「Well, I know who your employer is, but why did you attack?」
I asked after wrapping up the last attacker, whom I had kicked away, in a straw roll.
「T-that is something we do not know either…… We were simply ordered to bring Stisia.」
「I see. Well, knowing that much is enough.」
「Master, sorry for keeping you waiting. I have borrowed soldiers from Archbishop Lenos.」
「Thank you, Shia. Well, you all will be protected by the church from now on. Do not worry, as there is no danger to your lives.」
「Then, Apostle-sama, leave the rest to us.」
「Thank you. I am going to provoke them, and the church might be targeted, so please do your best.」
「Yes! Currently, Hero-sama is with us in shifts!」
「Is that so? Those three are working hard……」
I have not heard about them recently, but they are training in the toughest dungeon in this world, so they should be fine.
「Well then, Shia, let us go.」
Saying this, I lifted Shia up and moved across the rooftops.
「However, is that King an idiot?」
「Hmm, I do not know until we talk to him. But at least he is not incompetent, is he? He did drive out Amilia’s parents, after all.」
「That is true.」
「Well, if he uses underhanded methods or sneak attacks, it does not matter much.」
However, I rushed out impulsively, so what should I do…….
「Hey, Shia. What should we do?」
「What do you mean?」
「Well, we have been investigating various things. I wonder if it is okay to rush in like this.」
「Yes. It is a shallow thought, but. In this situation, how about declaring war openly and crushing them with Master’s power?」
「Seriously?」
「Yes. Declare war, have Master create a replica of the Holy Sword, and assert Amilia-sama’s right to succession. Then, the King, who does not possess the Holy Sword, will either head toward the original Holy Sword. Or, if he is hiding it here, he will bring it out to claim legitimacy.」
「Ah, certainly. Since Amilia is the Saintess of the Holy Sword, he would panic if such a figure from a fairy tale, so deeply ingrained in the people, appeared. But this is the first time I have heard that the Saintess of the Holy Sword has the right of succession.」
When I said that, she made a very strange face.
「The founder of this country was the wielder of the Holy Sword. The fact that successive Kings only borrowed their governance is something people of this country learn by a certain age.」
「Wait a minute!? This is the first time I have heard of this!」
「Eh…… Were you not researching history books, Master……?」
「I was researching! But it was not written in the history books of the Demon Realm.」
「Is that so? Then it is written in the materials we acquired today.」
「Is that so…… But with just that, the nobles will not submit, right?」
「Yes. The nobles currently siding with the current King are those who rose after I was born.」
In that case, there are few nobles from over 350 years ago, aren’t there?
「Master…… Could you please stop trying to guess my age? I have not even reached 500 years old, you know?」
Shia pouted as she said this.
「Sorry…… Then, if Amilia appeared with the Holy Sword, even if it were a fake, how many nobles would submit?」
「Probably more than half would become our allies…… Also, if the tide turns against them, many new nobles would likely defect to our side.」
「I see…… Hmm, this is a dilemma……」
「What is wrong?」
「Well, if we conquer them, we have to govern them, right?」
「Indeed.」
「But I also have a life in another world.」
「That is true.」
「I can probably travel back and forth, but…… Gah~ It is so troublesome!!」
「You just have to 『Do your best!』 there.」
「You are right……」
「Look, while we are talking, we have already arrived at the castle.」
When Shia pointed, the castle came into view. Oh well, let it be.
I kicked the ground hard in front of the moat and crossed the castle walls using wind magic.
「For now, shall we land where that light is on?」
「Yes, that seems like the best spot.」
We broke through the window and landed, meeting eyes with a stout middle-aged man inside.
「Who goes there!!」
「Um…… Excuse us.」
「Hello, Foolish King. It has been a while.」
Shia descended with a grin. After politely bowing, she returned to my side.
「Master, that fellow is the Foolish King, Baldan.」
「Please stop calling me the Foolish King.」
「It cannot be helped……」
「Um, Baldan. Thank you for the assassins earlier.」
Perhaps realizing who I was, he stood up and shouted.
「You! Are you Stisia and her master, the merchant!!」
「Your hearing seems good.」
「Damn it, Stisia! Kill that fellow!!」
He took out some kind of brooch and started shouting.
「「…………」」
「I am ordering you! You are my slave, are you not!!」
He shouted again, but nothing happened.
「Shia, what is that?」
When I asked, Shia clapped her hands as if remembering something.
「Oh, right. That is what he used to make me subordinate.」
「Why do you not obey!!」
「No, because I hold the initiative.」
Saying this, Shia lifted the hem of her maid outfit and showed her stomach. My, how indecent.
「Look, this is the proof of Master’s love!」
「Wait a minute! I do not remember putting a slave crest there!!」
「Eh! I carved it myself!」
「Stop it!! ——Restore (Heal)!」
After healing the wound, she made a very bored face.
「I did it for Master’s sake!!」
「No, I do not have such tastes!!」
「Ugh…… Is an older woman no good? I am young among Elves!!」
「That is not the point!」
「You dare ignore me and act so familiarlyyyyyy!!」
Baldan, unable to get a word in, finally snapped.
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