Chapter 52 - The Heavenly Demon Scramble (3)
“…”
“…”
“…Would one of you say something already? You just dropped a bombshell and stopped there?”
Despite my prodding, both of them wore expressions like they’d bitten into something sour and remained silent for a while.
“I merely relayed exactly what my sister said. The head maid will provide the explanation.”
“That’s correct.”
“The young lady felt distressed seeing how you’ve essentially been abducted by the Empire, Heavenly Demon. She proposed rescuing you and escaping together beyond imperial borders.”
“Don’t forget to explain the part about it being a ‘love elopement’ too.”
“…The young lady considers the act of… departing together with you to be… a rather… romantic notion.”
The head maid stumbled over her words—no, it was more than stumbling. She seemed profoundly ashamed to even be speaking such things aloud.
“First, let me confirm one thing. Did Parmela ever directly confess her feelings to me, express romantic interest… or did we engage in any behavior that could be construed as lovers?”
Their silence answered in the negative.
“What an unpredictable young lady.”
This time, their silence seemed to indicate agreement.
“Her head’s full of flowers, yet she’s bold to the point of recklessness. Well, fine. Let’s hear what this ‘love elopement’ business is about.”
“While you were imprisoned, the young lady used her connections and funds to secure a safe route to smuggle you out of the country.”
“And where exactly would that be?”
“I wasn’t privy to all details… but the final destination is the Duchy of Hakna in the west.”
“Hakna Duchy.”
While not as powerful as the Arkesia Empire, it was a nation of considerable strength that maintained friendly relations with the Empire—and distant enough that crossing multiple borders would make imperial interference difficult.
“What about Parmela herself?”
“The young lady intends to accompany you. She’s prepared to abandon her ducal title if necessary.”
“…”
My head throbbed.
“Alright. I get the gist of the plan… Next. Do you two actually want me to participate in this scheme?”
“No.”
“Of course not!”
The expected responses came immediately.
Well, obviously.
“Though it pains me to say this as her attendant, the plan lacks feasibility.”
“Abandoning the family name? Don’t make me laugh! To tarnish the exalted Herthe name like that—I won’t stand for it.”
Both united in criticizing Parmela’s plan.
“I agree it’s absurd… but then why come tell me about it? Shouldn’t you have stopped it yourselves?”
“Annoying as it is, I owe my sister too much to refuse her request. Had you not saved my life, I wouldn’t have entertained this nonsense either.”
“Hmm. Head maid?”
“I oppose the escape plan itself… but support rescuing you. You’re the young lady’s benefactor. Suspicious as you may be… we can’t turn a blind eye when her savior is in peril.”
“I see… So you two, finding common ground in your objectives, came together to deliver Parmela’s message—is that it?”
They exchanged glances.
“That’s correct.”
The head maid spoke first.
“First, please humor the young lady’s request, Heavenly Demon. Then persuade her to abandon this escape plan. If needed afterward, we’ll assist your own escape from the Empire.”
“Sounds like an offer you can’t refuse. What do you say?”
Not a bad deal, objectively.
Getting help leaving the Empire.
So my answer…
“Is no thanks.”
“!”
“Hey, you—!”
“I’ll make this perfectly clear. I don’t need anyone’s help to escape this place.”
“Even for you, that’s—”
Impossible. But Beltane couldn’t finish the sentence.
“Then why did you come here so meekly?”
“…Well. Anyway, my answer stands. Appreciate the offer, but I’ll handle things myself. Make sure Parmela gets the message.”
“Are you insane? Even you can’t take on the entire Empire—!”
As Beltane flared up, the head maid raised a hand to stop him.
“Understood. I’ll relay that to the young lady.”
“Elina!”
“If that’s his decision, there’s nothing more we can do, Lord Beltane. Let’s return. Ah, and this.”
A scroll appeared in the head maid’s hand, which she placed on the bedside table.
“A continental map. Thought you might need it for your solo escape.”
“…”
“Let’s go, Lord Beltane.”
They turned toward their entry point.
Just before stepping into the shadows, Beltane paused.
“…Hey.”
“What?”
“…Thanks. I’ll repay the debt somehow.”
With those words, he swiftly disappeared into the shadows.
“…Hah.”
Elina gave a slight shake of her head before following.
Left alone, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
A pair of tsundere siblings, huh?
After they left, I flopped back onto the bed.
—Then why did you come here so meekly?
The answer I hadn’t given to Elina’s question earlier…
“I was tired.”
Not in the mood to fight, so I just went along with it.
All I wanted was to live peacefully, yet here I am.
The Radain Holy Nation, the Arkesia Empire, demons…
How long must I hide and run?
“…This can’t go on.”
Until now, I moved solely for the sake of peaceful normalcy.
But the more I acted, the more tangled things became.
So then…
“I need to change my approach.”
The imperial security force headquarters, located north of the palace.
The compound was surrounded by tall, spiked iron fences patrolled by elite guards who monitored not just the main gate but the entire perimeter.
Add to that multiple invisible barrier spells covering the grounds, and you had security befitting the capital’s peacekeepers.
“Hmm… Tough nut to crack.”
Yet Emily stood atop those spikes, surveying the compound with leisure as if mocking its defenses.
Naturally, the patrolling guards didn’t see her—even detection spells failed to notice her presence.
A infiltration skill worthy of a rogue counted among the continent’s top five.
“Sneaking in alone is one thing, but how do we extract the Heavenly Demon without alerting everyone?”
Even for her, disabling the entire security system was impossible.
“Maybe I should head back.”
Knowing when to quit was also part of being a good rogue.
Emily leaped off the fence toward the nearby inn where Auriel waited.
Opening the door, she found Auriel kneeling in prayer.
Emily quietly passed by to avoid disturbing her, plopping onto the bed.
“—How’d it go?”
Auriel opened her eyes after finishing her prayers.
“Mm. Rescuing him with just the two of us seems unlikely. Unless we’re willing to team up with the Heavenly Demon and fight our way out against the entire Empire—which isn’t impossible.”
“That’s not an option.”
“Figured. I’d rather not make enemies of the Empire either.”
After finding clues at the academy, they’d immediately headed for the capital’s security force headquarters where the Heavenly Demon had been taken.
Now physically mere minutes apart.
Yet between Saintess and Heavenly Demon stood an impenetrable wall of reality.
The closer they got without meeting, the more Auriel’s anxiety grew.
“Ugh, frustrating.”
Emily sprawled out on the bed.
“After coming all this way.”
“Exactly…”
Auriel’s prayer to Juten had been a plea to save him.
But as always, the indifferent god gave no response.
“…Let’s wait. The Empire won’t keep him imprisoned forever. They’ll transfer him somewhere eventually, and that’s when we’ll have our chance.”
But Emily knew her own suggestion wasn’t entirely realistic.
It amounted to waiting endlessly for random opportunity.
“…”
Heavy silence fell between them.
Emily was about to suggest drinks to lighten the mood when—
Knock knock.
Someone rapped at the door.
Neither was alarmed.
The Empire didn’t know they were here, so the visitor’s identity was limited.
As expected, opening the door revealed a man in Radain Church robes.
“You people never quit, do you? Again, we can’t support your plan. The Heavenly Demon isn’t a demon, much less someone who needs to be—”
“Different business this time.”
The messenger spoke in monotone.
“…Is that so, Auriel?”
“Come in.”
“Is it… truly?”
Auriel asked incredulously.
“Yes. The Church has revised its stance. We’re officially recognizing the Heavenly Demon’s existence and achievements, and extending a formal invitation.”
The messenger gazed steadily at Auriel.
“Accordingly, the Church will formally request the Empire hand him over. You’re to deliver this request as the Church’s official envoy—a directive from the Sacred Council to the Saintess.”