第６４５堀：蘇る御三家 (Part2)
"Quiet. It’s a matter of mood. Just mood. Now, since you’ve gone out of your way to speak to me, I assume you have some sort of plan?"
*“Yeah. The jewel embedded in Enol had a specific order written into it.”*
"An order?"
*“To visit the headquarters and eliminate Carrie Haiden, the First Princess of the Haiden Royal Family; Kagura Kamishiro, the second daughter of the Kamishiro Duke family; and Stasia Findall, the First Princess of the Findall Royal Family. Then, use their remains to return to the motherland and seize power.”*
"I see. So, that Mad King intends to take revenge on us."
*“He also mentioned something about resurrecting himself to rule the world once more. Well, I’ve already nullified that command, so you’re free to act as you please.”*
"Is that true!?"
*“True, true. Though, I have no idea what we should do after this.”*
"..."
She really is hopeless when it comes to thinking through the details.
*“What’s with that look? It can’t be helped, can it? Thinking up strategies like this isn’t my job. That was Sota’s job, wasn’t it?”*
"Honestly. Stop trying to burden my husband with everything."
*“Whoa!? I knew you’d gotten married because I saw the ceremony, but I didn’t know you two called each other that.”*
"Indeed. We faced many hardships rebuilding various nations and establishing Haiden since then, but Sota and I lived in harmony, happy until death parted us. We even had many children."
*“...Even though I was the one who stepped aside, hearing that directly stings.”*
"You should have just gone for it back then. If you had, you wouldn't have resorted to such foolish methods."
*“N-no way! Things like that... you have to wait until you have a proper environment for raising children...”*
"...Five hundred years later, and you’re still a maiden?"
*“S-shut up!! A-anyway, what about the plan?”*
"Strategy, you say? I’m just a corpse. I have no connections in this era. Try walking around as an undead these days; you’ll be purged in an instant. Besides, are there no other fellow deceased?"
*“Who knows? I was only told that when the jewel embedded within you was created, I should appear if the jewel activated among the dead. I don’t know the situation outside.”*
How inefficient. I’d like to say that, but the fact that she prevented me from being controlled is a blessing in itself.
"...Hmm. For now, it might be best to act as if we’re listening to those around us once we wake. Pretend to follow the Mad King, get close to the enemy’s ringleader, and seize the jewel. That’s all I can think of for now."
*“That’s a great idea!! As expected of someone who married Sota!!”*
"You loved the same man, so why don't you try a little harder? Besides, it’s not a perfect plan. There’s still the question of what to do after we seize it."
*“Muu. Oh, speaking of Sota, why not rely on the Kamishiro house? The royal family might be a hassle, but since they are Sota’s descendants, they’ll help us now. Can’t you use that connection to return home and find a place only the clan knows about? You know, like a place to summon water?”*
"Oh! That’s it. That would work. If I rely on this descendant, Kagura, I can return to the Kamishiro Duke house and call forth the water. The vessel is still enshrined in the basement, after all."
*“Alright, it’s settled! I’ll wake you up now. Stick to the plan. Oh, and as for my main body, I think it’ll react if you speak to it after you retrieve the jewel.”*
"Wait, hold on—!"
Before I could stop her, the sphere of light shone with a brilliance so intense I couldn't keep my eyes open...
"Ohh!? She opened her eyes!!"
"As expected of Lady RS!!"
"The others are opening their eyes, too!!"
When I came to, I found myself surrounded by a group of unkempt men, their gazes fixed on my sleeping face.
Under normal circumstances, I would have blown them away, but I grasped the situation and sat up without a word.
Looking around, it seemed I had risen from a coffin, and this was the graveyard of the Haire Church.
Many others had been resurrected alongside me; even bodies that looked like young girls were rising, their lingering wounds looking pitiful.
Still, they’ve utilized more remains than I imagined.
As I scanned the area, wondering if there was anyone I recognized, a body suddenly sat up right next to me.
I almost screamed, but I managed to hold it back. When I looked at the face of the corpse...
"Sota?"
He was a wrinkled old man, but there was no way I could forget him.
He was my spouse.
Perhaps he heard my murmur, as Sota turned toward me and gave me a wink.
I see. Hairen had spoken to Sota as well.
No, that wasn't it. Every single person who had risen was subtly nodding or glancing in my direction.
Hairen had spoken to all of them.
At this rate, things might proceed more easily than I thought.
From there, we managed to talk our way past the Mad King’s cultists, extracted the necessary information, chased them off, and held a strategy meeting before walking out of the Kyper Cathedral in broad daylight.
To save Hairen.
It seemed they had been making their own preparations on their end, too.
Well now, but since neither side knew about the other’s progress, at this rate...