40 - Victims of Revenge
When I woke up, I was not in my own room. Even so, Ray knew immediately where he was. The canopy attached to the bed blocking the ceiling was the one from Princess Ekaterina's bed, which he had already grown accustomed to. As he tried to lift himself up, he felt a weight and looked to see Princess Ekaterina sleeping with her head resting on the bed.
"...This is troublesome."
"I told her I wouldn't leave her side because I was worried."
A voice different from Princess Ekaterina's suddenly reached him. It was the voice of Miria, who was sitting in a chair placed at the entrance of the room.
"Miria-san too?"
"I was worried about Her Highness. Besides, this is Her Highness's room. We can't have people thinking the two of you are alone together, can we?"
"You're very observant."
"Don't tease me. Is your body alright?"
"...I am perfectly healthy."
"Are you a monster? That poison seemed to be quite dangerous."
"I haven't been eating poison to survive for nothing."
"I'd heard stories, but... any pain?"
"...None of that either."
"Well, that is thanks to the Princess."
"Healing magic?"
"That's right."
"I see. What happened after that?"
"Things have become quite serious. It was clearly an attack targeting Her Highness."
"I imagine. The culprits?"
"...I think they'll be found. You left a few of them alive, didn't you?"
"I did. Were they captured quietly?"
"They were completely unconscious. The interrogations should be finished by now."
"Any information?"
"They won't tell me anything. It's the same for Her Highness."
"Does that mean... would it have been better to kill them?"
"What do you mean?"
"There's a possibility we've dragged out something troublesome. How are the King and the Prime Minister acting?"
"What are you suspecting?"
"Can you keep this a secret from Her Highness?"
"That is..."
"Then I cannot speak of it."
"A-Alright. I promise."
"Really?"
"Really. Speaking of promises, I do not break them."
"Then. I suspect the Prince."
"Y-You're lying, right?"
"There are not many people who would benefit from taking Her Highness's life. The Prince, and perhaps the nobles supporting him?"
"Would he go that far..."
"It is merely a possibility. But there is no doubt that they are quite capable."
"Why do you think so?"
"We found out during the fight, didn't we?"
"...They were strong. That was the sword of someone properly trained."
"Moreover, a diversion followed by another diversion. It was a proper strategy. Bows, and poison. Is poison something easily obtained?"
"As for poison, I wonder? It's not impossible to get."
"How dangerous."
"Listen. If you collect fruit from the edge of the 'Forest of Bewilderment', that's poison, isn't it?"
"That's true. Well, poison aside, they gathered that many skilled fighters."
"That alone proves they are no ordinary people. However, if that is the truth..."
"It's bad, isn't it?"
"The Kingdom will fall into chaos."
"Exactly. That... huh?"
Ray stopped talking as if he had noticed something. He then made a gesture as if thinking deeply, and his expression turned grim.
"What's wrong?"
"I've thought of something unpleasant."
"Something unpleasant?"
"To prevent chaos, what would you do if you were Miria-san?"
"...I don't know."
"I was a fool to ask."
"How rude!"
"Quiet. Her Highness will wake up."
"Sorry."
"If it were me, I would bury the incident in darkness."
"Hey?"
"The culprits would be disposed of secretly. Even if kept alive, they'd be imprisoned under some suitable pretext."
"I suppose so."
"And the problem is..."
Ray paused there, as if afraid to put it into words.
"...The problem is?"
"The disposal of the witnesses."
"You've got to be kidding!?"
"If they were ordinary citizens, there might be hesitation. But the residents of the slums... in the worst case, they'll all be slaughtered."
"That's..."
"I'm going to the slums."
"What are you going to do there?"
"I'll tell them to flee."
"W-Wait. Do you understand? If you do such a thing, you'll become a target for disposal as well."
"Your head works well for these things. But I can't just leave them be."
"Are you trying to die?"
"I'm a man who once wished for the death penalty, remember? It's too late for that now."
"That's not the point!"
"I'm going. Please don't get in my way."
Ray stared at Miria with eyes that seemed to glare. Sensing his resolute determination, Miria could no longer utter words of restraint.
"...Alright."
"Then I'll go..."
Princess Ekaterina's hand grabbed his clothes to stop Ray as he tried to slip out from under the covers. It was not the strength of a sleeping person. Slowly, Princess Ekaterina raised her face and stared intently into Ray's eyes.
"No... I will not allow it."
"I must go."
"There is no way I would allow Kamui to head toward death! Why do you treat your life so carelessly?"
"I have a responsibility."
"Responsibility?"
"I knew that some kind of attack would occur."
"Eh?"
"Despite that, I did not stop Her Highness from participating."
"Why?"
"I was naive. I didn't think it would be on such a large scale."
"What would have been different if it hadn't been on a large scale?"
"Protecting Her Highness would be the same. However, I intended to search for the culprits secretly on my end. If I could reach the Prince, the tide of the situation would shift instantly."
"Were you planning to blackmail him?"
"There is also the option of secretly informing the King. His Majesty would likely strip the Prince of his succession rights quietly, under some suitable reason."
"Would that not be for my sake?"
"No, it was my own arrogance."
"Why? Why do you try to shoulder everything alone like that? Why do you blame yourself? Haven't you suffered enough already!"
"Eh?"
Princess Ekaterina shouted, echoing words once spoken to him by Cecil. Those words shook Ray's heart deeply. She was different from Cecil. Princess Ekaterina was someone he should seek revenge against. He desperately tried to stir up the revenge that was withering in his heart. However, Princess Ekaterina's sincere feelings pierced Ray's heart even further.
"Your sins are my sins. Let me shoulder them too. I want to share your suffering."
"Princess... I..."
Princess Ekaterina's blue eyes stared intently at him. Unable to bear those eyes, Ray averted his gaze.
"I am going too."
"Huh?" "Princess!"
"They are the people of this country. I exist for them. This is something Kamui taught me."
"But..."
"This is an order. Obey it."
"...Yes."
He had no choice but to comply. Ray should not be able to disobey Princess Ekaterina's orders.
"Me too."
"Miria?"
"I am the Princess's Royal Guard. It is my mission to always be with her."
"I understand. Then, accompany us."
◇◇◇
As a result, Princess Ekaterina's judgment may have been correct. Appearing as if to block the three heading toward the slums were the Kingdom's knights.
"P-Princess!?"
"Let us through. I must go."
"But, beyond this point is..."
"Just let us through! Do you intend to defy me!?"
"Hah, no!"
"Kamui, I remove one order. No, I change it. If I give permission, I allow you to kill even the knights of the Kingdom."
"Understood."
Receiving Princess Ekaterina's order, Ray took a step forward. His hand was placed on the hilt of the sword hanging at his waist.
"K-Kamui?"
As knights of the Kingdom, they knew Ray's strength well. The knights clearly showed signs of flinching.
"Will you let us through? You cannot defeat me."
"U-Understood."
After repeating such exchanges several times, the three finally arrived, and what entered their sight was the wretched state of the slums, which had turned into a scene of screams and agony. The residents of the slums were surrounded by many knights, trembling and screaming in fear. The swords of the knights, walking as if weaving through them, were being thrust into the residents one after another.
"Ah, aaah!"
At the overly tragic sight, Princess Ekaterina collapsed on the spot. Thinking that this situation was indeed too harsh for Princess Ekaterina, Ray stepped forward to block her view and spoke to the trembling Princess.
"If you give me the order, I will stop them."
"H-How?"
"With this sword."
"...That is..."
"Just say that I went berserk. They won't be able to find evidence, so it'll be fine if I insist."
"...N-No, I will go."
Because of Ray's words, attempting to shoulder it alone again, a strong feeling returned to Princess Ekaterina's heart. If she allowed Ray to do that here, the day he truly opened his heart to her would never come. That was how she felt. Forcing her trembling legs to stand with her hands, she took a step toward the knights.
"Stop it! Stop this at once!"
Princess Ekaterina's voice of restraint echoed through the slums.
"P-Princess!?"
The knights' movements stopped at the sudden appearance of Princess Ekaterina.
"What are you doing!? Is it the job of the Kingdom's knights to slaughter innocent people!?"
"P-Please step back! This is..."
"What is this!?"
"It is nothing..."
The knight, unable to tell Princess Ekaterina that this atrocity was the King's order, could say nothing more.
"Return to the castle! This is an order as a Princess!"
"Princess! No matter how much you are the Princess, to do such a thing..."
"Be silent! If this is considered a crime, I will accept it as much as necessary! Just return to the castle! All of you!"
"But..."
"You have received my order! I will take the responsibility! You will never be held accountable!"
"U-Understood. Withdraw! Withdraw!"
Realizing it was useless to resist the furious Princess Ekaterina, the knight ordered the withdrawal. At the sudden order to withdraw, the other knights who had gathered, bathed in the Princess's strong gaze, lowered their faces in shame and left the scene. Even they felt that this act was shameful for a knight. As the light of the torches vanished, darkness enveloped the surroundings. The moment she noticed this, Princess Ekaterina almost collapsed on the spot like a kite with a severed string. Ray, who had stood behind her since when, had to support her.
"Are you alright?"
"I just... lost my tension for a moment."
"Yes. It was a splendid performance."
"N-Not yet. There must still be people who can be saved."
Groans could be heard from the residents lying on the ground. That was proof they were still alive. As Ekaterina turned toward the residents, the sight of people groaning in pain, covered in blood, entered her eyes. While shaken by the gruesome sight, Princess Ekaterina chanted the incantation with a trembling voice.
"O, light's power, dwelling within my body. Use that power for these people. I pray. That their wounds be healed, and that strength be restored to their bodies. Area Heal!"
Upon completion of the chant, Princess Ekaterina's body glowed faintly white. However, that light was weak and did not spread widely. Clearly, the activation of the magic had failed.
"W-Why?"
"Princess, please calm down. Magic will not activate while your heart is shaken."
"...I-I know. But they are because of me!"
"That's not true! It is not your responsibility, Princess! Anyway, calm your mind and concentrate."
"Kuh..."
When she tried to concentrate and looked at the targets of the healing magic, the agitation in her heart spread even further.
"I will assist you. Please accept me."
Embracing Princess Ekaterina from behind as if enveloping her, Ray increased his own magical power. A faint light enveloped Ray's body. Through the place where he was touching Princess Ekaterina, he slowly flowed it into her.
"I-It's warm."
"Have you calmed down a bit? Listen, what you are feeling now is my magical power. Without being conscious of it, perceive it as your own magical power."
"...Yes, I understand."
"Just like that, slowly, calmly, the chant."
Princess Ekaterina, who had calmed down more from being embraced by Ray than from the magical power, began the chant with a firm voice, unlike before. Along with that, Princess Ekaterina's body began to glow silver-white. She was being influenced by Ray, who harbored Vampio's magical power in his body. The silver-white light eventually left her body and floated in the air as a sphere. Even the residents who had been screaming fell silent at the sight, as if a small moon had appeared before their eyes. In the silence, it eventually poured down upon the residents of the slums, like sand crumbling softly. Everyone present was captivated by the fantastical sight, as if the previous gruesomeness had been a lie. This included the knights who had secretly remained to observe the situation. Eventually, one by one, the residents who had been lying on the ground stood up.
"A-A miracle."
"The moon performed a miracle."
For many residents who had never seen healing magic, the event before their eyes could only be seen as a miracle.
"Thank you. Princess, thank you."
"N-Not yet. There are still people lying down."
Not all residents had stood up. Seeing this, Princess Ekaterina tried to chant once more. Princess Ekaterina must have known that it was meaningless, but she did not want to admit it.
"Princess."
"Not yet."
"...Princess, you cannot bring back those who have died."
"They are still alive. There is still time. O, light's power, dwelling within my body, that power..."
Princess Ekaterina tried to chant further. To this, Ray said nothing more. He simply shook his head at Miria, who looked at him as if wanting to say something. Because Ray stopped the flow of his magical power, the light became considerably smaller than before. It poured down on the fallen residents, but naturally, no one stood up.
"O-One more time."
Princess Ekaterina chanted again, but this time, her body did not even carry light. She was out of magical power.
"N-Not yet..."
Having exhausted her magical power, Princess Ekaterina seemed to struggle even to produce a voice. Even so, she did not try to give up.
"You have no more magical power. Any more than this will affect your life."
"No. Still... I... I-I'm sorry."
"Miria-san. Could you take the Princess and move away? This place is too painful for her."
"N-No."
"Miria-san, please."
"Understood."
"N-No!"
Though she resisted with words, Princess Ekaterina could no longer even move properly. While letting out small sobbing sounds, she was carried away by Miria.
Having seen her off, Ray knelt before the residents and pressed his head to the ground, uttering words of apology.
"I am truly sorry. Because of me, the lives of many people were taken."
"It's not for you to apologize."
An old woman spoke to Ray.
"No, it is my responsibility."
"Even if that were the case, it's not a problem that can be solved by apologizing."
"...Yes."
"I'm not blaming you. People die eventually. For those who died, today was simply that day."
"But..."
"You're the youth from this afternoon, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"You had dark eyes. To have such eyes at your age. What are you shouldering?"
"I..."
"With such eyes, you cannot make people happy. You cannot become happy yourself."
"I do not desire such a thing."
"I see... that's right. You do not hesitate to kill. You do not hesitate to lose your own life. Life is too light for you. It almost looks as if you hate everything in the world."
"I do hate it. Both the world and myself."
At the old woman's unique way of speaking, Ray put his feelings into honest words. For some reason, he felt he wanted to do so.
"One cannot live on hatred."
"No, it is because there is hatred that I can live."
"Living with revenge as your sustenance. How barren."
"That is my way of life."
Ray spoke decisively in words, but somehow, those words felt empty. That he cannot make people happy is fine. But he does not desire to make unrelated people unhappy like this. When he thought that the victims of his revenge would continue to increase, Ray's heart grew heavy.
"You won't listen, will you? What a pitiful boy. Enough. Leave."
"There is a possibility that the knights will come again."
"At that time, we'll just die."
"But, then..."
"Do not be arrogant! Our lives belong to us! They are not something you can influence!"
"............"
Being hit with such clear words of rejection, Ray could say nothing more.
"Let the youth escape. That's fine, right?"
"Please."
"Give thanks to the Princess. Could you tell her that we are grateful to the Princess?"
"May I take that as the consensus of everyone?"
"You could just assume that without asking, you tactless man."
"Of course I will. However, I believe there is a difference between comforting with a lie and not doing so."
"What a tedious man. Does anyone have a complaint!?"
No one answered the old woman's question. Of course, Ray did not believe it as it was. The families of those who died had no reason to feel gratitude toward Princess Ekaterina. However, feeling that the desire to blame Princess Ekaterina was not that strong, Ray said nothing more.
When he headed toward the exit of the slums, Miria was standing there carrying Princess Ekaterina on her back.
"...Shall I take over?"
"I suppose so."
Taking the Princess on his back in place of Miria, Ray began walking toward the castle.
"Is it alright?"
"I was scolded. That I have no right to influence other people's lives."
"I see."
"There are people who will flee. I could say nothing more than that."
Reacting to Ray's words, Princess Ekaterina's hand, wrapped around Ray's chest, gripped his clothes tightly. Sobbing leaked from Princess Ekaterina's mouth, pressed against Ray's shoulder.
"...Listen."
"I'm sorry. Right now, I don't want to talk about anything more."
"I see..."
They walked toward the castle in silence. Just as the castle gate was before them, Princess Ekaterina whispered in Ray's ear.
"I'm sorry."
"There is nothing for Her Highness to apologize for."
"That's not it. I can't do it."
"Can't do it?"
"My younger brother tried to kill me to obtain the throne."
"It hasn't been decided that this is the case yet."
"My father ordered the killing of innocent people to prevent the royal scandal from spreading."
"............"
"That's what a King is, isn't it? Sometimes one must be heartless."
"That may be so."
Princess Ekaterina's word 'heartless' pained his heart. To achieve revenge, one must be heartless. A heartlessness that moves toward the goal without caring who is hurt. Ray did not think he could do that now.
"I can't do it. So... I'm sorry."
That meant Princess Ekaterina was giving up the seat of the next ruler.
"...As Her Highness pleases. Her Highness's feelings are everything to me."
"Miria... I'm sorry."
"I am the same as Kamui. As Her Highness wishes. I will obey."
"Thank you."
Perhaps feeling a bit more at ease, a slight smile appeared on Princess Ekaterina's face. However, Ray's heart remained sunk. He could not find a trigger to lift it.