119 - Assumptions
The Laurel Kingdom army's fort within Nordende has been abandoned. A replacement fort is being constructed to the south, just before the entrance to Nordende. The road connecting that location to Nordende is flanked on both sides by high cliffs. By building a fort there, the exit would effectively be blocked from the perspective of those inside Nordende. That was the intent behind the choice of location.
A structure far larger than the original fort is being built. It will take a considerable amount of time to complete. However, without waiting for its completion, the garrison has finished moving. This was the instruction of Geel, who has become the new commander.
Geel wants to keep as much distance as possible from the places where demons live. He doesn't want any unforeseen circumstances to occur.
That Geel is currently at the now-empty original fort. To give his introductory greetings.
"You're late."
The person he was meant to greet finally appeared. Geel complained to them.
"I have to be cautious, even when dealing with my master. After all, the commander-sama is my counterpart."
The one who appeared was Ray.
"And yet you bring a whole crowd of women with you. How enviable."
Ray was not alone. Behind him were several women. All of them wore cloaks with hoods hiding their faces, but their build made it immediately obvious they were women.
"Is it alright to say such things? You'll get scolded."
"Hah? As if there's anyone like that here."
"And yet, I'm saying it."
The one Ray spoke to was one of the women he brought. That woman stepped forward and removed her hood.
"...O-oh. It's been a while."
Seeing the woman, Sera, Geel grew flustered.
"Yes. It's been a while."
Sera glared at Geel. Just as Ray said, there was someone who would get angry.
"...Don't tell me you told this bastard?"
Ray knows about the relationship between Geel and Sera. Geel could tell from the content of Ray's remarks.
"What are you talking about?"
However, Sera didn't quite catch on. She tilted her head, her expression still pouting.
"No, that's... Ah! You bastard, you were peeping!"
Why Ray knew. Geel realized the reason. Ray had beings that served as his eyes and ears.
"What are you talking about?"
Using the same line as Sera, Ray played dumb.
"You used birds, didn't you?"
"Birds that fly in the sky are free. As a result, it would be pitiful to blame them for whatever they happen to see."
"You bastard..."
Ray's words confirmed Geel's suspicions.
"From now on, she will be the liaison. You have no complaints, right?"
"I have no complaints, but..."
He felt unpleasant, as if he were being teased by Ray. In reality, Ray was teasing him. Moreover, it didn't end there.
"I can't possibly assign the Lilith girls to my master as well. If I did that, I'd be the one getting scolded this time."
"...Enough. Start the serious talk."
He was no match for Ray in these matters. Thinking this, Geel tried to end the conversation.
"I don't have anything particular to discuss. I just came to give my greetings after hearing that my master had become the commander."
This was a serious matter. At this point, there was nothing on Ray's side that needed negotiation.
"...I suppose so. I'm the one with something to discuss. Do you know about the Hero?"
"I know. You've met her too, right, Master?"
"Stop playing dumb. You know, don't you? Where is Akemi Sakuragi?"
"Right here."
"Hah?"
Ray pointed to the woman standing right behind him. Akemi had come along as well.
"...You brought her with you."
Bringing Akemi to a meeting with him. Geel thought this meant Ray intended to return Akemi to her side. While not impossible, the truth was slightly different.
"Even though I told her not to, she follows me anyway."
For Akemi, the safest place was by Ray's side. There was likely no one who would try to kill Akemi right in front of Ray. Though that was only until her relationship with Ray was fully determined.
"I'll have you hand her over to me."
"Be my guest."
"Wait! Don't just decide things on your own!"
Akemi herself complained at Ray, who was so readily attempting to hand her over to Geel.
"...You don't want to go back?"
Geel didn't understand Akemi's thoughts. Geel had simply been told to confirm if Akemi was with Ray and to bring her back if possible.
"Even if I go back, what will happen to me?"
"I don't know about that."
"Then, no."
Simply being taken back to the castle meant she would be subjected to the same things again. Unless her safety was guaranteed, she didn't want to return to the Laurel Kingdom.
"Is that your own will, then?"
Just in case, Geel confirmed this. He had noticed a familiar collar around Akemi's neck.
"Yes."
"Is that true?"
This question was directed at Ray. It was to confirm if he was forcing her to answer this way.
"She has no value other than being killed."
"Right... wait, that's not an answer!"
"Is it? In other words, she's a nuisance. Since she'll be killed eventually if she stays, I think this is a chance, don't you?"
When Akemi is around, the atmosphere at the garrison becomes unpleasant. Ray understands the desire for revenge. However, Ray also knows that such emotions are not good for the person themselves. He doesn't want others to become like him.
"...If I go back, I'll be put through things worse than death."
"That's a lie. Sakuragi-san should have chosen to live."
"That's true... but it's certain that every day would be more unbearable than now."
Akemi hasn't actually been on the verge of being killed yet. The eyes around her are cold, but that can be avoided if she stays inside the buildings. That's why she can say this.
"Even if you say that..."
"Please, Ray... help me..."
Akemi knelt on the ground and begged for help. Hinata, who had also come along, was surprised that the proud Akemi would resort to such behavior.
"...What will you do?"
Ray left the decision to Geel. If he had been ordered by the King, Geel would be in trouble if he didn't return her. That was Ray's thought.
"On hold for now. It seems certain that she left of her own will. I'll report that to the state and ask for a judgment."
"Please! Don't tell anyone I'm here! I'm begging you!"
Akemi began to cry and cling to Geel as well. Even if she usually showed an attitude unchanged from before, the wounds in her heart had changed her.
"Why..."
Hinata didn't know what had happened to Akemi. She found Akemi's behavior utterly baffling.
"It's because she's different from you."
Hearing Hinata's mutter, Ray whispered in an even smaller voice. He didn't want Hinata to hear and ask him back.
Hinata behaves as if she were struck by tragedy, but her current situation is something she desired. For her, the problem is that Ray won't grant her requests. That cannot be called misfortune.
"...Information only to the King. May I assume that's the case?"
"Yeah. Through the head's organization, it will be conveyed directly to His Majesty."
"I imagine so. This is not something that can be made public at all."
It involves Crown Prince Neil. Ray thought that the reason Geel suddenly asked about Akemi's whereabouts was that the King of Laurel also knew about it. He figured the head would have investigated to this extent.
"I, of course, won't tell anyone else. It's His Majesty's order."
Understanding why Ray had brought this up, Geel told Akemi this.
"............"
Stopping her screaming, Akemi stared intently at Geel, and then at Ray.
"I'll keep her for a while. I can't guarantee she'll remain alive while in my care, though."
"...Understood."
At the very least, Ray himself would not kill Akemi. On the contrary, he would likely try to keep her alive as much as possible. Geel thought he was a soft man.
"Is there anything else?"
"Yeah... this is an unlikely story, but I'll tell you just in case."
"What is it?"
"Someone told me that His Majesty is trying to kill the Princess."
"Eh...?"
Ray was shaken, as this was content he had not imagined at all, and moreover, it was a matter concerning Princess Ekaterina's life.
"It happened just before I left the new fort. A man in shabby clothes brought a letter saying he was asked by his son. He just said to tell you."
"...His name?"
"No, he just handed me the letter. By the time I tried to ask various things, he had run away."
"...Do you think such a thing is possible?"
The one who told Geel was likely a resident of the slums. Ray judged that the son was Crown Prince Neil's page. But why would Crown Prince Neil want to convey such a thing?
"It's impossible. His Majesty doted on the Princess. No matter what happened, those feelings shouldn't change."
"...Is there a possibility that someone found out about me and her?"
If the King were to consider such a thing, Ray thought of one reason.
"At this point? It ended as just a rumor, but there are plenty of people who suspect it's true, right?"
"Not that... it's... the child..."
"...A child. That... no way, is that what it is?"
"............"
"You're lying, right!? I haven't heard anything about that!"
"As if I could tell you!"
It was not something he could talk about, even with Geel. He had to keep the fact that he was the child's father hidden. It must never become public, even as a rumor.
"...Even so... no... but, no way..."
A child between Ray and Princess Ekaterina. Geel understood how outrageous this was.
Ray is currently the Demon King. If handled poorly, this information could be used by enemy nations, and the Laurel Kingdom could be branded as accomplices of the demons. If that happened, the Laurel Kingdom would turn every other nation into an enemy.
"Is it possible... that King..."
Ray couldn't believe it was absolutely impossible either. He tried to deny it with words, but even that didn't go well.
"Ray-sama."
"...Cecil-san."
"You can simply verify the truth of the matter directly. Please head to the Princess's side immediately."
"............"
Ray struggled with how to take Cecil's words. He had intended never to meet Princess Ekaterina again. He had decided to look only at Cecil.
"Hurry!"
"A-ah... I'm going."
"Please be careful. Have a safe trip."
To the back of the running Ray, Cecil bowed deeply and called out "have a safe trip." Even though there was no way Ray could hear her.
"She've really become a fine woman. A waste for that bastard. I regret not being able to seduce her."
"Geel..."
The one who called his name was Sera. She was glaring at Geel again.
"No, you, this is different, right? This isn't a scene for jealousy."
"I know that. I'm just appalled that you can only offer such ridiculous comfort."
As she said this, Sera placed her hand on the shoulder of Cecil, who was still bowing.
"It's alright. He loves you. Everyone knows this."
"...Ray does?"
At Sera's words, Cecil slowly raised her face and asked. Even if told such a thing, Cecil had no confidence that she was loved.
"He's popular. You don't know how many women have tried to seduce him, do you?"
"Pardon?"
Indeed, Cecil didn't know. Ray had desperately hidden it.
"He rejected every single one of those seductions. Even seductions from partners a man should not be able to refuse. The only one he seeks is you. Because that is absolutely different from a relationship of only the body."
"...It's a bit complicated."
Sera's words made her happy. But a feeling different from simple happiness also welled up in Cecil's heart.
"Are you angry? Now that you know you're loved, are you suddenly jealous?"
"It's not like that..."
Cecil's face turned red. In reality, she wasn't suppressing it, but she intended to discipline herself, thinking she wasn't in a position to be jealous. And yet, if what Sera said was true, she felt she was being a bit conceited.
"How luxurious. You can be with the person you love forever. You can even monopolize him, if only for a moment."
"...I suppose so."
As Sera said, Cecil thought she was blessed. There are people who cannot stay by the side of the person they love even if they want to. Sera was one of them. And so was Princess Ekaterina.
◇◇◇
Cecil and the others decided to spend that night at the fort. The primary reason was Akemi. In Ray's absence, returning to the garrison would be very dangerous for Akemi. In reality, there was likely no one who would immediately take action just because Ray was gone. No matter how much hatred they had for Akemi, there was no one in the garrison who would take arbitrary action without Ray's permission.
However, Akemi didn't know that. Akemi didn't know that the demons felt not only gratitude but strong loyalty toward Ray.
That said, staying at this fort forever wouldn't solve anything. Additionally, there was the reason that it would be a pity to end Geel and Sera's long-awaited reunion in such a short time, so they stopped themselves from immediately heading back.
Having finished dinner, each of them spent their free time.
"...Um."
Hinata called out to the back of Akemi, who was sitting alone on the ground, looking up at the night sky.
"...Don't bother me. It's been a long time since I've been able to gaze at the starry sky leisurely like this."
She had seen the night sky several times on the way here. Even at the garrison, she had gazed at the night sky since she took her baths in the middle of the night when few people were around. However, she wasn't lying to Hinata. Her feelings were different from those times.
"What on earth happened in the royal capital?"
"...Insensitive person. As I thought, I hate you."
"I'm sorry. But..."
She knew it had been a very painful experience. Hinata sympathized with Akemi. However, that sympathy irritated Akemi.
"What happened to you?"
"............"
"Don't ask others things that you would hate to be asked yourself."
"...You're right."
Hinata also thought it was as Akemi said. She stopped asking what happened and silently lowered herself to the ground.
"...Do you not even know the meaning of 'don't bother me'?"
"...I think it would be better if we helped each other to survive."
"Why?"
"Because there's no one else in this world we can rely on."
"So it's just because you have no choice, then."
Akemi replied with a sarcastic tone to Hinata's words. However, just saying something sarcastic didn't make the irritation vanish.
"I didn't say that. I'm saying let's support each other and overcome our painful circumstances together."
"...I'll pass. If I need support, I'll ask Ray."
"Tsukitani-kun won't help Akemi-san. He's trying to kill you, you know?"
"...No, he saved me. From being used as a toy by several men."
"Eh...?"
"Every single day! Except for eating and sleeping time, I was being raped by men the whole time! One after another! Not to mention, by multiple men at once!"
Akemi shouted what had happened to her in a loud voice. She hadn't wanted Hinata to know. But Hinata, who said beautiful things without knowing anything, was unbearably hateful.
"............"
As Akemi wished, Hinata fell silent.
"Ray saved someone like me. He took me away without killing me."
"...But, he..."
However, the silence lasted only a short while. Hinata opened her mouth again. Every time, Ray said that Akemi would be killed. Hinata couldn't believe he was helping her.
"Ray tried to make me free. I was the one who refused that. My current situation is my own fault. But I haven't made a wrong choice. I am still alive now."
"...Do you love him?"
"I wonder why you'd think that? I just think that if there's anyone who can save me, it's only Ray. That's all. I... I'm just trying to use him again."
The only difference from before was that she felt a sense of inferiority about it.
"...You should stop."
"I told you, it's not romantic feelings."
"I'm saying you should stop relying on him. It will become a problem later."
"What are you talking about?"
Problems had already occurred. Akemi felt irritated at Hinata again, wondering what she was talking about now.
"You really don't know, do you? He's the Demon King. If people think you've sided with the Demon King, you'll never be able to return to your former life."
"Demon King... Ray is the Demon King?"
"Yes."
"............"
She had thought he was admired by demons. However, because that differed from the image of the Demon King she held, she had never considered the possibility that Ray was the Demon King.
But now that it was mentioned, she had some suspicions. During the journey, demons appeared occasionally. Since they spoke in low voices, she didn't know what they were saying, but she had thought they treated Ray with an unusually polite attitude.
"You understand now, right? You mustn't get closer to him than necessary. You have to make it look like you were captured and forced to obey. That's what I wanted to tell you."
"...Hey."
"What is it?"
"I wonder if the Demon King's wife is also called a Queen?"
"What are you thinking!?"
Hinata was surprised by Akemi's remark. It was a thought that would be impossible for Hinata.
"I'm not thinking anything... Do you know the saying 'a drowning man will clutch at a straw'?"
"I know it."
"You've never drowned, have you? That's why you don't understand my feelings. Surely, demons who have suffered the same fate as me would understand. Though they probably won't talk to someone like me because they hate me."
"............"
Hinata's face turned crimson. Akemi's words denied her own suffering. She took it as being told that the treatment she was receiving was nothing compared to what Akemi had endured.
It was correct. However, Hinata would not admit that even Akemi's words were correct. She believed that she, too, was going through painful times. That was how she thought.