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“…Are you suggesting we ignore them and let it pass?” I inquired.

By the way, these carriages were rented from the academy, totaling about ten. They primarily carry noble students and their attendants (each allowed one), as well as faculty. The remaining commoner students ride in three slightly aged shared carriages provided by the academy.

In our group, there are six teams with a total of thirty-seven students:

Eighteen are children of nobles, high-ranking clergy, or wealthy merchants, nineteen are commoner students, thirteen are attendants permitted to accompany the nobles, Twenty-two faculty and instructors, roughly double the number of other study groups.

Additionally, we have over 120 guards, which is enough force to start a small war if necessary. This clearly shows how serious the academy is about this.

“Oh no, we don’t simply ignore them. We take note of who just spoke to better discern who’s an enemy and who’s an ally.”
“Indeed. Any unwanted fat is better trimmed off.”

Viola said playfully with a wink, while Lieselotte glared coldly at the student council executives, who were still engaging in their vile conversations.

“That’s right. We don’t need any excess fat. We should get rid of it thoroughly, either by liposuction or surgery,” I said, fully agreeing with the apt analogy.

“Now then, those people are citizens of my kingdom. As a princess, I shall go and offer them some words of gratitude. Jill, Lucas, you both go ahead,” Lieselotte said with a matter-of-fact air as she got off the carriage.

“I’ll escort you,” Viola said, taking her hand with practiced ease and walking toward the adventurers.

In the distance, members of the Steel Wagon were efficiently handling the cleanup.

“Alright, gather the monster corpses in one place. We’ll burn everything.”
“Aren’t we going to harvest the materials?”
“It’s a waste of time. Our mission is to escort the academy students and deliver them to their destination swiftly. Don’t worry, the reward for repelling the monsters will be added to our payment.”
“Understood. We’ll leave five or six people here to burn them with oil, and the main group will proceed.”
“Good, I’m counting on you.”

If it were just one or two, we could leave them, but with this many, leaving the corpses would risk causing an epidemic (though they might not understand the exact reasons, their experience tells them that these corpses could become a source of disease) or attracting even more dangerous monsters. To prevent any risks, they’ve decided to deal with the corpses here and now.

As expected from the adventurers hired by the academy, they are competent and quick to act. As we watched with admiration, our carriage slowly began moving toward our destination again.

In hindsight, despite the experience of the members of Steel Wagon, they made a small but, in this instance, fatal mistake. Perhaps if their priority hadn’t been solely to escort us, or if they hadn’t been so buoyed by Lieselotte’s encouragement, this tragedy might have been averted. Unfortunately, there’s no way to turn back the clock.

Leaving behind the numerous meran-aries corpses and a few members to stay behind, the main group of Steel Wagon, thrilled by direct praise from the princess of their kingdom, moved on in high spirits. Unbeknownst to us, the die had already been cast.

Oblivious to these events, I casually waved at a familiar male student riding a salamander at the back of the procession.

“What’s wrong, Jill?” Luke asked in a puzzled tone, noticing me leaning halfway out of the window to greet someone who was blatantly ignoring me.

“Oh, I just saw an acquaintance.”
“I see. By the way, near the academy’s retreat where we’ll be staying, there’s a famous sacred site where Lady Clara sealed an evil king. Would you like to visit it with me? I’ve heard that the church there is a popular spot among young couples.”
“Is that so?”

Since Cestlavie seems to know a lot about churches, maybe I should invite him as well. I’ll ask him later.

While thinking this, I waved my hand even more energetically.

♦♢♦

Darkness and miasma hung in the air like stagnant sediment.

“……”

Seated in a decaying Gothic-style chair—ornately carved with framework sculptures and a tall backrest forming a spire arch—”he” sat as still as a statue, letting time pass.

How many days and nights had passed since he had been sealed in this place?

Despite having transcended life and death and reached the depths of great magic, his body was now confined in this narrow, enclosed space, unable to escape, gradually weakening, and awaiting its eventual return to the void.

—I hate her. I will avenge myself on the one who sealed me and her entire family!

His anger raged, almost consuming him, yet he had neither a target for his hatred nor the means to exact his revenge.

His own helplessness only fueled his hatred for his enemies, reopening old wounds and spreading blood-like malice.

How long had this continued? Suddenly, “he” faintly—like a spider’s thread—sensed a presence resembling that of his former enemy, causing him to tremble with fury.

—Is it her?! Has she come? That… that accursed woman!!

The malevolent wave, like a scream, shook the seal and unknowingly spread ill will around him.

Triggered by this malevolence, something that had sensed the scent of abundant “death” began to move in that direction, wielding a huge scythe.

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“Everyone, draw your swords! Shield bearers to the front! Attack in groups of three! Mages and archers, focus on providing support from the rear. And remember, don’t let a single scratch fall upon the noble sons and daughters… I mean, the academy members!”

“Understood!” they all shouted in unison.

The large group from the Cilento Adventurers Guild, “Steel Wagon,” who were hired as escorts by the academy, responded to their leader’s commands. They readied their weapons and magic staves, preparing to confront the approaching twenty-strong herd of meran-aries—sheep that looked like massive black-furred bulls but were actually vicious, carnivorous monsters.

Their movements, while not as flawlessly coordinated as those of a military unit, demonstrated the skill of a seasoned group of adventurers. The hundred-strong armed collective moved in perfect synchronization, naturally falling into an efficient formation, exuding a sense of reliability. It did seem, however, that they were focusing more on protecting the large carriages meant for nobles and faculty rather than the general student population.

“Aim for the clustered ones. Fire!”

At that moment, the mages and archers stationed at the rear to protect our carriage began their attack. A volley of arrows and spells rained down upon the pseudo-black sheep, preemptively striking the monsters that were just about to charge at us.

“Alright, everyone, commence the attack!”

The adventurers of the “Steel Wagon” deflected the haphazard attacks of the meran-aries, which were blindly lashing out in confusion and excitement. Following the standard tactics for fighting monsters, they attacked in groups of three per creature. Maintaining a defensive stance at a reasonable distance, they waited for openings to strike. Though the approach lacked flair, it was a solid and reliable formation. All the while, support came from the rear in the form of arrows and spells, gradually felling the pseudo-black sheep one by one.

Once the balance of numbers was broken, the tide quickly turned. Soon, the herd of meran-aries was defeated individually, their corpses strewn along the roadside.

Watching the victorious adventurers through the window, I sighed in relief and realized I had been clenching my hands tightly.

“I was quite surprised when the monsters suddenly attacked, but it seems there’s no casualty. What a relief. However, just watching from a safe distance feels frustrating and makes me uneasy,” I remarked.

“I understand how you feel, Jill, but please don’t do anything reckless. Honestly, I was on edge the whole time, worrying you might jump out and join the fray,” Luke, sitting next to me, said with a sigh of relief even greater than mine.

Indeed, had there been many casualties or injuries among the adventurers, I might have disregarded the situation’s propriety, dismounted from the carriage, and joined in the healing and attacking efforts.

I gently lowered myself back into my seat and straightened my posture, defending myself by saying, “I wouldn’t do that. I know my place and responsibilities, and I wouldn’t act so recklessly.” However, both Luke and Eren, my maid sitting across from me, were clearly giving me warm, understanding looks.

Feeling somewhat uncomfortable, I picked up and hugged Vier, who was at the size of a puppy curled up at my feet.

♦♢♦

“Huh, these guards are more competent than I thought.”

“—Hmph. Well, considering that they’re protecting some of the most prominent students at the academy, they probably felt the need to step up their game. If anything were to happen, they’d literally lose their heads. On the other hand, if they perform well here, they might secure some powerful patrons. There’s probably some calculation behind their efforts.”

“Ah, I see. I’ve heard that large groups like this are struggling financially. They can’t afford to miss out on the chance to market themselves to both the academy and us.”

“Exactly. But let’s not kid ourselves; they’re only dealing with a few beasts here, so it’s hardly a challenge. My family’s knights would have wiped them out in half the time.”

“Still, there’s something to be said for a good, gritty battle. I would have liked to see a bit more of a chaotic fight, though.”

“Come on now, we’re not watching a gladiatorial match here. That’s a bit much, don’t you think?”

“Maybe, but look over there. There are quite a few beastkin and other non-humans among the adventurers. Losing some of them won’t be an issue, will it? Next time something happens, could we negotiate to put them on the front lines?”

“Hmm. Interesting. Maybe we can persuade them with money.”

Meanwhile, the senior members of the student council, who belong to the executive committee, were loudly voicing their opinions from their private carriage or through the windows, as if they were watching an amusing spectacle.

Their arrogance, rooted in their unwavering belief that they belong to a privileged class, was not only insufferable but also grotesque and unbearable to listen to.

—If they want to see a battle against monsters up close that badly, maybe I should just redirect our route straight into the Tenebrae Nemus and lose the guards.

As I was almost awakening to a murderous intent, “How foolish…! The state and nobility exist because of the people, yet to disregard them is the height of arrogance!” Luke, a pure-blooded royal, muttered with displeasure, furrowing his brows as he readjusted Sechs—the somewhat mysterious winged cat—that had slipped from his shoulder.

“—Fools who don’t understand this will eventually face the consequences. History has proven that.”

“That’s precisely why any sensible noble would constantly keep an eye on their lands and people. Those lot are nothing more than worthless dropouts without the spirit or ability to carry their family’s name. They’re not even worth engaging with.”

Viola and Lieselotte chimed in from the window of a similarly styled carriage that had lined up next to ours, their voices laden with deep resignation and disdain. The large carriages, designed for mobility and comfort on long journeys, may look somewhat rugged for princesses, but they offer military-grade safety instead.

The shutters can even withstand crossbow bolts when they’re shut. The windows, adorned with anti-magic protection wards, allowed me to look back at the two.