Gathering Info [3]

Jeanel Von Alex is the daughter of King Franz Von Alex and the sole princess of the kingdom of Alex.

Princess Jeanel is eighteen years old; she is the youngest among the royal siblings. She was described by Rin as an active, helpful, kind, and beautiful lady who has silver floral hair, golden eyes that radiate brightly, and possesses an appealing body figure.

Her older brothers are Calix, Desmond, and Winston.

They are the three candidate princes for the throne, in spite of the king's old age. The crowning of the next king hasn't yet been done.

"And it is all due to Princess Jeanel's interference," said Rin, who was the closest aid to the mentioned princess.

Rin and Jeanel were close friends from the beginning, since a priestess is similar to a celebrity in this world.

People besides the pastors who could use healing magic were granted the privilege of being famous due to their capabilities, but in exchange, they'd have to act without complaining when the kingdom was in dire need of their help.

Healing magic causes the caster to collapse and possibly die if overused, which makes it a sacrificial act for the priestesses.

But that's the only information Rin gave about this individual, Jeanel.

A princess capable of weakening Fenil with an unknown object known as the absorption gem—her existence, based on Rin's description, made me think that this Jeanel person is dangerous.

Delaying the crowning ceremony for the next king with just her interference makes me wonder how smart she is.

Even without extraordinary powers in terms of combat, a manipulative individual who has the ability to change one's way of thinking and is capable of altering public opinion is way more dangerous in terms of public acknowledgement.

Does she intend to take the throne for herself?" I wondered.

Well, now that I know, what should I do with these guys?" I said through thought communication.

[Kill them.]

Grand responded immediately without hesitation.

I looked at Arthur and the others who were quietly standing, looking at me with caution, hoping I'd spare their lives.

But letting them leave this place would certainly cause more trouble. I don't trust them enough to let them leave this place. They might inform the kingdom about this village and about my existence, which could possibly be another threat to them."

[Worry not, Master, for I have analyzed and examined the curse magic that was bestowed upon them.]

[Replicating it will be easy.]

Wait, so you copied the curse magic?"

[Yes, and I can alter the curse's contents that way; they will not be able to spill anything relating to us or the slavir's village, or they will instantly die.]

I see, you've already taken countermeasures against my idea. As expected of you, Grand."

[Thank you for your compliment, Master.]

But where do these skills go? You've generated them, right? So I'm just asking if I can also use it manually?"

[The answer is no.]

[These generated magic spells, skills, and replication skills are for the system's use only; in other words, for myself.]

[The host only needs to give his permission in order for me to execute and use the generated skills.]

[So Master, they cannot freely use these skills as their own.]

[But worry not, for I am the master's partner. Whatever the master wishes, I would gladly do it for the sake of the master."

I see, so all I need to do is ask you, right?"

[Yes, feel free to let me know. I will deploy and use the generated skills without any issue.]

I somehow feel relieved. I'll be counting on you again, Grand."

With that, I gave permission to use the curse magic and reverse its content.

A dark mist engulfed them and seeped through their bodies, marking them as cursed victims.

"What's happening again?" asked Rin, staring over her trembling hands.

Without talking, I opened the cage and signaled them to step out.

"Are we really being spared?" asked Lucas, who was somewhat doubtful of my actions.

"Can we really go home now, Sir Heinz?" Arthur asked.

"Yes, but you will not tell a single soul about what you've encountered here, about the village, or about me. Or else, the curse I placed on you guys would activate, causing you to die in an instant." I said, wearing a serious expression.

Their thoughts began to conflict as I mentioned the newly placed curse upon them.

Their eyes wavered, realizing something that would cause their deaths, as they stood their ground.

Arthur, who seemed to be the calmest among them, stepped out and stood before me.

His eyes wavered, and he abruptly took a knee before me.

"Please Sir Heinz, let me stay with you." he said without consulting the others.

Rin, Tate, and Lucas were surprised to hear what Arthur had said and began complaining.

"What are you talking about, Arthur?" Lucas uttered in a loud tone.

"Stop this nonsense, Arthur! You are clearly not in your right mind!" Tate said with concern that Arthur was acting weird.

"Arthur, what do you mean? Are you really intending to stay with them?" Rin asked.

Rosalie walked forward, stepping out of the cage, and uttered. "Arthur has a point; I would also like to ask Sir Heinz if I can stay with you."

The three flinched in surprise, knowing that two of their party members had decided things on a whim without consulting them.

I was a bit baffled, but I did not show any hints of being surprised, guessing that they are somewhat capable of escaping death.

Based on my presumptions, failing this task and returning to that princess without being able to mention the contents of what had really happened could possibly end their lives.

[That is also what I have in mind.]

I see, so it's possible that my guess was right."

Rosalie stood up, turning back at the three with a horrified expression.

"You know we will die instantly once we return to the princess." said Rosalie.

"What do you mean by that? The princess isn't like that!" Rin yelled, showing emotions being involved.

Arthur stood up and said. "I know how you feel about the princess, Rin. We also feel the same way, but that princess only sees us as pawns that she can use. I'm sure you heard what she said before we left, right?"

Rin flinched upon realization that the last line the princess said was, "Oh, and feel free to not return if you fail this task. Tehe~ kidding!" causing her to realize that the princess doesn't know how to joke.

"They will kill us, knowing that we've failed the mission and also got the templar knights from the Greyhound town involved. With the curse placed on us, without being able to tell the princess valuable information about how we failed, we are surely going to die if we return." Arthur said, wearing a serious expression, as if he had already assumed death if they failed. But to add to the curse, forcing them not to be able to speak about our existence would surely not give them any chances of living.

"Arthur is right; that is why, in order for us to live, we will have no choice but to stay with Sir Heinz." Rosalie said, taking a knee in front of me.

"But we can still go to Count Seldom's territory, right? We can still live peacefully and not contact the princess." Tate said, explaining that there are other possible ways.

"Do you really think we'd survive for long? You know our reputation, and every nook and cranny in the kingdom reaches the ears of the princess. There is nowhere to hide within the kingdom that won't reach the princess's ears. And what will happen if the princess knew we failed and didn't return to her? With her authority, she can frame us as criminals and let the law handle us." said Rosalie.

I listened to their words, knowing that my assumptions about the princess were clear, but Rosalie is somewhat smart. She gave me a dumbass first impression after we met yesterday, but to think she'd be able to speak like this I guess she's a smart one.

Five minutes passed, forcing them to conclude that they'd have to stay alongside me.

They all took a knee before me, pleading to ask for my permission to let them stay alongside me.

It's like Fenil asking to follow me." I mumbled in my head.

[Well, they can still be used as sacrificial pawns, Master.]

Sacrificial pawns, huh? I guess you might be right. But I hope that sacrificing them will not come yet. My interest in Arthur grew, and Rosalie also piqued my interest. These two might be helpful to me in the future."

[I see; if that is what the master wishes, I do not have any issues.]

Thanks, Grand."

"I accept." I said, raising my hand before them.

Arthur smiled slightly while I could hear their heartbeats becoming stable. Meaning they are relieved.

And just like that, I have obtained more pawns to use.

But given that Fenil looked at me in a serious manner, I'm sure she wants to complain about my decision. Since these people just tried to kill her.

But I can't just throw them away; since I have a goal, I will use anything, anyone, to achieve it.

Chapter End.