Chapter: 552
Well, I’ll look for someone, but Karia left with a reminder not to have high hopes, yet I believed in her.
The abilities Karia had shown me so far were incredible! If it’s espionage we’re talking about, Karia, who’s practically a goddess in that domain, would definitely come up with an answer somehow!
“Nothing. There’s nothing.”
My expectations were shattered less than half a day later.
“I’ve looked over everyone here, and there’s no one who fits the criteria.”
“Did you even look properly? You old maid? Put in the effort like when you were hunting for a husband.”
“When have you ever seen me slack off? I’m telling you there’s genuinely no one.”
First off, it boils down to looks, which cut the candidate pool in half right off the bat.
Knights spend all their time outside, training under the sun and dirt.
Unless they’ve been blessed with something, they age and become uglier way faster than regular folks.
I mean, there are cases where someone had a string of suitors before becoming a knight, but after rolling around for about a year, suddenly nobody wants them anymore!
Next, we lose more candidates based on purity and innocence.
This world is, after all, medieval fantasy.
It’s totally normal to get married before hitting twenty!
Karia’s “maid” comments aren’t without merit! Anyone who’s not a total wreck is bound to feel a bit stung in that regard!
Plus, there’s also the requirement of being sinless, which is pretty tough. Most people with power are bound to have their share of flaws.
Some have to bear stains on their souls just to survive. Others do it for their masters, and some do it simply out of desire.
“Out of everyone standing here, there’s not a single one who hasn’t committed murder. That’s just how it goes with mercenaries and knights.”
Yeah, I know. I get it that my reluctance to kill makes me the odd one out here.
But if those fairy folks are affected by what I consider “profession,” then the act of murder in itself shouldn’t be a concern. After all, it’s the cumulative acts of good and evil that matter.
Someone can commit evil but still be deemed good if they’ve done more good than bad!
Right? Adding on some extra thoughts?
[Your judgment is correct.]
Of course, this is a country of rotten waters.
I nodded and asked Karia for a scorecard that could determine good and evil and to pick out anyone scoring above a certain threshold.
Karia grumbled that I use people too harshly, but she didn’t decline my request.
The next day, Karia returned with a selection of about a dozen candidates gathered for the operation meeting.
“I really squeezed and squeezed to get these.”
Most of the selected individuals were looking rather miserable. It wasn’t hard to guess why they were upset.
Standing here pretty much screams that they’ve never managed to score a date!
Of course, there are some exceptions.
Like my dog. That fool, obsessed with being my escort knight, might be able to interact with me.
Wait a second. Is that face of his really a play for sympathy? He has never dated a girl before?
“I’ve had quite the number of proposals, but I’m still just an inadequate knight. I can’t think of anything beyond my lady, so I turned them all down.”
As that dude, who is as fine as he is, spoke cheerfully with a refreshing laugh, I heard someone clicking their tongue beside me.
Wow, talk about jealousy. It’s only because he’s got such an earnest face that he seems pathetic!
“Get rid of that trash who’s inferior in both character and looks. Just being in the same space is unpleasant.”
After dismissing one person, I surveyed the rest, leaving behind clear losers.
“He’s just dead weight. O old maid, why did you bring that one?”
“I told you! I squeezed them dry.”
“No matter what, someone so pathetic will just be a nuisance and can’t even get near that idiot knight.”
I’m trying to find someone reliable here.
Even if they can’t beat that stupid swordsman Frey, at least they should be able to endure against him!
“Is Lady Kent the benchmark? That’s a bit too picky.”
“Still, he’s the only one among them who’s never beaten me.”
“Well, there was that one time he almost did.”
Suddenly, Frey, who must have been eavesdropping, jumped into our conversation, pointing out a few people while dodging between Karia and me.
“Boring people.”
“Heard that, old maid?”
“Yes, yes. Everyone please leave.”
Grumbling softly, after the numbers thinned out, I pulled out the Clumsy Fox.
Sure, when it’s next to me, it’s nothing more than a perverted jerk who should be locked away, but this creature is the forest’s owner.
It’s the one judging beauty based on people’s appearances. So, if it passes its nitpicky standards, it should pass the fairy standards too!
“I don’t want to see any other ugliness beside you.”
“Really? You don’t want to?”
“Yeah. Just take anyone else. If it’s something Karia picked out, it’ll do.”
“Really?”
This morning, when I pulled out a towel I used to wipe off sweat during training, Clumsy Fox dove for it.
I quickly pulled it away, and the furry nuisance ended up rolling on the ground, hanging at my feet.
“That! That’s…”
“Since you don’t want to, I have no choice. I’ll have Erin wash it.”
“I’ll do it! I’ll do my best! Even if it means licking your feet, getting stomped on, and kicked like a toy!”
Isn’t that a reward for you, you perverted creature?
Ignoring the Clumsy Fox’s innuendo as it tried to fulfill its desires, I suddenly had it take care of sorting people out.
“But where should I set the beauty standards, Lucy?”
“Perhaps just enough to stir your perversion a little?”
“With that, everyone would have to be eliminated. Except for your escort. No matter how you slice it, that one is at least passable.”
Then everyone got eliminated.
“Not even worth testing. If they entered my forest, I would have made them wander in circles for eternity.”
Ugh, is this really how it works? I thought the sheer lack of aesthetic sense I sensed among those folks was just a fleeting thought, but it turns out it was genuine!
This makes things tough. I need more than just my useless dog; I need someone to fill the party!
…Well, I have no choice. It looks like I’ll have to form a forbidden bunny girl squad.
With that outfit enhancing attractiveness, I could just barely make the cut.
“Hey, Lucy. Lucy.”
“What is it, dumb knight?”
“Can’t it just be us?”
Us?
“That might actually be better. I don’t know how it was in the past, but you and your friends have enough charm that I could throw challenges at you myself.”
So they’re talking about our usual party, huh?
Hmm.
Honestly, I’m hesitant. It’s much safer to charge in solo rather than drag them through dangerous territory. It would be less mental strain.
[You probably think it’s better to die alone, huh? ]
‘Don’t read my thoughts.’
[I didn’t. Just thought you’d be likely to think that.]
‘Is it that obvious?’
[You’re just weak in these aspects.]
Well, I’ve been travelling with Grandpa for a while now, so it’s natural for him to be able to sense it.
[Your thoughts aren’t that long either.]
‘What do you mean by that?’
[Think about it. If this mission fails, is your death the final result? ]
‘Er…’
I don’t expect things to spiral into a disaster. The power of the superhumans here should not be taken lightly.
Even if the Fairy Queen wakes and comes out of the forest, she wouldn’t have the power to wreck the world.
But many deaths would likely occur in the process.
[Do you think those around you will remain idle when you die?]
I’m not that smart, but trying to guess what happens next isn’t too hard.
They’re bound to take action.
Grief turning into anger, that anger morphing into recklessness—such folly will be painted black in the end.
[Death sounds so simple.]
‘That’s… true.’
Since I reincarnated into this world, I’ve faced countless life-threatening situations.
But I’ve never imagined what would happen after death. I’ve never really thought about it.
I’ve just always fought tooth and nail to avoid death, never considering what would happen if I actually died.
Who’s a gamer that thinks about what happens to the world after a game over?
Maybe that’s why—
Through my grandpa’s words, I realized that the aftermath of death is far more terrifying than I had anticipated.
“Lucy?”
“Lady, are you alright?”
“That dazed look of yours is quite appetizing.”
Hearing the voices around me snapping me back to reality, I started pondering once again.
What would the world be like after a game over? A world where the main character dies without even saving?
…The meaning of a game over—it’s actually much greater than I thought. Damn.
[If you really feel you need help for your friends, do ask for it. Excluding someone like your father or that Blade Saint, there’s probably no one more reliable than your friends.]
Hearing Grandpa’s advice, I turned my head.
Looking over, Frey, whose skills had sharpened since learning something from that blade saint, was curiously tilting his head.
Joy, who’s still struggled under Erginius’ tutelage, was smiling despite her fatigue.
And on the other side, Phoebe, leading the clergymen, was purifying the instruments that flowed into the Fairy Forest with her presence.
Then there’s Arthur.
“…What’s the useless prince doing over there?”
He was mingling among the knights of the 1st and 2nd Knight Orders.
Why is he there? I thought the first prince would definitely show up this time!
I would have guessed they’d send him to grab the limelight.
Well, whatever. Having the first prince around would just complicate matters.
For now, let’s go through the trials and see if we can make a good impression on the Fairy Queen.
If in the end, I truly find this to be the best path forward, then there’s nothing else to be done.
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