Chapter 13 - I - The case of the iron princess
**Kuro**
The fight at the Hagena Castle came to a close. Exhausted, I fell on the side of the hallway, barely having the strength to lift my gun. But at least we’re all alive. Lily, though naked, was smeared with blood all over her body that it did not matter. Good thing a friendly soldier noticed her and handed over a coat to cover herself.
“…”
And then she deactivated her Bloodbath skill, which caused her to slump beside me as well.
“Bloody way for a reunion, huh?” I asked.
“Indeed, it is, Kuro!” she smiled, “I…I’m sorry for what I said to you before…”
“Shut up.” I snarled at her, “It’s me who should apologize; I caused you pain, both physical and emotional.”
“Why don’t we…just…forgive…each other?”
“That’d be…nice.”
We’re both tired from the battle that it was hard to stay awake and speak.
Nevertheless, Lily kept on talking, “K-Kuro…”
“Hm?”
“I’ve…s-sinned greatly…”
“Don’t focus on that for now.” I told her, “And yes…I know what you did. But don’t you…e-ever think that Maddie and I would…change…on how we see you. Isn’t it…the reason…I got like this?”
“B-but…”
“You can’t change…your past. You can…change your future. And…we’ll help…you.” I patted Lily’s head, just like what I always do with my students when they did a good job.
Lily seemed to be content with what I said. She just closed her eyes, and before she drifted into sleep, she uttered, “Indeed…”
Seeing that everything’s alright, I also went to dreamland.
Ah, it’s this familiar all-white scenery once again.
“…”
Let me see, by now there should be a small table around here somewhe—ah! There it is!
Behind me was a small white table with a chessboard, complete with all the chess pieces arranged as if a game had just ended.
“God?” I asked for the old deity, I’m sure He’s around here somewhere…
“Yes, Kuro!?”
“Wha—” I almost jumped from fright when He appeared beside me.
“Easy there, my son. You’ve been pretty jumpy lately.” God laughed.
“I’m sorry Lord, I’m just not good with surprises.”
“Ah yeah, right. That’s what you are, indeed.”
“Uh…anyway, Lord, what made You summon me back here? I didn’t die, right?”
“Well, yes, you’re still alive.” the Divinity then brought out a cup of coffee from somewhere and put it before me, inviting me for a drink, “Don’t worry, I only whisked you away temporarily while sleeping, to congratulate you on what you just did.”
“Eh?”
“If you haven’t realized just yet…” God picked up the queen chess piece, “You already saved the Queen—the strongest piece in our chess game.”
“You mean Lily’s the Queen?”
God only answered with a smile.
“And that isolation…” it slowly dawned on me, “Oh…so that’s why…AHH!!!”
God chuckled and His face had an amused expression, “The enemy is trying to keep the people away from Princess Lilyhaven, who’s their only hope in the coming times. Even though she’s the Bloody Witch, you had seen how powerful she can be once she gets proper support, right?”
I could only stare in fascination with God.
“Alright, I guess I need to return you right now. You still need to rest your spirit.” God then gulped the coffee in one sitting, “It’s nice to have you around again, my son.”
“Uh…God, there’s something that’s bugging me now that You reminded me of the Bloody Witch.”
“You mean about her skill, Bloodbath? Why that didn’t take over her mind completely as the other ancestors of hers?”
I nodded.
“Well, it’s simple. Remember that memory of yours that I sent in the middle of the battle at Hagena? That anime girl with an ESPer, time-traveler, and an alien?”
“You sent that?”
God laughed, “I always help those who are in need, though it’s subtle they always blame Me for inaction. Anyway, what did you do?”
“I…” I could feel my cheeks blush, “I kissed her, though, in the forehead, that is.”
“Right. You see, the Chersean hero, Cassandra David, knew that the Bloodbath is a dangerous spell, and so she created a condition in which the last Duke of Nerfes could control it. Sadly, he never found it while he lived.”
“Which is?”
“True love’s kiss. That overwhelming power could be controlled when you’re fighting for the one you love, and Lilyhaven has found hers.”
“That’s cliché!”
“I know, right?”
“Argh! The readers would get angry once again, whining that this story is so cliché with me being a dense Japanese main character even though I’m not from Japan!”
“Ha?” God had a confused look on His face.
“Ah, never mind, Lord.” I quickly returned to my calm self.
“Anyway, Kuro, thank you for your hard work!” God then blessed me, “Just one more, and you’ll save Chersea from its greatest crisis…”
My eyes almost popped out from their sockets upon hearing that, “Ha? There’s more?”
And then it went dark.
Everything settled down in the end.
With the Imperial soldiers, as well as their allies, afflicted with that gross disease and death, the battle came to be called the Battle of Hagena Castle (a.k.a. the Battle of Black Death). The Sekhtem militia’s cavalry company members were almost wiped out, save for 21 soldiers who were healed by Maddie, besides their commander, Sir Dane.
The lord of that place, a certain Baron Sir Gray, went missing in the aftermath of that castle battle. His body was not among the corpses, most of which were still recognizable even though the bubonic plague caused by Maddie hit them.
I tried asking Her Holiness if she could find that man in the pile of bodies, but…
“Don’t worry Kuro…” Maddie replied in a cold, calculating smile, “That man received a punishment a hundred times over; so, he won’t ever forget it, not even in his grave.”
“…”
Okay, so I didn’t pursue the matter with Maddie ever since. Girls can be quite scary…
Good thing I knew some basic precautions against this illness. I requested the clean-up workers to don some protective clothing to prevent a spread of the disease, just in case a vector (like a flea, or another insect) appeared.
The lone surviving member of the lord’s local guard, the vice-captain Roland, was recommended by the commander of the Sekhtem city militia, Sir Dane, to replace him. The latter was forced to step down from his position by Maddie herself, who was keen on putting a stop to the illegal forced-slavery trade and had him appointed as Chancellor to the king of Calabria.
Well, Sir Dane became Maddie’s ‘eye’ inside the monarch’s court.
As for the old lady and the young girl whom we rescued with Lily, Maddie also gave them her special attention. She made sure that every injury that the girl suffered was healed—even the broken fingers. For the lady, not only did she heal the missing eye, she cast on her a calming spell so that the effects of the traumatic experiences that she had would somehow lessen—though the Saint may not expunge it completely.
And finally, Lily was unconscious long after the fight had ended. Her Holiness had her transferred to a comfortable quarter within the manor that housed the Holy Diplomatic Mission of Sekhtem. Maddie kept on blaming herself for what happened to her friend and never left her side for as long as she didn’t wake up.
Her Holiness also did not allow anyone else to approach Lily…not even me.
I guess it’s pretty understandable that she wanted a private time with her long-lost friend.
“…”
A few ‘sleeps’ later, I received the good news from Ruro that the head maid had opened her eyes.
“You won’t come in and see her?” Her Fluffy Holiness asked while we’re at the lobby of the diplomatic mission.
“I guess not for now,” I replied. I knew we had resolved our differences already in the aftermath of Hagena Castle, but I still felt responsible for what happened to the Head Maid, and because of that, I lost my courage to see her.
It’s like when you get carried away with the events around you, and when you got back to your senses, the reality hits you before you even know it.
“…”
Perhaps I should let them alone for now; I’m an outsider to this world, anyway. And when I think about it, this whole affair will not happen if I didn’t get carried away with the events around me.
Damn it. I kept on creating problems after problems lately…
“…”
Ruro only gave me a long stare as she sipped on the cup of coffee that was prepared for her.
**Lilyhaven**
Upon regaining my consciousness, the first person who I saw was Maddie, and she was sitting beside my bed.
“…”
She was silent, and yet tears were falling from her gentle, silvery-blue eyes.
I knew she could read my mind right now, and yes, I’d be honest about it. I missed her. I missed this beautiful girl sitting beside me. I missed talking to her, having lunch and dinner with her, and when her schedule permits, I missed having drawing sessions with her.
“Maddie…I…I’m sorry…” was all I could say at the moment.
But the Saint never replied. She just smiled and held me tight as she could. At first, I was worried; my body endured torture, and I’m afraid she would break a bone or two. It was only then when she never let go of me I realized Maddie had completely healed me, even with the injury on my leg.
“…”
Ah, she never had to say anything. Right now, I forgive her even if she won’t ask for my forgiveness…
After all, Maddie sacrificed a lot for me.
I went back to Hagena right after I regained my strength. Maddie also came along, knowing that the family that I stayed with—Grandma Margie, Anton, and especially Mariya, had suffered a lot after getting involved with me. And, I also would like to apologize for everything that had happened.
What I mean is right now, and from the time that I was the ‘Bloody Witch’.
“Are you sure about this, Lily?” I heard Maddie ask. “I think I could cast some spell that would make the grandmother more accepting of you…”
“That won’t be necessary.” I replied, “I’d like them to keep those bitter memories of me. It’s the consequence of what I did, and I’m ready to accept it.”
“Well, still…I know it’s not entirely your fault.”
“As long as you believe in me, I guess I can manage.”
“Oh look! Welcome back, Miss Lily!” it was that arrogant guard, Roland, who came to meet me at the entrance to the village. Well, now, he’s more collected and thoughtful. I could say that his character improved a lot after what he had just experienced.
“Hello, Roland!” I greeted back, “How are you?”
“I’m pretty much fine now.” he answered, “And thanks to you, I was now the captain of Sekhtem’s militia.”
“Well, I think you impressed Sir Dane back then.”
“Of course, it wouldn’t be possible without your training, Master!” Roland bowed in gratitude, “And I’d like to offer my thanks to Her Holiness for healing me.”
Maddie nodded and smiled.
“Oh, uh, Miss Lily?” it seemed that he remembered something he wanted to ask.
“Yes?”
“Well, I’m just confused,” Roland told me, “The Mahan Swordsmanship Style that you taught us never worked for them, but it worked for me. Putting aside that Her Holiness healed me when I inhaled generous amounts of smoke, I’m still alive, and they’re dead. Did we all miss something?”
“Indeed.” I explained, “You see, Mahan Swordsmanship was created by my brother, Arthur Mahan of Nerfes. He did that to train me in the art of self-defense, and I passed the knowledge to you.”
“So…it’s a self-defense sword style?”
“Precisely. Mahan swordsmanship is strictly for defense, that’s why it worked against you when you first attacked me before. And also, in reverse, when you defended yourselves back in that castle. If used for offense, it would be hopelessly outmatched by a defending pole or ranged weapons, like a spear or lance.”
“Well, I certainly did not know that aspect of it.” Roland quipped, “Ah, thank you once again for teaching me that.”
