I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss, Vol. 4, page 5
“I see you’re as skilled at hairsplitting as ever…!”
“Never mind that, this woman’s still laughing.”
Serena deflects the conversation to Lilia, who has her face buried in a cushion; she’s been laughing the whole time. At the sound of her name, Lilia finally sits up and turns toward them. She looks as if she couldn’t possibly be enjoying herself more. “Well, I mean… I can’t help it. Lady Aileen never disappoints. Two-timing the demon king with the holy king…!”
“Don’t say it like that! What will people think?! I’m leaving this place at once…!”
“How, exactly? They’ve set guards on us,” Serena warns her shortly.
When Aileen glances at the open window, Serena rolls over languidly and adds, “Just so you know, there’s no escaping a place like this with a group this size and no plan, especially when we don’t know our way around. The sacred sword won’t work on humans, remember?”
Aileen is confident in her skills, but she’s only able to display extraordinary strength by borrowing the power of the sacred sword. She may be unrivaled against demons, but she’d be at a disadvantage surrounded by humans, let alone trained soldiers.
“I know that. Let’s calm down— I will calmly and most assuredly make him cry.”
“That sounds like the opposite of calm…”
“Hee-hee! It’s all right, Serena. I expect we’re the ones with the most information regarding the current state of this country, and how it will change.” Lilia stops laughing and resettles herself, smiling faintly.
Serena eyes her, unnerved. “What, is this another of your prophesies? Those are incredibly fishy.”
“Just ignore her. Lady Lilia believes she’s somebody special, poor thing.”
“Lady Aileen. I apologize for the delay. It’s late, but I’ve brought your luncheon.”
There’s a knock at the door, and Rachel comes in, pushing a meal cart. Through the open door, Aileen can see men standing guard. Serena was right.
When they see Rachel begin to serve lunch, both Serena and Lilia stop lazing around and get up. The room’s table isn’t large, but it’s the perfect size for conversing in whispers.
“Did you learn anything?”
“Yes. Most of the women from that ship have been taken into the harem as ladies-in-waiting attendants. That seems to have been the plan all along, and no one is grumbling about it.”
“What do you mean, ‘that was the plan’? Nobody told me about it.” Serena sounds extremely skeptical.
Rachel sets plates meant for tasting for poison in front of Serena. Lilia is technically a princess, so it made sense to serve her, but Aileen had wondered why she’d silently served Serena as well; apparently, she intends to make her the food taster.
“That’s true for me as well. Do you suppose we boarded the wrong ship somehow?”
On that note, Baal had said something concerning. He said the Queendom of Hausel had planned this… Have we fallen into their trap? But who did they intend to trap, us or him?
Sighing, Aileen picks up one of the dishes. “Let’s set that aside for now. None of the food is poisoned, Serena, so you may relax and eat.”
“You’d better be sure about that.”
“I am. The sacred sword isn’t reacting to it… And Rachel? Is it true that the fiend dragon has revived?”
“Yes. About three months ago, they say black rain fell. According to tradition, that’s a sign of the fiend dragon’s return. However, the Daughter of God is here, so no one is worried.”
“…Did you learn the name of this Daughter of God?”
“She’s called Lady Sahra.”
The name rings a bell, and Aileen sighs. Beside her, Lilia is giggling quietly.
“What about the holy sword?”
“Nothing but rumors: The Daughter of God has it, or the holy king is keeping it somewhere safe.”
Still, if the fiend dragon has revived, then the game is underway.
“Anything that’s happened twice will happen again, hmm…?”
“That’s right.”
Although Lilia’s brief agreement irritates her, Aileen has no choice but to steel herself.
The Kingdom of Ashmael, the stage of Regalia of Saints, Demons, and Maidens 3, is located to the southeast of Imperial Ellmeyer, across a shipping canal. In the game’s chronology, it seems to follow Game 2, falling either between the first two fan discs or immediately after the second one. And that is where the timeline happens to be in reality as well.
I did have a bad feeling about this. Ever since I heard them mention the fiend dragon, the Daughter of God, and the holy sword…
Set in Ashmael’s harem, the story of Game 3 echoes the legend of the holy sword and the Daughter of God, and it’s set in motion by the fiend dragon’s resurrection.
The game begins when the heroine, who was sold to the harem as a maid, meets the hero. She possesses the power to heal. Even as she’s troubled by conflicts in this garden of a thousand royal beauties and her forbidden love with a man who isn’t the king, her sacred power gradually develops, until at last she awakens as the Daughter of God. At that point, she is able to repair the holy sword, the one weapon that can seal the fiend dragon. Once resurrected, the fiend dragon possesses the holy king, and he commits all manner of atrocities. She seals the king and the dragon together, starts a revolution with the hero, and retakes the kingdom. That is how the story generally proceeds on every route.
First, she’ll need to compare this foreknowledge to the actual situation.
As she slowly works on her lunch, Aileen turns to her lady-in-waiting. “Rachel. How much do you know of the Kingdom of Ashmael?”
“Its territory is almost entirely desert. However, thanks to the holy water which wells up from the sword, it possesses water in abundance.”
Holy water was a miraculous substance: If one drop fell to the sand, it would become a pond. According to legend, it began to flow from the holy sword when the fiend dragon was sealed.
“I hear sacred stone is quarried here as well, but the kingdom is insular, and we do not get much information about it. Diplomatic relations with Imperial Ellmeyer have been severed for ages, ever since the countries disagreed about the interpretation of their founding legends. At present, they suspect us of invading their territory by resurrecting the fiend dragon, and although the Queendom of Hausel is mediating, relations continue to deteriorate.”
“So this place has a holy sword and a Daughter of God? Considering the fact that you two are Maids of the Sacred Sword, I doubt this Daughter of God is anyone decent.”
“Lady Serena, please refrain from being rude to Lady Aileen.”
“But they’re basically the same thing, aren’t they?”
Serena has the right idea. If they hadn’t been similar, Ashmael would probably never have accused their country of fraud.
With her knowledge of the game, however, she can state with confidence that they are not the same.
“There are a few differences. The Daughter of God’s sacred power is the power to heal. Instead of slaying demons, it seals them. In contrast, the Maid of the Sacred Sword purifies and destroys them.”
“Huh… Well, healing’s a foreign concept to you people anyway. You’re basically all about destruction.”
“Lady Serena.”
“It’s fine, Rachel. Offense is the best defense, after all. A second difference is that, unlike the sacred sword, the holy sword physically exists. That means it can degrade. The fiend dragon revives because the holy sword has grown old and lost its power. Unless the Daughter of God repairs it, it can’t manifest its true power. In other words, the Daughter of God doesn’t wield the sword, she heals it.”
Even though Aileen has declared that the food is safe, Rachel is forcing Serena to taste it for poison, and Serena glares at her. “You mean if the Daughter of God fixes the holy sword, anybody can use it?”
“That’s right. Since it is a physical weapon.”
“Don’t people fight over it, then?”
“The actual holy sword is sealed on sacred ground along with the fiend dragon. That means no one can use it unless the Daughter of God removes it from that spot. Besides, while it isn’t a problem if the Daughter of God continues to repair it, the sword doesn’t retain its power for very long.”
Rachel, who’s finished serving all the food and retreated to stand behind Aileen, looks puzzled. “Then you mean anyone who uses the holy sword must also have the Daughter of God to repair it?”
“That’s right. There’s one other major difference between the holy sword and the sacred sword: The holy sword works on humans.” That is the biggest reason Aileen has yielded to Baal’s threat. “The fiend dragon possesses humans and uses their power. The holy sword exists to slay it, so of course it’s able to affect humans.”
“Huh…? Then this whole resurrection of the fiend dragon doesn’t mean an actual dragon’s going to attack?”
“Just think of it this way: The resurrection of the fiend dragon basically creates a second demon king.” Lilia has begun talking without permission, and Aileen glares at her. However, Lilia looks her right in the eye and continues undaunted. “In other words, the holy sword that seals the fiend dragon can kill the demon king as well. That’s what you’re worried about, isn’t it, Lady Aileen?”
“Don’t drop spoilers. Anyway, listen, you two. Lady Lilia is a peculiar person.”
“I know. You mean she’s like you, right? It doesn’t bother me at all.”
Serena’s remark stuns her.
Rachel is indignant. “You’re wrong, Lady Serena. Lady Aileen is much more incredible!”
“Was that an attempt to defend me, Rachel?!”
“The holy sword is said to be a copy of the sacred sword created by the Queendom of Hausel. However, since it was forged by human hands, it ended up as a sacred weapon capable of harming them as well. A sloppy explanation, yet oddly persuasive.”
“I told you, no spoilers! At any rate, since the holy sword is dangerous to Master Claude, we can’t oppose them carelessly. It would be absolutely awful if the holy king were to use it. We’d have no means of defense. That said, if we simply try to run without a plan, that alone will get us executed for adultery…”
The conversation has suddenly taken a dangerous turn, and both Rachel and Serena look shocked.
In Ellmeyer, the emperor may have multiple consorts, but there is no harem where thousands of beauties vie for his favor. That probably makes the concept difficult to understand. Playing it safe, Aileen puts it in simple terms for them. “This harem exists to pass on the blood of the holy king. Bearing a child who carries his blood outside the harem, or conceiving one who does not within the harem, are both grave crimes with implications for national stability. That’s why, with a few exceptions, all men who are employed here have had to part with a certain vital part of their anatomy. They’re known as eunuchs.”
“…‘Had to part with’? Wait, you mean…?”
“This place prioritizes the creation of a holy king above all else,” Rachel says, summarizing efficiently.
Aileen nods, sighing. “In exchange, even a simple court attendant who has no rank may become the king’s consort, if he beds her. That makes competition among the women all the fiercer, but— Serena, if you develop any misguided ambitions, I’ll tell Auguste.”
“I’m free to do as I please, and anyway, why would you bring up Auguste?!”
“Because he’s the one who’s least likely to give up on you.”
Depending on one’s point of view, that might be quite romantic, but Serena looks dejected.
“If you try to become the king’s favorite, and then war breaks out with Ellmeyer, we’ll have to dispose of you at once, on suspicion of being a spy. Is that clear, Serena?”
“Enough. Fine… Although I’d rather not hear it from someone who’s already the king’s consort.”
That dig hits a nerve, but Aileen pretends she hasn’t heard it and issues another warning. “You as well, Lady Lilia.”
“Don’t worry. You are my favorite character, Lady Aileen.”
There’s no point in Aileen saying that isn’t what she meant. There’s no telling what this woman may do, and keeping her in check is going to be the most difficult hurdle. Bracing herself, Aileen resumes her explanation. “At any rate, the real problem is the holy sword. That’s why we’ll steal it and take it back to Imperial Ellmeyer with us.”
The other three freeze up. Aileen continues, her expression composed. “That way, they won’t be able to start a war, and we’ll have protected Master Claude. It will solve everything.”
There’s a short silence. Then Lilia bursts out laughing, while Serena scowls at her and yells, “Are you an idiot?! The holy sword is this country’s lifeline! Stealing it would be heinous!”
“Goodness, as long as they sign a diplomatic treaty, I don’t mind returning it to them. I’ll have it mounted on a stand that won’t allow it to be drawn without a key. Denis will build one for me. We shall keep the key, of course.”
“That’s a threat! Besides, if you take their holy sword, what happens to their water?! The water comes from the sword, right?!”
“The holy water has accumulated in lakes, traveled underground, and created ponds all over. A single drop is enough to form a pond, after all. What they have will last them more than a decade. Besides, they’ve kidnapped the crown princess. We can’t let that go unpunished. Don’t you agree, Rachel?”
“When you put it that way, you do have a point… All right. So we’ll simply take the holy sword back with us,” Rachel agrees, straight-faced. Her lady-in-waiting really couldn’t be more reliable.
They nod at each other, and then Aileen smiles at Serena, whose expression has stiffened. “This is a fine example of diplomacy. You strewed uncut demon snuff all over and destroyed Misha Academy; I don’t want a woman like that telling me I’m heinous. I am currently modeling my actions on that reckless dynamism of yours.”
“You never stop needling people, do you…?! And you! Just how long are you planning to laugh?!”
“W-well, I mean, steal the…the holy sword, and take it home… There’s no route where… You’re amazing, Lady Aileen. I never thought of that…!” Lilia is hugging her stomach; she’s laughing so hard she’s wheezing. She straightens, wiping tears from the corners of her eyes. “Th-that sounds quite entertaining. V-very well. We’ll steal…the holy sword…!” She seems to find that particularly amusing, and she bursts into laughter again.
Aileen gazes at her with eyes that have lost some of their enthusiasm. I’ll have to be careful. This woman is exceptional. I don’t think she could repair the holy sword, but she may make it her own.
The game set in the Kingdom of Ashmael is Regalia of Saints, Maidens, and Demons 3. In other words, Lilia is merely the protagonist of a previous installment. However, even in another country, the name and existence of the Maid of the Sacred Sword continue to influence the game. The scenario of Game 3 may not have much to do with the Maid, but Aileen can’t afford to get careless.
“For the moment, then, we’re in agreement on our plan of action.”
“No we’re not! Are you seriously going through with this?”
“Of course I am. If you’re against it, then propose an alternate plan.”
Serena’s eyebrows come down as far as they’ll go, and then she mutters, “I’d rather find a powerful man, wrap him around my little finger, and have him arrange our way out of here…”
“As far as information gathering is concerned, that could work. Proposal accepted. But keep it to a level that won’t upset Auguste.”
“As I said, why Auguste?!”
Because you react like that. But Aileen doesn’t say it. Instead, she gives her an additional warning. “Listen, mention the name of Imperial Ellmeyer only as a last resort. I don’t know what the holy king is thinking, but gathering information comes first. I swear I’ll protect Master Claude to the end and make that man cry!”
“In that case, Lady Aileen, let’s meet with the heroine Sahra first. We need to grasp the current state of both the fiend dragon and the holy sword, or we won’t know what stage the game is at.”
“If the sword hasn’t been repaired yet, we could always break it… But if we’re using it as a bargaining chip, it would be better if it remained usable. Let’s boost her parameters quickly and have her fix it! It doesn’t matter who she romances; there are no bad faces or titles here.”
“Let’s make it Ares. He is the main hero, and he’s relatively easy to conquer.”
“But the villainess Roxane appears on that route!”
The arrival of the villainess will almost certainly complicate matters. Aileen herself was once known as a villainess, but that was then, and this is now.
As Aileen argues with the dissatisfied Lilia, Serena speaks up from behind them, sounding exasperated. “…I have no idea what you’re talking about, but you two seem surprisingly close.”
“Don’t even joke about that! I’m simply requesting her help out of necessity!”
“Consort Aileen, are you there?”
A voice calls from the other side of the door, and everyone falls silent. It’s Ares.
“His Majesty summons you to take tea with him. Your presence is requested in the central garden immediately.”
Aileen exhales. When she signals Rachel with a glance, her outstanding lady-in-waiting promptly begins to get her cosmetics and clothing in order. Beside her, even Lilia begins to fidget. “This can’t be the tea party event, can it? Oh, what should I do?”
“As you have been told time and time again, Lady Lilia, I will not tolerate any arbitrary action on your part. Don’t forget you have a bomb around your neck.”
“Are you testing me, Lady Aileen? The barrier cast by the holy king cancels out every sort of magic there is. I know full well that the spell cast on me is gone.” Lilia puts a hand to her throat.
Serena, who’s been listening in, looks aghast. “Wait just a minute. This woman’s free…?!”
