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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.