“Air Bullet,” Elena chanted.
“Raaah!”
Her wind spell tore several beetles from the ground, exposing their abdomens. At that moment, Ron leaped in and struck with his blade, severing their heads at the mandibles.
Elena could’ve defeated these beetles on her own with powerful sorcery, but she’d learned that coordinating with a melee fighter allowed her to conserve mana. Though Ron wasn’t as skilled as Camille, he had still survived for two years in this town, and his ability had reached Rank 3.
“Why are there monsters here...?” Ron muttered, his expression somewhat anxious despite how easily they’d taken down the beetles.
“Something’s not right,” Elena said. “Let’s hurry.”
The two weren’t yet aware of the massive monster stampede, but they were both wary, trusting the bad feelings in their guts. Ron was anxious not only for Naru’s safety but for Elena’s as well. He felt a mix of worry and wounded masculine pride for placing her in the way of danger like this.
But Claydale women were not damsels in distress.
Elena’s old self might’ve been anxious, but she’d since grown stronger and more determined. Despite the circumstances, she could maintain surprising calm.
Before, I was ready to die but not to stake my life...
As a princess, Elena had been prepared to act as a “bridging queen”—educating a royal scion or one from a cadet bloodline to become the next king if her brother, the crown prince, was found unfit to rule. This had been the best option for a girl like her, frail and unable to bear children—or so she had persuaded her father. But now, as she thought back on the appeal she’d made, it felt like passivity. A resolve to escape, not act.
That resolve served the crown, but not the people.
For the crown, choosing death over manipulation by one’s political enemies was best. But that was running away, was it not? A ruler truly thinking of her people would do her utmost to survive.
Even her brother, raised by a peace-addled mother and lacking the mindset of a royal, could become a decent king with Elena’s support. But was that truly what was best for the people? Did she have to make Elvan king? Her body had recovered. She was no longer frail.
So...who was it that should become king?
Rulership was a solitary endeavor, but one person did not a nation make. Nations existed thanks to the stalwart support of vassals. Adults paid taxes. Children helped with work and followed in their parents’ footsteps. Nobles protected them. All of them were a king’s beloved people, and anyone who preyed on them—even the nation’s own citizens—were enemies to be dealt with.
Therefore, to Elena, young Naru—wanting to do what he could to help—was already a cherished vassal, even if he had no idea she was a princess.
But she needed the resolve to cut away that which did not serve. She needed the resolve to stake her own life on her mission. She couldn’t afford to be swayed by emotion.
So how much could she save with her own hands? With this limited vessel to which she, who had resolved to become queen, was confined?
“Lena, look over there!” Ron called out.
Near the rocky area where Naru had headed, groups of monsters were milling about.
“We can’t face them all,” Elena said. “Let’s avoid them as best as we can, get Naru, and escape.”
“I suppose that’s all we can really do...”
The red grass Naru had gone to pick grew in colonies all over this area. He was little and couldn’t carry much; hopefully he’d picked whatever his small form could manage and left. Children growing up in this area should know how to escape a monster.
But not this many monsters. In groups this large, even slower creatures like caterpillars might not be escapable.
“Look at these,” Ron said.
As they proceeded while avoiding the monsters, they came upon the carcasses of caterpillars, crushed by thin, sticklike objects.
“Adventurers, perhaps?” Elena ventured.
“No, they were beaten repeatedly. It must have been people living around here.”
“People live here?” Elena asked, suddenly hopeful. “Maybe Naru sought refuge with them.”
“Yeah...” Ron muttered, but he remained wary. “But don’t get your hopes up too much.”
Elena was confused for a moment, but as they headed toward where these residents supposedly lived, it dawned on her why he’d said that.
To put it bluntly, these people were likely the worst of the scum of this town.
Many wary gazes turned toward the pair as they walked. The people here weren’t weak, but they weren’t strong either. Too half-hearted for any of the factions, too proud to do menial work, they lived only by taking from the weak—such as children and the elderly—and hiding from the strong.
About ten people, armed with crude clubs, looked fearfully at Ron and his proper weapon.
“Wh-Who the hell are you people?” a middle-aged human man asked.
“We’re looking for a beastman boy. Have you seen him?” Elena said.
“N-No, I haven’t. Just get out when you’re done, all right?” he replied, averting his gaze.
Based on his attitude, Elena suspected he knew something, but before she could press him, Ron stopped her by tugging on the hem of her cloak.
“Let’s go,” he said. “Best not to provoke them.”
“But...”
“Don’t worry. I’m sure he’s here.”
Ron had noticed several residents glancing in a specific direction when Elena described Naru.
“Come on,” he said. “They’re probably using him as bait.”
Elena gasped and hurried after Ron. After a while, they heard the voice of a small child.
“Naru?!” Elena exclaimed.
“Over there!” Ron said.
They took off running toward the familiar sound and spotted Naru climbing a rocky outcropping and throwing pebbles down at a group of caterpillars.
“Waterball!” Elena chanted, hastily unleashing a mass of water that swept away the insect monsters. “Ron!”
At her cue, Ron lunged at the caterpillars while Elena rushed to secure Naru.
“Naru!” she called out.
“Lena!” the boy replied, leaping down into Elena’s waiting arms. He was filthy but uninjured.
Elena peered into his eyes. “I’m glad you’re safe. Why did you go out alone?”
“For this!” Naru answered innocently. He proudly showed her a hemp pack stuffed full of red grass.