Chapter 324 - I Saw Her, Riding on a Silver Horse

[If they’re using Chester as bait, apart from the Emperor, Commander-in-chief, and Prime Minister———— Well, there are only the Heads of the three Elected Imperial Households.]

Riding on her magnificent chestnut horse, Yoyo Ord said.

A wide plain spreads out around her gaze.

From her current position, there’s a gentle slope in front of her.

The view around us is indeed good.

Yoyo, with her generals at her back and the camp everyone had set up, looked out into the distance.

Her heart may not be as calm as what she currently looks.

The next Head of Ord Family, which she manages at the moment, has been captured by the enemy.

However, to the casual observer, she doesn’t seem to be shaken at all.

Moving away from the gap in the curtain I’m peeking out from, I returned the curtain to its original position.

[……I wonder if it will be alright.]

From behind the camp curtains, I said.

Turning my gaze to the crouching Ikusaba Asagi, I crossed my fingers in front of my lap……

[The information that “the Head of the Ord Family, who is said to be the strongest of the three Elected Imperial Households, is going to battle!” is passed on, so it’s okay. Well, as expected, it’s too risky to put Zine-chin out here, and the ikemen brothers are busy back in the Imperial Capital.]

The news of Yoyo Ord’s participation in the war had an effect not only on the enemy.

It also had a positive effect on the allies’ low morale.

It was even whispered that the Emperor was finally going to join in direct command.

Thanks to this, I heard that Mira’s fighting spirit was returning.

However, my greatest concern……

[Ah…… Errr, I’m not talking about the morale of Mira’s people…… I- I’m talking about the persuasion of Sogou-san……]

[Eh? Ahh, you’re worried about that? Nah, she’ll definitely come to join our side. We’re talking about a woman who thought that kidnapping the commanders would make Mira lay down their weapons with minimal damage. Wahaha. Stopping a war without killing the enemy.]

I sat next to her, crouching by her side.

For the time being, we intend to hide ourselves.

[Even so, that President actually participated in a war against humans…… Was she finally broken? Look, you see…… Shortly after we were summoned, didn’t I tell you that “Ayaka will die soon”, Poppo-chan? I’ve told the same thing to Zine-chin and the others, but Ayaka is dangerously idiotic. Look———– Ya get what I mean? Despite her impressive title and educational background, she’s surprisingly stupid———– You know how they say some people are just born stupid? I think President is like that…… Yeah, she has the ability and knowledge, but she just doesn’t understand that vital point, “humans”.]

[That is…… Sogou-san isn’t that foolhardy of a person…… I think you were mistaken, Asagi-san.]

[Mufu, and that’s why I think Poppo-chan is a cute little idiot. Rather, you sure are desperate when it comes to Ayakan, eh? Aren’t you just being a cutie?]

[I- It’s not that I was desperate because of Sogou-san……]

[Ugh, disgusting.]

[Eh?]

At that moment, Mamiya Seiko arrived.

[Hey, Asagi, are we really gonna fight Ayaka?]

At her words, Asagi chuckled and waved her hand.

[No, we planned to persuade her and bring her in as a companion, so you can be relieved. The situation breaking into a fight is when the persuasion fails and it won’t work. It’s alright, it’s alright. Besides, if we had to settle it with that, it would be easy-peasy. We defeated even that Exiled Granpa, right?]

[No, but as expected, our opponent is that Ayaka, you know? It’s totally impossible…… That old man couldn’t see humans, but when we have Ayaka as an opponent, doing that isn’t possible.]

[……Fufufu, don’t worry. She wouldn’t kill us anyway. Well, unless some sort of incident happens, that is.]

I wonder why……

Even though the expression on her face isn’t that cold……

A chill ran down my spine.

Rubbing the lower part of her lip with her little finger, Asagi said to Seiko……

[Even if we fail to persuade her…… If things go normally, all we have to do is catch her and make her unable to move.]

At her words, Makiko’s face relaxes in relief.

[I- I guess so?]

[Right, right. That’s why, you shouldn’t worry too, Poppo-chan.]

[I mean, Poppo.]

As Asagi brought the topic to me, Makoto’s attention also turned to me.

[U- Unnn? What is it, Mamiya-san?]

[I can see them, you know?]

[Eh? You can see…… Ahh! Uuuu……]

I hurriedly closed my knees and covered my panties with my skirt.

[Geez, you sure are a klutz, Poppo-chan…… Oyo?]

Suddenly, the outside of the camp became noisy.

[She came?]

Brushing away the curtain with her hand, Asagi looks outside.

One of the knights shouted.

[Yoyo-sama, she’s here! Please step back!]

Determined, I also peeked outside.

I felt like my heart was beating unexpectedly loudly.

It was as if my heart was about to explode soon.

……From where we were, I still can’t see her.

(Sogou-san……)

The joy of finally being able to see her.

The anxiety for what is about to happen.

The tenseness from wondering if we could do it.

Perhaps, because of a mixture of these three emotions, my breathing became extremely shallow.

At that moment, Yoyo’s voice reached my ears.

[Tsk…… Even though she’s a Hero, we’re seriously just fighting a single girl. No, that’s not it…… What is that……]

A huge silver sphere had appeared in the sky.

It was as if a large amount of silver had been melted down and made into a sphere that floated in the sky……

The next moment———– The sphere exploded and scattered.

The scattered silver spheres continue to rain down on the ground like heavy rain.

Dodododododododo————!

From where I am, I could only see the events from a distance.

(Is that…… Sogou-san……?)

Those on Mira’s side began to retreat as planned.

They are retreating our way.

[ ! ]

There, I saw her, riding a silver horse.

(Sogou-san!)

Mysterious silver-colored creatures with humanoid forms.

Beings with the shape of knights.

She was striding a silver horse, and those silver knights were following her.

Before I knew it, the rest of the Asagi group had gathered behind me.

We were nearly packed in the entrance.

Everyone seems anxious.

Tense faces lined up in a row.

The opening in the curtain had already spread to a large hole.

Raising one knee up from the ground, Asagi stands up……

[Let’s go, everyone.]

With light steps, she jumped out of the curtain.

I followed suit.

The others also followed.

As we draw closer to the retreating Yoyo……

[The rest is up to you, Heroes!]

[Leave it to us. Ah, but please clear out the others. Their presence would just rub Ayaka’s nerves the wrong way.]

Just like that, Yoyo passed by Asagi’s side.

The knights and soldiers also follow Yoyo, going in the opposite direction we were heading to.

Leaving us to stand on the field, the wave of people moves behind us……

[Oh, here she comes…… She has arrived, Sogou Ayaka. Ahh, what a nostalgic face. Oiiiiii, Preeeeeesideeeeent!]

Asagi waved her hand with a relaxed atmosphere unfitting the battlefield……

[ ! ————-Asagi-san!?]

Ayaka also noticed us.

[……You’re safe!]

Ayaka stopped her horse.

The silver knights caught up with her and formed a semicircle wall behind Ayaka.

Ahead of Ayaka———– in the direction not taken up by the semicircle were where me and others were.

The circlet on her forehead seemed to be cracked, but Ayaka, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time, properly looked like the Sogou Ayaka I remembered.

[Sogou-san!]

[Ah————— Kashima-san! Thank goodness, you’re safe too……!]

Ayaka’s face lights up.

I’m glad to see that look on her face. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Thereupon, as if to confirm something, Ayaka began looking at everyone in the Asagi group.

[Everyone is also here…… No one is missing……]

[Since this Asagi-san is here with everyone, of course, no one will die.]

[……Thank you, Asagi-san. Very much.]

[I mean, what’s going on? That silver horse and knights…… Did your Unique Skill turn up to be like that, President?]

[Y- Yes……]

The encampment behind us is now empty.

According to the plan, Yoyo and the others will withdraw as far as they can.

That was Asagi’s order.

[Rather, the fact that those are still there…… Could it be, you’re wary of us? I trusted Ayaka and kept the others away aside from our group…… How heartbweaking……]

[Ah…… Sorry.]

The silver horse Ayaka was riding and the silver knights around her disappeared.

It seems like she has deactivated her Unique Skill.

In the meantime, I looked at Ayaka with .

(T/N: Admin Tower / Disclose)

Thereupon, Sogou Ayaka’s Status was revealed to me.

(Amazing…… Sogou-san……)

Her correction values were far above that of Mimori Touka.

Folding her arms behind her head, Asagi spoke.

[That aside, President…… We’ve finally found it, a way to return to our original world without relying on Goddess-chin.]

[Eh?]

[It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that we were looking for it.]

[What does that……]

Thereupon, Asagi told Ayaka about the Forbidden Curses.

[————–That’s why, Goddess-chin is just a troublesome Old hag of a God. I mean, that Old hag, is she honestly gonna return us to our original world? What do you think? Even you can’t trust her, right, President? Such a shady God.]

Ayaka reacted with surprise at the idea of using the Forbidden Curses as a means of return.

However, from her reaction……

“It looked as if she was surprised such a thing existed.”

The story of the Forbidden Curse of Repatriation.

Perhaps, has she heard about it before? To the extent of a rumor, at least?

(Moreover, Sogou-san……)

She knew that we could return to our original world without relying on the Goddess.

And yet……

Ayaka at the moment, instead of being pleased, looked as if she wasn’t cleared of doubts.

I wonder what this is?

This inexpressible uneasiness in my heart.

Thereupon, Ayaka hesitantly said……

[Ummm, Asagi-san…… and the others……]

[Hmm?]

[You aren’t caught by Mira…… and were threatened to ……make you persuade me like this, right?]

[Huh? Was that the stuff Goddess-chin has been whispering to your ears? Haha, that certainly is a respectable way of doing things. That’s just like Goddess-chin.]

[……Really?]

[Eh? You don’t believe me?]

[Ummm…… You may have been…… deceived by Mad Emperor-san and Fly King-san……]

At her words, a ripple slightly rose in everyone in the Asagi group.

[Hoehh? I don’t know what Goddess-chin had been telling you, but do you seriously believe in Goddess-chin more than us, President?]

[T- That’s not it! It’s just that…… from what I heard…… Mad Emperor-san and Belzegia-san are good at persuading people……]

[Seems like you had been brainwashed…… isn’t something I would say, but well, I guess you acting like this is something to be expected, President. Anyhow, thinking about the situation for yourself, did you really think the Mad Emperor or the Fly King are bad people?]

Ayaka told the reason why she came to think so.

As the conversation progressed, I couldn’t help but be surprised.

Moreover……

(It really went as Mimori-kun said.)

Ayaka’s words really verified the things Mimori told me.

(That he had killed Yasu-kun…… even if such a thing never happened, there was a possibility that the Goddess-sama told Sogou-san such a thing huh……)

As the story progresses, the buzzing among the Asagi group members grew louder.

Thereupon, Chigasaki Atsuko……

[W- Wait right there, Ayaka!? Huh!? I don’t know about that stuff with Yasu…… but the Ninth Cavalry was massacred even after they begged the Fly King for their lives? I mean, the Ninth Cavalry were————]

Saying this, she turned her gaze to Asagi.

[That’s right…… That isn’t true at all, President.]

(Yes, that story about the Sixth Cavalry too…… it’s different from what Mimori-kun told us. The stuff she had said about us was also different. As expected, the Goddess was making it look like Mad Emperor-san and Mimori-kun are the bad guys……)

At that moment……

[However———— I- If that’s the case!]

Ayaka raised her voice.

[Proof…… I want proof……]

Hearing her words though, Asagi gave her an incredulous look.

As if to ask, “I didn’t hear you well, so can you say that again?”

[……Yes?]

[I also want to believe Asagi-san and the others…… I want to protect you!]

[You’re asking for proof from me…… I’ll ask you then, what proof do you think would convince you?]

[That is……]

[Heck, did Goddess-chin show you any proof?]

[There was…… a witness.]

[And did you meet this witness you speak of?]

[That is———- I- I didn’t meet them…… but……]

[Right?]

“However……”, Ayaka lowered her head.

[The possibility that Asagi-san and the others were deceived by the Mad Emperor and Belzegia-san…… is something I can’t deny. As for Belzegia-san, I don’t even know his true identity…… Hiding his identity, he must have something he’s feeling guilty about. That too…… may be a factor that can’t be trusted……]

[Heh? In that case, are you saying we should just let ourselves be captured by you? Were you thinking of persuading us? Or perhaps…… You’re just gonna grab us by force?]

[T- That is……]

[I mean, President…… This thing you’re intruding into is a war against humans, you know? Even Asagi-san got surprised when I heard President would actually participate in such a thing. What’s wrong with you?]

[I want…… to stop this war as soon as possible. I want to reduce the sacrifices. I want to save the people I want to save…… that includes Kirihara-kun! I’m the only one who can stop him now! It’s my duty to save everyone! Yes…… I will, with this power! Even if I have to get my hands dirty! Even she…… Even she told me…… that there’s no such thing as perfection in this world———– However, doing my best is something I can do……]

[Sogou-san……]

I clenched my fists.

I could feel nasty sweat dripping down my palm.

[………………….]

Asagi, on the other hand, remained silent.

Somehow, seeing her acting like that makes me anxious.

That face……

I have this bad feeling swelling up inside me.

However, contrary to my thoughts, Asagi gave Ayaka a smile as bright as the sun.

[Alright, President.]

[Eh?]

[I believe in you, President———– Here.]

Asagi held out her hands, seemingly as if she was a prisoner turning herself in.

[I’m going to let myself get caught quietly…… so hurry up and end this war, okay?]

Ayaka’s eyes widened at her actions, and then———–

[Asagi…… -san……]

[I don’t believe in Goddess-chin…… but I can believe in President.]

Saying this, Asagi stepped towards Ayaka.

Thereupon, it rose rapidly within me……

Just like an explosion surging out……

That “bad feeling” I had———– It increased.

At that moment, just like the revolving lanterns, my discussion with Asagi earlier about Ayaka came to mind.

Within that conversation……

“Unless some sort of incident happens, that is.”

I thought I had understood the meaning of those words.

I thought I had understood what this bad feeling I had been having since a while ago.

Asagi————-

(No…… Stop! Asagi-san…… She gave up on persuading her! Asagi-san…… She’s planning to use her Unique Skill on her! And then…… After using it————)

[……Ari? Ayaka, you———–]

[He’s Mimori-kun!]

With that few words, everyone’s gazes simultaneously focused on me.

Ayaka’s flabbergasted eyes were also directed at me.

[Eh? Mimori…… -kun……? Errr…… What…… about him?]

Faced with a situation like this, I remembered the words the Fly King———– Touka had told me.

(This should be fine, right…… Mimori-kun……!?)

[Belzegia-san’s true identity! He’s Mimori-kun!]