Dark Fantasy: Super Coward Mode

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As the clock struck midnight by the Rondan time standard,

all the knights gathered in Rondan began their charge.

Leading the front was the Deputy Director, followed by the Knight Commanders guiding their respective knights in formation.

I, along with the Princess, Asti, and the Hunter, found ourselves at the very back, with the Knight Commander walking nearby to ensure our safety.

Due to the overwhelming number of people, Apta decided she would come out only after the operation commenced.

The distance to the domain where the Second Princess was located was quite far.

Without any train for assistance, the knights marched on silently.

From their perspective, it felt as if they were deliberately walking towards their own demise.

So understandably, one might feel scared, yet the knights continued onward without a word.

Could it be that the training they had undergone was finally showing results?

Or perhaps the warmth of the protection gear that the Princess had pushed for was warming their hearts, which would otherwise be frozen in fear?

“Tanton.”

“Yes?”

The Princess, who had been quietly observing the scene ahead like me, called out my name.

Her gaze remained fixed on the knights.

“How do you feel watching this, Tanton?”

“Well, I can’t help but feel a bit exhilarated, as it seems we are really nearing the end.”

“It seems people’s thoughts aren’t all that different after all.”

With a bright smile, the Princess said.

“But my reason for feeling exhilarated is quite the opposite of yours.”

“Opposite?”

“Exactly.”

The Princess stretched her arms wide and looked up at the sky.

Just by witnessing her, one could sense her desire to embrace this world entirely.

“I see this event as a sign of a new beginning!”

“A new beginning, you say?”

“What’s done is done, and now we face this current situation. Humanity thought they would never rise again and would be trampled by this cold snow, returning to the beginning. But that didn’t happen. We struggled until the end, and now we are ready to build our original peace with our own hands. Since we earned this peace ourselves, it’s not an end to something; it’s the start of something new!”

Her words were so hopeful and moving that they caught the attention of the surrounding knights.

Even I found myself gazing blankly at the Princess after hearing her words.

The Princess, who had spoken happily while gazing at the sky, slowly opened her previously closed eyes and smiled at me with a dazed expression.

“And Tanton, you played a crucial role in helping humanity reach this point. Without you, neither I nor Rondan nor humanity would exist. It’s thanks to you, who selflessly sacrifices yourself.”

Suddenly, she spoke words that lifted me up and squeezed her eyes shut as she smiled.

“Thank you, Tanton.”

Hearing such words in this moment when my heart was already swelling made it feel like tears were welling in my eyes.

It’s not like I worked hard all this time just to hear such words, but it made me believe that someone’s gratitude can be a driving force for someone else to act willingly.

That’s how I felt at this moment.

As I remained still, quietly watching the Princess, she kept her smile and opened her mouth again.

“So, you’ll be dealing with all these knights alongside me moving forward. What are your thoughts on that?”

The moment I heard that, the lingering feelings I had just experienced vanished, and I nearly burst out laughing.

“What, what does that even mean?”

“What do you mean what? It’s practically an extension of what I said before to you, Tanton.”

Her expression was like she was waiting for my response, leaning closer, and I felt a lump in my throat.

Ugh.

Why does everyone have to act so charming that it’s driving me crazy?

If they’re going to do that, at least let their appearance be less appealing!

This is seriously driving me up a wall.

As I struggled to maintain my composure, I suddenly heard something scratching against the wooden chair that the Princess and I were sitting on.

I turned my head toward the sound and let out a ‘ugh’.

A message from Apta was engraved there.

– “If you cross the line, just because she’s a princess, Fiore says she won’t spare you.”

How am I supposed to take this?

As I scratched my head, the Princess looked at the engraved message as well.

“Is that the Record Keeper’s message?”

“Yes, it’s a direct quote from the Gardener…”

“Hmm, I wonder if it says something about me behaving properly?”

Oh, how did she know that without even reading the message?

Unable to properly retort to her remark, the Princess chuckled and patted my arm.

“Your Highness. So…”

“Anyway, those people can only manifest here thanks to you as a medium, right?”

With a somewhat mischievous smile, the Princess said that.

“So, what can I do by sticking right next to Tanton?”

Eep.

Princess, can you handle that?

Or is she assuming that she can naturally rescue the Second Princess when she says things like that?

“…And crossing the line is their side. I liked you first, by the way…”

Ignoring my mind, which was once again about to explode, I pretended to fall asleep out of sheer exhaustion.

Because if I didn’t, I felt I might say something even worse thanks to the Princess’s influence.

“Oh, you lot are just fooling around.”

The Hunter beside me remarked in disbelief.

#

When I woke up from a brief nap, a massive castle wall was in front of me.

That meant we had arrived at the domain where the Second Princess was located.

From the front, screams echoed along with strange sound effects, like something out of a game.

Trying to keep my body as straight as possible while observing the situation, I began to comprehend what was happening.

It seemed the Empress had arrived and was casting something on each knight in front of her.

The knights appeared to be screaming in terror at the sight of the Empress.

However, I couldn’t help but think it was a bit odd that they were so terrified, even though both the Knight Commander and the Deputy Director must have given prior explanations.

How could I empathize with a colossal cosmic horror that I hadn’t personally experienced?

I could only feel gratitude toward Oko, who made sure I wouldn’t have to experience such emotions.

“…Leydan, what is she doing?”

“She asked the Empress to ensure that the Giant of the Snow Mountain doesn’t steal warmth from us. The Empress is currently taking action accordingly.”

Asti seemed curious and asked, so I answered her.

After all, she hadn’t properly heard how things would unfold.

She was probably thinking all she had to do was follow the strategy I mentioned.

Still, is it really okay to proceed with this sort of appearance?

Wouldn’t it cause some issues with the knights’ morale?

“It’s okay, Leydan.”

I heard Apta’s voice.

“Compared to other Divine Races, Demeter has taken a less frightful form. It’s just a bit like a severely wrinkled old lady, really.”

….

Now I understand why the knights might be surprised, considering that ‘wrinkled’ can mean something quite severe.

Wait, so the knights were the ones being rude?!

…Let’s not dwell on it right now.

They’d be sensitive due to the war situation, after all.

Eventually, as the Empress approached us from the front, the Princess met her with a bittersweet smile.

“Mother…”

The Empress seemed to want to say something but appeared to think her words wouldn’t reach the Princess, so she extended her hand, also smiling sadly.

That hand touched the Princess’s head, and it quickly became clear that it was meant for petting.

The Princess quietly felt that touch.

Seeing that scene tugged at my heartstrings.

And it also made me realize another reason we must not fail this operation.

Having cast something on the Princess, the Empress moved on to the Hunter, Asti, and the Knight Commander, finally coming to me.

“Your Majesty.”

“…You really have completed your preparations, Tanton.”

The Empress whispered, addressing only me.

“Everyone has just helped prepare alongside me.”

“Because of your will, they were able to act as well. Without you, they wouldn’t have been able to feel hope.”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

The Empress slowly nodded in response to my greeting.

“I’ll continue to help whenever you’re in danger. Though I can’t assist too much.”

“I am aware.”

As the Empress finally stepped back, the Deputy Director raised his voice and declared,

“Knights! I determine that we are all prepared!”

His booming voice echoed through the air.

Not just me, but I knew everyone’s heart must be racing.

The Deputy Director raised his weapon and shouted once more.

“I won’t speak at length! Knights! Reveal your knighthood, displayed here! It is a part of proof, an expression of will, a path to fulfilling your mission without leaving the slightest trace of shame!”

With those words from the Deputy Director, the gates of the domain opened.

Inside, a fierce blizzard raged, completely different from the outside.

We couldn’t see even a step ahead.

But nobody was afraid.

The flames that had been rising from the hearth seemed to shimmer in the knights’ eyes.

“Knights! Advance! Prove your knighthood here!”

“Uwaahhh!”

And thus, the final narrative.

No,

the new beginning of the Empire’s tale is about to be written here.

 

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