Through the skill of Second Princess Laila, the nobles who opposed Liliana were successfully gathered together, albeit in a distorted formation.
Afterward, during a strategy meeting with Sara and Albert—hidden from the nobles—Sara posed a question.
"So... what are we going to do from here?"
"It's simple. We keep those nobles completely deceived and wring every last bit of use out of them until the very end. We won't let them realize that Lili and the others are pushing enemy forces our way, and we won't let them notice they're being exploited as effective military assets—not until the bitter end. We'll thoroughly squeeze them dry right up to the final moment. That's precisely the kind of treatment those people deserve."
...Setting aside those last words.
Both Sara and Albert understood that this would be an extraordinarily difficult undertaking.
Yes, they had succeeded in mobilizing the nobles—but their actions stood on the thin ice of a lie, a foundation that was exceedingly fragile.
There was no doubt the lie could be exposed, or that it could just as easily collapse due to some other trivial factor.
And yet, they had to avoid all of that while making the nobles act exactly as they wished. Moreover, doing it entirely on their own.
Fully comprehending just how difficult that would be.
"...Even so."
Sara murmured.
"I'll do it. If it's for Ermes's sake, for Lady Lili's sake, for everyone's sake. I'll deceive those nobles, move them as pawns—"
"—and then. On top of that, I'll help those nobles as much as I possibly can."
Even if the deception was unavoidable. Even if being used up was a foregone conclusion for them, and she herself was the one most complicit in making it happen.
And yet, still choosing to act in order to save as many as she could—a declaration that was quintessentially, unmistakably her.
"...Honestly. I don't think I could ever get along with you."
Hearing this, Laila muttered with an exasperated edge, yet gazing at her as though looking at something dazzlingly bright.
"But you're fine just the way you are. No—rather, it's precisely that side of you that made me bring you into our ranks.
"In addition to your reputation as a 'Saintess,' you have a nature that would never abandon the person standing right in front of you. If you become the figurehead of the nobility, the nobles won't so easily believe they've been 'deceived.'"
"..."
"Then what about me? Honestly, I don't think anyone else could've filled this position, but was there a reason you specifically chose me?"
"Yes, of course. ...Do you want to hear it?"
In response to Albert's follow-up question, Laila first offered a confirmation.
It was probably not a particularly pleasant reason. Reading the expression on Laila's face, which made that much certain, Albert nodded without hesitation all the same.
In answer to that, she spoke softly.
"—
You're
the one who
would most
plausibly
betray
us
."
"!"
"It's obvious to anyone. Among the Third Princess's direct magicians, you alone are conspicuously lacking in power. You don't have the political acumen or intellect to compensate for it either—clearly nothing but dead weight to the Third Princess's faction—"
"L-Lady Laila—!"
"—is what those nobles think."
Sara nearly raised her voice in protest at the sheer bluntness, but before she could, Laila continued.
"And so, those sorts of people tend to assume, 'If he's a failure in the Third Princess's faction, then he's a failure for us too.' They tell themselves he has nowhere else to go, that he's hit a dead end in his current position, so he must have betrayed where he was and latched onto a new master... and they spin that convenient little story for themselves.
In short, they look down on you."
She pointed at Albert and declared.
"You need to use that to your advantage."
"...I see."
"Nobody's paying attention to you, so no matter what odd moves you make, none of those nobles will even notice. They won't consider you a threat.
In other words—you're the perfect candidate to be a double agent."
Without hesitation. Without mercy.
And therefore... it was an utterly accurate "assessment" of Albert.
"...Understood."
He accepted the assessment for what it was, and Albert nodded earnestly.
There was nothing to argue. He was utterly mediocre compared to the extraordinary mages around him, and in this battle as well, he had produced the least results of anyone.
And—when the time came, he had a "record" of having easily taken the path of least resistance.
The shame of his academy days. Even thinking back on it now was enough to make him cringe with self-loathing.
...If even that could be put to use.
What hesitation could there possibly be in throwing himself wholly into the role he had been given?
With that resolve, he gave a small nod in return.
"...You two are really—"
Watching the two of them, Laila muttered again with an exasperated expression that nonetheless carried a hint of admiration.
"Well, fine.
Anyway, from here on out, it's a race against time. We need to push straight to the Royal Capital at full speed — while the nobles are still deceived, before the organization notices, and before the situation deteriorates any further. We'll coordinate with Lili's group, rush to the Royal Capital with all possible speed, then take it with a small force of elite mages, alongside an army we can trust──
──and bring down the organization's three executives. And Chrono von Feiblad."
"..."
"For now, the stretch between here and the Royal Capital will fall on us more than anyone. We'll have to endure the nauseating true feelings of those nobles while they think of us as one of their own. Even so, we'll keep running this army — because there's something we need to do."
Finally, her crimson eyes took on a light befitting royalty, and she posed a question.
"Sara von Hartmann. Albert von Yelk.
──Are you prepared to become traitors?"
"Yes."
"Yeah."
Their answers came without a shred of hesitation.
In that moment, the Third Princess's faction split into Liliana's legitimate group and Laila's covert group.
And with that, the march on the Royal Capital began — united beneath a coalition of nobles, each harboring their own designs.
And so.
That day —
When they had been cast out of the Royal Capital through a seizure of power —
Barely two months had passed.
Through various events, various setbacks, various upheavals... and through each of their resurrections —
At last, the Third Princess's faction, which had started with just six people, had swelled to hundreds, even thousands times its original size.
Toward the final objective — the battle to reclaim the throne.
The first step toward ending this struggle over the kingdom and its crown had been taken.
At last, the end of Chapter Three is in sight.
From here on, it's a straight shot to the Royal Capital. However... before the decisive battle at the Royal Capital, there's one major story to tell — about a certain presence that has yet to appear in Chapter Three.
A main event of the "Revival Arc" that involves that royal personage and this royal personage — I hope you'll enjoy it!
So next time, we'll have a scene set in the Royal Capital. Stay tuned!
Creation Magic, Volume 2 of the light novel, is also on sale now!
Volume 3 will be released this month as well, so if you haven't picked them up yet, I'd be grateful if you'd consider purchasing the books! You can use the image link at the bottom of the screen to jump to preview pages with added content not found in the web version — please do check it out!
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