Side: Rurua
Right now, I am in the royal capital, waiting for their arrival. We had planned for our "first" official meeting to take place here.
Finally, she arrived at the capital... carrying someone's lifeless body in her arms.
"Rurua!! Thank goodness!! Hurry—please look at Elju!!"
"Seraria-sama, please wait!! This woman is the Saint of that Holy Nation of Rithea—the very country that caused this!! Approaching her carelessly is...!!"
"She is a friend to both me and Elju!! Besides... we have no way to help Elju ourselves!!"
"...!!"
Qual-san glared at me, her face twisted with resentment.
Even I understand this is a natural reaction. Yet, with an expression like she had swallowed a bitter bug, she bowed her head.
"...Please. I beg of you!! Save Elju-sama!!"
His voice was strained, a desperate plea. However, I could not fulfill that expectation. Princess Elju had to die in the public eye.
That didn't mean I would do nothing, though. If I simply let her "die" without an effort, my head might roll right here on the spot.
"...I will give it everything I have!! EXTRA HEAL!!!"
Centering on the blood-stained Princess Elju, a light of healing radiated outward.
"W-What is this...!? Is this the power of the Saint of Rithea!?"
Qual-san gasped in astonishment. It was only natural; I was intentionally expanding the range of the Heal as far as possible. Which meant...
"Ooh!! The pain in my body is vanishing!!"
"Ah!! My child's fever has broken!!"
"My bad back... it doesn't hurt anymore!?"
The light reached beyond the military ranks, touching the citizens of the capital as well.
"R-Rurua!? Control your power!! If you continue like this, you'll be in danger too!!"
Noticing the commotion around us, Seraria-sama tried to stop me.
"N-No!! Elju-sama is... like a little sister to me too!! I will never... give up...!!"
I pour out all my strength, continuing to cast healing magic over a vast area—
"Ah..."
My consciousness fades.
* * *
Side: King Roshure VI
Good grief... even knowing it's a fake, seeing the "corpse" of own daughter is...
I suppose I didn't even need to act to shed tears. My face was already a mess of grief.
"Your Majesty!! As we heard from Loire's own mouth, this was the work of the Holy Nation of Rithea!! Elju-sama was made a sacrificial lamb for that country's national interests!!"
"He is right!! We must inform Gartz of this and strike down Rithea together—no, we must destroy Rithea!!"
"Don't be a fool!! Gartz would surely take the opportunity to team up with Rithea and invade us instead!! Watch your tongue!!"
"Justice is on our side!! What sin did Elju-sama commit?! She only wished to save the people!! We cannot stay silent while she is sacrificed for foreign politics!!"
"Calm down!! That solves nothing!! If we aren't careful, our nation—the very people Elju-sama wished to save—will suffer long-term damage!! Do you understand that!?"
"Then what would you have us do!? Pretend we don't know Rithea was involved?! Don't give me that!!"
The council was in total upheaval in front of me as I played the part of the dazed, broken King.
Naturally. The fact that the Holy Nation of Rithea had been operating behind the scenes had just come to light for the senior ministers. Depending on how we respond, this could further escalate the war.
From Rithea's perspective, they wished to avoid open warfare this time, which is precisely why they resorted to assassination. In other words, they are not in a state where they can afford a full-scale war. If we do not make a move, they will likely remain still and observe
Honestly, since Elju is safe, I want to settle this peacefully. However, most of the ministers—believing her dead—are screaming for an invasion of Rithea. If I were to stop them by royal decree alone, the seeds of internal collapse might sprout again.
Thus, one more piece is needed. A piece to stop this outcry.
"Father, forgive my intrusion during the council!!"
That final piece appears.
"Seraria-sama..."
"Her Highness Princess Seraria..."
The ministers' voices grew quiet.
It was only natural. If asked who grieved Elju's death most in this kingdom, the entire country would answer "Seraria". And there she stood, making no attempt to hide her tear-swollen face as she entered the chamber.
"Will you please hear her out?"
As she says this, the Saintess of Rithea steps forward from behind her.
"Y-You!! How dare you show your face here so brazenly!!"
"Seraria-sama, why?! Why bring the enemy of Elju-sama here!?"
"Everyone, calm yourselves. Rurua-dono, the Saint of Rithea, was a dear friend to Elju. I am told that this time, she disregarded her own safety to save Elju, casting a great magic that even healed those around her. I have no reason to doubt her now."
At this, the ministers slump their shoulders. They, too, had been within the range of Rurua-dono's wide-area heal.
"She came here after learning of the current situation. It must be something of great importance. Will you all hear Rurua-dono out?"
"If Your Majesty says so..."
"...Very well."
After saying that, he gave Rurua-dono a subtle signal with his eyes.
...What a complete farce this was.
However, if they did not do this, the damage would only spread further.
Rithea bears responsibility for this incident, but no matter what, we cannot say outright that Riteria is the cause of this conflict.
Then what should they do?
The Dungeon Master had said this:
『Just pin the blame on whoever's convenient. For example... the Demon King?』
"...This entire conflict. It was all orchestrated by the Demon King."
"Wha—!? Do you think such a ridiculous excuse will pass!?"
"Exactly!! To say such a thing after all this!! Have you no shame!?"
The ministers hurled insults at Rurua-dono, but then, a helping hand arrived.
"Stop this at once!! If it were a conspiracy by Rithea as you claim, then why is Rurua, their Saint, here alone!?" Seraria shouted.
"T-That is..."
"Rurua was planning to visit Elju in secret to teach her new techniques!! If Rithea were plotting, they would never send their own Saint into the middle of it!!"
"T-That's true... there is no advantage for Rithea in Rurua-dono being here right now..."
"Father, you heard them. If Rurua hadn't come, the three nations of Rithea, Roshure, and Gartz would surely have begun an endless war of attrition. I believe in the Saint of Rithea... no, I believe in my friend, Rurua!!"
Seraria looked at me with firm, resolute eyes.
...I think she should have kept up the crying face a bit longer; her bravado is coming through a bit too much...
"Are you sure? There is no guarantee Rurua-dono is telling the truth. She might be lying to get through the moment."
"Rurua shed tears of genuine grief over Elju's death... If she is merely acting to deceive me, then I shall be the one to take her head."
A painful silence filled the council chamber for a long moment.
"...Umu. I choose to believe Seraria and Rurua-dono. For the sake of the late Elju, and to save our many citizens..."
"...I have no objection either."
Once one minister showed support, the others followed suit one by one. Eventually, it was unanimous.
With this, the plan was almost complete.
"Now we must settle matters with Gartz."
"Though we were framed by the Demon King, the fact remains that Loire led an invasion into Gartz. Therefore..."
The meeting shifted toward a ceasefire and reparations for Gartz.
To think he could utilize Rurua-dono's arrival so perfectly. The meeting went almost exactly as he predicted. Now Roshure won't have to waste lives in a pointless war. As a ruler, war is the final resort. While Elju can no longer appear in public, she was originally meant to die—this is a stroke of luck.
The one who suffered most in this affair is likely the Demon King, who did absolutely nothing.
After all, without having done a single thing, three powerful nations are suddenly going to team up against him. Once this matter is settled, Rithea will likely join the alliance with glee. I'm not sure about Gartz, but they will probably lean that way too. To refuse an alliance against the Demon King is practically declaring yourself his ally.
From here on, we'll be focusing on internal affairs for a while...
"That Dungeon Master... what does he plan to do next?"
I had heard his dungeon management policy, but I could not even begin to imagine what direction he would take.
