Volume 5 - CH 18.2

“That’s…”

“You also told me that I could refuse to do something if it was impossible.”

I tell her

“What the hell do you expect me to believe?”

Fiona’s lips were pursed in a tight line and she stifled her pained expression.

The air was tense with the decisive breakdown.

Grey, who had readjusted his sword, opened his mouth as if he could no longer stand it.

“Seika, you…”

“No… I understand. Then it’s fine.”

As if to interrupt, Fiona raised her voice.

“Please, take Amiyu-san with you.”

“……, you’re so understanding.”

“The horses can run at night, so you can leave immediately. You won’t be able to return to the academy, but have you decided where you want to escape to?”

“……”

“If you don’t have a destination in mind, head to the Free City of Lakana. It is an adventurer’s town developed by dungeons. The chief there is a collaborator of mine, and I have already talked to him. I intend to cover up what happened to Seika-sama, but I can’t hide the fact that Amiyu is gone. …… If they come after us, this will make it easier for us.”

“…… You are so well prepared, it’s almost as if you were expecting me to turn you down. So what?　Where is your trap?”

“I understand that none of this makes any sense to you. If there is, you would then be free to drop me at Lakana or at the Imperial Castle as you please.”

“……”

Fiona smiled and started to walk away.

She passed by me and stood in front of the stairs.

“Come this way, please. I will take you to your carriage. If you still don’t trust me, can i accompany you to Lakana?”

“—- Fiona, there is no need for that.”

Suddenly, out of nowhere, I heard a low voice that seemed to echo from the depths of the earth.

The owner of the voice was nowhere to be seen. It did not seem to be any of the signs I had sensed.

“She’s our hostage. That is our agreement with ……”

“Shut up.”

Before I could use the spell, a word from Fiona interrupted my voice.

The sound of her voice was so sharp that I couldn’t help but pause.

“ I will not allow you to interfere with me now. Even if it is you, do not think that you can be Seika-sama’s opponent.”

There was a slight note of impatience in Fiona’s words.

When I confirmed that the mysterious voice had been silenced, Fiona smiled at me.

“I beg your pardon. That’s one of my holy knights. She’s just a little worried about you. I’ll remind her of that later. Now, let’s go.”

I watched Fiona turn away and walk up the stairs for a few moments,—-, and then I took Amiyu’s hand.

“Let’s go.”

When I pull out my hand, Amiyu keeps her face down and follows me obediently.

I put my foot on the stairs leading up.

*********

When I got out of the tower, the castle was quiet, as if my rampage had been a lie.

I’m sure Fiona had already taken care of that part.

The plaza was right after passing through the collapsed main gate.

“… You really prepared a carriage.”

In a corner of the square, I saw a one-horse cart tied to a tree and muttered to myself in dismay.

Then I suddenly realized something, and my face involuntarily pulled into a smile.

“That’s right, of course. Both the horse and the carriage are very fine. I wouldn’t want Seika-sama to be offended.”

Fiona says in a good mood.

“I’ve also stocked up on food and travel money. I’m sure you’ll have enough to reach Lakana. Amiyu-san’s sword is also there.”

“Is that so…”

“So, what should we do? Would you like me to go with you?”

After a short silence, I answer with my eyes downcast.

“…… No, thanks.”

“I’ll take that as a sign that …… You trust me somewhat. I’m sure you’ll be able to find a way to get a hold of me if you stay there. It would have been fun to go to Lakana with the two of you.”

Fiona continues with a smile.

“Come on, get in. You can leave through the north gate now. It would be better to leave quickly. It is not good to stay in the capital too long.”

“…… Amiyu, look.”

“Uh, yeah. ……, Fiona.”

Amiyu, about to get into the carriage, suddenly stopped in front of Fiona.

“yes?”

“Um… Thank you for this. You saved me.”

She then held out a blanket in her hand.

When she noticed my gaze, she began to explain in a few words.

“Fiona and your brother came to me a little while after I was put in that jail. They gave me food and blankets and kept encouraging me to go on …… and I would get out.”

“eh……”

“This is probably a good thing, isn’t it? It’s warm.”

Fiona took the blanket, smiled, and draped it over Amiyu’s shoulders.

“Take it with you. It’s still cold at night, so you’ll need it on the road.”

“Are you sure? Thank you…”

“Ufufu… I hope you’re well. I’ll be sure to tell Ifa and Mabel about the fact that you went to Lakana. Let’s talk again sometime.”

“Yeah… Ah, but that guy doesn’t have to be with you.”

“Grey is really terrible. I was surprised too. As soon as he saw Amiyu-san in uniform, he said ‘Umako (horse girl) also had a costume’… He doesn’t know how to treat women. That requires education.”

“Hey, you slapped me like a crazy person that time. I’ll never see you again until you get your rudeness straightened out.”

“Ufufufu”

Amiyu gets into the carriage and gives a small wave to Fiona.

“Bye, Fiona. Thank you so much.”

“Goodbye, Amiyu.”

Fiona then turned to me.

“Goodbye, Seika-sama.”

“….. Fiona”

I let out a breath and called her name.

Fiona nodded her head in confusion.

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my promise, even if it was just for fun.”

Fiona is silent for a moment, then smiles and replies.

“No, don’t worry about it. It was exactly what Seika-sama said. It wasn’t something you would ask for in a game of gambling.”

“Still, a promise is a promise. It is my fault that I couldn’t fulfill it. So …… let me at least do this.”

“……? What……”

Passing in front of a pouting Fiona, i look ahead to the Imperial Castle.

I landed here a little over an hour ago. It would be enough to go back eight blocks.

A small mantra was chanted, the —- space distorted, and countless hitogata were ejected from the phase into the night sky.

As they flew through the air, they were placed regularly around the Imperial Castle.

Eventually, each is connected by a line of spell power, completing a three-dimensional magic circle.

“ओम्　अपाकरोति　पदार्थ　समुद्दिशति　इष्टका　अष्टम　पूर्वम्――――”

I form a sign with both hands and chant the mantra.

“—-वर्ग ह्रीः समय सम्प्रति—-“

It is an out-of-reason technique, comparable to the curse spell of —- reincarnation, which I have used more times than I can count.

“――――लक्ष्य　साधनवस्तु　पशु　आत्मन्――――”

And —- changes began to occur.

The debris of the scattered walls faded and their outlines blurred.

Not just one. All the debris and dust that existed here and there, like the moon reflected on the surface of the water, flickered and disappeared.

Instead, the gates that should have collapsed and the walled towers that had lost all trace of their former glory begin to regain their appearance.

From vague shadows that seemed to disappear if one rubbed one’s eyes, they gradually took on color and were restored to their pre-destroyed forms.

The changes did not stop there.

The walls of the castle that had been melted.

The trees in the gardens that had been torn apart.

And even the soldiers who were —- losing their lives.

With the help of the unreasonable spell, they were restored to their former state every moment.

Eventually, —-.

“…that should do it right?”

I lowered my hand, which had been holding a sign.

The castle had already returned to the state it was in when I visited.

There was no trace of the destruction that had taken place there.

I turned to Fiona and said

“With this, everything should have returned to normal. However, I can’t guarantee the souls of the soldiers.”

Fiona was stunned as if she couldn’t believe the scene in front of her.

But before long, she suddenly becomes frightened and says to me,

“You really did a great job!”

“eh”

“We were just about to settle the matter by saying that there had been an attack by a powerful demon tribe!　All that destruction, all those soldiers’ lives, all that was undone. …… How do you expect me to explain such a thing!”

“Well, it was a …… illusion, or something.”

“Is there such an illusion!　You want them to harass me?”

“No, no, no… no, I thought it was a good idea…”

“Then why didn’t you explain it in advance and do it on your own! It would have been better if you just said a word!”

“Uh…”

“Yeah! You’re like that…”

There, Fiona stopped speaking.

Then she looked at me, who was staring at her fearfully, and with a —- sigh, she smiled as if she had no choice.

“But …… seems like you.”

“…..”

“It’s hard, but …… we’ll make it work. I’ve made you a promise.”

Fiona turned on her heel.

Then she turns around with just her head and tells us.

“Good-bye, Seika-sama. I am sure the time will come when we will meet again.”

******

After watching Fiona return to the imperial castle for a while, I untied my horse from the tree and climbed into the carriage’s driver’s platform.

I hold the reins.

It is a bright night. The horses are calm. There will be no problem getting out.

I just need to check …….

“Seika.”

“From behind me, I hear Amiyu’s voice.”

“…… hmm?”

“I …… honestly haven’t quite wrapped my head around the situation yet.”

“…….”

“What the hell is a Hero?”

“……”

“And what you said to Fiona was just gibberish.”

“…..”

“What?　I almost died?　And I can’t be strong even though I’m a Hero?　And I’m going to get expelled from the school?　I don’t know what’s going on anymore.”

“…..”

“I’m not as smart as you and Ifa. I hope you can explain it to me.”

“……Oh”

“Okay, then. Let’s get away from the capital quickly now. Fiona said we shouldn’t stay too long.”

“Hey, Amiyu……, can I ask you something?

What?’

“How do you move a carriage ……?”

“What about it………..?”

I heard Amiyu leaning forward behind me.

“What? Don’t you know how to move?”

“There’s no way I’d know…!”

“Then why are you sitting on the coachman’s seat?”

“Because you moved over there…”

“Eh…? Wait, wait, I’m starting to get a headache.”

“Amiyu said confusedly.”

“In the first place, what were you planning to do? Why didn’t you tell Fiona that you wanted a coachman as well?”

“There’s no way I could say that, in that atmosphere…!”

It’s too pathetic for me to do all this and leave the rest to her and run away, but after receiving a carriage, i don’t know how to move it.

“Why are you trying to show off at a time like this! Fiona would have prepared it for you right away! Huh… men are really stupid.”

“I have no words to answer”

“I mean, you are a man too.”

“Isn’t that too much?”

“I guess you’re human, I kind of forgot about it… come on.”

Amiyu said while looking up at the coachman’s stand.

“Can you move the carriage?”

“I’ve only done it once. But it’s better than you. Go ahead.”

“I’ll take turns as instructed.”

Amiyu took the reins and she said wryly.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen now.”

“I’m kind of sorry.”

“But I’m looking forward to it. Lacana is a place I’ve always wanted to visit. …… Take care of me from now on, Seika.”

Amiyu taps her reins lightly.

The carriage began to run quietly toward the castle gate of the imperial capital.