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Tsurugi no Joou to Rakuin no Ko:Volume 1 Chapter 5

2013-04-21T23:41:46Z

67.189.36.139: /* Chapter 5 – Proud Vixen */

==Chapter 5 – Proud Vixen==

Francesca da Zaccaria accomplished many feats in her lifetime to be proud of. One of the most well known ones was that she had already refused marriage proposals of more than a hundred men in just her fifteenth year. She was the granddaughter of Duke Zaccaria, the leader of the Seven Countries of the East, and was both beautiful and talented since childhood. Thus, she was surrounded by many candidates picked by her father and grandfather to be her husband, but their proposals were promptly refused. Their attention only brought one sentence: "What a bunch of uninteresting fellows."

On the day when the number of men officially reached three digits, the old Duke Zaccaria who was usually gentle finally couldn't help himself from summoning his granddaughter to question her:

''「Fran, in the end, what sort of man will you be satisfied with?」''

''「I want a man who is both stronger and more beautiful than I am.」'' Francesca answered.

''「It might be possible for one of your conditions to be met, but aren't the chances rather small for both of them to meet?」''

''「Of course not. At least, there will definitely be such a person on the battlefield.」''

Hence, Francesca started to frequent the training grounds of the knights, bringing an even larger headache to the duke's family.

Her father was disturbed by her peculiar actions, and thus summoned an old knight under his command.

''「What in the world is Francesca always doing among the knights? Is she observing your training?」'' He asked.

''「No, not only that.」'' The old knight answered.

''「Then she isn't training with, is she?」''

''「No, not only that as well.」''

The old knight's answer shocked Francesca's father so much that he couldn't even straighten his back. Never would he have thought that Francesca was actually teaching the members of the knighthood how to improve themselves.

After a year, a large-scale riot occurred on the borders of Zackaria. Francesca departed with fifty elite knights, and with lightning speed, led her troops directly into the church seized by the rioters to be used as their base. She captured the leader of the rioters alive, suppressing the upheaval practically without any loss of blood.

The news spread in the neighboring countries, and a poet gave such an evaluation regarding Francesca's various performances: ''Everything was like a ceremony to pray for rain. At first, there was an uproar caused by the campfire that was lit among great cheers of farmers and villagers, the inhabitants of the earth. Then, it was as though clouds darker and more turbid than ink were shrouded over the social circles of the nobility situated among the clouds, defamation that were continually spat out formed foul rainwater......''

Francesca's father and grandfather once scolded her together, asking her not to partake in barbarous activities unbecoming of those of a Duke's family. However, in the end their efforts were all in vain. Facing their reprimands, Francesca said resolutely: '''As members of the Zaccaria, protecting our land is in fact, a perfectly justified matter, and we have the obligation to do so as well!'''

The elderly Duke Zaccaria did not usually anger easily, but when his tolerance reached its peak, he came to a decision by himself without care for opinions of the others. And the results that came to due to the failure of their reprimands was thus. The old Duke Zaccaria announced the renouncement of his seat, giving his title of the Duke to his son, handing the job of the Commander of the Knights taken temporarily by his son to Francesca.

''「If so, outsiders will not have any chance of saying that you are fooling around with the Knights. However, if you do not fulfill your responsibilities and obligations as a Knight, your actions will be judged by military law!」''

''「That is exactly what I wish for!」''

Just like that, the old Duke kept his hands off his beloved granddaughter, allowing her to wander the battlefields as she liked. After that, he summoned the Knights in the city to the central courtyard as well, publicly announcing the shift of authority for the Knights into Francesca's hands.

''「Now, all of you are my subordinates, and I have already decided on a new name and flag appropriate for the Order!」''

Francesca's words caused loud cheers among the knights lined up in the courtyard, and it was three years after that when the flag embroidered with a silver hen embracing a silver egg with its wings spread out fluttered in the bloodied wind of the battlefield, shaking up the entire Celestial Kingdom with its glorious feats.

<center>*</center>

"I was present as well when the flag of the Silver Hen waved at various battlefields. I was so excited each time we set out for expeditions that it felt like my asshole grew five times its original size."

The ng military doctor in the team chattered on about the incredible feats performed by the Order of the Silver Egg on the battlefields while closing up Chris's wound. The stove by their side heated up the whole pot of water, its steam filling the whole tent; but the ng military doctor blissfully telling his story didn't seem to realize it at all. He was called Nicolo, a vulgar, slovenly man. He had long, tea brown shoulder-length hair that was casually bound in a bunch behind him without much care. With his monocle on his nose bridge and his dashing features, he could be described as a handsome person. Although not visible from his features at all, he was once awarded a Badge of the Rose, and was a Knight to the letter.

"Actually, our Captain is a person who appreciates talent. Beauty or immeasurable strength, those who fulfill one of the two criteria will gain her recognition. Because of that, there is no end of cute girls even among our Captain's personal guard, such as Meena, Paola, and as for those who are currently absent......"

The military doctor counted names of girls on his fingers, while Chris listened blankly beside him. But since the number was too large, he was even unsure of what he should feel surprised at halfway through.

''—What is wrong with this Order......''

The leader was a duke's daughter just at an age of eighteen; the military doctor looked like an insufferable flirt, knights eavesdropping for information from the outside time after time showing their uncultured backgrounds, and there were even some who looked just like bad-hearted mercenaries as well, while the curiosity that overflowed from the their gazes when the looking at the captured Chris was almost as strong as enmity.

It was the first time he felt such an atmosphere in an army.

These people did not have cheap desires— that was what Chris sensed in the air. In the past, each of the troops that he saw was filled with the stench of beasts due to the strong desire for slaughter, coin or entertainment. However, the knights of the Order of the Silver Egg around him did not have such a stench at all, and the one who made the deepest impression on him was Minerva.

''—That's right! Where's Minerva? Is she alright? If I'm not mistaken, she's hurt as well......''

"Excuse me, Doctor......"

"Just call me Nicolo." The military doctor smiled, and immediately frowned after that: "Listen well, cannot speak of the word 'Doctor' for a second time in the Order of the Silver Egg. It is a taboo more horrifying than the god of death."

Chris had never heard any mention of the fact. However, that was not important......

"How is Minerva right now?" Chris asked.

"Paola is probably taking care of her. Women have female medical staff to take care of them— it's all because of that Francesca, who made such an unreasonable request. If I'm in charge of everything, I'll definitely heal everyone completely, without fail...... Hey, where are going!? Lie down! The injuries sustained are much more severe than that of Meena's!"

Nicolo pushed Chris back to the bed by his shoulders. He even kindly covered Chris with a blanket, but such physical exertion was already enough to cause the wounds on Chris to throb faintly. He could not help but furrow his brows.

"That girl...... Is she alright? She was hurt rather severely as well......"

"Compared with yours, her's are actually quite light. Instead of talking about her, what kind of monster are , seriously......" Nicolo said.

After hearing that, Chris shifted his gaze to the patch of tent above him and deeply breathed out in relief.

''—She's okay, that's so great......''

''—After all, if she is not present in the future, I will not be able to live on as well......''

"You're a mercenary of the Celestial Kingdom, aren't ? Why are you so worried of Meena? Are really her slave?"

Hearing Nicolo's questions, Chris immediately turned around to ignore him.

"So what is it? Why don't you just tell me? What does it matter? I'll be asked these questions no matter where you go as long as you stay here anyway."

Chris raised the back of his palm to eye level, and finally sighed in relief when he saw that the insignia there had already faded into his natural skin color— it seemed like the military doctor was still ignorant of the fact that Chris was the Star Eater.

"Minerva and I met on a battlefield, and I became her slave since I lost...... It's just that simple."

"Oh, then the 'beast's son who has jet black hair as profound as the night skies' Minerva once said would kill her would be ?"

Chris couldn't help but gulp at those words.

It seemed like Minerva had already told the comrades on her team of what she had foreseen. But to what extent did she reveal the information? Chris heard a guarantee from Minerva that she would definitely not tell the others of the brand, so Chris believed that the people who knew of it in the Order of the Silver Egg should be few.

"She said that this day would be the date of her death, and so left the squad by herself." Nicolo said: "But when we started a bet, everyone bet that she would survive in the end, so the gamble couldn't be started— But isn't that obvious? How can anyone in this world kill her?"

''—That's true. Even the powers of the Beast Brand could not kill her......''

''—No, perhaps I should say that she was not killed exactly because of the brand's power? This......''

"Even so......" Nicolo said with his head tilted: "Why in the world did she bring you back alive? Did anything happen between you?"

"Ah...... Um...... That......."

Chris thought, if the military doctor who was good at getting familiar with other people found out about the brandings of the Beast on Chris, he would definitely look at him with a disgusted expression. Just thinking of that caused him to be unable to speak. However, just when Chris was stuttering over what he should explain, Nicolo suddenly showed a strange smile, making a conclusion over Chris and Minerva's relationship by himself: "Oh, so that's how things are? Well...... Indeed, if something like that really happened between them, it's true that it would be hard to talk about." Chris felt that he seemed to have misunderstood something, but he still did not answer in the end.

"There are five stitches on your stomach. Stand up slowly, okay. Can you put on your clothes on your own?"

Nicolo was not talking about the old clothing Chris originally wore that was stained by blood, but the brand new clothes that the squad prepared for him. When Chris wore the clothes, he thought in puzzlement over the reason he, as a captive, was allowed to wear clothing of such high quality. He only found something wrong after buttoning the clothes.

"Wait a minute, these clothes are?"

A flamboyantly carved sword accessory was hung on the chest position of the shirt, while emblems of a silver hen and a silver egg were embroidered at the area between the elbow and the cuff.

"This is the badge for Francesca's personal guards. As for the sword on the chest, it signifies that have to keep Francesca's safety in your heart at all time." Nicolo said.

"W-What the heck is this! What were you thinking!" Chris couldn't help but cry out: "I'm a slave, why must I fight to the death for you!"

"Didn't I already tell you? Francesca wants to enlist you in her personal guards."

Chris was dumbstruck— ''Me? In among the Captain's personal guard? This means...... I'm supposed to become a member of the Order as well?''

''—What a joke! If things really turn out that way......''

Chris was worried that the fact that he was the 'Star Eating Beast' would be found out not long after. People might even see the Beast brandings on him. If so, he would be cursed and resented by the members of the squad. If even Minerva couldn't suppress the beast in him one day, he might have to eat up even the members in this team......

''—I-I definitely won't let things turn out this way.''

With a resolution of only being the slave by Minerva's side he was unprepared to come in contact with any other person in the team......

"Hey, can't be a bit more contented? 're becoming a member of the Captain's personal guard, you know? You can sleep in the same tent as her, call her directly as Fran, and there might even be a chance for to change her clothes for her! What is there to dislike? If 're not willing, then let me take your place instead!"

"Nicolo, if you have finished your work, can you directly stitch up your mouth as well?"

All of a sudden an unexpected sound rang, causing Nicolo to grab the dagger on the floor in shock. But when he realized who the owner of the voice was, his shoulders convulsed furiously as his shoulders froze. Chris looked back in shock as well; the one he saw was the blonde girl he encountered before. She was standing at the cramped entrance of the tent.

"Hello, beautiful beast." She walked into the tent. That moment, all of the armor on her was completely taken off, and the dress with an open chest did not look like clothing worn on a battlefield at all. The eyes that were like sapphires abruptly approached Chris, causing him to bump into a post supporting the tent when he walked backwards.

"Nicolo probably told you about the squad badge, didn't he?"

Hearing Francesca's question, Chris's lowered eyes saw the sword ornament tied to his chest, and forced out an answer after raising his head: "I am from the Celestial Kingdom, and so cannot be r comrade."

"Aren't you a mercenary? Besides, isn't your employer already missing?"

Francesca's rebuke made Chris speechless. Not knowing how to counter her, he could only nod when he stared at Francesca's mysterious expression.

"Listen well......" Francesca said: "Meena was the one who took you back, and she is my subordinate. So are my belonging as well. Do you understand now?" She pressed her hand on the side of Chris's ear when she spoke, gently sliding her soft, chilly fingertips to Chris's chin, as though she was teasing him, "For me, I will not be satisfied even if the soldiers around me are as much as the stars in the skies, so your participation can be said to be irreplaceable to me as well."

"Why—?" Chris swallowed his words halfway through— ''What is wrong is with this Order? Normally, won't any other daughter of a duke be nestled up in her own city, indulging in luxurious dresses, balls, and other people's gossip? Why did this woman lead an army to war? Might it be possible that she is really treating the troops her father entrusted to her as a toy......''

To that, Francesca shrugged and smiled superficially: "I'm not thinking of bringing down the Celestial Kingdom just for fun."

Her answer stunned Chris to silence— ''Bringing down the Celestial Kingdom?''

From what he was aware of, no matter how powerful an aristocratic House was, they would only cause uprisings to get land, military force and taxing rights from the Celestial Kingdom, but never did anyone make the grandiloquent declaration of overthrowing the Celestial Kingdom. However, the little girl of eighteen before his eyes......

While Chris was stunned in awe, the tent entrance was flipped open once again.

"Fran!"

This time, it was Minerva who rushed inside. That moment, she had already taken off the cape pinned to her sleeves, exposing her white, slender shoulders. With bloodstains on the bandage covering her wound on her waist, her fragile body would make people's heart ache. It was hard to associate her with the 'soul reaper' nimbly waving a large sword no matter how looked at it.

"Don't do things on your own accord. He is my belonging!" Minerva shouted in agitation.

"What is he to you again?" Francesca asked in nonchalance.

"I said, he's my slave!"

"Did you already forget, there is a rule in the Code of the Rose which says, 'without my permission, battle spoils cannot be taken for rself.'"

"Ngh......" Her words caused Minerva to lean unsteadily against a post and supported herself on it while protesting weakly:

"But...... He's a person, not a thing, so he can't be counted as a battle spoil....."

"But didn't you say just now that he's your belonging?"

"Ah, ngh......."

Minerva's face reddened in anger. Her hand gripping the post tightened abruptly, causing the wooden post to creak in response. Seeing her reaction, Nicolo hurriedly ran forward with his face pale, "Hey hey hey, what the heck are doing! Are thinking of tearing down my tent? Calm down a little! How can win against the Captain in an argument? didn't even think of the fact that r brain isn't that quick from the star—"

Thump— Minerva's fist lashed out, hitting Nicolo away in an instant. Chris barely managed to catch the tall man, causing his wounds that were just stitched to throb in pain.

"Sorry, sorry, thanks a lot......" While apologizing, Nicolo rose, a flaming trail of nosebleed on his face.

"Say that once again if you dare, and we'll see how quick your brain will twist!" Minerva cried out in anger. However, the shout caused a severe pain in her wounds, making her press her side abdomen. That moment, another person ran into the tent.

"Meena, I haven't finished dealing with your wounds yet. You can't just run off like this!"

The girl wore a brimless hat and donned a blue, triangular cape. It seemed like that was the uniform for the medical soldiers. The medical staff looked similar to Minerva in age, or was perhaps a few years nger than her. There were even a few locks of light brown baby hair at the side of her thful face. Seeing the disaster in the tent and her liege lord standing before her, she couldn't help but cry out with her hand covering her mouth and her face pale: "Ah! Lady Fran, my deepest apologies!"

"Paola. Haven't I told you that you must tie up her neck when are handling Meena's wounds? She doesn't get hurt often, so she hates the medicinal odor."

"What do you treat me as, a dog?!"

"N-No, Meena ran out in a rush when she heard Lady Fran discussing about the entry to the team with the captive......"

Seeing the two squabbling before her, the girl called Paola added on in support of Minerva after looking at them timidly. From beside, Nicolo spoke by Chris's ears in a low voice, "you two are actually rather similar......"

However, the words seemed to be overheard by Minerva, and she immediately shot a look as sharp as blades across Nicolo's heart. Judging that the situation was not good, the military doctor hurriedly hid behind Chris without regard for his own pride.

That moment, Francesca spoke while holding Minerva's hand: "Why do you refuse to let this beautiful beast join us?"

"This—" After hearing her question, Minerva first glanced at Chris, and then stayed mute after looking around at the people present. Then, she said: "Because...... Because I must keep him by my side. If not...... It'll be...... dangerous, if he is allowed to approach the others......"

"So the two of you are so close that you're inseparable?" Francesca added quickly.

"Don't explain it in such a way! That is not what I mean! He is just my tool, and nothing else!"

''—What in the world are these two talking about......''

Chris was dumbstruck, and even then, Nicolo still refused to behave, and interjected: "This is the man she saw every night even in her dreams, of course she won't let him g—" Before finishing his words, the gauntlet that Minerva tossed over crashed heavily on Nicolo's forehead, causing him to bend down in pain.

After seeing that, Francesca sighed and said: "Paola, have a look at Nicolo. No matter how much he bluffs of his greatness as a doctor, I think he won't be able to deal with injuries on his own face. Well then, welcome, beautiful beast."

She changed topics in a flash, taking Minerva and Chris out of the tent at the same time, passing through the center of the camp.

Under the evening skies, smoke curled upwards from the porridge stewing in the campsite...... A whole day passed since their return. Night was about to descend.

Military tents were erected everywhere. All the soldiers in the Order sat around the campfire. When they saw Francesca walking by with Chris and Minerva, they nodded to their liege lord one by one, glaring at Chris who was walking behind her as well.

Among their murmuring voices, Chris heard the word 'Star Eater' and froze on the spot.

''—Someone knows of me!''

''—Is it possible that there are even people among the Principality who heard of rumors about me?''

"Hey, guys know of this beast?"

Francesca heard it as well. She stopped and questioned her subordinate sitting by the campfire.

"Of course! He has quite the famous name!"

"Captain, did see the armor that guy was wearing? Each part of the set is first class stuff of the highest level. However, not one of them was of the same set."

"There are some with emblems of Duke Houses, some with art hand-drawn by noblewomen, and even some of the exorcism pictures of the Church. How could anyone get such an assorted set of armor together?"

Hearing their descriptions, Chris couldn't help but avert his gaze.

"All of those were probably robbed from famous Generals or Knights after he killed them."

"Actually, it's still fine when we hear the name 'Star Eater'. It's the people of the Celestial Kingdom army who would get scared out of their wits after hearing it."

"I heard that an army with him would definitely perish."

Thus, quite a few gazes were focused on Chris. Even when he looked away, he could still feel the gazes full of enmity piercing his body like a thousand needles.

"Meena, why the heck did bring this guy alive? Wasn't this guy supposed to kill ?"

"That's right, you should have chopped off his limbs, leaving him alone on the battlefield."

Just when Minerva was about to answer, Francesca stopped her with a flourish of her hands, speaking ahead of her instead:

"He's joining my personal guard."

The words caused the soldiers surrounding the campfire to stand up as well. Even the people slightly further away from them gulped and almost stood up together as well.

"Captain, are you serious?!"

Among them, an impatient soldier who was the eldest, and had a large scar on his face approached, questioning Francesca in a distance so close he almost pressed against her.

"Putting this guy in the Order is just bad luck. Please don't do something like that!"

"If we let him stay in the Order, who knows what trouble he would bring!"

"You're just plainly ignoring the lives of your comrades if you do this!"

The words pierced Chris's heart one after another. However, it was actually quite normal for them to have such reactions.

''—Never mind......''

''—Just let me be a slave of my own will, just like a rusted hoe kept in a store by a farmer......''

''—Please don't drag me into this team......''

"Are you doubting my decision?"

Facing her subordinate's objections, Francesca tilted her head, halting everyone's discussions with a loud, imperious voice. The soldiers who continually jeered at Chris paled, not daring to make the slightest sound.

==Chapter 5 – Proud Vixen==

Francesca da Zaccaria accomplished many feats in her lifetime to be proud of. One of the most well known ones was that she had already refused marriage proposals of more than a hundred men in just her fifteenth year. She was the granddaughter of Duke Zaccaria, the leader of the Seven Countries of the East, and was both beautiful and talented since childhood. Thus, she was surrounded by many candidates picked by her father and grandfather to be her husband, but their proposals were promptly refused. Their attention only brought one sentence: "What a bunch of uninteresting fellows."

On the day when the number of men officially reached three digits, the old Duke Zaccaria who was usually gentle finally couldn't help himself from summoning his granddaughter to question her:

''「Fran, in the end, what sort of man will you be satisfied with?」''

''「I want a man who is both stronger and more beautiful than I am.」'' Francesca answered.

''「It might be possible for one of your conditions to be met, but aren't the chances rather small for both of them to meet?」''

''「Of course not. At least, there will definitely be such a person on the battlefield.」''

Hence, Francesca started to frequent the training grounds of the knights, bringing an even larger headache to the duke's family.

Her father was disturbed by her peculiar actions, and thus summoned an old knight under his command.

''「What in the world is Francesca always doing among the knights? Is she observing your training?」'' He asked.

''「No, not only that.」'' The old knight answered.

''「Then she isn't training with you, is she?」''

''「No, not only that as well.」''

The old knight's answer shocked Francesca's father so much that he couldn't even straighten his back. Never would he have thought that Francesca was actually teaching the members of the knighthood how to improve themselves.

After a year, a large-scale riot occurred on the borders of Zackaria. Francesca departed with fifty elite knights, and with lightning speed, led her troops directly into the church seized by the rioters to be used as their base. She captured the leader of the rioters alive, suppressing the upheaval practically without any loss of blood.

The news spread in the neighboring countries, and a poet gave such an evaluation regarding Francesca's various performances: ''Everything was like a ceremony to pray for rain. At first, there was an uproar caused by the campfire that was lit among great cheers of farmers and villagers, the inhabitants of the earth. Then, it was as though clouds darker and more turbid than ink were shrouded over the social circles of the nobility situated among the clouds, defamation that were continually spat out formed foul rainwater......''

Francesca's father and grandfather once scolded her together, asking her not to partake in barbarous activities unbecoming of those of a Duke's family. However, in the end their efforts were all in vain. Facing their reprimands, Francesca said resolutely: '''As members of the Zaccaria, protecting our land is in fact, a perfectly justified matter, and we have the obligation to do so as well!'''

The elderly Duke Zaccaria did not usually anger easily, but when his tolerance reached its peak, he came to a decision by himself without care for opinions of the others. And the results that came to due to the failure of their reprimands was thus. The old Duke Zaccaria announced the renouncement of his seat, giving his title of the Duke to his son, handing the job of the Commander of the Knights taken temporarily by his son to Francesca.

''「If so, outsiders will not have any chance of saying that you are fooling around with the Knights. However, if you do not fulfill your responsibilities and obligations as a Knight, your actions will be judged by military law!」''

''「That is exactly what I wish for!」''

Just like that, the old Duke kept his hands off his beloved granddaughter, allowing her to wander the battlefields as she liked. After that, he summoned the Knights in the city to the central courtyard as well, publicly announcing the shift of authority for the Knights into Francesca's hands.

''「Now, all of you are my subordinates, and I have already decided on a new name and flag appropriate for the Order!」''

Francesca's words caused loud cheers among the knights lined up in the courtyard, and it was three years after that when the flag embroidered with a silver hen embracing a silver egg with its wings spread out fluttered in the bloodied wind of the battlefield, shaking up the entire Celestial Kingdom with its glorious feats.

<center>*</center>

"I was present as well when the flag of the Silver Hen waved at various battlefields. I was so excited each time we set out for expeditions that it felt like my asshole grew five times its original size."

The young military doctor in the team chattered on about the incredible feats performed by the Order of the Silver Egg on the battlefields while closing up Chris's wound. The stove by their side heated up the whole pot of water, its steam filling the whole tent; but the young military doctor blissfully telling his story didn't seem to realize it at all. He was called Nicolo, a vulgar, slovenly man. He had long, tea brown shoulder-length hair that was casually bound in a bunch behind him without much care. With his monocle on his nose bridge and his dashing features, he could be described as a handsome person. Although not visible from his features at all, he was once awarded a Badge of the Rose, and was a Knight to the letter.

"Actually, our Captain is a person who appreciates talent. Beauty or immeasurable strength, those who fulfill one of the two criteria will gain her recognition. Because of that, there is no end of cute girls even among our Captain's personal guard, such as Meena, Paola, and as for those who are currently absent......"

The military doctor counted names of girls on his fingers, while Chris listened blankly beside him. But since the number was too large, he was even unsure of what he should feel surprised at halfway through.

''—What is wrong with this Order......''

The leader was a duke's daughter just at an age of eighteen; the military doctor looked like an insufferable flirt, knights eavesdropping for information from the outside time after time showing their uncultured backgrounds, and there were even some who looked just like bad-hearted mercenaries as well, while the curiosity that overflowed from the their gazes when the looking at the captured Chris was almost as strong as enmity.

It was the first time he felt such an atmosphere in an army.

These people did not have cheap desires— that was what Chris sensed in the air. In the past, each of the troops that he saw was filled with the stench of beasts due to the strong desire for slaughter, coin or entertainment. However, the knights of the Order of the Silver Egg around him did not have such a stench at all, and the one who made the deepest impression on him was Minerva.

''—That's right! Where's Minerva? Is she alright? If I'm not mistaken, she's hurt as well......''

"Excuse me, Doctor......"

"Just call me Nicolo." The military doctor smiled, and immediately frowned after that: "Listen well, you cannot speak of the word 'Doctor' for a second time in the Order of the Silver Egg. It is a taboo more horrifying than the god of death."

Chris had never heard any mention of the fact. However, that was not important......

"How is Minerva right now?" Chris asked.

"Paola is probably taking care of her. Women have female medical staff to take care of them— it's all because of that Francesca, who made such an unreasonable request. If I'm in charge of everything, I'll definitely heal everyone completely, without fail...... Hey, where are you going!? Lie down! The injuries you sustained are much more severe than that of Meena's!"

Nicolo pushed Chris back to the bed by his shoulders. He even kindly covered Chris with a blanket, but such physical exertion was already enough to cause the wounds on Chris to throb faintly. He could not help but furrow his brows.

"That girl...... Is she alright? She was hurt rather severely as well......"

"Compared with yours, her's are actually quite light. Instead of talking about her, what kind of monster are you, seriously......" Nicolo said.

After hearing that, Chris shifted his gaze to the patch of tent above him and deeply breathed out in relief.

''—She's okay, that's so great......''

''—After all, if she is not present in the future, I will not be able to live on as well......''

" You're a mercenary of the Celestial Kingdom, aren't you? Why are you so worried of Meena? Are you really her slave?"

Hearing Nicolo's questions, Chris immediately turned around to ignore him.

"So what is it? Why don't you just tell me? What does it matter? You'll be asked these questions no matter where you go as long as you stay here anyway."

Chris raised the back of his palm to eye level, and finally sighed in relief when he saw that the insignia there had already faded into his natural skin color— it seemed like the military doctor was still ignorant of the fact that Chris was the Star Eater.

"Minerva and I met on a battlefield, and I became her slave since I lost...... It's just that simple."

"Oh, then the 'beast's son who has jet black hair as profound as the night skies' Minerva once said would kill her would be you?"

Chris couldn't help but gulp at those words.

It seemed like Minerva had already told the comrades on her team of what she had foreseen. But to what extent did she reveal the information? Chris heard a guarantee from Minerva that she would definitely not tell the others of the brand, so Chris believed that the people who knew of it in the Order of the Silver Egg should be few.

"She said that this day would be the date of her death, and so left the squad by herself." Nicolo said: "But when we started a bet, everyone bet that she would survive in the end, so the gamble couldn't be started— But isn't that obvious? How can anyone in this world kill her?"

''—That's true. Even the powers of the Beast Brand could not kill her......''

''—No, perhaps I should say that she was not killed exactly because of the brand's power? This......''

"Even so......" Nicolo said with his head tilted: "Why in the world did she bring you back alive? Did anything happen between you?"

"Ah...... Um...... That......."

Chris thought, if the military doctor who was good at getting familiar with other people found out about the brandings of the Beast on Chris, he would definitely look at him with a disgusted expression. Just thinking of that caused him to be unable to speak. However, just when Chris was stuttering over what he should explain, Nicolo suddenly showed a strange smile, making a conclusion over Chris and Minerva's relationship by himself: "Oh, so that's how things are? Well...... Indeed, if something like that really happened between you, it's true that it would be hard to talk about." Chris felt that he seemed to have misunderstood something, but he still did not answer in the end.

"There are five stitches on your stomach. Stand up slowly, okay. Can you put on your clothes on your own?"

Nicolo was not talking about the old clothing Chris originally wore that was stained by blood, but the brand new clothes that the squad prepared for him. When Chris wore the clothes, he thought in puzzlement over the reason he, as a captive, was allowed to wear clothing of such high quality. He only found something wrong after buttoning the clothes.

"Wait a minute, these clothes are?"

A flamboyantly carved sword accessory was hung on the chest position of the shirt, while emblems of a silver hen and a silver egg were embroidered at the area between the elbow and the cuff.

"This is the badge for Francesca's personal guards. As for the sword on the chest, it signifies that you have to keep Francesca's safety in your heart at all time." Nicolo said.

"W-What the heck is this! What were you thinking!" Chris couldn't help but cry out: "I'm a slave, why must I fight to the death for you!"

" Didn't I already tell you? Francesca wants to enlist you in her personal guards."

Chris was dumbstruck— ''Me? In among the Captain's personal guard? This means...... I'm supposed to become a member of the Order as well?''

''—What a joke! If things really turn out that way......''

Chris was worried that the fact that he was the 'Star Eating Beast' would be found out not long after. People might even see the Beast brandings on him. If so, he would be cursed and resented by the members of the squad. If even Minerva couldn't suppress the beast in him one day, he might have to eat up even the members in this team......

''—I-I definitely won't let things turn out this way.''

With a resolution of only being the slave by Minerva's side he was unprepared to come in contact with any other person in the team......

"Hey, can't you be a bit more contented? You're becoming a member of the Captain's personal guard, you know? You can sleep in the same tent as her, call her directly as Fran, and there might even be a chance for you to change her clothes for her! What is there to dislike? If you're not willing, then let me take your place instead!"

"Nicolo, if you have finished your work, can you directly stitch up your mouth as well?"

All of a sudden an unexpected sound rang, causing Nicolo to grab the dagger on the floor in shock. But when he realized who the owner of the voice was, his shoulders convulsed furiously as his shoulders froze. Chris looked back in shock as well; the one he saw was the blonde girl he encountered before. She was standing at the cramped entrance of the tent.

"Hello, beautiful beast." She walked into the tent. That moment, all of the armor on her was completely taken off, and the dress with an open chest did not look like clothing worn on a battlefield at all. The eyes that were like sapphires abruptly approached Chris, causing him to bump into a post supporting the tent when he walked backwards.

"Nicolo probably told you about the squad badge, didn't he?"

Hearing Francesca's question, Chris's lowered eyes saw the sword ornament tied to his chest, and forced out an answer after raising his head: "I am from the Celestial Kingdom, and so cannot be your comrade."

"Aren't you a mercenary? Besides, isn't your employer already missing?"

Francesca's rebuke made Chris speechless. Not knowing how to counter her, he could only nod when he stared at Francesca's mysterious expression.

"Listen well......" Francesca said: "Meena was the one who took you back, and she is my subordinate. So you are my belonging as well. Do you understand now?" She pressed her hand on the side of Chris's ear when she spoke, gently sliding her soft, chilly fingertips to Chris's chin, as though she was teasing him, "For me, I will not be satisfied even if the soldiers around me are as much as the stars in the skies, so your participation can be said to be irreplaceable to me as well."

"Why—?" Chris swallowed his words halfway through— ''What is wrong is with this Order? Normally, won't any other daughter of a duke be nestled up in her own city, indulging in luxurious dresses, balls, and other people's gossip? Why did this woman lead an army to war? Might it be possible that she is really treating the troops her father entrusted to her as a toy......''

To that, Francesca shrugged and smiled superficially: "I'm not thinking of bringing down the Celestial Kingdom just for fun."

Her answer stunned Chris to silence— ''Bringing down the Celestial Kingdom?''

From what he was aware of, no matter how powerful an aristocratic House was, they would only cause uprisings to get land, military force and taxing rights from the Celestial Kingdom, but never did anyone make the grandiloquent declaration of overthrowing the Celestial Kingdom. However, the little girl of eighteen before his eyes......

While Chris was stunned in awe, the tent entrance was flipped open once again.

"Fran!"

This time, it was Minerva who rushed inside. That moment, she had already taken off the cape pinned to her sleeves, exposing her white, slender shoulders. With bloodstains on the bandage covering her wound on her waist, her fragile body would make people's heart ache. It was hard to associate her with the 'soul reaper' nimbly waving a large sword no matter how you looked at it.

"Don't you do things on your own accord. He is my belonging!" Minerva shouted in agitation.

"What is he to you again?" Francesca asked in nonchalance.

"I said, he's my slave!"

"Did you already forget, there is a rule in the Code of the Rose which says, 'without my permission, battle spoils cannot be taken for yourself.'"

"Ngh......" Her words caused Minerva to lean unsteadily against a post and supported herself on it while protesting weakly:

"But...... He's a person, not a thing, so he can't be counted as a battle spoil....."

"But didn't you say just now that he's your belonging?"

"Ah, ngh......."

Minerva's face reddened in anger. Her hand gripping the post tightened abruptly, causing the wooden post to creak in response. Seeing her reaction, Nicolo hurriedly ran forward with his face pale, "Hey hey hey, what the heck are you doing! Are you thinking of tearing down my tent? Calm down a little! How can you win against the Captain in an argument? You didn't even think of the fact that your brain isn't that quick from the star—"

Thump— Minerva's fist lashed out, hitting Nicolo away in an instant. Chris barely managed to catch the tall man, causing his wounds that were just stitched to throb in pain.

"Sorry, sorry, thanks a lot......" While apologizing, Nicolo rose, a flaming trail of nosebleed on his face.

"Say that once again if you dare, and we'll see how quick your brain will twist!" Minerva cried out in anger. However, the shout caused a severe pain in her wounds, making her press her side abdomen. That moment, another person ran into the tent.

"Meena, I haven't finished dealing with your wounds yet. You can't just run off like this!"

The girl wore a brimless hat and donned a blue, triangular cape. It seemed like that was the uniform for the medical soldiers. The medical staff looked similar to Minerva in age, or was perhaps a few years younger than her. There were even a few locks of light brown baby hair at the side of her youthful face. Seeing the disaster in the tent and her liege lord standing before her, she couldn't help but cry out with her hand covering her mouth and her face pale: "Ah! Lady Fran, my deepest apologies!"

"Paola. Haven't I told you that you must tie up her neck when you are handling Meena's wounds? She doesn't get hurt often, so she hates the medicinal odor."

"What do you treat me as, a dog?!"

"N-No, Meena ran out in a rush when she heard Lady Fran discussing about the entry to the team with the captive......"

Seeing the two squabbling before her, the girl called Paola added on in support of Minerva after looking at them timidly. From beside, Nicolo spoke by Chris's ears in a low voice, "You two are actually rather similar......"

However, the words seemed to be overheard by Minerva, and she immediately shot a look as sharp as blades across Nicolo's heart. Judging that the situation was not good, the military doctor hurriedly hid behind Chris without regard for his own pride.

That moment, Francesca spoke while holding Minerva's hand: "Why do you refuse to let this beautiful beast join us?"

"This—" After hearing her question, Minerva first glanced at Chris, and then stayed mute after looking around at the people present. Then, she said: "Because...... Because I must keep him by my side. If not...... It'll be...... dangerous, if he is allowed to approach the others......"

"So the two of you are so close that you're inseparable?" Francesca added quickly.

"Don't explain it in such a way! That is not what I mean! He is just my tool, and nothing else!"

''—What in the world are these two talking about......''

Chris was dumbstruck, and even then, Nicolo still refused to behave, and interjected: "This is the man she saw every night even in her dreams, of course she won't let him g—" Before finishing his words, the gauntlet that Minerva tossed over crashed heavily on Nicolo's forehead, causing him to bend down in pain.

After seeing that, Francesca sighed and said: "Paola, have a look at Nicolo. No matter how much he bluffs of his greatness as a doctor, I think he won't be able to deal with injuries on his own face. Well then, welcome, beautiful beast."

She changed topics in a flash, taking Minerva and Chris out of the tent at the same time, passing through the center of the camp.

Under the evening skies, smoke curled upwards from the porridge stewing in the campsite...... A whole day passed since their return. Night was about to descend.

Military tents were erected everywhere. All the soldiers in the Order sat around the campfire. When they saw Francesca walking by with Chris and Minerva, they nodded to their liege lord one by one, glaring at Chris who was walking behind her as well.

Among their murmuring voices, Chris heard the word 'Star Eater' and froze on the spot.

''—Someone knows of me!''

''—Is it possible that there are even people among the Principality who heard of rumors about me?''

"Hey, you guys know of this beast?"

Francesca heard it as well. She stopped and questioned her subordinate sitting by the campfire.

"Of course! He has quite the famous name!"

"Captain, did you see the armor that guy was wearing? Each part of the set is first class stuff of the highest level. However, not one of them was of the same set."

"There are some with emblems of Duke Houses, some with art hand-drawn by noblewomen, and even some of the exorcism pictures of the Church. How could anyone get such an assorted set of armor together?"

Hearing their descriptions, Chris couldn't help but avert his gaze.

"All of those were probably robbed from famous Generals or Knights after he killed them."

"Actually, it's still fine when we hear the name 'Star Eater'. It's the people of the Celestial Kingdom army who would get scared out of their wits after hearing it."

"I heard that an army with him would definitely perish."

Thus, quite a few gazes were focused on Chris. Even when he looked away, he could still feel the gazes full of enmity piercing his body like a thousand needles.

"Meena, why the heck did you bring this guy alive? Wasn't this guy supposed to kill you?"

"That's right, you should have chopped off his limbs, leaving him alone on the battlefield."

Just when Minerva was about to answer, Francesca stopped her with a flourish of her hands, speaking ahead of her instead:

"He's joining my personal guard."

The words caused the soldiers surrounding the campfire to stand up as well. Even the people slightly further away from them gulped and almost stood up together as well.

"Captain, are you serious?!"

Among them, an impatient soldier who was the eldest, and had a large scar on his face approached, questioning Francesca in a distance so close he almost pressed against her.

"Putting this guy in the Order is just bad luck. Please don't do something like that!"

"If we let him stay in the Order, who knows what trouble he would bring!"

"You're just plainly ignoring the lives of your comrades if you do this!"

The words pierced Chris's heart one after another. However, it was actually quite normal for them to have such reactions.

''—Never mind......''

''—Just let me be a slave of my own will, just like a rusted hoe kept in a store by a farmer......''

''—Please don't drag me into this team......''

"Are you doubting my decision?"

Facing her subordinate's objections, Francesca tilted her head, halting everyone's discussions with a loud, imperious voice. The soldiers who continually jeered at Chris paled, not daring to make the slightest sound.

"You think that the Order of the Silver Egg trained by me, Francesca da Zaccaria, directed by me in warfare strategy will lose to the misfortune wrought on by such a cute beast?"

Francesca's imposing presence covered that of the soldiers present. After they exchanged gazes with each other, all of them knelt down, bowing down before their Captain. The scene shocked Chris into a daze.

The blonde girl with a startling imposing manner lowered her head to look at her subordinates, and berated right after that:

"How many times have I told you not to forget your pride as a member of the Order of the Silver Egg? The pride includes the honor signified by the flag you are under, your liege lord's name and your own pride!"

After saying that, she turned around, while Minerva chased over while saying in displeasure:

"Look, everyone had such a reaction just because you wanted to enlist him into your personal guard. This guy is a mad dog. You can only order him around as a slave with a collar on his neck......"

Chris knew that Minerva was having a headache over how she should keep him by her side as well, and if Chris's presence caused harm to the Order's safety, Minerva would probably kill him without hesitating. However, if Chris were to become a member of the Order, she could not do that anymore.

"Meena, do you mean to keep this beautiful beast all to yourself?"

"That is not what I mean!"

"Excuse me...... Francesca......"

While Francesca and Minerva were bickering, Chris called the young Captain before him as he walked to a shady spot in the tent behind them.

"Just call me Fran. You are the fifth person to get permission." Francesca turned around and said while pointing at Chris.

However, facing the goodwill of the daughter of a duke, Chris instead caught hold of the sword ornament tied to his chest and handed it to Francesca after tearing it down with its band.

"What are you doing?" She asked. With her head tilted, she stood before Chris like a cat that caught sight of its prey.

"I cannot become your comrade, because I am a harbinger of misfortune no matter where I walk. No matter where I go, I will be resented, cursed by the people like just now."

Before realizing it, Chris almost let slip the fact that he had the Brand of the Beast in him as well, saying that he was a beast that lived on the lives of other people, but he still held back in the end. After all, he would be unable to continue staying by Minerva's side if such words were spoken.

"I don't care what other people say. The most important thing is how you yourself think, isn't that right?"

Francesca's denial caused Chris to be struck dumb momentarily.

"Besides, don't you have a reason to stay by Meena for?"

In a double-team of the elegant Lady's gaze who could see through people's thoughts and Minerva's gaze that was chilly as heavy lead, Chris nodded vaguely, "I-It's..... true that I wish to stay by Minerva's side, but......"

"—! You— Can you please mind how you speak!?"

After hearing that, Minerva struck Chris with an elbow hit, causing him to see stars.

''—Why did she get mad? Isn't things exactly so......''

''—Henceforth, I will always...... always stay by your side, devouring your fate, eating up your destiny of death......''

"Oh my, fine, fine." Francesca widened her eyes in feigned shock, smiling while she walked, "It's just great, Meena. How good will it be if I could hear someone say that to me."

Seeing Francesca's hand that was approaching her, Minerva pushed her's away abruptly, walking two steps before Francesca after that.

"Anyway, your reason cannot be disclosed, right?" Francesca asked once again. However, Minerva gave a 'hmph', while Chris nodded as well.

''—How can we disclose this......''

''—How can I tell the others that I am actually a beast who lives on the fates of the others?''

"Very well. Forget it. Anyway, I've already decided. Since I like this beautiful beast, I am enlisting him in my personal guard."

That moment, the three of them were passing through another campfire. When the soldiers around them heard Francesca's words, they glared at Chris in surprise.

"Captain's personal guard......" "We're talking about that guy?" "Captain is making reckless decisions again......" Chris could not help but feel a blow when he heard the discussions around them, and lowered his head to look at his feet.

''—In such gazes and disparagement...... How can they fight by my side in companionship......''

"Besides, this beautiful beast probably knows nothing but fighting, isn't that right?"

Hearing Francesca's voice, Chris came to his senses after a moment of shock.

"You said that you're keeping him as a slave, but what can he do? You aren't thinking of letting him dress you up everyday, are you?"

"N-No...... This...... Well......" Facing Francesca's questions, Minerva stuttered, not knowing how to answer.

"Look, the people around us would have less to say if I keep him by my side instead. If so, it means that he's by your side as well, so please think better about it."

Francesca said.

Chris did not speak, and brooded over the words of the young Captain.

In fact, she might have been right as well. After all, his identity as the 'Star Eater' was long known. If so, as long as he stayed in the Order, no matter as a slave with his neck tied up, or fighting with the others while holding a sword, such enmity would not disappear. If so—

Chris nodded to Francesca's opinions, while the young Captain narrowed her eyes in a smile in satisfaction as well, nodding in response to Chris's affirmation.

Thus, with uneasy emotions, he tied the sword ornament that was not yet handed out back on his chest.

''—Can...... Can I really protect the others......?''

''—In the past, I was a beast who devoured the fates of other people all along. Can I really protect Minerva?''

Chris thought in his heart. If the night of the new moon descended, and even Minerva was unable to suppress the beast on him, he would have to escape by himself. If so, he only had that choice as well......

However, to Francesca's statement, Minerva objected while pursing her lips:

"You want him to join your personal guard, but you decided without getting Gilberto's agreement. That guy will be angry."

"Even though he's the captain of the personal guards, he does not have the right to object to my decision as well. Besides, Gil isn't even here anyway."

"Not here? Why?" Minerva asked.

"I asked him to sneak into an enemy campsite, but I think he's about to return soon."

"Sneaking into an enemy campsite? Why? Aren't we already retreating?"

Facing Minerva's question, Francesca patted her on her shoulders.

"How do you think you were saved in the river valley? It's because of Gil asking the mercenaries of the Celestial army to catch the Salt Sprayer by offering gold coins as a reward that the net of enclosure you had to face in the end got weaker."

Hearing that, Minerva's eyes widened. She froze, while Chris had the same reaction behind her as well.

So that was what happened. Minerva and Chris did indeed hear the soldiers on their tail mention while searching for them that another person was willing to pay more for them alive, compared with the money that Cornelius offered.

''—So they used the tactic of dispersing the enemy forces......''

Chris thought, the act of fearlessly scattering money in the enemy camp was just too reckless.

"That's why, when Gil returns, you'll have to thank him properly." Francesca said.

The tent of the Order of the Silver Egg's captain was far more lavish than one would have imagined, as though a bedroom in a noble's palace was completely duplicated there. The large bed in the tent's bedroom was stuffed full of feathers that seemed to be able to drown a person. The large flag signifying the dukedom and the Order that alternated in gold and silver was hung between the posts. The position at the bedside where armor was supposed to be hung was furnished with a galore of enchanting dresses. The dishes served by the servants were so sumptuous that it would cause people's eyes to widen.

"You're still hungry, aren't you? Have a seat." Francesca said.

The menu included roasted pies with a soft texture that were filled with apple fillings and extremely fresh meat products. Those were all delicacies that Chris never had a chance to consume in the army.

Although the food on the table looked mouthwatering, and definitely won't taste bad, to Chris, they were all dishes unsuited for his appetite. Added with the fact that Francesca and Minerva's gazes never left him as they dined, he only dared to consume some drinks and cheese.

The red wine there weren't sour at all, and was excellent wine. From that point, the Order probably had alcohol fermentation equipment as well.

''—Speaking of which......'' Chris raised his gaze and glanced at the two girls by his side, thinking that the dining etiquette of the two were just too particular, as though they had forgotten that they were actually in a military camp. Bread had to be tore off with the hands before putting them into the mouth, while chewing had to be done in small bites so that the cheeks would not swell up...... It was understandable to Chris that Francesca ate thus, but it surprised him to see that even Minerva did so.

''—It's the first time I encountered such a strange, uneasy feeling......''

After they finished eating, Francesca actually shocked them by saying:

"I'll sleep in the center, Paola sleeps on the left, Meena sleeps on the right. As for you, you can sleep on the area below our feet."

"Wait a minute!" Minerva shouted with a flustered expression before Chris even spoke: "Are you inviting him to sleep with us?!"

"But of course. He's a member of my personal guard."

"But doesn't Gilberto sleep at other places as well? And he's a man as well—"

"That's because Gil himself was unwilling to do so. As for me, as long as they're beautiful, I won't mind if they're men or women. Besides, won't it be great if we have such a beautiful beast as a footrest when we are sleeping?"

Chris's eyes widened, and fell into a daze. However, his brain started to buzz in slight pain.

''—This woman...... isn't crazy, is she?''

"Even if it's fine for you, Paola won't be willing as well!" Minerva frantically tried to change Francesca's opinion.

"Eh? Does that mean that you aren't unwilling?" Francesca asked.

"Of course not!"

That moment, sounds of approaching footsteps came from outside the tent. Chris reflexively touched his belt, but there wasn't any sword hanging there. The footsteps sounded light and rhythmic. If not for the metals on his armor clinking, it might have been hidden by the two women's bickering in the tent.

It was the footsteps of a veteran on the battlefield.

"Lady Fran, I have returned."

[[Image:TnJtRnK v01 105.jpg|thumb]]

When they looked around, they saw a tall man at the entrance of the military tent. He had gray hair shaved extremely short, eyes that were as bright as marbles, while his graceful features looked like a profound lake encased in a thin layer of ice.

The man wore black armor, but the armor could not hide the body it covered that went through numerous trainings and his hardened limbs. However, his longsword fixed to his waist was probably the most eye-catching thing about him. The arc of the sword's body was extremely graceful. It was most probable that the sword was just covered with a holster of knots as a suitable sheathe could not be found for it.

"So you're back, Gil. Listen, I was just talking to Meena about the problem of increasing the size of the bed."

The words caused the man to shoot a look as sharp as a nail at Minerva, fixating abruptly on Chris, leaving only after that. He looked back at his liege lord. There was a short sword hung on his waist, and the emblem of the Order carved on it was owned by Chris as well. It seemed like he was the leader of the Captain's personal guard, Gilberto.

"Due to the increase in numbers of my personal guard, this bed will not be enough anymore." Francesca said.

"Can we please discuss this matter only after we return to the country." Completely ignoring his liege lord's high spirits, he coolly poured cold water on her. After that, he said in a stern voice: "The enemy assigned an assault team to attack us in two directions. They'll probably reach us in about half an hour."

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| Back to [[Tsurugi_no_Joou_to_Rakuin_no_Ko:Volume_1_Chapter_4|Chapter 4]]
| Return to [[Tsurugi_no_Joou_no_Rakuin_no_Ko|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Tsurugi_no_Joou_to_Rakuin_no_Ko:Volume_1_Chapter_6|Chapter 6]]
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Tsurugi no Joou to Rakuin no Ko:Volume 1 Chapter 5

2013-04-21T23:40:16Z

67.189.36.139: /* Chapter 5 – Proud Vixen */

==Chapter 5 – Proud Vixen==

Francesca da Zaccaria accomplished many feats in her lifetime to be proud of. One of the most well known ones was that she had already refused marriage proposals of more than a hundred men in just her fifteenth year. She was the granddaughter of Duke Zaccaria, the leader of the Seven Countries of the East, and was both beautiful and talented since childhood. Thus, she was surrounded by many candidates picked by her father and grandfather to be her husband, but their proposals were promptly refused. Their attention only brought one sentence: "What a bunch of uninteresting fellows."

On the day when the number of men officially reached three digits, the old Duke Zaccaria who was usually gentle finally couldn't help himself from summoning his granddaughter to question her:

''「Fran, in the end, what sort of man will you be satisfied with?」''

''「I want a man who is both stronger and more beautiful than I am.」'' Francesca answered.

''「It might be possible for one of your conditions to be met, but aren't the chances rather small for both of them to meet?」''

''「Of course not. At least, there will definitely be such a person on the battlefield.」''

Hence, Francesca started to frequent the training grounds of the knights, bringing an even larger headache to the duke's family.

Her father was disturbed by her peculiar actions, and thus summoned an old knight under his command.

''「What in the world is Francesca always doing among the knights? Is she observing your training?」'' He asked.

''「No, not only that.」'' The old knight answered.

''「Then she isn't training with, is she?」''

''「No, not only that as well.」''

The old knight's answer shocked Francesca's father so much that he couldn't even straighten his back. Never would he have thought that Francesca was actually teaching the members of the knighthood how to improve themselves.

After a year, a large-scale riot occurred on the borders of Zackaria. Francesca departed with fifty elite knights, and with lightning speed, led her troops directly into the church seized by the rioters to be used as their base. She captured the leader of the rioters alive, suppressing the upheaval practically without any loss of blood.

The news spread in the neighboring countries, and a poet gave such an evaluation regarding Francesca's various performances: ''Everything was like a ceremony to pray for rain. At first, there was an uproar caused by the campfire that was lit among great cheers of farmers and villagers, the inhabitants of the earth. Then, it was as though clouds darker and more turbid than ink were shrouded over the social circles of the nobility situated among the clouds, defamation that were continually spat out formed foul rainwater......''

Francesca's father and grandfather once scolded her together, asking her not to partake in barbarous activities unbecoming of those of a Duke's family. However, in the end their efforts were all in vain. Facing their reprimands, Francesca said resolutely: '''As members of the Zaccaria, protecting our land is in fact, a perfectly justified matter, and we have the obligation to do so as well!'''

The elderly Duke Zaccaria did not usually anger easily, but when his tolerance reached its peak, he came to a decision by himself without care for opinions of the others. And the results that came to due to the failure of their reprimands was thus. The old Duke Zaccaria announced the renouncement of his seat, giving his title of the Duke to his son, handing the job of the Commander of the Knights taken temporarily by his son to Francesca.

''「If so, outsiders will not have any chance of saying that you are fooling around with the Knights. However, if you do not fulfill your responsibilities and obligations as a Knight, your actions will be judged by military law!」''

''「That is exactly what I wish for!」''

Just like that, the old Duke kept his hands off his beloved granddaughter, allowing her to wander the battlefields as she liked. After that, he summoned the Knights in the city to the central courtyard as well, publicly announcing the shift of authority for the Knights into Francesca's hands.

''「Now, all of you are my subordinates, and I have already decided on a new name and flag appropriate for the Order!」''

Francesca's words caused loud cheers among the knights lined up in the courtyard, and it was three years after that when the flag embroidered with a silver hen embracing a silver egg with its wings spread out fluttered in the bloodied wind of the battlefield, shaking up the entire Celestial Kingdom with its glorious feats.

<center>*</center>

"I was present as well when the flag of the Silver Hen waved at various battlefields. I was so excited each time we set out for expeditions that it felt like my asshole grew five times its original size."

The ng military doctor in the team chattered on about the incredible feats performed by the Order of the Silver Egg on the battlefields while closing up Chris's wound. The stove by their side heated up the whole pot of water, its steam filling the whole tent; but the ng military doctor blissfully telling his story didn't seem to realize it at all. He was called Nicolo, a vulgar, slovenly man. He had long, tea brown shoulder-length hair that was casually bound in a bunch behind him without much care. With his monocle on his nose bridge and his dashing features, he could be described as a handsome person. Although not visible from his features at all, he was once awarded a Badge of the Rose, and was a Knight to the letter.

"Actually, our Captain is a person who appreciates talent. Beauty or immeasurable strength, those who fulfill one of the two criteria will gain her recognition. Because of that, there is no end of cute girls even among our Captain's personal guard, such as Meena, Paola, and as for those who are currently absent......"

The military doctor counted names of girls on his fingers, while Chris listened blankly beside him. But since the number was too large, he was even unsure of what he should feel surprised at halfway through.

''—What is wrong with this Order......''

The leader was a duke's daughter just at an age of eighteen; the military doctor looked like an insufferable flirt, knights eavesdropping for information from the outside time after time showing their uncultured backgrounds, and there were even some who looked just like bad-hearted mercenaries as well, while the curiosity that overflowed from the their gazes when the looking at the captured Chris was almost as strong as enmity.

It was the first time he felt such an atmosphere in an army.

These people did not have cheap desires— that was what Chris sensed in the air. In the past, each of the troops that he saw was filled with the stench of beasts due to the strong desire for slaughter, coin or entertainment. However, the knights of the Order of the Silver Egg around him did not have such a stench at all, and the one who made the deepest impression on him was Minerva.

''—That's right! Where's Minerva? Is she alright? If I'm not mistaken, she's hurt as well......''

"Excuse me, Doctor......"

"Just call me Nicolo." The military doctor smiled, and immediately frowned after that: "Listen well, cannot speak of the word 'Doctor' for a second time in the Order of the Silver Egg. It is a taboo more horrifying than the god of death."

Chris had never heard any mention of the fact. However, that was not important......

"How is Minerva right now?" Chris asked.

"Paola is probably taking care of her. Women have female medical staff to take care of them— it's all because of that Francesca, who made such an unreasonable request. If I'm in charge of everything, I'll definitely heal everyone completely, without fail...... Hey, where are going!? Lie down! The injuries sustained are much more severe than that of Meena's!"

Nicolo pushed Chris back to the bed by his shoulders. He even kindly covered Chris with a blanket, but such physical exertion was already enough to cause the wounds on Chris to throb faintly. He could not help but furrow his brows.

"That girl...... Is she alright? She was hurt rather severely as well......"

"Compared with yours, her's are actually quite light. Instead of talking about her, what kind of monster are , seriously......" Nicolo said.

After hearing that, Chris shifted his gaze to the patch of tent above him and deeply breathed out in relief.

''—She's okay, that's so great......''

''—After all, if she is not present in the future, I will not be able to live on as well......''

"You're a mercenary of the Celestial Kingdom, aren't ? Why are you so worried of Meena? Are really her slave?"

Hearing Nicolo's questions, Chris immediately turned around to ignore him.

"So what is it? Why don't you just tell me? What does it matter? I'll be asked these questions no matter where you go as long as you stay here anyway."

Chris raised the back of his palm to eye level, and finally sighed in relief when he saw that the insignia there had already faded into his natural skin color— it seemed like the military doctor was still ignorant of the fact that Chris was the Star Eater.

"Minerva and I met on a battlefield, and I became her slave since I lost...... It's just that simple."

"Oh, then the 'beast's son who has jet black hair as profound as the night skies' Minerva once said would kill her would be ?"

Chris couldn't help but gulp at those words.

It seemed like Minerva had already told the comrades on her team of what she had foreseen. But to what extent did she reveal the information? Chris heard a guarantee from Minerva that she would definitely not tell the others of the brand, so Chris believed that the people who knew of it in the Order of the Silver Egg should be few.

"She said that this day would be the date of her death, and so left the squad by herself." Nicolo said: "But when we started a bet, everyone bet that she would survive in the end, so the gamble couldn't be started— But isn't that obvious? How can anyone in this world kill her?"

''—That's true. Even the powers of the Beast Brand could not kill her......''

''—No, perhaps I should say that she was not killed exactly because of the brand's power? This......''

"Even so......" Nicolo said with his head tilted: "Why in the world did she bring you back alive? Did anything happen between you?"

"Ah...... Um...... That......."

Chris thought, if the military doctor who was good at getting familiar with other people found out about the brandings of the Beast on Chris, he would definitely look at him with a disgusted expression. Just thinking of that caused him to be unable to speak. However, just when Chris was stuttering over what he should explain, Nicolo suddenly showed a strange smile, making a conclusion over Chris and Minerva's relationship by himself: "Oh, so that's how things are? Well...... Indeed, if something like that really happened between them, it's true that it would be hard to talk about." Chris felt that he seemed to have misunderstood something, but he still did not answer in the end.

"There are five stitches on your stomach. Stand up slowly, okay. Can you put on your clothes on your own?"

Nicolo was not talking about the old clothing Chris originally wore that was stained by blood, but the brand new clothes that the squad prepared for him. When Chris wore the clothes, he thought in puzzlement over the reason he, as a captive, was allowed to wear clothing of such high quality. He only found something wrong after buttoning the clothes.

"Wait a minute, these clothes are?"

A flamboyantly carved sword accessory was hung on the chest position of the shirt, while emblems of a silver hen and a silver egg were embroidered at the area between the elbow and the cuff.

"This is the badge for Francesca's personal guards. As for the sword on the chest, it signifies that have to keep Francesca's safety in your heart at all time." Nicolo said.

"W-What the heck is this! What were you thinking!" Chris couldn't help but cry out: "I'm a slave, why must I fight to the death for !"

" Didn't I already tell you? Francesca wants to enlist you in her personal guards."

Chris was dumbstruck— ''Me? In among the Captain's personal guard? This means...... I'm supposed to become a member of the Order as well?''

''—What a joke! If things really turn out that way......''

Chris was worried that the fact that he was the 'Star Eating Beast' would be found out not long after. People might even see the Beast brandings on him. If so, he would be cursed and resented by the members of the squad. If even Minerva couldn't suppress the beast in him one day, he might have to eat up even the members in this team......

''—I-I definitely won't let things turn out this way.''

With a resolution of only being the slave by Minerva's side he was unprepared to come in contact with any other person in the team......

"Hey, can't be a bit more contented? 're becoming a member of the Captain's personal guard, know? can sleep in the same tent as her, call her directly as Fran, and there might even be a chance for to change her clothes for her! What is there to dislike? If 're not willing, then let me take r place instead!"

"Nicolo, if you have finished your work, can directly stitch up your mouth as well?"

All of a sudden an unexpected sound rang, causing Nicolo to grab the dagger on the floor in shock. But when he realized who the owner of the voice was, his shoulders convulsed furiously as his shoulders froze. Chris looked back in shock as well; the one he saw was the blonde girl he encountered before. She was standing at the cramped entrance of the tent.

"Hello, beautiful beast." She walked into the tent. That moment, all of the armor on her was completely taken off, and the dress with an open chest did not look like clothing worn on a battlefield at all. The eyes that were like sapphires abruptly approached Chris, causing him to bump into a post supporting the tent when he walked backwards.

"Nicolo probably told you about the squad badge, didn't he?"

Hearing Francesca's question, Chris's lowered eyes saw the sword ornament tied to his chest, and forced out an answer after raising his head: "I am from the Celestial Kingdom, and so cannot be r comrade."

"Aren't you a mercenary? Besides, isn't your employer already missing?"

Francesca's rebuke made Chris speechless. Not knowing how to counter her, he could only nod when he stared at Francesca's mysterious expression.

"Listen well......" Francesca said: "Meena was the one who took you back, and she is my subordinate. So are my belonging as well. Do you understand now?" She pressed her hand on the side of Chris's ear when she spoke, gently sliding her soft, chilly fingertips to Chris's chin, as though she was teasing him, "For me, I will not be satisfied even if the soldiers around me are as much as the stars in the skies, so your participation can be said to be irreplaceable to me as well."

"Why—?" Chris swallowed his words halfway through— ''What is wrong is with this Order? Normally, won't any other daughter of a duke be nestled up in her own city, indulging in luxurious dresses, balls, and other people's gossip? Why did this woman lead an army to war? Might it be possible that she is really treating the troops her father entrusted to her as a toy......''

To that, Francesca shrugged and smiled superficially: "I'm not thinking of bringing down the Celestial Kingdom just for fun."

Her answer stunned Chris to silence— ''Bringing down the Celestial Kingdom?''

From what he was aware of, no matter how powerful an aristocratic House was, they would only cause uprisings to get land, military force and taxing rights from the Celestial Kingdom, but never did anyone make the grandiloquent declaration of overthrowing the Celestial Kingdom. However, the little girl of eighteen before his eyes......

While Chris was stunned in awe, the tent entrance was flipped open once again.

"Fran!"

This time, it was Minerva who rushed inside. That moment, she had already taken off the cape pinned to her sleeves, exposing her white, slender shoulders. With bloodstains on the bandage covering her wound on her waist, her fragile body would make people's heart ache. It was hard to associate her with the 'soul reaper' nimbly waving a large sword no matter how looked at it.

"Don't do things on your own accord. He is my belonging!" Minerva shouted in agitation.

"What is he to you again?" Francesca asked in nonchalance.

"I said, he's my slave!"

"Did you already forget, there is a rule in the Code of the Rose which says, 'without my permission, battle spoils cannot be taken for rself.'"

"Ngh......" Her words caused Minerva to lean unsteadily against a post and supported herself on it while protesting weakly:

"But...... He's a person, not a thing, so he can't be counted as a battle spoil....."

"But didn't you say just now that he's your belonging?"

"Ah, ngh......."

Minerva's face reddened in anger. Her hand gripping the post tightened abruptly, causing the wooden post to creak in response. Seeing her reaction, Nicolo hurriedly ran forward with his face pale, "Hey hey hey, what the heck are doing! Are thinking of tearing down my tent? Calm down a little! How can win against the Captain in an argument? didn't even think of the fact that r brain isn't that quick from the star—"

Thump— Minerva's fist lashed out, hitting Nicolo away in an instant. Chris barely managed to catch the tall man, causing his wounds that were just stitched to throb in pain.

"Sorry, sorry, thanks a lot......" While apologizing, Nicolo rose, a flaming trail of nosebleed on his face.

"Say that once again if you dare, and we'll see how quick your brain will twist!" Minerva cried out in anger. However, the shout caused a severe pain in her wounds, making her press her side abdomen. That moment, another person ran into the tent.

"Meena, I haven't finished dealing with your wounds yet. You can't just run off like this!"

The girl wore a brimless hat and donned a blue, triangular cape. It seemed like that was the uniform for the medical soldiers. The medical staff looked similar to Minerva in age, or was perhaps a few years nger than her. There were even a few locks of light brown baby hair at the side of her thful face. Seeing the disaster in the tent and her liege lord standing before her, she couldn't help but cry out with her hand covering her mouth and her face pale: "Ah! Lady Fran, my deepest apologies!"

"Paola. Haven't I told you that you must tie up her neck when are handling Meena's wounds? She doesn't get hurt often, so she hates the medicinal odor."

"What do you treat me as, a dog?!"

"N-No, Meena ran out in a rush when she heard Lady Fran discussing about the entry to the team with the captive......"

Seeing the two squabbling before her, the girl called Paola added on in support of Minerva after looking at them timidly. From beside, Nicolo spoke by Chris's ears in a low voice, "you two are actually rather similar......"

However, the words seemed to be overheard by Minerva, and she immediately shot a look as sharp as blades across Nicolo's heart. Judging that the situation was not good, the military doctor hurriedly hid behind Chris without regard for his own pride.

That moment, Francesca spoke while holding Minerva's hand: "Why do you refuse to let this beautiful beast join us?"

"This—" After hearing her question, Minerva first glanced at Chris, and then stayed mute after looking around at the people present. Then, she said: "Because...... Because I must keep him by my side. If not...... It'll be...... dangerous, if he is allowed to approach the others......"

"So the two of you are so close that you're inseparable?" Francesca added quickly.

"Don't explain it in such a way! That is not what I mean! He is just my tool, and nothing else!"

''—What in the world are these two talking about......''

Chris was dumbstruck, and even then, Nicolo still refused to behave, and interjected: "This is the man she saw every night even in her dreams, of course she won't let him g—" Before finishing his words, the gauntlet that Minerva tossed over crashed heavily on Nicolo's forehead, causing him to bend down in pain.

After seeing that, Francesca sighed and said: "Paola, have a look at Nicolo. No matter how much he bluffs of his greatness as a doctor, I think he won't be able to deal with injuries on his own face. Well then, welcome, beautiful beast."

She changed topics in a flash, taking Minerva and Chris out of the tent at the same time, passing through the center of the camp.

Under the evening skies, smoke curled upwards from the porridge stewing in the campsite...... A whole day passed since their return. Night was about to descend.

Military tents were erected everywhere. All the soldiers in the Order sat around the campfire. When they saw Francesca walking by with Chris and Minerva, they nodded to their liege lord one by one, glaring at Chris who was walking behind her as well.

Among their murmuring voices, Chris heard the word 'Star Eater' and froze on the spot.

''—Someone knows of me!''

''—Is it possible that there are even people among the Principality who heard of rumors about me?''

"Hey, guys know of this beast?"

Francesca heard it as well. She stopped and questioned her subordinate sitting by the campfire.

"Of course! He has quite the famous name!"

"Captain, did see the armor that guy was wearing? Each part of the set is first class stuff of the highest level. However, not one of them was of the same set."

"There are some with emblems of Duke Houses, some with art hand-drawn by noblewomen, and even some of the exorcism pictures of the Church. How could anyone get such an assorted set of armor together?"

Hearing their descriptions, Chris couldn't help but avert his gaze.

"All of those were probably robbed from famous Generals or Knights after he killed them."

"Actually, it's still fine when we hear the name 'Star Eater'. It's the people of the Celestial Kingdom army who would get scared out of their wits after hearing it."

"I heard that an army with him would definitely perish."

Thus, quite a few gazes were focused on Chris. Even when he looked away, he could still feel the gazes full of enmity piercing his body like a thousand needles.

"Meena, why the heck did bring this guy alive? Wasn't this guy supposed to kill ?"

"That's right, you should have chopped off his limbs, leaving him alone on the battlefield."

Just when Minerva was about to answer, Francesca stopped her with a flourish of her hands, speaking ahead of her instead:

"He's joining my personal guard."

The words caused the soldiers surrounding the campfire to stand up as well. Even the people slightly further away from them gulped and almost stood up together as well.

"Captain, are you serious?!"

Among them, an impatient soldier who was the eldest, and had a large scar on his face approached, questioning Francesca in a distance so close he almost pressed against her.

"Putting this guy in the Order is just bad luck. Please don't do something like that!"

"If we let him stay in the Order, who knows what trouble he would bring!"

"You're just plainly ignoring the lives of your comrades if you do this!"

The words pierced Chris's heart one after another. However, it was actually quite normal for them to have such reactions.

''—Never mind......''

''—Just let me be a slave of my own will, just like a rusted hoe kept in a store by a farmer......''

''—Please don't drag me into this team......''

"Are you doubting my decision?"

Facing her subordinate's objections, Francesca tilted her head, halting everyone's discussions with a loud, imperious voice. The soldiers who continually jeered at Chris paled, not daring to make the slightest sound.

==Chapter 5 – Proud Vixen==

Francesca da Zaccaria accomplished many feats in her lifetime to be proud of. One of the most well known ones was that she had already refused marriage proposals of more than a hundred men in just her fifteenth year. She was the granddaughter of Duke Zaccaria, the leader of the Seven Countries of the East, and was both beautiful and talented since childhood. Thus, she was surrounded by many candidates picked by her father and grandfather to be her husband, but their proposals were promptly refused. Their attention only brought one sentence: "What a bunch of uninteresting fellows."

On the day when the number of men officially reached three digits, the old Duke Zaccaria who was usually gentle finally couldn't help himself from summoning his granddaughter to question her:

''「Fran, in the end, what sort of man will you be satisfied with?」''

''「I want a man who is both stronger and more beautiful than I am.」'' Francesca answered.

''「It might be possible for one of your conditions to be met, but aren't the chances rather small for both of them to meet?」''

''「Of course not. At least, there will definitely be such a person on the battlefield.」''

Hence, Francesca started to frequent the training grounds of the knights, bringing an even larger headache to the duke's family.

Her father was disturbed by her peculiar actions, and thus summoned an old knight under his command.

''「What in the world is Francesca always doing among the knights? Is she observing your training?」'' He asked.

''「No, not only that.」'' The old knight answered.

''「Then she isn't training with you, is she?」''

''「No, not only that as well.」''

The old knight's answer shocked Francesca's father so much that he couldn't even straighten his back. Never would he have thought that Francesca was actually teaching the members of the knighthood how to improve themselves.

After a year, a large-scale riot occurred on the borders of Zackaria. Francesca departed with fifty elite knights, and with lightning speed, led her troops directly into the church seized by the rioters to be used as their base. She captured the leader of the rioters alive, suppressing the upheaval practically without any loss of blood.

The news spread in the neighboring countries, and a poet gave such an evaluation regarding Francesca's various performances: ''Everything was like a ceremony to pray for rain. At first, there was an uproar caused by the campfire that was lit among great cheers of farmers and villagers, the inhabitants of the earth. Then, it was as though clouds darker and more turbid than ink were shrouded over the social circles of the nobility situated among the clouds, defamation that were continually spat out formed foul rainwater......''

Francesca's father and grandfather once scolded her together, asking her not to partake in barbarous activities unbecoming of those of a Duke's family. However, in the end their efforts were all in vain. Facing their reprimands, Francesca said resolutely: '''As members of the Zaccaria, protecting our land is in fact, a perfectly justified matter, and we have the obligation to do so as well!'''

The elderly Duke Zaccaria did not usually anger easily, but when his tolerance reached its peak, he came to a decision by himself without care for opinions of the others. And the results that came to due to the failure of their reprimands was thus. The old Duke Zaccaria announced the renouncement of his seat, giving his title of the Duke to his son, handing the job of the Commander of the Knights taken temporarily by his son to Francesca.

''「If so, outsiders will not have any chance of saying that you are fooling around with the Knights. However, if you do not fulfill your responsibilities and obligations as a Knight, your actions will be judged by military law!」''

''「That is exactly what I wish for!」''

Just like that, the old Duke kept his hands off his beloved granddaughter, allowing her to wander the battlefields as she liked. After that, he summoned the Knights in the city to the central courtyard as well, publicly announcing the shift of authority for the Knights into Francesca's hands.

''「Now, all of you are my subordinates, and I have already decided on a new name and flag appropriate for the Order!」''

Francesca's words caused loud cheers among the knights lined up in the courtyard, and it was three years after that when the flag embroidered with a silver hen embracing a silver egg with its wings spread out fluttered in the bloodied wind of the battlefield, shaking up the entire Celestial Kingdom with its glorious feats.

<center>*</center>

"I was present as well when the flag of the Silver Hen waved at various battlefields. I was so excited each time we set out for expeditions that it felt like my asshole grew five times its original size."

The young military doctor in the team chattered on about the incredible feats performed by the Order of the Silver Egg on the battlefields while closing up Chris's wound. The stove by their side heated up the whole pot of water, its steam filling the whole tent; but the young military doctor blissfully telling his story didn't seem to realize it at all. He was called Nicolo, a vulgar, slovenly man. He had long, tea brown shoulder-length hair that was casually bound in a bunch behind him without much care. With his monocle on his nose bridge and his dashing features, he could be described as a handsome person. Although not visible from his features at all, he was once awarded a Badge of the Rose, and was a Knight to the letter.

"Actually, our Captain is a person who appreciates talent. Beauty or immeasurable strength, those who fulfill one of the two criteria will gain her recognition. Because of that, there is no end of cute girls even among our Captain's personal guard, such as Meena, Paola, and as for those who are currently absent......"

The military doctor counted names of girls on his fingers, while Chris listened blankly beside him. But since the number was too large, he was even unsure of what he should feel surprised at halfway through.

''—What is wrong with this Order......''

The leader was a duke's daughter just at an age of eighteen; the military doctor looked like an insufferable flirt, knights eavesdropping for information from the outside time after time showing their uncultured backgrounds, and there were even some who looked just like bad-hearted mercenaries as well, while the curiosity that overflowed from the their gazes when the looking at the captured Chris was almost as strong as enmity.

It was the first time he felt such an atmosphere in an army.

These people did not have cheap desires— that was what Chris sensed in the air. In the past, each of the troops that he saw was filled with the stench of beasts due to the strong desire for slaughter, coin or entertainment. However, the knights of the Order of the Silver Egg around him did not have such a stench at all, and the one who made the deepest impression on him was Minerva.

''—That's right! Where's Minerva? Is she alright? If I'm not mistaken, she's hurt as well......''

"Excuse me, Doctor......"

"Just call me Nicolo." The military doctor smiled, and immediately frowned after that: "Listen well, you cannot speak of the word 'Doctor' for a second time in the Order of the Silver Egg. It is a taboo more horrifying than the god of death."

Chris had never heard any mention of the fact. However, that was not important......

"How is Minerva right now?" Chris asked.

"Paola is probably taking care of her. Women have female medical staff to take care of them— it's all because of that Francesca, who made such an unreasonable request. If I'm in charge of everything, I'll definitely heal everyone completely, without fail...... Hey, where are you going!? Lie down! The injuries you sustained are much more severe than that of Meena's!"

Nicolo pushed Chris back to the bed by his shoulders. He even kindly covered Chris with a blanket, but such physical exertion was already enough to cause the wounds on Chris to throb faintly. He could not help but furrow his brows.

"That girl...... Is she alright? She was hurt rather severely as well......"

"Compared with yours, her's are actually quite light. Instead of talking about her, what kind of monster are you, seriously......" Nicolo said.

After hearing that, Chris shifted his gaze to the patch of tent above him and deeply breathed out in relief.

''—She's okay, that's so great......''

''—After all, if she is not present in the future, I will not be able to live on as well......''

" You're a mercenary of the Celestial Kingdom, aren't you? Why are you so worried of Meena? Are you really her slave?"

Hearing Nicolo's questions, Chris immediately turned around to ignore him.

"So what is it? Why don't you just tell me? What does it matter? You'll be asked these questions no matter where you go as long as you stay here anyway."

Chris raised the back of his palm to eye level, and finally sighed in relief when he saw that the insignia there had already faded into his natural skin color— it seemed like the military doctor was still ignorant of the fact that Chris was the Star Eater.

"Minerva and I met on a battlefield, and I became her slave since I lost...... It's just that simple."

"Oh, then the 'beast's son who has jet black hair as profound as the night skies' Minerva once said would kill her would be you?"

Chris couldn't help but gulp at those words.

It seemed like Minerva had already told the comrades on her team of what she had foreseen. But to what extent did she reveal the information? Chris heard a guarantee from Minerva that she would definitely not tell the others of the brand, so Chris believed that the people who knew of it in the Order of the Silver Egg should be few.

"She said that this day would be the date of her death, and so left the squad by herself." Nicolo said: "But when we started a bet, everyone bet that she would survive in the end, so the gamble couldn't be started— But isn't that obvious? How can anyone in this world kill her?"

''—That's true. Even the powers of the Beast Brand could not kill her......''

''—No, perhaps I should say that she was not killed exactly because of the brand's power? This......''

"Even so......" Nicolo said with his head tilted: "Why in the world did she bring you back alive? Did anything happen between you?"

"Ah...... Um...... That......."

Chris thought, if the military doctor who was good at getting familiar with other people found out about the brandings of the Beast on Chris, he would definitely look at him with a disgusted expression. Just thinking of that caused him to be unable to speak. However, just when Chris was stuttering over what he should explain, Nicolo suddenly showed a strange smile, making a conclusion over Chris and Minerva's relationship by himself: "Oh, so that's how things are? Well...... Indeed, if something like that really happened between you, it's true that it would be hard to talk about." Chris felt that he seemed to have misunderstood something, but he still did not answer in the end.

"There are five stitches on your stomach. Stand up slowly, okay. Can you put on your clothes on your own?"

Nicolo was not talking about the old clothing Chris originally wore that was stained by blood, but the brand new clothes that the squad prepared for him. When Chris wore the clothes, he thought in puzzlement over the reason he, as a captive, was allowed to wear clothing of such high quality. He only found something wrong after buttoning the clothes.

"Wait a minute, these clothes are?"

A flamboyantly carved sword accessory was hung on the chest position of the shirt, while emblems of a silver hen and a silver egg were embroidered at the area between the elbow and the cuff.

"This is the badge for Francesca's personal guards. As for the sword on the chest, it signifies that you have to keep Francesca's safety in your heart at all time." Nicolo said.

"W-What the heck is this! What were you thinking!" Chris couldn't help but cry out: "I'm a slave, why must I fight to the death for you!"

" Didn't I already tell you? Francesca wants to enlist you in her personal guards."

Chris was dumbstruck— ''Me? In among the Captain's personal guard? This means...... I'm supposed to become a member of the Order as well?''

''—What a joke! If things really turn out that way......''

Chris was worried that the fact that he was the 'Star Eating Beast' would be found out not long after. People might even see the Beast brandings on him. If so, he would be cursed and resented by the members of the squad. If even Minerva couldn't suppress the beast in him one day, he might have to eat up even the members in this team......

''—I-I definitely won't let things turn out this way.''

With a resolution of only being the slave by Minerva's side he was unprepared to come in contact with any other person in the team......

"Hey, can't you be a bit more contented? You're becoming a member of the Captain's personal guard, you know? You can sleep in the same tent as her, call her directly as Fran, and there might even be a chance for you to change her clothes for her! What is there to dislike? If you're not willing, then let me take your place instead!"

"Nicolo, if you have finished your work, can you directly stitch up your mouth as well?"

All of a sudden an unexpected sound rang, causing Nicolo to grab the dagger on the floor in shock. But when he realized who the owner of the voice was, his shoulders convulsed furiously as his shoulders froze. Chris looked back in shock as well; the one he saw was the blonde girl he encountered before. She was standing at the cramped entrance of the tent.

"Hello, beautiful beast." She walked into the tent. That moment, all of the armor on her was completely taken off, and the dress with an open chest did not look like clothing worn on a battlefield at all. The eyes that were like sapphires abruptly approached Chris, causing him to bump into a post supporting the tent when he walked backwards.

"Nicolo probably told you about the squad badge, didn't he?"

Hearing Francesca's question, Chris's lowered eyes saw the sword ornament tied to his chest, and forced out an answer after raising his head: "I am from the Celestial Kingdom, and so cannot be your comrade."

"Aren't you a mercenary? Besides, isn't your employer already missing?"

Francesca's rebuke made Chris speechless. Not knowing how to counter her, he could only nod when he stared at Francesca's mysterious expression.

"Listen well......" Francesca said: "Meena was the one who took you back, and she is my subordinate. So you are my belonging as well. Do you understand now?" She pressed her hand on the side of Chris's ear when she spoke, gently sliding her soft, chilly fingertips to Chris's chin, as though she was teasing him, "For me, I will not be satisfied even if the soldiers around me are as much as the stars in the skies, so your participation can be said to be irreplaceable to me as well."

"Why—?" Chris swallowed his words halfway through— ''What is wrong is with this Order? Normally, won't any other daughter of a duke be nestled up in her own city, indulging in luxurious dresses, balls, and other people's gossip? Why did this woman lead an army to war? Might it be possible that she is really treating the troops her father entrusted to her as a toy......''

To that, Francesca shrugged and smiled superficially: "I'm not thinking of bringing down the Celestial Kingdom just for fun."

Her answer stunned Chris to silence— ''Bringing down the Celestial Kingdom?''

From what he was aware of, no matter how powerful an aristocratic House was, they would only cause uprisings to get land, military force and taxing rights from the Celestial Kingdom, but never did anyone make the grandiloquent declaration of overthrowing the Celestial Kingdom. However, the little girl of eighteen before his eyes......

While Chris was stunned in awe, the tent entrance was flipped open once again.

"Fran!"

This time, it was Minerva who rushed inside. That moment, she had already taken off the cape pinned to her sleeves, exposing her white, slender shoulders. With bloodstains on the bandage covering her wound on her waist, her fragile body would make people's heart ache. It was hard to associate her with the 'soul reaper' nimbly waving a large sword no matter how you looked at it.

"Don't you do things on your own accord. He is my belonging!" Minerva shouted in agitation.

"What is he to you again?" Francesca asked in nonchalance.

"I said, he's my slave!"

"Did you already forget, there is a rule in the Code of the Rose which says, 'without my permission, battle spoils cannot be taken for yourself.'"

"Ngh......" Her words caused Minerva to lean unsteadily against a post and supported herself on it while protesting weakly:

"But...... He's a person, not a thing, so he can't be counted as a battle spoil....."

"But didn't you say just now that he's your belonging?"

"Ah, ngh......."

Minerva's face reddened in anger. Her hand gripping the post tightened abruptly, causing the wooden post to creak in response. Seeing her reaction, Nicolo hurriedly ran forward with his face pale, "Hey hey hey, what the heck are you doing! Are you thinking of tearing down my tent? Calm down a little! How can you win against the Captain in an argument? You didn't even think of the fact that your brain isn't that quick from the star—"

Thump— Minerva's fist lashed out, hitting Nicolo away in an instant. Chris barely managed to catch the tall man, causing his wounds that were just stitched to throb in pain.

"Sorry, sorry, thanks a lot......" While apologizing, Nicolo rose, a flaming trail of nosebleed on his face.

"Say that once again if you dare, and we'll see how quick your brain will twist!" Minerva cried out in anger. However, the shout caused a severe pain in her wounds, making her press her side abdomen. That moment, another person ran into the tent.

"Meena, I haven't finished dealing with your wounds yet. You can't just run off like this!"

The girl wore a brimless hat and donned a blue, triangular cape. It seemed like that was the uniform for the medical soldiers. The medical staff looked similar to Minerva in age, or was perhaps a few years younger than her. There were even a few locks of light brown baby hair at the side of her youthful face. Seeing the disaster in the tent and her liege lord standing before her, she couldn't help but cry out with her hand covering her mouth and her face pale: "Ah! Lady Fran, my deepest apologies!"

"Paola. Haven't I told you that you must tie up her neck when you are handling Meena's wounds? She doesn't get hurt often, so she hates the medicinal odor."

"What do you treat me as, a dog?!"

"N-No, Meena ran out in a rush when she heard Lady Fran discussing about the entry to the team with the captive......"

Seeing the two squabbling before her, the girl called Paola added on in support of Minerva after looking at them timidly. From beside, Nicolo spoke by Chris's ears in a low voice, "You two are actually rather similar......"

However, the words seemed to be overheard by Minerva, and she immediately shot a look as sharp as blades across Nicolo's heart. Judging that the situation was not good, the military doctor hurriedly hid behind Chris without regard for his own pride.

That moment, Francesca spoke while holding Minerva's hand: "Why do you refuse to let this beautiful beast join us?"

"This—" After hearing her question, Minerva first glanced at Chris, and then stayed mute after looking around at the people present. Then, she said: "Because...... Because I must keep him by my side. If not...... It'll be...... dangerous, if he is allowed to approach the others......"

"So the two of you are so close that you're inseparable?" Francesca added quickly.

"Don't explain it in such a way! That is not what I mean! He is just my tool, and nothing else!"

''—What in the world are these two talking about......''

Chris was dumbstruck, and even then, Nicolo still refused to behave, and interjected: "This is the man she saw every night even in her dreams, of course she won't let him g—" Before finishing his words, the gauntlet that Minerva tossed over crashed heavily on Nicolo's forehead, causing him to bend down in pain.

After seeing that, Francesca sighed and said: "Paola, have a look at Nicolo. No matter how much he bluffs of his greatness as a doctor, I think he won't be able to deal with injuries on his own face. Well then, welcome, beautiful beast."

She changed topics in a flash, taking Minerva and Chris out of the tent at the same time, passing through the center of the camp.

Under the evening skies, smoke curled upwards from the porridge stewing in the campsite...... A whole day passed since their return. Night was about to descend.

Military tents were erected everywhere. All the soldiers in the Order sat around the campfire. When they saw Francesca walking by with Chris and Minerva, they nodded to their liege lord one by one, glaring at Chris who was walking behind her as well.

Among their murmuring voices, Chris heard the word 'Star Eater' and froze on the spot.

''—Someone knows of me!''

''—Is it possible that there are even people among the Principality who heard of rumors about me?''

"Hey, you guys know of this beast?"

Francesca heard it as well. She stopped and questioned her subordinate sitting by the campfire.

"Of course! He has quite the famous name!"

"Captain, did you see the armor that guy was wearing? Each part of the set is first class stuff of the highest level. However, not one of them was of the same set."

"There are some with emblems of Duke Houses, some with art hand-drawn by noblewomen, and even some of the exorcism pictures of the Church. How could anyone get such an assorted set of armor together?"

Hearing their descriptions, Chris couldn't help but avert his gaze.

"All of those were probably robbed from famous Generals or Knights after he killed them."

"Actually, it's still fine when we hear the name 'Star Eater'. It's the people of the Celestial Kingdom army who would get scared out of their wits after hearing it."

"I heard that an army with him would definitely perish."

Thus, quite a few gazes were focused on Chris. Even when he looked away, he could still feel the gazes full of enmity piercing his body like a thousand needles.

"Meena, why the heck did you bring this guy alive? Wasn't this guy supposed to kill you?"

"That's right, you should have chopped off his limbs, leaving him alone on the battlefield."

Just when Minerva was about to answer, Francesca stopped her with a flourish of her hands, speaking ahead of her instead:

"He's joining my personal guard."

The words caused the soldiers surrounding the campfire to stand up as well. Even the people slightly further away from them gulped and almost stood up together as well.

"Captain, are you serious?!"

Among them, an impatient soldier who was the eldest, and had a large scar on his face approached, questioning Francesca in a distance so close he almost pressed against her.

"Putting this guy in the Order is just bad luck. Please don't do something like that!"

"If we let him stay in the Order, who knows what trouble he would bring!"

"You're just plainly ignoring the lives of your comrades if you do this!"

The words pierced Chris's heart one after another. However, it was actually quite normal for them to have such reactions.

''—Never mind......''

''—Just let me be a slave of my own will, just like a rusted hoe kept in a store by a farmer......''

''—Please don't drag me into this team......''

"Are you doubting my decision?"

Facing her subordinate's objections, Francesca tilted her head, halting everyone's discussions with a loud, imperious voice. The soldiers who continually jeered at Chris paled, not daring to make the slightest sound.

"You think that the Order of the Silver Egg trained by me, Francesca da Zaccaria, directed by me in warfare strategy will lose to the misfortune wrought on by such a cute beast?"

Francesca's imposing presence covered that of the soldiers present. After they exchanged gazes with each other, all of them knelt down, bowing down before their Captain. The scene shocked Chris into a daze.

The blonde girl with a startling imposing manner lowered her head to look at her subordinates, and berated right after that:

"How many times have I told you not to forget your pride as a member of the Order of the Silver Egg? The pride includes the honor signified by the flag you are under, your liege lord's name and your own pride!"

After saying that, she turned around, while Minerva chased over while saying in displeasure:

"Look, everyone had such a reaction just because you wanted to enlist him into your personal guard. This guy is a mad dog. You can only order him around as a slave with a collar on his neck......"

Chris knew that Minerva was having a headache over how she should keep him by her side as well, and if Chris's presence caused harm to the Order's safety, Minerva would probably kill him without hesitating. However, if Chris were to become a member of the Order, she could not do that anymore.

"Meena, do you mean to keep this beautiful beast all to yourself?"

"That is not what I mean!"

"Excuse me...... Francesca......"

While Francesca and Minerva were bickering, Chris called the young Captain before him as he walked to a shady spot in the tent behind them.

"Just call me Fran. You are the fifth person to get permission." Francesca turned around and said while pointing at Chris.

However, facing the goodwill of the daughter of a duke, Chris instead caught hold of the sword ornament tied to his chest and handed it to Francesca after tearing it down with its band.

"What are you doing?" She asked. With her head tilted, she stood before Chris like a cat that caught sight of its prey.

"I cannot become your comrade, because I am a harbinger of misfortune no matter where I walk. No matter where I go, I will be resented, cursed by the people like just now."

Before realizing it, Chris almost let slip the fact that he had the Brand of the Beast in him as well, saying that he was a beast that lived on the lives of other people, but he still held back in the end. After all, he would be unable to continue staying by Minerva's side if such words were spoken.

"I don't care what other people say. The most important thing is how you yourself think, isn't that right?"

Francesca's denial caused Chris to be struck dumb momentarily.

"Besides, don't you have a reason to stay by Meena for?"

In a double-team of the elegant Lady's gaze who could see through people's thoughts and Minerva's gaze that was chilly as heavy lead, Chris nodded vaguely, "I-It's..... true that I wish to stay by Minerva's side, but......"

"—! You— Can you please mind how you speak!?"

After hearing that, Minerva struck Chris with an elbow hit, causing him to see stars.

''—Why did she get mad? Isn't things exactly so......''

''—Henceforth, I will always...... always stay by your side, devouring your fate, eating up your destiny of death......''

"Oh my, fine, fine." Francesca widened her eyes in feigned shock, smiling while she walked, "It's just great, Meena. How good will it be if I could hear someone say that to me."

Seeing Francesca's hand that was approaching her, Minerva pushed her's away abruptly, walking two steps before Francesca after that.

"Anyway, your reason cannot be disclosed, right?" Francesca asked once again. However, Minerva gave a 'hmph', while Chris nodded as well.

''—How can we disclose this......''

''—How can I tell the others that I am actually a beast who lives on the fates of the others?''

"Very well. Forget it. Anyway, I've already decided. Since I like this beautiful beast, I am enlisting him in my personal guard."

That moment, the three of them were passing through another campfire. When the soldiers around them heard Francesca's words, they glared at Chris in surprise.

"Captain's personal guard......" "We're talking about that guy?" "Captain is making reckless decisions again......" Chris could not help but feel a blow when he heard the discussions around them, and lowered his head to look at his feet.

''—In such gazes and disparagement...... How can they fight by my side in companionship......''

"Besides, this beautiful beast probably knows nothing but fighting, isn't that right?"

Hearing Francesca's voice, Chris came to his senses after a moment of shock.

"You said that you're keeping him as a slave, but what can he do? You aren't thinking of letting him dress you up everyday, are you?"

"N-No...... This...... Well......" Facing Francesca's questions, Minerva stuttered, not knowing how to answer.

"Look, the people around us would have less to say if I keep him by my side instead. If so, it means that he's by your side as well, so please think better about it."

Francesca said.

Chris did not speak, and brooded over the words of the young Captain.

In fact, she might have been right as well. After all, his identity as the 'Star Eater' was long known. If so, as long as he stayed in the Order, no matter as a slave with his neck tied up, or fighting with the others while holding a sword, such enmity would not disappear. If so—

Chris nodded to Francesca's opinions, while the young Captain narrowed her eyes in a smile in satisfaction as well, nodding in response to Chris's affirmation.

Thus, with uneasy emotions, he tied the sword ornament that was not yet handed out back on his chest.

''—Can...... Can I really protect the others......?''

''—In the past, I was a beast who devoured the fates of other people all along. Can I really protect Minerva?''

Chris thought in his heart. If the night of the new moon descended, and even Minerva was unable to suppress the beast on him, he would have to escape by himself. If so, he only had that choice as well......

However, to Francesca's statement, Minerva objected while pursing her lips:

"You want him to join your personal guard, but you decided without getting Gilberto's agreement. That guy will be angry."

"Even though he's the captain of the personal guards, he does not have the right to object to my decision as well. Besides, Gil isn't even here anyway."

"Not here? Why?" Minerva asked.

"I asked him to sneak into an enemy campsite, but I think he's about to return soon."

"Sneaking into an enemy campsite? Why? Aren't we already retreating?"

Facing Minerva's question, Francesca patted her on her shoulders.

"How do you think you were saved in the river valley? It's because of Gil asking the mercenaries of the Celestial army to catch the Salt Sprayer by offering gold coins as a reward that the net of enclosure you had to face in the end got weaker."

Hearing that, Minerva's eyes widened. She froze, while Chris had the same reaction behind her as well.

So that was what happened. Minerva and Chris did indeed hear the soldiers on their tail mention while searching for them that another person was willing to pay more for them alive, compared with the money that Cornelius offered.

''—So they used the tactic of dispersing the enemy forces......''

Chris thought, the act of fearlessly scattering money in the enemy camp was just too reckless.

"That's why, when Gil returns, you'll have to thank him properly." Francesca said.

The tent of the Order of the Silver Egg's captain was far more lavish than one would have imagined, as though a bedroom in a noble's palace was completely duplicated there. The large bed in the tent's bedroom was stuffed full of feathers that seemed to be able to drown a person. The large flag signifying the dukedom and the Order that alternated in gold and silver was hung between the posts. The position at the bedside where armor was supposed to be hung was furnished with a galore of enchanting dresses. The dishes served by the servants were so sumptuous that it would cause people's eyes to widen.

"You're still hungry, aren't you? Have a seat." Francesca said.

The menu included roasted pies with a soft texture that were filled with apple fillings and extremely fresh meat products. Those were all delicacies that Chris never had a chance to consume in the army.

Although the food on the table looked mouthwatering, and definitely won't taste bad, to Chris, they were all dishes unsuited for his appetite. Added with the fact that Francesca and Minerva's gazes never left him as they dined, he only dared to consume some drinks and cheese.

The red wine there weren't sour at all, and was excellent wine. From that point, the Order probably had alcohol fermentation equipment as well.

''—Speaking of which......'' Chris raised his gaze and glanced at the two girls by his side, thinking that the dining etiquette of the two were just too particular, as though they had forgotten that they were actually in a military camp. Bread had to be tore off with the hands before putting them into the mouth, while chewing had to be done in small bites so that the cheeks would not swell up...... It was understandable to Chris that Francesca ate thus, but it surprised him to see that even Minerva did so.

''—It's the first time I encountered such a strange, uneasy feeling......''

After they finished eating, Francesca actually shocked them by saying:

"I'll sleep in the center, Paola sleeps on the left, Meena sleeps on the right. As for you, you can sleep on the area below our feet."

"Wait a minute!" Minerva shouted with a flustered expression before Chris even spoke: "Are you inviting him to sleep with us?!"

"But of course. He's a member of my personal guard."

"But doesn't Gilberto sleep at other places as well? And he's a man as well—"

"That's because Gil himself was unwilling to do so. As for me, as long as they're beautiful, I won't mind if they're men or women. Besides, won't it be great if we have such a beautiful beast as a footrest when we are sleeping?"

Chris's eyes widened, and fell into a daze. However, his brain started to buzz in slight pain.

''—This woman...... isn't crazy, is she?''

"Even if it's fine for you, Paola won't be willing as well!" Minerva frantically tried to change Francesca's opinion.

"Eh? Does that mean that you aren't unwilling?" Francesca asked.

"Of course not!"

That moment, sounds of approaching footsteps came from outside the tent. Chris reflexively touched his belt, but there wasn't any sword hanging there. The footsteps sounded light and rhythmic. If not for the metals on his armor clinking, it might have been hidden by the two women's bickering in the tent.

It was the footsteps of a veteran on the battlefield.

"Lady Fran, I have returned."

[[Image:TnJtRnK v01 105.jpg|thumb]]

When they looked around, they saw a tall man at the entrance of the military tent. He had gray hair shaved extremely short, eyes that were as bright as marbles, while his graceful features looked like a profound lake encased in a thin layer of ice.

The man wore black armor, but the armor could not hide the body it covered that went through numerous trainings and his hardened limbs. However, his longsword fixed to his waist was probably the most eye-catching thing about him. The arc of the sword's body was extremely graceful. It was most probable that the sword was just covered with a holster of knots as a suitable sheathe could not be found for it.

"So you're back, Gil. Listen, I was just talking to Meena about the problem of increasing the size of the bed."

The words caused the man to shoot a look as sharp as a nail at Minerva, fixating abruptly on Chris, leaving only after that. He looked back at his liege lord. There was a short sword hung on his waist, and the emblem of the Order carved on it was owned by Chris as well. It seemed like he was the leader of the Captain's personal guard, Gilberto.

"Due to the increase in numbers of my personal guard, this bed will not be enough anymore." Francesca said.

"Can we please discuss this matter only after we return to the country." Completely ignoring his liege lord's high spirits, he coolly poured cold water on her. After that, he said in a stern voice: "The enemy assigned an assault team to attack us in two directions. They'll probably reach us in about half an hour."

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| Back to [[Tsurugi_no_Joou_to_Rakuin_no_Ko:Volume_1_Chapter_4|Chapter 4]]
| Return to [[Tsurugi_no_Joou_no_Rakuin_no_Ko|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Tsurugi_no_Joou_to_Rakuin_no_Ko:Volume_1_Chapter_6|Chapter 6]]
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Tsurugi no Joou to Rakuin no Ko:Volume 1 Chapter 5

2013-04-21T23:38:55Z

67.189.36.139: /* Chapter 5 – Proud Vixen */

==Chapter 5 – Proud Vixen==

Francesca da Zaccaria accomplished many feats in her lifetime to be proud of. One of the most well known ones was that she had already refused marriage proposals of more than a hundred men in just her fifteenth year. She was the granddaughter of Duke Zaccaria, the leader of the Seven Countries of the East, and was both beautiful and talented since childhood. Thus, she was surrounded by many candidates picked by her father and grandfather to be her husband, but their proposals were promptly refused. Their attention only brought one sentence: "What a bunch of uninteresting fellows."

On the day when the number of men officially reached three digits, the old Duke Zaccaria who was usually gentle finally couldn't help himself from summoning his granddaughter to question her:

''「Fran, in the end, what sort of man will you be satisfied with?」''

''「I want a man who is both stronger and more beautiful than I am.」'' Francesca answered.

''「It might be possible for one of your conditions to be met, but aren't the chances rather small for both of them to meet?」''

''「Of course not. At least, there will definitely be such a person on the battlefield.」''

Hence, Francesca started to frequent the training grounds of the knights, bringing an even larger headache to the duke's family.

Her father was disturbed by her peculiar actions, and thus summoned an old knight under his command.

''「What in the world is Francesca always doing among the knights? Is she observing r training?」'' He asked.

''「No, not only that.」'' The old knight answered.

''「Then she isn't training with, is she?」''

''「No, not only that as well.」''

The old knight's answer shocked Francesca's father so much that he couldn't even straighten his back. Never would he have thought that Francesca was actually teaching the members of the knighthood how to improve themselves.

After a year, a large-scale riot occurred on the borders of Zackaria. Francesca departed with fifty elite knights, and with lightning speed, led her troops directly into the church seized by the rioters to be used as their base. She captured the leader of the rioters alive, suppressing the upheaval practically without any loss of blood.

The news spread in the neighboring countries, and a poet gave such an evaluation regarding Francesca's various performances: ''Everything was like a ceremony to pray for rain. At first, there was an uproar caused by the campfire that was lit among great cheers of farmers and villagers, the inhabitants of the earth. Then, it was as though clouds darker and more turbid than ink were shrouded over the social circles of the nobility situated among the clouds, defamation that were continually spat out formed foul rainwater......''

Francesca's father and grandfather once scolded her together, asking her not to partake in barbarous activities unbecoming of those of a Duke's family. However, in the end their efforts were all in vain. Facing their reprimands, Francesca said resolutely: '''As members of the Zaccaria, protecting our land is in fact, a perfectly justified matter, and we have the obligation to do so as well!'''

The elderly Duke Zaccaria did not usually anger easily, but when his tolerance reached its peak, he came to a decision by himself without care for opinions of the others. And the results that came to due to the failure of their reprimands was thus. The old Duke Zaccaria announced the renouncement of his seat, giving his title of the Duke to his son, handing the job of the Commander of the Knights taken temporarily by his son to Francesca.

''「If so, outsiders will not have any chance of saying that you are fooling around with the Knights. However, if you do not fulfill your responsibilities and obligations as a Knight, your actions will be judged by military law!」''

''「That is exactly what I wish for!」''

Just like that, the old Duke kept his hands off his beloved granddaughter, allowing her to wander the battlefields as she liked. After that, he summoned the Knights in the city to the central courtyard as well, publicly announcing the shift of authority for the Knights into Francesca's hands.

''「Now, all of you are my subordinates, and I have already decided on a new name and flag appropriate for the Order!」''

Francesca's words caused loud cheers among the knights lined up in the courtyard, and it was three years after that when the flag embroidered with a silver hen embracing a silver egg with its wings spread out fluttered in the bloodied wind of the battlefield, shaking up the entire Celestial Kingdom with its glorious feats.

<center>*</center>

"I was present as well when the flag of the Silver Hen waved at various battlefields. I was so excited each time we set out for expeditions that it felt like my asshole grew five times its original size."

The ng military doctor in the team chattered on about the incredible feats performed by the Order of the Silver Egg on the battlefields while closing up Chris's wound. The stove by their side heated up the whole pot of water, its steam filling the whole tent; but the ng military doctor blissfully telling his story didn't seem to realize it at all. He was called Nicolo, a vulgar, slovenly man. He had long, tea brown shoulder-length hair that was casually bound in a bunch behind him without much care. With his monocle on his nose bridge and his dashing features, he could be described as a handsome person. Although not visible from his features at all, he was once awarded a Badge of the Rose, and was a Knight to the letter.

"Actually, our Captain is a person who appreciates talent. Beauty or immeasurable strength, those who fulfill one of the two criteria will gain her recognition. Because of that, there is no end of cute girls even among our Captain's personal guard, such as Meena, Paola, and as for those who are currently absent......"

The military doctor counted names of girls on his fingers, while Chris listened blankly beside him. But since the number was too large, he was even unsure of what he should feel surprised at halfway through.

''—What is wrong with this Order......''

The leader was a duke's daughter just at an age of eighteen; the military doctor looked like an insufferable flirt, knights eavesdropping for information from the outside time after time showing their uncultured backgrounds, and there were even some who looked just like bad-hearted mercenaries as well, while the curiosity that overflowed from the their gazes when the looking at the captured Chris was almost as strong as enmity.

It was the first time he felt such an atmosphere in an army.

These people did not have cheap desires— that was what Chris sensed in the air. In the past, each of the troops that he saw was filled with the stench of beasts due to the strong desire for slaughter, coin or entertainment. However, the knights of the Order of the Silver Egg around him did not have such a stench at all, and the one who made the deepest impression on him was Minerva.

''—That's right! Where's Minerva? Is she alright? If I'm not mistaken, she's hurt as well......''

"Excuse me, Doctor......"

"Just call me Nicolo." The military doctor smiled, and immediately frowned after that: "Listen well, cannot speak of the word 'Doctor' for a second time in the Order of the Silver Egg. It is a taboo more horrifying than the god of death."

Chris had never heard any mention of the fact. However, that was not important......

"How is Minerva right now?" Chris asked.

"Paola is probably taking care of her. Women have female medical staff to take care of them— it's all because of that Francesca, who made such an unreasonable request. If I'm in charge of everything, I'll definitely heal everyone completely, without fail...... Hey, where are going!? Lie down! The injuries sustained are much more severe than that of Meena's!"

Nicolo pushed Chris back to the bed by his shoulders. He even kindly covered Chris with a blanket, but such physical exertion was already enough to cause the wounds on Chris to throb faintly. He could not help but furrow his brows.

"That girl...... Is she alright? She was hurt rather severely as well......"

"Compared with rs, her's are actually quite light. Instead of talking about her, what kind of monster are , seriously......" Nicolo said.

After hearing that, Chris shifted his gaze to the patch of tent above him and deeply breathed out in relief.

''—She's okay, that's so great......''

''—After all, if she is not present in the future, I will not be able to live on as well......''

"You're a mercenary of the Celestial Kingdom, aren't ? Why are so worried of Meena? Are really her slave?"

Hearing Nicolo's questions, Chris immediately turned around to ignore him.

"So what is it? Why don't you just tell me? What does it matter? I'll be asked these questions no matter where you go as long as you stay here anyway."

Chris raised the back of his palm to eye level, and finally sighed in relief when he saw that the insignia there had already faded into his natural skin color— it seemed like the military doctor was still ignorant of the fact that Chris was the Star Eater.

"Minerva and I met on a battlefield, and I became her slave since I lost...... It's just that simple."

"Oh, then the 'beast's son who has jet black hair as profound as the night skies' Minerva once said would kill her would be ?"

Chris couldn't help but gulp at those words.

It seemed like Minerva had already told the comrades on her team of what she had foreseen. But to what extent did she reveal the information? Chris heard a guarantee from Minerva that she would definitely not tell the others of the brand, so Chris believed that the people who knew of it in the Order of the Silver Egg should be few.

"She said that this day would be the date of her death, and so left the squad by herself." Nicolo said: "But when we started a bet, everyone bet that she would survive in the end, so the gamble couldn't be started— But isn't that obvious? How can anyone in this world kill her?"

''—That's true. Even the powers of the Beast Brand could not kill her......''

''—No, perhaps I should say that she was not killed exactly because of the brand's power? This......''

"Even so......" Nicolo said with his head tilted: "Why in the world did she bring you back alive? Did anything happen between you?"

"Ah...... Um...... That......."

Chris thought, if the military doctor who was good at getting familiar with other people found out about the brandings of the Beast on Chris, he would definitely look at him with a disgusted expression. Just thinking of that caused him to be unable to speak. However, just when Chris was stuttering over what he should explain, Nicolo suddenly showed a strange smile, making a conclusion over Chris and Minerva's relationship by himself: "Oh, so that's how things are? Well...... Indeed, if something like that really happened between them, it's true that it would be hard to talk about." Chris felt that he seemed to have misunderstood something, but he still did not answer in the end.

"There are five stitches on your stomach. Stand up slowly, okay. Can you put on your clothes on your own?"

Nicolo was not talking about the old clothing Chris originally wore that was stained by blood, but the brand new clothes that the squad prepared for him. When Chris wore the clothes, he thought in puzzlement over the reason he, as a captive, was allowed to wear clothing of such high quality. He only found something wrong after buttoning the clothes.

"Wait a minute, these clothes are?"

A flamboyantly carved sword accessory was hung on the chest position of the shirt, while emblems of a silver hen and a silver egg were embroidered at the area between the elbow and the cuff.

"This is the badge for Francesca's personal guards. As for the sword on the chest, it signifies that have to keep Francesca's safety in your heart at all time." Nicolo said.

"W-What the heck is this! What were you thinking!" Chris couldn't help but cry out: "I'm a slave, why must I fight to the death for !"

" Didn't I already tell you? Francesca wants to enlist you in her personal guards."

Chris was dumbstruck— ''Me? In among the Captain's personal guard? This means...... I'm supposed to become a member of the Order as well?''

''—What a joke! If things really turn out that way......''

Chris was worried that the fact that he was the 'Star Eating Beast' would be found out not long after. People might even see the Beast brandings on him. If so, he would be cursed and resented by the members of the squad. If even Minerva couldn't suppress the beast in him one day, he might have to eat up even the members in this team......

''—I-I definitely won't let things turn out this way.''

With a resolution of only being the slave by Minerva's side he was unprepared to come in contact with any other person in the team......

"Hey, can't be a bit more contented? 're becoming a member of the Captain's personal guard, know? can sleep in the same tent as her, call her directly as Fran, and there might even be a chance for to change her clothes for her! What is there to dislike? If 're not willing, then let me take r place instead!"

"Nicolo, if you have finished your work, can directly stitch up your mouth as well?"

All of a sudden an unexpected sound rang, causing Nicolo to grab the dagger on the floor in shock. But when he realized who the owner of the voice was, his shoulders convulsed furiously as his shoulders froze. Chris looked back in shock as well; the one he saw was the blonde girl he encountered before. She was standing at the cramped entrance of the tent.

"Hello, beautiful beast." She walked into the tent. That moment, all of the armor on her was completely taken off, and the dress with an open chest did not look like clothing worn on a battlefield at all. The eyes that were like sapphires abruptly approached Chris, causing him to bump into a post supporting the tent when he walked backwards.

"Nicolo probably told you about the squad badge, didn't he?"

Hearing Francesca's question, Chris's lowered eyes saw the sword ornament tied to his chest, and forced out an answer after raising his head: "I am from the Celestial Kingdom, and so cannot be r comrade."

"Aren't you a mercenary? Besides, isn't your employer already missing?"

Francesca's rebuke made Chris speechless. Not knowing how to counter her, he could only nod when he stared at Francesca's mysterious expression.

"Listen well......" Francesca said: "Meena was the one who took you back, and she is my subordinate. So are my belonging as well. Do you understand now?" She pressed her hand on the side of Chris's ear when she spoke, gently sliding her soft, chilly fingertips to Chris's chin, as though she was teasing him, "For me, I will not be satisfied even if the soldiers around me are as much as the stars in the skies, so your participation can be said to be irreplaceable to me as well."

"Why—?" Chris swallowed his words halfway through— ''What is wrong is with this Order? Normally, won't any other daughter of a duke be nestled up in her own city, indulging in luxurious dresses, balls, and other people's gossip? Why did this woman lead an army to war? Might it be possible that she is really treating the troops her father entrusted to her as a toy......''

To that, Francesca shrugged and smiled superficially: "I'm not thinking of bringing down the Celestial Kingdom just for fun."

Her answer stunned Chris to silence— ''Bringing down the Celestial Kingdom?''

From what he was aware of, no matter how powerful an aristocratic House was, they would only cause uprisings to get land, military force and taxing rights from the Celestial Kingdom, but never did anyone make the grandiloquent declaration of overthrowing the Celestial Kingdom. However, the little girl of eighteen before his eyes......

While Chris was stunned in awe, the tent entrance was flipped open once again.

"Fran!"

This time, it was Minerva who rushed inside. That moment, she had already taken off the cape pinned to her sleeves, exposing her white, slender shoulders. With bloodstains on the bandage covering her wound on her waist, her fragile body would make people's heart ache. It was hard to associate her with the 'soul reaper' nimbly waving a large sword no matter how looked at it.

"Don't do things on your own accord. He is my belonging!" Minerva shouted in agitation.

"What is he to you again?" Francesca asked in nonchalance.

"I said, he's my slave!"

"Did you already forget, there is a rule in the Code of the Rose which says, 'without my permission, battle spoils cannot be taken for rself.'"

"Ngh......" Her words caused Minerva to lean unsteadily against a post and supported herself on it while protesting weakly:

"But...... He's a person, not a thing, so he can't be counted as a battle spoil....."

"But didn't you say just now that he's your belonging?"

"Ah, ngh......."

Minerva's face reddened in anger. Her hand gripping the post tightened abruptly, causing the wooden post to creak in response. Seeing her reaction, Nicolo hurriedly ran forward with his face pale, "Hey hey hey, what the heck are doing! Are thinking of tearing down my tent? Calm down a little! How can win against the Captain in an argument? didn't even think of the fact that r brain isn't that quick from the star—"

Thump— Minerva's fist lashed out, hitting Nicolo away in an instant. Chris barely managed to catch the tall man, causing his wounds that were just stitched to throb in pain.

"Sorry, sorry, thanks a lot......" While apologizing, Nicolo rose, a flaming trail of nosebleed on his face.

"Say that once again if you dare, and we'll see how quick your brain will twist!" Minerva cried out in anger. However, the shout caused a severe pain in her wounds, making her press her side abdomen. That moment, another person ran into the tent.

"Meena, I haven't finished dealing with your wounds yet. You can't just run off like this!"

The girl wore a brimless hat and donned a blue, triangular cape. It seemed like that was the uniform for the medical soldiers. The medical staff looked similar to Minerva in age, or was perhaps a few years nger than her. There were even a few locks of light brown baby hair at the side of her thful face. Seeing the disaster in the tent and her liege lord standing before her, she couldn't help but cry out with her hand covering her mouth and her face pale: "Ah! Lady Fran, my deepest apologies!"

"Paola. Haven't I told you that you must tie up her neck when are handling Meena's wounds? She doesn't get hurt often, so she hates the medicinal odor."

"What do you treat me as, a dog?!"

"N-No, Meena ran out in a rush when she heard Lady Fran discussing about the entry to the team with the captive......"

Seeing the two squabbling before her, the girl called Paola added on in support of Minerva after looking at them timidly. From beside, Nicolo spoke by Chris's ears in a low voice, "you two are actually rather similar......"

However, the words seemed to be overheard by Minerva, and she immediately shot a look as sharp as blades across Nicolo's heart. Judging that the situation was not good, the military doctor hurriedly hid behind Chris without regard for his own pride.

That moment, Francesca spoke while holding Minerva's hand: "Why do you refuse to let this beautiful beast join us?"

"This—" After hearing her question, Minerva first glanced at Chris, and then stayed mute after looking around at the people present. Then, she said: "Because...... Because I must keep him by my side. If not...... It'll be...... dangerous, if he is allowed to approach the others......"

"So the two of you are so close that you're inseparable?" Francesca added quickly.

"Don't explain it in such a way! That is not what I mean! He is just my tool, and nothing else!"

''—What in the world are these two talking about......''

Chris was dumbstruck, and even then, Nicolo still refused to behave, and interjected: "This is the man she saw every night even in her dreams, of course she won't let him g—" Before finishing his words, the gauntlet that Minerva tossed over crashed heavily on Nicolo's forehead, causing him to bend down in pain.

After seeing that, Francesca sighed and said: "Paola, have a look at Nicolo. No matter how much he bluffs of his greatness as a doctor, I think he won't be able to deal with injuries on his own face. Well then, welcome, beautiful beast."

She changed topics in a flash, taking Minerva and Chris out of the tent at the same time, passing through the center of the camp.

Under the evening skies, smoke curled upwards from the porridge stewing in the campsite...... A whole day passed since their return. Night was about to descend.

Military tents were erected everywhere. All the soldiers in the Order sat around the campfire. When they saw Francesca walking by with Chris and Minerva, they nodded to their liege lord one by one, glaring at Chris who was walking behind her as well.

Among their murmuring voices, Chris heard the word 'Star Eater' and froze on the spot.

''—Someone knows of me!''

''—Is it possible that there are even people among the Principality who heard of rumors about me?''

"Hey, guys know of this beast?"

Francesca heard it as well. She stopped and questioned her subordinate sitting by the campfire.

"Of course! He has quite the famous name!"

"Captain, did see the armor that guy was wearing? Each part of the set is first class stuff of the highest level. However, not one of them was of the same set."

"There are some with emblems of Duke Houses, some with art hand-drawn by noblewomen, and even some of the exorcism pictures of the Church. How could anyone get such an assorted set of armor together?"

Hearing their descriptions, Chris couldn't help but avert his gaze.

"All of those were probably robbed from famous Generals or Knights after he killed them."

"Actually, it's still fine when we hear the name 'Star Eater'. It's the people of the Celestial Kingdom army who would get scared out of their wits after hearing it."

"I heard that an army with him would definitely perish."

Thus, quite a few gazes were focused on Chris. Even when he looked away, he could still feel the gazes full of enmity piercing his body like a thousand needles.

"Meena, why the heck did bring this guy alive? Wasn't this guy supposed to kill ?"

"That's right, you should have chopped off his limbs, leaving him alone on the battlefield."

Just when Minerva was about to answer, Francesca stopped her with a flourish of her hands, speaking ahead of her instead:

"He's joining my personal guard."

The words caused the soldiers surrounding the campfire to stand up as well. Even the people slightly further away from them gulped and almost stood up together as well.

"Captain, are you serious?!"

Among them, an impatient soldier who was the eldest, and had a large scar on his face approached, questioning Francesca in a distance so close he almost pressed against her.

"Putting this guy in the Order is just bad luck. Please don't do something like that!"

"If we let him stay in the Order, who knows what trouble he would bring!"

"You're just plainly ignoring the lives of your comrades if you do this!"

The words pierced Chris's heart one after another. However, it was actually quite normal for them to have such reactions.

''—Never mind......''

''—Just let me be a slave of my own will, just like a rusted hoe kept in a store by a farmer......''

''—Please don't drag me into this team......''

"Are you doubting my decision?"

Facing her subordinate's objections, Francesca tilted her head, halting everyone's discussions with a loud, imperious voice. The soldiers who continually jeered at Chris paled, not daring to make the slightest sound.

==Chapter 5 – Proud Vixen==

Francesca da Zaccaria accomplished many feats in her lifetime to be proud of. One of the most well known ones was that she had already refused marriage proposals of more than a hundred men in just her fifteenth year. She was the granddaughter of Duke Zaccaria, the leader of the Seven Countries of the East, and was both beautiful and talented since childhood. Thus, she was surrounded by many candidates picked by her father and grandfather to be her husband, but their proposals were promptly refused. Their attention only brought one sentence: "What a bunch of uninteresting fellows."

On the day when the number of men officially reached three digits, the old Duke Zaccaria who was usually gentle finally couldn't help himself from summoning his granddaughter to question her:

''「Fran, in the end, what sort of man will you be satisfied with?」''

''「I want a man who is both stronger and more beautiful than I am.」'' Francesca answered.

''「It might be possible for one of your conditions to be met, but aren't the chances rather small for both of them to meet?」''

''「Of course not. At least, there will definitely be such a person on the battlefield.」''

Hence, Francesca started to frequent the training grounds of the knights, bringing an even larger headache to the duke's family.

Her father was disturbed by her peculiar actions, and thus summoned an old knight under his command.

''「What in the world is Francesca always doing among the knights? Is she observing your training?」'' He asked.

''「No, not only that.」'' The old knight answered.

''「Then she isn't training with you, is she?」''

''「No, not only that as well.」''

The old knight's answer shocked Francesca's father so much that he couldn't even straighten his back. Never would he have thought that Francesca was actually teaching the members of the knighthood how to improve themselves.

After a year, a large-scale riot occurred on the borders of Zackaria. Francesca departed with fifty elite knights, and with lightning speed, led her troops directly into the church seized by the rioters to be used as their base. She captured the leader of the rioters alive, suppressing the upheaval practically without any loss of blood.

The news spread in the neighboring countries, and a poet gave such an evaluation regarding Francesca's various performances: ''Everything was like a ceremony to pray for rain. At first, there was an uproar caused by the campfire that was lit among great cheers of farmers and villagers, the inhabitants of the earth. Then, it was as though clouds darker and more turbid than ink were shrouded over the social circles of the nobility situated among the clouds, defamation that were continually spat out formed foul rainwater......''

Francesca's father and grandfather once scolded her together, asking her not to partake in barbarous activities unbecoming of those of a Duke's family. However, in the end their efforts were all in vain. Facing their reprimands, Francesca said resolutely: '''As members of the Zaccaria, protecting our land is in fact, a perfectly justified matter, and we have the obligation to do so as well!'''

The elderly Duke Zaccaria did not usually anger easily, but when his tolerance reached its peak, he came to a decision by himself without care for opinions of the others. And the results that came to due to the failure of their reprimands was thus. The old Duke Zaccaria announced the renouncement of his seat, giving his title of the Duke to his son, handing the job of the Commander of the Knights taken temporarily by his son to Francesca.

''「If so, outsiders will not have any chance of saying that you are fooling around with the Knights. However, if you do not fulfill your responsibilities and obligations as a Knight, your actions will be judged by military law!」''

''「That is exactly what I wish for!」''

Just like that, the old Duke kept his hands off his beloved granddaughter, allowing her to wander the battlefields as she liked. After that, he summoned the Knights in the city to the central courtyard as well, publicly announcing the shift of authority for the Knights into Francesca's hands.

''「Now, all of you are my subordinates, and I have already decided on a new name and flag appropriate for the Order!」''

Francesca's words caused loud cheers among the knights lined up in the courtyard, and it was three years after that when the flag embroidered with a silver hen embracing a silver egg with its wings spread out fluttered in the bloodied wind of the battlefield, shaking up the entire Celestial Kingdom with its glorious feats.

<center>*</center>

"I was present as well when the flag of the Silver Hen waved at various battlefields. I was so excited each time we set out for expeditions that it felt like my asshole grew five times its original size."

The young military doctor in the team chattered on about the incredible feats performed by the Order of the Silver Egg on the battlefields while closing up Chris's wound. The stove by their side heated up the whole pot of water, its steam filling the whole tent; but the young military doctor blissfully telling his story didn't seem to realize it at all. He was called Nicolo, a vulgar, slovenly man. He had long, tea brown shoulder-length hair that was casually bound in a bunch behind him without much care. With his monocle on his nose bridge and his dashing features, he could be described as a handsome person. Although not visible from his features at all, he was once awarded a Badge of the Rose, and was a Knight to the letter.

"Actually, our Captain is a person who appreciates talent. Beauty or immeasurable strength, those who fulfill one of the two criteria will gain her recognition. Because of that, there is no end of cute girls even among our Captain's personal guard, such as Meena, Paola, and as for those who are currently absent......"

The military doctor counted names of girls on his fingers, while Chris listened blankly beside him. But since the number was too large, he was even unsure of what he should feel surprised at halfway through.

''—What is wrong with this Order......''

The leader was a duke's daughter just at an age of eighteen; the military doctor looked like an insufferable flirt, knights eavesdropping for information from the outside time after time showing their uncultured backgrounds, and there were even some who looked just like bad-hearted mercenaries as well, while the curiosity that overflowed from the their gazes when the looking at the captured Chris was almost as strong as enmity.

It was the first time he felt such an atmosphere in an army.

These people did not have cheap desires— that was what Chris sensed in the air. In the past, each of the troops that he saw was filled with the stench of beasts due to the strong desire for slaughter, coin or entertainment. However, the knights of the Order of the Silver Egg around him did not have such a stench at all, and the one who made the deepest impression on him was Minerva.

''—That's right! Where's Minerva? Is she alright? If I'm not mistaken, she's hurt as well......''

"Excuse me, Doctor......"

"Just call me Nicolo." The military doctor smiled, and immediately frowned after that: "Listen well, you cannot speak of the word 'Doctor' for a second time in the Order of the Silver Egg. It is a taboo more horrifying than the god of death."

Chris had never heard any mention of the fact. However, that was not important......

"How is Minerva right now?" Chris asked.

"Paola is probably taking care of her. Women have female medical staff to take care of them— it's all because of that Francesca, who made such an unreasonable request. If I'm in charge of everything, I'll definitely heal everyone completely, without fail...... Hey, where are you going!? Lie down! The injuries you sustained are much more severe than that of Meena's!"

Nicolo pushed Chris back to the bed by his shoulders. He even kindly covered Chris with a blanket, but such physical exertion was already enough to cause the wounds on Chris to throb faintly. He could not help but furrow his brows.

"That girl...... Is she alright? She was hurt rather severely as well......"

"Compared with yours, her's are actually quite light. Instead of talking about her, what kind of monster are you, seriously......" Nicolo said.

After hearing that, Chris shifted his gaze to the patch of tent above him and deeply breathed out in relief.

''—She's okay, that's so great......''

''—After all, if she is not present in the future, I will not be able to live on as well......''

" You're a mercenary of the Celestial Kingdom, aren't you? Why are you so worried of Meena? Are you really her slave?"

Hearing Nicolo's questions, Chris immediately turned around to ignore him.

"So what is it? Why don't you just tell me? What does it matter? You'll be asked these questions no matter where you go as long as you stay here anyway."

Chris raised the back of his palm to eye level, and finally sighed in relief when he saw that the insignia there had already faded into his natural skin color— it seemed like the military doctor was still ignorant of the fact that Chris was the Star Eater.

"Minerva and I met on a battlefield, and I became her slave since I lost...... It's just that simple."

"Oh, then the 'beast's son who has jet black hair as profound as the night skies' Minerva once said would kill her would be you?"

Chris couldn't help but gulp at those words.

It seemed like Minerva had already told the comrades on her team of what she had foreseen. But to what extent did she reveal the information? Chris heard a guarantee from Minerva that she would definitely not tell the others of the brand, so Chris believed that the people who knew of it in the Order of the Silver Egg should be few.

"She said that this day would be the date of her death, and so left the squad by herself." Nicolo said: "But when we started a bet, everyone bet that she would survive in the end, so the gamble couldn't be started— But isn't that obvious? How can anyone in this world kill her?"

''—That's true. Even the powers of the Beast Brand could not kill her......''

''—No, perhaps I should say that she was not killed exactly because of the brand's power? This......''

"Even so......" Nicolo said with his head tilted: "Why in the world did she bring you back alive? Did anything happen between you?"

"Ah...... Um...... That......."

Chris thought, if the military doctor who was good at getting familiar with other people found out about the brandings of the Beast on Chris, he would definitely look at him with a disgusted expression. Just thinking of that caused him to be unable to speak. However, just when Chris was stuttering over what he should explain, Nicolo suddenly showed a strange smile, making a conclusion over Chris and Minerva's relationship by himself: "Oh, so that's how things are? Well...... Indeed, if something like that really happened between you, it's true that it would be hard to talk about." Chris felt that he seemed to have misunderstood something, but he still did not answer in the end.

"There are five stitches on your stomach. Stand up slowly, okay. Can you put on your clothes on your own?"

Nicolo was not talking about the old clothing Chris originally wore that was stained by blood, but the brand new clothes that the squad prepared for him. When Chris wore the clothes, he thought in puzzlement over the reason he, as a captive, was allowed to wear clothing of such high quality. He only found something wrong after buttoning the clothes.

"Wait a minute, these clothes are?"

A flamboyantly carved sword accessory was hung on the chest position of the shirt, while emblems of a silver hen and a silver egg were embroidered at the area between the elbow and the cuff.

"This is the badge for Francesca's personal guards. As for the sword on the chest, it signifies that you have to keep Francesca's safety in your heart at all time." Nicolo said.

"W-What the heck is this! What were you thinking!" Chris couldn't help but cry out: "I'm a slave, why must I fight to the death for you!"

" Didn't I already tell you? Francesca wants to enlist you in her personal guards."

Chris was dumbstruck— ''Me? In among the Captain's personal guard? This means...... I'm supposed to become a member of the Order as well?''

''—What a joke! If things really turn out that way......''

Chris was worried that the fact that he was the 'Star Eating Beast' would be found out not long after. People might even see the Beast brandings on him. If so, he would be cursed and resented by the members of the squad. If even Minerva couldn't suppress the beast in him one day, he might have to eat up even the members in this team......

''—I-I definitely won't let things turn out this way.''

With a resolution of only being the slave by Minerva's side he was unprepared to come in contact with any other person in the team......

"Hey, can't you be a bit more contented? You're becoming a member of the Captain's personal guard, you know? You can sleep in the same tent as her, call her directly as Fran, and there might even be a chance for you to change her clothes for her! What is there to dislike? If you're not willing, then let me take your place instead!"

"Nicolo, if you have finished your work, can you directly stitch up your mouth as well?"

All of a sudden an unexpected sound rang, causing Nicolo to grab the dagger on the floor in shock. But when he realized who the owner of the voice was, his shoulders convulsed furiously as his shoulders froze. Chris looked back in shock as well; the one he saw was the blonde girl he encountered before. She was standing at the cramped entrance of the tent.

"Hello, beautiful beast." She walked into the tent. That moment, all of the armor on her was completely taken off, and the dress with an open chest did not look like clothing worn on a battlefield at all. The eyes that were like sapphires abruptly approached Chris, causing him to bump into a post supporting the tent when he walked backwards.

"Nicolo probably told you about the squad badge, didn't he?"

Hearing Francesca's question, Chris's lowered eyes saw the sword ornament tied to his chest, and forced out an answer after raising his head: "I am from the Celestial Kingdom, and so cannot be your comrade."

"Aren't you a mercenary? Besides, isn't your employer already missing?"

Francesca's rebuke made Chris speechless. Not knowing how to counter her, he could only nod when he stared at Francesca's mysterious expression.

"Listen well......" Francesca said: "Meena was the one who took you back, and she is my subordinate. So you are my belonging as well. Do you understand now?" She pressed her hand on the side of Chris's ear when she spoke, gently sliding her soft, chilly fingertips to Chris's chin, as though she was teasing him, "For me, I will not be satisfied even if the soldiers around me are as much as the stars in the skies, so your participation can be said to be irreplaceable to me as well."

"Why—?" Chris swallowed his words halfway through— ''What is wrong is with this Order? Normally, won't any other daughter of a duke be nestled up in her own city, indulging in luxurious dresses, balls, and other people's gossip? Why did this woman lead an army to war? Might it be possible that she is really treating the troops her father entrusted to her as a toy......''

To that, Francesca shrugged and smiled superficially: "I'm not thinking of bringing down the Celestial Kingdom just for fun."

Her answer stunned Chris to silence— ''Bringing down the Celestial Kingdom?''

From what he was aware of, no matter how powerful an aristocratic House was, they would only cause uprisings to get land, military force and taxing rights from the Celestial Kingdom, but never did anyone make the grandiloquent declaration of overthrowing the Celestial Kingdom. However, the little girl of eighteen before his eyes......

While Chris was stunned in awe, the tent entrance was flipped open once again.

"Fran!"

This time, it was Minerva who rushed inside. That moment, she had already taken off the cape pinned to her sleeves, exposing her white, slender shoulders. With bloodstains on the bandage covering her wound on her waist, her fragile body would make people's heart ache. It was hard to associate her with the 'soul reaper' nimbly waving a large sword no matter how you looked at it.

"Don't you do things on your own accord. He is my belonging!" Minerva shouted in agitation.

"What is he to you again?" Francesca asked in nonchalance.

"I said, he's my slave!"

"Did you already forget, there is a rule in the Code of the Rose which says, 'without my permission, battle spoils cannot be taken for yourself.'"

"Ngh......" Her words caused Minerva to lean unsteadily against a post and supported herself on it while protesting weakly:

"But...... He's a person, not a thing, so he can't be counted as a battle spoil....."

"But didn't you say just now that he's your belonging?"

"Ah, ngh......."

Minerva's face reddened in anger. Her hand gripping the post tightened abruptly, causing the wooden post to creak in response. Seeing her reaction, Nicolo hurriedly ran forward with his face pale, "Hey hey hey, what the heck are you doing! Are you thinking of tearing down my tent? Calm down a little! How can you win against the Captain in an argument? You didn't even think of the fact that your brain isn't that quick from the star—"

Thump— Minerva's fist lashed out, hitting Nicolo away in an instant. Chris barely managed to catch the tall man, causing his wounds that were just stitched to throb in pain.

"Sorry, sorry, thanks a lot......" While apologizing, Nicolo rose, a flaming trail of nosebleed on his face.

"Say that once again if you dare, and we'll see how quick your brain will twist!" Minerva cried out in anger. However, the shout caused a severe pain in her wounds, making her press her side abdomen. That moment, another person ran into the tent.

"Meena, I haven't finished dealing with your wounds yet. You can't just run off like this!"

The girl wore a brimless hat and donned a blue, triangular cape. It seemed like that was the uniform for the medical soldiers. The medical staff looked similar to Minerva in age, or was perhaps a few years younger than her. There were even a few locks of light brown baby hair at the side of her youthful face. Seeing the disaster in the tent and her liege lord standing before her, she couldn't help but cry out with her hand covering her mouth and her face pale: "Ah! Lady Fran, my deepest apologies!"

"Paola. Haven't I told you that you must tie up her neck when you are handling Meena's wounds? She doesn't get hurt often, so she hates the medicinal odor."

"What do you treat me as, a dog?!"

"N-No, Meena ran out in a rush when she heard Lady Fran discussing about the entry to the team with the captive......"

Seeing the two squabbling before her, the girl called Paola added on in support of Minerva after looking at them timidly. From beside, Nicolo spoke by Chris's ears in a low voice, "You two are actually rather similar......"

However, the words seemed to be overheard by Minerva, and she immediately shot a look as sharp as blades across Nicolo's heart. Judging that the situation was not good, the military doctor hurriedly hid behind Chris without regard for his own pride.

That moment, Francesca spoke while holding Minerva's hand: "Why do you refuse to let this beautiful beast join us?"

"This—" After hearing her question, Minerva first glanced at Chris, and then stayed mute after looking around at the people present. Then, she said: "Because...... Because I must keep him by my side. If not...... It'll be...... dangerous, if he is allowed to approach the others......"

"So the two of you are so close that you're inseparable?" Francesca added quickly.

"Don't explain it in such a way! That is not what I mean! He is just my tool, and nothing else!"

''—What in the world are these two talking about......''

Chris was dumbstruck, and even then, Nicolo still refused to behave, and interjected: "This is the man she saw every night even in her dreams, of course she won't let him g—" Before finishing his words, the gauntlet that Minerva tossed over crashed heavily on Nicolo's forehead, causing him to bend down in pain.

After seeing that, Francesca sighed and said: "Paola, have a look at Nicolo. No matter how much he bluffs of his greatness as a doctor, I think he won't be able to deal with injuries on his own face. Well then, welcome, beautiful beast."

She changed topics in a flash, taking Minerva and Chris out of the tent at the same time, passing through the center of the camp.

Under the evening skies, smoke curled upwards from the porridge stewing in the campsite...... A whole day passed since their return. Night was about to descend.

Military tents were erected everywhere. All the soldiers in the Order sat around the campfire. When they saw Francesca walking by with Chris and Minerva, they nodded to their liege lord one by one, glaring at Chris who was walking behind her as well.

Among their murmuring voices, Chris heard the word 'Star Eater' and froze on the spot.

''—Someone knows of me!''

''—Is it possible that there are even people among the Principality who heard of rumors about me?''

"Hey, you guys know of this beast?"

Francesca heard it as well. She stopped and questioned her subordinate sitting by the campfire.

"Of course! He has quite the famous name!"

"Captain, did you see the armor that guy was wearing? Each part of the set is first class stuff of the highest level. However, not one of them was of the same set."

"There are some with emblems of Duke Houses, some with art hand-drawn by noblewomen, and even some of the exorcism pictures of the Church. How could anyone get such an assorted set of armor together?"

Hearing their descriptions, Chris couldn't help but avert his gaze.

"All of those were probably robbed from famous Generals or Knights after he killed them."

"Actually, it's still fine when we hear the name 'Star Eater'. It's the people of the Celestial Kingdom army who would get scared out of their wits after hearing it."

"I heard that an army with him would definitely perish."

Thus, quite a few gazes were focused on Chris. Even when he looked away, he could still feel the gazes full of enmity piercing his body like a thousand needles.

"Meena, why the heck did you bring this guy alive? Wasn't this guy supposed to kill you?"

"That's right, you should have chopped off his limbs, leaving him alone on the battlefield."

Just when Minerva was about to answer, Francesca stopped her with a flourish of her hands, speaking ahead of her instead:

"He's joining my personal guard."

The words caused the soldiers surrounding the campfire to stand up as well. Even the people slightly further away from them gulped and almost stood up together as well.

"Captain, are you serious?!"

Among them, an impatient soldier who was the eldest, and had a large scar on his face approached, questioning Francesca in a distance so close he almost pressed against her.

"Putting this guy in the Order is just bad luck. Please don't do something like that!"

"If we let him stay in the Order, who knows what trouble he would bring!"

"You're just plainly ignoring the lives of your comrades if you do this!"

The words pierced Chris's heart one after another. However, it was actually quite normal for them to have such reactions.

''—Never mind......''

''—Just let me be a slave of my own will, just like a rusted hoe kept in a store by a farmer......''

''—Please don't drag me into this team......''

"Are you doubting my decision?"

Facing her subordinate's objections, Francesca tilted her head, halting everyone's discussions with a loud, imperious voice. The soldiers who continually jeered at Chris paled, not daring to make the slightest sound.

"You think that the Order of the Silver Egg trained by me, Francesca da Zaccaria, directed by me in warfare strategy will lose to the misfortune wrought on by such a cute beast?"

Francesca's imposing presence covered that of the soldiers present. After they exchanged gazes with each other, all of them knelt down, bowing down before their Captain. The scene shocked Chris into a daze.

The blonde girl with a startling imposing manner lowered her head to look at her subordinates, and berated right after that:

"How many times have I told you not to forget your pride as a member of the Order of the Silver Egg? The pride includes the honor signified by the flag you are under, your liege lord's name and your own pride!"

After saying that, she turned around, while Minerva chased over while saying in displeasure:

"Look, everyone had such a reaction just because you wanted to enlist him into your personal guard. This guy is a mad dog. You can only order him around as a slave with a collar on his neck......"

Chris knew that Minerva was having a headache over how she should keep him by her side as well, and if Chris's presence caused harm to the Order's safety, Minerva would probably kill him without hesitating. However, if Chris were to become a member of the Order, she could not do that anymore.

"Meena, do you mean to keep this beautiful beast all to yourself?"

"That is not what I mean!"

"Excuse me...... Francesca......"

While Francesca and Minerva were bickering, Chris called the young Captain before him as he walked to a shady spot in the tent behind them.

"Just call me Fran. You are the fifth person to get permission." Francesca turned around and said while pointing at Chris.

However, facing the goodwill of the daughter of a duke, Chris instead caught hold of the sword ornament tied to his chest and handed it to Francesca after tearing it down with its band.

"What are you doing?" She asked. With her head tilted, she stood before Chris like a cat that caught sight of its prey.

"I cannot become your comrade, because I am a harbinger of misfortune no matter where I walk. No matter where I go, I will be resented, cursed by the people like just now."

Before realizing it, Chris almost let slip the fact that he had the Brand of the Beast in him as well, saying that he was a beast that lived on the lives of other people, but he still held back in the end. After all, he would be unable to continue staying by Minerva's side if such words were spoken.

"I don't care what other people say. The most important thing is how you yourself think, isn't that right?"

Francesca's denial caused Chris to be struck dumb momentarily.

"Besides, don't you have a reason to stay by Meena for?"

In a double-team of the elegant Lady's gaze who could see through people's thoughts and Minerva's gaze that was chilly as heavy lead, Chris nodded vaguely, "I-It's..... true that I wish to stay by Minerva's side, but......"

"—! You— Can you please mind how you speak!?"

After hearing that, Minerva struck Chris with an elbow hit, causing him to see stars.

''—Why did she get mad? Isn't things exactly so......''

''—Henceforth, I will always...... always stay by your side, devouring your fate, eating up your destiny of death......''

"Oh my, fine, fine." Francesca widened her eyes in feigned shock, smiling while she walked, "It's just great, Meena. How good will it be if I could hear someone say that to me."

Seeing Francesca's hand that was approaching her, Minerva pushed her's away abruptly, walking two steps before Francesca after that.

"Anyway, your reason cannot be disclosed, right?" Francesca asked once again. However, Minerva gave a 'hmph', while Chris nodded as well.

''—How can we disclose this......''

''—How can I tell the others that I am actually a beast who lives on the fates of the others?''

"Very well. Forget it. Anyway, I've already decided. Since I like this beautiful beast, I am enlisting him in my personal guard."

That moment, the three of them were passing through another campfire. When the soldiers around them heard Francesca's words, they glared at Chris in surprise.

"Captain's personal guard......" "We're talking about that guy?" "Captain is making reckless decisions again......" Chris could not help but feel a blow when he heard the discussions around them, and lowered his head to look at his feet.

''—In such gazes and disparagement...... How can they fight by my side in companionship......''

"Besides, this beautiful beast probably knows nothing but fighting, isn't that right?"

Hearing Francesca's voice, Chris came to his senses after a moment of shock.

"You said that you're keeping him as a slave, but what can he do? You aren't thinking of letting him dress you up everyday, are you?"

"N-No...... This...... Well......" Facing Francesca's questions, Minerva stuttered, not knowing how to answer.

"Look, the people around us would have less to say if I keep him by my side instead. If so, it means that he's by your side as well, so please think better about it."

Francesca said.

Chris did not speak, and brooded over the words of the young Captain.

In fact, she might have been right as well. After all, his identity as the 'Star Eater' was long known. If so, as long as he stayed in the Order, no matter as a slave with his neck tied up, or fighting with the others while holding a sword, such enmity would not disappear. If so—

Chris nodded to Francesca's opinions, while the young Captain narrowed her eyes in a smile in satisfaction as well, nodding in response to Chris's affirmation.

Thus, with uneasy emotions, he tied the sword ornament that was not yet handed out back on his chest.

''—Can...... Can I really protect the others......?''

''—In the past, I was a beast who devoured the fates of other people all along. Can I really protect Minerva?''

Chris thought in his heart. If the night of the new moon descended, and even Minerva was unable to suppress the beast on him, he would have to escape by himself. If so, he only had that choice as well......

However, to Francesca's statement, Minerva objected while pursing her lips:

"You want him to join your personal guard, but you decided without getting Gilberto's agreement. That guy will be angry."

"Even though he's the captain of the personal guards, he does not have the right to object to my decision as well. Besides, Gil isn't even here anyway."

"Not here? Why?" Minerva asked.

"I asked him to sneak into an enemy campsite, but I think he's about to return soon."

"Sneaking into an enemy campsite? Why? Aren't we already retreating?"

Facing Minerva's question, Francesca patted her on her shoulders.

"How do you think you were saved in the river valley? It's because of Gil asking the mercenaries of the Celestial army to catch the Salt Sprayer by offering gold coins as a reward that the net of enclosure you had to face in the end got weaker."

Hearing that, Minerva's eyes widened. She froze, while Chris had the same reaction behind her as well.

So that was what happened. Minerva and Chris did indeed hear the soldiers on their tail mention while searching for them that another person was willing to pay more for them alive, compared with the money that Cornelius offered.

''—So they used the tactic of dispersing the enemy forces......''

Chris thought, the act of fearlessly scattering money in the enemy camp was just too reckless.

"That's why, when Gil returns, you'll have to thank him properly." Francesca said.

The tent of the Order of the Silver Egg's captain was far more lavish than one would have imagined, as though a bedroom in a noble's palace was completely duplicated there. The large bed in the tent's bedroom was stuffed full of feathers that seemed to be able to drown a person. The large flag signifying the dukedom and the Order that alternated in gold and silver was hung between the posts. The position at the bedside where armor was supposed to be hung was furnished with a galore of enchanting dresses. The dishes served by the servants were so sumptuous that it would cause people's eyes to widen.

"You're still hungry, aren't you? Have a seat." Francesca said.

The menu included roasted pies with a soft texture that were filled with apple fillings and extremely fresh meat products. Those were all delicacies that Chris never had a chance to consume in the army.

Although the food on the table looked mouthwatering, and definitely won't taste bad, to Chris, they were all dishes unsuited for his appetite. Added with the fact that Francesca and Minerva's gazes never left him as they dined, he only dared to consume some drinks and cheese.

The red wine there weren't sour at all, and was excellent wine. From that point, the Order probably had alcohol fermentation equipment as well.

''—Speaking of which......'' Chris raised his gaze and glanced at the two girls by his side, thinking that the dining etiquette of the two were just too particular, as though they had forgotten that they were actually in a military camp. Bread had to be tore off with the hands before putting them into the mouth, while chewing had to be done in small bites so that the cheeks would not swell up...... It was understandable to Chris that Francesca ate thus, but it surprised him to see that even Minerva did so.

''—It's the first time I encountered such a strange, uneasy feeling......''

After they finished eating, Francesca actually shocked them by saying:

"I'll sleep in the center, Paola sleeps on the left, Meena sleeps on the right. As for you, you can sleep on the area below our feet."

"Wait a minute!" Minerva shouted with a flustered expression before Chris even spoke: "Are you inviting him to sleep with us?!"

"But of course. He's a member of my personal guard."

"But doesn't Gilberto sleep at other places as well? And he's a man as well—"

"That's because Gil himself was unwilling to do so. As for me, as long as they're beautiful, I won't mind if they're men or women. Besides, won't it be great if we have such a beautiful beast as a footrest when we are sleeping?"

Chris's eyes widened, and fell into a daze. However, his brain started to buzz in slight pain.

''—This woman...... isn't crazy, is she?''

"Even if it's fine for you, Paola won't be willing as well!" Minerva frantically tried to change Francesca's opinion.

"Eh? Does that mean that you aren't unwilling?" Francesca asked.

"Of course not!"

That moment, sounds of approaching footsteps came from outside the tent. Chris reflexively touched his belt, but there wasn't any sword hanging there. The footsteps sounded light and rhythmic. If not for the metals on his armor clinking, it might have been hidden by the two women's bickering in the tent.

It was the footsteps of a veteran on the battlefield.

"Lady Fran, I have returned."

[[Image:TnJtRnK v01 105.jpg|thumb]]

When they looked around, they saw a tall man at the entrance of the military tent. He had gray hair shaved extremely short, eyes that were as bright as marbles, while his graceful features looked like a profound lake encased in a thin layer of ice.

The man wore black armor, but the armor could not hide the body it covered that went through numerous trainings and his hardened limbs. However, his longsword fixed to his waist was probably the most eye-catching thing about him. The arc of the sword's body was extremely graceful. It was most probable that the sword was just covered with a holster of knots as a suitable sheathe could not be found for it.

"So you're back, Gil. Listen, I was just talking to Meena about the problem of increasing the size of the bed."

The words caused the man to shoot a look as sharp as a nail at Minerva, fixating abruptly on Chris, leaving only after that. He looked back at his liege lord. There was a short sword hung on his waist, and the emblem of the Order carved on it was owned by Chris as well. It seemed like he was the leader of the Captain's personal guard, Gilberto.

"Due to the increase in numbers of my personal guard, this bed will not be enough anymore." Francesca said.

"Can we please discuss this matter only after we return to the country." Completely ignoring his liege lord's high spirits, he coolly poured cold water on her. After that, he said in a stern voice: "The enemy assigned an assault team to attack us in two directions. They'll probably reach us in about half an hour."

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| Back to [[Tsurugi_no_Joou_to_Rakuin_no_Ko:Volume_1_Chapter_4|Chapter 4]]
| Return to [[Tsurugi_no_Joou_no_Rakuin_no_Ko|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Tsurugi_no_Joou_to_Rakuin_no_Ko:Volume_1_Chapter_6|Chapter 6]]
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Tsurugi no Joou to Rakuin no Ko:Volume 1 Chapter 5

2013-04-21T23:38:29Z

67.189.36.139: /* Chapter 5 – Proud Vixen */

==Chapter 5 – Proud Vixen==

Francesca da Zaccaria accomplished many feats in her lifetime to be proud of. One of the most well known ones was that she had already refused marriage proposals of more than a hundred men in just her fifteenth year. She was the granddaughter of Duke Zaccaria, the leader of the Seven Countries of the East, and was both beautiful and talented since childhood. Thus, she was surrounded by many candidates picked by her father and grandfather to be her husband, but their proposals were promptly refused. Their attention only brought one sentence: "What a bunch of uninteresting fellows."

On the day when the number of men officially reached three digits, the old Duke Zaccaria who was usually gentle finally couldn't help himself from summoning his granddaughter to question her:

''「Fran, in the end, what sort of man will be satisfied with?」''

''「I want a man who is both stronger and more beautiful than I am.」'' Francesca answered.

''「It might be possible for one of your conditions to be met, but aren't the chances rather small for both of them to meet?」''

''「Of course not. At least, there will definitely be such a person on the battlefield.」''

Hence, Francesca started to frequent the training grounds of the knights, bringing an even larger headache to the duke's family.

Her father was disturbed by her peculiar actions, and thus summoned an old knight under his command.

''「What in the world is Francesca always doing among the knights? Is she observing r training?」'' He asked.

''「No, not only that.」'' The old knight answered.

''「Then she isn't training with, is she?」''

''「No, not only that as well.」''

The old knight's answer shocked Francesca's father so much that he couldn't even straighten his back. Never would he have thought that Francesca was actually teaching the members of the knighthood how to improve themselves.

After a year, a large-scale riot occurred on the borders of Zackaria. Francesca departed with fifty elite knights, and with lightning speed, led her troops directly into the church seized by the rioters to be used as their base. She captured the leader of the rioters alive, suppressing the upheaval practically without any loss of blood.

The news spread in the neighboring countries, and a poet gave such an evaluation regarding Francesca's various performances: ''Everything was like a ceremony to pray for rain. At first, there was an uproar caused by the campfire that was lit among great cheers of farmers and villagers, the inhabitants of the earth. Then, it was as though clouds darker and more turbid than ink were shrouded over the social circles of the nobility situated among the clouds, defamation that were continually spat out formed foul rainwater......''

Francesca's father and grandfather once scolded her together, asking her not to partake in barbarous activities unbecoming of those of a Duke's family. However, in the end their efforts were all in vain. Facing their reprimands, Francesca said resolutely: '''As members of the Zaccaria, protecting our land is in fact, a perfectly justified matter, and we have the obligation to do so as well!'''

The elderly Duke Zaccaria did not usually anger easily, but when his tolerance reached its peak, he came to a decision by himself without care for opinions of the others. And the results that came to due to the failure of their reprimands was thus. The old Duke Zaccaria announced the renouncement of his seat, giving his title of the Duke to his son, handing the job of the Commander of the Knights taken temporarily by his son to Francesca.

''「If so, outsiders will not have any chance of saying that you are fooling around with the Knights. However, if you do not fulfill your responsibilities and obligations as a Knight, your actions will be judged by military law!」''

''「That is exactly what I wish for!」''

Just like that, the old Duke kept his hands off his beloved granddaughter, allowing her to wander the battlefields as she liked. After that, he summoned the Knights in the city to the central courtyard as well, publicly announcing the shift of authority for the Knights into Francesca's hands.

''「Now, all of you are my subordinates, and I have already decided on a new name and flag appropriate for the Order!」''

Francesca's words caused loud cheers among the knights lined up in the courtyard, and it was three years after that when the flag embroidered with a silver hen embracing a silver egg with its wings spread out fluttered in the bloodied wind of the battlefield, shaking up the entire Celestial Kingdom with its glorious feats.

<center>*</center>

"I was present as well when the flag of the Silver Hen waved at various battlefields. I was so excited each time we set out for expeditions that it felt like my asshole grew five times its original size."

The ng military doctor in the team chattered on about the incredible feats performed by the Order of the Silver Egg on the battlefields while closing up Chris's wound. The stove by their side heated up the whole pot of water, its steam filling the whole tent; but the ng military doctor blissfully telling his story didn't seem to realize it at all. He was called Nicolo, a vulgar, slovenly man. He had long, tea brown shoulder-length hair that was casually bound in a bunch behind him without much care. With his monocle on his nose bridge and his dashing features, he could be described as a handsome person. Although not visible from his features at all, he was once awarded a Badge of the Rose, and was a Knight to the letter.

"Actually, our Captain is a person who appreciates talent. Beauty or immeasurable strength, those who fulfill one of the two criteria will gain her recognition. Because of that, there is no end of cute girls even among our Captain's personal guard, such as Meena, Paola, and as for those who are currently absent......"

The military doctor counted names of girls on his fingers, while Chris listened blankly beside him. But since the number was too large, he was even unsure of what he should feel surprised at halfway through.

''—What is wrong with this Order......''

The leader was a duke's daughter just at an age of eighteen; the military doctor looked like an insufferable flirt, knights eavesdropping for information from the outside time after time showing their uncultured backgrounds, and there were even some who looked just like bad-hearted mercenaries as well, while the curiosity that overflowed from the their gazes when the looking at the captured Chris was almost as strong as enmity.

It was the first time he felt such an atmosphere in an army.

These people did not have cheap desires— that was what Chris sensed in the air. In the past, each of the troops that he saw was filled with the stench of beasts due to the strong desire for slaughter, coin or entertainment. However, the knights of the Order of the Silver Egg around him did not have such a stench at all, and the one who made the deepest impression on him was Minerva.

''—That's right! Where's Minerva? Is she alright? If I'm not mistaken, she's hurt as well......''

"Excuse me, Doctor......"

"Just call me Nicolo." The military doctor smiled, and immediately frowned after that: "Listen well, cannot speak of the word 'Doctor' for a second time in the Order of the Silver Egg. It is a taboo more horrifying than the god of death."

Chris had never heard any mention of the fact. However, that was not important......

"How is Minerva right now?" Chris asked.

"Paola is probably taking care of her. Women have female medical staff to take care of them— it's all because of that Francesca, who made such an unreasonable request. If I'm in charge of everything, I'll definitely heal everyone completely, without fail...... Hey, where are going!? Lie down! The injuries sustained are much more severe than that of Meena's!"

Nicolo pushed Chris back to the bed by his shoulders. He even kindly covered Chris with a blanket, but such physical exertion was already enough to cause the wounds on Chris to throb faintly. He could not help but furrow his brows.

"That girl...... Is she alright? She was hurt rather severely as well......"

"Compared with rs, her's are actually quite light. Instead of talking about her, what kind of monster are , seriously......" Nicolo said.

After hearing that, Chris shifted his gaze to the patch of tent above him and deeply breathed out in relief.

''—She's okay, that's so great......''

''—After all, if she is not present in the future, I will not be able to live on as well......''

"You're a mercenary of the Celestial Kingdom, aren't ? Why are so worried of Meena? Are really her slave?"

Hearing Nicolo's questions, Chris immediately turned around to ignore him.

"So what is it? Why don't you just tell me? What does it matter? I'll be asked these questions no matter where you go as long as you stay here anyway."

Chris raised the back of his palm to eye level, and finally sighed in relief when he saw that the insignia there had already faded into his natural skin color— it seemed like the military doctor was still ignorant of the fact that Chris was the Star Eater.

"Minerva and I met on a battlefield, and I became her slave since I lost...... It's just that simple."

"Oh, then the 'beast's son who has jet black hair as profound as the night skies' Minerva once said would kill her would be ?"

Chris couldn't help but gulp at those words.

It seemed like Minerva had already told the comrades on her team of what she had foreseen. But to what extent did she reveal the information? Chris heard a guarantee from Minerva that she would definitely not tell the others of the brand, so Chris believed that the people who knew of it in the Order of the Silver Egg should be few.

"She said that this day would be the date of her death, and so left the squad by herself." Nicolo said: "But when we started a bet, everyone bet that she would survive in the end, so the gamble couldn't be started— But isn't that obvious? How can anyone in this world kill her?"

''—That's true. Even the powers of the Beast Brand could not kill her......''

''—No, perhaps I should say that she was not killed exactly because of the brand's power? This......''

"Even so......" Nicolo said with his head tilted: "Why in the world did she bring you back alive? Did anything happen between you?"

"Ah...... Um...... That......."

Chris thought, if the military doctor who was good at getting familiar with other people found out about the brandings of the Beast on Chris, he would definitely look at him with a disgusted expression. Just thinking of that caused him to be unable to speak. However, just when Chris was stuttering over what he should explain, Nicolo suddenly showed a strange smile, making a conclusion over Chris and Minerva's relationship by himself: "Oh, so that's how things are? Well...... Indeed, if something like that really happened between them, it's true that it would be hard to talk about." Chris felt that he seemed to have misunderstood something, but he still did not answer in the end.

"There are five stitches on your stomach. Stand up slowly, okay. Can you put on your clothes on your own?"

Nicolo was not talking about the old clothing Chris originally wore that was stained by blood, but the brand new clothes that the squad prepared for him. When Chris wore the clothes, he thought in puzzlement over the reason he, as a captive, was allowed to wear clothing of such high quality. He only found something wrong after buttoning the clothes.

"Wait a minute, these clothes are?"

A flamboyantly carved sword accessory was hung on the chest position of the shirt, while emblems of a silver hen and a silver egg were embroidered at the area between the elbow and the cuff.

"This is the badge for Francesca's personal guards. As for the sword on the chest, it signifies that have to keep Francesca's safety in your heart at all time." Nicolo said.

"W-What the heck is this! What were you thinking!" Chris couldn't help but cry out: "I'm a slave, why must I fight to the death for !"

" Didn't I already tell you? Francesca wants to enlist you in her personal guards."

Chris was dumbstruck— ''Me? In among the Captain's personal guard? This means...... I'm supposed to become a member of the Order as well?''

''—What a joke! If things really turn out that way......''

Chris was worried that the fact that he was the 'Star Eating Beast' would be found out not long after. People might even see the Beast brandings on him. If so, he would be cursed and resented by the members of the squad. If even Minerva couldn't suppress the beast in him one day, he might have to eat up even the members in this team......

''—I-I definitely won't let things turn out this way.''

With a resolution of only being the slave by Minerva's side he was unprepared to come in contact with any other person in the team......

"Hey, can't be a bit more contented? 're becoming a member of the Captain's personal guard, know? can sleep in the same tent as her, call her directly as Fran, and there might even be a chance for to change her clothes for her! What is there to dislike? If 're not willing, then let me take r place instead!"

"Nicolo, if you have finished your work, can directly stitch up your mouth as well?"

All of a sudden an unexpected sound rang, causing Nicolo to grab the dagger on the floor in shock. But when he realized who the owner of the voice was, his shoulders convulsed furiously as his shoulders froze. Chris looked back in shock as well; the one he saw was the blonde girl he encountered before. She was standing at the cramped entrance of the tent.

"Hello, beautiful beast." She walked into the tent. That moment, all of the armor on her was completely taken off, and the dress with an open chest did not look like clothing worn on a battlefield at all. The eyes that were like sapphires abruptly approached Chris, causing him to bump into a post supporting the tent when he walked backwards.

"Nicolo probably told you about the squad badge, didn't he?"

Hearing Francesca's question, Chris's lowered eyes saw the sword ornament tied to his chest, and forced out an answer after raising his head: "I am from the Celestial Kingdom, and so cannot be r comrade."

"Aren't you a mercenary? Besides, isn't your employer already missing?"

Francesca's rebuke made Chris speechless. Not knowing how to counter her, he could only nod when he stared at Francesca's mysterious expression.

"Listen well......" Francesca said: "Meena was the one who took you back, and she is my subordinate. So are my belonging as well. Do you understand now?" She pressed her hand on the side of Chris's ear when she spoke, gently sliding her soft, chilly fingertips to Chris's chin, as though she was teasing him, "For me, I will not be satisfied even if the soldiers around me are as much as the stars in the skies, so your participation can be said to be irreplaceable to me as well."

"Why—?" Chris swallowed his words halfway through— ''What is wrong is with this Order? Normally, won't any other daughter of a duke be nestled up in her own city, indulging in luxurious dresses, balls, and other people's gossip? Why did this woman lead an army to war? Might it be possible that she is really treating the troops her father entrusted to her as a toy......''

To that, Francesca shrugged and smiled superficially: "I'm not thinking of bringing down the Celestial Kingdom just for fun."

Her answer stunned Chris to silence— ''Bringing down the Celestial Kingdom?''

From what he was aware of, no matter how powerful an aristocratic House was, they would only cause uprisings to get land, military force and taxing rights from the Celestial Kingdom, but never did anyone make the grandiloquent declaration of overthrowing the Celestial Kingdom. However, the little girl of eighteen before his eyes......

While Chris was stunned in awe, the tent entrance was flipped open once again.

"Fran!"

This time, it was Minerva who rushed inside. That moment, she had already taken off the cape pinned to her sleeves, exposing her white, slender shoulders. With bloodstains on the bandage covering her wound on her waist, her fragile body would make people's heart ache. It was hard to associate her with the 'soul reaper' nimbly waving a large sword no matter how looked at it.

"Don't do things on your own accord. He is my belonging!" Minerva shouted in agitation.

"What is he to you again?" Francesca asked in nonchalance.

"I said, he's my slave!"

"Did you already forget, there is a rule in the Code of the Rose which says, 'without my permission, battle spoils cannot be taken for rself.'"

"Ngh......" Her words caused Minerva to lean unsteadily against a post and supported herself on it while protesting weakly:

"But...... He's a person, not a thing, so he can't be counted as a battle spoil....."

"But didn't you say just now that he's your belonging?"

"Ah, ngh......."

Minerva's face reddened in anger. Her hand gripping the post tightened abruptly, causing the wooden post to creak in response. Seeing her reaction, Nicolo hurriedly ran forward with his face pale, "Hey hey hey, what the heck are doing! Are thinking of tearing down my tent? Calm down a little! How can win against the Captain in an argument? didn't even think of the fact that r brain isn't that quick from the star—"

Thump— Minerva's fist lashed out, hitting Nicolo away in an instant. Chris barely managed to catch the tall man, causing his wounds that were just stitched to throb in pain.

"Sorry, sorry, thanks a lot......" While apologizing, Nicolo rose, a flaming trail of nosebleed on his face.

"Say that once again if you dare, and we'll see how quick your brain will twist!" Minerva cried out in anger. However, the shout caused a severe pain in her wounds, making her press her side abdomen. That moment, another person ran into the tent.

"Meena, I haven't finished dealing with your wounds yet. You can't just run off like this!"

The girl wore a brimless hat and donned a blue, triangular cape. It seemed like that was the uniform for the medical soldiers. The medical staff looked similar to Minerva in age, or was perhaps a few years nger than her. There were even a few locks of light brown baby hair at the side of her thful face. Seeing the disaster in the tent and her liege lord standing before her, she couldn't help but cry out with her hand covering her mouth and her face pale: "Ah! Lady Fran, my deepest apologies!"

"Paola. Haven't I told you that you must tie up her neck when are handling Meena's wounds? She doesn't get hurt often, so she hates the medicinal odor."

"What do you treat me as, a dog?!"

"N-No, Meena ran out in a rush when she heard Lady Fran discussing about the entry to the team with the captive......"

Seeing the two squabbling before her, the girl called Paola added on in support of Minerva after looking at them timidly. From beside, Nicolo spoke by Chris's ears in a low voice, "you two are actually rather similar......"

However, the words seemed to be overheard by Minerva, and she immediately shot a look as sharp as blades across Nicolo's heart. Judging that the situation was not good, the military doctor hurriedly hid behind Chris without regard for his own pride.

That moment, Francesca spoke while holding Minerva's hand: "Why do you refuse to let this beautiful beast join us?"

"This—" After hearing her question, Minerva first glanced at Chris, and then stayed mute after looking around at the people present. Then, she said: "Because...... Because I must keep him by my side. If not...... It'll be...... dangerous, if he is allowed to approach the others......"

"So the two of you are so close that you're inseparable?" Francesca added quickly.

"Don't explain it in such a way! That is not what I mean! He is just my tool, and nothing else!"

''—What in the world are these two talking about......''

Chris was dumbstruck, and even then, Nicolo still refused to behave, and interjected: "This is the man she saw every night even in her dreams, of course she won't let him g—" Before finishing his words, the gauntlet that Minerva tossed over crashed heavily on Nicolo's forehead, causing him to bend down in pain.

After seeing that, Francesca sighed and said: "Paola, have a look at Nicolo. No matter how much he bluffs of his greatness as a doctor, I think he won't be able to deal with injuries on his own face. Well then, welcome, beautiful beast."

She changed topics in a flash, taking Minerva and Chris out of the tent at the same time, passing through the center of the camp.

Under the evening skies, smoke curled upwards from the porridge stewing in the campsite...... A whole day passed since their return. Night was about to descend.

Military tents were erected everywhere. All the soldiers in the Order sat around the campfire. When they saw Francesca walking by with Chris and Minerva, they nodded to their liege lord one by one, glaring at Chris who was walking behind her as well.

Among their murmuring voices, Chris heard the word 'Star Eater' and froze on the spot.

''—Someone knows of me!''

''—Is it possible that there are even people among the Principality who heard of rumors about me?''

"Hey, guys know of this beast?"

Francesca heard it as well. She stopped and questioned her subordinate sitting by the campfire.

"Of course! He has quite the famous name!"

"Captain, did see the armor that guy was wearing? Each part of the set is first class stuff of the highest level. However, not one of them was of the same set."

"There are some with emblems of Duke Houses, some with art hand-drawn by noblewomen, and even some of the exorcism pictures of the Church. How could anyone get such an assorted set of armor together?"

Hearing their descriptions, Chris couldn't help but avert his gaze.

"All of those were probably robbed from famous Generals or Knights after he killed them."

"Actually, it's still fine when we hear the name 'Star Eater'. It's the people of the Celestial Kingdom army who would get scared out of their wits after hearing it."

"I heard that an army with him would definitely perish."

Thus, quite a few gazes were focused on Chris. Even when he looked away, he could still feel the gazes full of enmity piercing his body like a thousand needles.

"Meena, why the heck did bring this guy alive? Wasn't this guy supposed to kill ?"

"That's right, you should have chopped off his limbs, leaving him alone on the battlefield."

Just when Minerva was about to answer, Francesca stopped her with a flourish of her hands, speaking ahead of her instead:

"He's joining my personal guard."

The words caused the soldiers surrounding the campfire to stand up as well. Even the people slightly further away from them gulped and almost stood up together as well.

"Captain, are you serious?!"

Among them, an impatient soldier who was the eldest, and had a large scar on his face approached, questioning Francesca in a distance so close he almost pressed against her.

"Putting this guy in the Order is just bad luck. Please don't do something like that!"

"If we let him stay in the Order, who knows what trouble he would bring!"

"You're just plainly ignoring the lives of your comrades if you do this!"

The words pierced Chris's heart one after another. However, it was actually quite normal for them to have such reactions.

''—Never mind......''

''—Just let me be a slave of my own will, just like a rusted hoe kept in a store by a farmer......''

''—Please don't drag me into this team......''

"Are you doubting my decision?"

Facing her subordinate's objections, Francesca tilted her head, halting everyone's discussions with a loud, imperious voice. The soldiers who continually jeered at Chris paled, not daring to make the slightest sound.

==Chapter 5 – Proud Vixen==

Francesca da Zaccaria accomplished many feats in her lifetime to be proud of. One of the most well known ones was that she had already refused marriage proposals of more than a hundred men in just her fifteenth year. She was the granddaughter of Duke Zaccaria, the leader of the Seven Countries of the East, and was both beautiful and talented since childhood. Thus, she was surrounded by many candidates picked by her father and grandfather to be her husband, but their proposals were promptly refused. Their attention only brought one sentence: "What a bunch of uninteresting fellows."

On the day when the number of men officially reached three digits, the old Duke Zaccaria who was usually gentle finally couldn't help himself from summoning his granddaughter to question her:

''「Fran, in the end, what sort of man will you be satisfied with?」''

''「I want a man who is both stronger and more beautiful than I am.」'' Francesca answered.

''「It might be possible for one of your conditions to be met, but aren't the chances rather small for both of them to meet?」''

''「Of course not. At least, there will definitely be such a person on the battlefield.」''

Hence, Francesca started to frequent the training grounds of the knights, bringing an even larger headache to the duke's family.

Her father was disturbed by her peculiar actions, and thus summoned an old knight under his command.

''「What in the world is Francesca always doing among the knights? Is she observing your training?」'' He asked.

''「No, not only that.」'' The old knight answered.

''「Then she isn't training with you, is she?」''

''「No, not only that as well.」''

The old knight's answer shocked Francesca's father so much that he couldn't even straighten his back. Never would he have thought that Francesca was actually teaching the members of the knighthood how to improve themselves.

After a year, a large-scale riot occurred on the borders of Zackaria. Francesca departed with fifty elite knights, and with lightning speed, led her troops directly into the church seized by the rioters to be used as their base. She captured the leader of the rioters alive, suppressing the upheaval practically without any loss of blood.

The news spread in the neighboring countries, and a poet gave such an evaluation regarding Francesca's various performances: ''Everything was like a ceremony to pray for rain. At first, there was an uproar caused by the campfire that was lit among great cheers of farmers and villagers, the inhabitants of the earth. Then, it was as though clouds darker and more turbid than ink were shrouded over the social circles of the nobility situated among the clouds, defamation that were continually spat out formed foul rainwater......''

Francesca's father and grandfather once scolded her together, asking her not to partake in barbarous activities unbecoming of those of a Duke's family. However, in the end their efforts were all in vain. Facing their reprimands, Francesca said resolutely: '''As members of the Zaccaria, protecting our land is in fact, a perfectly justified matter, and we have the obligation to do so as well!'''

The elderly Duke Zaccaria did not usually anger easily, but when his tolerance reached its peak, he came to a decision by himself without care for opinions of the others. And the results that came to due to the failure of their reprimands was thus. The old Duke Zaccaria announced the renouncement of his seat, giving his title of the Duke to his son, handing the job of the Commander of the Knights taken temporarily by his son to Francesca.

''「If so, outsiders will not have any chance of saying that you are fooling around with the Knights. However, if you do not fulfill your responsibilities and obligations as a Knight, your actions will be judged by military law!」''

''「That is exactly what I wish for!」''

Just like that, the old Duke kept his hands off his beloved granddaughter, allowing her to wander the battlefields as she liked. After that, he summoned the Knights in the city to the central courtyard as well, publicly announcing the shift of authority for the Knights into Francesca's hands.

''「Now, all of you are my subordinates, and I have already decided on a new name and flag appropriate for the Order!」''

Francesca's words caused loud cheers among the knights lined up in the courtyard, and it was three years after that when the flag embroidered with a silver hen embracing a silver egg with its wings spread out fluttered in the bloodied wind of the battlefield, shaking up the entire Celestial Kingdom with its glorious feats.

<center>*</center>

"I was present as well when the flag of the Silver Hen waved at various battlefields. I was so excited each time we set out for expeditions that it felt like my asshole grew five times its original size."

The young military doctor in the team chattered on about the incredible feats performed by the Order of the Silver Egg on the battlefields while closing up Chris's wound. The stove by their side heated up the whole pot of water, its steam filling the whole tent; but the young military doctor blissfully telling his story didn't seem to realize it at all. He was called Nicolo, a vulgar, slovenly man. He had long, tea brown shoulder-length hair that was casually bound in a bunch behind him without much care. With his monocle on his nose bridge and his dashing features, he could be described as a handsome person. Although not visible from his features at all, he was once awarded a Badge of the Rose, and was a Knight to the letter.

"Actually, our Captain is a person who appreciates talent. Beauty or immeasurable strength, those who fulfill one of the two criteria will gain her recognition. Because of that, there is no end of cute girls even among our Captain's personal guard, such as Meena, Paola, and as for those who are currently absent......"

The military doctor counted names of girls on his fingers, while Chris listened blankly beside him. But since the number was too large, he was even unsure of what he should feel surprised at halfway through.

''—What is wrong with this Order......''

The leader was a duke's daughter just at an age of eighteen; the military doctor looked like an insufferable flirt, knights eavesdropping for information from the outside time after time showing their uncultured backgrounds, and there were even some who looked just like bad-hearted mercenaries as well, while the curiosity that overflowed from the their gazes when the looking at the captured Chris was almost as strong as enmity.

It was the first time he felt such an atmosphere in an army.

These people did not have cheap desires— that was what Chris sensed in the air. In the past, each of the troops that he saw was filled with the stench of beasts due to the strong desire for slaughter, coin or entertainment. However, the knights of the Order of the Silver Egg around him did not have such a stench at all, and the one who made the deepest impression on him was Minerva.

''—That's right! Where's Minerva? Is she alright? If I'm not mistaken, she's hurt as well......''

"Excuse me, Doctor......"

"Just call me Nicolo." The military doctor smiled, and immediately frowned after that: "Listen well, you cannot speak of the word 'Doctor' for a second time in the Order of the Silver Egg. It is a taboo more horrifying than the god of death."

Chris had never heard any mention of the fact. However, that was not important......

"How is Minerva right now?" Chris asked.

"Paola is probably taking care of her. Women have female medical staff to take care of them— it's all because of that Francesca, who made such an unreasonable request. If I'm in charge of everything, I'll definitely heal everyone completely, without fail...... Hey, where are you going!? Lie down! The injuries you sustained are much more severe than that of Meena's!"

Nicolo pushed Chris back to the bed by his shoulders. He even kindly covered Chris with a blanket, but such physical exertion was already enough to cause the wounds on Chris to throb faintly. He could not help but furrow his brows.

"That girl...... Is she alright? She was hurt rather severely as well......"

"Compared with yours, her's are actually quite light. Instead of talking about her, what kind of monster are you, seriously......" Nicolo said.

After hearing that, Chris shifted his gaze to the patch of tent above him and deeply breathed out in relief.

''—She's okay, that's so great......''

''—After all, if she is not present in the future, I will not be able to live on as well......''

" You're a mercenary of the Celestial Kingdom, aren't you? Why are you so worried of Meena? Are you really her slave?"

Hearing Nicolo's questions, Chris immediately turned around to ignore him.

"So what is it? Why don't you just tell me? What does it matter? You'll be asked these questions no matter where you go as long as you stay here anyway."

Chris raised the back of his palm to eye level, and finally sighed in relief when he saw that the insignia there had already faded into his natural skin color— it seemed like the military doctor was still ignorant of the fact that Chris was the Star Eater.

"Minerva and I met on a battlefield, and I became her slave since I lost...... It's just that simple."

"Oh, then the 'beast's son who has jet black hair as profound as the night skies' Minerva once said would kill her would be you?"

Chris couldn't help but gulp at those words.

It seemed like Minerva had already told the comrades on her team of what she had foreseen. But to what extent did she reveal the information? Chris heard a guarantee from Minerva that she would definitely not tell the others of the brand, so Chris believed that the people who knew of it in the Order of the Silver Egg should be few.

"She said that this day would be the date of her death, and so left the squad by herself." Nicolo said: "But when we started a bet, everyone bet that she would survive in the end, so the gamble couldn't be started— But isn't that obvious? How can anyone in this world kill her?"

''—That's true. Even the powers of the Beast Brand could not kill her......''

''—No, perhaps I should say that she was not killed exactly because of the brand's power? This......''

"Even so......" Nicolo said with his head tilted: "Why in the world did she bring you back alive? Did anything happen between you?"

"Ah...... Um...... That......."

Chris thought, if the military doctor who was good at getting familiar with other people found out about the brandings of the Beast on Chris, he would definitely look at him with a disgusted expression. Just thinking of that caused him to be unable to speak. However, just when Chris was stuttering over what he should explain, Nicolo suddenly showed a strange smile, making a conclusion over Chris and Minerva's relationship by himself: "Oh, so that's how things are? Well...... Indeed, if something like that really happened between you, it's true that it would be hard to talk about." Chris felt that he seemed to have misunderstood something, but he still did not answer in the end.

"There are five stitches on your stomach. Stand up slowly, okay. Can you put on your clothes on your own?"

Nicolo was not talking about the old clothing Chris originally wore that was stained by blood, but the brand new clothes that the squad prepared for him. When Chris wore the clothes, he thought in puzzlement over the reason he, as a captive, was allowed to wear clothing of such high quality. He only found something wrong after buttoning the clothes.

"Wait a minute, these clothes are?"

A flamboyantly carved sword accessory was hung on the chest position of the shirt, while emblems of a silver hen and a silver egg were embroidered at the area between the elbow and the cuff.

"This is the badge for Francesca's personal guards. As for the sword on the chest, it signifies that you have to keep Francesca's safety in your heart at all time." Nicolo said.

"W-What the heck is this! What were you thinking!" Chris couldn't help but cry out: "I'm a slave, why must I fight to the death for you!"

" Didn't I already tell you? Francesca wants to enlist you in her personal guards."

Chris was dumbstruck— ''Me? In among the Captain's personal guard? This means...... I'm supposed to become a member of the Order as well?''

''—What a joke! If things really turn out that way......''

Chris was worried that the fact that he was the 'Star Eating Beast' would be found out not long after. People might even see the Beast brandings on him. If so, he would be cursed and resented by the members of the squad. If even Minerva couldn't suppress the beast in him one day, he might have to eat up even the members in this team......

''—I-I definitely won't let things turn out this way.''

With a resolution of only being the slave by Minerva's side he was unprepared to come in contact with any other person in the team......

"Hey, can't you be a bit more contented? You're becoming a member of the Captain's personal guard, you know? You can sleep in the same tent as her, call her directly as Fran, and there might even be a chance for you to change her clothes for her! What is there to dislike? If you're not willing, then let me take your place instead!"

"Nicolo, if you have finished your work, can you directly stitch up your mouth as well?"

All of a sudden an unexpected sound rang, causing Nicolo to grab the dagger on the floor in shock. But when he realized who the owner of the voice was, his shoulders convulsed furiously as his shoulders froze. Chris looked back in shock as well; the one he saw was the blonde girl he encountered before. She was standing at the cramped entrance of the tent.

"Hello, beautiful beast." She walked into the tent. That moment, all of the armor on her was completely taken off, and the dress with an open chest did not look like clothing worn on a battlefield at all. The eyes that were like sapphires abruptly approached Chris, causing him to bump into a post supporting the tent when he walked backwards.

"Nicolo probably told you about the squad badge, didn't he?"

Hearing Francesca's question, Chris's lowered eyes saw the sword ornament tied to his chest, and forced out an answer after raising his head: "I am from the Celestial Kingdom, and so cannot be your comrade."

"Aren't you a mercenary? Besides, isn't your employer already missing?"

Francesca's rebuke made Chris speechless. Not knowing how to counter her, he could only nod when he stared at Francesca's mysterious expression.

"Listen well......" Francesca said: "Meena was the one who took you back, and she is my subordinate. So you are my belonging as well. Do you understand now?" She pressed her hand on the side of Chris's ear when she spoke, gently sliding her soft, chilly fingertips to Chris's chin, as though she was teasing him, "For me, I will not be satisfied even if the soldiers around me are as much as the stars in the skies, so your participation can be said to be irreplaceable to me as well."

"Why—?" Chris swallowed his words halfway through— ''What is wrong is with this Order? Normally, won't any other daughter of a duke be nestled up in her own city, indulging in luxurious dresses, balls, and other people's gossip? Why did this woman lead an army to war? Might it be possible that she is really treating the troops her father entrusted to her as a toy......''

To that, Francesca shrugged and smiled superficially: "I'm not thinking of bringing down the Celestial Kingdom just for fun."

Her answer stunned Chris to silence— ''Bringing down the Celestial Kingdom?''

From what he was aware of, no matter how powerful an aristocratic House was, they would only cause uprisings to get land, military force and taxing rights from the Celestial Kingdom, but never did anyone make the grandiloquent declaration of overthrowing the Celestial Kingdom. However, the little girl of eighteen before his eyes......

While Chris was stunned in awe, the tent entrance was flipped open once again.

"Fran!"

This time, it was Minerva who rushed inside. That moment, she had already taken off the cape pinned to her sleeves, exposing her white, slender shoulders. With bloodstains on the bandage covering her wound on her waist, her fragile body would make people's heart ache. It was hard to associate her with the 'soul reaper' nimbly waving a large sword no matter how you looked at it.

"Don't you do things on your own accord. He is my belonging!" Minerva shouted in agitation.

"What is he to you again?" Francesca asked in nonchalance.

"I said, he's my slave!"

"Did you already forget, there is a rule in the Code of the Rose which says, 'without my permission, battle spoils cannot be taken for yourself.'"

"Ngh......" Her words caused Minerva to lean unsteadily against a post and supported herself on it while protesting weakly:

"But...... He's a person, not a thing, so he can't be counted as a battle spoil....."

"But didn't you say just now that he's your belonging?"

"Ah, ngh......."

Minerva's face reddened in anger. Her hand gripping the post tightened abruptly, causing the wooden post to creak in response. Seeing her reaction, Nicolo hurriedly ran forward with his face pale, "Hey hey hey, what the heck are you doing! Are you thinking of tearing down my tent? Calm down a little! How can you win against the Captain in an argument? You didn't even think of the fact that your brain isn't that quick from the star—"

Thump— Minerva's fist lashed out, hitting Nicolo away in an instant. Chris barely managed to catch the tall man, causing his wounds that were just stitched to throb in pain.

"Sorry, sorry, thanks a lot......" While apologizing, Nicolo rose, a flaming trail of nosebleed on his face.

"Say that once again if you dare, and we'll see how quick your brain will twist!" Minerva cried out in anger. However, the shout caused a severe pain in her wounds, making her press her side abdomen. That moment, another person ran into the tent.

"Meena, I haven't finished dealing with your wounds yet. You can't just run off like this!"

The girl wore a brimless hat and donned a blue, triangular cape. It seemed like that was the uniform for the medical soldiers. The medical staff looked similar to Minerva in age, or was perhaps a few years younger than her. There were even a few locks of light brown baby hair at the side of her youthful face. Seeing the disaster in the tent and her liege lord standing before her, she couldn't help but cry out with her hand covering her mouth and her face pale: "Ah! Lady Fran, my deepest apologies!"

"Paola. Haven't I told you that you must tie up her neck when you are handling Meena's wounds? She doesn't get hurt often, so she hates the medicinal odor."

"What do you treat me as, a dog?!"

"N-No, Meena ran out in a rush when she heard Lady Fran discussing about the entry to the team with the captive......"

Seeing the two squabbling before her, the girl called Paola added on in support of Minerva after looking at them timidly. From beside, Nicolo spoke by Chris's ears in a low voice, "You two are actually rather similar......"

However, the words seemed to be overheard by Minerva, and she immediately shot a look as sharp as blades across Nicolo's heart. Judging that the situation was not good, the military doctor hurriedly hid behind Chris without regard for his own pride.

That moment, Francesca spoke while holding Minerva's hand: "Why do you refuse to let this beautiful beast join us?"

"This—" After hearing her question, Minerva first glanced at Chris, and then stayed mute after looking around at the people present. Then, she said: "Because...... Because I must keep him by my side. If not...... It'll be...... dangerous, if he is allowed to approach the others......"

"So the two of you are so close that you're inseparable?" Francesca added quickly.

"Don't explain it in such a way! That is not what I mean! He is just my tool, and nothing else!"

''—What in the world are these two talking about......''

Chris was dumbstruck, and even then, Nicolo still refused to behave, and interjected: "This is the man she saw every night even in her dreams, of course she won't let him g—" Before finishing his words, the gauntlet that Minerva tossed over crashed heavily on Nicolo's forehead, causing him to bend down in pain.

After seeing that, Francesca sighed and said: "Paola, have a look at Nicolo. No matter how much he bluffs of his greatness as a doctor, I think he won't be able to deal with injuries on his own face. Well then, welcome, beautiful beast."

She changed topics in a flash, taking Minerva and Chris out of the tent at the same time, passing through the center of the camp.

Under the evening skies, smoke curled upwards from the porridge stewing in the campsite...... A whole day passed since their return. Night was about to descend.

Military tents were erected everywhere. All the soldiers in the Order sat around the campfire. When they saw Francesca walking by with Chris and Minerva, they nodded to their liege lord one by one, glaring at Chris who was walking behind her as well.

Among their murmuring voices, Chris heard the word 'Star Eater' and froze on the spot.

''—Someone knows of me!''

''—Is it possible that there are even people among the Principality who heard of rumors about me?''

"Hey, you guys know of this beast?"

Francesca heard it as well. She stopped and questioned her subordinate sitting by the campfire.

"Of course! He has quite the famous name!"

"Captain, did you see the armor that guy was wearing? Each part of the set is first class stuff of the highest level. However, not one of them was of the same set."

"There are some with emblems of Duke Houses, some with art hand-drawn by noblewomen, and even some of the exorcism pictures of the Church. How could anyone get such an assorted set of armor together?"

Hearing their descriptions, Chris couldn't help but avert his gaze.

"All of those were probably robbed from famous Generals or Knights after he killed them."

"Actually, it's still fine when we hear the name 'Star Eater'. It's the people of the Celestial Kingdom army who would get scared out of their wits after hearing it."

"I heard that an army with him would definitely perish."

Thus, quite a few gazes were focused on Chris. Even when he looked away, he could still feel the gazes full of enmity piercing his body like a thousand needles.

"Meena, why the heck did you bring this guy alive? Wasn't this guy supposed to kill you?"

"That's right, you should have chopped off his limbs, leaving him alone on the battlefield."

Just when Minerva was about to answer, Francesca stopped her with a flourish of her hands, speaking ahead of her instead:

"He's joining my personal guard."

The words caused the soldiers surrounding the campfire to stand up as well. Even the people slightly further away from them gulped and almost stood up together as well.

"Captain, are you serious?!"

Among them, an impatient soldier who was the eldest, and had a large scar on his face approached, questioning Francesca in a distance so close he almost pressed against her.

"Putting this guy in the Order is just bad luck. Please don't do something like that!"

"If we let him stay in the Order, who knows what trouble he would bring!"

"You're just plainly ignoring the lives of your comrades if you do this!"

The words pierced Chris's heart one after another. However, it was actually quite normal for them to have such reactions.

''—Never mind......''

''—Just let me be a slave of my own will, just like a rusted hoe kept in a store by a farmer......''

''—Please don't drag me into this team......''

"Are you doubting my decision?"

Facing her subordinate's objections, Francesca tilted her head, halting everyone's discussions with a loud, imperious voice. The soldiers who continually jeered at Chris paled, not daring to make the slightest sound.

"You think that the Order of the Silver Egg trained by me, Francesca da Zaccaria, directed by me in warfare strategy will lose to the misfortune wrought on by such a cute beast?"

Francesca's imposing presence covered that of the soldiers present. After they exchanged gazes with each other, all of them knelt down, bowing down before their Captain. The scene shocked Chris into a daze.

The blonde girl with a startling imposing manner lowered her head to look at her subordinates, and berated right after that:

"How many times have I told you not to forget your pride as a member of the Order of the Silver Egg? The pride includes the honor signified by the flag you are under, your liege lord's name and your own pride!"

After saying that, she turned around, while Minerva chased over while saying in displeasure:

"Look, everyone had such a reaction just because you wanted to enlist him into your personal guard. This guy is a mad dog. You can only order him around as a slave with a collar on his neck......"

Chris knew that Minerva was having a headache over how she should keep him by her side as well, and if Chris's presence caused harm to the Order's safety, Minerva would probably kill him without hesitating. However, if Chris were to become a member of the Order, she could not do that anymore.

"Meena, do you mean to keep this beautiful beast all to yourself?"

"That is not what I mean!"

"Excuse me...... Francesca......"

While Francesca and Minerva were bickering, Chris called the young Captain before him as he walked to a shady spot in the tent behind them.

"Just call me Fran. You are the fifth person to get permission." Francesca turned around and said while pointing at Chris.

However, facing the goodwill of the daughter of a duke, Chris instead caught hold of the sword ornament tied to his chest and handed it to Francesca after tearing it down with its band.

"What are you doing?" She asked. With her head tilted, she stood before Chris like a cat that caught sight of its prey.

"I cannot become your comrade, because I am a harbinger of misfortune no matter where I walk. No matter where I go, I will be resented, cursed by the people like just now."

Before realizing it, Chris almost let slip the fact that he had the Brand of the Beast in him as well, saying that he was a beast that lived on the lives of other people, but he still held back in the end. After all, he would be unable to continue staying by Minerva's side if such words were spoken.

"I don't care what other people say. The most important thing is how you yourself think, isn't that right?"

Francesca's denial caused Chris to be struck dumb momentarily.

"Besides, don't you have a reason to stay by Meena for?"

In a double-team of the elegant Lady's gaze who could see through people's thoughts and Minerva's gaze that was chilly as heavy lead, Chris nodded vaguely, "I-It's..... true that I wish to stay by Minerva's side, but......"

"—! You— Can you please mind how you speak!?"

After hearing that, Minerva struck Chris with an elbow hit, causing him to see stars.

''—Why did she get mad? Isn't things exactly so......''

''—Henceforth, I will always...... always stay by your side, devouring your fate, eating up your destiny of death......''

"Oh my, fine, fine." Francesca widened her eyes in feigned shock, smiling while she walked, "It's just great, Meena. How good will it be if I could hear someone say that to me."

Seeing Francesca's hand that was approaching her, Minerva pushed her's away abruptly, walking two steps before Francesca after that.

"Anyway, your reason cannot be disclosed, right?" Francesca asked once again. However, Minerva gave a 'hmph', while Chris nodded as well.

''—How can we disclose this......''

''—How can I tell the others that I am actually a beast who lives on the fates of the others?''

"Very well. Forget it. Anyway, I've already decided. Since I like this beautiful beast, I am enlisting him in my personal guard."

That moment, the three of them were passing through another campfire. When the soldiers around them heard Francesca's words, they glared at Chris in surprise.

"Captain's personal guard......" "We're talking about that guy?" "Captain is making reckless decisions again......" Chris could not help but feel a blow when he heard the discussions around them, and lowered his head to look at his feet.

''—In such gazes and disparagement...... How can they fight by my side in companionship......''

"Besides, this beautiful beast probably knows nothing but fighting, isn't that right?"

Hearing Francesca's voice, Chris came to his senses after a moment of shock.

"You said that you're keeping him as a slave, but what can he do? You aren't thinking of letting him dress you up everyday, are you?"

"N-No...... This...... Well......" Facing Francesca's questions, Minerva stuttered, not knowing how to answer.

"Look, the people around us would have less to say if I keep him by my side instead. If so, it means that he's by your side as well, so please think better about it."

Francesca said.

Chris did not speak, and brooded over the words of the young Captain.

In fact, she might have been right as well. After all, his identity as the 'Star Eater' was long known. If so, as long as he stayed in the Order, no matter as a slave with his neck tied up, or fighting with the others while holding a sword, such enmity would not disappear. If so—

Chris nodded to Francesca's opinions, while the young Captain narrowed her eyes in a smile in satisfaction as well, nodding in response to Chris's affirmation.

Thus, with uneasy emotions, he tied the sword ornament that was not yet handed out back on his chest.

''—Can...... Can I really protect the others......?''

''—In the past, I was a beast who devoured the fates of other people all along. Can I really protect Minerva?''

Chris thought in his heart. If the night of the new moon descended, and even Minerva was unable to suppress the beast on him, he would have to escape by himself. If so, he only had that choice as well......

However, to Francesca's statement, Minerva objected while pursing her lips:

"You want him to join your personal guard, but you decided without getting Gilberto's agreement. That guy will be angry."

"Even though he's the captain of the personal guards, he does not have the right to object to my decision as well. Besides, Gil isn't even here anyway."

"Not here? Why?" Minerva asked.

"I asked him to sneak into an enemy campsite, but I think he's about to return soon."

"Sneaking into an enemy campsite? Why? Aren't we already retreating?"

Facing Minerva's question, Francesca patted her on her shoulders.

"How do you think you were saved in the river valley? It's because of Gil asking the mercenaries of the Celestial army to catch the Salt Sprayer by offering gold coins as a reward that the net of enclosure you had to face in the end got weaker."

Hearing that, Minerva's eyes widened. She froze, while Chris had the same reaction behind her as well.

So that was what happened. Minerva and Chris did indeed hear the soldiers on their tail mention while searching for them that another person was willing to pay more for them alive, compared with the money that Cornelius offered.

''—So they used the tactic of dispersing the enemy forces......''

Chris thought, the act of fearlessly scattering money in the enemy camp was just too reckless.

"That's why, when Gil returns, you'll have to thank him properly." Francesca said.

The tent of the Order of the Silver Egg's captain was far more lavish than one would have imagined, as though a bedroom in a noble's palace was completely duplicated there. The large bed in the tent's bedroom was stuffed full of feathers that seemed to be able to drown a person. The large flag signifying the dukedom and the Order that alternated in gold and silver was hung between the posts. The position at the bedside where armor was supposed to be hung was furnished with a galore of enchanting dresses. The dishes served by the servants were so sumptuous that it would cause people's eyes to widen.

"You're still hungry, aren't you? Have a seat." Francesca said.

The menu included roasted pies with a soft texture that were filled with apple fillings and extremely fresh meat products. Those were all delicacies that Chris never had a chance to consume in the army.

Although the food on the table looked mouthwatering, and definitely won't taste bad, to Chris, they were all dishes unsuited for his appetite. Added with the fact that Francesca and Minerva's gazes never left him as they dined, he only dared to consume some drinks and cheese.

The red wine there weren't sour at all, and was excellent wine. From that point, the Order probably had alcohol fermentation equipment as well.

''—Speaking of which......'' Chris raised his gaze and glanced at the two girls by his side, thinking that the dining etiquette of the two were just too particular, as though they had forgotten that they were actually in a military camp. Bread had to be tore off with the hands before putting them into the mouth, while chewing had to be done in small bites so that the cheeks would not swell up...... It was understandable to Chris that Francesca ate thus, but it surprised him to see that even Minerva did so.

''—It's the first time I encountered such a strange, uneasy feeling......''

After they finished eating, Francesca actually shocked them by saying:

"I'll sleep in the center, Paola sleeps on the left, Meena sleeps on the right. As for you, you can sleep on the area below our feet."

"Wait a minute!" Minerva shouted with a flustered expression before Chris even spoke: "Are you inviting him to sleep with us?!"

"But of course. He's a member of my personal guard."

"But doesn't Gilberto sleep at other places as well? And he's a man as well—"

"That's because Gil himself was unwilling to do so. As for me, as long as they're beautiful, I won't mind if they're men or women. Besides, won't it be great if we have such a beautiful beast as a footrest when we are sleeping?"

Chris's eyes widened, and fell into a daze. However, his brain started to buzz in slight pain.

''—This woman...... isn't crazy, is she?''

"Even if it's fine for you, Paola won't be willing as well!" Minerva frantically tried to change Francesca's opinion.

"Eh? Does that mean that you aren't unwilling?" Francesca asked.

"Of course not!"

That moment, sounds of approaching footsteps came from outside the tent. Chris reflexively touched his belt, but there wasn't any sword hanging there. The footsteps sounded light and rhythmic. If not for the metals on his armor clinking, it might have been hidden by the two women's bickering in the tent.

It was the footsteps of a veteran on the battlefield.

"Lady Fran, I have returned."

[[Image:TnJtRnK v01 105.jpg|thumb]]

When they looked around, they saw a tall man at the entrance of the military tent. He had gray hair shaved extremely short, eyes that were as bright as marbles, while his graceful features looked like a profound lake encased in a thin layer of ice.

The man wore black armor, but the armor could not hide the body it covered that went through numerous trainings and his hardened limbs. However, his longsword fixed to his waist was probably the most eye-catching thing about him. The arc of the sword's body was extremely graceful. It was most probable that the sword was just covered with a holster of knots as a suitable sheathe could not be found for it.

"So you're back, Gil. Listen, I was just talking to Meena about the problem of increasing the size of the bed."

The words caused the man to shoot a look as sharp as a nail at Minerva, fixating abruptly on Chris, leaving only after that. He looked back at his liege lord. There was a short sword hung on his waist, and the emblem of the Order carved on it was owned by Chris as well. It seemed like he was the leader of the Captain's personal guard, Gilberto.

"Due to the increase in numbers of my personal guard, this bed will not be enough anymore." Francesca said.

"Can we please discuss this matter only after we return to the country." Completely ignoring his liege lord's high spirits, he coolly poured cold water on her. After that, he said in a stern voice: "The enemy assigned an assault team to attack us in two directions. They'll probably reach us in about half an hour."

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| Back to [[Tsurugi_no_Joou_to_Rakuin_no_Ko:Volume_1_Chapter_4|Chapter 4]]
| Return to [[Tsurugi_no_Joou_no_Rakuin_no_Ko|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Tsurugi_no_Joou_to_Rakuin_no_Ko:Volume_1_Chapter_6|Chapter 6]]
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Tsurugi no Joou to Rakuin no Ko:Volume 1 Chapter 5

2013-04-21T23:29:40Z

67.189.36.139: /* Chapter 5 – Proud Vixen */

==Chapter 5 – Proud Vixen==

Francesca da Zaccaria accomplished many feats in her lifetime to be proud of. One of the most well known ones was that she had already refused marriage proposals of more than a hundred men in just her fifteenth year. She was the granddaughter of Duke Zaccaria, the leader of the Seven Countries of the East, and was both beautiful and talented since childhood. Thus, she was surrounded by many candidates picked by her father and grandfather to be her husband, but their proposals were promptly refused. Their attention only brought one sentence: "What a bunch of uninteresting fellows."

On the day when the number of men officially reached three digits, the old Duke Zaccaria who was usually gentle finally couldn't help himself from summoning his granddaughter to question her:

''「Fran, in the end, what sort of man will be satisfied with?」''

''「I want a man who is both stronger and more beautiful than I am.」'' Francesca answered.

''「It might be possible for one of r conditions to be met, but aren't the chances rather small for both of them to meet?」''

''「Of course not. At least, there will definitely be such a person on the battlefield.」''

Hence, Francesca started to frequent the training grounds of the knights, bringing an even larger headache to the duke's family.

Her father was disturbed by her peculiar actions, and thus summoned an old knight under his command.

''「What in the world is Francesca always doing among the knights? Is she observing r training?」'' He asked.

''「No, not only that.」'' The old knight answered.

''「Then she isn't training with , is she?」''

''「No, not only that as well.」''

The old knight's answer shocked Francesca's father so much that he couldn't even straighten his back. Never would he have thought that Francesca was actually teaching the members of the knighthood how to improve themselves.

After a year, a large-scale riot occurred on the borders of Zackaria. Francesca departed with fifty elite knights, and with lightning speed, led her troops directly into the church seized by the rioters to be used as their base. She captured the leader of the rioters alive, suppressing the upheaval practically without any loss of blood.

The news spread in the neighboring countries, and a poet gave such an evaluation regarding Francesca's various performances: ''Everything was like a ceremony to pray for rain. At first, there was an uproar caused by the campfire that was lit among great cheers of farmers and villagers, the inhabitants of the earth. Then, it was as though clouds darker and more turbid than ink were shrouded over the social circles of the nobility situated among the clouds, defamation that were continually spat out formed foul rainwater......''

Francesca's father and grandfather once scolded her together, asking her not to partake in barbarous activities unbecoming of those of a Duke's family. However, in the end their efforts were all in vain. Facing their reprimands, Francesca said resolutely: '''As members of the Zaccaria, protecting our land is in fact, a perfectly justified matter, and we have the obligation to do so as well!'''

The elderly Duke Zaccaria did not usually anger easily, but when his tolerance reached its peak, he came to a decision by himself without care for opinions of the others. And the results that came to due to the failure of their reprimands was thus. The old Duke Zaccaria announced the renouncement of his seat, giving his title of the Duke to his son, handing the job of the Commander of the Knights taken temporarily by his son to Francesca.

''「If so, outsiders will not have any chance of saying that are fooling around with the Knights. However, if do not fulfill r responsibilities and obligations as a Knight, r actions will be judged by military law!」''

''「That is exactly what I wish for!」''

Just like that, the old Duke kept his hands off his beloved granddaughter, allowing her to wander the battlefields as she liked. After that, he summoned the Knights in the city to the central courtyard as well, publicly announcing the shift of authority for the Knights into Francesca's hands.

''「Now, all of are my subordinates, and I have already decided on a new name and flag appropriate for the Order!」''

Francesca's words caused loud cheers among the knights lined up in the courtyard, and it was three years after that when the flag embroidered with a silver hen embracing a silver egg with its wings spread out fluttered in the bloodied wind of the battlefield, shaking up the entire Celestial Kingdom with its glorious feats.

<center>*</center>

"I was present as well when the flag of the Silver Hen waved at various battlefields. I was so excited each time we set out for expeditions that it felt like my asshole grew five times its original size."

The ng military doctor in the team chattered on about the incredible feats performed by the Order of the Silver Egg on the battlefields while closing up Chris's wound. The stove by their side heated up the whole pot of water, its steam filling the whole tent; but the ng military doctor blissfully telling his story didn't seem to realize it at all. He was called Nicolo, a vulgar, slovenly man. He had long, tea brown shoulder-length hair that was casually bound in a bunch behind him without much care. With his monocle on his nose bridge and his dashing features, he could be described as a handsome person. Although not visible from his features at all, he was once awarded a Badge of the Rose, and was a Knight to the letter.

"Actually, our Captain is a person who appreciates talent. Beauty or immeasurable strength, those who fulfill one of the two criteria will gain her recognition. Because of that, there is no end of cute girls even among our Captain's personal guard, such as Meena, Paola, and as for those who are currently absent......"

The military doctor counted names of girls on his fingers, while Chris listened blankly beside him. But since the number was too large, he was even unsure of what he should feel surprised at halfway through.

''—What is wrong with this Order......''

The leader was a duke's daughter just at an age of eighteen; the military doctor looked like an insufferable flirt, knights eavesdropping for information from the outside time after time showing their uncultured backgrounds, and there were even some who looked just like bad-hearted mercenaries as well, while the curiosity that overflowed from the their gazes when the looking at the captured Chris was almost as strong as enmity.

It was the first time he felt such an atmosphere in an army.

These people did not have cheap desires— that was what Chris sensed in the air. In the past, each of the troops that he saw was filled with the stench of beasts due to the strong desire for slaughter, coin or entertainment. However, the knights of the Order of the Silver Egg around him did not have such a stench at all, and the one who made the deepest impression on him was Minerva.

''—That's right! Where's Minerva? Is she alright? If I'm not mistaken, she's hurt as well......''

"Excuse me, Doctor......"

"Just call me Nicolo." The military doctor smiled, and immediately frowned after that: "Listen well, cannot speak of the word 'Doctor' for a second time in the Order of the Silver Egg. It is a taboo more horrifying than the god of death."

Chris had never heard any mention of the fact. However, that was not important......

"How is Minerva right now?" Chris asked.

"Paola is probably taking care of her. Women have female medical staff to take care of them— it's all because of that Francesca, who made such an unreasonable request. If I'm in charge of everything, I'll definitely heal everyone completely, without fail...... Hey, where are going!? Lie down! The injuries sustained are much more severe than that of Meena's!"

Nicolo pushed Chris back to the bed by his shoulders. He even kindly covered Chris with a blanket, but such physical exertion was already enough to cause the wounds on Chris to throb faintly. He could not help but furrow his brows.

"That girl...... Is she alright? She was hurt rather severely as well......"

"Compared with rs, her's are actually quite light. Instead of talking about her, what kind of monster are , seriously......" Nicolo said.

After hearing that, Chris shifted his gaze to the patch of tent above him and deeply breathed out in relief.

''—She's okay, that's so great......''

''—After all, if she is not present in the future, I will not be able to live on as well......''

"You're a mercenary of the Celestial Kingdom, aren't ? Why are so worried of Meena? Are really her slave?"

Hearing Nicolo's questions, Chris immediately turned around to ignore him.

"So what is it? Why don't just tell me? What does it matter? 'll be asked these questions no matter where go as long as stay here anyway."

Chris raised the back of his palm to eye level, and finally sighed in relief when he saw that the insignia there had already faded into his natural skin color— it seemed like the military doctor was still ignorant of the fact that Chris was the Star Eater.

"Minerva and I met on a battlefield, and I became her slave since I lost...... It's just that simple."

"Oh, then the 'beast's son who has jet black hair as profound as the night skies' Minerva once said would kill her would be ?"

Chris couldn't help but gulp at those words.

It seemed like Minerva had already told the comrades on her team of what she had foreseen. But to what extent did she reveal the information? Chris heard a guarantee from Minerva that she would definitely not tell the others of the brand, so Chris believed that the people who knew of it in the Order of the Silver Egg should be few.

"She said that this day would be the date of her death, and so left the squad by herself." Nicolo said: "But when we started a bet, everyone bet that she would survive in the end, so the gamble couldn't be started— But isn't that obvious? How can anyone in this world kill her?"

''—That's true. Even the powers of the Beast Brand could not kill her......''

''—No, perhaps I should say that she was not killed exactly because of the brand's power? This......''

"Even so......" Nicolo said with his head tilted: "Why in the world did she bring back alive? Did anything happen between ?"

"Ah...... Um...... That......."

Chris thought, if the military doctor who was good at getting familiar with other people found out about the brandings of the Beast on Chris, he would definitely look at him with a disgusted expression. Just thinking of that caused him to be unable to speak. However, just when Chris was stuttering over what he should explain, Nicolo suddenly showed a strange smile, making a conclusion over Chris and Minerva's relationship by himself: "Oh, so that's how things are? Well...... Indeed, if something like that really happened between , it's true that it would be hard to talk about." Chris felt that he seemed to have misunderstood something, but he still did not answer in the end.

"There are five stitches on r stomach. Stand up slowly, okay. Can put on r clothes on r own?"

Nicolo was not talking about the old clothing Chris originally wore that was stained by blood, but the brand new clothes that the squad prepared for him. When Chris wore the clothes, he thought in puzzlement over the reason he, as a captive, was allowed to wear clothing of such high quality. He only found something wrong after buttoning the clothes.

"Wait a minute, these clothes are?"

A flamboyantly carved sword accessory was hung on the chest position of the shirt, while emblems of a silver hen and a silver egg were embroidered at the area between the elbow and the cuff.

"This is the badge for Francesca's personal guards. As for the sword on the chest, it signifies that have to keep Francesca's safety in r heart at all time." Nicolo said.

"W-What the heck is this! What were thinking!" Chris couldn't help but cry out: "I'm a slave, why must I fight to the death for !"

" Didn't I already tell ? Francesca wants to enlist in her personal guards."

Chris was dumbstruck— ''Me? In among the Captain's personal guard? This means...... I'm supposed to become a member of the Order as well?''

''—What a joke! If things really turn out that way......''

Chris was worried that the fact that he was the 'Star Eating Beast' would be found out not long after. People might even see the Beast brandings on him. If so, he would be cursed and resented by the members of the squad. If even Minerva couldn't suppress the beast in him one day, he might have to eat up even the members in this team......

''—I-I definitely won't let things turn out this way.''

With a resolution of only being the slave by Minerva's side he was unprepared to come in contact with any other person in the team......

"Hey, can't be a bit more contented? 're becoming a member of the Captain's personal guard, know? can sleep in the same tent as her, call her directly as Fran, and there might even be a chance for to change her clothes for her! What is there to dislike? If 're not willing, then let me take r place instead!"

"Nicolo, if have finished r work, can directly stitch up r mouth as well?"

All of a sudden an unexpected sound rang, causing Nicolo to grab the dagger on the floor in shock. But when he realized who the owner of the voice was, his shoulders convulsed furiously as his shoulders froze. Chris looked back in shock as well; the one he saw was the blonde girl he encountered before. She was standing at the cramped entrance of the tent.

"Hello, beautiful beast." She walked into the tent. That moment, all of the armor on her was completely taken off, and the dress with an open chest did not look like clothing worn on a battlefield at all. The eyes that were like sapphires abruptly approached Chris, causing him to bump into a post supporting the tent when he walked backwards.

"Nicolo probably told about the squad badge, didn't he?"

Hearing Francesca's question, Chris's lowered eyes saw the sword ornament tied to his chest, and forced out an answer after raising his head: "I am from the Celestial Kingdom, and so cannot be r comrade."

"Aren't a mercenary? Besides, isn't r employer already missing?"

Francesca's rebuke made Chris speechless. Not knowing how to counter her, he could only nod when he stared at Francesca's mysterious expression.

"Listen well......" Francesca said: "Meena was the one who took back, and she is my subordinate. So are my belonging as well. Do understand now?" She pressed her hand on the side of Chris's ear when she spoke, gently sliding her soft, chilly fingertips to Chris's chin, as though she was teasing him, "For me, I will not be satisfied even if the soldiers around me are as much as the stars in the skies, so r participation can be said to be irreplaceable to me as well."

"Why—?" Chris swallowed his words halfway through— ''What is wrong is with this Order? Normally, won't any other daughter of a duke be nestled up in her own city, indulging in luxurious dresses, balls, and other people's gossip? Why did this woman lead an army to war? Might it be possible that she is really treating the troops her father entrusted to her as a toy......''

To that, Francesca shrugged and smiled superficially: "I'm not thinking of bringing down the Celestial Kingdom just for fun."

Her answer stunned Chris to silence— ''Bringing down the Celestial Kingdom?''

From what he was aware of, no matter how powerful an aristocratic House was, they would only cause uprisings to get land, military force and taxing rights from the Celestial Kingdom, but never did anyone make the grandiloquent declaration of overthrowing the Celestial Kingdom. However, the little girl of eighteen before his eyes......

While Chris was stunned in awe, the tent entrance was flipped open once again.

"Fran!"

This time, it was Minerva who rushed inside. That moment, she had already taken off the cape pinned to her sleeves, exposing her white, slender shoulders. With bloodstains on the bandage covering her wound on her waist, her fragile body would make people's heart ache. It was hard to associate her with the 'soul reaper' nimbly waving a large sword no matter how looked at it.

"Don't do things on r own accord. He is my belonging!" Minerva shouted in agitation.

"What is he to again?" Francesca asked in nonchalance.

"I said, he's my slave!"

"Did already forget, there is a rule in the Code of the Rose which says, 'without my permission, battle spoils cannot be taken for rself.'"

"Ngh......" Her words caused Minerva to lean unsteadily against a post and supported herself on it while protesting weakly:

"But...... He's a person, not a thing, so he can't be counted as a battle spoil....."

"But didn't say just now that he's r belonging?"

"Ah, ngh......."

Minerva's face reddened in anger. Her hand gripping the post tightened abruptly, causing the wooden post to creak in response. Seeing her reaction, Nicolo hurriedly ran forward with his face pale, "Hey hey hey, what the heck are doing! Are thinking of tearing down my tent? Calm down a little! How can win against the Captain in an argument? didn't even think of the fact that r brain isn't that quick from the star—"

Thump— Minerva's fist lashed out, hitting Nicolo away in an instant. Chris barely managed to catch the tall man, causing his wounds that were just stitched to throb in pain.

"Sorry, sorry, thanks a lot......" While apologizing, Nicolo rose, a flaming trail of nosebleed on his face.

"Say that once again if dare, and we'll see how quick r brain will twist!" Minerva cried out in anger. However, the shout caused a severe pain in her wounds, making her press her side abdomen. That moment, another person ran into the tent.

"Meena, I haven't finished dealing with r wounds yet. can't just run off like this!"

The girl wore a brimless hat and donned a blue, triangular cape. It seemed like that was the uniform for the medical soldiers. The medical staff looked similar to Minerva in age, or was perhaps a few years nger than her. There were even a few locks of light brown baby hair at the side of her thful face. Seeing the disaster in the tent and her liege lord standing before her, she couldn't help but cry out with her hand covering her mouth and her face pale: "Ah! Lady Fran, my deepest apologies!"

"Paola. Haven't I told that must tie up her neck when are handling Meena's wounds? She doesn't get hurt often, so she hates the medicinal odor."

"What do treat me as, a dog?!"

"N-No, Meena ran out in a rush when she heard Lady Fran discussing about the entry to the team with the captive......"

Seeing the two squabbling before her, the girl called Paola added on in support of Minerva after looking at them timidly. From beside, Nicolo spoke by Chris's ears in a low voice, " two are actually rather similar......"

However, the words seemed to be overheard by Minerva, and she immediately shot a look as sharp as blades across Nicolo's heart. Judging that the situation was not good, the military doctor hurriedly hid behind Chris without regard for his own pride.

That moment, Francesca spoke while holding Minerva's hand: "Why do refuse to let this beautiful beast join us?"

"This—" After hearing her question, Minerva first glanced at Chris, and then stayed mute after looking around at the people present. Then, she said: "Because...... Because I must keep him by my side. If not...... It'll be...... dangerous, if he is allowed to approach the others......"

"So the two of are so close that 're inseparable?" Francesca added quickly.

"Don't explain it in such a way! That is not what I mean! He is just my tool, and nothing else!"

''—What in the world are these two talking about......''

Chris was dumbstruck, and even then, Nicolo still refused to behave, and interjected: "This is the man she saw every night even in her dreams, of course she won't let him g—" Before finishing his words, the gauntlet that Minerva tossed over crashed heavily on Nicolo's forehead, causing him to bend down in pain.

After seeing that, Francesca sighed and said: "Paola, have a look at Nicolo. No matter how much he bluffs of his greatness as a doctor, I think he won't be able to deal with injuries on his own face. Well then, welcome, beautiful beast."

She changed topics in a flash, taking Minerva and Chris out of the tent at the same time, passing through the center of the camp.

Under the evening skies, smoke curled upwards from the porridge stewing in the campsite...... A whole day passed since their return. Night was about to descend.

Military tents were erected everywhere. All the soldiers in the Order sat around the campfire. When they saw Francesca walking by with Chris and Minerva, they nodded to their liege lord one by one, glaring at Chris who was walking behind her as well.

Among their murmuring voices, Chris heard the word 'Star Eater' and froze on the spot.

''—Someone knows of me!''

''—Is it possible that there are even people among the Principality who heard of rumors about me?''

"Hey, guys know of this beast?"

Francesca heard it as well. She stopped and questioned her subordinate sitting by the campfire.

"Of course! He has quite the famous name!"

"Captain, did see the armor that guy was wearing? Each part of the set is first class stuff of the highest level. However, not one of them was of the same set."

"There are some with emblems of Duke Houses, some with art hand-drawn by noblewomen, and even some of the exorcism pictures of the Church. How could anyone get such an assorted set of armor together?"

Hearing their descriptions, Chris couldn't help but avert his gaze.

"All of those were probably robbed from famous Generals or Knights after he killed them."

"Actually, it's still fine when we hear the name 'Star Eater'. It's the people of the Celestial Kingdom army who would get scared out of their wits after hearing it."

"I heard that an army with him would definitely perish."

Thus, quite a few gazes were focused on Chris. Even when he looked away, he could still feel the gazes full of enmity piercing his body like a thousand needles.

"Meena, why the heck did bring this guy alive? Wasn't this guy supposed to kill ?"

"That's right, should have chopped off his limbs, leaving him alone on the battlefield."

Just when Minerva was about to answer, Francesca stopped her with a flourish of her hands, speaking ahead of her instead:

"He's joining my personal guard."

The words caused the soldiers surrounding the campfire to stand up as well. Even the people slightly further away from them gulped and almost stood up together as well.

"Captain, are serious?!"

Among them, an impatient soldier who was the eldest, and had a large scar on his face approached, questioning Francesca in a distance so close he almost pressed against her.

"Putting this guy in the Order is just bad luck. Please don't do something like that!"

"If we let him stay in the Order, who knows what trouble he would bring!"

"'re just plainly ignoring the lives of r comrades if do this!"

The words pierced Chris's heart one after another. However, it was actually quite normal for them to have such reactions.

''—Never mind......''

''—Just let me be a slave of my own will, just like a rusted hoe kept in a store by a farmer......''

''—Please don't drag me into this team......''

"Are doubting my decision?"

Facing her subordinate's objections, Francesca tilted her head, halting everyone's discussions with a loud, imperious voice. The soldiers who continually jeered at Chris paled, not daring to make the slightest sound.

"==Chapter 5 – Proud Vixen==

Francesca da Zaccaria accomplished many feats in her lifetime to be proud of. One of the most well known ones was that she had already refused marriage proposals of more than a hundred men in just her fifteenth year. She was the granddaughter of Duke Zaccaria, the leader of the Seven Countries of the East, and was both beautiful and talented since childhood. Thus, she was surrounded by many candidates picked by her father and grandfather to be her husband, but their proposals were promptly refused. Their attention only brought one sentence: "What a bunch of uninteresting fellows."

On the day when the number of men officially reached three digits, the old Duke Zaccaria who was usually gentle finally couldn't help himself from summoning his granddaughter to question her:

''「Fran, in the end, what sort of man will you be satisfied with?」''

''「I want a man who is both stronger and more beautiful than I am.」'' Francesca answered.

''「It might be possible for one of your conditions to be met, but aren't the chances rather small for both of them to meet?」''

''「Of course not. At least, there will definitely be such a person on the battlefield.」''

Hence, Francesca started to frequent the training grounds of the knights, bringing an even larger headache to the duke's family.

Her father was disturbed by her peculiar actions, and thus summoned an old knight under his command.

''「What in the world is Francesca always doing among the knights? Is she observing your training?」'' He asked.

''「No, not only that.」'' The old knight answered.

''「Then she isn't training with you, is she?」''

''「No, not only that as well.」''

The old knight's answer shocked Francesca's father so much that he couldn't even straighten his back. Never would he have thought that Francesca was actually teaching the members of the knighthood how to improve themselves.

After a year, a large-scale riot occurred on the borders of Zackaria. Francesca departed with fifty elite knights, and with lightning speed, led her troops directly into the church seized by the rioters to be used as their base. She captured the leader of the rioters alive, suppressing the upheaval practically without any loss of blood.

The news spread in the neighboring countries, and a poet gave such an evaluation regarding Francesca's various performances: ''Everything was like a ceremony to pray for rain. At first, there was an uproar caused by the campfire that was lit among great cheers of farmers and villagers, the inhabitants of the earth. Then, it was as though clouds darker and more turbid than ink were shrouded over the social circles of the nobility situated among the clouds, defamation that were continually spat out formed foul rainwater......''

Francesca's father and grandfather once scolded her together, asking her not to partake in barbarous activities unbecoming of those of a Duke's family. However, in the end their efforts were all in vain. Facing their reprimands, Francesca said resolutely: '''As members of the Zaccaria, protecting our land is in fact, a perfectly justified matter, and we have the obligation to do so as well!'''

The elderly Duke Zaccaria did not usually anger easily, but when his tolerance reached its peak, he came to a decision by himself without care for opinions of the others. And the results that came to due to the failure of their reprimands was thus. The old Duke Zaccaria announced the renouncement of his seat, giving his title of the Duke to his son, handing the job of the Commander of the Knights taken temporarily by his son to Francesca.

''「If so, outsiders will not have any chance of saying that you are fooling around with the Knights. However, if you do not fulfill your responsibilities and obligations as a Knight, your actions will be judged by military law!」''

''「That is exactly what I wish for!」''

Just like that, the old Duke kept his hands off his beloved granddaughter, allowing her to wander the battlefields as she liked. After that, he summoned the Knights in the city to the central courtyard as well, publicly announcing the shift of authority for the Knights into Francesca's hands.

''「Now, all of you are my subordinates, and I have already decided on a new name and flag appropriate for the Order!」''

Francesca's words caused loud cheers among the knights lined up in the courtyard, and it was three years after that when the flag embroidered with a silver hen embracing a silver egg with its wings spread out fluttered in the bloodied wind of the battlefield, shaking up the entire Celestial Kingdom with its glorious feats.

<center>*</center>

"I was present as well when the flag of the Silver Hen waved at various battlefields. I was so excited each time we set out for expeditions that it felt like my asshole grew five times its original size."

The young military doctor in the team chattered on about the incredible feats performed by the Order of the Silver Egg on the battlefields while closing up Chris's wound. The stove by their side heated up the whole pot of water, its steam filling the whole tent; but the young military doctor blissfully telling his story didn't seem to realize it at all. He was called Nicolo, a vulgar, slovenly man. He had long, tea brown shoulder-length hair that was casually bound in a bunch behind him without much care. With his monocle on his nose bridge and his dashing features, he could be described as a handsome person. Although not visible from his features at all, he was once awarded a Badge of the Rose, and was a Knight to the letter.

"Actually, our Captain is a person who appreciates talent. Beauty or immeasurable strength, those who fulfill one of the two criteria will gain her recognition. Because of that, there is no end of cute girls even among our Captain's personal guard, such as Meena, Paola, and as for those who are currently absent......"

The military doctor counted names of girls on his fingers, while Chris listened blankly beside him. But since the number was too large, he was even unsure of what he should feel surprised at halfway through.

''—What is wrong with this Order......''

The leader was a duke's daughter just at an age of eighteen; the military doctor looked like an insufferable flirt, knights eavesdropping for information from the outside time after time showing their uncultured backgrounds, and there were even some who looked just like bad-hearted mercenaries as well, while the curiosity that overflowed from the their gazes when the looking at the captured Chris was almost as strong as enmity.

It was the first time he felt such an atmosphere in an army.

These people did not have cheap desires— that was what Chris sensed in the air. In the past, each of the troops that he saw was filled with the stench of beasts due to the strong desire for slaughter, coin or entertainment. However, the knights of the Order of the Silver Egg around him did not have such a stench at all, and the one who made the deepest impression on him was Minerva.

''—That's right! Where's Minerva? Is she alright? If I'm not mistaken, she's hurt as well......''

"Excuse me, Doctor......"

"Just call me Nicolo." The military doctor smiled, and immediately frowned after that: "Listen well, you cannot speak of the word 'Doctor' for a second time in the Order of the Silver Egg. It is a taboo more horrifying than the god of death."

Chris had never heard any mention of the fact. However, that was not important......

"How is Minerva right now?" Chris asked.

"Paola is probably taking care of her. Women have female medical staff to take care of them— it's all because of that Francesca, who made such an unreasonable request. If I'm in charge of everything, I'll definitely heal everyone completely, without fail...... Hey, where are you going!? Lie down! The injuries you sustained are much more severe than that of Meena's!"

Nicolo pushed Chris back to the bed by his shoulders. He even kindly covered Chris with a blanket, but such physical exertion was already enough to cause the wounds on Chris to throb faintly. He could not help but furrow his brows.

"That girl...... Is she alright? She was hurt rather severely as well......"

"Compared with yours, her's are actually quite light. Instead of talking about her, what kind of monster are you, seriously......" Nicolo said.

After hearing that, Chris shifted his gaze to the patch of tent above him and deeply breathed out in relief.

''—She's okay, that's so great......''

''—After all, if she is not present in the future, I will not be able to live on as well......''

" You're a mercenary of the Celestial Kingdom, aren't you? Why are you so worried of Meena? Are you really her slave?"

Hearing Nicolo's questions, Chris immediately turned around to ignore him.

"So what is it? Why don't you just tell me? What does it matter? You'll be asked these questions no matter where you go as long as you stay here anyway."

Chris raised the back of his palm to eye level, and finally sighed in relief when he saw that the insignia there had already faded into his natural skin color— it seemed like the military doctor was still ignorant of the fact that Chris was the Star Eater.

"Minerva and I met on a battlefield, and I became her slave since I lost...... It's just that simple."

"Oh, then the 'beast's son who has jet black hair as profound as the night skies' Minerva once said would kill her would be you?"

Chris couldn't help but gulp at those words.

It seemed like Minerva had already told the comrades on her team of what she had foreseen. But to what extent did she reveal the information? Chris heard a guarantee from Minerva that she would definitely not tell the others of the brand, so Chris believed that the people who knew of it in the Order of the Silver Egg should be few.

"She said that this day would be the date of her death, and so left the squad by herself." Nicolo said: "But when we started a bet, everyone bet that she would survive in the end, so the gamble couldn't be started— But isn't that obvious? How can anyone in this world kill her?"

''—That's true. Even the powers of the Beast Brand could not kill her......''

''—No, perhaps I should say that she was not killed exactly because of the brand's power? This......''

"Even so......" Nicolo said with his head tilted: "Why in the world did she bring you back alive? Did anything happen between you?"

"Ah...... Um...... That......."

Chris thought, if the military doctor who was good at getting familiar with other people found out about the brandings of the Beast on Chris, he would definitely look at him with a disgusted expression. Just thinking of that caused him to be unable to speak. However, just when Chris was stuttering over what he should explain, Nicolo suddenly showed a strange smile, making a conclusion over Chris and Minerva's relationship by himself: "Oh, so that's how things are? Well...... Indeed, if something like that really happened between you, it's true that it would be hard to talk about." Chris felt that he seemed to have misunderstood something, but he still did not answer in the end.

"There are five stitches on your stomach. Stand up slowly, okay. Can you put on your clothes on your own?"

Nicolo was not talking about the old clothing Chris originally wore that was stained by blood, but the brand new clothes that the squad prepared for him. When Chris wore the clothes, he thought in puzzlement over the reason he, as a captive, was allowed to wear clothing of such high quality. He only found something wrong after buttoning the clothes.

"Wait a minute, these clothes are?"

A flamboyantly carved sword accessory was hung on the chest position of the shirt, while emblems of a silver hen and a silver egg were embroidered at the area between the elbow and the cuff.

"This is the badge for Francesca's personal guards. As for the sword on the chest, it signifies that you have to keep Francesca's safety in your heart at all time." Nicolo said.

"W-What the heck is this! What were you thinking!" Chris couldn't help but cry out: "I'm a slave, why must I fight to the death for you!"

" Didn't I already tell you? Francesca wants to enlist you in her personal guards."

Chris was dumbstruck— ''Me? In among the Captain's personal guard? This means...... I'm supposed to become a member of the Order as well?''

''—What a joke! If things really turn out that way......''

Chris was worried that the fact that he was the 'Star Eating Beast' would be found out not long after. People might even see the Beast brandings on him. If so, he would be cursed and resented by the members of the squad. If even Minerva couldn't suppress the beast in him one day, he might have to eat up even the members in this team......

''—I-I definitely won't let things turn out this way.''

With a resolution of only being the slave by Minerva's side he was unprepared to come in contact with any other person in the team......

"Hey, can't you be a bit more contented? You're becoming a member of the Captain's personal guard, you know? You can sleep in the same tent as her, call her directly as Fran, and there might even be a chance for you to change her clothes for her! What is there to dislike? If you're not willing, then let me take your place instead!"

"Nicolo, if you have finished your work, can you directly stitch up your mouth as well?"

All of a sudden an unexpected sound rang, causing Nicolo to grab the dagger on the floor in shock. But when he realized who the owner of the voice was, his shoulders convulsed furiously as his shoulders froze. Chris looked back in shock as well; the one he saw was the blonde girl he encountered before. She was standing at the cramped entrance of the tent.

"Hello, beautiful beast." She walked into the tent. That moment, all of the armor on her was completely taken off, and the dress with an open chest did not look like clothing worn on a battlefield at all. The eyes that were like sapphires abruptly approached Chris, causing him to bump into a post supporting the tent when he walked backwards.

"Nicolo probably told you about the squad badge, didn't he?"

Hearing Francesca's question, Chris's lowered eyes saw the sword ornament tied to his chest, and forced out an answer after raising his head: "I am from the Celestial Kingdom, and so cannot be your comrade."

"Aren't you a mercenary? Besides, isn't your employer already missing?"

Francesca's rebuke made Chris speechless. Not knowing how to counter her, he could only nod when he stared at Francesca's mysterious expression.

"Listen well......" Francesca said: "Meena was the one who took you back, and she is my subordinate. So you are my belonging as well. Do you understand now?" She pressed her hand on the side of Chris's ear when she spoke, gently sliding her soft, chilly fingertips to Chris's chin, as though she was teasing him, "For me, I will not be satisfied even if the soldiers around me are as much as the stars in the skies, so your participation can be said to be irreplaceable to me as well."

"Why—?" Chris swallowed his words halfway through— ''What is wrong is with this Order? Normally, won't any other daughter of a duke be nestled up in her own city, indulging in luxurious dresses, balls, and other people's gossip? Why did this woman lead an army to war? Might it be possible that she is really treating the troops her father entrusted to her as a toy......''

To that, Francesca shrugged and smiled superficially: "I'm not thinking of bringing down the Celestial Kingdom just for fun."

Her answer stunned Chris to silence— ''Bringing down the Celestial Kingdom?''

From what he was aware of, no matter how powerful an aristocratic House was, they would only cause uprisings to get land, military force and taxing rights from the Celestial Kingdom, but never did anyone make the grandiloquent declaration of overthrowing the Celestial Kingdom. However, the little girl of eighteen before his eyes......

While Chris was stunned in awe, the tent entrance was flipped open once again.

"Fran!"

This time, it was Minerva who rushed inside. That moment, she had already taken off the cape pinned to her sleeves, exposing her white, slender shoulders. With bloodstains on the bandage covering her wound on her waist, her fragile body would make people's heart ache. It was hard to associate her with the 'soul reaper' nimbly waving a large sword no matter how you looked at it.

"Don't you do things on your own accord. He is my belonging!" Minerva shouted in agitation.

"What is he to you again?" Francesca asked in nonchalance.

"I said, he's my slave!"

"Did you already forget, there is a rule in the Code of the Rose which says, 'without my permission, battle spoils cannot be taken for yourself.'"

"Ngh......" Her words caused Minerva to lean unsteadily against a post and supported herself on it while protesting weakly:

"But...... He's a person, not a thing, so he can't be counted as a battle spoil....."

"But didn't you say just now that he's your belonging?"

"Ah, ngh......."

Minerva's face reddened in anger. Her hand gripping the post tightened abruptly, causing the wooden post to creak in response. Seeing her reaction, Nicolo hurriedly ran forward with his face pale, "Hey hey hey, what the heck are you doing! Are you thinking of tearing down my tent? Calm down a little! How can you win against the Captain in an argument? You didn't even think of the fact that your brain isn't that quick from the star—"

Thump— Minerva's fist lashed out, hitting Nicolo away in an instant. Chris barely managed to catch the tall man, causing his wounds that were just stitched to throb in pain.

"Sorry, sorry, thanks a lot......" While apologizing, Nicolo rose, a flaming trail of nosebleed on his face.

"Say that once again if you dare, and we'll see how quick your brain will twist!" Minerva cried out in anger. However, the shout caused a severe pain in her wounds, making her press her side abdomen. That moment, another person ran into the tent.

"Meena, I haven't finished dealing with your wounds yet. You can't just run off like this!"

The girl wore a brimless hat and donned a blue, triangular cape. It seemed like that was the uniform for the medical soldiers. The medical staff looked similar to Minerva in age, or was perhaps a few years younger than her. There were even a few locks of light brown baby hair at the side of her youthful face. Seeing the disaster in the tent and her liege lord standing before her, she couldn't help but cry out with her hand covering her mouth and her face pale: "Ah! Lady Fran, my deepest apologies!"

"Paola. Haven't I told you that you must tie up her neck when you are handling Meena's wounds? She doesn't get hurt often, so she hates the medicinal odor."

"What do you treat me as, a dog?!"

"N-No, Meena ran out in a rush when she heard Lady Fran discussing about the entry to the team with the captive......"

Seeing the two squabbling before her, the girl called Paola added on in support of Minerva after looking at them timidly. From beside, Nicolo spoke by Chris's ears in a low voice, "You two are actually rather similar......"

However, the words seemed to be overheard by Minerva, and she immediately shot a look as sharp as blades across Nicolo's heart. Judging that the situation was not good, the military doctor hurriedly hid behind Chris without regard for his own pride.

That moment, Francesca spoke while holding Minerva's hand: "Why do you refuse to let this beautiful beast join us?"

"This—" After hearing her question, Minerva first glanced at Chris, and then stayed mute after looking around at the people present. Then, she said: "Because...... Because I must keep him by my side. If not...... It'll be...... dangerous, if he is allowed to approach the others......"

"So the two of you are so close that you're inseparable?" Francesca added quickly.

"Don't explain it in such a way! That is not what I mean! He is just my tool, and nothing else!"

''—What in the world are these two talking about......''

Chris was dumbstruck, and even then, Nicolo still refused to behave, and interjected: "This is the man she saw every night even in her dreams, of course she won't let him g—" Before finishing his words, the gauntlet that Minerva tossed over crashed heavily on Nicolo's forehead, causing him to bend down in pain.

After seeing that, Francesca sighed and said: "Paola, have a look at Nicolo. No matter how much he bluffs of his greatness as a doctor, I think he won't be able to deal with injuries on his own face. Well then, welcome, beautiful beast."

She changed topics in a flash, taking Minerva and Chris out of the tent at the same time, passing through the center of the camp.

Under the evening skies, smoke curled upwards from the porridge stewing in the campsite...... A whole day passed since their return. Night was about to descend.

Military tents were erected everywhere. All the soldiers in the Order sat around the campfire. When they saw Francesca walking by with Chris and Minerva, they nodded to their liege lord one by one, glaring at Chris who was walking behind her as well.

Among their murmuring voices, Chris heard the word 'Star Eater' and froze on the spot.

''—Someone knows of me!''

''—Is it possible that there are even people among the Principality who heard of rumors about me?''

"Hey, you guys know of this beast?"

Francesca heard it as well. She stopped and questioned her subordinate sitting by the campfire.

"Of course! He has quite the famous name!"

"Captain, did you see the armor that guy was wearing? Each part of the set is first class stuff of the highest level. However, not one of them was of the same set."

"There are some with emblems of Duke Houses, some with art hand-drawn by noblewomen, and even some of the exorcism pictures of the Church. How could anyone get such an assorted set of armor together?"

Hearing their descriptions, Chris couldn't help but avert his gaze.

"All of those were probably robbed from famous Generals or Knights after he killed them."

"Actually, it's still fine when we hear the name 'Star Eater'. It's the people of the Celestial Kingdom army who would get scared out of their wits after hearing it."

"I heard that an army with him would definitely perish."

Thus, quite a few gazes were focused on Chris. Even when he looked away, he could still feel the gazes full of enmity piercing his body like a thousand needles.

"Meena, why the heck did you bring this guy alive? Wasn't this guy supposed to kill you?"

"That's right, you should have chopped off his limbs, leaving him alone on the battlefield."

Just when Minerva was about to answer, Francesca stopped her with a flourish of her hands, speaking ahead of her instead:

"He's joining my personal guard."

The words caused the soldiers surrounding the campfire to stand up as well. Even the people slightly further away from them gulped and almost stood up together as well.

"Captain, are you serious?!"

Among them, an impatient soldier who was the eldest, and had a large scar on his face approached, questioning Francesca in a distance so close he almost pressed against her.

"Putting this guy in the Order is just bad luck. Please don't do something like that!"

"If we let him stay in the Order, who knows what trouble he would bring!"

"You're just plainly ignoring the lives of your comrades if you do this!"

The words pierced Chris's heart one after another. However, it was actually quite normal for them to have such reactions.

''—Never mind......''

''—Just let me be a slave of my own will, just like a rusted hoe kept in a store by a farmer......''

''—Please don't drag me into this team......''

"Are you doubting my decision?"

Facing her subordinate's objections, Francesca tilted her head, halting everyone's discussions with a loud, imperious voice. The soldiers who continually jeered at Chris paled, not daring to make the slightest sound.

"You think that the Order of the Silver Egg trained by me, Francesca da Zaccaria, directed by me in warfare strategy will lose to the misfortune wrought on by such a cute beast?"

Francesca's imposing presence covered that of the soldiers present. After they exchanged gazes with each other, all of them knelt down, bowing down before their Captain. The scene shocked Chris into a daze.

The blonde girl with a startling imposing manner lowered her head to look at her subordinates, and berated right after that:

"How many times have I told you not to forget your pride as a member of the Order of the Silver Egg? The pride includes the honor signified by the flag you are under, your liege lord's name and your own pride!"

After saying that, she turned around, while Minerva chased over while saying in displeasure:

"Look, everyone had such a reaction just because you wanted to enlist him into your personal guard. This guy is a mad dog. You can only order him around as a slave with a collar on his neck......"

Chris knew that Minerva was having a headache over how she should keep him by her side as well, and if Chris's presence caused harm to the Order's safety, Minerva would probably kill him without hesitating. However, if Chris were to become a member of the Order, she could not do that anymore.

"Meena, do you mean to keep this beautiful beast all to yourself?"

"That is not what I mean!"

"Excuse me...... Francesca......"

While Francesca and Minerva were bickering, Chris called the young Captain before him as he walked to a shady spot in the tent behind them.

"Just call me Fran. You are the fifth person to get permission." Francesca turned around and said while pointing at Chris.

However, facing the goodwill of the daughter of a duke, Chris instead caught hold of the sword ornament tied to his chest and handed it to Francesca after tearing it down with its band.

"What are you doing?" She asked. With her head tilted, she stood before Chris like a cat that caught sight of its prey.

"I cannot become your comrade, because I am a harbinger of misfortune no matter where I walk. No matter where I go, I will be resented, cursed by the people like just now."

Before realizing it, Chris almost let slip the fact that he had the Brand of the Beast in him as well, saying that he was a beast that lived on the lives of other people, but he still held back in the end. After all, he would be unable to continue staying by Minerva's side if such words were spoken.

"I don't care what other people say. The most important thing is how you yourself think, isn't that right?"

Francesca's denial caused Chris to be struck dumb momentarily.

"Besides, don't you have a reason to stay by Meena for?"

In a double-team of the elegant Lady's gaze who could see through people's thoughts and Minerva's gaze that was chilly as heavy lead, Chris nodded vaguely, "I-It's..... true that I wish to stay by Minerva's side, but......"

"—! You— Can you please mind how you speak!?"

After hearing that, Minerva struck Chris with an elbow hit, causing him to see stars.

''—Why did she get mad? Isn't things exactly so......''

''—Henceforth, I will always...... always stay by your side, devouring your fate, eating up your destiny of death......''

"Oh my, fine, fine." Francesca widened her eyes in feigned shock, smiling while she walked, "It's just great, Meena. How good will it be if I could hear someone say that to me."

Seeing Francesca's hand that was approaching her, Minerva pushed her's away abruptly, walking two steps before Francesca after that.

"Anyway, your reason cannot be disclosed, right?" Francesca asked once again. However, Minerva gave a 'hmph', while Chris nodded as well.

''—How can we disclose this......''

''—How can I tell the others that I am actually a beast who lives on the fates of the others?''

"Very well. Forget it. Anyway, I've already decided. Since I like this beautiful beast, I am enlisting him in my personal guard."

That moment, the three of them were passing through another campfire. When the soldiers around them heard Francesca's words, they glared at Chris in surprise.

"Captain's personal guard......" "We're talking about that guy?" "Captain is making reckless decisions again......" Chris could not help but feel a blow when he heard the discussions around them, and lowered his head to look at his feet.

''—In such gazes and disparagement...... How can they fight by my side in companionship......''

"Besides, this beautiful beast probably knows nothing but fighting, isn't that right?"

Hearing Francesca's voice, Chris came to his senses after a moment of shock.

"You said that you're keeping him as a slave, but what can he do? You aren't thinking of letting him dress you up everyday, are you?"

"N-No...... This...... Well......" Facing Francesca's questions, Minerva stuttered, not knowing how to answer.

"Look, the people around us would have less to say if I keep him by my side instead. If so, it means that he's by your side as well, so please think better about it."

Francesca said.

Chris did not speak, and brooded over the words of the young Captain.

In fact, she might have been right as well. After all, his identity as the 'Star Eater' was long known. If so, as long as he stayed in the Order, no matter as a slave with his neck tied up, or fighting with the others while holding a sword, such enmity would not disappear. If so—

Chris nodded to Francesca's opinions, while the young Captain narrowed her eyes in a smile in satisfaction as well, nodding in response to Chris's affirmation.

Thus, with uneasy emotions, he tied the sword ornament that was not yet handed out back on his chest.

''—Can...... Can I really protect the others......?''

''—In the past, I was a beast who devoured the fates of other people all along. Can I really protect Minerva?''

Chris thought in his heart. If the night of the new moon descended, and even Minerva was unable to suppress the beast on him, he would have to escape by himself. If so, he only had that choice as well......

However, to Francesca's statement, Minerva objected while pursing her lips:

"You want him to join your personal guard, but you decided without getting Gilberto's agreement. That guy will be angry."

"Even though he's the captain of the personal guards, he does not have the right to object to my decision as well. Besides, Gil isn't even here anyway."

"Not here? Why?" Minerva asked.

"I asked him to sneak into an enemy campsite, but I think he's about to return soon."

"Sneaking into an enemy campsite? Why? Aren't we already retreating?"

Facing Minerva's question, Francesca patted her on her shoulders.

"How do you think you were saved in the river valley? It's because of Gil asking the mercenaries of the Celestial army to catch the Salt Sprayer by offering gold coins as a reward that the net of enclosure you had to face in the end got weaker."

Hearing that, Minerva's eyes widened. She froze, while Chris had the same reaction behind her as well.

So that was what happened. Minerva and Chris did indeed hear the soldiers on their tail mention while searching for them that another person was willing to pay more for them alive, compared with the money that Cornelius offered.

''—So they used the tactic of dispersing the enemy forces......''

Chris thought, the act of fearlessly scattering money in the enemy camp was just too reckless.

"That's why, when Gil returns, you'll have to thank him properly." Francesca said.

The tent of the Order of the Silver Egg's captain was far more lavish than one would have imagined, as though a bedroom in a noble's palace was completely duplicated there. The large bed in the tent's bedroom was stuffed full of feathers that seemed to be able to drown a person. The large flag signifying the dukedom and the Order that alternated in gold and silver was hung between the posts. The position at the bedside where armor was supposed to be hung was furnished with a galore of enchanting dresses. The dishes served by the servants were so sumptuous that it would cause people's eyes to widen.

"You're still hungry, aren't you? Have a seat." Francesca said.

The menu included roasted pies with a soft texture that were filled with apple fillings and extremely fresh meat products. Those were all delicacies that Chris never had a chance to consume in the army.

Although the food on the table looked mouthwatering, and definitely won't taste bad, to Chris, they were all dishes unsuited for his appetite. Added with the fact that Francesca and Minerva's gazes never left him as they dined, he only dared to consume some drinks and cheese.

The red wine there weren't sour at all, and was excellent wine. From that point, the Order probably had alcohol fermentation equipment as well.

''—Speaking of which......'' Chris raised his gaze and glanced at the two girls by his side, thinking that the dining etiquette of the two were just too particular, as though they had forgotten that they were actually in a military camp. Bread had to be tore off with the hands before putting them into the mouth, while chewing had to be done in small bites so that the cheeks would not swell up...... It was understandable to Chris that Francesca ate thus, but it surprised him to see that even Minerva did so.

''—It's the first time I encountered such a strange, uneasy feeling......''

After they finished eating, Francesca actually shocked them by saying:

"I'll sleep in the center, Paola sleeps on the left, Meena sleeps on the right. As for you, you can sleep on the area below our feet."

"Wait a minute!" Minerva shouted with a flustered expression before Chris even spoke: "Are you inviting him to sleep with us?!"

"But of course. He's a member of my personal guard."

"But doesn't Gilberto sleep at other places as well? And he's a man as well—"

"That's because Gil himself was unwilling to do so. As for me, as long as they're beautiful, I won't mind if they're men or women. Besides, won't it be great if we have such a beautiful beast as a footrest when we are sleeping?"

Chris's eyes widened, and fell into a daze. However, his brain started to buzz in slight pain.

''—This woman...... isn't crazy, is she?''

"Even if it's fine for you, Paola won't be willing as well!" Minerva frantically tried to change Francesca's opinion.

"Eh? Does that mean that you aren't unwilling?" Francesca asked.

"Of course not!"

That moment, sounds of approaching footsteps came from outside the tent. Chris reflexively touched his belt, but there wasn't any sword hanging there. The footsteps sounded light and rhythmic. If not for the metals on his armor clinking, it might have been hidden by the two women's bickering in the tent.

It was the footsteps of a veteran on the battlefield.

"Lady Fran, I have returned."

[[Image:TnJtRnK v01 105.jpg|thumb]]

When they looked around, they saw a tall man at the entrance of the military tent. He had gray hair shaved extremely short, eyes that were as bright as marbles, while his graceful features looked like a profound lake encased in a thin layer of ice.

The man wore black armor, but the armor could not hide the body it covered that went through numerous trainings and his hardened limbs. However, his longsword fixed to his waist was probably the most eye-catching thing about him. The arc of the sword's body was extremely graceful. It was most probable that the sword was just covered with a holster of knots as a suitable sheathe could not be found for it.

"So you're back, Gil. Listen, I was just talking to Meena about the problem of increasing the size of the bed."

The words caused the man to shoot a look as sharp as a nail at Minerva, fixating abruptly on Chris, leaving only after that. He looked back at his liege lord. There was a short sword hung on his waist, and the emblem of the Order carved on it was owned by Chris as well. It seemed like he was the leader of the Captain's personal guard, Gilberto.

"Due to the increase in numbers of my personal guard, this bed will not be enough anymore." Francesca said.

"Can we please discuss this matter only after we return to the country." Completely ignoring his liege lord's high spirits, he coolly poured cold water on her. After that, he said in a stern voice: "The enemy assigned an assault team to attack us in two directions. They'll probably reach us in about half an hour."

<noinclude>
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| Back to [[Tsurugi_no_Joou_to_Rakuin_no_Ko:Volume_1_Chapter_4|Chapter 4]]
| Return to [[Tsurugi_no_Joou_no_Rakuin_no_Ko|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Tsurugi_no_Joou_to_Rakuin_no_Ko:Volume_1_Chapter_6|Chapter 6]]
|-
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</noinclude>

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume5 Chapter1

2013-04-11T04:17:11Z

67.189.36.139: /* Part 1 */

==Chapter 1: The Broken Sacred Sword==

=== Part 1 ===

"—!?"

Waking up, he found himself on his soft bed.

... He sat up and looked back down at himself.

He was not wearing his school uniform, but rather a set of loose pajamas. It seemed that someone had helped him change while he was unconscious.

The dream he witnessed had caused him to break out into a cold sweat.

"I —"

What on earth —

Trying to recall the events that happened before he fainted, Kamito rubbed his dully aching head.

At that moment —

"Kamito, you're awake?"

From the corner of the room came a voice.

Kamito turned, and saw a beautiful girl in uniform sitting on a chair by the wall.

She had two red ponytails on the sides of her head.

Her translucent ruby-red pupils gazed anxiously in his direction.

"... Claire, you haven't been here all this time, have you?"

"Eh? No, not very long at all..."

Claire frantically shook her head.

However, dark circles at the corners of her eyes belied the fact that she had not had a good night's rest.

"I apologize for making you worry."

"I-It's nothing, I wasn't worrying."

Kamito returned Claire's concern with a wry smile, and took a look around the room.

This castle room had been arranged for the participants of the «Blade Dance». Looking at its spacious windows and quality household items, one could tell that this was not Kamito's usual residence, which was no different from a storage room, but a room from some unknown other place.

With dawn quickly approaching, the sun shone weakly through a slit in the curtains.

"That's good, get some sleep now. Your fever has not fully gone down."

"Ah? I have a fever?"

"Mmhm, it appears to have gotten better now, but you were burning up quite badly just a moment ago."

Claire bent over and placed her hand on Kamito's forehead.

The touch of her ice-cold skin felt incredibly comfortable. .... Oh. There was indeed still a bit of a lingering fever.

"Anyways, Claire –"

"Yes, what is it?"

"Uh, why did I faint?"

".......You don't remember?"

Claire's eyes opened wide in surprise.

"Don't tell me you have amnesia..."

"No, nothing that serious. It's just that my head's still groggy and I can't seem to remember what happened right before I blacked out."

Kamito shook his head silently.

"The events from the ball?"

"Yes, I remember that. You turned down the invitation from the crown prince of some country with the wave of a hand..."

"Uh, yeah."

"Around that time, Ren Ashbell invited me to dance –"

While massaging his aching temples, Kamito felt his memory gradually return in chronological order.

Something big must have happened.

''No mistake about that. There was something of extreme importance –''

"Ren Ashbell carved the «Brand of Darkness» on me, and then –"

Impatience burned in his chest.

Sparkling in the corner of his mind was an image of the radiant silver sword.

"And then, I –"

"Kamito, you rescued us from the hands of the «Institutional School» assassins!"

Looking at the upset Kamito, Claire spoke up.

"The «Institutional School» assassins?"

Kamito lifted his head abruptly.

''That's right. At that time, I battled Muir's military spirit–''

At Claire's words, his memories of last night returned in a flood.

Last night, during the opening ceremony of the Blade Dance, the assassin from the «Instructional School» Muir Alenstarl, claimed to be Kamito's sworn younger sister, manipulated the military spirit , and attacked Claire and company.

Branded by Ren Ashbell's «Brand of Darkness» and covered in wounds, Kamito raced towards the battlefield reluctantly, towards Muir Alenstarl's military spirit – but at that very moment, the curse of the mark took effect on Kamito's body, and he was overcome by a blinding pain.

And then –

"...!"

The instant he regained his memory, Kamito's whole body stiffened, as if he'd been struck by lightning.

The image that sprung to mind was that of a girl – with mysterious violet eyes.

With beautiful silvery-white hair that reflected the moonlight.

With small hands that gently stroked his back.

And with lips that were cold as ice yet hot as fire when they touched his.

Then she turned into innumerable particles of light, which dissipated into a void—

That was the last Kamito saw of her.

"... Es... t?"

The name escaped from his lips in a trembling, spontaneous exhale.

It was the name of one who had always remained by his side, the name of an extremely important someone, the name of his contract spirit.

His slight memory disturbances earlier must have been because he had not wanted to face this fact.

"Kamito..."

Claire's low, worried words almost went unheard by Kamito.

"You must be joking... Est, why did she–"

Her meaningless words rang hollow.

His newly recovered memory insisted on replaying the last scene he saw before losing consciousness.

At that time, she had whispered in his ear:

Goodbye, Kamito –.

Blade spirit Est – with a head of silvery-white hair, just like a snow fairy.

His contract with her was originally a chance occurrence.

While maintaining a contract with a contract spirit from the past, the end result was an incomplete contract.

Originally, he could not even wield a tenth of the power with the contract. It must have been considerably painful for a powerful spirit like her.

However, Est had said that was all right.

To be able to contract with you, that alone is wonderful – she had said.

''But I –''

Three years ago, there was a day he had lost a previous contract spirit.

From that day onwards, he had vowed not to lose anyone important.

"Yet I – again!"

Est had disappeared.

She had sacrificed her very existence in order to save Kamito from being eroded by the curse of the brand.

"Damn –"

"Kamito!"

He threw up his hands in despair only for Claire to quickly catch hold of them.

She gazed steadily into his eyes, with the intent of calming him down.

"Est was not eliminated."

"Ah?"

"After all, your hands still bear signs of a spirit contract, right?"

Kamito's eyes widened.

"Y...es... indeed."

His right hand, the one in Claire's grasp, still bore a design of intersecting swords.

That was the proof of a spirit contract—the spirit seal.

If the contract spirit were to be eliminated, the spirit seal would then of course disappear.

The reason why Kamito had believed for all these three years that Restia had not vanished—the reason why he had retained a glimmer of hope—was entirely because the spirit seal inscribed on his left hand still remained.

The spirit seal connects the contractor to the contract spirit; it is a special «Gate».

Now the pain was too weak to be felt – but as long as the spirit seal on his right hand did not disappear, he would have proof that Est had not been completely eliminated.

"Est, she's still alive."

"Yes. And even if we cannot call her out now, there must be a way to do so."

If that's the case, I can't remain like this.

"... Ah ah ah ah ah!"

Biting back the pain coursing through his entire body, Kamito got up from the bed.

"Wait, wait a moment, what are you doing!? You still can't –"

"Est is waiting – I don't have the time to continue sleeping!"

Just as Claire's hands moved to stop him–

Gurgle gurgle ~

A lovely sound arose in the room.

"...Claire?"

All the strength had drained from his body.

"...... ~!Th-Th-This is a misunderstanding, t-there wasn't a strange sound just now!"

"You... don't tell me, you haven't had anything to eat since yesterday?"

"A-After all, you've been having a bad fever, well..."

Claire blushed and stammered.

"You can't afford to skip meals since tomorrow the battle begins."

"... I-I know. Speaking of which, you haven't eaten either."

"Well, I'm more or less accustomed to that..."

In his youth, Kamito had spent most of his time undergoing intense training at the «Instructional School».

The education he received there included even training to withstand starvation. Although he had no intention of attempting such a thing, he could now easily go without food for several days.

''Then again...''

Something suddenly occurred to Kamito.

''Everyone now knows that I was from the «Instructional School»...''

Precisely because they were important companions, he had not wanted them to know of his past.

Once they learnt of that, he thought that they would not want anything to do with him anymore.

It was only natural that one would think so.

On the contrary, they had treated Kamito –

"You... what you are or aren't accustomed to, that's entirely beside the point. If you don't eat well, you'll never regain your strength. Look, I even brought fruit here specially f-for you."

At this, Claire indicated the basket on the bedside table.

It was filled to the brim with delicious-looking ripe peaches.

"– Claire, thank you."

"Don't stand on courtesy, it's nothing. After all, they were brought back from the ball."

"No such thing!"

Kamito looked directly at Claire.

"Even after learning I was an orphan from the «Instructional School», you still stayed my friend, saying it didn't matter. ... About that, I'm still very glad."

"W-What, ah, well, that..."

Claire blushed and looked away.

"B-But of course, isn't that just how it is? Regardless of your past, you're my spirit slave in the present and that will not change!"

With a wry smile and a nod of his head, Kamito reached into the basket for a peach.

"Here, hand me a small knife, I'll cut it open."

"Leave it to me. You're the hurt one, get some rest."

"T=== Part 1 ===

"—!?"

Waking up, he found himself on his soft bed.

... He sat up and looked back down at himself.

He was not wearing his school uniform, but rather a set of loose pajamas. It seemed that someone had helped him change while he was unconscious.

The dream he witnessed had caused him to break out into a cold sweat.

"I —"

What on earth —

Trying to recall the events that happened before he fainted, Kamito rubbed his dully aching head.

At that moment —

"Kamito, you're awake?"

From the corner of the room came a voice.

Kamito turned, and saw a beautiful girl in uniform sitting on a chair by the wall.

She had two red ponytails on the sides of her head.

Her translucent ruby-red pupils gazed anxiously in his direction.

"... Claire, you haven't been here all this time, have you?"

"Eh? No, not very long at all..."

Claire frantically shook her head.

However, dark circles at the corners of her eyes belied the fact that she had not had a good night's rest.

"I apologize for making you worry."

"I-It's nothing, I wasn't worrying."

Kamito returned Claire's concern with a wry smile, and took a look around the room.

This castle room had been arranged for the participants of the «Blade Dance». Looking at its spacious windows and quality household items, one could tell that this was not Kamito's usual residence, which was no different from a storage room, but a room from some unknown other place.

With dawn quickly approaching, the sun shone weakly through a slit in the curtains.

"That's good, get some sleep now. Your fever has not fully gone down."

"Ah? I have a fever?"

"Mmhm, it appears to have gotten better now, but you were burning up quite badly just a moment ago."

Claire bent over and placed her hand on Kamito's forehead.

The touch of her ice-cold skin felt incredibly comfortable. .... Oh. There was indeed still a bit of a lingering fever.

"Anyways, Claire –"

"Yes, what is it?"

"Uh, why did I faint?"

".......You don't remember?"

Claire's eyes opened wide in surprise.

"Don't tell me you have amnesia..."

"No, nothing that serious. It's just that my head's still groggy and I can't seem to remember what happened right before I blacked out."

Kamito shook his head silently.

"The events from the ball?"

"Yes, I remember that. You turned down the invitation from the crown prince of some country with the wave of a hand..."

"Uh, yeah."

"Around that time, Ren Ashbell invited me to dance –"

While massaging his aching temples, Kamito felt his memory gradually return in chronological order.

Something big must have happened.

''No mistake about that. There was something of extreme importance –''

"Ren Ashbell carved the «Brand of Darkness» on me, and then –"

Impatience burned in his chest.

Sparkling in the corner of his mind was an image of the radiant silver sword.

"And then, I –"

"Kamito, you rescued us from the hands of the «Institutional School» assassins!"

Looking at the upset Kamito, Claire spoke up.

"The «Institutional School» assassins?"

Kamito lifted his head abruptly.

''That's right. At that time, I battled Muir's military spirit–''

At Claire's words, his memories of last night returned in a flood.

Last night, during the opening ceremony of the Blade Dance, the assassin from the «Instructional School» Muir Alenstarl, claimed to be Kamito's sworn younger sister, manipulated the military spirit , and attacked Claire and company.

Branded by Ren Ashbell's «Brand of Darkness» and covered in wounds, Kamito raced towards the battlefield reluctantly, towards Muir Alenstarl's military spirit – but at that very moment, the curse of the mark took effect on Kamito's body, and he was overcome by a blinding pain.

And then –

"...!"

The instant he regained his memory, Kamito's whole body stiffened, as if he'd been struck by lightning.

The image that sprung to mind was that of a girl – with mysterious violet eyes.

With beautiful silvery-white hair that reflected the moonlight.

With small hands that gently stroked his back.

And with lips that were cold as ice yet hot as fire when they touched his.

Then she turned into innumerable particles of light, which dissipated into a void—

That was the last Kamito saw of her.

"... Es... t?"

The name escaped from his lips in a trembling, spontaneous exhale.

It was the name of one who had always remained by his side, the name of an extremely important someone, the name of his contract spirit.

His slight memory disturbances earlier must have been because he had not wanted to face this fact.

"Kamito..."

Claire's low, worried words almost went unheard by Kamito.

"You must be joking... Est, why did she–"

Her meaningless words rang hollow.

His newly recovered memory insisted on replaying the last scene he saw before losing consciousness.

At that time, she had whispered in his ear:

Goodbye, Kamito –.

Blade spirit Est – with a head of silvery-white hair, just like a snow fairy.

His contract with her was originally a chance occurrence.

While maintaining a contract with a contract spirit from the past, the end result was an incomplete contract.

Originally, he could not even wield a tenth of the power with the contract. It must have been considerably painful for a powerful spirit like her.

However, Est had said that was all right.

To be able to contract with you, that alone is wonderful – she had said.

''But I –''

Three years ago, there was a day he had lost a previous contract spirit.

From that day onwards, he had vowed not to lose anyone important.

"Yet I – again!"

Est had disappeared.

She had sacrificed her very existence in order to save Kamito from being eroded by the curse of the brand.

"Damn –"

"Kamito!"

He threw up his hands in despair only for Claire to quickly catch hold of them.

She gazed steadily into his eyes, with the intent of calming him down.

"Est was not eliminated."

"Ah?"

"After all, your hands still bear signs of a spirit contract, right?"

Kamito's eyes widened.

"Y...es... indeed."

His right hand, the one in Claire's grasp, still bore a design of intersecting swords.

That was the proof of a spirit contract—the spirit seal.

If the contract spirit were to be eliminated, the spirit seal would then of course disappear.

The reason why Kamito had believed for all these three years that Restia had not vanished—the reason why he had retained a glimmer of hope—was entirely because the spirit seal inscribed on his left hand still remained.

The spirit seal connects the contractor to the contract spirit; it is a special «Gate».

Now the pain was too weak to be felt – but as long as the spirit seal on his right hand did not disappear, he would have proof that Est had not been completely eliminated.

"Est, she's still alive."

"Yes. And even if we cannot call her out now, there must be a way to do so."

If that's the case, I can't remain like this.

"... Ah ah ah ah ah!"

Biting back the pain coursing through his entire body, Kamito got up from the bed.

"Wait, wait a moment, what are you doing!? You still can't –"

"Est is waiting – I don't have the time to continue sleeping!"

Just as Claire's hands moved to stop him–

Gurgle gurgle ~

A lovely sound arose in the room.

"...Claire?"

All the strength had drained from his body.

"...... ~!Th-Th-This is a misunderstanding, t-there wasn't a strange sound just now!"

"You... don't tell me, you haven't had anything to eat since yesterday?"

"A-After all, you've been having a bad fever, well..."

Claire blushed and stammered.

"You can't afford to skip meals since tomorrow the battle begins."

"... I-I know. Speaking of which, you haven't eaten either."

"Well, I'm more or less accustomed to that..."

In his youth, Kamito had spent most of his time undergoing intense training at the «Instructional School».

The education he received there included even training to withstand starvation. Although he had no intention of attempting such a thing, he could now easily go without food for several days.

''Then again...''

Something suddenly occurred to Kamito.

''Everyone now knows that I was from the «Instructional School»...''

Precisely because they were important companions, he had not wanted them to know of his past.

Once they learnt of that, he thought that they would not want anything to do with him anymore.

It was only natural that one would think so.

On the contrary, they had treated Kamito –

"You... what you are or aren't accustomed to, that's entirely beside the point. If you don't eat well, you'll never regain your strength. Look, I even brought fruit here specially f-for you."

At this, Claire indicated the basket on the bedside table.

It was filled to the brim with delicious-looking ripe peaches.

"– Claire, thank you."

"Don't stand on courtesy, it's nothing. After all, they were brought back from the ball."

"No such thing!"

Kamito looked directly at Claire.

"Even after learning I was an orphan from the «Instructional School», you still stayed my friend, saying it didn't matter. ... About that, I'm still very glad."

"W-What, ah, well, that..."

Claire blushed and looked away.

"B-But of course, isn't that just how it is? Regardless of your past, you're my spirit slave in the present and that will not change!"

With a wry smile and a nod of his head, Kamito reached into the basket for a peach.

"Here, hand me a small knife, I'll cut it open."

"Leave it to me. You're the hurt one, get some rest."

"The peach is fragile, so it can be difficult to peel. I thought you weren't good at peeling fruits?"

"W-well, if you think that..."

Claire hid her face. Truth be told, it seemed that all the women at the institution, both young and adult, were all not that good at homemaking. It wasn't just Claire who was particularly bad at preparing fruits.

Kamito shrugged, picked up a knife from the table, and nimbly started peeling the peach.

Watching his deft handiwork, Claire asked emotionally:

"Did you learn this from that «Instructional School» too?"

"No, cooking and other skills I picked up during my travels. My travel companion was very picky when it came to flavors and tastes!"

"... Companion, meaning that dark spirit girl?"

"Yeah..."

While cutting the peach, Kamito's expression turned sour.

"Well – so it's like that..."

Claire looked doubtful.

"Look, it is peeled."

As if to change the subject, Kamito speared the peeled peach on a fork and presented it to Claire.

As she took a bite, some peach juice sprayed back at him.

"Yum yum~ so sweet, it's really delicious...!"

[[File:STnBD V05 025.jpg|thumbnail|right]]

Her two red ponytails danced in joy.

Claire put her hands to her cheeks, an expression of sheer bliss on her face. She looked so lovely one could accidentally lose oneself in admiration.

"Well, now, have another..."

Kamito raised the fork holding the peach. Like a cat being teased, Claire's gaze followed it in a trance-like state.

"Look, here it is!"

He moved his hand away.

"Ah!"

And again.

"R-Really now!"

Claire's mouth opened and shut as she chased the peach doggedly.

Left, right. ... And again.

Finding it very interesting, Kamito intended to continue for a little longer –

"... ~Oi, w-why are you so cruel!"

Claire snarled, tears welling in her eyes.

"... Sorry, just felt like you were as adorable as a cat, so."

"...?! W-what do you mean cute... s-stupid idiot, that's what you are!"

Into the mouth of the red-faced, frantically gesticulating Claire –

"Aah."

– went the peach.

And she bit down.

"Whew, ah, it's so delicious ..."

"Just like a cat."

Claire shot Kamito a look.

"Hey, isn't this situation backwards?"

"Hrm, backwards?"

"The injured person is you, but I'm the one eating."

"Well, it's a small matter, don't worry about it."

Kamito shrugged his shoulders, and conveniently put the peach into his own mouth.

The slightly tangy of the peach juice spread immediately in his mouth.

"Mmm, it really is delicious. It's thoroughly ripe!"

"I-isn't that the same fork..."

"... What's the matter?"

"N-No, it's nothing –"

Claire hastily took her eyes off him.

"Anyway –"

Kamito put the fork aside and asked.

"Yes, what?"

"What's the performance for the «Blade Dance»? The divination of the Queens have already been revealed, right?"

While Kamito was unconscious, the five Queens had held a ceremony at the great temple of the «Divine Ritual Institute». where the Five Elemental Lords bestowed their divine revelation. The performance was to be decided by this divine revelation – as for the competition format, it would be announced at a later date.

At this, Claire's expression grew serious.

"Mmhm, the blade dance performance to be presented will be – the «Tempest»."

"«Tempest», huh..."

That had been the competition format used for the Blade Dance not only in recent years, but also tens, and even hundreds of years ago.

The elementalists who will be presenting the blade dance performance will come together at the gathering place in the vast holy lands, and the teams will do battle with each other over a number of days. Each individual's combat skills will be put to the test, but beyond that, of even greater significance will be their tactical and strategic ability, as well as teamwork and cooperation.

"... It will be a tough battle."

"Indeed. On the other hand, they clearly could have chosen a knockout-style tournament. If so, I suppose this was the best possible outcome."

Claire nodded with a serious look on her face.

The blade dance performance's format would be the «Tempest». This piece of information was one he had previously thought about.

With the only constraint being "five elementalists to a team", a little investigating on the history of the Blade Dance would have made it clear that the number of possible performance formats numbered only about ten or so.

As a matter of fact, the Areishia Spirit Academy had even conducted an extensive training exercise under the assumption that this performance would be selected.

However, one could still hold out hope, for as long as possible, that this performance would not be chosen – this way of thinking was still true.

More so than individual skill, this competition format emphasized a team's combined strength. One would be hard-pressed to say this system had any benefits for Claire, who was still worried and unconfident in regards to teamwork.

Furthermore, «TEAM•SCARLET» had only formed recently. The five members had begun working together a mere few weeks ago. While each of them was a strong elementalist in his or her own right, their combined team strength still could not compare to that of the other teams.

''Furthermore...''

Kamito's gaze turned to the spirit seal inscribed on his right hand.

All along, Kamito's overwhelming strength had always been unrivaled amongst his companions.

However, Kamito was now in a state lacking his contract spirits.

Despite previously being known as the strongest Blade Dancer, without his contract spirit, Kamito could not reach his full strength as an elementalist.

Following that, he rested his hand lightly on the chest wound that was still aching dully.

''—The curse of this brand had yet to fade completely.''

The «Brand of Darkness» Ren Ashbell had engraved was even now still eating away at his body.

Although Est had suppressed the worst of the damage by sacrificing herself, she had not entirely destroyed it.

"Est..."

Murmuring her name, even injecting into it divine power, the spirit seal yielded no response.

Instead, an intense scorching pain invaded his entire body.

"... Ah, damn it..."

"You'd better not act rashly. What you can do now is to get a good rest in order to regain your strength and divine power."

"... Ah, ah, I know."

Clenching his lips tightly, Kamito nodded and laid flat on the bed again.

=== Part 2 ===

''... Kamito seemed to be pretty depressed.''

Outside Kamito's room, Claire let out a small sigh.

This was not unreasonable. After all, it was an elementalist who had lost their own contract spirit before his own eyes.

That bitterness, Claire understood all too well, as she too had lost Scarlet in the past. At that time, Claire had given up on herself, and had even allowed herself to be tempted by the dark spirit.

Of course, Est's eradication had left Claire somewhat shaken too.

For Est had not been just another contract spirit.

She was also an important companion of Claire's in the institution; for more than two months, they had fought side by side.

".......We need to quickly find a way to bring Est back."

The practical problem was that, without Est, «TEAM•SCARLET» had no chance of winning the battle royale. Kamito had incomparable strength, but an elementalist without a contract spirit at his side would not be able to do his best at a competition such as the «Blade Dance», where there were many tough opponents.

There must be a way to bring Est back – true, she had just said that, but what exactly one would need to do, she did not know. Assuming it was possible was fine and all, but they might not have enough time.

The Blade Dance battle would begin tomorrow; they could only afford to spare one day. If Kamito could not bring Est back in that time, they would have to rely on only the four remaining people to win the battle royale.

Although they did not intend on losing to the other teams, the fact of the matter was that their chances of victory against a strong opponent—such as, say, the Dracunia Dragons led by Leonora Lancaster—were slim indeed.

Moreover, in order to win the grand event, they would still have to take down Ren Ashbell, the most powerful of the Blade Dancers.

Then again, it was also possible for Kamito to look for another spirit to contract with.

''But, all things considered, that was not likely...''

Pacing around the portico, Claire shook her head. Leaving aside for the moment the issue of finding a suitable new contract spirit, Kamito would most certainly reject the idea of any other spirit but Est.

''Speaking of whom –''

Out of the blue, the image of that dark spirit girl inadvertently surfaced in Claire's mind.

Jet-black hair, billowing in the wind. A lovely girl with eyes the color of dusk.

''In the end, I still did not ask Kamito about her...''

A wave of pain rushed through her chest as she thought of it.

It was yesterday evening, in the courtyard of the castle: Kamito and the dark spirit girl, their lips locked in a kiss.

It wasn't that she lacked the opportunity to ask; it was just not a suitable time for such a matter. Shocked and upset over having lost Est, Kamito was not in a state for her to pursue the matter to completion.

''But that girl; what on earth was her relationship with Kamito...?''

The previous contract spirit was a girl of darkness who, even now, still held Kamito's heart.

The strange pain in her chest burned more and more intensely.

"W-Well, whatever, that rascal can get all kissy-kissy with whoever he wants to! It's got nothing to with me right?"

Claire reasoned this out with herself and then stopped outside the room.

She opened the door —

"...Huh !?"

There were three people in the room who rose from the couch in unison.

"Is Kamito awake!?"

Claire nodded her head in response to Ellis's query.

"Well, yeah, but it seems the fever has not receded yet. He should continue to rest."

".....Hmm, I see. All in all, it's good that he's doing alright."

"T-To actually have a girl worry so much over him. This guy still causes headaches like before!"

Rinslet crossed and uncrossed her fingers restlessly.

"... It was really all thanks to Est. My skills were simply ineffective against the curse of that brand."

In contrast with the other two, who seemed to have breathed sighs of relief, Fianna wore a somber expression.

Fianna was originally the second-best princess maiden overall in the «Divine Ritual Institute». Her power and skill at curse-breaking was comparable to that of the current princess maidens.

However, the «Brand of Darkness» inscribed by Ren Ashbell on Kamito's body contained a curse so strong that it left even Fianna helpless.

If at that time Est had not sacrificed herself, then —

Kamito's physicial body would have been utterly corroded by the curse. At worst, he might even have died.

"I have searched through a wide range of material but still couldn't find any information on this curse."

The pile of heavy books around Fianna was as high as a mountain.

She had brought these with her from the institution. They contained incantations and curses as well as documents related to spirits.

"But even now, I still cannot believe that..."

Ellis spoke while clenching her lips.

"That Ren Ashbell would go so far as to actually do such a thing —"

"... Yeah, I know."

Claire nodded.

The strongest Blade Dancer.

Her goal was to become a princess maiden elementalist, the most lauded person.

At the Blade Dance three years ago, her blade dance performance had mesmerized countless girls.

Whether it was Claire, Ellis, or anyone, they all held a powerful and honorable person like her in high respect. They had endured the Academy's numerous, strict training regimens in order to be an elementalist like her.

Which was why when Muir Alenstarl told them that it was she who had carved the «Brand of Darkness» onto Kamito's body, they completely could not bring themselves to believe it.

However, on further reflection—

''Not a single one of them knew anything about who she was...''

For example, what wish she made to the Elemental Lord as the victor of the Blade Dance three years prior.

Why, after reaching the highest possible level of renown, did she suddenly disappear without a trace from the eyes of the world.

And why, with things in their current state, would she want to make a return?

Speculation of all sorts were floating about, but it still remained a mystery.

Finally, why would the strongest active elementalist want to place a curse on Kamito.

The reason for that was unclear as well.

''For preemptive reasons, so as to reduce Kamito to a certain amount of strength before the battle royale?''

Even if that were so, there was no need to use such a circuitous strategy as a curse.

One would only need to fight with overwhelming brute strength to eliminate others, like what Muir Alenstarl did.

"Without conclusive evidence, that impostor elementalist may as well be the real Ren Ashbell."

"... But in that case, why not use her real identity?"

"Maybe there's some reason why she couldn't use her true identity," muttered Fiana.

"You think there is a hidden reason?"

"Ah... I-I didn't say anything!"

Addressing the frowning Claire, Fianna hurriedly shook her head.

"If there was someone masquerading as Ren Ashbell and using her name, I would never forgive her."

Placing her hands on the sword at her waist, Ellis spoke up.

"Come on, let's take the initiative to go ask her—"

"Impossible. We don't even know where she is in the first place."

Claire shook her head at Ellis's impulsive and dangerous proposal.

The team representing Ren Ashbell, Team Inferno of Alphas Theocracy, had apparently stayed in a tower outside the region where they waited for an opportunity to strike. No one knew where they were.

Moreover, Muir Alenstarl, who had vanished after yesterday's skirmish, had not given up on her plans to kill Claire and company. A slow, stealthy approach would be more practical than a direct dangerous one.

"Her intentions are indeed a major concern, but—the foremost problem here has to be Est."

Claire turned towards Fianna and asked,

"I'll get straight to the point. Est – can she still return?"

"That..."

Fianna stroked her chin, as though deep in thought.

"If Kamito's hand still shows signs of the spirit seal, it is evidence that Est has not been completely vanquished. Ordinarily, once she fully regains her power, she can return. It's just that –"

"Just that?"

"This is just my hypothesis – Est may have been trapped in a prison of the curse. Regarding this, I cannot be sure."

"What do you mean?"

"Est used her power to suppress the curse, but she did not completely break it. Now she might be held, shackled by the curse, unable to move."

"In order to rescue Est, we'll have to deal with the curse first, won't we?"

Ellis nodded a serious expression.

"In regards to the «Brand of Darkness», I can get some help from the forces at the «Divine Ritual Institute». ... Next, there is the problem of Kamito himself. Although I don't think this will crush his spirits..."

"But, he seemed really upset......"

Even in front of Claire, he had put on a brave front so as not to let anyone see him weak. At the end of the day however, he could not hide how much the loss of Est had affected him.

By the looks of it, it should take him quite some time to get his act together.

"In that case......is there anything we can do for him?"

Rinslet said.

"Truthfully speaking, it's not that we don't have an option..."

"Eh, really?" "What's is it?" "D-Don't leave us guessing! Tell us directly, please!"

Hearing this, Claire and the others who were not giving up, gathered in front of Fianna.

Fianna sighed and said:

"... Help our own opponents. While it is infuriating, we really have no choice."

She uttered this sentence of cryptic meaning –

And then informed them on what they - can - do - for - Kamito.

"...!"

The trio's faces instantly turned bright red.

"W-Wait a minute! That sort of thing – how could we possibly to do that!"

"R-Really now! Such a shameful thing... as a knight, I cannot accept it!"

"Keep in mind that I am the eldest daughter of the noble Laurenfrost family!"

The wave of protest from the girls came at the same time.

"Hmm – so you mean to say that you don't want Kamito to recover?"

Fianna sharply spoke and pointed at them.

"T-That is..."

"Of course that isn't true–"

"... I-I didn't mean it like that, except–"

The three blushed and stammered.

A mischievous smile formed on Fianna's face.

"All right then, it's settled. There are all sorts of ceremonial props in the luggage I brought. Help yourselves.

As she spoke, she reached into the travel bag and took out a myriad of colorful costumes and props.

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