"I never expected Namia to express a desire for revenge."
At night, lying on the bed and recalling the conversations during the day, Namia was using the bed that belonged to my mother.
Namia was kinder than anyone else.
The fact that words like "revenge" came out from such a gentle Namia was honestly surprising.
It meant there was resentment for what had been done.
I had harbored the illusion that everything would go back to normal once Namia came back to life.
However, that wasn't the case.
Even if she returned to life, the wounds wouldn't disappear.
If achieving revenge could bring some clarity to Namia's heart, I was willing to wholeheartedly assist her.
"Hey, Kiska."
As I was renewing my determination in my mind, Agetha, who was sleeping next to me, spoke.
"Namia is a good person."
"Yeah."
Agetha seemed pleased that Namia was said to be a good person. I, on the other hand, was just grateful that she wasn't turning hostile.
"Namia likes Kiska, you know."
"Eh…?"
"You can tell just by watching. Yesterday, she said you two weren't lovers, but you were probably in a relationship close to it."
It was a confident statement.
"It's not like that with Namia."
"Lies."
Even if I denied it, Agetha didn't seem to believe me. However, even someone like me, who was not well-versed in romance, could understand that I couldn't tell her the real truth.
"I only like Agetha."
"…"
Now, she looked dissatisfied.
"Hey, how can I make you believe me?"
"Well, you should know without asking."
Agetha's expression, as she said this, looked shy and her cheeks were faintly flushed.
I get it, it's probably like that.
But, you see, the walls in this house are thin. Namia, sleeping in the next room, can hear everything.
"Hey, Kiska. Look at me properly."
Agetha seemed determined, blushing and looking at me with the gaze of a predator who had caught its prey.
This was a situation where there was no escape.
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"It seems that this year marks the 100th anniversary since the Demon Lord was defeated. And in the Katarov Village, the place where the Demon Lord was defeated, a 100th-anniversary celebration is planned. Apparently, they have been holding commemorative festivals every year, but this year, being the 100th anniversary, they're even inviting members of the royal family, planning to make it quite large."
"No wonder the village is so lively."
Even though the festival is still a week away, the village is bustling with people. I've been glancing out of the window frequently, and I can see people walking around from outside the village.
Namia mentioned earlier that various events and preparations were underway, and the villagers and outsiders involved in these activities have already come to the village.
The village is in a festive mood, but both Namia and I are staying home. We can't risk going out and exposing our identities. It's best to stay hidden for now. Agetha is the only one who can walk around freely, so we asked her to handle shopping and reconnaissance. She's currently out shopping.
"Hey Kiska, Agetha is a hero, right?"
Namia, who was passing the time by knitting, looked up and spoke.
"Yeah, that's right."
"I see…"
She nodded as if she had something on her mind, looking somewhat distracted.
"Is something wrong?"
"Well, you know, I was just thinking, wasn't the hero from a hundred years ago someone named Eligion?"
Ah, that's right. In public perception, the hero is Eligion. And Eligion's descendants are part of the royal family in this country.
"Well, Agetha is the real hero, and Prince Eligion merely inherited a portion of Hero Agetha's power."
The situation around here is quite complicated. I tried to explain it briefly, but Namia seemed to have trouble understanding, tilting her head.
As we were discussing these things, Agetha came in, saying, "I'm back!"
"Sorry for burdening you with the shopping."
"It's not a big deal."
Saying so, Agetha placed the shopping basket on the table. The three of us then started collaborating to prepare lunch with the groceries.
"By the way, I found something good in the village."
"What's that?"
"Remember when you were talking about how it would be convenient if Kiska and Namia could freely walk around the village?"
Certainly, I recall having that conversation.
"If we want to carry out Namia's revenge without our identities being exposed, it's crucial that we can move around the village freely."
"Did you find a good way for us not to be recognized?"
"Yeah, how about both of you wearing masks? I saw masks being sold in the village."
"Masks…? What's that all about?"
"Could it be the masks used in a masquerade?"
Namia suggested, and upon hearing that, it made sense. It seems that various performances, including plays, dances, and music, are planned for the commemorative festival. The masks might be intended for a masquerade.
"What's a masquerade?"
It seems that Agetha is not familiar with the term.
"A masquerade is a kind of play where people wear masks to portray different characters. Probably, masks used for a masquerade were being sold as souvenirs."
That explanation from Namia is likely correct. It's quite early to sell souvenirs since the festival hasn't started yet.
"If you walk around the village wearing masks used in a play, you'll definitely raise suspicion."
"Really? I just assumed it would be fine to wear masks in this world."
"Could it be that wearing masks was a common practice in the world Agetha originally came from?"
I asked because I was curious. Agetha's perspective may seem unconventional, but she is a resident from a different world. One must consider that things might be different in her world compared to ours.
"I wouldn't go as far as wearing masks, but sometimes people might cover their mouths and noses for health precautions."
What is that? I can't imagine at all.
"Changing the subject, everyone gathered to welcome a very important person who came to the village."
"A guest, huh? It's still early for the festival, but some people arrive early."
"What kind of person was it?"
In response to Namia's question, Agetha thought for a moment.
"Dressed in white with a long hat and holding a staff. There were several people in similar attire, descending from a large carriage. From a distance, so I'm not sure, but they might be priests."
Certainly, the features Agetha described seem close to a priest.
"Why would priests come?"
Whereas it might be understandable if they were nobles from somewhere, would priests really come to a festival?
"They're probably here to set up a barrier for protection against monsters."
Namia explained.
"This area is known as a habitat for monsters. With the royal family coming, they're likely putting up a barrier to cover the entire village. I've heard that setting up a barrier takes time, so maybe they came this early to ensure it's ready."
"They're putting up a barrier that covers the entire village…?"
"I think it's a very high-ranking priest who came."
"Also, there were many soldiers. Probably for the village's security."
Indeed, with the royal family coming, they seem to be taking considerable precautions for safety.
"It might be difficult to seek revenge during the festival."
The details of the revenge plan haven't been finalized yet. However, with such heightened security, it would indeed be challenging no matter what we decide to do.
"Namia, wouldn't it be better to wait until after the festival for revenge?"
So, I propose this.
If we can disrupt such a spirited festival, it would be the ultimate revenge, but there are countless other ways to seek revenge besides ruining the festival.
"If you want to quit, Kiska, you can quit. In that case, I'll do it alone. I'd be happy if you didn't interfere."
Namia's words felt somewhat cold. At the same time, I wonder what Namia alone can really accomplish.
"Do you really want to ruin the festival that much?"
"Yeah."
Namia answered without hesitation. Her eyes were somewhat enchanting, and staring at them felt like being drawn in.
"You don't need to worry. After all, I'm here as the hero. With me around, it doesn't matter how many soldiers there are, right?"
Saying this with unusual ease, Agetha seemed carefree. While having Agetha might solve most problems, it still seemed overly optimistic.
"I see. Agetha, you're really reliable."
Namia said that. Perhaps I'm the only one worrying among us?
Then, the three of us brainstormed how to carry out the revenge.
"Alright, so let's kidnap Darga," Namia summed up.
If we could kidnap Darga, the son of the village chief, things would get serious, far beyond the festival. It wasn't a bad idea.
Afterward, we discussed specific methods for the kidnapping. Various ideas were thrown around, but none of them seemed like a definitive solution. In the end, despite talking all day, we couldn't come to a conclusion.
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"Alright then, I'm off."
"Be careful."
"Yes."
The next day, I saw Agetha off as she left through the front door.
I had entrusted Agetha, the only one who could freely wander outside, with a task. It was to check on Namia's family. Given that their daughter had passed away, it was certain that they would be feeling down. I thought it would be wise to confirm their well-being. However, Agetha wouldn't know Namia's family, so I took the time to hand-draw a map indicating the location of Namia's home.
Now that breakfast was done, what should I do? Namia seemed to be in her room, so perhaps it was an opportunity to visit her and have a conversation.
I had been thinking about something for a while. Once the revenge was over, if the three of us—Namia, Agetha, and I—could go somewhere different from this village, it might be a good idea. Staying in this village didn't offer anything good, but in a new place, there could be enjoyable experiences. It might be a distant future plan, but it wouldn't hurt to talk to Namia and gauge her reaction.
The sound of the door opening echoed.
I turned around.
There stood Agetha.
Even though she had just left a little while ago, something seemed off.
I was about to ask if she had forgotten something, but the words caught in my throat.
Her eyes were red, and her expression was filled with sorrow. Something despairing must have happened just now, as her face spoke volumes.
"Kiska, I'm sorry."
She spoke those words.
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