Chapter 58

"Hmm..."

I was hiding in the bushes, observing the situation.

After a few hours with the second princess, I decided to hide and observe the village nearby. This was close to the village where the dragon's corpse had caused damage.

The knights' story was true.

"The Shield Demon, Naofumi Iwato, has slaughtered the royal guards and kidnapped the second princess, fleeing. Whether dead or alive, the reward is—"

A sign with a high bounty was set up in the village, and the castle soldiers were making the announcement.

It's been only a few hours since the incident, yet they're already well-prepared.

They must have had this planned from the beginning.

Those who come into contact with us are expected to be captured or killed.

I've heard of this before.

People who wrap bombs around their bodies and charge forward, believing they'll go to heaven.

There are stories of such fanatics.

"This is the crystal image recorded at the moment of the royal guard's death! The guard who brought this crystal to the castle died in the line of duty."

Moreover, something like a hologram is being projected from the crystal.

It shows me, with a twisted, evil face, covered in blood, restraining the second princess by her neck.

...To what extent can they fabricate things?

They claim I fled like a hare, yet it's supposed to be at the moment of death?

For someone who died so energetically and healthily.

Well, there must be limits. Upon closer inspection, the second princess's face shows more shock than being strangled.

By the way, Siltvelt is to the northeast, and Shildfreiden is to the southeast. However, we need to cross two countries.

The distance, as I heard before, is quite far.

We have to find a way to move without being noticed.

"They are using an evil demon in the form of an unfamiliar bird to pull their carriage. Report immediately if you see it."

It seems Filo was also captured on the crystal, with her expression distorted like a bird of prey and spitting poison.

Good for her. In the fabrication, she can spit poison as she wished.

However, with Filo recorded, our means of transportation becomes a problem.

This might mean we have to leave Filo somewhere.

"So, Filo."

"Ya!"

After reconnoitering the village and returning, I instructed Filo to part ways because she stands out. We'll use Filo to draw attention to the carriage, and we'll escape safely. Filo can abandon the carriage later and catch up using her speed.

Without the carriage and passengers, she should be able to move at an incredible speed.

After explaining, this is what happened.

"It can't be helped. You stand out."

As a rare monster.

Most importantly, as the holy bird of the saint, you're a recognizable symbol.

"Just change your appearance when people are around. Then Filo will do her best!"

"How—"

Before I could finish, Filo's body began to glow faintly, and she started to transform.

I thought she would turn into a human form to pull the carriage.

But her neck elongated, and her legs stretched.

"Kweee!"

She transformed into something like a large ostrich, or an average Filoreal.

Though, she's much larger than the average size.

"You can transform into that form too?"

"Kwee!"

She nodded.

"Why are you only making sounds?"

"Kweee!"

"Ah, you can't speak in that form."

Hmm, is this a form she didn't want to take?

"Filo, you're amazing!"

The second princess is playing with Filo, her eyes shining.

"Kweee"

Indeed, it's good that her sharp, high-pitched voice isn't heard.

"Stay in that form. Then you'll be quiet."

"Kwee!"

She grabbed my head with her foot.

Raphatalia and Filo rarely violate the rules, so I had forgotten, but attacking me is a violation.

Before she could apply force, the monster crest activated, and she rolled around.

"Kweee!?"

"Filo!?"

"Really, what's the problem?"

"Don't be rough with Filo!"

"I'm not. The monster crest activated because she attacked me."

It's cuter than being a human with a high-pitched voice.

I don't know how Filo feels, but I prefer this form.

The peace of mind you get from a pet is because it's a silent animal.

If it turns into a human and starts acting like a child, it's frustrating.

"It hurts!"

"It's your own fault. You know monsters shouldn't attack their masters."

"Ugh..."

The second princess is oddly concerned about Filo.

Is it because she can communicate with her?

"Anyway, let's see if a light disguise will work."

We've been hiding as saints, so it should be manageable.

"Raphatalia... if you wear something modest and a hat, it might work..."

So, the second princess and I hid in the carriage, with Filo transformed and Raphatalia disguised, and we passed through the village.

"Ah..."

Raphatalia made eye contact with a villager.

"..."

They passed by silently.

"..."

The metal carriage passed through the village, where soldiers were on guard.

"Wait."

We were stopped.

We had prepared for this, and we should be able to handle the people in this village.

"Y-Yes, what is it?"

"That's a fancy carriage. No sign of the demon bird...?"

"Ah, I'm a merchant."

"Hmm... Can I check inside?"

This is bad.

The soldier is reaching for the carriage door.

What should we do? I'm wearing plain clothes and have changed my shield to a book shield, so I might be able to bluff, but the second princess can't.

"Ah!"

The villager who made eye contact with Raphatalia shouted loudly.

"What's wrong!?"

The soldier turned to the villager.

"I just saw the Shield Demon over there."

"Really!?"

The villagers all nodded.

The soldiers started running in the wrong direction, pointed out by the villager.

"Over here."

The villager knocked on the carriage.

"Quick, this way."

It seems they intend to provide us with a hiding place.

What should we do... If we fall for this and are led to the middle of the soldiers, it would be disastrous.

"Go. I'll handle it."

The villager gave me instructions, seeing my hesitation.

"But—"

"If I wanted to trick you, I would have shouted from the start."

That's true.

I covered the second princess with a cloak and quietly got out of the carriage, following the villager to a house.

"Nothing's here."

"Ah? I was wrong?"

"No, you're doing a good job. If you see anything, let us know."

"Sure."

The villager finished the deception, and the soldier checked the carriage.

"Hmm... Just goods and materials, and some potions."

"Ah, I'm transporting items for adventurers. Hehe."

Raphatalia, in her disguise, answered with a wry smile.

"I see, sorry for the trouble."

"No problem."

The soldier moved away and started patrolling.

The villager pointed to the inn and Raphatalia nodded.

"Phew..."

We watched from a window in a house.

It was very tense.

It was very close. If the villager hadn't helped us, there would have been a commotion.

"Are you okay, Saint-sama?"

"Ah, yeah... but—"

"Yes, after the saint saved the village, I realized the saint was the Shield Hero."

"Are you not going to denounce me?"

"Denounce!? Never. The saint saved the people of this village. We can't repay kindness with malice."

"Is it safe?"

The second princess asked me, looking worried.

"Is it okay to side with a demon?"

"The Three Heroes Church teaches that we should repay kindness. The Shield Demon saved the village from the disaster caused by the Sword God."

The battle here was tough. I learned a lot from this village.

Reconstruction is still far off, but the epidemic seems to have subsided.

"Indeed, I might be a demon, but not repaying kindness makes me worse than a demon. There must be a reason."

The villager pointed at the second princess and asked.

"A bit of a conspiracy."

"If the princess is willingly with you, something must have happened."

The princess nodded at the villager's question.

"There are people within the country who are after my life. The Shield Hero saved me from them..."

The villager understood the princess's response.

"I see. But there might be ungrateful people among us. It's best to escape quickly."

"...Understood."

"There's a cart loaded with straw at the back. A few villagers will transport it. Meet your companions in the inn's warehouse and escape."

"Thank you."

We hid in the cart the villagers were transporting, avoiding the soldiers' eyes, and met up with Raphatalia and the others.

"Indeed, a metal carriage is too conspicuous and dangerous. We have to abandon it."

"Kweee!?"

Filo, in her transformed state, made a strange sound and shook her head.

"Kwee! Kwee!"

"What can I do! Do you want to be found and captured? If that happens, the second princess and Mel will be killed."

"Kwee..."

Filo reluctantly fell silent, thinking of the second princess's safety.

Despite how much she cherished the carriage... friends are more important, I guess.

"Good job, Filo. You chose the more important thing—friends and people over possessions."

"Kwee?"

I gently stroked her.

Even if she doesn't understand the meaning, Filo's choice was not wrong.

"I'll definitely get it back for you when the incident is resolved."

"Kwee!"

I mean it. She understands that.

"Sorry. Can you take care of the carriage and let us use the cart?"

"...Sure."

The villagers, understanding the gravity of the situation, readily agreed.

"I'll repay you someday."

"You already have."

"Alright. Second princess, this is it. Change into different clothes, or you'll be recognized immediately."

"Ugh... Okay."

The second princess, though somewhat reluctant to wear cheap clothes, nodded due to the situation.

The villagers provided children's clothes, which were quite old.

Since there are no children in this house, they must be the owner's childhood clothes.

They are a bit worn, but I think the second princess now looks sufficiently shabby to pass as a villager.

However, her noble upbringing and unusual blue hair still make her stand out. From a distance, it might work, but up close, she'll be recognized. We can't just leave her behind.

Things aren't going smoothly.

"Pack the other goods in a bag."

We lightly packed the items we could carry and hid them in the straw.

We gave the bulky items to the villagers.

Even if we travel smoothly, it will take over two weeks. It's better to use them for reconstruction than to try to preserve them.

"Alright, let's go."

"Okay."

We left the village quickly, with the villagers watching us off.

It's not as easy to deceive as we thought. We were recognized immediately by the villagers.

From now on, we have to avoid towns and villages as much as possible.

The cart, loaded with straw, started moving northeast.

I hope the villagers aren't punished for helping us.