Chapter 165 – One Love (1/2)

At the moment Origa’s name was mentioned, the attendants of the meeting looked at each other’s faces.

Among those present here, there’s no one who doesn’t know about Origa, and neither about her firm beliefs.

“Umm… is that a story we can believe in?”

The question Sabnak posed at Imeraria was something shared by all those present.

“Believe… you ask? If you hear the condition Origa-san put forth, you will understand, I believe?” (Imeraria)

She quietly takes out one document and passes it around so that everyone is able to check it.

“This is…” (Vaiya)

With just looking at it for an instant, Vaiya’s voice leaked out.

“The condition she put forth is for Origa-san to be sealed together with Hifumi-sama.” (Imeraria)

“She said that she will willingly come under the sealing magic!?” (Adol)

Imeraria nodded towards Adol crying out in surprise.

It can’t be seen from this place, but even Puuse seems to be surprised to the degree of being unable to voice out any words after hearing about this for the first time.

“I can’t consider that as anything but an act of madness, you know?” (Sabnak)

Imeraria inclined her head to the side asking “Really?” to Sabnak who’s letting out a dry laughter.

“I was able to consent without trouble when I heard about her wish. She has acquired strength with desperate effort just to keep up with the things he does in order to be together with Hifumi-sama. Her wish to stay next to him until the very end is something natural, I think.” (Imeraria)

For some reason Imeraria wore a natural smile.

“I will roughly explain the plan.” (Imeraria)

Imeraria took out yet another document of which she had prepared a copy for everyone. At the beginning of the text is a warning that they have to definitely make sure to dispose of the document once they memorized its content.

“As for Hifumi-sama-sama who has already been summoned to the royal castle; after listening to him about the current state of Vichy, we will occupy him with a request. Vaiya-san.” (Imeraria)

“Ha!” (Vaiya)

“I will request Hifumi-sama to directly impart his techniques to the knights. Please choose 30 knights, who will receive the training, from among both knight orders. Please remove those knights from all official duties they are in charge of for the time of the training.” (Imeraria)

“As you command. That means to say that those people will eventually fight against Earl Tohno?” (Vaiya)

In that case it would actually turn into the organization of a suicide corps. I plan to join that group as well, but the choice of participants will be hard, Vaiya frowned, but Imeraria’s reply reveals an even larger scale.

“No. What do you think will you be able to accomplish with just 30 people? Those people will be observers, so to speak researchers, for the sake of gathering the necessary information to draw up a trap in order to set up a concrete military operation that lures in Hifumi-sama. Creating a trap, locking him in Puuse-san’s barrier, sealing him with my magic alongside Origa-san… it’s still a reckless plan that’s full of holes, but generally speaking that will be the course of events.” (Imeraria)

Listening to Imeraria’s explanation, all those participating in the meeting are intently staring at the document. All of them intend to memorize all of it on this spot.

“Midas-san. Please assign a continuous monitoring to Hifumi-sama during the time he stays here.” (Imeraria)

“Ha! I will handle it carefully…” (Midas)

“It doesn’t matter at all even if you get noticed. What we have to really hide is the fact of Origa-san cooperating with us and the place of the final trap, only those two. Please put your highest priority on gathering information about that man without minding appearances.” (Imeraria)

“As you command.” (Midas)

Seeing Midas bow his head, Imeraria muttered 「Very well」 and stood up.

“The next meeting will be after Hifumi-sama came to this castle. Everyone, please make sure that it’s possible for you to respond to a summons at any time by avoiding to leave too far from the castle. Then, adjourned.” (Imeraria)

The men leave the room with only Imeraria and Puuse staying behind. Although Sabnak serves as her guard, it appears that he’s going to have preparatory meetings concerning the personnel selection from the knight order. Since the anti-Imeraria faction has been neatly purged inside the castle, there won’t be any problem as long as she stays inside the castle.

“… Now that I think of it, even me having obtained safety within the castle is thanks to Hifumi-sama eradicating the opposing faction, isn’t it?” (Imeraria)

“Queen-sama? Are you all right?” (Puuse)

Due to Puuse calling out to her, Imeraria answers with a bitter smile,

“I’m fine. I just got slightly dizzy by my own selfishness. It’s wrong if I don’t judge everything depending on the gain and losses for my country. Even if it’s something ungrateful as individual, as long as it eventually turns into a benefit for the country…” (Imeraria)

Shaking her head and gathering the documents close at hand Imeraria left her seat.

“I will already retire for today. Otherwise it seems that I will just end up thinking about unnecessary stuff.” (Imeraria)

“Umm… since I observed the people who have brought the elves and beastmen together from close-by, I can relate with your troubles… or intend to do so, queen-sama. A-As I’m tentatively your advisor, please do rely on me!” (Puuse)

Since she knows about Puuse, Imeraria only thought of way to use her. Do I have the right to accept such kind words from her? She wavered, but her tears streamed down without caring about her doubts.

☺☻☺

It was a small village, but the buildings were beautiful and the inn possessed several clean, wide rooms, too. Nobles and wealthy merchants seem to stop by with the hot springs as their goal. Even the meals are served after getting properly cooked with fresh vegetables and meat of monsters that are hunted by adventurers specialised on that.

“Let’s stay for around two nights. I’m pleased with the hot springs here.” (Hifumi)

A few days after departing Fokalore, they entered a village said to be famous for its hot springs and made a stopover for a bit. Hifumi, who enjoyed the hot springs right after finding an inn, was in a good mood in front of the abundant amount of dishes that were prepared by the inn after Origa specified their wishes.

Hifumi, who doesn’t drink any alcohol, just focussed on eating with Origa as conversation partner, but during these few days they were happily enjoying eating three meals per day together while sitting across or next to each other.

“The group that came attacking yesterday night had relatively big numbers, but they only consisted of fellows unable to accomplish anything, didn’t they?” (Hifumi)

“They probably tried to cover up their lacking skills with numbers. Though you can’t call that anything but foolish. Because of that I remembered. I have to get the inn to wash off the blood spurts on your clothes, dear.” (Origa)

“Yeah, yeah, that’s fine with me. I will hand them over later.” (Hifumi)

While fully savouring the meat that used plenty of spices characteristic of a high-class inn and delicious vegetables without anyone interrupting the couple’s conversation, each of them started topics such as Pruflas having once again created a flop weapon or Horant’s reinforced soldiers being unusable. They enjoyed their time care-freely while keeping the conversation going by throwing in suitable replies.

“I wonder how many days it will take until we reach the royal capital?” (Hifumi)

“If we go at this pace, it should be around ten days?” (Origa)

I never want to arrive there though, Origa wishes, but there are things she has to do. The agreement with Imeraria was completely filling Origa’s mind. This summons is likely the first step towards that, she was easily able to guess.

“Is that how it is?” (Hifumi)

Hifumi, who fell on the bed after returning to their room, hesitated whether he should go once more to the hot springs during the night.

“Origa.” (Hifumi)

“Yes.” (Origa)

“Concerning the royal capital; should we go shopping before heading to the castle? Should we also buy your equipment… no, clothes by visiting old man Thorn’s shop after a long while?” (Hifumi)

Origa gasped due to the unexpected suggestion and its content.

Hifumi laughs at Origa who stiffens while holding her clothes to turn them in for the laundry.

“Why are you stiffening up like that? If you actually don’t want to…” (Hifumi)

“I-I-I w-will go! By all means! Please!” (Origa)

Tossing her clothes away, she leaps on top of Hifumi.

While clinging to Hifumi who caught her without evading her, she felt loneliness within the feeling she considered happiness.

In reality she knows that he’s not someone to say something like that. Though she wished for it, she could not hope for it. While not knowing whether that’s a good thing, she, who is delighted while averting her eyes, felt as if it’s something very narrow-minded and filthy, but for Origa she couldn’t allow herself to have her heart moved no matter what happens.

I blew up in a bad way, she felt.

I use the excuse that it’s for the sake of Hifumi, but in fact, I just don’t hesitate in fulfilling my own desires anymore. Even the promise with Imeraria had the meaning of fulfilling Hifumi’s aspirations, but I don’t have any intentions to keep lying to myself and others that a large part of it is to accommodate my own wants.