The strangeness that struck King's Capital Horus continued for some time even after Jijinbo was defeated.

　Even though the ringleader had fallen, the swarms of undead that had been unleashed across the city did not stop.

　The undead that appeared in Horus were all low-level individuals, and once the initial confusion was over, it didn't take long to clean up the area.



　Probably, Jirinbo had no serious intention of destroying the royal capital.

　If he went that far, it would affect the wedding ceremony between Crown Prince Canary and Princess Ad Astera that was scheduled in two months' time.

　That's probably why they didn't deploy powerful undead throughout the city.



　With the guards guarding the city block, the knights who sailed from the royal castle, and even the priests of the powerful temple, the swarm of undead was wiped out from the royal capital the next day.

　The matter is now settled. I'm not going to be able to say that I returned to Ishqa without a care in the world, but rather, I was asked by Lord Dragnaut about my situation.

　The conversation between me and Jirinbo was overheard by all the people who were there. I couldn't and didn't want to cover it up now, so I told the Duke what I knew.


　It must have been no small shock to the Duke to learn that his daughter's curse was caused by an imperial sorcerer, and that the purpose of the curse was to force him to break off his daughter's engagement to the Dauphin.

　This was undoubtedly part of an imperial invasion, and the domestic aristocracy that was promoting the marriage of the Dauphin to the Imperial Princess was likely to have been in on the conspiracy.

　Revealing the truth would undoubtedly wreak havoc on the Canary Kingdom.

　But that doesn't mean we can't take the option of hiding the truth. That would only benefit the Empire.

　Of course, there is no way that the Imperial side will honestly admit to it if this incident is made public, and the wedding ceremony between the Crown Prince and the Princess will continue.

　If the kingdom's side broke off the marriage, they could use that as an excuse to start a war. The Ad Astera Empire has enough national power to make such a show of force possible.

　A deep crease was etched between the eyebrows of Lord Dragnaut, the leading Canarian nobleman, and it wasn't going to disappear easily.



　Even for me, it's not someone else's problem.

　It is not unlikely that in the future, the Empire and my family will demand that I turn in the person who avenged Jirinbo.

　Or, it is possible that the Canary King or the Marquis of Colchia (a pro-imperialist nobleman), fearing criticism from the Empire, may offer me as a human sacrifice for the sake of the people who killed Cijinbo.

　I've been thinking about this while the Duke and I have been discussing the matter.

　As a result, it was decided that my actions in this case would be kept under wraps. Not to mention against the Empire, and also against Canary Island.



　The Duke of Dragnaut was the one who took out Jijinbo, and all the information about Onigashima and Ad Astera shall be assumed to have been told by Jijinbo.

　At first glance, it appears that the duke has taken credit for my achievements, but in reality, it was my suggestion.

　I didn't like the idea of 'Gokensora' standing out in the open at this stage, so I decided to hide behind Lord Thunder.

　Why would I take such a step, it was to buy time.


　No matter what his nature is, Jirinbo is a person who has mastered the mind attire.

　If I, who was expelled from the island five years ago, were to be found to have killed a person who had reached the profound depths of the Ittoyo Itto-ryu style, then Onijimbo would surely turn to me as a better user than Jirinbo. They're going to try to crush me with the face of the Illusionary One-Day School.

　I have no reason to be afraid of antagonizing Onigashima at this point in time, but to be honest, an all-out collision would be preferable a little later.

　It's time for the matter between Ilaria and Miroslav to be settled as well. I'd like to get it over with with the Hayabusa Sword and increase the number of targets other than Lunamaria for soul-eaters - at least that far before I have to face off against the avengers from my parents' home.

　I had made such a plan in a sketchy way.



　In addition, if I hide my name, then of course Onigashima's aim would be directed at Lord Dragnaut, who "avenged Jijinbo".

　No matter how famous the Lord of Thunder is, he is at a disadvantage if he is targeted by a high ranking bannerman of the Illusionary One-Day School.

　In that regard, I'm sorry to impose the danger on you, but the Duke himself laughed about this and said that there was no need to worry about it.


　In the first place, from the Duke's point of view, it was Onigashima's side that made the attempt. There was no other option but to antagonize the opponent who had cursed his daughter and made her suffer for over a year.

　Moreover, even if my name was revealed as the one who avenged Jijinbo, that would not eliminate the Empire's hostility towards the Duke.

　To the Ad Astera Empire, which is planning to invade Canary, Lord Dragnaut is still an obstacle.

　Whether my name is withheld or not, the Duke is a threat to the Empire. Hence, my concern is useless - that was the Duke's statement.



　And so it was confirmed that I would return to Ishqa.

　Of course, if push comes to shove, I will always ride to King's Landing in Klaus Solus and ride to the capital.

　When the Duke announced this at the dinner table, the first person to react was his second daughter, Claudia.


◆ ◆ ◆


Father, if that's the case, I want to go to Ishqa.

What?


　The father, Lord Dragnaut, blinked at his daughter, who opened her mouth and spoke up in an unexpected way.


''What are you saying all of a sudden, Clough?''


　Puzzled, Lord Dragnaut asks.

　In response, Claudia smiles pleasantly and utters a few boisterous words.


'A hostage, father.

M.....


　The words didn't make sense to me, but Lord Dragnaut seemed to sense his daughter's intentions. He looked at Claudia with a face that looked like he had drunk some vinegar.

　I hurriedly clipped my mouth.


''Um, I just heard some unheard words...?


　Based on the back and forth, I'm guessing that it will be Claudia who will be the hostage, and I will be the one holding her hostage.

　Why would that be the case?


''Mr. Sora. A nobleman may have to abandon his personal compassion under certain circumstances.


　Claudia says with a serious face.

　As for me, I have no choice but to stand tall and listen.


''After Sora-san returns to Ishka, there is a possibility that your father will break the agreement with Sora-san. However, if you hand over Sora-san's custody, the military action will stop--if such a condition is given, His Majesty the King and the Marquis of Colchia will definitely agree to it.

And your father will follow suit?

Of course your father would object. But your father is a vassal of His Majesty and the head of the duke's house. If His Majesty forces things in the form of an order, it will be difficult to disobey. But if he persisted in his opposition, the story would devolve into a rebellion of the dukes. If that were to happen, tens of thousands of people, including the duke's vassals, the people of his domain and their families, would be exposed to the fires of war.


　The duty of the head of a noble family is the survival of the house. You can't allow personal feelings to endanger your home. If such a situation arises, Lord Draugnoth will have no choice but to offer me as a sacrifice - Claudia made that clear with an uncharacteristic expression.


''........I see. So that's the hostage, huh?

Yes, sir. If you ever find yourself in that situation, please dispose of me as you see fit.

''Well you did your best to reason with Ishka to keep up with him, didn't you?

'Yes!　I did my best and thought about it with my sister!


　Yeah, a nice smile.

　And Astrid, you too, huh? It's no wonder she has a very un-Claudian argument.

　Your father also smiled.

　You'll be able to find out what's going on.


It's a good thing that I'm the second daughter of the Dragnaught duke's family is at Sora-san's side. There won't be many people who can mess with the house I'm in.

Well, that's certainly true, isn't it?


　There are a lot of things to go into when it's confirmed that we'll be living in the house together, but the simple fact is that if it turns out that there's a second daughter of the duke's family at home, my influence in Ishka will increase more than ever before.

　The Adventurer's Guild won't be able to take me lightly anymore.

　The guild will no longer be able to take me lightly, and this will help ease their hostility towards the sparrows who live in the same house.



　I glanced at my sister, Astrid.

　Why had Astrid gone along with Claudia's plan?

　Perhaps Astrid wanted to keep her sister away from the capital to prevent her from being involved in another political conflict.


　Now that her betrothal to the Dauphin has been annulled, it is unlikely that Claudia will be the target of a curse or murder again, but there is no chance that her previous betrothal will be rehashed now that she has regained her health and the revelation of an imperial plot.

　It was probably Astrid's sisterly desire to prevent such noise from reaching Claudia's ears.


　Besides, if the Duke's residence was attacked again by political enemies or the Empire, if Claudia was in Ishka, even if they were wiped out, the blood of the duke's family could be avoided.

　Astrid, who had witnessed the power of the heart-armor user, seemed to have taken that into consideration as well.