Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: To Save Them, I Need a Cause
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Isfil gazed at me expectantly, and our eyes met.
"But, Theo."
"Yeah?"
"What are you going to do?"
Isfil placed her hand on her chest and looked at me.
"Well..."
"Yes?"
"I'm going to blackmail them."
"...Pardon?"
Isfil stared at me as if she had no idea what I was talking about.
I looked back at her and briefly recalled the conversation I'd had with Clue.
*
Clue rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought after hearing my question.
Her black hair draped down, but she didn't seem to care as she pondered.
"In the end, won't the Saintess have to go back?"
"Probably... yeah?"
Truth be told, keeping Isfil in the Empire right now was already a massive diplomatic blunder.
The fact that the Holy Kingdom hadn't said a word despite this madness was probably because we were the Empire.
I thought back to what presidents of the world's superpower did in my past life on Earth.
People grumbled, sure, but as long as they didn't cross the line too far, everyone tried to smooth things over.
From what I'd learned, even if the Holy Kingdom was powerful in this world, it wasn't stronger than the Empire.
There were probably all sorts of political opinions and behind-the-scenes dealings I didn't know about, but that was the gist.
What a strange world.
Anyway, they couldn't ignore us outright, but if it came to an open fight, the Empire would win.
But even that had its limits.
"Things won't end with just smiles from here on out."
Clue murmured calmly.
"Right. That's why I've been thinking of approaching it a different way."
"A different way...?"
I met eyes with Clue, who tilted her head.
"An exchange."
"An exchange?"
Clue blinked.
"I don't think I quite follow..."
"They want me, and I want Isfil to stay."
"...For now, okay."
"So, I go to the Holy Kingdom with Isfil for a year each—"
"No way! I mean, I don't want to!"
Clue raised her voice.
Did she really need to be that firm about it?
"A-hem..."
She cleared her throat a few times before continuing.
"I get what you're saying. You're thinking of doing a prisoner exchange..."
"Exactly."
"We can't know what might happen to you there. And your status isn't suited for a prisoner swap anyway."
"I'm the First Prince?"
Aren't I the farthest from the throne?
At least, that's how it was in the novels I'd read.
"Do you really think that?"
Clue narrowed her eyes at me the moment I said it.
When I nodded, she sighed heavily and went on.
"And above all, Her Majesty won't allow it."
"..."
I thought of Mother.
Yeah. If I even suggested it...
"I'd see war break out."
"Got it. I'll drop it."
No matter what, dragging things into war made no sense.
There was no need to send innocent people to the battlefield or sacrifice them.
This was tricky.
"Hmm, is there no other way...?"
"Yeah, blackmail seems more fitting than an exchange."
"Oh, that's good."
"Pardon?"
"Blackmail it is."
"...Pardon?"
*
"Blackmail...?"
Isfil looked at me like she couldn't comprehend, while Clue, who'd overheard, stood there expressionless, like a doll.
Don't clench your fist. You're scaring me.
For now.
"Isfil, you're eleven this year, right?"
"Thirteen..."
"..."
"...You didn't know?"
"Sorry. You all look about the same age to me."
"Theo, I'm hurt."
"...Sorry."
I figured I was giving her a compliment by saying she looked young, but kids are different.
They hate it at that age when they want to grow up fast.
Try being an adult. Bills to taxes to salary—it's nonstop stress.
Dealing with bosses you want to kill and seeing their faces every day is par for the course... No, that's not the point.
I cleared my throat and got to the main topic.
"Anyway, I need a condition."
"I'm listening."
"Teach me more so I become a master of Holy Power."
"...Theo, didn't you hear what I said earlier?"
Isfil looked at me in bewilderment.
"I said we have to be careful."
"That's how we make blackmail possible."
"...What exactly are you planning?"
"I'm going to steal their pretext."
"Huh...?"
Isfil tilted her head, clearly struggling to understand.
"Pretext...? What pretext?"
Hold on... This might take a while.
After quite a long explanation to Isfil, she nodded once she'd heard me out.
"I get what you're saying, but..."
"I need your agreement on this."
"..."
She pondered for a moment, then nodded again.
"I'll agree."
"Good. Then I'll take that as a yes."
"...But are you sure you're okay with it, Theo?"
"Me?"
I thought for a second at her question, then nodded.
"You never know when you'll die, so you have to live giving your all."
You could get hit by a car on the way home from work, so you always have to go all out.
Plus, I kinda wanted to try wearing one of those fancy hats.
"...Theo, you're really nine, right? Why do you sound just like the Cardinal?"
"..."
My body was nine.
With that thought, I looked at Isfil.
"...Fine."
She met my eyes and let out a small sigh.
"I'll trust you, Theo."
"Thanks, Isfil."
"Then let's start studying Holy Power right now."
Isfil walked to the door and locked it.
With a click, the door secured, and she turned to gaze at me quietly.
"Do you know how to use Holy Power first?"
"Yeah, I do."
I focused on my fingertip. Like shooting a beam.
Soon, a white light began to gather in my hand.
"You really learn fast..."
Isfil murmured as she approached, took my hand in hers, and closed her eyes.
"The basis of Holy Power is healing."
"Got it."
"It heals wounds, of course, but not just wounds—it improves poor physical conditions too."
"I see."
So that's why chugging holy water helped.
"So, how do you improve quickly?"
"Well..."
Isfil trailed off, averting her gaze.
"...Just practice."
"That's a lie."
We've known each other for four years.
True to her title as Saintess, Isfil was terrible at lying.
"How do you do it?"
"..."
"Isfil."
"...Okay, I'll tell you..."
Isfil started stammering it out.
"Basically, the easiest way to improve is through real combat."
"Real combat?"
"Heal injured people."
"Got it."
"Pour out your Holy Power until it's depleted, rest a bit, then repeat until it's gone again. That's how it grows."
Like building muscle. Understood.
"But using up all your Holy Power makes your body so exhausted..."
"Yeah."
"It's really hard to keep going unless someone forces you."
"Someone forced you, Isfil?"
"..."
She avoided my gaze at my words.
"Got it."
That was one more reason to blackmail the Holy Kingdom.
"But injured people... there won't be many. The Holy Kingdom had lots of sick folks coming around."
I nodded at Isfil's words.
For now, I didn't even know how effective my Holy Power was, so seeking out the sick wasn't on the table yet.
That was for later, when I built up my pretext.
"Still, there are people with minor injuries."
"Huh...?"
I grinned at Isfil, who looked puzzled.
Didn't we have them?
People who got hurt all the time. Minor scrapes, even.
*
"Healing... you mean?"
The Knight Commander scratched his cheek, looking flustered after hearing me.
"Yes. Healing."
"...Uh, well. Healing—we're grateful, honestly."
He glanced around before leaning in to whisper.
"You'll be using Holy Power?"
The Knight Commander must hear rumors fast.
"Yes."
"Did you get Her Majesty's permission...?"
"Yes."
I nodded confidently.
When I told Mother I wanted to practice Holy Power, she opposed at first but eventually sighed and gave in—parents can't beat their kids, after all.
"Her Majesty sure..."
The Knight Commander sighed and looked down at me.
"Understood. Just say the word anytime."
"Thank you."
"No, thank you."
He gave a wry smile at my words.
From that day on, after sword training spars, I went around healing everyone from knight aspirants my age to regular knights.
"H-Healing, you say?"
"Yes."
"Oh, no need, Your Highness. I'm sturdy..."
"Come on, let me help."
"No, really..."
"Just once, please. Just once."
"Well... if you insist, just once then..."
At first, the knights sweated bullets and refused,
"Um, Your Highness."
"Yes?"
"Sorry, but during sparring, I twisted my wrist..."
"Ah, give me your wrist. I'll heal it."
"Th-Thank you."
but after a week, they came seeking me out shamelessly,
"Your Highness! Haha! Back again today?"
"Yes, I'm here."
"This is embarrassing... Is there anything you want? I swear on my honor, I'll make it happen."
"Nothing like that. Just keep serving the Empire well."
"Of course! I'd lay down my life for the Empire! If I could for you too—"
"No need."
"...What a shame."
and after another week, their faces lit up whenever they saw me.
Martial folk were simple.
Once you won their heart, they trusted you quick.
And that's what made them great.
"Theo, my hand hurts. Kiss it better."
"Hold on, I'll heal it with Holy Power."
"Not Holy Power, kiss it..."
"...Only 'cause you're Ravire sis. Gimme your hand."
"Love you, Theo!"
Ravire sis threw tantrums sometimes, but whatever.
Like that, I trained my Holy Power relentlessly.
How many times did I collapse when it ran out, then get back up to heal more?
"...Hup...!"
I gripped my hand, and whoosh—Holy Power surged brighter.
Stronger output than before.
Isfil's training method was spot on.
"...Good."
This was enough.
With that thought, I went to see Mother.
"Theo, I've been hearing your name a lot among the knights lately."
"Mother..."
I met my beaming mother's eyes and spoke up.
Now that I'd honed my Holy Power a bit...
"I want to go out and heal the sick in the Empire."
"...Pardon?"
Now it was time to build my pretext.