第１７掘：いろんな意味でNDK？
Chapter 17: How’s it Feel, in Many Ways?
How’s it Feel, in Many Ways?
Side: Seraria Nou Roschur
I never thought I would end up standing on a theatrical stage.
I don't like the fact that it's a farce, but if it's for Elju's sake, it's no problem.
My younger sister is my treasure.
And soon, my turn will come. There are three monitors in front of me: one showing that shitty old man, one showing the soldiers inside the dungeon, and the last one...
"Lord Loire!! I-It's an emergency!! Please return to the castle!! The King and the Princess have been assassinated!! The castle is in utter chaos!!"
"W-What did you say?! The King...?! The Princess too?! Understood, I will gather the troops and return immediately!! I'm sorry, but I need you to act as a messenger and tell them that Loire is returning to the royal capital at once!!"
"Leave it to me, sir! Excuse me!!"
Yes, the last one shows Loire, who is waiting outside the dungeon.
Yuki had designated small animals for protection and used them for reconnaissance... how incredibly cunning.
I am forced to realize that he is a powerhouse in a completely different direction than I am.
However, Yuki's plan goes even further. He is intentionally showing this footage to the soldiers inside the dungeon.
Unaware of this, Loire smirks after seeing the messenger off from his main camp.
"Lord Loire, with this, Roschur has practically fallen into our hands."
"Umu. For the Holy Kingdom of Ritea, it would have been enough to just dispose of Princess Elju, but that alone lacks flair. There must be a great benefit for me as well for cooperating!! This country shall be my reward!!"
"But what shall we do with the soldiers left behind in the dungeon?"
"Leave them. They'll likely die if left alone. Even if by some miracle they team up with Princess Elju in the dungeon, it won't matter. If they have the nerve to show up at the royal capital, we can just capture and execute them then."
"As foolish soldiers who were bewitched by the Dungeon Master?"
"Umu, you understand well!! Well, even if they did team up, there's no way the Princess would make it to the royal capital anyway."
"Oh? And why is that?"
"Hehehe, well, that's a treat for later. Now, the good news has arrived as planned. Things are about to get busy. Those who remained in the royal capital failed to prevent the King's assassination. And then, this Loire returns gallantly, having suppressed the dungeon for the King's sake, even while suffering great losses!!"
"So the sacrifice of the soldiers was also part of the plan. Once you return to the royal capital, Lord Loire, your position will be secure."
"That's right. Everything has been factored in!!"
...What an idiot. I didn't think he would expose himself so blatantly.
However, in a sense, that place is exactly where one can speak openly.
After all, the 500 or so soldiers remaining there must be under Loire's influence.
"...King of Roschur, hey, how are you feeling right now?"
"...Don't say it..."
"Well, get your mental state back in order by the time Seraria and the others return. I'll leave the rest to Elju and Seraria."
With that, Yuki looks at Elju and me.
We nod back.
Now, it's showtime.
"Did you hear that, soldiers of Roschur?! That is the truth!! You were merely being danced around by Loire's schemes!! I will not hold your past actions against you. Rather, I thank you for your loyalty!! And now, I, Seraria Nou Roschur, and..."
"If you believe the words of Elju Lau Roschur, then please raise your swords!!"
The other side of the monitor is silent, but then one soldier steps forward and raises his sword. ...It's the captain of my direct guard... Quar.
"My loyalty lies with Roschur and Lady Seraria!!"
"""Uoooohhhhhhh!!"""
Then, as if responding to that voice, the soldiers raise their voices and their swords.
"Quar, we are heading to your location. From there, we march to the royal capital. We will take Loire's head!!"
"Ha! Understood!!"
When Elju and I reached the soldiers' location, the Captain of the Royal Guard, Ares Lester, had entrusted his sword to Quar and was kneeling there.
"Quar, what is this?"
"Ha. Royal Guard Captain Ares seeks punishment, regretting his failure to stop Loire's secret maneuvers this time."
"...Ares."
"Ha. I will accept any punishment. It is as if I, who was supposed to protect your father and sister, helped kill them. I do not mind if my head is taken here and now."
"I will not cut you."
"...Why..."
"You heard Loire's words earlier. It is true that my father and sister... the King and the Princess... have likely passed away. But the country is not over yet!! Ares... why did you take up that sword?! Was it a sword only for protecting the King?!"
"That is..."
"It was for the people. Protecting the country, protecting the King, is also for the sake of the people. If that feeling remains, then take up your sword again, Ares!!"
"Ha! This sword... I swear to wield it this time for the country, for the Princess, and for the people!!"
Phew, I managed to push through. I'm not good at giving speeches in place of that shitty old man.
"Heh, as expected of someone who's been on the battlefield. That was cool."
"Ho, Seraria has grown this much, has she?"
"Fufufu, do you want to try being Queen in my place?"
Ugh, I made it so I could hear their voices just in case, but they're annoying!!
Side: Aria Las Roschur
"Now, is it our turn next?"
"Yes, Father."
The march report from Seraria and the report that the incident occurred have arrived.
All that remains is dealing with Loire.
Yes, the assassination was prevented, but we were told that if we left it at that, Loire might escape or make excuses, so we received a certain proposal.
"To think we would fake our own deaths."
"However, I believe it is an effective plan. If we don't capture Loire here, it will leave many seeds of trouble. Once captured, even if Loire himself doesn't talk, we can just charge him with any crime and execute him."
As we are talking, a soldier comes to report.
"Minister Loire has arrived!! The surrounding deployment is complete as planned. However, for the King himself to play the role of a corpse..."
After reporting, he tells my father so with a worried expression.
"Do not worry. Even with age, my sword skills are still intact. I am more than enough for someone like Loire!! So, how is it? Do I look like a corpse with this makeup?"
"A-Ah, yes!! It is a magnificent death face!!"
"Fufufu... 'A magnificent death face,' he says. Father?"
"I-I'm sorry!! Please excuse me!!"
"Hmph, Aria probably looks much the same. Now, we shall play the role of corpses. I leave the rest to you."
"Ha!! Leave it to me!!"
With that, the soldier leaves. He will surely go far, having been able to keep up with our jokes.
"Still, to lie down with you like this... I wonder how long it's been."
"Who knows? You have been busy since long ago, Father."
"In a sense, we must thank Yuki for coming up with this plan."
"Yes."
Then, footsteps echo from the hallway, and the door is thrown open without hesitation.
"Your Majesty!! Princess Aria!!"
"P-Please calm down!! Minister Loire!!"
"Silence!! How can I be calm?! ...It can't be, the King, in such a state..."
Loire shouts as he walks toward us.
I can't tell because my eyes are closed, but I wonder what kind of face he's making in front of us.
"...Forgive me. Could you step out? I wish to speak with the King one last time..."
"...Please do not do anything rash."
Then Loire's attendant disappears. He will likely be captured as soon as he leaves this area.
Silence envelops the room for a while. Then, a suppressed laughter can be heard.
"...Kuku, hey, King of Roschur. In the end, you moved exactly as I planned until the very last. With this, the contract with the Holy Kingdom of Ritea is complete. The fake Saintess named Elju is dead, and all the royalty of Roschur are deceased. Even if by some miracle Elju and Seraria return, I'll handle them here. You can all go to the afterlife together!!"
...With him talking so easily, there's no need to explain anything to the other ministers.
I'd love to see the faces of the high-ranking officials waiting in the next room.
"...Phew, I suppose I've grown old too. To think I wouldn't kill someone like you right here, Loire."
"Huh? K-King Roschur?!"
By the time I opened my eyes, Father had already swung his favorite sword.
Loire's arm fell onto the carpet with a thud.
"Ugyaaaaaaaahhh!! W-Why?!"
"I have no obligation to explain things to you like you did. Take him away at once!! Treat him just enough so he doesn't die."
"Ha!!"
And just like that, Loire was easily taken away.
"There was no turn for me, was there?"
I say as I sit up.
"Don't worry. If anything, what comes next is the main event."
The moment Father says that, the door is opened again.
The soldier from before is there, with a look of "genuine panic" on his face.
"I-I have a report!! It seems there was one of Loire's men among the army Seraria-sama persuaded!!"
"Hmm, that's expected. Why are you in such a panic?"
"T-That is, during the march, they drew a sword against Lady Seraria and Lady Elju. Lady Seraria was unharmed, but..."
"...No way!?"
"L-Lady Elju was pierced by the sword... and has passed away!!"