「 I am the first princess of the Orsongrande Empire, Imeraria Torie Orsongrande… 」
Attempting to meet eyes with Hifumi but failing, she started stuttering due to fear.
「 O-Our country has become impoverished due to the brutal fight against the demi-humans….
So we reproduced this summoning magic according to the ancient texts….
Since it is a secret art that only a person of Royal blood can execute, since only those of the Royal bloodline are gifted with a large amount of mana, I was ordered to summon Hero-sama…. 」
I see, summoning a hero to fight against evil happens in the fantasy genre often. And thus…
「 Ordered to? Then, who is the initiator of this ritual? 」
「 Th-That is ….. 」
Princess Imeraria clearly saw the colour of anger in Hifumi’s eyes, and was worried about telling him. But Hifumi could guess it easily.
「 It’s the King, isn’t it. Only someone above the rank of 1st princess can order you. Though it might be the Queen too. If they are your parents, it makes sense that you are carrying out this duty. 」
「 Ah…. 」
Imeraria opened her eyes wide and looked quite flustered.
The man in front of her eyes was not some hero fighting for some sense of justice, not caring for authority or power, but an extremely dangerous person.
「 N-No, its different! I… this.. 」
「 How old? 」
「 Eh? 」
「 Your age. 」
「 Ah, 14 years old ! 」
Puzzled momentarily by the question, she answered in a hurry.
「 Is that so… 」
Hifumi moved his sword away, just a little. In truth, he holds to some standards, one of them being “Upto junior high school level, the parents should take responsibility for their children’s actions”. Besides, “Criminals do not have human rights” and “Don’t pay attention to religious fanatics and educators” are unsuitable for the laws and customs of Japan, because of which Hifumi had accumulated stress and impatience.
「 Then, the ones that should be killed are your parents, huh.. 」
「 Eh???… 」
At that instant, Hifumi turned and swung his katana.
The surprise attack aimed at a gap in the neck of the Knight’s armour struck true, and the Knight collapsed, unable to make a sound, blood gushing from his neck.
「 Emitting bloodthirst so wildly, it’s unpleasant, you know. Amateur. 」
Instantly, the katana returned to Imeraria’s throat.
Exactly to the same place, as though it had not moved away at all.
With merely one slash, the Knights froze in shock, feeling weak at the knees.
Within this castle, the ones attending the ritual were the elite of the elite practitioners in the country. However, none of them were able to even see the sword’s path.
Furthermore, they didn’t even notice when the katana had left Imeraria’s throat.
Watching Hifumi’s swordsmanship, the Knights’ shock increased. The swords and spears they use are heavily made and are used to cut using the weight and power.
Apart from the thin clothes Imeraria was wearing for the ritual, they didn’t think Hifumi’s thin katana could damage their armour. For Hifumi, it was common sense to aim at the vital points of an opponent on the battlefield, but due to the difference in cultures, they were unable to understand.
The dead knight’s corpse proved that the ability that killed him was definitely that of a hero-level.
「 You bastard! 」
An enraged knight roars angrily, unable to step forward.
Comparatively, Hifumi was very calm.
「 Come forward if you want to die. I have business with this woman. 」
Hifumi calmly provoked them, lowering his katana.
At that instant, the five remaining knights charged together.
「 ….Diversion method 」
Hifumi muttered while turning his body to slide past a knight, using the knight’s own momentum to move past him.
Another knight’s spear stabbed into the knight that replaced the lightly moving Hifumi’s position.
「Guo…. Gaha 」
Though most of the damage is resisted by the armour, the spear pierced through the joints, the other’s neck was split by Hifumi’s katana.
The light left the eyes of knight whose movement was restrained by stabbing his colleague and he died.
Two people are instantly killed. To recover the situation, the remaining three knights took some distance.
「 Weak. 」
Hifumi spat in disgust.
「 Knights of the castle? I thought you’d be able to resist for longer than this. 」
「 Gugu….. 」
「 Had enough yet? 」
「 You bastard, you are nothing! 」
Their strength as Knights was dominated by Hifumi, no longer able to protect the princess.
Simultaneously piercing and stabbing, Hifumi passed by the three knights as though he was taking a light stroll.
The first knight had a spear protruding from his throat, the second had his spine slashed and the third was killed by Hifumi roundhouse kicking a knife into him, burying it upto the hilt. (TN: I dunno where the heck this knife came from)
「 Its over. 」
Hifumi declared disdainfully, turning the katana dripping with blood towards princess Imeraria again.
Imeraria, who had absolute confidence in the strength of the Imperial Knights watched as the Knights sank in a sea of blood in the blink of an eye. It was unbelievable.
「 Aa…. Auuu… 」
「 Now, shall I have you guide me to your parents? 」
Hifumi unconcernedly said, sheathing his sword after killing everyone.
Guided by the princess, he walked within the castle. Servants and knights stared at them from a distance, but none called out to them. Seeing the haggard princess and the young man, no one was able to understand the situation.
The room in which Hifumi was summoned, containing the corpses of the Knights had been locked when they left, and no one knew what had transpired there. Servants are not allowed access, they only know that some important things are done within that room.
A splendid building. Looks quite similar to images of castles of the West that I saw on the net before.
Hifumi gathered information by looking around while moving.
These servant-like fellows, are they wearing hemp clothes? Is the cultural level still that of the Middle Ages equivalent? Though Imeraria’s clothes seem to be of fine make….
While walking, Hifumi suddenly decided to try out the Darkness magic attribute he received prior to the transfer. He predicted that the sense of incongruity within his body after the transfer might be mana. On letting an image float to his mind and concentrating the mana, something like black mist formed over his left hand.
So this is Dark magic….
Remembering a previously read novel, he solidified the image for the magic.
In front of him floated a black circle about 20 cm in diameter. Hifumi tried to insert his sword in it.
It seems possible to put it in…
Putting his right hand behind his back, Hifumi concentrated on the image and gripped the sword from the dark interior.
He could clearly feel the contours of the sword fit his hand.
Retrieval is possible even if I can’t see it. Really, this shouldn’t be able to be done.
While experimenting Hifumi walked on noiselessly, Imeraria timidly walking with heels clacking was putting her whirling thoughts in order.
Should I take him to the King?
Or should I take him to some other place after all?
Then what do I do after taking him elsewhere?
When he knows he’s been deceived, then what?
Assuming I’ll be killed, what then?
In the end, someone in the castle can seize him, but eventually might reach father�
��s place after struggling.
「 Why do I have to do such a thing…..? 」
Imeraria muttered inaudibly, her quiet companion seems to have heard her.
「 Such a reason, only you will have the answer. 」
「 Eh? 」
Imeraria turned around instinctively on hearing that.
「 Whether you did something out of malice, or out of profit, whether someone was grateful for it or was wounded by it, none of that matters. The only fact is that there will be a consequence. 」
Another thought rose up in his mind.
「 All actions bounce back on oneself. In such a situation, the reason is insignificant, only actions matter. 」
While Hifumi’s words disturbed princess Imeraria, they had arrived at the entrance of the throne room already.
The king, waiting impatiently for the hero’s visit. Not knowing anything, a Knight received them smilingly.
「 Princess, this man…. 」
「 Yes, I will conduct introductions to father. Please open the door. 」
On reaching here, Imeraria had resolved on one thing.
Her words to the Knight, different from before had calmed down.
In the audience chamber, the King was sitting on a raised platform, with the Queen and Prince on his sides, with Knights and civil officials on both sides of the chamber.
Storing his katana in the Dark Hole, Hifumi casually followed Imeraria into the chamber.
5 metres in front of the king, Imeraria halted. Hifumi was standing behind her in a bad mood.
Some people raised their eyebrows due to Hifumi not kneeling, but he didn’t care.
When Imeraria bowed, the King opened his mouth.
「 Imeraria, is this person a Hero? 」
But it was not the princess that answered.
「 Nope, I am not a Hero. 」
Hifumi said while looking the King in the eye.
「 I may be rude! I’ll speak plainly! 」
An approximately 50 year old man seemingly a civil officer with a splendid moustache shouted, completely ignoring Hifumi.
「 This woman did the summoning, dragging out this pitiful victim from a different world by force….. 」
Pulled out from the Dark Hole, the katana shone with an uncanny light.
「 This crime, make up for it with your life… 」
With a cold light in his eyes, Hifumi sneered.
Chapter 3: Can’t Repeat
After a short silence, the audience chamber was in utter chaos.
「 Why, within the presence of the King is he carrying a sword?? 」
「 In the King’s presence! 」
「 What are the Imperial guards doing?? Quickly, arrest him! 」
The civil servants edge back, the Knights on standby move forward. Inside the castle there is basic equipment. Like the Knights in the summoning room, all these Knights have the same short spear.
「 Please wait! 」
Imeraria cried, standing in front of Hifumi with her diminutive body.
「 Hero-sama too, please hear my story. 」
「 ….. Go ahead 」
「 Thank you very much…. 」
On her words not being disregarded, Imeraria was relieved a little. However, thinking about the problem, she braced herself.
「 Wait, Imeraria. 」
Imeraria looked up on hearing the King’s voice.
Though he was sitting on the throne in a relaxed manner, his countenance showed irritation.
「 First of all, speak with us. Hero, we are Wilburken Godenhaim Orsongrande, the King of this country. 」
(TN: I took some liberties with names, but tried to stay as close as possible to the original. Also, the King is using a form of ‘me’ that is typically used by royalty. Hence, the ‘us’)
Hifumi did not look away from Imeraria.
「 H-Hero sama? 」
「 I said I would listen to what you had to say. Say it quickly. 」
On seeing Hifumi’s complete disregard for him, the King angrily struck the armrest of the throne.
「 Ignoring us! Even a Hero is not permitted to ignore us! Guards, arrest this fellow! It’s fine if he’s injured a little! 」
Four members of the guard charged forward at the Royal decree, all of them were cut down in a single breath. Without being flashy, a precise swing of the sword killed efficiently. Watching the elegance and cruelty, everyone in the audience hall held their breath.
「 Hero-sama 」
「 What? 」
「 Your name, please let us hear it. 」
「 ……. Hifumi. 」
Thinking a little, Hifumi answered with only his given name. His family name of Touno he might as well throw away. Killing the God, crossing over worlds, killing people.
Though there were no lingering attachments to his family, Hifumi had come alone, he may have wanted to persuade himself of that.
Hearing his name, Imeraria looked Hifumi in the eye and said
「 Hifumi-sama, due to our selfish convenience, you were called to this world. I sincerely apologise to you. Truly, I am very sorry. 」
The surrounding people murmured on seeing Imeraria bowing deeply.
A member of the royal family is bowing to a rude person. In this world, where status is fixed and hierarchical relationships are the norm, this is clearly the exception.
「 This situation, it is my fault. To calm Hifumi-sama’s anger, I will do anything I can…. My life, you may end it right here if you wish. 」
Imeraria’s blue-eyed gaze don’t waver from Hifumi. Demonstrating resolution, she awaited his words quietly.
However, the King raised his voice.
「 Foolish! How could such a thing happen! Isn’t this person a Hero? Imeraria, explain. 」
The King’s voice shook with anger.
「 Why should the princess lower her head? What did the Knights taking part in the Ritual do? Just what is going on?! 」
「 ….. *Explanation* 」
From Imeraria’s mouth, the reality of the situation shocked people in the hall.
Some Knights have already been murdered by the man called to save the country.
And most surprising, blaming the king with a crime, no, to say such a thing warrants punishment. Towards the King, a monarch, such a thing is unacceptable.
At least, according to the people in this world.
「 Hifumi, there is still time. Kneel to us and swear to serve this country. With your ability, you can obtain a high position. The rudeness here, and the crime, we will overlook it. 」
Though people were killed, it was a terrible remark, but from the reactions of the civil officials, the King’s influence seems to hold much weight. With these impossibly favourable terms, the King looked down on Hifumi from the platform full of confidence.
However, to the abnormal man standing there, it was a bad move.
「 Foolish. 」
Hifumi spat and continued.
「 Astonishing. A man of power who is also a complete fool. Do you not understand that your daughter is desperately trying to protect you, do you not understand your position? You should be begging me. I and your daughter, who you want to use for this country. You tried to deprive a man of his future, for your own selfish interests. 」
「 Hi-Hifumi sama…. 」
Imeraria’s fears were realised, the situation was going terribly bad.
However, it was too late.
Several Knights charged towards Hifumi, but were killed instantly. Hifumi had already reached the pinnacle of fighting one-handed. The civil servants unable to take in the violence back up against the walls, and some sit down in fear. Only the Prince and the Queen seem able to watch the situation without turning pale.
「 Th-Then how to say this? You cannot be returned to your former world, the way of repatriation is lost, only the Ritual of Summoning remains. 」
On hearing the King’s words, Hifumi looked at Imeraria. She confirmed it by avoiding his
gaze and looking down.
「 Everything is our fault. Therefore…. 」(Imeraria)
「 If a parent obediently apologises, consent to money. Of course, your wish of leaving will be heard. Becoming the likes of a subordinate is unreasonable. 」
「 Money, huh… 」
「 The princess herself does not have any assets. Because it is rare to buy anything with one’s purse. 」
「 Of course, the country pays for this. 」
「 Wh-Why…. 」
「 The criminal is a King. The King’s responsibility is the country’s responsibility. That is how it is…. 」
Hifumi did not really want a lot of money. He wanted enough for immediate funds in this world. However, he was unable to accept the King’s attitude and wanted to see the reaction of the King and specified an amount of money.
「 30 percent of this country’s treasury. Ah, I will receive a formal apology, of course. This nation’s King who messed up, you will publicize this event so that it is common knowledge. 」
「 That is…. 」
Understanding wells in Imeraria. Her father cannot accept these conditions.
Thought the amount of money mentioned is not a problem, but publicizing the King’s blunder, with her father’s character, will not be allowed because of the Royal family’s dignity. Something like this is reason enough for abdication.
「 Heh… Are you stupid? I cannot accept such a reason. Take a better look at reality if you want to negotiate. 」
The King scoffed on listening to Hifumi’s conditions.
At this late a stage, he did not give up his superiority.
「 Then, I will give you enough money to live easily for several years. You are somewhat talented, but a mad dog is not needed. On receiving the money, leave the castle immediately. 」
In order to show dignity to the vassals who are somewhat settling down, the King talked as though he had the upper hand. The King’s authority is higher than anyone else, they reassured themselves of that while exchanging glances.
「 Until the end, he understands nothing. What a pathetic fellow. 」
Hifumi muttered to himself, with a sigh mixed in. How many people were able to hear it?
Though Imeraria heard him, before she understood, the next scene jumped into her eyes.
「 Die. 」
With silent footsteps, Hifumi draws near the King in an instant.
Summoned Slaughterer - Book 1 Page 2
