The Zebuldia Empire is a great nation. And the Zebuldia Imperial Family, which stands at its pinnacle, has produced remarkable individuals generation after generation.
One of the abilities demanded of Zebuldia's royals is martial prowess.
A strong nation requires a strong king. The rise of Treasure Hunters had dramatically elevated the level of warriors, but martial strength remained one of the pillars of the empire even in the modern age.
The current emperor, Radric Athrum Zebuldia, was known as a formidable warrior in his own right, and he even held the title of Dragon Slayer. Zebuldia had many enemies, yet no one had ever succeeded in assassinating a member of the royal family.
And in the eyes of this rugged and powerful Zebuldia Imperial Family, the one perceived as their sole weakness was the princess—Murina Athrum Zebuldia.
Zebuldia also had princes, but Princess Murina was an anomaly within the imperial household.
Timid, never appearing in public, keeping contact with others to an absolute minimum. Perhaps that disposition was to blame, but her skill in martial arts—the bare minimum required of royalty—was mediocre at best.
The Zebuldia royals were expected to demonstrate their aptitude from their teenage years—or for the truly exceptional, before even turning ten. But this princess had yet to show any talent whatsoever.
Whether out of concern for the status quo, or perhaps because even the emperor of a great nation was only human after all, the current emperor devoted particular attention to Princess Murina.
He always assigned his best Imperial Guards to her escort, and took her along to diplomatic meetings. It almost seemed as if he were making sure the princess never remained alone in the country.
Weakness was, in Zebuldia, tantamount to sin. But to the Zebuldia Emperor, that princess was special.
It was only natural, then, that she had been chosen as a target by "the Fox."
Radric was an outstanding ruler. He had pushed through the objections of numerous nobles, enacted a host of policies favoring Hunters, and as a result, Zebuldia now boasted its greatest era of prosperity.
Naturally, his personal security was top-tier. As a skilled warrior himself, assassinating the emperor inside his castle was no simple task, and even during his rare outings—during travel to diplomatic meetings—attempts had failed.
If the "Still Water," who was outstanding both as a mage and as an assassin, and "Dragon Caller" Kechachaka, who possessed a unique power, had both failed, then "the Fox" would need to deploy significant military force to break through those defenses. Even if the assassination succeeded, it would exact a heavy toll on the organization.
They had already lost two first-rate operatives in "Still Water" and "Dragon Caller." "The Fox's" enemy was not Zebuldia alone—they could not afford to weaken their forces any further.
Even if they somehow managed to assassinate the emperor, Zebuldia still had an exceptional prince who could inherit the bloodline.
The rage of the populace, having lost a capable leader, would rally behind that prince and be directed at the weakened "the Fox." Since they could no longer use "Still Water," a mage whom the empire trusted, as an assassin, that move could hardly be called wise.
That was precisely why they targeted the princess. If they succeeded in assassinating the princess who had been under the emperor's protection, public sentiment would turn against the emperor.
It would demonstrate "the Fox's" strength and could also trigger internal conflict. It could crack Zebuldia's iron fortress.
It paled in comparison to the grand plan that had originally been laid out, but it would serve as a measure of revenge.
The timing for the assault would be when the princess's guard detail was at its thinnest—the moment the Boss made her move.
Security at the Martial Emperor Festival was light. The escort Zebuldia had brought was small in number. Normally, the participants would be a major obstacle for an assault, but all of their attention would be drawn to the Boss who had appeared in the arena.
The instant all attention converged on the arena, the princess's guard would be at its weakest.
The Zebuldia Imperial Guards were elite, but if the opponents were few in number, anything was possible.
—or so it should have been.
"What the—?!"
"Kirukilu...?"
In the blink of an eye, the princess had deflected a barrage of dagger strikes with an almost puzzled expression.
Clutched in her pale hand was a single sword. Bearing the crest of Zebuldia, it was the weapon one of the Imperial Guards—the very ones assigned to protect the princess—had dropped.
Dispatching the guards had been easy. There were fewer of them than anticipated beforehand—so few that you wouldn't have believed they were protecting a VIP. A single surprise strike had knocked them unconscious, and they had barely mounted any resistance.
And yet, here they were at the final hurdle with nothing left but to assassinate the princess—but the princess herself couldn't be taken down.
A single hit, and his hand had gone numb. The terrifying arm strength unleashed from that slender frame was unmistakably that of someone channeling power through Mana Material.
He had misjudged the priority. He should have gone for the princess instead of the guards in the initial ambush. He shouldn't have given her time. He'd been led around by prior intelligence. Regretting it now was too late.
One of the three who were supposed to carry out the assault had been wounded by a vicious counterattack. That was another failure. Facing three Fox Masks, the princess showed no tension whatsoever in her expression.
"!"
The comrades attacked simultaneously from both flanks. Against the slashing strikes executed with nimble footwork and staggered timing, the princess pirouetted gracefully.
The speed of her rotation would have tangled the legs of any ordinary person, yet her movement was as light and fluid as if she were dancing.
A full-power blow was effortlessly deflected by the spinning white blade. Even if surrounded, rotating on the battlefield would normally only expose one's openings.
But the princess's seemingly casual slash had completely caught all of the Fox's attacks.
"Kirukilu kirukilu kirukilu."
Terrifying dynamic visual acuity. Her flexible muscles and fluid movements spoke of someone fully accustomed to combat. These were not the movements of someone who needed protecting.
For that matter, her strikes carried none of the hesitation absolutely present in an amateur's attack. Those clear, translucent eyes held not a shred of fear.
If he showed an opening—he'd be killed.
Because she'd been deemed unsuitable for assassination, he hadn't brought the weapon he normally used. That decision was now backfiring.
The girl before him was—a monster. What had all that talk about her being timid and having shown no talent been about?
The princess deflected the attack, lowered her body, and used the momentum to close the distance. A flash of killing intent crossed her eyes.
"Kirukilu...?"
"Guh... hah...!"
Why did she only speak in "kirukilu"—he couldn't even figure that out.
Blade met blade. He barely managed to parry and deflect. Sharp metallic rings echoed in rapid succession.
Each strike was heavy. What's more, the impact of each blow was growing stronger. Could it be—she still wasn't even trying?
The attack from behind launched by his comrade was dealt with so casually it was almost as if she had eyes in the back of her head. This was beyond human capability.
At that moment, the wounded comrade who had retreated snapped his fingers. A signal.
Channeling every ounce of strength, he knocked back a strike and shifted sideways to create distance. The princess's eyes went wide.
—and then the princess was engulfed in black flames.
Without a single scream, the princess blazed like a torch. The comrade who had cast the magic clutched his deeply gashed arm, heavy breaths escaping his lips.
"Hah, hah... Zebuldia... that a mere princess could wield this much power—"
"We should have realized from how few guards she had—and withdrawn before people gathered—"
He was in the middle of saying that when it happened.
The burning princess stumbled heavily. Using the momentum, she threw her arms around one of his comrades and tackled him to the ground.
"Kirukuuu!!!"
"!? No way—that's high-level magic!?"
The comrade who had cast the spell cried out in shock.
"Kirukilu kirukilu kirukilu kirukilu kirukilu kirukilu kirukilu—"
—Impossible.
The princess mounted him, pounded his head against the ground several times, then sprang up like a coiled spring.
It was a scene straight out of a nightmare.
The foul stench of burning flesh. Enveloped in flames from head to toe, the princess charged at him. She no longer held the sword in her hand.
He instinctively crossed his arms to block. From above, a small fist drove through. A catastrophic impact—far beyond what a guard should have been able to generate—ripped through his entire body.
Flesh reinforced by Mana Material twisted and warped. Bones creaked. Black flames transferred to both hands, and searing agony shot through him.
To launch an attack while engulfed in flames without letting out a single scream—that was beyond human capability.
There was no more time. If this continued, people would arrive. They would be annihilated.
"Retreat—retreat now!"
It was fine. She'd taken a high-level attack spell. The target was seriously injured. That was more than enough to demonstrate the Fox's threat.
The fallen comrade—was beyond saving. There was no capacity to carry him. He broke into a full sprint toward the rear, and the other comrade followed despite clutching his arm.
"Kiruki...ru... gilukilugilukilugilukilugilukilu... ki... ru......"
How was she still moving?
—a shape wreathed in flames roared and gave chase.
§ § § This time, it might really be over for me.
Standing in the dead center of the dangerous arena, driven by nothing more than a sense of obligation to apologize, I remained on my feet.
Barrier Rings remaining—zero.
Clahi, who had dropped a lightning bolt on me from behind and forced me to use up my last Barrier Ring, had apparently passed out completely.
Was he doing it on purpose, or what—did he have some kind of grudge against me?
But it wasn't over yet. I still hadn't apologized. I had no more Barrier Rings, but I hadn't come here to fight.
I came here—to prostrate myself! I came to offer my most sincere apology!
Looking at me, so pathetically trying to bow in apology, hardly anyone still wanted to attack—actually, quite a few did...
But if I ran, I'd just get shot in the back anyway. No one could beat me when it came to getting shot in the back.
The timing still wasn't right for a proper prostration, but as I tried to convey my remorse with my entire being, the important-looking Fox Mask spoke in a trembling voice.
"I see... You truly are different from the impostor. But—can you remain calm after seeing this!?"
The Fox Mask drew a single sword from at his waist.
—that was all the Fox Mask did. That alone changed the atmosphere.
In an instant—the air swirled. A powerful wind and clouds of sand arose, forcing me to shield my eyes and retreat.
Holding the sword in a reverse grip, the Fox Mask raised it before him.
I recognized those geometric patterns running along the blade.
The powerful Treasure Weapon—the secret treasure His Majesty had spoken of—"Key of the Earth."
"This nation will perish. To assume that no one can charge it—the height of foolishness."
In the center of the sand tornado the sword had created, only the Fox Mask and I remained standing. Sand, wind, and sheer force completely blocked out the sounds and scenery of the outside world, as if we had been sealed away in another dimension entirely.
But I understood. I had played with all sorts of Treasure Weapons before. Among them were plenty of sword-type Treasure Weapons.
The Fox Mask before me had not yet used even one percent of the Key of the Earth's power.
"You seem to know a thing or two. Correct—I have not yet activated this key's full power."
The required charge amount for the Key of the Earth was enough that Lucia, who had repeatedly pushed her mana capacity to its absolute limit through Super Recovery, had struggled to reach it on multiple occasions.
And the power of a Treasure Weapon was roughly proportional to the amount of mana required.
This world contained numerous Treasure Weapons capable of causing large-scale destruction. Most of them were beyond what any individual could handle, and as such, they belonged to nations.
Even as a Treasure Weapon collector, I had never witnessed the moment of activation for any of those weapons.
"Once before, the Key of the Earth destroyed countless civilizations. With merely a fraction of its power released, annihilating this pitiful little town would be easy!"
Wha... t did she say?
Destroy the town?! What kind of organization were these people?!
True, Sora had failed. She'd failed and somehow gotten it into her head that I was the Boss, which led to all sorts of chaos.
Well, I bore some responsibility for creating that confusion, but that had nothing to do with this town.
"Stop this pointless fighting! I'm sorry, I was wrong. I'll apologize, so let's make up—I had no ill intent! I'm sorry—I mean, I humbly beg your forgiveness!"
"How—far—will you go—"
Why? Why wouldn't she forgive me when I was already apologizing? Hmph, I knew it.
But I had my own pride in having come this far with nothing but apologies.
I didn't know where they'd obtained it, but the enemy had the Key of the Earth. If that was the case, all I had to do was counter with the same thing.
I wasn't threatening them, but if their destructive impulse was backed by a powerful Treasure Weapon, showing the same item might at least shift their reaction— I drew the Key of the Earth from my waist and thrust it out in front of me. The Fox Mask's movements stopped dead.
"What a coincidence—I have the same Treasure Weapon. Of course, mine's fully charged."
The change in the Fox Mask was plain to see. His hands, his feet, his shoulders—all trembling. He muttered in disbelief.
"What... im... possible. Why—do you—"
What do you mean "impossible"—it's right here in front of you. This is reality.
Two copies of the same Treasure Weapon appearing wasn't unheard of. When it came to super-powerful ones the odds dropped significantly, but they weren't zero.
It seemed my hunch had, for once, worked in my favor. But I wasn't exactly calm myself either.
The stress from depleting my entire stock of Barrier Rings was accumulating at an alarming rate. My hands and feet were trembling. Given the chance, I'd collapse on the spot right now.
Come on. Since we both have the same rare Treasure Weapon, just let me off the hook. I didn't come here to fight, and I certainly didn't come here to complain.
The Fox Mask kept alternating between glancing at my key and his own Key of the Earth. No matter how many times he checked, there was no difference. The names seemed identical too—it was the same Treasure Weapon. No mistake about it.
As these thoughts ran through my mind, the Fox Mask murmured in a trembling voice.
"This—is—?"
I couldn't help but widen my eyes. The Key of the Earth that the Fox Mask had been holding had vanished.
He hadn't even blinked—this wasn't just a matter of poor reflexes.
At the same time, a savory aroma wafted up, making me involuntarily twitch my nose. I felt like I'd been smelling this a lot lately.
The Fox Mask opened his hand. A golden, rectangular object fell to the ground.
He confirmed it, furrowed his brow, questioned his eyes, questioned his own sanity.
It was—a piece of fried tofu. Nicely browned to a deep fox-like color, it was a perfectly appetizing sheet of deep-fried tofu.
The Fox Mask stared blankly down at the fried tofu.
He was completely shell-shocked. The fury he had been exuding just moments ago had vanished entirely.
What? What was this situation? What was I supposed to do? What had just happened? How was I supposed to handle this?
"Um... it looks like you dropped something that seems pretty tasty?"
"............"
"N-no, surely—this must be that kind of Treasure Weapon. It's not your fault. The Key of the Earth must be a Treasure Weapon that turns into fried tofu! And this key must turn into fried tofu too!"
"Guh—"
The Fox Mask let out a short growl and slowly raised his head.
The fox mask covered half his face. His expression was almost impossible to read, but I understood instinctively.
This was bad. I was about to get screamed at. He was completely livid.
But it wasn't my fault! My brain didn't work fast enough to come up with a good comeback in situations like this. When things got like this—the answer was prostration!
—that was an almost reflexive judgment.
I was incompetent. I had erased countless mistakes through prostration before. I had virtually no quick reflexes, but when it came to prostration, my skills were honed to perfection.
I folded my knees, extended both hands forward, dropped my waist, and threw myself to the ground.
Dozens of times, hundreds of times—practiced so often it had become routine.
In principle, this should have produced the most beautiful prostration this world had ever seen. But halfway through—my knee shattered.
"Ah—"
"!?"
Perhaps the stress from having depleted my entire Barrier Ring stock had finally reached its breaking point.
I stumbled, squeezing my eyes shut as the ground rushed toward me, and instinctively thrust both hands forward.
But in my right hand, I was gripping the "Key of the Earth."
The Key of the Earth, as if this were exactly how things were meant to be, was absorbed into the ground.
And then—a shockwave blew everything outward.