For an instant I thought it was hopeless, but the blade that was meant to kill Claire-sama was stopped by a powerful arm .

“Sein-sama!”

“… I’ve just barely made it”

The black-masked man’s knife pierced through Sein-sama’s arm .

His blood trickled down .

“Oh my, isn’t it the leftover prince”

“… An enemy, huh”

Without caring about black-masked man’s words, Sein-sama unleashed his fist charged with magical power .

Although the black-masked man dodged, his mask was slightly grazed .

With his mask chipped, his real face peeked through .

The man hurriedly covered it with his hand .

“Oya oya . I thought I’ve seen it all, but you ain’t quite bad”

“… The army will arrive soon . Resign yourself”

Although the army also has excellent magicians, Sein-sama’s body strengthening magic is considerable .

With his quickened feet, he arrived first .

Nevertheless, with his position as a prince it’s unacceptable to take the lead .

“I see, I see . Well then, perhaps I should try my luck escaping”

The black-masked man said in his usual out-of-place cheerful voice .

“… Do you think you can?”

“Well, wouldn’t I manage somehow or another? Besides, I’ve already achieved my goal”

“…?”

“At first it was to kill as many n.o.bles as possible… But I got an unexpected harvest”

While we were puzzled by what the black-masked man said――”

“… Guh”

“Sein-sama!?”

Sein-sama suddenly fell to his knees .

Claire-sama rushed to him in panic .

“… Poison… huh…”

“Correct . It’s specially made, the detoxification method hasn’t yet been discovered . Please savor it”

Having cheerfully said it over his shoulder, the man disappeared in the dead of night .

Soldiers came running late, and arrested Lambert-sama, Lene and the men with an exception of the masked one .

“Sein-sama! Sein-sama!”

Claire-sama clung to the collapsed Sein-sama and kept calling his name .

But, there was no response .

His breathing is rough, sweat covers his forehead, and from time to time he’s letting out pained moans .

Ominous dark spots appeared on his skin .

This is―― .

“Doctor! Quickly call a doctor!”

“Claire-sama, please move away”

“But, Sein-sama is!”

“It’s okay . I can detoxify him, probably”

I somehow managed to tear off Claire-sama, who completely lost her cool seeing the person she loves on the brink of death .

This poison is probably that poison .

I wove a detoxification water attribute magic .

Probably, it should have this configuration .

“! Spots!”

Spots that afflicted Sein-sama’s skin gradually faded, and though he didn’t wake up, Sein-sama’s breathing calmed down .

“As expected, it was the poison from the Naa Empire”

“What did you say!? Then, that person was from the Naa Empire!?”

I nodded .

I touched on it a little before, the Naa Empire is a powerful country located east of the kingdom .

I touched on it a little before, the Naa Empire is a powerful country located east of the kingdom .

The enemy Naa Empire was behind several incidents that happened in the game .

And, used in an incident in the second half of the game, was this poison – cantarella .

On Earth, according to one theory the poison called cantarella was a.r.s.enic, but the formula of this world’s cantarella is unknown .

But, because the heroine determined the method to detoxify it with magic, being aware of it I managed the detoxification .

“How do you have such knowledge…”

“No comment about it”

“In the first place, why were you by yourself in such a place? It is as if you were aware of Lene’s betray from the beginning”

“Because I was suspicious of Lambert-sama . Still, I was surprised by Lene”

Mix the truth and lies subtly .

Claire-sama is straightforward, but since she’s sharp it’s hard to deceive her .

“You… perhaps――”

“… Uh… nn”

When Claire-sama tried to say something, Sein-sama woke up .

“Sein-sama!”

“… Claire… huh . You’re safe . I’m glad”

“What are you saying! Putting yourself in danger… What if something happened to you!”

Claire-sama clung to Sein-sama’s chest and wept .

Although Sein-sama was visibly troubled, before long he hugged her closely and stroked her hair .

“… It seems I made you worry”

“Honestly… If Sein-sama died, I… I…”

“… Sorry”

“Umm, sorry to interrupt while you’re busy”

Without even trying to read the air I spoke to the two who were getting excited while neglecting the heroine .

“For now, why don’t we move . It’s cold here”

“Y o u a r e . . . !”

Claire-sama stared at me with a demonic look, but although it’s spring, the night air is truly cold .

By no means was I envious of Sein-sama, there’s no such thing .

There’s not .

There’s not .

“It seems it’s more or less solved”

Rod-sama also came with the other members of the Order of the Academy .

“Should I tell the story”

“―― And that’s how it is”

We gathered in the meeting room of the Order of the Academy to hear Rod-sama’s report about dealing with the riot aftermath .

The incident was quickly brought under control .

When the citizens who surged into the academy learned the truth behind the incident – that the culprit was behind the commoners’ movement, they lost their cause and dispersed .

The commoners’ movement, that had gained traction after the courtyard incident for the time being seems to have died down .

The dissatisfaction of commoners with n.o.bility still runs deep, but it’s too early from the incident .

Everybody seems to be restraining themselves .

Although scars in the form of parts of the academy being destroyed remain, other than that the academy regained peace .

Now, we can see the figures of construction guild workers, who are doing repairs, carrying in lumber and bricks, before long everything will settle down .

“…”

Claire-sama has a listless expression .

While listening to Rod-sama’s story, from time to time she glances to her left with an uncomposed appearance .

That’s where Lene has always been waiting .

Lene and Lambert-sama were arrested for the crime of treason .

They may have been threatened, but it’s the fact they attempted to murder royalty and n.o.bility on foreign orders .

Compared to n.o.bles, they are only commoners .

Even taking extenuating circ.u.mstances into consideration their crime warrants death penalty at best, at worst their whole family could be executed .

Orso Company also lost their power overnight .

The magical gems mining and distribution rights were seized by the country, they’re now awaiting the country’s verdict .

“Orso family will be… put to death as expected?”

Claire-sama asked Rod-sama .

“It’s very likely . They might have had their own circ.u.mstances, but what they did was too big”

Claire-sama asked Rod-sama .

“It’s very likely . They might have had their own circ.u.mstances, but what they did was too big”

“… That is right, is it not”

The meeting room sank into silence .

It’s not just Claire-sama cheris.h.i.+ng Lene .

Lambert-sama was deeply trusted by the members of the Order of the Academy .

Hearing such a person will be given death penalty, even if it’s a lawful punishment, is incomprehensible thought to the other people .

“That’s right, Claire and Rei . You will receive a reward”

To drive away the gloomy atmosphere, Rod-sama said so in a cheerful voice .

“A reward… is it?”

“Ah . You quickly found the mastermind behind the incident and defeated the chimera . On top of that, Rei saved the prince’s, Sein’s, life . It would be strange if you didn’t receive a reward”

“Soon, I think you’ll be called to the royal palace . It’s said you will receive the reward directly from His Majesty”

Claire-sama’s doubt was answered by Rod-sama and Yuu-sama .

“I did no―― mmm”

“Is that so . It is an honor . We gratefully accept”

Blocking Claire-sama’s mouth from uttering something unnecessary, I said .

“Hey, what are you doing!”

“Claire-sama, I have a good idea”

I whispered in Claire-sama’s ear what came to my mind .

“I see… It might be worth trying”

“Right?”

Claire-sama seems to have agreed .

Then, several days later, we were summoned to the royal palace .