Kays Translations

Chapter 54: Glass Princess

Upon learning of Princess Leone’s return, Absolute headed to the infirmary where she was. He had heard she was in critical condition, and judging from the heavy atmosphere in the castle, their mission had likely failed.

On his way to the infirmary, he noticed a familiar figure.

“Ah! Master!”

It was Ur.

Spotting Absolute, Ur ran towards him, her tail wagging.

“I’m back!”

Ur announced her return energetically.

She seemed to be uninjured from what he could see.

“You’ve done well to bring back Princess Leone.”

“Hehe.”

Ur smiled happily at the praise.

“How was the battlefield?”

“Before I knew it, it was a complete mess! The ground was all uneven, like a disaster had struck!”

“I see.”

From the sound of it, it was Bout, the brawler. He’s the most troublesome man among the Black Fairies. His skill, “Earth Eulogy,” has a dangerous effect of causing vibrations in the earth and creating ground fissures.

Moreover, he’s a high-level power-focused martial artist. In the original story, he was a monster that even the Hero, Maria, Alicia, the Saint, Princess Leone, and the kingdom’s army had to cooperate and manipulate strategies to somehow defeat.

(In the original story, they managed to win by sealing his skill and creating a favorable situation for themselves… If only I had been there.)

But there’s no use pondering what-ifs.

“I have business with Princess Leone. Ur, return to your room and rest. I’ve prepared some sweets for you, though it’s just a little.”

“Wow, thank you so much, Master!”

Ur happily headed back to her room.

After seeing her off, I made my way to Princess Leone’s location.

　

　◇

　

The unconscious and critically injured Princess Leone was laid in the infirmary receiving treatment.

“Heal, recovery magic.”

Leone received recovery magic several times, but her complexion remained pale, indicating that her injuries were severe.

Sicilian held her hand tightly, praying for his sister’s safety.

“Haa haa… My first aid measures have reached their limit. The injuries are severe, with complex fractures in the limbs and some internal damage that won’t heal completely with regular recovery magic or healing potions. We need advanced recovery magic for further treatment…”

“I see.”

Sicilian’s expression clouded as he looked at his injured sister.

Advanced recovery magic is rare, as there aren’t many high-level users of such magic in the world. The small kingdom of Suiroku doesn’t have any practitioners, and Sicilian contemplated whether to request assistance from Eliza, the Saint of Rainana, but he was uncertain about the safety of the country until then.

Amidst the serious atmosphere, a man entered the infirmary.

“You’re getting in the way.”

It was Absolute Ark who entered.

“What are you doing here! We’re in the middle of treatment. Please leave!”

The priest was outraged by the intrusion of an outsider. Sicilian gestured to calm him down.

“How is her condition?”

“It’s not looking good… It seems that further treatment will require advanced-level recovery magic. At least, we don’t know anyone with that skill in Suiroku Kingdom. Maybe if we can get help from Eliza, the Saint of Rainana…”

He answered with a tired expression.

Even though he himself was weak, he was concerned about others… They were indeed siblings.

“If it’s advanced, there shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

“What are you planning to do?”

Absolute held Leone’s hand as she slept.

“Hey, you! What are you—”

“Stay quiet. High-level recovery magic, High Heal.”

A surge of magic enveloped Princess Leone, far surpassing the previous healing spells. Her injuries began to heal rapidly, her bones returning to their original shape, and the pallor from her lost blood fading from her face.

“Haha, this is amazing!”

“Hey, move aside! No way… Is this real? Advanced recovery magic?! It’s supposed to be attainable only by those with high-level and talented in recovery magic…”

The priest, confirming Leone’s improved complexion, looked at Absolute with an incredulous expression.

Sicilian watched with an amused expression.

“He’s Lord Ark, a reinforcement from Rainana. As a noble, you should be careful how you speak to him.”

The priest’s face turned pale at Sicilian’s words.

“S-Sorry for the interruption!”

“Get lost.”

“Y-Yes, my apologies!”

He hurriedly left, almost like a character from a comedy sketch. Quite an amusing priest.

“But Leone still hasn’t woken up…”

“If Princess Leone is in this state, what happened to the Second City?”

Sicilian responded to the question by shaking his head, indicating that it had fallen.

“The defending royal army was annihilated. Some have returned, but the main issue is their morale. They probably won’t be ready to fight anytime soon. Additionally, the Sword Saint of Light, who was protecting the lord, seems to have been taken by the enemy.”

Internally, Absolute cursed.

(Damn it! The Sword Saint lost… It’s going exactly like the original story. That event has been triggered.)

Absolute had thought that with the information on hand, there was no way the Sword Saint of Light would lose if they faced the enemy head-on. But it seemed the enemy was stronger than anticipated.

(No, this is my fault. Despite being a small country, the enemy, like the original Absolute, has managed to antagonize an entire nation. I should have prepared better against such a formidable opponent… But for now, it’s about Princess Leone.)

“Leave Princess Leone to me. The prince should focus on his duties. There are still tasks that need to be done, right?”

“Yeah… You’re right. Sorry, but I’ll leave my sister to you.”

As Sicilian left the room, it was now only Absolute and Leone in the infirmary.

“…………”

“He’s gone. It’s about time to stop playing possum.”

“How did you figure it out?”

Leone, seemingly resigned to Absolute’s observation, opened her eyes and sat up.

“You reacted to the conversation. Every time your name was mentioned, you responded. It was obvious. So, why were you pretending to be asleep?”

“I… don’t want to say.”

“Is it because if you don’t wake up, you won’t have to go into battle?”

Leone widened her eyes, looking at Absolute. It seemed he had hit the mark.

“Why…?”

“I’ve seen plenty of people like you, whose spirits are broken. It’s just a guess.”

“I wanted to protect the people. That’s why I came back to this country. But…”

Leone’s voice trembled as she struggled to put her feelings into words.

Absolute listened in silence.

“I couldn’t protect anything. If I had been stronger, I could have protected the children hostages you killed. Because I lost, many citizens will be hurt.”

“This time, the enemy was too strong. I think you did well.”

“What?!”

Leone’s reaction to Absolute’s consolation seemed to bother her, as she suddenly grabbed his clothes and pulled him closer, glaring at him.

“I suppose you’re mocking me as a woman who only speaks with her mouth, even though you don’t mean it in your heart, right? Even though I denied you so vehemently, I couldn’t protect anything…”

“…………”

“Even I, even though I was truly scared, I pushed those feelings down and tried my best! Because everyone expected it of me, I desperately tried to live up to those expectations! But… I couldn’t… protect anything.”

(…It’s the same development as the original work. The flow is quite different, but it ultimately converges to the same conclusion.)

Leone is a normal girl, for better or worse. But being born as royalty, she wasn’t allowed to live a normal life. From birth, she carried the burdens of royalty – the duties, the lives of the citizens, the expectations – all weighing heavily on her.

Until now, she had lived without realizing the weight she carried, but fate wouldn’t allow it. In the original events of “The Tale of Rainana Kingdom,” she struggled alongside the protagonist to fulfill her duties beyond her capabilities.

However, in the end, she is broken by the depression event.

This time, Absolute tried to change that.

But as it seems, overturning the original is not so easy.

The onset of the depression event is inevitable, and Princess Leone will face even more difficulties and pain ahead.

Nevertheless, the duties of Absolute Ark remain unchanged.

I’ll shoulder everything.

All of her pain and guilt that are to come…

“Princess Leone. Do you still have the will to fight?”

“…It’s impossible. I can’t fight.”

Leone, still looking down, denies it. But Absolute knows. Despite how broken she may be in the original, she’s inherently a good person who would wield a sword for the sake of others.

Absolute holds her bowed head in both hands and lifts her face. In her weakened eyes, she sees the resolute figure of Absolute.

“No, you will fight again. As long as there are beings in front of you to protect, as many times as needed.”

“…………….”

“If even a little bit of fighting spirit remains in your heart, I’ll lend you my strength.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll use everything I have to save you and the Suiroku Kingdom.”

♢

Leone suspects there might be a hidden agenda behind Absolute’s offer of assistance.

“I can’t believe it. You have nothing to gain from this, so why… why would you go to such lengths for me?”

Leone is perplexed.

It makes no sense for Absolute Ark, known for its villainy, to help her.

But come to think of it, Absolute had been unusually cooperative from the start. Despite the absence of the leader, he accepted the request for reinforcements, rescued Leone from the bandits, and generously disclosed enemy information to help Leone and her allies.

Why, indeed…

“The reason I’m helping? Ah, that’s because you helped Mist and the others.”

“Helped Mist and the others… you mean during the training exercise?”

Leone recalls being supported by her comrades when she fought the Ogre of the superior species while Lady Cruel was unconscious.

“Yeah. You said you couldn’t protect anything just now, but your kindness saved my comrades. That’s why I want to help. That’s the reason.”

“I don’t understand. They’re the ones who helped me…”

“I don’t know what you think… but your goodwill, your actions to save others, moved the heart of Absolute Ark. That’s why I’m here.”

“……”

A single tear streams down Leone’s face.

She had always been desperate to protect someone. She understood and accepted that it was her role.

But despite being grateful for Leone’s dedication, no one had ever sought to repay her.

It was heartwarming.

To think that someone would come to her aid, even after she had acted so brashly and recklessly by rushing to another country.

The person who acknowledged her actions for the first time was—

“And also, I may be evil, but I believe this: Good people like you should be properly rewarded.”

Absolute, usually cold-blooded, melts Leone’s icy heart with such heartfelt words.

Because she knows him as someone usually silent and cold-blooded, she understands that these passionate words come from his true feelings, and they pierce her heart.

“Princess Leone, I’ll ask you again. Do you still have the will to fight in your heart?”

“…………….”

“If you still can’t stand up, then entrust everything to me.”

His words are resolute.

They make her believe that he could truly make something happen.

But that wouldn’t do.

“I… I will fight.”

Leone reignites the dwindling flame of her fighting spirit and pledges to fight once again.

“Please lend me your strength!”

　♢

　

Princess Leone stares straight into Absolute’s eyes. The weakness she showed earlier is no longer there.

“Of course. But the enemy has already taken the second city. The situation is quite dire.”

“I understand. But do you have a plan?”

“Oh?”

Leone suddenly seems to have gained strength, as if she’s shed a layer.

(Seems like she’s undergone a transformation here.)

“Yes. I need Princess Leone’s help for this.”

“I’ll do anything I can.”

“That’s reassuring.”

With Princess Leone’s cooperation secured, Absolute explains the outline of the plan.

(This is the real fight now. Come on, villains—bring it on. From here, it’s the final boss, Absolute Ark, you’re dealing with.)

♢

Upon receiving news of the fall of the second city, the emergency court meeting was in utter chaos.

The kingdom’s dispatched army was annihilated. The second city fell into the hands of the rebels.

Additionally, what greatly demoralized the kingdom’s forces was the defeat of the hero, the Sword Saint of Light, who is now in a state of uncertainty, his fate unknown.

Although information is being controlled among the people to avoid widespread panic, it’s uncertain how long that will last.

“We should crush them with our full force!”

“But even after sending an army once and being defeated, can we really win?”

“Isn’t seeking asylum in another country an option?”

“Are you willing to abandon your homeland? Shame on you!”

In the midst of the chaos in the meeting room, someone enters, and the atmosphere changes.

The person who appears is Princess Leone, returning with severe injuries.

“Princess?! Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’ve fully recovered thanks to Absolute Ark’s healing magic. I’m ready to fight again.”

Upon hearing Princess Leone’s response, those around her exclaimed in admiration. She clearly looked different from before she departed. The current her exuded confidence and determination befitting a fighting royal.

As Sicilian, observing the change in atmosphere around her sister, looked on in surprise, Leone straightened her gaze towards her brother.

“Brother, could you please update me on the current situation?”

“Ah, yes. With the kingdom’s defeat, the second city has been occupied by the Black Fairies. Additionally, the Sword Saint of Light was defeated by the enemy leader and his whereabouts are unknown.”

Leone, trying not to show signs of distress, gritted her teeth and endured. Sicilian inwardly rejoiced at his sister’s evident growth, impressed by her newfound strength.

“Their next target is the capital. We’re devising strategies, but the situation seems to be slipping out of control.”

“I see. Thank you. As someone who stands on the frontline, please hear my opinion. ‘Let’s fight’ and ‘Let’s win.'”

The clear and unwavering determination in Leone’s words brightened the faces of those around her.

The majority present seemed to be in agreement with Princess Leone.

At that moment, the Prime Minister interjected.

“As expected of you, Princess. I also have the desire to fight. However, Princess, even if we’re willing to fight, the kingdom’s main forces have been annihilated due to defeat. Do we really have a plan to win in our current state?”

The Prime Minister launched an attack on Leone with a sarcastic tone, earning disapproving looks from those around him.

“Yes. I have a plan.” 

With that, Princess Leone explained the details of her strategy to everyone. Their mouths hung open in disbelief at the audacity of her plan.

“Wait a minute, Princess! We can’t possibly agree to that plan.”

“Yes! It’s far too dangerous.”

Opposition arose to Leone’s strategy.

“I understand your concerns, everyone. However, as someone who has fought on the battlefield, I can assure you that the Black Fairies are truly dangerous. Do you all think you can defeat creatures who can take on more than a thousand people single-handedly on flat ground?”

“Well…”

“In reality, we suffered defeat. His extermination skills are perilous. However, with the strategy I just mentioned, we can neutralize his skills.”

“That’s true…”

“Isn’t that… a viable option?”

Support for Princess Leone gradually grew among the crowd.

As time passed without any alternative proposals, ultimately Princess Leone’s plan was chosen.

“For this plan, we’ll need the help of each and every one of you. I ask for your cooperation!”

“Yes!”

“Hmm…”

“The Prime Minister will also lend his support, won’t you?”

“Very well then. I’ll show you the strongest ancestral magic passed down in my family. Come at me with all you’ve got, you scoundrels!”

With everyone’s opinions aligned, a plan was set in motion.

There was little time before the arrival of the Black Fairies.

Each person hurried to make preparations.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter