第１１９６堀：幽霊適正試験 (Part2)
"Yes. As I mentioned during the Dafaio incident, Your Majesty Seraria has always been the pride of us princesses who take up the sword. I never imagined I would have the honor of crossing blades with you at an event intended for cultural exchange."
*But how exactly am I supposed to compensate for such a glaring disparity in skill?*
I swallow that question for now and turn my attention to answering Yuki-sama’s inquiry.
"Indeed! Fiora possesses a wonderful fighting spirit. To think she would actually ask to spar with me."
"Though, unlike Your Majesty, she isn't a mere battle-maniac, so in my estimation, she ranks far higher than you."
"I am humbled by such excessive praise, but I... I suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Rurua-sama, who is a recovery mage..."
I cannot claim to be strong; the recent exchange meeting made that painfully clear. Rurua-sama is a former saintess whose name as a top-tier healer echoes not just across this continent, but others as well. To think that I, a frontline warrior, could not even land a blow against someone whose primary duty is rear-guard support...
"Ah, there’s no use dwelling on that. Rurua trains quite rigorously, you know."
"But for a healer to possess such prowess that the roles of rear-guard and vanguard are effectively reversed... that is not achieved through ordinary training."
"It’s rare, certainly, but not unheard of. You do know that being a recovery mage doesn't automatically mean one is incapable of combat, right?"
"Yes. That is..."
"Rurua just happens to be a powerhouse whose reputation precedes her in every nation, and she’s hardly lacking in combat ability. Besides, if you lost, you simply need to train until you surpass her. You don't intend to stay as you are, do you?"
"That goes without saying. My homeland was saved by Weed; it would be unacceptable for me to remain dead weight, both for my country and for my own pride."
I state this with absolute conviction. My country was saved by Weed. I came here to repay that debt. Even so, I must admit, being defeated by a healer was a shock.
"So, did you come here just to check on Fiora’s situation?"
"Indeed. I doubt you came all this way just to see Princess Fiora. While checking in over casual conversation is fine, Noriko is starting to look quite uncomfortable, don't you think?"
"Ah, my apologies. I simply wanted to confirm if she was settling in well first."
I see. The reason he spoke without introducing her—someone I was meeting for the first time—was to observe my reaction. I suppose I did make a rather unsightly spectacle of myself back in Dafaio. Still, being treated with such excessive consideration is a bit much.
"Yuki-sama, I appreciate your concern, but please, treat me as one of the family. Feel free to ask me anything without reservation."
"Understood. I’ll do that from now on. Besides, as Quar mentioned, this matter regarding Noriko is a bit of a problem."
"Well, yes. Bringing Noriko here specifically implies it’s related to that..."
"Indeed. I suspect I might have made the same choice."
Both Her Majesty Seraria and Quar-san are looking at Noriko-dono with wry smiles. In fact, even Kirika and Dressa, who arrived with us, are wearing similar expressions. Yet, no matter how hard I look at Noriko-dono, I see nothing amiss. However, I finally realize what it was that I felt was missing all this time.
"Come to think of it, where are Orelia and the others? They are your aides, are they not, Yuki-sama?"
"Ah, they are currently working in the office. And truth be told, I haven't told them about Noriko yet. The shock would likely be too great for them."
"Shock? What do you mean?"
I look at Noriko-dono a third time, but still, nothing—
*Thump.*
Wait, why did my heart suddenly hammer against my ribs? Is there some immense, overwhelming threat nearby? As I wonder this, I trace my gaze from Noriko-dono’s feet upward...
*Wait. Her eyes. She has no pupils.*
It is true. Where her eyes should be, there are only dark, sunken, pitch-black hollows... yet, for some reason, I can feel her staring intently at me. More than that, it feels as if she harbors a grudge against everything in existence. Her very visage is enough to stir a primal fear within me. What is this? How can someone exist and yet radiate such an aura?
*Thump. Thump.*
My heartbeat accelerates to an abnormal rhythm. The tension is far greater than when I faced Her Majesty Seraria. Yes, there is an unfathomable *something* standing right in front of me. I am terrified, yet I cannot bring myself to flee. Why? I don't know who this enemy is or what power she possesses; surely, I should be running away? Or rather, I *should* be running. Is it because Yuki-sama and the others are here?
*Wait. Yuki-sama and the others aren't even on guard...*
Only when my mind finally reaches that conclusion does the situation click into place, and I am finally able to calm myself, if only slightly.
"P-pleased to meet you. Noriko-dono, was it? I am Fiora, from the Kingdom of Dafaio."
I manage to squeeze the words out, fully aware that my voice is trembling. Is this the right way to act? Is this, too, a trial set forth by Yuki-sama? As I wait for her reaction, cold sweat trickling down my back...
"Oh, a normal greeting? Sorry about that. Yuki told me to switch into this mode, you see. Anyway, I’m Noriko Suzuki. Nice to meet you!"
She returns my greeting with a cheerful tone, all while maintaining that terrifying appearance.