I Favor the Villainess Chapter 111

"Who's that?"
"I know. She's the Royal Academy student. If I'm not mistaken, she's Rei Taylor"
"What is she saying this late…?"

With the crowd's attention focused on me, I unseemly climbed over the fence.
It's uncool, but it's not the time to be caring about appearance.

"Guards, drag her out"
"Please wait"

One man stopped Salas who was trying to forcibly resume the execution.

"That person is a prominent financial supporter of the revolutionary government. I will not forgive forceful actions"
"However, Lambert…"

Yes.
That man is Lambert Orso-sama.
He's Lene's older brother who was banished from the country at the time of the commoners' movement.

"Now is the turning point of the new era. Would it not be better to avoid future trouble?"

Lambert-sama said so and faced me.

"I made the opportunity. Rest depends on you"
"Thank you"

I thanked Lambert-sama and facing the crowd, addressed them.

"I have an objection to this trial. The true criminal who unjustly exploited the people and invited a national crisis is different!"

I raised my voice.

"How foolish. Who are you saying bears that crime other than François ducal house?"
"I'll make it public now… Lene!"
"Yes"

As Lene made an appearance, voices arose from the crowd.
Claire-sama also opened eyes wide in astonishment.

"Isn't that the young proprietress of Frater company"
"Then over there is Lambert-sama"

After Lene and Lambert-sama were banished they set up a company in Appalachia.
This is Frater company.
Frater created the explosive hit crème brûlée, and by unveiling original recipes one by one, overnight they became favorite in the industry.
Frater is an old word in the language of this country that means brothers.
As it is it, it carries the nuance of comrades, but the meaning is obvious to them.

It was just few days when I reunited with Lene and Lambert-sama.
They became big financial backers of the revolutionary governments and are also present at this public court.

"Dor François-sama is not a traitor. He is a true patriot"

Saying so, Lene began clearly talking about Dor-sama's political activities until now and his support for the revolutionary government.
Among them, she explained in detail about Claire-sama's crackdown on nobility or providing funds for Resistance.
Lene told of all the activities I've been doing with Dor-sama so far.

"For example, Claire-sama's, Rei Taylor's, and Cardinal Lily's crackdown on unlawful nobility had Dor-sama's instructions behind it"

Among the nobles we exposed were some who had certain military power.
We crushed the houses that could become obstacles during the revolution.
We weren't merely fixing the society.
When the revolution occurred, to prevent commoners' blood being spilled as much as possible Dor-sama took various measures.
Dor-sama was reading the actions just like a chess master.

"As for supplying the funds, it started under the name XX in the early days of Resistance"

Other than that, he's done a lot of things that Lene didn't spare explanations for.

"Dor-sama is a patriot who truly worries about this country's future"
"How foolish. While that may be true, the fact they assumed the title of provisional government and ignored the royal authority doesn't change!"
"Are you saying this, Salas?"

As Salas raised his voice, a refreshing tenor - no, should I call contralto - interrupted him.

"It's Yuu-sama!"
"Didn't Yuu-sama go insane!"
"But, how beautiful"

Yuu-sama dressed in a habit appeared at the scene accompanied by monks.
The fluffy blonde hair that grew a little increased her femininity.
From the start she had a feminine impression, but now she can only be seen as completely a woman.

"Yuu-sama, why are you here…"
"This is my line, Salas. You're the real criminal"

The crowd shook at Yuu-sama's bombshell announcement.

"Criminal? Salas-is?"
"After all Yuu-sama has gone insane"
"But, it doesn't look like that at all――"

The crowd was thoroughly bewildered.
Strangely, only Yuu-sama's voice resounded throughout the crowd.
Of course, it's my close friend Misha's doing.

"He - Salas Lilium is the real traitor. He communicated with the Naa Empire, attempting to make this country his possession!"

Yuu-sama's denunciation deeply cut through Salas.
Commotion ran through the crowd.

However, when it comes to politics Salas is a sly fox.
He regained his calm at once and said.

"What are you saying, Yuu-sama. After all you've become insane. Please spend time peacefully in the monastery"
"We've already investigated that… Rei"
"Yes"

I answered Yuu-sama's order and produced a card-like item from my bosom.

"Here are all records of Salas exchanging secret promises with the empire! Everyone! Don't be deceived by Salas!"

I set the volume at maximum and played the magical tool.
Amplified by Misha's wind attribute magic it resounded as far as the eye can see.

"What does it mean!?"
"The revolutionary government wasn't our ally!?"
"I don't understand!"

The crowd burst into uproar like a poked beehive.
Salas is desperately making up excuses, but it doesn't reach the people, drowned out in the tumult.

"… In that case it cannot be helped"

Salas produced something like a whistle from his breast pocket and blew hard into it.
A sharp sound that didn't lose to the tumult resounded, and a group of people appeared together.

"! Salas's private army!"

Although few in numbers compare to the national army, the military force assembled from the fallen nobles can't be ignored.
His private army was armed to the teeth and deployed to surround the summary court.

"Suppress them"

Salas gave an order - and immediately after.

"It won't be so easy"

Along with intimidating voice, the soldiers were obstructed by explosions.

"It's Rod-sama!"
"He's alive!"

It was the missing Rod-sama who rushed here with the army.
On a closer look Rod-sama lost an arm, still his expression is lively.

"I'm a little late. But, heroes enter late, right?"

Saying so Rod-sama let out a manly laugh.
He got caught in the eruption while he was in the middle of appealing for the evacuation of the village at the foot of Sassal Volcano, and protecting the villagers suffered heavy injuries.
Unfortunately nobody in the village could use healing magic, so he had to take his time to heal injuries.
Although his life was at risk for a while and he lost an arm, his radiance is the same as ever.

"Oi, Salas. Stop your useless resistance. Most of your private army submits to me. It's a difference of dignity"
"Gugu… You will escape the death's door just to obstruct me…"

Salas glared at Rod-sama hatefully.

"Not yet! It's not over for me yet! Lily!"
"Aa… It's like that after all"

It was Lily-sama who suddenly appeared from the dark spot in the court.
She's wearing a light armor that seems to be made of dark leather and also has a black cloak on her.
Going by her tone, it's still her alternate personality.

"Kill Dor and Claire, then princes! Without them, we'll somehow manage later!"
"You're saying it like it's so easy. Well, I'll do it"

Despite her fed up appearance, Lily-sama unsheathed a knife.
Its dark gray tip is coated in venom.
In the crash between Sala's private army and the army led by Rod-sama the surroundings are chaotic.
In this situation it might be possible with Lily-sama's skills to assassinate key people.

But, it's not like we came here unprepared.

"To make a girl act like this… Shame on you, Salas. Magic cancellation!"

The one who stood in Lily-sama's way was of course Manarisama.
No matter how formidable Lily-sama is post-transformation, it doesn't matter if the alternate personality itself is cancelled.
However――.

"… What a complicated formula…!"

Even with Manarisama's power, it seems the spell equation on Lily-sama is far from easy.

"Kuaaaa!"

However, it doesn't appear totally ineffective as Lily-sama stopped moving with an anguished expression.

"Stop, 'you' don't come out! This body is mine!"

This line sounded just like the black-masked Lily-sama was fighting against the real Lily-sama.
I called out to the real Lily-sama.

"Lily-sama, please return!"
"Rei… sa… "Stoooop!""

Lily-sama brandished her knife and approached before me.
I sensed danger, but I believed Lily-sama and embraced her body.
Then, Lily-sama greatly convulsed and like a puppet with its string cut collapsed.
In panic I lifted her, and Lily-sama opened her eyes slightly.

"Lily, did her best…"

Saying this much, she lost consciousness.
I gently laid down Lily-sama's body, stroked her hair once, and stood up.

"Lily-sama also abandoned you. This is the end, Salas!"
"Gu… You… Youu…!"

Salas bit his lip in frustration, but this is checkmate.
He should no longer have a trick up his sleeve.

"Rei Taylor! Look into my eyes!"
"!?"

I noticed it was a trap right away, but at that time it was already too late.
The instant our eyes met, the world suddenly turned flabby.
This is… Salas's suggestion!

"Fuhaha, you'll be the second Lily――"
"I won't let you"

Together with that voice my vision returned to its original state.
The owner of the voice was Manarisama.

"This me will never fail for a magic equation I've seen once. Don't look down on me"

Saying so, Manarisama thrust the tip of her magic wand before Salas.

"This time it's the end, Salas Lilium"
"~~~!"

Salas shed bitter tears in vexation, but that was his last resistance.

"… What's this? What does it mean?"
"In the end, who was wrong?"
"Who should we execute?"

Turmoil spread among the crowd.
At first it was little, but with time it grew bigger, eventually becoming loud like a thunder.

"Be quieeeet!!!"

A booming voice exceeded the crowd's disturbance.
In an instant the surroundings fell silent.

"I see, it certainly seems Salas was a villain. But so what?

The owner of the voice was Arla Manuel.

"That alone doesn't make the revolution unacceptable"

She's the woman who became the banner of the revolutionary forces.

Chapter end