14. Sunset (4)
14. Sunset (4)
"By the way, Evernoir-nim."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"As far as I recall, I believe the nation also provides support policies for such refugees."
"Yes, that is correct."
For those who have lost their homes due to invasions by Demon Beasts or bandits, the Empire provides a certain amount of support funds and temporary shelter.
Then naturally, the women here would also be eligible.
But I had already decided not to blindly trust documents anymore without seeing them for myself.
So I asked.
"Do you know what happens to the women who end up like that?"
"Yes, shall I be honest with you?"
"Hmm, please refrain from any well-intentioned lies. Thanks to you, I no longer have any thoughts of running away."
Knight Evernoir paused for a moment.
Of course, it wasn't about gauging whether she could tell me or not.
Rather, she seemed to be contemplating where to begin.
It was as if she was organizing the sequence and outcome before speaking.
Anyway, after a brief silence.
Finally, Knight Evernoir's lips parted.
"There are many procedures, but...—"
Knight Evernoir seemed intent on skipping the minor details.
"To get straight to the point, most women cannot overcome it."
"·········I see."
Of course, I had expected this to some extent.
Still, the reason I asked Knight Evernoir was because I held a faint hope that the victims might have received some help.
"If they are invaded by Demon Beasts and rescued early, it might just end with trauma, but nine out of ten cases are already too late by the time we get to them."
At that moment, Knight Evernoir's gaze turned toward something behind me.
"It's only natural that they usually end up like that."
Following Knight Evernoir's line of sight, I saw three or four male members of the Second Knight Order and one female victim entering a nearby building.
Not just a day or two, but a full week.
Over the course of a week, aside from minimal meals and sleep, all remaining time is spent being gang-raped.
Naturally, their nervous systems would be shattered.
And the "usually" that Knight Evernoir mentioned referred to the path of destroying themselves in pursuit of greater stimulation.
"Won't discipline become lax, or won't there be talk within the knight order?"
"It's fine. If they neglect their training or slack off even a little, I'll personally train them then."
"··········."
Why does it feel to me like that training isn't really training?
It somewhat feels like simple violence disguised as training, but since it's not necessarily a bad thing, I had nothing to say.
"Still, you don't completely prohibit it."
"They're human too, and men, so they naturally have sexual desires. It's better than suppressing them and having them attempt to rape their fellow members."
That's true too.
Unexpectedly, everyone in the knight order seemed to be upstanding men and women.
While developing romantic relationships within the order would be nice,
"Romance results in immediate expulsion once discovered."
It would probably be like this.
Almost all order leaders disapprove of their members dating.
While the power of love is great, it could still lead to favoritism and frequent conflicts.
"Then what becomes of them in the future?"
If they decide to take their own lives, I dare say I cannot forgive that.
No matter how difficult it gets or how much they want to die, the meaning of life is to endure to the end and keep living, not to die.
"Of course, they don't often make that decision. However·····,"
"·····However?"
"Eventually, unable to endure the boring daily life, they drift into the brothel district."
"Th-then what about women who don't go that way? There must be some, right?"
"Those women seek out slave traders themselves and become sex slaves."
I truly had nothing to say.
Certainly, the nation is partly to blame for not providing proper care.
But more than that, I felt a sense of powerlessness.
The victims themselves probably want to return to normal life if possible.
But their shattered nerves can never be restored.
Thus, even if we want to help, we find ourselves in a situation where we cannot.
"·····Sigh. So that's how it is."
In the end, they cannot overcome it and walk the path of destruction.
All I could do was feel regret; there was nothing else within my power.
####
"Haaahm·····."
Late at night.
I wasn't sure exactly how much time had passed, but I could tell it wasn't time to wake up yet.
Apparently, my body hadn't adjusted to the sudden change in sleeping arrangements in just one day.
"·····Ugh. I guess there's no helping my shoulders and back getting sore·····."
After all, I was used to sleeping in a bed, and this was my first time sleeping on the floor.
Of course, I had no intention of complaining.
If I complained about even that, I would truly be nothing but a shameless and tactless princess.
Anyway, since I woke up in the middle of sleeping, it seemed I needed a change of atmosphere.
"·····Shall I go for a walk?"
Maybe if I get some night air, I'll be able to sleep better.
With that thought, I decided to just go out aimlessly.
Although it was a somewhat charred and broken house, it was still the sturdiest one with the most walls.
Thanks to that, I was given the innermost room, and Knight Evernoir had positioned herself in the living room as if to protect me.
'·····Be careful.'
Worried that she might wake up when I go outside, I tried to muffle my footsteps and exit slowly, but
—Flash.
"·····Where are you going?"
Gasp!
"Eek···! I, is it alright if I go for a brief walk·····?"
Startled by Knight Evernoir's suddenly open eyes, I jumped without realizing it.
For a moment, my heart leaped as if someone had scared me.
"·····Shall I escort you?"
"I-I'm fine. I won't go far."
"There might be remaining goblin stragglers who didn't manage to escape. Please be careful."
"Hmm, I won't leave the village, so don't worry and go back to sleep."
With that, Knight Evernoir closed her eyes and fell back asleep.
Perhaps it's because her knight order primarily handles external missions.
That she could wake so sensitively from sleep and fall back asleep so quickly.
This was pure respect.
Respect for how long she must have trained to develop such habits and reactions naturally.
—Click.
Maybe because I got too startled.
Only after closing the door and coming outside did my heart begin to ache.
"Ugh."
When Knight Evernoir's eyes flashed open, it was as terrifying as seeing a ghost.
I barely suppressed a girlish scream that almost escaped in that moment.
"···Phew."
Still, the night air felt cool and pleasant.
It wasn't just the air that felt refreshed; my heart felt refreshed too, in a way.
Of course, I didn't plan to stay out long.
As Knight Evernoir worried, there might be remaining goblin stragglers lying in ambush.
And I finally came to a realization myself.
No matter how arrogant it might sound, self-objectification was necessary.
And the result was that I am excessively more attractive than others.
It's certainly not conceit.
And definitely not self-flattery.
But even the beautiful Knight Evernoir, even looking at the handsome and beautiful members of the knight order, couldn't match my physique.
Whether it's appearance, breasts, or pelvis.
Then naturally, this body would be highly targeted by goblins or orcs.
After all, Demon Beasts aren't blind.
So it's better to take walks within the village if possible.
"Your Highness? What brings you out at this hour?"
That way, I can also be protected by the members standing night watch.
"Thanks to you standing night watch, I'm able to sleep comfortably, am I not?"
Whether it's consideration for the princess or not, I'm not sure, but according to Knight Evernoir:
There are originally designated personnel and order for night watch, so including me would actually disrupt the schedule, so she didn't include me.
Thus, I could sleep comfortably like this without night watch duties.
"Y-yes, it's an honor. Your Highness."
"Pfft, no need to be so tense. Aren't we fellow order members now?"
""··········""
As I couldn't help but laugh at their extremely disciplined reaction, they fell silent for some reason.
"Then I shall take some air and return shortly."
"Yes, yes. Your Highness! May you have a peaceful night·····!"
I'm not sure why they became so disciplined again, but since I'm safe thanks to them and don't want to make them uncomfortable because of me, I decided to quickly leave the area.
And after walking for a while, I noticed a house where the lights were still on.
"Hmm?"
If they're not on night watch, staying awake until now would mean they'd be tired enough to cause problems the next day even if they slept immediately.
It was somewhat strange that they were still awake.
Or perhaps they fell asleep with the lights on?
If they sleep with lights on like that, their eyes would hurt the next day.
Feeling slightly concerned, I walked toward the house.
And just as I was almost there.
—Haaah!
"·····Hic?!"
A strange voice reached my ears.
In that moment, I instinctively looked around to see if anyone was watching me.
Why?
Why am I afraid of being caught?
I haven't done anything wrong, and if I feel guilty about something, I should just turn back.
But for some reason, curiosity kept stirring within me.
Perhaps it's more greed than curiosity.
Or maybe an instinct to satisfy curiosity.
But by the time I realized it, my body was already moving toward a hole in the house.
And the scene inside was a feast of flesh tones.