Carla

"I must decline."

That beautiful voice was the first time Ria heard Carla speak.

The voice was so beautiful that Ria completely missed what she had actually said.

"Huh?"

"First of all, I have no reason to fight you."

Carla's voice was dignified, yet gentle at the same time. It was a voice that put those who heard it at ease.

"And secondly…"

Her gaze swept across their surroundings. The crowd of people, bewildered by the sudden situation.

"I cannot fight you here."

Indeed, she made a compelling point.

If Ria were to fight at full strength here, it would be catastrophic.

"Therefore—"

Carla continued.

"If a reason presents itself and a suitable place is prepared, I will gladly be your opponent."

Without any malice or fighting spirit whatsoever, she agreed to fight.

To face Ria with such natural composure and say she would fight. How extraordinary that was.

This was the first time she had encountered such an opponent.

"I appreciate it."

Ria put her mask back on and walked into the crowd that parted before her.

She rejoined her companions and said, as if nothing had happened, "Now then, off to the bath."

The Imperial Guard who had watched her leave eventually began to stir, murmuring amongst themselves.

"Carla-sama, was that really alright?"

Her female adjutant called out to her. Carla's gaze remained fixed forward.

"If you wish, we could still apprehend her—"

"That would be impossible."

Carla's words were blunt.

"That person did not approach me out of hatred."

She simply stated the facts.

"Besides, I have a premonition."

"A premonition?"

Carla rarely used such vague words.

"Yes, that's right."

With perfectly calm eyes, showing not a trace of agitation, Carla declared:

"I feel as though I have been waiting for that person for a very long time."

A single girl stood amidst the crowd.

While those around her buzzed with chatter, the cross-dressing girl nodded to herself with interest.

Ferna, an executive of "Black Cat"—the self-proclaimed secret society that everyone knew about—was deeply intrigued by how events were unfolding.

"This is getting interesting."

"Indeed it is."

Startled by the unexpected agreement, she whirled around to find a familiar face.

"Ah, Haruto-san…"

"It's been a while, Ferna-san."

This was Haruto, a black-haired, dark-eyed man who claimed to be a traveling merchant. Though Ferna had met him numerous times through company business, there was something elusive about him that she could never quite grasp.

However, he was not a bad person. Rather, his calm eyes carried a dignity that exceeded that of an ordinary merchant.

"Carla-sama the Dragonslayer and Princess Ryuke Riana, conqueror of the labyrinth, is it?"

"Eh!?"

She knew about the former. But as for the latter, she only knew the name. She had thought the woman was no ordinary person since Identify didn't work on her, but still.

"I'm certain of it. She perfectly matches the description my subordinates reported."

"Is that… so…"

This young man casually mentioned things that even Black Cat's executives didn't know. When it came to continental affairs, could it be that he possessed an intelligence network surpassing even Black Cat's?

He claimed to be just a traveling merchant who drove his wagon alone, but he had mentioned having subordinates before.

Ferna wondered if Black Cat should merge operations with him, but she didn't voice the thought. There was something about him—an air befitting the ruler of a nation.

"If those two really do end up fighting…"

"That's something I absolutely can't miss!"

At Haruto's prompting, Ferna nodded vigorously.

"If you're going to watch, would you like to go together?"

"With you, Haruto-san?"

"Yes. You could deflect any stray magic that comes our way, couldn't you, Ferna-san?"

It wasn't that Haruto lacked confidence in his own martial abilities, but Ferna had demonstrated large-scale magic in front of him on several occasions.

He wanted a bodyguard if he was going to be a spectator.

"Very well. You've helped me out before, Haruto-san."

"Then please tell me where you're staying."

The two exchanged contact information and parted ways. And then Haruto pondered.

The traveling merchant Haruto pondered.

The Demon King Ars Gaharuto pondered.

The former hero Arisugawa Haruto pondered endlessly.

What would the meeting of those two bring to this continent?

The Demon King, who had no confidence whatsoever in his own strength, wracked his brain ceaselessly.

For the sake of those precious things he must protect.

Moonlight faintly illuminated the darkness of night.

Ria sat at the window frame of her room wearing nothing but a thin robe, yet her katana remained within easy reach.

"Hey… aren't you going to sleep?"

Shizuna whispered softly from the bed.

"Yeah, go ahead and sleep first."

Ria's reply was curt. Shizuna hadn't meant it as an invitation, but somehow it made her feel sad.

Earlier, when Ria had gone to the bathhouse, she had been lost in thought even while soaking in the tub.

When they returned to the inn, Carlos had already brought back the queen's reply—she would grant them an audience the very next day.

Although word had been sent ahead from the Ogre village, Ria hadn't expected to be received so quickly the following day. The woman certainly was light on her feet.

Ria didn't dislike that kind of quick action. Carlos made another trip to settle on the time.

Ria prepared her own outfit and had the group's attire remade as well.

When Ria dressed as a beautiful man in black and asked Shizuna for her impression—

The next day, only a limited number of companions would accompany her to the audience chamber.

First was Ria, naturally, and then Carlos the knight.

Gig as the representative of the ogres, Maal as the representative of the beastkin.

And Irina, who was a dragon—five people in total.

Serge, Lulu, and Shizuna were complete commoners, so they would wait in an antechamber.

Yes, what Shizuna felt was the gap between her world and Ria's.

"What are you thinking about?"

Shizuna called out again, but the answer that came back was something she never expected.

"Hmm, I'm thinking about how I should fight to beat that woman."

Shizuna couldn't believe her ears.

Her beloved spoke of fighting as though speaking of someone she was in love with.

A woman who didn't understand a woman's heart.

Shizuna turned her back and went to sleep in a huff.

The royal palace was simple and sturdy. The truth was, the interior had been destroyed during the dragon's attack, and the queen hadn't bothered putting much effort into its reconstruction.

The doors opened and the five were admitted to the audience chamber. Far ahead on the throne sat a black-haired woman.

A beauty. Indeed, she resembled Ria. No, perhaps she resembled Valis more. She didn't have Ria's martial aura.

Her golden eyes bore down on them with an intimidating presence, but none present had spirits weak enough to be cowed by it.

And standing behind the queen—a beautiful knight.

Carla Raparb Uslan.

Watching.

Being watched.

It felt as though she was being seen through completely.

The group stopped a few paces from the stairs leading to the throne, and the three besides Ria and Irina knelt.

Guinevere rose from the throne, descended the stairs, and stood before Ria.

"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Guinevere, Duchess of Manesh."

Guinevere bowed her head first, and in response, Ria returned a knight's salute.

"I am honored by your gracious greeting, Your Excellency. I am Ryuke Riana Crystal Casalia. And this is—"

She indicated Irina with her palm.

"Lady Irina, daughter of Golden Dragon Clarice-sama and Dark Dragon Valis-sama."

The courtiers in the audience chamber began to murmur. But two people remained completely unperturbed.

Guinevere and Carla.

"To speak in such a place before the daughter of divine dragons seems rather absurd. Shall we relocate?"

Guinevere made the proposal. In other words, she wanted to dispense with the stiff formalities and have a more candid discussion. Ria agreed.

"Please, this way. I've prepared a more comfortable setting."

Ria nodded, and the queen herself led them. Behind them followed several courtiers, and Carla.

"If possible, I would like to bring along those who accompanied me. There are some among them who can help with various matters."

"Of course."

With just a glance from the queen, a lady-in-waiting hurried off.

"Also, this can wait until after our discussion, but—"

In truth, this was what Ria considered the main event.

"I would like to have a match with Carla the Dragonslayer-dono."

"My, my～"

Guinevere seemed delighted to hear this.

"Carla, what do you say?"

"If Hime-sama wishes it."

The beautiful knight answered coolly. But her eyes said otherwise.

That she wished for it too.

Still, calling her Hime-sama despite being a queen. Though she did have a child.

Ria thought about something so trivial.

"Well then, let's not wait until later—let's begin right away. Though some minimal preparations will be necessary."

At Guinevere's signal, another lady-in-waiting hurried off. Ria didn't know what preparations were needed, but the chain of command here was well-established.

The group was shown to the queen's private chambers. The three who had been separated from them were also present.

"Ah, make yourselves comfortable. I'm going to relax too."

Changing even her manner of speech, the queen said this as she plopped down heavily on the sofa and kicked off her shoes.

"This is who I am, but that's fine, right? You're a princess who goes around being an explorer, so you must hate stuffy formalities too, right?"

That was true, but this was the first time she'd encountered someone this direct.

Ria nodded and sank deep into the sofa. The other members sat lightly on the somewhat smaller sofas that had been prepared.

"Let me introduce everyone. From the right: the Prime Minister, the Minister of State, the Foreign Minister, the Minister of Military Affairs, and the Intelligence Chief. We'll have a chance to talk in more detail later. And this is Carla, captain of my Imperial Guard. Though it seems you're already well acquainted."

The cabinet ministers waved as they left the room. The only ones remaining, aside from the ladies-in-waiting, were Carla alone.

Ria introduced her companions in turn. Among them, the queen's gaze lingered on Irina and Serge.

Irina was understandable. After all, despite her human appearance, she was originally a dragon. But Serge, even if he was a reincarnator, was just an ordinary child.

"This is the first time I've seen a pure human with more magical power than me."

So that was the reason.

Serge's magical power was certainly high. Abnormally so, especially considering his age.

Though since Ria and Irina—exceptional beings—were always nearby, she didn't usually think about it much.

"And he has various mysterious skills… Is that the power of Dark Dragon-sama? If so, Carla should try conquering the labyrinth sometime too. If only I had the time, I'd like to go myself."

Being so thoroughly exposed was terrifying. Serge was already using Concealment—a magic that strongly interfered with analysis—but even that apparently wasn't working.

Moreover, this queen was incredibly quick-witted.

This was the first time Ria had seen a human with such a high intelligence stat. After all, it was higher than even Rufus's. Obviously higher than Ria's own.

"Mama."

The one who interrupted the conversation was a small child.

Attended by a maid, he ran up to Guinevere—the prince of this nation, Guinevere's only son.

His father was unknown. He was presumably one of the queen's lovers, but none had been installed as prince consort.

The prince, lifted up by his mother, looked first at Ria.

"Let me introduce him. This is my son, Shinji."

Serge choked on the tea he'd been drinking.

"Oh my, what's wrong? It's a bit of an unusual name, but he's a cute child, isn't he?"

Black hair and dark eyes, an adorable child. But the reason Serge had choked was because of that name.

"Your Majesty, if I may be so bold as to ask a question."

Serge spoke in a desperately polite tone, but this was something he absolutely had to confirm.

"Go ahead. Speak freely."

Ria also turned to face Serge. Given her knowledge, she couldn't understand why Serge was so flustered.

"Was His Highness the Prince's name decided by his father? And perhaps… if it had been a girl, it would have been Rei…?"

With a clatter, the queen shot to her feet. All the composure she had shown until now vanished from her face.

"You! Do you know where that person is right now!?"

Her expression demanded an answer. Carla gently restrained her.

But her blue eyes, too, were gazing intently at Serge.

"I don't know where he is. However, I know someone who might know, or rather…"

"Hime-sama, any further would be… not here."

Since Carla was mindful of the surrounding eyes, Guinevere seemed to quickly regain her composure. She handed her stiffened child to a maid and sat back down heavily.

"There are quite a few things I want to ask you."

And then the queen changed the subject again.

"So, why do you want to fight Carla?"

With eyes full of childlike curiosity, Guinevere asked Ria.

Ria's answer was simple.

"Because the mountain is there."

Guinevere smiled broadly.