We got lucky this time.
Of course, not everything went as planned.
We needed to play things by the ear.
However, there was the First Cavalry that was so eager for results that they got ahead of the others.
Thanks to them, we didn’t have to deal with all the Cavalries at the same time.
It went easier than expected.
[Even so, with this, if Liese——— -dono……]
[Sniff…… It’s alright…… You can just keep calling me like that.]
With her head lowered down, Liese wiped the tears from her eyes.
[You don’t have to change the way you speak.]
[……If this doesn’t change your mind, I would have to restrain you. I’m going to have to ask you to stay put until this fight is over.]
[U- Uuuu……]
[Belzegia-dono, I’m sorry.]
Armia approaches, apologizing towards me.
[I was late in sending out the signal.]
Indeed, it might have been better if she had sent out the signal a little earlier.
Lowering her head, Armia’s fists seem to be shaking.
[I was so taken aback that I became absentminded for a while…… because of the cruelty of that man, Mikhail. I began to think that Humans were such terrifying beings…… that us, who had peacefully lived our lives within the Faraway Country, were nothing more than playthings for Humans…… The impact was so great that I forgot to give the signal. As a result, Prime Minister-dono was beaten up that much……]
[You don’t have to blame yourself. It’s just as I told you before. The entire responsibility for this operation lies with me. If you don’t like anything that happened during the battle, blame me.]
[I understand. However———— It’s too rigorous.]
[………………]
[My role in this matter is just too rigorous.]
[My bad.]
I apologize.
[As Gio recommended, I wanted to rely on your good judgment. The fact that you’re the best defender among the Four Warlights also made me think you’d be a good choice to protect considering that she would most probably disarm everyone. However, my bad…… It was indeed rigorous.]
[Shut it there, Fly King.]
Thereupon, Gio butted in.
[I’m the one who recommended Armia for the role because of her good judgment. You don’t have to carry the responsibility on your own. I was originally planning to have her do the same thing if we lost the majority vote. The only thing that’s changed is that Belzegia hopped in on my plan.]
The Cavalry in the rear seemed to be cleared out.
The Leopardkin are on their way to catch up with Gio.
Sensing their approach, Gio looked behind him and snorted.
[It seems like they had a harder time dealing with it as I had expected. Your worries may have been correct, Fly King.]
[No…… For people that had killed a Human with a weapon for the first time, I think they did pretty well. It’s just that…… They may be numbed by the heat of the battle now, but some of them might be shocked later on. I think you should look after them after the battle is over.]
That’s how it usually works.
That’s how it normally should be.
Me, whose emotions regarding that matter was paralyzed, was the strange one.
[……You.]
With her head still down, Liese spoke.
[You hate me, don’t you? Don’t you…… hate me?]
[You were just desperate. That’s all there is to it.]
[………………]
[Your narrow-mindedness aside…… You wanted to save the Faraway Country, and you didn’t want anyone to get hurt…… simply desperate. Knowing that, I couldn’t really hate you. Even Gio was thinking highly of you.]
Hearing my words, Liese looks up.
Half of her face was red and swollen, and the blood dripping down her face made her painful to look at.
[Gio…… did?]
[The deciding factor for this plan was also Gio’s evaluation. Gio said…… that without you, the country might not be able to survive. Lieselotte Ornick is needed for the future of your country.]
[I was told…… by that Human that Gio was killed. Qir was also captured and her hind legs were chopped off……]
Liese looks at the dead Deputy Captain.
[When I heard it, it really hurt…… Even though Gio and I quarrel with each other so much…… It made me realize…… that Gio and the others are still my friends…… but I only regretted it when it’s already too late…… ————Thank you.]
Tears welled up in Liese’s eyes.
[Thank you for being alive.]
Saying those words, Liese started sobbing.
Seeing her like that, Gio snorted before looking away.
[The heck is that…… That’s not like you.]
[Someone’s being shy~~]
[Ah, shut up, Armia. Good grief……]
[Fufufu.]
Even as tears dripped down her eyes———- Liese giggled.
Turning away from their ruckus, I pulled out Mikhail’s sword from its scabbard.
[So, Liese…… What do you think now? With all that’s happened…… Do you still wish to negotiate with the Thirteen Cavalries?]
[……I won’t give up trying to negotiate.]
Even as the tears on her face weren’t dried up, Liese resolutely nodded.
Then, she spoke.
[However…… I will no longer negotiate with the Thirteen Cavalries. Belzegia…… I will follow your opinion this time. You’re human, aren’t you?]
[Yeah.]
[I’m not going to lump all humans as the same person. I won’t assume that all humans are evil. I’m sure that there should be humans out there that I could talk with…… As expected, I still……]
[That should be fine.]
When I said this, Liese looked surprised as she looked up towards me.
[Rather, you should be relieved. The point is that you have to know who you’re dealing with. It’s good to believe in your own abilities, but you should also learn to doubt. Doubt everything you can…… And at times, you would also need to doubt even yourself.]
[……I will do that. I used to think that everything I thought was right. I thought I could solve anything…… That my actions won’t result in anything else…… But that is……]
Pausing for a moment, Liese turns towards the silver door.
[—–only because I was in that country…… in a place where everyone believed in me———-]
[You already done here?]
Qir aloofly shows herself.
There were several centaurs following behind her.
It seems that they went around and came down from the cliff.
I guess only me and Slei can jump from that height without difficulty.
Well, in my case though, I had my status correction and Pigimaru turned himself into a rope and assisted me on coming down.
[We’ve dispatched our centaurs near the vicinity of the entrance to the valley. If something happens, they’ll let us know. So…… Our Prime Minister is safe, right?]
When Qir asked this, Liese tears up even more.
[……Qir, I’m sorry.]
[I guess you’re alright enough that you can speak, eh?]
[I, please———-]
[I’m the one who needs to apologize.]
[ ? ]
[I was just acting when I said those words but…… I’m sorry. As expected, that was a little harsh for this Qir-sama to say.]
[I know that it was acting. It was so that you could save me…… I’m still the Prime Minister, the one making the plans in Faraway Country.]
Even though it was a bit distorted, Liese’s expression falters.
Seeing this, Qir gently smiled.
However, upon looking at Liese’s face, a pained look appeared on her face.
Her eyes then coldly turn towards Mikhail.
[You sure did quite a number on our Prime Minister, haven’t you?]
Hearing her cold tone, Gio turned towards me and asked.
[What are we going to do with him, Fly King?]
[I think I’ve already got all I needed to know from him. With this, I don’t see the need to keep him alive.]
Moving his body with my feet, I placed the tip of the sword on Mikhail’s left chest.
There is a little bit of gap in his armor that I could push the sword in.
On its position……
If I just push the sword deeper, I can pierce right through his heart.
[I- am…… a great no- ble…… You should…… be able to get ransom…… with my safe return……]
[Since you’re some great noble, we can use you as a hostage and expect ransom huh? We don’t need it.]
[Guuuhhh…… Why…… Are you not…… an ally…… of the Goddess……]
[Goddess? There’s no way I’m on the side of that sh*tty Goddess. That ain’t happening.]
F*cking idiot.
[You’re funny as heck, you know that?]
[Help……]
[Reminding me of something I don’t like, this b*stard……]
Liese, who was repeatedly pummeled on her face.
That was———–
□
Only once, did I try it.
Only once, did I ask it.
Why?
Not understanding why, I asked.
“Why does Mother…… always have to punch me?”
“Huh? Haahhh? Haaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!?”
“I- I’m sorry———– Gyaaa!?”
” “Why” you ask!? Oi, what do you think you are, Toukaaa!? I’m the one who wants to ask that! Why do I need a reason to punch and kick my own belongings!? Haahhh!? Oi…… I’m going for the face today, okay? I’m going for the face today, you hear me? That’s why, don’t you dare go out for a while, Toukaaa!”
“Gyaaa!? Mother, I’m sor——— Ghaak!? Gobfuuu!?”
“Seeing you not crying makes me even angrier…… Come on, cry, will you!? Cry! Cry like all those b*stards who need some d*mned reasons! This country is just filled with idiots who can’t think for themselves! F*cking annoying b*stards! I’m the one who shat you out, you’re my belonging! Whether I have a reason or not doesn’t matter to you! Is this a country where you can’t even make a d*mned brat if you don’t have a reason!? Aaaahhhhh, if you could just sell brats in this place…… Ah, someone’s actually thinking of buying!? Wait…… Haahhhh!? You dare haggle with me!? Die! Touka, this is your d*mn fault!!!”
Bamm, bang, thud, bang, pomf, bang, bammm……
▽
Slowly, I push the blade deeper into his body.
Upon feeling the sword, I felt fear from Mikhail.
[S…… top……]
Not heeding his plea, I continued pushing the blade deeper into his body.
Slowly, taking my time in doing it.
Piercing through the gaps between his ribs, pushing into his lungs.
Decapitating him.
Piercing his head.
Stabbing through his heart.
I’m not going to do such things, which would kill him in an instant.
Slowly———- I pierced the blade into his lungs.
[The words you said to Liese and the others…… Those things about whorehouses and tortures…… That doesn’t look proper at all…… I don’t know what it’s like being a noble, but you’ve lived a life like that huh…… I can somewhat imagine it. You’re a hopeless trash…… You can feel it too, right———– We’re the same kind of person. That’s why…… Let’s get a little bit closer. Okay?]
[Goo…… hukkk……]
Blood poured out from Mikhail’s mouth.
[Terrifying, isn’t it…… but weren’t you in this position before? Your self-centeredness…… is as terrifying as this.]
[Gobuuu…… gobuuuu…… buubuu……]
The blood leaking out of his mouth made it impossible for him to breathe properly.
[Just when you think you’ve been saved, you suddenly find out it was all a lie…… It must have felt despairing, didn’t it? How does it feel to be so quickly betrayed and ridiculed? How does it feel to be treated the same way you treated Liese?]
As I looked down through my mask, I slapped him with his own words.
[Serves you right.]
Eventually———— Mikhail died.
When I look back at her, Liese had a complicated expression on her face.
[You may have had the idea to take this man prisoner. However, I killed him———— I personally wanted to after all.]
[Was there any point…… in killing him?]
[I dunno?]
[……………..]
[Liese. Perhaps…… You must be seeing me as some sort of benefactor that opened up your eyes to the truth. However, I am not such a good person.]
In fact, we got lucky this time.]
[You guys acted as decoys. Thanks to you lot, Gio and Qir were able to surround this First Cavalry and crushed them. The First Cavalry’s attention was completely on your group. Thus, it was easy for Qir and her group to get behind them.]
From a tactical standpoint, the battle was an overwhelming victory.
In fact, the Leopardkin and the Centaurs didn’t have any casualties.
……As for the Harpy messenger, as expected, even I won’t be able to protect them.
[Indeed, I had asked Armia to protect you. However…… It was already expected that at worst, Lieselotte Ornick might die. I had already factored in the possibility that you might lose your life.]
Yes.
It just so happened that things worked out this time.
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