As expected, things played out just as predicted.
The Hereticus siblings who had applied for a visit to the Cradle chose to join our group for the external training, along with Dietrich, whom they had a passing acquaintance with. Since I had roped in Yuna, that made five members in total and we completed our team.
However…
“Well now, isn’t this fate too?”
Using Helena’s young age as an excuse, Lobelia shamelessly inserted herself into our group.
It wasn’t like we were in some fairy tale with a golden axe and a silver axe, but because I had answered honestly, my “reward” was getting both Kult and Lobelia as teammates.
That’s right. Honesty is a sin.
Damn it…
“Are you really a princess?”
“Of course I am, naturally.”
Whether or not my face was turning sour, Lobelia was too busy smiling brightly and patting Helena’s head as the girl looked up at her with sparkling eyes.
“I’m exhausted.”
Kult ran a hand through his hair and smiled, but the vein on his forehead said otherwise. Clearly, he wasn’t pleased about Lobelia forcing her way into the group.
“I expected this, but it’s much more draining to experience it firsthand.”
“…And why are you telling me this, exactly?”
“Who else here but you could possibly understand how I feel, Mr. Johan?”
“This is truly unpleasant.”
Kult still hid his true nature from even his close friend Dietrich.
Only Lobelia and I knew what he was really like inside. Yuna knew too, but Kult doesn’t realize that.
So that meant the only people he could really be honest with were me and Lobelia.
But if he were to open up to Lobelia, it’d just lead to a power struggle, so it seems he’s using me as his emotional outlet.
Was I his emotional trash can or what?
“Well then, Mr. Johan. Please go and tell her off for me.”
“…Me?”
“Should I do it instead?”
Shouldn’t you be the one doing it?
I mean, you’re the one with the complaint…
Still, I went.
How could I possibly refuse the threat of this crazy terrorist?
I called Lobelia aside, telling her I had something to talk about. Just as she was in the middle of sharing her heroic tales with Helena.
“Your Highness, what happened to the group you were originally in?”
Kult had asked me to give her a firm talking-to, but there was no way I could actually do that.
All I could manage was a half-hearted attempt.
If I were to seriously speak harshly to a princess? Then it wouldn’t just be “harsh words”…it’d be my head that gets harshly removed.
Kult probably didn’t mean it literally either. He likely just wanted to mess with me.
“Don’t worry about it. They’ll manage just fine with the team they’ve put together.”
Why would I worry about your team?
I’m asking because I’m worried about me! I’m concerned for my own safety!
“Oh, if you’re concerned about Ariel, there’s no need. I got her permission. I told her I’d be keeping an eye on you in case you tried cheating.”
“Is that so?”
“Ariel pouted, saying there’s no way you would ever do that. But, well…”
Lobelia glanced over at Yuna, who was crouched in a corner checking items from her backpack, and said,
“You’re not, are you?”
“I’m not.”
At least, I’m not.
Probably not Yuna either… right? I’m not even sure, and that scares me.
So I try not to think about it too much. I can’t afford to lose my one and only friend.
“Alright then, Johan. What do you think Kult’s true intention is?”
“I think he just wanted to take his little sister out on an outing.”
“Truly?”
“Um… from what I know, Kult hasn’t revealed his true identity to Helena Hereticus. Since she’s still a child, she wouldn’t understand the weight of it all.”
“You mean he won’t do anything that might arouse suspicion?”
“That too, but also…Kult’s still human. Doesn’t everyone want to show only their best side to their family?”
“Hmph… That’s a sentiment I find hard to understand.”
“Ah.”
Well, that’s understandable. The imperial family was…
Wasn’t it the Emperor himself who not only pitted his own children against each other but even killed them with his own hands?
“And even if he’s planning something, it won’t be anything direct. You know how he is. He’s a cunning bastard. If anything happens, it won’t be through our side.”
“That’s true…”
Though of course, he wouldn’t hesitate to add himself to the list of victims if needed.
Kult had once tried to position himself as a fellow victim using a past terrorist incident as a pretext, so it’s not beyond possibility.
“Oh, by the way, Your Highness…have you found out why this training is being held outdoors?”
“Ah, that? Well…”
Lobelia seemed to hesitate for a moment, then smiled faintly and said,
“There’s plenty of time, so how about we reveal that during the training itself?”
You sure you just don’t know?
***
Outdoor training.
Given the Cradle’s roots as a military facility, I thought we might be doing something like simulated warfare. But surprisingly, the training was almost in name only.
“Isn’t this just camping?”
This training’s theme was five days and four nights of outdoor survival. We had to pitch our own tents and gather our own food and water.
It might seem a bit harsh at first glance, but considering everything we’ve been through at the Cradle so far….this really felt like a vacation.
The only scheduled “program” was a so-called night raid response drill, which was basically just a test of courage dressed up with a fancier name.
Was this seriously just a camping trip?
“Alright, starting now, set up your tents around this valley. Once your team finishes, you may help other teams or go out and start gathering food. That’s what it says here. Get moving.”
Professor Georg who was in charge of the second years explained with a face that looked half-dead.
It felt like he was just reading off the manual word for word, and most of the students seemed to be zoning out.
Well, seeing as he wasn’t making any effort to stop them, I guess that was to be expected.
“Did you bring bandages? What about backup weapons?”
“How many potions did you pack? If we’re going to be attacked, we should probably layer up some defensive spells.”
Lively chatter from the students filled the air.
But the content of their conversations all assumed one thing. That we would be attacked.
Guess I’m not the only one who thought that.
Most Cradle students were already mentally preparing for a battle here.
“Your Highness, what should we do? I can’t use defensive spells. And I don’t think Yuna can either.”
“Unfortunately, I can’t use them either. But I don’t think we’ll need them.”
Lobelia shrugged off my concern and began stomping the ground.
Like magic, just a few steps flattened the soil perfectly.
She seemed to be picking a spot to set up the tent, and with every motion she made, it all felt more magical than actual magic.
“Alright, if we just gather some leaves and lay them down here, we should be good. Let’s pitch the tent after that, Johan.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Good. Then shall we head into the forest?”
“Please, go ahead.”
“…Huh?”
“…Huh?”
“You’re not coming?”
“Do I have to?”
The forest is dangerous, you know.
“You don’t actually have the thoughts about letting an imperial do the labor while you stand there doing nothing, do you?”
“Truly, Your Highness! I can feel the spirit of a true monarch, leading the people by example!”
“How very flattering. Then as a true subject, fulfill your duty.”
“…Yes.”
In the end, I was dragged into the forest by the scruff of my neck by Lobelia.
And once we were deep enough into the woods, far from others, I couldn’t hold back any longer and asked.
“Your Highness, while we’re doing this, Kult might already be plotting something. Wouldn’t it be better to have someone keeping an eye on him at all times?”
To be honest, what I really wanted to say was, Why am I the only one getting dragged into this?
But still, I had a point.
Is it really okay to leave that bastard Kult alone like that?
And why didn’t she drag Dietrich along? He was way more competent than I was. The black ox works better than the gray ox, after all!
“It’s fine. There are so many people around that he wouldn’t dare act recklessly. Besides…. though you probably didn’t realize, Ariel and some of my subordinates have been keeping watch from this side as well.”
“I guess they must be nearby.”
Even I didn’t know exactly how many people the princess had under her command.
There were already plenty of playable characters in the game, and besides them, there must be a whole bunch of extras too.
I suppose that meant she was also making her own preparations for the future…
Still, knowing that someone is watching you….it’s hard not to feel uneasy.
“Well, I suppose this should be far enough.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Please go ahead.”
She probably brought me out here alone because she had something to say.
I didn’t want a one-on-one conversation in the first place, so I couldn’t help but grumble…
But since I’d been dragged all the way here, there was no point in resisting any further.
“Come out.”
“Huh?”
“Not you. I meant your friend. Her name was… Yuna, wasn’t it? If you don’t come out by the count of three, I’ll start breaking Johan’s limbs one by one.”
“Huh??”
Me?
What did I do to deserve this?
“One, two…”
“Puhihi!”
At Lobelia’s precise call, Yuna jumped down from a tree with a little hop.
Wow… this girl…
She was that close this whole time? Where the hell did she even come from?
“Oh, there you are. That bit about breaking limbs was just a joke, so no need to be alarmed.”
“Yes, I know. Your Highness enjoys tormenting Johan, after all.”
So that’s why she felt so nonexistent. She’d been following right behind us the entire time, suppressing her presence.
Come to think of it… I don’t think I saw her even when we started setting up the tent…
Yuna had blended in so naturally that even I had forgotten she was there.
It felt like I was seeing the true worth of a Safe Clown again for the first time in a while.
“Hello, Third Princess. But how did you know? I don’t think you sensed my presence.”
“Indeed. Your hiding skills are truly impressive. I couldn’t find you at all. But still, something felt suspicious. Johan, having a friend? That alone raised a flag.”
“Ah! Well, I can’t argue with that.”
“Excuse me, but what kind of conversation is this supposed to be?”
Is it really that strange for me to have a friend?
Sure, I may be a bit prickly, but it’s not like I’m a bad person.
The ones with actual personality issues were treating me like I was the weird one…
“Well, half-joking, really. Still, the fact that you had a friend did make me curious. And since she’s not a new student but a transfer, that’s suspicious, isn’t it?”
“Oh, about that, Yuna is…”
“You’re an assassin, aren’t you?”
“I’m currently on break. Just enjoying school life right now.”
“That’s good to hear. If it were you… things might have gotten a bit complicated.”
“Puhihi!”
As always, Yuna responded to Lobelia’s words with a goofy laugh.
Thankfully, it didn’t seem like there’d be any friction between the two.
“Have you thought about joining my ranks?”
And there it was…. Lobelia’s recruitment pitch.
“Ah, that’s a bit… I’m someone who values freedom, you see.”
“I see.”
Yuna shook her head.
Luckily, Lobelia didn’t seem intent on pressing the matter.
Or… was she about to make one of those offers you can’t refuse?
“Well, that’s fine. I only wanted to confirm a few suspicions. If you’re just enjoying school life, I suppose it can’t be helped.”
Lobelia shrugged.
Depending on how you took it, that almost sounded like we could’ve ended up in a fight here.
Perhaps sensing that as well, Yuna responded to Lobelia’s comment with a sly smile.
“Oh, and one more thing I’d like to ask. What exactly is your relationship with Johan? You just don’t seem like someone who’d have any particular ties to him.”
“Hmm…”
Yuna rested her chin on her hand and began to ponder.
Was she trying to decide how much she could safely share?
If she mentioned how we first met, she’d inevitably have to reveal that she’s Safe Clown.
And Lobelia didn’t seem to have made that connection yet.
Well, who would believe that the most notorious assassin in history is just an ordinary schoolgirl?
Even if someone knew, it’s not exactly easy to accept.
Still leaning on her chin, Yuna wandered around for a moment before stepping closer to me with a gentle smile.
“Are we having an affair now?”
“Uh… what?”
Yuna linked her arm through mine.
Lobelia stared at me in stunned silence.
And I… forgot how to breathe.
“Johan, you…”
“No! She’s just messing around. Here’s how we actually met…”
“Oh, so you’re just gonna spill it? Without even asking me first?”
“You’re the one who threw the first punch!”
Normally, I’d keep your secret, but didn’t you just stab me in the back first?
“She’s Safe Clown.”
“……”
Even though I rushed to explain, Lobelia just stared at me with shaken eyes.
And then she said with a trembling voice,
“…Y-You never fail to exceed my expectations, Johan. Even I have no idea how to process this one. Ahem!”
“Wait, what exactly do you think this is? It’s not like that!”
“R-Right! Of course! I-I never said otherwise, did I? Nope, not at all.”
“……”
Her face was bright red now. Lobelia began rambling incoherently.
I’d never seen her this flustered before, and honestly, I had no idea what to say.
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