Chapter 142: Body Double's Body Double!?
Asked by Idola, we were sharing stories of our encounter with Meguri and various adventures after becoming adventurers.
“Amazing! So Megurielna has experienced such amazing adventures! Wonderful! Fighting huge and terrifying monsters, going on an adventure to an island floating in the sky, it’s like a world from a story!”
Listening to our stories, Idola stares at Meguri looking very happy and envious.
“But why did you become an adventurer? If you were to do the work of my body double, there was no need to become an adventurer, right?”
“I was ordered to become an adventurer by Mother. I was told to gain actual combat experience before officially serving as a body double.”
I see, indeed that makes sense.
No one would think a princess’s body double is working as an adventurer.
“Besides, the identity as an adventurer is useful in case of emergency.”
Ah, it’s common for royalty to become adventurers to create false identities.
Even in the adventures of the Great Swordsman Liegard, there was a story where a prince became an adventurer in disguise and punished villains together with Liegard.
But that story became too popular, and before anyone knew it, another story with that prince as the main character was created.
“Ah-, so nice. I want to experience such a wonderful adventure too.”
“Lady Idola, that is going too far…”
“I know. Because that is something unforgivable.”
Changing completely from the happy atmosphere just now, Idola lowers her eyes regretfully.
And instead, Meguri turns her gaze to us.
“Everyone, I have been ordered by Mother to work as Lady Idola‘s body double. So I can no longer stay with you as an adventurer.”
“…Well, can’t be helped.”
“Right. That was the talk originally.”
Perhaps they had already discussed it, Jairo and Mina accepted Meguri‘s opinion smoothly.
“Are you really okay with that?”
In contrast, Liliera asks the two.
Liliera probably understands too, but she couldn’t help asking.
After all, even if they aren’t party members, they are fellow adventurers who adventured together.
It’s natural to be sad hearing such comrades will be separated.
“Thank you, Liliera. But I need to stay by Lady Idola‘s side so I can act as her body double anytime. If I were out on an adventure, I might not make it in time for an emergency. Then there would be no meaning in being a body double.”
“…That’s true.”
It’s a difficult problem.
When it comes to a noble’s body double, you really don’t know what will happen when, so it’s common to always prepare several people and types of body doubles.
There were even countries that used ultra-precise golems as body doubles.
“Wait, right. Wouldn’t it be fine to prepare a golem body double too?”
I suddenly remembered that and proposed it to everyone.
” ” ” ” “Eh?” ” ” ” “
“Umm, Lord Rex. What on earth is a golem body double?”
Hearing my words, Idola asks with a blank face.
I think body doubles using golems are relatively famous among nobles… ah, maybe Idola doesn’t know because she is a princess in a position to be protected.
“Among golems, there are very elaborate ones used for noble body doubles.”
“I-Is that so!?”
“Wait!? I’ve never heard of such golems!? Is it more elaborate than that golem from the other day!?”
Mina asks leaning forward intensely.
Yeah, you are a bit too excited just because you are curious about new magic technology.
“Yes, it requires somewhat precious materials and takes some effort, but I can fully make a golem that moves comparably to a body double.”
” ” ” “That definitely isn’t ‘somewhat’ or ‘some’.” ” ” “
Ahaha, that’s not true.
“B-But, as expected… not me, I mean, I think a golem behaving exactly like Lady Idola is impossible. I think complex conversation is impossible for a golem.”
That might be true.
If I have materials and time, that is also possible, but I don’t have materials that can do that on hand.
“Ah- but, if it doesn’t need to be autonomous, I can make a golem of the type where the user wears a control magic item.”
” ” ” ” “Control magic item?” ” ” ” “
“Yes. It’s a golem you can move like your own body and feel as if you are there.”
” ” ” “What kind of super technology is that!!?” ” ” “
“Umm you see, ah right. I have leftovers of the golems I made in Dragonia the other day, so let’s have you experience it a bit with this.”
” ” ” “Like leftovers from dinner!?” ” ” “
I take out an emergency stop device along with an armor-type golem from the magic bag.
Since the quality of materials used for this golem was mediocre, I made this just in case it went berserk.
“I’ll remodel this emergency stop device into a golem control device. Visuals… the rough gemstone I got from the Megalo Whale should do. Shave it a bit… hmm, well since this is a trial, this area can be rough.”
“M-Magic items are being made roughly…”
“C-Calm down Mina. This is Rex quality. Comparing it to our common sense will only tire us uselessly…”
“Ooh, amazing Big Bro! I don’t understand what you’re doing at all, but remodeling a magic item this easily is amazing!”
“Well, remodeling magic items is simple.”
“Lady Idola, it only looks that way because it is Rex. Normally it is impossible.”
“Alright done! Here, Lady Idola, please try moving the golem using this.”
The trial control magic item is complete, so let’s have Idola use it right away.
“How do I use this?”
“First, fix this visual crystal made of rough gemstone to your head. And when you press here on the control device…”
“Oh my! I am in front of my eyes!?”
When I activate the golem, Idola is surprised seeing her own figure.
Yeah, I placed the golem right in front of Idola.
“Please try moving the golem. Moving this makes it move left and right.”
“L-Like this!”
When I teach the controls, Idola awkwardly controls the golem.
“A-Amazing! It’s like I have two bodies!”
Controlling a golem for the first time, Idola shouts excitedly.
“This is something I made hurriedly for trial, but if you give me a little time, you will be able to move it with a sensation closer to a real body.”
“Wonderful, Lord Rex! Umm, for example, just for example, is it possible to create a golem for incognito use that allows me to walk in the outside world while I stay in the castle!?”
Interested in the control-type golem, Idola bites with a very excited appearance.
“Yes. If I make the transmission device for control compatible with long-distance, it is fully possible.”
“B-By all means, please make them! My body double golem and my incognito golem! Ah, please make the incognito golem with a different appearance from mine.”
Completely hooked on the charm of golems, Idola placed an order immediately.
Since she is a young lady who usually can’t go out, she must be dying to know about the outside world.
“Understood. Two golems.”
Golems with natural movement disguised as humans, huh? My arm is itching after a long time!
Right! Since it’s a golem to enjoy the outside world, I have to equip it with a certain degree of sturdiness and strength for self-defense!
“I will give you whatever reward you desire. Of course, material costs are separate. That’s right! If you wish, a peerage would be fine too!”
Idola, unable to hide her excitement, told me to demand anything I like other than money for the reward, but as expected, I don’t need that.
“No, I don’t need a peerage. Just the cost of the golems is sufficient.”
“Why!? If you can make such amazing golems, the country would welcome you with open arms!?”
That’s what I dislike.
Because of that, in the life before my previous one, troublesome jobs were pushed onto me to the point of disgust.
“I don’t really want to get involved with power. I want to live quietly without standing out.”
That’s why I became an adventurer.
” ” ” “No, I think that’s impossible.” ” ” “
“Kyuuu.”
Wait, why does everyone deny it immediately!? Even Mofumofu joined in!
“A-Anyway, adventurers are those who love freedom, so no matter how valuable, we have no interest in things that bind freedom.”
“Oh my!? Lord Rex is a person of few desires!”
Idola stared at me as if wanting to say unbelievable, but sighed slightly and straightened her posture looking at me.
“Understood. Forcing rewards further would only worsen your impression. However, just paying the price would be a shame to the royal family. I will add sufficient bonus to the reward and prepare valuable items that won’t become a burden to Lord Rex. How is that?”
“Yes, that is fine.”
Negotiation concluded. Glad she’s a princess who understands.
“Ah right, I have one more request while we’re at it.”
“Yes, please say anything.”
Yeah, I have to say this.
“Could you keep our presence a secret? Since we entered without permission today.”
“Oh my, was that so? Ah, come to think of it, you entered while invisible.”
” ” ” “We apologize for entering without permission.” ” ” “
Liliera and the others bow from my side.
“Fufu, please don’t mind. You are Meguri‘s friends. I will not question your intrusion into an unmarried princess’s room late at night.”
“…Huh? Could it be we crossed a pretty dangerous bridge?”
“Far from pretty, extremely dangerous. Just intruding is bad, but if it’s revealed that men like Rex entered an unmarried princess’s bedroom, it’s definitely execution.”
Uwah, scary.
By the way, in my previous life, I was rather actively almost dragged in.
“Th-Then shall we go home soon! We confirmed Meguri‘s safety too.”
“Oh my, are you leaving already?”
When we say we are leaving, Idola makes a lonely face.
“This time was out of worry for Meguri, so since we know Meguri is safe, we will take our leave. It’s not good if we stay too long.”
It would be trouble if guard knights rush in because of too much noise.
“Understood. It would be rude to detain you too much.”
“Then I’ll come again when the golems are complete.”
“Yes, I will be waiting.”
“Meguri, next time you go out, leave a note properly before leaving.”
“Nn, sorry.”
“But well, I’m relieved Meguri is safe.”
“Right, everyone was very worried.”
“Reflecting.”
Finishing greetings, we go to the window and hold hands.
“Then Meguri, please come anytime if anything happens.”
“Yeah, I’ll ask you then.”
Finishing the short conversation, I activate the Invisibility Magic.
“Megurielna, they disappeared again!”
“Yes, it is Rex‘s magic.”
“Magic is amazing.”
Even though we are still in front of her, Idola was wide-eyed with surprise.
“Then let’s go home, everyone.”
“Yes, right.”
We activate flight magic and fly out of the window.
“The night has deepened completely.”
“Right, feeling relieved made me hungry.”
“Me too me too! Big Bro, let’s eat something on the way back!”
“Right, I’m hungry too.”
…Huh? Speaking of hungry, I feel like I’m forgetting something…?
◆ Meguri ◆
“Fufu, to infiltrate a castle for a friend, they were amazing kids, Megurielna.”
Looking outside from the window, Lady Idola mutters happily.
“Rex and the others are a bit strange…”
At my words, Lady Idola turned around and said with a smile.
“It’s okay. I’ll keep them a secret properly.”
Lady Idola laughed away my worries.
I should say it was good that this person is my guard target.
“Then shall we rest too?”
“Kyuu!”
Then Mofumofu held in Lady Idola‘s chest struggled and leaned out, stretching his body toward the table.
Ah, Mofumofu‘s body stretches like a cat.
“Oh my? Does Mofumofu-chan still want to eat sweets?”
“Kyu kyuu!!”
When Mofumofu nodded saying exactly, Lady Idola picked up a sweet from the table and brought it close to Mofumofu‘s mouth.
“Kyufuu!”
“Fufu, eat a lot and grow big.”
That smile was full of affection like a Holy Mother, making me feel warm.
“…Huh?”
There I noticed a sense of incongruity.
A sense of incongruity I tended to forget because he was always nearby.
“Mofumofu, he forgot to return him!”
Yes, Rex went home without retrieving Mofumofu.
“Kyuu!”
◆
“Phew…”
Leaving Lady Idola‘s room, I return to my own room.
“To think Jairo and the others would come here…”
Honestly, I underestimated Rex‘s outrageousness.
To think they would sneak into the castle disregarding danger…
Well, not that I wasn’t happy, though…
Also the matter of Mofumofu was unexpected.
For now, since Lady Idola likes him quite a bit, I’ll send a messenger to convey that we’d like him to stay at the castle for a little while.
And I can return him when I bring the body double golems.
Well… Mofumofu, being spoiled by Lady Idola, might dislike returning.
Lady Idola was excited about the golem matter too, but thinking about the future makes me feel gloomy.
“But with Rex‘s golems, Lady Idola‘s body double problem seems okay. The incognito golem seems likely to cause some trouble though.”
Thinking so, I feel relief and a bit of worry.
But well, that’s not for the current me to think about.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
But it wasn’t from Lady Idola‘s room next door.
It was from the other door.
Coming from that door is only someone who has business with me as a body double.
“Come in.”
The door opens before the reply ends.
The one who entered was someone I knew well.
“Mother…”
The one who entered was my mother.
And this person is the head of this country’s spies.
I told Rex and the others guard, but actually spy is correct.
Mother touches a small gem taken from her pocket without saying anything.
A silencing magic item.
When used, sound won’t leak outside of 2 meters around the magic item.
Using such a thing means this is a story she doesn’t want Lady Idola to hear.
“Meguri, the date for the ritual has been decided.”
“!?”
I knew it. But being told that still shakes me a little.
“One week later, preparations will be complete on that day.”
One week, a time I don’t know if it’s long or short.
“Sorry. I must have you become a sacrifice.”
“…!?”
Surprised, I thought this person had no parental affection.
I never expected to be told such a thing, and I was shaken again.
“I understand. Everything is for this country… right?”
But what I do… what I should do doesn’t change.
“Yes, to save this country, no, the world. I will have you become a sacrifice to seal the Devil. That is your mission as one drawing royal blood.”
“…Yes.”
Yes, my name is Meguri. But my real name is Megurielna… Megurielna Terra Sierra Tion.
A King’s daughter whose existence was erased from the day she was born to become a sacrifice, that was my true identity.
