In the book to be released on June 15th, several stores will include a special short story (SS) as a bonus. I'm really sorry for the last-minute information. For more details, please refer to the activity report.
Additionally, I've uploaded the book's frontispiece at the bottom of this page.
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While gazing at the cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of the promise written there.
---
As I looked at the Colonel again, thinking how handsome Colonel Zachary was, Colonel Quentin interjected from beside me.
"Zachary, the many great deeds you listed about Lady Fia, I suspect were due to the power of the Black Dragon King."
"Black Dragon...?"
Colonel Zachary repeated, puzzled.
"Yes. You must already know, but the blue bird-type monster that Lady Fia had on her shoulder was actually the Black Dragon King in disguise. The Black Dragon King has been documented for over a thousand years. This means that the Black Dragon King possesses a thousand years' worth of knowledge and power. Understanding the characteristics of monsters, grasping distant monsters, and controlling subordinate monsters of other knights—all of these are likely due to the power of the Black Dragon King."
"...Is that true, Fia?"
As Colonel Zachary asked, I began to think about each point.
"Huh? Well... the characteristics of monsters, of course, Zavi... I mean, the Black Dragon, knows them, right? As for the types and numbers of monsters encountered by each squad, I did indeed learn them from the Black Dragon. And the control of subordinate monsters... I remember the Black Dragon emitted a special warning sound and helped me."
Oh, wait? Actually, Zavaria helped me with almost everything?
Well, none of these are part of a Holy Maiden's duties, right? It's not that I'm incompetent... right?
Feeling suddenly incompetent, I looked up at Colonel Zachary dejectedly.
For a while, Colonel Zachary silently stared at me, then nodded as if he understood something.
"If that's your answer, I'll accept it."
...Huh? That sounds like there's more to it.
No, no, that's actually the truth.
Except for the part about being a Holy Maiden...
The part about being a Holy Maiden... knowing the characteristics of monsters comes from my experience as a Holy Maiden in my past life, and controlling subordinate monsters is due to the power of Holy Maiden's blood... I can't say that.
Or... is this the moment to confess that I'm a Holy Maiden?
The moment I thought that, my whole body began to tremble.
My heart raced, and sweat started to drip from my face and back.
Breathing became difficult, and my breaths became shallow and short.
"Fia?"
Colonel Zachary, noticing my discomfort, called out to me with a puzzled voice.
I wanted to reassure him, but my body went limp, and I fell forward to the ground.
Lying there, I opened my mouth, but only labored breathing sounds escaped, not words.
--- Ah, I can't do it.
Lying on the ground, I reflected on my past life.
--- The power is absolutely different.
Colonel Zachary is strong. Colonel Quentin is strong.
Zavaria is incredibly strong. Chancellor Savis and Colonel Cyril are impossibly strong.
...But the right-hand man of the Demon King far surpasses them all...
If they found out I'm a Holy Maiden, that demon would immediately come to kill me.
If Colonel Zachary, Colonel Quentin, Zavaria, Chancellor Savis, and Colonel Cyril tried to protect me, the result would be a mountain of dead knights and the Black Dragon.
--- I can't bear to see such a future.
Lying on the ground, I continued to take shallow breaths.
Strange sounds began to escape from my throat, and breathing became increasingly difficult.
Tears fell from my eyes due to the almost unbearable pain of not being able to breathe.
...It's painful.
But being killed is even more painful.
If the knights and Zavaria were to die in my place, it would be even more painful.
Colonel Zachary showed his courage, but I can't reciprocate...
Because confessing now would mean envisioning a future where the knights die in vain.
Courage and recklessness are different. The right-hand man of the Demon King is an opponent the knights can't defeat even if they fought a hundred times.
But from the moment I confess, Colonel Zachary will take on the risk.
The information that I am a Holy Maiden—this is a fatal piece of information if the right-hand man of the Demon King finds out. Just knowing it is a risk.
Colonel Zachary recognized my decision to save the knights.
He promised to keep my secrets under the name of the Knight Colonel.
So...
...It's painful.
It's very painful that I can't confess the truth to Colonel Zachary, who showed me his sincerity, and that I can't return any of his sincerity...
I couldn't say anything, and tears continued to fall from my eyes as I repeated my labored breathing.
"...Fia"
Colonel Zachary's voice came from above, and I moved only my eyes.
Colonel Zachary looked down at me calmly, then carefully lifted me up and held me in his arms.
My head was positioned over Colonel Zachary's heart.
Strange sounds continued to escape from my throat, and it became increasingly difficult to breathe.
As my consciousness began to fade, Colonel Zachary spoke to me in a slower, gentler voice than usual.
"Fia, can you hear the sound of my heartbeat?"
Focusing on my ears, I could hear Colonel Zachary's heart beating slowly and strongly.
I nodded slightly, and Colonel Zachary continued in a gentler voice than usual.
"Good girl. Match your heartbeat to mine. Breathe in slowly. And breathe out even more slowly. ...Yes, you're doing well."
Colonel Zachary's large, warm hand slowly stroked my back from top to bottom.
My tears soaked his knight's uniform, but he continued to calmly encourage me to breathe.
After repeating this for a while, my breathing returned to normal. My trembling subsided, and my sweat dried.
Even so, I closed my eyes and remained still for a while, and my mind gradually calmed down.
--- I have to be ungrateful to Colonel Zachary, but there's no other way.
Even if the same situation happened a hundred times, I would make the same choice.
In my past life... the knights repeatedly told me.
The value of a Great Holy Maiden and a knight is different.
Knights are the shield of the Great Holy Maiden, and the reverse is impossible.
But I never accepted that.
Whether a knight or a Holy Maiden, their value is the same.
If knights can be the shield of a Holy Maiden, I can be the shield of the knights.
--- That's what I said, and I saved the lives of the knights.
Just as the knights protected my life.
So... I won't confess that I'm a Holy Maiden.
As long as it puts Colonel Zachary at risk.
I made up my mind and sighed deeply.
Colonel Zachary, sensing that I had calmed down, stopped stroking my back and released me.
"Fia, I'm sorry. I pushed you too hard. Let's end the conversation here. ...If you can drink water, it would be good to do so."
Saying this, he handed me a container of water.
I intended to just wet my lips, but after taking one sip, it tasted so good that I drank it all.
Drinking the water made my body feel refreshed and gave me energy.
I placed my hand on Colonel Zachary's chest, looked up at him, and smiled.
"Colonel Zachary, thank you. I've calmed down and feel better."
"...Your recovery is astonishing."
Colonel Zachary smiled slightly, relieved, and patted my back as if soothing a child.
I smiled back and looked at Colonel Zachary directly to thank him.
"Colonel Zachary, thank you for recognizing my actions. I'm glad you promised to keep my secrets, no matter what I say. But... I'm sorry. I can't say anything more."
Colonel Zachary stared at me as if trying to understand my true intentions.
After a while, he nodded and whispered, "I understand."
Then, he looked at me seriously.
"Fia, remember that we are grateful to you. If you don't want to talk, you don't have to. ...But I'm always ready to listen. So, if you need me, call me anytime. --- That's my way of showing gratitude."
Colonel Zachary fell silent and helped me stand up from his lap.
"Fia, you must be tired. Go back to the castle first. I have to talk to everyone, so I can't accompany you, but I'll assign a few knights to you."
I wondered if I needed to hear what he had to say to everyone, but I realized my body was wobbly and I wouldn't be of any help if I stayed.
If the Knight Colonel decided I wasn't needed, the right thing to do was to return to the castle without being a hindrance, but I felt guilty about involving other knights.
"Well, I'll go back to the castle, but everyone is busy, so I'll be fine on my own."
"......They also have business at the castle."
Colonel Zachary added after a pause, but I thought he was a poor liar.
...Yeah, this is clearly because he's worried about me.
But I feel better now, and if you're worried about me falling off the horse, I'll be fine.
Thinking this, I didn't want to reject his kindness, so I accepted it silently.
While preparing to leave and loading my belongings onto the horse, Colonel Zachary, who had come to see me off, spoke solemnly.
"Fia, given the nature of this matter, I have to report it to Chancellor Savis. ...But I'll review the content of the report. I won't do anything to harm you."
Hearing Colonel Zachary's words, I realized that, in the end, I had hardly explained anything.
This means that the information Colonel Zachary has is limited, and it will be extremely difficult to organize and report it to the Chancellor.
Yet, he is considering my feelings and, despite the lack of organized information, is trying to reassure me...
I couldn't help but sigh.
...Ah, Colonel Zachary, you are really handsome...