Chapter 46

---

To extract information, or something like that. Is there a 'Servant' who fights without killing their opponent, even if it puts them at a disadvantage, for no other reason?

Perhaps Clifford knows such a 'Servant,' I thought vaguely.

'Servants' have a strong sense of camaraderie. This is evident in the tales of Kangina's heroes and in the stories I've heard. However, even if that's true, I had the impression that Clifford was more of a lone wolf... But it does feel more natural to think that he has met other 'Servants' rather than never having met any at all.

Hmm? —But, the only one who knows that Clifford is a 'Servant' is me, the 'Master.' ...Among living people, that is.

Is it strange for me to have a 'Servant' acquaintance now?

Ah, what if I've only heard rumors about other 'Servants,' or if I've met them but they don't know that Clifford is a 'Servant'?

After pondering these thoughts, I looked up at his deep blue eyes. I was about to speak to Clifford, who was looking back at me, but then I came to my senses.

No, no. The fact that we are 'Master' and 'Servant' is a secret. We can't talk about anything that might reveal Clifford is a 'Servant' in front of Rust or Derek.

I'm curious about who managed to subdue those six troublemakers alive, but—

"However—"

Derek turned his gaze from the troublemakers to Rust.

"How many 'Servants' are there? Is the 'Servant' who targeted Sil a different person, or the same one?"

Rust shrugged.

"The idea that the attacker was a 'Servant' is the opinion of the guard knights. Wouldn't it be better to ask the victims themselves? They were saved by the attacker's mistake. They are just unconscious. It's possible to wake them up and extract information from them by causing them pain."

In response to the suggestion to ask the victims, Derek shook his head.

"—These people won't talk easily. Interrogation would take too long, at least several days."

"Why can you say that so confidently?"

Rust touched the left side of his neck in response to the question.

"All of them had a specific tattoo in this area. Those who bear this tattoo have a common trait. They can endure torture and would rather take their own lives than give up information. They are that kind of people."

Neck? I squinted to look at the relevant area.

...It's true. And, I immediately suspected the 'Mark.' If it was something similar to that. But, it's different. What is it? It's some kind of geometric pattern...

Right. It appeared in the sub-characters in the original work from just before the Tahren chapter... It was casually used in the cover design of that volume and stuck in my memory because it looked cool.

Um—this geometric pattern.

"The crest of the Saza God's Church?"

Derek's gaze shifted from Rust to me as if he had been startled. He looked puzzled. I think I'm right, but did I get it wrong?

"—Yes. The elite soldiers of the Saza God's Church have a tattoo on their neck as proof of their selection. They are well-trained and unafraid of death, making them difficult to handle. However... I didn't expect that Lady Octavia would know that it is the crest of the Saza God's Church. It is different from the official crest used by the Saza God's Church."

Where did you learn this? The unspoken question hung in the air.

—From a BL novel called 'The King of Purity'!

How easy it would be to say that. But I felt that a poor excuse might backfire.

However, the key is that it was unspoken. I wasn't directly questioned. I pretended not to notice Derek's question and continued the conversation.

"—Yes. It will be difficult to extract information from the elite soldiers of the Saza God's Church. Of course, it would be problematic if they took their own lives. —Clifford."

"Understood."

"Take their weapons and bind them so they can't move when they wake up."

The mystery of who subdued the troublemakers and what happened remains, but if we can't get the information from them right away, we should neutralize them and move forward! Our priority is to reach Lady Sil.

"As you wish."

Clifford began to move.

"—I will help as well."

Derek, who had been staring at me, exhaled and joined the task. The commoner in me itched to help, but I understood that as a princess, it would be more appropriate to stand there and let Clifford and the others handle it. ...I do understand, but I'm also anxious to hurry.

I opened and closed my black fan to distract myself.

Derek picked up a medium-sized sword, likely a spare, from one of the unconscious men and threw it to a distant spot. Short swords and other weapons were quickly piled up by the two of them.

Should I borrow a weapon from there?

But I quickly reconsidered.

If anything, I should—

"The binding is complete."

I received the report from Clifford. The six were bound with surprising speed.

"Thank you."

"The elite soldiers have been neutralized. Shall we hurry to Burks?"

Rust was about to resume leading the way.

"No, wait."

I stopped him with a voice of restraint.

I approached the pile of weapons that had been thrown in the opposite direction from where the six were bound. A small hill had formed.

None of the weapons had any flashy decorations. Even to a layman, it was clear that they were all for practical use, from long swords to short swords and even some mysterious throwing weapons.

However, while I could tell they were practical, I had no idea which ones were good.

I didn't have time to think too much, so I chose a long sword—specifically, the one Clifford had drawn from its sheath earlier. The one with the red scabbard. He had said it was a Tahren-made weapon. This must be it, right?

I found the long sword I was looking for and reached out for it. I held the hilt with both hands, still holding the closed fan.

If I could wield this easily and fight, that would be great.

"—Lady Octavia?"

Derek's voice called out to me. When I looked up, not only Derek but also Clifford and Rust were looking at me.

"Do you intend to use this to fight the 'Servants' yourself, Your Highness?"

Rust asked, his tone suggesting both amusement and a hint of coldness.

"Of course not."

I approached Rust, who was standing a few dozen steps ahead.

Then, I thrust the long sword in front of him.

"You will use this, Rust Barne."

"...Me? Has Your Highness forgotten what I did in the garden?"

"You didn't have any intention to harm me, did you? I can't fight. But, Rust, with a weapon, you should be able to fight sufficiently."

I emphasized the word "sufficiently."

That was a significant difference between me and Rust.

"..."

Rust fell silent, without a smile.

After all, according to the original story, Rust is quite strong! He can match his brother. Even if that's not the case, he should be much better than me. It would be a waste to keep this combat potential unused!

If, by some chance—by some chance, Rust were to turn his blade on me here, Clifford would protect me, and Derek is also on our side.

So I judged that it would be fine to give him the weapon!

Although, if I were alone with Rust in this situation, I might have hesitated to give him a weapon.

"I don't want you to fall. If you can be counted as a combatant, it will reduce the burden on Clifford and Lord Derek, and you will have a means to protect yourself. That mask is only an effective weapon for someone like me, right?"

Rust is also heading to a dangerous place.

If he is unarmed, he might be forced to leave the stage of the story in the worst case. Unless there's a twist where Rust is on the side of the troublemakers when we reach Lady Sil.

Considering both possibilities—I chose to lower the probability of him leaving by giving him the long sword!

"Weren't you the one who wanted a weapon?"

"—Yes."

A smile returned to Rust's lips, forming a curve.

"I gratefully accept. I thank Lady Octavia for your kindness."

His hand finally reached for the long sword. He held it lightly with one hand, as if it weighed no more than a sheet of paper, and examined it. Rust slightly drew the blade from the scabbard and then returned it. He murmured.

"...A Tahren-made long sword."

"Are you dissatisfied?"

"Far from it. I will strive to live up to your kindness and not let the weapon down."

With that, the leading resumed.

---

It was incredibly—quiet.

As we moved forward, the atmosphere of the corridor, which had been spacious but rough, visibly changed. In a word, it became luxurious. The white walls, adorned with luminous stones, were now decorated. Equally spaced columns with carvings lined the corridor.

If I were blindfolded and brought here, I might mistake it for the royal castle at night.

The hidden passage, or rather, what looked like a regular corridor, seemed designed for the use of royalty and nobility.

"——!"

As we turned a corner, the corridor suddenly brightened, and I raised my hand. I blinked as my eyes adjusted.

The corridor was a straight path. Here, torches burned in the sconces on both walls. Judging by the length of the torches, they had been lit not long ago.

There was a single door at the end of the corridor.

But it was a door with a strange sense of déjà vu.

"The 'Sky Room'..."

A blue double door. The one I had opened once in 'Paradise of the Sky.'

"—Burks is in the 'Sky Room.'"

Rust spoke slowly, as if to let me hear.

The 'Sky Room' is the 'Sky Room,' but it's the one on this side.

"...You didn't finish your sentence. You mean the other 'Sky Room,' right?"

"Exactly, that's correct."

Rust chuckled deep in his throat.

"To add to that, it would be more accurate to say: the other 'Sky Room' that King Us loved—yet kept hidden."

Alek's face came to mind.

"Sister, don't go to the 'Sky Room.'"

My beloved younger brother was hinting at the other—true 'Sky Room,' wasn't he?