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Chapter 276 part 2

Amria herself was aware that simply talking about the ideal outcome without being able to explain the process of getting there was no better than drunken rambling. That’s why she was strangely relieved when Reguel, who led a faction of his own, seemed to approve of it.

「To make everyone involved with the Romal Empire happy, huh? That’s like accomplishing something without any sacrifices. There’s no way humans can do that. If you really want that, are you planning to become a god or something?」

「?」

Amria genuinely didn’t understand what Regul was saying, and it took her a few seconds to process it.

She couldn’t connect the ideal of becoming a god to help someone whose face or name she didn’t know.

This was a manifestation of the difference in perception between Regul, who thought that such a thing was impossible unless one became a god, and Amria, who hadn’t given up unless she had experiences that made her keenly aware that it was impossible as a human.

「Since becoming a god isn’t within my reach, I intend to do my best as I am. Besides, if I became a god, it would be a lot of work. Though I haven’t settled on any specific plans, I have some ideas.

If I can come up with ideas on my own, I’m sure I can come up with even better ideas if I can borrow the wisdom of more people.」

「That may be true, but if that were all it took, the world would be a better place, with less bloodshed.」

Amria made a troubled expression at Regul’s words, which sounded like he was trying to explain something to a child who didn’t know how the world works. This was also Amria’s natural reaction, not Asteria’s.

「You really are a mean person. But you’re not twisted. Instead of telling me that I can’t do it, you could have tried to manipulate me by saying that I can do it and making me feel good about myself.」

「Oh yeah? Then let me show you a little bit of my twisted side. It’s true that your face is the spitting image of Asteria

It would be tempting to spread the word that we’ve captured Asteria, or that you’ve come to surrender to us, or even to use you in a big battle against the Empire.

Whether you are the real deal or an impostor, it hardly matters. In either case, you have a face that’s worth utilizing.」

「Oh, that’s frightening. But, well, yes, those are definitely possible options.」

「What?」

「If using me can bring happiness to you and everyone else, not just The Roaring Sun’s Majesty but also those I consider as “everyone,” then I have no objections to being utilized. f you can use me to the fullest in a way that aligns with my goals, then I don’t mind being used by you.」

「…Ha, hahaha. I see. Is that so? Even if it’s just lip service, you’ve got more guts than I thought, young lady.

In recognition of your courage and bravado, I’ll tell you a little bit of my true intentions., but this is not for others’ ears…」

*

While Amria, posing as Asteria, and Regul were engaged in their private conversation, the guards outside couldn’t help but be visibly anxious about a discussion that could significantly impact the empire’s future.

Particularly anxious were the two women stationed behind Amria a while ago, and although they didn’t pace around, their tails were wagging furiously. The male guard watched the scene with a smile, but the two who had come as Regul’s guards couldn’t relax as easily.

「Hey, calm down a bit. There’s no sign of killing intent or any other suspicious noises. You can tell that our leader isn’t in any trouble inside.」

The two restless women stopped wagging their tails at the words of the male guard, but their expressions still showed their concern.

「Ah, well, it’s not that we’re worried about Sir Regul… We’re not worried… but it’s just hard to stay calm.」

The sight of the two women with their ears flattened made even Regul’s guards lose their venom, and the tense atmosphere softened a little.

They hadn’t spent much time together, but had they always been the kind of people who could lighten the mood like this? In any case, it made them worry that they would be unsuited for many jobs if they were so easily swayed by their emotions.

Regul’s guards pondered how long the conversation inside might last.

They didn’t have any definitive proof that she was the real deal yet, but the fact that Princess Asteria of the Romal Empire was in their hands and that their leader was having a meeting with her was enough to stir their emotions.

Although they maintained a calm demeanor, the guards were just as curious as anyone else about what the two of them were talking about.

As they wondered what the outcome would be, they saw a group of soldiers running towards them from down the corridor.

The soldiers’ panicked demeanor made it clear that something serious had occurred, and they couldn’t help but think that it had something to do with the room behind them…

The room that housed Princess Asteria, a symbol of the Romal’s Imperial Princess and one of the candidates for the next emperor.

「What’s wrong? Did the Romal people make a big move to get her back?」

To the obvious question from one of Regul’s guards, one of the soldiers approached him and whispered something in his ear. By the time he had finished his short report, the guard’s face had taken on the appearance of a fierce warrior.

Seeing her instantly jumping into a fighting stance, the only male guard standing behind Amria a while ago muttered to himself.

「Hmm, it seems they have found out.」

Muttering his usual catchphrase, Gwandan, who had been disguised with illusion magic, casually grabbed the door of the room and ripped it off its hinges, throwing it at Regul’s guards, who were glaring at him with fierce eyes!

Regul’s guards knocked down the iron door that Gwandan had thrown with their powerful arms, and as the soldiers hurriedly readied their weapons, Gwandan’s loud voice moved the other two—Yachiyo and Fuuko, also under the same magic disguise.

「You two, get her!」

「Aye!」

「Understood!」

Yachiyo and Fuuko were quick to move when it came to Amria. Without any hesitation, they jumped into the room, and Regul, who had already noticed them, attacked them with golden winds.

The speed befitting the Roaring Sun’s Majesty’s finest warrior was enough to make Yachiyo and Fuuko feel the threat of death. However, Gwandan’s left hand, extended from behind them, caught Regul’s right fist.

「Tch, so you all are part of the scheme too?」

Regul was somewhat surprised that his no-holds-barred attack had been stopped, and he glared at Gwandan with a burning fighting spirit in his eyes. He was the kind of man who felt truly alive in the midst of battle.

「I didn’t expect you to find out so quickly. The three people whose forms we’ve borrowed are just asleep, so you can rest assured that their lives are not in danger. Still, I thought it would take quite a long for you to find them, hidden in the nook as they were.」

「Oh yeah, how kind of you. So, are you part of Asteria’s or Linosart’s? Either way, you seem to be courting death, huh?」

「We don’t want to die, of course.」

Before Regul’s left arm could strike again, Gwandan threw him at the guards who were approaching from behind, punched through the thick wall of the room, and created a path outside.

Amria was carried on Fuuko’s back, and they were ready to escape at any moment. She was still looking at Regul with reluctance, but in this situation, the best thing to do was to leave as soon as possible.

「I’ll cover the rear. Go!」

「Yes, sir!」

The four of them jumped out of the room and into the training ground. Outside the room, which was located at the edge of the training ground facilities, there was a flat plain used for training, and in the distance, one could see soldiers training here and there.

Since the soldiers that the Gwandans had secretly put to sleep and swapped out had been found, the alarm bells were ringing loudly throughout the training ground, and soldiers were rushing out from their barracks and other facilities in a mad rush.

As the commotion spread, which was like a hornet’s nest being poked, more disturbances were added to various parts of the training ground from afar.

As the soldiers followed the orders of their superiors’ commands and began to move, shells were fired one after another above their heads.

As soon as the shells hit the ground, smoke and explosions of various colors, such as red, blue, and white, spread out, and the soldiers who were caught in them showed a variety of symptoms like collapsing on the spot, sneezing, coughing, or sleeping.

Far away from the training ground, there were three people. Gundeus was wielding Dolor, his trusty Cannon of Misery, while Kyrlinne and Lynette held modified versions of the magic cannons they had acquired in battle with Count Verginten.

While Gwandan, Yachiyo, and Fuuko accompanied Amria in disguise, Lynette and the two were tasked with providing escape support from afar in case of emergency.