"What kind of half-hearted reaction is that!"
Listening to Instructor Cattleya, who worries about her students equally, and Platanus, who is cold and generally indifferent to others, I pondered the reason behind Heath's disappearance.
It's probably the work of the person who stopped Shion's time, but why Heath?
It's easy to forget given how often he gets beaten in battle, but he's strong.
Heath's strength is on par with Iris and Instructor Cattleya.
Despite being overwhelmingly beaten by the extraordinarily strong Shion, knocked around by Amaranth who holds multiple saintly swords, and mercilessly ambushed by Platanus, whom he admired like a brother, ending up in the hospital, his unfortunate circumstances aside, he is quite formidable.Therefore, Heath's absence is indeed a significant loss of strength for me.
Yet, it's perplexing.
The battle-hardened Instructor Cattleya and the wise Platanus.
The versatile Iris and the stealthy Saffron.
Out of all these capable individuals, why target Heath, whose combat record isn't exactly stellar?
Encouraged by Instructor Cattleya and the others, I won't sink into despair or halt my thinking anymore.
Even if I'm powerless, I intend to think as hard as I can.
However, I remembered what Cinelaria said when we parted ways at the dungeon's exit.
Even against a hero or a demon lord, victory is not guaranteed.
The situation worsens before you realize what's happening, and before you know it, you're defeated.
The wielder of the Time-Flow Sword, who could make such claims, is the one who has made their move.
Perhaps, I'm about to encounter them for the first time.
The only method that has allowed me to survive so far, delegating everything, won't work against this opponent.
Chapter 5: The Time-Flow Sword
A week has passed since I returned from the dungeon.
Shion hasn't moved an inch.
Heath, who went missing, hasn't returned either.
In other words, the situation hasn't changed at all.
It hasn't worsened, but it hasn't improved either.
Honestly, I don't know what to do.
"Shion... Holly..."
I spent days in despair, staring at the motionless Shion on the bed.
Without Shion's consciousness returning, I can't even consult with Holly.
It's times like these when I realize:
Truly, the only advantage I have is being able to see Holly.
Unless the wielder of the Time-Flow Sword or those three underlings make a move, I can't do anything.
I understand I'm already playing catch-up, but what can I do about it?
Everyone who possesses a divine saintly sword might detect when another saintly sword's ability is used or respond in battle.
However, I can neither detect nor fight.
Even if a saintly sword bearer approached me, I wouldn't know, and fighting is out of the question.
"…I..."
Indeed, I can't decide my own fate.
That's why I wanted to become a hero who can overcome any adversity by himself."The hero, huh..."
The being I've always wanted to become since I was a child is now frozen in front of me.
What am I trying to do, desperately trying to save them?
"Lord Crow..."
As I was lost in thought, a woman's voice accompanied by a knock came from outside the room.
It was a voice I recognized.
Probably one of the maids who always takes care of Shion and me.
"Lord Crow. His Majesty summons you."
Honestly, I'm not in the mood to respond to a summons from the king and discuss anything, but since I have nothing else to do, I see no reason to refuse.
I'm so worried about Shion that I don't feel like doing anything, let alone talking to others.
However, this time I was summoned not to the usual audience chamber but to the king's bedroom.
Since his son Heath went missing, King Darius had become withdrawn and his health had rapidly deteriorated.
Even I'm feeling down enough from worrying about Shion to feel ill.
For King Darius, whose son is missing, the situation was even more grave.
Lying on the bed in the bedroom, King Darius visibly looked frail.
Frankly, he appeared older than usual.
King Darius had me brought to his bedroom and then suddenly dismissed everyone else.
What's this about?
I've been involved to a certain extent, but I'm not in a position to have a one-on-one conversation with the king.
"Crow..."
The king on the bed weakly called my name.
"I have a request..."
I had a pretty good idea what he was going to ask.
"Please... save Heath..."
I thought he would say that, but it's impossible.
Without the help of Shion and Holly, there's no way I can save a missing prince.
"Crow... I beg you. Save Heath..."
"Your Majesty, that's too much to ask of me."
"Have you been attacked by assassins before?"
Why bring that up now?
"The one who hired those assassins..."
Stop. I've already realized it long ago.
"It was me. I was the one... trying to have you assassinated..."
So, even if you tell me that now, Your Majesty, it doesn't change anything."The hero, huh..." I've always aspired to become what now lies frozen before me. What does that make me, trying so hard to save them?
"Lord Crow..."
As I drowned in my thoughts, a knock came from outside the room, accompanied by a familiar female voice. Likely one of the maids who always tends to Shion and me.
"Lord Crow. His Majesty requests your presence."
Truthfully, I'm not in the mood to respond to the king's summons and engage in discusshion, but with nothing else to do, there's no reason to decline. Concern for Shion leaves me with little desire to interact with others.
However, this summons was not to the usual audience chamber but to the king's personal bedroom.
Since his son, Heath, went missing, King Darius has been withdrawn, his health rapidly deteriorating. Even I, concerned for Shion, feel ill enough to become despondent.
For King Darius, whose son is missing, the situation was more serious.
Lying on the bed, King Darius was visibly weakened, looking older than usual.
He summoned me to his bedroom and then unexpectedly cleared the room of everyone else.
Why? I've been involved, sure, but not to the extent that I should be having a private conversation with the king.
"Crow..."
The king on the bed weakly called my name.
"I have a request..."
I could guess what he might ask.
"Please... save Heath..."
I thought as much, but it's impossible. Without Shion and Holly's assistance, there's no way I can save a missing prince.
"Crow... please, save Heath..."
"Your Majesty, that's asking too much of me."
"Have you been targeted by assassins before?"
Why bring that up now?
"The one who hired those assassins..."
Stop. I've long since realized it.
"It was me. I attempted to have you assassinated..."
So, even if you tell me that now, Your Majesty, it changes nothing.
"You've dreamt every night since you found the hero and started living in this castle..."
"You dreamt of becoming the hero's consort, becoming the highest authority in this land..."
"And... perhaps that is the correct... the right conclushion."
"Conclushion?"
"I am... my family is descended from a previous hero... The moment the next generation's hero appears, we lose the right to govern this world..."
"Is that so?"
"With the hero being a woman, her consort would be the king of this country..."
"Even if that were true, it doesn't necessarily mean it has to be me."
"You're the only one... You're the only one who continued to help the hero when she was most in distress..."
Right now, when the hero is suffering the most, I can't do anything.
"I've dreamt of it every night..."
I heard that part already.
"I wish it had been my son, Heath, who found the hero..."
Now you're changing the content of your dreams.
So you've been dreaming every night of me becoming the highest authority or Heath taking my place?
I understand how you feel.
The king is truly a normal human, and I can empathize with him as if it were my own feelings.
I understand the attempt on my life and the nightly nightmares.
Above all, it's fear.
Anxiety and helplessness.
Not knowing what tomorrow brings.