Published at 17th of August 2019 7:01 am

Volume 9, Chapter 5: Ruth vs Clan

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

Thursday, February 11

Ruth came to visit the Cradle after school the following day.

Koutarou's armor had Clan registered in its communication device. Using that, Ruth had made a promise to speak with Clan the next day.

“So, what was this important thing you wanted to talk about?”

Clan erased the hologram floating around her and adjusted her glasses while slightly irritated. She had been doing research up until Ruth arrived and she was displeased at having to interrupt that. Clan wanted to keep it short so that she could get back to her research.

“There is only one thing I wanted to talk about.”

Hurrying the discussion along was just what Ruth wanted as well and she brought up her business while staring at Clan.

“It's about what Clan-sama and Satomi-sama are hiding.”

“T-There's nothing that we are hiding.”

Clan's expression changed repeatedly. At first she was irritated, before being surprised and then hurriedly showing a calm expression.

As I thought, there's no doubt that they are hiding something...

That was how Ruth interpreted Clan's change in expression. It looked like she was taken aback by something unexpected before hurriedly trying to smooth it over.

“I have proof.”

“There's no way such a thing exists.”

As Clan said that, she turned her back on Ruth.

The data has all been erased. Pardomshiha is only making wild guesses. There is no way that there is any proof left...

Clan took several small breaths from an angle Ruth couldn't see to calm herself down and turned back to Ruth with a confident smile.

“Because we are not hiding anything.”

Clan had promised Koutarou to keep what happened in Forthorthe a secret, because that would keep the current Forthorthe from getting confused and be less of a bother. And there was also a large advantage for Clan. Because of this promise, Clan was the closest to Signaltin. She was well aware of what was most valuable, an empress or a princess wielding Signaltin. And Clan wasn't kind enough to give up this overwhelming advantage on her own accord.

“The first proof is that you invited me onboard your ship, Clan-sama.”

However, Ruth didn't flinch in front of the confident Clan. She carefully observed Clan's reaction while speaking.

“What?”

This was once again an unexpected point, and Clan's expression instinctively changed to that of a surprised one. Ruth burned Clan's reactions into her mind as this was also an important clue.

“Just half a month ago, you were trying to kill us, Clan-sama. Despite that, you didn't reject my request to speak with you. And even as we face each other now, you haven't tried to kill me. Why is that?”

“That's...”

Clan stumbled for an answer.

She wasn't attacking Theia or the others because she had the Blue Knight and Signaltin in her hands. They were more useful than the rights to the throne, so attacking Theia had lost all meaning. And now, Koutarou was someone she had shared joys and sorrows with. She had no intention of harming his friend Ruth.

However, she couldn't reveal that. Troubled, she tried to keep her expression from changing while racking her brain.

“That is because I have realized that there is a suitable way to win as a princess. I decided that if I am going to get in Theiamillis-san's way I will do so boldly. A true princess will face any challenge without cheating.”

Fortunately, she was able to come up with those words.

Things have turned quite troublesome...

Clan took a breath of relief upon escaping Ruth's pursuit, while not letting her guard down.

“Then why do you still remain on this planet, Clan-sama? Right now you are not boldly facing her highness, nor are you returning to Forthorthe. So just what are you doing here?”

Ruth lashed onto what Clan had said and pushed even harder.

“Tha...”

This was once more a difficult question to answer.

Clan remained on Earth to study Signaltin. And also to persuade Koutarou to become her own vassal.

Of course she couldn't just say that, so she once again racked her brain.

“That's because I'm making a weapon to fight Theiamillis-san. Once it's completed, I plan on challenging her with the rights to the throne on the line.”

“That's a lie, isn't it.”

Ruth narrowed her eyes. Her voice was chilling. She knew that those words were lies.

“I-It's not a l-lie!”

Clan was shaken and her voice was hollow. Hearing that, Ruth realized it was her chance and attacked.

“If you are planning to boldly attack her, why haven't you called back Hazy Moon? That ship should have more machinery suited to develop a weapon. What reason would you have to continue your development on this tiny ship?”

Clan was currently using the small spaceship known as the Cradle. This was originally an all-purpose spaceship that was installed in her personal space battleship, the Hazy Moon. The sensors and observation equipment onboard the Cradle were advanced, so it was enough to study Signaltin, but it didn't have a lot of facilities to create a weapon. For that, calling back the Hazy Moon from Forthorthe would be the best choice.

“I-I don't have to answer you that!”

Not even Clan could evade this pursuit. She couldn't think of a reason for why she hadn't called back Hazy Moon if she was going to fight Theia. Not answering the question was all she could do.

There's no mistaking it. Clan-sama and Satomi-sama are hiding a very important secret!

Convinced by Clan's reaction, she produced her last question to deal the finishing blow.

“Then let me change my question... What did you and Satomi-sama fight in the past Forthorthe?”

This question was Ruth's trump card. All the questions up until now had been to shake Clan. The answer to this question was what Ruth wanted to know most.

“W-Why do you know that!?”

Clan completely fell for Ruth's trap and instinctively spat out those words.

“So it really is!?”

Upon seeing Clan's reaction, Ruth's expression lit up. Meanwhile Clan put her hands in front of her mouth to silence herself.

O-Oh no!? She tricked me!!

That was practically the same as admitting that they travelled to the past. It was a fatal mistake.

“The translation device on Satomi-sama's armor had given priority to old Forthorthe! If it's not used daily, it wouldn't surpass common Forthorthe! That's why I started suspecting that it just might be the case, but... to think it really was true...”

By combining the state of the translation device and other tidbits, Ruth had reached this conclusion. And once she had shaken up Clan sufficiently, she had hit her with this question out of nowhere. The effect was superb and Clan instinctively confessed. Though while she had suspected it, the answer still surprised her.

I see, the priority of the translation device! I didn't think that far!

Clan had erased that data like Koutarou had asked, but she didn't think to go as far as the priority list of various devices on the armor. She didn't expect the tidbits gained from examining those could lead anyone to the answer. Rather than this being a miss on Clan's side, this was a sign of Ruth's excellence.

“Clan-sama, please tell me. Where did the two of you go and what did you do?”

At this point, all Ruth really knew was that the two had used old Forthorthe in that age and that they had fought something there. She wanted to know what that was. Any problems Koutarou might have might become Theia and Ruth's problems in the future, so it was a problem of utmost importance.

“...I don't know what you are talking about.”

Having been found out, Clan had instead regained her calmness.

It's not like Pardomshiha has reached the truth. In that case, it might be prudent to give her some of the truth to satisfy her and get her to leave...

Clan quickly gathered her thoughts and smiled at Ruth. Meanwhile Ruth got excited and pursued her.

“Please don't evade the question, Clan-sama! It is quite clearly the truth based on your appearance just a moment ago!”

“I am not evading the question. And even if it's as you say, and me and Koutarou really did travel to the past Forthorthe, do you think I could just honestly admit that?”

“W-What do you mean!?”

Having gotten closer to the truth of the matter, Ruth had lost the calmness she had before. Clan on the other hand had been able to calm down, and their positions had now changed.

“It is quite clear. If we admit to travelling to the past, it would be the same as admitting that we interfered with the past. And that could lead to a very serious problem that would shake the very foundation of the royal families of Forthorthe.”

“T-That's...”

Ruth stumbled on her words. She understood what Clan was trying to say.

Koutarou and Clan hadn't changed the past. There were small changes, but it was mostly the same as before. But publicly admitting that they had travelled to the past, it would create a doubt that the royal families were established through a change in history. And having that doubt spread through Forthorthe would be far from good.

“So regardless of the truth, I cannot answer. Koutarou and I have not travelled to past Forthorthe.”

“Kuh....”

Ruth ground her teeth. Though she took one step closer to the truth, she couldn't reach all the way in the end. That frustration was far from small.

This is all I can tell you, Pardomshiha. Accept this and leave...

Clan carefully observed Ruth. This was a difficult part that required precise judgment.

“I-I understand...”

In the end, Ruth gave up on pursuing the matter any further. She understood that Clan wouldn't answer anything else.

“But, tell me one last thing.”

“What?”

“While the two of you were gone, was Satomi-sama’s behavior suitable for a knight?”

Even then, there was something Ruth just needed to know. That was if Koutarou had stayed true to himself. That was actually what Ruth really wanted to know, and she wasn't really that interested in what happened in the past.

Thank you, Pardomshiha...

Clan secretly let out a large sigh of relief and smiled at Ruth. It was a rare pure smile, void of both hostility and malice.

“Rest easy, Pardomshiha. Koutarou remained true to the path of a knight from the start to the finish.”

“I, see...”

Ruth's shoulders dropped. She had been able to confirm what she wanted to know the most, but the truth was still shrouded in darkness. Ruth was very disappointed, and Clan understood that as well. She began to feel sorry for Ruth.

When did I become this nice...

While confused about herself, Clan called out to Ruth.

“Pardomshiha, since you did come over, I can't just let you leave empty handed. So in return I'll tell you something good.”

“Clan-sama...?”

Ruth raised her head and her eyes opened wide in surprise. She was deeply surprised by this action completely unlike Clan.

Don't make such a face! I am well aware that I am being strange!

While complaining about Ruth's surprise, Clan chose what information she had would be of most use to Ruth.

“Pardomshiha, you currently have an arranged marriage, do you not?”

“Yes... you were aware of it?”

Ruth's eyes opened wide once more, she didn't expect to hear Clan speaking of her arranged marriage.

“Yes. Since I am after Theiamillis-san, I hold such information as well.”

“I don't really know what to say about that...”

Ruth smiled wryly. Just a while ago, she had felt like she was standing in front of an enemy, but now she had started to lower her guard. The change that had taken place in Clan was being conveyed to Ruth as well.

“More importantly, you should be careful about that arranged marriage.”

“Be careful? What do you mean by that?”

“DKI is planning on expanding into the military section.”

“The military section!?”

That was a keyword that struck a chord with Ruth.

DKI was a general company but they hadn't stepped into the military section yet. That's why they were on good terms with Theia's mother and the current empress, Elfaria, who advocated disarmament and that was a big point when it came to choosing Ruth's fiancé.

But if they were planning on expanding into the military sections, Elexis's push for marriage took on a different meaning.

“Is that true!?”

“It's true. It can't be helped that Pardomshiha's intelligence division doesn't have that information. The Schweiger family has made several advancements in the science field, so information regarding the military naturally gathers there.”

The Schweiger family that Clan was from had produced a lot of exceptional scientists over generations. As a result, their ties with the military naturally grew stronger. Rather than siding with the Mastir family who advocated disarmament, they would be able to expand their power if they sided with the scientific Schweiger family. As a result, when the military learned that Clan had headed towards Earth to get in Theia's way, they began leaking information that would benefit both sides. That included information regarding DKI's future.

“Elexis wants to expand into the military section to make his corporation larger. But if a corporation just expanded into the military section without any results, nobody would be very interested. So they decided to hang the Pardomshiha family as bait for the military. And you understand the rest, don't you?”

As Clan said that and dropped her shoulders, Ruth's face paled.

“If they expand into the military section after our marriage, a crack would occur between the Pardomshiha and Mastir families!?”

“And in return, the military promised to give DKI a large scale job. It is quite a deal.”

After obtaining a large amount of influence after marrying Ruth and gaining the Pardomshiha name, they would eventually cooperate with the military. Elexis had nothing to lose from marrying Ruth. If the military doesn't uphold their end of the deal, he could just continue operating like before. In that case, the advocation of disarmament would only end up getting more momentum, so the military had no choice but to accept Elexis's proposal. It was a splendid business scheme that lived up to his reputation as a competent manager.

“Then there shouldn't be any problems in declining this arranged marriage, right?”

Ruth was already planning on declining, but if the entire marriage was a trap there would be no problem.

“Normally that would be the case. But I am wondering why Elexis was hurrying up to meet with you.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that Elexis's sudden visit might be an excuse to bring the military to this planet. And if you look like you're about to decline, they might come up with some excuse to split you two apart, and while you're gone, it's possible that Theiamillis-san will have an unfortunate accident.”

“You can't be―”

When declining the arranged marriage, Ruth was planning on temporarily returning to Forthorthe. And during that time, the military might attack Theia using the forces on Elexis's ship. After that, they could announce that she had been slaughtered by the lowly barbarian earthlings, or they could hold her prisoner and use her as a card against Elfaria.

“Are you saying that could happen!?”

“...It's just a possibility.”

Clan implied that Theia would be attacked, but she believed that the chances of her being captured were higher. Since they had gone out of their way to let Clan know about Elexis, it could be interpreted as a signal that the military would do something even if she stayed put.

“Oh no, her highness!!”

Ruth swiftly decided to hurry back to Theia. She had to reduce the dangers regarding Theia.

“I'll give you my thanks later, Clan-sama!!”

The normally polite and formal Ruth left with very little in the way of greetings.

“There is no need to worry. It's just a little gift.”

Meanwhile, Clan watched over her in a composed manner and let out a small sigh.

“Haaaah... For some reason I just keep ending up helping Bertorion.... was I really this nice?”

Clan ordered her bracelet to open up the comms.

Share