The Imperial Princess (1)
Inside the carriage bound for the Holy See, I turned the newly acquired [Contaminated Miracle] over in my hands, examining it from every angle.
"Still no cracks, just as I thought."
An item that by all rights should have been fractured now showed not a single hairline, and even its name had changed—from [Cracked Treasure of the Kingdom] to [Contaminated Miracle].
I wondered whether this, too, was something altered in the DLC version, yet a few points still felt off. I had never chosen to kill Isabella with my own hands, and because of that she had chosen suicide instead. Had the game ever even implemented a branch like that?
"Probably not."
The only reason I had been able to strip away the demonic energy without taking her life was the brutal training under Andreus, the pile of items I had collected, and the battlefield experience that had forced me to grow at breakneck speed. Given the level design of Grand Fantasy, no player character built to the game's intended specs could ever have pulled off the same choice. So this had to be something possible only because this was reality, not a game.
"Still… what kind of effect does this thing even have?"
[Contaminated Miracle]. Whether it shared the same effect as the cracked treasure was already in doubt. Since it hadn't cracked, maybe it was better? The original had been single-use; could this one be used multiple times? And more importantly—how was I supposed to cleanse the contamination? Just dump holy power into it until it was pure?
While I was turning those questions over, a translucent window flickered into existence in front of me.
The Bombardment Fairy condemns you as a cold-blooded monster without a drop of blood or tears.
"Why the sudden tantrum? What's your problem this time?"
The Bombardment Fairy asks how you can stay so calm after everything that just happened.
The moment I read the fairy's words, my face twisted of its own accord.
"You think I'm not shaken? …Still, for what it was, this is a decent ending."
As I spoke, Isabella's final line from Grand Fantasy rose unbidden in my mind.
So this is how it ends. In the name of saving humanity, first our kingdom, and now me as well… Win. Prove that our sacrifice meant something. If even that disappears, I'll curse you from beyond the grave.
The illustration that had accompanied those words had captured her resentment, hatred, and resignation so perfectly that even while playing I had felt a chill crawl down my spine. Compared to that, this ending had to be better.
"It's already over. If you cling too hard to what's past, you can't move forward—so I've decided to think of it that way."
I tipped my head back and stared at the carriage ceiling. My chest still felt a little tight. No matter how calmly I talked, the heavy mood refused to lift completely.
…Right. I've already started treating this world as real, haven't I? The realization hit me anew.
The Bombardment Fairy declares that her master is acting strangely.
And of course the Bombardment Fairy chose that exact moment to interrupt my attempt at quiet reflection.
"…Come to think of it, you've been getting pretty mouthy lately. Want to have a real, serious talk?"
My concrete plan was to hang the Holy Shroud up as a target on the firing range and then open fire without mercy. We had gotten a little closer lately, so I had been cutting her some slack—clearly too much. Time to reassert discipline.
The Bombardment Fairy frantically insists that is not what she meant.
"Then what did you mean?"
The Bombardment Fairy says her great and glorious master simply knows far too much.
The Bombardment Fairy wonders where exactly you obtained all that information.
…Hmm.
Now that I thought about it, there was no real harm in telling the Bombardment Fairy the truth—yet there was also no particular need to. Should I? Shouldn't I?
After a brief internal debate, I settled on this:
"I've already defeated the Demon King once."
Tell the truth, but not the whole truth. She would fill in the rest with her own imagination.
The Bombardment Fairy is so shocked she can barely ask if that is true.
"Believe it or don't—that's up to you. But I haven't told a single lie."
Right. No lies. I had cut the Demon King's head off in the game, after all.
"This time, though, things are different. Events are unfolding a little differently from my experience. When I beat the Demon King before, there were no Four Heavenly Kings, and the Church didn't even have a Saintess."
I let a faint frown crease my brow as I spoke, deliberately setting the mood to lend my words more weight. The reaction came at once.
The Bombardment Fairy says that even if it is a lie, it is an incredibly exciting one.
Not a bad response. The fact that she hadn't gone negative already meant I was halfway there. A little more and I might seal the deal. With that thought, I mixed a sigh into my voice and spoke as if I were the one being wronged.
"I'm telling you it's not a lie."
The Bombardment Fairy says she understands and that she will believe you.
The Bombardment Fairy says that if that is the case, then everything that never made sense—why you know so much, why you fight so well—suddenly has a perfect explanation.
"Good. So stop talking back to your master and start thinking about how to help me properly."
The Bombardment Fairy says that is an entirely different matter.
"Fine. Thirty rounds of honest conversation, locked in."
The Bombardment Fairy desperately begs for her life.
We killed time with that kind of nonsense for a while.
"Saintess, we have arrived."
At last we were back at the Holy See. How to put it… it felt like coming home after a long journey. People really are creatures of habit; I was already starting to think of the Holy See as home.
Should I head straight to the Pope's office and report my return, or rest a little in my own room first? A bath sounded pretty good, actually. Yeah—wash up first, then go see the Pope.
I at least owed the Holy Knights a word of thanks.
"Everyone, thank you for your hard work. Without all of you, this operation would never have succeeded."
"““……Not at all!! It was an honor simply to be of use to the Saintess!!!”””
"You've all come a long way and must be exhausted, so please rest well today. I'll take my leave first!"
With that I strode quickly toward my room, offering light greetings to the clergy I passed along the way. A few of them looked as though they had something to say, but once I had decided to soak the fatigue out of my bones in a hot bath, nothing was going to stop my feet.
I opened my door, intending to grab only what I needed and head straight out.
I intended to. I never got the chance.
The sight waiting for me was simply too shocking.
"Ah, hello, Saintess!"
"……Princess?"
What the hell are you doing here?!
After hastily asking the princess for a moment of leave, I practically ran. My destination was, of course, the Pope's office. The instant I reached the door I knocked one-and-a-half times faster than usual and called out:
"Your Holiness, it is Saintess Maria! There is a matter I must ask about—may I enter?"
"Ah, please come in."
The moment I heard the answer I threw the door open without hesitation. The Pope regarded me with a kindly expression. I, however, was not so soft that a gentle face would make me lower my guard.
I arranged my features into the most serious look I could manage, dragged a chair across from him, and sat.
He spoke first.
"You have traveled a long road; you must be weary. I had intended to greet you in person, but urgent duties prevented me. I hope you will forgive the discourtesy."
"I am well aware of Your Holiness's responsibilities. How could I possibly take issue with that? It is quite all right."
Having opened with that, I went straight to the point.
"What I do find somewhat regrettable, however, is that a roommate appeared in my chambers without my knowledge."
"I am truly sorry. The matter arose so suddenly that the information reached us late."
As he spoke, the Pope bowed his head deeply in apology. Receiving a heartfelt apology from a man old enough to be my grandfather left me feeling like the worst kind of human being. Had I come on too strong? Should I have phrased it more gently? The thought had barely formed when—
"I am deeply sorry for the inconvenience we have caused you, Saintess."
Ah. Definitely should not push any harder. Hearing the apology a second time drove the thought home.
"……I was a little surprised, but it wasn't really an inconvenience."
"No. When a room that was once yours alone must suddenly be shared by two, any number of inconveniences are bound to arise. We are fully aware of that."
……Huh?
"Pardon? Shared… by two?"
"Had you not already heard? You used the word 'roommate,' so I assumed you knew the entire situation."
No, that was just a figure of speech. Of course I did not say that out loud; I was too stunned to form the words. More importantly—why on earth had the princess come to the Holy See? She could have stayed in the imperial palace eating well and living well. Had she run away from home? She hadn't seemed the type…
"……Why, exactly?"
That was all that managed to escape my locked throat. Even so, it was enough for the Pope to understand everything I wanted to ask.
"The Goddess has bestowed holy power upon Her Highness the Imperial Princess."
……What?