Pawahara Seijo no Osananajimi to Zetsuen Shitara, Nanimokamo ga Umaku Iku Yō ni Natte Saikyō no Bōke

[Then, I’ll Work Something out!]

“Haaa!”

――Clang!

“Gh!?”

As expected of the Bow Saintess—the speed of her rapid-fire far outstripped that of ordinary people.

Even with dual swords I couldn’t deflect all her arrows and one managed to pierce me in the shoulder.

But I was immortal—the wound closed up as soon as the arrow of light disappeared.

Moreover, even the Phoenix Robe got mended, too; so convenient.

That’s an agent-exclusive special equipment for you.

The former agent most likely had a skill with high regenerative power as well.

“Phalanx Blow!”

――Boom boom boom boom boom!

Anyways, I turned Hinokaguzuchi into a greatsword and blocked the ceaselessly incoming arrows.

Each hit was very heavy and powerful.

Had I used a normal shield, it would have been broken and shattered in no time.

However, what I used was a sword made of eternally undying flame.

It kept instantly returning to its original shape even if a part of it broke.

Meanwhile, I asked Zana, “Why is a saintess as powerful as you obeying King Zestgard!? You know what he did was atrocious, don’t you!?”

“Yes, I know! But I’m a princess before I’m a saintess! I can’t possibly betray my father!?” Zana-said, firing another arrow.

“He’s a man who’s willing to poison others to achieve his ends, you know!?”

“Even so, he’s my only blood relative!”

Bang! A part of the castle wall burst off and was sent flying; I dodged it and turned Hinokaguzuchi into the shape of a spear.

“Then, you okay with him continue being that way!? He’s your only blood relative, isn’t he!?”

――Whoosh!

“Kh!?”

She blocked my spear thrust with her Holy Bow, but she seemed to have lost her composure.

Her loss of composure led to increase in her irritation, and finally her emotions exploded.

“There’s no way… I’m okay with it!?”

“!?”

As we were locking spear to bow and pushing against each other, Zana emotionally screamed her lungs out, “My father had always been kind! But since my mother was killed by the people of Lastall, he changed into a different person! He even no longer patted my head! But the past him have never left my heart! There’s no way I can abandon him and cut our ties!? That’s why I’m cooperating with him! He will return to his former kind self one day—that’s what I believe!”

“Zana, you…”

Most likely, the kind-looking woman in that painting displayed in the dining room was her mother.

I was sure that they were once a harmonious family.

Seeing Zana cried, overwhelmed with emotions, I bit my lips and lowered the strength I put into pushing my spear.

Then, Zana emotionally brandished the Holy Bow.

“That’s why I!!!”

Stab! A sharp rim pierced through my chest and out my back.

“!?”

But I didn’t resist at all. I clasped her slightly trembling hands and said, “Then, I’ll work something out. You cried so much because you don’t like it, right? Your beloved father changing, I mean.”

Zana lowered her head, “…It’s no use. Both my father and I have fallen as low as can be… No matter what you do, nothing will change…”

“—That’s a lie, right?”

“Eh…?” Zana looked up to me, stunned.

I smiled and said, “You hold a hope somewhere in your heart, don’t you? Seeing that girl appearing in the dinner room, you hoped that I might be able to do something.”

“That’s…”

“The reason why called only me over was because you thought that I would perhaps accept your feelings seriously, no?”

“…Yes. That might be the case… Fufu, I’m a really selfish woman, aren’t I… I even inflicted such a terrible wound on you…” Zana smiled self-deprecatingly while gently touching my chest with her fingertips.

Honestly, it hurt a lot, but I was a man.

So as not to let her be even more hurt, I shook my head and smiled, “Don’t worry about it. I’m ‘immortal’ anyway.

“Look,” I relaxedly pulled out the Holy Bow from my chest and the wound disappeared with a flash of fire, “this kind of wound means nothing to me. More importantly, good work holding out all this time. You’re a really strong woman.”

“!?”

When I hugged her gently, Zana was frozen for a moment before bursting into tears.

◇ ◇

And so, we returned to the dining room. Naturally, King Zestgard flew into a rage and roared, “What’s the meaning of this, Zana!? I’ve told you!? ‘Losing is not permissible’!?”

“…I apologize, Father.” Zana bowed with her eyes swollen.

“This stupid daughter!” King Zestgard furiously swung up his right arm but,

——Grab.

“Kh, insolent, let go!?”

I grabbed his arm mid-swing, stopping it. I then said, “How sad you want Zana to be until you’re satisfied?”

“What did you say!?”

“I heard it all from her. Including how her mother was killed by Lastall.”

“If so, you also understand my feelings, don’t you!? This suffering from being mercilessly robbed of your loved one!? This anger!?”

“Yeah. I do understand. But don’t you know that you’ve been making your other loved one sad this whole time because of that?”

“T-that’s…”

Perhaps, even he himself was aware of it.

I released King Zestgard’s arm, who was making an uncomfortable face, and said, “I’ve seen so many sad families like yours. So, I’ll save you guys. —‘Complete Resurrection’.”

The moment I recited the skill name, faint lights gathered and began to form the shape of a person.

“N-no way …”

“Impossible…”

What appeared in front of the two whose eyes were wide open in surprise was a woman gentle countenance, the same woman as the one in the nearby painting.

——Yes, it was the queen who should have died.