Chapter 40 No Honorific
「You’ve come this far, just accept your fate.」
「There must be a mistake.」
I came to the Royal Castle. Of course, this is not my intention. I was forcibly taken by Magali, who is walking right next to me with a calm face. That said, I couldn’t openly refuse if it was a king’s order.
Well, I thought about going into hiding, but Magali came to prevent it. This woman, she really did something unnecessary.
「……Rather, why did you come? Normally, a Saint won’t be used just to call someone.」
If it wasn’t this girl, I was going to say some good excuses and run away. How vexing.
「Of course, Herge was going to call you at first. I won’t do anything like running errands like this except to take you along.」
It certainly is. Similar to me, she is a woman who skipped farm work calmly. There’s no way she’s willing to do something like going to call someone like an underling.
「If it wasn’t me, you would have run away by saying some good excuses. So I came to prevent it.」
Magali grins.
Tch, I smack my lips loudly without hiding it. There’s no need for me to hide my nature from this woman after all.
「Speaking of which, did you get along with the prince?」
I want to upset Magali a little, so I ask her about that. I didn’t overlook that her body was jolted a little.
Hmph, there’s no way for me to overlook other person’s weaknesses…
「Aim for the money and status. If so, I’ll help you.」
When I said so with a smile, Magali glares at me.
「Absolutely no…!」
Then, she declared her rejection with a threatening voice.
O-ohh…… well, I said it because I thought that she hates it, but… is it not unusual to refuse so strongly to have a connection with a prince of a country?
「Being the prince’s consort means I have to keep acting innocent all the time. I’m probably can’t endure that.」
Magali said so while trembling.
Your training is not enough….
I’m confident that I can continue my acting until I die.
『You’re just abnormal.』
What an annoying cursed sword…
「And I hate the feeling of arrogance in Eria. Being looked down is really annoying.」
Magali mutters so as if she is really irritated.
Even though you always look down on others, what the hell are you saying? What you do to other people sometimes comes back to you…
『What are you talking about when you yourself are like that.』
I’m okay because I’m not showing it at all.
While talking about that, we arrived at an important place in the castle… in front of the throne room. From here on, I have to show my perfect acting.
「Okay, we arrived. From here, you’d better act innocent properly.」
「No need to tell me that.」
Magali and I change our expressions.
Hmph, perfect.
『What are these two……』
While listening to the cursed sword’s backed away voice, we entered the throne room.
◆
The top of this country, the damn old man…… I mean, the King who summoned me is sitting in a higher place. There are several knights on his surroundings to protect him, and there are nobles too.
「You came, Hero. I appreciate your efforts.」
The king haughtily says so.
Really, what authority does he has to summon me? Even God should bow to me…
Rather, who is a hero? I have no intention to be something like that.
「No. If Your Majesty order so, I will break through any difficulties and come.」
But of course, I’m not an idiot who expresses that feeling. Instead, I created an atmosphere to increase my credibility with words that are exactly the opposite of what I think.
『Ohh…!』
「I see. You sure said something that makes me happy.」
Nobles and knights around leak an admiration sigh and even the King loosened his cheeks.
『Look who’s talking. You were giving unthinkable negative emotions to the King just before.』
The cursed sword complains as always, but it has no effect.
Stupid nobles and knights are impressed by those words. Really, if only there is no Magali, live in this world will be easy. I wonder if there is any convenient noble lady here?
『I wonder if this guy will get a bitter experience someday?』
This guy, it seems he doesn’t understand that he will be sealed again if I’m not here….
「By the way, why did I get called?」
I immediately ask the matter.
If I stay long at where Magali is, that woman will try to get me involved in some way, so I want to get out of there quickly.
Alright, I wonder what is the King’s order? If it’s about a goblin, I really don’t want to, but the cursed sword will do it.
To me that waiting like that, the King gave a broad smile and then opened his mouth.
「Yes, that’s right. The reason I called you is for no other than I want you to accompany the Saint as an escort to her visit.」
Okay, rejected.
I choose to refuse and leave with a smile.
『Ehh…? She’s your childhood friend, right?』
The cursed sword leaks a bewilderment voice.
A childhood friend’s escort may be normal if you look from the side. But, the relationship between me and Magali is isolated from the general public. I said it many times, I and Magali are an obstacle for each other. If so, I will be glad if she is attacked and kidnapped by bandits.
「Her visit, is it?」
I ask to read his intentions…… or pretending like that to buy some time to think a reason to refuse. I have no intention to go at all.
「Umu. It’s part of her education as a Saint…… it’s like a social tour. She’ll be visiting a place a little away from here.」
Is that so… goodbye?
『How cold!』
No, even if you say so… I’m really not interested. If Magali goes to a farther place, I’ll send her off with a smile though….
『You won’t follow her huh…』
Of course.
「Still, she needs escorts. Regrettably, there might be bandits out there, so I’d like to ask you for it.」
I don’t want though? I don’t have any obligation to do that anyway. I even wish for her to be attacked by bandits and taken somewhere far away.
I don’t even want to protect other people or fight for other’s sake, and now the object is my sworn enemy, Magali. There’s no way I’ll be motivated.
……Alright, let’s refuse with this.
「…I’m honored that my power is valued that much. But, I think I’m lack of ability. I think I’m not suitable to protect Magali…… no, Saint-sama. Wouldn’t it better to leave it to the elite knights…」
My trump card, ‘Being humble with my lack of ability’.
With this, the other party has no choice but to accept it. Because until now I was a farmer and haven’t received any military training, I don’t have any tangible results. For this reason, it’s become me saying the truth without being humble.
Because the one saying that is a person that his abilities are unknown, they have no choice but to hear it.
「――――――!!」
Magali is very angry but I ignore her. She’s just angry with her face, she can’t say anything after all.
「Well… you were originally a peasant. If you weren’t trained, you might not be able to protect the Saint, and above all, you yourself will be in danger.」
「――――――!?」
Oh, he sure understands, this old man.
The fact that I pretend to have respect and loyalty might be another reason why I’m well received. And no one except Magali noticed my acting… the world sure is easy. Magali is very upset, but… pfft, serves you right.
Hearing our talks, the room becomes noisy.
This is… I can do this!
Let’s keep Magali away and then going into hiding. It would be easy to escape if she is not here.
Throw away the cursed sword, let’s see… should I go to another country? After all, Magali will search me in our hometown first when she’s back…
Fufu, my dream is spreading.
『Those things usually won’t turn out well you know.』
The cursed sword says something trivial.
Stop barking when you lose, Cursed Sword. I’ll throw you.
「Hmm… Sure, it’s better to leave the Saint’s escort to the knights…」
To the King’s words, I was convinced of victory.
When I was delighted in my inner heart and Magali showed despair looks……
「No, the escort should be left to that man, Father」
A man that say unnecessary things appeared.
Damn… it’s still better if you just interrupt the talk, but saying something that put me at a disadvantage is…!
Who is that!?
When I turned around with my anger…
「Eria… Prince.」
There was the prince of this country, Eria.
That was close. I was about to call him without an honorific.
