47.Not Meant For Me 【夜の城内に悲鳴が響く】
10人の騎士を斬殺し、満足げに刀を鞘に納めている一二三の背後。ベッドの影から恐る恐る顔を出したのは、イメラリアだった。
見られているのに気づいているはずなのに、どうでもいいとばかりに一二三はイメラリアを見ようともしない。
視線をずらすと、部屋の隅には先ほど一二三に蹴り飛ばされた母である王妃の死体があった。
恨めしそうな表情のまま息絶えている母を見て、イメラリアは悲しんでいいのか安堵していいのか混乱していた。
血で装飾された自分の寝室を見て、どうしてこうなったのかと思い返してみる。
一二三と共に民衆の目の前で王位継承の意思を示す形となってしまったイメラリアは、その日は早々に仕事を切り上げて寝室へと戻っていた。
「どうしてこんなことに......」
薄い赤の夜着に着替え、ベッドへ腰掛けたイメラリアは長いため息をついた。
酷く疲れた気持ちで、肩が重たく感じる。
「一体、あの方は何を考えいるのでしょう」
イメラリアには、一二三の考えがまだ理解できない。
王になりたいというわけでも無いようで、騎士隊からの話では領地の運営もある程度の方針だけを出して文官たちに任せてしまっているらしい。しかも、税も整理され全体的には軽減され、領兵たちも民衆と親しくするようになり、概ね民衆からの評判は良いらしい。
武器などの開発には資金を多く使っているが、特に贅沢をするわけでもなく、暇さえあればブラブラと街を見て回ったり、剣の修行をしていたりという行動を、多くの者に目撃されている。
“民衆に優しく公平であり、民を守る為の努力を欠かさない領主”
というのが、一二三に対する評価の大勢を占めているらしい。
イメラリアが見て聞いてきた評価とは全く違う内容に、同一人物の評価だとは俄かに信じられないほどだ。
「王族や貴族が嫌いなのでしょうか?」
とも思ったが、報告ではスラムの住人も相当数殺しているとあった。単純に、身分や役職は関係なく、邪魔かどうかでしか判断していないようだと結論付けた。
民衆を支持を得た狂人ほど扱いづらいものはない。下手に排除しようとすると、こちらが悪者にされてしまうのだ。
思い悩むイメラリアの耳に、ノックが聞こえる。
「どうしたのかしら?」
寝室の前で待機していた侍女が、おずおずと入ってくる。
「それが......トオノ伯爵がお越しなのですが......」
困惑している侍女に、イメラリアは本日何度目かのため息をついた。
「夜間、未婚の女性の部屋に訪ねてくるとは......。構いません、通してください」
「ですが......」
侍女は男性が王女の寝室へ入る事の、風聞や危険を気にしているのだろうが、イメラリアにとってはもう一二三の非常識さを気にしていられない。
「構いませんから。無理やり入ってこなかっただけまだ良かったというものです」
「随分な言い草だな」
侍女を押しのけるように、一二三が入ってきた。
その方に、何か大きな荷物を担いでいる。
「不躾に対して、せめてもの抵抗というものです。それで、それはなんでしょう?」
「その前に」
イメラリアの言葉を遮って、一二三は侍女に向き直った。
「第三騎士隊に連絡してここに来るように伝えてくれ。そうだな......ミダスあたりに声をかけて、警備のために武装して来いってな」
突然命令されて目を白黒させている侍女に、イメラリアは言うとおりにするようにと命じた。
侍女が一礼して出ていったところで、一二三は抱えていた荷物をベッドの上に放り投げると、細長い荷物はベッドの上で激しく動いた。
「......!」
「お、起きたな」
「これ......生き物なのですか?」
思わずベッドから飛び退いたイメラリアは、つい一二三の影に隠れた。
「そう怯えてやるなよ。お前の母親なんだろう?」
被せていた布を剥ぎ取ると、髪を振り乱した王妃が、後ろ手に縛られ、猿轡を噛まされた状態で一二三を睨みつけていた。
「お、お母様!?」
一二三が猿轡をはずしてやると、堰を切ったように叫びだす。
「わたくしにこのような真似をして、無事で済むと思っているのですか!」
「ひ、一二三様、なぜこのようなことを......」
イメラリアが一二三の腕を掴んだのを、王妃はどう思ったのか口撃の対象を娘へと向けた。
「イメラリア! まさか貴方がこのような手を使うとは思いませんでした! 男を誑かして母を拘束させるなど......やはり王座を狙うというのは本心の現れだったのですね!」
「お母様......」
鬼気迫る表情で自分を睨みつけて来る母親に、イメラリアは言葉もない。
「そういう事だ。どうもこいつはイメラリアよりなんとか王子の方に王を継いで欲しいみたいだな」
他人事のように言う一二三に、再び王妃が噛み付いた。
「黙りなさい! 王を弑した大罪人、王の正式な叙爵もなく貴族を僭称する痴れ者が!」
「そうなのか?」
「......法では、王族であれば貴族の地位を与えることは問題ありません。慣習として、王のみがそうしてきましたが......」
「つまり、的はずれな非難をされたわけだ」
王殺しは的外れじゃないだろうとイメラリアは思ったが、一二三の中では単なる“仕返し”なので、それも罪だとは思っていないらしい。
一二三の話では、今回の王位継承問題で王子派閥に動きがあるだろうと思って城内に潜伏していたところ、王妃が第一騎士隊にイメラリアの殺害を命じるのを見たという。そこで、騎士隊の面々が退室したところで、王妃を拘束したらしい。
その話を信じられず、イメラリアは王妃を見るが、王妃は否定しなかった。
「アイペロスこそが王位を継ぐに相応しいのです。イメラリア、この国を危機に陥れる者を城へ招き寄せたうえ、この国そのものを狙うあなたの企みは許すことができません!」
イメラリアは目の前が真っ暗になったように感じた。
自分は必死でこの国の平和を守るために、王が失われた国がバラバラにならないように、必死で考え、行動をしてきたはずなのに。
母が倒れてから、まだ若く頼りない弟のためにと、うまくいかないながらもなんとかここまでやってきたのに。
「で、どうする?」
一二三の質問に、イメラリアは我に返った。
「どう、とは......?」
「今のところ、こいつは俺の敵というよりお前の敵になった感じだからな。横取りして文句を言われても困るから、一応持ってきたんだよ」
自分の気遣いに胸をはる一二三に、怒りよりも呆れる。
「敵だなんて......」
「こいつはお前を殺そうとしている。それを敵と言わずに何という」
「それは......」
ぐいっと顔を近づけられて、イメラリアは言葉が続かない。
「このまま生かしておいても、城内でお前と王子派で内乱になるだろうな。表も裏も対立が続く。その影響を受けるのは侍女や下男で、つまり民衆だ」
一二三の都合で言えば、国を動かす人物は少ないほうがコントロールも楽だという一言に尽きるのだが、あえて言わずにおいた。
「こいつが生きていれば、なんとか王子の後ろ盾になって、俺の邪魔をするだろう。こいつがいなければ、王子も大人しくしているかもな。そうすれば、お前の望む安定した政治体制ができるだろうな」
下唇を噛み締め、血が滲む程考えたイメラリアは、逃避しそうになる思考をまとめて、声を絞り出した。
「わたくしには、できません......」
当然だという顔をした王妃だったが、続く言葉には顔を青ざめた。
「ですから、一二三様にお任せしたいのですが......」
「は、母を見捨てるのですか!」
先に命を狙ったのはどっちだとイメラリアは思った。苦渋の決断だったが、今の言葉で自分を納得させる事ができた。
「では、遠慮なく」
ベッドに横たわる王妃の細い首に、一二三は刀を抜いて峰打ちで叩きつけた。
首の骨が折れ、王妃は目を見開いて絶命した。
「本当に、これでよかったのでしょうか......」
「それを決めるのは、まだ早いだろうな」
一二三はイメラリアの腰を抱え上げ、ベッドの向こう側へと転がした。
王妃の死体に布団をかけ、天蓋のカーテンを閉じる。
「しばらく隠れてろ。数人がこっちへ向かって来ている。多分、第一騎士隊の連中がお前を殺しに来たんだろう」
ミダスたちは間に合わなかったか、と一二三は呟いた。
「そんな......」
本来なら自分を守るはずの騎士隊が、自分を殺そうとしているという事に、まだイメラリアの心は納得できていなかった。
「とりあえずは守ってやるから、自分の周りがどう変わっていくか、これからどうすればいいか必死で考えろ。パジョーをけしかけたこと、策は拙かったがそうしようという意志は良かった」
急に褒められて、イメラリアは怪訝な表情を浮かべた。
「あのくらいの気概でなければ、これから始まる戦乱で生き残ることはできないぞ。いつか俺に復讐をするんだろう? であれば、こんなところで躓くな。俺に刃が届くまで、必死に生き抜いてみせろ」
ギリギリと歯を食いしばり、イメラリアは一二三を見つめた。
「そう、それでいい。怒りでも何でも、意志ある者どうしがぶつかってこそ、殺し合いは意味があるんだ。楽しいんだ」
イメラリアに背を向けた一二三は、刀を抜いてうっとりと刃紋を見ていた。
数人分の足音が、部屋の前で止まる。
ミダスとサブナクがイメラリアの寝室へたどり着いたとき、ちょうど一二三が部屋を出てきたところだった。
多少なり手応えがある敵とやりあった一二三は、夜だというのに実に清々しい表情だった。
「遅い。獲物は全部俺がもらったぞ」
「中にいる。死体が転がっているから、足元に気をつけろよ」
なんだその優しさはと思いながらミダスが部屋へ入ると、シンプルながら高級な調度品が設えられた寝室には、血みどろの死体がいくつも転がっていた。
その中には、王妃の無残な姿もある。
「状況はイメラリアに聞け。俺は行く」
「行くって、どこへ?」
「判別作業」
刀を担いで悠々と廊下を征く一二三を見送って、サブナクは呆れた顔で首を横に振った。
「こりゃ、今日で騎士隊は半分位に減るんじゃないですか? いや、第二が留守だから減るのは三分の一だけか」
「冗談を言っている場合か。イメラリア様を予備の寝室にご案内する。私たちはそのまま朝まで警備だ」
「......冗談で済むなら、いいんですけどね」
廊下の向こうから、誰かの悲鳴が聞こえてきた。
「というわけで、これから一二三様が王城内の掃除をいたしますので、ゴミどもが逃げ出さないように警備をしていただきます」
突然詰所に来て、当直以外の帰ろうとしている者も無理やり引き止め、第三騎士隊の騎士たちを集めてオリガは説明という名の命令をしていた。
全員、目の前の少女がどういう立場なのかを知っていたので、不満に思いながらも逆らうのはまずいと、大人しく従っていた。
「その......私はもう帰る時間......」
「ダメです」
諦めろ、と同僚に慰められ、女性騎士は諦めて座った。
「今、城内では王子派と王女派に別れています。第一騎士隊は王子派のようです。一二三様のお話では、今夜にも第一騎士隊が王女の暗殺に動く可能性が高いそうです」
「馬鹿な、信じられん。仮にも王城を守護する立場だぞ」
困惑する騎士たちを、オリガは手を叩いて鎮める。
「いずれにせよ、一二三様がイメラリア様を王とすると決めた以上は、敵対するならば死ぬだけです。第三騎士隊には、第一騎士隊が守る城門の更に外側にて、城から逃げようとする者を拘束する役目が与えられました」
懐から取り出した鉄扇を開き、ゆらゆらと顔を扇ぎながらオリガは言う。
「いくらトオノ卿のご指示とはいえ、騎士隊どうしが敵対するような真似は......」
もごもごと反論する言葉を、オリガは鉄扇を閉じる音で遮った。
「敵対するような、ではなく、すでに敵対しているのです。それとも、貴方は王子派なのですか? つまりは、一二三様の敵となると......」
見るからに鉄扇を握る手に力が入るのを見て、年かさの騎士が前に出た。
「待ってくれ! 我々はイメラリア様のご意志に従う。ミダスたちも、その為に呼ばれたのだろう?」
「その通りです。別に戦う必要はありません。一二三様が城内を掃除されている間、人の出入りが無ければそれでいいのです。あとは、明日の朝には片付けをお願いいたしますね」
「一二三様のおかげで、第三騎士隊は王城内でイメラリア様に最も近く、最も有力な戦力として扱われるようになるでしょう」
それに、とオリガは続ける。
「ここで協力的な態度でしっかりとお仕事に励んでいただければ、先日の第三騎士隊の行為について、一二三様は見逃してくださるそうですよ?」
私は、許したくはありませんがと、オリガの目は言っていた。
Chapter 47: Not Meant For Me
Having put 10 knights to the sword, Hifumi is sheathing the katana in the scabbard on his back very contentedly. Imeraria timidly made an appearance from within the shadows of the bed.
Although he senses her movements, Hifumi doesn't even look at Imeraria as if not caring about her existence at all.
As she shifts her line of sight to the corner of the room, where Hifumi had sent her mother flying before, she saw the queen's corpse.
Observing her mother having died while displaying a reproachful facial expression, Imeraria was confused whether it was fine to mourn or to rejoice.
Looking at her own room ornamented with splatters of blood, she is re-thinking how it came to this.
Together with Hifumi, Imeraria ended up announcing her intention of inheriting the crown in front of the populace. The very same day, after quickly finishing her work, she returned to her bedroom.
"Why has such thing... ?" (Imeraria)
Changing into a light red night-gown, Imeraria sat down on the bed and heaved a long sigh.
With a terribly worn-out mood, she feels her heavy shoulders.
"I wonder what the hell he is thinking?" (Imeraria)
Imeraria still can't comprehend Hifumi's thought process.
Obviously the reason isn't that he wants to become the king. Going by the information from the Knight Unit, it seems that he has ended up entrusting the administration of his territory, with only a few policies, to the civil officials. Furthermore, even reducing the overall tax rate and reaching the point that the territorial soldiers are close to the masses, his reputation amongst the majority of the populace appears to be good.
Although he is using a lot of funds for the development of weapons and such, it isn't like he is particularly living in luxury. If he has spare time, he will look around strolling through the city. Many people have witnessed him doing such things as practicing his swordsmanship.
"He is a feudal lord who is fair and kind towards the populace and doesn't shirk away from putting in effort for the sake of protecting the people."
That seems to be the evaluation being held by many people about Hifumi.
As that assessment is totally different from the one she came to see and hear about, Imeraria can't suddenly believe that this is the same person they are talking about.
"Do you hate the royalty and nobles?" (Imeraria)
Even though she pondered about that, she had also received a report stating that he had killed a considerable number of the slum's inhabitants. Simply put, without concerning himself about social status and official position, there doesn't seem to be any deciding factor but only whether or not one is hindering him. That summed it up entirely.
Having obtained the support of the masses, there is no one else as difficult to deal with as that lunatic. If she removes him unskillfully, she will end up being viewed as villain here.
The lost Imeraria's ears pick up the sound of knocking.
"What's the matter?" (Imeraria)
There was a maid waiting for orders in front of the bedroom, but she entered nervously.
"That is... Earl Tohno has come..." (Maid)
Towards the baffled maid, Imeraria sighed for the umpteenth time today.
"Visiting the room of an unmarried woman at night-time... It doesn't matter, please let him through." (Imeraria)
"However..." (Maid)
The maid seems to be worrying about the danger and rumors of letting a man enter the princess' bedroom, but Imeraria doesn't care about Hifumi's lack of common sense anymore.
"There is no problem. It still can be called good that he didn't just come and enter forcibly." (Imeraria)
"That's a reprehensible way of talking about someone." (Hifumi)
Pushing the maid aside, Hifumi entered.
He is carrying some large package on his shoulders.
"Receiving my ill manners is something called minimal resistance. And? What might that be?" (Imeraria)
"Before that." (Hifumi)
Interrupting Imeraria's words, Hifumi turned around to the maid.
"Get in touch with the Third Knight Unit and tell them to come here. Let's see... Call out to the nearby Midas and tell him to come here armed for the sake of guarding." (Hifumi)
As the maid is darting her eye's about due to suddenly receiving orders, Imeraria commanded her to do as she was told.
With the maid leaving the place after bowing, Hifumi tosses the package, he was carrying, on top of the bed. The long and narrow object was thrashing around on the bed.
"...!"
"Oh, it woke up." (Hifumi)
"This... is it a living creature?" (Imeraria)
Imeraria instinctively jumped back from the bed and hid herself in Hifumi's shadow.
"There isn't any need to be so scared. It's your mother after all, I guess?" (Hifumi)
Although the queen's hair was disheveled and her clothes were stripped off, she was glaring at Hifumi in a condition of having her hands tied behind her back and a gag forced into her mouth.
"M-Mother?!" (Imeraria)
As Hifumi removed the gag, a scream burst out from her.
"Behaving in such manner towards me, do you really think this will finish peacefully!" (Queen)
"Hi-Hifumi-sama, why did you do such a... ?" (Imeraria)
Imeraria grabbed Hifumi's arm. The queen changed the target of her verbal attack, of what she thought about this treatment, towards her daughter.
"Imeraria! I never expected you to use such a sort of way! To seduce a man into doing something like binding your mother... Finally you showed your true feelings because you are aiming for the crown!" (Queen)
"Mother..." (Imeraria)
Due to her mother scowling at her with a bloodcurdling facial expression, even Imeraria lacks any words.
"That's how it is. Somehow this fellow wants the prince to succeed the crown one way or another rather than Imeraria." (Hifumi)
The queen snapped once again at Hifumi, saying this as if it is someone else's problem.
"Be quiet! You king-slaying, seriously criminal, person! You are a fool pretending to be a noble without even having officially been conferred the title by the king!" (Queen)
"Is that so?" (Hifumi)
"... If it's the kingdom's law, then there will be no problem with being appointed to the rank of a territorial noble. As for the usual procedure, only the king would be able to do that, but..." (Imeraria)
"In other words, her criticism is irrelevant." (Hifumi)
, since it simply was "revenge" for Hifumi, he apparently doesn't believe this to be a wrongdoing.
Well then, Hifumi's story is: while considering how to deal with the current problem for the succession of the throne, the prince faction was in the process of setting up an ambush within the castle. He found out that the queen had ordered the First Knight Unit to assassinate Imeraria. Therefore, once the entire knight unit exited the room, he restrained the queen.
Without believing in this story, Imeraria looked at the queen, but the queen didn't deny it.
"It is only appropriate for Ayperos to succeed the throne. Imeraria, above inviting someone, who plunged this country into a crisis, to come into the castle, you are unforgivably scheming to usurp the country itself!" (Queen)
Imeraria felt as if she had been plunged into darkness.
For the sake of protecting the peace of this country, she is desperate. So that the country doesn't scatter into pieces due to losing its king, she is frantically thinking. Even though she should have acted.
After her mother had collapsed, for the sake of her yet youthful and helpless brother, she somehow got until here while also struggling.
"So, what will you do?" (Hifumi)
Imeraria came to her senses due to Hifumi's question.
"What, as in... ?" (Imeraria)
"At present it feels like she is your enemy rather than mine. Since it will also be troublesome if she keeps yapping about usurpation, I brought her here for the time being." (Hifumi)
Rather than getting angry she is astonished about Hifumi pridefully being concerned about her.
"Such thing like being an enemy..." (Imeraria)
"This fellow wants to kill you. How can you not call her an enemy?" (Hifumi)
"That is..." (Imeraria)
Suddenly and forcefully drawing his face close, Imeraria can't continue talking.
"Also, if you keep her alive as is, I am certain it will turn into a domestic conflict between your and the prince's faction within the castle. The confrontation will continue on the surface and behind the scenes. The ones receiving the brunt of that will be the maids and menservants, or in other words, the populace." (Hifumi) (T/N: The devil whispers...)
Speaking towards Hifumi's conveniences, if there are fewer operating the country, it will also become easy to control the law, to sum it up in a sentence. But he purposely left that unsaid.
"If this fellow survives, she will become the prince's supporter one way or the other and be a hindrance to me, I am sure. If this fellow doesn't exist, it might be possible that the prince becomes obedient as well. In that situation, I am confident that you will be able to establish the stable political system you desire." (Hifumi)
Imeraria pondered about it while chewing her lower lip to degree of blood running down. It becomes an escape in that way and after consolidating her thoughts, she squeezed out her voice.
"It is impossible for me..." (Imeraria)
The queen's expression displayed that this was only natural, but before long her face turned pale due to the following words.
"Therefore, I want to leave the decision to Hifumi, but..." (Imeraria)
"A-Are you abandoning your mother!" (Queen)
Imeraria thought. It was a mortifying decision, but she was able to consent with her current words.
"Then I won't hold back." (Hifumi)
Hifumi drew his katana and struck the thin neck of the queen, laying on the bed, with the back of his katana.
Having her neck broken,  the queen died with wide opened eyes.
"I wonder if that really was a good thing... ?" (Imeraria)
"I think it is still too early for you to decide that." (Hifumi)
Hifumi lifted Imeraria at her waist and threw her down on the opposite side of the bed.
Hiding the queen's corpse within the futon, he shuts the canopy's curtains.
"Stay hidden for a while. There are several people coming this way here. Probably it is the lot from the First Knight Unit, coming to kill you." (Hifumi)
"Midas' group didn't make it in time, huh?" Hifumi grumbled.
"Such..." (Imeraria)
Usually the knight unit is bound to protect her, having been told about them coming to kill her was something she couldn't yet comprehend within her mind.
"Because I will be protecting you for now, desperately think about how you want to change your surroundings and what would be fine to do after this. The matter about inciting Pajou; the intention was good but the plan to execute it was inept." (Hifumi)
Being abruptly praised, Imeraria floated a facial expression of suspicion.
"Without that the degree of backbone, it will be impossible for you to survive the wars starting after this. I wonder whether you want to exact your revenge upon me one day? If that's the case, don't trip at this place. I want you to show your desperate will to survive until your blade reaches me." (Hifumi)
Clenching her teeth with a grinding sound, Imeraria fixed her eyes on Hifumi.
"Yes, that's fine. Anything's fine, even anger. A like-minded person, having a volition, will certainly clash with me. There has to be a meaning in killing each other. It has to be enjoyable." (Hifumi)
Hifumi, pretending to not see Imeraria, drew his katana and ecstatically looked at the hamon. (T/N: Hamon: The visual effect created by the hardening process of the blade. Source: Wiki)
The footsteps of several people stop in front of the room.
When Midas and Sabnak arrived at Imeraria's bedroom, after struggling along the way, it was the exact moment when Hifumi left the room.
Hifumi, fighting with an enemy that gave some kind of resistance, had a truly refreshed facial expression even though it was night.
"Too late. I already took care of all the prey." (Hifumi)magic
"She's inside. Watch your steps as there are corpses scattered all over." (Hifumi)
While wondering what his kindness was about, Midas entered the room. Though simple, the bedroom was provided with high-class furnishing. A great number of blood-stained corpses were spread on the floor.
Even the miserable figure of the queen is amongst those.
"Hear about the circumstances from Imeraria. I am off." (Hifumi)
"You are off, you say? Where to?" (Sabnak)
"My distinctive job." (Hifumi)
Seeing off Hifumi, who was passing through the corridor while leisurely shouldering the katana, Sabnak shook his head with a face full of astonishment.
"Haven't the knight units been decreased around half with today? No, wait, the Second is absent, so the decrement is only one-third." (Sabnak)
"Are you joking around in this situation? Please guide Imeraria-sama to the spare bedroom. We will keep guarding without change until morning." (Midas)
"... Though it would be nice if it were just joking around." (Sabnak)
Someone's scream could be heard from the other side of the corridor.
"Thus, since Hifumi-sama will be cleaning the trash out within the king's castle after this, please make you rounds so that the trash doesn't escape." (Origa)
Suddenly coming to their office and even detaining those, with the exception of the knights on duty, wanting to go back, against their will, Origa gave the gathered knights of the Third Knight Unit an order under the pretense of it being an explanation.
Because all of them were aware what kind of standing the girl in front of them has, they abide obediently, as resisting it would be unwise, while having disgruntled thoughts.
"That... it is already time for me to go home..."  (Female Knight)
"Not allowed." (Origa)
With her colleagues consoling her to give up, the female knight sat down in resignation.
"Currently the castle is divided into the prince faction and the princess faction. It looks like the First Knight Unit is part of the prince faction. Going by Hifumi-sama's explanation, it seems to be very likely that the First Knight Unit will move tonight in order to assassinate the princess." (Origa)
"I don't believe such foolishness. Not even as a joke. They are in the position of protecting the royal castle."
Origa claps her hands in order to calm down the bewildered knights.
"At any rate, seeing that Hifumi-sama decided to make Imeraria-sama the queen, they will simply die if they turn hostile. As for the Third Knight Unit, you were given the role of restraining those trying to flee from the castle. Your location will be even further outside than the castle's gate, which is guarded by the First Knight Unit." (Origa)
Opening the iron-ribbed fan, she had retrieved from within her bosom, Origa is slowly swinging it for the sake of fanning the face while talking.
"Even if it is Lord Tohno's instruction, behaving as if hostile to a fellow knight unit..."
Origa interrupted the mumbling words of refusal with the closing of her iron-ribbed fan.
"As if hostile, that's not it, you already are hostile to them. Or are you one of the prince's faction? In short, as far as Hifumi-sama is concerned, you already are an enemy..." (Origa)
Seeing the hand holding the iron-ribbed fan being filled with strength at a glance, the elder knights went out ahead.
"Please wait! I will follow Imeraria-sama's will. Haven't you called Midas' group for that sake as well?"
"That's right. Besides, there isn't any need to fight. During the time Hifumi-sama cleans the castle's interior, it will be alright as long as no people enter or leave the castle. Also, please tidy up tomorrow morning." (Origa)
"Thanks to Hifumi-sama, the Third Knight Unit will take care of Imeraria very closely within the king's castle. You will likely reach the point of being treated as very influential war potential." (Origa)
"In addition," Origa continues.
"If you are able to accept making an effort here in doing your job properly with a mindset of cooperation, then Hifumi-sama will kindly overlook the actions of the Third Knight Unit the other day, understand?" (Origa)
'Though I won't forgive you', Origa's eyes told them.
Summoned Slaughterer
呼び出された殺戮者
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/summoned-slaughterer/
Action Adventure Fantasy Martial Arts Mature Psychological Romance Shounen
Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Arrogant Characters Average-looking Protagonist Beastkin Beautiful Female Lead Betrayal Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Cunning Protagonist Dark Demi-Humans Demons Determined Protagonist Different Social Status Dwarfs Elemental Magic Elves Enemies Become Allies Enemies Become Lovers Evil Protagonist Fantasy Creatures Fantasy World Fearless Protagonist God-human Relationship Gods Kingdom Building Kingdoms Knights Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Beasts Magical Space Male Protagonist Marriage Monsters Nobles Obsessive Love Overpowered Protagonist Politics Power Struggle Protagonist Strong from the Start R-15 Royalty Ruthless Protagonist Samurai Schemes And Conspiracies S*aves Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Summoning Magic Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Transported to Another World Underestimated Protagonist Unique Weapon User Unique Weapons Wars Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4399ci/
井戸正善／ido