Vol 4 Chapter 36 – Because Disciple and Master are One in Body and Soul【Vol 4 – Stop Shion’s Fabricated Engagement】

That aside, I decided to ask something that had suddenly crossed my mind.

“Umm… so, Shion, you have no intention of getting married?”

“I am fully intent on getting married, but marrying some Crown Prince from who-knows-where whom I’ve never even met is impossible.”

“So, you’ll refuse?”

“I really want to do that, but…”

Shion wore an expression of anguish.
When I turned my face toward General Yuna, she let out a deep sigh and explained.

“Of course, we want to reject it outright. However, the Sebas Empire is the leading superpower in the region. We reached the conclusion that it would be difficult to refuse them flatly.”

“Ah… because if we mess up, it’s war.”

“My Senior Disciple and I declared that we would win even if it came to war, but the council is weak-kneed… If Master were here, we certainly wouldn’t lose any war, but we can’t drag Master into our country’s circumstances over something like this.”

“No, no, I’d at least help out my disciples, you know?”

“I knew Master would say that. —But my Senior Disciple is a Princess, and I’ve been a General in this country for over a hundred years, so our ties are unavoidable. But I want Master to remain free from stupid political strife. Besides, if Master’s strength became known, the aftermath would be too troublesome…”

“It helps that you say that.”

As a result of training for a mind-boggling amount of time in subspace, I have become reasonably strong.
But while I might use that power for myself or my disciples, I don’t have much intention of using it for power struggles.
I’m aware that fundamentally, at my core, I’m a shut-in.
Surely General Yuna understands that temperament of mine.

“Before that, I don’t really understand the reason they want my Senior Disciple to marry in so badly that they’d resort to fabrication.”

“Isn’t it just that he normally wants Shion as a bride?”

I think it’s quite possible he’s abusing the Crown Prince’s authority—which fell into his lap after the former Crown Prince, Nagisa, disappeared—to try and make the neighboring Succubus Princess his bride.
After all, Princess Shion is exceptionally beautiful even among Succubi, and her figure is outstanding too.
Add the fact that she’s a Princess, and the external reasons to make her a lawful wife are perfect.
But General Yuna shook her head.

“Of course, that possibility is high. However, the current Crown Prince, Vakanamesh, has been a figure surrounded by dark rumors for a long time… And according to Nagisa’s intelligence, rather than just being a womanizer, he has apparently had a terrible obsession with Succubi specifically for a long time.”

“Oh?”

“And so, currently, we are in a situation where we don’t know how to deal with this.”

If Nagisa, the former Crown Prince, says so, there’s no mistake.
With that in mind, I asked Nagisa, who would know the most about the current Crown Prince.

“What do you think, Nagisa?”

“It’s unfortunate, but I don’t know his intent itself. But he’s probably desperate.”

“Desperate?”

“The current Royal Family of the Sebas Empire is a clan that took advantage of the gap when I vanished from the public stage to frame the former Royal Family and seize the position. Their specialty is conspiracy, and conversely, their raw combat power—like loyal knights and mercenaries—is low. —That’s the reason they couldn’t become the Royal Family while I was there. So right now, replenishing enough military power to maintain themselves as the Royal Family must be an urgent task.”

“Mm-hm.”

“So, do they intend to form a military alliance with this country through marriage, or are they expecting the martial power of Shion herself, nicknamed the Demonbane Princess Knight…? But even so, would they resort to such forceful measures as fabrication?”

“I see.”

It makes sense.
By listening to everyone, the current situation has become somewhat clear.
—In short, my disciple Shion is in a pinch, but they don’t really know what to do.
Then, as her Master, there is only one thing to do.

“Got it. Then I’ll go investigate.”

“M-Master!?”

“I’m not going there to pick a fight. I’m just going to investigate the forgery and the motive behind it.”

Princess Shion certainly can’t go there directly.
In that regard, I am a commoner whose face isn’t known, so I can investigate freely.
When I explained this, Shion said with strong determination burning in her eyes:

“I understand. Then I will go with you.”

“No, but if Shion herself goes to the Sebas Empire, won’t they think you’ve agreed to the marriage…?”

“We have already sent a document to their side stating that the hundred-year-old pact cannot be confirmed in our country, so it is fine. Besides, either way, a representative of the King needed to go to the Sebas Empire to verify the facts. —In that case, if I go directly as that envoy, it kills two birds with one stone, doesn’t it?”

“Ehhhh…?”

I tried to persuade her that it would complicate things and she should stop, but…
Shion stubbornly repeated things like “Because disciple and Master are one in body and soul.”
Moreover, it was decided that General Yuna would act as Shion’s guard, and Nagisa would accompany us as a maid.

In the end, the four of us ended up heading to the neighboring country.