The Survivor of a Fallen Kingdom
I dusted the dirt off my pants with a few quick slaps. “Well, this is a mess.”
Normally I would have moved so cleanly that not a speck of dust would cling to me. It seemed Scarlet was right—my skills really had rusted. That was only possible because the scheduled apocalypse had come and gone without incident.
“Not that it has anything to do with these guys.”
After shaking off the last of the grime, I looked down at Lieutenant Meln, who was sprawled on the ground. He belonged to the Imperial Intelligence Bureau, so I’d expected him to last at least two or three exchanges. Instead, he’d gone down in one. His ambition far outstripped his actual ability. Personally, I respected that kind of drive, but most people didn’t look kindly on those who climbed the ranks on enthusiasm alone.
“Still, the fact that he made it to lieutenant in the Intelligence Bureau means the people around him must be decent.”
Just look at his superior officer over there—eyes squeezed shut, quietly accepting the situation. Even though it was objectively a nuisance, the man chose worry over blame. It suggested that Meln’s usual conduct wasn’t all that bad.
“Sparring’s over.”
I picked up the unconscious lieutenant and propped him against a nearby tree. Then I walked over to Senior Officer Lucas, who was standing at a distance.
“Since the verification is finished, I was going to explain the operation now, but…”
I glanced at the lieutenant I had knocked out.
“If you relay it to me, I’ll pass it on to him later.”
Lucas let out a long sigh and nodded, clearly understanding my meaning. He seemed used to situations like this; his response was quick. I was starting to see why the Intelligence Bureau had paired these two for the mission.
“You’ve already identified the target’s identity, correct?”
“Yes, sir. First Princess of the Raziel Kingdom—Arleah de Raziel. Within the department, we’ve raised the mission risk level from B to S.”
“Knowing that, that damn woman still…”
“Pardon?”
Lucas’s eyes widened at the curse that had slipped out.
“It’s nothing. Just some backbiting while the boss isn’t around. You can probably relate.”
“Ah… if that’s the case…”
Lucas’s gaze flicked toward the person collapsed behind me. It lasted only a split second, but he clearly sympathized with my feelings. Of course, that sympathy would vanish the moment he learned that “damn woman” was the Empire’s Second Star, Scarlet Frausia.
“Anyway, since the target’s identity has been upgraded, we’ll need to switch from the original plan to something closer to direct protection… Have you gathered any other information?”
“No, sir. She suddenly appeared in a village in the southern part of the Empire. Her personal combat ability is at the 5-Ring level. The weapon she uses is a longbow. Other than that…”
“She’s incredibly beautiful and kind?”
“Yes, that’s about all we’ve been able to confirm… ugh!”
Startled by the sudden clear voice, Lucas stumbled backward. He reflexively drew the dagger at his waist, but he couldn’t hide his panic. No wonder—he hadn’t sensed her presence at all until she appeared right behind him. Considering his level seemed to be mid 4-Ring, it was understandable that he’d be shocked.
“Oh dear, jumping like that hurts my feelings a little.”
Yet the person who had startled him simply smiled lightly, as if the situation meant nothing to her.
“You don’t seem surprised, though?”
The brown-haired woman turned to look at me. I met her violet eyes directly and spoke.
“It would be rude to be startled upon seeing a lady.”
“Rude, you say. Isn’t speaking about someone behind their back even ruder?”
“I’ve already committed one discourtesy. It would be wrong to repeat the offense.”
“Hmm… I came because I suddenly felt an incredibly dense wave of mana, and this is what I find.”
The violet-eyed woman stared at me for a moment before taking a step back. She gave a slight, elegant bow and slowly opened her mouth.
“Well, it seems you two already know about me, but shall we introduce ourselves properly?”
……
Lucas and I remained silent. The woman, however, continued without concern.
The identity of the woman who had appeared so suddenly.
“I am Arleah de Raziel. I am the second survivor of a kingdom that has now been destroyed.”
She was the First Princess of the Raziel Kingdom—the very person we had been planning an operation to approach.
I closed my eyes for a moment, then answered her introduction.
“Imperial Special Forces, Captain Kyle.”
“Imperial Intelligence Bureau, Senior Officer Lucas.”
Since she had probably heard everything we said, hiding our affiliations was pointless. I openly stated that I belonged to the Special Forces, and Lucas, understanding my intention, did the same.
“Lucas. And… Kyle?”
At the name Kyle, Princess Arleah flinched for the briefest instant. But it really was only for a moment. She quickly regained her composure and maintained the same expression she had shown until now.
“Then the person lying over there is…”
“You can call him Lieutenant Meln.”
After confirming the lieutenant draped against the tree, Princess Arleah nodded at Lucas’s words and continued.
“I expected the Intelligence Bureau, but I didn’t think the Special Forces would come as well.”
“You speak as if you’ve been waiting for us.”
“I have been waiting. Is that surprising?”
“Pardon?”
Lucas’s eyes widened at Princess Arleah’s calm reply. For someone from the Intelligence Bureau, his facial expressions were far too readable. It was true that quite a lot of shocking information had been exchanged, but he really should have controlled his face better. I mentally deducted about five points from my evaluation of Senior Officer Lucas and asked the princess a question.
“If you’ve been waiting for us, there must be a reason.”
“Yes.”
“May I ask what that reason is?”
At my question, Princess Arleah closed her eyes as if thinking for a moment.
“Mm… I wish to meet His Majesty the Emperor of the Empire.”
To meet His Majesty the Emperor. That explanation made her waiting for the Intelligence Bureau somewhat understandable. After all, as the First Princess of Raziel, she had the qualifications to request an audience with the Emperor. It would take longer than it would have when the kingdom still existed, but it was possible. Still, the fact that she had specifically waited for the Intelligence Bureau suggested there was something she wanted to report as quickly as possible. The Intelligence Bureau could deliver information directly to the imperial family, so reports would reach His Majesty faster than through formal audience procedures. It also allowed them to skip various other inconveniences. Given that the current Emperor valued efficiency over petty formalities, it was certainly a calculated move.
In fact, Lucas seemed to accept her answer. However—
“That can’t be all of it.”
Wanting to meet the Emperor was a plausible reason for waiting for the Intelligence Bureau, but it felt too thin. It was believable, yet not quite enough to report as-is. Lucas must have reached the same conclusion, because he stayed silent and waited for the princess to continue.
“…As expected, it seems I can’t just gloss over it.”
Facing our gazes, Princess Arleah let out a deep sigh and set down the pure-white longbow she had been holding. Then she pulled out a rolled-up sheet of paper from her bosom and held it out to us.
Bounty: 1,000,000,000
Former Captain of the 17th Special Forces
Charges: Treason, Betrayal of the Empire, Mass Murder, Destruction of Raziel Kingdom
“The Empire is currently searching for this man, correct?”
On that paper was a very familiar face, a bounty inflated to one billion, and a single name.
Kyle Amillan.
A name I could never fail to recognize—my own.
Holding up the wanted poster with my name and face on it, Princess Arleah declared,
“I wish to cooperate with the Empire to capture this man, who was once a citizen of the Raziel Kingdom.”
She wanted to catch me.
At the shocking statement, Senior Officer Lucas’s mouth clamped shut. I barely managed to keep my voice from shaking as I asked,
“And once you catch him… what do you plan to do?”
“Hm? Obviously…”
A thick killing intent suddenly leaked from the First Princess’s body. The smile that accompanied that dense murderous aura was so bright and innocent that it made me doubt whether she was truly the one emitting it. Yet her answer was anything but innocent.
She smiled sweetly and said,
“I have to kill him.”
She was going to kill me.
Looking at the flames that engulfed the entire royal castle, Arleah de Raziel ran as fast as she could. Mana had been strangely unresponsive that day, yet the First Princess of the kingdom endured the pain of her heart feeling like it would burst and raced toward the burning castle.
And there, she witnessed it.
“…Arleah.”
Her family, sprawled on the floor with holes pierced through their hearts.
“Kill Kyle. Kill Kyle Amillan, Arleah.”
And she heard it.
“He is the mastermind behind this tragedy.”
“You must remember this.”
The king and queen’s voices rang like an oath.
The culprit of those flames.
“Kyle Amillan destroyed our kingdom.”
The enemy of the Raziel Kingdom.