episode_0010

Shasha stayed up all night worrying about me, but thankfully, nothing that Shasha feared came to pass.

“There, see? Everything’s fine?”

I patted Shasha’s head with a relieved sigh, flashing a satisfied smile.

Things worked out well, as proven by the grand procession safely entering the academy around lunchtime today.

A procession of 25 nobles.

Among them was, of course, the child of the star I had wanted to protect.

Of course, I had no intention of approaching them.

After all, I merely provided information; it was the prince who mobilized the soldiers.

Just knowing that the child I wanted to protect was alive and well before my eyes was gratifying enough.

“…But how could you ignore the fact that the princess would be in danger?”

“…It’s a secret?”

Driven by the thought of protecting the children, I acted impulsively without preparing a proper excuse.

“…A secret, you say.”

“People naturally have one or two secrets they don’t want to share, right?”

“…Well…”

Shasha looked at me strangely for a moment but soon nodded.

“…Alright, then let’s keep it a secret.”

Sitting next to the surprisingly compliant Shasha, I licked a stick of candy.

The fruit-flavored candy turned out to be more luxurious than expected.

I impulsively bought it craving something sweet, but I doubted I’d buy it again in the future.

“But I was surprised… A band of thieves.”

“Yeah, that caught me off guard too.”

I knew the procession would be in danger, but I never anticipated thieves.

It was an unexpected turn of events.

Thieves breaking through the procession’s defenses and managing to kill the princess, who had the most guards among them?

With that level of skill, wouldn’t joining the regular army be a better choice than resorting to thievery?

However, the mismatch was not just about skills.

Even if they were unskilled thieves, where did they find the audacity to mess with the procession?

Even if they could overpower them with skill, it was obvious that the kingdom would swiftly issue a suppression order afterward.

“…Strange.”

What the thieves did was akin to collective suicide.

Moreover, a significant question remained unanswered.

From various accounts, it seemed the thieves specifically targeted the princess.

Why?

I shrugged.

Fiction often skips over many details.

Especially when those details pertain to events before the start of the story.

“…No need to overthink it, just be satisfied with solving one problem!”

That should suffice.

Why did I bother with deep contemplation and action in the first place?

I simply acted on impulse to save a child.

Nevertheless, Shasha staring at me intently since earlier was quite burdensome.

Perhaps it was like a child being drawn to candy.

“…Want me to get you one?”

It was expensive, but since I hadn’t received a friendship fee, I could afford this much.

“Uh…? No, no. It’s not that! It’s just… really fascinating.”

Fascinating, huh…

Since it didn’t seem harmful to just move on with that feeling, I struck a confident pose saying, “I do have an air of mystery,” which made Shasha burst into laughter.

“That’s really weird!”

“It’s a confidence pose.”

As people age, behaviors they shouldn’t do gradually increase.

Among them were unique cute gestures.

If done by a child, it’s overlooked as cute.

But if adults do it, it can lead to a confrontation.

Knowing this well, I enjoyed doing things only children could do to the fullest during my childhood.

In other words, it was my hobby.

“Hehe, oh, by the way, do I have to go see the prince?”

“Well… if it’s urgent, he’ll come find you himself.”

Because it felt like the prince had sent soldiers to deal with the thieves in a critical moment.

In the grand procession, everyone was busy greeting the prince.

There’s no need to bother going out of my way to greet him.

“…Honestly, Lia should receive an award since she saved us, right?”

“I just provided information; there are separate operatives.”

“…Is it not worth it?”

If you ask if this is worth it, as a human, it’s a bit regrettable, but well.

Still-

“But I found it! Give me the award! Instead of receiving the award after saying ‘I saved you,’ it’s cooler to say ‘I found it’ and watch.”

Shasha seemed to make a puzzled expression as if unable to understand, but she got it.

Children don’t really know what true coolness is yet.

“Shasha will understand when she grows up.”

“…Are we the same age?”

Physically, we might be the same age, but including past lives, I’m now thirty years old.

I’ve lived three times longer than you.

Without inflating my cheeks or saying anything, Shasha subtly changed the subject.

“But the princess is really beautiful, right?”

Changing the subject seems awkward.

But, since effort is appreciated, go along with it.

“Yeah… She’s pretty.”

She suited the name “Star’s Child.”

In her black-purple dress, silver threads were embroidered like stars,

Her dark blue hair and eyes were mysteriously captivating without exaggeration.

“…You’re mysterious beyond being pretty and cute.”

“…Still, in my eyes, Lia is prettier.”

“Is that supposed to be comforting?”

Why suddenly praise me here?

Of course, hearing praise doesn’t make me feel bad, but it’s too sudden.

“…Well, Shasha is cute too.”

It’s impolite to just stay silent after receiving praise, so I complimented Shasha appropriately.

If we were to rank between me, the princess, and Shasha, I’d be first, the princess second, and Shasha third.

“Third place is good too.”

“…Huh?”

Ignorance is bliss.

Sometimes it’s better not to know, and this was one of those times.

As I nodded quietly, Shasha reached out and pinched my cheek.

“…What are you doing?”

“Oh, sorry, your expression was amusing…”

That’s why perceptive kids can be troublesome.

My cheek stung from being stretched out, so I glanced at Shasha.

“…At first, Shasha was scared of me, but now she’s becoming bolder.”

Fallen nobles often have deep inferiority complexes and damaged personalities, so I understand why she was scared.

Isn’t this getting too close, though?

It’s much better than being unnecessarily scared, but still.

In response to my words, Shasha confidently spoke, making a strange noise.

“Lia is cute and kind, so she’s not scary!”

“Kind? Who?”

Me?

I raised an eyebrow.

I didn’t consider myself particularly kind.

I did only as much as others did, just an average person who didn’t go above and beyond.

“…But remember when you said you’d become a slave to the prince to save people and begged him to spare them…?”

“That was quite exaggerated… Shasha was right there; why do you…?”

It happened just yesterday, but Shasha’s memory was significantly distorted.

It’s concerning if this continues from a young age. Is everything okay?

While looking at Shasha with concern, she mumbled while looking at me.

“Lia is kind.”

“…Let’s meet later and have a serious conversation face to face.”

It seemed necessary to correct that twisted information.

Rather than that, spending time sitting by the fountain licking candy, evening had already arrived.

“…Time flies.”

“The prince wasn’t around today.”

“He must be very busy.”

Using soldiers, they suppressed bandits who threatened the grand procession.

A 10-year-old prince.

Ultimately, the incident resulted in no harm, becoming a minor issue,

But the status of those involved in the incident.

If we were to consider the identity and age of the person who solved the case, it was already an interesting enough topic in itself.

After spending a whole day receiving thanks from the nobles,

I might be invited to the palace tomorrow.

Expecting to be busy for at least two days, I expressed a half-hearted consolation for my boredom.

Nevertheless, since I achieved something at a young age, I hoped they would accept this level of annoyance with a happy heart.

“Generously, let’s go have some fun after three days.”

“…F-fun?”

Since Deron had already mentioned that he saw me favorably,

he had failed in tarnishing my image.

Therefore, I thought it might be better to maintain a suitable distance and just be friends.

“L-Lia.”

Shasha tugged at my pajamas, but I ignored her.

Why, isn’t it better to have a friend than a lover?

“W-who are you planning to make fun of?”

“I mean, honestly, after handling all sorts of weights yesterday and ending up with these results, I thought I could tease you… huh?”

I raised my head and looked at Deron standing in front of me.

“When did you arrive?”

“…Who are you planning to make fun of?”

“Shasha.”

I instinctively turned the target towards Shasha.

Shasha, you’re the sacrifice.