Talking about her personal history while she's unconscious?
If she finds out later, won't I get blamed for prying?
"Her mother was the nobleman's mistress, a commoner of ordinary status."
"…Ah."
Losing interest, I responded vaguely to give off the vibe that we didn't need to delve further into the story, but Jasmine continued,
"From the moment she was born, Cineraria was persecuted by her relatives as a child born out of wedlock. She had no right to inherit, being a girl and half-commoner, she was deemed unfit for political marriage. Both she and her mother had no place in their household. It’s absurd. It was the lord of the land who impregnated a commoner girl."
"…"
Jasmine didn't stop talking about someone's past.
Holly beside me kept silent, looking bored.
"Cineraria and her mother were eventually abandoned and expelled from their home. Without any support, they lived in poverty until her mother fell ill and passed away easily."
"…"
"Perhaps feeling guilty for abandoning his own daughter to die as an orphan, the lord allowed only Cineraria to return to his estate. By then, it was too late for any parental affection."
"…"
"Back in her family home, Cineraria is said to have killed all the relatives and servants there. She was about ten years old at the time."
"Ah!?"
For the first time, I voiced my reaction, having been silently listening until then.
The story was distressing enough, but this sudden turn of events was too much to follow.
"How could a ten-year-old girl do something like that..."
"By that time, Cineraria already had the Underworld Sword with her."
"How did she get it?"
"After she and her mother were driven out of their home, the Underworld Sword was delivered to Cineraria."
"Delivered? By whom?"
"By someone we refer to as our master."
"Ah…"
I wish she had explained that part sooner.Being told out of the blue that she returned home only to kill all her relatives leaves me with nothing but questions like, "How did she do it?"
The order of the story is all over the place.
"So... How did this 'master' you talk about come to possess the Underworld Sword?"
"I don't know that either. No one knows how our master managed to gather the divine saintly swords."
So, the most crucial part remains a mystery.
Here we have Cineraria and Jasmine present.
And then there's Amaranth, who simultaneously wields three saintly swords.
The person who has them under control hasn't shown themselves yet.
Moreover, it seems they were responsible for gathering the saintly swords and delivering them to their wielders.
The Underworld Sword and Healing Sword. Plus, the Fiendish Sword, Rakshasa Sword, and Demon Class Sword that Amaranth holds.
Gathering six saintly swords and delivering them to their owners?
Without someone like Holly's help, like in my case?
How on earth did they manage that?
"Since then, for Cineraria, men of the world are nothing but scum who take women when they want and discard them when they're done. That's why she shows particular hostility towards those in power, mostly comprised of men."
"Ah."
"Ultimately, she aims to overthrow the current royal family and reign as queen herself. She believes that correct governance can only be achieved if a woman, rather than a man, holds the highest authority."
"…"
I'm at a loss for how to react to such a story.
Hearing about a woman with an extremely tough personality who had a terrible past doesn't give me anything to say.
Just like I couldn't say anything when I heard that Saffron had no choice but to become an assassin to make a living.
What intrigues me more is this 'master' who gave Cineraria the Underworld Sword.
"Jasmine-san. This 'master' you speak of, they're the wielder of the Time Flow Sword, aren't they?"
"…I cannot speak about our master. I do have my loyalty."
Well, it's not like I need an answer anyway.
Actually, the answer is already becoming clear.
There are thirteen divine swords, including Shion's Holy Sword.
Shion's Holy Sword.
Instructor Cattleya's Flame Burst Sword.
Iris's Icebound Sword.
Prince Heath's Thunderclap Sword.
Saffron's Vacuum Sword.
Platanus's Distance Sword.
Cineraria's Underworld Sword.Jasmine's Healing Sword.
Amaranth's Fiendish Sword, Rakshasa Sword, and Demon Class Sword.
And the Pegasus Sword that I wield.
Twelve swords have already appeared before me.
The only one remaining is the Time Flow Sword.
The Time Flow Sword, capable of manipulating one's own or another's time.
Its wielder is the only one who hasn't revealed themselves yet.
Probably, the "master" Jasmine spoke of is the wielder of that sword.
"The wielder of the Time Flow Sword... was gathering the saintly swords..."
At that moment, Holly, who had been silent beside me, muttered to herself.
"...It can't be..."
She muttered something meaningful, but I couldn't say anything.
If I spoke now, Jasmine might think I was talking to myself.
I don't care what Jasmine or Amaranth thinks, but indicating Holly's presence to these people would be unwise.
If forced to talk, I'll just be seen as the odd man who talks to himself.
"Ugh..."
Just then, Cineraria, who had been lying on the floor of the dead-end, woke up.
More like coming to from a near-fainting state than sleeping, but she managed to sit up, looking around curiously.
"...? Ah! You!"
Cineraria immediately became angry upon seeing me.
She stood up, approached briskly, and roughly picked up the Underworld Sword that was near me.
"Give it back! You took it while I was out, didn't you?"
I couldn't even bother to argue or react; it just felt too tiresome.
Normally, I might say, "I didn't take anything," or "I protected you and carried you here while you were unconscious, and that's the thanks I get?"
But arguing with Cineraria seemed pointless.
She's always pointing the Underworld Sword at my neck every time we meet.
She wouldn't listen to anything I said.
Even someone as forgiving as me, who has been beaten up due to misunderstandings by Iris, Instructor Cattleya, Prince Heath, or almost killed by Saffron and Platanus without any particular reason, is starting to feel slightly exhausted dealing with this woman.
Besides, it seems every saintly sword wielder has tried to kill me at least once.To think they would target someone like me, who's practically the embodiment of goodwill.
The world really is messed up.
As I entertained such thoughts of escapism, Jasmine was scolding Cineraria, who was throwing a tantrum.
"It was Crow-san who carried you here when you were incapacitated and protected you while you slept! Enough with your rude behavior already!"
"Ah? Like this weakling could protect me?"
"...I'll kill you, you know?..."
In an instant, a murderous aura erupted from Jasmine, causing both Cineraria and me to flinch simultaneously.
Jasmine maintained her usual gentle smile, but said,
"Could you please stop projecting your disdain for men onto Crow-san, who has nothing to do with it? It's quite troublesome for me as well."
"...!? O-okay, my bad..."
Cineraria was being intimidated by Jasmine, who effortlessly wielded the terrifyingly formidable Underworld Sword.
"Now, instead of apologizing to me, apologize to Crow-san. And thank him, too."
"Uh, yeah..."
Clearly intimidated by Jasmine, Cineraria attempted to bow to me, but,
"Ah, it's fine. I'm not bothered, and I haven't done anything worth thanking me for."
I waved my hands at both of them, rejecting any attempts at apologies or gratitude.
"So, Cineraria-san, have you recovered enough to move?"
"Yeah, I can walk now."
"Then, I'll guide us to the exit. Please take care of any protection along the way."
With that, I turned my back on the two and started walking towards the dungeon exit again.
Scary! So scary!
I had anticipated Cineraria to be frightening, but Jasmine turned out to be even more terrifying.
Both of them are dangerously scary!
Seriously, the terrifying women I usually deal with seem like angels compared to these two!