Volume 1
Chapter 95.2
+++第９５話 倫理の狭間
TL : Cnine
ED/PF :
Part 8
Satsuki said those words with a slightly unpleasant tone .
「Yeah, it’s as I said right . I said that I’ll manage it somehow」
Rio’s tone while replying to her was calm .
「That’s so but, you mean you are raiding the castle alone？」
「Yes」
Rio’s replying nonchalantly .
「………… . You, you’re actually a spy of a foreign country right？ Doing something like climbing the wall in the midst of this darkness isn’t something that can be done by anyone right？ 」
Satsuki’s sending an inquisitive gaze to Rio .
Doing something like raiding dozens metres high spire by climbing it’s wall in the middle of darkness isn’t something that can be done by a normal person .
The possibilities are only someone who’s received a harsh training to do this kind of work .
Though it might be because she’s watching too many dramas and movies, Satsuki thought was along that way .
「You’re wrong . I’m really nothing more than an ordinary person」
Rio’s shaking his head while smiling wryly .
「There’s no way that’s true, since you can’t just simply invade the royal castle alone……… . . 」
Satsuki’s face cramped .
「Certainly you might say so」
Rio’s agreeing with a puffed smile .
「…………」
Satsuki finds herself unable to retort to Rio’s words, several seconds of silence are descending inside of her room .
「………… Riight, even more so, nobody noticed？ If this kind of thing is leaked out, you might be receiving a death penalty . It’s still possible to back off now, for you to be brave and risk something like this…………」
Satsuki told him that with an awkward expression almost immediately .
Despite it being in the cover of darkness, Rio could feel the guilt that was released by Satsuki for some reason .
And then, vaguely guessing what she has in her mind in this situation .
「Could it be that you’re having cold feet？」
So Rio asked her with a plain tone .
「……」
Satsuki unintentionally gasped for breath, it’s a bull’s eye .
Part 9
「I’m sorry . My explanation is insufficient right . This action of me raiding the castle is an action that obviously should be punished, and the action of me sneaking out with Satsuki, the hero, is………… . . despite not a subject to punishment, it might be a deed that is going against the law . Though I have no intention to be provocative, I don’t mind to go back if you’ve no intention to meet Miharu-san and co by going as far as breaking the law . I mean, if you, Miharu-san, and her friends all want it, it’s possible for you to meet them in the castle . The thing that is certain is that I’m in a hurry」
Saying so, Rio’s looking at the place where Satsuki’s standing .
Despite being unable to see opposite party’s face clearly due to the darkness, Satsuki couldn’t help but notice a bit of the bottom of Rio’s heart .
「……… You don’t think I did something wrong, do you？ Meeting with Miharu-chan and co even if I have to break the law」
Satsuki’s asking timidly .
Her heart is beating heavily with [dokundokun] .
「Mistake………… . Is it . Though I don’t understand about that matter very well, I’m not particularly concerned about that . So as to not regret it later, I choose the best methods as necessary . Of course the talk about my moral value is within the scope of not ringing a warning but, it’s only that much」
Rio’s reply was truly a light way of reasoning .
It’s same as him saying that he won’t even hesitate to break the established law of the country if he deemed that it was necessary .
Because in reality, currently Rio’s already breaking the law of Galwark kingdom .
Though Satsuki knew with their conversation till now that Rio’s a rational person, that kind of impression she had toward Rio was repainted in an instant .
「So the current situation isn’t contrary to your moral value, is it？ 」
「If it is, I wouldn’t have even come to this place, you know」
Rio’s smiling wryly while answering her with a composed tone .
「You…………… . . Despite knowing what going that far means………… . 」
Satsuki’s whispering those words with an appearance of being tormented by guilt .
He’s intentionally breaking the law while knowing full well of what he is doing .
So far, Satsuki’s never even considered to do that kind of action .
「Do you disdain such a action？」
Rio’s calmly asking her .
「!!!………………… There’s………………… No ………………… Way」
Satsuki felt that her face became hot .
It’s a lie . She indeed feels so .
indeed, Satsuki disdained Rio’s action .
Even if it’s necessary, for Rio to easily commit this kind of crime .
Because she couldn’t see Rio as nothing but a man outside of her common sense .
But, Satsuki was somehow ashamed that Rio can see through about that aspect of herself .
Part 10
（Why is he in this place right now？ It’s for me, Miharu-chan, and co, right . It’s not for himself . And yet, here he is………… . Offering choices to me . And yet, I………… . ）
What she really should disdain is herself .
It was prepared till this stage by Rio, who’s unrelated to this matter .
And yet, despite there being a chance to stop it, she’s retreating at the last moment due to impending crisis and for her own self-protection .
Despite it’s for herself, just pondering all over the place from a safe place won’t change anything .
Satsuki was truly ashamed at that personality of her .
「What should be disdained is me, right……… . 」
Satsuki was muttering absentmindedly with self-derision .
But, that instantly changed to a serious expression and,
「Sorry . Please let me meet with Miharu-chan and the others . Please help me meet them」
She’s bowing very deeply to Rio .
There’s still the feeling of repulsion in her to not commit a crime .
She was sure of that .
But, her wish to meet Miharu and co is stronger than that .
She didn’t think that was a mistake when she thought about it that way .
Of course, the matter of them doing a secret meeting is just unreasonable and maybe only served to delay the problem .
Even so, the gist of it is, she can meet Miharu and co without any kind of problems .
Would there be a better reunion than this .
The youth who was standing before her has made that preparation .
In that case, she should tell her gratitude to this youth .
Other than disdaining from him for his action .
Satsuki felt so .
「………………… Is it okay？ 」
Rio’s asking as if slightly surprised by her response .
「Yeah . I mean, I want to meet Miharu-chan and co . I want to meet and chat with them . That’s the reason why you’re preparing that situaiton, right？ 」
「Yeah, well, that’s true…………… . . 」
Rio made a slightly evasive answer .
Maybe because he’s slightly bewildered by the change of Satsuki’s attitude .
「I want to meet Miharu-chan and co . I can’t lie to that feeling . Not like I want to lie either . So that I won’t regret it later, right」
Satsuki’s smiling gently as she said that .
Rio’s eyes are opened slightly wide .
「In order to not regret it, is it？ 」
「Yeah . These are your words though, aren’t they」
「Is that so」
This reason is somehow easily resounding in Rio’s heart .
「That’s why, please . I’m really sorry for the change of my attitude at this late hour but, please take me to where Miharu-chan and co are」
Part 11
And then, she’s addressing to Rio with a sincere expression .
「Understood」
Rio said that as a light smile blooming on his face .
「But, it’s a bit too late for this now, I mean it’s as Satsuki-san said that there’s a possibility that I’m a spy right？ And yet, aren’t you curious about it？ 」
Rio asked while looking at Satsuki .
Thereupon, Satsuki’s chuckling lightly .
「What are you saying . I thought that I never said something like you being a spy you know？ 」
Was her answer .
「I might be trying to assasinate you, you know？」
「There’s a time and place for everything . But if it comes to that I’ll fight with all my power」
Satsuki’s replying that way while slightly shrugging her shoulders .
Rio replied to that with smile on his face .
「Understood . In that case, shall we go . Toward the place where Miharu-san and co are」
「Yeah . Please take me there . ………………… . Even so, how can you climb the wall of the spire？ It means that we’re going to be descending the wall of spire to return right？ 」
So, Satsuki’s asking Rio about the method he was using to arrive to this room .
When thinking about the height of the spire, to be honest, she wants to be spared from descending along its wall .
But, the answer that came from Rio was greatly betraying her expectation .
「I didn’t climb it you know」
「EH? 」
The moment she understood the meaning of his words, Satsuki’s tilting her neck .
「I descended toward it」
Maybe because of Satsuki’s expression, Rio’s tone when he replied to her is slightly pleasant to be heard .
☆★☆★☆★
After holding Satsuki on the balcony, Rio’s soaring high in the sky while being covered by the curtain of the night sky .
Their bodies keep ascending slowly .
（N-No way？ How can we fly？ Levitating powers？）
Satsuki’s doubting her own eyes seeing the phenomenon which is completely defying the rules of gravity .
Slowly but rapidly, their bodies are soaring toward the sky .
「Uwa~a！ No way！ Amazing！ 」
In the blink of an eye, the view of the royal castle became smaller, Satsuki couldn’t help but to say her admiration . [TL : Another sinker]
Though she can see many tiny light spots in the royal castle far below her, Satsuki’s voice isn’t even reaching the royal castle .
Part 12
「Amazing！ Amazing！ See, it’s amazing you know！ 」
Satsuki’s raising a joyful voice .
Up till now, she never saw the sky from so close . [TL : Airplane?] [ED: Not all people can afford plane tickets you know]
When she turned her face upward, the night sky was decorated by countless shining stars, when looking below, the light of the full moon is gently shining upon the world .
It can’t be helped that she feels happy and is really enjoying that .
「See, have you seen that？ See！ That place, the stars are so pretty and the moon is so close！ 」
Satsuki’s laughing innocently while pulling Rio’s sleeve like a child .
「Yeah, I’ve seen it you know」
It was a scene that he has seen so many times up till now .
So Rio replied with a wry smile .
「Fufu, that must be right . So you understand right . Fufufu」
Satsuki was laughing as if she’s really happy .
As if she’s completely released from the stress which was haunting her up till now .
Rio’s looking at Satsuki who makes that expression .
That was the purest expression which she’d shown to Rio so far .
He can’t even feel the slightest inch of her stouthearted expression which she’d shown in the evening party .
Yes, the one who’s on Rio’s arms is she who was showing an expression befitting her age, it was the expression of a normal girl who you could find anywhere .
「N? What？ 」
Before he noticed Satsuki’s facing toward him, and she asked Rio while leaning closer toward him with a delighted face .
「It’s fun, isn’t it?」
Rio’s asking and,
「Yeah, it’s fun you know！ 」
Satsuki’s seemingly slightly embarrassed but, she’s still answering Rio with a wide smile on her face .
「But, I wonder if it’s a bit cold here」
Though currently Strahl region is in the spring season, it doesn’t mean that the cold night can be compared to Japan .
Moreover, when it came to their position which is high in the sky, the cold seeping into their bones is mercilessly coming upon them .
Despite putting on the overcoat she borrowed from Rio, she’s only wearing her pajamas below that .
Despite no matter how much she’s getting excited due to the adrenalin, it’s impossible for Satsuki to not feel the cold .
「Please hold a bit more, it’s just a bit more till we arriving at the meeting point」
「EE~h？」
Part 13
Satsuki’s letting out a slightly pouting voice .
「It can’t be helped then . Well then, could you fly a bit faster, please」
Satsuki nestles closer to Rio .
「It’s warm」
And mutters so .
The dream-like moment for her is coming to an end in the blink of an eye .
「We’ve arrived you know」
After slipping out of the royal castle and flying on the air, Rio suddenly told their arrival .
「Is that so？ This place, seems like inside of the forest though……… . 」
Satsuki timidly said those words while looking at the surrounding ground where they’re about to land .
This place is the open space located inside of the forest which they can reach after advancing for a bit more from the grain producing region in the surroundings of the capital .
Maybe he is saying that Miharu and co are waiting inside of the forest .
After finishing a miracle-like flight, Satsuki has slowly regained her composure .
（As expected, this is a trap after all………… . ）
Satsuki’s drenched in cold sweat after pushing her anxiety .
At that time .
「Satsuki-san！」
A voice who called Satsuki’s name is resounding in the vicinity .
Satsuki’s sending her focus toward that direction by reflex .
Thereupon, she could see the figure of several people approaching her from inside of the darkness .
The voice which she is familiar with, and which she missed .
They’re inside the darkness but, Satsuki knows .
Yes, the one who is standing right in front of her is the three of Miharu, Aki and, Masato .
「Everyone………」
Satsuki said that with a voice filled with emotion .
“There’s no doubt about it” .
That is the figure of her companions .
And then, despite extremely moved by their reunion, for some reason, Miharu and co stopped their feet several steps before reaching her place .
「N? What’s matter？ 」
Satsuki’s tilting her head as she was asking for the reason of their delicate sense of distance .
Miharu and co, each of them are looking at Rio and Satsuki .
For some reason, Masato has a grin on his face as if understand the situation, Aki’s looking while having a light smile on her face as if feeling embarrassed .
And then, Miharu was smiling awkwardly as if slightly bewildered by the situation .
“There’s something strange here . ”
Satsuki who thought so is tried looking at her situation .
「AH……」
And then she noticed .
The fact that Rio’s carrying her like a princess . [ED: You know, In a bridal/princess carry]
The thing about them glued together for safety reasons is something that can’t be helped but, more than that, the distance between them is strangely close .
The fact is that Satsuki is clinging to Rio as if embracing him .
Part 14
「Hey, how long you’re going to hold me on your arms？」
Satsuki’s asking that while looking at Rio with glaring eyes .
「Uhm, I would like to release you so very much but, I need you to release your hands first………… . . 」
Rio’s replying with a dry laugh .
Therefore, Satsuki finally noticed the fact that she was the one cuddling with Rio .
Maybe because she was excited, it seems she had let her guard down .
「……！」
Satsuki released her hands which was coiling to Rio’s body in panic .
Thereupon, Rio immediately dropped Satsuki on the ground .
Satsuki then quickly took some distance away from Rio .
Without understanding what she should say in this situation, a delicate silence has descended on this place .
Clearing her throat with a cough and then,
「Uhm, Yah~ho . Is everyone healthy？ 」
Satsuki’s saying that with a smile as if trying to deceive them .