Ankoku Kishi Monogatari - Chapter 72.3

Chapter 72.3: Headless Knight

Which reminds me, the store around this area was the kind of store that provided “that” sort of service. That’s why it was only natural for me to see that kind of scene while using clairvoyance in this place.

Since I suddenly dropped to my knees with a beet red face, Decius made a smart move by stopping the search.

「Sorry, Decius-dono. We’ll head back first.」

I apologized to Decius.

We were leaving Decius in this place by himself since he wanted to continue looking for Marchas.

「Don’t worry. It’s true that this place has too much stimulation for ladies.」

Decius’ figure vanished into the night of the city after we parted ways with him.

「Let’s go back, Nao-san. Since we managed to get a clue, let’s discuss the next move with Reiji-kun and co.」

「Ye~sh.」

Thus, we walked through the city at night.

「Haah… even though we’re the one who suggested the search, we were really helpless in this situation huh…」

I heaved a sigh, and spoke self-deprecatingly.

「That’s not true. We simply aren’t used to this place.」

Nao spoke with a smile on her face.

「You sound like you were enjoying that situation.」

Though I thought I’d done a good job bracing myself, could it be that Nao-san saw through my facade?

「Well, it’s nothing special. Let’s go back.」

Nao averted her gaze while showing a suspicious smile on her face.

「Good grief…」

Thus, we returned while having such an exchange.

===

◆Sword’s Maiden; Shirone

「What’s your impression, Shirone-sama?」

I was in the middle of reading the script provided by Midas in the theatre.

Though I’d heard about it before from Chiyuki-san, the story really was full of cliches.

It was a story about a princess who went on a journey to save the prince who’d gotten kidnapped by a witch.

According to Chiyuki-san, it’s similar to the myth of Perseus but with a role reversal. Even the part about slaying the serpent was similar to the Japanese myth about Susanoo’s Orochi extermination.

Well, it was indeed a popular story.

But, that wasn’t the problem.

「Uhm… this costume is rather unbecoming, right?」

I asked so while looking at the costume.

It was a thin and frilly costume with a lot of exposure. Things might really get out of hand if I wore such a suggestive costume.

「Is that so? I think it’s pretty normal though.」

Midas replied so, tilting their head while doing so.

I was at the end of my wits. Midas wasn’t getting a clue at all. I mean, why didn’t they choose a member of their troupe who has a more voluptuous figure than me to wear such a suggestive costume?

”
”
I mean, they have no restrictions on showing off their skin unless they’re members of Faeria’s faith.

「I think it matches you very well, Shirone.」

「Indeed. It emphasizes Shirone-san’s beautiful long legs.」

Reiji-kun and Rino-chan praised me with a smile on their faces, seemingly enjoying this situation.

「Please stop teasing Shirone-san, Rei-kun and Rino-chan.」

Sahoko-san, as the only one with a conscience, then came to stop them from teasing me.

「Uhm. I also think it matches you very well.」

The one who said that was Alto-kun, a member of this troupe.

He was the one who played the role of the prince in the story. Well, I have to say that role suits him very well since he could be mistaken for a beautiful girl with his girly face.

By the way, Alto-kun seems to be related to Clio-san as the latter’s adopted son.

I was really surprised when I heard about this fact, but the elves’ appearance didn’t seem to age due to their long life span.

Clio-san seems to have been interested in Alto-kun’s adorableness and went to his parents. In the end she adopted him, maybe wanting to raise him as her ideal husband.

The problem was, what would she do to turn him into her lover?

By the way, some elves went as far as abducting young human males. They called that phenomenon 《Changeling》. Whenever a family found that their adorable son had suddenly turned into a piece of log, ten times out of ten, it was the deed of the elves who were looking for a husband.

Clio-san had told me that she simply didn’t like to force the other party.

Alto-kun was looking at Reiji-kun with gleaming eyes. It looks like the eyes of someone meeting their idol.

His current state was rather familiar to the girls when they’re around Reiji-kun.

Come to think of it, being yearned by member of the same sex does seem to be a rare thing for Reiji-kun, right?

Moreover, even Reiji-kun seems to be slightly bewildered by it.

It seems he had no idea how to treat Alto-kun since the other party was clearly referring to Reiji-kun.

It was my duty as the princess knight to save this princess-like prince but… must I really wear that costume?

「U~Hm. I wish they prepared a more subdued costume though…」

Though I knew that they were most likely going to reject my demand, I still tried to tell them.

「It’s okay, Shirone! I’ll do something about anyone who looks at you with a degenerate face! I’ll protect you, that’s why you can wear that costume with ease!」

Reiji-kun tapped my shoulder as he told me so with a serious look on his face.

I was pressed into a situation which I couldn’t refuse, and I was always weak to those kinds of situations.

I heaved a sigh.

I guess Kuroki was the only one who understood me.

I wonder where he is and what he’s doing right now?

I looked at the scenery outside of the window while pondering about him.

===

◆God of Sleep and Dream, Zand

「ZAND-SAMA!! BIG-SIS!! LIL-SIS!」

My adorable spirits were fluttering around in the darkness.

「I know. She’s been killed… by the Dark Knight.」

Katia’s presence had suddenly vanished during the time she’d gone out for a stroll with her new knight.

And then, the Dark Knight appeared a while later in our store.

He seems to have realized what happened to Katia’s body.

That Dark Knight might have done something to Marchas. I was careless.

He came straight to my place as soon as he extracted the information he wanted to know from Katia.

I do have confidence in my victory, but the chances were close to an imaginary number though. That’s why I chose to escape for now.

That was a close call but I managed to escape from his pursuit since my adorable fairies were buying time for me.

Strength wise, my adorable fairies were far weaker than the Dark Knight and yet, the silver lining was the fact that he seems to hesitate when fighting them.

Maybe he’s still looking for me.

But, I’m confident in my escape and hiding ability. You think you can find me so easily, hah, dream on.

Well then, what should I do for now?

I have to avenge my adorable fairies who were killed by him.

Shouldn’t I take the head of his silver haired goddess? Yeah, that should be enough to avenge my adorable fairies.

I’ve decided. I will kill that silver haired goddess to avenge my adorable fairies. And take her head as part of my collection.

I couldn’t help but grin upon imagining such a scene.

「Well then, I guess I have to make some adjustment in my pla— uhm?」

It was only for a moment, but it felt like I just saw a light butterfly pass by my face just a moment ago.

No one should know about this place aside from my adorable fairies. In addition, this place was also enclosed inside a barrier. There was not a single bug that should be able to trespass into this place.

That butterfly vanished right away, leaving no trace behind, as if it was just my imagination.

I even wondered what that was for a moment.

Well, whatever, it must be just my imagination.

I have to focus on the modification of my plan for now.

In fact, I was also aiming for the saint, one of the hero’s women, and then using that woman to lure the hero into my trap. And then, I would use Zeal to lure the Dark Knight into the same place and make the two fight to death.

When both of them are wounded and exhausted, I will use that chance to get rid of them.

But, I’ve got to modify my plan. First, I’ll be aiming for the Dark Knight’s silver haired goddess to avenge my adorable fairies.

Now then, it’s time to take action.

I’ll ask Zeal and Tarabos to make their move and have Ulbard do something for me too.

Thus, I became completely focused on revising my plan.