Side: Rurua
Am I... properly smiling right now?
Is my face twitching or stiff?
Right now... that's my biggest concern.
So, what's this about...?
"Thank you very much!! To think that we would be saved by the Saintess-sama herself!! So you weren't dead after all!! Please, allow us to repay this kindness!! If it pleases you, please let me serve as your escort until we return to Rithea!!"
"We cannot express enough gratitude for you saving our unskilled disciple. It would be worrying for the disciple to be alone. Therefore, please allow us to join as guards as well. We beg of you. We are adventurers of some renown. We hear that things are quite complicated. If you need any extra hands, please use us."
With those words, Yuki-san and Kurse-san bowed their heads exactly as planned.
""......""
Mabu-san and Raiya-san remained silent, merely kneeling and lowering their heads.
Nothing but discomfort... Yes, this is nothing but discomfort!
But of course, this discomfort is something only we can feel...
"Rurua-sama, these people are, in a sense, definitely uninvolved in this matter. Therefore, using the fact that we are short-handed, wouldn't it be best to entrust Rurua-sama's protection to them?"
Arshtelle-sama, the current Saintess, suggested pushing Yuki-san and the others as guards as if it were a brilliant idea.
Yes, exactly, Alshtel-sama. Just as you said—in a situation where we don't know who is friend or foe, adding these adventurers who are clearly unrelated is indeed a clever move.
Thankfully, Arshtelle-sama noticed this fact and suggested adding Yuki-san and the others as pawns without me having to prompt her.
It's all according to plan, Arshtelle-sama.
...Exactly as those two over there, Yuki-san and Kurse-san, predicted.
"Yes, you're right, Arshtelle-sama. If you're willing, rather than just for the journey, how about we hire them as guards until things are somewhat settled?"
"To hire us is..."
"Wait, we don't have that much savings either. Why not accept Rurua-sama's generous offer?"
"But..."
"Don't you think it would be more problematic if we were too hungry to properly guard her?"
"..."
...Ah, please stop that acting, Kurse-san.
What kind of situation could possibly result in Yuki-san being silenced like that!?
That man is overbearing and self-willed. He doesn't read the room. He simply goes his own way.
"The current Saint of Rithea, I, Arshtelle, shall hire you as guards. As Kurse-dono over there said, there is no point in having guards if they cannot move in a crisis. Yuki, was it? Your spirit is very pleasant; it is quite reassuring in the current situation. If you truly wish to repay your debt, please accept this offer."
"Yes! Since the current Saintess herself says so, I have no reason to refuse!! I will gladly accept the duty of guard as my job!!"
Yuki-san thanked Arshtelle-sama with an expression of pure joy.
...Ahh, I feel like I'm going to faint.
"Rurua-sama, I understand you feel bad about involving them, but to break through this situation, we need many hands. Please understand..."
"...No, it is as Arshtelle-sama says. I don't expect to get through this peacefully at this point. They are, in a sense, trustworthy. They will be good cards to play."
"Yes, it is fortunate that they are adventurers. There's no reason for them to be connected to the Hardliners, and there's the fact that they didn't attack Rurua-sama. Depending on how we use them, we can move to our advantage. As Rurua-sama said, they are good cards."
Arshtelle-sama, not just good cards, I think they... Yuki-san... will be the final blow.
While finalizing future plans with her, I recalled the events before this situation began...
* * *
"Yo. We're back."
"We've returned."
Mobu-san and Kiyu-san returned to the inn we are currently renting.
"It's been a day, but we finished the quest as planned."
"How was it, Kiyu? Did you figure out the 'holding back' part?"
"Well, somehow, I guess. How about it? Do I look like a rookie?"
Kiyu-san said this while holding his sword unnaturally. It was a grip that looked clumsy and unpracticed, unlike the dignified way he usually held it.
"Hmm, there's still a bit of awkwardness, but with your build, you'd probably be seen as a rookie."
"Indeed. Though internally, he's the most dangerous one among us."
"Still, training not as a beginner, but to look like one... we're doing some pretty strange things."
Yes, they had been training to make Kiyu look like a rookie. And in the process, they were clearing quests. It must be quite a nuisance for the monsters targeted for subjugation.
"Kiyu-san, what about Yuki-san and the others?"
"It seems a problem occurred at the dungeon, so it's taking time to deal with."
"A problem...?"
"There's no need to worry too much. It was just an intruder who got captured, which delayed their training schedule. They'll come here tomorrow to finalize the details. Though, we arrived earlier than expected."
"Four days by fast horse, and we did it in half a day. Thanks to that, we can properly prepare the performance instead of improvising. And thanks to Kiyu, we even know the enemy's position."
"At that speed, even if they hurry, they'll arrive around midday the day after tomorrow. A group moves much slower, after all. Unlike us, they don't have a vehicle."
Thanks to the vehicle, we were able to reach this village much earlier than expected, giving us time to plan and act in detail.
Truly, Yuki-san is someone who walks a completely different path in many ways...
"Kurse-san, how do you plan to stage this act?"
"Let's see. I need to finalize things with Yuki, but the broad strokes won't change, so I'll explain it to everyone."
At Kurse-san's words, we gathered around.
"First, let's confirm our goal for this village, not the overall one. Coville, do you understand?"
"Hmm, it's about getting Rurua to meet that Arshtelle person, right?"
"Yes. But Arshtelle has guards around her. Hardliners are definitely among them. If Rurua-sama shows her face carelessly, she could be silenced before Arshtelle even notices. We need to prevent that."
"But that's what I'm here for, right?"
"Yeah. But there's no need to turn everything into a fight. So we'll stage an act. Kiyu gets seriously injured during the quest, and we carry him back to the village. By then, Arshtelle will have arrived to inspect, but the timing will be either right after we enter the village or at Rurua-sama's grave. Then we shout, 'Someone, please help our comrade!!' No matter how Arshtelle moves, Rurua-sama will come first and heal Kiyu. Anyone who can use healing magic to some extent can tell what spell was cast just by seeing it, right, Rurua-sama?"
"Yes, Extra Heal, for example, is a very recognizable healing spell."
"Then by using that, everyone will know she's no ordinary person. Seeing that, Arshtelle will request a meeting with Rurua-sama. At that point, Coville steps in and says: 'We need to hurry back to Rithea, but you're too soft-hearted!!' That way, we can also show that the fairies are cooperating voluntarily, not being forced. After that, it depends on Rurua-sama's negotiations, but ideally, we'll be hired as her escorts. If it goes that far, it's a complete success."
"I see... In that process, I can announce to everyone that I am alive, and I can even get Rurua-sama's endorsement. Rather than trying to seek a meeting sneakily, declaring I'm alive publicly makes assassination harder, doesn't it?"
"That's the idea. Since Coville is there too, they won't be able to easily resort to assassination."
"Hmm, I don't really get it, but if that means we can all go and beat up the people who bullied Rurua, then yes!!"
Those were the things we discussed, and the result of the meeting with Yuki-san was...
* * *
"Arshtelle-sama, is it really alright to entrust Rurua-sama's protection to such youngsters?"
A Rithean Royal Guard expressed his grievance regarding our decision.
"You understand, don't you? Right now, within Rithea, there are fools lurking who tried to assassinate Rurua-sama. To put it bluntly, those youths only need to serve as shields. If they can buy us even a little time, we can handle the rest. Isn't that right?"
"I see. Rather than placing someone whose loyalty is unknown, it's better to have youngsters who are clearly allies and easy to handle?"
"Yes. Those adventurers who are his mentors are also quite skilled. It will be convenient to use them together."
"I see. My apologies for the unnecessary advice."
"No, it is fine. With this, we can silence the Hardliners. Rurua-sama, come, let us return to the Holy Kingdom quickly and stop their tyranny."
"Yes, that is why I have returned."
Arshtelle-sama... it's fine that you intend to use them, but honestly, you are the one being used.
I was swayed by the carriage, my head aching over the things that are likely to happen from here on out.
