CH 46

–A few hours ago–

“Hey, Brad-sama’s not here!”

“No way… What’s going on? When did he escape?”

In the royal palace, the knights in charge of keeping an eye on Brad were all panicking.

“This is a big deal! He might have gone to Carol-sama desu! Let’s go look for him desu!”

The knights had already lost their composure and were successfully guided by Rosie’s words to leave Brad’s private chambers.

While listening to the scene going on…

(Rosie’s quite a performer, isn’t she?)

Brad, alone in his private office, is relieved that the first step of the operation has been cleared.

In fact, Brad was still hiding in his private office.

He simply used levitation to stick to the ceiling when the knight entered the room and quickly moved behind the knight when he was about to enter his field of vision. It’s just that they disguised the situation as if he had escaped.

It was a power play of hide-and-seek that was possible because of the difference in strength between the knights and Brad.

(Now, let’s move.)

After waiting in the room for a while, he confirmed that the communication stone in his pocket had begun to flash.

It was linked to the communication stone that had been given to Rosie in advance.

He had asked Rosie to let him know when Glace left Carol’s vicinity with this communication stone. It seems that she was able to deceive Glace as well as the knights. She’s a capable maidservant who seems to be out of her element.

(All I have to do is get Carol out while Uru is distracting Glace and leave quickly.)

Brad put on his jet-black cloak and left the room, making sure that the hallway was clear of people.

But right after that.

“Please wait.”

A voice suddenly called out to him from behind, making him freeze in surprise

Looking back, it was a fairy-like ephemeral girl, Marie El Folktas, the daughter of the duke and Brad’s Fiancee.

“Marie, why are you here?”

“That’s supposed to be my line,’” she said. “Everyone is afraid that his royal highness has escaped. I thought I’d come to check on you, but it looks like I was right.”

Marie shrugged her shoulders in dismay.

“They’re no match for me,” Brad said with a smile while shrugging his shoulders.

“You’re going to the Deltora Peninsula? The sword dance festival has been canceled and I haven’t yet changed my mind about canceling the engagement, but it seems you don’t care about me.”

While being momentarily blinded by the adorableness of Marie’s lips pursed in dissatisfaction, Brad shakes his head, “No, no, no! It’s not that I don’t value you Marie. But there are things about Albert and the Deltora Peninsula that only I can probably do. So why don’t you just wait a little while?”

Please! Brad bows his head deeply.

Bowing your head like this sincerely in his previous life can almost get you out of any situation. But it’s not something his previous proud self would have done.

Marie frowned for a while and then smiled beautifully.

“Fufufu, Brad-sama, I’m only joking, please raise your head.”

“A joke?”

“I just wanted to tease you a little. I know that you’re working on a great mission. I won’t stop you. I just wanted to hear it from you. So please go ahead without hesitation.”

Marie said with a mischievous smile, and Brad was relieved.

“So, the engagement isn’t canceled?”

“That’s a different story entirely. Please come back safely first, then we can talk about it. And when you do, there’s something I would like to tell you. Yes, about a certain prophecy.”

Brad tilts his head.

“A prophecy?”

“I’m sure you’ve heard of the Almighty Prophet Perfect Scorer. He has a 100 percent accuracy rate, and he’s the one who predicted the battle on the Deltora Peninsula. I want to talk about his prophecy.”

It’s important, Marie added.

Brad nodded his head.

“I understand. I’ll definitely be back and when I do, tell me your story.”

That’s all he said and hugged Marie.

He wanted to ask her in detail what the prophecy was about, but time was of the essence.

Then he said goodbye to Marie, who nodded her head and quickly ran off.

(“The Almighty Prophet,” huh?)

The name sounded familiar to Brad.

But that was his memory after he had been reincarnated in this world, and the name had never appeared in any of the Final Quest games.

If a prophecy with a 100 percent accuracy rate was really possible, it would have a lot to do with the historical facts of this world.

Who the hell is it?

(Come to think of it, could it be possible…)

Brad quickly arrived at an answer, but shook his head.

(I’ll just focus on what’s in front of me right now.)

He ran as fast as he could to the east wing of the royal palace, where Carol was being held.

****

The east wing is a very secure building, where royalty and diplomats from other countries stay when they visit, and it has a special security system. It is very difficult to get in and out, except for a few authorized people.

This is also the case in Final Quest, and when you first visit the royal palace, it’s set as an “inviolable area” that you cannot enter.

However, in the latter half of the story, you can gain access to the building by obtaining a “magic key” event item.

And now…

(This is really useful.)

Brad had used the “magic key” to successfully break into the east wing.

He hadn’t been expecting this, but he had gotten it beforehand.

After all, this key was very convenient.

It can open basically any lock, not to mention doors that have been magically locked. After I acquired this key at the end of Final Quest, I used it to break into various places.

(Masterpiece RPGs do well to craft such details.)

As I walked down the corridor, I thought to myself, “I’m going to have to use this key.”

It was probably because it was a difficult place to enter in the first place. There were not many guards in place, and for Brad, who had just played a game of hide and seek, it was a no-brainer to get to the room where Carol was being held without being seen.

“Who the hell are you? How did you get in here?”

And when he got to the front of Carol’s room, he was finally spotted by a knight.

It’s correct to say he allowed the knight find him on purpose since he could not avoid him.

The knight’s eyes widened when Brad quickly showed his face, as it would be troublesome to make a fuss.

“Bra…Brad-sama! Why are you here?”

“I have some business with Carol.”

“What do you mean “business”? You can’t do that! His Majesty told me not to let anyone near here! Please leave!”

It seems that the guard’s sense of responsibility prevailed over various emotions and the knight stubbornly stands in his way.

I guess he’s serious. It’s a good thing.

However, such a serious knight is unexpectedly vulnerable to sweet temptation.

Brad grins and takes out a pouch from his back.

“Well, I have a deal for you. Here’s a bag of money that’s equivalent to what you’ll earn in a few years of work. Would you rather keep it in your own pocket and tolerate my actions, or fight with me and suffer the consequences?”

The knight’s eyes widened and he gulped down his spit.

He seems to be quite shaken at such a ridiculously huge offer.

“But as a knight, I can’t do that!”

“It’s okay, if someone asks you what happened, just tell them I threatened your life and you couldn’t go against me, because I am after all, the Black Pig Prince.”

It didn’t take long for the knight to give in to the temptation that had nothing but merit when Brad provided him with an escape route for his excuses.

“Yes, I see… I haven’t seen anything. I don’t know anything. I don’t care what you’ll do.”

The knight said in desperation, snatched the satchel out of Brad’s hand and put it in his pocket with incredible speed.

He smiled as the knight reluctantly made way for him.

Brad knocked on the door.

“You can come in.”

A voice immediately answered from inside the room.

Brad slowly opened the door.

“…….”

He saw Carol there and averted his gaze fluidly.

“Well… if it isn’t Brad. Did you really come to pick me up?”

“Of course I did, I had no intention of leaving you behind.”

Brad was so stunned by her beauty that he couldn’t look at her directly.

It’s not surprising that she wasn’t surprised to see Brad here, and the reaction itself wasn’t strange.

But that’s not the point.

“Why aren’t you wearing any clothes again?”

Why is Carol wearing nothing but her underwear?

And she’s standing on her head.

Last time I encountered her like this, I thought it was because she was changing clothes, but now it’s a mystery because that’s not the case this time around.

“Why? do you wear clothes in your room? This is more open-minded and better. When we were born, we were all naked. I think you’re a fool if you dress so stiffly in your room.”

Carol said so confidently as if to say, “What’s the problem?”

Perhaps the people of the Deltora Peninsula tend to like that kind of lifestyle, but Brad is still amazed at this. 

“Hmm… my figure is so beautiful that I look like a divine goddess and I can’t help it. That’s just the way it is.”

“I see.”

“However, though I am well aware that I am extremely beautiful, please don’t ask me to step on you like before.”

“Please don’t talk about me as if I’m some kind of pervert who gets off on being stepped on by women. I’ve already told you it was a misunderstanding.”

“What? You mean you’re a pervert who wants to be stepped on by men, not women? I see.”

“You can think whatever you want.”

Brad sighed but soon his expression became serious.

“Anyway Carol, hurry up and get dressed before anyone catches wind of what’s going on. From now, we’ll be heading to the Deltora Peninsula. Sorry for the bad timing.”

“But wasn’t Glace outside the door? What’s going on?”

“That’s not a problem, the plan should be playing out well now. But I don’t know when he’ll be back, so we need to hurry up and leave the kingdom.”

“I understand.”

When Brad seriously admonishes her, Carol begins to put on clothes in a hurry.

**

“It’s okay if we’ve come this far. If Rosie is playing her part well, my dragon Gilgard should be coming to pick us up.”

Brad said while stroking his chest.

They were already outside the royal capital and were hiding in the Luran forest.

After rescuing Carol, they escaped from the royal capital as planned and fled to the forest.

They were around the square where the monsters were tamed the other day. But since the monsters had already headed to sky mountain, it was only the both of them. The knights should still be looking for them at the royal capital, so no one would think to look here.

“Brad, do you really need to come to the Deltora Peninsula?”

Carol suddenly asks.

It was an unexpectedly serious question.

“What do you mean?”

“You were not on good terms with Albert and without him, you could be the king of this country. Considering that, I don’t think there’s any reason for you to take the risk of going to the battlefield.”

Certainly, what Carol said was justifiable.

“I didn’t get along with Albert, but that doesn’t mean I disliked him, and also, I don’t have a good image that’ll give me the position of the king, so I don’t want it. I would rather have Albert become king while I live a leisurely life. That’s why I have to bring him back safely.” 

That was Brad’s true feelings.

He had a job as a manager in his previous life, the responsibility then was outrageously heavy. He didn’t think it would get better if he became the king.

Brad believed that the game knowledge he had was not enough for his everyday life. Now all he wanted was a guarantee of personal safety and a free life.

“And although the problem between Dastoria and Elneid is not really my business, if things are left as they are, the demon’s hands will definitely reach Pistel. Since that’s the case, it’s better to cooperate with anyone available and deal with the problem as soon as possible.”

Brad smiled and shrugged as Carol opened her eyes slightly, moving her mouth as if to say something.

Then she seemed strangely convinced.

“I see. I can see why Glace-sama set his sights on you. The reason why you pretended to be incompetent was to concede the throne to your brother.”

“Hmmm?”

When Brad tilts his head to the side, Carol hurriedly shakes her head.

“No… it’s okay if you were hiding it. Anyway, I seem to have misunderstood you. You’re not even worried about putting yourself in danger, You’re concerned for your younger brother and even my country. And don’t even hesitate to pretend it’s because of my beauty.”

“No! no!… it’s definitely the fact that I’m thinking of myself.”

It seems that something has been misunderstood again.

Brad is taking action only because he wants to avert the crises of his own death end and helping people is just his secondary goal. He wants to reach out to those who need his help only if he can afford it. So he isn’t acting based on an altruistic saint mindset like Carol was thinking, but—

“Well, if you say so. I guess we’ll leave it at that then.”

Carol smiled.

It seems that I’ve been completely misunderstood.

(Although what I said was true, why do I get misunderstood every time?)

If it’s not bad, then it’s fine.

Immediately after their conversation—

Gilgard the dragon arrives and Brad, along with Carol rode on its back and set off for the Deltora Peninsula.

Without knowing that more people will misunderstand, even more from this time.