It's awkward.

"Why did you do it...?!"

"I am sorry, Your Highness."

"Do you know how much I suffered because of you...?!"

It's truly awkward.

Watching the tearful reunion of a granddaughter and her grandfather, I stared blankly at the two of them embracing and thought, 'What do I do now?'

In the original story, the prime minister dies from the previous blow.

Even though he could have easily killed Shartia, the prime minister, who couldn't find the courage to kill the princess who was like a granddaughter to him, had chosen death.

The prime minister stopped his sword right before Shartia's eyes and was killed by the magic she created.

Shartia had looked at the prime minister's trembling breaths and harbored a question.

-Why...?

A question asking why he didn't kill her.

-Your Highness... this old man has done you a great wrong.

-I'm asking why you didn't kill me...!

-Haha... Should I call it affection? I couldn't bring myself to kill someone who is like a daughter to me... Cough...

-Why...!!

-I am sorry for not being able to protect you.

The prime minister was a bad person.

You couldn't call a man who killed over 40 people a good person. Moreover, he had tried to assassinate the imperial prince, so to say he wasn't a bad guy would be to say everyone in the world was a good person.

I have no intention of defending him.

If I could make just one excuse, it would be that all the people he killed were people who tried to harm the princess or were traitors trying to sell out the empire.

Even for him, a man who had killed over 40 people, he wasn't a madman who enjoyed slaughter.

His moniker, 'The Merciful Slaughterer,' also stemmed from his disposition. Considering the evil deeds they had committed, they could have been tortured and killed by the imperial family, so they should have been grateful he killed them without pain.

Just looking at the fact that he didn't kill the emperor who made a pact with the barbarian chief who killed his wife, you couldn't say anything about his character.

Of course, even so, the fact that he tried to use Shartia was an undeniably evil act.

"I... I... I'm sorry, Your Highness."

"Just tell me! Why you did it! I need to know!"

"A loyal subject must be tight-lipped..."

"..."

"I may not be a loyal subject, but as a vassal..."

"It's so frustrating I could die, just tell me!!"

Truly.

I feel like I'm going to die from the awkwardness.

Watching the two of them clutching each other, I decided to take some time to think about the future.

I saved him, but I don't know what to do first.

In the original story, after the prime minister's death, Shartia began to investigate his actions.

-This is strange...

Shartia had been afraid to re-examine information about the prime minister until then, but she thought there must be something fishy about his final moments.

As Shartia learned the reasons for his murders and realized the truth, she was able to get a grip on her weakened mentality, and began to harbor antipathy towards the current emperor's problems, turning slightly more hardline in this episode.

"Idiot... you idiot...!"

"..."

"Why did you do it... If something like that happened, you should have told me sooner!"

"I didn't want to place such a heavy burden on the young princess."

I guess it'll work out somehow.

The princess, who is the most prominent figure in the empire after the crown prince, should be able to handle one criminal.

In any case, I have no intention of getting involved.

If I had intended to kill the prime minister in the first place, I would have come alone, not needed to borrow the princess's power.

I had forcibly pushed her into this to give her a place to rest for even a moment, so I thought I had given her a decent chance to become independent.

Besides, I'm also a murderer who has killed hundreds, so I had no right to judge a criminal who killed over 40 people.

Looking at Hans or Elishia, so much had already gone askew when it came to judging the weight of sin, so I thought pretending to be good now wouldn't change anything.

If a person suddenly tries to do good, it's hypocrisy.

Thinking about it this way, it seems like I'm surrounded by nothing but bad people... a villainess, a magic plunderer, and the leader of a cult.

'It seems I'm the one who should be purged first in the empire...'

I felt dejected by my newly realized, ruined human relationships.

"You must forget someone like me and become a wise ruler."

"What are you talking about!"

"I have served my purpose."

"What purpose..."

"I will take my own life."

"Take... your own life?"

"If you return to the palace like this, there will surely be talk because of my existence. So that I don't become a burden, I will take my own life...!!"

"Don't you dare!!!!"

I let out a hollow laugh and stepped aside to give the two of them time. It seemed they had a lot of unfinished things to talk about.

"I'll go stand watch."

I tactfully excused myself.

*

Back at the three-way fork in the sewer.

"...Oh."

I smiled as I looked at them, letting out heavy sighs.

"You're all amazing."

I was proud that they had all returned without anyone getting hurt.

Ruin, covered in strange slime, looked at me with an expression full of irritation.

"Mr. Ruin."

"What."

"When did you switch to the aloe route? If you're going to change your concept, you need to get my permission first."

"...I'm dead tired, why are you making a joke like that?"

"Hmm? I'm serious."

"Not funny."

"I wasn't trying to be funny."

At my serious expression, Ruin let out a deep sigh and dropped the necklace in his hand to the floor.

"Thirteen."

The necklace, which fell with a clatter, was stained with blood.

"We got thirteen of them."

"Oh..."

"Is 'oh' all you have to say? I said we got thirteen."

Why is he looking at me like that? Does he want me to praise him for a job well done? Just as I was about to clap while looking at Ruin with an awkward gaze...

"We got fifteen."

Hanna, letting out a soft breath, smiled faintly and scoffed at Ruin. Her expression seemed to say, 'How about that?'

They hadn't brought the prisoners' heads.

They brought their identification tags, which could prove their identities. I hadn't told them to do something as gruesome as cutting off heads, so I accepted the prisoners' tags they held out with a pleased smile.

"You should give them to me like this, not drop them on the floor."

"..."

Shuen, huffing as she looked at Ruin, clenched her fists and shouted.

"What are you doing, acting so rudely!"

"...What."

"Pick it up and give it to me properly."

"..."

Thanks to Shuen saying what I wanted to say, I smiled again today.

"So..."

Thinking of the two who hadn't arrived, I spoke in a low voice, asking if they were here yet.

"Are the others not here yet..."

Two people had yet to arrive.

The strongest combination, and also the two with the softest hearts.

"They seem to be busy."

To be honest, I thought Yuria and Mikhail still had a lot to work on. Their soft-heartedness would take a long time to fix.

I thought they had improved during the last vacation class, but I knew it would be very difficult to fix in a short period, so I waited for them patiently.

The love for life is something everyone has. Myself included.

-Thump.

"Here they come."

I smiled as I looked at the passage from which the sound of weary footsteps was coming. I thought I needed to encourage the two who must have had the hardest time in this battle.

Mikhail and Yuria walked over with tired expressions and stood before me.

"Sorry we're late."

"It's alright."

"We..."

I was about to say it was okay.

Taking someone's life must still be a difficult thing for them. I was waiting for Yuria and Mikhail to say they had roughly subdued them when a cold piece of metal was dropped into my hand, and I heard them speak.

"It's five."

"..Hmm?"

"Sorry it's not more."

"N-no, not at all."

It was an unexpected development.

That these two had participated in taking lives. I was dumbfounded that people who couldn't kill a passing ant had wielded 'death,' and I gave an awkward smile and patted their heads.

"Huh...?"

"Ricardo?"

They were the ones who had shown the most courage.

In the novel, they were people who had killed while crying. Of course, Ruin and Hanna, Shuen and Veilrin must have had a hard time mentally too, but these two were on a different level.

"It must have been very hard for you."

"..."

"You've worked hard."

"..."

Killing isn't a good thing.

It's just that...

"...Yeah."

"Thank you."

I felt grateful that they were able to protect themselves in order to live.

With a gentle smile, I looked at their sparkling eyes and slowly spoke the words they were most likely anticipating.

"Well then, I should announce first place."

Hanna and Veilrin smiled.

"Ms. Hanna and Ms. Veilrin."

"Yes!"

"Yeees...!"

What should I give them?

I smiled faintly and offered my congratulations.

"Congratulations."

Whatever it is, I think I can give it to them with a happy heart. Enough to give them the strength not to lose in what's to come.

"You're first place."

"Alright!!"

"He remembered my name..."

"Haha... As for the prize, I will deliver it to you in person later."

It seems this episode will go smoothly.

Unlike the original story, with no one dying.

"Thank you for going along with my selfish request. You all worked very hard."

Three days after the incident ended.

"Sweet, sweet bread yokan~"

Visiting the academy for the first time in a while, I walked down the quiet hallway with a bright smile.

"It feels like it's been a really long time since I came to the academy during the break."

There are no students.

Not a single fresh-faced student could be seen in the academy, to the point where no one would say anything even if I wailed my heart out in the hallway.

The reason for the lack of students was, of course, the vacation period, but feeling good about not having to get caught up in needless gossip, I continued humming as I headed towards my destination.

"Hmm-hmm-hmm~"

I feel like I've been coming to the academy more often lately. After being kicked out of the academy with the young lady, I hadn't even set foot near the place, but since Malik was appointed as the senior director, I had to come for work even if I didn't want to.

Of course, I didn't come for work today. I came to give a gift to an honor student.

-Step. Step.

My steps, reminiscing about memories while looking at the empty classrooms, had probably continued for about ten more paces.

"I'm here."

Stopping in front of a huge door, I smiled faintly, raised my hand, and began to knock carefully.

Because today, the recipient of the first gift would be inside.

-Knock, knock, knock.

It was nice not having to ask every time, since she was always in her room.

Whether it rained.

Whether a typhoon came.

This person was always here.

[Student Council President's Office.]

-That's why, Guild Master, you need to think a little more. There must be a reason why the Crown Prince is quiet.

-I think it's just because he's at a loss. Just look at what's happening in the west; there's more than one or two things to solve. Just looking at the unbridled Desmunt is suffocating, what can he do?

-Even so, Tae-oh is the Crown Prince, so he must have some scheme.

-He didn't seem that smart...

Just as I expected, the sound of a heated discussion could be heard from beyond Shartia's office.

'This is troublesome.'

Normally, I wouldn't want to interrupt the two of them in their heated debate and would have waited until they were finished, but today I have many people to give gifts to, so I guess I'll have to be rude.

-Knock. Knock.

"Is anyone there?"

Silence fell in the office at the sound of the knock, and soon after, the Guild Master, dressed in a maid outfit, opened the door to greet me.

"Good day. My name is Ricardo, the butler of Lady Desmunt Olivia. I've come to see Her Highness the Imperial Princess. Is this a good time?"

"Oh..."

The disguised Guild Master's eyes widened, and she smiled.

"Of course."

"Yes, then I'll wait for a moment... Huh?"

"You can come in comfortably, just think of it as your own home. Her Highness was waiting for you anyway."

Hmm...?

Flustered by the unexpected welcome, I put on an awkward smile and wondered. I hadn't even sent a letter, so I thought it was strange for her to welcome me like this.

No matter how well the Guild Master and I knew each other, I was bewildered by the kindness of being let in so readily and awkwardly entered the office.

As if she knew it too, Shartia spat out words filled with displeasure from beyond the wall.

-Who is it that you're letting in without my permission?

The Guild Master, with a broad smile, said to Shartia in an excited voice.

"Her Highness's special someone has arrived~"

"...!!"

"Didn't you talk my ear off about him?"

"Just a moment..."

"I've heard everything from your fateful first meeting to what happened in the sewers, so I thought it would be alright to just let him in."

"B-be quiet!"

"Haha!"

Shartia, who hurried over with stomping footsteps, stared at me with a reddened face and wide eyes.

"Why did you suddenly come without any notice?"

Seeing Shartia's flustered state, a mischievous thought came to me, and I smiled brightly and threw a playful line.

"Ta-da..."

With the most innocent smile in the world.

"I came because I missed you."

"...!!!"

"Oh my..."

Silence falls.

I said it as a joke, but it seems she genuinely dislikes it, so I was hurt. When I visited the convenience store for work, Schuen didn't react like that.

-Commoner?

-Ta-da... I came because I missed you.

-I-is this that thing called flirting that lowly commoners use...?

-Huh?

-I... I have no resistance to it...!

Feeling awkward at the colder-than-expected reaction from royalty, I let out a dry laugh and mumbled my words. It felt like if I teased her any more, I'd be arrested for insulting the royal family.

"It's a joke."

"...You, really."

"My... you're quite the prankster."

Receiving a grand reception from the Guild Master and Shartia, I approached lightly with the gift in my hand and offered a greeting.

"It's been a while."

"We met three days ago."

"That's a long enough time. My young lady has changed into a different person in those three days."

"Lady Desmunt?"

"Yes."

-Chocolate...

-This is a water bottle.

-Eeeeeek!! It's chocolate!!

"She's no longer human."

Recalling the young lady who bites at anything black she sees, I smiled faintly and handed a small gift to Shartia. It wasn't polite to visit someone empty-handed.

"What's this?"

Receiving the gift, Shartia's eyes widened as she voiced her question. With a smile that said, 'You could have come empty-handed, why bring something like this?'

"It's a cake."

"...Why did you bring something like this again."

"I'm meeting the Imperial Princess of the Empire, after all; I couldn't possibly come empty-handed. For your reference, there's no poison or anything, so you can eat it without worry."

"Ha."

Shartia let out a chuckle and offered a quiet word of thanks.

"Thank you. I'll enjoy it."

"If you would."

"And... thank you for that, too."

"Hmm?"

Taking the tea the Guild Master brought, I shrugged at Shartia's thanks. I wondered if I'd done anything to deserve her gratitude.

In my memory, all I'd done was boss around, scold, and threaten the person known as the Imperial Princess of the Empire. Receiving thanks so suddenly, I smiled awkwardly and scratched my head.

"Was there anything else to be thankful for other than the gift I gave you?"

"I'm talking about the Chancellor affair."

"Aha."

"Thanks to the dummy you made, things were handled well, so I'm thanking you."

Chuckling at Shartia's words, I thought of Elysia, who had made the Chancellor's body from an undead corpse, and waved my hand dismissively.

"It's not something I should be thanked for. There's someone else who deserves the thanks."

"Then pass on my thanks to them as well. And without you, there would have been no way."

Being praised, I felt surprisingly good. Whenever I attended the academy, I was called a problem child instead of being praised, so it felt like I had finally shed that title.

"How about it? Wouldn't you call me a model student at this point?"

"Pfft... How nice it would have been if you acted like this when you were at the academy."

"It's because my puberty came late."

"Whatever."

Letting out a chuckle, Shartia stretched and enjoyed the moment of peace. It seemed she, who was always being pursued, had finally found a way to rest.

"Ahem."

Shartia spoke to me with clear eyes. Not the tired eyes she always showed, but a gaze filled with more brilliance than ever before.

"Hey, Ricardo."

"Yes."

She stated her ambition to me.

"I'm going to be king."

I let out a dry laugh at Shartia's words, raising my teacup and waving my hand. It was to convey that there was no need to say something so obvious now.

"Why state the obvious now?"

"No."

Shartia was looking at me with the eyes of a monarch.

"I'm going to be king."

"..."

"I'll become king and get my satisfying revenge on my damn brothers."

"..."

"I'll prove that my father's judgment was wrong."

"..."

"A great cause? A wise ruler? Rather than that, I've decided to become king because I want to."

A faint smile formed on my face at Shartia's bold ambition, and I replied playfully. I was proud of how much she had grown.

"...Then I suppose you'll give me some of the spoils, too."

Shartia chuckled and said.

"You might just get the entire empire."

"I don't need the entire empire, though."

"You're really so dense... Ugh."

"Was there a hidden meaning?"

"No. Forget it."

Sighing, Shartia asked about the well-being of a certain person. She hadn't seen him since that day she fell into the sewer.

"Grandpa... how is he doing?"

"...Are you referring to the former Chancellor?"

"Yeah."

I looked at her with a bitter smile. In fact, the purpose of my visit was to talk about this very thing.

"He said he would finish what he left undone."

"...I see."

"He left the hideout, saying he still had things to do. Vowing not to take revenge in the same way as in the past."

"I see..."

A look of disappointment was etched on Shartia's face.

"He could have at least told me before leaving..."

I smiled faintly, trying to erase the dark expression on her face, and said. A surprise is always most effective when both parties are unaware.

"So..."

"Yeah."

"I brought him here."

"...Right. ...Hmm?"

As Shartia's startled eyes turned to me, a knock was heard from the other side of the office door.

"Are you crazy?! What if other people see!!"

"The hallway is fine. I've already taken care of it."

"Still!!"

"Spatial magic is impossible inside the office, you see. But thanks to an acquaintance who had been planning an academy invasion for a very long time, spatial magic is possible within the academy grounds, which was a lifesaver."

"Is that something to be proud of!!!"

-Knock, knock.

Shartia looked at me with astonished eyes and put a hand to her forehead.

"You're... really driving me crazy."

I smiled faintly and said.

"Hurry and open the door. The worker is waiting, isn't he?"

"You really... Sigh... Never mind. I'm the one getting tired of talking."

"Haha... I'm a bit of an unpredictable person, aren't I?"

Shartia glared at me and smiled.

"You... you'd better be prepared later."

"Gladly."

"Those words just now. No take-backs."

I gave her a worker because she was short-staffed, why is she acting like that?

"Hurry up."

Smiling at Shartia's intense reaction, I smiled at the benevolent old man visible beyond the opening door.

"Grandpa..."

The Chancellor was dressed in the same neat formal attire as when he first appeared before Shartia, looking at the Imperial Princess.

"Your Highness."

With moist tears and determination etched around his eyes.

-Thud.

"Grandpa...?"

Kneeling before Shartia, the Chancellor began to utter an oath with a solemn expression.

"Leogard Erik. I have come to become Your Highness's vassal."

Just as when he had sworn his oath to the Emperor, the words of a loyal subject for the peace of the Empire began to echo in Shartia's ears once more.

"...Sniffle."

"Would you be willing to re-employ this lacking old soldier?"

"I thought you were really leaving..."

The moment Shartia's approval was given, the Chancellor wiped the tears from his eyes with his sleeve and spoke, showing his firm resolve.

"Then I shall draw up a life-binding contract."

"Hmm...?"

"A traitor once has lost all trust, so with this slave contract that I have procured with great difficulty...!"

"You don't have to do that!"

"A loyal subject...!!!!"

He seems like a cheerful old man.

"A loyal subject!!!! Must take his own life!!!"

In a complex sense.