Chapter 23: Princess of the Ruin

“…Stop.”

Click!

Rohan stared at the princess, one of her pupils transformed into a heart shape.

It was both alluring and ominous.

Scary, so scary.

And the mana converging into the bullet along with the skill wasn’t ordinary either.

Still, it didn’t seem like she was ready to pull the trigger immediately.

The princess just looked confused, and Rohan quickly assessed the situation.

She probably doesn’t have any companions… Did she not bring her sniper rifle along? Or is it behind the wall?

The fact that the princess wasn’t carrying her main weapon in hand was a huge relief in itself.

Even if the worst were to take place, that single condition drastically increased the chance of him returning safely.

“Okay, I’ve stopped. Lower your gun and let’s talk.”

The princess exuded a noble aura, reminiscent of Ichinose and Noa.

Deciding to match her tone, Rohan used polite speech with a cheerful heart.

“….”

But even after Rohan acted that way, the princess showed signs of hesitation but didn’t lower her gun.

That was the correct attitude.

Rohan had anticipated this. No matter how he approached her, she would be suspicious.

A person suddenly appeared out of nowhere, informed her about a tracking device, and then tried to leave without offering any further explanation? It would be impossible to determine if it was an act of goodwill.

I’d have pulled my gun first as well.

As Rohan nonchalantly popped another macaron into his mouth, replenishing his sugar levels, the princess broke the silence.

“Who are you?”

“First of all, I’m not the invited guest. And the ones who were supposed to come won’t be coming either.”

“You killed them.”

Nodding at the princess’ guess, agreeing readily, he replied in a refreshing tone,

“Well, that’s what happened.”

“…This isn’t a matter that can be dismissed so lightly.”

The princess snapped, and Rohan laughed as if amused.

The princess’ finger on the trigger trembled ever so slightly.

“Anyway, let’s pretend we never met. I waited, but no one came… Something like that?”

Rohan offered the macaron box once again, suggesting she have one, but the princess glanced at it briefly before glaring fiercely at Rohan.

“Why should I?”

“Learning of things you didn’t know before, like just now, will be beneficial.”

“….”

At Rohan’s words, the princess reflexively fiddled with the fingernail-sized tracking device.

“…I don’t understand.”

“How did you know about this device?”

“I just happen to know everything, including that.”

Rohan knew.

The princess’ mind must be spinning like a wildfire, grappling with unanswered questions.

“I’m sure you have many questions you wish you had the answers to.”

“!”

“Like, what exactly happened to the Elves who lived in the Tigrova Coniferous Forest?”

With intensity in her eyes, the princess radiated a fierce energy as she took a step closer to Rohan.

The muzzle of the gun was now at point-blank range.

“…Tell me everything you know.”

“I also need time to gather information.”

“So you’re saying you want me to let you go?”

“Yes. I’m a bit busy myself, you see.”

“You’re surprisingly brazen.”

“It’s necessary for survival.”

He had absolutely no intention of spoon-feeding the princess all the facts here and now.

Just as he had only revealed the existence of the tracking device, it was right to give her the information in small, digestible pieces.

“So, are you saying I should let a mysterious person go despite my curiosity?”

“I don’t see a problem. There are Elders who attach tracking devices and summon strange groups, aren’t there?”

“You know about the Elders too….”

Rohan didn’t bother answering that question.

He simply pointed out the princess’ occasional clumsiness, which she couldn’t hide despite her fierce facade.

“If it were me, I would have at least asked who the Elder was.”

“….”

The princess lacked this brazenness. And she wasn’t skilled at acting either.

That was why he couldn’t overload her with information.

Unnecessary confusion would cause her words and actions to become awkward and would only serve to arouse the suspicion of the Old Elves.

Slowly.

The conclusion he had to arrive at was simple.

Rohan needed time and the opportunity to kill those old men.

And when the opportunity came, if the princess didn’t fire her gun, it would be enough for Rohan.

“I didn’t mind leaving after I dealt with the guys you call guests.”

“And?”

“So the fact that I came here voluntarily should tell you a lot.”

“….”

“Whether I live or die after you pull that trigger, you will never get the opportunity to resolve your curiosity.”

The princess shut her mouth at those words.

Certain that the princess wouldn’t pull the trigger, Rohan pondered whether or not to buy some mineral water while chewing on another macaron.

Whooooosh—

Silence under the night sky, filled only by the sound of the wind.

The princess’ eyes returned to normal.

The gun’s barrel was slowly lowered towards the ground, and the concentrated mana dispersed.

“I’ll say it again. You’re brazen.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Sigh… Fine. I’ll let you go.”

“Are you sure?”

It was a ridiculous question, asking again after she had agreed to let him go.

However, it was the most important question in this situation.

Rohan remained still and waited to see what the princess would say.

“Don’t misunderstand… My decisions and intentions don’t require the Elders’ permission.”

“Is that so?”

“And if I want to do something, the Elders do it. If I don’t want to say something, they don’t have to. All decision-making power rests with me.”

Those words weren’t directed at Rohan.

It was a murmur to solidify her own will, a vow not to lose the last vestiges of her status.

Rohan quietly nodded in agreement.

In reality, those words were true. Originally, the Elders were in a position to obey the princess’ every command.

She’s aware that the situation is strange.

That was enough. It was a satisfactory answer.

The princess needed to hold onto that spirit until the very end.

Click.

Putting her gun back in its place, the princess stared at Rohan.

Then she asked,

“I have one question.”

“Go ahead.”

“What are you trying to achieve by giving me this information?”

“If I said I was an ally trying to help, would you believe me?”

At Rohan’s words, the princess shook her head slightly.

“No. I don’t believe such convenient stories.”

“Well, that’s how it is.”

“I understand. You think I won’t believe anything you say.”

Rohan didn’t answer.

This was a matter she would naturally come to understand with time.

“You should have a better idea of how to use that tracking device now.”

“….”

The princess stared at the small device in her hand.

The fact that she hadn’t smashed it upon discovery suggested she had some ideas in mind.

“Do you have paper and a pen?”

“Why are you asking that…?”

The princess trailed off, which was rare for her.

“I’ll give you a number to contact me.”

The princess didn’t possess a smartphone. Only a walkie-talkie connected to the Elders.

So, she would have to go to the city and use a payphone to make a call.

“Speaking of paper and pen, I happened to acquire some on the way here.”

“?”

As Rohan blinked in confusion, the princess avoided his gaze for the first time and opened a pocket on her vest.

Click! The button came undone, revealing something.

Rohan’s eyes widened at the sight of it.

“Ahem….”

What the princess pulled out hesitantly was a notepad and ballpoint pen featuring a crying dragon and a goofy-looking shark.

They were characters Rohan was familiar with.

“…I kept it in case I needed it, and it seems my luck was good.”

She claimed she had picked it up, not bought it.

And despite her insistence, its pristine condition clearly showed that it was something she had purchased.

Receiving the notepad and pen, Rohan stared at the cover for a moment.

This is the same one Ichinose likes, right?

Rohan hadn’t known the princess had this kind of taste.

Wasn’t this a kind of hidden setting that would only be revealed if she was ever released as a playable character?

Suppressing his amusement, Rohan pretended not to care as he opened the notepad.

He could see the princess’ diligent notes throughout, but she didn’t say anything about the item itself.

He simply wrote down his number.

“You know I’m taking a huge risk by doing this, right?”

“….”

Although he said so, Rohan wasn’t giving out his number carelessly.

He considered the unlikely possibility of the princess informing the Elders, and even the scenario where they found out without her telling them.

Causing a commotion in Academy City and attracting attention was something the Old Elves wanted to avoid at all costs.

The self-preserving old fogies wouldn’t do anything more than hire someone.

Since there were plenty of ways to resolve that within Academy City, Rohan made a small joke as he handed over the notepad with his number on it.

“Anyway, it was nice meeting you. I’ve also written down the approximate times you can contact me, so feel free to call even for non-business matters.”

“What do you mean?”

“If you have any worries, or if you’re feeling down and want something sweet? Even trivial matters are fine.”

“If you’re trying to extract information through casual conversations… That won’t work.”

At the princess’ wary attitude, Rohan laughed, telling her to take it easy, then started to leave.

I’ve done enough.

What the current princess needed was an escape route to envision a brighter future when her spirit was pushed to the brink, or something to help her endure the situation.

Rohan had planted as many hints as possible within reasonable limits.

“I’ll be going now.”

“Gathering information, are you?”

“That too, but… I have to study and go to my part-time job.”

“Hmph, it seems that you don’t intend to reveal anything about yourself.”

The princess’ disbelieving eyes.

That was fine as well.