Editing Kenkoku no Jungfrau:Volume 1 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 6===

“Rebellions…huh”

After the tension from encountering the Saika had passed, Heath remembered the conversation from this morning.

Another knight, on top of that, a possessor of an <Engraved Blade> had been killed.

<Engraved Blade of the Round Table> –– it was a certain crest that had appeared on the bodies of 12 of the knights among the Estrelia Order of Knights. The ones who obtained it were given a power that surpassed that of an <Omen>, furthermore, the one to collect all of those <Engraved Blades> would be given the <Seal of the Sage> which had the power to grant any wish.

It was said that almost half on the <Knights of the Round Table> were killed only in the first week. At the same time, a few <Engraved Blades> were stolen.

After that, the Knights took every possible measure to regain the lost <Engraved Blades> but conversely; the crests that were snatched away were greater in number.

A certain knight was betrayed by his trusted friend. A certain knight who had intervened in a dispute was killed by the one he protected, and again a certain knight who had gained an <Engraved Blade> in such a manner was assailed by bandits. 

There were various people who were deprived of it.

But if there were people who wanted the <Seal of the Sage>, there were also people who plotted rebellion because of their animosity towards the young king. If there were people who were present at the place of the scramble, there were also beggars who were suffering from hunger and poverty too.

Like that, in the moment one screamed in joy because he was able to snatch away an <Engraved Blade>, his life was also snatched away by someone who was aiming for it too. Therefore, the possessors of the <Engraved Blade> all alike hid them by all means.

The people who wanted the <Engraved Blades> attacked anyone who looked suspicious.

Though there was the Knights Order for suppressing such disturbances, most of the people who were at the core of the order were <Engraved Blade> possessors, and they were the ones who were targeted and killed first of all.

To make matters worse, the king who had come to acquire one of those dangerous <Engraved Blades> had become more introvert than before and shut himself up in his room. He hadn’t adopted even one plan to restore public order.

The knights themselves were being targeted, and the insurgents were introducing themself magnificently.

Now that it had become like this, it was already a civil war.

And the people were calling that civil war the <Engraved Blades> war.

– So even the Knights of the Round Table can lose their lives huh…

Heath’s senior disciple who was accepted as a Knight of the Round Table was such an expert that someone like Heath couldn't even compare to his feet. The other knights should possess similar strength or perhaps greater than that.

With strength without any room for dissatisfaction, even if it wasn’t Heath, they were figures filled with aspiration for anyone.

–And now, there aren’t even half of them left…

The ones to first receive the <Engraved Blades> were, knights who were bestowed with a title. Associated only with legends, they were only bestowed upon the 12 who possessed the greatest strength even amongst the knights. They were the ‘Knights of the Round Table’.

But even those strongest knights, who were always targeting the <Engraved Blades>; one by one they lost their lives. In the mere 3 months since the Engraved Blade Wars broke out, It seems only a few of them were left alive.

“Good morning.”

Before long, it seems to have become the time for school to start. Boys and girls in their school uniform passed through the gate.

On the pillar of the gate Heath was guarding, 「Estrelia Royal Knight’s Academy」was written.

Situated roughly in the centre of the town, and near the Royal palace, it was one of the symbols of the town.

As the name implies, it was an academy for training knights. But there was also an <Omen> department besides the knights, so students with violet coloured pupils could also be seen. Probably all of the students present there were learning battle techniques of a higher grade than Heath.

As Heath’s partner gatekeeper was throwing greetings with a smiling face, greeting in twos or threes were being returned from over there.

The fact that they were studying here also meant that they had enough money to pay for the tuition. 

As expected, most of them were children of nobles or rich merchants. But since they returned the previous greetings, it seems like they were given proper public morals coaching too.

Though it was like a different world for the Heath who was having trouble just to buy a single text book; being greeted ‘Good morning’ and returning a ‘Good morning’ similarly, Heath was relieved to confirm the fact that the opposite party was also human.

–Mana too, I want her to pass through there soon…

His younger sister who possessed light purple pupils had potential as an <Omen Talker>. If it was here then she could smooth out her talent, and discrimination toward commoners by the other students should be little.

After that, as they continued guarding the front of the gate; the number of attending students eventually decreased.

“By the way, you’re a face I haven’t seen before. A newcomer?”

When the queue of the students broke up, the partnering gatekeeper opened his mouth.

“Err, since I usually work in near the town’s outer wall, it’s been a while since I worked inside.”

A gatekeeper was somehow or other, still a soldier.

Receiving the minimum amount of training, a post that manages such soldiers was also necessary.

Gatekeepers were managed all together in a lower grade soldier training camp. And they were dispatched here and there.

Therefore, rather than being restricted in one place, they usually worked in many different locations.

“Eh? Then why’d ya transfer to this side?”

“I actually had duties from the afternoon today, but then I saw the notice to replace the vacant position here. I decided to come in only for this morning.”

“Hou, sure work hard huh?”

“Hahaha. I want to send my younger sister to school.”

The young man nodded with consent.

“Come to think of it, this academy here also accepted commoners. Then why not for yourself but your sis?”

“Well that’s cause I’m already past that age. And besides, my sister has a talent that I don’t have.”

Heath would turn 17 this year.

He hadn’t done any type of studies other than training as a guard and spear practices till then. He was a person, who had only received education from his parents. He can read and write without any sense of discomfort but it could not be called his strong point either.

His education was just about that amount. 

The young man nodded in admiration.

“That’s commendable.”

After saying that, the young man slightly pushed out his hand before him.

“If I also had one of those <Engraved Blades of the Round Table>, I’d gladly kill off this daily life of standing up straight all day with a nice farewell.”

“Ahaha. I like this job quite a lot though. I can speak with all kinds of people too.”

“You…rather, good job remaining human like that…”

Heath, who was being stared at by a delicate eye seemingly filled with either sympathy or friendliness stirred a little worriedly.

And then he muttered as if he was talking to himself.

“<Engraved Blades of the Round Table> huh....”

At that word, the young man grinned widely.

“If you could get your hands on one of those <Engraved Blades of the Round Table>, what’d you wish for?”

This man spoke without any restraints. Lately, if people had free time, they would always bring up that conversation. It might seem like some kind of lottery. Obtaining an <Engraved Blade> but not the <Seal of the Sage>, it was said like that because his majesty the king was the owner of one of those 2 things.

Saying that you’re aiming for the <Seal of the Sage> was the same as saying you would snatch away the <Engraved Blade> from the king. In other words, it would indicate treason.

Heath turned his neck with a troubled expression.

“Eh?Umm… As i said before, I want my sister to get in to school, something like that?”

“You…to go that far. Isn’t that what they call being a siscon?”

Heath, who was more or less self-conscious about it, fell silent at that reply.

“If it was me, then of course, I’d go for territory and fortune.”

“Will such a demand go through with just one <Engraved Blade>?”

The young man began to laugh.

“Think about it. Even the king should want to put the <Engraved Blades> in his sack right? Then if I vow to work for him as a knight then most demands would be accepted.”

Though in reality, the ones who attacked the knights at first were probably people with purposes along those lines.

“But if you kill a knight, you’ll become a criminal.”

“Yes, that is, if I attack a knight it’ll probably become like that but-“

After he said that, Heath realized it.

“Ah, I see. There are a lot of people who possess the <Engraved Blades> other than the knights.”

“Yes Yes. If I screw up those people and present the <Engraved Blade> to the king, then rather than a criminal, I’ll probably become a hero, right?”

He really didn’t think like wanting to own one. Specially, he didn’t want it to affect his sister.

The gatekeeper showed a shady expression. How did he perceive such a Heath?

“That’s right. If it was for getting more social status, even a doctor would seriously scuffle for it…”

“Eh?”

As Heath made a surprised face, the gatekeeper closed his mouth shut. And then he infringed an unpleasant look. 

“I have a sick younger sister back home. I can’t get enough money, but in the first place, with a poor commoner as a client, the doctor wouldn’t even do a decent examination. Even if I can’t buy the medicine, there should be something I could do. But even so, he wouldn’t tell me that.”

It seems like he had quite a serious problem to deal with. As Heath reacted with bewilderment to that, the gatekeeper showed a frank smile.

“Well, that’s why if I could get my hands on one of those <Engraved Blades> and become a hero, it’d be quite the charming story.”
Heath nodded in admiration at the gatekeeper who was behaving very brightly.

“A hero huh?... When that time comes, please let me hear your heroic saga too.”

When he said that, the young man widened his eyes.

“You…really are impartial.”

“I-is that so?”

If anything, that was something he said as a compliment. Though he was admired, inversely he felt troubled. The young man made a carefree laugh at the Heath who was refuting. 

“Well, mere gatekeepers like us shouldn’t even have the chance to much less touch something like that.”

“I guess that might be the case here…”

Laughing like that, 

「Oh?」

Heath had a sudden realization. 

–– The edge is blue?

Warm sunlight directly falls on the area surrounding this gate, which was facing east. 

The sunlight was being reflected on the spear edge the gatekeeper, but the colour was a bit different from Heath’s one. Maybe it was from the differences in the maintenances. 
Then, a young man was walking by beyond the pass tilting his head a little.

Even though it wasn’t such a cold season, he was wearing a frock coat. Though he wasn’t wearing any armour, a great sword unsuitable for his stature was hung on his back. He was probably a knight.

“Ah-“

Heath who recognised that figure reflexively raised his voice.

And the knight probably recognized Heath too. Making a slightly surprised face, the young man then smiled frankly. 

“Gillette Nii-chan!”

“Heath? It’s been a while.”

Saying that, He and Heath held the shoulder in a friendly fashion. 

“Heath, you were stationed here?”

“Only for today by chance, normally outside the outer-wall though.”

“Well… If master saw this, he’d definitely be shocked. You have perseverance, and your muscles aren’t bad either. So why are you doing something like being a gatekeeper…?”

“Err, the master told me that I definitely wouldn’t become strong. And I don’t have talent for the spear either, so I think being a gatekeeper is plenty of accomplishment.”

As he replied with confidence, his senior apprentice covered his forehead as if it was hurting.

“You’re really are too good natured to be associated with Gato Plugatorio …”

When their master’s name was mentioned, Heath asked a question as if trying to change the topic.

“Nii-chan, are you okay yourself? I heard that most of the Knights of the Round Table are already dead.”

The person who was asked, Gillette’s face turned dark at that question as expected.

“Ah, sorry.”

“No, don’t mind it.”

Interrupting their conversation there, the gatekeeper revealed a surprised voice.

“O-oi. That person, he couldn’t be… How the hell are you acquainted with him?”

Looking at Gillette once, he quickly turned his head sideways realizing the fact that he was in a hurry. Heath made a brief introduction.

“He is my senior apprentice. He should have some business at this academy…right?”

“Yes. I am kind of in a hurry. I would be grateful if you could let me pass.”

Gillette Doulas Penus, he was Heath’s senior in apprenticeship and also one of the Knights of the Round Table who stood side by side with <Knight Princess> Lutile Afnar. 

By the time Heath became Gato’s disciple, he had already become expert enough to make a name of himself as a knight. Besides, he was also an aristocrat.

He was supposed to be an existence beyond the clouds in case of Heath, but he was a frank person and still looked after the young Heath.

Therefore, even though there was a big difference in their abilities and social standings, Heath thought of him as an older brother and called him so too.

After telling Gillette to pass, the other gatekeeper also saluted and made way.
“By all means, please pass.”

Waving his hand favourably, Gillette passed through the gate. It was precisely then

“Eh, Oi, what are you-“

While he said that, the gatekeeper had already thrust his spear.

“Chi–“

Gillette swiftly turned around and caught the spear. 

“Seriously…Gatekeepers nowadays don’t have any education at all!”

Sweat oozed out on his brows. And his abdomen was also dyed red. He was not able to avoid it.

After seeing the gatekeeper trying to lunge the spear with a desperate look in his eyes, Heath finally came to his senses.

“Sto-stop it!”

As he jumped forward right away, it turned into a brawl and he fell on the ground with the gatekeeper. He was somehow able to get on top and pin him down but on the contrary, his arm was seized.

"Let go, don’t get in my way!”

The gatekeeper who had a frantic expression had so much strength that he could not possibly be the same person as before. 

The gatekeeper quickly picked up his spear and like that, turned to attack Gillette. 

And then-

The gatekeepers head danced in midair.

Gillette had already drawn his sword. This was the difference in power between one of the Knights of the Round Table and a mere gatekeeper.

From the body that had lost its head, fresh blood sprayed out like a fountain. The gatekeeper’s body slowly bent from the knees and collapsed on the ground front first.

“–hii?”

That, unluckily, collapsed facing Heath’s direction. Soaked in the scattered blood from its neck, Heath raised a scream. 

A lukewarm, unpleasant liquid happened to fall on his face. It had a disgusting taste like smelly, rusty iron which made him want to vomit. The round thing that was thrown on the ground changed, and Heath’s eyes made contact with the two eyeballs stuck on it.

–What in the world is this…?

Rather than the crystalized blood that the Saika shed, blood similar to his vividly flowed on. 

His head was about to go senseless. Should he run away? Or should he get enraged because his co-worker was killed?

He was killed – yes, a person had died before his eyes. But didn’t this guy also want to kill someone?

Being panic-stricken and even forgetting to stand up, he was just sitting there on the ground. But the Gillette let out a groan and fell to his knees.

“Guh…“ –

Seeing this, Heath had just one direct thought.

–A wounded person…I have to save him…

That was what he did when he wanted to save that girl who was attacked by a dragon (or he thought she was attacked by the dragon), something like a condition reflexive action.

“Gillette Nii-chan, a-are you okay?–hii!”

Moving based on a blind idea and approaching Gillette, after that being pointed at with a sword by him; that certainly did break his heart.

“I had enough! Ju-just what the heck is going on here…”

Though he had received training as a soldier, the matter this morning was the first time he had experienced combat that was actually like real ‘combat’.

A person dying in front of him, and being pointed at with a sword by a human too, this was the first time for him. Too many things have been happening since this morning, and Heath’s mind could not keep up with all of it.

When Heath fell on in back and held his head tightly, Gillette slightly clicked his tongue.
“Sorry…Good grief, I seriously lost my edge. Letting my guard down because it was Lutile’s academy…”

“I-in any case, medical treatment–”

Though there was a medical office inside the academy, Gillette’s bleeding wasn’t small. It was probably better to stop the bleeding before moving him.

Tearing his cloth, he had closed the wound tying it but then, it somewhat changed into a darkish colour.

–What the hell, this wound…?

As he unconsciously stopped his hand, Gillette exclaimed as in moaning.

“…Shit, it’s poison.”

“Poison!?”

In the time he said that, Gillette already coughed up blood. Heath remembered that the gatekeepers spear was painted in a strange blue colour.

Seeing the red that seeped into the pure white gloves, Gillette turned towards Heath.

“Heath, lend me your shoulder.”

“Bu-but, rather than moving now…”

“The school should have more effecting medical treatment right?”

“Y-yeah.”

Heath put his shoulder under Gillette’s arm, and became his support.

Only the headless corpse of the gatekeeper was left there. A little further was the fallen head which was wrapped in an expression similar to hatred and fear. It had a look that certainly did not seem to be of this world.

The one addressing that corpse was an invisible voice. There wasn’t a single human figure anywhere except the corpse.

“To be reduced to such a state, you, who desired the <Engraved Blade> are truly very laughably stunning. I too, shall scatter and affix that one flower.”

The voice, as if it was conversing with the corpse continued speaking.

“Hihihi–, do you not care being just a corpse? Do you not care about being the dead that's inferior to even a beast?” 

The voiced raised a really happy laughter.

“Wonderful. What magnificent stubbornness. Fate really has been an incomprehensible thing, hasn’t it? And it is my very duty to prop up a flower to that fate.”

With that sentence, the headless corpse suddenly started to twitch.

“Ah, How wonderful it is! How sorrowful! Now come, and go forth for you younger siblings suffering from diseases. Please show to this clown, the end of you who is so wretchedly stunning.”

As if responding to the clown’s voice, the headless corpse stood up.