Chapter 3
* * *
Giranda, the captain of the royal guard of the second princess of the Rivalt Kingdom, Eleanore Rivalt, held Eleanore's corpse and wept.
"Princess... If only I had brought you back sooner... I'm so sorry..."
Giranda was just shy of forty, and she had watched over Eleanore since she was a child. Back then, Giranda was still the vice-captain, and Eleanore had taken a liking to her, often speaking to her.
When Eleanore said she wanted to learn swordsmanship, it was Giranda who taught her, pushing through the opposition of those around them. Eleanore also had talent in magic, and when combined with her swordsmanship, she became unbelievably strong for a princess.
Giranda was proud of that.
However, Eleanore, who had a strong sense of adventure, eventually grew bored of royal life.
As a result, just two months ago, Eleanore slipped out of the palace. She left behind a note saying, "I want to live freely."
"Even if she was bored, I just wish she had stayed alive..."
Giranda adored Eleanore like her own daughter. Even after giving birth to her own child, her affection for Eleanore never faded.
When Eleanore ran away, Giranda even thought that maybe it was for the best. She believed Eleanore would be happier living more freely.
A search was launched immediately after Eleanore disappeared, and it didn't take long to find her. But seeing how lively Eleanore looked, Giranda decided to watch over her for a while.
Her comrades also agreed to keep an eye on her for the time being.
And this was the result.
"Ms. Giranda. There's time to grieve and regret later. There's a suspicious monster in the forest."
Lumius spoke to Giranda.
Lumius was one of the royal guards and second only to Giranda in strength. His gray hair and sharp eyes were his defining features. He was thirty-five years old.
"A suspicious monster?"
"Yes. They said Lady Eleanore walked back on her own, but that body clearly looks freshly dead. Most likely, Lady Eleanore was being controlled by someone. We don't know the motive, but that monster definitely did something."
"You mean it might have killed Lady Eleanore and played with her corpse...?"
"It's possible. When I used 'Far Sight' to check, I saw it holding Lady Eleanore's sword."
A bubbling rage surged within Giranda. Not only had they killed the beloved princess, but they had also defiled the dead. And to steal the Rivalt Kingdom's treasured sword, Elegant Flame—unforgivable.
"Capture it. If it can speak, we'll listen. If not... kill it."
"Understood."
Lumius gave the order and cast a spell toward the suspicious monster.
Giranda couldn't see the enemy yet, but if Lumius said it was there, then it had to be.
"I won't forgive you, you filthy monster of darkness!"
* * *
The fireball landed near Yuurai, but she wasn't harmed. While it wasn't a completely random attack, it didn't seem like they knew her exact location either.
"Damn it. I brought her back out of kindness! Humans really are the worst!"
Muttering complaints, Yuurai ran desperately.
However, it seemed her current body didn't have great physical abilities. She wasn't tired, but her running speed was modest. Still, it might be fast for a child.
In less than five minutes, a man in armor appeared before Yuurai.
"No way! That was fast!"
"...Oh? You can speak. Good. Then let's hear your story."
(...This guy doesn't look like he's here to listen at all. He totally thinks I killed Eleanore, doesn't he? Yeah, definitely...)
Yuurai tried to escape somehow, but she was already surrounded by five soldiers. It didn't seem like she could get out of this.
So instead, Yuurai tried to talk.
"...Hey, mister. Let's just calm down and talk this out."
"...What?"
"You're probably thinking I killed that girl or something, right?"
"Didn't you?"
"No. I just carried her here, that's all."
"Then why did you run?"
"Because you attacked me. Anyone would run."
"...That's not it. You killed Lady Eleanore and ran, fearing our retaliation. That's all there is to it."
"Come on, think about it rationally. If I really killed her, why would I bring her all the way here? That makes no sense."
"A monster's thoughts are incomprehensible to humans."
(Tch. This guy isn't listening to a word I say! He's already decided I'm the culprit and won't even consider otherwise! This is bad!)
The man's eyes grew sharper. He drew the sword at his waist.
"Just the fact that you're holding that treasured sword proves your guilt."
"Huh? Treasured sword?"
Yuurai was holding the sword she received as payment. She thought it looked fancy, but didn't realize it was called a treasured sword.
"Wait, hold on! If it's that important, I'll give it back! It's not like I desperately want it or anything!"
"There's no need to talk anymore. But don't worry. I won't kill you right away."
The man stepped forward and swung his sword.
Yuurai's right arm was cut off.
"......Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Clutching the wound with her left hand, Yuurai groaned in pain. She dropped the sword, but that no longer mattered.
(Damn it! They attacked me after all! If that's how it is... but will my magic even work on them?)
"You shall taste the same suffering as Lady Eleanore."
(Like hell I will! I didn't do anything! You've got the wrong guy! Presumed guilty—what kind of human justice is that!? The only resistance I can do now is...!)
"...Pain Infliction (Pain)."
Upon activation, the man groaned in pain and dropped his sword.
(It's working? I'll keep doing it...!)
Yuurai cast Pain Infliction again at the man. He fell to his knees, but the other soldiers attacked Yuurai.
In an instant, her left arm and both legs were cut off, and her eyes were gouged out.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaah! Guh!"
As she screamed in pain, her throat was crushed next. She couldn't even cry out anymore.
(I'm gonna die! They're gonna kill me! I just got my memories back, and this is how it ends?! Damn it all!)
She tried to resist with Pain Infliction again, but apparently it required visual contact. She couldn't activate it properly.
Yuurai felt the blood draining from her body. She thought she would die like that, but then her wounds were seared with flames. The pain was intense, but the bleeding stopped.
(It hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts! What the hell is this!? What did I ever do to deserve this!? Screw this!)
Yuurai truly regretted not just leaving Eleanore alone.
But it was too late for regrets.
Though she couldn't understand what was happening around her, she could feel the soldiers beating her. Her whole body hurt, and she felt like she was going insane.
(...Damn it. This is the worst. So this is what my second life turned out to be... I should've just died back then...)
With that final thought, Yuurai lost consciousness.