「So you’re just touring the capital like a tourist… What exactly do you want?」
As expected, the fortress was basically closed for business.
The soldiers on guard duty practically bent over backward at the witch’s allure, and that was the end of the tour.
I’ll send a report, or rather, a complaint, to the grand general about this.
To think they’d fold just because of big breasts. How shameful.
A real man should be able to proudly declare that shape matters more than size.
And so, on the ride back in the carriage, I couldn’t help but ask the question out loud.
「The main business was settled on the first day, so the rest is just sightseeing, I suppose.」
「You’re being awfully blunt～」
「They say the shame of travel is left behind on the road… To be honest, I simply don’t want to stay in the Republic right now while everyone’s making a fuss over the succession issue.」
That’s not leaving shame behind… but I guess it fits?
「Succession issue?」
「Yes. In the Republic, the leader is chosen by vote from the citizens, are you aware?」
「I know that much.」
「Exactly. That means the current leader cannot simply name a successor.」
「Ah～. I get it now.」
If the nominee doesn’t get enough votes, they won’t become leader.
「Then why not just name someone and rig the vote?」
「Of course we do.」
「You do it?!」
What is the election commission even doing?!
Do they refuse UN election observers or something?
Since there’s no such organization in this world, fraud runs rampant.
Even if there were, they’d probably still cheat.
「It’s only natural. But the other side does the same. As a result, the number of votes sometimes exceeds the actual population… It’s happened before. That’s why fraud is strictly punished.」
「I see.」
In that case, there aren’t many options left.
The easiest is to sabotage the rival candidates.
Dig up scandals, exploit weaknesses, anything to plant a negative image.
「So right now inside the Republic, it’s all about talent hoarding and mutual sabotage?」
「And assassination evasion, I suppose.」
「They come directly?」
「If the opponent disappears, it’s literally over.」
「So it’s basically victory.」
No thanks.
I finally understand how fortunate I am to be the carefree third son.
Lately the military officers really hate me, though.
Assassination… that’s not happening, right?
「So you’re planning to stay abroad for a while?」
「Yes. After this, I’ll visit the vassal states… and inspect the border regions.」
「You really just want to run away.」
The witch let out a weary sigh.
「……To me, the succession issue is nothing more than a trivial matter. The problem is that neither of the two leading candidates gets along well with me. If either of them becomes the leader, I would have no choice but to flee somewhere.」
So that’s why she mentioned wanting to defect or something like that.
「Then why not come to Univance?」
「……In truth, it is one of the possibilities I am considering.」
So it’s just one option among many.
「Then the top candidate would still be the Empire?」
「One of the candidates, yes. But going there would probably mean more battlefields than research opportunities.」
「You could secure plenty of lively slaves, though?」
「If that were the only appeal, it would be a little…」
Maybe it’s better not to ask what she plans to do with the slaves she collects.
She quietly turned her gaze out the window.
In the glass, the witch’s reflection was watching me.
I shifted my line of sight to avoid meeting her eyes.
「You’re not falling for it.」
「My wife already told me how to deal with it.」
「……All my little tricks are being neutralized one after another. Your companion really is exceptional.」
Marisan gave a small shrug and exhaled deeply.
Noie, still clinging to my left arm, was probably doing something.
Every now and then she twitched and shot a sharp glare at the witch, so there was no doubt.
「My goal this time was Noie-sama… but it seems impossible to take her back with me, so I’ll give up on that.」
「I’d appreciate it if you did. Just leave the country quietly like a good guest.」
「Ara. Such cold words to a beauty like me.」
「The real beauty is sitting right next to me.」
There is no woman more beautiful than Noie in my eyes.
「What an unpleasant man.」
「I only speak the truth.」
Besides, it’s only natural to stay wary of someone who keeps reaching into their robes.
Noticing my gaze, the witch slowly pulled her hand away from the hidden dagger.
「Well… if there is someone in another country who can satisfy me, that would be fine too.」
「What are your conditions?」
「Abundant funds and someone who is strong in that department, more or less.」
「You really are honest with yourself.」
「Yes. Otherwise it would normally be difficult for a woman to rise in status.」
I didn’t sense any lie in her quiet chuckle.
I recall that Univance is one of the countries on this continent with relatively little male dominance over women.
It’s partly because there aren’t enough hands, so women have to work too.
「I’ll leave finding someone strong to you. As for abundant funds… I could arrange that.」
「……」
「If you promise not to do anything strange to Noie, one of the wealthiest nobles in the Kingdom of Univance could take care of you.」
「……And in return?」
「Mm～」
I know it’s impossible, but…
「Time reversal, maybe. I wish there was magic like that.」
「You want to go back to the past?」
「Yeah.」
「Why?」
The answer is obvious.
「I want to fix all the mistakes I made back then. That’s all.」
「……Including your own?」
What’s with that loaded question? Don’t raise weird flags like that.
「I don’t think I made any huge mistakes, though. Still, I’d like to check what kind of reckless things the old me got up to before I lost my memories.」
If I find out I did something terrible, I’d want to correct it.
「Fufufu… Ahahaha…」
「Yes?」
「No, excuse me. Indeed, if you could go back to the past, it would be wonderful. Regarding the matter of defecting to Univance… I will consider it.」
「Got it.」
-0-
After finishing her stay in the Kingdom of Univance, Marisan traveled in her private carriage.
She rolled around on the mattress-covered interior and stared up at the ceiling, exhaling slowly.
Every single spell she had tried, repeatedly, had been completely neutralized by that dragon slayer.
That alone proved the other woman’s skill far surpassed her own.
「How interesting.」
For a woman called a witch to be toyed with in her own specialty.
She wanted to land at least one solid blow… that desire now ruled her heart.
「So where do you always come from?」
「Just normally.」
「I see.」
「I have come to hear your answer, Marisan-sama.」
At some point, a man dressed entirely in black had appeared.
He fixed his cold gaze on her.
A man with eyes like a dragon.
「Fine. I accept your offer.」
「I understand.」
The witch raised her index finger toward the man who bowed respectfully.
「But there is one condition.」
「Name it.」
She sat up and glared at him.
At the man who called himself a dragon priest.
「That woman from Univance, I will be the one to kill her. That is my only condition.」
「I have heard you clearly, my comrade.」
The man in black let out a low chuckle, kukuku.
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