Chapter 3. Were they such a high-ranking person? (8)
Chapter 3. Were they such a high-ranking person? (8)
No one can truly like themselves completely.
If there were such a person, they would be someone who doesn't know how to think objectively about themselves in the first place. Not someone I'd want to be close with.
So, what do I think about myself?
First, talking about my past life, naturally, I hated myself. I wasn't particularly handsome, I wasn't incredibly tall, and I wasn't smart, so I couldn't make significantly more money than others.
And that self-loathing often manifested as jealousy toward others. I hated people who were better-looking or more capable than me, and if there was someone even slightly worse off than me, I would inwardly mock and ignore them. And I hated myself even more for acting that way.
Then, what about me as Rosalyn?
I......
Well, I haven't really thought about myself much. I just naturally thought that I, 'Rosalyn von Artena,' was the most successful and beautiful being in the world.
Consequently, while I hated everyone who had aspects better than me, at the same time, because they were all 'worse than me,' I could also 'look down on them.'
In a sense, it was a personality that could certainly take care of its own mental health. That must be why I could become a subordinate of the Demon King without ever doubting myself.
"Erna, Captain of the Blutrosenorden. Father personally bestowed the knighthood upon you."
As I said that, I placed the sword I was holding back into Erna's hand.
Ah, of course, I'll take that sword back later. It just didn't look very good for me, the one who needs protection, to be holding the Captain's sword, so I just let her hold it for a moment.
Let's have a new sword made for Erna. Not something like that, but something a bit more flashy and useful. After all, shouldn't it be a sword that can be swung without magic power?
"You've met before, haven't you?"
"Ah, yes......."
"Tha, that is......."
Erna just bowed her head slightly, her face deathly pale, and the Eichenorden knight, who had stood up again, just stared blankly at Erna.
It wasn't the Captain of the Eichenorden. He is stationed at the very edge of the Duchy. Of course, that doesn't mean he's stuck in some wretched place; it means he's in a fairly large trading city where the Empire's territory meets the Duchy.
Although the Eichenorden holds the position of a regular army, at the same time, they were also playing the most definitive 'police' role within this territory, so they had to be stationed there, even if in small numbers. Besides, the city is large, so without troops, it would be easy prey for bandit attacks.
"Are you saying that person protected Her Excellency the Duke? In the middle of the Goblin army......"
Good. At least he calls the 'Captain' 'that person.'
"That is correct. She is the one who faithfully carried out my request, even after hearing my unreasonable demand."
"Yo, Your Excellency......."
Erna called out to me, but I ignored her and continued.
"She willingly followed the request to send me into the middle of the Goblin army, and even in this situation, she did not retreat and stayed by my side. If it weren't for Erna, I would have surely become prey for the Goblins."
"Are you saying that Your Excellency asked to go into the middle of the Goblin army?"
"That is correct. I thought there was no other way at the moment."
I untied the pouch hanging from my waist and showed it to the knight. The pouch was noticeably lighter than before.
"This is...... a Magic Stone."
"That is correct. Since I can handle magic, albeit weakly, I was using those Magic Stones to drive away the Goblins as much as possible."
"Ah, yes. I understand. The blood of a dragon flows through the von Artena family."
I think that's separate from being able to handle magic, but I just nodded vaguely.
"......."
The knight handed the pouch back to me and stepped back slightly.
And he looked at me, seemingly deep in thought with a slightly stiff expression, as if searching for words.
That expression also held a kind of 'bewilderment.'
It goes without saying, but the most important existence in the Duchy is the Duke. Because the Duke dying is no different from the head of a country dying.
Furthermore, if it were known that such a Duke died to Goblins, that would be an even greater disgrace.
Even if there was a Goblin army, a Goblin is a Goblin. People always think of what they have seen and heard first. Goblins appearing near a village and being subjugated is a very common occurrence. That's why a derogatory nickname like 'a Duke who died to mere Goblins' would be attached.
"Do you think I did something dangerous?"
"Ah, that is......."
So, the standard method would be to leave it to the troops I have and run away alone. While riding behind Erna.
But, you know.
Would the female knights of the Blutrosenorden listen to such a thing?
They are women themselves.
The only reason it's even running is because of the existence of Erna. Erna, who beats them up and teaches them.
After I leave, they probably wouldn't even be able to serve as bait.
"It was an unavoidable situation. Have you ever seen a sight like this, Sir Knight?"
At my words, the knight looked around. Dead Goblins and dying Goblins were piled up everywhere. Among them, some were almost as big as an adult male.
"......No. It is my first time in my life."
"Then, the person who discovers them first has no choice but to clean them up."
"Is that so."
The knight finally nodded. After hearing my words and thinking about various situations, he seemed to understand that, in the end, the 'most possible method' was just to crush the army.
"I have heard the news. I heard you are on your way to Eisenforke......"
"That is correct."
"Then, would you allow our Knight Order to accompany you until you reach there?"
In fact, at the point where the Duke was already in danger within the Duchy, it could be said that the reputation of the Eichenorden Knight Order had been slightly tarnished.
Because it meant they had left the Goblins alone until they became an 'army.' I understand why the knight is sweating. It was his assigned area, so he must have been nearby, and this incident happened in his assigned area.
"Very well."
I answered.
It felt a bit regrettable to leave this place, which still smelled of burning flesh and blood, but if I said that, I would just become a crazy woman, so I held it in for now.
"I want to compose myself a little further away. And, I also want to know the reason why this army formed here."
"Understood. I will investigate it thoroughly."
"It probably won't be the Knight Order's fault."
The knight blinked at my words.
"Therefore, I will not hold the Eichenorden responsible. Just this once. If anyone from above says anything, tell them that the Duke personally said so."
"......Thank you."
"However, since this phenomenon has already been confirmed once, such a thing must not happen again from now on."
"Understood!"
At my words, the knight straightened his back and answered spiritedly. I shrugged my shoulders and turned around.
There, Erna was standing with an expression similar to the knight who had been making a complex face in front of me just a moment ago.
She's a woman with very diverse expressions.
At first, it was a stiff expression that just blamed me, then after giving her a little power and praising her, she became a cute puppy. Now, is it an expression of looking at a monster?
......No, it was an expression with a mix of more emotions than that.
At least, it's a better expression than just a well-behaved puppy expression.
"I will return to the carriage. From now on, the Eichenorden will protect my side, so tell Erna to let the other members relax and rest."
"......Understood."
Erna bowed her head.
That attitude was exactly like how one treats an extraordinary being, so I felt unnecessarily smug.
I think I know why the Rosalyn of the game joined the Demon King's side.
Everyone in this Duchy must have seen Rosalyn like this. Well, after she got tired of them later, she probably used them all as ingredients for monsters.
There was one monster unit that was described as 'the bodies of undressed women mixed together, screaming.' Of course, this didn't even have an illustration, let alone a proper name, so there was just a thin texture with the Korean word 'Monster 1' written on it standing there.
Recalling that fact made me a little unpleasant.
No, it's not unpleasant because everything around me collapsed like that.
It's just unpleasant that even with the power to accomplish all of that, it was inevitable to collapse. After all, even after obtaining the Saintess, I was defeated by the Hero.
That is probably the reason why I tried the game so many times from Rosalyn's perspective in the end.
"Rosalyn-nim!"
Before I could even enter the carriage, Frida, who was already outside waiting, quickly ran toward me.
"Ah, ah...... blood, blood......!"
"......It is not my blood, so rest assured."
But even though I said that, Frida, as if she didn't even hear me, took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped my face.
"......."
As expected, being next to a person with a good nature is uncomfortable.
And, it's even more uncomfortable to think that the Rosalyn in the game probably 'used' the Frida in the game well too.
Is this because of the humanity that I, in my past life, couldn't help but have? Or is it because of the thought that if I treat such a Frida harshly, my reputation will drop? In the end, both were because of my memories from my past life.
In the end, it was awkward to refuse, so I held back a sigh and stood there for a while without avoiding Frida's hand.