Chapter 30

"You're the one who started the fight...? That was you first, you, you alone...!"

"This was supposed to be a pact decided between our countries. Is your king senile? Huh? Wouldn't it be better to treat him with your famous magic?"

Sofia was impressed. "That's amazing," she thought.

This was Weiss talking.

It was getting harder to tell who the villain was.

"Well, the concept of evil changes depending on one's position. It's a vague, uncertain, and boring thing. From their country's perspective, Weiss is truly the villain."

Rene's porcelain face clouded over, and she had insulted a king, tried to use a terrible spell on Azwello, and was suspected of releasing monsters into the city, making her a villain by Sofia's standards.

Perhaps Weiss and Rene were secretly plotting something evil, and this man was trying to stop them. Judging one side as evil without knowing the full story is the same as those little birds chirping about how Sofia should step down from her position as a fiancée, even though they know nothing.

Those little birds might peck at her sister-in-law, who had taken her place as the fiancée, with their shiny red beaks. Sofia thought about it and shook her head. Her sister-in-law had been popular in society, so that was unlikely. Without Sofia, everyone would probably live happily in their own ways. Without her, everything would fit together nicely.

Sofia felt like she had lost something by not escaping earlier, but if she had fled alone, she would have lived a miserable life.

Even though she was currently embroiled in troublesome situations, and even when Azwello, worried, poked her head, Sofia could stand there blankly because of Livio.

Livio, who had coolly sent a man flying, would never leave Sofia's side.

With his greatsword on his shoulder, ready to move at any moment, Livio's gaze was fixed on the man. His serious, intense face was strikingly handsome, beautiful enough to make one forget the unpleasant situation at hand.

"You can only act so high and mighty for now...! I don't know why you're here, but by now, your subordinates on the road are all dead!"

"Thank you for your concern."

Rene, Weiss called out, and Rene took out a magic stone from her bag.

"Can everyone hear me?"

"Yes! Lady Lunatietta!!"

The response was a chorus of male voices. They called out to Rene loudly, and as the noise faded, a cool voice said, "You guys are so noisy."

"Is our king in a good mood, Lady Lunatietta?"

"...He's angry."

"Got it, sounds like a typical bad situation."

The man was speechless, staring at the magic stone in Rene's palm as if he couldn't believe it. His bloodshot, wide-open eyes were unsettling.

"That's why I'm telling you not to misjudge the battle situation. The god you mentioned being under your magic was a fake. In other words, you fell into a trap."

"I can imagine the smug look on the king's face as he says that."

"Do you want to lose your head, Fel?"

"If there's anyone else who can keep up with a king who likes to act freely, be my guest."

"Grgek."

The last frog-like sound was, of course, not from Weiss but from the man at his feet, who groaned as he was kicked. It was a classic case of taking out frustration on someone. While Sofia, watching from the outside, had no right to judge the man as evil, he was certainly an enemy of Rene and Azwello, and thus fair game.

"You won't just leave after missing such a big catch, will you?"

Weiss suggested setting a trap for the man still in the forest, and Livio said they needed a decoy. Rene and Sofia had seen Azwello.

Azwello, who was being stared at, made a displeased face and said, "Hey," lifting his small chin.

"Master, I am a god."

"Yes, but there are some who try to capture gods. Will you just let them go?"

"...Don't say it like that..."

This was rude.

Sofia, who had lived in the murky world of the royal palace, had a tendency to speak this way. Please forgive her.

She didn't really mean to apologize, but she did so anyway, and Rene tilted her head.

"Would Azwello be weak enough to be captured by someone he knows will attack him?"

"Of course not."

"Then you shouldn't be afraid, right?"

"Of course not!"

"Then why are you reluctant?"

"..."

Rene was probably naturally innocent. Her pure, 100% genuine provocation was the most effective way to make someone angry. If you thought she was doing it on purpose, you'd stay calm, but with someone naturally innocent, it didn't work that way. Since she was genuinely saying it, if Azwello refused, she might apologize and worry, saying, "You must be afraid."

The most frustrating type.

Frustrating, but because there was no malice, the other person wouldn't know why they were angry. No one was harder to fight against. In such situations, people like Sofia and Weiss would just stay silent. As expected, Azwello, who was trembling, said, "Let's do it then...!" and his body grew larger.

The plan was simple.

Azwello would lure the target. Weiss and Livio would attack. That's it. Simple plans are good. They require no tools or preparation and can be executed immediately, even in a forest.

First, prepare a god who looks like a monster bear.

A powerful witch casts a spell on the god.

Prepare two men who can take over the world by force. That's it.

So simple! Anyone could try this villain-catching operation. Well, not everyone can prepare a god, a powerful witch, and world-conquering men, but still.

"Are Weiss's subordinates safe?"

The one who tilted his head at this simple plan was Livio.

"They have a deep connection with Weiss and Rene. If the commotion in the city was a test run and the real target was Weiss and Rene... the subordinates are probably moving on the main road. They might be attacked."

"Yes. That's why we have decoys. They have magic stones to stay in contact."

Rene nodded and took out a magic stone. A cool voice responded, "Called for me?"

Weiss explained the situation, and the response was, "Understood," as if they really got it.

"We have a magic stone from Lady Lunatietta that can detect magic power. As long as we know where they are, we can strike before they use magic."

This reassuring, forceful response made Weiss nod, and Rene turned to them.

"What about Sofia and the others?"

"Huh?"

Asked, Sofia looked back into those obsidian-like eyes.

Rene's long hair fluttered in the wind.

"This is my problem. I need to crush it to escape properly. But Sofia is not involved. It's dangerous, so it's better to wait in the next town."

That made sense.

Especially since this was a problem from a neighboring country, and Sofia, who had a certain position in this country, might not want to get involved. It could become an international issue.

First, Sofia wouldn't be of any help here.

She had just learned healing magic, and with a great witch present, her magic would be useless. She couldn't use a sword and wasn't particularly smart.

So, wanting to go with them was selfish.

"Lady Sofia"

Unconsciously looking down, Sofia felt a large hand on her clasped hands and looked up.

Livio, with his favorite blueberry-colored eyes narrowed, smiled warmly, giving Sofia strength.

"Talking is free, you know."

Sofia laughed at Livio's playful words.

Right.

Talking was pointless. Sofia had decided to abandon the unenjoyable habit of knowing her place. It wasn't about speaking without thinking. It was about expressing concern as a noble. That much was acceptable, and Livio had taught her that.

"I know I'll be in the way. But if it's allowed, I want to be with Rene."

Sofia almost gasped.

Rene's eyes widened in surprise. Seeing Rene's expression change made Sofia's heart flutter. ...As long as it wasn't because she was too stupid to be surprised.

"Sure, why not."

Support came from an unexpected source. The king, who seemed like a realist and would likely object, didn't mind Sofia, who was non-combatant, coming along.

"The young lady has a great bodyguard. Rene won't do anything reckless if the young lady is there."

"...I don't do anything reckless."

"Can you promise to use defensive magic, even if it's just for yourself?"

"..."

Rene averted her gaze, and Weiss sighed. In other words, Sofia's role was to be a hindrance and stay close to Rene.

With a hindrance around, Rene would always use defensive magic and think about protecting herself. She couldn't take reckless actions.

It was a brilliant plan, considering Rene's kindness and Sofia's uselessness.

If that was the case, Sofia was ready to take on the role.

Sofia nodded.

"I'll be a great hindrance!"

"No one said that..."

So, Sofia, assigned the role of a maid, was currently tied up.

Of course, Sofia had no such fetish.

"It's been a while."

"...Yes."

Was it the long-haired, important-looking man's fetish to look at Rene as if she were trash? Probably not.

"Tiobeus, well done."

"Th-thank you."

"What about the others?"

"T-they resisted more than expected and are coming slowly..."

"I see. I'm sorry to have put you through that."

"N-no, it's nothing."

The man with the robe, smiling at the long-haired man, was the king of this country.

In other words...

"So, have you reflected on your actions?"

"Father, I—"

"I told you not to call me that. It gives me the creeps."

Rene's father, who denied the title.

Thinking, "Then what are you? Are you trash?" would be forgivable, Sofia smiled.

"May I speak, Your Majesty?"

...

...

...

I was resting after work and ended up sleeping... I'm sorry to everyone who was worried about me...! I'll do my best from today!