「Eh?」
「Even so, I did not expect to stand out this much. Well, it’s been a long time; let’s go meet Imeraria.」
Hifumi went off ahead, and Midas hurried to catch up.
A large group of people had gathered by the front gate awaiting the hero’s return.
Whether prompted by a lack of happenings in the past years, and due to the rumor that Hifumi would be soon arriving, the people had gathered at the gate to catch a glimpse of this hero who fought for justice and save the two enslaved “beauties” and the “lovely girl.”
Even when the King had passed away suddenly from illness, the people did not react with such interest; and though the fact that it was a funeral, the castle town’s silence could be attributed to the fact that they took it as a stranger’s problem.
The people even brought out food stalls, displaying the strength of the city’s economic appetite.
「In some sense, I too am a traitor from Vichy, but I had not expected this kind of welcome…」
Alyssa, who was in the cart, began crying from nervousness upon seeing the great uproar that the city was in.
「Seems like we Kasha and I won’t be treated as Goshujin-sama’s extras this time around.」
「Seriously, it will be what it will be. I often don’t understand what Goshujin is thinking, but I can’t do anything about it at this point.」
From Hifumi and Midas’ conversation, the three understood that they too had to accompany Hifumi to the castle. Which caused them to worry.
Sitting in the coachmen’s seat, having just admitted to giving up on understanding Hifumi’s ways, Kasha felt anxious to enter the Castle for the first time.
And while the wheels of the carriage turned, the gates opened releasing a flood people, who, as if finally having found Hifumi’s group, raised their voices.
「Kasha. Stop for a second in front of the gate」
「Understood」
Nodding to Hifumi’s instructions, Kasha dropped the speed.
And coming straight to the gate, stopping his horse, Hifumi addressed the crowd.
「Open me a path! I must go atone for my sins to Her Highness Imeraria!」
The people, who had been awaiting a hero’s triumphant return, were bewildered by his words. They turned to each other, murmuring.
「I have heard from the knights who had come to meet me. That you have come to accept me most favorable. And you have my gratitude! But, I have crossed the border, and killed a man to save a little girl. Thus, I have exceeded my authority and betrayed Her Highness’ trust… For this reason, I have come to confess my sin and accept my punishment!」
The commotion only exasperated.
「But these girls are not at fault! So I have come to tell Her Highness! Should I perish at the gallows tomorrow, I but ask that you welcome these girls warmly in my place!」
Imploring the people with grand gestures, o how did Hifumi appear to the people! Although he too was a noble, for the sake of the people… no, for the sake of slaves and people of another country he was willing to accept a punishment, and to save them—appear before the queen.
Moreover, upon his urging Arisa and Origa leaned out of the carriage. Including the driver, these were the girls he intended to protect; their young faces evoked in the people a desire to protect the girls.
「Those children are the slaves you say…」
「They were made slaves by those bastards at Vichy you know!」
「That knight-sama, though he is a little short, what a wonderful man」
「His aura is very different from other knights, no?」
「They were going to kill that little girl?」
「What demons those bastards at Vichy are!」
A murmur of truth and gossip spread among the crowd, but every mouth sang Hifumi praise and expressed pity for Origa and the other girls.
While the murmur continued to spread, Hifumi urged his horse forward – intending to meet the Queen – and bowed slightly requesting the people to clear him the way.
The gathering parted creating a path from the gate all the way to the royal castle.
And with a humble expression on his faith, Hifumi continued forward.
When he looked back, he saw Kasha frozen from anxiety in the coachman’s seat, and Midas’ corps with a sour expression on their faces.
As they advanced through the street, myriad voices called to Midas’ group asking them to save Hifumi. Unable to accept nor deny the request, the knights decided to avoided making eye contact with anyone in the crowd which only increased the people’s anxiety; as a result, the crowd only grew louder.
(The knights too are unused to this, huh. Now then, what are the Queen’s thoughts?)
When Hifumi raised his gaze to the castle he saw a single girl standing on the balcony.
When Hifumi passed through the castle gate, the steel gate closed behind him.
Since he was advanced leisurely through the city, the people faithfully led him all the way to the castle. On the other side of the gate, some loudly petitioned the crown for mercy while others loudly criticized it.
Hifumi got off his horse, and the three girls exited the carriage.
「Please leave the horses to me. If you please, meet with her Highness」
「Alright」
Leaving the horses to Midas, they were lead into the castle by a single knight.
The knights on the inside, unlike the time when Hifumi had first left the castle, were now looking at him with gazes full of wonder.
Since their gazes were also focused on Alyssa, Origa, and Kasha, the girls felt ill at ease.
「・・・Please wait in this room」
The knight said, and the maid opened the door.
Prior to entering, Hifumi said,
「Thank you for showing me in. But the three people hiding inside the room, you’re a bother: get out」
Feeling the presence of a few people inside the room, the maid look inquisitively at Hifumi—having no idea what he was talking about, but the knight started to tremble.
Pajo and Midas would not do something like this, but the first division of the castle knights must not have heard yet of Hifumi’s abilities.
「W-what are you…」
「Don’t play dumb… well, I guess it’s fine」
After entering the room, Hifumi stabbed his blade into the wall behind a decorative vase and the wall on the other side—decorated by a painting.
He could hear some muffled voices on the other side, and blood flowed from the floor.
「The guy in the ceiling seems to have run off, huh. You—I won’t be as forgiving next time」
Stunned by Hifumi’s performance, the knights looked towards the place where their comrades now lay dead, and left in a panic.
The maid, unable to understand the transpired, just stood dumbfounded.
「Could I get some tea? For a few people」
「P-please wait a moment!」
Calling out to the maid, Hifumi flopped onto the sofa. He didn’t really have an attitude of someone who came to attone for his sins.
「・・・You haven’t forgiven any of them」
「I did forgive that guy, though?」
While retorting to Kasha’s comment, talking about the ceiling guy whom he let go, Hifumi tossed the katana into the storage.
「You guys sit down, too. We still have lots of work to do」
Perhaps wondering why the tea was late, Hifumi stretched his body with an aloof expression on his face; seeing this, the girls’ anxiety could only grow.
「Her Royal Highness, Queen Imeraria!」
While Hifumi was casually sipping some tea, a maid knocked on the door and so announced.
And after the maid moved from the door, Imeraria entered. Seeing two pools of blood, she frowned.
「Please have the knight who escorted him here brought before later」
She told the maid who placed the tea at her seat, and ordered that no one is to enter this chambe
r for a while. Imeraria then sat facing Hifumi.
She was just as dignified and beautiful as when they had first met.
「It’s been a while, eh. I heard you’re handling things pretty well around here」
「If possible, I would have preferred not to meet you… but I have caused you great inconvenience with Duke Lagraen’s and Viscount Hagenti’s incidents. Moreover, the men here have also acted excessively…」
Imeraria directed her gaze at the blood stained floorboards.
「Don’t sweat it. Besides, I’m putting your third knight corps to good use」
「Now then, you have something to tell me?」
「Ah, before that, I believe there’s something on your mind, no?」
Sighing heavily, the Queen’s eyes wandered off Hifumi and focused on Alyssa.
「So you would be Alyssa, right? I have received the report」
「Y-yes! Umm… what… what is my fate?」
With a gentle smile, Imeraria tried to convey as much gentleness in her voice as possible,
「Don’t worry. You will be treated as this country’s citizen. If you so desire, how about working here in the castle?」
「Umm, about that… I have yet to repay my debt to Hifumi-san….」
「I see. Feel free to come to my side at any time」
「T-thank you…」
Smiling at Alyssa one more time, Imeraria returned her gaze to Hifumi.
「You have handled things well, I see」
「Yeah, somehow」
「That was sarcasm」
「I know」
Sipping her tea, Imeraria continued.
「I have received Pajo’s report. Since it came from her, it covers the information contained in the documents in your possession. And thanks to the commotion outside, my hands are rather tied, so I’ll have to recognize Hifumi-sama as a hero and have our ambassadors to Vichy and Holanto pass along some unpleasant news to them」
Moreover, Imeraria continued,
「Origa-san, Kasha-san」
「Yes!」
Origa replied while Kasha stood poised.
「Because of this country’s putrid nobles you have found yourself degraded to slaves; as a representative of the royal family who controls the nobles, I express my deepest apology. I apologize for my inability to do so publicly and hope that you will accept my apology」
「Your Highness, while we do regret becoming slaves, we have not faced any misfortune after being bought by Goshujin-sama. Moreover, we were able, with these hands of ours, to carry out revenge…」
Kasha merely nodded at Origa’s words, unable to decide whether or not she had the right to address the Queen herself. Honestly, however, like Alyssa, she was rather poor with words.
「Your words put my heart at ease. Since yours is a special case, I will have the castle magicians release your slave crest. We’ll have this done immediately, so please live freely from now on」
「We thank you for showing such unexpected benevolence」
Origa and Kahsa deeply lowered their heads.
「Furthermore, I would like to have Hifumi-sama become a Viscount and rule over Fokalore and the surrounding villages in place of Viscount Hagenti.」
「Oh? I have come to receive a punishment though?」
「Please stop joking around. If we were to punish Hifumi we would lose the goodwill of the people. Did you seriously expect me to do something so thoughtless?」
Hifumi was once again taken aback by how well Imeraria carried herself as a statesperson. At the same time, he decided to make as much use of her as he could.
「My bad. I’ll gladly accept the title. Nor could I hope for a better land」
「Hope? Are you planning something again?」
Imeraria asked with concern on her face; Hifumi merely sipped some tea and answered.
「I will crush Vichy. So gruesomely that they will never think to cross paths me again」
And the look on his face stole everyone’s breath away…
Chapter 25: Take A Look Around
The Vichy central committee is run by 5 committees representing the 5 large cities, popularly abbreviated to “Centre” in Vichy.
Basically every city recognises it’s own local authority that has a structure to it.
A liason from the centre is sent to each city, while on the surface a perfect observation system for the centre, a perfect cover for spies. For that reason, a city-state trying to withdraw from Vichy had not happened for more than 50 years….
「 What on earth…? What is going on! 」
In the central committee’s simply decorated yet dignified conference room, a corpulent fat man raised his voice.
「 This clamour is pointless. First it is necessary to gather information. 」
「 In any case, the representative for Arusel is unaccounted for. According to the observer sent, most of the soldiers seem to have been killed. Collecting information will take time. 」
「 While we’re being slow, Orsongrande is possibly starting something. 」
「 Impossible. There is no reason for strife, nor is there any indication of such from their goods circulation. 」
The central committee members exchanged several opinions, “It seems that many of Arosel’s troops have been murdered” being the predominant theme.
Legally speaking, protests should be lodged with Orsongrande, but cannot for lack of evidence.
「 Excuse me! 」
A soldier rushed into the unsettled conference room carrying an official document.
「 What? We’re in the middle of a meeting right now. 」
「 That is…. A letter of protest has reached our country from Orsongrande. 」
「 Letter of protest!? 」
A man stood up hitting the desk, his large stomach wobbling, and snatched the document from the soldier.
「 Th-This… 」
Seeing the man at a loss for words, a female committee member took the document from him and looked it over.
「 Let me see… 」
According to the document from Orsongrande, the committee of Horant had obtained magic tools that twisted human nature, the city-state had also issued instructions for the death of an innocent woman. Furthermore, a protest against using these magic tools for aggressive behaviour within Orsongrande territory, backed up with evidence and an eyewitness.
Moreover, Orsongrande called out the high-handedness of the city-state’s central committee over time and questioning the independent actions carried out under their jurisdiction, calling for allies to separate from Vichy, ending with telling the central committee to come down hard on this in the name of justice.
「 This is no protest, it’s a declaration of war! 」
「 Why in the world…. 」
「 Immediately contact every city and tell them not to reply to this joke of a protest from Orsongrande. 」
「 Definitely….. You! Immediately notify our contacts in every city! 」
「 Yes! Understood! 」
The soldier who brought the document immediately rushed out of the conference room.
「 This is a great danger for Vichy. If by some chance a city-state emerges considering separating….. 」
「 I think that is quite unlikely. I don;t know about here, but establishing an independent nation won;t be considered in other city-states. 」
「 Is that so? ….. Considering the military forces, the beastmen tribe area and the Horant side have more troops present. If you think about it, our country will not be affected to that extent. 」
Relief filled the conference room for a while, but the interaction with Orsongrande had yet to be decided.
The meeting ended with the decision of cooperation for the time being, albeit half-heartedly.
The future may have been different if they had taken a proactive defense regarding Orsongrande, but with common sense was usually disregarded in favour of possible selfish gains.
It was Hifumi’s second da
y at the castle. They had stayed over at the castle.
「 The assembly of the allied city-states is dispersed everywhere, an easy way to maintain stability and cooperation. With the right cooperation, economy grows well. However, every city-state will defend itself, and the patriotic feeling that every “country” has is much lower. 」
Hifumi explained while cheerfully munching on a steak in the morning.
The instigator of the protest document to Vichy was obviously him.
Sitting with him were Princess Imeraria and Alyssa. Origa and Kasha had been released from slavery.
Even though they were freed, they had not left Hifumi. With their revenge still unaccomplished, they were now employed exclusively by Hifumi as adventurers to travel with him. They strongly wished to accompany him so, Hifumi lightly said 「 Well then, you’re hired. For now, until Beirevra is caught and killed. 」
Alyssa was employed as an attendant to Hifumi, who was treated as a viscount. At any rate, she was relieved at having obtained a social position in this country. Once the promotion ceremony ends, they would go to the territory.
「 However, would the tentative explanation received be enough, I wonder….. 」
In contrast to Hifumi, Imeraria was clearly uneasy, reflected in her appetite.
The day Hifumi had returned to the castle, Imeraria made the document to send to Vichy as proposed by Hifumi. It was delivered to Vichy’s central committee via the ambassador to Vichy who received it by pigeon and a fast horse. It would probably reach Vichy that day or the next. That was the fastest level of communication in this world.
At the time, Hifumi told them to send the documents to each city in Vichy before the central committee began to move.
「 In any case, it is impossible to keep the movements of every city under surveillance. Unawares, the neighbouring city may be an enemy, amusing, isn’t it. Besides, on examining the documents, the centre has a large number of troops. Due to this, each city will send their agents everywhere there is great influence and financial strength. The central committee will desperately scramble for control. 」
Imeraria was unable to object to Hifumi’s words. After a brief consultation with the Prime Minister, it was hurriedly arranged. Though now doubts have come up with time. At the time, it was a hasty action, but at this point, could it be likened to a declaration of war?
Summoned Slaughterer - Book 2 Page 5