"Huh?"
But when I think about it calmly, something's off.
It's too convenient for me.
All the allies I thought were dead are alive, and all the enemies seem likely to become allies.
This kind of convenient development doesn't fit with Geranium not being lenient.
That means... is this situation also within his plans...,
"Crow. Hurry up and get out."
"Eh?"
Before I knew it, Cineraria had unlocked the iron bars, grabbed my hand, and was leading me out.
"Eh? Eh? What are you planning to do with me?"
"Ha? I'm letting you out of the castle. Go and meet up with your comrades."
"No, that's..."
What does this mean?
Am I really going to be saved?
Despite doing nothing, everything is proceeding smoothly for me this time?
"I'm telling you, this is the last time I'm helping you. Don't get involved with us anymore."
It seems she means she can only help this much and no more, but isn't Cineraria's action a bit too lenient?
She seems like a completely different person from when we were in the dungeon.
But staying in the dungeon won't improve the situation, so I guess I'll escape for now. Not that I've done anything.
Led by Cineraria out of the dungeon, I sneaked through the castle at night and entered a certain room.
There,
"Platanus! Saffron!"
The two who were defeated by Geranium were there.
Jasmine was also there.
"Crow-san. Please be at ease. I've completely treated both of them."
"Did Jasmine-san heal them with the Healing Sword?"
"Yes. Saffron-san only had his ribs shattered, but Platanus-san had his collarbone and lungs completely severed, so it was a close call. He must have had extraordinary healing abilities."
"Is that so..."
It seems the two were in a more critical condition than I thought.
Broken ribs and lungs cut by a sword are unimaginable.
"Jasmine-san, thank you. They are important companions to me. I truly appreciate it."
"No need for thanks. More importantly, Crow-san, are you injured? There's blood on your clothes..."
"Ah, this is Platanus's blood..."
As I was talking with Jasmine, Saffron, who had been watching us with half-closed eyes, came near me, linked arms, and pulled me towards him."If this is true, then even beyond Geranium, there’s a chance to ally with all Saintly Sword wielders."
"Huh?"
But upon further thought, something doesn’t add up.
It’s too convenient for me.
All allies I thought were dead are alive, and all enemies seem about to become allies.
Such convenient developments don’t fit with Geranium not being lenient.
That means… is this situation also within his plans…,
"Crow. Hurry up and leave."
"Eh?"
Unnoticed by me, Cineraria had unlocked the iron bars, grabbed my hand, and was leading me out.
"Eh? Eh? What do you plan to do with me?"
"Ha? I'm letting you out of the castle. Go and meet up with your comrades."
"No, but..."
What does this mean?
Am I really going to be saved?
In spite of doing nothing, everything is smoothly proceeding for me this time?
"I'll say this though, I’ve repaid my debt with this. Don’t get involved with us anymore."
It seems she's saying she can only help this much and no more, but isn’t Cineraria's action a bit too lenient?
She seems like a completely different person from when we were in the dungeon.
But staying in the dungeon won’t improve the situation, so I guess I’ll take this chance to escape. Not that I’ve done anything.
Led by Cineraria out of the dungeon, I sneaked through the castle at night and entered a certain room.
There,
"Platanus! Saffron!"
The two who were defeated by Geranium were there.
Jasmine was also there.
"Crow-san. Please be at ease. I've completely treated both of them."
"Did Jasmine-san heal them with the Healing Sword?"
"Yes. Saffron-san only had his ribs shattered, but Platanus-san had his collarbone and lungs completely severed, so it was a close call. He must have had extraordinary healing abilities."
"Is that so..."
It seems the two were in a more critical condition than I thought.
Broken ribs and lungs cut by a sword are unimaginable.
"Jasmine-san, thank you. They are important companions to me. I truly appreciate it."
"No need for thanks. More importantly, Crow-san, are you injured? There's blood on your clothes..."
"Ah, this is Platanus's blood..."
As I was talking with Jasmine, Saffron, who had been watching us with half-closed eyes, came near me, linked arms, and pulled me towards him."After escaping the castle, we're to go into hiding."
"Now, is that the only option?"
Leaving Shion and Holly behind, my survival alone truly means nothing.
And then, as the five of us walked through the castle at night, heading for the gate,
"Good grief. I really can’t figure out what young people are thinking these days."
Geranium and Amaranth were standing at the gate.
Saffron, Platanus, Cineraria, and Jasmine all showed shock, instantly readying their Saintly Swords, but I’m past being surprised.
After all the unexpected events lately, nothing could surprise me anymore.
Under the moonlight, we faced off against Geranium.
Between the castle and the gate lay a spacious courtyard.
A convenient place for a melee battle.
Well, not that we have a ghost of a chance.
Even all five of us together barely make up for one Geranium or Amaranth, and here they are, both standing in our way, making victory utterly impossible.
Even if Cattleya Instructor and Iris, supposedly safe, heroically arrived now, the situation wouldn’t improve.
The only hope for a turnaround is the revival of Shion and Holly.
"Cineraria and Jasmine. Why did you both decide to betray like this? Not that it bothers me."
Not that it bothers him?
"We... we owe this man our lives..."
Cineraria, trembling, tries to explain the situation to Geranium.
Listening with nods, Geranium seems genuinely unconcerned about their betrayal.
Everyone else, gripping their Saintly Swords, prepares for the battle, while I, unarmed, watch as if it's none of my business.
Now, what can I, who can do nothing, actually do?
"Hmm. When he was dying in the depths of the dungeon..."
"That’s why... killing him feels wrong... we thought we’d at least spare his life."
"I don’t mind that. I, too, feel killing him would be bad."
"Then, can we let him go?"
"That's not acceptable. Killing him is bad, but letting him go is worse. It wouldn’t matter much if he rejoins his comrades, but if you three join him as well, that would indeed be too much for me to handle."
The moment Geranium mentioned "you three," Amaranth, Cineraria, and Jasmine all twitched."You guys, you didn't kill Cattleya and Iris, right? That's fine by me. Your talents belong to you. How you use them is up to you. Help those you want to help, kill those you want to kill. But letting Crow escape is not allowed."
"Hmm? You're asking me to compromise further? Can't you just be satisfied with sparing your lives? Well... I'll let that handsome guy and the maid girl escape, but not Crow. Is that okay?"
"That's fine. I'll go back to the dungeon."
When I said that, everyone present was surprised.
"What are you saying?! After all we've done for you!"
"Cineraria. If we provoke Geranium any further, it'll be dangerous. I don't want to get killed, so I'm going back to the dungeon."
"Don't you have any pride?!"
Cineraria, grasping my shirt, starts yelling.
Geranium watches with interest.
"Huh. So Cineraria is like her mother, huh?"
"What?"
"Just because someone was kind to you when you were weak, you feel affection for them. Not just you, but Jasmine and Amaranth too. Are you all too easy? Like silly girls who fall in love with anyone who takes care of them when they're sick?"
"I... I didn't fall in love or anything!"
"Well, it's not like my words have any convincing power when I've been acting like a lord while trying to please you all. It's terrible, isn't it? Switching over to such a newcomer over someone you've known for five to ten years."
Geranium jests, feigning tears.
He truly doesn't care about anyone around him.