Ryuu to Aitsu:Volume2 Chapter1
Chapter 1: The Girl of the Academic City
Status: Incomplete
35.5% completed (estimated)
"Razor WindKamaitachi"
A howling gust of wind cut across the dry ashen ground, sweeping up a cloud of dust as it assaulted the crowd of black dogs blocking my way.
As their name implied, these monsters have the form of black dogs. Their weapons are the strong teeth that can bite through even metal armor, claws tinged with a paralyzing poison, and more than anything, their overwhelming numbers.
Just counting those in front of us, there were around 30. If we include the ones behind us, the total easily surpassed 50.
A novice explorer would probably not be able to do anything. But, to me, Ange Cerezo, this much was nothing to worry about.
The black dogs caught by the raging winds were decimated, turning into a spray of blood.
Holding down my violently fluttering manteau and glancing backwards, I caught sight of a petite maid with a naginata dancing around the battlefield, spinning like a top.
It was Tomoe.
Unbefitting of her cute doll-like appearance, she was far more skilled than the average warrior.
But that was to be expected. After all, Tomoe is an artificial life-form constructed by the magic from the Old World — a golem.
Her maid uniform ruffling as she dispatched black dogs one after the other, Tomoe was much more reliable than my other teammate.
Speaking of the other teammate...
"Gyaaaaaaaa!"
He was running around while screaming pathetically.
Though I say teammate, he is actually none other than the protagonist of our journey.
Seriously... I thought he would've grown a bit from the battle with one of the Demon Lord's daughters, but his incompetence was just as before.
"Gyaaaaa! Blood! There's blood on meeeeee!"
Eyes bewildered, he topples backwards.
If you told anyone that this dumbass is the great-grandson of the hero Rayjack Ur Heidfelt, nobody would believe you.
At the start I didn't believe it either. It's not so much that I couldn't believe it, but more that I didn't want to believe it.
Regrettably, no matter how much I regretted it, the fact that this Rex Ir Heidfelt was the master that I had to follow did not change.
Spilling the umpteenth sigh since the start of this journey, I focused on the chant for the next spell.
My thread of consciousness had already reached beyond "the scars of the world".
"Lightning BoltNarukami"
The black dog that was about to attack the fallen dumbass was scorched to the bone by the magical bolt of lightning that surged from the tip of my raised staff, marking the end of the battle.
Victory was a given. There would be no chance of winning against the Demon Lord if we struggled against mere black dogs.
That's right.
The ultimate goal of our journey is to defeat the king of the demon world, May-Hem, who has his eyes set on invading this world.
The one who entrusted this impossible task to me, a Royal Magician of the City of Swords Randall, was General Raven Gir Heidfelt — the dumbass's older brother.
General Raven is a young and valiant general whose name is known not only throughout Randall, but across the whole continent of Adair. On the other hand, his brother leaves the fighting to females as he tries to run away, then trips when sprayed with blood... As grandsons of the same hero, there's too much of a difference.
"Mr. Rex, please get up."
I knock on the dumbass's head with the tip of my staff and hear a strangely nice sounding echo, probably because the inside of his head is empty.
I am aware that waking someone by knocking them with a staff is rather rude, but this is fine. After all, he is a dumbass.
He's an idiot and also a useless bum, thus 'dumbass'.
It's already been firmly established as his label when I think of him.
Since he had shown that he could do what needed to be done at Mount Nebraska, it might not be right to call him a dumbass, but somehow I had gotten too used to thinking of him as such or something, so no matter what happens, Rex Ir Heidfelt will be a dumbass to me.
"Nnn..."
He opened his eyes with a grimace, but for some reason the dumbass did not get up.
"How long are you planning to sleep? Please get up immediately."
"But the sun's so nice and warm, I was thinking of taking a short nap. Standing's such a pain."
"Stop saying such nonsense."
Well, the weather was indeed beautiful.
Blue skies were overhead, as the lightly floating sun generously showered the ground with bright white rays of sunlight.
"Ange and Tomoe should come bask in the sun too!"
"I will kindly pass. I don't have a hobby of sun basking in a place filled with the smell of blood."
The stench of black dog blood hung thick in the surrounding air.
"Ugh"
It seems that the dumbass hadn't noticed until then, as he covered his nose with his hand and jumped up.
"Why did you mention that..."
"Also, if we play around here, we'll be attacked by monsters again."
After all, we were not on the streets.
There were multiple paths from the first destination of our trip, Mount Nabraska, to our next destination: the Academic City of Fullbright.
Following the roads would be the safest, but we daringly chose the most dangerous path.
Thus, here we are in Zeburun Canyon.
Zeburun Canyon was a place of natural beauty, and was once a place where aristocrats and the wealthy from the town of Donna came to hunt, but now it was a nest of monsters.
Only crazy adventurers would cross this place now.
Since we entered the canyon three days ago, we hadn't seen anyone else. Monsters have attacked us about twenty times though.
As for why we so boldly chose this dangerous path, the reason was very simple. It was the shortest path.
At first we had followed the roads, but lots of things happened and we ended up wasting a lot of time...
In order to make back the time that we lost, we chose this path, or that's how it goes. Well, it makes for good training too.
"Anyways, why the heck did we purposely choose to go through a path filled with monsters?"
"How many times have I told you? This is the shortest path. I mean even you had agreed to it, Rex, so why are you complaining about it now?"
"Huh, I agreed to it?"
"Yes you did."
This was half the truth and half a lie.
When I asked the dumbass about the route to Fullbright, he answered "It's too much of a pain to worry about, I'll leave it to you".
Since it was the result of his own laziness, the dumbass has no right to complain.
"It's just a little bit more, Ir."
Tomoe tried to comfort him.
Ir was the dumbass's middle name. Normally, to call a noble by their middle name would be rude, but Tomoe, who had been working for the Heidfelts since long before the dumbass was even born, would call the dumbass or Raven by their middle name every now and then.
"Isn't that right, Ange?"
"Yes, if we hurry we can make it through the canyon by nightfall."
Once we make it through Zeburun Canyon, Fullbright would be right in front of our eyes.
"So that means we'll be reaching Fullbright soon huh..."
The dumbass scratched the back of his head and let out a deep sigh.
"I don't want to go..."
"It's too late for that."
"But Fullbright is where my sister is..."
"Rex's older sister... Remuria huh."
"Nn."
Remuria Mer Heidfelt was someone whose fame wouldn't lose to even Raven. At least, there probably isn't a single magician in the continent of Adair who doesn't know her name.
An extreme genius, she earned the title of Sage at a young age of twelve. Afterwards, she became known as the authority on research into the Old World, and now, twenty-two, she works as the head of the Magic Academy in the Academic City of Fullbright while continuing her research.
"Did something happen between you and Remuria?"
"I just don't really wanna go see her."
Again he scratches the back of his head.
"... Are they on bad terms?"
I turned around and asked Tomoe, who was putting away the naginata in her hand.
By putting away the naginata in her hand, I don't mean putting the naginata she held somewhere, I mean it literally. As expected of a golem from the Old World I guess, but Tomoe can store her weapon within her own body.
"That couldn't be possible. Remuria loved Rex very much."
"... So she says."
I turned back towards the dumbass.
"Well yeah, maybe to her she was trying to be loving..."
"Rather than being on bad terms, is it just Rex one-sidedly disliking Remuria?"
"Ah, well, it's not like I dislike her... how do I say this."
"You can't... handle her?"
The dumbass snapped his fingers.
"Can't handle. Yeah, that's it."
"... I see."
The feeling of siblings begin hard to deal with I can understand, since I have two brothers.
"Anyways, there is no way to avoid meeting Remuria, unless she was absent or declined to meet."
There were two reasons for us to travel to the Academic City of Fullbright.
One is to find out where the Four Noble Dragons resided, and two, to obtain information on the ruins where Tomoe was discovered.
The Four Noble Dragons are the children of Dragon Lord Sigurd, who once fought the Demon Lord together with Dragoon Rayjack.
In order to borrow the power of Dragon Lord Sigurd like how Rayjack once did, it was necessary to gather from each of the Four Noble Dragons a piece of their soul, a Dragon Gemcarbuncle.
The only carbuncle we had in our possession was the one from the Golden Dragon Olris. Regarding the other three of the Four Noble Dragons, we don't even know where they are.
After the war one hundred years ago, Dragon Lord Sigurd disappeared together with the Four Noble Dragons. But if it was the Academic City of Fullbright, if it was Sage Remuria, maybe there would be some hints to where their location is.
Regarding the ruins where Tomoe was found...
Tomoe was discovered in some ruins somewhere by the dumbass's grandmother, Remiel.
There is a large chance that the one said to be the authority on research of the Old World, Remuria, might know what and where those ruins are.
Well, if we only wanted to research then we could just go to the historical library in Fullbright, and there would be no need to meet with Remuria. But no matter what Remuria was the dumbass's sister. If we were stopping by Fullbright, we should probably let her know that the dumbass was going on this journey.
"Ahh... so I can only hope that she isn't there? Wait, I could run away..."
"Did you say something?"
"Nothing. I never said anything like running away."
"Good."
Lowering the staff I had raised, I straightened out my manteau.
"Fullbright is already within sight. Give up—"
"Huh? What's wrong?"
I pointed forwards.
Where I was looking, on the opposite shore of the stream flowing on our right — there stood someone in an overcoat.
Due to the distance and a hood completely covering his/her face, I couldn't tell whether they was male or female, but it was clear that he/she was watching us.
This was definitely not an ordinary person. Even though we can see the town, this was still in the territory of the monsters. To be in such a place alone, even as a swordsman or a magician, some order of skill would definitely be required.
As if to prove this, he/she cleared the stream with one leap, landing in front of us.
I instantly readied my staff, but that person raised both their hands and spoke.
"I am not your enemy. I am a magician of Fullbright, and Professor Remuria's assistant."
"Professor Remuria's..."
"Yes."
The hood was still covering the person's face from view, but from the voice it could be surmised that she was a female.
"I have come to welcome Sir Rex Ir Heidfelt."
Even though she named herself as Remuria's assistant, I didn't feel like immediately letting up my guard.
The fact that we were heading towards Fullbright should only have been known to the three of us here. So, how could Professor Remuria have known to send someone to welcome us?
"Professor Remuria can use the power of omniscience."
"Omniscience...?"
"To put it simply, it's a Lost Magic."
"Lost Magic..."
The term referred to the various magic of the Old World that can produce larger and more powerful miracles than the magic that we use now.
Like how it is with necromancy, never mind using Lost Magic, even learning it was prohibited, currently being limited to those with the title of Sage (though I believe the bar was a bit lower before the Great War).
Being a Sage, it wasn't all that strange for Professor Remuria to use Lost Magic.
"Now, Mr. Rex, let's go."
The assistant offered her hand, but the dumbass quivered like a surprised cat and backed up.
"I-I don't want to."
"Why do you say that?"
"I don't wanna see my sister."
"...Why?"
"B-because she's scary."
The dumbass's voice shook.
"Professor Remuria greatly wishes to meet with you. Are you sure you still want to refuse?"
Words stuck in his throat, the dumbass showed his decision with a nod.
"Ooh, quite some nerve you've got now."
The assistant's tone suddenly changed.
"Since when have you gotten so manly, Ir?"
She gently lifted up the hood that was covering her face.
The features that emerged from under the hood were breathtakingly beautiful.
"Eek!"
The beauty turned a cold smile towards the dumbass who let out a shriek as his eyes froze wide open in shock.
Since she called the dumbass by his middle name, that must mean...
"R-Remuria...!"
As I thought.
"It's been a while, Ir. I've personally come to welcome you. Go ahead and cry tears of gratitude."
The dumbass shook his head with a look as if the world was ending.
"It's great to see that you're doing well, Miss Remuria."
On the other hand, Tomoe, seeming neither surprised nor afraid, was cheerfully smiling.
"Oh, Tomoe. You don't seem surprised."
"I could tell from the voice."
"I see."
Accepting the explanation with a nod, Remuria reached an elegant white finger towards the cheeks of the now petrified dumbass, and spoke.
"Even though Tomoe recognized me immediately, what does it mean when my own brother fails to notice? Huh, Ir?"
"*Gulp*..."
"It seems that I must carve my existence even deeper into you."
Remuria's finger slid along the dumbass's face, and the moment it reached his chin...
"Ah."
I gasped in surprise.
In front of my eyes, the dumbass's body flew into the sky.
What blew the dumbass away was a single uppercut from Remuria.
"Guh"
Taking the whole blow, the dumbass traced a beautiful trajectory and crashed into the ground head first.
It was superhuman strength unbefitting of a woman's slender arms. Moreover, Remuria is a magician just like myself. Looking at this impossible scene, all I could do was flap my lips like a fish.
"Not enough, this much is still not enough."
Brushing away her silver tinged long black hair, Remuria walked towards the dumbass, who had apparently completely lost consciousness, and easily lifted him up with one hand.
"I see you're like always, Mer."
The name that Tomoe uttered, Mer, was Remuria's middle name.
"Relieved?"
"Yes."
Returning Tomoe's grin with a smile, Remuria then turned towards me and spoke.
"What's your name?"
"I-I'm Ange. Ange Cerezo. I'm one of Randall's Royal Magicians."
"Are you accompanying Ir because of my brother's command?"
"Yes, half of it is."
Hearing my answer, Remuria's almond shaped eyes narrowed.
"Half?"
Remuria's questioning glare had the cold intensity of a sharp blade.
As expected of being siblings, Remuria was very similar to Raven, whether in their unmatched beauty, or the color of their eyes.
Remuria's eyes were the same purple color as Raven's. It was like the color of a high quality amethyst that seems to contain both depth and transparency.
"The original reason was certainly because of General Raven's command. But now, I am journeying with Rex by my own will."
"Ah, that's a good answer. It seems my brother has picked a very suitable person."
Remuria replied with a softened gaze, and turned heel, facing Tomoe and I with her back.
"I will wait for you in the Magic Academy in Fullbright."
The feeling of a thread of consciousness being weaved.
It was only a moment.
Even for an adept magician, to weave the thread of consciousness would take at least the time required for a deep breath. However, Remuria had finished in just an instant.
Then, the spell. The incantation carried by Remuria's refreshing voice was one that I've never heard before.
—It was Lost Magic.
"Shadow LeapWataridori"
A darkness darker than shadows expanded soundlessly below Remuria's feet, and Remuria's legs started to sink into that deep darkness.
While carrying the dumbass, Remuria was consumed by the darkness — together with the dumbass, they disappeared from the area.
Teleportation magic — is probably what it was.
"So that was Remuria..."
"Yes. Mer is probably the one most like Lady Remiel out of the siblings."
Tomoe moved to my side, and said.
"Do you mean... personality wise?"
"Yes. She's just like a young Remiel."
"I see..."
I had heard that Remiel — the dumbass's grandmother, was a very bold person.
In that sense, Remuria certainly fits the bill.
Though I do have a feeling that rather than boldness, it would be more fitting to call it exceeding common sense...
"She's just like Remiel, but Rex still has problems dealing with her..."
That dumbass is a grandma's boy through and through. He yearned for his grandma Remiel more than anyone else. Still, to be unable to deal with Remuria, the reason must be because of that iron fist.
Thinking back to that unhesitating and merciless iron fist, I grew anxious.
Surely a sister wouldn't do anything that would threaten her little brother's life...
"There's no need to worry, Ange."
Seeing through my unease, Tomoe said to me.
"Rex is very sturdy."
"..."
It is true that the dumbass has a superhuman toughness through possessing the dragon's essence...
"So that means there is definitely some violence going on..."
"That's the way that Remuria expresses her love."
"I see..."
I now deeply understand why the dumbass didn't want to meet Remuria.
My brothers also sometimes show their love physically, but not to the point of blowing me into the air.
Well, Tomoe has been with the dumbass and Remuria since they were babies, so if she says it's alright, then I should probably stop worrying.
.........
.........
.........ahh.
I'm still worried.
What is this, this protective mentality.
Even though it's irritating when he's around, when he's gone I just can't seem to calm down.
"Rex is a lucky guy."
Tomoe said.
"To have someone like Ange worrying about him."
"W-w-w-what are you talking about! W-who's worried about who?! I'm absolutely, not the last bit, worried...!"
Ahh, what am I panicking for.
Tomoe looked at me with eyes filled with a gentleness like that of a caring mother.
"A-anyways, let's hurry to Fullbright. It's not that I'm worried, but without Rex our journey can't end."
"Yes, Ange."
With a swish of my manteau, I quickly stepped forwards.
At that time, my face was probably bright red.
The Academic City of Fullbright.
Situated on the southern end of the Kingdom of Randall, the reason this city was able to escape from the ongoing war against the Imperial State of Febronia beside it was because of the existence of ruins from the Old World underneath the city, and the ancient library discovered within those ruins.
First discovered some hundred and twenty years ago, it was the largest ruins of the Old World in the continent of Adair, now named Soleil.
The city created from the gathering of scholars and magicians from across the continent coming to research Soleil — that was Fullbright.
The Magic Academy that was established during the Great War is now considered the number one place for the raising of magicians and as a dispatch agency, dispatching magicians to countries across the continent.
This was another reason that Fullbright was spared from the war. In return for providing exceptional magicians, its independence and non-aggression were recognized.
When Tomoe and I arrived at Fullbright, it had been two days since the dumbass was abducted(?) by Remuria.
"It's been a while since I last came to Fullbright."
Fullbright is the holy land for magicians. I had once, though only for a short while, attended lectures in the Magic Academy of Fullbright. This staff that I am using was also made to order in the shops of this city.
"I have also visited here many times. Lady Remiel had brought me along."
Saying this, Tomoe's sights moved towards the Magic Academy that could be seen above the streets.
Soleil was discovered at the base of an extinct volcano that was once called Phoenix Mountain. However, with the discovery of Soleil this Phoenix Mountain began to be known as Soleil Hill. Now, Soleil Hill was the more common name (though what's with a volcano being called a hill).
Constructed above Soleil was Fullbright, and as the population increased so did the size of the city, now even extending up along the side of the mountain.
The Magic Academy was located on the upper part of the city — in other words, on the slope of the mountain.
"I think this city might contain clues to what you want to know, Tomoe, but let's head for the Academy first."
Tomoe didn't seem the least bit worried, but in the end I was wondering how the dumbass was doing.
"Okay."
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