Shinka no Mi

Chapter 158: Unity of the Valsha Empire

“Riel, Suin. What does this mean?”

“That’s……”

“How do I say this……”

To the woman called the 【Empress】 who suddenly came after the tree, not to mention the soldiers who were happy in the Recovery Space, Riel-san and Suin-san looked at each other’s faces with expressions such as how to explain this.

When I looked at such soldiers, I suddenly felt a stare, so when I looked in that direction, she was looking at me and the tree with a suspicious look.

“You bastard…… why are you here? Certainly, I breathe life into the tree in that place, and I should’ve ordered it to stop you, but…… No, why is the tree here too? What happened to my order?”

“(I’m just a tree I’m just a tree I’m just a tree I’m just a tree……)”

“……Oi. Who do you think created you? I can hear your thoughts.”

“Nooooooooooooooooooo!?”

Due to the instant failure of the 【Just Tree Plan】 by tree, the tree screamed like never heard before. ……Amen amen.

“Why do you have a face that looks like you have nothing to do with it? It’s obvious that you did something, you know?”

“Uhh……”

Staring at me with a sharp glance, I inadvertently at a loss for words, but the Empress-san in front of me looks at me like she won’t let me go until I tell her what happened.

That said, since I wasn’t particularly bothered or guilty about being asked, I answered normally.

“Etto…… first of all, when I was brought here, many people are seriously injured, and it seemed to be painful just to look at it, so I healed everyone.”

“He, healed everyone!?”

The empress-san who saw the soldiers again with a terrific appearance, staggered while being stunned.

“Wha, what’s going on…… The Recovery Space, which was like hell, became heaven while I was sleeping a little……?”

“Ah, I gave the soldiers outside the highest-grade recovery drug, and I think that everyone’s wounds are healed, too.”

“What are you talking about!?”

“Your Majesty, tone tone!”

Empress-san, who was pointed out by Suin-san, had a ha~ expression floating on her face, and cleared her throat.

“Nhnn! ……By the way, I don’t know what happened here while I’m asleep so far…… And as always, after using a lot of power, I got strangely tired, but even though I’m quite tired, I strangely feel in good shape now……”

“Ah…… that’s, Her Majesty. This magic of Seiichi-kun is actually not limited to this recovery space, but in the castle…… No, it was all over the city, I wonder if that’s its effect……”

“What exactly are you?!”

For some reason, I didn’t know what to say to the empress-san who screamed with tears in her eyes. No, I’m the one who wants to know. I wonder, what a 『Human』 really is……

As I have distant eyes involuntarily, the tree began to appeal to the empress-san.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty! I’m the one, who brought this Seiichi-sama this far! How is that!? I was helpful!?”

“But it doesn’t change the fact that you violated my command, right?”

“Oh……”

The tree dexterously hangs down with both hands on the ground. This guy is getting more and more human.

“Or rather, who are you really? Everyone was hurt because I didn’t fall to the Kaizer Empire, and I thought I’m going to die…… Even though it was such a desperate situation, how did you solve everything as I slept and wake up in bed? Isn’t that strange?”

“Your Majesty……I think so too from the bottom of my heart……”

“Isn’t that like really cruel!?”

Well, it’s fine because everyone became lively!

When the empress shook her head several times, with no hostility, she turned her eyes straight at me.

“―――― I must give you my gratitude. Your name…… what was it?”

“So, you’re going to start there?”

Even though I named myself in the 【Forest of Sealed Magic】, it must’ve been awkward for the both of us at that time, and she was suspicious so she didn’t remember it properly.

So, I named myself again without any particular complaint.

“I am Hiiragi Seiichi, an adventurer. I’ve already explained my situation to Riel-san and Suin-san, but while capturing the dungeon that appeared in the vicinity of Terviel, the royal capital of the Welmburg Kingdom, we battled with a person who claimed himself to be a 『Deity』 of the 【Demon God’s Cult】, and when I checked his belongings for dangerous things after defeating him, I came to this strange place with the power of the crystal that the 『Deity』 had.”

“I, I see. It’s harder than I expected, and that’s why I can’t understand it. ….. Nn! I’m the ruler of the Valsha Empire, Amelia Flem Valsha.”

“Eh? Valsha Empire?”

Empress ―――― I was surprised at Amelia-sama’s words.

The Valsha Empire…… right, Helen said that she’s going to be stronger and return here, so I guess that’s why she’s trying to capture the dungeon? Arere?

“Mu? What’s wrong?”

“N, no, it’s okay. Yes.”

For the present, let’s just say that I’m in the Valsha Empire, and instead, responding to what’s happening here would be a priority.

“Then, Seiichi. I’m thankful to you. I can’t give you a formal gratitude yet, but please don’t expect something good. …… I wish you could go home safely.”

“Yes? What does that mean?”

When I asked for Amelia-sama’s disturbing remarks, Amelia-sama spoke with an expression that was about to give up.

“I think you already know, but currently, the Varsha Empire is under attack. The Kaizer Empire that’s trying to put this land under its control and…… the second is the 【Demon God’s Cult】.”

“Eh? Two!?”

What’s more, why are you being targeted by such troublesome two!? Neither of them is decent!

“You seem to have something to do with the 【Demon God’s Cult】 because of your personal connection, but……”

“It’s a personal connection, or rather, they appear wherever I go……”

I don’t want to go out of my way to have a relationship with those annoying people. I don’t really understand the Demon God.

“Anyway, this Varsha empire is confronting two enemies.”

“Then, those wounded soldiers……”

“No, it’s the Kaiser Empire soldiers who were the cause of the overt attacks and injuries. What kind of hand they used, for all of their soldiers to become 『Transcendentals』. And they have sent more than a thousand 『Transcendentals』 soldiers here.”

“…… You’ve had it a lot.”

“We were saved by the 【Forest of Sealed Magic】. Since they can’t use magic, they have no way of attacking a wide area. Besides, the forest is dense, and the scaffolding is also bad. It isn’t originally suitable for moving in large numbers. The rest…… is not in our way, but the monsters which originally inhabits the forest attacked them as well, and we managed to get out of there.”

“So that’s it……”

“From the 【Demon God’s Cult】 , but this one is more troublesome. Even the current war between the Kaizer Empire and us seems to be just a useful event for them. They used some strange technique or drug on the monsters in the forest, and strengthened them. Even so, we can’t grasp the executor.”

“Etto…… why was the 【Demon God’s Cult】 strengthened the monsters there? Certainly, they’ve done it, but……”

“It’s a simple story, because I’ve been hiding in my country for a long time, there are some similar cases. I tried to catch them many times, but there is no sign of them being caught. Moreover, I don’t know what their purpose is, but that seems about collecting people’s negative feelings and such. Recently, they haven’t moved, but they must have thought that this war would earn negative emotions. It looks like they’re starting to move again. It’s a task, but undoubtedly, negative emotion is widespread in our country today.”

“Your Majesty……”

Amelia-sama who tells so with regret, Riel-san and Suin-san stared worriedly at her.

But as soon as Amelia noticed something, she changed from the previous one, and she becomes expressionless.

“―――― Forget the expression I have left now. Good.”

“Eh? Ye,yes.”

I don’t know what the problem was, but I was told to forget it, so I’ll forget it, but…… since it doesn’t let go indeed, let’s just keep it to the extent that I’ll remember it.

“Well, let’s go back to the story, but…… I was talking about whether we could formally thank you, right?”

“That’s right.”

“As I said, our country is in a desperate situation, even if our soldiers regain their strength with the healing medicines and magic you gave.”

“――――That’s not true!”

Then, one of the wounded soldiers who had been listening to us silently until now yelled so.

“We can still fight, Your Majesty!”

“That’s right! Next time, let’s completely repel the Kaizer Empire!”

“It’s not hopeless yet!”

The soldiers said so to Amelia-sama that they can still fight with their mouths.

But Amelia just shook her head.

“No, it’s impossible. Even with the extra hands, their number is overwhelming.”

“Such a thing……”

“Are you saying we can’t? Our country can’t call for help anywhere, right? In comparison, they can call for help as much as they want. More soldiers will gather, and once they have captured the 【Forest of Sealed Magic】 with human-wave tactics, in an instant, our country will be destroyed.”

“That’s ……”

“And that’s it. They can get supplies from other countries that’s under their control. This Varsha Empire is outside from the Welmburg Kingdom, and the country of the East. As we were constantly forced to fight in attrition, they will always attack us with perfect condition.”

“……”

The soldiers tried to say something back to Amelia-sama’s words, but in the end, they can’t find the words and silenced.

“……Their force is different from ours in the first place. I didn’t know that they were more than that…… When the surrender recommendation was first issued, I thought I could win. With the land, my ability, and the strong soldiers. My country was the strongest. I’m trying to destroy the fools who attempt to destroy such a country…… but, that kind of thing was just an illusion.”

As Amelia-sama quietly closes her eyes, she looks over at the soldiers as if she had made up her mind to do something.

“I’m sorry, everyone. My choice has engulfed everyone in a crisis. From here on, I will take responsibility.”

“Responsibility? ……No way, Her Majesty!? You must not!”

Riel-san opened her eyes, and tries to stop Amelia-sama, but Amelia-sama shook her head.

“No, I’ve decided. From now on, the Valsha Empire ―――― No. Amelia Flem Valsha surrenders to the Kaizer Empire.”

Amelia-sama’s words that she said so completely put us in silence for a moment, but the soldiers immediately returned to themselves.

“Do, don’t do that, Your Majesty!”

“We can still fight!”

“And Your Majesty is responsible for it!? We should be responsible for that too!”

“Please think again!”

As Riel-san and other soldiers shouted so, only Suin-san was staring at Amelia with a complicated look.

“…… I can’t let everyone get hurt anymore.”

“But!”

“Fine. It’s fine. Besides, even if I die, my blood line is――――”

Amelia-sama said so far, and when I thought that she laughed momentarily while staring at somewhere far away, she tightened her expression again.

“Tomorrow, I will head to the base of the Kaizer Empire, and I’ll tell them that I surrender. Everyone, should be relieved. I’ll protect everyone with my life.”

『……』

Everyone has no choice but to silently listen to Amelia-sama’s words.

――――That’s, what I thought.

“―――― I don’t like that!”

“Riel?”

Riel-san stares at Amelia-sama with tears in her eyes, and said so clearly.

“Riel, I have the command ――――”

“I can’t hear you! Only this…… I won’t, listen to this……!”

At the end, Riel-san couldn’t stand it and yelled so while crying.

“I will be, with Your Majesty until the end! I won’t let you fight alone……!”

“Your Majesty. I’ll also serve you until the end.”

“Riel, Suin……”

Kneeling on the spot, both of them stare straight at Amelia-sama with tears in their eyes.

Then the other soldiers began to cry their thoughts one after another.

“Your Majesty, please don’t say such a sad thing!”

“We are Your Majesty’s swords, and shields!”

“Until the time we all die! I swear my unchanging loyalty to you!”

“Your Majesty……!”

『Your Majesty!! 』

The soldiers kneeled all at once and hung their heads.

Looking at their appearance, Amelia-sama wept.

“Everyone…… is stupid. Really big idiots. If only I was the one who’s going to be sacrificed, everyone might be saved……”

Her tone as the 【Empress】 has already collapsed, and Amelia-sama cried just like an ordinary girl.

Suin-san smiled at Amelia.

“Your Majesty. You’re out of your tone again, you know?”

“Shu, shut up! I can’t help it!? It’s all your fault!”

Amelia wipes away her tears in order to misled us that she’s crying desperately.

And, her expression had already changed in which I felt a strong intention to look forward rather than the expression which had given up before at that time.

“Everyone…… Thank you. Everyone’s loyalty, I’ll receive it. Let’s fight to the end together……!”

“““Oooooooooooh”””

Far from the time they’ve been healed, the entire castle shook, with their large scream.

Raising the weapons in each of their hands high, they’re inspiring each other with a spirited attitude to dedicate victory to Amelia-sama.

“Hey…… This country is amazing.”

“Yes, it is. It’s Milord proud country.”

Involuntarily, when I told the tree who was looking at the scene next to me, the tree smiled proudly somewhere.

“You…… No, Seiichi-dono.”

“Eh?”

As I watch everyone’s situation, and was impressed, Amelia-sama, whose tone and atmosphere softened, spoke to me.

“What will Seiichi-dono do?”

“What will, I do?”

“Seiichi-dono is not originally a person in this country. On the contrary, you have come to this dangerous place by accident. That is why, Seiichi-dono has no obligation to participate in this battle.”

“That is……”

Indeed, as Amelia says, I’m not originally obligated to participate in a war of this country and I have no duty to help.

“In addition, Seiichi has already helped us with the recovery drug and healing magic. From here on out, it’s our problem.”

“Yes. And now that the Kaizer Empire is still withdrawing, it might be possible for only one person to leave. I asked the soldiers who were at the main gate, but it seems that the arrows didn’t work on you specially, and it isn’t a problem for you to escape with your ability, right?”

“Well……”

“As far as I hear from Seiichi-dono, there must be someone waiting for Seiichi-dono, right?”

“……”

When Amelia-sama said so, the faces of Saria and the others immediately came to my mind.

However……

“No ―――― I was asked by the tree there to help you.”

“Eh?”

“That’s not all. That’s…… look, our first encounter is like my own carelessness, and you can call it an apology of mine……”

“……..!?”

She doesn’t know what it was for a moment, but Amelia, who twisted her neck, remembers our encounter at the 【Forest of Sealed Magic】, and she turned her face red.

“Yoyoyou!? Forget about that time! Good!? Erase it right now!?”

“Etto…… I, I’ll make an effort.”

“Absolutely forget it, not just an effort! Otherwise, I’ll physically erase it!?”

“Eh, scary.”

What’s physically erase it? Far from my memory, it seems that my head is going to be erased.

“That’s enough…… If you say that you’re going to stay here, then I’ll lend you a room. It’s almost night, and fortunately, the Kaizer Empire thinks that if they take us seriously, they can destroy us at any time, and they’ll attack while gradually tormenting us, so there should be no night raids so you should be able to sleep, but. ….. I don’t know if you can really take a break.”

If this is a war, it’s likely that there’s a night attack, but apparently, the Kaizer Empire doesn’t seem to have that indication so far. I’m sure that they’re really enjoying themselves tormenting them bit by bit. They have bad personality.

“Because the 【Demon God’s Cult】 also doesn’t aim directly, if they’re going to attack us, it’s going to be the same as the Kaizer Empire. That’s why, take a good rest now. All right. If there’s a night attack, the guard will contact me, and I’ll wake you up even if you’re sleeping like a log.”

“Tha, that’s scary right……”

It’s likely that I’ll have the memory of being whipped to rouse up.

I just noticed this, but……

“That…… Amelia-sama? The tone of your voice has already returned to normal from a while ago, but……”

“……………… Ah, it’s too much trouble! That’s why, I won’t use that tone for you anymore! That’s why, you don’t have to use honorifics to me either. You don’t need to attach a -sama on me. Our age is close and you can just throw it away.”

“Eh, Your Majesty!?”

When I was surprised by the sudden declaration of honorific removal, Amelia-sama…… No, Amelia tells me not to.

“Because in this situation, it would be weird to ask someone who’ll help you to use honorifics, right? And we’re not on official business right now. It’s a waste of time to speak honorifics.”

“Tha, that may be so, but……”

“Anyway, it’s just for now. It’s fine right?”

“Ha, haa……”

Unexpectedly replied, Amelia nodded with satisfaction.

“Alright, then Suin? Show Seiichi to his room.”

“Understood.”

In this manner, Suin took me to my room.

◆◇◆

“―――― It appears that, I’m going to join the battle between the Valsha and Kaizer Empires?”

『Why can’t you spend your time normally!? 』

In the room where I was guided by Suin-san, when I use the necklace to tell Saria and the others what I had been up to until now, Al got so angry. No, I want to spend my time normally, you know?

“But I can’t afford to overlook it, I guess? When I see people fighting for death in front of me…… I want to help even a little, so that even I can save one person’s life.”

『That is…… Maybe that’s right, but……』

“Moreover, I don’t want to fight too. I’m scared.”

Until now, I’ve had various kinds of battles, such as the mock battle and the fight with the 【Demon God’s cult】, but I’m afraid of fighting in the first place. They’re all attacking me in dreadful appearance.

Thinking that way, I can hear Al’s big sigh over the necklace.

『Haa…… I can’t help it if Seiichi has already decided. It’s just, you’re absolutely gonna be safe, right? 』

“Definitely. I’ll return back without a scratch.”

『…… No, if Seiichi says so, then I’m sure it’s fine. 』

『That’s right! But be careful, alright? 』

“Ah, thank you.”

Saria also acknowledged my actions while being worried about me, making me smile involuntarily.

For the time being, when I tell them as much as possible where and what situation I’m in right now, I suddenly remembered.

“Come to think of it, what happened to Destra?”

『We gave that person to Ranze-san! 』

『…… The king also had a headache in your actions. He doesn’t know what that means. 』

“I don’t know it either.”

Thus, why do I get into trouble wherever I go? I really hate it.

“Well, it would be okay even if you couldn’t hand him over to Ranze-san. In the first place, Destra’s ability has changed, and now he’s going to be harmless or useful.”

『I don’t understand what that means for me, including the king…… 』

“After that, what happened to Helen? Is she near you?”

Yes, I know Helen was trying to be strong to help someone in the Valsha Empire, and now that I’m here, I thought I could give her a little information.

However――――

『Ah……that’s right, after you left the dungeon, she immediately took off to the Valsha Empire. 』

“Wha?”

『We stopped her, too, but she said she had already fulfilled her purpose. 』

“……”

I don’t know if I should be amazed with Helen’s ability to act, or should I praise her…… I felt like I couldn’t say anything.

Well, she seems to have an important person in the Valsha Empire, so it can’t be helped.

“I thought it would be nice if I could convey some information to her.”

『As for me, I thought that Helen’s efforts will be in vain when you were there……』

“What do you mean!?”

Why would Helen’s efforts be wasted if I were in the Valsha Empire? You say terrible things.

“Well, that’s fine. The battle will start again tomorrow, and I’m going to rest around here.”

『…… Right.』

『Seiichi, be really careful, alright? 』

“Oh, now then, good night.”

When I greeted them and finished the communication, I fell down on the bed as it was.

“……”

While staring at the ceiling, I involuntarily think hard.

If they fight normally tomorrow, everyone will get hurt. On the contrary, there’s a possibility that they could lose their lives.

If magic could be used here, I could’ve just aimed at only the Kaizer Empire’s soldiers using 『Judgment』, but for some reason, magic can’t be used at all, so I have no choice but to think of other ways.

…… Well, like the tree said, maybe there’s a reason why I can’t use magic because of my body. Borrowing the words of Rurune, it must be the world’s motive…… or not? I don’t think that’s the case. We haven’t communicated like with magic――――

………

No, I had a conversation with the world. All right, let’s stop this story.

Rather than that, tomorrow.

I’m being arrogant, but I’d like to neutralize them without hurting anyone if I can.

The moment I thought about that, I came to an idea…… Far from that, I came up with something stupid. I’ve struck with an idea.

“No no no, as one would expect, that is……”

While excessively considering about it myself, I jumped too far, and I tried to deny that it’s impossible, but it feels like my body is contradicting that and is saying that 『That’s no effort』.

……No way, can I really do it? If I can do it……

Even if I try to deny this and that, I only have a hunch that I can do it.

After that…… it’s a problem with my feelings huh.

No, it’s not the time to say what I’m feeling right now.

When I got out of bed, I slapped myself on the cheek to regain my mind.

“Fuu…… .I think that all of this is normal, but my thinking circuit is becoming more and more unusual ―――― Well, maybe I’ll show them what a 『Human(Monster) 』 really is!”

When I made up my mind to do so, I went into the futon in preparation for tomorrow.

(TN: That idea is going to be ridiculous)