Heroes' Resolve (1)
After Inario left, Ashu and I headed to the prison cell where his son Inadia was being held.
You might wonder why a cathedral would have a prison, but this wasn't some dungeon in the main worship hall frequented by parishioners. It was in a separate annex used by the holy knights.
Think of it like a guardhouse in a military barracks.
"They really quashed the rebellion swiftly and decisively."
Even so, as nobility went, they'd given him a large, relatively clean private cell. But now that cell looked like a cursed underground dungeon, splattered in blood.
Inside, a headless corpse clutched the bars. Right below on the floor lay Inadia's head.
It must have happened in an instant.
There was a clean slice at exactly head height on the iron bars, as thin as a sword's edge.
A magic sword capable of cutting iron must have severed both the bars and Inadia's neck in one stroke.
When I asked the holy knight on guard duty about what had transpired,
Inario had come alone to the diocese leader, not flaunting his power or authority, but humbly requesting a visit—perhaps the last meeting with his son.
The leader deemed it improper to deny a parent and child their farewell, so he allowed them to speak through the bars.
Still, anticipating trouble, he'd sent young Ashushikara along with a novice priestess.
Inadia, seeing his father in person, approached with a face full of emotion, gripping the bars and shedding tears.
To that Inadia, the Second Knight Commander had asked:
"How did it go out there?"
"It all fell apart, Father. My sword, my armor, even the dungeon in your name—Kirgil destroyed them all!! That bastard's to blame for everything…"
"Worthless wretch. Perish."
With those words, Inario's sword swung before anyone could intervene. By the time he sheathed it, the headless body was spurting blood like a fountain.
"As a knight sworn to protect His Majesty and the kingdom, I have fulfilled my duty. I beseech the holy knights to stand down."
Even without Inario's words, the holy knights were too stunned by the shocking scene to react.
Shouldn't they have searched him and disarmed him first? Why just stand there like idiots? Aren't there rules for prisoner visits? There were plenty of things to question.
The testifying knight was tense, as if expecting to be interrogated himself.
"No need to worry. We have no intention of blaming or punishing you for this.
Anyone would be flustered seeing a father mercilessly behead his own child. Especially upright, justice-driven holy knights like yourselves."
Ashu soothed the tense, cowering knight and sent him on his way.
Well, in a class-based society, rules and protocols often mean nothing against the whims of the powerful. Someone like Inario sat at the pinnacle of power, so disciplining a young junior knight wouldn't change a thing.
I stared at Inadia's head rolling on the floor. No sympathy for the likes of him now.
I was just curious what kind of father personally beheads his own son.
Ashu had planned to try Inadia and punish him, shaming the Darania Knight Order and eroding their influence. But Inario's personal execution had thrown everything off course.
No matter how you sliced it, a high-ranking individual executing a major criminal on their own was problematic.
But.
Ashu said the court sycophants backing Inario would surely spin it. They might even praise him as a model knight who led by example, punishing even his own son for the kingdom's sake.
So that's how it is with all the courtiers and flatterers in the palace.
Just like in my world, where trash journalists and YouTubers manipulate politicians and the masses with lies and incitement.
Democracy fools the people since they're the masters; a kingdom fools the king since he's the master.
Anyway, skipping the complicated politics.
What really nagged at me was how Ashu's hair color matched Inario's exactly.
You might call it trivial, just hair color, but it's not that common. And there were other subtle similarities.
On the way back from the cathedral, neither Ashu nor I spoke. She was downcast because things hadn't gone her way, and I was lost in my own tangled thoughts.
Looking at medieval royal families in my world, their genealogies were messier than you'd think. Incest wasn't rare, and illegitimate children popped up often.
In some game about managing a medieval house, you'd breed heirs for stable succession, and before you knew it, you'd end up with a family tree that looked like a tangled web.
So what was Ashu's case?
Today, my eyes kept drifting to her sky-blue hair.
Under the sun, it shone like a clear sky; at night, it deepened to ocean blue. A color I'd never seen in my world, so I'd absentmindedly stroked it plenty of times.
But today, I hesitated to touch it.
Lost in thought, we arrived at the tavern before I knew it.
Oh, right.
We'd originally come out for dinner.
We ordered food, and Ashu and I drank.
As I sipped and pondered, she downed her glass in one go. One after another, one after another…
"Hey, hey, ease up. How many is that now?"
"No idea. Just drinking."
"I get you're pissed, but don't drown it in booze. You're making me nervous."
"…I've been worrying you in all sorts of ways, huh."
She didn't turn into a loud drunk or act out like some local bum, but watching someone silently chug drinks right in front of you would make anyone uneasy.
"Then, how about this."
Ashu, sitting across the table, flashed a sultry smile and scooted right up beside me.
She leaned her head on my shoulder.
Is she drunk?
"There, my hair was bothering you, right? Go ahead and touch it all you want. Wondering who gave it to me? Ask anything."
"……"
I unwittingly drained my glass in one gulp.
Even drunk, she hadn't lost her sharpness. She knew exactly what was on my mind.
Even if the person involved is fine with it, you shouldn't casually bring up someone else's potential complex or trauma.
I decided to change the subject.
"Reminds me of this girl I know."
"Hmm~ Bringing up someone else at a time like this.
Okay, tell me."
"She seems really self-conscious about her hairstyle. Her boyfriend still calls her cute, but she's anxious anyway."
"Oh my, Kirgil, you're such a tease. I thought it'd be some boring story, but this is intriguing. Go on~"
Sorry… my mind's blank on small talk. It's childish, but it'll have to do.
Anyway, Ashu's expression brightened. She thinks it's about her.
"Her boyfriend wants to tell her he loves her just as she is, no frills needed.
But the mood got weird, and he missed his chance. What should he do?"
"Hehe, visit her at night and be gentle. She'll be satisfied on her own."
"That's too easy. No different from usual."
"Even in the coldest winter, if the sun shows its warmth at night, it'd confuse her more.
When someone's deeply shaken, staying steady and normal is key."
"So my urge to do something special is what's burdening her. Still… mm… in times like this, you wanna do something extra."
"Sure, some people crave that. Oh, right—that girl might want a kiss right now."
"……"
Enough of this childish riddle game!
Time to head out. Pushing further in a busy tavern is risky.
Ashu, get up. Hey, lips off.
Don't cling to my waist.
"Ehehe, Kirgil's the best…"
The booze was finally hitting her.
I supported her wobbly form out of the tavern. If I were at full strength, I'd carry her piggyback or princess-style, but not now.
The night breeze seemed to clear her head a bit; she started walking on her own.
With her wits returning and energy rising, she wasn't her usual demure gait—she strode like a tomboy with big steps.
"You think I'm drunk now, huh, Kirgil?"
"Want me to say no?"
"I am! I want to be!
This feeling's a first. Right now, I wanna strip it all off!"
"Hang in there. Almost home."
"Kyahaha, you'll have to undress me, Kirgil. What I wanna shed are the locks on my heart. I want to bare it all to you."
Her words showed her mind was clear. Not drunk—excited.
She grabbed my hand, tugging impatiently. My body's not fully recovered yet.
"Hey, keep making it hard, and I'll strip you right here."
"Oh? Try it if you can, my frail hero~."
"Hey! What—why are you undressing me!?
You pervert! On a delicate guy like me… Hey, hands off the belt!"
Drunk Ashu was scary. Her pranks and moves got bolder.
If footsteps approached, she'd back off innocently. That showed she hadn't lost control, but once they passed, she'd pounce again.
Normally, she'd charge recklessly then have a cooldown of shy reflection—but the alcohol skipped that.
Dare you!
I could use my ability in bursts to predict her moves. Dodge with minimal effort. I'd rested enough; mana was full.
Thus, I defended my chastity from the clutches of this empowered temptress all the way to the inn.
Well, just to the inn.
Once inside the room, the counterattack begins!