The Strongest Onmyoji and the Shikigami With AI are Unparalleled in Another World ~ A Second Life Properly Enjoyed Using Artificial Intelligence ~ - Chapter 121

When my vision cleared, we were outdoors, illuminated by moonlight.

I could smell the sea and hear the sound of waves, so I knew we were near the ocean.

“We really teleported…”

“Amazing, isn’t it?”

AI-chan and I let go of Leanne and scanned our surroundings.

It was dark, but I could make out the dock and see dozens of ships.

“AI-chan, any search results?”

“No response. What about you?”

“I’m expanding my detection, but I’m not sensing any suspicious magical power. It seems they haven’t arrived yet.”

“Then we’ll wait here.”

Waiting to ambush them would be best.

“I never intended to say this…”

Leanne muttered suddenly.

“Teleportation, huh? You didn’t even tell the king.”

“Yes. I’ve always said I didn’t have a gift. I’ve had enough of being dragged into politics and war.”

“Is this about your previous life?”

Earlier at dinner, she had mentioned wanting to live freely in this life.

“Yes. I was a shrine maiden. My ability was controlling violent winds. I could create storms and tornadoes.”

“That’s pretty impressive.”

Natural disasters at her command.

“But I was just a tool for politics and war, with no real power of my own. I did many things for the sake of protecting the country and serving the gods. But none of it reflected my own will… That’s why I envy you. And I respect you. I could never live as you do.”

“That was just your past life. You should live how you want in this one.”

I think that’s for the best.

It’s what I plan to do too.

“You’re right. I want you to live that way as well.”

“So that’s why you reacted so strongly to the map, huh?”

“Yes. I understood well that you long for peace, Yuuma. You could easily rise in rank if you joined the military, and even become a noble. But you don’t. Your reason is the same as mine.”

I’ve served in the royal court for decades; I’ve had enough.

And the idea of serving some foreign country in a different world, with no ties or obligations, is unbearable.

“The same, huh… So why reveal your teleportation ability now? The cavalry might have made it in time, or I could have sent Bee-san to scout quickly.”

She probably knows about my Bee-san too.

“This is something I have to do. It’s my responsibility.”

“I see…”

Well, if that’s how she feels, there’s nothing I can do.

“At worst, I’ll report to the military, but that’s unavoidable.”

“I’ll give you my reward. Use it to ask the king to keep this quiet. Knowing him, he’ll probably consider it.”

Since he’s family, and the king tends to be lenient, it should work out.

“That’s…”

“Just take it. I don’t need any of the royal family’s meager rewards.”

It’ll probably just be 30 gold coins and a commemorative item. The royal family doesn’t have much money, so it can’t be helped…

“T-thank you…”

Leanne looked down as she said this.

“Master, I’ve detected a hostile presence.”

I know.

I’ve been sensing magic for a while now.

But even with how dark it is, it’s strange that we can’t see anything.

“I’ve figured out how they kidnapped Colette and the method they used…”

Out of nowhere, Leanne pulled out a dagger with a blade about 30 centimeters long and raised it to the sky.

“Answer my prayer!”

As she shouted, the dagger began to glow, and a glowing orb appeared.

The orb floated away from the dagger and ascended into the sky.

The brilliant light illuminated the surroundings, making it as bright as daytime.

“Master, there’s a shadow over there!”

Just as AI-chan said, I could see a shadow on the road.

“Tch! What a pain.”

A man’s voice came from the direction of the shadow.

“In the presence of my light, you are powerless!”

Leanne called out to the shadow.

“You’re really an annoying brat…”

The man’s voice came again, and then he appeared.

“As I thought, it’s you, Otto.”

Standing before us was Otto, the A-rank adventurer. He had the princess slung over his shoulder, gagged and completely still.

“Hah! How did you figure it out?”

“Process of elimination. You were the only one left!”

The culprit knew about the ransom note.

It wasn’t the royal family, nor the guards, and not me either.

That left only Otto, who had accepted the same request and had since disappeared.

“I see. Well, it doesn’t matter. As long as I could stall for time, it wouldn’t have mattered if you figured it out.”

The handwriting would’ve given him away anyway.

“Seems like you couldn’t even manage that though…”

Too bad for him.

“Shut up! You lot got here too fast! What the hell’s going on?”

“Like I’m going to tell you.”

“Tch! I knew I should have killed you when I had the chance, you womanizing bastard.”

What a vulgar guy.

“Who are you?”

Leanne asked Otto.

“You already know, don’t you? I’m Otto, an A-rank adventurer. Tch! It’s not exactly a respectable name.”

“…So you really are a reincarnate.”

Well, he does have a Gift, after all.

“You guys too, right? Tch! Using that weird magic…”

Otto looked up at the glowing orb in the sky, like a miniature sun.

“Playing the goody two-shoes, huh?”

“Of course. You gotta keep your public face and private face separate.”

What a scoundrel.

Though it was obvious the moment he kidnapped the princess.

“What’s your real name?”

“That noble speech of yours really ticks me off. But fine, I’ll tell you. I’m the great bandit Ludger Davis. They hanged me once, but lucky for me, I got reincarnated into this fun world!”

So, a death row criminal, huh?

“What do you plan to do with the princess?”

“Sell her off to another country, of course. A royal princess will fetch a high price.”

An enemy nation, perhaps?

I’m not familiar with the current political landscape, but judging by his methods, this guy’s no first-timer.

“That’s not happening. Surrender now. The king’s forces will be here any minute.”

“Ha! Don’t make me laugh! Even if a bunch of weaklings show up, it won’t matter. They can’t see through my Gift.”

“Invisibility, is it?”

“Well, there’s no point hiding it now.”

That has to be it.

It’s probably something like turning whatever he touches invisible.

Yesterday, when he visited the princess, it must’ve been to scope things out.

“Think Leanne can break through it?”

“Yeah, that’s why I’ll kill her. She really pisses me off.”

“She did give you a lot of harsh words, didn’t she?”

I actually felt a little sorry for him.

“Yeah. And of course, I’m going to kill you too. I really hate cocky bastards like you.”

“I don’t like scum like you either. I have no intention of letting you live.”

Just die.

“Is this princess really that important to you?”

“No, I don’t care.”

She’s from another country, after all.

“Then why? You some kind of hero or something?”

“You called me a womanizing bastard earlier, no?”

“Oh…?”

“I’ll never forgive anyone who tries to harm the people close to me.”

He knows about Natalia and the others.

Whether he researched it or not, I can’t let him live.