Editing Masou Gakuen HxH:Volume 14 Chapter 2 (section)

===Part 1===
Three months had passed since the contact point between Lemuria and Atlantis was lost.

After sending off Kizuna and others to Ataraxia, Grace returned to Atlantis. And then after that the Entrance immediately vanished.

Only the blue sky and white cloud could be seen at the sky where the Entrance once existed. Grace looked up to that sky and keenly felt that the connection with Lemuria had really gone for good.

Since then, Grace was living together with a great sense of loss. It felt like there was a large hole gouged in her chest, as though there was blank space inside her body.

However three months passed and the wound of her heart was gradually healing.

Her daily works as emperor. The restoration of the ruined territory. Reorganizing the country. There were a lot of works to do. It didn’t mean that the gap in her heart due to Aine’s leave was filled with that. However her busy schedule sometimes became a consolation──Grace thought that.

That was why, she thought to respond to the invitation letter that reached her just now happily.

「Hohou……this is a matter of congratulation.」

At the palace located in Vatlantis Empire’s imperial capital, Zeltis. Grace stared at the letter she received on her throne and her face broke into a smile.

The four Quartum looked up at Grace with a curious gaze.

After the four looked at each other, Clayda asked as their representative.

「Is it some kind of a good news?」

「Umu. It seems that Gravel of Izgard will hold a marriage ceremony three months later.」

「「「「EEEH!?」」」」

The four raised a shocked voice together.

And then Elma immediately let out a question.

「Who is the partner?」

「It’s Aldea.」

「「「「Uwaaa……」」」」

The four made an awkward face.

「I seee, so she finally caught her huuuh」

Ramza smiled wryly. Lunorlla lightly elbowed her side.

「Don’t say something like that. Perhaps the person herself is happy.」

「Yes yes. Even so, she was someone who once fell as far as being a prisoner who was no different from a slave and even got tortured by us. But right now she is Izgard’s president. And Aldea who is touched in the head will be the first lady. Amazing isn’t ittt」

After returning to Atlantis, Grace recognized the independence of Izgard and Baldin. It came from the feeling of gratitude and respect from fighting together against the danger to the world──was a part of the reason, but there was also the pragmatic aspect of Vatlantis’s inability to look after their country currently.

In this chaotic situation, there was a limit in taking control of reconstructing and governing the whole world. If they forced it, surely conflict would occur. Their relationship that had finally turned favorable would be ruined and it was possible that it would become another civil war.

Vatlantis Empire was already boasting a vast territory even now, and it also had a lot of problem. Therefore she thought making the two countries independent and had them solve the matter of their respective country by themselves would be a good plan.

And then independence was also Izgard and Baldin’s earnest wish, so there was no reason for them to object.

After achieving independence and taking a step toward a bright future, the representative of Izgard would hold a wedding ceremony. This was a bright news for the populace too, and the effect it would bring for the economy would surely also be something considerable. There was no doubt that the momentum of Izgard’s reconstruction would accelerate further.

However Clayda bit her nail with a conflicted face.

「Putting aside Gravel, when it come to Aldea……she has this nickname as comrade slayer, I pray that their country won’t get crushed.」

「Ee, it’s other country anyway, it doesn’t matter for us isn’t it?」

「Idiot. If it becomes something like that, it will also affect us. Refugees will flood us in great number.

「I, I see……」

Ramza scratched her head while averting her gaze.

Grace flapped the invitation letter held between her fingers and smiled.

「I will directly ascertain that matter. Let’s see, I think it will be faster to have Zelcyone read her heart──」

Suddenly Grace noticed that Zelcyone wasn’t here.

「Mu? Where did Zel go?」

The four Quartum looked at each other’s face.

「Come to think of it……we don’t see her today.」

「I also didn’t see her yesterday.」

「Certainly……」

While the three were falling into thought, Ramza said 「Ah」 and lifted her face in remembrance.

「Now that you mentioned it, Zel-sama went out.」

「What did you say?」

「She left a letter in her room. Somehow it sounds like a secret work……wait, it wasn’t something that Grace-sama ordered?」

Ramza put her fingers into between her breasts and pulled out a folded paper.

Clayda, Elma, and Lunorlla peered onto that paper.

.

──Please don’t look for me. Zelcyone

.

「「「Wha-……!?!?」」」

Clayda spread out the paper in panic.

.

──At this occasion, I wish to resign from my post as the captain of the royal guard as well as from Vatlantis army due to personal reasons. I have been in your care for a long time. Eternal glory for the magnificent emperor Grace and the proud Vatlantis army.

I’m thinking to have a peaceful life as a commoner from here on.

.

Please don’t look for me. Zelcyone

.

「「「WHAT THE HELL IS THISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!?」」」

「Eh, that’s why I’m telling you she is away──」

「THAT’S NOT IT YOU IDIOT────────!!」

Clayda screamed, and then she rushed up the stair to the throne and handed the letter to Grace.

Grace read it once and frowned with a troubled look.

「This is……really sudden.」

「She, she wrote here to not look for her but……Grace-sama……」

「Obviously we’ll search for her. Although, I don’t think we’ll be able to catch her with her ability though……」

Zelcyone’s special skill was mind manipulation. Even if her pursuer discovered her, it would be the end if she hypnotized them as though they had never found her.

「A, also, if Zel-sama is gone……it will be really troubling.」

「Umu. After all the royal guard in effect is the one supervising the whole army of Vatlantis. It won’t be good if the captain is absent……」

Lunorrla also looked down with a troubled look.

「There are also fellows forming rebel army and carrying out terrorist action at the provinces……those guys might also get fired up if they know this.」

「You’re right. Our chain of command might also fall into chaos.」

Grace folded her arms and groaned, but after a while she spoke resolutely.

「It can’t be helped. I will appoint a new captain.」