Volume 7, Chapter 5 – Princess Sara

“What!? The First Princess of the Black Rainbow Empire!?”

Chris-san let out a cry of surprise, her gaze sharpening as she immediately went on guard.

“U-um. So, why exactly was the First Princess of the Black Rainbow Empire drifting around in a place like this? Is your country not currently at war with the White Moon Kingdom?”

“…Yes. This is all the doing of my foolish brother, Alfonso. I offer my sincerest apologies.”

Sara-san lowered her head, apologizing to us with a sorrowful expression.

“What do you mean by that?”

Sara-san fell silent for a moment, then raised her head and spoke with a look of grim determination.

“My brother murdered our father and usurped the imperial throne. He then conspired with the evil ones, casting an evil secret art upon the youth of our nation, transforming them into hideous things that are no longer human. Those subjected to that art rise again even after being killed, much like the Undead.”

I see. So that means those soldiers weren’t created by the technology of the Black Rainbow Empire, but by the secret arts of these “evil ones”?

Does that also mean the Undying Beasts in the Red Sky Empire were the work of these same evil ones?

“When I spoke out against this, Alfonso imprisoned me. I was meant to be subjected to the secret art myself, but I was rescued by a few loyal vassals. I attempted to escape by ship, but…”

“In other words, you used a ship to flee, and that ship was sunk?”

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“…Yes.”

Sara-san looked down slightly. Then, she raised her head and looked straight at me, her eyes filled with a powerful, resolute will.

“Saint Fiene Argentata-sama. I beg of you. Please, save my homeland, the Black Rainbow Empire, from the clutches of evil.”

Hmm, I see. If that’s the case, I really should lend a hand.

Since Hugues-san was taken over there, I’ll end up going eventually anyway, and it would be better to have someone who knows the way.

“I understand. Please let me help you.”

“Th-thank you so much!”

With that, Sara-san stood up.

“O God! I thank Thee for Thy guidance!”

And then, while flexing muscles that were remarkably well-defined for a woman, she struck a muscle pose.

Huh? Wait. No way.

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Is this some kind of prayer pose in her country?

“U-um, i-is that… the will of God?”

In response, Sara-san changed her posing further, showing off her muscles. Her biceps were twitching.

I-it’s impressive, but… what do I do? She just looks like a pervert to me.

“Princess Sara, could you please stop there? Your customs are different from ours, and Fiene-sama is clearly confused..”

“Ah, my apologies. Saint-sama, this is the way we pray in my country.”

“I-I see.”

There is absolutely no way she’s praying, right? She’s just showing off her muscles, isn’t she?

I couldn’t make sense of it, but apparently, that’s just how it is.

And so, through a strange turn of events, we came to protect the First Princess of our enemy, the Black Rainbow Empire.

◇ ◇ ◇

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“So, Saint-sama rescued the First Princess of an enemy nation? Sigh , honestly.”

When we reported the situation to the Captain, he let out an exaggerated sigh.

“Marquis Zaccara told you not to show unnecessary mercy, did he not? Do you remember?”

The Captain continued to grumble resentfully, but isn’t it common sense to rescue shipwrecked people at sea?

Feeling a bit irritated, I snapped back at the Captain.

“If you’re going to be like that, fine. Sara-san is a woman under my protection. I will provide all her meals, and I’ll pay for her fare if necessary.”

“N-no, but…”

“I believe that helping someone in distress is simply the basic human thing to do.”

Though, the one saying such high-and-mighty things is actually a Vampire.

“Captain-dono, Fiene-sama is the Saint. A Saint does not abandon the weak or those in need. That is precisely why she is called the Saint, why she is revered by the people, and why she was chosen by God and the Holy Sword.”

Chris-san spoke up, admonishing the Captain.

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“B-but…”

The Captain still looked dissatisfied.

His face was practically screaming his frustration.

Does he really dislike the fact that we saved an enemy princess that much?

Normally, I’d think that if we helped Sara-san take back her country, we could get along just fine. Is that not possible?

Besides, I’m carrying all the food in my Storage, so adding one more person shouldn’t make a difference at this point.

Then, Chris-san spoke in that tone she uses when she’s forcing someone to accept her demands.

“Captain-dono, Fiene-sama has declared, as the Saint, that Princess Sara is under her protection. You understand the implications of that, yes?”

“…Yes.”

Despite his dissatisfaction, the Captain backed down instantly.

Hmm? For him to react with such intense dislike… did I accidentally mess something up?