「それで兄上はのこのこと逃げ帰ったわけですか」
「......あぁ、そうだ、奴は危険すぎる」
「混沌の眷属の中でもあの女は濃密な気配を発していた、ただの小娘と侮るべきではない」
「はっ! それこそ兄上が自身の失敗をうやむやにしたいだけでは?」
「そのようなことは決してない! 相手は辺境勇士アレクセイを討ち取り、軍隊すら相手にできる化け物だ!」
「くくっ、兄上はよほど女性が恐いと見える」
なんという侮辱か! なにも知らないから笑えるのだ!! 目の前に対峙した時のあの絶望感! 濃密な混沌の気配! あれが王都に迫っているというのに!
「ジュラル殿下! たとえ第二王子といえども王太子殿下の侮辱は看過できませんぞ!」
「ふん、そのうちジュラル殿下は第二王子ではなくなる」
「......ヴェルディ侯爵、何が言いたい?」
「いやなに、小娘一人にビビる男とそれを咎める勇猛な男、どちらがより人を導くに相応しいか......少し気になっただけですよ」
とうとう耐え切れず私の側近の一人であるガヴァン侯爵が怒鳴るがそれをさらに煽られる......これまでの挑発にもはや私の派閥の者は怒り心頭に発しており、限界だ。
「——双方やめよ」
「しかし父上!」
「......ジュラルよ、私がいつ発言を許可した?」
「っ! 申し訳ございません......」
野心家の弟にも困ったものだ......焦りすぎてボロを出し、その失敗を挽回するためにまた無茶をする......そこまでして玉座が欲しいか。
「グィーランの報告が嘘か本当かに関わらず対策は必要であろう、であるからして——」
「——失礼します! 緊急の報告です!」
「よい、発言を許可する」
「ハッ! たった今辺境派遣軍の生き残りが帰還致しました!」
「......生き残り?」
............嫌な予感がする、まさかとは思うがさすがにあの人数をどうこうできるとは考えにくい、しかしながら対峙したあの恐怖を思うと否定もできない。
「ハッ! 王太子殿下が撤退なされた後に交戦、しかしながら一刻ばかりで指揮系統は破壊され、軍のおよそ八割が死亡、または重傷者の壊滅状態とのこと!」
「どういうことであるか!?」
それきり陛下は目を瞑り考え込んでしまう......私が率いていたのは連隊規模の軍隊で3000人は居たはず......それが壊滅など冗談でも笑えない。
「いよいよ兄上の失敗が浮き彫りになりましたな! このような危険人物をみすみす見逃し、王都に招くなど!」
「お言葉ですがジュラル殿下、グィーラン殿下は命を狙われたのですぞ! それこそ玉座を狙うそちらの差し金ではないのですか!」
「......殿下どう見ますか」
「正直なところわからない......確かに弟は秩序に属してるとは言えないが混沌に属していなかったはずだ」
「確かにそうかも知れませぬが第二王子は野心がありすぎる。それに王子自身ではなく派閥の誰かの独断という線もあります」
「......私の固有スキルが混沌陣営にとって目障りな事態でもあったか?」
「隠されたものを見つける能力でしたか......充分にありえますな」
............とりあえず、今私が死ねばこの国は混乱するのは間違いない。
「そうならないためにも対策は必須でしょう」
「わかっている、父上にも許可を取って指名手配した」
これで渡り人たちにも協力が仰げるが......どうなるだろうか。
"And then you ran away from her?" My younger brother asked.
"Yes, she's too dangerous." I answered.
"The woman had more Chaos within her than anyone I had ever seen, she should not be underestimated." I clarified.
"Aren't you just trying to find excuses for your failure?" My brother said.
"That's not it. The enemy is someone that could defeat not only Alexei, but also my whole battalion!" I explained.
My brother started laughing though, "Seems like you're very scared of women... You should have just invited her to your carriage and shook her hips!" His comment made his followers burst into laughter.
It's ridiculous, they can only laugh because they are not aware of the despair I felt when she emanated all that Chaos. And to think she is coming to the capital next...
"Your highness Jural. Even as the second prince, you cannot insult his highness, the crown prince, like that!" Marquis Gawain, one of my followers, said.
"That's not an issue, for his highness Jural won't be the second prince for long." Marquis Verdi commented.
"... What are you implying?" Marquis Gawain asked.
"Isn't it a given that a brave man is better suited to lead the nation than a coward who is afraid of one little girl?" Marquis Verdi said.
"You little..." Marquis Gawain was clearly angry, and so was the rest of my faction. They were obviously provoking us, and my followers were reaching their limits.
"Stop, both sides." My father said, and the entire room, me and my brother included, bowed to him. "Both of you already made your points, to continue showing hostility towards the royal family will be considered an act of treason. It is a disgrace for anyone with a claim to the throne to show this kind of behavior."
"But father!" My brother shouted.
"Jural, did I give you permission to speak?" My father stopped him.
"I apologize." My brother said.
Having this ambitious younger brother is troublesome... I wish to hurry up and make amends for this failure in order to avoid further conflict, but I would have to be crazy to try facing that woman again... But how far will he go to take the throne if I don't make it clear that it is mine...?
"We will have to take measures to handle this case, regardless of how truthful Gillian's report is." Father said. It seemed like he was about to wrap things up, but we were interrupted by the room's door being flung open.
"Apologies for the interruption, but there is an urgent report!" The messenger who just arrived said.
"You have permission to speak." Father said to the messenger.
"Sir! The survivors from the Frontier's Expedition Force have returned!" The messenger reported.
"Survivors?" Someone said.
I have a bad feeling about this. It's a good thing that there were some survivors at least, but I can't imagine what state they'll be at now, not after facing that woman...
"Sir! After the Crown Prince retreated, they engaged with the enemy. However, their chain of command was quickly destroyed and most of the soldiers were killed soon after. About 80% of the battalion was either killed or heavily injured!" The messenger reported.
"How could this be...!?" Another exclaimed.
"Is that so...?" Father said and closed his eyes to think. I was leading a battalion of 3000 soldiers, to have them basically wiped out like this, it is no laughing matter...
"My brother's failure becomes clearer and clearer with each passing moment! How could he possibly let such dangerous person escape and now threaten the royal capital!?" My brother exclaimed... It was hard to not sigh at it.
"The enemy seems to be aiming at the lives of the royal family! Shouldn't one with a position as important as the Crown Prince prioritize his safety in this predicament!?" Marquis Gawain replied.
"... What are your thoughts, your highness?" Marquis Gawain asked me after the meeting was over.
"I'm not sure. I did expect my brother to try sending someone after me eventually, but I doubt even he would deal with someone so strongly aligned with Chaos." I answered.
"That might be true, though the second prince is not the only ambitious person in his faction. Maybe one of his followers sent that woman without his knowledge." Gawain said. It's not impossible, but I don't think that's it... It's true that she was aiming for my life though, and I don't think that she'd really aim for a Crown Prince just for fun, no matter how chaotic she is, it would be too dangerous...
Nonetheless, I do not think it was Jural. There must be some other reason... "Perhaps my unique skill was seen as troublesome for the Chaos faction?" I wondered out loud.
"The ability to notice that which is hidden... It's possible." Gawain replied.
I stayed silent for a bit while pondering over it, before saying, "... I can't die just yet." My death would create chaos in this country. My brother and sister would both enter a bloody succession war...
"It's essential to take preventive measures now in order to avoid a bleak future." Gawain replied.
"I'm aware. For now, I got permission from father to put that woman as a wanted person, hopefully that should buy us some time." I answered.
With this, we'll get the aid of the migrants at the very least, but... Will it be enough?
Genocide Online ~Playtime Diary of an Evil Young Girl~
ジェノサイド・オンライン 〜極悪令嬢のプレイ日記〜
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/genocide-online-playtime-diary-of-an-evil-young-girl/
Action Adventure Fantasy Psychological
Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Assassins Beautiful Female Lead Cold Protagonist Cruel Characters Dark Depictions of Cruelty Evil Organizations Evil Protagonist Famous Protagonist Fearless Protagonist Female Protagonist Gamers Gods Gore Lack of Common Sense Level System MMORPG Modern Day Murders Overpowered Protagonist Psychopaths R-15 Royalty Ruthless Protagonist Sadistic Characters Sword And Magic Virtual Reality Wars
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7796fc/
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