Chapter 43

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In the air between me and Aura, there seems to be an indescribable atmosphere.

Given what Aura said, she seems to find it difficult to face me.

I, too, am tense, worried that I might be scolded next.

"…………"

"H-Heel"

Since nothing is progressing, I decide to at least take care of my own healing first.

"…Did you hear what I said just now…?"

When I say "just now," I'm probably referring to the "I like you" from earlier.

"Y-You heard everything from the beginning, right…?"

"A-Ah, yeah. I heard everything."

…I heard everything from start to finish.

"S-So, you did… You heard everything…"

"…S-Sorry?"

Ultimately, it's not my fault that Weiss betrayed me, but I can't deny that I was also at fault for pretending to be dead for so long.

"……"

…However, we can't stay like this forever.

Seriously, we need to go after Weiss soon, or it might be too late.

"U-Um, I need to go now…"

When I said that, Aura started to move from where she was standing.

"E-Eh, what is Aura doing…?"

"Nothing"

---Then why are you picking up the fallen sword?

And why are you coming over here with the sword in hand?

"L-Let's calm down, okay…?"

"…I'm calm?"

---If you're calm, why are your eyes teary and your face red?

And why are you trembling?

"…Nest, just stand there quietly."

"H-Hai"

I instinctively obey the command from my slave, Aura.

…Aura, who was holding the sword, approached me with a red face and stabbed the place I had just healed.

"…………"

Both Aura and I remain silent.

After a while, Aura gently let go of the sword's hilt and left without a word.

I thought it might be dangerous for her to go alone, but since she headed towards the town, it should be fine. Aura is smart and should know the dangerous areas…

"Heal"

After Aura left, I pulled the sword out of my body and healed myself.

You might think it's strange for a slave to stab their master, but from my perspective, I'm actually relieved that it only went this far.

I thought Aura might do something even more terrible, so I'm honestly relieved.

…Well, I can't stay here forever.

I put on my tattered cloak and ran towards the town where Weiss had gone.

---

I am now at the guild.

Apparently, dangerous monsters have appeared, and as the king, I was asked to stay in one of the guild's rooms, which is said to be the safest place in town.

For safety, a former adventurer receptionist was also left to guard me.

…Honestly, I wanted to see the brave adventurers fighting for the town, but as the king, I have no choice.

Still, I wonder if the "Savior of Jet Black" is also fighting.

If I knew that my true purpose for coming to this town was right there, I would head there no matter what.

In this situation, I can't afford to care about my position.

If my idol is there, who could possibly stop me? No one, I won't let anyone stop me.

Time passed, and then a little more.

After a while, I lost track of how many times it had repeated, and the door to the room was knocked on.

"Who is it?"

The receptionist answered.

"I've come to report on the extermination. Is it okay to come in?"

…A considerable amount of time has passed, so they must have finished the extermination.

"…"

However, the receptionist's reaction is not good. She has a face like she's crushing a bitter bug.

Then she came over to me and whispered in my ear.

"…Normally, reports should be made to the guild master, not here… There's a possibility that this person is a thief targeting the king, so please be careful…"

Even if I'm told to be careful, I can only run around in this room…

The receptionist quietly opens the door.

There, a man with blood-soaked clothes stands.

"!!"

The receptionist immediately attacks, but the man easily dodges and stabs her with a knife hidden in his pocket, then throws her back.

"Hehehe… Really, they're all so weak. The guy I heard from above didn't even put up much of a fight."

"What… What is your purpose…?"

"Haa… Again with that? I can only say it's an order from above."

The man says this while approaching me with a knife.

I know I need to run, but my body won't listen to me.

"Alright, this is the end."

The man says this and raises his knife to strike down—

"!"

I close my eyes, bracing for the pain that is sure to come.

But the pain never comes. I cautiously open my eyes and see—

There, wrapped in a tattered black cloak, is 'It'—