Chapter 74 - The Girl Wants to Be M*rdered

**Chapter 74: The End of the War** * * * The clash of steel against steel, and the loud cries of unknown soldiers filled the air. Indeed, this place was nothing short of a battlefield—a place truly deserving of such a name. "...Huh." A small whistle escaped my lips. It wasn't because I was in high spirits from witnessing something exciting or amusing; of course, it wasn't anything like that. It was more akin to an expression of stupefied resignation, something that came naturally as I abandoned everything and let go. A spontaneous chuckle, if you will. Clang, clang. The sharp metallic sounds echoed. The sound reflected off the walls of the alleys and buildings, its crispness inducing a momentary unease. As the street, my destination, began to appear before me, I saw at some distance a high-level duel unfolding. And at that infernal sight, I halted my steps entirely. "........" They say that from a distance, what appears amusing becomes a tragedy up close. The scene was so fitting for that saying that an unconscious admiration effortlessly escaped my lips. However, if there was a problem with it... ...it was the fact that I was supposed to get closer to that very place. Indeed, my life was not a comedy but a damned tragedy. I let out a sigh. At that moment, I wanted nothing more than to grab those furiously fighting and ask them if they realized they were in the very heart of the Arcadian capital. Not that I had much room to talk, having conducted my own reckless escapades within the walls of Muzeugon, but there ought to be a limit. At the very least, I expected them to move their skirmish to a less populated place. Yet here they were, conducting an all-out brawl for all to witness. Personally, I wished that the imperial patrol guards, who were discreetly observing the scene from afar, would step in to stop them, but alas, it seemed that was too hopeful. Disappointingly, the guards merely kept their distance and observed. Given who was involved in the fight, they likely couldn't act rashly without risking an international incident. But why do the most crucial parties seem oblivious to that fact? The irony is that an outsider like me is the one most concerned about it. Anyway, the patrol guards would have roughly understood who they were by talking to the nearby escorts. In a world that values honor, dueling was relatively common and even encouraged. While making a scene on the street may get them criticized, the act of fighting itself wasn't inherently problematic. Thus, they chose to stand by unless another incident occurred. Well. That wasn't an agreeable fact for me, but... ──Cring!! "How dare you show your face!" "...Remi!" Remi Akaia clashed swords with her assailant, shouting something as she did. The blows from Remi Akaia's sword came flying from all directions, and her opponent struggled, twisting their blade just barely to deflect the onslaught. Behind them, their escorts stood awkwardly, unable to even properly draw their swords. It was likely because they could not recklessly aim their swords at their master. No matter how skilled they were, they couldn't stop the fierce fight between the two without inflicting damage. Alternatively, the combatants may have ordered them not to intervene. As always, it’s those below who suffer... The ones above remain oblivious to the hardship... In any case, the duel continued uninterrupted. And beside the battling duo— "I told you, I would deal with you." "You villain...!! Move aside...!!" Thud, thud. With a heavy expression, Saeli confronted their escorts. Having already subdued more than half of the guards, she shook off her hands and feet, making her presence known. Although some tried to bypass her and rush into the alley Alice and I had fled into, their efforts were futile against Saeli, who watched them with her eyes wide open. ─Crash. "What?!" "I told you, don't think you can pass." A cloud of dust rose with a forceful burst of sound. The man who attempted to pass her was grabbed by the ankle and, without losing momentum, slammed mercilessly into the ground. Unaffected by the many swords aimed at her, Saeli calmly gazed at them. If the guards had time to engage in a war of attrition or fought with backup, they might have been able to stand a chance, but now, consumed by impatience to pursue us, she held the upper hand. The situation was unfolding as expected—save for one significant oversight on my part— ─Clang, clash! "...You...! You...!!" "......." Remi Akaia's blade began to be pushed back a little. From an objective viewpoint, there didn't seem to be a significant skill gap between the two. While one could argue that Remi Akaia had the upper hand in terms of force and speed, she was currently swinging her sword fueled by anger. As a result, her best attempts missed their mark, leaving dangerous openings for her opponent. Had her opponent exploited those glaring gaps, she might have found herself on the ground by now. A mere graze could have inflicted a wound severe enough to hinder her movements for a while. Even a blow from the hilt to a vital spot could have caused enough pain to bring her down. However, contrary to my expectations, Remi Akaia remained unharmed, without a single scratch. ──Slash!! "Answer me!!!" "...Ugh." "─Princess!" Strangely enough, it was the assailant who bore the marks of several wounds, not her. **Floating in the sky were a few drops of blood.** A hat fell completely off, revealing her strikingly clean silver hair fluttering in the air. That peculiar shade induced a strange familiarity, drawing my attention entirely to the unexpected assailant. And soon, my puzzlement was swiftly resolved. The answer was right behind me. Yes. It was the color of Alice. "........" Though the eyes carried a yellow hue reminiscent more of Remi Akaia than Alice, the features, the hair, the eyes, the skin... And above all, the aura that enveloped her. All of it bore an uncanny resemblance to Alice, whom I've always known. I couldn't help but think that if Alice were to grow up, this is what she might look like. '...Remi?' '...Ah?' Back when the four of us were casually shopping, and I turned around upon hearing someone call out Remi Akaia's name on the street, Though we shared no past encounters, the moment I saw her face, I rapidly deduced her identity. She was, indeed, a spitting image of Alice. Yes. She was the first princess and current heir to the throne of the Tesilia Kingdom. The one who repeatedly stabbed her sister with a sword and ultimately pushed her off a cliff. "...This is truly surreal." Anna Akaia. ** I should have been seething with rage. If not anger, then at least revulsion should have emerged when thinking of what she had done. After all, previously, even the mere mention of "Anna Akaia" would have made my skin crawl, harboring intense animosity towards her, despite never knowing her face. When Saeli's words were corroborated by Remi Akaia's testimony, my anger soared to new heights. For her actions could never be justified for any reason. But for some reason... Was it the visage that reminded me of Alice? Or the sorrowful eyes that seemed to express regret for all she had done? I found myself feeling a slight, unexpected pity toward her. Step, step. "─Everyone, stop." Noticing it, I found myself slowly walking towards them. "Hey!? What are you doing here!?" "You...!" Saeli and Remi Akaia stared daggers at me, questioning why I had returned to this place—as if reprimanding me—but I resolutely ignored them. I had my reasons, too. Unlike you, I had witnessed Alice hurl herself toward death. I simply couldn't leave her alone anywhere. Moreover, I thought if I didn't intervene, someone might end up dead. I was overwhelmed by the urge to lay out these heartfelt reasons, but for now, stopping the fight unfolding before me was more urgent than clearing up misunderstandings. Pointing behind me with my thumb, I murmured softly. "The kid's asleep, you know?" "...What?" Everyone was dumbfounded, staring at me. Their faces seemed to ask what on earth I was talking about. I gestured with my finger to my lips to indicate they should be silent. What else is there to say? Inside the protruding cloth on my back, Alice was nestled. A moment of stillness. Saeli and Remi Akaia quickly regained their composure and began scolding me for bringing Alice here, causing unrest among the escorts who had intended to pursue me. They were baffled by my unexpected arrival. But among them, the sharpest gaze of all came from— "........" Anna Akaia. Her penetrating stare felt like a muddy emotion mixed beyond comprehension. I forced myself to avoid it and spoke. "Let's talk, shall we?" "........." I wished, rather, that she had been the unrepentant villain that stories portrayed. For someone who personally committed acts too horrendous to speak of. For someone who would have had all the power and wealth she once desired. Why did she appear so sorrowful, wracked with guilt? In that unexplainable sense of contradiction, I found myself wanting to hear her story. "Clear the area first and come with me." For now, let's first tidy up the surroundings. ** * * *