Antagonist Protection Service-Chapter 95: Justification

Personally, I didn't think the Librarian was wrong in anything she was saying.

Her opinion matched my own. My only concern was if it would really work out better this way, as well as... if my own perception of the dilemma had been warped from the conventional standard.

That is to say, I already knew my morals were skewed. Due to Professionalism, this moral compass of mine, distorted from the norm, does not point north. Or rather, it was only my perception that Professionalism is the root cause, but I don't know that for certain.

That being the case, could I really trust that my own perception of the matter was entirely correct? I didn't think so, but then again, I couldn't even be sure of that much.

After all, I tried to be self-aware as much as possible, but in doing so, I could inadvertently be missing what was right in front of my eyes, and for that reason, it was as if I couldn't trust my eyes or anything else either.

And now that a few months had passed since I've been trapped like this, in a bubble of sorts, I couldn't even trust my own memories of what I was like prior to coming into its possession.

Just like that, I was all up in my own head from every direction.

That's why I continued to consult with the Librarian, a third party―and someone who might be able to view the matter from an objective standpoint, though that too was doubtful.

Either way, she was the only person I could ask and be upfront about all this with, so it's not like I had any other option. The only problem is that she also doesn't seem entirely right in the head.

More specifically, she doesn't possess the same kind of human common sense that other people do. I suppose the reason why didn't need to be explored, because it was obvious.

...But, in this instance only, maybe she and I weren't the only ones who held an opinion worth considering.

[Upon conferring, the emperor also assented to your belief. Enki, shouldn't that be all the permission you need to be convinced of your 'right'?]

"Maybe..."

That, too, was another huge point. Certainly, the emperor acquiescing to my proposal regarding the fate of the empire was an important part of it. As the person who was in the middle of caring for both his son and the empire as a whole, perhaps he was the one who was most involved, but ironically had to be the most objective of all.

The fact that even he chose the empire over his son―was that alone not proof that my decision was correct?

If it weren't for the emperor's authorisation, I never would have been able to take out the prince in the first place.

Why was it, that night with many guards roaming the Imperial Palace, I was able to remain entirely undetected in that place with superlative security?

Why was it, that night with many guests staying in the Imperial Palace, the crown prince's bedchamber was left suspiciously unguarded?

Such that even someone like me, with no real ability and only the power to make my actions a bit quieter, was able to stick around throughout the long night, wholly unnoticed, before sneaking in and committing the deed.

If you weren't the perpetrator or his unknown assistant, you would only think one thing.

'How scary. That someone could infiltrate this deep and commit such an atrocity.'

――That the Young Lady Archduchess' bodyguard was a secret spy the entire time.

When they thought about it, they too would inevitably realise they have no clue where I came from; there was only one person in the world who knew the answer to that.

She might have it rough for a while in the beginning, and for that I felt sorry, but she would soon prove her value to the people.

With the emperor's assistance too, her rise would undoubtedly be swift.

Causing the icy Princess of Christina-Rasa to become the Drakon-Rasa Crown Princess, and in the future, its monarchichal empress. Ordinarily, such an outrageous thing would never be allowed to occur even after the sole Imperial prince's death.

However, that fate was already guaranteed. She was his only remaining hope, so I'm sure the Ruling Sun would try his best to make that happen, even if the people were initially against it due to mismatching religious beliefs.

"Like that, the future of the empire was saved by who became its most wanted criminal... I guess, thinking of it that way, doesn't it make me sound sort of like a hero? Maybe I really shouldn't think so deeply for no reason..."

Let alone saving who would become the future empress, I ended up consolidating not only her position, but also the power and prosperity of the land in which she rules. At least, knowing how much she had prepared for it, I was sure that was how it would advance in the future.

There were many factors that coincided both before and on that day which allowed me to successfully complete the Contract as well as finish what came after, and reflecting on it now, some parts of it definitely seemed incredibly fortunate.

From her perspective, I suppose you could even say that 'the stars had aligned'...

'Thinking about it, it's a shame I won't have the opportunity to see what it's like...'

[Certainly! Oh, you can be my hero, Enki~! If a scoundrel Protagonist ever tries to take me away, I believe in you to save me! I will, fret not!!]

Snorting a laugh at the unexpected joke from the Librarian, I lightly shook my head.

"If a Protagonist is somehow able to reach you before I can help it, I think we're already doomed. Don't just rely on me to do something about it if that happens, okay?"

[Hehe~! Well, I know you'd take care of it and rescue me!]

"Hh, no, seriously... hm?"

At that moment, I felt a minor vibration in my pocket. Taking out my phone, I gave the screen a curious glance, my attention flickering between the notification and the time.

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

"Oh... what's she sent all of a sudden...?"

My eyes slightly widening at the abrupt message from Ella, I opened the picture she sent.

"Isn't it a bit late for... wait, what??"

Taking full precedence of the screen, a photo popped up, causing me to do a double-take.

There―was an ordinary selfie of Ella; a sight I had seen countless times in the years I had known her. Judging by her blank expression, it didn't seem like anything was particularly wrong.

Right. Everything was normal, except...

...Her hair was white?