At The Imperial Capital

“……I am sorry, Captain. It was my fault”

“Geez, didn't you promised to not say that. Besides, the General was killed and that person lost as well, we'd lose sooner or later even if we fought any further. If it's going to end up like that, I'm glad we're able to pull out while there's still the semblance of an army. If it had carried on as it is, everybody would've been turned into dead spirits”

“Even that Suzaku-sama could not win. I was watching from afar as well; it was not just that boy, the others were also quite powerful”

“Eeh. It's to the extent that each and every one of them rivals Suzaku-sama. We're unable to go up against such opponents with just us. Hence, there's nothing for Cel to worry about”

I console Cel who blames himself. However, Cel looks at my neck and makes a pained expression. Although it's imprudent, to think that I can have Cel worry about me thanks to this mark on my neck. It's ironic huh.

It has been a week since the battle with the Demihuman Country. After that, I, who made a contract with the unknown who appeared in the enemy country, Hardt, had Hardt undo Cel curse.

Immediately when Hardt dispels the curse, the swollen bluish-black part that was cursed heals and Cel also recovers to the state before he was cursed.

I had the mark of servitude placed on my neck by Hardt as compensation for that though. According to Hardt, it seems it won't tighten on me as long as I don't oppose him, but I can't trust such a fellow so I have to be cautious.

“So what will we do from now on? I will be frank, if I can save Captain……no, if I can save Cecilia, I will do as that guy says”

……Stop it. We still haven't even returned to the room yet! If you say such things to me, I'm going to want to a.s.sault you here, won't I! Furthermore, it's such a serious gaze……uuu, it's detestable that it's the outside!

“……Thanks, Cel. As for now, let's return to the Imperial Capital like this. The General is gone; the other Captains died; those who are wounded and I are the only ones who live. It's futile even if we remain when the number of soldiers had been reduced by almost half. We might be punished if it's just us, but Suzaku-sama was also defeated. We probably won't be badly reproached”

Cel who's convinced by my words. Let's return to that person's side for the time being. To the side of the one who let us rise all the way here, the Empress.

“……I'll bury it here as well”

I bury a black stone that I have in my hand, a magic crystal that Boss created with his own magic power, into the ground. I had come here, Glenburg Empire's Imperial Capital, under Boss' order.

What I'm currently doing; I'm sowing teleportation magic crystals around this vast Imperial Capital. It's an order that I was given from Boss.

Although it feels like I planted a fair bit, the Imperial Capital is inordinately vast. I'm still not even half done yet. I can just leave them someplace if I just only have to plant them, but it's meaningless if it teleports to somewhere useless, so I have to put a little thought into it.

Besides, this hards.h.i.+p will go to waste if it were to be disposed of. Haa, it's troublesome. I think it's mean that he leaves it to me just because I don't stand out. It's true that I, who's a wraith, can slip through walls and such, but still, I think he's working people too hard.

I have to go around such a vast Imperial Capital all by myself. I can enter places that are normally inaccessible as well but still. Haa.

After walking while searching for a planting spot for a while, I hear an angry voice. And then, a human who wore a mantle ran over from the corner in front, and furthermore, an adult man made the turn and came over while shouting in an angry voice from behind.

The man is spitting about and heading over with bloodshot eyes. The mantle child desperately ran away from that, without noticing me who's in front

“Ow!”

and b.u.mped into me. Because I've currently materialized, the child b.u.mped into me. The mantle child who fell on their backside from the recoil of the b.u.mp; at that moment, the mantle gently falls and reveals the face that they were hiding.

It's the figure of a girl that appeared from within the mantle. Although her silver hair is begrimed, her hair is short like a man's, and her face is worn out, she's a girl.

“Tsk, you s.h.i.+tty brat. b.l.o.o.d.y making me have a hard time!”

“Kuu, this, this is Okasama's memento! It's not something people like you can have!”

“Kasan? ……Aah, that woman's daughter huh. Kuku, I had all kinds of fun with her. It was exceptional to violate the woman in front of your father and drink booze while watching a screaming man”

……Somehow, I came across it at a troublesome spot. While the man and the girl are talking, a bunch of guys, who appears to be the man's companions, surround us. We're completely surrounded. As I'm pondering about what to do

“Huh? Who the h.e.l.l are you?”

He glares at me who he noticed at this time. The girl glimpses at me apologetically, but it doesn't look like it's the time for that.

……I can just go off somewhere as it is since it doesn't concern me, but it's troublesome that my face was seen. It'll probably be fine, but it'll be troubling if it comes back to bites me afterwards, and besides, I don't really want to leave a girl who's younger than me like this.

It's not like I particularly have an interest in young girls, but when I see a younger girl, I can't help remembering the younger sister whom I couldn't protect. Even though they're nowhere alike.

……It can't be helped, I guess I'll kill them quietly.