57 - Everyone Seeks Something Different
Preparations for the Hero's departure were proceeding at a rapid pace. There was a reason why they had resumed in a rush after a period of stagnation. It was the same reason that had caused the stagnation in the first place. Ray's existence.
Out of concern for the safety of the Hero, who was likely the most important target for revenge, the departure had been postponed. However, it was judged that waiting in the royal capital was not necessarily the best option.
The enemy, Ray, was an opponent who had sneaked into a prison from which escape should have been difficult and slaughtered everyone there, including the staff, some of whom were burned to death, despite having abilities far from those of a warrior.
In reality, Ray had set fire to the prison as a way of mourning Rui, and his intention was to clear some of Rui's humiliation by collapsing the building rather than to kill the staff, but that was not something the people of the kingdom would understand. The fact remained that he had killed everyone anyway.
The kingdom felt threatened by Ray, who used such cruel methods without hesitation, and based on the judgment that it would be safer to be marching outside than staying in the castle, preparations for departure were pushed forward. In that decision, the possibility that the royal family would no longer be threatened by driving the Hero out of the royal capital was also considered, but that was something only a very small number of people knew.
In any case, the kingdom came to prioritize dealing with a single man seeking revenge over the war with the demon race. It was doubtful how many people realized that this was the case.
One man who had not realized it, or rather, one man who thought such things were irrelevant, was also preparing to accompany the Hero. It was Geel, who had been contracted as a guard.
"...Little girl. I'm not going on a trip for fun, I'm going to fight. Do you understand that?"
Geel spoke to Cecil with a somewhat exasperated look.
"I understand. I have no intention of going for fun either."
"That's not what I mean. I'm going there to fight that guy, Ray. Can you do that?"
Cecil had offered to accompany Geel. Geel understood her intention. It was certainly not to fight Ray.
"...Ray is mine. I won't let anyone but me kill him."
"No, that's scary. Were you that obsessed with him?"
Cecil's statement was not normal. Geel had noticed Cecil's feelings for Ray, but he only now realized that her feelings were so strong they felt like madness.
"Yes, I'm obsessed. I won't give Ray to anyone. If he is to be killed, I will kill him with these hands. I've decided that."
"...That guy is a pitiful soul."
Why was Cecil so fixated on Ray? Geel did not know the reason. She had been fixated for a long time, but the reason she was exhibiting such possessiveness now was because of Princess Ekaterina. It was because she had learned that Ray had been meeting secretly only with Princess Ekaterina.
For Ray, who had no intention of taking revenge on Cecil, his actions were not something to be complained about, but she did not understand that.
"My feelings don't matter, do they? Are you taking me or not?"
"You, is that any way to ask a favor of someone?"
"...Please. I'll do anything, so please take me. I'll do whatever you say."
"You really are scary."
He felt that she would truly do anything if it meant being taken along. Geel did not possess the vulgar desire to be pleased by that.
"...If Geel-dono says no, I'll ask someone else."
"By saying you'll do anything, just like that?"
"If the other person desires it."
"Do you intend to threaten me with that? If so, you're quite conceited."
"Conceited?"
Cecil had no recollection of acting that way.
"I'm speaking on the premise that I don't want you to get hurt. Do I look like I have that much affection for you?"
"That... I've never thought of it that way, but..."
It was as Geel said. Even if she threatened to offer her body to someone, there was no reason for Geel to be troubled by it. Cecil realized that thinking he would be troubled by it was indeed her own conceit.
The moment she realized that, she felt intensely embarrassed by her previous statements.
"Finally back to being a bit normal. However... well, I suppose taking you along is fine."
"Really!?"
As a result, Geel gave her permission to accompany him. Cecil was delighted, but...
"Too early to be happy."
"...Something wrong?"
"Even if you follow me and we manage to find him, can you actually pursue him?"
"Eh?"
"You don't actually intend to kill him, do you? You'll probably just try to run away somewhere with Ray. Something like that."
"...And if I do?"
"He won't accept it. He must have a purpose. How are you going to persuade someone like that? It's impossible."
Ray's feelings for Cecil were not strong enough to make him give up on revenge. That was what Geel believed.
"I'll follow him until he accepts my persuasion... ah."
"Do you get it now? Even when the knights were desperately running all over the royal capital, they couldn't find Ray. How could you, a little girl, track him? It's impossible."
Ray's ability to hide was extraordinary. There was no way Cecil, a mere mage, could track him. At this point, even Geel did not know, but Ray possessed an extraordinary ability even in just running.
"...Even so, I can't just do nothing."
"Sigh. I guess you've become a bit like a normal girl in love. Well, if you still want to come knowing that, do as you please. It doesn't matter to me what happens between you and him."
"Then, I'll do as I please."
With that, Cecil's accompaniment was decided. Formally, Geel had to register her as a companion and have it approved, but it was unlikely to be rejected. There were few people with the courage to reject Geel's request.
As she wished, Cecil would accompany Geel to search for Ray, or to meet Ray, who might appear to take revenge on the Hero. All while not knowing that Ray was already by her side.
(...Sigh. This has become troublesome. Master's intuition isn't based on logic. Concealment magic might not even work. Now, what should I do?)
Ray was pretending to be a soldier busy with departure preparations. He had activated concealment magic, but it was the minimum. Instead of erasing his presence entirely, he made it so that those around him simply didn't notice him. He thought that too strong a magic would instead be seen through by mages.
(For now, once I finish a few jobs in the royal capital, I'll move to the next plan. Vigilance seems likely to loosen after the departure... or is that naive? The Intelligence Department Head is likely to remain in the royal capital.)
The Intelligence Department Head was the existence Ray had to be most wary of. Ray acted while always keeping that presence in mind. He knew that against the head, a slight lapse in attention would become a huge opening.
(I must definitely kill the one who killed Kai and Kara. In that case... there's a bit of risk. I'll think through the plan carefully. There's still time. Now then...)
(Two of them.)
(Understood.)
Ray casually left the area. Following him, also casually, was a shadow. It was one of the two shadows that had been monitoring Ray without anyone around noticing.
But unfortunately for that shadow, the only one who had noticed its existence was Ray himself, or more accurately, his clone, the magic sword Kamui. The head would lose one subordinate.
◇◇◇
The King's private room, located deep within the castle. The only subordinate permitted to enter and leave that room was the Intelligence Department Head. His status as a civil official was by no means high, in fact, the intelligence department was quite low, but he was granted special treatment unrelated to his public status.
"One subordinate has been taken out."
The head briefly explained the daytime events to the King.
"Does that mean you were able to find him?"
"Yes. However, there is a possibility it was a lure."
"Do you believe he has that much confidence?"
Luring in the intelligence department. It wasn't an impossible strategy, but the place where it might have been done was the royal capital. The King wondered if Ray had enough ability to do that in a place where a considerable number of people could be mobilized.
"His abilities seem quite different from those of the person I know. However, the details are unknown."
"I heard he showed abnormal growth while he was in the royal capital."
"I would like to hear what kind of training he has undergone. I believe it is almost certain that he was in the Forest of Bewilderment."
"...A servant of the demon race, or perhaps..."
Was the abnormal growth because he had become a kin of the demon race, or was there another reason? The King knew of an existence other than Ray who had shown abnormal growth. And the commonalities between that existence and Ray.
"It would be better not to consider that."
"...True. Have you found any clues regarding his hiding place?"
"The place where he was killed is near the slums, but..."
"That is indeed suspicious."
A hiding place in the slums. It was so plausible that it felt suspicious instead. Moreover, the slums, where many criminals lurk, were the first place they had investigated.
"Just in case, I have sent people in. If we suspect it's a lure, we would have to mobilize a considerable number of people, which is also suspicious."
If personnel were concentrated in one place, other areas would become thin. The head was not satisfied with this situation. He felt as if he were being led exactly as Ray intended.
"There's no end to it if you keep doubting."
"If this was intentional, it really is a waste."
Ray's abilities were perfectly suited for a spy. Not only could he act as hands and feet, but he could also serve as the brain that moved those hands and feet. The head regretted that talent.
"Don't say that anymore. Now, how do we defeat this formidable enemy?"
"I believe our only option is to set a trap and wait for him."
Finding the hidden Ray was difficult. Even if he were found, simply pursuing him would only result in more victims. Considering that, instead of pursuing, they had to wait for him to come.
"A trap... but we need bait."
"One of those is the Hero."
"Will he bite?"
"If his goal is revenge against the Hero, he will eventually have to bite."
"But the targets of revenge are not just the Hero."
Ray's goals were the people involved in the death of the demon race. That was how the kingdom viewed Ray's targets of revenge.
"Even so, unless he kills the Hero, that person's revenge will not be fulfilled."
"...True. We'll use the Hero as bait."
The Hero, protected by an army. Especially in the open, Ray would not be able to approach while hiding. The King believed there was a high possibility of taking down Ray.
"What should we do about those attached to Her Highness the Princess?"
"...There has been no sign of him approaching?"
"None at all."
The King's intention was strictly an instruction to prevent Ray's approach, but as a result, it didn't change the fact that he was using Princess Ekaterina as bait. However, there had been no trace of the prey, Ray, approaching that bait.
"Then it doesn't matter. Besides, Ekaterina will be leaving the royal capital soon."
"Are you granting her own wish... by the way, where to?"
"The North. I've decided to give her a mansion in Anfang, a small town in the northwest."
"...Is that not close to the battlefield?"
The war with the demon race was taking place in the north. While Anfang, which leaned west, wasn't exactly right next to it, it was still in the north.
"It is her own wish. I don't know how she looked it up, but she said it's a quiet and nice town, so that's where she wants to go."
"Her own wish, is it..."
"Do you think he's involved?"
The King suspected that the source of information was Ray.
"...No, I think the possibility is low."
"The reason?"
"That man has made an enemy of the kingdom. I don't think he will contact Her Highness the Princess again."
"Is that for Ekaterina's sake?"
If it were known that she was secretly meeting Ray, an unforgivable criminal to the kingdom, Princess Ekaterina's position would become even more precarious than before. The King wondered if Ray had such consideration.
"...I don't know that far. However, if Her Highness the Princess is also a target of revenge, why is she still alive?"
There was no doubt that Princess Ekaterina had met Ray. Furthermore, she was being kept alive. The head believed this indicated she was not a target of Ray's revenge.
He was wrong, but it was a fact that Princess Ekaterina was special in that Ray had not killed her, unlike others.
"...Is it not premature to completely detach the spy?"
"Is that alright?"
As before, spies would be placed around Princess Ekaterina. However, regarding this matter, the King clearly recognized that he was using Princess Ekaterina as bait to draw Ray in.
Not only that. If Ray actually appeared, there was a possibility of a conflict occurring right in front of Princess Ekaterina, and naturally, the head intended to kill him.
"...It can't be helped."
"Understood."
"Anfang is almost decided. Even if you say it's far from the battlefield, the south will eventually become a battlefield too. There's even a possibility it will become more intense than the one with the demon race."
The Laurel Kingdom simply couldn't invade other countries because of the war with the demon race. Once the Hero was deployed into the war and the fight with the demon race was settled, the next would be war with other nations. No place would be safe.
"Then I will proceed with the preparations."
"Yes. I'm counting on you."
"Yes, sir."
In the end, through this meeting, the King felt inclined to allow Princess Ekaterina to go to Anfang. Once the King's will was firm, the rest was just administrative procedures and plans moving forward.
In the shadow of the preparations for the Hero's departure, preparations for Princess Ekaterina's departure were also pushed forward.
◇◇◇
Even if she was leaving the royal capital, there was no need for Ekaterina, being a princess, to do anything herself. All preparations were carried out by her subordinates.
Princess Ekaterina only had to wait for the day of departure. At most, she was supposed to spend time regretting the parting with those close to her.
However, there was something Princess Ekaterina absolutely had to do. Preparations that could not be made public.
"...I-It's impossible!"
Miria, having received an order from Princess Ekaterina, could not bring herself to accept it immediately. It was because she didn't believe she could accomplish it.
"Your voice is too loud."
"...Y-Yes. I'm sorry."
Being scolded by Princess Ekaterina, Miria returned to a whisper.
"It's not impossible. You just have to go to the slums and look for someone who will accompany me."
"N-No, I can do that much."
Recruiting a companion for the trip to Anfang in the slums. This was certainly possible. Whether people would actually gather was another matter.
"Then do it."
"But..."
"You swore to protect me, didn't you?"
To protect Princess Ekaterina as a royal guard. Miria had indeed sworn that.
"I did, but..."
Just because she swore it didn't mean she could actually protect her. Miria had already been reminded of that to the point of disgust. Princess Ekaterina's words pained her heart.
"Even if it doesn't work out in the end, I want you to do everything you can for that purpose."
"I understand that. However..."
"Won't you protect me?"
"I will protect Ekaterina-sama with all my might. However, protecting a secret is not the same thing."
"It is the same."
"It's not! By keeping the secret, you will be putting Ekaterina-sama's life in danger!"
Even after the incident with Ray, her feeling of wanting to protect Princess Ekaterina had not changed. However, the princess's wish was to keep the secret even if it meant sacrificing herself. That was unacceptable to Miria.
"Your voice."
"...I'm sorry."
"You don't understand."
"Yes, I don't. Because the most important thing to me is Ekaterina-sama, above all else."
"The thing most precious to me is the child in my womb."
"Ekaterina-sama..."
The secret that Princess Ekaterina sought to protect. It was the fact that there was a child in her womb.
"I want to protect this child."
"Is it truly your child?"
"Honestly, I can't say for absolute certain. But the possibility is high."
She hadn't been seen by a doctor. It wasn't yet the time for her stomach to swell. But there was the fact that that which should have come had not come.
"If that's the case, I think all the more that it should not be hidden. You should stop a long journey that is bad for your health and give birth in the royal capital with a perfect system of support."
"...Do you think I would be allowed to give birth to Ray's child?"
"That is..."
There was no way it would be allowed. That Princess Ekaterina was pregnant with the child of a rebel was something that must never become public. It would certainly be dealt with secretly.
"To protect this child, I have no choice but to leave the royal capital and surround myself with people who will keep the secret. Otherwise, this child..."
"...That man, that man did something terrible to Ekaterina-sama... and because of that, Ekaterina-sama has to suffer..."
"No. I am not suffering. I am happy to have been blessed with Ray's child."
"Why...?"
"Because I love him."
"Ekaterina-sama..."
Miria actually understood Princess Ekaterina's feelings. She understood, but she didn't want to admit it. Ray had toyed with Princess Ekaterina. That was how Miria perceived it. She didn't want to forgive such a man.
"This child is proof that Ray loved me. That's what I want to believe."
For Ray, it was a relationship of only the body. He had only embraced her for the purpose of revenge. Even if that were the case, Princess Ekaterina found it precious. She felt nothing but gratitude, she would never feel resentment.
"...Then, this fact, to that man—"
"How? Ray said he would no longer appear before me. Even if I wanted to tell him, there is no means."
"Even so, I cannot forgive such an irresponsible act as leaving Ekaterina-sama and the child alone."
"I can no longer meet Ray. I will no longer grieve over that. Because I have this child, don't I? This child is my hope."
Gently stroking her own stomach, Princess Ekaterina said this with a smile.
An existence that would heal the sorrow of losing Ray. Princess Ekaterina thought of the tiny, tiny child in her stomach, whose swelling could not yet be told, in that way.
That was why she absolutely did not want to lose it. If she lost not only Ray but also the child she had been blessed with, she would lose her will to live. For that, she didn't mind even deceiving her father, the King, and the kingdom.
"...I understand. I don't know how much I can do, but I'll try."
Knowing Princess Ekaterina's feelings, Miria also made up her mind. Even if she thought she couldn't, she didn't want to give up without doing anything.
If she did that, the day she could beat Ray would never come in her entire life. That's what she thought.