Once we were inside the room, Holy Knight Kanaria and Hero Eligion began to confer.
They were discussing the logistics for our departure to the Royal Capital tomorrow. It seemed Kanaria’s claim—that she had urgent business with His Highness—hadn't been a complete fabrication after all.
Meanwhile, I watched them both, unable to shake my restlessness.
I wouldn't have been surprised if Holy Knight Kanaria lunged at him at any moment. I observed her every move with painstaking care, searching for even the slightest hint of suspicious behavior.
For the time being, however, there was nothing.
"That is all from my side," Kanaria said, bringing the conversation to a close.
The discussion had apparently ended while I was lost in thought.
"All right, your turn, Kiska-kun."
Hero Eligion turned his gaze toward me.
Come to think of it, I had also entered this room under the pretext of having business with him. I decided to speak my mind.
"I’ve come because I wish to act as your guard, Hero. We can't rule out the possibility of some ill-intentioned person attacking you while you sleep."
"True. It would be incautious of me to sleep alone in here," Eligion replied, nodding as if convinced.
"Your Highness! If you require a guard, please let me fulfill that duty! Do you truly intend to trust an adventurer of unknown origin over me?"
Kanaria raised her voice in a sharp appeal.
There was no doubt that she was more trusted than I was. However, if she were the one left in charge of his safety, my entire plan would go down the drain.
"I see. In that case, the two of you can cooperate. With both of you here, you can take turns sleeping. Yes, that’s the most efficient solution."
Eligion reached his conclusion. It was decided: both Holy Knight Kanaria and I would guard the Hero.
◆
Ultimately, Hero Eligion retired to his bed and drifted off just as he normally would.
Kanaria and I, now officially on duty, took our seats and began our vigil. Neither of us spoke, leaving the room blanketed in a heavy silence.
Was she planning to carry out the assassination while he slept? Or was the attempt scheduled for tomorrow, and she was simply biding her time?
Since I didn't know her true intentions, I had to stay on high alert for any possibility, but the strain was beginning to take its toll. Fatigue had been steadily piling up since earlier.
My eyelids grew heavy.
But I couldn't fall asleep. Rubbing my eyes, I glanced over at Kanaria. How was she holding up? Was she not as tired as I was?
With that thought, I turned my eyes toward her.
...Wait, what?
Was this actually happening?
I reflexively doubted my own eyes, but after a second look, there was no mistaking it.
Holy Knight Kanaria was fast asleep in her chair. She was even letting out a soft, steady rhythm of snores.
Are you serious...?
Could someone who volunteered for guard duty really just abandon their post and fall asleep like that?
Eligion had suggested we take turns, so perhaps she was just putting that into practice, but she could have at least said something. Her attitude was almost as if she already knew the Hero wouldn't be attacked tonight.
Thinking that my coming here might have been a needless worry after all, a wave of exhaustion washed over me. I felt myself starting to drift off as well...
◆
A sharp clack rang out.
I snapped awake instantly. I felt a surge of shame for nodding off, but I had more pressing concerns: Eligion’s safety and Kanaria’s movements.
Everything seemed fine. Hero Eligion was still in bed, and Kanaria was still sitting in her chair, appearing to be asleep.
Then what was that sound? What had woken me up?
"Yo."
A voice spoke from directly behind me, sending a shiver down my spine.
"How’re you feeling?"
The speaker was Warrior Golgano.
The sound from earlier had been the noise of him entering the room. I was certain the door had been locked, but he had made a point of breaking it.
"What do you want?" I asked.
"Just wanted to have a little chat with you."
"A chat about what?"
"This isn't the kind of thing to talk about in here. Step outside for a bit."
"I have no intention of leaving this spot."
"Hmph. I see."
Golgano muttered his dissatisfaction, then suddenly raised his voice.
"Kanaria, change of plans! We’re doing this the hard way!"
The moment he shouted, he deployed the Parasitic Scythe: Kyogenmawashi.
Caught off guard, I threw up the Sword of Raging Flames to block him, but the sheer force of the blow was too much. I was sent crashing into the wall.
But there was something more important than my own safety.
The second Golgano called out, Kanaria—who had seemed to be fast asleep—leaped up and swung her blade toward Hero Eligion.
"Look out! He's going to kill you!" I screamed.
I usually made an effort to speak politely to the Hero, but in the heat of the moment, the formalities slipped. It was an emergency; that didn't matter now.
"Tch. I missed?"
Kanaria was the one who spoke. She held her sword in a thrusting position, buried in the bedding. The tip of the blade was inches from Eligion’s neck.
"Kanaria, what exactly is the meaning of this? Talk to me. Surely there’s been some sort of misunderstanding."
Despite having a sword pointed at his throat, Hero Eligion responded with a composed, almost mocking smile.
Kanaria gave him only a four-word reply.
"Enough talk! Die now!"
She swung her sword with lethal force. From her position, the slightest movement was enough to take the Hero's head. He was as good as dead.
At least, that’s what I thought.
"Gah...!"
The groan of pain belonged to Kanaria. Her body was thrown back, slamming violently into the wall.
"You certainly took me lightly," the Hero said, reaching for his sword.
He was still very much alive.