CH 51

Chapter title: Capturing the Hostage and Alicia’s Embrace

「Really, Elt. You’re alive.」

Alicia looked straight at me with tears streaming down her face. I couldn’t help but be filled with nostalgia.

「Yes, thanks to you. I’m doing okay.」

But I guess I can’t be nostalgic all the time. I was curious as to why Alicia was here.

「For that matter, why is Alicia here? Did something happen to her in Ilkut?」

I was curious as to why Alicia was so far away from the Kingdom.

「Elt, you idiot! Of course I came back to look for you!」

My eyes widen at the words.

「For me…..? Why?」

I was so upset, it just came out of my mouth. Alicia then said with her moistened eyes…….

「O, of course I would. I……. I didn’t realize how important Elt was to me until I lost him. I cried every day when Elt was gone, and then I realized something…….」

Not only me, but also the people around me were listening to Alicia.

Some of them even put their handkerchiefs to their eyes and shed tears.

Alicia’s face turned red and she looked at me shyly……

「I always wanted to tell you. I――」

When Alicia tried to tell me something…..

「Don’t flirt in front of meeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!」

「Kyaaa!」

Alicia screamed because of the shouting in her ear.

「You’ve created a separate world around you! Do you have any idea what I’m going through!?」

Kuzmigo is still pointing his shortsword at Alicia.

「You’re an outcast!」

「You can’t read the atmosphere!」

「You’ll get the death penalty for this!」

「You should die right now and apologize!」

The surrounding nobles and knights are shouting abuse at him.

「Shut up, shut up, shut up! You all look down on me! Don’t you dare disobey my orders!」

The people around me looked at him coldly for being so pathetic.

「Y, you too, Elt! Without you, the investigation team would’ve been wiped out. I could have gotten the credit!」

「No, if you hadn’t run away when you did, you would have gotten the credit, wouldn’t you?」

I guess he deserved it when he gave up on the idea that he couldn’t win and ran away.

「Shut up! You say you know this girl. If you want to spare her life, rub her head on the ground and beg for forgiveness! When I’m satisfied, I’ll behead you.」

His eyes were bloodshot. I’m sure he’s going to stick a shortsword in Alicia’s neck if I do as he says.

「Just for the record, do you have any intention of changing your mind?　If you stop now, you can plead for a reduced charge in exchange for my reward」

「That’s bullshit! You think you’re showing me mercy?　You’ll regret it when she’s dead!」

「Alicia!」

A woman in some kind of noble dress shouts. That was the…… woman I encountered at the springs the other day.

The surrounding nobles averted their eyes. They did not want to see the cruel scene.

If Kuzmigo put any effort into it, Alicia’s throat would be pierced. But…….

「I, impossible… My arm won’t move.」

The arm holding the shortsword is trembling. When Kuzmigo put his strength into it, he desperately tried to thrust the sword into Alicia, but he could not move it.

「Alicia. Come here.」

When Alicia realized that Kuzmigo would not move, she released her restraints and fled from the shortsword. Then she came running towards me.

「Elt! I wanted to see you!」

Alicia hugging me. A familiar voice, a familiar warmth. We stare at each other at close range, unable to take our eyes off each other.

「Now! Get him!」

I hear someone’s voice and the sound of footsteps slamming. I think Kuzmigo is being restrained.

「I, I believed that Elt was still alive. But I thought I’d never see you again…….」

Alicia cries out and buries her face in my chest. I stroked her head and said…….

「Hey, it’s not over yet, can you please explain this to me?」

The woman I met at the fountain the other day came over to talk to me.

「Why didn’t Kuzmigo stab Alicia? You must have been confident, seeing as how you’re so calm.」

I nodded in response to the woman’s question and…….

「Marie. Show yourself so that everyone can see you.」

『Eee, I don’t want anyone but my master to see me.』

「Eh? Suddenly a girl….?」

Marie complains, but still shows up.

As for the conversation we just had, I wasn’t talking without purpose.

I was ordering Marie to stop Kuzmigo’s movements.

The appearance of a spirit is invisible to those who do not have spirit vision. It’s not difficult to save a hostage unharmed if I take advantage of that.

「This is Marie, the Spirit Queen of the Wind. She is my contracted spirit.」

「What?　You’re lying, right?　It’s…… impossible for a mere mortal to make a contract with a Spirit King……..」

「….It’s true.」

A man in a priest’s uniform held his hand over the orb and said something decisive. That must be the orb of truth.

「The high-ranking spirits can show themselves and disappear. I ordered Marie to stop Kuzmigo from moving. That’s why she couldn’t be harmed.」

The people around me opened their mouths at my explanation. The woman in front of me was the only one who had……

「You….. are too reckless」

I could barely speak.

TL: 9/16 (I wonder why I always forget to write it…..)