Kenkoku no Jungfrau:Volume 1 Chapter 1

1

“ーIt is like so in the legends. ー”

Under that dazzling sunlight, and on the spacious stage, a dignified singing voice resounded.

And then, following the song, a many music strings started to play in a refreshing tone. They were Harps.

“ーIt was the times of antiquity. Many kings, Many countries, and Many Faiths were mixed together, and then they conflicted, an age where nothing was controlled ーand finally, an existence know as a demon revealed itself in this world ー”

That place was an arena which had been opened in a grand scale.

In the central area, there was a stone stage that had been cut in a square shape. And in its surroundings, a maintained area was planted. The low wall had been wonderfully decorated with candlesticks, and a small flag was stabbed below that. Even from a distant view it could be realised from their varied designs that, there were 12 kinds of flags in total.

Beyond the stage that was enclosed by a low wall, a circular auditorium had been prepared. The seats had already been filled so much that the aisle could not be seen, but everyone had been attentively listening without opening their mouths.

“ーThen the many kings went to battleーTherefore, a certain king lost his territory and nation to the demon. For a certain king, it was to acquire the territory trampled by the demon. Again, for a certain king it was just to gain more prestige with bravery and valour. ー”

To be able to make one’s voice echo here, an extraordinary speaking volume and technique should be necessary. However, the girl’s singing voice could not pile up that impossible amount of vibration. The one singing while playing the harp was a girl with light purple eyes.

There was a thin ring fixed on the finger that was playing the bowstrings. There was also a bracelet of the same design on her arm. Anyone who was familiar with magic should be able to tell that the design curved there represented an <Omen>, which had properties of power.

“ーAnd thus, the many kingdoms began to decrease. Even possessing any kind of sword, or casting any kind of magic, or using any kind of knowledge, could not harm the body of the demon ーThe legend begins from hereー”

Her raven hair was tied in a bundled by the back of her head. It extended to her waist, forming a long ponytail. Her closed eyes looked long and narrow, and her flower bud like lips was soaked in a beautiful pink colour.

The cloths that she wore were not a dress but a uniform that a schoolgirl usually wears. Compared to a dress, it had fewer decorations but her long and slender legs which were covers by tights helped her undulated rich body figure. As a woman, her glamour was definitely not at a disadvantage.

Though it was a fine weather, for her to be able to wear such lightweight clothing in a season where the snow had yet to melt, was all thanks to the magic flames that warmed that place up.

“ーFrom a number of countries which could not possibly counted, soon only 12 remained. There was a king who advanced to defeat the demon too. There was a kind who though his own power was more than enough to defeat it too. There was a king who from the fear of the demon concealed himself in his territory too. It was at that time, a single sage was said to cut down one of the demon’s arms. ー”

The girl was singing about a heroic tale from the time of antiquity. It wasn’t old enough to be called a myth, but it wasn’t from a near enough past to leave behind remnants in literature. But, it is a very familiar tale for the people who live there. It was a splendid singing voice; none of spectators opened their mouths and listened attentively to the song. ” ーThere is a sword that could kill the demon. I want a person who has excellent techniques. Isn’t there anyone who would come with me? ーThere were 12 people. The 12 kings sent one of the most excellent knights from each of their kingdoms. ー”

Other than the audience seats, on the other side of the outer wall, the spire of a watchtower ascended.

The number of spires surrounding the arena, and the decorative flags hanging on the outer wall, were of 12 of each of them in total. To this country, the number 12 represented holiness/dignity.

“ーThe 12 knight and the single Sage confronted the demon, and then splendidly defeated it. ーAnd like that, making the sage their king, the 12 kingdoms became one. The 12 knights were referred as The Knights of the Round Table and became the model of all knights. ーAnd so, time has reached the present. ー”

After finishing singing for a while; the girl let out a breath feeling relieved.

While a grand applause was being sent, the girl saw a single face move back. It was when she was leaving the stage. Raising her face, the girl fixed her sight on that spot.

ーーA Clown…..?

Following the knights, the soldiers were forming a line; it was the front row seats of the auditorium. On the next row of seats, there were mercenaries with robust physiques but there was a girl with a Clowns clothing there.

She had long silver coloured hair and vivid crimson pupils. With a strikingly good body figure, she should’ve attracted a lot of attention.

The general visitors were seated on a further row. She was curious about how the girl slipped in with the soldiers but she couldn’t stand still there for too long. She quietly got down from the stage.

On both sides of the stage, several knights were standing in a row. Amongst them, after she joined the East side, she heard a sociable voice calling out next to her.

“Did you see something that caught your interest, Lutile”

The girl, Lutile’s name was called by Youth who had a fearless physique and face. He had long blonde hair tied behind his back, and was wearing a frock coat. It was a little bit exaggerated thing to wear at the place of a ceremony.

After being asked, the girl searched for clown's appearance again but was not able to find it.

“ーThe time has reached the presentー was it? That was quite a good show you know.”

The last phrase was a part the girl added specifically for this ceremony. It wasn’t in the original song.

“We are still in the middle of the ceremony, Gillette Oni-sama.”

Even though she had deliberately lowered her voice, she accidentally called him by his old nickname. When she realised this, her face became red. At this the youth made a nostalgic gentle face and shrugged his shoulders.

The young man was Lutile’s older male cousin. She used to play with the young man a lot in her childhood and in those times, in those times, reciprocally not by Knight or anything else; he used to be called “Onii-sama” innocently while smiling.

Following the girls verse, two knights got up on the stage. Their respective swords were mutually pulled out, and the tips were piled up on each other, exchanging an expression of gratitude. After that, they mutually put some distance between each other and started to exchange blows with their sword.

But even though were on an arena, it was unlikely that they would actually cut each other on an exhibition. It was the sword dance of courtesy.

(Well, let us not speak so stiffly. And if you really think so, then please put on a more interesting expression.)

(I had this face since the moment I was born.)

After Lutile answered like that, the young man again shrugged his shoulders in a comical manner.

(Even now and in the past, even though you could still make a more adorable expression…..still an ill-humoured person aren’t you?)

(…….I was made to recite a verse I was not good at in a place like this. It doesn’t feel pleasant.)

(Don’t be so hard-hearted. It was really a beautiful singing voice.)

After happily saying that, the young man this time continued with an earnest voice,

(Lutile, you are magnificent. Amongst us 12, you are the youngest, the most beautiful and you are strong too. Everyone pays attention to you. Responding to that attention is also an obligation of of a person who is considered a knight.)

(Even though I received the title of a knight, I am still part of the student body. I would prefer if you didn’t flatter me.)

(Hahaha, the ‘Dragon Slaying’ <Knight Princess> says some laudable things.)

(……That was, not only because of my own abilities.)

About 1 year ago, the girl and a few of her fellow students encountered a Dragon, she defeated it. It was a young Dragon but a Dragon nonetheless. At minimum, there would have to be at least 3 knights, <Omen Users>in order to defeat it. It was said that at least one small unit was necessary to deal with the monster.

That day, the 16 year old Lutile was able bring it down by herself. There were other students too but that was a situation where one’s leg was supposed to give in and it was not even possible to escape either.

With an achievement like that, she was able to acquire the title of a Knight with even graduating, and at the same time along with a hilarious embellishment, she was given exaggerated nicknames like <Knight Princess> etc.

Hesitating to say that out loud, the young man started laughing with a “Hahaha.”

(Please don’t make such a trouble face, You and that Dragon too, were selected by the <Founding of the Round Table> / <Entaku no Kenkoku> together. We will become the next legend. Therefore, like a blooming flower, please sympathise with the hearts the ones who would spring out ahead. On the right hand that the young man had quietly shown, there was a crest which was carved imitating a sword. The same thing existed on the girl’s left hand.

(<Kenkoku>…….is it?)

While Lutile was looking at her own <Kenkoku>, the young man nodded emotively.

(Was it strange? That you yourself were chosen?)

(That is, well…..But, the more incomprehensible thing is ー)

(That is to say, why “now”?)

To the young man who interrupted her sentence, Lulite nodded.

<Founding of the Round Table>ーーーIn the past, the swords of the 12 who entombed the Demon perished along with the demon. It is said that the sage turned them into at that time and stopped the destruction, for the day when the one to succeed the demon would appear. One thing or another, it was an incident that happened one thousand years ago. The legend stopped there, and in the history thereafter, the name of <Kenkoku> did not appear.

And as for why it appeared now of all times

“Should I say that the “Saika” are starting something?”

When Lutile brought up that name, the young man nodded with hard conviction.

Saika is the generic name of the race that is said to possess the demon’s blood. They are the children the demon left behind, and are also a calamity by the demon that ruins and abhors the human race.

There are ones with the claws and the fangs like a beast, and there are also ones with wings like a bat. There are ones with strong and firm scaled skin. It is also said that there are ones capable of making flames and thunder fall.

Amongst them, the Saika that should one be most cautious of is the class called “Ouka”. Skilfully dressed in an appearance that appears a human, they used magic and weapons unknown to human. In a case witnessed in the past, an entire knight squad at that time was driven to a state of annihilation against just one Ouka.

It is plausible that the number of those individuals isn’t much; they are able to cross the great valley by themselves.

Including the Oukas, there are various kinds of Saika out there with various appearances. It is said that they live in the opposite side of the great valley which cuts across the continent and is said to be the mark of the battle between the demon and the Knights of the Round Table .The Saikas invade into the human countries by jumping over the valley.

Especially in the last few months, it felt as if the number of ferocious natured Saikas had grown.

(To overturn the situation of the war. There’s no way that could be possible, I guess.)

After the life of people got more plentiful, the confrontation with the Saika had intensified.

The humans also built bridges and repeatedly counter attacked, but as expected, humans were inferior to the Saika in terms of power individually. The unfavourable situation in the war continued but, in the history of the past one thousand years, there were also times when the situation was far more inferior. In fact, it could be said that the present an age where the difference wasn’t so vast and was even rivalled.

In such a time, <Founding of the Round Table> suddenly appeared.

Without any prior notice, Lutile and the young man were chosen, dwelling in the body of 12 knights. Moreover, Lutile also felt much bewilderment at first. Even now, she couldn’t fully remove her doubts but……

The young man was also looking at his <Kenkoku> doubtfully.

(I don’t relly feel like I was given some kind of special power. I see, It might be that this <Kenkoku> expects us to do something.)

While the young man faintly muttered that, a large shadow was suddenly cast overhead of the two.

(Watch your mouths, both of you.)

(Commander Greisch)

Lutile and the young man quickly fixed there posture.

He was the man who worked as the first division commander of the Estrelia Knight’s Order the young man belonged to. From a third seat position, the commander became a person who would be in charge of the military other then the king. It was when the salutations were over and returned.

Though he was reproved; the young man still stated the question to the commander while lowering his voice.

(Has the commander learned something regarding these <Kenkoku>?)

• Fumu*The man ringed his neck towards the young man with a broken expression.

(Even I still have not heard of anything, but I have something on my mind.)

(Which is?)

(It would have also been in the verse by Lutile a moment ago. As it was said in the legends, its an object in order to oppose the demon.)

(In other words, someone who will succeed the demon has appeared?)

(I would not call it an affirmation though. However, the ones who are gathered here are all strong warriors who would feel ashamed at the name of the strongest. Therefore it was appropriate to think that it was in order to fight, and in addition to that, to fight the deceive battle against an enemy where a <Kenkoku> was necessary. )

(The demon………..) When Lutile embraced her elbows as if she were trembling, the man laughed vigorously.

(Hahaha. Was the “Knight Princess” also a maiden too?)

(I-It’s not like I was hesitating or anything…..)

(No, don’t mind it. Even if you stand ready, you will receive a proper explanation from the king.)

This stage had become the location for the succession rite of the <Founding of the Round Table>. Though there were opinions that it should have been performed at the royal castle in order to show respect to the king, the king himself wanted to lengthily explain it to the subjects too. That’s how the stage came to be in a place like this. Perhaps, it was meant to wipe out the recent distrusts, too. ーーーThe king, huh……..

A present king is considerably young because the late king didn’t have any siblings, and he died at a young age in his forties Though five years had gradually since he ascended the throne….as expected, an insufficiency in power could still be felt compared to the late king