episode_0145

000

Early morning in the royal capital. As the small sounds of morning birds chirping flow in from outside the window, Cleon slowly wakes up and opens his eyes. As if last night’s events were a lie, his body is neatly clothed, and Galatea is lying quietly beside him, asleep with her eyes closed. Checking the time, it’s just before 5 AM. Apparently having woken up a little too early, Cleon scratches his head for a moment before getting up.

He gets out of bed carefully so as not to wake Galatea, and changes into light clothing that is easy to move around in. He has no idea what happened in the back alleys last night, and, carefree, he leaves his room thinking of going for a morning jog and heads to Sasha’s room. He knocks on the door, but there’s no answer, so he assumes she’s still asleep and opens the door slightly. He sees Sasha sleeping in the same bed as Caliburn.

Come to think of it, he recalls that Sasha and Caliburn had both returned home yesterday looking quite tired. He wonders what happened outside.

In any case, he thinks it’s a good thing that the two have become closer since the academy, and closes the door, thinking he’ll go out alone for the first time in a while. He opens the front door and is about to step outside when-.

“Good morning, Cleon. That outfit. Looks like you were planning to go for a morning exercise.”

Standing in front of the door is Rubella, looking up at him with her eyes half-closed.

She’s wearing casual clothes, not her maid uniform. She has the fedora she wore before on her head.

“…Why are you here at this hour? Weren’t you supposed to come during the day?”

“That’s what I was planning… but circumstances have changed. I was just wondering whether to go in through the window or the front door when you conveniently came out.”

Cleon looks at her suspiciously, as she seems to not be thinking straight due to sleepiness, and replies.

“No, just knock on the front door normally…. So? Should we wake the others?”

Rubella shakes her head at that answer. Then, she turns around and wags her finger, giving him only a sign to follow her.

“There’s a place I’d like you to come with me. It’s better if others don’t find out, so. Let’s just have you and me go.”

“…Is it something related to the secluded princess?”

Cleon says, noticing that from Rubella’s words. The fact that there’s someone he needs to meet early in the morning without being seen by others must mean that kind of story.

“But why are you in casual clothes? Isn’t that maid outfit what you wear when you’re working?”

“That’s because… …this is something I haven’t told even my mistress or the other members of the unit. The fact that you and I are going to find her now.”

Rubella’s words contained quite a few meanings. Going to find the secluded princess in secret from the same unit and even the Duchess, means that, of course, they’re disobeying the orders of both of them, and even breaking the laws of this country, a dangerous act where it’s impossible to make excuses or receive protection even if someone finds out.

“…Is that okay?”

“Originally… it’s not. Because the fact that she is in contact with someone itself is considered treason. But. As things stand. I need your help right now.”

However, Rubella was telling Cleon that she needed his help.

Has she ever asked him directly for help before? Although the two of them had gone through quite an intense chaotic situation together during their not-so-long acquaintance. Thanks to Rubella’s strong pride and unique thorny attitude, she can be reliable at times, but usually, she doesn’t honestly ask Cleon for help.

For a moment, the intense night at the bar flashed through his mind.

Cleon quietly nodded. That, of course, meant that he would respond to Rubella’s request.

The two of them walked forward in step from where they were standing. At this hour, the people running stores usually start coming out onto the streets one by one to begin their daily routine. Rubella, who is relatively known, avoided the streets where those people were, adjusting her pace so that Cleon could keep up.

As expected, she was very familiar with the geography of this place, as she originally lived in the royal capital.

While checking that Cleon was following properly, Rubella opened her mouth.

“Last night. Eustace was attacked by a succubus in the back alley.”

“…!? That guy, why was he in the back alley… was he alone?”

“No. He was with a detective named Gray… but. It didn’t seem like he went there planning something.”

Cleon paused for a moment, then clenched his fist.

“…Is it because of me? I said that the succubi in the back alleys might be involved in the recent disappearances happening at the adventurer’s guild…”

“So it was you. You’re the one who filled that idiot with air… sigh…”

Rubella sighed at Cleon’s words. Then, she looked back at Cleon, whose pace had slowed down.

“That guy is… a unique guy even among the people I know. When I first met him, he was an idiot to the point where it couldn’t be helped. But he grew up thinking for himself. If it weren’t for him, we all would have died to the Sacred Tree that day.”

Although Rubella’s affairs and first impressions make him seem less so. If Eustace hadn’t drawn out the power of Mistilteinn and forcibly closed the dimensional rift, a fully resurrected Shuradcell would have descended, and an uncontrollable disaster would have covered everything around it.

In terms of skill, Aruru, and even Albein, may be above Eustace. But, as far as the mindset of a hero is concerned, the grown-up Eustace was a wonderful hero, incomparable to someone like Albein.

“…How is that guy now?”

“…I don’t know. They took Eustace with them when they retreated.”

Cleon panics greatly at Rubella’s words.

“Wait a minute. Then…”

“I know you’re worried, but. He’s alive. The detective named Gray I mentioned earlier attached a transmitter to him, and lent me a device that can track it.”

Rubella said that and took a small ring out of her pocket.

“…Ring of One-Winged?”

“It’s a replica. He said he made it himself, and the degree of completion is so high that I was surprised.”

The Ring of One-Winged was something that Eustace and Rubella each had before. A pair of two rings that tell each other where the other is, an ancient relic. It’s said that it can be reproduced even with modern technology, but because the degree and sustainability are poor, the original excavated ring is traded at a very high price.

The Ring of One-Winged that Eustace had was eaten by the dungeon, and the one that Rubella had became a simple accessory that didn’t work properly because the pair, Eustace’s ring, disappeared.

Therefore, she doesn’t even carry it around now and has it stashed away somewhere in her luggage at the lodging. It would have been nice to get rid of it and sell it at a high price, but the rings they had were illegally obtained by Duke Hughes through the connections of the returnees, so they couldn’t be passed on to others.

“That detective Gray… what kind of person is he?”

“I don’t know… he doesn’t seem like a simple detective, at least. But what’s important is that we solve the princess’s problem first, and then go find that idiot.”

Cleon’s curiosity about Gray, who claims to have made a relic that cannot be completely reproduced with modern technology, grew.

“Wait. Problem?”

“Yes. It’s a problem. Quite a big one…. I’ll explain as I show you in person.”

After saying that, Rubella turned around again and led Cleon somewhere.

Cleon put the accumulating questions aside for the time being and followed her silently.

001

Cleon and Rubella entered through a secret passage in the royal capital into the secluded tower of the royal palace. That is, the small space where Amelia resides. Since Amelia herself must permit passage through this secret passage, there would be no sudden appearance of the two in the room to startle Amelia.

Therefore, Amelia, seeing Rubella lead Cleon in, only flinched at the sight of him and shrank back a little. If she had been surprised and screamed, someone might have heard and entered the room.

As soon as they entered the room, the scent of fragrant oils, which seemed to calm the mind, tickled Cleon’s nose.

Cleon stood behind Rubella and looked at the fragile girl in front of him.

She is the secluded princess of the tower. According to rumors, the king even considers the princess’s face cursed and has her wear an iron mask. Fortunately, that seemed to be just a rumor.

Her pale platinum hair was let down, but it was neatly arranged without any swaying.

Golden eyes, with a strong conviction felt within them. And a beautiful face as if sculpted by God.

She wore a luxurious silk dress. A silver feather-shaped pendant was sparkling around her neck.

Truly, the appearance of a princess who seems to be from some kind of story.

Cleon momentarily wondered if he had crossed over into an unrealistic world with Rubella, but soon, when he met her eyes, he bowed his head, knees, and waist.

“I am the adventurer Cleon. Princess Amelia.”

“Please raise your head, Cleon. I heard about you from Rubella. She said you helped her a lot.”

“We joined hands and cooperated for the same purpose. I also received her help.”

When Cleon said that, Rubella scratched her cheek slightly, as if she was a little embarrassed, and turned her head away.

Amelia smiled faintly at Cleon’s answer and waited for Cleon to stand up before speaking to Rubella.

“Rubella. Is it really true that this person can heal my wound?”

“From my experience. And, if what I’m thinking is correct. That’s right.”

Cleon, having heard Rubella and Amelia’s conversation, knew that the reason he was called here was to heal the wound on the princess’s body.

However, Cleon was about to open his mouth, thinking that it would have been much more helpful to call Kuon, when Rubella approached Amelia.

“Amelia. Show Cleon the wound.”

“W-wait a minute…. D-do I have to show it directly?”

“That’s how he’ll know what state it’s in.”

Rubella went behind Amelia and tried to pull down the straps of her dress, but Amelia blushed and panicked.

Cleon was also surprised by Rubella’s actions and had no choice but to turn his head away.

“Why are you turning your head away too?”

“What are you doing? Are you trying to get me executed for blasphemy?”

Cleon was sweating, but Rubella simply raised the corners of her lips and made a `heh` sound as if mocking him.

Then, she showed Amelia a gentle smile.

“It’s okay, Amelia. Amelia’s body is wonderful, with no embarrassing parts for anyone to see.”

“Th-that’s not the point! Well, of course, there are embarrassing things, but, I, exposing my skin to a man is…”

“It’s just the lower part of the shoulders, at most. It’s okay. Cleon has seen enough of women’s naked bodies to not feel strange looking at Amelia’s body now.”

“Hey. Don’t say unnecessary things…”

Cleon was about to protest Rubella’s words, but he closed his mouth when he heard a rustling sound from behind.

“…Pervert. Shutting up after hearing Amelia take off her clothes.”

“No…. That’s not it.”

But when Rubella reproached him, he regained his composure and replied. Rubella said, “Turn around, because I said so,” and Cleon sighed and turned his head.

There, Amelia, with a flushed face, was showing a purplish wound made on the connecting part of her shoulders and chest, through the dress supported by Rubella.

It was in the shape of a jewel growing out of her body.

Purple crystals were emitting a faint light on something that looked like a black scab. Even without using magic vision, the magical pressure felt from that place was telling him the size of the curse without fail.

It was a wound that looked so heinous and unrealistic, growing out of the young girl’s body, which was like white porcelain and without a single scratch.

“This is… what on earth.”

“That’s a wound caused by the tail of that red-haired half-succubus named Ishtar. I know it contains some form of curse, but I don’t know the type. Other than feeling pain from time to time, making it difficult to move my body…”

Amelia nodded carefully at Rubella’s explanation.

It was the kind that was emitting intense dark magic around it, so no matter how you thought about it, it was the kind that shouldn’t be left alone. However, if Amelia’s innate enormous amount of pure divine magic was preventing the spread of the curse and somehow suppressing it. She herself, this was the first time she had suffered such a wound, and she wanted to do something about it since she couldn’t solve it with her own strength.

But bringing in outside help was a risky act. Cleon wondered how many times Rubella would have thought the same thing if she weren’t just an existence who was secluded.

Cleon thought the same thing and turned magic into his eyes, opening the field of vision to see the invisible.

“…This is… a seed?”

When Cleon analyzed the curse through magic vision, he could see that it was growing from a seed of something that had invaded the princess’s body, absorbing the divine magic in the princess’s body and growing. It wasn’t a plant seed. However, the thing that was conceptually analyzed as a seed was like the nucleus of the black crystal that grew on the princess’s body, and it was constantly growing inside. In addition, that thing was connected to the magic power generation organ in her heart, riding on the flow of magic power, so rashly removing it could threaten Amelia’s life.

“A seed… you say?”

Amelia asked when Cleon said so, and Cleon nodded as if reconfirming her words.

“There is a seed containing a curse in Princess Amelia’s wound now. Perhaps, it burrowed inside her body and connected to her heart. I don’t know what will happen if this spreads throughout her body…. I am sincerely telling you that it cannot be left alone. I see why the recovery skill of divine magic didn’t work. A dark magic field is spread around this wound, so divine magic didn’t work properly. In addition, since the crystal, which is the core, remains in her body, it can temporarily weaken the effect, but to completely pull it out… surgery may be necessary. Quite a big surgery at that.”

“Surgery…”

Amelia trailed off at Cleon’s words. Medicine is sufficiently developed in this country as well. Surgery to cut open the body and treat organs is not recommended, but it was a field of study that existed.

However, this kind of surgery would require the help of someone with extensive magical knowledge, such as Leila. On top of that, a priest in case of an accident. As Cleon listed the necessary people one by one, he paused, realizing that this was a huge task that would never end.

Then, he turned his head to Rubella, who was standing next to him.

“…Could it be that the reason you showed me this is.”

“That’s right. Just like when you fixed my body. I was hoping you could somehow do something to the princess’s body using your Dominance Imprint.”

Cleon put his hand on his face at Rubella’s shocking statement.

“…Do you know what you’re saying?”

“I know. I have explained it to Amelia as well.”

Cleon’s gaze turned to Amelia. He could see her face turning red in an instant, though he didn’t know what explanation she had heard from Rubella.

Does Rubella know how cruel it is to engrave the Dominance Imprint on a girl who is just over ten years old, a few years younger than Sasha?

“I can’t. I can’t engrave the Dominance Imprint on her…”

“… …I am prepared. If I have to pay a price, a sacrifice, to heal this wound. I am prepared to do anything.”

Cleon said “Stop.” to Amelia and stopped her from speaking.

“Are you going to engrave a wound that will last a lifetime on that body to erase the wound you have now? You’re… too young. You should cherish your body a little more.”

Amelia lowered her head and grabbed the hem of her dress with her hand because Cleon, who had forgotten to use honorifics due to his heightened emotions, said so.

“Wait a minute. What are you misunderstanding, Cleon?”

“…You’re telling me to engrave the Dominance Imprint. To do that, she and I-”

“Are you crazy? That’s how you’ll get your head cut off for blasphemy.”

Rubella sighed. Then, she quietly grabbed the Barisada that was hanging on her waist.

“Did you forget? My magic sword’s power is distortion. It can twist thoughts and move anything.”

“…You don’t mean.”

Rubella nodded at Cleon’s words.

“I’m going to move the Dominance Imprint on my body to her body using Barisada’s distortion. Of course, it takes a lot of magic to distort that much thought, so I’ll need your help even more.”

Moving the Imprint.

What Rubella was saying was certainly theoretically possible. Leaving aside the difficulty and the amount of magic required.

After healing the princess’s body, he could move the Imprint back to Rubella’s body.

“…But. If the treatment isn’t complete, you may have to settle the Dominance Imprint as it is.”

“I’ve already explained that part as well. Amelia has agreed to it.”

When Cleon looked at Amelia, she nodded.

She must have heard from Rubella what the Dominance Imprint was. It’s a kind of subjugation contract. A person engraved with the Dominance Imprint may be forced to do things that go against their will, depending on Cleon’s will.

However, her eyes showed faith in Rubella. And faith in Cleon, whom Rubella trusts.

Could this really be the look that a child can have?

Cleon doesn’t know how long she has been fighting to protect the royal capital and this country since she was young.

However, Cleon could no longer ignore the expression of someone who had resolved to protect someone.

“…Okay. I’ll try my best… No, I will.”

Cleon, who was now correcting his behavior. Amelia smiled for a moment when she saw that.

“You can speak comfortably. I am clearly a member of the royal family, but my position in the royal family is the lowest. And, officially, I am not treated as a member of the royal family.”

“…I never think that way. Amelia. You are clearly a wonderful person compared to any other member of the royal family…. But, that’s that. I’ll do as I please too.”

Amelia smiled and nodded at Cleon’s words. Her face was much lighter.

“Yes. That seems more natural, so I like it.”

“Now. I’ll take your magic right away. Cleon.”

Rubella interrupted between Cleon and Amelia. At some point, she had an empty bottle of high-capacity potion in her hand.

“… …”

Cleon didn’t understand Rubella’s words for a moment. Then, his expression hardened in an instant.

“Wait. You don’t mean, here?”

“That’s right. It’s a hassle to go back and forth…. Ah. Amelia, please look over there. It’ll be over in 5 minutes…. No, 10 minutes.”

Rubella bent her fingers a few times and said that. Cleon had no choice but to get angry at those words, but he swallowed his words as he looked at Amelia in front of him.

As it turned out, Amelia herself only tilted her head, not knowing what was about to happen.

“W-what are you trying to do? In my room…”

“I’m making a magic potion. Hehe.”

Rubella said that and knocked Cleon’s body onto the large bed.

It was a bed that was too big for a 10-year-old child, so even if Cleon and Rubella climbed on top of it, it wouldn’t collapse.

“Are you serious…! Rubella…! If someone finds out-”

“Everyone will be beheaded on the spot…. Doesn’t your survival instinct surge wildly? Don’t worry. I won’t insert it. Instead, you’ll have to use various parts to fill these three bottles.”

Rubella’s eyes sparkled and she licked her tongue. Her voice was quiet, but she seemed to be clearly excited to be doing something like that with Cleon when Amelia was next to her.

“This… pervert maid…!”

“It’s your fault I became like this. I don’t seem to be at fault.”

“Hey~! What are you trying to do on my bed~!!?”

Amelia looked at Rubella and Cleon, blushed, and raised her voice.

Cleon looked at the two of them and desperately hoped that no one would come near this room.