Under the moonlight.
Walking through the forest with Ariel.
Just the two of us.
Neither
Ariel held a torch, leading the way.
If we went much farther, we'd end up at the spot where
"I've been thinking for some time now that I should speak with you privately,
Sylphie and Klinee hadn't followed.
Ariel had stopped them.
She'd told me she had something important to discuss and led me into the forest.
A midnight rendezvous.
What could this be about?
It probably wasn't a request for bathroom company.
I wouldn't be shocked if she had some peculiar fetish about needing someone present to do her business, but I couldn't think of a reason why she'd need me specifically.
Ariel stopped about five minutes' walk from the bonfire.
After confirming we'd put plenty of distance between us, she turned around.
"You seemed like you'd prefer to keep things hidden, so I arranged for us to have this space."
I should probably stop fooling around.
Ariel clearly wanted to have a serious conversation.
"...What is this about?"
I already had a guess, but I asked anyway.
Ariel maintained a fearless smile as she reached out and touched my chin.
No touching allowed, though...
"Well, no need to rush. The night is still long."
"Even if the night is long, I have precious little time to sleep."
"I'm not asking you to stay up late. I just want you to relax and talk with me."
As she said this, Ariel released me and sat down on a tree root.
I quietly activated my Magic Eye.
Not because I was wary of Ariel.
Rather, it was in case something happened to her.
"By the way, Sylphie and Lady
You drag me out here and that's the topic?
No, this was probably just an icebreaker.
"...Yes, they are. I was worried they might fight more, but they seem to have gotten along fine."
Honestly, I'd feared Eris might bring chaos and conflict into our family. I'd expected more friction with Sylphie and
"The other day, while you were out on patrol, the two of them lay side by side and had quite the chat."
"Oh? About what?"
"Eris was saying that if they just left everything to Rudeus, things would work out fine, so everyone should shut up and do as he says. And Sylphie gently told her that even Rudeus makes mistakes, so they need to support and back him up."
It's flattering to be relied upon, but honestly, Eris overestimates me too much.
It makes me happy that Sylphie quietly tries to help behind the scenes. The two of them must be anxious about me siding with Orsted, yet so far they hadn't complained or objected — they'd simply followed along.
"The two of them are like polar opposites.
Lady Eris, standing in front of Rudeus and fighting.
Sylphie, supporting from behind..."
"They make up for my shortcomings. I'm grateful to have them."
My love for the two of them comes from gratitude.
I don't think I'll ever forget that for as long as I live.
"What's interesting is how Sylphie treats Lady Eris like a younger sister who can't get her act together."
"A younger sister who can't get her act together?"
"Yes. And Lady Eris seems to accept it, too. She listens to what Sylphie says, even if reluctantly."
Now that you mention it...
I hadn't realized. Come to think of it, I hadn't been having much conversation with the two of them lately. I'd probably fallen into tunnel vision, assuming that as long as Eris was settling in, everything was fine.
...While I wasn't paying attention, Sylphie had been looking after Eris.
"That's interesting — Sylphie is younger and shorter, too."
"You have a keen eye, Lady Ariel."
"I have far fewer things worth looking at than Rudeus."
Ariel said this while sending me a sidelong glance.
She's being provocative.
Please don't flirt so openly.
"Now then. I imagine Rudeus is busy every day, his eyes darting from one thing to another, considering everything from what's visible to what lies beyond."
Ariel spoke in a theatrical manner, then looked me in the eyes.
Here comes the real topic.
"I'd like to ask one question of such a busy man...
What do you think of Luke?"
Luke.
About Luke?
Not about Orsted?
"What do I think?"
Hmm, what kind of answer was Ariel looking for?
"You're showing that bad habit of yours again."
"Eh?"
"You're trying to say what you think I want to hear. Sometimes that sort of conversational skill is necessary, but right now, here, I don't need that from you."
A habit? Did I really have one?
Actually, thinking about it, I'd been doing that a lot lately — trying to figure out what to say when talking with Orsted, with
And even with my family.
"I believe — that Luke is being turned."
Ariel said it straight out.
Luke's betrayal.
Ah, so that's what this was about.
"I can't say this to Sylphie and the others, of course."
Probably not. But that was a bit of a blow.
"...I thought you trusted Luke more than that."
I'd assumed Ariel had confirmed Luke's loyalty through that earlier exchange. That she believed, just as Sylphie did, that Luke would never betray her. And that the two attendants felt the same way.
"I do trust him."
"..."
"There's no reason for Luke to betray me. If he were going to, he would have done so much earlier. Luke has always been free to slit my throat whenever he pleased."
"...Then why?"
"But if Luke were driven into a situation where he had no choice but to betray me, then he would. For example... Luke is proud of his family. If his family were taken hostage..."
Ariel said this quietly.
Family taken hostage.
Ah, I see. When you put it that way, Luke's behavior could be explained without Hitogami's involvement. Darius took his family hostage and coerced him into betrayal. Then, when soldiers from the Notos
That actually adds up.
Since then, Luke had been eerily silent. From Ariel's perspective, it must look like he was torn between returning to her side or remaining with Darius.
"That's why I'm asking. What do you think — especially since you, Rudeus, suddenly offered to help just recently?"
And perhaps she suspected me too?
Because of things Luke had said about me. His words could be taken as implying that I'd been the one to instigate Luke.
"Are you sure about this? Out here, in the open? If I were also a traitor, I might take your life, Lady Ariel."
"If that were the case, I would think it most regrettable... but ultimately, it would simply mean I lacked the ability to judge people. I'd accept my death quietly."
Is that composure, or just nerve?
Well, there was no question — I wasn't a traitor. Listing reasons not to betray would be easy.
"...I don't think Luke has betrayed you. He's just being manipulated."
"By whom?"
That was a difficult question. Should I say Hitogami's name? Laying everything bare would be easy enough, but...
Wait. If she was asking me this directly, could it mean that Ariel herself was one of Hitogami's apostles?
Orsted had said no, but...
Stay calm.
Advantages and disadvantages of Ariel knowing. Let me think about those first...
"...Even if you ask me that, it's not easy to answer. If it were something simple, I would have told you long ago."
Ariel's next words cut through my thoughts.
"So, could you introduce me to him? The person you occasionally contact — Lord Orsted."
"Wh—?!"
Wait. What was going on?
I was getting confused.
Orsted's name had just come up?
I thought this was about Luke?
"Surely that isn't strange?
You are, after all, Lord Orsted's subordinate."
"..."
"And I want to determine which side Lord Orsted is on."
Did she mean whether Orsted was on her side or on Gravel's side?
Damn it, I wished she wouldn't be so roundabout. Where was the easy-to-talk-to Ariel from before?
"...And once you've determined that, what then?"
"If he's on 'our' side, then no matter how terrifying he is, I intend to endure it."
"Endure?"
"Associating with unpleasant people is a skill required of royalty. I should manage just fine."
Is that so? Orsted's curse didn't seem like something you could just "endure."
"And if he's on 'their' side?"
"Then I'll pull him to our side."
Ariel said this with absolute confidence.
Impressive.
"He must be nearby, right? Orsted, or his intermediary?"
But this was difficult. I wasn't sure if I could make this decision on my own. Ariel said she'd endure it, but Orsted's curse was powerful. Just looking at him made people perceive him as an enemy. If she said she'd endure it but then met him and I ended up being seen as an enemy through association, it would be a disaster.
Then again, refusing outright would be like admitting I had something to hide. At the very least, I had no desire to obstruct Ariel's path to the throne. Hitogami was the one who wanted to block her path, and we were the ones trying to stop Hitogami.
Explaining all that would be tricky, though.
Hmmm.
"There's no need to worry."
The voice came from behind me.
I spun around, and there he was.
The silver-haired, golden-eyed demon — no, Orsted.
"If Ariel Anemoi
Orsted's sharp gaze pierced Ariel.
Pierced through, Ariel's eyes went wide as if struck by lightning, her legs trembled, and she wet herself.
"A-Ah..."
Her face twisted in terror, looking as if a nightmare had become reality.
Now I'm definitely marked as a traitor...
"Ah..."
But in the next instant, Ariel's face was flooded with ecstasy.
Looking at her blissful expression, I thought: She'll be fine.
--- After a while, Ariel had recovered her composure.
Now she looked perfectly normal, as if nothing had happened.
I'd washed her soiled pants and undergarments with Water Magic, then dried them with an original Combination Magic spell I'd devised — "Steam Dry" — a technique that rapidly dries fabric at the cost of damaging it by combining wind and fire.
Because it angers
But this was an emergency, so I couldn't help it.
...Still, I thought I'd lived long enough, but I never expected the day I'd be doing a princess's laundry.
Turns out expensive undergarments in this world really are silk.
While I finished up, I'd had Ariel wear my robe.
As expected, long robes really were the way to go.
Now Ariel was wearing her dry pants and underwear, looking perfectly composed.
I, meanwhile, was wearing the robe that had been on a half-naked princess from the waist down.
A faint, pleasant scent wafted from it, making me slightly excited.
Get a grip. I guess going without for a few days had built up my gauge.
I'd take care of that later.
Sylphie and Eris were both here, so I should show some restraint.
While I was caught up in these thoughts, Orsted had been sitting there looking thoroughly uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry to have shown you such an unsightly sight, Lord Orsted."
"No, it's fine."
Once most of the cleanup was done, Ariel addressed Orsted.
Her face was still a bit pale, but she didn't seem overly frightened of Orsted.
"............"
"Don't make such a terrifying face."
"This is my normal face."
"Ah, so this is what the curse does."
"That's right."
Though I was wondering — why had Orsted come out?
Well, whatever. The boss had made his decision.
I should just watch the two of them talk.
"I see. I've met many Saint-level and King-level curse-bearers, but... I can tell yours is exceptionally strong."
"But you seem to know how to overcome it."
"I am of the Asura royal family. Detaching my emotions from my feelings is second nature."
"Yet, in your heart, you don't actually trust me."
"Exactly. That's why I asked for this opportunity to talk."
Their conversation was like a fencing match, each probing the other's defenses.
Now it was my turn to feel uncomfortable.
No, but I should actually listen carefully. The pleasant scent drifting from the robe was distracting, but I needed to focus.
"Let me be direct.
Why are you willing to help me, Lord Orsted?"
"Because the one pulling Darius's strings is my enemy."
"The one behind Darius... You mean my brother? Prince Gravel?"
"No."
"Then who?"
Now that was a hard question to answer, buddy.
"Hitogami."
"Oh. You're actually saying the name?"
Just how much was Orsted willing to reveal?
There was no guarantee Ariel wouldn't become an enemy.
"Hitogami... You mean the creator god from the myths? One of the original gods?"
"Whether this Hitogami and the one I'm fighting are the same being is uncertain, but that's what he calls himself."
"Such a god... is working with Darius? For what purpose?"
"To kill you and place Gravel on the throne."
"I see..."
Ariel looked stunned.
Still wearing that expression, she turned to me.
"...I see. It's an outlandish story, but looking at Rudeus's face, it doesn't seem to be a lie."
Was my face a lie detector? Would it really show that much?
I thought I had a poker face.
Maybe I should ask Sylphie later what she thought of my expressions.
She'd probably say I look cool...
"But why would such a noble god side with my brother?
Is it because my brother is more suited to be king?"
"No. His reasons are far more selfish."
"May I ask what those reasons are?"
Orsted glanced at me, made a slightly complicated face, then turned back to Ariel.
"In approximately one hundred years, the Asura Kingdom will face a crisis."
"!"
"How the kingdom responds will depend on whether you or Gravel is king."
Hey, this was information I'd never heard before.
"If Gravel is king, he will attempt to overcome the crisis through military force.
If you are king, he will attempt it through magic."
"A hundred years from now? We would likely be dead by then..."
"The difference lies in the policy after taking the throne. Gravel would lean toward military strength; you would lean toward magical power."
Buddy, I never heard about this!
"Relying on military force, the Asura Kingdom will fall.
With magic, it can survive."
"..."
"Hitogami wants the Asura Kingdom destroyed."
Was Orsted lying? Making up a story convenient for Ariel?
...But if Ariel tried to use my face to judge the truth, she'd find out it wasn't a lie.
"Why would Hitogami want Asura destroyed...?"
"Because someone who can defeat him will be born from the Asura Kingdom."
"And that person is in his way?"
"Exactly."
Ariel's expression showed understanding.
"And you, Lord Orsted, need that person?"
"Yes."
Ariel placed her chin in her hand, adopting a pensive expression.
She glanced at me with a troubled look.
Stop. Don't look at me!
Stop using me as a lie detector!
No — I should maintain my poker face and support Orsted.
"Well, the answer is so far from what I imagined that I'm somewhat thrown.
I'm not sure whether to believe it or not..."
She thought it was a lie.
Damn.
"You don't need to believe me. But I will tell you what you want to know."
"What I want to know?"
Orsted spoke with authority, and Ariel looked surprised.
"Luke Notos Greyrat has not betrayed you. He is simply being manipulated by Hitogami."
The smile vanished from Ariel's face. The smile that had been plastered there like a default expression was gone.
"Manipulated, you say?"
"Hitogami told him it would be for his own benefit, and Luke has been walking down the wrong path."
"Luke is a clever man. Would he be so easily deceived?"
"When people are given information that suits them, they're quick to trust the one who provides it."
Orsted didn't give me information that suited me, though.
That was probably separate from whether I trusted him or not.
"...It's not something I can easily believe... What do you think, Rudeus?"
She turned to me suddenly.
Good move. If Orsted really were telling some outrageous lie, and I couldn't give a coherent answer, the deception would be obvious.
But I could answer this.
"I was manipulated by Hitogami for a long time.
He appeared in my dreams and repeatedly gave me advice that would let me benefit in the short term.
Thanks to that, I gained many things.
But it was all groundwork for his eventual betrayal.
I followed his advice, trusted him, and was betrayed.
In the end, I was even forced to fight Lord Orsted.
I believe Luke is in a similar situation."
I was surprised by how calm my own voice sounded.
Ariel listened with her smile gone, then faced Orsted.
She started to speak, then shook her head.
She made her pensive expression once more and thought, and thought.
"So... Luke isn't actually on Darius's side?"
"That's right. He's being made to cooperate without his knowledge, but Luke himself is probably unaware of it."
It had taken quite a roundabout path, but what Ariel really wanted to know was about Luke all along.
More important to her than whether Orsted was telling the truth...
"...That makes me relieved to hear."
"You believe it?"
"At any other time, I wouldn't have. But there were parts that made sense.
For instance, how Rudeus kept glancing at Luke..."
I was doing that?
"Honestly, the timing is a little too perfect, but...
I'll choose to believe it, even if I'm deceiving myself."
Ariel answered while looking at me sideways.
So she believed me, even if she wasn't sure about Orsted.
That was nice to hear, but also complicated.
"So, aside from Luke, are there others serving as Hitogami's pawns?"
"Most likely Darius."
"He'd be the most effective. Anyone else?"
"North Emperor Obert, Water God Reida — those two are also highly likely to be apostles."
"Apostles... so there are only three?"
"Yes, no more than that."
"I see."
Ariel nodded.
"So, Lord Orsted and Rudeus are fighting these three apostles while trying to prevent Hitogami's goal?
Is that it?"
"That's right. You catch on quickly."
"I take pride in being perceptive."
Ariel said this with a hint of pride, but she wasn't smiling.
Her expression had been tense for some time now.
"So, Lord Orsted. I have a proposal."
"What?"
"If we share the same goal, I'd like to follow your instructions."
"...Even if you're willing, those around you wouldn't listen."
"You don't need to tell those around you. Even if I sold my soul to the devil, no one could complain as long as no one knew."
"..."
Ah, being called a demon made Orsted look a little deflated.
"I intend to choose whatever means necessary to ensure victory. The more powerful allies, the better."
"...You don't worry that I might be lying, and betray you in the end?"
"I'm not so foolish as to let fear of risk cause me to miss an opportunity."
Lady Ariel, what you're saying sounds impressive, but in reality, you were pledging loyalty to what amounted to the great demon lord of evil, weren't you?
When I knelt before Orsted, I'd felt a similar ambivalence.
Then again, my Orsted Corporation was a great company with excellent benefits. Just because the president looked like a villain didn't mean the employees were treated poorly.
"So, Lord Orsted. For the time being, I'd like to handle the Luke matter myself."
"Oh?"
"I'd like Rudeus to focus on fighting Hitogami's apostles, while I handle Luke and the nobles.
That way, we reduce each other's burden and can act more efficiently."
"...Very well. Then I'll leave Luke to you. Convince him if you can. Kill him if necessary."
"As you command."
Ariel knelt before Orsted, and Orsted received it with his usual frightening expression.
--- Bewildered. That was the word for how I felt.
Before I knew it, Ariel had become Orsted's subordinate.
And they'd revealed their future plans, establishing a joint front.
With Ariel.
"Lord Rudeus. Please keep this between us and not tell Sylphie or the others."
"Of course. But were you really sure about this?"
"Yes. I finally feel at ease. Ah, I don't mean about the bathroom."
Ariel's face matched her words — she looked genuinely relieved.
"Now we can truly cooperate, Rudeus."
"Yes."
I still had reservations, but if Orsted had decided to trust her, then I would follow suit.
"Lady Ariel."
"Yes?"
"I'll say this upfront: If the Luke situation endangers Sylphie or Eris, I will deal with Luke myself."
"...Even if it goes against Lord Orsted's decision?"
"I follow Lord Orsted for one reason: to protect my family."
That was what I'd say for now, at least.
In reality, I wasn't sure how things would play out.
But Ariel had been so confident about handling Luke, so I'd let her try.
It was probably better than me talking to him one-on-one.
"I understand, Lord Rudeus. I look forward to working with you."
"As do I."
And so, Ariel became Orsted's subordinate.
She became my colleague.
When the two of us happily returned together, it goes without saying that Sylphie's cheeks were puffed up in a pout.