will be pure speculation, though?"
"I don't mind."
"The ruler of this world."
"What...?"
"The ultimate luxury obtained through that. Beautiful women from all over the world. What else would there be?"
Power, money, and women. Ray couldn't think of anything else. In truth, he didn't know what Fumiya sought.
"...If that is the truth."
The Hero was an existence that threatened his own position. He could not allow that.
"Your Majesty. That was his speculation. I believe it is unwise to judge based on that alone."
The Head of Intelligence advised the King to remain calm. The stories Ray told about Fumiya were bound to be filled with malice. There was even the possibility of a strategy to have Fumiya disposed of without Ray having to lift a finger. The Head of Intelligence understood this.
"...True. But I cannot ignore it. I do not intend to completely deny greed, but excessive greed causes problems."
"Yes. I believe that is correct."
Fumiya's current actions were born from a desire to satisfy that excessive greed. That was something the Head of Intelligence also acknowledged.
"If..."
The King fell silent after starting to say something.
"...Something?"
Uneasy with the silence, Ray prompted him to continue.
"No, it is nothing. You may leave."
"...Yes."
In the end, the King didn't say it. The meeting ended there. Ray wasn't entirely uninterested in what he had tried to say, but he also desired to go home quickly.
Ray left the room. The Head of Intelligence also left the room with him. He could not let him walk through the castle alone. It was to guide him to the outside of the castle.
The two returned along the corridor they had come. A person blocked their path again. This time, it was not a Royal Guard Knight.
"Does Crown Prince Neil's page have some business?"
It was Crown Prince Neil's page.
"His Highness says he wishes to speak with you."
"Is that with him?"
"Yes. Will you accompany me?"
The page's gaze turned toward Ray. However, Ray could not simply answer on his own. He could, but there would be nothing but refusal.
"Do you have the King's consent?"
The Head of Intelligence asked if the King's permission had been granted. It was a question asked knowing there was none.
"Despite being a subject, do you refuse the order of Crown Prince Neil?"
"I am one who serves His Majesty the King. His Majesty's intentions take priority."
"That King, Crown Prince Neil will eventually become. You will regret it when that time comes."
"Then ask His Highness this. When His Highness becomes King, can he trust a subject who prioritizes a child's order over his own intentions?"
"............"
The page fell silent. He could not refute the Head of Intelligence's words. Even so, he did not leave the spot. He remained motionless, glaring hatefully at the Head of Intelligence.
"...Shall we speak for just a little while?"
"Hey?"
Unable to bear the hostile atmosphere, Ray accepted meeting Crown Prince Neil. It was also a statement made considering the Head of Intelligence's position.
"Just speaking. Please have the Head of Intelligence explain it to His Majesty."
"...Understood."
If the King immediately told him to stop it, it would be easier for the Head of Intelligence to act. Thinking so, he decided to step back for now.
"Then let us go. This way."
"...Understood."
Guided by the page, Ray headed toward Crown Prince Neil's room. He thought about just killing him, but he gave up, realizing it was impossible in this situation. If it became known that he had killed Crown Prince Neil, the King would surely scrap the secret pact. Moreover, killing Crown Prince Neil, a member of the royal family, would mean Ray's side had broken the promise. He judged that he could not do it.
Ray found himself facing a meeting with no purpose and no enthusiasm. Only a feeling of melancholy spread through his heart.
◇◇◇
The place the page guided him to was Crown Prince Neil's private room. It was in the same deep part of the castle as the room where he met the King, but he had to walk a considerable distance.
Not only the King, but every member of the royal family was allocated a considerable amount of space. Not only the rooms the individuals used, but rooms for the people serving them were also necessary, so it became like that. Because of that, when he served Princess Ekaterina, Ray never crossed paths with Crown Prince Neil—who was still a prince at the time.
"Please. Come in."
Prompted by the page, Ray entered the room. His feet stopped after taking just one step.
"What's wrong? Hurry and come in."
Crown Prince Neil, who was inside, called out to Ray, who was frozen in front of the door. It is probably Crown Prince Neil, Ray thought.
"Were you surprised, thinking it was my elder sister?"
"...Ah, you certainly might look alike."
Since they were siblings, they did look alike. Even more so if he was cross-dressing. Crown Prince Neil was wearing a dress and had even applied makeup.
"That's your reaction? People used to say we were identical."
Crown Prince Neil seemed dissatisfied with Ray's thin reaction.
"Is that so?"
"Yes. When we were small, my elder sister loved to make me dress like this to surprise those around us."
"Now that you mention it, I remember hearing such a story."
Princess Ekaterina had made the young Crown Prince Neil cross-dress. Ray remembered Miria speculating that this might have been the cause of his inclination toward male love.
"Heh. Did you hear that in bed?"
"...No, I did not."
Words that disparaged Princess Ekaterina. Perceiving it as such, Ray's expression turned stern.
"Are you angry? As an apology, shall I take my sister's place for you?"
"Place?"
"You can embrace me."
"...Not a funny joke."
Ray's expression became even sterner. He could not forgive the fact that his relationship with Princess Ekaterina was being used as a joke to tease him.
"Would you say that? You are the one who created the rumor that I was being embraced by a man."
"...I didn't create it, was it not a fact?"
"That's true. But is it right to expose the truth?"
"...Do you admit it?"
Crown Prince Neil admitted his relationship with the Captain of the Royal Guard. Ray did not understand his intention.
"There is no point in playing dumb now. Besides, if I intended to hide it, I wouldn't have appeared before you dressed like this."
"...Do you usually dress like this?"
"Of course not. The people around me wouldn't allow it. I thought you would be pleased."
"Um... unfortunately, I like women."
Crown Prince Neil's statements were such that Ray couldn't tell if they were serious or a joke. Not knowing how to react, he intended to give a harmless answer for the time being.
"...You too."
However, Crown Prince Neil showed a dissatisfied face at that supposedly harmless answer. He wasn't angry, but disappointed. That is what Ray felt.
"Are you... a man, or a woman?"
Wondering if it were possible, Ray asked this.
"What if I said I was a woman? You would just think I was crazy, right?"
With a self-deprecating smile, Crown Prince Neil answered.
"...Has it been that way since you were born?"
"...What do you mean?"
Ray's reaction was different from what Crown Prince Neil had expected. Crown Prince Neil was bewildered by Ray, who had asked with a serious face.
"I don't understand it very well myself, but how should I put it... there are people born with a woman's heart in a man's body. And the opposite as well."
Thinking of an expression that would reach Crown Prince Neil, Ray spoke of his knowledge.
"...Is that in another world?"
"Yes. It is known that there are such people."
"Those people... how do they live?"
In another world, there were people like himself. Crown Prince Neil's expectations swelled at that fact.
"I'm sorry. I don't have any close acquaintances like that, so I don't know the details. It is quite well-known in society, but I think there are still prejudices."
"I suppose so..."
But the expectation immediately withered without a trace. No matter the world, an existence like himself would not be accepted. He thought so.
"Is this the reason you attack Princess Ekaterina?"
Crown Prince Neil had tried to disparage his elder sister, Princess Ekaterina, more than necessary. Ray had thought it was because they were competing for the position of Crown Prince, but he wondered if that wasn't all.
"Rather than that, my elder sister has everything I do not. I was envious of that."
"I see..."
"You also became my sister's thing."
"Eh...?"
"If it weren't my sister, but I had become your master, what would have happened?"
"...I don't think it would have changed."
After thinking for a moment, Ray gave this answer.
"What do you mean by that?"
Crown Prince Neil could not understand just by 'not changing'. Could he have had a relationship like the one with his sister? He thought that was unlikely, but if so, what did 'not changing' mean?
"I had things I had to do. Even if you were my master, I would have ended up betraying you."
"I see... you had your heart stolen by the Demon Race, didn't you."
"Yes. I cannot forget them."
Including Princess Ekaterina. This was not something he should tell Crown Prince Neil. Even if the reasons were complex, Crown Prince Neil's emotion toward his sister was jealousy. There was no need to stimulate that.
"Even so, you embraced my sister."
"And?"
"The reason you cannot embrace me is because I am a man."
"...You said you were a woman. The reason I cannot embrace you is that I have no reason to do so."
"Reason?"
"Even if I did it because it was desired, it would not be revenge. Besides, I... do not have romantic feelings for you."
The hesitation came from thinking about the reason he embraced Princess Ekaterina. It was for revenge. But was it really only that at first? Being questioned by Crown Prince Neil, he thought about it for the first time.
"Such platitudes."
Ray's words were made with care not to hurt the other. Crown Prince Neil perceived it as such.
"...I am not you. I do not understand your pain. What else could someone like me say other than platitudes?"
"That's true... how should I live?"
"That is the same."
"Platitudes are fine. I want to hear them."
"...Regardless of the motive, you desired the position of Crown Prince and obtained it. I think you have no choice but to live as a King."
"As a King... that is certainly a platitude. Understood. That's enough."
Regardless of gender, a King is a King. Crown Prince Neil thought that was what Ray wanted to say. He also felt that these were words spoken out of consideration for him.
"Then, please excuse me."
Saying so, Ray stood up and headed for a door other than the one he had entered through. Without obtaining Crown Prince Neil's permission, Ray opened that door.
What entered his sight were a man and a woman entwined on a bed. It was the sight of Akemi, dealing with multiple men simultaneously.
The pages, noticing that the person who entered the room was Ray, hurriedly distanced themselves from Akemi and turned vigilant eyes toward him.
Akemi was left alone on the bed. Her hollow eyes, as if she had lost her sanity, slowly turned toward Ray. Immediately, her eyes widened.
"...N-Nooooooo! Don't look at meeeee!"
Noticing that the person who entered the room was Ray, Akemi let out a scream.
"...Why is she like this?"
Without seeming to care about the scream, Ray asked Crown Prince Neil about the circumstances in a calm tone.
"She is of no further use to me. So I gave her to those who needed her."
"I see... I thought you had taken revenge on my behalf."
"Oops. I wonder if she felt grateful for that?"
"That is impossible. However..."
Ray turned his gaze toward the bed again. Akemi had stopped screaming, but her agitation had not subsided.
"...Don't look... please don't look..."
Curling her body to hide her nakedness from Ray's gaze, she continued to mutter in a small voice.
"...If you want to die, shall I kill you?"
Those were the words Ray spoke to such an Akemi.
"............"
Akemi could not answer. Akemi had experienced the same scene. At that time, Akemi was in Ray's position. She remembered despising the other for choosing to live covered in shame, fearing death, and not answering.
"...You don't want to die. Well, that's only natural."
"Eh...?"
However, Ray affirmed her for fearing death. Akemi was surprised by this.
"Can I take this woman?"
Ray turned and asked Crown Prince Neil. Akemi was even more surprised by this.
"...What do you intend to do?"
"I haven't decided what kind of revenge it will be yet."
"...If I say yes, will you give me a reward?"
Handing over Akemi didn't matter. To Crown Prince Neil, Akemi was worthless. However, since it was a good opportunity, he decided to set a condition.
"Please stop trying to embrace me. The conversation will just loop back."
"Too bad... then, will you come visit me again?"
"...I am not in a position to enter and leave this castle frequently, you know? Besides, I will be leaving for Nordende soon, so if possible, something else."
"Hmm. Then, I'll count this as a favor."
Crown Prince Neil did not say that he couldn't hand over Akemi. Rather, he judged that it was better to have a favor owed by Ray.
"It seems like it will be an expensive favor... but it cannot be helped, so I'll take it. With this, this woman is mine."
Ray accepted this. He didn't know what would be requested, but if it was impossible, he could just refuse. He hadn't promised the conditions for repayment. He convinced himself of that.
"That's right. I think you can tell by looking."
"Yes. A collar. How convenient."
It was a collar he himself had been forced to wear. At a single glance, Ray noticed it.
"From now on, you belong to him. Absolute obedience to his orders. Understand?"
Crown Prince Neil informed Akemi of the change in master.
"...Yes."
Akemi had no power to resist. Unlike Ray's case, Akemi, who had been continuously dominated by the collar of subordination, had no strength left to resist.
"Put on clothes. You can't exactly walk through the castle naked."
"...Understood."
Akemi put on the clothes scattered around the bed. Once finished, she approached Ray's side.
"Is there another exit?"
"There is. Ah, to take her out, that would be better. Guide them."
At Crown Prince Neil's instruction, one page stepped forward. It was the page who had guided him here. When the page entered the room where Akemi and the others were, he opened a door hidden in the wall. A secret passage prepared for emergencies. One of the passages the Head of Intelligence had wanted to hide from Ray.
"I suppose we will meet again."
"Because there is a favor."
"Then, someday again."
Leaving words promising a reunion, Ray passed through the door of the secret passage. The three proceeded slowly through the secret passage, relying on only a faint light. For Ray, the darkness was not an inconvenience at all, but there was no need to let the other two know that.
"...Why are you still here?"
After proceeding for a while, Ray asked the page a question. The page was the son of an acquaintance from the slums. He was the one Ray had asked to do the groundwork. That groundwork had produced results beyond expectations. If so, he should have been able to return to his family.
"...I couldn't leave Crown Prince Neil alone. Am I strange?"
The reason the page remained was that he wanted to be by Crown Prince Neil's side. He told Ray this honestly. He too felt uneasy about his own emotions.
"...It is just one person loving another. No one has the right to deny that... is this also a platitude?"
"No... thank you."
"No need for thanks..."
Ray's mind was in confusion. He had spoken platitudes, but what was the true feeling that was not a platitude? Even thinking about it, nothing came to mind. Then, were those words from his heart? He didn't know that either. Why had he spoken such words to Crown Prince Neil, whom he should resent? He still didn't know.
It was the ultimate shape of revenge. Why had he saved Akemi, who had fallen there? The sight of Akemi's body being toyed with by men, and Akemi's expression when she noticed she was being seen by him, overlapped with that of Rui. He had pretended to be calm, but in that moment, his mind had gone blank. His revenge was not justice. He should have known that. But—
Various thoughts, directionless ideas, surfaced and vanished in his mind. This continued until they left the castle, until the light shone upon Ray.