I hadn’t always been so well connected with Felind’s royal family. My teacher, Amy, had helped with that as part of my succeeding her. Based on what King Randolf said, he hadn’t had many dealings with her.
Honestly, he hadn’t asked much of me, either, but we’d ended up good friends at some point.
“A man as prepared as Barbatos wouldn’t act without a way to get rid of Almelia, considering she’s pivotal.”
“But this is Almelia we’re talking about. You should know more than anyone that she isn’t just some ordinary girl.”
“Yes. Almelia is very good at handling armed groups. However…this would put her against a single person, and she isn’t used to killing. That makes a great difference. Her opponent specializes in taking opponents off guard. Almelia will have a very difficult time.”
King Randolf let out a deep sigh. “Please, enough. You look so serious that it’s troubling me…”
“I’m not the type to sugarcoat things. And speaking man to man, I’m going to be direct. Tell Almelia not to follow any set patterns. And she should, under no circumstances, remain in the castle all the time. Make sure she does something different each day.”
“W-wait, you’re serious…?!”
“Yes. I wouldn’t joke about this.”
When he realized I still had a stern look on my face, King Randolf’s shoulders slumped. “We just broke off the engagement with that dismal prince, and now an assassin…”
“She’s no ordinary assassin. This is someone you absolutely don’t want to go up against—a person even I’m wary of.”
“That’s quite enough… The anxiety makes me want to keel over…”
“I came here to tell you that,” I told him.
When I tried to leave, King Randolph asked for me to wait. We shared another five rounds.
“So I’m your friend now?” he said.
“Why do you sound so happy? Are you drunk already, old-timer?” I replied. He seemed pleased about what I’d said earlier in the audience chambers.
“To put it another way, you also believe I consider you a friend.”
“All right, enough. You don’t have to go out of your way to rephrase things like that.” I set my mouth in a tight frown as King Randolf laughed.
Before I knew it, morning was upon us.
I remembered what Rila had said to me once.
“To be a king means being alone.”
They were always haunted by having the final say and taking all responsibility. They couldn’t shunt critical matters to anyone else.
“If anything happens to me, you take Almelia,” the king insisted.
“Hmph. We’ve gotten into drunk ramblings, I see… No thanks.”
“Why not?!”
If anything unfortunate were to befall someone, it was likely to be me.
“Listen here, Almelia’s pretty, and she’s a nice girl.”
“I’m aware. I hope she finds a good match.”
“Don’t hope! Go snatch her up!”
“That’s quite enough for a drunk.”
I could be direct when talking with Rila, but that wasn’t as true for King Randolf. I suspected King Randolf had no one he could speak with so casually except me.
As the sunlight brightened the room, King Randolf began to snore.
“I know I’ve worried you, and I will protect your daughter,” I told him. “The people close to me…are precious, and she’s my pupil.”
I laid a blanket over the king and quietly left his room.
Once I arrived back at Bardenhawk’s capital, Rila wasted no time telling me, “We have quite a commotion.” She cackled quietly.
I transformed her into her feline form and went with her and Roje to see what the trouble was. We found a long line in the capital’s residential area. The line began at the mound of supplies.
Roje offered her version of praise. “Your idea wasn’t half bad, human.”
“It made the most sense to move Barbatos’s caches. The rest simply followed.”
“Leyte had the military recover the weapons. All that remains is the food.”
“Queen Leyte said that the rations were too much for the castle to hold and decreed it would be divided amongst the people.”
The populace had assembled to get some of the food that popped up out of nowhere.
“How thrilling it is to steal from someone hoping to incite a rebellion and bring supplies to a country in poverty. Mm-hmm.” Rila nodded.
“Your large Gate was very useful. Thanks,” I said.
“Of course, of course. My magical acumen far surpasses anyone else’s!”
“We’d been considering a way to help these people already, human,” Roje revealed.
“Oh, Roje, you!” Rila batted at the elf’s feet in a panic.
“The dried meats and root vegetables will disappear quickly, but Lord Rileyla’s gift won’t!”
“…Come to think of it, I did notice you two whispering to each other. So that’s what you were up to.”
“Do not… No, mention no more of this… It is tasteless…”
Despite Rila’s protests, Roje continued. “My lord is amazing! Lord Rileyla has snuck in crops from Hell suitable for this country’s climate and soil! And I helped, as well! Eventually, produce shall become an important part of this land’s trade and will be exported to other nations. This will become a country of plenty, and the people will have no want for food! Understand, human? They will be free from worry for decades! No, for centuries! Such is how my liege, Lord Rileyla, does things! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!”
“Do not boast, you foolish elf!”
“Wh-why not, Lord Rileyla?! If I do not tell this half-wit of your incredible mercy for a nation in need, then I, Roje Sandsong, would not be doing my duty as—”
“Quieeeet! You mustn’t reveal everything! You tactless elf! Out of my sight!”
Roje seemed unhappy and confused. Her shoulders sank, but she obeyed Rila’s orders.
“Hmph,” Rila snorted. “Really now! Honestly!” she huffed at her tactless servant.
“Why’d you do all that?” I asked.
“…Even I have the capacity for guilt,” Rila answered. “I don’t know what these people were like before, but I’m sure that the demon lord’s army is responsible for their present destitution.”
“So this is atonement then?”
“Hm… Well, something of the sort.” Rila looked away as though embarrassed.
That was likely why she hadn’t wanted others to know her plans.
She’d imported weilyam, a crop resistant to drought and disease. I had to wonder whether it would take root, being it was a plant from Hell. However, Rila had done her research before introducing it to Bardenhawk.
“Can humans eat the weilyam?” I questioned.
“If they use the absolutely delectable recipes I devised, then anyone can enjoy them,” Rila stated.
“Every word of that sentence makes me more worried.”
“I suppose you would think that. But I shall feed you some. There will come a time when you won’t know what to do with yourself without me.”
“Ever self-confident, I see.”
“Let us go back,” Rila said, and she turned to leave.
“Someday…I’d like to be the one who gets the final word,” I remarked.
“…I would not mind if that day never came. I am sure the crops will grow well here. That is enough for me,” Rila stated firmly. I responded by picking her up and setting her on my shoulder.
I headed off toward the castle, looking forward to the meal.