Volume 1

    Chapter 95.2

    +++第９５話　倫理の狭間

    TL : Cnine

    ED/PF :

    Part 8

    Satsuki said those words with a slightly unpleasant tone .

    「Yeah, it’s as I said right . I said that I’ll manage it somehow」

    Rio’s tone while replying to her was calm .

    「That’s so but, you mean you are raiding the castle alone？」

    「Yes」

    Rio’s replying nonchalantly .

    「………… . You, you’re actually a spy of a foreign country right？ Doing something like climbing the wall in the midst of this darkness isn’t something that can be done by anyone right？ 」

    Satsuki’s sending an inquisitive gaze to Rio .

    Doing something like raiding dozens metres high spire by climbing it’s wall in the middle of darkness isn’t something that can be done by a normal person .

    The possibilities are only someone who’s received a harsh training to do this kind of work .

    Though it might be because she’s watching too many dramas and movies, Satsuki thought was along that way .

    「You’re wrong .   I’m really nothing more than an ordinary person」

    Rio’s shaking his head while smiling wryly .

    「There’s no way that’s true, since you can’t just simply invade the royal castle alone……… . . 」

    Satsuki’s face cramped .

    「Certainly you might say so」

    Rio’s agreeing with a puffed smile .

    「…………」

    Satsuki finds herself unable to retort to Rio’s words, several seconds of silence are descending inside of her room .

    「………… Riight, even more so, nobody noticed？ If this kind of thing is leaked out, you might be receiving a death penalty . It’s still possible to back off now, for you to be brave and risk something like this…………」

    Satsuki told him that with an awkward expression almost immediately .

    Despite it being in the cover of darkness, Rio could feel the guilt that was released by Satsuki for some reason .

    And then, vaguely guessing what she has in her mind in this situation .

    「Could it be that you’re having cold feet？」

    So Rio asked her with a plain tone .

    「……」

    Satsuki unintentionally gasped for breath, it’s a bull’s eye .

    Part 9

    「I’m sorry . My explanation is insufficient right . This action of me raiding the castle is an action that obviously should be punished, and the action of me sneaking out with Satsuki, the hero, is………… . . despite not a subject to punishment, it might be a deed that is going against the law . Though I have no intention to be provocative, I don’t mind to go back if you’ve no intention to meet Miharu-san and co by going as far as breaking the law . I mean, if you, Miharu-san, and her friends all want it, it’s possible for you to meet them in the castle . The thing that is certain is that I’m in a hurry」

    Saying so, Rio’s looking at the place where Satsuki’s standing .

    Despite being unable to see opposite party’s face clearly due to the darkness, Satsuki couldn’t help but notice a bit of the bottom of Rio’s heart .

    「……… You don’t think I did something wrong, do you？ Meeting with Miharu-chan and co even if I have to break the law」

    Satsuki’s asking timidly .

    Her heart is beating heavily with [dokundokun] .

    「Mistake………… . Is it . Though I don’t understand about that matter very well, I’m not particularly concerned about that . So as to not regret it later, I choose the best methods as necessary . Of course the talk about my moral value is within the scope of not ringing a warning but, it’s only that much」

    Rio’s reply was truly a light way of reasoning .

    It’s same as him saying that he won’t even hesitate to break the established law of the country if he deemed that it was necessary .

    Because in reality, currently Rio’s already breaking the law of Galwark kingdom .

    Though Satsuki knew with their conversation till now that Rio’s a rational person, that kind of impression she had toward Rio was repainted in an instant .

    「So the current situation isn’t contrary to your moral value, is it？  」

    「If it is, I wouldn’t have even come to this place, you know」

    Rio’s smiling wryly while answering her with a composed tone .

    「You…………… . . Despite knowing what going that far means………… . 」

    Satsuki’s whispering those words with an appearance of being tormented by guilt .

    He’s intentionally breaking the law while knowing full well of what he is doing .

    So far, Satsuki’s never even considered to do that kind of action .

    「Do you disdain such a action？」

    Rio’s calmly asking her .

    「!!!………………… There’s………………… No ………………… Way」

    Satsuki felt that her face became hot .

    It’s a lie . She indeed feels so .

    indeed, Satsuki disdained Rio’s action .

    Even if it’s necessary, for Rio to easily commit this kind of crime .

    Because she couldn’t see Rio as nothing but a man outside of her common sense .

    But, Satsuki was somehow ashamed that Rio can see through about that aspect of herself .

    Part 10

    （Why is he in this place right now？ It’s for me, Miharu-chan, and co, right . It’s not for himself . And yet, here he is………… . Offering choices to me . And yet, I………… . ）

    What she really should disdain is herself .

    It was prepared till this stage by Rio, who’s unrelated to this matter .

    And yet, despite there being a chance to stop it, she’s retreating at the last moment due to impending crisis and for her own self-protection .

    Despite it’s for herself, just pondering all over the place from a safe place won’t change anything .

    Satsuki was truly ashamed at that personality of her .

    「What should be disdained is me, right……… . 」

    Satsuki was muttering absentmindedly with self-derision .

    But, that instantly changed to a serious expression and,

    「Sorry . Please let me meet with Miharu-chan and the others . Please help me meet them」

    She’s bowing very deeply to Rio .

    There’s still the feeling of repulsion in her to not commit a crime .

    She was sure of that .

    But, her wish to meet Miharu and co is stronger than that .

    She didn’t think that was a mistake when she thought about it that way .

    Of course, the matter of them doing a secret meeting is just unreasonable and maybe only served to delay the problem .

    Even so, the gist of it is, she can meet Miharu and co without any kind of problems .

    Would there be a better reunion than this .

    The youth who was standing before her has made that preparation .

    In that case, she should tell her gratitude to this youth .

    Other than disdaining from him for his action .

    Satsuki felt so .

    「………………… Is it okay？  」

    Rio’s asking as if slightly surprised by her response .

    「Yeah . I mean, I want to meet Miharu-chan and co . I want to meet and chat with them . That’s the reason why you’re preparing that situaiton, right？ 」

    「Yeah, well, that’s true…………… . . 」

    Rio made a slightly evasive answer .

    Maybe because he’s slightly bewildered by the change of Satsuki’s attitude .

    「I want to meet Miharu-chan and co . I can’t lie to that feeling . Not like I want to lie either . So that I won’t regret it later, right」

    Satsuki’s smiling gently as she said that .

    Rio’s eyes are opened slightly wide .

    「In order to not regret it, is it？  」

    「Yeah . These are your words though, aren’t they」

    「Is that so」

    This reason is somehow easily resounding in Rio’s heart .

    「That’s why, please . I’m really sorry for the change of my attitude at this late hour but, please take me to where Miharu-chan and co are」

    Part 11

    And then, she’s addressing to Rio with a sincere expression .

    「Understood」

    Rio said that as a light smile blooming on his face .

    「But, it’s a bit too late for this now, I mean it’s as Satsuki-san said that there’s a possibility that I’m a spy right？  And yet, aren’t you curious about it？ 」

    Rio asked while looking at Satsuki .

    Thereupon, Satsuki’s chuckling lightly .

    「What are you saying . I thought that I never said something like you being a spy you know？ 」

    Was her answer .

    「I might be trying to assasinate you, you know？」

    「There’s a time and place for everything . But if it comes to that I’ll fight with all my power」

    Satsuki’s replying that way while slightly shrugging her shoulders .

    Rio replied to that with smile on his face .

    「Understood .    In that case, shall we go . Toward the place where Miharu-san and co are」

    「Yeah . Please take me there . ………………… . Even so, how can you climb the wall of the spire？ It means that we’re going to be descending the wall of spire to return right？ 」

    So, Satsuki’s asking Rio about the method he was using to arrive to this room .

    When thinking about the height of the spire, to be honest, she wants to be spared from descending along its wall .

    But, the answer that came from Rio was greatly betraying her expectation .

    「I didn’t climb it you know」

    「EH?  」

    The moment she understood the meaning of his words, Satsuki’s tilting her neck .

    「I descended toward it」

    Maybe because of Satsuki’s expression, Rio’s tone when he replied to her is slightly pleasant to be heard .

    ☆★☆★☆★

    After holding Satsuki on the balcony, Rio’s soaring high in the sky while being covered by the curtain of the night sky .

    Their bodies keep ascending slowly .

    （N-No way？  How can we fly？  Levitating powers？）

    Satsuki’s doubting her own eyes seeing the phenomenon which is completely defying the rules of gravity .

    Slowly but rapidly, their bodies are soaring toward the sky .

    「Uwa~a！ No way！ Amazing！  」

    In the blink of an eye, the view of the royal castle became smaller, Satsuki couldn’t help but to say her admiration . [TL : Another sinker]

    Though she can see many tiny light spots in the royal castle far below her, Satsuki’s voice isn’t even reaching the royal castle .

    Part 12

    「Amazing！ Amazing！ See, it’s amazing you know！ 」

    Satsuki’s raising a joyful voice .

    Up till now, she never saw the sky from so close . [TL : Airplane?] [ED: Not all people can afford plane tickets you know]

    When she turned her face upward, the night sky was decorated by countless shining stars, when looking below, the light of the full moon is gently shining upon the world .

    It can’t be helped that she feels happy and is really enjoying that .

    「See, have you seen that？  See！  That place, the stars are so pretty and the moon is so close！ 」

    Satsuki’s laughing innocently while pulling Rio’s sleeve like a child .

    「Yeah, I’ve seen it you know」

    It was a scene that he has seen so many times up till now .

    So Rio replied with a wry smile .

    「Fufu, that must be right . So you understand right . Fufufu」

    Satsuki was laughing as if she’s really happy .

    As if she’s completely released from the stress which was haunting her up till now .

    Rio’s looking at Satsuki who makes that expression .

    That was the purest expression which she’d shown to Rio so far .

    He can’t even feel the slightest inch of her stouthearted expression which she’d shown in the evening party .

    Yes, the one who’s on Rio’s arms is she who was showing an expression befitting her age, it was the expression of a normal girl who you could find anywhere .

    「N?  What？ 」

    Before he noticed Satsuki’s facing toward him, and she asked Rio while leaning closer toward him with a delighted face .

    「It’s fun, isn’t it?」

    Rio’s asking and,

    「Yeah, it’s fun you know！  」

    Satsuki’s seemingly slightly embarrassed but, she’s still answering Rio with a wide smile on her face .

    「But, I wonder if it’s a bit cold here」

    Though currently Strahl region is in the spring season, it doesn’t mean that the cold night can be compared to Japan .

    Moreover, when it came to their position which is high in the sky, the cold seeping into their bones is mercilessly coming upon them .

    Despite putting on the overcoat she borrowed from Rio, she’s only wearing her pajamas below that .

    Despite no matter how much she’s getting excited due to the adrenalin, it’s impossible for Satsuki to not feel the cold .

    「Please hold a bit more, it’s just a bit more till we arriving at the meeting point」

    「EE~h？」

    Part 13

    Satsuki’s letting out a slightly pouting voice .

    「It can’t be helped then . Well then, could you fly a bit faster, please」

    Satsuki nestles closer to Rio .

    「It’s warm」

    And mutters so .

    The dream-like moment for her is coming to an end in the blink of an eye .

    「We’ve arrived you know」

    After slipping out of the royal castle and flying on the air, Rio suddenly told their arrival .

    「Is that so？ This place, seems like inside of the forest though……… . 」

    Satsuki timidly said those words while looking at the surrounding ground where they’re about to land .

    This place is the open space located inside of the forest which they can reach after advancing for a bit more from the grain producing region in the surroundings of the capital .

    Maybe he is saying that Miharu and co are waiting inside of the forest .

    After finishing a miracle-like flight, Satsuki has slowly regained her composure .

    （As expected, this is a trap after all………… . ）

    Satsuki’s drenched in cold sweat after pushing her anxiety .

    At that time .

    「Satsuki-san！」

    A voice who called Satsuki’s name is resounding in the vicinity .

    Satsuki’s sending her focus toward that direction by reflex .

    Thereupon, she could see the figure of several people approaching her from inside of the darkness .

    The voice which she is familiar with, and which she missed .

    They’re inside the darkness but, Satsuki knows .

    Yes, the one who is standing right in front of her is the three of Miharu, Aki and, Masato .

    「Everyone………」

    Satsuki said that with a voice filled with emotion .

    “There’s no doubt about it” .

    That is the figure of her companions .

    And then, despite extremely moved by their reunion, for some reason, Miharu and co stopped their feet several steps before reaching her place .

    「N?  What’s matter？ 」

    Satsuki’s tilting her head as she was asking for the reason of their delicate sense of distance .

    Miharu and co, each of them are looking at Rio and Satsuki .

    For some reason, Masato has a grin on his face as if understand the situation,  Aki’s looking while having a light smile on her face as if feeling embarrassed .

    And then, Miharu was smiling awkwardly as if slightly bewildered by the situation .

    “There’s something strange here . ”

    Satsuki who thought so is tried looking at her situation .

    「AH……」

    And then she noticed .

    The fact that Rio’s carrying her like a princess . [ED: You know, In a bridal/princess carry]

    The thing about them glued together for safety reasons is something that can’t be helped but, more than that, the distance between them is strangely close .

    The fact is that Satsuki is clinging to Rio as if embracing him .

    Part 14

    「Hey, how long you’re going to hold me on your arms？」

    Satsuki’s asking that while looking at Rio with glaring eyes .

    「Uhm, I would like to release you so very much but, I need you to release your hands first………… . . 」

    Rio’s replying with a dry laugh .

    Therefore, Satsuki finally noticed the fact that she was the one cuddling with Rio .

    Maybe because she was excited, it seems she had let her guard down .

    「……！」

    Satsuki released her hands which was coiling to Rio’s body in panic .

    Thereupon, Rio immediately dropped Satsuki on the ground .

    Satsuki then quickly took some distance away from Rio .

    Without understanding what she should say in this situation, a delicate silence has descended on this place .

    Clearing her throat with a cough and then,

    「Uhm, Yah~ho . Is everyone healthy？ 」

    Satsuki’s saying that with a smile as if trying to deceive them .