Just Calm Down (4): Initial Response and Asset Liquidation
The streets had grown noticeably quiet. With every step I took, the gazes of the surrounding crowd clung to me tenaciously.
"I really can't figure you out."
"What is that supposed to mean all of a sudden?"
"You're truly amazing. In more ways than one..."
Adelaide, who was still slung over my shoulder like a sack of rice, spoke up cautiously.
"I never in my wildest dreams imagined you would send His Highness the Crown Prince flying like that."
"Every second counts, yet he kept wasting our time with useless chatter."
"It wouldn't have been strange at all if you had abandoned me and sided with His Highness."
"It wasn't a matter of abandoning anyone. I simply acted according to my own principles."
I gave my calm reply while casually tossing aside the imperial soldiers blocking our path as if they were paper dolls. At that, Adelaide, still dangling over my shoulder, let out a soft, peculiar chuckle instead of her usual sigh.
"Even though I know you didn't do it for my sake, for some reason, I can't help but laugh."
"It seems your mood has improved quite a bit."
"Yes. Very much so, in fact."
Adelaide murmured softly, letting her body go limp and relaxed against my shoulder.
"I was a bit flustered at first, but watching it play out... it actually felt incredibly cathartic."
"Cathartic, you say..."
"Having someone on my side whom even His Highness cannot control... there's nothing more reassuring than this."
I hadn't exactly done it for her, but a win was a win.
"Good to hear. Now, let's head to the dungeon."
Letting her words slide right past my ears, I took long, strides toward the empire's border. But just then—
"S-Stop...!!"
We were only a few paces away from the exit. Suddenly, a ragged, breathless voice called out urgently from behind us.
"How... how dare you humiliate me...?"
Turning my head, I saw the Crown Prince—whom I had smashed into the wall earlier—staggering to his feet.
"You are truly a brainless brute, fitting for a servant of Adelaide, the greatest villainess of our time. I am the Crown Prince of this empire...!"
Half of his face was smeared with blood, and his once-elegant, pristine ceremonial attire was torn to shreds like a miserable rag.
"Do you honestly think you can trample my pride so ruthlessly and walk away unscathed?!"
"Yes. That is exactly what I plan to do."
"There is a limit to your arrogance... I will make you regret looking down on me!"
His hands trembled with sheer rage as he gripped his sword. The murderous intent in his eyes flared like a striking viper.
"Let's just go. Dealing with him any further is just a waste of time..."
"No. If we leave him like this, he will definitely pursue us all the way to the dungeon."
Adelaide was right; fighting the Crown Prince any further would be a waste of precious time. However, seeing the sheer obsession that drove him to crawl after me in such a pathetic state, a strong premonition hit me. Leaving him be was a bad idea. He would undoubtedly crawl into the dungeon and keep getting in my way.
"What are you going to do?"
"In any situation, the initial response is always the most critical."
"Initial response?"
"Yes. Leaving things half-done only invites future trouble."
Before a tiny spark can grow into a raging forest fire, you must stomp it out completely.
"Y-You don't mean..."
"I bear no personal ill will toward the Crown Prince, but if he insists on blocking my path, I have no choice."
Without hesitation, I set Adelaide down from my shoulder onto the ground. Then, I slowly drew the crude greatsword strapped to my back.
"Wait a minute! Are you really going to fight him?!"
"Yes."
"But you said we had to get to the dungeon quickly! What if someone takes the loot you left behind while you're doing this...?"
"As I said before, items can always be farmed again."
I replied calmly, taking a quiet breath.
"But if I don't deal with the Crown Prince now, I'll be constantly looking over my shoulder the entire time we're clearing the dungeon."
"'Deal with him'? You're not... planning to kill His Highness, are you?"
"No. I am not a murderer."
At my nonchalant addition, Adelaide's jaw dropped, utterly speechless.
"……You can control your strength, right?"
"Of course."
"I'm not saying this because I'm worried about him. If you slip up even a little, both of us are finished."
"The moment we laid hands on the Crown Prince, we already crossed the point of no return."
"Do you think I don't know that? I know things can't get much worse, but still, just in case..."
I blinked slowly, staring down at Adelaide as she hung her head with a bitter expression.
What was the source of the anxiety clouding her face? Was it lingering attachment to the empire? Or was it fear of the future that awaited us?
"I don't know what you're so worried about, but there's no need to look so dejected."
Well, whatever she was worrying about, what did it have to do with me? Fretting over it wouldn't change our current situation, nor would it alter what we had to do.
"If this incident leaves you with nowhere to go, you can just follow me."
"……Pardon?"
"Dungeons are outside human jurisdiction. In there, neither the Emperor nor the Crown Prince can wield their authority as they please."
Though she was currently a penniless exile, she was once a duke's daughter. She would know the geography and customs of this world better than anyone. Which meant that to me, who knew absolutely nothing about this world, Adelaide was an incredibly competent Guide and an indispensable party member I could not afford to lose.
"I will pave the way. So just trust me and follow my lead."
It would be a waste of her knowledge and experience to use her as a mere temporary guide and let her go. Since we were already entangled like this, recruiting her as a permanent party member was by far the most beneficial move in the long run.
"What?! T-Trust you and follow your lead?"
The moment I finished speaking and turned back toward the Crown Prince, Adelaide's trembling voice drifted from behind me.
"Does that mean, perhaps..."
For some reason, Adelaide's face was as red as a beet. Her eyes were wide, staring intently at me.
"Is something the matter?"
"N-No... I just didn't expect to hear something like that in a situation like this..."
"Something like that? Did I say something wrong?"
"No, it wasn't a mistake... You were just being honest with your feelings..."
Why was she suddenly stuttering like that? Was she really that thrilled to form a party with me?
"I have no title, no wealth... Why would you suddenly feel that way toward me...?"
"Money and titles mean nothing to me."
"I'm happy, but still, this is all so sudden..."
True, it was a proposal sudden enough to fluster her. Besides, Adelaide detested dungeons to the point of sheer loathing.
"I suppose it can't be helped. I will give you some time to think it over."
"T-Time to think...?"
"Yes. Take your time to think and make your decision while I deal with the Crown Prince."
With those calm words, I turned my back on Adelaide without a second thought. Then, I raised my crude greatsword, pointing it directly at the Crown Prince.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"I am so utterly dumbfounded that I cannot even bring myself to laugh..."
Having waited for quite some time, the Crown Prince's face was now warped with a contempt that transcended mere anger.
"Not only do you dare challenge the authority of the Crown Prince, but you treat me as if I were some pebble rolling on the side of the road."
"Bring it on."
"Just where do you come from to possess such boundless arrogance...?"
Seething with rage, the Crown Prince glared at me with bloodshot eyes as he slowly adjusted his grip on his sword. He seemed far from calming down, but unfortunately, I didn't have the luxury of exchanging useless banter with him right now.
"I will sever that arrogant neck of yours and place it beneath my feet—!"
"You certainly have a lot of free time."
Cracks spread like spiderwebs across the ground with every step I took.
Rrrrrrrrrrrumble... The grating, ominous sound of my greatsword scraping against the stone floor followed quietly behind me.
"If it weren't for you, I would be looting items in the dungeon by now."
"What...?"
"I've wasted far too much time. To make up for this loss, I am going to strip you of everything you have on you."
Since he was the Crown Prince, whatever he carried—even if I couldn't identify its use—was bound to be an incredibly valuable treasure.
"Hand over everything you have."
There was no harm in taking it. And so, I decided to rob the Crown Prince of all his belongings.
"W-What are you talking about all of a sudden...? Hand over everything...?"
With every slow step I took forward, the Crown Prince's pupils shook violently, as if struck by an earthquake. His murderous momentum from earlier vanished without a trace, and he retreated with heavy, trembling steps like a terrified herbivore. Yet, I did not stop.
"Your weapons, your accessories."
I had to make up for the losses incurred by his temper tantrum somehow. Afterwards, since Adelaide and I would practically be living in the dungeon anyway, I didn't need to worry about the consequences.
"Hand it all over."
With that flat declaration, I immediately stripped the Crown Prince of every single thing he owned.