Published: September 10, 2025
On October 5th (Thursday), “16-Interlude 1. At That Time in the Royal Capital” was posted. If you haven’t read it yet, please do so.
Typo corrections were made on October 9, 2017.
This is Satou. Whether now or in the past, family disputes seem to exist, just differing in scale. Personally, I believe that rather than becoming the victor of such disputes, how gracefully one handles the aftermath is what truly matters.
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“You just called them traitors, but as far as I can see, that should be a Sania Kingdom warship. Did the military rebel and harm the king?”
I looked at the black warship appearing beyond the sand dunes and prompted Haifa, the daughter of the leader of the Clan of the Staff, and her maid to explain the situation in detail.
“The king has been deceived. Even though the country cannot stand without the Clan of the Staff, he was swayed by the sweet words of the Clan of the Sword and imprisoned us, the Clan of the Staff…”
It feels like they lost a domestic power struggle [physically]?
“So, if you are captured by them, does that mean ‘you’ll be thrown in prison and executed’?”
“No—”
Haifa shook her head at my question.
“As I said earlier, our country cannot exist without the Clan of the Staff.”
I was curious about why that was the case, but since it wasn’t the main point, I waited for her to continue.
“Therefore, we will be locked up and forced to stand on the battlefield as living weapons. I do not care if the country is destroyed or if the foolish king and ignorant people die, but since my family is held hostage, I cannot oppose them.”
I can deeply sympathize with how she values only her family, but her words also hinted at an overly strong pride or arrogance.
I wonder if growing up deeply immersed in a sense of chosen elitism would make one like this?
“If you don’t care about the country or its people, why don’t you from the Clan of the Staff just flee to another country?”
“Are you telling me to turn my back on the Clan of the Sword, who can’t even properly serve as a flesh shield!”
Oh, she snapped back at me.
Even though we understood each other’s language, the conversation wasn’t progressing well.
Haifa appears delicate and like a refined young lady, but she seems quite a self-righteous and passionate person.
“My staff is a blade to strike down enemies of the country—”
Haifa gave a sickly dark smile as she channeled magic into her staff.
The intricately crafted staff, adorned in gold, glowed with a red light.
“However, at this moment, let us differ in principle. If you do not want to be struck by my staff, then transport us by airship. We cannot be captured by traitors in a place like this.”
This time she threatened me.
Yeah, better part ways quickly.
If I kept dealing with her, it would just cause stress.
If this is one of the trials the gods impose, then I’m in trouble, but probably not.
I no longer had any intention to support them in quelling the civil war, but knowing they would be used as disposable weapons, I wasn’t inclined to hand them over to the warship either. So I decided to help them escape.
Not because it’s troublesome and I want to throw them far away or anything.
For the sake of appearances, I’m helping them escape.
“Do you think this is a threat? I am serious.”
Liza and Nana exchanged looks asking, “Can we suppress them?” so I gestured for them to wait.
I opened the map and searched for monsters suitable to disrupt the warship.
There was a roughly level 30 Sand Worm-type monster wandering nearby, so I caught it using earth magic “Sand Control” and dragged it near the warship.
—Huge.
Just the exposed part on the sand was big enough to swallow a blue whale whole.
Calling this a level 30 is downright deceptive.
“Th-That is!”
Haifa exclaimed in surprise.
“Th-That’s a Sand Worm. Get Haifa-sama on the airship quickly! Hurry while the warship is distracted!”
Her maid naturally said something quite ruthless.
“I’d like to, but we must fulfill the trial of the gods.”