Chapter 08…
Greed Arc
The Result of Choice!
＿＿《Greed Castle》＿＿
“Lady Sakura, it’s Kiel.”
“You may enter.”
Kiel stepped into Princess Sakura’s room and shut the door behind him.
“You really came alone, without telling anyone?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
During knight training, Princess Sakura had secretly told Kiel to come to her room immediately, so he slipped away under the excuse of taking a break.
“I know I’m the one who rushed you here, but… you smell rather strong.”
“I’m sorry…”
He had wiped himself with a towel, but apparently hadn’t thought about the odor.
“Next time you see a lady, be more mindful.”
The princess sipped her Shikuranbo tea.
“……”
“Let’s get to the point… answer my question first.”
“Yes.”
“What do you think about this matter?”
“……”
The hero summoning was being conducted in secret.
But with the sheer number of sacrifices involved, it was impossible to keep it hidden from those inside Greed Castle.
“…Honestly, it pains my heart.”
Thus, knights like Kiel were ordered to assist with transporting the struggling convicts.
Even if they were criminals, carrying people who knew nothing about being used as sacrifices was unbearable.
“That’s it? What about the ones guilty of only light crimes, or the slaves who did nothing wrong at all?”
“…Yes, them too.”
Kiel clenched his teeth and looked down.
But it couldn’t be helped… it was the king’s command.
“No, you’re a fool who understands nothing.”
“Huh?”
“You had the power to stop it, you were in the place to stop it, yet you did nothing! An utter fool!”
“B-but! It was the king’s order! Of this country!”
“……”
Sakura silently stared at Kiel.
“…I’ve made up my mind. If you called me here just to blame me, then I’ll accept it all.”
“Oh? ‘Made up your mind,’ ‘accept it all,’ is it?”
“……”
The princess walked up to Kiel and handed him a list.
“What is this?”
“The ‘sacrifice list’ I acquired in secret… I’ve removed the criminals’ and slaves’ names. Read it carefully.”
Once criminals and slaves were excluded, what remained were volunteers.
Since they willingly became sacrifices, knights weren’t dispatched—everything was left to the church.
“…!”
But one familiar name after another appeared.
“This is… from Kubal Village… no way!”
Kiel’s worst fear was confirmed immediately.
“!!!!”
“You won’t just overlook this, right?”
Written there was the name of Kiel’s wife.
“N-no! That’s impossible!! She still has our little daughter! She would never abandon her to volunteer as a sacrifice!”
“My investigation shows the church uses curses to brainwash anyone who comes to pray—man, woman, young, old—forcing them to volunteer.”
“Ridiculous!!!!”
“And apparently, that was on Father’s orders.”
“!!!!”
Kiel turned toward the door and grabbed the knob—but…
“I should tell you, even if you go now, you won’t make it in time.”
“Even so!”
“You said you had resolve!!!”
“!”
“You said you’d accept everything!”
“B-but my wife—!!”
“And that’s why I said you’re a fool!”
“…”
“You knew nothing, obeyed because it was an order, suppressed your feelings, brushed off your doubts as just work, and kept hauling the dead day after day! And now—because it’s your wife—you cry out? Didn’t you just say it yourself—that you had resolve?”
“I…I…”
Kiel’s legs gave out and he collapsed, tears spilling from his eyes.
“I… I…”
Princess Sakura gently, yet coldly, cupped his cheek. Her sweet words coiled slowly around him.
“Don’t you want revenge against the king who took your wife?”
“!?”
Sakura’s crimson eyes, and those words, clung like a net around Kiel’s heart.
“I…I swore loyalty… to the king…”
“Your daughter… Yuki-chan, was it?”
“!?”
“Actually, Yuki was the only one who survived. When I found her, she was in that empty village, face red, on the verge of starving to death.”
“M-my daughter! Where is she!?”
“Your answer just now… hmm, did I hear it yet? ☆”
“…”
“Looks like we have a deal then♪ Let’s shake on it♪”
Kiel clasped the small, outstretched hand of the girl before him.
