Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 13
Recruiting Talent (2)
The streetlights of the capital turned on one by one, and starlight began to embroider the night sea.
After finishing the royal banquet, the Northern delegation was staying at the quarters inside the Royal Palace. However, compared to enjoying the abundant dinner, their expressions weren't very bright. Unlike their expectations, the Kingdom was showing a passive attitude towards dispatching reinforcements. Although they planned to stay a few more days, it didn't seem likely to get any better.
In that situation, Yuria counted the chimney smoke rising outside the window and spoke quietly.
"If I knew it would be like this, I should have gone to the Empire."
"..."
No one could open their mouth at those words. Because actually, it was her decision to come to the Kingdom this time.
She read the expressions of those Northern warriors and continued.
"Just kidding. It would have been the same even if we went to the Empire anyway."
Rather, since the Empire is further away from the North, there was a possibility they wouldn't lend any reinforcements at all. Actually, in the original work, they chose the Empire instead of the Kingdom, but only obtained a small amount of supplies and didn't receive any troops.
Barg also nodded at her words.
"That must be true. Just because they are a powerful country doesn't guarantee they are generous."
"Yeah. So don't worry. There is still time left, right? Trust my judgment."
She said that and reassured her subordinates. While hiding her trembling hand behind her back.
Barg bowed his head pretending not to know even though he saw it.
"Yes. We only follow behind the Grand Duchess as always. Even if that place is an endless snowy field."
"Yeah. Thanks."
Yuria looked out the window again. Before she knew it, people on the streets were also returning to their respective lit homes.
Looking at the emptying streets, her heart tightened. They also had to return to the North sooner or later. While everyone is fighting in their hometown, they couldn't waste even a single second like this.
The Kingdom's Best Sword failed. She was convinced hearing the answer during the day. At least she couldn't entrust the back of the North to such a person.
Other knights were the same. Then now there is only one option left. Since a while ago, she kept looking around outside the window as if looking for something.
Barg didn't notice her like that and settled the atmosphere.
"Then let's all sleep early for tomorrow's meeting. Milady also worked hard today."
But she didn't answer. Instead, she who kept looking out the window suddenly jumped up.
At her bizarre action, everyone's gaze turned towards her.
"Milady? Why are you like that."
"I'll go somewhere for a moment and come back."
At those words, the warriors were surprised and stood up along with her. They couldn't send her alone at this time, and in a foreign country at that.
"W-What do you mean by that? The sun has already set, so please just stay here today."
"No. It's urgent."
"Just where are you going that you are like that. If you really have to go, go with us..."
"Restroom."
"..."
"Do you perhaps want to go together?"
Barg shook his head urgently. Other warriors also bowed their heads deeply in embarrassment, and in the meantime, as she opened the window, cold wind rushed into the room.
"Milady? But why are you opening the window?"
"Here is faster."
Whoosh- She jumped down as she was without giving a chance to answer. Thanks to wrapping Aura around her body, she could land safely.
Barg muttered blankly watching her back running away quickly like that.
"No, this is the 3rd floor..."
Besides, the restroom was right next door too.
But her appearance already far away had become small like a snowflake.
Returning after finishing training, it became night before I knew it.
After washing up, I put firewood into the stove. Drinking coffee with the warm air, it felt like the fatigue of the day was relieved.
"Shall I maintain my weapon before sleeping."
It's already the third day since returning from the last mission. The house arrest of the 4th Knight Order hasn't been lifted yet.
Thanks to that, I was also spending time with training and hunting monsters in the city's underground sewers.
Originally, I intended to have a showdown with the King today, but unfortunately, because the Northern delegation came, it had to be postponed for a while.
Of course, since I am under house arrest, there won't be any meeting with the delegation.
"By the way, the North. If my memory is correct, there wouldn't have been a reason for them to come to the Kingdom."
In the original work, I know they definitely only stopped by the Republic and the Empire around this time. Being them, did some wind blow suddenly?
In the first place, the people of the North only exist as a setting. They never appeared even once in the original work. It was good when the author introduced them ambitiously, but actually, they weren't characters suitable to send out in a Romance Fantasy.
Like this, how could they be sent out to that sweet Romance Fantasy. Maybe the author also thought this wasn't it, so there was no appearance of the Northern side after this.
At most, maybe just a story that they were annihilated not long after the Demon King resurrected.
'I wish it changed a bit this time.'
Still, this time they chose the Kingdom instead of the Empire. I should hope that change is meaningful.
"Then shall I sleep soon."
Knock knock.
As I was hanging the maintained sword on the wall, a knocking sound was heard from outside the door.
Who is it at this time? There's definitely no appointment or anyone coming. It wouldn't be the members, is it someone from the Royal Palace?
Come to think of it, they said they would reprimand sooner or later for what happened during the last mission. Maybe they came because of that.
Thinking that, I asked.
"Who is it?"
"...Yuria."
But what returned was a woman's voice I heard for the first time. Not only do I not have an acquaintance with such a name, but if it's a name from the delegation side I know, there is no way she would come here right now.
"Phew..."
Is it perhaps someone's trap? Although I don't recall buying a grudge in this city particularly.
I put the dagger I kept in the drawer into my back pocket and quietly approached the door.
Creaak- And turning the doorknob and pulling slowly, I made eye contact with a girl with pure white hair.
"Found you."
Well. I don't know what it is, but I think you found the wrong place. I shook my head at her excited voice. Sorry, but I didn't remember getting acquainted with a kid like this.
Still, seeing such a pretty kid coming abruptly, a laugh came out without me realizing.
Probably a spy of demons. Or highly likely a spy sent by someone. Because the honey trap is an assassination method proven by history.
I took a stance to take out the dagger anytime. If she does anything even slightly suspicious, I intended to stab and suppress her first.
However, she looked at me blankly and soon opened her mouth calmly.
"Restroom."
"Huh?"
I doubted my ears even after hearing. What did this kid say just now.
"Can I use the restroom perhaps?"
...At the visitor's words I heard for the first time since buying this house, I fell into worry for a moment.
Is she perhaps an orphan or a beggar, not an assassin? Or maybe a kid who is a bit sick somewhere. Anyway, I can't send a person whose social life is in danger back like this.
"Come in. The restroom is over there."
"Yeah. Thanks."
As soon as I opened the door, she entered the restroom quickly. It seems it was really urgent.
While she was in the restroom, I looked at the sword hanging on the wall.
"Haa. I maintained it with much effort."
I took the sword and hid it under the chair, then sat there and waited.
Like that, not long after, the sound of water was heard from inside the restroom. She came out with a nonchalant face and bowed her head to me.
"Thanks. I almost gave up several times on the way here."
What does that mean. I decided not to think deeply.
"Well. It's a fortunate thing that you kept your dignity as a human."
"Yeah. Thanks to you, I lived."
"Really? Then you should repay that favor."
Swish- I took out the dagger hidden in my pocket and held it in my hand naturally.
As expected, she didn't show any agitation even seeing that.
"Don't think of trying any tricks. Every time you wiggle a finger, I will gouge out those eyes."
"..."
"Sorry, but I'm not romantic enough to be deceived by something like this. So let's finish it quickly."
Saying that, I didn't miss every single movement of hers. Whether using magic or taking out a weapon from inside the skirt, if she tries any trick, I intended to stab her right away. Anyway, it's enough if only the mouth to confess remains.
She nodded as if understanding my reaction.
"Sorry. I was rude. Grand Duchess of the North, Yuria Silvernon. That is my name. Currently, I am staying in this Kingdom as a delegation."
"Evidence?"
"If you check the pendant on my neck, you will know."
I brought the blue pendant as she said and checked. Certainly, the pattern of the North was engraved, at least it wasn't fake.
I returned the pendant and bowed my head.
"I apologize for my rudeness just now. But why did the Grand Duchess of the North come to my house? Don't say you really came because the restroom was urgent."
"It is true that I came because it was urgent. It was further than I thought coming here, so I was a little flustered."
"..."
"And I have something to ask the War Hero too."
Saying that, she stared at me intently and asked.
"You see. If I, who am in this place right now, were on the side of demons, what would you do?"
"What do you mean what. I have to kill you right away."
No other option particularly came to mind.
When I answered without hesitation, she blinked her eyes.
"Is that all? I thought you would escort or torture me."
"You said you are on the demons' side? It might be different if outside. Knowing what those vicious bastards would do to citizens inside the city, would I let them live? I have to cut the head first and see."
"But what if other demons are also hiding? Then you have to interrogate and dig it out."
"When it becomes time to interrogate, it would be already too late a situation. It would be faster to find using magic detection instead. But why do you ask this?"
"..."
But she didn't answer.
Hearing my words, she was just opening her mouth blankly.
"If you don't want to answer particularly, you don't have to. Since I'm not hugely curious either."
"Ah! It's not that I don't want to answer. I just did it because I was curious about what kind of person the War Hero is. If you felt bad, I apologize..."
Why are you curious about such things. If she asks more like this, it seems a whole day will pass, so I decided to wrap up the conversation slowly.
"Anyway, if your business is done, how about leaving now. Aren't the people outside the window over there the Grand Duchess's subordinates?"
"Ah."
I said pointing at the big guys outside the window. They were looking around the street and searching for something anxiously. Seeing that, she also nodded and came out of the house.
Like that, before leaving, she stood in front of the door and suddenly looked back.
"Excuse me. Can I come again if the restroom is urgent?"
"Just do it outside."
Leaving the good restroom in the royal quarters, why come all the way here to use my house's.
When I answered dumbfounded, she nodded with her shoulders drooping.
"Yeah... Okay."
Saying that, only then did she leave my house. Seeing a small commotion heard from outside, it seems she is getting scolded by her subordinates.
I sat on the chair and recalled the words she said a while ago.
"Demon. Demon, huh."
If, this house arrest continues and I can no longer stand on the battlefield...
"Is there a need for me to necessarily continue staying here."
I was lost in thought for a while holding the sword.
Early morning the next day, I planned to devote myself to training after dealing with monsters in the underground sewers today too.
I wanted to lift the house arrest as soon as possible, but at least until the Northern delegation leaves, meeting the King seemed difficult.
Like that, taking the sword and coming out of the house as usual, I saw a familiar face.
"Good morning."
"..."
"Don't worry. I didn't come to borrow the restroom again. I already solved that and came."
I touched my temple recalling the words she said yesterday. Surely she didn't really do it outside and come, right.
Whatever it is, thinking of dealing with this kid again makes me tired already.
"Why did you come again. Don't tell me you came to even eat now."
"That would be good too, but I came because I have something curious."
"What is it."
What strange question is she trying to ask this time. Thinking that, she started striding towards me. However, that wasn't simply a few steps.
Step. Step. Step. She kept approaching and didn't stop until the distance our bodies touched.
And looking up at me at a position where breaths touched, she asked.
"You see, what should I do to become your person?"
"...What?"
At first, I thought I heard wrong. But seeing her eyes looking at me, I realized.
The fact that she is wanting something from me.