Chương 23: The Unexpected Variable

The news of a close associate of the Princess being killed by a magical beast caught everyone off guard, but I was undoubtedly the one most shaken by it. This didn't happen last time. Who was that priestess? Was it Rachel Hulster? Was it the Princess herself in disguise? Or someone else entirely? It was unlikely to be anyone else. It wouldn't make sense for the Princess to head to the front lines with two different priestesses in tow.

My first instinct was that Claire might have decided to tie up loose ends, disposing of Rachel once she was no longer useful. But that didn't add up; it was too risky. In my first isekai life, Claire had waited until the official coronation ceremony to reveal her true face. The current situation hadn't changed enough to warrant such a drastic shift. Or could my secret meeting with Rachel have triggered some kind of butterfly effect? My palms broke out in a cold sweat.

Without Rachel, my plans would hit a massive wall. Moreover, if she died because of my actions, the guilt would be unbearable. Frantic over this sudden turn of events, I wanted to grab one of the candidates and demand the truth. But as for who I could actually talk to right now... Before I could think further, I saw Lealia suddenly weaving through the crowd toward me. Her brows were knitted tight, as if she were carrying a heavy burden.

"Are you okay?" I asked. Lealia nodded, her voice barely a whisper.

"I'm fine. It's just... can we talk in private for a moment?" Knowing she had a secret to share, I replied instantly, "How about the garden between the two dormitories?" Lealia gave a quick nod. The crowd was still preoccupied with Iris's sobbing and the explanations of the other candidates, so no one noticed the two of us slipping away in silence. The garden was deserted. Even so, Lealia remained visibly anxious.

She spent a long time scanning our surroundings to ensure no one was passing by before finally murmuring:"I... I want to renounce my position as a Hero candidate." If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. I asked calmly, "Why?" The chestnut-haired girl interlaced her fingers, her thumbs twitching with restless agitation.

"This place is too complicated. Perhaps it's just not for me." I found her reaction a bit puzzling. If Lealia were simply traumatized by seeing someone die in their first deployment, she should have used words like "terrifying" or "stressful." Why "complicated"?

"Do you feel like you aren't cut out for fighting?" Lealia continued to evade the question.

"Actually, I had planned to give up the title from the start. It was only because of what you said at the debut ceremony... Oh no, I don't mean to blame you! It was my decision, after all..." I placed a steadying hand on her shoulder to help her calm down.

"Are you regretting it now?" Lealia looked at me for a long time, then let out a heavy sigh.

"Not exactly. During the trip, my herbalism and acupuncture skills helped many people. They were all so grateful, and that made me happy. But... there are things I find nearly impossible to accept."

"It's about the death of the Princess's associate, isn't it?" Lealia gave a hesitant nod, as if still unsure whether she should share this with an outsider like me. But in the end, she was still just a young girl; carrying such a massive secret was proving to be too much for her.

"I saw the person who killed her..." Lealia faltered.

"That person... you know him, too. It was the Vice Captain of the Knights."

"Henry McCaley?" I blurted out, my voice several decibels louder than intended. Lealia jumped at my outburst, her eyes darting frantically around the garden. Only after confirming we were still alone did she let out a breath of relief.

"I'm sorry..." I lowered my voice.

"It's just... I'm in total shock." She gave me a sympathetic look.

"I know. I was just as stunned as you are."

"Did you see it with your own eyes?"

"Yes," she whispered.

"At the time, he, I, and the Princess's group were sent to reinforce Guard Post Three. I was supposed to head to the medical tent, but I turned back because I had something to ask. That's when I accidentally witnessed it... that man, Henry, deliberately shoved the attendant toward the monsters."

"Did you see the attendant's face clearly?"

"... No. Her body was... it was horrific. Henry brought her remains back and claimed it was an accident. But the girl's mistress, the Princess, clearly saw what happened too, and yet she said nothing to reveal the truth. Is it because Henry holds such a high rank that the Royal Family wants to cover for him?" I brushed aside her speculations about the cover-up, focusing on the only detail that mattered.

"But you must have seen her hair color, right? Was it red or blonde?" Claire possessed the golden blonde hair inherited from the Queen, while Rachel's hair was a fiery red. Even if a body was mangled, hair color was something that couldn't be easily hidden. Though Lealia seemed puzzled by my obsession with such a detail, she strained to remember.

"It was blonde. A very beautiful, long mane of golden hair."