"Crow!"
"Instructor Cattleya and Iris caught me in their arms as Cinelaria leaped onto the back of the headless dragon zombie. It began to ascend rapidly.
"Don't worry. I have no intention to fight anymore. Frankly, we're more pressed than you. I'll take my leave this time."
"I'll find stronger corpses. Do your best. Not all the saintly sword users are as kind as me."
Leaving those parting words, Cinelaria flew off into the horizon, riding the dragon zombie.
So, a zombie can still move without its head.
"Crow! The Pegasus Sword! Use it to chase her!"
"We can catch up with that, right?"
Incredibly, Instructor Cattleya and Saffron still seemed ready to fight. Except for Iris, who didn't know what the Pegasus Sword was, the saintly sword users present seemed eager to continue the battle.
"...Let's stop here. It's better not to pursue any further."
"We're the ones pushing them, Crow."
"We're all battered too, especially me."
Instructor Cattleya seemed dissatisfied but didn't voice any objections.
Yes, this is enough for now.
We were able to save Iris.
We've also eradicated the rebel army.
Instructor Cattleya is safe.
Saffron, a new ally, has joined us.
This is enough for now.
"Let's head back. First to the fortress where the rebellion suppression unit is stationed, then back to the royal capital. We have a ton of reports to make."
Indeed, this was a satisfactory outcome for now.
However, the future would be different.
I'll continue to be targeted for assassination.
As long as people think I'm using Shion, the number of those after my life will increase.
Now I know there are those who use the saintly swords for their own selfish desires.
And there seem to be those trying to eliminate or win over other saintly sword users.
Where will I stand, seemingly holding control over three of the saintly swords?
No, including Shion's Holy Sword, Prince Heath's Thunder Sword, and the Pegasus Sword, it's six out of thirteen divine swords. Not that I can do whatever I want with all six.
The number keeps increasing.
This rise in status will only increase the number of people after my life.
I've started walking a tightrope.
I can't turn back from this tightrope walk.
So, I have to make it to the other side.
Though the outcome I desire might not be waiting for me.
All I wanted was a peaceful life, but what awaits is an endless cycle of war and political strife. "… Let's go back … everyone..."
I don't want to think about such things.
Yet, I have no choice.
In my weakness, I don't have the luxury to choose my methods.
Iris, Instructor Cattleya, Safran.
I must consider these three as my cards and use them; otherwise, I can never survive.
Without using people, I can't do anything.
I can't even live.
Final Chapter: The Wise and the Foolish
Heavenly Sword:
After leaving the troublesome aftermath to Instructor Cattleya and Iris, I returned to the Royal Capital with Safran using the Heavenly Sword.
Shion, who cheerfully greeted me, said,
"Big brother, shall we play chess?"
Chess Competition:
Hearing that, with my tired body, I forced myself to face Shion in a match.
In my room, using the chessboard I always play with Holly on, today, I played against Shion.
Naturally, Shion, who had just learned the rules, was weak, so it was more of a teaching match.
As the game was nearing its end,
"By the way, there's a rule I haven't told you about yet."
With a wry smile, I looked at Shion.
"It's called 'promotion'. The weakest piece, the pawn, when it reaches the far end of the enemy's side, can transform into another piece."
Shion, hearing this, looked puzzled.
Well, learning about a rule during a game does feel a bit unfair.
The pawn, which can only move forward and is the weakest in terms of mobility, has the astonishing ability to transform into any piece other than the king once it reaches the enemy's back rank.
"Typically, it becomes the most powerful piece, the queen. Hence, the endgame in chess often revolves around the promotion of pawns. When that happens, having more pawns left becomes an advantage."
Shion, silently, kept staring at me.
Did the rules confuse her?
"The pawn becomes a queen?"
"It can become one, but depending on the situation, it can also transform into other pieces..."
"Is the pawn also female?"
"Huh?"
"If it can become a queen, does that mean all eight pawns are female?"
"Uh... yeah..."
So she's the type to nitpick details like that.
Well, if you think about it, since every pawn has the ability to transform into a queen, Shion's naive question isn't entirely off the mark.
"Big brother, is chess a game where two kings use their lovers to wage war?"
"No, no, no! It's not that kind of distasteful game!"
Chess is considered an intellectual, artistic, and sports-like game for adults.
I wish she'd stop interpreting it as some sort of harem war between two jerks.
"Big brother, big brother."
"W-what?"
"Only I am your queen, okay?"
"Huh?"
"You can't make any other girl your queen."
"Ah... okay..."
I involuntarily held my head.
Why does teaching chess rules lead to this kind of conversation?
Chess isn't going to help mediate the relationship between Holly and Shion.
"In the end, Crow's reputation skyrocketed again. From the main contributor to finding the hero, he now seems to be promoted as the hero who quelled the rebellion."
You:
"How do you assess this person named Crow in your opinion?"
Piece:
"He's reasonably strong, and above all, he's sharp-minded. He taught us a usage of the Vacuum Sword we didn't know, and he even knew about the Explosive Flame Sword's function, which even that Cattleya didn't grasp. His knowledge is a bit eerie."
Holy Light Sword:
"In other words... regardless of the saintly swords or the Holy Light Sword, he's well-versed in the knowledge of divine swords?"
"Also, he's trusted by the Hero much more than you'd expect. She's totally smitten. Unless something significant happens, I think the trust between that guy and the Hero won't break."
"Hmm..."
"Also, both Cattleya and Iris seem to trust Crow just as much as the Hero, from what I've seen."
"So, is he particularly good at wooing women?"
"No, not really. He's not handsome at all. He's a smooth talker, but he doesn't seem to have any intention of flirting. He doesn't seem interested in making a move on me either."
"Could you say he has charisma?"
"No way. He doesn't. There are plenty of people stronger, smarter, and more honorable than him. He's genuinely a regular guy you can find anywhere. There's not a hint of charisma."
"Then why...?"
"If I knew that, it wouldn't be troublesome. Maybe he has a way of finding the Hero that no one else could, and a means of obtaining knowledge that no one else understands."
"Understood... Then Safran, please continue monitoring."
"Fine, but can we stop these regular check-ins after this one?"
"... What do you mean?"
"I have a bad feeling. That guy Crow, he's too perceptive. Whether he's smart or just sly, even from my perspective, who has seen people like you, he's the kind who can come up with a ruthless plan and execute it immediately."
"I see... So you're saying that even communicating like this is risky?"
"Exactly. If we're not careful, he might find out that he's being watched."
"Very well. From now on, act on your own judgment. If there's an emergency and you need to contact me, initiate the connection."
"Understood."
...Such was the conversation Safran had in a secluded place.
Inside my private room in the Royal Capital Pendragon, Holly reported this to me. Right now, Shion is in my room.
Shion declared that she'd sleep in the same room, just for today.
Usually, Iris or Instructor Cattleya would object, but this time they allowed it.
And so, until Shion fell asleep, we played chess and chatted in bed.
During that time,
"Holly, keep an eye on Safran who returned with us."
As expected, Safran was reporting this incident to someone.
"Crow, it seems that woman already serves someone else. Moreover, her employer appears to be a saintly sword user. In this case, she might even be in league with the wielder of the Underworld Sword."
I ignored Holly, who looked at me with concern, and continued watching Shion, who was sleeping beside me.