“But he isn't in this building anymore!”

“He said, that he has hostages there, so why shouldn't he be?”

“It may be a trick, you dumbass!”

“Who is the dumbass, idiot!”

These people... are very poor concerning discipline. Would it be similarly tragic if a demon attack occurs in Esse? No, I can't believe that our guard would be so confused. As their princess, I have to trust them.

Maybe it's because of the Crusaders. The line of command seems to be shaky right now, and no one can see that there is a need to regroup the guard and fill them in so that they actually know what to do.

I think that is the problem, they have no definite orders and therefore have to improvise.

It's a shame. Even though it helps us.

There are already messengers on the way, trying to fill everyone in, but the situation is too chaotic. This shows the level of the guards of Goldbrunn.

It might also be the reason, why they're also hiring mercenaries right now.

“Are the perpetrators in the building or not?” Kyou doesn't like this nonsense. “Or could it be, that the man is outside, and the demon is still inside?”

“...”

Kyou is smart. She can think of the possibility, that Kenta and the oni might separate at some point.

“We're still trying to figure that out!”

“Oh geez. Then let us handle it.”

“They have hostages and you look too inexperienced to-”

“We can at least look, right?”

“...right...”

Kyou-san waves me. “Rine-chan, keep me company. Arako, watch our backs.”

Yes, Ara is better off at a distance.

Kyou and I walk up to the building, we look through some windows, nothing there. There are many blind spots and they could be on the second floor.

We take one round around the building.

“Ken's not here.” Kyou sighs.

“How do you know?”

“Because we would feel it. If our bonuses due to the curse are in range, you can feel it if you pay attention to it. We have six meters. That's enough to cover that building by going around.” Kyou is really smart. “Let's return and speak to Arako.”

Considering everything, we don't know where Kenta currently is, like almost everyone else here. Typically, they should use signal horns to organize the search, but only a few are in use. Does that mean, that whenever Kenta is seen, he takes out the ones who did it, before they can call for reinforcements?

That's Kenta, he's also smart!

“...I hate to say it, but... we’d better split up,” Kyou suggests.

“Are you sure? It'll be dangerous.” If Kyou is sure then she has already thought it through. I think she can keep herself safe to a degree, especially with all these people here, the mercenaries, the guards and the crusaders. However, these people could turn into enemies at some point.

“I don't plan to engage anyone here, rather i’ll stay here and try to get intel. However, with the curse, the two of you may be able to find him, even if he is hiding.”

“OK!” This sounds like a good plan.

“I will do my best.” Arako is also eager to help, even if her voice is still calm.

“If you find him or even get the feeling that he's close, write a note and put it in the [Inventory]. Check it every five minutes.”

“Kyou, you sound like Kenta right now.”

“Rine-chan,” Kyou's face is beaming. “Could you please stop insulting me?”

She doesn't take my compliment well.

“Kyou, please take it off.” I show her my arm, the left one in the splint. It will be in the way.

“That might lengthen the time for full recovery.” She looks into my eyes, making sure that I know that while fiddling with the bandages.

“Yes.” I know, but this is no time for holding back.

I move my fingers. It hurts a bit, but it's alright.

“Katarine-san, I'll take this side.”

“OK. I’m counting on you!”

“Yes.”

“Don't get hurt, you two!”

“I will try my best, Kyou!”

With this, we split the party.

This part of the town is rather unbecoming... no, dirty is the better word here. There is the stench of burned buildings. So maybe Kenta was here? Even if he was, he's most likely not anymore.

Ah, this is hard! I can't think like Kenta, so I can't even imagine what he would do in a situation like this.

Danger from behind. My sword slides out of its sheath the moment I got an inkling, my hands knowing better than my head what to do.

I perform a diagonal swing from below, and Friedensbote clashes with a saber, making sparks fly. Of course, they come from the enemy weapon.

“Dude!” This is a middle-aged human man, he looks Déjumian. He has two more Déjumian humans at his side, and there is also a Déjumian dar, fully armored. He may only reach my hip, but his body is twice as broad as mine, his arms long and muscular.

Well, before I take care of him, I should disarm my current enemy. It's not that hard to hook up the blade behind the crossguard of the enemy's weapon and then lever it out of their hand. It's not that hard, you just need some training.

“Woa-” I'm about to hit his face, but the next human tries to hit me with his saber, so I have to duck under that blade. It’s better I take him out, so I use my momentum to make a crescent kick, my foot drives through his face and he loses consciousness.

Oh, the third human uses a whip! I'm a bit unbalanced right now, so I’d better make a twist dive. Yes, that's good, the whip missed me.

There is a tiny window when you can cut a whip when the forces at work make it less flexible. So I better cut it while I still can, because it'll be dangerous otherwise.

Good thing, that it’s a leather whip. A chain whip might have been too difficult.

Why is the first one who attacked me still not moving? I've disarmed him, he should do something, but he just looks at me wide-eyed.

Maybe he skipped training?

The moment my feet touch the ground, I burrow my foot into it, and kick some dirt into that one's face.

Ah, the dar is about to do something. He wields a massive spiked maul. It’s dangerous.

He’s swinging it in a wide arc, I’d better jump away. Urgh, hard! Somehow it was way too close. Did he look at the moment, when my footwork was the weakest?

Dari are famous for their martial prowess. There is no easy fight with one. They wait, and only attack after they're sure that they can get you.

“Princess,” the dar says. “Just come with us.”

So he knows that I'm a princess? Did I meet them, when I visited Déjuma, or were they hired by that kingdom?

Why though? Déjuma and Feuerberg are trying to negotiate an alliance! There is even talk about a political wedding to better their relationship! So why- Ah, I know, because of me.

I'm the one, who may or may not be wed. Mother told me, that it's doubtful, and that Déjuma might insist, but it's still negotiable.

...Ah, but if they take me hostage, now that my father has set a bounty on me, it might work out better for them.

“Dear dar, please don't try.” I don't want to become their prisoner, so I will put up some resistance. I don't want to kill if it's not necessary. “It isn't worth it.”

The dar looks at his companions, one out cold, the other looks wide eyed at his cut whip, and the last one was just getting the dirt out of his eyes. “It's worth one million Newgold. Plus another half, if unharmed.”

“Please rethink it. I don't want to marry Alej.” That's the third prince, Alejandro de Déjuma, I call him Alej. We’ve known each other for some time. He's kind, smart, educated, handsome, charming, and well-loved by his people. There is no single demerit to him.

On the other hand, there is Kenta. Ah, I’m blushing!

Kenta is a thousand times better than Alej! Alej is a really great guy, but Kenta is just that much better. Except in looks, Kenta looks good, exotic, but objectively speaking, he isn't the most handsome man I've ever seen.

To be honest, Kenta may be smart and educated, but it's not on the 'rule a country' level, Alej is just the third prince, but if his older siblings and his parents die, he could take over the country in a cinch. He's much better than me, who would rely on other people to govern for the first few years.

Also, Alej may be a bit friendlier than Kenta, and more open about it. Alej treats his servants with respect, saying 'I admire them, I can't even wash my clothes if my own life depends on it.' He's humble, much more humble than his siblings.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

Despite that, he has an aura of authority around him, people like how gentle and caring he is, and how well he understands what they want. Talking to him is easy.

On the other hand, Kenta...

“Princess?”

Well, Kenta is a bit rough, but he's something else entirely. How should I say it... … that's hard to put in words... something about how he might be not as kind as Alej, but it feels more... earnest? No, not the best word...

“Should we attack her? I mean, we were waiting for her to be alone!”

“No. Look at her face, I think she is considering our proposal.”

Hm... That's it! Kenta's kindness is hard-earned. While it seems so natural to Alej, Kenta is someone who actually has to work to be kind. It's this effort that makes him so wonderful!

“Now she's blushing and giggling. What is she even thinking about?”

“Maybe she is imagining her life with the prince after all?”

“She's wide open!”

“You're blind, Pedro?” The dar snorts: “She's never open, and didn't even used her left arm so far. Don't try anything, I'm charging in.”

Yes, this is what distinguishes Kenta from Alej. Effort. Kenta is someone, who works hard, who thinks hard, who takes everything seriously. While he is not as kind, he still tries to be at times. He puts up with someone like me, who is inadequate in about every way.

Danger from the front, the dar attacks!

He's considerably faster than before, but should I try to stab him between the plates of his armor?

No, the armor is strange. It moves differently from human plate armor.

Woah, my footing seems to be bad again. I want to jump back, but somehow I'm losing my balance. I definitely have to take training more seriously myself!

However, that doesn't mean, that I can't do anything. I just have to kick that dar before I land. It hits right at the breast, there is still armor there, so it won't do much, but it gives me enough push to evade his spike maul.

“...” The dar looks at me, his fierce mien makes his irritation obvious. “To this extent...”

I'm back on my feet. I don't have time for those Déjumians, so I’d better hurry. It has almost no finesse, but sometimes just attacking fast and recklessly is the best solution, so I cover him with sword strikes. I can only use my right arm after all.

His defenses are superb. He knows that he doesn't need to cover everything, that his armor will take many blows. At least, that's what I thought, and he thought so as well, but Friedensbote, my sword, seems to be much better at cutting metal than I thought it would be. The dar groans as I cut through his shoulder guard and flesh.

I have no time to be surprised. I aim at his body for a thrust, and my blade penetrates the thick armor plate. This is enough to send the dar to his knees. He is breathing heavily, did I hit the lung?

“Stop!” The two Déjumian humans steps in: “We give up! Please, let Wranas go.”

“I don't mind.” I clean my blade with a cloth I keep ready for that purpose and put it back in its sheath. “Please tell Alej that I'm sorry, but I'm already married.” I bow my head slightly. “I'm looking for my husband! Please, help me!”

―○●○―

“Patience.” I try to calm down the oni, who is in her oni-girl form. Only a few more moments.

“Come oooooon!”

“We need to wait. There will be only a small group catching up from behind. They will try to surround us.” That's what I'd do. It's like a hunt. They’re trying to make me even more tired and will ambush me when I'm running away, because I'd only be looking behind. These bastards are cautious. Maybe it’s because we dropped our speed, so they have an easier time catching up.

Horns are blown, guys I didn't take out, horns that I didn't destroy. They're calling the forces here. So little time.

...we're strong enough. We have to be.

“...turn around!” I order the oni while doing the same. “Full speed!” Following my own words, I run. My wounded leg hurts, but I grit my teeth and keep going. Our pursuers are still some distance away, but that might be the best time to break through. Before reinforcements arrive...

We're almost safe. Just this one and maybe one more skirmish.

There they are! With their crossbows. “Oni!”

“Yeah, yeah!” She transforms into the red giant oni and takes the hits. She's fit enough to regenerate those wounds without even flinching from the pain.

Around fifteen, but only two Crusaders. Plus a guard captain, how do I calculate that one?

No matter, with the oni, it'll be possible.

“[Exorcise]!” I step inside the cone, taking the attack that can't harm me.

“[Judgement]!” In return, she blocks that spell from above with her arm, so that I'll be unharmed.

“[Oni Fire]!” She shoots a rather weak fire breath into the guards, but this is still plenty to shake them. Moral is down, we can do this! We've already broken apart three groups before, so I'm confident.

Crusader! Instead of blocking his attack, I jump right into his reach, disrupting his attempt. Can I use [Speedthrust]? Or [Armor Piercer]? No, no [Skills]. There is still room, and they can't know...

The oni swings her mace and smashes the other Crusader unconscious with brutal strength. “I'm cranky! He’s lucky that he wears enough armor for two. What about you?” She looks at the guards, who had the lighter equipment. “Shishishi! Time to spill some blood!”

...I don't believe it, but I'm glad she's here. Not that I would be in trouble in the first place if it weren't for her, but while she's mean-spirited and kinda whimsical, she gets stuff done.

The Crusader thinks that I left him a window. “[Exorcise]!” No way, you're fighting me! I elbow his arm, misdirecting the attack.

We are winning this!

...or not.

What was I thinking, seriously?

Crusaders are coming from behind! With even more guards. We're hopelessly outnumbered and will be mobbed in a second.

Too slow...

No! We can still do this! “Press forward, oni!”

“You got it, bro!” She smiles, it's a strange one, but she does. “Oh, bro! Under your hood! What a smile!”

...I smile? Yes, I do.

The moment I'm mobbed, exhausted, and about to die in a situation that's so ridiculous that I can't even find the right words to describe it, allied with someone I am still trying to kill, I smile.

Not my usual smirk.

Maybe I just need to be desperate to crack a genuine one.

Somehow, it enlivens me, realizing that I have a smile for this situation. It washes away my exhaustion: mental, emotional, and physical.

I have a second wind.

“Oni, we will kick their ass!” Don't underestimate me. I'm just a gamer, but I won't lose here!

“Yes, bro! Let's stomp these squi- – ah – aaaaaah!” She flickers and suddenly takes her true form. “Ah! Ahahahaha!” She laughs happily. “Master calls me, I'm pulled through the channel! I'm out of here!”

...wait, does that mean, she's about to be teleported? Looking this way, she flickers more and more. “Stay here, dammit!” I need you to survive this!

“Sorry, but not sorry, bro! Good thing that Master calls me, other- NO!” Her amusement changes to panic. “MASTER CALLS ME! NO! I WANT TO STAY HE-” With this, she is pulled through a pixel. That's the best way to describe it.

Like she is some kind of puddle, she loses her form and is quickly pulled through some hole, which isn't exactly a hole, more of a light particle. Don't ask me, what's that’s supposed to mean.

Especially, because I'm kinda dazed right now...

What did I actually expect? In the end, I'm always on my own.

…

… …

… … …

Is there still a point? I can see no way out of here. At best, I may delay the inevitable.

...I can't.

I can't die like this! I still have a responsibility! I still have to return home!

Even though it's far, far away. So far away, that it feels like a hollow echo, which tries to call me. Still, I have to keep going.

My smile from before has frozen onto my face. It's stiff. Why do I smile, anyway?

'Kenta, I like your smile.' Rine, that's just me smirking. Your smile is nice. It's so stupid, that it makes me feel like any sorrow is meaningless. It's like the sun, sometimes it even hurts to look at it. You're just too kind for your own good.

'Looks like you kept your promise, Ken.' When was that? Ah, right after the whole ss'rak mess. Kyou-san also smiled back then. Why did it turn so bad between us afterward? Maybe because it was supposed to end our relationship there? But, that time was her most genuine smile, I think. It was just a soft one, but genuine.

'I like to make an experiment. Can you free yourself from my spell?' Ara-san smile is always slight, and she smiles the best when she's performing an experiment. That's why I often see it, as weak as it may be. But alfar can't smile much, they lack the facial muscles, so even seeing it is proof of how happy she was then.

Why do I even think about it? It's like time has slowed down, thousands of thoughts within a second.

I think it's my survival instinct. It tries to motivate me by giving me these thought processes.

Or maybe it's the curse. Who knows? I don't.

I don't feel the desire to see those girls again. It’s not like, I have to survive to see them again. If I can survive by not seeing them ever again, then I'd choose that over death. Well, it’s not like the curse would allow it.

Is it because I'm trying to learn something? Nah, my mind is totally blank, I don't think that I'm currently capable of realizing even a bit of anything. There is no moral to learn and right now would be the worst timing anyway.

No... I get it. I’m seeking the warmth of their smiles... because my innards are cold, because something icy crawls up my spine.

Terror.

I... I'm afraid! I don't want to die, I fear death!

My hands tremble. I can hardly even move my legs. They don't shake, rather they're almost paralyzed.

Not only now, it started after the first [Judgement]. Something, something happened to me. Or was it the pure pain?

No, it was the moment when I realized, how easy it'd be to kill me. Now there is no oni to take the hit anymore.

I'm just a gamer! I never wanted to be in a fantasy world! I was always a coward here. I was so close to death many times, but this might be the first time that death is not a matter of carelessness or bad luck anymore.

Was I ever so afraid before?

...a new wave of terror flushes my body, it washes away the previous one. Because there was one time when I felt a primal fear that still lingers within.

Muaotef. The god, who is also a dragon.

Time accelerates again, but my body feels light. I feel like I'm about to piss my pants, it's like I'm back in his hoard, seeing the creature itself. I couldn't move back then, but now I can. The fear has weakened, since I got somewhat used to it.

Still, it's several times stronger than any fear I feel from the Crusaders.

Smoke bomb! [Wild Eyes].

My body is light. My senses enhanced. I move through the Crusaders and guards, like they were just some trees, using every space I could to push through.

I didn't even know before, that I'm able to move my body that well.

I'm through! Now I need to run! Run fast!

The distance between us widens. Someone is smart and shoots me with a crossbow. My body screams, it feels the pain. And another bolt, right in my calf.

They’re aiming at my legs, dammit!

I have to run. I need to keep on running! I want to live!

I want to return home!

―○●○―

Her name is Knight Shamedi Nyssan. She is married, and has two children, an eight year old daughter, and a five year old son. Currently, her husband is an instructor for the Crusaders and is taking care of the children in one of the fortresses so that she could join the crusade.

This sinner is tough. There are rumors that he's a ranger. They are seen as almost-heroes here, as idols. Seeing how a man so young can still run with wounds that deep, makes it believable. No one to admire though, he's a sinner.

One bolt hit his calf, now his speed dropped. It most likely cut some tendons, but he still tries his best and gains some distance then turns a corner.

“Men! Follow him!” She commands the other Crusaders, but the guards are happy to follow her as well. She will bring this sinner to justice.

However, the moment they go around the corner, there is something strange, or more like, someone. Is he one of the mercenaries?

He is an old human man, his hair is silver gray but still full. He has a beard, which covers most of his face, and he wears some sort of dirty cloak all around his body.

“Hey, guards. And other folk. I'm a bit late, but can I take some of your time?” He speaks like there is no need to hurry. He also lacks respect, scratching his armpit while speaking!

“Step aside!”

“That won't happen. I'm here to repay a favor, you know? But girl, are you seeing someone? You look kinda nice. A bit rough, but still fine.”

Wha- what is this geezer talking about!? “That is none of your business, and if you don't step aside now, we’ll make you!”

“I doubt that. But if you want to play rough...” He takes his cloak and rips it off his body. He wears hide trousers, and a belt with several pouches, but nothing above it. He also lacks shoes. Overall, he looks shabby.

Not counting his body, it's muscular. He may have lost some buff with age, but he still looks like he packs a punch.

Why this strange confidence though?

“...no. Nonononono!” One of the guards is faltering. Same goes for the others. Why?

“What's wrong, soldier?”

“Ba-bababa-bababababa!”

“What!”

“Barbarian!”

Shamedi has heard of them. The barbarians. They fall into the same category as rangers, considered quasi-heroes. While the rangers are admired though, the barbarians are feared. Like people believe, that having a hood makes a ranger, people of the Wildlands also think, that being topless is the mark of a barbarian.

What a stupid superstition.

“Yup, I'm a barbarian. Nice to meetcha!” The geezer grins like it's nothing special.

“Stay calm! Being topless alone does not make a barbarian! Doesn't he look like a beggar?” The geezer really is dirty and reeking.

“If topless is not enough...” The barbarian grabs some dirt, which is still moist from the rain a few days ago, especially in these dark alleys. “I can do some war paintings.” He begins smearing the mud on his body and face. His movements are swift and show that he has practice.

Come on. Even if he was a barbarian, what can one barbarian do? The stories about them are greatly exaggerated. Here are eight Crusaders and twenty-seven guards of Goldbrunn. “I'll repeat it once more, step aside.”

“When you threatened me to step aside before, you said that you'd make me. So make me.” He continues with his paintings and now looks the part a bit more.

“Soldiers! He's just trying to deceive you!” Shamedi has lost her patience. The sinner is getting away! She has also already scanned that old man, but he's no sinner himself, so he's a mere distraction to her noble task. “He is alone, we are many. There is no proof, that he's a barbarian!”

“A proof? I think I know something: How about I punch the air so hard, that it explodes?”