Wortenia Senki (LN) - Volume 1 - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: The Hunter and the Hunted 

The sound of the foliage being crushed under boots filled the forest. It had been a day and a half since Ryoma entered the forest north of the town of Alue. The twins weren’t in sight. After they concluded their preparations for the journey, Ryoma left for the forest off the highway all on his own. 

The forest was governed by darkness. The sparkling of the stars failed to penetrate the veil of the trees, and without fire to light the way, it would be impossible to see anything. 

“So far, so good...” Ryoma whispered to himself, illuminating the big tree roots at his feet. 

He’d only been with the twins for two days, but he was feeling their absence already. Surely no one would judge him for getting sentimental after being thrown into an unfamiliar world. 

Ryoma looked around cautiously, chewing on the beef jerky he’d bought in town. A day and a half of being off the main road had taught Ryoma well enough how menacing it could be, even though there naturally weren’t any enemies Ryoma couldn’t handle. He’d gotten off the highway, but it wasn’t that large of a detour. 

Their numbers were overwhelming, however. Every time he’d beaten a monster, the scent of its blood attracted another one, resulting in a vicious cycle. He hadn’t been aware of it the other day when he was hunting the wild dogs, but being able to retreat to the safety of the highway and rest his nerves was a major boon. However, now that he was forced to fight monsters in such fast succession without time to pause for breath, the strain was bearing down on him. 

They’re finally here? 

As Ryoma rested his body near the fire, he felt movement in the air and a gaze being fixed on him in the darkness, and it didn’t feel like a monster. The piercing gaze from the shadows felt almost adhesive. 

Ryoma doubted it was another adventurer who’d decided to cross through the forest, either. If they wanted to rest by the fire, they’d just call out to him. And if they were to notice that he’d clued into their presence, they’d think him to be a bandit and launch a preemptive attack. 

On top of that, it wasn’t the gaze of a bandit. There was no greed in it. There was certainly a sort of unpleasant stickiness to it, but it didn’t feel to be based on the desire to take another’s money. 

Ryoma placed a hand on his sword’s handle. Whoever it was, if they intended to attack, Ryoma was ready to cut them down. It was then that a man’s voice spoke from the darkness. 

“I seem to have startled you. My apologies.” 

Ryoma tightened his grip on his sword. 

“Now, now. No need to be so cautious. I’d just like a moment of your time.” 

His manner of speech was decidedly vexing. His words were polite, but somehow had a pressure to them that left no room for argument. 

“Fine. But come out slowly.” Ryoma said. 

A moment later, he could hear the sound of the branches being parted. When Ryoma saw the face of the man approaching opposite of him illuminated by the fire, a certain doubt filled his heart. His hair was carefully combed, and he had a longish, oval face. His height was roughly 175 centimeters, and he gazed at Ryoma with serene eyes hidden behind a pair of silver-rimmed glasses. 

He looked like a salaryman, the kind you could find countless examples of in some Japanese business district. Except, of course, you’d be hard-pressed to find a Japanese salaryman clad in armor and carrying a sword. 

“Hmm, is something the matter?” The man asked, seemingly having noticed Ryoma’s discomposure. 

“It’s nothing... I just thought, you don’t look much like a bandit.” 

“My, my.” The man smiled. “You say some troubling things. Mind if I sit over here?” 

Without waiting for Ryoma’s response, the man sat opposite of Ryoma. 

“I don’t recall saying you could.” 

Despite Ryoma’s admonition, the man didn’t seem apologetic. On the contrary, he took the chance to start talking. 

“Now, now. I just need to ask you two or three questions, and then I’ll be off.” 

Ryoma seemed to have resigned himself to the fact that nothing he could say would change this, and motioned for the man to continue. 

“I imagine you’re an adventurer, but I’d like to know what you’re doing in a forest off the highway. Are you doing work?” 

“I heard in Alue that the border checkpoint was blockaded.” Ryoma answered the man’s question honestly. “And apparently no one knows when it’ll be lifted, either, so I decided to cut through the forest. I’m pretty confident in my skill, you see, and I came prepared to camp out.” 

“Oh... Is that right? Still, I can’t say I find it all that commendable. Confident as you may be in your sword arm, crossing through the forest all on your own... Are you in a hurry of some sort? Perhaps, you’re being pursued by someone?” 

The man’s eyes narrowed, his gaze turning sharper. There was a glint in his eyes, as if he was trying to see through a lie. 

“No, there’s no hurry, but I’d rather go ahead and accumulate experience over just sitting around in town waiting for the blockade to lift. Besides, hunting monsters will net me money.” 

“I see, I see...” 

It was Ryoma’s turn to direct a probing gaze at the man. 

“And who are you, to demand this kind of information out of me?” 

Ryoma already had a pretty clear idea of what was going on, but he still asked, feigning ignorance. The important part was to not rouse the other party’s suspicion. At least, for the time being. 

“Oh, my apologies. I go by Hideaki Saitou. I serve as vice commander of the Empire of O’ltormea’s Succubus Knights.” 

“Oooh. Impressive...” Ryoma maintained his act, silently suppressing his doubts. 

So it really was one of my pursuers, huh... But, Saitou? He does look Japanese, but... 

Since he didn’t know the angle of the other party yet, he decided it would be most wise to pretend to be a mere adventurer. 

“And what would you be doing in the middle of a forest, sir vice captain?” Ryoma asked with a hint of politeness, since he now knew the other person’s standing. 

“You see, I’ve actually been in pursuit of a certain man. We suspect he may be trying to cross the border through this forest.” 

“A certain man? What did he do?” 

“Oh, I do apologize.” Saitou answered Ryoma’s interest with an utterly unapologetic tone. “It’s a confidential matter, and I can’t divulge the details to an outsider...” 

That was what Ryoma thought he might say. He didn’t expect Saitou to tell the truth handily at this point; it would actually be worse if he did. It would be one thing if he were simply loose-lipped, but Ryoma knew what fate those who learned things they shouldn’t hear could very well end up facing. 

But if he didn’t question Saitou here, it would come off as suspicious; as if he didn’t ask because he already knew something. 

“Oh, sorry. What is your interest in me about it, then? You don’t suspect me, do you?” 

As Ryoma spoke with an almost offended tone, Saitou shrugged in a flustered fashion. 

“No, no. I’m not suspecting you at all, but you see, we just don’t know that man’s face.” 

“What, you’re chasing someone when you don’t know what he looks like?” Ryoma raised his voice in surprise. 

So they really don’t know... Not surprised, though. I killed all the ones who saw my face. 

Ryoma mentally confirmed the accuracy of his judgment. Common sense and morals meant nothing in this world; survival was everything. 

“Yes, it’s actually quite the hassle... My superior’s pressuring me to catch him quickly and be done with it... And that’s where you come in. I’d like to ask for your cooperation with something.” 

Saitou finished his words politely. 

“My cooperation?” 

“Yes. I’d like you to give me a bit of your time so I may confirm who you are. It’s just a formality, yes? We’ll confirm your background and you’ll be off on your way. Not much we can do, see? Given we don’t know what the person we’re looking for looks like... We have to round up all the well-built men going through the forest. Really, I do apologize.” 

And while his words were the height of polite apology and spoken with a gentle smile, there wasn’t so much as a hint of laughter to the eyes behind the silver rimmed lenses. 

“And if I were to refuse to cooperate?” 

“In that case, I’d be left with little choice.” Saitou raised his right arm at Ryoma’s words. “I would not like to do so, but I would need to have you accompany me by force.” 

An arrow was fired from the forest, piercing the air near Ryoma’s flank. 

“I see... So that’s how it is.” Ryoma muttered to himself, eying the arrow lodged into the ground. 

“Yes. Now that you understand, I’d like to ask for your cooperation one more time. Would you come with me, please?” 

Hypocritical courtesy at its finest. No one could say no in this situation when doing so would result in a hail of arrows from the forest. 

“If you insist, then. I’ll come along.” Ryoma answered with a reluctant expression. 

“Oh, I’m glad you understand. I’ll escort you to my camp. Not to worry, it’s close by.” Saitou said, and took a pair of shackles out of his sack. 

“What’s that?” 

“Just erring on the side of caution,” Saitou replied apologetically. “It’s all formalities, my friend; all formalities. I’ll take them off after you meet my commanding officer. Just be patient.” 

He left no room for argument. Left with no choice, Ryoma presented his hands without another word.

“Your Highness, we’ve restrained him.” 

Hearing Saitou’s words as he walked into her tent, Shardina stopped in the middle of penning together a decree and turned to look at him. 

“Restrained? Restrained who...? The otherworlder?” 

“Yes, I think there’s no doubting he’s an otherworlder. To be exact, he is a Japanese from Earth.” 

After returning to the camp, Saitou left Ryoma in a tent and, after assigning some guards, went to report to Shardina. His expression was full of pride at completing his task, mixed with a hint of anxiety. 

“...How can you tell he’s the otherworlder? We don’t know what he looks like.” 

“He’s from the same country I came from.” Saitou met Shardina’s suspicious expression calmly. “And it hasn’t been long since he came to this world. I could tell by the smell.” 

Saitou’s answer made Shardina’s face break into a grin. 

“I see... I certainly wouldn’t dream of doubting your word. So, what are you going to do?” 

“His Grace’s orders were to arrest or kill him, but...” Saitou said hesitantly, and Shardina nodded. 

“Yes, the order was to kill him if we were unable to arrest him.” 

“So, now that we have him, we would have to take him to the capital...” 

Hearing Saitou’s words, Shardina peered at his face with surprise. 

“Is there a problem?” Shardina was sensitive to the changes in Saitou’s expression. 

“Yes... I’m of the opinion that we should forgo taking him back to the capital, and dispose of him here.” Saitou stated his thoughts after a hint of hesitation. 

He had just proposed going against the Emperor’s orders. The pressure he must have felt was likely beyond one’s imagination. 

And hearing his words made Shardina falter, too, because Saitou had always been supporting her from the shadows. His counsel had always been wise and apt, and had never been wrong before. Shardina couldn’t outright ignore him, but she couldn’t defy the Emperor’s explicit orders, either. 

“State your reasoning...” 

“My reasoning, you say...” Saitou considered her question gravely. “One could regard it as my intuition.” 

This time it was Shardina’s face that drooped into a frown. Although she placed great trust in the words of her aide, she couldn’t defy an imperial decree based on intuition alone. 

“Your intuition, is it... Even coming from you, I cannot act upon that itself.” 

“My apologies. But upon speaking to him, I could not shake the feeling that he is dangerous. He would smile while talking to me, but I could not tell what he was thinking in his heart of hearts. And then he accompanied me without any resistance. Even when I cuffed him, saying it was simply a formality, he did not resist very much. Almost as if he was confident that if we looked into him, he’d be released...” 

Hearing Saitou’s words made a shudder run through Shardina’s heart. 

That does sound concerning. Especially the fact he did not resist... Judging from how he slew Gaius and started a fire to escape the palace, he should be a cool-headed, merciless man. Even if he’s resigned himself to the fact that he can’t run away, I don’t see him simply surrendering himself quietly. 

“Are you sure he’s the otherworlder we’re after?” 

Shardina suggested they might have found the wrong person, but Saitou shook his head. 

“I have no doubt in my mind that he’s an otherworlder. The only question is whether he’s Sir Gaius’s killer, but judging by the situation, I’d assume a nine out of ten chance that he is. I think we can do away with the possibility that a completely unrelated otherworlder would be going through this forest by sheer coincidence.” 

Shardina nodded at Saitou’s assertion. There was no evidence, but based on the circumstances, there wasn’t much room for doubt. 

“Then, that leaves us with one option.” 

“And that is?” 

Shardina stood up from her chair and walked to the end of the tent. 

“Take me to him. Clearly there is no choice at this point but for me to speak to him directly, is there not?”

Two visitors entered the tent allotted to Ryoma. 

“Apologies for making you wait. My superior officer requested to meet with you directly.” 

Shardina stepped forward from behind Saitou, facing Ryoma. 

“I see. So I’m meeting the captain.” 

As they listened to Ryoma speak, with him sat on a chair and directing a sharp gaze towards them, the two seemed surprised. 

“Oh, what made you think I’m the captain? I could be some other kind of superior officer.” 

“Well, I can’t say I knew for sure. But I heard Princess Shardina blockaded the checkpoint at Adelpho. And anyone who knows that same Princess Shardina is the captain of the Succubus Knights would come to that conclusion.” 

“Hmm, I see. Yes, I suppose one would likely come to that conclusion...” 

Saitou said, and while Shardina seemed convinced on the surface, her heart oddly stiffened. True, it wasn’t an unusual conclusion to come to, but would one truly think so clearly when they were bound and confined? 

I think I see why Saitou was ambivalent about him. I don’t have a good feeling about this... 

A sense of anxiety crept over Shardina’s heart. Saitou turned his gaze to her. 

What do you think? Saitou’s gaze seemed to ask. 

Shardina regarded him with a light nod and parted her lips to speak again. 

“Thank you for lending us your time. I extend my thanks to you, in the name of the Empire.” 

Those words were unbelievably polite, considering that royalty was addressing a citizen. 

“No, it’s nothing to stress over. It was definitely suspicious for me to go through the forest and not the highway.” 

Hearing Ryoma’s natural, casual response, the pair’s lips curled into smiles. 

“Just as we thought, Your Majesty.” 

“Yes. I’d say that cements it.” 

The two exchanged nods. This cleared up any doubts they may have had. 

“We’ve finally found you, dear otherworlder!” 

“What’s this about an otherworlder?” Ryoma regarded Shardina’s words with composure. 

“Don’t try to deny it. No commoner in this world would react so calmly to a person of the Imperial house speaking to them politely.” 

Upon hearing Saitou say this, Ryoma’s expression changed for the first time. That... did make sense. In this world where monarchy reigned as law, royalty were like gods to the commoners. If Ryoma had any intention of pretending to be a citizen of this world, he should have held his tongue and kept his eyes to the ground. 

Ryoma’s attitude was polite, but only by Japanese standards. Even if it wouldn’t be seen as rude in this world, it certainly came across as Ryoma not knowing his place. 

“Hmm... I see. Guess I screwed up there.” 

Ryoma swiftly concluded that trying to talk his way out of this would be fruitless. 

“I see we finally understand who is talking to whom here.” Saitou said, and Shardina nodded, turning to face Ryoma. 

“I believe this is the first time we’ve come face to face. As you’re already aware, I am the first princess of the Empire of O’ltormea, Shardina Eisenheit. What name do you go by, dear otherworlder?” 

“Me? It’s Mikoshiba. Ryoma Mikoshiba.” Ryoma answered her words calmly. 

“I see. So you’re Japanese, like I thought.” Thus spoke Saitou. 

“Certainly seems like you are too, Saitou.” 

“Yes.” Saitou nodded. “I’m in the same position as you. I was summoned to this world ten years ago.” 

“Oh? And you advanced to vice-captain rank in just ten years?” 

“Well, let’s just say luck was on my side.” The man smiled bitterly. “Being an otherworlder has its merits.” 

“The whole ‘power absorption rate’ thing?” 

“Oh, I’m surprised you know that much.” Saitou’s eyes widened in surprise. 

“Please. I just wrang a few facts out of the old man who summoned me.” Ryoma said, a cruel smirk on his lips. “Learned quite a bit from him.” 

“Is that so? I hear the corpse was terribly mutilated. Did you torture Gaius?” There was a hint of anger to Shardina’s voice. 

“Gaius? If that’s what you call the geezer who summoned me, then yes. I made him talk.” 

Ryoma admitted to the torture right away. Perhaps he’d thought there was no point in hiding it. 

“In that case, regrettable as it may be, we’ll have to put you to the sword. We can’t permit anyone who raises a hand against our Empire to live.” 

“Regrettable?” Ryoma met Shardina’s words with apprehension. “What do you have to regret?” 

“I hold people like you in very high regard. Even though you were thrust into the unusual situation of being thrown into another world, you escaped the capital, in spite of how unfamiliar it was to you, and got as far as the national border. That alone stands as proof of the unusual strength you possess. If your intellect and power would be put to use by our Empire, we would be one decisive step closer to conquering the western continent.” 

As Shardina finished speaking, Ryoma regarded her with scornful ridicule. 

“Surely you jest. Me, serve you? I’m guessing that’d be as a slave, right? Spare me your stupid jokes.” 

He had the countenance of an enraged demon, contorting in anger, hatred and limitless urge to kill. 

“Stupid, you say?” 

“Yeah, you heard me. Who do you think I am, the hero in some story? Why the hell would I ever serve you people?” 

Those were Ryoma’s sincere, honest thoughts. The idea of obediently doing what he was told after someone summoned him to another world was insane. Shardina, on the other hand, scoffed at Ryoma’s words. 

“Is it not natural for the one who was summoned to obey the person who summoned them?” 

Shardina’s expression made it seem like she was simply pointing out common sense. For the people of this world, humans they’d summoned were nothing more than convenient tools, and no one would think to ask tools for permission before using them. 

“Yeah, I kinda figured people in this world would say that.” 

Ryoma’s statement made Shardina furrowed her brow. “What do you mean?” 

“Nothing in particular. Talking to you people is a waste of breath anyway. But I will say one thing. I obey only one person, and that’s myself. No one else. I think and decide on my own. That’s all.” 

Ryoma had already judged that speaking to Shardina any further was pointless. Their ideologies and upbringings were far too different. There could be no agreement between them. There was a difference of heaven and earth between the two of them, and there was no chance of reconciliation from the very start. 

“So, that’s what you think... However, my dear otherworlder, this world isn’t kind enough to accommodate your free will. True, you stuck to your desires. You slew Gaius. But where did that lead you, in the end?” Shardina sneered at him. “You’re sitting here, cuffed, in front of me.” 

Ryoma could make as many claims to pride as he wished, but it would come across as nothing but the wailing of a sore loser. His hands had been cuffed by Saitou, after all. 

“Your pride is admirable. But does it amount to anything in this world, where the powerless are trampled and deprived? It’s not as kind as your world. Your free will, you say? What would clinging to it give you? Had you simply obeyed the Empire, you could have been promoted like Saitou was.” 

“Heh. Sorry, but being your dog and barking on command doesn’t sound appealing.” Ryoma mocked Shardina’s words. 

“I see. You are a foolish man. You have the gall to talk like that even in this situation, do you? I might’ve spared you had you begged for your life.” 

As Saitou listened to Shardina’s conversation with Ryoma, the anxiety in his heart only grew stronger. 

She’s right... Why is he so confident even now? Anyone else would be on all fours, begging for their lives. 

A premonition of something bad approaching crossed Saitou’s mind as Shardina spoke. He knew she was lying, of course. Even if Ryoma Mikoshiba were to beg for mercy, his fate had already been sealed; he was to be put to death. No other options were available for the man who killed Gaius and besmirched the Empire’s dignity. 

But it was only human to cling to the slightest shred of hope, even when faced with death. And despite that, Ryoma Mikoshiba remained unfazed. 

Is he prepared to die? 

But Saitou couldn’t see any sorrow at having coming to terms with death in Ryoma’s face. 

What is this, then? Does he think he can make it out of this situation alive? 

Shardina was accompanied by thirty troops. Twenty-six of them were deployed to search the forest in groups of two. There were only four other soldiers left to defend Shardina’s camp. Since Saitou discovered and brought Ryoma back alone, there was a total of six of them there. 

These numbers were more than enough to restrain a single otherworlder. But despite them holding all the advantages, he couldn’t shake off the anxiety. At that moment, Saitou’s mind came up with a possibility. 

Wait... Did he end up in this situation because he wanted to be here? 

It was a crazy, completely unfounded thought. But that only made it feel all the more true to Saitou. 

That’s right... if that’s the case, everything clicks into place. But why? What kind of merit does this man gain from this situation...? No, whatever merit he gets doesn’t matter. We have to kill this man, right here and now. Whatever he can do in this situation won’t amount to much that way. 

Saitou’s hands moved to remove his silver-rimmed spectacles, and revealed in their absence were the cold, bloodthirsty eyes of a murderer. There wasn’t so much as a hint of the calmness he had before in him. His eyes glinted with sharp light, like an unsheathed sword. 

“Saitou...?” Shardina noticed the change in his attitude. Bloodthirst emanated from his body, as if he was standing on a battlefield. 

“Her Majesty, I do apologize, but we should kill this man, right here and now.” 

“Wh-What are you saying?!” Shardina couldn’t hide her surprise at the fact this was what her aide had said after such a prolonged, contemplative silence. “We need to deliver him to the Emperor!” 

“No, Your Majesty. This man is dangerous. If we let him continue to draw breath, who knows what he might do...” 

“Do you intend to go against His Grace’s orders?!” 

“I am sorry. Rebuke me as you will after this...” 

So Saitou said, unsheathing his blade as he stepped towards Ryoma. 

“Wait, Saitou!” 

Ignoring Shardina’s calls, Saitou raised his sword. 

“Any last words? Since we were both born in the same place, I will at least hear you out.” 

“No, nothing in particular.” Ryoma said with a faint smile, not flinching from the drawn blade shining down on him. 

“I see. You’ve got nerve, I’ll give you that.” 

“Nah, not that much at all... Considering you’re the ones who are going to die!” Ryoma’s shout reverberated through the night air, disappearing into the dark forest. 

“What’s gotten into him...?!” Shardina couldn’t hold back her surprise at Ryoma’s roar shaking the tent. 

“What is... Ah! Your Majesty!” At that moment, Saitou’s intuition cried out in alarm. 

The moment Saitou’s body covered Shardina’s, a gust of wind swept over the tent. The gale shook the camp, tearing the tents to bits as if a giant sword had run rampant across the place. 

A few seconds later, Saitou got to his feet after confirming the wind had died down. 

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!” 

“I’m fine... What happened?” 

Shardina, who was hidden under Saitou’s body, rose to her feet, holding her head with her arms. 

“You’re fine, Your Majesty! Damnit... That bastard!” Saitou, however, ignored Shardina’s words and wheeled over, looking for Ryoma. 

His gaze fell on an unfamiliar, silver-haired girl. 

“Are you unharmed, Master?” The girl said, swinging her sword to cut away Ryoma’s shackles. 

“Yeah. Your timing was perfect. You saved me, Sara. What about Laura?” Ryoma asked, rubbing his now freed wrists. 

“Laura is disposing of the other soldiers. Just as you said, she’s capable of taking care of them without any trouble.” 

As those words were spoken, a second voice spoke from behind Saitou. 

“I’m already finished, Master.” 

It was a young girl’s voice. 

“Your Majesty!” 

At Saitou’s cry, Shardina took a swift step back behind him, so they stood back to back. 

“You’re not hurt, are you, Laura?” He asked with a voice of gratitude and concern. 

“Yes, I’m fine. I simply needed to fire spells at them. These people were wary of an animal’s attack, but didn’t expect thaumaturgy.” 

“It can’t be... thaumaturgy?!” Saitou cried out angrily at Laura’s words. 

That was something neither Saitou nor Shardina had anticipated. The fact that Ryoma even had allies in this world was unpredictable, but it was particularly shocking that they could even use thaumaturgy. Few people could employ it in this world; those who served the empire were at least at the rank of a knight, and only the most skilled of adventurers or mercenaries were capable of it. 

That was why this very scarcity stood at the foundation of this world’s structure of power. Just by being able to employ thaumaturgy, one was twice as strong as those who weren’t, and one’s skill could make that power all the more dangerous. 

With the right preparations, Gaius, the man Ryoma slew, was capable of leveling entire armies. But having great destructive power didn’t mean one would always win. His murder at Ryoma’s hands stood as grave proof of that. 

Still, that did not change the meaning of holding the power of thaumaturgy. And whatever the case, there was no way that a man who’d just been summoned from another world would be capable of using it, and it was extremely unlikely he would gain the company of someone else who could. At least, it had been until now. 

“Who in the world are you...?!” 

“We are servants of our Master.” Laura said, answering Shardina’s question while pointing her sword in her direction. “Enemies of our Master are our enemies.” 

This girl’s skilled! And... 

Seeing Laura’s stance made Shardina’s intuition cry out in warning. The two girls stood before them, their bloodlust and aggressiveness palpable. Only a handful of the thousands of soldiers under Shardina’s command were a match for them. 

Still, in terms of skill, Shardina herself was higher than them. All the same, the eyes of the girl standing before her burned with deathly resolve. She would kill Shardina, even if she had to die trying. Saitou felt an equal measure of resolve from Sara. 

What’s going on here... Why are such skilled thaumaturgists on his side? He’s only been in this world for a few days... 

Capturing Ryoma was an absolute order from the Emperor to Shardina and her subordinates, but that only applied if their lives weren’t at risk. They weren’t obligated to take him alive if it meant Saitou or Shardina would be killed or injured in the process. 

They were both in extremely important positions for the Empire. Perhaps it would be different if this were a battlefield where the fate of the Empire hung in the balance, but they couldn’t afford to die at the hands of some unknown otherworlder. 

“Saitou... We need to retreat...” That was Shardina’s conclusion after much deliberation, which she whispered to Saitou so Ryoma and his group wouldn’t hear it. 

“Yes. With so many unpredictable factors at play, we need to pull back and reassess the situation... Assuming they let us go...” 

“Yes... But we can’t afford for either of us to die here. With Sir Gaius dead, either of us dying would strike a blow to the Empire’s war potential. And if that happens...” 

“The surrounding countries and occupied territories would see this as an opportunity to rebel.” 

That was the price the Empire had to pay for conquering their neighbors with brute force. It was obvious that if the Empire were to lose its superior strength, the oppressed citizens and nobles under their control would rise up in revolt. Several thoughts ran through Shardina’s and Saitou’s minds. 

“If you want to retreat, feel free to. I don’t mind.” Ryoma’s words swayed the stalemate. 

“Fool...” Saitou responded to Ryoma’s words promptly. “We have no reason to withdraw here! We’ll be taking you, and those women, to the capital!” 

“Oh? You’re gonna risk your life to capture us?” Ryoma smiled coldly at Saitou’s shout. 

Ryoma could already see Shardina and Saitou had lost the will to fight. 

“I can tell by your eyes that you have no intent to lose your lives here.” 

Eyes were more honest than words. One’s gaze and gestures, the glint in their eyes, were windows into a person’s heart and intent. Just like Saitou could tell Sara was resolved to fight to the death from the look in her eyes, Ryoma could read into Saitou’s intentions. 

“So what are you getting at? Isn’t your objective to kill us?” 

“Well, yeah, that’s my intent, but... look at this situation.” Ryoma answered Shardina’s question with a shrug. 

I knew it... He got himself caught so he could kill us. No wonder he was so docile... 

A chill ran down Shardina’s spine. This was the anxiety Shardina had been feeling for a while now; the dread an animal feels when the murderous intent of a predator is fixed upon it. 

It’s certainly a viable method. We would assume he’s only running, and wouldn’t expect him to try and strike back against us. 

And this was the end result. The majority of her soldiers were spread out in the forest, and all those stationed in the camp were killed by the spell; had it not been for Saitou’s quick thinking, Shardina would have died in the surprise attack, too. 

But this situation... It’s three to two in their favor. He might be able to kill us if he were to use these girls as discardable pawns. Why is he telling us to run... Is it a trap? 

Shardina knew full well what kind of person the boy smirking coldly in front of her was. He would always put his own survival first, and he would not hesitate to take any measure, no matter how vile, to ensure that survival. This boy may have said he’d spare them, but she’d never believe it. 

“I see... You don’t want to kill them.” Saitou whispered, and Shardina’s eyes opened wide in shock. 

He didn’t want to kill them. But who was “them?” It couldn’t have been Saitou and Shardina, so that only left the girls. 

“Yeah. These two are willing to put down their lives for me.” Ryoma turned his gaze to Sara and Laura. “So no matter how much killing you two here would up my chances at surviving in the long run, I can’t sacrifice these girls so readily to do it.” 

Self-interest. Affection. Those words were a mixture of many emotions mingled together. 

I see, so if he were to use them as a shield... No, that’s impossible in this situation. And I can’t see this man putting their lives ahead of his own. 

It just meant he valued these faithful sisters’ lives more than killing Saitou and Shardina— in no way was this supposed to mean he prioritized them over his own survival. 

“I don’t think we have much of a choice here, Your Majesty...” 

Saitou’s words matched Shardina’s thoughts on the matter. Think as she might, there was no other way out but this one. 

“Fine... We’ll retreat. Saitou, put away your sword.” 

Hearing Shardina’s words, Ryoma gave an order to the sisters. 

“Laura, Sara, pull back.” 

The two put away their swords at Ryoma’s order, rushing to his side. They were intent on serving as Ryoma’s shield at a moment’s notice, should Shardina try to attack. 

“No need to be so high-strung. I swear on my name as the Empire of O’ltormea’s first princess that we will retreat from this place.” 

Shardina’s words may have been honest, but the sisters didn’t so much as stir. They simply gazed at her sharply. 

“Sorry.” Ryoma apologized to Shardina for the sisters’ attitudes. 

That wasn’t to say Ryoma wasn’t wary and vigilant even now. He wasn’t foolish or gullible enough to blindly believe the enemy’s words at this point in the game. 

“Well, no matter. We’ll retreat from here, but our pursuit of you will not end here. You do realize that, yes?” 

That much was obvious. Shardina was only relinquishing the chance to capture Ryoma here because the current situation put her at a disadvantage. Put conversely, if Shardina’s dozens of soldiers were present, they wouldn’t be making the choice to retreat. 

“Obviously. I’m a criminal for all you’re concerned, after all.” Ryoma said calmly. 

There wasn’t a trace of regret or fear in his eyes. 

“But I’m not going to roll over and let you catch me. I don’t think killing the geezer or trying to kill you were the wrong things to do, either. So if you intend to come after me, be prepared to lay down your lives.” 

“Did you commit crimes back in Japan, too?” Saitou asked, honestly curious. 

People who’d just been summoned from Earth to this world didn’t acclimate to its rules so easily. This was a world of survival of the fittest, where might made right, and there was no such lenient idea of ‘human rights’ to shield people from that nature. One would have to be strong if they didn’t want to be trampled upon, even if it meant stomping out others to do it. 

That was something Saitou only realized years after being summoned by Gaius and being thrown into a battlefield he never wished to be in, forced to fight through mud and blood. Life on Earth and this world were simply so far removed. And that was why he was suspicious upon seeing Ryoma’s line of thinking, since he hadn’t even been in this world for a whole week. 

“Huh? Crimes? I guess I took a piss outside once or twice, but that’s about it.” 

‘Crime’ was a word that could mean many things in different contexts. If one were to be extreme enough about it, crossing the street at a red light was certainly a crime. But that wasn’t what Saitou meant. 

“No, I meant more heavy crimes. Like... murder.” 

Those words made Ryoma exclaim in exasperation. Ryoma only ever saw himself as a normal high school student, so that was a natural reaction. 

“You say some screwed up things, you know...? I’m just an average high schooler. I have some experience in martial arts, yeah, but that doesn’t mean I have a criminal record!” 

“Then why? How could you kill people so easily? Aren’t you afraid?” 

“...Let me ask you, then.” Ryoma said after pausing for thought. “Should I worry or care for someone who tried to infringe on my rights so much that they put themselves at risk over it?” After regarding the surprise in Saitou’s face, Ryoma continued. “This is what I think: you’re free to try and take advantage of me, and I’m free to defend myself. I’m not dumb enough to think that if I hit someone they won’t try to hit back, though. And it’s exactly because I know they’ll hit back that I try not to hit anyone, unless I’m prepared for them to retaliate... And when I’m resolved to kill anyone who dared pick a fight with me.” 

As Ryoma spoke, his eyes shone with a strong light. The only thing that enabled a normal high schooler like Ryoma to kill Gaius was the strength of his heart. He believed in his justice ardently from the bottom of his heart. And in many ways, it was the most haughty ideology of all... But it was the most kind of all at the same time. 

“But, anyway... We really don’t have the time to sit around discussing my life philosophy. Laura.” He jerked his chin in the direction of the tent’s entrance. “If we keep talking, the other soldiers might return to camp. I’ll be crossing the border.” 

Laura stayed at the tent’s entrance, keeping Shardina and Saitou in check. They didn’t trust her words entirely. 

“Fine. Go on, then. But remember this: now that we know what you look like, you will never step foot in the Empire’s borders again.” Shardina said, her gaze turning sharp. “And you’d do well to run as hard and far as you can. The western continent will belong to the Empire before long. And when it does, you won’t have anywhere left to live in peace.” 

Shardina’s words were like a dagger thrown in Ryoma’s direction, as he made his way out of the tent, accompanied by Sara. 

“Is that right... Guess I’ll have to find my way back home before that happens, then.” And with that, Ryoma disappeared into the forest without a word, not bothering to look back at her...