I’ll look for them, but don’t get your hopes up, was what Karia said before she left, but I trusted her.
With the abilities Karia had shown me up until now—when it came to espionage, she was almost like a god. I was sure she’d find an answer and bring it to me somehow!
“There’s no one. No one.”
My expectations were shattered before half a day even passed.
“I’ve checked everyone here, but there’s no one who fits the conditions.”
“Did you even look properly? Old maid? Try putting in as much effort as you did when you were looking for a husband.”
“When have you ever seen me slack off? I’m telling you, there’s really no one.”
First off, half of them were eliminated right away because of their appearance.
Knights are always training outside, exposed to the sun and dust, constantly toughening themselves.
Without some kind of blessing, they age much faster and become more unattractive compared to others.
Some even find that before becoming knights, they had plenty of marriage proposals, but after about a year of being a knight, no one wants them.
Next, the condition of purity and innocence eliminated even more people.
This world is essentially medieval fantasy.
In a world where it’s normal to get married before turning twenty!
Karia’s “old maid” comment wasn’t an accident. Even if you remove the lost decades, she still fits the “old maid” label, which is why she was triggered by it!
On top of that, the condition that they must be sinless is a tough one. Most people with power inevitably carry some flaws.
Some do it to survive. Some do it for the ones they serve. Some do it for their own desires. A few sins are carved into their souls.
“Among the people standing here, there’s not a single one who hasn’t committed murder. Mercenaries and knights, that’s just how it is.”
I knew that too. I understood that my hesitation in killing made me the odd one out.
But here’s the thing. If the fairies are affected by the deeds I think of, then murder itself wouldn’t be a problem. After all, deeds are the accumulation of good and evil actions.
Even if someone commits evil deeds, if they’ve done more good, there’s a chance they’ll be judged as good.
Right. A little side note?
[Your judgment is correct.]
Well, it’s a corrupt kingdom, after all.
Nodding to myself, I gave Karia the list of points that could be used as criteria for good and evil and asked her to select someone with a score above a certain threshold.
Karia grumbled about how harshly she was being used, but she didn’t refuse my request.
The next day, Karia came back from the operation meeting with a list of about several dozen people she had selected.
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“I really had to scrape the bottom of the barrel to get these.”
Most of the selected faces didn’t look too happy. It wasn’t hard to guess why they were annoyed.
Being here meant they were basically advertising themselves as failures who had never been in a proper relationship.
Of course, there were a few exceptions.
For example, our house’s dog. The fool who’s obsessed with being my bodyguard might actually be able to move with me.
Wait a second. Is that guy a virgin? Never had a relationship with a woman?
“I’ve had plenty of marriage proposals, but I’m still not a proper knight. I couldn’t think about anything other than Lady and I, so I rejected all of them.”
With his face, looking like a decent sword, and his bright smile, I heard someone clicking their tongue from the side.
Jealousy that only makes me think he’s ugly because he’s too honest.
“Throw away that trash. His personality and appearance are both lacking, and just the fact that he’s breathing in the same space as me is unpleasant.”
I got rid of that person and scanned the others with a frown, then eliminated the three obvious useless ones.
“You’re just a burden. Old lady. Why did you bring someone like that?”
“I told you. I really had to scrape the barrel.”
“Even so, a useless idiot like that can’t even touch an idiot like Frey. It’ll just be a nuisance.”
I’m choosing someone who will be useful right now.
Even if I can’t beat the idiot who only knows how to swing a sword, at least I should be able to hold my own against him!
“Is Lady Kent the standard? That’s too picky.”
“Well, she’s still a loser who’s never beaten me.”
“She almost won once.”
Out of nowhere, Frey, who had been watching, slipped into our conversation. He walked over to us, scanning the group, and pointed out a few people.
“They’re all boring.”
“I heard you, old lady?”
“Yes. Everyone, leave.”
Muttering under her breath, Karia waved her hand, and the group dwindled. I then pulled out the silly fox.
When this fox is with me, she’s a pedophile pervert who should be locked up in prison, but anyway, this one is the ruler of the forest.
She’s the one who judges people based on their beauty. So, if she passes her picky standards, it could match the fairy’s standards too!
“I don’t want to see any ugliness other than you.”
“Really? Don’t you want to do it?”
“Yeah. Just pick anyone. If it’s someone Karia picked, that should be fine.”
“Really?”
This morning, I casually took out the towel I used to wipe the sweat during training, and the silly fox dove for it.
I quickly grabbed it, and the towel fell to the ground, with the silly fox hanging onto my foot.
“That. That’s...”
“I don’t want to do it, so I have no choice. I’ll have to ask Erin to wash it.”
“I’ll do it! I’ll do my best! I’ll lick your feet, be crushed by your feet, and kicked like a toy if I have to!”
Isn’t that a reward for you, you perverted bastard?
I ignored the statement of the silly fox, who subtly tried to fulfill her desires, and then asked her to help evaluate the people around us.
“But, Lucy. Where do we set the standard of beauty?”
“Enough to make your perversion subtly stir?”
“If it’s that much, then everyone should be disqualified. Oh, except for your guard. No matter what, she’s presentable enough.”
And then, everyone was disqualified.
“They aren’t even worth the trials. If they had come into my forest, I would have made them wander aimlessly forever.”
I knew it would come to this. When I first looked at them, I felt their sense of aesthetics was off, and now it’s confirmed.
This is troublesome. We need more people to fill the party, not just my useless dog!
...I guess there’s no helping it. At this point, we might have to create a forbidden bunny girl unit.
With that outfit that boosts charm, we might just barely meet the requirements.
“Hey, Lucy. Lucy.”
“What is it, you idiot swordsman?”
“Can’t we just go with the people we already have?”
“We?”
“It would probably be better. Maybe it’s different from before, but now you and your friends have enough charm for me to give them a trial personally.”
Are they talking about our usual party?
Hmm.
Honestly, I’m reluctant. It’d be safer to go on a solo mission than take these guys into dangerous places. It’s much more comfortable that way.
<You’re probably thinking it’s better to die alone, right?>
“Don’t read my mind,” I muttered.
<I didn’t read it. It’s obvious you’d think that way, so I just said it.>
“Is it that obvious?”
<You’re weak when it comes to this kind of thing.>
I’ve been traveling with Grandpa for a long time. It’s no wonder he can predict these thoughts.
<Your thoughts aren’t very deep, either.>
“...What does that mean?”
<Think about it. If this mission fails halfway through, do you think it will only be your death?>
“Yeah.”
I don’t think things will get that bad. The power of the superhumans here isn’t something to take lightly.
Even if the Fairy Queen wakes up and leaves the forest, she won’t be able to ravage the world.
However, along the way, there will surely be countless deaths.
<Do you think the people around you will just stay quiet when you die?>
I’m not that smart, but it’s not hard to guess what happens afterward.
No, they won’t stay quiet. Even from the opposite side, they’ll never just stand by.
Grief will turn into rage, rage into recklessness, and recklessness will be stained black with ink.
<Death is such an easy subject.>
“...Right.”
Since I reincarnated into this world, I’ve faced many life-threatening situations.
But I’ve never thought about what happens after death. I’ve never considered it.
I’ve always struggled to escape death, but never thought about what would happen to me after I died.
Who among gamers ever thinks about what happens after the game over?
Maybe that’s why.
Through Grandpa’s words, I realized that death after this life is far scarier than I had imagined.
“Lucy?”
“Miss, are you alright?”
“Even Lucy’s dazed face looks tasty.”
Hearing voices around me as I stopped for a moment, I started thinking again.
About the world after a game over. A world where the protagonist dies without even saving.
...The meaning of game over. It’s bigger than I thought. Damn.
<If you need help, ask for it. Aside from your father or sword masters, there may be no one more reliable than your friends.>
Hearing Grandpa’s words, I turned my head.
Frey, who seemed sharper than before, was tilting his head innocently.
Joy, who was still receiving lessons from Erginnus, smiled despite her exhausted face.
On the other side, Faby, leading the priests, was purifying the instruments flowing from the Fairy Forest.
And then there was Arthur.
“...Why is the incompetent prince over there?”
He was moving among the knights of the First and Second Orders.
Why is he over there? I thought the First Prince would be here this time.
I thought they would send him to claim credit.
Hmm. Well, whatever. The First Prince wouldn’t be able to take anyone with him, and it would just make my head ache more.
For now, I’ll just go try the trial. Let’s see if we can be welcomed by the Fairy Queen.
If, in the end, I truly believe this is the best option...
Then it can’t be helped.