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The Fierce Saintess

episode 4

Treat me to a Ko-Fi to give me more motivation!!!

*****

It had all happened so abruptly, so effortlessly, that it hardly felt like reality. Yet the King, the Second Prince, and the Concubine had indeed been reduced to three silent corpses—a shocking sight whose impact was clearly displayed in Queen Shaira's still-trembling hands.

Clasping her hands tightly together to keep the shaking from spreading throughout her body, Shaira followed closely behind Princess Kana. If she wished to protect the kingdom—and Prince William—refusing Princess Kana's request was nothing short of a terrible mistake.

(Even more so for a queen who failed to die when she should have...)

***

The guard who had burst into the room with hurried, clattering footsteps had brought Shaira more than just the scheduled news of the Saintess summoning's success.

Furious at being kidnapped from another world, the Saintess had captured Prince William, along with the King and Prince Alton, and was demanding their heads. Furthermore, Prince William had named his "mother" as the person he wished to see one last time.

Though stunned by the report, Shaira immediately steeled her resolve.

Despite Knight Commander Beaton, along with roughly ten knights and guards, standing on standby in that room, such a dire situation had still transpired. That alone indicated the Saintess's power far surpassed theirs. Thus, Shaira concluded that if she were to save her son William, there was no other way than to offer her own life as a "mother" and beg for his life to be spared.

(To achieve that, I must show her absolute courtesy.)

Driven by those thoughts, Shaira had hurried to the summoning chamber alongside the royal concubine, only for Concubine Trisha—who foolishly looked down on the Saintess as a mere young girl—to nearly ruin everything. Of all things, Trisha had begun barking high-handed orders at her.

Though Shaira had hurriedly silenced her, it was clear the Saintess had taken offense; the unsettling presence of an immense tide of magical power began to stir. So, Shaira repeatedly offered desperate apologies, begging for her son's life in exchange for her own. However—

(This might be impossible...)

So she had thought. When Trisha cut in a second time, Shaira was on the brink of despair, believing all was lost. In the end, however, her plea to spare William's life was granted—albeit with conditions attached.

Events had unfolded at such a dizzying pace after that, Shaira felt as though her very sense of time had been warped.

A sinister ritual was performed by Princess Kana and her two small companions, sending William into agonizing contortions. Before Shaira knew it, the executions of the King, Alton, and Trisha had been decided—and instantly carried out.

Staring down at the three motionless bodies, Shaira knew with absolute certainty that had Princess Kana desired it, she could have filled not just this chamber but the entire castle with corpses.

Precisely because of that, if she were to ally with them and lend her strength, this kingdom might yet be saved... Shaira could sense that everyone else in the room shared the exact same thought. That was why no one had dared object to the execution of the King and the others.

After all, the First Prince, William, was alive, and so was his mother—the queen who had failed to die. The dignity of the royal family could barely be preserved through them, making the sacrifice of those three an unavoidable necessity. Shaira could not help but feel that this unspoken sentiment permeated the entire room.

And now, before Shaira's very eyes, the young girl who had been chanting a strange incantation was enveloped in a soft light, completely healing the wound she had inflicted on herself. Once again, Shaira was acutely reminded of her power and potential as a Saintess.

(I must secure her cooperation no matter what. If it means achieving that, I will cast aside all useless pride and emotion. I am the Queen of this kingdom!)

Conscious of the heavy, icy lump of guilt embedded deep within her chest, Shaira resolved to keep moving forward to protect her realm and her child.

***

「On korokoro sendari matougi sowaka. On korokoro sendari matougi sowaka. On korokoro sendari matougi sowaka.」

Exiting the room with Queen Shaira in tow, Princess Kana did not immediately walk away once the door shut. Instead, she chanted the mantra of Yakushi Nyorai three times right then and there. A soft light gently wrapped around the princess's entire body, and the wound she had just inflicted on herself vanished without a trace. Kana could tell that Shaira, witnessing this, widened her eyes in astonishment.

(Hmm. It seems mantras are effective in this world as well. And it disappeared far more quickly and cleanly than I expected.)

Having confirmed that one of her spells worked, Princess Kana set off to carry out what she had in mind.

「Now then, Shaira. Could I trouble you to guide me to the rooms of those whose heads were just taken, as well as where this castle keeps its valuables? In times like these, thieves inevitably emerge.」

「I understand that, but if I may ask, why go yourself, Lady Kana?」

A voice called out from behind them. Stopping and turning around, the princess saw a bald man standing near the door they had just exited.

He was a short man dressed in plain, muted grey garments, yet his gaze radiated intelligence and determination. Giving a bow, the man hurried over to their side.

「And who might you be?」

「Forgive my intrusion from behind. I am Aldridge, serving as the Prime Minister of this realm. There was something I wished to ask you, Lady Kana, so despite knowing it to be impolite, I took the liberty of calling out.」

「Prime Minister?」

「I am primarily responsible for overseeing the kingdom's administrative affairs.」

「Something akin to a Regent or Chief Advisor, then. Well, no matter. To be frank, I am still undecided on how I shall conduct myself going forward. That is not to say I have forgiven you lot for kidnapping me to this realm, but I have already claimed my retribution. Moreover, if returning home truly proves impossible, I recognize that acquiring a measure of knowledge before venturing out into an unfamiliar world is the wiser course.」

Saying so, she gazed into the distance for a moment before closing her eyes, as if longing for a landscape she might never see again. Opening her eyes once more, she resumed walking.

「Therefore, if you truly stand in need of my power, I merely thought establishing a cooperative relationship while I learn about this world might prove a suitable measure. However—」

Stopping once more, she stroked the backs of the two foxes walking as if to guard her flanks, casting a probing glance toward the queen and prime minister.

「Even if I were to lend my aid, I have no intention of shouldering every burden alone. If that is what you expect of me, I shall do nothing and simply watch from the sidelines as you all perish.」

To the princess's words, the queen replied without hesitation.

「Should you assist us, Lady Saintess, I promise you on my honor that such a thing will never happen.」

「I, too, give you my firm assurance.」

Aldridge followed suit after the queen's statement. Hearing their responses, Princess Kana nodded lightly and continued.

「Furthermore, I have no intention of doing anything free of charge. I know not what expectations you harbored, but I intend to demand compensation commensurate with my labor. I will not tolerate the absurd situation of having nothing to collect when the time comes. Thus, I decided to do a bit of inspection. After all, as I currently possess no trustworthy subordinates of my own, I must attend to it with my own hands.」

Seemingly persuaded by her explanation, Aldridge murmured, 「Understood,」 and stepped forward to lead Princess Kana and her entourage.

「This is Second Prince Alton's room.」

The door opened by Aldridge revealed a room furnished with pieces so lavish that even Princess Kana could tell no expense had been spared. Moreover, it appeared someone had already broken in, as noises were emanating from deeper within the room.

「It seems someone is already here.」

At the princess's remark, Suou snorted with a "Mph!" and waved its front paw lightly. Instantly, two men came tumbling out into the corridor, bound tightly in cords. As the men thrashed about in panic at the sudden turn of events, Princess Kana lightly kicked their heads with the tips of her *seta* sandals—*thud, clack*—as she spoke in disgust.

「Do not engage in such foolishness. Do you wish to die?」

「Eek...」

「W-We were merely... cleaning up the room...」

「This is hardly the time for cleaning, and you two are certainly not the prince's attendants!」

Seeing them fall silent at Aldridge's rebuke, it was clearly a hit on the mark. Furthermore, their presence here suggested the likelihood that others were lurking in different rooms as well.

「In my homeland, stealing your master's wealth is a grave crime. You could have your heads severed on the spot and have no right to complain.」

The thieves turned deathly pale at the words of the princess, who offered an amused smile as if pondering what to do with them.

Aldridge then stepped forward, requesting to handle the culprits himself as he had questions for them. He explained that a gag order had already been placed regarding the events in the summoning chamber; despite that, he wished to uncover how such scoundrels had surfaced. Moreover, without anyone noticing, he had already stationed two soldiers nearby.

「I doubt one can ever truly bar the lips of men, but very well—do as you wish.」

Saying so, Princess Kana sealed the prince's room using a paper talisman before prompting the queen toward the next room.

The next location, the King's private quarters, remained untouched thanks to the guards posted outside the door. However, two men disguised as maidservants had snuck into the concubine's room.

Furthermore, when Suou captured them, they had already laid hands on several pieces of jewelry, which peeked out from various folds of their clothing—making denial impossible.

「Going through all the trouble to dress as women... what diligent work. What say you, Aldridge? Will you interrogate these ones as well?」

「If I may.」

「I mind not. Though it is a bit dull, I must say.」

Answering thus, Princess Kana stepped across the backs and bellies of the captured men as she made her way to the door, affixing a paper talisman to the concubine's room as well. All the while, she feigned ignorance of the muffled groans of "Guh!" and "Geck!" emanating from beneath her feet.

The pitiful thieves were subsequently hauled up by the soldiers and taken to the dungeon under Aldridge°'s command, at which point Aldridge° also excused himself to attend to the aftermath.

Afterward, having confirmed the security of the King's private room with the queen, Princess Kana inspected the main vault and the treasury to verify their safety, concealing human-shaped *shikigami* in each.

「It would be best if I had protective talismans from Mitsumine Shrine, but for now, this shall suffice. Now then, as I have finished most of what I intended, please guide me to my sleeping quarters. Oh, and bring something to eat as well.」

Upon informing Shaira, she was promptly led to a door.

It was a room every bit as luxurious as the princes' quarters she had seen earlier. Deeper within lay another door, which Shaira explained led to the bedchamber. Peering inside after opening that door, she saw bedding set upon a raised platform behind a curtain-like canopy.

(This is quite convenient.)

Looking around, she saw nothing suitable for hanging a kimono, but noticing a cabinet that seemed meant for garments, Princess Kana considered that it could serve as a substitute. Just as she was thinking this, a knock sounded at the door, followed by the queen's voice.

「I have brought your meal.」

「Enter.」

Pardoning herself, Shaira entered alongside a woman pushing a wheeled cart. Princess Kana watched the woman prepare the meal from start to finish. Finding nothing suspicious, she informed Shaira that she could take her leave for the day. At that, the queen gestured toward a cord near the door.

「If you require anything, please pull this cord. It will ring a bell to notify the servants.」

「Understood.」

Awaiting the departure of the queen and the servant after they offered a 「Please enjoy your rest,」 Princess Kana approached the cart. A seat had been placed beside it, indicating she was to sit there to eat.

Given her earlier warning, she doubted there would be poison, but she decided to chant a mantra of powerful purification before eating just in case.

「On shuda shuda. On shuda shuda. On shuda shuda.」

The moment she chanted, a brilliant white light expanded around her. Waiting for the light to fade, she sat upon the chair and began her meal.

A deep dish containing soup was set out alongside a spoon, while a large, steamed-bun-like bread rested on a flat plate. A small bowl held what appeared to be bite-sized pieces of fruit.

The soup seemed to utilize animal milk; though the milky smell was somewhat pronounced, it posed no problem to eat. Judging from its aroma, the bun-like item was made from wheat. Though unfilled, it paired quite well when eaten with the soup.

(The flavors are rather unrefined, but it is not bad.)

Having filled her stomach for the time being, Princess Kana turned her thoughts to everything that had transpired that day. Wondering if she would truly never see her parents, her siblings, Saki, Natsume, or Kurogane ever again, she pulled the hairpin from her breast pocket and gazed upon it.

(And to think it was only noon today when this was placed in my hair... I was supposed to return to the estate after that and eat the snacks Saki made. Today is the winter solstice, so Natsume was looking forward to the servants being treated to a yuzu bath... Tomorrow I was supposed to practice *mikagura* dances with Mother, then train in martial arts with Kurogane, and go on living tomorrow and the day after... So why am I the only one in a place like this...? Has my existence truly been erased from my home, as if I never was...?)

Her heart ached with a suffocating pain, and tears welled up and spilled over. The fat drops fell, spreading dark spots onto her navy-blue *hakama*. Seeing this, the two foxes snuggled up against her legs in worry.

「Is Princess sad?」

「Is Princess hurting?」

「I am so bitterly sad, and hurting beyond measure... but yes, you are right. I have you two with me. Suou, Kaou—do not worry, it is only for now. I cannot let those fools see such weakness in me and take advantage. But... just for now...」

Crouching down on the floor, she pulled the two foxes into a tight embrace. Her shoulders shaking, the young girl wept silently for a long while.

Half an hour later, Princess Kana drew a deep breath and exhaled. Having cried her heart out, she felt somewhat calmer. Naturally, she had zero intention of ever forgiving the people of this world who had inflicted this upon her. However—

(I have exacted my toll. Cool your head and think!)

Biting her lip, she commanded herself.

She had decapitated the master of the castle, his concubine, and his son. That seemed price enough for her abduction. Therefore, Princess Kana urgently needed to decide how to navigate her life should returning home prove impossible. Though in truth, her answer was already set.

As she had told Shaira and the others, she would build a foundation for herself to live in this realm. To that end, reluctant though she was, cooperating with the people of this kingdom and earning compensation seemed the best course of action.

However, she had not the slightest intention of degrading herself into a convenient tool, nor would she pander to the customs of this world. In that regard, turning William into her pawn had been a wise move, as it ensured Shaira could be trusted to a reasonable extent.

(Still, it troubles me that my divine power has increased to an abnormal degree since arriving here. Furthermore, I cannot comprehend why my *shikigami* show no sign of depleting. It seems I was chosen and brought here by some deity of this world; unless I track down that so-called god, punch it a few times, and demand an explanation, my fury will never subside. But I have not the slightest clue where such an entity might be...)

For the time being, she set those matters aside for later. After all, Princess Kana currently faced a far more pressing dilemma.

(I wish to prepare for bed, but before that—the toilet! Behind the screen in the adjacent room, there is something that resembles a chamber pot... but I cannot tell if it truly is one!)

After agonizing over it at great length, Princess Kana gave the cord near the door a firm tug.

*****

I too would despair if I had to deal with a medieval toilet.

Have you seen one? It's basically just free fall and drop somewhere outside the castle.

I don't think they use water to wash them butt, maybe a dry wipe, that's rough.

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