“…What’s wrong?”
[…while…]
At the moment when everyone had their heads down, listening to Karina’s incantation.
I quietly informed Renny, who was next to me, that there was a suspicious person mingling in the crowd. Renny nodded seriously at my words and scanned the heads of the audience with a sharp gaze.
“…Did they get inside the Academy?”
“…I don’t know.”
Anyone could tell just by looking that this person was dressed suspiciously, so if they were hidden among these people, it would be immediately obvious. Of course, they could have taken off their hood, but I didn’t think that they would do that.
After all, there was no way to hide their identity just by removing a hood.
Moreover, being that conspicuous could have been a fake to draw attention.
I cautiously tapped Rue on the shoulder.
[The magic is too mixed up, so I can’t distinguish it unless they come closer.]
Is that so? It was frustrating that one of my detection methods was on the fritz. Normally, Rue would’ve sensed the suspicious one and responded.
Once this speech was over, I’d have to give a heads-up to the security force. I couldn’t call off the festival on information that I wasn’t certain about. And conversely, Karina getting to work would make it easier to lure the assassin.
There wouldn’t be a more delicious bait than Karina doing her work in front of everyone. Sometimes, throwing obvious bait was the safest way to protect a target.
It wasn’t like we were in an age where long-range sniping was possible, and at best, we’d be dealing with crossbows and arrows, but that would be more than enough for Renny to handle.
With Renny’s kind of skill, the moment they entered the airspace, they could deflect cannonballs.
So, rather than that, we should be wary of ambushes coming from below or above.
As for the guys mixed into the crowd, once they were kept from approaching, that would be that, but nothing was more bewildering than something popping out from the ground or falling from the sky.
Moreover, those guys might also carry out a terror disguised as an assassination.
If that happened, I would have to leave Karina with Renny first, and then…
Ah.
“Johann, the speech is over, so it’s time to move to the next location.”
Renny whispered, poking my side as if to snap me out of it.
“…Sorry. I was running through the scenarios in my head about how the enemy might attack.”
I turned my gaze to Karina, who was waving at the people behind her. To be precise, I had no choice but to focus on her back. The ceremonial dress might have been a bit baggy, but it was impossible to hide Karina’s ample figure.
…Her chest was like her…
“…Johann. You’re not thinking anything weird, are you?”
Sharp as ever.
“Karina! Karina!”
“Eek! Karina noticed me!”
“What are you talking about! She saw me!”
“It was me!”
…If you’re going to fight, at least do it outside. The way others are getting all hyped up with shouting is overwhelming. I couldn’t tell if this was a religious ceremony or if I had landed in a sports viewing event.
“Do I look like that kind of person?”
“Yep.”
“…It couldn’t be helped.”
“Well, I get it, so let’s move on… The next schedule is just a brief appearance at today’s event, so let’s hurry up.”
“Yeah, it’s really busy…”
“Karina?”
Karina was smiling brightly, but I could tell she was exhausted. It seemed that reciting the incantation surrounded by people was draining her mental and physical energy.
“Karina. Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“If it gets too hard, please let me know. It’s possible to delay the schedule a bit… I don’t think anyone would complain if the saint said she needed to rest for a bit.”
“Thank you for worrying about me. But I still have to do my work. I have a lot on my shoulders.”
“Karina…”
At my call, Karina smiled at me. A smile that meant not to worry.
But how could I not worry?
“Come on, let’s go, we still have things to do, right?”
“…Yeah. But I’d like you to tell me if it gets too difficult.”
I wish she could be honest with us. Seeing her petite frame being swept away by the pressure and having to move was painful. Karina only gave a mysterious smile at my words and turned to wave at the people again.
“Then let’s go ride the carriage.”
“Before that, I’ll warn the security force to be on guard for the assassin.”
“Okay. Come back quickly.”
——————-
“Thank goodness it’s a concert where we just have to quietly listen.”
“Right?”
With soft melodies wrapping around us like a warm blanket, Renny and I checked Karina’s surroundings at the VIP seats.
Seated in the VIP area were the influential nobles of the Empire and Archbishop Pierre, whom I hadn’t seen in a while. And…
“Saint. You look truly beautiful.”
“You’re too kind.”
“The stars in the night sky couldn’t shine as bright as you.”
Lord Kalon, allow me to become a righteous assassin today.
“Johann? Manage your gaze…”
“Sorry about that.”
“I understand your feelings, but it’s still the First Prince.”
How many princes were there, the First Prince?
Anyway, with that overly charming guy continually chatting up Karina, I couldn’t help but keep my eyes on him.
I tried to turn my gaze away and focused on the students passionately playing their instruments. A concert featuring both instruments I had seen several times in the 21st century and some I had never seen before.
Though they weren’t professionals and occasionally went slightly off tune, the performance was still rather close to excellent.
If I were just a guest, I would’ve enjoyed the festival leisurely while listening to the music, but no, I had to work while everyone else had fun. It was just the nature of my job, but I couldn’t help feeling sad about it.
“If you have time later, would you like to have tea together? To strengthen our friendship…”
Friendship my butt.
“School life is busy for me…so I think it’s unlikely in the near future.”
“Haha, then I’ll stop by to find you.”
I was seriously contemplating whether to smack a brainwash beam into that guy’s head when…
“Johann. Look over there.”
Suddenly Renny spoke up, and I turned to the direction she was pointing.
A man in a hood.
“…It’s probably a good idea to tell the security force. Hey.”
“What’s going on?”
“Do you see that hooded man over there?”
“Yes, yes. I see him.”
“He’s been visible since outside the main gate, so tell them to investigate.”
“Got it.”
The rookie guard, still showing signs of inexperience, hurriedly rushed to report to his superior. I watched for a moment before turning my gaze back up to the ceiling.
The most efficient assassination route from here would be dropping down from the ceiling of this hall. Otherwise, popping up from the floor. I had already reinforced the surrounding floor just in case, but they wouldn’t be bringing any bombs, right?
Even though I had taken prior measures considering the possibility of explosive designs, I still didn’t really know how dangerous the bombs in this world would be.
Well, with traps set up at the emergency passages, they wouldn’t easily get in. To be honest, those guys probably didn’t even notice the existence of the emergency passages.
There were very few people who knew about that passage. And…even if they did get into the emergency passage, they wouldn’t come out intact.
Entering my domain was like stepping into a death trap.
“Already suspicious individuals are showing up; it really doesn’t seem like this will end peacefully.”
Renny muttered with worry, glancing this way and that. Anyway, this should be wrapping up soon.
It had been almost an hour of performance, so it wouldn’t be odd for it to end now.
The concert… next is the martial arts tournament preliminaries, huh? I’m curious how the battles between skilled individuals and students from various regions will unfold. Whether the protagonist, Lewis, will win like in the original work or if an unexpected variable will appear.
In either case, it looked like it would be quite an interesting spectacle.
“Blessings upon the Saint!”
Ah, it’s over.
I relaxed my body after the rhythm had unexpectedly stopped. It was now time to take Karina to the martial arts tournament.
“I think I’ll have to part ways soon, as I have the next schedule to attend.”
“Such a pity. I wish we had more time to get to know each other better…”
Look at that guy trying to make a move. You’ll see him again at the martial arts tournament anyway.
Should I just chop off his head and throw it to the zombies…
“Johann, control your expression.”
I forced myself to manage my expression while glaring at the First Prince’s escort knights, who seemed to be contemplating whether to draw their swords.
Did I let some murderous intent slip through?
“…I guess I should get ready for the martial arts tournament.”
——————————
“Hahaha! To think we would meet again here! This might be fate!”
What kind of outdated pickup line was that?
As I watched the First Prince using a line that was outdated even by this era’s standards, I couldn’t help but ponder whether the Empire was truly this lacking.
It’s dizzying, really.
I turned my gaze from this annoyance and looked back at Karina before shifting my attention to the coliseum, a collaborative work of the Builders Guild and witches, where a massive crowd had gathered.
It was to be expected.
The martial arts tournament was one of the biggest events of Saint Sabrina’s festival.
Because of that, it was hard to visually identify any nefarious elements hiding among the dense crowd.
[For now, I don’t sense any suspicious magic nearby.]
“Got it.”
“What did you say?”
“There’s no suspicious magic in the vicinity.”
Well, that’s somewhat of a relief. Or perhaps nothing had even begun yet.
“Saint, the martial arts tournament is about to start.”
“Really? Okay, then I’ll need to prepare. Your Highness, I will need to excuse myself for the opening remarks.”
Karina swiftly used the announcer’s timing to brush off the First Prince and gestured to Renny. Renny eagerly grabbed the handles of the wheelchair and carefully pushed forward.
They needed to move a bit further forward to be within view of the people.
Well, closer to where people could be seen…?
I looked down at the ground where Karina was seated.
For no particular reason, I felt uneasy.
It felt like something had been set up on the floor.
And I slowly discovered a growing crack in the ground.
A premonition of disaster.
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