Chapter 176
Chapter 176
“Hey, you! Did you not hear me tell you to stand back?! Don’t you dare lay a finger on the Saintess!”
The heavy-armored paladin stepped forward menacingly.His purpose, of course, was obvious—protecting the Saintess, who was under the protection of the Church of Nepisa.
“Ah, but of course. How could I possibly harm the Saintess? I only wish to have a word with her, so please, step aside for a moment.”“Kh…! And why should I trust you…!”“Isn’t that so, Saintess? There are matters that only we must discuss.”
The heroine of the original story, Saintess Reisia.No—She was my younger sister, the master of this very room.
‘What are you doing? Get rid of this clueless bastard already.’
Though I hadn’t spoken aloud,she was sharp enough to understand.
“Sir Heiken, stand down.”“S-Saintess….”“He is my classmate. Moreover, he is competent enough to secure the position of Vice Representative. We need to speak for the sake of overcoming the current situation.”
Though he hesitated for a moment,what could a mere paladin do?
His opponent was the Saintess,chosen directly by their god.
“Must I say it twice? You’ve already committed the rudeness of mistaking me for that imposter.”“Ugh… Understood….”
Only after reproaching him for his past mistake did he finally back down obediently.
“A wise choice.”
Batory sneered at the subdued paladin.Even the paladin, about to leave and wait outside in the parlor, froze in place at her tone.
“So, you are Reisia, yes? Unlike this dull-witted knight, you certainly have a good grasp of the situation.”“…You’re awfully insolent for a mere guard mage. Are you any different from me? Step aside. You’ll only interfere with the Saintess’s conversation.”“Heh. Forgive me, but I am not like you.”
Batory proudly seated herself by the bedside.
“Well then, let’s talk. I, too, am a veteran of the battlefield. Perhaps I could offer some advice…”“Hans Byron, are you fine with an outsider intruding on our conversation?”
But Batory’s attempt was cut down in an instant by the Saintess.
“I believe this is a matter we should discuss among ourselves only.”
With a meaningful smile, Reisia looked at me.Telling me to get rid of the outsider.
‘True enough. There’s nothing good in letting Batory hear of this.’
If word spread that the Saintess and the heir of a barony were actually siblings?There would be no end of people eager to tear us apart.
Of course, Batory had no political power in human lands and no reason to expose it.She had pledged herself to me and wasn’t the type to betray.
‘…But one can never be too careful.’
“Lady Batory, forgive me, but could you remain with Sir Heiken for a while?”“H-Hans?”“I must ask this of you. We need to speak in confidence.”
Seeing her lower her head like an abandoned puppy did tug at my sympathy.
“…Very well. I’ll wait outside.”
Batory was not one to refuse my request.Quietly bowing her head, she trudged out of my sister’s chamber.
‘…Sigh. She looks so dejected. I’ll have to get her a gift later, or she’ll sulk badly.’
As I briefly wondered what kind of gift might cheer her,
“…Living quite the life, aren’t you? Coming to another world and having a beauty like that as your guard.”
My little sister greeted me with mockery right from the start.I could feel my brow furrow.
“While I’m running around trying to prevent the end of the world, you’re lounging around as a baron’s son, seducing women.”“Look who’s talking. Didn’t you flirt with the Third Prince? And not just him—should I list the men you’ve strung along….”“Waaah! Shut up! I was just doing my best!”
Who did she think she was trying to out-argue me?Her frustrated scowl as she hugged her doll tight filled my chest with refreshing satisfaction.
“Well, let’s skip the petty blame game. Honestly, I never thought you’d end up here. And in the role of the original story’s heroine, no less.”“…I never thought I’d find you here either. How did you get dragged in?”“For me, it was the day after I finished the ending. You?”“Not long after you locked the files.”
Her blue eyes—something she hadn’t had before—studied me carefully.
“Sure enough, ‘under the chandelier.’ Even side characters end up looking handsome here. Ugh, can’t believe I’m actually complimenting you.”“Same here. Saintess Reisia’s looks have always been praised in the community, after all.”
No surgeon in the real world could hope to match this.For both of us.
“Alright, enough pointless chatter. What exactly are you planning to do?”“Planning to do what? Be more specific.”“Don’t play dumb! What are you thinking, siding with that infamous mid-boss?! What are you trying to gain by keeping Luciana alive? She’s useless anyway!”“Watch your words. That’s my liege you’re talking about.”“Liege? Don’t make me laugh. Because of her, the whole original storyline is a mess! Thanks to her, my head feels like it’s going to split apart!”
For someone who hadn’t even cleared the game’s ending, she was surprisingly sharp.
Luciana was dead by the time of the original ending.She had no role in the official story routes.
And as my sister said, events were no longer unfolding according to the script.The early dispatch mission, the student council president’s resignation…All thanks to Luciana’s competence, no doubt.
But me—Hans Byron—how could I stand for her being insulted?
I clenched my fist and stepped toward her.
“Eek!”“You never learn, do you.”
For family, one good flick to the forehead was enough.
“I feel like I’ve already answered this before. Do I need a reason to serve my favorite?”“…You’re insane! Throwing away your only good trait like that!”
She vented her hysteria with a petulant stomp of her foot.Really, was this brat truly a Saintess?
“And what about you? Why are you clinging to the Third Prince?”“…Because of you!”
Biting her lip, she leapt off the bed, pointing at me furiously.
“Because of you! With that infamous mid-boss on the board, plus another boss stacked on top, how the hell am I supposed to clear this?! Should I just pick the Crown Prince instead? I’d sooner jump out the window!”“…You’re spitting on me, you brat.”“Eek!”
Another sharp flick landed on her golden hair.
“Well, at least you’ve made a rational choice. Better not think of opposing Luciana. To surpass her, you’d have to surpass me first.”“…You sound like her bodyguard. Ugh, forget it. I’m done with this conversation. No point in playing mind games with you. Now that I know who you are, I feel even less motivated.”
She shook her head in disgust.As if her own brother was more revolting than the villains of the game.
“Don’t worry. Without you, defeating the Disaster would be impossible. I’ll keep you with us till the end.”“How generous of you. What an honor.”
Reisia, who had grown far more glib around me, then turned serious.
“So your plan is to make Luciana the Student Council President, isn’t it?”“That’s right. And I’ll break her engagement with the Crown Prince while I’m at it.”“That works for me too. If I want to put the Third Prince on the throne, the Crown Prince needs to be removed first.”
Her grin stretched wide at the thought, a crass smile unbecoming of a Saintess.
“Look who’s calling who crazy.”
In the end, she was the same.Willing to do anything for her favorite.
“So what’s your ultimate goal?”
Now that the Saintess was not just an ambiguous ally but my own sister,I was reconsidering my strategy—when she asked that.
“Ultimate goal?”“Yeah. Don’t you have something you want to accomplish in this world? For me, well… I want to become the Third Prince’s consort.”
…I hadn’t even thought that far.All I cared about was saving Luciana from ruin.
“…I don’t know.”“Oh, come on. Don’t hide it from me. Embarrassed to say? Hm, let me guess. Luciana’s marriage?”
I raised my hand to flick her forehead again—
“…Hah.”“Pfft, as if I’d let you hit me three times in a row.”
My punch was stopped by her plush doll.
“Don’t forget, I’m the protagonist, too! Even if my agility stat is useless, I still—kyaaa!”“Don’t talk to me about agility.”
One more flick shut her up.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Luciana’s partner must be chosen with care, befitting her dignity and station.”“…And who would that be?”“Who knows? But it certainly won’t be the Crown Prince.”
Nor would it be me.
I was only her attendant, the third son of a barony.How could someone like me even dream of her?
At my shrug, my sister pouted.
“Che. As if you’re not good enough. You’re the Vice Representative—you’re more than capable.”“You don’t understand. For the expansion of House Speda’s influence, Luciana is a vital piece. They wouldn’t waste such a card on me….”“Ugh, enough! You sound like some rationality-obsessed monster. This is why I hate talking to you.”
I wondered if there wasn’t some punishment harsher than a forehead flick for this insolent sister.
“Anyway, we need to get out of here first. This is the Queen’s Dungeon, isn’t it?”
The little golden-haired eel had already scurried behind the bed.
“…Yes.”“That’s strange. Her eyes were sealed, and the bindings should have been sufficient.”“I released her. Why?”“Aaagh! Again, because of you!”
I only shrugged at her protests.
Even if the seals had been perfect, she would’ve broken free eventually.She was a queen of her race.As in the original, when she toppled the holy land, she surely had a hidden means of escape.
“Well, escaping takes priority. Hurry up and think of a strategy.”“Easier said than done. Strategies don’t just appear out of thin air.”“You’ve seen the ending, haven’t you? And besides, you’re you.”“Your blind faith is appreciated, but really, you dump everything on me.”
Not that it mattered.I was already planning to escape this dungeon anyway.
I was about to call Batory back to explain the plan when—
Crash!
The door burst open, and the two who had been waiting outside tumbled in.
“S-Saintess! Don’t tell me… Have you fallen in love at the Academy?! Are you in a relationship with this man?! What joyous news! Did you inform His Holiness the Pope yet?!”“…Be quiet, Sir Heiken.”
The paladin’s eyes shone with excitement as he showered the Saintess with spit.
And then—
“…Ha… so that’s how it is. So close already that you address each other so familiarly… How cruel. How am I to bear this sorrow…”
Batory, collapsed on the floor, looked not just dejected but utterly despondent.
‘…How the hell am I supposed to fix this?’
Our party was in complete chaos.I could only sigh.