Chapter 10: The Guy Who Casually Says "Burn It All Down" for No Reason and Regrets It Later
The first day of the class-versus-class battle. First-year Class A, assigned to the first match in the afternoon, boarded the carriages and headed to the forested area near the Royal Capital, which served as the venue.
After an hour and a half in the carriage, the class battle venue we arrived at was bustling with a huge crowd. The numerous stalls reminded me of a traditional festival in my previous life. I had thought it was just a school event, but perhaps the residents of the Royal Capital perceived it as a kind of festival.
"Alright, you guys head this way ."
Alyssa-san directed us, who had stopped to stare at the unusual sights. I wished I could have walked around and checked out the stalls with Lugue and the others... But I suppose it couldn't be helped.
...And besides, I had a reason why I couldn't just enjoy the event.
"The time has come..."
Lily spoke with a look of tension. The classmates around us must have thought Lily was eager for the class battle. They called out, "You can do it, Lily-san!" "We have the Saintess with us!" and "Lec-ty! Lec-ty!"
Honestly, the class battle was secondary. Our first priority needed to be preventing the Lecty kidnapping plot.
I glanced at Idiot, and he gave me a firm nod in return.
I had already shared the counter-plan to prevent Lecty's kidnapping with Idiot beforehand. I felt bad about it, but I used the 〈Brainwash〉 Skill on Idiot just in case, to check his connection to his father, Marquis Hortness.
The result was a clear slate. Idiot was serious about protecting Lecty, even if it meant openly opposing his father.
It was reassuring to have Idiot on our side. His swordsmanship was comparable to the Royal Knights, and I'd likely be relying on him a lot.
We entered the large tent serving as our waiting room and held our final pre-battle meeting. Since the strategy session was mostly concluded before leaving the Academy, we did a quick final check of the strategy with Lily taking the lead. After that, Lecty, as the commander, was supposed to give the address.
"M-Me? Give the address!?"
"Come on, Lecty, do your best!"
"Y-Yes...!"
Pushed by Lugue, Lecty swapped places with Lily to stand in front of our classmates. While previously she would have turned ashen and been unable to speak a single word, the current Lecty seemed capable. Although nervous, she wasn't flustered.
I think the biggest factor was that she had finally befriended her classmates. While they had fought a blood bath to decide the commander, they had gradually solidified their unity while preparing for the class battle between the midterm exams.
The residual bad blood hadn't disappeared completely. Still, both the classmates who supported Prince Slay and those who supported Prince Blut now recognized Lecty as their commander and were cooperative.
The Prince Blut faction was originally favorable toward the commoner Lecty, and the Prince Slay faction likely had no choice but to show respect for Lecty, who had cured the King.
"Take your time, it's alright."
"Do your best, Lecty!"
It was also significant that the respective faction leaders, like Brown and Ann, supported Lecty.
Lecty gave a nod to the two who had cheered her on, and then,
"E-Everynyan..."
She completely bit her tongue and collapsed in embarrassment.
Lily immediately rushed to console Lecty. While the watching classmates were saying whatever they pleased—things like "So cute," and "We have to protect her," Lecty stood up, her face bright red, her eyes teary, and trembling slightly.
"E-Everyone! Please do your utmost best! I'll cure you all if you get injured!"
At this almost desperate pep talk, the classmates cheered in unison with an "Ooooohhh—!"
...Lecty probably only wanted to express that she would do the very best she could. But the sense of security that Lecty would cure them if they got injured led to:
"We have the protection of Saintess Lecty!"
"It's fine if we get hurt! Just charge right in!"
"I'm not afraid of anything anymore!"
"Lec-ty! Lec-ty!"
It was the moment a troop of Berserkers, fearless of injury, was born.
Getting injured in the class battle makes it difficult to participate in subsequent matches, so conventionally, cautious tactical maneuvering is required. How to advance without losing too much manpower is an element expected of each class.
From that perspective, Class A was overwhelmingly advantageous.
Since Lecty was present, even if someone was forced out of the fight due to injury, they could immediately return to action. Some other classes also had students who could use healing Skills, but they were incomparable, as they weren't on Lecty's level of healing broken bones.
On top of that, other students, like Lily with 〈Strategist〉 and Idiot, were all top-notch talents. Our class was said to be the most popular with the highest winning odds in the official gambling organized by the student council, surpassing the upper-class grades.
"U-Um! Everyone, please calm down... You must not be reckless! Even if I can cure injuries, I can't cure a lot of people all at once!"
Lecty's plea was ignored as the classmates' morale reached its peak. Well, it was better than the awful atmosphere we had before today. Lecty was a little pitiful, though...
As the start time approached, we were supposed to move from the tent to the starting line. On the way there, Lugue stopped, looking toward the crowded spectator seating. She shielded her eyes with her hand, standing on her toes, as if looking for someone.
"Hey, Hugh. I wonder if Rosalie came...?"
"I wonder..."
The situation surrounding Rosalie was deteriorating day by day. Rumors that the Church's Saintess did not have the power to cure illness were spreading among the people of the Royal Capital, and apparently, there were cases of people who had lost family members directly yelling insults at Rosalie.
She was getting proper sleep now, but that didn't do anything for her stress or current situation. She didn't seem to have an appetite, and Rosalie's health was constantly worsening.
It would be difficult for her to come watch the class battle under those circumstances. I didn't think Cardinal Malicious would permit it either. Lugue knew that, but was likely looking for Rosalie, clinging to a thread of hope.
"Let's go, Lugue."
"Yeah..."
I urged Lugue and followed the rest of the classmates.
Prince Lucas was handling the Rosalie situation. The preparations should be nearing completion soon.
For now, I'd focus on the class battle and thwarting the Lecty kidnapping plot being carried out behind the scenes.
◇
The sound of a trumpet announcing the start of the class battle echoed through the forest. As planned, we left Lecty and minimal defense at the base camp, and all other classmates advanced toward the center of the field.
"Please take care of Lecty, Hugh."
"I will, leave it to me. Idiot, take care of Lily."
"Understood. By the name of my Skill, 〈Chevalier/Guardian〉, I shall definitely protect them."
Seeing Lily and Idiot off, only four of us remained at the base camp.
Me, Lugue, Lecty, and a male student named Traitor Inform.
He was one of the students belonging to Prince Slay's faction and, according to Lily, the heir to the Inform Baron family. He was closely associated with the Hortness family and had been one of Idiot's former hangers-on.
He had volunteered for base defense during the classroom strategy meeting, saying that he wasn't feeling well that morning and might not be able to keep up with the offensive unit.
"T-Thank you very much, Traitor-san."
"Tch. Don't get ahead of yourself, you commoner."
Traitor clicked his tongue and made no effort to hide his discriminatory attitude when Lecty spoke to him.
While our classmates had mostly united around Lecty, Traitor always looked on from the outside with contemptuous eyes. I had even seen him clash with other classmates from Prince Slay's faction.
He probably hadn't been able to adapt to the class atmosphere. I was somewhat of an observer myself, so I could understand his feelings.
But that didn't mean I could overlook his involvement in the Lecty kidnapping plot.
"H-Hugh-san!? What are you doing!?"
Lecty questioned me with a terrified look. This was because I had used the 〈Ninja〉 Skill to sneak up behind Traitor, grabbed his arm, and slammed him down.
"Agh!? W-What are you—"
"Quiet, Traitor. Stay still if you don't want your arm broken."
I'd rather not experience breaking someone's arm, but a half-hearted threat wouldn't be effective. Traitor, who had been struggling to resist, quieted down, his face contorting in pain as I slowly tightened my grip.
"Lugue, check him. Left side, probably."
"Yeah!"
Lugue, who had been briefed beforehand, searched Traitor's uniform as instructed. She found a dagger tucked into his trousers under his blazer.
When Lugue drew it from the sheath, the blade was clearly not blunted. Weapons used in the class battle were limited to wooden, non-lethal weapons. Other weapons, especially those that weren't blunted, were strictly prohibited.
I had been able to easily spot that he was hiding something with the 〈Ninja〉 Skill, but I didn't expect a dagger...
"Traitor, what is this?"
"I-It's a self-defense dagger! My Father told me to always carry it because things have been getting rough recently...!"
"Even during the class battle? You were just told that carrying weapons is prohibited."
"I-I didn't have time to put it away! So I had no choice but to bring it!"
"There was a free period that overlapped with lunchtime before we left the Academy, wasn't there? In fact, isn't it more likely that you went back to the dorm then to hide this dagger and bring it with you?"
"—!"
I hit the nail on the head. I suspected him the moment Traitor volunteered to stay at the base camp. It was during the move from the classroom to the carriage that I noticed the slight wobble in Traitor's center of gravity when he walked, thanks to the 〈Ninja〉 Skill.
"Answer me. Did your father instruct you to participate in Lecty's kidnapping plot?"
"Eh!?"
Lecty, who had been watching the scene unfold, widened her eyes at my words. Lily and Prince Lucas had decided not to tell Lecty about her own kidnapping plot beforehand.
I'd apologize to her properly later, but right now...
"I-I had no choice...! If the Hortness family falls, my family won't escape unscathed! Prince Slay has to win!"
"So you were going to sacrifice yourself? You'll be thrown into jail if you're found out to be involved in the kidnapping."
"I know that...! Prince Slay promised he'd grant me a pardon if he became King! He even promised to appoint me as a minister in the future! I was chosen by His Highness! Don't think for a second that this barbarity will be allowed, you country noble!"
"............You're an idiot."
Someone who would confess so easily... Prince Slay had no reason to keep Traitor alive, knowing the plan. He'd either have the mercenaries disguised as bandits kill him, or dispose of Traitor along with the mercenaries. Even if he survived and was imprisoned, the best he could hope for was being left to rot in jail without a pardon.
For now, Lugue helped me gag Traitor with cloth and tied him up with rope. Since Traitor's Skill was 〈High-Speed Movement〉, which made him fast, binding his legs would be sufficient to prevent him from moving.
Now we just had to leave him here; Alyssa-san or the Royal Knights should pick him up.
"Um, Hugh-san. What is going on...?"
"Well, about that... Where should I start explaining..."
Lecty must know very little about the Succession Conflict. Knowing that the turmoil had escalated to the point of a kidnapping plot against her, about which she knew nothing, might shock her.
Even so, I couldn't just not explain it...
But we didn't have the leisure to give a lengthy explanation right now. If the plan was on schedule, mercenaries disguised as bandits should be approaching this location to snatch Lecty. A clash with Alyssa-san and the Royal Knights, who were on standby nearby, was only a matter of time.
It was probably best to move before this spot became a battleground.
"Sorry, Lecty. I promise I'll explain everything later, but for now, can you just trust us and come with me? We're going to join up with Lily and Idiot."
"Y-Yes, I understand...!"
Lecty nodded her head and agreed. I knew she must be confused by the sudden events, but I felt Lecty's trust in her willingness to follow us. I had to live up to that trust too...!
"Hugh, look at that!"
Just as I renewed my resolve, Lugue shouted, pointing up at the sky. Following her finger, I saw a thin trail of purple smoke rising up toward the sky.
That was...!
It was the signal flare we had decided on beforehand. Red meant the central unit was at a disadvantage, blue meant they had the upper hand, and so on; each color had a different meaning.
Purple meant: Emergency situation has occurred.
It was for urgent contact in the event of a natural disaster that overshadowed the class battle or a life-threatening situation. Furthermore, it was agreed that this flare would only be used if there was a problem with Lily and the others, who had advanced to the center of the field.
"What in the world is going on..."
"Hugh, let's hurry to Lily!"
"I-I'm worried about Lily-chan, Hugh-san!"
"You're right... Let's hurry, both of you!"
I didn't know the situation, but we headed for the center of the field.
Please be safe, Lily...!
The class battle field was a two-kilometer-square area. The distance from the base camp at the corner to Lily and the others in the center was about 1.4 kilometers. If I fully used 〈Body Enhancement〉, I could cover that distance in less than two minutes.
But if I ran with 〈Body Enhancement〉, Lugue and Lecty would know I had switched Skills. Swordsmanship and combat techniques could be excused, but pure running speed could not be hidden.
"Hugh-san, I'll go ahead and check the situation!"
"No, Lecty! We don't know what kind of danger there is...!"
No matter how much Lecty's 〈Saintess〉 Skill conferred the benefits of 〈Body Enhancement〉 and 〈Staff Art〉, letting her go ahead alone wouldn't do any good. If Lily and the others were being attacked by mercenaries trying to kidnap Lecty, we might be inadvertently handing Lecty over to them.
For now, I'd keep running toward the center at the pace of Lugue, who didn't have 〈Body Enhancement〉. It was a good thing there were many tall trees and few branches obstructing our path.
...However, the terrain wasn't entirely flat. It was a tough journey for Lugue, who was running without 〈Body Enhancement〉. Lugue was running hard, breathing heavily, and trying to maintain her pace. I thought she had quite a bit of stamina and athleticism, but she seemed close to her limit.
Should I slow down a bit...?
The moment that thought crossed my mind—CRASH! A sound like something exploding echoed from a distance. I instantly looked up and saw a plume of dust rising in our direction of travel. What I heard with my 〈Ninja〉 Skill-enhanced hearing were the screams of my classmates.
"Hugh, go ahead without me!"
Lugue yelled after seeing the dust cloud. Seeing that Lecty and I weren't even slightly out of breath, she must have judged that she was holding us back.
I couldn't deny that was the reality of the situation. But leaving Lugue behind was not an option for me. I finished my moment of hesitation and instantly swept Lugue up in my arms.
"W-Wait, Hugh!? What are you doing!?"
"Hold on tight, Lugue. Lecty, follow me!"
"Y-Yes!"
Holding Lugue, I began to run, using 〈Body Enhancement〉 at full throttle.
"Hugh, this is...!?"
Lugue's sapphire-blue eyes widened in surprise. Lecty must be having the same reaction behind me...
"I'm sorry I kept it a secret. I promise I'll explain properly later. But for now, just trust me...!"
"Okay. It's alright, Hugh."
Lugue clung to me tightly, burying her face into my shoulder as if to reassure me. I realized Lecty, who was somehow running right alongside us, was tightly gripping the hem of my blazer and nodded her head.
...Thank you, both of you.
Regaining my focus, I rushed toward Lily and the others. The center of the field we finally reached was an open area where the trees had cleared.
And there, our classmates were battling monstrous, grotesque creatures.
"Frontline, don't try to fight alone! They're not a threat if you attack them in groups! Backline, be careful not to hit our allies with your support attacks! You'll be fine if you aim calmly!"
Lily's precise instructions flew from the rear. Our classmates were defensively fighting against various types of Monsters that resembled wild animals.
"Lily!"
"Hugh!? Lecty and Lugue, too...! Thank heavens! Get in and support them right away! Lecty, please start healing the injured!"
"Y-Yes!"
Behind the frontline fighting classmates, several injured people were collapsed on the ground. The severity of the injuries varied, but fortunately, none seemed to be fatally wounded.
"Lugue, you go help Lecty."
"Got it, Hugh, take this."
I put the Lugue I was holding down and received the dagger she offered me.
The reason our classmates were fighting defensively was because their weapons were made of wood. Many students had offensive Skills, but none of them possessed a Skill powerful enough to inflict a fatal blow.
The instruction to focus on defense rather than trying to defeat them must have come from Lily. Royal Knights were on standby nearby, and Alyssa-san understood the meaning of the purple flare. Reinforcements would surely come if we held on.
But,
"Idiot, don't push yourself too hard!"
"I cannot follow that order, Lily Puridy! If I don't push myself here, how can we maintain the frontline!?"
Idiot was single-handedly confronting a colossal, bear-type Monster. It was over five meters tall, far larger than the other animal-type Monsters. Its massive arms, tipped with razor-sharp claws, repeatedly lashed out at Idiot.
Idiot faced it with just a single wooden sword and parried all of its attacks. It was an incredible feat, even with the benefit of the 〈Chevalier/Guardian〉 Skill. When he focused entirely on defense, Idiot's 〈Chevalier/Guardian〉 was unrivaled.
However,
"Shit—"
It was the wooden sword that gave out.
The wooden sword must have been gradually worn down every time it defended against the Monster's attacks with that sublime skill. The wooden sword that took the impact of the bear Monster's claw finally shattered into pieces.
"Use this, Idiot!"
I instinctively threw the dagger I had received from Lugue to Idiot. Corrected by the 〈Throwing〉 Skill, which was integrated into the 〈Ninja〉 Skill, the dagger flew directly into Idiot's hand without any deviation. Idiot gripped the dagger and instantly drew it from the sheath.
"I owe you one, Hugh Pnocis!"
The descending arm of the bear-type Monster was severed in mid-air.
The counter-flash launched by Idiot with the dagger easily sliced it off. It wasn't because the dagger was an exceptional blade. It was all thanks to the combination of Idiot's Skill and his continuous, relentless efforts.
...I truly don't feel like I can ever catch up to him.
"Hugh."
Lily called my name and tugged on my arm. Just as I braced myself, wondering what she was going to do, Lily whispered softly in my ear:
(Use 〈Fire Kinesis〉 to incinerate the Monsters. Could you please do that...?)
"Got it...!"
Now that everyone's attention was on Idiot, I could switch my Skill without being noticed. I took a small step back, confirmed that no one was looking, and switched my Skill to 〈Fire Kinesis〉.
"I'm ready, Lily."
"Understood. Everyone, step back! Hugh is going to incinerate the Monsters!"
At Lily's command, the classmates fighting on the front line retreated all at once. The Monsters surged forward to chase, but I wouldn't allow that.
I had several opportunities to use 〈Fire Kinesis〉 in classes and midterms after using it for the entrance exam. 〈Fire Kinesis〉 was the Skill I was most familiar with, after 〈Ninja〉. I had long mastered area designation and power adjustment.
"—Incinerate them, 〈Fire Kinesis〉!"
A wall of inferno rose, and the Monsters engulfed in flames were reduced to ashes.
As the stench of burnt meat permeated the air, I sighed in relief, confirming all the visible Monsters were incinerated. The area and power adjustments seemed to have worked; fortunately, the flames were unlikely to spread to the forest. None of our classmates seemed to have been caught in the flames either.
Even though I was familiar with using 〈Fire Kinesis〉 in tests and classes, this was my first time using it in actual combat. I was inwardly nervous, thinking something might go wrong.
"As expected, Hugh!"
"Not bad, Hugh-kun!"
Brown, Ann, and the surrounding classmates showered me with praise. I hadn't drawn much attention in the class, so the attention made me feel a little awkward...
"Thank you, Hugh. You saved us."
Lily approached me, visibly relieved.
"I'm glad you're safe. Are you injured?"
"No. I was only giving instructions from the back. It's thanks to everyone who put their bodies on the line and held the line."
"Wasn't it also because your instructions were spot on?"
When I said that, the classmates also nodded in agreement, giving Lily words of praise.
By focusing on defense according to Lily's instructions, we prevented the frontline from collapsing, and I was able to arrive in time. Who knows what would have happened if Lily had run away or ordered a reckless attack?
"T-To be told that, I feel a little embarrassed..."
Lily blushed, nervously fidgeting with the ends of her hair. She immediately collected herself, vigorously shaking her head, and asked,
"Hugh, were things okay on your end...?"
"Well, somewhat..."
I answered Lily's question with a small nod, speaking evasively so the surrounding classmates wouldn't notice, as planned.
Lecty's kidnapping plot and Traitor's involvement might eventually become public knowledge, but telling our classmates here and now would only cause unnecessary confusion.
"More importantly, what exactly were those Monsters just now?"
The Monsters that attacked Lily and the others were a jumbled collection of species with characteristics of bears, wild boars, and rabbits. While I'd like to think they came out of some dungeon...
"I've never heard of a dungeon nearby. This forest is used for class battles, as well as Knight Order and military training; the possibility of an undiscovered dungeon here is low."
"Then, those Monsters just now..."
I couldn't say the following words out loud in this location. For now, it seemed better to prioritize our safety over speculation.
I had Lily use her Skill to check our surroundings; there still seemed to be multiple Monsters in the forest. It was a good thing I didn't leave Lugue behind along the way...
"Our opposing class seems to have already withdrawn from the forest. As soon as the injured are treated, we will withdraw too! Idiot and Brown, lead the movable personnel to scout the surroundings!"
Everyone nodded at Lily's instructions and sprang into action.
Fortunately, there were no serious injuries, so the injured were treated in less than three minutes. There were some sporadic Monster attacks during that time, but only a few small groups attacked, and Idiot and the others dealt with them without me even having to intervene.
Confirming that all twenty-nine of us, excluding Traitor, were present, we began our march out of the forest.
Brown and Ann led the way, with the Prince Slay and Prince Blut factions dividing into left and right, respectively, for vigilance. Idiot served as the rear guard, and I was placed in the center of the formation with Lily, Lecty, and Lugue.
With a group as large as twenty-nine, it was inevitable that nearby Monsters would notice us. But Lily could sense the Monsters' approach with her Skill before they reached us, making our response easy.
The only concern was that I had to carry Lily on my back the entire way...
It was tough not getting the benefit of 〈Body Enhancement〉 because I didn't have time to switch back from 〈Fire Kinesis〉 to 〈Ninja〉. Lily did say, "It's okay if someone else carries me if you're pushing yourself," but I couldn't concede this.
I walked, carrying Lily on my back through sheer willpower, chasing away male classmates who offered to switch with a dismissive gesture. The reason I was trying so hard was that the thought of another man carrying Lily made me uncomfortable.
"You are surprisingly possessive, aren't you?"
"Is that a problem?"
(No, it makes me love you even more.)
She whispered that into my ear, and I nearly stumbled forward. My conscience was already barely holding on, thanks to the soft, supple feeling against my back. Don't make my heart pound even more during this emergency!
Watched sideways by Lugue and Lecty, who were walking next to me, I somehow managed to carry Lily on my back and exit the forest after about thirty minutes. Once we reached the clearing, the continuous activation of 〈Strategist〉 was no longer necessary, and I finally lowered Lily from my back.
From there, we headed toward the spectator seats.
It seemed the Monsters hadn't only swarmed the forest but also the spectator seating. All the Monsters had been subdued by the time we arrived, but the heavily damaged spectator seats and burnt-down stalls told a tale of massive destruction.
A significant number of people must have been injured.
"Oh, looks like everyone is safe ."
Greeting us was Alyssa-san, covered in blood spatters.
"Seriously, I thought I finished off all the scoundrels trying to disrupt the class battle, but then Monsters suddenly came out of nowhere. That was a surprise . I figured you guys could handle yourselves, even if things looked tough, so I focused on guarding the visiting nobles ."
"Well, we did manage it, but..."
I wondered what she would have done if something had happened to Lugue. Alyssa-san was dispatched as a liaison between us and Prince Lucas, not exactly as Lugue's bodyguard, but still...
Alyssa-san seemed to notice my dissatisfaction and winked at me. ...I'd accept that as a sign of her trust in me for now.
The Lecty kidnapping plot had been thoroughly crushed, just as planned, and Roan-san and the Royal Knights' main unit should now be moving to secure Prince Slay and Marquis Hortness with a royal warrant. We could assume the immediate threat of Lecty's kidnapping had passed.
Apart from the Monster attack, I could at least breathe a sigh of relief on the other front...
"Alyssa-sensei, what should we do now?"
Lily asked Alyssa-san on behalf of the class. Alyssa-san folded her arms and thought for a moment.
"For now, we should divide up and attend to the wounded—"
It was right after she said that.
Thud.................. A sound like something falling came from behind us.
I spun around and saw a woman with navy-blue hair collapsed a little ways away.
I was familiar with that hair color, and the white, red-lined breastplate she was wearing.
"Cicely-san!?"
Why was the Holy Knight guarding Rosalie here!? Did Rosalie come to watch the class battle!?
Lugue and I rushed over in a panic; Cicely-san's body was covered in many cuts. Blood was still gushing out relentlessly.
"Lecty, heal Cicely-san!"
"Y-Yes...!"
Called by Lugue, Lecty immediately began treatment. The bleeding was severe, but Lecty's 〈Saintess〉 Skill should save her.
"Saint...ess............"
"Don't worry, Cicely-san! Lecty will heal you right now!"
"Lugue, can you manage here? Rosalie might have been here. I'm going to look for Rosalie."
"Okay. Be careful, Hugh!"
I entrusted Cicely-san's treatment to Lecty and Lugue, briefly explained the situation to Lily, Alyssa-san, and Idiot, and set out to search for Rosalie.
Alyssa-san and the others had dealt with the people trying to kidnap Lecty, and Lugue and the others would be safe with Alyssa-san and Idiot present. It should be fine for me to leave them for a bit.
Switching to the 〈Ninja〉 Skill in an isolated spot, I used my enhanced five senses to search for Rosalie.
I considered switching to a detection Skill like 〈Clairvoyance〉, but in a situation where Monsters might still be lurking nearby, I didn't want to use a Skill that made me lose my sight. The 〈Ninja〉 Skill allowed me to balance both detection and combat, even with a limited range.
"Where are you, Rosalie!"
Calling out her name, I searched the area where the spectator seats and stalls had been. The gathered people had been escorted by the Royal Knights to one location, but Rosalie was not among them. I couldn't find a similar-looking person among the injured people, either, who were still lying around waiting for rescue.
That pink hair and those drill twin tails should be impossible to miss...
I also asked around the passersby, but no one had seen anyone who looked like Rosalie. Could she have a magic item that changed her hair color and style, like Lugue...?
No, even so, with the insight of the 〈Ninja〉 Skill, I should have been able to recognize her face. Rosalie was not among the evacuees or the injured.
...Should I go back to Cicely-san? Searching blindly didn't seem likely to yield any results. If I went back, Alyssa-san would be there, and I could safely use a detection Skill near her.
As I returned to the original spot, Cicely-san was being carried into a makeshift tent nearby. Entering, I saw Cicely-san laid on a rug, with Lugue, Lily, and Alyssa-san by her side.
"Ah, Hugh! Where's Rosalie!?"
"Sorry, I couldn't find her. I came back thinking Cicely-san might know her whereabouts."
"I see..."
"Is Cicely-san asleep?"
"Yeah. Lecty treated her, but the bleeding was really severe... I think she'll wake up soon, though..."
She had sustained very serious injuries... That Lecty could treat that in a short time was impressive.
"Speaking of which, where is Lecty?"
I saw some of the other classmates treating the injured in groups before I came here. But since I hadn't seen Lecty, I thought she'd be here...
"The school nurse called for Lecty to treat the injured. We had Idiot accompany her just in case, so she's alright."
"I see. That's a relief..."
With Idiot present, they could deal with any Monster attack. He would also desperately try to protect Lecty, making him the most trustworthy guard.
I wasn't sure when Cicely-san would wake up. Should I switch my Skill to 〈Clairvoyance〉 and search for Rosalie...? I didn't want Alyssa-san or Lugue to see me switch Skills, so I should step outside for a moment.
Just as I was about to turn to leave,
"Nnn...ugh."
Cicely-san groaned and slowly opened her eyes.
"Oh, you're awake . Good morning , Cicely-chan?"
"A-Alyssa-senpai...? Huh, wait...?"
Cicely-san looked bewildered when Alyssa-san leaned down to look at her.
And wait, Senpai?
"Me and Cicely-chan are Royal Academy upperclassman-underclassman . She was exactly one year behind me , and I used to teach her swordsmanship, just like I do for Hugh-shounen now . She was a cheeky underclassman who chose to become a Holy Knight even though I invited her to join the Royal Knights ."
"B-But that was because Senpai beat me up every day— Wait, this isn't the time for that!"
Cicely-san sprang up in a panic, frantically looking around.
"The girl with the 〈Saintess〉 Skill is...! Hugh-sama, Lugue-sama, the girl with the 〈Saintess〉 Skill should be here! Where is she!?"
"C-Calm down, Cicely-san! Lecty went to treat the injured!"
"—! S-Search for her immediately! The Church... Cardinal Malicious is planning to kidnap the girl with the 〈Saintess〉 Skill!"
"What...?"
Cardinal Malicious, after Lecty!?
The possibility of the Church targeting Lecty had been factored in, but the timing was just too perfect. Prince Slay and Marquis Hortness's kidnapping plot, the Monster attack, and now Cardinal Malicious was planning to kidnap Lecty...
"It's alright, Idiot is with Lecty. I don't think even the most skillful person could abduct Lecty while fighting him."
"Nah, I wouldn't count on that ."
Alyssa-san contradicted Lily's statement.
"I admit Idiot-shounen's ability is exceptional . If it came to a frontal fight, it would take me some time to defeat Idiot-shounen when he's on defense . ...But I'm confident I could end it instantly by catching him off guard, using the teacher-student relationship ."
"Catch Idiot off guard...?"
"—! The person who came to call Lecty was the school nurse, wasn't it!?"
"Y-Yeah. He said there were serious injuries and asked her to come right away..."
"Isn't that strange...? Why would the school nurse specifically come to call Lecty himself...?"
"Eh... Ah!"
The school nurse had a healing Skill. In a situation where there were many injured people outside, it was unnatural for him to abandon the treatment of the wounded and specifically come to call Lecty, even if there were serious injuries. He could have just asked a Royal Knight or someone nearby to relay the message.
...Of course, it was possible he was simply distraught or bad at prioritizing things. But what immediately came to my mind was the Sacred Scripture of the Divine Grant Religion I had seen in the infirmary.
The school nurse was a fervent believer in the Divine Grant Religion, enough to keep the Scripture at his workplace. If he had been connected to Cardinal Malicious all along...
"Damn it...!"
I burst out of the tent and asked Brown and Ann, who were nearby, for Lecty's whereabouts.
"Lecty just went into that tent with the school nurse and Idiot-sama."
"What's wrong, are you rushing somewhere?"
"I'll explain later!"
Cutting short my thanks to them, I dove into the tent Ann had pointed out.
Lecty and the school nurse were no longer there, and,
"Idiot!"
Only Idiot, lying sprawled on the floor, remained.
"Idiot, snap out of it!"
I rushed to him and lifted him up; Idiot opened his eyes with a faint groan. Thank goodness...! He didn't have any noticeable external injuries. He must have been knocked out with some drug or something.
"Sorry... Miss Lecty, she was taken..."
"Was the culprit the school nurse...?"
Idiot nodded, his expression twisted with frustration.
Damn it...
Prince Lucas and all of us had accounted for the possibility of someone linked to the Church forces within the Academy. That's why Lily had Idiot accompany Lecty just in case, even after we foiled Prince Slay and Marquis Hortness's kidnapping plan.
Idiot's ability was comparable to Roan-san's or Alyssa-san's, especially in defense. With Alyssa-san unable to leave her post of guarding Lucretia and Lily, Idiot was the best choice of guard.
What was unexpected was that the opponent was skilled enough to neutralize Idiot. Alyssa-san's earlier statement was about someone with the same level of ability as her; it didn't mean anyone could catch Idiot off guard and neutralize him.
At the very least, it would be impossible for me, even with the 〈Ninja〉 Skill.
"Hugh, Lecty!?"
Lugue, Lily, and Alyssa-san jumped into the tent after me. When I shook my head, Lily immediately knelt down and activated 〈Strategist〉.
But,
"It's no use! No reaction from Lecty!"
"Damn it, they're too fast...!"
I had only been gone for about fifteen minutes at most. For them to bring Lecty into this tent and abduct her in that short time was too efficient.
The effective range of Lily's 〈Strategist〉 was fifteen hundred meters. To move Lecty outside that range in such a short time, holding her, they must have had horses ready beforehand.
It was a planned crime. And it clearly factored in the Monster attack. I couldn't help but recall the incident at Duke Lecheley's manor. If those robed figures were involved again, then that liquid that turned people into Monsters might also be...
In any case, there was no point in just thinking. Retrieving Lecty was the top priority now. I had a good idea of who kidnapped her and where they would take her.
Please be safe, Lecty. I'm coming to rescue you—
"Whoa, stop right there. Where are you planning to go with that terrifying look on your face, Hugh-shounen ?"
Alyssa-san stood in front of me, just as I was about to step out of the tent, laying the unconscious Idiot back down on the floor.
"Where? I'm obviously going to rescue Lecty."
"Hold your horses . You're not thinking of riding solo into the Great Cathedral, are you ?"
"..."
That was exactly what I was planning. With my Skill, it wasn't impossible to sneak into the Great Cathedral and rescue Lecty without anyone noticing. If anything, it would be an easy feat if I fully utilized the 〈Brainwash〉 Skill.
"You could certainly rescue Miss Lecty easily . But that's the problem ."
"What's the problem?"
"Simply put, Lady Lecty's kidnapping might be rendered null . Our testimony alone isn't enough evidence . If it all goes too smoothly, Cardinal Malicious might play innocent and it'll be over ."
"...So, you're saying I should cause a scene?"
If I were to rescue Lecty right now, and then confront Cardinal Malicious about the kidnapping, Cardinal Malicious would have no proof that he kidnapped Lecty. Conversely, if he asked how I rescued Lecty, I would be hard-pressed to answer.
And even if I rescued Lecty, as long as Cardinal Malicious was still in power, he might plan another kidnapping. Alyssa-san was telling me not to rush to save Lecty, but to follow the steps to accuse Cardinal Malicious of the crime.
"If the objective was to kill Lady Lecty, they would have done it here . Idiot-shounen wasn't killed either. Well, I think they also realized that attacking him with the intent to kill would have been noticed . Since they kidnapped her with some specific goal in mind, there should still be time ."
"Maybe so, but..."
"Wouldn't it be better to at least talk to the person who knows the situation before acting ?"
Saying that, Alyssa-san turned to the tent entrance, where Cicely-san was peeking her head in, looking distressed. She was the one who came to inform us about Cardinal Malicious's plan to kidnap Lecty, so she must possess some useful information.
I looked at Lily, and she just nodded, her face tear-stained from squatting on the ground.
"...Understood."
When I nodded, Alyssa-san beckoned Cicely-san into the tent.
"...I apologize. If only I had arrived safely..."
Cicely-san bit her lip in self-reproach, bowing her head to us. Thinking back, the word 'Saintess' Cicely-san mumbled in delirium while being treated by Lecty must have been referring to Lecty, not Rosalie.
Cicely-san had been battered and near death, yet she was desperately trying to warn us of Lecty's danger. I couldn't possibly blame her; I could only thank her.
"Those wounds on you, Cicely-chan, they weren't inflicted by a Monster , were they?"
"...No. Those are injuries inflicted by my pursuers while escaping Cardinal Malicious. He had secretly gathered heretics and organized an armed group—a private army, essentially. We Holy Knights, who were dispatched as Rosalie-sama's guards, were ambushed, and only I..."
"An internal Church conflict ?"
"It's far more severe than a mere squabble! This is a rebellion orchestrated by Cardinal Malicious. He has become completely consumed by wicked ideals and devolved into a heretic. He confined Rosalie-sama in the Cathedral's basement and attacked us when we attempted a rescue!"
"Rosalie was confined!?"
"Is that true, Cicely-san!?"
"Yes... Rosalie-sama was desperately trying to save the sick people. But she was powerless... Cardinal Malicious denounced her as an imitation pretending to be the Saintess, and locked her in a cell...!"
"That's so absurd..."
The Saintess was just an honorary title conferred by the Church to a woman with a healing Skill, anyway. While the religious significance was strong, she didn't gain special powers just by being designated.
There was no depiction of curing diseases in the Sacred Scripture, and Cardinal Malicious's grounds for declaring Rosalie a fake were far too flimsy. Claiming she was an imitation because she was inferior to the fictional 〈Saintess〉 Skill was simply short-sighted.
"Don't tell me he gave up on the current Saintess, and now he's after Lecty...?"
Cicely-san nodded bitterly in response to Lily's question.
"The existence of the Saintess seems to be more important than God himself to Cardinal Malicious. If Cardinal Malicious captures Miss Lecty, Rosalie-sama will be completely worthless to him. That is why I absolutely had to prevent Miss Lecty's kidnapping, but..."
"............!"
I looked at Alyssa-san, who seemed to be collecting her thoughts, eyes closed. Based on Cicely-san's story, Rosalie's life was in greater danger than Lecty's. I guess my only option was to storm the Great Cathedral and rescue both Lecty and Rosalie...
"Alright, we'll split into two groups ."
Alyssa-san opened her eyes and clapped her hands, presenting her plan.
"One group will report the situation to Prince Lucas and arrange for an official warrant to storm the Church. The other group will go ahead to the Church, rescue Miss Lecty and Saintess Rosalie, and at the same time secure Cardinal Malicious and the evidence of the kidnapping. I'll take Miss Lily and Lugue-shounen to report to Prince Lucas. And storming the Church will be Cicely-chan, Hugh-shounen, and... Idiot-shounen, you can move now , can't you?"
"Of course...!"
Idiot, who was asked by Alyssa-san, stood up, swaying slightly. He didn't seem fully recovered, but Idiot gritted his teeth and clenched his fist.
"I honestly wish I could go with you , but if a Royal Knight raids the Church without a warrant, it could cause huge trouble . I'm counting on you, Hugh-shounen."
"...Thank you, Alyssa-san."
If Alyssa-san hadn't stopped me and I had rushed to Lecty's rescue alone, I might never have realized Rosalie's critical situation.
"No need for thanks . What's certain is that Miss Lecty and Saintess Rosalie are in danger at this very moment . If you can't make it in time. You have my permission to blame me ."
"I'll do my absolute best to prevent that."
Alyssa-san seemed relieved by my reply and nodded.
Post a Comment