Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Princess
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My prediction hadn't been off the mark. Lore came at me with his provocations.
"In this day and age when demons are running rampant, only the Saintess and a handful of people showed up, right? Man, you really can't figure out what those high-and-mighty folks from the Holy Kingdom are thinking, huh?"
The other knights around us tried to hold him back at his near-open insult to the Holy Kingdom.
"Ah, come on! Did I say anything wrong? Damn it, our knights are dying left and right every day fighting demons, but those guys didn't even send the 'Hero' just to keep themselves safe! Isn't slaying demons the Hero's duty? Huh? Am I wrong?!"
Whether he was genuinely furious or not, Lore spat out his grievances against the Holy Kingdom without holding back, breathing heavily.
The knights glanced at me nervously and backed away, some even raising their shields, convinced a massive brawl was about to erupt between me and Lore.
But all their efforts were in vain.
"I agree with you."
There was no reason for me to get angry.
"...What?"
No one—not the surrounding knights, nor even Lore—had expected that response. They all looked stunned for a moment.
"Exactly as you said. The current state of our Holy Kingdom is nothing short of disastrous. His Holiness the Pope hasn't been seen for two years now, and the high-ranking clergy below him keep making decisions that favor the powerful rather than the weak, allowing countless deaths to go unchecked."
Just thinking about it made my blood boil.
"And the ones suffering for it are the true faithful among the clergy. The Saintess is well aware of this too."
"...Then why don't you do something about it?"
Lore latched onto that, turning his ire toward Ariana, thinking he'd found an opening. But I had my rebuttal ready.
"Because the Saintess alone isn't enough."
"Not enough...?"
Most of the knights looked puzzled at the idea that Ariana alone wasn't sufficient, so I kindly explained for their benefit.
"The Holy Kingdom's power is divided among three key figures: His Holiness the Pope, the Saintess, and... the Hero."
Of these, the Pope effectively serves as the leader, receiving prophecies from the Goddess about the Hero and Saintess. The Saintess is like a celebrity idol, revered by all as the child sent by the Goddess to aid humanity.
And the Hero... tactical nuke, ultimate weapon, humanity's last bastion. The strongest human the Goddess sent to help mankind, earning everyone's respect while being deployed into wartime situations.
The reason the top brass has rotted is that two of these three power holders are absent: the Pope has been gone for two years, and the Hero is oblivious to the internal decay.
By this point, the knights seemed to grasp the Holy Kingdom's situation, nodding gravely with serious expressions.
What came next... I kept those thoughts to myself.
'This will drag on for a while.'
Considering the current Hero is Ruin... even if he notices the rot, he's more likely to let it be or even collaborate. That leaves pinning hopes on the absent Pope...
'The Pope is currently locked in a fierce mental battle with the Succubus Queen in the spirit world.'
It's revealed late in the game that the Pope's absence stems from this clash of wills with the Succubus Queen.
The Pope returns only after the protagonist Hero cleans up the Holy Kingdom and senses the Pope's plight, freeing him.
In other words, there's nothing to be done about it right now.
'It'd be great if Ruin reformed and saved the Pope...'
But that's unlikely or far in the future, so fixing the Holy Kingdom will take quite some time.
Lost in those thoughts, I suddenly went quiet, which must have looked suspicious. Lore came at me again.
"Ha! So in the end, it's because the Saintess isn't up to the task?"
-Whoosh!
"What?!"
Lore recoiled in shock at the sight of my shotel suddenly at his throat.
"Insult me all you want. Trash the Holy Kingdom's upper echelons all you want. But... if you spout nonsense about the Saintess, my shotel will become the Grim Reaper's scythe and sever your head. You're an imperial knight, so I'll let it slide this once. There won't be a second."
"...."
Lore opened his mouth as if to retort, then flushed red with frustration and stormed off.
"...Tch."
Holy Knights gonna Holy Knight, huh.
I'd never understood why fantasy Holy Knights always flew into a frenzy like zealots whenever the Saintess or Goddess was insulted. But just now, Lore's words made me snap without thinking.
'Temperance, temperance...'
If I hadn't barely clung to my reason and stopped the shotel, his throat might have been pierced clean through.
Sure, Lore's a skilled knight and wouldn't die instantly... but with a hole in his neck, even the toughest guy wouldn't last long.
Today, rather than physical training, it seemed better to head back and focus on prayer and meditation to temper my self-control.
I didn't notice the black-haired female knight who had been watching me the whole time.
"Ah, Is! On your way back from training?"
"Yes, Saintess."
After training, I returned to my room and bumped right into Ariana, who was just coming out.
This was the first time we'd run into each other like this since becoming her direct Holy Knight and not constantly escorting her, so it felt a bit awkward...
"Then hurry and get ready—we're going to dinner! His Imperial Majesty prepared a banquet for us!"
A banquet, huh...
"I'll be quick."
I'd just resolved to build my self-control, but skipping the Emperor's banquet wouldn't be a good look either.
"Let's go together. I'll wait."
"No need to wait—"
"I won't have the courage to go without Is, you know?"
"...Understood."
I'll wrap it up at full speed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Wow... the food looks so luxurious..."
"It's the Empire, after all, and we're guests, so it makes sense they'd go all out."
I smiled warmly at Ariana, her eyes sparkling at the Emperor's lavish banquet spread.
'Right on cue...'
"We should have our Holy Knights share in this delicious feast too..."
'Knew it.'
I'd seen that coming.
One of the servants reassured her that the Holy Knights were being served their own tasty dishes separately, and only then did Ariana relax and take her seat.
My seat was right beside hers.
Normally, I'd stand behind her chair on guard duty, but once again, Ariana and the Emperor overruled that.
I still couldn't forget the look the Emperor gave me when she insisted on treating me as an equal.
A gaze that screamed, You think a guy like you has that kind of value?
Sorry, Emperor, but I don't even know if I have that much value myself.
Anyway, enough stray thoughts.
Sitting and waiting for the imperial side, I spotted a tall woman approaching from afar.
Golden hair like flowing silk.
Her sun-kissed golden eyes exuded an intimidating pressure just from looking at them, yet her beauty was more than worthy of the Empire's moniker: the Golden Rose.
Her haughty demeanor evoked a leopard's aura, but her looks pierced right through that intimidation, compelling one to think, Beautiful.
"Her Imperial Highness, First Princess Bellatrix Oberia, enters!"
Her name was Bellatrix Oberia.
Bellatrix Oberia, the 'Princess Heroine' from the game.
-Click. Clack.
Overwhelmed by her presence in an instant, no one could speak, leaving only the echo of her heels.
We finally opened our mouths after she sat in the chair a servant pulled out for her—and even then, it was because she spoke first.
"It is an honor to meet the Goddess's most radiant child, Saintess Ariana Astraea."
"...Ah! It is an honor to meet the Empire's Golden Rose, Princess Bellatrix Oberia. May the Goddess's blessings be upon you."
Unlike the Emperor, who used intimidation to pressure us, Bellatrix's haughty air simply dominated the atmosphere without any intent to overwhelm.
She spoke in a purely businesslike manner.
"First, allow me to thank you, Saintess, for traveling such a great distance regarding this demon matter."
"It's fine. Saving people is the mission the Goddess gave us, so it's only natural."
"Even so, your party coming here for our Empire's citizens warrants our gratitude."
"Ahaha... Still—"
As Ariana and Bellatrix's conversation continued, I stared at Bellatrix with a blank gaze.
Sure enough, like with Ariana... Heroines really have that untouchable level of beauty.
If Ariana was a gentle puppy-faced beauty, Bellatrix was more like a haughty cat-faced one.
Plus, while Ariana had that childhood-friend vibe, Bellatrix was the big-sis type...
'Oops.'
What was I thinking?
Seeing a new Heroine got me unconsciously excited, dredging up game memories.
I shook my head to clear the distractions.
'Hm?'
For some reason, Bellatrix was looking at me.
With eyes like a cat toying with a mouse.
'What?'
I hadn't done anything noteworthy enough to catch her eye...
And my question was soon answered when Bellatrix made a certain proposal.
"Saintess. By the way, I hear your direct Holy Knight is quite skilled among the knights."
"Ah, yes! Our Is is pretty talented!"
Ariana, oblivious to Bellatrix's intent, boasted about my skills, and with every word, Bellatrix's eyes seemed to gleam brighter.
'Nah, probably nothing.'
"Funny you mention that. I have a knight I've been eyeing as an escort..."
'No way, right?'
Unfortunately, her words matched my fears exactly.
"How about a spar between them? My side's friend seems to have developed a rivalry toward Sir Is."
Looks like I'm meeting another Heroine soon.