The Strongest Onmyoji and the Shikigami With AI are Unparalleled in Another World ~ A Second Life Properly Enjoyed Using Artificial Intelligence ~ - Chapter 117

We left the castle and were escorted to the inn, where we killed time until evening.

Then, as evening came, Natalia and the others returned, so we informed them I wouldn’t need dinner and headed to the same shop as before with Leanne.

We enjoyed drinks and food while having a lively conversation.

“So, Yuuma-sama, you’re the head of a noble family that’s been around for hundreds of years?”

“That’s right. The Kisaragi family is an old and distinguished house.”

“That’s amazing.”

Leanne was really enjoying the conversation and was also actively joining in.

“Leanne, are you on my side?”

“Of course.”

Leanne nodded with a smile.

“I see.”

Well, she did keep the map a secret for me, and she’s been giving me good jobs.

She’s treated me very well, so I suppose it’s true.

“Is there something on your mind?”

“Of course, it’s the request from the king.”

“Hehe… you understand, don’t you?”

Leanne smiled seductively with a childish face and took a sip of wine.

“You’re an accomplice too, aren’t you?”

“No way. I haven’t been told anything. What do you think, Yuuma-sama?”

“It’s a setup.”

“Phew… that’s what you think, right?”

It seems Leanne had figured it out as well.

“I could tell from the princess’s attitude today. She has no sense of danger, and the guards are too few. There were soldiers outside the king’s door, but no one was outside her room.”

If she were really being targeted, they wouldn’t have let me or Otto into the room, and they’d have increased the guards.

Also, if she were a sheltered princess, she would be much more frightened.

“Exactly. You think Colette staged it?”

“I’ll be frank — that princess doesn’t have the brains for that.”

“Hehe, that’s true… so who?”

Leanne placed her glass on the table.

“It’s the king. They say they thoroughly investigated everyone in the castle, conducted handwriting analysis, and even used magic to track things, but there’s one person they didn’t do that to.”

“Yes. Uncle hasn’t been investigated, has he?”

It’s him after all.

“I don’t know his motive, though.”

“Didn’t my uncle mention it? That the wives don’t get along. Colette is the child of the second concubine, but she’s disliked by both the queen and the other concubine.”

He did mention they don’t get along, but…

“Why’s that?”

“Uncle only had sons. In the midst of that, Colette was born, a girl. She was adored, and the king ended up favoring the second concubine, who had the lowest rank. Normally, having a son would be celebrated, but since it was all boys, well… Of course, the queen and the other concubine who bore sons for the heir weren’t happy about it.”

I don’t know how old the queen or the concubine are, but what are these grown adults even doing…

“They’re fools.”

“You’d think so, wouldn’t you, Yuuma-sama? You seem to be very skilled at dealing with women. But, this kind of thing isn’t uncommon. Especially in political marriages.”

Family disputes certainly aren’t rare.

“Well, that part is fine. So what’s the point of that warning letter? Are they trying to pin the blame on the queen or the concubine?”

That would be downright stupid.

“No, not that far. It’s essentially about isolating them. They’ll use the excuse that she’s being targeted to relocate her somewhere else. Right now, there’s a plan underway to build a separate palace.”

“So that’s what it’s about… Think about the people being dragged into this.”

“I apologize. Otto and Yuuma-sama are being used as part of an alibi. So, for the next four days, please enjoy yourselves.”

I thought it sounded fishy from the start, but this was an even more trivial reason than I imagined.

“Otto alone would’ve been enough.”

“Well, with the demon tribe matter also at play, they wanted to tie it into that. That’s why they called you, Yuuma-sama. They probably also wanted to assess your potential danger and character… something like that.”

Is that what it was?

“Did they really think no one would point out it was staged?”

“That’s probably part of it. I believe they wanted to assess your abilities. In the end, though, you chose to do nothing.”

Of course.

“I don’t want to get involved. If there were a real threat from the demon tribe and the princess was in danger, I might consider helping. But I have no intention of playing along with some trivial game. In this life, I’ve decided not to get involved in politics.”

“I understand. I, too, want to live freely in this life.”

Leanne nodded repeatedly.

“But you’re a noble.”

“Yes, which is why I revealed that I’m a reincarnated person, and they’ve allowed me to live freely. Normally, at my age, I’d already be married off somewhere.”

She’s 25, after all.

It wouldn’t be surprising if she had children by now.

Though, to me, she still looks like a child herself.

“Freedom, huh? I guess I’m in a similar situation. So don’t tell His Majesty about any of this.”

“Of course. To be honest, I was aware of what was going on from the beginning, but I had no intention of pointing it out. It’s ridiculous.”

Leanne laughed.

“Exactly. Well, I’ll spend my time working in Celia. Four more days, huh?”

“I see… It’ll be lonely without you…”

“It’s not that far, is it?”

It’s only a two- or three-day trip by carriage.

“Not far… yes, it’s definitely not far. Hehe, I’ll go soon.”

“There’s no need to visit immediately though.”

“No, I’ll go right away.”

Leanne narrowed her eyes.

“Hmm…”

As I gazed intently at Leanne, she let out a soft sigh.

“…Yuuma-sama, I have feelings for—”

Leanne began to speak, her cheeks flushed, but she stopped midway.

Because we heard a knock.

“Dear guests, dear guests… I’m sorry to interrupt your enjoyment, but there is someone here to see you.”

After the knocking stopped, a voice from the staff could be heard through the door.

I glanced at Leanne, and the shy smile she had just a moment ago was gone, replaced by an expression as blank as a mask.

“Send them in… NOW!!”

Leanne shouted, her face filled with rage.

Does she want to kill them?

“Y-Yes!”

The panicked voice of the staff could be heard, and Leanne lowered her head, beginning to breathe heavily, her breaths coming in ragged gasps.

I decided not to intervene and waited silently.

Then, the door opened, and Kenneth came in.

“Guilmas, I apologize for disturbing you at such a time.”

Kenneth bowed his head.

“It doesn’t matter… because you’re going to die here!”

Leanne raised her head and turned her palm toward the ceiling.

Suddenly, magic began to gather in her palm, and a small tornado appeared.

“G-Guilmas! Please forgive me! The truth is—”

“Silence! You stole… my very first in 85 years… my resolve! I’ll tear you apart with a natural disaster! Feel the power of the Priestess of the Storm!”

She’s really angry…

“Leanne, calm down. Think about it rationally—there’s no way Kenneth would interrupt on purpose. If he still came, it must be an emergency.”

“Th-that’s right! I didn’t want to come either! Why would a married man like me have to ruin his boss’s romantic moment?”

Kenneth was desperate.

“Oh? Then what do you want?”

Leanne dismissed the tornado, though magic was still gathering in her palm.

“There’s an urgent message from His Majesty the King. You’re both requested at the palace immediately. If possible, Yuuma-dono as well.”

Hearing this, the magic in Leanne’s palm dissipated into mist.

Then, with a blank expression, she looked at me.

“My uncle? At this hour?”

Leanne quickly shifted her gaze back to Kenneth to confirm.

“Yes.”

“Yuuma-sama too?”

“Yes. A fast horse arrived at the guild a short while ago and delivered the message. I abandoned the work you dumped on me to come here and inform you.”

Poor Kenneth. What a rough day for him.