Chapter 32 – Fiminan Day One

“Amazing! It’s very lively, isn’t it?”

“Uwaaaa—–hhhh!!”

Standing in front of the main street, Mars, whose eyes were shining, and Akari, excitedly cried out at the sight of the lively crowd.

The stalls lining up the streets were constantly calling out to customers, while the people passing by were full of smiles.

“Following the Royal Capital and Manrinia, Fiminan is the largest city in the Kingdom of Rideiran.”

“Counting the previous purification, there are only 2 places left of the tainted lands. First, we will go to a village called Fuyune, which is located in the southernmost part of the continent, and after purifying it, we will be heading to the harbor town Manrinia last. Fuyune and Manrinia are separated by a huge distance, and there are only small villages along the way, so we will be doing the final procurement of goods here in Fiminan. We will also change the horses pulling the carriage, so we will be staying here until the day after tomorrow in consideration of the time it takes to procure supplies.”

“Heeey, Yuto, look!! This is so cute!!”

“You’re right. It looks good on Akari.”

“Really?”

“…………”

Syltina stared daggers at the free-spirited Akari, who ignored Tedla and Syltina’s explanations.

“Ahh, bear with it, Sylti.”

“I know.”

“If you know, then, let’s leave the sword alone, hmm?”

“You’re right.”

Alhart used a convincing smile as he tried to persuade Syltina, but it took her 5 minutes to let go of the sword.

“For the time being, you can act at your own discretion, but please make sure that Al, Kuro, or I must always be by the Saintess’ side before she goes exploring.”

“Why? Won’t it be fine with just Yuto?”

“We are your escorts. Even if Yuto-san is around, it doesn’t mean we can just leave your side……. Oh, whatever. Don’t mind it, we’ll just follow after you.”

Syltina, who gave up trying to explain politely, sighed and said, haphazardly.

“Then, today I’ll be the one tailing the Saintess, so I’ll count on Sylti to take care of the horses and the lodging.”

“Okay. Kuro, go along with the Saintess, too.”

“Understood.”

Quickly deciding everyone’s tasks, Syltina sat on the driver’s seat of the horse-drawn carriage.

“Ah, umm, is it alright if I go together with Syltina-sama?”

“By all means. Then, let’s meet around here at noon.”

“Sure.”

By dividing them in such a way, all the members were able to spend the time as they pleased.

ーーー

ー

“……Hey!”

“……”

“Hey!!”

“……”

“Hey!! You there!! Alhart Roulans!!”

“Ah, Prince-sama, were you calling me? Did you need anything?”

“How many times do you think I’ve been calling you!? Are your ears only for show!?”

“That’s mean, Prince-sama. My name isn’t ‘hey’, you know? If you’re going to call me, call my name as you did earlier.”

“This b—!!!”

Glancing at Frackt, who angrily held a fist in front of him, Alhart shrugged and started walking again.

“Wait!! I’m not done talking yet!!”

“Ehhh, what a pain! I’ll give you a moment, then.”

“……What are you aiming for?”

“…………Heeeh?”

Alhart stopped and turned to look back at Frackt whose voice had dropped menacingly, as he asked.

“Why are you asking such a thing, Prince-sama?”

“…… I just remembered. When you took on the quest, you didn’t discuss the reward with Father. Why is that?”

“I’m surprised. Once you start thinking straight, you become quite reliable, after all.”

“Don’t dodge the question!!”

Alhart acts unnaturally surprised as Frackt closes the distance between them.

“You’re both strange monsters!! What the hell are you planning!?”

“Haha…… monsters, huh.”

Narrowing his eyes at Frackt’s accusation, Alhart smiles and leans forward.

“……!!!”

Their noses almost touching, Alhart looks Frackt straight in the eyes, and smiles as he says,

“It’s foolish to try to intimidate this monster with those words, Prince-sama. It’s like you’re asking me to eliminate you right here and now.”

“Wha…”

“Can’t imagine it? It’s better not to know than foolishly sticking your nose into other people’s business and losing your life over it.”

“I am this country’s Prince, you know……?”

“I’ve also said this before, but that doesn’t matter to me. If you get in the way, then, you’re out.”

“If… if I disappear, you think Akari would still be able to do the purification!?”

“Isn’t Yuto-kun there? The Saintess is currently devoted to that guy.”

“You think Father would…… You think the King would stay quiet about this!?!”

“By the time everything ends, he’d have no choice, but to shut up.”

“Eh?”

“Just kidding!!”

“Hah?”

Frackt dumbly raises his voice at Alhart, whose serious tone and expression until now completely changes into a silly one.

“I was just kidding, Prince-sama. The request that came to us this time isn’t from anyone in this country. After safely completing the purification journey, we will be receiving a large reward from them.”

“They’re not from this country……?”

“Yes. Well, I really can’t get into details, but we’re supposed to escort the Saintess properly until the purification ends and after that, we won’t even press for being unfairly rewarded. Don’t tell anyone, okay?”

“……”

“Well, the part about us having no obligation to protect you and the others is true, so make sure you don’t die until then.”

“……”

“Just think about it, Prince-sama. The Dipterous Sword is just a guild. We don’t have the power to take on a country.”

“……I guess you’re right.”

“Yeah, yeah. Oh look, the Saintess and the others are already getting far from us. Keep walking!”

Alhart pats Frackt’s back and pushes him to walk.

“Was it okay?”

“Whaaaaaaat is?”

Tyrtinkle, who took on the form of a hawk, asks as she sits next to Alhart, who watched as Frackt caught up with Akari, Yuto, and Mars, who were walking ahead.

“Won’t that person be suspicious with that level of deception?”

“Well, unless the prince is an idiot, who doesn’t know anything about how the world works, and doesn’t think, then I’ll definitely be suspicious.”

“Then, why?”

“What do you suppose the Prince can do if he suspects us of planning something? Loudly condemn us? Or stop us by brute force?”

“That is……”

“It’s impossible either way. What proof does he have to accuse us? To begin with, he was the one who confirmed with me that he didn’t have any proof, so, too bad. My performance might’ve been poor, but he was still deceived. Although he was clearly suspicious, the reasons behind those suspicions are vague. I was able to solve it by telling him ‘the request didn’t come from someone inside the country’. If that’s the case, then blaming us is unnecessary. Then, would he use brute force? He definitely can’t. Didn’t he agree when I said we were ‘just a guild’? He doesn’t know how much power we have, or how much influence we have in the world. It’s not us who’d be pushed around by that dud.”

Suddenly narrowing his eyes, Alhart continues.

“No matter how many obstacles come our way at this time, the plan has already come to a point where it can’t be stopped. It’s already too late by the time the people of this country realize that we’re planning something. The Prince should have felt something was off when we took on the request.”

If they weren’t able to do that much, then, from that time on, they would’ve already run out of ways to save this country, Alhart smiled.

“Well, no matter how it plays out, this country is far from saving anyway.”

The Dipterous Sword already set their eyes on them.

There is no way to be saved.

“The things that have been moving behind the scenes are gradually coming to the surface. By the time it’s out, only then will the people notice. The timing would be too late since we would’ve placed them in the worst possible condition already.”

“Seems exciting, doesn’t it, master?”

“Yeah, it’s exciting. Look closely, Tyr. It’s in this current country that human desires and aspirations have been gathered together to become fertilizer. It’s a downfall created by their own negligence and error. They are undoubtedly paying for their mistakes and getting their just deserts. It’s so ridiculous that you can only laugh.”

Alhart laughed, his amber-colored eyes reflecting how much he is enjoying.

“For us, humans are ridiculous and funny at all times.”

“Ah, well, from the Mazoku’s* standpoint, then us humans might actually seem that way to you.”

From the wryly grinning Alhart’s line of sight was Akari who seemed to be arguing with a man.

“Ahh, the Saintess sure didn’t lose time in doing something again……”

Alhart covered his eyes with one hand and looked at the heavens as he heard the angry screaming voices. Dejectedly sighing, he heads to Akari’s location.

“Humans are ridiculous and funny, and yet we love them no matter what.”

Tyrtinkle whispered, her words never reaching anyone as they were carried away by the wind and disappeared into the sky.

Notes:

*Mazoku – literally “Demon race”, but I’m keeping the Japanese name so they won’t be confused with the demons (“mamono”) that Syltina and the others are killing.