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Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 4 Chapter 5

2013-08-12T17:42:00Z

130.212.195.142: /* Chapter 5 - Mordred's tombstone */

==Chapter 5 - Mordred's tombstone==
===Part 1===
''- Stop it! Please stop…!''

Ansarivan was destroyed right in front of Silvia.

It was an act of destruction.

In St Durham square a place of the public to rest, there is a huge beast- gray- the Necromanica was crazily attacking.

For every step the Necromanica made the buildings collapse fragilely like logs.

Silvia legs felt weak. Slumped fell to the ground.

Silvia’s legs felt weak and slumped to the ground.

"Princess-sama, please pull yourself together!"

Even when Ash was shouting by her side, Silvia was scared and did not respond.

''- Aaa.....a dream?''

Silvia was looking at the past events from up high. She felt ghostly.

''- How embarrassing for me toactually become paralyzed while sitting on the ground......''

Silvia high up in the air felt that ‘useless’ is the only word that can be used to describe herself.

How useless am I, no wonder Ash scolded me.

"What are you joking about...... what sort of prince are you! Which royal knight family are you froml! If you really are an excellent
royalist, then prove it to us!"

Ash lifted his right hand.

"Sorry but no offence!"

Just like what she remembered, Ash slapped Silvia in the face.

Thanks to that ruthless blow, Silvia manage to escape from the shackles of fear, and was determined to fight side by side with Ash.

Even that incident had just happened a few months ago, but it felt like it had been years.

It is probably because she had lived her life to the fullest for the past few months, she get this feeling. Furthermore, the changes of her
academy’s life happen after the birth of Eco.

''-Why is it so?''

Silvia suddenly felt something not right.

She felt something when she was looking at the Necromancia from this perspective.

''-I recognize the Necromancia? How could......''

Logically speaking, this is the first time Silvia witnessed such a creepy monster.

In fact, she had never seen such a large, black haired dragon in her entire life.

However, Silvia now felt that the Necromancia looks very familiar.

''-Could it be!''

Silvia have an idea

Once she had found out, she was thinking that how could she be this slow.

''- Is it Mordred!?''

Mordred was brother Julius’s Pal, but was personally killed by Julius.

''- Yes! That face and actions...... indeed they look like Mordred's! I was too careless, how could I not realize it earlier!''

===Part 2===
The morning of the fifteenth day of the month of cancer.

“Mordred!”

I had finally discovered a crucial clue- Silvia at the same time, jumped out from her bed.

“Er… I’m at…?”

Silvia did not feel quite right.

The scenery in front of her eyes was not the familiar ceilings of the Epona’s house.

After she looked around again, Silvia finally remembered....

"I had forgotten...."

…This is Silvia’s bedroom in Fontaine City. Silvia was lying down on the bed with a top cover and surrounded by luxurious curtains.

"Are you awake, Princess-sama?"

Cosette who was waiting in the room slowly pulled back the bed curtains. Silvia felt relieved after she saw her gentle smile.

“Morning, Cosette.”

"Good morning, princess-sama. Just now, I thought I heard you shouting a guy’s name.... Even when you had secretly promised yourself to Ash-
sama, yet you are still thinking of another person. I felt contempt with princess-sama’s unfaithful behavior."

Unfortunately, the few words from Cosette had disrupted Silvia’s calm mood.

"N-Nonsense! Mordred is a dragon's name!"

"Hehehe, just kidding, but you actually did not deny the sentence ‘secretly promised yourself to Ash-sama’."

Silvia’s cheeks suddenly became hot.

"It is nothing like that! It is because there are many places for me to comment on, I had just forgotten about it!"

“Then I’ll try to believe that what you were saying was the truth. Hehehe.”

After Cosette purposely laugh, she pulled back the entire curtains of the bed. Then she walked towards the window and pulled back the curtains
covering the windows.

The glaring morning ray flooded into the room the next moment.

Silvia getting down from her bed spoke behind Cosette:

"Hey, Cosette. Before breakfast, I would like to go to a place."

Cosette smiles while answering.

"It is my responsibility to take care of princess-sama. I would be happy to follow princess-sama even to both ends of earth.”

===Part 3===
Not many people can be seen early in the morning in the Fontaine city’s town center.

The shops also seem to close today. A empty street is full of a cooling light breeze which is suits this spring season well.

Silvia put on the dragon riding academy’s hat to cover her eyes and she also wore her uniform.

By seeing Silvia’s dress up, no one on the street should be able to figure out that she is the fourth princess. Contrary to that, it is Cosette who was in her maid attire following right behind her looked a lot more striking.

There are occasion where the watchmen will approached they for a safety check, but as long as Silvia lifts her face-

“Aren’t you Princess-sama! I’m sorry for bothering you!”

Everyone without exception will apologize while bowing and then immediately buzz off.

Later, Silvia arrived at the mausoleum area at the west side of the city.

This is not a common mausoleum, but a special one that is use as a graveyard for the dragons.

There were two guards on duty at the entrance to the mausoleum.

“…?”

Silvia was confused.

There were never any guards in this area. There ain’t anything that’s worthy to be stolen by thieves in this mausoleum.

“Princess-sama? Why would you come to this type of place?”

The two guards reacted just the same as those previous watchmen and Silvia and Cosette were allowed to enter the mausoleum.

“Lets go, Cosette.”

“Yes, Princess-sama.”

Silvia decisively stormed into the mausoleum.

It is said that Mordred’s ashes was placed in the underground of the mausoleum. Perhaps the reason Paladin Oswald did so was to bury the name
Mordred along with its ashes.

After walking for some times on the stone stairs, Silvia arrived at her destination.

Unexpectedly, there were already visitors at Mordred’s tomb.

A woman in armour.

A thin and tall knight.

And a woman who has the height of a child.

There was also a basilisk standing behind the small size woman. Basilisk is said to be the same species as an Asia. It is a beast which has
the looks of a lizard.

If it is possible, Silvia wouldn’t want to meet with the three people and the beast. That’s because there’s always trouble whenever she met
them.

“Ane-ue! And also… Glenn-dono and Avdocha-dono!”

Upon hearing Silvia’s greeting, the three of they turned their heads back at the same time.

Veronica was the first to speak among the three.

“Ain’t you Silvia! Why do you come to this place?”

Veronica eyes were as cold as they use to be, like an eagle who found its prey. Even though Silvia trembled, but she still replied calmly.

“I’m here because I remembered something. Ane-ue why are you here? Anyway… let alone Glenn-dono, why would Avodcha-dono is also here?”

“What! Are you not satisfied that we are together? Do you want me to tear your clothes into two again? Do you want to show that pair of cow like breast in front of your ex-fiancé?... ''Ouch!''

Veronica without any warning knocked Avdocha’s head with her Gauntlets on, which made her cried in pain with tears in her eyes.

That punch should hurt a lot… Silvia pitied her. Anyway Silvia had tastes the pain from the pair of knuckles for numerous times.

“Avdocha, when were you given the right to lecture my sister.”

“Uuh. You tyrant! My head is now swollen!”

The lady, Avdocha Kiltzkaya was called ‘Avdocha The Convict’ by the crowds was an ex-terrorist and now was the leader of the foreign force in the knight country. Previously, during Veronica’s visit to Ansarivan, she had caused many troubles for Silvia.

“Yes, so you still have extra energy to talk nonsense.”

“Ouch! D-Don’t hit my head anymore or else I won’t be able to grow taller!”

“You had already passed twenty years-old and yet you are still thinking of growing taller? What a joke?”

“Don’t be mean07:20, 9 August 2013 (CDT)!”

Even Avdocha can’t do anything when facing Veronica. Because that she look like a child, so she is now like a kid being scolded for some pranks.

“It has been a long time, Princess Silvia.

Glenn greeted and bowed in front of Silvia, without being bothered by Avdocha’s and Silvia’s argument. He is still the same beautiful guy that will make your eyes glitter.

Glenn is Julius’s best friend and also Silvia’s ex-fiancé. Even after their marriage had been canceled, but it is still embarrassing to meet like this.

“Glenn-dono, I’m happy to see you in the pink. But back to the topic, why are you her?”
“I’ll answer that question.”

The armour on her body made a clear loud sound when Veronica turned around. Just like she had lost interest in a toy, Avdocha was left by a side.

Veronica with a tone as heavy as her armour said:

“Actually, Mordred’s ashes were stolen.”

“When was it stolen?”

“We are not sure about the time. Anyway no one would expect that anyone would want to steal ashes. This mausoleum does not even have guards before this. Maybe… They were stolen years ago and it is just that we do not realize it.”

“…Then how do you found out about it now?”

“Of course it is the clue from the Willingham Mausoleum incident. The enemy is obviously using the ashes of the dragons as materials to make their weapons. That’s why I had given the order to check on every mausoleum that has the dragon tomb.”

“And the one who was in charge of the checking was the foreign force leaded by me.”

Veronica was not bothered by Avdocha who wants a reward and she shrugged her shoulders.
“…And the result is just like what you can see.”

“What do you mean?”

“The things are just like what I had expected. Many of the dragon bones were stolen from all over the country,”

“How could it be…”

Silvia was clenching her teeth.

The enemies’ movement was not just a step ahead, but two or three steps ahead.

This type of cowardly technique must be from the Zepharos Empire who knew that ‘Machines will never be able to win against the dragons’.

“There’s another thing, Silvia. I had heard about your heroic fight at the Willingham Mausoleum while riding on Lancelot. I’m proud of you.”

“Ee...”

“For one moment, Silvia didn’t understand what Veronica was saying.”

Only after a few moments later, she finally felt it from the bottom of her heart.

''That’s right...Veronica praised me.''

“Thank you onee-ue.”

After Silvia thanked her while smiling, Veronica’s face turned red and she turned it aside.
[[Image:SnRK V04 105.jpg|thumb]]

“Hmph... don’t get overjoyed yet. You are now still a little chick and your priority is to strive towards an Ark-Dragner. Then we will remove that bastard Oswald from his throne.”

“A-Anee-ue...”

Silvia felt troubled.

Veronica totally hated her father who is like nothing but a commoner until the extend where she will even call him ‘bastard’.

“By the way… I have something to tell anee-ue.”

Silvia showed a serious expression.

Perhaps that Veronica felt an abnormal air around Silvia, she silently nodded and allowed her to continue to speak.

“It is something related to anii-ue. A few days ago, a met a guy called Milgauss at Willingham Mausoleum. He is the Empire’s henchman.”

“I have a report regarding that man… so, what has he to do with Julius?”

“Please listen to me calmly. Even though this is just my intuition… I think that Milgauss is anii-ue.”

“Nonsense!”

The person who shouted loudly wasn't Veronica but the quiet Glenn who was standing behind her.

“Glenn-dono?”

“It’s imposible! That man is still kicking… and had become an active spy for the Empire… That’s absolutely outrageous!”

Sliva could understand how Glenn felt. Glenn and Julius were best friends when they were studying in Ansarivan.

“Generally speaking, what proof do you have Silvia-sama-”

“Keep your cool Glenn,<ref>This is written in order form.</ref> the person who you are speaking to is my sister.”

Veronica was like a beast trainer trying to tame a beast when lecturing Glenn.

“I’m… Sorry.”

Even a person like Glenn knelled down and apologized on the spot like a beast being whipped.

“I still have something to report to anee-ue. You had just said that Mordred’s ashes were stolen… After some careful thought, the Necromancia
that attacked Ansarivan looked a little like Mordred.”

Veronica was stunned upon hearing.

“…Silvia, you musn’t tell anyone about this. The truth of Julius is still living will cause a great impact on the Knight family. Plus Mordred
who was suspected to be the Necromancia is another problem… This information should be kept confidential. Do you understand?”

“Yes… anee-ue,”

Silvia immediately promised without a second thought.

===Part 4===
Silvia was separated with Veronica and the rest at the entrance of the Mausoleum.

“We’ll now head back to town.”

“Yes princess-sama. We still have not yet decided what you are going to wear tonight.”

“For the masquerade…? Sad to say, but I’m not longing for it.”

Silvia sighed.

“Ara, this is a good chance to invite Ash-sama. Anyway, this is a masquerade. The difference between social statuses can temporally be pushed aside. You just need to get immersed in the atmosphere… Then the two of you will be at the balcony alone after the dance. With the holy rays
of moon light as a background, both of you will kiss passionately while hugging each other.”

“What nonsense are you mumbling about! You have been reading too much of those third grade novels.” <ref>Third grade is considered low grade
(first is the highest) and it usually means hentai. For those who don’t know what hentai mean… err… google it…</ref>

Silvia’s face was as if it is on fire. After she scolded Cosette, she remembered the scenario during dinner time yesterday.

Oswald suspected that Ash and Silvia doesn’t have a simple relationship. Ash who was integrated in the end swore that he will never touch even
a single strand of Silvia’s hair.

"Princess-sama and I...... Are not in a relationship!

The words that Ash used to beg Oswald kept on repeating in Silvia’s mind. ''Paladin? He is just a useless guy! But Ash was so scared that he use
‘not in a relationship’ as a shield!''

Silvia was getting mad.

But what confused her most is her own thought. She just heard the words ‘not in a relationship’ but why was she this mad about it.

“Arrgh! I can’t stand it! What’s wrong with me!”

Cosette while looking at the troubled Silvia, she smiles.

“Princess-sama had also already being the journey of youth!”

"Reunion ~A.S.B.1365.7~" is closed.

==References and Translation Notes==
<references />

<noinclude>
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|-
| Back to [[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 4 Chapter 4|Chapter 4]]
| Return to [[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 4 Chapter 6|Chapter 6]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Rakuin no Monshou:The Little Fugitive

2013-08-08T20:16:24Z

130.212.195.142: /* The Little Fugitive */

{{Incomplete|pages=3/14}}
==The Little Fugitive==

=== Part 1 ===

“Your Highness Gil.”

As the sound of shouting receded, standing there was a young man with a lean face——no, calling it juvenile would be more appropriate.

His name is Orba.

Born in a certain nameless village. But several months prior, he was still just a famous gladiator, being a slave and risking his life in a fight to entertain the guests.

Even so, being called ‘Gil’; another person name, he turned his head around. Located at the Solon Palace in the imperial capital of Mephius.

Originally, with Orba’s status let alone treading foot into this place, even approaching the gate is impossible.

Gil Mephius——the only son of Emperor Guhl of Mephius, the crown prince next in line of the throne. Orba though a slave, but due to a twist of fate, he possessed the same identical look as the crown prince. But several months before, under the command of a noble, he became a substitute for Prince Gil to live in the palace.

On the surface a standin for the prince, but in reality, he was secretly concocting a plan to usurp all the power from the nobles. Besides, Orba had his own thoughts, but was set aside for the time being.

On the other hand, a person with flickering golden hair came running over, calling Orba with the name ‘Gil Mephius’, is a girl named Vileena Owell. Fourteen of age. She came from the neighbouring country Garbera to Mephius some months ago. To become the crown prince Gil’s wife.

Mephius had been in war with Gabera for tens of years. Owing to their mutual feeling of loathing the war, a truce and an alliance was formed as a consequence, by the marriage of these two young people.

But today——after having breakfast in his respective seat.

After giving his regards to the royal family who attended the engagement party, hastily fled to the palace’s corridor.

After all, the current schedule was tight. Two weeks later, he needed to lead an army out of the capital, and quickly reached Apta Fortress at the west of Mephius. To suppress the uprising force in the west——Ackles Bazgan. Arranging of the force, preparing the equipments, preparing for battle——the works kept piling up like a mountain.

His mind thinking various sort of things, having only walked into the corridor, Princess Vileena followed suit.

(Really)

Could it be I had done something lacking courtesy, Orba secretly grumbled in his mind. Looking back, until several months ago, he was just a mere slave. Unaccustomed to the royal family’s etiquette, and practices. Quietly endured in his heart, as he prepared to receive the scolding of the fourteen year old girl. In other words, this is how their relationship is.

“About her royal highness Flora, did you hear about it?”

“Flora?”

Hearing this unexpected name, Orba crooked his head.

Flora is the late queen’s daughter, a sister who has no blood relationships with Gil whatsoever. Her age, from his memory it should be eleven, or twelve years old. An introvert person, aside from the social niceties, Orba himself hadn’t seen her speak even once. She should also be present at the meal a moment ago, but when he racked his brain he couldn’t recall it no matter what, she gave people the impression of a frail girl.

Inquiring about Flora, this princess of a neighboring country is becoming more and more hard to understand.

“During the founder's day festival, as a congratulatory gift, Melphius received a Schiapa kitten. Those who were close with her highness Flora saw that she wanted this, setting their minds, they stealthily sent people out to make various preparations. In short her highness Flora became very happy.

“cat”

Speaking of Solon, this is a rarely seen creature, moreover a Schiapa cat, he had heard that it is of the western side of the continent’s breed, raising it requires a lot of manpower.

“Just for a while, setting it to play in the Princess Flora’s courtyard, having lost attention of it for a split second, it had fled.”

“oh”

“Due to losing it, Princess Flora who was once cheerful became an introvert person. Your highness must have seen it a moment ago. She barely ate any food. If this goes on, she will collapse one of these days.”

“I see.”

It seems like she didn’t come to lecture him, hearing Orba this just one sentence, however,

“This is your sister. What do you mean by ‘I see’!”

Vileena narrowed the corner of her eyes.

(Crap)

Orba realized that, this he had done wrong. This princess, is totally unlike her cute and petite appearance, in case she recognized someone as the [enemy], she would relentlessly press on the matter. This also applied to if he were to use a sword or gun.

Orba could not help but feel that, he had fallen into the enemy’s trap.

“I am sure lots of people have been sent to search for it in the palace already, it would be found sooner or later, please rest assured princess.”

“I am not talking about this. I having recently arrived from another country, have no right to say in your internal affairs, but that person——her highness Flora appears to be lonely.)

Vileena withdraw her attack temporarily, trying to convey something through her eyes.

This problem doesn’t just involve the cat, Orba felt so. Like Vileena, being in his country recently, until not a long time ago, Mephius and the princess’ country were old nemesis, being through countless blood bath and slaughter.

Vileena felt her loneliness overlapped with Flora’s circumstance. Therefore she wished he, who is her elder brother to comfort her, wanting to be able to care about Flora.

But,

(Though the relationship between Gil and Ineri Mephius is good, according to the chamberlain, almost nobody saw him have a conversation with Flora.)

The relationships between Gil and those close to him, this Orba had been told beforehand. That is to say, to not let the others suspect——to not let them know Gil had been swapped with a sword slave——this is required.

Originally viewed by others as [the idiot]; that is Prince Gil, due to the recent heroic deeds, he had received admiration from everyone, but because the change was too abrupt, he was met with a lot of skepticism.

At present he needed to pose as Prince Gil, there was a thought like this in Orba’s mind.

“So what.” Using a somewhat impatient tone to answer. “As long as we find the cat, Flora would naturally liven up. No big deal. Ah right, compared to this matter, princess, have you prepared for the marching to Apta fortress. I am currently thinking of a way——”

“Right, your highness is busied with royal affairs. I am fully aware of this, still I bothered you with such trivial matters, I am extremely sorry!”

(Yawn)

Orba inwardly soliloquized to himself. As Vileena bowed her head down differentially, in her eyes a raging flame was smoldering inside.

(Why is woman such a creature.)

In the afternoon of the same day, the sun had set about an hour ago, Orba walked out of his room at the center of the palace.

Coincidentally, his right hand was still wrapped in bandages, that is due to the war not long ago, he suffered damage to his collarbone cracking it open.

(This must be what everyone felt, your problems are of top priority.)

Vileena’s worries were irrelevant, Orba originally held a horrible impression of the aristocrats. Ignoring the good impression part, up until now, somewhere in the depth of his heart he got the urge to behead those Mephius nobles with his own sword out of deep hatred.

Orba’s family, and those he knows in his home village, all were snatched away by the Mephian army. There is only sole reason for him to continue endure this harsh life as the prince’s substitute, that is to take hold of the power and enact his revenge.

(The kitten missing? Don’t feel like eating anything, so you want me to find a solution for it?)

This is pure nonsense. If you don’t want to eat then don’t eat. Sooner or later you will get hungry, when the time comes would she spare time for the kitten.

“Oh, your highness, you seem to be in a bad mood.”

His close bodyguard Shique laughed.

He was a renowned sword slave of this era. He also understood the whole circumstances about Orba posing as the crown prince of Mephius. That’s why he deliberately called Orba [Your highness] since there are people nearby in the vicinity.

The two inspected the guard training while preparing the troops.

“What happened?”

“Nothing.”

“Just a little quarrel with the princess.”

“Nothing at all.”

Possessing a keen intuition. As Orba thought about turning his head around, he was met with two hands forcefully pressing against his cheeks.

“Well well, don’t make that kind of face, the soldiers will get all worried. Smile a bit.”

“Come on, let go.”

Despite Shique's lean appearance, he was originally a gladiator, his hand strength was considerably strong.

“Hahaha, your highness is acting all shy.”

“You, please give me a break——.”

“Look, here we go again.” Shique’s face suddenly drew in closer, and whispered near his ear in a low voice. “You frequently let out your true nature. You need to keep calm on the battlefield, you are normally not good at controlling your emotions. It’s pretty severe when the situation involved you meeting the princess. You need to keep your nerves down, Orba. If not, it wouldn’t be surprising for you to get chopped down at the head from the back. After all, compared to the coliseum this place is far more dangerous.”

Orba suddenly went silent.

Afterwards, using force to shake off Shique’s hand.

“Anyways, if you want to relax, you can come to my room anytime. I will hear you out.”

“That’s like jumping into a dragon’s lair.”

“You dare say that. But compared to these, oh, they have arrived.”

Shique pointed to the front——there at the corner of the training ground, is the resting place with roof attached, a couple of human’s shadows could be spotted.

Orba closed in, the people there saluted him respectfully. These people are the same as Shique, they were well renowned gladiator of the era, however they aren’t exactly alike, no acting here. In his time as a gladiator, Orba for some reason had worn a mask all the time, thus they didn’t know of Orba’s true appearance. They were convinced that the person in front of them, is the genuine crown prince of Mephius; Gil.

Gil is their benefactor. It was when Tarkas gladiator troupe was falsely accused of assassinating the crown prince, a little longer and they would be sentenced, not knowing whether it is from a sudden impulse or what, the crown prince unexpectedly to all of them——putting all of the gladiators under his line of command.

Originally due to Gil’s discrepancy as the crown prince, the people around him addressed him as an [idiot]. Completely ignoring his position as the next in line to the throne, fooling around, and paying no heed to either martial arts or learning.

Yet in the past few months, from the assigning of the guards, his talents began to sprout. Adding to that with the incident of Garbera’s General Ryucown uprising against Mephius, using only a few of his personal guards he suppressed the enemy. At the celebration of the founding of Mephius, Zadeh Cox’s plan of raising the flag of rebellion against the king was stopped beforehand. Now ignoring the title [idiot], Prince Gil was hailed throughout the country as Mephius’ new hero.

But his true identity, unexpectedly was the same as those affiliated with the Tarkas gladiator troupe, having already experienced the life of needing to stand in front of mass fighting in close quarter combat. Of course, the guards have no way of knowing it.

“Report it.”

Orba, with his eyes narrowed, said while looking at the group of men.

“By the way, I shan’t permit anymore [Nothing] situation like the previous time. It is I who decide whether there is something or not, my order is for you guys to gather information and report it to me.”

“Yes sir.”

Shique couldn’t help laughing up his sleeve, attentively watching his bowing companions.

Formerly a sword slave, now under the ranks of bodyguard, estimately sixty men in total. Apart from this there are plenty of volunteers, but Orba deliberately selected a few and stationed them outside the squad, having them deployed in the Imperial Capital Solon.

To gather intelligence.

They were given wages approximately on the same amount as normal guards and allowed to live as normal residents. Needless to say why go through all these special circumstances. It is for the villagers not to suspect them and going out to work. Daily normal occurrences were reported to Orba——No, it is their job to report to Prince Gil.

They all know how to write, thus they need to file a written report once every five days. Of course, none of those make sense to Orba. A neighbor house’s mom getting pregnant although there are a lot of kids already, the vegetables price in the market rose, drunkards fighting today; those sort of things.

Orba loves learning, especially by means of reading books, to expose himself to the unknown world’s knowledge, system values. After the rebellion of Zadeh, Orba craved even more for fresh new knowledge.

“This is?”

Orba picked out a few piece of paper from the file, demanding the group of men to give a detailed explanation. However today Orba seemed to show some interest, it is about a complaint from some random guy in the tavern.

“Once a month, every time the workers at the mine near Solon received their payment, on that day they are bounded to visit this tavern. Last month also, so does this month, they were suddenly gone. The man grumbled about whether do they found a new tavern to their liking or not.”

“Um.”

Orba pretentiously nodded, not really paying attention to the report presented, rather than obtaining information from their fuzzy memories, it felt like you couldn’t grasp the details of the place. Orba firmly believed that this is sufficient enough for him to broaden his whole perspective.

“Well, this time is a bit so-so.”

Orba put down the reports in his hand as the group of men breathed out sigh of relieve.

“It must have troubled you guys. If there is anything you want, I could arrange it for you.”

While they are turning their back to leave.

“Wait a moment.”

Orba loudly shouted for them to stop. The men once again appeared to be trembling with fear, believing that something is going to happen.

However Gil Mephius was silent for a long time.

“Your Highness?”

Shique inquired.

“The cat.”

“Cat?”

“You guys......do you know about cats? Especially the Schiapa cat, the type rarely seen in Solon.”

“Ha......”
“I hope you guys would lend me a hand in finding the cat. Pristine white fur, heterochromatic eyes. Do you understand, one gold and one silver. The tail is tied with a bow, but I don’t know whether it is still there or not. The name is Nair, still it is unknown that will it respond to the name.”

Orba quickly explained the details.

After the clueless group of men left, Orba stood up, and spoke to Shique who wanted to say something earlier.

“Gowen is looking for you. He wants to talk about those sword slaves that applied for a position after the rebellion.”
“Hur.”

“Really, there are a lot of things that need to be done.”

“True.” Shique replied while trying his best to reel in the smile, to the extent that the corner of his eyes twitched.

“Really, Your Highness sure is busy.”

=== Part 2 ===

It’s already five days and still no noticeable progress.

The rushed preparation for Apta fortress had gone without a hitch. As for the no progress part, that was referring to the search for the cat.

During this period, Flora inquired the maid whether Nair had a good meal, is it able to sleep under the leaves, is it being bullied, these kind of helpless questions, apparently causing them distress.

It’s the daily report for that day.

Orba left the palace. However this time not as Gil Mephius. He wore a swordsman attire, and donning a tiger mask——in other words as His Highness Gil [trusted bodyguard Orba]. Depending on the circumstances, he will use this other persona. After all as a prince, he couldn’t freely leave the palace.

To not let people suspect him as the same person, he took off the bandages from his right hand. Naturally the pain still persists. With each and every steps, a sharp pain was emitted to his brain. Restraining his face not to let it out as much as possible, he quickened his pace and headed towards a medium-sized tavern in a remote corner of Solon.

Two buildings, separated by a wall in the corner, inside were people with identically the same face who had been summoned to the palace five days ago.

Were he to station them in the palace, it would only just rouse more suspicions. Even if it is people of the same country, Orba didn’t really consider them as companions. Rather than being suspicious of the surrounding people, keeping his profile a secret is of a much higher priority.

As such, Orba occasionally arranged a meeting and meets them outside personally.

Today also, Orba browsed over and listened to the report given by his men. The gladiators also understood the gist of what Orba wanted, of course information about people he doesn’t know of is among them.

(Well, haven’t I stated this many times already.)

He really wanted to snarl many times, but the Orba as of present is not the crown prince. He is merely just a messenger sent by the prince, thus he said only one sentence.

“I will pass this to the prince.”

Coughing loudly afterwards.

“Moreover......the matter the prince is worried about, that Schiapa cat problem.”

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Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume11 Chapter3

2013-08-07T17:37:49Z

130.212.195.142: /* Chapter 3 - The Closure of the «Blade Dance» */

==Chapter 3 - The Closure of the «Blade Dance»==

===Part 1===

Having awoken, Kamito followed Reicha to another room.

His broken arm was simply secured between two pieces of wood. His elemental waffen, the two swords, were hanging at his waist. Although Reicha suggested handing them over to her for safekeeping, Kamito declined.

Along the way with Reicha in the lead, Kamito saw a garden surrounded by colonnades. He had some recollection. In the past, he had cross-dressed and sneaked in here with Fianna.

(...The «Divine Ritual Institute»'s True Sanctuary, I guess?)

He did not know why, but from the way it looked, he really had been transferred to «Ragna Ys».

"Do Claire and the others know the situation already?"

Kamito asked the «Queen» in front of him.

"No. Everyone will be notified together later. Kamito-san, you were all transferred here at virtually the same time, but because your injuries were too severe, you were moved here to rest and undergo simple treatment."

"I see..."

...Indeed, his body's pain had subsided substantially. Oh well, it was just the pain that had disappeared. In actual fact, he was probably still covered in wounds.

"Uh, my body is supposed to be the type that deflects holy-attribute magic—

"Yes, I have already heard that from Fianna-senpai—no, Fianna-sama. Hence, uh, that method was used."

For some reason, Reicha's face went red with embarrassment.

"Th-That method... What method is that!?"

"U-Uh, for me to say it, really would be... Fianna-senpai was very proactive..."

"..."

Kamito resolutely pretended he heard nothing and shut up.

When they reached the door at the end of the colonnade, Reicha stopped. Pushing the door opened, Kamito saw a spacious room as large as the garden earlier.

Very likely, this was prepared for VIP guests. There was a wooden table in the center where all the young ladies were seated.

"Ah, Kamito, you finally woke up."

Claire spoke up as soon as she spotted Kamito. She had changed out of her «Darkness Queen» ritual attire and back into her usual uniform with her twintail hairstyle.

"Kamito-kun? Are you okay? Does your body still hurt?"

"...Y-Yeah."

Kamito nodded. Sitting down beside Fianna, he asked quietly:

"Fianna, could it be... You actually did ''that'' in front of everyone?"

"Fufu♪, Reicha and the other's faces were all flushed bright red."

Fianna smiled mischievously.

"Relax. Claire and the rest did not see it."

"I-I can't believe you..."

"Hmm, what are you two whispering about?"

Sitting opposite to them, Ellis stared at them suspiciously.

"Oh, no, nothing."

Kamito frantically tried to brush the matter aside. Then with a serious face, he looked towards Reicha.

"..Uh, you can explain now, right? The reason why we were transferred here."

"Yes. It's quite hard to accept why we were suddenly transferred here."

"Since everyone has gathered, please do explain."

"Very well."

Faced with Claire and the other's queries, the princess maiden nodded lightly.

"«Team Scarlet», representing the Ordesia Empire, you have obtained victory in the «Blade Dance»."

Smiling radiantly, she made the announcement.

===Part 2===

"...Victory... Us?"

The first to break the silence was Claire again.

"What happened?" "How did this transpire?"

Ellis and Rinslet voiced their queries in succession.

Kamito was equally puzzled.

The «Blade Dance»'s final round, «Cross Fire» was scheduled for three days.

Only two days had elapsed since Kamito's group was transferred to the abandoned city. No matter how you counted it, there were at least ten-odd hours remaining.

However, Reicha spoke calmly.

"It is not surprising that you would find this puzzling. However, the «Elemental Lords» have issued this decree through us «Queens»: «Team Scarlet»'s blade dancing has brought them great joy and satisfied them."

"The result was decided by the «Elemental Lords»?"

"Yes. The «Blade Dance» is the supreme ritual for making offerings to the elemental lords. Hence, ultimately, everything is decided by the «Elemental Lords»."

"Yeah, that's true, but..."

Kamito muttered, his face displaying his reluctance to accept.

"Furthermore, based on the the battle results, «Team Scarlet»'s victory is indisputable. Apart from all members surviving, even the number of «Magic Stones» obtained is overwhelming. Even with ten-odd hours remaining, one would not expect the result to change."

"...«Magic Stones», did we really get that many of them?"

Kamito took out from his breast pocket the «Magic Stones» he had obtained.

The crimson spirit crystals, carved with the crests of various countries, numbered five in total.

The «Sacred Spirit Knights»' vice-captain, Alda Reed. The «Knights of the Dragon Emperor»'s tyrant dragon spirit user, Reglisse Roa. Muir Alenstarl. Leonora Lancaster. Finally, there was «Team Inferno»'s leader, the self-styled «Strongest Blade Dancer», Rubia Elstein.

Multiple ace-class and commanding officer-level elementalists from various countries had been defeated.

In terms of results in the team battle, this was overwhelming indeed.

"I defeated one. The «Sacred Spirit Knights»' special operative."

Next, it was Claire's turn to take out a «Magic Stone» and placed it on the table.

"Special Operative Ayla Cedar. A shadow spirit user."

"That makes six... Right?"

"Meow, meow..."

"Hmm, what's the matter, Scarlet?"

Under the table, the hell cat spirit seemed to mewing desperately, trying to say something.

Puzzled, Claire picked her up in her arms. Scarlet stuck her tongue out.

Another two «Magic Stones» rolled on the table.

Carved on each of their surfaces was the crest of the «Sacred Spirit Knights».

"Scarlet, these, how did you get them!?"

Claire stared eye-wide in surprise. Apparently, she did not know what happened.

Reicha picked up the two «Magic Stones» and said:

"This one belongs to the «Sacred Spirit Knights»' Lansa Kairod-sama, while the other belongs to their captain, Luminaris Saint Leisched-sama."

"...Eh?"

"You defeated that Luminaris!?"

This time it was Kamito's turn to be shocked.

Luminaris the Paladin. Three years ago, she was Ren Ashbell's blade dance opponent in the finals. For the current festival, she was also one of the top candidates for victory along with Leonora.

"Uh, umm..."

Claire made a troubled expression and stammered.

"I've released Scarlet's true name. Kamito's darkness spirit knew this child's true name, then... I lost consciousness in the middle of it and can't remember much, but it seems like the power that had lay dormant for centuries was released all at once..."

(So ''she'' is the one who defeated Luminaris...)

Kamito stared intently at Scarlet in Claire's embrace.

The «Scarlet Valkyrie»—Ortlinde.

Despite looking like a cute hell cat, her true form was a high-level spirit who looked like an adorable young girl.

"Meow?"

The hell cat tilted her head in puzzlement.

Recalling the cat-eared girl's nude body, Kamito could not help but blush.

"In other words—"

At this moment, Ellis gazed at the «Magic Stones» on the table and murmured.

"«Team Scarlet» has defeated the commanders of the three other teams participating in the finals."

"Indeed. Precisely. As a further note, the «Knights of the Dragon Emperor»'s vice-captain, Yuri El Cid lost to the «Strongest Blade Dancer» while «Team Inferno»'s Lily Flame was defeated by Leonora Lancaster."

"May I ask, what happened to the Theocracy's witch—Sjora Kahn?"

(...Rinslet?)

Her helpless expression gave Kamito an instant sense of dissonance—

"«Team Inferno»'s Sjora Kahn destroyed her own «Magic Stone» and retired."

"...Uh?"

Everyone looked at one another.

(...Forfeited? That witch?)

Judging from her personality, it was difficult to imagine her admitting defeat.

Was there some hidden story, or perhaps—

(...That witch, what was she actually planning?)

According to Fianna, one part of Rubia's plan—regarding the «Darkness Queen»—was known to some extent, but—

"—Hence, currently, as already explained, the other countries' commanders and ace-class participants were essentially all retired from the stage. «Team Scarlet» is the only team that survived intact. At the point in time when you were all transferred, the «Knights of the Dragon Emperor» and the «Sacred Spirit Knights» respectively had two and one survivor. However, the elemental lords decided there was no need to continue the blade dance."

The «Fire Queen» explained calmly.

"—I... see."

Kamito stopped thinking briefly—

Then he exhaled.

"Victory huh... Us."

"Yeah... Seems like it."

Claire answered in shock.

...Somehow it doesn't feel real at all.

Meeting Claire by the side of the lake. Establishing a contract with Est. A decisive match against the Syphid Knights led by Ellis. Adding Fianna as a teammate and the battle against Jio Inzagi. Defeating Velsaria in the school ranking battle. The tough struggle during the «Tempest». Also during the «Cross Fire»—Settling things with Rubia Elstein.

After entering Areishia Spirit Academy under Greyworth's guidance, all sorts of things had happened.

Everything was for the sake of victory at the «Blade Dance».

"We finally reached this point..."

Tears appeared in Claire's clear eyes.

"Claire..."

Kamito placed his hand on her head.

(...It's this girl who gathered us all together.)

Before encountering Kamito—

She had always fought alone.

Wiping her tears with the sleeve of her uniform, Claire stared at Kamito with her reddened eyes.

"I-I wasn't crying, okay!"

"Don't force yourself. Cry if you want to cry."

"I-I already said I wasn't, so annoying..."

She puffed her cheeks in a sulking manner and hammered her fists against Kamito's chest.

The young ladies in the team all gazed at Claire's behavior with gentle eyes.

"Claire, thank you. You're the one who brought us here."

"Thanks to this, that'll show those people in the imperialist faction."

"Y-Yes... Everyone, thank you..."

Habitually lacking in forthrightness, Claire uttered words of thanks for once as she wiped her eyes.

"—Congratulations, everyone."

Reicha offered warm words of blessing.

"«Ragna Ys» has released news of «Team Scarlet»'s victory. In particular, Kamito-san's defeat of the «Strongest Blade Dancer», Ren Ashbell, has become the topic of interest."

"...!"

Just at this moment—

Kamito realized something important.

(...This is bad.)

In theory, the proceedings of the «Blade Dance» were observed by the spirits sent out by the «Divine Ritual Institute» and should have been projected to various places on «Ragna Ys». In that case, inevitably, her battle with Kamito would be seen by large numbers of people.

In other words, the true identity of the unmasked «Strongest Blade Dancer» would also—

Probably having predicted that kind of reaction from Kamito, Reicha resumed a serious expression and spoke:

"...Kamito-sama, you are worrying about Rubia-sama, right?"

"Y-Yeah."

Claire and the girls also reacted and turned towards Reicha.

"Please rest assured. The «Divine Ritual Institute»'s spirits were unable to approach the blade dance that took place amidst the intensely burning flames. The images recorded from afar were also, uh... According to the supreme council's judgment, publicizing her true identity will cause a massive uproar, hence they have issued orders for corrections. Regarding the true identity of the «Strongest Blade Dancer» being the «Calamity Queen» who had brought disaster to the continent in the past, only a small number of people including us «Queens» are privy to that fact."

"...I see."

Kamito secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Since the spirits were unable to get close, then even if Rubia's true face was seen, her dialogue with Kamito probably was not overheard. Also what she said about the «Elemental Lords» going mad, the «Demon King»'s power residing in Kamito's body, and other things—

"Nee-sama—"

At this moment, Claire spoke up.

"Where is Nee-sama now?"

"...!"

—Right. Rubia Elstein had abandoned her «Magic Stone» and was transferred.

Then she should have returned to «Ragna Ys» as well.

"Well—"

The Queen bowed her head.

"Including Rubia-sama, none of «Team Inferno»'s members were transferred to the designated location—the return point that was set in the «Magic Stones»."

"...Huh?"

"What happened?"

"Very likely, the magic in the «Magic Stones» was overwritten. Those «Magic Stones» all received magic that was injected by us «Queens». Although ordinary elementalists probably cannot manage it, if it were Rubia-sama who was once renowned as the continent's premier princess maiden, it is possible—"

"In other words, they set a new transfer location..."

Kamito was suddenly struck by the thought of Muir who had disappeared without saying a word.

Living in darkness, did she have a place to return to?

"What is the «Divine Ritual Institute»'s decision on Rubia-sama?"

Fianna asked.

"I believe the «Divine Ritual Institute» will not send out pursuers directly. However, the Ordesia Empire's cadre might have received news already."

"...How did that..."

Claire bit her lip.

The «Calamity Queen» was the great sinner who had brought immeasurable loss to the Empire. Once her location was found, the Empire was sure to hunt her down.

Once the elite «Numbers» were sent to execute the arrest mission, would Rubia have any way of escaping, having lost the «Sacred Maiden»'s power?

"Nee-sama..."

Faced with Claire's worried murmurs, Kamito whispered softly.

"Don't worry. This «Ragna Ys» has countless secret subterranean passages. Surely she must have prepared her escape beforehand."

"Th-That's true..."

Claire nodded—

Suddenly, she collapsed towards Kamito as though suddenly struck with dizziness.

"Claire, are you okay!?"

"W-What happened?"

"...Y-Yeah, it's okay. I'm just... a bit tired."

"...After all, so much happened."

Not much time had passed since Rubia had imprisoned her to become the «Darkness Queen». Mentally, she must have accumulated a lot of fatigue.

Once her tense state of mind relaxed, the fatigue surged all at once.

"Sleeping quarters have been prepared at the shrine. Please have a good rest."

"I am very grateful for your kind offer. But before that, I would like to undergo a ritual purification. If possible, a bath would be good."

"Very well. A hot water bath, right?"

Reicha answered Fianna in a relaxed tone of voice.

"I'll go rest too."

Kamito suddenly felt sleepy. Despite the princess maidens' treatment, those were merely superficial measures to close up his wounds. His physical fatigue was reaching a limit.

"So, let's all go together, Kamito-kun. I'll help you scrub your back."

"...Okay. No wait! I-I'm going to sleep!"

"Fufu, just joking♪"

"Hmm, is that so... I-I would not mind too much, actually..."

Ellis awkwardly twiddled her fingers.

"Claire, you come for a bath too."

"Uwah, s-stop it, pervert princess!"

Accompanied by a noisy racket, the young ladies left the room together.

Kamito shrugged and prepared to leave as well.

"A-Ah, uh, Ren Ashbell-sama—"

Reicha stopped him.

"...!"

Hearing her say that name, Kamito held his breath.

Her gaze rested on Kamito's left hand.

(...R-Right!)

During the blade dance with Rubia, Kamito had used the «Vorpal Sword» and the seal of darkness had appeared on that hand. Anyone who saw it would quickly deduce his identity.

While Kamito was speechless...

"Oh, p-please rest assured. Those images, together with Rubia-sama's true face were all edited on this side. Because in a certain sense, your true identity will cause an even greater commotion than Rubia-sama's."

"I-I see..."

Kamito mentally breathed a sigh of relief.

"But the princess maidens at the «Divine Ritual Institute» should have found out already."

"No, editing the seal was my sole and arbitrary decision. Hence, most likely, I am the only one among the «Queens» who knows of this."

"Eh?"

"Although the demon sword of darkness was too difficult to hide, Kamito-sama, you were using dual swords. And that demon sword with the darkness attribute was also used by that «Nepenthes Lore» monster. Besides, no one could possibly connect your current appearance with Ren Ashbell... Oh, excuse me, I had no intention of insinuating—"

"Oh, no... That doesn't matter."

Kamito scratched the back of his head as he shifted his gaze away.

Suddenly, a question poped up in his mind.

"Your 'arbitrary decision'?"

"Yes. Last time when you two visited the shrine, Fianna-senpai made a request, hoping I could hide the fact if the seal on Kamito-sama's left hand ever appeared."

(Was that when I was unconscious...?)

"That princess really misses nothing."

Kamito smiled wryly.

As much as she would deny it, Fianna really did seem to possess the wisdom of royalty.

"...That's a great help. If possible, I hope you can keep my true identity a secret."

"Y-Yes..."

The «Fire Queen» nodded politely then—

"E-Excuse me..."

"Hmm?"

"At the time, what did Rubia-sama say?"

"..."

Should he tell this young girl? Kamito agonized over it for a while—

"What's your opinion on the «Elemental Lords»?"

Finally, that was what he said.

"...Eh?"

"Regarding the fact of the «Elemental Lords» ruling over the world."

"Everything goes according to the divine wishes of the elemental lords. That is what we were taught."

Reicha stared Kamito straight in the eye and answered thus.

"That's... true."

That was the consensus shared by the «Divine Ritual Institute»'s princess maidens.

Kamito recalled the words that Rubia left behind.

—You can confirm the truth with your own eyes.

"For the continent's future—That was what she said."

"For the continent's future..."

Reicha displayed a puzzled expression as she murmured.

===Part 3===

After entering the prepared sleeping quarters, Kamito fell on the bed.

Feeling as though his entire body would sink into the bed, it was a very comfortable sensation.

Having slept on hard ground throughout the final round, Kamito found the current sense of comfort quite touching.

"...It's over."

Looking up at the marble ceiling, Kamito spaced out as he muttered to himself.

The «Blade Dance» had drawn to a close with the best possible result—His team's victory.

Despite his concerns about Sjora Kahn's whereabouts, what Rubia had said regarding the «Elemental Lords», etc, Kamito's greatest personal goal was already accomplished.

Kamito placed the two swords in his hands lightly onto the bed.

Yes, the purpose of entering this «Blade Dance» was to take ''her'' back personally.

His hand stroked the Restia's blade that reflected no light at all.

As though she would disappear off to somewhere again if he did not do so—

(Restia...)

Enticed by a sense of sleepiness, Kamito's consciousness gradually drifted off to deep slumber.

—As promised, Kamito.

At this moment, he seemed to be hearing a tiny voice from the distance.

Like soft feathers, a comfortable voice was tickling his ears.

—Let me tell you about the truth three years ago.

<noinclude>{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume11 Chapter2|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume11 Chapter4}}</noinclude>

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume11 Chapter2

2013-08-07T17:24:48Z

130.212.195.142: /* Chapter 2 - Dance of the Dual Swords */

==Chapter 2 - Dance of the Dual Swords==

===Part 1===

"...!"

Almost reflexively—

Kamito swung the dual swords he was wielding.

Giving off dazzling brilliance, the sword of steel—«Terminus Est»—deflected the incoming flames. Held in a reverse grip, the demon sword was swung towards the flames attacking from the opposite direction.

"Claire!"

Before Kamito cried out, Claire had already summoned «Flametongue».

Sweeping her surroundings in a circular manner, she produced an intensely burning wall of fire.

"What's going on? Why did your flames attack you?"

Kamito turned his gaze towards Rubia behind him.

Rubia showed an expression of pain endurance.

"Those are not my own flames..."

"What?"

"That type of flame... was acquired... using this life as the price..."

"Kamito, it's coming!"

Clare yelled out.

The roaring flames penetrated her wall of fire and attacked the immobile Rubia.

Kamito clicked his tongue and blocked the flames by crossing his dual swords.

(...The flames have strengthened?)

Judging from the heat scorching his skin, Kamito sensed through instinct.

"...Take this, turn into charcoal!"

Gnawing at the dual swords persistently, the flames were incinerated by Claire's «Flame-Burning Flames».

Where the flames vanished, a sharp noise resembling glass shattering could be heard.

Staring in shock at what had shattered—Kamito's eyes instantly widened.

It was a transparent crimson crystal—a fragment of the «Godslaying flames».

"...What!? «Laevateinn» should be smashed already—"

"What you smashed was my elemental waffe. The spirit itself was not... destroyed."

Rubia panted as she spoke.

The cursed armament seals on her arms were glowing ominously while the color of blood seeped through her military uniform.

"«Laevateinn» is a spirit weapon that was defeated by the «Five Great Elemental Lords» during the past Spirit War and sealed away. Hence, it hates the «Elemental Lords» and lent its power to me due to our shared goals. However—"

Rubia coughed violently. The crimson and bloody froth began to spread on the ground.

"Originally, it was not a spirit that humans could form a contract with. As the price for a contract incommensurate with oneself, that spirit demanded—My life."

"...H-How could that be...!?"

Claire cried out sorrowfully—

"A contract whose price is one's life cannot be sustained for years—"

But in the middle of speaking, Claire suddenly realized something and held her breath.

"Those excessive cursed armament seals. Are they for sustaining the impossible contract?"

Kamito asked calmly.

"..."

Rubia did not answer. Biting her lip, she was enduring the intense pain tormenting her entire body.

(...Through the Theocracy, she had contacted «Murders».)

An organization formed by merchants of death, «Murders» was involved in the transplantation of illegal cursed armament seals. Rubia had probably transplanted cursed armament seals on her body through them.

Using countless fake contracts, piling multiple layers on top of the original contract, the strongest flame spirit was restrained.

However, this kind of method could not last indefinitely. Even for a «Queen» possessing a princess maiden's disposition of the highest rank, the burden on the body would eventually reach a limit.

"So you intended to die from the very start?"

"Had you awakened as the «Demon King» and accepted the will of the Darkness Elemental Lord «Ren Ashdoll» who is dominated by hatred, you would have gone to murder the «Elemental Lords»... In that event, my death would have been worthwhile."

While coughing blood, Rubia spoke indifferently.

Kamito stared at her.

"What a willful plan that was."

"...Idealism alone cannot save anything. That was what I truly experienced back when I was still a «Queen». Even if great sacrifices must be made, this is the only way to save the world."

"No. That's not what I'm talking about."

Kamito shook his head.

"...What...?"

"Did it ever cross your mind? If you died, there are people who will be heartbroken."

"..."

Crimson flames roared. The noise sounded as though it came from underground and caused Kamito's nerves to tense all over his body.

"Kamito..."

"Yeah—"

Hearing Claire's worried voice, Kamito nodded.

"That must be—the main body of the «Godslaying Flames»."

Cold sweat flowed down his forehead.

Over there was—

A «Hand» hovering in midair.

Surrounding by roaring flames, a giant hand.

Madly, it roamed the air as though in search of something.

"It's not really the main body. That's just one part of the «Godslaying Flames»."

"...Just one part?"

Kamito groaned in disbelief.

An elemental waffe was simply a fraction of a powerful spirit's strength, merely drawn out through the contract.

In other words, the «Laevateinn» that Rubia had wielded was merely making use of a minor fraction of the strongest flame spirit's power.

However, the hand extending out from thin air—

(...Archdemon class, at the very least probably.)

Just an arm already produced such astounding heat. Once the main body manifested, surely the entire space itself would be destroyed.

"—Claire."

At this moment, Rubia forced out a weak voice.

"Nee-sama?"

"You can still make it. Leave this place."

"...I-I don't want that! ...I must fight it."

"Useless. It's not a being that humans can defeat."

Rubia displayed a grim gaze and shook her head.

Watching the arm of flame slowly crawling out of the air—

"What it seeks is the contract's price. Once I offer my life, it will probably return to where it came from. I have lost—This is merely accepting my comeuppance."

She smiled as though giving up.

"O-Oh right! All we need to do is break Nee-sama's magic stone and she'll be forcibly transferred to «Ragna Ys»."

"This thing is summoned using the spirit seal carved in my heart that serves as the medium. It will surely cause destruction if brought over to «Ragna Ys»>"

"...!"

Claire bit her lip hard.

She could not save her precious elder sister. She did not have the power to rescue her.

At this moment—

"Don't give up."

A hand touched Claire on the shoulder.

It was Kamito. Smiling fearlessly, he stared at the arm of flame floating in midair.

"Kamito..."

"Rubia, the same goes for you. It's too early to despair."

Kamito looked back, causing Rubia to stare in surprise.

"Guarding my life... What meaning is there...?"

"...Who knows."

Kamitio shrugged casually and readied his dual swords again.

(...Only that I don't want to see sorrow on your sister's face again.)

If anything, his reason was that simple. But Kamito had no obligation to tell her that.

Furthermore, it was too embarrassing to say out loud in front of Claire, the person in question.

"Also, I still have stuff to ask you."

"Then you'll have to survive this first. It's currently just an arm right now, but once the true body appears, it will not be satisfied with just me as the sacrifice."

"—Well then, I'll just have to defeat it."

"...Foolish. It would be okay if your power as the «Demon King» was awakened, but in your current state, all covered in wounds, you have no such ability—"

"It's not like there's no chance for victory at all. Its main body hasn't manifested yet, right?"

Turning his gaze away from Rubia behind him, Kamito took a step forward.

(...Yes, there's still a chance for victory.)

Telling himself that, he took another step forward.

The giant arm was surrounded with flames.

It was slowly entering from that tear in space.

However, it was just an arm.

For the true body to manifest, that tear was far too narrow.

The cursed armament seals that had been transplanted onto Rubia's body were still restraining the contract.

(If it's before the true body manifests, there's a possibility that—)

Gazing at the arm of wild flames, Kamito infused divine power into his dual swords.

This «Lost Cathedral» was a large-scale magic device for absorbing divine power from the abandoned city's leylines. Simply standing in this space was enough to replenish divine power.

(—The problem lay in the body's condition.)

The burden of unleashing the dual sword secret technique had caused all his muscles to scream in pain.

...Sizzle... Sizzle sizzle... Sizzle sizzle sizzle sizzle... Sizzle...!

Accompanied by annoying noises, the arm of flame crawled out all at once.

(—No time to think, huh?)

«Laevateinn»—the spirit weapon sealed in the sanctuary—was also the strongest flame spirit.

Were it to manifest completely, things would be over.

Kamito must take this opportunity while it was still incomplete to stuff it back where it came from.

However, even after defeating it, so long as the spirit contract remained, this would amount to nothing but stalling for time. No matter how many more attempts it would take, it was probably still going to keep demanding Rubia's life.

However, Kamito had an idea.

Although he did not know if it would work—

No matter what, it would be meaningless unless the issue was resolved right now.

The flame spirit opened its palm.

"Kamito, it's coming!"

The warning came from Claire.

A heat wave shook the air in the next instant.

A giant fireball was being released from the hand's fingertips—!

An overwhelming mass of heat was attacking, dragging a crimson tail behind it.

This was Claire's prided specialty, «Fireball» magic, except the difference in power was as far apart as heaven and earth.

An explosion occurred. Before Kamito's eyes, the fireball exploded into roaring flames.

The sound of the explosion and the swirling center of the heatwave—

"Such power..."

Stabbing her silver rapier into the ground, Fianna wiped sweat off her brow as she grumbled.

Kamito's group was surrounded by a radiant shield of light.

This was «Save the Queen»—the elemental waffe that erected a sturdy barrier around its user.

Due to returning Scarlet's contract back to Claire, Fianna's circuits reconnected, allowing to use her knight spirit again.

"Fianna, can I entrust Rubia's protection to you?"

"Yes. But it can't be sustained for long."

Fianna replied in an urgent voice.

Although her elemental waffe barely managed to defend against the current attack—

Once the original power of the «Godslaying Flames» manifested, even «Save the Queen» would probably be smashed easily.

"Yeah. Before it comes out—I will settle things!"

Kamito nodded and leapt from the ground, wielding both swords in his hands.

Concentrating his awareness in his hands, Kamito yelled out in his heart.

(Both of you, lend me your power!)

—Yes. I am your sword, your wish is my command.

—I am yours, Kamito. The sword spirit's power is not needed.

—I don't need the darkness spirit's power either.

Sparks flew between the two contracted spirits.

(Come on, stop arguing inside my mind—)

The giant arm swung through the air. Infusing his dual swords with divine power, Kamito charged forward all at once.

The flames of purgatory approached, incinerating a wide area. It was impossible to dodge at this range.

However, there was nothing to fear. If those were ordinary flames—

"Absolute Blade Arts, Fourth Form—Blaze Slash!"

This technique of the Absolute Blade absorbed flames and imbued elemental waffen with the flame attribute.

The flames were sliced apart. Shining with silver-white brilliance, «Terminus Est»'s blade became incandescent.

Hot wind was roasting Kamito's face. Unconcerned, Kamito charged.

"You, O true darkness—''Pierce''!"

Sleek and pitch-black, the blade of darkness flashed with ominous red light.

With godlike speed, Kamito attacked the flame-spewing arm.

The blade's tip pierced the flame spirit. He could feel a definite hit from the sensation.

However—

"...!?"

The demon sword of darkness was engulfed in flames.

Despite having vanquished numerous spirits in the past, a strike from the «Vorpal Sword» failed to inflict decisive damage to «Laevateinn».

Be that as it may, Kamito's attack was not completely ineffective.

Due to the damage suffered, it finally recognized Kamito as an enemy rather than a target to be devoured.

Fingers of flame grabbed the «Vorpal Sword»'s blade, dragging it into midair.

"...!"

Urgently, Kamito swung his right hand's «Demon Slayer».

The fingers of flame were severed and sent flying. Kamito instantly withdrew the demon sword of darkness and jumped back.

The arm of flame chased in pursuit. Although one could not tell since it was just an arm, the spirit was probably angered.

(...Oh well, that's only natural. After all, it suffered a counterattack from the contract's sacrifices.)

Kamito instantly shifted his gaze over towards Rubia's side.

Fianna had erected «Save the Queen»'s barrier. Inside there, Rubia was crouching while looking towards him.

—With an expression of total incomprehension.

(I have no idea what you saw four years ago in the True Sanctuary—)

Crossing the two swords to deflect the descending fist, Kamito pulled back and distanced himself.

(But you despaired far too quickly, Rubia Elstein.)

Kamito's mutterings carried a hint of self-mockery.

He himself had plunged into deep despair in the past as well.

Three years ago, when he lost Restia.

(—After that, I lived as though I were a hollow shell.)

However, he finally freed himself from despair, all thanks to—

The severed fingers of the flame spirit regenerated. Kamito dodged the swinging fist by a hair's breadth.

—No good, Kamito!

His mind suddenly rang with Restia's warning.

Suddenly, the tear in space was forced apart—

—Sizzle... Sizzle sizzle sizzle sizzle sizzle...!

The flame spirit's arm extended as a result.

(...Crap—)

The giant arm emerged far closer than Kamito's expectation.

As much as he could defend against the flames with his two swords, however—

(...I'm gonna be crushed to death!?)

He could not block the «Godslaying Flames»' overwhelming power.

Together with the two swords, Kamito was being crushed against the ground.

"Guh, ah...!"

His entire body was sinking into the stone floor. The heat wave charred his hair and slowly stole oxygen from his lungs. Without the protection from his elemental waffen, his body probably would have been vaporized just now—

At this moment—

"Kamito!"

Slicing through wind, the flaming whip entangled the «Godslaying Flames»' arm.

The pressure disappeared for an instant. Kamito did not miss this opening. Using the «Demon Slayer» as a shield and sliding the «Vorpal Sword» that crossed it, he flipped to the side and escaped.

The giant arm crashed down. The wind of the explosion blew Kamito away.

Kamito lost balance but Flametongue grabbed his leg and swiftly pulled him to the ground.

"...Thanks a lot, Claire."

"Seriously, stop going at it recklessly alone."

"Sorry..."

Kamito shrugged and smiled wryly.

Indeed, the reason that Kamito was able to break free from despair was all thanks to—

Claire and the teammates he met at the Academy.

Even for Kamito who was once known as the «Strongest Blade Dancer», he could not have come this far by his own efforts alone.

(...You should rely on others more.)

However, in Rubia's despair, she sought capable pawns instead of comrades.

«Team Inferno»—a group of outstanding users of extraordinary powers.

Suddenly—

"Kamito, you should retreat from the line of fire for now."

"Uh?"

"Your divine power is about to deplete."

"...!"

Kamito only noticed from the reminder.

Held in his respective hands, the two swords were flashing unsteadily.

Simultaneously releasing two elemental waffen of the highest rank was consuming more divine power than imagined.

Even the divine power supplied by the «Lost Cathedral» could not keep up with the rate of consumption.

—Don't... worry... Kami.. to...!

—Still... can... do it...!

Est and Restia's voices sounded out in his mind simultaneously.

However, their voices were much less clear than before.

Soon after, the spirit seals on his hands stopped glowing and he could no longer hear their voices.

"...Tsk, this is bad..."

"I'll buy us time. Kamito, you focus on recovering."

"But you—"

Kamito hesitated.

The opponent was the highest ranking flame spirit. Claire alone—

"Fianna, please—"

"Yeah."

"...?"

Unnoticed by Kamito, she had sneaked up on him—

The voice came from behind.

Feeling a sudden tug on his collar, Kamito found himself pulled into the barrier of light.

"Fianna, let go—!"

"No."

Fianna scolded him.

"Leave things to Claire for now. In your current state of divine power depletion, you are unable to inflict critical damage on «Laevateinn»."

"...!"

Sweeping her hand aside was not hard.

But Kamito did not do that because he had no choice but to admit that she was right.

Kamito put down his hands that were wielding the two swords.

"This tower is a device for gathering divine power. If you concentrate, you can recover divine power rapidly."

"...True, but it's not like it can be done in a matter of seconds."

Both of Kamito's elemental waffen consumed vast amounts of divine power.

Recovery would take a few minutes at least... It was hard to imagine Claire buying that much time.

"...I will protect Nee-sama!"

Her hair fluttered and floated like burning flames—

Claire jumped.

The giant arm extending in midair was severed by her crimson slash.

"No way—"

Kamito stared wide-eyed in surprise.

According to the rules of Astral Zero, flames cutting other flames was an impossible phenomenon.

Claire had applied the power of her «Flame-burning Flames» to her elemental waffe.

Crimson flames were cleaved in all directions as Flametongue sliced «Laevateinn» apart.

Having awakened as the «Darkness Queen», Claire now seemed able to control those flames.

(However—)

«Laevateinn»'s arm quickly regenerated and formed even stronger flames to attack Claire.

Signs of fatigue began to show on Claire's face.

(...I knew it. Ordinary attacks don't work.)

While suppressing his anxiety, Kamito groaned in his mind.

He closed his eyes and focused his mind to gather divine power in the two swords in his hands.

He could feel the divine power he obtained from the leylines, circulating in his body.

However, the amount was too little.

Having awakened as the «Demon King» at one point, Kamito's body even deflected «Save the Queen»'s effects that granted every type of protection.

His current level of divine power could not activate elemental waffen of the highest class.

(Hurry... Hurry...!)

At this moment—

"Why—"

Kamito heard a weak voice.

"Why... haven't you all despaired?"

Rubia gazed intently at Kamito with a bloodless expression.

"..."

Just as Kamito was lost at how to answer—

"It's enough for me to be the only sacrifice. There is still a chance to escape—"

She took out a certain object from her bloodstained military uniform.

Displaying metallic luster, held in her hand was—

A small pendant on a chain.

"That's—"

...Kamito had some recollection.

Two months or so earlier.

On that day when Kamito transferred into the Academy, Claire had shown such an object.

Decorated with a lion emblem, it was the House of Elstein's pendant.

She handed that item to Kamito's hands.

"...What do you intend?"

"I wish—to give it to my sister."

Kamito shrugged and spoke:

"Spare me the last words. If you die, Claire will be sad. I don't want to see her making that kind of face ever again."

"..."

"—Listen, Rubia, I will protect you even if it means putting my life on the line."

Hearing Kamito's firm resolve, she—

Bit her cherry lips hard.

"—You're seriously... a fool."

Then she touched Kamito's arm lightly.

Instantly...

(...W-What!?)

Scorching flames swirled around Kamito's entire body.

So hot. His heart was burning like a furnace and his blood was boiling.

"...What did you... do to me...?"

"«Eternal Blood of the Phoenix»—Recovery magic. Only high-ranking princess maidens are qualified to chant it."

"Recovery magic...?"
[[image:STnBD V11 053.PNG|thumb]]

Kamito was astonished.

"It shouldn't work on me—"

"Kamito-kun, «Eternal Blood» is not holy-attribute spirit magic."

Fianna shook her head.

"This is the only existing fire magic under the healing system."

"Fire-attribute healing magic..."

Scorching flames were flowing over from Rubia's fingertips.

"This won't cause any problems... will it?"

Kamito recalled what happened when Rubia used seal magic earlier.

However, the intense pain from that time was absent—

"No it won't. This is legitimate «Queen» magic. However, unlike usual healing magic, it only imitates those properties."

"...You are the «Demon King»'s successor. The only being who can destroy the «Elemental Lords». You cannot die... here..."

Rubia's fingers left Kamito's arm.

"...I entrust my sister to you."

After murmuring softly in a feeble voice—

With that, her knees collapsed and she fell to the floor.

"...Yeah. Leave it to me."

Kamito nodded calmly.

The flames of purgatory were rampaging in his body. Almost out of control, the divine power was forcibly suppressed by Kamito.

As soon as he poured divine power into his hands, the dual swords shone with brilliance once more.

(So this is the divine power from the continent's strongest «Queen»...!)

Powerful light, strong enough to bring pain to his eyes, caused Kamito to hold his breath.

No ordinary elementalist could compare to this. The difference in the amount of divine power was as far apart as heaven and earth.

"Kamito-kun, the barrier won't last much longer!"

As Fianna screamed, the silver rapier embedded in the ground vanished.

Once «Save the Queen»'s protection was released, a wave of heat instantly rushed over all at once.

"...Kamito, hurry...!"

Claire cried out. Kamito took a leap and—

"Absolute Blade Arts, First Form—Purple Lightning!"

He sliced apart the flames that were attacking Claire.

"Claire, it's okay now. Step back."

"...Got it."

Instantly trading positions, Claire retreated to the back.

Sliced into two, the burning arm of flames regenerated immediately and attacked Kamito.

As expected, against the strongest flame spirit that possessed infinite reserves of divine power, anything less than a full-powered attack would be useless.

(There's no choice but to use overwhelming power to destroy the «Gate» in the air outright—)

Just at this moment...

—... Kamito, can you hear me...?

A voice was heard in his mind.

(...Restia?)

While deflecting the oncoming flames, Kamito asked.

—Under the current conditions, unleashing a bold move would be foolhardy.

Kamito understood her point. Even with the divine power Rubia entrusted to him, this body, covered in injuries, could hardly perform the strongest sword technique.

But in order to take out «Laevateinn», there was no choice but to use the anti-spirit Absolute Blade Arts.

(...But I can only gamble on that—)

—Imagine. The form of the sword that matches you.

(...Uh?)

—There's no need to be bound by the form used three years ago, right?

Kamito realized only after it was pointed out to him.

(—Right!)

Currently, both of Kamito's elemental waffen were two-handed greatswords.

Although they were highly destructive in single strikes, the strain on the body was equally intense.

In that case—

—You don't mind either, Miss Sacred Sword, do you?

—I am Kamito's sword, Kamito's wish is my command.

Faced with Restia's slightly taunting tone of voice, Est's blade responded with dazzling radiance.

(Dual swords huh...)

Kamito imagined in his mind the assassination swords that were familiar to him in the past.

As he poured divine power into the seals on his hands—

That weight, shape and balance awakened in his memory.

(...That's it!)

The instant the image became clear...

The two swords turned into particles of light and transformed.

From large-sized greatswords to small one-handed swords—

(—This will work!)

Holding the white and black swords in reverse grips, Kamito jumped up.

His body felt very light as though he could not feel the weight of the two swords in his hands.

While slicing apart the roaring flames, he swiftly crossed the great hall.

«Laevateinn»'s palm released a rain of fireballs.

Scarlet flames instantly buried his view and were about to swallow Kamito.

However, Kamito moved even faster. Flying among the flames, he then—

"Dual sword technique—«Orochi»!"

An endless stream of black and white slashes struck down the fireballs one after another.

This was an assassination technique from the «Instructional School»—an unorthodox sword skill that Greyworth had banned him from using.

—You're going to get scolded by the witch again, Kamito.

"Who cares about her right now—"

Retorting to Restia's jest, Kamito charged.

«Laevateinn» produced fireballs again—

"I'm not going to let you succeed!"

Before that, Kamito had already swept the black demon blade—the «Vorpal Sword»—horizontally.

Jet-black lightning erupted from the dark and shiny blade.

—«Vorpal Blast». This sword skill had defeated numerous elementalists at the «Blade Dance» three years ago.

The fireballs exploded inside «Laevateinn»'s hand. The impact shook the great hall.

"Ohhhhhhh!"

Flying past the scattering debris, Kamito instantly closed in. Kicking the ground, he leapt into the air.

(This will decide the victor—!)

Pouring the maximum amount of divine power to the two swords, he swung them both down at the same time—

Suddenly, the tear in space expanded.

(...!?)

Out crawled ''another arm''.

(...Crap, I can't dodge this!)

Kamito instantly made his decision and overlapped his swords to make a cross.

(—Please hold out!)

Compared to the two-handed greatswords, the durability of one-handers were much lower. Even for the legendary demon sword and sacred sword, whether they could withstand the strongest flame spirit's power was still unknown—

(If they yield now, I'm gonna turn into charcoal—)

At this moment, the wall of flame covering the great hall suddenly split apart.

"—"Fahrengart style of the spear, Flash Gale!"

Penetrating the wall of fire, enveloped in a gale, the magic spear charged in between the Kamito and the arm of flame.

The one who had thrown the spear was—

(—Ellis!)

Ponytail flying in the wind, the maiden knight entered Kamito's view while he was in midair.

Stabbed into the ground, the magic spear produced a whirlwind, causing Kamito's body to rise.

His teammate had created an opening for him.

Despite its brevity, it was enough.

Readying his two swords in the air, Kamito infused the swords with the divine power that was rampaging in his body.

Then—

"Absolute Blade Arts, Destructive Form—Bursting Blossom Spiral Blade Dance - Thirty-six Consecutive Strikes!"

Countless shining slashes ripped «Laevateinn» apart together with the «Gate» in the air.

===Part 2===

"Ha, hahaha! How amusing, you really are quite interesting, Kazehaya Kamito!"

On the «Lost Cathedral»'s top level, the shrine where Claire had been imprisoned earlier—

The Theocracy's witch gazed into the distant scene displayed in the crystal ball and laughed on her own.

"However, Rubia Elstein turned out to be far too naive. This is the result of injecting half-baked emotions. Were I in her place, I would surely destroy Claire Rouge's mind completely, then proceed to create the «Darkness Queen» of my liking—"

Her lips twisted sardonically.

"Thanks to that, the plan failed... But no matter. Depending on circumstances, this might turn out to be even more interesting, kukuku..."

Serpentine eyes were staring at the demon sword of darkness shown in the crystal.

The will of the Darkness Elemental Lord, Ren Ashdoll, guided the «Demon King»'s awakening.

However, the darkness spirit currently seemed to have changed in nature under some sort of influence.

''That'' which wore the guise of Sjora Kahn grinned fearlessly.

"Victory shall be yielded to you here, Kazehaya Kamito. Since that little lady failed, I am not obliged to entertain this any further."

She took out the «Magic Stone» carrying «Team Inferno»'s crest from her bosom.

Applying slight force with her fingers, the «Magic Stone» cracked and quickly shattered.

Accompanying the «Magic Stone»'s destruction, «Transfer» magic immediately activated. Sjora Kahn's body turned into particles of light and gradually disappeared into the air—

"Kuku, let the war begin. A great war unprecedented in the human realm, surpassing the Demon Lord War and the Ranbal War in the past!"

===Part 3===

"—Ohhhhhhhhhh!"

The final sword strike slashed through the air.

The rampaging arm of flame vanished without trace along with the tear in space.

The sea of flame covering the floor disappeared at the same time. Instantly, silence dominated the scene.

Maintaining his dual wielding stance, Kamito landed on the ground.

Then following his momentum, he collapsed on his knees.

"...Kamito!" "Kamito-kun!"

Claire and Fianna frantically hurried over.

Appearing over at the door, Ellis and Rinslet also rushed over.

"Kamito, are you okay!?" "Kamito-san!"

"...Ouch..."

Groaning while he looked up, Kamito's view was dominated by the four faces that were watching him worriedly.

They seem to be crying out something but he could not hear very clearly. Perhaps his hearing was numbed.

"...Ellis... Rinslet... Thank goodness you're both safe and sound..."

Not even able to stand up, Kamito spoke softly.

Perhaps the nerves in his arms were damaged, he could not even lift a finger.

This was the backlash from using spirit-vanquishing Absolute Blade Arts.

"...Has Sjora Kahn... been defeated?"

Kamito tried to move his lips and asked the two girls.

"No—"

Hearing him, Ellis shook her head in chagrin.

"The Theocracy's witch escaped... Or rather, she let us go. If Leonora-dono had not hurried over to offer her assistance, we would have lost to that demon spirit."

"...Leonora made it in time huh."

During the fight in the lower levels, Kamito had not taken away Leonora's «Magic Stone». Instead, he asked her to assist Ellis and Rinslet who were fighting Sjora Kahn.

She had fulfilled her promise with Kamito, her opponent.

"...Uh, Leonora?"

Collapsed on the ground, Kamito looked around him.

There were no signs of the demon dragon user.

"...She forfeited the final round."

"Forfeited?"

"Yes. Leonora-dono left a message for you."

Ellis nodded and took out a «Magic Stone» from her bosom.

"I have already blade danced with Kamito with my full power and lost. Obsessing over victory and refusing to admit defeat would be a taint to that supreme blade dance—That was what she said."

"...I see."

Exiting the stage like that really suited her style.

Having blade danced with her with everything he had, Kamito felt pride from the bottom of his heart.

"...Claire is fine too."

"...Yeah. Umm... Thank you, everyone."

"H-Helping a teammate is only natural."

"It somehow feels weird to hear honest thanks from you."

"Does untying your hair change your personality?"

"...S-So annoying. What the heck."

Claire pouted with displeasure.

At her feet, Scarlet wagged her tail happily.

"...Anyway, it's great that everyone is safe and sound—Cough, ah..."

Suddenly, Kamito's entire body was filled with intense pain.

His heart raced madly and his muscles were convulsing. He felt pain as though his body was burning inside.

"Kamito... W-What's the matter!?"

Claire frantically picked up Kamito's body in her arms.

"...S-So hot...!"

"—It's the «Eternal Blood»'s side effects."

A calm voice was heard from behind.

Everyone turned to look back.

"Nee-sama, what's going on!?"

"The flames driving Kazehaya Kamito's body have burnt out. Since he used a technique that strained his body this much, the backlash must logically be quite astounding—"

"How could this...!?"

"Relax. This boy will not die from this. Once the «Demon King»'s power is completely withdrawn, it will be fine for Fianna over there to heal him."

"...By the way, you... And there I was, thinking this healing was so fast..."

Enduring the intense pain, Kamito poked fun at her.

"Healing was never my specialty in the first place."

However, the former «Queen» shook her head nonchalantly.

"Rubia Elstein..."

In response, Ellis readied her spear and glared at her warily.

"What is your goal?"

"...The Fahrengart family's daughter, huh."

Leaning against a stone pillar, Rubia looked at Ellis indifferently.

"...Stop it, Ellis."

"Kamito? But she—"

"...She no longer has the power to fight. Swinging your weapon at a person who cannot resist will taint a knight's honor..."

"No power remaining?"

"...That is true too. Indeed, it appears that my remaining power.. has vanished."

In a slightly sardonic tone of voice, Rubia spoke.

Blood had stopped flowing from the cursed armament seals on her arms.

"...To think a spirit contract could be severed—Is it that sacred sword's power?"

"I already tried it once before."

Supported upright by Claire, Kamito nodded.

Temporarily driving «Laevateinn» away did not solve the problem at its root. So long as the contract's connection remained, the spirit was surely going to continue making attempts to claim Rubia's life relentlessly.

However, defeating the strongest flame spirit's main body was absolutely impossible. It was not an opponent that a human elementalist could oppose.

Hence, Kamito had severed the contract connecting «Laevateinn» to Rubia.

He relied on the power of the «Demon Slayer»—Terminus Est.

Possessing the strongest anti-magic properties, this "cursed sword," capable of absorbing all curses, was simultaneously a sacred sword that could lift all spells. The contract exchanged between a spirit and an elementalist was also a type of spell.

In the past, Kamito had used Terminus Est to destroy the cursed armament seal transplanted on Velsaria Eva's heart. However, back then, he had only destroyed the cursed armament seal that was driving her spirit mad, rather than spirit's contract.

(...But it looks like my gamble paid off.)

Kamito called upon the sacred sword in his hand.

(...Est, good job.)

—Yes. Because I am Kamito's ''beloved sword''.

—Oh dear, what is Miss Sacred Sword muttering on her own about over there?

—Kamito is talking to me. The darkness spirit should shut up.

(I beg you, please don't argue in someone else's mind...)

Kamito pressed his temples and groaned.

"The contract was severed..."

Claire reacted and spoke up.

"In other words, the contract's price won't be exacted from Nee-sama, right?"

"...Yes. That should be the case—"

Kamito turned his gaze towards Rubia.

"I still have things to ask you. How could I let you die so easily here?"

Staring her straight in the eyes, Kamito asked.

"—Also, tell us already. Four years ago, in the shrine of the «Elemental Lords», ''what exactly did you see''?"

"I..."

Rubia's eyes wandered in space for an instant.

Kamito did not fail to catch the emotions appearing on her face for an instant.

It was irrepressible fear.

This girl, the former «Queen», had destroyed the «Instructional School» in the past and was capable of dealings with Murders and the Theocracy's military. What could possibly inspire such fear in her—

After several seconds of silence—

She finally spoke.

"—''Something beyond this world''."

"Something beyond this world?"

"Yes. Very likely, it is the existence causing the current «Elemental Lords» to go mad. Furthermore, it is the true form of what you people call the Elemental Lords' miracle."

"...Nee-sama... What... What are you saying?"

Claire's voice was doubtful.

"Bear this in mind. The miracle transcending this world's rules and logic, granted to the victor of the «Blade Dance», does not actually grant the «Wish» you hope for."

"...What does that mean?"

While raising this question—

Kamito recalled what he heard in the past.

—The elemental lords' blessing is not as omnipotent as rumored.

(...I remember Greyworth saying something like that.)

Similarly, she was also someone who had had an audience with the elemental lords.

(...The «Elemental Lords»' miracle huh.)

Had these words come from an ordinary person, they could be dismissed as utter nonsense.

But she—Rubia Elstein—was formerly a «Queen» serving the elemental lord.

This was her reason for choosing betrayal at all costs, going as far as to abandon her position and duties, even sacrificing her own life.

The insanity of the «Elemental Lords». If it were real—

"But since the Demon King's awakening failed. Everything is too late now."

Rubia took out something from the sleeve of her military uniform and tossed it over to Kamito.

Kamito caught it reflexively.

"...?"

She had thrown a «Magic Stone», shining with red light.

"You can confirm the truth with your own eyes."

"W-Wait up, Rubia!" "Nee-sama!"

Kamito and Claire noticed her intentions at the same time—But it was too late.

Due to forsaking the «Magic Stone», the transfer magic activated.

Rubia's body turned into particles of light and vanished from the scene.

"Nee-sama, wait, Nee-sama...!"

Claire's voice echoed in the great hall.

"...Nee-sama."

The scene fell silent.

Finally—

"...With that, it means that «Team Inferno»'s leader has exited the stage."

Casting his gaze on the «Magic Stone» in his hand, Kamito muttered.

Muir Alenstarl had disappeared. Lily Flame had lost to Leonora.

And Leonora had also retired by her own volition.

"The only ace-class enemy left is the Theocracy's witch. Also, Luminaris of the «Sacred Spirit Knights», right—"

There were still ten-odd hours left until the «Blade Dance»'s final round ended.

Outside the crumbling walls, the sun had set.

Just at this moment...

"W-What!?"

"What is going on?"

Ellis and Rinslet screamed.

Beneath their feet, shining magic circles suddenly appeared.

"This is «Transfer» magic... Kyah!"

"W-What!?"

The same magic circles appeared around Kamito and the rest.

Then—

"...!?"

His view was overwhelmed by the dazzling light.

===Part 4===

The entire field of vision was pure white.

An intense dizziness caused all the sensations of the body to disappear instantly.

When Kamito opened his eyes—

In his view was a white ceiling.

"...This place is?"

Surprised, just as he was about to get up from the hard floor—

"Ouch—!"

"N-No! You should not be impatient to get up..."

He heard the cute voice of a girl.

"...?"

It was not Claire or the others. However, it was not completely unfamiliar either.

(This voice, I remember it's...)

Frowning, Kamito surveyed his surroundings by sight.

He saw—

"...Are you alright...?"

Looking straight into Kamito's face was a princess maiden in a crimson ritual outfit.

Gorgeous black hair draped over her face. Eyes like a timid pet's.

"You are...!"

Kamito remembered.

As the «Calamity Queen»'s successor, the princess maiden chosen as the «Fire Queen».

Reicha Alminas.

"...Reicha, why are you here? ...No wait, where is this?"

Still in confusion, Kamito asked.

Hearing him, the young «Queen» produced a gentle smile.

"Please calm down. All of you have returned to «Ragna Ys»."

Shocking words.

<noinclude>{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume11 Chapter1|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume11 Chapter3}}</noinclude>

Madan no Ou to Vanadis:Volume 06 Chapter 5

2013-08-07T00:02:16Z

130.212.195.142: /* Chapter 5 The Fall of Fort Lux */

== Chapter 5 The Fall of Fort Lux ==

When Ludmira Lurie visited LeitMeritz and enjoyed friendly chats with Tigre, she once said something about castle siege.

"Castle sieging is, in one sentence, psychological warfare."

While sipping the tea which she brought in the guest room of the Imperial Palace, she proudly launched a speech with glittering blue eyes.

"Even if you can make a hole in the rampart, you cannot destroy the entire rampart. How to keep up morale for the troops, how to dampen the enemy's, leading a large army surrounding the fort, as well as keeping it well fed. Everything is for that purpose."

"But, there are also examples of overwhelming the rampart, relying on sheer numbers and momentum, and of invading the Fort and altogether knocking down the enemy and occupying it."

In the strange attitude of Mira which stretches her moderate chest, if compared with Ellen's, and can somewhere be regarded as lovely, Tigre had a rebuttal. The {{furigana|Snow Princess of the Frozen Wave|Michelia}} was not particularly upset.

"Just as you said, there are also precedents of this, but only to a certain degree. Keep that in mind, Tigre. What to do to make the enemy's morale drop significantly. Whether subjugating the enemy's General, or burning out the enemy’s food, or also requesting reinforcements, it is just one of these means."

As he was kindly admonished, Tigre, scratching his head, had no choice but to feel ashamed of his own innocence. Though Lim too, it seemed that teaching Tigre was also a very pleasant thing for Mira.

"I wonder if it is because you are honest, unlike someone I know. Although it would be nice if you honestly accept my invitation, too."

The Vanadis of Olmutz revealed a pleasant smile. Tigre, up to now, had never considered a castle siege. Even such basic knowledge was very precious for him and he was thankful for that.

''---Now, then, what should I do in this situation...?''

While recalling the conversation with Mira, Tigre rode forward. Beside him was Olga and right in front, Tallard's subordinate, Ludra, each respectively straddling horses.

Following behind them were three thousand troops, with the sound of hoofs and clattering armor. Three hundred of them were the aforementioned Sachstein mercenaries. They were marching a slight distance away from the regular army.

The General Commander of those three thousand soldiers was Ludra. Not Tigre nor Olga.

Though Tallard said he would entrust the troops to Tigre, the young man requested that Ludra act as the General Commander. The three people, Tigre, Olga, and Matvey, were acting under the pretense of being Tallard’s close friends, and Ludra was responsible for supporting them as an adjutant.

Tigre and the others were heading to the Fort via the highway linking Fort Lux and Valverde. For the moment, there were no problems, and if they kept up this pace, they would probably see the Fort before noon tomorrow.

There were several sheets of papers in Tigre's hands. It was some detailed sketches of the Fort Lux. These were the ones that were in the castle of Valverde, Tallard let him have them.

''---Though there is no moat, the walls are very high and very thick. There are no water wells, they get water from the underground waterway.''

On the maps, even the underground waterways were drawn in great detail. In a case that the Fort was captured by the enemy, Valverde would be placed in a very dangerous situation. This level of preparation was, of course, natural.

''---If I use that power, it should not be difficult to capture the Fort, but...''

Thinking of that, Tigre immediately reconsidered. If he used the power of the black bow or Olga’s {{furigana|Dragonic Skills|Veda}}, it would not be difficult to capture the Fort Lux. After all, just blowing a hole in the rampart so that the soldiers could break into from there should be simple.

However, Tigre decided not to use the power of the black bow, at least in the battle for Fort Lux. He also asked Olga not to use her {{furigana|Dragonic Skills|Veda}}, except in an extreme emergency.

Since this was not Zchted, but Asvarre. Olga and Matvey were the only people he could call true allies.

Thinking about the threat, showing the power of the black bow or the Dragonic Tool in the current situation, aside from being wary, the battlefield would be locked in their lives, and they would not stand being confined. He was hoping to avoid conspicuous action, at least until they rescued Sophie.

Moreover, Olga aside, he himself did not think that he could handle the power of the black bow.

He shook his head to brush away idle thoughts. At that time, Matvey came riding a horse. For him who could freely speak the Asvarre language, Tigre had him look at the state of soldiers.

"Have you thought about any plans?"

In a cheerful voice while turning a look to the bunch of papers which Tigre had, "Not at all." was Tigre’s reply by shaking his head.

"How are the soldiers?"

"Their morale is quite high. The army appears to be organized in soldiers accustomed to war, most people look cold, and almost no one is disturbed."

"What are they thinking about General Leicester? I mean, they were allies until the other day, right?"

"Knowledge of the traitor seems to be common. Lord Tallard has certainly betrayed Prince Jermaine, but before that, the fact that General Leicester went over to the enemy has a greater impact on them. In addition, they know that Lord Tallard hates General Leicester."

Looking like he had no words to say, and rummaging his darkish red hair, Tigre looked up at the sky. The blue sky mixed with the end of summer and the start of fall looked like it lacked some vividness.

"So both fighting spirit and proficiency are enough, huh. I wonder how they are seeing us."

"Foreign guests, so it seems. Because of the announcement that we are Lord Tallard's friends, so you should not worry about it, but if it can fully be trusted... is hard to say. That being said, they trust Lord Tallard and Ludra-dono, and swear an oath of loyalty. As long as we're in no big gaffe, then it won't matter."

Hearing the same answer as speculated, Tigre was relieved.

The reason that he requested Ludra to act as Commander was this. Even though there were under the pretense of being Tallard's friends, not only were they not of Asvarre, but would the soldiers really bring themselves to entrust their life to people whose identities were not apparent to them?

For Tigre, for example if it happens that an unknown person, who claims to be a friend of Ellen, commands the soldiers of Alsace, he wouldn't help but feel uneasy.

Though Tallard entrusted the soldiers to Tigre as proof of his trust in him, and chose Ludra as adjutant so that no trouble occurred, Tigre, when departing from Valverde, finished the formality.

If Ludra acted as Commander, the soldiers would be relieved, and moreover, taper their vigilance towards the trio. Above all, this was their war. Tigre did not mean to meddle more than required.

"Thank you. So please continue to check out."

As Tigre's expression of gratitude, Matvey saluted and turned the horse. He rode the horse to the side of soldiers again. After seeing him off, Tigre began to rethink about the plan for the capture of the Fort Lux.

''---First of all, I must solve the issue of the same number. And then, I want a military unit that will follow me. It would be impossible with the soldiers of Asvarre. Since there is almost no relationship of mutual trust between them and me. As such, I will ask Ludra...''

Absorbed too much in his thoughts, he seemingly failed to pay attention to the horse. The pace of the horse had been shifting to the side little by little, as Tigre was startled, he stopped right next to Olga. The Vanadis with light pink-colored hair looked up at Tigre with her deadpan expression.

"Is something wrong?"

Tigre revealing a wry smile, scratched his darkish red hair trying to dodge the question, but immediately reconsidered that this was a good opportunity.

"I would like to ask something to Olga, can I?"

He actually wanted to ask it earlier, but there were many things he had to keep track of even after leaving Valverde leading the army, and he accidently delayed it.

"In the audience hall after meeting Tallard. Since then, you have entrusted al of) the decisions to me. That's what I'm concerned about."

About Olga's current status, Tigre was feeling guilty for the fact that, by the course of events, he might have involved her. Although he was very grateful that she lent her power, he did not want her to overdo it.

"I do not say anything because there is especially nothing to say."

Olga's reply was clear and concise. However, re-thinking that this alone was not enough, the 14-year-old Vanadis added.

"If I think that there is a problem in Tigre's judgment, I will also give my opinion. So far, I do not think so."

"But, there is no need for you to join this war."

He knew Olga's strength. It might be more reassuring than anyone if she fought at his side. But, on the other hand, he had a hesitation to take her to the battlefield.

"Though while bearing the title "Vanadis" it's not for me to say it, I, who fled from the land which I should govern, probably do not deserve to be called a Vanadis. However, while knowing Sophia Obertas's crisis, I cannot overlook it."

"Have you and Sophie met?"

"Only once, when I went to the Capital; she did not give me a bad impression."

After answering so, Olga moved only her line of sight upward looking at Tigre.

"So Sophie is her nickname. Tigre, are you close to her?"

"Rather than saying close, she is more a benefactor. She really helped me in various ways regarding the matter of Brune."

Hearing Tigre's answer, Olga just made a "hmm" sound. After 3 to 4 counts, she said in a casual tone.

"Tigre. As for me, I trust you. Whether having revealed to you that I am Vanadis, or still being here now, you may think that it is the proof to that. So-"

Olga was shy, with a slightly faster tempo, and slightly raised her voice as she continued.

"When calling my name, you can also put a little more affection."

Not being able to understand right away the meaning of what she said, Tigre steadily gazed at Olga's profile. As her face slightly flushed, the young man finally understood. With a wry smile, Tigre gently patted Olga’s shoulder.

"Count on it."

However, this alone could not seem to satisfy Olga who slightly pouted.

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Among the three thousand soldiers of Tallard, there were three hundred Sachstein mercenaries. The name of the man commanding these mercenaries was Simon. He was exactly 30 this year. He was a veteran mercenary recognized by his subordinates.

He was neither too large nor too short with a height that met his age, and his sturdy body was forged in the mercenary life. Plus, one might say he had a teenage constitution with short black hair and sharp eyes, and a baby face, but the big scar in his left cheek denied the youthful impression.

"When covering the left side of the face, he is very cute", was the statement of the whores who have slept with him.

A young man was visiting the tent of that Mercenary Captain. That was Tigre.

"What can I do for you?"

Deliberately putting on a steep expression, Simon, scowled at Tigre and spoke with an irritated voice. In the slightly soiled camp, there were two mercenaries other than him. The three people including Simon were dressed in iron armor, and their waist was girded with a sword.

On the other side, Tigre was lightly dressed just wearing leather armor on hemp clothing. Though he still held the black bow, the sword was obviously more advantageous in the tents.

However, not only did Tigre show no signs of being frightened, but he also caught Simon's line of sight with a hearty expression. It was not a bluff, and he seemed rather satisfied.

"Mercenary Captain Simon-dono. I have something I want to discuss with you."

''---Ooh...''

Simon still with a stern expression was inwardly impressed while silently staring at the young man. About Tigre, Simon only knew that he was Tallard's guest.

''---Clothes and leather armor are also decent. He gives the feeling of a noble young master who lost his way in middle of the hunt... But the fact that he is scared neither by this atmosphere nor by my voice shows that he is quite brave.''

That was the reason Simon put on a steep expression and suddenly poured on a threatening voice on Tigre. He was not really angry, nor hostile towards the young man.

In addition to the belief: "If you underestimate a mercenary, you will be doomed", coupled with the observation of each other, there was the purpose to make the opponent falter if lucky, and advantageously carry subsequent negotiations. Even now, he was calmly assessing Tigre in his mind.

Since Simon did not speak, Tigre continued.

"I want you and the three hundred mercenaries led by you directly under my command. I have already got Ludra-dono's permission. To what Lord Tallard currently pays, I will add one piece of silver coin per day. Two pieces of silver coins for those leading more than 50 persons. Three pieces of silver coins for more than 100 persons. While it's five silver coins for you. What do you think?"

Simon did not answer immediately. Just like wild beasts, eliminating the presence of those who suddenly show up and observing the situation, he was sitting still on a plain chair staring at Tigre.

"Which country language are you good at?"

After a while, Simon uttered these lines. Tigre, even though revealing a surprised expression, still answered Brune language.

"Then speak to me with Brune language. I can't stand to hear your third-rate Zchted language."

"Sorry about that."

As Tigre smiled and politely bowed, he once again repeated what he just said in Brune language. Simon looking at the young man did not ride on the provocation. He brought himself to hear the story just a little.

"Why come to us? You should ask Ludra-dono to borrow regular soldiers."

"Are you not a friend of Tallard?" As he implicitly asked so, Tigre shook his head. Erasing his smile, he put on a serious expression.

"What I need are soldiers who will go forward as long as they judge the command to be correct, even if it is a bit dangerous."

"I think the loyalty of those fellows to be quite considerable."

In a sarcastic voice, Simon replied. He did not intend to exaggerate. Even aware of being clearly numerically inferior in comparison with the enemy army, the soldiers here still believed in Tallard, as well as his subordinate Ludra.

Likewise, Simon was here simply because he bet on the General who led the first string of Tallard army.

Tigre showed an attitude of thinking, it was just the time for about two breaths.

"You know that I am a person from Brune, right?"

"I can somehow guess from your accent, as well as your face."

"I just got acquainted with Lord Tallard, by serving as a foreigner. Even if I persuade them with Ludra's help, I do not think that the soldiers will entrust their life to a person that they do not know well."

Simon who, inwardly believed that it makes sense, was also amazed. He was young, and yet he understood.

If the commander is a foreigner, he must whether have very high prestige and reputation, or require the ability to convince the soldiers. Though most of the mercenaries led by Simon were people of Sachstein, there were also those from Brune, Zchted and Asvarre. It was Simon's power and prestige that could unite them.

"...So you think we would listen to what you said?"

"Compared with the regular soldiers, it is easy to sustain your trust by money. Besides, the point of 'foreigners' is hard to be much of an issue. I thought so."

A smile appeared on Simon's mouth. This was a satisfactory answer. He let his men prepare to put a chair on the corner of the tent, inviting Tigre on the seat.

"Let's hear the story. If I can be convinced by your suggestion, I will accept the offer made a while ago."

However, Tigre did not sit on the chair.

"Before that, I have a proposal."

Simon silently nodded, urging Tigre. The young man with an amiable tone said.

"I am very skilled with the bow, don't you want a match? From your squad, choose people good at the bow... Let's say, about five people. We will use a bow. And we won't use crossbow. If even one can shoot an arrow farther than me, let’s add ten pieces of copper coins to the allowance that we said a while ago."

Steepness disappeared from Simon's face. It was happiness that emerged instead.

"Okay. I get on."

Mercenary is basically on the merit system, following the person with superior ability obediently.

It was Ellen who taught so to Tigre. "Of course, there are also exceptions", Was what she added while slightly sticking out her tongue.

The young man was betting on this now. To get their trust in a short time, he intended to do all what he could.

Tigre's purpose was to let the mercenaries - particularly the Captain Simon recognized his skills with the bow. Even if there was a user of the bow superior to him, it was not particularly a problem. Because if there was such a strong person, he would be there to be reckoned long ago.

In addition, Tigre had just felt an incredible urge to compete.

''---There might be someone somewhere who can shoot an arrow farther than me.''

He had that feeling in a corner of his heart. The encounter with Tallard which was a bow errand with ability equal to him, gave the young man a lot of shock and strain.

In the rest of the interval of the march, Tigre played the match with the mercenaries.

And then Tigre won the trust of the mercenaries.

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Just around noon the next day, the 3000 of the Tallard army led by Ludra stopped the lineup to the south of the Fort Lux.

The Fort Lux was built with piled up black granite, and was obviously of a strong structure.

Though there was no moat, it was endowed with high thick walls, it had two gates one to the north and one to the south. On the south side was the main gate, here was something sturdy which inserted the board of the oak into the thick iron plate.

The back gate on the north side was around two or so times smaller than the main gate and there was also only one small iron plate. The second gate directly next to the back gate had a size that could not safely be referred to as an iron door rather than gate. This gate was used when the main gate and the back gate must be shut.

With the dense forest spreading directly at the north of the Fort, such as the deployment of troops or the setting of siege weapons were nearly impossible. That is why the north gate was small.

On the other side, to the south was a flat prairie. The way this Fort highly rose above the forest over the back, appeared like a black giant was standing in the way, so the offensive army would lose morale.

Though the soldiers of Tallard army were also overwhelmed by the appearance of the Fort, they regained their composure seeing the calm way of command of Ludra.

Ludra completed the lineup in the south of the Fort. Even though it is said the south, it was not in the vicinity of the Fort. It was about five hundred alsins (about 500 meters) away.

"Do we not make the castle siege?"

Olga emitted a wondering mutter. Tigre also thought about the question, but that was cleared immediately. It's because he was told that Ludra, taking over more than ten horsemen, went toward the Fort. Tigre and the others asked him to let them accompany.

Even when seeing Ludra and his subordinates approaching, the Fort showed no reaction in particular. As they stopped the horses in a place where arrows could not reach, Ludra shouted toward the Fort.

"General Leicester and his followers. You probably already know, but Prince Jermaine, by who you took the banner of revolt, is dead. Now, General Tallard Graham became the Lord of the whole area centering on Valverde. Don't you think we should avoid unnecessary conflict, and join hands bid together?"

This didn't sound great, but could be heard clearly. His men also shouted the same thing toward the fort, and then after a short time General Leicester appeared on the rampart.

With some brown hair bequeathed on the left and right ears, he was almost a bald man. As Ludra, he was probably not more than 35 years of age, but he gave a different impression (vibe). His physique (build), though medium, was easily wearing a heavy armor, and one could see that he was trained (well forged).

"The likes of a hunter born in a fishing village shouting for Generals really makes me laugh. We have inherited the royal bloodline of Prince Elliot as his peers. If you bastards do not want to be known as the vanguard of traitors, you should throw away your weapons and prostrate yourselves to the seedling of the castle gate. From then supplying wives and daughters in order, I will convey to Prince Elliot."

The soldiers on the rampart also repeated Leicester's words aloud. Matvey, twisting his tough look, which seems to say "It's helpless" shook his head. For Tigre, too, the mood was unpleasant.

"It's such a man, huh. It's as Tallard said."

When he finds young girls of his liking, he kidnaps them and brings them back to the Fort. As for Tallard, who was fighting for people to live in peace, even a temporary joint cooperation could not maintain long-term friendly relations between the rivals.

Ludra and his men did not continue to speak, and with the attitude that he did what he could, he returned to the army. The Fort side silently saw him off.

Like that, the sun set while both armies were on alert at each other, and on the first day, without major incident, it was gradually approaching night.

In the commander's tent, there were four people Ludra, Tigre, Olga and Matvey. They were sitting around a map of the vicinity around the Fort.

The autumn nights of Asvarre were very cold, but this tent, which was only for Commander service, blocked the cold night air with thick clothes overlapping, and the ground was also covered with a carpet of animal hair (fur). Therefore the four people, only dressed with a mantle on top of the armor, were able to continue the war council.

"So, Tigre-dono. What should we do?"

Without interrupting his mild smile, Ludra asked. Tigre asked back.

"That the enemy did not come out from the Fort, is it unexpected for Ludra-dono?"

"It is within the scope of expectation. This side and the enemy have the same number. Therefore, I expected them to come strongly attacking, but it should be said it's as expected of General Leicester. However, there is something that I learned."

The sun was setting, and in the tent, only the light of candlesticks lit up the four people. The trio felt that Ludra's added dreadfulness.

"Today's provocation was to check General Leicester's actions. If he opened the gate and came out, I was planning to break through in the prairie. However, they firmly shut the gate. I'm afraid that they won't come out until Prince Elliot's troops appear."

"In there, we will take advantage that the enemy stays indoors in the Fort and the cave which connects to the underground waterway... Underground tunnels will be dug and we will attack from there?"

At Tigre's words, Ludra could not help but leak a sound of admiration.

"Just by looking at the map, you were able to think of that, eh?"

Tigre just smiled and did not answer. In addition to the knowledge he learned from Mira, he also made his judgement after getting Matvey's careful analysis of the 3000 soldier army. Receiving reports that only some kinds of siege weapons such as castle mallet fracture (battering ram) and catapult were missing, Tigre held his conviction.

"It's just as you say. Waiting until the cave is connected to the underground waterway, we will perform a flashy castle attack as a diversion, and with that chance, a squad will sneak into the Fort to open the gates."

"Will that go well for you?"

Matvey showed doubts. Though Olga did not say anything, she seemed to be of the same opinion. Ludra, quietly confident, calmly nodded.

"Before we leave Valverde, Lord Tallard spread a rumor in this whole area. If His Excellency gathers an army, the plan is to be joining with us first, and assault the Fort Lux, as we are just the advance party before the real attack of the castle."

If they believed the information that Tallard spread, it would be better for Leicester to strike this army of three thousand before it's too late for him. Besides, only the capitulation declaration was carried out here, the troop’s deployment being also away from the Fort, there was a lack of motivation, such as "don't do anything until the army of Tallard arrives".

However, Leicester did not take the bait. Unless a major change occurred, he intended to devote himself to the defense of the Fort. As for Ludra, only with capitulation declaration and lineup, he virtually took the means of sortie from Leicester.

"The underground tunnels are scheduled to be finished digging in 4 days. While being on alert of the enemy's actions till then, we're going to act as if we are really waiting for that army (Tallard and other troops). - Do you have any questions?"

"...Can you listen to my plan? No, it's not that I deny your strategy."

Looking at the map of the Fort, Tigre said so. It was a brilliant plan, but without drawbacks. He thought so.

Ludra, after hearing the main points and the proposed amendment from Tigre, was speechless for a moment, and then patting his knees with a delightful expression, he accepted the suggestion.

Four days passed after, then Tallard army took up their lineup in front of the Fort Lux.

Meanwhile, the three thousand soldiers scheduled only with a large wooden shield spent the days of sporadically attacking by shooting with bows and arrows.

Likewise, the enemy took action against this attack by only fighting back with bows and arrows. The Fort Lux should also have catapults, but did not mean to use them.

"In view of the situation, I have to prepare a false rumor that the army of His Highness Tallard will show soon."

It is an opinion of Ludra, and the trio also held the same view.

There were dozen people of Tallard army who suffered minor injuries, but injured persons also hardly appeared on the fort side. There were too few arrows which reached the top of the wall.

Around evening of that day, the four people gathered in the commander's tent.

"The number has somehow become complete."

Ludra, said so to Tigre with a smile, and Tigre nodded back, too.

"As scheduled, we begin the operation at dawn."

On the map of the vicinity of the Fort, Ludra ran his finger.

"First, my squad will attack from the front. Besides, with 500 soldiers, we will make a surprise attack from the underground waterway. And then---"

Ludra's fingertips pointed the west of the Fort drawn on the map.

"Waiting for the internal uproar, Tigre-dono and Olga-dono along with the mercenary squad of 300 will climb over the walls from here."

Ludra, half dumbfounded and half amazed, looked at Tigre.

"It's a bit late, but the height of the walls is 12 alsins (about 12 m) high"

Walls exceeding 10 alsins were very rare. Not only did they swell highly enough to spend an extraordinary amount of time and materials, but it was also because they lacked stability. Walls of five or six alsins were common.

Meanwhile the Fort Lux, not only thickened the walls, but also imparted a gradient (a slope) through his structure to solve this problem.

"They will somehow manage. Since they also said that they will do it."

"Since I increased their pay, it would be troubling if they don't make better work than usual."

Ludra revealed a wry smile. He moved his eyes back to the map.

"Last - Tigre-dono's squad will get down the walls and open the back gate in the north, and the squad sneaking into the forest will break in from there."

"Do we divide our troops in four parts as the enemy?"

"It's because it's the same number. To remove the advantage of the enemy which is the walls, we just have to disrupt them by exploiting the gap."

To Matvey who groaned folding his arms, Tigre replied with an optimistic tone. Although the unit led by Tigre was the most dangerous, the young man's face did not reveal the slightest sense of tragic.

He reconfirmed the order, and when the war council was drawing to a close, Olga suddenly raised her hand.

"I have a proposal."

"...Please, speak."

Ludra which was half-rising to his feet sat again on the carpet, revealing a wonderful expression. During these three days, even though they held the war council every day because they needed to confirm the situation, Olga never spoke.

Since Tigre had also been thinking that she rode on his plan, he stared at Olga with a surprised face. Only Matvey showed anxiety in his tough look.

"Before the attack, I want to go to the Fort as a messenger."

"As a messenger... do you want to propose the capitulation again?"

At Ludra's question, Olga shook her head.

"These four days, I asked Matvey to do a little investigation. About the type of girls that General Leicester likes. He seems to like girls my age."

Tigre understood what Olga was trying to say. Approaching Leicester under the pretense of messenger, she would try to assassinate him. With a stern look, the young man forestalling rejected.

"No"

"...I understand."

To Tigre's surprise, Olga gave up easily.

In this way, the war council was disbanded.

After finishing the war council, Tigre and the others visited the mercenary camps, and prepared adjustments and props for the force attacking from the west.

As the sunset had long gone, there were only the twinkling stars shining in the sky and the flames of the campfire. To prevent the Fort to detect them, they chose this time to start working.

The length of the siege ladder was about six alsins at best. In front of the walls of 12 alsins, it was useless. In this, Tigre, Simon and the others prepared a rope tied to the claw tip.

Since this was not high enough even if normally cast out, and it must be tied with a rope to the bolt of crossbows, Tigre and other mercenaries skilled at using crossbows shot them out to hook.

Tigre having thought of this plan two days ago, tested it at a remote place from the Fort. As the result was not bad, Simon and the others suddenly became motivated to do it.

When Tigre noticed something unusual, he finished the preparations.

Matvey, whom he said that he had something to discuss, and Olga who suddenly disappeared were missing. Asking Simon, he replied that he did also not know.

"That can't be", as he thought so, Tigre jumped out of the camp, leaving the command to Simon.

The tent where the trio was sleeping was next to the Commander's.

When Tigre proposed to set apart for theirs a tent for Olga, she refused saying that there was no need to do so. For Tigre, considering their own safety, also knew that it was better for them to stay together, so he did not say anything.

When he walked inside, Tigre realized his fear became reality. There was no figure of Olga, but only a note with her handwriting left in a conspicuous place.

『I will sneak into it (the Fort). I hope you do not get angry at Matvey.』

''---What did you...''

After reading this sentence, Tigre tightly grasped the black bow, and ran to the commander's tent. Though the soldiers turned a surprised look, he could not afford to care about such trifles.

When he rushed in out of breath, there was only Ludra inside. He was probably re-examining once again the plan of this time, and sitting on the carpet, he was looking at the map and the sketch of the Fort. Though he was surprised for a moment after seeing Tigre, he soon revealed his usual mild smile.

"...Did you know?"

"I have just heard. She wanted me to keep that secret from you."

Though it is a very brief question even though he guessed correctly, Ludra replied.

Olga headed to General Leicester pretending to be a messenger of Prince Elliot.

"Did you not stop her?"

"From my standpoint, to capture this Fort, her proposal was quite attractive."

As Ludra indifferently replied, Tigre, with nowhere to vent his anger kindled, and firmly clenched his fists. However, he clearly understood that it would be meaningless even if he beat him here.

"She said that she wants to be helpful to you."

He knew that. And it's precisely for this reason he did not want her to do something like this. Since it was her, she should have no problem. There was also Matvey.

''---But...''

After a long silence, Tigre turned his anger into a sigh and spitted it out.

"...We will proceed as scheduled, okay?"

As he only asked that, and confirmed that Ludra nodded, Tigre made depressed left the tent.

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The moon considerably inclined to the west, and the night wind was getting severe when the sentries began to feel that dawn was near. In Fort Lux's north gate, there were two shadows.

"I am a messenger of Prince Elliot. Please open the gate."

Matvey deliberately with a rude voice shouted towards gate. Olga stood beside him. Both were dressed differently from usual.

Matvey wrapped his body in linen clothes and leather armor stained slightly which really harked back to pirates, and girded a curved sword to his waist. As a sailor, he who had a sturdy body and an explicitly tanned skin should not be happy that this outfit really suited him.

After for Olga, she was wearing slightly soiled clothes pretending to be a village girl. She was holding a small decorative ax, which looked quite heavy.

Since the other party was only two people, while the soldiers of the Fort Lux were cautious enough, they opened the small second gate next to the back gate and received Matvey and Olga. The two of them were sandwiched around six soldiers, and guided toward the room of Leicester - The Commander room in the top floor of the Fort.

"It's you, huh. The messenger of Prince Elliot."

"Yeah. The messenger is me, and this small one is a present"

If a person knowing Matvey saw the scene in which the scary-looking sailor was talking with a rude voice, he couldn't help bursting into laughter, but for someone who did not know him, he was the ill-bred pirate himself.

While Olga kept her usual deadpan, Matvey intentionally pushed her out in front of Leicester.

The bald General's eyes, tinged with color of lust looked down at the girl. Whether the swelling of her flat chest one could see even through her clothing or her delicate body was very consistent with his preferences.

At this time, Leicester finally noticed that the girl had a small axe. With a structure even smaller than a hatchet, and from its beautiful decorations, one can only think of a kind of artworks and the like.

During the time about the count of three, Leicester silently stared at the axe. This man felt the extraordinary power hidden in the axe.

"...Well, I should leave this for later. There is something that I must check first."

However, Leicester frankly gave priority to his own desire, and turned a lecherous gaze at Olga.

"You can put that axe on the wall there."

Olga silently obeyed. Still keeping his eyes on the silhouette of the girl with light pink-colored hair, Leicester palliating dignity at most only in his voice, asked a question to Matvey.

"By the way, what does Prince Elliot say?"

"Oh. That he will come here with twenty thousand soldiers after three days. He hopes that in the meantime, you don't let this Fort fall."

"Oh! Three days, huh. That's really quick. I wonder how he captured Mariajo."

Matvey tilted his head as saying he didn't know.

"I was just ordered to take this fellow down with a small boat, going through the highway up to here..."

Leicester believed that it was probably something like that. He would not possibly speak about important information to a pirate he sent to deliver a souvenir (present).

''---It means that Prince Elliot also attaches great importance to this Fort and me.''

Even Leicester, who led an army as General, understood the importance of this Fort. Therefore, he believed Matvey's words.

What was above all important for Leicester was to satisfy his own desires.

In other words, when finding a girl of his liking, he abducted her, had his way with her, threw her away when getting bored and looked for a new prey. As long as he was allowed to do it, whether the monarch was Elliot or Jermaine, did not matter.

''---In the reign of King Zacharias, it was necessary to devise enough to pretend to be the act of thieves, but... Now it's a good time. In fact, if I wait a little more, I will no longer need to refrain.''

"You've worked hard. I will give you a room, you should take a rest until dawn."

Leicester ordered one of his soldiers to prepare a room for Matvey. However, he did not forget to add in a low voice.

"Just in case. You watch him so that he doesn’t do something suspicious."

As the soldiers left, Olga and Leicester were the only two left in the commander room. Since the soldiers knew the hobby of their master, even if they heard some bawl (wails), they would pay no heed to it.

Leicester directly after sitting on the bed wearing armor, and accosted Olga with a smile.

"Come on, take off your clothes and come here."

Olga admitted some mistakes in her calculation. Apparently this man intended to 'play' with her while in armor. It was still too early to act. She should obediently abide.

Olga approached Leicester while carefully calculating the distance, and put her hands on the clothes. But suddenly filled with a feeling of disgust, Olga's hands stopped.

''---Even though it was okay with Tigre.''

"It's good, don't be afraid. I will be as gentle as possible."

Misunderstanding Olga's hesitation, Leicester revealing a lecherous smile talked in a coaxing voice. Olga holding back her shyness took off her coat. Revealing a delicate body fantastic fruit. Coupled with her adorable look, even if not Leicester, one would probably feel a fairy-like beauty.

Olga was more confused here, but noosing her mouth as seeming to be determined, she put her hands on the clothes covering the bottom of her waist.

"Enemy attack!"

A scream from outside the door quickly pulled back Leicester to reality.

<center><big><big><big><big>◎</big></big></big></big></center>

The Fort Lux capture, before dawn as scheduled, the curtain was opened by an attack to the south.

The war cry of nearly 2000 people shattered the silence of the night, some people held a large wooden shield, and some other charged at the huge gate with a battering ram which reinforced the log. Furthermore, those who set up the crossbows covered their companions by shooting thick arrows at the top of the walls.

The impact of a roaring in the void of the forthcoming dawn shook the gates and walls.

The soldiers, on top of the walls lining up side by side in a row, poured a rain of arrows. Countless groans overlapped on the ground, and several figures fell.

"Don't falter! Those guys just woke up - They cannot set up an aim in this darkness!"

While holding a large shield, Ludra shouted. Several arrows piercing the shield which he held made a dry sound.

''---Not yet. We must still continue to attack. We must attract the enemy's attention.''

Perhaps, a bolt was put to the other side of the gate, and in addition, woods and stones were piled up supporting the gate. It was within Ludra's predictions. If the enemy made the choice of not coming out from the Fort, naturally the treatment course should be performed. But, though expecting so, Ludra had to order the charge by battering ram many times.

To attack the Fort side, fire arrows were also mixed. There was Fire here and there. The flames were revealing their position to the enemy's eyes.

Constantly looking down at the motionless shadows of his companions collapsing one after another, Ludra began to feel anxious.

''---How much longer can the soldiers here hold...? In the meantime, will we be able to take General Leicester's head?''

Though there were nearly two thousand soldiers here, only about five hundred participated in the siege warfare.

The remaining (about) one thousand five hundred were only collar people employed in the neighboring villages and towns. They were only employed in order to bluff loud in the rear.

This was Tigre's proposal. The plan was to make the enemy think that there were more people there.

The collar people were in the place where arrows could not reach. In this darkness, they could not be distinguished with soldiers, even the light of fire arrows would not be bright enough to illuminate them.

Before long, an uproar occurred inside of the Fort. It was the soldiers who invaded from the underground waterway.

When he confirmed the situation, Ludra ordered a retreat to the soldiers. This, of course, did not mean that it was over. Reorganizing only the soldiers who can still move, he intended to attack the gate again at regular intervals.

The soldiers who tried to rush from the underground waterway, however, did not succeed breaking in.

The underground waterway was connected to the water reservoir, and although the soldiers of the Fort were to scoop enough water from the water reservoir, an iron grill was inserted to the boundary of the underground waterway and the water reservoir.

This is what was originally ordered since Leicester came to guard this Fort, and it was not drawn to the sketch which Tallard had obtained, either.

The soldiers of Tallard army who tried to undermine the iron grill with swords and axes did not succeed, on the contrary, they fell into the waterway one after another by the bolt of the crossbow which the guards of the Fort shot over the iron grille.

Both the underground waterway and the water reservoir turned bloody red, even the defending soldiers were horrified by this frightful spectacle.

At that time, an uproar occurred a third time in the Fort. From the West of the walls, several hundreds of soldiers invaded. It was the mercenary squad led by Tigre and Simon.

"You guys do not have to quietly sneak anymore! Give me a war cry! Scare those guys with your voices!"

After Simon shouted these lines, the roaring of the mercenaries holding up their weapons overlapping rang throughout the Fort. Simon and the others did not miss that the guards were confused. They bravely continued to attack, cutting down the enemies one after another.

The soldiers with spear in hand, who were running on the walls, were good targets for Tigre. On walls, the carrying fire was also burned at regular intervals, and it rather helped the young archer as a result.

Nocking two, three arrows at once and shooting, the guards shivered to the feat that he hit every soldier he aimed at. Roaring, scream and agonizing cries whirled here and there on the walls, the persons invading (intruders) and the persons invaded wielding their weapons, and getting closer, killed each other in a situation in which they could not even clearly know the enemy’s face.

The narrow corridor on the walls was soon filled with corpses, and the people still alive violently kicked them down to the ground (and cleaned off). Or they tripped and fell, and were added to the string of casualty.

While the allies being killed and also killing the enemies, Tigre and the others moved on the walls to the North little by little.

''---No matter how easy it is to aim at them, if they are so numerous…''

Finally, the sky of the east began to dawn, and even though the air was still so cold, some drops of sweat floating on Tigre's forehead were drifting. His first quiver was already empty, and now it was the second. This, too, would be empty soon.

"Simon, how is it?"

Tigre, while nocking a new arrow, asked the mercenary captain with a scar in his cheek. While throwing a hatchet toward an enemy at a distance, Simon answered back yelling.

"Don't worry, kid! So many people are still alive, there's no problem!"

As he responded those words, some mercenaries raised a war cry. But, it was clear that the dead becomes conspicuous to the companions.

Originally, everyone was lightly dressed in order to climb up the walls. There were even those not wearing leather armor. Such persons almost certainly lost their life by a stroke of the spear. Even if they endured it, they would lose their balance because of too much pain and fall down from the walls.

Nobody would be safe falling from a height of 12 alsins. Even if luckily saved, he would certainly be surrounded by enemy soldiers, and die. They would even be mistaken as guards and be killed.

The number of companions was dreadfully decreasing, around half, Tigre and the others finally arrived at the north gate. At that time, the guards’ offensive was also settled.

"Go down-"

Holding the rope with his bow on his shoulder, Tigre started sliding down. He understood that it was not what a commander should do, but did not give up.

Receiving the support of his companions, Tigre safely got down on the walls. Quickly setting up his bow, he nocked an arrow, and shot. The soldiers who were the closest were pierced under the nose and died.

Other enemies poising their spears were trying to stab him, but were hit directly by corpses falling from the top of the walls, fell and never got up again. As he looked up, he caught Simon’s line of sight. It seemed to be him who suddenly dropped the corpses.

''---I should say as expected from mercenaries…''

With a twitched smile, as he responded waving his hand, Tigre again nocked an arrow.

As he killed about several enemies, the figures of the guards were no longer found around for the time being. At that time, several companions including Simon went down to the ground. Half was on alert of the surrounding, and the remaining half was smashing open the smaller gate.

From the forest spreading to the north of the Fort, a war cry broke out. More than 1000 soldiers of Tallard army, brandishing sword and spear rushed in like surging waves.

Tigre camouflaged the number of soldiers deployed to the front with collar people to deceive them, but thereby he infiltrated here with more than thousand soldiers.

During these four days, Tallard army would only employ the collar people whenever the same number of soldiers was made to lurk in the forest. They would take a big detour around the Fort. And they would move using horses to shorten the time.

They could not deploy a large army to the North woods. The setting of siege weapons was also impossible. However, it was possible if they divided the squad into dozens of units and lie hidden in the forest. Even Leicester did not think of this blind spot.

By attacking from various directions, the deployment of the guards was fully dispersed. There, 1000 soldiers newly surged. They spurred the guards’ confusion.

Tigre and Simon leading the mercenaries ran straight towards the top floor of the Fort - Aiming at the commander room. However, soon in the top floor, the guards caught up.

Because they were invaded so far, they were also desperate. Raising a cry without words, and desperately swinging their swords around, they rushed with spear. Simon clicked his tongue.

"Kid. Go ahead. "

Tigre, with a surprised expression, stared at the mercenary captain with scar on the cheek.

"However, you should give me the reward of the Commander's head."

"That's if Olga has not yet taken it."

As he responded to a joke with a joke, Tigre and Simon ran respectively in opposite directions. Tigre ran up the stairs leading to the top floor, and Simon, while commanding his mercenaries, went to intercept the guards.

With the sound of clashing weapons behind, Tigre ran.

Immediately after, he set foot on the top floor.

Like a storm mowing down trees, a frightful roar shook the atmosphere, and gave a feeble shock to Tigre’s whole body. Rattling and numbness spread to his face and hands, the flame torch that was on the walls violently shimmered like a (hopping) dance. There was also something lying on the floor.

''---What was that, just now……?''

He heard a roar which would possibly not be that of a human coming from the inside - the Commander room. Olga’s figure flashed across his mind, and while his chest was tightened with uneasiness, Tigre ran through the corridor.

Subsequently, the roaring sound shook the whole Fort. It was a Commander room. And, a petite figure rolling out to the floor came from the Commander room. It was Olga.

"Olga……!"

As Tigre rushed over, he stopped. From the wall that was blown away, something white caught a glimpse of his figure. At the same time, a pain ran through Tigre’s left hand.

Unintentionally turning his gaze, the black bow which he was tightly grasping was clad in something which was neither black mist nor dust. As if it wanted to tell something to the user.

''---I will think about that later……!''

Tigre nocked an arrow, and drew the bowstring of the bow to the limit. The shot arrow flying tore up the dusk, and, as planned, pierced that white something. The white thing which was trying to approach Olga on the floor stopped his action.

''---A human? No, to say that's human is a bit......''

While Tigre drew out a new arrow from his quiver, he advanced at a careful pace. That something, in a visible range, had a human face. But, what kind of thing was it that it was in such a high position and that it rubbed its head against the ceiling? Besides, looking well, something like a horn was growing from his forehead.

『I heard it from that man and Drekavac, but…… It’s truly the “bow”. 』

Before that face, issuing gloomy Laughter, Tigre held his breath.

Coming to a close distance of ten steps to that something, he finally caught his full picture.

That was a pure white giant.

A little time back.

General Leicester which received the report of the enemy's raid immediately pulled himself together. Though he did not release his gaze smeared with lust from Olga, without taking off the upper armor, he continued giving clear directives.

This was an unexpected miscalculation for the Vanadis with light pink-colored hair, as she remained standing on the spot for a while, waiting for a chance to strike.

The change in situation occurred when he received the report that Tallard army invaded from the underground waterway. Leicester thought to have fathomed the intention of Tallard army.

"Attracting our attention by making commotion on the surface, and using that opportunity to invade from the underground waterway huh. You should miserably fail."

Leicester had already taken measures by inserting an iron grille in the underground waterway. Feeling confident, he turned his whole body to Olga.

"I kept you waiting. Well, then-"

It was at that time that Olga moved.

Kicking the floor, she rushed over the Roaring Demon which was leaned against the wall, and twisted her body at the same time she grabbed it. A growl of the wind continued in the atmospheric noise, Olga shot a mortal (deadly) blow to Leicester.

It was a movement, in which it could be said that the speed and the timing were perfect, but the shock transmitted through the {{furigana|Dragonic Tool|Viralt}} was totally different from what she expected.

『I see…… It was a {{furigana|Dragonic Tools|Viralt}}, huh.』

Leicester's mouth leaked a strangely cloudy sound. Just like a beast which barely speaks human language.

Olga stunned, was unable to move for a moment.

The single blow of the blade which could easily cut armor was caught with bare hands by Leicester. Moreover, black blood was dripping from the palms of his hands. Only this exception could be used to describe the scene.

『I cannot seem to use the rest period as an excuse. Perhaps it is because I have spent too much time in a human's skin or... because you looked too delicious.』

Leicester's hand grasped the blade of the Roaring Demon. His eyes emitted red light, and piercing his forehead from inside, three spiral-shaped horns grew diagonally. His skin turned so white that it was eerie, and his body swelled up and squeezed the armor he was wearing.

Leicester's body, which was of medium height, instantly grew 20 Chet(s) (about 2 m), and the metal fittings of armor emitting a high-pitched metallic sound bursted and flew. The parts of the armor scattered on the floor screeching a rasping sound.

Olga could not even utter a word, as she stared at the change of Leicester in utter amazement. Though she was a girl who had travelled for a long time, she had never seen something like this. Leicester's limbs became thicker than the pillar of the Fort, his body hair was also falling, and his huge body was swelling larger.

『Vanadis... Our enemies, eternal battle maidens (Valkyries)! I will violate your body, enough to make you regret you were born on this world. Afterwards, I'll eat you without leaving even a bone, like those humans.』

"- First: Crushing Fang!"

Finally coming to her senses, Olga shouted. Receiving the command, the {{furigana|Dragonic Tools|Viralt}} in her hands soundlessly distorted. The blade lengthened up and down, and changed into a saw-like shape.

It was simultaneous that Olga crushed Leicester's left hand, and that Leicester which turned into a monster beat the girl with his right hand. Although she quickly used her {{furigana|Dragonic Tools|Viralt}} as a shield, Olga’s petite body who took on the monster's fist flew in the air. She was flung against the door.

"What is it, General?"

The guards who were in the hallway, feeling doubt in the strange sound from a while ago, rushed in almost kicking down the door by force.

What they saw, was a white giant monster which grew horns from the forehead. And it was also what they last saw.

Leicester, who took a step forward, swinged the palm of his hands from right to left. The leather bag filled with air emitted a sound also similar to explosion, and the soldiers who entered the Commander room were blown away. Blood started to gush, when hands and feet parts bent in an unlikely direction, and they were flung against the wall, they all ceased to breathe.

The walls were stained red with blood and entrails, and the bodies clothed in broken armor fell.

Leicester without even glancing at the soldiers overlooked Olga. Similarly, Olga could not afford to glance at them. If she showed an opening even for an instant, she would become just like those soldiers.

The pure white monster stopped his movement, and inhaled a breath. His round face became near globular. Olga on alert set up her {{furigana|Dragonic Tools|Viralt}} as a shield.

Immediately after, Leicester let loose an earsplitting roar. A moment later, an invisible shock wave was released from the monster's body. The ceiling and the walls were crushed by the blast. Although Olga managed to minimize the damage, she still could not withstand it and was flung towards the back door and crashed down on the ground. The sheer force of the blow caused her to gasp for air.

It was then that Tigre appeared.

He was running low on arrows. There were only four remaining. If he returned till the place of Simon and the others, he could replenish in arrows since there should have been some bow user.

However, Tigre realized this was probably impossible.

''---This feeling, I remember it...''

He couldn't help but swallow his saliva. He had only felt this nauseating sensation once before. It was after repulsing the Muozinel army which invaded Brune, no more than six months ago. A monster which declared itself Vodyanoy appeared, and Tigre and Mira fought him together. There was no doubt that Tigre by himself, or Mira by herself would have been killed, it was a formidable foe.

''---It resembles that Vodyanoy.''

Not his appearance. But the brutal blood thirst released from his whole body. A sign peculiar to what was not human.

''---But, this guy still had a figure close to a human's.''

He wondered how he should describe the monster in front of his eyes.

Red eyes, twisted horns, a hideously gigantic body, and pale white skin. It could only be described as something not of this world. He cowered in fear just by confronting it. Like being lost in another world, and being attacked by the uneasiness, Tigre wanted to close his eyes and ears, and run away.

His heartbeat rapidly increased. there was also confusion in his breathing.

"...Who are you?"

While moving his tongue which was about to get entangled, and exerting power to his belly so that his voice might not tremble, Tigre asked. In reality, rather than calling out, he should instead get away from here in a hurry. Call Simon and the others from downstairs, and stir up some confusion within the fort even if only a little, and run off to some place far away.

However, Tigre chose the path of confronting the monster.

One reason was that he could not abandon Olga who seemed not to get up as she fell down onto the floor.

The other reason was the black bow which he tightly grasped. Since a while ago it gave off a burning sensation as if his left hand was on fire.

However, just this pain made Tigre come to his senses, and regain his calm. It told him that this situation was unmistakably (undoubtedly) a reality.

And it gave Tigre a faint hope and courage. The hope that if it was the black bow, it might get through this monster.

『The ax aside, if I'm asked by the "bow", I can't help but answer, eh?』

The white giant who grew horns turned toward Tigre, and gave his name with a muddy voice.

『Torbalan. It's like that acquaintances called me.』

''---As expected...''

The monster of the fairy tale known for mainly abducting young girls. For Tigre, it was a name which came out when a mother scolded naughty children. Saying that, "if you do bad things, Torbalan will kidnap you".

There was another thing that had been worring him. Since a little while ago Torbalan called Tigre "the bow".

''---Vodyanoy was also aiming at this bow.''

It meant that this bow that he did not understand even after investigating had a connection with the monsters. But, it seemed that he could not afford to ask him about the black bow.

『I'm different from the others, you know? Please die, the "bow"!』

Leicester, no, Torbalan attacked Tigre. Roaring, the strong white arm which raised a growl and was swung downward was avoided by Tigre, jumping. A large hole opened in the wall, and the scattered debris poured into Tigre who fell on the floor.

Torbalan mercilessly threw a kick to Tigre who tried to get up. But, the hit was blocked on the verge by a dark gray blade. It was Olga.

"Are you alright?"

To Tigre who was glad that she was alive, although he leaked a hoarse voice, Olga did not answer. Since just blocking Torbalan's foot was the utmost she could do. The girl who caught the fist of a knight in his prime of life with one hand, now blotted sweat and was forced to retreat little by little, shaking arms and legs.

As Tigre got up, he simultaneously shot two arrows aiming at Torbalan's eyes. The giant monster did not even try to avoid it, and smashed the arrows in the air with the invisible shock wave breathed out from his mouth.

Furthermore, Torbalan flicked (fling) up his left arm. In an instant judgment, Tigre carried Olga, and kicked the floor.

Roaring many times. The floor crumbled, the mortar-like hole which ran countless cracks was drilled. In the rising sand cloud, Torbalan proudly standing was looking down on Tigre and Olga.

"...Do you know that guy?"

Getting up, while regulating her breathing, Olga briefly asked. Tigre, also while drawing out an arrow again, answered.

"It’s a Monster."

This answer was enough for the time being.

"Sorry, but can you help me to gain some time?"

While gritting his teeth in vexation of pushing her forward to fight, Tigre asked the girl. Olga, without asking anything, silently nodded. There were only two arrows remaining.

He could not afford to mind that he could be seen by someone. If he did not do his best, both he and Olga will be killed by the monster.

Olga kicked the floor. Torbalan revealed a joyful smile.

Tigre nocked an arrow, and drew the bowstring to the limit aiming at the monster. Maintaining his posture, he appealed to the bow. The black bow emitted a black light as if responding to him, converging to the arrowhead.

An unusual strong pressure attacked the young man's whole body. This was something that did not disappear even if he could handle the power of the black bow to some extent. From before dawn beyond the walls, by rebuking his body tired of the continuing fight, Tigre bears it.

''---Please. Olga stepped forward believing in me in this situation. I don’t want to let that girl die. I won’t let her die.''

Even without looking around, he knew. For those who see that this scene could be mistaken for hell.

Even earlier, it must have been be hell named battlefield. However, unfolding now in this whole area was also a different hell. A power beyond human comprehension (common sense) was mercilessly displayed, the stone-made ceiling, the walls and the floor were easily destroyed, and the soldiers had been killed like insects.

Tigre must break this hell back to the battlefield.

Olga dealt with Torbalan’s attacks devoting herself to protecting her body, cleverly gaining time. And also the black light gathering in Tigre’s arrowhead increased its brightness.

Tigre slightly inhaled, exhaled, while releasing his finger. His aim was the face. As the monster was a large body, it was easy to set the aim since Olga was short in stature.

Though Torbalan had fiercely continued attacking the Vanadis with light pink-colored hair, he noticed Tigre’s arrow just before. The arrow approached the monster with an amazing speed.

After he realized that evasion was no longer possible, Torbalan stood firm. Inhaling, he gazed at the black arrow with his red eyes. A shock wave was released from his right hand and projected straight. Olga was blown off back.

The atmosphere trembled as the shock wave raised a storm. The monster's blast blocked the black arrow which Tigre had shot into the air. As it is, the shock wave and the arrow issued a screaming wind, and violently clashed against each other while scattering the black light.

『Only this level, huh-』

Torbalan was laughing, but soon his mouth went agape as he was left dumb founded. Past the line of sight of the monster, Tigre nocked a new arrow with the black bow.

With the first arrow, Tigre was already worn out to the point that even standing was painful. The hand holding the bow was also paralyzed, and could not enter (access) the power well. He had a headache, and his vision was also swaying (shaky). Even so, the young man applied his shaking fingers to the bowstring, and drew it to the limit with power to his feet as hard as possible. Just as before, a black light gathered to the arrowhead. Tigre was surprised.

As he understood visibly, the convergence condition of the black light to the arrowhead was slow.

『Too slow!』

Torbalan roared. As the monster vigorously shook his head, a spiral horn growing from his forehead bent like a whip, and extended several times. It cut the atmosphere and headed toward Tigre. It was difficult for the present Tigre to avoid it.

Shortly after, dry impact sounds (dry sonic boom) overlapped. Before the three horns reached Tigre, they wriggled in the air and deeply pierced the ceiling.

"I did it as promised... I gain time."

With her disheveled light pink-colored hair dirty with soot, Olga carrying the Roaring Demon on her shoulder, sharply glared at Torbalan. It was her desperate single blow that flipped the three horns, and diverted (bounce change) their direction.

Torbalan's red eyes were colored in rage. The white giant swung his left hand, trying to hit Olga. At the same time, Olga with her petite body also swinged her axe. The handle of the axe lengthened, and the thick blade reminiscent of the half-moon increased its size and sharpness.

"{{furigana|The Second Horn of Piercing|Dvarog}}"

The blade of the Roaring Demon swung down with a tremendous speed grinded the demon's left hand, and moreover, cut his left foot encroached into the floor. Fresh black blood which sprayed from the wound uncannily dyed up the air, and Torbalan screaming felt to the ground.

It was at the time that a pale red light was emitted from the ax-shaped {{furigana|Dragonic Tools|Viralt}}.

At the tip of the double-edged axe, a crescent moon-shaped light was formed. While the light drew a spiral in the space, it flowed into the tip of the arrow that Tigre held. In addition, the small gray cloud of dust and pellets scattered on the floor was mixed in with the light and sucked up into the arrow.

Olga stood there with a dumbfounded expression and was looking at this scene as if she had been possessed.

"- It’s for having saved me."

Tigre, rather than self-deprecating, muttered his sincere appreciation. He loosened his fingers from the arrow.

At the instant it was fired from the bow, the arrow changed its shape. The cloud of dust that clung to the arrow formed a dragon head, and as it let his form become gigantic while absorbing rubbles scattered on the floor and, it went straight toward Torbalan. The dragon's eyes were shone with a pale red glow, and it was clad in a black light to the whole body.

The gray dragon drawing an arc fiercely attacked the monster.

Torbalan shouted a roar. Though he struggled to repulse it with the three horns, after an instant the horns were entirely shattered by the charge of the dragon. The gray dragon clashing with the shock wave caught up with the first arrow, swallowed and received it into itself. The black light wrapping around the dragon increased its strength.

The shockwave collided with the dragon, and scattered leaving only a sound of popping air, and the dragon far from letting its momentum wither devoured Torbalan with a tremendous force.

A thunderous roar, which could not be compared with the earlier, struck the ears of Tigre and Olga. The two people's eardrum within a short time abandoned the task to convey sound, and their vision also became shaky. Though the Fort itself was also shaking, they did not notice it.

The Commander room was filled with moats and cloud of dust, and completely obscured the vision of the two people. As the dust rose and the vision became clear, one could see the sky gradually brightened through the huge hole drilling to several layers of the ceiling.

Tigre and Olga stood dumbfounded for a while.

The war for the capture of the Fort Lux left a legend. Many soldiers, whether allies or enemies, unanimously said so.

That "A light darker than the night sky, which destroyed the Commander room flew straight to the sky, and disappeared-"

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Madan no Ou to Vanadis:Volume 06 Epilogue

2013-08-06T22:22:51Z

130.212.195.142: /* Epilogue */

== Epilogue ==

"Please explain."

It was Olga's first time speaking, ever since she had settled down, in both mind and body. However, it was also hard for both of them to even open their mouthes because of extreme exhaustion. The two people leaned, side by side, on the only wall to escape from the destruction, and like that trailingly sat on the floor.

"Before that, apologize."

Tigre had an indignant face as he overlooked Olga beside him. She snorted and turned her face away. ‘I didn’t do anything bad’. She advocated without words.

Tigre blankly looked up at the early morning sky from the hole opened into the ceiling.

---It seems I couldn't control it as usual......

The hole roughly extended right above from the Commander room. The gray dragon clad in black light had devoured the monster then flew into the sky.

---Perhaps it's because I overdid it by shooting two arrows successively?

"I..."

Olga's voice, which was somewhat sulky, pulled Tigre back to reality.

"I wanted to be helpful to you."

Come to think of it, Tigre vaguely remembered that Ludra also said such a thing.

---But, really, she is an honest child...

The time after seeming to be stubborn, until she explained the reason was short. At 14 years old - even remembering himself three years ago, he felt he would be more stubborn. As Tigre managed to lift the hand which had no power, he patted Olga's head.

"I'm happy you did that for me. But... I was worried."

Tigre said that, after about a count of three, Olga whispered the word of apology "Sorry".

After Tigre gently stroked her head, Olga's body leaned on the young man as she felt relieved. Tigre did not reject her, and left it so. Feeling the warmth coming from the girl's body, he leaked a sigh of relief. At last, the feeling that it was finally over surged.

"I will tell you later what I can say. Also, please do not talk about this to anyone."

"...Even to Matvey?"

At Olga's question, Tigre nodded. Matvey was a capable man and also very tight-lipped. Even so, no, precisely for this reason, Tigre did not want to tell him.

"I understand. You... Since it's you, I trust you."

"Thank you"

As he expressed his gratitude, Olga, embarrassed, squinted her eyes.

"It's me who should thank you."

"-Heeey, still alive?"

Suddenly, from the distance, came a sound. And also the sound of armor. Looking over there, nearly ten mercenaries entered with Simon at the vanguard were moving towards them. They were dumbfounded by this horrible sight, and even forgot to be cautious of the surroundings.

As Simon came up in front of Tigre and Olga sitting on the floor, while looking around the uncanny marks of destruction, asked.

"...What happened here?"

"I don't know, either"

Tigre shook his head. Although Olga stopped her action to think about something for a moment, she nodded as to show that she was of the same opinion.

They didn't know what happened, either. "Let's put it this way" Tigre decided to do so.

'If you speak, you will have to start with the absurd talk that General Leicester was actually a monster. They might believe it looking at the situation where the ceiling and the walls were destroyed, but if the talk extends to how we defeated it, we will be very troubled.'

"That aside, what about the people below? Is the battle over?"

Tigre changed the topic. Though very explicit, Simon, fascinated by the Commander room which was half blown away, inattentively answered.

"It's over. It could be seen almost from anywhere that the Commander room was blown away by a strange black light. Did you see General Leicester?"

"...Just when I thought that I had finally arrived, my eyes became filled with black light, and when I came to, it was already like this. And General Leicester was nowhere to be found."

"Is that so? Well, anyway, it's our victory. The soldiers alive all surrendered, and this Fort... Though one part was literally destroyed, became ours. I count on you for the pay."

While lending his shoulder to Tigre and getting up, seeming to have finally pulled himself together, Simon grinned. Likewise, Olga was carried by another mercenary.

"By the way... What would you do if General Leicester came out?"

Feeling a little uneasy, Tigre asked Simon. Though it would be good if he smashed to atoms by the black bow, if he luckily managed to escape, it would be frightening. Both Tigre and Olga have already erase traces of fight.

"If that happened, of course, we would surround him and take his head."

While pleasantly laughing, Simon supported Tigre and walked the hallway full of cracks. His men carrying Olga followed.

Simon and his men, as they walked around shouting General Leicester was dead, even the guards, who still showed intention of resistance threw away their weapons one after another and surrendered. Their morale melted like pills of ice which bathed in sunlight, and faded away.

The Fort Lux fell. Although accompanied by 3,000 soldiers, they lost approximately five hundred, and there was nearly the double of injured persons' result, but considering that it is in the siege - and more importantly, having encountered a monster, this loss was fairly small.

Vaild Ludra had two worries.

One was how to report the fall of the Fort Lux. He could explain up to the Middle, but he could not fully understand what happened to the end.

The disastrous scene of the Commander room that could not have been the work of humans. It was as if a giant from a fairy tale had rampaged and destroyed the room; how on earth should he report all this to Tallard?

Summarizing what he himself had witnessed, coupled with the issue of the black light which disappeared into the sky through the Commander room, Ludra was at wits' end.

The second worry was about Tigre. This one might be more serious.

The day before leaving Valverde, Tallard gave the plan for the capture of the Fort to Ludra, but at the same time, he said to:

'Test the ability of Tigrevurmud Vorn.'

Tallard was curious about what kind of strategy Tigre would take to capture the Fort. If Tigre could not propose anything, he should use Tallard's strategy to capture the Fort.

Sure enough, Tigre proposed an excellent plan.

Camouflaging the number here by employing the nearby townspeople, making the soldiers lurk in the northern woods and, before dawn, making a surprise attack from the west where the daylight did not reach, and opening the north gate and letting the army invade the Fort.

These were almost the same measures as those of Tallard's strategy given to Ludra. However, in Tallard's strategy, since Tigre could not grasp Asvarre soldiers, he gave the soldiers someone who they could trust as a Commander, and made a surprise attack from the west side of the walls.

''---Tigre-dono... No, Lord Tigrevurmud, at the single point of holding the soldiers, has exceeded his Excellency’s expectation.''

He could not help but leak a sigh of admiration. Having tested Tigre's ability in this matter, he honestly praised him.

''---While being a person from Brune, he is also a person able to think of the people of a foreign country. So that the employed townspeople don't get injured, he made distributions taking it into account as much as possible.''

Ludra thought that the problem was there: Sooner or later, Tigre would notice the falsehood of Tallard's words, and he would probably not forgive Tallard.

As it would become a battle if Tigre could not forgive Tallard, he would probably be a formidable enemy that Tallard had never met.

''---If possible, I really hope that such a future won't come.''

Ludra with his usual smile gave instructions to the soldiers, but to his face, the shadow of suffering faintly blurred.

In a room of the Fort Lux, Tigre, Olga and Matvey had gathered.

As Matvey who kowtowed and apologized, Tigre laughed and forgave him. Although it would be good if he did not cooperate with Olga, shelving himself who was not able to admonish the young Vanadis, Tigre could not blame the tough-looking sailor.

Incidentally, Matvey was monitored by soldiers. He was imprisoned, that was why he safely managed to survive. The curve sword he was wearing when in disguise was taken up before he met with Leicester.

Matvey was a brave man, but he did not have the recklessness jumping out to battlefield unarmed, and he saved himself this point.

While Ludra added, among the soldiers who surrendered, those who returned to allegiance and reorganized the army, the people who would not follow Tallard were given food for a few days and released.

The soldiers collected the corpses whether those of enemies or allies and buried them, and washed away blood stuck within the Fort with water. This was an epidemic counter-measure as well as a measure to get rid of the ill feeling of those who surrendered. Tigre and the others also helped.

When the day was about to end only by such work, a chaotic report was brought to the Fort.

"Prince Elliot leading 30000 pirates has landed. It is still unknown whether he will be aiming at this Fort or Valverde, but they are in a distance of about two days from here."

Shiver spread throughout the body. They did not receive report that the port town of Mariajo fell. While avoiding showing anxiety on his face, Ludra asked.

"Did Mariajo fall...?"

The soldier shook his head to say "No".

"The enemy attacked several fishing villages at the coast, and seemed to land from there."

"Impossible! There’s no way that such large vessels could anchor in mere fishing villages......"

Saying up to there, Ludra pressed down his mouth with his hand as he thought of something. Tigre, who seemed to have understood in the same way, asked with a look at Matvey's face.

"I'm afraid Prince Elliot prepared a large quantity of boats. They drew closer by large vessels till the good place, picked up pirates on the boat from there and commuted back and forth at high speed."

"Using such method, they won't be able to return the boats to the large vessels......"

"They go down with ten boats from the open sea, and nine boats unload pirates. Then the remaining one drags along the nine empty boats. Pirates should be accustomed to such work."

Olga was thrilled to the brief and clear explanation, and Ludra, with a serious expression, nodded.

Up to now, they have not received any contact from Tallard.

However, these thirty thousand enemies were drawing near at a distance of a day or two.

"-Calm down, for the time being, we shall do what we have to do."

The confused trio was accosted in a calm voice by Tigre.

"...Do you have a plan?"

Matvey blurted out with an unprecedented seriousness in his tough look. To which Tigre calmly shook his head, and continued with a smile.

"Not yet. But, I had a similar experience before, and I came through it."

'Therefore, I will somehow manage; I will do it.'

When Tigre finished speaking, Olga, Matvey and Ludra regained their calm. At this time, the three people felt like they had touched the depths of the young man called "Tigrevurmud Vorn". They felt that they could believe the words of this person, a sentence that opened the horizons, and they got the vitality to move forward.

"Then, I must go calm the soldiers for now."

With his usual smile, Ludra left the meeting room. With quick steps, but at a calm pace as to not let people feel uneasy. Olga opened her eyes wide at the remaining two, and said with admiration.

"I feel like I caught a glimpse of a king's ability."

"Don't make fun of me."

"I am serious."

At the earnest words of Olga, Tigre shrugged his shoulders. He thought that she was the kind of person who would never say such things. It was true that he had no plan. From now on, he had to figure it out anyway, before the enemy arrived.

''---But, I will prove that I can do it.''

Without fighting spirit, and even without trying to look big, Tigre had naturally decided so.

The sun of autumn cast a mild light through the window.

<noinclude>
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| Back to [[Madan_no_Ou_to_Vanadis:Volume_06_Chapter_5|Chapter 5]]
| Return to [[Madan_no_Ou_to_Vanadis|Main Page]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Madan no Ou to Vanadis:Volume 06 Epilogue

2013-08-06T22:21:08Z

130.212.195.142: /* Epilogue */

== Epilogue ==

"Please explain."

It was Olga's first time speaking, ever since she had settled down, in both mind and body. However, it was also hard for both of them to even open their mouthes because of extreme exhaustion. The two people leaned, side by side, on the only wall to escape from the destruction, and like that trailingly sat on the floor.

"Before that, apologize."

Tigre had an indignant face as he overlooked Olga beside him. She snorted and turned her face away. ‘I didn’t do anything bad’. She advocated without words.

Tigre blankly looked up at the early morning sky from the hole opened into the ceiling.

---It seems I couldn't control it as usual......

The hole roughly extended right above from the Commander room. The gray dragon clad in black light had devoured the monster then flew into the sky.

---Perhaps it's because I overdid it by shooting two arrows successively?

"I..."

Olga's voice, which was somewhat sulky, pulled Tigre back to reality.

"I wanted to be helpful to you."

Come to think of it, Tigre vaguely remembered that Ludra also said such a thing.

---But, really, she is an honest child...

The time after seeming to be stubborn, until she explained the reason was short. At 14 years old - even remembering himself three years ago, he felt he would be more stubborn. As Tigre managed to lift the hand which had no power, he patted Olga's head.

"I'm happy you did that for me. But... I was worried."

Tigre said that, after about a count of three, Olga whispered the word of apology "Sorry".

After Tigre gently stroked her head, Olga's body leaned on the young man as she felt relieved. Tigre did not reject her, and left it so. Feeling the warmth coming from the girl's body, he leaked a sigh of relief. At last, the feeling that it was finally over surged.

"I will tell you later what I can say. Also, please do not talk about this to anyone."

"...Even to Matvey?"

At Olga's question, Tigre nodded. Matvey was a capable man and also very tight-lipped. Even so, no, precisely for this reason, Tigre did not want to tell him.

"I understand. You... Since it's you, I trust you."

"Thank you"

As he expressed his gratitude, Olga, embarrassed, squinted her eyes.

"It's me who should thank you."

"-Heeey, still alive?"

Suddenly, from the distance, came a sound. And also the sound of armor. Looking over there, nearly ten mercenaries with Simon at the vanguard were moving toward them. They were dumbfounded by this horrible sight, and even forgot to be cautious of the surroundings.

As Simon came up in front of Tigre and Olga sitting on the floor, while looking around the uncanny marks of destruction, asked.

"...What happened here?"

"I don't know, either"

Tigre shook his head. Although Olga stopped her action to think about something for a moment, she nodded as to show that she was of the same opinion.

They didn't know what happened, either. "Let's put it this way" Tigre decided to do so.

'If you speak, you will have to start with the absurd talk that General Leicester was actually a monster. They might believe it looking at the situation where the ceiling and the walls were destroyed, but if the talk extends to how we defeated it, we will be very troubled.'

"That aside, what about the people below? Is the battle over?"

Tigre changed the topic. Though very explicit, Simon, fascinated by the Commander room which was half blown away, inattentively answered.

"It's over. It could be seen almost from anywhere that the Commander room was blown away by a strange black light. Did you see General Leicester?"

"...Just when I thought that I had finally arrived, my eyes became filled with black light, and when I came to, it was already like this. And General Leicester was nowhere to be found."

"Is that so? Well, anyway, it's our victory. The soldiers alive all surrendered, and this Fort... Though one part was literally destroyed, became ours. I count on you for the pay."

While lending his shoulder to Tigre and getting up, seeming to have finally pulled himself together, Simon grinned. Likewise, Olga was carried by another mercenary.

"By the way... What would you do if General Leicester came out?"

Feeling a little uneasy, Tigre asked Simon. Though it would be good if he smashed to atoms by the black bow, if he luckily managed to escape, it would be frightening. Both Tigre and Olga have already erase traces of fight.

"If that happened, of course, we would surround him and take his head."

While pleasantly laughing, Simon supported Tigre and walked the hallway full of cracks. His men carrying Olga followed.

Simon and his men, as they walked around shouting General Leicester was dead, even the guards, who still showed intention of resistance threw away their weapons one after another and surrendered. Their morale melted like pills of ice which bathed in sunlight, and faded away.

The Fort Lux fell. Although accompanied by 3,000 soldiers, they lost approximately five hundred, and there was nearly the double of injured persons' result, but considering that it is in the siege - and more importantly, having encountered a monster, this loss was fairly small.

Vaild Ludra had two worries.

One was how to report the fall of the Fort Lux. He could explain up to the Middle, but he could not fully understand what happened to the end.

The disastrous scene of the Commander room that could not have been the work of humans. It was as if a giant from a fairy tale had rampaged and destroyed the room; how on earth should he report all this to Tallard?

Summarizing what he himself had witnessed, coupled with the issue of the black light which disappeared into the sky through the Commander room, Ludra was at wits' end.

The second worry was about Tigre. This one might be more serious.

The day before leaving Valverde, Tallard gave the plan for the capture of the Fort to Ludra, but at the same time, he said to:

'Test the ability of Tigrevurmud Vorn.'

Tallard was curious about what kind of strategy Tigre would take to capture the Fort. If Tigre could not propose anything, he should use Tallard's strategy to capture the Fort.

Sure enough, Tigre proposed an excellent plan.

Camouflaging the number here by employing the collar people, making the soldiers lurk in the northern woods and, before dawn, making a surprise attack from the west where the daylight did not reach, and opening the north gate and letting the army invade the Fort.

These were almost the same measures as those of Tallard's strategy given to Ludra. However, in Tallard's strategy, since Tigre could not grasp Asvarre soldiers, he gave the soldiers someone who they could trust as a Commander, and made a surprise attack from the west side of the walls.

''---Tigre-dono... No, Lord Tigrevurmud, at the single point of holding the soldiers, has exceeded his Excellency’s expectation.''

He could not help but leak a sigh of admiration. Having tested Tigre's ability in this matter, he honestly praised him.

''---While being a person from Brune, he is also a person able to think of the people of a foreign country. So that the employed collar people don't get injured, he made distributions taking it into account as much as possible.''

Ludra thought that the problem was there: Sooner or later, Tigre would notice the falsehood of Tallard's words, and he would probably not forgive Tallard.

As it would become a battle if Tigre could not forgive Tallard, he would probably be a formidable enemy that Tallard had never met.

''---If possible, I really hope that such a future won't come.''

Ludra with his usual smile gave instructions to the soldiers, but to his face, the shadow of suffering faintly blurred.

In a room of the Fort Lux, Tigre, Olga and Matvey had gathered.

As Matvey who kowtowed and apologized, Tigre laughed and forgave him. Although it would be good if he did not cooperate with Olga, shelving himself who was not able to admonish the young Vanadis, Tigre could not blame the tough-looking sailor.

Incidentally, Matvey was monitored by soldiers. He was imprisoned, that was why he safely managed to survive. The curve sword he was wearing when in disguise was taken up before he met with Leicester.

Matvey was a brave man, but he did not have the recklessness jumping out to battlefield unarmed, and he saved himself this point.

While Ludra added, among the soldiers who surrendered, those who returned to allegiance and reorganized the army, the people who would not follow Tallard were given food for a few days and released.

The soldiers collected the corpses whether those of enemies or allies and buried them, and washed away blood stuck within the Fort with water. This was an epidemic counter-measure as well as a measure to get rid of the ill feeling of those who surrendered. Tigre and the others also helped.

When the day was about to end only by such work, a chaotic report was brought to the Fort.

"Prince Elliot leading 30000 pirates has landed. It is still unknown whether he will be aiming at this Fort or Valverde, but they are in a distance of about two days from here."

Shiver spread throughout the body. They did not receive report that the port town of Mariajo fell. While avoiding showing anxiety on his face, Ludra asked.

"Did Mariajo fall...?"

The soldier shook his head to say "No".

"The enemy attacked several fishing villages at the coast, and seemed to land from there."

"Impossible! There’s no way that such large vessels could anchor in mere fishing villages......"

Saying up to there, Ludra pressed down his mouth with his hand as he thought of something. Tigre, who seemed to have understood in the same way, asked with a look at Matvey's face.

"I'm afraid Prince Elliot prepared a large quantity of boats. They drew closer by large vessels till the good place, picked up pirates on the boat from there and commuted back and forth at high speed."

"Using such method, they won't be able to return the boats to the large vessels......"

"They go down with ten boats from the open sea, and nine boats unload pirates. Then the remaining one drags along the nine empty boats. Pirates should be accustomed to such work."

Olga was thrilled to the brief and clear explanation, and Ludra, with a serious expression, nodded.

Up to now, they have not received any contact from Tallard.

However, these thirty thousand enemies were drawing near at a distance of a day or two.

"-Calm down, for the time being, we shall do what we have to do."

The confused trio was accosted in a calm voice by Tigre.

"...Do you have a plan?"

Matvey blurted out with an unprecedented seriousness in his tough look. To which Tigre calmly shook his head, and continued with a smile.

"Not yet. But, I had a similar experience before, and I came through it."

'Therefore, I will somehow manage; I will do it.'

When Tigre finished speaking, Olga, Matvey and Ludra regained their calm. At this time, the three people felt like they had touched the depths of the young man called "Tigrevurmud Vorn". They felt that they could believe the words of this person, a sentence that opened the horizons, and they got the vitality to move forward.

"Then, I must go calm the soldiers for now."

With his usual smile, Ludra left the meeting room. With quick steps, but at a calm pace as to not let people feel uneasy. Olga opened her eyes wide at the remaining two, and said with admiration.

"I feel like I caught a glimpse of a king's ability."

"Don't make fun of me."

"I am serious."

At the earnest words of Olga, Tigre shrugged his shoulders. He thought that she was the kind of person who would never say such things. It was true that he had no plan. From now on, he had to figure it out anyway, before the enemy arrived.

''---But, I will prove that I can do it.''

Without fighting spirit, and even without trying to look big, Tigre had naturally decided so.

The sun of autumn cast a mild light through the window.

<noinclude>
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<noinclude>
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Back to [[Madan_no_Ou_to_Vanadis:Volume_06_Chapter_5|Chapter 5]]
| Return to [[Madan_no_Ou_to_Vanadis|Main Page]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Kenshin no Keishousha:Volume 1 Chapter2

2013-07-31T23:52:22Z

130.212.195.142: /* Girl of the Sun */

==Girl of the Sun==
Kurou dragged the maid outfit wearing girl by the hand and led her into the depths of the school.

Once there, no other figures were in sight. Interrogating the baffling girl in a place like this seemed profoundly fitting.

“So what’s with all this?”

The girl known as Hinako kept her back against the wall and raised her head as she blankly looked towards Kurou. If other people were to witness this, they may misconstrue this as Kurou coercing a girl. However, regardless of how other people viewed him, Kurou could not even comprehend what was going on himself.

“These were my orders, to serve you starting today. That’s why I came here.”

“Serving me......who ordered you to do so?”

“That’s not an issue at the moment.”

“It’s a huge issue!”

Does this girl even know what she is talking about?

During that one night while attacking the sun cultists, her appearance was indeed very bizarre.

No, this was perhaps not on outlandish levels.

That was because the mysterious light phenomenon wasn’t something that could be just promptly understood. As a result, he just forgot about it after writing the report, yet.......

“Anyways, I’ll be working for you. Anything outside of that isn’t my problem.”

“So extreme......”

Kurou weakly muttered. Following that, he sensed that class was about to start. There was no time to be engaging in nugatory disputes with this uncanny girl.

“Let me confirm something first. You’re a human right?”

“Well, I believe so.”

Although it was an amusing reply, Kurou was nearly certain that was the case. This girl appeared to be very feeble, completely different from a Swordie.

“Even though I have no idea what’s going on, you might as well go back. Other than humans who stroll around here working as servants, anyone else would be driven out.”

Within the academy, there was quite a large group of humans. They were not students or teachers but rather servants.

Other than the people employed here or those taking care of miscellaneous tasks within the school, the servants brought along by the students were largely comprised of humans as well.

Despite the academy disallowing humans from enrolling into the school as students, it was ok for them to be at the campus if it was purely work related.

However, if a human did not possess a permit to enter the Swordie school, things would inevitably get chancy.

“It’s fine, I already have a permit.”

“Huh? Where did you get it......hmm?”

Kurou suddenly turned around.

There were several colossal trees planted there. Just as Kurou was scrutinizing one of them————

“As expected of Kurou, you’re quite sharp.”

“It’s easy to detect your aura. Do you get that often?”

Lars walked out from behind the tree. He was wearing his school uniform and carried his sword by his waist just like Kurou.

“Was it you that brought her along?”

“All I did was lead her here. Afterwards I handed her over to you. Like raising kids, as long as they can work for you it should be fine.”

“No no, suddenly bringing up servicing or being serviced is too out of the ordinary! I don’t have the money to employ a servant!”

“Is the issue money? Well, I believe this aspect has already been taken care of! It’s because of————the director.”

“So this stunt was her doing!”

Thinking about it for a second, there was no one else who was capable of meddling to this extent.

“It’s still quite perplexing why she’d tend to the money related problems behind my back. What the heck is going on, explain yourself.”

“There’s really no other way it seems.”

After Lars took a glimpse at Hinako, he urged Kurou to move to somewhere else in order to get some separation from her.

Following that, he gave a run-down of the situation with a nonchalant tone.

Lars was most likely called to headquarters early in the morning by Manaka. Once there, he encountered this maid attire wearing girl and was imparted with all the details.

“She’s————the cult founder’s daughter.”

“Daughter? You mean there’s a founder or something within the sun cult?”

Although the people the Sabers suppressed were practically all followers of the sun, Kurou had limited knowledge about their higher-ups. What he did know was only the cult’s battle strength————equipment, and battling personnel count.

“Well, I guess a founder probably does exist. Story has it that it’s been over ten years since he last publicly appeared. However, the Sabers did receive reports indicating the cult founder has a daughter. Since DNA confirmation was not utilized, we don’t know whether or not she really is a legitimate daughter of his but she did say so herself.”

“Herself————sounds quite suspicious. We still don’t even know what she may be plotting.”

Hinako seemed to be completely uninterested in Kurou’s conversation as she leaned against the wall and leisurely stared into the sky. No matter how one looked at it, she did not resemble any of the dangerous sun cultists.

“That girl seems to be harboring some secrets. At the very least, she doesn’t seem to be the cult founder’s daughter, having not been placed on that high of a pedestal.”

“I agree.”

If she was a human who was influenced by the sun cult to oppose Swordies, then she probably would not have been inserted into a school filled with them. At the very least, she wouldn’t have shown up early in the morning wearing a maid outfit.

“Except, the so-called daughter of the cult founder isn’t a known truth. It’s a matter still under investigation. What is known is that the sun cult members seemed to be very focused on her, this is without a doubt. During that night, the sun cult’s movements appeared to be very flurried. Even that secretive criminal ringleader made her move. We questioned the apprehended sun cult followers numerous times, they appeared to have been ordered to ‘retrieve the package.’”

“That package probably referred to the girl. If she is the cult founder’s daughter, presumably that was a huge event back then......”

“Besides, even if that Hinako girl is really the cult founder’s daughter, there doesn’t seem to be a trace of criminal activity linked to her. Even if she was a follower of the sun, as long as she’s just a believer, there’s nothing wrong with that.”

“Hmm......”

Just like Lars said, the sun cult itself didn’t face restrictions from the law.

In the words of the Swordies, they were just a group of people with extremist values......

“When facing opponents who carry weapons, we Swordies will show no mercy in routing them. However, one of our rules is that we don’t harm those who don’t carry weapons. In short, it’s just the cultists who are armed.

“What a peculiar group of people.”

Kurou wryly smiled.

Even seventy years ago when the Swordies fought against humans during the Great War, the Swordies would not attack civilians. Especially those who were defenseless, they definitely would not have crossed swords with them.

It could be said that this was one of the restraints of a Swordie swordsman. Even if they strongly detested the opponent, they would not attack someone that was defenseless. What an extreme moral idiosyncrasy.

“However, Kurou wants to add himself to this group of bizarre individuals right? Thus, take her as your maid!”

“Well......wait, I need to attain a Swordie ID, what does having her be my maid have anything to do with that!?”

Kurou couldn’t help but shake his head towards Lars’s enthusiastic urging.

Kurou wished to protect Hinako, that was all. Anything after that should be dealt with by the upper management of the Sabers. Basically, handling this fell on Manaka and the others.

“However, even the Sabers would have a hard time dealing with a child. She may be the cult founder’s daughter, but there’s no reason to arrest her because she isn’t a criminal. That said, we could fabricate an accusation but for it to be something done by a girl like her, there’s no way something like that would pass. Nevertheless, if we were to leave her alone then......hence, it was determined that she would be handed off to Kurou.”

“What an absurd leap of judgment!”

Why was there a girl with such a problematic standing, so much so that she was strongly forced onto the hands of a normal member like Kurou.

“Furthermore, humans can live normally within the academy so her guise is quite well-done. That said, her identity may lead to some trouble but as long as Kurou is around, no matter what happens she should be fine right?”

“So you’re saying for me to become her bodyguard and guardian?”

“Kurou is also about to receive his pay from the Sabers so you can’t decline. This is an order———I believe that was what the director had said.”

“......Damn it.”

Kurou seemed to have no room to voice complaints once again.

Indeed, even if he had already earned his money, Manaka’s orders were final. In addition, if he loses his earnings from the Sabers, then there would be no way for him to maintain life down the road. Although his current gains from reward money were kept in his savings, he didn’t want the path to a steady future be discontinued.

“Well then, good luck Kurou.”

Lars stated as he was beaming with excitement.

The Sword Academy covered a lot of ground. There were numerous facilities and it even had a courtyard constructed.

In accordance with the Swordie’s love for greenery, countless plants were planted within the courtyard. Throughout the year, there would be flowers embellishing the flower terraces and very beautifully well-kept grass fields.

In one of the corners of the gorgeous, vast courtyard sits a small piece of forest. Within the forest was a small wooden hut.

“Is this the place......”

Kurou stopped in his tracks. He lifted his head and gazed attentively at the small hut. Lars and Hinako did the same.

The person who constructed this courtyard was a human landscaper. In hopes of taking care of the landscaper, the school prepared a small hut for him.

That landscaper passed away a couple years ago and since the current landscaper was away on official business, there was no one else living here.

“So I’m suppose to live in this comfortable room?”

Kurou harshly glared at Lars who was explaining things nonstop.

“Pretty much. A couple of the higher-ups even wanted her to be placed under house arrest within this academy.”

If it was house arrest, then this facility would probably be even more suitable————Although they figured it was just going to be Kurou by himself, the entire Saber’s upper management still completely shifted this task to Kurou.

“Well then, I’ll leave the rest to the two of you.”

“Wait Lars, where are you going?”

Kurou grabbed Lars as he was about to leave.

“I’m going to school of course. First period has already started, if I don’t leave now......”

“So you’re seriously going to leave all the troublesome matters to me......”

“I’ve been told by my parents that I have to graduate. Well, it is what it is.”

After giving a slight smirk, Lars left without further interruptions.

Since Kurou understood that what Lars said about his parents was true, it was hard to keep him here.

“......There’s really no other way.”

Kurou muttered and proceeded to open the door to the hut using the key Lars gave him.

The interior setup was in a Japanese style. After removing his shoes, he entered inside and thoroughly scoped out the place.

There was an eight tatami living room along with another six tatami Western style room. There was also a conveniently placed kitchen, shower room, and bathroom. Even though from the outside it looked like an outdated tiny hut, the inside decor was exceptionally well adorned.

There was a TV, fridge, and what appeared to be a washing machine. Other things such as tables and chairs were already available. The preposterous sense that this place was not inhabitable was completely absent. It was probably because there was someone who would tidy up around here on occasion.

“Well, living here doesn’t seem too bad. Walking to school only takes five minutes and the facilities here are quite complete.”

According to what Lars said, there was no need for room and board. It seems even the electricity and gas costs were already covered by the school.

To Kurou, it did not seem that bad.

“Ha——, so this is a tatami. It’s my first time seeing one.”

“......”

Hinako took a seat in the living room and affectionately stroked the tatami mat.

It wasn’t that bad but————that was with the prerequisite that this annoying girl wasn’t living here as well.

Except, if protecting her was part of the objective, then there was nothing he could do about it. Kurou had already come to accept this worst case scenario.

“I believe I haven’t made a proper introduction. My name is Kurou.”

“Kuro?”

“Well the sounding is a bit off......whatever, it’s fine.”

“Are you a human? You’re different than the Swordies, do you have a surname?”

“Yes I do. My original name was Katsuragi Kurou. However, if I were to live within Swordie society, there’s no need for a surname.”

“So it’s like that.”

Hinako seems to have understood and nodded.

“By the way Kuro!”

“Calling me by my name directly already? Whatever, what’s the matter?”

“What should I be doing?”

“......”

Regarding this matter, it was something Kurou really wanted to inquire from her instead.

She obviously dressed up in maid attire and told him that she would serve him. However, he didn’t actually know what in particular she should do.

“......For now, just stand up.”

“Right.”

Hinako mannerly nodded and stood up. Kurou once again inspected her.

Her body was extremely petite, approximately 150 centimeters tall. Her hands, legs, and even her waist were slender to the point of seeming unstable. However, there were two massive bulges coming from her chest.

It was probably because that green and black colored maid outfit was quite exposing around the chest. That captivating deep ravine was pretty visible. The skirt was short, as if it was meant to be worn while in combat. It would seem that if there was even the tiniest of movements, her panties would be exposed.

However, did she not have any thoughts at all about this maid outfit seeing as she was completely unprepared for this.

“......”

Kurou couldn’t help but think who was the one that picked this outfit.

No, it should be obvious. It was the one who sent Hinako here————in other words, Manaka. She was someone who kept up with fashion trends. Within the Sabers, her uniforms were always accompanied by a beautiful overcoat stemmed from her interest in these matters.

In the end, if he were to become Hinako’s bodyguard, then there was no need to call Lars in. Calling for himself instead would most likely be a much better option. Instead, she specifically sent Hinako over to the academy thinking this would perhaps be much more interesting.

“About how old are you? What’s your age?”

“I’m 15, turning 16 this year.”

In other words, the same age as Kurou.

There was really no choice but to live with a beauty around the same age under the same roof......of course, if it was a mission then there was no way he would try anything unreasonable.

“......Well, whatever. For now just tidy up the place a bit. Seems like there’s plenty of dust around here. Since there’s a lot of useless stuff piled up in that room, I’ll go ahead and straighten things out over there."

Kurou decided to first clean up the stuff he saw in front of him. Although he skipped school on just the second day since he transferred, he probably wouldn’t be forced to drop out just because of this.

In another room was a bed. Having this room designated as Hinako’s room should be ideal. As long as Kurou could set up a shakedown in the living room he should be fine. He wasn’t one of those sensitive sleepers who couldn’t sleep without a bed. Even though he had a dream the previous night about sleeping on a comfy bed with a lovely wife, that kind of situation was something he was expecting in the years to come.

“I’ll leave tidying up the living room to you. No need to overdo it.”

Kurou pointed to the vacuum cleaner located in the corner of the room and then walked towards the bedroom.

Compared to a casual conversation, Kurou much preferred staying active.

This was because he didn’t know what to do with this————human girl of the same age.

“This must be a vacuum cleaner, it’s my first time near one.”

As soon as Kurou heard this eye-opening statement, he rushed back to the living room.

“You haven’t even used a vacuum cleaner before?”

“I’ve seen other people use it. However, this thing must be broken. It’s not making that whirrrr sound.”

“......Did you plug it in and press the on button?”

He knew that she wasn’t someone who was accustomed to the ways of normal life, but who would have thought that she was clueless on how to use a vacuum cleaner.

Hinako followed Kurou’s instructions, unraveled the power cord and plugged it in.

“Well then, it should be ready now.”

Hinako muttered and began cleaning up the tatami. Although she wasn’t familiar with the fine details, she did pretty much get the gist of operating the vacuum cleaner.

With that daringly skimpy miniskirt along with having to lean over as she moved the vacuum cleaner around, it was quite difficult on the eyes. Every day from now on, he would probably be in the presence of this appearance constantly. Kurou felt a bit tired from this. Being unable to rid himself of this overly revealing maid outfit wearing girl all because of his boss, it was really quite tragic.

“I should probably tidy up here a bit too.”

“Eh!?”

Hinako suddenly began to move the vacuum on top of the table. Kurou did not even have time to stop her. Once the table was thoroughly cleaned up in this fashion, she started to shift the vacuum on top of the TV placed in the corner of the room.

“Hey hey hey! H-H-Hold on a sec, you shouldn’t be cleaning these places! No, just forget about this place......oh yeah, I’ll have you clean up the shower room for now.”

“Understood.”

Hinako nodded her head. It would be disastrous if she were to break the TV or some other electrical appliance.

“Well then, I’ll be going now.”

“Hold on, first set aside the vacuum cleaner.”

Stupid wouldn’t be the right description for her since Hinako seemed to be quite diligent.

It was more than just having a bad premonition about this. If Hinako were to be allowed to mess around with the household equipment, the result would be something quite frustrating. Although this was the case, it would be unbearable if he were to clean the entire place by himself.

Kurou explained in detail how to clean the shower room to Hinako and then sent her off.

“She should be fine......although it won’t be smooth sailing, I should be getting to work myself.”

After depositing the unnecessary furniture the landscaper had into the hut’s storage room, he began sorting through the necessities sent to them by Manaka and then he redid the vacuuming for the living room.

“That’s about it. Well then, is she still cleaning the shower room......”

“Ah——”

“......”

Suddenly, Kurou’s face tensed upon hearing a cry from the shower room.

He had considered ignoring it but that was out of the question. Kurou despairingly looked down.

“I must say, having warm water enter the shower room makes it much more tiring.”
[[File:Kenshin v01 003.jpg|thumbnail|right]]
“This sort of thing, I already know.”

Hinako was sitting inside the bathtub in an unnatural position with her legs laid spread out.

Her tiny skirt curled up, revealing her white striped panties.

In addition, the showerhead that fell into the tub was spraying out water. Her maid outfit was tightly stuck to her body after being drenched.

“Let me first ask, how did it turn out like this?”

“After the water came out, the showerhead started to go out of control. I wanted to grab it but then I fell into the bathtub.”

“Really now?”

It was just as he predicted. Having someone who was incapable of even operating a vacuum cleaner go tidy up the shower room was never going to work.

Kurou took Hinako back into the living room and was currently drying her soaked long black hair with a towel.

Hinako did not reveal an annoyed expression, continuing to let Kurou dry her off.

If he were to remove the maid outfit and rub her body dry, she probably wouldn’t even mind————these types of diabolical thoughts coursed through Kurou’s mind.

“......Well then, you can dry yourself off now.”

“Ok, I’ll do my best.”

Just like that, Hinako dried her half exposed chest and legs.

“Looks like the only thing qualified about you is your body.”

“Yes.”

Hinako nodded.

If she had denied that statement then he would have felt quite troubled. Rather, with her nodding in agreement, it was hard to respond to that. Kurou couldn’t help but clutch his head.

“With this, you’re pretty much just a busty freeloader right?”

“That’s how it is.”

“In that case, stop nodding and agreeing so willingly. Jeez......”

Kurou helplessly stated as he stood up. He glanced over at the time and noticed it was approaching noon. It was most likely due to the heavy task at hand. Or was it because it was tiring having to deal with Hinako. In any case, he did feel quite hungry from all of this.

“First let me ask, are you able to cook?”

“I can eat but I can’t cook.”

“......I see.”

The task of cooking will probably be Kurou’s responsibility for the most part.

From the materials Manaka sent, there seemed to be a large quantity of instant ramen and other instant food products. If it was only for today, this should suffice.

“However, even though you’re a highly regarded girl of the sun cult, it’s surprising that you can’t even handle tidying up. Just what kind of caged bird are you.”

“I’ve never been in a cage before.”

“It’s a figure of speech. Just who in the world raised you......”

“Even if you ask, there’s nothing to say really. It was my first time going outside not too long ago, that’s all.”

“Eh, in that case it’s pretty much like being in a real cage......that said, hmm? For the first time?”

As Kurou walked out of the kitchen, he immediately stopped upon inquiring as such.

“You said you’ve never been outside before......why is that?”

“I was locked within a room.”

“......”

Kurou pressed his fingers against his temples.

In other words, the cause was most likely her imprisonment. If what she said about this being her “first time” was taken at face value, then the reasoning behind “you can’t even handle tidying up” would change once again.

If she were to be raised away from the masses and prevented from doing anything during her entire life up to now......

“Gurr——”. Suddenly, a silly sound echoed.

“......I’m hungry.”

“Well then, we’ll continue this later.”

It was improbable that anyone could be focused on a conversation when their tummy was growling.

Kurou once again headed towards the kitchen.

“Thank you for the meal.”

Hinako set her spoon down and mannerly pressed her hands together.

Despite it being instant curry and instant rice, Hinako held no complaints and finished all her food.

After Kurou finished eating the same thing, he drank a cup of water in one go.

“Well then, for now just let me listen to what you have to say for a bit. You said it was your first time stepping outside, what exactly did you mean?”

“I’ve stayed in one room the entire time ever since my childhood, maybe even from the moment I was born......”

“......”

“On the subject of where this place was, I don’t know even know to this day. Although I don’t think it was a sun cult facility.”

This was a serious topic. However, Hinako narrated with a stoic expression.

“A room you say? Then, what kind of room was it specifically?”

“It was quite a spacious room with pure white carpeting and a glass ceiling. There was also a bookshelf, bed, and cushion......there were two doors, one leading to a bathroom and shower room and the other leading to the outside of the room. However, I wasn’t able to leave.”

“Haven’t you ever thought about going outside to take a look?”

Kurou raised a question. It wasn’t exactly a thought-provoking question. If he were to listen intently, it may cause her to feel anxious.

“Of course, but there was always people waiting nearby to stop me. They told me that I didn’t have the founder’s permission......”

“Are you saying that the people you’ve encountered were the ones that have been taking care of you the whole time? So what do you do inside the room all day?”

“Read books, which included holy scriptures and even history books. Although when I was young, I would frequently play around with everyone within the room. However, I’ve spent my entire time reading these last few years.”

“You said you’re only fifteen years old right? Before you were fifteen, was your life always like this?”

“Yes.”

Hinako gently nodded.

If she was the cult founder’s daughter, then having a completely different lifestyle wasn’t exactly something unimaginable.

That was because the religious organization frequently engaged itself in terrorist activities.

However, the possibility of her receiving the cult’s teachings or training in order to take part in fighting against the Swordie government should be set aside for now. Why would she be imprisoned though?

Objectively speaking, Sakurai Hinako was truly a beautiful girl. She even had this air of mystique surrounding her.

If they were to set her out in public, she could even become a major spokeswoman. There would be a lot of value in this. Why they would take special measures in concealing her, it was really quite baffling.

Or rather, what was the meaning behind not letting her out of the cult followers’ sights?

No matter how he looked at it, since the information available was lacking, a judgment could not really be made.

“However, right now you’re here. Was it because you escaped?”

“I want to see the world with my own two eyes. It’s not enough to satisfy me just by hearing about it through books and people......those who understood me allowed me to leave the room.”

“Was it those people you had frequent encounters with before? Were those guys followers of the sun as well? Had they been ordered to do unlawful things by the cult founder?”

Kurou tilted his head and pondered.

Even though he didn’t understand the fine details about the sun cult, he was clear on the fact that they complied with the cult founder’s orders, thus risking their lives in combat.

He had experienced that multiple times. The one named Akari also battled for the sake of the organization, this was undeniable.

“I don’t understand either. However, everyone wanted me to escape, for this I wanted to express my gratitude. Although, I’ll most definitely never see them again......”

As Hinako spoke, a fleeting expression surfaced in her eyes.

When Kurou first met her, she was located in the van of the sun cult.

There was probably the fear that she was captured while escaping. Within Tokyo Swordia, the sun cult had their own information network. Escaping with a burdensome girl was certainly not possible.

It would be troublesome for the group that released the cult founder’s daughter. Perhaps the whole crew was captured or more likely, killed. Furthermore, Hinako realized this aspect.

Hinako, she wasn’t just a girl with a complicated standing, she was also burdened with this extremely serious matter————

“Nevertheless, you easily mentioned all these things. These are probably matters that you don’t really want to discuss with other people right?”

Hinako stolidly shook her head.

“That director named Manaka told me that we should be having this kind conversation right away.”

“Eh, so that’s why?”

“Yes, she said ‘Kuro is a cynical person, therefore it would be best that you say whatever you can say as early as possible.’”

“......I see.”

Kurou did not hold any particular interest in Hinako.

If he were to become her bodyguard, his impression of her didn’t really matter.

However, even if that was the case, Kurou would want to protect Hinako even more if she honestly told him about her personal matters compared to if he knew nothing about her.

Kurou once again faced Hinako.

He wanted to impose one more question.

“Do you know why you were imprisoned?”

“I’m not sure. However, one of the people who set me free told me this, ‘You, you’re this organization’s————no, you’re the hope of all humans.’”

“Hope......?

Indeed, there was something unusual about Hinako. She could already be considered as an anomaly.

When Kurou first encountered her that night her entire body was enwrapped in light.

“However, calling you the hope of all humans is quite the exaggeration. As far as I know, humans aren’t in despair.”

The people who allowed Hinako to escape were also dangerous sun cultists, this was without a doubt. Nevertheless, wasn’t this just a vain hope instilled in her?

“I don’t completely understand what that meant. However, he also said something like this.”

“What would that be?”

Hinako gazed out the sunlit window and took her time in responding.

“He said, I was the————’girl of the sun.’”

On the following day, sword training once again commenced with a lecture.

Even though Kurou diligently went to class, he didn’t see Lars anywhere. This golden white-haired teenager had always been quite capricious.

Sword training was still the same as two days ago. The students would train with one on one matches. There also seemed to be team battles, studies on the various measures to deal with ranged weapons, as well as practice with the lance, daggers, and other weapons. However, the first years were not at this stage yet. Although Kurou felt that it would be more interesting the way it is.

“However......”

“Yes?”

Kurou leisurely tilted his head and looked at Hinako who was standing by his side.

“Why are you here as well? You’re not planning on studying at the school are you?”

“The director told me to stay near Kuro at all times.”

“Even so......”

Just a while ago during the other classes, Hinako would grab a chair from who knows where and sit in the corner of the classroom. The teachers didn’t mind her doing this. Perhaps it was because Hinako greeted the teachers beforehand.

What was unexpected was Hinako being completely attentive during class. She probably felt invigorated at the idea of going to class. However, this invigoration was not the same for Kurou.

“Guess there’s nothing I can do about it for now. I even thought about you as a possible conversation partner beforehand......”

“Kurou doesn’t have any friends?”

This ojou-sama really hit on a painful subject.

“It’s not that I don’t have any friends. It’s......”

Kurou took a brief glance at Sefi.

She seemed to be surrounded by a couple of girls. It was the girl with the short hair and the plainly dressed glasses girl he met yesterday.

“......!”

Sefi had just caught eye of Kurou and immediately revealed an astonished expression. Following that, she sharply glared back at Kurou.

It seems she intended on keeping her friendship with Kurou hidden from the public, but why would she be angry?

“Well, humans are shameful beings in modern Japan, especially within this academy.”

“I see, although I had already known about this, I never thought it would turn out like this. Kurou is the guy that’s rejected by everyone.”

“......”

Known as the girl of the sun, it appeared that she had a grasp of this superfluous information.

She probably didn’t realize that she herself was being excluded in the same way as well.

“Hmm?”

A female student approached Kurou with a rather serious expression.

Her long brown hair rested on her shoulders. She was a very cute girl.

However, unbefitting of her cute appearance was that she exuded a clear sense of enmity. She was holding her sword firmly in her hands.

“Well then, who are you?”

Kurou inquired frivolously. If he responded to her hostility with the same sort of animosity, then he would be stooping down lower than a child.

“My name is Freya! I feel honored to be speaking with the disciple of the Sword Saint! Don’t shy away just because I’m the number two ranked swordsman in our grade!”

“Oh, number two?”

Once Kurou finished his whimsical response, Freya raised her brow. He was probably seen as an offender for not being surprised upon hearing her number two ranking. Although, Kurou could care less about placement.

“......As for you, just forget about it. You seem to have entered the academy through standard procedures, however......this girl is different! These are the scared training grounds of the Swordies! Humans who are not servants can’t just visit this place whenever they please!”

Emotions sure run high for this Freya person. Although, being energetic is a positive trait.

“It’s like that? Well, although I do feel apologetic, there’s a reason behind this. I won’t let her hinder you guys so please bear with it for a bit.”

“In that case, I have a proposition for you!”

As if she had predicted what Kurou’s response was going to be, Freya swiftly replied.

“Battle me! I heard you beat Sefi-sama while I was on break. If that was for real, I wish to confirm it myself!”

“Then, if I win, will you approve of her visitation?”

Even if she approves, it wasn’t an official approval. However, if he was able to receive the number two ranked student’s support, then perhaps his situation might somewhat be improved.

“Ha——, you want to determine a winner?”

The person who asked was only watching on with a blank stare. If only Hinako possessed a fraction of Freya’s domineering attitude.

“Everyone wants to see your strength again. I’ll be straightforward, before everyone was only focused on Sefi-sama and probably didn’t notice you at all.”

“I wish to be in the spotlight even more! I would hate to be wounded without being noticed.”

No one laughed at Kurou’s wisecrack.

Even Freya, who was slightly chuckling before, had now kept her lips sealed. They seemed to be uninterested in the jokes of a human.

“Hmm, if that’s the case then you must try your hardest under all the attention. You also have this one advantage.”

“Advantage?”

“You’re the Sword Saint’s disciple, plus you’re a human living among Swordies. Us Swordies————you probably understand the tendencies of Swordie women right?”

“......Well, more or less so.”

“If you are truly strong, then this academy might become your harem one day.”

After that profound statement, Freya raised her wooden sword over her head.

As Kurou was keeping a vigilant watch over her, he felt somewhat stunned.

Although she had joked about monopolizing the girls here, but in actuality, if you thought about their tendencies, the possibility of forming a harem wasn’t completely out of the question.

Kurou took a peek at Sefi.

His goal was to marry and establish his own household, which was the complete opposite of a harem. He had never carefully thought about that sort of thing before. However, upon reflecting over it, just what would be the best choice?

“I won’t go down easily, otherwise I’d make Sefi-sama look bad!”

Freya got into her stance, she was pretty much set.

The number two ranked student didn’t appear to be a pushover. Kurou confirmed this within himself. Although Sefi was ranked number three, there seemed to be quite a gap in strength between the two placements.

In addition, the other party knew about Kurou’s win over Sefi so she probably won’t be negligent in this regard.

Sefi on the other hand reveal a worried expression that was poles apart from her previous unhappiness. She probably understood Freya’s strength very clearly. Of course, she was even more familiar with Kurou’s strength. To still feel worried for him, that says a lot about how powerful Freya is.

No, compared to this, he perhaps felt quite honored to be instilled with a bit of anxiety by Freya.

Kurou slowly began posturing his wooden sword.

The students’ chitter chatter suddenly ceased.

Everyone wanted to pay close attention to who wins this matchup.

A human who could beat Sefi, his strength was certainly genuine.

Haha, ok, you guys can have a look. It’ll be displayed for you all to see.

Kurou finished preparing his stance and pointed the tip of his sword to Freya.

At this moment, Freya made her move. It was hard to follow her visually.

In an instant, the distance between Kurou and Freya became increasingly close————

The two of them began their clash of swords.

“No matter how many times I run it over, it still doesn’t make any sense.”

Hinako blankly muttered.

After lunch, in the corner of the living room, Kurou was currently reading through the cooking books he had checked out from the library.

However, he didn’t really take note of the book’s contents very assiduously. In Hinako’s mind, she was replaying the events that occurred earlier today.

“What doesn’t make sense?”

Kurou, who was wearing casual attire consisting of a T-shirt and shorts, leisurely rested on the tatami mat and was reading a manga magazine before standing up impatiently.

“I’m referring to you Kuro. During today’s sword training......”

“Ah, that, you don’t need to worry about it.”

“I want to know even more about matters regarding the outside world.”

Hinako looked towards Kurou once again.

“The sun cult pretty much only reject Swordies. However, those kinds of cultists would only acknowledge the battle strength of a Swordie.”

“Even if they reject them, there’s no point.”

“I also heard that about some of the horrors regarding Swordies. Kanae, who was present during the massive anti-government protests that occurred in some district eight years ago, was someone I used to have numerous encounters with. She would frequently visit me, at that time there was a Swordie sent to suppress the rebellion who possessed monstrous strength.”

“Monstrous......”

Kurou lightly scratched his forehead as he spoke indifferently.

For Hinako, Kanae’s words didn’t present much of a true image.

At the time, Kanae was only a middle-schooler when she had said “the Swordies were swordsmen could easily cut down humans who were armed with weapons”, yet it was hard to forget those words.

“However, against those monstrous Swordies————Kuro only needed one strike to take her down.”

The strike that Hinako saw from Kurou today seemed to be etched into her mind.

The one known as Freya, who was somewhat of a typical Swordie girl, the moment she raised her sword————the victor had already been decided.

When in the world did Kurou raise his sword, and when did he swing down?

Hinako could not comprehend any of it. In the end, she wasn’t even sure if he had attacked.

By the time she realized it, Freya’s body was already shaking and soon toppled to the ground within the classroom.

Once the sound of her impact dissipated, the spectators who were holding their breath began to whisper to each other.

“The Swordie students all appeared to be staring in disbelief. Kuro, what in the world did you do? I have absolutely no idea.”

“Did the one-hit KO ruin it————, everyone seemed completely disappointed.”

Kurou still maintained his indifferent expression as he smirked.

It looks like Hinako was trying to coincide the teenager in front her with the swordsman who knocked out Freya.

He was completely inconceivable.

No matter how unworldly of a person Hinako was, she did realize that the number of humans who were like Kurou were numbered to just a few. A human living among Swordies and able to win against them in swordsmanship, just what path of life results in such a rare existence?

“I want to know. It’s only because I want to experience and witness various things that I would come to the outside like this. I have a great deal of interest in you. How come you can defeat a Swordie as a human? Although it is said that you are the disciple of the Sword Saint, but in the end, why are you the one that she selected as her disciple? Swordies teaching humans swordsmanship, besides you, are there any other instances?”

“If you excessively dig at the roots of someone’s past, you will be seen as quite a nuisance.”

“What did I do that’d be considered annoying? This I want to know as well.”

Hinako undauntedly spoke. Although she felt Kurou was a human full of mysteries, she wasn’t terrified of him at all. Because it was impossible for her to understand his swordsmanship, she wasn’t able understand the horror behind it.

“Well, there’s nothing about the past that I want to conceal anyways.”

Kurou nonchalantly spoke.

“When I was seven years-old, my parents died. However, my master who I happened to meet by chance————the Sword Saint took me in. From then, during that seven year span until I was fourteen years-old, I put all my effort into learning the ways of the swords......not too long after the Sword Saint’s whereabouts became unknown, I worked for the Sabers. After that, I entered the Sword Academy and even carried an unexpectedly heavy burden with me. That’s pretty much it.”

“What a troublesome life.”

“Don’t indifferently deny another person’s hardship. Furthermore, that last bit of what I said was referring to your annoying comments.”

“Ha, annoying? Since no one has ever said anything like this to me before, it does feel quite refreshing.”

“......”

What the heck, Kurou revealed a complicated expression.

Having been surrounded by the people who treasured her throughout her life, there were many things that felt like a change of pace for her.

“However, I still don’t understand any of this based your simple explanation. Plus, to easily take down someone like Freya is very baffling. Please go into more detail.”

“Geez, still not letting that matter go I see. That said, even if you were a swordsman you still wouldn’t be able to understand my swordsmanship. Well then, if I were to tell someone like you who doesn’t even have the battle capability of a little dog, there’s no chance you would understand————”

“......?”

Suddenly, Kurou ended the conversation.

He gestured Hinako to stop with his hand as he gazed out the window.

“Umm, Kuro?”

“Quiet. Listen to me, don’t leave my side.”

Kurou picked up his katana that was nearby and stood up.

His previous smirk was now replaced with an anxious expression. Is he the same person from just a moment ago? Hinako carried this suspicion.

This further deepened the enigma surrounding Kurou.

Hinako closely followed Kurou outside.

In order to learn what was unavailable from within that room, Hinako received help from a group of people and was brought to the outside world.

In addition, Kurou was someone who kept provoking her curiosity.

It didn’t need to be said that Hinako would never leave his side.
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