There were some vigorous movements the next day. Mainly by 2 soldiers.
Without their understanding catching up to the situation, the one thing that was carved deeply into the hearts of the 2 soldiers and the coachman of the horse cart, who was called like them, was that, if this plan failed and was discovered by a third party, their lives would be in danger.
「Ha, Harold-sama, I have bought all the goods and come back」
「Toss them into the dungeon while not being seen. After finishing that, ride the horse and confirm the route to the highway with your own eyes」
「But I still haven’t brought the horse along……..」
「It’ll be fine if you borrow a horse from the ones in the mansion and go. However, give it an injury that arouses suspicion. Come back before it gets dark」
At first, with embarrassment added to him thinking whether he could really use magic, he performed the chant. Surprisingly, when it succeeded in the first try, as expected, he was excited, but when he looked at it properly, it only rose up to a height of 40 cm and its thickness was also about as small as an aluminum can.
It wasn’t as though he would burn Clara to death so, Kazuki also knew that it wasn’t absolutely necessary for it to have so much firepower. Even for the actual performance, he had no intentions to activate the magic as extensively as shown in the movie scene.
「Fuu……..It should be enough to this degree」
However, presently, Kazuki could see the life-threatening crisis approaching him, and since he was doing his all to avoid it, he didn’t have the leeway to be concerned with other affairs. It was close to a kind of running away from reality, but it was an unshakeable fact that by doing so, he maintained mental stability.
With this, is it really fine; Do any defects exist in the plan that I have thought out; Is there anything more that I have to do – Kazuki, without stopping these thoughts, was immersed in making careful preparations until the sun set.
She wasn’t wearing the maid outfit that servants normally wore, but casual clothes often seen in the town. During daytime, Kazuki had sent the soldier to buy them, and had ordered him to tell her to change into those clothes.
「Umm……..」
「Keep quiet」
「…….Finally」
「Mama!」
「Colette!」
Clara strongly embraced the little girl, who was let down from the horse. With that in his peripheral vision, Kazuki received the report from the soldier.
「Sorry for being late, Harold-sama. It took some time to cross the forest while pulling the horse, so………」
「That is inconsequential. While bringing that girl, was your figure seen by the town-folk?」
「No problem. But, it seems as though a person going from the town to the mansion like her, has leaked out the circumstances, and rumors that Clara was already going to be killed are spreading out」
「Tsk」
「I’ll present 2 choices to you bastards」
In front of the faces of the 2 people who were looking up at Kazuki, he raised up his index finger.
「First, die here」
Towards Kazuki’s words, Colette let out a voice as though she was convulsing. In contrast to that, Clara was staring straight-forwardly at Kazuki’s eyes. In front of their eyes, he next raised up his second finger.
「Second, discard this land and start a new livelihood outside the Stokes territory」
「Eh?」
「If the latter option is chosen, then it will be declared that you bastards are dead. Coming back here once again isn’t permitted and all the connections made until now must be severed」
「………Will you forgive me?」
Murmuring as though partly in a daze, Clara uttered that.
「About what?」
But, in a haughty manner, Harold asked that question in return. As for Kazuki, he wanted to tell -「What is it about? 」- and play dumb with a smile.
Naturally, Kazuki didn’t even think of it as anything and it wasn’t as though he was angry, since his consciousness only surfaced after the incident.
「It’s fine, so quickly choose. As for me, it would be convenient and helpful if I killed you here and now」
「………I’m extremely sorry. I feel that I still want to continue living with this girl」
(Right~)
「Fu~n, boring. Then, take this and go」
Kazuki produced a jute bag from his breast pocket and casually threw it towards them. Opening that drawstring bag and casting a glance at the insides, Clara stiffened up due to being surprised once again.
「Th, this is ……..?」
「Consolation money. Don’t spout out that you don’t know what it means」
「–Thank you very much」
Clara put her hands on the ground and with a quivering voice, expressed her gratitude. The money itself was the allowance his father had given, when Harold had told that he wanted a sword and so, it was hard for Kazuki to accept that gratitude frankly.
「I’ll give this to you」
As though hiding his embarrassment, Kazuki also handed over a thing to Colette. It was a necklace which had the emblem of the knight order of the Saint King -a single-edged sword imitating wings, giving off a silvery obsidian shine- as an ornament. It was an article which he had discovered when he was in the middle of thoroughly searching Harold’s room.
「Never let this part from you, always wear it around your neck. This is the condition for letting you bastards run away. Understood?」
「Ye, yes」
Although she was frightened, Colette nodded.
「……….But, if a guy who wants it appears, give it to him. Only give it to a guy whose age is around yours and appears to be a bit skilled. In exchange for that, make him promise to protect you as a knight」
「Uhh……?」
「Harold-sama is telling you to hand it over to a person who would protect you」
「Un, understood」
「Then go already. It is unbearable for me to be troubled by you bastards anymore」
Turning around, Kazuki gave orders to the 2 soldiers. It was arranged that Clara and Colette were to ride the horses from here and were to be lead until the the vicinity of the highway. After that, there was no other choice than to leave it to the soldiers A, B and the coachman of the horse-drawn cart.
「Harold-sama. Really, thank you very much」
However, originally speaking, Harold was the cause for all this so there was no reason for them to thank him. Certainly, if it weren’t for Kazuki, Clara might have died, but in the first place, if it weren’t for Harold, then there was no way they would have fallen into such a predicament.
(For a rescue operation when I’m acting in my own play, even if you express gratitude……)
「Norman, go back first」
「………Understood」
And then, he immediately realized that it was a mistake.
「Ha, unsightly face………no value in living……….」
The boy’s voice, which could be heard faintly, contained self-derision
「No way……..forgiven……..」
As though repenting for one’s sins
「Life……..useless…… At least, if…….death………,right?」
And yet, it contained a sharpness which could cut through one’s body.
「It’s over–『Flame Column』」
「What are you doing at a place like this? I should have ordered you to go back first」
Much less, if people started thinking that Harold was a sad person who had chuunibyou, then it wouldn’t just end with the destruction of his character. He would have to silence anyone who would expose that shameful behavior, because if he didn’t, then there was a possibility that in the future it would lead to a troublesome situation.
「Everything that happened, everything that you saw and everything that you heard today, forget about them completely. Otherwise, without telling it to anyone in the future, carry it to your grave. I won’t accept an answer other than a “Yes”」
(Trying to hide his weakness to such an extent, why………Even though he is still a child, just how big of a responsibility is Harold-sama trying to carry)
Taking a glance at Norman who showed his acknowledgement, Harold left with a quick pace. That retreating figure looked as though it was extremely worn out.
「………No, I can’t just keep regretting and do nothing」
Until the day that kind boy loses the reason to keep tormenting his heart under the pretense of evil.
◇
「Bastard, are you an idiot. Won’t it be fine if you choose a cheap sword randomly」
It was as though there was some gentleness mixed in those sharp words. Maybe he had sensed that, since hearing the coachman telling it as though it was enjoyable, left a deep impression on her.
By no means could Clara’s lifetime be called as smooth sailing but still, Colette being born and encountering Harold, she thought that those 2 things were irreplaceable.
「Clara-san, are you awake?」
「Yes. Did something happen?」
「Brosch village is coming into view」
「We’ll have arrived by the time the sun has completely risen. Until then, how about resting for a while?」
「Thank you for your consideration. But, for now, I want to burn this into my memory………」
「Is that so. Well, I understand, those feelings」
