“And why should we punish Trundle, anyway? Trundle has maintained neutrality for many years, governed its territory well, paid all its taxes, and stayed loyal to the kingdom. What’s more, Lady Erza is the hero who led us to victory in the last war. You must have learned in history class that our current peace is thanks to Lady Erza’s strategy. You set a curse on someone who everyone looks to with respect and tried to kill her. This conflict is because of you. You instigated a war and now you’re calling Trundle evil? I don’t understand you at all anymore. Cecil was right.” Gardner had apparently had plenty of time to think things over. He’d always been overly obedient, but he wasn’t stupid.
Maribelle raised her voice. “Trundle is evil! I mean, I’m the heroine, and they chained me up in a prison cell for days! They even ruined my meeting event with the holy beast. Didn’t you come here today to join my side, Gardner?”
“I came because I was worried about my kidnapped father.”
“Oh, the king! He’s asleep in bed after what the queen did to him, the poor thing. It just breaks my heart.”
“You didn’t think to help the king, a person who’s being held captive as bait to draw Trundle out? Weren’t you proud of your light magic? Didn’t you think to use it to protect his dignity?”
In the novel, she’d used this rare kind of magic to heal her wounded friends. It was a rule-breaking (?) magic that far surpassed healing magic. It could even regenerate missing limbs. There shouldn’t have been any teachers at the academy who could teach light magic, so where had she learned it? She would be a tough enemy if she had it mastered.
“Huh? Why me? I’m busy, you know? Jeez, nobody’s acting according to their character...”
Enough. I shot a glare at Cecil, who was always conscious of me in some part of his mind. He quickly saluted me and stood up in front of the prince to be his shield.
I steeled myself for our first contact...although I was scared. I slowly approached Maribelle. Come on, Serephione, you got this!
“Oh? It’s the villainess, Serephione! Why are you here? Are you with Trundle?” Maribelle pointed at me, her pink eyes wide.
“Good day. I see you know who I am. Would you mind telling me about yourself?”
“I-I’m Maribelle. I’m a fourth year at this magic academy! Wait... I don’t even know where to begin describing myself! Anyway, I’m working together with Schneider to turn this kingdom into one overflowing with love!”
The audience whispered. How was one student supposed to change a whole kingdom? Question marks floated above everyone’s heads.
“Are you representing Schneider? What do the students of the academy want with us? In any case, based on what you said before, you’re the one who attacked our beloved former master Erza, the mother of all the people of Trundle. I admire your courage to stand before me.”
“Well, yeah! Something was wrong with that old lady. She ruined my chance to get a holy beast! Of course I cursed her!”
Everything except the part where I praised her had gone right out her other ear.
“I can’t understand you in the slightest. Well, so be it. I was challenged by your side, fair and square. I came here to fight, and I’m going to avenge Erza and get the king back. Here goes!”
“W-Wait! There’s a scene first where my friends defend me as the cute heroine and fight in my place! Right, Cain, Harry!”
Maribelle’s happy allies stood in front of her.
“I’ll protect Maribelle!”
“Maribelle, stay back!”
Kodak stood in front of me. “So, if we defeat these two, we can have the king back?”
“Of course! But they’re both strong, you know! I doubt some old man can stand a chance!”
“You’re telling the truth? Let’s go, then!”
Kodak instantly closed in on the two and knocked them out with a lariat. Sighs of exasperation—or perhaps it was resignation—sounded throughout the audience.
“Now, give him back!” Kodak roared.
“Noooo! Cain! Harry! How come the plot isn’t going like it should?! I’m setting it up so clearly... But I guess I can just beat you myself and make it a happy end? Okay, the real deal starts now! You can have the king back if you beat me!”
“You’ll give him back, will you? A student without a single accomplishment to her name treating the king as her personal property... How strange. And are you really going to keep your word? You went back on it just now, didn’t you? Are you going to tell us we have to beat Schneider next?”
“Ugh, I’ve had it with you! There’s no way I can lose, anyway! Schneider, you’ll keep your promise to me, right?” Maribelle turned to the western entrance of the field.
Schneider was leaning against the entrance... He’d apparently been there the whole time. I wasn’t sure if he’d been casting illusion magic on himself and Terl or on us, but he’d escaped my notice.
He slowly approached Maribelle and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “How could I refuse a request from my lovely Maribelle?”
“Schneider! You understand this story better than anyone!” Maribelle wrapped her arm around Schneider’s waist.
Having done exactly as Maribelle wished, Schneider slumped his shoulders at us. It irritated me.
“So, Schneider, is it true that we can have the king back if we win against this young lady?”
Schneider’s face shifted slightly at my words. “I’ve never lied before, Serephione. Lies and betrayal are what she did best, and what I despise the most.”
It was true that he hadn’t told any lies. His appraisal had come back blue, after all. His out-of-the-ordinary behavior was always serious. I resolved myself to fight both Maribelle and Schneider.
“Ahh, finally, this is how I thought things would turn out! Let’s get that villainess!” Maribelle was cupping her hands around her mouth like a loudspeaker, shouting in a cute voice like an idol from our previous life. She bent both her knees and jumped.
“Stop right there. Serephione has no need to participate in this despicable battle with the king held hostage.”
A cool voice resounded throughout the stadium. Elise pulled down her hood and stepped out from the audience onto the field in a dignified manner, her jet-black hair in a ponytail. Maribelle sneered.
“Who are you?”
“I am a saint, one who has offered her life itself to the gods. I have a question for you as well. What is this ‘heroine’ you’ve been mentioning?”
“The heroine is...the protagonist of this world. She does good things, and everyone likes her, and she gets a happy ending! As the heroine, I have to stop this war and bring peace to the kingdom!”
“And how do you plan to do that?”
“Huh? By talking it over, of course?”
“This discussion is already over. Much blood has been shed. How do you expect to appease people who are furious over their families being killed by talking to them?” Elise explained things patiently as if she were talking to a child, pointing out Maribelle’s logical failings.
“Um, money?”
“That’s a good idea. So, are you rich?”
“I-I’m a student. Of course I’m not rich! I’m gonna use Schneider’s money!”
“I hate to tell you this, but I don’t believe Prince Schneider has much personal wealth.”
“Of course he does! He’s a prince!”
“The royal family doesn’t necessarily have money. The money belongs to the kingdom. And that money is taxed from the people. It isn’t something that Schneider, much less you, can use as you like.”
“Well, I’m doing good things with it! Stop talking already!” Maribelle screeched.
Elise’s temple twitched. “I think you should stop talking. You have interfered in the affairs of the country and conspired with Prince Schneider to move the national army when you have not yet completed your studies or entered the workforce. The temple, in its role as a mediator of peace, cannot overlook this. Part of the responsibility falls on you. You must be prepared to compensate for what you’ve done up to this point and use your abilities to make good on your word to stop this war and bring peace.”
“I said shut up!”
Bladelike winds shot from Maribelle. Kodak and I drew our swords and blocked them.
Wind was a high-level type of magic. Maribelle should have used a lot of magic already, but she didn’t appear tired at all.
“Thank you, Serephi. Let’s punish this girl for her thoughtless, immature behavior.” Elise drew her sword from her waist. It was slender and divine-looking, with fine engravings on the silver. A temple sword? It was imbued with magic. I was seeing her samurai form for the first time since she’d graduated. But I can’t let her fight herself!
“What do we do, Lou?”
“Elise wants to fight for you. Let’s accept her desire. If her life is in danger, we can intervene for her.”
I looked at Schneider, whose arms were folded, leaning against the wall. He was poised on the sidelines.
“I think I’ll have to fight Maribelle myself if I want to change the fate of Wild Rose,” I said to Lou.
“I hate to put it like this, but Elise is your pawn,” Lou replied. “This is no different from you fighting. It’s a favor from Elise. We can have Maribelle show us her hand this way and jump in if Elise loses.” Lou nibbled my neck and sent his pure magic into me to calm me down.
“Elise is strong, Miss Sere! She has divine power on her side! She’ll be okay!” Since even Miyu agreed, I decided to take the favor from Elise and observe Maribelle. Knowledge is power!
I went to Elise’s side and clutched her hand.
“Speed!” I chanted, sending my original speed magic into her. She would be able to move on the tone of my voice for a short time—in other words, at the speed of sound. The look in her eyes showed me how amused she was.
“I imagine it will get in your way somewhat, but please keep your cloak on, saint.”