The Hidden Vault
「Ahem, which reminds me, where is the vault hidden?」
The King forcibly changes the subject.
I guess that’s fine.
「Uhm, it’s here if I remember correctly.」
I pointed at a wall next to a bookshelf while saying so.
It doesn’t look any different from a normal wall.
n.o.body would realise a hidden vault would be there.
「Here, right? I can’t feel any power from the Concealment Magic though…」
Len-san raises his brow, while staring at the place I pointed to
At the location where Magic has been used, traces of Magic Power will remain for some time.
It’ll possible for a Magician to feel that Magic Power.
In contrast to this situation where the place I used Magic on, it’s normal for Mana to remain until the Magic has been canceled,
「Obviously. wouldn’t it be exposed immediately if there was Mana? In addition to Concealment Magic, Mana Concealment Magic has been placed on top of it. So, please remove it」
I look up at Len-san after saying that.
「Ha? Master… no, Sakura-san, can you not remove it?」
Len-san stares at me with an expression that’s been caught off guard.
What are you saying? Didn’t I say it’s been concealed with Magic?
And so I can’t use Magic. It’s obvious I won’t be able to remove it.」
Seriously, don’t you listen to a word people say?
「Quickly remove it please. It can be removed by Cancelation Magic. However, I believe it’ll be impossible to remove it unless Len-san uses all his power.」
A considerable amount of Mana has been used for the construction of this Concealment Magic
I don’t know how much Mana Len-san has but, it’ll be a waste of Mana if you poorly skimp on it. [r1]
While Len-san frowns when he heard me say「all his power」, he chants an incantation.
「Display one’s true form before me!」[r2]
A Magic’s intensity, in short, is something depending on one’s Fighting Spirit.
Using Magic packed Fighting Spirit is stronger than ordinary Magic.
On the contrary you’ll get exhausted, compared to using only just Magic.
The volume of your voice is important too.
Well, depending on the Magician to some extent, the difference isn’t significant.[r3]
The place which the ordinary wall was at, starts to blur and distort.
After a short time, a small light surges out, once it settled down, the wall had hollowed out and small vault appeared in the interior.
It seems the release was successful.
Sweat starts forming on Len-san’s forehead, and he roughly exhales.
It’s said if your Mana is exhausted = body’s energy has been used up, if you lose a large amount of Mana you’ll faint.
「Thank you for your hard work. Now let’s open the vault.」
After giving a word of thanks to Len-san, I take his place.
「Though you say you’ll open it, there’s no handle or key you know? How does it open?」
The King looks at the vault above my head, and he tilts his head while asking.
「 You place your hand on the door, then you say the keyword.」
After saying that I reach ou
t my hand.
…
Once more, this time standing on my toes, I reach out my hand.
…
I can’t reach.
Right, the hollowed area on the wall where the vault is placed is around 160cm from the floor, and then the vault is installed inside of the wall 50cm from the surface.
I can’t reach it with my height.
You should’ve installed it lower, me of my previous life.
Gazes of pity pierces through me.
「…Please bring me… a stool…」
After saying so with my head down while biting on my lips, Squad Captain brings over a chair from a work desk.
I silently climb onto the chair, and finally, my hands reach the vault.
「Seal the true door of mine.」[r4]
Separating my hand after reciting the keyword, the vault’s door opens.
A bundle of doc.u.ments were amongst the vault.
After I took them out and briefly examined them, I handed them over to the King.
「With this, that’s all of them.」
The King takes them, swiftly confirms the content and gives a nod.
「This is plenty of evidence. Deploy the Chivalric Order’s troops. I’ll leave the choice of personnel to you.
Depart immediately, Arrest Sodom Caral Balshnia. The charges are the suspicions of embezzlement of the national treasury and smuggling.」
The orders were given to the knights standing by outside.
The knights starts moving hastily, the n.o.bles were stirring about in the area.
Even though 25 years has pa.s.sed, an order to restrain the former Prime Minister has been made.
「Today will be prohibited from leaving the castle. Do not disclose this unnecessarily. You are now dismissed.」
The King announces it while pa.s.sing the bundle of doc.u.ments to the Prime Minister
The remaining knights and n.o.bles raises a voice of understanding, and disperses.
The 6 people left inside the room are the King, the Prime Minister, Len-san, the Prince, Squad Captain and I.
Am I finally free?
ーWait, what do they mean by not being allowed to leave the castle?
What about my plan? A place to stay? What will happen to my meals??
Kuuー…
My stomach rumbled while I was thinking about a meal.
This is embarra.s.sing.
I feel the gazes of the 5 people inside this room gathered onto me.
Some way or another I squeeze out my voice, while holding onto my stomach with my bright red face hung down.
「Uu, mm… I, was supposed to look for an inn today to stay in but…」
I raise my hoa.r.s.e voice.
I need to immediately search for an inn or else, at this rate I’ll be sleeping outside.
Also I’m going to die. Mostly from shame and hunger.
「And so, because it’ll be difficult to start searching at this time, is it possible to introduce me to an inn? So…」
I hear the sound of a bell.
Before I knew it, it seems it’s 11 koku.
If I remember correctly, I’m sure it was 10 koku when I entered during the audience.
Looks like I’ve been standing for 2 hours since then.
Say if they introduce me to an inn, even if I move now, it’ll take at least 30 minutes to arrive at the inn.
The main point of an inn is that they double as a bar, I should be able to have a meal.
Reach the inn, have a meal then take a bath… It’ll be pa.s.sed 12 o’clock by the time I can sleep.
While I was thinking of my plans,
「It won’t be necessary to search for an inn. The matter of the Prince’s reward has yet to be settled, and I must thank you for this case regarding the embezzlement and smuggling. You should stay here tonight. Although it’ll be something simple, dinner can be prepared. You will be guided so please wait here for a moment.」
I received those words from the King.
Staying at the castle? How did it come to this? No no, I want to avoid anything potentially troublesome but…
「No, you don’t need to do that as a reward. It’ll be enough to just introduce me to an inn.」
Please let me decline your offer to stay here.
I tried to decline some way or another, but this time the Princeー
「Give it up. No one can leave the castle tonight. It’ll affect our position as royalty if we let you go without thanking you properly. Stay here.」[r5]
I’ve been cornered.
To begin with, didn’t the Prince bring me to the castle on his own accord?
While I was thinking about a way to refuse, a knocking sound was heard.
「Excuse me. I’ve come to guide the guest.」
A voice of a woman was heard on the other side of the door.
「Enter.」
After those words from the King, the door opens, and woman with the so-called maid outfit appeared.
Is that a real maid-san?
Leaving that aside, when was she informed?
Our talk about staying here or not happened just now.
While I was confused, my back was pushed towards the maid.
「This is the guest. Go guide her.」
Wai-, I haven’t said I would stay here.
I glared at the King but, he lightly urged me with is chin.
「I shall guide you.」
Maid-san left those words and walked out to the corridor.
Haa… It’s already decided, huh…[r6]
「I’ll be under your care.」
I, who had given up, decided to follow the maid.