142 - Saint Candidate
Selma Zain.
The woman, the previous Saint, approached the burning carriage while we kept a wary eye on our surroundings.
There were signs of combat in the area, the carriage had been set ablaze, and the guards, who likely carried weapons, had been killed.
They had been killed and then carefully burned, as if to dispose of the evidence.
Eva covered her mouth, and Aria's expression turned pale.
I didn't feel great either.
...Come to think of it, was that the first time I've killed someone directly?
I had made the adventurers who attacked us at Alamsars unable to return, but I hadn't personally dealt the killing blow.
As I felt a strange sense of nausea, Clara walked up to my side.
"Liel-san, one person is still alive. They've lost consciousness and their injuries are severe, but they've somehow survived."
I nodded and headed over.
Gastone Bonini, the former High Priest of Zain, seemed intent on giving the dead a proper burial.
However, since they were short on time, he appeared to be using magic to dig holes and bury the bodies.
"...I wish we could have given them a more dignified burial,"
Selma-san said, but Gastone-san shook his head. He likely understood that staying here was dangerous.
Clara tugged on my sleeve.
"Liel-san, I don't want to say this, but I must. Why did you accept this request, and furthermore, why did you give in to their selfishness? We should depart as soon as possible."
What Clara said was correct. It was correct, but I had my own circumstances.
Mainly, the successive heads of the family within the Jewel Orb.
The third generation said
'Let's put them in our debt here, so they'll rely on us in Beim. Fortunately, I've had Novem-chan and the others look for a base in Beim. We plan to buy a relatively large one, so it'll be possible to shelter them!'
Novem, Miranda, Monica, Shannon—the reason I left those four behind was to gather information and secure a base in Beim.
Originally, I wanted to bring Monica, but I left her behind to help clean the purchased base.
Monica looked incredibly lonely as she saw us off.
The sixth generation added
'We have to leave a good impression. While we're at it, let's draw out various pieces of information to dig ourselves in deeper, Liel.'
The successive heads were more lively than usual.
I wanted to let out a sigh, but I endured it and turned my gaze toward the survivor. Their consciousness hadn't returned, and we had begun treatment by administering the medicine we had.
The fifth generation said
'...This is suspicious. Despite such careful destruction of evidence, the fact that there's a survivor feels off. Did they plant something?'
I looked at the surviving man, but there was nothing particularly strange. Even checking with my skills, I couldn't find anything.
(I should have brought Shannon. Instead of leaving her to help with the cleaning, she might have been more useful here.)
It was too late now, but I regretted not thinking more about the party composition. I spoke to Clara.
"Well, it's not a bad idea to put them in our debt. Also, let's stay wary of the survivor. There's something that bothers me."
Hearing this, Clara nodded and went to convey my words to the rest of the companions.
I turned my gaze toward Selma-san, the former Saint.
Standing beside her was a girl wearing a hood. Based on how those around her treated her—with the same care as Selma-san—she seemed to be an important person.
As we kept watch on the perimeter, it seemed the group of pursuers was closing the distance.
(They haven't given up. I can only assume they're planning an attack by gathering their numbers.)
The opponents were accustomed to fighting, a group capable of self-detonating.
Based on their equipment, which accounted for the number of attacks, and their movements, I judged that they were not mere bandits.
There was a possibility they had coated their weapons in poison, and they likely had hidden weapons as well.
(This is troublesome. A greatsword might be a bit difficult. My bow was also blocked.)
I hadn't expected them to react so quickly, but it seemed the opponents were experienced in combat. I judged it dangerous to fight by turning the Jewel Orb into a greatsword.
As for the bow, the information had likely already spread, and countermeasures might have been established.
While I was considering new ideas, Gastone-san approached us.
"I apologize for taking up your time. Let us depart immediately."
Nodding, I gave instructions to my companions. I decided to have the others board the porters, while we would guard the rear.
I thought I should take the injured person as well.
"We will take care of the injured."
When I said that, Selma-san walked over and shook her head.
"I cannot impose that much on you. Furthermore, I want you to concentrate on guarding us. The injured person is someone who has served us for many years. Please let us nurse them with our own hands."
From within the Jewel Orb, the seventh generation's voice spoke.
'...I suppose forcing them into our care is out of the question. Even if there is something afoot, their judgment will be clouded by familial affection. Liel, they probably won't wake up for a while, but you keep an eye on them.'
The fourth generation agreed.
'I'd like to remove as many unsettling elements as possible, but if we forcibly separate them, we won't be trusted.'
Even if there was something suspicious, I couldn't just tie them up.
Despite the uncertainty, we decided to follow Selma-san's wishes. However, the third generation made a suggestion.
'Liel, tell them to put the important person in a carriage with light luggage so they can escape if necessary. At the very least, let's keep the damage to a minimum.'
Just saying it was suspicious wouldn't move the conversation forward. I gripped the Jewel Orb and presented the third generation's suggestion to Selma-san and Gastone-san.
On the road back to Beim.
Positioned at the rear of the group, we looked at the three carriages moving ahead.
Though various things had been stripped from them, the construction was solid. Since the former Saint and the High Priest were riding in them, it didn't seem like they had been specially prepared for this.
Mei, who had climbed onto the roof, spoke to me while looking toward the rear.
"Hey, something's bothering me a bit."
"What is it?"
Looking back, Mei, who was sitting cross-legged on the roof, spoke without looking at me.
"What are we going to do if the people who attacked us before show up? Run? Fight?"
I answered Mei's question.
"If we can run, we'll run. I'd like to think they won't follow us all the way to Beim. But if we can fight, I'll crush them."
There was a possibility the opponents could infiltrate Beim and attack us. Fortunately, the group that carried out the attack had been following us, and there was no sign that they had sent comrades elsewhere.
Their number was twelve.
There were few members capable of fighting, but this time Mei was here. Among the current members, she was likely the most reliable.
I relied on Aria and Eva as well, but the problem was that they hesitated.
I couldn't say that I hadn't felt it too.
(Sigh, I get dull when it comes down to it. But if I hesitate, I'll be killed. I can't afford to die here.)
As I reaffirmed my resolve, Mei turned her face toward me.
"Then, shall we settle this up ahead? The road gets narrow, and since the opponents are in a hurry, they're probably aiming for that spot. Since Liel is using a skill to increase the group's speed, they're probably getting a bit impatient."
I was using the skill [Speed] to increase the group's pace. If I pushed it, it might be possible to escape entirely.
"Do you have some kind of plan?"
When I asked, Mei smiled.
"It's not a plan. I'm a Kirin, after all. I've dealt with humans who tried to capture me. There were many troublesome people among them. No matter how much I ran, they kept chasing, so I eventually had to defeat them. However, if you just crush them bit by bit, the survivors learn and increase the traps and the number of people, so wiping them out in one fell swoop was preferable."
(Is she suggesting we intentionally fall into a trap to lure them in?)
As I listened while nodding, the fifth generation's voice came from the Jewel Orb. I ignored it.
'Mei has suffered too. It brings tears to my eyes.'
Mei grinned.
"Even we kill people if we're cornered. But in those times, you take down the troublesome ones all at once. You aim for the moment when everyone leaps out, thinking they've caught you in a trap."
As expected, she seemed to be telling me to intentionally fall into a trap.
"That's dangerous. If we're surrounded, there will be casualties. You're not alone."
At that, Mei looked at me and scoffed.
"Just kidding. Liel, you should believe in your own strength a little more."
Saying that, Mei looked toward the rear and fell silent.
――Inside the carriage.
Selma spoke to the girl sitting next to her.
"Aura, what has been the matter with you for a while now?"
The girl sitting next to her was Aura. The girl with long, wavy brown hair had a slender build.
Because she had a history of competing as a Saint Candidate against the current Saint, Remis Zain, Selma had taken her away from Zain.
"It's nothing in particular. But this is great. We were able to encounter adventurers on the way. They seem like softies, so they should be easy to handle."
Selma narrowed her eyes and cautioned Aura.
"What is with that attitude when they've helped us? If it weren't for things like that, you would be perfect."
In terms of education, that was true, but Aura was also a beautiful girl. With the support of Selma and Gastone, she had been recommended as the next Saint.
Of course, she wasn't chosen simply because she had a refined appearance and education.
Like Selma, Aura belonged to the moderate faction. Over twenty years ago, despite being a religious state, Zain had repeatedly engaged in war.
They had launched wars on their neighbors and repeated looting.
However, the surrounding countries were not ones to stay silent while being victimized. Similarly, Zain's territories were invaded, and the people suffered.
Aura had her feet up on the seat in front of her, slouching in a sloppy manner. She didn't look like a Saint Candidate at all.
"You're being chased because you're running. It would have been better to just stay quiet in the temple of Zain. Those idiots in the Holy Knights just hate it when a priestess interferes in politics."
The Holy Knights, whom she called idiots, were Zain's knights. A knightly order that followed the Saint in the name of the Goddess. However, in substance, they weren't much different from the knights of other countries.
No, in terms of being terrible, the Holy Knights were worse than the knights of the surrounding countries.
The long years of looting and their mindset remained deeply rooted even during Selma's reign, and she had been unable to reform them.
Because of that, the radicals had united as the anti-Selma faction. The one those radicals recommended was Remis.
Selma let out a sigh and apologized to Aura.
"I feel bad for involving you. However, if only we had fled, harm would have certainly come to you as well."
Aura looked up at the ceiling.
"That's why I hated being a Saint Candidate. There were others, weren't there? They should have just put some dim-witted priestess in the chair, but they insist on trying to actually govern."
Selma pressed her hand to her forehead. She likely had a headache.
"If we continued to launch wars on the surrounding countries as we had for years and continued to be hated, it would lead nowhere. In my time, the surrounding countries formed an alliance to crush Zain."
Aura laughed.
"Wouldn't that have been better?"
"How could that possibly be better!"
Inside the carriage, the two fell silent.
After a while, Aura spoke.
"...If we can just escape into Beim like this, I want to live quietly."
Selma shook her head.
"That would be fine. However, that's only if we can make it to Beim. The adventurers we hired seem competent, but I wonder how it will turn out."
Selma had a suspicion about the unit chasing them.
They were extreme individuals, a group known as the assassination unit held by the Holy Knights.
Under the guise of secrecy, they were a unit meant for carrying out numerous atrocities and operating in the shadows. Even elites of the Holy Knights were enrolled, making them a troublesome existence.
However, their numbers weren't that large.
Selma thought that if they could make it to Beim, she would return to her country.
Aura shifted her legs and looked at Selma.
"Wouldn't it have been better to just get along with the idiots? You could have done it, Selma-sama, right? Didn't you say you wanted to hand over the position over ten years ago and live in the countryside by building a temple or something?"
When Selma's expression went blank, she began to mutter complaints.
"I wanted to retire and have a family too... but Gastone kept begging me. Besides, I couldn't find the next candidate, and to top it off, the Holy Knights rebelled and became useless. If I relied on adventurers, they'd get even angrier... What did you expect me to do? I wanted to retire, move to the countryside, and get married."
Faced with Selma, who had suddenly flipped a strange switch, Aura felt things were getting bad and tried to follow up. Aura also owed Selma a debt of gratitude.
She had been able to serve by the Saint's side as a priestess and had been doted upon.
"Let's just live quietly in Beim, Selma-sama. Look, you could even get married..."
When she said that, Selma smiled.
"Aura, do you really think there's someone for me, who is thirty-six this year? It would have been difficult even ten years ago."
Seeing that smile of enlightenment, Aura felt a pang of pity――.