Nagi was somewhat confused by their conversation. Their relationship had changed a great deal since he last saw them. They used to be predator and prey, but now they were like two good friends.
“Very well,” Jubilia said with a sigh. “There are many things I do not know about Lord Lernaean’s plans, but I’ll offer my thoughts on what I do know. His goal is to change this distorted world where nobles thrive and commoners suffer. To that end, he intends to overthrow the organization Chairman Gratos built around the possession of the Sovereign. That’s what he needs Lady Saya for.”
Nagi was shocked. His objective sounded extremely similar to Cobalt’s.
“Long before I came into his service, Lord Lernaean put many things in place to accomplish his goal. He isn’t one to lose his patience in the face of his objective. His plans have gradually been moving forward over a tremendously long period of time.”
“Just like how the guards at the Garden slowly vanished over the years. Nagi, how did you find out about the Garden?”
“Keele told me. He got the intel from Cobalt. Huh, maybe Lernaean was their source from the very beginning.”
“Lord Lernaean has sown many seeds, waiting for them to sprout. The Halahala you use is one of them.”
“Lernaean was behind this?”
“You probably know of the scholar who made it, but Lord Lernaean was the one who was secretly supporting his research into Amrita and the Sovereign’s Blood. The Halahala, a coincidental byproduct, was then smuggled elsewhere. Most likely, it went directly to Cobalt.”
Nagi shuddered at the thought. According to Jubilia, Nagi and Cobalt had been moving according to Lernaean’s plan from the very beginning.
“But at the time, Lord Lernaean prioritized Lady Saya over Cobalt. That’s likely why he decided to have them take responsibility as her abductors. However, the combination of Halahala and Cobalt was far more than he could have imagined. His assessment changed completely when he saw a knight defeated by a commoner.”
Jubilia turned her gaze to Nagi.
“Then, your group proved capable enough to capture Ronadyphe Prison. I believe this convinced Lord Lernaean that there was a prospect for victory behind the combination of Lady Saya and Cobalt. Her existence was elevated to a serious threat in the eyes of the chairman and the Sovereign. That’s why they are targeting her life like this. The incident at the party was just the trigger, but that wasn’t the only reason.”
“What party?” Nagi asked, cocking his head.
“Jubilia, shh! Umm, I’ll tell you later,” Saya said, turning red to the cheeks for some reason. She then took a deep breath. “Right now, we need to decide on what to do.”
“Come to Ronadyphe. It’s Cobalt’s headquarters now,” Nagi suggested, gripping his knife again. “If you say you’re going to bring Saya back to the capital, then I’ll stop you by force.”
Jubilia returned his gaze.
“Ronadyphe isn’t very far, but there’s a mountain path on the way there, so a cogwagon won’t be able to get close. Lady Saya can’t go that way with her injuries.”
“It’s all right. I think I can walk now.”
Jubilia turned her attention to the wound on Saya’s leg and balked. “The bleeding has already stopped? Even though you were wounded by a blood caliber?”
Saya tilted her head. “It stopped a while ago. Maybe the wound was a lot shallower than I thought? It doesn’t even hurt anymore.”
“I don’t think Ivara was the type to make such a mistake with her level of skill, though.”
Nagi cut in, “If you can walk, then it’s fine to go to Ronadyphe.”
“Very well. So long as there is nowhere else to go, I have no choice but to accept,” Jubilia replied.
Nagi was relieved to hear it.
“I’d like to come along too,” Jubilia continued, “but I suppose that would be difficult.”
“They’d definitely attack you on sight if you suddenly showed up.”
Nagi’s older brother would be the first to rush out for sure. He had quite the fixation on Jubilia.
“Then I shall return to the capital for now and seek instruction from Lord Lernaean. Nagi, be sure to protect Lady Saya.”
“I don’t need you to tell me that.”
“I can tell that your skills have improved. If you were a noble, I’d even nominate you for knighthood.”
“Huh? That can’t be right.”
“I’m well aware that this sounds strange,” Jubilia said, nodding with a strangely proud expression. “There aren’t many nobles who could stand and fight against Ivara.”
She turned her attention to Ivara’s corpse a short distance away, then gasped in shock. Upon following her gaze, Nagi and Saya immediately understood why. The corpse had completely dried up and was covered in wrinkles.
“Did I do that?” Saya asked in a trembling voice.
“Lady Saya. Was that power you used... the royal caliber?”
“I don’t know. Was it?”
“Do you not know how to wield it? A noble who awakens to their blood caliber naturally gains mastery of it, much like how a baby is capable of breathing and walking without having to be taught.”
Saya closed her eyes and focused, but she quickly opened them again.
“Not at all.”
“I see. In that case, it means you haven’t fully matured yet.”
“What do I have to do to be able to use it?”
“I haven’t got a clue. Lord Lernaean may know, though.” Jubilia paused there before changing the topic. “We shouldn’t remain here much longer. Please head to Ronadyphe. After asking the people of the village to deal with this body, I shall return to the capital.”
“Thank you, Jubilia,” Saya said.
“Think nothing of it. It was simply my duty. Lady Saya, we part here. I am honored to have served as your guard.”
“I’m also glad you were with me. Even though I was locked up again, it felt completely different having a friend nearby.”
“A friend,” Jubilia muttered with wide eyes.
“Sorry, am I wrong?” Saya asked bashfully.
Seeing her like that put a smile on Jubilia’s face. “No, thank you very much. I was in no position for such a thing, but in truth, I also felt as though you were my friend.”
Jubilia’s smile looked ever so fleeting to Nagi.
“Yeah.”
Nagi and Saya left Jubilia behind and headed north. If they traveled all night, they would arrive at the prison come morning. Countless stars shone overhead as they walked. For some reason, Saya felt like she could reach out and touch them.