Blood Princess, Kill them All

Those Dancing on the Stage

Platy, the butler entrusted by Duke Slaver to deliver a message to the army, found herself stationed at the Slaver Army’s base in the northern region of Captis after successfully completing her mission. As the Duke’s butler, she reveled in generous privileges, including her very own private room.

Leaning back in her chair, she rested her cheek on her hand and let her thoughts wander as she gazed at the night sky outside her window. Before she knew it, an unexpected guest barged into the room without so much as a knock.

“Is it all right for you not to return, Platy?” a deep, rugged voice questioned. The intruder was a tall, well-built man with slicked-back hair, bearing scars that spoke of his exploits on the battlefields.

“General Devarre, if memory serves me right, I did mention earlier that if you knock, you should wait for a response.”

“Oh, my bad, my bad. You’ve grown quite a bit too. Back in the day, you wouldn’t have complained about something like this.”

“That’s not the issue! Honestly, for someone your age, you lack composure,” Platy sighed, readjusting her chair.

The man chuckled heartily, a wide grin stretching across his face. He was none other than Devarre Neville, the commanding general of the Slaver Army and a man of considerable influence, ranking third only to Dugan and the president of Marjoram Technology.

In his heyday, Devarre was a legendary mage, wreaking havoc on the front lines during the war with the neighboring country. Rumor had it that he expertly swung his mighty axe in close combat while unleashing devastatingly powerful magic, single-handedly decimating thousands of enemy soldiers in a single battle.

“Regarding your previous question… His Grace the Duke has given the instruction to limit the frequency of people entering and leaving the shelter,” Platy explained.

“That’s quite meticulous. But it doesn’t align with His Grace’s usual behavior. He’s not one to remain silent during such festivities, and as a person who enjoys battles, he would certainly not stay quiet…” the general pondered.

“General, we’re simply following His Grace’s orders,” Platy replied.

“But still, it’s hard to believe. Even though news of King Majesty’s arrival finally reached our ears, the military was left in the dark… What does that mean?”

“There must be a reason beyond our comprehension. Please accept and find peace with it,” Platy suggested.

“I’m not one to fret, but what about the folks from Marjoram?”

“…One of Marjoram’s young ladies, Cassy, came to the shelter. She seemed overjoyed about selling weapons,” Platy responded.

“Do you reckon that cunning vixen speaks her mind? Both she and her father are probably seething with frustration towards His Grace.”

“If so, what will you do? Will you personally negotiate with His Grace on behalf of Marjoram’s sentiments?” Platy asked.

“Very well, I’ll take on the task,” Devarre declared confidently. It was no jest; he was a man of his word.

“Uh… I was just kidding. Please stop. This matter is best left to His Grace. We shouldn’t interfere,” Platy quickly interjected.

“Alright, I shall spare the young lady this time,” the general chuckled.

“Please refrain from calling me ‘young lady’!” Platy glared at Devarre, her face turning red. Once again, the general laughed heartily and brushed off her protest.

Feeling a bit outwitted, Platy swiftly changed the topic at hand. “Speaking of which, what’s the latest on Mary? I heard she was found hiding in a nearby village.”

“Yeah, some foolish noble used poison gas to flush her out, killing the villagers in the process. The search is proving difficult.”

“Poison gas? Did Marjoram really develop something like that for domestic use?” Platy questioned.

“Who knows? Only His Grace would have that information. But it’s highly likely that the princess is hiding in that area. We’re keeping an eye on Captis while scouring the surroundings.”

“Why don’t we question the noble about it?” Platy inquired.

“The mansion was empty,” the general replied.

“They fled?”

“There were traces of blood, faint but present. They might have all been devoured.”

“To think she wouldn’t even leave a corpse… It’s hard to believe this is the same girl who was considered a mere figurehead princess until a few days ago. Can Arcana really transform people to such an extent?” Platy wondered.

“…Arcana, huh?”

“Is there something troubling you?”

“No, it’s not my place to say. But more importantly, troublesome folks are starting to emerge. It seems things will get even more hectic soon. I mean, Mary alone is quite a handful.”

“That’s true… It’s an opportunity for those troublemakers, after all. It’s only natural for them to make a move,” Platy muttered, biting her lip in frustration.

The mistreatment of farmers had long been a problem, and despite their impressive military power, resentment still lingered. And now, the resistance was becoming a reality.

They… had already begun their activities in the city of Captis.

◇◇◇

Mary successfully infiltrated Captis, carrying Ami in her arms.

Using bones as makeshift climbing tools, she climbed up a four-story building and perched on the rooftop, surveying the bustling ground below, filled with soldiers.

The ease with which she had accomplished her mission to infiltrate surprised her, prompting her to question the conspicuous existence of these “blindspots.”

She would soon uncover the answer as she ventured further into the city.

“Now, everyone, charge!” Armed soldiers donning black protective suits adorned with a crimson sword emblem launched a coordinated assault on the Slaver Army group.

“Uooooh!”

“Down with the military! Perish, you pompous nobles!”

“Don’t think you can continue your tyrannical ways!”

With firearms slightly different in design from the standard military issue, they methodically picked off the soldiers one by one.

“Uwaaaah! Are those people from the Liberation Front?!”

“Take cover! We’re exposed here! Fall back!”

Frantically seeking refuge around corners, they met a barrage of bullets before finding safety. The Duke Slaver soldiers, caught off guard while searching for Mary, crumbled without putting up much of a fight.

From her vantage point above, Mary furrowed her brow. “The military is engaged with someone? They mentioned the Liberation Front… Could it be a rebellious group opposing Duke Slaver?”

The guns they wielded were clearly of a new model. The protective suits were also new, with space to accommodate emblems, indicating a significant scale.

These terrorist attacks against the military weren’t limited to this location; they were unfolding throughout the city. From her elevated perch on the rooftop, Mary could discern the distant echoes of gunfire and shouts.

“The ease of infiltrating Captis seems to be thanks to them. If I can slip through their defense network… Well, despite their radicalism, our interests might align…”

“Ugh… huff, huff…” Ami, still in Mary’s arms, struggled to catch her breath, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead as her chest heaved. Mary tenderly brushed away the strands of hair clinging to Ami’s face.

“…They’re well-prepared. If they share the same ideals as Ami’s parents, I might be able to seek their assistance in her treatment.”

The haunting image of the villagers who perished from the poison gas flashed in her mind. However, if these individuals were mere terrorists, they would have been involved in the chaos from the beginning, so there was no need to worry.

The unit that had been positioned below the building had moved on, taking the soldiers’ equipment with them.

Mary spotted another nearby unit and gracefully descended from the rooftop, landing directly in front of them.

“Who’s there?!” Guns were swiftly aimed at her, accompanied by hostile glares.

But a man who appeared to be the squad leader gestured to halt, “Hold on, don’t shoot! You… You’re Princess Mary, right?”

“Yes, I am. It’s sudden, but I’d like to join forces with you. Who should I speak to?”

The squad members responded eagerly to her proposal.

“Hey, hey, Princess Mary is on our side…!”

“It feels like a dream… She’s truly our beacon of hope!”

Taken aback by their swift change in demeanor, Mary let out a wryly smile.

Meanwhile, the squad leader remained composed and handled the situation calmly. He spoke, “Before that, I’d like to see your power. According to the information, Princess Mary should have the power of Death Arcana. Can you demonstrate it?”

In a swift motion, Mary summoned bone blades from the back of her hand. The soldiers couldn’t help but exclaim, “Oh…”

“Is this sufficient?”

“Y-Yes, absolutely! Please accept our apologies for any offense!” The squad leader knelt before Mary. With the demonstration, any doubts seemed to dissipate.

They’re quick to believe. How convenient.

Similar to the villagers, it seemed they had deified Mary for killing Romeo.

“Excuse me, Princess Mary, who’s the girl you’re carrying?”

“Do you know about the incident with the poison gas in the nearby village?”

“Yes, we heard that the villagers were likely wiped out.”

“She’s the sole survivor. She inhaled a small amount of gas and requires medical attention…”

Mary’s words shocked the soldiers. The idea of a goddess of victory rescuing an unknown commoner from the clutches of a tyrannical lord—it couldn’t have been a more perfect tale.

The gaze fixed upon Mary grew intense, fueled by impassioned admiration.

“To save an unknown commoner… How extraordinary. It suits Princess Mary perfectly.”

Amidst the undeserved praise, Mary felt a slight unease.

“Our leader is in the hideout. The girl should be able to receive treatment there. I’ll have one of our squad members guide you, Princess”

“Understood. Who should I go with?”

“Tinny, can you go?”

“Yes, of course!”

A squad member stepped forward, straightening her posture. She lifted her goggles and lowered the mask covering her mouth and nose, revealing a kind-looking woman who suited a smiling expression.

“Princess, I’ll guide you to the car, this way!”

“Thank you.”

“Hehe… Oh, no, you’re welcome.”

Judging from her reactions, she seemed younger—though older than Mary, who was only sixteen. Tinny, in a cheerful manner, took the lead with Mary, who was carrying Ami.

While walking, Mary suggested, “You can wear your mask and goggles if you’d like.”

“Huh? Is that… I mean, wouldn’t it be impolite?”

“It’s to avoid any trouble if your face gets captured.”

“Princess, you’re truly kind… Okay, I’ll take you up on your offer.” Her cheeks flushed with gratitude, and her glistening eyes were hidden behind the goggles and mask.

Meanwhile, Mary closely observed Tinny’s equipment.

The gear is different from that of the regular army, but still cutting-edge… Who could be their patron?

Possible options included her father, King Henry or the royal army, who may desire the turmoil within Slaver territory. However, would Dugan let such an obvious “enemy” go?

Currently, there was no concern regarding the organization’s members, but caution was necessary regarding their background.

“That’s our ride!”

After passing through a dark alley, they came across a military vehicle belonging to the Slaver Army. Although the body was thin to be called an armored vehicle, it was an impressive four-wheeled magical vehicle.

Mary had something she wanted to ask, but it could wait. They got into the car. Ami was placed in the back seat, and Mary took the passenger seat. Tinny, in the driver’s seat, nervously inserted the key, and the car started moving.

“This is a vehicle from the Slaver Army, right?”

“Yep, we just stole it a little while ago. With this, we should be able to deceive the military’s watchful eye for a while.”

“Aren’t they recording the travel route?”

“Oh, if they analyze it later, they’ll notice. That’s why we’re not going all the way to our hideout. We’ll ditch the car at a safe distance and continue on foot.”

“I see…” Mary nodded, but then she glanced back and spotted three identical military vehicles through the tinted windows.

“So much for deceiving the military’s eye…” Mary let out a sigh.

“W-Well, that’s the plan, but…”

“They’re practically tailing us…”

At that moment, a voice came from the radio installed in the car, “Are you people part of the Riverta Liberation Front?”

“Uh…” Tinny turned pale.

“I’m going to kill you all! No need to put up a fight!” the voice thundered, dripping with anger.

Tinny looked at Mary, seeking help. “W-What do we do…”

“By the sound of it, they haven’t realized my presence—let’s handle this quickly. Just make sure not to slow down,” saying that, Mary opened the door.

“Ughhhh! Princess, it’s dangerous!”

Ignoring the warning, Mary swiftly climbed onto the roof of the car.

***