Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody

This is not from Satou’s perspective.

The text contains many instances of "のじゃ". If you don’t like it, please be cautious.

Correction made on 10/20.

I’m bored.

I finally managed to come to Labyrinth City, yet I haven’t been able to leave the honorable prefect’s mansion even once — this isn’t what I was told.

I have to go to the labyrinth, defeat monsters, and become stronger. Only then can I become a companion of the honorable hero.

But if I go alone, I’m sure I won’t stand a chance against the monsters.

Staring at the pocket dagger engraved with the Norok family crest, I let out a deep sigh. Yes, I gave up on sword practice after two days, and despite studying arcane magic for two years, I still can’t even spark a single tinder. The only things I can be proud of are embroidery and lace knitting.

While wandering the courtyard—the only place I’m free to roam—I heard the voices of boys from the East Pavilion beyond the bushes.

“Wow, it’s really a Bronze Badge! Jans, that’s amazing!”

“Did your cousin with the Iron Badge take you there like you mentioned before?”

“Well, as the eldest son of Count Fudai’s family, I thought I needed at least a Bronze Badge.”

A young man with slightly cruel-looking light brown short hair answered proudly to the two boys confronting him. The plump black-haired one was Lord Payson, the fourth son of Baron Ralpott, and the short, slightly clever blonde was Lord Dirn, the third son of Viscount Gohato.

Not pleased, Lord Gelitz, Marquis’s third son, and his entourage, Lord Rulam, the second son of Baron Toke, spat venomously.

“Hmph. You were probably just throwing stones from behind your cousin’s back, weren’t you?”

“Yeah, yeah! You haven’t even beaten Mary Ann once with your sword, how could you possibly defeat monsters?”

Upon hearing this, Lady Mary Ann, eldest daughter of Baronet Dukeri, swiftly drew her sword and pressed it to Lord Rulam’s nose.

“Are you saying my sword doesn’t work against monsters?”

“N-no, that’s not it. Please, put your sword away.”

If you’re going to plead with such a strained face, you shouldn’t make reckless comments. Or is this what friendship is all about?

I was a bit envious.

Listening to their lively banter with envy, it seemed they had decided to go to the labyrinth together.

“Well then, I’ll have the carriage ready tomorrow morning. Everyone, put on your weapons and armor and wait. You’ll have to sneak out on your own without being seen by the household staff. I’ll prepare everything except weapons and armor, so please each pay three silver coins.”

“Eh~ That’s expensive!”

Lord Rulam’s complaint interrupted Lord Jans, the experienced one, giving orders.

“Well then, you can escape without smoke bombs or flash bombs even if monsters surround you, right?”

“It’s fine. With this many warriors, nobody would turn their back on monsters.”

“Exactly, and we have Dirn the mage. If we get surrounded, he can scatter them with his wind magic.”

“Well, there’s no monster my wind magic can’t slice through.”

Caught up in their confident atmosphere, Lord Jans sighed and withdrew his previous statement, lowering his demand to just one silver coin per person.

“I heard that.”

“P-Princess!”

Unable to contain my desire to join, I suddenly stepped forward in front of everyone.

“Lord Gelitz, Lord Jans, please. Could you take me with you?”

I asked, eyes glistening and tilting my head cutely. If it were Father King, this would have been a surefire way.

If Father King couldn’t resist, there was no way young Lord Gelitz or Lord Jans could either. Their faces flushed red as they agreed to my request.

◇

“I’m not feeling well. I don’t want breakfast today. Leave me alone until noon.”

My foster sister, who grew up with me from birth, immediately saw through my feigned illness, but thankfully interpreted it as just wanting to sleep in.

“Princess, are you ready?”

“Mary Ann, help me a little, will you?”