“This is a custom-made Arcane Cannon. I had one of my contacts persuade Prince Reichardt to put in a special order. I hate to use it before it’s delivered to its rightful owner, but if you arrest me, I won’t get paid anyway.”
Most weaponized magic tools were designed to slay monsters, so they were unfit for warfare. They were powerful enough to destroy everything around them. I couldn’t believe that Prince Reichardt had agreed to purchase such a thing.
I knew he was worried about the prospect of conflict with other countries. Perhaps things were more serious than I thought.
“Everyone, step back! Leave this to the Knights of Parnacorta!”
“You’re better off staying put,” Haruya countered. “The Arcane Cannon has the power to wipe out a whole village. I’m taking you both hostage, Prince Osvalt and Lady Philia. The moment one of you moves a muscle, I’ll shoot!”
“Gah! H-how dastardly!”
If we moved, he would fire the cannon at us. Haruya made this threat to keep Philip in check. Interesting. He had considered the possibility that we’d follow Himari here…
“Are you insane, Haruya? Taking these people hostage means making an enemy of the whole of Parnacorta!”
“That’s precisely what makes them so valuable. The shackles of your loyalty are holding you back, Commander. I understand—I’ve been there myself.”
“Grr! You truly are wicked!”
Maybe Prince Osvalt and I had been too careless. I hoped my magic was sufficient to defend us, but I wasn’t certain. After all, I knew nothing about the power or workings of the so-called Arcane Cannon. Haruya was exploiting that uncertainty.
“Given the situation we’ve found ourselves in, I’ll abandon my dreams of raking in the cash. As long as you guarantee my safety and ensure I won’t take a loss, I’ll step back without a fight. Let’s call it even.”
“Even?”
From his perspective, this was a real compromise. Haruya had no more cards left to play.
That explained why he was resorting to such aggressive tactics. He was probably feeling cornered himself.
“Yes, even,” Haruya continued. “So what’s your decision?”
If I absorbed mana into my body, the glow would give me away. I could utilize my own magic powers to send out a chain of light, but Haruya seemed confident that he could make a swift escape. He and Himari were both quick on their feet. It was entirely plausible that he could fire the cannon before the chain even reached him.
I needed to find a way to fight back without letting Haruya know that I was casting magic.
“You’re a wise individual, Lady Philia. You must see that accepting my terms would be the shrewdest tactic.”
I bit my tongue.
“Now, if you could convince your husband—agh! Wh-what’s that? A gale?”
I tried to raise a gust of wind without moving my body or absorbing mana, but it wasn’t strong enough to blow Haruya away. The Arcane Cannon only shook slightly. It’d be hard to incapacitate it.
“I’d appreciate it if you stopped these little games of yours, Lady Philia,” said Haruya.
“Whatever do you mean?” I replied. “I’ve done exactly as you asked. I haven’t moved a muscle.”
“A lying saint? Now I’ve seen it all. Well, it is what it is. Any more funny business, accidental or not, and I won’t hesitate to fire.”
It sounded like it was time to abandon the idea of using magic. Haruya’s intimidating air told me he was determined to survive, no matter what it took. I’ve never met anyone so relentless. You could tell he was no stranger to ruthless disputes.
“Haruya!” Himari let out an anguished cry. “Cease this nonsense! The old you would have never resorted to such cowardly strategies! This doesn’t suit you.”
No doubt this was the only approach she had left: appealing to Haruya’s emotions, whatever fondness he still had for her.
Please, Himari! Get him to open up his stubborn heart!
“As I’ve said countless times before, loyalty won’t keep you safe. Have you pushed your resentment to the back of your mind, Himari? Have you forgotten the hatred you felt when we lost our mother, our father, and our siblings?”
“Of course not. But I vowed to remain a ninja until my dying day! If I let the principles of loyalty and justice fall by the wayside, I wouldn’t be myself any longer.”
“Loyalty and justice? Let me tell you a little something. I died that day. Once you’ve died, you become a different person. You’re freed from the curse of so-called ideals. If you want to live, it’s time to say goodbye to your old self!”
The look in his one eye was so intense, one would be forgiven for thinking it could shoot someone down.
You had to kill your old self to rewrite your values. If Himari wanted her brother back, she’d have to resort to drastic measures…
“Haruya!” exclaimed Himari, readying her kunai. “How far are you willing to go?”
“Hey! I thought I told you not to move!”
Haruya fired a flaming arrow at Himari.
There was no time to lose. We had to save her.
In a flash, Sir Osvalt grabbed the arrow with his bare hand and cast it aside.
“Damn… That burns…”
“P-Prince Osvalt?! Wh-what do you think you’re doing? I told you not to move!”
“Oh, my bad. My body has a mind of its own! But hey, cut me some slack, won’t you? I didn’t try any funny business. All I did was give myself a burn.”
He was so reckless.
Once, when I was deliberating whether to save Mia, Sir Osvalt told me that sometimes you have to follow your heart. In this case, however, he took following his instincts to another level.
“Wh-what were you thinking? Why would a master risk injuring himself to protect his vassal?”
“Haruya…”
For the first time, the cool and collected Haruya showed signs of agitation. He couldn’t believe what he’d just witnessed—Sir Osvalt using his own body to shield Himari.
“Why would you do that, Prince Osvalt? Why do you feel the need to protect my sister? You are her master, and she is your vassal. A master is supposed to use his vassal as a shield, not the other way around!”
“A shield? Hardly. When danger strikes, you can’t just stand around and watch. Like I said, my body has a mind of its own.”
He spoke as if he was stating the obvious.
He always kept his calm, and his kindness had no bounds. At times, I couldn’t help but feel mesmerized by him.