I Will Break Off the Engagement Because I'm Jealous - The Untalented Villainess Who Rejected the Prince Searches for a Safe Haven with the Cheat Heroine - Chapter 5.8

The day after the big showdown. After buying ingredients at the morning market and enjoying breakfast along the way, Emilia and Iris once again arrived at the underground, the Blazing Flame Corps’ hideout. Knocking on the dead-end wall with the predetermined code would get it opened from the inside. Beyond the wall stood a small building, with a ladder descending through a hole in the floor. A three-minute walk through the underground passage.

“Oh, they’re here!” “Emilia-san!”

“Been a day… Where’s Rate-kun? Does he have some business?”

Opening the wooden door and stepping inside, Emilia asked the two of the blond, blue-eyed triplets who came to greet her.

“He got called to the guild and is currently getting chewed out.” “That guy lost the draw.”

(Is it about swinging weapons around town yesterday…? Maybe it’s good I didn’t have to go.)

Feeling awkward, Emilia vaguely scanned the hideout. Fewer adventurers than yesterday seemed to be relaxing or discussing something among themselves.

“Big sis, something wrong?”

Levai of the triplets was asking Iris. When Emilia glanced back, Iris, who had followed her into the hideout, had a faint blush and was letting her eyes wander.

“Eh, it’s nothing. Just I was surprised that Emilia-sama could tell you three apart.”

(You can tell just by looking, right…?)

Emilia tilted her head slightly at the identical Ren and Levai. The two exchanged glances and shrugged.

“Emilia too. Aren’t you two acting kinda distant?”

“Not at all.”

When Ren asked, Emilia flatly denied it. Her voice overlapped with Iris’s right behind her and she blushed, staring into empty space.

“O-oh…”

Ignoring the flustered Ren, Emilia reached a hand behind her. Iris, who had been clutching the hem of her coat, now took hold of the sleeve. She stepped forward to stand beside Emilia.

Their eyes didn’t meet. But they were clearly closer. While feeling a vague unease, Emilia also felt relief having Iris right beside her. Letting out a small breath, she spoke smoothly.

“So, you mentioned having a meeting. Personally, I’d like to hear about the imperial capital lockdown. It feels like people in the city are hesitant to even mention it. It’s hard to ask around. Has the Blazing Flame Corps found out anything?”

She addressed Ren and Levai. This morning, Emilia had tried broaching the subject with the vegetable seller she’d met yesterday too, saying, “I’d like to visit the imperial capital, but I hear it’s closed.” But he only hemmed and hawed, and she couldn’t get any information.

“The rumors that have been circulating for a while might have finally been put into action, and especially commoners are trembling with fear.”

“Rumors? Like a coup d’état?”

“Nah. Skill Absolutism.”

“Skill Absolutism?”

Iris and Emilia’s voices overlapped. They glanced at each other immediately blushed and looked away. Ren shook his head and continued.

“The fundamentalist doctrine in the Giena Empire that those with superior skills should rule. Word is they might have started implementing laws for that in the imperial capital first.”

“As a result, the imperial throne changed too apparently?”

“The emperor is included too!? That’s truly fundamentalist. But why the lockdown?”

“No idea about that.”

(You don’t know!?)

Emilia couldn’t help but retort internally.

(But Iris would…)

In the corner of her vision, she saw Iris with a finger to her lips, gaze lowered.

Emilia voiced her thoughts.

“Since currency value was dropping, the empire’s centralized system must be nearing its end. Government credibility has hit rock bottom. Perhaps they intend this as a desperate, last-ditch move to turn things around. What do you think, Iris?”

“That sounds right. It’s a fundamentalist-like idea. But if that’s the case, I’m concerned about the movements of the imperial nobles.”

“Then what about this lockdown?”

“Preparations for war!”

Their voices overlapped again. And this time, their eyes met. Carried by excitement, they wove their words together.

“With whom, I wonder? The nobles profiting from trade with the western nations?”

“Hardly. If I were emperor, I’d attack south.”

“The Oren Kingdom… Yes. Easy to subdue, plenty to gain.”

“Less costly than a civil war. And the emperor’s abdication is likely fake. They’re making it look like the throne was handed over due to Skill Absolutism, but the emperor actually escaped. He’s probably preparing to invade the kingdom under some major noble’s protection.”

“Mother must have noticed. They probably sent word about the lockdown. So, what should we do? Emilia-sama.”

Pressed by Iris for a decision, Emilia held her breath.

“What do you mean, what should we do?”

“We could ignore the empire and go to another country, you know?”

“Big sis!?” “Iris!? What about university!?”

Against the backdrop of the two boys’ voices, Emilia gasped. Iris was staring intently at Emilia. She wore a faint smile… one that was even bewitching.

Iris had been sought for her talent and invited to the empire’s university. Emilia had been invited along as well. And yet this Iris was prioritizing Emilia over university. Over the stage where she herself could shine.

Her chest grew warm. The vague unease swelled. Emilia clenched her fists and gritted her teeth.

(I want to reach the world’s summit with this dazzlingly brilliant girl. I still don’t know what that entails, but…)

But Emilia too had something she wouldn’t compromise on. She wanted to place the “Maiden of Myriad Talents” Iris on a fitting stage. That wasn’t the kingdom. It might not be the empire either. If it’s in another country, then there’s no need to force ourselves to stay here just to attend the imperial university.

(Then, what I can do for Iris is!)

But.

“You’re saying you don’t need to go to the imperial university? Even though you were specially invited?”

“Things might become more pressing than that. I’ll go anywhere with Emilia-sama.”

“I see, then… We’ll decide about university later. So, let’s do what we can only do now?”

I want to be with you—pushed forward by Iris’s wish, Emilia twisted her lips into a fearless grin.

“What can we only do now…?”

“We sneak into the imperial capital and gather information. Expose the emperor’s absence and spread word of this scheme. What do you say? Iris.”

Having stated it in one breath, she turned to Iris beside her. So close she could feel her body heat.

“——Aren’t you excited?”

She asked with a full-faced smile.

“I-I am! Very much!”

Nodding repeatedly, Iris responded. The way she clenched both hands before her chest was somewhat adorable. Emilia felt like she might float away.

“Originally, some of our Blazing Flame Corps comrades were trapped in the imperial capital. We can’t even contact them.”

The boys’ voices pulled the two back from their giddiness. What Ren began explaining was:

“So, we were planning to infiltrate but there’s a troublesome rumor.”

“Rumor?”

“Talentless Hunting.”

It was the imperial capital’s horrifying reality.

(Talentless Hunting… Is this a game event? From the second installment…)

“Originally, in the empire, those with skills could hire the talentless cheaply. But now the imperial capital side is actively facilitating it. They’re capturing talentless commoners and forcing them on those with skills, or so they say.”

“Our comrades might have been caught in this too. The Blazing Flame Corps plans to forge skill certification for those with skills to infiltrate. So, Emilia-san… yeah. How about we pretend I hired you, and you infiltrate with us?”

As knowledge from her past life flashed through Emilia’s mind, heightening her caution, the two boys explained their plan. Lightly, Levai extended the invitation.

“Obviously not, Levai.”

“Why, big sis?”

“Just because.”

Iris shot him down flat. The sister pouted and crossed her arms, while the brother shrugged.

“Hmmm? Then, Iris, will you go with me? My skill is kinda hard to show others, you see… I’d like someone to hire me to get in.”

“Then Ren-kun should go with Levai-kun.”

“Why, Emilia?”

“Just because.”

Emilia too dismissed it as out of the question. For a moment, her eyes met Iris’s——and she unintentionally looked away. Heat rose to her face again.

“Hard to show, huh… I might be a bit problematic myself. My ‘Talent’ is too famous. If I use my real name, they might call a skill appraiser… and our forged certification could be exposed.”

“I see… Then I’ll use this holy sword—”

Hearing Iris’s voice, Emilia pulled herself together and drew the holy sword from within her right hand. A blade housing the skill to cut through anything blessed by spirits.

“—and forge certification as someone with the ‘Slash’ skill.”

“If you’ll hire me as usual?”

Facing the super maid, Emilia smiled. Iris was smiling too.

“Alright, alright, thank you for the meal.” “Sorry for interrupting.”

“It’s not like that.”

Teased, their voices overlapped again.

Pushed by the buoyancy in their chests.

The two of them, from neither in particular, began to laugh.

☆ ☆ ☆

The two headed straight for the imperial capital.

As uninvited guests.