Chapter 63

After taking a break (or so it seemed), I, Sami-chan, and Pio-chan infiltrated the capital city.

I pulled the hood of my [Hermit's Robe] over my head to stay hidden. Sami-chan carried me over the high wall, while Pio-chan, who had connections, entered through the main gate.

The capital city, as expected, was the center of the domain and was very large.

If Lord Giral had kidnapped Carries, the most suspicious place would be the castle. However, it seemed unlikely that he would have entered the castle openly.

Indeed, considering that all the facilities so far have been underground, it's probably underground.

Pio-chan gathered information from the soldiers working at the castle, while Sami-chan conducted inquiries in the town below. They obtained testimony that a blue, glowing carriage had been seen last night.

It was probably the Death Horse carriage.

The sighting was on the north side of the castle. The castle is located on the north side of the capital city, and beyond its walls, a forest spreads. The sighting was in that area.

The three of us headed for the forest. Then, at that moment, fireworks shot up into the sky—

"These sparks!?"

"Milady!"

"Yeah. This is Rini's fireworks."

A cat-shaped firework, made of red and white, spread across the blue sky.

It was exactly the same shape as the fireworks I created in the game.

"Hurry!"

"Yes!"

"Your Highness!"

We set our sights on the base of where the fireworks had gone up and ran toward it.

With the power of my [Hare's Boots], Sami-chan's [Magic Manipulation], and Pio-chan's horse, Julianne, equipped with [Swift Hooves], we would get there quickly.

"Here it is."

We arrived deep in the forest. There, the trees were sparse, and the land was open.

It looked like a small hill, with grass growing neatly and looking very beautiful. At the start of the slope, there was a beautiful stained glass window.

"It seems there is an underground facility below. This area is connected to the outside and functions as a light source."

"That glass is broken."

"Perhaps His Highness threw Rini's item from there."

"Yeah."

Carries is down there.

So, here we go.

"Excavate!"

I took out the [Pickaxe (Special)] and thrust it into the slope with a "Hey!"

The ground crumbled, and a large hole opened up. I fell softly down into it.

What I saw was—

"Carries!"

It seemed the room I had destroyed was like a village church.

There was a statue of a goddess and a stained glass window for light. In the center, Carries was being held down, her hands restrained and pressed to the ground. A burned [Body Double Doll] lay on the floor.

"Good timing."

The underground floor was about two stories below. The light poured in because of the hole I had opened.

I could tell Sami-chan had landed behind me.

"Sorry for being late."

It was about one leap to Carries.

Carries must have seen me without my hood.

"Rini..."

"Yeah."

Carries, who was always composed, had her eyebrows furrowed, and a tear fell from her eyes.

"Rini... Rini..."

"It's okay."

Carries was crying.

The moment I saw her tears, my chest felt hot.

"I'll save you right away."

I tried to suppress the heat that was about to overflow and gathered it in my right hand.

Then—

"Turn into light!"

The light that overflowed with my words reached the Living Mail holding Carries.

The two Living Mails were enveloped in light, lost their strength, and collapsed with a clatter.

"Rini, Rini...!"

Carries, now free, ran toward me.

I hugged her tightly as she threw herself into my arms.

"Are you hurt anywhere?"

"No, I'm not!"

"Are you not in pain?"

"I'm not in pain anywhere. Rini came for me!"

Carries said this and hugged me tightly.

From the strength of her hug, it was clear that Carries was unharmed.

I let out a sigh of relief and patted her back to calm her down.

At that moment, a voice echoed from the back of the basement.

"This light..."

On the other side of the collapsed Living Mails.

A person stood in the darkness where the light did not reach.

He had gray hair styled in an all-back, a calm expression, and a voice that was as calm as ever.

"Lord Giral"

Unlike when we met at the tea party, he was now wearing white clothes like a village priest, with a red and gold embroidered cloth hanging from his shoulder.

Indeed, he looked like someone who could be called a bishop.

"From what I can see, the light just now did not come from Your Highness."

"I never said it was my power."

"...Ah, yes. Indeed, you are right."

Lord Giral nodded several times at Carries' words and smiled calmly.

"Although Your Highness has no power, I thought you might have finally obtained the power of the gemstone, but it seems you have nothing at all."

"Shut up!"

Pio-chan responded to Lord Giral's words.

It seemed she had descended from the ceiling using a rope and was now heading toward Lord Giral with a sword in hand.

"Oh, it's the knight of Your Highness. You were injured so badly, why are you here? Well, it will end the same way as before."

Lord Giral said this and signaled behind him with his hand.

Then, from the darkness, Living Mails advanced toward Pio-chan.

There were six of them, standing in front of Lord Giral to protect him.

"Ugh..."

Pio-chan, seeing the Living Mails, immediately attacked one of them with a slash. The sound of metal clashing. A normal human would have fallen from the impact, but the Living Mail stood its ground.

Indeed, physical attacks do not work on Living Mails. Pio-chan would have to target the joints of the armor and sew them up, as she did before.

The rest—

"Ha!!"

With a battle cry, Sami-chan fired an arrow.

Pio-chan, hearing the cry, quickly turned.

Suddenly, Pio-chan disappeared from in front of her, and an arrow approached instead. The Living Mail could not avoid it and was hit in the stomach.

"Kiki-ki"

The arrow pierced through and stuck into the wall behind.

The Living Mail, with a hole in its stomach, moved slowly and retreated. Immediately, another Living Mail took its place.

Sami-chan's attacks were effective, but they were not fatal. Moreover, there were many of them. If this continued...

"The warmth in my chest..."

I concentrated to gather the warmth.

Then, Carries whispered softly, so only I could hear.

"Rini, is it okay?"

"Hmm?"

"If you use light here, Giral will find you."

"Yeah. But everyone wants to go home."

The Living Mails, which Lord Giral seemed to control at will, appeared to have no will of their own, but I could hear their voices.

The captured children, Carries, and the Living Mails. I think using this light is the best way to save everyone.

So—

"Turn into light!"

I released the warmth I had gathered from my right hand.

The overflowing light enveloped three Living Mails.

"One more time."

Since one time wasn't enough to defeat them, I concentrated on the warmth in my chest again.

Then—

"Turn into light!"

For the third time today.

The light that overflowed from my right hand enveloped two Living Mails. However...

"...It feels weak."

The two Living Mails lost their strength and collapsed, but I felt a faint sound coming from my hand, like pouring the contents of an opened glass bottle.

"Milady, are you okay?"

"Yeah. Sami-chan, can you rescue the children?"

"But..."

"If they are found, it will be a problem."

"...Understood. If anything happens, please call me. And use your items immediately."

"It's okay."

Sami-chan's eyebrows furrowed in worry.

But after hearing my words, she nodded firmly.

"The children are behind that door. They are in the rooms at the end of the corridor."

"Understood."

I received the information from Carries, and Sami-chan flew toward the door.

Lord Giral, to stop her, moved the Living Mails.

Even though five had been turned to light, there were still many left.

I concentrated on the warmth in my chest again.

...There's still some left. It's okay.

I gathered it in my right hand—

"Turn into light!!"