Side: Seraria Nou Roshure
I never thought I'd end up standing on a theatrical stage. I'm not fond of "farce", but if it's for Elju's sake, I have no problem with it. My little sister is my treasure.
Soon, it will be my turn.
There are three monitors in front of me. One shows that bastard father, one shows the soldiers inside the dungeon, and the last one—
『Loire-sama!! E-Emergency!! Please return to the castle at once!! The king... and the princess have been assassinated!! The castle is in complete chaos!!』
『W-What!? The king....!? The princess too!? Understood—I'll gather the troops and return immediately! Apologies, but please relay that I, Loire, am returning to the capital at once!!』
『Leave it to me! Then, I'll excuse myself!』
Yes—the last monitor shows Loire, who is waiting outside the dungeon.
Yuki had designated small animals as protected units and used them for reconnaissance... how cunning.
He's strong in a completely different way than I am. But his plan doesn't stop there—he's deliberately showing this footage to the soldiers inside the dungeon.
Unaware of that, Loire watches the messenger leave his camp and smirks.
『Minister Loire, with this, Roshure has practically fallen into our hands.』
『Umu. The Holy Nation of Rithea only needed Princess Elju eliminated—but that alone would be dull. I must receive proper benefits for my cooperation... namely, this country itself!!』
『But what shall we do with the soldiers left behind in the dungeon?』
『Leave them. They'll die eventually. Even if they somehow join forces with Princess Elju, it won't matter. If they somehow make it back to the capital, we'll just arrest and execute them.』
『As "foolish soldiers enchanted by a Dungeon Master," I presume?』
『Precisely! You understand well. Well, even if they did team up, there's no way the Princess would actually reach the capital.』
『Oh? And why is that?』
『Fufu... well, that's a pleasure for later. Come, the good news has arrived as scheduled. We're going to be busy. Those who stayed in the capital failed to prevent the King's assassination. And then, I, Loire, shall return—having gallantly suppressed the dungeon at great sacrifice—to save the day for the King!』
『So even the soldiers' sacrifices were already accounted for. Once you return to the capital, your position will be unshakable, Loire-sama.』
『That is correct. Everything has been planned from the very beginning!』
...What an idiot. I didn't think he'd expose himself so brazenly. But in a way, this is the one place he thinks he can speak freely—no doubt the 500 or so soldiers remaining out there are his own lackeys.
"King Roshure... how are you feeling right now?" Yuki asks.
『...Don't ask...』
"Well, get your mental state back in order before Seraria and the others return. I'll leave the rest to Elju and Seraria."
Yuki looks at Elju and me. We nod back.
Alright, it's showtime.
"Did you hear that, soldiers of Roshure?! That is the truth!! You were merely puppets in Loire's scheme!! I will not hold your past actions against you. Rather, I thank you for your loyalty!! If you believe in me, Seraria Nou Roshure, and—"
"Elju Lau Roshure! If you believe our words, please raise your swords!!"
The other side of the monitor is deathly silent until one soldier steps forward and raises her sword.
...It's Qual, the captain of my personal unit.
『My loyalty lies with Roshure and Seraria-sama!!』
『『『UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!』』』
Responding to that cry, the soldiers raise their voices and their swords.
"Qual, we are heading to your location. From there, we march on the capital to take Loire's head!!"
『Understood!!』
* * *
When Elju and I finally reached the soldiers' position, the captain of the Royal Guard, Ares Lester, had handed his sword to Qual and was kneeling before us.
"Qual, this is?"
"Royal Guard Captain Ares deeply regrets being unable to stop Loire's schemes and is requesting punishment."
"...Ares."
"I will accept any punishment. I am no different from one who helped kill the Father and Sister I was meant to protect. You may take my head here and now."
"I will not cut you."
"...Why...?"
"You heard Loire's words earlier. It is true that my father and sister—the King and Princess—may have 'died'. But the country is not over yet!! Ares... why did you take up that sword?! Was it a sword meant only to protect a King?!"
"That is..."
"It was for the people. To protect the country, to protect the King, is also to protect the people. If that feeling remains in you, take up your sword once more, Ares!!"
"Ha! This sword... I swear to swing it once more for the country, for the Princess, and for the people!!"
Phew. I managed to push through. I'm no good at making speeches in place of that crappy old man.
『Heh, you can tell she's actually been on a battlefield. That was cool.』
『Ho, Seraria has grown this much?』
『Fufufu, want to try being Queen in my place?』
Urgh! I made it so I could hear their voices just in case, but they are so annoying!!
* * *
Side: Aria Ras Roshure
"Now, is it our turn?"
"Yes, Dear Father."
Reports of the march from Seraria and the report of the "incident" have arrived. All that remains is dealing with Loire.
The assassination was prevented, but we were told that if we left it at that, Loire might flee or find an excuse. So, we accepted a certain proposal.
"To think we would faking our own deaths..."
"I think it's an effective plan, Dear Father. If we don't catch Loire here, it will leave a lasting grudge. Once caught, even if he doesn't confess, we can execute him under whatever charges we see fit."
As we were talking, a soldier arrived to report.
"Minister Loire has arrived!! The perimeter is set as planned. But truly, for the King himself to play the role of a corpse..."
He looks at my father with a worried expression.
"Don't worry. My sword skills are still intact despite my age. I can handle someone like Loire by myself!! So, how is it? Do I look like a proper corpse with this makeup?"
"A-Ah, yes!! It is a magnificent death-face!!"
"Fufufu... 'a magnificent death-face', he says. Dear Father?"
"M-My apologies!! That was rude of me!!"
"Hmph. Aria looks much the same. Now, we shall play the part of the deceased. I leave the rest to you."
"Ha! Leave it to me!!"
The soldier leaves. He'll surely go far, being able to keep up with our jokes like that.
"Still, to lie down next to you like this... I wonder how long it's been."
"Who knows? You've always been so busy, Father."
"In a way, I must thank Yuki for coming up with this plan."
"Yes."
Then, footsteps echo in the hallway, and the door is thrown open without hesitation.
"Your Majesty!! Princess Aria!!"
"P-Please calm down!! Minister Loire!!"
"Silence!! How can I be calm?! ...It can't be... the King, in a place like this..."
Loire shouts as he walks toward us. I can't tell because my eyes are closed, but I wonder what kind of face he has the nerve to show us right now?
"...My apologies. Could you leave us? I wish to speak with the King one last time..."
"...Please do nothing rash."
Loire's attendants vanish. They'll likely be captured as soon as they leave this area.
Silence fills the room for a while. Then, a stifled laugh is heard.
"...Kukuku! Hey, King Roshure. You moved exactly according to my plans until the very end. Now the contract with Rithea is complete. The fake saint Elju is dead, and the Roshure royals are all gone. Even if Elju and Seraria return, I'll handle them. You can all go to the afterlife together!!"
...With him talking so easily, I won't even need to explain things to the other officials. I'd love to see the faces of the high-ranking ministers waiting in the next room.
"...Fuu, I suppose I have grown old. To not kill a man like you right here, Loire."
"Huh? K-King Roshure!?"
By the time I opened my eyes, father had already swung his favorite sword. Loire's arm fell onto the carpet with a thud.
"UGYAAAAAAH!! H-How!?"
"I have no obligation to explain things to someone like you. Take him away!! Treat him just enough so he doesn't die."
"Understood!!"
Just like that, Loire was taken away.
"It seems there was no turn for me." I say, sitting up.
"Don't worry. If anything, what comes next is the main event."
The moment Father spoke, the door opened again. The soldier from before had a look of "true panic" on his face.
"R-Report!! It appears there was a spy of Loire's among the troops Seraria-sama persuaded!!"
"Hmm, that's expected. Why are you so panicked?"
"T-That is... during the march, they drew their sword against Seraria-sama and Elju-sama. Seraria-sama was unharmed, but..."
"...Don't tell me!?"
"E-Elju-sama was pierced by the blade... and has passed away!!"
