Chapter 32: The Princess with Many Enemies
ㅤBefore departing, I heard from the Captain of the Guards that the journey from Neville to the neighboring Adneria Empire was scheduled to take about 10 days.
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ㅤ’That’s much faster than I expected!’
ㅤ
ㅤHonestly, I thought it would take twice as long. There were supposed to be celebratory parties for her marriage at every major inn along the way, and the carriages wouldn’t be traveling at full speed.
ㅤThat being said, they had already spent a considerable amount of time traveling to Neville, and it would take even more days to reach the Imperial Capital from the border. So, for Christina-sama and her entourage, it would still be a long journey.
ㅤThe carriage rhythmically progressed along the main road. Good, good, everything’s going smoothly.
ㅤ
ㅤ’It feels strange to leave Blood Territory~’
ㅤ
ㅤEven though I’m an adventurer, I’ve been cooped up in the territory. That town is too comfortable for an adventurer! In the first place, the dungeon, which is our hunting ground, is so full of content that it’s hard to conquer it all. As someone who loves games with a lot of replay value, I can now say that marrying into the Blood Ducal House was truly fortunate.
ㅤ
ㅤ”We will arrive at today’s inn shortly.”
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ㅤThe message from the soldiers was relayed. The sun was beginning to set. If someone was targeting us, we wanted to reach the inn before nightfall.
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ㅤ’Still, it’s reassuring that they’re coming to Neville, it feels like something Christina-sama would do~’
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ㅤHer character has changed somehow. I almost miss her harsh demeanor.
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ㅤWe are scheduled to meet up with the main bridal procession tomorrow afternoon. Until then, we will continue to escort Christina-sama with a small detachment.
ㅤ
ㅤ’Hehehe! Finally, I can reveal my true identity!’
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ㅤI can’t wait to see how she reacts when she sees me. However, things didn’t go quite as I had hoped.
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ㅤ”Eh!? I…… I don’t have to go to Christina-sama’s side!?”
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ㅤI wanted to be promoted from one of the many guards to her personal escort!
ㅤ
ㅤ”Ah. The current members are all elite guards, but we’re short on magicians. I want you to keep an eye on the entire building. A female soldier specializing in close combat and Edra are stationed near the room, so you can rest assured.”
ㅤ”Ah…… Yes.”
ㅤ
ㅤThe client’s instructions are absolute. Of course, I couldn’t say that I wanted to be in the room. Reluctantly, I stood on the roof of the inn and deployed my favorite magic lately, the automatic tracking attack magic. Several fluffy, white, cotton-like lights dimly illuminated the night.
ㅤ
ㅤ’Thanks to this, I haven’t had many opportunities to use flashy magic…… but I’ve come up with a handy technique~’
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ㅤThis was a slightly improved version of the magic I used when the monsters attacked Neville before. It automatically counter-attacks any offensive magic directed at me, and by simply looking at a target, it automatically chases and attacks it. Since the projectiles are already deployed, there’s no need for an attack motion, making it extremely fast.
ㅤ”It’s a waste to keep you as an adventurer. Don’t you want to become an officer?”
ㅤ
ㅤA soldier also on guard duty on the roof brought me a meal. Warm soup and bread. It was well-cooked, and the ingredients were soft and delicious.
ㅤ
ㅤ”This suits me better.”
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ㅤThe elite guards also praised it, making the meal taste even better. My self-esteem is going to skyrocket again!
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ㅤ”But, won’t this light reveal that we’re on guard?”
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ㅤSince I hadn’t informed them beforehand, many soldiers looked wary and frowned when they saw my magic, wondering what it was.
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ㅤ”We have this many people now…… it’s better if it serves as a deterrent.”
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ㅤChristina-sama’s safety is the top priority, even more so than catching the culprit.
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ㅤIt was a rather modest inn for royalty to stay at, but the innkeeper and the neighboring residents were bustling about, trying to provide the best hospitality they could on such short notice. From the guards’ perspective, they didn’t want to let anyone they didn’t know well near Christina-sama, but they couldn’t simply dismiss those who were trying to celebrate her departure. It seemed difficult to strike a balance, and I could see the struggle on the Captain of the Guards’ face.
ㅤ
ㅤ’That’s so like Christina-sama, isn’t it?’
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ㅤComing to Neville was partly to confuse the enemies targeting her…… that’s probably half true, but the other half is probably because she wanted to see Danna-sama. She loves events that involve everyone around her.
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ㅤ’Well, she is royalty~’
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ㅤThe night grew darker and darker. It was a new moon tonight. The light leaking from the inn’s windows and the faint glow of my magic stood out. The wind rustled the trees, and the sound of the soldiers walking on the dry ground during their patrols was clearly audible.
ㅤThat meant I was bored. When people are bored, they tend to overthink things.
ㅤ
ㅤ’I wonder who’s targeting Christina-sama~’
ㅤ
ㅤWell, I’ve heard stories about how she crushed young ladies who might become her rivals in love, and I’ve also heard about princesses from other countries who wanted to marry into the Empire. And there are nobles who are making a fuss about not wanting to be friendly with the Empire. So, there are more possibilities than I can count on both hands.
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ㅤ’Ah~ bored…… No, no, no! This is a challenge as an adventurer…… Just because I’m not good at sensing presences doesn’t mean I can let my guard down.’
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ㅤNo, I haven’t let my guard down. I’m properly watching for anything unusual. I am watching, but I’m a little uneasy about whether I’m fulfilling my duty. As I was reflecting on myself, I saw a small, glittering light from between the trees a short distance away.
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ㅤ’Huh!?’
ㅤ
ㅤI immediately whispered to the soldier who was also on guard duty on the same roof. He nodded with a tense expression.
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ㅤ’There it is!!!’
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ㅤThe soldier quickly jumped down to the ground, and I increased the number of projectiles and launched an attack at the mysterious light I had just spotted. However, since it’s automatic, I don’t really feel like I’m defeating anything.
ㅤBut this was the right thing to do.
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ㅤ”It’s a horde of monsters!!!”
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ㅤAs soon as one of the soldiers shouted, the magic soldier on guard raised his hand and used illumination magic. Good work.
ㅤSeveral tiger-like monsters, several large lizard-like monsters, and several large ape monsters began charging towards the room where Christina-sama was sleeping.
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ㅤ’I can see them!!!’
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ㅤThen all I have to do is defeat them automatically. The bullets of light began to fly around.
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ㅤ”Keep your distance!!!”
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ㅤThe Captain of the Guards’ voice reached us, shouting instructions to the soldiers who were about to confront the monsters.
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ㅤ’As expected!!!’
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ㅤThe bullets of light formed a straight line, taking down one monster here, another there. They pierced through the monsters’ bodies and then exploded one after another.
ㅤHowever, there might be a second wave, so the soldiers remained vigilant.
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ㅤ”It could be a diversion! Hurry to Christina-sama!!!”
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ㅤThis was an instruction for me. Forget about this side, go to that side. The attack was larger than I expected. The enemy was serious.
ㅤI ran across the rooftops, heading straight for Christina-sama’s room.
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ㅤ”Please step aside!”
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ㅤAs expected, I heard Edra and the female soldier’s voices coming from Christina-sama’s bedroom. There were also crashing and banging sounds of things being destroyed.
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ㅤ”Kyaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!”
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ㅤThis is bad!
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ㅤI quickly smashed the window and jumped into the room.
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ㅤ’Three enemies!’
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ㅤOne of them was already being restrained by the female soldier.
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ㅤ”Guah!”
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ㅤEdra, standing in front of the terrified and pale Christina-sama, stabbed the large man in the black hood in the leg with her right hand, spun around, punched him in the jaw with her left hand, and then finished him off with a flying roundhouse kick to the back of the head as he stumbled.
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ㅤ’That means this one!’
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ㅤThe remaining enemy was closing in on the black-haired maid on the opposite side of Christina-sama.
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ㅤ’These guys don’t know who Christina-sama is!?’
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ㅤOf course, now that I’m here, everything will be fine. I made my usual finger gun gesture, ready to blow them to smithereens.
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ㅤ”Catch them!!!”
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ㅤThe maid shouted loudly. Just as the enemy in the black hood was about to swing his dagger down at her.
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ㅤ”Eh!?”
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ㅤSo, I quickly closed my fingers and took a big step forward with my right foot. A pillar of ice encased the enemy, leaving only his head exposed.
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ㅤ”Guuu…… D*mn…… D*mn it!”
ㅤ”Shut up! Just answer what I ask!”
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ㅤThe maid glared fiercely at the frozen black hood. She wasn’t afraid, rather, she seemed angry. She was quite a strong-willed maid.
ㅤMeanwhile, Christina-sama was trembling and crying. Edra was gently comforting her.
ㅤThe Captain of the Guards also rushed in. It had only been about two or three minutes, but I could finally catch my breath. The Captain of the Guards seemed relieved by the maid’s composure.
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ㅤ’Huh!?’
ㅤ
ㅤThe maid brushed aside the Captain of the Guards’ restraint and approached the black hood.
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ㅤ”Who!? Tell me who hired you!”
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ㅤThe maid asked the frozen black hood with a strong tone, but there’s no way he would answer so easily……
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ㅤ”It was Feria-sama of the Adneria Empire.”
ㅤ”Eh!?”
ㅤ
ㅤHe said it! If he answered so easily, it’s rather suspicious…… a lie……? Feria-sama is the favored concubine of Victor-sama, the next emperor of the Adneria Empire, whom Christina-sama is about to marry.
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ㅤ”Victor-sama is not involved, is he?”
ㅤ”No. It was Feria-sama’s own decision.”
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ㅤThe maid didn’t seem to doubt the black hood’s answer at all.
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ㅤ’Speaking of which, this feeling……’
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ㅤThis sense of discomfort I had felt before.
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ㅤ”Ah……! Eh!?”
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ㅤI realized it. This was the feeling of brainwashing magic being activated.
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ㅤ’That means, this is Christina-sama!?’
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ㅤNo wonder I felt that Christina-sama had become more mellow. She’s a different person.
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ㅤIt seems that only she, disguised as Christina-sama, and the Captain of the Guards knew the truth in this room.
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ㅤ’To deceive the enemy, you have to start with your allies.’
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ㅤBut to think they’re using brainwashing magic again…… this is taboo, right……?
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ㅤ”You heard what he said, right?”
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ㅤWith irritated eyes, she looked at the Captain of the Guards as if to say, you know what to do, right!?
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ㅤ”Yes.”
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ㅤThe Captain of the Guards replied, summoned his subordinates, gave them urgent instructions, bowed his head, and then quickly left. He seemed unable to relax his stern expression. The wrinkles between his eyebrows seemed to be permanently etched.
ㅤAnd so, Christina-sama, disguised as the black-haired maid, gave instructions in a still-irritated voice to the other maids who were stunned.
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ㅤ”Christina-sama is tired. Prepare another room immediately…… Hurry up!”
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ㅤThe maids hurriedly started moving as they were told, and as for me,
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ㅤ’I feel sorry for Feria-sama…… She doesn’t know that she’s made an enemy of someone truly formidable……’
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ㅤI was idly thinking about such things.