Each Their Role

The Bismarck Empire was the most powerful human nation in the Human Realm. If one were to name a place that symbolized the empire's splendor, people would unanimously point to the Imperial Palace. Known by the alias White Gold Palace, the palace was filled entirely with white marble and ornate gold decorations. Ever since Emperor Friedrich von Bismarck, who ushered in the empire's first golden age, had it built, the empire's leaders had always resided there. Even during the civil war sparked by the emperor himself drawing in external forces, the White Gold Palace continued to shine brilliantly on the surface. Yet beneath that dazzling exterior, the palace was now plunged into chaos. It was there that an unexpected guest arrived.

The imperial soldier clad in plate armor slipped into the palace without anyone noticing. It was not so much that his infiltration skills were exceptional; rather, he was simply so fast that others failed to detect him. "Hmm."

The man in plate armor, disguised as an imperial soldier—Nahen—had come to find an item presumed to be inside the Bismarck Imperial Palace. Just as with the Sword of Blood Tears and the Ancient Golden ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Bracelet, items that boosted growth efficiency in the game manifested as exceptionally powerful equipment with unique abilities. Nahen's reason for seeking this particular item was the same as before: to deliver it to Seere. Personal skill mattered, but in any genre of game, equipment was an essential element one had to acquire. The same held true for Evil Queen Maker, the raising simulation game whose world this had become. Even here, the importance of items was evident from the Sword of Blood Tears that Seere wielded.

'The imperial treasury must be somewhere around here.' If there was a place storing treasures, it would naturally be the imperial treasury. Yet when he tried to locate it, the palace was simply too vast for him to get a sense of direction. "...I suppose I'll have to search."

He could not afford to wander aimlessly. Nahen dropped to one knee and placed his hand on the floor. "Search."

Nahen's mana flowed through his fingers and spread across the palace grounds in an instant. He had released only a minuscule amount, so even the mages within the palace failed to detect it. "...!"

Then Nahen found something. There was a space completely cut off from mana. A place shielded against mana meant something important was stored there or an equivalent level of significance. He waited to see if the mana he had dispersed elsewhere would yield the same reaction, but nothing else appeared. Nahen rose with a grin and headed toward the suspicious location.

"!" While quietly making his way along a back path, Nahen had to hide at once. Someone was sitting on the path—not in the garden—sighing heavily. "……Haa."

Though it was dark and difficult to see clearly, Nahen could tell the person was a woman. She had a small frame, long hair, and a figure that was not a man's. '...A palace maid, perhaps?' If she were a maid burdened with the palace's grueling work, it would not be strange for her to come to such a deserted spot to lament her fate. Those who served their superiors could not vent their stress where others might see, so this was the only outlet left to them. Still, he had to be cautious. That she was a maid was only Nahen's guess; she might not be. He had plenty of time anyway. Nahen quietly waited for her to leave.

Eventually the woman who had been crouching stood up. Moonlight reached the height of her head, allowing him to see her face. "!"

Nahen was startled. He nearly flinched visibly. The woman who had been sighing so deeply was... 'Nothing's going right....' Charlotte von Bismarck. Her sky-blue hair, illuminated by the moonlight, caught his eye immediately. Those strands, as if they held the blue sky itself, were Charlotte's trademark. 'She doesn't seem to be coming this way....'

Nahen thought that if she simply turned back, they could pass without meeting. But then— "...You, hiding over there. Come out."

"!?" Nahen was thoroughly flustered by Charlotte's words. How had she known? He had not made a single sound. He had even used mana to silence his breathing. Yet someone like Charlotte, who had survived the treacherous politics of the palace, could instantly sense a gaze directed at her. "I told you to come out. I am Charlotte von Bismarck, First Princess of the Bismarck Empire. Do you not know that defying my command can result in immediate execution?"

"……" There was no choice. Since he had already been discovered, he had to gamble if he wanted to proceed. Nahen lowered the visor of his helmet. Then he stepped out from the wall and revealed himself. "My apologies, Your Highness."

"You... are one of my soldiers. Why were you secretly watching from there?" "While on patrol, I happened to find Your Highness. I dared not disturb your private time, so I was waiting for you to return."

Nahen spoke as though he had never intended to watch in secret. Charlotte let out a dry laugh. "There are no soldiers who patrol this area."

"...!" "I personally assigned every soldier's patrol zone. Do you not know that?"

Nahen had been caught by Charlotte's meticulousness. While he was pondering how to resolve the situation, Charlotte spoke first. "You are not a very honest fellow."

"...Pardon?" "You did not come all the way here simply because you wanted to rest. I understand. I am aware of the hardships you soldiers face."

Charlotte personally managed the soldiers under her command. She memorized their names and faces individually and oversaw them at all times, so she never suspected that someone might be impersonating one of her soldiers. She had even checked just that afternoon. "More importantly, when you see your superior, do you not raise your visor before greeting?"

"...I have my reasons at the moment." "What reasons?" "On my face...."

Nahen swallowed hard and voiced something he himself found ridiculous. "I have developed unsightly pimples...."

Nahen mentally face-palmed. What kind of excuse was that? He thought it would have been better to claim an eye infection. But he deliberately avoided mentioning illness. If Charlotte was meticulous enough to personally manage her soldiers' patrol zones, she might also know their medical records. "Pfft."

Surprisingly, Nahen's foolish excuse seemed to work. Charlotte let out a light laugh. Then she spoke to him kindly. "It is fine. I do not judge people by such minor flaws."

"Ah...." There were no more excuses left. Nahen wondered what to do and brought his hand to the visor. If Charlotte remembered even the faces of her soldiers, he was in serious trouble. 'Then it will be difficult to slip away quietly.'

Nahen placed his bet on the hope that Charlotte was not the type to remember every soldier's face. Just as he was about to raise the visor— "Your Highness! So this is where you were!"

"Theodor?" "I think you need to come at once! An urgent report has arrived!"

Charlotte glanced briefly at Nahen before turning her head. She spoke to him. "Next time, raise your visor when you greet me."

"...Yes, Your Highness." "Theodor, let us go." "Yes!"

Charlotte led the way, with her secretary Theodor following behind. It felt as though a storm had passed in an instant. Nahen let out a long sigh of relief. "What kind of princess personally designates and memorizes every soldier's patrol route...?"

It was generally absurd for a high-ranking officer to handle tasks that middle officers usually performed. Yet this very meticulousness had worked in Nahen's favor moments earlier. Because Charlotte worked so thoroughly and meticulously, she possessed complete confidence and trust in the tasks she handled herself. That was why, even after seeing Nahen outside his assigned patrol zone, she had not suspected anything else and simply assumed he had wanted to rest. Had Charlotte been any less thorough, Nahen would have been the one exposed. It had been an incredibly fortunate coincidence. Nahen gave a hollow laugh, yet at the same time felt a deep sense of regret.

'It is a shame to leave such talent in the Human Realm. But....' Nahen knew Charlotte's personality well. She was not the type to serve under anyone. She had been born to rule, and her ambitions were goals that could never be achieved by working beneath someone else. Charlotte was a talent he wanted under his command yet could never have. Her existence would continue to be an obstacle. She was not an immediate threat, but she was someone he would eventually have to eliminate. "...It cannot be helped."

For the civil ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠war to continue, Charlotte's presence was necessary for now. He could not remove her at this moment. First, he had to find the item. Having learned the lesson that even secluded places were not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠necessarily safe, Nahen began to move more cautiously.

# "Come along, dear. That shop over there has very cheap vegetables." "Ah, um, over there...!" "Oh my, you have a guest I have not seen before?" "She is the new tenant who just moved into our house. She is such a lovely girl." "Oh my~, she is quite pretty. Come here, dear. You will be coming often from now on, so I will give you a good price."

While Dane was out gathering information, Eri was being dragged around by the landlady. Eri had planned to do housework while Dane was away and had come out to shop for groceries. The landlady had insisted on showing her around and began leading her from place to place. Eri had heard that cities had less neighborly interest than the countryside, yet she could not feel the difference. "So, dear, what do you need to buy?"

"Ah, potatoes, onions, and lettuce...." "They have everything at that shop! Shopkeeper, pack some vegetables for her. I will introduce her to a few more shops." "Go ahead." "Now, dear, come along!" "W-wait...!"

After that, Eri had to memorize the locations and details of countless shops: the butcher, the fruit shop, the dairy and cheese shop, the dessert café, the general goods store, and more. For the first time, Eri realized that a housewife's stamina and chattiness were beyond imagination. She wondered if even the Demon King's army training could match this level of endurance. "If you remember the shops I showed you today, it will be helpful~."

"Yes, ma'am... Thank you." "Oh, it is nothing. This is what neighbors are supposed to do." It was a little tiring, and the landlady's chatter made her head throb, but Eri understood. The landlady was acting out of pure goodwill. Eri recalled the various humans she had seen at the Adventurers' Guild and the Magic Association recently and felt it once more. '...Yes, there are people like this too.'

Not all humans were bad. Realizing this again brought a slight pang of guilt over the many mages she had turned into monsters while carrying out Nahen's orders. Among them, there must have been... good humans. "Dear? Are you all right? You look pale."

"Ah... I must be a little tired. I am fine, ma'am." "Really? Then you should rest. A short nap will refresh you right away, so go on inside." "Yes, thank you."

Eri bowed politely and entered the house. She set the bundles she carried onto the table with a grunt. Then she pulled out a chair, plopped down, and slumped over the table. "...I need to do the housework."

She had no energy. Was this what it felt like to sink into melancholy? Eri sighed repeatedly until her eyes slowly closed without her realizing it. "Eri." "Mmm...." "Eri!"

Eri jolted awake and lifted her head. The window came into view. The once-bright sun had set, and a crimson sunset painted the sky. The one who had woken her smiled faintly. "You were tired? Then go to the room and sleep." "Ah... Dane? When did you get back?"

"A little while ago. You were asleep when I came in." "Ah...." Eri rubbed the corners of her eyes with her fingers. She seemed to have dozed off while slumped over in low spirits. She must have slept for quite a long time. Dane asked her, "So it looks like you did the shopping... Did you finish the housework?"

"...Ah." She had not done a single thing because she had fallen asleep while slumped over. Eri sprang to her feet and declared firmly to Dane, "I will start right now, so do not worry! You do not need to help. I will do everything!"

"...You do not have to push yourself." "It is fine!" "That is enough."

Dane placed his hand on Eri's head with a light pat. "You look tired. You do not have to overdo it. I will take care of it." "...It is really fine."

"Then let us split the work." "Hm?" "If you try to do all the housework by yourself starting now, you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠will not get to sleep until midnight, right?" "No way!?"

When Eri shouted, Dane laughed as though he found it amusing. He told her, "You do the laundry and clean the room. I will prepare dinner, put away the groceries, and do the dishes." "...Okay."

"Still, it seems you did well." "Hm?" "The landlady said on the way in that I am lucky to have a good wife. I guess you handled it well?"

Dane had spoken without thinking. Yet Eri's reaction was strange. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she averted her gaze. "Eri?" "Ah, well... It is a little embarrassing...." "...Ah."

Realizing that he had spoken so naturally about being lucky to have a good wife, Dane's face turned even redder than Eri's. "Uh, well, th-that... S-sorry!" "N-no! The fact that you said that means I played the role of a wife well, does it not?" "Y-yes! That is right." "Ha, haha! That is a relief!"

Eri and Dane tried to laugh and dispel the awkwardness, but the lingering tension did not easily fade. The two began their tasks in silence and did not speak another word until dinner was ready.

# After the uncomfortable encounter with Charlotte, Nahen was able to reach the palace treasury without incident. Since he had already mapped the route with mana, arriving was not difficult. He silently eliminated the guards around the treasury and quickly subdued the keeper. The key to the imperial treasury was given only to the emperor, his direct children, and the keeper. Nahen killed the keeper in an instant, seized the key, and stood before the treasury. "Hmm."

The door itself was an enormous vault. Imagining the treasures of the Bismarck Empire piled inside made him anticipate what sight would unfold. When Nahen inserted the key into the lock, there was a click. Another sound followed as he turned it, and finally the treasury door opened. "Oho."

His first impression was one of awe. There were far more treasures here than in any Demon King castle vault he had conquered. This was truly the treasury of an empire that had once enjoyed a golden age. While marveling at the vast amount of gold and jewels, a sudden thought occurred to him. "How am I supposed to find it in here...?"

The item Nahen sought was something shaped like a round orb. Its name was 'Moon's Mystery.' The name alone revealed nothing about the item, but considering that this world originated from a game, it was simple. It was merely a name given because it sounded like equipment. Its effect was the same as the Sword of Blood Tears or the Ancient Golden Bracelet—an item that greatly increased growth efficiency. He did not know what effect it would have here, but the biggest problem was its appearance. Because it was simply an orb, finding it in this vast treasury was a chore. It was like searching for a needle in a haystack. "Tsk......"

While he was wondering what to do, black mist suddenly rippled beside him, and a small, cute white whale appeared with a pop. "Leviathan, you should not come out." "Puu."

Yet Leviathan pointed somewhere with its tail. Nahen followed the direction of the tail and widened his eyes. "......How did you find it?" "Puu!"

At the spot Leviathan indicated was the 'Moon's Mystery.' The pure white orb seemed to hold moonlight within it. The moment he obtained the item, Nahen let out a light laugh. "I will be able to bring back a proper gift when I return."

Nahen closed the treasury, locked it with the key, and returned the key to the dead keeper's pocket. After wiping all the blood from his plate armor, he carefully left the area. Once he returned to a deserted spot, he sent Leviathan ahead to check for people. Confirming there was no one, he raised his visor. "It is stuffy." "Puuu." "You go back in too."

Leviathan threw itself into the black mist and disappeared. Nahen removed his helmet completely and sat down for a moment. "I have done everything I can."

All that remained was to watch how the situation would unfold. Of course, this only applied to matters in the Human Realm. There was still work left to do. 'Hell.' He had succeeded in drawing Heaven's attention in the Human Realm to prevent the Celestial-Demonic War. Now it was time to resolve matters in Hell. He planned to observe the Human Realm situation until an appropriate time, then leave Dane and Eri in charge while he made a brief trip to Hell. As he gazed at the sky with these thoughts, a rustling sound made him turn his head in surprise. "You are...."

"……" Nahen berated himself. He had done something foolish. But this was truly unexpected. He had not thought the princess who had left in a hurry would return to this place again. 'Damn it.'

Nahen nearly cursed aloud for the first time in a long while.