第１５７掘：運命の出会いはいりません (Part3)
Perhaps they are still organizing the information, or perhaps another problem has arisen. Or maybe, just as the higher-ups suggested, they were moving troops on their own authority, and now they’re struggling to come up with an explanation.
Actually, even if we pick up rumors at the tavern, we aren't in a position to judge their authenticity right now.
"Well, let's focus on gathering solid information tomorrow and the day after."
"Understood..."
*Thud!*
That sound drowned out Ria’s reply.
"What was that?"
"What could it be?"
We both peered out the window. Judging by the sound, it was close by.
"Over there, it seems."
"Indeed, over there."
We identified the source of the noise immediately. After all, a massive cloud of dust was billowing into the air.
"Shall we go take a look?"
"I have nothing better to do, and I think it will be a good way to kill time."
Since we had nothing to do until dinner, I decided to play the part of a curious bystander for once.
When we arrived, a large crowd had already formed. However, since we had arrived early, we managed to secure a spot in the front row.
"I have no use for soldiers in my unit who can't even defend against an attack of this level."
"Guh..."
Right in front of us, a woman with emerald-green hair flowing beautifully down to her shoulders was... Emerald green!? There are so many strange hair colors in this world! Actually, I guess "emerald green" is the best way to describe it—it looks just like a gemstone.
And what is with that overly ornate armor? Does that even count as equipment? Her midriff is exposed; it makes no sense!
And the one next to her! The woman who looks like a green-haired aide has blonde hair, and she’s sporting a side-ponytail. Are you planning to go to the battlefield like that? At least tie it into a normal ponytail. The armor is strangely designed to emphasize her chest, but I wonder if that’s the real deal underneath?
Ah, well, my own wife has a drill-shaped hairstyle on one side, but she’s a princess, so I’ll let that slide.
No, no, I’m getting too caught up in nitpicking the women. The important thing is to identify the cause of this commotion...
As I was observing the situation, the aide-like woman stepped forward and stood before the man who had collapsed.
"Now, be off with you, anywhere will do. My Princess is about to head to war. Do not get in our way."
"Get in your way, you say!!"
The man who had been knocked down stood up. His companions, who had been watching from behind, gathered around and approached the aide.
"To begin with, it’s only natural that the Princess is strong! She has that magic sword, after all!"
The man pointed at the sword held by the emerald—ugh, this is a pain—the green-haired woman.
Oh? So that’s a magic sword. I don’t know how strong that Princess is, but it seems that magic tool functions even on this continent. Through my information gathering so far, I’ve learned that even magic tools—unless they are cheat-tier or the type that allows for magic stone replacement—become nothing more than junk due to the lack of ambient mana.
That’s why the "magic sword" that Princess possesses is a rarity in this New Continent. I doubt she’d hand it over for research purposes, though...
"Haa... I am telling you that is a separate issue. You lot aren't even worth the Princess's time. I alone am more than enough."
"What did you say—!!"
"The Princess said she wanted to humor you, so I watched in silence, but I cannot waste any more time on opponents who cannot even gauge their own strength. Are we clear?"
Ignoring the men, she spoke to the green-haired Princess behind her with a tone that sounded like a lecture.
"Sorry, sorry. I’ll leave it to you, Jessica, so forgive me."
"Haa..."
Ah, that woman named Jessica... watching her get pushed around by the Princess reminds me of myself and Steve being dragged around by Seraria!
Perhaps finally pushed over the edge by that conversation, the men drew their weapons and lunged at the Princess and Jessica.
"Die, you bastards—!!"
Don't announce your attack during a surprise strike, you idiots.
The green-haired Princess, true to her word, didn't lift a finger and stepped back, leaving it to Jessica. Jessica, as if to prove her point, drew her sword in the blink of an eye and, while holding back, laid all five of them out.
Well, in the end, all five men were groveling on the ground in an instant.
" " "Oooooh—!!" " "
The bystanders cheered.
"Hmph, this isn't so bad either. Right, Jessica?"
"This sort of thing causes trouble for the city guards, you know."
The two of them were chatting away, which caused their reaction to be delayed.
"Don't you laugh at me—!!"
One of the men on the ground, perhaps a mage, gathered mana into his staff and, for some reason, fired a decent-sized fireball toward the crowd.
"What—!!"
Jessica let out a cry of surprise, and the green-haired Princess seemed to be preparing to deal with it by drawing her magic sword, but...
"It’s dangerous, don't fire at the spectators."
I resisted it, so there was no problem. It’s a method of neutralizing magic by emptying the mana in the area, an application of the mana-starvation phenomenon. Well, canceling it out is easier, and spatial control—emptying the mana in a space to zero—is far too inconvenient.
I only used that method this time to ensure the spectators, or rather the bystanders, wouldn't get hurt. Actually, the real reason was that it was flying in my direction. If it had been aimed anywhere else, I would have just let it be.
"Well, the commotion seems to be over. Shall we go back?"
"Yes, let's."
We watched the men being hauled away by the guards and were about to leave the scene, but...
"Wait. You there, the man."
"Huh?"
Jessica, who had been explaining things to the guards, called out to me for some reason.
"The Princess wants to..."
"You, won't you become mine?!"
The green-haired Princess stepped in from the side and declared that. What is this flag?
"No, we have dinner to get to, so we’re heading back. Come on, Ria, let's go."
"Eh? Oh... yes. Excuse us."
Ria bowed to the Princess and Jessica, then followed me. Good, we made a clean break.
"...Is this alright, Princess?"
"Huh!? I was so surprised because he turned me down so normally!"
"Yes, I was quite surprised myself. Are they travelers? To not know who you are, Princess, of all people..."
"Jessica, follow them! The woman with that man—she’s probably on par with you or better. We must make them our subordinates!"
"Eh!? Are they really that skilled?"
The two of them started running after us, but I had already ducked into an alleyway to lose them. I was still listening to their conversation with wind magic, though.
"Didn't you notice? It wasn't me who extinguished the magic that fool fired. It was that man."
"!?"
"And he erased the magic along with the technique of my magic sword. Even if it didn't have much power, the ability to do that instantly is worth coveting!"
"Indeed, you are right. I believe they turned down that way."
"Good, let’s go! They shouldn't have gone far!"
"Yes!"
Heh, so they realized what I did. I guess they have a decent amount of skill after all.
Well, I waited for them to enter the alley, then stepped out onto the main street and headed back to the inn at a leisurely pace.
"Is it really okay?"
"Let's just enjoy a relaxing dinner for today."
I said that, but I immediately regretted my curiosity. Curiosity killed the cat, after all.
"Haa..."
Well then, what will happen from here? Who is this Princess, really?! Will Yuki ever find peace?!
Also, I’m taking tomorrow off.