The Healer in a Japanese-Style Game World: Mastering Healing to Save My Favorite Character in a Brutal World, Only to Find Everyone Around Me Becoming Obsessed - Chapter 37: Audience with the Princess of Shinano

Chapter 37: Audience with the Princess of Shinano

“Hou… so you are the one involved with her.”

While sitting in seiza in the castle’s keep, I was facing the princess who ruled this land.

In this place, it was just Toma-san, Sanae-san, me, and the tyrant before us. I was in a state of extreme tension.

I knew her personality. 

Moreover, I even remembered the inner thoughts that were only mentioned in the original story. Because of this, I was careful not to make any wrong choices or actions, and above all, to continue my deception.

“That’s right. So, you’re the princess of this country, right?”

I confronted her with a strong attitude.

Negotiation and deception—she was a master at these, and if I tried to deceive her poorly, I would be beheaded. So, I decided to lie straightforwardly.

“The owner of Yomi’s shop, with three female employees, none of whom are in any improper relationship with you, yet you have a reputation as a womanizer. This information was gathered in a day, but you claim to have made a pact with her? How did you even meet? Answer that first.”

This interrogation was different from what I had imagined. But I couldn’t afford to be exposed here, so I tried to answer somehow.

“We met by chance in the castle town. I… fell in love with Sanae-san at first sight… and grew more and more fond of her… that’s how it happened.”

“Then what was the trigger? Just that would be your one-sided feelings, wouldn’t it? If you’re engaged, you should at least be able to explain the reason.”

What should I do… This is bad, what was the trigger?

A half-baked reason won’t convince her—and a clumsy lie will be immediately exposed. But, what was the trigger?

“I was the one who brought it up—four days ago, when the town’s children and I were attacked by a Nozuchi, Yomi-san saved us, and that’s how it started.”

“Four days ago—ah, the person who disappeared then. So you defeated it… Does that mean you have the strength?”

“Yes, I finished it off, and it’s still frozen solid.”

“I see. Now, onto the main topic, what will you do about the festival? As things stand, the Harvest Festival won’t be held, which affects the rainfall of this country. If that happens, crops won’t grow, and the country will fall. We can’t rely on the one who ran away, but the festival must be held, right?”

At those words, Sanae-san trembled. 

I couldn’t imagine what she was thinking… but based on the previous conversation, she was probably recalling the fear from that time.

“Sorry to interrupt, but… if it’s just about using that power, can’t we appoint a substitute for the festival?”

“But Toma, who could rival Ryusui’s power other than Sanae? Even if we appoint a substitute, there can only be two people at most—considering the acceptance, only one. And there is no one with a blessing comparable to Sanae’s.”

…That raises a question.

Nagisa should be able to handle Ryusui-sama’s power just fine. So, why are they so fixated on Sanae-san?

…Am I forgetting something? But there’s no time to worry now—in this tense atmosphere, the discussion is going nowhere. From Nagisa’s perspective, the festival must be held, but from our side, Sanae-san is too broken to participate.

It’s scary to voice this idea.

But… there’s no other option.

“Nagisa-sama, we can challenge the trial with two people, right?”

“That’s true—but are you saying you’ll take her place?”

“Yes… I can do it, right? Then I’ll do it.”

“―Brave of you. Is it for Sanae?”

“Yes. No complaints about that, right?”

There wasn’t a single lie in my words, only my true feelings. 

She fought the Nozuchi to protect the children, sacrificing herself. She is a kind person who can hurt herself for others. I don’t want to send someone like her into danger.

So I decided to fight. I don’t want to see the people involved get hurt, so I’ll do my best for that.

“Very well, then. I’ll make the arrangements. You’ll need to prepare as well, but the festival is soon. So, the day after tomorrow, at noon, you will face the challenge.”

“Fine by me. I’ll win on my own.”

“I hope that’s not just bravado.”

After that exchange, we left the castle’s keep and stayed once again at the Hinomiko-tei. But that night, I couldn’t sleep. The reason was simple: I still remembered what I would be fighting.

“…I’m going to fight that thing.”

The day after tomorrow, I would face the very power of the great deity Kuzuryu. 

It’s the boss of the third chapter in “Kamikagu” and the strongest boss in the early stages. I vaguely remembered the events leading up to it, how the endless rain in Shinano required the Harvest Festival to be held again—wait, why did the rain never stop in the first place?

Hold on… Think, that must be important and related to the current situation. What am I forgetting? Was Sanae-san really not in the original story?

In the original “Kamikagu,” there was a mention of Nagisa losing someone—just as I was thinking this, someone knocked on the door, and a voice called out.

“Yomi-san, it’s Sanae… um, are you awake?”