Chapter 74
──Afterward, in the bedroom──
"We've finished taking your measurements."
"Thank you, Agnis Freisad-sama."
Sofia bowed toward Agnis, who had finished taking her measurements.
She was still wearing only her underwear.
Large eyes and lustrous hair.
Her skin was smooth and beautiful, like porcelain.
Perhaps because she had just used the 'Foot Bath,' her white skin was slightly flushed and damp with sweat.
Even the way she wiped away her sweat exuded elegance, and Agnis found herself gazing at her in admiration.
(She's beautiful. Perhaps Thor-sama likes women like her──)
"Men do prefer energetic women like you, Agnis Freisad-sama."
Princess Sofia murmured this softly.
Then she looked toward Agnis and said,
"I envy you."
"You envy Agnis, Your Highness?"
"As General Raizenga Freisad-sama's daughter, you must be strong as well, mustn't you?"
"Yes. I have never seen actual combat, but I am confident in my power over flames and my physical abilities..."
Agnis possessed powerful ignition abilities.
When she wore the 'Health-Boosting Pendant,' she could use physical enhancement. In that state, she could even overpower her father, Raizenga.
Agnis possessed both abilities, so she was certainly one of the stronger people in the Demon Lord's Territory.
"But those aren't really Agnis's own powers──"
"Even so. I find myself longing to be a woman who can fight alongside the person she loves, like you, Agnis-sama..."
Interrupting Agnis, Princess Sofia continued.
"Although my health has improved, I am still lacking physically. I become exhausted after using Light attack magic. I cannot go gathering with Thor Kanan-sama or hunt demon beasts to obtain materials."
Of course, Light magic made demon beasts vanish, so it could not be used to gather materials in the first place.
──Murmuring this, Princess Sofia smiled.
"That is why I envy you, Agnis Freisad-sama."
"Your Highness wishes to become engaged to Thor-sama, correct?"
"Yes. It is the first thing that I, Sofia Dolgaria, have chosen for myself."
Sofia pressed a hand against her chest, which was covered by her semitransparent underwear.
"As you know... I was sickly. In the Empire, people like that are scorned and looked down upon. Even if they are the Emperor's daughter, it is no different. Such people have no choices. If I had remained in the Imperial capital, I would eventually have been married to someone from another country or to a noble with achievements for political purposes."
"...I see."
For Agnis, it was something that happened in a distant world.
Her father, Raizenga, doted on her.
If a high-ranking official in the Demon Lord's Territory tried to force Agnis into a political marriage against her will──the Demon Lord's Castle would literally go up in flames.
Besides, the Demon Lord's Territory had a policy proclaimed by Demon Lord Lukie called 'the right person in the right place.'
──Everyone──even those who were sickly──had something they could do.
──They were to find work suited to them and make use of their abilities.
That was the motto of the Demon Lord's Territory.
With its small population, the Demon Lord's Territory had no choice but to enrich the country in that way.
That was why political marriages that ignored a person's wishes and abilities were not carried out there.
(Does the Empire really have so many people to spare?)
Agnis thought it was terribly wasteful to use someone like Princess Sofia as a political tool against her will.
That was not something the Demon Lord's Territory would allow.
"I understand how Your Highness feels..."
"Thank you. You are a kind person, Agnis-sama."
Sofia took Agnis's hand and smiled.
"There is no need to worry. Thanks to Thor Kanan-sama, I can now choose my own path. That is why I have decided how I will use this body and this life."
"You mean by becoming engaged to Thor Kanan-sama?"
"...It is strange, is it not? Becoming healthy gave me more paths to choose from, yet I immediately decided how I wanted to live..."
Sofia closed her eyes and murmured.
"But from the bottom of my heart, I wanted to be of use to him. I wanted to stay by his side and become someone who could support him. The body he healed... seems to be whispering that to me. If the Empire will not allow it, I am even willing to abandon the country."
"...Your Highness."
"Hehe. It is strange, is it not?"
"No."
Agnis shook her head.
(Even an Imperial princess feels the same love for someone as Agnis and the others do...)
Agnis herself had been troubled by her 'Ignition Constitution' until recently.
But she had had a father who doted on her and Mabel, who had been her best friend despite their estrangement.
Thanks to the two of them, she had been able to meet Thor.
After Thor cured her 'Ignition Constitution,' Agnis had become able to go anywhere.
That was why she had come to the 'Town of Noza' together with Thor.
She was free and could do anything.
Because she could do anything now──she could no longer hide her feelings for the person she loved.
Agnis felt that she could understand Sofia's feelings.
"Perhaps Agnis is like Your Highness..."
Agnis murmured this without thinking.
"Agnis can go out like this thanks to Thor-sama."
"You as well?"
"I cannot tell you the details without permission from Her Majesty the Demon Lord. But..."
Agnis looked toward Thor.
"Thor-sama cured Agnis, who could not leave her armor. He made it possible for Agnis to walk through the outside world like this. He is the kind of person who makes everyone happy... That is why Agnis has sworn loyalty to him..."
"Agnis Freisad-sama was also healed by Thor Kanan-sama, then."
"Y-yes."
"And you love Thor Kanan-sama just as I do."
Princess Sofia's gaze, almost too direct, settled on Agnis.
Agnis's heart gave a powerful thump.
Suppressing it, Agnis met Sofia's gaze.
She felt that this was not something she could evade.
That was why──Agnis slowly nodded.
"Yes. No one... feels more strongly than I do."
"I understand. Then... Agnis Freisad-sama, would you become my friend?"
Princess Sofia extended her hand toward Agnis.
"As someone whose body was healed by Thor Kanan-sama, I feel a kinship with you, Agnis Freisad-sama. Of course, I will take care not to trouble you."
"Sofia Dolgaria-sama..."
Agnis hesitated, then took Princess Sofia's hand.
It was strange.
She felt as though they could become friends despite the difference in their positions.
"Understood. Agnis Freisad will become Your Highness's friend."
"Thank you!"
Princess Sofia nodded.
"If you do not mind, please teach me various things. I will not pry into the affairs of the Demon Lord's Territory, so please rest assured."
"Yes. What would you like to know?"
"Ways to make the person I love happy, for example..."
"...That is what Agnis wants to know."
"I lack knowledge about such things... as a girl."
Sofia folded her arms and looked down.
"I lived in the detached palace in the Imperial capital all my life, so I do not know how to interact with men. There were no books in the detached palace's library about ways to please a man one loves. So, would you please instruct me?"
"...Eh?"
"I have heard rumors that one should simply do as one's heart and body desire... but I cannot allow myself to be discourteous."
Agnis's eyes widened at Princess Sofia's words.
She had misunderstood.
Apparently, Sofia had not removed her underwear earlier to seduce Thor.
(Could it be... that this person has some rather skewed knowledge about romance?)
Agnis suddenly grew worried.
If she left this woman alone, would she do something outrageous to Thor?
It was not something Agnis could say after showing Thor a dance while wearing nothing but flames, but... she was worried nonetheless.
If Thor asked Princess Sofia about the flow of magic power when using the 'Foot Bath,' she would probably expose her skin without hesitation and point out which parts of her body the magic power was flowing through. That would be bad.
Agnis could not put it into words, but she had a strong feeling that it was incredibly dangerous.
"Your Highness... I think you should not get ahead of yourself."
Agnis said this.
"You have only just recovered. It would be better not to overexert yourself."
"No. I intend to do anything necessary to be acknowledged as Thor Kanan-sama's fiancée. Please give me your advice."
"...Er, um."
"Hehe. This is becoming fun. It is almost as if... I have been reborn."
Princess Sofia smiled, her eyes sparkling.
Agnis thought she looked like a child who had gone outside for the first time in her life.
"I, Sofia Dolgaria, will devote this life to Thor Kanan-sama, whom I love, and to the people dear to us. Please take care of me, Agnis Freisad-sama."
"Y-yes. I look forward to working with you..."
After that, Sofia quickly put on her dress.
She wrote down her impressions of the 'Foot Bath' on the parchment beside the bed.
When Agnis peeked at it, she saw an extremely detailed account of which parts of Sofia's body experienced changes in the flow of magic power. It even included illustrations. Apparently, Princess Sofia had some talent for drawing.
(...What should I do?)
This woman was aiming to become engaged to Thor.
In other words, she was a rival to Agnis, but Agnis could not bring herself to hate her.
Besides, she somehow seemed similar to Thor.
The way she charged ahead once she had made up her mind, and the way her ideas differed from everyone else's.
If that was the case, Princess Sofia might do something outrageous just like Thor. Of course, the Imperial authorities would probably keep her in check politically, but what about when it came to romance?
(...What if this person really does as her heart and body desire?)
Fwoom.
Agnis's face turned bright red.
She hurriedly pressed down on the 'Health-Boosting Pendant,' which had almost activated.
Dangerous. Probably for Thor's safety.
She must not let this woman and Thor be alone together.
(A-anyway, Agnis is Thor-sama's guard. I will stay by his side forever and ever!)
Watching Princess Sofia continue to write her impressions of the 'Foot Bath' with such animation──Agnis resolved this in her heart.
──Thor's perspective──
"I sincerely apologize for my rudeness earlier, Thor Kanan-sama."
After finishing with the 'Foot Bath' without incident, Princess Sofia returned to the living room.
Agnis was with her as well. The two of them seemed a little closer than before.
I wondered what had happened while Sofia was having her measurements taken. It was good that they had become friendly, though.
"I am sorry that I showed you such an embarrassing sight."
"Not at all. There was nothing embarrassing about it."
"Is that so?"
"And you gave us your impressions of the 'Foot Bath,' too."
There had apparently been a proper reason for Sofia to use the 'Foot Bath' in her underwear.
Princess Sofia's memo described in meticulous detail which parts of her body had begun releasing magic power and how her circulation had improved.
It also seemed to be true that the less clothing one wore, the easier it was to feel the flow of magic power.
Perhaps I should ask to be present when she used the 'Foot Bath' in the Demon Lord's Territory.
"Now, about that magic circle..."
"The one you found in the lair of the 'dormant demon beast'?"
"I have written down what the magic circle looked like on this parchment. Please examine it."
I placed two pieces of parchment in front of Princess Sofia.
One was the drawing I had made in that cave. The other was a clean copy I had made later.
"Does this look familiar, Princess Sofia?"
"...Let me see."
Princess Sofia stared intently at the two pieces of parchment, then said,
"I have seen a similar shape in the library of the detached palace."
She spoke in a tense voice.
"It was not exactly the same. A similar one appeared in a book about magic. But... was this really in the lair of the 'dormant demon beast'?"
"Yes. It had faded, but there is no doubt about it."
"...I see."
"What is this magic circle?"
"It was used for a magical ritual that is no longer performed."
Princess Sofia said this.
That alone told me what kind of magic circle it was.
"──A magical ritual that is no longer performed? Don't tell me..."
"Yes. This is a magic circle used for summoning magic."
──Summoning magic.
It was magic that called people or demon beasts from far away.
On a large enough scale, it could summon a target from another world.
The hero had also been summoned from another world through summoning magic as part of a large-scale ritual.
"A magic circle for summoning magic... This is it?"
"I do not know whether it is the magic circle for summoning the hero. That magical ritual should only be known to the successive Emperors, the Crown Princes, and their close aides. There was nothing about the hero-summoning ritual in the library of the detached palace, either."
"So it is magic from the same school?"
"That is correct. Besides, the ritual for summoning the hero is no longer performed."
Princess Sofia sighed.
"I have heard that it stopped working. Even if they perform the ritual, they can no longer summon anything."
"You do not know why, then?"
"That is what is written in the official records of the Imperial family."
"In that case, it is possible that this is a magic circle for summoning demon beasts..."
I looked at Agnis.
Agnis was staring at the magic circle on the parchment with a serious expression.
If this was a magic circle for summoning demon beasts, someone had performed such a ritual near the border.
And the creature summoned that way had been the giant centipede.
The 'Demon Beast Gargarossa' we had fought before might also have been summoned through the same ritual.
"...Does that mean someone is summoning demon beasts near the Demon Lord's Territory?"
"...What could their purpose be?"
Agnis and I nodded to each other.
"We do not know. But if the demon beasts were merely rampaging, I do not think anyone could use them as familiars..."
"Right. The giant centipede attacked Imperial soldiers, too."
That demon beast had attacked both Imperial soldiers and soldiers from the Demon Lord's Territory.
The Imperial soldiers who went to the lair of the 'dormant demon beast' had also been attacked by the demon beast and gone missing.
No one had been controlling that giant centipede.
The Pixies had scouted the surrounding area, so there was no mistake about that. At least, those giant centipedes had not been controlled by anyone.
"Perhaps someone was conducting magical experiments."
Princess Sofia said this.
"I do not know their purpose. However, we cannot allow them to continue doing the same thing."
"I intend to ask Her Majesty the Demon Lord to investigate."
"I will also ask Unit Commander Isaac to investigate this side of the border and determine whether there are any similar magic circles... or demon beasts."
"Her Majesty and Chancellor Kelv will probably investigate the Demon Lord's Territory's side of the border."
"Please tell them that we would like to share information if possible. Of course, we will share our information as well."
"Understood. I will inform Her Majesty and Chancellor Kelv."
"We cannot allow the people to be harmed..."
"I agree."
Princess Sofia and I met each other's eyes and nodded.
Agnis nodded as well.
"Just to confirm: Is it correct that only the Imperial side knows about summoning magic?"
"...That is correct. Long ago, the human world used demon beasts as familiars. There were also times when they summoned them and made them fight in order to train heroes. Summoning magic... is a technology from the human world."
"The Demon Lord's Territory does not have magic for summoning demon beasts..."
Agnis supplemented Princess Sofia's words.
Long ago, demons and demi-humans had made demon beasts serve them. However, they had never summoned them through magic.
They had not needed to.
Demons and demi-humans possessed powerful magic. That was why they could overwhelm humans with attack magic alone.
At least, until the hero arrived.
The humans of that time were weak.
That was why they developed summoning magic, summoned demon beasts to serve as familiars──and eventually called a hero from another world.
In other words, this summoning magic was a technology of the Empire.
"I intend to send a letter to my younger sister."
After thinking for a while, Princess Sofia said this.
"My sister Riana is known as the Sword Princess. She may know something about summoning magic as well."
"But, Your Highness, would that not be dangerous...?"
The Imperial family was involved in summoning magic.
There was a chance that a letter addressed to Princess Riana might be seen by the people who used summoning magic.
"Of course, I will not tell her about the magic circle directly."
However, Princess Sofia wore a gentle smile.
"I intend to tell her only that I was attacked by a demon beast and that the demon beast was a new species. After seeing her reaction, I will decide whether to ask her about summoning magic."
"In that case, I feel reassured."
"Please take care of it."
Agnis and I bowed to Princess Sofia.
Our course of action had been decided.
I would leave the Demon Lord's Territory's response to Lukie. Since Chancellor Kelv-san was sending someone over, perhaps I could ask that person to investigate the magic circle.
As for the Imperial side, we had no choice but to leave it to Princess Sofia and Unit Commander Isaac.
"There is one more thing... The missing Imperial soldiers may know something about summoning magic."
Princess Sofia said this.
"One of those who went missing is Isaac's adjutant. He is also close to Minister of War Zagran, so he may know things that I do not. Isaac and the others are searching for him now, so I believe they will eventually find a clue."
"If you learn anything, could you tell us?"
"Of course."
Saying this, Princess Sofia stood up──and took my hand.
"I, Sofia Dolgaria, wish for peace in the border region between the Demon Lord's Territory and the Empire. And I intend to devote this body and life to the choice I made for the first time in my life."
"Thank you, Princess Sofia."
As I thought, Princess Sofia was trustworthy.
The Imperial side of the border region would be fine if it was left to her.
...For some reason, though, Agnis was bright red beside me.
"Once this incident has been resolved, preparations for the trading post in the border region will begin."
I said this to change the subject for the time being.
"I have received permission from Her Majesty the Demon Lord to create a resting area there for you, Princess Sofia. You should be able to meet us whenever you wish and use the 'Foot Bath' whenever you wish as well."
"Oh, how wonderful."
Princess Sofia clapped her hands.
"When that time comes, please bring Agnis-sama with you as well."
"...Eh?"
"Please teach me about the many things I do not know, Agnis Freisad-sama."
"Y-yes."
It seemed that Agnis and Princess Sofia really had become friends.
I would ask Agnis about it in detail later.
And with that, the meeting that day came to an end.