第５２０堀：思惑は進まず (Part1)
**Chapter 520: Speculations Stagnate**
**Side: Yuki**
The journey is proceeding quite smoothly.
Although the princess dragged us down at the time of departure, we’ve been moving at a high pace, perhaps because we resorted to using magic and medicine to keep her asleep while bundled up like a straw mat on a horse.
The person in question is under the convenient delusion that she’s just exhausted from the journey, which is a relief.
I can’t help but think that such "flower-field" types are strangely positive in the most peculiar ways.
However, on the flip side, there are problems.
Because our pace is so fast, we remain in the dark regarding the enemy’s movements.
As of now, there hasn't been a single stir from the direction of Baide; it’s peaceful.
No pursuers have appeared on our end either, and I’m left unable to grasp what the enemy is truly aiming for.
Normally, I would have already sent an exploration team to Haiden, but since I can’t use monsters right now, preliminary surveys aren't easily done.
With my available combat strength limited, I’m focusing my efforts on securing our rear.
I am, of course, simultaneously investigating the magical fluctuations and the effects on monsters, but there’s no way to get results in just a little over a week.
Honestly, Zargis and Comet have been overworked lately, so I’ve told them to rest, but those mad scientists are high on adrenaline, thrilled by the discovery of a new research area.
Well, I anticipated this, so I asked Hifii to make sure they get some sleep.
I didn’t ask for the method, but I doubt it involves anything lethal.
It’s also painful that I can’t easily deploy dungeons.
Creating relay points all over this continent is quite difficult.
If I don’t narrow it down to key strategic locations, I can’t maintain them.
The inefficiency of the 5,000x DP cost is slowing down our overall movement.
And even as I try to investigate the cause, I’m caught in a vicious cycle where I have to deal with Haiden, who is currently in my way.
Am I cursed?
No, I suppose reality is just like that, but it feels like I’m always being sent to places where there’s nothing but trouble.
If I find the source of the chaos here, I’m going to make them pay dearly.
For now, my immediate objective is the group from Haiden.
I don’t know what their goals or grand causes are, but I’m going to collect compensation for all the trouble they’ve caused me.
I’d already decided to do that the moment I arrived, so that’s fine, but there is a problem I can’t overlook right now.
That is...
"Wow. Amanda, you can use quite a bit of magic, can't you?"
"I can. But isn't Kagura—I mean, isn't Lady Kagura even more amazing?"
"It’s fine. We’re the same age, and it’s not like there’s some big status gap between us, right?"
"Ah, um. I’m just a commoner. Is that really okay?"
"For me, it’s a relief. Talking to Yuki like this makes me fear for when my head might fly off..."
"I don't think Yuki-san would do something like that, though."
"I know that, but I wasn't raised to speak like that to someone of higher standing. It’s a matter of life and death. My body just reacts naturally."
As it turns out, Kagura—the person Taiki and I need to be most wary of—isn't deepening her bond with Eoid at all. Instead, she’s happily chatting away with Amanda.
"Ah, I see. It’s that 'reflexive' response from being drilled by Master Deryu, huh?"
"…Is it fair to say it’s similar? That side is a literal threat to your life, isn't it? Like that."
Kagura gestured toward Eoid, whom Taiki and I had allowed to participate in the operation as a "decisive humanoid lecherous weapon" against Kagura, as he was currently working hard in training with Deryu.
"Come on, you need to stand firmer... A stomp, and—heave!"
*THUD!!*
"Whoa—!?"
The ground caved in from Deryu’s super-stomp, and Eoid was easily blown into the sky by the shockwave.
"Come now, use your magic to create a proper cushion. Enhancing physical ability isn't the only way to use magic. Eoid, you know that well enough yourself."
"A cushion? It’s not like I can just make a shield like that... *Oof!*"
As expected, he can only form clear images when it comes to weapons.
In the end, he crashed into the ground, failed to kill the momentum, and went rolling away.
"He sure flew spectacularly today, too."
"…I was really surprised when he fell on me during our bath last night. Are you okay, Eoid?"
"A-ah, I think so? Thanks, Kagura."
Surprisingly, Eoid called her by her name without honorifics, and as he held Kagura’s hand to pull himself up, things looked bright... but then—
"Ah..."
Perhaps exhausted, Eoid stumbled and fell into Kagura.
He managed to catch himself on his knees, avoiding a full collapse, but his face ended up buried slightly below Kagura’s stomach.
From an outsider's perspective, it was the completion of a pervert shoving his face into a woman's crotch.
I wanted to shout, "As expected of a lucky lecher!", but...
"S-sorry."
Eoid hurriedly pulled away, but his fatigue was clearly severe, and he ended up falling backward completely.
"Haa, you’re definitely not okay. Amanda, please."
"Honestly, what are you doing to Kagura?"
"It’s fine. It would be strange if he *didn't* end up like that after that kind of training. If I got angry over this, it would just mean I’m small-minded and don't understand the situation. Come on, taking care of him is Amanda’s job, right?"
"Thanks. Eoid, stand up. You can borrow my lap as much as you want."
"Ah, yeah. Thanks, Amanda."
Like this, unlike the pink-haired girl from some typical fantasy story, she has the composure of an adult.
Or rather, she’s just being realistic by not getting unreasonably angry, but still...
"That doesn't look like romance at all, does it?"
"Yeah, it just looks like they're normal friends."
Exactly. Our true ambition—the "Leave the flag-raising with Kagura to Eoid!" operation—isn't functioning at all.
We’ll arrive at the Kamishiro Duke’s house by this evening.
I suppose I should think there’s still time, but for some reason, I can’t hide my anxiety.
"…Do you think a romance will develop from here?"
"…I don't know. We have no choice but to watch over them carefully. If we try to intervene clumsily, we might end up triggering a flag for ourselves."
"That’s true. Wait, hold on. Since we’re arriving at the Kamishiro Duke’s house, isn't this the perfect chance to get Eoid recognized by her parents?"
"That’s it!! Why didn't I think of that?!"
If the relationship is officially sanctioned by her parents, all that’s left is the finish line.
"The problem is that we have to convince Amanda and maneuver things so we can get the Duke’s cooperation."
"True. Amanda seems to get along well with Kagura, so that shouldn't be too high a hurdle, but if we force them into an engagement, it won't just be a conflict with the royalist faction—we’ll become the enemies."
"It’s painful that Eoid has no rank or position. If we could just appeal to them and make them misunderstand that they’re naturally meant to be together, we’d have it in the bag."
"Hmm, if that’s the case, we can't have him triggering a 'lucky lecher' moment in front of the Duke, right?"
"Exactly. That would be a deduction even for our original goal. Shouldn't we keep Eoid away for a bit, have Amanda act as a same-sex bodyguard, and have someone else guard the perimeter? Maybe pair him with Ruth?"
"If he’s paired with Ruth, she’d provide good follow-up. Actually, what about using Ruth?"
"Ah, I wonder. Ruth is from a prestigious military family and is a Countess, but... what do you think?"
I turned to ask Ruth.