Chapter 212: I will, we will…
I switched out of the slump that was about to hit me, folded my arms, and thought. If the Pope was visiting the royal castle, visiting the royal capital, an event would definitely trigger. I was not sure I could protect the students’ safety alone. I wanted Croana and the others and Sharle’s help, but how was I supposed to explain? Would they believe something that sounded almost like future sight? Would they split off people for a story that vague? I could not go see the Pope with any peace of mind unless I finished the event.
The event was that, on the Cardinal’s orders, Roy would be kidnapped and the Pope taken in his place. If Roy was kidnapped, the Kingdom of Libertonia would hand the Pope over to the Cardinal. As a country, not handing her over could start a war, so handing her over was the correct decision. You could not blame them for it. But what happened to the Pope after that was far too miserable. The Cardinal put her under hypnosis and suggestion, made her conceive again and again, and she fell. It was a story that left a bad taste. Then the Holy Kingdom of Kail gradually turned into a country with a terrible reputation, the worst kind. Years later Roy learned the Pope’s end, blamed himself, fell to darkness, and harmed his own lovers. That came as a set, so it was not funny.
If the Kingdom of Libertonia did not hand the Pope over, all the lovers being held hostage with Roy would be killed. Choosing that path still made Roy fall to darkness, but he could recover fairly quickly. That was because he got a new lover in the same year who supported him.
Even Overworld’s management seemed to have shown some consideration. The event was not forced. There was a third option, "do not get involved." But if you chose "do not get involved," the Pope was handed to the Cardinal before anyone noticed. She met the worst end with no one knowing. Players chose "do not get involved" because of how bad the Pope’s end was. Some players were into it, and it showed up in videos now and then, so I knew the contents... but just remembering it made me want to kill the Cardinal.
On top of that, if I was told the reason the Pope visited the royal capital was me, I had no choice but to take responsibility and act. It was an event that had basically started because of me. Asking for help felt awkward. I folded my arms and worried and worried. If I were allowed, I wanted to drop to the floor in a full prostration...
"Do you intend to shoulder it alone again?"
"How many times do you have to be scolded before you fix that?"
"Nnfufu~. Hurry up and say it."
"...Were you planning to move alone again?"
I lifted my face at their four voices. Croana, Fia, and Lea were looking at me with exasperated smiles. Sharle’s pressure from beside me was scary enough that I hesitated to turn that way. I stopped folding my arms in a troubled way, rubbed the back of my neck with one hand, steeled myself, put on a serious face, and looked up. Then I spun my inadequate head at full speed, turned to Croana, and said,
"Croana. People who followed the Pope have entered the royal capital. Their goal is to secure the Pope, and they probably will not care about the means. Roy, the hero’s son, is likely to be targeted. At the same time, Roy’s classmates... my students, are in danger of being taken hostage."
"...Fia-neesama."
"Lea, come to the classrooms with me. Today’s classes can be cancelled, yes, Croana?"
"I do not mind."
"Nhahaha! Being next to Raide really is never boring!"
"Raide, we will protect the students, so finish this quickly, okay?"
I nodded hard at Fia’s words. Croana put on a serious face and looked at Fia. Seeing that, Fia smiled as if to reassure her. Lea left my side, moved to the door, laughed happily, and left the principal’s office with Fia when she came over.
I turned to Sharle beside me. She had a serious face, as if waiting for my words, and the worry that she might not lend her strength crossed my mind. She seemed to read that from my expression. She let out a small breath, gently stroked one of my cheeks, and said,
"Have you forgotten? Raide-sama is now on the same level as royalty."
"But... wasn’t that only an unspoken understanding?"
"You will not be the one giving orders. I will. We will. You have confirmation, yes? Now, your instructions."
Sharle said it with a serious face but kind eyes, as if admonishing me. I smiled a little wryly. It was true that if I did not show myself it would not count as me giving orders, and if the words came through Sharle and the others the captains would move immediately without doubting.
...It was late to think it, but I felt like I had made an outrageous Promise.
"...Got it. I think you already know the numbers. Twenty-four. They’re disguised as commoners, but they’re easy to find. If you apply magic power to the back of their left hand, a mountain pattern appears. It comes up just from magic power touching it, so they should be wearing gloves... in this heat. What you have to watch out for is that they’re one of the units active in the Holy Kingdom of Kail’s dark side... they’re skilled."
"I will order the knight order and the soldiers to put the royal capital on alert. I will return at once, so please do not overdo it. Lady Croana, it is rude, but may I leave through that window?"
"It is that kind of time. I do not mind. Be careful as well, Lady Sharle."
"You as well, Lady Croana. Then."
Sharle opened the principal’s office window, leapt outside, and flew toward the royal castle at tremendous speed. Closing the window afterward was so like her that I almost laughed even in this situation. While I was looking at the window I felt magic power from Croana and turned. She brought her palm close to her mouth and started speaking.
"Sorry for the sudden contact. This is Principal Croana. All faculty and all instructors are to come to the principal’s office at once. You may interrupt class. This is an emergency."
I tilted my head watching Croana. When she finished speaking she noticed my gaze, laughed a little like she was enjoying herself, and explained. It was limited to inside the academy, but she had contacted the faculty and instructors directly in their heads. It was true that not only my year, the whole academy’s students might be put in danger. Croana’s judgment was the best and excellent. It made me recognize again that she was the principal.
She stood from her chair, her black dress hem fluttering, walked over beside me, looked up, smiled gently, and said,
"Knowing you, you are worried about your lovers as well. But please rest easy. I will contact them at once and tell them to stay on alert. I can tell from your face. There is something you must do, is there not?"
"...Lately I’ve been worrying that it shows on my face that much."
"Kukkukku. It does. The only one who has not noticed is you. ...Come back safely, with nothing happening, will you?"
"Yeah. I will."
I dropped to one knee on the floor, hugged Croana so hard her large chest flattened and changed shape, gave her a kiss that only touched her lips, then left the principal’s office. I passed several faculty and instructors in the corridor, exchanged greetings, and hurried outside the academy.
What helped at times like this was the theory group’s records and knowledge. The theory group had theorized properly. If the Pope was handed to the Cardinal, would the Cardinal not also be in the royal capital during the event? They had even pinned down the location. I remembered those records clearly. How many times had I dreamed of killing that pig?
As I headed out of the academy I realized a bad smile had appeared on my face on its own.