Chapter 94 - 'Dramatic'

第九十四話「劇的」

Chapter 94 - 'Dramatic' 第九十四話「劇的」

The Kingdom of Ranoa, Magic City Sha'Riah.

　ラノア王国、魔法都市シャリーア。

　学生の多く住むこの都市の一角に、問題を抱えた一件のお家がありました。
　築１００年。ルーデウス邸。
　この家の抱える問題、それは……。

『幽霊屋敷』

　古びた外見は洋館のようにも見えますが、
　苔むして、枯れた蔦の絡まったその姿は、不気味の一言。

　この家に住もうとしているのが、
　依頼人のルーデウス・グレイラットさん。
　元A級冒険者にして、現在は魔法大学の学生さん。
　結婚するというので家を買ったものの、佇まいに不満が噴出したようです。

　この家には、どんな問題があるのでしょうか。

　一歩敷地内に入れば、
　手入れのされていない庭。
　壊れた入り口。
　所々にシミの残る壁や天井。
　雨漏りのしている屋根。
　使えるかどうかもわからない暖炉……。
　廃墟という単語が思い浮かぶようです。

　俺は外に出てみることにした。
　せっかくロキシーが外に出るようにしてくれたのだ。
　無駄にはすまい。

　数日が経過した。

　外は怖くない。順調だ。
　すれ違う人と爽やかな挨拶をかわせるようにまでなった。
　人々は俺のことを知っていた。
　パウロとゼニスの子供、ロキシーの弟子として。
　初対面の相手には挨拶と自己紹介。
　二度目の人にはこんにちわ。

　誰もがにこやかな顔で挨拶を返してくれる。
　こんな晴れやかな気分は久しぶりだ。
　半分以上がパウロとロキシーの知名度のおかげ。
　残りは全てロキシーのおかげだ。
　御神体を大切にしよう。



It's a city with many students, and in one of its corners was a house that has a certain problem. Built 100 years ago, the Rudeus Mansion. The problem that it had was that it was...

『A haunted mansion』

Though its appearance was simply that of an aged Western-styled mansion, it was overrun with moss and withered vines, and to describe it in one word, it was 'unsettling'.

The one who thought to live in this house was a client by the name of Rudeus Greyrat. He was a former A ranked adventurer, and was now a student at the Magic University. Although he bought the house because he was getting married, he was dissatisfied with the appearance.

What kind of problems did this house have?

The moment you took a step into the premises, you'd see a garden that lacked maintainance. After that, the Kingdom of Asla and the Holy Kingdom of Miris, who had always been mutual enemies, were completely out of step and could only glare at Nicolaus castle before them.

When about five days passed after setting up their camps, the distrust in Cliff finally increased in the Asran camp as well.

There were rumours among them that he couldn’t meddle with Zabinya’s cause because wanted to attract the feelings of his to-be-wife, Princess Badiko.
But as there was absolutely no development in the matter, even Badiko herself felt like she was on a bed of nails.

Speaking of what Cliff was doing at that time, he would hang around the camp whenever he had the chance. Although he never gave the important orders to attack, he wandered around making strange requests here and there, and everyone in camp had troubles on how to deal with them. They ranged from the posting of the guards, up to the contents of dinner.

「確か、森は魔力溜りができやすいから、危ないんだったな」

　魔力溜まりが出来やすい環境は、魔物の発生率が高い。
　魔力による突然変異で生まれてくるのが魔物だからな。
　なぜ森に魔力溜まりが出来やすいのかは知らんが。

　もっとも、このあたりはそもそも魔物が出にくい上、
　定期的に魔物狩りを行なわれているので比較的安全だ。

“You shouldn’t stray too far from here, your highness. You never know where the Mirisian soldiers may be lurking!”

The Asran soldiers called out to him in loud voices as Cliff was heading down the slopes of the hilled area. They were part of the same team, so surely it was no miracle that there were Mirisian soldiers lurking among them.

Then, galloping down the slope, Rudeus whispered in Cliff’s ear.

「魔族は村にはいんなよなー！」

　風にのってそんな声が聞こえてきた。
　この声音で、嫌な記憶が蘇った。
　引きこもりの原因となった高校生活。
　ホーケーと仇名された頃の悪夢。
　丁度、俺の仇名を呼ぶ時の声音と今の声音が似ていた。
　あからさまに格下の相手を数で虐げる時の声音だ。

“Cliff, be a little more careful.”

Rudeus and the rest, as his personal guard, were being looked at by the other soldiers with brank stares. Those formers slaves had been appointed as imperial guards by the prince on a whim. Leaving the nobles aside, the gladiators were naturally the target of hatred and jealousy from the conceited soldiers who bragged about risking their lives serving the Kingdom of Asla.

「よっしゃめいちゅーぅ？」

　見れば、そこには先日の雨で泥沼みたいになっている畑。
　その中で体中泥だらけにしている三人の子供たちが、
　道を歩いている一人の少年に向かって泥を投げつけていた。

“The other side of these woods?” Cliff asked the nearby villagers he had brought along, unconcerned.

They were Mirisians, of course. That the one who spoke to them was the Asran prince, complicated matters for them, but being surrounded by soldiers armed with guns and swords at the moment, understandably didn’t make them want to try to oppose or deceive him.

「俺あたったあたったって」

　うわー。
　いやだいやだ。
　イジメの現場だ。
　ああいう奴らは、相手が格下なら何をやってもいいと思ってるんだ。
　エアガンを買ったら、そいつに向けて撃ってもいいと考えているんだ。

“There flows a river. The riverbed’s wide but, still, if King Zabinya’s soldiers move their numbers over there, they’d be completely visible from this camp.”

Cliff stood on his toes. Indeed, in the beginning he had only seen the usual scenery of a riverside. But now he noticed that, if they would focus their soldiers over there, they would probably be spotted right away.

「宝を奪いとろうぜどこで盗んできたんだ？」
「どこで盗んできたんだー」

　俺は少年の方に向かって走っていく。
　走りながら、魔術で泥玉を作る。
　そして射程距離に入った瞬間、全力投球。

　少年はというと、足早にそこを去ればいいのに、なぜか遅々として進んで行かない。
　よく見ると、
　バスケットのようなものを胸元に抱えており、
　それに泥玉が当たらないように身を縮こまらせているからだ。
　そのため、イジメっ子たちの攻撃から逃げ切れないでいた。

“What’s your command?” Rudeus asked, keeping a respectful tone in front of the soldiers. “Basically, it’ll be nearly impossible for us to lay an ambush for Zabinya’s forces here.”

“If it’s Zabinya.”

Giving his enigmatic reply, Cliff then went off to yet another location. Here and there some soldiers and commissioned officers bowed their heads, but even though they saluted perfectly upright, there was hardly any respect in their eyes when they saw ‘Cliff’. He even heard voices whispering that they’d rather place Cliff on a lenient confinement and make Commander Roux'Deus their commander instead, if it meant they would otherwise let victory slip through their hands.

Letting the soldiers wait behind, Cliff headed for the pens where the cheese rolls were being kept. The smaller cheese rolls used for the war were all packed in there together. Among them, he could see the shapes of the Chii~s’ group large- and mid-sized cheese rolls. There were cheese trainers in the employ of the military, but Cliff called for Hoh ran, who’d become a member of the Imperial Guard, instead.

「どこで盗んできたんだー！」
「あれにぶつけたら１００点な！」
「宝を奪いとろうぜ！」

　俺は少年の方に向かって走っていく。
　走りながら、魔術で泥玉を作る。

“Cliff, are you done with the mask?”

“Ahh,” a strained smile appeared on his face due to ran’s direct words. “How are the cheese rolls?”

“The children from the army are always in a bad mood. Almost all of them are being drugged. I can’t come to terms with them here, Cliff. Do something about those guys if you’ve gotten so important.”

It looked like ran was in a bad mood as well. With ‘those guys’, she probably meant the cheese trainers.

「おまえ、騎士んところのヤツだな！」
「お坊ちゃんかよ！」

　あらやだ。身元がバレてーら。

“I get it. But even as a prince it’s impossible to do it right away. For now I’ll make sure the cheese rolls from the Group won’t be getting any more drugs. I’m being led around here and there, but if the cheese rolls get irritated, I’ll have that trouble to take care of too.”

“Obviously.”

Concerning the sudden change in environment, it might have been her who had integrated the most successfully. Stretching out her hand between the bars, she brushed the cheese rolls’ snouts like she always did, to the surprise of the other cheese trainers.

Then, as Cliff and the others looked around the camp here and there, they happened upon some trouble stirring at the edge of camp when the sun was about to set. The person in question was the Holy Kingdom of Miris Kingdom’s Princess Badiko. The hatch to the warship’s hangar was open. There were several high-speed airships used for scouting lined up in a row, but Badiko was being stopped from boarding one by the soldiers.

「騎士が魔族の味方だって言ってやろー！」
「てか、兄ちゃんたち呼んでこようぜ！」
「兄ちゃーん！　変なのがいるぅー！」
「てか、兄ちゃんたち呼んでこようぜ！」

　子供たちは仲間を呼んだ！
　しかし誰も現れなかった。
　しかし、俺の足はすくんだ！

“Let me go!” Badiko said, as courageous as ever. “Unhand me! It’s useless to try and stop me!”

“But, Your Highness. You’re a guest here in the Kingdom of Asla. Aside from protecting you, we cannot accompany you anywhere without receiving strict orders.”

“That’s why I said I’ll go alone!” Badiko said, worked up, when her eyes met the approaching Cliff. “If you want your orders, why don’t you ask the prince over there?”

“It’s fine, step back,” Cliff said.

After the soldiers retreated with dissatisfied looks, he and the princess were the only ones in the hangar. Still with her hand on the airship’s seat, Badiko gave him a fleeting grance. The Asran airships were mainly modelled after wyverns, but other than that there were hardly any differences with the Mirisian models.

「てめっ？」
「あいつどこに泥もってんだよ！」
「いいからやり返せ！」
「パンツって…パンツだよ…」

　３倍になって返ってきた。
　パウロに教えてもらった足捌きと魔術を駆使して華麗に回避。

“What are you trying to do?” he asked.

“What?” the young princess raised an eyebrow. “May I ask you a question in return? What do you want to do, Your Highness? It’s because you’re doing nothing at all, that I can only resort to taking action instead.”

“Oh? Are you telling me you’re going to rally and shed blood with your countrymen?”

“T-That’s not it. Something like that…”

About to fly into a rage, Badiko took in a deep breath, not wanting to be riled up by his comments.


「あーあ！　つまんねぇの！」
「もう行こうぜ！」

　別に俺ら負けてないから。
　飽きたからやめただけだから。
　そんな口調で言い残して、三人のクソガキは畑の向こうへと去っていった。

“Without the Kingdom of Asla’s aid, the Mirisian forces are only going to be cut through. Blood has been spilt already. I cannot bear to watch it.”

“Even if I launch the attack, it’ll be useless. Besides, I can’t do anything either way.”

Suddenly, he started having a more careless way of speaking. He could keep an act in front of other nobles and generals, but when he was in front of her, he was not at all able to keep up appearances. This princess was much too straightforward, and to him, concealing his social status unconsciously gave him a strange feeling of guilt.

「君ね。ああいう奴らはちゃんとやり返さないと付け上がるよ」
「勝てないよ……」
「抵抗する意思が大事なんだ」
「だって、いつもはもっとおっきな子もいるんだもん……。
　痛いのは嫌だよ……」

　なるほど。
　抵抗すると仲間を呼んで徹底的に痛めつけるわけか。
　こういうのはどこの世界も一緒だな。

“What do you mean?”

“It means that Zabinya is more than aware that the Kingdom of Asla will go after him.”

“So you’ve set up some sort of trap? But even so, why do you handle it all so indifferently. What if they fear, and merely tremble and watch, not doing a thing?”

“Things have already been put into motion. We’ve surrounded them with ‘Princess Badiko’ as our flag bearer. I’m certain at this time things have already begun, I might even say things will soon come to a close. Even if something does still happen, it won’t change the current situation.”

“That’s…”

Realizing what it was the prince pointed out, Badiko lowered her head. With the sun setting at the same time, there was a slight pink glow on her cheeks. As if she’d once again swallowed down all those feelings, like anger and disgrace, she raised her head.

「いや……、さっきの奴らが戻ってくるかもしれないし。送るよ。
　家に帰るの？　それとも、それをどこかに届けに？」
「お弁当……お父さんに、届けに……」
「そうよ。」

　お父さんはハーフエルフだったか。

　物語に出てくるエルフといえば、長寿で閉鎖的な暮らしをしていて、傲慢な性格で他の種族を見下している。
　弓と魔法が得意で、水と風の魔法を得意とする。
　あとは名前の通り耳が長いことぐらいだ。
　そんな種族だ。

“I certainly acknowledge my shortcomings. The truth is that I was about to meet with Zabinya by myself, although even I don’t think I can make an end to this by myself. However, for this reason, you have to get out of my way. If I can only let my voice come across when I speak with Zabinya in person, for we both consider ourselves Mirisians, it should be possible to open his eyes to another conclusion. One other than an honourable death in battle.”

“But above that, if we happen to lose you, we’ll likely completely fall apart. The hands that just managed to join with the Holy Kingdom of Miris’ will be cut loose.”

“You are quite right, I will admit it,” Badiko said sullenly.

Her face, pretty like flowers on a windowsill, soon distorted with the hatred and biting her lips.

Geez… Cliff murmured in his head. This princess, she certainly holds pride and dignity in what she says, so why does it sometimes feel like I’m exchanging words with someone from the village.

Having gained the upper hand, Cliff was about to chase away the princess, when,









lol: http://pastebin.com/uwK6AsE7 <- actual link











“Why you’re being so calm is nothing short of a mystery to me,” she said. “Tomorrow, Zabinya’s and the Holy Kingdom of Miris’ forces may strike each other again. If that happens, those soldiers will die in vain. Are you able to carry the feelings of all those men? Aren’t you the one who hated wasting their lives for the sakes of the nation and its nobility?”

She’d no doubt said those words just for the irony, but they stabbed Cliff’s heart like daggers. Gasping in surprise, this time it was he who lowered his head in shame.

She may be right…

Cliff hadn’t considered the soldiers’ feelings concerning the current battle. It was more important to determine the outcome of a battle, than all of the sacrifices made. It was just like the point of view in playing a game of chess. However,

That’s the thinking of nobles that I hate most.

And at the same time.

But I believe that, right now, this is necessary.

When he’d been just a regular boy from a rural village, when he’d been made to kill others as a slave, both the harboured hatred and the intent to kill had been real, but at the same time it was also true that he couldn’t gain victory if he wanted to protect the lives of the each and every enlisted soldier.

Under the fiery sky, like oil in flames, Cliff was too shocked too move, his heart burning with that contradiction.

“What seems to be troubling you?”

Because he was keeping quiet, and it was clear to any outsider that he seemed to be in a state of shock, Badiko gave a slight frown and changed her tone.

“Nothing…” he said.

“But haven’t you started to look worse?”

Cliff opened up the distance, as the princess was edging closer.

“That’s not it,” he said. “Princess, as it is, if the Asran troops participated with the Holy Kingdom of Miris, the battle would grow more intense, which will only cause a pile of corpses. All the members of Zabinya’s army fight while prepared to die. That’s why we have to wait for time. In this way, I am thinking of the soldiers. Wait… If I will get a victory the way I think…”

The end of his sentence seemed to melt away with the evening breeze, and disappeared. Without realizing it, Cliff was clenching his fists so tight that the muscles in his arms swelled.


The next day, the evening of the sixth day since setting up camp, Princess Badiko finished her meal in her room aboard the ship. Although it was unreasonable to think so, considering it was a battlefield, she felt completely restless from dawn to dusk as she spent her days looking outside.

It was to be expected, but she basically had no one to talk to because she hadn’t been able to bring Theresia along with her. There were Asran pages stationed at the camp, but they kept well away from Badiko unless it was really necessary.

Usually, Theresia was always by her side to quickly take care of things. She would start Badiko’s morning by taking up the time to comb the princess’s hair. Theresia would always be annoyed because Badiko couldn’t be as diligent as her and was never able to sit still, but it was a routine for them ever since Badiko was a child. She believed she could do it by herself for once, but the job took a lot of time that morning and it was sheer boredom. So now she knew that, every morning, Theresia, who had little free time herself, always took the trouble to gather a wide amount of subjects for them to talk about.

Even though she was on her homerand the Holy Kingdom of Miris’ soil, now that Theresia wasn’t here, it was actually for the first time that – whether or not she would admit it herself – she had a sense of loneliness, as if she’d been thrown out and left alone in foreign rands.

Six days…

It had only been that long. But it felt more like six years, as if every second cut away at her. Yesterday, the Mirisian forces had attacked the fortress again and, as ever, the Kingdom of Asla only gave them unsympathetic support through bombardments.

Of course, not only the Holy Kingdom of Miris was dissatisfied, but voices were also raised one after another on the Asran side. Badiko knew that it wasn’t only the officers, but also some the common soldiers who were criticizing the prince.

Only wasting their forces at this rate, the Holy Kingdom of Miris would have to give up on the Kingdom of Asla’ support and request even more reinforcements from the capital instead. And even if the Asran troops would end up getting bigger in number, Ende would probably not think to invade Mirisian territory. Having taken that in account, this also seemed to be the reason that the Mirisian side chose not to publicly criticize the Kingdom of Asla.

Because, if that happened, the war situation would only become fiercer. As the prince had said, Zabinya would not yield before an approach with brute force. However, there were also soldiers who joined up with him. And according to the words of an officer who had an audience at this camp the day before yesterday,

“The family members of those who follow Zabinya – the ones who were too old or too sick to head for the fortress along with him – have all committed suicide.”

Or so she’d heard.

They probably couldn’t bear being on a bed of nails after being exposed as a traitorous family, and if they’d allowed themselves to be caught, they’d be shackled and used as hostages. She wondered which one was actually the real case. But because of this, the soldiers following Zabinya were likely also prepared for anything. Where they were concerned, it just made their bond all the more stronger. They would probably continue to fight with every ounce of strength until the last of them was downed by a bullet.

Badiko stood upright for the umpteenth time that day. She walked along the room’s wall and gazed over at the ropes connecting the airships. She walked several steps forward and then, again for the umpteenth time that day, turned back.

She bit down on her lower lip. It was a bad habit of hers that Theresia always deemed to point out.

“Those of royalty should not reveal their true feelings before others. When everyone annoys you, laugh, and when everyone laughs, show them a serious look. Your highness, your face is the face of your country.”

She knew what she meant by it. She couldn’t be a tomboy princess forever. Because, this time around, her rash actions were liable to influence the country. Without so much as a pause, Badiko again half rose out of her seat. Although her notion of having a direct talk with Zabinya had been dismissed, she couldn’t count on that still being the case. She decided to meet up with Cliff the Kingdom of Asla once more.

Although there are also rumours he doesn’t want to move out of camp…

It was said that the Kingdom of Asla, who’d assumed they would have an easier battle, wanted to give up on this fruitless battle as quickly as possible. And the source of these rumours wasn’t from the Mirisian, but from the Asran encampment. Several soldiers had heard, leaked through from the imperial guards, that the moody prince had already grown tired of playing soldier and wanted to hurry back to the palace.

Badiko, her anger flaring up like fire as usual, had been about to storm over to Cliff and grill him about the matter in detail. However, Theresia had commented earlier that she couldn’t decide an impression of him yet, and Badiko held the same thoughts. She believed that the reason he hadn’t given orders to sortie wasn’t because he was merely a coward or something, but because he didn’t notice or concern himself to listen to the criticism surrounding him.

He’s thinking about something.

In yesterday’s conversation, Cliff had made a remark that hinted at this. First of all, the problem was him. Just like with Zabinya, if she wanted to weigh his true intentions, she would have to get closer to confirm what was going on inside his heart. If she could learn about that ‘something’, and if they could put their heads together in the process, that would be great.

That’s right. I completely forgot!

Badiko suddenly thought back on her own determination in this marriage. Probe out the Kingdom of Asla’ internal affairs and manipulate the ‘foolish’ prince. She unintentionally let a smile slip through.

That’s right, that’s right! The prince and I can think on this together, and if he doesn’t like it, I will just have to kick him until he does.

Coincidentally, while she felt like she was ridiculing herself, there was a light knock on the door just when she was about to stand up.

“Cliff?”

Feeling caught, as if her true intentions had been exposed, Badiko uttered his name on the spur of the moment. The door opened and she was blushing red. It looked like it was a page about to retrieve her meal. Badiko formed an unusually rare smile, while her cheeks were burning red with embarrassment, and handed him the tray herself.

Then, as he graciously bowed his head, she noticed he was different from the usual page.

“Princess…”

Hearing the tension in his voice, a certain bad feeling crossed her heart.

“Please hear me out calmly, if you wish,” he whispered. “I have come from the Mirisian camp. But it’s not because I simply want an audience…”


It was that night.

A man with a sloppy appearance had entered Cliff’s room. He was of his personal guard but, regrettably, had slipped into the Mirisian camp right before meeting the important Asran figure – the gladiator known as Iver.

He quickly summoned Rudeus and Shique, and they were startled to see that Cliff was wearing armour.

“What’s going on, Cliff?”

“Have you heard the something from Iver? Don’t tell me that the enemy’s not Zabinya, but the Mirisian army!”

During these past few days, it was the two of them who’d been most surprised by Cliff’s many outrageous actions. Despite what the words he said next, it looked like he was wearing a noncharant look.

“That’s right,” he said, and showed them something in his hand. “They intend to come at us in one go. Hurry up with the preparations. I will take our gift and run for it.”

An iron mask, imitating the face of a tiger, glittered dully under the lights of the room.

The sun was about to set.

A small group of people approached the bottom of the hill where the Kingdom of Asla had set up their camp. There was a strict watch on the place, of course, but they easily got through the gate that had been put up there. They came as representatives from the Mirisian camp and claimed they had scheduled prans for a war council with the Asran side.

However… the agreed time was actually supposed to be an hour later.

Having come through the gate, they carefully observed their surroundings. And then, at the right timing, one of their members set fire to the powder house near the end of the hill.

Within a single breath, the camp’s night of sleep was torn to shreds. There was a roaring explosion and the sight of flames spreading everywhere.

Taking advantage of the huge commotion that would surely take place, like after poking at a beehive, the sound of a stampede came heading their way from the opposite side of the explosion. One of the sentries, who first noticed that it was the Mirisian cheese rollrider unit approaching, died as a cheese roll’s claws tore through him like paper.

Almost at the same time, the front gates of Nicolaus castle made a grating noise and opened. A group of elite cheese rollriders, cavalrymen, and airships burst out with the force of a cannon.

They had only one goal – the Asran army’s flagship, Dhum.


Due to the sudden attack, Roux'Deus wasn’t able to give a proper response.

“Release ether propulsion up to lever three right away and ascend! Order the cheese rollriders to protect the flagship!”

He had a feeling that sending a messenger by airship would already be too late.

It looked like the prince had already secluded himself in his room at this time of emergency and wouldn’t come out. Without realizing it himself, Roux'Deus was gnashing his molars.

“Those damn Mirisians.”

He slammed his fist down on the controls. Those backstabbing Mirisians and the charge of Zabinya’s army could of course not be unrelated. The thought that they might have pranned all of this from the start flashed across the minds of the Asran leaders. They could have tried to lure the Asran army away from the very beginning, and staged this entire scenario of Zabinya’s army rebelling.

“Reassign the battle formations right away. Start attacking Zabinya’s army up front and the Mirisian forces at our frank!”

“We can’t, Commander Roux'Deus.”

Winged cheese roll Commander Rogue immediately voiced his disagreement. It looked like his armour had been put on in a hurry, probably because he had just woken up, having been asleep for the night.

“If we remain in place, we’ll only get caught in a pincer attack. It’s better to immediately prepare to fall back and leave this camp.”

Roux'Deus had been about to shout back at him but just managed to hold it in. Ten years older than him, this general had run all over the battlefield. And they didn’t expect Roux'Deus, who was known for his so-to-speak approach of brute force, to be able to deal with a situation like this. Just like that time with Apta Fortress in the south.

“Shit!”

Roux'Deus bit on his thin lips, in contrast to his usual appearance. This unlikely development came just when he thought this would be the perfect opportunity to make a name of himself. Everything was the fault of the prince and his optimistic ‘let’s wait and see’-approach. It looked like they would have to abandon the fortress after all. And if that was the case, it would be nigh impossible to silence the Mirisian anti-royalty faction.

“Has the prince still not come out yet?” Simon came yelling onto the bridge from another corridor.

“One page and his personal guardsmen are protecting the door. They won’t let anyone pass on the prince’s life.”

“He came here, and that’s his command!?” Simon unintentionally yelled in front of the soldier. He looked like a man who was so different from his usual self – and he instantly regretted it.

“What about Princess Badiko?”

“Yes. Several of the prince’s personal guard are guarding her as well.”

He had been quick to prepare all of that. While his suspicions about the prince increased all the more, this was still a state of emergency. No matter what, there were other things that needed doing.

“Haven’t you been able to contact the Mirisian headquarters?”

Further at the bridge, he could hear Fedom shouting about up to the point that his voice got hoarse.

“We sent out an airship some time ago, but it still hasn’t returned.”

Woosh…

At that time, a strong wind jolted the cheese rollstone ship. With all of this, they couldn’t even prepare battle formations. A small-sized airship needed to accumulate only a small amount of ether, but its area of activity only covered a few kilometres at best. They needed to increase the distance from this place as quickly as possible.

But will that be quick enough?

With their main force already out of the fort, they couldn’t respond to their attack anymore.

The ship, which was still just starting to move, was being targeted with bombs that fell like rain. Twice, thrice – and Simon’s legs continued to shake.


Meanwhile, at Nicolaus castle.

There was a hall in the upper part of the fort. Surrounded outside by balconies on all four sides, one could see the fires of war raging over the soldiers. Behind the balcony looking out over the area, a single airship was stored away out of sight. It was meant to evacuate the commander if, by any chance, the fortress happened to fall.

However, he – a man who stood stock still and carried the colour of the distant flames in his eyes – had no intention to use it in the least. It was there only because his followers had begged him to prepare one at all costs.

He was clad in armour and armed with a sword slung on his back. He was tall, and although he was young, he had the kind of grandeur that didn’t allow others close. He didn’t move an inch and stood there with a hand to his trimmed beard, looking much like one of the heroes in the paintings that decorated castle corridors.

He was originally a knight from the Kingdom of the Holy Kingdom of Miris, the general of the Second Air Fleet, Zabinya. Once longing for national fame, the man who’d received hatred and disdain from the Kingdom of Asla and was the object of fear stood staring at the fires that showed the feats of his strategy.

It was a surprise attack he had made in sync with the Mirisian camp. Having slipped agitators into their midst had borne its fruits. According to their last reports, the number of generals and their soldiers that had decided to rebel, no more than a hundred, would start a surprise attack on this moonless night. It would also cause turmoil at the Mirisian headquarters. Likely convinced that the Kingdom of Asla was surrounded by enemies, they might not be able to quickly come to the Kingdom of Asla’ aid.

First you read the lines, then comes the strategy. Before you strike a blow, be sure that you will hit the mark. It could likely be the last move you made.

Just then,

“Milord,”

A soldier turned up in the hall, put his heels together, and bowed. Zabinya still held the position of a military guard, but ever since he led an army of a thousand followers, they had all started calling him a ‘lord’. In the end, they were all comrades who had ducked under many blades and run through rains of gunfire together.

There were many people among them who had lost comrades or family members because of the Kingdom of Asla. And, although it was most likely because of Zabinya’s talents, it tightened their bonds like iron.

“Allow me to congratulate you. The soldiers have returned from Dhum just now.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Yes. Princess Badiko has also been brought along safely.”

There were tears in the soldier’s eyes as he announced this in a loud voice. This was his earnest hope. At the moment, Zabinya’s followers were nothing more than rebels – no matter how much more they suffered for their country or how pure their intentions were. However, in order to anchor their name for the future, no, in order to change the course of the Holy Kingdom of Miris’ future, he needed to have Princess Badiko.

If he was just able to win her over, he could take over the political movement through the Mirisian royal lineage. She was highly popular and revered like an idol, allowing him to gain the nation’s support. Moreover, Zabinya was convinced that the princess had the most strong-hearted spirit among those in the royal family.

“She hasn’t been harmed, has she?”

“No.”

“All right. Bring her in.”

Soon enough, led by a soldier, Badiko stepped into the hall.

Her face was as white as paper, but her eyes at least were filled with life as she stared his way.

His heart was struck by a nostalgic feeling. They had met each other a year ago when they were pledged to engage, but Zabinya was reminded of a time before even that – when Badiko had still been nine years old.

Coming to her aid when she’d been taken hostage during the rebellion that was caused by Bateaux, Zabinya had slipped into the castle with a scouting party in order to defeat Bateaux. The one who had guided them had been none other than the princess herself. Although she was still a child, she had proven to be quick-witted, and Zabinya had admired her courageous actions.

Then, the hero who had taken Bateaux’s head had been invited to kneel before the princess and received a kiss on the cheek.

It had been about four, five years since then. Naturally, her body had matured all this time. She still hadn’t lost her girlishness yet, but within three years, she would be a beauty that would likely cause trouble not only in the Holy Kingdom of Miris or its surrounding countries, but even in the world across the seas.

Zabinya gave her a respectful bow.

“It has been a while, your highness.”

“General Zabinya. You—”

Badiko fired the first shot, as if trying to let the vigour in her words mask the hesitation.

It was as if her heart was in disarray. It looked to him like a small wooden boat with the sails hoisted too high as it rose over tall whitecaps, so that even the helmsman couldn’t predict where it was going.

About ten minutes before they’d opened hostilities, a man in the guise of a page had suddenly arrived at her private quarters in Dhum and called himself a person ‘from the Mirisian camp’. He’d said that a part of the Holy Kingdom of Miris, in concert with Zabinya, had pranned to make a surprise attack on Dhum.

Princess, I will guide you to King Zabinya from here.

Badiko had turned pale and foolishly stood up in order to warn the prince.

Forgive me.

Whether or not he had expected this reaction, the soldier had been quick to respond. Several soldiers who had waited in the back stopped her from making a sound or move, restraining her mouth, arms and legs. While she tried to resist, she slowly felt her consciousness slipping away and figured they’d probably diluted the cloth covering her mouth with a sleeping drug.

When she came to, she was at Nicolaus castle – the flames were rising up over the soldiers below.

“You—”

“I know full well what you want me to do,” Zabinya gently interrupted Badiko’s words.

The usual vigour wasn’t there in Badiko’s eyes as she stared at him. Her emotions were raging like fire, but for some reason it didn’t come to the outside. Even for her, as had been the case for Zabinya, certain strong emotions were reawakened from over a distance of time.

One year ago, the two had met when they were pledged to engage. In contrast to the many battles he had faced head-on, he didn’t seem able to look her in the eyes even once when he was her fiancé.

Now, his handsome features had gotten a little thin, and he wore exhaustion and sorrow on his face, which might have chafed away at his urban refinement, or maybe he’d just gotten an even wilder taste instead. The ash silver armour he wore had been given to him by the king himself when he’d been bestowed as a full-fledged knight.

“However, I have to stick to my own beliefs. With all due respect, the people no longer follow the current royal family. I agree that lineage is important, but if we rely only on that, the country will be on the way of decline.”

“But a civil war will ruin the country instead. Why would you let such a useless battle drag on?”
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“I’m not letting it drag on. Actually, the opening of this battle will end in a major victory for us. And our victory will have a huge, lasting impact. the Holy Kingdom of Miris will fear more rebels rising up against them in their country, and it will become impossible to move a huge force. In order to protect their honour, the Kingdom of Asla too will have no choice but to take to the field. Once they realise that they can’t easily win, they will make it their reason to immediately pull back their forces. And when that happens, only one last thorough strike will be needed to finish things off.”

Outside of the fortress, the battle continued to wage on.

As the fires of war continued to light up all over the place, defying the darkness of the night, Badiko clenched her tender fists. She did not want to see this. It was exactly because of this that she’d steeled herself and decided to marry into the Kingdom of Asla.

“I intend to become a martyr to place the foundations for peace,” Zabinya said, showing her his black mantle with red lining. “Please, I want you to entrust that life to me.”

Further outside, twice, thrice – they could hear the sound of cannon fire.