Ch.311Chapter 311 – Jealousy and Inferiority Complex

It was decided that we would work with the Princess Faction.

However, that didn’t immediately solve all our problems.

“I’m glad to be working with you all, but there’s one more hurdle we need to overcome.”

“Convincing the other members of the Princess Faction, right?”

The princess nodded at my words.

Of course, with Gabriella as the leader and Archery on our side, I didn’t think persuasion itself would be difficult.

But that didn’t mean we could just force our way through recklessly.

“Some might argue that we should work under the Princess Faction’s command.”

“…To be honest, that would be the easiest way to convince them.”

Naturally, if they gained useful subordinates or allies, that would be beneficial for them.

But if that happened, we might end up being held here by the resistance even after this situation was resolved.

Unfortunately, for us who needed to quickly move on to our next destination, that was unacceptable.

Soon, Gabriella took a slight breath and spoke quietly.

“But I promise. I won’t make you work under the Princess Faction’s command.”

“Will that be alright?”

“After finally securing your help, if I can’t even accommodate your needs, I’d be unworthy of being called a princess.”

Gabriella answered lightly.

She looked more at ease, probably because her biggest concern had been resolved.

“So I won’t allow anything that might hold you back.”

“That’s appreciated.”

The princess bowed her head at Sia’s words.

Then she carefully addressed us.

“And separate from what we discussed earlier, there’s something else I need your help with.”

“What is it?”

“A strategy meeting.”

The princess said quietly.

“As you know, we’re going to be at a severe disadvantage. To overcome this, we need to formulate a proper strategy.”

“But since we won’t be under the Princess Faction’s command, we need to determine how the strategy will work and how we’ll move.”

The princess nodded at Sia’s words.

This was definitely something where our help was needed.

“So, I’m sorry to ask, but I was hoping someone could join me for the strategy meeting.”

“Then I should go.”

It seems they recognize me as our party’s leader.

However, someone immediately stopped me.

“No, Kay. You don’t need to attend the meeting.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’ll go.”

Sera said quietly.

“As you know, we have a lot to prepare for destroying the Soul-Absorbing Formation. There are others still in the midst of preparations, so it would be better if I went.”

Sera said this, but she must have a lot to prepare as well.

However, she was looking at me with a determined expression.

Slightly worried, I quietly asked.

“Will you be alright?”

“Yes. I’ve already calculated what I need to prepare. I can spare some time.”

Sera answered.

But I was a bit concerned about whether Sera would speak up well in a meeting setting.

And as if reading my thoughts, Eve stepped forward and said.

“I’ll go too, Kay.”

Then she smiled and continued.

“Sera and I have already discussed some strategies. I’ll go along and talk about the operation.”

Both of them had determined expressions.

After thinking for a moment, I quietly nodded.

“Just don’t overdo it.”

“Of course not.”

Eve said this, then looked at me and added.

“Kay, don’t worry about us and focus on your own preparations.”

“Understood.”

I wanted to go too, but I was also pressed for time with my own tasks.

It would be best to accept their goodwill.

“Should I go along just in case?”

“Only if you’ll have enough time to prepare afterward.”

“Then I’ll go.”

Vanilla, whom I thought would stay quiet, also volunteered.

With our participants decided, the princess bowed her head and said.

“Thank you.”

“If we’ve agreed to work together, this much is expected.”

The princess nodded at my words.

“It’s almost time for our people to gather. I’m sorry, but…”

“I understand. Please take care of these three.”

“I will.”

Eve, Sera, and Vanilla moved to Gabriella’s side at my words.

And just as the four of them were about to leave to attend the meeting…

“Ah, I almost forgot.”

“Huh?”

“Come along. You need to testify. And provide more useful information.”

“P-please spare me!!”

With a small voice saying “I won’t kill you,” Vanilla took custody of Cusia from Gigas.

And so Cusia was also dragged to the meeting room.

“…What about us?”

“Now we need to prepare.”

I said this looking at Beatrice, and she nodded.

Soon, Beatrice began drawing a magic circle.

“Just wait ten minutes.”

I nodded at Beatrice’s words.

And to not waste the time Beatrice mentioned, I immediately looked at Sia.

“Sia, sorry, but there’s something I want to ask.”

“It’s about the Dragon Slayer, I presume.”

Sia quietly nodded, seeming to have guessed what I was going to ask.

“You knew.”

“I figured you would ask.”

Sia said with a smile.

“So, what do you want to ask me? About those who have reached enlightenment, right?”

“…I was thinking about what you told me, that those who have reached enlightenment can imbue their swords with intent.”

Sia nodded at my words.

“You’re curious about what’s imbued in his sword.”

“…I thought it might be a clue. It seemed like something I should know.”

“A clue, huh.”

Sia responded somewhat awkwardly to my words.

But she quietly closed her eyes.

Soon, her lips opened quietly.

“Revenge, resentment, emptiness.”

And then, with the word “and,” Sia looked at me and said.

“Jealousy.”

“Jealousy?”

“He is jealous of you.”

“Why?”

Sia opened her eyes and looked at me.

“Perhaps your appearance stimulates an inferiority complex he hasn’t been able to discard.”

“Inferiority complex?”

“Beyond that, I don’t know. I would need to know his past directly. That’s all I can tell you. That’s all I could sense from crossing swords with him at that time.”

After saying this, Sia quietly continued.

“Beyond this, you’ll probably have to find the answer yourself. You can’t fully understand his sword just by hearing about it.”

“…But understanding it seems like the key to victory.”

I quietly responded to Sia’s words, and she smiled and said.

“I’m sorry. But even if I told you, you would only understand it intellectually, not truly. In that state, you can’t properly read his sword.”

After saying this, Sia smiled and continued.

“Still, as a service, let me tell you one thing I felt.”

Sia pointed at me and said.

“You can find the answer.”

“Really?”

At my words, she pointed to the left side of her chest with her right thumb and said.

“The answer is already here within you.”

I frowned slightly at Sia’s words.

I suspected she might be deliberately speaking cryptically just to sound cool.

Just as I was about to question her, Beatrice’s voice was heard.

“…Hey, helmet guy, I’m ready.”

“Just a moment.”

Looking back at Sia, I saw she was smiling.

And looking into her eyes, I knew she wasn’t joking.

“…Is this one of those ‘you must attain enlightenment yourself’ things?”

“Something like that. I’m sorry if it’s making things difficult for you.”

Sia said this, then pointed behind me with her finger.

“For now, face the Dragon Slayer in your memories more.”

“Alright.”

“And don’t think about resting today.”

Sia looked at me and said.

“When you come out, I’ll personally be your opponent.”

Sia gave a slightly competitive smile.

“We’ll have a proper training session.”

“Let’s go. For the sake of those buying you time, you won’t have any rest today.”

“You’re right.”

I quietly nodded at Sia’s words.

I prepared my weapons, ready to face the Dragon Slayer in my memories.

+

Meanwhile, on a coast in the Kingdom of Firenchena.

Hakan had arrived with his holy knights at a place where countless ship fragments were floating.

“It should be arriving soon.”

Hakan spoke leisurely at the shore.

And looking at Hakan, one holy knight quietly asked.

“…Captain Hakan, why are we here?”

“I’ve come to retrieve that thing.”

“That thing?”

“Everyone here should know. Are you new?”

“No, but this is my first time here.”

Ah, this guy came here with me.

Hakan, realizing his mistake, quietly spoke while looking at the shore.

“Considering the mission I’ve been given this time, I need as many cards as possible.”

“Cards, you say?”

“Firepower. You could call them weapons too.”

As Hakan finished speaking, the sea began to churn.

Some holy knights began to enter combat stance, but Hakan raised a hand to stop them.

“Captain.”

“It’s fine. Watch.”

Hakan answered calmly.

And soon, the sea exploded.

A large pillar with a deep blue-white body shot up from the sea.

The pillar, stretching high into the sky, eventually curved toward where Hakan was standing.

Only then did the holy knights realize that there was a head attached to the end of the pillar.

“Sea dragon…”

Some holy knights again entered combat stance.

But Hakan just grinned and approached the sea dragon.

“It’s dangerous, Captain!”

“What’s dangerous? I said it’s fine.”

Hakan said, extending his hand.

The sea dragon docilely brought its nose to Hakan’s hand, and some of the holy knights finally spoke in bewilderment.

“…Captain? Why is the sea dragon…?”

“This is that weapon I mentioned.”

Hakan grinned and pointed to a certain spot on the sea dragon.

A sinister purple gem was embedded in the sea dragon’s forehead.

“That gem is…”

“A very convenient gem.”

After saying this, Hakan grinned and reached into his pocket.

An identical sinister purple gem appeared in his hand.

“Once that’s embedded, this creature only listens to external commands.”

“I see.”

“With this, even the Dragon Slayer would have a hard time.”

Hakan looked at the sea dragon with satisfaction.

Indeed, the sea dragon was a powerful monster.

In the sea, it was a monster comparable to dragons.

So even the Dragon Slayer couldn’t easily defeat…

“…Um, if Lord Idea doesn’t come near the sea, isn’t this useless?”

The holy knight cautiously asked.

Honestly, while the sea dragon was impressive firepower, it didn’t seem likely that the Dragon Slayer would willingly engage in naval combat with it.

At the knight’s words, Hakan briefly wore a blank expression.

Then he chuckled.

“Captain Hakan?”

“Sorry. I didn’t think you’d ask something so obvious.”

Hakan snickered as if to say “do you think I wouldn’t know that?”

And he confidently said.

“Don’t worry. I’m not using this creature without reason. Of course I have a plan.”

“I see.”

“So don’t worry. Now, first we need to move the sea dragon.”

Hakan began preparing something, saying he had come prepared for this.

The holy knights watched him, seemingly a bit excited.

And one holy knight seemed to have decided to use this opportunity to ask a question.

“Excuse me, Captain Hakan.”

“What now?”

“Those black knights, what exactly are they? They haven’t said a word, and they’re wearing bizarre helmets…”

“Ah, those?”

Hakan looked at the black knights who had come with him.

They were new forces he had received from the regent when coming to the Kingdom of Firenchena.

“I haven’t heard them say a single word since we got here. It feels like…”

“Like?”

“Like looking at those creepy Red Holy Knights.”

At those words, Hakan grinned.

Thinking the knight had surprisingly good intuition, Hakan spoke again.

“Nothing to worry about. They’re our new forces. Think of them as new weapons.”

“New weapons?”

This guy really doesn’t know anything.

Hakan thought this but still grinned.

“Well, you’ll see. And it’ll be quite interesting.”

Hakan said with a grin.

“When you find out what those things are made of.”

The holy knight shuddered slightly, feeling like he had heard something he shouldn’t have.