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The Spirit Dance Festival lasts three days.
The general flow is for everyone to enjoy themselves during those three days, and on the final night, I—Nagisa—will perform a dance at the shrine on the Sacred Mountain to conclude the festival.
…Originally, there would also be a ritual afterward where the cursed blade is used to cut down evil, but since there is neither the cursed blade nor anyone who can wield it, that cannot be done now.
With the Spirit Dance Festival tomorrow, I headed to the street lined with stalls.
"Oh, Lady Nagisa! Thank you for coming all the way to a place like this!"
The man who had been giving instructions to everyone noticed me, stopped what he was doing, and came over.
The others also lightly bowed their heads.
Seeing their behavior, a feeling of guilt built up in my heart.
I don't think they need to humble themselves before someone like me, but my retainers say this is necessary to maintain order in the country, so I suppress that guilt and turn to the man who had been giving instructions.
"Sorry for making you stop working. I just couldn't help but worry… From the looks of it, everything seems to be going well."
Hearing my words, the man smiled brightly.
"Yes. We can't let Lady Nagisa be embarrassed, after all. We'll do our best to make it lively starting tomorrow, so please show us your finest dance on the final day."
"Thank you. I promise to do my best with the best dance I can offer to repay everyone's hard work."
After that, I went around to various places and greeted everyone.
Talking with them made me certain.
The country is regaining its vitality.
Right after the civil war—no, the rebellion—the country had fallen into ruin, and it was terrible.
But over the past few years, the people have finally begun to adapt to the current situation.
I don't think this is the right form for the country, but I also can't say that being ruled by negative emotions is good either.
In the end, even if we have no choice but to submit to Lady Philly and the church, as one of the family that founded this country, I will never abandon that pride.
Even if it takes time, I will break free from Lady Philly's control.
"If the preparations are complete, it might be better to report to Lady Philly just in case?"
While I was inwardly igniting the flame of determination, Kiryu-sensei, who was serving as my escort and staying by my side, gave me advice.
Kiryu-sensei has been protecting me ever since I became the princess of this country after the rebellion.
Thanks to him, the people of the church never treated me roughly. The fact that I can live freely is all because of Kiryu-sensei.
He is also Fuuka's sword instructor and the only person I can fully trust right now.
"You're right."
Lady Philly has not made any major moves since she returned, just as she promised. Thanks to that, I was able to focus on preparing for the Spirit Dance Festival, but I cannot let my guard down.
After all, there is no guarantee about what will happen after the festival ends.
It is entirely possible that Lady Philly will start moving right after the festival.
She is definitely not someone I can afford to be careless around.
Perhaps sensing what was in my heart, Kiryu-sensei smiled gently at me.
"It's all right. I am by your side. Anyone who tries to harm you, I will cut them down."
"Fufu. That's reassuring, but it sounds rather violent. Please keep the use of force as a last resort."
"…Understood."
After that heartwarming exchange with Kiryu-sensei, I headed toward the Shinonome family residence where Lady Philly was staying.
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By the time I arrived at the Shinonome family residence, the moon had already appeared in the dark sky.
I headed straight to the room where Lady Philly was.
"Lady Philly, may I have a moment?"
"My, Nagisa. What is it?"
Lady Philly, who had been reading a scroll in the room, looked up.
This is Fuuka's house.
She occupies it as if it belongs to her and casually reads the scrolls that the Shinonome family has passed down for generations.
Anger wells up inside me at the sight of her.
(How frustrating…! Why don't I have the power to drive this person out of the country…? Why am I so… powerless…?)
Anger surges not only toward Lady Philly but also toward myself.
(But if I act emotionally here, the people will suffer. I have to endure it…!)
Suppressing my anger, I spoke.
"The preparations for the Spirit Dance Festival have been completed without any issues, so I came to report that."
"I see, it's finished. Does that include the shrine on the Sacred Mountain where the dance will be performed?"
"…? Yes. It has been purified so the dance can be performed at any time."
"Thank you for coming all this way to report. In that case, you should 'just stay put right there.'"
"…Huh?"
As Lady Philly stood up, she gave me an order.
She then walked past me and started to leave the room.
I could only watch.
(Huh? Why am I just standing here watching Lady Philly leave?)
By the time I felt something was wrong with my own actions, the sliding door had closed, and I was the only one left in the room.
"!? W-where are you going, Lady Philly!? —It won't open…?"
I immediately tried to chase after her and grabbed the sliding door, but no matter how hard I pushed, it wouldn't open.
"Why do I have to tell you something like that?"
I tried to blow the sliding door away with attack magic.
"Big sister, I'm sorry for damaging the residence—Kyaa!?"
However, the attack that touched the sliding door bounced back and came straight at me.
"Fufu… It's no use. That room is a space even the Hero would struggle to escape from. Well, I'll turn it into a blazing inferno after I finish what I need to do here, so you won't die right away. For now, just behave yourself in there."
Even the Hero…? Something like that is beyond my power…
"W-what are you planning to do by locking me in here…!?"
"Isn't it obvious? Something you would want to interfere with."
In response to my question, Philly—no, Philly—answered in a mocking tone.
Even through the sliding door, I could tell she was wearing a dark smile.
"You're not planning to do something terrible to the people, are you…?"
"I won't lay a hand on them directly, but in the end, every single person in this country will die."
"!? I won't let you do that! Let me out right now! If you don't, I won't cooperate with you anymore! Is that okay!? You need my power to keep the demons in this world, don't you!?"
Realizing I couldn't escape on my own, I desperately tried to appeal to my own value to Philly.
The church's greatest combat forces—the demons known as the Incinerator, the Thunder Emperor, and the Rakshasa—are anchored in human bodies by my special ability.
One of them, the Rakshasa, was defeated by the "Demon King."
Furthermore, to bring more demons into this world or to keep them here, my special ability is necessary.
I don't want to cooperate any further, but this is not the time to say that.
Right now, getting out of here is my top priority.
If Philly needs my special ability, there's a chance she'll accept—
"Ah, that. I don't need it anymore."
"…Why? To oppose the 'Demon King,' Orun Dura, you should need more combat strength…"
"Having something like that used as a bargaining chip would be troublesome. The Doctor already reproduced your special ability, Spirit Manipulation, while he was still alive."
"The Doctor…? Reproduced…?"
"That man reproduced several abilities I didn't even ask for, including Self-Healing, but the main one was analyzing and reproducing your special ability, Spirit Manipulation. In other words, you've already served your purpose."
"N-no way… Philly no longer saw any value in me…? Then why did I…?"
Overwhelmed by frustration and helplessness, I felt like I was about to collapse.
Two sets of footsteps moved away from the room.
My vision blurred, and tears kept falling from the corners of my eyes.
"Why… why can't I… do anything again this time…!"
I weakly struck the floor.
Regret tightened my throat, and wordless sobs escaped.
"If only I were stronger… if only I were stronger…!"
My clenched fist trembled.
The tears wouldn't stop.
My chest ached as if it were being gouged out.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…!"
All I could do was keep crying.