Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume14 Chapter7 (section)

===Part 3===

&mdash;After daybreak. Inside the flying ship's conference room, a meeting was held to plan Fianna's rescue operation.

Sitting around the oval table was Claire next to Kamito, with Ellis beside her. Restia and Est were presumably still sleeping in the nap room.

Rubia spread a map of the imperial capital over the table.

"Fianna is imprisoned at the Great Shrine of Areishia in the center of the nobles district."

She pointed at a location on the map.

"The Great Shrine of Areishia? Not Balsas Prison?"

"That would be impossible, because Muir wrecked the prison while we were retrieving Velsaria."

"...Reckless as ever."

Kamito could not help but groan.

"The Temple of World Isolation at the Great Shrine of Areishia has the ability to nullify a princess maiden's power. It is the most suitable place for imprisoning Fianna."

Saying that, Rubia took out another map and opened it on the table. Kamito did not know what channels she had used to obtain it, but the map had detailed floor plans of the Great Shrine of Areishia.

"You three will be the ones to carry out the rescue operation. Meanwhile, we will attack a nearby military base as a diversion."

"What about my esteemed sister?"

"She is unsuited to such an operation. She will stay on the Revenant as part of the diversion."

"...That's true."

Indeed, Velsaria's "fortress" was not suited for a rescue operation.

"What's the infiltration route into the Great Shrine of Areishia?"

Claire asked a question.

While the All Nations Conference was being held, with the recent assassination incident, security in the imperial capital would have escalated to the highest level. It was probably impossible to approach openly.

"First, a horse-drawn carriage will be prepared in the countryside for you to infiltrate the city. To enter, you will disguise yourselves as a noblewoman with her lady-in-waiting. By showing an imperial access pass, you should be able to bypass the gatekeeper's interrogation."

Saying that, she placed a counterfeit imperial access pass on the table. Carved on the center of the pass was a magic seal for disrupting a guardian spirit.

"To think you even have this kind of thing..."

"An application of cursed armament seals. Vivian Melosa is an outstanding counterfeiter."

"A forgery?"

The straitlaced Ellis frowned.

"Are you going to object to underhanded means when you are rebelling against the Empire?"

"W-Well..."

"If anything, I'm more concerned about the 'lady-in-waiting' part."

...Although Kamito brought it up, everyone ignored him.

"Even after infiltrating the imperial capital, there are still spirit knights stationed in the nobles district around the Great Shrine of Areishia. I don't think we can enter openly."

"There is a Murders merchant in the slums who is very familiar with routes into the nobles district. Find that man."

"...Murders? Can you trust them?"

"Murders and the Holy Kingdom have been in opposition for years. They are an organization that acts by weighing risks and benefits rather than ideology. If Arneus is in cahoots with the Holy Kingdom, Murders will have cause to aid us."

"...I see."

Murders had established a robust network across the continent with many branches in many countries. However, there was one exception.

&mdash;Namely, the Holy Kingdom of Lugia.

Worshiping one of the Five Great Elemental Lords, Holy Lord Alexandros, while believing in "the harmony of the entire continent" as its missive, the Holy Kingdom had outlawed Murders completely and kept the organization firmly outside its doors.

From Murders' standpoint, they would not want an Ordesia emperor who was intimately in bed with the Holy Kingdom.

"Once you sneak into the nobles district, head to the Great Shrine of Areishia and rescue Fianna. Avoid combat as much as possible, in particular against the Numbers."

"...Easier said than done. What about the escape route?"

"Fianna should know of escape routes exclusive to royalty. Use those. Once you escape out of the city, I shall send militarized spirits and Velsaria. It should be just right to buy time."

"...What a reckless plan."

Kamito sighed helplessly. That being said, the announced date for Fianna's execution was three days later. It would not be realistic unless they prepared themselves to take a risk and take forceful measures.

"Then what about the headmistress?"

Ellis asked at this time, somewhat worried.

The same thing was bothering Kamito too.

"The Dusk Witch's whereabouts are unknown."

"We need to find a way to save&mdash;"

"No."

Rubia objected on the spot.

"W-Why!?"

"Truth be told, I would like to secure the Dusk Witch too. However, we currently do not have the luxury of resources to spare on that front."

"B-But..."

Ellis was instantly silenced. Of course, it was not as though Ellis could not understand. If they were to split their forces now, it would only make it much harder to rescue Fianna.

"Be at ease. Arneus would not dare execute the Empire's hero so lightly."

"I suppose, maybe&mdash;"

Kamito muttered. After all, there was already a riot at Areishia Spirit Academy where many noble daughters were studying. The Empire would take utmost caution in dealing with her.

"Rubia is right. Let's give up on rescuing Greyworth this time."

"...Understood."

Ellis bit her lip regretfully and nodded.

"Just this time, okay? There will be a chance sooner or later. Let's wait patiently."

"Yes..."

"So, what do we do after saving Fianna?"

This time, Kamito asked Rubia.

"After circling around the Kelbreth Mountain Range, we will escape into the Dragon Duchy of Dracunia."

Rubia moved the pin on the map again.

"Dracunia?"

"Indeed, that nation has extremely poor relations with the Holy Kingdom."

"Right. Preparations have already been made in advance to escape there."

"...Not bad at all."

Kamito could not help but smack his lips. Despite losing most of her subordinates, Rubia's underground network seemed intact.

"What about after we escape to Dracunia?"

After hearing Claire's question, Rubia slowly looked up from the map.

"I intend to support Fianna to become empress."

She declared in a solemn voice.

"Support Fianna to become empress?"

"Indeed. Then at an opportune timing, 'Legitimate Ordesia' will be announced."

"Legitimate Ordesia...?"

"Indeed. Raising a banner to fight the Holy Kingdom, the true Ordesia Empire."

"A government in exile huh? ...So you're ignoring Fianna's own will completely."

"The League of Inferno requires a righteous cause to declare war on the Holy Kingdom."

"B-But this way&mdash;"

Claire mustered her courage and spoke up.

"Fianna clearly wouldn't like this. She already abandoned all of that..."

"Be that as it may, she is ultimately still a member of the imperial family. She will understand her mission and accept this destiny."

"Uh..."

"&mdash;Thus concludes our battle plan."

Rubia declared coldly and stood up.

Just as she put on her overcoat and was about to leave the conference room&mdash;

"Nee-sama..."

For an instant, Rubia paused at the door.

"...I leave Fianna in your hands."

Rubia whispered extremely quietly.

Kamito and Claire instantly exchanged glances.

Rubia's words made them realize.

Exterminating the Otherworldly Darkness that was responsible for driving the Elemental Lords insane&mdash;That was the motivation for her actions.

But in addition to that.

Surely, she&mdash;

Hoped to rescue Fianna as her best friend in the past.

"&mdash;Yeah, we'll handle it."

As Rubia passed through the doorway, Kamito nodded.