kscans

Chapter 77 - The Foreign Royal Palace and the Little One

"Was that the right thing to do?"

"Deceiving the King pains my heart, but we had no choice."

Basking in the pleasant magical power of the pact they had formed, the two creatures murmured with melancholy.

They were servants that the oni Legion had brought with him from Heizlep. They knew the details of the matter without needing an explanation. Entrusted with the protection of the Lord’s Forest and the seeds, they had watched over the course of events.

"So that is his little sister. Quite a fiery one."

"She is quite different from that gentleman’s sister. She was a fleeting and fragile person."

"But he will become attached, won’t he? They are memories that our Lord treasured so much that he went to the trouble of sealing them in a magic stone."

Before becoming a god, the boy god Legion had had his memories as a human purified. However, one particular memory was so deeply engraved in his soul that it could not be purified, and by his own will, he sealed that wicked memory in a magic stone. The fact that the magic stone was stained blackish-purple gave a hint as to what kind of memory had been sealed away.

The two creatures fell silent, their heads bowed slightly.

"...I hope you can find happiness, my Lord."

"The will of the gods is unknowable. Even more so that of the higher beings."

Sealed away were the memories of a brother and sister. Of people tossed about by the currents of their time, long, long ago. It was a realm that even the gods could not touch. Time. The only beings who could easily meddle with this, which was absolutely impossible to touch or turn back, were the higher beings.

"Our Lord, when he was human, essentially committed suicide. He had finally found peace, and now again…"

"There is no point in lamenting the past. Let us think of it as having been given a chance to start over."

The two creatures looked up at the sky with troubled eyes. Released from the yoke of their guardianship, they were finally able to go outside.

"What a beautiful starry sky."

"I wonder what his little sister is doing right about now."

A small human who had beaten down the boy god, calling him a poor loser.

The laughter that escaped the two creatures was carried by the desert wind and raced through the forest.

By the time that wind reached the royal capital…

"What is thisss."

The Little One was holding her head in her hands.

The monster troop couldn’t even find lodging in the town just before the capital. The princes had tried to negotiate, but the town, which had already been informed of the king’s death and the Crown Prince’s accession, had flatly refused them. They were now in the middle of setting up camp for the night.

"I am sorry for my lack of power."

They were criminals who would be executed once the Crown Prince ascended the throne. It was only natural that the town would want nothing to do with them. Consoling the two downcast princes, the members, who were used to camping, began their preparations with high spirits.

But then, a single honeybee arrived.

Taking the letter the honeybee held so carefully and reading it, the Little One couldn't help but crumple to the ground.

To Chihiro,

Are you well? I hope you haven’t been overdoing it. A new fact has come to light here, so I am sending this letter in haste.

Do not, under any circumstances, touch the blackish-purple magic crystals. They themselves seem to be monster eggs. I don’t understand it well myself, but it seems that even the curse of solitary confinement you mentioned was just bait. The marquis and the others were merely used. In reality, the plan was to use the magical power and grudges of many monsters to summon something of unknown origin from somewhere. The catalyst for that is the blackish-purple magic crystal. I don’t know what will happen if you touch it.

I repeat, do not touch it!

You’re too late, Romel. That "something" is cheerfully fighting with Nīni, nyo.

"Aaargh, it’s so annoying!"

Her brother was shouting and yelling all by himself. Since his consciousness had stabilized, they took the opportunity. The Little One and the others asked the boy god himself various questions. He had no memory of his past and had simply been nestled against Chihaya’s soul in a daze. His clear awakening had come when the Little One received the blackish-purple magic crystal from the gnome. The magic power and some sort of memory leaking from it had jolted the boy god’s mind. He then realized that he couldn’t come out because of Chihaya’s soul and had plotted to cast Chihaya’s soul into the abyss.

"I know how to use the abyss. The magic told me."

The someone declared nonchalantly.

And now, when Chihaya let go of his consciousness, such as when he slept, he could come out easily.

The someone would wake the sleeping Little One and embrace her.

"You are cute. If you exist, this world is not so bad."

Perhaps influenced by his doting Nīni, he too seemed to be attached to the Little One.

"Ah, I’m used to it now. Let’s just sleep for now, okay? I’m sleepy."

As the Little One yawned, faaah, the someone in her brother’s form nodded and snuggled into the blankets, still holding her.

"We were always like this. Why did you leave? ...Hm? Left? When?"

The someone questioned himself with a puzzled look. Patting his head, pon pon, the Little One murmured in a sleepy voice.

"I’m right here, nyo. Time for sleepy-bye, nyo, Nīni."

Smiling a smile that could rival any flower, that someone also fell asleep.

Unaware that Zack and Adonis were watching the two innocently sleeping faces with complicated expressions. Or that beside them, Dorfen was gripping the hilt of his sword with a dangerous air.

"What are we supposed to do about this? That thing inside isn’t Hāya, is it?"

"I don’t know. He doesn’t seem dangerous for now, but…"

The three of them had tensed up, ready to restrain him if anything happened, when they noticed Chihaya sit up and climb into the Little One’s bed. But things had ended so calmly that it was anticlimactic.

They had thought he was something malicious, but he wasn’t?

From the Little One’s attitude, they couldn’t sense any such aversion.

The three adults stayed up all night without a wink of sleep, and the next day, the party took off for the royal capital.

"An envoy from Frontier? We have not been informed of such a thing."

"My presence alongside them is proof enough! Let us through!"

Prince Masahad argued with the guards in front of the royal palace. Unable to obstruct the prince’s actions, the gatekeeper reluctantly let the party through. The Crown Prince had not yet ascended the throne. Therefore, the two were still undeniably royalty of Donautil. It should be fine to let a single carriage pass.

Though their flame is about to be extinguished.

The gatekeeper’s lips twisted into a cruel smile.

Glancing at him, the Little One looked at the princes.

"The situation is at its worst. The consort’s hand will likely reach us soon, nyo. Be prepared."

"I know. But if it has come to this, the other princes and consorts should also be on the brink. I believe we can gain their cooperation."

Once the one to take the throne was decided, the other princes would also be executed. Furthermore, any consorts currently pregnant would be executed along with their unborn children. In that case, there would surely be those who would cooperate with Masahad, pinning their hopes on a slim chance. The nobles who supported each of those princes, and the relatives who backed the consorts, could be expected to be a considerable number.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to break the long-standing evil custom.

While the princes retired to their quarters to plot their strategies, an invitation for tea from the First Consort was delivered to the Little One.

"Here we go."

"Chihiro… I’ll go with you."

Declining Marrow’s worried offer, his face tense, the Little One asked Hyrulia to help her change into formal attire.

She wore a dress of visibly high quality and simple design at the décolletage, adorned with chrysanthemum-themed fabric flower ornaments. The dress, with these ornaments arranged just so, was a masterpiece. Furthermore, she wore the tiara she had once received from Wilfe, and a sash slung over her shoulder like a kesa was in the colors of the Frontier royal family, red with gold trim. A single sash ornament, embroidered with a complex pattern, proclaimed her status. And completing her noble appearance was the Little One’s graceful demeanor. She snapped open a lace fan of East-West Blend design and cast her eyes down with a wistful look, her long eyelashes fluttering.

"I shall go and see what kind of person she is. Everyone, do not neglect your preparations."

The men were left speechless, captivated by the gracefully moving girl.

"...This is a scam, isn’t it."

"Don’t say it. This is nothing new."

Indeed. The members who knew her from ten years ago were well aware of the Little One’s TPO. She was a frighteningly precocious child who could freely manipulate her attire, tone of voice, and demeanor to suit the occasion. She failed sometimes, but she had been this kind of creature since long ago.

So struck by his sister’s transformation, Chihaya had once asked her.

"What’s tee-pee-oh?"

"Totally Perfect Offerings. It’s something that doesn’t really matter, but it’s useful to remember."

Though different from the actual meaning, it was an apt expression.

At the time, Chihaya had just let it go with a "huh," but now the meaning of those words struck him to the core.

There’s nothing to lose by learning. Often, things become useful later on, or you regret not having learned them. Chihaya was now realizing that his sister’s voracious attitude toward learning had actually been correct.

"Well then, I shall be off."

With a crisp salute, the Little One headed for the royal palace, accompanied by Dorfen and Hyrulia.

Watching the girl walk off, teketeke, her nostrils flared with determination, mun, someone couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

"She hasn’t changed on the inside."

"Of course not."

"My sister is cute no matter what form she takes."

"I agree, but don’t just pop out whenever you feel like it!"

Seizing the moment his sister had been captivated, the someone kept peeking out.

"Geez, you’re annoying, a pain, and confusing! Don’t you have a name?"

The someone in his head fell silent, as if taken by surprise. Then he murmured in broken phrases.

"...Cesare. I have a memory of being called that."

"Cesare? That’s a good name, isn’t it? I’ll call you that from now on."

"Mm."

The people around them smiled wryly at the scene, which looked like Chihaya was putting on a one-man show.

However, when the Little One heard about it later, her eyes widened and she froze.

"...Cantarella’s deadly poison?"

Hearing the ominous word, the people looked on in suspicion, but they did not know the meaning of this term.