Chapter 148 - Volume 8 (1/2)

Volume 8, Chapter 6: Princess-sama’s Magnificent Daily Life, Part 3

The journey’s going well …… but really, it’s a pain.

We were on a forested road that ran between countries. It was a road that was impassable for armies, but it would get our smaller group there earlier.

If I had chosen to fly it would have taken a fraction of the time, but since I’m part of the [Hero Party] right now, I can’t just head off without a reason. Besides, even if it were possible, due to the knights of the castle that had gotten along with Daichi and gang, it would be improbable for them to believe that I would do it, even as a joke.

Can’t I go off on a leisurely journey by myself? I’ve been stuck with regulations ever since I’ve been in this world, so I’d really like to take a pleasure trip around the world.

…… But.

“Yuru-chan, you know, it’s a cliché that bandits will appear in regions like this.”

“…… You’re saying things like that again, Mizuki.”

You don’t have to set the flags so grandly in a place like this.

In short, Mizuki, Touka, and the rest of the children were getting bored. I, too, have gotten tired of playing cards. I get dizzy when we play in the carriage.

Why am I immune to poison, but still get carsick……?

[The bandits appeared~!]

“………”

Come on!

Touka, who had been so worried about killing people all this time suddenly lit up. It seems that the children have had entirely too much free time.

Behind Mizuki, who was wearing the same expression as Touka, the Demons were smiling with their fangs out.

Run away, bandits! From the clutches of these Demons.

“……there’s no helping it, I guess”

As the carriage stopped because of the bandits, I stood up spryly with a sigh. If I left them alone, it’s going to be a pain later.

“……Yuru-chan is going out there?”

“I’ll go out, but you guys should stay here, okay?”

““Yes~””

That’s good girls. But at first glance, Touka and the rest are about 5 years older than I am, you know? And why hadn’t Fannie or Tina replied to me?

As Tina opened the door and I tried to get off the carriage, Daichi and a young knight were hurriedly getting off with me. The young knight that was about the same age as Daichi looked nervous as he tried to help me off the carriage.

“Thank you.”

“I-it’s nothing”

As I smiled at him, his face turned bright red and he looked down.

Hmm…… when he shows me such a pure expression, I start to feel a bit embarrassed. After all, most people in Sail didn’t dare to look at me directly.

It’s not like I have a special ability like Tina’s, so I don’t get it.

“What’s the situation, then…?”

“Understood, I will report it now.”

I bit myself.

As I hear it from him, there were about 30 bandits, but at least they were ‘au naturel’ bandits, and not disguised soldiers from another country.

In other words, this wild produce was going to taste better than farmed produce.

What’s that?

I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was just rationally explaining why I’m interested in the bandits.

That being said, I headed quickly for the front.

When I arrived…… it was about 10 seconds or so on foot, but I was looking at peasant-like people who were glaring at the knights.

They looked like farmers, but were all holding poorly-maintained military equipment that looked like they’d picked it up somewhere. They were primarily armed with spears, but looking at them more carefully, while most of them were wielding iron spears, some of them just had knives or wooden sticks.

“Kyoji-sama, what’s happened?”

“Oh, it’s Princess Yurushia. …… It seems that these people used to be villagers from a small holding nearby but were plagued with famine. Though, they would be arrested if we were on Sail soil……”

“Ah.”

I wonder, though, why these bandits are attacking armed knights. Was it because of some bad harvest or something, so they attacked? But even then, I thought that it would have been a better idea to attack merchants, so I wonder what their reason is.

When I exposed myself to them, there was a wave of emotion that swept across them.

…… they seem scared. The maids in the castle told me that it would take the people in the countryside some time to get used to my appearance, and to be honest, it makes me a little depressed.

“Oohh, you are of high status! Taking your aristocratic mistress to go sightseeing! We’re lacking a little something for our next meal! So, give us the women and children along with the food!”

Among the bandits, one particularly bear-like man with a huge spear stood out as he shouted at us.

He looks like the head of the bandits. I see…… so you’re unhappy with the aristocrats?

It feels like everyone there is unhappy with the aristocratic class, and the rest of the bandits were glaring at us as well. They might have been following the orders of the bear-person, but it seems that they attacked out of their own free will as well.

…… However, they don’t look very delicious.

“So, what will you do, Kyoji-sama?”

“Well……”

Because he’s a hero, he can’t possibly raise his hand against these villagers.  While I was thinking that, Kyoji was looking at them like one would a pebble by the pavement.

“I should execute bandits that I find in any other country on the spot.”

With a *bang*, Kyoji gouged a small hole in the ground as he sped forward.

Maybe he wanted to look like he disappeared to my attendants and I. I wonder if Daichi and Futa were able to catch what he was doing at all? Well, since I’d had them watch my attendants fight from the special front-row seat, if they hadn’t grown at least that much, they’d really be in trouble now.

It didn’t matter, but Kyoji had pulled out his sword as he turned his blade towards that bearded bear man.

Half a second hadn’t even passed yet, but if I continued to sit on the sidelines for another half a second, half of the bandits would be killed by Kyoji.

“[Let there be Light!]”

The holy magic that I cast flew towards Kyoji and the bear-man. And in the meantime, I secretly signaled Fannie with my eyes.

What I’d cast on them was [Citadel of Light], the defensive magic, but unlike the normal [Citadel] it also included a [Barrier] that protected one from magic, making it impossible to move from their spot.

In short, I cast a restraining magic, but the [Citadel of Light] that I’d cast on Kyoji was unnaturally countered.

But thanks to that instant’s restraint, and the [Citadel of Light] on the bear, it seems like he’s only had his arm slashed.

“……What are you trying to do?”

Asked Kyoji in a low voice, as he stood there between the bandits and I. Even if you’re trying to hide it, your killing intent is leaking, you know?

Personally, I don’t really care about the bandits given the way they acted, peasant or not, but it’s not to the point where I’d immediately kill them…… though that could just be me.

Still, how did Kyoji resist my magic?

…… It’s not that it’s impossible to resist. I think that if there was a difference in our magic power, it would have been resisted, but I felt like it was because of some other factor.

Hmm…… I don’t quite understand the [Heroes’ Secret Arts] yet, but maybe it’s one of Kyoji’s abilities or [Skills].

“Well, well, isn’t it better not to be so brutal? Anyway, could you leave this one to me?”

“……………”

Instead of applying intimidation, I smiled at him while my magic power overflowed from me. Kyoji gave me the tiniest frown that nobody else could possibly tell, but I smiled at him, holding one hand to my chest while I bowed slightly towards him.

“I understand. If that is the will of the “Saint”.”

“………”

What a bad-mannered person.

Putting the word [Saint] out there so the bandits and villagers would know.