Memories spilled from Ion-san's lips.

To someone like me, who lived in modern Japan, it was a story lacking a sense of reality.

Of course, she likely wasn't lying or making things up—but it all seemed more like a story than reality. And yet, the person who had lived through it was standing right in front of me.

Ion—Princess Lucreion—was born as the eldest daughter of the Emperor of the Hanouk Empire.
Even though the person who was at the center of it all was right in front of me.

The details can be skipped, but she had apparently lived a typical princess's life.

...Until she turned ten.

In this world—or more precisely, in the Empire—when a child reaches ten, they receive a blessing at the temple. Along with that comes their Vocation. This is no exception, even for the Imperial Family.

Ion-san turned ten and received her blessing.

Since it was fundamentally an internal ritual, it was held in a relaxed atmosphere with family and relatives gathered.

Along with the Emperor (her father), her mother (the Empress), and her two half-brothers, it was apparently a solemn yet peaceful affair.

However, the content of the blessing—or rather, the Vocation she received—was the problem.

The Rare Vocation: [General].

A Vocation that hadn't manifested even in her two older brothers—Ion-san received the same Vocation as her father.

Ion-san was the child of the legal wife, while the two brothers were children of concubines.

Furthermore, the two brothers held somewhat plain Vocations, and they felt inferior because of it.

The relatives attending the ceremony got swept up in the excitement of Ion-san's Rare Vocation. From that day on, they blabbed about it to everyone, and Ion-san's standing became incredibly delicate the moment she received that blessing.

Ion-san was the child of the Empress and third in the line of succession.

...Even so, Ion-san was a woman. And she had two older brothers.

No matter how rare her Vocation was, or how much she was the child of the legal wife, the future intended for Ion-san was to be married off to a neighboring country in a political marriage. In fact, that was exactly how it was supposed to be.

—But that's not how it turned out.

Ion-san, somewhat innocently, wanted to study as a "General" and consulted her father about it.

This wasn't particularly strange. A Vocation is the path one should walk, granted by God. If that is the case, then follow it. It was natural to think that way.

At the time, the Empire was in the middle of a war.

In a conflict called the Erbaste Dispute (or something like that), the Empire had almost been outmaneuvered by an all-female mercenary group. Thanks to the efforts of the mercenary group "Scarlet Wedge," the war ended in a stalemate, and rewards were being distributed.

The leader of that group was a [Paladin] famous for also holding the Vocation of [General].

Isaac Maithry.

Just because his daughter had the same Vocation as him, the Emperor couldn't personally oversee her studies. He didn't have the time, and doing so might spark rumors that he had chosen his daughter as his successor.

Therefore, the arrow of choice landed on Isaac, who was the talk of the Imperial Capital at the time.

Apparently, no one else in the capital besides the Emperor and Isaac actually possessed the [General] Vocation while actively working in a capacity that matched it. That was how rare the [General] Vocation was.

Normally, in any country, those with rare and useful Vocations are protected and educated by the state to work for the government. It wasn't clear what kind of background Isaac had or why he was working as a mercenary, but if a man was a [Knight], he could join the national knights. If he was a [Paladin] or a [General], the state would usually welcome him with the highest honors.

Even so, "Generals" were so scarce they couldn't be found. This was despite the fact that several "Paladins" were found every year.

In that regard, Ion-san and Isaac were both highly scrutinized figures.

Rumors like "Will Princess Lucreion inherit the throne?" apparently flew all over the capital.

In this world, the disparity between men and women is small. So, the possibility of Ion-san inheriting the throne was viewed as normal.

Well, she had succession rights, so it was expected. Rumors were bound to start. However, that was merely an "if it comes to it" scenario. Even if she was third in line, if a younger brother were born, her rank would simply be pushed down.

Isaac Maithry, appointed as her tutor, was apparently an upright man.

If the Emperor himself asked him to be his daughter's educator, he couldn't say no. Or rather, the truth isn't certain. He might have thought it a good way to put the Emperor in his debt.

And so, the days of Isaac acting as a tutor and holding study sessions continued for several years. Since Isaac also had his duties as a mercenary commander, the sessions were held once a week for half a day.

Of course, they weren't locked in a room alone; they were always surrounded by several maids, other teachers, and Imperial Knights.

Even so, for Ion-san, those were days of bliss.

After the Erbaste Dispute, large-scale wars in the Empire decreased, with only occasional skirmishes occurring at the borders.

Ion-san's talents as a [General] blossomed just as her Vocation predicted. Moreover, she was highly popular among the Imperial soldiers. Even Isaac, who normally would have been a target of jealousy, built good relationships with the knights and soldiers, perhaps due to his charisma.

On the domestic front, the country was beginning to regain stability as the war settled down.

Ion-san was apparently blissfully happy during those days. And why wouldn't she be? She was truly living like a princess.

A father who was Emperor, a mother who was Empress, two prince brothers, a handsome tutor, plus knights and soldiers.

The wars had paused, and peaceful days had arrived.

—But those days changed completely when her father fell ill.

Ion-san's father was still young and robust.

No matter how often he went to war, he was in a position where two personal Elf guards were always standing by with Spirit Stones in hand. If he was injured, he was healed the moment it happened. Even his age was maintained in his early thirties using Spirit Stones.

He collapsed, but he didn't die.

The cause was a collapse due to poor health of unknown origin, but even so, it was a major crisis in this world. That meant, essentially, he had suffered a disease or injury that even an Elf could not heal.

Regardless, the Emperor was down, and the succession issue—which everyone thought was far in the future—suddenly erupted.

Normally, a male descendant of the direct line inherits the throne. In this case, it was expected that Ion-san's brother—specifically the eldest—would inherit, or failing that, the second son.

However, there was one path where that would not happen.

—If the current Emperor personally designated his successor.

* * *

"So, Ion-san, you were the one nominated for the throne?"

A princess with the same Vocation as the Emperor, someone with talent that had clearly blossomed and who was popular with both the military and the commoners. It didn't seem strange at all that her father would nominate her. I couldn't say for sure, though, since I knew nothing about what kind of people her two older brothers were.

"No... my father had no such intention, and neither did I... But there were factions who believed such a possibility existed. Looking back, I realize now that I was simply being used."

"Meaning?"

"...This is where the fault lies with me, but I was instigated. I went to my father and begged him... to let me marry Zack..."

Wow. It's like something straight out of a storybook.

Rebecca-san's gaze has dropped past sub-zero and reached absolute zero, but there's not much I can do about that. She's likely dealing with a lot of complicated emotions right now.

"So, what happened? Isaac-san was a mercenary; surely there was a significant social gap, right?"

"Yes. Normally, it would never have been permitted... However, Zack led one of the most prominent mercenary groups in the country and, above all, possessed a rare talent. That might be why—as tragic as it turned out—it happened at all."

Apparently, the fact that Ion-san was head-over-heels for Isaac was a total open secret. Isaac, given his position, didn't show it outwardly, but according to Ion-san, they had a pretty good thing going.

When the Emperor fell ill, Ion-san was fifteen. A bit young for marriage, but old enough for an engagement. Still, Ion-san was a high-ranking princess. No matter how great a guy Isaac-san was, he was still just a mercenary. She hadn't actually thought a marriage was possible—until someone whispered that there was a way. Ion-san was completely sold on the idea.

"Perhaps because my father was bedridden, he gave his permission with surprising ease. It likely helped that he never took much interest in me to begin with."

"Then there shouldn't have been any problem, right?"

"No, that was when my brother—my eldest brother—intervened. He claimed that if Zack was to marry into the imperial family, he must be given a status befitting the role, and as a brother, he had to verify if Zack was worthy of his sister."

"I see..."

Hmm. That sounds reasonable enough on paper. Honestly, it sounds like a concession. I don't know how "casual" the imperial family in this country is, but even to a Japanese person's sensibilities, a mercenary marrying a princess sounds impossible.

"But it was a trap."

"A trap?"

"My brother had hated me ever since I received my blessing... or rather, since I received the [General] Vocation. He believed my marriage to Zack was just a move to gain a powerful pawn to solidify my foundation so I could become Empress... I only learned that much later, of course."

If she married Isaac, she gained Isaac himself as a powerful ally, along with his entire mercenary group. Plus, a husband-and-wife duo of [Generals]? That is a pretty intimidating power couple. Their popularity with the citizens would have skyrocketed—Isaac was apparently a hottie, and Ion-san (though it's hard to tell with the Prison Crests) is a beauty.

As for the brother's hatred, it was probably because she was the only child of the legal wife, held a rare Vocation, and was a fan favorite. In other words: jealousy. It feels a bit pathetic.

"Now, I can more or less guess. Just as someone tempted me, someone must have tempted my brother as well. My brother proposed a test: to prove Zack's and my love, we had to retrieve a flower called the 'Meridocardia,' which is considered a symbol of love in the mountain regions. He set a deadline and assigned Zack as my guard. However, I was told I must not tell Zack the true purpose of this trial. To prove my resolve, I was forced into a Spirit Contract: I must not tell Zack the truth, and I must return within thirty days... Looking back, it's almost laughable—I was completely overjoyed at the time."

Yeah, I can mostly see where this is going.

But if you didn't know the other person was out to ruin you, it's hard to blame a fifteen-year-old princess for being deceived. As someone with a [Swindler] Vocation, I'd say the "it's the victim's fault for being tricked" argument is pure sophistry. The one doing the tricking is always the one in the wrong.

"At the time... and it's embarrassing to admit, but I didn't even know what a Prison Crest was. The wording of the contract was: 'If the party fails to meet the conditions, they shall bear the Prison Crest.' I didn't even know that meant my blessing would be stripped away..."

Unaware of the stakes and living in a total dream world, Ion-san set off with Isaac and a few attendants. It was about a ten-day carriage ride from the capital to the mountains. A fair distance, but that's just how travel is in this world.

For Ion-san, it was a fun, romantic trip. Her maid even told her her brother was likely just setting up this "trial" as a public performance to save face. Even Zack, while suspicious, accompanied her as a knight, and the journey was completely uneventful.

But once they reached the mountains, everything changed. The "Meridocardia" flower, which they thought would be easy to find, only grew in the deepest parts of the range. It wasn't the kind of thing you could just buy, no matter how much money you had. The deadline was looming. And she couldn't tell Isaac the truth.

Even then, Ion-san didn't panic. She optimistically thought her brother would understand if things went slightly wrong. Plus, a local merchant had promised he could get the flower in a few days, even if it meant missing the deadline slightly.

She hadn't told anyone about the Spirit Contract. It was her "secret trial." If she got the flower and returned home, she could marry Isaac. That was all the fifteen-year-old girl wanted.

But it didn't happen. Ion-san eventually got the flower, but it took much longer than expected. She had underestimated the weight of a Spirit Contract. As someone with a [Merchant] Vocation and a modern Japanese background, I know exactly how terrifying contracts are; I'd never sign a bad one. But Ion-san, the sheltered princess in a dream world, was different.

While they were in the carriage on the way back, the thirty-day limit expired.

"...I still see it in my dreams. The sound of my blessing shattering with a loud pop, the creeping feeling of powerlessness, and the black markings swarming across my entire body."

In that instant, half of her attendants became her enemies. In this world, a Prison Crest holder is no longer considered human. Even if they weren't being malicious, turning a Crest-bearer over to a temple earns you a reward of one gold coin.

"If Zack hadn't taken me and fled, I wouldn't have made it. But because of that, he lost his life... No, that's a lie. It was effectively me who killed him..."

The rest of the story was mostly what I'd heard.

Isaac fled south with Ion-san and a few maids. Along the way, he found a place for them to hide and told them to stay put while he went back to the Capital. He figured if he could get back, he could secure the 100 gold coins needed to dispel the Prison Crest.

But a net had already been cast.

According to Rebecca-san's side of the story, Isaac managed to evade the Imperial soldiers and reach the Capital to save the Princess. By then, he had already been framed for kidnapping her. Ultimately, he couldn't win against overwhelming numbers. To ensure "dead men tell no tales," he was restrained and executed after a sham trial.

As for Ion-san, one of her maids betrayed her a few days later. When villagers came looking for the reward money, she had to flee alone. Fortunately, thanks to her training with Isaac-san as a [General], she was physically fit, and she was wearing travel gear rather than a gown. She kept running and running until she eventually reached Shamash-san in Lucraella.

"...Later, I heard rumors that Zack had been executed and that my father had died of his illness. As Ayase-san said, I have no desire for revenge... If I have any wish at all, it might just be to let my mother know I'm safe. If my brother finds out I'm alive, he'll likely come to kill me."

Ion-san clutched the dagger she had been holding at Shello-san's house. That dagger was identical to the one the Emperor had gifted to Isaac-san; Ion-san had thrown a tantrum until she got one made exactly like it.

"Wait a second... who is this 'instigator' that keeps popping up? Logically, it's the person who benefited most, which would be the eldest son who inherited the throne, right?"

I didn't quite see the value in forcing Ion-san out so aggressively. If the brother just hated her, it might not have been purely about profit.

"The one who suggested the marriage to Zack was a merchant. He had connections to the court merchants and occasionally showed his face at the castle."

Court merchant... That means...

"Specifically, the Solo family. At the time, they were the lowest-ranked among the court merchants."

Whoops. A familiar family name just popped up.

"But after my brother ascended the throne, they were promoted to top-ranked. The person who proposed the marriage was a man named Dida, claiming to be the younger brother of the head of the Solo family."

"Dida? The chubby one who grins all the time?"

"You know him?"

"Yeah, well..."

Dida... that plump merchant... So he'd been showing up in the castle wearing that smirk too?

And the Solo family was the one pulling the strings? But even without scheming, they were already court merchants and closely tied to the eldest brother. Wouldn't they have risen to the top naturally?

It didn't add up. Why go through the trouble of ruining Isaac?

"Rebecca-san, what do you think? This whole thing smells incredibly fishy."

"...Yeah. I can see now that Princess Lucreion isn't at fault. Her story matches what I found, and I can sort of understand why the current Emperor wanted Isaac and the Princess gone."

"Really? Then why was Isaac-san so disliked by Ion-san's brother?"

"Where there's light, there's shadow. Even among us female knights, a female paladin becomes a target of jealousy and envy. If someone beneath you shines brighter, ugly feelings can arise... And on top of that, the current Emperor's Vocation is [Lancer]."

"Lancer, huh. That does sound a bit plain..."

Yep. It's one of those "Basic Vocations"!

I remember when I was interviewing villagers to hire Aurica, there was a kid who was a [Lancer]. That's how common it was. Meanwhile, Ion-san had [General], her boyfriend Isaac had [General] and [Paladin]... Yeah, an inferiority complex made sense.

It wouldn't be surprising if he thought, "Just kill them all!"... Though it makes him look like a pretty small-time character for someone leading an Empire.

"That's not all. There was some history with our group back then too. The Crown Prince—Princess Lucreion's elder brother—was leading a unit that was utterly incompetent in battle. They were completely crushed by Hetty's group, and it was us who rescued them afterward. I heard he held a massive grudge against Isaac for that..."

So he's a total loser.

Still, I can kind of get it. You get your ass kicked, then being saved by a young man who looked every bit the heroic prince—while you were the actual prince.

Wait, Hetty-san's name just slipped into the conversation... Oh right, that was during the time when she was still leading a mercenary group...

"...Even if the Kingdom side had a 'Grim Reaper' among them, it was still a historical defeat. Because of that, my brother was likely told that my father would choose me as the successor unless he made a move. Back then, the head of the Solo family was always by my brother's side... though that's just speculation."

No way. The head of the Solo family—meaning the father of Hetty-san and Efta? This world is way too small.

Wait, didn't Hetty-san say she ran a mercenary group just to spite her father? If her father was clinging to the Crown Prince, it makes total sense that she would go out of her way to make the Prince's army look like absolute garbage... That is some terrifying level of initiative...

Anyway, the point is Ion-san was framed, and that's why she's here. I don't have a problem sheltering her, but if the Solo family is involved, it might get tricky. We have ties to them because of Diana, and Efta visits us regularly. Dida mentioned he was going to the Lakeside Town, so he'll be back eventually... Well, as long as she stays in disguise, it should be fine. Besides, we have other members who stand out way more than her.

If anything, Ion-san might be the one who objects once she finds out we're connected to the Solos. Though I suspect Hetty-san would be on our side.

"...Is the story over?"

A voice came from behind us.

I turned around to see Shamash-san standing there, one hand on her hip, smiling.

How long had she been there?

"I finished sealing that part ages ago, but the mood seemed so serious that I went ahead and sealed the state-owned mine first... It seems Ion's introduction is done, so may I introduce myself as well?"

It looks like she sealed the last mine while we were talking. I was so engrossed in the story I didn't even notice.

Shamash-san looked at us all, gave a sunny smile, and bowed elegantly.

"I am Shamash Aureole. As you can see, I am one of those 'Demons.' My specialties are Summoning Magic and various sorceries. As for offensive spells, I'm quite good with the ice element. I met this Ayase-kun over here today through the Divine Guidance of a Great Spirit. As they say in Le Baraka, 'A person met through Guidance becomes a lifelong friend.' I hope you'll get along with me and Ion both."

I don't know what everyone's preconceived notions of Demons were, but Shamash-san's incredibly friendly introduction seemed to take the wind out of their sails. Everyone just sort of stood there in silence. People were exchanging awkward glances with faint, nervous smiles.

Shamash-san didn't seem to mind the reaction at all. Instead, she was staring at Diana with deep interest.

"Heh... Still, I must say, I was surprised to find that the Elf Ayase-kun is traveling with is an Ancient Elf! What a surprise! Truly... just who exactly are you...?"

She murmured the words to herself, like a passing thought.