Chapter 145

〈 Chapter 146 〉 Hostage Play (3)

*

Outside the Royal Castle of Leim Kingdom, in the plaza.

The plaza was filled with a bustling atmosphere, lit up by the festival that had started just before the Unknown Day.

Children were playing more excitedly than usual, and even the adults exchanged cheerful conversations, their faces bright today.

“Yes, this is what a festival is about.”

Elsie said while watching the scene from a distance.

“And we have to ruin this festival.”

“That’s right.”

In reality, the public opinion towards the Masked Hero wasn’t very positive.

Whether he truly kidnapped the princess or not, it was clear he committed the heinous act of abducting an innocent princess.

Moreover, once the kingdom announced that the princess would appear today, people seemed skeptical about the Masked Hero’s claims of having kidnapped her.

‘But that’s all according to plan.’

It couldn’t be helped.

That was the only way to save everyone here.

“Then let’s just wait for now.”

So, we watched the festival unfold while waiting and waiting.

Until the royal party made their appearance in the plaza.

The wait stretched from morning through lunch, finally continuing into the evening as the festival began to reach its peak.

And at that moment, something finally seemed to be starting.

“Here come the knights.”

Knights dressed in blue and green began entering the plaza.

They were likely there to secure the area before the royal party arrived.

They were patrolling the corners of the plaza, checking for any possible threats.

It seemed that the people sensed something was amiss too.

The previously lively atmosphere stiffened for a moment, but everyone still showed a hint of expectation.

After all, it was a rare opportunity to see the princess in person.

Then a voice rang out.

“The princess is arriving! Everyone, clear the center of the road!”

In fact, it was a sound that could be heard quite far away.

Now it was coming from a closer distance.

And soon, knights in golden attire made their appearance.

‘Royal Knights.’

The central group that conspired with the Demon Kings and orchestrated the coup.

They were supposed to protect the royal family up close but ended up killing them instead.

And under the pretext of worsening relations with Sakh, they issued a closed-door policy and locked the castle gates.

Thus, the distorted peace lasted for three years.

In a few days, their reign would come to an end.

By the hands of the Demon Kings, or mine.

At that moment, the murmurs among the crowd began to grow.

Finally, at the end of the Royal Knights’ procession, a magnificent wagon appeared.

It was a wagon adorned with a lion crafted in gold, the symbol of the Leim Kingdom.

As the wagon reached the plaza, it began to slow down, finally coming to a complete stop near the statue of the Nameless King.

At that moment, one of the doors on the wagon opened.

A man stepped out.

“Captain of the Knights…!”

Elsie made a quiet but clearly furious sound upon seeing his face.

Her face remained unchanged due to the optical modulation, but one could only imagine what her expression truly was.

The Captain of the Knights was the mastermind behind the coup that led to her family’s murder.

‘Revenge. That’s the biggest driving force behind Elsie.’

No matter what route she took.

Whether she chose to stay and succumb to the enemy or run away.

She lived solely for revenge.

‘What she’s like now, though, I’m not quite sure.’

One thing was certain: Elsie had changed significantly since meeting me.

Perhaps she had gained other motivations aside from revenge.

But it was certain that the drive for revenge still remained within her.

‘I can feel it.’

An uncontrollable rage was swirling within her now.

It had been years since she fled the Leim Kingdom, and now she was reuniting with her enemy.

And…

‘Anger can also be a good driving force, in a way.’

However, anger alone couldn’t be the perfect driving force.

Especially for a delicate operation that required perfection upon perfection.

So, I told her,

“Anger is good, but don’t let it consume you.”

“Of course.”

I figured she would understand.

I just wanted to confirm one last time to ensure everything was perfect.

She should recognize that too.

At that moment, the Captain of the Knights walked around the wagon and headed to the other side.

And he opened the door on that side.

Inside was a woman.

As the door opened, gasps of admiration spread through the gathered crowd in the plaza.

At first glance, the woman, who seemed to be about the same age as Elsie, could indeed be described as objectively beautiful.

However…

‘It’s definitely quite different.’

The Fake Princess.

Her skin was not that of Elsie’s pristine white skin but rather a pale, sickly white.

While Elsie had a slender yet firm figure, this one was merely a bony frame.

But the most significant difference was undoubtedly the hair color.

While Elsie had grown her hair since her days at the academy and it just barely passed her shoulders now, this one’s hair flowed down to her waist.

However, her blonde hair wasn’t the shining kind like Elsie’s; it looked faded, as if washed out.

Her appearance seemed precarious, as if it would shatter if touched.

“Step down.”

She grasped the hand extended by the Captain of the Knights and precariously climbed down from the high wagon.

As she did, her dress fluttered gracefully before settling down.

To an unknowing person, her appearance was that of a ‘princess’ so convincing that one could hardly doubt it.

Thanks to that, those who witnessed began to accept the notion.

The Masked Hero hadn’t kidnapped the princess.

“Of course.”

“No matter how much of a Masked Hero he is, how could he sneak into a locked castle and just make off with the princess?”

“I told you, the ones who believe him are fools.”

Once the Captain of the Knights confirmed that the Fake Princess had fully stepped down from the wagon, he hammered his point home with their words.

“Now, behold. The princess is here.”

In response, the plaza erupted into cheers.

Seemingly satisfied with the cheers, the Captain of the Knights shouted again.

“So from now on, anyone who falls for false rumors will be taken away!”

The sound of cheers erupted once more.

The atmosphere was at its peak.

Perhaps the timing was just right for what was to come.

“Elsie.”

At my signal, Elsie nodded.

Then she hid her figure using optical modulation.

‘So first…’

I pulled the Relic Resonance from my inventory.

It was a bow that lacked the typical shape, with multiple bowstrings running parallel, something utterly unadaptable.

I placed my fingers on the outermost bowstring.

‘Wind’s Power.’

Suddenly, I felt the wind swirl around my fingertips.

That alone would not be enough.

I planned to resonate with at least three arrows.

There was no choice but to use the skill I received from the God of Connection, and a metallic taste filled my mouth.

Nonetheless, the Wind’s Power swirling around my fingertips felt much more potent now.

I plucked the bowstring.

Then, three arrows I had previously set up around the plaza resonated simultaneously.

The wave created by that resonance spread through the air and gathered in the plaza.

‘This is it.’

I skipped one bowstring and moved my finger to the next.

Then I plucked that bowstring.

Again, the arrows resonated.

‘Mi.’

Now, there were two left.

I also plucked the fifth and eighth bowstrings in the same manner.

‘Sol, Do.’

If you noticed by now, this was a scale.

While researching the use of Resonance, I realized that each bowstring had a corresponding musical note.

And the sound produced from the resonance of the arrows was the same as those notes.

So, what were these notes?

‘Ding dong, ding dong.’

The sound effect that comes just before an announcement.

It felt like this would be the most effective way to catch people’s attention.

‘An announcement will take place shortly.’

I brought my mouth to the strings of Resonance.

This was another method of utilizing Resonance that Ludmilla had taught me.

It was somewhat equivalent to the voice amplification spell or communication magic used by magicians.

“Hello, everyone?”

My voice reverberated through the plaza.

As a result, everyone present began searching for the source of the sound, looking around.

The voice was amplified by arrows stuck all around, making it difficult to determine the direction.

I then spoke to them.

“Look up.”

At that instruction, the people began to look up.

Just then, someone shouted.

“Over there!”

It was on the rooftop of a nearby building in the plaza.

There stood Elsie, disguised as the Masked Hero.

“That’s the Masked Hero…!”

The murmurs among the crowd grew louder.

Unable to bear it any longer, the Captain of the Knights shouted.

“Enough! If you don’t quiet down, you’ll all be imprisoned!”

The crowd fell silent at that.

In the now quieter plaza, the Captain of the Knights yelled at the Masked Hero.

“You’ve been running wild lately, and now spreading false rumors about abducting the princess. But unfortunately, the princess is well in our care.”

Saying this with a smug expression, I had no choice but to inform him of the truth.

Well, he probably already knew.

‘Does he not even realize that’s the Fake Princess? How pitiful.’

The Captain of the Knights’ face flushed with rage.

Turning red, he pointed at the Masked Hero.

“Shoot that guy!”

At that, the knights and soldiers holding bows started firing at the Masked Hero on the rooftop.

However, for some reason, the arrows only pierced through the Masked Hero.

“What, what…!”

Of course, it made sense.

Elsie was hiding out of sight just behind him.

The Masked Hero visible now was merely an illusion created by her.

Seeing the Captain of the Knights clearly flustered, I continued the momentum.

“The real princess is with me.”

To that declaration, the Captain of the Knights still vehemently denied it.

“What nonsense! Anyone can say whatever they want! Go up there and capture him right now!”

Then, the knights began entering the building where Elsie was located.

Seeing that, I said.

“You really don’t need to go to such trouble. I’ll be the one to come down anyway.”

With that remark, Elsie jumped down from the rooftop.

And she landed right in the middle of the plaza, in the space created by the Fake Princess.

She stood facing the Fake Princess across the statue of the Nameless King.

I warned the approaching knights.

“Better not come any closer. You’ll regret it.”

At that, the knights hesitated.

Just as the Captain of the Knights was about to issue an order.

“Anyone can say whatever they want? Then I’ll show you that it’s not just talk.”

With those words, I released my mouth from the strings of Resonance.

Now, it was up to Elsie.

Elsie threw back her hood that covered her head.

Her sun-kissed blonde hair shone brightly under the light of the Leim Kingdom.

Finally, she took off her mask.

“I am Princess Ershiarah Rodeleim.”

*