The Magnificent Battle Records of A Former Noble Lady

Then, we will be shopping today, so, for the rest of you, please stay quiet here.

Aside from Alhart and Tedla, who would be accompanying Syltina, Milliane was the only one who nodded at what she said.

What happened to the others?

Ah, ummm, well, the Saintess would not leave the carriage, and Yuto-sama, Frackt-sama, and Mars-kun are over there

I see. And? Until when will Kuro keep on sulking?

Kuro sat on a tree not far away in cat form, wordlessly swinging his tail back and forth with a snap.

If Syltina laughed at him for pointing out that his bad mood could be sensed with just the atmosphere around him, then his tail swings with a snap once again.

It cant be helped, can it? We cant all go together, because one escort has to keep an eye on her at all times, remember?

Besides, havent the townspeople seen Kuros face yesterday? There are enough people to go shopping, and the people have already seen Kuros face, so you wont be able to walk in there in human form. If thats the case, then, the only thing I can have you do is to watch over the people in here.

Ill make sure to come back as early as I can, so Im entrusting you with watching the Saintess. Also, make sure you make her eat breakfast. It seems she didnt eat after what happened yesterday. If she collapses, then, I will be troubled.

Syltina smiled again at Kreutz, who didnt respond to her words no matter what and continued to swing his tail instead, and turned to Milliane who seemed to be uneasy about their exchange.

Hes like that, but he will properly do what I ask him, so, Milliane-sama, Im sorry, but can I entrust the 2 of you with the Saintess?

Ah, y-yes. Ummm, please take care!

Responding to Millianes parting words with a wave, the three head for the Town of Fiminan.

This is such a pain, Yuto thought as he kept a different face while in front of Akari, who was hugging her knees close to her chest and burying her face against it, without even making any slight movements.

It had been a little over an hour since Yuto came over to do something about Akari, who said that she did not want to leave the carriage.

During that time, Akari stayed silent, showing no reaction to the words of Yuto, Frackt, or Mars.

Get a grip, uneasily, the expression Yuto put on that seemed to say that he was indeed worried seemed to be faltering.

Well, letting out a small puff of breath as he wondered what to do with Akari, the carriage door opened and Kreutz appeared.

Your breakfast is ready. Hurry up and eat.

Hey, are you listening?

Dont need it.

Ha?

I dont need it. I dont have an appetite

Akaris response causes a wrinkle to form between Kreutzs eyebrows.

I dont care if you have an appetite or not, but Sylti told me to properly feed you breakfast.

Didnt I say I didnt need it?!? Get out!!! Dont mind me!! Get out, all of you!!!

A-Akari, calm down

Shut up! A-anyway, Yutos only kind to me because Im the Saintess, right? Everyone only needs my power, so they dont really care about me!

Akari

With a sudden burst of anger, Akari slaps away the outstretched hand intended to appease her.

Looking up after a long while, her face is warped in sadness, tears pooling in her eyes.

Thats not true, Akari. For me, you and you alone are important. Even if Akari isnt the Saintess or even if you dont have any power, you are still important to me .

Lies, something like that

Why?

I mean

Hey, Akari. Theres nothing in it for me in accompanying you on this journey, you know?

Eh?

Unlike Akari and Syltina, I didnt join because I would be rewarded if this journey ends safely. Neither did I receive a quest from the guild, nor was I asked by the King. Nonetheless, do you understand why I decided to go along with you?

Thats because youre important to me. Its because I want to protect you.

Yuto!!

Embracing Yuto as if she were hanging on to him, Akari let out a small laugh.

Akari! You are also precious to me, thats why Im with you!!!

I love you too, big sis!

Frackt, Mars thank you!

As they said so, Akari embraced the two next.

A single teardrop streamed down her porcelain-colored cheek.

Isnt this such a heartwarming scene?

Yuto kept a smile pasted onto his face as he watched the 3 share an embrace.

What saved the Saintess, who became suspicious because she was hurt by the selfish behavior of the heartless citizens, was the traveler who first told her that she was special, the First Prince who loved her from the bottom of his heart, and the small child she saved.

Such a touching, extremely pure, and beautiful, trivial farce.

Ahh, how ridiculous.

A small whisper that seemed to be only heard by Kreutz escaped his lips as he kept smiling. From the moment the farce started, Yuto had uninterestedly leaned against the carriages door, closed his eyes, and slightly smiled.

Come on, Akari. Lets go eat. We get really worried when you dont seem well, you know?

If Yuto says so

With Frackt holding her around the waist and Mars leading her by the hand, Akari goes out of the carriage.

I dont understand.

Kreutz discreetly opened his mouth when he and Yuto were the only ones left inside the carriage.

What dont you understand?

That girl. Why does she want to be rewarded like that by other people?

Its human nature to want something in return for what they do.

However, the girl has been prepared and told from the beginning that she will be receiving a suitable reward at the end of the journey. Yet why does she still seek to be rewarded by others?

She probably wants to be loved by someone. She wants to be loved, to be praised, to be revered, to be thanked, and to be needed. And so I think she wants to be the only one for many people.

Youre stubborn enough to not give anyone the position of being your one and only, but you cant bear to have others not giving you that position of being their one and only.

So, while she depends on Yutos existence, she sometimes goes to the Prince to satisfy her expectations of being loved to a fault and being respected.

You dont doubt if you think you are being loved and absolutely valued.

Thats why you are afraid of those who oppose you and judge them to be mistaken.

She still thinks of this world as a game world. As the heroine, she thinks that she will be naturally loved and unconditionally valued by everyone in this world. It would be nice if she realizes that some groups like our Dipterous Sword Guild wont take a liking to her. That this world isnt what she thinks it is.

If it were someone capable, then, they would notice once it was revealed that Sylti would escort her. As Clarina said, the lineup of participants in this journey seems to be far removed from how the game was composed.

Hmmm, if Im not mistaken, in the flow of the game, she was supposed to meet Jin-sama and Ait-san, and, at a later date, join up with Rain-kun.

Ahh.

Shes a fool, isnt she? Apart from Rain-kun, its highly unlikely for the First Prince and the Guild Master to undertake an escort mission for someone like the Saintess, but she still believes that. So, when she found out that they had called over Lady Sylti to be the escort, she was quite upset. Miss Milliane told me.

Rather, even if she noticed something and she still truly believes that she is the heroine, then its no wonder shes upset and making a ruckus since things did not progress as she pictured it

The citizens will be grateful to her. So, she will be welcomed and receive a token of appreciation or some other reward. This time she truly believed that going forward. However, when she tried opening the lid, the welcome was certain, but the events that followed it were far from what she expected.

That girl still doesnt understand the countrys status quo. Its so bad that I cant even feel any pity anymore.

Theyre both asking for the same thing, after all. I think they will be given love if they ask for it, and be saved if they ask for salvation. She will appeal with because I did this much, because I was met with such cruel eyes, even if its so hard, even if Ive lost so much, but turn a blind eye to anything else. I wonder, if I said such things, will I receive a reward as well.?

If you want to be rewarded for all youve done, and for all youve saved

If theres a salvation for every loss and salvation, for every hurt

If there is such a world overflowing with hope, then we wont be here.

Thats right.

We received nothing in return, even when we gave, or helped.

No one saved us, even when we were hurt or lost.

That is why we are here (in a guild).

We despaired in the world where nothing was returned, and was disappointed in the world where no one saved us, so

We created our own world (guild).

They still dont realize yet. The unhappiness, the despair, and the horror that is pouring on us now is just a gentle nudge. They hurt a part of our world, so, there is no saving them in the truest sense. And, by the time they notice it, their world would have already fallen into despair.

Yuto chuckled as if he were looking forward to it when Akari called him and left the carriage.

What do they see at the end of despair? Foolish humans

At the end of despair, there are those who created their own world (guild), and the possibility of the hope they wish for.

So, what then, will the people of this country who are forced into despair by them, think at the end?

Well, Im not interested in such things.

They are completely uninterested in thinking of, or doing anything beyond inflicting despair.

To say it strongly, continue suffering for all of eternity.

Just like that.

Oh well, I guess Ill take a nap until Sylti returns.

Lets just leave it to Yuto to watch over the Saintess, muttered Kreutz as he changed into a black cat and went outside.

Only the sound of the closing door could be heard inside the empty carriage.