Book 6: Chapter 24.2
Book 6: Chapter 24.2
「If I die, my father will surely regain some presence of mind. If even that doesn’t work, then kill him. You are capable enough to sneak in so far, surely you can do that.」
「…………」
Reiji had an expression of agony.
He probably didn’t expect this to happen.
The Holy Queen was already resolved to die. It was quite possible that her father would kill her, but that would create a bloody history in the subsequent administration of the Holy Kingdom, creating problems. She wanted to use her life in a different way if possible.
Fortunately, her older brother is an excellent man. And even Kluvshrat can support their older brother in a few years time.
If sacrificing her life here meant that her father can regain his sanity, then that’s fine.
「…I have to say, Your Majesty, I can’t.」
The boy named Reiji was wise.
He responded even with a clear understanding of the Holy Queen’s resolve.
The catgirl, popping her head out of the ceiling, was also trembling.
「Are you afraid to kill people?」
「No… I mean, maybe.」
「If I leave this place, my father’s actions will turn even more wild. If he learns that the dukes are gathering soldiers, it will end in a civil war. In the end, you will have to choose whether you kill one person, or send thousands of soldiers to their deaths.」
「…………」
The Holy Queen knew those were hard choices.
But only this boy alone can make this choice.
「…I can’t do that.」
The Holy Queen felt a slight disappointment towards the boy, who was shaking his head. She even thought that this was the last chance to use her life.
「I don’t like either of those choices.」
「Reiji… This is not a situation where you can make another decision.」
「I actually can.」
「–What?」
「I have a request for Your Majesty. Please earn some time.」
「Just earn time?」
She doubted her ears.
What on earth is this boy saying?
Is he just trying to escape the sin of killing a person?
「I will break you out of here. After that, please flee to another territory with Earl Sillys. In which case, Duke Grenjido will have to increase his vigilance, slow down his plans.」
「Maybe so… but ultimately, a battle near the Holy City is inevitable.」
「But that will only occur in a few months, or half a year, or a year later.」
「What are you trying to say? What will you do during that time?」
Then the boy resolutely said,
「I will kill the goddess.」
It’s a reckless and irrational proposal.
However, the Holy Queen felt his complete faith and resolve in those words.
The Holy Queen is also aware of the possibility that her father has been mentally tainted or brainwashed by the goddess. However, she did not know how to cancel the mental interference, no matter how much she researched. Earl Sillys could only come up with the ad hoc idea of ”preventing the construction of the Goddess Temple first.”
Kill the Goddess.
Kill God.
It is definitely more difficult than returning Grejido to sanity, so she couldn’t even consider it.
「…Can you do it?」
The boy nodded in response.
「How?」
「It seems that the Pope is now the Goddess’s vessel. Through her, I will bring the goddess down to this world and defeat it.」
「Do you mean to kill the Pope?」
「No… the Pope’s life probably wouldn’t be affected. I just have to defeat the goddess beyond.」
「Is such a thing even possible?」
「It’s possible. Probably something that only I can do.」
Why is it that only he can do it? How does he know the relationship between the Pope and the goddess? …Questions sprang up endlessly in the Holy Queen’s mind.
However, the Holy Queen’s responsibility is only one.
「…Earn time? It’s the first time I have been asked for something like that.」
「W-Well… I’m sorry.」
Should she put her faith in this boy?
If she does, will she be able to use her life to bring about the future he proposed?
She has to decide here and now.
「Leave it to me. Whether it’s half a year or a year, I’ll give you as much time as you want.」
「Eh?」
「I will put my faith in you. I will entrust you with my life and the life of the entire Holy Kingdom.」
「T-That’s heavy…」
The boy immediately displayed a timid look.
「Fu, Fufu… Fufufu.」
「Your Majesty?」
The Holy Queen laughed despite herself.
(There must be something wrong with me… to entrust everything to this boy. No… I didn’t know if the future would be bright even if I died right now. Perhaps I was just trying to push the cleanup to my brother. In the end, I have to shape the future with my own hands.)
She was worried, and also doubtful as to whether she made the right choice.
But she felt so refreshed.
「Now, you can take me anywhere you please.」
「Yes. Excuse me, Your Majesty.」
The boy approached the Holy Queen and carried her in his arms.
Even though she was taller than the boy, he carried her easily, then jumped towards the ceiling nimbly. They nimbly moved through the ceiling and, in no time, reached the top of the roof.
The catgirl acted as the guide. The Holy Queen saw several unconscious spies on the roof and was surprised again to realize the difference in ability between this boy and the hand-picked secret service of the Holy Kingdom.
「We’re going to start moving. Please hold on firmly.」
「Okay. You have quite a sturdy body.」
「!? P-Please don’t joke…」
「Fufu…」
While being carried, she felt as if being a teenage girl again. They traversed under darkness of the night.
There was no sound as they moved, as if it was only a breeze.
Coming as a shock to the Holy Queen, not one guard noticed them as they escaped through the Holy Royal Palace. And by the time dawn broke, they were out of the Holy City.
They joined Earl Sillys at the forest hut, but Reiji said he would immediately be heading for Lake Brunstalk.
All his companions were gathered there.
To the surprise of the Holy Queen, the daughter of Earl Sillys also said that she would follow Reiji. As she was thinking that the Earl wouldn’t allow it–
「If the situation gets worse, there will be nowhere safe in the world. I will respect my daughter’s decision.」
The Earl said.
「I see. I might have made the same decision if my position was different.」the Holy Queen said.
「……Huh?」
「Nothing, forget it.」
She laughed and waved it off.
In the forest dyed by the glow of sunrise, she parted ways with the black-haired, black-eyed boy.
He was heading to a different place, but their goal was the same.
To kill the goddess in order to take back their world.