Chapter 97
“If there are several things getting on your nerves, then you just solve all of them, right?”
“That’s easy for you to say… even dealing with just one is overwhelming.”
While Aquila and I were exchanging meaningless chatter, Ishina—who had apparently been silently listening to our conversation from behind for a while—cut in.
“Salubia. I don’t know exactly what’s going on, but from what I can tell, you really need to work on developing some patience.”
“Patience…? Haven’t I already cultivated plenty of that while serving in the Border Defense Force?”
“If you cut the number of times you curse at your juniors by half…”
“No, but those bastards started it first—”
“How about trying to listen to what other people are saying, for once?”
“…Yes.”
Thinking that Ishina’s nagging was about to start up again, I gave a halfhearted reply to brush it off—and then, suddenly, something clicked.
“Listening to other people…?”
There was no need to overthink how to change this system. If we simply destroyed the contract magic binding us, the very foundation of the Border Defense Force would collapse as well.
And the ones involved with that contract magic were the imperial family and the black mages. Coincidentally, both were targets I already found irritating.
In that case, even though I didn’t know how to break the magic yet…
‘We just storm the imperial palace!’
Whether I cut off the emperor’s head—or threaten to cut it off to force him to解除 the magic! Either way, the emperor would know the answer!
All I had to do was hear directly from the emperor how to break the contract magic!
“Wow! As expected of Lady Ishina! You’re an idea bank!”
“…Why? Why again? And what does ‘idea bank’ even mean?”
“Thank you. That was very helpful.”
I’d thought she’d been restraining her mastermind tendencies lately because of how busy things were, but as expected, a person’s true nature doesn’t change so easily. No matter how much I rack my brain, I really can’t compete with the original mastermind that is Ishina.
“I’ve learned a valuable lesson today. I’ll strive to improve myself further.”
“At this point, I’m honestly not sure whether I should be playing along with you or not.”
Hmm. My post-discharge plans were now set.
Just as Ishina said, once I’m discharged, I’ll head straight for the imperial palace—whether I threaten the emperor or take his head—and make him talk.
“…Salubia? You’re not having dangerous thoughts right now, are you? Your eyes look strange. I’ll usually go along with you, but… I’m feeling a little uneasy.”
“It should be less dangerous than fighting monsters in the Border Defense Force!”
“No, what could possibly be more dangerous than that? What are you even planning…?”
While Ishina was flustered, Aquila grabbed my hand with a confidence he’d never shown before.
“Salubia. I’ll go with you and help with whatever you’re planning, so don’t worry.”
“Aquila…! I’m touched. But do you happen to know the layout of the imperial palace? Or know anyone inside?”
“No, but I’ll try my best.”
“What are you talking about? Why is the imperial palace coming up? Salubia, what on earth are you trying to do?”
Ishina looked even more uneasy now, but with my flawless plan already in place, I felt deeply satisfied.
That’s right—once I’m discharged!
I’ll storm the imperial palace just like that!
