Heroine Survival Vol 5 Chapter 9

Settlement of Fated Connection

*Bam!*

「What’s the meaning of this-!」

Clara was listening to a report inside Dandall’s mansion that was  located within the sorcery academy. She hit the table in front of her  maids Hilda and the others.

Clara too was aware that there was attack to the crown prince’s group in the field trip this time.

But, although she knew it, Clara who was a reincarnator only knew it  as an otome game event. The event shouldn’t be anything like a scheme to  assassinate the crown prince.

In the event, what the second knight order did was like a petition  toward the royal family. But how did the assassin guild also got  involved and things devolved into an assassination attempt?

The maids shrunk back with an awkward look from how grave Clara  looked. Then Hilda who was like the leader among them opened her mouth.

「M-my apologies, Clara-sama. It looks like that woman was contacting the assassin guild under extreme secrecy……」

「That woman……you mean Tabatha-」

She heard that Hilda and Bibi who were wounded survivors of the  assassin guild got their injury from a fight against that pink haired  girl. They said that it was a miracle that they managed to live and  escape alive.

In that situation, Tabatha who was the woman that the girls relied on  and tried to sacrifice them in order to save herself also managed to  survive even though as the end result her whole body got burnt injury.

Hilda and Bibi also had burnt injury, but Carla gave them treatment  without any care about the cost, so their burn had been erased almost  completely. But, Tabatha who had serious burn all over her body was  still far away from complete recovery. Because of her appearance that  was like that, she volunteered to work behind the scene.

In fact she was doing great work. And it would be difficult for Hilda  and others who were still young to contact those people and negotiate  with them.

「……I should, personally ascertain her characteristic a bit more thoroughly.」

「This isn’t Clara-sama’s fault-! If only we as her former comrades were more vigilant……」

Hilda and Bibi had gotten betrayed by Tabatha once, but they were  unable to cut off relationship with her, partly because Bibi who was the  youngest of them was attached to Tabatha. But as expected, even Bibi  seemed unable to tolerate it anymore with what happened this time. She  was looking down while biting her lips.

Clara’s Gift, Foresight also wasn’t perfect. In the end it was an  ability that predicted the future based on the information that she  knew. Clara was able to make more accurate prediction thanks to her game  knowledge, but this time it was that knowledge that ended up making her  slipped.

The events were already deviating from the content of the original  game. Tabatha voluntarily working behind the scene also became a  disaster because it limited her chance to come into contact with Clara.

「We can’t keep allowing her to do whatever she want like this. Do you all understand?」

「「「Yes.」」」

「……Yes.」

Hilda who didn’t have good impression of Tabatha, along with Doris  and Haiji who didn’t have any close relationship with her nodded at  Clara’s words. Even Bibi was properly accepting Clara’s words this time.

「But……what are we going to do? There is no guarantee that we will be  able to win against Tabatha. In addition there is also that man……」

「That man……do you mean Grave?」

Grave was living under the roof of the organization that Clara wished  to contact. He was a man with dangerous ideology. That was exactly why  she was wondering if she could use him to harm the heroine who would  degrade the country, but in this situation she couldn’t predict how he  would move.

Clara performed Foresight using the current information. And then  after several minutes of calculation, she derived a single choice.

「……Leak the information of those people to Elena-sama’s faction.」

「Clara-sama, that’s……」

Tabatha scattered bait in the form of the crown prince’s  assassination just to take revenge to that girl. She even guided the  noble faction to draw in the assassin guild and that girl.

Kidnapping, intimidation, assassination, switching the target, every  irregularity that went different from expectation was the work of  Tabatha who went made with grudge.

When Clara made prediction using that information, it seemed that  organization was targeting the princess and not the crown prince, but  the possibility that Grave still wanted Ervan to die was high.

If Clara leaked this information, everything she had done until now  would become in vain and the aforementioned organization would turn into  her enemy. But right now Clara herself also wasn’t calm. She was unable  to forgive the people who was targeting the life of her beloved Ervan.

「We’re going to erase them by pointing the “Ash Crowned Princess” their way.」

***

The outdoor field trip that should be held this time by the sorcery  academy was interrupted by the scheme of the noble faction that was in  opposition against the royal family faction. Plans to kidnap Princess  Elena and assassinate the crown prince Ervan were carried out  simultaneously. At the end both plans ended up as failed attempt and the  incident had been concluded on the surface.

Of course the new students’ field trip to observe a knight order’s  exercises was cancelled. The students weren’t told about the reason of  the cancellation.

The students inside the academy were also divided between the royal  family faction and the noble faction. There was a worry that if the  truth was known, it might become a cause for conflict between students.  There was also thinking that the foreign countries mustn’t learn about  the discord within the country.

Claydale Kingdom was the biggest country at the southern part of the  continent, however it was gradually starting to lose its strength due to  the internal situation.

Currently a judiciary negotiation was being carried out with the  captured knights of the noble faction. A purge of the noble faction from  the knight order that was involved with the incident this time was  being carried out under the command of supreme knight commander Dandall.

At the same time with that, the royal family was crushing the members  of noble faction with rank of viscount and lower that were involved  with the incident this time, while also hastening the investigation to  the high ranked nobles in the noble faction who cut off those low ranked  members like lizard’s tail.

One of those nobles was hiding the “enemy” of the adventurer──Aria of  “Rainbow Sword” who thwarted the noble faction’s plan this time. The  location was in a castle of that noble.

.

「You were reckless again……. It was something that I requested so I  apologize for that but, leave the investigation of that man to me. You  should treat yourself with a bit more care.」

Inside the princess’s mansion within the academy, its owner Elena was  lecturing the girl who was her bodyguard. Aria who was sitting on the  same table with her responded with a small nod.

(……Does she really understand?)

Elena was thinking like that while glaring lightly at Aria.

Normally Aria who was Elena’s bodyguard slash maid would never sit on  the same table with her. But, it seemed that she had really overworked  herself in the battle this time. Her legs still weren’t fully healed  even after using Cure.

Based from a healer’s examination, apparently her nerves got affected  by mana. It would recover better by taking a rest for several days  rather than forcefully treating it with medicine, so Aria was ordered to  take a break to recuperate.

Right now Aria was a young lady of a baronet house although only  temporarily, but she who came from commoner background had the tendency  to make light of her own life. Others would take from her if she didn’t  take from them first. Such thinking might have seeped deeply into her  that she was strict to herself and gave not a shred of mercy toward her  enemy.

Elena herself was also saved only because Aria was like that, so a  part of her could sympathize but, sometimes her heart would feel pained  while she was looking at Aria who was risking her life in battle every  time.

『We cannot become friends.』

Elena used that wording before.

Noble and commoner. Princess and adventurer. The difference in the  environments where they were born and raised were just too big that  Elena noticed the only way she could be together with her was if she  tied her at her side. And so they went their separate way.

Even with Aria becoming a noble, in the end she could only tie her up  so they could be in the same place. Even so Aria stayed at Elena’s side  because of her “oath” to her.

What Elena wanted to protect wasn’t her own life. It was her pride as  a noble……as a human. That [feeling] that she had never expressed even  once until now was only understood by Aria alone in this world.

Aria too was living with pride in order to live for her own sake and  not anybody else. That was why Elena swore to protect her no matter what  the situation just once. Aria too swore to her that in order to protect  Elena’s pride, she would kill just one of her enemies no matter who  they were.

They put their “pride” on the line for that oath. Even if it would use up their life.

「…………」

The two were in such relationship that was hard to understand for  other people, but with them being together like this made even Elena  became able to see the part of Aria that she hadn’t noticed before.

Aria showed a way of fighting that should be called as fierce during  the exchange of life, but in her daily life there was a part of her that  somewhat absentminded.

The two of them were still twelve years old……granted they would turn  thirteen years old in several months, but they were fundamentally still  children.

The two’s body had grown up due to their mana. From a commoner’s  perspective, they looked like women who had just become adult. Not only  with that, with Aria’s mature way of talking and bearing, along with her  appearance, it made many of the males who passed her turned around  because of her charm.

No, it wasn’t just male. At academy, Aria was tall for a girl with a  dignified atmosphere. There were some number of girls who would follow  her with their gaze when she was nearby.

Aria looked like she was isolated at academy except when she was at  Elena’s side, but it wasn’t only because she was clad in an atmosphere  that didn’t allow other to approach, but also because there were people  who were definitely captivated by her.

(I wonder what will those people think if they saw her hidden side……)

Aria wasn’t someone who talked a lot. That wasn’t because she was  inarticulate or didn’t have a lot of vocabulary, but because she liked  to omit anything pointless.

Aria became mature as though she had skipped over being a child and a  girl, but sometimes she would show a childish side at strange times.

Few people could notice that, but the time when she replied just now  too, sometimes she would end a talk with very short word of 『Yes』, but  at such time perhaps because she nodded briefly like a little girl, she  would look younger than her actual age only at such time. Her look at  those times was terribly adorable.

Aria had been disciplined strictly by her adopted mother Sera to be a  young lady from a baronet house to be the princess’s bodyguard maid.  There was also the person’s own qualities that helped her reached the  level of the average noble daughter in the matter of essential skill and  conduct even in Elena’s eyes.

But, her pink hair didn’t have any curl from the start. Her hair was  also glossy perhaps thanks to her mana. Aria’s hair could be tidied up  prettily without needing too much effort. For Elena who had unruly hair,  it was something to be jealous about, but perhaps that was why a part  of Aria was indifferent with her own hair. Sometimes her hair on her  back would look messy after her training or other activity.

At such time, the bodyguard maid Chloe would gleefully combed Aria’s  hair for her like a big sister who was playing around with her baby  sister.

It seemed that Aria didn’t feel anything about other people touching  her hair. At such time she would show a face of a little girl who was  getting her hair fiddled around by her mother.

It should be fine just for time like this……Elena thought and stood up from her seat. She picked up her own comb and quietly circled behind Aria.

「Elena?」

「Stay still……Aria.」

Elena touched Aria’s hair and combed it.

She looked down on Aria from behind and found that her neck and  shoulders looked graceful. Elena’s heart felt pained when she thought  that she was making a girl like this shouldering the country’s important  matter in the form of “fighting”.

That thought made Elena’s hand to become a bit hesitant. Aria noticed that and softly touched Elena’s hand with her finger.

「It’s alright……this is something that I chose on my own, Elena.」

「Right……Aria. ……Thank you.」

The two didn’t exchange any gaze and stayed silent after that while Elena continued combing Aria’s hair.

Chloe who came bringing a fresh batch of tea stared warmly at the two who were like that. Then she quietly left the room.

.

Two months passed since the attempt to assassinate the crown prince  Ervan and kidnap Princess Elena was carried out by the noble faction.  The season was now spring.

The noble houses and a part of the second knight order that were  involved with that incident were dealt with by the royal family faction  behind the scene. Right now there were different noble houses replacing  them.

Some noble houses of noble faction were gone and some nobles of the  royal family faction got promoted to take their places. If asked whether  there was anything that happened close by because of this incident,  then perhaps the matter of a baron who possessed a certain territory  getting promoted to be a viscount had to be mentioned.

Even Aria had met that former baron once when he became Layton  House’s adopted daughter. This former baron was an amicable character  who was affiliated with the royal family faction and he had done his  duty diligently for many years. The main topic wasn’t that, but how  Layton House that was managing a town that was located in that baron’s  territory also got promoted to be baron house thanks to all their  achievements until now and Aria’s work in saving the crown prince and  the princess. Because of that they became noble of a new territory.

Sera’s status rose from a baronet wife which was categorized as low  ranked noble to be baron wife which was categorized as middle ranked  noble that possessed a territory. Aria too had her status changed from a  baronet daughter into baron daughter.

.

「──1 2 3, …1 2 3──」

The night grew late. At Princess Elena’s mansion, two girls were  tracing dancing step lightly with the moonlight illuminating the two of  them.

There was no music……there was also no audience. The only sound there  came from Elena’s rhythmical voice and the sound of heel clicking on the  floor. The other girl who was serving as the dancing partner wasn’t  making any sound from her breathing or her foot step.

*Tan──*

「You have gotten a lot better, Aria.」

Elena stopped her step and lightly exhaled. She looked upward at the  pink haired girl who was half a head taller than her. Aria who was  acting as the dancing partner smiled just a little bit with her  breathing staying completely even.

「It’s because Elena is good with teaching.」

「Thank you. I too am happy that there is something that I can teach  you. More importantly, because Aria has only ever practice with me, you  have only gotten better at the male role.」

Elena placed her finger over her lips and her golden hair shook as  she chuckled. Aria lightly sighed without any change in expression  seeing that.

「I’m not going to dance anyway so it’s all the same.」

「I think there will be gentlemen who wish to invite you to dance though……」

In exchange of the cancelled field trip……no, it wasn’t the case, but  the dance event in the academy that was originally scheduled for summer  was going to be held soon.

It was different from a genuine party, but all the students had also  obtained the qualification to appear in high society with their  enrollment into the academy, and so the academy was periodically holding  a dance event for student only as practice for that.

Usually this event would be held for students of all years, but right  now there were still a lot of students who lacked experience with  dancing because the time was still too early, so this time the dance  event would be held for the first years only.

Because of that Elena was teaching Aria who wasn’t used to dance, but  the difference in height caused Aria to get slotted into the male role  most of the time. And it seemed that Aria herself was also more suited  to the male role rather than the female role, so she got skilled with  only that part.

「……Are you really going on your own?」

「I have decided.」

Elena caught her breath and suddenly asked that question. Aria  quietly stepped away from her as though to show her determination.

The incident of assassination attempt against the crown prince and  kidnapping attempt against the princess that was caused by the noble  faction. The viscount house and baron house that were the key culprits  of this incident had been crushed, but in the end they were nothing more  than the sacrificial pawns of the high ranked noble.

Elena too had tried to draw out information from the people that Aria  captured through plea bargaining, but then “important information”  landed on their lap from an unexpected place.

The source was unknown. Even so Elena and Aria didn’t think that the  information that was passed to them through multiple proxies was false.

Kendras House. An influential noble house with marquis rank that was  one of the top authorities in politic and also economy even in the  kingdom from their grasp of the right over Condo Mine that was located  along the northwest border. Even though that noble house had gotten into  conflict with other country over the mining right of the mine and  successfully took over the possession of it, they hadn’t gotten royal  family blood infused into their house for a while, so the house’s  influence over the kingdom was insubstantial.

That was why they joined the noble faction, but then it came to light  that a traitor of the black ops who was known to possess a dangerous  ideology, [Grave] was staying there.

Furthermore he was together with some people who were hostile against  the kingdom. It was information with unknown source but, the black ops  had investigated its veracity with the lives of their agents as the  price and ascertained that the noble house there was almost certainly  “guilty”.

With Grave there, a large scale movement from the black ops would get  detected and there was a risk that the evidences would get disposed of.  I couldn’t imagine that with his personality he would back up the noble  faction until that far, but in order to crush the uncertain factors, it  was decided that “Rainbow Sword” would go ahead once more to eliminate  him…….

「But that will be too slow. If Dalton and Feld make a move, they will  stand out and Grave will vanish. But if I go alone, he will definitely  choose to fight me.」

「That’s……I understand that, but still」

「Elena.」

Elena couldn’t stop worrying for Aria even then. So Aria called her  name not as a bodyguard addressing the princess but as a “kindred soul”.  Elena stared straight into Aria’s jade green eyes.

「Believe in me.」

「……I understand. But, come back before the dance event. ……Promise me.」

***

I made a new [promise] with Elena and early at the morning I quietly  left the mansion wearing not my uniform but my adventurer equipments  after so long.

When we first fought, I was even less than insect compared to Grave.  Even when we fought the second time, Grave retreated at the end but I  didn’t actually win by my own strength.

I had gotten stronger than that time but, Grave too surely wouldn’t  stay the same like that time. Most likely this battle would become the  deathliest fight that I ever experienced until now. But this time I  would settle this for sure. After all defeating Grave was one of my  goals.

This wasn’t just a problem for Elena.

I swore to kill Grave no matter what. This was my battle.

.

▼ Aria (Alicia)   Race : Human –  Rank 4

【Magic Power : 136/300】【Stamina : 98/250】

【Strength : 10 (14)】【Endurance : 10 (14)】【Agility : 17 (24)】△ 2 UP【Dexterity : 9】

《Short Sword Skill Level 4》《Martial Art Level 4》

《Throwing Level 4》《Archery Level 2》《Defense Level 4》《String Control Level 4》

《Light Magic Level 3》《Darkness Magic Level 4》《Non-Elemental Magic Level 4》

《Daily Life Magic×６》《Magic Power Control Level 4》《Pressure Level 4》

《Stealth Level 4》《Night Vision Level 2》《Search Level 4》

《Poison Resistance Level 3》《Abnormal Status Resistance Level 1》

《Simple Appraisal》

【Overall Combat Strength : 1339 (With Body Strengthening : 1576)】△ 43 UP

.

It would take three weeks for a one way trip from this academy to the  territory of Marquis Kendras using horse carriage. I didn’t want to  spend too much time for this so I could fulfill my promise with Elena.

But right now I had an idea of how to shorten the time needed for travel.

「Nero.」

I muttered toward the forest. Then the magic particles of the forest  suddenly thickened and the mythical beast Coeurl appeared as though it  was oozing out from the darkness. It moved like wind to approach my side  and softly licked my cheek.

The mythical beast Coeurl, Nero seemed to have decided to be at my  side. Right now it was using the academy’s forest as its dwelling. There  was also rumor spreading through the academy about its rare sighting,  but if Nero was wanting to be on my side then I also had no reason to  reject it.

「Nero, it’s a fight.」

『Gururuu』

Nero read my thought using electricity and learned about my will and the “enemy”. It growled as though it was laughing.

If Nero allowed me to ride on its back, I would be able to save a lot  of time for travel. The biggest cause of that was the difference if our  moving speed, but other than there was also the fact that other monster  wouldn’t come picking a fight with the mythical beast Coeurl.

I stroke Nero’s fur and just when I was about to ask it to ride on  its back, Nero’s whip-like whisker sparked in alert. Instantly I also  threw the knife that was fastened on my thigh to behind me.

I didn’t ask who was there. It was their fault for standing behind me regardless whether they were “enemy” or “ally”.

『Gaah!』

Nero swung its whisker like whip. I grabbed it and it threw me behind.

The knife that I threw had gotten deflected by something like sorcery.

Fire Arrow flew at me in that moment. I too knocked it off with  Shield, then I clicked my heel to produce a blade and kicked at the  “enemy” lurking in the darkness. In respond that fellow lightly leaped  while dodging my kick.

「……Why are you here?」

When I asked that question, she erased her killing intent instantly  and smiled bashfully while her ample black hair fluttered. Her eyes were  still surrounded by dark circles and her complexion looked sickly as  usual.

「I came♪」

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