RATH 28

TL: Eevee

4. The others stories

#2 Their story: the empire soldiers story.

Now the person called Ast that ran away with Reins appearance is also going to get caught, so all we have to do is wait here and meet him.

Huh?

Listening to the noble girl who had put a leash on him and was humming, Rein realised that something had gone wrong.

Ah, you didnt know? The reason why the number of people that chased after you was so few was partly because to fool you Rein, but also to fool the person named Ast. Everyone thats worked long enough with the princess is wary of the person named Ast. Except for the personnel thats here that I stationed in case of emergencies, everyone elses gone to chase him. No matter how incredible that person is, he wont be able to do anything by himself.

Hearing this, Rein was certain. He fell for the trap, but equally so did this woman.

And if he didnt tell her the truth now, then the responsibility of all that might fall square onto him.

Uh, uh, milady

Rein, although you said it was the clubs rules in the past that stopped you from calling my name, but thats not the case now, isnt it? Rather than milady, Iris. Ah, it might be even better if you called me Irie like my family.

No, milady, thats not

Iris!

Tha I Yes, Miss Iris, thats not the important thing right now

It is! Hm, because youre not used to it yet, you can call me miss for now, but in the future, I want you to leave the miss out as well.

Ah, I understand. But, Im saying this again, theres something important..

Whats the matter? Surely theres no reason why you should be stammering like that between us?

Rein wondered whether he could say this, but having made the judgement that the instructor had gotten a long way away by now, he said the truth.

Miss Iris, actually the thing that ran away with my appearance wasnt the instructor but a contracted doppelganger.

Eh?

In that instant, the noble girls smile that had been lovingly looking down on Rein froze instantly.

The instructor has already fled through another route, and he said hed live life in a village far away at the end of the world as a farmer

The noble lady didnt reply to Rein. But her expression told him everything.

Her whiter and whiter face.

Her clattering teeth. And the shivering of her hands that he could even feel through his collar.

Shortly afterwards, after shaking for a while she quietly murmured.

Im screwed

#3 Their story: The empire soldiers story .(2)

Its finally over!

Unless one was on the level of being able to be called an archdevil, it was pie in the sky to receive a soul as the price for your assistance.

Normal devils made provisional contracts with treasures or other commodities as compensation, and I too, did the same.

And I saw hell.

I had definitely contracted with what humans called an evil organization, filled with people that would make good partners for devils, but what Id faced would put trainee heroes to shame.

Their skills improving was all perfectly natural, but as if they couldnt feel any pain, these kids would charge in injuries and all as if they didnt know what a limit was, both I and the other doppelgangers it was tasked with were all horrified.

At a later date, when I had gone to consult with another doppelganger that had met a hero recorded in history, or more accurately had been a stepping stone for said hero, he said this.

-What, thats scary. Not even the hero went that far

It was seriously like hell. Just once Id gotten so pissed Id breached the terms of the contract just a bit to pull out my true strength to give the kids pain.

Even disregarding my own skills as a doppelganger, I had turned the enemy into a pain-sensitive state where even the slightest brush would give them unspeakable pain.

But in that state they were burnt, sliced and tore their skin, yet they were smiling.

How, how are you lot enduring this pain!

Kuahahaha! If you compare this pain to the metal bat then its nothing more than childs play!

Just what is the bat?

And worse, the next generations brats called disciples were even worse.

-Lord Surtr why are you

-I was scammed into a contract.

As the doppelgangers looked on at the slave life of the great giant that burned down a world the doppelgangers all realized that they needed to get out of this place as soon as they could.

And not long afterwards all of them got the freedom they wanted. Except for himself!

We finally, finally caught you!

Give up, Sir Ast!

Youre going back to the princess!

Out of fear Id be recontracted because I half-assed this job I ran away like Id set my soul on fire.

But even that was its limit, if Im caught, the contract is finally over.

Im never coming out into the human world again!

I made a firm resolve to never come out again even if the compensation was a soul.

Humans, scary;

That place called Howling was a place that opposed the empire. And the people in front of me are imperial soldiers.

To think the empires soldiers were this monstrous, then that organization Howling also raised at least this level of monsters!

Who called humans the weakest race! Are they not a race that are stronger than devils and even have more numbers than us!

I cant see the bat!

It really does seem like he handed it over to Rein to fool us.

We have reports that theres a higher level of weapon than that so be cautious!

Im saying this again, but the humans in front of us were all difficult to defeat even if Id used all my true strength.

And these humans feared the thing called a bat! Is this bat some kind of planet-destroying weapon or something?

But thanks to that, he could buy more time so the doppelganger was thankful for that.

And around forty minutes later.

Ah, the contracts over.

Wh, what?!

Thi, this is a doppelganger?

Does that mean vice-captain Iris side was the real one?!

C, contact with vice-captain Iris. The person she caught was the one named Rein, and Sir Ast has escaped! I repeat, Sir Ast has escaped! He said hed go live in a village at the end of the world and live as a farmer there!

As his spirit became fainter and fainter, at the appearances of the human falling into shock and despair seeing the living metal that was his body gradually lose its form, the doppelganger shouted.

-Hahaha, its the best! Freedom and despair, I get both of them as I go!

But, even as it did the doppelganger thought.

Just what is it exactly that this level of humans fear

#4 Their story: Atia nel Karuans story.

So, you failed?

I, Im sorry, noonim!

The strongest nation in the continent, Karuan.

And the future emperor of that Karuan was currently begging me on his knees. Hm, well. That doesnt matter.

Youre going to die anyway

Hiiik!

Your Highness? Even so thats

Shut up.

Im sorry!

As I told her with a bright smile Reia immediately collapsed into her corner. Now, where were we?

So, my little brother, how far in were we? Your last will and testament.

You were still listening to my story, noonim! Not my will!

That is your will.

Id waited ten years for this. For this day, Id personally dispatched people to the organization named Howling, Id negotiated and cooperated with people sent there indirectly, and I also managed to turn his disciples.

And naturally, the organization named Howling was destroyed. But.

My little brother, as Crown Prince you did a great job. The organization is destroyed, weve gotten a considerable amount of results and research material that the evil organization had been working on, weve confiscated a considerable amount of resources so that well be able to invest quite a bit of money into next years budget, and weve even got a list of names of those that were cooperating with Howling so the imperial courts going to reek of blood once again. Since we had to clean out the trash anyway, a perfect job! And since you managed to capture the organizations head alive, His Majesty will be very pleased as well.

The capitals citizens were already in full festivities praising my little brother and Father.

Hm. Thats good. Thats a good thing. My little brother was indeed useful. But.

But if that Crown Prince was found as a corpse the next day, that would be really amusing, no?

Im sorry, noonim! Just my life?!

As I kicked my little brothers chin who was all but ready to dive for my legs he flew all the way back to Reia.

But, my little brother crawled back again to cling to my legs. Ast said this in the past.

Theres a small fraction of perverts that love being the crap beaten out of by women, was my little brother one of them?

Well, so what. Hes dead soon anyway.

But, why was the task I assigned you the only thing that wasnt completed? How strange?

We, were still in pursuit.

Pursuit

Youre chasing him? Ast? Do you really think thats Ast?

According to the reports from the chasing group, he defeated the Sword Star in a single hit and is on the run. Aside from Ast, theres no person in the organization with that skill.

really?

The Sword Star that old man Nermia negotiated with lost.

The Sword Stars skills are already well-known far and wide. Moreover, that seemingly endless magic power, if she had chosen not the sword but magic, she could have been the strongest magician in history.

If its that Sword Stars defeat then of course it could only be Ast.

Since the daughter of the Nermia family was one of his disciples hed sent her along, but an unexpected result.

Right now, your direct subordinates as well as all of mine that I can mobilize are moving right now and narrowing the encirclement, so please wait, noonim.

Perhaps hed realised my anger had abated slightly, my little brother slowly approached. Alright, so Ill put killing my little brother on hold for now.

Tell me why you failed, first.

According to predictions, there was no way he could have escaped from the organization.

But he escaped. So I need to find out why. One time is enough for mistakes. I cant lose him again to another one.

Approaching the main base was harder than we expected. There were so many civilians near the main base we couldnt even tell who was an organization agent and who was a civilian.

Civilian? Civilians were living next to an evil organization?

Yes, more accurately they were being domesticated. They gave land and money to refugees and slaves, and helped them out until they could become self-sufficient. Plus since the citys lord was also an organization member he also took less taxes from the local civilians. Because of that praises were sung far and wide about how good the city was to live in, even the soldiers were surprised.

Ahh, I didnt see it myself but I can clearly see how it unfolded.

Since slaves that didnt know when theyd die, or refugees who had abandoned their homes because of despot lords and taxes, were given a place that theyd only ever dreamed of and were allowed to live there by someone unknown, of course their heads would be filled with flowers.

The name was called the Utopia Plan. There were also apparently dozens of cases where heroes or braves came along, thought they were mistaken and just left. Because of that, there was fierce resistance when we moved to subdue Howling. Thanks to that, we made all of them sleep by either knocking them out or with sleep magic, and thanks to that it was a bit dangerous, but perhaps there was a terrorist on the inside or something, the majority of the important buildings were on fire. Perhaps it was noonim who ordered that?

Hm I dont know. I did have people on the inside, but I never said anything other than to get Ast?

Well, although someone could have started to cause an internal confusion.

But the Utopia Plan. Even the name sounds amusing. Well, he was always doing weird things and was very good at spinning them the right way.

Utopia a nice-sounding yet a perfectly dystopic plan. But since the people themselves dont realize they were domesticated, could you call it a utopia?

Could I use this?

Eh? Noonim?

No, its just a passing thought.

Humans must be free.

That is how their individual personalities are expressed, and their true worth is shown. Thats what he said.

And since hes never been wrong up till now, I need to respect that.

Of course hes an exception. Since theres no personality that stands out more than him, nor is there a person of more worth.

Thats why, its alright even if he doesnt have his freedom.

Reia, tea.

Yes!

Reia hurriedly ran from her corner and poured me tea.

Very well, not yet. There are still chances remaining. Its too early to give up. If its ten years Ive waited long enough.

I dont need any more patience. For this moment I gathered up competent subordinates, made contact with countless nobles.

This was the moment to trust in those ten years of effort. But just as I thought that, I remembered an old conversation with that person.

Your Highness, theres a favourite saying of mine.

What is it?

To get your foot cut by your trusted axe.'(1)

You really are weird.

Your Highness, I wish you would take this to heart. My words right now are the truth. When the thing Your Highness trusted the most, comes back to stab you in the back at the decisive moment could come in any situation.

Why is his quaint smile as he said those words coming to mind right now?

Milord Crown Prince! Emergency report!

And the answer came quicker than I expected.

The person suspected to be Sir Ast that defeated the Sword Star was a different individual! We currently have no leads on the whereabouts of Sir Asts location!

Wai, wait! If you say that now then?!

Ah. Yes. Thats right.

Ast. Your words were always correct at the most exquisite moments?

I prepared for ten years. I believed.

And this is how I get my feet cut open.

Shatter!

Hiik! You, Your Highness! Y, your hand?!

Reia. I think this knight is tired because of his run here. Lead him away to rest up.

Wai, wait a second! Sir Reia! Dont leave me alone!

I accept Your Highnesss command!

Sir Reia? Sir Reia? Sir, Sir Reiaaaa!(2)

As expected from my long-time bodyguard, Reia quickly led the knight outside. She has good sense in shutting the door behind her.

Now, then.

Noo, noonim? Th, that could get dangerous so treating your hand should be

My dear little brothers eyes are shaking.

Ah, I unconsciously broke my teacup with my hand. Its dripping blood. Well does it matter? Even if I clean it up its going to get blood on it anyway.

Noonim? Noonim? I, I say there! Is there anyone there! The, the Crown Prince is about to die! He, help me!

Ahh, looking at my dear little brother like that, another memory with that person is surfacing.

-Your Highness, its not good for you if you always make an angry expression.

-Smile. Smile even when nothing is happening, and when youre angry, then smile, smile even brighter. Sometimes, smiling can be a more effective way to convey Your Highnesss anger then simple rage.

-Yes, like that. See there. Isnt Sir Reia shaking in the corner over there?

Ah. Right. Thats right, wasnt it?

Then now. In this moment. Lets make the biggest smile in my life.