The day changed, and at last it was the day to carry out the operation.
We had gone ahead to the mine in advance.
There were also other people Albert had arranged.
We hid in the shadows and waited for the lord to arrive.
“Looks like it’s finally time. Are you nervous, Fate?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
I’d been through my fair share of dire situations by now.
Maybe because of that, I was surprisingly calm—even to myself.
“…I wonder if Aisha and Snow will be okay?”
“Licorice is with them, so there shouldn’t be a problem… no, perhaps it’s precisely because she’s with them that there is a problem?”
“Hahaha, that’s cruel.”
Aisha and the others were waiting at an inn in town.
If they got caught up in this, it would be a disaster, so there was no way we could bring them along.
Licorice was acting as their guard, at least…
But still—hmm, I’m worried.
“…Hey.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“This might sound naïve, but… if possible, I don’t really want to hurt anyone.”
There were many people protecting the lord—
Some hired with money, others who had sworn loyalty to him.
“There might be bad people among them, but still, this time the enemy is fellow humans, and if we can, I’d rather not—”
“That is naïve.”
“Ugh.”
She cut me off without mercy.
“I understand how you feel, but if you hold onto such soft sentiments, they could cost you your life when it truly matters.”
“That’s…”
“The enemy is the enemy. If you aren’t ruthless, you may be the one who gets killed.”
“…You’re right.”
“However—”
Sofia smiled gently.
“I like that about you, Fate.”
“…Sofia…”
“Very well. Avoiding injury entirely is impossible, but let’s try not to take lives if we can. Fate, do everything you can toward that end. I’ll support you.”
It was very reassuring, but still…
“Is it really okay? I might be forcing you into danger…”
“This much danger is nothing at all.”
Sofia said it with a smug expression.
“After all, I am a Sword Saint.”
“……”
“There’s absolutely nothing to worry about. I’ll handle it in no time.”
“……”
“W-Why have you gone quiet?”
“No, it’s nothing… really. Thank you, Sofia.”
My partner is incredibly reliable.
And incredibly kind.
In the end, I think Sofia feels the same way I do.
“Let’s do our best.”
“Yes.”
Alright, I’m fired up now.
I am—but…
“Isn’t the signal late?”
I checked the time on my watch.
Albert was supposed to send a signal once the lord arrived at the mine…
But there was no sign of it at all.
Even though the scheduled time had already passed.
“Could there be some kind of trouble?”
“When you say it out loud, it feels like it might actually happen…”
“This is bad!”
A young man came running toward us.
He was one of Albert’s butlers, the one serving as a messenger.
He was drenched in sweat, clearly in a panic.
“What happened?”
“Well, um…! Someone other than Lord Albert has launched a coup, and the city has turned into a battlefield…!!!”
…An utterly disastrous problem had occurred.
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