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LNWNCentral_Dragoon_Dragoon - WN Chapter 146-167
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Dragoon-WN-Chapter-146-167-[Yoraikun][Trollo]/s6.txt
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Dragoon 148-160 - Dragoon 153: Demon King
Chapter 153: Demon King
Standing at a high point of the fort, Rudel saw Sakuya off to
the horizon.
Slicing up an ogre climbing up the wall towards him, he
muttered.
“Live on, Chlust.”
Sakuya was loaded with the knights and soldiers of the fort,
alongside the civilians that had taken refuge.
They were reluctant to leave Rudel’s side. But he forcefully
used Sakuya to get them away.
Thanks to that, the fort was in the process of being destroyed.
Monster scrambled up the outer wall, while wyverns circled the sky
above.
As three wyverns headed for Sakuya, Rudel took a deep lurch
forward followed by a large jump. Soaring into the sky, Rudel
reached his left hand out towards the wyverns.
“How cold. Your opponent’s right over here… if you get that,
have at me!”
Rudel emitted a number of lights around, he formed them into the
shape of swords. Those swords of light with a golden glimmer began
to spin on the spot.
Looking over his surroundings, Rudel sent his swords flying in
all directions. To the wyverns chasing Sakuya, to the wyverns
circling in the sky. To the monsters and the imperial army on
land.
With a sword flying their way, the wyverns changed direction to
avoid it.
“Oh no, you don’t.”
When Rudel clenched his left hand, the fired sword pursued its
target and stuck in. Where it impaled, it exploded, and in the sky
and on land, explosions rung out in all directions.
Falling towards the ground, Rudel avoided wyvern breath, and
magic and arrows as he landed outside the grounds of the fort.
Around him, ogres taller than he could ever hope to be were
armed at the ready. An imperial knight who looked to be a
commanding officer directed their right hand at Rudel.
“Fool! When dragged to the earth, a dragoon is no more than an
ordinary knight! Surround him and beat him down!”
When the commander said that, the monsters assailed Rudel at
once.
Readying his blade, and flowing mana into it, Rudel swung his
sword one revolution.
“Wha!”
The surrounding ogres were blown back and bisected.
Holding swords of their own, the monsters who knew no fear—no,
the monsters who would simply follow orders came at Rudel one after
another.
Each and every one of them was laid to rest by the sword in
Rudel’s right hand.
“Your words do me ill. Well, it’s true a dragoon is incomplete
without his partner by his side.”
As Rudel said that with a smile, the enemy commander hopped on a
horse and fled.
“Keep going at him! We have to bring him down while his dragon
isn’t here!”
The fact the dragon protecting the fort- Sakuya- had left made
the enemy lower their guard.
They had never even imagined Rudel would remain alone.
Rudel laughed before the foes approaching him from all
sides.
“Sorry, but I don’t plan on letting the commanders get
away.”
He said, disappearing from the spot with his wind magic-based
movement. The surrounding monsters were carved up in an
instant.
A spurt of blood whirling up in the air, at times the monsters
lifted along with it.
The commander raised a scream.
“What is this? What the hell are you!!?”
The monsters were simply bodies to enact orders. In that case,
targeting enemy commanders and having them target monsters on him
was the simplest means to keep them here.
The commander exclaimed aloud at this strength exceeding his
expectations. Right after, his body was split open by Rudel’s
hand.
◇
At the Gaia Empire’s main camp, Askewell confirmed the war
situation with his adjutants.
His arms folded, Askewell gave a dry laugh.
“Hmm, so he persists even without his dragon. He used that
fortress as a decoy to invite the enemy in… looks like things
aren’t going my way.”
One of his adjutants, Mies offered Askewell some advice.
“Bahn Rhoshwas and Leor have already taken up their positions…
should we call the back?”
Hearing those names, Askewell thought just a bit, before, “No,
it’s fine,” he said and stood from his seat.
“He’s just as the rumors say… no, he goes beyond that. Courtois’
white knight. But how far can he go both outnumbered and
overwhelmed?”
One of his adjutants shed a cold sweat.
“I can’t think he’s human like me. For the monster army we
worked so hard to assemble to be lost this easily… Askewell-sama,
should we not implore General Rhoshwas or Leor-dono to defeat the
White Knight in good time?”
Askewell’s expression turned serious.
“That is unnecessary. We had far too many monsters—the plan was
to reduce their numbers. These losses are all within
expectations.”
Mies gave a slight nod to Askewell’s words.
(Right. Within expectations. Whatever the case, it’s impossible
for the empire to maintain these numbers. If they’re not crushed
here, even if we obtain fertile soil, it will be meaningless.)
Maintaining this massive monster legion was an exceedingly large
burden on the empire. They were an army assembled to be crushed
from the get-go. If they weren’t human, it wouldn’t hurt anyone’s
heart.
(… But that white knight’s doing a good job holding out.)
While it was within expectations, these losses were far too
great to come from a single combatant. They had gone down
considerably in only a few days.
However—
“No matter the damages, our main body’s losses are
insignificant. There is no problem.”
At Askewell’s words, the adjutants nodded.
Right. Their main body of humans kept behind the monster
legions.
What’s more, it was an army that had suffered very little
loss.
Askewell touched a hand to his chin.
“But it might just be time for Courtois’ reinforcements to
arrive. It wouldn’t be bad to take the white knight’s head before
that.”
Mies tilted her head.
“Did we not have a deal with Courtois?”
Askewell laughed.
“If those things held up, we’d have world peace. Well, if they
don’t come, then that’s no problem for us… keep sending monsters at
him for a while. After that—I’ll personally take his head.”
A warrior of the Gaia Empire and their hero, while the adjutants
had some problems with Askewell’s words, they agreed to them.
Mies thought.
(Well, I guess there’s no way Askewell-sama will lose. Even with
the white knight as his foe, he need simply tire him to the limit.
It’ll also raise morale.)
◇
Just how many hundred, nay, how many thousands of monsters had
he butchered?
Their movements were far too simple, too linear. When they all
came at him, they were quicker to take down than when they targeted
other people or the fort itself.
Rudel breathed roughly as he stuck the sword in his right hand
into the ground, surveying his surroundings.
Monster corpses spread over and narrowed the ground, there were
places where the bodies piled up. Trampling over those corpses more
monsters came at him still.
His shoulders rising in breath, Rudel looked at the sky.
Hefty clouds interrupted the sun, and he had no idea what time
it might be.
“.. Looks like rain.”
To receive the monsters coming at him, he forcibly stood his
body and drew his sword from the ground.
“A dragoon with no partner is just a knight… huh.”
Recalling the enemy commander’s words, Rudel gave a
self-deriding laugh. That was definitely no mistake.
He would have liked to fight with Sakuya.
But if the fort’s knights and soldiers, and the evacuated
civilians remained, he wouldn’t be able to fight to the best of his
abilities.
Perhaps he could have managed if he abandoned them… but if he
did that, Rudel knew he would never be able to look everyone who
saved him in the eye.
Moving his dulling body, he cut through enemies as he
walked.
His movements without any unnecessary power, at this point, it
was almost that the movements drilled into his body were
arbitrarily coming out.
Without any waste, he slowly walked forward as he carved up his
foes.
The commanders issuing orders to the monsters from behind
fearfully looked at Rudel.
“M-monster—”
“There’s no way.”
“Just one person… the dragoons really are monsters.”
Hearing that, Rudel made a smile.
Seeing him laugh, the Gaia Empire Soldiers fears worsened.
“What’s wrong… quit cowering and come at me. Did you not come
here for war? I’m sorry I’m on my own, but I, Rudel Arses shall be
your enemy. I don’t intend to let a single one of you pass.”
On those words, the imperial knights driven by hears raised
their warcries. In voices similar to shrieks, they ordered the
monsters to charge.
“Get him!”
“Kill that man. You have to kill him!”
“Are the reinforcements here yet!?”
The number of enemies had decreased greatly from the onset.
An army that buried the entire landscape was now scarce and
divided. It had decreased in density… that was simply the amount
that Rudel had slain.
(Hopefully one last push.)
Forcing his body already a pain just to move, Rudel poised his
sword and cut down all the monsters coming at him.
His form, despite the white armor he war was beginning to look
like something else entirely.
The form of him gleefully defeating his foes had even brought
upon knights fleeing from the battlefield.
It came at that moment—
“Any more will affect morale. Looks like I can’t overlook him
any longer.”
A voice with a sense of presence boomed across the battlefield.
Hearing that strong and reassuring voice, the cowering knights
regained composure.
When Rudel looked in the direction of the voice, there was the
disheartening sight of an enemy leading a host of troops. The
numbers he had gone to great lengths reducing were back to their
original value.
The enemy looked at the ground, and he turned his gaze to
Rudel.
“You’ve done well, to defeat so many. Allow me to give you my
honest praise, white knight.”
Rudel leaned his sword on his shoulder.
“Call me dragoon, or White Dragoon. It’s a name a dear friend
granted me. I’ve quite a liking for it.”
His gold hair swept back, the tall man in armor looked a little
surprised before he gave a grand laugh.
“White Dragoon! I see, a white knight and a dragoon makes a
White Dragoon. Makes perfect sense to me.”
A laughing enemy commander—
(His air’s different from the others. Is he a general?)
As Rudel raised his guard, his foe introduced himself.
“My name is Askewell Gaia, and I am in command of this army.
White Dragoon… as I recall, you were called Rudel Arses, were you?
I shall display your head to the armies of Courtois soon to
arrive.”
When his smile went out, Askkewell’s face was expressionless.
Cold to no end, it spoke that he had no mercy to spare for
Rudel.
On the contrary, Rudel laughed.
“And what of it? For two enemies, such is only natural. Of
course, I do think a certain level of respect is required for an
honorable warrior. I can’t say I like your means.”
Showing off enemy corpses wasn’t quite to Rudel’s liking.
Of course, he knew that was effective. In the sense of weakening
an enemy’s fighting spirit, it was the proper action.
“… Honorable warriors, eh. On the battlefield, such nobility is
meaningless.”
Rudel agreed with that point as well.
“You’re right. So I don’t plan to correct you. Once you take
this head, you may do what you want with it. If you can, that
is.”
To Rudel’s provocations, Askewell assumed they were his final
show of courage; he didn’t seem all too moved.
“So you know no fear. What brute courage.”
“Brute courage? If I’m brute courage, then you are just a brute.
Neither shame nor honor. A monster in human form.”
With a legion of monsters as the vanguard, they would go on a
rampage on Courtois’ territory.
Perhaps he had something to think about Askewell’s means to
lower their population, even using monsters as tools.
“… I’m sure you will never understand in your prosperity. Just
how the empire pains, and how it hungers.”
Rudel had an inkling Askewell was trying to do something about
the Empire’s present state of affairs. The reason they aimed for
the Courtois Kingdom was that unlike the empire, the kingdom’s
territory was abundant in fertile soil.
If they were living so destitute, with prosperous land nearby,
of course they would want it.
“No matter how you despise me. No matter how you scorn me, there
is something I must—”
Once Askewell had said that much, Rudel lowered his sword from
his shoulders.
He stuck his glare on Askewell—the army behind him.
“Quit your yapping. You came to invade, didn’t you? Saying
there’s something you have to do now, do you plan to go into
penance? Are you trying to tell me, there’s this great reason
you’re invading us so please forgive you?”
While Rudel’s words invoked anger from the imperial army—
“At the point you crossed the border, the war had begun. Cry
your heart out in diplomacy if you want our sympathy… but this is
already a battlefield. It is only good manners for us to speak life
and death with the weapons in our hands. Now… shall we kill one
another?”
— At a smiling Rudel’s atmosphere, everyone swallowed their
breath.
Almost a vengeful spirit or a demon… no, he gave the air of a
demon king.
◇
Bennet boarded Izumi, Aleist and his harem members on the back
of her own dragon Heleene, setting out for the battlefield.
“We’re almost there. But to be honest, with these numbers, you
can’t quite call us reinforcements.”
While she was a dragoon who protected Courtois, one rider and
ten-odd ground combatants were cause for unease.
Izumi cast down a pensive countenance.
“… Even so, if we make it, we may be of the slightest
assistance.”
Bennet nodded.
“Well, the situation is considerably terrible, but I’m sure
Captain Oldart will send reinforcements. And if the Archduke Houses
are moving, as long as we can hold out—”
Aleist’s cry cut her off.
“Bennet-san! Ahead!”
Ahead of them, a giant, white dragon—Sakuya flew with a large
load of people on to her back.
Izumi stood.
“Sakuya!”
Surely Rudel was with her. She knew it had to be true, but
Sakuya was acting strangely. Bennet looked at the people riding
Sakuya’s back—
(Apart from knights and soldiers, civilians too? Don’t tell me
they were late to get away?)
There, Sakuya mournfully roared. Hearing her voice, Izumi
covered her mouth with both hands.
“That can’t be…”
“W-what’s wrong? You can hear her, right? What happened!?”
Dragons could communicate telepathically with those they had
conceded their hearts to. For that reason, there was a high
probability Izumi could hear Sakuya’s voice.
Meaning it was possible for her to learn what was going on at
the border.
Bennet heard Sakuya’s tale through way of Heleene.
‘This is bad. Looks like that Rudel remained at the fort alone.
He had Sakuya carry those late to flee to get them to safety.’
Bennet’s expression warped.
“That fool!”
But to Rudel who couldn’t run away, this was surely the only way
to let the others survive.
“There should have been a smarter way to do it.”
Bennet muttered, and inferring from those words and the
situation, Aleist’s complexion turned pale.
“… Rudel.”
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LNWNCentral_Dragoon_Dragoon - WN Chapter 146-167
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Dragoon-WN-Chapter-146-167-[Yoraikun][Trollo]/s7.txt
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Dragoon 148-160 - Dragoon 154: Last Boss
Chapter 154: Last Boss
Another battlefield.
There a separate detachment of the Gaia Empire—their supposed
main body was locked in a staring contest with the Dragoon
Brigade.
The first to arrive at the battlefield, Oldart’s dragoons flew
to intimidate the unmoving enemy near the border.
If that had them step down, it would be the end, but the enemy
was evidently acting strange.
Skirmishes had broken out between the two powers many a time,
and they were sure to know just how powerful their dragons were.
Yet the army didn’t seem the least bit disconcerted.
What’s more—
“They’re waiting for something.”
As Oldart looked at the enemy camp and muttered, one of his
subordinates approached.
“Captain, they show no signs of moving. They’re considerably
calm.”
The Gaia Empire had invaded on two fronts.
There could be no doubt their main force was the army led by the
crown prince before their eyes, but Oldart couldn’t help but be
curious about the movements of the other prince’s army.
“Including Rudel, they have three riders. I think they can hold
out…”
Even an army of ten thousand, to a dragoon, was no great
threat.
A war could end simply through breath attacks from the sky. At
times dragon slayers, and people outside the norm could appear to
take them down. But with multiple riders, the possibility of them
being taken out drastically fell.
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this. Perhaps I was right to send
reinforcements.”
Oldart touched his prided well-kept beard as he muttered; his
subordinate’s expression turned grim.
“Captain, wouldn’t we be better off crossing the border first to
meet them? There is no need for us to keep such a number stationed
here—”
His subordinate prompting him to send half, even a third of his
forces, Oldart lightly raised a hand to stop him from saying any
further.
The reason was the dragon descending from the sky.
A gray dragon—not under the dragoons’ jurisdiction, the dragon
of the royal guard.
“Now that wouldn’t do. Their other force is few in numbers. The
enemy’s main body is here. It wouldn’t do for you to take arbitrary
action.”
The gray dragon landed before Oldart’s subordinate. Fritz
dismounted from its back and came out before Oldart.
“Why if it isn’t the supreme commander. Well, just try and
understand the thoughts of someone who cares for his comrade in
arms. So anyway, why have you ridden to the battlefield alone?”
What about the army? When Oldart asked, Fritz shrugged his
shoulders.
Atop the back of a dragon, my speed far outweighs their march. I
wanted to get a prior view of the battlefield.
Oldart was beset by a tiredness. No, rather than tired, a part
of him understood how he felt.
(When you’re riding a dragon, a normal march feels like a
snail’s pace… but the supreme commander leaving his army is a big
no-no.)
Perhaps his subordinate felt the same, he made a conflicted
expression as he looked at Fritz.
(It’s the same whether he’s there or not? Well, he’s the
princess’ favorite, after all.)
He surely didn’t have a place even among his own troops.
As Oldart thought, he looked at the immobile imperials right
across the border.
◇
Meanwhile—
The army led by Askewell had suffered large losses from but a
single man.
Even if that had been taken into account, the figures were too
large to have come from opposing one unit.
“Have the monsters stand down. Surround him with elites.”
By Askewell’s orders, knights in uniform full-body armor came
out front.
Their footing nimble despite the solid armor over their bodies,
they were undoubtedly elites.
Askewell led them to surround Rudel in order to prepare a stage
for one-on-one combat.
“White Dragoon, was it. You are strong. Far too strong. That is
why… I must personally take you on.”
After picking up his spear and dismounting his horse, he walked
over to Rudel.
While Rudel was covered in mud, dead-exhausted, even so, his
fighting spirit didn’t wither before Askewell.
A sword in his right hand.
A shield in his left.
The knight in white armor fought Askewell’s army on his lonesome
self.
It was not his intent to show his respect.
(I’ll beat you down here. For the morale of the entire
army.)
After tiring him out so, Askewell would defeat his tattered
opponent in one-on-one combat. He knew they couldn’t be called a
virtue of the battlefield, but such notions were irrelevant to
him.
If he didn’t win this battle, the empire had no future.
What’s more, he couldn’t let Rudel continue to put out
casualties. If it came out that one man had taken down several
thousands, it would influence morale. Crushing him with numbers
would do little to remedy the situation, but if Askewell were to go
out and defeat this dragoon, he would be able to completely turn
the situation around.
(It would normally be a poor move, but…)
Rudel had stuck fast far harder than anticipated, forcing
Askewell to change his objectives a number of times.
When Askewell readied his spear, Rudel’s mouth curled into a
grin.
(So he laughs in this situation.)
There were at times, those who sought beauty on the battlefield.
One on one combat and personal sacrifice—Askewell was unable to
understand them.
At his core, he was someone who set out to be a research, not of
a nature to look up to war heroes.
(Is he the sort that seeks his place to be on the
battlefield?)
Seeing Askewell’s stance, Rudel opened his mouth.
“You… are strong. However!”
Rudel instantly closed the distance with a cut; Askewell turned
aside his strike with his spear.
Receiving, parrying, he warded off Rudel’s attacks.
He had to be worn out, seeing the crudeness sticking out in
Rudel’s attacks, Askewell was convinced.
(He’s close to his limit.)
A large step in, Askwell thrust his spear, and Rudel stopped the
attack with his left-hand shield. He tried to divert the face, but
it seemed he was unable.
“I’ll show you my respect for remaining to fight on your own. I
will parade your corpse, but I will erect a monument.”
Rudel didn’t seem particularly interested.
“Don’t go erecting monuments in someone else’s country. Do you
think you’ve won?”
— The match was practically decided already.
As he was about to say that, Rudel slammed Askewell’s spear hard
into the ground.
The impact lifted the dirt, and as it flew through the air,
Rudel took distance—
“You’re not getting away!”
When Askewell tried to give chase, Rudel fired off water magic
towards the ground. With the moistened earth making it easier to
slip, Askewell stopped moving for only a brief moment.
Confirming that, Rudel disappeared from before his eyes.
No, it was as if a gale had broken out with Rudel at the center,
he began moving at a tremendous speed.
“W-what are—”
Looking around, Askewell opened his eyes wide.
There a scene of the elites surrounding them being cut down in a
moment of distraction unfolded before his eyes.
Askewell regained a strong grip of his spear, turned to Rudel
and yelled.
“Your opponent is over here!”
Rudel glanced at him and spoke.
“Wrong. Each and every one of you is my opponent.”
◇
Rudel held up his sword as he looked at Askewell.
(But this guy is strong. Each individual blow is strangely
heavy.)
The man coming at him, in comparison, didn’t fall short of Rudel
in either power or speed. A blessed constitution.
Askewell’s talent and mana capacity might even exceed his
own.
However—
“You fight way too cleanly.”
Lifting dirt with his foot, he kicked it straight at Askewell’s
face. While he immediately reacted and avoided it, his movements
were unaccustomed.
He had rarely fought against an equal. Or perhaps too many of
his fights had been against monsters, and in battles against
humans, his blessed talent would end the match far too soon.
To an extent, he looked inexperienced when it came to fighting
foes of close strength.
(But perhaps that just means that’s simply how talented he
was.)
Askewell swiped his spear to the side.
That attack wrapped in the mud on the ground to assail Rudel.
What was just a physical attack became a shockwave to come at
him.
Springing over it to avoid, Rudel cut down at him from above.
Askewell held his spear horizontally to catch the blow.
That powerful strike sunk the third prince’s boots into the
ground.
(I can’t just push through as I am now.)
As he thought that, Rudel’s body let off a faint light. Symbols
surfaced over his form, covering his entire body to protect
him.
Unleashing the power of the white knight, Rudel took a look
around.
(Looks like cutting down the elites has set the others in
motion.)
Panicking at Rudel’s change, the surroundings moved to protect
Askewell. Those surroundings were blown back by a bolt of light
from Rudel.
“Bastard!”
While Askewell glared at Rudel, from Rudel’s point of view, he
had no recollection of accepting a one-on-one duel. More so, whilst
surrounded by enemies, there was no dishonor to be had in launching
an attack.
To add to that, Rudel had noticed Askewell’s ulterior
motive.
(I see, so his aim is to defeat me and raise morale. That’s
surprisingly earnest. Is that how far they’ve been cornered?)
If they kept pushing him back with numbers, Rudel thought he
could cut them down, and inflict enough damage that the enemy would
retreat when reinforcements came.
“What’s wrong? If you don’t stop me, your men will die.”
When he provoked with a smile, Askewell forcefully swung his
spear to knock Rudel back. Purposely flying back, Rudel opened more
distance and attacked his surroundings once more.
The imperial army launched magic and arrows at him; but as
Askewell was right by him, those attacks were few and far
between.
(Should I use him as a shield to lower their numbers?)
As he considered it, Askewell fired off his strongest thrust at
him. That blow like an arrow shot from afar looked to be difficult
to fend off.
Due to his sheer force, the foothold Askewell kicked sent dirt
several meters into the air.
Holding out his left hand, Rudel stationed several dozens of
shields of light in the path of his advance. With enough force to
pierce through all of them, Askewell’s momentum was only decreased
by the slightest amount.
But that slight was enough. For at the end of his charge through
dozens of shield—Rudel was long gone.
As Askewell hurriedly stopped in his tracks, Rudel circled
around to his left—and bashed Askewell with his shield.
“Dammit! If I could circle right…”
That would have settled the match, but enemy soldiers had
gathered there, and there was a chance his timing would be off.
He regretted not swinging his sword from an impossible
angle.
(I need some more training. It’s a severe blow that I didn’t
take him out with that attack.)
He tried to pursue Askewell, blown back, rolling along the
ground, but enemies gathered around him.
They were surely trying to protect him.
While he did have some thoughts on their devotion—
“This is the war you started—”
Rudel cut down any soldier that would stand between himself and
Askewell.
◇
Askewell’s head was hazy.
(What just…)
When he raised his head, the backs of his men were directed at
him, and beyond them a fountain of blood. His head was heavy.
Rudel had smacked him in the head, and the sounds of the
battlefield sounded somewhat distant.
“W-what are you doing. Stop. You have to pull back!”
His subordinates died before his eyes. That was something
Askewell couldn’t bear.
While he would kill his foes, he was too soft on his allies.
As he tried to stand to his feet, he thought he heard a single
clear voice.
‘… When I’ve put so much in your favor, you can’t even properly
fulfill your role?’
Hearing that disappointed voice, Askewell looked around. Time
seemed to flow by ever so slowly.
(What’s happening—)
‘That’s enough.’
Upon that irritated voice, he saw the ground at his feet
suddenly overflowing with a pitch-black mud.
(What? This is…)
He tried to run, but his body wouldn’t move.
Yet as the black mud swallowed him down, a sense of delight—he
could tell his strength was coming back to him.
Enveloped in a relief that made him want to entrust it his body,
he could sense the wariness he had held towards Rudel a moment
before was relaxing.
(Aah, this is…)
Askewell was swallowed by the mud, and when it came unstuck,
there he was, his entire body covered in a dark ominous armor
stuck-fast to his being.
No, rather than armor, perhaps it was closer to skin.
When his form had practically become that of the devil, Askewell
looked at Rudel. Within that slowly moving time, Rudel’s eyes were
trailed on him.
(… So he noticed. But it’s too late.)
The surrounding time returned to normal, and when the sounds
came back vividly, Askewell swiftly approached Rudel and kicked
him.
Blown away, Rudel collided where his army of allies was
stationed, dragging in the surroundings as he rose a cloud of
dust.
His subordinates took in Askewell’s form in bewilderment.
“Askewell-sama…”
“That form is…”
“What could have?”
Seeing his perplexed subordinates, Askewell didn’t think
anything in particular. Walking straight and tall, he held up his
right hand a bit.
A black something escaped from his hand, that something was a
spear.
Pulling that uncanny black spear from his body, Askewell walked
towards Rudel, slowly breaking into a dash.
It was as if he was verifying the movements of his body, and
without seeing his men before him as a hindrance, he simply blew
them away in his wake.
From the person he had been a moment ago, something fundamental
had changed.
“Now, here is your real battle.”
Askewell closed in on Rudel An unsightly smile spread across his
face.
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Dragoon 148-160 - Dragoon 155: Dragon and Wyvern
Chapter 155: Dragon and Wyvern
As the demonized Askewell blew him away, Rudel cut the inside of
his mouth. Dripping blood, he looked at the beast making towards
him as he stood.
“Now this is troublesome.”
He was blown away to where imperial soldiers were in close
formation.
For that reason, the impact knocked soldiers off their feet, and
around him, the troops had surrounded him to prevent him from
escaping, but… he could tell from their faces they were confused at
Askewell’s transformation.
Shaking off his own subordinate’s restraints, he smacked them
aside.
“As far as I can tell, he’s conscious.”
Looking into Askewell’s eyes, apart from malice towards Rudel,
it looked like there was some sort of consciousness within
them.
“I’ll find out if I give it a go.”
Taking his stance, he cut at Askewell.
Unlike before, Askewell violently swung his spear to knock
Rudel’s sword aside.
Determining that even with the strength of the white knight he
would lose in a battle of pure force, Rudel circled around behind
him.
He could circle in the blink of an eye. It was easy enough for
him to take Askewell’s back, but…
“This is—”
He heard the sound of metal colliding.
Rudel had definitely lowered his sword at the point he’d aimed
for. The nape of his neck.
Immediately jumping back, he avoided Askewell’s lance that came
with the same motion as he turned face. The impact brought
casualties to the soldiers around him.
That hardened-skin-like armor was almost like metal. Yet be that
as it may, it didn’t look like it was obstructing his
movements.
Askewell looked at Rudel, lackadaisically opening his mouth.
“Is that all you’ve got? In that case, it won’t be long before I
kill you and continue the march. With this power, it won’t just be
this region. We can cut deep into the Kingdom of Courtois. We might
make it all the way to the capital.”
He would continue the march, he would make all the way to the
capital, Askewell said and laughed.
(He’s incapable of rational decision making, I see.)
As Rudel laid down a verdict, Askewell took a stance with his
spear.
“Where did all that vigor go, dragoon!”
Kicking the ground, Askewell closed in on him.
Rudel fired a light bolt in his direction. While it met him head
on and exploded, it had no visible effect on Askewell’s
assault.
“If even magic is ineffective, this is going to be
troublesome.”
While he was exhibiting the white knight’s power, Rudel was
being overpowered. Against a foe whose power was now on another
plane, Rudel worked his head on means to counteract.
(Now then, I can’t leave him to his own devices, but…)
But some part of him thought back to his student days. He had
started out fighting Aleist, at the time a foe on another plane,
and had pushed himself in some crazy ways.
(… Compared to that, I don’t have it too bad right now.)
And now, the things he was capable of had increased.
With Askewell coming right at him, Rudel closed his eyes. He
undid his stance, and without putting up any resistance, the point
of Askewell’s spear was encroaching on his face.
“Given up!?”
There was just a bit of anger in Askewell’s voice. Perhaps he
was disappointed in Rudel for giving up having come so far. But
Rudel snapped his eyes open.
“Sorry but… I never did know when to give up.”
When he opened his eyes, his blue iris had turned red. He was
using his magic eyes.
Rudel’s armor from the black boar.
Rudel’s eyes from the mad bird.
They had left them to him to fight against destiny.
Feeling the time around him pass slowly, Rudel avoided the spear
point by a hair’s breadth, let go of his weapon, grabbed the spear,
and used it as a lever to throw Askewell.
He had used the prince’s momentum.
Thrown off of his feet, Askewell slammed into the ground. But he
was immediately up.
Rudel’s sword and shield were now stuck in the ground. He
confronted Askewell barehanded.
“Are you mocking me?”
Askewell must have felt belittled. Casting down one’s weapon in
this situation was out of the question.
Yet Rudel was serious.
“I’m always serious. This way was simply the optimum method to
win against you.”
Rudel smiled.
“I need to train more. There are too many techniques I can’t use
with a weapon. But hey, if you think you’re being belittled, then I
must apologize for that.”
Seriously coming to defeat Askewell, Rudel wasn’t making light
of anyone. Thought how Askewell saw it was a separate issue.
“If that isn’t mocking, then—”
Right after, Rudel manifested before Askewell’s eyes.
His fist lifted, Rudel swiftly lowered it towards him.
Askewell, making light of Rudel’s attack—
“Guhah!”
— Was sent sprawling a long way through the air.
Rudel looked at Askewell blown away, waving his right hand a
bit.
“That’s hard. Well, not too hard to get through.”
Askewell brushed a hand against his smacked face. There were no
external wounds. In the first place, by demonizing, it became hard
to put a dent in his skin.
It was a separate issue if the force could penetrate inside of
it.
“W-what did you do?”
Rudel gripped his fist towards Askewell, whose mouth dripped
with blood.
“I penetrated the force.”
After only those words, Askewell’s spear was ready to attack
Rudel. He stepped in and lowered it from up high.
His speed—it was a blow that was lowered in the time an average
fighter would have taken to raise it up. That inconceivable power
and speed, a normal person wouldn’t even be able to comprehend they
had died if they took it on.
Avoiding the attack, Rudel let his eyes glow red as he
laughed.
“Too slow!”
A left straight with his weight behind it sunk into Askewell’s
body, the impact passing through his pack and piercing him
through.
Askewell spat up blood.
“Guh, damn you!!”
Seeing him lose his composure, Rudel felt just a little
disappointed.
“If that’s all it takes, you were stronger before.”
Watching him recklessly swing around his power, Rudel kicked him
away.
A deep breath, Rudel took a stance as Askewell stood and tried
swinging his spear—
“I told you… too slow.”
— In the next instant, Rudel grabbed Askewell’s face with his
right hand and slammed him into the ground. Right after.
“It’s over.”
With those words, a large shockwave broke out with Askewell at
the center. The ground caved in to form a crater.
The surrounding imperial soldiers were blown away, Askewell
showed the whites of his eyes.
Rudel sluggishly stood.
To put an end to the immobile Askewell—to take his head, he
approached, when he felt something was off.
◇
Meanwhile.
The army Fritz led as supreme commander was half on the verge of
collapse.
“What are the dragoons doing!?”
“An army of wyvern in the sky—”
“The enemy number surpass three hundred riders—”
The imperial army started up as soon as their own army arrived.
It was all going right by the planned scenario. But the imperial
army that moved had established their wyvern unit as a
countermeasure to the dragoons.
Three hundred knights mounting wyverns, a battle unfolded in the
sky above.
Looking to the sky, they were outnumbered and overwhelmed.
Subordinates rushed to Fritz one after the next to report and
seek orders.
“The empire’s army has crossed the border and begun hostilities
with our forces! But their numbers are higher. We need
reinforcements—”
“More than that, we should pull back. The empire boasts three times
our land troops!”
Even if they sought reinforcements, there were no reserves to
send around.
Having depended on their dragoons, the Kingdom of Courtois
couldn’t reach the empire in ground troops. What’s more, on a
quality side as well, the empire surpassed Courtois.
Their weapons tempered under the torment of dragons.
They had now turned to torment the knights and soldiers of
Courtois.
Fritz was dismayed by this unanticipated situation.
From the very start, he was a decoration of a commander. And
yet, for them to seek so much from him now, there was little he
could do about it.
Those around watched him with chastising eyes.
“I-immediately request reinf—”
He tried to give an order for reinforcements, but his
subordinate denied it.
“Where do you seen the leisure for that!?”
Not even with a grasp of the army’s state of affairs, Fritz
didn’t fully understand how many units were stationed where.
(Why… what could have happened?)
Fritz clenched his fist, and the words of the next messenger who
surged into the tent turned his face pale.
“U-urgent report! Princess Fina has raised a rebellion at the
capital! Both Archduke Diade and Archduke Halbades have turned
hostile, and Princess Aileen has been placed in a terrible
predicament.”
It wasn’t just the battlefield, there was chaos at the palace as
well, causing many of those gathered to lose their complexion.
Those here were those who sided with Aileen.
If Aileen were to be overthrown—
“Retreat. Rush to the aid of the palace at once, and subjugate
the rebel for—”
“How can we retreat with an enemy before us!? In their pursuit, our
army will fall to ruin!”
If they continued the fight with the empire, their prospects of
victory looked slim.
But if they didn’t return to the capital, their standings would
be in danger.
Within all of that, Frit sprinted out of the tent.
He raced over to his own dragon.
(Aileen!)
He acted out of worry for Aileen. If he hurried, he hoped he
could make it in time.
◇
Oldart issued orders to his men in the air.
“We can take them on one to three. Just do that and we win.”
The wind dragon flying beside him—Alejandro riding on its back
was fed-up.
Avoiding the wyvern breath firing all around him, he yelled at
Oldart.
“I don’t care about that. Give some actual precise orders!”
A laughing Oldart continued moving his formation to draw the
wyverns further from the ground as he looked at the armies
below.
“Well, here should be good.”
If the two armies clashed below, the dragoons wouldn’t be able
to fight without reserve. If nothing else, they wouldn’t be able to
aim any breath attacks down.
Any accidental shots at allied forces, and the dragoons would be
blamed.
“Well then, ladies and gentlemen—how about we teach these
imperial knights just how difficult fights in the air can be?
Risking our lives to do it.”
Following that with a ferocious smile, the dragoons’ movements
changed.
The dragons that had been flying on the run turned face to go on
an offense.
Alejandro raised the speed of his wind dragon, circling around a
wyvern, and having his dragon crunch its neck.
Oldart’s gray dragon turned to face three encroaching wyverns,
continuing to fly backward as it peppered them with flames to drop
them one after the next.
Pulling his own weapon, Oldart jumped to switch over to the
wyvern that had come right below them.
The imperial knight riding it was surprised by his sudden
visitor.
“Royal scum!”
While the knight drew his blade, he didn’t seem very accustomed
to combat in the air.
“You’re going weak at the knees. How do you expect to swing a
weapon like that?”
He kicked the enemy knight off, the knight raised a scream as he
fell. The wyvern began flailing as Oldart stabbed his sword into
its back.
After leaping off the wyvern and taking distance, his own dragon
came to collect him.
Their high coordination surprised the empire’s wyvern unit. And
one after another, the wyverns fell to the ground.
“Real sorry. We’ve got several hundred years of knowhow stacked
up. We’re not soft enough to lose to some sudden upstart
pans—what?”
Rising his gray dragon’s back, Oldart looked around.
The wyverns began to dissipate into a black smoke and disappear,
the fog flying off to somewhere far away. It was rising from the
ground as well.
The monsters they’d led with them turned to smoke and headed off
somewhere.
The empire’s knights abandoned in the air fell straight down;
Oldart promptly recovered one of them.
“Oy, what just happened?”
Grabbing the knight’s weapon and tossing it away, he pressed a
knife to their neck to draw information.
“I-I don’t know! We were never told any—”
The knight made truly fearful eyes. Oldart clicked his
tongue.
(You can’t lie if you were never told to start with. The
direction of the smoke is… don’t tell me, it’s where Rudel is?)
The smoke was flowing to another battlefield.
Upon discerning that, Oldart had a terrible premonition.
Alejandro rushed over to him.
“Oldart! The supreme commander up and left. The ground troops
are taking to their heels and fleeing!”
Oldart looked at the ground.
Courtois’ army on the run. The disappearance of the wyvern unit
had prompted the imperial army to prepare to flee as well.
“… Retreat. We’ll leave fifty riders, and the rest of us are
chasing that smoke.”
Oldart looked at the black smoke drawing a single straight line
in the sky as he spoke.
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Dragoon 148-160 - Dragoon 156: What’s Gone and Done
Chapter 156: What’s Gone and Done
On the back of a gray dragon, a lone rider made for the
capital.
“Hurry…go faster!”
A gray dragon could move hundreds of kilometer in the air, but
to Fritz, it felt far too slow.
Even now, Aileen’s life could be in danger. When the thought
struck him, he wished to save her, pure had honest.
At first, he thought he was lucky. Being liked by the princess
and receiving preferential treatment, from captain of the royal
guard to supreme commander…
But now, Fritz would throw it all away to go save Aileen.
“I see it!”
The view of the capital from the sky.
Smoke was rising from the palace in the center of the large
city. Even seen from afar, it was clear something had gone
awry.
“I have to hurry and—”
The dragon flew to the palace for Fritz’ sake. On one of the
verandas of the palace, there was a cornered Aileen.
Around here were those who saw to her everyday, and knights who
were only good for appearance’s sake. They wouldn’t be of any use
at all.
Flames had broken out in various parts of the building, it
seemed the battles still raged on.
“Aileen!”
Fritz approached the palace.
Looking up at him, Aileen smiled.
“Fritz-sama!”
But cruel as could be, it was then that enemies flowed into the
room where she hid. The defenders and the personal army of an
archduke house broke through the royal guard, and the knights of
Aileen’s fraction to flood in.
The knights and servants by her side were immediately
apprehended.
“Kuh! Do it!”
To save Aileen, Fritz ordered his dragon to breath fire. But the
gray dragon shook its head to the side. It wasn’t that it had
ignored Fritz’ orders.
If it fired its breath, Aileen would be drawn into its
midst.
Before Fritz’ eyes, Aileen was taken in.
The enemy used her as a shield, they seemed to be well aware he
wouldn’t be able to attack.
“Cowards!”
Just as Fritz drew his sword and was about to jump down, the
rebel army led by Fina made its appearance. Protected by the high
knights around her, Fina expressionlessly looked up at the sky.
Aileen turned to Fina and cried out.
“Why have you done this—Fina! I… I was only trying to make
Courtois a better country.”
Fina wouldn’t turn to face her. The high knights around readied
their shields to solidify Fina’s defenses.
“Fina-sama, please step back!”
“The enemy is a dragon!”
“Keep Princess Aileen close!”
Fina brushed off their advice to go out onto the balcony. She
stared straight at Fritz.
“Why did you hoist insurrection at such an important time!?”
Receiving his anger, Fina opened her mouth.
“It’s precisely because it’s this time. Just as you want to save
my sister, I want to save my master– Rudel-dono. But if I left you
people to your own devices, even if Rudel-dono returned, you’d
devise some reason to have him executed, wouldn’t you?”
As she plainly stated, “That’s why I raised a rebellion,” as if
it were the most obvious thing in the world, Fritz was at a loss
for words.
“… You’re mad. You rebelled for that reason alone!?”
Fina lightly spread out her arms, and expressionlessly, she
advised Fritz to surrender.
“I don’t think you’re one to talk. Well, so be it. Now turn
yourself in. Do so now, and you can still be decapitated as a noble
knight.”
Perhaps that was compassion to Fina, but to Fritz, there was no
way he could accept it.
“Don’t mock me!”
Fina lowered a hand.
“I see. That is a shame.”
Holding her right hand up, Fina snapped her fingers.
Aileen looked beyond Fritz, to the skies even higher and cried
out.
“Fritz-sama, run!”
When Fritz looked up, there were six dragoons closing in on him.
His gray dragon arbitrarily withdrew from the spot.
“W-wait! I still have to save—”
As Fritz was pulled away from the balcony, Aileen looked at him
with an expression of despair. Fritz reached out his right
hand.
“Aileen…”
He powerlessly muttered.
◇
As Fritz made off to the distance, three dragoons chased
after.
Fina saw them off before returning from the balcony to the
room.
Sophina beside her wiped her sweat.
“That was way too reckless, no matter how you look at it.”
Sophina candidly chastised her thoughtless conduct. Upon hearing
that, Fina answered expressionless and indifferent.
“You’re right. I’m sorry, Sophina.”
“I see you’re not repenting in the slightest.”
She hadn’t known her a long time for nothing, Sophina read
Fina’s emotions.
“Well, at least the dragon had some sense to spare, and I knew
they wouldn’t attack if we used my sister as a shield. The dragon
Fritz rides is a gentle one, after all.”
There were individual differences among dragons.
The one Fritz rode was comparatively gentle, and a good dragon
that would listen to the orders of its partner knight.
Fritz was afforded a dragon that was easy to handle, so that
went without saying.
“A dragon’s breath could have easily eradicated two
princesses.”
There, Fina uninterestedly brushed her hair aside.
“Even so, I wanted to try it. Otherwise, Fritz would—”
Aileen restrained by the knights yelled at Fina.
“Fina! Do you understand what it is you’ve done!? And what do
you think you’re doing to Fritz-sama?”
Fina turned back to Aileen.
“… If he was taken in there, he would have his head cut off. I
meant precisely what I said. Or would you prefer he be tortured and
executed as a heinous criminal?”
Aileen crumbled at the knees.
“T-torture…”
As Fina looked at Aileen, the archdukes Halbades and Diade
entered the room.
“If it isn’t Fina-sama, it looks like you’ve managed to
accomplish your objective.”
To the two shamelessly approaching, Fina breathed a sigh
inside.
(Their timing is impeccable… well whatever.)
They had surely come to confirm Aileen’s safety. Perhaps they
needed a proper check if they wanted her to take responsibility at
the gallows.
As Fina walked off, the archdukes walked side by side with
her.
“Now then, how do you intend to deal with Aileen-sama?”
To Archduke Diade’s question, after thinking a bit.
“… Officially, she’ll be executed. After that, confinement. If
we don’t know if I can have kids yet, we’ll need some insurance,
won’t we?”
Archduke Halbades nodded. He seemed just a little delighted.
He seemed happy Fina could make a proper judgment as royalty.
No, perhaps because there was a spare, he was happy to know Fina
would always have a replacement.
(If I’m too stupid, these bastards will pull a fast one, and if
I act too smart they’ll come to kill me. Good grief, this is why I
wanted to chip away their power.)
If Aileen was killed, Fina would be the only direct descendant
of Courtois. In that case, while Fina’s own safety was assured, in
the case she didn’t have children, an archduke would be next in
line to be enthroned.
In the case of Aileen’s prolonged survival—if Fina used the
power of the state against the archdukes, there was a possibility
they’d raise Aileen up and have a rebellion of their own.
As to what she wanted to say… no matter which way the ball
rolled, Fina was in a harsh situation.
(I’ll have to be wary either way. Aaah, this is why I wanted to
end it before these guys could arrive.)
Like that, upon confirming her victory at the palace, Fina
quickly entered preparations to send reinforcements.
“… Now then, I’ve secured a place for you to come back to,
master.”
A small mutter and Fina had immediately gotten to work.
◇
In the sky, Fritz hit the dragon’s back again and again.
“Why did you run!? Get back there at once! Go back!”
Fritz cried and pounded his fist, but it was clear even if he
remained, he wouldn’t have been able to save Aileen.
Even so, he wanted someone to blame so badly, he couldn’t help
himself.
This wasn’t his fault. He needed to know it wasn’t his
fault.
“… I.”
Before he realized it, he had deserted under enemy fire, while
his last ray of hope Aileen had already been taken in and lost her
authority.
As one who had a dragon, the dragoons would be in a mad frenzy
to find him. And what awaited him when he was taken in…
“Haha, ahahahah… dammit! What an insignificant life! Come so
far… after coming so far.”
All that awaited was despair. Run as he may, there was nowhere
to go. As he considered defecting to the empire, a black fog had
begun to gather around him.
“W-what’s this!?”
As Fritz looked around, the gray dragon roared.
Before him, a winged giant—a Gora was being formed.
A four-armed giant bald only on the head, it was far larger than
a gray dragon. The gora’s fist smacked into the dragon, slamming it
and Fritz onto the ground.
(What is it now…)
Fritz’ consciousness grew distant.
◇
(H-huh… I’m alive?)
When Fritz opened his eyes, before them was the form of a gray
dragon, its wings plucked off, its body bleeding all over.
Seeing the back of the terribly wounded gray dragon, Fritz
lifted his body.
“W-what just…”
Beyond the dragon, a gora with a hole in its chest, collapsed to
its knees.
“Did you do it?”
Fritz couldn’t believe his own partner had fought that brutal
monster and come out on top. The likes of a gray dragon compared to
a wild dragon, it was clearly inferior.
Comparing it to Rudel‘s dragon, he even saw it as shoddy. And
yet, that dragon had fought, its life on the line to protect its
partner Fritz.
“You… why!?”
It fought to protect an unconscious Fritz, and now afflicted
with a fatal blow, it didn’t look like it could rise or fly any
longer.
Blood flowed from his mouth.
‘… I am a dragon born of the Kingdom of Courtois. One of the
first of my kind.’
The dragon that had never conversed with him before was suddenly
making a speech.
‘I was raised with love. But my brothers are already all gone.
While some died to illness, a great many fell in battle.’
Fritz stroked the gray dragon. He had always found her
unsympathetic, he had never tried speaking from his side. For that
reason, he didn’t know the first thing about his own partner
dragon.
“Then why did you save the likes of me? If you submitted me to
them—”
‘I have my own pride. As a dragon… the pride to protect my
partner. I’ve lost my partner knights too many times. Each time I
would feel regret. Among them, there were terrible knights. But a
majority of them treated me as a partner. They treated me dearly.
That’s why I swore to protect them, no matter what sort of partner
they may be.’
When Frit was about to say something, the Dragon gave her last
words—
‘… Let me say one last things. You should look around a bit
more. It might be too late, but… you have the talent.’
After one final deep deep breath, the dragon collapsed and
died.
When Frit’ tears began to flow, this time, the gora’s mouth
moved.
‘How dare a lowly gray dragon… but you are no longer necessary.
It’s all going as planned…’
The mouth of the dead gora moved, causing Frit to draw his
sword. Upon seeing its blade, the gora’s eyes narrowed.
‘That is not your weapon. And I’m already done with you. It’s
time for the stand-in to leave the stage. Your place has already
been prepared…’
The gora dissipated into black fog and swallowed Fritz up.
“S-stop it! I still—”
The black fog swallowed Fritz, leaving some parting words, it
faded away.
“It’s all according to plan. To deliver the sword to Aleist
someday…”
◇
When he came to, the black fog-swallowed Fritz was sitting in
the middle of a wasteland.
“… Eh?”
His enemy gora was gone, the husk of his partner nowhere to be
found. The place looked a bit different from where he had been
before.
In his confusion, Fritz stood, and caught sight of a group on
the move. A gathering of merchants and travelers, but it seemed
they were being attacked by monsters.
“What’s with that group?”
But seeing the members, Fritz felt something off. They were
wearing equipment of quite an old style, and the way they fought
was peculiar.
He couldn’t stand and watch.
With that on his mind, Fritz drew his sword and helped out the
caravan.
— After that.
The group of horse-drawn wagons offered him a lift, and it was
then he learned his words wouldn’t get through. The towns and
villages they led him to seemed somewhat off from what he knew.
He felt almost as if he had been flown off to another world.
Left with nothing but a borrowed sword and the clothes on his
back, Fritz would spend the rest of his life finding a place for
himself in this strange new world.
◇
Years later.
On Rudel’s battlefield, a peculiar scene unfolded.
“Well damn.”
Before the eyes of Rudel as he gave a troubled laugh, Askewell
had been taken in by black fog, and assimilated with a Gora to
stand before him.
But that wasn’t what bothered him.
Perhaps it could be called ironic… right above the gora,
consisting of black and red lines, a sinister dragon beat its large
spread wings.
The reason Rudel was so troubled lay in that the black fog had
gathered, and changed into a dragon.
The dragon looked down over him.
‘This is where you disappear.’
Come this far, Rudel never thought he’d be facing off against a
dragon. He smiled a bit.
“Good grief, someone up there must like messing with me…”
The fated foe of one who sought to be a dragoon, at the end
would face Rudel in the form of a dragon.
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LNWNCentral_Dragoon_Dragoon - WN Chapter 146-167
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Dragoon-WN-Chapter-146-167-[Yoraikun][Trollo]/title-page.txt
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Dragoon
Arc
8
by
Mishima Yomu & Wai
Novel
Updates
Translation
Group:
Yoraikun
Translation
Epub:
Trollo
WN/LN EPUB
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LNWNCentral_Dragoon_Dragoon - WN Chapter 146-167_Dragoon-WN-Chapter-146-167-[Yoraikun][Trollo]
|
146-147.txt
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EpubPress - Mon Aug 13 2018 - Dragoon 146: Friends and
Chapter 146: Friends and
“And. I’m. Saying. Why didn’t he invite me!?”
His ash blonde hair swept back, the tan skinned Eunius Diade had
some ale in his system, making him more quarrelsome than usual.
“Don’t drag me into this! In the first place, that was a dragoon
mission, and you had nothing to do with it!”
“Fighting an ancient weapon, and even Gaia’s mechanized unit! I
wanted to join in on the fun.”
“Like I care!”
His silky blond hair grown out, Luecke Halbades sat across the
table from his friend from his academy days.
Two other friends had suddenly returned from a mission, so they
got together to drink.
That much was fine.
But Luecke and Eunius were the only ones around that round table
downing their glasses.
Turning an eye to the nearby seats, there Rudel and Aleist were
both at different tables, accompanied by their female
encampments.
When looked upon from the side, both of them were surrounded by
lovely ladies, but those around made sure to take their distance.
There were even customers who left the shop.
That was simply how tense the restaurant’s air was.
“Eunius, if you want to know why you weren’t taken along, you
can just ask those two.”
As Luecke sipped his drink and said that, Eunius reached his
hand for a snack as he vetoed the notion.
“Like hell I can do that!”
Having just returned from the Kingdom of Celestia, Rudel Arses
was a young man of silver hair and blue eyes.
He was currently surrounded by seasoned warriors of the Dragoon
Brigade as he drank. It was quite accurate to say Rudel saw the
woman affiliated with the dragoons as his idols.
Luecke looked at Rudel’s enjoyable-looking table.
“The ones with him are Major Bennet, Cattleya Ninias, Lilim,
Enora Campbell… a brilliant gathering of elite dragoons, that
is.”
While he said that with a hint of cynicism, ability-wise, those
girls truly were elites.
Among the elite dragoons, it was as if they were chosen to be
elites among elites.
Before the valorous dragoons putting checks and restraints on
one another as they closed in on Rudel, the man in question was
happily enjoying his meal.
Perhaps Izumi was in tune with those restraints as she spoke
less than usual. Everyone at Rudel’s table was smiling, but some
part of it birthed a tingling tension.
It seems Rudel spoke of what happened in Celestia, at least to
the extent he was free to speak on.
Bennet alone seemed innocently delighted at her subordinate’s
achievements.
(Compared to that, Aleist’s table is…)
Luecke looked at the other pitiful table.
Aleist made a pale face, as he desperately explained how nothing
happened with Nate- one of his harem members- while they were alone
in Celestia.
Numerically, they were a greater gathering of beauties than
Rudel’s table, the number was more than double.
There were plenty of drunks at the bar, but no one even thought
to pick a fight with the beauty-surrounded Aleist. More than that,
they directed eyes of pity.
A harem member from its early days, Seli took charge.
“And so, Alest-sama, you say nothing happened between you and
Nate?”
His face increasingly pale, neither food nor drink passing
through his throat, Aleist Hardie levelly answered the
question.
Curling blond hair, mismatched eyes of blue and green… his
features were of the beautiful sort, but some part of him gave off
a most unfortunate air.
“Nothing happened. Nothing at all. I was able to get some sound
sleep, so I preferred it over there. I want to return to
Celestia.”
At the end, he leaked his true feelings, causing the other woman
to barrage him with questions as well.
Eunius ate his meal as he looked between Rudel and Aleist’s
table.
“When we just got together to drink, they came in one after the
next and casually surrounded them. I’d like to have some stupid
banter at least at times like this.”
Luecke shared the sentiment.
(Dammit! I wanted to consult with them on Lena! Read the mood,
you lot!)
Unable to speak out against Aleist’s harem members or the
warriors surrounding Rudel, Luecke downed his glass.
For some reason, Millia was present at Aleist’s table.
“Hey, I think I’m irrelevant. Can I go over there?”
As Millia pointed at Rudel’s table, her sister elf Lilim who
heard that waved her hand.
Lilim, whose eyes were closed as per usual, waved with a smile.
Seeing that, Millia felt just a little annoyed.
The store had specially prepared the table and chairs, there
were quite a few people at Rudel’s table, and it didn’t look like
it would fit anymore.
Eunius looked over the elven sisters.
“Looks like things are getting complicated over there.”
Luecke, to his friend who said such a thing.
“Over there as well, you mean. But what’s with these members…
that blasted Aleist, he’s long since past ten. At the rate things
are going, in a few years, I won’t be surprised with twenty or
thirty.”
He sighed at Aleist’s ever expanding harem.
What was stranger than anything was the fact the man in question
was in love with Millia, who had eyes for Rudel. At present, he had
no desire for a harem.
In his student days.
At first he had admired harems, calling out to women, and
wasting his efforts in futility. After losing an interest in a
harem, he chased after Millia. And yet, from that point onwards,
women began to gather around Aleist.
To the one in question, it was nothing more than a bother.
Eunius leaked his real feelings.
“As I thought, Harems are only fun to watch. I do feel jealous,
but if you say I’ll turn out like Aleist, I’ll have to
decline.”
Luecke was the same.
“My thoughts exactly. I can only handle one… no, if I had to,
two at most. Yeah.”
While Luecke was zealous towards Rudel’s stepsister, given her
status as an illegitimate daughter, he might not be unable to take
Lena Arses as a legal wife.
Therefore, if he wanted her by his side by all means, she would
be treated as a mistress.
Perhaps sensing Luecke’s feelings, Eunius spoke tiredly.
“And is that one Lena? You really are… well, I guess you’re
better off than when you were a straight-laced asshole.”
“Don’t stick strange names on me!”
Luecke found himself being teased, but there he heard Bennet’s
voice.
“Eh, no… I mean, I’m the one who graduated first.”
At Bennet’s great fluster, wondering what had happened, the two
of them quietly observed. Rudel explained with a smile.
“What are you talking about, Major? You’re the same age as us.
Those born to the wolf tribe are considered to be one year old at
birth, with age counting up every New Year, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“You were born in the twelfth month, right?”
“No, I was definitely smaller than those in my year, they always
called me small, but…”
Bennet looked anxious.
“You became two soon after birth, and enrolled in the academy at
the same age fifteen as us, right? But that means you were actually
thirteen. When you graduated on the two year course, you were
fifteen, so you should be younger than Lieutenant Cattleya.”
Bennet blankly opener her mouth and looked at Cattleya. Cattleya
didn’t seem very amused.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m the older one. What’s more, I’m a lieutenant, a
lower ranking officer!”
Seeing Cattleya down her drink all at once, Bennet started
making excuses.
“I-I mean no one ever told me I was supposed…”
Perhaps the drink had put Rudel in a good mood.
“That’s got nothing to do with it. I mean, you’re a Major. Even
if you’re not her direct commanding officer, you’re still her
superior!”
Bennet’s ears standing sharply upwards drooped miserably as her
face turned red and she hung her head. Covering her face with both
hands, her tail began to quiver.
“… When I’m the younger one, I’m sorry for acting condescending.
I’m sorry for sticking a -chan on your name. From here on, I’ll
call you senpai. I’m sorry.”
When she said such a thing, Cattleya snapped.
“If a Major talks to me like that, I’ll just be troubled.”
Lifting up her orange hair, Enora to Rudel.
“Looks like our commanding officers have it rough. Rudel, you
want to train together next time? You’ll be in the capital a while,
right?”
To Enora who asked in a fawning voice, Rudel crossed his arms
and looked at the ceiling.
“I think that’s possible, but…”
There, Lilim to Enora.
“Yey, brigade member over there! What are you trying to make him
promise in the confusion?”
There, Enora spoke with a face of leisure.
“My apologies. I mean, it looks like our superior officers are
all busy, and this is the special privilege of his peer in rank.
See, me and Rudel are peers.”
Lilim gripped the cup in her hand so hard one wondered if it
might break. Looking over that, Rudel spoke.
“Izumi, is it alright for me to participate in training?”
Izumi, who had kept careful watch, made an expression as if to
say, don’t turn this towards me.
Enora spoke.
“Rudel, why are you checking it order with Izumi-san? Let’s just
let the two of us…”
Rudel smiled.
“No, Captain Oldart told me, ‘You should never take any action
on your own,’ after all. He sounded really disheartened, so
breaking those words all of a sudden is a bit…”
It seems the problem with Celestia had the higherups whittle the
captain away quite a bit.
As Izumi possessed the title of special inspector, Rudel sought
confirmation with her.
Surrounded by these valorous members of the dragoons, Izumi
responded.
“No, as long as you’re acting alongside other dragoons, I think
it should be fine…”
Unable to endure the pressure from Cattleya and Lilim, Izumi
spoke nothing more than the truth. Enora heard those words and
lightly clenched her hand in victory.
Seeing that, Luecke muttered.
“Looks like they’re enjoying themselves more than at Aleist’s
table.”
He gave his honest opinion.
Eunius agreed.
“Only in comparison, that is.”
◇
Only a few hours after the drinks with the female camp began,
were Rudel’s group able to slip out of the pub, flee into a back
alley, and drink in peace at a stall.
As if rehearsed, the four of them went up together to pay the
tab and slipped out of the back door.
While they did feel bad about it, from the start, it was
intended as a drink among men.
Removing their upper coats, the top few buttons of their shirts
opened, the four raised their glasses.
“It’s that. As I thought, it’s nice to take it easy and just
have a drink between men.”
On that statement from Rudel, Luecke spoke in surprise.
“What’s this, you were actually able to read the mood? Well,
sure enough, if you asked me to drink in that sort of
atmosphere…”
“No, so… it’s good to be surrounded by women you admire, but
you’re always mindful of them, or how should I put it.”
Mindful, Rudel put it. With an amazing smile, Aleist strongly
slammed down his glass of ale on the table.
“You’re lying. I saw how much fun you were having! My stomach
was grating, and I could feel all the blood leave me, you
know.”
Seeing Aleist on the verge of tears, Eunius gave a grand
laugh.
“You reap what you sow. And the numbers keep steadily increasing
even after you’ve graduated. So are you still after Millia?”
Not at his drink, Aleist’s face reddened at the topic Eunius
brought up. Teasing the easy-to-understand Aleist, Eunius reached
for the food.
The food wasn’t anything refined, but even so, the atmosphere
was much better than that pub from before, making everything
naturally taste better.
“Oh, this isn’t half bad.”
As he said that, Luecke reached out a hand as well.
“Then I don’t mind if I do. More importantly. Rudel, your little
sister… I’m not talking about Lena, this is about Erselica. She
came to my place asking around.”
Sipping his drink, Rudel made a surprised face. While Rudel and
Erselica were siblings, it was hard to say they got along.
Unlike his stepsister Lena, he never really talked with Erselica
Arses.
“That’s rare, perhaps? I’ve heard some things from Lena, but I’m
relieved she’s not moping around anymore.”
He said with a swig. Rudel,
“It was while I was having some tea with Lena. She asked me
various things about the factions, but do you know her intent?”
Perhaps worried for her, Luecke made a serious face.
Rudel had no idea what Erselica was trying to do.
“Who knows? I haven’t heard anything.”
“I see,” said Luecke, leaving his glass on the table to look at
Rudel.
“There have been some unsettling movements in the palace as of
late. Especially around Princess Aileen… it was the same when we
were at the academy, but I don’t know what she’s planning this
time.”
Aileen Courtois had some connection to Rudel’s group. Of course,
that was only through her favorite young man called Fritz.
Of common descent, Fritz was a knight hailing from the territory
governed by the Arses House.
By Aileen’s work, he was also the captain who commanded the
royal guard.
He held an emotion close to hatred towards Rudel, and often
stood against him in their student days. But Rudel himself didn’t
care about it all too much.
“The princess, eh. Come to think of it, Fina’s about to
graduate, isn’t she?”
It was time for the second princess Fina Courtois to graduate
the academy. To Rudel, that relation was the more important one.
Not as man and woman, she was his disciple who pursued the means to
pet a dragon by his side.
Hearing of Fina, Aleist joined in on the conversation.
“Graduation… eh. What do you think I should do? How should I put
it, there are some new recruits scheduled to join my platoon, but
they’re all women.”
At Aleist who butted into the conversation, Eunius shook his
head and shrugged his shoulders.
“I thought it might be more elegant than nothing but men, but
after seeing that, I don’t want any part.”
Luecke was, meanwhile, laughing.
“I’ll have to agree.”
Rudel looked at Aleist.
“The defenders have it rough. Rather, isn’t it strange that the
female knight ration is only skewed around Aleist? I’m sure they’re
all proficient, but Aleist is the only man there.”
Looked on from the side, it was a vibrant workplace where he was
surrounded by women.
That was Aleist’s station in a knight brigade called the
defenders. Within that, Aleist was the head of a platoon.
Of course, all he ever did was clean the palace.
“I can’t take it anymore! It’s grating on my every day, and the
talks are all going in strange directions! No one ever listens to
my opinion, yet they still come to me to hear it out! What’s that
supposed to mean!? Asking me who’s my number one, don’t bring out
those questions that only make things worse! They all know my
number one is Millia, dammit!”
The drink getting to him, Aleist’s tensions were rising.
Eunius poured ale into Aleist’s cup as he grinned.
“Hmm, the black knight has it tough. And from the look of it,
you’re getting more female knights? I’d be envious if I didn’t know
any better.”
Aleist instantly downed the refilled ale.
Taking a few deep breaths after drinking it, he vented the anger
he was usually storing up.
“Envious? Then switch out with me! This personnel assignment is
definitely the doing of someone with a grudge towards me! What’s
with this, what did I do to deserve this?”
Rudel also drank some ale as he spoke.
“I get the feeling you were thirsting for women at the
start…”
There, Luecke snapped his fingers and nodded.
“Come to think of it, my image of you running around’s grown too
strong, but Aleist, you really were terrible before that. You’re
easy to talk to now, but back then, I wouldn’t even think of
approaching you unless you had some ale in your system. Ah, come to
think of it, he used to sound so full of himself.”
As Luecke reminisced and nodded, Eunius reached for the food, a
tired look on his face.
“You’re the one who changed. What’s this? Saying whatever you
want about noble obligations, you’re getting all heated over
Rudel’s sister. Have you forgotten how you made a misunderstanding
and challenged me back at the academy?”
Luecke was earnest in his student days, no… he was so earnest he
let off an air that made people distance themselves.
He and Eunius were like cat and dog, leading along their
followers to snarl at once another. From the start, both their
houses held the top spots in the factional wars, with enough reason
and history to hold a feud.
But like this, the two of them now drank together at the food
stalls.
Aleist recalled how he was when he enrolled at the academy,
poured himself another glass and downed it at once before looking
at Rudel.
“You say that, but I think the one who changed most was Rudel.
In the first place, I always thought you were strange from the
first time we met.”
Rudel tilted his head.
Luecke and Eunius shook their heads and received some water from
the man running the stall. Pushing that water onto Aleist, they
seemed deeply concerned.
Eunius,
“The one who changed the least was Rudel, right? Going on about
dragons and dragons from dawn to dusk, and after graduation, it’s
still dragons all the way down. You’ve got to respect that.”
Rudel acted a little bashful.
“You think so?”
Sparingly sipping his ale, Luecke cautioned Rudel.
“Eunius wasn’t praising you. But I have to agree Rudel hasn’t
changed. Changing so little in the time since we met, isn’t that
actually amazing? Rather, when I heard him talk about how he was
really going to become a dragoon, looking back on it now, I’ll say
it, but I thought it sounded stupid.”
Eunius agreed as he drank.
“Yeah, me too. I thought it was interesting but definitely
impossible.”
Aleist also nodded.
“Yeah~, I remember that. No one thought you’d make it. You
surprised me too.”
The drink getting to Rudel again, his face turned a little
red.
“Aren’t you being terrible? No, but my probability of becoming a
dragoon was considerably low. I couldn’t get the rights to meet a
grey dragon, and my screening forms were…”
Seeing Rudel begin to think to himself, Eunius pat him on the
back. That hurts, Rudel said as he looked at Eunius.
“You’re a dragoon now, so don’t worry about it. Even so, it
really was fun. Going to matches, cutting at one another, bashing
each other’s faces in.”
“Yeah, I remember a whole lot of smacking.”
Luecke looked at Eunius and Rudel nodding and reminiscing, and
made a truly incomprehensive face.
“You muscleheads.”
And the one staring intently at a tired Luecke was Aleist.
“No, aren’t you the same, Luecke? You butted heads with Eunius
over the duel, right? I’ll just say it, but just switching out
fists for magic doesn’t change much in the grand scheme of things.
From my point of view, you’re all the same sort. Plain old battle
maniacs!”
Eunius stood from his chair and pointed at Aleist.
“Don’t screw with me! You also exchanged blows with Rudel!
What’s more, not winning by a paper-thin margin, the only time you
ever won was the first time!”
In his matches with Rudel, Aleist only ever won once.
In his first match after enrolling at the academy, Rudel lost to
Aleist.
Perhaps recalling that, Rudel seemed delighted.
“And after that, I’ve got two wins and one draw. Man, both those
matches I just barely got through, and we were carted off to the
infirmary every time.”
Aleist pulled back.
“Why do you sound so happy? You’re the only one who gets
hospitalized enough to get a reserved bed in the sick room.”
Eunius spoke loudly as if recalling.
“Come to think of it, his majesty came too! Back then, we were
so frantic to lower our heads through our injuries! Thinking back
on it now, you think he would’ve burst out like that if we were in
public?”
Aleist cried out.
“That was lese majeste, you hear! Really, just don’t! Rather, I
didn’t know about that one…”
Luecke put down his glass with a serious face.
“The truth is, I’ve had to go and lower my head to him quite a
few times…”
Aleist held his head.
“Why!? I thought you were the most decent, but why!?”
Rudel addressed Aleist.
“Don’t mind it. I’ve been cautioned more times than I can count,
but I’m still just fine!”
Aleist looked to be on the verge of tears.
“You’re not fine at all! Why are you still a problem child after
graduation!? Hey, let’s act a little more grown up.”
Looking at Aleist, the three laughed.
Aleist began to laugh as well.
Hitting glasses together, the four of them talked and reminisced
over their student days, drinking the night away.
◇
In a room of the palace, the first princess Aileen took a single
document in hand.
Confirming its contents in that dark room, she set it ablaze and
tossed it in the fireplace for it to burn through.
The document that instantly burned away, it detailed that the
plan Aileen brought forth was at a stage where it could be
executed.
The sender was an enemy nation, the Gaia Empire.
The knights on standby in the room gazed at Aileen with nervous
faces.
And turning away from the fireplace, Aileen directed a smile to
those knights.
“Could you call Fritz here? Things are going to get busy, so
I’ll have to start preparing.”
Under Aileen’s orders, one of the knights left the room.
The first princess was of a kind heart, a beautiful
princess.
Despite being of the royal family, she held antipathy towards
the corrupt nobility and made her favorite commoner knight Fritz
into the captain of the royal guard.
And in order to see Rudel’s mortified face, she even granted a
gray dragon to Fritz.
In the Kingdom of Courtois, dragons were a valuable war asset.
The knights who rode them needed to be elites.
In order to obtain their own dragons, there were knights who
sought out wild ones. But even those knights couldn’t enter the
lands the dragons lived without the kingdom’s permission.
Without treading into any of those procedures, a gray dragon
managed by the country- born and raised in Courtois, it was smaller
than a wild dragon- was granted by Aileen unto Fritz.
The young captain of the royal guard, and the young man who
obtained a dragon, receiving such special treatment from Aileen,
Fritz did have his dissatisfactions.
It could not be said he lacked any talent.
The young man called Fritz definitely did have talent and
strength. But for surrounding eyes, that wasn’t enough.
Just in his own generation, starting with the White Knight
Rudel, there was the Black Knight Aleist, then Eunius and Luecke,
the four with strength and fame towering over the rest.
They graduated the academy together, they started work as
knights together.
Speaking to position, Fritz was far above any of them.
But Fritz was no noble.
In regards to Rudel’s group that all possessed, Aileen thought
that might be another large reason her Fritz was looked down
upon.
From within the room, one of the knights asked Aileen.
“Princess, from here on, we will be…”
Aileen nodded with a smile.
“Yes, we will be at war. But don’t worry. For the empire has
agreed to fall back in exchange for a designated portion of land.
And there won’t be just one battlefield. Once the Gaia Empire lays
hand on fertile soil, they will be satisfied.”
Unlike the abundant lands of Courtois, the Gaia Empire lay on an
exceedingly harsh terrain. For that sake, they had challenged
Courtois time and again for their soil.
Aileen was a lover of peace.
But…
“On top of falling back after obtaining a portion of land, we
will be able to tie friendly relations for times to come. This will
be our final battle with them.”
… No matter how dearly she held it, she had absolutely no
talent. Her little sister Fina had talent in the field, her little
sister Fina knew the reality.
But Aileen was different.
Raised sheltered within the palace, she grew up without ever
learning how such things worked. She honestly believed the world
was gentle and just, she had no doubt the other party would honor
their promises.
“With this, Fritz-sama will surely obtain social status. And a
better future will come upon Courtois.”
The knights held anxiety towards Aileen’s joy. But they wouldn’t
try to stop her. The reason being, Courtois had never once lost to
the Gaia Empire.
The dragoons never lost on the battlefield.
To that point, the powerful existences called the dragons had
protected Courtois time and again. From the point of view of the
knights, they were sure this wouldn’t lose this time either.
◇
The Gaia Empire.
His blonde hair that grew to his shoulders swept back, a young
man stood.
High in stature, he boasted a trained body. And in his hand, he
gripped a single document.
Askewell Gaia…
A prince of the empire, if he was on the battlefield, it was
said they were sure to win. The empire’s hero.
A girl called Mies Licorise nervously watched over his state.
Her long, blonde hair curled at the tips.
Of small build, she was useless as a fighter, but she had come
to assist Askewell as a researcher. And her research was finally to
see the light of day.
To her side, a pale, slim, old man, Reole, mumbled something in
a small voice. Perhaps thinking of his hatred towards the folks who
never recognized his magic, perhaps hitting on a new magical
discovery entirely, he gave a low chuckle.
When looked at from the side, he looked like a limitlessly
dangerous man, but even like that, a proficient magician of the
Gaia Empire. No, perhaps it should be said he had been too
proficient.
The past tense was what suited him most. Discarding his family
name, and calling himself the archwizard, Reole was a strange, one,
but he was a man Askewell recognized.
On Mies’ opposite side stood a general who’d climbed his way
up.
Ban Lochuas stood on many a battlefield with enemy countries,
swinging his battleax and burying many an enemy.
Whether it be man or monster, as long as they stood before him,
they would be cleaved in two.
He wore full armor over his muscular body, a well-ordered beard
as his trademark around his mouth, the general was subordinate to
Askewell.
Ban spoke to his leader.
“Have the cowards of Courtois moved yet? They really are taking
this easily.”
Letting out a light chuckle, Reole made light of Courtois.
“When they haven’t offered what we desire, they’re nothing but
fools for believing in such an agreement. Or could it be they plan
to crush us with dragons once we march to invade? That sounds
interesting. I need only burn the dragons to death with my magic.
Kihihi!”
Mies broke into a cold sweat.
For this looked to be too unworthy an assortment to follow the
rule of one of a prince like Askewell. But there was no doubt they
were proficient.
Askewell turned his eyes to the documents as he spoke to
Mies.
“Are the preparations in order, Mies?”
“Y-yes! We can move at any moments! We have already started
limiting their food, increasing their brutality, and if I may speak
to the contrary, it will be dangerous if we keep them on standby
any longer.”
What Mies had prepared.
It was an army of black monsters. Starting with ogres, they had
even prepared wyverns as a countermeasure for the dragoons.
Their knights had already begun training to ride the wyverns she
produced.
To that point, they had been one-sidedly attacked from the sky,
and with all the losses under its belt, when it came to invading,
the Empire couldn’t help but take every caution.
And Askewell…
“My brother said he wished to borrow the wyvern unit. If father
accepts those conditions, then it can be said we will be attacking
on two fronts. Come so far, I’ve no intent to refuse, but what
numbers should I send around to them?”
While Askewell showed a clear lack of motivation as he asked
Mies, he had his reasons.
Of all else…
“The Wyvern unit is it? If it’s to hold down the dragoons… they
might need three hundred. In that case, the number we can bring
along ourselves drops to two hundred.”
Askewell laughed.
“That’s plenty! The Gora’s preparations are ready. I’ll give him
however many wyverns he wants. But my brother truly has a faint
heart. When I said I’d lend him Gora, he readily declined.”
While Askewell gave a grand laugh, to the people of the Empire,
the monster known as Gora were nothing but fear itself.
A normal army couldn’t hope to win against one, what’s more,
their large form and uncanny appearance. They boasted four arms,
and when strengthened, they even sprouted wings.
Even with the techniques to control them, they were nothing more
than a source of fear when too close.
Standing to his feet, Askewell crushed the document in his hand
and made a serious face.
“… Henceforth, we will be going to take Courtois. Trample them
down, and attain plentiful land for the empire. I don’t know what
idiot set this up, but if they intend to catch us in their trap,
we’ll rip them away and make them regret it.”
Mies swallowed her breath, the two on her side laughed.
Thinking Askewell was serious, some part of her wished the
researcher he once told her about would come back.
Gentle.
Thinking of the people of the empire, doing his best to bring
fertility to their lands, or to secure a source of food, the
Askewell of his younger days.
But his research was nothing but failures, and once he was
forced to the battlefield, in contrast to his research, he found
nothing but success. He won and he won and got around to being
called the hero of the empire.
The man in question, as long as it was for the empire’s sake,
didn’t care if he was a military man or hero, he intended to
fulfill his role. And the conclusion Askewell had finally
reached…
“We will be invading Courtois! Prepare to depart!”
… To steal fertile soil form the people of Courtois, and save
the people of the empire.
Chapter 147: The Country or the People
The palace of the Kingdom of Courtois was driven to react to the
activity shown by the Gaia Empire.
While the matter with Celestia had them in a hurry about
awarding medals, in order to deal with the sudden movements of an
enemy country, a meeting had been opened.
King Albach looked at the lines of ministers and yelled.
“What is the meaning of this!? For what reason has such a report
not been raised to this point!?”
There, one of the ministers jovially laughed as he spoke.
“Now, now, your highness, please keep it at that. We’ll just
have to put the dragoons to work. We can decide who’s responsible
later and replace them. We need to prepare for the ceremony.”
Albach lowered his fist on the table.
“What idiocy do you speak of!? Why are we making light of our
foe!? Just how much of our blood do you think Gaia has made flow?
How can you declare the enemy will repeat the same actions as
before!? Where is all the information!? I know we have more than
enough forts stationed at the border!”
As no report was ever raised, the country was unable to put up
any decent countermeasures. Sensing some ill intent, Albach glared
at the ministers.
But Courtois had never lost before.
The reason being they had the strongest dragoons. As long as
they were there, even if casualties came out, they would surely
never lose, the ministers were certain of it. At the same time,
Courtois’ land was bountiful, leading to a lowered sense of
crisis.
“What are you doing!? We must investigate, send scouts…!”
Holding his chest, Albach wiped sweat from his forehead. On top
of a pain in his chest, his voice wouldn’t come out. Breathing took
all his might, his dizziness wouldn’t allow him to stand any
longer.
“Y-your majesty!”
Those nearby approached him, and the meeting was put on
hold.
Albach thought.
(Don’t just close it there, fool. Someone take command in my
place… anyone!)
As his consciousness grew distant, Albach felt something black
and squirmy moving in a corner of the room. But Albach lacked the
means to confirm if it was really there.
His voice sealed, from his chest pains, he couldn’t move.
With the king unable to do a thing, Courtois was thrust into a
state of war.
◇
Fina Courtois.
She awaited her graduation ceremony.
She had acquired all the required elective and class credits,
there were no problems with her graduation.
As the second princess of Courtois, Fina had achieved excellent
grades, but… with bags under her eyes, she sipped coffee as she
looked at the blinding morning sun.
“… The night has let up again.”
The one who built similar bags under her eyes, with her violet
hair ruffled up, her glasses out of place, was a woman called
Sophina.
Fina’s exclusive guard, at present she was a commanding officer
of the declining order of high knights.
Regardless of the fact she was in a school dorm, Fina’s room
luxuriously spread out. In such a room, the floor was littered with
documents, and a demi-human of the white cat tribe was pitifully
collapsed.
“Don’t give me that, the night has let up schtick! Your school
days are about to end buried in a sea of paperwork, princess, are
you really okay with that?”
Her expressions unchanging from the time of her birth, Fina
expressionlessly made a fist and stuck up her thumb.
“I have no regrets. I’ve made a friend in Mii, fluffed up so
many comrades, I was able to meet my master… I’m so happy I think
I’m going to go crazy.”
While expressionless, her delight was the real thing. Sophina
lamented over whether it was really alright for her master to
rejoice over such a thing.
“Let’s make some better school memories while we still can!
You’re the only one chased around your room by government
papers!”
The bags under her eyes were deep, the ink staining on her hands
was terrible. But while Fina was expressionless, she gave off an
air as if she had received enlightenment.
“A lifelong friend and a master, what more can I wish for? Once
this is over, I’ll be satisfied just with controlling the country
from the shadows. Right, to one day raise the status of
demi-humans, I’ll get my hands on all the strings!”
“You really are the worst.”
At the sound of Sophina bursting into tears, her subordinates
entered the room. They were the subordinates of a high knight, but
the problem lay in that Sophina’s subordinates would not enter the
room over an exchange of that level.
“What happened?”
Their faces were the epitome of severity. Sophina turned her
face serious as well as she sought confirmation.
One of her subordinates spoke.
“Captain, a messenger has come from Aileen-sama. We were told to
return Fina-sama to the palace at once.”
Hearing that, Sophina turned to look at Fina.
She had finished her coffee, and breathing a sigh, Fina looked
at the collapsed white cat Mii.
“… Let me put Mii to sleep. I’ll get myself ready, so could you
please tell them to wait?”
But the female knights brazenly entered the room. This attitude
against Fina was a great discourtesy, and on top of that…
“Second princess, Aileen-sama is waiting at the palace. You
needn’t prepare anything. Please make for the carriage at
once.”
Fina stood from her seat, placing the cup in her hand on her
desk.
“I cannot leave my good friend like this. I’ll put her to sleep
on my bed, you could at least give me time for that.”
There, one of the intruding knights let out their voice.
“A demi-human as a friend? It’s because they let you attend this
academy that it came to this.”
While she heard those words, Fina carried herself calmly. The
captain of the knights who came in thought a bit before nodding and
approving of Mii’s transfer to the bed.
Fina issued the orders, and Sophina lay Mii down.
And…
“Well then, high knights, you will be leaving your weapons
behind.”
On that further demand, Sophina’s eyes went sharp.
“What is the meaning of this? This is almost as if…”
… Almost as if we’re being apprehended, as Sophina tried to say
it, Fina quieted her down.
Walking up before the captain of the knights, she spoke.
“You’re a knight of the royal guard. Very well, take me where
you will. But will you provide an explanation of the
situation?”
The knight spoke.
“Aileen-sama will personally do so at the palace.”
Meaning there wouldn’t be any explaining along the way.
(Ah man, so she’s finally made her move. That’s a bit earlier
than I thought. My preparations aren’t even complete yet.)
Thinking she hadn’t made it in time, Fina had Sophina and her
subordinates disarm themselves before leaving the room.
A while later, once everyone was gone, Mii lifted herself from
the bed with a pale face.
◇
Meanwhile.
In the palace, leading her knights, the first princess Aileen
showed a smile of leisure before the king and queen.
The king was holding his chest, he tried to rise from the bed,
but perhaps he couldn’t get any power into his body, as he was
failing miserably.
The doctor restrained Albach with a desperate look on her face,
the queen threw the fan she usually carried at her daughter.
The one who cut that fan down was Fritz, captain of the royal
guard.
Brown hair, wearing the uniform of the royal guard, he made a
slightly pale face himself.
The queen cried out.
“Aileen! Do you know what it is you’re doing!?”
The queen who usually spat cynicism yet remained unperturbed was
enraged. The king remained immobile, his disturbed breath causing
him to keel over.
Aileen opened her mouth.
“I do. If father cannot move during this great crisis, then
someone will have to take his place. The Gaia Empire is making its
move. We will have to erect countermeasures of our own.”
The queen’s expression wasn’t directed at her daughter, she sent
it to Fritz standing by her side.
“So the princess of our country has been deceived by a single
man… I never liked you, but I never thought you would go so
far.”
As the queen voiced her displeasure towards Fritz, Aileen flew
into a rage.
“What do you mean by that!? Fritz-sama is my splendid knight! If
you mean to insult him, then even my mother will have no mercy from
me.”
As the knights readied their weapons, the knights around the
king took their weapons in hand as well. With many knights of the
royal guard around, to look at the numbers, they were
surrounded.
Aileen continued on levelly.
“Just watch on from here. The day Courtois is reborn anew… where
status doesn’t matter, I shall show you the actualization of a
world where everyone lives equally.”
On those words, the queen.
“I don’t see you capable of accomplishing such a thing. You’d do
well to learn, even if you do something like this, no one will
recognize you! The rumors will all say Albach’s ailment was surely
your doing. The times will resent you.”
Albach had collapsed from mysterious illness, even the royal
physician was unable to treat him.
Aileen had gone on the offense. Albach had two daughters, Aileen
and Fina.
Restraining her mother the queen, she had made preparations to
restrain fina as well.
“… Mother, once everything is over, I’ll release you. Fina as
well. That child is my sister. From here on, I want her to live
more freely.”
Hearing that, the queen laughed.
“Aha ahahaha! Aileen, you’re under a misconception.”
At the queen’s words, the knights looked at Aileen. Holding them
back with a hand, Aileen conversed with her mother.
“A misconception? What do you mean by that?”
“It’s simple. You misunderstand who Fina is. That child properly
understands it. Though it seems you’ve taken a liking to moving in
the shadows. The talks of your marriage with Aleist… do you know
who it was that brought it forward?”
Aileen looked between Fritz and the queen’s face.
“So you mean to tell me that child did such a thing.”
The queen spoke to Aileen.
“I’m sure there won’t be a next time so remember this. Feuds
between siblings are not restricted to the royal house, they’re a
tale you can find anywhere. The Fina you find so adorable might
turn out a wild beast, you know.”
Aileen expressionlessly led Fritz and the others out the room,
leaving knights to keep watch.
(That child… did such a thing!)
Feeling she’d been betrayed, Aileen walked down the palace
corridor. Taking along her knights she called out one order after
the next.
“Gather all the main members at once. The white and black
knights should be here to receive their medals. They both hold
vital roles, make sure to call for them without fail.”
Fritz watched as the knights moved on Aileen’s orders. While he
was supposed to be captain of the royal guard, his men were all
moving on Aileen’s orders.
“Aileen, what exactly is going on? When the Gaia Empire is
invading, why is the palace so…”
She had raised what was almost an insurrection. No, it was
insurrection.
Aileen smiled at Fritz.
“It’s alright, Fritz-sama. I will definitely make fulfill your
dreams.”
Come so far, Fritz felt something terrifying in Aileen’s smile.
But having grown so involved, Fritz had lost the option to run
away.
◇
Having ventured to the capital to receive a medal, Rudel had
come to the front of the dragoon training facilities.
It was a place he was stopping at for the first in a while, but
the ones who awaited him were knights prepared for battle. His
brigade captain Oldart Billums and the vice-captain Alejandro
Campbell.
The other dragoons were also preparing for battle, waiting for
Rudel’s arrival.
Rudel could see his colleague Luxheidt Aiguille making an
apologetic gesture behind the dragoon brigade in full battle
formation.
Bennet who had accompanied him there was also perplexed by the
situation.
In the first place, Rudel had dropped by to train with Enora.
But when he arrived, he found the dragoons preparing for war.
Of course, it confused him.
Failing to grasp anything, Rudel asked the captain.
“Captain, what’s all this about? Do you need me to do
anything?”
The self-proclaimed charmer in his prime Oldart made a
belligerent smile as he spoke to Rudel.
“No, you see… we’re just going to put some restraints on the
damn fool who laid hands on the dragoon brigade’s idol. We’re just
going to crush a newbie who’s gotten on his high horse just because
he’s got a bit strong. This isn’t a personal grudge or
anything.”
The vice-captain with a scar on his face, Alejandro spoke.
“… Leading beauties around, a guy who’s even in a position to
lay hands on my daughter. There’s no way I could leave him be. We
will be setting things straight here.”
Thinking they were misunderstanding something, Rudel sent a
glance at Luxheidt, who seemed to be the only one still sane.
“Sorry.”
While Luxheidt apologized, he looked like he was enjoying
it.
Having been looking forward to her training with Rudel, Enora
was deeply irritated as she looked at the other brigade members
getting in their way.
“Hey, isn’t this a bit too terrible? Did you really need to
assemble these numbers to take on Rudel? We’re a bit busy
here.”
Feigning calmness, perhaps Bennet was a little scared as her
tail curled up.
“T-that’s right. What’s more, using dragons for personal affairs
is strictly prohibited. Captain, this is surely no good.”
Rudel surrounded by women.
And Rudel with women sticking up for him.
The will of the dragoon brigade became one.
Oldart.
“Don’t screw with me! Bennet-chan, you have to wake up! That man
is a wolf!”
Hearing that, Bennet’s ears slumped down. Of all else, Bennet
was a demi-human, a wolf, and he made it sound like…
“… I’m part of the wolf tribe.”
As she said that, Oldart started making excuses. “Men are all
wolved beneath the belt,” he said as he broke into a sweat.
Meanwhile, Alejandro,
“You should get a bit of a better eye for me! It’s Rudel we’re
talking about. That Rudel!”
Being called a that, Rudel made a dubious expression as he sent
a glance over to Izumi, who kept silent all the way. Trying to keep
out of it, Izumi seemed truly reluctant to receive that glance.
“Hey, am I really that terrible?”
Izumi.
“In a different sense, you’re considerably terrible. No, I think
you’re a really good guy, normally.”
“I-I see!”
Seeing Rudel delighted at Izumi’s praise, Enora seemed
displeased and Oldart let out a shout.
“You don’t have to sweat the small things! We’re right here, and
so is Rudel! Then there’s only one thing to do!”
“We’ll show you hell!”
“Today is the day you die!”
“Bury the bastard!!”
Answering their dragoons’ cries, the dragons also roared and
soared into the skies. Straddling their dragons, the dragoons
danced through the air.
Oldart spoke to Rudel.
“Rudel, we’ll take you on. Get on up there.”
As he said that, he soared into the sky, and the dragoons began
flying around as if to draw a circle.
Seeing that, Rudel’s eyes began to sparkle.
Enora,
“Those numbers are a bit much. That’s more than twenty dragons.
Rudel, just go home for today.”
Bennet was also worried.
“This is a personal affair. There won’t be a problem if you
refuse.”
She seemed worried for her subordinate Rudel.
Izumi looked over the worried two as she spoke with a resigned
face.
“There’s nothing you can do when he gets like that. Rudel, make
sure you don’t get hurt too badly. It will be bad if you get
hospitalized before you get your medal.”
Rudel smiled.
“Yeah, leave it to me… it’s just when my enemy’s so serious,
wouldn’t it be rude not to get serious myself?”
As he said that, Rudel smiled and whistled.
From a large hole near the facility, the white dragon Sakuya
popped out her head and roared. The dragons soaring through the sky
weakly roared back in answer.
Sakuya landed before Rudel and turned him her back.
A smiling Rudel boarded her in an instant. As he lifted into the
air with Sakuya, Bennet sighed.
“You’re at a real disadvantage with those numbers. I’ll lend a
hand. Heleene.”
As Bennet called her dragon, a blue beautiful dragon descended
to the ground. In her mouth was a mass of meat she had procured
from somewhere.
It seems she was in the middle of a meal.
After crushing that boned meat in her teeth and swallowing it
down, she directed her back at Bennet.
Enora as well.
“I-I can also… Falk, get over here!”
Appearing in response to that voice was the wind dragon
Falk. Spreading out his large wings, he roared and once Enora had
gotten on his back, he took to the sky.
Seeing all that, Izumi breathed out a deep sigh.
“Hah, guess I should start running.”
She said as she fled from the spot.
◇
In the sky, the dragoons flocked around the white dragon.
“Dammit! She won’t fall!”
“She’s way too hard!”
“Oy, someone go stall the other two!”
As a subspecies of gaia dragon, a species that faced
difficulties in aerial combat, Sakuya flapped her four large, white
wings.
Double the size of the gray dragons that made up a majority of
the dragoons, she held a different level of intensity. As this
expedition had failed to recruit any gaia or red dragons, they
lacked any real means to get damage through.
And such a dragon was being guarded by Bennet and Enora’s
dragons.
While Bennet could perform well on ground battles, in the air,
she exhibited abilities lower than the average dragoon. Regardless,
she was accompanied by a wild water dragon.
Enora’s wind dragon made use of its speed in aerial combat to
stand superior.
Against those three dragoons, Oldart’s forces numbered over
twenty.
But even with seven times the forces, they were unable to put a
dent on Sakuya, who struggled in aerial combat.
“No, she’s way too hard! It wasn’t like this before!”
The one who answered Oldart’s panicked voice was Bennet.
“I did my best to train her!”
Looking at Bennet answer full of confidence, Oldart,
“Bennet-chan really is cute~ but Rudel… I won’t forgive
you!”
Atop Sakuya’s back, Rudel blocked the breath attacks coming in
from around with his shields of light. And if a dragon got too
close, it would be batted away by Sakuya’s large arms.
(I planned to beat him down to show him there are still people
better, but… so he grew this strong.)
Even as he raised this stupid ruckus, Oldart was amazed by
Rudel’s growth. He was convinced his own decision hadn’t been
mistaken.
(It wasn’t a mistake to leave him with the strongest in land and
air, Bennet-chan and Keith. God dammit, if only Keith was able to
eat him up along the way. But eating up Bennet-chan, really cut me
some slack.)
Before Rudel who normal dragoons were no longer a match for,
Oldart showed a smile.
(Just how strong will he grow.)
Oldart and his dragon took a round around Sakuya as she kept
stagnant, blowing away any dragon that got too close. Looking
closely, there was also a wind dragon battle between parent and
child going on.
“Enora, call it quits already!”
“You’re the one who should call it quits!”
The wind dragons were playing a game of chase.
Turning his eyes to Bennet, he saw she was keeping a moderate
distance from three dragons, going on the defense to hold them in
place.
(Hah, I wanted to be over there. But we can’t leave this one
like this.)
Oldart looked at Rudel, issuing orders to his subordinates.
“Don’t get close, continue circling and sprinkling attacks!
Let’s see just how long Rudel can hold out!”
There, with a smile of madness from Sakuya’s back, Rudel seemed
delighted.
“That’s just what I wanted!”
He said such a thing.
(… Oh my, this guy’s scary.)
Thought Oldart.
◇
It was a tower to shut away royalty.
Within that prison made by royalty was a luxurious cell for
royalty.
The room had a fluffy bed, a carpet spread out. All the
furniture was in order, and bookshelves were prepared as well.
But they didn’t contain books.
Fina looked over the room.
“Good grief, to shove me into a place like this.”
She said and breathed a sigh.
There were iron bars running across the window from which the
light streamed in. It was impossible for Fina to leave through
them.
Across the entrance door were two female knights on watch.
Sitting on the sofa, Fina thought over what would happen now.
“… They’ll let me look after animals, won’t they? I should put
in an order.”
In her life of boredom, she thought of what would give her
warmth. Showing a surprising amount of leisure, it wasn’t as if
Fina never considered it would come to this.
“Wait a second… if they’re going to lock me away like this, that
means I don’t have to work and I can spend all my time fluffing up
fluffy animals, right? Oh me oh my! That might be amazing!”
The expressionless Fina stood, raising both her hands as she did
a jump for joy.
“The first one should be a dog, perhaps? And then a cat…”
Just as her fantasies expanded, a knock came at the door.
Before she could answer, the door opened up.
Standing there was her elder sister Aileen.
Leading along her prided knights, she appeared before Fina with
a smile.
(What’s this, she’s appeared without delay.)
Fina stopped her dance and curtsied to Aileen and Fritz.
“It has been a long while, sister.”
Aileen motioned her to sit. There were tables stationed with a
sofa in-between, and after Aileen took a seat first, Fritz stood
diagonally behind her, keeping wary of Fina.
If anything happened, he seemed ready to cut at her.
(Bringing along her favorite knight, looks like someone’s having
fun.)
While she wanted to complain, Fina endured and sat before her
sister. There, Aileen offered an apology.
“This is all happening so fast we haven’t found someone to look
after you. I can’t serve you any tea, I’m sorry Fina.”
Fina shook her head.
“Don’t worry about that. And so? Can I ask why you’ve called me
here, sister?”
Knowing Aileen would make a move, Fina knew this day would come.
Of course, she intended it to be her sister shut in the royal tower
instead of herself.
(Well, family feuds are only good sense for the royals and
nobles. Perhaps I was a little too naïve. Thought my preparations
have gone a considerable way.)
Aileen’s face turned from a smile to serious as she explained
the present situation.
“Fina, father has collapsed. Luckily, there is no danger to his
life. But he is suffering difficulty speaking. To add to that, the
Gaia Empire has made its move. Don’t you think someone has to take
charge in such a situation?”
Fina listened in expressionlessly.
But she closed her eyes.
(Ah~, I just pulled an all nightery, I’m sleepy. They didn’t
even let me sleep in the carriage. I want to drink some coffee. A
straight shot should get me right up.)
She was thinking over something completely different, but Aileen
knew Fina’s expression wouldn’t change and went on.
Perhaps she thought the girl was taking it meekly.
“If we show weakness in such a crisis, the archdukes will take
advantage of us. So I have decided to take command. But even if I
can suppress the palace, I can’t do anything about the
knight brigades or the army. So I’m going to have Fritz-sama
do his best.”
Aileen’s gaze turned to Fritz. Fritz stuck out his chest as he
came out before her.
Fina…
(Oy, oy, you really sure about that? He doesn’t have any
experience leading a large force, does he? Rather, he doesn’t have
any achievements for anyone to recognize him by.)
Fina opened her mouth.
“… What happened to mother. Also, starting with the three
archduke houses, a large number of nobles won’t be satisfied with
Fritz.”
Aileen narrowed her eyes, she took on quite a displeased
expression.
“For now, I cannot be bothered to care for such a trifle. What’s
more, we have many who will cooperate with us. Fina, the current
Courtois is mistaken. The nobles only ever think of themselves,
ignoring the people…”
Fina thought the same. But all she agreed with was the part
about Courtois being mistaken.
Right, themselves included.
(We rely too much on the dragoons. An environment of abundant
land watched over by powerful dragoons… the surrounding countries
have polished various things to go up against us, yet we do nothing
at all. We have no prince to succeed, Courtois is filled with
problems… it really is a hassle.)
Aileen informed Fina of just how disappointing Courtois’ nobles
were, and of the pain they caused their people.
And using this as an opportunity, Aileen…
“With a commoner like Fritz’ achievements as an opportunity,
Courtois will undergo a large change. It will no longer be people
for the country, but a country for the people. We will need to make
this a country where everyone’s equal, where as long as you’re
skilled, you’ll be recognized.”
If Fina could make any expression, she would be laughing. What’s
more, with a belittling smile on her face.
But the words that came out of her mouth…
“You’re right. That is important. I do think to evaluate
talented personnel and assign them important roles is important.
It’s just, I cannot quite agree with Fritz-dono being the
representative of that. He does not have any achievements.”
Aileen remained displeased.
“… He need only start building them up now.”
She said.
“Big sister, there are no absolutes in war. Fritz-dono.”
Fina directed her eyes at Fritz. He seemed a little surprised,
but he instantly replied.
“What is it?”
“The war this time around… do you think we can win it?”
Fritz stuck out his chest as he clearly declared.
“We will win. Using this chance Aileen has given me to prove
even a commoner can rise in the country of Courtois is something of
a duty to me.”
“Is that so,” Fina said and looked down a bit.
Aileen to Fina,
“Fina, you’ll cooperate with me, won’t you? In the academy, you
interacted not only with nobles but with commoners as well. Can you
understand how I feel?”
As she sought out Fina’s approval, Aileen seemed to be trying to
increase her allies.
What Aileen spoke of was correct. Fina also wanted to make the
system more meritocratic than it currently stood.
It wasn’t as if she didn’t see the need to reform Courtois that
relied on the dragoons so much it ruined itself.
But this wasn’t the time.
It hadn’t come to that stage.
That was Fina’s conclusion.
Fina expressionlessly looked at her sister Aileen head on as she
spoke.
“I’ll have to decline, sister (A country for the people, eh.
That’s wrong, sister).”
Seeing Aileen’s expression of disbelief, Fina thought.
(It’s not people for the country or a country for the people. It
takes both sides for a country to live on. As I thought, the two of
us are incompatible.)
Fina decided to give Aileen her farewell.
◇
Rudel brought his feet to the palace.
It was to receive his war medals.
In the past, he had saved a town attacked by monsters. The
ruckus about Celestia’s ancient weapon was finally dying down, and
the Kingdom of Celestia sent over some choice words of
gratitude.
Receiving them, Rudel and Aleist would receive some medals as
well.
Rudel was rarely ever at the palace, Rudel was unable to settle
as he looked around.
His accompanying inspector Izumi posed him the question.
“What’s wrong? It’s rare to see you so restless.”
The surroundings were the same, but Rudel felt a sort of
tingling sensation on his skin.
“No, that’s not it. It’s just, this sort of…”
In the middle of their conversation, Rudel spotted Aleist in the
hall and called out to him. Leading along his subordinates, for
some reason Aleist was holding cleaning supplies.
“Ah, good morning.”
Izumi made a dubious face.
“It’s been a while since I last saw you like that. Rather,
aren’t you supposed to be receiving some medals today, Aleist?”
Aleist nodded.
“That’s right. That’s why I have to finish up my job before
that. After this, I just have to return to the room and get
ready.”
Leaving the palace’s cleaning to the heir of a Count House was
quite the peculiar tale.
What’s more, Aleist was the black knight.
Rudel spoke up.
“Aleist, the palace feels strange, but did something happen?
Does it always feel like this?”
To Rudel’s question, Aleist.
“No, I did hear a rumor his majesty collapsed. But there are
lots of other strange rumors, and I can’t tell you what exactly
happened.”
As Aleist seemed troubled, ”I see,” Rudel said as he decided to
make for the waiting room.
“I’ll go on ahead. You’re coming later, right?”
As he said that, Aleist nodded with a smile.
“That’s right. But I just can’t get used to walking around the
palace not in these work clothes.”
Seeing Aleist’s laugh, is that really alright? Thought Rudel,
but he kept silent.
The man in question seemed to enjoy his job, and he got the
feeling that wasn’t something for an outsider to stick his mouth
into.
“I’ll be waiting.”
As Rudel said that and led Izumi off, Aleist waved his hand.
“Yeah, I’ll be there before you know it.”
He replied.
As they separated from Aleist’s group, Izumi began to
chuckle.
Rudel seemed puzzled.
“Something funny happen?”
As he asked, Izumi shook her head with a smile.
“No, I was just thinking you and Aleist really have become
friends. I just thought it was strange.”
“You think?”
“I do.”
Being told that by Izumi, Rudel felt a bit awkward as he
scratched his face with his fingertip.
At the same time, the atmosphere of the palace still bothered
him for some reason.
(I have a bad feeling about this. I hope it goes without
issue.)
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LNWNCentral_Dragoon_Dragoon - WN Chapter 146-167_Dragoon-WN-Chapter-146-167-[Yoraikun][Trollo]
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161-163.txt
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EpubPress - Mon Aug 13 2018 - Dragoon 161: Those Who Can’t Run
Chapter 161: Those Who Can’t Run
A general in the imperial army, Bahn Rhoshwas had begun his
march on a request from the main body.
His army was composed of only humans, for no other reason than
that he couldn’t trust monsters. As a matter of fact, the monsters
from the main force had all gone berserk. One moment, he thought
they’d disappeared, and the next they were on a rampage.
“Under a sky of several hundred dragons, they want me to launch
an attack on the enemy camp…”
To those of the empire, the dragon could only be a symbol of
fear.
The reason they termed those of Courtois as cowards in general
was because they were protected by those dragons.
Their own forces had given rise to enhanced monsters, and just
when he thought they’d finally reached the stage they’d be able to
put up a decent fight against Courtois, they were impossible to
control.
“We’re retreating after we retrieve Prince Askewell. There is no
victory to be found on these fields.”
The army’s main body was still trying to fight. No, Bahn didn’t
let it slip his eyes that they weren’t properly reigned in.
Yet regardless of what Bahn did, it wasn’t long before a
Courtois army was drawing near.
“General Rhoshwas! An enemy army is headed our way! That flag…
it’s Diade!”
Bahn’s expression turned sour.
“So that Diade comes out at this timing?”
The Diade House could be called the strongest of Courtois’
ground troops.
Bahn had fought them a number of times, and every time had ended
inconclusively. Before one side could triumph, the dragoons would
storm in, leaving him no choice but to retreat.
Retreat wasn’t an option this time.
“Tear through them to rescue our allies. Drag along those main
force fools who’re still up to fight and retreat!”
On Bahn’s words, his tempered legion moved all at once.
◇
Riding a specially prepared carriage, Leor was enraged.
“Each and every one of them, trash that can’t understand magic!
What did I tell them? I told them to lure the dragons my way, but
not only do they fail to listen, they demand I send reinforcements
to them… I’ll make test subjects of the lot of them.”
Muttering complaints, Leor wore a robe over his skin of an
unhealthy color. He didn’t wear any armor.
He had his pride as a magician, and he knew protective gear was
unnecessary.
A subordinate nearing his carriage informed him of the state of
the magic circle.
“Leor-sama, the around seventy percent of the sigils are ready.
But there is an army coming towards us.”
He couldn’t exhibit his full might on an incomplete circle. Leor
laughed.
“Perfect. It may not be complete, but it’s an anti-dragon magic
circle… I’ll blow any human army away. That’s right. They should
have just obeyed my orders from the start. His highness so joyed
with just enhancing monsters, and that aide gora of his; I’ll show
them all. Just how wonderful my magic can be!”
Stepping down from the carriage, he ordered along his men as he
made towards the center of the circle. Rescuing Askewell didn’t
even occur to him in his eagerness to show off just how superior he
was.
“The empire shall know. Rather than relying on monsters, they
should have relied on me… Ahahahah!”
While Leor said so, he was supported by subordinates on both
shoulders. Through repeated research and experimentation spanning
many a year, his body had grown terribly slender. Stamina-wise, he
boasted a considerable problem.
◇
The main force Askewell led was being ordered by Mies.
However, the rampage of his other men was terrible.
“General Mies, the armies on both flanks are rushing to our
aid!”
“We’ll hammer down what Courtois’s army in one fell swoop!”
Seeing the knights and soldiers speak with such delight, Mies
was distraught.
“What are you talking about? There’s no way we can fight in this
situation. We’re retreating. Yes, that’s what we’ll do! We can’t
control them anymore!”
One of the knights spoke.
His expression was somewhat suspicious. For a moment, she got a
sense his eyes let off a red light.
“It will be fine, General Mies. The gora that Prince Askewell
has possessed did not attack any of our men who approached. This is
the perfect opportunity. The perfect change to finally win one
against Courtois.”
Askewell had been taken in by a gora.
Phrasing it as the opposite, the second-in-command raised the
hopes of those around.
In her distress, Mies couldn’t notice the knight was different
from usual.
“Have both flanks stand down at once! If we don’t retreat fast,
something terrible will… the sky above is nothing but dragons!”
To the empire’s knights and soldiers, dragons were their gods of
death. However, in this situation, more than despair, the troops
sought out the victory they had long craved.
“We cannot pull back like this! If we retreat, that means we
will have lost to a single knight. Not a dragoon, our forces were
breached by a lone knight… only hell awaits on our return.”
A collected-looking knight said so, and those around nodded.
They had taken too much time on Rudel alone. That was not coming
back to bite them, cornering the imperial army—or rather, those who
had actually fought into a state where they couldn’t withdraw even
if they wanted to.
Mies held her head and cried out.
“All troops prepare to retreat! Your commanding officer
is—Eh?”
A few knights and soldiers turned their weapons on her.
“You’ll have to keep quiet a while. There’s nowhere left for us.
Do you not understand that? To prepare such an army and yield no
results… shall never be forgiven.”
Preparing the monster army alone was a considerable strain on
the empire.
On top of that, they formed two armies surpassing ten thousand
to attack on two fronts.
If this failed, the empire would be driven to a crisis of
possible collapse.
“If the land we took is taken back, the empire will fall apart.
I want you to understand that.”
The situation was more urgent than Mies had imagined. As she sat
on the spot and hung her head, the soldiers led her off. Finally,
the knight,
“Hurry up and reorganize our formation! Let those cowards of
Courtois know the grudge of the empire!”
Watching these zealous imperial knights and soldiers-
practically dead men walking- who knew there was no future ahead of
them, Mies took one last look at the gora that had assimilated
Askewell.
(So no one needs him anymore…)
◇
Mounting his faithful steed Heath, Aleist held a sword in one
hand and gripped it hard.
He didn’t have the inexhaustible mana he once possessed. He
didn’t have talent. Even his charm had been lost.
Could such a man fight the gora coming towards them?
As he cowered over such questions and fears, Millia took a seat
behind him with her bow. They were riding the nightmare in
tandem.
One of the harem members pointed at Millia.
“That bitch!”
Millia barked back at the rest of them.
“Oh, shut it! If it was any of you, you’d be at each other’s
throats, so I got on behind him. So quit your whining, and prepare
for battle already!”
Scolded away by Millia, the harem member reluctantly obeyed and
prepared to fight the beast.
Behind them, an army to support them stood in rank and file
under Chlust’s orders.
Chlust looked like he was going to cry as he issued out orders,
entering preparations to hold the army at bay. Upon seeing that,
Aleist managed to calm down just a bit.
“Aleist, you’ll be fine, won’t you?”
On Millia’s worried voice, Aleist mulled a smidgen before he
nodded.
“I’ll be fine. But honestly, whether we can beat that thing or
not is…”
Heath shook his head and neighed. As if he was telling him to do
his best.
In the sky, two water dragons awaited his orders to fight.
Millia breathed out a sigh.
“God, have some confidence. Rudel was fighting against that
thing the whole time. When you’re able to exchange punches with
that very same Rudel, there’s no way you’ll go down too
easily.”
Aleist recalled those matches, and the fists he exchanged.
In his battles with Rudel, in the end, it was always their
weapons that gave out first. In that case, what was left was a
full-on fist extravaganza.
“I wasn’t exchanging punches because I wanted to.”
Aleist personally would have preferred more stylish, more
elegant matches. But he was always pushed to the brink and got to
thinking he never had the leisure.
However, upon looking around.
“Well, it looks like everyone apart from me is reliable
enough.”
In game terms, his harem members were competent pieces. What’s
more, in the sky were two dragons supporting him. Two dragoon
knights as well.
Game-wise, this was a satisfactory party, or rather, these
numbers were greater than what could be deployed at once. Aleist
delivered a light kick to Heath’s stomach.
With that alone, Heath made a straight dash for the Gira.
Millia readied her bow.
“Aleist, I’m counting on you.”
“Yeah, it’ll probably work out.”
Hearing his somewhat unreliable response, Millia laughed.
Standing up on horseback, she took an arrow in hand, pulled it, and
fired.
She had aimed for Askewell taken in by the Gora, yet the arrow
was repelled by the gora’s thick finger. Just by spreading its
palm, the giant had Askewell completely protected.
“The fact it protected him means that really must be its weak
point. But seeing how Rudel couldn’t take aim at it, it must have a
solid defense, perhaps?”
As Heath gradually increased speed, the gora lowered two of its
four arms down towards him. Heath ran straight at the lowered
fists, and cleared them as Millia fired an arrow at the gora from
below.
“Oh my, it’s not just a grass skirt.
Carefully observing the gora that was properly wearing pants
under that, Millia gave an indifferent analysis before immediately
firing an arrow.
“Eep!” Aleist mouthed a small scream. But it didn’t look like it
had any effect on the far-too-large Gora.
“How can you just aim at the crotch like that!?”
When Aleist told her that, Millia scoffed.
“Like it or not, it’s a vital point.”
She said, this time taking out multiple arrows and firing them.
They all carried more force than the previous one, piercing deep
into its nether regions.
The Gora cried out.
“Alright!”
Seeing Millia triumphantly clench her fist, Aleist was beginning
to pity the gora.
Gripping the sword he held in one hand, he swung it towards the
beast’s ankle.
A black magic flame coiled about the blade, and once he released
it, the gora’s foot was severed through.
(I can still fight.)
What he lost was great, yet there was much he had built on his
own, and what remained became his strength to overcome this
monster.
While the gora tried to deal with Aleist, who was passing right
beneath it, the breath attacks of dragons from the sky knocked it
back.
Heath moved so as not to be dragged in with its fall as Millia
looked around. Imperial knights and soldiers were charging towards
them.
“When we’re busy taking on this monster!”
Aleist drew his left-hand sword as well, swinging them from
horseback to cut down those closes. It was the perfect unity of
horse and rider.
No, rather than that, Heath was the one matching Aleist’s
movements. As Milla fired arrows from behind him, the knights
wearing iron armor were pierced through.
Aleist’s harem members gathered to occupy the gathering
army.
“You’re in the way!”
Seli cut down all before her with her skilled swordplay.
“In the way!”
Juju threw, punched and kicked the knights and soldiers coming
close.
Aleist confirmed that before turning back to the gora.
“If it recovers that fast, we won’t be able to chip it
down.”
Before the gora that instantly recovered from its injuries,
Aleist thought over how he should approach. He thought, but he was
never too smart to begin with.
It was inevitable that the long worn-out methods were the first
things to hit him.
“Then you either attack it so fast its regeneration can’t keep
up, or defeat it in one blow… but I don’t have any attacks as
flashy as Rudel’s.”
Lopping off the arms of the gora attempting to stand, Aleist
thought. His surroundings were beginning to become a muddled mess
of enemy and ally, the field rapidly growing more difficult to
fight.
The gora spread the wings on its back, rising into the sky.
“Can’t let it add another dimension to this—Bennet-san,
Keith-san!”
On Aleist’s cry, the two dragons attacked so the gora couldn’t
rise up. Tearing its wings and smacking it with dragon fist, they
removed any means of escape.
Jumping up from Heath’s back, Aleist transferred over to the
Gora, tearing open flesh below him as he raced up its body. Despite
its large palm’s attempt to capture him, he cut that palm open with
a sword in each hand, making for Askewell’s embedded body.
“I see it.”
Racing from the massive gora’s foot to its head, Aleist swung
his sword at Askewell the moment he was in sight.
If it had any weakpoint, he thought it had to be there, but the
gora stuck its glare on Aleist and opened its large mouth.
It seemed it was going to spit up a large mass of those black
spears it used on Rudel. In its mouth opening, he could see the
countless tips of spiraling polearms.
Aleist manifested from his shadow a cloth-like black mass,
spreading it out to protect himself.
Even if a spear pierced through, the material would wrap around
, catch it, and take the blow.
And once the black cloth vanished, Aleist jumped out and pointed
his sword at Askewell.
“This is the end!”
At the last moment, Askewell who had been buried to his
shoulders opened his eyes; he raised an arm and stopped Aleist’s
attack.
Gripping the sword between his fingertips, he looked at
Aleist.
“… I see, so you’re the cause of all this.”
After regaining consciousness, Askewell crawled out from the
gora, looked at Aleist and spoke.
“It is for the sake of your existence that my people suffer… I
shall not forgive you!”
Black smoke poured out of Askewell, as the gora disappeared.
Having suddenly lost his footing, Aleist entrusted his body to
freefall as he trained his eyes upwards. Askewell’s form remained,
standing right where he was in the air.
“So it ain’t over yet?”
After Aleist was recovered by Millia, who had spread out her
magic wings, he looked up at the black smoke whirling up, and the
prince.
Chapter 162: Sword and Magic
Eunius straddled his horse, commanding the private army he
brought with him to face off with the army of General Bahn.
On this chaotic battlefield, both sides had their command in
relative order. Albeit, only relative to the rest. The reason they
couldn’t pay undo mind to keeping formation lay in the black giant
nearby—the gora recklessly thrashing around.
Eunius took a glance in its direction.
“I’d like to end this while Aleist is keeping it busy; then I
can go help him out.”
Even if the sky was beyond him, he could help as long as it was
on land. But regardless of what wanted to do, the matter wouldn’t
be settled so easily.
Bahn Rhoshwas—a general who had worked his way up, a seasoned
veteran of the empire, and a strong opponent in land battles. While
he didn’t stand out due to the existence of the dragoons, Eunius’
father had held a close fight with him more than a few times.
The dragoons would come out before the victor could be decided,
so there was no score to keep. Which side was stronger? Both
countries likewise regarded the question as wholly
inconsequential.
Yet on a battlefield where they couldn’t borrow the dragoons’
aid, it would hold a large meaning. The quality of troops at
Eunius’ home the Diade House was high.
But the opponent was a prominent force of the empire.
Eunius licked his lips.
“Go at it making light of them, and we’ll be devoured.”
He said, pulling his sword as he looked at the faces of his
enemy—the faces of elite soldiers.
“Run them down!”
The numbers were even, or perhaps the other side had a slight
advantage. The empire had supplemented a majority of their forces
with monsters. For that sake, the numbers of humans were lower than
expected.
The soldiers Eunius led wrung out their voices, gripped their
weapons and collided with enemy forces.
The frontmost soldiers clashed, filling the air with the sounds
of clanging metal and shouts.
With both sides accustomed to battle, slight casualties didn’t
fluster them in the slightest.
But perhaps the opponent’s side was short on time, they came out
with hard offensive measures.
A large-build man on a horse grandly brandished his battle axe,
butchering soldiers on Eunius’ side.
Swinging around a large axe that- at a glance- made clear the
strength of his arms, he made a straight line towards Eunius.
The official to Eunius’ side cried out.
“Young master! He plans to take you out and pierce straight
through our army.”
Eunius gave a small laugh.
“Is he mocking me? Or is he out of time… looks like both!”
Kicking his horse’s stomach, he had his allies ahead of him
stand back as he raced towards the unit led by General Bahn.
Upon seeing that, Bahn performed a wide swing with his axe to
cut Eunius down; but Eunius caught the blow with his greatsword.
The horses both rode had stopped in their tracks, their hooves
sinking into the earth
Once a conspicuously large metallic sound had chimed across the
battlefield, both enemy and ally had begun taking distance from the
two.
General Bahn glared at Eunius.
“Youngling, are you related to Diade?”
Eunius held up his greatsword in one hand, directing its tip
towards the general.
“The eldest son. You’re Bahn Rhoshwas, right? I’ve heard about
you. Heard there was some bloke my old man couldn’t take out.”
As General Bahn clenched the hilt of his battle axe, it let off
a grinding, grating noise. His muscles swelled and raised a
sound.
“Oh quit it. You’re just another coward protected by the dragon,
I’d usually say. But if your Diade’s brat, that changes things up a
bit. You lot are just about the only ones to hold back my army’s
charge.”
Each side holding high their weapon of choice, what followed was
a simple clash of steel.
Sparks scattered.
“But youngling… now you’re in the way. I’ll send your old man
down afterward. Go wait for him in hell.”
Holding his sword horizontally to block the strike from on high,
Eunius grit his teeth.
(What weight. This guy really is strong.)
Eunius felt his own horse’s shaking legs and tried to ward the
blow aside, yet his attempt had General Bahn forcefully blow him
off of his horse.
“Protect the young master!”
The knight who went out front was promptly cut down.
Eunius rolled across the ground before immediately standing and
shouting out.
“Don’t get in the way! I’ll take him down.”
Looking down on Eunius from horseback, Bahn scoffed at those
words.
“You look halfway competent, but you’ll stand before me with
that level of skill? Your head’s in the clouds.”
But Eunius had properly measured out his opponent’s
abilities.
“That so? But I got it with that one. I’d love to have fought
you in your heyday, old man.”
It was a provocation, that the aged Bahn was lacking.
“… Youngling, I’ll praise your tongue if nothing else!”
General Bahn galloped his horse, lifting his axe, charging at
Eunius to slice him in twain. Eunius lowered his hips and watched
his movements.
(You’re definitely strong, old man. But you know… I’m even
stronger. And I know people far stronger than me!)
As he watched his foe’s movements, Eunius was overcome by a
sensation as if time was passing by in slow motion. He
concentrated, and matching General Bahn’s motions, he swung his
great sword.
The sword was clad in light, and as that light grew stronger, he
finished his cut before the general was within sword range.
“You fool. You grew impatien—nngh!!”
General Bahn spat up blood. Holding his mouth, he fell from his
horses back; his axe pierced into the ground as he fell to his
knees.
A single large wound across his chest.
Eunius’ magic sword has inflicted a blow on him. Seeing that,
Bahn siped his mouth, stood, and took a stance with his axe.
“Hey now, I felt quite some resistance.”
While Eunius felt resistance on his blade, it did seem General
Bahn was far tougher than he’d anticipated. The general
laughed.
“Gahahahah! Youngling, I’ve been fighting from before you were
born. Like hell it’d be so easy to off me. But… I’ll admit you’re
not all talk.”
While his subordinates gathered around him, Bahn had them step
down.
“… No complaints, having you as my last foe. No, guess you
wouldn’t want this old man. I’d have loved to have fought you ten.
Nay, twenty years earlier.”
Eunius laughed.
“Don’t be stupid. You’d cross axe with rattle?”
The two laughed, their looks gradually shifting to serious as
the surrounding air tense up. Around them, ally and enemy fought,
yet their minds were taken by the duel.
And the two stepped in and passed by.
It happened in an instant.
A large cut opened up on Eunius’ arm, leaking some blood.
But General Bahn collapsed right on the spot.
The ground flowed with a heavy torrent of red.
“… Youngling. Your name?”
“Eunius. It’s Eunius Diade.”
“I see. A good name. I’ll be waiting in hell. Until our next
match…”
When General Bahn used up the last of his strength, the
surrounding imperial soldiers lowered their weapons one after the
next. Eunius saw that and shouted out.
“Don’t kill those who’ve surrendered. Spread the word… Bahn
Rhoshwas has fallen to Eunius Diade! Cease your resistance!”
His subordinate raced over.
“Young master! The sky!”
Looking in the direction he pointed, the gora had vanished,
lacing a scene of black smoke rising up onto the sky.
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this… Rudel, just end this
already.”
◇
Meanwhile.
Luecke’s army marched in close formation.
Vargas barked from nearby.
“Maintain formation! Don’t disperse under any
circumstances!”
Knights toting shields engraved with magic circles stood at
predetermined positions hoisting up their shields Upon confirming
that, Luecke used his magic.
A pale green flame broke out around, his army, dispersing the
lightning that rained down from above. An intense explosive sound
rose as the earth was gouged out.
“We’re lucky the ground was damp. Otherwise, the dust cloud
would be terrible.”
Vargas cried out at Luecke’s words.
“Not that it matters, young master! Do something about this. At
this rate, the magic will keep coming down, and we won’t get any
closer.”
The enemy was stationed on a low hill, having prepared a circle
there, and was firing off magic from it. That alone wasn’t a
problem, but the magic output was way too high.
If they took on a single blow, it would be enough to inflict
serious damage unto the entirety of Luecke’s forces.
He managed to elude those attacks, utilizing the shields to cast
large-scale spellcrafts.
Luecke toughed his hand to his chin.
“But how curious. With that setup I can make out from a
distance, they should have a higher output. That’s what I’ve been
preparing for with each defensive measure but… is it not yet
complete? Still preparing?”
As one who used magic, he held a genuine curiosity. This was
despite Vargas’ pleas.
“You can think about it later, but just do something now. If it
gets complete, we’re all in danger!”
Luecke felt somewhat let down.
(If this had nothing to do with Rudel and the others, and our
motherland wasn’t in peril, I wouldn’t mind waiting for them to
complete it… more so, I should invade after insuring it’s complete
to thoroughly investigate their circle. No, there’s no such time…
what a waste. If Lena weren’t here, I’d watch a while longer.)
While he looked the type to prioritize his own interest, at the
same time, he was also considering his means of attack.
“… Vargas. The enemy is clearly making light of us. Otherwise,
they can only launch incomplete attacks because their magic circle
isn’t fully prepared. I’d rather it not be number one. That would
mean with all that careful preparation, they can only fire magic on
this paltry level.”
Vargas leaked a sigh. Even in that instant, lightning rained
down from the sky to be blocked by Luecke’s magic.
“You wouldn’t believe how thankful I’d be if they were just
putting on a show.”
Luecke ignored him and explained.
“Their strength is either equal to, or slightly greater than our
magic formation for a simple shield. In that case, it’s simple. We
will maintain this formation and charge towards the enemy.”
Hearing that, Vargas opened his mouth.
“Pardon?”
“Charge, I said. Charge.”
Those around couldn’t conceal their hesitation either. They
couldn’t think the heir to the Halbades House actually voiced a
word like charge. No, they would indeed charge from time to
time.
But that was after they had done something about the opponent,
and they wouldn’t charge to force through enemy lines like the
Diade House.
“… How do you figure?”
With Vargas acting as a representative of surrounding opinion,
Luecke spat a sigh.
“Fool. We need only move while keeping the shield up. If our
opponent changes the attribute of their magic, we’ll immediately
adapt. You’ve all been trained to do so. Simple, right?”
Vargas’ eyes turned teary.
“I’ve said it before, but you know… aren’t you in the wrong
family!? Young master, I thought you were kinda… a bit more apt to
using your brain!”
“Vargas… don’t think I’m a muscle head like Rudel and the
others. I’m an intellectual. All I’m saying is that this is the
optimum means of victory. I’ll admit, it vexes me I can’t win over
our foe with magic.”
He chose a charge for victory, there wasn’t any particular
impatience in Luecke’s eyes. Knowing he didn’t thoughtlessly choose
a reckless assault on his first campaign, Vargas didn’t rebut him
anymore.
However…
“Alright, you’ve all got to properly fulfill your own roles.
We’ll be swiftly changing formation on the move. Everyone’s
coordination will be the key.”
Vargas cried out yet again.
“Change formation in transit!? This isn’t any ordinary
formation, young master! The spells are reproduced by the
positioning of the shield knights, and asking them to—”
Luecke shook his head, placing a hand on Vargas’ shoulder.
“Do it. That is an order, Vargas.”
When he was so kindly informed with a smile, “Yes” was all that
was left to say.
And the Halbades House’s moving army spread about a bit from its
close-knit formation.
Luecke began his move to the center.
As they would have to make delicate adjustments to their
positioning, while Luecke rode a horse, the shield knights had to
dismount theirs and go on foot.
The march began once Luecke was in place.
This time, a mountainous load of large fireballs was fired off
from the enemy camp. While they were many in numbers, they also had
a speed, and it was in a rain of fire that Luecke’s men were to
move.
“Change formation. Water.”
Abiding by his orders, the shield knights hastily moved and took
their places as a pale blue light enveloped their surroundings.
The flames that collided directly went out. The places on the
ground set ablaze by those that missed faded away as soon as they
touched against the pale light.
Luecke watched for his foe’s reaction.
(Now then, what’s their verdict on our approach… here it comes.
)
The soldiers- presumably guards- on standby took up their
weapons, and started on their way towards him. As the imperial
soldiers approached, Vargas and the others drew their weapons at
the ready.
But the enemy troops were few in numbers.
Luecke grimaced.
“… Decoys.”
While the magic from the enemy camp had stopped for a moment,
the problem was that they were preparing for another round.
“Vargas, the shield knights shall prioritize maintaining
formation. Everyone else, protect the shield knights.”
Drawing his sabre from its sheath, Luecke began commanding his
troops.
Vargas retorted.
“It’s supposed to be the other way around! We were brought up to
protect you and our allies!”
Luecke shot back.
“Shut it! Just do it! If you guys misstep, we won’t be able to
block enemy fire!”
As soon as he had said that, the enemy camp was at it again.
“Next earth!”
As Luecke ordered the shield knights to change formation, the
others provided support. The imperial soldiers were few in numbers,
and while they fought desperately, they were taken down one after
the next.
(They don’t mind firing on allies, eh. Can’t say I respect that.
But it’ll pick up the pace.)
“Here it comes!”
The enemy soldiers outside the formation were swept up into a
tornado and blown into the air. Upon seeing that, many soldiers
gave up their resistance.
Cast down your weapons and surrender. We are increasing our
speed to the enemy camp.
Vargas posed Luecke the question.
“Will the enemy wait for us? Shouldn’t they already by—”
But Luecke firmly declared.
“They’ll be there. They can’t move. They’re too fixated on their
magic after all.”
And with those words, the Halbades House army continued its
advance.
What they came upon once they were right at the camp were the
magicians who had still remained on the site.
In chaos, abandoned by their guard knights and soldiers and left
behind.
In the center of the magic circle, a single unhealthy-looking
man in a robe raised his voice. His ear perked at the chipped and
uncanny voice, Luecke urged on his horse.
“Y-you utter fools! Don’t let those brutes into the circle!
Don’t step there! What do you take this artistic magic circle
for—”
Luecke looked down on the screaming man—Leor.
“It certainly is a work of art. This deployment, and the sheer
beauty of the sigils… I’m sure no ordinary man c ould even imagine
it.”
To Luecke’s words, Leur knew he had found a kindred spirit. His
expression brightened right up.
“Y-you can tell? I never thought I’d find someone in Courtois
who could understand this—”
Luecke’s sabre stuck into Leor’s chest. Witnessing such a scene,
the magicians—Leor’s assistants raised screams. Those assistants
were quickly apprehended and restrained.
Luecke pulled out his sabre.
“W-why? If you let me live, the secrets of this magic circle
could be…”
A portion of the circle was incomplete.
To add to that, there were spots he had erased because the enemy
had come.
“You’re right. It really is a pity… but even so, I am a noble,
and a knight of Courtois. I have to see beyond the magic. And
someday, I’ll unravel the secrets of this circle, just you
wait.”
Hearing Luecke’s words filled with confidence, a slight smile
crossed Leor’s face.
“That’s impossible. The likes of you… I am a genius…”
Confirming Leor had breathed his last breath, Luecke issued
orders to Vargas.
“Vargas, have those with the knowhow accurately copy down the
magic circle. The positioning of all the ceremonial equipment as
well. Record it all, copy it all, preserve everything important
and—”
But before he could finish, Luecke looked at the sky.
In his eyes was a scene of black smoke rising to the sky.
Luecke narrowed his eyes.
“Young master?”
To Vargas’ worried voice, Luecke shook his head.
“Vargas, lead all troops. We’re moving.”
“Are you sure? Isn’t this magic supposed to be amazing?”
Luecke immediately mounted his horse and started off.
“I’ve got something more important to attend to.”
Luecke looked at the sky and muttered.
“Rudel, I can’t really lend a hand if he’s so high up.”
There, Vargas spoke.
“It’d be a whole lot easier if we could attack the sky with this
thing.”
Luecke immediately took a look at the circle. It was around
sixty percent complete. While a portion had been erased, from what
he could see, at the very least, those portions could be
reused.
He jumped down from his horse.
“Vargas!”
“Y-yes!?”
“… Well said. Gather up all the shield knights at once. We’re
putting this to good use.”
Chapter 163: Versus
Rudel fought the vile serpent through the sky. It could be
called a one-sided battle, mostly consisting of his attempts to
corner and land a final blow on the beast.
Sakuya opened her large mouth, and as she was about to fire a
breath, the serpent laughed. It stopped running to turn towards
Rudel and Sakuya.
Before Rudel and Sakuya—a dragoon of one man and one dragon, the
tattered serpent. But now a look of triumph spread across its
face.
‘You did well making it this far. You have my praise…
dragoon.’
While continuously calling Rudel an irregular, here it was,
stopping to evaluate him. But Rudel—
“I see, then disappear. Sakuya!”
Rudel had Sakuya fired on it no questions asked.
‘HYAAaaah!!’
Highly condensed mana swelled to a massive size, the light fired
off from it drawing a spiral in its flow as it swallowed the dark
dragon whole. With that output before her, Izumi narrowed her
eyes.
“It’d be hell if that hit the ground.”
It’s output… Rudel was definitely right in his decision, parting
from the ground to avoid dragging anyone else in.
All the clouds around them were blown away by the force of that
breath, the thick clouds clearing to shine light onto the
battlefield.
But the serpent that took the breath, while it had lost a
majority of its body, remained floating in the air. Its
disintegrating bones showing, it laughed through its ominous
visage.
‘You are strong. No, you ‘two’ are strong together. Very well… I
shall admit that.’
Feeling a bad premonition, Rudel immediately readied Sakuya for
a second shot.
‘It’s too late!’
The black smoke rising from the ground enveloped the serpent.
Prince of the Empire Askewell looked at Rudel from his place in the
air.
Rudel grimaced.
“You’re a stubborn one. Did Aleist let you slip by?”
While it was a problem that couldn’t be cleaned up with the word
stubborn, Rudel was of the simple belief that he need only defeat
him again. I essence, that was the only option.
Askewell opened his mouth.
“Aren’t you—”
“Sakuya, fire.”
“Wait! Rudel!”
Izumi stepped in to stop him but she didn’t make it in time.
Before he could hear Askewell’s words, Sakuya fired her second
round.
‘Fly awaaay!!’
Sakuya’s breath assailed the black smoke and Askewell. Yet,
Askewell brushed that blast aside with one hand.
Seeing that, Rudel immediately considered countermeasures.
(He redirected it? Luecke had a magic quite similar to that.
Then should I beat him in close combat?)
Askewell showed no surprise, nor did he condemn Rudel for his
actions. It was almost as if he had foreseen it happening. He
plainly continued to speak.
“Aren’t you irritated?”
“… Irritated? That I let your imperial invasion get so far? Or
the fact I couldn’t win on my own?”
They were both irritating to him. He couldn’t fulfill his duty.
He couldn’t protect his country. That was why he had to take
Askewell down and drive the imperial army out of kingdom
territory.
That was Rudel’s job.
Askewell lightly laughed.
“Aleist, was it? For the sake of such a good-for-nothing
existence, both me and you were put through the wringer. You were
to be nothing more than a stepping stool in his life… I was forced
into the role of enemy. You’ll overlook such unreasonability?”
Askewell’s voice was the epitome of serious. These were the
screams of his soul.
“No matter how I tried to save the empire’s people, it was all
futile! The reason I kept winning when I went out to the
battlefield was all for this day. None of it was my own power! Not
a single bit of my life’s effort has had any impact on this world!
For the sake of that man… for that sort of man, can you imagine how
many humans have suffered!? Doesn’t it irritate you!?”
Looking at the prince before his eyes, Rudel thought.
(What is he talking about?)
It was a simple, honest question. And he understood the
answer.
“I see, so you made it Aleist’s fault that things aren’t going
your way. Good for you, you found an excuse.”
Askewell’s eyes opened wide. A vein surfaced on his forehead. In
rage and surprise towards Rudel’s words. His face was one of all
sorts of emotions swirling about.
“You want me to sympathize? I’ll do plenty of that once this
battle is over. So… die.”
When Rudel directed his right arm at Aleist, the black smoke
manifested a number of offensive shields around Askewell. Those
spiked shields closed in from around as if to crush him whole.
“I see… when you made your dream come true, I…”
Those several hundred large shields crushed Askewell and
exploded. His hair ruffled out of place by the blast wave, Rudel
narrowed his eyes as he looked at Askewell.
“If you’ll let me have my say, you’re the unreasonable one
here.”
At the end of Rudel’s slightly envious expression, was the form
of Askewell riding the back of the dark dragon. And now the form it
took on was terribly reminiscent of Sakuya’s. A purple halo
floating behind its back, six wings, and four large limbs.
The differences that stood out were its aggressive, barbed
scales and the look in its eyes.
(… I want to ride it a bit.)
From the point of view of one who had desperately become a
dragoon, he had a complaint or two for Askewell, who had mimicked
one at the drop of a hat.
Even if he was barking up the wrong tree.
The dark dragon opened its mouth.
‘Don’t think this makes us equal. We surpass you on all fronts.
In order to restore these glaring errors, the more your abnormality
increases, the stronger we become.’
Rudel folded his arms.
‘I see, so you don’t start out almighty. Then there are ways to
go about it.’
Izumi wondered if the calm and collected Rudel had some
ingenious idea.
“You have a plan?”
But Rudel offered an immediate reply.
“None! But since it’s come to this, there’ no choice but to grow
stronger than we are now. If we do that, we can surpass our
enemy.”
Izumi breathed a sigh.
“You heard it, if you get stronger, they’ll also—”
“Then I’ll surpass what comes next. You worry too much… I’m
quite used to fighting guys stronger than me.”
As Rudel made a smile, Izumi shut her mouth. She looked in the
direction of the dark dragon and Askewell. Gripping the hilt of her
katana.
“Got it. I’ll try to help out. I have to make myself at least a
little useful.”
Rudel laughed aloud.
“That makes it three against two! It’s our win.”
◇
On the ground, the Kingdom of Courtois fought the imperial army
under Chlust’s command. With Aleist fighting on the frontmost
lines, they barely managed to hold out without crumbling.
That was the most they could do. A gathering of odds and ends,
the Courtois army had no coordination. Even if some was
established, before the empire’s trained troops, it was a
last-second veneer.
“Keep everything down to the basics. That’s all we can do!”
Chlust issued simple orders. With the quality of the gathered
soldiers all over the place, they had to keep their objectives to
the absolute basics.
The army moving especially poorly belonged to the Arses
House.
Having not done any decent training, they had become a
deadweight.
(If the black knight and his elites weren’t here, we’d be
screwed.)
Looking up in the sky, two water dragons intercepted the wyverns
raining down on them.
They were fighting so they couldn’t bring casualties to the
ground troops, and none were to die to stray shots from above.
However, because of that, their forces had mixed into a muddled
mess with the imperial. This prevented them from receiving dragoon
support.
Chlust had been driven off to the outskirts, and there he had
learned how to command. Yet when an army far too large was placed
under his command, his panic began to show.
“The dragoons will protect the sky! We’re going to do our
part!”
At the same time, he thought.
(To think the empire’s training would be on this level.)
In one on one, the imperial army surpassed Courtois. They could
only fight because they had the black knight. Additionally, the
soldiers of the imperial army fought almost as if they were walking
death row.
As the fight devolved into a chaotic melee, the dragons couldn’t
attack. With that in mind, compared to fighting the dragons up
high, the Courtoan soldiers before their eyes weren’t scary in the
slightest.
And they couldn’t pull back.
They really were dead men walking.
“… Brother, we won’t hold out much longer.”
Regardless of the grudge he held towards his brother who shoved
command onto him, Chlust could only do what he was capable of.
◇
“Take that!”
Swinging two swords from his horse, cutting down streams of
imperial knights and soldiers, Aleist was terribly stained with the
blood spurt.
The gora disappeared into black smoke, while Askewell had fled
into the sky.
He had no means to give chase, and so he fought on the ground.
But these crazed soldiers were cornering him into a close fight.
While his harem members were strong, they were flinching before the
enemy’s death-driven insanity.
“Should they usually withdraw after incurring casualties this
high!?”
More than twenty percent of the whole. The imperial army’s
casualty figures had long since exceeded that, but he couldn’t
discern any signs of retreat.
More so, these were soldiers who’d lost anywhere to run to.
While the tides were already in Courtois’ favor, even so, the
rate things were going would leave tremendous casualties on both
sides.
As Aleist helped out his allies while gathering enemies towards
himself, a giant white mass approached from the sky.
It was Sakuya.
“… Wait a tic.”
Falling towards the battlefield, there were traces of burns on
her surface. A heavy gray cloud swirled a spiral, and from it, a
black dragon resembling Sakuya slowly showed itself.
“Kuh!”
Racing his trusty steed Heath, Aleist tried to part from the
course of Sakuya’s fall when he caught a glimpse of a flash of
light.
The one who fell from the sky was Izumi, holding her Katana.
“Izumi-san!”
Izumi looked at the ground, prepared to draw her blade, and in
one flash—
“Hah!”
Slashing up the imperial soldiers around Aleist, she landed out
of breath before looking at the sky.
Aleist got down from his horse to hear out the situation.
“What the hell happened up there!?”
Izumi responded at once. Wiping off the grime on her face, she
explained the fight in the air.
“Seven times.”
“Seven what?”
“… Rudel and Sakuya, and myself managed to corner that black
dragon seven times. But every time, that thing just revives
stronger than before. It’s getting beyond our ability to cope.”
Both armies took distance from where Sakuya fell. While that
brought a temporary ceasefire, a look at the sky revealed the black
malign dragon looking down over them. On its head, Askewell was
also visible.
He wore sinister armor, equipped with a lance, his arms
folded.
As Sakuya fell, in order to support her from below, Rudel made a
great many shields of life, killing her momentum before she
landed.
“Rudel!”
While Aleist called out, Rudel seemed considerably vexed.
He heard a voice from on high.
“You did splendid to hold out so long. But this is the end. Once
I defeat you, the world will finally be free of your
influence.”
Askewell’s bitter expression was directed at Aleist.
Renewing his grip on both his swords, Aleist grimaced. Come so
far, would they really fall short?
(It’s my fault… then I should be the one to settle it…)
He would protect his comrades, even if it cost him his life. It
happened the moment he thought that.
Slowly standing Sakuya’s massive body, Rudel came over to him.
His expression was straightforward to no end—
“As you can see, there’s nothing I can do to take that thing
down on my own. Aleist, you’re coming with me. The two of us and
Sakuya will kill it.”
Aleist flew into a confusion.
“… Eh? Say what you want, but I have no idea what to do.”
“No worries, no problem. For now, just lend a hand. It’s a
bothersome one that immediately revives when you’ve almost got it.
I’d love to blow it away before it restores itself, but I’m lacking
in firepower.”
For the Rudel-Sakuya combo to have insufficient firepower? From
Aleist’s point of view, that was a nightmare. Even with his help,
he started to think when.
“Hey, let’s get going. Izumi, I’m sorry, but could you go help
out Chlust? I’m going to push my limits a bit, so I wouldn’t
recommend riding with me any further.”
Izumi shrugged her shoulders.
“That so? That’s a shame.”
Looking up, Sakuya’s palms were approaching the two of them.
With a skillful grip, Sakuya boarded Rudel and Aleist on her
back.
◇
Once Rudel was on Sakuya’s back once more, he looked up at the
dark dragon alongside Aleist.
“Just a little more to go. When there was just a little left, it
restored itself seven times.”
Seeing an irritated Rudel, Aleist shook his head to the
side.
“I get that, but it would be troublesome for you to rely on me
here. All I can do is control shadows, that sort of thing. To clear
things up, I don’t have unlimited mana reserves anymore!”
Rudel directed Aleist a smile.
“Yeah, no problem. When I was dead, Sakuya told me. You won’t
lose what you’ve cultivated yourself. And if it’s mana you’re
looking for, Sakuya’s got it.”
Rudel looked down at Sakuya and smiled.
“By Sakuya, you mean the goddess, don’t you? To think she’d be
waiting at death’s door for you, well how should I put it… no,
doesn’t really matter.”
As he slowly raised his head, the dark dragon emitted a stream
of wyverns out of his body. That scene was a nightmare in
itself.
“Is it not landing a finishing blow because it’s got the
leisure?”
Aleist thought the enemy was trying to belittle them, though
Rudel begged to differ.
“I wonder. If it had leisure, it would have come to finish us
off by now. Perhaps its been weakened so far it’s unable to.”
Sakuya slowly spread her wings and roared, while Rudel felt out
the flow of mana in her body.
“Aleist, try manipulating Sakuya’s mana. If you just change it
up a bit and form the shape, Sakuya will go and do something.”
Despite his confusion, Aleist leaned over and stroked Sakuya’s
back.
“Now that’s arbitrary. Whatever happens, don’t blame me.”
As Rudel and Aleist touched Sakuya’s back, white and black
symbols surfaced over her body as mana raced across its surface.
The two of them stood, and Rudel’s right hand. Aleist’s left hand.
After the two formed fists to bump with one another, Sakuya flapped
her large wings and rose into the sky.
The halo appeared behind her back again.
While the golden armor manifested to protect her, this time that
wasn’t all. Her third pair of wings formed, and from both
shoulders, a new set of arms emerged.
Black, and protected in golden armor, those arms gripped weapons
of gold.
And as the wyverns approached Sakuya, hundreds of snake heads
emerged from the exposed skin of those arms to bite into them and
tear them apart.
“That’s new. Looks like you get an autonomous intercept.”
Ignoring Rudel’s delight, Aleist looked around somewhat
perplexed.
“Isn’t that a bit creepy? No, I get I’m the one who made it, but
how to put it…”
As Sakuya rose to the same height as the dark dragon, the two
sides exchanged a glare. Askewell looked at Rudel and Aleist,
pointing the tip of his spear.
“It’s the same no matter how many times you stand. There is no
victory for you.”
More than a hundred wyverns had already manifested around the
dragon once more, and the battles on the ground had already
resumed.
Within that, Rudel.
“Pretty much everyone’s told me it’s impossible too many times
to count, but here I am. And how many times have you said those
words? I’m starting to lose trust in them.”
Rudel’s words put Aleist into a panic.
“Could you please stop riling up your opponents just this
once?”
The thick clouds drew a spiral, the lightning letting off light
and sound. On the battlefield where the rain was about to fall,
Rudel looked to the sky.
“… And also. You’ve wasted too much time.”
Turning to Askewell, as if proclaiming his own victory, Rudel
pointed at the sky.
Wild dragons shot out from the clouds one after the next, having
finished exterminating wyverns, and come over to help.
Askewell’s brow twitched.
“If that’s all the help you’ve rallied, then—”
Rudel smiled.
“No, that’s not all. That’s not all, prince of the empire!”
In addition to the wild dragons, gray dragons with dragoons on
their backs entered the stage. Even the dragoons had arrived.
Aleist looked at the ground.
“There are allies below as well…even father.”
Starting with Aleist’s home, the Hardie house, the armies of
various regions were gathering.
Rudel urged Askewell to surrender.
“… It’s over. The fact our allies have arrived means we have
reigned triumphant on the other battlefield. There is no victory
for you. Surrender.”
At the point the dragoons came as relief. Rudel could see their
victory was secured on the other field. As a matter of fact, that
was precisely the case.
However, Askewell wrung out his voice.
“Not yet. It’s not over yet. I’m right here. Victory to the
empire… for the empire’s future, I shall hold victory in these
hands!”
Rudel turned to Askewell with a slight mutter.
“I see, that’s unfortunate.”
On Sakuya’s roar, Rudel and Aleist lowered their hips. Sakuya
and the dark dragon smashed into one another, the shock wave
raising a wind around.
With the two closing in the distance, Askewell jumped over to
Sakuya’s back, making his way towards her riders.
Rudel with his sword and shield.
Aleist readied his twin blades, and on Sakuya’s back, their
weapons met.
“— I’ll make this the end.”
As Rudel said so, Askewell grit his teeth.
“I’ll be the one ending it. This bad joke of a destiny—and my
fate with you two!”
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LNWNCentral_Dragoon_Dragoon - WN Chapter 146-167_Dragoon-WN-Chapter-146-167-[Yoraikun][Trollo]
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164-167.txt
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Dragoon 164-167 - Dragoon 164: Last Battle
Chapter 164: Last Battle
By the collision of Sakuya and the dark dragon, the sun’s light
pierced through the battlefield covered in thick clouds.
Neither side could pull back. On that bog of a battlefield,
Eunius rushed over to Luecke. The reason being, the enemy had begun
to amass around Luecke’s forces.
Issuing orders from the center of a magic formation, he seemed
to be carrying out some form of preparations.
“What the hell’s so important you’d isolate yourself away to do
it!? The enemy’s at your doorstep!”
Without turning his face to Eunius’ yell, taking notes and
calculating something out, Luecke indifferently answered.
“This magic formation is anti-dragoon. I’m going to use it.”
Recycling the formation the enemy had been using, he would help
out Rudel and Aleist. Luecke earnestly carried out his
calculations.
Eunius thought.
(No use talking to him. But will this guy’s troops hold
out?)
The enemy on their last stand, they stood in unity charging
straight forward without knowing retreat. Luecke’s army detached
from the main force was nothing more than an easy target for
them.
It was partly due to their lack of a proper offensive that they
were trying to reuse their circle in the first place.
The empire’s soldiers were strong. Eunius recalled his own
honest impression as he gave up on persuading this idiot of a
friend.
“… No way around it. I’ll buy you some time. How long do I have
to hold out?”
Hearing Eunius’ voice, Luecke’s memo taking hand stopped for a
brief moment. Once it had resumed, he made his request.
“… One hour. If we use it once, the enemy will see it coming the
next time, so it’ll be a one-time thing. But that alone should be
plenty for Rudel up there.”
Eunius turned Luecke his back and walked off.
“Then I’ll protect you while you get on with this thing. If the
time comes, I’ll drag you away whether you like it or not, remember
that.”
“Thanks,” came a small voice from Luecke.
◇
Her body draped in golden armor, with two new black arms, Sakuya
exchanged blows with the dark dragon.
The black arms gripped golden weapons, its right hand the white
knight’s sword, its left hand the black knight’s. Two golden
shields floated to protect her, fending off the dragon’s fists.
The two grappled, they punched, they cut at one another and
exchanged dragon breath. The attacks from these two giants
generated massive shockwaves, and in no time at all, the
surrounding clouds had almost all been blown off, giving way to a
blue sky.
The dark dragon bit into Sakuya’s neck. Each and every one of
its sharp fangs concealed power greater than a magic sword
fashioned to slay dragons.
Opening her mouth in a scream, Sakuya hammered a body blow into
the dragon’s stomach. A stroke from her thick arms caused cracks to
race across the dark dragon’s tough skin.
Writhing in pain, the dragon’s mouth wretched open as it parted
from Sakuya’s neck. Before it could get away, Sakuya lowered the
golden sword at its head.
While the dragon immediately took evasive action, Sakuya grabbed
it with both arms to hold it in place. By turning its head to one
side, it contained its injuries at a portion of its horn and one
eye.
‘Nggh, my wounds aren’t healing. Why!?’
Even as blood dripped down her nape, Sakuya offered the dragon
an answer.
‘Sakuya’s power is being drawn out by Rudel and Aleist. So she
won’t lose. Sakuya is strong!’
Young. Terribly young, yet Sakuya gave off the will to never
lose.
Spreading its remaining eye wide, the dark dragon opened its
large mouth to roar.
‘You sham lizard! When you’re merely a cobbling of sham odds and
end, who do you think you’re biting back at!?’
The dragon who would call Sakuya a sham went right on to drive a
breath into her. Yet the black and red muddled mana gathering in
its mouth found itself bisected by a sword of light, exploding
before release.
There stood the enraged form of Rudel.
“Bastard! You got something to say about my Sakuya!? Very well,
I’ll answer that deathwish!”
Spitting smoke from its mouth, the dark dragon cried out
Askewell’s name.
‘Askewell! What are you doing? Kill him already!’
Sakuya and the dragon. Using both airborne beasts as footing,
Rudel, Aleist and Askewell fought.
But Askewell found himself held up by Aleist.
“What do you think I’m doing!? If only, if only you didn’t
exist!”
A wrinkle gracing his brow, Askewell swung his lance with the
face of a demon. Shockwaves and magic emitted with each revolution
before the point abruptly shot towards Aleist.
But Aleist turned it aside with a magic sword, and with his
other sword, he cut at his foe. Askewell sacrificed his left arm to
take the attack. While the blade cut deep into his flesh, it
stopped just short of lopping the limb off.
However, Aleist was a dual blade user, and in the moment
Askewell’s attention was occupied, he immediately used his other
sword to inflict a followup blow on his stomach.
“Kuh!”
He didn’t bleed. Askewell’s body swiftly regenerated, but
without faltering, Aleist kept up an offense.
“Rudel! Help out here too! The most I can do is hold him in
place!”
And yet, Aleist let out a pathetic voice. It only served to rub
Askewell the wrong way.
Askewell forcefully swung his spear to knock Aleist back. But
using that intent to take distance, Aleist produced a stream of
spears from his own shadow, sending them flying towards him.
While Askewell easily hit them all down, those black spears
burst, emitting a smoke that stole away his vision. In that
opening, Rudel cut down from above.
Despite him catching it with his spear, Rudel’s strike with all
his weight behind it bisected the shaft, carving deep from
Askewell’s right shoulder to his abdomen.
Seeing that, Rudel offered a word.
“Even that won’t do it.”
Not shedding a drop of blood, Askewell’s body had already begun
restoring itself, causing Rudel to take distance. With a large
lurch of the dark dragon he was using as footing, Askewell’s stance
was thrown a bit off.
“What are you doing!?”
Askewell grew irritated, however, they were in the sky… with
uncertain footing, and the stage being atop a dragon’s back, every
aspect favored the dragoon.
Without a moment’s delay, Rudel cut again, and Askewell’s leg
soared through the sky. Following on, having recovered his footing,
Aleist cut in to finish the job with his arm.
Thrown into freefall, Askewell attempted to float on his own
while regenerating his body. But right before his eyes came the
white approaching fist of a dragon.
“What non—”
He was likely about to question the nonsensical nature of
coincidence. But to the dragoons who could communicate
telepathically, the knight and dragon existed as a set, and their
coordination was to be expected.
Smacked, sent flying, with a large portion of his body crushed,
while Askewell continued falling, his body was still regenerating.
His healing was gradually growing slower.
“Why. Why are you—”
His body back in order, Askewell stood on the battlefield once
more. Against Rudel and Aleist, a battle of numeric
inferiority.
◇
On the ground, Eunius was pushed into a close fight to protect
Luecke.
“Don’t let a single one through!”
Swinging down his greatsword, he cut aside an imperial soldier
as he cried out; his surrounding subordinates wrung out their
voices in response.
A battlefield over which flew mud, flew iron, flew blood, and
flew flesh, this truly was a hell on earth. The imperial soldiers
pushing in on them wave after wave were driven mad by the fear of
inevitable death.
Believing in Luecke, Eunius would protect this point to his last
breath, swinging his sword. Before his eyes, a knight-looking man
stepped out front.
A glance was enough to know he was strong. Swinging about a
large hammer, he mowed away allies as he charged towards
Eunius.
“So you’re their commander!”
Eunius laughed at the enemy knight’s words.
“And what if I am!?”
Magic sword. A swing with all his weight and might, the enemy
was split in two- hammer and all- no longer able to move. Eunius
gasped for breath as he looked forward.
No matter how low their numbers fell, the imperials would even
climb over their friends’ corpses to grit their teeth and press
on.
“Just surrender already!”
Swiping his great sword to the side, he sliced down another when
an impact rang out behind him. Both friend and for turned an eye
towards it.
“What now!?”
“Did Courtois do something!?”
“That light it—”
Behind Eunius’ forces, a light broke out from the magic
formation Luecke had been working on.
“The bastard really did it!”
Believing in Luecke’s success, Eunius issued a manifesto to his
troops!
“One final push! If we overcome this, it will be our Courtois’
victory!”
A war cry resounding across the battlefield, and the intense
collision of two camps.
◇
In the center of the magic circle, Luecke stationed shield
knights over various places in and out of it as he looked to the
sky.
Light flooded up from the formation, amplifying his magic even
further.
A look up to two dragons fighting in the distance.
With a magic called farsight, Luecke confirmed his foe’s
positioning before nodding. Vargas sent over a shout.
“Young master, this shield’s at its limit!”
Luecke laughed.
“Vargas, don’t call me that! But this is the end. Rudel, you’d
better not waste my aid… my and Eunius’ aid.”
Hoisting his right arm high, when he snapped his finger, an orb
of light formed above the formation. With fire, water, wind,
lightning, earth attribute magic revolving around it, the round was
fired into the sky towards the dark dragon.
After seeing it off, Luecke collapsed at the knees. The light
vanished from the circle, Vargas rushed over to him.
“Oy, Luecke!”
With Vargas calling him what he once had before, Luecke
smiled.
“You fool. I’m your employer, Vargas. But not bad… Vargas, we’re
going to help out Eunius.”
Forcing himself to his feet, Luecke issued out orders to send
reinforcements to Eunius.
◇
Rudel clanked down from the sky.
He was in the midst of cutting at Askewell when he noticed
something was fired from below. He immediately identified it.
Perhaps it could be called instinct, or perhaps one might say he
could trace the thoughts of his close friend from his school days…
he understood help was on the way.
“Luecke! I owe you one!”
Rudel’s words greatly irritated Askewell.
“Don’t look away on the battle—”
Rudel kicked Askewell away as he collected up Aleist, making a
dash for Sakuya’s shoulder as he cried out.
“Sakuya, get back!”
Sakuya immediately followed his orders to take distance from the
dark dragon. The wound-ridden dragon and Askewell thought to use
this chance to heal their wounds—
‘What!?’
“From below!?”
A little late to notice the lights encroaching on them from
below, they shifted to evasive action. However, the light went
right on to capture the dragon, the mana within it exploding,
wrapping the prince and dragon in a blazing inferno. Immediately
after, water broke out to drown them, and electricity after
that.
A harsh wind blew, trapping the two in a storm, and finally
large rocks mixed in with the gale smashing into them.
To Rudel’s side, Aleist watched over the scene, reeling back
somewhat.
“I’m surprised they’re enduring that one.”
Aleist was tattered two. A portion of his armor had been blown
off, he was covered in wounds with blood dripping down his face as
well.
Rudel wasn’t much better. Wound-ridden, his shield dented, chips
running down his sword.
Rudel took in the surrounding circumstance and determined now
was the change to seize victory.
Holding out his left hand, he gripped his fist.
“… Aleist, the next one will decided.”
His serious voice compelled Aleist to nod.
“Got it. I’ll bet my all one this. We’ve made it this far. With
everything I’ve got le— huh! What!? Whaaat!?”
Aleist’s surprise was justified. Sakuya suddenly grasped the two
riding on her shoulders. Rudel in her right hand, Aleist in her
left, she prepared for the next step.
Aleist cried out hysterically.
“Wait! I can see where this is going, but don’t tell me!”
Rudel laughed.
“You’re quick on the uptake. That’s right… Sakuya’s going to
give us a boost. Wager it all on this one blow, Aleist.”
Sticking up his thumb, Rudel directed Aleist a smile. In the
gaps between her fingers, Aleist hung his head, letting out a dry
laugh.
“Aha, ahahahah… goddammit! Let’s do this shit!”
The two of them had made their resolve just as the magic bolt
from the ground faded out.
Askewell and the dark dragon released from it were covered in
wounds, their regeneration wouldn’t make it in time.
“Sakuya… chuck us.”
‘Yeah!’
Rudel flowed magic into his sword and shield. He poured in the
techniques he had forged to that point. As he imbued his armaments
with magic, the light waved and flickered like a flame. A wind blew
around him, swaying the flames even more.
Aleist similarly flooded his two swords with magic.
His inexhaustible mana was long gone. What he had was what he
had cultivated himself, Aleist’s own mana. That which Aleist could
shape however he liked coursed through his two swords like black
lightning.
With their preparations in order, Sakuya swung both her arms at
once, throwing them towards the dark dragon.
The dragon roared, Askewell emitted mana from all over his
body.
While they readied themselves to intercept, Rudel made for the
dragon, Aleist to Askewell, both on a complete offensive.
“This is—”
“— The end!!”
The dragon’s roar shifted into a breath aimed at Rudel, yet from
right within its stream, Rudel blocked the damage with his shield
as he pressed on. He extended the blade of the sword in his right
hand, and cut at the dragon.
‘If only, if only you didn’t exist!!’
Askewell put every ounce of his being into facing Aleist. Sparks
flew as his spear met with Aleist’s crossed swords.
“This world went mad because of you… it’s you, it’s all your
fault!”
Hearing Asekwell’s words now, Aleist no longer had any
hesitation.
“I do feel guilty. But, even so… I want to press onwards with my
friends! I decided we’re all moving forward together!”
As Askewell heard Aleist’s words, his power softened. Aleist’s
swords tore through his spear and then him.
As the two of them were thrown into the air, Rudel used his air
movement to collect Aleist. Returning his sword to his sheath, he
directed his right hand at Askewell and the dragon.
Aleist looked over the scene in awe.
“So many dragons…”
Enclosing the dark dragon and Askewell, the dragoons and dragons
were stationed, their mouths at the ready to fire their breath.
Sakuya was also at the ready, and with Rudel clenching his open
palm as the signal, each and every dragon opened fire at once.
“Not even ash will remain. Rest in peace.”
With Rudel’s whisper, the dragon and Askewell disappeared into
the light.
Only Askewell’s severed torso fell towards the ground.
While they wanted to chase after it, both Rudel and Aleist were
close to their limit. In the midst of their fall, Sakuya gently
caught them, the gold armor and black arms having faded away.
‘Rudel, it’s getting quiet down there.’
‘… So we really did it. The fatigue’s kicking in.’
Rudel said and closed his eyes in Sakuya’s hand.
◇
Askewell lay battered on the ground. What had regenerated of his
body was mere human flesh.
Opening his eyes, he saw Mies and his subordinates nearby.
“Askewell-sama! I-I’ll get a doctor at once. So get a grip—”
But while his surface wounds had closed, he couldn’t say the
same for underneath. Askewell could sense his own death wasn’t far
off.
This had to be the compensation for borrowing that black
existence’s power and overexerting himself.
(I see, so this is where I end.)
Askewell grasped Mies’ arm. To Mies’ surprise, he squeezed out a
faint voice.
“Mies… t-the responsibility for this war… is mine.”
“Please don’t talk, Askewell-sama!”
Spitting up blood, Askewell continued on.
“I-I have to. Someone has to take responsibility. Otherwise…
even more chaos…”
Askewell knew of the empire’s exhaustion. He knew they needed an
existence to smash their discontentment into. It would soften their
hatred, if only slightly. And he thought over what he was capable
of as he was now.
“Y-you just have to take me to the empire. This life will
finally find its meaning on the gallows… so… so, take me to the
empire. There, before its people…”
As he went on coughing blood, Mies wept.
“Let’s run, Askewell-sama. If it’s just a few of us, we’ll be
able to keep low.”
“We can’t! That won’t work, Mies… I’m begging you. Please.”
Breaking into tears, Askewell wished for an end executed by the
empire. As the big bad who impoverished and brought ruin to the
country, he would become the existence for them to alleviate their
hatred.
(I see, so I ran away… this all happened because I gave up on my
dreams and ran here.)
Askewell spoke.
“Mies, there are rooms full of research material at my manner.
They’re all on agriculture: nothing but failures, but I’d be happy
if you made some use out of them. I won’t say it’s for the empire’s
sake anymore. The empire will eventually fall apart. But for the
future… please.”
Mies gripped Askewell’s hand, and shedding tears, she nodded.
With a warm smile at her, he gave the order for his own capture and
a retreat back to the empire.
◇
Izumi looked at the retreating imperial army.
Courtois was too exhausted to give pursuit.
Chlust looked up at the sky.
“My brother’s coming back. You should go to him.”
“you have my gratitude!”
Of the dragons descending to the ground with teetering feet,
Izumi picked out the single white dragon among them.
Sakuya slowly descended, gently placing Rudel and Aleist on the
ground. As soon as she saw him, Izumi jumped right at him.
Similarly, Aleist’s harem members crowded around Aleist. It
looked as if Aleist was going to be crushed.
Perhaps he could no longer speak, as Aleist could only entrust
his body to the female members.
Izumi embraced Rudel.
“… You keep pushing yourself. You’re wounded again.”
As Izumi said that, Rudel opened his eyes ever-so-slightly and
smiled.
“My bad. But I feel somewhat pleasant.”
“… Rudel?”
Upon seeing a smiling Rudel, Izumi grew worried.
“You finally overcame it.”
Her voice was shaking.
“Yeah, so I have to work hard from here on.”
Rudel reached his hand towards Izumi’s face.
“You know… I’ve been thinking.”
“About what?”
“My achievements this time… I think I’d like you as a reward. If
Chlust can do a good job with the Arses House, I think I’ll confess
my feelings to you.”
Rudel’s hand brushed up against her face. She gripped it.
“Yeah, and I’ll accept them. I’ll always accept them, so…”
Rudel smiled.
“That’s great. Then I have to think of the right words to
propose… I’ll consult with Eunius or Luecke… do you think Aleist
will do?”
Rudel’s voice turned just a bit dubious. Izumi spoke in
jest.
“I don’t know about those three. Rudel, how about you think
something up? I won’t be surprised no matter how off-beat it is.
So…”
As Izumi shed tears, Rudel wiped one away with his fingers.
“I’ll get thinking… don’t get mad if I fail.”
Rudel closed his eyes.
“I won’t be mad! So… so stay with me!”
Rudel took just one deep breath.
“Yeah, now that the relief’s set in…”
Rudel’s hand slipped out of Izumi’s and fell to the ground.
Izumi bawled out her voice as around, starting with Bennet, a great
many individuals surrounded Rudel.
Every closed their eyes to offer a silent prayer.
Chapter 165: You’re There, and I’m Here
Aleist had lost consciousness at some point.
In a deep sensation as if his body wasn’t his own, he heard a
voice. A voice he knew, it was the voice of the existence who sent
him to the world he was now.
Thinking back on it, he was extremely embarrassed by how he was
back then.
‘Did you have fun in the world you wished for?’
Were those words cynicism, or honest curiosity?
Aleist couldn’t tell, but he spoke honest as could be.
“It was fun, no I mean, it is and will be fun. They accepted me
even as I am after all. Back then… for sending me to this world,
truly, thank you.”
When he reincarnated, Aleist wished for status, for power, for
everything. Yet when he was supposed to have obtained it all, he
hadn’t obtained a thing.
“I made friends. I never thought I’d be friends with the side
character Rudel. When he was just supposed to be a stepping stone
support role, he longed to ride dragons, grew earnest, put his all
into each and every day… he was a really radiant existence. I’m the
one who ended up the stepping stone side character.”
It was as if their roles were reversed. But the moment he
accepted that, Aleist felt he had matured quite a bit.
“I never mastered the cheat you gave me, and yet I went and
traded it off… sorry about that.”
The voice sounded somewhat amused.
It must have been considerably pleased with Aleist’s answer.
‘It’s a power I gave you. Use it however you want. However, I
never thought you’d let go of it at the end. You surpassed my
expectations, and so too did he. It all stemmed from but a single
incident. That unplanned action rewrote everything.’
Action? As Aleist grew curious, the voice spoke.
‘A boy pleaded to his parents to see a dragon on his birthday.
His parents heard his wish, and a single dragon that was never to
take flight soared through the sky… the one who witnessed it was
Rudel.’
A surprise indeed.
“Ahahah, then I’d very much like to thank that boy. Otherwise,
who knows where I’d be around now.”
The voice spoke gently.
‘Did your real wish come true?’
Aleist spoke strongly and clearly.
“It has.”
There, the voice told of a world to come.
‘The world was nothing more than a reproduction of a game. I
can’t guarantee what happens after the game’s been cleared. You’ll
have to manage. No visible fate, no existences to get in your way.
Whether things get better or worse is all up to you.’
Aleist was hard-pressed for words. There was something he had to
ask no matter what.
“Umm, did this world distort because of me?”
The voice plainly informed him.
‘That’s right. But if it weren’t for you, this world wouldn’t
even have existed. I’ll leave the rest to you and your friends.
This is the most fun I’ve had in a while.’
After it had said that, the voice really did fade into the
distance. Aleist could clearly tell. And at the end.
“… Thank you.”
He gave his thanks.
◇
Aleist opened his eyes. He was in a place he recognized all too
well, a sickroom he often used in his years as a student.
“… Huh?”
When he looked around, the usual suspects lay on the other beds,
their bodies wrapped in bandages. Rudel alone, a red mark on his
face… he had the traces of a slap.
Aleist was distraught.
(D-don’t tell me I went back in time!? I mean, this is the
academy, and there’s Izumi-san next to Rudel, and… h-huh!?)
While Aleist wondered if he had been turned into a time traveler
this time, Luecke explained from the bed beside him.
“What are you so surprised about? There were so many injured
parties, that we were carted around and pushed into any available
facility. Good grief, I never thought I’d be in this room’s care
after graduation.”
Eunius meanwhile yawned.
“Let’s just take it easy. Rudel’s little brother can take care
of cleaning up. Rather, that Clust kid’s got talent. Rallying
together such numbers, and even leading them to victory.”
Chlust’s evaluation was on the rise. Aleist looked at Izumi
bashfully peeling fruit.
Rudel hung his head in shame.
“Hey, what happened?”
Luecke looked at Rudel and Izumi. Touching a finger to his
forehead, he breathed a sigh.
“That Rudel, it seems he barely got any sleep before the battle.
So after it was over… he said something misleading, and fell asleep
in the most misleading way.”
Rudel had fought alone, day after day through the waves of
marching imperials. The effects of his sleep deprivation had him
out cold the moment he loosened up.
That ha invited in misunderstandings galore, and apparently
Izumi had tears in her eyes as she slapped him. Of course, only
after he was healed and had opened his eyes.
Eunius laughed.
“I hear everyone gathered around and gave him a moment of
silence. At the center of it, ‘He’s just sleeping, okay!’ Izumi was
screaming with her face all red.”
Luecke spat out his words.
“Good grief, what a troublesome guy.”
Aleist looked at Rudel. Rudel was apologizing to Izumi.
“Izumi, please hear me out. Even I have my limits.”
With her face bright red, Izumi shoved a fruit slice into
Rudel’s mouth. After chewing and swallowing, Rudel went on.
“I’m sorry. I apologize.”
But perhaps that wasn’t enough, as she shoved another fruit into
his mouth. Upon seeing that,
“Maybe I should get a girlfriend,”
Eunius said. Luecke sighed.
“Not you too. Good grief, when I’m still suffering from my
failed confession.”
Aleist was somewhat surprised. He thought things were going well
enough with Lena.
“Really? She turned you down?”
Eunius immediately yelled at Aleist.
“You fool, don’t touch that one!”
Luecke grinned as he began detailing the circumstance.
“Well now, the truth is, after that, I went over to Lena to
confess. I carefully chose out all my words and was going to convey
my feelings… but before that, ‘Luecke-san, I like you,’ she told
me. My proposal was a complete failure.”
Eunius made a reluctant face at Aleist.
“Aaah, this is going to drag on. Aleist, you take responsibility
and listen. He goes on for about two hours. And wait, I can only
imagine he’s lying when he says he was confessed to instead,
dammit.”
Luecke turned Eunius a smile.
“Hey now, Lena just guessed what was going on when I was trying
to set a mood and squeeze out my voice. It was definitely my
failing, but it’s true she confessed to me. Don’t be jealous.”
Aleist thought.
(… What is it, this hazy feeling. When Millia is still avoiding
me…)
It was at that moment Millia dropped by the sickroom.
“Is everyone doing well? Oh, Aleist you’re up. That’s good.”
Millia looked at Aleist with a smile. With that alone, Aleist
found happiness.
(Aah, Millia really is my goddess.)
His heart momentarily ruled by envy cleared to blue skies.
Meanwhile, with fruit shoved in his mouth one after the net, Rudel
was nearing his limit.
“If you’re well, you’re up for a meeting.”
“Meeting?”
On Millia’s beckoning, wearing a tiara and a garb more
extravagant than usual, Fina Courtois entered the room.
Aleist’s honest impression,
(Oh right, she was a princess or something.)
His impression of her as a junior at the academy was too strong,
he was prone to forgetting. It was also a problem that Aleist
himself was so bothered by other things he didn’t pay much
attention to Fina.
Rudel’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Fina. Surely this would
end Izumi’s wrath, even temporarily.
Fina grasped the hem of her skirt, deeply lowering her head.
“As a representative of Courtois, I would like to express our
thanks for everyone’s work on this occasion.”
Hearing that, Luecke’s and Eunius’ faces turned serious. Rudel
was the same. Aleist alone didn’t notice.
With Fina before him, Rudel climbed off the bed onto his knees.
Both Luecke and Eunius followed Suit, and Aleist barely managed to
copy.
But Fina stopped them with a hand.
“We are not in an official space.”
Rudel spoke as representative.
“Would it be in order to address you as Her Majesty, the
Queen?”
Fina shook her head to the side.
“That is still a work in process. In that regard, my master…
pardon. Rudel-dono, I have a request to make of you.”
Rudel lowered his head.
“Yes, say the word.”
Aleist thought.
(I see, if she’s representing the country, that means the second
princess is becoming queen? That’s different from the game… no,
this is already a different world.)
Fina spread out her hand.
“I alone am insufficient to reconstruct our dear country. Won’t
you shoulder that weight with me? Courtois had prepared a seat on
the throne for Rudel Arses.”
Aleist honestly rejoiced at Rudel becoming King, but it was
there he noticed.
(Huh? Wait a second. If you say that to Rudel…)
Rudel raised his face and smiled.
“I refused. I am but a lowly dragoon. As a single knight, I
swear to my heart I shall continue to support ‘Her Majesty the
Queen’. There are those far more worthy than I.”
Saying that, Rudel sent a look around. Before anyone could move,
Eunius stood and declared.
“I, Eunius Diade! Swear it on my sword to cut down the enemies
of her majesty!”
And Luecke stood as well.
Aleist thought.
(Crap! I’m too late!!)
“I, Luecke Halbades devote an oath of loyalty to her royal
highness.”
A rattling sound from the doorway, King Albach made his
appearance in a wheelchair. The one pushing the char was
Sophina.
“W-wait. Boys, wait a second. Then what is it? … You’ll decline
the position of King!?”
Fina had frozen in place expressionless.
Rudel, Eunius and Luecke were all looking at Aleist.
“… Aleist, I believe in you.”
“Aleist, I ain’t gonna complain if you rise to power.”
“Yeah, you have my full support.”
The three of them shoved the throne on him with wonderful
smiles.
Aleist shouted.
“Wait a second! I mean, it’s King, right!? Wouldn’t you want
that, normally!?”
Rudel averted his eyes as he spoke.
“O-of course. But I’m not worthy… and so, fare thee well!”
Suddenly sprinting off, Rudel hoisted Izumi over his shoulder
and jumped out the window. With Sakuya retrieving him outside, he
achieved a perfect escape.
Eunius shouted.
“The bastard got away! Umm, as my first duty to her majesty, I
shall chase him down!”
Luecke also jumped aboard the ship.
“And I as well. Good grief, what is that man thinking?”
When the two of them were gone, a dubious air enveloped the
sickroom. Albach silently gazed at Aleist.
Aleist looked at Millia. But she turned away his gaze.
Fina sat on the spot, expressionlessly muttering…
“Master, you idiot. I laid all the groundwork, but it’s because
sister stirred everything up that it wasn’t perfect yet… now that
it’s come to this, I’ll make it an established truth whether you
like it or not… no, perhaps I can even fabricate I t. I mean, I’m
queen. I am the law.”
Aleist looked at her and thought.
“Huh? What!? Is it just me, or is this kid saying some scary
things!?”
Alback opened his mouth.
“Aleist-kun… you won’t run, right?”
Aleist stood, he took a step back.
(No way. With kingship and such, isn’t that normally a position
you’d even spill blood to reach!? Why did they all run!?)
With a bitter smile, Aleist slowly retreated further. The door
forcefully burst open with the entrance of his harem members.
“Aleist-sama!?”
Faaaai!
To his surprise, the group had clearly grown in numbers since he
last saw them.
“Aleist-sama, we’ve come to a conclusion!”
“D-did you now?”
(I see, so they’ve finally lost interest in me—)
We don’t mind if we’re not your number one. So please, keep us
by your side! We came to understand as we watched you fight for the
country under that hopeless situation. That you are a hero!
“D-did you now!? … huh?”
By the time he noticed it, everyone told him they didn’t have to
be number one. Millia burst into laughter.
“Aleist, you sure are loved.”
But Aleist,
“Now wait! I’ll be very upfront here, I can’t love you all
equally, and there’s someone I’m in love with—”
“Even so!”
His harem members’ faces were serious.
(I-inconceivable. Don’t have to be loved? Don’t have to be
number one…? That’s just wrong, that’s just crazy!)
Aleist jumped out of the window in a half-laughing frenzy.
“I’m sorry, it’s impossible for me!”
Was it impossible to marry Fina, or impossible to accept his
harem… he couldn’t accept either.
Chapter 166: Dragoon
Having fled the sickroom with Izumi, Rudel looked over the sky
from Sakuya’s back.
Her four wings drawing grand arcs, Sakuya soared through the
wide-open sky. A dragon’s body was protected by magic, letting a
human endure even at high altitudes.
Izumi sat on Sakuya’s back, her back turned towards Rudel.
Rudel sat with his back pressed against hers.
“Izumi, cheer up already.”
There, Izumi rased a bashful, embarrassed voice.
“You said you’ think of the words to confess. I haven’t heard
those words yet!”
Hearing that, Rudel was surprised at first, but net he laughed.
He laughed, and drove Sakuya to plunge into a cloud.
“Whoa!”
Once they breached the clouds, Izumi felt a slight chill over
her body. A layer of dampness rested on her skin and hair.
Sakuya led the two further and further into the sky, below them
a carpet of clouds unfolding.
Rudel lifted Izumi up and held her tight.
“I like you, I’ve fallen in love with you! But I don’t know if I
can make you happy. For just as much as I love you… more than that,
I’m in love with this sky.”
Boldly, Rudel divulged his true feelings. Izumi nodded.
“I know. It was always your dream to fly on a dragon’s back.
I’ve heard that time and again.”
But in five years at the academy—Izumi who’d spend those days
with him had come to sympathize with Rudel’s feelings.
“If you said I was number one, I’d be doubtful.”
Rudel spoke.
“How cruel. But still, I want you. I fought with my life on the
line. No one will mind if there’s just one thing I have freedom
over.”
There was no telling what was to come. Courtois was in great
turmoil, and it was possible that Fina would be enthroned as
queen.
Disposing of the nobles who raise an insurrection, and as this
was the first the empire had ever cornered them so far, military
reforms would be needed as well.
No, first and foremost, the country of Courtois itself needed
reform.
“Just one, eh. Do what you want. I’ll just follow along.”
As Izumi hugged Rudel back, Sakuya gave a bashful roar. It was
as if she was congratulating them, and she sounded exceptionally
happy.
And just like that, the dragon swooped down, piercing through
the sheet of clouds.
◇
After escaping from the sickroom, Aleist met up with Eunius and
Luecke.
Before long, they were drowning their cares at the tavern.
“I can’t do it! That many women is impossible, I tell you!”
He said with a sip, his form prostrate over the table
unthinkable of the black knight
“I told them to give up on me. Somehow that increased their
numbers. And then comes the throne! It’s inconceivable!”
He proclaimed he would throw everything away, and lost all the
cheats he had been blessed with. He lost his unnatural level of
charm, he no longer had the talent or mana he had before.
But there were more women around Aleist than ever before.
Eunius and Luecke pat his shoulder to console him.
“Hey, do your best. We’ll do our best to not cause you trouble.
Rather, I kinda think it’s not your fault this time. So have at it,
your highness.”
“Good for you. If you attain kingship, then no matter who gets
thrown into your harem. Queen Fina’s at the top. You’ll never have
to worry about ranking.”
Aleist raised his face.
“Don’t give up! You’re all for forcing it on me, aren’t
you!”
Eunius scoffed.
“Hah! No shit Sherlock. Who in their right mind would willingly
take power in this pain-in-the-ass postwar period? What’s more,
we’re definitely entering a pain-in-the-ass era after that.”
The Kingdom of Courtois was trying to change. No, it had no
choice but to change. At the same time, what would become of their
enemy, the empire… there was a mountain of problems.
The work required would be incomparable to peace times. Both
future archdukes fully understood that when they fled from the
throne.
But Luecke breathed a sigh.
“From my point of view, Rudel was better off King. Considering
my marriage with Lena, that would let me welcome her as the legal
wife instead of a mistress… hah.”
While he sighed, his reasons were solely for self-interest.
Aleist clung in tears to the man who wouldn’t even bring up the
country’s distress as a formality.
“Didn’t you used to go on about nobility or something!? Then
save me. Fulfill your duty as a noble and save me!”
Luecke removed Aleist’s hand and smoothed out his clothes.
Albeit, he was dressed in an infirmary gown.
“You fool. You’re just as much a noble yourself. Do something
about it on your own… wait, I’ve got it!”
Aleist and Eunius glanced at Luecke.
But the idea that hit him—
“I can just take her as a mistress, and not marry a legal wife.
In that instance, for all intents and purposes, wouldn’t the
mistress be the legal wife!?”
— Was about Lena.
Aleist removed his eyes, Eunius sipped his ale. In a “this guy’s
hopeless” sort of air, the two opted to just ignore the man.
(So it’s true how they say there’s a paper-thin line between
idiot and genius.)
Eunius poured some ale into Aleist’s glass.
“Well, you know. Break a leg.”
After downing the freshly-poured liquid, Aleist spoke.
“This is messed up!”
◇
“Those bloody fools, I’m never gonna forgive them!”
Briskly proceeding her preparations, Fina had put her all into
laying the groundwork so she could be enthroned as queen. She was
needlessly proficient, and in abilities alone, Fina was the one
worthy of the position.
However, the problem lay within.
She had already prepared the papers and was arranging to
distribute them to the relevant divisions.
“Just you watch. When I’m queen, I’m dismantling those pesky
dragoons of yours! Fwahahahah, I can see my master, crying, begging
for forgiveness!”
Looking at Fina were Sophina and Mii.
Seeing her expressionlessly accomplished one job after the next,
all while swearing vengeance, they were somewhat creeped out.
Mii spoke.
“Princess, I mean your majesty, don’t you think that’s a bit
much.”
Fina looked at her.
“Oh, what’s wrong? It’s alright, Mii… if he cries and grovels,
he can have my forgiveness.”
Sophina sounded fed-up.
“No, that’s the same as saying you won’t forgive otherwise.
Rather, to be serious for a second…”
Seriously speaking, with the Diade and Halbades Houses assisting
her during the time of Aileen’s insurrection, whether she wanted to
carry our reform or anything else, she was unable to slight either
house.
Moreover, she didn’t hold enough power to do so.
“Goddammit! It’s because these archdukes exist that Courtois’
national power was shaved away! Quit screwing with me, bring out
the manager! In this scenario, should we be centralizing power!?
You think the empire’s going to wait!?”
Mii tilted her head.
“Umm, but I heard the empire was considerably exhausted in this
loss.”
At Mii’s inquisitive gesture, Fina loosed a satisfied drool in
her head. And she began speaking in regards to that.
“For now, that is. But just you wait, give them a decade, a
century. Their national power will plummet, the way they’re going,
either civil war or separation, the empire’s going to change. You
think they’re guaranteed to change for the worse? I hate that sort
of wishful thinking.”
Sophina spoke to Fina.
“In that case, shouldn’t we launch something from our side—”
“You fool!”
Fina hit her on the fed. The high knight’s eyes turned
teary.
“We don’t have hands to send around as it is! The country’s in
tatters, and there’s absolutely no merit in stealing the barren
wastelands of the empire! What I’m trying to say is that their side
is the one with all the pieces in place for proper reform!”
How much time and energy did they have to deal with the
movements of surrounding powers while proceeding reform in the
country? The larger the country was, the greater hassle it was to
govern its landmass.
With this as an opportunity, there may be lords scheming to gain
independence.
“Even if we get rid of as many of those who sided with sister’s
rebellion as possible, and increase the kingdom’s national power…
AAaaah!! My head hurts!”
Fina’s desire to marry Rudel wasn’t just only of
self-interest.
Forming a composition with the nation’s strongest force- Rudel-
by her side would be a nightmare to the others.
With Ruel’s strength backing her, it was her aim to force her
reforms through.
“… But I, Fina Courtois! I shall be one to stand tall through
such times of troubles! I’ll get master on his knees!”
Seeing her return to work with those words, Mii and Fina shook
their heads.
At the end, Mii,
“On the contrary, why is it I get the feeling her majesty’s the
one who’s going to be groveling to Rudel-san…”
She said, but Fina didn’t hear.
◇
A few years later.
Rudel stood on the soil Askewell had once invaded and brought to
ruin.
By the current Queen Fina’s new policies, a majority of nobles
were to relinquish their land to the state, instead living in the
center off an annual pay from the kingdom.
A portion of those who opposed were ordered to change
territories to the border, and Rudel was there on a mission as a
dispatch from the capital.
The renewed fortress had ten dragoon knights stationed.
The empire had fallen into civil war, its division giving rise
to the birth and fall of many new countries, and in the midst of
that struggle, there were many who marched to claim Courtois’
land.
At times, there would be strife with nobles in his own country
plotting rebellion against Fina, giving him no shortage of
work.
While his life had grown hectic, Rudel was busy in the dragon
stables washing Sakuya’s back with a deck brush, humming a merry
tune. Sakuya looked quite comfortable.
His subordinate, a new dragoon called over to him.
“More letters, Castellan. From her majesty, the capital’s black
knight, and the Diade House and Halbades House… that’s an amazing
assortment.”
Castellan was Rudel’s station. While fulfilling the role of a
dragoon, he was concurrently the one in charge of the fort.
After jumping d own from Sakuya, Rudel accepted the letters and
unsealed them on the spot.
“I don’t really care about Fina’s. Eunius wants to go drinking,
Luecke… oh, his first child! So Lena’s a mother now. But does he
really plan on not having a legal wife?”
The letter from the queen was a lengthy apology and a plea
urging him to return to the center. Rudel personally preferred the
border to the center, the letter hit all the usual points, so he
immediately read through it and quickly lost interest.
Eunius was an invite to the town, while Luecke reported in great
joy how a child had been born.
“Now then, Aleist is… I-I see.”
According to Aleist’s letter, for some reason, his harem members
increased and breached thirty. With so many children, he had no
idea what to do at this point, or so his screams of anguish were
spelled out in paper.
As to be expected, Rudel had no idea what to write back.
“He has it rough. I guess I’ll consult with Izumi and write up a
reply.”
Rudel’s subordinate looked at him with a sigh.
“Castellan, if you return to the capital, you’ll be assigned a
considerable status. Are you sure you won’t go back? I don’t see
anything stopping you.”
While Rudel was in charge of the fort, he would have preferred
it if he could assume his duties as a single knight. He even
thought he had too many unnecessary duties.
Normally, anyone would want a promotion and a station at the
center. But Rudel couldn’t discern any value in that. He had gone
as far as to push the status of Arses House head onto his younger
brother Chlust he held far too little interest in status or
promotion.
“I’m not interested. If you can fly through the sky,
everywhere’s pretty much the same. As long as I’ve got Sakuya and
my wife, it doesn’t matter where I am.”
Hearing those words, Sakuya delightfully groaned.
His subordinate shrugged his shoulders.
“Bragging? I just think it’s a waste. You should be aiming
higher.”
Rudel smiled. From his subordinate’s point of view, life on the
border was something he wanted to be done with soon so he could get
back to civilization. Rudel had no intent to deny that way of
thinking.
Going off of that, the man asked with deep intrigue.
“Come to think of it, there’s a rumor going ‘round that you
refused not only your Archduke position but the throne as well, but
is that true?”
Leaning the deck brush over his shoulder, Rudel made back
towards Sakuya.
“Who knows? I’m not really interested in that sort of thing. For
now and forever, I am but—”
Turning back, Rudel smiled.
“A single dragoon.”
Chapter 167: Epilogue
Several hundred years passed from the time Rudel was in
service.
The Kingdom of Courtois left only its name as kings and nobles
faded out, the curtain quietly closing on an era.
The forms of the dragoons who once served the country now gone,
the view of airships crossing the sky had become standard. With the
skies above no longer a land beyond reach, mankind eventually
stopped keeping their dragons. The development of technology soon
gave rise to propeller planes.
Knight brigades were abolished. Uniform armies became standard,
and the know-how to utilize a dragon was lost to time. The dragoons
were quick to go. With their high upkeep and the capricious
temperament of their mounts, they had become more than they were
worth.
Airships, airplanes… once those were in hand, dragons had become
unnecessary.
Yet the supreme rulers of the sky still remained, as they had
always been, the beasts of legend.
◇
It was only in the past few decades that the vast lands of the
dragons’ dwellings became a land of dispute among the humans
In a sacred place with a lake, Sakuya watched the small dragons
similar to her in appearance playing around her.
Her wings had naturally increased to six, and her large body had
grown a size larger. Both the splendid gemstone in her head and her
horns had grown, the young spirit she had held in her days with
Rudel nowhere to be found.
Sakuya lifted up her head to look at the sky.
She let out a short and loud roar. With that alone, the Dragons’
dwellings gradually grew boisterous as dragons took to the air one
after the next.
Sakuya too spread her wings to rise up and face her rude
uninvited guests from the country once called the Gaia Empire.
From over thirty airships, the fighter planes took off in
orderly succession.
A vast, fertile plot of land, what’s more, the Dragons’
Dwellings were abundant in natural resources. To humans, dragons
were no longer comrades in arms, they had already gotten to
recognize them as enemies.
Sakuya looked upon the scene and muttered.
‘Have they forgotten what became of the last Courtois Army that
tried to invade?’
Wind dragons zoomed between the fighter planes, luring them into
a dogfight. One by one, the crafts were shot down to the
ground.
The red dragons breathed their fiery breath, sinking the
airships behind them. Protruding cannons from their hulls, the
airships commenced a bombardment on Sakuya.
The cannon shells failed to scratch her.
Sakuya opened her large mouth, and as her breath was released,
it dispersed through the air. The shots assailed airship and
airplane alike, bringing them to the ground.
While there were enemies who tried to flee, they were quickly
circumvented and crushed.
Similar to Sakuya, a white dragon with four wings approached
her.
‘Mama, it’s over. All that’s left is the clean-up.’
Sakuya kept her eyes on the falling crafts as, after a large
flap propelling herself up a distance, she took off somewhere.
Perhaps curious, Sakuya’s child tagged along.
◇
It was where the capital of the Courtois Kingdom once stood.
Now ruined and abandoned, not a trace of its former glory
remained.
Having brought her feet there, Sakuya mimicked a human form as
she descended, her child copying her and changing shape as
well.
The form Sakuya took on was as if the once-goddess Sakuya had
grown into an adult. Her child boasted the same blue eyes and blond
hair- cut short. A blue gemstone embedded in his forehead.
But unlike Sakuya, his hands remained disproportionately large,
and it seemed he wasn’t yet completely accustomed to taking human
form.
“Mama, why did you come here? There haven’t been any humans here
for quite some time.”
“You’re right,” Sakuya muttered, as she walked through the royal
capital buried in rubble and sand.
The reason the capital fell. It all lay in the limits of the
Kingdom. The kingdom had welcomed in a golden age under Fina
Courtois- the great leader who was said to have rejuvenated the
dynasty- alongside her prime minister Luecke Halbades.
But from then on came a slow, gradual decline.
They had their share of wise rulers, but in the end, they
launched a war on the dragons, and the capital was destroyed by the
force led by Sakuya.
Indeed, the one who burnt it down was Sakuya herself.
As she walked through such a place, from all over, the goblins
and orcs showed their faces. They seemed to think of Sakuya in her
human form as mere food as they approached.
Those goblins and orcs were cleaved through by a single swing of
her child’s arm.
“Who do you think you raise your blades against, you lowly
curs!?”
Sakuya stopped him from chasing and hunting down the ones who
fled.
(… I’ve gotten more children who think of dragons as the
strongest race on earth, looking down on the others.)
In their battles with humans, a greater number of dragons were
beginning to think of themselves as the true rulers of the land. It
was becoming a large worry for Sakuya.
Leading her child by the hand, Sakuya headed towards it.
What was once the very center of the city. In a now-broken
fountain, with Fina at the center, then Rudel, Aleist, Luecke and
Eunius, the statues of those who had contributed to Courtois’
heyday.
Sakuya brushed off the dust and sand, cleaning off only that
spot to look at the statue of Rudel. It was dubious to say it
resembled him to a great degree, but as long as people considered a
representation of him, she couldn’t treat it poorly.
“… Rudel, I can barely remember your face anymore.”
Her memories from her youth gradually faded away.
The time she had spent with Rudel and Izumi, to Sakuya, it was
no more than an instant. In the times that followed, after the two
had gone, a little while later, Mystith and all the dragons who
looked after her were gone as well.
Before she knew it, Sakuya was the one leading the dragons, and
their relations with humans were breaking down.
It was all far too painful for her.
The child gazed at Sakuya before looking at the statue,
“I can’t believe you ever let some human ride your back. That’s
crazy.”
Sakuya hid her face with her right hand, turning to the
child.
“You’ve never ridden a human on your back before. No, you’ve
never ridden a knight. When dragon and human hearts connect, they
become a dragoon. It was once only normal.”
The child’s cheeks puffed up.
“Humans are incompetents with nothing but numbers. If it were up
to us, we’d have burnt them all down.”
Sakuya took the words with sorrow; she felt the reality of how
wide the gap with humans must have grown for the dragons to develop
that mindset.
There, the sky suddenly grew rowdy.
An ominous dark shadow overhead—impossible to make out whether
they were living or dead, they had grown in numbers lately, those
things that weren’t monsters, and one of them was being chased by a
fighter plane.
The child shrugged his shoulders.
“One of those bugs that’ve been multiplying lately? Now that’s a
good match for those pesky humans.”
That ominous something with the form of an arthropod was finally
cornered and shot to death by the craft. But the plane was also
shot and burst into flames.
“It’s going down.”
While the fighter plane continued on a downward trajectory
somewhere, the pilot jumped from the cockpit with a parachute
strapped on.
Oddly enough, right towards where Sakuya was.
As the pilot landed, the parachute draped over him, and as he
squirmed his way out of it, he held a pistol in his hand.
The moment before her child swung his arm, Sakuya saw the
pilot’s face and lowered a fist on her child’s head. She lowered it
with enough power a vivid clang rung out.
“Mama, that hurt!”
“… I’m sorry. But wait.”
If she used only words, then surely the human before her eyes
would be dead. The pilot seemed quite bewildered before Sakuya and
the child.
He pulled off the helmet covering his head, removed his goggled
and spoke. With distinctive silver hair and blue eyes, the pilot
kept his pistol at the ready.
“Civilians? You’re in quite an odd place for that.”
The young man said, looking at the child’s large arms and
observing the two of them. From a human’s eyes, there was no
possible way Sakuya would be able to come here as lightly equipped
as she was.
But with the young man before her, Sakuya burst into tears.
“A human life is short. But…”
The young man approached, his gun trained on Sakuya. While the
child intimidated him, Sakuya held up a hand to put it to a
stop.
“Rudel.”
Touching a hand to the young man’s cheek, Sakuya muttered a
name. The man seemed quite flustered, he jumped back to take
distance.
“You’re not human. A form of monster? Or a new type of bug?
Where did you learn my name?”
Hearing it wasn’t just his face but his name as well, Sakuya
gave a small smile. She changed to her dragon form on the spot.
Upon seeing that massive dragon, Rudel’s eyes opened in
surprise. However, he didn’t show any fear.
He looked on with pure intrigue.
“A dragon!? Moreover, the lord of the Dragon Den!”
Sakuya rested Rudel on her hand and raised him into the sky.
‘I’ll deliver you somewhere close to where humans live. I once
rode a fine human on this back. This is the least I could do to
return the favor.’
From the palm of her hand, Rudel looked up at Sakuya.
“A dragoon!? I never thought they actually existed… how
interesting, then let me ride on your back too.”
How brazen could he be? The child returned to dragon form,
flying to Sakuya’s side as he complained at Rudel.
‘Don’t get in over your head, human! Who do you think you’re
talking to!? Do you think mama would let a dirty lowlife like you
rest on her back!?’
But Sakuya exchanged words with the man.
‘You know of the dragoons, you know of the world, yet still, you
wish to ride on my back?’
Rudel struck his right hand to his chest.
“Of course. You’re far stronger than a fighter plane. If I ride
you, I can annihilate those blasted bugs!”
Even now, her child was poised to attack ay any minute. His
fangs bared, his eyes wide open, he would kill the man at the
slightest opportunity.
Rudel went on.
“And the small stuff doesn’t really matter. I just want to ride
on your back!”
Sakuya laughed.
A human life is short. But they go in cycles… Those were the
words of Mystith, who had once lost Marty to gain a new partner in
Lena.
Finally understanding what she meant, Sakuya brought her hand to
her back and set Rudel onto it.
‘Very well. Then ride me you will… new-age dragoon.’
‘Mama!’ the child cried out.
Once Rudel was on her back, he spread his arms wide and
smiled.
“Yes! I feel right at home. Like this, I’ll be able to
annihilate any bug that comes my way!”
And so the first dragoon in several hundred years would forge a
new legend—but that is another story.
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LNWNCentral_Dragoon_Dragoon - WN Chapter 146-167_Dragoon-WN-Chapter-146-167-[Yoraikun][Trollo]
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s1.txt
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Dragoon 148-160 - Dragoon 148: And Aleist the Protagonist
Chapter 148: And Aleist the Protagonist
The Gaia Empire and the Kingdom of Courtois.
Near the border, a large formation of troops had gathered.
The soldiers sent creeped-out glances at the monsters stationed
nearby, on standby as ordered. The most conspicuous monster, the
Gora included, they all had white insignia-like lines racing over
their black bodies, making them particularly conspicuous.
The black monsters wore their white symbols uniformly.
“Oy, these things better be safe”
“Like I know. All I can tell you is ‘t they’re part of the third
prince’s army.”
“But a look at that, and I know Courtois’ is done for this
time.”
A great many knights and soldiers were watching the wyverns
flying through the sky. They were great in numbers and would
obediently listen to the knights riding them.
Seeing that wyvern brigade soar gallantly through the sky, and
those knights and soldiers were enveloped with a sense of elation;
they would finally be able to win against the Kingdom of
Courtois—nay, the dragoons who had tormented them for hundreds of
years.
Their supreme commander- the first prince- walked beside
Askewell, the third.
More middle-aged than a young man, the first prince looked over
the army of monsters.
“Askewell, this is the real test of your army. But are you
alright with this? Using monsters to massacre them… not everyone in
our lands has the best look on their faces.”
Rather than worried for his younger brother, his tone was one
putting a check on him. In actuality, if this war succeeded, then
Askewell would be the closest to the seat of emperor.
Askewell noticed they were words wary of a younger brother who
was earning a name as the empire’s hero.
“Someone has to do it. The empire is already at its limit. Even
if my name alone is to fall to the dirt, if that will save tens of
thousands of imperial lives, it is a cheap price to pay.”
To Askewell’s declaration,
“I see,”
Was all the first prince curtly replied. But continuing on.
“… This time, my army will serve as bait to draw out the
dragoons. But are you alright with leaving us so many of your trump
card wyvern units?”
Two armies were preparing to assault separate stretches of the
border. The division centered around humans was about to make for
the border to attract Courtois’ main force.
“We have the Gora. What’s more, some wyverns of our own. It will
be troublesome for me if you don’t return alive, big brother.”
An army of monsters surpassing ten thousand.
As he took the lead, Askewell was certain of his victory. No, he
was certain victory was the only path to survival.
(Eventually, the empire will wear down and face internal divide.
Before that happens, we must obtain as much of Courtois’ plentiful
soil as we’re capable of.)
The imperial palace was in shambles, and family quarrels ran
rampant between his brothers and sisters.
Rather than those ever ending, Askwell’s eyes captured a future
of the empire’s division if the central power fell any lower.
The first prince.
“I see. Askewell.”
“Something more?”
Askewell looked at his brother, but the first prince was already
on his way off. Showing his back, a few short words.
“Come back alive. I’ll crack open a treasured wine.”
Hearing that, Askewell immediately grew wary of assassination,
but that didn’t seem to be the mood. The timing was far too
unseemly for his death.
“Yes, if you’ll put up with me, I’ll happily share a glass.”
With those words, the two returned to the armies they
commanded.
◇
The royal palace.
An individual came for Rudel.
He was a knight of the royal guard, who read aloud the official
papers he carried on his person. Rudel heard them out in the
waiting room before the ceremony.
Izumi stood to her feet, her eyes wide as she opened her
mouth.
“You want Rudel to head to the site alone? Are you mocking
us!?’
The royal guard looked at the high knight Izumi and scoffed.
“This is an official order. What mockery is there to be
found?”
If it was an order from his majesty, Rudel had no right to
refuse. Even if he hailed from an archduke house, he was now
working as a single knight of the kingdom.
On the royal decree—
“Izumi, stand down. If I’m told to investigate Gaia movement on
the border, I have no right to refuse. I have received my orders. I
shall now head to the site. But if there really is movement, I do
think the road will be perilous with myself alone.”
— Rudel was told to take the mission on his own. Normally, this
would be an impossible situation.
“Rudel, this is crazy! We’re in the palace at this very moment.
Why would you be receiving a written decree!? Why does the king not
come order you directly!? And you’re a part of the Dragoon brigade.
If you were told by the captain, I could understand, but why are
you as an individual…”
After confirming the order had been passed on, the royal guard
knight immediately left the room. Left on their own, Rudel and
Izumi exchanged a glance.
But Rudel was smiling.
“They’re sending me to the site alone… should I interpret that
they expect great things of me?”
Izumi sent a sharp glare to his joke.
“Rudel, inform the others at once. This is wrong. There’s
something strange about this decree!”
The papers they accepted were definitely signed by his majesty
and stamped with his seal. But Izumi continued explaining to him it
was impossible.
Rudel was already well aware.
“If the enemy is moving, it’s a part of my job. And you see, I
need to head there, even if I’m alone. At the fortress on that
stretch of the border… is Chlust. And if they really did move, then
I’m sure the captain will soon follow my lead.”
As Rudel was about to leave the room, Izumi grabbed his arm.
With a resolved expression—
“I’m going too. It’s too dangerous alone.”
Rudel sent her a smile and pleaded.
“No, the order specifies I go alone, see. And I have to depart
at once. I need you to relay this matter to someone. It can be
Luecke or Eunius. Is Aleist somewhere around? I’ll take the
vanguard and stall the enemy for them.”
Rudel removed Izumi’s hand from his own, and made straight out
of the room.
“I’ll catch up with you soon. Don’t do anything crazy.”
To a serious Izumi, Rudel smiled and waved her hand.
“Well, it’s possible they haven’t begun moving for real
yet.”
Though he didn’t truly think so.
(I see… it’s finally come. That was sooner than I thought.)
Recalling everything to that point, he did think it would happen
someday. He couldn’t understand it herself, but he got the feeling
he had seen it coming.
The three black beasts who got in their way, yet lent a hand at
the end—the boar, the bird, and the black fog had told him.
(They knew this day would someday come.)
After leaving the room and closing the door, Rudel thought.
(Fate, huh… now that’s interesting.)
He hadn’t a clue who had set it up. But he thought he had to go
there, and those thoughts hastened his feet down the corridor.
His brother Chlust was stationed where a battlefield was
expected.
“Just you wait, Chlust.”
◇
The surrounding civilians had evacuated to a fort overseeing the
border. A messenger had already been sent to a town further into
the country, sending out orders for others to evacuate.
A boy resembling Rudel took charge of the station.
“How’s the evacuation efforts!?”
Wearing heavy armor, his subordinate confirmed the fort’s
situation before answering.
“It ain’t looking good, captain. Those knights from central made
off with the horses. Said they would spread the word and fled! If
it were just the men, maybe, but with dames, kids, and old folk to
look after, we’re not going to make it.”
The name of the knight called captain was Chlust Arses—Rudel’s
younger brother, and a knight forced to graduate from the
academy.
Reconciling with his brother Rudel, he had a change of heart and
fulfilled his duty as a knight of the fort.
But his superior knights fled before the enemy, and at this
point, he was going to be forced to stand in as the one in
charge.
Chlust looked out the fort.
A black smoke rising in the distance. The black, writhing army
of the empire. A flock of monsters.
Looking at the situation before his eyes, he understood why
someone would want to run away. But he could hardly bring that to
mouth.
“We’ve already sent messengers around. Hold out until the
dragoons arrive, then it’s our win!”
The civilians who’d fled into the fort were also consoled by the
fact Courtois’ strongest dragoons would come. For better or worse,
the ones who had always kept the Gaia Empire at bay were the
dragoons.
Those that fled believed they would surely be saved another
time. It was precisely because of that belief, that many refused to
flee any further than the fort.
(This is bad. They plan to stay here and return home as soon as
the war is over. To think our people are the ones who aren’t
running…)
The dragoons’ existence granted peace of mind to the people. By
that, while they had their anxieties, they were quite calm at the
fort.
Whatever their mindset, that would mean Chlust would have to
intercept the empire while shouldering a people who wouldn’t
proactively flee.
Chlust had sought support from his little sister Erselica. He
thought of what he could do and prepared for the time something
happened.
Yet he had no way to foresee this great army before his
eyes.
(Hold out until the dragoons come? But why have they amassed
such an army at this point… they should be well aware they’ll just
fall prey to the dragoons.)
All through history, the Empire had suffered great casualties by
the dragoons. Chlust worried the empire might be holding some sort
of trump card.
To blow away his anxieties, Chlust smacked his hands against his
cheeks.
(It’ll be fine. We can at least buy some time.)
◇
In the royal palace of the Kingdom of Courtois, Aileen’s
preparations were underway. The surrounding attendants dressed her
in a dress, a report was read to her as she changed.
“I see. So Rudel headed for the battlefield. Well, that one’s
the White KnightThere’s no mistake he contributes to Courtois’ war
potential If he loses, Fritz-sama’s military exploits will stand
out, so he has my thanks in that regard.”
A female knight o the royal guard continued on with the
report.
“The empire is invading Courtois with two separate armies as
planned. It does seem the site Rudel made for is their main force,
and they have a considerable number together.”
Aileen spoke somewhat fed-up.
“An army of monsters of all things… the empire sure are savages.
What about the preparations for the ceremony?”
The female knight informed her that one wasn’t going too well.
As Aileen’s expression clouded, the knight immediately gave a
follow-up.
“There is strong opposition to stationing him as supreme
commander. Additionally, if you make him supreme commander,
Fritz-dono will not have any opportunities to raise any personal
military achievements. It is my humble opinion he should be placed
in a position that affords him a little more freedom of movement.
Perhaps second in command.”
Aileen had a hard time accepting it, but there wouldn’t be a
problem as long as Fritz could perform, so she reluctantly
agreed.
“I’ll let your side take care of it. But then who will we
appoint as commander?”
Courtois’ palace was in a hot haste. Where Aileen couldn’t see,
the female knight curved the ends of her lips.
(Like hell a commoner knight can fulfill such a role. A
decoration should act as a decoration should… it is out of the
question for royal blood to mix with common mud. The knights will
much sooner accept the Black Knight, the same station as our
country’s founder.)
The nobles and knights hoisting up Aileen simply wanted
themselves as the next major power.
There was a problem with Fina, whose expression never changed.
The easy-to-manipulate Aileen was more fitting of a portable
shrine.
They had followed her for no reason other than Courtois’
internal factional strife. Whether war came and land was taken
away, as long as they had the dragoons, they knew they could take
it back at any time.
That was simply how large of an existence the dragoons were.
“I recommend Aleist Hardie. The conspicuous Black Knight should
do well for supreme commander. His parents have already arrived at
a manor in the capital. I’m sure they came to see their son in his
finest clothing, but they should suffice to hold against him.”
Aileen was a tad displeased with her dress.
“Wait. This color won’t pair well with Fritz… change it at
once.”
The female knight looked at Aileen and thought.
(You are a wonderful queen, Aileen-sama. With this, one corner
of the three lords will fall, a great many nobles will lose their
standing… rarely has such change befallen Courtois, and you are the
perfect statue to rally behind. As long as an heir is born, love a
commoner all you want. Not that you’ll be leaving this castle.)
As Aileen changed her dress, she suddenly recalled.
“Come to think of it, what are we going to do about the sword we
prepared for Frtiz-sama? It was prepared as a sword for the supreme
commander.”
The knight smiled.
“You need only hand it to the supreme commander. It’s a sword
made with the finest craft in Courtois, it should hold up perfectly
fine if you lend it out for a short while. It’s good for show, and
using the weapon one’s accustomed to is best on the battlefield.
Fritz-dono wouldn’t care to test the limits of a borrowed blade, he
won’t be able to fight to the best of his abilities.”
Aileen tilted her head, but she didn’t have any particularly
deep thoughts when it came to swords. She took the knight’s opinion
as-is.
“Then I leave it to you. Please let Fritz-sama play an active
role.”
The female knight gave a knight’s salute.
“Leave it to me.”
◇
It was just a vague feeling, yet he thought this day would
come—
Rudel produced his belongings from a bag on Sakuya’s back. There
were blue ornaments decorating his white armor. He took out his
shield and confirmed its state.
Near the dragoon’s dragon stables, Sakuya was eating a meal. She
was heartily munching down on a large quantity of meat, filling up
for a battlefield ahead.
Watching the feed empty at an alarming rate, the dragon stable
workers prepared a successive stream of seconds.
“Keep piling it on!”
“Let the other dragons eat too! I don’t care if you have to empty
the storehouse!”
“Hurry and check the refill valve!”
Once Rudel informed them of the Gaia Empire’s large-scale
movements the dragoon facilities were as boisterous as a hive of
bees. A dragoon immediately headed to the palace to confirm the
information, while the dragons were put to eating as preparations
began.
In the midst of that, Rudel equipped his own armor. Once a
crude, functional piece, it was the gift the black fiendish-looking
boar granted him at the end. As he put the armor on, Rudel repeated
an action of opening and clenching his hand.
When he looked up, the sky was cloudy. The weather looked like
it might turn to rain, but that alone wouldn’t delay the
attack.
After Rudel pulled down his helmet, he grabbed someone nearby
busily moving around.
“My preparations are complete. I’m going to depart.”
The dragon stable work spoke in a loud voice.
“Understood. Um, this is your first campaign, right? Make sure
you’re back in one piece!”
Rudel strongly gripped the hand held out for a handshake. The
stablehand smiled.
“To think I was the one who prepared the white knight for his
first campaign; I want to brag, so go and do something big.”
After returning a smile, Rudel flew off towards Sakuya’s
back.
(This isn’t my first campaign… no, that part doesn’t
matter.)
When he landed, Sakuya had just finished eating, as she spread
out her four wings wide with a roar. From inside the dragon
stables, he heard dragon roars in reply.
Rudel stroked Sakuya’s back.
“Are you ready?”
‘My tummy is full so I’m fine! Sakuya will drive them back!’
When Sakuya hoisted up her two large arms and showed her
motivation, Rudel pat her twice lightly. With that as the signal,
she slowly moved her wings and rose into the sky.
The surrounding people took shelter. Even so, once they had
risen to a safe height, Rudel spoke to Sakuya.
“Sakuya, I get the feeling this will be an important battle for
both me and you. So I’ll say it now. Thank you for becoming my
dragon.”
Sakuya tilted her head. She didn’t seem to really understand
what he meant.
‘I don’t get it, but Sakuya is Rudel’s dragon, you hear! I’ll do
my best! Sakuya is strong, she’ll take the enemy down in no
time!’
Rudel laughed.
“I’m counting on it. Now let’s be off… ____ awaits.”
Rudel looked beyond the sky, sensing something fuzzy.
Sakuya violently moved her wings, as she gradually built up
speed, a wall of magic formed around her. The wind was being
blocked by the wall. As Sakuya headed right off for the
battlefield, the people working at the stables waved their
hands.
◇
Around the time Rudel headed for the site.
His preparations for the ceremony at the palace complete, Aleist
was met by his parents.
“Father, mother! W-why!”
Disregarding his confusion, his parents approached and tapped
him on the shoulders. They seemed exceptionally pleased, causing
him to act bashful.
Aleist’s father spoke.
“We came to see you in your hour of triumph. An invite came
right from the palace.”
Aleist’s mother was moved to tears.
“You’ve grown into a young fine man. You were really worrying
us, you haven’t come home at all lately. Are you eating right?
Haven’t you lost some weight?”
Aleist gave a bitter smile. He took a bit of distance so the two
could calm down.
“I-I’m fine. More importantly, I’m just receiving a medal this
time, and I’m something of an extra. The real star this time is
Rudel.”
When he said that, his father gave him a blank look. Aleist
wondered if he had said something wrong. His mother doubtfully
opened her mouth.
“Aleist, the Gaia Empire is invading, so you were appointed
supreme commander of the subjugation force, weren’t you? The
dragoons will drive them off, so I’m sure it’ll be fine, but it’s
an unprecedented large appointment at your age.”
Aleist took on a pose of surprise. At his curious posture, his
father fell into confusion.
“The palace is already in a panic. The knights are preparing,
and it’s already been decided you’d be appointed supreme commander.
Don’t tell me you never heard.”
“B-but! I didn’t hear anything in the morning cleaning! And
there was nothing at all yesterday!”
Now something completely different surprised his father.
“C-cleaning? What do you mean!? Weren’t you a commanding officer
of the defenders? What do you mean you were cleaning in the
morning? I never heard about that!”
Grabbed by the shoulders and shook, Aleist was too disheveled
for a proper reply.
“Huh? War? The Gaia Empire!? Seriously, what!? Rather, I’m just
on the defender cleaning duty and…”
His mother cried out.
“C-cleaning duty!? My Aleist is!? How could my cute Aleist be…!
…Aah.”
“Dear!”
His father embraced up his mother on the verge of collapse.
Aleist verified the two were still getting along as well as ever,
but more than that…
(A war at this timing… more importantly, is this an event? No,
wrong. This isn’t a game. It’s not a game anymore!)
Thoughts of games and events still crossed his mind, but Aleist
cut off that train of thought by telling himself this was a
different world.
(That’s right. I became friends with Rudel. Eunius and Luecke
too… this is the world I live in!)
Just as he was about to rush out of the room, Izumi raced in.
She was out of breath, her hair was a mess.
“Aleist! Rudel was… dispatched on his own.”
Aleist opened his eyes wide, his mouth hung down in mute
amazement. That was practically the same development as the game.
Strangely, in the game, informing the protagonist of the enemy
country’s invasion was Izumi’s role.
Aleist felt something truly ominous at this turn of events.
(At this rate, Rudel will…)
Izumi grabbed Aleist’s arm. She made a petition.
“There was definitely a royal decree. But something’s wrong.
Rudel was ordered to sortie alone… and something’s strange about
the palace. It’s uncannily calm. I’m begging you, save Rudel.”
Holding his swooning mother, his father stuck his glare on
Izumi.
“And just who are you? Aleist has the heavy responsibility of
supreme commander in the war against the Gaia Empire. If you’re
seeking help, can’t you ask someone more suitable!? Aleist, I’ll
hear the explanation later. We’re out of time.”
Aleist tried to open his mouth. Right after, the royal guard
flooded into the room. And the royal guard knights apprehended
Izumi.
The one leading them was Fritz.
“It will be quite troublesome if you run amok. Black Knight
Aleist, the appointment ceremony will begin shortly. You may escort
your parents to the hall. And throw the high knight in the
dungeon.”
After baking the orders, Frit was gone. When Aleist tried to
resist, the royal guard had surrounded his parents. Where his
parents couldn’t see, there were even some whose hands had reached
the hilts of their swords.
“You lot… why are you…”
The royal guard simply grinned, they took Aleist in and led him
out of the room.
◇
Alongside his tag-along knights, Eunius headed for the hall to
participate in the medal awarding ceremony.
He sensed a strange disturbance in his chest, and a panic in the
palace, but shoved into a waiting room and put under surveillance,
he was unable to move.
While he could understand something was happening, he couldn’t
understand what it was. From the other end of the corridor walked
Luecke.
When Eunius raised a hand, Luecke looked around and sighed. He
approached Eunius to complain.
“Don’t speak with me so lightly here. More importantly, there’s
something I’ve got to ask you. I was just half shoved into my room,
but what in the blazes is going on? If someone’s capable of doing
that to us, who could they be?”
Luecke had a similarly bad premonition. His tone gave the
impression he already knew who he was dealing with. Eunius mouthed
the name of the person who instinctually came to mind.
“If we’re dealing with the royal guard, it’s got to be Princess
Aileen. But this is some terrible treatment. I’ve got to get in at
least a complaint.”
Seeing Eunius’ ferocious smile, Luecke looked like he wanted to
say something, but after breathing a resigned sigh, he walked off
towards the hall. While the two walked down the palace hallway,
their surroundings were in a flurry. Luecke gave a slight
smile.
“Perhaps something’s happened to Rudel and Aleist as well. Shall
we invite them for a protest?”
Eunius smiled mischievously.
“A protest? Now aren’t you proper. We’ve got to send a message.
That’s right, let’s get Rudel to circle the palace with his dragon.
I’m sure they’ll be shocked.”
Fed-up as he was, Luecke seemed to be having fun.
“But that way, only Rudel will be punished. Let’s see, I guess
I’ll try thinking up some interesting revenge. Not like the
ceremony’s going to be interesting anyway.”
Eunius looked at Luecke with a mildly surprised face. But
different from the last, he gave a truly mischievous grin.
“You really are better as you are now. If we were fighting, it’d
be much more fun with the current you.”
Luecke shrugged.
“Still fighting? You’re one who never changes. But… right. I
didn’t participate in our final school year. Thinking back on it
now, I do regret it just a bit.”
Eunius raised his voice.
“That’s why I told you. Get in the ring, I said! That would’ve
been a blast.”
The smiling two approached the hall. But what awaited them there
was—
◇
In the waiting room of the audience chamber that would host the
ceremony, Aleist couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
While his parents were still there, Aileen made her appearance
and told him on the spot to become supreme commander. And Aleist
confirmed it with Aileen.
Where was Rudel?
It was the worst possible possibility. Aleist was a
reincarnater. Holding knowledge of a game, he knew what would
happen if war broke out with the Gaia Empire. The irredeemable
villain Rudel runs off to sell out his country, leaving chaos in
his wake.
And Rudel is taken out by a prince of the empire. But the Rudel
of this world was idiotically positive.
Aleist wanted to think the future had changed somewhere down the
line; yet, come so far, as if to snark at him, the world was
throwing bits and pieces together to reform the event.
“Rudel was dispatched to the site where it’s said the Gaia
Empire might invade. We have determined that one to be a diversion.
Therefore, we sent only one unit. There’s a fort there, I’m sure
they’ll be able to hold it. He is one of Courtois’ strongest, a
dragoon, after all.”
Hearing the location, Aleist’s expression turned even worse.
That was the site of the game’s decisive battle. No matter how he
considered it, he felt the enemy’s real force was there.
“Only one unit? That’s… at the very least, send backup!”
Aleist’s parents were surrounded by the royal guard. His mother
anxious, his father glaring at the knights.
“Princess Aileen, what is the meaning of this!? Such
discourtesy, even if you are a royal princess, don’t think this
will be forgiven!”
Aileen ignored Aleist’s father’s opinion and turned to
Aleist.
“Aleist-dono, you are the supreme commander. You will be granted
a sword prepared by the Kingdom of Courtois. For you to carry out
your role splendidly. Well, you just have to be there. Please don’t
do a thing.”
“Not a thing?”
Aileen nodded.
“Yes, you are an ornament going by the name of supreme
commander. We seek nothing more from you.”
Both Aleist and his father glared at Aileen. The surrounding
knights directed their weapons at the two.
Aleist firmly contained himself.
“Then I will head out as Rudel’s reinforcements. That site is
the critical one. If you want an ornament, it doesn’t have to
be…”
Aileen seemed troubled. Yes, it was all so troublesome.
“It has already been decided. Or will you throw away any and
everything to go to his aid? Very well. I have no interest in you.
Of course, at that time, know you will lose everything. The Hardie
House will be done for.”
Once Aileen had left, Aleist’s tears broke out. They fell as he
collapsed at the knees. He wanted to save his friend. He wanted to
go and help Rudel.
He had a bad feeling.
But thinking of his parents, he couldn’t move. They had raised
him with love, an impertinent reincarnator like himself, they were
his second family. Aleist didn’t know what he was supposed to
do.
And into that space, that waiting room, the royal guard shoved
in Aleist’s subordinates. His academy juniors, Seli and Juju had
come to join in on Aleist’s ceremony.
The blue haired Nate was also shoved in, mumbling complaints to
herself.
If he ran, then those gathered here—
Aleist had a bad feeling about this. And he was mortified at
himself, so unable to move. His parents and harem members nervously
watched him as he wept.
It was at that moment. Aleist’s mother opened her mouth.
“Aleist, raise your face.”
“M-mother?”
And with a smile, she spoke to Aleist.
“You want to go save your friend, don’t you?”
Aleist’s nodded. His tears spilling all over the place, he
opened his mouth.
“He’s helped me out again, and again, and again. If he hadn’t
been there, I’d never be where I am now… I was never able to
properly say thank you. And yet, I can’t even save him!”
He thought he had become strong. He used his game knowledge to
raise his level. But wrapped up in a large flow that wouldn’t
resolve, Aleist couldn’t move.
His mother placed a hand on his shoulder.
“… Now move how you want to.”
“What are you…”
Aleist’s mother spoke to him with a smile. Hearing that, his
father seemed bewildered. To his father, in a tone different from
usual.
“What is that? Does the Head of the Hardie House fold to such a
paltry threat!? All of you, good god, the Hardie House shall
support Aleist’s actions. We are prepared to take an aggressive
stance against the Kingdom of Courtois. If you understand that,
you’d best stop chasing after Aleist… you’ll never find
happiness.”
At the end, his mother showed kindness towards his girlfriends.
Aleist looked at his mother’s face.
“W-why. I mean, if I run from here…”
“He’s a precious friend, isn’t he? Aleist, as long as I can
remember, you always had a screw loose somewhere, always chasing
around women, you had me worried. When you went off to the academy,
there were days I lost sleep over the thought you might have gotten
some girl pregnant. But I think it was around the end of your
second year? You were talking so happily about your friend, the
happiest I’d ever seen you. The Aleist who always seemed to be
looking for god knows what was actually having fun…”
When he thought of how his mother was properly looking at him,
Aleist cast down his eyes. Ever since he reincarnated, he had
always looked at his world thinking it was a game, not truly
looking at anything at all. He spoke to people practically as if
watching characters on a screen.
His mother had noticed.
“Aleist, go. To do such a thing, Courtois must be in a
precarious position. Even if you obey her here, Princess Aileen
will surely continue to issue the Hardie House unreasonable
demands.”
His father gave a strong nod.
“That’s right! His majesty is absent, the queen is nowhere to be
seen! This is plain suspicious, is it not! Our Hardie House may be
upstarts, but there is no reason for us to be treated like this!
Don’t worry about us. Aleist, just do what you want to. There’s no
way such tyranny shall be allowed!”
Aleist wiped his tears, he stood and looked at his parents’
faces. And embracing them, he cast his words.
“… Thank you. For loving someone as shoddy as me, thank you. I
don’t mind if you disinherit me. I’m going to save my friend of my
own will. Thank you for everything.”
He didn’t think an excuse like that would work. But he was
definitely going to use his connections to aid his parents to the
best of his abilities. Luckily, Aleist was friends with the sons of
the three lords.
(I’d rather not use them like this, but…)
Aleist turned to look at his girlfriends. The girls who gathered
once he lost interest in a harem. To be completely honest, he
didn’t know whether or not he loved them.
But they were people he couldn’t hate. And traveling with these
girls was fun.
“… I’m sorry. I am no longer the heir to a Count House, nor am I
a knight of Courtois. As but a single human, I’m going to save a
friend. I’m sure I’ve caused you some trouble, but this is where we
part ways. Thank you… and goodbye.”
After incapacitating the royal guard knights on watch with his
bare hands, Aleist leapt out of the room. He told everyone not to
linger as he raced his way of the palace.
He got the feeling he had lost many things. But at the same
time, he couldn’t overlook the plight of his dear friend who had
opened his eyes.
(I’m sure I’ll never be anyone important. I’m not a hero. I’m
stupid and servile… even so, it can just be for once. Can’t I stand
up just once for the sake of a friend!? If I run away here, I’ll
never forgive myself for the rest of my life.)
To save a friend—save Rudel, Aleist rushed down the
corridor.
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LNWNCentral_Dragoon_Dragoon - WN Chapter 146-167_Dragoon-WN-Chapter-146-167-[Yoraikun][Trollo]
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s10.txt
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Dragoon 148-160 - Dragoon 157: Events Set in Stone
Chapter 157: Events Set in Stone
In Courtois’ palace, the knights and nobles who had lost the
flag known as Aileen, and a great many soldiers who took part were
apprehended.
A portion of the palace had burned up and the walls were
crumbling, but with no time to consider repair costs, Fina led
Sophina and her pieces- the defenders- to meet with her mother and
father.
Albach lay on the bed. He seemed somewhat relieved the ruckus in
the palace had died down. But when he heard of Aileen, his
expression clouded over.
In place of Alback, whose voice still wouldn’t come out, Ciel
inquired Fina.
“Fina, I recognize you ability in putting a stop to Aileen’s
reckless actions. The truth stands that you managed so much while
we were unable to do anything. You may become the next queen,
regnant or consort, and do whatever you may. However, in regards to
Aileen.”
Her mother Ciel worried about Aileen as well.
Fina gave a slight nod.
“Understood. However, she will officially be treated as dead.
That is the most I am capable of.”
She enacted an insurrection while the empire was invading.
Aileen would henceforth be treated as dead.
“That is plenty. Also, about the war situation—”
Even if they possessed dragoons, if the palace was in shambles,
perhaps something terrible was happening on the battlefield.
As Ciel thought so, Fina breathed a sigh within.
(Sister went and dispatched my troops, so I have no forces to
send around to master. Albeit I heard Archduke Halbades and Diade
sent out reinforcements.)
Fina wouldn’t impart Ciel with any wishful thinking. She simply
expressed the truth.
“The situation is still being verified.”
A wrinkle graced the queen’s brow.
“That’s a disgrace. Even if you win here, if territory is lost,
you’ll be the next one up for the executioner’s block.”
But Ciel couldn’t really blame Fina for it. She had, in essence,
been shoved by her daughter into house arrest.
Fina turned to Ciel and gave a curtsey.
“I have already taken measures, so no need to worry. Now about
what’s to come—”
The confusion in the palace would be cleaned up by Fina.
(Alright, I’ve made a place for master to return, so what’s left
is the battlefield.)
◇
“What is… this…”
“General Liquorice, what in god’s name is this?”
Mies Liquorice– Askewell’s adjutant, and a girl who’s name was
placed in the position of second in command looked at the scene on
the battlefield at a loss for words.
The strengthened black monsters she’s prepared, dead or alive,
dissipated into smoke and gathered at two points.
The first was at Askewell, who’d been defeated by the white
knight.
The rest gathered in the sky and took on the form of a
dragon.
The Gora Askewell had prepared as a dragoon countermeasure to
decide the battle.
A giant, four-armed, hideous monster. Its enhanced form sprouted
wings, so it could even fly through the sky.
But on the white dragon’s departure, it suffered a large injury
and was sent to the backlines.
Taking in such a giant, Askewell has sunk up to his chest in the
gora’s forehead. All that could be seen was his drooping
silhouette.
“I don’t know. This isn’t… what I…”
From the start, there were too many unnatural points. The
monster controlled greeted such success it even made her fearful.
And establishing an army of enhanced monsters.
It was a monster army that had been crafted up without any
decent research, but even Mies never thought it could do something
like this.
Her subordinate, a knight sought confirmation.
“Should we call back the generals?”
The self-proclaimed archmage Leor was preparing a magic circle,
so he couldn’t move.
Bahn Rhoshwas said he wasn’t interested and led his army
separate from the main battalion.
Mies wanted to hold her head.
Leor was someone who fixated on preparing his own personal magic
circle, and only fighting on top of it. If the enemy did stray
over, his magic would most likely blow them away. He could probably
even take on a dragoon.
But he couldn’t move.
Bahn had a distaste for surrounding a single man with a massive
army, and showed no signs of moving. No, he might move if he
noticed this abnormal state of affairs…
“Send a messenger at—”
As Mies was about to move, a dragon roared overhead.
When she looked to the sky, the white knight had set out his
shields and swords of light, leaping up to face it.
“What even is he!?”
Seeing Rudel stand to face the fiendish-looking dragon, Mies
cried out with teary eyes.
◇
‘I see. So that is your answer.’
Facing the thorny, sinister dragon, Rudel fired a round of
magic. The reason he took on the sky battle was because Askewell
wasn’t moving.
Embedded into the giant’s forehead, he was still slumped down
without a twitch.
Therefore, he decided the dragon was a higher priority.
The dragon narrowed its eyes as it took on Rudel’s magic. Yet no
matter how he fired, it showed no visible effect.
“Don’t go arbitrarily closing the curtains. I definitely did
mull a bit… but you are my enemy, aren’t you?”
While Rudel did love dragons, that didn’t mean he was kind
enough to concede his life to one.
More than that—
“But I myself do hold a special loathing for such underhanded
means.”
He glared at the dragon.
The black smoke had gathered to defeat Rudel and took the form
of a dragon. That was something Rudel couldn’t forgive.
‘I see. But this is your end. It must be your end. That is the
conclusion of the ‘story’, and your fate.’
The sinister dragon—the vile serpent spread its large wings, the
atmosphere trembling under its roar. The vibrations alone sent
Rudel sprawling, crashing him into the ground.
Quickly getting up, he wiped his mouth.
“That’s just from the roar. And I’m not even scratching it…”
While inside, he did want to ride it just a little bit, Rudel
gripped his weapon.
‘You shouldn’t keep your eyes on me. The one who will kill you
is—’
Rudel lowered his eyes a bit. He had no choice but to.
For there was the form of a black giant, raising tremors in the
earth as it made its way for him.
Aiming at Askewell in its foreheads, he didn’t hesitate to form
and shoot swords of light.
While they hit directly and exploded, the thought of stopping
seemed foreign to this four-armed being.
“This… will be harsh.”
Approaching his limit, Rudel murmured to himself, before him a
dragon in the air, a gora on the earth.
“… Is this my fate?”
With a small mutter, and a small laugh.
“But not bad. If anything’s to best me, it better be ramped up
this high…”
For a moment, Rudel recalled Sakuya when she had her human
form.
The words Sakuya spoke to him.
“When I’m going to be the strongest dragoon, if I stood down
here, she’d laugh at me.”
With overwhelming despair laid out ahead, Rudel slowly took one
step forward.
He walked, gradually raising his speed to face the Gora. While
it was massive, its balance looked to be precarious, so much
balancing on two feet.
“Alright, let’s start with the ankles.”
Despite being in the worst situation, Rudel tried searching out
the optimum hand. However, the dragon in the air gave a large flap
of its wings to obstruct him.
With winds sweeping over him making it difficult to move, Rudel
infiltrated the space around the gora’s feet, and cut his sword
into its ankle.
The giant’s skin was too thick, a normal cut didn’t seem like it
would reach the tendon.
“In that case!”
Magic sword. Light dwelled in his blade as mana formed a sword
edge around it, its length growing to a few dozen meters. And one
spin.
The gora’s leg was severed.
“Start with this guy—!”
Rudel jumped back with great haste as a breath attack was fired
from above that would wrap the gora in too. He managed to
avoid.
But the vile serpent in the air didn’t seem perturbed.
The ground gouged out, amidst the blazing inferno—the gora that
had finished regenerating its leg stood.
He heard the serpent’s voice from the sky.
‘Struggle, stand. All that awaits you is death.’
Rudel, upon hearing that, readied his weapon with a smile.
“Bring it on.”
◇
Bennet’s partner, the water dragon Heleene.
Riding on her back, Izumi and Aleist’s party reunited with
Sakuya along the way. After lowering the evacuees and entrusting
them to Chlust, they made for the battlefield at full speed.
Bennet felt the air tremble from Heleene’s back.
“What’s this feeling…”
As Bennet felt an unpleasant presence, Heleene was the same.
‘Right. This detestable feeling. How should I put it, it’s
pissing me off.’
Leaving Heleene’s remark aside, Bennet knew the battlefield was
close, and ordered everyone to prepare for battle.
“We’re nearing the battle. Is everyone ready?”
Izumi nodded; Aleist had put on his black army, he was ready to
go.
“I’m fine.”
“All good here. But is Heath okay?”
Gripped in Heleene’s forepaw, Aleist’s trusted steed that was
being carried with them. Bennet heard Heath’s condition form
Heleene and passed it on to Aleist.
“No problem. You’ve got yourself quite a fine horse. He’s
rearing to start running the moment his legs hit the ground.”
Aleist felt relieved. His harem members were finished preparing
as well.
But as Bennet faced forward, her expression turned a little
bitter.
(The enemy is supposed to have prepared troops in the tens of
thousands. In such a battlefield, Rudel alone. What’s more, we his
reinforcements number so few.)
The probability of Rudel’s survival, and the damages wrought to
their war potential by sending in so small numbers.
With a situation far too harsh before her, Bennet braced
herself.
(A battlefield so drastic is a first for me.)
And the field came into view.
“… What’s that?”
The battlefield she saw had its surroundings blown away, the
ground was showing its skin as not an army, but a black dragon
hovered over the barren land.
On the earth, a large giant swung its four arms and opened its
large mouth.
But as a radiant light emitted, three of its arms were lopped
off and sent flying.
“It’s Rudel!”
— He was alive.
Upon confirming it so, Izumi cried out, while Aleist made a fist
with his right hand in a triumphant pose. Bennet was also relieved,
but…
The sinister dragon roared, while the giant’s open mouth emitted
hundreds, thousands of needle-like somethings.
The intense sounds of battle that had rung up to that point
could no longer be heard.
Behind Heleene, Sakuya who was desperately following roared. It
was almost as if she was crying out. When Bennet looked at Izumi,
she had collapsed to her knees.
“… So we didn’t make it.”
Those words from Bennet sent Aleist into a shock.
“N-no way. But there’s still a chance he’s alive!”
He might just be injured. That was surely what he wanted to say,
but from Sakuya and Izumi’s state, Bennet understood the prospects
were grim.
“A dragon has a good understanding of the state of their partner
dragoon. Unfortunately… we’re now on a battle of vengeance. Worst
case scenario, we retrieve Rudel’s corpse and pull out.”
At her cold tone, Aleist grabbed her shoulders.
“H-how can you—!”
Say something so cruel, Aleist wanted to say. But Bennet knew
how corpses were treated on the battlefield.
At the very least, wanting to make out with his body was still a
show of compassion.
“We’ll land soon. If he’s alive, you might hear his last words.
You and Izumi hurry to Rudel.”
Bennet produced an iron boomerang from a bag fastened to Heleen
and held it in her hand.
As Heleene neared the battlefield, she fired a breath at the
dragon.
While there seemed to be safe troops on both flanks of the
imperial army’s battle array, the army in the center was in
shambles.
While it did look bizarre, it also looked obvious they wouldn’t
be able to approach the dragon and giant rampaging in the center so
easily.
“Those blasted imperials prepared something crazy.”
A black dragon and giant.
It wasn’t only Heleene who thought they were the work of the
empire. Once Aleist parted from Bennet, he cast down his eyes and
drew his swords.
(He must’ve done a toll, that Rudel.)
Knowing her subordinate had fought splendidly, Bennet
strengthened the hand gripping her weapon. She continued testing
out the black dragon by blasting breathes at it.
“We’re here.”
On the battlefield, imperial soldiers were gathering around
Rudel.
Wedging numerous boomerangs in the space between her fingers,
Bennet threw them in quick succession.
Heleene flew right up next to the ground to make it easier for
everyone to disembark.
And the scene that came into sight was one of Rudel, his chest
pierced through by a long spear-like projectile.
“Everyone get down.”
Heleene lowered Heath onto the ground, While Izumi and Aleist’s
party jumped off her back one after the next.
What Bennet saw the moment after she jumped was the form of
Sakuya punching at the giant.
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Dragoon 148-160 - Dragoon 158: The End of the Event
Chapter 158: The End of the Event
Rudel looked at his own chest.
His white armor slathered in mud, he had incurred various
injuries of all shapes and sizes. They were the proof he had
managed to stand firm.
But now he was pierced by a black, twisted polearm.
Thousands of similar rods were stabbed into ground all around
him, almost like a jail cell to lock him away.
He tried blowing away the rain of black spears from the sky. He
had managed to parry a few of them…
“… Is this the limit?”
He let go of the sword in his right hand. Sewn onto the ground,
his back arched back, Rudel spat up blood from his mouth.
A single stab to the heart.
A fatal blow.
“He’s got me. I can’t move anymore.”
Looking down on him was the gora, he’d severed three arms from a
moment prior. The arms were gradually regenerating, and now it
looked down over an immobile Rudel.
The vile serpent was the same.
As if to say their role was over, now they did nothing but stare
down at him.
He heard footsteps.
Knights and soldiers of the empire.
While they were wary of the dragon and gora, as the two were no
longer moving, they tried to approach. Of course, that was out of
hatred of Rudel.
Having brought about such large-scale losses, they walked over
to Rudel who had produced this current state of affairs.
“You crazy bastard.”
“Coward of Courtois.”
“How dare you, my brother…”
Comrades and relatives. Those who had them killed by Rudel’s
hand took weapons in theirs to close in on him.
Their movements didn’t seem as if they were being led; they were
moving on their own.
Rudel laughed.
“Did I crush the chain of command?”
It would be nice if that made them retreat, he thought as he
looked at the sky.
The sky was clouded, the sort of weather to bring one down. The
vile serpent flapping its wings in such a sky seemed to have
already lost interest in him.
It gave off an air as if it was satisfied with this result.
“… Sakuya really is number one.”
Looking at the dark dragon beating its wings, Rudel closed his
eyes and took a deep breath.
He heard the imperials soldiers flocking with weapons in
hand.
“Did I… manage to resist?”
Rudel didn’t know who his words were directed to. Perhaps it was
Sakuya, perhaps his dear friends. The superiors and colleagues he
trusted—and, Izumi’s face came to mind.
With a roar, a breath was fired at the vile serpent.
The winds growing rough, the sound of two large masses colliding
opened his eyes.
There was Sakuya.
Swinging her two large arms, she punched at the Gora. Witnessing
her in all her glory, Rudel gave a small laugh… as the power
drained from his body.
◇
Jumping down from Heleene’s back, Izumi drew her katana the
moment her feet touched the ground.
Bennet threw her projectiles one after the next to clear away
the knights and soldiers approaching Rudel.
In order to reach Rudel, Izumi ignored her foes and plunged
straight forward.
As she ran cutting down the large, black bars pierced into the
ground, she spotted Rudel, his chest pierced through by one of
them.
“Rudel!”
Izumi cried, cutting down all the black bars around him in her
advance. The gathered imperial army soldiers directed their weapons
towards her.
“Cowards of the kingdom!”
They were removing spears to make their way to Rudel, they
numbered a few hundred.
Before such an enemy, Izumi narrowed her eyes.
“You’re in the way.”
A single flash of her sword. Firing a slash, she mowed down
black spears and cut down a few enemy soldiers, all while Aleist,
whose shadow slipped through the gaps in the bars blew his foe away
bars and all.
“Rudel!”
The two raced to Rudel in great haste; by the time they reached
him, he had already breathed his last breath.
Izumi immediately severed the spear pierced into him, unpinning
him from the spot.
“W-we have to heal him at once—”
Her hand shaking in her fluster, Izumi got to healing Rudel.
There, out of boomerangs, a dagger in each hand, Bennet raced
over.
“What are you doing? Pick him up and run.”
A glance at the sky, Bennet looked at the gathering imperial
soldiers and readied her daggers.
“Even Heleene can’t win against that one. And that one doesn’t
seem up to it anymore—”
Confirming Rudel’s death, the black gora and dragon had lost
their motivation. However, as the two bodies—looked at Aleist
running towards Rudel, they roared.
“W-what!?”
The Imperials were confused as well.
Seeing there were even some who took to their heels, Bennet
clicked her tongue.
“So they can’t control it.”
Izumi held Rudel tight. She was shedding tears.
“Major Bennet. Rudel has no pulse… and. And, I can’t feel
anything from him.”
Izumi’s shaking voice.
Aleist looked at Rudel in a daze. Unhanding the twin swords hs
gripped, he stood stock still on the spot.
“You two, get a grip on—”
There, one of Aleist’s harem members rushed over and informed
them.
“This is bad, guys! The stationary armies on both flanks are now
coming towards us.”
Hearing the armies that had ignored the main body up to that
point were now moving, Bennet looked to the sky. There was the form
of a serpent treating her partner Heleene’s attacks as if they were
nothing at all.
But looking down over them, it was taking a stance for
battle.
Izumi held Rudel to her chest.
“This, this can’t…”
He had been put to battle alone under such a hopeless situation,
Izumi embraced him as all manner of thoughts passed through her
head.
The gora Sakuya was fighting was also strong. To Izumi, it
looked as if Sakuya was losing in raw power. Rudel had fought such
a foe all alone.
Bennet made her resolve.
“I’ll take up the rear guard. All troops, immediately pull
out—”
Aleist picked up his weapons and screamed.
“Don’t screw with me… don’t screw with meeeee!!”
Aleist kicked the ground to propel himself towards the Gora. A
sword in each hand, he cut with all his might.
A black mana resided in his blade, it flicked and bent like
flames as it grew to swallow the Gora down.
When Sakuya leapt out of the way, an attack with all Aleist’s
might poured down on the beast.
An impact great enough to enrapture the surroundings in a sudden
gale rung out as smoke hung over all.
Aleist raised his shoulders in breath. Looking at his back,
Izumi.
“Aleist, you…”
His shoulders rose, his shoulders fell, soon it was turning into
a slight quiver.
“Don’t screw with me. He’s a precious friend. Give him back. You
damn—”
But a flap from the dragon and the smoke had cleared.
There stood a gora, burnt on the surface. But new skin soon
generated from below that, and the black carbonized flesh fell off
in pieces to return it to its unharmed state.
He heard a voice from the Gora.
But it didn’t come from its mouth. He could hear it from the
mouth of Askewell, buried in its forehead.
‘I’ve waited so long for this moment.’
Izumi had stood, and shouldering Rudel, she perked her ears to
this ominous voice.
Aleist looked a little flustered.
‘It was all for today, for this very moment… and for you to
die.’
The one the gora and dragon glared at with the word ‘you’ was
undoubtedly Aleist.
“W-what do you mean?”
Izumi looked at Aleist. But Aleist seemed somewhat accepting of
this declaration.
◇
Aleist felt as if his heart was being clutched by the voice he
heard from the gora.
‘I was born for the very sake of your existence. That was the
reason for us to exist… but a reason like that can eat shit.’
The gora pointed at Aleist, the dragon opened its mouth as
well.
‘At first, it was a truly minuscule distortion. It all started
more than fifteen years ago. When you, in your ignorance, called a
dragon to your manor out of pure curiosity.’
Sakuya landed on the ground, and stood to protect Izumi and
Aleist. Heleene kept a careful watch on the dragon’s movements.
While the imperial soldiers were running, they would immediately
reform their forces and advance on them.
“Back then? Don’t tell me, when I said I wanted to see a dragon
on my birthday…”
When Aleist recalled were memories of the day he pleaded to his
parents to see a dragon.
This was a world of swords and magic. It was quite inevitable he
wished to witness a fantasy. Yet such a meaningless action from
Aleist had set it all in motion
‘That small distortion gradually grew in size. That was Rudel.
It’s your fault that whelp set out to be a dragoon.’
Aleist turned to look at Rudel being held up by Izumi.
Everyone looked at Aleist.
The dragon continued.
‘We were born in order to correct that distortion. Do you know
why? That is because you wished for it.’
That manner of speech almost as if Aleist was related to the
monsters before their eyes; Izumi’s expression darkened a bit.
Aleist shook his head.
“Even if that’s true! You killed Rudel!”
The gora indifferently spoke.
‘That’s right. But had you done nothing, that’s where it would
end. You are the source of it all. We prepared the stage for you,
set up every event, so this final day could come.’
The vile serpent opened its large mouth.
Mana turned to beads of light gathering in its mouth to a
sinister black and red hue.
‘The very last event, you can’t imagine how we’ve waited… all
that’s left is to erase you, and it will all be over. We may
finally be at peace.’
Aleist brandished his weapon.
But the ground and the sky—what’s more, a foe even Rudel
couldn’t match before them, the result was laid out from the
start.
In addition, Aleist’s head was occupied with thoughts of
regret.
(Is it because I wished for it? Because I wished to live in a
game world that this—if I just disappeared…)
The regret of the reincarnator Aleist.
His dear friend had died for the world he had wished for, and he
would die to it as well.
(Is this the result of reincarnation?)
He thought he had obtained everything. But what he really wanted
could never be obtained with cheats.
(How stupid was I.)
Aleist was beginning to give up.
(I finally got what I really wanted. Yet I’m going to die in a
place like this?)
The gora, it’s four large arms held aloft, and a vile serpent
about to fire a breath from the sky.
With these two bodies before him, Aleist grew desperate and
raced forward.
“Like hell I am!!”
Aleist cried.
But his voice was immediately covered by the sound of
explosions.
Sakuya stooped over to protect Izumi, and Heleene took her
distance.
What rained down on the gora and dragon was tens, hundred of
magics and breaths.
“Wai, gyaaaaah!!”
Aleist cried out in a different sense, bracing his body as the
wind and smoke swept over him. Surviving the attacks that didn’t
take him into account by diving into his shadow, once he could no
longer hear the explosions, he protruded out his face.
“W-what just…
Looking over his surroundings and racing his head, there were
several hundred dragons flying through the sky.
A rider could be seen on the central existence, a single water
dragon.
And before that water dragon, a red dragon and wind dragon
followed close. They were equipped with bags, and it was clear the
two by its side were the partners of dragoons.
However, riding the water dragon’s back was…
“Eh Why!?”
Aleist leapt from his shadow in surprise at the young girl with
a spear, whose side ponytail swayed in the wind—the form of Rudel’s
little sister.
“The hero is always late to the party… but maybe a little too
late this time.”
Looking up at Lena, who said that with a laugh, Aleist was
dumbfounded by the legion of wild dragons before him.
◇
Atop the sky.
Riding on Mystith’s head, Lena looked at Rudel being shouldered
by Izumi on the ground.
“Brother…”
‘We didn’t make it.’
Lena’s ponytail swept sideways as she turned her eyes to the
gora and dragon before her eyes.
“No, not yet. My brother won’t end in a place like this. He’s a
man I recognized, after all.”
Mystith laughed.
‘Very well. If that got you down, I’d be beating that black
thing to bits by now.’
To Mystith’s side were Cattleya and Lilim. Mystith had grabbed
them when they were rushing over as reinforcements.
Cattleya took a glance at Lena.
“Why is she boldly standing in the center?”
Lilim was just as confused.
“Rather, she hasn’t even enrolled in the Academy, yet she’s
contracted to Mystith… was the Arses House actually amazing?”
The two looked at the ground.
“Even so, this is already…”
Both Catteleya and Lilim’s expressions turned dark as they
inferred Rudel had spent his life supporting the front lines.
Thereupon, the vile serpent before their eyes emerged unscathed
from the smoke that broke out in their attacks.
‘Another distortion? I shall erase you too. Along with
Aleist—’
Lena leaned her spear against her shoulder.
“Oh shut it, you. In short… he pisses you off, so you want to
take him down, right? Well I’m the same. I want to tear apart
whoever did my brother in.”
Mystith gave an irritated roar.
‘Hey, you, yeah you, blacky! You act like hot stuff for a
newborn brat!’
The dragons roared out one after another, obeying their current
leader Mystith.
The serpent narrowed its eyes.
‘Accursed lizards. Let me teach you what a real Dragon is. Gora,
you erase Aleist.’
Cattleya and Lilim prepared for battle.
“Rather, I really don’t want to fight someone who got out
unscathed from so many attacks.”
Perhaps Lilim was the same, as she breathed a sigh.
“Right. I don’t see us winning this one.”
Mystith smacked her right fist into the flat of her left hand,
speaking in a low voice.
‘That’s simple. We surround it, gang up, and beat the living
daylights out of it. It’s got to pay the toll for calling us
lizards.’
Lena seemed just as irritated.
“Ah, how irksome. Me and broski love dragons and all. Well, put
all the troublesome stuff aside… and you’re dead.”
Wyverns bubbled up from the serpent’s body. Their sinister forms
resembled the serpent.
Even bigger, and more menacing than the enhanced wyverns. They
came out one after another.
Lena smiled.
“Bring it on.”
Cattleya and Lilim, upon looking at Lena.
“This kid’s definitely Rudel’s sister.”
“You’re right. I can really see the resemblance.”
In the sky, a dragon dogfight was about to commence.
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Dragoon 148-160 - Dragoon 159: Thank you for Everything
Chapter 159: Thank you for Everything
In the sky above, an aerial battle of dragon and wyvern
unfolded.
Within that, Sakuya fought the gora to help out Izumi’s
retreat.
The party fled across the battlefield-turned wasteland. No one
around knew the right words to call to Aleist. By the enemy’s
words, Aleist had been the cause of all of this.
(I shouldn’t take it at face value, but—)
Izumi thought, yet still ended up raising her guard to the
silent Aleist. Whether he noticed her attitude or not, Aleist
wouldn’t open his mouth.
At times, the breath of a wyvern or dragon would pour down and
raise an explosion. Heleene flew to protect the fleeing members,
and once they had distanced themselves from the battle, Millia
appeared before them.
She had brought allies.
While they were too few in numbers to call reinforcements, it
was a reassuring addition.
With a large wave of her hands, Millia faced them and called
out.
“Over here!”
Upon crossing a low knoll, they came upon soldiers warily
watching the battle between the Gora and Sakuya.
Millia had her fellow demi-human soldiers prepare a station for
them. However, upon seeing Rudel’s state, she made a terribly
frightened face.
“L-lay him down over there. We’ll get to treating him—”
But Bennet was quick to inform her.
“That won’t be needed. His heart’s been pierced. It’s
fatal.”
To a Rudel who was already no longer breathing, Millia
desperately held in her tears.
“You idiot. It’s because you faithfully honored such ridiculous
orders. The palace could have managed just fine.”
Upon hearing that, Izumi sought confirmation.
Her hand stroked Rudel, lain over a stretcher.
“Is the palace alright?”
Millia wiped her tears before explaining in a shaking voice.
“Princess Fina used the defenders to suppress the insurrection.
The archduke houses helped out too… and yet, why is this guy
dead?”
At the end of her sights, Rudel, his eyes closed with a slight
smile on his face.
Izumi strongly clenched Rudel’s hand. Seeing Millia’s tears only
made Rudel’s death seem all the more real.
“Always bringing us nothing but trouble. Yet in the end of the
end, for such a meaningle—”
Meaningless, Izumi was about to say, when Bennet plainly
interrupted.
“There was a meaning. Rudel held out here alone, he made a
literal last stand until the allied army could arrive. Don’t say it
was meaningless.”
It was then that two groups made for Rudel.
Luecke and Eunius, who had only just arrived. The dragons
appeared and helped transport their forces, hastening their
arrival.
“Move aside.”
Luecke pushed his way through knights and soldiers to arrive at
Rudel, opening his eyes wide when he came upon the man laid
out.
Eunnius was the same, albeit, he had come clearing a path far
more roughly.
And looking at Rudel, he spoke.
“… Damn fool. Going off and dying.”
A terrible monologue. But his tone was terribly disappointed and
horribly dark. Eunius yanked out the black bar wedged in his
heart.
Luecke instantly hung his hands over Rudel’s chest. He was going
to use healing magic.
Aleist opened his mouth.
“Luecke, Rudel is already…”
Luecke, the man who looked the most level-headed of the bunch,
glared at Aleist and screamed.
“Shut your mouth. When it comes to magic, I’m better than
anyone. Better than you, and better than Rudel. I’m number one. So
you… hold your tongue.”
It was impossible for healing magic to revive the dead. No
matter how many spells he used, the deceased body showed no
reaction.
Izumi wanted to get a word in for Luecke to stop, but upon
seeing his face, she shut her mouth.
“There’s no such thing as impossible for me. A dear friend or
two… who would I be if I couldn’t help them out? I’m Luecke
Halbades. I’m better at magic than anyone…”
Shedding tears before Rudel, he desperately continued to cast
his magic. Those hands were beginning to burn from the heat of
magic overuse.
Eunius grabbed his arm, forcefully wrenching him from Rudel.
“That’s enough! Don’t waste your mana here.”
Luecke cried back.
“Waste? You just called it a waste!? I see. In the end, that’s
all Rudel was to you…”
When Luecke saw Eunius face, he couldn’t say anymore. Eunius was
crying too.
“Listen here. Neither you nor I can bring back someone who’s
died. But you know, isn’t there still something we can do? Fight to
avenge him. Those imperial bastards are still here. Then it’s
obvious what we’ve got to do!”
On those words, Luecke made a fist with his scalded palms. His
subordinate Vargas held in tears, as he ordered those around him to
heal him.
Izumi touched a hand to his cheek.
“Rudel, look how many people you’ve made cry… and yet, you’re
the only one smiling. You really are a terrible guy.”
There, Aleist exclaimed.
“I-I’ve got it. Rudel can still make it, I think…”
◇
Rudel was in a white, a very white space.
Hazily taking in his surroundings, the words that came out—
“This is the second time I’ve come here. The first was when I
parted with Sakuya, perhaps?”
— As he calmly weighed his situation, a cracking sound came from
the fist lowered on his head.
There was Sakuya—the former goddess Sakuya, floating in the air
in human form. Tears welled in her eyes, her cheeks were puffed up
and her face was red.
‘Rudel, you idiot! Idiot, idiot, huge idiot!’
Before the girl who continued smacking both hands into him,
Rudel laughed.
“So you came to get me? Guess that means I really am dead.”
Sakuya’s crumbled into tears.
‘How many times did I tell you!? You have to fight together! And
yet, why did you leave your own partner? We worked so hard so we
could fight together!’
Seeing Sakuya cry, Rudel dimly perceived this was the
afterworld.
“Sorry. I tried my best… but it looks like I failed.”
He had lost to fate. While Rudel thought so, he didn’t make a
regretful face.
‘Why do you look so refreshed!? Everyone’s crying for you!’
Rudel sent her a bit of a sorrowful smile.
“I won’t say I have no regrets. I fought to triumph over some
fate or another. And I’m only half the dragoon I want to be. I hate
that I couldn’t use the chance that you gave me. But you know… I
fought with my all. I exerted myself so hard that even looking
back, I am certain I couldn’t have done better.”
If he lost on top of that, there was no space for excuses.
Rudel said so and stroked Sakuya. Despite the nostalgia he felt,
it also brought to mind his own partner dragon.
Sakuya looked at Rudel with a serious face.
‘Are you satisfied now?’
To that question, Rudel—
“Satisfied? I’m not. I am definitely not satisfied. I wanted to
ride a dragon’s back through the sky some more. I haven’t even
become the strongest dragoon. My seniors are strong, see. I won
once, but I’m still so far from my ideal/”
‘In that case, try looking a bit irritated.’
“You sure are stupid. I’ll never be satisfied with myself no
matter how far I go. Even if I overcame, to die when the years
caught up, I’d never achieve satisfaction”
(But that’s fine. Either way, I fought hard enough to think
so—)
To Rudel’s words, Sakuya floating in the air breathed a big
sigh. She scratched up her blonde hair and touched her left hand to
her hip.
‘There’s a possibility of you coming back, but if you’re already
satisfied, then—’
“Really!”
The moment he heard of a possibility, Rudel snatched Sakuya out
of the air.
‘Hey! Up to a moment ago, you were all like, I’m not satisfied,
but perhaps that’s fine!’
“Fool. If I can live, then of course I’m going to live. I’ve
only just become a dragoon. I haven’t turned those imperials back.
There’s a mountain of stuff left to do.”
As Rudel shook her up, Sakuya’s eyes spun as she forced her way
out of his grip and unsteadily teetered into the air.
‘I’m just bringing up a possibility! And, and it’ll need
Aleist’s cooperation.’
Rudel tilted his head.
“Aleist’s cooperation?”
Sakuya nodded.
‘That guy has the exchange stone, doesn’t he?’
Exchange stone. It was what Aleist received while carrying out a
mission in the Celestia Kingdom.
“Now that you mention it.”
He always had it on him, so Rudel did remember.
‘If that idiot notices, it might work out. But the probability
is low. And there’s no telling what he’ll have to give up. Though
honestly, he’d be a fool if he didn’t keep it with him.’
Hearing of what would be lost, Rudel asked Sakuya.
“What will Aleist lose?”
Sakuya took her time explaining to him what had happened
hitherto. It was the truth of this world, and about Aleist’s
existence.
◇
“I-I’ll save Rudel. I can still make it.”
His body clad in black armor, Aleist pulled off his helmet and
produced a blue stone from his breast. It was the exchange
stone.
Seeing it, Izumi recalled its purpose and turned to Aleist with
a shake of her head.
“You can’t. If you use that, there’s no telling what you’ll pay
in exchange for Rudel’s life.”
Hearing Izumi’s words, the surrounding faces looked at Aleist. A
great many looked on with conflicted faces, But Aleist’s harem
members grasped him.
They stared at him sorrowfully.
“Aleist-sama.”
As a representative, Seli tried to stop him.
(There are people who want Rudel to live more than me, but there
are some who would choose me too. That’s a bit reassuring.)
The gora’s revelation had raised everyone’s wariness towards him
by no small amount. So if he said he would exchange his life, he
worried they would happily tell him to do it.
Eunius approached Aleist and grasped his shoulder.
“Give it a rest. You think Rudel would be happy with that? You
shut up and fight the empire.”
Those words were his own way of worrying for Aleist. Luecke was
the same.
“You’re the worst, to even bring up choosing one or the other.
Aleist, think a bit more before you speak.”
Aleist gave a bitter smile.
(Choosing one or the other, huh. Originally, the protagonist was
supposed to pick either Eunius or Luecke, but… well, that’s not
important.)
Aleist removed Eunius’ hand and reassured him it would work.
“Don’t worry I do have something I can give. It’s not my life,
and it’s borrowed goods, but it’ll be enough, I think.”
Eunius grimaced at those words.
“So you can’t state it definitively to the end. But you should
quit while you’re ahead with those gambles. The result won’t make
anyone happy. Rudel is dead. You are alive. That’s the result.”
Right, Rudel had died.
(The event was definitely carried out. And those guys said they
would kill me. Which means what happens here on has nothing to do
with the game.)
Aleist approached a lying Rudel and had Izumi concede her
spot.
His eyes abruptly met with Millia. Milla’s eyes were red and
swollen.
(She really does like Rudel, doesn’t she. But I’ll be granting
her wish too.)
However, Millia to Aleist.
“You’re really not going to die, right? And does that stone have
that much power? If you both end up dead…”
Both ending up dead was the worst case.
(Ah, she’s worried about me too. How delightful.)
But Aleist had no conviction he could do it.
(It’s not like I never thought about what would happen If this
day came. There’s far too little I can do… but even so, he’s a
precious friend.)
When Rudel had helped him out so much, when Aleist thought he
could finally repay his debt, he smiled.
(Aah, but in that case, I might become useless. Well, if Rudel’s
there, that’s some reassurance. And this is for the best.)
Gripping the exchange stone over Rudel’s body, Aleist closed his
eyes.
A blue light enveloped the two of them. Aleist whispered, making
sure those around couldn’t hear—
“The cheat I have received… I return my abilities. I don’t need
inexhaustible mana or talent. My noble family… I’m fine as long as
they’re safe. I don’t mind if they forget about me. So… please
bring my friend back to life. I don’t need anything else.”
The cheat he received on his reincarnation was inexhaustible
mana.
(I’m sorry I never managed to master it to the end.)
Along with a talent in various fields, and charm.
(Talent alone was no good. Without the effort to polish it…
thank you for everything.)
To that point, Aleist had been protected by a great many
cheats.
“Thank you for all you’ve given me. Perhaps this can’t be called
payment. If it’s not enough, you can take my existence as well. My
friend—please bring Rudel back to life. I’m begging you!”
As he strongly gripped the exchange stone, Aleist could feel the
power leave his own body.
All the great powers that had helped, protected, and enhanced
him.
Aleist shed a tear.
“Thank you for everything.”
Aleist got the feeling the last bit of power lingered around
him. He got the feeling it asked him if he’d be fine without
them.
“I’ll be alright. I’m sorry I never mastered you. You have my
dearest thanks.”
The power faded. Aleist could feel the last ounce of it drain
away; he instinctually understood various abilities had disappeared
from within him.
He looked at Rudel.
The wound had closed, and with even his armor mended, Rudel
opened his eyes.
“Rudel!”
Aleist cried out, as Rudel raised his torso from the stretcher.
Delight spread around, Izumi leaped forward to embrace Rudel, and
Aleist warmly watched over the scene.
But the one Rudel jumped up and held tight was Aleist.
“Aleist, my man!”
“Eh? Wait a second! With the way things were going, why
me!?”
To Aleist’s confusion, the suspicious eyes of Izumi and the
other women gathered.
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LNWNCentral_Dragoon_Dragoon - WN Chapter 146-167_Dragoon-WN-Chapter-146-167-[Yoraikun][Trollo]
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s13.txt
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Dragoon 148-160 - Dragoon 160: I Kinda Don’t Really Get it
Chapter 160: I Kinda Don’t Really Get it
“You bloody fool!”
Eunius placed a hand on Rudel’s head and ruffled up his hair.
His voice was filled with true delight, while there were tears
visible in his eyes.
“You really did a number on us. You too, Aleist.”
Luecke delightedly stuck up the thumb of his gloved hand,
directing a smile towards Aleist.
However, while being embraced by Rudel, and receiving smiles
from the boys…
“Hey, way. Seriously, give me a minute! Rudel, I do think
there’s someone else you should be hugging here!”
As Aleist attempted to peel Rudel off, Izumi looked on with a
conflicted expression.
“Don’t tell me these two are…” or so Millia even sent them
doubtful eyes. Rudel parted, patting his hair in place as he
shrugged his shoulders.
“Don’t be stupid. It is only natural I give my thanks to my
life’s savior. Mn? Oh Izumi, I see you’re here too.”
A bitter smile from Izumi, upon being treated as an extra.
“I really am happy. Though a part of me can’t rejoice…”
For just an instant. A very brief instant, Izumi directed a look
of hostility at Aleist. A chill ran down his spine.
In order to overcome this situation, he hurriedly tried
assisting Rudel to understand the situation.
“M-more importantly, about where we are now—”
Rudel slowly stepped down from the stretcher he’d been lying on
and stretched out his back. He was confirming the state of his body
as he received his weapons Aleist’s harem members had secured.
“Oh, that’s right.”
A look at the battlefield, and even now, Sakuya was fighting the
Gora to hold it in place.
The imperial army units reformed, with the forces on both flanks
headed their way.
Rudel looked at the imperial army and offered a word.
“Now then… let’s go.”
He was going to fight the minute he revived. Aleist hurriedly
stepped in to stop him.
“No, I wonder about that! How about some rest? It looks like
more forces are gathering as we speak.”
The one who approached them was Chlust.
“Brother!”
“Chlust… you, what about the evacuees?”
Chlust breathed a sigh of relief upon confirming Rudel’s safety.
He explained the state of affairs.
“They’re fine. I’ve already handed them off. Joining the
reinforcements of the Arses House, I come bearing a force of five
thousand. They need a commander. These numbers are impossible for
me.”
The reason Chlust deemed it impossible was simply because he had
no experience leading so many troops. Additionally, he never
received commander training at the academy.
“You’ve all been educated in that field. You have real combat
experience to boot. Brother, if you’ll just take command—”
Rudel reached his right hand towards Chlust, opening his palm in
the gesture of ‘wait’. And after looking at the sky, he returned
his gaze to Chlust.
“I’m sorry, but while I’ve undergone the coursework, I am
lacking in experience. I must pass the torch to Major Bennet.”
With the talks suddenly turned her way, Bennet’s hair and ears
stood on end as she shook her head.
“Don’t ask the impossible. I have never taken charge of a land
force of this scale. Rather, if anyone here is to take the right to
command…”
Bennet’s gaze shifted to Rudel, Aleist, Luecke, then Eunius in
turn.
— They all averted their eyes.
“Major, I am a dragoon. I lack the experience to command ground
troops. I have no idea where to start!”
“Hey, I’m a dragoon too! And wait, you definitely got the
education at the academy!”
The reason Aleist looked away was simply because he had no
confidence. Having lost his cheat, at this point, even he didn’t
know whether or not he had the power to fight.
Eunius looked at Luecke, his gaze speaking, ‘Just do it’.
But Luecke—
“It does seem there is a troublesome unit with a magic circle
prepared. Good grief, I doubt anyone but me will be able to handle
it. I must head off. I leave the rest to you. Now tally ho,
Vargas!”
“H-hey, are you serious!?”
“Like I care. Not my problem, not going to deal with it.”
— He scrambled to be the first one off.
Taken aback, Eunius picked up his weapon and started from the
spot.
“O-oh, now that I’ve got a closer look, that’s General Rhoshwas’
flag over there. My house’s got a score to settle with that bloke.
Yep. I’ve got to go take care of that.”
Later! Said Eunius, leading his men to take flight.
All eyes gathered on Rudel and Aleist.
“B-brother?”
Chlust looked at Rudel.
(Well, Rudel’s far worthier than me.)
There, Rudel whistled. Reacting to that whistle, Sakuya lifted
into the air, and descended beside him.
Rudel cleared his throat.
“It’s that, you know. As long as that black one’s there, it’s
meaningless no matter your numbers. So I think someone has to take
on the top dragon and bottom giant.”
Once everyone agreed that was a valid point, Sakuya loomed over
Rudel, and reached her hand.
Immediately jumping onto its palm, Rudel addressed the rest of
them.
“I’m a dragoon, so Chlust, I’m leaving the ground troops to you.
Aleist!”
“Me?”
Rudel pointed at the Gora.
“I’ll take on the black dragon up top. You take care of that
black thing.”
Aleist hurriedly refuted it.
“No, I don’t have any power any—”
Rudel smiled.
“Don’t worry. Sakuya told me at the entrance to the world
beyond. You’ll be just fine. Now onward, Aleist!”
With a large flap of Sakuya’s wings, Rudel was set for the
skies. When Izumi jumped up to chase after him, Sakuya carefully
caught her and placed her on her back.
“… Huh?”
Hearing he would be fine, Aleist looked at the gora, only to
find it was coming right at them. Now that Sakuya was gone, it
seemed Aleist was the first on its list.
“Wait a second!!”
In Aleist’s dismay, his faithful nightmare Heath drew close.
“Y-you… where have you been?”
Breathing a sigh, Millia gave it to Aleist.
“Aleist, get a grip. If you don’t do something about that, we’ll
all be in danger! Hey, I’ll help out, so just hurry.”
Aleist nodded. Bennet shrugged her shoulders.
“You have my cooperation. I’m sure it’ll be hard for the black
knight alone. Still, we’ll need just a bit more manpower.”
To Bennet’s words, Aleist—
“If we had just… one more dragoon.”
A new dragoon made entered the stage from directly overhead.
“Did you call?”
There, the man boasting the number one aerial technique in the
dragoon brigade, Keith, looked at Aleist with a glint in his
eye.
“Keith-san!”
“It’s a request of my dear Aleist-kun. Yep, how about I lend a
hand.”
Bennet’s face twitched.
“Keith… where have you been this whole time?”
◇
High in the sky.
Around were the dragons fighting against the black wyverns.
Soaring through the wide sky filled with tempestuous dogfights,
Sakuya was delighted to have Rudel riding her back.
‘I thought I would never see you again!’
Rudel gently stroked the back of the delighted, crying
dragon.
“I’m sorry. But it’s alright now.”
Having died once and come back, Rudel made a bit of a liberated
face. Izumi took a look at him and posed the question out of
curiosity.
“Did something happen?”
Rudel closed his eyes, he recalled what had happened at death’s
door.
“I made Sakuya mad.”
“Me?”
To the dragon’s Sakuya’s confusion, “A different Sakuya,” Rudel
said, opening his eyes wide to look at the sky. Before his eyes,
the form of a wyvern coming at Sakuya, it’s large mouth ajar.
Holding his right hand forward, Rudel produced a sword of light,
put a spin on it and fired it at the wyvern.
Receiving the blade, the wyvern’s head was blown off, as it
turned to black smoke and faded away.
“A dragoon is complete with human and dragon. Why did I send you
away? She asked.”
Izumi smiled just a little sorrowfully.
“I see. So she helped you out.”
Rudel issued orders to Sakuya.
“Sakuya, a dragoon’s true domain is the sky. Let’s show those
imperials the power of a true dragoon.”
‘Yeah!’
When Sakuya roared, the wyverns in the sky directed their
hostility towards Rudel.
The one directing it most was the vile serpent.
Approaching Sakuya, it opened its large mouth and breathed its
breath.
‘You really are obstinate! I’ll send you to the other side,
however many times it takes!’
Laughing at the dark dragon’s words,
“Now that would be troublesome. I wouldn’t want Sakuya scolding
me too many times. And I’m a dragoon. Now that my partner is here,
you’ll soon learn I’m a bit different.”
Issuing orders to Sakuya, he exchanged breath for breath.
When Sakuya used her four wings to suddenly turn, the vile
serpent gave chase.
‘You can’t run away!’
When the dragon opened its large mouth towards the back Sakuya
showed, Rudel laughed.
“Run? Far from it.”
Holding his right hand straight out at the dragon, Rudel
produced a number of extra large swords around them. Rotating them,
he hammered them at the moment before it could fire a breath
‘Guuh!!’
The serpent’s head was enveloped in smoke. However, it didn’t
seem to take any major damage.
‘Is that all you’ve got!? Get them!’
As the surrounding wyverns began advancing on Sakuya, the swords
Rudel produced were fired off towards them.
They pierced, exploded, and disintegrated wyverns into black
smoke.
“Is that all you’ve got?”
On Rudel’s provocation, the vile serpent opened its blood-red
eyes wide.
‘You blasted irregulars!! …!’
The serpent opened its large mouth and spread its wings to
exclaim. But It was then the surrounding dragons all turned to fire
on it at once.
And as it endured, a blue dragon approached from right
above.
‘Twas Mystith.
‘You’re top’s wide open!’
Lowering a fist from overhead, she slammed the serpent into the
ground head-first. While it was an attack with all of her might,
the wounds from butchering any a wyvern stood out on her body.
‘Alright!’
“Alright!”
Mystith cinched it with a pose. And… so did Lena on her
back.
Spotting her, Rudel was dumbfounded.
“What are you doing, Lena!?”
Izumi was just as surprised. But Lena sent Rudel a wing, as she
raised one arm in greeting.
“I, Lena Arses have from today onward become Mystith’s partner!
Best regards, bronin!”
‘That’s how it is.’
Mystith’s acceptance did little to alleviate Rudel’s confusion.
But this wasn’t the right place to sit and dawdle.
“I-is that so. There’s plenty I’d like to hear, but that thing
comes first.”
Looking down, there was the form of the serpent rising off of
the ground. It seemed to be feeling it in the head as it birthed a
large new batch of wyverns from its body.
Mystith sounded vexed.
‘Tsk, it multiplied again. I’m not losing to the likes of them,
but there are too many. Just approaching the black one’s a
pain.’
Rudel looked at the ground.
“Mystith-sama… could you leave it to me and Sakuya? We’ve
developed that quite a bit?”
Upon hearing that, Mystith readily nodded.
‘Well why not. But that whelp called us lizards. You’ve got to
hammer it home.’
Izumi thought back.
“Rudel, don’t tell me, what you used in Celestia…”
The sinister serpent that rose towards Rudel. As if to invite it
in, Sakuya soared higher and higher into the sky.
“Come, I’ll take you on.”
‘Step aside, lowly side character!’
The serpent fired its breath into the sky, but Sakuya avoided on
Rudel’s orders. Distancing themselves from the battlefield of
dragon and wyvern, they turned to face their challenger.
Breaking through the clouds into the endless sky above.
The two dragons faced off.
‘You never stop getting in our way. If you’ll come back upon
death, this time we won’t let even ash remain!’
On the serpent’s vigorous roar, Sakuya slowly took her stance in
the air.
“Let me teach you something nice.”
‘… What.’
“Don’t make like of a dragoon. Just one knight and one dragon
but… put them together, and I’ll teach you just how troublesome we
can be.”
‘Sakuya and Rudel are the strongest!’
With Sakuya’s roar, the serpent lunged at the two, Sakuya opened
her four wings wide, and Rudel unleashed the power of the white
knight.
“I couldn’t show it on land, but here it won’t be a problem.
Sakuya, we’re going all out.”
‘Yeah!’
As the light overflowing from Rudel enveloped Sakuya, symbols
began to surface over her body.
Apart from her four wings, another pair made of light…
Forming an armor of light to protect her, giving off a divine
light. Further behind the wings, a golden circle formed.
Izumi looked at that form, containing her hair swaying from the
breeze as she muttered.
“… Breathtaking.”
The white dragon wore golden armor, and pinned down the serpent
coming at them with both hands.
‘W-what!?’
The serpent was surprised. It noticed Sakuya was different than
she had been a moment ago.
Sakura roared as she got in a right hook. Reeling back, the
serpent disappeared into the clouds, firing a breath off from
within them.
A number of golden shields manifested around Sakuya to obstruct
it.
The serpent burst out of the clouds, raising its speed to circle
around in an attempt to catch Sakuya off guard.
But Sakuya immediately reacted and followed suit. With Sakuya
right behind it, maintaining an exact distance and giving chase,
the serpent was put on the rung.
‘C-curses. Curse you!!’
It stopped, turned, and fired a breath, but elegantly avoiding
it, Sakuya’s sure-fire special—
‘One, two, finish!’
Left, right, tail, three consecutive attacks smashed into the
dragon. The impact greatly shifted the clouds and changed their
shape. Cracks raced through the serpent’s skin they had never
managed to pierce, as dragon blood was shed.
‘M-mocking me…’
The serpent flared at Rudel and Sakuya. It seemed it was
unforgivable for a dragon to bring the smackdown.
Izumi seemed to understand those feelings just a bit.
“Well, it certainly is a little unfair.”
Rudel looked at the vile serpent, folding his arms.
“Playtime ends here.”
It was then that the serpent burst into laughter.
‘I see. The exchange stone. Aleist used the powers residing in
his body as compensation to bring you back!’
The laughing dragon looked at Rudel, pointing a finger. While it
was unknown how it looked into it, it seemed to know the means
through which Rudel was brought back.
“Correct.”
Rudel made it short, preparing for his next attack.
‘Then it was a mistake to pull me away. You should have
remained. Right around now, the gora will have run them all down.
As long as I hold you here, victory is our—’
“… Unfortunately, that’s not happening.”
Interrupting the serpent’s words, Rudel informed it.
“The three who remained on ground, Aleist, Luecke and Eunius are
my dear friends. We fought at the academy time and again, and I
went through great pains each time.”
Rudel slowly pulled his sword, directing its point at the
serpent.
“Don’t you dare make light of them. Even if Aleist loses
inexhaustible mana and talent, and a great deal else… what he built
up won’t fade away. That guy is strong. He’s the man I’ve
recognized.”
The serpent roared and came at Sakuya.
Sakuya spread out her six large wings wide, to meet it.
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LNWNCentral_Dragoon_Dragoon - WN Chapter 146-167_Dragoon-WN-Chapter-146-167-[Yoraikun][Trollo]
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s2.txt
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Dragoon 148-160 - Dragoon 149: The Empire’s Advance
Chapter 149: The Empire’s Advance
“So you were brought here too.”
The jail cell the royal guard led Izumi to was already occupied
by Sophina. A clammy underground dungeon, she could barely make out
her face by the unreliable light.
“U-umm,”
Izumi was a high knight, same as Sophina. But Sophina was her
senior and the second princess Fina’s guard who headed a unit of
her own. Why was she here? As Izumi puzzled over it, Sophina lifted
herself off the bed and stretched.
“The princess was taken in too. We were bound and shoved in
here. Our weapons were taken, but our clothes were left as is. They
must be in quite a hurry.”
Perhaps there was no time to dress them in prison robes, as
after taking their weapons and shoving them in the cell, the royal
guard knights had already gone off somewhere.
The soldier keeping watch over them seemed restless as well.
“Just what could have… this is just too terrible.”
Sophina fully agreed with Izumi’s words. While she agreed, she
was keeping somewhat collected.
“There’s been movement in the palace for quite a while now. It’s
just, I never imagined they would take it this far.”
“You know something? I need to get out of here fast and save
Rudel.”
“… Err, did something happen to Rudel-dono?”
Sophina seemed troubled. Izumi promptly explained he had been
sent off to the battlefield as a lone rider. When she described
Aleist’s predicament, Sophina seemed surprised.
“So the black knight’s the supreme commander. Not bad. I thought
she’d force Fritz into the position, but… did someone stop her?
She’s surprisingly brittle.”
“You sure are calm.”
At Izumi’s light sarcasm, Sophina gave a sardonic laugh. After
checking her surroundings, she whispered.
“Hey, don’t be like that. I managed to learn this and that was
going on thanks to the princess. Sorry, but my lord was taken in
too… until the major players at the palace make their move, I doubt
she will make hers. That’s the sort of person she is.”
“Then she has something planned? If she doesn’t hurry up with
it, something terrible will–”
“It’s already plenty terrible. But see, she intends to use these
developments as well. She really is… if she was just a bit more
decent of a human being, you can’t imagine how easier my life would
be.”
After saying that, Sophina instructed Izumi to lie down and get
some rest.
◇
The audience chamber.
The gathered nobles were informed not of medals to be
bestowed.
The kingdom of Courtois’ audience chamber was a vast room, it’s
make of an extravagance worthy of a major power. The knights and
nobles gathered in such a place, Eunius and Luecke included, were
mostly struck dumbfounded.
The king wasn’t taking part.
The queen nowhere to be seen.
Princess Aileen stood in front of the throne, giving an
address.
“The Gaia Empire has yet to learn their lesson, they are once
again preparing to invade Courtois soil! Their parch has already
begun… the time has come to show your loyalty to Courtois!”
Within all the confusion, upon hearing of the Gaia Empire’s
march, the nobles were quick to direct their eyes to the dragoons
taking part.
While they feigned composure, the dragoon brigade members looked
to be holding it in.
“We will prepare to depart at once. But first… we initially
intended to request the role of supreme commander in this battle to
the Black Knight. However, the black knight has fled like the
coward he is. While he might not be a fitting replacement, I
appoint the Captain of the Royal Guard, Fritz-dono as Supreme
Commander.”
The audience chamber fell into chaos. It wasn’t because the Gaia
Empire had invaded. They had invaded too many times to count, and
just as many times, the dragoons had repelled them.
The nobles’ interests were drawn to the commoner Fritz appointed
as supreme commander of the armed forces. Without any decent deeds
of arms, and still young; the voices of dissatisfaction rose
against him.
But Eunius didn’t let it elude him.
“There are some around who aren’t surprised.”
From nearby, Luecke nodded.
“Aleist isn’t here, but I don’t see Rudel either. That woman did
something. To think she’d go this far.”
Neither Aleist nor Rudel were anywhere to be seen.
A confused gathering of knights and nobles. But among them were
some not confused in the slightest, the royal guard, for one.
Eunius didn’t seem amused.
“I doubt they’re dead, but… I’m returning to my territory. I’ll
be sending soldiers from my place.”
Luecke glanced at Aileen, giving her address before the
throne.
“What a coincidence. Once this farce is over, I’ll be right on
my way back—”
And Fritz walked out before Aileen. As he walked out in front of
her, he was gifted the sword, the proof of his station by Aileen’s
hand.
Eunius looked at that sword.
“Haven’t I seen that sword somewhere before—”
Aileen, after handing the sword to Fritz.
“This is a sword produced by gathering the best technology
Courtois has to offer. Surely it’s worthy of the supreme commander.
You have to make sure you bring it back.”
Fritz held the sword high.
“Without fail, I shall return here and report on our
victory!”
Luecke, to Eunius’ comment.
“Looks like it’s only just been made. You must be seeing things.
Forget that, she hasn’t said a word about Rudel.”
Luecke worried for his friend.
◇
Aleist had come to the basement dungeon.
Showing himself from within the shadows of the dim cells, he
restlessly checked his surroundings.
“Izumi-san, are you alright?”
Izumi sprung off the bed, looking at Aleist who had somehow
entered her cell in surprise.
“I never knew you could do that.”
“Well you see, as I was chased around by night visits, I learned
a thing or two on how to use it. Being the Black Knight sure is
convenient… wait, no time to chit-chat. Here.”
Aleist pulled out Izumi’s katana from the shadow and handed it
over. He tossed over the key alongside it.
“I’m in your debt. Aleist, what’s the situation right now?”
After accepting the katana and gripping the key tight, she tried
to confirm the present situation from Aleist. But he hung his
head.
“Sorry. I’ve just been running around. I want to inform Eunius
and Luecke of the situation, but it’s not just the royal guard, it
seems Princess Aileen’s got some allies in other places… It’s
hopeless for me, I just stand out too much. I’ve come for your
cooperation…”
Sophina in the cell lifted her body and turned to Aleist.
“… The defenders.”
“Pardon.”
“Seek help from the defenders. Use the princess’ name if you
have to. If you just need to deliver a message, they can still move
around the castle freely. Can you give me just a few more details
on the state of affairs?”
Aleist reported everything he’d managed to learn.
◇
The captain of the dragoon brigade Oldart faced the supreme
commander Fritz.
With Princess Aileen stationed to his side, he couldn’t make any
rash remarks.
“In short, you’re putting us under the commander’s control? It’s
troubling that you’re saying something so blatantly obvious, and
it’s also troubling that you arbitrarily sent my subordinate off to
the battlefield. You said it was an area of low priority, but in
the present state with the empire attacking on two fronts, one
unit’s worth of war potential is clearly not up to par. I shall
send additional reinforcements.”
Oldart’s discontentment came from Aileen superseding him,
sending Rudel to a warzone unassisted. A dragon was certainly
powerful. They were powerful, but a battle was also about
numbers.
Sending only one rider was something he couldn’t overlook as the
captain. And he couldn’t forgive that she ordered around one of his
men.
Fritz boldly responded.
“As long as their main force lies elsewhere, it is only natural
we concentrate our war potential there.”
Oldart gave a scornful laugh.
“You sound like you already know which one’s their main force…
while we haven’t received a lick of information. What could that
possibly mean?”
There, Aileen stuck in her mouth. Fritz had faltered ever so
slightly, so she was surely to cover for him.
“Now’s not the time to speak of such matters. Under Fritz-sama’s
command, the dragoon brigade will band together and drive back the
empire. That is an order.”
If she called it an order, he had no choice but to obey.
However—
“If it’s an order, I’ll obey. I want to get this over with
already so I can save my subordinate. How about we have a good talk
once I’m back?”
Under Oldart’s glare, Fritz.
“Then prepare to depart at once. The dragoon brigade will take
the lead to beat down our foe. Based on the speed of their
preparations, the main force will depart immediately.”
But Aileen added on.
“Dragoon captain… in the case the enemy crosses the border, I
will permit an attack. But I won’t approve of anything else.”
Oldart spoke through a sign.
“I’m well aware. How long do you think we’ve been protecting the
border?”
Aileen simply gave a fearless smile. It was more than enough to
tip Oldart off that something was up.
(… Now then, what do I do about this? I guess I’ll have Keith
move or something.)
◇
It was the Arses House mansion.
Erselica made a desperate plea before her father’s room.
“Father, when Chlust-niisama is fighting, why won’t the Arses
House send reinforcements!?”
No matter how she raised her voice, she never got a response. It
wasn’t only her father, upon learning of Chlust’s predicament, her
mother wouldn’t attempt any action either.
Having frequently exchanged letters with Chlust, Erselica knew
the situation of the border fort in detail. She learned of the
Empire’s movements from Chlust as well.
On that front, Erselica had supported him to the best of her
abilities. But come so far, the notice came that the empire had
finally initiated its full mobilization. The Rases House showed no
signs of moving.
Around the room, the retainers had gathered.
(If I’d just moved faster.)
A vexed Erselica raised her voice at the door time and
again.
“I’m begging you. The preparations are already in order. All
that’s left is for you to give the order, father, and we will be on
our way.”
She had already confirmed her father was in the room, and the
Arses House had completed its preparations to sortie. Looking at
them as an archduke house, they could only send a minuscule number,
but that was all Erselica could prepare with all her might.
“There are other lords who have promised us their cooperation.
Why must my own father, an archduke, remain stationary when his
country is in a time of crisis!?”
Her desperate pleas wouldn’t reach her father in the room. Not
only that, to Erselica and the retainers gathered before the
room—
“What is the meaning of this, how irritatingly noisy!”
— From the other side of the corridor, her mother appeared
leading along her servants.
“Mother! You throw in a word too! The fort Chlust-niisama is
stationed at is under attack by the empire. I seek permission to
send reinforcements!”
Her mother offered a cold rebuttal to her words.
“… That child is the failure of the Arses House. If he puts up a
hard fight at the fort and dies in battle, it will at least
somewhat recover the Arses House’s reputation. And even if we don’t
move, the likes of the empire can be driven back by those
dragons.”
Erselica listened on in terror. She shook her head to the
side.
“… I’ve heard enough.”
“What’s with that attitude? Someone lock Erselica up. Good
grief, causing such a ruckus…”
As her mother tried to leave, she was surrounded by armed
knights and soldiers.
The butler by Erselica’s side didn’t find fault in that.
“What is the meaning of this!? Who do you think I am!”
Turning to her clamoring mother, Erselica shot back.
“If you are to take a watchful stance in this crisis, you have
no qualifications to lead this house! Bind and imprison my father
and mother! We will be sending reinforcements immediately. Tell the
lords who’ve promised assistance to dispatch at once.”
While the knights and soldiers moved around, soldiers with axes
appeared in front of the room. They destroyed the door and flooded
in.
As the soldiers apprehended her, she looked at Erselica.
“Do you understand what you’re doing!? Such an act… no one will
ever recognize it!”
The more Erselica watched her mother, the sadder her expression
became.
“… There are no vassals here who will assist you. The only ones
here are those discontent with your deeds. The others all ran away
when I imparted precise information and asked for their
cooperation.”
Erselica had put in a request to Lena to have Luecke look into
the factional relations. What factions the surrounding feudal lords
pledged allegiance to, and what houses had an invested
interest.
There were plenty of lords and palace officials who didn’t think
so kindly of the Arses House’s present state that would collapse if
things were to go on.
By talking with those people, Erselica had made her own
preparations.
“Erselica-sama!”
One of the knights restrained her father and led him out of the
room. While he wore a gown, he had nothing but undergarments on
underneath.
There were a number of women and it was permeated with the scent
of alcohol. Looking d own on her father muttering complaints,
Erselica spoke.
“Take him away. We don’t have time to waste on him.”
◇
While the manor was in a boisterous commotion, Lena climbed up
to the roof and looked up at the sky.
“… Now then, I should get moving.”
Holding her spear, wearing clothing easy to move around in, Lena
whistled. That whistle that resounded through the sky, it almost
seemed as if it was calling for something.
Sitting right down on the roof, it seemed like Lena was going to
stay there and wait until whatever she called for arrived.
“You think that broski of mine’s gonna win against fate?”
Curiously, Lena smiled.
From the start, Lena was a peculiar sister. She was Rudel’s
peculiar sister. At the start, Rudel was able to become more human
because Lena was there. When Rudel held no interest for other
people, he showed interest towards Lena. At the important times, it
was Lena who was involved with Rudel.
Not directly, she had always been indirectly tied in.
“Well, he’s my broster, he should be fine.”
Lena said and looked at the sky.
◇
The scene shifts to a fort continuing its resistance.
The army led by Askewell of the Gaia Empire had continued minor
attacks as if to torment it.
There were a number of reasons, but while they managed to
infiltrate foreign soil well enough, they had advanced without
receiving anything that could be classified as resistance.
Dispatching units to the towns and villages in the area, they
were scraping together supplies.
Keeping a low profile to Askewell’s side, Mies looked bitterly
at the supplies they had gathered.
In the tent, she reported the present situation to Askewell as
he sat in his chair.
“Askewell-sama, the enemy has mostly pulled out. While a small
portion of villages have ignored the evacuation order and remained,
I believe the enemy commander ordered the civilians in this parts
to find refuge as soon as our side started moving.”
Askewell quietly muttered.
“I see. Then the monsters must be hungry.”
From the start, the black monsters of his army were disposable
pieces. And those pieces had their own role in his forces.
The empire was teeming with people. The plan was to migrate to
Courtois’ plentiful soil, and with that goal in mind, the people
living on that land were in the way. Taking care of that disposal
was the monsters’ job.
“I thought this was a country that could only rely on its
dragons, but it looks like it has some staunch men of its own. To
let the people flee, and try to hold out at but a small fort.”
Mies confirmed their future course with Askewell.
“What should we do? It would be simple to crush them, but we
intended to set up a base of operations there, so that would
greatly affect the—”
After Mies had said that much, a messenger soldier entered the
tent.
“Your Highness! Enemy dragoons are approaching! Gray in color!
Two riders!”
Askewell grinned at that report.
“… Perfect timing. Send out the wyvern unit.”
The moment the messenger left the tent, the surroundings were
filled with the voices of monsters.
Askewell stood to his feet; Mies followed him outside. Around
them, wyverns took to the sky one after the next, with knights in
black armor straddling their backs.
They were up against two knights, yet their charge consisted of
a few dozens.
Gray dragons.
Dragons domesticated by Courtois, they were said to be the
weakest, but even so, they had been a threat to the empire as it
was. While the soldier seemed anxious, they looked like they had
some hope in the wyvern unit’s dispatch.
No, one might say they were sending their prayers. To the
empire, the dragons were they symbol of fear. In the past, a single
blue dragon had been enough to put them through countless
terrifying experiences.
That fear was passed from father to child, succeeded by their
grandchildren.
In regards to the two dragoons, the dozens of wyverns surrounded
them to carry out their attack. Perhaps as expected of a dragon,
they put up a good fight against the wyverns, but in the end,
before the difference in numbers, one eventually fell to the
ground.
Askewell looked over the scene.
“Looks like three on one will be enough to fight. Their aerial
maneuvers are rough, but they should be able to fight well
enough.”
The surrounding black monsters and human soldiers gathered to
attack the fallen dragoon.
Raising a cheer, the dragon’s head was lopped off and hoisted
high into the sky.
“The era of the dragoons is over!”
“Glory to the Empire! Glory to Prince Askewell!”
“Have a look, the other one’s running away!”
Overhead, the dragoon surrounded on all sides received attacks
as if it were being made a game of. Even so, four allied wyverns
took a fall.
“… If they get in some combat experience, the wyvern unit could
become a mainstay of the empire’s forces.”
Askewell sent a sorrowful look at his dead subordinates. They
were his precious troops and his comrades. Watching Askewell mourn
his fallen comrades, Mies was moved.
“Askewell-sama, you’re too kind.”
The final dragoon fell to the ground. Was it the bond between
knight and dragon? The dragon followed his rider to the ground as
if to protect him. On land, the knights and soldiers raised cried,
and the monsters flocked around knight and dragon.
To the empire, this was the scene they had waited so long for.
The once-rulers of the sky, the dragoons falling to their earth,
the scene of their own wyvern unit becoming the sky’s new
sovereigns.
It meant the era of cowering from Courtois was over.
“Show the heads of knight and dragon to the fort! After we chip
their fighting spirit, advise them to surrender!”
The surrounding knights raising cheers, they held up their
weapons and thrust their fists towards the heavens.
Within that, his golden hair fluttering behind him, his body
clad in black armor, Askewell was a picturesque sight to
behold.
◇
“Captain!”
In the first, Chlust was woken from his rest by his
subordinate.
He hadn’t slept in days, and while he attempted to get in just a
few hours, the situation had vehemently changed.
Rising from the bed, Chlust slapped his cheeks to wake up as he
received the report.
“What happened?”
“The empire… the empire took out a dragoon!’
Hearing the words, Chlust made off without the chance to grab
any proper armor. Once he arrived where there was a good view he
saw the heads of two dragons, and the terrible state of two knights
lined up in the plaza in front of the fort.
Two imperial knights ordering around black ogres loudly demanded
their surrender.
“Bear witness to what Prince Askewell’s new unit has made of the
dragoons you relied upon! Cowards of Courtois! You have been given
the option. Fight for this fort to your deaths or surrender and
submit to the empire!”
The imperial knight’s words threw the local civilians who
remained at the fort into a panic. They had never even imagined
that a dragoon could lose.
It had never occurred to Chlust that the dragoons who came to
their aid would lose so easily.
“How in the… there’s something in the sky.”
In the air above them, a dragon-like shadow… no, Chlust was a
man born of Courtois. He knew that shadow was different from the
dragons of Courtois.
From his knowledge, he could make out what sort of monster it
was.
“Why are wyverns… they’re supposed to have even harsher
temperaments than dragons. No human has ever been able to make a
contract with them before!”
Chlust’s subordinates were gathered around him, cautiously
glancing around.
“Captain, the civilians who didn’t flee are demanding an
explanation. At this rate, this fortress will become a battle
royal!”
The people who fled into the fort and said they wouldn’t move
until the war was over were beginning to raise a ruckus. They had
been certain there was no way they would lose, but hearing of the
dragoons’ defeat, they were beginning to stir.
“That’s why I told them to run… dammit!”
Chlust was cornered into a situation with enemies both inside
and out.
It was a small fort.
If the citizens taking refuge inside ran amok, the knights and
soldiers would have to fight to save their own skin. When that
happened, the fortress insides would turn to hell.
The troops that remained were fighting to protect Courtois. If
they had to kill their own citizens, it would lead to a large loss
of morale. If it came to that, protecting this fort would be
impossible.
Before the fort, the imperial knight yelled.
“If you bring out the fort commander’s head, we wouldn’t mind
setting you up as nobles. Unlike Courtois, the empire pays its
dues!”
Loudly, the knight laughed.
Chlust and those around him heard it out in despair. The
civilians were beginning to gather around them.
Chlust’s subordinate.
“Stand down! Don’t try to go out.”
They readied their weapons to threaten the evacuated civilians,
but those civilians had gripped farm implements, and whatever
weapons they could find around the fort.
“I-it’s your fault for losing, bastards!”
“If I can become a noble in the empire…”
“We just want to live in peace!”
Chlust regretted leaving his armaments in his room.
(To think I would be killed by those I was to protect… sorry,
brother. This is as far as I go.)
Chlust had begun considering surrendering himself to the enemy.
If that would save his men and the people here.
But something passed over the skies of such a fort.
To the skies where those of both Courtois and Gaia raised their
heads, a dragon with four, large white wings was falling towards
the ground. Once its large build slammed into the soil, the
surrounding imperial knights, soldiers, and a great many black
monsters were blown off of their feet.
From above, a wyvern opened its mouth to hammer in its breaths,
but that mouth pierced through by a large sword of light, the magic
storing in its mouth reacted, exploded, and blew off its head.
While a cloud of dust covered everything, a glimmering something
let off an explosion of light.
The sounds of screams chimed out in turn, and at the end, the
white dragon’s large wings blew away the dust.
What appeared was a single knight clad in white armor, his blue
mantle fluttering in the wind. Imperial knights and monsters
gathering around him. That knight in white armor was soon
surrounded.
Chlust muttered—
“… Brother.”
◇
Landing on the ground alongside Sakuya, Rudel leaned the sword
in his right hand against his shoulders.
Looking around, there was nothing but enemies.
Two gray dragon heads presented before the fort, the husks of
knights were stuck up in unsightly states.
One among them was Rudel’s contemporary.
Saas Venia—a dragoon, while he had a bad look in his eyes, he
had a knack for looking after people.
Rudel had heard he’d been stationed on the border, and after
rushing to help, he had died in battle.
“… You’re disrespecting a warrior.”
As he sent around a look, the imperial knights and soldiers
behind the black monsters raised their voice. Surely they were
giving orders for his death. Rudel closed his eyes.
The blue eyes he slowly opened turned red, precisely taking in
the movements of his surroundings. Within a sensation as if time
was slowly passing by, Rudel spoke.
“I’m sure you all came here knowing you might now return to your
fatherland alive.”
Matching Rudel’s wrath, Sakuya roared into the sky. As
surrounding soldiers covered their ears at that ear-shaking din,
Rudel rushed forward and cut down the black ogre that had rushed
out before him.
It was the sort of black ogre he encountered in his school days,
its body covered in the white insignia of one who had once tried to
get in his way.
Rudel took a swipe at the net ogre.
“… I take it you’re serious. But you won’t advance a step
further!”
Turning his left hand forward, Rudel manifested a number of
swords of light around. The point of each made off towards its own
destination, impaling monster and enemy soldier alike.
While one of the knights parried the sword with his blade, it
exploded and crumbled his stance. Not letting the opportunity slip
by, Rudel closed in and let his sword run from his left shoulder to
right hip.
Armor was cut through, blood spouted as a terrible scene spread
around.
Sakuya brushed away ogres with her giant arms; she fired off her
breath towards the sky. As the airborne wyverns came into contact
with her breath, their wings tore, sending them falling to the
ground.
In contrast, even if the wyverns’ breath hit Sakuya directly, it
didn’t exhibit any particular effect.
The knight taking command in the back.
“R-retreat! Retreeaaat!!”
The order cemented the knight in Rudel’s mind as the commanding
officer, and closing the distance in an instant, he smacked his foe
with the shield in his left hand.
The knight commanding from horseback tolled across the ground,
while his horse acted up and ran off elsewhere.
The knights around tried to surround Rudel with their spears and
swords. Taking a lance thrust at him from a mounted knight in his
left hand, he snatched it away, and stuck it into the torso of a
knight with a sword.
Returning his own sword to its scabbard, he used a stolen sword
to cut at the nearest soldier. Another swift movement, as he cut
down monster and human in succession, his form, his movements were
truly close to a beast’s.
“You… monster!!”
Blown away by Sakuya, and rapidly sunk into a sea of blood by
Rudel, the unit of the empire.
It didn’t even take an hour for everything to be over.
The scene was witnessed by the soldiers and knights of the fort,
and the evacuated residents in gross fascination.
When it had ended, Rudel apprehended an unconscious enemy
leader. With a wave of his hand, he ordered those watching from the
fort to collect the commander from him.
Tossing aside the sword he was holding, Rudel walked over to the
husk of a comrade.
“… I’ll get you down. Sakuya, you take care of the dragons.”
‘… Yeah.’
Sakuya recovered the dragon’s heads, and as she gently placed
them on the ground, Rudel released his comrade and contemporary
from their gruesome fastenings.
To his friend Saas’ husk, Rudel made an address.
“I didn’t make it in time. I’m sorry… but I’ll fight for your
share. I shall definitely spread word of your heroism.”
Once soldiers raced in from the fort, Rudel looked around. The
monsters and soldiers he had killed were littered around, but
strangely, the monster dissolved into black smoke and
disappeared.
The black fumes ignored the pull of the wind, making off
somewhere.
Rudel’s expression was harsh as he looked at the sky, but there
he heard a nostalgic voice.
“Brother!”
When he turned, there was Chlust, not in a decent piece of
armor. He must have hurried, his breathing was considerably
rough.
“… You did well to hold out, Chlust.”
Chlust didn’t know what he was supposed to say. But looking at
Rudel, he made a serious face.
“Brother, that was only a small portion of the empire’s army.
Their main force is still ahead, scraping together supplies from
the area. I have to ask, how many reinforcements can we
expect?”
Seeing Chlust make the face of a commander, Rudel mood lightened
just a bit. But the thought couldn’t remain.
“Unfortunately, I was sent as the vanguard. I don’t have any
definite information on reinforcements.”
Chlust hung his head a bit.
“Understood. And thank you… you saved us.”
He gave his thanks.
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LNWNCentral_Dragoon_Dragoon - WN Chapter 146-167_Dragoon-WN-Chapter-146-167-[Yoraikun][Trollo]
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s3.txt
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Dragoon 148-160 - Dragoon 150: Comrade
Chapter 150: Comrade
After entrusting the defenders with a message to Luecke and
Eunius, Aleist had come to the gate to slip out of the palace.
Concealing himself in the pillar of a shadow near the gate, he
kept a close watch from within its shadow.
(I doubt I’ll be able to break through the walls or gate.)
They were bestowed with a special make, an especially high
resistance to magic in order to protect the palace.
There were armed soldiers stationed around and an order had been
issued for Aleist to be captured on sight.
While he had been able to evade all attempts, the Black Knight’s
power didn’t allow him to teleport. At most, he could sink into and
move across shadows.
The sun was high in the sky, leaving little room for him to
hide, let alone move. When he hid, only a single stretch formed a
conspicuously darker shadow, which might give him off all too
easily.
(Drat! I spent so long moving around, that time is… it looks
like my parents and the others got away, but…)
Izumi had made for Luecke and Eunius alongside the defenders. It
was a stroke of luck that within the uproar of war preparations, it
seemed they weren’t keeping a proper count of those in the
cells.
But Aleist alone was different.
His renown had him on the run from those in the palace
affiliated with, or whose superiors were affiliated with Aileen’s
faction.
(They’ve sealed the back door and escape ways, so I thought I’d
try the gate)
As Aleist considered forcing his way through, the soldiers in
front of the gate beckoned to him. He hid himself in surprise, but
when one of them removed their helmet, Aleist instantly recognized
him as a dear friend from his school days.
It did seem he had known he was hiding in the shadows. The other
soldiers couldn’t notice, but his friends ended up picking him
out.
“Captain, can I go take a piss…” one of them said, separating
from his units and racing over towards Aleist.
Circling around the round pillar, Aleist stuck his upper body
out from the shadow.
“It’s been a while, Aleist.”
“Y-yeah, it really has… no, I know now’s not the right time to
catch up.”
It wasn’t like Rudel group were Aleist’s only associates. While
it may be strange to spell it out so plainly, Aleist had a few
friends.
Keeping wary of his surroundings,
“Why did you run away? Supreme commander’s got to be a huge
promotion. Your parents and girlfriends got through… but the palace
is going to send someone after them in no time.”
Aleist gave a general explanation. That this world was strange,
and on top of Aileen running wild he explained in as shortest terms
as possible that Rudel was in danger.
His emotions getting the better of him, he didn’t know if he was
properly getting his thoughts across.
While still confused,
“… Got it. Luckily, the three of us are in the same unit. Makes
things convenient.”
“Convenient?”
“We’ll open the front gate just a bit. Use that opening to break
through.”
To his friend’s proposal, Aleist shook his head to the side.
“No way. You’ll get yourself killed.”
His friend smiled a bit.
“Play it off well, and it’ll end at the dungeons. And you
know,”
“You know?”
As Aleist worried, his friend smiled.
“This is the most we can do. Don’t be such a stranger…”
His friend pulled his helmet back down, and running off from
behind the pillar, he immediately informed his captain he had
returned. After explaining the situation to the other two, the
three immediately sprung to motion.
It was necessary to move a mechanism to open the gate; two of
them faced the soldiers protecting the lever, while one of them
distracted the captain.
And—
“Bastards! What are you doing!?”
By the time the captain noticed, the gate was already half
opened. While Aleist hesitated a bit, he soon leapt out from the
shadow and made a dash for the gate. To hurriedly close it, the
knights and soldiers had flocked around the lever, letting him run
through with ease.
A look back, and his friends were being smacked. But in the
moment before it slammed down.
“Go! Aleist!!”
They cried. The troops raised a great ruckus, they’d begun to
gather. Aleist made a clenched fist, he grit his teeth as he dived
into the shadows beyond the gate and sped away.
While the knights tried chasing Aleist shadow, upon shifting to
the shadows cast by the town scape, he easily shook them off.
(I’m sorry. I’ll definitely be back to save you!)
Aleist prayed for the safety of his friends.
◇
Into the basement dungeon, three battered knights were shoved
in.
Sophina watched from a cell on the opposite side.
“… What did these three do?”
She confirmed it with the soldiers who took them in; the lead
soldiers looked down over the three.
“They helped the black knight escape. Good grief, I can’t
comprehend why someone would aid a coward fleeing from war. If they
really are friends, they should’ve stopped him.”
With work to do, the soldiers soon left the cell.
“Are you friends of the Black Knight?”
The battered three looked to have been beaten quite brutally.
While their bones were probably intact, their faces and bodies were
ridden with bruises.
One of them muttered.
“Ha, hahaha, that’s right.”
On that answer, Sophina reached her arm through the iron bars.
Her left hand let off a faint light as the three writhed in pain,
their injured parts acting up.
“Stay put. It’ll be over soon.”
The dungeon’s watchman raced over.
“What are you doing!? Don’t make any funny moves.”
He held up a spear to intimidate her, so after a scoff,
“It’s already done. Don’t tell me you have a problem with
treating their injuries? And it’s not like I’m being kept here for
committing a crime.”
As the watchman went off with complaints on his breath, Sophina
looked at the three raising their bodies. And—
“Now then, you’ve taken some drastic measures, I see. If luck’s
against you, your punishments might reach all the way to your
families.”
The three gave thanks for the healing magic.
“The magic was a lifesaver. But to think that guy’d look so
serious… and when we heard Princess Aileen was involved, our
generation can’t help but be suspicious.”
Rudel and Aleist’s generation was one especially exposed to
Aileen’s preferential treatment of Fritz. They had witnessed and
formed a doubt.
Sophina had spent a few years at the academy as Fina’s guard.
Through that relationship, she was relatively knowledgeable on the
academy’s circumstances.
“I see… your year was one with a strong doubt towards Princess
Aileen. In that case,”
As Sophina considered adding these three to her war potential,
the footsteps of an armed group resounded through the basement
dungeon. The shrill sound of scraping metal, and the screams of
watchmen.
“W-what are you—!”
The watch instantly fell silent, as a tall gathering peered into
to confirm the contents of the cell.
One of the three,
“Tiger tribe? Why are they in a place like…”
A tall, armed tiger tribe young man spotted Sophina. Taking
along the two, he walked hunched-up through the narrow-looking
passage.
“I take it you are Sophina-san. The princess orders you to get
ready.”
Hearing that, Sophina.
“So it’s come. You’re here anyway, so get my subordinates and
those three too. It’s best to have as much manpower as
possible.”
Once the tiger tribe men opened the lock, Sophina met up with
her subordinates in the other cells.
(Now then, the fact that we’re moving means…)
◇
“NUHOHOHOoHoooo!”
Rolling on the bed, Fina was getting her fill of vacation in a
room far too luxurious for a prison.
“The seedy cheap fluff of this pillow is irresistible. If it was
just a bit fluffier, it would be perfect.”
She was shoved in a cell right after pulling an all-nighter:
after eating, she crashed, woke up, took a bath, then fell asleep
all over again. Leading such a no-good lifestyle, Fina found there
were no lifeforms to her tastes or demi-humans around, so she
embraced her pillow and rolled across the bed.
And yet.
“Hah, and now I’m bored. It really doesn’t hold up to real
fluff. Rather, I’ll make do with a sewer rat, someone, anyone come
out. I just want to give you food and rear you to liven the place
up a bit.”
Speaking as if she was scolding who she was up to a moment
before to learn some self-reflection, even placed in this
situation, Fina was expressionless and calm.
Getting somewhat a feel of the ruckus in the palace, she sensed
the main players were moving, so she had gone into
preparations.
Moving her expressionless body, Fina went into some warm-up
stretches as she spoke.
“My word, when you already know it’s going to happen, it sure is
quick to prepare for. Though thanks to that, we can move just as
fast.”
Breaking into a peculiar dance, Fina loosened up her body before
sitting on the bed. She corrected her posture, keeping as
motionless as a doll.
It was at that moment she heard a boisterous voice from the
door.
‘W-who are—!’
‘Call for backu—!’
She remained stationary throughout the ruckus. When the door
opened, a full-armed Mii popped in her head. She could see other
demi-human soldiers and knights through the gap in the door.
“P-princess, we’ve come to save you.”
Fina gave a small, expressionless nod. It wasn’t just to Mii,
she had to show her surrounding allies the sort of character she
was.
“I’m glad you could make it, Mii. I’m sure you’ve all had a hard
time. But here is where the true battle begins.”
The knight and soldier demi-humans directed salutes at Fina. An
armored group—before the members of the defenders, Fina laughed
within.
(The fluff brigade! The fluffy legion based around the cat
tribe… aah, what happiness. If only master were here, it’d be
perfect.)
Somehow containing her own writhing, Fina walked d own the
corridor.
“We will immediately begin suppressing sectors individually. How
many troops remain?”
As Fina confirmed it, Mii walking beside her looked over her
memo.
“Two thousand have been left at the palace. The royal guard is
to remain, and it seems the nobles in Princess Aileen’s faction are
at the palace as well.”
At Mii reporting in a fluster, Fina endured her urge to
drool.
“And our numbers?”
“A-around eight hundred. She took action earlier than planned,
so we couldn’t gather too great of a number. There are units of
ours that were absorbed into the expedition.”
Hearing the personnel she prepared had been added into Fritz
army, Fina wanted to click her tongue.
(I thought I could get two thousand with room to spare… well,
we’re in a race against time. We’ve got to do a clean sweep of
sister’s faction and their collaborators. Best done while it still
all counts as my own achievement.)
With dark thoughts on his mind, Fina shifted towards enacting a
plan she’d been furthering for a long while. It was a means for
when her sister took strong measures, and a means Fina didn’t want
to have to use.
(Now how about we start building my country?)
… If she could make an expression, Fina would surely have a
muddy-black smile slathered over her face.
◇
Surrounded by defenders, Izumi managed to come into contact with
Luecke and Eunius.
After explaining the situation, the two of them—
“… They’re demanding reinforcements from us too. That will put
us under Fritz’ command.”
As Luecke said that with a sour face, Eunius discontentedly
plucked his hair.
“Rudel was sent off alone, and Aleist chased after… those two
idiots aren’t thinking a thing.”
Eunius labeled Rudel and Aleist as fools, and sure enough, Izumi
also thought there might have been a better way they could’ve gone
about it.
But saying that now wouldn’t get them anywhere.
“I want to somehow help out those two. Would you be able to lend
your strength?”
At Izumi’s plea, Luecke reached a prompt verdict.
“There are too many strange points. I’ll return to my territory
at once, and send troops your way. But the problem is how I’m
supposed to persuade father.”
To his quandary, Eunius,
“Just give him a good smack-around. That always seems to work at
my place; though admittedly, I’ve never won against him
before.”
In the time Izumi wondered if that was alright, Luecke had
already shifted to action.
“I’m heading off. Izumi, what are you going to do?”
She touched a hand to her chest.
“I will make for Rudel as a reinforcement. He should be wanting
as much war potential as he can get.”
Luecke was about to open his mouth, but seeing Izumi’s serious
eyes shut him up.
Eunius spoke in his place.
“You’ve got your own stubborn streak. Throwing units at the
enemy one at a time isn’t the efficient way to do war. What’s more,
adding a single member to the battlefield accomplishes nothing.
Restrain yourself and either come with me or Luecke.”
Izumi shook her head. Her black ponytail swayed.
“If that doesn’t make it in time, I get the feeling I won’t
forgive myself for the rest of my life. So even if it’s just the
slightest bit faster…”
Before he could finish those words, a single knight entered the
room. Dragging along Vargas, who’d been keeping watch outside, the
individual who entered with a smile was Oldart.
“Oh, now look who it is. Izumi-chan, the special inspector
shouldn’t be abandoning her job. What are you going to do if Rudel
goes off the rocker when you’re not watching?”
“Captain Oldart? Umm, I’m—”
Oldart let two knights into the room. One of them was a
silver-haired female knight, her ears perked straight up.
The other was a handsome, slender male knight.
Bennet and Keith.
“Keith, Deliver the archdukes’ eldest sons to their territories.
And don’t lay a hand on them. Listen, I’m serious!”
On Oldart’s serious expression, Luecke and Eunius retreated a
step to look at Keith.
The one in question,
“To save a precious subordinate, and to save a dear friend, I
gladly take up this mission to deliver these men home. Ah, what a
wonderful day it is. For such beauty is the friendship between
men.”
Oldart ignored Keith.
“There are some problems with his personality, but he’s got the
top aerial capabilities in the dragoon brigade. Now onto the
dragoon brigade’s idol… Bennet-chan, take Izumi-chan with you, and
join Rudel in the fray. Ah, if you spot the black knight along the
way, pick him up.”
Bennet saluted.
“Understood, captain. He’s a precious subordinate to myself as
well, I will certainly make it in time. But whether I find the
black knight or not is up to question.”
Oldart scratched his head.
“That one’s a miscalculation on my part. Well, right now, it’s
more important t o hurry up. There’s no time. We’ll send around our
support as quickly as possible… you just have to hold out until
then. Don’t push yourself.”
Bennet and Keith answered their usually carefree captain’s
serious expression with earnest salutes.
Izumi thought to herself.
(I can only hope this is enough… Rudel.)
◇
An army of monster that continued to no end.
As if they didn’t know the notion of pause, they continued
invading the fort, wave after wave. There was no plan, and the
empire had gathered numbers great enough that one wasn’t
needed.
In the fort, Rudel sheathed his sword, sleeping as if to embrace
it.
He sat on a wooden crate, around him, the bonfires were kept
alit as the continuing enemy offense was dealt with. In the narrow
fort, Sakuya would take the blows of enemies that managed to make
it in.
Before hundreds of thousands of monsters, the reason a small
fort could hold out was due to the grace of a gaia dragon
subspecies, thanks to the defense of Sakuya’s tough skin.
Her large arms brushed away the monsters clinging to its walls,
but even so before the violence of hundreds of thousands, they were
pressed into a hard battle.
A dragon like Sakuya could continue fighting for a few days, but
the human Rudel was easily beset by his limits. Even so, he managed
to fight on two nights and two days, so he was plenty inhuman
himself.
Chlust had stationed trustworthy knights around Rudel.
Around, the civilians from around the fort who’d lost their
place to flee raised a ruckus in their terror.
“Why aren’t you fighting!? If you’re a knight, then
fight!”
“Let me out! I’ll get away from the fort, just let me out!”
“I never heard it would be like this! You can’t pin any of this on
me!”
Blindly faithful to the dragoons, and feeling betrayed, the
anger of the people was directed unto a resting Rudel. Even if he
had fought to the edge of his limit, in this state of panic, no
matter how they explained, they couldn’t expect understanding.
(That’s why I told them to run. And even if they run now,)
It was too late to run. Far too late. They were surrounded by
the empire’s army of monsters, and anyone who stepped out would be
no more than monster feed.
The fort’s defense had become a little more reliable with
Sakuya’s arrival, but a situation where they had to keep wary of
both inside and out still persisted.
A few hours after he began resting, Rudel slowly rose up.
“Brother! You can sleep some more! In that state—”
Seeing Rudel’s stamina and mana expended, Chlust wanted to use
every means at his disposal to get his brother just a little more
rest. But as Rudel lifted his face.
“The night will soon open up. When that happens, the enemy
movements will be even more active than before. Could I have a bit
of food?”
Rudel wouldn’t show a pained expression; Chlust ordered one of
his men to prepare a meal.
◇
The army led by the first prince of the empire… the crown prince
measured out the right timing to advance near the border.
Under a large pavilion, the crown prince was surrounded by his
generals.
“The wyvern unit is ready.”
“Crown prince, the time has finally come for us to launch a
counteroffensive on Courtois!”
“There are a hundred to two hundred dragoons at most, but the
empire’s wyvern unit surpasses five hundred. Even numerically, we
hold the advantage.”
Hearing out those statements,
“On this occasion, we are mere decoys. Rather than victory, our
priority shall be to shave away their foot soldiers. Hold the
dragoons in place with the wyvern unit, and use that space and our
numbers to put a dent in their army.”
At the crown princes declaration, the surroundings generals
quietly nodded. When it came to the battlefield, Courtois places
heavy stress on their dragoons. For that sake, their foot soldiers
were in short supply.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, the empire had more foot
soldiers than they knew what to do with. With Askewell leading his
monster army, a majority of the human soldiers came under the crown
prince’s command. Put up against Courtois’ soldiers in both quality
and quantity, they would win.
And there was meaning in prioritizing chipping down their foot
soldiers.
One of the generals,
“If they lose their foot soldiers, it will be impossible for
them to occupy their land. No matter how powerful the dragoons may
be, foot soldiers are still a necessity.”
The crown prince looked at the table laid out for him and the
generals. A map had been spread over it, with the formation of the
imperial army waiting intently for Courtois’ main force to come
lain out in wooden pieces.
“… There is no need to win. Defeat as many soldiers and
commanding officers within our capabilities. In an aerial battle,
our wyvern unit will never win against Courtois’ dragoons in
technical skills. Then we must knock Courtois down so hard it will
take them ten, twenty years to recover. In that time, the empire’s
crops will rise from the rich soil we have taken. For that is true
victory for the empire!”
When the crown prince stood, the generals stood with him. Their
expressions were all the epitome of severity. They could finally
get one back at Courtois, who had tormented them for many a long
year. The generals also understood this was a single important
battle for the empire to make a comeback.
While Courtois had been protected by the dragoons, the empire
was placed into the harshest of times. And those times had bred a
powerful land force.
Imperial soldiers… their quality was higher than Courtois’
average fighter. Their fighting spirit was higher than it ever
could be.
The crown prince gave a slight smile, he gripped his right hand
into a fist and held it up high.
“In this battle, the empire’s future hangs on everyone’s
performance. And I am certain we will reign victorious… victory to
the empire!”
“To the empire!”
The highest ranking of his generals following on from the crown
prince’s cry, the generals raised their voices in succession. Far
more unified than Courtois, they were a foe one couldn’t drop their
guard around.
◇
— Delivered home via Keith, Luecke met with his father, the head
of his house at the Halbades House castle.
Vast, apart from the window, every surface off the office his
father processed paperwork in was covered with bookshelves reaching
up to the ceiling. Well-set hair and beard, his clothing was also
prim and proper, a man who looked visibly high-strung.
He wouldn’t even look at his son Luecke who’d come home.
“… So, you’re telling me to dispatch Halbades House troops
because you want to save a friend? Going as far as to oppose the
kingdom? I had my hopes on you, but now I wonder what I was looking
at.”
At the words of his father, Luecke clenched his fist and grit
his teeth. He expected it would come to this, and negotiating with
that predetermined result in mind, Luecke had merely reaffirmed
it.
He desperately moved his mouth, speaking of profits to the
Halbades House.
“There is a high probability Princess Aileen is moving of her
own accord, and more unnatural than anything is that—”
“Probability? Unnatural? The moment you move on wishful thinking
is the moment you fail. You’re not at an age where you can’t
understand that, are you?”
His paperwork finished, Luecke’s father returned his quill to
its pen stand and capped off his ink vial. He reviewed the
documents as he waited for the ink to dry.
Sitting deep into his chair, he closed his mouth and shut his
eyes. Luecke’s voice grew rough.
“Then I’ll head out alone if I have to.”
To Luecke.
“I know you hold affection for the daughter born to an Arses
House concubine. Are you throwing away your life for her? Be good,
and I wouldn’t mind you taking her as a concubine of your own. Give
it another thought.”
Luecke scoffed at his father’s cold words.
“Hah, I’d rather you not belittle me. I’ll seduce the woman I
love on my own terms. But a friend… Rudel is a dear friend to me.
If I let him die, I won’t be able to forgive myself.”
Resting an elbow on his desk, Luecke’s father spoke.
“I see. Then I’ll send reinforcements, though I don’t know if
you’ll make it in time. I’m busy over here. The matter’s in your
hands.”
Luecke had turned his back to his father, the head, and was
about to leave the room. Seeing that back, the head gave a tired
mutter.
“… Good grief, you weren’t that sort of kid.”
Luecke stopped in his track.
“… Certainly, perhaps I’ve changed. But I personally take it for
the better.”
Beaten down by his persistence, the head called out to Vargas,
who was stationed outside the room.
“… Vargas, are you there?”
“Y-yes!”
Rudel’s upperclassman, Vargas was also Luecke’s guard. He was,
at present, a knight of the Halbades House leading his own unit. He
had been quite worried about Rudel, and perhaps he intended to
sortie with Luecke as he was already wearing his armor.
“I shall be heading to the palace on a separate matter. Know you
will only have five thousand troops to move. I will require one
thousand of my own.”
“Father?”
As Luecke turned, the head smiled a bit.
“You’re still a child, Luecke… did you think I didn’t know a
thing? I’d long since grasped Princess Aileen’s suspicious
movements. I’m sure that Diade will also be moving. And listen
well… if you’re a man of an Archduke House, show enough ardor to
make your side the one that wins. You go to your friend. I’ll do
something about the palace. It seems Princess Fina’s already
moving, after all.”
Liecke was a little dumbfounded by his father’s words, but he
soon nodded and called to Vargas.
“Let’s go, Vargas!”
“Leave it to me, young master!”
“Don’t call me young master! Dammit, I’m going to reeducate you
one of these days!”
Luecke had moved in order to save Rudel.
◇
In the courtyard of the Diade House castle, Eunius was being
knocked off his feet by his father.
His strong-muscled father wasn’t as tall as him. But his arms
were much thicker, and his body was ridden with large scars.
They were scars of the battlefield. His short hair standing on
end, his stiff beard made him more of a brave warrior than a
nobleman.
“… Concede the battlefield to you? When did you become more
important than me, son?”
When Eunius wiped his mouth with a sleeve, it turned red, but
paying no mind, he glared at his father.
“I’m going to save a pal! Why do I have to deal with that pissy
Princess Aileen at the palace!? You go take the palace, old
man!”
His thick eyebrows twitch, Eunius’s father punched Eunius again
to blow him away. But this time, Eunius endured and returned the
punch.
Smacked by his son, his father spaced out just a bit, but
bursting into laughter, this time he smacked Eunius without holding
anything back.
Blown all the way into the wall, Eunius fell to the ground.
“Nice fist. Very well, I’ll respect that punch and your tongue
with the plains of war. But I won’t accept anything apart from
victory. If you skulk back without any distinguished service, I’m
rebuilding you from the ground up.”
Eunius stood and brushed off the dirt clinging to his
clothing.
“You old fogey… too strong for your own good.”
Looking at his son Eunius with a smile, Eunius’ father barked
orders to his subordinates around.
“I’m heading to the palace. You all follow Eunius. If that idiot
tries running, give him a kick in the ass towards the
battlefield.”
Eunius spat his saliva at that unthinkable line from an
archduke. A majority-red spit stuck to the grass, but paying it no
mind, Eunius looked at the lines of soldiers.
Stationed close to the border, the elite gathering of Diade
House vassals.
Strapping on their armor, they turned to Eunius and stood in
file.
“… Run? If I ran and abandoned a friend, I’ll regret it for
life. This alone is where I won’t run.”
And as he walked off towards his vassals, Eunius declared.
“Aight, I’m off to carve the Diade House name into those foolish
imperials. You lot, try ‘n keep up!”
Eunius’ words were followed by a loud response. While the Diade
House was rough, that was simply the gathering of warriors they
were.
Eunius looked at his men hurriedly moving around.
(Don’t know if we’ll make it in time. Rudel, don’t overdo
it.)
And as Eunius looked to the sky, the sun was blocked out by a
flying something, making a shadow.
◇
Near the Hardie House estate in the royal capital, Aleist ran
into Nate.
“Senpai, the Hardie House manor has already been occupied.”
“Nate? What about my parents!”
To a panicking Aleist, Nate closed one eye in a wink.
“They already got out of the city. Said something about
returning to the territory and preparing for war. Your house sure
is radical, senpai. I’m worried whether or not I can keep up.”
Aleist half-smiled seeing Nate as her usual self. She wore a
robe around her body, and nearby a hippogryph was stationed taking
on horse form. It was Nate’s partner.
To its side, with long black hair, a monster with red lines
running down its horn… the Nightmare Heath stood as well.
Approaching its master Aleist, it touched its horn to him.
“Heath, you waited for me.”
Aleist’s armor and baggage were loaded on its back. He had come
to collect them, but it did seem Nate was being considerate.
“Nate, you stayed too? What about that nameless knight brigade,
or would you prefer shadow brigade?”
As Aleist tilted his head, Nate touched a hand to her brow.
“They’re doing their work. I, well see… I’m your fiancé, so I
came to support you. I’ll follow you wherever you go.”
Seeing Nate at her usual tempo, Aleist gave a bitter smile. A
voice called from behind him as well.
“Nate, you… are you trying to promote yourself?”
“Dirty. Nate, you’re playing dirty.”
There, Seli and Juju met up with them, wearing their
equipment.
“Eh? H-huh?”
To Aleist’s snowballing confusion, the female camp gathered one
after another. A woman who was the daughter of a merchant came over
to Aleist.
“Aleist-sama, I shall be the one to safely deliver you out of
the capital.”
“Oy, that’s the only part you’ll be of any use at all!”
“Rather, isn’t this quite a number?”
“Huh? Didn’t know you were joining in.”
Aleist looked at the gathered members. And despite his
confusion.
“Err… I’m putting up a bit of resistance to the kingdom, and no
matter how you cut it, I’ll be in a terrible position after this.
So anyway, if possible, I’d quite like if you forgot about me and
moved on.”
To that, Aleist’s academy junior Seli spoke.
“What are you talking about!? If you folded to such an order and
became supreme commander, I’d have cut off our engagement then and
there. To save a friend, Aleist-sama who stood in the trust sense
against the kingdom’s crisis is the only one worthy of being my
husband.”
Juju’s face likewise flushed red.
“Aleist, you really are cool.”
Aleist thought.
(… Huh? Why is everyone following me? Didn’t mom say something
about knowing where you stand… rather, why every one of them? I see
some people here I’m not even engaged to…)
The females that came there were too numerous to count on two
hands.
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LNWNCentral_Dragoon_Dragoon - WN Chapter 146-167_Dragoon-WN-Chapter-146-167-[Yoraikun][Trollo]
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s4.txt
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Dragoon 148-160 - Dragoon 151: The Other Reincarnation
Chapter 151: The Other Reincarnation
The Arses House manor.
Many armed knights and soldiers crowded into the stretch from
the gate to the front door.
In the noisy state, preparations were underway to intercept the
Gaia Empire encroaching on the national border. While the troops
had gathered, it wasn’t the best gathering.
Two thousand had been scraped together, but both their equipment
and training fell short.
Sitting atop the roof, Lena Arses looked over them with a
stretch and a yawn.
“With our territory, it’ll be hard to get any more.”
Their misgovernment was running its course.
When they heard of Courtois’ crisis, there were even nobles and
knights who fled. The soldiers were few to gather, making it
evidently clear how little adoration the Arses House held.
That they could gather two thousand even so must have been their
status as Archdukes.
Looking at troop numbers far too low for the scope of their
territory, Lena spotted Erselica conversing with a knight.
“Erselica’s gotten around quite a bit, but this is going to be
harsh.”
Even if they marched out now, and gained the assistance of the
nobles who would cooperate, it would take time to reach the border.
Any missteps, and they wouldn’t make it in time.
Lena hung her spear over her shoulder and looked up at the
sky.
Nostalgic… a truly nostalgic wind swept over her. Feeling the
abnormal flow of air fanned by a dragon’s wings, she leisurely
stood.
A blue, beautiful dragon blatantly glaring at her before her
eyes—Mystith looked down over Lena.
While the surroundings grew panicked, Lena could be no
calmer.
‘I’ve found myself quite the impertinent human, I have. I don’t
know where you learned it, but your whistle– reached me.’
She had whistled at the sky. But that was no ordinary
whistle.
It was a whistle to summon a dragon. To be more precise, it was
the whistle that had been taken up between Marty and Mystith. A
whistle that could be heard no matter where the other might be.
Lena turned to Mystith with a smile.
“I don’t really remember the specifics. But you know… I thought
I could do it. And I thought you would come for me.”
Flapping her wings, Mystith narrowed her eyes to gaze at
Lena.
‘… So that’s how it is.
Opening her mouth in a laugh, Mystith addressed the young
girl.’
‘It’s been a while, Marty… you’ve gotten quite cute when I
wasn’t looking.’
Lena laughed alongside her.
“Right you are, Mystith. But I’m sorry, but there’s barely
anything I remember. Right now I’m Lena… Lena Arses, and a girl.
And… I want to save my brother. Could I have your cooperation?”
Mystith slowly lowered herself onto the ground, bringing her
eye-level to Lena’s height.
‘So you want me to lend a hand. But Marty—’
“It’s Lena. I’m Lena Arses, Mystith.”
Lena said with a smile.
“I want to save my brother.”
‘To think you were Rudel’s little sister. Is this some sort of
fate?’
On Mystith’s words, Lena hung her head a bit in thought.
It wasn’t like she knew everything. She simply had a slight
hunch she had a past she didn’t know. It was impossible for her to
determine whether that was true or just her delusion.
(I think I remembered when I was with broski. Right, that time
when he came over with my—the book the past me wrote.)
While it was vague, it happened when Rudel brought her a book
she had written in a past life. At that moment, Lena remembered a
time before.
A stranger’s memory. And the fact that a past life self existed,
to Lena at the time, it was an exceedingly heavy truth to
swallow?
Just who was she? She started to think her own existence was a
fabrication. Yet to Lena, Rudel would speak on and on about just
how great Marty was. He would preach honest praise, strengthening
both their aspirations to be a dragoon—
“… My brother’s an idiot, isn’t he.”
‘… He is.’
Mystith openly agreed with that one.
“When I looked at my brother like that, it felt so idiotic to
think too hard about everything. Not like I wasn’t an idiot myself.
I decided not to think too hard. It’s a new life after all. Why not
have some fun with it? But…”
This time, she was going to live her life as Lena. That’s why
she never thought she would involve Mystith in her life.
“Surely, there was some reason I was my brother’s little sister,
I think.”
Lena said and stroked Mystith.
Mystith spread her wings wide, she seemed delighted d at Lena’s
touch.
‘Welcome back, Marty. And it’s a pleasure to meet you, Lena
Arses. You are my third partner.’
◇
At the palace, Fritz looked at the edge of the sword he’d been
given.
Looking over that sword, embedded with gemstones and made with
the latest technology, he confirmed his preparations were in order
before tucking it into its sheath.
“Fritz-sama, the preparations to depart are complete. And it
does seem the black knight made it out of the capital.”
“Got it.”
Ritz said and left the room, heading for the palace courtyard
where his dragon awaited.
His subordinate following behind made an anxious face.
“Fritz-sama, there’s no need for you to personally subjugate the
black knight—”
An irritated Fritz glared at his subordinate before increasing
his walking pace.
“Do you think I’ll lose or something?”
Fritz was impatient. It was all well and good that he became
Supreme commander, but it was quite clear to him that his
surroundings didn’t accept him.
Without any achievements to speak of, Fritz had completely
become a decoration. His last ray of hope, Aileen, seemed to be
under the impression if that would keep him out of harm’s way, it
would be fine.
(Like I could accept that.)
The existences called Rudel and Aleist were a hindrance to him.
Defeating Aleist who ran away was his last opportunity to
demonstrate his own abilities.
(Even if he’s the black knight, I have a dragon on my side. Like
hell I’d lose.)
He’d obtained a new sword.
It was a powerful blade, just by the look of it, and when he
actually tried using it, it truly was fearsome. With that might,
Fritz would defeat Aleist, demonstrate his own strength, and become
supreme commander not only in name alone.
(I won’t let myself become a decorative piece.)
Going out with that on his mind, Fritz looked at the gray dragon
on standby in the courtyard. His partner, upon seeing him turned
him its back. The surrounding servants looking after it distanced
themselves as Fritz jumped on and wrung out his voice.
“We’re striking down the black knight. Now fly!”
Abiding by Fritz’ order, the gray dragon flapped its wings and
rose into the sky.
◇
A few horse-drawn carriages left the outer wall of the royal
capital.
Out of the luggage loaded into the back of one, Aleist popped
his face.
“W-we somehow managed.”
With some peace of mind, having rounded the outermost bounds of
the city, Aleist looked around with a relieved expression. His
faithful steed Heath was pulling the carriage in disguise.
He remained on guard a while, but there were no signs of enemy
attack. A few kilometers away, Aleist showed his whole body from
the shadows of the luggage crates.
“Well now, I was worried they would notice, but it looks
alright.”
Following on from Aleist, the female members appeared one after
the next.
“Even so, at our pace, the time to the border is—”
All of a sudden, Aleist looked up at the cloth stretched over
the ceiling, promptly leaping out of the carriage and looking up at
the sky.
A gray dragon was headed their way from the castle, and looking
around, there was a strange scarcity of passersby using the main
road.
It was the road that led to the capital, quite an unnatural
state of affairs.
“So they did notice.”
Shedding a cold sweat, Aleist pulled his pair of swords from
their sheaths. As the dragon flapped its wings to maintain its
position overhead, he heard Fritz’ voice.
“Did you think you left unnoticed? Well so be it. Black Knight
Aleist, you are going to die here.”
As the gray dragon opened its mouth about to fire its breath,
Aleist enveloped his surroundings in a sphere of his own shadow to
harden his defense.
Yet before a dragon’s breath, Aleist’s defenses were torn down
all too easily.
“—!”
With his defenses breathed, Aleist looked up to see Fritz’
descent.
The women around him readied their weapons, but as they tried to
cut at him, the Dragon landed to intimidate them. Aleist redirected
his stance at the beast before him.
“What a bother. We’re in a hurry here.”
Sensing Aleist’s panic, Fritz laughed a bit.
“You’re not going to make it regardless. Instead of your useless
plight, please just die by my blade.”
When Fritz drew his sword, Aleist looked perplexedly at it.
(Haven’t I see that sword somewhere…)
Ritz cut at him. Was it the weapon’s specs, or perhaps his own
ability?
He had gotten quite a bit stronger than before.
“I always wanted to cut you down like this. I can’t forget my
grudge from the academy!”
The grudge he spoke of involved Aleist instantly taking him out
at the Academy Tournament. Thanks to that, Fritz had been terribly
belittled by those around him.
Blocking Fritz’ slack with both blades, Aleist kicked forward to
destroy his footing. But Fritz took distance and cut in again.
Aleist parried it with the sword in his left hand, only for Fritz
to contain Aleist’s right arm with his own left.
(This bloke’s far stronger than last time…)
The gemstone embedded in Fritz’ sword let off a light. The sword
was strengthening his body.
“It’s water under the bridge! What are you even doing here!?
You’re—the supreme commander, aren’t you!?”
Aleist took distance as he fired a few spears made from his own
shadow at Fritz, but Fritz cut them down.
An irritated Aleist.
Inside, his anger towards Fritz was welling up
(You’re the supreme commander, dammit. What are you doing here!?
Go prepare for war or something.)
As the Kingdom of Courtois readied itself for invasion, it was
unthinkable that the army’s commander personally came out to defeat
Aleist.
From Aleist’s point of view, he wanted to come to Rudel’s aid
without a second to lose.
Fritz laughed. But his smile was a dark one.
“Supreme commander? At this rate, I’ll be a decoration. No merit
or achievement. Who’d seriously listen to my opinion? … Made light
of for being a commoner, mocked by the nobles. They treat me like
I’m your replacement… like I can put up with that!”
Rushing at Aleist, Fritz went into a consecutive stream of cuts.
Skillfully handling them with two swords, Aleist cried out as the
sparks flew around him.
“Like I care! That’s what you asked for!”
From Aleist’s point of view, Fritz’ circumstances were the least
of his worries. Diving into his shadow to avoid one of Fritz’
attacks, he moved behind him to cut him down.
Yet in Fritz’ time of crisis, the dragon roared, averting
Aleist’s attention.
“Dammit! If the dragon weren’t there, it’d be over in no
time!”
Irksomely taking distance, Aleist saw his comrades taking up
positions to surrounding Fritz.
(Even if we all go at him at once, the dragon will get in the
way. This guy’s out here playing for own merits…)
If Fritz really intended to crush Aleist, he could have managed
by riding his dragon and launching breath attacks from that
sky.
In that instance, Aleist would make it look like he was blown
away, covertly recovering his members to overcome the situation.
Contriving a means of escape in a corner of his mind, Aleist turned
Fritz a smile.
“Are you satisfied, winning under a dragon’s protection…
Fritz?”
In his attempted provocation, Aleist looked at his face to
confirm his irritation.
With a furrowed brow, Fritz readied his sword.
“I’m different from a pathetic man who’s protected by his
women.”
Aleist laughed.
“Kahah! That so. Never thought I’d hear that from someone
protected by Princess Aileen and allowed to do whatever he pleases.
You mean to tell me it wasn’t Princess Aileen who appointed you as
Supreme Commander in the first place?”
Seeing Fritz grit his teeth, Aleist thought.
(I see, so he noticed. That’s why he’s forcing himself to kill
me. But look, kid…)
“… You, you really need to look at a mirror. You prattle on
about commoners and nobles, but in the end, you’re only looking out
for yourself.”
Aleist said, despite his thoughts.
(Well, not like I’m one to speak.)
For now, enraging Fritz was the priority. Reaching a hand behind
his back, he signaled for his comrades to gather behind him.
His comrades slowly moved into position.
“A wealthy bastard like you who’s got everything can’t
understand what—”
“Yeah, I can’t. I’m not going to sugarcoat it… but what does
that make you? Protected by Princess Aileen, she even made you
supreme commander. And yet, people aren’t listening to you, so you
go off on your own to take me out? Didn’t you despise those blasted
nobles who ignored their people and went off on flights of fancy?
Man, you really have it wonderful. I’m sure they’ll sing songs of
praise. Of that damn fool out lusting for glory.”
From Aleist’s point of view, the commander going out front and
fighting was unthinkable.
Of course, he only thought so because he knew a past life.
As Fritz said, those placed under a knight with no deeds of
arms, no real life experience could only be anxious.
Anyone would prefer an achieved soul abundant in experience.
“Fritz, you’re becoming the person you hate most. I can tell.
I’m not too different. So—”
“—You’re the same as me? Impossible. That’s definitely
impossible!”
In the end, Aleist’s compassion came out. He wanted Fritz to
somehow notice, because he got the feeling he was practically
looking at himself.
His past self—his past portion so stuck up looked the same as
Fritz to him.
But his words wouldn’t reach.
Turning expressionless, Fritz moved to the side of where he was
standing.
“That’s enough. Burn away.”
The moment Fritz stepped away, the form of a gray dragon, a
breath prepared in its wide-open mouth came into sight.
(Here it comes!)
Measuring out the right time, Aleist was about to move to rescue
his party.
But it was there, the dragon suddenly closed its mouth, picked
up Fritz, and soared into the sky.
“Wah! Oy, I didn’t order you to—”
It must have been unexpected for Fritz as well. He was
panicking.
Where Fritz had been a moment ago, a mass of water—a number of
orbs showered down. They burst upon colliding with the ground,
soaking Aleist and his cohorts.
Aleist looked to the sky—
“—Bennet-san!”
Riding a dragon with blue scales, the form of a small-built
young girl with silver hair.
“Sorry for that. Couldn’t hold back.”
Bennet said, intimidating her opponent with her own dragon. The
difference between a wild dragon and a bred one was far too
different from the get-go. To add to that, the difference in
strength between its partner Bennet and Fritz was great as
well.
The gray dragon retrieved Fritz and retreated for the
palace.
“Aleist!”
It wasn’t just Bennet on the Dragon’s back. Izumi was there with
her.
“Get on. We’re on a direct route to Rudel.”
Aleist nodded, immediately gathered his comrades and put them to
preparations.
◇
Having returned to the palace, Fritz immediately reported to
Aileen that the dragoon brigade had turned coat.
However—
“Fritz-sama… We have already received a report from Captain
Oldart of the Dragoon Brigade that a portion of the dragoons have
defected. However, we are in a state of affairs where we are unable
to chase after them.”
Around a troubled-sounding Aileen, the knights of good pedigrees
waited upon her. Taking the name of guards, the knights who were
stationed near Aileen in Fritz’ place.
They looked at Fritz with eyes of scorn.
“You should really get a grip, high and mighty supreme
commander. At this very moment, you are the responsible party for
all military affairs.”
When he was told it wasn’t supposed to be Aileen receiving these
reports, Fritz clenched his fists. The knights looked at him and
laughed.
Aileen spoke to soothe him.
“They shall receive the appropriate recompense after the war.
Does that work out?”
Aileen said as she sought confirmation from the knights around
her. With their nods, an order was handed down to Fritz.
“Then Fritz-sama. As our general, why don’t you go take down the
foolish Gaia Empire invading upon our lands?”
Fritz kneeled and accepted the order.
“Yes, Princess Aileen.”
But he was conflicted inside.
Despite becoming supreme commander, the knights—the young nobles
of good households made light of him, and he was being sent off to
the battlefield as a mere decoration.
(… What the hell am I even doing here.)
Aleist’s words, ‘you’re becoming the person you hate most,’
abruptly flashed through his head.
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LNWNCentral_Dragoon_Dragoon - WN Chapter 146-167_Dragoon-WN-Chapter-146-167-[Yoraikun][Trollo]
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Dragoon 148-160 - Dragoon 152: Fina’s Counterattack
Chapter 152: Fina’s Counterattack
At the dragoon brigade headquarters, preparations to sortie were
underway.
Contrary to his usual insincerity, the Captain Oldart was
issuing orders with a serious face.
Readied for takeoff, the dragons stood in file, the forms of
their partner dragoons on their backs a magnificent spectacle.
Close to a hundred had lined up. The scene that unfolded was one
that upon which, it wouldn’t be strange if anyone was already
convinced if another victory.
“The old empire never learns. Well, I’m sure they have some
prospects…”
Oldart groaned, knowing well they were no fools; his
vice-captain Alejandro shed a cold sweat as he walked over.
He was followed behind by people who weren’t allowed to be
there.
(That Alejandro, he’s as spineless as ever.)
The one following him was a certain Fina, surrounded by
demi-human knights. The dragoons around raised a ruckus.
“Oldart, you have a summons from the princess.”
Contrasting Alejandro’s panic, Oldart spread out both hands with
a smile.
“Well if it isn’t her highness, the second princess. What brings
you to such a sweltering place.”
The flurried haste of the palace. Added to the unreasonable
orders, and Aileen’s seemingly suspicious movements—Oldart had an
inkling something had happened in the Palace.
He hit upon that Fina coming here must have some sort of
meaning.
Fina expressionlessly addressed him.
“I would be very much obliged if you could lend me just a few of
your dragoons, Oldart-dono.”
Before Fina’s inability to show expression, Oldart knew this was
going to be difficult as he scratched his head.
“Dear me, what could you mean by that? Haven’t you noticed we’re
in a bit of a crisis here?”
Fina gave a small not, touching her right hand to her chest.
“Yes, I am aware. Should I say that is precisely why? A moment
ago, I was imprisoned by my sister—Aileen.”
Seeing Alejandro make an unpleasant face, Oldart folded his
arms.
“So you’ll bring the dragoons into the palace’s mess. Are you
sure about that? Our dragoons… it is my humble opinion that their
power shall only be exercised in defense.”
If they were dragged in, they would have done something there
was no taking back. Even so, Fina wasn’t moved.
No, it didn’t come out on her face, so it was impossible to tell
what she was thinking.
“Three dragon riders have sided with Aileen. Did you happen to
have three taking separate action? For instance… three who were to
remain stationed in the remotest of regions?”
Oldart felt like clicking his tongue. He endured it to make a
smile.
(Can’t be part of the main force. So some folks sent off to the
outskirts were lured in by promotions…)
“You have my apologies for that one. We’ll have them caught and
thrown in the dungeons in no—”
Fina wouldn’t let Oldart finished.
“— The dungeons aren’t kept open for dragoons alone. My sister
shall go with them. As my personal request.”
Fina told him her plan. Upon hearing it, Alejandro’s face turned
pale, while Oldart formed a stiff smile.
“Is this really the time for a family quarrel?”
Fina’s reply came immediately.
“It’s never too rare among royalty. Additionally, could I ask
you to send reinforcements to my mast… Rudel-sama? As inconspicuous
of a number as possible. Just a few elites, if you can.”
Oldart had already been considering it.
“Are you fine with just a few?”
“If the numbers are too different, I fear it will be seen
through. Both fronts of the empire’s invasion plan likely have the
potential to become their main force. We shouldn’t divide our
numbers too much. And… I’m sure master will be fine.”
Fina said, established Oldart’s cooperation and left. Oldart
looked at the girl’s back as,
“… The hell’s up with master?”
In his head, Rudel had become even more incomprehensible.
◇
After the dragoon brigade had taken flight. From the royal
palace, an army of a few tens of thousands passed under the gate of
the outer wall on their march.
Fritz set out in magnificent armor, and with so many people
leaving the royal palace of the royal capital, it was fare more
scarcely populated than usual.
Aileen lowered herself into the throne in the audience
chamber.
The knights and nobles around her recommended it.
“You’re a perfect fit, Princess Aileen. No, Queen Aileen.”
The nobles continued lifting her up with their words.
“But the empire sure is foolish.”
“Surely. When there’s no way they can win against a dragon.”
“Even if they manage to take land, the dragons will take it
back.”
Their optimism lay in just how powerful the dragon’s really
were. As a matter of fact, they had protected the kingdom of
Courtois like that for hundreds of years.
Aileen breathed a small sigh.
“It may be fine to reclaim it. But of the empire lays hand on
fertile soil, perhaps they’ll calm down and stop instigating
wars.”
Hearing that, the surrounding knights and nobles were a little
flustered.
“No, Aileen-sama, I would never recommend leaving them be. It’s
the empire we’re talking about here, if they get one victory,
they’ll prepare to invade again—”
“Then we can simply talk the matter out. We do have vast spans
of fertile earth. What have you to complain about?”
Her surroundings sent her troubled faces. But the had decided to
lift Aileen up even so. From now on, they could make as many
excuses to her as they pleased. So they thought.
In fact, it would surely be possible.
However—
“U-urgent message!”
A knight of the royal guard plunged into the audience chamber.
The large doors were violently thrown open as he stood, out of
breath in a huge panic.
“Princess Fina is—leading the defenders in a rebellion!”
A tension raced across the audience chamber. Aileen stood from
her chair, covering her mouth with both hands.
“Fina did… there’s no way…”
The guard knights nearby her issued our orders.
“Suppress it at once. And don’t harm Princess Fina.”
They were the sole two heirs to the royal bloodline, with high
utility value. The intent was to quell the rebellion at once, and
have someone else take responsibility.
But Fina’s rebellion exceeded their anticipation.
“I-it’s impossible! The number of armed defenders exceeds five
hundred. The civilians are joining in to besiege the palace
walls!”
As knight and noble alike opened their eyes wide, the vehement
sounds of battle came from outside the castle.
“We request reinforcements at—”
As the messenger knight said that, one of the nobles wrung out
his voice.
“Calm down. We have the dragoons we called from the—”
Recalling the existence of their trump card, the dragoons, the
knights and nobles present regained their composure.
But the knight opened his mouth wide.
“Nay. They have them too… our three dragoons have already been
taken in!”
◇
Six dragoon knights had held down the dragoons on Aileen’s
side.
Breaching the palace gate, Fina stepped in surrounded by knights
of the tiger tribe.
Yet they stood without entering the door to the palace.
“Good on them to anticipate the enemy’s infiltration, but this
sure is troublesome.”
Prepared long ago, the door unclear whether it could even move
or not was closed. Aileen’s group had locked themselves into a
siege, it seemed they intended to endure to the return of their
dispatched troops.
It was not the palace of the historic Courtois Kingdom for
nothing, its defense couldn’t be dealt with through ordinary
means.
The high knight Sophina took command, while in the palace, the
defenders continued the fight with the troops of Aileen’s
faction.
“Hurry with the siege weapon!”
Aleist’s friends were also taking part, reassembling a siege
weapon within the castle walls to use from the inside. But it
wasn’t made in the first place to be used indoors.
“Not happening! In the first place, the halls are to narrow to
carry it.”
The place was vast enough, but if they wanted to reuse the siege
weapon they’d brought, they’d have to downscale it. That would
lower its output.
If they took it too far, it might not do anything at all.
“You look exhausted. Should I have a dragon blow it away with
breath from the outside?”
When Fina ran her mouth on that, she heard a voice from
behind.
“Princess… no, Fina-sama, that would be quite troubling. To burn
up the valuable material in the palace, and the many pieces of fine
art will surely bring trouble down the line.”
When Fina turned, she made a terribly unpleasant face in her
head.
(Dammit, they’re already here.)
There, Luecke’s father, Archduke Halbades led his own troop to
make his way to her.
“You’ll be troubled when you take the throne, or perhaps become
queen.”
Fina was expressionless to the Archduke… but quite irritated
inside, she asked.
“Archduke Halbades. We are in a time of crisis. The fact you
have appeared before me with such a statement means…”
The knights around Fina readied their weapon, stepping before
Fina and the archduke. Not that Archduke Halbades seemed to
mine.
“The Halbades House offers you our assistance. Fret not, with
our cooperation, victory is assured. We will see to it that you are
queen, be it consort or regnant.”
Fina expressionlessly had the knights around her back down.
“I’m counting on you, Archduke Halbades.”
(Dammit! Dammit! I wanted to suppress the palace already,
greatly regulate the nobles and chip away at the power of these
archdukes! If he plays a part, my reforms will…)
From inside the palace corridor came the sound of an enemy
attack. It seemed they were attempting to destroy the siege
weapon.
But a large glass pane in the corridor shattered, and as rugged
knights and soldiers clambered in, a bloodbath was immediately
raised among the enemy knights.
A red blood expanding across the corridor, the head of the Diade
House, Archduke Diade made an appearance toting his prided war
hammer.
When he placed it on the ground, it let off a heavy sound.
“Fina-sama! No need to fear, now that the Diade House is
here.”
The hardy Archduke Diade proclaimed his alliance with a grand
laugh. In her head, Fina burst into dry laughter.
“Aha, ahahahah… how did they get to the palace so fast!? It
should have taken more time! This is strange. There’s something
fishy here!”
At first, Fina intended to take a large bit of power from the
other nobles, but two of the archduke houses had pledged their
cooperation.
She thought they might watch and wait some, what’s more, it
should have taken more time just to get their soldiers from their
territories to the capital.
Fina’s plan was beginning to twist astray.
“… With great pleasure, I do accept the aid of Archduke
Diade.”
When they arrived after all was over, Fina intended to give a
sarcastic quip and move to reduce their power. Was he aware of
that? Archduke Halbades sang praise of Fina.
“But splendidly done, Fina-sama. I’d almost have to assume
you’ve been planning this for ages. For even the people of the
capital to take your side.”
She had put Mii and the other demi-humans, along with a great
many knights at the bottom of the totem pole up to spreading
rumors. After the armies departed, she leaked a rumor a portion of
the territories were to be abandoned.
Generally speaking, she made it out that the nobles were
bad.
“On the way here, we received some considerably harsh looks from
the people. Treating us almost as if we were the enemy. No, I
wouldn’t dare to imply it was your doing, Fina-sama.”
With that cynicism from Archduke Diade, Fina internally broke
into a cold sweat.
(…. Dammit, I’ll have to revise my plan. But now victory is
certain.)
Changing her train of thought, for not Fina prioritized winning
against Aileen. But there was just one thing bothering her.
On Fina’s query, the two archdukes made slightly troubled faces.
And Archduke Diade opened his mouth.
“Well, it’s that. I never thought I’d be riding a dragon at my
age.”
◇
The events of the capital.
They were events that happened a few days after Rudel’s arrival
at the battlefield.
And—
“That’s enough. You’ve done enough, brother!”
A battered Rudel was trying to leave the fortress. He had fought
for days, and after resting only a few hours, he would set out
again. Rinse and repeat.
There weren’t any serious dents in his armor.
But Rudel’s stamina and mana had reached their limit. The one
responsible for the fort, his younger brother Chlust had picked up
on that.
“… Chlust.”
Rudel looked at Chlust, smiling a bit.
“No can do. This is my job. These are lines my superior told me,
I took quite a liking to them. A job is how you live your life.
I’ll fight to protect this point to the end.”
He was protecting those that lived in the area, taking refuge in
the fort. But they were also those who didn’t abide by the
evacuation orders.
“… Brother, you’ve done enough. Take the civilians with you and
run.”
Chlust hung his head, he clenched his fist.
“Chlust, you…”
Chlust made a face on the verge of tears.
“We’ll hold out somehow or another. So… brother, please run. I
already know. There’s no meaning even if I live on. I’m a human
who’s already been abandoned. But brother, you’re different.”
Chlust spoke of just how important Rudel’s existence was.
“Your power is necessary to rebuild to Arses House. It’s
hopeless for me. The same could be said for the country. Brother,
you have to be there. You’re… you’re different from me.”
Rudel looked at Chlust.
“I’m unable to abdicate this point. My orders are to protect
this fort to my last breath.”
Chlust smiled.
“I’ll do it. I’ll take care of it… brother, you just have to
live.”
There, Rudel returned a gentle smile.
“Chlust, you’ve… changed. You’ve changed so much since I saw you
at the academy.”
And Rudel punched Chlust out. Chlust was dumbstruck, as his
consciousness faded away, he heard Rudel’s voice.
“… But Chlust. This is my battle.”
◇
When Chlust opened his eyes, he was in the sky.
Sprawled out over a large, white back, when he looked around, he
saw his subordinates.
“Brother!”
When he hurriedly sprung up, one of his subordinates, a knight
looked at him apologetically.
“Captain… I’m sorry. Your brother, he,”
With a sorrowful roar from the dragon, Chlust looked back at the
shrinking fort. The black monster army attacking to it, the
unresisting fortress was being swallowed whole.
“… Why. Oh god why!!”
Chlust’s cry resounded through the sky.
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LNWNCentral_Dragoon_Dragoon - WN Chapter 146-167_Dragoon-WN-Chapter-146-167-[Yoraikun][Trollo]
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s6.txt
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Dragoon 148-160 - Dragoon 153: Demon King
Chapter 153: Demon King
Standing at a high point of the fort, Rudel saw Sakuya off to
the horizon.
Slicing up an ogre climbing up the wall towards him, he
muttered.
“Live on, Chlust.”
Sakuya was loaded with the knights and soldiers of the fort,
alongside the civilians that had taken refuge.
They were reluctant to leave Rudel’s side. But he forcefully
used Sakuya to get them away.
Thanks to that, the fort was in the process of being destroyed.
Monster scrambled up the outer wall, while wyverns circled the sky
above.
As three wyverns headed for Sakuya, Rudel took a deep lurch
forward followed by a large jump. Soaring into the sky, Rudel
reached his left hand out towards the wyverns.
“How cold. Your opponent’s right over here… if you get that,
have at me!”
Rudel emitted a number of lights around, he formed them into the
shape of swords. Those swords of light with a golden glimmer began
to spin on the spot.
Looking over his surroundings, Rudel sent his swords flying in
all directions. To the wyverns chasing Sakuya, to the wyverns
circling in the sky. To the monsters and the imperial army on
land.
With a sword flying their way, the wyverns changed direction to
avoid it.
“Oh no, you don’t.”
When Rudel clenched his left hand, the fired sword pursued its
target and stuck in. Where it impaled, it exploded, and in the sky
and on land, explosions rung out in all directions.
Falling towards the ground, Rudel avoided wyvern breath, and
magic and arrows as he landed outside the grounds of the fort.
Around him, ogres taller than he could ever hope to be were
armed at the ready. An imperial knight who looked to be a
commanding officer directed their right hand at Rudel.
“Fool! When dragged to the earth, a dragoon is no more than an
ordinary knight! Surround him and beat him down!”
When the commander said that, the monsters assailed Rudel at
once.
Readying his blade, and flowing mana into it, Rudel swung his
sword one revolution.
“Wha!”
The surrounding ogres were blown back and bisected.
Holding swords of their own, the monsters who knew no fear—no,
the monsters who would simply follow orders came at Rudel one after
another.
Each and every one of them was laid to rest by the sword in
Rudel’s right hand.
“Your words do me ill. Well, it’s true a dragoon is incomplete
without his partner by his side.”
As Rudel said that with a smile, the enemy commander hopped on a
horse and fled.
“Keep going at him! We have to bring him down while his dragon
isn’t here!”
The fact the dragon protecting the fort- Sakuya- had left made
the enemy lower their guard.
They had never even imagined Rudel would remain alone.
Rudel laughed before the foes approaching him from all
sides.
“Sorry, but I don’t plan on letting the commanders get
away.”
He said, disappearing from the spot with his wind magic-based
movement. The surrounding monsters were carved up in an
instant.
A spurt of blood whirling up in the air, at times the monsters
lifted along with it.
The commander raised a scream.
“What is this? What the hell are you!!?”
The monsters were simply bodies to enact orders. In that case,
targeting enemy commanders and having them target monsters on him
was the simplest means to keep them here.
The commander exclaimed aloud at this strength exceeding his
expectations. Right after, his body was split open by Rudel’s
hand.
◇
At the Gaia Empire’s main camp, Askewell confirmed the war
situation with his adjutants.
His arms folded, Askewell gave a dry laugh.
“Hmm, so he persists even without his dragon. He used that
fortress as a decoy to invite the enemy in… looks like things
aren’t going my way.”
One of his adjutants, Mies offered Askewell some advice.
“Bahn Rhoshwas and Leor have already taken up their positions…
should we call the back?”
Hearing those names, Askewell thought just a bit, before, “No,
it’s fine,” he said and stood from his seat.
“He’s just as the rumors say… no, he goes beyond that. Courtois’
white knight. But how far can he go both outnumbered and
overwhelmed?”
One of his adjutants shed a cold sweat.
“I can’t think he’s human like me. For the monster army we
worked so hard to assemble to be lost this easily… Askewell-sama,
should we not implore General Rhoshwas or Leor-dono to defeat the
White Knight in good time?”
Askewell’s expression turned serious.
“That is unnecessary. We had far too many monsters—the plan was
to reduce their numbers. These losses are all within
expectations.”
Mies gave a slight nod to Askewell’s words.
(Right. Within expectations. Whatever the case, it’s impossible
for the empire to maintain these numbers. If they’re not crushed
here, even if we obtain fertile soil, it will be meaningless.)
Maintaining this massive monster legion was an exceedingly large
burden on the empire. They were an army assembled to be crushed
from the get-go. If they weren’t human, it wouldn’t hurt anyone’s
heart.
(… But that white knight’s doing a good job holding out.)
While it was within expectations, these losses were far too
great to come from a single combatant. They had gone down
considerably in only a few days.
However—
“No matter the damages, our main body’s losses are
insignificant. There is no problem.”
At Askewell’s words, the adjutants nodded.
Right. Their main body of humans kept behind the monster
legions.
What’s more, it was an army that had suffered very little
loss.
Askewell touched a hand to his chin.
“But it might just be time for Courtois’ reinforcements to
arrive. It wouldn’t be bad to take the white knight’s head before
that.”
Mies tilted her head.
“Did we not have a deal with Courtois?”
Askewell laughed.
“If those things held up, we’d have world peace. Well, if they
don’t come, then that’s no problem for us… keep sending monsters at
him for a while. After that—I’ll personally take his head.”
A warrior of the Gaia Empire and their hero, while the adjutants
had some problems with Askewell’s words, they agreed to them.
Mies thought.
(Well, I guess there’s no way Askewell-sama will lose. Even with
the white knight as his foe, he need simply tire him to the limit.
It’ll also raise morale.)
◇
Just how many hundred, nay, how many thousands of monsters had
he butchered?
Their movements were far too simple, too linear. When they all
came at him, they were quicker to take down than when they targeted
other people or the fort itself.
Rudel breathed roughly as he stuck the sword in his right hand
into the ground, surveying his surroundings.
Monster corpses spread over and narrowed the ground, there were
places where the bodies piled up. Trampling over those corpses more
monsters came at him still.
His shoulders rising in breath, Rudel looked at the sky.
Hefty clouds interrupted the sun, and he had no idea what time
it might be.
“.. Looks like rain.”
To receive the monsters coming at him, he forcibly stood his
body and drew his sword from the ground.
“A dragoon with no partner is just a knight… huh.”
Recalling the enemy commander’s words, Rudel gave a
self-deriding laugh. That was definitely no mistake.
He would have liked to fight with Sakuya.
But if the fort’s knights and soldiers, and the evacuated
civilians remained, he wouldn’t be able to fight to the best of his
abilities.
Perhaps he could have managed if he abandoned them… but if he
did that, Rudel knew he would never be able to look everyone who
saved him in the eye.
Moving his dulling body, he cut through enemies as he
walked.
His movements without any unnecessary power, at this point, it
was almost that the movements drilled into his body were
arbitrarily coming out.
Without any waste, he slowly walked forward as he carved up his
foes.
The commanders issuing orders to the monsters from behind
fearfully looked at Rudel.
“M-monster—”
“There’s no way.”
“Just one person… the dragoons really are monsters.”
Hearing that, Rudel made a smile.
Seeing him laugh, the Gaia Empire Soldiers fears worsened.
“What’s wrong… quit cowering and come at me. Did you not come
here for war? I’m sorry I’m on my own, but I, Rudel Arses shall be
your enemy. I don’t intend to let a single one of you pass.”
On those words, the imperial knights driven by hears raised
their warcries. In voices similar to shrieks, they ordered the
monsters to charge.
“Get him!”
“Kill that man. You have to kill him!”
“Are the reinforcements here yet!?”
The number of enemies had decreased greatly from the onset.
An army that buried the entire landscape was now scarce and
divided. It had decreased in density… that was simply the amount
that Rudel had slain.
(Hopefully one last push.)
Forcing his body already a pain just to move, Rudel poised his
sword and cut down all the monsters coming at him.
His form, despite the white armor he war was beginning to look
like something else entirely.
The form of him gleefully defeating his foes had even brought
upon knights fleeing from the battlefield.
It came at that moment—
“Any more will affect morale. Looks like I can’t overlook him
any longer.”
A voice with a sense of presence boomed across the battlefield.
Hearing that strong and reassuring voice, the cowering knights
regained composure.
When Rudel looked in the direction of the voice, there was the
disheartening sight of an enemy leading a host of troops. The
numbers he had gone to great lengths reducing were back to their
original value.
The enemy looked at the ground, and he turned his gaze to
Rudel.
“You’ve done well, to defeat so many. Allow me to give you my
honest praise, white knight.”
Rudel leaned his sword on his shoulder.
“Call me dragoon, or White Dragoon. It’s a name a dear friend
granted me. I’ve quite a liking for it.”
His gold hair swept back, the tall man in armor looked a little
surprised before he gave a grand laugh.
“White Dragoon! I see, a white knight and a dragoon makes a
White Dragoon. Makes perfect sense to me.”
A laughing enemy commander—
(His air’s different from the others. Is he a general?)
As Rudel raised his guard, his foe introduced himself.
“My name is Askewell Gaia, and I am in command of this army.
White Dragoon… as I recall, you were called Rudel Arses, were you?
I shall display your head to the armies of Courtois soon to
arrive.”
When his smile went out, Askkewell’s face was expressionless.
Cold to no end, it spoke that he had no mercy to spare for
Rudel.
On the contrary, Rudel laughed.
“And what of it? For two enemies, such is only natural. Of
course, I do think a certain level of respect is required for an
honorable warrior. I can’t say I like your means.”
Showing off enemy corpses wasn’t quite to Rudel’s liking.
Of course, he knew that was effective. In the sense of weakening
an enemy’s fighting spirit, it was the proper action.
“… Honorable warriors, eh. On the battlefield, such nobility is
meaningless.”
Rudel agreed with that point as well.
“You’re right. So I don’t plan to correct you. Once you take
this head, you may do what you want with it. If you can, that
is.”
To Rudel’s provocations, Askewell assumed they were his final
show of courage; he didn’t seem all too moved.
“So you know no fear. What brute courage.”
“Brute courage? If I’m brute courage, then you are just a brute.
Neither shame nor honor. A monster in human form.”
With a legion of monsters as the vanguard, they would go on a
rampage on Courtois’ territory.
Perhaps he had something to think about Askewell’s means to
lower their population, even using monsters as tools.
“… I’m sure you will never understand in your prosperity. Just
how the empire pains, and how it hungers.”
Rudel had an inkling Askewell was trying to do something about
the Empire’s present state of affairs. The reason they aimed for
the Courtois Kingdom was that unlike the empire, the kingdom’s
territory was abundant in fertile soil.
If they were living so destitute, with prosperous land nearby,
of course they would want it.
“No matter how you despise me. No matter how you scorn me, there
is something I must—”
Once Askewell had said that much, Rudel lowered his sword from
his shoulders.
He stuck his glare on Askewell—the army behind him.
“Quit your yapping. You came to invade, didn’t you? Saying
there’s something you have to do now, do you plan to go into
penance? Are you trying to tell me, there’s this great reason
you’re invading us so please forgive you?”
While Rudel’s words invoked anger from the imperial army—
“At the point you crossed the border, the war had begun. Cry
your heart out in diplomacy if you want our sympathy… but this is
already a battlefield. It is only good manners for us to speak life
and death with the weapons in our hands. Now… shall we kill one
another?”
— At a smiling Rudel’s atmosphere, everyone swallowed their
breath.
Almost a vengeful spirit or a demon… no, he gave the air of a
demon king.
◇
Bennet boarded Izumi, Aleist and his harem members on the back
of her own dragon Heleene, setting out for the battlefield.
“We’re almost there. But to be honest, with these numbers, you
can’t quite call us reinforcements.”
While she was a dragoon who protected Courtois, one rider and
ten-odd ground combatants were cause for unease.
Izumi cast down a pensive countenance.
“… Even so, if we make it, we may be of the slightest
assistance.”
Bennet nodded.
“Well, the situation is considerably terrible, but I’m sure
Captain Oldart will send reinforcements. And if the Archduke Houses
are moving, as long as we can hold out—”
Aleist’s cry cut her off.
“Bennet-san! Ahead!”
Ahead of them, a giant, white dragon—Sakuya flew with a large
load of people on to her back.
Izumi stood.
“Sakuya!”
Surely Rudel was with her. She knew it had to be true, but
Sakuya was acting strangely. Bennet looked at the people riding
Sakuya’s back—
(Apart from knights and soldiers, civilians too? Don’t tell me
they were late to get away?)
There, Sakuya mournfully roared. Hearing her voice, Izumi
covered her mouth with both hands.
“That can’t be…”
“W-what’s wrong? You can hear her, right? What happened!?”
Dragons could communicate telepathically with those they had
conceded their hearts to. For that reason, there was a high
probability Izumi could hear Sakuya’s voice.
Meaning it was possible for her to learn what was going on at
the border.
Bennet heard Sakuya’s tale through way of Heleene.
‘This is bad. Looks like that Rudel remained at the fort alone.
He had Sakuya carry those late to flee to get them to safety.’
Bennet’s expression warped.
“That fool!”
But to Rudel who couldn’t run away, this was surely the only way
to let the others survive.
“There should have been a smarter way to do it.”
Bennet muttered, and inferring from those words and the
situation, Aleist’s complexion turned pale.
“… Rudel.”
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LNWNCentral_Dragoon_Dragoon - WN Chapter 146-167_Dragoon-WN-Chapter-146-167-[Yoraikun][Trollo]
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s7.txt
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Dragoon 148-160 - Dragoon 154: Last Boss
Chapter 154: Last Boss
Another battlefield.
There a separate detachment of the Gaia Empire—their supposed
main body was locked in a staring contest with the Dragoon
Brigade.
The first to arrive at the battlefield, Oldart’s dragoons flew
to intimidate the unmoving enemy near the border.
If that had them step down, it would be the end, but the enemy
was evidently acting strange.
Skirmishes had broken out between the two powers many a time,
and they were sure to know just how powerful their dragons were.
Yet the army didn’t seem the least bit disconcerted.
What’s more—
“They’re waiting for something.”
As Oldart looked at the enemy camp and muttered, one of his
subordinates approached.
“Captain, they show no signs of moving. They’re considerably
calm.”
The Gaia Empire had invaded on two fronts.
There could be no doubt their main force was the army led by the
crown prince before their eyes, but Oldart couldn’t help but be
curious about the movements of the other prince’s army.
“Including Rudel, they have three riders. I think they can hold
out…”
Even an army of ten thousand, to a dragoon, was no great
threat.
A war could end simply through breath attacks from the sky. At
times dragon slayers, and people outside the norm could appear to
take them down. But with multiple riders, the possibility of them
being taken out drastically fell.
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this. Perhaps I was right to send
reinforcements.”
Oldart touched his prided well-kept beard as he muttered; his
subordinate’s expression turned grim.
“Captain, wouldn’t we be better off crossing the border first to
meet them? There is no need for us to keep such a number stationed
here—”
His subordinate prompting him to send half, even a third of his
forces, Oldart lightly raised a hand to stop him from saying any
further.
The reason was the dragon descending from the sky.
A gray dragon—not under the dragoons’ jurisdiction, the dragon
of the royal guard.
“Now that wouldn’t do. Their other force is few in numbers. The
enemy’s main body is here. It wouldn’t do for you to take arbitrary
action.”
The gray dragon landed before Oldart’s subordinate. Fritz
dismounted from its back and came out before Oldart.
“Why if it isn’t the supreme commander. Well, just try and
understand the thoughts of someone who cares for his comrade in
arms. So anyway, why have you ridden to the battlefield alone?”
What about the army? When Oldart asked, Fritz shrugged his
shoulders.
Atop the back of a dragon, my speed far outweighs their march. I
wanted to get a prior view of the battlefield.
Oldart was beset by a tiredness. No, rather than tired, a part
of him understood how he felt.
(When you’re riding a dragon, a normal march feels like a
snail’s pace… but the supreme commander leaving his army is a big
no-no.)
Perhaps his subordinate felt the same, he made a conflicted
expression as he looked at Fritz.
(It’s the same whether he’s there or not? Well, he’s the
princess’ favorite, after all.)
He surely didn’t have a place even among his own troops.
As Oldart thought, he looked at the immobile imperials right
across the border.
◇
Meanwhile—
The army led by Askewell had suffered large losses from but a
single man.
Even if that had been taken into account, the figures were too
large to have come from opposing one unit.
“Have the monsters stand down. Surround him with elites.”
By Askewell’s orders, knights in uniform full-body armor came
out front.
Their footing nimble despite the solid armor over their bodies,
they were undoubtedly elites.
Askewell led them to surround Rudel in order to prepare a stage
for one-on-one combat.
“White Dragoon, was it. You are strong. Far too strong. That is
why… I must personally take you on.”
After picking up his spear and dismounting his horse, he walked
over to Rudel.
While Rudel was covered in mud, dead-exhausted, even so, his
fighting spirit didn’t wither before Askewell.
A sword in his right hand.
A shield in his left.
The knight in white armor fought Askewell’s army on his lonesome
self.
It was not his intent to show his respect.
(I’ll beat you down here. For the morale of the entire
army.)
After tiring him out so, Askewell would defeat his tattered
opponent in one-on-one combat. He knew they couldn’t be called a
virtue of the battlefield, but such notions were irrelevant to
him.
If he didn’t win this battle, the empire had no future.
What’s more, he couldn’t let Rudel continue to put out
casualties. If it came out that one man had taken down several
thousands, it would influence morale. Crushing him with numbers
would do little to remedy the situation, but if Askewell were to go
out and defeat this dragoon, he would be able to completely turn
the situation around.
(It would normally be a poor move, but…)
Rudel had stuck fast far harder than anticipated, forcing
Askewell to change his objectives a number of times.
When Askewell readied his spear, Rudel’s mouth curled into a
grin.
(So he laughs in this situation.)
There were at times, those who sought beauty on the battlefield.
One on one combat and personal sacrifice—Askewell was unable to
understand them.
At his core, he was someone who set out to be a research, not of
a nature to look up to war heroes.
(Is he the sort that seeks his place to be on the
battlefield?)
Seeing Askewell’s stance, Rudel opened his mouth.
“You… are strong. However!”
Rudel instantly closed the distance with a cut; Askewell turned
aside his strike with his spear.
Receiving, parrying, he warded off Rudel’s attacks.
He had to be worn out, seeing the crudeness sticking out in
Rudel’s attacks, Askewell was convinced.
(He’s close to his limit.)
A large step in, Askwell thrust his spear, and Rudel stopped the
attack with his left-hand shield. He tried to divert the face, but
it seemed he was unable.
“I’ll show you my respect for remaining to fight on your own. I
will parade your corpse, but I will erect a monument.”
Rudel didn’t seem particularly interested.
“Don’t go erecting monuments in someone else’s country. Do you
think you’ve won?”
— The match was practically decided already.
As he was about to say that, Rudel slammed Askewell’s spear hard
into the ground.
The impact lifted the dirt, and as it flew through the air,
Rudel took distance—
“You’re not getting away!”
When Askewell tried to give chase, Rudel fired off water magic
towards the ground. With the moistened earth making it easier to
slip, Askewell stopped moving for only a brief moment.
Confirming that, Rudel disappeared from before his eyes.
No, it was as if a gale had broken out with Rudel at the center,
he began moving at a tremendous speed.
“W-what are—”
Looking around, Askewell opened his eyes wide.
There a scene of the elites surrounding them being cut down in a
moment of distraction unfolded before his eyes.
Askewell regained a strong grip of his spear, turned to Rudel
and yelled.
“Your opponent is over here!”
Rudel glanced at him and spoke.
“Wrong. Each and every one of you is my opponent.”
◇
Rudel held up his sword as he looked at Askewell.
(But this guy is strong. Each individual blow is strangely
heavy.)
The man coming at him, in comparison, didn’t fall short of Rudel
in either power or speed. A blessed constitution.
Askewell’s talent and mana capacity might even exceed his
own.
However—
“You fight way too cleanly.”
Lifting dirt with his foot, he kicked it straight at Askewell’s
face. While he immediately reacted and avoided it, his movements
were unaccustomed.
He had rarely fought against an equal. Or perhaps too many of
his fights had been against monsters, and in battles against
humans, his blessed talent would end the match far too soon.
To an extent, he looked inexperienced when it came to fighting
foes of close strength.
(But perhaps that just means that’s simply how talented he
was.)
Askewell swiped his spear to the side.
That attack wrapped in the mud on the ground to assail Rudel.
What was just a physical attack became a shockwave to come at
him.
Springing over it to avoid, Rudel cut down at him from above.
Askewell held his spear horizontally to catch the blow.
That powerful strike sunk the third prince’s boots into the
ground.
(I can’t just push through as I am now.)
As he thought that, Rudel’s body let off a faint light. Symbols
surfaced over his form, covering his entire body to protect
him.
Unleashing the power of the white knight, Rudel took a look
around.
(Looks like cutting down the elites has set the others in
motion.)
Panicking at Rudel’s change, the surroundings moved to protect
Askewell. Those surroundings were blown back by a bolt of light
from Rudel.
“Bastard!”
While Askewell glared at Rudel, from Rudel’s point of view, he
had no recollection of accepting a one-on-one duel. More so, whilst
surrounded by enemies, there was no dishonor to be had in launching
an attack.
To add to that, Rudel had noticed Askewell’s ulterior
motive.
(I see, so his aim is to defeat me and raise morale. That’s
surprisingly earnest. Is that how far they’ve been cornered?)
If they kept pushing him back with numbers, Rudel thought he
could cut them down, and inflict enough damage that the enemy would
retreat when reinforcements came.
“What’s wrong? If you don’t stop me, your men will die.”
When he provoked with a smile, Askewell forcefully swung his
spear to knock Rudel back. Purposely flying back, Rudel opened more
distance and attacked his surroundings once more.
The imperial army launched magic and arrows at him; but as
Askewell was right by him, those attacks were few and far
between.
(Should I use him as a shield to lower their numbers?)
As he considered it, Askewell fired off his strongest thrust at
him. That blow like an arrow shot from afar looked to be difficult
to fend off.
Due to his sheer force, the foothold Askewell kicked sent dirt
several meters into the air.
Holding out his left hand, Rudel stationed several dozens of
shields of light in the path of his advance. With enough force to
pierce through all of them, Askewell’s momentum was only decreased
by the slightest amount.
But that slight was enough. For at the end of his charge through
dozens of shield—Rudel was long gone.
As Askewell hurriedly stopped in his tracks, Rudel circled
around to his left—and bashed Askewell with his shield.
“Dammit! If I could circle right…”
That would have settled the match, but enemy soldiers had
gathered there, and there was a chance his timing would be off.
He regretted not swinging his sword from an impossible
angle.
(I need some more training. It’s a severe blow that I didn’t
take him out with that attack.)
He tried to pursue Askewell, blown back, rolling along the
ground, but enemies gathered around him.
They were surely trying to protect him.
While he did have some thoughts on their devotion—
“This is the war you started—”
Rudel cut down any soldier that would stand between himself and
Askewell.
◇
Askewell’s head was hazy.
(What just…)
When he raised his head, the backs of his men were directed at
him, and beyond them a fountain of blood. His head was heavy.
Rudel had smacked him in the head, and the sounds of the
battlefield sounded somewhat distant.
“W-what are you doing. Stop. You have to pull back!”
His subordinates died before his eyes. That was something
Askewell couldn’t bear.
While he would kill his foes, he was too soft on his allies.
As he tried to stand to his feet, he thought he heard a single
clear voice.
‘… When I’ve put so much in your favor, you can’t even properly
fulfill your role?’
Hearing that disappointed voice, Askewell looked around. Time
seemed to flow by ever so slowly.
(What’s happening—)
‘That’s enough.’
Upon that irritated voice, he saw the ground at his feet
suddenly overflowing with a pitch-black mud.
(What? This is…)
He tried to run, but his body wouldn’t move.
Yet as the black mud swallowed him down, a sense of delight—he
could tell his strength was coming back to him.
Enveloped in a relief that made him want to entrust it his body,
he could sense the wariness he had held towards Rudel a moment
before was relaxing.
(Aah, this is…)
Askewell was swallowed by the mud, and when it came unstuck,
there he was, his entire body covered in a dark ominous armor
stuck-fast to his being.
No, rather than armor, perhaps it was closer to skin.
When his form had practically become that of the devil, Askewell
looked at Rudel. Within that slowly moving time, Rudel’s eyes were
trailed on him.
(… So he noticed. But it’s too late.)
The surrounding time returned to normal, and when the sounds
came back vividly, Askewell swiftly approached Rudel and kicked
him.
Blown away, Rudel collided where his army of allies was
stationed, dragging in the surroundings as he rose a cloud of
dust.
His subordinates took in Askewell’s form in bewilderment.
“Askewell-sama…”
“That form is…”
“What could have?”
Seeing his perplexed subordinates, Askewell didn’t think
anything in particular. Walking straight and tall, he held up his
right hand a bit.
A black something escaped from his hand, that something was a
spear.
Pulling that uncanny black spear from his body, Askewell walked
towards Rudel, slowly breaking into a dash.
It was as if he was verifying the movements of his body, and
without seeing his men before him as a hindrance, he simply blew
them away in his wake.
From the person he had been a moment ago, something fundamental
had changed.
“Now, here is your real battle.”
Askewell closed in on Rudel An unsightly smile spread across his
face.
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Dragoon 148-160 - Dragoon 155: Dragon and Wyvern
Chapter 155: Dragon and Wyvern
As the demonized Askewell blew him away, Rudel cut the inside of
his mouth. Dripping blood, he looked at the beast making towards
him as he stood.
“Now this is troublesome.”
He was blown away to where imperial soldiers were in close
formation.
For that reason, the impact knocked soldiers off their feet, and
around him, the troops had surrounded him to prevent him from
escaping, but… he could tell from their faces they were confused at
Askewell’s transformation.
Shaking off his own subordinate’s restraints, he smacked them
aside.
“As far as I can tell, he’s conscious.”
Looking into Askewell’s eyes, apart from malice towards Rudel,
it looked like there was some sort of consciousness within
them.
“I’ll find out if I give it a go.”
Taking his stance, he cut at Askewell.
Unlike before, Askewell violently swung his spear to knock
Rudel’s sword aside.
Determining that even with the strength of the white knight he
would lose in a battle of pure force, Rudel circled around behind
him.
He could circle in the blink of an eye. It was easy enough for
him to take Askewell’s back, but…
“This is—”
He heard the sound of metal colliding.
Rudel had definitely lowered his sword at the point he’d aimed
for. The nape of his neck.
Immediately jumping back, he avoided Askewell’s lance that came
with the same motion as he turned face. The impact brought
casualties to the soldiers around him.
That hardened-skin-like armor was almost like metal. Yet be that
as it may, it didn’t look like it was obstructing his
movements.
Askewell looked at Rudel, lackadaisically opening his mouth.
“Is that all you’ve got? In that case, it won’t be long before I
kill you and continue the march. With this power, it won’t just be
this region. We can cut deep into the Kingdom of Courtois. We might
make it all the way to the capital.”
He would continue the march, he would make all the way to the
capital, Askewell said and laughed.
(He’s incapable of rational decision making, I see.)
As Rudel laid down a verdict, Askewell took a stance with his
spear.
“Where did all that vigor go, dragoon!”
Kicking the ground, Askewell closed in on him.
Rudel fired a light bolt in his direction. While it met him head
on and exploded, it had no visible effect on Askewell’s
assault.
“If even magic is ineffective, this is going to be
troublesome.”
While he was exhibiting the white knight’s power, Rudel was
being overpowered. Against a foe whose power was now on another
plane, Rudel worked his head on means to counteract.
(Now then, I can’t leave him to his own devices, but…)
But some part of him thought back to his student days. He had
started out fighting Aleist, at the time a foe on another plane,
and had pushed himself in some crazy ways.
(… Compared to that, I don’t have it too bad right now.)
And now, the things he was capable of had increased.
With Askewell coming right at him, Rudel closed his eyes. He
undid his stance, and without putting up any resistance, the point
of Askewell’s spear was encroaching on his face.
“Given up!?”
There was just a bit of anger in Askewell’s voice. Perhaps he
was disappointed in Rudel for giving up having come so far. But
Rudel snapped his eyes open.
“Sorry but… I never did know when to give up.”
When he opened his eyes, his blue iris had turned red. He was
using his magic eyes.
Rudel’s armor from the black boar.
Rudel’s eyes from the mad bird.
They had left them to him to fight against destiny.
Feeling the time around him pass slowly, Rudel avoided the spear
point by a hair’s breadth, let go of his weapon, grabbed the spear,
and used it as a lever to throw Askewell.
He had used the prince’s momentum.
Thrown off of his feet, Askewell slammed into the ground. But he
was immediately up.
Rudel’s sword and shield were now stuck in the ground. He
confronted Askewell barehanded.
“Are you mocking me?”
Askewell must have felt belittled. Casting down one’s weapon in
this situation was out of the question.
Yet Rudel was serious.
“I’m always serious. This way was simply the optimum method to
win against you.”
Rudel smiled.
“I need to train more. There are too many techniques I can’t use
with a weapon. But hey, if you think you’re being belittled, then I
must apologize for that.”
Seriously coming to defeat Askewell, Rudel wasn’t making light
of anyone. Thought how Askewell saw it was a separate issue.
“If that isn’t mocking, then—”
Right after, Rudel manifested before Askewell’s eyes.
His fist lifted, Rudel swiftly lowered it towards him.
Askewell, making light of Rudel’s attack—
“Guhah!”
— Was sent sprawling a long way through the air.
Rudel looked at Askewell blown away, waving his right hand a
bit.
“That’s hard. Well, not too hard to get through.”
Askewell brushed a hand against his smacked face. There were no
external wounds. In the first place, by demonizing, it became hard
to put a dent in his skin.
It was a separate issue if the force could penetrate inside of
it.
“W-what did you do?”
Rudel gripped his fist towards Askewell, whose mouth dripped
with blood.
“I penetrated the force.”
After only those words, Askewell’s spear was ready to attack
Rudel. He stepped in and lowered it from up high.
His speed—it was a blow that was lowered in the time an average
fighter would have taken to raise it up. That inconceivable power
and speed, a normal person wouldn’t even be able to comprehend they
had died if they took it on.
Avoiding the attack, Rudel let his eyes glow red as he
laughed.
“Too slow!”
A left straight with his weight behind it sunk into Askewell’s
body, the impact passing through his pack and piercing him
through.
Askewell spat up blood.
“Guh, damn you!!”
Seeing him lose his composure, Rudel felt just a little
disappointed.
“If that’s all it takes, you were stronger before.”
Watching him recklessly swing around his power, Rudel kicked him
away.
A deep breath, Rudel took a stance as Askewell stood and tried
swinging his spear—
“I told you… too slow.”
— In the next instant, Rudel grabbed Askewell’s face with his
right hand and slammed him into the ground. Right after.
“It’s over.”
With those words, a large shockwave broke out with Askewell at
the center. The ground caved in to form a crater.
The surrounding imperial soldiers were blown away, Askewell
showed the whites of his eyes.
Rudel sluggishly stood.
To put an end to the immobile Askewell—to take his head, he
approached, when he felt something was off.
◇
Meanwhile.
The army Fritz led as supreme commander was half on the verge of
collapse.
“What are the dragoons doing!?”
“An army of wyvern in the sky—”
“The enemy number surpass three hundred riders—”
The imperial army started up as soon as their own army arrived.
It was all going right by the planned scenario. But the imperial
army that moved had established their wyvern unit as a
countermeasure to the dragoons.
Three hundred knights mounting wyverns, a battle unfolded in the
sky above.
Looking to the sky, they were outnumbered and overwhelmed.
Subordinates rushed to Fritz one after the next to report and
seek orders.
“The empire’s army has crossed the border and begun hostilities
with our forces! But their numbers are higher. We need
reinforcements—”
“More than that, we should pull back. The empire boasts three times
our land troops!”
Even if they sought reinforcements, there were no reserves to
send around.
Having depended on their dragoons, the Kingdom of Courtois
couldn’t reach the empire in ground troops. What’s more, on a
quality side as well, the empire surpassed Courtois.
Their weapons tempered under the torment of dragons.
They had now turned to torment the knights and soldiers of
Courtois.
Fritz was dismayed by this unanticipated situation.
From the very start, he was a decoration of a commander. And
yet, for them to seek so much from him now, there was little he
could do about it.
Those around watched him with chastising eyes.
“I-immediately request reinf—”
He tried to give an order for reinforcements, but his
subordinate denied it.
“Where do you seen the leisure for that!?”
Not even with a grasp of the army’s state of affairs, Fritz
didn’t fully understand how many units were stationed where.
(Why… what could have happened?)
Fritz clenched his fist, and the words of the next messenger who
surged into the tent turned his face pale.
“U-urgent report! Princess Fina has raised a rebellion at the
capital! Both Archduke Diade and Archduke Halbades have turned
hostile, and Princess Aileen has been placed in a terrible
predicament.”
It wasn’t just the battlefield, there was chaos at the palace as
well, causing many of those gathered to lose their complexion.
Those here were those who sided with Aileen.
If Aileen were to be overthrown—
“Retreat. Rush to the aid of the palace at once, and subjugate
the rebel for—”
“How can we retreat with an enemy before us!? In their pursuit, our
army will fall to ruin!”
If they continued the fight with the empire, their prospects of
victory looked slim.
But if they didn’t return to the capital, their standings would
be in danger.
Within all of that, Frit sprinted out of the tent.
He raced over to his own dragon.
(Aileen!)
He acted out of worry for Aileen. If he hurried, he hoped he
could make it in time.
◇
Oldart issued orders to his men in the air.
“We can take them on one to three. Just do that and we win.”
The wind dragon flying beside him—Alejandro riding on its back
was fed-up.
Avoiding the wyvern breath firing all around him, he yelled at
Oldart.
“I don’t care about that. Give some actual precise orders!”
A laughing Oldart continued moving his formation to draw the
wyverns further from the ground as he looked at the armies
below.
“Well, here should be good.”
If the two armies clashed below, the dragoons wouldn’t be able
to fight without reserve. If nothing else, they wouldn’t be able to
aim any breath attacks down.
Any accidental shots at allied forces, and the dragoons would be
blamed.
“Well then, ladies and gentlemen—how about we teach these
imperial knights just how difficult fights in the air can be?
Risking our lives to do it.”
Following that with a ferocious smile, the dragoons’ movements
changed.
The dragons that had been flying on the run turned face to go on
an offense.
Alejandro raised the speed of his wind dragon, circling around a
wyvern, and having his dragon crunch its neck.
Oldart’s gray dragon turned to face three encroaching wyverns,
continuing to fly backward as it peppered them with flames to drop
them one after the next.
Pulling his own weapon, Oldart jumped to switch over to the
wyvern that had come right below them.
The imperial knight riding it was surprised by his sudden
visitor.
“Royal scum!”
While the knight drew his blade, he didn’t seem very accustomed
to combat in the air.
“You’re going weak at the knees. How do you expect to swing a
weapon like that?”
He kicked the enemy knight off, the knight raised a scream as he
fell. The wyvern began flailing as Oldart stabbed his sword into
its back.
After leaping off the wyvern and taking distance, his own dragon
came to collect him.
Their high coordination surprised the empire’s wyvern unit. And
one after another, the wyverns fell to the ground.
“Real sorry. We’ve got several hundred years of knowhow stacked
up. We’re not soft enough to lose to some sudden upstart
pans—what?”
Rising his gray dragon’s back, Oldart looked around.
The wyverns began to dissipate into a black smoke and disappear,
the fog flying off to somewhere far away. It was rising from the
ground as well.
The monsters they’d led with them turned to smoke and headed off
somewhere.
The empire’s knights abandoned in the air fell straight down;
Oldart promptly recovered one of them.
“Oy, what just happened?”
Grabbing the knight’s weapon and tossing it away, he pressed a
knife to their neck to draw information.
“I-I don’t know! We were never told any—”
The knight made truly fearful eyes. Oldart clicked his
tongue.
(You can’t lie if you were never told to start with. The
direction of the smoke is… don’t tell me, it’s where Rudel is?)
The smoke was flowing to another battlefield.
Upon discerning that, Oldart had a terrible premonition.
Alejandro rushed over to him.
“Oldart! The supreme commander up and left. The ground troops
are taking to their heels and fleeing!”
Oldart looked at the ground.
Courtois’ army on the run. The disappearance of the wyvern unit
had prompted the imperial army to prepare to flee as well.
“… Retreat. We’ll leave fifty riders, and the rest of us are
chasing that smoke.”
Oldart looked at the black smoke drawing a single straight line
in the sky as he spoke.
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Dragoon 148-160 - Dragoon 156: What’s Gone and Done
Chapter 156: What’s Gone and Done
On the back of a gray dragon, a lone rider made for the
capital.
“Hurry…go faster!”
A gray dragon could move hundreds of kilometer in the air, but
to Fritz, it felt far too slow.
Even now, Aileen’s life could be in danger. When the thought
struck him, he wished to save her, pure had honest.
At first, he thought he was lucky. Being liked by the princess
and receiving preferential treatment, from captain of the royal
guard to supreme commander…
But now, Fritz would throw it all away to go save Aileen.
“I see it!”
The view of the capital from the sky.
Smoke was rising from the palace in the center of the large
city. Even seen from afar, it was clear something had gone
awry.
“I have to hurry and—”
The dragon flew to the palace for Fritz’ sake. On one of the
verandas of the palace, there was a cornered Aileen.
Around here were those who saw to her everyday, and knights who
were only good for appearance’s sake. They wouldn’t be of any use
at all.
Flames had broken out in various parts of the building, it
seemed the battles still raged on.
“Aileen!”
Fritz approached the palace.
Looking up at him, Aileen smiled.
“Fritz-sama!”
But cruel as could be, it was then that enemies flowed into the
room where she hid. The defenders and the personal army of an
archduke house broke through the royal guard, and the knights of
Aileen’s fraction to flood in.
The knights and servants by her side were immediately
apprehended.
“Kuh! Do it!”
To save Aileen, Fritz ordered his dragon to breath fire. But the
gray dragon shook its head to the side. It wasn’t that it had
ignored Fritz’ orders.
If it fired its breath, Aileen would be drawn into its
midst.
Before Fritz’ eyes, Aileen was taken in.
The enemy used her as a shield, they seemed to be well aware he
wouldn’t be able to attack.
“Cowards!”
Just as Fritz drew his sword and was about to jump down, the
rebel army led by Fina made its appearance. Protected by the high
knights around her, Fina expressionlessly looked up at the sky.
Aileen turned to Fina and cried out.
“Why have you done this—Fina! I… I was only trying to make
Courtois a better country.”
Fina wouldn’t turn to face her. The high knights around readied
their shields to solidify Fina’s defenses.
“Fina-sama, please step back!”
“The enemy is a dragon!”
“Keep Princess Aileen close!”
Fina brushed off their advice to go out onto the balcony. She
stared straight at Fritz.
“Why did you hoist insurrection at such an important time!?”
Receiving his anger, Fina opened her mouth.
“It’s precisely because it’s this time. Just as you want to save
my sister, I want to save my master– Rudel-dono. But if I left you
people to your own devices, even if Rudel-dono returned, you’d
devise some reason to have him executed, wouldn’t you?”
As she plainly stated, “That’s why I raised a rebellion,” as if
it were the most obvious thing in the world, Fritz was at a loss
for words.
“… You’re mad. You rebelled for that reason alone!?”
Fina lightly spread out her arms, and expressionlessly, she
advised Fritz to surrender.
“I don’t think you’re one to talk. Well, so be it. Now turn
yourself in. Do so now, and you can still be decapitated as a noble
knight.”
Perhaps that was compassion to Fina, but to Fritz, there was no
way he could accept it.
“Don’t mock me!”
Fina lowered a hand.
“I see. That is a shame.”
Holding her right hand up, Fina snapped her fingers.
Aileen looked beyond Fritz, to the skies even higher and cried
out.
“Fritz-sama, run!”
When Fritz looked up, there were six dragoons closing in on him.
His gray dragon arbitrarily withdrew from the spot.
“W-wait! I still have to save—”
As Fritz was pulled away from the balcony, Aileen looked at him
with an expression of despair. Fritz reached out his right
hand.
“Aileen…”
He powerlessly muttered.
◇
As Fritz made off to the distance, three dragoons chased
after.
Fina saw them off before returning from the balcony to the
room.
Sophina beside her wiped her sweat.
“That was way too reckless, no matter how you look at it.”
Sophina candidly chastised her thoughtless conduct. Upon hearing
that, Fina answered expressionless and indifferent.
“You’re right. I’m sorry, Sophina.”
“I see you’re not repenting in the slightest.”
She hadn’t known her a long time for nothing, Sophina read
Fina’s emotions.
“Well, at least the dragon had some sense to spare, and I knew
they wouldn’t attack if we used my sister as a shield. The dragon
Fritz rides is a gentle one, after all.”
There were individual differences among dragons.
The one Fritz rode was comparatively gentle, and a good dragon
that would listen to the orders of its partner knight.
Fritz was afforded a dragon that was easy to handle, so that
went without saying.
“A dragon’s breath could have easily eradicated two
princesses.”
There, Fina uninterestedly brushed her hair aside.
“Even so, I wanted to try it. Otherwise, Fritz would—”
Aileen restrained by the knights yelled at Fina.
“Fina! Do you understand what it is you’ve done!? And what do
you think you’re doing to Fritz-sama?”
Fina turned back to Aileen.
“… If he was taken in there, he would have his head cut off. I
meant precisely what I said. Or would you prefer he be tortured and
executed as a heinous criminal?”
Aileen crumbled at the knees.
“T-torture…”
As Fina looked at Aileen, the archdukes Halbades and Diade
entered the room.
“If it isn’t Fina-sama, it looks like you’ve managed to
accomplish your objective.”
To the two shamelessly approaching, Fina breathed a sigh
inside.
(Their timing is impeccable… well whatever.)
They had surely come to confirm Aileen’s safety. Perhaps they
needed a proper check if they wanted her to take responsibility at
the gallows.
As Fina walked off, the archdukes walked side by side with
her.
“Now then, how do you intend to deal with Aileen-sama?”
To Archduke Diade’s question, after thinking a bit.
“… Officially, she’ll be executed. After that, confinement. If
we don’t know if I can have kids yet, we’ll need some insurance,
won’t we?”
Archduke Halbades nodded. He seemed just a little delighted.
He seemed happy Fina could make a proper judgment as royalty.
No, perhaps because there was a spare, he was happy to know Fina
would always have a replacement.
(If I’m too stupid, these bastards will pull a fast one, and if
I act too smart they’ll come to kill me. Good grief, this is why I
wanted to chip away their power.)
If Aileen was killed, Fina would be the only direct descendant
of Courtois. In that case, while Fina’s own safety was assured, in
the case she didn’t have children, an archduke would be next in
line to be enthroned.
In the case of Aileen’s prolonged survival—if Fina used the
power of the state against the archdukes, there was a possibility
they’d raise Aileen up and have a rebellion of their own.
As to what she wanted to say… no matter which way the ball
rolled, Fina was in a harsh situation.
(I’ll have to be wary either way. Aaah, this is why I wanted to
end it before these guys could arrive.)
Like that, upon confirming her victory at the palace, Fina
quickly entered preparations to send reinforcements.
“… Now then, I’ve secured a place for you to come back to,
master.”
A small mutter and Fina had immediately gotten to work.
◇
In the sky, Fritz hit the dragon’s back again and again.
“Why did you run!? Get back there at once! Go back!”
Fritz cried and pounded his fist, but it was clear even if he
remained, he wouldn’t have been able to save Aileen.
Even so, he wanted someone to blame so badly, he couldn’t help
himself.
This wasn’t his fault. He needed to know it wasn’t his
fault.
“… I.”
Before he realized it, he had deserted under enemy fire, while
his last ray of hope Aileen had already been taken in and lost her
authority.
As one who had a dragon, the dragoons would be in a mad frenzy
to find him. And what awaited him when he was taken in…
“Haha, ahahahah… dammit! What an insignificant life! Come so
far… after coming so far.”
All that awaited was despair. Run as he may, there was nowhere
to go. As he considered defecting to the empire, a black fog had
begun to gather around him.
“W-what’s this!?”
As Fritz looked around, the gray dragon roared.
Before him, a winged giant—a Gora was being formed.
A four-armed giant bald only on the head, it was far larger than
a gray dragon. The gora’s fist smacked into the dragon, slamming it
and Fritz onto the ground.
(What is it now…)
Fritz’ consciousness grew distant.
◇
(H-huh… I’m alive?)
When Fritz opened his eyes, before them was the form of a gray
dragon, its wings plucked off, its body bleeding all over.
Seeing the back of the terribly wounded gray dragon, Fritz
lifted his body.
“W-what just…”
Beyond the dragon, a gora with a hole in its chest, collapsed to
its knees.
“Did you do it?”
Fritz couldn’t believe his own partner had fought that brutal
monster and come out on top. The likes of a gray dragon compared to
a wild dragon, it was clearly inferior.
Comparing it to Rudel‘s dragon, he even saw it as shoddy. And
yet, that dragon had fought, its life on the line to protect its
partner Fritz.
“You… why!?”
It fought to protect an unconscious Fritz, and now afflicted
with a fatal blow, it didn’t look like it could rise or fly any
longer.
Blood flowed from his mouth.
‘… I am a dragon born of the Kingdom of Courtois. One of the
first of my kind.’
The dragon that had never conversed with him before was suddenly
making a speech.
‘I was raised with love. But my brothers are already all gone.
While some died to illness, a great many fell in battle.’
Fritz stroked the gray dragon. He had always found her
unsympathetic, he had never tried speaking from his side. For that
reason, he didn’t know the first thing about his own partner
dragon.
“Then why did you save the likes of me? If you submitted me to
them—”
‘I have my own pride. As a dragon… the pride to protect my
partner. I’ve lost my partner knights too many times. Each time I
would feel regret. Among them, there were terrible knights. But a
majority of them treated me as a partner. They treated me dearly.
That’s why I swore to protect them, no matter what sort of partner
they may be.’
When Frit was about to say something, the Dragon gave her last
words—
‘… Let me say one last things. You should look around a bit
more. It might be too late, but… you have the talent.’
After one final deep deep breath, the dragon collapsed and
died.
When Frit’ tears began to flow, this time, the gora’s mouth
moved.
‘How dare a lowly gray dragon… but you are no longer necessary.
It’s all going as planned…’
The mouth of the dead gora moved, causing Frit to draw his
sword. Upon seeing its blade, the gora’s eyes narrowed.
‘That is not your weapon. And I’m already done with you. It’s
time for the stand-in to leave the stage. Your place has already
been prepared…’
The gora dissipated into black fog and swallowed Fritz up.
“S-stop it! I still—”
The black fog swallowed Fritz, leaving some parting words, it
faded away.
“It’s all according to plan. To deliver the sword to Aleist
someday…”
◇
When he came to, the black fog-swallowed Fritz was sitting in
the middle of a wasteland.
“… Eh?”
His enemy gora was gone, the husk of his partner nowhere to be
found. The place looked a bit different from where he had been
before.
In his confusion, Fritz stood, and caught sight of a group on
the move. A gathering of merchants and travelers, but it seemed
they were being attacked by monsters.
“What’s with that group?”
But seeing the members, Fritz felt something off. They were
wearing equipment of quite an old style, and the way they fought
was peculiar.
He couldn’t stand and watch.
With that on his mind, Fritz drew his sword and helped out the
caravan.
— After that.
The group of horse-drawn wagons offered him a lift, and it was
then he learned his words wouldn’t get through. The towns and
villages they led him to seemed somewhat off from what he knew.
He felt almost as if he had been flown off to another world.
Left with nothing but a borrowed sword and the clothes on his
back, Fritz would spend the rest of his life finding a place for
himself in this strange new world.
◇
Years later.
On Rudel’s battlefield, a peculiar scene unfolded.
“Well damn.”
Before the eyes of Rudel as he gave a troubled laugh, Askewell
had been taken in by black fog, and assimilated with a Gora to
stand before him.
But that wasn’t what bothered him.
Perhaps it could be called ironic… right above the gora,
consisting of black and red lines, a sinister dragon beat its large
spread wings.
The reason Rudel was so troubled lay in that the black fog had
gathered, and changed into a dragon.
The dragon looked down over him.
‘This is where you disappear.’
Come this far, Rudel never thought he’d be facing off against a
dragon. He smiled a bit.
“Good grief, someone up there must like messing with me…”
The fated foe of one who sought to be a dragoon, at the end
would face Rudel in the form of a dragon.
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LNWNCentral_Dragoon_Dragoon - WN Chapter 146-167_Dragoon-WN-Chapter-146-167-[Yoraikun][Trollo]
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title-page.txt
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Dragoon
Arc
8
by
Mishima Yomu & Wai
Novel
Updates
Translation
Group:
Yoraikun
Translation
Epub:
Trollo
WN/LN EPUB
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LNWNCentral_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata
|
Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata - Volume 01/Dress-na-Boku-ga-Yangotonaki-Katagata-Volume-01-[GirlyBoysAlliance][Proxus]/Chapter_01.txt
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Chapter 01
Chapter 01
“Hoho! So that’s the acclaimed girl-genius Ms Glinda everyone has been talking about?”
Gasps and whispers of wonder filled the main hall of the palace.
“That’s the gem from the country of arts and knowledge, the Winstoria Empire!”
“The emperor is willing to part with such a national treasure?!?”
“This is proof of how highly the Empire values our alliance! His Imperial Highness is certainly both generous and honourable!”
Despite being night, the interior of the hall was as brightly-lit as high noon by the high-dangling chandeliers lit with numerous candles.
Stiffly wrapped in a set of beautiful formal gown, I quivered at the inquisitive gazes of the gossiping officials of Eren Kingdom.
“But hasn’t it been said that Ms Glinda is a stunning beauty with bright golden blonde hair, divine bright blue eyes and a neck as slender as that of a swan? All I see here is just an ordinary cute girl of seventeen!”
“No no no! Don’t be deceived by her outer appearance! Ms Glinda’s powers can outweigh a hundred scholars, a thousand merchant and ten thousands soldiers!”
Words that I had been hearing since young.
And indeed, Ms Glinda Dolye of the Winstoria Empire was truly the greatest genius ever born.
Gaining entry to Winstoria Empire’s Imperial University at the age of seven with full marks at the entry examination, she attained professorship at the age of twelve.
The year after that, she was awarded her own research centre by the emperor himself at the Imperial Research Institute, and became the deputy director of the cultural ministry that same year.
Now seventeen, she was unrivalled in knowledge, be it in politics, economics, arts and sciences or even military strategies. What a monster.
There was no exaggeration.
The scary thing about it was that everything rumoured about her was completely true.
However, the biggest problem right now was that the one standing trembling in the gathered gaze of Eren’s top officials was not the girl-genius Ms Glinda, but her ordinary twin-brother, me.
Noooooooooooooo!!! How did I land myself in this situation?
The story began one week ago.
Back then, I was still a housekeeper (and failed college-entry exam student) in the capital of the Winstoria Empire, Vienna.
I had just been dumped by Fleury, the girl who worked at the local bakery, and was crying my way home when I caught that fellow.
“Ho! You’re back! So you’re Sher-chan?”
The front door to our house which was supposed to have been locked when I left was now open, and the apparent thief, a gentleman garbed in formal attire, sat smiling at me from the living room sofa.
He was tall and elegantly clad in black from head to toe; black overcoat, black waistcoat, black pants and black gloves. Even his neatly-combed hair was black, though blue shined in his alert and warm eyes which brimmed with intelligence and honestly.
Sher-chan was my nickname.
My father was raised in Orlando in the West as a merchant, and my mom who was from Romancia used to call me Sher-chan since I was young. Therefore, everyone me called me that as well and not my given name, Sherlock.
And that was somewhat fitting, because a college-exam failure like me couldn’t possibly have such a gallant-sounding name, right?
I was somewhat uncomfortable in the presence of this successful-looking handsome individual smiling before me, as if to rub salt on my recent break-up,
“Who are you?”
I asked in suspicion, and he cheerfully replied.
“Ho, terribly sorry. I seemed to have forgotten to introduce myself. I am Helmut Dahlberg, a colleague of your sister and a diplomat of the foreign office.”
Tsk. So that was really an acquaintance of Glinda. Did he say that he was a diplomat of the foreign office? A 1st class government official, huh. From the overly-familiar and easy way he just strolled into our house, one would have thought that he was Glinda’s boyfriend. Though I dismissed that from my thought as, no matter how handsome he was, there was no way Glinda would have a boyfriend.
“If you are looking for Glinda, you should be at the Imperial Research institute or at the Cultural Ministry instead. Glinda almost never comes back home. Besides, she would be leaving for Eren Kingdom next week. She had been assigned as the royal tutor there by Imperial orders, and it is all over the news. Shouldn’t you have heard already?”
Eren was a small island kingdom in the West which had been isolated both politically and economically from the outside world for a very long time. That was the situation until ten years ago, when the present king, called the Hero-King or God-King by some, ended the policy of isolation, and began a vigorous exchange of foreign cultures.
During the spring of this year, the Winstoria Empire and Eren Kingdom signed a treaty of friendship and mutual benefits, and to indicate their gesture of trust, the Eren Kingdom awarded the role of the tutor to the royal family to the genius of the Winstoria Empire, Ms Glinda.
Muah, I was just an ordinary parasite off my sister who failed even the uni-preparatory class examinations, much less getting into college, not to mention being recently-dumped and facing the bleak prospect of being a NEET for the rest of my life… To a useless brother like me, those news meant little to nothing.
“Sher-chan, it is YOU that I have business with.”
“Me? Not Glinda?”
“My apologies, Sher-chan.”
He stretched out a slender finger and plucked my glasses from above my nose, then loosened my tied hair and lifted up my bangs.
“Hey! What are you doing?!? Stop touching me!”
The suave diplomat peered at my frantic face carefully, then nodded and said.
“Hmm, this should work.”
“W-what should work?”
“Sher-chan, how many fingers am I holding up?”
The official ignored my complaints and lifted up his fingers.
“Two.”
“Now?”
He walked further away.
“Three.”
“Your eyesight seems alright. Why wear glasses?”
“That’s none of your concern! Please return me my specs!”
The official of the foreign office dodged my outstretched hands with a warm and honest smile.
“Sher-chan, you are perfect! Your eyes, nose, lips, neck and limbs, slender waist, white skin, petite frame, soft voice, are all too perfect! There is certainly no other man in this world more suitable than you to put on Glinda’s clothes!”
“What are you talking about?!?”
I felt a chill on my spine. Putting on a lady’s clothes! Was this guy a pervert? Was this the so-called shotacon?
As I shrank back, the perverted diplomat let out a deep sigh.
“Actually, Glinda had disappeared.”
“Oh?”
Disappear? Glinda disappeared?
“A slip of paper was left on the table of the cultural ministry office. It wrote:’ I am not Glinda Dolye any more from today onwards. Any subsequent issue is none of my business.’ This happened two days ago.”
Not… Glinda Dolye… any more?
I jumped a little, and felt my heart beat speeding up as cold sweat began to form.
“T-That must be a prank! Or a scam!... You should also understand, right? The wavelength of Glinda is a little different from other people… I mean, very different…”
That’s right! Even if Glinda was that different, there should be no way she could have disappeared like this just when everyone was frantically discussing news of her assignment to Eren… right?
I wanted to say yes, but I knew Glinda too well.
She had always been an impulsive monster who ignored everyone, be it towards me, or even the Emperor’s edict…
The horror was that the chance of this happening was actually pretty high! Too scary!
“But! From the character of Glinda, she would definitely just return carelessly…”
While cold sweat oozed from my back profusely, diplomat Helmut broke into my ramble with a serious expression.
“If only that is the case, but, according to the Imperial Intelligence Agency, they have tried to search for Glinda vigorously for the past two days in vain.”
“Imperial Intelligence Agency…”
Had things gotten this serious?
I felt a chill from head to toe.
What the hell are you playing at! Glinda!
“Time is of essence right now as tomorrow is the day that Glinda is supposed to depart for the Eren Kingdom. No matter what happens, we will have to get her aboard the ship to Eren by tomorrow morning.”
“Y-You are too close!... About that, can’t you just tell the King of Eren that Glinda’s suddenly taken ill to buy some time?”
“Impossible”
He rejected it right away.
“At this moment, every other country is following up on Glinda’s assignment to Eren. Doing that right now would certainly cause fracture in our relationship with Eren. It may become a very sensitive political issue.”
“Y-your face is too close! Then what should we do?!?”
A feeling of unease crept up from my insides.
I was just an ordinary folk, and a recently-dumped NEET-in-the-making with a famous family member. He couldn’t be making me…
A couple of ridiculous information rose from the corner of my mind. Those were just tales from the book “Historical Gossipy Anecdotes”, such as the story of how the legendary scammer-lady imposed as a duke’s daughter to be married in another country, or how the Crimson God-Soldier Kainluca hired someone to take his uni-entry exams because he wasn’t really so book-smart… such things. Back then, I just jeered in amusement at the implausibility of such tales…
I was just glued to a tight corner of the room, shivering like a mouse before a hungry cat, when the black foreign official let out a refreshingly charming smile and said.
“Sher-kun, please take the place of Glinda as the royal tutor of Eren Kingdom.”
My mind went blank.
“No! Absolutely not!”
I refused adamantly.
“Even if we are twins, Glinda is a girl! I am a guy!”
“I understand, but that is just a small issue in comparison with the political issue we have on our hands right now.”
“Don’t just write it off like that! It is no small issue! There is a world of difference between males and females!”
“Oh? What difference?”
Helmut discourteously checked me out from head to toe, and tilted his head.
“Chest! I don’t have any breasts!”
“Glinda isn’t really all that well-endowed either. Just stuffing something up there would do the trick.”
“I-I am still growing! I would definitely grow taller, more muscular, have facial hair, and my voice would deepen! The cat would be out of the bag before 2 years are out! Besides, Glinda is a genius who has achieved the 1st rank in the most prestigious imperial exams at the age of 7, while I am still failing to pass the college-entry exams at 17! How is it possible for me to be able to replace her?!?”
The replacement was dumber than the original. How ludicrous.
However, Helmut replied.
“Nothing is impossible before you actually try it.”
With a refreshing smile, he pushed me into a horse-drawn carriage, strapped a corset from some luxurious fashion store around my waist, stuffed something in the chest area, made me put on a girl’s gown, and skilfully did my hair with rose perfume.
“Great! Look identical to the original Glinda!”
Before the mirror stood an embroidery-laced, silk-covered blond girl in formal dress.
That’s right. Glinda and I looked so alike that we might as well have been carved out of the same mould. But I hated to listen to others’ comments that the brother was ordinary and unimpressive so much that I hid my face with my spectacles and hair.
Noooooooooo! I was already 17 and should already be somewhat masculine! How was it possible that I still looked so much like Glinda! Why was my skin this smooth! Why were my eyes so big and lashes so long?!? Pink lips, and even the way that shivering frame was arousing protective instincts… WHY WAS I SO ENAMOURED BY MY OWN REFLECTION?!?
Helmut intimately rested his hands on my sagging listless shoulders and said warmly.
“Perfect, Sher-kun! Looks like you can really pull off the role of being Glinda’s replacement! It is fortunate that nobody knew that Glinda had a twin brother, not to mention that within Eren’s royal household, the eldest heir to the throne is only 11 while the youngest is just 5. It is as easy as teaching at the neighbourhood elementary school, so you can just pretend that it is a high-income part-time work. Of course, the elite agents of the Imperial Intelligence Agency would be working hard at locating Glinda, so she would probably be found within half a month… no, with their skills and experience, just a week should suffice so you would only have to hang in there for a week!”
“No! Go back, you kidnapping, gender-blind perverted government official!”
Make me into a laughing-stock for one full week? Quit joking around!
I flailed in protest around like an unhappy kid, bu…
“If Glinda ran from Imperial orders, she would definitely be imprisoned for treason.”
“Urgh!”
“And if Winstoria Empire came to blows with Eren Kingdom because of this, not only Glinda, but you her brother may be held responsible. There goes your days of peace and quiet.”
“Urh Oh!”
“No, probably both siblings may be hanged.”
“!”
This black-hearted foreign office official threatened in a kind and gentle smile.
“Glinda is a genius so she would most likely escape successfully, but that would put our country’s reputation to shame, so you may be imprisoned in her stead. Rather than becoming the scapegoat for someone else, won’t you rather live a life of luxury in the palace? Even an ordinary folk like you should know which is a better choice, right, Sher-kun?”
Hadn’t you just said earlier that the Winstoria Imperial Intelligence Agency was so excellent that they could locate Glinda in a week? How did that turn into making me into her scapegoat?!?
But I was already too scared to speak.
War! Prison! Hanging!
The mere thoughts of these made me dizzy, even my stomach was hurting (which I discovered later was actually caused by the tightness of the corset).
“Urgh… Ah… Mu… Fine… then you decide…”
The very next day, under the refreshing smile of the swindling government official, I boarded the boat to Eren Kingdom.
Being the first time on a ship, I was badly sea-sick.
Over the week at sea, I vomited practically every single day, emptying out my guts until I feared that I was becoming mummified.
Arriving onshore Eren, we switched over to horse-carriage to Eren’s capital. The capital of Eren was surrounded by walls several stories high, and spear-wielding soldiers guarded the place all the way to the royal palace.
Even within the palace, guards stood at the ready atop the battlements with a fierce atmosphere as though they would rush over at a minute’s notice if we displayed any suspicious behaviour. I was scared stiff.
Now, we were walking at the center of the wide guest-hall.
Clad in a formal lady’s dress, I was assuming the identity of a girl-genius.
Ooooooh! My stomach was hurting so much from the tightness! No, all of my sides were being squeezed to a pulp by this corset which seemed to have been made of whale’s bones. What a torture. My bones were about to break. With the ribbons tied around my back, I felt like a leg of strung-up ham.
And this dress! To give the impression of curves, its insides had been packed into several layers adding to its immense weight! This was practically tying weights of lead around my waist! These embroidered shoes were also too small that every step seemed to be tearing them apart, making me stagger about.
To protect the reputation of the Winstoria Empire, the imperial court had gifted me with the highest quality clothing and shoes for the meeting with the royal family of Eren. Officer Helmut proudly said that “even if a village girl were to put on this set of clothes, she would look like a princess.” But I am a man! Why would I ever want to look like a princess?!?
“No problem. You look every bit as cute as a girl, and if I hadn’t known any better, I may even try to pick you up on the streets.”
Helmut happily whispered ridiculous words besides me even as I felt terribly disgusted at the thought of being picked up by men. Ohhhhhhhh. My head had begun to spin and my eyesight felt blurry.
Being the topic of discussion among a bunch of old men in another country was taking its toll on my feeble nerves.
That was because I had never been stared at by so many people before.
Since young, I had always been told that I was plain and forgettable. When I tried to confess to my 1st love, Clarisse of the same elementary class, she had instead shown me a bright angelic smile, asking who I might possibly be.
Oh? Why was there a pot-bellied old gentleman glaring fiercely at me from the front? Judging by his severe countenance and apparel that seemed more luxurious and expensive than the others, could this possibly be the King himself?
He… He didn’t seem to be very welcoming to my presence. Those pair of eyes read, “I detest you, go back to where you have come from.”
No, the King of Eren should still be quite young of age. Or could it be that the unimaginably heavy burden of governing a country was so harsh that he had aged far beyond his years?
I was standing astonished, when an uplifting voice spoke.
“Welcome to the Kingdom of Eren. It is our pleasure as the King of Eren to be able to invite the world-famous genius here, Ms Glinda.”
Huh? The voice did not seem to match the appearance.
I mean, that old uncle had not even moved a single muscle of his lips…
I slowly turned, and saw someone clad in a far more majestic, more elegant fur-caped gown than the old gentleman…
My eyes widened and my mouth drooped open.
How was it even possible?
Was this the national treasure? Or some secret work of art?
Such words of exaggeration were not unfitting to describe the extraordinarily beautiful face that appeared before my eyes.
A long ponytail of soft silver hair tied behind the neck swayed gently against clothes of shimmering blue. Dazzlingly white skin like that of a marble statue, perfectly constructed beautiful face, delicate brows, eyes of a deep blue that reminded you of the North Sea, and charmingly smiling lips.
Every part of these features looked feminine and yet combined to give an atmosphere lacking in frailty, but rather oozing of charisma and leadership.
“King Cecello of Eren possessed the beauty of a god,
Rivalling the sky-blue and silver-white of the dragon-god from the sky above,
A glimpse is enough to be conquered by the extraordinary charm and nobility.”
When I first read of it from an article of the tabloids, I nearly erupted out in laughter thinking that: “what a narcissistic girly-man.” Oh yes, sure, king of fabulous beauty… it sounded every bit as ridiculous as every other acclaimed “fabulously beautiful XXXXXXX”.
Me who had once jeered at that exaggerated description, now stood weak in the knees in the presence of his actual beauty.
How old was this man? According to the “World’s royalty who’s who” from the national library, he should had exceeded the age of 30. Could it be that this shiny object was really a monster? Or an alien?
When I looked at my own reflections under the guise of Glinda, I had thought: “Wow, so pretty. If I didn’t know that this person is actually me myself, I might even try asking her out.” But, now, in comparison to this King, I looked no better than a cricket… no, an ant… actually, a flea would be better…
Even as I stared in bewilderment, the fat old gentleman’s harsh glare brought me back to consciousness.
“I-i-i-i-i-i-i am grateful to your majesty for your welcome. I am Glinda Doyle, and it is truly my presssur… I mean, pleasure to be granted such an honourable position.”
I bent my head and knees, slightly lifted the hems of my skirt in a curtsey.
Noooooooo! I was soon about to be squashed flat by this corset and the pressure.
To be cross-dressing before a pretty-boy! And to rank even lower in appearance than the said pretty-boy! Urrrrgh!!!! EPIC FAIL!!!
A group of children surrounded the sides of King Cecello. These well-bred children with an obvious air of royalty came forward to greet me one by one at their father’s command.
“I am the 1st Prince, Ryuuju Von Heinz. I am glad to be granted the opportunity to learn from Winstoria Empire’s culture of such a long and enduring history.”
The black-haired and blue-eyed heir-apparent puffed up his chest, stiffened his face and called out, He gave off a feeling of having practiced for a very long time, demonstrating great force of action and awkwardness. Seeing his display of competitiveness and nervousness common to boys his age should have, I felt somewhat relieved.
“I am the 1st Princess, Seira Sveyn.”
Lifting the hems of her skirt in an elegant curtsy, this beauty of soft silver hair and mysterious purple eyes certainly had inherited her father’s genes. Oh, she’s just like a doll!
Her lifeless eyes and expression were so alike to a western-style doll.
Arms, neck and even the slight display of skin at the feet were all a pale smooth white in colour.
I remembered that the princess was just 9 years of age… She would most definitely be recorded into the “World’s royalty who’s who” as one of the loveliest princesses. Speaking of which, why was it so that this entire family had such beautiful genes?
As I stared stupidly at the princess, someone tugged at my skirt.
I looked down to see two adorable girls in wheat-blond twin-pigtails staring at me with their sky-blue eyes.
“Hay, even if Elder sister Seira is beautiful, there is no need to be staring like your eyes have popped out of their sockets! I am 2nd Princess Sarasa Gweny. I had heard that Glinda is a genius, with horns growing out of head too! But the actual person looked so… ordinary.”
The word “ordinary” pierced my heart like a knife.
“The brother is almost identical in looks to his sister, but felt completely ordinary.”
“Sher-chan, you’re so ordinary!”
These were words that I had heard so many times that I knew it even without being told so… sob…
Even as my morale took a turn for the worse, the other princess who looked identical to Princess Sarasa said.
“I am the 3rd Princess Orie Labertin. I have even heard that wings grew from the back of Ms Glinda!”
She said happily.
“And shoot lights of rainbows from her eyes!”
“And breathe fire that burns armies of enemies!”
“Have you hidden your horns? Can you show them to me and Sarasa later in secret?”
The two princesses pulled at my clothes left and right with faces of anticipation.
The real Glinda might actually have horns and wings, but that’s definitely not possible for me!
Even as I stood stumped at what to reply, Helmut beside me gave an honest smile and said.
“Glinda’s horns and wings are as rare as golden snow or seven-leaf clovers, not your everyday occurrence. Even a colleague like me has never seen them before. But since both princesses would be staying with Glinda for the next couple of years, you may probably have a chance at catching Glinda’s horns.”
“Wow! I can’t wait, Orie!”
“Yes! We must never let Ms Glinda out of our sight, Sarasa!”
The twin princesses clasped each other’s palms happily squealing and jumping. Their twin-tails bounced around like the ears of rabbits.
Look what you have done, Helmut! That was no way to joke with young girls of eight years old! Besides, they were even planning to put me under constant surveillance now!
I angrily glared at Helmut but he pretended not to notice, reaching behind the sisters instead to respectfully lead a small boy before me.
“Glinda, this is the 2nd Prince, Shin Clifford.”
“….”
The brown-haired green-eyed boy looked up listlessly at me. In contrast to Princess Seira’s statuesque cold expression, his demeanour was one of absentmindedness.
“P-pleased to meet you, your highness.”
“…..”
No response.
Surely, 5 year olds were all like that? He seemed to be trying to figure out the situation he found himself in.
Muu, 1st Prince Ryuuju, 1st Princess Seira, 2nd and 3rd Princesses the twins Sarassa and Orie, and 2nd Prince Shin…
Urgh, my head was in a mess.
Glinda was appointed as the tutor to all these children?!? What was I supposed to teach these princes and princesses? Elementary mathematics? Or some historical stories?
Prince Ryuuju had a sour face, Princess Seira had a lifeless expression, Princess Sarasa and Princess Orie kept squealing about horns and light beams from eyes and such, and Prince Shin looked almost as if he was asleep. Would I really be able to play governess over these kids?
Bile of worry began to raise from my stomach when the king shined an elegant smile upon me, saying.
“The Queen has just given birth to the 6th child and is currently resting. She too would love to meet with Ms Glinda.”
That’s right, there seemed to be no signs of the queen.
Or more accurately… Within this great guest hall, there did not seem to be any other young lady besides myself… wait, I am not a lady either!
As I retorted to myself, the King suddenly closed in before me.
He s-suddenly grasped tightly at my hands!
At the King’s sudden intimate gesture, my heart nearly skipped out of my mouth and my eyes widened like saucers.
Uuuuuuuurrrhhh!!!! I-I was being grasped by another man! … How disgusting! What was with this guy? Showing interest in me? No, that was most likely just to demonstrate his sincerity before the officials of Eren and the ambassadors of the Winstoria Empire. But wasn’t this action a little too carefree for a King?
“I would also like to welcome you on behalf of my Queen. I hope that you would not only be the tutor of my children, but also be a teacher to myself.”
Uuuuuaaaah!!! I am not Glinda!....
I was just a tabloid and “Historical gossip stories”-loving, mean-spirited ordinary folk who snickered at the private matters of the upper-class, and a NEET-in-waiting!
Sweat profusely ran down my face (H-hey, l-let go of my hands already, you pervert king!) as I somehow managed to squeeze out a reply.
“I-I would definitely do my very baaast!”
I couldn’t possibly take the place of Glinda after all.
At the end of the exceedingly embarrassing welcome ceremony, I had been led to the guest room prepared for me, and once alone, I threw myself onto the bed, grabbed my head and rolled around cross-legged on the bed.
“Why did I say ‘I would definitely do my baaast’?!? What’s bast anyway… Everyone must be snickering in secret!”
As I thought back to the scene earlier, my cheeks burned a bright red. Helmut who stood nearby looked as if he was holding his mouth while his shoulders quivered uncontrollably; Even the king who was still gripping my hands lifted the corners of his lips slightly.
I wanna go home.
This room alone was spacious enough to contain my entire home, and it was actually pretty uncomfortable to stay within such a luxurious suite. Was the Imperial Intelligence Agency of Winstoria really reliable? When would they be able to locate Glinda? Where had Glinda gone?
Since young, I had never managed to figure out Glinda, and she had often left home for long periods spontaneously without telling anyone. Back home, she also conducted strange experiments, such as tests for the effects of some new medication on human bodies by making me drink some murky solution which caused unstoppable hiccups; or practicing hypnotism on me to make me believe that I had turned into a donkey and then ran out onto the streets braying on all fours; or asking me to help in her surgery practice by acting as the patient even though I was completely healthy...
Despite all that, should she learn of the fact that her only brother had been made to become her substitute, even someone like her with a complete different way of thinking from everyone else would come to save me… right?
As my unease reached a peak, the door suddenly opened with a “Click”.
I instantaneously closed my legs, adjusted my skirt, knelt-sit on the bed and straightened my hair.
A soft mumble came from the opening of the door… could it be a thief? But this was a palace… Oh! Could it possibly be assassins?!?
In order to disrupt the alliance between Winstoria Empire and Eren Kingdom, assassins from other countries had come to take the life of Glinda… such events had been elaborated by the serialized novel “Twilight Empire Carebana: Double-agent Princess” I loved reading!
But I could see the swinging golden-hair and blue eyes of a little girl through the slit of the doorway – it was just Princess Sarasa and Princess Orie.
“Ah! We’ve been caught!”
“Really, it’s all because Sarasa was too loud!”
“How can that be. It must have been Orie poking your head out!”
Fuee… It wasn’t an assassin.
“T-that, what had your highnesses desired of a humble servant… I mean servant-girl like me?”
I caught myself nearly using the wrong pronoun and quickly corrected myself.
The twin princesses cutely stuck out their tongues and ran over.
“Sorry, Glinda”
“We just wanted to carry out secret ‘surveillance’.”
“To observe the horns on my head?”
See, Helmut? That was why you don’t joke around with 8 year old kids!
“And we really want to see that.”
“Uh...”
The two of them suddenly blushed furiously and twisted around in embarrassment.
“En… we are really curious about Glinda.”
“We really want to know what kind of person Glinda is.”
Huh? Was I always this popular with girls? Oh, I didn’t know that I possessed such charms that two young girls would be captivated instantan… wait, at the moment, I was supposed to be a “female”, not to mention that I had no lolicon inclinations.
The Princesses Sarasa and Orie shyly glanced upwards me, with angelic smiles so adorable that any lolicon would fall stricken. Even I myself could feel my heartbeat increasing…. No, I absolutely had no such evil thoughts!
One of the angels twisted around shyly and said.
“That’s because… Glinda would soon become our Mother.”
Oh? Our Mother?
“I was so worried that Glinda may turn out to be very cruel, maybe even torturing step-daughters.”
“But Glinda absolutely doesn’t look like a genius, and looks so adorable. I told Sarasa that, if it is Glinda, I would be willing to call her ‘Mother’.”
Glinda was going to get married?
Was there really anyone in the world that would be willing to marry this monstrously strange man?
This strange man who already had kids, whose profession was the king of a country?
Oh…. Huuuuuuuuuuuuhhhh???
“W-wait a minute! I don’t quite understand what you are talking about; doesn’t His majesty already have a Queen? Isn’t that your Mother?”
The degree of love King Cecello showered his Queen was well-published throughout the tabloids. It was said that he treasured her so much that he won’t allow her to step outside of the palace even once.
The princesses suddenly lowered their eyes, displaying looks of pain.
“…. Queen Mother had passed away after the birth of Shin.”
“!”
“The reason why Shin doesn’t speak much is because Queen Mother is no longer around. Lord Father loves Mother so much that whenever He looks at Shin, He would be reminded of Mother’s passing and avoids Shin.”
Two pairs of blue-eyes instantly filled with tears, causing me great confusion.
“B-but! His Majesty said that the Queen has just given birth to a 6th child and is recovering from labour.”
“That’s right. At the southern palace. Since ‘5 years ago’.”
“What!”
“Lord Father has been thinking that all this time. He hopes that Mother is still alive.”
Both princesses burst out into real tears.
What was up with such stories that sounded just as if they came right out of a tabloid’s serialized novel?
The Queen of Eren had died since 5 years ago?
“Uh… Even the ministers felt that this state of affairs should not be allowed to continue, and decided to find a new bride for Lord Father after discussing. So they invited Glinda over.”
Appoint Glinda as the Queen of a kingdom!
Did the King know about this?
Glinda might be a genius, but she was also a cold-blooded animal incapable of romance or marriage…
Huh? The Glinda they were talking about now… wasn’t that I?
So… I was going to be married?
At that instant, I could not help but let out a scream.
“HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH?!!!?”
They were going to make me into a Queen of that King who was as beautiful as a fairy?!?
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LNWNCentral_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata
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Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata - Volume 01/Dress-na-Boku-ga-Yangotonaki-Katagata-Volume-01-[GirlyBoysAlliance][Proxus]/Chapter_02.txt
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Chapter 02
Chapter 02
To make me into the King’s bride!
The angelic princesses rubbed off tears with their little hands, and lifted their expectant faces to look at the astonished me.
“Due to his divine looks and wisdom, everyone says that Lord Father is like a god. Even Queen Mother has been known to others as a goddess for her beauty, so neither the ministers nor the countrymen would accept an ordinary woman to be the bride of Lord Father.”
“This should not be an issue for Glinda. You’re after all a genius, just like Lord Father.”
“That’s right, even though you’re incomparable in looks to Lord Father. I am sure no other country would have a Queen with horns and wings.”
“Besides, Lord Father seems to be love-struck at Glinda at the moment they met.”
I could only let out a dry laugh.
“Hahahaha…. Haha… Your Highnesses must be exaggerating... How could such a lovely person be love-struck by a dinosaur like me?”
Laugh it off. There was no other way about it. My mind was now completely in chaos, incapable of sensible thought.
“But the way Lord Father has been looking at Glinda is so intense.”
Oh! That actually seemed true! Those eyes were truly enough to raise goose bumps under my skin!
“That has to be the 1st time that Lord Father looked so at another woman other than Mother.”
W-was that so?
“He even held your hands.”
That’s true. In fact, I felt the action a little too over-familiar, not to mention too close for comfort.
“Glinda, do you know that in Eren, males seldom hold the hands of females? That’s because hand-holding represents the partners’ common desire to spend their lives together forever. Unmarried couples don’t even touch each other’s hand when they are dancing because of that…”
Princesses Sarasa and Orie began to dance as they spoke, causing their lace-embroidered skirts to float lightly like the spinning petals of two pink flowers. Anyone with even slight lolicon tendencies would certainly be enraptured, but none of this registered with me.
So that was the meaning behind the hand-holding!
King Cecello liked ME?
I would become the new Queen of Eren…
“Both I and Orie would support Glinda as our new Mother.”
“Elder brother Ryuuju and Elder Sister Seria may oppose, but both Sarasa and I would be on Glinda’s side.”
“So Glinda must like our Lord Father too! And, show us your horns too sometime.”
“And picnic at the palace courtyard!”
“I would even tell you where the squirrels build their nests. So adorable…”
The princesses tugged at my skirt, chattering continuously.
Their blue eyes and round faces shone with happiness at having a new Queen Mother.
“Don’t loose to Elder Brother Ryuuju, Glinda!”
“Fight! Glinda!”
The twin angels adorably punched up into the air to cheer me on, and then left with a clutter of footsteps.
I, on the other hand, was covered from head to toes in goose bumps and cold sweat.
What kind of joke was this? It was barely tolerable for me to be forced into cross-dressing, and now they were going to make me a Queen??? I am a man! I have things that man ought to have!
I rushed out of the room. I must definitely protest to Helmut! I had never heard anything about being made Queen! Nooooo! Goose bumps were popping up like a measles outbreak!
But…
“Lord Helmut has returned to Winstoria…”
“Huuuh!”
I had been left behind? Alone? So quickly?
I had been deceived – This fact stuck me like a bolt of lightning.
What should I do? If this continued, I would be made Queen! The cat would definitely be out of the bed the instant the clothes come off at the bridal chamber! Absolutely, most definitely exposed! Then, my head would roll for treason…
Nooooooooo! I don’t wanna! I don’t want to go bed with a man! Absolutely don’t wanna be executed!
If I chased after Helmut now, I might still make it in time before the ship departed! Even though I had no idea where the port was located, I must still escape before I got forced to marry another man and then be executed!
Right! Run! Run now!
I would probably be discovered if I tried to escape via the corridor, so I returned to my room, opened the glass-door to the balcony and climbed over the parapet.
But I only discovered that this level was 5 stories high after I climbed over to the other side.
Glancing downwards, the lawn and fountains brightly lit by the moon and light from indoors looked so far away that my blood went cold from the view.
Ahhhhh! I would definitely die if I fell from here!
As I clung for dear life at the parapet, my gown fluttered in the wind and hair flew wildly against my face.
Why hadn’t I change out of the gown first?
The skirt was filled with air by the wind and nearly blew away like a balloon.
It was too late for regret, and rather than returning the way I came, it would probably be better if I continued my way downwards as that would decrease the chance of me sliding down by accident. Besides, my NEET arm-strength just would not allow me to climb upwards any more.
It must hurt to be executed, but falling down and breaking my neck seemed like it would hurt a lot too. I didn’t want eitherrrr!!!
But my arms were gradually turning numb, and soon I could not feel my legs either.
Huh? Strange? Why was smoke raising out of the window over there?
White thick smoke, both warm and… could that possibly be a fire?
Trapped myself in this dangerous situation, I was certainly in no place to care about a fire breaking out elsewhere, but I found myself unable to ignore it either. So, sticking to the wall like a frog, I inched towards the window where the smoke spewed out of.
That which had looked so thick and white was actually just steam.
There was a tub of boiling-hot water besides the window, and within it sat a familiar-looking boy.
Whoa!
When glass window went “Clob!”, and the boy immediately stood up and turned in my direction.
Standing in the midst of the thick steam, the naked boy had a look of shock on his face.
I took in the entire scene while glued to the window.
I guess my gown was probably in a mess and torn from my trip down, and my tidied hair most probably had loosened and heaped all over my face.
As an aside, due to my lack of exercise, I was probably wheezing deeply with bloodshot eyes.
So I was gasping for breathe while I watched this stark naked boy – the heir-apparent to the throne of Eren – red-faced, brows lifted upwards, and face tightened.
Then…
“A-audacious fool!”
Prince Ryuuju screamed with a furious face as red as a barbequed squid.
“Whoaaaa! S-sorry!”
I sled down in a panic.
But, there was no foothold anywhere.
Rather than calling it sliding, it should be called falling... Whoa! Whoaaaaa!
As I clunk for dear life with my right hand at the parapet, my body swung like a pendulum. So this was the so-called, “situation of life and death”? Uhhhh… I must attempt to leap over to the balcony below.
I let go of both hands but due to the excess momentum, I did not land on the balcony, but was thrown towards the window. It was fortunate that the window had been opened, or I might have crashed into the glass.
Splash!
At the sound of water splashing, my entire body was wet.
Uwah! This was cold! Why would there be a pool inside the room?
My clothes weighed heavily as they soaked in the water, and I felt myself sinking… Help! I was about to be killed by cross-dressing!
As I began to panic, I discovered that the water was only knee deep even as water dripped from my hair and cuffs.
I brushed aside the hair on my face to find that this place was no pool, but a bath-tub filled with cold water.
There was even someone in the tub!
Silver hair that seemed spun out of moonlight, translucent jade white skin, delicate hand and neck, petal-like lips and violet crystal eyes.
The 9-year old beautiful princess of the king of divine beauty.
Princess Seira stared at me expressionlessly like a western doll.
“…….!”
I could only let out a soundless scream.
After just peeking in at the bathing Eldest Prince Ryuuju, I had the extreme chance of falling into bath of the Eldest Princess.
What destiny did I have with baths in general? Was I tied to the bathrooms by a red string of fate?
No, this was no time to escape from reality.
Even if it was just a 9 years old girl, children this age would already begin to say: “I don’t want to take baths with daddy!”
Even if this was an accident, the situation of sharing a bath with a 9 year old girl was still highly atrocious. If dragged before a court of law, there was definitely no chance of appeal.
“T-That…Your humble servant… I mean, servant-girl is not a pervert, there is a reason for this…”
As I covered my face in explanation, Princess Seira made no reaction.
Won’t she scream or call out?
I tried peeking from between the slits of my fingers, and saw that those pair of clear eyes just stared straight into me.
“….”
“That…”
“…”
“Uhhh…”
As I spiralled into confusion and wondered what to do next, Princess Seira finally opened her mouth.
“… Isn’t Teacher going to strip?”
A clear and adorable, but flat and monotonous voice asked.
Teacher? Oh, was that supposed to be me?
“… Or is it that, everyone takes bath clothed in Teacher’s home-country?”
“N-No, people in Winstoria also take off their clothes when they bath. Oh, it is said that the 17th Emperor Chenchito steadfastly refused to take off his robe and display his skin while bathing, so strictly speaking, that isn’t the case for everyone… Argh, this has nothing to do with him though.”
I stammered out a reply. How could this child possibly be so quiet?
If someone were to crash through the window while you were taking a bath, normally you would be alarmed too, right? Suspicious? Definitely. Guarded? Of course! Who would discuss the customs of baths under this kind of situations?!?
The Princess continued in a serious voice.
“… Then please take off your clothes.”
“Huhuhu??? But! That! That would be very problematic!”
“Why? We are both girls here.”
“You would be fine if it is a female? You find it alright to expose yourself to someone you have just met today?”
“… Yes.”
She said in an even voice.
Please be more mindful of it! Even your elder brother covered himself with both hands, screamed “Audacious fool” with a red face! Or could it be that females were always this open to each other? Actually I had heard some atrocious tales about the boarding rooms of all-girls schools too…
“… If Teacher also had a habit of bathing clothed like Emperor Chenchito, it is not really appropriate of me to interfere with your personal choice.”
“R-right! Your servant… no, servant-girl loves to take baths clothed!”
Whoa! This was the 2nd time I had a slip of tongue!
Princess Seira just looked at me unerringly.
Soft loose silver hair, having had all accessories and ribbons removed, floated dreamily in the bath-tub.
Water dripped from her small chin and long lashes onto her white chest.
The moist skin was snow-white, pure like a doll of frost, or an elf resting in the water.
Urgh… I was definitely no lolicon! Absolutely not!
My type consisted of sweet-smiling and gentle sixteen to seventeen-year old girls!
But my brain was steaming and heartbeats raced non-stop.
No, that was certainly not because I was a lolicon, it had to be because this child was too special. Perhaps it was her cold expressionless stare, or maybe because it was the nakedness, that felt unusually mature.
The problem was that she felt no threat by my presence, but just stared uninterestedly at me.
Not good! Should I stay here any longer, I might actually develop some strange inclinations! Wearing this gown for ladies, I would definitely be exposed as a pervert if anything extraordinary appeared on the lower portion of the skirt!
Besides, this bath was too cold.
At a second glance, there were even ice cubes floating atop the water! Why would she not mind it at all? I was already chattering in the teeth from the cold!
“I, I-i-i-i-i-i-I have ‘warmed’ up enough, and would humbly take my leave now. Oho.”
I climbed out of the bath, splashing water all over.
Right, I was still trying to escape from the palace and had no time to be distracted by a 9 year old girl.
But…
“… Teacher.”
“!”
A cold little hand grasped mine.
“W-What is it?”
“… Isn’t Teacher… here to see me?”
She said while still emotionless, tilting her head in query.
“Huh? N-no, that is not it.”
This child was certainly strange.
Would any guest visit the bath that his host was currently taking a bath in? No doubt a pervert would.
“… is that so?”
“Then, your humble servant… no, servant-girl would be taking her leave. Apologies for the disturbance.”
Ohhhh! I said the wrong things again! Let’s flee before I made any more mistakes!
For whatever reasons, Princess Seira seemed to display a look of pity, or was it just my imagination? No, what was I even turning back for?
Princess Seira opened her mouth again.
“… Teacher, the soap is at your foot.”
“Oh?”
As I felt uncertain, my foot suddenly slipped and my body plunged backwards.
So it seemed that there were paintings on the ceiling… of dragons and moon and ladies… paintings of legends crafted with extraordinary skills… While I pondered over such things, a ‘bang’ sounded from the back of my head and I experienced a tremendous concussion.
I had knocked the back of my head against the edge of the bath-tub.
Now was not the time to faint! Endure it!
You must fight! Sherlock Dolye!
But my head felt numb as my consciousness blurred over.
Nooooooo! What would happen to me next?!?
So warm.
I was covered by something soft and smelling of the sun. How comfy.
A clear song flowed into my ears.
“The Dragon watcheth over Seven doors;
Door of Water from which birth springeth,
Door of Light bearing God’s name,
Door of Earth which all-encompasseth,
Door of Fire that burneth away the soul,
Door of Flowers which confesseth love,
Door of the Night which summoneth beginning and the end.
Every Door is guardeth by the Dragon.
So sleep well, my lovely child”
Ohhh, what a lovely voice. Smooth and clear, but very gentle.
Wanting to know who was singing, I opened my eyes for a peek…
“Oh? You are a awake already?”
A girl of sixteen or seventeen peered at me with warm eyes and a gentle smile on her face.
Whoa… so pretty!
I still had yet to figure out what was going on, but was already mesmerized by the smile.
Rather than having a mature and beautiful woman, I much preferred this type of girl which gave off an amiable atmosphere of worldly gentleness.
The girl staring at me gave off a feeling of friendliness and loveliness that completely fitted into my type.
She had a smaller frame than me, was both energetic and graceful and a gait as delicate as a small bird with beautiful raven-black hair tied behind her head. A white-laced apron had been wound about her black western skirt.
A maid? Had we hired a maid in our house? Did Glinda hire a maid?
So wanted to be partners with this kind of girl… To stroll hand-in-hand out in the garden…
“Teacher fainted when she knocked her head against the side of the bath. Does it still hurt here?”
As I got up, she gently stroked the back of my head.
The gentle stroking was certainly comfortable, but it also brought me back to reality and struck me with fear.
That’s right! I fell into the bath while Princess Seira was taking her bath, and accidentally fell when I slipped on a piece of soap.
Where was this place?
It was as luxurious as my own guestroom, so I was probably still in the city?
I glanced down and saw that I was clad in a nightgown for ladies. Whoa! Someone had helped me change into these clothes!
“W-w-w-w-who changed my c-c-c-clothes…”
“… It’s I.”
At the monotonous voice, I turned quickly.
Princess Seira was standing at the side, certainly no longer naked, but clad neatly with her hair beautifully tied.
“… As Teacher just fainted, I helped Teacher change out of the clothes… Before calling others.”
She coldly said so while looking at me with purple crystal eyes.
“I-it must have been difficult?”
“… Yes.”
“T-that, oh! … But… At that time… “
Had you seen my ‘naked body’?
I wanted to ask, but could not put it into words.
Princess Seira was just as expressionless as a puppet, giving no hint of any emotions. If she had actually discovered that I was a male, would she still be this calm?
Might that mean that while she helped me change my clothes, she did not look once at my body?
Let’s assume that was truly the case.
Even though my heart was in my throat, I could only thank Princess Seira.
“Thank you. Princess Seira is the saviour of my life.”
“… Please don’t mention it.”
She replied in a calm voice.
Was this child truly only nine? Shouldn’t nine-year old girls be richer of expressions?
Princess Seira looked as if she was completely uninterested in the rest of the world, and this was quite similar to Glinda.
Even though this was the case, she did not escape from my glance, but continued to stare at me.
“… That’s right. Why did Teacher climb through my window dressed as such?”
“!”
My heartbeat nearly stopped.
To ask this just at this moment! She must have done it on purpose, right? Definitely on purpose!
“That, T-t-t-t-t-that was because… I am still unfamiliar around the palace, lost my way by accident, and somehow climbed over the balcony and ended up wall-climbing on the outside…”
H-how unpleasant.
Would anyone belief this? But since the opposite was just a child, maybe she would actually believe this…
Trembling, I stole a glance at Princess Seira, but she was as expressionless as before, as if to say. “Are you kidding me.”
Aaaaaa! Guess it really wouldn’t work!
At this, a smooth voice answered.
“Ara, that must have inconvenienced you greatly.”
The maid looked at me with a face filled with sympathy.
“As Teacher has said, this palace is so huge that even now I loose my way around.”
“R-really?”
She believed! She then continued seriously while gripping my hands adorably in hers.
“That’s right! There was this time when I got lost in the woods just outside the castle and nearly froze to death before I was brought back; then this other time that I got lost in the changing room and was locked in for nearly half the day; There was still this other time that I wanted to clean the windows at the eastern tower, but somehow twisted my ankle at the wine cellar in the west; Or that time when I went up to the roof to sun out the blankets, but fell atop the apple trees below together with the blankets.”
What a miracle that she managed to survive to this day.
“Teacher must also be very scared? I most definitely ~~~ understand it completely. Oh, so pitiable.”
The maid said with warm tear-filled eyes.
“His Majesty has ordered me to come to tend to Ms Glinda. I too have wanted to come over myself, so I am truly happy. From now on, I would be careful not to let Ms Glinda get lost so you can safely move about the palace.”
“T-thank you.”
Despite being bumbling and careless, she was such an honest and gentle girl.
Ohhh, I so wished I could go on a date with this girl in the gardens… but the thought of myself in cross-dress walking beside this maid next to the fountains sent me bowing my head in despair.
“Teacher has been sleeping for a while, so are you hungry? Is there anything you would like to eat? Be it porridge, soup or sandwiches, I can make it in an instant.”
“Are you going to cook for me?”
“Yes, though I don’t know whether it would be to Teacher’s tastes. Oh, I specialise at dessert, and can also prepare red tea.”
The maid blushed and said in embarrassment.
Ohhhhhh! SO CUTE! That impeccable gesture and expression sent my heart pounding.
“Then may I have some dessert, red tea and some sandwiches, please.”
I ordered a great deal directly.
“Alright.”
The maid replied with a pure smile.
I could certainly live with this kind of conversation.
“I would be back soon.”
She lightly left the room.
While I shyly watched the maid’s departure, I suddenly remembered in fear.
Princess Seira was watching me listlessly.
“….”
“Haha… Hahaha… Looks like I have caused trouble for the Princess.”
“… That’s not so.”
“That, isn’t my chest somewhat small? Due to its flatness, I have sometimes been mistaken to be a boy, but I am really a girl. I normally have to stuff 5 layers of pads!”
Did I say too much?
“Also, my crotch has become swollen due to insect bites!”
“Crotch?”
“A, Ah! That is really uncouth of me! F-forget that I said anything!”
Calm down! Calm down now, Sherlock! Stop talking about crotches to little girls and change the topic of conversation!
“The maid just now looks so cute.”
“… Yes.”
“Is black hair rare in Eren?”
People in the kingdom of Eren typically had blonde hair and blue eyes, so black hair was a symbol of foreign origins.
“… Things have changed recently. Lord Father likes foreigners, and many foreigners are now working in the city.”
Whoa! I had thought her a dull kid, but it seemed that she was actually pretty intelligent… This was nothing like what a nine-year old child would say, or was it that the children of royalty were all like this?
“… Teacher Glinda.”
“Y-Yes?”
“… There’s something I would like to ask of Teacher.”
“!”
T-T-th-th-that, w-what was going to happen this time?
Princess Seira quietly looked at me who frantically tried to prepare myself, and then said.
“… Nevermind.”
Her calm voice carried nothing strange or remarkable.
What was it about? The curiosity was killing me. Was she trying to bully me? Was this the so-called teacher-bullying?
As fear began to creep upon me, the maid returned.
“Sorry for the wait, Teacher Glinda.”
The exuberating voice instantly flipped the foreboding atmosphere over.
Teapot and cups, sandwiches, tiny fruit tarts and a pound-cake made from cherry tomatoes and lime were spread atop a silver trolley.
The maid poured red tea into a teacup with a smile.
“Here, please enjoy.”
“Wow thanks, I will tuck in.”
I bit into a sandwich with slices of cucumber and ham within. The taste of mustard was a little heavy, but lightly sweetened and very tasty.
At my words of praise, the maid blushed happily.
“Thank you, please enjoy yourself.”
“Enn.”
The maid smiled in delight as she listened to my piled compliments of “Tasty” and “Excellent”.
It felt so much like honeymoon. If only I was not dressed like a girl right now…
“Oh that’s right. While I was asleep earlier, I felt as if I heard a song. Was that you?”
At my query, the maid shyly said.
“Yes. Sorry to have disturbed Teacher.”
“There’s no such thing! Your singing voice is divine! I have never heard such a lovely song.”
As I said so, she flushed a fiery red throughout and cringed.
“No way… Teacher Glinda comes from the Winstoria Empire which is renowned for its culture and arts, where there has to be far better music. Please don’t try to flatter me.”
“This is no flattery. Your singing voice is more beautiful and touching than that of famed singers in Winstoria! “
She wiggled as the smile on her lips bloomed like a flower.
“T-that… I am very happy, thank you. It is said that the people of Winstoria Empire begin taking up music and composition at an early age. What instrument does Teacher play?”
I was drunk in her innocent smiling image as I replied.
“Enn… I dabble in the tambourine sometimes.”
I blushed the moment those words left my mouth.
The tambourine, a wrist-sized bangle with seven bells attached on its ring. This was little more than a musical toy for small children. Having grown up in the capital city Vienna, which flourished in arts and music, and where families held orchestras on public holidays, I could hardly hold my head up even over my skills in the tambourine.
Glinda was of course proficient in both violin and piano, but even played the conductor to the Winstoria Empire’s 1st class orchestra in what became a legendary orchestral concert in the history of music. Countless audiences to that concert went away moved to tears dreamily.
For a musical genius as such to claim love for the tambourine… Ohhhhh!
I was so ashamed that the roots of my ears blushed red, but the maid simply displayed a gentle smile.
While the smile earlier bloomed with charm like a flower, the smile she gave me now emitted kindness and warmth, filling me with a sense of gladness.
“Wow… That’s marvellous.”
Was that just flattery? Or was she consoling me?
But the maid looked genuinely happy and glad, and she continued in a voice filled with emotions.
“I also loved the sound of tambourine. It sounds so adorable.”
My heart nearly leaped out of my mouth.
I was filled over with her clear refreshing voice, warm words, gentle smile, all of which seemed to taste like honey.
Whoa! What should I do? I was fidgeting non-stop while my heartbeat raced.
Could this be…
B-But, I had just been ditched… and was wearing a breezy gown for ladies right now… , Ohho, even so I still…
I had completely disregarded the fact that a 9-year old girl was coldly staring at me nearby.
The joyful feeling of sugar overflowed from my chest as I barely stopped my nose from bleeding from the rush in my head.
This feeling – I recognized it as love.
“Well maybe it is alright to stay just a while longer.”
The next day, I excused myself to rest from the exhaustion of my travels.
Both breakfast and lunch had been served by the cute petite black-haired maid.
The mere sight of her kind smile was enough to send my feelings fluttering to the sky. How great was the power of love.
Just a mere day before had I been trying to escape back to Winstoria Empire, but now I thought that it might be worth staying for a little while as Glinda’s replacement if I could just enjoy this for a bit more.
Yes, since the targets are children aged between 5 to 11 years old, even I should be capable of teaching them some elementary mathematics while living luxuriously in this room at the expenses of Eren Kingdom.
Viewing it from another angle, was this not the ideal NEET life I had been aiming for?
“Ya, you can definitely do it, Sher-chan.”
The smirking face of Diplomat Helmut surfaced in my brain.
Despite forcing me into cross-dress and kidnapping me into a faraway country, the swindler did give me this opportunity to encounter new love, so I probably should forgive him.
I should be the one thanking you instead. Thank you, Lord Helmut!
Also, thank you to Glinda who disappeared!
I must sing of the springtime of my life’s fateful encounters!
Muah, that’s certainly because I was in love.
Ohhhh, the joy!
I seemed to have forgotten something in my exuberance.
Something which I only remembered when evening fell.
The door suddenly opened, and maids filed into the room carrying evening dress, accessories and cosmetics.
“These are gifts from His Majesty to Lady Glinda. Tonight, there will be a special banquet to welcome back Her Majesty who had been absent for so long, and we have been ordered to come help Lady Glinda prepare for it.”
At these words, I nearly fainted.
I had forgotten it completely! I was supposed to become the replacement for Queen!
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LNWNCentral_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata
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Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata - Volume 01/Dress-na-Boku-ga-Yangotonaki-Katagata-Volume-01-[GirlyBoysAlliance][Proxus]/Chapter_03.txt
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Chapter 03
Chapter 03
What “Welcome party for the long-absent Queen”!
I was thoroughly confused by the group of maids who smilingly surrounded me with piles of combs, perfume, ribbons and powder in their hands.
“Lord Father has decided to introduce Glinda as the new Queen to everyone!”
“Congratulations, Glinda!”
Princess Sarasa and Orie crept out from nowhere and softly whispered.
“How could that be! I would be in troubled! Be-because I… That’s right! I-I already have someone I like!”
“Wow! So romantic! But you would soon forget the other man after you married with Lord Father. Right, Orie?”
“That’s right, Sarasa! That’s because there’s no one else in the world as strong, wise and handsome, and as powerful and wealthy as our Lord Father.”
The princesses said with angelic innocence.
“Uuuuaaaa! This is preposterous! I must protest to the government of Winstoria Empire! I will write to the Emperor himself!”
“It is alright. It takes a week to deliver the mail, and by that time you would have fallen for Lord Father.”
“What type of wedding gown would you like, Glinda? You must love those with long veils and puffy gown, right?
I didn’t like this sort of stuff!
So would I be going on honeymoon trip with that pretty-boy King? Splashing sea-water on the beaches of some southern tropical island with just the two of us? Then be bridal-carried by him? Ahhhhhhh! Measles were beginning to break out! I-i-itch! That’s disgusting! I refuse to play hide and seek on the beach with another man!
What’s more, even before that could happen, my identity would be totally exposed on the wedding night, and I would have been sent for execution already!
That idiot Helmut! How could he have returned all by himself? Had he planned to escape? That must have been so! I wouldn’t put it past him to do something so cold-blooded!
Glinda too! If you were really a genius, come save your little brother from this predicament now!
“Come, Lady Glinda, let’s put on the gown.”
“Whoa! Don’t unbutton! Don’t loosen the ribbon! Ahhhh! If you pull that string, the skirt would drop! Uuaaaah! Nooo! Ahhh!”
Hands came from all directions to pull off my clothes, loosen my hair, spray cosmetics and powder foundation on my face, and I tried to shield myself from them with all my strength.
Ohhh! Why had I not run away sooner?”
Now was no time to be falling in love! How could I have imagined I could just stay and become a NEET in Eren, or even fantasized about lying atop the laps of that maid while she gently cleaned the insides of my ears? I was such a fool!
While I continued to blame myself, the preparations were speedily completed, with flowers decorating my bound hair, jewelled accessories around my neck and wrists, even shoes so luxurious that my toes were about to numb.
“Glinda looks so lovely!”
“Lord Father would fall in love with you all over again!”
The twin angels were ecstatic.
I absolutely refused to have any man fall in love with me all over again! I am a man myself! Even if your King father was both rich and beautiful, I could still hardly accept it as a matter of principle! There’s just no way I could become your motheeerrrr… !!!
“I can’t take it! I have to go to the loo!”
Unabashed, I shouted and, lifting my skirts’ folds, fled out of the room in large strides.
Run! Run! Run!
I must flee directly to the harbour from the palace! Or, failing to do so, lock myself into a toilet and excuse myself with having diarrhoea!
But, along the corridor…
“Hey, Ms Glinda!”
I was immediately hollered at by the pot-bellied uncle.
That was the guy who had been staring at me the day before in the welcome ceremony.
“You don’t look too well, is it due to the fact that you are not accustomed to our food? Heard that you had been stuck in bed all day too. With such frail constitution, are you really fit to be a tutor for our royal family?”
He asked in a derisive manner.
“I have an urgent business! Please excuse me!”
“What! How dare you just ignore me!”
I could hear his angry complaints from behind as I fled from his side.
Ha, would this corridor just go on forever?!?
Finally reaching a corner at the end and rounding it…
“Whoa!”
“Ah!”
I accidentally knocked into Prince Ryuuju and squashed him against the floor full bodily.
Prince Ryuuju stared at me red-faced with his mouth gasping open and close, and then screamed like the day before.
“I-i-impudent fellow!”
“Sorry! Sorry!”
I got up immediately and took to my legs, my skirt nearly flying upwards.
Uuaah! Not only had I peeked upon the Prince’s bath, I even pushed him over. My rating must have been rock-bottom in Prince Ryuuju’s opinion.
But, since I could not possibly become his Mother, or his teacher, there should not be much to regret over.
Looked like it might be better to find other means of escape, find a toilet, take off this body of heavy clothes and accessories, and remove this ungodly tight corset…
At this instance, someone barred my path…
Holding a thick old tome in her chest stood the divine-looking Princess with mysterious silver hair and amethyst eyes. She emitted an aura of immense presence like the fabled fairy here to announce my doom.
I halted immediately.
W-what’s going on? I could not move!
The purple crystal eyes stared at me unmoved.
Uuuww… what was I doing… there’s nothing to be scared about 9 year old girls…
“…Teacher.”
The lovely girl spoke.
As I became breathless with nervousness…
“Lady Glinda, we are here as your guard.”
A group of soldiers appeared from nowhere.
“His Majesty awaits. Come this way please. Your Highness too, please return to the section for ladies.”
“Uh, a moment please! Your humble servant… I mean, servant-girl would like to go relieve herself!”
“We would await your highness, so please do so quickly.”
“Are you going to stand guard outside of the toilet?!?”
“That’s right. This is because Lady Glinda is an important guest of His Majesty.”
The soldiers replied seriously.
“With someone standing just on the other side, how would I possibly be able to relief myself?”
“If something were to happen to Lady Glinda, we would have no way of answering His Majesty.”
“Uuwww… Nevermind…”
Sigh, so much for running away.
At this stage, I could only squarely walk towards the banquet hall.
My fate was like a candle in the wind.
Would it be better to declare to the entire world that I am a man before I became the Queen? Or should I wait until the night of the wedding with only two people on the betrothal bed?
No matter which path I could choose, it would turn into a foreign relations crisis, with the alliance between Winstoria and Eren at stake.
If a war were to start due to this, I would certainly be known to history as the “transvestite who deceived the king”, what a lovely title.
Me. No. Want!
The great hall was filled with a train of Eren’s top brass like yesterday, and that fat uncle was also standing among them gnashing his teeth at me.
King Cecello sat smilingly on his throne on the platform.
Beauty that disregarded the fact that he already had 5 children, his aquamarine eyes shone with charming light like precious stones. He looked satisfied when he saw me putting on his gift of luxurious dress.
Oooooohhh! He couldn’t possibly be thinking of how I would be taking it off, could he? This perverted King!
The throne besides his was empty, most definitely as it was for the Queen – that was, myself.
Besides the two thrones, stood the King’s children.
Prince Ryuuju was red-faced and frowning, his fists squeezed tightly at me. Princess Seira hugged that huge tome, staring at me with an undecipherable expression. Prince Shin looked like he was asleep. Princesses Sarasa and Orie winked and signalled at me in secret, both looking as cute as angels in high spirit.
I nearly fainted from the tightness the corset was gripping my chest.
King Cecello happily announced.
“Then, let me introduce my wife.”
Oh no!
Really wished I could see that adorable and kind maid one last time.
King Cecello’s eyes clouded over like a lustful senior teasing a new female employee, smiling as he stood.
My mind was filled with white bridal veils, Southern tropical island honeymoon, and princess-carry by the sea-side, and my skin nearly broke out into chicken-pox.
Uwwwwaaaaaahhhh!!! I DON’T WANT TO PUT ON A GOWN AND GET MARRIED TO ANOTHER MAN!!!
In my panic, I uttered.
“I-I have athlete’s foot!”
Good, I would fight!
“My feet are full of blisters and sores! And they stink!”
People and the room seemed to be spinning in my confusion, and I kept shouting even in the midst of the light-headedness caused by the tight corset.
“The shoes – once they are off – would stink to the skies! Even the cockroaches would run! Everyone calls me a bio-weapon!”
At that instance, the great hall became as silent as a cemetery at night.
The King was frozen where he stood, and so were his children, the princes and princesses.
Slowly, whispers swept across all who were present like a wave on the sea.
“Ms Glinda… has athlete’s foot?”
“The unmatched genius has athlete’s foot?”
“And they stink?”
The opinion of Glinda obviously fell.
This might enrage Glinda, but my concern at the moment was only to protect my own chastity.
King Cecello recovered quickly, and said with a smile.
“Then, tonight I would ask someone to send some foot medication over.”
Oooooooooohhhhh! It didn’t work!
As expected of the Heroic King who disregarded all opinions and did away with the policy of isolation for Eren! Even athlete’s foot was unable to drive him away! No, maybe that was even his preference! That’s right! He really looked like he had a thing for ladies with athlete’s foot!
As I sunk deeper into despair, King Cecello lifted his hand.
Huh? Strange? But I was standing over here, so why was he pointed at the other side?
As I felt suspicions, I suddenly saw a lady coming out while carefully cradling a little baby clad in soft baby clothes.
This girl had raven-coloured hair neatly tied, clad in pure and elegant evening dress, slim frame, and gentle demeanour…
Huh? Why…
Why was the maid that I encountered cradling a baby and wearing a lavish gown?
And, why was she exchanging such heatedly warm gazes with King Cecello?
King Cecello took hold of the baby in her arms, and lovingly planted a kiss on the child’s forehead.
“Ms Glinda.”
“Y-Yes!”
Being suddenly called, my body froze, but King Cecello shone the happiest, gentlest smile I had ever seen as he said.
“This is Queen Yuki, and… everyone, this is Eren Kingdom’s 4th Princess, Suzuna Phyllis!”
I stood stunned and lost at sea in the midst of the hall of loud applauses and cheering.
Queen? Wife of the King?
Queen? So that was the wife of the King?
That’s to say, the Queen was the wife of the King, the maid was the Queen, and that was the pretty-boy King’s wife, so the one who had been wearing an apron…
The maid… No, Queen shone me a glowing smile.
“Greetings once again, Teacher Glinda, please show us your guidance. If there is any issue, please look for me. I really wish to become friends with Teacher Glinda.”
Why was the Queen disguised as a maid?
The Queen herself prepared cucumber sandwiches and strawberry tarts for me? And even served them to me?
Or hadn’t the Queen passed away?
And Princesses Sarasa and Orie said that Glinda had been invited to Eren in order to become the King’s new Queen!
I turned my head towards the twin Princesses, just to see their twitching lips, lightly fidgeting bodies and eyes filled with mirth.
Soon after, they could no longer hold it in, and went “Piff!” bent over in laughter.
“Pfff! Hehehehe! T-take a look at her expression!”
“So adorable! And funny! Hahahaha!”
“Sarasa, no, I can’t take it any more! My tummy’s aching from the laughter, aching!”
“Hahahaha! Me too, Orie! I can’t take it any more!”
The two of them bowed forward and backward, laughing until tears came out of their eyes.
It was then that I realised.
I had been tricked by the twins!
Saying that the Queen was no longer in this world since 5 years ago, that there was special meaning to men holding the hands of women in Eren, and also that I had been chosen as the Queen candidate… Lies, all of them!
I guessed my face must have been fuming.
The two angels… no, little devils heard their father asking “What was so funny”, and chose to pretend that nothing was amiss.
“Sorry, Lord Father, I am just so happy to have someone like Glinda as our Teacher.”
“Yes, I am just laughing because I am too happy, too glad. Sarasa likes Glinda a lot, Lord Father.”
“Orie too.”
Both girls had on their faces expressions as pure as angels. Even though they were just eight years old, their skills in trickery and acting were top-notch and could probably deceive any man.
Something snapped in my head.
I might had been a housekeeping NEET and failed college-exam student, Glinda’s useless little brother and a cross-dressing pathetic fool twice-dumped.
Ooohh! Right! In the eyes of royalty and the nobles, I was as good as the lowest flea of society! Like a broken toy easily cast aside! Like a leaf of parsley for garnishing! Like an apple pie with no apple fillings! Like a shoe with a holed sole! Or an old uncle’s nostril hairs! Sand covered by cat’s urine!
Even so, I was still qualified to teach precocious children what was right and wrong! Trying to make fun of an adult? You were 10 years too young!
I could no longer conceal my wrath.
Blood rushed towards my head, my ears fumed.
I walked towards the two little devils in angel disguises that were still-trembling in laughter.
Then, I grabbed one of them by the waist, lifted her up, and “smack” spanked her bottom.
“Ah! What are you doing!”
“Sarasa!”
I did not stop, but continued to spank twice, thrice.
“Why I am doing this, both of you know well enough! Be it village children or princesses, naughty kids must be spanked!”
Pop! Smack! Spanking sounds and cries of the Princess echoed through the great hall.
“Ahhh! Hurt! Pain! Help me! Lord Father! Queen Mother!”
The top officials all around had their jaws dropping to the ground, Prince Ryuuju fearfully stepped back, even Princess Seira widened her eyes. Prince Shin fearfully ran to the back of his Mother and tucked at her skirt.
The Queen was dumb-founded, and beside her, King Cecello smiled, saying.
“Oh? Looks like Ms Glinda is a strict teacher.”
I put Princess Sarasa, who was weeping from the pain and shame, onto the ground, and turned towards Princess Orie who had fallen in fear trembling.
“Alright! It’s your turn!”
“Sssssorrry!!!”
Princess Orie had a face of terror, rearing on the floor.
“P-please, forgive me… Forgive me… Teacher… Ahhhh!”
“There are many things in this world that can’t be resolved just with an apology, your Highness!”
Smack!
A loud sound resonated from below my palm.
“Uuuu!”
“Remember this with your body, the consequences of playing tricks on people!”
“Uuuuuuu! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!”
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Loud sounds.
The cries of little girls.
Dumb-founded top officials and nobles.
It was some time later that I heard that horns had really sprouted from my head, and a pair of fiery-red bat-like wings from my back, fire blazed from my eyes, and I had looked so fierce that an army of ten-thousand men would have fled at the sight of me.
“Genius Lady Glinda spanked the Princesses of Eren!”
This became the headlines of the newspapers all over the world a few days later.
The me of then could not have known about it but in the hall filled with fear and violence, only the little baby Princess Suzuna Phyllis could sleep soundly in peace.
“Look at you now! Apologising in tears, huh! How unlike a Princess! Adults are no targets for your pranks!”
“Uwaaaaah! I won’t do it ever again!”
What should I do, I actually did it.
An hour later, I was still clad in the luxurious evening gown, seated cross-legged on the bed and wrapped in a blanket, pale in fear.
When I realised I had been tricked by the twin Princesses, I lost my head and acted without considering the consequences.
To actually spank their bottoms in front of the King, the Queen and all the other officials, not even stopping when they pleaded crying, and telling them not to “take adults for fools!”, uuwaaaah!
It was only after returning to the silence of my room that I began to feel fear for what I had just done.
In the past there had been cases where punishments were dealt out for merely stepping onto the shadows of royalty, or beating royalty to eating a madeleine.
My thoughtless actions might cause fractures in the relationship of Winstoria and Eren, and I would thus be hung for treason.
Sigh, what a short life.
I had thought that since I was different from Glinda, I might as well just become an ordinary college student, get a job as a civil servant, and marry like a commoner, and then, around 75 years old, surrounded by children and grandchildren, kiss goodbye to my ordinary life.
At least let me live till I could grow a beard, please.
While I was sunk in this tragic mood, sounds of knocking came from the door.
“!”
I jumped in fright.
Here they came! The executioner was here!
“Teacher Glinda, may I enter?”
I was lifting my skirt trying to hide in the closet when I heard this gentle voice.
It’s the maid… no, the Queen.
“Sh-shure!”
I had wanted to say “sure”, but the tightness in my throat distorted it.
The door opened, and the Queen entered while cradling Princess Suzuna.
When she beheld both my feet inside of the closet, her large eyes widened slightly.
“Is Teacher cleaning the room?”
“N-no, it’s just a rare butterfly that has flown into the room, and I wanted to capture it… Haha, looks like it has fled.”
I stammered out an explanation, and then, turning towards the Queen, bowed my head in submission.
“That, j-j-just now, I plead forgiveness for my impudence before so many high-ranking lords and nobles!”
“Ara, please don’t say that, Teacher.”
The Queen became somewhat frantic.
As I peeked up trembling, I saw the Queen looking at me with a look of discomfort.
“The one who ought to apologise is I. Hadn’t Sarasa and Orie played a prank on Teacher? Otherwise Teacher would not be so angry.”
“Ehh, That is… that…”
How would I possibly dare say that I had thought the Queen dead, and that I had been called over to be the Queen Candidate, or even thought of His Majesty as a perverted senior?
The Queen gave me a deep bow.
“Really sorry. Teacher Glinda is our honoured guest after all.”
I was stunned speechless.
“N-no such thing! Please don’t be like this! I-I can’t accept this! It is my immaturity, going too far like this.”
“No, everyone in the palace has been bothered by Sarasa and Orie’s mischief, but since they are princesses, no one has dared to discipline them strictly. This time is a good warning for them, and even His Majesty said so. He said that it has been the right thing to appoint Ms Glinda as our children’s tutor, since you have taught our children so much in just a day.”
“This is what His Majesty said?”
While it was strange for a father to feel glad watching his daughters being spanked, I breathed a sigh of relief as I thought I would definitely be executed.
“So please don’t say that you want to leave Eren. A teacher like Glinda who wouldn’t show partiality to royalty is the one we need as the tutor to our children.”
The Queen looked me in the eye seriously and said honestly.
“I would also work hard to take good care of Teacher.”
“R-right, why does Your Majesty disguise as a maid?”
The Queen displayed a gentle look when she heard this.
“Because it is too difficult to bake and do housework when putting on a formal evening gown and it is easier to work when dressed like that.”
“But, the Queen of a Kingdom doesn’t usually have to do housework…”
When I remembered her rolling off the roof from sunning the blankets, and even getting lost while trying to clean the windows, confusion fell upon me.
Besides, was she really old enough to be the Mother of all those Princes and Princesses? She looked as if she was just sixteen or so. Prince Ryuuju was eleven this year… When did she first give birth? Was she really the Queen of this kingdom?
“That… I have heard that the Queen of Eren was praised as a goddess… Truly did not expect that to be Your Majesty...”
The Queen blushed red in an instant.
“Ara, that is just some random talk by everyone, I am certainly nobody remarkable. I get lost all the time, break the bowls, confuse flour with cement powder… it really isn’t so. Uuoo, uooo… Sorry to disappoint Teacher.”
Seeing her apologising with clouded eyes, I replied befuddled.
“No, I am not disappointed. In fact, I like Her Majesty who dresses as a maid, as it feels more approachable.”
My face turned red as I said this.
Her Majesty rubbed tears off the corners of her eyes and smiled happily.
“Thank you, Teacher Glinda.”
It was a smile that skewered though my heart.
I truly liked the You who was a maid.
But these words could no longer be uttered.
At this, Princess Suzuna who was being cradled in Her Majesty’s chest smiled adorably.
Slowly, like the fragrance dispersed by flowers, a bright smile bloomed…
A tiny hand reached towards me.
“Hoho, She must be trying to greet Teacher.”
I cautiously reached out a finger too to touch her smooth white skin.
Nervously holding the tiny fingers, I muttered while mesmerized.
“… How soft.”
A pair of red tea-like coloured amber round eyes gawked at me.
The Queen said while smiling.
“That’s because she has nothing. Her body and soul is as soft as pure white dough.”
She said in an elegant and touching voice.
“Small babies are lovable existences. When showered with love by everyone around them, pure hearts also fill up gradually, slowly growing… until they become existences that can offer love to others.”
I gently shook Princess Suzuna’s white hand and she laughed happily. Her Majesty beheld all this as a warm smile floated onto her lips.
“I wish that even as this child grows into adulthood, her spirit would be strong enough to not just only accept love, but to retain her innocence from birth. That’s why she is named Suzuna (“seven bells”). This is the name that Teacher Glinda inspired me to name her.”
“Eh?”
I was stunned by the Queen’s soft words and dropped eyes.
“Hasn’t Teacher said that she likes the tambourine?”
“That’s because I am so dumb that I can only shake the tambourine.”
Her Majesty shook her head at my blushing face and said.
“Does Teacher know what the meaning behind each of the seven bells on the tambourine?”
“Errr… The first is love, the second is courage, the third is dream… The fourth is… eh…”
“The fourth is hope, the fifth is promise, the sixth is peace, and the last one, is truth.”
The Queen finished as if singing a song.
Then she continued in a firm but gentle voice.
“Every one of these precepts is very important, but through the process of growing up, it becomes difficult to remain in love and to have dreams. It is easy to just say “love” honestly while young, but as you grow older, it becomes more difficult, right? So it is not that the tambourine is so trivial that only children can play. Rather, it is only the children that can bring out the lovely music from tambourines.”
Princess Suzuna continued to laugh in the Queen’s chest in a voice both innocent and heart-warming like the clear sounds of bells.
“Suzuna means “Seven bells” in my home-town. I hope that she could safeguard the meaning of the seven bells in her heart and continue to produce lovely songs forever. This is the first blessing that His Majesty and I bestow upon this child.”
Hoho, this was a really good name.
I thought so too.
Laughter that sounded like bells was so befitting of this little Princess.
Just then, Princess Suzuna appeared somewhat uncomfortable.
“Ara? What is it? I have already changed her diapers and fed her too.”
The Queen gently cradled the baby Princess.
“Why not sing her a song?”
I said carelessly.
“Yes, when I knocked my head against the bathtub earlier, Your Majesty sang for me too, so please let me hear it again.”
I so wanted to listen to the song again now.
The Queen became as embarrassed as a young girl.
“That is a lullaby of Eren.”
“Isn’t it just the right thing for this moment then?”
“There’s a point there…”
Then, while she gently cradled Princess Suzuna, she started to sing.
“The Dragon watcheth over Seven doors;
Door of Water from which birth springeth,
Door of Light bearing God’s name,
Door of Earth which all-encompasseth,
Door of Fire that burneth away the soul,
Door of Flowers which confesseth love,
Door of the Night which summoneth beginning and the end.
Every Door is guardeth by the Dragon.
So sleep well, my lovely child”
What a chaste, soothing sound.
When I first listened to this song, why had I not noticed that she was the Queen?
Everyone knew that the Queen of Eren was a famed singer known as the Goddess of Prayer.
Until a mere ten years ago, this kingdom was still until a state of isolation, and no black-hailed people lived here.
The one who opened the kingdom up to the outside world was the previous king’s younger brother of a different mother – that was King Cecello of now. And for Him who became known as the Sky Drake, a black-haired foreign lady stood at his side.
This raven-haired young girl appeared all of a sudden one day from a faraway country, and she was an extremely good singer, who touched the multitudes into opening the gardens of their hearts with her prayer-like gentle songs.
Like this, the ‘Isolated Kingdom’ Eren opened her doors, and the Wise King Cecello was born.
After that, the young girl became the King’s wife, and Mother of his children, and even today was companion of the Sky Drake, living happy lives together.
It was a story as beautiful as the fables of old.
But, listening to this wondrously beautiful melody, any fable could become believable.
All unrest, anger and anxiety melted into the warm notes and disappeared.
“The Dragon watcheth over Seven doors;
May the Blue Sky shineth bright,
May the Deep Sea sleepth at peace,
May the Earth be covered in flowers,
May the Hearts of Children be filled with hope eternal,
So sleep well, my lovely child”
Princess Suzuna closed her eyes and let out steady breathes.
The weeping faces of Princesses Sarasa and Orie peeked from behind the door. The two little fox cubs which had pranked on me earlier now listened attentively to the lovely song.
Prince Ryuuju, Princess Seira, and even the young Prince Shin were there as well.
The pouting heir-to-the-throne, cold-eyed eldest princess, the second prince who could only be said to be quiet or dull, every one of these children had innocent expressions, drowned in the spellbinding song and aura.
Each child listened as if hypnotised with a face of joy.
Them aside, I who was granted this opportunity to listen to the songs of a legendary singer at such close distance could only feel peace and delight.
Tomorrow might be another day of hardship; mayhap I would make another mistake and wish to hide into the closet again.
But it might not be so bad to stay for a while longer.
Right, it probably would not be too before Helmut brought Glinda back.
In this lovely evening after the earlier turbulence, I laid myself down to rest on the soft bed, my ears still hearing the songs of the Goddess of Prayers.
“Uww! What a bright morning!”
The next day, I stuffed myself into the corset, dressed up and tidied my bed-hair.
Today was the first day of class.
Despite the discomfort in my heart, I must do what I could.
Just as I walked optimistically along the corridor…
“… Teacher.”
A monotonous voice halted me from around the corner.
Holding the thick old tome closely to her chest, Princess Seira looked at me with her cold amethyst eyes.
“G-good morning, what is it?”
I was bad at dealing with this child.
The lovely 9 year old Princess asked me who was trying to lift both corners of my lips.
“Why is Teacher cross-dressing?”
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LNWNCentral_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata
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Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata - Volume 01/Dress-na-Boku-ga-Yangotonaki-Katagata-Volume-01-[GirlyBoysAlliance][Proxus]/Chapter_04.txt
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Chapter 04
Chapter 04
“Then, to gauge your current knowledge, I have decided to give you a simple test.”
I ignored the protests of Princesses Sarasa and Orie and set a stack of test papers on the table, all while a sickly pallor and sweating profusely.
This was the first day of my pretending to be my famed, genius twin sister and taking on her role of as the tutor to the royal family in Eren Kingdom.
Right until this morning was I still feeling optimistic, thinking that even a failed college-entry exam student like me should be capable of teaching kids between 5 to 11 years old.
But…
“Teacher, why do you cross-dress?”
The eldest Princess who seemed to have been lying in wait for me along the corridor stared coldly at me and asked with a calm voice.
I was shocked into taking a step backwards, nearly falling over.
She had discovered that I am male? So had she really discovered THAT part of me when I knocked my head against the bathtub?
“W-w-w-w-what, what can you possibly mean? To suspect that I’m not a girl just because I am flat, it is so hurtful. I have been a woman ever since I was born, uhohoho.”
I tried to laugh it away.
“Sorry, but to maintain health and a shapely body, I have a habit of running in the morning!”
So saying, I fled as if flying.
Due to my shorted nerves, I ran all around the palace and nearly got lost.
During breakfast, I sat and ate with the royal family, but Princess Seria’s eyes seemed to be appraising me all the time, making me hard to swallow.
“Is this not to Teacher Glinda’s taste?” The Queen in maid costume asked me anxiously (it seemed that the Queen Mother had prepared breakfast herself).
“N-No, I am just testing a diet supplement and collecting data, so this morning I have to limit my food intake.”
I gave some random excuse.
“Is that so? But Teacher looks pretty unwell, and keeps sweating.”
“Must have been the side-effects of the medication, ohoohoo…”
Princess Seira kept looking at our exchange with sage-like eyes.
Until even now.
Uwwwuu, she was still here, staring at me, staring… staring without changing direction for even an instance…
I laid down the stack of test papers, doing my utmost to avoid meeting the eldest princess’ gaze.
What should I do if she suddenly jumped up and said, “This person’s a man, not Ms Glinda.”?
My brain was filled with the terrifying headlines of “Broken alliance, Political criminal, Deceiver of the Royal family”, and I nearly broke down into pieces.
Peeked slightly around…
Whoa! She’s still staring!
If only I had been a masochistic lolicon, this might had turned out to be an ideal situation. Then, perhaps I would be very excited at being forced to cross-dress and coldly glared at by a purple-eyed, silver haired young girl who was as lovely as a western doll.
Unfortunately, I prefer cute ordinary girls of sixteen to seventeen.
So, in the face of Princess Seira’s silent interrogation, my weak intestines would just cringe.
Ohhh, what could she possibly be thinking about? Probably silently cursing “This cross-dressing pervert” from the bottom of her heart. Uwwuuu, ooooh, please stop glaring at me.
I felt as if I had become the pathetic Emperor Ludwig the Second who got dragged before court on charges of seducing his minister’s wife. Right, that Emperor seemed to have choked to death on a crab bun in prison.
Ahhh, this was no time to be sharing useless historical anecdotes!
Right, I should just concentrate on the maths lesson.
Within the nursery with brightly illuminated window curtains and wall-paper, the desk was seated with not just Princess Seira, but also those twin Princesses Sarasa and Orie, their elder brother Prince Ryuuju, and the young Prince Shin.
The twins were currently sulking unhappily due to their protests against the pop-test being rejected; Prince Ryuuju tightened his lips and refused to look at me; and Prince Shin looked sleepy as usual today.
The test-papers had been prepared by Helmut, with the difficulty levels adjusted according to their age. Helmut had a “sincere” smile on his face as he explained that it would be a trivial task to just pretend to teach by pointing out the problems that the children had difficulty in.
Princess Seira lowered her head and began to start writing.
I let out a breath of relief.
My heart continued to hammer like a drum against my chest. Muah, this was no condition to be teaching normally. But should I say anything wrong by mistake, my fake identity as Glinda might be unveiled.
I gave a reluctant smile.
“If there’s anything that seems too hard, you can just ask me.”
Seeing the tensed back and overly-serious face of Prince Ryuuju attempting each question, I walked behind him and said kindly.
“Is anything the matter, Prince Ryuuju?”
Prince Ryuuju violently retreated causing his chair to rock loudly. He frowned red-faced and glared at me in guard.
“D-don’t stand behind me!”
“… Sorry.”
“A-a-a-a-and, isn’t your collar cut a little too low? Ladies should not expose too much of their skin!”
Most likely it had been due to my falling atop of him in the corridors last night, he seemed to have taken me completely for a female pervert. Then again, was this what a child who just reached 11 years old would say? Strange?
Prince Ryuuju’s test script was filled in words and numbers as teeny as an insect, making me wonder “is there really such a need to be so serious about it?” It exhibited his earnestness and meticulousness.
“Really, Elder Brother Ryuuju is too mindful of Glinda ~~~!”
“That’s right, even his face has become swollen red. Could it be love at first sight?”
The Princess Sarasa and Orie teased their Elder Brother.
“P-preposterous! There’s no such thing! I just felt that she should not be overdressed to teach…”
“Oh really? Elder Brother Ryuuju must have been concentrating so much at Glinda’s chest that he can’t think of anything else?”
“N-no way!”
Prince Ryuuju’s flushed face blazed, and his frown deepened.
I couldn’t help but cover my chest. Due to the low-cut collar, I feared for my pads to be discovered.
“See? Even Glinda feels uncomfortable all over from your stares!”
“T-there’s no such thing!”
“No! I have absolutely no interest in your chest!”
“Y-yes, sorry, but it seems like all my clothes have low-cut collars…”
That Helmut, why did he only prepare clothes that could so easily expose my male identity? Was this a part of his extremely low-classed taste? If it was someone else who was wearing this, maybe I too would enjoy the view. But to put it on myself… Uwuuwuu…
Twin princesses danced about like a pair of birds.
“It had to be in-fashion to wear low-cut this year! Winstoria Empire after all is the world-centre of culture and fashion!”
“That’s right, Orie.”
The two of them held each other’s hands overly excitedly. It was just last night that they had been weeping from being spanked. What a quick restoration… ah, well. But both your scripts were still blank!
“Humph! Who cares about fashion. Rather than wasting time on make-up, it’s more important to discipline the insides.”
Prince Ryuuju declared un-amusedly.
“Ha! No matter how good your inside is, if your outward appearance is crappy, nobody would even approach you, and there won’t even be any chance to show off your good points!”
“Sarasa’s right! Besides, the pursuit of fashion and beauty is every girl’s inborn character. If Big Brother Ryuuju remains so ignorant of the hearts of women, it would be difficult later when you actually inherit the throne. For example, when dealing with the king of another kingdom, which is more effective as gifts, precious stones for the opponent’s wife or lovers? Right, Sarasa?”
“Telling me to resort to bribery? I absolutely refuse! It’s because of people like you two that politics becomes so seedy! How can women be allowed into the sacred task of managing a country!”
“You are so gullible, Big Bro Ryuuju! Creatures known as men have absolutely no means of refusing if a beautiful lady is to flirtatiously ask him ‘Pleeaaasee?’ ~~ ”
“Nah, Sarasa. Big Bro Ryuuju who becomes shy from merely looking at Glinda’s chest can’t even be considered a man yet.”
“W-w-what! I am not shy! And I have said so earlier, I have no interest in chest!”
“There’s no need to hide it, for someone as pure as Big Bro Ryuuju: your heart is written on your face.”
“Shut up! Sarasa! Orie!”
This group of kids made a non-stop din.
Prince Ryuuju had obviously become a toy to the twin Princesses, and as a male personally, I could not help but empathise with him. Girls were certainly eloquent or precocious… Even while I was in elementary school, I was often teased by the girls in my class…
“T-that, exam is still in progress. Please be quiet and answer your scripts.”
I warned while shaken, and the Princesses Sarasa and Orie replied adorably in unison.
“Ok!”
Prince Ryuuju turned red when he heard this, probably because he felt that he should have been setting an example for his younger siblings, but just added to the din instead. Embarrassed at his actions, he shook his head angrily and continued his test.
But the twins started chatting again not long after.
“Ask you something, Glinda, what hairstyle is currently in fashion at Winstoria Empire right now?”
“Have you watched the new show by Bilger Bauer? Did the actress playing the elven queen really descended from the sky?”
“Is the Emperor of Winstoria Empire handsome?”
“Disgusting! Sarasa just loves old uncles! I want to know about the Prince of Winstoria Empire. Heard that he is about our age, so what is the colour of his eyes and hair?”
“Muah, boys of the similar age are just children, I’m certainly not interested. Men must be strong, intelligent and reliable, just like our Lord Father.”
“Lord Father is exceptional.”
“Does Orie think so too?”
“Of course.”
“Oh, Glinda, that accessary looks so pretty.”
“Is that a gift of your boyfriend?”
“How many boyfriends do you have (as in, right now)?”
The two of them bombarded me with mature question.
Prince Ryuuju screamed in impatience.
“Quiet! Boyfriends and whatnots are so pointless! Before looking for men, you should just pick up the education and character befitting of daughters of royalty!”
“Alright, continue your exams.”
I said to defuse the outburst.
Was this called teaching? Wasn’t this more like being a nanny? I was beginning to have gastric pains when…
“… Teacher.”
Wah!
Being called at by this calm voice sent a chill up my spine.
“I have completed the problems.”
“Huh? So quickly?”
“It’s boring to idle around, so many I read my book?”
“P-please do so.”
Princess Seira opened her ancient tome.
Right, she had been holding onto the book for a while now, just what was inside of it?
I carelessly peeked over…
“!”
And froze over.
W-what! The book was covered in equations and ancient writings! There was practically no empty page, and the words-filled paper was a wicked black from the ink, un-undecipherable at all!
“Ha… Hahaha… What book could this possibly be?”
I asked with a dry laugh, and Princess Seira casually replied.
“… The Mathematical Theorems from ancient Anabel civilization.”
“I-is that so, the Anabel civilization huh, that’s the one with pyramids and animalism, right? I was thinking was that really the one, hahaha… C-can you understand it?”
“… Yes. Because the grammar isn’t really that different from modern tongues. The theorems that Ophelit put forth 2000 years ago is still so applicable today, how marvellous.”
“… O-ophelit… That’s the legendary ancient genius huh… hahaha… ya, yeah that’s true… So you can really read these ancient texts so easily…”
Was I not here simply just to teach 5 to 11 year olds?
Helmut said that, just like teaching at an elementary school, even a college-exam failure like me could easily take on this task.
I had heard nothing about the eldest Princess knowing how to read ancient texts and even casually discuss Ophelit’s theorems!
W-what should I do? If she asked me any questions…
“Teacher, regarding Ophelit’s proposal…”
As if observing my reactions, Princess Seira stared at me with her purple crystal-like eyes, pointing to a line of mathematics with her thin finger.
Not good!
“Prrrrrrrriiiiinnnncceee Shin!”
I screamed, turning to look at the youngest Prince Shin.
“Is there anything that confused Prince Shin?”
What if even Prince Shin was a genius that could speak in fluent ancient tongues and easily formulate a pile of equations?
But, Prince Shin was kneading clay.
He did not look like he was playing, but with the concentrating expression of a craftsman at work, was seriously kneading the clay.
“…Prince Shin?”
“…”
“What are you doing?”
“… Secret.”
“… Is that so? Then go ahead”
“…”
He sombrely nodded.
Fueh… Luckily he was no genius.
But… For a child of 5 to emit an air of a craftsman and knead clay with a serious face… That was a little out of the ordinary…
What an awkward atmosphere.
Prince Ryuuju completed his test, the twin princesses just said nonchalantly, “I did work hard, it’s just that I really don’t know the answer ~”, “Orie feels the same. ~“
How horrid, if this was the result of the first day alone, Glinda’s rating would definitely drop, and Princess Seira might even say, “This Teacher is obviously an imitation! Unbelievable! How horrible!” Then, if they let their King Father learn of it, I might even be executed… Noooo! I must heat up the atmosphere!
“T-then, I would mark the papers later. Everyone, let’s have a game!”
Hearing my desperate proposal, the children froze.
“Glinda, what game do you want to play?”
“Board games.”
Ten minutes later, a stack of board games from the Winstoria Empire was laid on the carpet of the nursery.
These were gifts to the King of Eren, all custom crafted by famed artists and could be considered pieces of art.
“Wow! There’re so many stars on this one here, so pretty~”
“This one is called “The Journey of stars”. Oh, so romantic.”
“This one is called “Exploring Lost History”, it’s to hunt treasures from ancient ruins around the world!”
Princesses Sarasa and Orie looked at the game-boards with eyes sparkling.
“The Winstoria Empire has many board-games for educational purposes, and children of the Empire learn about history, astronomy and morals from these board games.”
“How interest ~ So, which board game should we play?”
“This one, “Princess Flora’s conversations – Within the Forest of Philosophy” looks fun; it’s to guide Princess Flora and Charming Philosopher on their discussion on philosophy and romance, to become the 1st female pope in the world.”
“Oh… That… That looks like it has been aimed towards teenage girls, it may be a little too early for Your Highnesses…”
I seemed to have remembered many scenes of kissing and hugging, contentious scenarios… say, why were such things mixed in here?
“I am not going play such childish board games.”
Prince Ryuuju crossed his arms about his chest and turned away.
I bent over to persuade him.
“Don’t say that, at least have a try. Keeping in touch with the culture of other countries is a good experience for Princes too. I recommend “The Coloured History of the World”, and “Shaking the World ~Creation of Land and Skies”, “I will be an Agricultural King!”, “Path of the Great King”…”
“… Great King?”
Prince Ryuuju’s shoulders jumped violently.
“Yes, this game teaches step by step the politics, experiences and trials, to become a Great King.”
“I-is that so, then I would try playing a little…”
He replied with a blush.
What should I say… this child was so pure.
“Then let’s play “Path of the Great King”.”
Princesses Sarasa and Orie complained unhappily that “Aww, that’s so boring.”, “Let’s play more romantic games”, but I consoled them with “I will let you choose the next time.”
Sigh, I had totally become a nanny.
Princess Seira still stared straight at me, as if observing.
“P-princess Seira, would you like to join us?”
I asked her stiffly.
“… Alright.”
She calmly answered as if somewhat unhappily.
I asked Prince Shin the same question.
“…”
He merely nodded in silence.
Uwuwuwu… why was it that these siblings were either too noisy or too quiet… so extreme…
That said, we somehow managed to begin our board game.
We spread out the colourful game board on the carpet, and everyone sat on the ground in a circle.
“First, we throw two dice and add their numbers together.”
“Six.” Said Prince Ryuuju.
“Mine’s three.” Princess Sarasa said.
“Mine’s eight.” Princess Orie said.
“… Four.” Princess Seria said.
“…”
“Oh, Prince Shin threw a Ten. Then, counting from the highest to lowest we decide the starting points of everyone, Prince Shin’s is “Palace”, Princess Orie’s is “Church”, Prince Ryuuju’s is “Martial-arts Hall”, Princess Seira’s is “Stables” and Princess Sarasa’s is “Wolf’s Den”. Please place your game-pieces dolls at their respective starting areas.”
I handed everyone their porcelain doll game-pieces.
“Tsk… Why am I in the Wolf’s Den? What is the Wolf’s Den anyway! And this doll’s hair is so messy, with such a fierce expression, not cute at all!”
Princess Sarasa said unhappily.
“That’s because the doll’s character had been abandoned as a baby in the woods, and was raised by wolves.”
“Humph…”
“My doll is clad in a white, so elegant.”
“Princess Orie’s character has been abandoned as a baby behind the church’s altar.”
“Why is everyone an abandoned child? What about Shin’s “Palace”?”
“That character is a Prince born inside of the Palace.”
“Huh! Only Shin’s so fortunate! Unfair! And I am even brought up by wolves, so unfair!”
“Hey, why is my doll’s hair tied with ribbons? This is obviously a girl!”
Prince Ryuuju was also displeased.
“That’s because Prince Ryuuju’s character is a daughter in the Martial Arts house.”
“What did you say?”
“… Teacher, what about me?” Princess Seira looked at me and asked monotonously.
I fearfully replied.
“Uh, Princess Seira’s character is the child of a travelling troupe, born in the stable of a nearby village while returning from performances somewhere.”
“… Is that so.” She coolly replied.
There was no clue on her face over whether she liked or disliked her character.
“Then let’s begin! Aright, Prince Shin, please throw the dice first.”
I faked an optimistic air, and worked hard to overturn the disappointed atmosphere.
“Three! Please move forward three steps. Ok, a choice question: To celebrate the Prince’s birthday, the ministers brought a Book of Law while the knights’ captain brought a beautiful Sword. Please choose one among them?”
“What, choose only one? So stingy!”
“Isn’t the Prince just born? How can he decide for himself?”
Princesses Sarasa and Orie scoffed in order.
“Muah, it is just a game. So, Prince Shin? Which would you choose?”
“… Big.”
“… That would be the Sword.”
The doll in a cape moved forward.
Next was the turn of Princess Orie who grew up in the Church and the dice rolled a Four.
“Ok, Princess Orie also had a choice question: The clergy prepared Wheat Bread and Cake, which would you choose to eat?”
“Cake, of course.”
“There’s another question: Just when you are about to eat, a hungry child entered, would you feed the child or eat it yourself?”
“Eat it myself, of course.”
Like this, everyone advanced through the game.
Princess Sarasa who grew up in the Wolf’s Den seemed to keep encountering choice questions like: “A Rabbit and a Wild Boar were ahead, which animal will you hunt for tonight’s dinner?”, “In the forest, an armoured knight lies dying, help him or bite him?”; These types of scenarios.
Prince Ryuuju’s Daughter of Martial Arts on the other hand kept encountering questions such as: ”A young knight comes inn-trashing, duel him?” To which he puffed out his chest and said: ”Of course.” Then, the follow-up choices were: “You and the knight fell head-over-heels in love, elope with the knight?”
“I am a dignified Prince! Why would I fall in love and elope with any random man! Isn’t the goal of this board game to become a Great King!?!”
Prince Ryuuju said in exasperation.
I could totally understand his point of view, being a man myself. Why would anyone want to tie ribbons on his hair, and romance with other men…
Thinking about my cross-dressing self, I could not help but empathise with him.
Princess Seira expressionlessly moved her game-piece doll which represented the attractive youth of a travelling troupe.
“A corrupt noble of many evils wishes to see your dance. Dance? Or unsheathe your dagger?”
“… Dance.”
“What kinds of dance? Loach Dance or Sword-Dance?”
“… Loach Dance.”
Her replies were always cold.
It was a drastic difference from the twins Princesses and their Elder Brother who made a din every time that they threw the dice, their expressions changing wildly… though one could also say the same of Prince Shin, who seemed to be idling right from the start.
Anyway, Prince Ryuuju and the rest seemed completely engrossed in the game, and by now, it was revealed that the youth who had been brought up by wolves and the one found in the church were in fact twin brothers born of a noble house that had been executed for rebellion.
“Elder Brother Sarasa!”
“Orie! My Little Brother!”
The two of them hugged each other happily in play.
Prince Shin’s character who was supposed to be the heir to the throne simply rotated eating and sleeping each day in indolence. About this time, the love-troubled but diligently-training Martial Artist Girl (Prince Ryuuju) showed up to become a bodyguard knight to the prince, all while encountering a never-ending train of issues surrounding her love-life.
“Why are ALL my choices between ‘LOVE or WORK’, ‘LOVE or HONOUR’, ‘LOVE or GLORY’?!? Is LOVE the only thing that can be weighed on the scales?”
Prince Ryuuju shouted with a face puffed in red, but continued to diligently select ‘WORK’, ‘HONOUR’ to advance his status.
The youths from the Church and the Wolf’s Den raised a rebellion with their statuses as the heirs of the Duke’s house.
In the midst of all this, Princess Seira’s young actor moved towards the heart of the country via flattering powerful officials and nobles, becoming even a close aide to the Prince, turning the Prince into his puppet and taking power by means of cloak and dagger.
What was wrong with this board game! Where did these scary scenarios come from! I should have known better and chosen the safer-sounding “Scenes of World History”!
That was apparent when Princess Seira was asked: “Loyally serve the Prince? Or serve Him with ulterior motives?”, the manner in which she calmly answered: “… with ulterior motives.”, was truly terrifying.
If this Prince did not come around soon, He might even end up like the Eighth King of Romancia, Louis the Second who was brought before the guillotine by his own close-aide!
But Prince Shin just continued his rotatory eating-and-sleeping lifestyle. Sigh… He was really shaping-up into the path of the useless ruler.
As the story went on, the Martial-Arts-Girl-turned-Knight encountered her Destiny.
In fact, the girl had been the illegitimate child of the King, and the younger sister of the Prince from a different mother!
Even though this was a ludicrous scenario, the young girl became the Kingdom’s 2nd heir-to-the-throne, even leading the country into victory against the rebels and becoming a great hero.
“Wait a second! Doesn’t that make us the Bad Guys?”
“Ya! How frustrating!”
“That is the path you two have chosen. If you have chosen virtue, putting the commoners before self, you would have naturally gained their support.”
Prince Ryuuju puffed out his chest in satisfaction.
“No matter where the starting point is, the one with royal dignity would ultimately be seated on the throne.”
He seemed to have forgotten about all the dismay he previously encountered, smiling satisfactorily. This innocence so befitting of his age was so adorable. En, even though he was a Prince, he was still a pure ordinary boy.
Prince Ryuuju was not far off from the finishing line. Fight!
But the King suddenly passed on, and rebels attacked the capital.
The young Heroine was about to lead troops when, at this moment, Princess Seira stepped in.
She accused the birthplace of the Heroine as the base of the rebels and persuaded the puppet-prince to send soldiers to attack it.
“Hey! What are you doing! Seira!”
Prince Ryuuju stood frowning.
Princess Seira stared at him coldy and said calmly.
“… I am merely making the ‘right choice’.”
Whoa!~~~ What a cold expression! Her words and expression were nothing like a 9 year old child, how terrifying. I had heart-felt pity for Prince Ryuuju.
“… It is Elder Brother Ryuuju’s turn to throw the dice.”
“Uwwu…”
Prince Ryuuju had a severe expression as he threw the dice.
Five.
Great! He would make it to the finishing line this turn!
But, before he could advance, he was given yet another choice.
“Uh, would you lead your troops to your birthplace? Or to the Capital?”
Prince Ryuuju jumped in fright, shut his lips and clenched his fists. Whoa, he was really thinking hard.
If he went to the Capital and defeat the rebels, he would receive support from the populace and become the King.
If he returned to his hometown, he would be accused of rebellion and be wounded in an attack, sitting out two turns.
Going to the Capital would be the ‘right choice’ in the words of Princess Seira, and perhaps this was to illustrate some of the necessary sacrifices a King would have to eventually make for greater good.
But, it was too cruel to make a child choose such choices.
Was this board game really made for kids? Why would there be such psychologically damaging choice questions within? If it was like this, even winning the game would not bring happiness. Why the crabbage did you send such a serious board game? Helmut!
Prince Ryuuju tightened his fists in deep concentration, chewing his lips and looking extremely pained.
Ohoh, this child was being too serious!
“That, Prince Ryuuju? It is just a little game, please relax yourself.”
I worriedly adviced, but he asked gravely:
“If I were to go to the Capital, would my hometown’s people be all slaughtered as rebels?”
“Er, that may not always be the case, besides this is just a game.”
What a headache. As a teacher, what was I supposed to say at this point of time?
Princess Seira stared straight into me. Uwuwu… so pressurising.
At this time, one of the twin princesses said impatiently:
“Aya! Big Bro Ryuuju is overthinking things! Glinda is right, it’s just a game, so hurry up and go to the finishing line!”
One of the twins, Princess Sarasa, or maybe it was Princess Orie, got up and grabbed Prince Ryuuju’s doll.
“Ok, Five, right? Finishing line~!”
She ended the game all on her own.
“Whoa~~~ Sarasa! What are you doing? The people in my hometown…”
“Humph! Anyway since the doll has reached the finishing point, the game has ended. As promised, this time let us choose a romantic board game!”
“Y-You… No way! That move doesn’t count! I must restart!”
“Ara, really, let’s just consider this Big Bro Ryuuju’s win.”
“Sarasa agrees! Being a King is so boring; I absolutely don’t want to become one.”
“That’s right, whoever says he wants to become a king must have no dreams at all.”
“Don’t insult the duties of a King! Don’t run away with my doll! Return it at once, Sarasa!”
“Don’t waaannaaa~~”
Princess Sarasa playfully stuck out her tongue towards Prince Ryuuju while tugging his doll tightly in her chest. The latter rushed towards her with a huff.
“Whoa! No fighting!”
I hastily leaped over in order to jump between the two of them, but tripped and fell.
“Whoa!”
“Wha!”
I fell atop of Prince Ryuuju.
The Prince Ryuuju crushed under me looked abashed and angry, reddened and trembling from head to toe.
“Ah! Glinda is sooo daring!”
“It must have felt great to be pushed over by Glinda, Big Bro Ryuuju!”
The twins’ cheers made the stricken Prince Ryuuju widen his eyes.
“N-No! This is just an accident! I-i-i-i-i-i-I have absolutely no perverted intentions…”
I stammered out an explanation.
“Impudent fellow! Go away!”
Prince Ryuuju screamed in rage.
Sigh, what a mess.
If this was just the first day of my lessons, how would I ever be able to handle being these children’s private tutor?
Princess Seira continued to simply stare coldly at the frightened me.
Fue, class was finally over.
Afternoon, I returned to my room, and, once alone, threw myself in abandon onto the bed.
A mere short three hours, and yet my body felt as if it had endured three long years.
“I’ve had enough ~~~ Muah, I said I can’t be a private tutor~~~ Helmut, when would you be coming back?!?”
I no longer wished to cross-dress into this stifling, ridiculous dress.
Princess Seira had discovered the truth, and kept giving an accusatory glare as if to say “You, pervert!”, not to mention that my job as a tutor turned into a mess, with Prince Ryuuju hating my guts, the twin Princesses not bothering about anything I said, and Prince Shin staring in idle…
As I thought, there was something wrong with making a man like me to pretend to be Glinda.
Was it not said that Winstoria Empire’s Intelligence Agency was so professional that they could locate Glinda in just 3 to 4 days? Was that fellow who just dumped me here and escaped back home really reliable?
Maybe I was abandoned since a long time ago…
Would I have to stay here as a cross-dressing pervert for the rest of my life? Must I shave my legs as long as I live?
As I mulled over my worries, my stomach began to twist and turn in unrest and tears started to flow tragically.
“Uwwwuwu… Come back quickly! Helmut!”
As I grasped the bed sheets and cried into it, a sound suddenly came from within the room.
“Excuse me, but do you happen to be lovers with Lord Helmut?”
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LNWNCentral_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata
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Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata - Volume 01/Dress-na-Boku-ga-Yangotonaki-Katagata-Volume-01-[GirlyBoysAlliance][Proxus]/Chapter_05.txt
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Chapter 05
Chapter 05
I climbed up from the bed immediately.
“!”
I had thought the room empty, but there was in fact a girl in maid get-up, grasping a cleaning rag and standing by the bedside with a nervous face.
Her age was close to mine with a head of thick red hair, and was a big-chested cute young girl.
What? Where had this girl come from?!?
Had I said anything that I should not? Nothing about leg-shaving, I hoped?
And, she even thought that I was lovers with Helmut!
She apologised to the horrified me, and then said.
“My name is Anneth and I work as maid here. I was cleaning the room when you suddenly returned and began talking to yourself while lying on the bed, so I had no chance to announce my presence. I truly have no ill-intentions.”
I blushed when I heard that.
“You… You heard me talking to myself?”
“Yes, I heard your tragic calls for ‘Helmut, Helmut’.”
Wah!
“Watching you pining wholeheartedly for Lord Helmut, I can no longer remain silent.”
“Uwwah! T-t-this has got to be a misunderstanding! I am no lover of Helmut, just like camels and geese can’t possibly fall in love!”
Helmut after King Cecello? Why should there be so many rumours between me and other men? And it had to be THAT seedy fellow! Just the mere thought of him raised goose-bumps on my skin!
Hearing my determined answer, Anneth let out a sigh of relief.
“That is great ~ I have just been thinking: what should I do if you happened to be lovers with Lord Helmut. God, just the mere thought is making my stomach hurt and blood rushing into my head. Ohoohoo, that’s really great.~ ”
She repeated “that’s great” with a reddened face.
Was this girl in love with Helmut?
Wwwwwwhat? For such a cute girl to like that fellow?!?
“When Lord Helmut first came to Eren as a diplomat, every girl working in the palace was asking: ‘who could that gorgeous black-haired man be?’. I was also as if I was struck by a bolt of lightning. What a handsome man, with such elegant voice and smile, and holding even elite status… Superb!”
How disgusting, for a lovely girl like her with such large assets, positive and ordinary demeanour that completely fitted my type, to actually had interest in Helmut!
If you judged based on his appearance alone, Helmut was indeed a handsome elite diplomat, but his true face was that of a cold-blooded swindler who forced innocent young boys into cross-dress before selling them off to foreign countries!
Even if his conduct seemed gentle, he was actually a complete sadist with outrageous attitude, and his insides must definitely be as black as the ink of a squid. As a male myself, I guarantee!
Sigh, what a pity, for such a pretty girl, such an adorable young girl… slightly shorter than myself, with chest large enough to jiggle, eyes that shined with life and cheerful voice…
Helmut that b*****, I really wanted to bash him into a bloody pulp, and pull his pants down to reveal half his backside!
“That’s right, from the moment I first laid my eyes on him, I knew he would be a perfect match with His Majesty.”
“Huh?”
This conversation seemed to be going in a strange direction?
“Who did you say is a good match with whom?”
“That is of course Lord Helmut and King Cecello! Just think about it, with His Majesty’s exceptional beauty and charisma, as well as high status, it is truly difficult to find a matching partner, right? And everyone surrounding Him is far too old. His Majesty’s close aide Lord Luther is younger than Him, and looks very cute too, but he is definitely a Bottom no matter how you look at him, so there’s no way to picture him pushing His Majesty over. In my opinion, His Majesty is absolutely, completely a Bottom, and not a Top! That is a point I will never concede!”
What was this girl talking about?
What were the meanings of Top and Bottom? And what was it all about pushing His Majesty over?
Anneth continued in breathless excitement:
“If Lord Helmut and His Majesty were to stand together, the picture becomes perfect, and they would certainly have millions of chances to interact and spar. The pairing of the monarch of a small kingdom and the diplomat of a large empire is also highly attractive, just take for example the other day when Lord Helmut arrived, the two of them immediately locked themselves into a small room. Using the might of Winstoria Empire, the black-hearted Lord Helmut exacted preposterous demands, while His Majesty, shamed and trembling, surrendered for the sake of his people… Magnifique! His Majesty rebuffed at first, but gave in at last to the charms of Lord Helmut after the heat of every steamy night, and is absolutely tortured because of it… Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh! I can’t take it any more!”
××△○××※～～～～～～
If you asked me my impressions right then, that was probably how it was like.
Huh? Heat of every steamy night? The King already had the Queen! He so loved His wife that they had 6 kids in total, and the way He laid His eyes on her almost gave Him away as a resident of the Kingdom of Wife-Lovers. How would He ever do something like that with Helmut!
“His Majesty is an ABSOLUTE BOTTOM! You agree too, don’t you?”
“M-mmmmmmmaybe…”
Under her fascinating appeal, I could not help but felt forced to nod. Just what the peaches did Top and Bottom mean?
Hearing my reply, Anneth grasped my hands with joy all over her cheerful smiling face.
“Right! Right! So happy ~~~ You too support Lord Helmut x His Majesty King Cecello! Cece-Mut is completely heresy, Helmu-Llo is the divine path! Oh, I had just been holding onto the cleaning rag, so I am truly sorry. I had thought that geniuses like Glinda would be far too highbrow for commoners like us, but hey, looks like it isn’t really like that. Can I directly call you ‘Glinda’? You can also just call me ‘Anneth’.”
“Uh… Ok… Anneth…”
“I will focus on expounding on Helmu-Llo this year! I would bring you my next publication the next time I come.”
“Uh… Thanks…”
There was even a publication of it! A book about the hot steamy nights of Lord Helmut x King Cecello!
“Oh no! I still have not completed my chores. See you again, Glinda, if there’s anything that you don’t understand in this castle, just ask me about it! But you must also trade me information of Lord Helmut, His Majesty and Their royal highness (Princes)!”
“Ttttttthat, Anneth!”
“What is it?”
“Would you happen to be another relative of His Majesty, or some daughter of the nobles?”
This, after all, was a country where even the Queen put on a maid’s garb and served guests, so it would not be surprising at all if some duke’s daughter was washing the socks.
Anneth gave a little shake, and smiled, saying.
“No way, my family owned a bakery in the city. My home has seven children, and there’s no room in the house, so I came to the palace to work.”
“Bakery?”
“Yes! The bread we baked with cherry and fig is the most delicious!”
Anneth displayed a smile as glorious as the sun, and then left in a hurry.
Prior to coming to Eren, Fleury, that girl who l I fell in love with but was rejected by, had also been working in a bakery…
Oh, so Anneth’s family opened a bakery.
This information made me strangely delighted, and my chest began to feel regular beats, but I immediately remembered Anneth’s speech earlier and felt a headache rising.
~~His Majesty is an absolute BOTTOM!
For such a pretty adorable young girl, with such ample assets, warm and cheerful character…
No matter how you looked at her, it was an absolute pity.
“… There seems to be no lack of crazies in this country.”
As Anneth left the room, I gave a shrug and went for a stroll around the courtyard.
“The Queen is a maid, and the King is an ageless cultural relic…”
My working hours were only in the mornings, so I had free time in the afternoons, and if we were to just discuss the working conditions, there could be no better. But the threat of being exposed at any time was about to give me stomach ulcers…
The reason for the stroll, therefore, was to familiarize myself with the escape routes in case I had to run for it.
Spring had almost come to an end, and the beginnings of summer had started to reveal itself in the lush greenery of the woods in the courtyard, where bright sunlight pierced through the canopy of leaves.
“Isn’t this palace a little too large?”
Ten minutes into the stroll, I let out a shout of dismay. Just the building proper would have occupied a huge area, and there was an immensely well-maintained and beautiful garden out front, followed by a forest in the outer circle!
The Queen had said that she nearly got in deep trouble while picking mushrooms out here and getting lost. She even warned me with a completely serious face that I had to be careful of the ground underfoot because there might be swamps and pools of water below. At that time, I had thought “Was the Queen just directionally-challenged?” Or maybe just prone to getting lost? But now when I actually entered this forest, I realised that I might even be lost in its depth myself!
There were several layers of walls outside of the forest, and a moat filled with water outside of them.
Until 10 years ago, the isolation faction and its counter were still fighting perpetually, so this castle was fortified into a fortress, so its current appearance was probably a left-over effect of that time.
But, as it was, there was no way for me to escape.
Muah, forget it. It should be easier to get out than to come in, so I should first map out my routes of escape.
As I quietly muttered while planning, a lonely sound flowed from within the forest.
Violin?
The sad notes took root in my heart, commanding me to draw closer towards the direction of their source.
I had zilch talents with music, and the only instrument I could use was the tambourine.
But since I had grown up in the city known as the Capital of Music, Vienna, where you could hear music in just about anywhere, I had had the opportunity to listen to, and be moved to tears by all kinds of music, from the road-side basking violins to concerts of famed musicians.
If we were to talk just about music appreciation, I was pretty confident in my abilities.
Therefore I could declare that the handler of that violin possessed extraordinary talents.
This silver colour that shined with nobility and charm like jewels.
Despite that, felt so delicate, so sad, and so lonely.
Who was the one that was producing this music?
In rich green forest filled with straight boughs, stood a young girl with a violin in her hands.
Princess Seira!
I was speechless with surprise.
It was like a scene out of the fables.
Amongst the thin boles of the surrounding trees, an even slimmer and more delicate beauty was playing the violin.
A small hand held the glistening dark brown of beautiful instrument, a white cheek tilted to the side as support, pulling and drawing the bow of the violin. The long silver hair seemed to be absorbing the bright sunlight directly from above, and gave off a cold sparkle in its soft waver.
Princess Seira closed her eyes in deep concentration while pulling on the violin.
The sad transparent melody vibrated in the air.
Silver hair dreamily swayed.
These sounds… such notes… to think that they were produced at the hands of this juvenile Princess!
The melody stopped then.
Princess Seira lifted her head towards me.
As our eyes met, my heart almost leapt out in fear.
“Ohohoh, my apologies for disrupting your practice! You played the violin really well… Urh, no, I mean…”
“…”
At least give me a response!
Princess Seira continued to keep her face close to the violin, looking at me coldly without even moving a hair on her brows. I was obviously scared stiff in apprehension.
~~ Why does Teacher cross-dress?
The doubts that she had earlier this morning seemed to be about to pop out from her portrait-like beautiful lips at any moment, and I could hardly stop myself from sweating in fear.
“Uh, that, about what you asked yesterday, I am not really cross-dressing as a woman… Ooh! Is it because I made a mistake and said ‘your servant’? That is just a habit, since I have always wanted to be a boy when I was young. Even now I still accidentally say that, so… even if your humble servant says ‘your servant’, it doesn’t mean that I am a male… Ah! I said it again!”
Obviously I was just digging myself deeper, and totally felt like dying already.
Princess Seria’s pair of amethyst eyes continued to observe me in silence.
Peach-pink coloured lips gradually opened…
“Heheh! So that’s where you are! Ms Glinda!”
The pot-bellied uncle appeared with pomp while leading a troop of officials behind him.
The edgy atmosphere vanished without a trace in an instant.
What was with this uncle? What’s going on?
Uhoh, this old uncle who kept glaring at me previously in the welcoming ceremony had caused me much discomfort, but he seemed extraordinarily polite today.
“We have been trying to locate you for a long time now, in order to seek the wisdom of the all-powerful genius Ms Glinda.”
He said in a flattering voice.
“I am the Chief Minister Gaston. Ara, to have a girl-genius such as Ms Glinda visit Eren makes us all feel so privileged and thankful! Heard that Lady Glinda is an unrivalled genius who will not be stumbled by anything in the world!”
“I-I am not really that smart…”
That’s right, the smart one was Glinda, while I was just a NEET who failed college-preparatory exams.
“Hahaha, that’s too humble of you. With the great wisdom of a genius like Ms Glinda, all our troubles will soon disappear. Alright then, please come with us.”
“Oh, w-wait …”
That uncle tugged my hand tightly while the top officials of Eren surrounded me all over as if to examine a divine bird out of a legend, looking at me worshipfully. Their expressions said, “Genius Ms Glinda would definitely have a way.”
Oh no!
Where were they taking me to? What were they planning to do to me?
I was different from Glinda! I was no genius! Just a poor commoner suffering from some deficiency in testosterone that made my skin smoother than the usual! And a resident from the Kingdom of a Million Heartbreaks that could not write a love letter to save his skin!
Princess Seira nonchalantly stared at my gaping and closing mouth while I was dragged away by Chief Minister Gaston.
Ahhhhhhhhhhh! God help me ~~~!
“That, I still have to prepare for tomorrow’s lessons…”
“Ms Glinda is a genius, what do those things matter.”
“No, no, no such thing, I am just an ordinary person…”
“Hahaha, Ms Glinda sure knows how to joke around.”
Please let go of my hand! Fat uncle! The grease was about to make me puke!
Teary-eyed, I was brought to some research facility inside some corner of the palace.
The air was thick with a murderous aura in this research facility, with occasional grunts of anger sounding.
“E-everyone seems so busy here, I guess I shouldn’t be disturbing…”
But when that bunch of people noticed my presence…
“Ms Glinda!”
“Why it’s the person herself!”
Everyone rushed over gleefully towards me.
Ooooohhhhh! Even if I were to be greeted by such a huge crowd of men, I would not be pleased. In fact, my face was turning red.
An architect called Satchel reverently said to the petrified me “Lady Glinda must definitely offer us her wisdom”, then spread out an immense blueprint.
“The Ionie River outside of the city often overflows, and we are preparing to build a dyke around it.”
He continued to pour out a flood of technical terms for well over twenty minutes, before asking me: “Well, what do you think?” while everyone looked on with eyes full of hopeful expectations.
T-those eyes were obviously awaiting me to provide some ingenious pointers!
I felt cold all over.
If it was Glinda, she would just elegantly resolve the problem, winning glamour and praises from everyone all over. But I was just an ordinary boy! How could I possibly know anything about aqua-engineering, or bridge-building and such? My level of skill was just sufficient to build some bird’s house or fix the fence around our home, and even this blueprint was giving me a headache just from looking at it.
Minister Gaston glared at me, sneering.
“Oh? What’s wrong, Ms Glinda? Your face doesn’t look too good, Could-It-Be, the widely-acclaimed invincible scholar, the so-called gem of wisdom from the Winstoria Empire – Girl-genius Lady Glinda, could not even solve a problem of this level?”
This guy was definitely one of those fellows who abused their wives!
Uwwwuuuuuu… Oh no, my eyes were blurring over. This time they would definitely discover that I was an imposter, and I would soon be dragged off as a cross-dressing criminal of the state to be imprisoned or executed…
“Uww… T-that, this place here… maybe should be ‘slightly’… “
Imagining the noose around my neck, I randomly pointed at the blueprint.
Satchel frowned.
“I am sorry? Would you mind elaborating a little?”
“Uh… Ah…”
If there was anyway to elaborate, would I still be sweating like this? Please read the mood a little, Satchel~~
It was just then –
“Huh? That is!”
Satchel suddenly glued his face atop of the blueprints, carefully examining it.
“Huhuhu… So that’s what it is…”
The surrounding crowd also began to let out “Huhu” or gasps of “Ah”.
Then, everyone began whispering with Satchel in the centre, and then suddenly all looked towards me with looks teeming in respect.
“You have our utmost gratitude, Lady Glinda. But for your help in pointing out this severe issue, we would still be lost. To be capable of going straight at the heart of the problem, as expected of the acclaimed genius!”
“Wha!”
Satchel grasped my hand tightly, the surrounding people heaping words like “Truly genius”, “To be able to see the answer right away”, “Lady Glinda saved our lives” or “Lady Glinda is truly our lives’ saviour”.
“Urg… Humph, such small problems are of course trivial to geniuses.”
Only Minister Gaston had a sour face as he threw out those words.
Even though I still had no idea what was going on, it seemed like it had been resolved.
But…
“We’ve heard that Ms Glinda is also well-versed in the study of economics. Please grant us your wisdom.”
Minister Gaston dragged me somewhere else.
“W-wait…”
My knowledge of economics was just limited to weekly discounts offered by shopping malls in the Winstoria Empire…
In a beat, we had arrived at the Finance Ministry headquarters.
“Hoho! It’s Lady Glinda!”
“We have been awaiting your arrival! Regarding this problem in our accounts, we wish to discuss something with you.”
The crowd brought over a stack of numbers-covered documents that seemed thick enough to serve as a murder weapon. I was dazzled by the sight alone. The end. This was surely the end of me. I trembled as I pretended to peruse the books…
“Ah, this…”
I muttered with a frozen gaze.
“Hoho, any comments?”
The surrounding financial department officials peered over from my two sides.
Everyone focused their lines of sight suspiciously on the page I was looking at, and suddenly exclaimed: ”Eureka! All that we had to do is to bring the remaining sums from this side to the other side for manipulation!”, “Hoho, then there will be not need to raise the taxes! As expected of Lady Glinda!”
Despite not understanding what ‘this side’ and ‘that side’ meant, I dully nodded to accept their praises.
Again Lord Gaston grunted in displeasure.
“Humph~~~ There’s something else!”
Lord Gaston dragged me away while gnashing his teeth.
No matter where I got dragged over to, however, all that I managed to do was to take a glance and mutter something unintelligible, before everyone else said in reverence.
“So that is it! It is just like that!”
“As expected of the ingenious Lady Glinda!”
There was even this bent rheumatic old secretary with sore back who skipped lightly while holding my hand.
“My backache disappeared! It’s a miracle!”
“Do you see that? Even just one small touch is sufficient to cure! As expected of Ms Glinda!”
“It’s like the legends coming alive!”
Were the people of Eren Kingdom always this gullible…
Was it really so easy to succeed? Was the title of being a genius really so potent?
No, there had got to be some trick awaiting me…
I sensed an air of killing intent. Glancing over, I saw Chief Minister scowling furiously at me like an unfed baited gorilla.
“T-that… It is about time for me to go for my marathon practice…”
The disquiet in my heart warned me to run away as quickly as possible, but a claw-like hand stopped me.
Lord Gaston showed a little smile to my cowering body.
“I have heard that Lady Glinda is capable of defeating 10000 men alone. If that’s really the case, your skills in martial arts must be exemplary.”
My challenger was a young man named Jerome who shouldered a humongous broad sword.
He was a blue-eyed blond pretty-boy with exquisite five features who held the commanding seat of the knight company. With only one of his arm, he could swing a large sword that was almost as high as my body.
“Ha, you’re asking someone as handsome and strong as me to fight with a girl in lacy dress? Spare me please; if it gets out that I hit girls, my reputation’s gonna get tarnished.”
“You must give no quarter! Jerome! The opponent is a genius, so you must give your all! Spare no effort to beat her down! If you lose, I am going to deduct your wages!”
Chief Minister Gaston shouted.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Jeez. Uncle, why do you always force me into such pointless stuff?”
The pretty-boy knight sulked.
On the training grounds of the castle, crowds of knights and soldiers waited to watch our duel.
“Hey, who do you think will win?”
“Most likely it’s gonna be Jerome. Even though he likes to boast around, his skill is top notch. No matter how wise the genius is, she’s no match for a man’s muscle strength.”
“No, but since it’s Lady Glinda, maybe she can actually win.”
“Today’s definitely going to be an exciting match. I must go boast to those dudes who aren’t on duty!”
Ohohoho, such heavy expectations… huge pressure…
I was just a scrawny boy! I had never lifted anything heavier than a spade, and was a pacifist who even released the fishes I fished up!
Besides, this… this huge sword… the edge seemed to be gleaming brightly… was it actually real?
“Hey, who would bring this lady a set of armour?”
The pretty-boy knight yelled towards the watching crowd.
Was this duel so deadly as to require the need of armour?
“There’s no need.”
A calm voice sounded on the training grounds.
Huah! It was Princess Seira! Why was she here?
The eldest Princess Seira was just 9 years of age, but emitted a stern air of impenetrability all over. She coldly commanded.
“Teacher Glinda does not require any armour.”
Huh? What did that mean? Was she setting me up?
Alarm filled all who were present.
“Oh, since Lady Glinda is a genius, she has no need for armour?”
“As expected of Lady Glinda!”
Wait a second! It was not I who said anything! It was obviously Princess Seira who…
“Ha! Interesting! Alright, then let’s begin! I shall teach you, that women should not tread lightly into the battles of men, and just follow obediently!”
A vein seemed to have popped on the head of the handsome knight as he screamed, probably mistaking my refusal (not mine exactly, it was Princess Seira) of armour as a challenge to his ego.
Wah! Help! If Glinda was here, she would definitely have a way of defusing this crisis, such as by hypnotising the opponent into believing himself as a pigeon; or, having completely researched into the weaknesses of the opponent even before the battle began, just whisper a word that completely shatter the opponent’s morale as soon as the battle began.
But, I could not possibly do any of those things!
“You have best surrender! Ms Genius! Or you may really get hurt!”
The knight pompously flicked his golden hair and pointed his huge sword towards me, its edges gleaming in a dangerous light.
Uwwaaaaah! If that thing was to slice at me, even my bones would be sliced apart!
Heeeelp~~~~ Muuuurrrdeeerr!!!
I could care less about impressions at this stage! Only by pleading surrender and ending this farce of a duel would a commoner like I be able to survive!
The sword was about to fall.
I kneeled forward with my sword.
“I-I surren…”
“What!”
The handsome knight gave a shocked scream.
Strange? I looked up just to see him trip and barrel-rolled violently.
The gigantic sword was swung into the sky before dropping and stabbing into the ground beside me.
Much further away, the head-over-heels knight fell keeled over.
The crowds around us fell as silent as a cemetery.
Princess Seira watched on coldly.
A minute later, cheers resounded throughout the training grounds.
“Absolute genius! To be able to avoid Jerome’s attack just at the right instant, and even throw him aside by borrowing his momentum!”
“I had thought that she would use her sword, but to win just by her hand-to-hand skills alone! Just how calculated is her application of skills?”
“That calm and easy manner with which she won is unbelievable! This is the mark of a genius!”
I had just wanted kneel down and surrender, but that seemed to have made handsome-knight Jerome miss his target and fall over by himself.
The pretty-boy knight crawled over in pain, moaning.
“Uwwwuu~~~ For me to lose to a woman! Why can’t I read any of your moves! How the hell did those thin arms manage to throw me aside? Is that witchcraft?!?”
You just fell by yourself…
“Fool! I have told you not to be careless! I will deduct your pay! And demote you!”
Lord Gaston shouted.
“That, I really should be returning to my room… See, even the sun is setting…”
The sunset washed over the buildings in a red glow and crows cawed mournfully in the sky.
Chief Minister Gaston’s face became so swollen that steam almost escaped from it, muttering, and then said while glaring.
“Even this is not enough to proof that Ms Glinda is a talent suitable for our country! The real test lies in next month’s marathon competition!”
What marathon competition?
That night, Anneth visited me after her shift ended and cleared my doubts.
“There is a marathon competition next month organized personally by His Majesty, and it has been divided into two competitive groups, one for men and the other for women and children. The top runner of this competition would be awarded a luxurious gift. All members of the royal family will be participating in it.”
“Huh, huh? The King, the Queen and even all the Princes and Princesses would be participating?”
What was the big deal that even the royal family would be taking part?
But Anneth replied without any surprise.
“That is right. You see, this idea actually came from Her Majesty. The Queen actually loved marathons, and won the 2nd prize in a competition when she was in elementary school. This is so memorable for Her that His Majesty, who dotes on the Queen so much, decided to organize a marathon competition open to the public.”
Wow, were all affairs of royalty so easily decided? It reminded me of Sultan Harihasan who outlawed causing any injury to cats because of his favourite cat-loving concubine. This ruler who ruled over a desert country a thousand years ago even built monuments and palaces everywhere for the sake of his favourite concubine. I guessed he must have been the neighbour of King Cecello in the Kingdom of Wife-Lovers.
“Any foreigners who wish to participate in it must first pass an initial round and be judged fit. The ministers felt that this could cause excessive burden on the issue of security, and so requested that only the people within the capital be allowed to take part. But His Majesty overrode them, saying that only a non-discriminatory competition would have any meaning in it.”
“Hoho, so that’s how it comes to be.”
I nodded.
“Besides, this will serve to show other countries that Eren is safe and peaceful, as well as increase the common-folk’s trust in the royal family.”
So it was not held only for the sake of the Queen. King Cecello’s legendary wisdom was no mere rumour.
As I pondered over such things…
“Glinda really notices things that commoners like us can never even imagine! So cool!”
Anneth looked at me with eyes filled with respect.
Then she smiled adorably towards me, causing me much embarrassment.
Nah, I was just an armchair political commentator who enjoyed picking at the reports of newspaper and the tabloids for their shallow analysis. This much was truly nothing… Haha…
Anneth was really cute… I wish I could go on a date with her. We could go on a picnic in the fields… while I cross-dressed?
While I lamented, Anneth exclaimed with stars in her eyes:
“But, to prepare for this marathon run, they must begin repairing the roads and paths even in the face of insufficient manpower. Oh, the hardship it causes would become the trigger for deeper camaraderie between men of all rank and files!”
Huh? Somehow the topic became a little distant…
“Situations such as when the gorgeous senior passes out from pure fatigue! The normally stern and guarded senior collapses on the shoulder of his underling! The long-enduring underling is also fabulous~~~ Of course, the senior is the Bottom, while the junior is the Top!”
Here it comes! Top and Bottom again!
“Satchel, that architect in charge of aqua-engineering, and his immediate subordinate Luka give off a hot atmosphere. Luka seems to enjoy touching Satchel, and Satchel doesn’t seem to mind either, even secretly passing his manual to him. Ooooohhhh! My nose bleeds just from the thought of it! Fred and Guy from the Labour Department also look suspicious! Lyon and Alec from the Finance even share their clothes! Those two must definitely be in a relationship!”
“That… Is that so…”
“Definitely! A 100 percent!”
Anneth shot me a thumbs-up while winking to assure me. The topic had totally gone on a cruise…
“Hu… I thought we were talking about the marathon run competition…”
“Ah, that’s right. That’s why I say that marathons are the best! Gleaming muscles and flying sweat drops are matchless combinations! The painfully panting Bottom and the Top who embraces him at the finishing line! Marvellous!”
My head was starting to spin from the ache… She was so adorable… Why…
“That is why I would be watching romantic competition of the men’s group, but I would also cheer for you, so you must fight!”
“Huh?”
“Aren’t you also participating in the competitions? Chief Minister Gaston has already announced to everyone, he said that ‘Because Lady Glinda is a genius, she would be taking part in the men’s group. She can definitely defeat the weak men of Eren Kingdom and win the top prize.’”
“!”
“What’s wrong, Glinda? Your face doesn’t look too good.”
“… I want to go run 100 rounds around the castle right now…”
“There’s definitely no problem for you! That’s because you are a genius! You even easily defeated Jerome of the Knights Brigade. Jerome may look handsome, but is actually a narcissistic and irritating fool, so everyone is elated. Glinda is awesome! You would definitely finish first in the race!”
At the sight of Anneth’s sparkling eyes while saying such things, I could hardly say that I was no good at running.
Another person who was equally frustrated with the marathon race was none other than its instigator – Her Majesty, the Queen.
“What to do, Teacher? In an entire year, there is only a single half-day when I actually enjoy a marathon race, and that is during its closing ceremony. For the rest of the 364.5 days, I hate it and would even pray fervently at the ‘teru teru bozu’ dolls every day before the race that there would be rain on the day of the competition.
When I was in the 4th year of elementary school, I was the second place for the girl’s competition in my class of 12, and that was only because the ten in front of me all got lost. But Mother felt that I would most likely never again win any prizes involving exercises, so she baked a cake to celebrate it with me. You should understand now that I run as fast as a tortoise? Boohoo, what should I do? Everyone knows that I would be participating in the marathon run, so there’s no way I can shirk from it now. All I said was that I can still remember the pain of running the marathons… I never said that I wanted to run…”
Her eyes began to glaze over with tears as if throwing accusation at the King.
Muah, if that was really the case, She should have made clear Her thoughts to His Majesty earlier. Then King Cecello who so adored His wife would never have organized a race to torture His most beloved.
In the end, the King was telling everyone all over:
“The one who suggested the marathon race is Her Majesty, everyone should participate. That way, the Queen would be overjoyed.”
As it was, there was no way for the Queen now to shun the race. And that went for me as well.
“Ms Glinda is a genius, so she will win easily! If she lost, she will have to do a head-stand while wearing a skirt!”
Chief Minister Gaston was announcing such to everyone.
Sir Jerome who had been sent flying by me (?) also said.
“I will never lose this marathon competition! If I win, I will make her put on this pair of dog ears while barking, ‘Arf! Woof!’. Of course, I would do the same if I were to lose!”
He twirled a headband decorated with dog’s ears in his finger as he announced it.
If I were to say that I did not want to participate in the marathon race now, nobody would accent to it.
Not only that, I was apparently listed among the prospective top winners already.
“The top prize would definitely go to Ms Glinda! That’s because she’s a genius!”
“I would also cheer for Ms Glinda!”
Hearing that bunch of people who arbitrarily decided to form my cheer-leading team, I could feel my ulcer reacting.
Besides that, another group within the army said:
“Even if she is a genius, it is an utter disgrace to lose to a girl! We must steal all three top places, and all who do not make the top 100 places will have their pay deducted!”
They began to train every morning in high spirit.
Even people from the clerical departments staked their honour and said:
“We must not be looked down upon by the soldiers!”
According to the news, the atmosphere outside of the palace was even more intense.
“The winner would be awarded a great prize!”
“We can see the royal family!”
It was a complete festive mood.
From the successfully completed roadwork, tightening of security, and furore of improved moods, it could be said that His Majesty’s decision to organize a marathon competition had already borne fruits.
But, the colour of my complexion paled with each closing day, as did the pain in my stomach worsened.
“Uwuuwuu… Teacher Glinda, we must keep fighting…”
The Queen gripped my two hands with her eyes clouded over in tears, but the only thing I could do was to help Her Majesty with her manufacture of ‘teru teru bozu’ dolls.
It was at this time that, Helmut, who had departed for nearly half a month, returned to Eren Kingdom.
“What’s this? What a funny-looking accessory.”
Helmut looked at the window hung full with ‘teru teru bozu’ and asked in apprehension.
In the hometown of Her Majesty, apparently people believed that by crafting a doll from a piece of white cloth wrapped around some cotton, then drawing on it the eyes and the mouth, they could summon forth sun-shine by hanging those dolls upright, and call forth rain by hanging them upside-down.
“Let’s pray that it would summon a great flood like that in the legendary Genesis.”
I mumbled in despair and Helmut seemed to have caught on. He displayed that unbelievably cheerful smile of his.
“Countries everywhere are all abuzz with news of Lady Glinda’s registry for the King’s marathon run competition, even saying that if she cannot win the 1st prize, she would put on a dog-ears headband and do headstands while wearing a skirt and barking: ‘Woof! Arf!’”
“The tabloids have done it now! Uwwuuuwuu… I promised no such things; it is Chief Minister Gaston who went all by himself to spread all those rumours. That old uncle has been glaring and marking me since day 1, and even now looks for all kinds of means to bully me.”
“Hoho, that’s because Gaston belongs to the Orlando faction.”
Helmut nodded.
“Orlando?”
The Orlando Kingdom was my father’s hometown, and was also known as the Kingdom of Chivalry that prided itself in its martial prowess. When our parents passed away from an accident, Glinda and I continued to stay on in Orlando until we were 5 years old.
“Despite its small size, Eren Kingdom has temperate environmental conditions and still much undeveloped lands and resources. Until 10 years ago, this country is still known as the ‘isolated kingdom’, but after opening up to the outside world, it has vigorously absorbed culture and technology from outside and been developing non-stop.
It is within expectations that the Eren Kingdom would become even more prosperous, more affluent, and more powerful in the future. Therefore, every country has been fighting to create diplomatic ties with Eren under terms that are most beneficial to themselves. And for that purpose, every country offered up the best things in their possession as gifts to seal those pacts. The Kingdom of Chivalry Orlando offered strength of might, while the Economic Superpower Rubinia offered money and labour.”
In the midst of all these offers, King Cecello chose the Empire of Knowledge and Arts which offered the promise of sending over the omnipotent-genius Glinda as the royal tutor – the Winstoria Empire.
“The King of Eren Kingdom made a very wise decision. Orlando’s military aid and Rubinia’s wealth are both very tempting offers, but that would also chain down the kingdom into relying on them. Our Imperial Highness could see through this point, and just offered Winstoria Empire’s gem: girl-genius Glinda. It spoke of His wisdom.”
“Chief Minister Gaston wanted to forge the alliance with Orlando Kingdom?”
“That’s right. That’s why he sees you as a thorn in his side.”
No wonder, then, that he kept bullying me, looking as if he wanted to chase me away! The intricacies of politics had reached the point of domestic uproar! My shoulders sunk in complete enervation.
“… If I could not achieve top in this race, would I have to do headstands wearing a skirt?”
“That won’t do, if you display any unladylike character, it would disgrace the reputation of the Winstoria Empire. His Imperial Highness would also be displeased, and it may jeopardise the relationship of our two countries. You must never do that.”
Helmut said as-a-matter-of-factly.
“Then, how am I supposed to win in this contest?”
“If it had been Glinda, she would never have allowed things to proceed on to this current situation. Sigh, Sher-chan is so useless.”
My temper shot up by a mile. How dare you take this attitude towards me when you were the one who abandoned me to my fate for well-nigh half a month! What did you imagine I felt when I strung on the corset every morning! Even though my skills with the brow-trimmer and walking while in a long-dress had greatly improved, I could feel no pride!
“Then hurry and bring the real Glinda over! Isn’t the Intelligence Agency of Winstoria Empire the best in the world?”
“Our Intel Agency is truly the best in the world. Despite sending out our best agents on the trails of Glinda, we could find no trace of her, but obtained information about a young girl who single-handedly ended the tribal feud in the Oter Desert to the south, and news of a mysterious scientist who discovered a new strain of potatoes in the Etonia Kingdom to the north, as well as a few other similar intelligence.”
“Apparently they are all so highly skilled! So why haven’t they caught her yet? Just give them all the sack!”
“That’s because Glinda is just that good. As expected of our country’s national treasure.”
“Stop trivialising me! And stop smiling like that when you say it!”
“Ara, it has just been half a month of not seeing you, Sher-chan, how did you manage to become so spiteful? When we first met, you were just shivering like a little rabbit, not even capable of proper speech. Just look how you’ve grown.”
Just the sound of him imitating the warm speech of a senior was enough to make me faint. This fellow was totally unmoved.
“… How about you run this race for me then.”
“That won’t do. The entry of Ms Glinda has already become the focus of this competition.”
“But, my stamina at running has always been at rock-bottom. And if I were to do headstands while wearing a skirt, Winstoria Empire’s reputation would be damaged. As a man, I am not too offended by people seeing my underwear, but I certainly don’t want anyone to see me in a lady’s undies.”
I insisted in a huff, and even Helmut gave a serious sigh.
“It can’t be helped. Although this would be breaking the rules a little…”
Helmut placed some stuff on the table.
“These are tripod spikes laced with anaesthetics. These are some very potent laxatives. The test-tube contains many live wasps. In addition, this here is a voodoo doll, which despite its frivolous appearance, is apparently quite effective. It was said that when the renowned idol-queen Emily broke her legs in an accident and lost her crown to the runner-up newcomer Hilda, she claimed that Hilda had placed a hex on her with this doll.”
“I have no wish to hear such dangerous topics about women.”
“Is that so? Then just use these things to settle the issue.”
“Tripod spikes and laxatives are hardly <breaking the rules a little>! It is totally disregarding the rules! How is it that you carry around such diabolical things around?”
“Being a diplomat is in fact a demanding job that put your life in constant danger. Ara, It is about time for me to get to work. Sher-chan, for the sake of the alliance between the Winstoria Empire and Eren Kingom, you must definitely win this race.”
“That’s impossible!”
“Oh, and there’s still these pads. I’m sure those from before are insufficient, right? I have specially ordered for you some of those that are softer, more comfy, and less prone to slipping off. Also, here are some model answers to the Imperial College examinations that Glinda scored full marks for when she was just 7. Sher-chan should work hard too, so as not to expose yourself.”
Saying this, Helmut left after handing me a dozen of pads and a thick book of model exam answers.
After his departure, Anneth came in immediately and bombarded me like a battery of cannonfire:
“Hey, tell me please, how long would Lord Helmut be staying? Did he say anything about His Majesty being so handsome and lovely that he wants to push him down and do those kinds of things?”
My mood sunk even deeper.
Be it Mr Voodoo Doll, or Ms ‘teru teru bozu’, please just deliver me from this marathon run.
Even as I continued to be trapped in my helplessness, it was now the day before the marathon run.
I hugged the thick book of model answers close while continued to practice barking like a dog as I went for a little afternoon stroll in the courtyard. Just then, I bumped into Prince Ryuuju who was training in short sleeves and shorts.
Prince Ryuuju was nothing like his twin sisters Princesses Sarasa and Orie who complained, “What marathon run competition? How unbelievably tiresome!” Instead, he trained diligently every morning and afternoon for long periods.
For all his tough talks, he was also a diligent worker. Muah, what an excellent child.
In comparison, I should really reflect on myself.
Just then, he noticed me.
“!”
He instantly widened his eyes, frowned and stiffened his face.
To this day he was still keeping me at arm’s length, thinking probably that I was a female vixen who peeped on his bath and even pushed him over.
“Training for the marathon? Your Highness Prince Ryuuju is so hard-working.”
I said in the tone of a kind big sister archetype, but he just tightened his lips, backed away slowly, and then shouted with a blushing face.
“I… I have not been looking at your chest! And don’t care about women who peep on baths like you!”
He fled after throwing those words out.
He probably was still mindful of his little sisters’ teasing words, but seeing his obvious display of hostility still hurt my feelings. UWuuWuu…
I walked towards a fountain in the courtyard and collapse-sat on its edge while stretching out my legs.
“… Don’t mind it.”
Came a sudden voice. I closed my legs in a panic.
Looking upwards, a pair of amethyst transparent eyes had been staring directly at me.
“P-princess Seira!”
Kya! Here it comes again! Why was this Princess always appearing from nowhere, coldly staring at me?
Was she threatening me with “I know your secret”? But, it seemed that she had not yet told anyone else that I was a man. What really was her purpose? So puzzling.
Then again, why was I getting so worked up over a 9 year old kid…
“… Elder Brother Ryuuju may sometimes say some inappropriate words when he is shy. That is not his true intentions.”
Huh? Was she consoling me?
But, both her words and expression were as monotonous as usual.
“Eh… Princess Seira, don’t you detest me?”
Princess Seira had an expression of shock when she heard those words.
“Because, when I was duelling with Jerome, you said there was no need for me to have armour…”
I could still remember it because I was still somewhat bitter about it.
But, Princess Seira calmly replied.
“… That’s because armour is too heavy, and I think that Teacher won’t be able to move well in it.”
“Huh?”
So she had not been setting me up, but was actually helping me.
“Is that so! Sorry! I had been mistaken about Your Highness, Princess Seira…”
I stood in a rush, and the thick book of exam solutions fell from my laps in my hurry. Princess Seira picked it up.
“Winstoria Imperial College’s … past entry exam papers?”
“Wha! That’s not really mine! Why would a genius like me need to refer to something like that!”
“… This answer is wrong.”
“Huh?”
“Is there a pen anywhere?”
“Oh? Uh… here.”
I handed her the pen that I always carried around. She took it and breezily began to solve the problems.
She completed them one after another with the proficiency of an expert, almost as if she knew the answers like the back of her hands.
What was she? Was I just seeing things? Was this child some sage from somewhere? Oh right, now that I thought about it, she also completed my exam in a couple of minutes the other day…
“P-princess Seira!”
I was just about to think that I might actually be able to get along with her, but seeing this monstrous ability shocked me so much that I took hold of her slim shoulders.
Princess Seira looked up in surprise and silver hair brushed against the back of my hand.
“I have been wanting to tell you this… That, maybe you have thought I am a cross-dressing pervert, but that is not the case at all! If I do not cross-dress, there may be great trouble between the Winstoria Empire and Eren Kingdom! So, I mean, please, don’t tell others that I am not Glinda!”
I said while bowing my head.
After a moment of silence, a calm voice said.
“… Teacher is saying that, it is not that Ms Glinda is actually a man, but rather Teacher is not even Ms Glinda in the first place?”
Noooooooooo! I had dug myself deeper again!
I dumbly looked up with a gaping mouth, but there began an eerie silence.
Princess Seira stared at me with an empty gaze that I had never seen before.
So hollow and devoid of emotions that a chill raised through my spine, it was almost like being bewitched.
“… So, you could not ‘see that’?”
“W-what do you mean?”
Could not see what?
Princess Seira ignored my question and displayed an expression of disappointment, then returned to her western-doll like poker-face.
“… If you are ‘not Ms Glinda’, tomorrow in the race, you have best not get too close to Elder Brother Ryuuju.”
She flatly said, as if prophesising or maybe it was a warning.
A chilling sensation ran over the top of my back.
Princess Seira elegantly retreated. My hands, which had been on her slim shoulders, held only thin air.
“Hey! What is that supposed to mean?”
She ignored my shout, and left on her own. I was dumbfounded as I stood rooted to the ground.
Returning to my own room, I checked through the model answers book that Princess Seira worked on. She had gotten every questions correct.
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LNWNCentral_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata
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Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata - Volume 01/Dress-na-Boku-ga-Yangotonaki-Katagata-Volume-01-[GirlyBoysAlliance][Proxus]/Chapter_06.txt
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Chapter 06
Chapter 06
Day of the marathon run competition.
I had manufactured 3 dozens of ‘teru teru bozu’ but apparently that was not enough. The sky was dark and overcast as if it was about to downpour while hot wind blew about the place; it was an undeterminable state of weather.
The starting point of the race was situated at the entrance of the capital which was filled with participating runners and on-looking cheerers on both sides of the track. Guards putting up barrier ropes fought to keep the onlookers from trespassing into the runway.
“Sigh, how repulsive! We are Princesses! Princesses should just rest comfortably in a pure-white room, reading romance novels besides vases of roses! That has been the rule for more than 3000 years! Humph!”
“That’s right! So right! We are so delicate and fragile, we may even fall sick!”
Those pair of twin Princesses Sarasa and Orie were both clad in cutely embroidered skirt and baggy pants while stomping in displeasure. The guards around hastily tried to appease them. I secretly thought that, with their energy and hyper-activeness, even running 4 rounds should be nothing for them.
A far cry from Her energetic daughters was the Queen, who stood pale-faced and looking as if she would collapse even before the run had begun. She kept rubbing at her chest and breathing deeply.
Was Her Majesty really alright? Fortunately, there were many guards around her, so should anything really happen, they would definitely take good care of Her.
There were also guards around Prince Ryuuju who was actively swinging his arms and stretching his legs in preparation, looking all normal. I turned towards Princess Seira, who was also surrounded by guards, her expression as usual.
What did those words that she said yesterday mean?
She said that if I was not Glinda, it was best that I did not get close to Prince Ryuuju today… It was like the foretelling of a witch, how scary.
No, there was no time to think about such things.
A big bucket of drink was placed before the finishing point and a mountain of bananas piled high beside it for participants to help themselves to.
Within the pockets of my waistcoat I had been carrying the tripod spikes laced with anaesthesia, the highly potent laxative, test-tube of live wasps as well as the voodoo doll.
The only thing I could do now is to use this… I took out the packet of laxative from my breast-pocket.
If I just spiked the bucket of drink and bananas, the participants would all have running stomachs and be unable to continue the race.
In the end, I still brought over all the illegal stuff that Helmut passed me! Waaaah! I couldn’t just do that~~~
But, if I did not get the top prize, the relationship between Winstoria Empire and Eren Kingdom might become adversely affected…
In my anxiety, I peeled open a banana and sprinkled a little of the powder on it.
The white powder vanished on the banana without a trace.
Uh… That way it would probably not be detectable. Oh, but it would definitely be suspicious to peel open an entire pile of bananas, so I guess spiking the bucket of drink would be better… Ahhhh! What was I turning into?!?
Let’s just give up; there’s no joy in winning with such methods. I was a model citizen, not that venomous Count Ascano of Rubinia who loved getting rid of his enemies with poison. As an extra, the Count seemed to have died from choking on an oyster; a fitting death indeed.
I was just about to destroy the spiked banana…
“Hey! Glinda!”
Jerome from the Knight Company appeared all of a sudden, clad in an eye-catching red cape.
“I would pay you back today for the humiliation you gave me on the training grounds! Have you forgotten our promise? If you lose, you would put on a pair of dog’s ears and bark ‘Arf! Woof! My Master!’ Ha!”
“I-I don’t remember making any such promise (That’s just your own sick interests! You pervert!)… Ah!”
Jerome snatched the banana from my hand.
“You cocky little lass that get all conceited from just a few words of flattery! Watch me as I swallow you whole like this banana! The main actor today would me! Buahahaha!”
Jerome took the banana and strode away with his cape flying suavely behind him.
Was he really going to run with that cape wrapped around him like that… Wait, he just ate the banana! That’s the banana with laxatives on it!
Helmut said that the laxative was so potent that its effect would immediately show…
As I imagined what was going on within Jerome’s stomach, cold sweat began to rise from within.
“P-pretend not to know anything…”
I muttered while shifting my eyes away from the red cape moving away into the distance.
In the end, I ran out of options and the marathon run began without any incidents.
A projectile-less cannon fired into the air, signalling the beginning of the race, and the male competition group began to run.
I was initially positioned among the frontline at the starting point, but was immediately overrun by the flood of people from the rear, fighting to even remain upright.
Pretty-boy Sir Jerome was initially positioned far behind me in the rear lines, but with a strange scream “Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Stomach! My stomach!!!” he pushed aside the other runners and shot out wildly. Looked like the laxatives had taken effect.
“Ms Glinda, I would be going first then.”
King Cecello greeted me briskly as he overtook me.
“It’s His Majesty!”
“Long live His Majesty!”
The surrounding crowd cheered.
“His Majesty is so handsome! So charming!”
There were also such fan-girl squeals around.
The King gave everyone a smile, attracting copious amounts of ‘Ah’ and ‘Wow’ among the crowds.
To the people of Eren, King Cecello was an existence on the level of a god. Pretty much hidden in behind the thick walls of the royal palace at all times, the appearance of the legendary King of beauty running before their very eyes caused some of the commoners among the watchers to grasp their own hands in thanksgiving.
This race would certainly greatly raise the support for King Cecello and radically deify the descriptions of his beautiful outer appearance among the tabloids.
Me, on the other hand…
“Hey, why is there a girl among the men’s group?”
“Heard that Winstoria Empire’s Ms Glinda would also be in the men’s group, but this girl’s probably someone else.”
“Hoho, oh yes, it is said that Ms Glinda is a divine beauty who runs as fast as a deer.”
“There’s no way that geniuses would run this slow. That girl looks cute, but doesn’t seem to create even a bit of impression and looks so ordinary.”
“Yes yes, Ms Glinda must have departed with a speed far beyond what our commoners’ eyes can detect.”
“Hoho, that may actually be possible for a genius.”
“Ms Glinda is so incredible!”
“Would we be able to see Ms Glinda during the award ceremony?”
“Definitely as beautiful as they say she is.”
“Yeah, I mean, even His Majesty is more beautiful than the legend says.”
“But, if that girl isn’t Ms Glinda, who is she?”
“Probably just some confused girl who barged in on the men’s group.”
“What, is that so, hahaha, Hang in there, Ms Confused Girl!”
Uwuuwuu… the idle chatter surrounding me broke my heart.
All this while, I continued to fall behind.
Even though I should at least try and recover some distance, I just could not gather my strength.
Everyone who passed me by displayed a shocked expression that seemed to say “Why is Ms Glinda here?” and then outran me further.
The roads and buildings outside the city were all new and in good conditions, just as the pathways had been cleaned to within the standard of developed civilizations. Every corner was also guarded by a soldier.
But, I soon lost the interest in appreciating the scenery around.
I was panting hard and dizzy. My heart was beating as if it could burst out of my chest.
Just how much further is the finishing line?
The track apparently extended from the city to the suburbs, going through the hills and returning back to the city and stopping before the castle.
I panted with all my strength, finally running out of the city and coming to a quiet plantation where even the breeze was cooler.
Fuu… Fuu… Midpoint at last…
I breathlessly bounced along a narrow path cutting though the plantation.
There was nobody else around nearby. Did that mean I was the last?
The soldiers standing guard watched my slow bumbling steps and were shocked.
“Ms Glinda is the last?!?”
“Could geniuses be last?”
What, geniuses’ couldn’t possibly be last? ~~~ Outrageous!
Even if I were to use the anaesthetic-laced tripods Helmut passed to me, there was nobody else behind me to step on them.
Not only that, by the time I reached the snaking bends in the track, even the cheerers and guarding soldiers had disappeared.
Sigh, if only I could get attacked by a bear in the hills, so that I won’t have to run any longer.
That’s right! What the flying hippo was I running for? I was sweaty, dizzy and weary, but all for what? Would my running bring about world peace? Would it save all of humanity? Would it decrease tax? Would it make Helmut uglier? Would I be able to grow at least some facial hair?
While I bemoaned my situation, a clatter of steps closed in from nearby.
What? It seemed that there was still someone behind me.
But the footsteps seemed to be extraordinarily quick in succession.
A breeze blew past in a ‘Wosh!’.
A black-haired boy with tightened lips and stiffened face ran past my side.
Prince Ryuuju?
That’s to say, the women and children’s group had started the run, and I was even beaten by Prince Ryuuju who was at its head?
Nooooooo! To lose to even children!
I was supposed to be a man!... A man!
Recalling Helmut’s smiling face saying “This is a shame to the Winstoria Empire”, I truly just wanted to run into some disaster in the hills.
His Highness did not even turn to look at me, but ran around the bend in the forest path in a breath.
There should have been bodyguards beside him, but he had probably outrun them all.
Hey! What’s the meaning of that? How could they just leave the Prince alone unprotected? These irresponsible slowcoach tax thieves!
I ignored my own current situation while criticised others.
At that moment…
Masked men came out on both sides of the Prince.
These men did not seem to be friendly common folks no matter how you looked at it. Could they be disguised guards? But no, the dangerous air about them was chilling.
Those men covered Prince Ryuuju’s mouth and carried his small body into the thick woods.
Ruffles in plantation and struggles of the Prince vanished into the forest without a trace.
Huuuuuuuuuuuuuh?!?
Kidnapping?
I turned but could see no trace of the bodyguards.
Wwwwwwwhat should I do?
Should I run backwards for help?
But by the time I returned those people would have been gone for long.
Gritting my teeth in the face of danger, I ran after Prince Ryuuju.
“Prince Ryuuju! Prince Ryuuju! Heeeeelp~~~ Prince Ryuuju has been kidnapped~~~”
I screamed with all my strength while running through the forest.
Booohooo, please hear my cries, bodyguards who were on their way! There was no way I could handle the kidnappers alone! Absolutely never!
As I fervently prayed, someone grabbed my mouth and dragged me from the rear.
“Uuuuu!”
I was captured and immobilized. Before me was Prince Ryuuju who had been caught in the same situation by the group of masked men.
My body was frozen in fear.
Waaaaaah! Kidnappers~~~~ I’d been caught!~~~~
Prince Ryuuju had his mouth gagged and one arm restrained, but continued to struggle. He winced in angry surprise when he saw me, as if to say “why are you here?”. What choice did I have?
Noooooo! What would happen now?
As if to answer this question, the masked men started to discuss among themselves.
“What should we do with this girl?”
“It would be trouble if she caused a ruckus. Take her with us?”
“No, that’s too troublesome, just rid of her.”
W-wait! What were you saying!
As I almost dirtied my undies from fear, the man holding onto Prince Ryuuju suddenly screamed.
“Ouch!”
His Highness had bitten the man’s hand.
The one restraining me was also stunned and loosened his grip somewhat, or maybe because he had thought me a woman, was careless.
I elbowed him in the guts with all my strength.
“Uuuoo!”
The man completely released me.
Now!
I had begun to rush forward, reaching within my breast pocket for the test-tube of wasps, opening it before the man in front.
The wasps flew forth from the opening of the test-tube, buzzing all over.
“Huah! What are these!”
Prince Ryuuju also stomped on the feet of the man restraining him and escaped his grip.
“Hey! Wait!”
The men chased in a hurry, but I threw out the packet of laxative powder.
The powder dispersed into a cloud of dust and we ran while the men fell into a coughing fit.
“Prince Ryuuju! Please run before me! Your legs are more nimble, please go run for help!”
“B-but!”
“Quick! Or we would both be caught!”
I sternly cried to the apprehensive Prince Ryuuju, then turned and threw the tripods towards the pursuers.
“Whoa! What is it this time!?!”
The tripods struck the face and hands of the men, but maybe due to the cloth wrapped around their face and gloves, the anaesthetic laced on the spikes was not effective.
“This b****! How dare you use such toys against us!”
Oh no! That seemed to have infuriated them!
A man unsheathed his sword and sliced at me from above.
I immediately took out the voodoo doll to block it, but the doll was just sliced into half in one blow.
“Kyaaaaa!”
A shameless scream escaped my mouth.
The slice just now had sliced through my clothes in front from my shoulder to just above my chest.
The cut on chest area was particularly deep. But for the thick layers of pads, I feared I had already suffered a mortal blow. When considering that, I felt cold even from the tips of my toes.
“Glinda!”
“Don’t come here!”
I had already told you to escape, so why were you running back!
You were a prince! How could you not first look to your own safety!
“I’m alright! Please run!”
As if I could be alright! … I was being driven to death’s door by this group of men…
The sword sliced again.
If I were to die here, people would probably discover that I was male when they buried me, then everyone would probably say that Ms Glinda was a cross-dressing pervert…
As I thought about such things with unnatural calm…
“Whoa!”
An arrow shot from nowhere and pierced the hand of the man about to slice me through.
Soldiers who had been invisible thus far somehow surrounded us without our notice.
Sword-wielding bodyguards were also standing at guard in front of Prince Ryuuju.
“Ms Glinda! Are you alright?”
“Uuuoh… I-i guess…”
The soldiers beat back the kidnappers in an instant, and captured them.
Could this be the effect of the voodoo doll? I glanced at the beheaded voodoo doll with a complicated expression.
M-maybe I should go get exorcised afterwards… L-Let’s get up first.
“Our utmost apologies for arriving this late, Your Highness!”
“Am I the only one being attacked? Is Lord Father alright? How about Queen Mother? And my little sisters?”
Prince Ryuuju asked in worry.
“Please ease your worries. Their Majesties and Highnesses are all safe. Apparently this group here have been targeting Your Highness right from the beginning. But even though we have already caught wind of it, we still let Your Highness fall into danger. It is completely our responsibility.”
Prince Ryuuju finally relaxed his shoulders.
“That… Lord Father and the others are alright…”
He mumbled in relief – then, jumped in hindsight.
“Right! I have not reached the finishing line yet! I must continue the run!”
Having just encountered such a fearsome experience, he was ready to immediately return to the competition.
What a strong willpower, even I was collapsed on the ground, my legs so weakened that I could hardly stand.
But, maybe it was due to his twisting his ankle in the escape, Prince Ryuuju suddenly scrunched up his face and grabbed at his own foot.
“Your Highness is in no state to continue the run.”
The bodyguards tried to persuade him.
“No! Members of the royalty should be examples for the common-folks! If I were to give up half-way there is no way I would be fit to represent the country! Everyone would also worry about having such a weak future ruler!”
Prince Ryuuju stood up, determined to continue the race.
But he twisted his expression immediately.
Even so, he gritted his teeth, and sweating profusely, dragged his feet onwards.
Sigh, so frustrating, what a stubborn child.
The soldiers looked at each other helplessly.
If the duty of royalty was to reach the goal no matter how difficult it was, and to smile waving at the common citizen no matter how painful it was, a spineless guy like me could probably never be a king ever.
If he did not have any support right now, he might not even be able to stand up.
Even if I was just a weak commoner and a lazy bum whose only forte was to flip newspaper or history stories while criticising famous people, there was no way I could just at the side while watching someone else hard at work.
How troublesome.
I walked towards Prince Ryuuju, barring his way.
His Higness glared at me.
“Glinda… You can’t stop me, let me pass.”
“Don’t look down on a little foot injury. What if you can no longer walk for the rest of your life?”
“H-how could that be…”
“Could you say that it will never happen?”
Maybe due to my fierce tone, Prince Ryuuju could not utter any word.
Perhaps due to just having escaped from a near-death situation, my words were free of fear or apprehension, be it in the face of kings or princes.
“Earlier Your Highness ignored my warning and came back. If the soldiers had not shown up on time, you might even have been sold to foreign countries before you can succeed the throne, or even died! So you have to obey me this time!”
Prince Ryuuju widened his eyes as I grabbed his hands and pulled them around my neck.
“W-what the… are you doing, Glinda.”
“I will piggy-back you and run.”
“What did you say!”
I gave a little ‘Heeve-Hoo’ and supported his small bum.
“Hey! Let me go! Glinda! This is so embarrassing! To be piggy-backed to the finishing line by a woman is so shameful! I would rather bite my tongue and die!”
I scolded loudly at the struggling Prince Ryuuju.
“As the heir-to-the-throne, how can you say you would give up your life so easily!”
His Highness gave a little jump on my back, and even the surrounding bodyguards nearby stopped.
“Stop throwing tantrums, you little kid who has no idea of the dangers in this big wide world! A really great man would fight to live on no matter how great the pain or the shame! That’s called responsibility to the people! Besides, even the king does not rule the country alone! As a king you must know how to use the help of other people! Nobody ever said that kings are omnipotent! So stop trying to do every single thing on your own!”
Prince Ryuuju stopped struggling.
He slowly gripped my neck, hugging my back so that I could feel the body warmth of the little child.
“Good! You just sit tight like an heir-to-the-throne and ride on my back at leisure!”
I began to run.
After saying such audacious lines of words, I couldn’t possibly run slower than a tortoise now, could I?
Thankfully, in my adrenaline rush, I had forgotten the tiredness.
I galloped madly like a race horse.
Maybe we had been delayed so much by the kidnapping incident, there were few runners left in sight.
Panting deeply, I strode right on the centre of the running track.
“Huh? Glinda! What are you doing?”
Among the race-watching crowds, a voice that sounded like Anneth called.
The other watchers looked too in our direction and exclaimed.
“Isn’t that His Highness, Prince Ryuuju?”
“That’s right! It’s His Highness who has been running at the front just earlier! What happened?”
“Who is that girl giving him a piggy-back? What marvellous strength!”
“Whoa! Those eyes are blazing! Even her nostrils are fuming! Even if she is obviously just a girl, her hair is unkempt, clothes torn, and flames seem to be bursting forth from her rear!”
“It’s Ms Glinda! That omnipotent genius!”
“What did you say? That’s Ms Glinda?”
“No wonder she looks so different from normal! Those eyes are just like she’s been possessed!”
“I heard from someone that Prince Ryuuju had been attacked by bandits in the middle of the race just now!”
“No way! I heard it was kidnappers, not bandits!”
“Huh? Huh? What’s going on?”
“I heard that Ms Glinda suddenly showed up in the nick of time and defeated a large band of sword-wielding kidnappers bare-handed!”
“Terrific! As expected of a genius!”
Everyone began to clap vigorously to cheer.
I focused on prancing towards the finishing line.
Where was it? Where was the finishing line?
My legs and heart could no longer take it. Due to the tear in my clothes, the situation on my chest was deplorable. The voodoo doll peeked its head out, and several layers of pads had fallen down onto my waist.
Sigh! Were we there yet?
“Glinda!”
“Big Bro Ryuuju!”
The frames of twin princesses stood in the front.
The pair of them each gripped an end of a rose-coloured ribbon, probably tied together from the ribbons on their own hair.
They waved vigorously towards us.
“Just a little longer! Glinda! Big Bro Ryuuju!”
“Fight!”
At the side of Princess Sarasa was the blissful looking Queen. So too was the gently-smiling King, with the toddler Princess Suzuna. Young Prince Shin and even the mature-eyed Princess Seira awaited us at the ending point.
The rose-coloured ribbon touched my hips and flew into the air.
Princess Seira widened her eyes, quietly watching.
Thunderous applause and cheering filled the air as the crowds wildly called the names of Glinda and Prince Ryuuju.
The royal family surrounded me who had just run past the finishing line.
“Ohhhhhh! Teacher Glinda, thank you so much for rescuing Ryuuju! Ryuuju, I am so glad that you are alright!”
Her Majesty hugged His Highness tightly with tears in Her eyes.
“Sorry, Queen Mother, for causing You so much worry.”
Prince Ryuuju also fell into his Mother’s chest.
“Lady Glinda, you have rescued the heir-to-the-throne, and is a benefactor to the Kingdom of Eren.”
King Cecello’s line drove the crowd frantic with excitement.
“Lady Glinda has known all along that His Highness would be kidnapped, so slowed down on purpose!”
“As expected of the omnipotent Genius!”
“Lady Glinda is the true winner of the marathon race!”
“That’s right! Only Lady Glinda has the right to the gold cup top prize!”
Someone carried over the glittering gold cup prize, but I became embarrassed and humbly said.
“No way, that’s too unfair to the top runner. Right, who happened to be the top runner?”
As I looked from side to side, a breeze blew past.
And tragedy fell that instant.
I had kept running while piggy-backing someone even though my clothes had been sliced open, and now this wind was all it took to open up the torn clothes like a double-door!
As if that was not enough, the entire set of clothes fell off from shoulders downwards.
Cha…
A falling sound, and the things covering the upper-half of my body as well as the voodoo doll fell at my feet. Before the staring eyes of the present crowd, my half-naked body stood frozen.
I stood mystified, still not realising what had just happened.
Huh? Feels… Strange? What was this cooling sensation?...
Everyone stared at me in shock with expressions screaming “Unbelievable! How could it be so!”
The courtyard was deadly silent, and after a glance downwards, I let out a “KYAAAAAAAAAAAA” piercing scream, hugging my bare upper body with both arms.
Wwwwwwwwwwwwhat should I do? I’d been seen… completely uncovered~~~~~
And it had to be before so many people! Ahhhhhhhhh! Uwuuuwuuu…. I was finished, my male identity exposed. Gone, I would soon be dragged off and executed!
I felt dizzy and my entire face; cheeks, temple and even neck blew, up in a fiery colour.
It was this instant that a cool quiet voice broke the silence.
“Teacher, your important breast pads had fallen off.”
Princess Seira picked up the pad that had fallen on the ground and handed it to me calmly.
“The other pads had probably fallen off while you were protecting Elder Brother Ryuuju. There should be at least 5 pieces of them.”
The monotonous voice steadily continued.
“Urg… T-that...”
The surrounding crowd blew up in commotion.
“5 layers of breast pads! So that is the reason! Ms Glinda is a completely flat chested lady who needs a huge pile of padding!”
“It is true that the size is ridiculously small. At that level, she really needs 5 pairs.”
“Muah, it’s almost as flat as a man’s.”
“Ohoohoohoo! So that’s what a super washing board looks like!”
“I see, so 5 pairs of breast pads, huh. Ahahahaha.”
T-these fellows! How dared they to laugh so loudly after seeing another’s chest!
Princesses Sarasa and Orie also said with tears in their eyes.
“Poor Glinda.”
“To be this flat even after puberty.”
Her Majesty quickly took off her own overcoat and covered my body in it, consoling.
“Ara, ara, don’t take it to heart, Glinda. Nowadays, many men also prefer them flatter.”
Even His Majesty vigorously added.
“Even if Ms Glinda does not have full-rounded breasts, she possesses an intelligent head.”
But, the corners of His lips seemed to be twitching as if to keep from laughing.
Afterwards, due to His Highness Prince Ryuuju fainting from a rush of blood from his bleeding nose, a huge commotion ensued…
As the situation settled down, I accepted the gold cup award from the hands of King Cecello under the warm claps and cheers of everyone.
Everyone snickered at me who was hugging the huge trophy.
“I see, so that’s a washing board.”
“So that’s a runway.”
“Hoo! I can totally see it clearly! Really completely flat!”
“So even geniuses have weaknesses!”
Hearing such whispered gossips, I could only lower my flushed head.
For the record, the first one who reached the finishing line was Sir Jerome of the knight company, who had beaten everyone else by a far margin.
All while screaming “It’s coming ouuuuuut~~~”, he ran out of sight and vanished without a trace even until the closing ceremony. He was disqualified as relinquishing the top place, and it was granted to me due to the special occasion.
“Humph! Damned flat-chested girl!”
Chief Minister Gaston angrily murmured… how scary.
Hoho, at least nobody had discovered that I was male.
The day after, tabloids all over the world flashed the headlines: “ Genius Ms Glinda an astonishing flat-chest!”, “Ms Glinda’s chest was in fact two little red peas!”.
Being able to rub some blemish upon Glinda’s utterly perfect record, I was actually a little pleased with myself. But once I considered the possibility of Glinda knowing about my being stripped half-naked in full view of crowds right in the centre of the capital, causing her to be reported as little chick-peas, I flinch to imagine her fury.
Besides that, even though the masterminds behind the kidnapping incident had been caught, there was still something that continued to bug me.
To verify my doubts, one afternoon after lessons were over, I went to seek an audience with His Majesty, King Cecello.
Epilogue: Glinda Dolye’s deductions
“You said that you have something you would like to discuss with me in private, so what is it about, Ms Glinda?”
After dismissing the people around, the beautiful king shined me a sparklingly lovely smile and asked.
The mere sight of it was enough to drive my weak heart racing non-stop, but I must clarify this no matter what happened, so I looked straight into the eyes of His Majesty.
“Your Majesty, were You the one who was responsible for the kidnapping incident of His Highness Prince Ryuuju?”
I actually said it!
Even though my heart was beating like a drum from the nerves, I had burned my bridges.
King Cecello gently narrowed his eyes.
“Oh?”
He murmured.
“Why would you think so?”
King Cecello stared straight into me, enquiring gently, but I could feel an immense sense of pressure from it, and the tense air almost impaled my skin.
“Eren Kingdom discarded her policy of isolation not more than a decade ago, and the capital is apparently at peace right now, but I have heard that outside of it, there remained some pockets of resistance supporting the previous king belonging to the faction of isolation. It is still too dangerous for royalty to casually participate in a marathon race open to public at this time, and in fact, many top officials are of the same opinion.
But from another point of view, this is also a good opportunity to investigate suspicious people from outside the capital, tear down old buildings, repair the roads and bridges, and demonstrate to the citizens as well as foreign countries that the Eren Kingdom is both peaceful and culturally advanced – Your Majesty’s wisdom obviously saw through all that?”
While I ran outside of the capital, I could see that the roads and buildings all around were new and in excellent conditions, and the commoners were also joyfully cheering for the racers.
“Through this race, the citizens would definitely improve their opinion of the royal family. But among them, there would definitely be people who do not feel that way and may even pose a danger. These are all things that Your Majesty would have already foreseen.”
Of course, if investigations were made in the name of public security for the sake of the race, a portion of suspicious elements would definitely be uncovered, for example, the remnants of the isolation faction who opposed King Cecello’s policy.
What would happen if they were to be forced into a corner? What actions would they take?
“To steal into the palace and attempt to kidnap or assassinate royalty is an extremely difficult task, but in a marathon race open to public, the chance of success would definitely be much higher.
Who would they have their sights on?
Laying hands on the legendary and experienced king would definitely be hard, so the target has to be weaker than His Majesty, but also a prominent member of the royal family… that is the representative of the policy of opening up the country, Her Majesty who is Herself a foreigner, and the heir-apparent His Highness Prince Ryuuju.
These two are the obvious targets.”
His Majesty’s lips maintained its smile.
His beautiful face of national treasure fame betrayed no hint of any shadow, looking serenely at me.
~~If you are not Ms Glinda, in tomorrow’s race, don’t get close to Elder Brother Ryuuju.
Princess Seira had told me indifferently before.
Did that child realise the truth even beforehand?
I added strongly.
“Your Majesty knew right from the start, and so arranged for a wall of armed guards to surround Her Majesty, even the Princesses were heavily guarded.
But, the one who ought to be protected the most, His Highness Prince Ryuuju, was all alone.
There is no way that adults cannot catch up to a child, and this is almost an obvious ploy to tempt the enemies into kidnapping him at the abandoned paths… And also, the appearance of the rescuers was too coincidental, I deduce that Your Majesty have ordered them to observe from afar right from the beginning.”
King Cecello said as if nothing had happened.
“As expected, there’s no way I can escape the sharp eyes of Ms Glinda.”
His tone held even a trace of elation.
I angrily yelled.
“Stop joking around! How could you have used your own son as bait!”
At this moment, I could care less about the opposite being the king of an allied country.
This was not something that a father should be doing with his child, not to mention that there was hardly a trace of regret in him.
At this, King Cecello’s expression altered.
The original gentle smile tightened, and His eyes let out a piercing light.
“I have no intention of letting Ryuuju become a useless king.”
His manner of speech suddenly turned very serious.
“I wish that Ryuuju will sooner turn into a good king that can succeed me and not one that can only rely on the protection of others. I want him to be capable of thinking for himself, choosing and acting, to become a real king that has the power to protect others, and for this, he must be allowed to encounter all kinds of experiences. Merely staying sheltered in the nursery is not going to develop any strong heart in him.”
“But, His Higness Prince Ryuuju is merely eleven! What if something unexpected is to …”
“Nothing unexpected will happen.”
King Cecello displayed a proud and confident look and asserted.
He did not holler, nor had he waved his sword around.
Just one short sentence was sufficient to send trembles up my spine and render me speechless.
“A kingdom must not lose its heir or I too will be troubled. Besides I love my children very much, but most importantly, if Ryuuju were to run into some problems, the Queen would definitely become saddened, and I will absolutely not do anything that may cause Her to cry. So, <Nothing> unexpected will happen.”
An incomparable confidence.
Unshakable willpower.
Nothing like the behaviour of a typical father of this world.
His Laws; only the things that He believed could be the truth.
My hands were covered in cold sweat.
Even though His words were illogical, I had no means of rebutting.
What was there to rebut against someone with completely different sense of morals and values? King Cecello might be of the same species as Glinda.
“That’s right, Ms Glinda, someone as intelligent as you should also understand, that these words should not get out of this place, and especially not enter the ears of Her Majesty. If you were to tell Her…”
Cold eyes stared into me, and I was completely frozen over by it.
The King Cecello now might be known as a god-like Hero, the Blue Sky-Drake King, but when he was still the previous king’s younger brother from different mothers and living in exile in an isolated dilapidated castle far from the capital, he had another name…
That’s right, I had read of it in an edition of the “Private stories of World’s Royalty”.
While he was still a prince, due to his icy-cold beauty, and cruel, unpredictable nature, everyone had called him the “Sky Blue Demon” in fear…
“!”
Wwwwwwwhat should I do? How could I have tried to challenge this kind of man?
I was suddenly paralysed in fear.
“Ho. What is it, Ms Glinda?”
King Cecello walked over with an elegant smile.
T-this smile was sooo scaaarrry!
“Taking this opportunity, Ms Glinda, would you mind teaching me as well?”
Uwwwaaaahhhh~~~~~~
Just as the King’s face closed in and my heart began screaming in fear…
“Is Teacher Glinda here?”
A clear voice came in, and Princess Seira appeared.
The Princess slowly approached towards me, and looking towards her Father, said
“Lord Father, I would like to discuss with Teacher Glinda a mathematical thesis of Professor Muden from the Winstoria Empire, may I borrow Teacher for a while?”
Her words were calm, but were also longer than usual.
King Cecello gave a surprised smile.
“Ho? It looks as if Seira likes Ms Glinda a lot.”
“That’s right. Teacher Glinda has taught me many helpful things.”
“Is that so. Then, Ms Glinda, please go accompany Seira.”
“W-w-w-w-with pleasure!”
Princess Seira slowly walked back towards the entrance, while I hastily followed.
“Fuuee… saved!”
Past the corridors and coming into the courtyard, I could finally let out a breath.
“Oh, that, regarding that professor something’s thesis, I am really sorry, but I had no…”
“… I know.”
Princess Seira said in a flat voice.
“Huh?”
I was struck by surprise.
“Did you pull me out on purpose?”
Did she just rescue me from the scene earlier?
Her Highness was silent.
When she entered the room, I was unable to hear any sound of the door opening, so maybe she had been eavesdropping on King Cecello and I from behind the door all along.
She had warned me too, not to get too close to Prince Ryuuju on the day of the race.
When my clothes fell apart, the one who helped me pick up the pads and distract the topic was also her.
“That, you said earlier that if I am “not Glinda”, I should avoid getting to close to Prince Ryuuju, what was that supposed to mean?”
“… Because you seemed to have no means of responding to emergencies then, but I seemed to have underestimated you, sorry.”
Her voice was as emotionless as usual.
“Uh, no, there’s no reason for your Highness to apologise. I should be the one thanking you instead. But for your aid in picking up my pads, everyone may have already discovered that I am male. But, about His Majesty’s plans, did you also…”
I was about to say “did you also know about them?”, when cold little hand stretched out and covered my mouth like white snow falling onto my lips, giving a soft sensation.
The 9 year old girl’s small fingers were soft and her face which was looking at me was small and delicate with smooth glistening pallor. Beneath her long lashes, a pair of translucent amethyst eyes appraised me quietly.
Cherry-coloured lips gently parted.
“…If you value your life, say no further. Lord Father may love His wife and care for his children, but <King Cecello> is cold and ruthless man.”
These words that sounded nothing like a child’s frightened me. Ohoh, she had really been coming to my rescue earlier.
Even during the race earlier, or when I was facing off Sir Jerome…
My heartbeat sped up, and said hopefully.
“I understand, I won’t say anything… Would… Would you also help me keep my secret?”
Princess Seira should probably say ‘Yes’ right?
Despite her cold emotionless appearance, she was actually pretty friendly.
But…
“I might consider it…”
She said nonchalantly.
Uh… Wha?
The pair of purple crystal eyes silently looked at me who was frozen by surprise.
“You <cannot see it>, you are <not Glinda Dolye, so you are <useless>.”
The words that came forth from those delicate lips sent chills down my back.
“But…”
A trace of conflict floated in her cold eyes.
“Even though you <could not see> it, you still rescued Elder Brother Ryuuju, and even interrogated Lord Father. Nobody has ever done those things before, so I would give you a chance.”
Give me a chance?
I held back my breath, my neck and temple covered in cold sweat as I listened to this 9 year old girl pronounced her judgement like the goddess of fate.
“If you can guess what I desire, I will not tell anyone else that Glinda is an imposter.”
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LNWNCentral_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata
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Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata - Volume 01/Dress-na-Boku-ga-Yangotonaki-Katagata-Volume-01-[GirlyBoysAlliance][Proxus]/Chapter_07.txt
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Chapter 07
Chapter 07
“What does a 9 year old girl desire?”
The morning after Princess Seira gave me a “homework assignment”, I paced in frustration along the corridors of the palace.
-- If you can guess what I desire, I will not tell anyone else that Glinda is an imposter.
Thus the Princess had demanded, but nothing came to my mind.
For a normal girl, jewel accessories and clothes would probably be sufficient, but the Princess most likely did not lack in either of those things.
Besides, she looked nothing like a normal 9 year old girl.
I thought back to the amethyst eyes that seemed to perceive through me and her cold expression. Shouldn’t 9 year old girls be more innocent?
If I could not guess what she ‘desired’, she might even coldly say.
“Then, I could only announce to everyone that you are actually a cross-dressing pervert.”
Uwwwaaaah! If she did that, I would be captured as an enemy of the state and be dragged off to be executed.
While I was worried about such, His Highness Prince Ryuuju walked towards me.
“G-Glinda!”
“Has your foot recuperated?”
I forced a smile in a hurry, and His Highness blushed profusely when he looked at me.
“Y-y-yeeessssss!”
“You must have obediently listened to the advice of the doctors to rest well?”
“I-I did not rest because you told me to! Since I am the Prince, I have the duty to recover quickly so as not to make everyone worry!”
“That’s right. You have grown mature.”
“!”
Prince Ryuuju widened his eyes.
Then he shyly shifted his line of sight, saying.
“T-that… Do you know what day next Monday is?”
“Next Monday? Hoho, that has to be Lana’s Day, right?”
On my reply, the Prince’s face turned a deeper shade of red.
“Right, that’s the day dedicated to the goddess of love Lana. I-I heard that in the Winstoria Empire, couples would compose and play music dedicated to each other, but in the Eren Kingdom, males would propose to females they like by giving them precious stones.”
“Oh? Is that so? The custom of exchanging gifts seems to be different in each country. How interesting.”
“Tha…. That’s right.”
His Highness’ eyesight kept darting around.
“Oh, right. Speaking of gifts...”
“What!”
“It’s nothing, really. I just wanted to ask, do you happen to know what Her Highness Princess Seira desire?”
Prince Ryuuju had an obviously displeased expression on his face, tightening his lips and stiffening his cheeks.
“Why would you want to know what Seira wants?”
He asked unhappily.
“Huh?... That’s because, I have been indebted to her often these few days, so I wanted to give her something as thanks.”
“When has Seria taken care of you?”
He puffed up his checks and became more suspicious.
“That… For example, during the race…”
His Highness’ face turned red again. Why did this boy blush so easily?
Ah well, I could understand his issues; the proud Prince being piggy-backed by a ‘woman’.
“I-i-i-i-i-is that so? The race, huh… I did cause you much embarrassment that day …”
“Please don’t mind that, and forget about it already!”
I said in a hurry. If we kept up this topic, even I would feel embarrassed.
“Those things aside, about what Princess Seira desires…”
“Uh… She seemed to enjoy reading ancient books about legends of heroes.”
“Legends of Heroes?”
How quaint. She did not look like the type who would love such romantic fictions.
I continued to ask:
“From the point of an elder brother, what would Your Highness think about Princess Seira as a person?”
“You sure are mindful of Seira. I have no idea when the two of you got so close.”
He glared at me again.
“No! That’s the complete opposite in fact! Because when compared with Princesses Sarasa and Orie, Princess Seira almost never talks with me at all, so I am just looking for an opportunity to…”
I struggled to find an excuse.
“Is that so. Wow, you sure take your job seriously. From my point of view, Seira is a commendable little sister. She is both intelligent and calm, but more importantly possesses the character members of royalty should have. I really wish that Sarasa and Orie would take a page off Seira.”
Any ordinary folk that had a younger sister as outstanding as Seira would probably have felt inferior and ashamed, but not His Highness Prince Ryuuju, who cheerfully discussed his little sister’s good points. That was his strength, with his upright, simple and strong-willed character.
I smiled appreciatively.
“What? What’s so funny? D-don’t misunderstand! I just came here to make some small-talk, not because I have any interest in you! My nose only bled too because you ran too fast, making my blood pressure raise… and absolutely not because of your b-b-b-b-b-b-breaaasss…”
I also turned red in embarrassment.
“Sorry, sorry, please don’t bring that up…”
“S-sorry! I just carelessly…”
Prince Ryuuju covered his nostrils and backed away.
“Anyway! I have absolutely no interest in you. I have no interest in Lana’s day either!”
He ran off after saying such.
Why mention Lana’s day then?
I confusedly watched his retreating footsteps.
The twins Princesses Sarasa and Ories were also excitedly discussing Lana’s day.
“I heard that couples who swear to spend their lives together on Lana’s day would be happily married forever!”
“How many couples would be born in the capital again this year?”
The two of them were discussing topics too mature for their ages.
“Justin of the Finance department seemed to be secretly in love with lady officer Selina, and Selina doesn’t seem to mind it much either.”
“Claude of the Domestic Affairs is deeply in love with widow Cathia, but he probably has got many rivals, right?”
“Aren’t Count Badis, Sir Erin, and Secretary Julian all in love with Cathia?”
“The love affair between Milther the stable-hand and Rita the maid is also frustrating~~”
“I know right! Milther is so shy that he definitely can’t pluck up the courage to confess to Rita. Bystanders at the side are fuming with impatience already!”
“Lana’s Day’s obviously a good day to confess.”
The girls seemed to enjoy gossiping about other people’s romantic escapades… though a man like me just found that to be busybody.
“That… About what Princess Seira would like…”
I jumped in at the gap in the conversation, carefully asking.
“I want an accessory with a ruby in it! Its edge must also be decorated with pink stones like the patterns of flowers!”
Princess Sarasa happily said like a spoiled girl to her boyfriend.
“I want an emerald hair accessary! The stone has to be as big as pigeon egg too!”
Princess Orie’s eyes also shined with desire.
“I was not asking about the two of you, but about Princess Seria…”
“Huh~~~~Big Sis Seira has everything already. She’s so intelligent, has already read every single ancient book in the library, and she also looks as beautiful as Lord Father.”
“That’s right~ I really want to have silver hair like Big Sister Seira’s! Blond is everywhere in Eren.”
“I will dye my hair silver when I grow up!”
“Me too! And purple amethyst eyes are also lovely.”
“Yeah, if only hair and eye colours can be freely chosen.”
“Is it not said that the tribe living in the Meredith forest holds a mysterious power? Maybe they can even change the colour of their eyes.”
“Why not just ask Glinda here to invent a drug that can change the colour of eyes, the bridge of the nose and the shape of the chin! After all, Glinda is a genius!”
“That’s good idea! Please, Glinda! This kind of drug would fetch millions!”
As usual, the topic of conversation flew off in a distance.
For Anneth who had become used to visiting me at my room after work, interest in Lana’s day took on another direction.
“Wow! What should I do? Satchel and Luke may move on to the third, or even the fourth base upon confessing to each other on Lana’s day! Lyon and Alec, those two old couple, must definitely be having a sweet romantic evening, whispering sweet nothings such as ‘My emerald eyes are the precious stones for your Lana’s day gifts’, so exciting~ Right, right, Glinda, would Lord Helmut come back to Eren on Lana’s Day? What precious stone would Lord Helmut give to His Majesty? Or would he say, ‘No precious stone can compare to the bright glitter you give off’, kyaaaa! So romatic!~”
“Uhh, I heard that in Eren, males give precious stones ‘to females’ as gifts to propose on Lana’s Day.”
“Love is beyond gender! Just the mere act of declaring love to someone you like is the noblest form of action!”
Her speech of such unyielding determination managed to convince me as well, how scary.
“Besides, even if it’s not to propose, you can also give gifts to thank other women that had been nice to you before. Since Eren Kingdom is a source of precious stones, you can easily find plenty of raw unprocessed minerals in the hills or along river beds. You can just bring those to the craftsman, and might even be able to haggle for a good price to process the stones.”
“Oh, that’s great.”
“Girls exchanging gifts among each other are common enough, so men should be able to gift other men too! No, it should be made a law!”
It felt cute for girls to exchange gifts with each other, but somewhat disgusting for men to do the same, not to mention the gifts in question were precious stones.
“Ahaha… Anneth, when you were 9 years old, what did you wished for?”
I tried asking, and she beamed back with me as she replied.
“Western dolls! The Ulysses 1st generation boyfriend dolls and 2nd generation boyfriend Eugene from Flora girl dolls series – elegant prince and wild wilful knight pairing is really too lovely!”
She was already like this since 9 years old?!?
I tried to imagine Anneth with her angelic and adorable appearance when she was young, and dared not pursue the subject.
Until now, I still had no clue about what Princess Seira ‘most desired’.
No, that must definitely be because I had been asking the wrong people.
The afternoon on the next day, I came to Her Majesty’s room.
To learn about the child, It was best to ask the mother.
“Ara, welcome, Teacher Glinda.”
The Queen welcomed me with a cheerful smile in her maid uniform.
“The blueberry pie is almost ready.”
Her Majesty personally cut the blueberry pie, and served me with hot tea.
Was it really fine to let the Queen of a country do such things? I worried over that every single time, but Her Majesty seemed to be the happiest and most satisfied while doing such housework.
Ohhhh, if only someone like Her would be my girlfriend.
Her stature was both slim and petite, looking no older than myself, but was in fact the mother of six children. How against the rules!
I found myself fantasizing about unrelated things again, and stopped immediately.
No, now was no time to be idling, but to find out more about Princess Seira!
I pretended to talk about the lessons, and steered the topic gently towards Princess Seira, saying something like “even though Her Highness is just 9, she’s so capable!”
But Her Majesty’s expression suddenly fell.
“That’s right. That child learned how to walk and talk earlier than anyone else… and even stopped needing me to nurse her after a few years. I truly wish that she would rely on me and let me spoil her more.”
The Queen seemed quite worried over the overly-serious, overly-capable Princess Seira.
“That child’s interests are very broad, having extremely high standards in clothing, food, and even home appliances. She is so similar to His Majesty in this regard, even when it comes to playing the violin…”
Violin?
I remembered the notes I listened to in the palace courtyard; a crystal clear sound that felt nothing like it came from the hands of a child.
“His Majesty used to play the violin like this in the past too, but He didn’t feel very happy back then either. The feeling when He played back then felt so lonely.”
Her Majesty lowered Her eyes.
“When Seira played the violin she seems so lonely too. Even when she is wearing clothes that she liked, owning everything around her, I still feel that, that child does not seem to have anything she really wanted.”
My heart tightened when I listened to this.
To have such a gentle Mother, was it not enough to be happy about?
“I worry much about Seira… wondering if she had seen through things <too much, too clearly>.”
--You <can’t see it>.
I could almost hear that cold voice, and jumped a little in fright.
In the eyes of Princess Seira, what kind of landscape existed? What could she perceive?
Princess Suzuna who had been sleeping in a nearby crib suddenly woke up, crying for her Mother.
Her Majesty quickly cradled her, looking intently at the baby.
“What is wrong? Mama’s here.”
Princess Suzuna heard her Queen Mother’s kiddie-talk voice, and smiled happily.
A warm smile also rose on Her Majesty’s face.
It was a scene that felt sweeter than honey poured upon a pound cake.
But soon, a shadow fell on the Queen’s face again.
“I really wish that children would remain this small, and keep letting me hold them in my hands like this. This is really a mother’s selfish desire.”
She murmured.
I did not wish to see Her Majesty looking like this, so I carelessly said.
“Erm, by my abilities alone, I may not be sufficient to teach Her Highness Princess Seira, but I still want to be a teacher that can comprehend her, and open the door to her heart. I would definitely try my best!”
Ohoh, to actually lay down a promise like that when I was just imitating the real Glinda, and was even called <useless> by Princess Seira!
But Her Majesty was so touched that tears filled Her eyes.
“To care this much for Seira, Teacher Glinda is a really caring person.”
“Haha… Hahahahaha… Just leave this matter regarding Her Highness to me.”
Noooooooo, I was digging my grave even deeper.
But, I definitely could not bring myself to say that “if I could not figure out what your Princess desires, I might become an international criminal.”
As I felt cold sweat beginning to form, a calm voice sounded behind me.
“How reliable.”
King Cecello appeared with an elegant smile.
“Your Majesty.”
Seeing Her Majesty’s joyful expression, I silently clicked my tongue in discontent.
The King returned the Queen a sweet smile, then looked towards me.
Remembering the manner he forced himself on me just yesterday, my body froze involuntarily. Uwuwuwuwu… Don’t be scared. Don’t be scared… uu…
His Majesty seemed to have seen through my fear, and said as if nothing happened.
“Ms Glinda, I heard you have been trying to find out more about Seira.”
Wha? He already knew?
King Cecello meaningfully half-closed his eyes.
“Since you want to know what Seira desires, let me give you a hint. Seira is very similar to me, and that is why she hates me so much.”
“Your Majesty is truly! I’ve said so many times! There’s no such thing!”
Her Majesty puffed her cheeks in protest.
“Is that so? Being hated so by my own daughter makes me feel so lonely. Won’t you comfort me? Yuki-chan?”
“Your Majesty is so spoiled all the time. But does Your Majesty really know what Seira desires? If You really know that just say it, please stop playing around!”
“There would be no fun if I were to just say it.”
“Really!”
The Queen’s puffy cheeks became even puffier.
King Cecello seemed to enjoy looking at Her Majesty’s expression, even pinching her checks, in what felt like an atmosphere of pink bubbles and feathers right out of some romantic comedy.
Uwuwuwu… I was still recovering from my heartache from my last breakup…
“I, I would humbly take my leave!”
I left the Queen’s room with my face completely flushed.
“He totally did that on purpose, that sadistic pretty-boy King!”
This kind of man should just be paired with Helmut in Anneth’s Helmu-Llo! I griped unhappily as I walked along the corridor.
King Cecello leisurely gave me a hint, but I could not understand half of it. So what if Princess Seira was very similar to Him?
Uwu~~~ That arrogant and elegant smile was so maddening~~~~
The thing that maddened me even more was the fact that His Majesty knew what Princess Seira desired.
“If that’s the case, I would definitely find out ‘what Princess Seira wants the most’, then go boast to both Princess Seira and King Cecello that ‘Humph! That’s easy!’”
Even though my motives were somewhat as such, I plucked myself up like that.
Alright, then I would no longer be holding back!
“Oh, today we would have a composition writing assignment. The topic is ‘My dream’.”
The next day, I announced this with a full smile on my face.
Even though this method was a little low, but it was certainly the most practical way.
Princess Sasara and Orie began to groan ‘what a pain’ again, but I did not let that bother me.
Princess Seira lifted her eyes to look at my icily. Then immediately lowered them and began to write.
Good, that way I would be able to know what the Princess “desired the most”.
Thirty minutes later, I called the children out to read out their writings.
First was His Highness Prince Ryuuju.
“My dream is to become a great King!”
He then elaborated in a disturbingly passionate voice about what the ideal King should be.
Next was Princess Sarasa.
“My dream is to date all the handsome men in the world, not to get married too early, maybe at around twenty two years old. Before that, I should at least have dated with at least fifty men, and from there marry the richest, handsomest, top ten intelligent, and most obedient one to my wishes.”
She read out her piece which almost made the blood-vessels on Prince Ryuuju’s head went pop.
Princess Orie was next.
“My dream was to get married together with Sarasa. Save trouble thinking that way.”
She completed (?) her speech very simply.
Prince Shin was quiet from the beginning to the end.
“…”
I eyed his assignment paper, and saw a hippopotamus drawn on it.
“… Your dream is to become a hippo?”
Prince Shin gave a troubled nod.
Muah, forget it, when I was 5, even my dream was to be scarecrow’s face.
For the record, Scarecrow’s Face was the legendary hero of the common-folk… No, now was not the time to be chatting about mundane stuff.
It was almost time for the game to begin.
“Then, the last one is Princess Seira. Please begin.”
“… Yes.”
I quietly sat down to listen as the expressionless Princess Seira monotonously read her composition writing.
“… My dream is to see <the End of the World>.”
These completely unexpected words gave me a shock.
E-e-end of the World? What was the meaning of that? … Did she want to see the world destroyed?
“I want to meet Ophelit there.”
Ophelit… Ohoh, right, she did read books written in ancient languages and Ophelit’s mathematics theorems.
The First Genius, Omnipotent Human, Man who Composed the World - - the man who was given such titles known as Ophelit was a man of the legends from two thousand years ago. Gender, age or even anything involved about him were all mysteries. Mathematician, prophet, wizard, sage, philosopher and even musician, he conquered the world by playing <the all-conquering noblest melody> on his silver flute.
But Ophelit disappeared from the world soon after, leaving just the words “I am going to the World’s End”.
It was said the Ophelit still lived today at “The Ends of the World”.
For Princess Seira to say that she wanted to see “The Ends of the World”, did she mean that she wanted to go where Ophelit had gone to? So it was not to destroy the world.
Oh! But, the meaning of wanting to find Ophelit, was it to learn from Him?
Or was it to become someone like Ophelit?
“Ophelit was someone who had conquered the world. Is that possible in this age?”
Conquer the world?
This speech caused me to jump out of my skin again.
Hahahahaha… Conquer the world… That’s impossible, how could a 9 year old little girl had such desires…
“If I conquered the world, maybe I could become Ophelit.”
Wha! She really wanted to conquer the world?
Cold sweat ran profusely, heartbeats jumped irregularly.
I had just been thinking that it was impossible when she announced that that was her intention. How scary.
Right. Glinda was also known as the 2nd Ophelit. Princess Seira “being so aware of Glinda”, was that also because of this?
A-and, King Cecello, despite his obvious ‘Citizenship in the Kingdom of Wife-lovers’ before the Queen, was in fact a dangerous usurper who overthrew the previous king who was His brother of a different mother. Since King Cecello said that Princess Seira was ‘very similar to Him’, that could mean that she was also capable of such actions, ambitions and cold calculations…
Princess Seira completed her reading.
“Elder Sister Seira really lives in a different dimension from us, or should we call it strange?”
“If it’s just me, I’d rather go visit the handsome king of fairyland, wearing lovely clothes decorated with a pile of precious stones, eating the best food and having a party every night!”
“You two are too focused on pleasure! Learn more from Seira!”
The emotionless Princess Seira was wordless to the comments of her elder brother and younger sisters.
I ended the lesson with my face twitching in shock.
For <the thing she desired> to actually be to conquer the world, so scary~~~~~
“Oh~~~ The answer to Princess Seira’s question, is it really <the World>?”
In the afternoon, I kept pacing about in my room while alone.
-- Your desire is to be the King of the World!
It was so ludicrous that I was rendered speechless.
For a 9 year old child to have such a frightening ambition, I could no longer have any confidence in teaching her any more.
If the one who said such words was Prince Ryuuju or even the twin princesses, I might still laugh it away with “what a childish desire”, but coming from Princess Seira, it felt so exceptionally serious and realistic that I could not laugh.
Oh! Ophelit conquered the world with <the all-conquering noblest melody>, right? That must be why Princess Seira was in the courtyard practicing violin in order to rehearse this <noble music>?
Or perhaps she was researching on the magic of <sound> like Ophelit… Waaaah! She might really desire to conquer the world!~~~
I could vividly imagine the picture of Princess Seria playing her violin in a black cape, while the masses knelt in submission before her. Just as goose bumps began to rise from my skin from the fear, Helmut showed up.
“Sher-chan, congratulations on winning the top prize in Eren’s marathon race! I knew you could do it. Oh, have you received my congratulatory card yet?”
Not knowing my mood, he cheerfully said.
“Highest salutations to the little red peas… Is that supposed to be congratulations? Isn’t that just humiliation?”
I tiredly said, but Helmut just continued with a look of triumph.
“How could that be? Aren’t little red peas great? Glinda, the little red peas! Pffft… heheh… I can’t imagine how she would look like when she hears about… So amusing… hehe. I even collected all the newspaper clippings.”
Helmut unfolded his collection of newspaper clippings that he brought over just to show me.
“Genius Glinda are little red peas that need to put on 5 pairs of breast pads!”, “Ms Glinda exposed at the finishing line!”, “Ms Glinda has fake boobs!”, “Genius Ms Glinda currently researching on anti-slip breast pads!” etc. Such headlines filled the collection.
How could he just laugh this happily while reading such things!
Even if he did not say it, Helmut must have been really frustrated by Glinda’s disappearance deep within.
“Oh? Your eyes look so empty. Seeing your crossed legs sitting on the bed, holding your head, and even your skin has become a little dry. Can it be that something else has occurred? This won’t do, Sher-chan~”
“Stop sighing like a parent who got called to the school! And the dry skin’s because of the make-up!”
I shouted on the bed, but still discussed with him the issue with Princess Seira.
“Actually, Princess Seira has discovered that Glinda is an imposter by a male.”
“What! To be uncovered by the most problematic person… muah, but it seems like there isn’t any ruckus raised.”
“That’s because Princess Seira currently still allows this situation to continue, but I have no idea what will happen in the future.”
Learning of Princess Seira’s demands, Helmut tilted his head in deep thought.
“What Princess Seira ‘desires’?”
“I am wondering, can it possibly be, c-conquering the world…”
I said seriously, but Helmut replied with a smile on his face.
“What a glorious ambition.”
“Hey! Are you taking me for a fool? Princess Seira actually admires Ophelit greatly, writing even in her composition writing that her dream is to be like Ophelit.”
“Ophelit is a person of the legends, there’s no proof such a person even existed.”
“I-I know that, but the Princess even practiced her violin for the sake of learning Ophelit’s sound magic… Why are you smiling wryly like this?!? And stop feeling my forehead!”
Even I myself was beginning to wonder whether I had gone crazy, uwuwu…
Helmut showed his smile of fake kindness, and began to comfort me who had begun to sulk.
“Oh well, it’s not like I cannot understand why you come to such ridiculous conclusions, since that Princess is in fact pretty extraordinary.”
“Extraordinary?”
“She is a genius like your sister.”
As if it was completely natural, Helmut continued without minding.
My heart skipped a beat.
… Similar to Glinda?
A short sentence, but it hurled out feelings deep within me.
Oh, so that was the reason.
Why had I not noticed it sooner? Princess Seira’s eyes were as expressionless as Glinda’s.
Even if their manners of speaking were different, nobody could figure out what either of them was thinking.
Helmut continued seriously.
“As a diplomat to Eren Kingdom forming close relationship with Eren’s royal family, I have always thought that it was a very fortunate thing for both of our countries that the heir-to-the-throne was Prince Ryuuju and not Princess Seira.”
I felt unhappy upon hearing such.
“You are saying the His Highness Prince Ryuuju is not as intelligent, so easier to manipulate if he becomes the king? Even though he is still a child, he is very stubborn, inflexible and sometimes takes things over-seriously, but he also has many strengths, is very hardworking and is an extremely serious student who takes notes in class.”
As someone who also had a girl-genius as his sister, I could not help but spoke up for Prince Ryuuju.
“Few princes would take political affairs and governing in the future as seriously as him!”
Helmut gently smiled with slightly narrowed eyes, saying.
“Please don’t misunderstand. I recognize too the strengths of Prince Ryuuju. His Highness is very charismatic with his upright nature and would be able to win the hearts of many with his outright honesty. This is a rare quality amongst royalty. Besides, he has many excellent people around him to be his support, so he would definitely become a good king when he grows up.”
My heart grew warm as I listened to that.
As Helmut described, even though Prince Ryuuju was still somewhat awkward and immature, everyone in the capital loved him. That was because he was so hardworking and noticeable, and so adorable that people just wanted to help him out.
Prince Ryuuju might not have his father’s divine-like status, but he would definitely become a king who would be more loved by the people than his king father.
It was certainly a good thing too for the people of this country.
“Then… What if Princess Seira were to become the king?”
“I believe that a country that is ruled by a genius would not possibly be happy because the genius himself is not a happy existence. The people would never be able to understand their king, nor would the king be able to understand his people. If I were to live with someone I could never understand, I too may feel uncomfortable.”
My chest suddenly felt really heavy.
Glinda’s and Princess Seira’s eyes appeared in mind.
Blue eyes that were replicas of my own, as well as purple amethyst eyes.
Both persons’ eyes were frostily calm, and equally unfathomable.
The two girls who were far beyond my comprehension.
Obviously having everything, but wanted nothing at all…
Such a lonely feeling.
“Luckily I am no genius.”
Helmut said with mixed feelings.
“Fortunately I was just intelligent enough to graduate from the Imperial College with excellent grades, just a little suave, my family background somewhat passable, and the second outstanding one amongst my classmates. Being such an ordinary person feels great.”
“Get out of here and go find Glinda for me now!”
I screamed while pointing to the door.
“Really, and for me to take time out of my busy schedule to come see you, you are so fierce towards me every single time. Looks like I have to bring you some books on etiquette the next time I come here.”
Helmut did not forget his parting shot even as he left.
But I remained stumbled after he left.
Just what did Princess Seira desire?
What did that genius princess who worshipped Ophelit, and was very aware of Glinda who was known as the <2nd Ophelit> want?
Even after discovering the fact that Glinda and Princess Seira were both similar, I could not understand it.
To me, the person who was the hardest to understand in the whole wide world was Glinda.
I wanted to cool down my feverish head, and so decided to take a stroll around the courtyard.
I could feel the evening breeze on my face as I slowly walked.
Just as Glinda was a genius from the moment she was born, Princess Seira had been the eldest princess of this kingdom since her birth, possessing not just wealth and power, but also beauty, ability and love.
And yet, why was it that both Princess Seira and Glinda seemed so completely unconcerned about all of that?
I was feeling a heavy heart, when I heard those lonely notes in the air again.
Was the princess playing her violin again?
I closed in towards the direction of the music.
A sad and calm melody that was obviously being played by Princess Seira.
She placed the brown wooden violin against her cheek, and silently pulled the bow across the strings with her eyes closed. Those silver strands of hair flowed gently in the wind.
Seeing her as such, I could almost see, for an instant, Glinda overlapping with her appearance, and began to have trouble breathing.
Their appearances were nothing alike, but both of them had the same untouchable air, like they were warning others not to disrupt, and also the same ice cold chiselled features… causing my emotions to be completely fried.
Tear-inducing sad music flowed above the swaying tops of the forest dyed red in sunset.
Disgusting, why did I hurt so much inside? My throat felt bitter, tears threatening to pour out… Had she somehow mix some psychological disrupting magic into her music?
-- I worry much about Seira… wondering if she had seen through things <too much, too clearly>.
The Queen said so because She was worried about Her daughter being nothing like an ordinary girl.
Those pair of amethyst eyes that seemed as pure and transparent as purple crystals, just what did they see?
Conquer the world?
Become someone like Ophelit?
But Ophelit had <abandoned the world he conquered>.
Just like Glinda, he disappeared without a trace, leaving just a single sentence.
Why did Glinda disappear?
Why abandon everything?
She had never told me anything before.
Even though the one who was pulling at the violin was Princess Seira, I could only overlap Glinda’s frame on her body, and felt the immense pressure of sadness and frustration on my aching heart.
It was as if a great wall had been constructed around them, impenetrable, unapproachable.
The music suddenly stopped, and Princess Seira slowly turned to look at the me behind those transparent walls with an icy expression.
I…
-- Was your wish to abandon everything?
These words seemed to come out automatically, but a portion within me hurt so much that I could not utter a sound.
Princess Seira slightly widened her eyes, maybe because she noticed my tears. I was so embarrassed that my face burnt, and I turned and fled.
Really, what was I doing!
I felt as if I was an abandoned puppy, and hid crying for a long while within my room.
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LNWNCentral_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata
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Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata - Volume 01/Dress-na-Boku-ga-Yangotonaki-Katagata-Volume-01-[GirlyBoysAlliance][Proxus]/Chapter_08.txt
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Chapter 08
Chapter 08
Even when mom and dad were still alive at the Orlando Kingdom, Glinda had stopped playing with the other kids.
“—Because they steal web content from me.”
Glinda just coldly replied, continuing to design her website that I could hardly understand anything of.
“Because they stole.”
Hearing this, I felt as if I had been abandoned by Glinda just like the other kids, and felt so pathetic.
“Am I also a thief?”
When I asked while trembling, Glinda coldly looked at me, and said.
“Yes, a thief. But you are my subscriber, so if you would visit my website, I would give you exclusive content I promised.”
Even when mom and dad were still alive at the Orlando Kingdom, Glinda had stopped playing with the other kids.
“—Because they are <different> from me.”
Glinda just coldly replied, continuing to read a thick old tome that I could hardly make heads or tails out of.
“Because different.”
Hearing this, I felt as if I had been abandoned by Glinda just like the other kids, and felt so pathetic.
“Am I also <different>?”
When I asked while trembling, Glinda coldly looked at me, and said.
“Yes, different. But you are my little brother, so if you would obediently listen to me, I would play with you.”
I was as delighted as a little puppy wagging his tail with all my might, nodding: “En!”
“Sigh….. Ahhhhhh! Now is no time to reminiscence about sad memories of childhood!”
I sat on my bed in my western dress, gripping my head and sighing.
Since the day I bumped into Princess Seira and shed tears, three days had gone by.
Due to shame and embarrassment, I could never look her completely in the face during every lesson.
Helmut who returned home the day before calmly said.
“She hasn’t threatened you; saying that she would reveal your identity immediately if you cannot find the answer, neither has she set a time limit for discovering the solution, right? If that’s the case, you can just take your time to patiently figure a way out.”
Princess Seira never did set a deadline, and since she had helped me keep my secret to this day, she might just continue to keep mum about it.
But, I had already promised the Queen :”Just leave Princess Seira’s issues to me.”; And more importantly, Princess Seira seemed to be waiting for her answer, silently applying pressure on me with her icy quiet stare at all times, and scaring me almost into spilling my guts.
“Uwuwu… If the real Glinda were to come to Eren, maybe she would have been very compatible with Princess Seira…”
No, maybe they would have begun their plot to conquer the world together already, so scary.
My mind was filled with illusions of horror, and I was so upset that I could not sit still, running out of my room.
Oh, but if I were to go out to the courtyards, I might bump into the princess again; as for Anneth, she had just said “I need to deliver something to the publishers.”, and went back home, yet to return.
So lonely.
Cold breeze swirled within my skirt.
As I slowly walked with head overcast…
“Hey! Glinda! How dare you just ignore me! Outrageous!”
A furious-looking Sir Jerome appeared in a huff.
“Huh? When have I ever ignored you?”
For someone with such flamboyant dress-sense, pompous and exaggerated attitude, how could I possibly ignore him?
But Jerome just became angrier.
“Huh? Stop playing the fool! Last night when I called at you at the new diner at the Silver Lamb Street, you just coldly stared at me! Even if there was a woman at my sides, b-but don’t you misunderstand! That was just a normal girlfriend… no, she’s my cousin… no, my elder sister!”
“I did not leave the palace at all yesterday, did you mistook someone else for me…”
“I did not mistake anyone else! The face that looked at me is truly yours!”
Jerome pointed at my face and shouted, then his own face began to redden.
“That, maybe because of the moonlight, you looked more enchanting than normal… I have never thought you lovely before, but for some reasons, the same face in the city felt completely different, so, so I was stunned for a moment, thinking that you looked beautiful…”
I was shocked breathless.
A girl with the same face as mine, but more beautiful, there could only be one in this entire world!
Could it be that Jerome had bumped into…
At this point, Jerome’s uncle, the Chief Minister who saw me as a pain in his sides, strode over in large steps.
“I heard that you have been trying to unearth information about our country, and about our king. You must be a spy from Winstoria Empire!”
“When did that happen?”
“Stop acting as though you know nothing about it! I received reports that, this morning you were at the marketplace, not spending even a single cent and just with sophistry alone, made off with half a dozen eggs, two oranges, a string of sausages, hard bread, squid and roast scallops!”
“I must take my leave!”
I turned and ran when I heard.
“Wait! You trying to escape?!?”
“Glinda! The woman last night is truly only my sister~~~~”
I ignored the shouts that came from behind me.
This morning I had breakfast with the royal family, and then had lessons as normal.
So, there could be no way I could have appeared in the market.
There could be absolutely no doubts about it! Glinda had come to this country! And was very nearby!
I ran back into my room, threw on some craftsman’s apparel that I had prepared just in case, tugged my hair under my cap, and put on those pair of spectacles that I had not worn since I got kidnapped by Helmut. These were glasses that I bought on purpose to hide my face which looked exactly similar to Glinda.
It was no simple feat to enter the castle, with its thick high walls, water-filled moat and guards.
But it was a simple thing to leave it.
I pretended to be a lowly craftsman’s apprentice, leaving the castle to buy some stuff for my master.
“Thank you for the hard work. It must had been tough at work with Lana’s Day just around the corner, huh?”
The guards chatted with me as they let me passed outside.
Once out of the palace, I picked up my legs and began to run.
Where to look for Glinda?
Let’s just begin at where the crowd would be. Glinda was so glaringly outstanding that even mere passers-by would be deeply impressed by her appearance.
I made my way from my memories of the marathon race, and immediately found a large crowd forming a ring around something.
I tiptoed to try peering in from above their heads.
A clown-themed clockwork toy was being displayed in front of a clock-maker shop. The clown with his hair stuffed on his back hammered on his drums while a dove flew out of the drum with every hit.
This was identical to the toy we had in our home back in the Winstoria Empire, which had been crafted by Glinda when she was just 6.
I pushed through the crowd to ask the shop owner.
“Who made this toy?”
The shop keeper excitedly replied.
“Yesterday, a beautiful young lady came over to our shop and crafted this object in a second. She said that there were some materials she needed, and would exchange them with this.”
“Where has she gone to?”
“She asked me the location of the nearest shoemaker, so I directed her to George’s shop nearby.”
“Thank you!”
I ran over to enquire at the shoe shop…
“Hoho, oh yes, she took a few pieces of top quality leather, and gave me many lovely designs of shoes. She asked me for some pen and paper, and just drew the designs on the spot. How terrific!”
After that, I heard that Glinda went to an antique shop.
Clockmaker, shoe shop, antique shop… Just what did Glinda want?
I followed the map that the shoe maker drew for me, rounding a street corner…
“Ah!”
“Wha! Sorry!”
I clashed heads-on with another who was also walking around the corner, and the objects in her hands fell, flying all over the place.
A large amount of paper flew about, and the two of us quickly tried to pick them all up.
“T-that, it’s alright.”
The girl I bumped into shyly said in a small voice.
“No, it’s my fault entirely for bumping into you in a hurry.”
“I am at fault too, for not being careful when rounding the corner. There’s no need to help me pick them all up.”
“How can I just leave like that?”
What were on these papers? They seemed to be filled with words… A document? Or a diary?
I had actually no intention of sneaking a peak into another’s things, but I took a glance by accident, and lost all colour on my face.
<Helmut grabbed King Cecello tightly in a kissing embrace.>
“!”
“I-it’s really alright… I can pick them all up on my own.”
I looked up to check out the other person.
Blushing from head to toe while picking up the pieces was none other than Anneth who had just went home!
That probably meant that, these papers were Anneth’s novel? That ‘thing’ about Helmut being Top and King Cecello being Bottom?
Waaaaaaaah! If they were to be blown away by the wind and seen by other people, all hell might break loose~~~
I picked up the papers all over at three times, no, five times the speed, while Anneth watched with widened eyes.
“T-that...”
At that moment, a piece of paper was picked up by the wind and flew towards the path of a passing horse-drawn carriage.
“Oh no!”
Anneth let out a cry of dismay.
I kicked against the ground, jumping forward with all my might.
“Ah! Danger!”
I heard Anneth’s screams, grabbed the flying piece of paper, and held the rest of the papers close to my chest before hitting the ground and rolling over a few times.
The horse neighed in surprise, and the huge wheels rolled over the stone pavement just beside me.
“Oh… You, are you alright? Have you gotten hurt?”
Anneth ran over and said in a frantic voice.
“Here.”
I climbed up and passed her the stack of paper with a full-faced smile.
“These things are important, right? Luckily they haven’t gotten squashed by the carriage.”
If someone were to see these by accident, she might be arrested for disrespect of both Eren Kingdom and the Winstoria Empire, and might even cause an international incident.
Anneth said with a blushing face.
“Thank you…”
She looked at me with eyes filled with adoration.
“Huh?”
And then tilted her head.
“Looking more carefully, you looked very similar to someone I know.”
I was so stunned that my heart nearly leapt out of my mouth.
G-glasses?... Oh, luckily they were intact on my face.
“Really alike, no matter how you look at it, there has to be some relationship. Have you just arrived from the Winstoria Empire?”
“Haha, I grew up here in Eren. Ho, I am still in a hurry, please excuse me.”
“Oh!”
Anneth seemed to want to say something more, but I turned and fled immediately.
Uwah! Did I manage to get away? The next time I meet with Anneth I must be careful not to expose myself!
I ran breathlessly to the antique shop.
“That lady? She had been around here until this morning. She said that she wanted to read an ancient tome in this shop, and completed it all within a single night. How terrifying.”
I heard there that Glinda had prescribed a list of herbal medication for the shop owner who suffered from chronic shoulder aches. The shop owner was very satisfied with the results of the medicine after trying it out, and was thus gratified.
Glinda had been here just until this morning?
After that, I ran to the diner that Jerome said that Glinda had ignored him in, as well as the places in the market where Glinda had bought stuff.
Everyone there remembered Glinda, and I heard that she purchased stuff by wagering with the shop owners with scissors-paper-stone, offering to pay ten times the price for loosing but taking the food for free if she won. Naturally, she won them all, and so left with a large pile of food without spending a single cent, going next to the arts museum and the library.
I was getting closer to Glinda!
As the prize in my eyes became closer, my head turned feverish and my chest felt the thumping beats of my heart.
Since I was a child, I had always had to rely on Glinda for every single thing.
Every time when I ran into trouble, I would run crying to Glinda; if there were any joyful or sad happenings, Glinda would be the first one I would report to.
Even though Glinda was so cold, she would always listen to me, giving me support.
In the end, Glinda knew every bit about me, but I knew nothing about Glinda.
Glinda would never tell me anything about what was in her heart.
That’s right, even three years ago – when we turned fourteen, it was also the same.
One day nearing Lana’s day, Glinda sat and played a gentle tune on the piano.
“—Could that possibly be Lana’s Day music? Wow! Who are you going to confess to?”
No matter how I asked and cajoled, Glinda would not reveal who that lovely music was dedicated to, nor would she tell me where she would gift this song to anybody.
It was the same this time.
<I am not Glinda Dolye any more from today onwards.>
She just disappeared after leaving these words.
How could she just do that! This is preposterous! I must definitely scold her bitterly!
I continued to run while panting profusely.
No matter how fiercely I was to scold her, Glinda would simply carelessly reply “I was just going for a trip, what’s the big deal.”
Then, I would just dump all my frustrations and bitterness I suffered from all this time on her.
Just like before…
Ohhh! I would finally meet with Glinda again! Everything would be restored!
It was just noon when I departed from the castle, but the sky had somehow turned bright red now without my realising it.
I chased after the trail of Glinda, arriving at last at the port.
Huh, why did it end at the port…
I looked at the sailboat that was anchored there with disquiet in my heart.
When I asked about Glinda from the labourer there…
“You’re asking about that lady? She had left on the ship bound for Rubinia, saying that she wanted to get to the Gilian Islands.”
I felt darkness falling before my eyes and my entire body went cold.
“How can that be! Glinda!”
It was so close that I thought I could see her! I thought that Glinda came to find me because she was actually worried for me… But in the end she just left without a word!
I shouted towards the sea.
“Glinda! Glinda! Come back!”
“The ship has been gone for over an hour. She won’t be able to hear it.”
The labourer probably thought that I had been ditched by a girl called Glinda, and so said in a consoling voice.
Glinda abandoned me.
My heart was completely empty, but my body somehow felt like it weighed a ton.
By the time I dragged my feet that felt as heavy as lead back to the palace, it was already night-time.
When I was barred by the guards at the entrance to the palace, I just nonchalantly pulled down my cab and took off my spectacles.
The soldiers, upon seeing my long hair on my shoulders, cried in surprise.
“M-Ms Glinda!”
The crossed spears before me immediately parted.
I emptily walked pass them.
That’s right, Chief Minister Gaston seemed to be suspecting me of being a spy… If he heard about this again, he might think I was out spying again… Muah, whatever.
Upon returning to my own room, I had no energy left to even change back into female clothes, but just sat cross-legged on the bed and scratched my head violently.
Would I be stuck in this place forever?
I did not wish to cross-dress any longer.
I did not want to act as Glinda’s replacement any more.
That’s because after all my efforts of waiting for her to come back, she just abandoned me.
Since Glinda came to Eren, she must have heard about the news of Ms Glinda in the palace, and definitely realise that that would be me.
But, she never visited me once, but just left behind a big pile of trails, and left Eren. Even if I were to be exposed as fake in Eren and got sent to prison for being an imposter, she would probably not have bothered either.
Something hot began to rise in my throat, and I had a splitting headache.
I don’t care about Glinda any more! I want nothing more to do with Glinda for the rest of my life!
At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
“… It’s me. May I come in?”
A flat monotonous voice came in, was it Princess Seira?
I got down from the bed and went to open the door to see those emotionless clear eyes observing me.
What did she come here for?
Princess Seira beheld my craftsman’s getup and hair in disarray, but displayed no clue of surprise and just coldly asked.
“… Where did you go to today?”
Had she already known about me leaving the palace?
That un-childlike cool expression reminded me of Glinda, causing temper to rise in me.
“Are you here to check if I have escaped? What business is it of yours wherever I go?”
I was stirred by my own words, and my emotions became more unstable.
Glinda was also like that.
Apparently knowing every single thing about me, but letting me know nothing about herself.
“… it is my business, because I have yet to hear your answer.”
This tone that felt as if questioning the results of an experiment, along with the disrespectful use of a simple ‘You’, drove heat to the very roots of my ears.
Ever since this princess had discovered that I was not Glinda, she no longer called me ‘Teacher’, but simply addressed me as ‘You’, as if calling something useless.
I became so angry that I could no longer breathe.
This girl was just like Glinda!
“The answer is <Nothing>! You have never wanted anything! To <People like you>, there is no need for anything! You guys have everything, but just wanted to abandon it all and be all alone! You are like that! So is Ophelit!”
So was Glinda!
What these people dreamed off, saw, was the <End of the World> where nothing else lived except themselves!
“Go ahead and expose me as an imposter! After all I am sick and tired of cross-dressing already!”
I shouted in anger, and completely lost control. Princess Seira slightly widened her large amethyst eyes and looked at me defencelessly.
“….”
I turned and shut the door, threw the pillow atop the bed, kicked away my shoes, upper coat and pants. Then I took out the dress, corset and pantyhose and threw them onto the bed.
“I’ve had enough! Booohooo! I’ve really had enough!”
Wearing just a pair of shorts, I cried non-stop.
When I finally realised the severity of the situation, it was already deep in the night.
After shouting loudly to the maids that “I am not eating!”, I had fallen asleep atop of the embroidered western gown.
Now, I sat cross-legged on the bed with both hands holding on my head.
“Uwwaaaaaaaah! What have I said! She is only a child of 9!”
Being abandoned my Glinda was such a severe blow to me that I had completely forgotten about that fact.
When I thought about how the tiny hand that had covered my lips was so small, so fragile and soft…
“Fool! I am such a fool! The worst kind of knave!”
I could not help but began to knock my own head.
To say such horrible things to a child of such small cheeks and soft hands, I was truly no better than a rat! Rubbish child bully! I should just go disappear into a ditch! Even if Glinda and Princess Seira were alike, they were still different people.
To be glared so fiercely at by a transvestite and then angry scolded, she must be really frightened.
If it was Glinda, she might repay me three times in kind, but Princess Seira was probably more defenceless… it m-might even leave a psychological scar…
When I thought back to my mad shouts earlier, and her fragile, lost eyes, I could almost feel knives slicing in my chest. Waaaah~~~~ I was just bullying children~~~~
As I imagined the scene of Princess Seira hiding into a corner, covering her face with both eyes and crying sadly, I was further filled with a sense of guilt.
“Go- go apologise already!”
Now! Immediately! Not one more second of delay!
I was still overwrought, and never considered whether it might be better to wait until later or tomorrow to apologise, as my mind was filled with the images of Princess Seira weeping alone.
Right, let’s go to her room, even if it’s just to peek from the door outside.
If Princess Seira had already slept, I would just leave her a message.
I placed a note saying “Really sorry for yesterday”, and placed it into an envelope, then quickly buttoned up in a lacy female night gown and combed my hair. Just in case I bumped into someone, I could at least say that I lost my way in the dark while sleepwalking.
Alright, preparations complete.
Relying on the candlelight in the halls, I shuffled forward in the corridor.
The castle at night was a little scary, but pangs of guilt overcame fear, so I could not care any more about that.
Ho, this must be Princess Seira’s bedroom.
I gripped the handle and slowly twisted it.
Luckily my current identity was female, or I might even be taken to be a night-crawling lolicon… but wait, Princess Seira knew I was male!
No, I was not here to night-crawl, but to apologise and seek forgiveness. I had absolutely no dishonourable intent towards 9 year old girls.
I profusely explained myself in my heart as I gently opened the door.
In an instant, I was taken breathless.
“!”
In the bedroom with pulled-open curtains, moonlight flooded in from the balcony outside.
The floor that had been furnished with soft carpeting was illuminated like a lake of silver, while the patterns on the glass window cast shadows like a thick forest, glittering all over with tiny sparkle.
The scene within the room was one that was directly ripped out of the fairy tales.
At the centre of this lonely world laid a pile of white object.
That was Princess Seira.
Her body was wrapped in a blanket, back towards me, motionless.
“Your Highness…”
Even though I called her, she did not reply.
I swallowed and moved into the room.
Something small stuck between my feet and the surface of the ground.
Picking it up, I found that it was a crystal bead. So the sparkling glitter I saw was this? But, why were these beads all over the place? They couldn’t have fallen from the ceiling chandelier, right?
I felt increasingly uncomfortable, and so went around to the front to steal a glance at her face, thus discovered that the girl who had been clad completely in white and wrapped in a thin blanket was, in fact, weeping in silence.
Her sad eyes were downcast, lips tightened, and tears as round as the crystal beads on the floor were rolling down her cheek.
This doll-like appearance was quieter and calmer than the scenes I had imagined, but the impact of it was a hundred times more tragic and lonely.
“S-sorry!”
I fell to the ground and lowered my head in apology.
“Truly, really sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!”
I apologise continuously.
“As an adult, how could I have said such outrageous things to you! You are not wrong, the fault is with me, all due to my own foolishness! Really, truly sorry!”
Princess Seira continued to cry non-stop.
She pouted, and tears continued to fall from her eyes.
Ohhhh! … Did this child always hide and cry alone? All this time?
And I had thoughtless hurt her. At this time, I was utterly filled with regret, apologising profusely with “Sorry”, “You can hit me”, “If you would just laugh, I would do anything”, “I would even be your slave”, “Please, I beg of you, stop crying”.
But no matter what I said, the princess did not react.
Like her heart had been snatched away, tears just ran liberally from her eyes.
Perhaps after hearing my words, Princess Seira’s spirit had flown off to another world, and I was only left with an empty shell… When I considered this, my heart shattered.
What must I do?
I had no idea that I had caused such deep wounds in her.
As I felt shocked, the blanket wrapped about her body slipped and fell to the ground.
Princess Seira remained motionless, and as I helped to pick up her blanket, I suddenly noticed an open book at her side.
A thick, large book written in ancient language.
That was the book which Princess Seira often carried around close to her chest.
The page which the book had opened to had not only words, but illustrations as well. It was the picture of the back of a sage playing a flute in a black cape blown by the wind… This was apparently a replication of the artists’ impression of Ophelit as represented in excavations of the ancient ruins.
But the thing that drew my attention was not the legendary genius, but the small blurry picture of the back of a young girl standing besides Ophelit…
The little girl stretched out her right hand towards the black figure, as if to grasp the black cape Ophelit was wearing…
Oh, I see now.
So that was it.
Many things clicked in my brain, and my heart was pierced with a tight pain… I could not help but hugged Princess Seria tightly.
That icy slim body did not struggle.
How powerless, how lonely, were you as you pined for the fulfilment of this dream.
I used the gentlest and kindest voice I could muster and told her.
“I know the <thing you desire>.”
Goddess of Love Lana’s Day.
In the afternoon of Lana’s Day.
The Queen Mother received many gifts and smiled joyfully.
The twin princesses presented her with a rose-shaped coral ring, Prince Ryuuju gave her a thimble of emerald; but the thing that surprised everyone was that even Prince Shin gave her a brooch made of clay with a piece of amber in its centre. Its shape is that of a Margaret, and its edges had been painted white. Previously I had noticed Prince Shin silently crafting it during the lessons, so this was actually the present he had in mind for Her Majesty.
“Ara, is this hand-made by Shin? It’s great! So cute! Thank you so much!”
The Queen put on the brooch on the spot, hugged Prince Shin and rubbed Her cheeks against his, causing His Highness to blush happily.
Naturally, His Majesty King Cecello had gifted the person He loved the most with jewellery, as evidenced by the silver necklace with a gemstone as blue as His Majesty’s eyes which had been sparkling around Her Majesty’s slim neck since this morning.
Every present had been a pleasant laughter-inducing surprise to Her Majesty, but the one that absolutely touched the Queen today had to be Princess Seira’s gift to Her.
That afternoon, before the gathered and sitting King Cecello, Her Majesty and all the other princes and princesses, Princess Seira dedicated her violin performance to the Queen.
It was a personal composition of Princess Seira herself which was totally unlike her usual sad and lonely note, but one that was teeming with gladness and warmth.
Before the performance began, I had informed the Queen and all present.
“In the Winstoria Empire, people compose and dedicate songs to their beloved, so today, Her Highness Princess Seira would also like to perform a song that she had composed herself to her most beloved Queen Mother.”
Her Majesty’s eyes widened greatly as She heard those words.
Princess Seira seemed somewhat nervous as she held her violin and bow, glancing uneasily at me.
Her expression only relaxed a little when I smiled and lifted the tambourine in my hand to show her, but then it tightened again as she began the performance.
As soothing and pleasing as always, but much, much warmer – such notes poured forth.
The Queen had a shocked expression on Her face, and became moved almost to tears as She listened spellbound to the sweet melody.
I was also completely affected by Princess Seira’s awesome composition, shaking my tambourine in concerto with the violin music.
The one who suggested for Princess Seira to compose music for the Queen as Lana’s Day present was naturally I.
-- I know the <thing you desire>.
When I spoke these words that night, the Princess Seira in my chest reacted for the first time.
Like a bullied little girl, she said softly in a lost and insecure little voice.
“… I do not … have anything I desire, because… I have everything… So… I can only abandon… everything… go look for the <End of the World> alone… That’s my wish… So your answer’s correct…”
The knife that wounded Princess Seria so deeply also pierced my own heart. Those words that I had used on her had been really too much, and I wanted now to beat myself into a bloody pulp.
“No, I answered wrong.”
I said in a completely decisive voice.
The thing that Princess Seira desired, was not to become Ophelit.
Why did Princess Seira only have interest in <Glinda>?
Why did she look at me so intently?
Why did she keep holding onto Ophelit’s book, and read it in front of me?
When I fell into her bathtub, she had lightly tugged on my hand…
-- Isn’t Teacher… here to see me?
Why did she look so hopefully at me then?
Princess Seira was still hoping right now.
Hoping and waiting for the unmatched genius Glinda Dolye.
“I had been completely wrong about you. You must have been really frightened, really lonely, right?”
Because she had been gifted extraordinary intelligence, she was far beyond common people.
With her all-comprehending powers of perception, she could see through the cold calculating side to His Majesty who so loved His children. When she saw those things that a 9 year old child should never be allowed to see, just how horrified and lonely would she had felt.
If I was just like my Father the King… When she considered such things, fear must had frozen her all over.
Princess Seira had loved the legends and heroes in them, because she could see that those characters were out of the ordinary just like she was.
“Your wish was for someone who can hold the hand that you reached out with. Someone who can understand your loneliness, someone like yourself… a <soulmate>… you have been waiting for someone like that.”
I released my hands and looked at her eyes.
Princess Seira continued to weep as she watched me with a fragile expression.
I wrapped my hands around her tiny hands and slowly closed around them.
“I will be your companion.”
I said with a fervour that was as warm as the insides of my throat.
Princess Seira gave a little jump.
“I am no genius, neither can I <see the right way> of everything, but I will be your companion no matter what time it is! I will listen to whatever you want to say! Help you whenever you need someone! So, just say whatever you wish to say, do anything that you want to do!”
The tiny fingers felt a little more forceful as they held onto my fingers.
The face covered in tears looked up, and Princess Seira asked timidly.
“… anything that I want to do?”
“That’s right, anything that you want to do.”
“… There’s no such thing.”
“The crystals on the floor, are those for Lana’s Day present?”
Princess Seira’s face which had been downcast all this while looked up at me in surprise, and then immediately lowered again.
“… E-every year… Everyone would… give presents to Queen Mother… But… I am different… So, no need…”
Her voice went dead half-way into the sentence, drowned out by sobs.
I visualised Princess Seira weeping as she broke apart the jewellery prepared for her Queen Mother, and was tremendously hurt myself inside.
“Sorry, it is all because my words had hurt you. Can it be repaired just in time for Lana’s Day?”
“… No, Lord Father, Elder Brother, Sarasa and Orie… and even Shin… would be giving presents to Queen Mother… So I don’t have to…”
Even though I apologised with all my might, Princess Seira continued to shake her head in grief.
It was obvious how lonely and anguished Princess Seira had felt all along.
Sigh, then what should I do?
I wrecked my brains and tried my hardest to figure out a way.
What must I do to lead this childish little Princess back from the darkness of her gift? What could I do to restore her confidence?
Maybe if I praised her in the things she was the best in…
Got it!
“Then, just give the Queen the thing that only you can give. In my country, the thing we give to our most beloved is not precious stones, but music. Aren’t you the best at playing the violin? Why not just compose a song for Her Majesty, and play it for Her?”
Princess Seira was dumbfounded when she heard that.
“I would also help. How about it?”
I asked again before she shakily nodded.
Then, the two of us composed the music until day break. Even though that was what I said, in actual fact, all I did was offer my comments after listening to Princess Seira’s hums.
After which, Her Highness began to diligently rehearse the composed song.
Princess Seira halted a few times during the practices and lowered her head in hesitation, so I decided to participate in the performance as well and told her, “Let me support you with my tambourine.”
The result was this sunny-warm music played by Princess Seira for her Queen Mother now.
I stood behind her, shaking my tambourine at her beats.
It would be alright, I’m here, your companion is here.
So, you can just do all that you need to do to convey your love to your most beloved.
My last-minute emergency practice paid-off, as the rings of my tambourine harmoniously fell in line with the dancing notes of Princess Seira’s melody.
Prince Ryuuju, the twin princesses and even Prince Shin listened in delightful rapture.
Princess Suzuna who lied on her Queen Mother’s chest opened her eyes and laughed cheerfully as if to make joyful music into the mix.
King Cecello had his arm around the shoulders of Her Majesty, and watched us with an extremely gentle expression.
The Queen’s eyes shimmered with teary light like the children, and then bloomed into a blushing smile.
See, Princess Seira’s intention had been clearly conveyed.
<I love Queen Mother very much.>
Such a pure, vital and joyful thing.
I suddenly realised as I shook the tambourine, the music of which Her Majesty had said only children could bring out completely.
Glinda and Princess Seira might both be geniuses, but they were not completely beyond human comprehension.
Throughout my seventeen years of living together with Glinda, I had in fact come to learn of many things.
When she was feeling down, she would pick on some mundane stuff around the house, such as peeling the tough fibre off long beans or dismantling a knot in a chain.
She would never look at me fully in the eye if she was feeling really hurt.
When she was happy, her nose would quiver ever so slightly.
Even if Glinda was an extremely intelligent, highly unpredictable, completely mysterious person and a troublesome elder sister, I could still figure many things about her.
Joyful melody filled the atmosphere with warmth, lifting up smiles on the faces of everyone. Even Princess Suzuna wiggled in happiness.
As the performance came to a close, King Cecello helped take the baby princess from the arms of Her Majesty.
The Queen ran towards Princess Seira and hugged her tightly.
“Thank you, Seira, this is such a beautiful gift. It is a really happy day today!”
She said in a teary voice.
Princess Seira seemed highly flustered, and tugged on Her Majesty’s clothes in a flush.
“T-Thank you for making such delicious breakfast for us every morning… I… I love Queen Mother very much.”
Her shaky and unsteady words somehow touched me greatly.
“I love Seira very much too.”
Princess Seira’s lips gradually bloomed into a glowing smile.
“Oh! We love Queen Mother very much too!”
“Yes! Love Mother the most!”
Princesses Sarasa and Orie, embraced Her Majesty with Princess Sarasa; Prince Shin seemed to be expressing his love for his Mother by silently tugging at Her skirt.
“Your Highness Prince Ryuuju, won’t you go as well?”
“…Humph. I’m already an adult. So that won’t be important, Glinda… Besides, I-I have something I’d like to give…”
“Oh c’mon, what is Your Highness talking about? You’re still a child too. So don’t be shy, just go.”
I gave Prince Ryuuju a little shove with both hands from behind.
“Wha!”
Prince Ryuuju gave a little surprised shout and got pushed running towards the huddled group, knocking into the twin princesses.
“Ara! Big Bro Ryuuju is always so frenzied!”
“That’s right! Just like a little kid!”
“What! It is not I who…”
Her Majesty the Queen watched over the children, and said happily.
“Ryuuju, Seira, Sarasa and Orie, Shin and Suzuna, I love each and every one of you.”
His Majesty who was carrying Princess Suzuna somehow appeared at my side without my notice.
“Previously, I tend to hold off giving my Lana’s Day present until at night, but today I had a premonition and decided to give it immediately in the morning. Looks like that has been a good call. After Seira’s gift, there’s no way for my gift to appear any comparable.”
King Cecello seemed to whisper conspiratorially to me in a low voice.
“Ms Glinda, you are the only one with the capability of helping Seira compose a music of this form, and perform it with this calibre.”
“It’s just a coincidence.”
“Even if that’s the case, I must still thank you as a father. Ms Glinda, I invited you here specifically for the sake of Seira, because that child has scarcely anyone who can understand her, or communicate with her as an equal. Ms Glinda Dolye has been invited to be the private tutor of Eldest Princess Seira.”
Princess Seira’s private tutor…
It was such an incomparably honoured praise in my ears.
His Majesty continued in a friendly and warm voice.
“Lady Glinda does not require the use of Ophelit’s all-conquering silver flute, but relied on the tambourine usable even by small children to open the locked heart of Seira. From this day forth, please continue to assist that child with the help of the tambourine.”
“Certainly.”
I said with bravado.
But I also wondered how things could have turned out if the one who came to Eren Kingdom was the real Glinda.
Perhaps both she and Princess Seira could establish a certain level of understanding with each other.
Since, in hindsight, I realised that back then Glinda could had just been sulking when she said “They are all different from me” as she read her tales of heroes and legends alone.
A feeling of longing continued to linger in my chest…
His Majesty then put on a somewhat funny disappointed face, saying.
“Also please advise Seira, so that she would no longer be afraid of me.”
“I believe Her Highness Princess Seira loved Your Majesty very much as well.”
That’s right, for I was in a similar situation. Even though Glinda vanished all on her own and left me with a heap of problems, I still loved this member of my family deeply from within.
King Cecello smiled lightly, and replied.
“I know.”
Then, he laid gentle eyes on the Queen being hugged tightly by her children, as well as the children who surrounded their beloved Mother.
“Isn’t my family great?”
The severe cold blue eyes of a leader seemed to have melted away that instant.
-- Seira is very similar to me.
This was the hint given me by King Cecello.
The lonely King Cecello who played his violin in solitude in an ancient castle was changed by his encounter with a foreign young lady, as the two grew to understand each other.
Therefore, change would gradually come too, for Princess Seira as well as the world around her.
For, just the King Cecello who changed the entire kingdom for the sake of his beloved, Princess Seira too, would one day encounter someone special to her that she valued above all others.
I pray too, that Glinda would remember me in the moments when she felt lonely, and then come back as though nothing had happened.
Then, I would first unleash my fury on her, before hugging her tightly, saying “Welcome home.”
Princess Seira who was quivering in embarrassment in the bosom of Her Majesty turned to look at me, her face completely red, but shone me a shy smile.
It was a child-like smile as simple as wild flowers blooming in the fields, but seeing that smile, I could almost feel as if Glinda was smiling at me, and so returned a smile of my own.
That night, while alone in my own room, I heard people knocking at my door.
“It’s me, may I enter?”
“Princess Seira? Hmm, sure, please enter.”
The door lightly opened, and the princess worriedly peeked in. Her expression had become far richer like a normal child’s.
When the two of us were alone together, she would often display such somewhat embarrassed expressions, maybe because she had no idea what to say or how to behave before me.
Princess Seira looked down on the floor and swayed side to side for a while, before putting forth both her hands to the front and bowing towards me with a blushing face.
“Thanks so much for all the help you gave me. I have never played together with my brothers and sisters before, so I am really glad; I being able to give a gift that made Queen Mother so happy, i-it’s also because of you… Truly, thank you very much.”
“All I did was to provide a little assistance. Right, I too have a gift for you.”
“?”
I opened a small box I had delivered from the craftsmen, and a silver bracelet of crystal beads had been laden within. An amethyst in the designs of a flower had also been crafted according to my request and attached on it.
I gently lifted Princess Seira’s right hand and wound the bracelet around her hand twice, making her eyes grow wide.
“This is…”
“This is my Lana’s Day present to you.”
“Eee…”
“Even though I say that, actually the crystal beads have been collected from your own room, and amethyst is not really something expensive… But, this is the evidence that I am your companion.”
The stunned Princess Seira who had been looking at the bracelet looked up in shock when she heard those words.
I looked at her with a gentle gaze, feeling that this was probably the sacred emotions felt by the knights swearing loyalty to their princesses in the legends.
-- Private tutor of Eldest Princess Seira.
That title ordained by His Majesty, sparkled like gold in my heart.
Princess Seira placed her hand which was wearing the bracelet on her chest and said
“Teacher.”
A smile floated onto her cherry coloured lips.
“Would you please call me just <Seira> from today?”
“Huh?”
“It should be alright when there is just the two of us.”
“Emm. Alright.”
She just called me <Teacher>! Ever since she had discovered that I was an imposter, she had been just using <You> to address me, but now, she was calling me <Teacher>!
Princess Seira’s mood rose as she looked happily at me whose heartbeat began to speed up.
“I still have much to learn from Teacher, so please teach me as you wish from now on as well.”
“Mmm, I too have much to learn from you as well, Seira.”
“T-That… Also…”
Princess Seira became more fidgety.
She shyly looked down at her two feet, then looked up at me, and abashedly asked.
“First, could I ask… What is the name of Teacher?”
“My name?”
“… Is it not alright?”
She asked worriedly.
“No. Then I would just tell you alone, please don’t tell anyone else though.”
I had no idea it could be so bashful to tell someone else my own name.
“My name is Sherlock Dolye, everyone just call me <Sher -chan>.”
Seira seemed as if she had obtained something of immeasurable worth, focusing all her attention on my name.
“This… is the secret between me and Teacher.”
“Mmm.”
I nodded as her face turned red again.
“T-then, I would be taking my leave.”
Princess Seira turned and left in a hurry.
Maybe realising the immaturity in that action, she calmly turned and said at the doorway.
“Goodbye.”
Bowing low…
“Teacher… Sherlock.”
She shyly gave me a little smile, and closed the door lightly with her little hand.
For a long while after, my heart hammered non-stop.
Princess Seira recognized me as <Teacher>! Not <Teacher Glinda>, but <Teacher Sherlock>! I was so delighted that I could fly into the sky!
For this little girl so much alike to Glinda, how would she turn out?
I wish I could do something for Seira that I did not manage to do for Glinda.
Right, I still had to prepare for tomorrow morning’s class.
Even though there would be no way for me to actually teach Seira about the books she could read, I could at least teach her some customs and culture of the Winstoria Empire, and about how commoners lived there.
Such things would also be useful to know for the heir-to-the-throne Prince Ryuuju.
Let’s use the twin princesses’ favourite topics as a lead-in to it then.
Extra-curriculum activities should also be interesting, and I should pay more attention to Prince Shin too.
I was completely energized, and so began to organize the desk-full of study material.
“Huh?”
I discovered a piece of paper stuck between the drawers of the desk.
When did this fall out? Maybe it was when I was setting some test papers.
Picking it up, I became so shocked that I could not hold the paper steadily.
“!”
Ba-thump, Ba-thump, my heart would not stop hammering.
In a very familiar handwriting was just a single line of words.
“I don’t have athletes’ foot, nor am I little red beans, they are lemons.”
Glinda!
My temperature rose and my brain went feverish.
Glinda had been in this room? When was that? Definitely before she boarded that boat for Rubinia, so this piece of paper had been here for a few days already. Wah! Why hadn’t I noticed it earlier!
That Glinda. If you were going to leave a note, why didn’t you just come and talk with me directly? As expected, I still could not understand Glinda’s thought process.
While I continued to be flustered by the discovery, another knock sounded at the door.
Who could that be? And why at this time!
“Coming.”
I roughly pulled open the door, and found His Highness Prince Ryuuju frowning, lips tightened and standing at the door with an unpleasant-looking face.
Why was the prince here? Was there something I could do for him? I was worrying when Prince Ryuuju’s face turned as red as a tomato.
“D-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-don’t misunderstand! I only came because I wanted to thank you for your care last time! As the future king, I must certainly know the basics of courtesy! A-a-a-a-a-a-a-and that’s to say, because of that, just take it!”
He took out a small box tied by a ribbon.
Huh? Was that a Lana’s Day gift?
I had heard from Anneth that it was common to give gifts as thanks to females that had taken care of you, but taking one look at this box wrapped with ribbon along with the blushing red expression of Prince Ryuuju, you would know it was a love-confession no matter how you looked at it…
Huh? What? You’re kidding, right? Could… could he have fallen for me?
I was struck by lightning.
Could this be his first love?
W-w-w-w-w-w-wait a second! Calm down! I-i-i-i-i-i-i-I’m maaaaaaaleee~~~~
Ahhhhh! But His Highness looked so serious, just like back when I was first in love… Uwwwaaaaahhh! If I were to discover that the target of my first love was a man, there’s no way I could take it! If things were to be exposed, emotional scars would be left on his heart! Too cruel!
I was still shocked and worried by the severity of the situation, when another voice came.
“Hey! Glinda!”
Sir Jerome from the knights company walked over with a grim face.
I’m busy right now!
My heart screamed at him, but of course he could not have heard it.
Jerome acted as if he had not seen the prince, and just kept glaring at me as he approached slowly.
Was he still angry about Glinda giving him the snub that day? Or was he going to challenge me now to some other weird competition? But I was busy right now wrecking my brain over my student’s first love affairs!
At this moment, Jerome grabbed my wrist.
Click.
My right wrist was wrapped in a golden bracelet decorated with a red ruby.
What was that?
“This is my heart! You should understand what day it is today, right!”
“Huuuuuuuuuuuh?”
This guy as well?
“Impudence! The one who should be giving Glinda her gift first should be a prince like me!”
His Highness jumped in anger below Jerome and shouted.
“Love is beyond royalty.”
“Wha….What love!”
Didn’t he hate my guts? How did this suddenly turn into a love discussion? Because Glinda had been cold towards him? Was he some masochist? Even if this was the case, there’s no way I could be happy to be confessed to by some man!
The prince trembled in anger.
Jerome stared straight at me with burning hot passion.
It was the most popular day of my entire life, but I was just drowning in cold sweat and confusion.
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LNWNCentral_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata - Volume 01
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Dress-na-Boku-ga-Yangotonaki-Katagata-Volume-01-[GirlyBoysAlliance][Proxus]/Chapter_01.txt
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Chapter 01
Chapter 01
“Hoho! So that’s the acclaimed girl-genius Ms Glinda everyone has been talking about?”
Gasps and whispers of wonder filled the main hall of the palace.
“That’s the gem from the country of arts and knowledge, the Winstoria Empire!”
“The emperor is willing to part with such a national treasure?!?”
“This is proof of how highly the Empire values our alliance! His Imperial Highness is certainly both generous and honourable!”
Despite being night, the interior of the hall was as brightly-lit as high noon by the high-dangling chandeliers lit with numerous candles.
Stiffly wrapped in a set of beautiful formal gown, I quivered at the inquisitive gazes of the gossiping officials of Eren Kingdom.
“But hasn’t it been said that Ms Glinda is a stunning beauty with bright golden blonde hair, divine bright blue eyes and a neck as slender as that of a swan? All I see here is just an ordinary cute girl of seventeen!”
“No no no! Don’t be deceived by her outer appearance! Ms Glinda’s powers can outweigh a hundred scholars, a thousand merchant and ten thousands soldiers!”
Words that I had been hearing since young.
And indeed, Ms Glinda Dolye of the Winstoria Empire was truly the greatest genius ever born.
Gaining entry to Winstoria Empire’s Imperial University at the age of seven with full marks at the entry examination, she attained professorship at the age of twelve.
The year after that, she was awarded her own research centre by the emperor himself at the Imperial Research Institute, and became the deputy director of the cultural ministry that same year.
Now seventeen, she was unrivalled in knowledge, be it in politics, economics, arts and sciences or even military strategies. What a monster.
There was no exaggeration.
The scary thing about it was that everything rumoured about her was completely true.
However, the biggest problem right now was that the one standing trembling in the gathered gaze of Eren’s top officials was not the girl-genius Ms Glinda, but her ordinary twin-brother, me.
Noooooooooooooo!!! How did I land myself in this situation?
The story began one week ago.
Back then, I was still a housekeeper (and failed college-entry exam student) in the capital of the Winstoria Empire, Vienna.
I had just been dumped by Fleury, the girl who worked at the local bakery, and was crying my way home when I caught that fellow.
“Ho! You’re back! So you’re Sher-chan?”
The front door to our house which was supposed to have been locked when I left was now open, and the apparent thief, a gentleman garbed in formal attire, sat smiling at me from the living room sofa.
He was tall and elegantly clad in black from head to toe; black overcoat, black waistcoat, black pants and black gloves. Even his neatly-combed hair was black, though blue shined in his alert and warm eyes which brimmed with intelligence and honestly.
Sher-chan was my nickname.
My father was raised in Orlando in the West as a merchant, and my mom who was from Romancia used to call me Sher-chan since I was young. Therefore, everyone me called me that as well and not my given name, Sherlock.
And that was somewhat fitting, because a college-exam failure like me couldn’t possibly have such a gallant-sounding name, right?
I was somewhat uncomfortable in the presence of this successful-looking handsome individual smiling before me, as if to rub salt on my recent break-up,
“Who are you?”
I asked in suspicion, and he cheerfully replied.
“Ho, terribly sorry. I seemed to have forgotten to introduce myself. I am Helmut Dahlberg, a colleague of your sister and a diplomat of the foreign office.”
Tsk. So that was really an acquaintance of Glinda. Did he say that he was a diplomat of the foreign office? A 1st class government official, huh. From the overly-familiar and easy way he just strolled into our house, one would have thought that he was Glinda’s boyfriend. Though I dismissed that from my thought as, no matter how handsome he was, there was no way Glinda would have a boyfriend.
“If you are looking for Glinda, you should be at the Imperial Research institute or at the Cultural Ministry instead. Glinda almost never comes back home. Besides, she would be leaving for Eren Kingdom next week. She had been assigned as the royal tutor there by Imperial orders, and it is all over the news. Shouldn’t you have heard already?”
Eren was a small island kingdom in the West which had been isolated both politically and economically from the outside world for a very long time. That was the situation until ten years ago, when the present king, called the Hero-King or God-King by some, ended the policy of isolation, and began a vigorous exchange of foreign cultures.
During the spring of this year, the Winstoria Empire and Eren Kingdom signed a treaty of friendship and mutual benefits, and to indicate their gesture of trust, the Eren Kingdom awarded the role of the tutor to the royal family to the genius of the Winstoria Empire, Ms Glinda.
Muah, I was just an ordinary parasite off my sister who failed even the uni-preparatory class examinations, much less getting into college, not to mention being recently-dumped and facing the bleak prospect of being a NEET for the rest of my life… To a useless brother like me, those news meant little to nothing.
“Sher-chan, it is YOU that I have business with.”
“Me? Not Glinda?”
“My apologies, Sher-chan.”
He stretched out a slender finger and plucked my glasses from above my nose, then loosened my tied hair and lifted up my bangs.
“Hey! What are you doing?!? Stop touching me!”
The suave diplomat peered at my frantic face carefully, then nodded and said.
“Hmm, this should work.”
“W-what should work?”
“Sher-chan, how many fingers am I holding up?”
The official ignored my complaints and lifted up his fingers.
“Two.”
“Now?”
He walked further away.
“Three.”
“Your eyesight seems alright. Why wear glasses?”
“That’s none of your concern! Please return me my specs!”
The official of the foreign office dodged my outstretched hands with a warm and honest smile.
“Sher-chan, you are perfect! Your eyes, nose, lips, neck and limbs, slender waist, white skin, petite frame, soft voice, are all too perfect! There is certainly no other man in this world more suitable than you to put on Glinda’s clothes!”
“What are you talking about?!?”
I felt a chill on my spine. Putting on a lady’s clothes! Was this guy a pervert? Was this the so-called shotacon?
As I shrank back, the perverted diplomat let out a deep sigh.
“Actually, Glinda had disappeared.”
“Oh?”
Disappear? Glinda disappeared?
“A slip of paper was left on the table of the cultural ministry office. It wrote:’ I am not Glinda Dolye any more from today onwards. Any subsequent issue is none of my business.’ This happened two days ago.”
Not… Glinda Dolye… any more?
I jumped a little, and felt my heart beat speeding up as cold sweat began to form.
“T-That must be a prank! Or a scam!... You should also understand, right? The wavelength of Glinda is a little different from other people… I mean, very different…”
That’s right! Even if Glinda was that different, there should be no way she could have disappeared like this just when everyone was frantically discussing news of her assignment to Eren… right?
I wanted to say yes, but I knew Glinda too well.
She had always been an impulsive monster who ignored everyone, be it towards me, or even the Emperor’s edict…
The horror was that the chance of this happening was actually pretty high! Too scary!
“But! From the character of Glinda, she would definitely just return carelessly…”
While cold sweat oozed from my back profusely, diplomat Helmut broke into my ramble with a serious expression.
“If only that is the case, but, according to the Imperial Intelligence Agency, they have tried to search for Glinda vigorously for the past two days in vain.”
“Imperial Intelligence Agency…”
Had things gotten this serious?
I felt a chill from head to toe.
What the hell are you playing at! Glinda!
“Time is of essence right now as tomorrow is the day that Glinda is supposed to depart for the Eren Kingdom. No matter what happens, we will have to get her aboard the ship to Eren by tomorrow morning.”
“Y-You are too close!... About that, can’t you just tell the King of Eren that Glinda’s suddenly taken ill to buy some time?”
“Impossible”
He rejected it right away.
“At this moment, every other country is following up on Glinda’s assignment to Eren. Doing that right now would certainly cause fracture in our relationship with Eren. It may become a very sensitive political issue.”
“Y-your face is too close! Then what should we do?!?”
A feeling of unease crept up from my insides.
I was just an ordinary folk, and a recently-dumped NEET-in-the-making with a famous family member. He couldn’t be making me…
A couple of ridiculous information rose from the corner of my mind. Those were just tales from the book “Historical Gossipy Anecdotes”, such as the story of how the legendary scammer-lady imposed as a duke’s daughter to be married in another country, or how the Crimson God-Soldier Kainluca hired someone to take his uni-entry exams because he wasn’t really so book-smart… such things. Back then, I just jeered in amusement at the implausibility of such tales…
I was just glued to a tight corner of the room, shivering like a mouse before a hungry cat, when the black foreign official let out a refreshingly charming smile and said.
“Sher-kun, please take the place of Glinda as the royal tutor of Eren Kingdom.”
My mind went blank.
“No! Absolutely not!”
I refused adamantly.
“Even if we are twins, Glinda is a girl! I am a guy!”
“I understand, but that is just a small issue in comparison with the political issue we have on our hands right now.”
“Don’t just write it off like that! It is no small issue! There is a world of difference between males and females!”
“Oh? What difference?”
Helmut discourteously checked me out from head to toe, and tilted his head.
“Chest! I don’t have any breasts!”
“Glinda isn’t really all that well-endowed either. Just stuffing something up there would do the trick.”
“I-I am still growing! I would definitely grow taller, more muscular, have facial hair, and my voice would deepen! The cat would be out of the bag before 2 years are out! Besides, Glinda is a genius who has achieved the 1st rank in the most prestigious imperial exams at the age of 7, while I am still failing to pass the college-entry exams at 17! How is it possible for me to be able to replace her?!?”
The replacement was dumber than the original. How ludicrous.
However, Helmut replied.
“Nothing is impossible before you actually try it.”
With a refreshing smile, he pushed me into a horse-drawn carriage, strapped a corset from some luxurious fashion store around my waist, stuffed something in the chest area, made me put on a girl’s gown, and skilfully did my hair with rose perfume.
“Great! Look identical to the original Glinda!”
Before the mirror stood an embroidery-laced, silk-covered blond girl in formal dress.
That’s right. Glinda and I looked so alike that we might as well have been carved out of the same mould. But I hated to listen to others’ comments that the brother was ordinary and unimpressive so much that I hid my face with my spectacles and hair.
Noooooooooo! I was already 17 and should already be somewhat masculine! How was it possible that I still looked so much like Glinda! Why was my skin this smooth! Why were my eyes so big and lashes so long?!? Pink lips, and even the way that shivering frame was arousing protective instincts… WHY WAS I SO ENAMOURED BY MY OWN REFLECTION?!?
Helmut intimately rested his hands on my sagging listless shoulders and said warmly.
“Perfect, Sher-kun! Looks like you can really pull off the role of being Glinda’s replacement! It is fortunate that nobody knew that Glinda had a twin brother, not to mention that within Eren’s royal household, the eldest heir to the throne is only 11 while the youngest is just 5. It is as easy as teaching at the neighbourhood elementary school, so you can just pretend that it is a high-income part-time work. Of course, the elite agents of the Imperial Intelligence Agency would be working hard at locating Glinda, so she would probably be found within half a month… no, with their skills and experience, just a week should suffice so you would only have to hang in there for a week!”
“No! Go back, you kidnapping, gender-blind perverted government official!”
Make me into a laughing-stock for one full week? Quit joking around!
I flailed in protest around like an unhappy kid, bu…
“If Glinda ran from Imperial orders, she would definitely be imprisoned for treason.”
“Urgh!”
“And if Winstoria Empire came to blows with Eren Kingdom because of this, not only Glinda, but you her brother may be held responsible. There goes your days of peace and quiet.”
“Urh Oh!”
“No, probably both siblings may be hanged.”
“!”
This black-hearted foreign office official threatened in a kind and gentle smile.
“Glinda is a genius so she would most likely escape successfully, but that would put our country’s reputation to shame, so you may be imprisoned in her stead. Rather than becoming the scapegoat for someone else, won’t you rather live a life of luxury in the palace? Even an ordinary folk like you should know which is a better choice, right, Sher-kun?”
Hadn’t you just said earlier that the Winstoria Imperial Intelligence Agency was so excellent that they could locate Glinda in a week? How did that turn into making me into her scapegoat?!?
But I was already too scared to speak.
War! Prison! Hanging!
The mere thoughts of these made me dizzy, even my stomach was hurting (which I discovered later was actually caused by the tightness of the corset).
“Urgh… Ah… Mu… Fine… then you decide…”
The very next day, under the refreshing smile of the swindling government official, I boarded the boat to Eren Kingdom.
Being the first time on a ship, I was badly sea-sick.
Over the week at sea, I vomited practically every single day, emptying out my guts until I feared that I was becoming mummified.
Arriving onshore Eren, we switched over to horse-carriage to Eren’s capital. The capital of Eren was surrounded by walls several stories high, and spear-wielding soldiers guarded the place all the way to the royal palace.
Even within the palace, guards stood at the ready atop the battlements with a fierce atmosphere as though they would rush over at a minute’s notice if we displayed any suspicious behaviour. I was scared stiff.
Now, we were walking at the center of the wide guest-hall.
Clad in a formal lady’s dress, I was assuming the identity of a girl-genius.
Ooooooh! My stomach was hurting so much from the tightness! No, all of my sides were being squeezed to a pulp by this corset which seemed to have been made of whale’s bones. What a torture. My bones were about to break. With the ribbons tied around my back, I felt like a leg of strung-up ham.
And this dress! To give the impression of curves, its insides had been packed into several layers adding to its immense weight! This was practically tying weights of lead around my waist! These embroidered shoes were also too small that every step seemed to be tearing them apart, making me stagger about.
To protect the reputation of the Winstoria Empire, the imperial court had gifted me with the highest quality clothing and shoes for the meeting with the royal family of Eren. Officer Helmut proudly said that “even if a village girl were to put on this set of clothes, she would look like a princess.” But I am a man! Why would I ever want to look like a princess?!?
“No problem. You look every bit as cute as a girl, and if I hadn’t known any better, I may even try to pick you up on the streets.”
Helmut happily whispered ridiculous words besides me even as I felt terribly disgusted at the thought of being picked up by men. Ohhhhhhhh. My head had begun to spin and my eyesight felt blurry.
Being the topic of discussion among a bunch of old men in another country was taking its toll on my feeble nerves.
That was because I had never been stared at by so many people before.
Since young, I had always been told that I was plain and forgettable. When I tried to confess to my 1st love, Clarisse of the same elementary class, she had instead shown me a bright angelic smile, asking who I might possibly be.
Oh? Why was there a pot-bellied old gentleman glaring fiercely at me from the front? Judging by his severe countenance and apparel that seemed more luxurious and expensive than the others, could this possibly be the King himself?
He… He didn’t seem to be very welcoming to my presence. Those pair of eyes read, “I detest you, go back to where you have come from.”
No, the King of Eren should still be quite young of age. Or could it be that the unimaginably heavy burden of governing a country was so harsh that he had aged far beyond his years?
I was standing astonished, when an uplifting voice spoke.
“Welcome to the Kingdom of Eren. It is our pleasure as the King of Eren to be able to invite the world-famous genius here, Ms Glinda.”
Huh? The voice did not seem to match the appearance.
I mean, that old uncle had not even moved a single muscle of his lips…
I slowly turned, and saw someone clad in a far more majestic, more elegant fur-caped gown than the old gentleman…
My eyes widened and my mouth drooped open.
How was it even possible?
Was this the national treasure? Or some secret work of art?
Such words of exaggeration were not unfitting to describe the extraordinarily beautiful face that appeared before my eyes.
A long ponytail of soft silver hair tied behind the neck swayed gently against clothes of shimmering blue. Dazzlingly white skin like that of a marble statue, perfectly constructed beautiful face, delicate brows, eyes of a deep blue that reminded you of the North Sea, and charmingly smiling lips.
Every part of these features looked feminine and yet combined to give an atmosphere lacking in frailty, but rather oozing of charisma and leadership.
“King Cecello of Eren possessed the beauty of a god,
Rivalling the sky-blue and silver-white of the dragon-god from the sky above,
A glimpse is enough to be conquered by the extraordinary charm and nobility.”
When I first read of it from an article of the tabloids, I nearly erupted out in laughter thinking that: “what a narcissistic girly-man.” Oh yes, sure, king of fabulous beauty… it sounded every bit as ridiculous as every other acclaimed “fabulously beautiful XXXXXXX”.
Me who had once jeered at that exaggerated description, now stood weak in the knees in the presence of his actual beauty.
How old was this man? According to the “World’s royalty who’s who” from the national library, he should had exceeded the age of 30. Could it be that this shiny object was really a monster? Or an alien?
When I looked at my own reflections under the guise of Glinda, I had thought: “Wow, so pretty. If I didn’t know that this person is actually me myself, I might even try asking her out.” But, now, in comparison to this King, I looked no better than a cricket… no, an ant… actually, a flea would be better…
Even as I stared in bewilderment, the fat old gentleman’s harsh glare brought me back to consciousness.
“I-i-i-i-i-i-i am grateful to your majesty for your welcome. I am Glinda Doyle, and it is truly my presssur… I mean, pleasure to be granted such an honourable position.”
I bent my head and knees, slightly lifted the hems of my skirt in a curtsey.
Noooooooo! I was soon about to be squashed flat by this corset and the pressure.
To be cross-dressing before a pretty-boy! And to rank even lower in appearance than the said pretty-boy! Urrrrgh!!!! EPIC FAIL!!!
A group of children surrounded the sides of King Cecello. These well-bred children with an obvious air of royalty came forward to greet me one by one at their father’s command.
“I am the 1st Prince, Ryuuju Von Heinz. I am glad to be granted the opportunity to learn from Winstoria Empire’s culture of such a long and enduring history.”
The black-haired and blue-eyed heir-apparent puffed up his chest, stiffened his face and called out, He gave off a feeling of having practiced for a very long time, demonstrating great force of action and awkwardness. Seeing his display of competitiveness and nervousness common to boys his age should have, I felt somewhat relieved.
“I am the 1st Princess, Seira Sveyn.”
Lifting the hems of her skirt in an elegant curtsy, this beauty of soft silver hair and mysterious purple eyes certainly had inherited her father’s genes. Oh, she’s just like a doll!
Her lifeless eyes and expression were so alike to a western-style doll.
Arms, neck and even the slight display of skin at the feet were all a pale smooth white in colour.
I remembered that the princess was just 9 years of age… She would most definitely be recorded into the “World’s royalty who’s who” as one of the loveliest princesses. Speaking of which, why was it so that this entire family had such beautiful genes?
As I stared stupidly at the princess, someone tugged at my skirt.
I looked down to see two adorable girls in wheat-blond twin-pigtails staring at me with their sky-blue eyes.
“Hay, even if Elder sister Seira is beautiful, there is no need to be staring like your eyes have popped out of their sockets! I am 2nd Princess Sarasa Gweny. I had heard that Glinda is a genius, with horns growing out of head too! But the actual person looked so… ordinary.”
The word “ordinary” pierced my heart like a knife.
“The brother is almost identical in looks to his sister, but felt completely ordinary.”
“Sher-chan, you’re so ordinary!”
These were words that I had heard so many times that I knew it even without being told so… sob…
Even as my morale took a turn for the worse, the other princess who looked identical to Princess Sarasa said.
“I am the 3rd Princess Orie Labertin. I have even heard that wings grew from the back of Ms Glinda!”
She said happily.
“And shoot lights of rainbows from her eyes!”
“And breathe fire that burns armies of enemies!”
“Have you hidden your horns? Can you show them to me and Sarasa later in secret?”
The two princesses pulled at my clothes left and right with faces of anticipation.
The real Glinda might actually have horns and wings, but that’s definitely not possible for me!
Even as I stood stumped at what to reply, Helmut beside me gave an honest smile and said.
“Glinda’s horns and wings are as rare as golden snow or seven-leaf clovers, not your everyday occurrence. Even a colleague like me has never seen them before. But since both princesses would be staying with Glinda for the next couple of years, you may probably have a chance at catching Glinda’s horns.”
“Wow! I can’t wait, Orie!”
“Yes! We must never let Ms Glinda out of our sight, Sarasa!”
The twin princesses clasped each other’s palms happily squealing and jumping. Their twin-tails bounced around like the ears of rabbits.
Look what you have done, Helmut! That was no way to joke with young girls of eight years old! Besides, they were even planning to put me under constant surveillance now!
I angrily glared at Helmut but he pretended not to notice, reaching behind the sisters instead to respectfully lead a small boy before me.
“Glinda, this is the 2nd Prince, Shin Clifford.”
“….”
The brown-haired green-eyed boy looked up listlessly at me. In contrast to Princess Seira’s statuesque cold expression, his demeanour was one of absentmindedness.
“P-pleased to meet you, your highness.”
“…..”
No response.
Surely, 5 year olds were all like that? He seemed to be trying to figure out the situation he found himself in.
Muu, 1st Prince Ryuuju, 1st Princess Seira, 2nd and 3rd Princesses the twins Sarassa and Orie, and 2nd Prince Shin…
Urgh, my head was in a mess.
Glinda was appointed as the tutor to all these children?!? What was I supposed to teach these princes and princesses? Elementary mathematics? Or some historical stories?
Prince Ryuuju had a sour face, Princess Seira had a lifeless expression, Princess Sarasa and Princess Orie kept squealing about horns and light beams from eyes and such, and Prince Shin looked almost as if he was asleep. Would I really be able to play governess over these kids?
Bile of worry began to raise from my stomach when the king shined an elegant smile upon me, saying.
“The Queen has just given birth to the 6th child and is currently resting. She too would love to meet with Ms Glinda.”
That’s right, there seemed to be no signs of the queen.
Or more accurately… Within this great guest hall, there did not seem to be any other young lady besides myself… wait, I am not a lady either!
As I retorted to myself, the King suddenly closed in before me.
He s-suddenly grasped tightly at my hands!
At the King’s sudden intimate gesture, my heart nearly skipped out of my mouth and my eyes widened like saucers.
Uuuuuuuurrrhhh!!!! I-I was being grasped by another man! … How disgusting! What was with this guy? Showing interest in me? No, that was most likely just to demonstrate his sincerity before the officials of Eren and the ambassadors of the Winstoria Empire. But wasn’t this action a little too carefree for a King?
“I would also like to welcome you on behalf of my Queen. I hope that you would not only be the tutor of my children, but also be a teacher to myself.”
Uuuuuaaaah!!! I am not Glinda!....
I was just a tabloid and “Historical gossip stories”-loving, mean-spirited ordinary folk who snickered at the private matters of the upper-class, and a NEET-in-waiting!
Sweat profusely ran down my face (H-hey, l-let go of my hands already, you pervert king!) as I somehow managed to squeeze out a reply.
“I-I would definitely do my very baaast!”
I couldn’t possibly take the place of Glinda after all.
At the end of the exceedingly embarrassing welcome ceremony, I had been led to the guest room prepared for me, and once alone, I threw myself onto the bed, grabbed my head and rolled around cross-legged on the bed.
“Why did I say ‘I would definitely do my baaast’?!? What’s bast anyway… Everyone must be snickering in secret!”
As I thought back to the scene earlier, my cheeks burned a bright red. Helmut who stood nearby looked as if he was holding his mouth while his shoulders quivered uncontrollably; Even the king who was still gripping my hands lifted the corners of his lips slightly.
I wanna go home.
This room alone was spacious enough to contain my entire home, and it was actually pretty uncomfortable to stay within such a luxurious suite. Was the Imperial Intelligence Agency of Winstoria really reliable? When would they be able to locate Glinda? Where had Glinda gone?
Since young, I had never managed to figure out Glinda, and she had often left home for long periods spontaneously without telling anyone. Back home, she also conducted strange experiments, such as tests for the effects of some new medication on human bodies by making me drink some murky solution which caused unstoppable hiccups; or practicing hypnotism on me to make me believe that I had turned into a donkey and then ran out onto the streets braying on all fours; or asking me to help in her surgery practice by acting as the patient even though I was completely healthy...
Despite all that, should she learn of the fact that her only brother had been made to become her substitute, even someone like her with a complete different way of thinking from everyone else would come to save me… right?
As my unease reached a peak, the door suddenly opened with a “Click”.
I instantaneously closed my legs, adjusted my skirt, knelt-sit on the bed and straightened my hair.
A soft mumble came from the opening of the door… could it be a thief? But this was a palace… Oh! Could it possibly be assassins?!?
In order to disrupt the alliance between Winstoria Empire and Eren Kingdom, assassins from other countries had come to take the life of Glinda… such events had been elaborated by the serialized novel “Twilight Empire Carebana: Double-agent Princess” I loved reading!
But I could see the swinging golden-hair and blue eyes of a little girl through the slit of the doorway – it was just Princess Sarasa and Princess Orie.
“Ah! We’ve been caught!”
“Really, it’s all because Sarasa was too loud!”
“How can that be. It must have been Orie poking your head out!”
Fuee… It wasn’t an assassin.
“T-that, what had your highnesses desired of a humble servant… I mean servant-girl like me?”
I caught myself nearly using the wrong pronoun and quickly corrected myself.
The twin princesses cutely stuck out their tongues and ran over.
“Sorry, Glinda”
“We just wanted to carry out secret ‘surveillance’.”
“To observe the horns on my head?”
See, Helmut? That was why you don’t joke around with 8 year old kids!
“And we really want to see that.”
“Uh...”
The two of them suddenly blushed furiously and twisted around in embarrassment.
“En… we are really curious about Glinda.”
“We really want to know what kind of person Glinda is.”
Huh? Was I always this popular with girls? Oh, I didn’t know that I possessed such charms that two young girls would be captivated instantan… wait, at the moment, I was supposed to be a “female”, not to mention that I had no lolicon inclinations.
The Princesses Sarasa and Orie shyly glanced upwards me, with angelic smiles so adorable that any lolicon would fall stricken. Even I myself could feel my heartbeat increasing…. No, I absolutely had no such evil thoughts!
One of the angels twisted around shyly and said.
“That’s because… Glinda would soon become our Mother.”
Oh? Our Mother?
“I was so worried that Glinda may turn out to be very cruel, maybe even torturing step-daughters.”
“But Glinda absolutely doesn’t look like a genius, and looks so adorable. I told Sarasa that, if it is Glinda, I would be willing to call her ‘Mother’.”
Glinda was going to get married?
Was there really anyone in the world that would be willing to marry this monstrously strange man?
This strange man who already had kids, whose profession was the king of a country?
Oh…. Huuuuuuuuuuuuhhhh???
“W-wait a minute! I don’t quite understand what you are talking about; doesn’t His majesty already have a Queen? Isn’t that your Mother?”
The degree of love King Cecello showered his Queen was well-published throughout the tabloids. It was said that he treasured her so much that he won’t allow her to step outside of the palace even once.
The princesses suddenly lowered their eyes, displaying looks of pain.
“…. Queen Mother had passed away after the birth of Shin.”
“!”
“The reason why Shin doesn’t speak much is because Queen Mother is no longer around. Lord Father loves Mother so much that whenever He looks at Shin, He would be reminded of Mother’s passing and avoids Shin.”
Two pairs of blue-eyes instantly filled with tears, causing me great confusion.
“B-but! His Majesty said that the Queen has just given birth to a 6th child and is recovering from labour.”
“That’s right. At the southern palace. Since ‘5 years ago’.”
“What!”
“Lord Father has been thinking that all this time. He hopes that Mother is still alive.”
Both princesses burst out into real tears.
What was up with such stories that sounded just as if they came right out of a tabloid’s serialized novel?
The Queen of Eren had died since 5 years ago?
“Uh… Even the ministers felt that this state of affairs should not be allowed to continue, and decided to find a new bride for Lord Father after discussing. So they invited Glinda over.”
Appoint Glinda as the Queen of a kingdom!
Did the King know about this?
Glinda might be a genius, but she was also a cold-blooded animal incapable of romance or marriage…
Huh? The Glinda they were talking about now… wasn’t that I?
So… I was going to be married?
At that instant, I could not help but let out a scream.
“HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH?!!!?”
They were going to make me into a Queen of that King who was as beautiful as a fairy?!?
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LNWNCentral_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata - Volume 01
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Dress-na-Boku-ga-Yangotonaki-Katagata-Volume-01-[GirlyBoysAlliance][Proxus]/Chapter_02.txt
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Chapter 02
Chapter 02
To make me into the King’s bride!
The angelic princesses rubbed off tears with their little hands, and lifted their expectant faces to look at the astonished me.
“Due to his divine looks and wisdom, everyone says that Lord Father is like a god. Even Queen Mother has been known to others as a goddess for her beauty, so neither the ministers nor the countrymen would accept an ordinary woman to be the bride of Lord Father.”
“This should not be an issue for Glinda. You’re after all a genius, just like Lord Father.”
“That’s right, even though you’re incomparable in looks to Lord Father. I am sure no other country would have a Queen with horns and wings.”
“Besides, Lord Father seems to be love-struck at Glinda at the moment they met.”
I could only let out a dry laugh.
“Hahahaha…. Haha… Your Highnesses must be exaggerating... How could such a lovely person be love-struck by a dinosaur like me?”
Laugh it off. There was no other way about it. My mind was now completely in chaos, incapable of sensible thought.
“But the way Lord Father has been looking at Glinda is so intense.”
Oh! That actually seemed true! Those eyes were truly enough to raise goose bumps under my skin!
“That has to be the 1st time that Lord Father looked so at another woman other than Mother.”
W-was that so?
“He even held your hands.”
That’s true. In fact, I felt the action a little too over-familiar, not to mention too close for comfort.
“Glinda, do you know that in Eren, males seldom hold the hands of females? That’s because hand-holding represents the partners’ common desire to spend their lives together forever. Unmarried couples don’t even touch each other’s hand when they are dancing because of that…”
Princesses Sarasa and Orie began to dance as they spoke, causing their lace-embroidered skirts to float lightly like the spinning petals of two pink flowers. Anyone with even slight lolicon tendencies would certainly be enraptured, but none of this registered with me.
So that was the meaning behind the hand-holding!
King Cecello liked ME?
I would become the new Queen of Eren…
“Both I and Orie would support Glinda as our new Mother.”
“Elder brother Ryuuju and Elder Sister Seria may oppose, but both Sarasa and I would be on Glinda’s side.”
“So Glinda must like our Lord Father too! And, show us your horns too sometime.”
“And picnic at the palace courtyard!”
“I would even tell you where the squirrels build their nests. So adorable…”
The princesses tugged at my skirt, chattering continuously.
Their blue eyes and round faces shone with happiness at having a new Queen Mother.
“Don’t loose to Elder Brother Ryuuju, Glinda!”
“Fight! Glinda!”
The twin angels adorably punched up into the air to cheer me on, and then left with a clutter of footsteps.
I, on the other hand, was covered from head to toes in goose bumps and cold sweat.
What kind of joke was this? It was barely tolerable for me to be forced into cross-dressing, and now they were going to make me a Queen??? I am a man! I have things that man ought to have!
I rushed out of the room. I must definitely protest to Helmut! I had never heard anything about being made Queen! Nooooo! Goose bumps were popping up like a measles outbreak!
But…
“Lord Helmut has returned to Winstoria…”
“Huuuh!”
I had been left behind? Alone? So quickly?
I had been deceived – This fact stuck me like a bolt of lightning.
What should I do? If this continued, I would be made Queen! The cat would definitely be out of the bed the instant the clothes come off at the bridal chamber! Absolutely, most definitely exposed! Then, my head would roll for treason…
Nooooooooo! I don’t wanna! I don’t want to go bed with a man! Absolutely don’t wanna be executed!
If I chased after Helmut now, I might still make it in time before the ship departed! Even though I had no idea where the port was located, I must still escape before I got forced to marry another man and then be executed!
Right! Run! Run now!
I would probably be discovered if I tried to escape via the corridor, so I returned to my room, opened the glass-door to the balcony and climbed over the parapet.
But I only discovered that this level was 5 stories high after I climbed over to the other side.
Glancing downwards, the lawn and fountains brightly lit by the moon and light from indoors looked so far away that my blood went cold from the view.
Ahhhhh! I would definitely die if I fell from here!
As I clung for dear life at the parapet, my gown fluttered in the wind and hair flew wildly against my face.
Why hadn’t I change out of the gown first?
The skirt was filled with air by the wind and nearly blew away like a balloon.
It was too late for regret, and rather than returning the way I came, it would probably be better if I continued my way downwards as that would decrease the chance of me sliding down by accident. Besides, my NEET arm-strength just would not allow me to climb upwards any more.
It must hurt to be executed, but falling down and breaking my neck seemed like it would hurt a lot too. I didn’t want eitherrrr!!!
But my arms were gradually turning numb, and soon I could not feel my legs either.
Huh? Strange? Why was smoke raising out of the window over there?
White thick smoke, both warm and… could that possibly be a fire?
Trapped myself in this dangerous situation, I was certainly in no place to care about a fire breaking out elsewhere, but I found myself unable to ignore it either. So, sticking to the wall like a frog, I inched towards the window where the smoke spewed out of.
That which had looked so thick and white was actually just steam.
There was a tub of boiling-hot water besides the window, and within it sat a familiar-looking boy.
Whoa!
When glass window went “Clob!”, and the boy immediately stood up and turned in my direction.
Standing in the midst of the thick steam, the naked boy had a look of shock on his face.
I took in the entire scene while glued to the window.
I guess my gown was probably in a mess and torn from my trip down, and my tidied hair most probably had loosened and heaped all over my face.
As an aside, due to my lack of exercise, I was probably wheezing deeply with bloodshot eyes.
So I was gasping for breathe while I watched this stark naked boy – the heir-apparent to the throne of Eren – red-faced, brows lifted upwards, and face tightened.
Then…
“A-audacious fool!”
Prince Ryuuju screamed with a furious face as red as a barbequed squid.
“Whoaaaa! S-sorry!”
I sled down in a panic.
But, there was no foothold anywhere.
Rather than calling it sliding, it should be called falling... Whoa! Whoaaaaa!
As I clunk for dear life with my right hand at the parapet, my body swung like a pendulum. So this was the so-called, “situation of life and death”? Uhhhh… I must attempt to leap over to the balcony below.
I let go of both hands but due to the excess momentum, I did not land on the balcony, but was thrown towards the window. It was fortunate that the window had been opened, or I might have crashed into the glass.
Splash!
At the sound of water splashing, my entire body was wet.
Uwah! This was cold! Why would there be a pool inside the room?
My clothes weighed heavily as they soaked in the water, and I felt myself sinking… Help! I was about to be killed by cross-dressing!
As I began to panic, I discovered that the water was only knee deep even as water dripped from my hair and cuffs.
I brushed aside the hair on my face to find that this place was no pool, but a bath-tub filled with cold water.
There was even someone in the tub!
Silver hair that seemed spun out of moonlight, translucent jade white skin, delicate hand and neck, petal-like lips and violet crystal eyes.
The 9-year old beautiful princess of the king of divine beauty.
Princess Seira stared at me expressionlessly like a western doll.
“…….!”
I could only let out a soundless scream.
After just peeking in at the bathing Eldest Prince Ryuuju, I had the extreme chance of falling into bath of the Eldest Princess.
What destiny did I have with baths in general? Was I tied to the bathrooms by a red string of fate?
No, this was no time to escape from reality.
Even if it was just a 9 years old girl, children this age would already begin to say: “I don’t want to take baths with daddy!”
Even if this was an accident, the situation of sharing a bath with a 9 year old girl was still highly atrocious. If dragged before a court of law, there was definitely no chance of appeal.
“T-That…Your humble servant… I mean, servant-girl is not a pervert, there is a reason for this…”
As I covered my face in explanation, Princess Seira made no reaction.
Won’t she scream or call out?
I tried peeking from between the slits of my fingers, and saw that those pair of clear eyes just stared straight into me.
“….”
“That…”
“…”
“Uhhh…”
As I spiralled into confusion and wondered what to do next, Princess Seira finally opened her mouth.
“… Isn’t Teacher going to strip?”
A clear and adorable, but flat and monotonous voice asked.
Teacher? Oh, was that supposed to be me?
“… Or is it that, everyone takes bath clothed in Teacher’s home-country?”
“N-No, people in Winstoria also take off their clothes when they bath. Oh, it is said that the 17th Emperor Chenchito steadfastly refused to take off his robe and display his skin while bathing, so strictly speaking, that isn’t the case for everyone… Argh, this has nothing to do with him though.”
I stammered out a reply. How could this child possibly be so quiet?
If someone were to crash through the window while you were taking a bath, normally you would be alarmed too, right? Suspicious? Definitely. Guarded? Of course! Who would discuss the customs of baths under this kind of situations?!?
The Princess continued in a serious voice.
“… Then please take off your clothes.”
“Huhuhu??? But! That! That would be very problematic!”
“Why? We are both girls here.”
“You would be fine if it is a female? You find it alright to expose yourself to someone you have just met today?”
“… Yes.”
She said in an even voice.
Please be more mindful of it! Even your elder brother covered himself with both hands, screamed “Audacious fool” with a red face! Or could it be that females were always this open to each other? Actually I had heard some atrocious tales about the boarding rooms of all-girls schools too…
“… If Teacher also had a habit of bathing clothed like Emperor Chenchito, it is not really appropriate of me to interfere with your personal choice.”
“R-right! Your servant… no, servant-girl loves to take baths clothed!”
Whoa! This was the 2nd time I had a slip of tongue!
Princess Seira just looked at me unerringly.
Soft loose silver hair, having had all accessories and ribbons removed, floated dreamily in the bath-tub.
Water dripped from her small chin and long lashes onto her white chest.
The moist skin was snow-white, pure like a doll of frost, or an elf resting in the water.
Urgh… I was definitely no lolicon! Absolutely not!
My type consisted of sweet-smiling and gentle sixteen to seventeen-year old girls!
But my brain was steaming and heartbeats raced non-stop.
No, that was certainly not because I was a lolicon, it had to be because this child was too special. Perhaps it was her cold expressionless stare, or maybe because it was the nakedness, that felt unusually mature.
The problem was that she felt no threat by my presence, but just stared uninterestedly at me.
Not good! Should I stay here any longer, I might actually develop some strange inclinations! Wearing this gown for ladies, I would definitely be exposed as a pervert if anything extraordinary appeared on the lower portion of the skirt!
Besides, this bath was too cold.
At a second glance, there were even ice cubes floating atop the water! Why would she not mind it at all? I was already chattering in the teeth from the cold!
“I, I-i-i-i-i-i-I have ‘warmed’ up enough, and would humbly take my leave now. Oho.”
I climbed out of the bath, splashing water all over.
Right, I was still trying to escape from the palace and had no time to be distracted by a 9 year old girl.
But…
“… Teacher.”
“!”
A cold little hand grasped mine.
“W-What is it?”
“… Isn’t Teacher… here to see me?”
She said while still emotionless, tilting her head in query.
“Huh? N-no, that is not it.”
This child was certainly strange.
Would any guest visit the bath that his host was currently taking a bath in? No doubt a pervert would.
“… is that so?”
“Then, your humble servant… no, servant-girl would be taking her leave. Apologies for the disturbance.”
Ohhhh! I said the wrong things again! Let’s flee before I made any more mistakes!
For whatever reasons, Princess Seira seemed to display a look of pity, or was it just my imagination? No, what was I even turning back for?
Princess Seira opened her mouth again.
“… Teacher, the soap is at your foot.”
“Oh?”
As I felt uncertain, my foot suddenly slipped and my body plunged backwards.
So it seemed that there were paintings on the ceiling… of dragons and moon and ladies… paintings of legends crafted with extraordinary skills… While I pondered over such things, a ‘bang’ sounded from the back of my head and I experienced a tremendous concussion.
I had knocked the back of my head against the edge of the bath-tub.
Now was not the time to faint! Endure it!
You must fight! Sherlock Dolye!
But my head felt numb as my consciousness blurred over.
Nooooooo! What would happen to me next?!?
So warm.
I was covered by something soft and smelling of the sun. How comfy.
A clear song flowed into my ears.
“The Dragon watcheth over Seven doors;
Door of Water from which birth springeth,
Door of Light bearing God’s name,
Door of Earth which all-encompasseth,
Door of Fire that burneth away the soul,
Door of Flowers which confesseth love,
Door of the Night which summoneth beginning and the end.
Every Door is guardeth by the Dragon.
So sleep well, my lovely child”
Ohhh, what a lovely voice. Smooth and clear, but very gentle.
Wanting to know who was singing, I opened my eyes for a peek…
“Oh? You are a awake already?”
A girl of sixteen or seventeen peered at me with warm eyes and a gentle smile on her face.
Whoa… so pretty!
I still had yet to figure out what was going on, but was already mesmerized by the smile.
Rather than having a mature and beautiful woman, I much preferred this type of girl which gave off an amiable atmosphere of worldly gentleness.
The girl staring at me gave off a feeling of friendliness and loveliness that completely fitted into my type.
She had a smaller frame than me, was both energetic and graceful and a gait as delicate as a small bird with beautiful raven-black hair tied behind her head. A white-laced apron had been wound about her black western skirt.
A maid? Had we hired a maid in our house? Did Glinda hire a maid?
So wanted to be partners with this kind of girl… To stroll hand-in-hand out in the garden…
“Teacher fainted when she knocked her head against the side of the bath. Does it still hurt here?”
As I got up, she gently stroked the back of my head.
The gentle stroking was certainly comfortable, but it also brought me back to reality and struck me with fear.
That’s right! I fell into the bath while Princess Seira was taking her bath, and accidentally fell when I slipped on a piece of soap.
Where was this place?
It was as luxurious as my own guestroom, so I was probably still in the city?
I glanced down and saw that I was clad in a nightgown for ladies. Whoa! Someone had helped me change into these clothes!
“W-w-w-w-who changed my c-c-c-clothes…”
“… It’s I.”
At the monotonous voice, I turned quickly.
Princess Seira was standing at the side, certainly no longer naked, but clad neatly with her hair beautifully tied.
“… As Teacher just fainted, I helped Teacher change out of the clothes… Before calling others.”
She coldly said so while looking at me with purple crystal eyes.
“I-it must have been difficult?”
“… Yes.”
“T-that, oh! … But… At that time… “
Had you seen my ‘naked body’?
I wanted to ask, but could not put it into words.
Princess Seira was just as expressionless as a puppet, giving no hint of any emotions. If she had actually discovered that I was a male, would she still be this calm?
Might that mean that while she helped me change my clothes, she did not look once at my body?
Let’s assume that was truly the case.
Even though my heart was in my throat, I could only thank Princess Seira.
“Thank you. Princess Seira is the saviour of my life.”
“… Please don’t mention it.”
She replied in a calm voice.
Was this child truly only nine? Shouldn’t nine-year old girls be richer of expressions?
Princess Seira looked as if she was completely uninterested in the rest of the world, and this was quite similar to Glinda.
Even though this was the case, she did not escape from my glance, but continued to stare at me.
“… That’s right. Why did Teacher climb through my window dressed as such?”
“!”
My heartbeat nearly stopped.
To ask this just at this moment! She must have done it on purpose, right? Definitely on purpose!
“That, T-t-t-t-t-that was because… I am still unfamiliar around the palace, lost my way by accident, and somehow climbed over the balcony and ended up wall-climbing on the outside…”
H-how unpleasant.
Would anyone belief this? But since the opposite was just a child, maybe she would actually believe this…
Trembling, I stole a glance at Princess Seira, but she was as expressionless as before, as if to say. “Are you kidding me.”
Aaaaaa! Guess it really wouldn’t work!
At this, a smooth voice answered.
“Ara, that must have inconvenienced you greatly.”
The maid looked at me with a face filled with sympathy.
“As Teacher has said, this palace is so huge that even now I loose my way around.”
“R-really?”
She believed! She then continued seriously while gripping my hands adorably in hers.
“That’s right! There was this time when I got lost in the woods just outside the castle and nearly froze to death before I was brought back; then this other time that I got lost in the changing room and was locked in for nearly half the day; There was still this other time that I wanted to clean the windows at the eastern tower, but somehow twisted my ankle at the wine cellar in the west; Or that time when I went up to the roof to sun out the blankets, but fell atop the apple trees below together with the blankets.”
What a miracle that she managed to survive to this day.
“Teacher must also be very scared? I most definitely ~~~ understand it completely. Oh, so pitiable.”
The maid said with warm tear-filled eyes.
“His Majesty has ordered me to come to tend to Ms Glinda. I too have wanted to come over myself, so I am truly happy. From now on, I would be careful not to let Ms Glinda get lost so you can safely move about the palace.”
“T-thank you.”
Despite being bumbling and careless, she was such an honest and gentle girl.
Ohhh, I so wished I could go on a date with this girl in the gardens… but the thought of myself in cross-dress walking beside this maid next to the fountains sent me bowing my head in despair.
“Teacher has been sleeping for a while, so are you hungry? Is there anything you would like to eat? Be it porridge, soup or sandwiches, I can make it in an instant.”
“Are you going to cook for me?”
“Yes, though I don’t know whether it would be to Teacher’s tastes. Oh, I specialise at dessert, and can also prepare red tea.”
The maid blushed and said in embarrassment.
Ohhhhhh! SO CUTE! That impeccable gesture and expression sent my heart pounding.
“Then may I have some dessert, red tea and some sandwiches, please.”
I ordered a great deal directly.
“Alright.”
The maid replied with a pure smile.
I could certainly live with this kind of conversation.
“I would be back soon.”
She lightly left the room.
While I shyly watched the maid’s departure, I suddenly remembered in fear.
Princess Seira was watching me listlessly.
“….”
“Haha… Hahaha… Looks like I have caused trouble for the Princess.”
“… That’s not so.”
“That, isn’t my chest somewhat small? Due to its flatness, I have sometimes been mistaken to be a boy, but I am really a girl. I normally have to stuff 5 layers of pads!”
Did I say too much?
“Also, my crotch has become swollen due to insect bites!”
“Crotch?”
“A, Ah! That is really uncouth of me! F-forget that I said anything!”
Calm down! Calm down now, Sherlock! Stop talking about crotches to little girls and change the topic of conversation!
“The maid just now looks so cute.”
“… Yes.”
“Is black hair rare in Eren?”
People in the kingdom of Eren typically had blonde hair and blue eyes, so black hair was a symbol of foreign origins.
“… Things have changed recently. Lord Father likes foreigners, and many foreigners are now working in the city.”
Whoa! I had thought her a dull kid, but it seemed that she was actually pretty intelligent… This was nothing like what a nine-year old child would say, or was it that the children of royalty were all like this?
“… Teacher Glinda.”
“Y-Yes?”
“… There’s something I would like to ask of Teacher.”
“!”
T-T-th-th-that, w-what was going to happen this time?
Princess Seira quietly looked at me who frantically tried to prepare myself, and then said.
“… Nevermind.”
Her calm voice carried nothing strange or remarkable.
What was it about? The curiosity was killing me. Was she trying to bully me? Was this the so-called teacher-bullying?
As fear began to creep upon me, the maid returned.
“Sorry for the wait, Teacher Glinda.”
The exuberating voice instantly flipped the foreboding atmosphere over.
Teapot and cups, sandwiches, tiny fruit tarts and a pound-cake made from cherry tomatoes and lime were spread atop a silver trolley.
The maid poured red tea into a teacup with a smile.
“Here, please enjoy.”
“Wow thanks, I will tuck in.”
I bit into a sandwich with slices of cucumber and ham within. The taste of mustard was a little heavy, but lightly sweetened and very tasty.
At my words of praise, the maid blushed happily.
“Thank you, please enjoy yourself.”
“Enn.”
The maid smiled in delight as she listened to my piled compliments of “Tasty” and “Excellent”.
It felt so much like honeymoon. If only I was not dressed like a girl right now…
“Oh that’s right. While I was asleep earlier, I felt as if I heard a song. Was that you?”
At my query, the maid shyly said.
“Yes. Sorry to have disturbed Teacher.”
“There’s no such thing! Your singing voice is divine! I have never heard such a lovely song.”
As I said so, she flushed a fiery red throughout and cringed.
“No way… Teacher Glinda comes from the Winstoria Empire which is renowned for its culture and arts, where there has to be far better music. Please don’t try to flatter me.”
“This is no flattery. Your singing voice is more beautiful and touching than that of famed singers in Winstoria! “
She wiggled as the smile on her lips bloomed like a flower.
“T-that… I am very happy, thank you. It is said that the people of Winstoria Empire begin taking up music and composition at an early age. What instrument does Teacher play?”
I was drunk in her innocent smiling image as I replied.
“Enn… I dabble in the tambourine sometimes.”
I blushed the moment those words left my mouth.
The tambourine, a wrist-sized bangle with seven bells attached on its ring. This was little more than a musical toy for small children. Having grown up in the capital city Vienna, which flourished in arts and music, and where families held orchestras on public holidays, I could hardly hold my head up even over my skills in the tambourine.
Glinda was of course proficient in both violin and piano, but even played the conductor to the Winstoria Empire’s 1st class orchestra in what became a legendary orchestral concert in the history of music. Countless audiences to that concert went away moved to tears dreamily.
For a musical genius as such to claim love for the tambourine… Ohhhhh!
I was so ashamed that the roots of my ears blushed red, but the maid simply displayed a gentle smile.
While the smile earlier bloomed with charm like a flower, the smile she gave me now emitted kindness and warmth, filling me with a sense of gladness.
“Wow… That’s marvellous.”
Was that just flattery? Or was she consoling me?
But the maid looked genuinely happy and glad, and she continued in a voice filled with emotions.
“I also loved the sound of tambourine. It sounds so adorable.”
My heart nearly leaped out of my mouth.
I was filled over with her clear refreshing voice, warm words, gentle smile, all of which seemed to taste like honey.
Whoa! What should I do? I was fidgeting non-stop while my heartbeat raced.
Could this be…
B-But, I had just been ditched… and was wearing a breezy gown for ladies right now… , Ohho, even so I still…
I had completely disregarded the fact that a 9-year old girl was coldly staring at me nearby.
The joyful feeling of sugar overflowed from my chest as I barely stopped my nose from bleeding from the rush in my head.
This feeling – I recognized it as love.
“Well maybe it is alright to stay just a while longer.”
The next day, I excused myself to rest from the exhaustion of my travels.
Both breakfast and lunch had been served by the cute petite black-haired maid.
The mere sight of her kind smile was enough to send my feelings fluttering to the sky. How great was the power of love.
Just a mere day before had I been trying to escape back to Winstoria Empire, but now I thought that it might be worth staying for a little while as Glinda’s replacement if I could just enjoy this for a bit more.
Yes, since the targets are children aged between 5 to 11 years old, even I should be capable of teaching them some elementary mathematics while living luxuriously in this room at the expenses of Eren Kingdom.
Viewing it from another angle, was this not the ideal NEET life I had been aiming for?
“Ya, you can definitely do it, Sher-chan.”
The smirking face of Diplomat Helmut surfaced in my brain.
Despite forcing me into cross-dress and kidnapping me into a faraway country, the swindler did give me this opportunity to encounter new love, so I probably should forgive him.
I should be the one thanking you instead. Thank you, Lord Helmut!
Also, thank you to Glinda who disappeared!
I must sing of the springtime of my life’s fateful encounters!
Muah, that’s certainly because I was in love.
Ohhhh, the joy!
I seemed to have forgotten something in my exuberance.
Something which I only remembered when evening fell.
The door suddenly opened, and maids filed into the room carrying evening dress, accessories and cosmetics.
“These are gifts from His Majesty to Lady Glinda. Tonight, there will be a special banquet to welcome back Her Majesty who had been absent for so long, and we have been ordered to come help Lady Glinda prepare for it.”
At these words, I nearly fainted.
I had forgotten it completely! I was supposed to become the replacement for Queen!
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LNWNCentral_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata - Volume 01
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Dress-na-Boku-ga-Yangotonaki-Katagata-Volume-01-[GirlyBoysAlliance][Proxus]/Chapter_03.txt
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Chapter 03
Chapter 03
What “Welcome party for the long-absent Queen”!
I was thoroughly confused by the group of maids who smilingly surrounded me with piles of combs, perfume, ribbons and powder in their hands.
“Lord Father has decided to introduce Glinda as the new Queen to everyone!”
“Congratulations, Glinda!”
Princess Sarasa and Orie crept out from nowhere and softly whispered.
“How could that be! I would be in troubled! Be-because I… That’s right! I-I already have someone I like!”
“Wow! So romantic! But you would soon forget the other man after you married with Lord Father. Right, Orie?”
“That’s right, Sarasa! That’s because there’s no one else in the world as strong, wise and handsome, and as powerful and wealthy as our Lord Father.”
The princesses said with angelic innocence.
“Uuuuaaaa! This is preposterous! I must protest to the government of Winstoria Empire! I will write to the Emperor himself!”
“It is alright. It takes a week to deliver the mail, and by that time you would have fallen for Lord Father.”
“What type of wedding gown would you like, Glinda? You must love those with long veils and puffy gown, right?
I didn’t like this sort of stuff!
So would I be going on honeymoon trip with that pretty-boy King? Splashing sea-water on the beaches of some southern tropical island with just the two of us? Then be bridal-carried by him? Ahhhhhhh! Measles were beginning to break out! I-i-itch! That’s disgusting! I refuse to play hide and seek on the beach with another man!
What’s more, even before that could happen, my identity would be totally exposed on the wedding night, and I would have been sent for execution already!
That idiot Helmut! How could he have returned all by himself? Had he planned to escape? That must have been so! I wouldn’t put it past him to do something so cold-blooded!
Glinda too! If you were really a genius, come save your little brother from this predicament now!
“Come, Lady Glinda, let’s put on the gown.”
“Whoa! Don’t unbutton! Don’t loosen the ribbon! Ahhhh! If you pull that string, the skirt would drop! Uuaaaah! Nooo! Ahhh!”
Hands came from all directions to pull off my clothes, loosen my hair, spray cosmetics and powder foundation on my face, and I tried to shield myself from them with all my strength.
Ohhh! Why had I not run away sooner?”
Now was no time to be falling in love! How could I have imagined I could just stay and become a NEET in Eren, or even fantasized about lying atop the laps of that maid while she gently cleaned the insides of my ears? I was such a fool!
While I continued to blame myself, the preparations were speedily completed, with flowers decorating my bound hair, jewelled accessories around my neck and wrists, even shoes so luxurious that my toes were about to numb.
“Glinda looks so lovely!”
“Lord Father would fall in love with you all over again!”
The twin angels were ecstatic.
I absolutely refused to have any man fall in love with me all over again! I am a man myself! Even if your King father was both rich and beautiful, I could still hardly accept it as a matter of principle! There’s just no way I could become your motheeerrrr… !!!
“I can’t take it! I have to go to the loo!”
Unabashed, I shouted and, lifting my skirts’ folds, fled out of the room in large strides.
Run! Run! Run!
I must flee directly to the harbour from the palace! Or, failing to do so, lock myself into a toilet and excuse myself with having diarrhoea!
But, along the corridor…
“Hey, Ms Glinda!”
I was immediately hollered at by the pot-bellied uncle.
That was the guy who had been staring at me the day before in the welcome ceremony.
“You don’t look too well, is it due to the fact that you are not accustomed to our food? Heard that you had been stuck in bed all day too. With such frail constitution, are you really fit to be a tutor for our royal family?”
He asked in a derisive manner.
“I have an urgent business! Please excuse me!”
“What! How dare you just ignore me!”
I could hear his angry complaints from behind as I fled from his side.
Ha, would this corridor just go on forever?!?
Finally reaching a corner at the end and rounding it…
“Whoa!”
“Ah!”
I accidentally knocked into Prince Ryuuju and squashed him against the floor full bodily.
Prince Ryuuju stared at me red-faced with his mouth gasping open and close, and then screamed like the day before.
“I-i-impudent fellow!”
“Sorry! Sorry!”
I got up immediately and took to my legs, my skirt nearly flying upwards.
Uuaah! Not only had I peeked upon the Prince’s bath, I even pushed him over. My rating must have been rock-bottom in Prince Ryuuju’s opinion.
But, since I could not possibly become his Mother, or his teacher, there should not be much to regret over.
Looked like it might be better to find other means of escape, find a toilet, take off this body of heavy clothes and accessories, and remove this ungodly tight corset…
At this instance, someone barred my path…
Holding a thick old tome in her chest stood the divine-looking Princess with mysterious silver hair and amethyst eyes. She emitted an aura of immense presence like the fabled fairy here to announce my doom.
I halted immediately.
W-what’s going on? I could not move!
The purple crystal eyes stared at me unmoved.
Uuuww… what was I doing… there’s nothing to be scared about 9 year old girls…
“…Teacher.”
The lovely girl spoke.
As I became breathless with nervousness…
“Lady Glinda, we are here as your guard.”
A group of soldiers appeared from nowhere.
“His Majesty awaits. Come this way please. Your Highness too, please return to the section for ladies.”
“Uh, a moment please! Your humble servant… I mean, servant-girl would like to go relieve herself!”
“We would await your highness, so please do so quickly.”
“Are you going to stand guard outside of the toilet?!?”
“That’s right. This is because Lady Glinda is an important guest of His Majesty.”
The soldiers replied seriously.
“With someone standing just on the other side, how would I possibly be able to relief myself?”
“If something were to happen to Lady Glinda, we would have no way of answering His Majesty.”
“Uuwww… Nevermind…”
Sigh, so much for running away.
At this stage, I could only squarely walk towards the banquet hall.
My fate was like a candle in the wind.
Would it be better to declare to the entire world that I am a man before I became the Queen? Or should I wait until the night of the wedding with only two people on the betrothal bed?
No matter which path I could choose, it would turn into a foreign relations crisis, with the alliance between Winstoria and Eren at stake.
If a war were to start due to this, I would certainly be known to history as the “transvestite who deceived the king”, what a lovely title.
Me. No. Want!
The great hall was filled with a train of Eren’s top brass like yesterday, and that fat uncle was also standing among them gnashing his teeth at me.
King Cecello sat smilingly on his throne on the platform.
Beauty that disregarded the fact that he already had 5 children, his aquamarine eyes shone with charming light like precious stones. He looked satisfied when he saw me putting on his gift of luxurious dress.
Oooooohhh! He couldn’t possibly be thinking of how I would be taking it off, could he? This perverted King!
The throne besides his was empty, most definitely as it was for the Queen – that was, myself.
Besides the two thrones, stood the King’s children.
Prince Ryuuju was red-faced and frowning, his fists squeezed tightly at me. Princess Seira hugged that huge tome, staring at me with an undecipherable expression. Prince Shin looked like he was asleep. Princesses Sarasa and Orie winked and signalled at me in secret, both looking as cute as angels in high spirit.
I nearly fainted from the tightness the corset was gripping my chest.
King Cecello happily announced.
“Then, let me introduce my wife.”
Oh no!
Really wished I could see that adorable and kind maid one last time.
King Cecello’s eyes clouded over like a lustful senior teasing a new female employee, smiling as he stood.
My mind was filled with white bridal veils, Southern tropical island honeymoon, and princess-carry by the sea-side, and my skin nearly broke out into chicken-pox.
Uwwwwaaaaaahhhh!!! I DON’T WANT TO PUT ON A GOWN AND GET MARRIED TO ANOTHER MAN!!!
In my panic, I uttered.
“I-I have athlete’s foot!”
Good, I would fight!
“My feet are full of blisters and sores! And they stink!”
People and the room seemed to be spinning in my confusion, and I kept shouting even in the midst of the light-headedness caused by the tight corset.
“The shoes – once they are off – would stink to the skies! Even the cockroaches would run! Everyone calls me a bio-weapon!”
At that instance, the great hall became as silent as a cemetery at night.
The King was frozen where he stood, and so were his children, the princes and princesses.
Slowly, whispers swept across all who were present like a wave on the sea.
“Ms Glinda… has athlete’s foot?”
“The unmatched genius has athlete’s foot?”
“And they stink?”
The opinion of Glinda obviously fell.
This might enrage Glinda, but my concern at the moment was only to protect my own chastity.
King Cecello recovered quickly, and said with a smile.
“Then, tonight I would ask someone to send some foot medication over.”
Oooooooooohhhhh! It didn’t work!
As expected of the Heroic King who disregarded all opinions and did away with the policy of isolation for Eren! Even athlete’s foot was unable to drive him away! No, maybe that was even his preference! That’s right! He really looked like he had a thing for ladies with athlete’s foot!
As I sunk deeper into despair, King Cecello lifted his hand.
Huh? Strange? But I was standing over here, so why was he pointed at the other side?
As I felt suspicions, I suddenly saw a lady coming out while carefully cradling a little baby clad in soft baby clothes.
This girl had raven-coloured hair neatly tied, clad in pure and elegant evening dress, slim frame, and gentle demeanour…
Huh? Why…
Why was the maid that I encountered cradling a baby and wearing a lavish gown?
And, why was she exchanging such heatedly warm gazes with King Cecello?
King Cecello took hold of the baby in her arms, and lovingly planted a kiss on the child’s forehead.
“Ms Glinda.”
“Y-Yes!”
Being suddenly called, my body froze, but King Cecello shone the happiest, gentlest smile I had ever seen as he said.
“This is Queen Yuki, and… everyone, this is Eren Kingdom’s 4th Princess, Suzuna Phyllis!”
I stood stunned and lost at sea in the midst of the hall of loud applauses and cheering.
Queen? Wife of the King?
Queen? So that was the wife of the King?
That’s to say, the Queen was the wife of the King, the maid was the Queen, and that was the pretty-boy King’s wife, so the one who had been wearing an apron…
The maid… No, Queen shone me a glowing smile.
“Greetings once again, Teacher Glinda, please show us your guidance. If there is any issue, please look for me. I really wish to become friends with Teacher Glinda.”
Why was the Queen disguised as a maid?
The Queen herself prepared cucumber sandwiches and strawberry tarts for me? And even served them to me?
Or hadn’t the Queen passed away?
And Princesses Sarasa and Orie said that Glinda had been invited to Eren in order to become the King’s new Queen!
I turned my head towards the twin Princesses, just to see their twitching lips, lightly fidgeting bodies and eyes filled with mirth.
Soon after, they could no longer hold it in, and went “Piff!” bent over in laughter.
“Pfff! Hehehehe! T-take a look at her expression!”
“So adorable! And funny! Hahahaha!”
“Sarasa, no, I can’t take it any more! My tummy’s aching from the laughter, aching!”
“Hahahaha! Me too, Orie! I can’t take it any more!”
The two of them bowed forward and backward, laughing until tears came out of their eyes.
It was then that I realised.
I had been tricked by the twins!
Saying that the Queen was no longer in this world since 5 years ago, that there was special meaning to men holding the hands of women in Eren, and also that I had been chosen as the Queen candidate… Lies, all of them!
I guessed my face must have been fuming.
The two angels… no, little devils heard their father asking “What was so funny”, and chose to pretend that nothing was amiss.
“Sorry, Lord Father, I am just so happy to have someone like Glinda as our Teacher.”
“Yes, I am just laughing because I am too happy, too glad. Sarasa likes Glinda a lot, Lord Father.”
“Orie too.”
Both girls had on their faces expressions as pure as angels. Even though they were just eight years old, their skills in trickery and acting were top-notch and could probably deceive any man.
Something snapped in my head.
I might had been a housekeeping NEET and failed college-exam student, Glinda’s useless little brother and a cross-dressing pathetic fool twice-dumped.
Ooohh! Right! In the eyes of royalty and the nobles, I was as good as the lowest flea of society! Like a broken toy easily cast aside! Like a leaf of parsley for garnishing! Like an apple pie with no apple fillings! Like a shoe with a holed sole! Or an old uncle’s nostril hairs! Sand covered by cat’s urine!
Even so, I was still qualified to teach precocious children what was right and wrong! Trying to make fun of an adult? You were 10 years too young!
I could no longer conceal my wrath.
Blood rushed towards my head, my ears fumed.
I walked towards the two little devils in angel disguises that were still-trembling in laughter.
Then, I grabbed one of them by the waist, lifted her up, and “smack” spanked her bottom.
“Ah! What are you doing!”
“Sarasa!”
I did not stop, but continued to spank twice, thrice.
“Why I am doing this, both of you know well enough! Be it village children or princesses, naughty kids must be spanked!”
Pop! Smack! Spanking sounds and cries of the Princess echoed through the great hall.
“Ahhh! Hurt! Pain! Help me! Lord Father! Queen Mother!”
The top officials all around had their jaws dropping to the ground, Prince Ryuuju fearfully stepped back, even Princess Seira widened her eyes. Prince Shin fearfully ran to the back of his Mother and tucked at her skirt.
The Queen was dumb-founded, and beside her, King Cecello smiled, saying.
“Oh? Looks like Ms Glinda is a strict teacher.”
I put Princess Sarasa, who was weeping from the pain and shame, onto the ground, and turned towards Princess Orie who had fallen in fear trembling.
“Alright! It’s your turn!”
“Sssssorrry!!!”
Princess Orie had a face of terror, rearing on the floor.
“P-please, forgive me… Forgive me… Teacher… Ahhhh!”
“There are many things in this world that can’t be resolved just with an apology, your Highness!”
Smack!
A loud sound resonated from below my palm.
“Uuuu!”
“Remember this with your body, the consequences of playing tricks on people!”
“Uuuuuuu! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!”
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Loud sounds.
The cries of little girls.
Dumb-founded top officials and nobles.
It was some time later that I heard that horns had really sprouted from my head, and a pair of fiery-red bat-like wings from my back, fire blazed from my eyes, and I had looked so fierce that an army of ten-thousand men would have fled at the sight of me.
“Genius Lady Glinda spanked the Princesses of Eren!”
This became the headlines of the newspapers all over the world a few days later.
The me of then could not have known about it but in the hall filled with fear and violence, only the little baby Princess Suzuna Phyllis could sleep soundly in peace.
“Look at you now! Apologising in tears, huh! How unlike a Princess! Adults are no targets for your pranks!”
“Uwaaaaah! I won’t do it ever again!”
What should I do, I actually did it.
An hour later, I was still clad in the luxurious evening gown, seated cross-legged on the bed and wrapped in a blanket, pale in fear.
When I realised I had been tricked by the twin Princesses, I lost my head and acted without considering the consequences.
To actually spank their bottoms in front of the King, the Queen and all the other officials, not even stopping when they pleaded crying, and telling them not to “take adults for fools!”, uuwaaaah!
It was only after returning to the silence of my room that I began to feel fear for what I had just done.
In the past there had been cases where punishments were dealt out for merely stepping onto the shadows of royalty, or beating royalty to eating a madeleine.
My thoughtless actions might cause fractures in the relationship of Winstoria and Eren, and I would thus be hung for treason.
Sigh, what a short life.
I had thought that since I was different from Glinda, I might as well just become an ordinary college student, get a job as a civil servant, and marry like a commoner, and then, around 75 years old, surrounded by children and grandchildren, kiss goodbye to my ordinary life.
At least let me live till I could grow a beard, please.
While I was sunk in this tragic mood, sounds of knocking came from the door.
“!”
I jumped in fright.
Here they came! The executioner was here!
“Teacher Glinda, may I enter?”
I was lifting my skirt trying to hide in the closet when I heard this gentle voice.
It’s the maid… no, the Queen.
“Sh-shure!”
I had wanted to say “sure”, but the tightness in my throat distorted it.
The door opened, and the Queen entered while cradling Princess Suzuna.
When she beheld both my feet inside of the closet, her large eyes widened slightly.
“Is Teacher cleaning the room?”
“N-no, it’s just a rare butterfly that has flown into the room, and I wanted to capture it… Haha, looks like it has fled.”
I stammered out an explanation, and then, turning towards the Queen, bowed my head in submission.
“That, j-j-just now, I plead forgiveness for my impudence before so many high-ranking lords and nobles!”
“Ara, please don’t say that, Teacher.”
The Queen became somewhat frantic.
As I peeked up trembling, I saw the Queen looking at me with a look of discomfort.
“The one who ought to apologise is I. Hadn’t Sarasa and Orie played a prank on Teacher? Otherwise Teacher would not be so angry.”
“Ehh, That is… that…”
How would I possibly dare say that I had thought the Queen dead, and that I had been called over to be the Queen Candidate, or even thought of His Majesty as a perverted senior?
The Queen gave me a deep bow.
“Really sorry. Teacher Glinda is our honoured guest after all.”
I was stunned speechless.
“N-no such thing! Please don’t be like this! I-I can’t accept this! It is my immaturity, going too far like this.”
“No, everyone in the palace has been bothered by Sarasa and Orie’s mischief, but since they are princesses, no one has dared to discipline them strictly. This time is a good warning for them, and even His Majesty said so. He said that it has been the right thing to appoint Ms Glinda as our children’s tutor, since you have taught our children so much in just a day.”
“This is what His Majesty said?”
While it was strange for a father to feel glad watching his daughters being spanked, I breathed a sigh of relief as I thought I would definitely be executed.
“So please don’t say that you want to leave Eren. A teacher like Glinda who wouldn’t show partiality to royalty is the one we need as the tutor to our children.”
The Queen looked me in the eye seriously and said honestly.
“I would also work hard to take good care of Teacher.”
“R-right, why does Your Majesty disguise as a maid?”
The Queen displayed a gentle look when she heard this.
“Because it is too difficult to bake and do housework when putting on a formal evening gown and it is easier to work when dressed like that.”
“But, the Queen of a Kingdom doesn’t usually have to do housework…”
When I remembered her rolling off the roof from sunning the blankets, and even getting lost while trying to clean the windows, confusion fell upon me.
Besides, was she really old enough to be the Mother of all those Princes and Princesses? She looked as if she was just sixteen or so. Prince Ryuuju was eleven this year… When did she first give birth? Was she really the Queen of this kingdom?
“That… I have heard that the Queen of Eren was praised as a goddess… Truly did not expect that to be Your Majesty...”
The Queen blushed red in an instant.
“Ara, that is just some random talk by everyone, I am certainly nobody remarkable. I get lost all the time, break the bowls, confuse flour with cement powder… it really isn’t so. Uuoo, uooo… Sorry to disappoint Teacher.”
Seeing her apologising with clouded eyes, I replied befuddled.
“No, I am not disappointed. In fact, I like Her Majesty who dresses as a maid, as it feels more approachable.”
My face turned red as I said this.
Her Majesty rubbed tears off the corners of her eyes and smiled happily.
“Thank you, Teacher Glinda.”
It was a smile that skewered though my heart.
I truly liked the You who was a maid.
But these words could no longer be uttered.
At this, Princess Suzuna who was being cradled in Her Majesty’s chest smiled adorably.
Slowly, like the fragrance dispersed by flowers, a bright smile bloomed…
A tiny hand reached towards me.
“Hoho, She must be trying to greet Teacher.”
I cautiously reached out a finger too to touch her smooth white skin.
Nervously holding the tiny fingers, I muttered while mesmerized.
“… How soft.”
A pair of red tea-like coloured amber round eyes gawked at me.
The Queen said while smiling.
“That’s because she has nothing. Her body and soul is as soft as pure white dough.”
She said in an elegant and touching voice.
“Small babies are lovable existences. When showered with love by everyone around them, pure hearts also fill up gradually, slowly growing… until they become existences that can offer love to others.”
I gently shook Princess Suzuna’s white hand and she laughed happily. Her Majesty beheld all this as a warm smile floated onto her lips.
“I wish that even as this child grows into adulthood, her spirit would be strong enough to not just only accept love, but to retain her innocence from birth. That’s why she is named Suzuna (“seven bells”). This is the name that Teacher Glinda inspired me to name her.”
“Eh?”
I was stunned by the Queen’s soft words and dropped eyes.
“Hasn’t Teacher said that she likes the tambourine?”
“That’s because I am so dumb that I can only shake the tambourine.”
Her Majesty shook her head at my blushing face and said.
“Does Teacher know what the meaning behind each of the seven bells on the tambourine?”
“Errr… The first is love, the second is courage, the third is dream… The fourth is… eh…”
“The fourth is hope, the fifth is promise, the sixth is peace, and the last one, is truth.”
The Queen finished as if singing a song.
Then she continued in a firm but gentle voice.
“Every one of these precepts is very important, but through the process of growing up, it becomes difficult to remain in love and to have dreams. It is easy to just say “love” honestly while young, but as you grow older, it becomes more difficult, right? So it is not that the tambourine is so trivial that only children can play. Rather, it is only the children that can bring out the lovely music from tambourines.”
Princess Suzuna continued to laugh in the Queen’s chest in a voice both innocent and heart-warming like the clear sounds of bells.
“Suzuna means “Seven bells” in my home-town. I hope that she could safeguard the meaning of the seven bells in her heart and continue to produce lovely songs forever. This is the first blessing that His Majesty and I bestow upon this child.”
Hoho, this was a really good name.
I thought so too.
Laughter that sounded like bells was so befitting of this little Princess.
Just then, Princess Suzuna appeared somewhat uncomfortable.
“Ara? What is it? I have already changed her diapers and fed her too.”
The Queen gently cradled the baby Princess.
“Why not sing her a song?”
I said carelessly.
“Yes, when I knocked my head against the bathtub earlier, Your Majesty sang for me too, so please let me hear it again.”
I so wanted to listen to the song again now.
The Queen became as embarrassed as a young girl.
“That is a lullaby of Eren.”
“Isn’t it just the right thing for this moment then?”
“There’s a point there…”
Then, while she gently cradled Princess Suzuna, she started to sing.
“The Dragon watcheth over Seven doors;
Door of Water from which birth springeth,
Door of Light bearing God’s name,
Door of Earth which all-encompasseth,
Door of Fire that burneth away the soul,
Door of Flowers which confesseth love,
Door of the Night which summoneth beginning and the end.
Every Door is guardeth by the Dragon.
So sleep well, my lovely child”
What a chaste, soothing sound.
When I first listened to this song, why had I not noticed that she was the Queen?
Everyone knew that the Queen of Eren was a famed singer known as the Goddess of Prayer.
Until a mere ten years ago, this kingdom was still until a state of isolation, and no black-hailed people lived here.
The one who opened the kingdom up to the outside world was the previous king’s younger brother of a different mother – that was King Cecello of now. And for Him who became known as the Sky Drake, a black-haired foreign lady stood at his side.
This raven-haired young girl appeared all of a sudden one day from a faraway country, and she was an extremely good singer, who touched the multitudes into opening the gardens of their hearts with her prayer-like gentle songs.
Like this, the ‘Isolated Kingdom’ Eren opened her doors, and the Wise King Cecello was born.
After that, the young girl became the King’s wife, and Mother of his children, and even today was companion of the Sky Drake, living happy lives together.
It was a story as beautiful as the fables of old.
But, listening to this wondrously beautiful melody, any fable could become believable.
All unrest, anger and anxiety melted into the warm notes and disappeared.
“The Dragon watcheth over Seven doors;
May the Blue Sky shineth bright,
May the Deep Sea sleepth at peace,
May the Earth be covered in flowers,
May the Hearts of Children be filled with hope eternal,
So sleep well, my lovely child”
Princess Suzuna closed her eyes and let out steady breathes.
The weeping faces of Princesses Sarasa and Orie peeked from behind the door. The two little fox cubs which had pranked on me earlier now listened attentively to the lovely song.
Prince Ryuuju, Princess Seira, and even the young Prince Shin were there as well.
The pouting heir-to-the-throne, cold-eyed eldest princess, the second prince who could only be said to be quiet or dull, every one of these children had innocent expressions, drowned in the spellbinding song and aura.
Each child listened as if hypnotised with a face of joy.
Them aside, I who was granted this opportunity to listen to the songs of a legendary singer at such close distance could only feel peace and delight.
Tomorrow might be another day of hardship; mayhap I would make another mistake and wish to hide into the closet again.
But it might not be so bad to stay for a while longer.
Right, it probably would not be too before Helmut brought Glinda back.
In this lovely evening after the earlier turbulence, I laid myself down to rest on the soft bed, my ears still hearing the songs of the Goddess of Prayers.
“Uww! What a bright morning!”
The next day, I stuffed myself into the corset, dressed up and tidied my bed-hair.
Today was the first day of class.
Despite the discomfort in my heart, I must do what I could.
Just as I walked optimistically along the corridor…
“… Teacher.”
A monotonous voice halted me from around the corner.
Holding the thick old tome closely to her chest, Princess Seira looked at me with her cold amethyst eyes.
“G-good morning, what is it?”
I was bad at dealing with this child.
The lovely 9 year old Princess asked me who was trying to lift both corners of my lips.
“Why is Teacher cross-dressing?”
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LNWNCentral_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata - Volume 01
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Dress-na-Boku-ga-Yangotonaki-Katagata-Volume-01-[GirlyBoysAlliance][Proxus]/Chapter_04.txt
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Chapter 04
Chapter 04
“Then, to gauge your current knowledge, I have decided to give you a simple test.”
I ignored the protests of Princesses Sarasa and Orie and set a stack of test papers on the table, all while a sickly pallor and sweating profusely.
This was the first day of my pretending to be my famed, genius twin sister and taking on her role of as the tutor to the royal family in Eren Kingdom.
Right until this morning was I still feeling optimistic, thinking that even a failed college-entry exam student like me should be capable of teaching kids between 5 to 11 years old.
But…
“Teacher, why do you cross-dress?”
The eldest Princess who seemed to have been lying in wait for me along the corridor stared coldly at me and asked with a calm voice.
I was shocked into taking a step backwards, nearly falling over.
She had discovered that I am male? So had she really discovered THAT part of me when I knocked my head against the bathtub?
“W-w-w-w-what, what can you possibly mean? To suspect that I’m not a girl just because I am flat, it is so hurtful. I have been a woman ever since I was born, uhohoho.”
I tried to laugh it away.
“Sorry, but to maintain health and a shapely body, I have a habit of running in the morning!”
So saying, I fled as if flying.
Due to my shorted nerves, I ran all around the palace and nearly got lost.
During breakfast, I sat and ate with the royal family, but Princess Seria’s eyes seemed to be appraising me all the time, making me hard to swallow.
“Is this not to Teacher Glinda’s taste?” The Queen in maid costume asked me anxiously (it seemed that the Queen Mother had prepared breakfast herself).
“N-No, I am just testing a diet supplement and collecting data, so this morning I have to limit my food intake.”
I gave some random excuse.
“Is that so? But Teacher looks pretty unwell, and keeps sweating.”
“Must have been the side-effects of the medication, ohoohoo…”
Princess Seira kept looking at our exchange with sage-like eyes.
Until even now.
Uwwwuu, she was still here, staring at me, staring… staring without changing direction for even an instance…
I laid down the stack of test papers, doing my utmost to avoid meeting the eldest princess’ gaze.
What should I do if she suddenly jumped up and said, “This person’s a man, not Ms Glinda.”?
My brain was filled with the terrifying headlines of “Broken alliance, Political criminal, Deceiver of the Royal family”, and I nearly broke down into pieces.
Peeked slightly around…
Whoa! She’s still staring!
If only I had been a masochistic lolicon, this might had turned out to be an ideal situation. Then, perhaps I would be very excited at being forced to cross-dress and coldly glared at by a purple-eyed, silver haired young girl who was as lovely as a western doll.
Unfortunately, I prefer cute ordinary girls of sixteen to seventeen.
So, in the face of Princess Seira’s silent interrogation, my weak intestines would just cringe.
Ohhh, what could she possibly be thinking about? Probably silently cursing “This cross-dressing pervert” from the bottom of her heart. Uwwuuu, ooooh, please stop glaring at me.
I felt as if I had become the pathetic Emperor Ludwig the Second who got dragged before court on charges of seducing his minister’s wife. Right, that Emperor seemed to have choked to death on a crab bun in prison.
Ahhh, this was no time to be sharing useless historical anecdotes!
Right, I should just concentrate on the maths lesson.
Within the nursery with brightly illuminated window curtains and wall-paper, the desk was seated with not just Princess Seira, but also those twin Princesses Sarasa and Orie, their elder brother Prince Ryuuju, and the young Prince Shin.
The twins were currently sulking unhappily due to their protests against the pop-test being rejected; Prince Ryuuju tightened his lips and refused to look at me; and Prince Shin looked sleepy as usual today.
The test-papers had been prepared by Helmut, with the difficulty levels adjusted according to their age. Helmut had a “sincere” smile on his face as he explained that it would be a trivial task to just pretend to teach by pointing out the problems that the children had difficulty in.
Princess Seira lowered her head and began to start writing.
I let out a breath of relief.
My heart continued to hammer like a drum against my chest. Muah, this was no condition to be teaching normally. But should I say anything wrong by mistake, my fake identity as Glinda might be unveiled.
I gave a reluctant smile.
“If there’s anything that seems too hard, you can just ask me.”
Seeing the tensed back and overly-serious face of Prince Ryuuju attempting each question, I walked behind him and said kindly.
“Is anything the matter, Prince Ryuuju?”
Prince Ryuuju violently retreated causing his chair to rock loudly. He frowned red-faced and glared at me in guard.
“D-don’t stand behind me!”
“… Sorry.”
“A-a-a-a-and, isn’t your collar cut a little too low? Ladies should not expose too much of their skin!”
Most likely it had been due to my falling atop of him in the corridors last night, he seemed to have taken me completely for a female pervert. Then again, was this what a child who just reached 11 years old would say? Strange?
Prince Ryuuju’s test script was filled in words and numbers as teeny as an insect, making me wonder “is there really such a need to be so serious about it?” It exhibited his earnestness and meticulousness.
“Really, Elder Brother Ryuuju is too mindful of Glinda ~~~!”
“That’s right, even his face has become swollen red. Could it be love at first sight?”
The Princess Sarasa and Orie teased their Elder Brother.
“P-preposterous! There’s no such thing! I just felt that she should not be overdressed to teach…”
“Oh really? Elder Brother Ryuuju must have been concentrating so much at Glinda’s chest that he can’t think of anything else?”
“N-no way!”
Prince Ryuuju’s flushed face blazed, and his frown deepened.
I couldn’t help but cover my chest. Due to the low-cut collar, I feared for my pads to be discovered.
“See? Even Glinda feels uncomfortable all over from your stares!”
“T-there’s no such thing!”
“No! I have absolutely no interest in your chest!”
“Y-yes, sorry, but it seems like all my clothes have low-cut collars…”
That Helmut, why did he only prepare clothes that could so easily expose my male identity? Was this a part of his extremely low-classed taste? If it was someone else who was wearing this, maybe I too would enjoy the view. But to put it on myself… Uwuuwuu…
Twin princesses danced about like a pair of birds.
“It had to be in-fashion to wear low-cut this year! Winstoria Empire after all is the world-centre of culture and fashion!”
“That’s right, Orie.”
The two of them held each other’s hands overly excitedly. It was just last night that they had been weeping from being spanked. What a quick restoration… ah, well. But both your scripts were still blank!
“Humph! Who cares about fashion. Rather than wasting time on make-up, it’s more important to discipline the insides.”
Prince Ryuuju declared un-amusedly.
“Ha! No matter how good your inside is, if your outward appearance is crappy, nobody would even approach you, and there won’t even be any chance to show off your good points!”
“Sarasa’s right! Besides, the pursuit of fashion and beauty is every girl’s inborn character. If Big Brother Ryuuju remains so ignorant of the hearts of women, it would be difficult later when you actually inherit the throne. For example, when dealing with the king of another kingdom, which is more effective as gifts, precious stones for the opponent’s wife or lovers? Right, Sarasa?”
“Telling me to resort to bribery? I absolutely refuse! It’s because of people like you two that politics becomes so seedy! How can women be allowed into the sacred task of managing a country!”
“You are so gullible, Big Bro Ryuuju! Creatures known as men have absolutely no means of refusing if a beautiful lady is to flirtatiously ask him ‘Pleeaaasee?’ ~~ ”
“Nah, Sarasa. Big Bro Ryuuju who becomes shy from merely looking at Glinda’s chest can’t even be considered a man yet.”
“W-w-what! I am not shy! And I have said so earlier, I have no interest in chest!”
“There’s no need to hide it, for someone as pure as Big Bro Ryuuju: your heart is written on your face.”
“Shut up! Sarasa! Orie!”
This group of kids made a non-stop din.
Prince Ryuuju had obviously become a toy to the twin Princesses, and as a male personally, I could not help but empathise with him. Girls were certainly eloquent or precocious… Even while I was in elementary school, I was often teased by the girls in my class…
“T-that, exam is still in progress. Please be quiet and answer your scripts.”
I warned while shaken, and the Princesses Sarasa and Orie replied adorably in unison.
“Ok!”
Prince Ryuuju turned red when he heard this, probably because he felt that he should have been setting an example for his younger siblings, but just added to the din instead. Embarrassed at his actions, he shook his head angrily and continued his test.
But the twins started chatting again not long after.
“Ask you something, Glinda, what hairstyle is currently in fashion at Winstoria Empire right now?”
“Have you watched the new show by Bilger Bauer? Did the actress playing the elven queen really descended from the sky?”
“Is the Emperor of Winstoria Empire handsome?”
“Disgusting! Sarasa just loves old uncles! I want to know about the Prince of Winstoria Empire. Heard that he is about our age, so what is the colour of his eyes and hair?”
“Muah, boys of the similar age are just children, I’m certainly not interested. Men must be strong, intelligent and reliable, just like our Lord Father.”
“Lord Father is exceptional.”
“Does Orie think so too?”
“Of course.”
“Oh, Glinda, that accessary looks so pretty.”
“Is that a gift of your boyfriend?”
“How many boyfriends do you have (as in, right now)?”
The two of them bombarded me with mature question.
Prince Ryuuju screamed in impatience.
“Quiet! Boyfriends and whatnots are so pointless! Before looking for men, you should just pick up the education and character befitting of daughters of royalty!”
“Alright, continue your exams.”
I said to defuse the outburst.
Was this called teaching? Wasn’t this more like being a nanny? I was beginning to have gastric pains when…
“… Teacher.”
Wah!
Being called at by this calm voice sent a chill up my spine.
“I have completed the problems.”
“Huh? So quickly?”
“It’s boring to idle around, so many I read my book?”
“P-please do so.”
Princess Seira opened her ancient tome.
Right, she had been holding onto the book for a while now, just what was inside of it?
I carelessly peeked over…
“!”
And froze over.
W-what! The book was covered in equations and ancient writings! There was practically no empty page, and the words-filled paper was a wicked black from the ink, un-undecipherable at all!
“Ha… Hahaha… What book could this possibly be?”
I asked with a dry laugh, and Princess Seira casually replied.
“… The Mathematical Theorems from ancient Anabel civilization.”
“I-is that so, the Anabel civilization huh, that’s the one with pyramids and animalism, right? I was thinking was that really the one, hahaha… C-can you understand it?”
“… Yes. Because the grammar isn’t really that different from modern tongues. The theorems that Ophelit put forth 2000 years ago is still so applicable today, how marvellous.”
“… O-ophelit… That’s the legendary ancient genius huh… hahaha… ya, yeah that’s true… So you can really read these ancient texts so easily…”
Was I not here simply just to teach 5 to 11 year olds?
Helmut said that, just like teaching at an elementary school, even a college-exam failure like me could easily take on this task.
I had heard nothing about the eldest Princess knowing how to read ancient texts and even casually discuss Ophelit’s theorems!
W-what should I do? If she asked me any questions…
“Teacher, regarding Ophelit’s proposal…”
As if observing my reactions, Princess Seira stared at me with her purple crystal-like eyes, pointing to a line of mathematics with her thin finger.
Not good!
“Prrrrrrrriiiiinnnncceee Shin!”
I screamed, turning to look at the youngest Prince Shin.
“Is there anything that confused Prince Shin?”
What if even Prince Shin was a genius that could speak in fluent ancient tongues and easily formulate a pile of equations?
But, Prince Shin was kneading clay.
He did not look like he was playing, but with the concentrating expression of a craftsman at work, was seriously kneading the clay.
“…Prince Shin?”
“…”
“What are you doing?”
“… Secret.”
“… Is that so? Then go ahead”
“…”
He sombrely nodded.
Fueh… Luckily he was no genius.
But… For a child of 5 to emit an air of a craftsman and knead clay with a serious face… That was a little out of the ordinary…
What an awkward atmosphere.
Prince Ryuuju completed his test, the twin princesses just said nonchalantly, “I did work hard, it’s just that I really don’t know the answer ~”, “Orie feels the same. ~“
How horrid, if this was the result of the first day alone, Glinda’s rating would definitely drop, and Princess Seira might even say, “This Teacher is obviously an imitation! Unbelievable! How horrible!” Then, if they let their King Father learn of it, I might even be executed… Noooo! I must heat up the atmosphere!
“T-then, I would mark the papers later. Everyone, let’s have a game!”
Hearing my desperate proposal, the children froze.
“Glinda, what game do you want to play?”
“Board games.”
Ten minutes later, a stack of board games from the Winstoria Empire was laid on the carpet of the nursery.
These were gifts to the King of Eren, all custom crafted by famed artists and could be considered pieces of art.
“Wow! There’re so many stars on this one here, so pretty~”
“This one is called “The Journey of stars”. Oh, so romantic.”
“This one is called “Exploring Lost History”, it’s to hunt treasures from ancient ruins around the world!”
Princesses Sarasa and Orie looked at the game-boards with eyes sparkling.
“The Winstoria Empire has many board-games for educational purposes, and children of the Empire learn about history, astronomy and morals from these board games.”
“How interest ~ So, which board game should we play?”
“This one, “Princess Flora’s conversations – Within the Forest of Philosophy” looks fun; it’s to guide Princess Flora and Charming Philosopher on their discussion on philosophy and romance, to become the 1st female pope in the world.”
“Oh… That… That looks like it has been aimed towards teenage girls, it may be a little too early for Your Highnesses…”
I seemed to have remembered many scenes of kissing and hugging, contentious scenarios… say, why were such things mixed in here?
“I am not going play such childish board games.”
Prince Ryuuju crossed his arms about his chest and turned away.
I bent over to persuade him.
“Don’t say that, at least have a try. Keeping in touch with the culture of other countries is a good experience for Princes too. I recommend “The Coloured History of the World”, and “Shaking the World ~Creation of Land and Skies”, “I will be an Agricultural King!”, “Path of the Great King”…”
“… Great King?”
Prince Ryuuju’s shoulders jumped violently.
“Yes, this game teaches step by step the politics, experiences and trials, to become a Great King.”
“I-is that so, then I would try playing a little…”
He replied with a blush.
What should I say… this child was so pure.
“Then let’s play “Path of the Great King”.”
Princesses Sarasa and Orie complained unhappily that “Aww, that’s so boring.”, “Let’s play more romantic games”, but I consoled them with “I will let you choose the next time.”
Sigh, I had totally become a nanny.
Princess Seira still stared straight at me, as if observing.
“P-princess Seira, would you like to join us?”
I asked her stiffly.
“… Alright.”
She calmly answered as if somewhat unhappily.
I asked Prince Shin the same question.
“…”
He merely nodded in silence.
Uwuwuwu… why was it that these siblings were either too noisy or too quiet… so extreme…
That said, we somehow managed to begin our board game.
We spread out the colourful game board on the carpet, and everyone sat on the ground in a circle.
“First, we throw two dice and add their numbers together.”
“Six.” Said Prince Ryuuju.
“Mine’s three.” Princess Sarasa said.
“Mine’s eight.” Princess Orie said.
“… Four.” Princess Seria said.
“…”
“Oh, Prince Shin threw a Ten. Then, counting from the highest to lowest we decide the starting points of everyone, Prince Shin’s is “Palace”, Princess Orie’s is “Church”, Prince Ryuuju’s is “Martial-arts Hall”, Princess Seira’s is “Stables” and Princess Sarasa’s is “Wolf’s Den”. Please place your game-pieces dolls at their respective starting areas.”
I handed everyone their porcelain doll game-pieces.
“Tsk… Why am I in the Wolf’s Den? What is the Wolf’s Den anyway! And this doll’s hair is so messy, with such a fierce expression, not cute at all!”
Princess Sarasa said unhappily.
“That’s because the doll’s character had been abandoned as a baby in the woods, and was raised by wolves.”
“Humph…”
“My doll is clad in a white, so elegant.”
“Princess Orie’s character has been abandoned as a baby behind the church’s altar.”
“Why is everyone an abandoned child? What about Shin’s “Palace”?”
“That character is a Prince born inside of the Palace.”
“Huh! Only Shin’s so fortunate! Unfair! And I am even brought up by wolves, so unfair!”
“Hey, why is my doll’s hair tied with ribbons? This is obviously a girl!”
Prince Ryuuju was also displeased.
“That’s because Prince Ryuuju’s character is a daughter in the Martial Arts house.”
“What did you say?”
“… Teacher, what about me?” Princess Seira looked at me and asked monotonously.
I fearfully replied.
“Uh, Princess Seira’s character is the child of a travelling troupe, born in the stable of a nearby village while returning from performances somewhere.”
“… Is that so.” She coolly replied.
There was no clue on her face over whether she liked or disliked her character.
“Then let’s begin! Aright, Prince Shin, please throw the dice first.”
I faked an optimistic air, and worked hard to overturn the disappointed atmosphere.
“Three! Please move forward three steps. Ok, a choice question: To celebrate the Prince’s birthday, the ministers brought a Book of Law while the knights’ captain brought a beautiful Sword. Please choose one among them?”
“What, choose only one? So stingy!”
“Isn’t the Prince just born? How can he decide for himself?”
Princesses Sarasa and Orie scoffed in order.
“Muah, it is just a game. So, Prince Shin? Which would you choose?”
“… Big.”
“… That would be the Sword.”
The doll in a cape moved forward.
Next was the turn of Princess Orie who grew up in the Church and the dice rolled a Four.
“Ok, Princess Orie also had a choice question: The clergy prepared Wheat Bread and Cake, which would you choose to eat?”
“Cake, of course.”
“There’s another question: Just when you are about to eat, a hungry child entered, would you feed the child or eat it yourself?”
“Eat it myself, of course.”
Like this, everyone advanced through the game.
Princess Sarasa who grew up in the Wolf’s Den seemed to keep encountering choice questions like: “A Rabbit and a Wild Boar were ahead, which animal will you hunt for tonight’s dinner?”, “In the forest, an armoured knight lies dying, help him or bite him?”; These types of scenarios.
Prince Ryuuju’s Daughter of Martial Arts on the other hand kept encountering questions such as: ”A young knight comes inn-trashing, duel him?” To which he puffed out his chest and said: ”Of course.” Then, the follow-up choices were: “You and the knight fell head-over-heels in love, elope with the knight?”
“I am a dignified Prince! Why would I fall in love and elope with any random man! Isn’t the goal of this board game to become a Great King!?!”
Prince Ryuuju said in exasperation.
I could totally understand his point of view, being a man myself. Why would anyone want to tie ribbons on his hair, and romance with other men…
Thinking about my cross-dressing self, I could not help but empathise with him.
Princess Seira expressionlessly moved her game-piece doll which represented the attractive youth of a travelling troupe.
“A corrupt noble of many evils wishes to see your dance. Dance? Or unsheathe your dagger?”
“… Dance.”
“What kinds of dance? Loach Dance or Sword-Dance?”
“… Loach Dance.”
Her replies were always cold.
It was a drastic difference from the twins Princesses and their Elder Brother who made a din every time that they threw the dice, their expressions changing wildly… though one could also say the same of Prince Shin, who seemed to be idling right from the start.
Anyway, Prince Ryuuju and the rest seemed completely engrossed in the game, and by now, it was revealed that the youth who had been brought up by wolves and the one found in the church were in fact twin brothers born of a noble house that had been executed for rebellion.
“Elder Brother Sarasa!”
“Orie! My Little Brother!”
The two of them hugged each other happily in play.
Prince Shin’s character who was supposed to be the heir to the throne simply rotated eating and sleeping each day in indolence. About this time, the love-troubled but diligently-training Martial Artist Girl (Prince Ryuuju) showed up to become a bodyguard knight to the prince, all while encountering a never-ending train of issues surrounding her love-life.
“Why are ALL my choices between ‘LOVE or WORK’, ‘LOVE or HONOUR’, ‘LOVE or GLORY’?!? Is LOVE the only thing that can be weighed on the scales?”
Prince Ryuuju shouted with a face puffed in red, but continued to diligently select ‘WORK’, ‘HONOUR’ to advance his status.
The youths from the Church and the Wolf’s Den raised a rebellion with their statuses as the heirs of the Duke’s house.
In the midst of all this, Princess Seira’s young actor moved towards the heart of the country via flattering powerful officials and nobles, becoming even a close aide to the Prince, turning the Prince into his puppet and taking power by means of cloak and dagger.
What was wrong with this board game! Where did these scary scenarios come from! I should have known better and chosen the safer-sounding “Scenes of World History”!
That was apparent when Princess Seira was asked: “Loyally serve the Prince? Or serve Him with ulterior motives?”, the manner in which she calmly answered: “… with ulterior motives.”, was truly terrifying.
If this Prince did not come around soon, He might even end up like the Eighth King of Romancia, Louis the Second who was brought before the guillotine by his own close-aide!
But Prince Shin just continued his rotatory eating-and-sleeping lifestyle. Sigh… He was really shaping-up into the path of the useless ruler.
As the story went on, the Martial-Arts-Girl-turned-Knight encountered her Destiny.
In fact, the girl had been the illegitimate child of the King, and the younger sister of the Prince from a different mother!
Even though this was a ludicrous scenario, the young girl became the Kingdom’s 2nd heir-to-the-throne, even leading the country into victory against the rebels and becoming a great hero.
“Wait a second! Doesn’t that make us the Bad Guys?”
“Ya! How frustrating!”
“That is the path you two have chosen. If you have chosen virtue, putting the commoners before self, you would have naturally gained their support.”
Prince Ryuuju puffed out his chest in satisfaction.
“No matter where the starting point is, the one with royal dignity would ultimately be seated on the throne.”
He seemed to have forgotten about all the dismay he previously encountered, smiling satisfactorily. This innocence so befitting of his age was so adorable. En, even though he was a Prince, he was still a pure ordinary boy.
Prince Ryuuju was not far off from the finishing line. Fight!
But the King suddenly passed on, and rebels attacked the capital.
The young Heroine was about to lead troops when, at this moment, Princess Seira stepped in.
She accused the birthplace of the Heroine as the base of the rebels and persuaded the puppet-prince to send soldiers to attack it.
“Hey! What are you doing! Seira!”
Prince Ryuuju stood frowning.
Princess Seira stared at him coldy and said calmly.
“… I am merely making the ‘right choice’.”
Whoa!~~~ What a cold expression! Her words and expression were nothing like a 9 year old child, how terrifying. I had heart-felt pity for Prince Ryuuju.
“… It is Elder Brother Ryuuju’s turn to throw the dice.”
“Uwwu…”
Prince Ryuuju had a severe expression as he threw the dice.
Five.
Great! He would make it to the finishing line this turn!
But, before he could advance, he was given yet another choice.
“Uh, would you lead your troops to your birthplace? Or to the Capital?”
Prince Ryuuju jumped in fright, shut his lips and clenched his fists. Whoa, he was really thinking hard.
If he went to the Capital and defeat the rebels, he would receive support from the populace and become the King.
If he returned to his hometown, he would be accused of rebellion and be wounded in an attack, sitting out two turns.
Going to the Capital would be the ‘right choice’ in the words of Princess Seira, and perhaps this was to illustrate some of the necessary sacrifices a King would have to eventually make for greater good.
But, it was too cruel to make a child choose such choices.
Was this board game really made for kids? Why would there be such psychologically damaging choice questions within? If it was like this, even winning the game would not bring happiness. Why the crabbage did you send such a serious board game? Helmut!
Prince Ryuuju tightened his fists in deep concentration, chewing his lips and looking extremely pained.
Ohoh, this child was being too serious!
“That, Prince Ryuuju? It is just a little game, please relax yourself.”
I worriedly adviced, but he asked gravely:
“If I were to go to the Capital, would my hometown’s people be all slaughtered as rebels?”
“Er, that may not always be the case, besides this is just a game.”
What a headache. As a teacher, what was I supposed to say at this point of time?
Princess Seira stared straight into me. Uwuwu… so pressurising.
At this time, one of the twin princesses said impatiently:
“Aya! Big Bro Ryuuju is overthinking things! Glinda is right, it’s just a game, so hurry up and go to the finishing line!”
One of the twins, Princess Sarasa, or maybe it was Princess Orie, got up and grabbed Prince Ryuuju’s doll.
“Ok, Five, right? Finishing line~!”
She ended the game all on her own.
“Whoa~~~ Sarasa! What are you doing? The people in my hometown…”
“Humph! Anyway since the doll has reached the finishing point, the game has ended. As promised, this time let us choose a romantic board game!”
“Y-You… No way! That move doesn’t count! I must restart!”
“Ara, really, let’s just consider this Big Bro Ryuuju’s win.”
“Sarasa agrees! Being a King is so boring; I absolutely don’t want to become one.”
“That’s right, whoever says he wants to become a king must have no dreams at all.”
“Don’t insult the duties of a King! Don’t run away with my doll! Return it at once, Sarasa!”
“Don’t waaannaaa~~”
Princess Sarasa playfully stuck out her tongue towards Prince Ryuuju while tugging his doll tightly in her chest. The latter rushed towards her with a huff.
“Whoa! No fighting!”
I hastily leaped over in order to jump between the two of them, but tripped and fell.
“Whoa!”
“Wha!”
I fell atop of Prince Ryuuju.
The Prince Ryuuju crushed under me looked abashed and angry, reddened and trembling from head to toe.
“Ah! Glinda is sooo daring!”
“It must have felt great to be pushed over by Glinda, Big Bro Ryuuju!”
The twins’ cheers made the stricken Prince Ryuuju widen his eyes.
“N-No! This is just an accident! I-i-i-i-i-i-I have absolutely no perverted intentions…”
I stammered out an explanation.
“Impudent fellow! Go away!”
Prince Ryuuju screamed in rage.
Sigh, what a mess.
If this was just the first day of my lessons, how would I ever be able to handle being these children’s private tutor?
Princess Seira continued to simply stare coldly at the frightened me.
Fue, class was finally over.
Afternoon, I returned to my room, and, once alone, threw myself in abandon onto the bed.
A mere short three hours, and yet my body felt as if it had endured three long years.
“I’ve had enough ~~~ Muah, I said I can’t be a private tutor~~~ Helmut, when would you be coming back?!?”
I no longer wished to cross-dress into this stifling, ridiculous dress.
Princess Seira had discovered the truth, and kept giving an accusatory glare as if to say “You, pervert!”, not to mention that my job as a tutor turned into a mess, with Prince Ryuuju hating my guts, the twin Princesses not bothering about anything I said, and Prince Shin staring in idle…
As I thought, there was something wrong with making a man like me to pretend to be Glinda.
Was it not said that Winstoria Empire’s Intelligence Agency was so professional that they could locate Glinda in just 3 to 4 days? Was that fellow who just dumped me here and escaped back home really reliable?
Maybe I was abandoned since a long time ago…
Would I have to stay here as a cross-dressing pervert for the rest of my life? Must I shave my legs as long as I live?
As I mulled over my worries, my stomach began to twist and turn in unrest and tears started to flow tragically.
“Uwwwuwu… Come back quickly! Helmut!”
As I grasped the bed sheets and cried into it, a sound suddenly came from within the room.
“Excuse me, but do you happen to be lovers with Lord Helmut?”
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LNWNCentral_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata - Volume 01
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Dress-na-Boku-ga-Yangotonaki-Katagata-Volume-01-[GirlyBoysAlliance][Proxus]/Chapter_05.txt
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Chapter 05
Chapter 05
I climbed up from the bed immediately.
“!”
I had thought the room empty, but there was in fact a girl in maid get-up, grasping a cleaning rag and standing by the bedside with a nervous face.
Her age was close to mine with a head of thick red hair, and was a big-chested cute young girl.
What? Where had this girl come from?!?
Had I said anything that I should not? Nothing about leg-shaving, I hoped?
And, she even thought that I was lovers with Helmut!
She apologised to the horrified me, and then said.
“My name is Anneth and I work as maid here. I was cleaning the room when you suddenly returned and began talking to yourself while lying on the bed, so I had no chance to announce my presence. I truly have no ill-intentions.”
I blushed when I heard that.
“You… You heard me talking to myself?”
“Yes, I heard your tragic calls for ‘Helmut, Helmut’.”
Wah!
“Watching you pining wholeheartedly for Lord Helmut, I can no longer remain silent.”
“Uwwah! T-t-this has got to be a misunderstanding! I am no lover of Helmut, just like camels and geese can’t possibly fall in love!”
Helmut after King Cecello? Why should there be so many rumours between me and other men? And it had to be THAT seedy fellow! Just the mere thought of him raised goose-bumps on my skin!
Hearing my determined answer, Anneth let out a sigh of relief.
“That is great ~ I have just been thinking: what should I do if you happened to be lovers with Lord Helmut. God, just the mere thought is making my stomach hurt and blood rushing into my head. Ohoohoo, that’s really great.~ ”
She repeated “that’s great” with a reddened face.
Was this girl in love with Helmut?
Wwwwwwhat? For such a cute girl to like that fellow?!?
“When Lord Helmut first came to Eren as a diplomat, every girl working in the palace was asking: ‘who could that gorgeous black-haired man be?’. I was also as if I was struck by a bolt of lightning. What a handsome man, with such elegant voice and smile, and holding even elite status… Superb!”
How disgusting, for a lovely girl like her with such large assets, positive and ordinary demeanour that completely fitted my type, to actually had interest in Helmut!
If you judged based on his appearance alone, Helmut was indeed a handsome elite diplomat, but his true face was that of a cold-blooded swindler who forced innocent young boys into cross-dress before selling them off to foreign countries!
Even if his conduct seemed gentle, he was actually a complete sadist with outrageous attitude, and his insides must definitely be as black as the ink of a squid. As a male myself, I guarantee!
Sigh, what a pity, for such a pretty girl, such an adorable young girl… slightly shorter than myself, with chest large enough to jiggle, eyes that shined with life and cheerful voice…
Helmut that b*****, I really wanted to bash him into a bloody pulp, and pull his pants down to reveal half his backside!
“That’s right, from the moment I first laid my eyes on him, I knew he would be a perfect match with His Majesty.”
“Huh?”
This conversation seemed to be going in a strange direction?
“Who did you say is a good match with whom?”
“That is of course Lord Helmut and King Cecello! Just think about it, with His Majesty’s exceptional beauty and charisma, as well as high status, it is truly difficult to find a matching partner, right? And everyone surrounding Him is far too old. His Majesty’s close aide Lord Luther is younger than Him, and looks very cute too, but he is definitely a Bottom no matter how you look at him, so there’s no way to picture him pushing His Majesty over. In my opinion, His Majesty is absolutely, completely a Bottom, and not a Top! That is a point I will never concede!”
What was this girl talking about?
What were the meanings of Top and Bottom? And what was it all about pushing His Majesty over?
Anneth continued in breathless excitement:
“If Lord Helmut and His Majesty were to stand together, the picture becomes perfect, and they would certainly have millions of chances to interact and spar. The pairing of the monarch of a small kingdom and the diplomat of a large empire is also highly attractive, just take for example the other day when Lord Helmut arrived, the two of them immediately locked themselves into a small room. Using the might of Winstoria Empire, the black-hearted Lord Helmut exacted preposterous demands, while His Majesty, shamed and trembling, surrendered for the sake of his people… Magnifique! His Majesty rebuffed at first, but gave in at last to the charms of Lord Helmut after the heat of every steamy night, and is absolutely tortured because of it… Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh! I can’t take it any more!”
××△○××※～～～～～～
If you asked me my impressions right then, that was probably how it was like.
Huh? Heat of every steamy night? The King already had the Queen! He so loved His wife that they had 6 kids in total, and the way He laid His eyes on her almost gave Him away as a resident of the Kingdom of Wife-Lovers. How would He ever do something like that with Helmut!
“His Majesty is an ABSOLUTE BOTTOM! You agree too, don’t you?”
“M-mmmmmmmaybe…”
Under her fascinating appeal, I could not help but felt forced to nod. Just what the peaches did Top and Bottom mean?
Hearing my reply, Anneth grasped my hands with joy all over her cheerful smiling face.
“Right! Right! So happy ~~~ You too support Lord Helmut x His Majesty King Cecello! Cece-Mut is completely heresy, Helmu-Llo is the divine path! Oh, I had just been holding onto the cleaning rag, so I am truly sorry. I had thought that geniuses like Glinda would be far too highbrow for commoners like us, but hey, looks like it isn’t really like that. Can I directly call you ‘Glinda’? You can also just call me ‘Anneth’.”
“Uh… Ok… Anneth…”
“I will focus on expounding on Helmu-Llo this year! I would bring you my next publication the next time I come.”
“Uh… Thanks…”
There was even a publication of it! A book about the hot steamy nights of Lord Helmut x King Cecello!
“Oh no! I still have not completed my chores. See you again, Glinda, if there’s anything that you don’t understand in this castle, just ask me about it! But you must also trade me information of Lord Helmut, His Majesty and Their royal highness (Princes)!”
“Ttttttthat, Anneth!”
“What is it?”
“Would you happen to be another relative of His Majesty, or some daughter of the nobles?”
This, after all, was a country where even the Queen put on a maid’s garb and served guests, so it would not be surprising at all if some duke’s daughter was washing the socks.
Anneth gave a little shake, and smiled, saying.
“No way, my family owned a bakery in the city. My home has seven children, and there’s no room in the house, so I came to the palace to work.”
“Bakery?”
“Yes! The bread we baked with cherry and fig is the most delicious!”
Anneth displayed a smile as glorious as the sun, and then left in a hurry.
Prior to coming to Eren, Fleury, that girl who l I fell in love with but was rejected by, had also been working in a bakery…
Oh, so Anneth’s family opened a bakery.
This information made me strangely delighted, and my chest began to feel regular beats, but I immediately remembered Anneth’s speech earlier and felt a headache rising.
~~His Majesty is an absolute BOTTOM!
For such a pretty adorable young girl, with such ample assets, warm and cheerful character…
No matter how you looked at her, it was an absolute pity.
“… There seems to be no lack of crazies in this country.”
As Anneth left the room, I gave a shrug and went for a stroll around the courtyard.
“The Queen is a maid, and the King is an ageless cultural relic…”
My working hours were only in the mornings, so I had free time in the afternoons, and if we were to just discuss the working conditions, there could be no better. But the threat of being exposed at any time was about to give me stomach ulcers…
The reason for the stroll, therefore, was to familiarize myself with the escape routes in case I had to run for it.
Spring had almost come to an end, and the beginnings of summer had started to reveal itself in the lush greenery of the woods in the courtyard, where bright sunlight pierced through the canopy of leaves.
“Isn’t this palace a little too large?”
Ten minutes into the stroll, I let out a shout of dismay. Just the building proper would have occupied a huge area, and there was an immensely well-maintained and beautiful garden out front, followed by a forest in the outer circle!
The Queen had said that she nearly got in deep trouble while picking mushrooms out here and getting lost. She even warned me with a completely serious face that I had to be careful of the ground underfoot because there might be swamps and pools of water below. At that time, I had thought “Was the Queen just directionally-challenged?” Or maybe just prone to getting lost? But now when I actually entered this forest, I realised that I might even be lost in its depth myself!
There were several layers of walls outside of the forest, and a moat filled with water outside of them.
Until 10 years ago, the isolation faction and its counter were still fighting perpetually, so this castle was fortified into a fortress, so its current appearance was probably a left-over effect of that time.
But, as it was, there was no way for me to escape.
Muah, forget it. It should be easier to get out than to come in, so I should first map out my routes of escape.
As I quietly muttered while planning, a lonely sound flowed from within the forest.
Violin?
The sad notes took root in my heart, commanding me to draw closer towards the direction of their source.
I had zilch talents with music, and the only instrument I could use was the tambourine.
But since I had grown up in the city known as the Capital of Music, Vienna, where you could hear music in just about anywhere, I had had the opportunity to listen to, and be moved to tears by all kinds of music, from the road-side basking violins to concerts of famed musicians.
If we were to talk just about music appreciation, I was pretty confident in my abilities.
Therefore I could declare that the handler of that violin possessed extraordinary talents.
This silver colour that shined with nobility and charm like jewels.
Despite that, felt so delicate, so sad, and so lonely.
Who was the one that was producing this music?
In rich green forest filled with straight boughs, stood a young girl with a violin in her hands.
Princess Seira!
I was speechless with surprise.
It was like a scene out of the fables.
Amongst the thin boles of the surrounding trees, an even slimmer and more delicate beauty was playing the violin.
A small hand held the glistening dark brown of beautiful instrument, a white cheek tilted to the side as support, pulling and drawing the bow of the violin. The long silver hair seemed to be absorbing the bright sunlight directly from above, and gave off a cold sparkle in its soft waver.
Princess Seira closed her eyes in deep concentration while pulling on the violin.
The sad transparent melody vibrated in the air.
Silver hair dreamily swayed.
These sounds… such notes… to think that they were produced at the hands of this juvenile Princess!
The melody stopped then.
Princess Seira lifted her head towards me.
As our eyes met, my heart almost leapt out in fear.
“Ohohoh, my apologies for disrupting your practice! You played the violin really well… Urh, no, I mean…”
“…”
At least give me a response!
Princess Seira continued to keep her face close to the violin, looking at me coldly without even moving a hair on her brows. I was obviously scared stiff in apprehension.
~~ Why does Teacher cross-dress?
The doubts that she had earlier this morning seemed to be about to pop out from her portrait-like beautiful lips at any moment, and I could hardly stop myself from sweating in fear.
“Uh, that, about what you asked yesterday, I am not really cross-dressing as a woman… Ooh! Is it because I made a mistake and said ‘your servant’? That is just a habit, since I have always wanted to be a boy when I was young. Even now I still accidentally say that, so… even if your humble servant says ‘your servant’, it doesn’t mean that I am a male… Ah! I said it again!”
Obviously I was just digging myself deeper, and totally felt like dying already.
Princess Seria’s pair of amethyst eyes continued to observe me in silence.
Peach-pink coloured lips gradually opened…
“Heheh! So that’s where you are! Ms Glinda!”
The pot-bellied uncle appeared with pomp while leading a troop of officials behind him.
The edgy atmosphere vanished without a trace in an instant.
What was with this uncle? What’s going on?
Uhoh, this old uncle who kept glaring at me previously in the welcoming ceremony had caused me much discomfort, but he seemed extraordinarily polite today.
“We have been trying to locate you for a long time now, in order to seek the wisdom of the all-powerful genius Ms Glinda.”
He said in a flattering voice.
“I am the Chief Minister Gaston. Ara, to have a girl-genius such as Ms Glinda visit Eren makes us all feel so privileged and thankful! Heard that Lady Glinda is an unrivalled genius who will not be stumbled by anything in the world!”
“I-I am not really that smart…”
That’s right, the smart one was Glinda, while I was just a NEET who failed college-preparatory exams.
“Hahaha, that’s too humble of you. With the great wisdom of a genius like Ms Glinda, all our troubles will soon disappear. Alright then, please come with us.”
“Oh, w-wait …”
That uncle tugged my hand tightly while the top officials of Eren surrounded me all over as if to examine a divine bird out of a legend, looking at me worshipfully. Their expressions said, “Genius Ms Glinda would definitely have a way.”
Oh no!
Where were they taking me to? What were they planning to do to me?
I was different from Glinda! I was no genius! Just a poor commoner suffering from some deficiency in testosterone that made my skin smoother than the usual! And a resident from the Kingdom of a Million Heartbreaks that could not write a love letter to save his skin!
Princess Seira nonchalantly stared at my gaping and closing mouth while I was dragged away by Chief Minister Gaston.
Ahhhhhhhhhhh! God help me ~~~!
“That, I still have to prepare for tomorrow’s lessons…”
“Ms Glinda is a genius, what do those things matter.”
“No, no, no such thing, I am just an ordinary person…”
“Hahaha, Ms Glinda sure knows how to joke around.”
Please let go of my hand! Fat uncle! The grease was about to make me puke!
Teary-eyed, I was brought to some research facility inside some corner of the palace.
The air was thick with a murderous aura in this research facility, with occasional grunts of anger sounding.
“E-everyone seems so busy here, I guess I shouldn’t be disturbing…”
But when that bunch of people noticed my presence…
“Ms Glinda!”
“Why it’s the person herself!”
Everyone rushed over gleefully towards me.
Ooooohhhhh! Even if I were to be greeted by such a huge crowd of men, I would not be pleased. In fact, my face was turning red.
An architect called Satchel reverently said to the petrified me “Lady Glinda must definitely offer us her wisdom”, then spread out an immense blueprint.
“The Ionie River outside of the city often overflows, and we are preparing to build a dyke around it.”
He continued to pour out a flood of technical terms for well over twenty minutes, before asking me: “Well, what do you think?” while everyone looked on with eyes full of hopeful expectations.
T-those eyes were obviously awaiting me to provide some ingenious pointers!
I felt cold all over.
If it was Glinda, she would just elegantly resolve the problem, winning glamour and praises from everyone all over. But I was just an ordinary boy! How could I possibly know anything about aqua-engineering, or bridge-building and such? My level of skill was just sufficient to build some bird’s house or fix the fence around our home, and even this blueprint was giving me a headache just from looking at it.
Minister Gaston glared at me, sneering.
“Oh? What’s wrong, Ms Glinda? Your face doesn’t look too good, Could-It-Be, the widely-acclaimed invincible scholar, the so-called gem of wisdom from the Winstoria Empire – Girl-genius Lady Glinda, could not even solve a problem of this level?”
This guy was definitely one of those fellows who abused their wives!
Uwwwuuuuuu… Oh no, my eyes were blurring over. This time they would definitely discover that I was an imposter, and I would soon be dragged off as a cross-dressing criminal of the state to be imprisoned or executed…
“Uww… T-that, this place here… maybe should be ‘slightly’… “
Imagining the noose around my neck, I randomly pointed at the blueprint.
Satchel frowned.
“I am sorry? Would you mind elaborating a little?”
“Uh… Ah…”
If there was anyway to elaborate, would I still be sweating like this? Please read the mood a little, Satchel~~
It was just then –
“Huh? That is!”
Satchel suddenly glued his face atop of the blueprints, carefully examining it.
“Huhuhu… So that’s what it is…”
The surrounding crowd also began to let out “Huhu” or gasps of “Ah”.
Then, everyone began whispering with Satchel in the centre, and then suddenly all looked towards me with looks teeming in respect.
“You have our utmost gratitude, Lady Glinda. But for your help in pointing out this severe issue, we would still be lost. To be capable of going straight at the heart of the problem, as expected of the acclaimed genius!”
“Wha!”
Satchel grasped my hand tightly, the surrounding people heaping words like “Truly genius”, “To be able to see the answer right away”, “Lady Glinda saved our lives” or “Lady Glinda is truly our lives’ saviour”.
“Urg… Humph, such small problems are of course trivial to geniuses.”
Only Minister Gaston had a sour face as he threw out those words.
Even though I still had no idea what was going on, it seemed like it had been resolved.
But…
“We’ve heard that Ms Glinda is also well-versed in the study of economics. Please grant us your wisdom.”
Minister Gaston dragged me somewhere else.
“W-wait…”
My knowledge of economics was just limited to weekly discounts offered by shopping malls in the Winstoria Empire…
In a beat, we had arrived at the Finance Ministry headquarters.
“Hoho! It’s Lady Glinda!”
“We have been awaiting your arrival! Regarding this problem in our accounts, we wish to discuss something with you.”
The crowd brought over a stack of numbers-covered documents that seemed thick enough to serve as a murder weapon. I was dazzled by the sight alone. The end. This was surely the end of me. I trembled as I pretended to peruse the books…
“Ah, this…”
I muttered with a frozen gaze.
“Hoho, any comments?”
The surrounding financial department officials peered over from my two sides.
Everyone focused their lines of sight suspiciously on the page I was looking at, and suddenly exclaimed: ”Eureka! All that we had to do is to bring the remaining sums from this side to the other side for manipulation!”, “Hoho, then there will be not need to raise the taxes! As expected of Lady Glinda!”
Despite not understanding what ‘this side’ and ‘that side’ meant, I dully nodded to accept their praises.
Again Lord Gaston grunted in displeasure.
“Humph~~~ There’s something else!”
Lord Gaston dragged me away while gnashing his teeth.
No matter where I got dragged over to, however, all that I managed to do was to take a glance and mutter something unintelligible, before everyone else said in reverence.
“So that is it! It is just like that!”
“As expected of the ingenious Lady Glinda!”
There was even this bent rheumatic old secretary with sore back who skipped lightly while holding my hand.
“My backache disappeared! It’s a miracle!”
“Do you see that? Even just one small touch is sufficient to cure! As expected of Ms Glinda!”
“It’s like the legends coming alive!”
Were the people of Eren Kingdom always this gullible…
Was it really so easy to succeed? Was the title of being a genius really so potent?
No, there had got to be some trick awaiting me…
I sensed an air of killing intent. Glancing over, I saw Chief Minister scowling furiously at me like an unfed baited gorilla.
“T-that… It is about time for me to go for my marathon practice…”
The disquiet in my heart warned me to run away as quickly as possible, but a claw-like hand stopped me.
Lord Gaston showed a little smile to my cowering body.
“I have heard that Lady Glinda is capable of defeating 10000 men alone. If that’s really the case, your skills in martial arts must be exemplary.”
My challenger was a young man named Jerome who shouldered a humongous broad sword.
He was a blue-eyed blond pretty-boy with exquisite five features who held the commanding seat of the knight company. With only one of his arm, he could swing a large sword that was almost as high as my body.
“Ha, you’re asking someone as handsome and strong as me to fight with a girl in lacy dress? Spare me please; if it gets out that I hit girls, my reputation’s gonna get tarnished.”
“You must give no quarter! Jerome! The opponent is a genius, so you must give your all! Spare no effort to beat her down! If you lose, I am going to deduct your wages!”
Chief Minister Gaston shouted.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Jeez. Uncle, why do you always force me into such pointless stuff?”
The pretty-boy knight sulked.
On the training grounds of the castle, crowds of knights and soldiers waited to watch our duel.
“Hey, who do you think will win?”
“Most likely it’s gonna be Jerome. Even though he likes to boast around, his skill is top notch. No matter how wise the genius is, she’s no match for a man’s muscle strength.”
“No, but since it’s Lady Glinda, maybe she can actually win.”
“Today’s definitely going to be an exciting match. I must go boast to those dudes who aren’t on duty!”
Ohohoho, such heavy expectations… huge pressure…
I was just a scrawny boy! I had never lifted anything heavier than a spade, and was a pacifist who even released the fishes I fished up!
Besides, this… this huge sword… the edge seemed to be gleaming brightly… was it actually real?
“Hey, who would bring this lady a set of armour?”
The pretty-boy knight yelled towards the watching crowd.
Was this duel so deadly as to require the need of armour?
“There’s no need.”
A calm voice sounded on the training grounds.
Huah! It was Princess Seira! Why was she here?
The eldest Princess Seira was just 9 years of age, but emitted a stern air of impenetrability all over. She coldly commanded.
“Teacher Glinda does not require any armour.”
Huh? What did that mean? Was she setting me up?
Alarm filled all who were present.
“Oh, since Lady Glinda is a genius, she has no need for armour?”
“As expected of Lady Glinda!”
Wait a second! It was not I who said anything! It was obviously Princess Seira who…
“Ha! Interesting! Alright, then let’s begin! I shall teach you, that women should not tread lightly into the battles of men, and just follow obediently!”
A vein seemed to have popped on the head of the handsome knight as he screamed, probably mistaking my refusal (not mine exactly, it was Princess Seira) of armour as a challenge to his ego.
Wah! Help! If Glinda was here, she would definitely have a way of defusing this crisis, such as by hypnotising the opponent into believing himself as a pigeon; or, having completely researched into the weaknesses of the opponent even before the battle began, just whisper a word that completely shatter the opponent’s morale as soon as the battle began.
But, I could not possibly do any of those things!
“You have best surrender! Ms Genius! Or you may really get hurt!”
The knight pompously flicked his golden hair and pointed his huge sword towards me, its edges gleaming in a dangerous light.
Uwwaaaaah! If that thing was to slice at me, even my bones would be sliced apart!
Heeeelp~~~~ Muuuurrrdeeerr!!!
I could care less about impressions at this stage! Only by pleading surrender and ending this farce of a duel would a commoner like I be able to survive!
The sword was about to fall.
I kneeled forward with my sword.
“I-I surren…”
“What!”
The handsome knight gave a shocked scream.
Strange? I looked up just to see him trip and barrel-rolled violently.
The gigantic sword was swung into the sky before dropping and stabbing into the ground beside me.
Much further away, the head-over-heels knight fell keeled over.
The crowds around us fell as silent as a cemetery.
Princess Seira watched on coldly.
A minute later, cheers resounded throughout the training grounds.
“Absolute genius! To be able to avoid Jerome’s attack just at the right instant, and even throw him aside by borrowing his momentum!”
“I had thought that she would use her sword, but to win just by her hand-to-hand skills alone! Just how calculated is her application of skills?”
“That calm and easy manner with which she won is unbelievable! This is the mark of a genius!”
I had just wanted kneel down and surrender, but that seemed to have made handsome-knight Jerome miss his target and fall over by himself.
The pretty-boy knight crawled over in pain, moaning.
“Uwwwuu~~~ For me to lose to a woman! Why can’t I read any of your moves! How the hell did those thin arms manage to throw me aside? Is that witchcraft?!?”
You just fell by yourself…
“Fool! I have told you not to be careless! I will deduct your pay! And demote you!”
Lord Gaston shouted.
“That, I really should be returning to my room… See, even the sun is setting…”
The sunset washed over the buildings in a red glow and crows cawed mournfully in the sky.
Chief Minister Gaston’s face became so swollen that steam almost escaped from it, muttering, and then said while glaring.
“Even this is not enough to proof that Ms Glinda is a talent suitable for our country! The real test lies in next month’s marathon competition!”
What marathon competition?
That night, Anneth visited me after her shift ended and cleared my doubts.
“There is a marathon competition next month organized personally by His Majesty, and it has been divided into two competitive groups, one for men and the other for women and children. The top runner of this competition would be awarded a luxurious gift. All members of the royal family will be participating in it.”
“Huh, huh? The King, the Queen and even all the Princes and Princesses would be participating?”
What was the big deal that even the royal family would be taking part?
But Anneth replied without any surprise.
“That is right. You see, this idea actually came from Her Majesty. The Queen actually loved marathons, and won the 2nd prize in a competition when she was in elementary school. This is so memorable for Her that His Majesty, who dotes on the Queen so much, decided to organize a marathon competition open to the public.”
Wow, were all affairs of royalty so easily decided? It reminded me of Sultan Harihasan who outlawed causing any injury to cats because of his favourite cat-loving concubine. This ruler who ruled over a desert country a thousand years ago even built monuments and palaces everywhere for the sake of his favourite concubine. I guessed he must have been the neighbour of King Cecello in the Kingdom of Wife-Lovers.
“Any foreigners who wish to participate in it must first pass an initial round and be judged fit. The ministers felt that this could cause excessive burden on the issue of security, and so requested that only the people within the capital be allowed to take part. But His Majesty overrode them, saying that only a non-discriminatory competition would have any meaning in it.”
“Hoho, so that’s how it comes to be.”
I nodded.
“Besides, this will serve to show other countries that Eren is safe and peaceful, as well as increase the common-folk’s trust in the royal family.”
So it was not held only for the sake of the Queen. King Cecello’s legendary wisdom was no mere rumour.
As I pondered over such things…
“Glinda really notices things that commoners like us can never even imagine! So cool!”
Anneth looked at me with eyes filled with respect.
Then she smiled adorably towards me, causing me much embarrassment.
Nah, I was just an armchair political commentator who enjoyed picking at the reports of newspaper and the tabloids for their shallow analysis. This much was truly nothing… Haha…
Anneth was really cute… I wish I could go on a date with her. We could go on a picnic in the fields… while I cross-dressed?
While I lamented, Anneth exclaimed with stars in her eyes:
“But, to prepare for this marathon run, they must begin repairing the roads and paths even in the face of insufficient manpower. Oh, the hardship it causes would become the trigger for deeper camaraderie between men of all rank and files!”
Huh? Somehow the topic became a little distant…
“Situations such as when the gorgeous senior passes out from pure fatigue! The normally stern and guarded senior collapses on the shoulder of his underling! The long-enduring underling is also fabulous~~~ Of course, the senior is the Bottom, while the junior is the Top!”
Here it comes! Top and Bottom again!
“Satchel, that architect in charge of aqua-engineering, and his immediate subordinate Luka give off a hot atmosphere. Luka seems to enjoy touching Satchel, and Satchel doesn’t seem to mind either, even secretly passing his manual to him. Ooooohhhh! My nose bleeds just from the thought of it! Fred and Guy from the Labour Department also look suspicious! Lyon and Alec from the Finance even share their clothes! Those two must definitely be in a relationship!”
“That… Is that so…”
“Definitely! A 100 percent!”
Anneth shot me a thumbs-up while winking to assure me. The topic had totally gone on a cruise…
“Hu… I thought we were talking about the marathon run competition…”
“Ah, that’s right. That’s why I say that marathons are the best! Gleaming muscles and flying sweat drops are matchless combinations! The painfully panting Bottom and the Top who embraces him at the finishing line! Marvellous!”
My head was starting to spin from the ache… She was so adorable… Why…
“That is why I would be watching romantic competition of the men’s group, but I would also cheer for you, so you must fight!”
“Huh?”
“Aren’t you also participating in the competitions? Chief Minister Gaston has already announced to everyone, he said that ‘Because Lady Glinda is a genius, she would be taking part in the men’s group. She can definitely defeat the weak men of Eren Kingdom and win the top prize.’”
“!”
“What’s wrong, Glinda? Your face doesn’t look too good.”
“… I want to go run 100 rounds around the castle right now…”
“There’s definitely no problem for you! That’s because you are a genius! You even easily defeated Jerome of the Knights Brigade. Jerome may look handsome, but is actually a narcissistic and irritating fool, so everyone is elated. Glinda is awesome! You would definitely finish first in the race!”
At the sight of Anneth’s sparkling eyes while saying such things, I could hardly say that I was no good at running.
Another person who was equally frustrated with the marathon race was none other than its instigator – Her Majesty, the Queen.
“What to do, Teacher? In an entire year, there is only a single half-day when I actually enjoy a marathon race, and that is during its closing ceremony. For the rest of the 364.5 days, I hate it and would even pray fervently at the ‘teru teru bozu’ dolls every day before the race that there would be rain on the day of the competition.
When I was in the 4th year of elementary school, I was the second place for the girl’s competition in my class of 12, and that was only because the ten in front of me all got lost. But Mother felt that I would most likely never again win any prizes involving exercises, so she baked a cake to celebrate it with me. You should understand now that I run as fast as a tortoise? Boohoo, what should I do? Everyone knows that I would be participating in the marathon run, so there’s no way I can shirk from it now. All I said was that I can still remember the pain of running the marathons… I never said that I wanted to run…”
Her eyes began to glaze over with tears as if throwing accusation at the King.
Muah, if that was really the case, She should have made clear Her thoughts to His Majesty earlier. Then King Cecello who so adored His wife would never have organized a race to torture His most beloved.
In the end, the King was telling everyone all over:
“The one who suggested the marathon race is Her Majesty, everyone should participate. That way, the Queen would be overjoyed.”
As it was, there was no way for the Queen now to shun the race. And that went for me as well.
“Ms Glinda is a genius, so she will win easily! If she lost, she will have to do a head-stand while wearing a skirt!”
Chief Minister Gaston was announcing such to everyone.
Sir Jerome who had been sent flying by me (?) also said.
“I will never lose this marathon competition! If I win, I will make her put on this pair of dog ears while barking, ‘Arf! Woof!’. Of course, I would do the same if I were to lose!”
He twirled a headband decorated with dog’s ears in his finger as he announced it.
If I were to say that I did not want to participate in the marathon race now, nobody would accent to it.
Not only that, I was apparently listed among the prospective top winners already.
“The top prize would definitely go to Ms Glinda! That’s because she’s a genius!”
“I would also cheer for Ms Glinda!”
Hearing that bunch of people who arbitrarily decided to form my cheer-leading team, I could feel my ulcer reacting.
Besides that, another group within the army said:
“Even if she is a genius, it is an utter disgrace to lose to a girl! We must steal all three top places, and all who do not make the top 100 places will have their pay deducted!”
They began to train every morning in high spirit.
Even people from the clerical departments staked their honour and said:
“We must not be looked down upon by the soldiers!”
According to the news, the atmosphere outside of the palace was even more intense.
“The winner would be awarded a great prize!”
“We can see the royal family!”
It was a complete festive mood.
From the successfully completed roadwork, tightening of security, and furore of improved moods, it could be said that His Majesty’s decision to organize a marathon competition had already borne fruits.
But, the colour of my complexion paled with each closing day, as did the pain in my stomach worsened.
“Uwuuwuu… Teacher Glinda, we must keep fighting…”
The Queen gripped my two hands with her eyes clouded over in tears, but the only thing I could do was to help Her Majesty with her manufacture of ‘teru teru bozu’ dolls.
It was at this time that, Helmut, who had departed for nearly half a month, returned to Eren Kingdom.
“What’s this? What a funny-looking accessory.”
Helmut looked at the window hung full with ‘teru teru bozu’ and asked in apprehension.
In the hometown of Her Majesty, apparently people believed that by crafting a doll from a piece of white cloth wrapped around some cotton, then drawing on it the eyes and the mouth, they could summon forth sun-shine by hanging those dolls upright, and call forth rain by hanging them upside-down.
“Let’s pray that it would summon a great flood like that in the legendary Genesis.”
I mumbled in despair and Helmut seemed to have caught on. He displayed that unbelievably cheerful smile of his.
“Countries everywhere are all abuzz with news of Lady Glinda’s registry for the King’s marathon run competition, even saying that if she cannot win the 1st prize, she would put on a dog-ears headband and do headstands while wearing a skirt and barking: ‘Woof! Arf!’”
“The tabloids have done it now! Uwwuuuwuu… I promised no such things; it is Chief Minister Gaston who went all by himself to spread all those rumours. That old uncle has been glaring and marking me since day 1, and even now looks for all kinds of means to bully me.”
“Hoho, that’s because Gaston belongs to the Orlando faction.”
Helmut nodded.
“Orlando?”
The Orlando Kingdom was my father’s hometown, and was also known as the Kingdom of Chivalry that prided itself in its martial prowess. When our parents passed away from an accident, Glinda and I continued to stay on in Orlando until we were 5 years old.
“Despite its small size, Eren Kingdom has temperate environmental conditions and still much undeveloped lands and resources. Until 10 years ago, this country is still known as the ‘isolated kingdom’, but after opening up to the outside world, it has vigorously absorbed culture and technology from outside and been developing non-stop.
It is within expectations that the Eren Kingdom would become even more prosperous, more affluent, and more powerful in the future. Therefore, every country has been fighting to create diplomatic ties with Eren under terms that are most beneficial to themselves. And for that purpose, every country offered up the best things in their possession as gifts to seal those pacts. The Kingdom of Chivalry Orlando offered strength of might, while the Economic Superpower Rubinia offered money and labour.”
In the midst of all these offers, King Cecello chose the Empire of Knowledge and Arts which offered the promise of sending over the omnipotent-genius Glinda as the royal tutor – the Winstoria Empire.
“The King of Eren Kingdom made a very wise decision. Orlando’s military aid and Rubinia’s wealth are both very tempting offers, but that would also chain down the kingdom into relying on them. Our Imperial Highness could see through this point, and just offered Winstoria Empire’s gem: girl-genius Glinda. It spoke of His wisdom.”
“Chief Minister Gaston wanted to forge the alliance with Orlando Kingdom?”
“That’s right. That’s why he sees you as a thorn in his side.”
No wonder, then, that he kept bullying me, looking as if he wanted to chase me away! The intricacies of politics had reached the point of domestic uproar! My shoulders sunk in complete enervation.
“… If I could not achieve top in this race, would I have to do headstands wearing a skirt?”
“That won’t do, if you display any unladylike character, it would disgrace the reputation of the Winstoria Empire. His Imperial Highness would also be displeased, and it may jeopardise the relationship of our two countries. You must never do that.”
Helmut said as-a-matter-of-factly.
“Then, how am I supposed to win in this contest?”
“If it had been Glinda, she would never have allowed things to proceed on to this current situation. Sigh, Sher-chan is so useless.”
My temper shot up by a mile. How dare you take this attitude towards me when you were the one who abandoned me to my fate for well-nigh half a month! What did you imagine I felt when I strung on the corset every morning! Even though my skills with the brow-trimmer and walking while in a long-dress had greatly improved, I could feel no pride!
“Then hurry and bring the real Glinda over! Isn’t the Intelligence Agency of Winstoria Empire the best in the world?”
“Our Intel Agency is truly the best in the world. Despite sending out our best agents on the trails of Glinda, we could find no trace of her, but obtained information about a young girl who single-handedly ended the tribal feud in the Oter Desert to the south, and news of a mysterious scientist who discovered a new strain of potatoes in the Etonia Kingdom to the north, as well as a few other similar intelligence.”
“Apparently they are all so highly skilled! So why haven’t they caught her yet? Just give them all the sack!”
“That’s because Glinda is just that good. As expected of our country’s national treasure.”
“Stop trivialising me! And stop smiling like that when you say it!”
“Ara, it has just been half a month of not seeing you, Sher-chan, how did you manage to become so spiteful? When we first met, you were just shivering like a little rabbit, not even capable of proper speech. Just look how you’ve grown.”
Just the sound of him imitating the warm speech of a senior was enough to make me faint. This fellow was totally unmoved.
“… How about you run this race for me then.”
“That won’t do. The entry of Ms Glinda has already become the focus of this competition.”
“But, my stamina at running has always been at rock-bottom. And if I were to do headstands while wearing a skirt, Winstoria Empire’s reputation would be damaged. As a man, I am not too offended by people seeing my underwear, but I certainly don’t want anyone to see me in a lady’s undies.”
I insisted in a huff, and even Helmut gave a serious sigh.
“It can’t be helped. Although this would be breaking the rules a little…”
Helmut placed some stuff on the table.
“These are tripod spikes laced with anaesthetics. These are some very potent laxatives. The test-tube contains many live wasps. In addition, this here is a voodoo doll, which despite its frivolous appearance, is apparently quite effective. It was said that when the renowned idol-queen Emily broke her legs in an accident and lost her crown to the runner-up newcomer Hilda, she claimed that Hilda had placed a hex on her with this doll.”
“I have no wish to hear such dangerous topics about women.”
“Is that so? Then just use these things to settle the issue.”
“Tripod spikes and laxatives are hardly <breaking the rules a little>! It is totally disregarding the rules! How is it that you carry around such diabolical things around?”
“Being a diplomat is in fact a demanding job that put your life in constant danger. Ara, It is about time for me to get to work. Sher-chan, for the sake of the alliance between the Winstoria Empire and Eren Kingom, you must definitely win this race.”
“That’s impossible!”
“Oh, and there’s still these pads. I’m sure those from before are insufficient, right? I have specially ordered for you some of those that are softer, more comfy, and less prone to slipping off. Also, here are some model answers to the Imperial College examinations that Glinda scored full marks for when she was just 7. Sher-chan should work hard too, so as not to expose yourself.”
Saying this, Helmut left after handing me a dozen of pads and a thick book of model exam answers.
After his departure, Anneth came in immediately and bombarded me like a battery of cannonfire:
“Hey, tell me please, how long would Lord Helmut be staying? Did he say anything about His Majesty being so handsome and lovely that he wants to push him down and do those kinds of things?”
My mood sunk even deeper.
Be it Mr Voodoo Doll, or Ms ‘teru teru bozu’, please just deliver me from this marathon run.
Even as I continued to be trapped in my helplessness, it was now the day before the marathon run.
I hugged the thick book of model answers close while continued to practice barking like a dog as I went for a little afternoon stroll in the courtyard. Just then, I bumped into Prince Ryuuju who was training in short sleeves and shorts.
Prince Ryuuju was nothing like his twin sisters Princesses Sarasa and Orie who complained, “What marathon run competition? How unbelievably tiresome!” Instead, he trained diligently every morning and afternoon for long periods.
For all his tough talks, he was also a diligent worker. Muah, what an excellent child.
In comparison, I should really reflect on myself.
Just then, he noticed me.
“!”
He instantly widened his eyes, frowned and stiffened his face.
To this day he was still keeping me at arm’s length, thinking probably that I was a female vixen who peeped on his bath and even pushed him over.
“Training for the marathon? Your Highness Prince Ryuuju is so hard-working.”
I said in the tone of a kind big sister archetype, but he just tightened his lips, backed away slowly, and then shouted with a blushing face.
“I… I have not been looking at your chest! And don’t care about women who peep on baths like you!”
He fled after throwing those words out.
He probably was still mindful of his little sisters’ teasing words, but seeing his obvious display of hostility still hurt my feelings. UWuuWuu…
I walked towards a fountain in the courtyard and collapse-sat on its edge while stretching out my legs.
“… Don’t mind it.”
Came a sudden voice. I closed my legs in a panic.
Looking upwards, a pair of amethyst transparent eyes had been staring directly at me.
“P-princess Seira!”
Kya! Here it comes again! Why was this Princess always appearing from nowhere, coldly staring at me?
Was she threatening me with “I know your secret”? But, it seemed that she had not yet told anyone else that I was a man. What really was her purpose? So puzzling.
Then again, why was I getting so worked up over a 9 year old kid…
“… Elder Brother Ryuuju may sometimes say some inappropriate words when he is shy. That is not his true intentions.”
Huh? Was she consoling me?
But, both her words and expression were as monotonous as usual.
“Eh… Princess Seira, don’t you detest me?”
Princess Seira had an expression of shock when she heard those words.
“Because, when I was duelling with Jerome, you said there was no need for me to have armour…”
I could still remember it because I was still somewhat bitter about it.
But, Princess Seira calmly replied.
“… That’s because armour is too heavy, and I think that Teacher won’t be able to move well in it.”
“Huh?”
So she had not been setting me up, but was actually helping me.
“Is that so! Sorry! I had been mistaken about Your Highness, Princess Seira…”
I stood in a rush, and the thick book of exam solutions fell from my laps in my hurry. Princess Seira picked it up.
“Winstoria Imperial College’s … past entry exam papers?”
“Wha! That’s not really mine! Why would a genius like me need to refer to something like that!”
“… This answer is wrong.”
“Huh?”
“Is there a pen anywhere?”
“Oh? Uh… here.”
I handed her the pen that I always carried around. She took it and breezily began to solve the problems.
She completed them one after another with the proficiency of an expert, almost as if she knew the answers like the back of her hands.
What was she? Was I just seeing things? Was this child some sage from somewhere? Oh right, now that I thought about it, she also completed my exam in a couple of minutes the other day…
“P-princess Seira!”
I was just about to think that I might actually be able to get along with her, but seeing this monstrous ability shocked me so much that I took hold of her slim shoulders.
Princess Seira looked up in surprise and silver hair brushed against the back of my hand.
“I have been wanting to tell you this… That, maybe you have thought I am a cross-dressing pervert, but that is not the case at all! If I do not cross-dress, there may be great trouble between the Winstoria Empire and Eren Kingdom! So, I mean, please, don’t tell others that I am not Glinda!”
I said while bowing my head.
After a moment of silence, a calm voice said.
“… Teacher is saying that, it is not that Ms Glinda is actually a man, but rather Teacher is not even Ms Glinda in the first place?”
Noooooooooo! I had dug myself deeper again!
I dumbly looked up with a gaping mouth, but there began an eerie silence.
Princess Seira stared at me with an empty gaze that I had never seen before.
So hollow and devoid of emotions that a chill raised through my spine, it was almost like being bewitched.
“… So, you could not ‘see that’?”
“W-what do you mean?”
Could not see what?
Princess Seira ignored my question and displayed an expression of disappointment, then returned to her western-doll like poker-face.
“… If you are ‘not Ms Glinda’, tomorrow in the race, you have best not get too close to Elder Brother Ryuuju.”
She flatly said, as if prophesising or maybe it was a warning.
A chilling sensation ran over the top of my back.
Princess Seira elegantly retreated. My hands, which had been on her slim shoulders, held only thin air.
“Hey! What is that supposed to mean?”
She ignored my shout, and left on her own. I was dumbfounded as I stood rooted to the ground.
Returning to my own room, I checked through the model answers book that Princess Seira worked on. She had gotten every questions correct.
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LNWNCentral_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata - Volume 01
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Dress-na-Boku-ga-Yangotonaki-Katagata-Volume-01-[GirlyBoysAlliance][Proxus]/Chapter_06.txt
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Chapter 06
Chapter 06
Day of the marathon run competition.
I had manufactured 3 dozens of ‘teru teru bozu’ but apparently that was not enough. The sky was dark and overcast as if it was about to downpour while hot wind blew about the place; it was an undeterminable state of weather.
The starting point of the race was situated at the entrance of the capital which was filled with participating runners and on-looking cheerers on both sides of the track. Guards putting up barrier ropes fought to keep the onlookers from trespassing into the runway.
“Sigh, how repulsive! We are Princesses! Princesses should just rest comfortably in a pure-white room, reading romance novels besides vases of roses! That has been the rule for more than 3000 years! Humph!”
“That’s right! So right! We are so delicate and fragile, we may even fall sick!”
Those pair of twin Princesses Sarasa and Orie were both clad in cutely embroidered skirt and baggy pants while stomping in displeasure. The guards around hastily tried to appease them. I secretly thought that, with their energy and hyper-activeness, even running 4 rounds should be nothing for them.
A far cry from Her energetic daughters was the Queen, who stood pale-faced and looking as if she would collapse even before the run had begun. She kept rubbing at her chest and breathing deeply.
Was Her Majesty really alright? Fortunately, there were many guards around her, so should anything really happen, they would definitely take good care of Her.
There were also guards around Prince Ryuuju who was actively swinging his arms and stretching his legs in preparation, looking all normal. I turned towards Princess Seira, who was also surrounded by guards, her expression as usual.
What did those words that she said yesterday mean?
She said that if I was not Glinda, it was best that I did not get close to Prince Ryuuju today… It was like the foretelling of a witch, how scary.
No, there was no time to think about such things.
A big bucket of drink was placed before the finishing point and a mountain of bananas piled high beside it for participants to help themselves to.
Within the pockets of my waistcoat I had been carrying the tripod spikes laced with anaesthesia, the highly potent laxative, test-tube of live wasps as well as the voodoo doll.
The only thing I could do now is to use this… I took out the packet of laxative from my breast-pocket.
If I just spiked the bucket of drink and bananas, the participants would all have running stomachs and be unable to continue the race.
In the end, I still brought over all the illegal stuff that Helmut passed me! Waaaah! I couldn’t just do that~~~
But, if I did not get the top prize, the relationship between Winstoria Empire and Eren Kingdom might become adversely affected…
In my anxiety, I peeled open a banana and sprinkled a little of the powder on it.
The white powder vanished on the banana without a trace.
Uh… That way it would probably not be detectable. Oh, but it would definitely be suspicious to peel open an entire pile of bananas, so I guess spiking the bucket of drink would be better… Ahhhh! What was I turning into?!?
Let’s just give up; there’s no joy in winning with such methods. I was a model citizen, not that venomous Count Ascano of Rubinia who loved getting rid of his enemies with poison. As an extra, the Count seemed to have died from choking on an oyster; a fitting death indeed.
I was just about to destroy the spiked banana…
“Hey! Glinda!”
Jerome from the Knight Company appeared all of a sudden, clad in an eye-catching red cape.
“I would pay you back today for the humiliation you gave me on the training grounds! Have you forgotten our promise? If you lose, you would put on a pair of dog’s ears and bark ‘Arf! Woof! My Master!’ Ha!”
“I-I don’t remember making any such promise (That’s just your own sick interests! You pervert!)… Ah!”
Jerome snatched the banana from my hand.
“You cocky little lass that get all conceited from just a few words of flattery! Watch me as I swallow you whole like this banana! The main actor today would me! Buahahaha!”
Jerome took the banana and strode away with his cape flying suavely behind him.
Was he really going to run with that cape wrapped around him like that… Wait, he just ate the banana! That’s the banana with laxatives on it!
Helmut said that the laxative was so potent that its effect would immediately show…
As I imagined what was going on within Jerome’s stomach, cold sweat began to rise from within.
“P-pretend not to know anything…”
I muttered while shifting my eyes away from the red cape moving away into the distance.
In the end, I ran out of options and the marathon run began without any incidents.
A projectile-less cannon fired into the air, signalling the beginning of the race, and the male competition group began to run.
I was initially positioned among the frontline at the starting point, but was immediately overrun by the flood of people from the rear, fighting to even remain upright.
Pretty-boy Sir Jerome was initially positioned far behind me in the rear lines, but with a strange scream “Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Stomach! My stomach!!!” he pushed aside the other runners and shot out wildly. Looked like the laxatives had taken effect.
“Ms Glinda, I would be going first then.”
King Cecello greeted me briskly as he overtook me.
“It’s His Majesty!”
“Long live His Majesty!”
The surrounding crowd cheered.
“His Majesty is so handsome! So charming!”
There were also such fan-girl squeals around.
The King gave everyone a smile, attracting copious amounts of ‘Ah’ and ‘Wow’ among the crowds.
To the people of Eren, King Cecello was an existence on the level of a god. Pretty much hidden in behind the thick walls of the royal palace at all times, the appearance of the legendary King of beauty running before their very eyes caused some of the commoners among the watchers to grasp their own hands in thanksgiving.
This race would certainly greatly raise the support for King Cecello and radically deify the descriptions of his beautiful outer appearance among the tabloids.
Me, on the other hand…
“Hey, why is there a girl among the men’s group?”
“Heard that Winstoria Empire’s Ms Glinda would also be in the men’s group, but this girl’s probably someone else.”
“Hoho, oh yes, it is said that Ms Glinda is a divine beauty who runs as fast as a deer.”
“There’s no way that geniuses would run this slow. That girl looks cute, but doesn’t seem to create even a bit of impression and looks so ordinary.”
“Yes yes, Ms Glinda must have departed with a speed far beyond what our commoners’ eyes can detect.”
“Hoho, that may actually be possible for a genius.”
“Ms Glinda is so incredible!”
“Would we be able to see Ms Glinda during the award ceremony?”
“Definitely as beautiful as they say she is.”
“Yeah, I mean, even His Majesty is more beautiful than the legend says.”
“But, if that girl isn’t Ms Glinda, who is she?”
“Probably just some confused girl who barged in on the men’s group.”
“What, is that so, hahaha, Hang in there, Ms Confused Girl!”
Uwuuwuu… the idle chatter surrounding me broke my heart.
All this while, I continued to fall behind.
Even though I should at least try and recover some distance, I just could not gather my strength.
Everyone who passed me by displayed a shocked expression that seemed to say “Why is Ms Glinda here?” and then outran me further.
The roads and buildings outside the city were all new and in good conditions, just as the pathways had been cleaned to within the standard of developed civilizations. Every corner was also guarded by a soldier.
But, I soon lost the interest in appreciating the scenery around.
I was panting hard and dizzy. My heart was beating as if it could burst out of my chest.
Just how much further is the finishing line?
The track apparently extended from the city to the suburbs, going through the hills and returning back to the city and stopping before the castle.
I panted with all my strength, finally running out of the city and coming to a quiet plantation where even the breeze was cooler.
Fuu… Fuu… Midpoint at last…
I breathlessly bounced along a narrow path cutting though the plantation.
There was nobody else around nearby. Did that mean I was the last?
The soldiers standing guard watched my slow bumbling steps and were shocked.
“Ms Glinda is the last?!?”
“Could geniuses be last?”
What, geniuses’ couldn’t possibly be last? ~~~ Outrageous!
Even if I were to use the anaesthetic-laced tripods Helmut passed to me, there was nobody else behind me to step on them.
Not only that, by the time I reached the snaking bends in the track, even the cheerers and guarding soldiers had disappeared.
Sigh, if only I could get attacked by a bear in the hills, so that I won’t have to run any longer.
That’s right! What the flying hippo was I running for? I was sweaty, dizzy and weary, but all for what? Would my running bring about world peace? Would it save all of humanity? Would it decrease tax? Would it make Helmut uglier? Would I be able to grow at least some facial hair?
While I bemoaned my situation, a clatter of steps closed in from nearby.
What? It seemed that there was still someone behind me.
But the footsteps seemed to be extraordinarily quick in succession.
A breeze blew past in a ‘Wosh!’.
A black-haired boy with tightened lips and stiffened face ran past my side.
Prince Ryuuju?
That’s to say, the women and children’s group had started the run, and I was even beaten by Prince Ryuuju who was at its head?
Nooooooo! To lose to even children!
I was supposed to be a man!... A man!
Recalling Helmut’s smiling face saying “This is a shame to the Winstoria Empire”, I truly just wanted to run into some disaster in the hills.
His Highness did not even turn to look at me, but ran around the bend in the forest path in a breath.
There should have been bodyguards beside him, but he had probably outrun them all.
Hey! What’s the meaning of that? How could they just leave the Prince alone unprotected? These irresponsible slowcoach tax thieves!
I ignored my own current situation while criticised others.
At that moment…
Masked men came out on both sides of the Prince.
These men did not seem to be friendly common folks no matter how you looked at it. Could they be disguised guards? But no, the dangerous air about them was chilling.
Those men covered Prince Ryuuju’s mouth and carried his small body into the thick woods.
Ruffles in plantation and struggles of the Prince vanished into the forest without a trace.
Huuuuuuuuuuuuuh?!?
Kidnapping?
I turned but could see no trace of the bodyguards.
Wwwwwwwhat should I do?
Should I run backwards for help?
But by the time I returned those people would have been gone for long.
Gritting my teeth in the face of danger, I ran after Prince Ryuuju.
“Prince Ryuuju! Prince Ryuuju! Heeeeelp~~~ Prince Ryuuju has been kidnapped~~~”
I screamed with all my strength while running through the forest.
Booohooo, please hear my cries, bodyguards who were on their way! There was no way I could handle the kidnappers alone! Absolutely never!
As I fervently prayed, someone grabbed my mouth and dragged me from the rear.
“Uuuuu!”
I was captured and immobilized. Before me was Prince Ryuuju who had been caught in the same situation by the group of masked men.
My body was frozen in fear.
Waaaaaah! Kidnappers~~~~ I’d been caught!~~~~
Prince Ryuuju had his mouth gagged and one arm restrained, but continued to struggle. He winced in angry surprise when he saw me, as if to say “why are you here?”. What choice did I have?
Noooooo! What would happen now?
As if to answer this question, the masked men started to discuss among themselves.
“What should we do with this girl?”
“It would be trouble if she caused a ruckus. Take her with us?”
“No, that’s too troublesome, just rid of her.”
W-wait! What were you saying!
As I almost dirtied my undies from fear, the man holding onto Prince Ryuuju suddenly screamed.
“Ouch!”
His Highness had bitten the man’s hand.
The one restraining me was also stunned and loosened his grip somewhat, or maybe because he had thought me a woman, was careless.
I elbowed him in the guts with all my strength.
“Uuuoo!”
The man completely released me.
Now!
I had begun to rush forward, reaching within my breast pocket for the test-tube of wasps, opening it before the man in front.
The wasps flew forth from the opening of the test-tube, buzzing all over.
“Huah! What are these!”
Prince Ryuuju also stomped on the feet of the man restraining him and escaped his grip.
“Hey! Wait!”
The men chased in a hurry, but I threw out the packet of laxative powder.
The powder dispersed into a cloud of dust and we ran while the men fell into a coughing fit.
“Prince Ryuuju! Please run before me! Your legs are more nimble, please go run for help!”
“B-but!”
“Quick! Or we would both be caught!”
I sternly cried to the apprehensive Prince Ryuuju, then turned and threw the tripods towards the pursuers.
“Whoa! What is it this time!?!”
The tripods struck the face and hands of the men, but maybe due to the cloth wrapped around their face and gloves, the anaesthetic laced on the spikes was not effective.
“This b****! How dare you use such toys against us!”
Oh no! That seemed to have infuriated them!
A man unsheathed his sword and sliced at me from above.
I immediately took out the voodoo doll to block it, but the doll was just sliced into half in one blow.
“Kyaaaaa!”
A shameless scream escaped my mouth.
The slice just now had sliced through my clothes in front from my shoulder to just above my chest.
The cut on chest area was particularly deep. But for the thick layers of pads, I feared I had already suffered a mortal blow. When considering that, I felt cold even from the tips of my toes.
“Glinda!”
“Don’t come here!”
I had already told you to escape, so why were you running back!
You were a prince! How could you not first look to your own safety!
“I’m alright! Please run!”
As if I could be alright! … I was being driven to death’s door by this group of men…
The sword sliced again.
If I were to die here, people would probably discover that I was male when they buried me, then everyone would probably say that Ms Glinda was a cross-dressing pervert…
As I thought about such things with unnatural calm…
“Whoa!”
An arrow shot from nowhere and pierced the hand of the man about to slice me through.
Soldiers who had been invisible thus far somehow surrounded us without our notice.
Sword-wielding bodyguards were also standing at guard in front of Prince Ryuuju.
“Ms Glinda! Are you alright?”
“Uuuoh… I-i guess…”
The soldiers beat back the kidnappers in an instant, and captured them.
Could this be the effect of the voodoo doll? I glanced at the beheaded voodoo doll with a complicated expression.
M-maybe I should go get exorcised afterwards… L-Let’s get up first.
“Our utmost apologies for arriving this late, Your Highness!”
“Am I the only one being attacked? Is Lord Father alright? How about Queen Mother? And my little sisters?”
Prince Ryuuju asked in worry.
“Please ease your worries. Their Majesties and Highnesses are all safe. Apparently this group here have been targeting Your Highness right from the beginning. But even though we have already caught wind of it, we still let Your Highness fall into danger. It is completely our responsibility.”
Prince Ryuuju finally relaxed his shoulders.
“That… Lord Father and the others are alright…”
He mumbled in relief – then, jumped in hindsight.
“Right! I have not reached the finishing line yet! I must continue the run!”
Having just encountered such a fearsome experience, he was ready to immediately return to the competition.
What a strong willpower, even I was collapsed on the ground, my legs so weakened that I could hardly stand.
But, maybe it was due to his twisting his ankle in the escape, Prince Ryuuju suddenly scrunched up his face and grabbed at his own foot.
“Your Highness is in no state to continue the run.”
The bodyguards tried to persuade him.
“No! Members of the royalty should be examples for the common-folks! If I were to give up half-way there is no way I would be fit to represent the country! Everyone would also worry about having such a weak future ruler!”
Prince Ryuuju stood up, determined to continue the race.
But he twisted his expression immediately.
Even so, he gritted his teeth, and sweating profusely, dragged his feet onwards.
Sigh, so frustrating, what a stubborn child.
The soldiers looked at each other helplessly.
If the duty of royalty was to reach the goal no matter how difficult it was, and to smile waving at the common citizen no matter how painful it was, a spineless guy like me could probably never be a king ever.
If he did not have any support right now, he might not even be able to stand up.
Even if I was just a weak commoner and a lazy bum whose only forte was to flip newspaper or history stories while criticising famous people, there was no way I could just at the side while watching someone else hard at work.
How troublesome.
I walked towards Prince Ryuuju, barring his way.
His Higness glared at me.
“Glinda… You can’t stop me, let me pass.”
“Don’t look down on a little foot injury. What if you can no longer walk for the rest of your life?”
“H-how could that be…”
“Could you say that it will never happen?”
Maybe due to my fierce tone, Prince Ryuuju could not utter any word.
Perhaps due to just having escaped from a near-death situation, my words were free of fear or apprehension, be it in the face of kings or princes.
“Earlier Your Highness ignored my warning and came back. If the soldiers had not shown up on time, you might even have been sold to foreign countries before you can succeed the throne, or even died! So you have to obey me this time!”
Prince Ryuuju widened his eyes as I grabbed his hands and pulled them around my neck.
“W-what the… are you doing, Glinda.”
“I will piggy-back you and run.”
“What did you say!”
I gave a little ‘Heeve-Hoo’ and supported his small bum.
“Hey! Let me go! Glinda! This is so embarrassing! To be piggy-backed to the finishing line by a woman is so shameful! I would rather bite my tongue and die!”
I scolded loudly at the struggling Prince Ryuuju.
“As the heir-to-the-throne, how can you say you would give up your life so easily!”
His Highness gave a little jump on my back, and even the surrounding bodyguards nearby stopped.
“Stop throwing tantrums, you little kid who has no idea of the dangers in this big wide world! A really great man would fight to live on no matter how great the pain or the shame! That’s called responsibility to the people! Besides, even the king does not rule the country alone! As a king you must know how to use the help of other people! Nobody ever said that kings are omnipotent! So stop trying to do every single thing on your own!”
Prince Ryuuju stopped struggling.
He slowly gripped my neck, hugging my back so that I could feel the body warmth of the little child.
“Good! You just sit tight like an heir-to-the-throne and ride on my back at leisure!”
I began to run.
After saying such audacious lines of words, I couldn’t possibly run slower than a tortoise now, could I?
Thankfully, in my adrenaline rush, I had forgotten the tiredness.
I galloped madly like a race horse.
Maybe we had been delayed so much by the kidnapping incident, there were few runners left in sight.
Panting deeply, I strode right on the centre of the running track.
“Huh? Glinda! What are you doing?”
Among the race-watching crowds, a voice that sounded like Anneth called.
The other watchers looked too in our direction and exclaimed.
“Isn’t that His Highness, Prince Ryuuju?”
“That’s right! It’s His Highness who has been running at the front just earlier! What happened?”
“Who is that girl giving him a piggy-back? What marvellous strength!”
“Whoa! Those eyes are blazing! Even her nostrils are fuming! Even if she is obviously just a girl, her hair is unkempt, clothes torn, and flames seem to be bursting forth from her rear!”
“It’s Ms Glinda! That omnipotent genius!”
“What did you say? That’s Ms Glinda?”
“No wonder she looks so different from normal! Those eyes are just like she’s been possessed!”
“I heard from someone that Prince Ryuuju had been attacked by bandits in the middle of the race just now!”
“No way! I heard it was kidnappers, not bandits!”
“Huh? Huh? What’s going on?”
“I heard that Ms Glinda suddenly showed up in the nick of time and defeated a large band of sword-wielding kidnappers bare-handed!”
“Terrific! As expected of a genius!”
Everyone began to clap vigorously to cheer.
I focused on prancing towards the finishing line.
Where was it? Where was the finishing line?
My legs and heart could no longer take it. Due to the tear in my clothes, the situation on my chest was deplorable. The voodoo doll peeked its head out, and several layers of pads had fallen down onto my waist.
Sigh! Were we there yet?
“Glinda!”
“Big Bro Ryuuju!”
The frames of twin princesses stood in the front.
The pair of them each gripped an end of a rose-coloured ribbon, probably tied together from the ribbons on their own hair.
They waved vigorously towards us.
“Just a little longer! Glinda! Big Bro Ryuuju!”
“Fight!”
At the side of Princess Sarasa was the blissful looking Queen. So too was the gently-smiling King, with the toddler Princess Suzuna. Young Prince Shin and even the mature-eyed Princess Seira awaited us at the ending point.
The rose-coloured ribbon touched my hips and flew into the air.
Princess Seira widened her eyes, quietly watching.
Thunderous applause and cheering filled the air as the crowds wildly called the names of Glinda and Prince Ryuuju.
The royal family surrounded me who had just run past the finishing line.
“Ohhhhhh! Teacher Glinda, thank you so much for rescuing Ryuuju! Ryuuju, I am so glad that you are alright!”
Her Majesty hugged His Highness tightly with tears in Her eyes.
“Sorry, Queen Mother, for causing You so much worry.”
Prince Ryuuju also fell into his Mother’s chest.
“Lady Glinda, you have rescued the heir-to-the-throne, and is a benefactor to the Kingdom of Eren.”
King Cecello’s line drove the crowd frantic with excitement.
“Lady Glinda has known all along that His Highness would be kidnapped, so slowed down on purpose!”
“As expected of the omnipotent Genius!”
“Lady Glinda is the true winner of the marathon race!”
“That’s right! Only Lady Glinda has the right to the gold cup top prize!”
Someone carried over the glittering gold cup prize, but I became embarrassed and humbly said.
“No way, that’s too unfair to the top runner. Right, who happened to be the top runner?”
As I looked from side to side, a breeze blew past.
And tragedy fell that instant.
I had kept running while piggy-backing someone even though my clothes had been sliced open, and now this wind was all it took to open up the torn clothes like a double-door!
As if that was not enough, the entire set of clothes fell off from shoulders downwards.
Cha…
A falling sound, and the things covering the upper-half of my body as well as the voodoo doll fell at my feet. Before the staring eyes of the present crowd, my half-naked body stood frozen.
I stood mystified, still not realising what had just happened.
Huh? Feels… Strange? What was this cooling sensation?...
Everyone stared at me in shock with expressions screaming “Unbelievable! How could it be so!”
The courtyard was deadly silent, and after a glance downwards, I let out a “KYAAAAAAAAAAAA” piercing scream, hugging my bare upper body with both arms.
Wwwwwwwwwwwwhat should I do? I’d been seen… completely uncovered~~~~~
And it had to be before so many people! Ahhhhhhhhh! Uwuuuwuuu…. I was finished, my male identity exposed. Gone, I would soon be dragged off and executed!
I felt dizzy and my entire face; cheeks, temple and even neck blew, up in a fiery colour.
It was this instant that a cool quiet voice broke the silence.
“Teacher, your important breast pads had fallen off.”
Princess Seira picked up the pad that had fallen on the ground and handed it to me calmly.
“The other pads had probably fallen off while you were protecting Elder Brother Ryuuju. There should be at least 5 pieces of them.”
The monotonous voice steadily continued.
“Urg… T-that...”
The surrounding crowd blew up in commotion.
“5 layers of breast pads! So that is the reason! Ms Glinda is a completely flat chested lady who needs a huge pile of padding!”
“It is true that the size is ridiculously small. At that level, she really needs 5 pairs.”
“Muah, it’s almost as flat as a man’s.”
“Ohoohoohoo! So that’s what a super washing board looks like!”
“I see, so 5 pairs of breast pads, huh. Ahahahaha.”
T-these fellows! How dared they to laugh so loudly after seeing another’s chest!
Princesses Sarasa and Orie also said with tears in their eyes.
“Poor Glinda.”
“To be this flat even after puberty.”
Her Majesty quickly took off her own overcoat and covered my body in it, consoling.
“Ara, ara, don’t take it to heart, Glinda. Nowadays, many men also prefer them flatter.”
Even His Majesty vigorously added.
“Even if Ms Glinda does not have full-rounded breasts, she possesses an intelligent head.”
But, the corners of His lips seemed to be twitching as if to keep from laughing.
Afterwards, due to His Highness Prince Ryuuju fainting from a rush of blood from his bleeding nose, a huge commotion ensued…
As the situation settled down, I accepted the gold cup award from the hands of King Cecello under the warm claps and cheers of everyone.
Everyone snickered at me who was hugging the huge trophy.
“I see, so that’s a washing board.”
“So that’s a runway.”
“Hoo! I can totally see it clearly! Really completely flat!”
“So even geniuses have weaknesses!”
Hearing such whispered gossips, I could only lower my flushed head.
For the record, the first one who reached the finishing line was Sir Jerome of the knight company, who had beaten everyone else by a far margin.
All while screaming “It’s coming ouuuuuut~~~”, he ran out of sight and vanished without a trace even until the closing ceremony. He was disqualified as relinquishing the top place, and it was granted to me due to the special occasion.
“Humph! Damned flat-chested girl!”
Chief Minister Gaston angrily murmured… how scary.
Hoho, at least nobody had discovered that I was male.
The day after, tabloids all over the world flashed the headlines: “ Genius Ms Glinda an astonishing flat-chest!”, “Ms Glinda’s chest was in fact two little red peas!”.
Being able to rub some blemish upon Glinda’s utterly perfect record, I was actually a little pleased with myself. But once I considered the possibility of Glinda knowing about my being stripped half-naked in full view of crowds right in the centre of the capital, causing her to be reported as little chick-peas, I flinch to imagine her fury.
Besides that, even though the masterminds behind the kidnapping incident had been caught, there was still something that continued to bug me.
To verify my doubts, one afternoon after lessons were over, I went to seek an audience with His Majesty, King Cecello.
Epilogue: Glinda Dolye’s deductions
“You said that you have something you would like to discuss with me in private, so what is it about, Ms Glinda?”
After dismissing the people around, the beautiful king shined me a sparklingly lovely smile and asked.
The mere sight of it was enough to drive my weak heart racing non-stop, but I must clarify this no matter what happened, so I looked straight into the eyes of His Majesty.
“Your Majesty, were You the one who was responsible for the kidnapping incident of His Highness Prince Ryuuju?”
I actually said it!
Even though my heart was beating like a drum from the nerves, I had burned my bridges.
King Cecello gently narrowed his eyes.
“Oh?”
He murmured.
“Why would you think so?”
King Cecello stared straight into me, enquiring gently, but I could feel an immense sense of pressure from it, and the tense air almost impaled my skin.
“Eren Kingdom discarded her policy of isolation not more than a decade ago, and the capital is apparently at peace right now, but I have heard that outside of it, there remained some pockets of resistance supporting the previous king belonging to the faction of isolation. It is still too dangerous for royalty to casually participate in a marathon race open to public at this time, and in fact, many top officials are of the same opinion.
But from another point of view, this is also a good opportunity to investigate suspicious people from outside the capital, tear down old buildings, repair the roads and bridges, and demonstrate to the citizens as well as foreign countries that the Eren Kingdom is both peaceful and culturally advanced – Your Majesty’s wisdom obviously saw through all that?”
While I ran outside of the capital, I could see that the roads and buildings all around were new and in excellent conditions, and the commoners were also joyfully cheering for the racers.
“Through this race, the citizens would definitely improve their opinion of the royal family. But among them, there would definitely be people who do not feel that way and may even pose a danger. These are all things that Your Majesty would have already foreseen.”
Of course, if investigations were made in the name of public security for the sake of the race, a portion of suspicious elements would definitely be uncovered, for example, the remnants of the isolation faction who opposed King Cecello’s policy.
What would happen if they were to be forced into a corner? What actions would they take?
“To steal into the palace and attempt to kidnap or assassinate royalty is an extremely difficult task, but in a marathon race open to public, the chance of success would definitely be much higher.
Who would they have their sights on?
Laying hands on the legendary and experienced king would definitely be hard, so the target has to be weaker than His Majesty, but also a prominent member of the royal family… that is the representative of the policy of opening up the country, Her Majesty who is Herself a foreigner, and the heir-apparent His Highness Prince Ryuuju.
These two are the obvious targets.”
His Majesty’s lips maintained its smile.
His beautiful face of national treasure fame betrayed no hint of any shadow, looking serenely at me.
~~If you are not Ms Glinda, in tomorrow’s race, don’t get close to Elder Brother Ryuuju.
Princess Seira had told me indifferently before.
Did that child realise the truth even beforehand?
I added strongly.
“Your Majesty knew right from the start, and so arranged for a wall of armed guards to surround Her Majesty, even the Princesses were heavily guarded.
But, the one who ought to be protected the most, His Highness Prince Ryuuju, was all alone.
There is no way that adults cannot catch up to a child, and this is almost an obvious ploy to tempt the enemies into kidnapping him at the abandoned paths… And also, the appearance of the rescuers was too coincidental, I deduce that Your Majesty have ordered them to observe from afar right from the beginning.”
King Cecello said as if nothing had happened.
“As expected, there’s no way I can escape the sharp eyes of Ms Glinda.”
His tone held even a trace of elation.
I angrily yelled.
“Stop joking around! How could you have used your own son as bait!”
At this moment, I could care less about the opposite being the king of an allied country.
This was not something that a father should be doing with his child, not to mention that there was hardly a trace of regret in him.
At this, King Cecello’s expression altered.
The original gentle smile tightened, and His eyes let out a piercing light.
“I have no intention of letting Ryuuju become a useless king.”
His manner of speech suddenly turned very serious.
“I wish that Ryuuju will sooner turn into a good king that can succeed me and not one that can only rely on the protection of others. I want him to be capable of thinking for himself, choosing and acting, to become a real king that has the power to protect others, and for this, he must be allowed to encounter all kinds of experiences. Merely staying sheltered in the nursery is not going to develop any strong heart in him.”
“But, His Higness Prince Ryuuju is merely eleven! What if something unexpected is to …”
“Nothing unexpected will happen.”
King Cecello displayed a proud and confident look and asserted.
He did not holler, nor had he waved his sword around.
Just one short sentence was sufficient to send trembles up my spine and render me speechless.
“A kingdom must not lose its heir or I too will be troubled. Besides I love my children very much, but most importantly, if Ryuuju were to run into some problems, the Queen would definitely become saddened, and I will absolutely not do anything that may cause Her to cry. So, <Nothing> unexpected will happen.”
An incomparable confidence.
Unshakable willpower.
Nothing like the behaviour of a typical father of this world.
His Laws; only the things that He believed could be the truth.
My hands were covered in cold sweat.
Even though His words were illogical, I had no means of rebutting.
What was there to rebut against someone with completely different sense of morals and values? King Cecello might be of the same species as Glinda.
“That’s right, Ms Glinda, someone as intelligent as you should also understand, that these words should not get out of this place, and especially not enter the ears of Her Majesty. If you were to tell Her…”
Cold eyes stared into me, and I was completely frozen over by it.
The King Cecello now might be known as a god-like Hero, the Blue Sky-Drake King, but when he was still the previous king’s younger brother from different mothers and living in exile in an isolated dilapidated castle far from the capital, he had another name…
That’s right, I had read of it in an edition of the “Private stories of World’s Royalty”.
While he was still a prince, due to his icy-cold beauty, and cruel, unpredictable nature, everyone had called him the “Sky Blue Demon” in fear…
“!”
Wwwwwwwhat should I do? How could I have tried to challenge this kind of man?
I was suddenly paralysed in fear.
“Ho. What is it, Ms Glinda?”
King Cecello walked over with an elegant smile.
T-this smile was sooo scaaarrry!
“Taking this opportunity, Ms Glinda, would you mind teaching me as well?”
Uwwwaaaahhhh~~~~~~
Just as the King’s face closed in and my heart began screaming in fear…
“Is Teacher Glinda here?”
A clear voice came in, and Princess Seira appeared.
The Princess slowly approached towards me, and looking towards her Father, said
“Lord Father, I would like to discuss with Teacher Glinda a mathematical thesis of Professor Muden from the Winstoria Empire, may I borrow Teacher for a while?”
Her words were calm, but were also longer than usual.
King Cecello gave a surprised smile.
“Ho? It looks as if Seira likes Ms Glinda a lot.”
“That’s right. Teacher Glinda has taught me many helpful things.”
“Is that so. Then, Ms Glinda, please go accompany Seira.”
“W-w-w-w-with pleasure!”
Princess Seira slowly walked back towards the entrance, while I hastily followed.
“Fuuee… saved!”
Past the corridors and coming into the courtyard, I could finally let out a breath.
“Oh, that, regarding that professor something’s thesis, I am really sorry, but I had no…”
“… I know.”
Princess Seira said in a flat voice.
“Huh?”
I was struck by surprise.
“Did you pull me out on purpose?”
Did she just rescue me from the scene earlier?
Her Highness was silent.
When she entered the room, I was unable to hear any sound of the door opening, so maybe she had been eavesdropping on King Cecello and I from behind the door all along.
She had warned me too, not to get too close to Prince Ryuuju on the day of the race.
When my clothes fell apart, the one who helped me pick up the pads and distract the topic was also her.
“That, you said earlier that if I am “not Glinda”, I should avoid getting to close to Prince Ryuuju, what was that supposed to mean?”
“… Because you seemed to have no means of responding to emergencies then, but I seemed to have underestimated you, sorry.”
Her voice was as emotionless as usual.
“Uh, no, there’s no reason for your Highness to apologise. I should be the one thanking you instead. But for your aid in picking up my pads, everyone may have already discovered that I am male. But, about His Majesty’s plans, did you also…”
I was about to say “did you also know about them?”, when cold little hand stretched out and covered my mouth like white snow falling onto my lips, giving a soft sensation.
The 9 year old girl’s small fingers were soft and her face which was looking at me was small and delicate with smooth glistening pallor. Beneath her long lashes, a pair of translucent amethyst eyes appraised me quietly.
Cherry-coloured lips gently parted.
“…If you value your life, say no further. Lord Father may love His wife and care for his children, but <King Cecello> is cold and ruthless man.”
These words that sounded nothing like a child’s frightened me. Ohoh, she had really been coming to my rescue earlier.
Even during the race earlier, or when I was facing off Sir Jerome…
My heartbeat sped up, and said hopefully.
“I understand, I won’t say anything… Would… Would you also help me keep my secret?”
Princess Seira should probably say ‘Yes’ right?
Despite her cold emotionless appearance, she was actually pretty friendly.
But…
“I might consider it…”
She said nonchalantly.
Uh… Wha?
The pair of purple crystal eyes silently looked at me who was frozen by surprise.
“You <cannot see it>, you are <not Glinda Dolye, so you are <useless>.”
The words that came forth from those delicate lips sent chills down my back.
“But…”
A trace of conflict floated in her cold eyes.
“Even though you <could not see> it, you still rescued Elder Brother Ryuuju, and even interrogated Lord Father. Nobody has ever done those things before, so I would give you a chance.”
Give me a chance?
I held back my breath, my neck and temple covered in cold sweat as I listened to this 9 year old girl pronounced her judgement like the goddess of fate.
“If you can guess what I desire, I will not tell anyone else that Glinda is an imposter.”
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LNWNCentral_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata - Volume 01
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Dress-na-Boku-ga-Yangotonaki-Katagata-Volume-01-[GirlyBoysAlliance][Proxus]/Chapter_07.txt
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Chapter 07
Chapter 07
“What does a 9 year old girl desire?”
The morning after Princess Seira gave me a “homework assignment”, I paced in frustration along the corridors of the palace.
-- If you can guess what I desire, I will not tell anyone else that Glinda is an imposter.
Thus the Princess had demanded, but nothing came to my mind.
For a normal girl, jewel accessories and clothes would probably be sufficient, but the Princess most likely did not lack in either of those things.
Besides, she looked nothing like a normal 9 year old girl.
I thought back to the amethyst eyes that seemed to perceive through me and her cold expression. Shouldn’t 9 year old girls be more innocent?
If I could not guess what she ‘desired’, she might even coldly say.
“Then, I could only announce to everyone that you are actually a cross-dressing pervert.”
Uwwwaaaah! If she did that, I would be captured as an enemy of the state and be dragged off to be executed.
While I was worried about such, His Highness Prince Ryuuju walked towards me.
“G-Glinda!”
“Has your foot recuperated?”
I forced a smile in a hurry, and His Highness blushed profusely when he looked at me.
“Y-y-yeeessssss!”
“You must have obediently listened to the advice of the doctors to rest well?”
“I-I did not rest because you told me to! Since I am the Prince, I have the duty to recover quickly so as not to make everyone worry!”
“That’s right. You have grown mature.”
“!”
Prince Ryuuju widened his eyes.
Then he shyly shifted his line of sight, saying.
“T-that… Do you know what day next Monday is?”
“Next Monday? Hoho, that has to be Lana’s Day, right?”
On my reply, the Prince’s face turned a deeper shade of red.
“Right, that’s the day dedicated to the goddess of love Lana. I-I heard that in the Winstoria Empire, couples would compose and play music dedicated to each other, but in the Eren Kingdom, males would propose to females they like by giving them precious stones.”
“Oh? Is that so? The custom of exchanging gifts seems to be different in each country. How interesting.”
“Tha…. That’s right.”
His Highness’ eyesight kept darting around.
“Oh, right. Speaking of gifts...”
“What!”
“It’s nothing, really. I just wanted to ask, do you happen to know what Her Highness Princess Seira desire?”
Prince Ryuuju had an obviously displeased expression on his face, tightening his lips and stiffening his cheeks.
“Why would you want to know what Seira wants?”
He asked unhappily.
“Huh?... That’s because, I have been indebted to her often these few days, so I wanted to give her something as thanks.”
“When has Seria taken care of you?”
He puffed up his checks and became more suspicious.
“That… For example, during the race…”
His Highness’ face turned red again. Why did this boy blush so easily?
Ah well, I could understand his issues; the proud Prince being piggy-backed by a ‘woman’.
“I-i-i-i-i-is that so? The race, huh… I did cause you much embarrassment that day …”
“Please don’t mind that, and forget about it already!”
I said in a hurry. If we kept up this topic, even I would feel embarrassed.
“Those things aside, about what Princess Seira desires…”
“Uh… She seemed to enjoy reading ancient books about legends of heroes.”
“Legends of Heroes?”
How quaint. She did not look like the type who would love such romantic fictions.
I continued to ask:
“From the point of an elder brother, what would Your Highness think about Princess Seira as a person?”
“You sure are mindful of Seira. I have no idea when the two of you got so close.”
He glared at me again.
“No! That’s the complete opposite in fact! Because when compared with Princesses Sarasa and Orie, Princess Seira almost never talks with me at all, so I am just looking for an opportunity to…”
I struggled to find an excuse.
“Is that so. Wow, you sure take your job seriously. From my point of view, Seira is a commendable little sister. She is both intelligent and calm, but more importantly possesses the character members of royalty should have. I really wish that Sarasa and Orie would take a page off Seira.”
Any ordinary folk that had a younger sister as outstanding as Seira would probably have felt inferior and ashamed, but not His Highness Prince Ryuuju, who cheerfully discussed his little sister’s good points. That was his strength, with his upright, simple and strong-willed character.
I smiled appreciatively.
“What? What’s so funny? D-don’t misunderstand! I just came here to make some small-talk, not because I have any interest in you! My nose only bled too because you ran too fast, making my blood pressure raise… and absolutely not because of your b-b-b-b-b-b-breaaasss…”
I also turned red in embarrassment.
“Sorry, sorry, please don’t bring that up…”
“S-sorry! I just carelessly…”
Prince Ryuuju covered his nostrils and backed away.
“Anyway! I have absolutely no interest in you. I have no interest in Lana’s day either!”
He ran off after saying such.
Why mention Lana’s day then?
I confusedly watched his retreating footsteps.
The twins Princesses Sarasa and Ories were also excitedly discussing Lana’s day.
“I heard that couples who swear to spend their lives together on Lana’s day would be happily married forever!”
“How many couples would be born in the capital again this year?”
The two of them were discussing topics too mature for their ages.
“Justin of the Finance department seemed to be secretly in love with lady officer Selina, and Selina doesn’t seem to mind it much either.”
“Claude of the Domestic Affairs is deeply in love with widow Cathia, but he probably has got many rivals, right?”
“Aren’t Count Badis, Sir Erin, and Secretary Julian all in love with Cathia?”
“The love affair between Milther the stable-hand and Rita the maid is also frustrating~~”
“I know right! Milther is so shy that he definitely can’t pluck up the courage to confess to Rita. Bystanders at the side are fuming with impatience already!”
“Lana’s Day’s obviously a good day to confess.”
The girls seemed to enjoy gossiping about other people’s romantic escapades… though a man like me just found that to be busybody.
“That… About what Princess Seira would like…”
I jumped in at the gap in the conversation, carefully asking.
“I want an accessory with a ruby in it! Its edge must also be decorated with pink stones like the patterns of flowers!”
Princess Sarasa happily said like a spoiled girl to her boyfriend.
“I want an emerald hair accessary! The stone has to be as big as pigeon egg too!”
Princess Orie’s eyes also shined with desire.
“I was not asking about the two of you, but about Princess Seria…”
“Huh~~~~Big Sis Seira has everything already. She’s so intelligent, has already read every single ancient book in the library, and she also looks as beautiful as Lord Father.”
“That’s right~ I really want to have silver hair like Big Sister Seira’s! Blond is everywhere in Eren.”
“I will dye my hair silver when I grow up!”
“Me too! And purple amethyst eyes are also lovely.”
“Yeah, if only hair and eye colours can be freely chosen.”
“Is it not said that the tribe living in the Meredith forest holds a mysterious power? Maybe they can even change the colour of their eyes.”
“Why not just ask Glinda here to invent a drug that can change the colour of eyes, the bridge of the nose and the shape of the chin! After all, Glinda is a genius!”
“That’s good idea! Please, Glinda! This kind of drug would fetch millions!”
As usual, the topic of conversation flew off in a distance.
For Anneth who had become used to visiting me at my room after work, interest in Lana’s day took on another direction.
“Wow! What should I do? Satchel and Luke may move on to the third, or even the fourth base upon confessing to each other on Lana’s day! Lyon and Alec, those two old couple, must definitely be having a sweet romantic evening, whispering sweet nothings such as ‘My emerald eyes are the precious stones for your Lana’s day gifts’, so exciting~ Right, right, Glinda, would Lord Helmut come back to Eren on Lana’s Day? What precious stone would Lord Helmut give to His Majesty? Or would he say, ‘No precious stone can compare to the bright glitter you give off’, kyaaaa! So romatic!~”
“Uhh, I heard that in Eren, males give precious stones ‘to females’ as gifts to propose on Lana’s Day.”
“Love is beyond gender! Just the mere act of declaring love to someone you like is the noblest form of action!”
Her speech of such unyielding determination managed to convince me as well, how scary.
“Besides, even if it’s not to propose, you can also give gifts to thank other women that had been nice to you before. Since Eren Kingdom is a source of precious stones, you can easily find plenty of raw unprocessed minerals in the hills or along river beds. You can just bring those to the craftsman, and might even be able to haggle for a good price to process the stones.”
“Oh, that’s great.”
“Girls exchanging gifts among each other are common enough, so men should be able to gift other men too! No, it should be made a law!”
It felt cute for girls to exchange gifts with each other, but somewhat disgusting for men to do the same, not to mention the gifts in question were precious stones.
“Ahaha… Anneth, when you were 9 years old, what did you wished for?”
I tried asking, and she beamed back with me as she replied.
“Western dolls! The Ulysses 1st generation boyfriend dolls and 2nd generation boyfriend Eugene from Flora girl dolls series – elegant prince and wild wilful knight pairing is really too lovely!”
She was already like this since 9 years old?!?
I tried to imagine Anneth with her angelic and adorable appearance when she was young, and dared not pursue the subject.
Until now, I still had no clue about what Princess Seira ‘most desired’.
No, that must definitely be because I had been asking the wrong people.
The afternoon on the next day, I came to Her Majesty’s room.
To learn about the child, It was best to ask the mother.
“Ara, welcome, Teacher Glinda.”
The Queen welcomed me with a cheerful smile in her maid uniform.
“The blueberry pie is almost ready.”
Her Majesty personally cut the blueberry pie, and served me with hot tea.
Was it really fine to let the Queen of a country do such things? I worried over that every single time, but Her Majesty seemed to be the happiest and most satisfied while doing such housework.
Ohhhh, if only someone like Her would be my girlfriend.
Her stature was both slim and petite, looking no older than myself, but was in fact the mother of six children. How against the rules!
I found myself fantasizing about unrelated things again, and stopped immediately.
No, now was no time to be idling, but to find out more about Princess Seira!
I pretended to talk about the lessons, and steered the topic gently towards Princess Seira, saying something like “even though Her Highness is just 9, she’s so capable!”
But Her Majesty’s expression suddenly fell.
“That’s right. That child learned how to walk and talk earlier than anyone else… and even stopped needing me to nurse her after a few years. I truly wish that she would rely on me and let me spoil her more.”
The Queen seemed quite worried over the overly-serious, overly-capable Princess Seira.
“That child’s interests are very broad, having extremely high standards in clothing, food, and even home appliances. She is so similar to His Majesty in this regard, even when it comes to playing the violin…”
Violin?
I remembered the notes I listened to in the palace courtyard; a crystal clear sound that felt nothing like it came from the hands of a child.
“His Majesty used to play the violin like this in the past too, but He didn’t feel very happy back then either. The feeling when He played back then felt so lonely.”
Her Majesty lowered Her eyes.
“When Seira played the violin she seems so lonely too. Even when she is wearing clothes that she liked, owning everything around her, I still feel that, that child does not seem to have anything she really wanted.”
My heart tightened when I listened to this.
To have such a gentle Mother, was it not enough to be happy about?
“I worry much about Seira… wondering if she had seen through things <too much, too clearly>.”
--You <can’t see it>.
I could almost hear that cold voice, and jumped a little in fright.
In the eyes of Princess Seira, what kind of landscape existed? What could she perceive?
Princess Suzuna who had been sleeping in a nearby crib suddenly woke up, crying for her Mother.
Her Majesty quickly cradled her, looking intently at the baby.
“What is wrong? Mama’s here.”
Princess Suzuna heard her Queen Mother’s kiddie-talk voice, and smiled happily.
A warm smile also rose on Her Majesty’s face.
It was a scene that felt sweeter than honey poured upon a pound cake.
But soon, a shadow fell on the Queen’s face again.
“I really wish that children would remain this small, and keep letting me hold them in my hands like this. This is really a mother’s selfish desire.”
She murmured.
I did not wish to see Her Majesty looking like this, so I carelessly said.
“Erm, by my abilities alone, I may not be sufficient to teach Her Highness Princess Seira, but I still want to be a teacher that can comprehend her, and open the door to her heart. I would definitely try my best!”
Ohoh, to actually lay down a promise like that when I was just imitating the real Glinda, and was even called <useless> by Princess Seira!
But Her Majesty was so touched that tears filled Her eyes.
“To care this much for Seira, Teacher Glinda is a really caring person.”
“Haha… Hahahahaha… Just leave this matter regarding Her Highness to me.”
Noooooooo, I was digging my grave even deeper.
But, I definitely could not bring myself to say that “if I could not figure out what your Princess desires, I might become an international criminal.”
As I felt cold sweat beginning to form, a calm voice sounded behind me.
“How reliable.”
King Cecello appeared with an elegant smile.
“Your Majesty.”
Seeing Her Majesty’s joyful expression, I silently clicked my tongue in discontent.
The King returned the Queen a sweet smile, then looked towards me.
Remembering the manner he forced himself on me just yesterday, my body froze involuntarily. Uwuwuwuwu… Don’t be scared. Don’t be scared… uu…
His Majesty seemed to have seen through my fear, and said as if nothing happened.
“Ms Glinda, I heard you have been trying to find out more about Seira.”
Wha? He already knew?
King Cecello meaningfully half-closed his eyes.
“Since you want to know what Seira desires, let me give you a hint. Seira is very similar to me, and that is why she hates me so much.”
“Your Majesty is truly! I’ve said so many times! There’s no such thing!”
Her Majesty puffed her cheeks in protest.
“Is that so? Being hated so by my own daughter makes me feel so lonely. Won’t you comfort me? Yuki-chan?”
“Your Majesty is so spoiled all the time. But does Your Majesty really know what Seira desires? If You really know that just say it, please stop playing around!”
“There would be no fun if I were to just say it.”
“Really!”
The Queen’s puffy cheeks became even puffier.
King Cecello seemed to enjoy looking at Her Majesty’s expression, even pinching her checks, in what felt like an atmosphere of pink bubbles and feathers right out of some romantic comedy.
Uwuwuwu… I was still recovering from my heartache from my last breakup…
“I, I would humbly take my leave!”
I left the Queen’s room with my face completely flushed.
“He totally did that on purpose, that sadistic pretty-boy King!”
This kind of man should just be paired with Helmut in Anneth’s Helmu-Llo! I griped unhappily as I walked along the corridor.
King Cecello leisurely gave me a hint, but I could not understand half of it. So what if Princess Seira was very similar to Him?
Uwu~~~ That arrogant and elegant smile was so maddening~~~~
The thing that maddened me even more was the fact that His Majesty knew what Princess Seira desired.
“If that’s the case, I would definitely find out ‘what Princess Seira wants the most’, then go boast to both Princess Seira and King Cecello that ‘Humph! That’s easy!’”
Even though my motives were somewhat as such, I plucked myself up like that.
Alright, then I would no longer be holding back!
“Oh, today we would have a composition writing assignment. The topic is ‘My dream’.”
The next day, I announced this with a full smile on my face.
Even though this method was a little low, but it was certainly the most practical way.
Princess Sasara and Orie began to groan ‘what a pain’ again, but I did not let that bother me.
Princess Seira lifted her eyes to look at my icily. Then immediately lowered them and began to write.
Good, that way I would be able to know what the Princess “desired the most”.
Thirty minutes later, I called the children out to read out their writings.
First was His Highness Prince Ryuuju.
“My dream is to become a great King!”
He then elaborated in a disturbingly passionate voice about what the ideal King should be.
Next was Princess Sarasa.
“My dream is to date all the handsome men in the world, not to get married too early, maybe at around twenty two years old. Before that, I should at least have dated with at least fifty men, and from there marry the richest, handsomest, top ten intelligent, and most obedient one to my wishes.”
She read out her piece which almost made the blood-vessels on Prince Ryuuju’s head went pop.
Princess Orie was next.
“My dream was to get married together with Sarasa. Save trouble thinking that way.”
She completed (?) her speech very simply.
Prince Shin was quiet from the beginning to the end.
“…”
I eyed his assignment paper, and saw a hippopotamus drawn on it.
“… Your dream is to become a hippo?”
Prince Shin gave a troubled nod.
Muah, forget it, when I was 5, even my dream was to be scarecrow’s face.
For the record, Scarecrow’s Face was the legendary hero of the common-folk… No, now was not the time to be chatting about mundane stuff.
It was almost time for the game to begin.
“Then, the last one is Princess Seira. Please begin.”
“… Yes.”
I quietly sat down to listen as the expressionless Princess Seira monotonously read her composition writing.
“… My dream is to see <the End of the World>.”
These completely unexpected words gave me a shock.
E-e-end of the World? What was the meaning of that? … Did she want to see the world destroyed?
“I want to meet Ophelit there.”
Ophelit… Ohoh, right, she did read books written in ancient languages and Ophelit’s mathematics theorems.
The First Genius, Omnipotent Human, Man who Composed the World - - the man who was given such titles known as Ophelit was a man of the legends from two thousand years ago. Gender, age or even anything involved about him were all mysteries. Mathematician, prophet, wizard, sage, philosopher and even musician, he conquered the world by playing <the all-conquering noblest melody> on his silver flute.
But Ophelit disappeared from the world soon after, leaving just the words “I am going to the World’s End”.
It was said the Ophelit still lived today at “The Ends of the World”.
For Princess Seira to say that she wanted to see “The Ends of the World”, did she mean that she wanted to go where Ophelit had gone to? So it was not to destroy the world.
Oh! But, the meaning of wanting to find Ophelit, was it to learn from Him?
Or was it to become someone like Ophelit?
“Ophelit was someone who had conquered the world. Is that possible in this age?”
Conquer the world?
This speech caused me to jump out of my skin again.
Hahahahaha… Conquer the world… That’s impossible, how could a 9 year old little girl had such desires…
“If I conquered the world, maybe I could become Ophelit.”
Wha! She really wanted to conquer the world?
Cold sweat ran profusely, heartbeats jumped irregularly.
I had just been thinking that it was impossible when she announced that that was her intention. How scary.
Right. Glinda was also known as the 2nd Ophelit. Princess Seira “being so aware of Glinda”, was that also because of this?
A-and, King Cecello, despite his obvious ‘Citizenship in the Kingdom of Wife-lovers’ before the Queen, was in fact a dangerous usurper who overthrew the previous king who was His brother of a different mother. Since King Cecello said that Princess Seira was ‘very similar to Him’, that could mean that she was also capable of such actions, ambitions and cold calculations…
Princess Seira completed her reading.
“Elder Sister Seira really lives in a different dimension from us, or should we call it strange?”
“If it’s just me, I’d rather go visit the handsome king of fairyland, wearing lovely clothes decorated with a pile of precious stones, eating the best food and having a party every night!”
“You two are too focused on pleasure! Learn more from Seira!”
The emotionless Princess Seira was wordless to the comments of her elder brother and younger sisters.
I ended the lesson with my face twitching in shock.
For <the thing she desired> to actually be to conquer the world, so scary~~~~~
“Oh~~~ The answer to Princess Seira’s question, is it really <the World>?”
In the afternoon, I kept pacing about in my room while alone.
-- Your desire is to be the King of the World!
It was so ludicrous that I was rendered speechless.
For a 9 year old child to have such a frightening ambition, I could no longer have any confidence in teaching her any more.
If the one who said such words was Prince Ryuuju or even the twin princesses, I might still laugh it away with “what a childish desire”, but coming from Princess Seira, it felt so exceptionally serious and realistic that I could not laugh.
Oh! Ophelit conquered the world with <the all-conquering noblest melody>, right? That must be why Princess Seira was in the courtyard practicing violin in order to rehearse this <noble music>?
Or perhaps she was researching on the magic of <sound> like Ophelit… Waaaah! She might really desire to conquer the world!~~~
I could vividly imagine the picture of Princess Seria playing her violin in a black cape, while the masses knelt in submission before her. Just as goose bumps began to rise from my skin from the fear, Helmut showed up.
“Sher-chan, congratulations on winning the top prize in Eren’s marathon race! I knew you could do it. Oh, have you received my congratulatory card yet?”
Not knowing my mood, he cheerfully said.
“Highest salutations to the little red peas… Is that supposed to be congratulations? Isn’t that just humiliation?”
I tiredly said, but Helmut just continued with a look of triumph.
“How could that be? Aren’t little red peas great? Glinda, the little red peas! Pffft… heheh… I can’t imagine how she would look like when she hears about… So amusing… hehe. I even collected all the newspaper clippings.”
Helmut unfolded his collection of newspaper clippings that he brought over just to show me.
“Genius Glinda are little red peas that need to put on 5 pairs of breast pads!”, “Ms Glinda exposed at the finishing line!”, “Ms Glinda has fake boobs!”, “Genius Ms Glinda currently researching on anti-slip breast pads!” etc. Such headlines filled the collection.
How could he just laugh this happily while reading such things!
Even if he did not say it, Helmut must have been really frustrated by Glinda’s disappearance deep within.
“Oh? Your eyes look so empty. Seeing your crossed legs sitting on the bed, holding your head, and even your skin has become a little dry. Can it be that something else has occurred? This won’t do, Sher-chan~”
“Stop sighing like a parent who got called to the school! And the dry skin’s because of the make-up!”
I shouted on the bed, but still discussed with him the issue with Princess Seira.
“Actually, Princess Seira has discovered that Glinda is an imposter by a male.”
“What! To be uncovered by the most problematic person… muah, but it seems like there isn’t any ruckus raised.”
“That’s because Princess Seira currently still allows this situation to continue, but I have no idea what will happen in the future.”
Learning of Princess Seira’s demands, Helmut tilted his head in deep thought.
“What Princess Seira ‘desires’?”
“I am wondering, can it possibly be, c-conquering the world…”
I said seriously, but Helmut replied with a smile on his face.
“What a glorious ambition.”
“Hey! Are you taking me for a fool? Princess Seira actually admires Ophelit greatly, writing even in her composition writing that her dream is to be like Ophelit.”
“Ophelit is a person of the legends, there’s no proof such a person even existed.”
“I-I know that, but the Princess even practiced her violin for the sake of learning Ophelit’s sound magic… Why are you smiling wryly like this?!? And stop feeling my forehead!”
Even I myself was beginning to wonder whether I had gone crazy, uwuwu…
Helmut showed his smile of fake kindness, and began to comfort me who had begun to sulk.
“Oh well, it’s not like I cannot understand why you come to such ridiculous conclusions, since that Princess is in fact pretty extraordinary.”
“Extraordinary?”
“She is a genius like your sister.”
As if it was completely natural, Helmut continued without minding.
My heart skipped a beat.
… Similar to Glinda?
A short sentence, but it hurled out feelings deep within me.
Oh, so that was the reason.
Why had I not noticed it sooner? Princess Seira’s eyes were as expressionless as Glinda’s.
Even if their manners of speaking were different, nobody could figure out what either of them was thinking.
Helmut continued seriously.
“As a diplomat to Eren Kingdom forming close relationship with Eren’s royal family, I have always thought that it was a very fortunate thing for both of our countries that the heir-to-the-throne was Prince Ryuuju and not Princess Seira.”
I felt unhappy upon hearing such.
“You are saying the His Highness Prince Ryuuju is not as intelligent, so easier to manipulate if he becomes the king? Even though he is still a child, he is very stubborn, inflexible and sometimes takes things over-seriously, but he also has many strengths, is very hardworking and is an extremely serious student who takes notes in class.”
As someone who also had a girl-genius as his sister, I could not help but spoke up for Prince Ryuuju.
“Few princes would take political affairs and governing in the future as seriously as him!”
Helmut gently smiled with slightly narrowed eyes, saying.
“Please don’t misunderstand. I recognize too the strengths of Prince Ryuuju. His Highness is very charismatic with his upright nature and would be able to win the hearts of many with his outright honesty. This is a rare quality amongst royalty. Besides, he has many excellent people around him to be his support, so he would definitely become a good king when he grows up.”
My heart grew warm as I listened to that.
As Helmut described, even though Prince Ryuuju was still somewhat awkward and immature, everyone in the capital loved him. That was because he was so hardworking and noticeable, and so adorable that people just wanted to help him out.
Prince Ryuuju might not have his father’s divine-like status, but he would definitely become a king who would be more loved by the people than his king father.
It was certainly a good thing too for the people of this country.
“Then… What if Princess Seira were to become the king?”
“I believe that a country that is ruled by a genius would not possibly be happy because the genius himself is not a happy existence. The people would never be able to understand their king, nor would the king be able to understand his people. If I were to live with someone I could never understand, I too may feel uncomfortable.”
My chest suddenly felt really heavy.
Glinda’s and Princess Seira’s eyes appeared in mind.
Blue eyes that were replicas of my own, as well as purple amethyst eyes.
Both persons’ eyes were frostily calm, and equally unfathomable.
The two girls who were far beyond my comprehension.
Obviously having everything, but wanted nothing at all…
Such a lonely feeling.
“Luckily I am no genius.”
Helmut said with mixed feelings.
“Fortunately I was just intelligent enough to graduate from the Imperial College with excellent grades, just a little suave, my family background somewhat passable, and the second outstanding one amongst my classmates. Being such an ordinary person feels great.”
“Get out of here and go find Glinda for me now!”
I screamed while pointing to the door.
“Really, and for me to take time out of my busy schedule to come see you, you are so fierce towards me every single time. Looks like I have to bring you some books on etiquette the next time I come here.”
Helmut did not forget his parting shot even as he left.
But I remained stumbled after he left.
Just what did Princess Seira desire?
What did that genius princess who worshipped Ophelit, and was very aware of Glinda who was known as the <2nd Ophelit> want?
Even after discovering the fact that Glinda and Princess Seira were both similar, I could not understand it.
To me, the person who was the hardest to understand in the whole wide world was Glinda.
I wanted to cool down my feverish head, and so decided to take a stroll around the courtyard.
I could feel the evening breeze on my face as I slowly walked.
Just as Glinda was a genius from the moment she was born, Princess Seira had been the eldest princess of this kingdom since her birth, possessing not just wealth and power, but also beauty, ability and love.
And yet, why was it that both Princess Seira and Glinda seemed so completely unconcerned about all of that?
I was feeling a heavy heart, when I heard those lonely notes in the air again.
Was the princess playing her violin again?
I closed in towards the direction of the music.
A sad and calm melody that was obviously being played by Princess Seira.
She placed the brown wooden violin against her cheek, and silently pulled the bow across the strings with her eyes closed. Those silver strands of hair flowed gently in the wind.
Seeing her as such, I could almost see, for an instant, Glinda overlapping with her appearance, and began to have trouble breathing.
Their appearances were nothing alike, but both of them had the same untouchable air, like they were warning others not to disrupt, and also the same ice cold chiselled features… causing my emotions to be completely fried.
Tear-inducing sad music flowed above the swaying tops of the forest dyed red in sunset.
Disgusting, why did I hurt so much inside? My throat felt bitter, tears threatening to pour out… Had she somehow mix some psychological disrupting magic into her music?
-- I worry much about Seira… wondering if she had seen through things <too much, too clearly>.
The Queen said so because She was worried about Her daughter being nothing like an ordinary girl.
Those pair of amethyst eyes that seemed as pure and transparent as purple crystals, just what did they see?
Conquer the world?
Become someone like Ophelit?
But Ophelit had <abandoned the world he conquered>.
Just like Glinda, he disappeared without a trace, leaving just a single sentence.
Why did Glinda disappear?
Why abandon everything?
She had never told me anything before.
Even though the one who was pulling at the violin was Princess Seira, I could only overlap Glinda’s frame on her body, and felt the immense pressure of sadness and frustration on my aching heart.
It was as if a great wall had been constructed around them, impenetrable, unapproachable.
The music suddenly stopped, and Princess Seira slowly turned to look at the me behind those transparent walls with an icy expression.
I…
-- Was your wish to abandon everything?
These words seemed to come out automatically, but a portion within me hurt so much that I could not utter a sound.
Princess Seira slightly widened her eyes, maybe because she noticed my tears. I was so embarrassed that my face burnt, and I turned and fled.
Really, what was I doing!
I felt as if I was an abandoned puppy, and hid crying for a long while within my room.
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LNWNCentral_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata - Volume 01
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Dress-na-Boku-ga-Yangotonaki-Katagata-Volume-01-[GirlyBoysAlliance][Proxus]/Chapter_08.txt
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Chapter 08
Chapter 08
Even when mom and dad were still alive at the Orlando Kingdom, Glinda had stopped playing with the other kids.
“—Because they steal web content from me.”
Glinda just coldly replied, continuing to design her website that I could hardly understand anything of.
“Because they stole.”
Hearing this, I felt as if I had been abandoned by Glinda just like the other kids, and felt so pathetic.
“Am I also a thief?”
When I asked while trembling, Glinda coldly looked at me, and said.
“Yes, a thief. But you are my subscriber, so if you would visit my website, I would give you exclusive content I promised.”
Even when mom and dad were still alive at the Orlando Kingdom, Glinda had stopped playing with the other kids.
“—Because they are <different> from me.”
Glinda just coldly replied, continuing to read a thick old tome that I could hardly make heads or tails out of.
“Because different.”
Hearing this, I felt as if I had been abandoned by Glinda just like the other kids, and felt so pathetic.
“Am I also <different>?”
When I asked while trembling, Glinda coldly looked at me, and said.
“Yes, different. But you are my little brother, so if you would obediently listen to me, I would play with you.”
I was as delighted as a little puppy wagging his tail with all my might, nodding: “En!”
“Sigh….. Ahhhhhh! Now is no time to reminiscence about sad memories of childhood!”
I sat on my bed in my western dress, gripping my head and sighing.
Since the day I bumped into Princess Seira and shed tears, three days had gone by.
Due to shame and embarrassment, I could never look her completely in the face during every lesson.
Helmut who returned home the day before calmly said.
“She hasn’t threatened you; saying that she would reveal your identity immediately if you cannot find the answer, neither has she set a time limit for discovering the solution, right? If that’s the case, you can just take your time to patiently figure a way out.”
Princess Seira never did set a deadline, and since she had helped me keep my secret to this day, she might just continue to keep mum about it.
But, I had already promised the Queen :”Just leave Princess Seira’s issues to me.”; And more importantly, Princess Seira seemed to be waiting for her answer, silently applying pressure on me with her icy quiet stare at all times, and scaring me almost into spilling my guts.
“Uwuwu… If the real Glinda were to come to Eren, maybe she would have been very compatible with Princess Seira…”
No, maybe they would have begun their plot to conquer the world together already, so scary.
My mind was filled with illusions of horror, and I was so upset that I could not sit still, running out of my room.
Oh, but if I were to go out to the courtyards, I might bump into the princess again; as for Anneth, she had just said “I need to deliver something to the publishers.”, and went back home, yet to return.
So lonely.
Cold breeze swirled within my skirt.
As I slowly walked with head overcast…
“Hey! Glinda! How dare you just ignore me! Outrageous!”
A furious-looking Sir Jerome appeared in a huff.
“Huh? When have I ever ignored you?”
For someone with such flamboyant dress-sense, pompous and exaggerated attitude, how could I possibly ignore him?
But Jerome just became angrier.
“Huh? Stop playing the fool! Last night when I called at you at the new diner at the Silver Lamb Street, you just coldly stared at me! Even if there was a woman at my sides, b-but don’t you misunderstand! That was just a normal girlfriend… no, she’s my cousin… no, my elder sister!”
“I did not leave the palace at all yesterday, did you mistook someone else for me…”
“I did not mistake anyone else! The face that looked at me is truly yours!”
Jerome pointed at my face and shouted, then his own face began to redden.
“That, maybe because of the moonlight, you looked more enchanting than normal… I have never thought you lovely before, but for some reasons, the same face in the city felt completely different, so, so I was stunned for a moment, thinking that you looked beautiful…”
I was shocked breathless.
A girl with the same face as mine, but more beautiful, there could only be one in this entire world!
Could it be that Jerome had bumped into…
At this point, Jerome’s uncle, the Chief Minister who saw me as a pain in his sides, strode over in large steps.
“I heard that you have been trying to unearth information about our country, and about our king. You must be a spy from Winstoria Empire!”
“When did that happen?”
“Stop acting as though you know nothing about it! I received reports that, this morning you were at the marketplace, not spending even a single cent and just with sophistry alone, made off with half a dozen eggs, two oranges, a string of sausages, hard bread, squid and roast scallops!”
“I must take my leave!”
I turned and ran when I heard.
“Wait! You trying to escape?!?”
“Glinda! The woman last night is truly only my sister~~~~”
I ignored the shouts that came from behind me.
This morning I had breakfast with the royal family, and then had lessons as normal.
So, there could be no way I could have appeared in the market.
There could be absolutely no doubts about it! Glinda had come to this country! And was very nearby!
I ran back into my room, threw on some craftsman’s apparel that I had prepared just in case, tugged my hair under my cap, and put on those pair of spectacles that I had not worn since I got kidnapped by Helmut. These were glasses that I bought on purpose to hide my face which looked exactly similar to Glinda.
It was no simple feat to enter the castle, with its thick high walls, water-filled moat and guards.
But it was a simple thing to leave it.
I pretended to be a lowly craftsman’s apprentice, leaving the castle to buy some stuff for my master.
“Thank you for the hard work. It must had been tough at work with Lana’s Day just around the corner, huh?”
The guards chatted with me as they let me passed outside.
Once out of the palace, I picked up my legs and began to run.
Where to look for Glinda?
Let’s just begin at where the crowd would be. Glinda was so glaringly outstanding that even mere passers-by would be deeply impressed by her appearance.
I made my way from my memories of the marathon race, and immediately found a large crowd forming a ring around something.
I tiptoed to try peering in from above their heads.
A clown-themed clockwork toy was being displayed in front of a clock-maker shop. The clown with his hair stuffed on his back hammered on his drums while a dove flew out of the drum with every hit.
This was identical to the toy we had in our home back in the Winstoria Empire, which had been crafted by Glinda when she was just 6.
I pushed through the crowd to ask the shop owner.
“Who made this toy?”
The shop keeper excitedly replied.
“Yesterday, a beautiful young lady came over to our shop and crafted this object in a second. She said that there were some materials she needed, and would exchange them with this.”
“Where has she gone to?”
“She asked me the location of the nearest shoemaker, so I directed her to George’s shop nearby.”
“Thank you!”
I ran over to enquire at the shoe shop…
“Hoho, oh yes, she took a few pieces of top quality leather, and gave me many lovely designs of shoes. She asked me for some pen and paper, and just drew the designs on the spot. How terrific!”
After that, I heard that Glinda went to an antique shop.
Clockmaker, shoe shop, antique shop… Just what did Glinda want?
I followed the map that the shoe maker drew for me, rounding a street corner…
“Ah!”
“Wha! Sorry!”
I clashed heads-on with another who was also walking around the corner, and the objects in her hands fell, flying all over the place.
A large amount of paper flew about, and the two of us quickly tried to pick them all up.
“T-that, it’s alright.”
The girl I bumped into shyly said in a small voice.
“No, it’s my fault entirely for bumping into you in a hurry.”
“I am at fault too, for not being careful when rounding the corner. There’s no need to help me pick them all up.”
“How can I just leave like that?”
What were on these papers? They seemed to be filled with words… A document? Or a diary?
I had actually no intention of sneaking a peak into another’s things, but I took a glance by accident, and lost all colour on my face.
<Helmut grabbed King Cecello tightly in a kissing embrace.>
“!”
“I-it’s really alright… I can pick them all up on my own.”
I looked up to check out the other person.
Blushing from head to toe while picking up the pieces was none other than Anneth who had just went home!
That probably meant that, these papers were Anneth’s novel? That ‘thing’ about Helmut being Top and King Cecello being Bottom?
Waaaaaaaah! If they were to be blown away by the wind and seen by other people, all hell might break loose~~~
I picked up the papers all over at three times, no, five times the speed, while Anneth watched with widened eyes.
“T-that...”
At that moment, a piece of paper was picked up by the wind and flew towards the path of a passing horse-drawn carriage.
“Oh no!”
Anneth let out a cry of dismay.
I kicked against the ground, jumping forward with all my might.
“Ah! Danger!”
I heard Anneth’s screams, grabbed the flying piece of paper, and held the rest of the papers close to my chest before hitting the ground and rolling over a few times.
The horse neighed in surprise, and the huge wheels rolled over the stone pavement just beside me.
“Oh… You, are you alright? Have you gotten hurt?”
Anneth ran over and said in a frantic voice.
“Here.”
I climbed up and passed her the stack of paper with a full-faced smile.
“These things are important, right? Luckily they haven’t gotten squashed by the carriage.”
If someone were to see these by accident, she might be arrested for disrespect of both Eren Kingdom and the Winstoria Empire, and might even cause an international incident.
Anneth said with a blushing face.
“Thank you…”
She looked at me with eyes filled with adoration.
“Huh?”
And then tilted her head.
“Looking more carefully, you looked very similar to someone I know.”
I was so stunned that my heart nearly leapt out of my mouth.
G-glasses?... Oh, luckily they were intact on my face.
“Really alike, no matter how you look at it, there has to be some relationship. Have you just arrived from the Winstoria Empire?”
“Haha, I grew up here in Eren. Ho, I am still in a hurry, please excuse me.”
“Oh!”
Anneth seemed to want to say something more, but I turned and fled immediately.
Uwah! Did I manage to get away? The next time I meet with Anneth I must be careful not to expose myself!
I ran breathlessly to the antique shop.
“That lady? She had been around here until this morning. She said that she wanted to read an ancient tome in this shop, and completed it all within a single night. How terrifying.”
I heard there that Glinda had prescribed a list of herbal medication for the shop owner who suffered from chronic shoulder aches. The shop owner was very satisfied with the results of the medicine after trying it out, and was thus gratified.
Glinda had been here just until this morning?
After that, I ran to the diner that Jerome said that Glinda had ignored him in, as well as the places in the market where Glinda had bought stuff.
Everyone there remembered Glinda, and I heard that she purchased stuff by wagering with the shop owners with scissors-paper-stone, offering to pay ten times the price for loosing but taking the food for free if she won. Naturally, she won them all, and so left with a large pile of food without spending a single cent, going next to the arts museum and the library.
I was getting closer to Glinda!
As the prize in my eyes became closer, my head turned feverish and my chest felt the thumping beats of my heart.
Since I was a child, I had always had to rely on Glinda for every single thing.
Every time when I ran into trouble, I would run crying to Glinda; if there were any joyful or sad happenings, Glinda would be the first one I would report to.
Even though Glinda was so cold, she would always listen to me, giving me support.
In the end, Glinda knew every bit about me, but I knew nothing about Glinda.
Glinda would never tell me anything about what was in her heart.
That’s right, even three years ago – when we turned fourteen, it was also the same.
One day nearing Lana’s day, Glinda sat and played a gentle tune on the piano.
“—Could that possibly be Lana’s Day music? Wow! Who are you going to confess to?”
No matter how I asked and cajoled, Glinda would not reveal who that lovely music was dedicated to, nor would she tell me where she would gift this song to anybody.
It was the same this time.
<I am not Glinda Dolye any more from today onwards.>
She just disappeared after leaving these words.
How could she just do that! This is preposterous! I must definitely scold her bitterly!
I continued to run while panting profusely.
No matter how fiercely I was to scold her, Glinda would simply carelessly reply “I was just going for a trip, what’s the big deal.”
Then, I would just dump all my frustrations and bitterness I suffered from all this time on her.
Just like before…
Ohhh! I would finally meet with Glinda again! Everything would be restored!
It was just noon when I departed from the castle, but the sky had somehow turned bright red now without my realising it.
I chased after the trail of Glinda, arriving at last at the port.
Huh, why did it end at the port…
I looked at the sailboat that was anchored there with disquiet in my heart.
When I asked about Glinda from the labourer there…
“You’re asking about that lady? She had left on the ship bound for Rubinia, saying that she wanted to get to the Gilian Islands.”
I felt darkness falling before my eyes and my entire body went cold.
“How can that be! Glinda!”
It was so close that I thought I could see her! I thought that Glinda came to find me because she was actually worried for me… But in the end she just left without a word!
I shouted towards the sea.
“Glinda! Glinda! Come back!”
“The ship has been gone for over an hour. She won’t be able to hear it.”
The labourer probably thought that I had been ditched by a girl called Glinda, and so said in a consoling voice.
Glinda abandoned me.
My heart was completely empty, but my body somehow felt like it weighed a ton.
By the time I dragged my feet that felt as heavy as lead back to the palace, it was already night-time.
When I was barred by the guards at the entrance to the palace, I just nonchalantly pulled down my cab and took off my spectacles.
The soldiers, upon seeing my long hair on my shoulders, cried in surprise.
“M-Ms Glinda!”
The crossed spears before me immediately parted.
I emptily walked pass them.
That’s right, Chief Minister Gaston seemed to be suspecting me of being a spy… If he heard about this again, he might think I was out spying again… Muah, whatever.
Upon returning to my own room, I had no energy left to even change back into female clothes, but just sat cross-legged on the bed and scratched my head violently.
Would I be stuck in this place forever?
I did not wish to cross-dress any longer.
I did not want to act as Glinda’s replacement any more.
That’s because after all my efforts of waiting for her to come back, she just abandoned me.
Since Glinda came to Eren, she must have heard about the news of Ms Glinda in the palace, and definitely realise that that would be me.
But, she never visited me once, but just left behind a big pile of trails, and left Eren. Even if I were to be exposed as fake in Eren and got sent to prison for being an imposter, she would probably not have bothered either.
Something hot began to rise in my throat, and I had a splitting headache.
I don’t care about Glinda any more! I want nothing more to do with Glinda for the rest of my life!
At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
“… It’s me. May I come in?”
A flat monotonous voice came in, was it Princess Seira?
I got down from the bed and went to open the door to see those emotionless clear eyes observing me.
What did she come here for?
Princess Seira beheld my craftsman’s getup and hair in disarray, but displayed no clue of surprise and just coldly asked.
“… Where did you go to today?”
Had she already known about me leaving the palace?
That un-childlike cool expression reminded me of Glinda, causing temper to rise in me.
“Are you here to check if I have escaped? What business is it of yours wherever I go?”
I was stirred by my own words, and my emotions became more unstable.
Glinda was also like that.
Apparently knowing every single thing about me, but letting me know nothing about herself.
“… it is my business, because I have yet to hear your answer.”
This tone that felt as if questioning the results of an experiment, along with the disrespectful use of a simple ‘You’, drove heat to the very roots of my ears.
Ever since this princess had discovered that I was not Glinda, she no longer called me ‘Teacher’, but simply addressed me as ‘You’, as if calling something useless.
I became so angry that I could no longer breathe.
This girl was just like Glinda!
“The answer is <Nothing>! You have never wanted anything! To <People like you>, there is no need for anything! You guys have everything, but just wanted to abandon it all and be all alone! You are like that! So is Ophelit!”
So was Glinda!
What these people dreamed off, saw, was the <End of the World> where nothing else lived except themselves!
“Go ahead and expose me as an imposter! After all I am sick and tired of cross-dressing already!”
I shouted in anger, and completely lost control. Princess Seira slightly widened her large amethyst eyes and looked at me defencelessly.
“….”
I turned and shut the door, threw the pillow atop the bed, kicked away my shoes, upper coat and pants. Then I took out the dress, corset and pantyhose and threw them onto the bed.
“I’ve had enough! Booohooo! I’ve really had enough!”
Wearing just a pair of shorts, I cried non-stop.
When I finally realised the severity of the situation, it was already deep in the night.
After shouting loudly to the maids that “I am not eating!”, I had fallen asleep atop of the embroidered western gown.
Now, I sat cross-legged on the bed with both hands holding on my head.
“Uwwaaaaaaaah! What have I said! She is only a child of 9!”
Being abandoned my Glinda was such a severe blow to me that I had completely forgotten about that fact.
When I thought about how the tiny hand that had covered my lips was so small, so fragile and soft…
“Fool! I am such a fool! The worst kind of knave!”
I could not help but began to knock my own head.
To say such horrible things to a child of such small cheeks and soft hands, I was truly no better than a rat! Rubbish child bully! I should just go disappear into a ditch! Even if Glinda and Princess Seira were alike, they were still different people.
To be glared so fiercely at by a transvestite and then angry scolded, she must be really frightened.
If it was Glinda, she might repay me three times in kind, but Princess Seira was probably more defenceless… it m-might even leave a psychological scar…
When I thought back to my mad shouts earlier, and her fragile, lost eyes, I could almost feel knives slicing in my chest. Waaaah~~~~ I was just bullying children~~~~
As I imagined the scene of Princess Seira hiding into a corner, covering her face with both eyes and crying sadly, I was further filled with a sense of guilt.
“Go- go apologise already!”
Now! Immediately! Not one more second of delay!
I was still overwrought, and never considered whether it might be better to wait until later or tomorrow to apologise, as my mind was filled with the images of Princess Seira weeping alone.
Right, let’s go to her room, even if it’s just to peek from the door outside.
If Princess Seira had already slept, I would just leave her a message.
I placed a note saying “Really sorry for yesterday”, and placed it into an envelope, then quickly buttoned up in a lacy female night gown and combed my hair. Just in case I bumped into someone, I could at least say that I lost my way in the dark while sleepwalking.
Alright, preparations complete.
Relying on the candlelight in the halls, I shuffled forward in the corridor.
The castle at night was a little scary, but pangs of guilt overcame fear, so I could not care any more about that.
Ho, this must be Princess Seira’s bedroom.
I gripped the handle and slowly twisted it.
Luckily my current identity was female, or I might even be taken to be a night-crawling lolicon… but wait, Princess Seira knew I was male!
No, I was not here to night-crawl, but to apologise and seek forgiveness. I had absolutely no dishonourable intent towards 9 year old girls.
I profusely explained myself in my heart as I gently opened the door.
In an instant, I was taken breathless.
“!”
In the bedroom with pulled-open curtains, moonlight flooded in from the balcony outside.
The floor that had been furnished with soft carpeting was illuminated like a lake of silver, while the patterns on the glass window cast shadows like a thick forest, glittering all over with tiny sparkle.
The scene within the room was one that was directly ripped out of the fairy tales.
At the centre of this lonely world laid a pile of white object.
That was Princess Seira.
Her body was wrapped in a blanket, back towards me, motionless.
“Your Highness…”
Even though I called her, she did not reply.
I swallowed and moved into the room.
Something small stuck between my feet and the surface of the ground.
Picking it up, I found that it was a crystal bead. So the sparkling glitter I saw was this? But, why were these beads all over the place? They couldn’t have fallen from the ceiling chandelier, right?
I felt increasingly uncomfortable, and so went around to the front to steal a glance at her face, thus discovered that the girl who had been clad completely in white and wrapped in a thin blanket was, in fact, weeping in silence.
Her sad eyes were downcast, lips tightened, and tears as round as the crystal beads on the floor were rolling down her cheek.
This doll-like appearance was quieter and calmer than the scenes I had imagined, but the impact of it was a hundred times more tragic and lonely.
“S-sorry!”
I fell to the ground and lowered my head in apology.
“Truly, really sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!”
I apologise continuously.
“As an adult, how could I have said such outrageous things to you! You are not wrong, the fault is with me, all due to my own foolishness! Really, truly sorry!”
Princess Seira continued to cry non-stop.
She pouted, and tears continued to fall from her eyes.
Ohhhh! … Did this child always hide and cry alone? All this time?
And I had thoughtless hurt her. At this time, I was utterly filled with regret, apologising profusely with “Sorry”, “You can hit me”, “If you would just laugh, I would do anything”, “I would even be your slave”, “Please, I beg of you, stop crying”.
But no matter what I said, the princess did not react.
Like her heart had been snatched away, tears just ran liberally from her eyes.
Perhaps after hearing my words, Princess Seira’s spirit had flown off to another world, and I was only left with an empty shell… When I considered this, my heart shattered.
What must I do?
I had no idea that I had caused such deep wounds in her.
As I felt shocked, the blanket wrapped about her body slipped and fell to the ground.
Princess Seira remained motionless, and as I helped to pick up her blanket, I suddenly noticed an open book at her side.
A thick, large book written in ancient language.
That was the book which Princess Seira often carried around close to her chest.
The page which the book had opened to had not only words, but illustrations as well. It was the picture of the back of a sage playing a flute in a black cape blown by the wind… This was apparently a replication of the artists’ impression of Ophelit as represented in excavations of the ancient ruins.
But the thing that drew my attention was not the legendary genius, but the small blurry picture of the back of a young girl standing besides Ophelit…
The little girl stretched out her right hand towards the black figure, as if to grasp the black cape Ophelit was wearing…
Oh, I see now.
So that was it.
Many things clicked in my brain, and my heart was pierced with a tight pain… I could not help but hugged Princess Seria tightly.
That icy slim body did not struggle.
How powerless, how lonely, were you as you pined for the fulfilment of this dream.
I used the gentlest and kindest voice I could muster and told her.
“I know the <thing you desire>.”
Goddess of Love Lana’s Day.
In the afternoon of Lana’s Day.
The Queen Mother received many gifts and smiled joyfully.
The twin princesses presented her with a rose-shaped coral ring, Prince Ryuuju gave her a thimble of emerald; but the thing that surprised everyone was that even Prince Shin gave her a brooch made of clay with a piece of amber in its centre. Its shape is that of a Margaret, and its edges had been painted white. Previously I had noticed Prince Shin silently crafting it during the lessons, so this was actually the present he had in mind for Her Majesty.
“Ara, is this hand-made by Shin? It’s great! So cute! Thank you so much!”
The Queen put on the brooch on the spot, hugged Prince Shin and rubbed Her cheeks against his, causing His Highness to blush happily.
Naturally, His Majesty King Cecello had gifted the person He loved the most with jewellery, as evidenced by the silver necklace with a gemstone as blue as His Majesty’s eyes which had been sparkling around Her Majesty’s slim neck since this morning.
Every present had been a pleasant laughter-inducing surprise to Her Majesty, but the one that absolutely touched the Queen today had to be Princess Seira’s gift to Her.
That afternoon, before the gathered and sitting King Cecello, Her Majesty and all the other princes and princesses, Princess Seira dedicated her violin performance to the Queen.
It was a personal composition of Princess Seira herself which was totally unlike her usual sad and lonely note, but one that was teeming with gladness and warmth.
Before the performance began, I had informed the Queen and all present.
“In the Winstoria Empire, people compose and dedicate songs to their beloved, so today, Her Highness Princess Seira would also like to perform a song that she had composed herself to her most beloved Queen Mother.”
Her Majesty’s eyes widened greatly as She heard those words.
Princess Seira seemed somewhat nervous as she held her violin and bow, glancing uneasily at me.
Her expression only relaxed a little when I smiled and lifted the tambourine in my hand to show her, but then it tightened again as she began the performance.
As soothing and pleasing as always, but much, much warmer – such notes poured forth.
The Queen had a shocked expression on Her face, and became moved almost to tears as She listened spellbound to the sweet melody.
I was also completely affected by Princess Seira’s awesome composition, shaking my tambourine in concerto with the violin music.
The one who suggested for Princess Seira to compose music for the Queen as Lana’s Day present was naturally I.
-- I know the <thing you desire>.
When I spoke these words that night, the Princess Seira in my chest reacted for the first time.
Like a bullied little girl, she said softly in a lost and insecure little voice.
“… I do not … have anything I desire, because… I have everything… So… I can only abandon… everything… go look for the <End of the World> alone… That’s my wish… So your answer’s correct…”
The knife that wounded Princess Seria so deeply also pierced my own heart. Those words that I had used on her had been really too much, and I wanted now to beat myself into a bloody pulp.
“No, I answered wrong.”
I said in a completely decisive voice.
The thing that Princess Seira desired, was not to become Ophelit.
Why did Princess Seira only have interest in <Glinda>?
Why did she look at me so intently?
Why did she keep holding onto Ophelit’s book, and read it in front of me?
When I fell into her bathtub, she had lightly tugged on my hand…
-- Isn’t Teacher… here to see me?
Why did she look so hopefully at me then?
Princess Seira was still hoping right now.
Hoping and waiting for the unmatched genius Glinda Dolye.
“I had been completely wrong about you. You must have been really frightened, really lonely, right?”
Because she had been gifted extraordinary intelligence, she was far beyond common people.
With her all-comprehending powers of perception, she could see through the cold calculating side to His Majesty who so loved His children. When she saw those things that a 9 year old child should never be allowed to see, just how horrified and lonely would she had felt.
If I was just like my Father the King… When she considered such things, fear must had frozen her all over.
Princess Seira had loved the legends and heroes in them, because she could see that those characters were out of the ordinary just like she was.
“Your wish was for someone who can hold the hand that you reached out with. Someone who can understand your loneliness, someone like yourself… a <soulmate>… you have been waiting for someone like that.”
I released my hands and looked at her eyes.
Princess Seira continued to weep as she watched me with a fragile expression.
I wrapped my hands around her tiny hands and slowly closed around them.
“I will be your companion.”
I said with a fervour that was as warm as the insides of my throat.
Princess Seira gave a little jump.
“I am no genius, neither can I <see the right way> of everything, but I will be your companion no matter what time it is! I will listen to whatever you want to say! Help you whenever you need someone! So, just say whatever you wish to say, do anything that you want to do!”
The tiny fingers felt a little more forceful as they held onto my fingers.
The face covered in tears looked up, and Princess Seira asked timidly.
“… anything that I want to do?”
“That’s right, anything that you want to do.”
“… There’s no such thing.”
“The crystals on the floor, are those for Lana’s Day present?”
Princess Seira’s face which had been downcast all this while looked up at me in surprise, and then immediately lowered again.
“… E-every year… Everyone would… give presents to Queen Mother… But… I am different… So, no need…”
Her voice went dead half-way into the sentence, drowned out by sobs.
I visualised Princess Seira weeping as she broke apart the jewellery prepared for her Queen Mother, and was tremendously hurt myself inside.
“Sorry, it is all because my words had hurt you. Can it be repaired just in time for Lana’s Day?”
“… No, Lord Father, Elder Brother, Sarasa and Orie… and even Shin… would be giving presents to Queen Mother… So I don’t have to…”
Even though I apologised with all my might, Princess Seira continued to shake her head in grief.
It was obvious how lonely and anguished Princess Seira had felt all along.
Sigh, then what should I do?
I wrecked my brains and tried my hardest to figure out a way.
What must I do to lead this childish little Princess back from the darkness of her gift? What could I do to restore her confidence?
Maybe if I praised her in the things she was the best in…
Got it!
“Then, just give the Queen the thing that only you can give. In my country, the thing we give to our most beloved is not precious stones, but music. Aren’t you the best at playing the violin? Why not just compose a song for Her Majesty, and play it for Her?”
Princess Seira was dumbfounded when she heard that.
“I would also help. How about it?”
I asked again before she shakily nodded.
Then, the two of us composed the music until day break. Even though that was what I said, in actual fact, all I did was offer my comments after listening to Princess Seira’s hums.
After which, Her Highness began to diligently rehearse the composed song.
Princess Seira halted a few times during the practices and lowered her head in hesitation, so I decided to participate in the performance as well and told her, “Let me support you with my tambourine.”
The result was this sunny-warm music played by Princess Seira for her Queen Mother now.
I stood behind her, shaking my tambourine at her beats.
It would be alright, I’m here, your companion is here.
So, you can just do all that you need to do to convey your love to your most beloved.
My last-minute emergency practice paid-off, as the rings of my tambourine harmoniously fell in line with the dancing notes of Princess Seira’s melody.
Prince Ryuuju, the twin princesses and even Prince Shin listened in delightful rapture.
Princess Suzuna who lied on her Queen Mother’s chest opened her eyes and laughed cheerfully as if to make joyful music into the mix.
King Cecello had his arm around the shoulders of Her Majesty, and watched us with an extremely gentle expression.
The Queen’s eyes shimmered with teary light like the children, and then bloomed into a blushing smile.
See, Princess Seira’s intention had been clearly conveyed.
<I love Queen Mother very much.>
Such a pure, vital and joyful thing.
I suddenly realised as I shook the tambourine, the music of which Her Majesty had said only children could bring out completely.
Glinda and Princess Seira might both be geniuses, but they were not completely beyond human comprehension.
Throughout my seventeen years of living together with Glinda, I had in fact come to learn of many things.
When she was feeling down, she would pick on some mundane stuff around the house, such as peeling the tough fibre off long beans or dismantling a knot in a chain.
She would never look at me fully in the eye if she was feeling really hurt.
When she was happy, her nose would quiver ever so slightly.
Even if Glinda was an extremely intelligent, highly unpredictable, completely mysterious person and a troublesome elder sister, I could still figure many things about her.
Joyful melody filled the atmosphere with warmth, lifting up smiles on the faces of everyone. Even Princess Suzuna wiggled in happiness.
As the performance came to a close, King Cecello helped take the baby princess from the arms of Her Majesty.
The Queen ran towards Princess Seira and hugged her tightly.
“Thank you, Seira, this is such a beautiful gift. It is a really happy day today!”
She said in a teary voice.
Princess Seira seemed highly flustered, and tugged on Her Majesty’s clothes in a flush.
“T-Thank you for making such delicious breakfast for us every morning… I… I love Queen Mother very much.”
Her shaky and unsteady words somehow touched me greatly.
“I love Seira very much too.”
Princess Seira’s lips gradually bloomed into a glowing smile.
“Oh! We love Queen Mother very much too!”
“Yes! Love Mother the most!”
Princesses Sarasa and Orie, embraced Her Majesty with Princess Sarasa; Prince Shin seemed to be expressing his love for his Mother by silently tugging at Her skirt.
“Your Highness Prince Ryuuju, won’t you go as well?”
“…Humph. I’m already an adult. So that won’t be important, Glinda… Besides, I-I have something I’d like to give…”
“Oh c’mon, what is Your Highness talking about? You’re still a child too. So don’t be shy, just go.”
I gave Prince Ryuuju a little shove with both hands from behind.
“Wha!”
Prince Ryuuju gave a little surprised shout and got pushed running towards the huddled group, knocking into the twin princesses.
“Ara! Big Bro Ryuuju is always so frenzied!”
“That’s right! Just like a little kid!”
“What! It is not I who…”
Her Majesty the Queen watched over the children, and said happily.
“Ryuuju, Seira, Sarasa and Orie, Shin and Suzuna, I love each and every one of you.”
His Majesty who was carrying Princess Suzuna somehow appeared at my side without my notice.
“Previously, I tend to hold off giving my Lana’s Day present until at night, but today I had a premonition and decided to give it immediately in the morning. Looks like that has been a good call. After Seira’s gift, there’s no way for my gift to appear any comparable.”
King Cecello seemed to whisper conspiratorially to me in a low voice.
“Ms Glinda, you are the only one with the capability of helping Seira compose a music of this form, and perform it with this calibre.”
“It’s just a coincidence.”
“Even if that’s the case, I must still thank you as a father. Ms Glinda, I invited you here specifically for the sake of Seira, because that child has scarcely anyone who can understand her, or communicate with her as an equal. Ms Glinda Dolye has been invited to be the private tutor of Eldest Princess Seira.”
Princess Seira’s private tutor…
It was such an incomparably honoured praise in my ears.
His Majesty continued in a friendly and warm voice.
“Lady Glinda does not require the use of Ophelit’s all-conquering silver flute, but relied on the tambourine usable even by small children to open the locked heart of Seira. From this day forth, please continue to assist that child with the help of the tambourine.”
“Certainly.”
I said with bravado.
But I also wondered how things could have turned out if the one who came to Eren Kingdom was the real Glinda.
Perhaps both she and Princess Seira could establish a certain level of understanding with each other.
Since, in hindsight, I realised that back then Glinda could had just been sulking when she said “They are all different from me” as she read her tales of heroes and legends alone.
A feeling of longing continued to linger in my chest…
His Majesty then put on a somewhat funny disappointed face, saying.
“Also please advise Seira, so that she would no longer be afraid of me.”
“I believe Her Highness Princess Seira loved Your Majesty very much as well.”
That’s right, for I was in a similar situation. Even though Glinda vanished all on her own and left me with a heap of problems, I still loved this member of my family deeply from within.
King Cecello smiled lightly, and replied.
“I know.”
Then, he laid gentle eyes on the Queen being hugged tightly by her children, as well as the children who surrounded their beloved Mother.
“Isn’t my family great?”
The severe cold blue eyes of a leader seemed to have melted away that instant.
-- Seira is very similar to me.
This was the hint given me by King Cecello.
The lonely King Cecello who played his violin in solitude in an ancient castle was changed by his encounter with a foreign young lady, as the two grew to understand each other.
Therefore, change would gradually come too, for Princess Seira as well as the world around her.
For, just the King Cecello who changed the entire kingdom for the sake of his beloved, Princess Seira too, would one day encounter someone special to her that she valued above all others.
I pray too, that Glinda would remember me in the moments when she felt lonely, and then come back as though nothing had happened.
Then, I would first unleash my fury on her, before hugging her tightly, saying “Welcome home.”
Princess Seira who was quivering in embarrassment in the bosom of Her Majesty turned to look at me, her face completely red, but shone me a shy smile.
It was a child-like smile as simple as wild flowers blooming in the fields, but seeing that smile, I could almost feel as if Glinda was smiling at me, and so returned a smile of my own.
That night, while alone in my own room, I heard people knocking at my door.
“It’s me, may I enter?”
“Princess Seira? Hmm, sure, please enter.”
The door lightly opened, and the princess worriedly peeked in. Her expression had become far richer like a normal child’s.
When the two of us were alone together, she would often display such somewhat embarrassed expressions, maybe because she had no idea what to say or how to behave before me.
Princess Seira looked down on the floor and swayed side to side for a while, before putting forth both her hands to the front and bowing towards me with a blushing face.
“Thanks so much for all the help you gave me. I have never played together with my brothers and sisters before, so I am really glad; I being able to give a gift that made Queen Mother so happy, i-it’s also because of you… Truly, thank you very much.”
“All I did was to provide a little assistance. Right, I too have a gift for you.”
“?”
I opened a small box I had delivered from the craftsmen, and a silver bracelet of crystal beads had been laden within. An amethyst in the designs of a flower had also been crafted according to my request and attached on it.
I gently lifted Princess Seira’s right hand and wound the bracelet around her hand twice, making her eyes grow wide.
“This is…”
“This is my Lana’s Day present to you.”
“Eee…”
“Even though I say that, actually the crystal beads have been collected from your own room, and amethyst is not really something expensive… But, this is the evidence that I am your companion.”
The stunned Princess Seira who had been looking at the bracelet looked up in shock when she heard those words.
I looked at her with a gentle gaze, feeling that this was probably the sacred emotions felt by the knights swearing loyalty to their princesses in the legends.
-- Private tutor of Eldest Princess Seira.
That title ordained by His Majesty, sparkled like gold in my heart.
Princess Seira placed her hand which was wearing the bracelet on her chest and said
“Teacher.”
A smile floated onto her cherry coloured lips.
“Would you please call me just <Seira> from today?”
“Huh?”
“It should be alright when there is just the two of us.”
“Emm. Alright.”
She just called me <Teacher>! Ever since she had discovered that I was an imposter, she had been just using <You> to address me, but now, she was calling me <Teacher>!
Princess Seira’s mood rose as she looked happily at me whose heartbeat began to speed up.
“I still have much to learn from Teacher, so please teach me as you wish from now on as well.”
“Mmm, I too have much to learn from you as well, Seira.”
“T-That… Also…”
Princess Seira became more fidgety.
She shyly looked down at her two feet, then looked up at me, and abashedly asked.
“First, could I ask… What is the name of Teacher?”
“My name?”
“… Is it not alright?”
She asked worriedly.
“No. Then I would just tell you alone, please don’t tell anyone else though.”
I had no idea it could be so bashful to tell someone else my own name.
“My name is Sherlock Dolye, everyone just call me <Sher -chan>.”
Seira seemed as if she had obtained something of immeasurable worth, focusing all her attention on my name.
“This… is the secret between me and Teacher.”
“Mmm.”
I nodded as her face turned red again.
“T-then, I would be taking my leave.”
Princess Seira turned and left in a hurry.
Maybe realising the immaturity in that action, she calmly turned and said at the doorway.
“Goodbye.”
Bowing low…
“Teacher… Sherlock.”
She shyly gave me a little smile, and closed the door lightly with her little hand.
For a long while after, my heart hammered non-stop.
Princess Seira recognized me as <Teacher>! Not <Teacher Glinda>, but <Teacher Sherlock>! I was so delighted that I could fly into the sky!
For this little girl so much alike to Glinda, how would she turn out?
I wish I could do something for Seira that I did not manage to do for Glinda.
Right, I still had to prepare for tomorrow morning’s class.
Even though there would be no way for me to actually teach Seira about the books she could read, I could at least teach her some customs and culture of the Winstoria Empire, and about how commoners lived there.
Such things would also be useful to know for the heir-to-the-throne Prince Ryuuju.
Let’s use the twin princesses’ favourite topics as a lead-in to it then.
Extra-curriculum activities should also be interesting, and I should pay more attention to Prince Shin too.
I was completely energized, and so began to organize the desk-full of study material.
“Huh?”
I discovered a piece of paper stuck between the drawers of the desk.
When did this fall out? Maybe it was when I was setting some test papers.
Picking it up, I became so shocked that I could not hold the paper steadily.
“!”
Ba-thump, Ba-thump, my heart would not stop hammering.
In a very familiar handwriting was just a single line of words.
“I don’t have athletes’ foot, nor am I little red beans, they are lemons.”
Glinda!
My temperature rose and my brain went feverish.
Glinda had been in this room? When was that? Definitely before she boarded that boat for Rubinia, so this piece of paper had been here for a few days already. Wah! Why hadn’t I noticed it earlier!
That Glinda. If you were going to leave a note, why didn’t you just come and talk with me directly? As expected, I still could not understand Glinda’s thought process.
While I continued to be flustered by the discovery, another knock sounded at the door.
Who could that be? And why at this time!
“Coming.”
I roughly pulled open the door, and found His Highness Prince Ryuuju frowning, lips tightened and standing at the door with an unpleasant-looking face.
Why was the prince here? Was there something I could do for him? I was worrying when Prince Ryuuju’s face turned as red as a tomato.
“D-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-don’t misunderstand! I only came because I wanted to thank you for your care last time! As the future king, I must certainly know the basics of courtesy! A-a-a-a-a-a-a-and that’s to say, because of that, just take it!”
He took out a small box tied by a ribbon.
Huh? Was that a Lana’s Day gift?
I had heard from Anneth that it was common to give gifts as thanks to females that had taken care of you, but taking one look at this box wrapped with ribbon along with the blushing red expression of Prince Ryuuju, you would know it was a love-confession no matter how you looked at it…
Huh? What? You’re kidding, right? Could… could he have fallen for me?
I was struck by lightning.
Could this be his first love?
W-w-w-w-w-w-wait a second! Calm down! I-i-i-i-i-i-i-I’m maaaaaaaleee~~~~
Ahhhhh! But His Highness looked so serious, just like back when I was first in love… Uwwwaaaaahhh! If I were to discover that the target of my first love was a man, there’s no way I could take it! If things were to be exposed, emotional scars would be left on his heart! Too cruel!
I was still shocked and worried by the severity of the situation, when another voice came.
“Hey! Glinda!”
Sir Jerome from the knights company walked over with a grim face.
I’m busy right now!
My heart screamed at him, but of course he could not have heard it.
Jerome acted as if he had not seen the prince, and just kept glaring at me as he approached slowly.
Was he still angry about Glinda giving him the snub that day? Or was he going to challenge me now to some other weird competition? But I was busy right now wrecking my brain over my student’s first love affairs!
At this moment, Jerome grabbed my wrist.
Click.
My right wrist was wrapped in a golden bracelet decorated with a red ruby.
What was that?
“This is my heart! You should understand what day it is today, right!”
“Huuuuuuuuuuuh?”
This guy as well?
“Impudence! The one who should be giving Glinda her gift first should be a prince like me!”
His Highness jumped in anger below Jerome and shouted.
“Love is beyond royalty.”
“Wha….What love!”
Didn’t he hate my guts? How did this suddenly turn into a love discussion? Because Glinda had been cold towards him? Was he some masochist? Even if this was the case, there’s no way I could be happy to be confessed to by some man!
The prince trembled in anger.
Jerome stared straight at me with burning hot passion.
It was the most popular day of my entire life, but I was just drowning in cold sweat and confusion.
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LNWNCentral_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata - Volume 01_Dress-na-Boku-ga-Yangotonaki-Katagata-Volume-01-[GirlyBoysAlliance][Proxus]
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Chapter_01.txt
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Chapter 01
Chapter 01
“Hoho! So that’s the acclaimed girl-genius Ms Glinda everyone has been talking about?”
Gasps and whispers of wonder filled the main hall of the palace.
“That’s the gem from the country of arts and knowledge, the Winstoria Empire!”
“The emperor is willing to part with such a national treasure?!?”
“This is proof of how highly the Empire values our alliance! His Imperial Highness is certainly both generous and honourable!”
Despite being night, the interior of the hall was as brightly-lit as high noon by the high-dangling chandeliers lit with numerous candles.
Stiffly wrapped in a set of beautiful formal gown, I quivered at the inquisitive gazes of the gossiping officials of Eren Kingdom.
“But hasn’t it been said that Ms Glinda is a stunning beauty with bright golden blonde hair, divine bright blue eyes and a neck as slender as that of a swan? All I see here is just an ordinary cute girl of seventeen!”
“No no no! Don’t be deceived by her outer appearance! Ms Glinda’s powers can outweigh a hundred scholars, a thousand merchant and ten thousands soldiers!”
Words that I had been hearing since young.
And indeed, Ms Glinda Dolye of the Winstoria Empire was truly the greatest genius ever born.
Gaining entry to Winstoria Empire’s Imperial University at the age of seven with full marks at the entry examination, she attained professorship at the age of twelve.
The year after that, she was awarded her own research centre by the emperor himself at the Imperial Research Institute, and became the deputy director of the cultural ministry that same year.
Now seventeen, she was unrivalled in knowledge, be it in politics, economics, arts and sciences or even military strategies. What a monster.
There was no exaggeration.
The scary thing about it was that everything rumoured about her was completely true.
However, the biggest problem right now was that the one standing trembling in the gathered gaze of Eren’s top officials was not the girl-genius Ms Glinda, but her ordinary twin-brother, me.
Noooooooooooooo!!! How did I land myself in this situation?
The story began one week ago.
Back then, I was still a housekeeper (and failed college-entry exam student) in the capital of the Winstoria Empire, Vienna.
I had just been dumped by Fleury, the girl who worked at the local bakery, and was crying my way home when I caught that fellow.
“Ho! You’re back! So you’re Sher-chan?”
The front door to our house which was supposed to have been locked when I left was now open, and the apparent thief, a gentleman garbed in formal attire, sat smiling at me from the living room sofa.
He was tall and elegantly clad in black from head to toe; black overcoat, black waistcoat, black pants and black gloves. Even his neatly-combed hair was black, though blue shined in his alert and warm eyes which brimmed with intelligence and honestly.
Sher-chan was my nickname.
My father was raised in Orlando in the West as a merchant, and my mom who was from Romancia used to call me Sher-chan since I was young. Therefore, everyone me called me that as well and not my given name, Sherlock.
And that was somewhat fitting, because a college-exam failure like me couldn’t possibly have such a gallant-sounding name, right?
I was somewhat uncomfortable in the presence of this successful-looking handsome individual smiling before me, as if to rub salt on my recent break-up,
“Who are you?”
I asked in suspicion, and he cheerfully replied.
“Ho, terribly sorry. I seemed to have forgotten to introduce myself. I am Helmut Dahlberg, a colleague of your sister and a diplomat of the foreign office.”
Tsk. So that was really an acquaintance of Glinda. Did he say that he was a diplomat of the foreign office? A 1st class government official, huh. From the overly-familiar and easy way he just strolled into our house, one would have thought that he was Glinda’s boyfriend. Though I dismissed that from my thought as, no matter how handsome he was, there was no way Glinda would have a boyfriend.
“If you are looking for Glinda, you should be at the Imperial Research institute or at the Cultural Ministry instead. Glinda almost never comes back home. Besides, she would be leaving for Eren Kingdom next week. She had been assigned as the royal tutor there by Imperial orders, and it is all over the news. Shouldn’t you have heard already?”
Eren was a small island kingdom in the West which had been isolated both politically and economically from the outside world for a very long time. That was the situation until ten years ago, when the present king, called the Hero-King or God-King by some, ended the policy of isolation, and began a vigorous exchange of foreign cultures.
During the spring of this year, the Winstoria Empire and Eren Kingdom signed a treaty of friendship and mutual benefits, and to indicate their gesture of trust, the Eren Kingdom awarded the role of the tutor to the royal family to the genius of the Winstoria Empire, Ms Glinda.
Muah, I was just an ordinary parasite off my sister who failed even the uni-preparatory class examinations, much less getting into college, not to mention being recently-dumped and facing the bleak prospect of being a NEET for the rest of my life… To a useless brother like me, those news meant little to nothing.
“Sher-chan, it is YOU that I have business with.”
“Me? Not Glinda?”
“My apologies, Sher-chan.”
He stretched out a slender finger and plucked my glasses from above my nose, then loosened my tied hair and lifted up my bangs.
“Hey! What are you doing?!? Stop touching me!”
The suave diplomat peered at my frantic face carefully, then nodded and said.
“Hmm, this should work.”
“W-what should work?”
“Sher-chan, how many fingers am I holding up?”
The official ignored my complaints and lifted up his fingers.
“Two.”
“Now?”
He walked further away.
“Three.”
“Your eyesight seems alright. Why wear glasses?”
“That’s none of your concern! Please return me my specs!”
The official of the foreign office dodged my outstretched hands with a warm and honest smile.
“Sher-chan, you are perfect! Your eyes, nose, lips, neck and limbs, slender waist, white skin, petite frame, soft voice, are all too perfect! There is certainly no other man in this world more suitable than you to put on Glinda’s clothes!”
“What are you talking about?!?”
I felt a chill on my spine. Putting on a lady’s clothes! Was this guy a pervert? Was this the so-called shotacon?
As I shrank back, the perverted diplomat let out a deep sigh.
“Actually, Glinda had disappeared.”
“Oh?”
Disappear? Glinda disappeared?
“A slip of paper was left on the table of the cultural ministry office. It wrote:’ I am not Glinda Dolye any more from today onwards. Any subsequent issue is none of my business.’ This happened two days ago.”
Not… Glinda Dolye… any more?
I jumped a little, and felt my heart beat speeding up as cold sweat began to form.
“T-That must be a prank! Or a scam!... You should also understand, right? The wavelength of Glinda is a little different from other people… I mean, very different…”
That’s right! Even if Glinda was that different, there should be no way she could have disappeared like this just when everyone was frantically discussing news of her assignment to Eren… right?
I wanted to say yes, but I knew Glinda too well.
She had always been an impulsive monster who ignored everyone, be it towards me, or even the Emperor’s edict…
The horror was that the chance of this happening was actually pretty high! Too scary!
“But! From the character of Glinda, she would definitely just return carelessly…”
While cold sweat oozed from my back profusely, diplomat Helmut broke into my ramble with a serious expression.
“If only that is the case, but, according to the Imperial Intelligence Agency, they have tried to search for Glinda vigorously for the past two days in vain.”
“Imperial Intelligence Agency…”
Had things gotten this serious?
I felt a chill from head to toe.
What the hell are you playing at! Glinda!
“Time is of essence right now as tomorrow is the day that Glinda is supposed to depart for the Eren Kingdom. No matter what happens, we will have to get her aboard the ship to Eren by tomorrow morning.”
“Y-You are too close!... About that, can’t you just tell the King of Eren that Glinda’s suddenly taken ill to buy some time?”
“Impossible”
He rejected it right away.
“At this moment, every other country is following up on Glinda’s assignment to Eren. Doing that right now would certainly cause fracture in our relationship with Eren. It may become a very sensitive political issue.”
“Y-your face is too close! Then what should we do?!?”
A feeling of unease crept up from my insides.
I was just an ordinary folk, and a recently-dumped NEET-in-the-making with a famous family member. He couldn’t be making me…
A couple of ridiculous information rose from the corner of my mind. Those were just tales from the book “Historical Gossipy Anecdotes”, such as the story of how the legendary scammer-lady imposed as a duke’s daughter to be married in another country, or how the Crimson God-Soldier Kainluca hired someone to take his uni-entry exams because he wasn’t really so book-smart… such things. Back then, I just jeered in amusement at the implausibility of such tales…
I was just glued to a tight corner of the room, shivering like a mouse before a hungry cat, when the black foreign official let out a refreshingly charming smile and said.
“Sher-kun, please take the place of Glinda as the royal tutor of Eren Kingdom.”
My mind went blank.
“No! Absolutely not!”
I refused adamantly.
“Even if we are twins, Glinda is a girl! I am a guy!”
“I understand, but that is just a small issue in comparison with the political issue we have on our hands right now.”
“Don’t just write it off like that! It is no small issue! There is a world of difference between males and females!”
“Oh? What difference?”
Helmut discourteously checked me out from head to toe, and tilted his head.
“Chest! I don’t have any breasts!”
“Glinda isn’t really all that well-endowed either. Just stuffing something up there would do the trick.”
“I-I am still growing! I would definitely grow taller, more muscular, have facial hair, and my voice would deepen! The cat would be out of the bag before 2 years are out! Besides, Glinda is a genius who has achieved the 1st rank in the most prestigious imperial exams at the age of 7, while I am still failing to pass the college-entry exams at 17! How is it possible for me to be able to replace her?!?”
The replacement was dumber than the original. How ludicrous.
However, Helmut replied.
“Nothing is impossible before you actually try it.”
With a refreshing smile, he pushed me into a horse-drawn carriage, strapped a corset from some luxurious fashion store around my waist, stuffed something in the chest area, made me put on a girl’s gown, and skilfully did my hair with rose perfume.
“Great! Look identical to the original Glinda!”
Before the mirror stood an embroidery-laced, silk-covered blond girl in formal dress.
That’s right. Glinda and I looked so alike that we might as well have been carved out of the same mould. But I hated to listen to others’ comments that the brother was ordinary and unimpressive so much that I hid my face with my spectacles and hair.
Noooooooooo! I was already 17 and should already be somewhat masculine! How was it possible that I still looked so much like Glinda! Why was my skin this smooth! Why were my eyes so big and lashes so long?!? Pink lips, and even the way that shivering frame was arousing protective instincts… WHY WAS I SO ENAMOURED BY MY OWN REFLECTION?!?
Helmut intimately rested his hands on my sagging listless shoulders and said warmly.
“Perfect, Sher-kun! Looks like you can really pull off the role of being Glinda’s replacement! It is fortunate that nobody knew that Glinda had a twin brother, not to mention that within Eren’s royal household, the eldest heir to the throne is only 11 while the youngest is just 5. It is as easy as teaching at the neighbourhood elementary school, so you can just pretend that it is a high-income part-time work. Of course, the elite agents of the Imperial Intelligence Agency would be working hard at locating Glinda, so she would probably be found within half a month… no, with their skills and experience, just a week should suffice so you would only have to hang in there for a week!”
“No! Go back, you kidnapping, gender-blind perverted government official!”
Make me into a laughing-stock for one full week? Quit joking around!
I flailed in protest around like an unhappy kid, bu…
“If Glinda ran from Imperial orders, she would definitely be imprisoned for treason.”
“Urgh!”
“And if Winstoria Empire came to blows with Eren Kingdom because of this, not only Glinda, but you her brother may be held responsible. There goes your days of peace and quiet.”
“Urh Oh!”
“No, probably both siblings may be hanged.”
“!”
This black-hearted foreign office official threatened in a kind and gentle smile.
“Glinda is a genius so she would most likely escape successfully, but that would put our country’s reputation to shame, so you may be imprisoned in her stead. Rather than becoming the scapegoat for someone else, won’t you rather live a life of luxury in the palace? Even an ordinary folk like you should know which is a better choice, right, Sher-kun?”
Hadn’t you just said earlier that the Winstoria Imperial Intelligence Agency was so excellent that they could locate Glinda in a week? How did that turn into making me into her scapegoat?!?
But I was already too scared to speak.
War! Prison! Hanging!
The mere thoughts of these made me dizzy, even my stomach was hurting (which I discovered later was actually caused by the tightness of the corset).
“Urgh… Ah… Mu… Fine… then you decide…”
The very next day, under the refreshing smile of the swindling government official, I boarded the boat to Eren Kingdom.
Being the first time on a ship, I was badly sea-sick.
Over the week at sea, I vomited practically every single day, emptying out my guts until I feared that I was becoming mummified.
Arriving onshore Eren, we switched over to horse-carriage to Eren’s capital. The capital of Eren was surrounded by walls several stories high, and spear-wielding soldiers guarded the place all the way to the royal palace.
Even within the palace, guards stood at the ready atop the battlements with a fierce atmosphere as though they would rush over at a minute’s notice if we displayed any suspicious behaviour. I was scared stiff.
Now, we were walking at the center of the wide guest-hall.
Clad in a formal lady’s dress, I was assuming the identity of a girl-genius.
Ooooooh! My stomach was hurting so much from the tightness! No, all of my sides were being squeezed to a pulp by this corset which seemed to have been made of whale’s bones. What a torture. My bones were about to break. With the ribbons tied around my back, I felt like a leg of strung-up ham.
And this dress! To give the impression of curves, its insides had been packed into several layers adding to its immense weight! This was practically tying weights of lead around my waist! These embroidered shoes were also too small that every step seemed to be tearing them apart, making me stagger about.
To protect the reputation of the Winstoria Empire, the imperial court had gifted me with the highest quality clothing and shoes for the meeting with the royal family of Eren. Officer Helmut proudly said that “even if a village girl were to put on this set of clothes, she would look like a princess.” But I am a man! Why would I ever want to look like a princess?!?
“No problem. You look every bit as cute as a girl, and if I hadn’t known any better, I may even try to pick you up on the streets.”
Helmut happily whispered ridiculous words besides me even as I felt terribly disgusted at the thought of being picked up by men. Ohhhhhhhh. My head had begun to spin and my eyesight felt blurry.
Being the topic of discussion among a bunch of old men in another country was taking its toll on my feeble nerves.
That was because I had never been stared at by so many people before.
Since young, I had always been told that I was plain and forgettable. When I tried to confess to my 1st love, Clarisse of the same elementary class, she had instead shown me a bright angelic smile, asking who I might possibly be.
Oh? Why was there a pot-bellied old gentleman glaring fiercely at me from the front? Judging by his severe countenance and apparel that seemed more luxurious and expensive than the others, could this possibly be the King himself?
He… He didn’t seem to be very welcoming to my presence. Those pair of eyes read, “I detest you, go back to where you have come from.”
No, the King of Eren should still be quite young of age. Or could it be that the unimaginably heavy burden of governing a country was so harsh that he had aged far beyond his years?
I was standing astonished, when an uplifting voice spoke.
“Welcome to the Kingdom of Eren. It is our pleasure as the King of Eren to be able to invite the world-famous genius here, Ms Glinda.”
Huh? The voice did not seem to match the appearance.
I mean, that old uncle had not even moved a single muscle of his lips…
I slowly turned, and saw someone clad in a far more majestic, more elegant fur-caped gown than the old gentleman…
My eyes widened and my mouth drooped open.
How was it even possible?
Was this the national treasure? Or some secret work of art?
Such words of exaggeration were not unfitting to describe the extraordinarily beautiful face that appeared before my eyes.
A long ponytail of soft silver hair tied behind the neck swayed gently against clothes of shimmering blue. Dazzlingly white skin like that of a marble statue, perfectly constructed beautiful face, delicate brows, eyes of a deep blue that reminded you of the North Sea, and charmingly smiling lips.
Every part of these features looked feminine and yet combined to give an atmosphere lacking in frailty, but rather oozing of charisma and leadership.
“King Cecello of Eren possessed the beauty of a god,
Rivalling the sky-blue and silver-white of the dragon-god from the sky above,
A glimpse is enough to be conquered by the extraordinary charm and nobility.”
When I first read of it from an article of the tabloids, I nearly erupted out in laughter thinking that: “what a narcissistic girly-man.” Oh yes, sure, king of fabulous beauty… it sounded every bit as ridiculous as every other acclaimed “fabulously beautiful XXXXXXX”.
Me who had once jeered at that exaggerated description, now stood weak in the knees in the presence of his actual beauty.
How old was this man? According to the “World’s royalty who’s who” from the national library, he should had exceeded the age of 30. Could it be that this shiny object was really a monster? Or an alien?
When I looked at my own reflections under the guise of Glinda, I had thought: “Wow, so pretty. If I didn’t know that this person is actually me myself, I might even try asking her out.” But, now, in comparison to this King, I looked no better than a cricket… no, an ant… actually, a flea would be better…
Even as I stared in bewilderment, the fat old gentleman’s harsh glare brought me back to consciousness.
“I-i-i-i-i-i-i am grateful to your majesty for your welcome. I am Glinda Doyle, and it is truly my presssur… I mean, pleasure to be granted such an honourable position.”
I bent my head and knees, slightly lifted the hems of my skirt in a curtsey.
Noooooooo! I was soon about to be squashed flat by this corset and the pressure.
To be cross-dressing before a pretty-boy! And to rank even lower in appearance than the said pretty-boy! Urrrrgh!!!! EPIC FAIL!!!
A group of children surrounded the sides of King Cecello. These well-bred children with an obvious air of royalty came forward to greet me one by one at their father’s command.
“I am the 1st Prince, Ryuuju Von Heinz. I am glad to be granted the opportunity to learn from Winstoria Empire’s culture of such a long and enduring history.”
The black-haired and blue-eyed heir-apparent puffed up his chest, stiffened his face and called out, He gave off a feeling of having practiced for a very long time, demonstrating great force of action and awkwardness. Seeing his display of competitiveness and nervousness common to boys his age should have, I felt somewhat relieved.
“I am the 1st Princess, Seira Sveyn.”
Lifting the hems of her skirt in an elegant curtsy, this beauty of soft silver hair and mysterious purple eyes certainly had inherited her father’s genes. Oh, she’s just like a doll!
Her lifeless eyes and expression were so alike to a western-style doll.
Arms, neck and even the slight display of skin at the feet were all a pale smooth white in colour.
I remembered that the princess was just 9 years of age… She would most definitely be recorded into the “World’s royalty who’s who” as one of the loveliest princesses. Speaking of which, why was it so that this entire family had such beautiful genes?
As I stared stupidly at the princess, someone tugged at my skirt.
I looked down to see two adorable girls in wheat-blond twin-pigtails staring at me with their sky-blue eyes.
“Hay, even if Elder sister Seira is beautiful, there is no need to be staring like your eyes have popped out of their sockets! I am 2nd Princess Sarasa Gweny. I had heard that Glinda is a genius, with horns growing out of head too! But the actual person looked so… ordinary.”
The word “ordinary” pierced my heart like a knife.
“The brother is almost identical in looks to his sister, but felt completely ordinary.”
“Sher-chan, you’re so ordinary!”
These were words that I had heard so many times that I knew it even without being told so… sob…
Even as my morale took a turn for the worse, the other princess who looked identical to Princess Sarasa said.
“I am the 3rd Princess Orie Labertin. I have even heard that wings grew from the back of Ms Glinda!”
She said happily.
“And shoot lights of rainbows from her eyes!”
“And breathe fire that burns armies of enemies!”
“Have you hidden your horns? Can you show them to me and Sarasa later in secret?”
The two princesses pulled at my clothes left and right with faces of anticipation.
The real Glinda might actually have horns and wings, but that’s definitely not possible for me!
Even as I stood stumped at what to reply, Helmut beside me gave an honest smile and said.
“Glinda’s horns and wings are as rare as golden snow or seven-leaf clovers, not your everyday occurrence. Even a colleague like me has never seen them before. But since both princesses would be staying with Glinda for the next couple of years, you may probably have a chance at catching Glinda’s horns.”
“Wow! I can’t wait, Orie!”
“Yes! We must never let Ms Glinda out of our sight, Sarasa!”
The twin princesses clasped each other’s palms happily squealing and jumping. Their twin-tails bounced around like the ears of rabbits.
Look what you have done, Helmut! That was no way to joke with young girls of eight years old! Besides, they were even planning to put me under constant surveillance now!
I angrily glared at Helmut but he pretended not to notice, reaching behind the sisters instead to respectfully lead a small boy before me.
“Glinda, this is the 2nd Prince, Shin Clifford.”
“….”
The brown-haired green-eyed boy looked up listlessly at me. In contrast to Princess Seira’s statuesque cold expression, his demeanour was one of absentmindedness.
“P-pleased to meet you, your highness.”
“…..”
No response.
Surely, 5 year olds were all like that? He seemed to be trying to figure out the situation he found himself in.
Muu, 1st Prince Ryuuju, 1st Princess Seira, 2nd and 3rd Princesses the twins Sarassa and Orie, and 2nd Prince Shin…
Urgh, my head was in a mess.
Glinda was appointed as the tutor to all these children?!? What was I supposed to teach these princes and princesses? Elementary mathematics? Or some historical stories?
Prince Ryuuju had a sour face, Princess Seira had a lifeless expression, Princess Sarasa and Princess Orie kept squealing about horns and light beams from eyes and such, and Prince Shin looked almost as if he was asleep. Would I really be able to play governess over these kids?
Bile of worry began to raise from my stomach when the king shined an elegant smile upon me, saying.
“The Queen has just given birth to the 6th child and is currently resting. She too would love to meet with Ms Glinda.”
That’s right, there seemed to be no signs of the queen.
Or more accurately… Within this great guest hall, there did not seem to be any other young lady besides myself… wait, I am not a lady either!
As I retorted to myself, the King suddenly closed in before me.
He s-suddenly grasped tightly at my hands!
At the King’s sudden intimate gesture, my heart nearly skipped out of my mouth and my eyes widened like saucers.
Uuuuuuuurrrhhh!!!! I-I was being grasped by another man! … How disgusting! What was with this guy? Showing interest in me? No, that was most likely just to demonstrate his sincerity before the officials of Eren and the ambassadors of the Winstoria Empire. But wasn’t this action a little too carefree for a King?
“I would also like to welcome you on behalf of my Queen. I hope that you would not only be the tutor of my children, but also be a teacher to myself.”
Uuuuuaaaah!!! I am not Glinda!....
I was just a tabloid and “Historical gossip stories”-loving, mean-spirited ordinary folk who snickered at the private matters of the upper-class, and a NEET-in-waiting!
Sweat profusely ran down my face (H-hey, l-let go of my hands already, you pervert king!) as I somehow managed to squeeze out a reply.
“I-I would definitely do my very baaast!”
I couldn’t possibly take the place of Glinda after all.
At the end of the exceedingly embarrassing welcome ceremony, I had been led to the guest room prepared for me, and once alone, I threw myself onto the bed, grabbed my head and rolled around cross-legged on the bed.
“Why did I say ‘I would definitely do my baaast’?!? What’s bast anyway… Everyone must be snickering in secret!”
As I thought back to the scene earlier, my cheeks burned a bright red. Helmut who stood nearby looked as if he was holding his mouth while his shoulders quivered uncontrollably; Even the king who was still gripping my hands lifted the corners of his lips slightly.
I wanna go home.
This room alone was spacious enough to contain my entire home, and it was actually pretty uncomfortable to stay within such a luxurious suite. Was the Imperial Intelligence Agency of Winstoria really reliable? When would they be able to locate Glinda? Where had Glinda gone?
Since young, I had never managed to figure out Glinda, and she had often left home for long periods spontaneously without telling anyone. Back home, she also conducted strange experiments, such as tests for the effects of some new medication on human bodies by making me drink some murky solution which caused unstoppable hiccups; or practicing hypnotism on me to make me believe that I had turned into a donkey and then ran out onto the streets braying on all fours; or asking me to help in her surgery practice by acting as the patient even though I was completely healthy...
Despite all that, should she learn of the fact that her only brother had been made to become her substitute, even someone like her with a complete different way of thinking from everyone else would come to save me… right?
As my unease reached a peak, the door suddenly opened with a “Click”.
I instantaneously closed my legs, adjusted my skirt, knelt-sit on the bed and straightened my hair.
A soft mumble came from the opening of the door… could it be a thief? But this was a palace… Oh! Could it possibly be assassins?!?
In order to disrupt the alliance between Winstoria Empire and Eren Kingdom, assassins from other countries had come to take the life of Glinda… such events had been elaborated by the serialized novel “Twilight Empire Carebana: Double-agent Princess” I loved reading!
But I could see the swinging golden-hair and blue eyes of a little girl through the slit of the doorway – it was just Princess Sarasa and Princess Orie.
“Ah! We’ve been caught!”
“Really, it’s all because Sarasa was too loud!”
“How can that be. It must have been Orie poking your head out!”
Fuee… It wasn’t an assassin.
“T-that, what had your highnesses desired of a humble servant… I mean servant-girl like me?”
I caught myself nearly using the wrong pronoun and quickly corrected myself.
The twin princesses cutely stuck out their tongues and ran over.
“Sorry, Glinda”
“We just wanted to carry out secret ‘surveillance’.”
“To observe the horns on my head?”
See, Helmut? That was why you don’t joke around with 8 year old kids!
“And we really want to see that.”
“Uh...”
The two of them suddenly blushed furiously and twisted around in embarrassment.
“En… we are really curious about Glinda.”
“We really want to know what kind of person Glinda is.”
Huh? Was I always this popular with girls? Oh, I didn’t know that I possessed such charms that two young girls would be captivated instantan… wait, at the moment, I was supposed to be a “female”, not to mention that I had no lolicon inclinations.
The Princesses Sarasa and Orie shyly glanced upwards me, with angelic smiles so adorable that any lolicon would fall stricken. Even I myself could feel my heartbeat increasing…. No, I absolutely had no such evil thoughts!
One of the angels twisted around shyly and said.
“That’s because… Glinda would soon become our Mother.”
Oh? Our Mother?
“I was so worried that Glinda may turn out to be very cruel, maybe even torturing step-daughters.”
“But Glinda absolutely doesn’t look like a genius, and looks so adorable. I told Sarasa that, if it is Glinda, I would be willing to call her ‘Mother’.”
Glinda was going to get married?
Was there really anyone in the world that would be willing to marry this monstrously strange man?
This strange man who already had kids, whose profession was the king of a country?
Oh…. Huuuuuuuuuuuuhhhh???
“W-wait a minute! I don’t quite understand what you are talking about; doesn’t His majesty already have a Queen? Isn’t that your Mother?”
The degree of love King Cecello showered his Queen was well-published throughout the tabloids. It was said that he treasured her so much that he won’t allow her to step outside of the palace even once.
The princesses suddenly lowered their eyes, displaying looks of pain.
“…. Queen Mother had passed away after the birth of Shin.”
“!”
“The reason why Shin doesn’t speak much is because Queen Mother is no longer around. Lord Father loves Mother so much that whenever He looks at Shin, He would be reminded of Mother’s passing and avoids Shin.”
Two pairs of blue-eyes instantly filled with tears, causing me great confusion.
“B-but! His Majesty said that the Queen has just given birth to a 6th child and is recovering from labour.”
“That’s right. At the southern palace. Since ‘5 years ago’.”
“What!”
“Lord Father has been thinking that all this time. He hopes that Mother is still alive.”
Both princesses burst out into real tears.
What was up with such stories that sounded just as if they came right out of a tabloid’s serialized novel?
The Queen of Eren had died since 5 years ago?
“Uh… Even the ministers felt that this state of affairs should not be allowed to continue, and decided to find a new bride for Lord Father after discussing. So they invited Glinda over.”
Appoint Glinda as the Queen of a kingdom!
Did the King know about this?
Glinda might be a genius, but she was also a cold-blooded animal incapable of romance or marriage…
Huh? The Glinda they were talking about now… wasn’t that I?
So… I was going to be married?
At that instant, I could not help but let out a scream.
“HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH?!!!?”
They were going to make me into a Queen of that King who was as beautiful as a fairy?!?
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LNWNCentral_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata - Volume 01_Dress-na-Boku-ga-Yangotonaki-Katagata-Volume-01-[GirlyBoysAlliance][Proxus]
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Chapter_02.txt
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Chapter 02
Chapter 02
To make me into the King’s bride!
The angelic princesses rubbed off tears with their little hands, and lifted their expectant faces to look at the astonished me.
“Due to his divine looks and wisdom, everyone says that Lord Father is like a god. Even Queen Mother has been known to others as a goddess for her beauty, so neither the ministers nor the countrymen would accept an ordinary woman to be the bride of Lord Father.”
“This should not be an issue for Glinda. You’re after all a genius, just like Lord Father.”
“That’s right, even though you’re incomparable in looks to Lord Father. I am sure no other country would have a Queen with horns and wings.”
“Besides, Lord Father seems to be love-struck at Glinda at the moment they met.”
I could only let out a dry laugh.
“Hahahaha…. Haha… Your Highnesses must be exaggerating... How could such a lovely person be love-struck by a dinosaur like me?”
Laugh it off. There was no other way about it. My mind was now completely in chaos, incapable of sensible thought.
“But the way Lord Father has been looking at Glinda is so intense.”
Oh! That actually seemed true! Those eyes were truly enough to raise goose bumps under my skin!
“That has to be the 1st time that Lord Father looked so at another woman other than Mother.”
W-was that so?
“He even held your hands.”
That’s true. In fact, I felt the action a little too over-familiar, not to mention too close for comfort.
“Glinda, do you know that in Eren, males seldom hold the hands of females? That’s because hand-holding represents the partners’ common desire to spend their lives together forever. Unmarried couples don’t even touch each other’s hand when they are dancing because of that…”
Princesses Sarasa and Orie began to dance as they spoke, causing their lace-embroidered skirts to float lightly like the spinning petals of two pink flowers. Anyone with even slight lolicon tendencies would certainly be enraptured, but none of this registered with me.
So that was the meaning behind the hand-holding!
King Cecello liked ME?
I would become the new Queen of Eren…
“Both I and Orie would support Glinda as our new Mother.”
“Elder brother Ryuuju and Elder Sister Seria may oppose, but both Sarasa and I would be on Glinda’s side.”
“So Glinda must like our Lord Father too! And, show us your horns too sometime.”
“And picnic at the palace courtyard!”
“I would even tell you where the squirrels build their nests. So adorable…”
The princesses tugged at my skirt, chattering continuously.
Their blue eyes and round faces shone with happiness at having a new Queen Mother.
“Don’t loose to Elder Brother Ryuuju, Glinda!”
“Fight! Glinda!”
The twin angels adorably punched up into the air to cheer me on, and then left with a clutter of footsteps.
I, on the other hand, was covered from head to toes in goose bumps and cold sweat.
What kind of joke was this? It was barely tolerable for me to be forced into cross-dressing, and now they were going to make me a Queen??? I am a man! I have things that man ought to have!
I rushed out of the room. I must definitely protest to Helmut! I had never heard anything about being made Queen! Nooooo! Goose bumps were popping up like a measles outbreak!
But…
“Lord Helmut has returned to Winstoria…”
“Huuuh!”
I had been left behind? Alone? So quickly?
I had been deceived – This fact stuck me like a bolt of lightning.
What should I do? If this continued, I would be made Queen! The cat would definitely be out of the bed the instant the clothes come off at the bridal chamber! Absolutely, most definitely exposed! Then, my head would roll for treason…
Nooooooooo! I don’t wanna! I don’t want to go bed with a man! Absolutely don’t wanna be executed!
If I chased after Helmut now, I might still make it in time before the ship departed! Even though I had no idea where the port was located, I must still escape before I got forced to marry another man and then be executed!
Right! Run! Run now!
I would probably be discovered if I tried to escape via the corridor, so I returned to my room, opened the glass-door to the balcony and climbed over the parapet.
But I only discovered that this level was 5 stories high after I climbed over to the other side.
Glancing downwards, the lawn and fountains brightly lit by the moon and light from indoors looked so far away that my blood went cold from the view.
Ahhhhh! I would definitely die if I fell from here!
As I clung for dear life at the parapet, my gown fluttered in the wind and hair flew wildly against my face.
Why hadn’t I change out of the gown first?
The skirt was filled with air by the wind and nearly blew away like a balloon.
It was too late for regret, and rather than returning the way I came, it would probably be better if I continued my way downwards as that would decrease the chance of me sliding down by accident. Besides, my NEET arm-strength just would not allow me to climb upwards any more.
It must hurt to be executed, but falling down and breaking my neck seemed like it would hurt a lot too. I didn’t want eitherrrr!!!
But my arms were gradually turning numb, and soon I could not feel my legs either.
Huh? Strange? Why was smoke raising out of the window over there?
White thick smoke, both warm and… could that possibly be a fire?
Trapped myself in this dangerous situation, I was certainly in no place to care about a fire breaking out elsewhere, but I found myself unable to ignore it either. So, sticking to the wall like a frog, I inched towards the window where the smoke spewed out of.
That which had looked so thick and white was actually just steam.
There was a tub of boiling-hot water besides the window, and within it sat a familiar-looking boy.
Whoa!
When glass window went “Clob!”, and the boy immediately stood up and turned in my direction.
Standing in the midst of the thick steam, the naked boy had a look of shock on his face.
I took in the entire scene while glued to the window.
I guess my gown was probably in a mess and torn from my trip down, and my tidied hair most probably had loosened and heaped all over my face.
As an aside, due to my lack of exercise, I was probably wheezing deeply with bloodshot eyes.
So I was gasping for breathe while I watched this stark naked boy – the heir-apparent to the throne of Eren – red-faced, brows lifted upwards, and face tightened.
Then…
“A-audacious fool!”
Prince Ryuuju screamed with a furious face as red as a barbequed squid.
“Whoaaaa! S-sorry!”
I sled down in a panic.
But, there was no foothold anywhere.
Rather than calling it sliding, it should be called falling... Whoa! Whoaaaaa!
As I clunk for dear life with my right hand at the parapet, my body swung like a pendulum. So this was the so-called, “situation of life and death”? Uhhhh… I must attempt to leap over to the balcony below.
I let go of both hands but due to the excess momentum, I did not land on the balcony, but was thrown towards the window. It was fortunate that the window had been opened, or I might have crashed into the glass.
Splash!
At the sound of water splashing, my entire body was wet.
Uwah! This was cold! Why would there be a pool inside the room?
My clothes weighed heavily as they soaked in the water, and I felt myself sinking… Help! I was about to be killed by cross-dressing!
As I began to panic, I discovered that the water was only knee deep even as water dripped from my hair and cuffs.
I brushed aside the hair on my face to find that this place was no pool, but a bath-tub filled with cold water.
There was even someone in the tub!
Silver hair that seemed spun out of moonlight, translucent jade white skin, delicate hand and neck, petal-like lips and violet crystal eyes.
The 9-year old beautiful princess of the king of divine beauty.
Princess Seira stared at me expressionlessly like a western doll.
“…….!”
I could only let out a soundless scream.
After just peeking in at the bathing Eldest Prince Ryuuju, I had the extreme chance of falling into bath of the Eldest Princess.
What destiny did I have with baths in general? Was I tied to the bathrooms by a red string of fate?
No, this was no time to escape from reality.
Even if it was just a 9 years old girl, children this age would already begin to say: “I don’t want to take baths with daddy!”
Even if this was an accident, the situation of sharing a bath with a 9 year old girl was still highly atrocious. If dragged before a court of law, there was definitely no chance of appeal.
“T-That…Your humble servant… I mean, servant-girl is not a pervert, there is a reason for this…”
As I covered my face in explanation, Princess Seira made no reaction.
Won’t she scream or call out?
I tried peeking from between the slits of my fingers, and saw that those pair of clear eyes just stared straight into me.
“….”
“That…”
“…”
“Uhhh…”
As I spiralled into confusion and wondered what to do next, Princess Seira finally opened her mouth.
“… Isn’t Teacher going to strip?”
A clear and adorable, but flat and monotonous voice asked.
Teacher? Oh, was that supposed to be me?
“… Or is it that, everyone takes bath clothed in Teacher’s home-country?”
“N-No, people in Winstoria also take off their clothes when they bath. Oh, it is said that the 17th Emperor Chenchito steadfastly refused to take off his robe and display his skin while bathing, so strictly speaking, that isn’t the case for everyone… Argh, this has nothing to do with him though.”
I stammered out a reply. How could this child possibly be so quiet?
If someone were to crash through the window while you were taking a bath, normally you would be alarmed too, right? Suspicious? Definitely. Guarded? Of course! Who would discuss the customs of baths under this kind of situations?!?
The Princess continued in a serious voice.
“… Then please take off your clothes.”
“Huhuhu??? But! That! That would be very problematic!”
“Why? We are both girls here.”
“You would be fine if it is a female? You find it alright to expose yourself to someone you have just met today?”
“… Yes.”
She said in an even voice.
Please be more mindful of it! Even your elder brother covered himself with both hands, screamed “Audacious fool” with a red face! Or could it be that females were always this open to each other? Actually I had heard some atrocious tales about the boarding rooms of all-girls schools too…
“… If Teacher also had a habit of bathing clothed like Emperor Chenchito, it is not really appropriate of me to interfere with your personal choice.”
“R-right! Your servant… no, servant-girl loves to take baths clothed!”
Whoa! This was the 2nd time I had a slip of tongue!
Princess Seira just looked at me unerringly.
Soft loose silver hair, having had all accessories and ribbons removed, floated dreamily in the bath-tub.
Water dripped from her small chin and long lashes onto her white chest.
The moist skin was snow-white, pure like a doll of frost, or an elf resting in the water.
Urgh… I was definitely no lolicon! Absolutely not!
My type consisted of sweet-smiling and gentle sixteen to seventeen-year old girls!
But my brain was steaming and heartbeats raced non-stop.
No, that was certainly not because I was a lolicon, it had to be because this child was too special. Perhaps it was her cold expressionless stare, or maybe because it was the nakedness, that felt unusually mature.
The problem was that she felt no threat by my presence, but just stared uninterestedly at me.
Not good! Should I stay here any longer, I might actually develop some strange inclinations! Wearing this gown for ladies, I would definitely be exposed as a pervert if anything extraordinary appeared on the lower portion of the skirt!
Besides, this bath was too cold.
At a second glance, there were even ice cubes floating atop the water! Why would she not mind it at all? I was already chattering in the teeth from the cold!
“I, I-i-i-i-i-i-I have ‘warmed’ up enough, and would humbly take my leave now. Oho.”
I climbed out of the bath, splashing water all over.
Right, I was still trying to escape from the palace and had no time to be distracted by a 9 year old girl.
But…
“… Teacher.”
“!”
A cold little hand grasped mine.
“W-What is it?”
“… Isn’t Teacher… here to see me?”
She said while still emotionless, tilting her head in query.
“Huh? N-no, that is not it.”
This child was certainly strange.
Would any guest visit the bath that his host was currently taking a bath in? No doubt a pervert would.
“… is that so?”
“Then, your humble servant… no, servant-girl would be taking her leave. Apologies for the disturbance.”
Ohhhh! I said the wrong things again! Let’s flee before I made any more mistakes!
For whatever reasons, Princess Seira seemed to display a look of pity, or was it just my imagination? No, what was I even turning back for?
Princess Seira opened her mouth again.
“… Teacher, the soap is at your foot.”
“Oh?”
As I felt uncertain, my foot suddenly slipped and my body plunged backwards.
So it seemed that there were paintings on the ceiling… of dragons and moon and ladies… paintings of legends crafted with extraordinary skills… While I pondered over such things, a ‘bang’ sounded from the back of my head and I experienced a tremendous concussion.
I had knocked the back of my head against the edge of the bath-tub.
Now was not the time to faint! Endure it!
You must fight! Sherlock Dolye!
But my head felt numb as my consciousness blurred over.
Nooooooo! What would happen to me next?!?
So warm.
I was covered by something soft and smelling of the sun. How comfy.
A clear song flowed into my ears.
“The Dragon watcheth over Seven doors;
Door of Water from which birth springeth,
Door of Light bearing God’s name,
Door of Earth which all-encompasseth,
Door of Fire that burneth away the soul,
Door of Flowers which confesseth love,
Door of the Night which summoneth beginning and the end.
Every Door is guardeth by the Dragon.
So sleep well, my lovely child”
Ohhh, what a lovely voice. Smooth and clear, but very gentle.
Wanting to know who was singing, I opened my eyes for a peek…
“Oh? You are a awake already?”
A girl of sixteen or seventeen peered at me with warm eyes and a gentle smile on her face.
Whoa… so pretty!
I still had yet to figure out what was going on, but was already mesmerized by the smile.
Rather than having a mature and beautiful woman, I much preferred this type of girl which gave off an amiable atmosphere of worldly gentleness.
The girl staring at me gave off a feeling of friendliness and loveliness that completely fitted into my type.
She had a smaller frame than me, was both energetic and graceful and a gait as delicate as a small bird with beautiful raven-black hair tied behind her head. A white-laced apron had been wound about her black western skirt.
A maid? Had we hired a maid in our house? Did Glinda hire a maid?
So wanted to be partners with this kind of girl… To stroll hand-in-hand out in the garden…
“Teacher fainted when she knocked her head against the side of the bath. Does it still hurt here?”
As I got up, she gently stroked the back of my head.
The gentle stroking was certainly comfortable, but it also brought me back to reality and struck me with fear.
That’s right! I fell into the bath while Princess Seira was taking her bath, and accidentally fell when I slipped on a piece of soap.
Where was this place?
It was as luxurious as my own guestroom, so I was probably still in the city?
I glanced down and saw that I was clad in a nightgown for ladies. Whoa! Someone had helped me change into these clothes!
“W-w-w-w-who changed my c-c-c-clothes…”
“… It’s I.”
At the monotonous voice, I turned quickly.
Princess Seira was standing at the side, certainly no longer naked, but clad neatly with her hair beautifully tied.
“… As Teacher just fainted, I helped Teacher change out of the clothes… Before calling others.”
She coldly said so while looking at me with purple crystal eyes.
“I-it must have been difficult?”
“… Yes.”
“T-that, oh! … But… At that time… “
Had you seen my ‘naked body’?
I wanted to ask, but could not put it into words.
Princess Seira was just as expressionless as a puppet, giving no hint of any emotions. If she had actually discovered that I was a male, would she still be this calm?
Might that mean that while she helped me change my clothes, she did not look once at my body?
Let’s assume that was truly the case.
Even though my heart was in my throat, I could only thank Princess Seira.
“Thank you. Princess Seira is the saviour of my life.”
“… Please don’t mention it.”
She replied in a calm voice.
Was this child truly only nine? Shouldn’t nine-year old girls be richer of expressions?
Princess Seira looked as if she was completely uninterested in the rest of the world, and this was quite similar to Glinda.
Even though this was the case, she did not escape from my glance, but continued to stare at me.
“… That’s right. Why did Teacher climb through my window dressed as such?”
“!”
My heartbeat nearly stopped.
To ask this just at this moment! She must have done it on purpose, right? Definitely on purpose!
“That, T-t-t-t-t-that was because… I am still unfamiliar around the palace, lost my way by accident, and somehow climbed over the balcony and ended up wall-climbing on the outside…”
H-how unpleasant.
Would anyone belief this? But since the opposite was just a child, maybe she would actually believe this…
Trembling, I stole a glance at Princess Seira, but she was as expressionless as before, as if to say. “Are you kidding me.”
Aaaaaa! Guess it really wouldn’t work!
At this, a smooth voice answered.
“Ara, that must have inconvenienced you greatly.”
The maid looked at me with a face filled with sympathy.
“As Teacher has said, this palace is so huge that even now I loose my way around.”
“R-really?”
She believed! She then continued seriously while gripping my hands adorably in hers.
“That’s right! There was this time when I got lost in the woods just outside the castle and nearly froze to death before I was brought back; then this other time that I got lost in the changing room and was locked in for nearly half the day; There was still this other time that I wanted to clean the windows at the eastern tower, but somehow twisted my ankle at the wine cellar in the west; Or that time when I went up to the roof to sun out the blankets, but fell atop the apple trees below together with the blankets.”
What a miracle that she managed to survive to this day.
“Teacher must also be very scared? I most definitely ~~~ understand it completely. Oh, so pitiable.”
The maid said with warm tear-filled eyes.
“His Majesty has ordered me to come to tend to Ms Glinda. I too have wanted to come over myself, so I am truly happy. From now on, I would be careful not to let Ms Glinda get lost so you can safely move about the palace.”
“T-thank you.”
Despite being bumbling and careless, she was such an honest and gentle girl.
Ohhh, I so wished I could go on a date with this girl in the gardens… but the thought of myself in cross-dress walking beside this maid next to the fountains sent me bowing my head in despair.
“Teacher has been sleeping for a while, so are you hungry? Is there anything you would like to eat? Be it porridge, soup or sandwiches, I can make it in an instant.”
“Are you going to cook for me?”
“Yes, though I don’t know whether it would be to Teacher’s tastes. Oh, I specialise at dessert, and can also prepare red tea.”
The maid blushed and said in embarrassment.
Ohhhhhh! SO CUTE! That impeccable gesture and expression sent my heart pounding.
“Then may I have some dessert, red tea and some sandwiches, please.”
I ordered a great deal directly.
“Alright.”
The maid replied with a pure smile.
I could certainly live with this kind of conversation.
“I would be back soon.”
She lightly left the room.
While I shyly watched the maid’s departure, I suddenly remembered in fear.
Princess Seira was watching me listlessly.
“….”
“Haha… Hahaha… Looks like I have caused trouble for the Princess.”
“… That’s not so.”
“That, isn’t my chest somewhat small? Due to its flatness, I have sometimes been mistaken to be a boy, but I am really a girl. I normally have to stuff 5 layers of pads!”
Did I say too much?
“Also, my crotch has become swollen due to insect bites!”
“Crotch?”
“A, Ah! That is really uncouth of me! F-forget that I said anything!”
Calm down! Calm down now, Sherlock! Stop talking about crotches to little girls and change the topic of conversation!
“The maid just now looks so cute.”
“… Yes.”
“Is black hair rare in Eren?”
People in the kingdom of Eren typically had blonde hair and blue eyes, so black hair was a symbol of foreign origins.
“… Things have changed recently. Lord Father likes foreigners, and many foreigners are now working in the city.”
Whoa! I had thought her a dull kid, but it seemed that she was actually pretty intelligent… This was nothing like what a nine-year old child would say, or was it that the children of royalty were all like this?
“… Teacher Glinda.”
“Y-Yes?”
“… There’s something I would like to ask of Teacher.”
“!”
T-T-th-th-that, w-what was going to happen this time?
Princess Seira quietly looked at me who frantically tried to prepare myself, and then said.
“… Nevermind.”
Her calm voice carried nothing strange or remarkable.
What was it about? The curiosity was killing me. Was she trying to bully me? Was this the so-called teacher-bullying?
As fear began to creep upon me, the maid returned.
“Sorry for the wait, Teacher Glinda.”
The exuberating voice instantly flipped the foreboding atmosphere over.
Teapot and cups, sandwiches, tiny fruit tarts and a pound-cake made from cherry tomatoes and lime were spread atop a silver trolley.
The maid poured red tea into a teacup with a smile.
“Here, please enjoy.”
“Wow thanks, I will tuck in.”
I bit into a sandwich with slices of cucumber and ham within. The taste of mustard was a little heavy, but lightly sweetened and very tasty.
At my words of praise, the maid blushed happily.
“Thank you, please enjoy yourself.”
“Enn.”
The maid smiled in delight as she listened to my piled compliments of “Tasty” and “Excellent”.
It felt so much like honeymoon. If only I was not dressed like a girl right now…
“Oh that’s right. While I was asleep earlier, I felt as if I heard a song. Was that you?”
At my query, the maid shyly said.
“Yes. Sorry to have disturbed Teacher.”
“There’s no such thing! Your singing voice is divine! I have never heard such a lovely song.”
As I said so, she flushed a fiery red throughout and cringed.
“No way… Teacher Glinda comes from the Winstoria Empire which is renowned for its culture and arts, where there has to be far better music. Please don’t try to flatter me.”
“This is no flattery. Your singing voice is more beautiful and touching than that of famed singers in Winstoria! “
She wiggled as the smile on her lips bloomed like a flower.
“T-that… I am very happy, thank you. It is said that the people of Winstoria Empire begin taking up music and composition at an early age. What instrument does Teacher play?”
I was drunk in her innocent smiling image as I replied.
“Enn… I dabble in the tambourine sometimes.”
I blushed the moment those words left my mouth.
The tambourine, a wrist-sized bangle with seven bells attached on its ring. This was little more than a musical toy for small children. Having grown up in the capital city Vienna, which flourished in arts and music, and where families held orchestras on public holidays, I could hardly hold my head up even over my skills in the tambourine.
Glinda was of course proficient in both violin and piano, but even played the conductor to the Winstoria Empire’s 1st class orchestra in what became a legendary orchestral concert in the history of music. Countless audiences to that concert went away moved to tears dreamily.
For a musical genius as such to claim love for the tambourine… Ohhhhh!
I was so ashamed that the roots of my ears blushed red, but the maid simply displayed a gentle smile.
While the smile earlier bloomed with charm like a flower, the smile she gave me now emitted kindness and warmth, filling me with a sense of gladness.
“Wow… That’s marvellous.”
Was that just flattery? Or was she consoling me?
But the maid looked genuinely happy and glad, and she continued in a voice filled with emotions.
“I also loved the sound of tambourine. It sounds so adorable.”
My heart nearly leaped out of my mouth.
I was filled over with her clear refreshing voice, warm words, gentle smile, all of which seemed to taste like honey.
Whoa! What should I do? I was fidgeting non-stop while my heartbeat raced.
Could this be…
B-But, I had just been ditched… and was wearing a breezy gown for ladies right now… , Ohho, even so I still…
I had completely disregarded the fact that a 9-year old girl was coldly staring at me nearby.
The joyful feeling of sugar overflowed from my chest as I barely stopped my nose from bleeding from the rush in my head.
This feeling – I recognized it as love.
“Well maybe it is alright to stay just a while longer.”
The next day, I excused myself to rest from the exhaustion of my travels.
Both breakfast and lunch had been served by the cute petite black-haired maid.
The mere sight of her kind smile was enough to send my feelings fluttering to the sky. How great was the power of love.
Just a mere day before had I been trying to escape back to Winstoria Empire, but now I thought that it might be worth staying for a little while as Glinda’s replacement if I could just enjoy this for a bit more.
Yes, since the targets are children aged between 5 to 11 years old, even I should be capable of teaching them some elementary mathematics while living luxuriously in this room at the expenses of Eren Kingdom.
Viewing it from another angle, was this not the ideal NEET life I had been aiming for?
“Ya, you can definitely do it, Sher-chan.”
The smirking face of Diplomat Helmut surfaced in my brain.
Despite forcing me into cross-dress and kidnapping me into a faraway country, the swindler did give me this opportunity to encounter new love, so I probably should forgive him.
I should be the one thanking you instead. Thank you, Lord Helmut!
Also, thank you to Glinda who disappeared!
I must sing of the springtime of my life’s fateful encounters!
Muah, that’s certainly because I was in love.
Ohhhh, the joy!
I seemed to have forgotten something in my exuberance.
Something which I only remembered when evening fell.
The door suddenly opened, and maids filed into the room carrying evening dress, accessories and cosmetics.
“These are gifts from His Majesty to Lady Glinda. Tonight, there will be a special banquet to welcome back Her Majesty who had been absent for so long, and we have been ordered to come help Lady Glinda prepare for it.”
At these words, I nearly fainted.
I had forgotten it completely! I was supposed to become the replacement for Queen!
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LNWNCentral_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata - Volume 01_Dress-na-Boku-ga-Yangotonaki-Katagata-Volume-01-[GirlyBoysAlliance][Proxus]
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Chapter_03.txt
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Chapter 03
Chapter 03
What “Welcome party for the long-absent Queen”!
I was thoroughly confused by the group of maids who smilingly surrounded me with piles of combs, perfume, ribbons and powder in their hands.
“Lord Father has decided to introduce Glinda as the new Queen to everyone!”
“Congratulations, Glinda!”
Princess Sarasa and Orie crept out from nowhere and softly whispered.
“How could that be! I would be in troubled! Be-because I… That’s right! I-I already have someone I like!”
“Wow! So romantic! But you would soon forget the other man after you married with Lord Father. Right, Orie?”
“That’s right, Sarasa! That’s because there’s no one else in the world as strong, wise and handsome, and as powerful and wealthy as our Lord Father.”
The princesses said with angelic innocence.
“Uuuuaaaa! This is preposterous! I must protest to the government of Winstoria Empire! I will write to the Emperor himself!”
“It is alright. It takes a week to deliver the mail, and by that time you would have fallen for Lord Father.”
“What type of wedding gown would you like, Glinda? You must love those with long veils and puffy gown, right?
I didn’t like this sort of stuff!
So would I be going on honeymoon trip with that pretty-boy King? Splashing sea-water on the beaches of some southern tropical island with just the two of us? Then be bridal-carried by him? Ahhhhhhh! Measles were beginning to break out! I-i-itch! That’s disgusting! I refuse to play hide and seek on the beach with another man!
What’s more, even before that could happen, my identity would be totally exposed on the wedding night, and I would have been sent for execution already!
That idiot Helmut! How could he have returned all by himself? Had he planned to escape? That must have been so! I wouldn’t put it past him to do something so cold-blooded!
Glinda too! If you were really a genius, come save your little brother from this predicament now!
“Come, Lady Glinda, let’s put on the gown.”
“Whoa! Don’t unbutton! Don’t loosen the ribbon! Ahhhh! If you pull that string, the skirt would drop! Uuaaaah! Nooo! Ahhh!”
Hands came from all directions to pull off my clothes, loosen my hair, spray cosmetics and powder foundation on my face, and I tried to shield myself from them with all my strength.
Ohhh! Why had I not run away sooner?”
Now was no time to be falling in love! How could I have imagined I could just stay and become a NEET in Eren, or even fantasized about lying atop the laps of that maid while she gently cleaned the insides of my ears? I was such a fool!
While I continued to blame myself, the preparations were speedily completed, with flowers decorating my bound hair, jewelled accessories around my neck and wrists, even shoes so luxurious that my toes were about to numb.
“Glinda looks so lovely!”
“Lord Father would fall in love with you all over again!”
The twin angels were ecstatic.
I absolutely refused to have any man fall in love with me all over again! I am a man myself! Even if your King father was both rich and beautiful, I could still hardly accept it as a matter of principle! There’s just no way I could become your motheeerrrr… !!!
“I can’t take it! I have to go to the loo!”
Unabashed, I shouted and, lifting my skirts’ folds, fled out of the room in large strides.
Run! Run! Run!
I must flee directly to the harbour from the palace! Or, failing to do so, lock myself into a toilet and excuse myself with having diarrhoea!
But, along the corridor…
“Hey, Ms Glinda!”
I was immediately hollered at by the pot-bellied uncle.
That was the guy who had been staring at me the day before in the welcome ceremony.
“You don’t look too well, is it due to the fact that you are not accustomed to our food? Heard that you had been stuck in bed all day too. With such frail constitution, are you really fit to be a tutor for our royal family?”
He asked in a derisive manner.
“I have an urgent business! Please excuse me!”
“What! How dare you just ignore me!”
I could hear his angry complaints from behind as I fled from his side.
Ha, would this corridor just go on forever?!?
Finally reaching a corner at the end and rounding it…
“Whoa!”
“Ah!”
I accidentally knocked into Prince Ryuuju and squashed him against the floor full bodily.
Prince Ryuuju stared at me red-faced with his mouth gasping open and close, and then screamed like the day before.
“I-i-impudent fellow!”
“Sorry! Sorry!”
I got up immediately and took to my legs, my skirt nearly flying upwards.
Uuaah! Not only had I peeked upon the Prince’s bath, I even pushed him over. My rating must have been rock-bottom in Prince Ryuuju’s opinion.
But, since I could not possibly become his Mother, or his teacher, there should not be much to regret over.
Looked like it might be better to find other means of escape, find a toilet, take off this body of heavy clothes and accessories, and remove this ungodly tight corset…
At this instance, someone barred my path…
Holding a thick old tome in her chest stood the divine-looking Princess with mysterious silver hair and amethyst eyes. She emitted an aura of immense presence like the fabled fairy here to announce my doom.
I halted immediately.
W-what’s going on? I could not move!
The purple crystal eyes stared at me unmoved.
Uuuww… what was I doing… there’s nothing to be scared about 9 year old girls…
“…Teacher.”
The lovely girl spoke.
As I became breathless with nervousness…
“Lady Glinda, we are here as your guard.”
A group of soldiers appeared from nowhere.
“His Majesty awaits. Come this way please. Your Highness too, please return to the section for ladies.”
“Uh, a moment please! Your humble servant… I mean, servant-girl would like to go relieve herself!”
“We would await your highness, so please do so quickly.”
“Are you going to stand guard outside of the toilet?!?”
“That’s right. This is because Lady Glinda is an important guest of His Majesty.”
The soldiers replied seriously.
“With someone standing just on the other side, how would I possibly be able to relief myself?”
“If something were to happen to Lady Glinda, we would have no way of answering His Majesty.”
“Uuwww… Nevermind…”
Sigh, so much for running away.
At this stage, I could only squarely walk towards the banquet hall.
My fate was like a candle in the wind.
Would it be better to declare to the entire world that I am a man before I became the Queen? Or should I wait until the night of the wedding with only two people on the betrothal bed?
No matter which path I could choose, it would turn into a foreign relations crisis, with the alliance between Winstoria and Eren at stake.
If a war were to start due to this, I would certainly be known to history as the “transvestite who deceived the king”, what a lovely title.
Me. No. Want!
The great hall was filled with a train of Eren’s top brass like yesterday, and that fat uncle was also standing among them gnashing his teeth at me.
King Cecello sat smilingly on his throne on the platform.
Beauty that disregarded the fact that he already had 5 children, his aquamarine eyes shone with charming light like precious stones. He looked satisfied when he saw me putting on his gift of luxurious dress.
Oooooohhh! He couldn’t possibly be thinking of how I would be taking it off, could he? This perverted King!
The throne besides his was empty, most definitely as it was for the Queen – that was, myself.
Besides the two thrones, stood the King’s children.
Prince Ryuuju was red-faced and frowning, his fists squeezed tightly at me. Princess Seira hugged that huge tome, staring at me with an undecipherable expression. Prince Shin looked like he was asleep. Princesses Sarasa and Orie winked and signalled at me in secret, both looking as cute as angels in high spirit.
I nearly fainted from the tightness the corset was gripping my chest.
King Cecello happily announced.
“Then, let me introduce my wife.”
Oh no!
Really wished I could see that adorable and kind maid one last time.
King Cecello’s eyes clouded over like a lustful senior teasing a new female employee, smiling as he stood.
My mind was filled with white bridal veils, Southern tropical island honeymoon, and princess-carry by the sea-side, and my skin nearly broke out into chicken-pox.
Uwwwwaaaaaahhhh!!! I DON’T WANT TO PUT ON A GOWN AND GET MARRIED TO ANOTHER MAN!!!
In my panic, I uttered.
“I-I have athlete’s foot!”
Good, I would fight!
“My feet are full of blisters and sores! And they stink!”
People and the room seemed to be spinning in my confusion, and I kept shouting even in the midst of the light-headedness caused by the tight corset.
“The shoes – once they are off – would stink to the skies! Even the cockroaches would run! Everyone calls me a bio-weapon!”
At that instance, the great hall became as silent as a cemetery at night.
The King was frozen where he stood, and so were his children, the princes and princesses.
Slowly, whispers swept across all who were present like a wave on the sea.
“Ms Glinda… has athlete’s foot?”
“The unmatched genius has athlete’s foot?”
“And they stink?”
The opinion of Glinda obviously fell.
This might enrage Glinda, but my concern at the moment was only to protect my own chastity.
King Cecello recovered quickly, and said with a smile.
“Then, tonight I would ask someone to send some foot medication over.”
Oooooooooohhhhh! It didn’t work!
As expected of the Heroic King who disregarded all opinions and did away with the policy of isolation for Eren! Even athlete’s foot was unable to drive him away! No, maybe that was even his preference! That’s right! He really looked like he had a thing for ladies with athlete’s foot!
As I sunk deeper into despair, King Cecello lifted his hand.
Huh? Strange? But I was standing over here, so why was he pointed at the other side?
As I felt suspicions, I suddenly saw a lady coming out while carefully cradling a little baby clad in soft baby clothes.
This girl had raven-coloured hair neatly tied, clad in pure and elegant evening dress, slim frame, and gentle demeanour…
Huh? Why…
Why was the maid that I encountered cradling a baby and wearing a lavish gown?
And, why was she exchanging such heatedly warm gazes with King Cecello?
King Cecello took hold of the baby in her arms, and lovingly planted a kiss on the child’s forehead.
“Ms Glinda.”
“Y-Yes!”
Being suddenly called, my body froze, but King Cecello shone the happiest, gentlest smile I had ever seen as he said.
“This is Queen Yuki, and… everyone, this is Eren Kingdom’s 4th Princess, Suzuna Phyllis!”
I stood stunned and lost at sea in the midst of the hall of loud applauses and cheering.
Queen? Wife of the King?
Queen? So that was the wife of the King?
That’s to say, the Queen was the wife of the King, the maid was the Queen, and that was the pretty-boy King’s wife, so the one who had been wearing an apron…
The maid… No, Queen shone me a glowing smile.
“Greetings once again, Teacher Glinda, please show us your guidance. If there is any issue, please look for me. I really wish to become friends with Teacher Glinda.”
Why was the Queen disguised as a maid?
The Queen herself prepared cucumber sandwiches and strawberry tarts for me? And even served them to me?
Or hadn’t the Queen passed away?
And Princesses Sarasa and Orie said that Glinda had been invited to Eren in order to become the King’s new Queen!
I turned my head towards the twin Princesses, just to see their twitching lips, lightly fidgeting bodies and eyes filled with mirth.
Soon after, they could no longer hold it in, and went “Piff!” bent over in laughter.
“Pfff! Hehehehe! T-take a look at her expression!”
“So adorable! And funny! Hahahaha!”
“Sarasa, no, I can’t take it any more! My tummy’s aching from the laughter, aching!”
“Hahahaha! Me too, Orie! I can’t take it any more!”
The two of them bowed forward and backward, laughing until tears came out of their eyes.
It was then that I realised.
I had been tricked by the twins!
Saying that the Queen was no longer in this world since 5 years ago, that there was special meaning to men holding the hands of women in Eren, and also that I had been chosen as the Queen candidate… Lies, all of them!
I guessed my face must have been fuming.
The two angels… no, little devils heard their father asking “What was so funny”, and chose to pretend that nothing was amiss.
“Sorry, Lord Father, I am just so happy to have someone like Glinda as our Teacher.”
“Yes, I am just laughing because I am too happy, too glad. Sarasa likes Glinda a lot, Lord Father.”
“Orie too.”
Both girls had on their faces expressions as pure as angels. Even though they were just eight years old, their skills in trickery and acting were top-notch and could probably deceive any man.
Something snapped in my head.
I might had been a housekeeping NEET and failed college-exam student, Glinda’s useless little brother and a cross-dressing pathetic fool twice-dumped.
Ooohh! Right! In the eyes of royalty and the nobles, I was as good as the lowest flea of society! Like a broken toy easily cast aside! Like a leaf of parsley for garnishing! Like an apple pie with no apple fillings! Like a shoe with a holed sole! Or an old uncle’s nostril hairs! Sand covered by cat’s urine!
Even so, I was still qualified to teach precocious children what was right and wrong! Trying to make fun of an adult? You were 10 years too young!
I could no longer conceal my wrath.
Blood rushed towards my head, my ears fumed.
I walked towards the two little devils in angel disguises that were still-trembling in laughter.
Then, I grabbed one of them by the waist, lifted her up, and “smack” spanked her bottom.
“Ah! What are you doing!”
“Sarasa!”
I did not stop, but continued to spank twice, thrice.
“Why I am doing this, both of you know well enough! Be it village children or princesses, naughty kids must be spanked!”
Pop! Smack! Spanking sounds and cries of the Princess echoed through the great hall.
“Ahhh! Hurt! Pain! Help me! Lord Father! Queen Mother!”
The top officials all around had their jaws dropping to the ground, Prince Ryuuju fearfully stepped back, even Princess Seira widened her eyes. Prince Shin fearfully ran to the back of his Mother and tucked at her skirt.
The Queen was dumb-founded, and beside her, King Cecello smiled, saying.
“Oh? Looks like Ms Glinda is a strict teacher.”
I put Princess Sarasa, who was weeping from the pain and shame, onto the ground, and turned towards Princess Orie who had fallen in fear trembling.
“Alright! It’s your turn!”
“Sssssorrry!!!”
Princess Orie had a face of terror, rearing on the floor.
“P-please, forgive me… Forgive me… Teacher… Ahhhh!”
“There are many things in this world that can’t be resolved just with an apology, your Highness!”
Smack!
A loud sound resonated from below my palm.
“Uuuu!”
“Remember this with your body, the consequences of playing tricks on people!”
“Uuuuuuu! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!”
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Loud sounds.
The cries of little girls.
Dumb-founded top officials and nobles.
It was some time later that I heard that horns had really sprouted from my head, and a pair of fiery-red bat-like wings from my back, fire blazed from my eyes, and I had looked so fierce that an army of ten-thousand men would have fled at the sight of me.
“Genius Lady Glinda spanked the Princesses of Eren!”
This became the headlines of the newspapers all over the world a few days later.
The me of then could not have known about it but in the hall filled with fear and violence, only the little baby Princess Suzuna Phyllis could sleep soundly in peace.
“Look at you now! Apologising in tears, huh! How unlike a Princess! Adults are no targets for your pranks!”
“Uwaaaaah! I won’t do it ever again!”
What should I do, I actually did it.
An hour later, I was still clad in the luxurious evening gown, seated cross-legged on the bed and wrapped in a blanket, pale in fear.
When I realised I had been tricked by the twin Princesses, I lost my head and acted without considering the consequences.
To actually spank their bottoms in front of the King, the Queen and all the other officials, not even stopping when they pleaded crying, and telling them not to “take adults for fools!”, uuwaaaah!
It was only after returning to the silence of my room that I began to feel fear for what I had just done.
In the past there had been cases where punishments were dealt out for merely stepping onto the shadows of royalty, or beating royalty to eating a madeleine.
My thoughtless actions might cause fractures in the relationship of Winstoria and Eren, and I would thus be hung for treason.
Sigh, what a short life.
I had thought that since I was different from Glinda, I might as well just become an ordinary college student, get a job as a civil servant, and marry like a commoner, and then, around 75 years old, surrounded by children and grandchildren, kiss goodbye to my ordinary life.
At least let me live till I could grow a beard, please.
While I was sunk in this tragic mood, sounds of knocking came from the door.
“!”
I jumped in fright.
Here they came! The executioner was here!
“Teacher Glinda, may I enter?”
I was lifting my skirt trying to hide in the closet when I heard this gentle voice.
It’s the maid… no, the Queen.
“Sh-shure!”
I had wanted to say “sure”, but the tightness in my throat distorted it.
The door opened, and the Queen entered while cradling Princess Suzuna.
When she beheld both my feet inside of the closet, her large eyes widened slightly.
“Is Teacher cleaning the room?”
“N-no, it’s just a rare butterfly that has flown into the room, and I wanted to capture it… Haha, looks like it has fled.”
I stammered out an explanation, and then, turning towards the Queen, bowed my head in submission.
“That, j-j-just now, I plead forgiveness for my impudence before so many high-ranking lords and nobles!”
“Ara, please don’t say that, Teacher.”
The Queen became somewhat frantic.
As I peeked up trembling, I saw the Queen looking at me with a look of discomfort.
“The one who ought to apologise is I. Hadn’t Sarasa and Orie played a prank on Teacher? Otherwise Teacher would not be so angry.”
“Ehh, That is… that…”
How would I possibly dare say that I had thought the Queen dead, and that I had been called over to be the Queen Candidate, or even thought of His Majesty as a perverted senior?
The Queen gave me a deep bow.
“Really sorry. Teacher Glinda is our honoured guest after all.”
I was stunned speechless.
“N-no such thing! Please don’t be like this! I-I can’t accept this! It is my immaturity, going too far like this.”
“No, everyone in the palace has been bothered by Sarasa and Orie’s mischief, but since they are princesses, no one has dared to discipline them strictly. This time is a good warning for them, and even His Majesty said so. He said that it has been the right thing to appoint Ms Glinda as our children’s tutor, since you have taught our children so much in just a day.”
“This is what His Majesty said?”
While it was strange for a father to feel glad watching his daughters being spanked, I breathed a sigh of relief as I thought I would definitely be executed.
“So please don’t say that you want to leave Eren. A teacher like Glinda who wouldn’t show partiality to royalty is the one we need as the tutor to our children.”
The Queen looked me in the eye seriously and said honestly.
“I would also work hard to take good care of Teacher.”
“R-right, why does Your Majesty disguise as a maid?”
The Queen displayed a gentle look when she heard this.
“Because it is too difficult to bake and do housework when putting on a formal evening gown and it is easier to work when dressed like that.”
“But, the Queen of a Kingdom doesn’t usually have to do housework…”
When I remembered her rolling off the roof from sunning the blankets, and even getting lost while trying to clean the windows, confusion fell upon me.
Besides, was she really old enough to be the Mother of all those Princes and Princesses? She looked as if she was just sixteen or so. Prince Ryuuju was eleven this year… When did she first give birth? Was she really the Queen of this kingdom?
“That… I have heard that the Queen of Eren was praised as a goddess… Truly did not expect that to be Your Majesty...”
The Queen blushed red in an instant.
“Ara, that is just some random talk by everyone, I am certainly nobody remarkable. I get lost all the time, break the bowls, confuse flour with cement powder… it really isn’t so. Uuoo, uooo… Sorry to disappoint Teacher.”
Seeing her apologising with clouded eyes, I replied befuddled.
“No, I am not disappointed. In fact, I like Her Majesty who dresses as a maid, as it feels more approachable.”
My face turned red as I said this.
Her Majesty rubbed tears off the corners of her eyes and smiled happily.
“Thank you, Teacher Glinda.”
It was a smile that skewered though my heart.
I truly liked the You who was a maid.
But these words could no longer be uttered.
At this, Princess Suzuna who was being cradled in Her Majesty’s chest smiled adorably.
Slowly, like the fragrance dispersed by flowers, a bright smile bloomed…
A tiny hand reached towards me.
“Hoho, She must be trying to greet Teacher.”
I cautiously reached out a finger too to touch her smooth white skin.
Nervously holding the tiny fingers, I muttered while mesmerized.
“… How soft.”
A pair of red tea-like coloured amber round eyes gawked at me.
The Queen said while smiling.
“That’s because she has nothing. Her body and soul is as soft as pure white dough.”
She said in an elegant and touching voice.
“Small babies are lovable existences. When showered with love by everyone around them, pure hearts also fill up gradually, slowly growing… until they become existences that can offer love to others.”
I gently shook Princess Suzuna’s white hand and she laughed happily. Her Majesty beheld all this as a warm smile floated onto her lips.
“I wish that even as this child grows into adulthood, her spirit would be strong enough to not just only accept love, but to retain her innocence from birth. That’s why she is named Suzuna (“seven bells”). This is the name that Teacher Glinda inspired me to name her.”
“Eh?”
I was stunned by the Queen’s soft words and dropped eyes.
“Hasn’t Teacher said that she likes the tambourine?”
“That’s because I am so dumb that I can only shake the tambourine.”
Her Majesty shook her head at my blushing face and said.
“Does Teacher know what the meaning behind each of the seven bells on the tambourine?”
“Errr… The first is love, the second is courage, the third is dream… The fourth is… eh…”
“The fourth is hope, the fifth is promise, the sixth is peace, and the last one, is truth.”
The Queen finished as if singing a song.
Then she continued in a firm but gentle voice.
“Every one of these precepts is very important, but through the process of growing up, it becomes difficult to remain in love and to have dreams. It is easy to just say “love” honestly while young, but as you grow older, it becomes more difficult, right? So it is not that the tambourine is so trivial that only children can play. Rather, it is only the children that can bring out the lovely music from tambourines.”
Princess Suzuna continued to laugh in the Queen’s chest in a voice both innocent and heart-warming like the clear sounds of bells.
“Suzuna means “Seven bells” in my home-town. I hope that she could safeguard the meaning of the seven bells in her heart and continue to produce lovely songs forever. This is the first blessing that His Majesty and I bestow upon this child.”
Hoho, this was a really good name.
I thought so too.
Laughter that sounded like bells was so befitting of this little Princess.
Just then, Princess Suzuna appeared somewhat uncomfortable.
“Ara? What is it? I have already changed her diapers and fed her too.”
The Queen gently cradled the baby Princess.
“Why not sing her a song?”
I said carelessly.
“Yes, when I knocked my head against the bathtub earlier, Your Majesty sang for me too, so please let me hear it again.”
I so wanted to listen to the song again now.
The Queen became as embarrassed as a young girl.
“That is a lullaby of Eren.”
“Isn’t it just the right thing for this moment then?”
“There’s a point there…”
Then, while she gently cradled Princess Suzuna, she started to sing.
“The Dragon watcheth over Seven doors;
Door of Water from which birth springeth,
Door of Light bearing God’s name,
Door of Earth which all-encompasseth,
Door of Fire that burneth away the soul,
Door of Flowers which confesseth love,
Door of the Night which summoneth beginning and the end.
Every Door is guardeth by the Dragon.
So sleep well, my lovely child”
What a chaste, soothing sound.
When I first listened to this song, why had I not noticed that she was the Queen?
Everyone knew that the Queen of Eren was a famed singer known as the Goddess of Prayer.
Until a mere ten years ago, this kingdom was still until a state of isolation, and no black-hailed people lived here.
The one who opened the kingdom up to the outside world was the previous king’s younger brother of a different mother – that was King Cecello of now. And for Him who became known as the Sky Drake, a black-haired foreign lady stood at his side.
This raven-haired young girl appeared all of a sudden one day from a faraway country, and she was an extremely good singer, who touched the multitudes into opening the gardens of their hearts with her prayer-like gentle songs.
Like this, the ‘Isolated Kingdom’ Eren opened her doors, and the Wise King Cecello was born.
After that, the young girl became the King’s wife, and Mother of his children, and even today was companion of the Sky Drake, living happy lives together.
It was a story as beautiful as the fables of old.
But, listening to this wondrously beautiful melody, any fable could become believable.
All unrest, anger and anxiety melted into the warm notes and disappeared.
“The Dragon watcheth over Seven doors;
May the Blue Sky shineth bright,
May the Deep Sea sleepth at peace,
May the Earth be covered in flowers,
May the Hearts of Children be filled with hope eternal,
So sleep well, my lovely child”
Princess Suzuna closed her eyes and let out steady breathes.
The weeping faces of Princesses Sarasa and Orie peeked from behind the door. The two little fox cubs which had pranked on me earlier now listened attentively to the lovely song.
Prince Ryuuju, Princess Seira, and even the young Prince Shin were there as well.
The pouting heir-to-the-throne, cold-eyed eldest princess, the second prince who could only be said to be quiet or dull, every one of these children had innocent expressions, drowned in the spellbinding song and aura.
Each child listened as if hypnotised with a face of joy.
Them aside, I who was granted this opportunity to listen to the songs of a legendary singer at such close distance could only feel peace and delight.
Tomorrow might be another day of hardship; mayhap I would make another mistake and wish to hide into the closet again.
But it might not be so bad to stay for a while longer.
Right, it probably would not be too before Helmut brought Glinda back.
In this lovely evening after the earlier turbulence, I laid myself down to rest on the soft bed, my ears still hearing the songs of the Goddess of Prayers.
“Uww! What a bright morning!”
The next day, I stuffed myself into the corset, dressed up and tidied my bed-hair.
Today was the first day of class.
Despite the discomfort in my heart, I must do what I could.
Just as I walked optimistically along the corridor…
“… Teacher.”
A monotonous voice halted me from around the corner.
Holding the thick old tome closely to her chest, Princess Seira looked at me with her cold amethyst eyes.
“G-good morning, what is it?”
I was bad at dealing with this child.
The lovely 9 year old Princess asked me who was trying to lift both corners of my lips.
“Why is Teacher cross-dressing?”
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LNWNCentral_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata - Volume 01_Dress-na-Boku-ga-Yangotonaki-Katagata-Volume-01-[GirlyBoysAlliance][Proxus]
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Chapter_04.txt
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Chapter 04
Chapter 04
“Then, to gauge your current knowledge, I have decided to give you a simple test.”
I ignored the protests of Princesses Sarasa and Orie and set a stack of test papers on the table, all while a sickly pallor and sweating profusely.
This was the first day of my pretending to be my famed, genius twin sister and taking on her role of as the tutor to the royal family in Eren Kingdom.
Right until this morning was I still feeling optimistic, thinking that even a failed college-entry exam student like me should be capable of teaching kids between 5 to 11 years old.
But…
“Teacher, why do you cross-dress?”
The eldest Princess who seemed to have been lying in wait for me along the corridor stared coldly at me and asked with a calm voice.
I was shocked into taking a step backwards, nearly falling over.
She had discovered that I am male? So had she really discovered THAT part of me when I knocked my head against the bathtub?
“W-w-w-w-what, what can you possibly mean? To suspect that I’m not a girl just because I am flat, it is so hurtful. I have been a woman ever since I was born, uhohoho.”
I tried to laugh it away.
“Sorry, but to maintain health and a shapely body, I have a habit of running in the morning!”
So saying, I fled as if flying.
Due to my shorted nerves, I ran all around the palace and nearly got lost.
During breakfast, I sat and ate with the royal family, but Princess Seria’s eyes seemed to be appraising me all the time, making me hard to swallow.
“Is this not to Teacher Glinda’s taste?” The Queen in maid costume asked me anxiously (it seemed that the Queen Mother had prepared breakfast herself).
“N-No, I am just testing a diet supplement and collecting data, so this morning I have to limit my food intake.”
I gave some random excuse.
“Is that so? But Teacher looks pretty unwell, and keeps sweating.”
“Must have been the side-effects of the medication, ohoohoo…”
Princess Seira kept looking at our exchange with sage-like eyes.
Until even now.
Uwwwuu, she was still here, staring at me, staring… staring without changing direction for even an instance…
I laid down the stack of test papers, doing my utmost to avoid meeting the eldest princess’ gaze.
What should I do if she suddenly jumped up and said, “This person’s a man, not Ms Glinda.”?
My brain was filled with the terrifying headlines of “Broken alliance, Political criminal, Deceiver of the Royal family”, and I nearly broke down into pieces.
Peeked slightly around…
Whoa! She’s still staring!
If only I had been a masochistic lolicon, this might had turned out to be an ideal situation. Then, perhaps I would be very excited at being forced to cross-dress and coldly glared at by a purple-eyed, silver haired young girl who was as lovely as a western doll.
Unfortunately, I prefer cute ordinary girls of sixteen to seventeen.
So, in the face of Princess Seira’s silent interrogation, my weak intestines would just cringe.
Ohhh, what could she possibly be thinking about? Probably silently cursing “This cross-dressing pervert” from the bottom of her heart. Uwwuuu, ooooh, please stop glaring at me.
I felt as if I had become the pathetic Emperor Ludwig the Second who got dragged before court on charges of seducing his minister’s wife. Right, that Emperor seemed to have choked to death on a crab bun in prison.
Ahhh, this was no time to be sharing useless historical anecdotes!
Right, I should just concentrate on the maths lesson.
Within the nursery with brightly illuminated window curtains and wall-paper, the desk was seated with not just Princess Seira, but also those twin Princesses Sarasa and Orie, their elder brother Prince Ryuuju, and the young Prince Shin.
The twins were currently sulking unhappily due to their protests against the pop-test being rejected; Prince Ryuuju tightened his lips and refused to look at me; and Prince Shin looked sleepy as usual today.
The test-papers had been prepared by Helmut, with the difficulty levels adjusted according to their age. Helmut had a “sincere” smile on his face as he explained that it would be a trivial task to just pretend to teach by pointing out the problems that the children had difficulty in.
Princess Seira lowered her head and began to start writing.
I let out a breath of relief.
My heart continued to hammer like a drum against my chest. Muah, this was no condition to be teaching normally. But should I say anything wrong by mistake, my fake identity as Glinda might be unveiled.
I gave a reluctant smile.
“If there’s anything that seems too hard, you can just ask me.”
Seeing the tensed back and overly-serious face of Prince Ryuuju attempting each question, I walked behind him and said kindly.
“Is anything the matter, Prince Ryuuju?”
Prince Ryuuju violently retreated causing his chair to rock loudly. He frowned red-faced and glared at me in guard.
“D-don’t stand behind me!”
“… Sorry.”
“A-a-a-a-and, isn’t your collar cut a little too low? Ladies should not expose too much of their skin!”
Most likely it had been due to my falling atop of him in the corridors last night, he seemed to have taken me completely for a female pervert. Then again, was this what a child who just reached 11 years old would say? Strange?
Prince Ryuuju’s test script was filled in words and numbers as teeny as an insect, making me wonder “is there really such a need to be so serious about it?” It exhibited his earnestness and meticulousness.
“Really, Elder Brother Ryuuju is too mindful of Glinda ~~~!”
“That’s right, even his face has become swollen red. Could it be love at first sight?”
The Princess Sarasa and Orie teased their Elder Brother.
“P-preposterous! There’s no such thing! I just felt that she should not be overdressed to teach…”
“Oh really? Elder Brother Ryuuju must have been concentrating so much at Glinda’s chest that he can’t think of anything else?”
“N-no way!”
Prince Ryuuju’s flushed face blazed, and his frown deepened.
I couldn’t help but cover my chest. Due to the low-cut collar, I feared for my pads to be discovered.
“See? Even Glinda feels uncomfortable all over from your stares!”
“T-there’s no such thing!”
“No! I have absolutely no interest in your chest!”
“Y-yes, sorry, but it seems like all my clothes have low-cut collars…”
That Helmut, why did he only prepare clothes that could so easily expose my male identity? Was this a part of his extremely low-classed taste? If it was someone else who was wearing this, maybe I too would enjoy the view. But to put it on myself… Uwuuwuu…
Twin princesses danced about like a pair of birds.
“It had to be in-fashion to wear low-cut this year! Winstoria Empire after all is the world-centre of culture and fashion!”
“That’s right, Orie.”
The two of them held each other’s hands overly excitedly. It was just last night that they had been weeping from being spanked. What a quick restoration… ah, well. But both your scripts were still blank!
“Humph! Who cares about fashion. Rather than wasting time on make-up, it’s more important to discipline the insides.”
Prince Ryuuju declared un-amusedly.
“Ha! No matter how good your inside is, if your outward appearance is crappy, nobody would even approach you, and there won’t even be any chance to show off your good points!”
“Sarasa’s right! Besides, the pursuit of fashion and beauty is every girl’s inborn character. If Big Brother Ryuuju remains so ignorant of the hearts of women, it would be difficult later when you actually inherit the throne. For example, when dealing with the king of another kingdom, which is more effective as gifts, precious stones for the opponent’s wife or lovers? Right, Sarasa?”
“Telling me to resort to bribery? I absolutely refuse! It’s because of people like you two that politics becomes so seedy! How can women be allowed into the sacred task of managing a country!”
“You are so gullible, Big Bro Ryuuju! Creatures known as men have absolutely no means of refusing if a beautiful lady is to flirtatiously ask him ‘Pleeaaasee?’ ~~ ”
“Nah, Sarasa. Big Bro Ryuuju who becomes shy from merely looking at Glinda’s chest can’t even be considered a man yet.”
“W-w-what! I am not shy! And I have said so earlier, I have no interest in chest!”
“There’s no need to hide it, for someone as pure as Big Bro Ryuuju: your heart is written on your face.”
“Shut up! Sarasa! Orie!”
This group of kids made a non-stop din.
Prince Ryuuju had obviously become a toy to the twin Princesses, and as a male personally, I could not help but empathise with him. Girls were certainly eloquent or precocious… Even while I was in elementary school, I was often teased by the girls in my class…
“T-that, exam is still in progress. Please be quiet and answer your scripts.”
I warned while shaken, and the Princesses Sarasa and Orie replied adorably in unison.
“Ok!”
Prince Ryuuju turned red when he heard this, probably because he felt that he should have been setting an example for his younger siblings, but just added to the din instead. Embarrassed at his actions, he shook his head angrily and continued his test.
But the twins started chatting again not long after.
“Ask you something, Glinda, what hairstyle is currently in fashion at Winstoria Empire right now?”
“Have you watched the new show by Bilger Bauer? Did the actress playing the elven queen really descended from the sky?”
“Is the Emperor of Winstoria Empire handsome?”
“Disgusting! Sarasa just loves old uncles! I want to know about the Prince of Winstoria Empire. Heard that he is about our age, so what is the colour of his eyes and hair?”
“Muah, boys of the similar age are just children, I’m certainly not interested. Men must be strong, intelligent and reliable, just like our Lord Father.”
“Lord Father is exceptional.”
“Does Orie think so too?”
“Of course.”
“Oh, Glinda, that accessary looks so pretty.”
“Is that a gift of your boyfriend?”
“How many boyfriends do you have (as in, right now)?”
The two of them bombarded me with mature question.
Prince Ryuuju screamed in impatience.
“Quiet! Boyfriends and whatnots are so pointless! Before looking for men, you should just pick up the education and character befitting of daughters of royalty!”
“Alright, continue your exams.”
I said to defuse the outburst.
Was this called teaching? Wasn’t this more like being a nanny? I was beginning to have gastric pains when…
“… Teacher.”
Wah!
Being called at by this calm voice sent a chill up my spine.
“I have completed the problems.”
“Huh? So quickly?”
“It’s boring to idle around, so many I read my book?”
“P-please do so.”
Princess Seira opened her ancient tome.
Right, she had been holding onto the book for a while now, just what was inside of it?
I carelessly peeked over…
“!”
And froze over.
W-what! The book was covered in equations and ancient writings! There was practically no empty page, and the words-filled paper was a wicked black from the ink, un-undecipherable at all!
“Ha… Hahaha… What book could this possibly be?”
I asked with a dry laugh, and Princess Seira casually replied.
“… The Mathematical Theorems from ancient Anabel civilization.”
“I-is that so, the Anabel civilization huh, that’s the one with pyramids and animalism, right? I was thinking was that really the one, hahaha… C-can you understand it?”
“… Yes. Because the grammar isn’t really that different from modern tongues. The theorems that Ophelit put forth 2000 years ago is still so applicable today, how marvellous.”
“… O-ophelit… That’s the legendary ancient genius huh… hahaha… ya, yeah that’s true… So you can really read these ancient texts so easily…”
Was I not here simply just to teach 5 to 11 year olds?
Helmut said that, just like teaching at an elementary school, even a college-exam failure like me could easily take on this task.
I had heard nothing about the eldest Princess knowing how to read ancient texts and even casually discuss Ophelit’s theorems!
W-what should I do? If she asked me any questions…
“Teacher, regarding Ophelit’s proposal…”
As if observing my reactions, Princess Seira stared at me with her purple crystal-like eyes, pointing to a line of mathematics with her thin finger.
Not good!
“Prrrrrrrriiiiinnnncceee Shin!”
I screamed, turning to look at the youngest Prince Shin.
“Is there anything that confused Prince Shin?”
What if even Prince Shin was a genius that could speak in fluent ancient tongues and easily formulate a pile of equations?
But, Prince Shin was kneading clay.
He did not look like he was playing, but with the concentrating expression of a craftsman at work, was seriously kneading the clay.
“…Prince Shin?”
“…”
“What are you doing?”
“… Secret.”
“… Is that so? Then go ahead”
“…”
He sombrely nodded.
Fueh… Luckily he was no genius.
But… For a child of 5 to emit an air of a craftsman and knead clay with a serious face… That was a little out of the ordinary…
What an awkward atmosphere.
Prince Ryuuju completed his test, the twin princesses just said nonchalantly, “I did work hard, it’s just that I really don’t know the answer ~”, “Orie feels the same. ~“
How horrid, if this was the result of the first day alone, Glinda’s rating would definitely drop, and Princess Seira might even say, “This Teacher is obviously an imitation! Unbelievable! How horrible!” Then, if they let their King Father learn of it, I might even be executed… Noooo! I must heat up the atmosphere!
“T-then, I would mark the papers later. Everyone, let’s have a game!”
Hearing my desperate proposal, the children froze.
“Glinda, what game do you want to play?”
“Board games.”
Ten minutes later, a stack of board games from the Winstoria Empire was laid on the carpet of the nursery.
These were gifts to the King of Eren, all custom crafted by famed artists and could be considered pieces of art.
“Wow! There’re so many stars on this one here, so pretty~”
“This one is called “The Journey of stars”. Oh, so romantic.”
“This one is called “Exploring Lost History”, it’s to hunt treasures from ancient ruins around the world!”
Princesses Sarasa and Orie looked at the game-boards with eyes sparkling.
“The Winstoria Empire has many board-games for educational purposes, and children of the Empire learn about history, astronomy and morals from these board games.”
“How interest ~ So, which board game should we play?”
“This one, “Princess Flora’s conversations – Within the Forest of Philosophy” looks fun; it’s to guide Princess Flora and Charming Philosopher on their discussion on philosophy and romance, to become the 1st female pope in the world.”
“Oh… That… That looks like it has been aimed towards teenage girls, it may be a little too early for Your Highnesses…”
I seemed to have remembered many scenes of kissing and hugging, contentious scenarios… say, why were such things mixed in here?
“I am not going play such childish board games.”
Prince Ryuuju crossed his arms about his chest and turned away.
I bent over to persuade him.
“Don’t say that, at least have a try. Keeping in touch with the culture of other countries is a good experience for Princes too. I recommend “The Coloured History of the World”, and “Shaking the World ~Creation of Land and Skies”, “I will be an Agricultural King!”, “Path of the Great King”…”
“… Great King?”
Prince Ryuuju’s shoulders jumped violently.
“Yes, this game teaches step by step the politics, experiences and trials, to become a Great King.”
“I-is that so, then I would try playing a little…”
He replied with a blush.
What should I say… this child was so pure.
“Then let’s play “Path of the Great King”.”
Princesses Sarasa and Orie complained unhappily that “Aww, that’s so boring.”, “Let’s play more romantic games”, but I consoled them with “I will let you choose the next time.”
Sigh, I had totally become a nanny.
Princess Seira still stared straight at me, as if observing.
“P-princess Seira, would you like to join us?”
I asked her stiffly.
“… Alright.”
She calmly answered as if somewhat unhappily.
I asked Prince Shin the same question.
“…”
He merely nodded in silence.
Uwuwuwu… why was it that these siblings were either too noisy or too quiet… so extreme…
That said, we somehow managed to begin our board game.
We spread out the colourful game board on the carpet, and everyone sat on the ground in a circle.
“First, we throw two dice and add their numbers together.”
“Six.” Said Prince Ryuuju.
“Mine’s three.” Princess Sarasa said.
“Mine’s eight.” Princess Orie said.
“… Four.” Princess Seria said.
“…”
“Oh, Prince Shin threw a Ten. Then, counting from the highest to lowest we decide the starting points of everyone, Prince Shin’s is “Palace”, Princess Orie’s is “Church”, Prince Ryuuju’s is “Martial-arts Hall”, Princess Seira’s is “Stables” and Princess Sarasa’s is “Wolf’s Den”. Please place your game-pieces dolls at their respective starting areas.”
I handed everyone their porcelain doll game-pieces.
“Tsk… Why am I in the Wolf’s Den? What is the Wolf’s Den anyway! And this doll’s hair is so messy, with such a fierce expression, not cute at all!”
Princess Sarasa said unhappily.
“That’s because the doll’s character had been abandoned as a baby in the woods, and was raised by wolves.”
“Humph…”
“My doll is clad in a white, so elegant.”
“Princess Orie’s character has been abandoned as a baby behind the church’s altar.”
“Why is everyone an abandoned child? What about Shin’s “Palace”?”
“That character is a Prince born inside of the Palace.”
“Huh! Only Shin’s so fortunate! Unfair! And I am even brought up by wolves, so unfair!”
“Hey, why is my doll’s hair tied with ribbons? This is obviously a girl!”
Prince Ryuuju was also displeased.
“That’s because Prince Ryuuju’s character is a daughter in the Martial Arts house.”
“What did you say?”
“… Teacher, what about me?” Princess Seira looked at me and asked monotonously.
I fearfully replied.
“Uh, Princess Seira’s character is the child of a travelling troupe, born in the stable of a nearby village while returning from performances somewhere.”
“… Is that so.” She coolly replied.
There was no clue on her face over whether she liked or disliked her character.
“Then let’s begin! Aright, Prince Shin, please throw the dice first.”
I faked an optimistic air, and worked hard to overturn the disappointed atmosphere.
“Three! Please move forward three steps. Ok, a choice question: To celebrate the Prince’s birthday, the ministers brought a Book of Law while the knights’ captain brought a beautiful Sword. Please choose one among them?”
“What, choose only one? So stingy!”
“Isn’t the Prince just born? How can he decide for himself?”
Princesses Sarasa and Orie scoffed in order.
“Muah, it is just a game. So, Prince Shin? Which would you choose?”
“… Big.”
“… That would be the Sword.”
The doll in a cape moved forward.
Next was the turn of Princess Orie who grew up in the Church and the dice rolled a Four.
“Ok, Princess Orie also had a choice question: The clergy prepared Wheat Bread and Cake, which would you choose to eat?”
“Cake, of course.”
“There’s another question: Just when you are about to eat, a hungry child entered, would you feed the child or eat it yourself?”
“Eat it myself, of course.”
Like this, everyone advanced through the game.
Princess Sarasa who grew up in the Wolf’s Den seemed to keep encountering choice questions like: “A Rabbit and a Wild Boar were ahead, which animal will you hunt for tonight’s dinner?”, “In the forest, an armoured knight lies dying, help him or bite him?”; These types of scenarios.
Prince Ryuuju’s Daughter of Martial Arts on the other hand kept encountering questions such as: ”A young knight comes inn-trashing, duel him?” To which he puffed out his chest and said: ”Of course.” Then, the follow-up choices were: “You and the knight fell head-over-heels in love, elope with the knight?”
“I am a dignified Prince! Why would I fall in love and elope with any random man! Isn’t the goal of this board game to become a Great King!?!”
Prince Ryuuju said in exasperation.
I could totally understand his point of view, being a man myself. Why would anyone want to tie ribbons on his hair, and romance with other men…
Thinking about my cross-dressing self, I could not help but empathise with him.
Princess Seira expressionlessly moved her game-piece doll which represented the attractive youth of a travelling troupe.
“A corrupt noble of many evils wishes to see your dance. Dance? Or unsheathe your dagger?”
“… Dance.”
“What kinds of dance? Loach Dance or Sword-Dance?”
“… Loach Dance.”
Her replies were always cold.
It was a drastic difference from the twins Princesses and their Elder Brother who made a din every time that they threw the dice, their expressions changing wildly… though one could also say the same of Prince Shin, who seemed to be idling right from the start.
Anyway, Prince Ryuuju and the rest seemed completely engrossed in the game, and by now, it was revealed that the youth who had been brought up by wolves and the one found in the church were in fact twin brothers born of a noble house that had been executed for rebellion.
“Elder Brother Sarasa!”
“Orie! My Little Brother!”
The two of them hugged each other happily in play.
Prince Shin’s character who was supposed to be the heir to the throne simply rotated eating and sleeping each day in indolence. About this time, the love-troubled but diligently-training Martial Artist Girl (Prince Ryuuju) showed up to become a bodyguard knight to the prince, all while encountering a never-ending train of issues surrounding her love-life.
“Why are ALL my choices between ‘LOVE or WORK’, ‘LOVE or HONOUR’, ‘LOVE or GLORY’?!? Is LOVE the only thing that can be weighed on the scales?”
Prince Ryuuju shouted with a face puffed in red, but continued to diligently select ‘WORK’, ‘HONOUR’ to advance his status.
The youths from the Church and the Wolf’s Den raised a rebellion with their statuses as the heirs of the Duke’s house.
In the midst of all this, Princess Seira’s young actor moved towards the heart of the country via flattering powerful officials and nobles, becoming even a close aide to the Prince, turning the Prince into his puppet and taking power by means of cloak and dagger.
What was wrong with this board game! Where did these scary scenarios come from! I should have known better and chosen the safer-sounding “Scenes of World History”!
That was apparent when Princess Seira was asked: “Loyally serve the Prince? Or serve Him with ulterior motives?”, the manner in which she calmly answered: “… with ulterior motives.”, was truly terrifying.
If this Prince did not come around soon, He might even end up like the Eighth King of Romancia, Louis the Second who was brought before the guillotine by his own close-aide!
But Prince Shin just continued his rotatory eating-and-sleeping lifestyle. Sigh… He was really shaping-up into the path of the useless ruler.
As the story went on, the Martial-Arts-Girl-turned-Knight encountered her Destiny.
In fact, the girl had been the illegitimate child of the King, and the younger sister of the Prince from a different mother!
Even though this was a ludicrous scenario, the young girl became the Kingdom’s 2nd heir-to-the-throne, even leading the country into victory against the rebels and becoming a great hero.
“Wait a second! Doesn’t that make us the Bad Guys?”
“Ya! How frustrating!”
“That is the path you two have chosen. If you have chosen virtue, putting the commoners before self, you would have naturally gained their support.”
Prince Ryuuju puffed out his chest in satisfaction.
“No matter where the starting point is, the one with royal dignity would ultimately be seated on the throne.”
He seemed to have forgotten about all the dismay he previously encountered, smiling satisfactorily. This innocence so befitting of his age was so adorable. En, even though he was a Prince, he was still a pure ordinary boy.
Prince Ryuuju was not far off from the finishing line. Fight!
But the King suddenly passed on, and rebels attacked the capital.
The young Heroine was about to lead troops when, at this moment, Princess Seira stepped in.
She accused the birthplace of the Heroine as the base of the rebels and persuaded the puppet-prince to send soldiers to attack it.
“Hey! What are you doing! Seira!”
Prince Ryuuju stood frowning.
Princess Seira stared at him coldy and said calmly.
“… I am merely making the ‘right choice’.”
Whoa!~~~ What a cold expression! Her words and expression were nothing like a 9 year old child, how terrifying. I had heart-felt pity for Prince Ryuuju.
“… It is Elder Brother Ryuuju’s turn to throw the dice.”
“Uwwu…”
Prince Ryuuju had a severe expression as he threw the dice.
Five.
Great! He would make it to the finishing line this turn!
But, before he could advance, he was given yet another choice.
“Uh, would you lead your troops to your birthplace? Or to the Capital?”
Prince Ryuuju jumped in fright, shut his lips and clenched his fists. Whoa, he was really thinking hard.
If he went to the Capital and defeat the rebels, he would receive support from the populace and become the King.
If he returned to his hometown, he would be accused of rebellion and be wounded in an attack, sitting out two turns.
Going to the Capital would be the ‘right choice’ in the words of Princess Seira, and perhaps this was to illustrate some of the necessary sacrifices a King would have to eventually make for greater good.
But, it was too cruel to make a child choose such choices.
Was this board game really made for kids? Why would there be such psychologically damaging choice questions within? If it was like this, even winning the game would not bring happiness. Why the crabbage did you send such a serious board game? Helmut!
Prince Ryuuju tightened his fists in deep concentration, chewing his lips and looking extremely pained.
Ohoh, this child was being too serious!
“That, Prince Ryuuju? It is just a little game, please relax yourself.”
I worriedly adviced, but he asked gravely:
“If I were to go to the Capital, would my hometown’s people be all slaughtered as rebels?”
“Er, that may not always be the case, besides this is just a game.”
What a headache. As a teacher, what was I supposed to say at this point of time?
Princess Seira stared straight into me. Uwuwu… so pressurising.
At this time, one of the twin princesses said impatiently:
“Aya! Big Bro Ryuuju is overthinking things! Glinda is right, it’s just a game, so hurry up and go to the finishing line!”
One of the twins, Princess Sarasa, or maybe it was Princess Orie, got up and grabbed Prince Ryuuju’s doll.
“Ok, Five, right? Finishing line~!”
She ended the game all on her own.
“Whoa~~~ Sarasa! What are you doing? The people in my hometown…”
“Humph! Anyway since the doll has reached the finishing point, the game has ended. As promised, this time let us choose a romantic board game!”
“Y-You… No way! That move doesn’t count! I must restart!”
“Ara, really, let’s just consider this Big Bro Ryuuju’s win.”
“Sarasa agrees! Being a King is so boring; I absolutely don’t want to become one.”
“That’s right, whoever says he wants to become a king must have no dreams at all.”
“Don’t insult the duties of a King! Don’t run away with my doll! Return it at once, Sarasa!”
“Don’t waaannaaa~~”
Princess Sarasa playfully stuck out her tongue towards Prince Ryuuju while tugging his doll tightly in her chest. The latter rushed towards her with a huff.
“Whoa! No fighting!”
I hastily leaped over in order to jump between the two of them, but tripped and fell.
“Whoa!”
“Wha!”
I fell atop of Prince Ryuuju.
The Prince Ryuuju crushed under me looked abashed and angry, reddened and trembling from head to toe.
“Ah! Glinda is sooo daring!”
“It must have felt great to be pushed over by Glinda, Big Bro Ryuuju!”
The twins’ cheers made the stricken Prince Ryuuju widen his eyes.
“N-No! This is just an accident! I-i-i-i-i-i-I have absolutely no perverted intentions…”
I stammered out an explanation.
“Impudent fellow! Go away!”
Prince Ryuuju screamed in rage.
Sigh, what a mess.
If this was just the first day of my lessons, how would I ever be able to handle being these children’s private tutor?
Princess Seira continued to simply stare coldly at the frightened me.
Fue, class was finally over.
Afternoon, I returned to my room, and, once alone, threw myself in abandon onto the bed.
A mere short three hours, and yet my body felt as if it had endured three long years.
“I’ve had enough ~~~ Muah, I said I can’t be a private tutor~~~ Helmut, when would you be coming back?!?”
I no longer wished to cross-dress into this stifling, ridiculous dress.
Princess Seira had discovered the truth, and kept giving an accusatory glare as if to say “You, pervert!”, not to mention that my job as a tutor turned into a mess, with Prince Ryuuju hating my guts, the twin Princesses not bothering about anything I said, and Prince Shin staring in idle…
As I thought, there was something wrong with making a man like me to pretend to be Glinda.
Was it not said that Winstoria Empire’s Intelligence Agency was so professional that they could locate Glinda in just 3 to 4 days? Was that fellow who just dumped me here and escaped back home really reliable?
Maybe I was abandoned since a long time ago…
Would I have to stay here as a cross-dressing pervert for the rest of my life? Must I shave my legs as long as I live?
As I mulled over my worries, my stomach began to twist and turn in unrest and tears started to flow tragically.
“Uwwwuwu… Come back quickly! Helmut!”
As I grasped the bed sheets and cried into it, a sound suddenly came from within the room.
“Excuse me, but do you happen to be lovers with Lord Helmut?”
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LNWNCentral_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata - Volume 01_Dress-na-Boku-ga-Yangotonaki-Katagata-Volume-01-[GirlyBoysAlliance][Proxus]
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Chapter_05.txt
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Chapter 05
Chapter 05
I climbed up from the bed immediately.
“!”
I had thought the room empty, but there was in fact a girl in maid get-up, grasping a cleaning rag and standing by the bedside with a nervous face.
Her age was close to mine with a head of thick red hair, and was a big-chested cute young girl.
What? Where had this girl come from?!?
Had I said anything that I should not? Nothing about leg-shaving, I hoped?
And, she even thought that I was lovers with Helmut!
She apologised to the horrified me, and then said.
“My name is Anneth and I work as maid here. I was cleaning the room when you suddenly returned and began talking to yourself while lying on the bed, so I had no chance to announce my presence. I truly have no ill-intentions.”
I blushed when I heard that.
“You… You heard me talking to myself?”
“Yes, I heard your tragic calls for ‘Helmut, Helmut’.”
Wah!
“Watching you pining wholeheartedly for Lord Helmut, I can no longer remain silent.”
“Uwwah! T-t-this has got to be a misunderstanding! I am no lover of Helmut, just like camels and geese can’t possibly fall in love!”
Helmut after King Cecello? Why should there be so many rumours between me and other men? And it had to be THAT seedy fellow! Just the mere thought of him raised goose-bumps on my skin!
Hearing my determined answer, Anneth let out a sigh of relief.
“That is great ~ I have just been thinking: what should I do if you happened to be lovers with Lord Helmut. God, just the mere thought is making my stomach hurt and blood rushing into my head. Ohoohoo, that’s really great.~ ”
She repeated “that’s great” with a reddened face.
Was this girl in love with Helmut?
Wwwwwwhat? For such a cute girl to like that fellow?!?
“When Lord Helmut first came to Eren as a diplomat, every girl working in the palace was asking: ‘who could that gorgeous black-haired man be?’. I was also as if I was struck by a bolt of lightning. What a handsome man, with such elegant voice and smile, and holding even elite status… Superb!”
How disgusting, for a lovely girl like her with such large assets, positive and ordinary demeanour that completely fitted my type, to actually had interest in Helmut!
If you judged based on his appearance alone, Helmut was indeed a handsome elite diplomat, but his true face was that of a cold-blooded swindler who forced innocent young boys into cross-dress before selling them off to foreign countries!
Even if his conduct seemed gentle, he was actually a complete sadist with outrageous attitude, and his insides must definitely be as black as the ink of a squid. As a male myself, I guarantee!
Sigh, what a pity, for such a pretty girl, such an adorable young girl… slightly shorter than myself, with chest large enough to jiggle, eyes that shined with life and cheerful voice…
Helmut that b*****, I really wanted to bash him into a bloody pulp, and pull his pants down to reveal half his backside!
“That’s right, from the moment I first laid my eyes on him, I knew he would be a perfect match with His Majesty.”
“Huh?”
This conversation seemed to be going in a strange direction?
“Who did you say is a good match with whom?”
“That is of course Lord Helmut and King Cecello! Just think about it, with His Majesty’s exceptional beauty and charisma, as well as high status, it is truly difficult to find a matching partner, right? And everyone surrounding Him is far too old. His Majesty’s close aide Lord Luther is younger than Him, and looks very cute too, but he is definitely a Bottom no matter how you look at him, so there’s no way to picture him pushing His Majesty over. In my opinion, His Majesty is absolutely, completely a Bottom, and not a Top! That is a point I will never concede!”
What was this girl talking about?
What were the meanings of Top and Bottom? And what was it all about pushing His Majesty over?
Anneth continued in breathless excitement:
“If Lord Helmut and His Majesty were to stand together, the picture becomes perfect, and they would certainly have millions of chances to interact and spar. The pairing of the monarch of a small kingdom and the diplomat of a large empire is also highly attractive, just take for example the other day when Lord Helmut arrived, the two of them immediately locked themselves into a small room. Using the might of Winstoria Empire, the black-hearted Lord Helmut exacted preposterous demands, while His Majesty, shamed and trembling, surrendered for the sake of his people… Magnifique! His Majesty rebuffed at first, but gave in at last to the charms of Lord Helmut after the heat of every steamy night, and is absolutely tortured because of it… Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh! I can’t take it any more!”
××△○××※～～～～～～
If you asked me my impressions right then, that was probably how it was like.
Huh? Heat of every steamy night? The King already had the Queen! He so loved His wife that they had 6 kids in total, and the way He laid His eyes on her almost gave Him away as a resident of the Kingdom of Wife-Lovers. How would He ever do something like that with Helmut!
“His Majesty is an ABSOLUTE BOTTOM! You agree too, don’t you?”
“M-mmmmmmmaybe…”
Under her fascinating appeal, I could not help but felt forced to nod. Just what the peaches did Top and Bottom mean?
Hearing my reply, Anneth grasped my hands with joy all over her cheerful smiling face.
“Right! Right! So happy ~~~ You too support Lord Helmut x His Majesty King Cecello! Cece-Mut is completely heresy, Helmu-Llo is the divine path! Oh, I had just been holding onto the cleaning rag, so I am truly sorry. I had thought that geniuses like Glinda would be far too highbrow for commoners like us, but hey, looks like it isn’t really like that. Can I directly call you ‘Glinda’? You can also just call me ‘Anneth’.”
“Uh… Ok… Anneth…”
“I will focus on expounding on Helmu-Llo this year! I would bring you my next publication the next time I come.”
“Uh… Thanks…”
There was even a publication of it! A book about the hot steamy nights of Lord Helmut x King Cecello!
“Oh no! I still have not completed my chores. See you again, Glinda, if there’s anything that you don’t understand in this castle, just ask me about it! But you must also trade me information of Lord Helmut, His Majesty and Their royal highness (Princes)!”
“Ttttttthat, Anneth!”
“What is it?”
“Would you happen to be another relative of His Majesty, or some daughter of the nobles?”
This, after all, was a country where even the Queen put on a maid’s garb and served guests, so it would not be surprising at all if some duke’s daughter was washing the socks.
Anneth gave a little shake, and smiled, saying.
“No way, my family owned a bakery in the city. My home has seven children, and there’s no room in the house, so I came to the palace to work.”
“Bakery?”
“Yes! The bread we baked with cherry and fig is the most delicious!”
Anneth displayed a smile as glorious as the sun, and then left in a hurry.
Prior to coming to Eren, Fleury, that girl who l I fell in love with but was rejected by, had also been working in a bakery…
Oh, so Anneth’s family opened a bakery.
This information made me strangely delighted, and my chest began to feel regular beats, but I immediately remembered Anneth’s speech earlier and felt a headache rising.
~~His Majesty is an absolute BOTTOM!
For such a pretty adorable young girl, with such ample assets, warm and cheerful character…
No matter how you looked at her, it was an absolute pity.
“… There seems to be no lack of crazies in this country.”
As Anneth left the room, I gave a shrug and went for a stroll around the courtyard.
“The Queen is a maid, and the King is an ageless cultural relic…”
My working hours were only in the mornings, so I had free time in the afternoons, and if we were to just discuss the working conditions, there could be no better. But the threat of being exposed at any time was about to give me stomach ulcers…
The reason for the stroll, therefore, was to familiarize myself with the escape routes in case I had to run for it.
Spring had almost come to an end, and the beginnings of summer had started to reveal itself in the lush greenery of the woods in the courtyard, where bright sunlight pierced through the canopy of leaves.
“Isn’t this palace a little too large?”
Ten minutes into the stroll, I let out a shout of dismay. Just the building proper would have occupied a huge area, and there was an immensely well-maintained and beautiful garden out front, followed by a forest in the outer circle!
The Queen had said that she nearly got in deep trouble while picking mushrooms out here and getting lost. She even warned me with a completely serious face that I had to be careful of the ground underfoot because there might be swamps and pools of water below. At that time, I had thought “Was the Queen just directionally-challenged?” Or maybe just prone to getting lost? But now when I actually entered this forest, I realised that I might even be lost in its depth myself!
There were several layers of walls outside of the forest, and a moat filled with water outside of them.
Until 10 years ago, the isolation faction and its counter were still fighting perpetually, so this castle was fortified into a fortress, so its current appearance was probably a left-over effect of that time.
But, as it was, there was no way for me to escape.
Muah, forget it. It should be easier to get out than to come in, so I should first map out my routes of escape.
As I quietly muttered while planning, a lonely sound flowed from within the forest.
Violin?
The sad notes took root in my heart, commanding me to draw closer towards the direction of their source.
I had zilch talents with music, and the only instrument I could use was the tambourine.
But since I had grown up in the city known as the Capital of Music, Vienna, where you could hear music in just about anywhere, I had had the opportunity to listen to, and be moved to tears by all kinds of music, from the road-side basking violins to concerts of famed musicians.
If we were to talk just about music appreciation, I was pretty confident in my abilities.
Therefore I could declare that the handler of that violin possessed extraordinary talents.
This silver colour that shined with nobility and charm like jewels.
Despite that, felt so delicate, so sad, and so lonely.
Who was the one that was producing this music?
In rich green forest filled with straight boughs, stood a young girl with a violin in her hands.
Princess Seira!
I was speechless with surprise.
It was like a scene out of the fables.
Amongst the thin boles of the surrounding trees, an even slimmer and more delicate beauty was playing the violin.
A small hand held the glistening dark brown of beautiful instrument, a white cheek tilted to the side as support, pulling and drawing the bow of the violin. The long silver hair seemed to be absorbing the bright sunlight directly from above, and gave off a cold sparkle in its soft waver.
Princess Seira closed her eyes in deep concentration while pulling on the violin.
The sad transparent melody vibrated in the air.
Silver hair dreamily swayed.
These sounds… such notes… to think that they were produced at the hands of this juvenile Princess!
The melody stopped then.
Princess Seira lifted her head towards me.
As our eyes met, my heart almost leapt out in fear.
“Ohohoh, my apologies for disrupting your practice! You played the violin really well… Urh, no, I mean…”
“…”
At least give me a response!
Princess Seira continued to keep her face close to the violin, looking at me coldly without even moving a hair on her brows. I was obviously scared stiff in apprehension.
~~ Why does Teacher cross-dress?
The doubts that she had earlier this morning seemed to be about to pop out from her portrait-like beautiful lips at any moment, and I could hardly stop myself from sweating in fear.
“Uh, that, about what you asked yesterday, I am not really cross-dressing as a woman… Ooh! Is it because I made a mistake and said ‘your servant’? That is just a habit, since I have always wanted to be a boy when I was young. Even now I still accidentally say that, so… even if your humble servant says ‘your servant’, it doesn’t mean that I am a male… Ah! I said it again!”
Obviously I was just digging myself deeper, and totally felt like dying already.
Princess Seria’s pair of amethyst eyes continued to observe me in silence.
Peach-pink coloured lips gradually opened…
“Heheh! So that’s where you are! Ms Glinda!”
The pot-bellied uncle appeared with pomp while leading a troop of officials behind him.
The edgy atmosphere vanished without a trace in an instant.
What was with this uncle? What’s going on?
Uhoh, this old uncle who kept glaring at me previously in the welcoming ceremony had caused me much discomfort, but he seemed extraordinarily polite today.
“We have been trying to locate you for a long time now, in order to seek the wisdom of the all-powerful genius Ms Glinda.”
He said in a flattering voice.
“I am the Chief Minister Gaston. Ara, to have a girl-genius such as Ms Glinda visit Eren makes us all feel so privileged and thankful! Heard that Lady Glinda is an unrivalled genius who will not be stumbled by anything in the world!”
“I-I am not really that smart…”
That’s right, the smart one was Glinda, while I was just a NEET who failed college-preparatory exams.
“Hahaha, that’s too humble of you. With the great wisdom of a genius like Ms Glinda, all our troubles will soon disappear. Alright then, please come with us.”
“Oh, w-wait …”
That uncle tugged my hand tightly while the top officials of Eren surrounded me all over as if to examine a divine bird out of a legend, looking at me worshipfully. Their expressions said, “Genius Ms Glinda would definitely have a way.”
Oh no!
Where were they taking me to? What were they planning to do to me?
I was different from Glinda! I was no genius! Just a poor commoner suffering from some deficiency in testosterone that made my skin smoother than the usual! And a resident from the Kingdom of a Million Heartbreaks that could not write a love letter to save his skin!
Princess Seira nonchalantly stared at my gaping and closing mouth while I was dragged away by Chief Minister Gaston.
Ahhhhhhhhhhh! God help me ~~~!
“That, I still have to prepare for tomorrow’s lessons…”
“Ms Glinda is a genius, what do those things matter.”
“No, no, no such thing, I am just an ordinary person…”
“Hahaha, Ms Glinda sure knows how to joke around.”
Please let go of my hand! Fat uncle! The grease was about to make me puke!
Teary-eyed, I was brought to some research facility inside some corner of the palace.
The air was thick with a murderous aura in this research facility, with occasional grunts of anger sounding.
“E-everyone seems so busy here, I guess I shouldn’t be disturbing…”
But when that bunch of people noticed my presence…
“Ms Glinda!”
“Why it’s the person herself!”
Everyone rushed over gleefully towards me.
Ooooohhhhh! Even if I were to be greeted by such a huge crowd of men, I would not be pleased. In fact, my face was turning red.
An architect called Satchel reverently said to the petrified me “Lady Glinda must definitely offer us her wisdom”, then spread out an immense blueprint.
“The Ionie River outside of the city often overflows, and we are preparing to build a dyke around it.”
He continued to pour out a flood of technical terms for well over twenty minutes, before asking me: “Well, what do you think?” while everyone looked on with eyes full of hopeful expectations.
T-those eyes were obviously awaiting me to provide some ingenious pointers!
I felt cold all over.
If it was Glinda, she would just elegantly resolve the problem, winning glamour and praises from everyone all over. But I was just an ordinary boy! How could I possibly know anything about aqua-engineering, or bridge-building and such? My level of skill was just sufficient to build some bird’s house or fix the fence around our home, and even this blueprint was giving me a headache just from looking at it.
Minister Gaston glared at me, sneering.
“Oh? What’s wrong, Ms Glinda? Your face doesn’t look too good, Could-It-Be, the widely-acclaimed invincible scholar, the so-called gem of wisdom from the Winstoria Empire – Girl-genius Lady Glinda, could not even solve a problem of this level?”
This guy was definitely one of those fellows who abused their wives!
Uwwwuuuuuu… Oh no, my eyes were blurring over. This time they would definitely discover that I was an imposter, and I would soon be dragged off as a cross-dressing criminal of the state to be imprisoned or executed…
“Uww… T-that, this place here… maybe should be ‘slightly’… “
Imagining the noose around my neck, I randomly pointed at the blueprint.
Satchel frowned.
“I am sorry? Would you mind elaborating a little?”
“Uh… Ah…”
If there was anyway to elaborate, would I still be sweating like this? Please read the mood a little, Satchel~~
It was just then –
“Huh? That is!”
Satchel suddenly glued his face atop of the blueprints, carefully examining it.
“Huhuhu… So that’s what it is…”
The surrounding crowd also began to let out “Huhu” or gasps of “Ah”.
Then, everyone began whispering with Satchel in the centre, and then suddenly all looked towards me with looks teeming in respect.
“You have our utmost gratitude, Lady Glinda. But for your help in pointing out this severe issue, we would still be lost. To be capable of going straight at the heart of the problem, as expected of the acclaimed genius!”
“Wha!”
Satchel grasped my hand tightly, the surrounding people heaping words like “Truly genius”, “To be able to see the answer right away”, “Lady Glinda saved our lives” or “Lady Glinda is truly our lives’ saviour”.
“Urg… Humph, such small problems are of course trivial to geniuses.”
Only Minister Gaston had a sour face as he threw out those words.
Even though I still had no idea what was going on, it seemed like it had been resolved.
But…
“We’ve heard that Ms Glinda is also well-versed in the study of economics. Please grant us your wisdom.”
Minister Gaston dragged me somewhere else.
“W-wait…”
My knowledge of economics was just limited to weekly discounts offered by shopping malls in the Winstoria Empire…
In a beat, we had arrived at the Finance Ministry headquarters.
“Hoho! It’s Lady Glinda!”
“We have been awaiting your arrival! Regarding this problem in our accounts, we wish to discuss something with you.”
The crowd brought over a stack of numbers-covered documents that seemed thick enough to serve as a murder weapon. I was dazzled by the sight alone. The end. This was surely the end of me. I trembled as I pretended to peruse the books…
“Ah, this…”
I muttered with a frozen gaze.
“Hoho, any comments?”
The surrounding financial department officials peered over from my two sides.
Everyone focused their lines of sight suspiciously on the page I was looking at, and suddenly exclaimed: ”Eureka! All that we had to do is to bring the remaining sums from this side to the other side for manipulation!”, “Hoho, then there will be not need to raise the taxes! As expected of Lady Glinda!”
Despite not understanding what ‘this side’ and ‘that side’ meant, I dully nodded to accept their praises.
Again Lord Gaston grunted in displeasure.
“Humph~~~ There’s something else!”
Lord Gaston dragged me away while gnashing his teeth.
No matter where I got dragged over to, however, all that I managed to do was to take a glance and mutter something unintelligible, before everyone else said in reverence.
“So that is it! It is just like that!”
“As expected of the ingenious Lady Glinda!”
There was even this bent rheumatic old secretary with sore back who skipped lightly while holding my hand.
“My backache disappeared! It’s a miracle!”
“Do you see that? Even just one small touch is sufficient to cure! As expected of Ms Glinda!”
“It’s like the legends coming alive!”
Were the people of Eren Kingdom always this gullible…
Was it really so easy to succeed? Was the title of being a genius really so potent?
No, there had got to be some trick awaiting me…
I sensed an air of killing intent. Glancing over, I saw Chief Minister scowling furiously at me like an unfed baited gorilla.
“T-that… It is about time for me to go for my marathon practice…”
The disquiet in my heart warned me to run away as quickly as possible, but a claw-like hand stopped me.
Lord Gaston showed a little smile to my cowering body.
“I have heard that Lady Glinda is capable of defeating 10000 men alone. If that’s really the case, your skills in martial arts must be exemplary.”
My challenger was a young man named Jerome who shouldered a humongous broad sword.
He was a blue-eyed blond pretty-boy with exquisite five features who held the commanding seat of the knight company. With only one of his arm, he could swing a large sword that was almost as high as my body.
“Ha, you’re asking someone as handsome and strong as me to fight with a girl in lacy dress? Spare me please; if it gets out that I hit girls, my reputation’s gonna get tarnished.”
“You must give no quarter! Jerome! The opponent is a genius, so you must give your all! Spare no effort to beat her down! If you lose, I am going to deduct your wages!”
Chief Minister Gaston shouted.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Jeez. Uncle, why do you always force me into such pointless stuff?”
The pretty-boy knight sulked.
On the training grounds of the castle, crowds of knights and soldiers waited to watch our duel.
“Hey, who do you think will win?”
“Most likely it’s gonna be Jerome. Even though he likes to boast around, his skill is top notch. No matter how wise the genius is, she’s no match for a man’s muscle strength.”
“No, but since it’s Lady Glinda, maybe she can actually win.”
“Today’s definitely going to be an exciting match. I must go boast to those dudes who aren’t on duty!”
Ohohoho, such heavy expectations… huge pressure…
I was just a scrawny boy! I had never lifted anything heavier than a spade, and was a pacifist who even released the fishes I fished up!
Besides, this… this huge sword… the edge seemed to be gleaming brightly… was it actually real?
“Hey, who would bring this lady a set of armour?”
The pretty-boy knight yelled towards the watching crowd.
Was this duel so deadly as to require the need of armour?
“There’s no need.”
A calm voice sounded on the training grounds.
Huah! It was Princess Seira! Why was she here?
The eldest Princess Seira was just 9 years of age, but emitted a stern air of impenetrability all over. She coldly commanded.
“Teacher Glinda does not require any armour.”
Huh? What did that mean? Was she setting me up?
Alarm filled all who were present.
“Oh, since Lady Glinda is a genius, she has no need for armour?”
“As expected of Lady Glinda!”
Wait a second! It was not I who said anything! It was obviously Princess Seira who…
“Ha! Interesting! Alright, then let’s begin! I shall teach you, that women should not tread lightly into the battles of men, and just follow obediently!”
A vein seemed to have popped on the head of the handsome knight as he screamed, probably mistaking my refusal (not mine exactly, it was Princess Seira) of armour as a challenge to his ego.
Wah! Help! If Glinda was here, she would definitely have a way of defusing this crisis, such as by hypnotising the opponent into believing himself as a pigeon; or, having completely researched into the weaknesses of the opponent even before the battle began, just whisper a word that completely shatter the opponent’s morale as soon as the battle began.
But, I could not possibly do any of those things!
“You have best surrender! Ms Genius! Or you may really get hurt!”
The knight pompously flicked his golden hair and pointed his huge sword towards me, its edges gleaming in a dangerous light.
Uwwaaaaah! If that thing was to slice at me, even my bones would be sliced apart!
Heeeelp~~~~ Muuuurrrdeeerr!!!
I could care less about impressions at this stage! Only by pleading surrender and ending this farce of a duel would a commoner like I be able to survive!
The sword was about to fall.
I kneeled forward with my sword.
“I-I surren…”
“What!”
The handsome knight gave a shocked scream.
Strange? I looked up just to see him trip and barrel-rolled violently.
The gigantic sword was swung into the sky before dropping and stabbing into the ground beside me.
Much further away, the head-over-heels knight fell keeled over.
The crowds around us fell as silent as a cemetery.
Princess Seira watched on coldly.
A minute later, cheers resounded throughout the training grounds.
“Absolute genius! To be able to avoid Jerome’s attack just at the right instant, and even throw him aside by borrowing his momentum!”
“I had thought that she would use her sword, but to win just by her hand-to-hand skills alone! Just how calculated is her application of skills?”
“That calm and easy manner with which she won is unbelievable! This is the mark of a genius!”
I had just wanted kneel down and surrender, but that seemed to have made handsome-knight Jerome miss his target and fall over by himself.
The pretty-boy knight crawled over in pain, moaning.
“Uwwwuu~~~ For me to lose to a woman! Why can’t I read any of your moves! How the hell did those thin arms manage to throw me aside? Is that witchcraft?!?”
You just fell by yourself…
“Fool! I have told you not to be careless! I will deduct your pay! And demote you!”
Lord Gaston shouted.
“That, I really should be returning to my room… See, even the sun is setting…”
The sunset washed over the buildings in a red glow and crows cawed mournfully in the sky.
Chief Minister Gaston’s face became so swollen that steam almost escaped from it, muttering, and then said while glaring.
“Even this is not enough to proof that Ms Glinda is a talent suitable for our country! The real test lies in next month’s marathon competition!”
What marathon competition?
That night, Anneth visited me after her shift ended and cleared my doubts.
“There is a marathon competition next month organized personally by His Majesty, and it has been divided into two competitive groups, one for men and the other for women and children. The top runner of this competition would be awarded a luxurious gift. All members of the royal family will be participating in it.”
“Huh, huh? The King, the Queen and even all the Princes and Princesses would be participating?”
What was the big deal that even the royal family would be taking part?
But Anneth replied without any surprise.
“That is right. You see, this idea actually came from Her Majesty. The Queen actually loved marathons, and won the 2nd prize in a competition when she was in elementary school. This is so memorable for Her that His Majesty, who dotes on the Queen so much, decided to organize a marathon competition open to the public.”
Wow, were all affairs of royalty so easily decided? It reminded me of Sultan Harihasan who outlawed causing any injury to cats because of his favourite cat-loving concubine. This ruler who ruled over a desert country a thousand years ago even built monuments and palaces everywhere for the sake of his favourite concubine. I guessed he must have been the neighbour of King Cecello in the Kingdom of Wife-Lovers.
“Any foreigners who wish to participate in it must first pass an initial round and be judged fit. The ministers felt that this could cause excessive burden on the issue of security, and so requested that only the people within the capital be allowed to take part. But His Majesty overrode them, saying that only a non-discriminatory competition would have any meaning in it.”
“Hoho, so that’s how it comes to be.”
I nodded.
“Besides, this will serve to show other countries that Eren is safe and peaceful, as well as increase the common-folk’s trust in the royal family.”
So it was not held only for the sake of the Queen. King Cecello’s legendary wisdom was no mere rumour.
As I pondered over such things…
“Glinda really notices things that commoners like us can never even imagine! So cool!”
Anneth looked at me with eyes filled with respect.
Then she smiled adorably towards me, causing me much embarrassment.
Nah, I was just an armchair political commentator who enjoyed picking at the reports of newspaper and the tabloids for their shallow analysis. This much was truly nothing… Haha…
Anneth was really cute… I wish I could go on a date with her. We could go on a picnic in the fields… while I cross-dressed?
While I lamented, Anneth exclaimed with stars in her eyes:
“But, to prepare for this marathon run, they must begin repairing the roads and paths even in the face of insufficient manpower. Oh, the hardship it causes would become the trigger for deeper camaraderie between men of all rank and files!”
Huh? Somehow the topic became a little distant…
“Situations such as when the gorgeous senior passes out from pure fatigue! The normally stern and guarded senior collapses on the shoulder of his underling! The long-enduring underling is also fabulous~~~ Of course, the senior is the Bottom, while the junior is the Top!”
Here it comes! Top and Bottom again!
“Satchel, that architect in charge of aqua-engineering, and his immediate subordinate Luka give off a hot atmosphere. Luka seems to enjoy touching Satchel, and Satchel doesn’t seem to mind either, even secretly passing his manual to him. Ooooohhhh! My nose bleeds just from the thought of it! Fred and Guy from the Labour Department also look suspicious! Lyon and Alec from the Finance even share their clothes! Those two must definitely be in a relationship!”
“That… Is that so…”
“Definitely! A 100 percent!”
Anneth shot me a thumbs-up while winking to assure me. The topic had totally gone on a cruise…
“Hu… I thought we were talking about the marathon run competition…”
“Ah, that’s right. That’s why I say that marathons are the best! Gleaming muscles and flying sweat drops are matchless combinations! The painfully panting Bottom and the Top who embraces him at the finishing line! Marvellous!”
My head was starting to spin from the ache… She was so adorable… Why…
“That is why I would be watching romantic competition of the men’s group, but I would also cheer for you, so you must fight!”
“Huh?”
“Aren’t you also participating in the competitions? Chief Minister Gaston has already announced to everyone, he said that ‘Because Lady Glinda is a genius, she would be taking part in the men’s group. She can definitely defeat the weak men of Eren Kingdom and win the top prize.’”
“!”
“What’s wrong, Glinda? Your face doesn’t look too good.”
“… I want to go run 100 rounds around the castle right now…”
“There’s definitely no problem for you! That’s because you are a genius! You even easily defeated Jerome of the Knights Brigade. Jerome may look handsome, but is actually a narcissistic and irritating fool, so everyone is elated. Glinda is awesome! You would definitely finish first in the race!”
At the sight of Anneth’s sparkling eyes while saying such things, I could hardly say that I was no good at running.
Another person who was equally frustrated with the marathon race was none other than its instigator – Her Majesty, the Queen.
“What to do, Teacher? In an entire year, there is only a single half-day when I actually enjoy a marathon race, and that is during its closing ceremony. For the rest of the 364.5 days, I hate it and would even pray fervently at the ‘teru teru bozu’ dolls every day before the race that there would be rain on the day of the competition.
When I was in the 4th year of elementary school, I was the second place for the girl’s competition in my class of 12, and that was only because the ten in front of me all got lost. But Mother felt that I would most likely never again win any prizes involving exercises, so she baked a cake to celebrate it with me. You should understand now that I run as fast as a tortoise? Boohoo, what should I do? Everyone knows that I would be participating in the marathon run, so there’s no way I can shirk from it now. All I said was that I can still remember the pain of running the marathons… I never said that I wanted to run…”
Her eyes began to glaze over with tears as if throwing accusation at the King.
Muah, if that was really the case, She should have made clear Her thoughts to His Majesty earlier. Then King Cecello who so adored His wife would never have organized a race to torture His most beloved.
In the end, the King was telling everyone all over:
“The one who suggested the marathon race is Her Majesty, everyone should participate. That way, the Queen would be overjoyed.”
As it was, there was no way for the Queen now to shun the race. And that went for me as well.
“Ms Glinda is a genius, so she will win easily! If she lost, she will have to do a head-stand while wearing a skirt!”
Chief Minister Gaston was announcing such to everyone.
Sir Jerome who had been sent flying by me (?) also said.
“I will never lose this marathon competition! If I win, I will make her put on this pair of dog ears while barking, ‘Arf! Woof!’. Of course, I would do the same if I were to lose!”
He twirled a headband decorated with dog’s ears in his finger as he announced it.
If I were to say that I did not want to participate in the marathon race now, nobody would accent to it.
Not only that, I was apparently listed among the prospective top winners already.
“The top prize would definitely go to Ms Glinda! That’s because she’s a genius!”
“I would also cheer for Ms Glinda!”
Hearing that bunch of people who arbitrarily decided to form my cheer-leading team, I could feel my ulcer reacting.
Besides that, another group within the army said:
“Even if she is a genius, it is an utter disgrace to lose to a girl! We must steal all three top places, and all who do not make the top 100 places will have their pay deducted!”
They began to train every morning in high spirit.
Even people from the clerical departments staked their honour and said:
“We must not be looked down upon by the soldiers!”
According to the news, the atmosphere outside of the palace was even more intense.
“The winner would be awarded a great prize!”
“We can see the royal family!”
It was a complete festive mood.
From the successfully completed roadwork, tightening of security, and furore of improved moods, it could be said that His Majesty’s decision to organize a marathon competition had already borne fruits.
But, the colour of my complexion paled with each closing day, as did the pain in my stomach worsened.
“Uwuuwuu… Teacher Glinda, we must keep fighting…”
The Queen gripped my two hands with her eyes clouded over in tears, but the only thing I could do was to help Her Majesty with her manufacture of ‘teru teru bozu’ dolls.
It was at this time that, Helmut, who had departed for nearly half a month, returned to Eren Kingdom.
“What’s this? What a funny-looking accessory.”
Helmut looked at the window hung full with ‘teru teru bozu’ and asked in apprehension.
In the hometown of Her Majesty, apparently people believed that by crafting a doll from a piece of white cloth wrapped around some cotton, then drawing on it the eyes and the mouth, they could summon forth sun-shine by hanging those dolls upright, and call forth rain by hanging them upside-down.
“Let’s pray that it would summon a great flood like that in the legendary Genesis.”
I mumbled in despair and Helmut seemed to have caught on. He displayed that unbelievably cheerful smile of his.
“Countries everywhere are all abuzz with news of Lady Glinda’s registry for the King’s marathon run competition, even saying that if she cannot win the 1st prize, she would put on a dog-ears headband and do headstands while wearing a skirt and barking: ‘Woof! Arf!’”
“The tabloids have done it now! Uwwuuuwuu… I promised no such things; it is Chief Minister Gaston who went all by himself to spread all those rumours. That old uncle has been glaring and marking me since day 1, and even now looks for all kinds of means to bully me.”
“Hoho, that’s because Gaston belongs to the Orlando faction.”
Helmut nodded.
“Orlando?”
The Orlando Kingdom was my father’s hometown, and was also known as the Kingdom of Chivalry that prided itself in its martial prowess. When our parents passed away from an accident, Glinda and I continued to stay on in Orlando until we were 5 years old.
“Despite its small size, Eren Kingdom has temperate environmental conditions and still much undeveloped lands and resources. Until 10 years ago, this country is still known as the ‘isolated kingdom’, but after opening up to the outside world, it has vigorously absorbed culture and technology from outside and been developing non-stop.
It is within expectations that the Eren Kingdom would become even more prosperous, more affluent, and more powerful in the future. Therefore, every country has been fighting to create diplomatic ties with Eren under terms that are most beneficial to themselves. And for that purpose, every country offered up the best things in their possession as gifts to seal those pacts. The Kingdom of Chivalry Orlando offered strength of might, while the Economic Superpower Rubinia offered money and labour.”
In the midst of all these offers, King Cecello chose the Empire of Knowledge and Arts which offered the promise of sending over the omnipotent-genius Glinda as the royal tutor – the Winstoria Empire.
“The King of Eren Kingdom made a very wise decision. Orlando’s military aid and Rubinia’s wealth are both very tempting offers, but that would also chain down the kingdom into relying on them. Our Imperial Highness could see through this point, and just offered Winstoria Empire’s gem: girl-genius Glinda. It spoke of His wisdom.”
“Chief Minister Gaston wanted to forge the alliance with Orlando Kingdom?”
“That’s right. That’s why he sees you as a thorn in his side.”
No wonder, then, that he kept bullying me, looking as if he wanted to chase me away! The intricacies of politics had reached the point of domestic uproar! My shoulders sunk in complete enervation.
“… If I could not achieve top in this race, would I have to do headstands wearing a skirt?”
“That won’t do, if you display any unladylike character, it would disgrace the reputation of the Winstoria Empire. His Imperial Highness would also be displeased, and it may jeopardise the relationship of our two countries. You must never do that.”
Helmut said as-a-matter-of-factly.
“Then, how am I supposed to win in this contest?”
“If it had been Glinda, she would never have allowed things to proceed on to this current situation. Sigh, Sher-chan is so useless.”
My temper shot up by a mile. How dare you take this attitude towards me when you were the one who abandoned me to my fate for well-nigh half a month! What did you imagine I felt when I strung on the corset every morning! Even though my skills with the brow-trimmer and walking while in a long-dress had greatly improved, I could feel no pride!
“Then hurry and bring the real Glinda over! Isn’t the Intelligence Agency of Winstoria Empire the best in the world?”
“Our Intel Agency is truly the best in the world. Despite sending out our best agents on the trails of Glinda, we could find no trace of her, but obtained information about a young girl who single-handedly ended the tribal feud in the Oter Desert to the south, and news of a mysterious scientist who discovered a new strain of potatoes in the Etonia Kingdom to the north, as well as a few other similar intelligence.”
“Apparently they are all so highly skilled! So why haven’t they caught her yet? Just give them all the sack!”
“That’s because Glinda is just that good. As expected of our country’s national treasure.”
“Stop trivialising me! And stop smiling like that when you say it!”
“Ara, it has just been half a month of not seeing you, Sher-chan, how did you manage to become so spiteful? When we first met, you were just shivering like a little rabbit, not even capable of proper speech. Just look how you’ve grown.”
Just the sound of him imitating the warm speech of a senior was enough to make me faint. This fellow was totally unmoved.
“… How about you run this race for me then.”
“That won’t do. The entry of Ms Glinda has already become the focus of this competition.”
“But, my stamina at running has always been at rock-bottom. And if I were to do headstands while wearing a skirt, Winstoria Empire’s reputation would be damaged. As a man, I am not too offended by people seeing my underwear, but I certainly don’t want anyone to see me in a lady’s undies.”
I insisted in a huff, and even Helmut gave a serious sigh.
“It can’t be helped. Although this would be breaking the rules a little…”
Helmut placed some stuff on the table.
“These are tripod spikes laced with anaesthetics. These are some very potent laxatives. The test-tube contains many live wasps. In addition, this here is a voodoo doll, which despite its frivolous appearance, is apparently quite effective. It was said that when the renowned idol-queen Emily broke her legs in an accident and lost her crown to the runner-up newcomer Hilda, she claimed that Hilda had placed a hex on her with this doll.”
“I have no wish to hear such dangerous topics about women.”
“Is that so? Then just use these things to settle the issue.”
“Tripod spikes and laxatives are hardly <breaking the rules a little>! It is totally disregarding the rules! How is it that you carry around such diabolical things around?”
“Being a diplomat is in fact a demanding job that put your life in constant danger. Ara, It is about time for me to get to work. Sher-chan, for the sake of the alliance between the Winstoria Empire and Eren Kingom, you must definitely win this race.”
“That’s impossible!”
“Oh, and there’s still these pads. I’m sure those from before are insufficient, right? I have specially ordered for you some of those that are softer, more comfy, and less prone to slipping off. Also, here are some model answers to the Imperial College examinations that Glinda scored full marks for when she was just 7. Sher-chan should work hard too, so as not to expose yourself.”
Saying this, Helmut left after handing me a dozen of pads and a thick book of model exam answers.
After his departure, Anneth came in immediately and bombarded me like a battery of cannonfire:
“Hey, tell me please, how long would Lord Helmut be staying? Did he say anything about His Majesty being so handsome and lovely that he wants to push him down and do those kinds of things?”
My mood sunk even deeper.
Be it Mr Voodoo Doll, or Ms ‘teru teru bozu’, please just deliver me from this marathon run.
Even as I continued to be trapped in my helplessness, it was now the day before the marathon run.
I hugged the thick book of model answers close while continued to practice barking like a dog as I went for a little afternoon stroll in the courtyard. Just then, I bumped into Prince Ryuuju who was training in short sleeves and shorts.
Prince Ryuuju was nothing like his twin sisters Princesses Sarasa and Orie who complained, “What marathon run competition? How unbelievably tiresome!” Instead, he trained diligently every morning and afternoon for long periods.
For all his tough talks, he was also a diligent worker. Muah, what an excellent child.
In comparison, I should really reflect on myself.
Just then, he noticed me.
“!”
He instantly widened his eyes, frowned and stiffened his face.
To this day he was still keeping me at arm’s length, thinking probably that I was a female vixen who peeped on his bath and even pushed him over.
“Training for the marathon? Your Highness Prince Ryuuju is so hard-working.”
I said in the tone of a kind big sister archetype, but he just tightened his lips, backed away slowly, and then shouted with a blushing face.
“I… I have not been looking at your chest! And don’t care about women who peep on baths like you!”
He fled after throwing those words out.
He probably was still mindful of his little sisters’ teasing words, but seeing his obvious display of hostility still hurt my feelings. UWuuWuu…
I walked towards a fountain in the courtyard and collapse-sat on its edge while stretching out my legs.
“… Don’t mind it.”
Came a sudden voice. I closed my legs in a panic.
Looking upwards, a pair of amethyst transparent eyes had been staring directly at me.
“P-princess Seira!”
Kya! Here it comes again! Why was this Princess always appearing from nowhere, coldly staring at me?
Was she threatening me with “I know your secret”? But, it seemed that she had not yet told anyone else that I was a man. What really was her purpose? So puzzling.
Then again, why was I getting so worked up over a 9 year old kid…
“… Elder Brother Ryuuju may sometimes say some inappropriate words when he is shy. That is not his true intentions.”
Huh? Was she consoling me?
But, both her words and expression were as monotonous as usual.
“Eh… Princess Seira, don’t you detest me?”
Princess Seira had an expression of shock when she heard those words.
“Because, when I was duelling with Jerome, you said there was no need for me to have armour…”
I could still remember it because I was still somewhat bitter about it.
But, Princess Seira calmly replied.
“… That’s because armour is too heavy, and I think that Teacher won’t be able to move well in it.”
“Huh?”
So she had not been setting me up, but was actually helping me.
“Is that so! Sorry! I had been mistaken about Your Highness, Princess Seira…”
I stood in a rush, and the thick book of exam solutions fell from my laps in my hurry. Princess Seira picked it up.
“Winstoria Imperial College’s … past entry exam papers?”
“Wha! That’s not really mine! Why would a genius like me need to refer to something like that!”
“… This answer is wrong.”
“Huh?”
“Is there a pen anywhere?”
“Oh? Uh… here.”
I handed her the pen that I always carried around. She took it and breezily began to solve the problems.
She completed them one after another with the proficiency of an expert, almost as if she knew the answers like the back of her hands.
What was she? Was I just seeing things? Was this child some sage from somewhere? Oh right, now that I thought about it, she also completed my exam in a couple of minutes the other day…
“P-princess Seira!”
I was just about to think that I might actually be able to get along with her, but seeing this monstrous ability shocked me so much that I took hold of her slim shoulders.
Princess Seira looked up in surprise and silver hair brushed against the back of my hand.
“I have been wanting to tell you this… That, maybe you have thought I am a cross-dressing pervert, but that is not the case at all! If I do not cross-dress, there may be great trouble between the Winstoria Empire and Eren Kingdom! So, I mean, please, don’t tell others that I am not Glinda!”
I said while bowing my head.
After a moment of silence, a calm voice said.
“… Teacher is saying that, it is not that Ms Glinda is actually a man, but rather Teacher is not even Ms Glinda in the first place?”
Noooooooooo! I had dug myself deeper again!
I dumbly looked up with a gaping mouth, but there began an eerie silence.
Princess Seira stared at me with an empty gaze that I had never seen before.
So hollow and devoid of emotions that a chill raised through my spine, it was almost like being bewitched.
“… So, you could not ‘see that’?”
“W-what do you mean?”
Could not see what?
Princess Seira ignored my question and displayed an expression of disappointment, then returned to her western-doll like poker-face.
“… If you are ‘not Ms Glinda’, tomorrow in the race, you have best not get too close to Elder Brother Ryuuju.”
She flatly said, as if prophesising or maybe it was a warning.
A chilling sensation ran over the top of my back.
Princess Seira elegantly retreated. My hands, which had been on her slim shoulders, held only thin air.
“Hey! What is that supposed to mean?”
She ignored my shout, and left on her own. I was dumbfounded as I stood rooted to the ground.
Returning to my own room, I checked through the model answers book that Princess Seira worked on. She had gotten every questions correct.
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LNWNCentral_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata - Volume 01_Dress-na-Boku-ga-Yangotonaki-Katagata-Volume-01-[GirlyBoysAlliance][Proxus]
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Chapter_06.txt
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Chapter 06
Chapter 06
Day of the marathon run competition.
I had manufactured 3 dozens of ‘teru teru bozu’ but apparently that was not enough. The sky was dark and overcast as if it was about to downpour while hot wind blew about the place; it was an undeterminable state of weather.
The starting point of the race was situated at the entrance of the capital which was filled with participating runners and on-looking cheerers on both sides of the track. Guards putting up barrier ropes fought to keep the onlookers from trespassing into the runway.
“Sigh, how repulsive! We are Princesses! Princesses should just rest comfortably in a pure-white room, reading romance novels besides vases of roses! That has been the rule for more than 3000 years! Humph!”
“That’s right! So right! We are so delicate and fragile, we may even fall sick!”
Those pair of twin Princesses Sarasa and Orie were both clad in cutely embroidered skirt and baggy pants while stomping in displeasure. The guards around hastily tried to appease them. I secretly thought that, with their energy and hyper-activeness, even running 4 rounds should be nothing for them.
A far cry from Her energetic daughters was the Queen, who stood pale-faced and looking as if she would collapse even before the run had begun. She kept rubbing at her chest and breathing deeply.
Was Her Majesty really alright? Fortunately, there were many guards around her, so should anything really happen, they would definitely take good care of Her.
There were also guards around Prince Ryuuju who was actively swinging his arms and stretching his legs in preparation, looking all normal. I turned towards Princess Seira, who was also surrounded by guards, her expression as usual.
What did those words that she said yesterday mean?
She said that if I was not Glinda, it was best that I did not get close to Prince Ryuuju today… It was like the foretelling of a witch, how scary.
No, there was no time to think about such things.
A big bucket of drink was placed before the finishing point and a mountain of bananas piled high beside it for participants to help themselves to.
Within the pockets of my waistcoat I had been carrying the tripod spikes laced with anaesthesia, the highly potent laxative, test-tube of live wasps as well as the voodoo doll.
The only thing I could do now is to use this… I took out the packet of laxative from my breast-pocket.
If I just spiked the bucket of drink and bananas, the participants would all have running stomachs and be unable to continue the race.
In the end, I still brought over all the illegal stuff that Helmut passed me! Waaaah! I couldn’t just do that~~~
But, if I did not get the top prize, the relationship between Winstoria Empire and Eren Kingdom might become adversely affected…
In my anxiety, I peeled open a banana and sprinkled a little of the powder on it.
The white powder vanished on the banana without a trace.
Uh… That way it would probably not be detectable. Oh, but it would definitely be suspicious to peel open an entire pile of bananas, so I guess spiking the bucket of drink would be better… Ahhhh! What was I turning into?!?
Let’s just give up; there’s no joy in winning with such methods. I was a model citizen, not that venomous Count Ascano of Rubinia who loved getting rid of his enemies with poison. As an extra, the Count seemed to have died from choking on an oyster; a fitting death indeed.
I was just about to destroy the spiked banana…
“Hey! Glinda!”
Jerome from the Knight Company appeared all of a sudden, clad in an eye-catching red cape.
“I would pay you back today for the humiliation you gave me on the training grounds! Have you forgotten our promise? If you lose, you would put on a pair of dog’s ears and bark ‘Arf! Woof! My Master!’ Ha!”
“I-I don’t remember making any such promise (That’s just your own sick interests! You pervert!)… Ah!”
Jerome snatched the banana from my hand.
“You cocky little lass that get all conceited from just a few words of flattery! Watch me as I swallow you whole like this banana! The main actor today would me! Buahahaha!”
Jerome took the banana and strode away with his cape flying suavely behind him.
Was he really going to run with that cape wrapped around him like that… Wait, he just ate the banana! That’s the banana with laxatives on it!
Helmut said that the laxative was so potent that its effect would immediately show…
As I imagined what was going on within Jerome’s stomach, cold sweat began to rise from within.
“P-pretend not to know anything…”
I muttered while shifting my eyes away from the red cape moving away into the distance.
In the end, I ran out of options and the marathon run began without any incidents.
A projectile-less cannon fired into the air, signalling the beginning of the race, and the male competition group began to run.
I was initially positioned among the frontline at the starting point, but was immediately overrun by the flood of people from the rear, fighting to even remain upright.
Pretty-boy Sir Jerome was initially positioned far behind me in the rear lines, but with a strange scream “Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Stomach! My stomach!!!” he pushed aside the other runners and shot out wildly. Looked like the laxatives had taken effect.
“Ms Glinda, I would be going first then.”
King Cecello greeted me briskly as he overtook me.
“It’s His Majesty!”
“Long live His Majesty!”
The surrounding crowd cheered.
“His Majesty is so handsome! So charming!”
There were also such fan-girl squeals around.
The King gave everyone a smile, attracting copious amounts of ‘Ah’ and ‘Wow’ among the crowds.
To the people of Eren, King Cecello was an existence on the level of a god. Pretty much hidden in behind the thick walls of the royal palace at all times, the appearance of the legendary King of beauty running before their very eyes caused some of the commoners among the watchers to grasp their own hands in thanksgiving.
This race would certainly greatly raise the support for King Cecello and radically deify the descriptions of his beautiful outer appearance among the tabloids.
Me, on the other hand…
“Hey, why is there a girl among the men’s group?”
“Heard that Winstoria Empire’s Ms Glinda would also be in the men’s group, but this girl’s probably someone else.”
“Hoho, oh yes, it is said that Ms Glinda is a divine beauty who runs as fast as a deer.”
“There’s no way that geniuses would run this slow. That girl looks cute, but doesn’t seem to create even a bit of impression and looks so ordinary.”
“Yes yes, Ms Glinda must have departed with a speed far beyond what our commoners’ eyes can detect.”
“Hoho, that may actually be possible for a genius.”
“Ms Glinda is so incredible!”
“Would we be able to see Ms Glinda during the award ceremony?”
“Definitely as beautiful as they say she is.”
“Yeah, I mean, even His Majesty is more beautiful than the legend says.”
“But, if that girl isn’t Ms Glinda, who is she?”
“Probably just some confused girl who barged in on the men’s group.”
“What, is that so, hahaha, Hang in there, Ms Confused Girl!”
Uwuuwuu… the idle chatter surrounding me broke my heart.
All this while, I continued to fall behind.
Even though I should at least try and recover some distance, I just could not gather my strength.
Everyone who passed me by displayed a shocked expression that seemed to say “Why is Ms Glinda here?” and then outran me further.
The roads and buildings outside the city were all new and in good conditions, just as the pathways had been cleaned to within the standard of developed civilizations. Every corner was also guarded by a soldier.
But, I soon lost the interest in appreciating the scenery around.
I was panting hard and dizzy. My heart was beating as if it could burst out of my chest.
Just how much further is the finishing line?
The track apparently extended from the city to the suburbs, going through the hills and returning back to the city and stopping before the castle.
I panted with all my strength, finally running out of the city and coming to a quiet plantation where even the breeze was cooler.
Fuu… Fuu… Midpoint at last…
I breathlessly bounced along a narrow path cutting though the plantation.
There was nobody else around nearby. Did that mean I was the last?
The soldiers standing guard watched my slow bumbling steps and were shocked.
“Ms Glinda is the last?!?”
“Could geniuses be last?”
What, geniuses’ couldn’t possibly be last? ~~~ Outrageous!
Even if I were to use the anaesthetic-laced tripods Helmut passed to me, there was nobody else behind me to step on them.
Not only that, by the time I reached the snaking bends in the track, even the cheerers and guarding soldiers had disappeared.
Sigh, if only I could get attacked by a bear in the hills, so that I won’t have to run any longer.
That’s right! What the flying hippo was I running for? I was sweaty, dizzy and weary, but all for what? Would my running bring about world peace? Would it save all of humanity? Would it decrease tax? Would it make Helmut uglier? Would I be able to grow at least some facial hair?
While I bemoaned my situation, a clatter of steps closed in from nearby.
What? It seemed that there was still someone behind me.
But the footsteps seemed to be extraordinarily quick in succession.
A breeze blew past in a ‘Wosh!’.
A black-haired boy with tightened lips and stiffened face ran past my side.
Prince Ryuuju?
That’s to say, the women and children’s group had started the run, and I was even beaten by Prince Ryuuju who was at its head?
Nooooooo! To lose to even children!
I was supposed to be a man!... A man!
Recalling Helmut’s smiling face saying “This is a shame to the Winstoria Empire”, I truly just wanted to run into some disaster in the hills.
His Highness did not even turn to look at me, but ran around the bend in the forest path in a breath.
There should have been bodyguards beside him, but he had probably outrun them all.
Hey! What’s the meaning of that? How could they just leave the Prince alone unprotected? These irresponsible slowcoach tax thieves!
I ignored my own current situation while criticised others.
At that moment…
Masked men came out on both sides of the Prince.
These men did not seem to be friendly common folks no matter how you looked at it. Could they be disguised guards? But no, the dangerous air about them was chilling.
Those men covered Prince Ryuuju’s mouth and carried his small body into the thick woods.
Ruffles in plantation and struggles of the Prince vanished into the forest without a trace.
Huuuuuuuuuuuuuh?!?
Kidnapping?
I turned but could see no trace of the bodyguards.
Wwwwwwwhat should I do?
Should I run backwards for help?
But by the time I returned those people would have been gone for long.
Gritting my teeth in the face of danger, I ran after Prince Ryuuju.
“Prince Ryuuju! Prince Ryuuju! Heeeeelp~~~ Prince Ryuuju has been kidnapped~~~”
I screamed with all my strength while running through the forest.
Booohooo, please hear my cries, bodyguards who were on their way! There was no way I could handle the kidnappers alone! Absolutely never!
As I fervently prayed, someone grabbed my mouth and dragged me from the rear.
“Uuuuu!”
I was captured and immobilized. Before me was Prince Ryuuju who had been caught in the same situation by the group of masked men.
My body was frozen in fear.
Waaaaaah! Kidnappers~~~~ I’d been caught!~~~~
Prince Ryuuju had his mouth gagged and one arm restrained, but continued to struggle. He winced in angry surprise when he saw me, as if to say “why are you here?”. What choice did I have?
Noooooo! What would happen now?
As if to answer this question, the masked men started to discuss among themselves.
“What should we do with this girl?”
“It would be trouble if she caused a ruckus. Take her with us?”
“No, that’s too troublesome, just rid of her.”
W-wait! What were you saying!
As I almost dirtied my undies from fear, the man holding onto Prince Ryuuju suddenly screamed.
“Ouch!”
His Highness had bitten the man’s hand.
The one restraining me was also stunned and loosened his grip somewhat, or maybe because he had thought me a woman, was careless.
I elbowed him in the guts with all my strength.
“Uuuoo!”
The man completely released me.
Now!
I had begun to rush forward, reaching within my breast pocket for the test-tube of wasps, opening it before the man in front.
The wasps flew forth from the opening of the test-tube, buzzing all over.
“Huah! What are these!”
Prince Ryuuju also stomped on the feet of the man restraining him and escaped his grip.
“Hey! Wait!”
The men chased in a hurry, but I threw out the packet of laxative powder.
The powder dispersed into a cloud of dust and we ran while the men fell into a coughing fit.
“Prince Ryuuju! Please run before me! Your legs are more nimble, please go run for help!”
“B-but!”
“Quick! Or we would both be caught!”
I sternly cried to the apprehensive Prince Ryuuju, then turned and threw the tripods towards the pursuers.
“Whoa! What is it this time!?!”
The tripods struck the face and hands of the men, but maybe due to the cloth wrapped around their face and gloves, the anaesthetic laced on the spikes was not effective.
“This b****! How dare you use such toys against us!”
Oh no! That seemed to have infuriated them!
A man unsheathed his sword and sliced at me from above.
I immediately took out the voodoo doll to block it, but the doll was just sliced into half in one blow.
“Kyaaaaa!”
A shameless scream escaped my mouth.
The slice just now had sliced through my clothes in front from my shoulder to just above my chest.
The cut on chest area was particularly deep. But for the thick layers of pads, I feared I had already suffered a mortal blow. When considering that, I felt cold even from the tips of my toes.
“Glinda!”
“Don’t come here!”
I had already told you to escape, so why were you running back!
You were a prince! How could you not first look to your own safety!
“I’m alright! Please run!”
As if I could be alright! … I was being driven to death’s door by this group of men…
The sword sliced again.
If I were to die here, people would probably discover that I was male when they buried me, then everyone would probably say that Ms Glinda was a cross-dressing pervert…
As I thought about such things with unnatural calm…
“Whoa!”
An arrow shot from nowhere and pierced the hand of the man about to slice me through.
Soldiers who had been invisible thus far somehow surrounded us without our notice.
Sword-wielding bodyguards were also standing at guard in front of Prince Ryuuju.
“Ms Glinda! Are you alright?”
“Uuuoh… I-i guess…”
The soldiers beat back the kidnappers in an instant, and captured them.
Could this be the effect of the voodoo doll? I glanced at the beheaded voodoo doll with a complicated expression.
M-maybe I should go get exorcised afterwards… L-Let’s get up first.
“Our utmost apologies for arriving this late, Your Highness!”
“Am I the only one being attacked? Is Lord Father alright? How about Queen Mother? And my little sisters?”
Prince Ryuuju asked in worry.
“Please ease your worries. Their Majesties and Highnesses are all safe. Apparently this group here have been targeting Your Highness right from the beginning. But even though we have already caught wind of it, we still let Your Highness fall into danger. It is completely our responsibility.”
Prince Ryuuju finally relaxed his shoulders.
“That… Lord Father and the others are alright…”
He mumbled in relief – then, jumped in hindsight.
“Right! I have not reached the finishing line yet! I must continue the run!”
Having just encountered such a fearsome experience, he was ready to immediately return to the competition.
What a strong willpower, even I was collapsed on the ground, my legs so weakened that I could hardly stand.
But, maybe it was due to his twisting his ankle in the escape, Prince Ryuuju suddenly scrunched up his face and grabbed at his own foot.
“Your Highness is in no state to continue the run.”
The bodyguards tried to persuade him.
“No! Members of the royalty should be examples for the common-folks! If I were to give up half-way there is no way I would be fit to represent the country! Everyone would also worry about having such a weak future ruler!”
Prince Ryuuju stood up, determined to continue the race.
But he twisted his expression immediately.
Even so, he gritted his teeth, and sweating profusely, dragged his feet onwards.
Sigh, so frustrating, what a stubborn child.
The soldiers looked at each other helplessly.
If the duty of royalty was to reach the goal no matter how difficult it was, and to smile waving at the common citizen no matter how painful it was, a spineless guy like me could probably never be a king ever.
If he did not have any support right now, he might not even be able to stand up.
Even if I was just a weak commoner and a lazy bum whose only forte was to flip newspaper or history stories while criticising famous people, there was no way I could just at the side while watching someone else hard at work.
How troublesome.
I walked towards Prince Ryuuju, barring his way.
His Higness glared at me.
“Glinda… You can’t stop me, let me pass.”
“Don’t look down on a little foot injury. What if you can no longer walk for the rest of your life?”
“H-how could that be…”
“Could you say that it will never happen?”
Maybe due to my fierce tone, Prince Ryuuju could not utter any word.
Perhaps due to just having escaped from a near-death situation, my words were free of fear or apprehension, be it in the face of kings or princes.
“Earlier Your Highness ignored my warning and came back. If the soldiers had not shown up on time, you might even have been sold to foreign countries before you can succeed the throne, or even died! So you have to obey me this time!”
Prince Ryuuju widened his eyes as I grabbed his hands and pulled them around my neck.
“W-what the… are you doing, Glinda.”
“I will piggy-back you and run.”
“What did you say!”
I gave a little ‘Heeve-Hoo’ and supported his small bum.
“Hey! Let me go! Glinda! This is so embarrassing! To be piggy-backed to the finishing line by a woman is so shameful! I would rather bite my tongue and die!”
I scolded loudly at the struggling Prince Ryuuju.
“As the heir-to-the-throne, how can you say you would give up your life so easily!”
His Highness gave a little jump on my back, and even the surrounding bodyguards nearby stopped.
“Stop throwing tantrums, you little kid who has no idea of the dangers in this big wide world! A really great man would fight to live on no matter how great the pain or the shame! That’s called responsibility to the people! Besides, even the king does not rule the country alone! As a king you must know how to use the help of other people! Nobody ever said that kings are omnipotent! So stop trying to do every single thing on your own!”
Prince Ryuuju stopped struggling.
He slowly gripped my neck, hugging my back so that I could feel the body warmth of the little child.
“Good! You just sit tight like an heir-to-the-throne and ride on my back at leisure!”
I began to run.
After saying such audacious lines of words, I couldn’t possibly run slower than a tortoise now, could I?
Thankfully, in my adrenaline rush, I had forgotten the tiredness.
I galloped madly like a race horse.
Maybe we had been delayed so much by the kidnapping incident, there were few runners left in sight.
Panting deeply, I strode right on the centre of the running track.
“Huh? Glinda! What are you doing?”
Among the race-watching crowds, a voice that sounded like Anneth called.
The other watchers looked too in our direction and exclaimed.
“Isn’t that His Highness, Prince Ryuuju?”
“That’s right! It’s His Highness who has been running at the front just earlier! What happened?”
“Who is that girl giving him a piggy-back? What marvellous strength!”
“Whoa! Those eyes are blazing! Even her nostrils are fuming! Even if she is obviously just a girl, her hair is unkempt, clothes torn, and flames seem to be bursting forth from her rear!”
“It’s Ms Glinda! That omnipotent genius!”
“What did you say? That’s Ms Glinda?”
“No wonder she looks so different from normal! Those eyes are just like she’s been possessed!”
“I heard from someone that Prince Ryuuju had been attacked by bandits in the middle of the race just now!”
“No way! I heard it was kidnappers, not bandits!”
“Huh? Huh? What’s going on?”
“I heard that Ms Glinda suddenly showed up in the nick of time and defeated a large band of sword-wielding kidnappers bare-handed!”
“Terrific! As expected of a genius!”
Everyone began to clap vigorously to cheer.
I focused on prancing towards the finishing line.
Where was it? Where was the finishing line?
My legs and heart could no longer take it. Due to the tear in my clothes, the situation on my chest was deplorable. The voodoo doll peeked its head out, and several layers of pads had fallen down onto my waist.
Sigh! Were we there yet?
“Glinda!”
“Big Bro Ryuuju!”
The frames of twin princesses stood in the front.
The pair of them each gripped an end of a rose-coloured ribbon, probably tied together from the ribbons on their own hair.
They waved vigorously towards us.
“Just a little longer! Glinda! Big Bro Ryuuju!”
“Fight!”
At the side of Princess Sarasa was the blissful looking Queen. So too was the gently-smiling King, with the toddler Princess Suzuna. Young Prince Shin and even the mature-eyed Princess Seira awaited us at the ending point.
The rose-coloured ribbon touched my hips and flew into the air.
Princess Seira widened her eyes, quietly watching.
Thunderous applause and cheering filled the air as the crowds wildly called the names of Glinda and Prince Ryuuju.
The royal family surrounded me who had just run past the finishing line.
“Ohhhhhh! Teacher Glinda, thank you so much for rescuing Ryuuju! Ryuuju, I am so glad that you are alright!”
Her Majesty hugged His Highness tightly with tears in Her eyes.
“Sorry, Queen Mother, for causing You so much worry.”
Prince Ryuuju also fell into his Mother’s chest.
“Lady Glinda, you have rescued the heir-to-the-throne, and is a benefactor to the Kingdom of Eren.”
King Cecello’s line drove the crowd frantic with excitement.
“Lady Glinda has known all along that His Highness would be kidnapped, so slowed down on purpose!”
“As expected of the omnipotent Genius!”
“Lady Glinda is the true winner of the marathon race!”
“That’s right! Only Lady Glinda has the right to the gold cup top prize!”
Someone carried over the glittering gold cup prize, but I became embarrassed and humbly said.
“No way, that’s too unfair to the top runner. Right, who happened to be the top runner?”
As I looked from side to side, a breeze blew past.
And tragedy fell that instant.
I had kept running while piggy-backing someone even though my clothes had been sliced open, and now this wind was all it took to open up the torn clothes like a double-door!
As if that was not enough, the entire set of clothes fell off from shoulders downwards.
Cha…
A falling sound, and the things covering the upper-half of my body as well as the voodoo doll fell at my feet. Before the staring eyes of the present crowd, my half-naked body stood frozen.
I stood mystified, still not realising what had just happened.
Huh? Feels… Strange? What was this cooling sensation?...
Everyone stared at me in shock with expressions screaming “Unbelievable! How could it be so!”
The courtyard was deadly silent, and after a glance downwards, I let out a “KYAAAAAAAAAAAA” piercing scream, hugging my bare upper body with both arms.
Wwwwwwwwwwwwhat should I do? I’d been seen… completely uncovered~~~~~
And it had to be before so many people! Ahhhhhhhhh! Uwuuuwuuu…. I was finished, my male identity exposed. Gone, I would soon be dragged off and executed!
I felt dizzy and my entire face; cheeks, temple and even neck blew, up in a fiery colour.
It was this instant that a cool quiet voice broke the silence.
“Teacher, your important breast pads had fallen off.”
Princess Seira picked up the pad that had fallen on the ground and handed it to me calmly.
“The other pads had probably fallen off while you were protecting Elder Brother Ryuuju. There should be at least 5 pieces of them.”
The monotonous voice steadily continued.
“Urg… T-that...”
The surrounding crowd blew up in commotion.
“5 layers of breast pads! So that is the reason! Ms Glinda is a completely flat chested lady who needs a huge pile of padding!”
“It is true that the size is ridiculously small. At that level, she really needs 5 pairs.”
“Muah, it’s almost as flat as a man’s.”
“Ohoohoohoo! So that’s what a super washing board looks like!”
“I see, so 5 pairs of breast pads, huh. Ahahahaha.”
T-these fellows! How dared they to laugh so loudly after seeing another’s chest!
Princesses Sarasa and Orie also said with tears in their eyes.
“Poor Glinda.”
“To be this flat even after puberty.”
Her Majesty quickly took off her own overcoat and covered my body in it, consoling.
“Ara, ara, don’t take it to heart, Glinda. Nowadays, many men also prefer them flatter.”
Even His Majesty vigorously added.
“Even if Ms Glinda does not have full-rounded breasts, she possesses an intelligent head.”
But, the corners of His lips seemed to be twitching as if to keep from laughing.
Afterwards, due to His Highness Prince Ryuuju fainting from a rush of blood from his bleeding nose, a huge commotion ensued…
As the situation settled down, I accepted the gold cup award from the hands of King Cecello under the warm claps and cheers of everyone.
Everyone snickered at me who was hugging the huge trophy.
“I see, so that’s a washing board.”
“So that’s a runway.”
“Hoo! I can totally see it clearly! Really completely flat!”
“So even geniuses have weaknesses!”
Hearing such whispered gossips, I could only lower my flushed head.
For the record, the first one who reached the finishing line was Sir Jerome of the knight company, who had beaten everyone else by a far margin.
All while screaming “It’s coming ouuuuuut~~~”, he ran out of sight and vanished without a trace even until the closing ceremony. He was disqualified as relinquishing the top place, and it was granted to me due to the special occasion.
“Humph! Damned flat-chested girl!”
Chief Minister Gaston angrily murmured… how scary.
Hoho, at least nobody had discovered that I was male.
The day after, tabloids all over the world flashed the headlines: “ Genius Ms Glinda an astonishing flat-chest!”, “Ms Glinda’s chest was in fact two little red peas!”.
Being able to rub some blemish upon Glinda’s utterly perfect record, I was actually a little pleased with myself. But once I considered the possibility of Glinda knowing about my being stripped half-naked in full view of crowds right in the centre of the capital, causing her to be reported as little chick-peas, I flinch to imagine her fury.
Besides that, even though the masterminds behind the kidnapping incident had been caught, there was still something that continued to bug me.
To verify my doubts, one afternoon after lessons were over, I went to seek an audience with His Majesty, King Cecello.
Epilogue: Glinda Dolye’s deductions
“You said that you have something you would like to discuss with me in private, so what is it about, Ms Glinda?”
After dismissing the people around, the beautiful king shined me a sparklingly lovely smile and asked.
The mere sight of it was enough to drive my weak heart racing non-stop, but I must clarify this no matter what happened, so I looked straight into the eyes of His Majesty.
“Your Majesty, were You the one who was responsible for the kidnapping incident of His Highness Prince Ryuuju?”
I actually said it!
Even though my heart was beating like a drum from the nerves, I had burned my bridges.
King Cecello gently narrowed his eyes.
“Oh?”
He murmured.
“Why would you think so?”
King Cecello stared straight into me, enquiring gently, but I could feel an immense sense of pressure from it, and the tense air almost impaled my skin.
“Eren Kingdom discarded her policy of isolation not more than a decade ago, and the capital is apparently at peace right now, but I have heard that outside of it, there remained some pockets of resistance supporting the previous king belonging to the faction of isolation. It is still too dangerous for royalty to casually participate in a marathon race open to public at this time, and in fact, many top officials are of the same opinion.
But from another point of view, this is also a good opportunity to investigate suspicious people from outside the capital, tear down old buildings, repair the roads and bridges, and demonstrate to the citizens as well as foreign countries that the Eren Kingdom is both peaceful and culturally advanced – Your Majesty’s wisdom obviously saw through all that?”
While I ran outside of the capital, I could see that the roads and buildings all around were new and in excellent conditions, and the commoners were also joyfully cheering for the racers.
“Through this race, the citizens would definitely improve their opinion of the royal family. But among them, there would definitely be people who do not feel that way and may even pose a danger. These are all things that Your Majesty would have already foreseen.”
Of course, if investigations were made in the name of public security for the sake of the race, a portion of suspicious elements would definitely be uncovered, for example, the remnants of the isolation faction who opposed King Cecello’s policy.
What would happen if they were to be forced into a corner? What actions would they take?
“To steal into the palace and attempt to kidnap or assassinate royalty is an extremely difficult task, but in a marathon race open to public, the chance of success would definitely be much higher.
Who would they have their sights on?
Laying hands on the legendary and experienced king would definitely be hard, so the target has to be weaker than His Majesty, but also a prominent member of the royal family… that is the representative of the policy of opening up the country, Her Majesty who is Herself a foreigner, and the heir-apparent His Highness Prince Ryuuju.
These two are the obvious targets.”
His Majesty’s lips maintained its smile.
His beautiful face of national treasure fame betrayed no hint of any shadow, looking serenely at me.
~~If you are not Ms Glinda, in tomorrow’s race, don’t get close to Elder Brother Ryuuju.
Princess Seira had told me indifferently before.
Did that child realise the truth even beforehand?
I added strongly.
“Your Majesty knew right from the start, and so arranged for a wall of armed guards to surround Her Majesty, even the Princesses were heavily guarded.
But, the one who ought to be protected the most, His Highness Prince Ryuuju, was all alone.
There is no way that adults cannot catch up to a child, and this is almost an obvious ploy to tempt the enemies into kidnapping him at the abandoned paths… And also, the appearance of the rescuers was too coincidental, I deduce that Your Majesty have ordered them to observe from afar right from the beginning.”
King Cecello said as if nothing had happened.
“As expected, there’s no way I can escape the sharp eyes of Ms Glinda.”
His tone held even a trace of elation.
I angrily yelled.
“Stop joking around! How could you have used your own son as bait!”
At this moment, I could care less about the opposite being the king of an allied country.
This was not something that a father should be doing with his child, not to mention that there was hardly a trace of regret in him.
At this, King Cecello’s expression altered.
The original gentle smile tightened, and His eyes let out a piercing light.
“I have no intention of letting Ryuuju become a useless king.”
His manner of speech suddenly turned very serious.
“I wish that Ryuuju will sooner turn into a good king that can succeed me and not one that can only rely on the protection of others. I want him to be capable of thinking for himself, choosing and acting, to become a real king that has the power to protect others, and for this, he must be allowed to encounter all kinds of experiences. Merely staying sheltered in the nursery is not going to develop any strong heart in him.”
“But, His Higness Prince Ryuuju is merely eleven! What if something unexpected is to …”
“Nothing unexpected will happen.”
King Cecello displayed a proud and confident look and asserted.
He did not holler, nor had he waved his sword around.
Just one short sentence was sufficient to send trembles up my spine and render me speechless.
“A kingdom must not lose its heir or I too will be troubled. Besides I love my children very much, but most importantly, if Ryuuju were to run into some problems, the Queen would definitely become saddened, and I will absolutely not do anything that may cause Her to cry. So, <Nothing> unexpected will happen.”
An incomparable confidence.
Unshakable willpower.
Nothing like the behaviour of a typical father of this world.
His Laws; only the things that He believed could be the truth.
My hands were covered in cold sweat.
Even though His words were illogical, I had no means of rebutting.
What was there to rebut against someone with completely different sense of morals and values? King Cecello might be of the same species as Glinda.
“That’s right, Ms Glinda, someone as intelligent as you should also understand, that these words should not get out of this place, and especially not enter the ears of Her Majesty. If you were to tell Her…”
Cold eyes stared into me, and I was completely frozen over by it.
The King Cecello now might be known as a god-like Hero, the Blue Sky-Drake King, but when he was still the previous king’s younger brother from different mothers and living in exile in an isolated dilapidated castle far from the capital, he had another name…
That’s right, I had read of it in an edition of the “Private stories of World’s Royalty”.
While he was still a prince, due to his icy-cold beauty, and cruel, unpredictable nature, everyone had called him the “Sky Blue Demon” in fear…
“!”
Wwwwwwwhat should I do? How could I have tried to challenge this kind of man?
I was suddenly paralysed in fear.
“Ho. What is it, Ms Glinda?”
King Cecello walked over with an elegant smile.
T-this smile was sooo scaaarrry!
“Taking this opportunity, Ms Glinda, would you mind teaching me as well?”
Uwwwaaaahhhh~~~~~~
Just as the King’s face closed in and my heart began screaming in fear…
“Is Teacher Glinda here?”
A clear voice came in, and Princess Seira appeared.
The Princess slowly approached towards me, and looking towards her Father, said
“Lord Father, I would like to discuss with Teacher Glinda a mathematical thesis of Professor Muden from the Winstoria Empire, may I borrow Teacher for a while?”
Her words were calm, but were also longer than usual.
King Cecello gave a surprised smile.
“Ho? It looks as if Seira likes Ms Glinda a lot.”
“That’s right. Teacher Glinda has taught me many helpful things.”
“Is that so. Then, Ms Glinda, please go accompany Seira.”
“W-w-w-w-with pleasure!”
Princess Seira slowly walked back towards the entrance, while I hastily followed.
“Fuuee… saved!”
Past the corridors and coming into the courtyard, I could finally let out a breath.
“Oh, that, regarding that professor something’s thesis, I am really sorry, but I had no…”
“… I know.”
Princess Seira said in a flat voice.
“Huh?”
I was struck by surprise.
“Did you pull me out on purpose?”
Did she just rescue me from the scene earlier?
Her Highness was silent.
When she entered the room, I was unable to hear any sound of the door opening, so maybe she had been eavesdropping on King Cecello and I from behind the door all along.
She had warned me too, not to get too close to Prince Ryuuju on the day of the race.
When my clothes fell apart, the one who helped me pick up the pads and distract the topic was also her.
“That, you said earlier that if I am “not Glinda”, I should avoid getting to close to Prince Ryuuju, what was that supposed to mean?”
“… Because you seemed to have no means of responding to emergencies then, but I seemed to have underestimated you, sorry.”
Her voice was as emotionless as usual.
“Uh, no, there’s no reason for your Highness to apologise. I should be the one thanking you instead. But for your aid in picking up my pads, everyone may have already discovered that I am male. But, about His Majesty’s plans, did you also…”
I was about to say “did you also know about them?”, when cold little hand stretched out and covered my mouth like white snow falling onto my lips, giving a soft sensation.
The 9 year old girl’s small fingers were soft and her face which was looking at me was small and delicate with smooth glistening pallor. Beneath her long lashes, a pair of translucent amethyst eyes appraised me quietly.
Cherry-coloured lips gently parted.
“…If you value your life, say no further. Lord Father may love His wife and care for his children, but <King Cecello> is cold and ruthless man.”
These words that sounded nothing like a child’s frightened me. Ohoh, she had really been coming to my rescue earlier.
Even during the race earlier, or when I was facing off Sir Jerome…
My heartbeat sped up, and said hopefully.
“I understand, I won’t say anything… Would… Would you also help me keep my secret?”
Princess Seira should probably say ‘Yes’ right?
Despite her cold emotionless appearance, she was actually pretty friendly.
But…
“I might consider it…”
She said nonchalantly.
Uh… Wha?
The pair of purple crystal eyes silently looked at me who was frozen by surprise.
“You <cannot see it>, you are <not Glinda Dolye, so you are <useless>.”
The words that came forth from those delicate lips sent chills down my back.
“But…”
A trace of conflict floated in her cold eyes.
“Even though you <could not see> it, you still rescued Elder Brother Ryuuju, and even interrogated Lord Father. Nobody has ever done those things before, so I would give you a chance.”
Give me a chance?
I held back my breath, my neck and temple covered in cold sweat as I listened to this 9 year old girl pronounced her judgement like the goddess of fate.
“If you can guess what I desire, I will not tell anyone else that Glinda is an imposter.”
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LNWNCentral_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata - Volume 01_Dress-na-Boku-ga-Yangotonaki-Katagata-Volume-01-[GirlyBoysAlliance][Proxus]
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Chapter_07.txt
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Chapter 07
Chapter 07
“What does a 9 year old girl desire?”
The morning after Princess Seira gave me a “homework assignment”, I paced in frustration along the corridors of the palace.
-- If you can guess what I desire, I will not tell anyone else that Glinda is an imposter.
Thus the Princess had demanded, but nothing came to my mind.
For a normal girl, jewel accessories and clothes would probably be sufficient, but the Princess most likely did not lack in either of those things.
Besides, she looked nothing like a normal 9 year old girl.
I thought back to the amethyst eyes that seemed to perceive through me and her cold expression. Shouldn’t 9 year old girls be more innocent?
If I could not guess what she ‘desired’, she might even coldly say.
“Then, I could only announce to everyone that you are actually a cross-dressing pervert.”
Uwwwaaaah! If she did that, I would be captured as an enemy of the state and be dragged off to be executed.
While I was worried about such, His Highness Prince Ryuuju walked towards me.
“G-Glinda!”
“Has your foot recuperated?”
I forced a smile in a hurry, and His Highness blushed profusely when he looked at me.
“Y-y-yeeessssss!”
“You must have obediently listened to the advice of the doctors to rest well?”
“I-I did not rest because you told me to! Since I am the Prince, I have the duty to recover quickly so as not to make everyone worry!”
“That’s right. You have grown mature.”
“!”
Prince Ryuuju widened his eyes.
Then he shyly shifted his line of sight, saying.
“T-that… Do you know what day next Monday is?”
“Next Monday? Hoho, that has to be Lana’s Day, right?”
On my reply, the Prince’s face turned a deeper shade of red.
“Right, that’s the day dedicated to the goddess of love Lana. I-I heard that in the Winstoria Empire, couples would compose and play music dedicated to each other, but in the Eren Kingdom, males would propose to females they like by giving them precious stones.”
“Oh? Is that so? The custom of exchanging gifts seems to be different in each country. How interesting.”
“Tha…. That’s right.”
His Highness’ eyesight kept darting around.
“Oh, right. Speaking of gifts...”
“What!”
“It’s nothing, really. I just wanted to ask, do you happen to know what Her Highness Princess Seira desire?”
Prince Ryuuju had an obviously displeased expression on his face, tightening his lips and stiffening his cheeks.
“Why would you want to know what Seira wants?”
He asked unhappily.
“Huh?... That’s because, I have been indebted to her often these few days, so I wanted to give her something as thanks.”
“When has Seria taken care of you?”
He puffed up his checks and became more suspicious.
“That… For example, during the race…”
His Highness’ face turned red again. Why did this boy blush so easily?
Ah well, I could understand his issues; the proud Prince being piggy-backed by a ‘woman’.
“I-i-i-i-i-is that so? The race, huh… I did cause you much embarrassment that day …”
“Please don’t mind that, and forget about it already!”
I said in a hurry. If we kept up this topic, even I would feel embarrassed.
“Those things aside, about what Princess Seira desires…”
“Uh… She seemed to enjoy reading ancient books about legends of heroes.”
“Legends of Heroes?”
How quaint. She did not look like the type who would love such romantic fictions.
I continued to ask:
“From the point of an elder brother, what would Your Highness think about Princess Seira as a person?”
“You sure are mindful of Seira. I have no idea when the two of you got so close.”
He glared at me again.
“No! That’s the complete opposite in fact! Because when compared with Princesses Sarasa and Orie, Princess Seira almost never talks with me at all, so I am just looking for an opportunity to…”
I struggled to find an excuse.
“Is that so. Wow, you sure take your job seriously. From my point of view, Seira is a commendable little sister. She is both intelligent and calm, but more importantly possesses the character members of royalty should have. I really wish that Sarasa and Orie would take a page off Seira.”
Any ordinary folk that had a younger sister as outstanding as Seira would probably have felt inferior and ashamed, but not His Highness Prince Ryuuju, who cheerfully discussed his little sister’s good points. That was his strength, with his upright, simple and strong-willed character.
I smiled appreciatively.
“What? What’s so funny? D-don’t misunderstand! I just came here to make some small-talk, not because I have any interest in you! My nose only bled too because you ran too fast, making my blood pressure raise… and absolutely not because of your b-b-b-b-b-b-breaaasss…”
I also turned red in embarrassment.
“Sorry, sorry, please don’t bring that up…”
“S-sorry! I just carelessly…”
Prince Ryuuju covered his nostrils and backed away.
“Anyway! I have absolutely no interest in you. I have no interest in Lana’s day either!”
He ran off after saying such.
Why mention Lana’s day then?
I confusedly watched his retreating footsteps.
The twins Princesses Sarasa and Ories were also excitedly discussing Lana’s day.
“I heard that couples who swear to spend their lives together on Lana’s day would be happily married forever!”
“How many couples would be born in the capital again this year?”
The two of them were discussing topics too mature for their ages.
“Justin of the Finance department seemed to be secretly in love with lady officer Selina, and Selina doesn’t seem to mind it much either.”
“Claude of the Domestic Affairs is deeply in love with widow Cathia, but he probably has got many rivals, right?”
“Aren’t Count Badis, Sir Erin, and Secretary Julian all in love with Cathia?”
“The love affair between Milther the stable-hand and Rita the maid is also frustrating~~”
“I know right! Milther is so shy that he definitely can’t pluck up the courage to confess to Rita. Bystanders at the side are fuming with impatience already!”
“Lana’s Day’s obviously a good day to confess.”
The girls seemed to enjoy gossiping about other people’s romantic escapades… though a man like me just found that to be busybody.
“That… About what Princess Seira would like…”
I jumped in at the gap in the conversation, carefully asking.
“I want an accessory with a ruby in it! Its edge must also be decorated with pink stones like the patterns of flowers!”
Princess Sarasa happily said like a spoiled girl to her boyfriend.
“I want an emerald hair accessary! The stone has to be as big as pigeon egg too!”
Princess Orie’s eyes also shined with desire.
“I was not asking about the two of you, but about Princess Seria…”
“Huh~~~~Big Sis Seira has everything already. She’s so intelligent, has already read every single ancient book in the library, and she also looks as beautiful as Lord Father.”
“That’s right~ I really want to have silver hair like Big Sister Seira’s! Blond is everywhere in Eren.”
“I will dye my hair silver when I grow up!”
“Me too! And purple amethyst eyes are also lovely.”
“Yeah, if only hair and eye colours can be freely chosen.”
“Is it not said that the tribe living in the Meredith forest holds a mysterious power? Maybe they can even change the colour of their eyes.”
“Why not just ask Glinda here to invent a drug that can change the colour of eyes, the bridge of the nose and the shape of the chin! After all, Glinda is a genius!”
“That’s good idea! Please, Glinda! This kind of drug would fetch millions!”
As usual, the topic of conversation flew off in a distance.
For Anneth who had become used to visiting me at my room after work, interest in Lana’s day took on another direction.
“Wow! What should I do? Satchel and Luke may move on to the third, or even the fourth base upon confessing to each other on Lana’s day! Lyon and Alec, those two old couple, must definitely be having a sweet romantic evening, whispering sweet nothings such as ‘My emerald eyes are the precious stones for your Lana’s day gifts’, so exciting~ Right, right, Glinda, would Lord Helmut come back to Eren on Lana’s Day? What precious stone would Lord Helmut give to His Majesty? Or would he say, ‘No precious stone can compare to the bright glitter you give off’, kyaaaa! So romatic!~”
“Uhh, I heard that in Eren, males give precious stones ‘to females’ as gifts to propose on Lana’s Day.”
“Love is beyond gender! Just the mere act of declaring love to someone you like is the noblest form of action!”
Her speech of such unyielding determination managed to convince me as well, how scary.
“Besides, even if it’s not to propose, you can also give gifts to thank other women that had been nice to you before. Since Eren Kingdom is a source of precious stones, you can easily find plenty of raw unprocessed minerals in the hills or along river beds. You can just bring those to the craftsman, and might even be able to haggle for a good price to process the stones.”
“Oh, that’s great.”
“Girls exchanging gifts among each other are common enough, so men should be able to gift other men too! No, it should be made a law!”
It felt cute for girls to exchange gifts with each other, but somewhat disgusting for men to do the same, not to mention the gifts in question were precious stones.
“Ahaha… Anneth, when you were 9 years old, what did you wished for?”
I tried asking, and she beamed back with me as she replied.
“Western dolls! The Ulysses 1st generation boyfriend dolls and 2nd generation boyfriend Eugene from Flora girl dolls series – elegant prince and wild wilful knight pairing is really too lovely!”
She was already like this since 9 years old?!?
I tried to imagine Anneth with her angelic and adorable appearance when she was young, and dared not pursue the subject.
Until now, I still had no clue about what Princess Seira ‘most desired’.
No, that must definitely be because I had been asking the wrong people.
The afternoon on the next day, I came to Her Majesty’s room.
To learn about the child, It was best to ask the mother.
“Ara, welcome, Teacher Glinda.”
The Queen welcomed me with a cheerful smile in her maid uniform.
“The blueberry pie is almost ready.”
Her Majesty personally cut the blueberry pie, and served me with hot tea.
Was it really fine to let the Queen of a country do such things? I worried over that every single time, but Her Majesty seemed to be the happiest and most satisfied while doing such housework.
Ohhhh, if only someone like Her would be my girlfriend.
Her stature was both slim and petite, looking no older than myself, but was in fact the mother of six children. How against the rules!
I found myself fantasizing about unrelated things again, and stopped immediately.
No, now was no time to be idling, but to find out more about Princess Seira!
I pretended to talk about the lessons, and steered the topic gently towards Princess Seira, saying something like “even though Her Highness is just 9, she’s so capable!”
But Her Majesty’s expression suddenly fell.
“That’s right. That child learned how to walk and talk earlier than anyone else… and even stopped needing me to nurse her after a few years. I truly wish that she would rely on me and let me spoil her more.”
The Queen seemed quite worried over the overly-serious, overly-capable Princess Seira.
“That child’s interests are very broad, having extremely high standards in clothing, food, and even home appliances. She is so similar to His Majesty in this regard, even when it comes to playing the violin…”
Violin?
I remembered the notes I listened to in the palace courtyard; a crystal clear sound that felt nothing like it came from the hands of a child.
“His Majesty used to play the violin like this in the past too, but He didn’t feel very happy back then either. The feeling when He played back then felt so lonely.”
Her Majesty lowered Her eyes.
“When Seira played the violin she seems so lonely too. Even when she is wearing clothes that she liked, owning everything around her, I still feel that, that child does not seem to have anything she really wanted.”
My heart tightened when I listened to this.
To have such a gentle Mother, was it not enough to be happy about?
“I worry much about Seira… wondering if she had seen through things <too much, too clearly>.”
--You <can’t see it>.
I could almost hear that cold voice, and jumped a little in fright.
In the eyes of Princess Seira, what kind of landscape existed? What could she perceive?
Princess Suzuna who had been sleeping in a nearby crib suddenly woke up, crying for her Mother.
Her Majesty quickly cradled her, looking intently at the baby.
“What is wrong? Mama’s here.”
Princess Suzuna heard her Queen Mother’s kiddie-talk voice, and smiled happily.
A warm smile also rose on Her Majesty’s face.
It was a scene that felt sweeter than honey poured upon a pound cake.
But soon, a shadow fell on the Queen’s face again.
“I really wish that children would remain this small, and keep letting me hold them in my hands like this. This is really a mother’s selfish desire.”
She murmured.
I did not wish to see Her Majesty looking like this, so I carelessly said.
“Erm, by my abilities alone, I may not be sufficient to teach Her Highness Princess Seira, but I still want to be a teacher that can comprehend her, and open the door to her heart. I would definitely try my best!”
Ohoh, to actually lay down a promise like that when I was just imitating the real Glinda, and was even called <useless> by Princess Seira!
But Her Majesty was so touched that tears filled Her eyes.
“To care this much for Seira, Teacher Glinda is a really caring person.”
“Haha… Hahahahaha… Just leave this matter regarding Her Highness to me.”
Noooooooo, I was digging my grave even deeper.
But, I definitely could not bring myself to say that “if I could not figure out what your Princess desires, I might become an international criminal.”
As I felt cold sweat beginning to form, a calm voice sounded behind me.
“How reliable.”
King Cecello appeared with an elegant smile.
“Your Majesty.”
Seeing Her Majesty’s joyful expression, I silently clicked my tongue in discontent.
The King returned the Queen a sweet smile, then looked towards me.
Remembering the manner he forced himself on me just yesterday, my body froze involuntarily. Uwuwuwuwu… Don’t be scared. Don’t be scared… uu…
His Majesty seemed to have seen through my fear, and said as if nothing happened.
“Ms Glinda, I heard you have been trying to find out more about Seira.”
Wha? He already knew?
King Cecello meaningfully half-closed his eyes.
“Since you want to know what Seira desires, let me give you a hint. Seira is very similar to me, and that is why she hates me so much.”
“Your Majesty is truly! I’ve said so many times! There’s no such thing!”
Her Majesty puffed her cheeks in protest.
“Is that so? Being hated so by my own daughter makes me feel so lonely. Won’t you comfort me? Yuki-chan?”
“Your Majesty is so spoiled all the time. But does Your Majesty really know what Seira desires? If You really know that just say it, please stop playing around!”
“There would be no fun if I were to just say it.”
“Really!”
The Queen’s puffy cheeks became even puffier.
King Cecello seemed to enjoy looking at Her Majesty’s expression, even pinching her checks, in what felt like an atmosphere of pink bubbles and feathers right out of some romantic comedy.
Uwuwuwu… I was still recovering from my heartache from my last breakup…
“I, I would humbly take my leave!”
I left the Queen’s room with my face completely flushed.
“He totally did that on purpose, that sadistic pretty-boy King!”
This kind of man should just be paired with Helmut in Anneth’s Helmu-Llo! I griped unhappily as I walked along the corridor.
King Cecello leisurely gave me a hint, but I could not understand half of it. So what if Princess Seira was very similar to Him?
Uwu~~~ That arrogant and elegant smile was so maddening~~~~
The thing that maddened me even more was the fact that His Majesty knew what Princess Seira desired.
“If that’s the case, I would definitely find out ‘what Princess Seira wants the most’, then go boast to both Princess Seira and King Cecello that ‘Humph! That’s easy!’”
Even though my motives were somewhat as such, I plucked myself up like that.
Alright, then I would no longer be holding back!
“Oh, today we would have a composition writing assignment. The topic is ‘My dream’.”
The next day, I announced this with a full smile on my face.
Even though this method was a little low, but it was certainly the most practical way.
Princess Sasara and Orie began to groan ‘what a pain’ again, but I did not let that bother me.
Princess Seira lifted her eyes to look at my icily. Then immediately lowered them and began to write.
Good, that way I would be able to know what the Princess “desired the most”.
Thirty minutes later, I called the children out to read out their writings.
First was His Highness Prince Ryuuju.
“My dream is to become a great King!”
He then elaborated in a disturbingly passionate voice about what the ideal King should be.
Next was Princess Sarasa.
“My dream is to date all the handsome men in the world, not to get married too early, maybe at around twenty two years old. Before that, I should at least have dated with at least fifty men, and from there marry the richest, handsomest, top ten intelligent, and most obedient one to my wishes.”
She read out her piece which almost made the blood-vessels on Prince Ryuuju’s head went pop.
Princess Orie was next.
“My dream was to get married together with Sarasa. Save trouble thinking that way.”
She completed (?) her speech very simply.
Prince Shin was quiet from the beginning to the end.
“…”
I eyed his assignment paper, and saw a hippopotamus drawn on it.
“… Your dream is to become a hippo?”
Prince Shin gave a troubled nod.
Muah, forget it, when I was 5, even my dream was to be scarecrow’s face.
For the record, Scarecrow’s Face was the legendary hero of the common-folk… No, now was not the time to be chatting about mundane stuff.
It was almost time for the game to begin.
“Then, the last one is Princess Seira. Please begin.”
“… Yes.”
I quietly sat down to listen as the expressionless Princess Seira monotonously read her composition writing.
“… My dream is to see <the End of the World>.”
These completely unexpected words gave me a shock.
E-e-end of the World? What was the meaning of that? … Did she want to see the world destroyed?
“I want to meet Ophelit there.”
Ophelit… Ohoh, right, she did read books written in ancient languages and Ophelit’s mathematics theorems.
The First Genius, Omnipotent Human, Man who Composed the World - - the man who was given such titles known as Ophelit was a man of the legends from two thousand years ago. Gender, age or even anything involved about him were all mysteries. Mathematician, prophet, wizard, sage, philosopher and even musician, he conquered the world by playing <the all-conquering noblest melody> on his silver flute.
But Ophelit disappeared from the world soon after, leaving just the words “I am going to the World’s End”.
It was said the Ophelit still lived today at “The Ends of the World”.
For Princess Seira to say that she wanted to see “The Ends of the World”, did she mean that she wanted to go where Ophelit had gone to? So it was not to destroy the world.
Oh! But, the meaning of wanting to find Ophelit, was it to learn from Him?
Or was it to become someone like Ophelit?
“Ophelit was someone who had conquered the world. Is that possible in this age?”
Conquer the world?
This speech caused me to jump out of my skin again.
Hahahahaha… Conquer the world… That’s impossible, how could a 9 year old little girl had such desires…
“If I conquered the world, maybe I could become Ophelit.”
Wha! She really wanted to conquer the world?
Cold sweat ran profusely, heartbeats jumped irregularly.
I had just been thinking that it was impossible when she announced that that was her intention. How scary.
Right. Glinda was also known as the 2nd Ophelit. Princess Seira “being so aware of Glinda”, was that also because of this?
A-and, King Cecello, despite his obvious ‘Citizenship in the Kingdom of Wife-lovers’ before the Queen, was in fact a dangerous usurper who overthrew the previous king who was His brother of a different mother. Since King Cecello said that Princess Seira was ‘very similar to Him’, that could mean that she was also capable of such actions, ambitions and cold calculations…
Princess Seira completed her reading.
“Elder Sister Seira really lives in a different dimension from us, or should we call it strange?”
“If it’s just me, I’d rather go visit the handsome king of fairyland, wearing lovely clothes decorated with a pile of precious stones, eating the best food and having a party every night!”
“You two are too focused on pleasure! Learn more from Seira!”
The emotionless Princess Seira was wordless to the comments of her elder brother and younger sisters.
I ended the lesson with my face twitching in shock.
For <the thing she desired> to actually be to conquer the world, so scary~~~~~
“Oh~~~ The answer to Princess Seira’s question, is it really <the World>?”
In the afternoon, I kept pacing about in my room while alone.
-- Your desire is to be the King of the World!
It was so ludicrous that I was rendered speechless.
For a 9 year old child to have such a frightening ambition, I could no longer have any confidence in teaching her any more.
If the one who said such words was Prince Ryuuju or even the twin princesses, I might still laugh it away with “what a childish desire”, but coming from Princess Seira, it felt so exceptionally serious and realistic that I could not laugh.
Oh! Ophelit conquered the world with <the all-conquering noblest melody>, right? That must be why Princess Seira was in the courtyard practicing violin in order to rehearse this <noble music>?
Or perhaps she was researching on the magic of <sound> like Ophelit… Waaaah! She might really desire to conquer the world!~~~
I could vividly imagine the picture of Princess Seria playing her violin in a black cape, while the masses knelt in submission before her. Just as goose bumps began to rise from my skin from the fear, Helmut showed up.
“Sher-chan, congratulations on winning the top prize in Eren’s marathon race! I knew you could do it. Oh, have you received my congratulatory card yet?”
Not knowing my mood, he cheerfully said.
“Highest salutations to the little red peas… Is that supposed to be congratulations? Isn’t that just humiliation?”
I tiredly said, but Helmut just continued with a look of triumph.
“How could that be? Aren’t little red peas great? Glinda, the little red peas! Pffft… heheh… I can’t imagine how she would look like when she hears about… So amusing… hehe. I even collected all the newspaper clippings.”
Helmut unfolded his collection of newspaper clippings that he brought over just to show me.
“Genius Glinda are little red peas that need to put on 5 pairs of breast pads!”, “Ms Glinda exposed at the finishing line!”, “Ms Glinda has fake boobs!”, “Genius Ms Glinda currently researching on anti-slip breast pads!” etc. Such headlines filled the collection.
How could he just laugh this happily while reading such things!
Even if he did not say it, Helmut must have been really frustrated by Glinda’s disappearance deep within.
“Oh? Your eyes look so empty. Seeing your crossed legs sitting on the bed, holding your head, and even your skin has become a little dry. Can it be that something else has occurred? This won’t do, Sher-chan~”
“Stop sighing like a parent who got called to the school! And the dry skin’s because of the make-up!”
I shouted on the bed, but still discussed with him the issue with Princess Seira.
“Actually, Princess Seira has discovered that Glinda is an imposter by a male.”
“What! To be uncovered by the most problematic person… muah, but it seems like there isn’t any ruckus raised.”
“That’s because Princess Seira currently still allows this situation to continue, but I have no idea what will happen in the future.”
Learning of Princess Seira’s demands, Helmut tilted his head in deep thought.
“What Princess Seira ‘desires’?”
“I am wondering, can it possibly be, c-conquering the world…”
I said seriously, but Helmut replied with a smile on his face.
“What a glorious ambition.”
“Hey! Are you taking me for a fool? Princess Seira actually admires Ophelit greatly, writing even in her composition writing that her dream is to be like Ophelit.”
“Ophelit is a person of the legends, there’s no proof such a person even existed.”
“I-I know that, but the Princess even practiced her violin for the sake of learning Ophelit’s sound magic… Why are you smiling wryly like this?!? And stop feeling my forehead!”
Even I myself was beginning to wonder whether I had gone crazy, uwuwu…
Helmut showed his smile of fake kindness, and began to comfort me who had begun to sulk.
“Oh well, it’s not like I cannot understand why you come to such ridiculous conclusions, since that Princess is in fact pretty extraordinary.”
“Extraordinary?”
“She is a genius like your sister.”
As if it was completely natural, Helmut continued without minding.
My heart skipped a beat.
… Similar to Glinda?
A short sentence, but it hurled out feelings deep within me.
Oh, so that was the reason.
Why had I not noticed it sooner? Princess Seira’s eyes were as expressionless as Glinda’s.
Even if their manners of speaking were different, nobody could figure out what either of them was thinking.
Helmut continued seriously.
“As a diplomat to Eren Kingdom forming close relationship with Eren’s royal family, I have always thought that it was a very fortunate thing for both of our countries that the heir-to-the-throne was Prince Ryuuju and not Princess Seira.”
I felt unhappy upon hearing such.
“You are saying the His Highness Prince Ryuuju is not as intelligent, so easier to manipulate if he becomes the king? Even though he is still a child, he is very stubborn, inflexible and sometimes takes things over-seriously, but he also has many strengths, is very hardworking and is an extremely serious student who takes notes in class.”
As someone who also had a girl-genius as his sister, I could not help but spoke up for Prince Ryuuju.
“Few princes would take political affairs and governing in the future as seriously as him!”
Helmut gently smiled with slightly narrowed eyes, saying.
“Please don’t misunderstand. I recognize too the strengths of Prince Ryuuju. His Highness is very charismatic with his upright nature and would be able to win the hearts of many with his outright honesty. This is a rare quality amongst royalty. Besides, he has many excellent people around him to be his support, so he would definitely become a good king when he grows up.”
My heart grew warm as I listened to that.
As Helmut described, even though Prince Ryuuju was still somewhat awkward and immature, everyone in the capital loved him. That was because he was so hardworking and noticeable, and so adorable that people just wanted to help him out.
Prince Ryuuju might not have his father’s divine-like status, but he would definitely become a king who would be more loved by the people than his king father.
It was certainly a good thing too for the people of this country.
“Then… What if Princess Seira were to become the king?”
“I believe that a country that is ruled by a genius would not possibly be happy because the genius himself is not a happy existence. The people would never be able to understand their king, nor would the king be able to understand his people. If I were to live with someone I could never understand, I too may feel uncomfortable.”
My chest suddenly felt really heavy.
Glinda’s and Princess Seira’s eyes appeared in mind.
Blue eyes that were replicas of my own, as well as purple amethyst eyes.
Both persons’ eyes were frostily calm, and equally unfathomable.
The two girls who were far beyond my comprehension.
Obviously having everything, but wanted nothing at all…
Such a lonely feeling.
“Luckily I am no genius.”
Helmut said with mixed feelings.
“Fortunately I was just intelligent enough to graduate from the Imperial College with excellent grades, just a little suave, my family background somewhat passable, and the second outstanding one amongst my classmates. Being such an ordinary person feels great.”
“Get out of here and go find Glinda for me now!”
I screamed while pointing to the door.
“Really, and for me to take time out of my busy schedule to come see you, you are so fierce towards me every single time. Looks like I have to bring you some books on etiquette the next time I come here.”
Helmut did not forget his parting shot even as he left.
But I remained stumbled after he left.
Just what did Princess Seira desire?
What did that genius princess who worshipped Ophelit, and was very aware of Glinda who was known as the <2nd Ophelit> want?
Even after discovering the fact that Glinda and Princess Seira were both similar, I could not understand it.
To me, the person who was the hardest to understand in the whole wide world was Glinda.
I wanted to cool down my feverish head, and so decided to take a stroll around the courtyard.
I could feel the evening breeze on my face as I slowly walked.
Just as Glinda was a genius from the moment she was born, Princess Seira had been the eldest princess of this kingdom since her birth, possessing not just wealth and power, but also beauty, ability and love.
And yet, why was it that both Princess Seira and Glinda seemed so completely unconcerned about all of that?
I was feeling a heavy heart, when I heard those lonely notes in the air again.
Was the princess playing her violin again?
I closed in towards the direction of the music.
A sad and calm melody that was obviously being played by Princess Seira.
She placed the brown wooden violin against her cheek, and silently pulled the bow across the strings with her eyes closed. Those silver strands of hair flowed gently in the wind.
Seeing her as such, I could almost see, for an instant, Glinda overlapping with her appearance, and began to have trouble breathing.
Their appearances were nothing alike, but both of them had the same untouchable air, like they were warning others not to disrupt, and also the same ice cold chiselled features… causing my emotions to be completely fried.
Tear-inducing sad music flowed above the swaying tops of the forest dyed red in sunset.
Disgusting, why did I hurt so much inside? My throat felt bitter, tears threatening to pour out… Had she somehow mix some psychological disrupting magic into her music?
-- I worry much about Seira… wondering if she had seen through things <too much, too clearly>.
The Queen said so because She was worried about Her daughter being nothing like an ordinary girl.
Those pair of amethyst eyes that seemed as pure and transparent as purple crystals, just what did they see?
Conquer the world?
Become someone like Ophelit?
But Ophelit had <abandoned the world he conquered>.
Just like Glinda, he disappeared without a trace, leaving just a single sentence.
Why did Glinda disappear?
Why abandon everything?
She had never told me anything before.
Even though the one who was pulling at the violin was Princess Seira, I could only overlap Glinda’s frame on her body, and felt the immense pressure of sadness and frustration on my aching heart.
It was as if a great wall had been constructed around them, impenetrable, unapproachable.
The music suddenly stopped, and Princess Seira slowly turned to look at the me behind those transparent walls with an icy expression.
I…
-- Was your wish to abandon everything?
These words seemed to come out automatically, but a portion within me hurt so much that I could not utter a sound.
Princess Seira slightly widened her eyes, maybe because she noticed my tears. I was so embarrassed that my face burnt, and I turned and fled.
Really, what was I doing!
I felt as if I was an abandoned puppy, and hid crying for a long while within my room.
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LNWNCentral_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata_Dress na Boku ga Yangotonaki Katagata - Volume 01_Dress-na-Boku-ga-Yangotonaki-Katagata-Volume-01-[GirlyBoysAlliance][Proxus]
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Chapter_08.txt
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Chapter 08
Chapter 08
Even when mom and dad were still alive at the Orlando Kingdom, Glinda had stopped playing with the other kids.
“—Because they steal web content from me.”
Glinda just coldly replied, continuing to design her website that I could hardly understand anything of.
“Because they stole.”
Hearing this, I felt as if I had been abandoned by Glinda just like the other kids, and felt so pathetic.
“Am I also a thief?”
When I asked while trembling, Glinda coldly looked at me, and said.
“Yes, a thief. But you are my subscriber, so if you would visit my website, I would give you exclusive content I promised.”
Even when mom and dad were still alive at the Orlando Kingdom, Glinda had stopped playing with the other kids.
“—Because they are <different> from me.”
Glinda just coldly replied, continuing to read a thick old tome that I could hardly make heads or tails out of.
“Because different.”
Hearing this, I felt as if I had been abandoned by Glinda just like the other kids, and felt so pathetic.
“Am I also <different>?”
When I asked while trembling, Glinda coldly looked at me, and said.
“Yes, different. But you are my little brother, so if you would obediently listen to me, I would play with you.”
I was as delighted as a little puppy wagging his tail with all my might, nodding: “En!”
“Sigh….. Ahhhhhh! Now is no time to reminiscence about sad memories of childhood!”
I sat on my bed in my western dress, gripping my head and sighing.
Since the day I bumped into Princess Seira and shed tears, three days had gone by.
Due to shame and embarrassment, I could never look her completely in the face during every lesson.
Helmut who returned home the day before calmly said.
“She hasn’t threatened you; saying that she would reveal your identity immediately if you cannot find the answer, neither has she set a time limit for discovering the solution, right? If that’s the case, you can just take your time to patiently figure a way out.”
Princess Seira never did set a deadline, and since she had helped me keep my secret to this day, she might just continue to keep mum about it.
But, I had already promised the Queen :”Just leave Princess Seira’s issues to me.”; And more importantly, Princess Seira seemed to be waiting for her answer, silently applying pressure on me with her icy quiet stare at all times, and scaring me almost into spilling my guts.
“Uwuwu… If the real Glinda were to come to Eren, maybe she would have been very compatible with Princess Seira…”
No, maybe they would have begun their plot to conquer the world together already, so scary.
My mind was filled with illusions of horror, and I was so upset that I could not sit still, running out of my room.
Oh, but if I were to go out to the courtyards, I might bump into the princess again; as for Anneth, she had just said “I need to deliver something to the publishers.”, and went back home, yet to return.
So lonely.
Cold breeze swirled within my skirt.
As I slowly walked with head overcast…
“Hey! Glinda! How dare you just ignore me! Outrageous!”
A furious-looking Sir Jerome appeared in a huff.
“Huh? When have I ever ignored you?”
For someone with such flamboyant dress-sense, pompous and exaggerated attitude, how could I possibly ignore him?
But Jerome just became angrier.
“Huh? Stop playing the fool! Last night when I called at you at the new diner at the Silver Lamb Street, you just coldly stared at me! Even if there was a woman at my sides, b-but don’t you misunderstand! That was just a normal girlfriend… no, she’s my cousin… no, my elder sister!”
“I did not leave the palace at all yesterday, did you mistook someone else for me…”
“I did not mistake anyone else! The face that looked at me is truly yours!”
Jerome pointed at my face and shouted, then his own face began to redden.
“That, maybe because of the moonlight, you looked more enchanting than normal… I have never thought you lovely before, but for some reasons, the same face in the city felt completely different, so, so I was stunned for a moment, thinking that you looked beautiful…”
I was shocked breathless.
A girl with the same face as mine, but more beautiful, there could only be one in this entire world!
Could it be that Jerome had bumped into…
At this point, Jerome’s uncle, the Chief Minister who saw me as a pain in his sides, strode over in large steps.
“I heard that you have been trying to unearth information about our country, and about our king. You must be a spy from Winstoria Empire!”
“When did that happen?”
“Stop acting as though you know nothing about it! I received reports that, this morning you were at the marketplace, not spending even a single cent and just with sophistry alone, made off with half a dozen eggs, two oranges, a string of sausages, hard bread, squid and roast scallops!”
“I must take my leave!”
I turned and ran when I heard.
“Wait! You trying to escape?!?”
“Glinda! The woman last night is truly only my sister~~~~”
I ignored the shouts that came from behind me.
This morning I had breakfast with the royal family, and then had lessons as normal.
So, there could be no way I could have appeared in the market.
There could be absolutely no doubts about it! Glinda had come to this country! And was very nearby!
I ran back into my room, threw on some craftsman’s apparel that I had prepared just in case, tugged my hair under my cap, and put on those pair of spectacles that I had not worn since I got kidnapped by Helmut. These were glasses that I bought on purpose to hide my face which looked exactly similar to Glinda.
It was no simple feat to enter the castle, with its thick high walls, water-filled moat and guards.
But it was a simple thing to leave it.
I pretended to be a lowly craftsman’s apprentice, leaving the castle to buy some stuff for my master.
“Thank you for the hard work. It must had been tough at work with Lana’s Day just around the corner, huh?”
The guards chatted with me as they let me passed outside.
Once out of the palace, I picked up my legs and began to run.
Where to look for Glinda?
Let’s just begin at where the crowd would be. Glinda was so glaringly outstanding that even mere passers-by would be deeply impressed by her appearance.
I made my way from my memories of the marathon race, and immediately found a large crowd forming a ring around something.
I tiptoed to try peering in from above their heads.
A clown-themed clockwork toy was being displayed in front of a clock-maker shop. The clown with his hair stuffed on his back hammered on his drums while a dove flew out of the drum with every hit.
This was identical to the toy we had in our home back in the Winstoria Empire, which had been crafted by Glinda when she was just 6.
I pushed through the crowd to ask the shop owner.
“Who made this toy?”
The shop keeper excitedly replied.
“Yesterday, a beautiful young lady came over to our shop and crafted this object in a second. She said that there were some materials she needed, and would exchange them with this.”
“Where has she gone to?”
“She asked me the location of the nearest shoemaker, so I directed her to George’s shop nearby.”
“Thank you!”
I ran over to enquire at the shoe shop…
“Hoho, oh yes, she took a few pieces of top quality leather, and gave me many lovely designs of shoes. She asked me for some pen and paper, and just drew the designs on the spot. How terrific!”
After that, I heard that Glinda went to an antique shop.
Clockmaker, shoe shop, antique shop… Just what did Glinda want?
I followed the map that the shoe maker drew for me, rounding a street corner…
“Ah!”
“Wha! Sorry!”
I clashed heads-on with another who was also walking around the corner, and the objects in her hands fell, flying all over the place.
A large amount of paper flew about, and the two of us quickly tried to pick them all up.
“T-that, it’s alright.”
The girl I bumped into shyly said in a small voice.
“No, it’s my fault entirely for bumping into you in a hurry.”
“I am at fault too, for not being careful when rounding the corner. There’s no need to help me pick them all up.”
“How can I just leave like that?”
What were on these papers? They seemed to be filled with words… A document? Or a diary?
I had actually no intention of sneaking a peak into another’s things, but I took a glance by accident, and lost all colour on my face.
<Helmut grabbed King Cecello tightly in a kissing embrace.>
“!”
“I-it’s really alright… I can pick them all up on my own.”
I looked up to check out the other person.
Blushing from head to toe while picking up the pieces was none other than Anneth who had just went home!
That probably meant that, these papers were Anneth’s novel? That ‘thing’ about Helmut being Top and King Cecello being Bottom?
Waaaaaaaah! If they were to be blown away by the wind and seen by other people, all hell might break loose~~~
I picked up the papers all over at three times, no, five times the speed, while Anneth watched with widened eyes.
“T-that...”
At that moment, a piece of paper was picked up by the wind and flew towards the path of a passing horse-drawn carriage.
“Oh no!”
Anneth let out a cry of dismay.
I kicked against the ground, jumping forward with all my might.
“Ah! Danger!”
I heard Anneth’s screams, grabbed the flying piece of paper, and held the rest of the papers close to my chest before hitting the ground and rolling over a few times.
The horse neighed in surprise, and the huge wheels rolled over the stone pavement just beside me.
“Oh… You, are you alright? Have you gotten hurt?”
Anneth ran over and said in a frantic voice.
“Here.”
I climbed up and passed her the stack of paper with a full-faced smile.
“These things are important, right? Luckily they haven’t gotten squashed by the carriage.”
If someone were to see these by accident, she might be arrested for disrespect of both Eren Kingdom and the Winstoria Empire, and might even cause an international incident.
Anneth said with a blushing face.
“Thank you…”
She looked at me with eyes filled with adoration.
“Huh?”
And then tilted her head.
“Looking more carefully, you looked very similar to someone I know.”
I was so stunned that my heart nearly leapt out of my mouth.
G-glasses?... Oh, luckily they were intact on my face.
“Really alike, no matter how you look at it, there has to be some relationship. Have you just arrived from the Winstoria Empire?”
“Haha, I grew up here in Eren. Ho, I am still in a hurry, please excuse me.”
“Oh!”
Anneth seemed to want to say something more, but I turned and fled immediately.
Uwah! Did I manage to get away? The next time I meet with Anneth I must be careful not to expose myself!
I ran breathlessly to the antique shop.
“That lady? She had been around here until this morning. She said that she wanted to read an ancient tome in this shop, and completed it all within a single night. How terrifying.”
I heard there that Glinda had prescribed a list of herbal medication for the shop owner who suffered from chronic shoulder aches. The shop owner was very satisfied with the results of the medicine after trying it out, and was thus gratified.
Glinda had been here just until this morning?
After that, I ran to the diner that Jerome said that Glinda had ignored him in, as well as the places in the market where Glinda had bought stuff.
Everyone there remembered Glinda, and I heard that she purchased stuff by wagering with the shop owners with scissors-paper-stone, offering to pay ten times the price for loosing but taking the food for free if she won. Naturally, she won them all, and so left with a large pile of food without spending a single cent, going next to the arts museum and the library.
I was getting closer to Glinda!
As the prize in my eyes became closer, my head turned feverish and my chest felt the thumping beats of my heart.
Since I was a child, I had always had to rely on Glinda for every single thing.
Every time when I ran into trouble, I would run crying to Glinda; if there were any joyful or sad happenings, Glinda would be the first one I would report to.
Even though Glinda was so cold, she would always listen to me, giving me support.
In the end, Glinda knew every bit about me, but I knew nothing about Glinda.
Glinda would never tell me anything about what was in her heart.
That’s right, even three years ago – when we turned fourteen, it was also the same.
One day nearing Lana’s day, Glinda sat and played a gentle tune on the piano.
“—Could that possibly be Lana’s Day music? Wow! Who are you going to confess to?”
No matter how I asked and cajoled, Glinda would not reveal who that lovely music was dedicated to, nor would she tell me where she would gift this song to anybody.
It was the same this time.
<I am not Glinda Dolye any more from today onwards.>
She just disappeared after leaving these words.
How could she just do that! This is preposterous! I must definitely scold her bitterly!
I continued to run while panting profusely.
No matter how fiercely I was to scold her, Glinda would simply carelessly reply “I was just going for a trip, what’s the big deal.”
Then, I would just dump all my frustrations and bitterness I suffered from all this time on her.
Just like before…
Ohhh! I would finally meet with Glinda again! Everything would be restored!
It was just noon when I departed from the castle, but the sky had somehow turned bright red now without my realising it.
I chased after the trail of Glinda, arriving at last at the port.
Huh, why did it end at the port…
I looked at the sailboat that was anchored there with disquiet in my heart.
When I asked about Glinda from the labourer there…
“You’re asking about that lady? She had left on the ship bound for Rubinia, saying that she wanted to get to the Gilian Islands.”
I felt darkness falling before my eyes and my entire body went cold.
“How can that be! Glinda!”
It was so close that I thought I could see her! I thought that Glinda came to find me because she was actually worried for me… But in the end she just left without a word!
I shouted towards the sea.
“Glinda! Glinda! Come back!”
“The ship has been gone for over an hour. She won’t be able to hear it.”
The labourer probably thought that I had been ditched by a girl called Glinda, and so said in a consoling voice.
Glinda abandoned me.
My heart was completely empty, but my body somehow felt like it weighed a ton.
By the time I dragged my feet that felt as heavy as lead back to the palace, it was already night-time.
When I was barred by the guards at the entrance to the palace, I just nonchalantly pulled down my cab and took off my spectacles.
The soldiers, upon seeing my long hair on my shoulders, cried in surprise.
“M-Ms Glinda!”
The crossed spears before me immediately parted.
I emptily walked pass them.
That’s right, Chief Minister Gaston seemed to be suspecting me of being a spy… If he heard about this again, he might think I was out spying again… Muah, whatever.
Upon returning to my own room, I had no energy left to even change back into female clothes, but just sat cross-legged on the bed and scratched my head violently.
Would I be stuck in this place forever?
I did not wish to cross-dress any longer.
I did not want to act as Glinda’s replacement any more.
That’s because after all my efforts of waiting for her to come back, she just abandoned me.
Since Glinda came to Eren, she must have heard about the news of Ms Glinda in the palace, and definitely realise that that would be me.
But, she never visited me once, but just left behind a big pile of trails, and left Eren. Even if I were to be exposed as fake in Eren and got sent to prison for being an imposter, she would probably not have bothered either.
Something hot began to rise in my throat, and I had a splitting headache.
I don’t care about Glinda any more! I want nothing more to do with Glinda for the rest of my life!
At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
“… It’s me. May I come in?”
A flat monotonous voice came in, was it Princess Seira?
I got down from the bed and went to open the door to see those emotionless clear eyes observing me.
What did she come here for?
Princess Seira beheld my craftsman’s getup and hair in disarray, but displayed no clue of surprise and just coldly asked.
“… Where did you go to today?”
Had she already known about me leaving the palace?
That un-childlike cool expression reminded me of Glinda, causing temper to rise in me.
“Are you here to check if I have escaped? What business is it of yours wherever I go?”
I was stirred by my own words, and my emotions became more unstable.
Glinda was also like that.
Apparently knowing every single thing about me, but letting me know nothing about herself.
“… it is my business, because I have yet to hear your answer.”
This tone that felt as if questioning the results of an experiment, along with the disrespectful use of a simple ‘You’, drove heat to the very roots of my ears.
Ever since this princess had discovered that I was not Glinda, she no longer called me ‘Teacher’, but simply addressed me as ‘You’, as if calling something useless.
I became so angry that I could no longer breathe.
This girl was just like Glinda!
“The answer is <Nothing>! You have never wanted anything! To <People like you>, there is no need for anything! You guys have everything, but just wanted to abandon it all and be all alone! You are like that! So is Ophelit!”
So was Glinda!
What these people dreamed off, saw, was the <End of the World> where nothing else lived except themselves!
“Go ahead and expose me as an imposter! After all I am sick and tired of cross-dressing already!”
I shouted in anger, and completely lost control. Princess Seira slightly widened her large amethyst eyes and looked at me defencelessly.
“….”
I turned and shut the door, threw the pillow atop the bed, kicked away my shoes, upper coat and pants. Then I took out the dress, corset and pantyhose and threw them onto the bed.
“I’ve had enough! Booohooo! I’ve really had enough!”
Wearing just a pair of shorts, I cried non-stop.
When I finally realised the severity of the situation, it was already deep in the night.
After shouting loudly to the maids that “I am not eating!”, I had fallen asleep atop of the embroidered western gown.
Now, I sat cross-legged on the bed with both hands holding on my head.
“Uwwaaaaaaaah! What have I said! She is only a child of 9!”
Being abandoned my Glinda was such a severe blow to me that I had completely forgotten about that fact.
When I thought about how the tiny hand that had covered my lips was so small, so fragile and soft…
“Fool! I am such a fool! The worst kind of knave!”
I could not help but began to knock my own head.
To say such horrible things to a child of such small cheeks and soft hands, I was truly no better than a rat! Rubbish child bully! I should just go disappear into a ditch! Even if Glinda and Princess Seira were alike, they were still different people.
To be glared so fiercely at by a transvestite and then angry scolded, she must be really frightened.
If it was Glinda, she might repay me three times in kind, but Princess Seira was probably more defenceless… it m-might even leave a psychological scar…
When I thought back to my mad shouts earlier, and her fragile, lost eyes, I could almost feel knives slicing in my chest. Waaaah~~~~ I was just bullying children~~~~
As I imagined the scene of Princess Seira hiding into a corner, covering her face with both eyes and crying sadly, I was further filled with a sense of guilt.
“Go- go apologise already!”
Now! Immediately! Not one more second of delay!
I was still overwrought, and never considered whether it might be better to wait until later or tomorrow to apologise, as my mind was filled with the images of Princess Seira weeping alone.
Right, let’s go to her room, even if it’s just to peek from the door outside.
If Princess Seira had already slept, I would just leave her a message.
I placed a note saying “Really sorry for yesterday”, and placed it into an envelope, then quickly buttoned up in a lacy female night gown and combed my hair. Just in case I bumped into someone, I could at least say that I lost my way in the dark while sleepwalking.
Alright, preparations complete.
Relying on the candlelight in the halls, I shuffled forward in the corridor.
The castle at night was a little scary, but pangs of guilt overcame fear, so I could not care any more about that.
Ho, this must be Princess Seira’s bedroom.
I gripped the handle and slowly twisted it.
Luckily my current identity was female, or I might even be taken to be a night-crawling lolicon… but wait, Princess Seira knew I was male!
No, I was not here to night-crawl, but to apologise and seek forgiveness. I had absolutely no dishonourable intent towards 9 year old girls.
I profusely explained myself in my heart as I gently opened the door.
In an instant, I was taken breathless.
“!”
In the bedroom with pulled-open curtains, moonlight flooded in from the balcony outside.
The floor that had been furnished with soft carpeting was illuminated like a lake of silver, while the patterns on the glass window cast shadows like a thick forest, glittering all over with tiny sparkle.
The scene within the room was one that was directly ripped out of the fairy tales.
At the centre of this lonely world laid a pile of white object.
That was Princess Seira.
Her body was wrapped in a blanket, back towards me, motionless.
“Your Highness…”
Even though I called her, she did not reply.
I swallowed and moved into the room.
Something small stuck between my feet and the surface of the ground.
Picking it up, I found that it was a crystal bead. So the sparkling glitter I saw was this? But, why were these beads all over the place? They couldn’t have fallen from the ceiling chandelier, right?
I felt increasingly uncomfortable, and so went around to the front to steal a glance at her face, thus discovered that the girl who had been clad completely in white and wrapped in a thin blanket was, in fact, weeping in silence.
Her sad eyes were downcast, lips tightened, and tears as round as the crystal beads on the floor were rolling down her cheek.
This doll-like appearance was quieter and calmer than the scenes I had imagined, but the impact of it was a hundred times more tragic and lonely.
“S-sorry!”
I fell to the ground and lowered my head in apology.
“Truly, really sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!”
I apologise continuously.
“As an adult, how could I have said such outrageous things to you! You are not wrong, the fault is with me, all due to my own foolishness! Really, truly sorry!”
Princess Seira continued to cry non-stop.
She pouted, and tears continued to fall from her eyes.
Ohhhh! … Did this child always hide and cry alone? All this time?
And I had thoughtless hurt her. At this time, I was utterly filled with regret, apologising profusely with “Sorry”, “You can hit me”, “If you would just laugh, I would do anything”, “I would even be your slave”, “Please, I beg of you, stop crying”.
But no matter what I said, the princess did not react.
Like her heart had been snatched away, tears just ran liberally from her eyes.
Perhaps after hearing my words, Princess Seira’s spirit had flown off to another world, and I was only left with an empty shell… When I considered this, my heart shattered.
What must I do?
I had no idea that I had caused such deep wounds in her.
As I felt shocked, the blanket wrapped about her body slipped and fell to the ground.
Princess Seira remained motionless, and as I helped to pick up her blanket, I suddenly noticed an open book at her side.
A thick, large book written in ancient language.
That was the book which Princess Seira often carried around close to her chest.
The page which the book had opened to had not only words, but illustrations as well. It was the picture of the back of a sage playing a flute in a black cape blown by the wind… This was apparently a replication of the artists’ impression of Ophelit as represented in excavations of the ancient ruins.
But the thing that drew my attention was not the legendary genius, but the small blurry picture of the back of a young girl standing besides Ophelit…
The little girl stretched out her right hand towards the black figure, as if to grasp the black cape Ophelit was wearing…
Oh, I see now.
So that was it.
Many things clicked in my brain, and my heart was pierced with a tight pain… I could not help but hugged Princess Seria tightly.
That icy slim body did not struggle.
How powerless, how lonely, were you as you pined for the fulfilment of this dream.
I used the gentlest and kindest voice I could muster and told her.
“I know the <thing you desire>.”
Goddess of Love Lana’s Day.
In the afternoon of Lana’s Day.
The Queen Mother received many gifts and smiled joyfully.
The twin princesses presented her with a rose-shaped coral ring, Prince Ryuuju gave her a thimble of emerald; but the thing that surprised everyone was that even Prince Shin gave her a brooch made of clay with a piece of amber in its centre. Its shape is that of a Margaret, and its edges had been painted white. Previously I had noticed Prince Shin silently crafting it during the lessons, so this was actually the present he had in mind for Her Majesty.
“Ara, is this hand-made by Shin? It’s great! So cute! Thank you so much!”
The Queen put on the brooch on the spot, hugged Prince Shin and rubbed Her cheeks against his, causing His Highness to blush happily.
Naturally, His Majesty King Cecello had gifted the person He loved the most with jewellery, as evidenced by the silver necklace with a gemstone as blue as His Majesty’s eyes which had been sparkling around Her Majesty’s slim neck since this morning.
Every present had been a pleasant laughter-inducing surprise to Her Majesty, but the one that absolutely touched the Queen today had to be Princess Seira’s gift to Her.
That afternoon, before the gathered and sitting King Cecello, Her Majesty and all the other princes and princesses, Princess Seira dedicated her violin performance to the Queen.
It was a personal composition of Princess Seira herself which was totally unlike her usual sad and lonely note, but one that was teeming with gladness and warmth.
Before the performance began, I had informed the Queen and all present.
“In the Winstoria Empire, people compose and dedicate songs to their beloved, so today, Her Highness Princess Seira would also like to perform a song that she had composed herself to her most beloved Queen Mother.”
Her Majesty’s eyes widened greatly as She heard those words.
Princess Seira seemed somewhat nervous as she held her violin and bow, glancing uneasily at me.
Her expression only relaxed a little when I smiled and lifted the tambourine in my hand to show her, but then it tightened again as she began the performance.
As soothing and pleasing as always, but much, much warmer – such notes poured forth.
The Queen had a shocked expression on Her face, and became moved almost to tears as She listened spellbound to the sweet melody.
I was also completely affected by Princess Seira’s awesome composition, shaking my tambourine in concerto with the violin music.
The one who suggested for Princess Seira to compose music for the Queen as Lana’s Day present was naturally I.
-- I know the <thing you desire>.
When I spoke these words that night, the Princess Seira in my chest reacted for the first time.
Like a bullied little girl, she said softly in a lost and insecure little voice.
“… I do not … have anything I desire, because… I have everything… So… I can only abandon… everything… go look for the <End of the World> alone… That’s my wish… So your answer’s correct…”
The knife that wounded Princess Seria so deeply also pierced my own heart. Those words that I had used on her had been really too much, and I wanted now to beat myself into a bloody pulp.
“No, I answered wrong.”
I said in a completely decisive voice.
The thing that Princess Seira desired, was not to become Ophelit.
Why did Princess Seira only have interest in <Glinda>?
Why did she look at me so intently?
Why did she keep holding onto Ophelit’s book, and read it in front of me?
When I fell into her bathtub, she had lightly tugged on my hand…
-- Isn’t Teacher… here to see me?
Why did she look so hopefully at me then?
Princess Seira was still hoping right now.
Hoping and waiting for the unmatched genius Glinda Dolye.
“I had been completely wrong about you. You must have been really frightened, really lonely, right?”
Because she had been gifted extraordinary intelligence, she was far beyond common people.
With her all-comprehending powers of perception, she could see through the cold calculating side to His Majesty who so loved His children. When she saw those things that a 9 year old child should never be allowed to see, just how horrified and lonely would she had felt.
If I was just like my Father the King… When she considered such things, fear must had frozen her all over.
Princess Seira had loved the legends and heroes in them, because she could see that those characters were out of the ordinary just like she was.
“Your wish was for someone who can hold the hand that you reached out with. Someone who can understand your loneliness, someone like yourself… a <soulmate>… you have been waiting for someone like that.”
I released my hands and looked at her eyes.
Princess Seira continued to weep as she watched me with a fragile expression.
I wrapped my hands around her tiny hands and slowly closed around them.
“I will be your companion.”
I said with a fervour that was as warm as the insides of my throat.
Princess Seira gave a little jump.
“I am no genius, neither can I <see the right way> of everything, but I will be your companion no matter what time it is! I will listen to whatever you want to say! Help you whenever you need someone! So, just say whatever you wish to say, do anything that you want to do!”
The tiny fingers felt a little more forceful as they held onto my fingers.
The face covered in tears looked up, and Princess Seira asked timidly.
“… anything that I want to do?”
“That’s right, anything that you want to do.”
“… There’s no such thing.”
“The crystals on the floor, are those for Lana’s Day present?”
Princess Seira’s face which had been downcast all this while looked up at me in surprise, and then immediately lowered again.
“… E-every year… Everyone would… give presents to Queen Mother… But… I am different… So, no need…”
Her voice went dead half-way into the sentence, drowned out by sobs.
I visualised Princess Seira weeping as she broke apart the jewellery prepared for her Queen Mother, and was tremendously hurt myself inside.
“Sorry, it is all because my words had hurt you. Can it be repaired just in time for Lana’s Day?”
“… No, Lord Father, Elder Brother, Sarasa and Orie… and even Shin… would be giving presents to Queen Mother… So I don’t have to…”
Even though I apologised with all my might, Princess Seira continued to shake her head in grief.
It was obvious how lonely and anguished Princess Seira had felt all along.
Sigh, then what should I do?
I wrecked my brains and tried my hardest to figure out a way.
What must I do to lead this childish little Princess back from the darkness of her gift? What could I do to restore her confidence?
Maybe if I praised her in the things she was the best in…
Got it!
“Then, just give the Queen the thing that only you can give. In my country, the thing we give to our most beloved is not precious stones, but music. Aren’t you the best at playing the violin? Why not just compose a song for Her Majesty, and play it for Her?”
Princess Seira was dumbfounded when she heard that.
“I would also help. How about it?”
I asked again before she shakily nodded.
Then, the two of us composed the music until day break. Even though that was what I said, in actual fact, all I did was offer my comments after listening to Princess Seira’s hums.
After which, Her Highness began to diligently rehearse the composed song.
Princess Seira halted a few times during the practices and lowered her head in hesitation, so I decided to participate in the performance as well and told her, “Let me support you with my tambourine.”
The result was this sunny-warm music played by Princess Seira for her Queen Mother now.
I stood behind her, shaking my tambourine at her beats.
It would be alright, I’m here, your companion is here.
So, you can just do all that you need to do to convey your love to your most beloved.
My last-minute emergency practice paid-off, as the rings of my tambourine harmoniously fell in line with the dancing notes of Princess Seira’s melody.
Prince Ryuuju, the twin princesses and even Prince Shin listened in delightful rapture.
Princess Suzuna who lied on her Queen Mother’s chest opened her eyes and laughed cheerfully as if to make joyful music into the mix.
King Cecello had his arm around the shoulders of Her Majesty, and watched us with an extremely gentle expression.
The Queen’s eyes shimmered with teary light like the children, and then bloomed into a blushing smile.
See, Princess Seira’s intention had been clearly conveyed.
<I love Queen Mother very much.>
Such a pure, vital and joyful thing.
I suddenly realised as I shook the tambourine, the music of which Her Majesty had said only children could bring out completely.
Glinda and Princess Seira might both be geniuses, but they were not completely beyond human comprehension.
Throughout my seventeen years of living together with Glinda, I had in fact come to learn of many things.
When she was feeling down, she would pick on some mundane stuff around the house, such as peeling the tough fibre off long beans or dismantling a knot in a chain.
She would never look at me fully in the eye if she was feeling really hurt.
When she was happy, her nose would quiver ever so slightly.
Even if Glinda was an extremely intelligent, highly unpredictable, completely mysterious person and a troublesome elder sister, I could still figure many things about her.
Joyful melody filled the atmosphere with warmth, lifting up smiles on the faces of everyone. Even Princess Suzuna wiggled in happiness.
As the performance came to a close, King Cecello helped take the baby princess from the arms of Her Majesty.
The Queen ran towards Princess Seira and hugged her tightly.
“Thank you, Seira, this is such a beautiful gift. It is a really happy day today!”
She said in a teary voice.
Princess Seira seemed highly flustered, and tugged on Her Majesty’s clothes in a flush.
“T-Thank you for making such delicious breakfast for us every morning… I… I love Queen Mother very much.”
Her shaky and unsteady words somehow touched me greatly.
“I love Seira very much too.”
Princess Seira’s lips gradually bloomed into a glowing smile.
“Oh! We love Queen Mother very much too!”
“Yes! Love Mother the most!”
Princesses Sarasa and Orie, embraced Her Majesty with Princess Sarasa; Prince Shin seemed to be expressing his love for his Mother by silently tugging at Her skirt.
“Your Highness Prince Ryuuju, won’t you go as well?”
“…Humph. I’m already an adult. So that won’t be important, Glinda… Besides, I-I have something I’d like to give…”
“Oh c’mon, what is Your Highness talking about? You’re still a child too. So don’t be shy, just go.”
I gave Prince Ryuuju a little shove with both hands from behind.
“Wha!”
Prince Ryuuju gave a little surprised shout and got pushed running towards the huddled group, knocking into the twin princesses.
“Ara! Big Bro Ryuuju is always so frenzied!”
“That’s right! Just like a little kid!”
“What! It is not I who…”
Her Majesty the Queen watched over the children, and said happily.
“Ryuuju, Seira, Sarasa and Orie, Shin and Suzuna, I love each and every one of you.”
His Majesty who was carrying Princess Suzuna somehow appeared at my side without my notice.
“Previously, I tend to hold off giving my Lana’s Day present until at night, but today I had a premonition and decided to give it immediately in the morning. Looks like that has been a good call. After Seira’s gift, there’s no way for my gift to appear any comparable.”
King Cecello seemed to whisper conspiratorially to me in a low voice.
“Ms Glinda, you are the only one with the capability of helping Seira compose a music of this form, and perform it with this calibre.”
“It’s just a coincidence.”
“Even if that’s the case, I must still thank you as a father. Ms Glinda, I invited you here specifically for the sake of Seira, because that child has scarcely anyone who can understand her, or communicate with her as an equal. Ms Glinda Dolye has been invited to be the private tutor of Eldest Princess Seira.”
Princess Seira’s private tutor…
It was such an incomparably honoured praise in my ears.
His Majesty continued in a friendly and warm voice.
“Lady Glinda does not require the use of Ophelit’s all-conquering silver flute, but relied on the tambourine usable even by small children to open the locked heart of Seira. From this day forth, please continue to assist that child with the help of the tambourine.”
“Certainly.”
I said with bravado.
But I also wondered how things could have turned out if the one who came to Eren Kingdom was the real Glinda.
Perhaps both she and Princess Seira could establish a certain level of understanding with each other.
Since, in hindsight, I realised that back then Glinda could had just been sulking when she said “They are all different from me” as she read her tales of heroes and legends alone.
A feeling of longing continued to linger in my chest…
His Majesty then put on a somewhat funny disappointed face, saying.
“Also please advise Seira, so that she would no longer be afraid of me.”
“I believe Her Highness Princess Seira loved Your Majesty very much as well.”
That’s right, for I was in a similar situation. Even though Glinda vanished all on her own and left me with a heap of problems, I still loved this member of my family deeply from within.
King Cecello smiled lightly, and replied.
“I know.”
Then, he laid gentle eyes on the Queen being hugged tightly by her children, as well as the children who surrounded their beloved Mother.
“Isn’t my family great?”
The severe cold blue eyes of a leader seemed to have melted away that instant.
-- Seira is very similar to me.
This was the hint given me by King Cecello.
The lonely King Cecello who played his violin in solitude in an ancient castle was changed by his encounter with a foreign young lady, as the two grew to understand each other.
Therefore, change would gradually come too, for Princess Seira as well as the world around her.
For, just the King Cecello who changed the entire kingdom for the sake of his beloved, Princess Seira too, would one day encounter someone special to her that she valued above all others.
I pray too, that Glinda would remember me in the moments when she felt lonely, and then come back as though nothing had happened.
Then, I would first unleash my fury on her, before hugging her tightly, saying “Welcome home.”
Princess Seira who was quivering in embarrassment in the bosom of Her Majesty turned to look at me, her face completely red, but shone me a shy smile.
It was a child-like smile as simple as wild flowers blooming in the fields, but seeing that smile, I could almost feel as if Glinda was smiling at me, and so returned a smile of my own.
That night, while alone in my own room, I heard people knocking at my door.
“It’s me, may I enter?”
“Princess Seira? Hmm, sure, please enter.”
The door lightly opened, and the princess worriedly peeked in. Her expression had become far richer like a normal child’s.
When the two of us were alone together, she would often display such somewhat embarrassed expressions, maybe because she had no idea what to say or how to behave before me.
Princess Seira looked down on the floor and swayed side to side for a while, before putting forth both her hands to the front and bowing towards me with a blushing face.
“Thanks so much for all the help you gave me. I have never played together with my brothers and sisters before, so I am really glad; I being able to give a gift that made Queen Mother so happy, i-it’s also because of you… Truly, thank you very much.”
“All I did was to provide a little assistance. Right, I too have a gift for you.”
“?”
I opened a small box I had delivered from the craftsmen, and a silver bracelet of crystal beads had been laden within. An amethyst in the designs of a flower had also been crafted according to my request and attached on it.
I gently lifted Princess Seira’s right hand and wound the bracelet around her hand twice, making her eyes grow wide.
“This is…”
“This is my Lana’s Day present to you.”
“Eee…”
“Even though I say that, actually the crystal beads have been collected from your own room, and amethyst is not really something expensive… But, this is the evidence that I am your companion.”
The stunned Princess Seira who had been looking at the bracelet looked up in shock when she heard those words.
I looked at her with a gentle gaze, feeling that this was probably the sacred emotions felt by the knights swearing loyalty to their princesses in the legends.
-- Private tutor of Eldest Princess Seira.
That title ordained by His Majesty, sparkled like gold in my heart.
Princess Seira placed her hand which was wearing the bracelet on her chest and said
“Teacher.”
A smile floated onto her cherry coloured lips.
“Would you please call me just <Seira> from today?”
“Huh?”
“It should be alright when there is just the two of us.”
“Emm. Alright.”
She just called me <Teacher>! Ever since she had discovered that I was an imposter, she had been just using <You> to address me, but now, she was calling me <Teacher>!
Princess Seira’s mood rose as she looked happily at me whose heartbeat began to speed up.
“I still have much to learn from Teacher, so please teach me as you wish from now on as well.”
“Mmm, I too have much to learn from you as well, Seira.”
“T-That… Also…”
Princess Seira became more fidgety.
She shyly looked down at her two feet, then looked up at me, and abashedly asked.
“First, could I ask… What is the name of Teacher?”
“My name?”
“… Is it not alright?”
She asked worriedly.
“No. Then I would just tell you alone, please don’t tell anyone else though.”
I had no idea it could be so bashful to tell someone else my own name.
“My name is Sherlock Dolye, everyone just call me <Sher -chan>.”
Seira seemed as if she had obtained something of immeasurable worth, focusing all her attention on my name.
“This… is the secret between me and Teacher.”
“Mmm.”
I nodded as her face turned red again.
“T-then, I would be taking my leave.”
Princess Seira turned and left in a hurry.
Maybe realising the immaturity in that action, she calmly turned and said at the doorway.
“Goodbye.”
Bowing low…
“Teacher… Sherlock.”
She shyly gave me a little smile, and closed the door lightly with her little hand.
For a long while after, my heart hammered non-stop.
Princess Seira recognized me as <Teacher>! Not <Teacher Glinda>, but <Teacher Sherlock>! I was so delighted that I could fly into the sky!
For this little girl so much alike to Glinda, how would she turn out?
I wish I could do something for Seira that I did not manage to do for Glinda.
Right, I still had to prepare for tomorrow morning’s class.
Even though there would be no way for me to actually teach Seira about the books she could read, I could at least teach her some customs and culture of the Winstoria Empire, and about how commoners lived there.
Such things would also be useful to know for the heir-to-the-throne Prince Ryuuju.
Let’s use the twin princesses’ favourite topics as a lead-in to it then.
Extra-curriculum activities should also be interesting, and I should pay more attention to Prince Shin too.
I was completely energized, and so began to organize the desk-full of study material.
“Huh?”
I discovered a piece of paper stuck between the drawers of the desk.
When did this fall out? Maybe it was when I was setting some test papers.
Picking it up, I became so shocked that I could not hold the paper steadily.
“!”
Ba-thump, Ba-thump, my heart would not stop hammering.
In a very familiar handwriting was just a single line of words.
“I don’t have athletes’ foot, nor am I little red beans, they are lemons.”
Glinda!
My temperature rose and my brain went feverish.
Glinda had been in this room? When was that? Definitely before she boarded that boat for Rubinia, so this piece of paper had been here for a few days already. Wah! Why hadn’t I noticed it earlier!
That Glinda. If you were going to leave a note, why didn’t you just come and talk with me directly? As expected, I still could not understand Glinda’s thought process.
While I continued to be flustered by the discovery, another knock sounded at the door.
Who could that be? And why at this time!
“Coming.”
I roughly pulled open the door, and found His Highness Prince Ryuuju frowning, lips tightened and standing at the door with an unpleasant-looking face.
Why was the prince here? Was there something I could do for him? I was worrying when Prince Ryuuju’s face turned as red as a tomato.
“D-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-don’t misunderstand! I only came because I wanted to thank you for your care last time! As the future king, I must certainly know the basics of courtesy! A-a-a-a-a-a-a-and that’s to say, because of that, just take it!”
He took out a small box tied by a ribbon.
Huh? Was that a Lana’s Day gift?
I had heard from Anneth that it was common to give gifts as thanks to females that had taken care of you, but taking one look at this box wrapped with ribbon along with the blushing red expression of Prince Ryuuju, you would know it was a love-confession no matter how you looked at it…
Huh? What? You’re kidding, right? Could… could he have fallen for me?
I was struck by lightning.
Could this be his first love?
W-w-w-w-w-w-wait a second! Calm down! I-i-i-i-i-i-i-I’m maaaaaaaleee~~~~
Ahhhhh! But His Highness looked so serious, just like back when I was first in love… Uwwwaaaaahhh! If I were to discover that the target of my first love was a man, there’s no way I could take it! If things were to be exposed, emotional scars would be left on his heart! Too cruel!
I was still shocked and worried by the severity of the situation, when another voice came.
“Hey! Glinda!”
Sir Jerome from the knights company walked over with a grim face.
I’m busy right now!
My heart screamed at him, but of course he could not have heard it.
Jerome acted as if he had not seen the prince, and just kept glaring at me as he approached slowly.
Was he still angry about Glinda giving him the snub that day? Or was he going to challenge me now to some other weird competition? But I was busy right now wrecking my brain over my student’s first love affairs!
At this moment, Jerome grabbed my wrist.
Click.
My right wrist was wrapped in a golden bracelet decorated with a red ruby.
What was that?
“This is my heart! You should understand what day it is today, right!”
“Huuuuuuuuuuuh?”
This guy as well?
“Impudence! The one who should be giving Glinda her gift first should be a prince like me!”
His Highness jumped in anger below Jerome and shouted.
“Love is beyond royalty.”
“Wha….What love!”
Didn’t he hate my guts? How did this suddenly turn into a love discussion? Because Glinda had been cold towards him? Was he some masochist? Even if this was the case, there’s no way I could be happy to be confessed to by some man!
The prince trembled in anger.
Jerome stared straight at me with burning hot passion.
It was the most popular day of my entire life, but I was just drowning in cold sweat and confusion.
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LNWNCentral_Dual Sword Liberator
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Dual Sword Liberator - Volume 01 Chapter 01-02/Dual-Sword-Liberator-Volume-01-Chapter-01-02-[Unknown][Unknown]/a31cnqi4.jtf.txt
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Full Chapter
Full Chapter
Translator: Xintus, Nya~ko
Translation Checker: GG
Editor: Azu, Kuroe, Shozenn
Greed Giant Full:
The next day would be the 30th of June. Awoken at 7:30 by a loud alarm. I thought of the piece of the alarm clock that my sister had given me that I had broken. I couldn’t help but feel a bit melancholic. This was completely because my swimsuit bag had knocked the clock onto the floor, and it broke last night.
This alarm clock was given to me by my little sister on the day that I decided to go to study at the City of God Academy. I was given this gift with these wishes:
「Big brother won’t be lonely with this, even when you are alone, and you’ll be able to wake up when I’m not there.」
Every time I see this clock, I would think of my sister’s pure smile. After our mobile phones were confiscated, this alarm clock was the only thing to remind me of my family.
…I guess I’ll go to the school store to buy some glue after school. As long as it’s fixed, my heart full of homesickness would ease a bit.
After making the important decision of what to do after school, I got out of bed, changed my clothes, and left my room.
In this school, the students dined in a place called the「Restaurant Floor」. It was a two-storey building built between the boys’ and girls’ dormitories. Shops were on the first floor, and a cafeteria on the second.
After the Schol Lockdown Game had started, the cafeteria was only open at three set times each day. These slots were 「7:00 – 8:00」 , 「12:30 – 13:30」 and 「18:00 – 19:00」. We would go to the cafeteria during those time periods, and choose our favorite food to eat from a buffet-styled arrangement.
If you go over the set time periods, then you would be mercilessly kicked out of the cafeteria, and the food would be confiscated. Being able to eat was your own responsibility, so it would suck if you overslept. If you really couldn’t take it anymore, then you could only go to the store to buy some snacks for calories.
Immediately after going out of the dormitory, I squinted from the dazzling rays of sunlight. It was probably because the air was quite dry, so it didn’t feel very hot.
From exit of the staircase to the cafeteria on the second floor, more than half of the 200 seats were taken. I held a plastic meal tray. There were about fifty different dishes placed in the middle of the cafeteria. I followed my instinct and picked my favorite foods: chocolate croissants, pasta, fried chicken nuggets and roasted beef.
After filling my plate with high calorie foods, I started wondering about where I should sit. Usually I would eat with Yuki, but I couldn’t see her anywhere today. Normally at this time, she would already be at the cafeteria. Did something happen? Also , what was she chanting last night? Could it have been that she felt sick?
…Now that I think about it, I still haven’t told Kujyo about the laptop and research data that was in the underground room…
As I was reminiscing about what happened last night, I suddenly remembered. After calmly considering the situation, I thought that it was a mistake that anyone would hate. Although being scolded severely is making me scared, I should immediately rush to her and tell her about it if I saw her.
Scanning the cafeteria, I immediately spotted Kujyo’s figure. She always sat at the farthest spot, near to the wall. It seems that this had already become her habit.
Separating myself from the crowd, I walked towards Kujyo.
“Hey, Kujyo. Good Morning.”
“—What. Oh, it’s Yagumo. What can I do for you?”
Kujyo poked at the salad and looked at me with a bored expression. I felt a little suffocated. I first put my plate on the table, then sat across her.
“Actually, I came here to apologise to you.”
“…This is my first time being greeted and immediately apologised to right after. So, what are you apologizing for?”
“Um, I hope you don’t get angry after hearing it—”
“That’s impossible.”
“I haven’t even said anything, yet!?”
“It should be clear. Even if it’s something not worth getting angry at, I’ll still get angry. It would always end up like that whenever you come talk to me.”
“Our relationship is simply terrible!”
“Stop rambling and quickly get to the point. What a waste of time.”
“Isn’t that too unreasonable!?”
While holding in the unpleasant feelings from being scolded before even getting to the topic, I told her what I saw yesterday in the underground room.
“…Basically, what you’re saying is that there’s a huge bookcase in the underground room with lots of documents. And there was also a laptop on the table, right?”
Kujyo showed a scary expression, glared angrily at me.
“B-but, the laptop didn’t have a power cable, so it couldn’t be turned on at all, right?”
“Even if it’s like that, why didn’t you tell me yesterday? Maybe there’s crucial information on the sacred sword and demonic blade in there!”
“I’m really sorry. I was only thinking about the sword that we had found yesterday.”
“Hmph. Then after finding out that the sword was a fake, you should’ve thought about reporting this information to me.”
“Even if you say that, you didn’t ask me about the details of the underground room.”
“What did you say?”
“S-Sorry…”
I Involuntarily retorted. I could only only apologise non-stop now.
“…However, if Kujyo feels like it’s necessary, I could go retrieve the laptop and the data right now.”
After giving my own humble opinion, Kujyo seemed very unhappy and shook her head.
“We can’t. If we skipped class, then the third years might find out. Also if we don’t handle it right, the situation on the underground room would be exposed. If we want to retrieve the documents, the best time would be after school.”
“However, if I just use , I could make one of my selves go to class, while my other self skips class and goes to the underground room.”
“—I see, there was that method.”
Kujyo slapped her leg, she seems to have accepted this suggestion.
“Then, can I leave the matter of the underground room to you?”
“Of course.”
After getting my reliable answer, Kujyo smiled with satisfaction. It seemed like I had finally succeeded in restoring my reputation.
“Good morning you two!!”
I turned back towards the energetic voice. Yuki stood there full of happiness. Her plate was filled with vegetables.
“Can I sit here?”
She sat to my left before I could even answer. The whole atmosphere of the table seemed to liven up.
However, after Kujyo meaningfully scanned Yuki with a meaningful eye, she quickly stood up.
“I’ve finished eating. I’ll head to the classroom first. I’ll have to trouble you with the matter concerning the documents.”
Kujyo searched her bag for a flashlight while talking and threw it to me. It should be useful in the tunnel.
In the end, she still had some salad left over on her plate. Kujyo quickly left the table. There was still some of time before we had to go to class. However, she had always liked working alone, so I wasn’t extremely mindful about it.
“…It’s really rare, you eating breakfast with Elena.”
I wasn’t sure if it was just me, but I always felt that Yuki looked at me with a piercing gaze. Being stared at by such a gaze, I would still feel a bit flustered, even if I had done nothing wrong.
“No, actually, I just remembered that there were many files and documents stored inside that underground room. After I told her, she scolded me like usual. However, because I said that I would go retrieve it immediately, I seemed to have already received understanding.”
“O-oh, so it’s like that…Because of what happened last night, I thought that Ryu and Elena would definitely have a fight.”
“—Huh? Me?”
I shrugged, thinking she was joking. However, Yuki actually had a very serious expression.
“…Actually, what happened last night was actually a very big blow to me. I didn’t know that Ryu saw Elena in that way…It’s obvious the person always next to Ryu is me…”
Yuki put her head down. She muttered in a barely audible voice to me.
…Eh, what did those words she just said mean? 「What happened last night」 should be me sexually harassing Kujyo last night, right? However, this didn’t have anything to do with 「It’s obvious the person always next to Ryu is me.」
…Could Yuki be thinking that since we’re always together, if I wanted to sexually harass someone, I should be doing it to her?
—No, that would be unthinkable. That pure Yuki would definitely not be one of those people who take pleasure in being sexually harassed.
…I’ll first put aside the unclear significance of her words. Last night, Ryuji’s sexual harassment could be considered a downright accident. In order not to make the same mistakes, it would be better to clearly explain it.
“…Um, Yuki. I already explained yesterday. Ryuji’s confession to Kujyo in the science classroom was all because of the side effects of .”
“Side effect?”
“Yes. You know how my personality and Ryuji’s are completely different, right?”
“Yes. Ryuji is a little more stupid.”
“That’s right, and what’s even more annoying is that he’s a super aggressive pervert. Kujyo said it yesterday, 「Could it be that you have split personality and they become separated into their own bodies」. Actually, that’s basically what happens. After activating Ryuichi and Ryuji, who have two completely different personalities appear. Ryuichi’s personality is closer to mine. In other words, Ryuji and I have completely different ways of thinking, so I wouldn’t want to be held accountable for his stupid actions.”
“…Ok…”
“You can’t accept it?”
“Yep, I can’t accept it at all.”
“I see…”
I tried very hard to explain, but it still didn’t work…
“…Um, then just let me confirm something. Ryu, you don’t plan to keep trying to get close to Elena, right?”
“That’s right. Don’t mention in the same sentence with that idiot.”
“Oh, so it’s like this…Although I still can’t fully accept it, I do feel a bit relieved.”
Seeing Yuki relieved and putting her hand on her chest, I could not help but smile.
“You’re such a bizarre person. Why would you feel relieved?”
“Huh!?…T-that way this matter is all better!! It has nothing to do with Ryu!!”
“W-wouldn’t it be better to say this matter only pertains to me?”
“So noisy!! Actually, I regard Elena as the opposite sex. If Ryu becomes competition, then I would feel very frustrated!!”
“Hm—As I thought, Yuki really isn’t good at lying.”
“That’s not true, and I’m telling the truth!”
“So, so, rather than treating him/her as the same ‘sex’, I’ll treat him as having different ‘last name’!”
“Then I’ll treat her as someone with a different last name, instead of the opposite sex. ”
“Isn’t that how it is for everyone normally?”
“Now that you say, you’re right!…Ryuu-kun even though you can’t see the characters, I’m amazed that you could figure out I was talking about ‘gender’ vs ‘surname’.” ***
“I could guess anything you’re thinking. I’m the one who you said is always with you when you said 「It’s obviously the person who’s always next to Ryu is me」
“C-can you stop repeating other people’s embarrassing phrases!!”
Yuki blushed, and kept hitting my left shoulder.
“Really! Topics that make people embarrassed shall end here! —A-anyways, Ryu. What I wanted to tell you before was to at least eat some vegetables.”
She pointed at the very unbalanced breakfast in front of me. Yuki very stiffly changed the subject.
“I always thought that Ryu doesn’t eat enough vegetables.”
“Huh? No, no. Could it be that you check the food that I chose every time?”
I half-jokingly asked her, but she gaze was very serious.
“Of course I would look. I look at it very carefully every morning. So Ryu, you have to be constantly aware that your life is being monitored.”
“I-I always feel a little bit scared…”
“That’s right. How about I help you choose your meal next time? I’ll be your nutrient manager.”
“O-oh…”
Looking at Yuki’s plate that’s filled with vegetables, I couldn’t resist making an irritable sound.
“…If I left it to Yuki, what food would you chose for me.”
“Ah, that. First, it would be the red-bellied snake that makes people full of energy.”
“Red-bellied snake!? The buffet menu has that!?”
“There’s also live turtles.”
“There’s definitely no turtles on the menu, right!? I’m not lacking so much energy that I would need to eat this kind of thing, right!?”
“Right, it is because Ryu is a herbivore. A herbivore doesn’t eat vegetables is weird. It’s a fatal contradiction.”
“It is troubling that you described me that way.”
“So, in order to resolve this contradiction, it’s necessary to intake a sufficient amount of red-bellied snakes and live turtles. If we could stay alone in a small room after you have eaten, then that would be even better.”
“Why!? What would you do with the energetic me!?”
“Huh!? T-to…to wrestle?”
Yuki, who turned completely red, replied in shy whisper.
…That was unfortunate. I had basically no knowledge on wrestling, but do men and women really wrestle each other? Also, wrestling is quite exhausting, but do we really have to eat red-bellied snakes and live turtles?
My head was full of questions, but I just had a feeling that if we kept on talking about this topic, it would lead to a bad outcome, so I just faked a smile and moved on.
***Note: Gender and Last name are pronounced the same way and written similarly.
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After I finished eating, Yuki and I separated. I returned to my room to retrieve the sword and my bag, then I set off towards the science room at the east branch of the premises. Because normally, nobody would go to the east side at this time, I thought that I would definitely be suspected if I was caught by a third year. I couldn’t help sweating all over.
I tiptoed down the empty hallway, finally arriving safely in front of the science classroom. Fortunately, up until now, I didn’t come across anyone. I immediately activated , sending the me who was holding the flashlight into the science classroom. The Ryuji, who was outside, rushed to back to class.
I entered the password on the control panel. I then entered the hole while turning on the flashlight. After getting used to it, I found the channel breezy and surprisingly comfortable.
Finally coming to the end of the secret passageway, I then pressed the same button as I had yesterday, which activated a mechanism to make the floor disappear. I then dropped down, but made sure that my heart was ready, so that I wouldn’t drop the flashlight this time.
——But almost at the same time as the floor opened, I noticed something very strange. The ceiling lights were somehow all on. Yesterday, when we left, we had already shut them off——
“I’ve been waiting for you for a long time, Yagumo Ryu.”
The person who had gotten to the underground room before me said when I had just landed.
I instantly recognized voice, and went into battle mode.
“Kito, why are you here?”
“Heh, you seem to be very surprised. I didn’t wait here for nothing.”
Kito stood astride in the middle of the room, ignoring my question and sneered.
“If you were thinking of coming to investigate the data here, then it’s really a shame. Because this morning, the laptop and all of the information had already been confiscated.”
“What……!?”
Looking around, the bookshelf had already been swept clean, and the laptop on the desk was gone.
This was too unlucky. Just because of this tiny difference, all the stuff had been taken away.
…….No. No matter what, this timing is way too coincidental. The morning right after we cracked the code, the third years immediately followed.
“…… Could you have deliberately let us go?”
“Oh~ your head works fast. That’s exactly it.”
Seeing Kito’s indifferent smile, I instantly understood everything.
“Then, basically, Kujyo getting the information related to the sacred sword from the library were all just part of the third year’s trap.”
“You’re quite keen. You’re completely correct. However, this was originally only the librarian committee chairman’s idea. We had already noticed this laboratory before, but we couldn’t find the exact location. So, we advertised the rumor of a sacred sword and demonic blade. We then put the information into the library’s books, and waited for a kouhai that could solve the puzzle to appear.”
After having said that, Kato raised his right hand, and pointed towards the direction of the science classroom.
“You guys didn’t notice that there was a surveillance camera on the ceiling of the science room, right? It’s been disguised as something like a fire alarm. If it isn’t dismantled, it definitely won’t be found. So, we heard everything that you guys talked about here last night, loud and clear.”
“……….”
We lost badly. When I heard Kujyo had went to the library to gather information, I should have immediately have raised my alertness level.
“…… Basically, you didn’t continue chasing us last night because you wanted to let us go meet with Kujyo at the science room?”
“That’s right, it’s just as you said. … Although I want to say that, it was really just a coincidence. The glass that you hit me with all pierced my wrist. It wasn’t the right time to chase after you. Because I thought you guys would immediately go back to the dorms, I called it a day and went to the infirmary to pull out the glass.”
While recalling the pain from last night, Kito used his left hand to hold the right hand exposed by his T-shirt. It seemed like there’s no more injury now. The healthcare members probably used their abilities to cure it.
“……Uh, we troubled you on that.”
“Rest assured. I definitely won’t let you go for that.”
He glanced at me without hesitation. I should quickly change the subject.
“Since there are security cameras in the science classroom, you guys noticed that Kujyo was sneaking in there a long time ago.”
“Of course, Kujyo Elena could possibly help us decipher the code. So, we gave her freedom to do anything while monitoring from the side. Well, we just didn’t expect too much.”
“However, last night we successfully opened the entrance to the underground room.”
“We were a little bit careless. When we found of about it, you guys were already heading back. Fortunately, you guys only took away a sword, so we immediately rushed here and took away all the data.”
“………”
Once again, I greatly regretted that I didn’t bring out the documents. If I took it away yesterday, this would have preempted the third years.
“By the way, I can tell you one thing. The reason I was waiting here is because one of my companions overheard you guys’ conversation at the cafeteria. Why didn’t you find a private place to talk about something so important.”
“………Um.”
Now that I thought about it, we were careless from the beginning of our operations yesterday. Originally, we wanted to begin before the third years, but we were just playing into their hands.
…… I always make this kind of stupid mistake, and yet I talk about beating the third years……
“——Ok, spoilers end here. We should get to the main topic now.”
Kito said with an oppressive tone as he walked towards me. His height of one hundred and eighty meters paired with his body full of muscles. This kind of oppressive aura simply isn’t a joke.
“I don’t have to say more, do I. Your conduct yesterday clearly violated the rules. It must be punished.”
“Breaking the rules or whatever was just decided by the third years I bet.”
“Hmph, you have the nerve to say that when you snuck into the school at night.”
“I don’t want to be told that by the people who placed us under house arrest.”
“That’s true, but I must fulfill my duties as a disciplinary member. I also want to return the favor for what you did to my right hand last night.”
“…… Are you trying to make every effort to punish me?”
“That’s exactly right, or are you saying you want all the disciplinary members to beat you black and blue?”
“……….”
In this situation, I obviously didn’t have the guts to say 「This abuse is lynching, right?」. I should stop resisting. It would be better to give in obediently.
However, if it’s ends like this, why did we desperately try to run away.
“Looking at your expression, I’m guessing you’re not going to try and resist, right?”
“Of course not. How could I make such a suicidal act as to the disciplinary committee my enemy.”
“I see. It’s such a shame that you are so sensible.”
“Is that so?”
Does he really want to beat me up that badly.
“……Anyways, Yagumo. Before I punish you, I need to ask a favor of you. I hope you can give me the sword that you got from the underground room.”
“……Huh? The sword?”
“Yes. It’s like you guys said yesterday. That sword could be the key to finding the location of the sacred sword or demonic blade.”
“…..What if I say I don’t want to give it?”
“We obviously won’t make you give it to us for nothing. Last night you broke into the school and hindered the disciplinary committee’s duties. According to rules, you and Nanami Yuki are supposed to be punished for ten days. However, if you hand out the sword, I can cut it in half. Just five days is enough. Also, Kujyo Elena is supposed to have three days of punishment, but I can lessen her’s it by one day. Just two days are enough.”
“……….”
The exchange that I was offered gave me a headache. All the information in the underground room was taken up. The only thing we have left that contains clues to the sacred sword and demonic blade is this sword. How could I give up the sword just for the benefit of having my punishment halved.
Even though I said that, I definitely didn’t want to stay in the punishment room for ten days based on the current situation. Also, looking at the tough measures the third years have been making in the past couple of months, they could find a suitable reason such as 「retrieving equipment that have been taken out without permission」 while we were imprisoned in the punishment to obtain the sword.
——And, I also want to try to prevent getting Yuki and Kujyo thrown into the punishment room as well.
“…… Kito, how about this?”
After thinking about it, I gave him a proposal.
“After school, I’ll have a duel with you.”
“——What! A duel!?”
“That’s right. If I win, I would like you to forget our violation of the rules yesterday.”
Kito mockingly shrank his shoulders towards my proposal.
“Although I don’t know how you came up with dueling, it does seem like a good idea. ——But, it would be good to hear beforehand. What happens if you lose?”
“For twenty days, starting today, I will stay in the punishment room. Of course, I will also hand in the sword from the underground room.”
“——Oh.”
Kito’s expression changed.
“Don’t underestimate the punishment room. If you lose, then you would be stuck in a pitch dark room that doesn’t even have windows for twenty days. Towards the students who are put in there, nothing edible will be provided other than drinking water. Knowing this, can you easily say such a thing?”
“I’m not casually saying this. I said it because I have confidence that I can win.”
Even though I made this kind of bluff, I didn’t have a plan. It was because even if I was to be locked inside such a punishment room, I have confidence in using to escape the punishment room. Also, if I just made either me or Ryuji stay in the punishment room, then the discipline committee would definitely be unable to find out. If I disguise myself, I could definitely eat all the snacks that I wanted outside!
After I indifferently came up with my strategy, I continued speaking.
“I heard that people only need water to survive a month. Even if I’m under imprisonment for twenty days, I still shouldn’t die.”
“…..Hmph. I can only assume that your brain has problems.”
Holding his arm, Kito sneered with disdain. However, I couldn’t cower here.
“So, what’s it going to be? Are you going to accept these conditions?”
“Wait for a minute. This is indeed a fascinating proposal, but there is a bigger premise. Disciplinary committee members can’t turn a blind eye towards the violation of the school rules——”
“It wouldn’t be a problem if you won. Not only did you not let go of the rule breaker, but you also gave him double the punishment. Not only that, you can even get your hands on the sword. Or, are you scared of losing to me?”
“That’s obviously using provocative tactics on me.”
“Because of what happened yesterday, I guess you don’t find me very pleasing to the eye, right? The glass that pierced into your arm yesterday hurt badly, right?”
“Although it causes a lot of anger, those two things are completely different matters. I will not mix duty with our private matters.”
“………..”
Kito is actually such an exemplary person. I thought that if I put it this way, he would have definitely taken the bait.
If that was the case, then I would have to desperately gamble on this.
“Ok, I understand now. If you don’t accept this proposal, then I guess I’ll just have to destroy the sword immediately.”
After hearing what I said, Kito’s face contorted. It seemed like I hit a nerve.
“You know what I can do, right? Actually, the sword is in the classroom. So, if you refuse to fight me, I’ll have the other me, who’s in the classroom, immediately break the sword.”
“……….”
“I could use telepathic abilities with my other self. It would be better to say that my other self is completely ignoring class and keeping his eyes peeled for any new developments. Even if you want to retrieve it immediately, you definitely won’t make it in time.”
“……Are you serious?”
“Of course.”
I looked back with a provocative gaze towards Kito, who towered above me.
After a while, Kito pretendingly sighed and scratched his head.
“Ok, I get it. I’ll just accept your challenge.”
“That means you agree to have a duel with me, right?”
“How many times do you want me to say it, so annoying.”
Kito waved his hand like he was driving away flies.
“Oh, that’s right, Yagumo. You look like you haven’t dueled before. Did you know there are a few rules in the school lockdown game. The student council president should have already explained what would happen on April 28th.”
“…..Ah, I seem to remember something of the sort, but I’m not clear about the specific details anymore.”
“Firstly, you have to ask for a duel in advance. You can’t ambush. Secondly, without a particular reason, you cannot duel outside of the school campus.”
Kito started reciting the rules of dueling. I wasn’t sure if it was just me, but Kito seemed to have a smug look on his face.
“Thirdly,the duel must be under the supervision of the health committee chairman.”
“If the health committee chairman is there, then wounds could be treated immediately even if someone was seriously injured during the duel.”
“That’s right. However, if you accept treatment, then you’re basically admitting defeat.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Fourthly, battles will generally last until one side admits defeat or loses consciousness. However, if one side is seriously hurt, the supervisors will determine if there is any danger with continuing the fight. That would also immediately determine the winner.”
“I guess that’s to prevent people from battling to the death.”
“That’s right. There are some other rules, but only these four pertain to this duel. The rules would subtly change for each duel pertaining to the opponent. If you get the chance, ask someone else to explain to you. ——Also, let me handle the application for this duel.”
“That would really be appreciated.”
“Then I will confirm one more time. The results of this duel will determine whether you are pardoned or punished. Is there really no problem with this?”
“Of course not.”
After getting my confirmation, Kito took out his student handbook and briefly recorded what we talked about earlier.
「If Yagumo Ryu wins: he will be pardoned for all of his punishments.」
「If Yagumo Ryu loses: starting today, he will be locked up for twenty days and will give the sword he found in the basement to the third-years.」
“Let me say this beforehand. This time it’s a special case. Don’t think this will happen again.”
“Mhm, obviously there isn’t a problem with that, Kito. However, where you wrote 「if Yagumo Ryu wins」, could you also add 「Nanami Yuki and Kujyo Elena’s punishment will also all be pardoned」?”
“…..Huh? I obviously can’t allow that. There was no such condition when we discussed earlier——”
“I guess I’ll destroy the sword.”
“——Ok, fine. I got it. I really lost big on this one.”
“Thank you very much. I always knew Kito would be able to do it.”
“Shut up, you low life pretending to be like other people who protect girls.”
“It’s not only to protect them because they’re girls, but also because they’re my friends.”
“Hmph, kill yourself.”
“How could you talk trash about me so frankly?”
“Ah, that’s right. Changing the subject, I have a couple things to add about the punishment room.”
“Right after you pretend like nothing happened and changed the subject!”
“I think you should know without me telling you. To Exceeds, the lock on doors is nothing other than a decoration. So, anyone who enters the punishment room will all receive an order to not escape the room with Kirihara’s .
“——Huh?”
“However, seeing the way you boasted of your amazingness, you definitely shouldn’t have considered anything cowardly like escaping.”
“……T-that goes without saying. It’s really annoying. I definitely didn’t think of a strategy like going outside to eat snacks until I’m full.”
“I also think that way. You really have such a manly spirit. I’m really thankful for that. I’m really looking forward to our duel after school.”
As Kito said that, an evil smile appeared on his face.
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“——So, that’s why I’m going to duel Kito.”
A period of time elapsed. It was now first period’s break. I lifted , and I told Yuki and Kujyo, who were in the classroom, about the negotiations I had in the basement earlier.
“……I can only say that you’re too hasty.”
Kujyo said coldly with a complex expression and her arms crossed.
“It really is commendable that you want to prevent having me thrown into the punishment room, but you have basically no chance of winning.”
“Nope, Elena. How dare you curb his enthusiasm in one of the few instances where Ryu has vigor? I support you, Ryu.”
“Seriously Nanami, you’re spoiling Yagumo too much. …..Having said that, I don’t detest reckless guys. Even though you’ll lose badly, good luck.”
In response to Kujyo’s insincere support accompanied with a half-smile, I retorted like this.
“Heheh. It’s a pity, Kujyo. I shouldn’t lose this match.”
“Oh? Could it be that you have some sort of countermeasure?””
“Ah. It’s just like you said. Yuki used on Kito’s right hand last night. So, immediately after the battle begins, I’ll let Yuki activate and throw large amounts of glass shards just like yesterday. I don’t even have to do anything and Kito will be unable to fight.”
This is the trump card that I’ll use in the duel with Kito. The sly Ryuji would never provoke in a situation that has no chance of winning.
On the other hand, Kujyo frowned after hearing this countermeasure.
“That strategy is too petty.”
“However, we would definitely win.”
“You say it like this, but isn’t this completely relying on outside factors?”
“You can call it whatever you want. As long as we win, it wouldn’t matter.”
“…..Um——”
At this moment, Yuki suddenly interrupted with a very sorry appearance.”
“I’m sorry to tell you that ’s mark resets whenever I sleep…… So, if you want to use it on Kito again, I would have to touch him again.”
“……Huh? Are you serious?”
“Mhm, completely. So, the strategy of using on Kito is completely unworkable.”
“……….”
This was an unexpected obstacle.
“…..Uh, then let’s look for opportunities of approaching Kito before school ends and think of whatever way we can touch him…..”
“Our opponent isn’t stupid. He will definitely be alert of Yuki who’s on your side. It’s probably very difficult to even approach him.”
“………”
Kujyo’s remarks made me speechless. I was in a state of despair.
“Yagumo, don’t be so depressed. We’ll see you after you come out of the punishment room twenty days later.”
“You already determined that I’ll lose.”
“You don’t have any other battle plans, right? Or are you saying you’ll terminate the duel?”
Kujyo scornfully shrugged.
“I don’t really care much. I was already prepared to enter the punishment room.”
“——Hey, hey, Kujyo. You’re wrong about me. I definitely won’t run away.”
I declared to Kujyo, who didn’t have any faith in me.
“The me that took pride in avoiding unsure battles died because of Kuyjo’s words yesterday. Now take a good look at the reborn me”
“——Hmph. You can really talk. Judging by your incessant chatter, you must have thought of other strategies to defeat him, right?”
“Of course.”
“Interesting. If you can really defeat Kito, then I’ll give you a reward.”
Just as Kujyo said that sneering, the bell for the second class started ringing. The gigantic TV in front of the room started playing a recording. The class began.
We immediately returned to our seats and took out our math notebooks. Because there are surveillance cameras on top of the TV, it will catch everything going on in the classroom and transfer it to the third years. If you weren’t seriously studying, then you’ll be taken to the punishment room by the disciplinary committee.
The ringing ended, and the teacher on the TV started lecturing.
……Ok.
I’m already forced to a dead end. What should I do now?
I can’t turn back having told them these things. I can’t see any hope in defeating Kito. However, I don’t want to be suspended for twenty days. Knowing this, I should have confirmed the effects of earlier……
I had a sad expression as I was troubled with this. Although I still like math, this isn’t the time to study.
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After sixth period ended so did the school day. I carried the sword from last night and walked with Yuki and Kujyo to the main entrance (the sheath made of rope, which held the sword, was all made for me by Yuki during breaks).
I couldn’t believe how calm I was. I couldn’t get it off my mind this morning. However, as it got closer to the duel time, I actually became more relaxed. I already gave up. I’ll just let whatever happens happen!!
As we were walking on the small path that led westward, we went down a series of concrete stairs covered with lush green grass and arrived at a sand covered playground. There wasn’t a single cloud in the sky. It looked like the duel wouldn’t be cancelled due to rain.
When we arrived, Kito was already there, sitting. It seemed like he wanted to be prepared to duel at a moment’s notice, so he did preparation exercises.
There was no one else around other than Kito. I couldn’t help myself from taking a breath of relief. In order to have the supervisors gather before the battle begins, notices would always be posted at the main entrance beforehand.
After the school lockdown game started, there would be a lot people watching every single battle due how rare they were. However, because the third years were always the overwhelming winners, the number of students who came and watched became less and less.
Moreover, this battle was completely unrelated to the school lockdown game. It was a battle between a B class and a C class. Only Kujyo and Yuki were here.I’m really thankful for this because I was going to lose really badly.
“——Yo, Yagumo. You have to work hard today.”
I suddenly heard a voice behind me. I instinctively turned my head around. A beautiful girl dressed in white appeared before me. There were red lines on her skirt indicating that she was a third year.
Her waist length hair was tied up with bright red accessories, and the plumpness of her chest could match that of Yuki’s. However, what was more striking was that she left her white cape, which was worn on top of her uniform, drooping on her shoulders. It was clear that she showed less skin than other girls, but this kind of drooping fashion was actually slightly more erotic.
Her name was Shiranui Himeka, a S class Exceed. She served as the health committee chairman, who is one of the Game Masters of the school lockdown game.
“Have we met before? I think I met you when you sent one of your classmates to the health center during Golden Week. However, you left without saying anything to me.”
“…..Yes, thank you very for taking care of him that time.”
“Shucks, it’s just the health committee’s responsibility. If I use my . Treating wounds only takes two seconds.”
Shiranui said confidently as her dark black hair swayed gracefully.
“As long as you have me supervising, you don’t need to show any mercy for your opponent. Enjoy the battle to your heart’s content.”
“……Ok.”
I reluctantly answered as I walked towards center of the campus. I wasn’t in the mood to chat with the Dominators at the time.
“——In that case, I’ll go all out.”
I told myself as I activated .
Ryuji and I split, side by side carrying the sword in its scabbard. After activating , doesn’t only make a copy of myself but also my clothes and accessories.
However, if this didn’t happen, there would be a naked person every time we split. That would be a big problem.
By the way, the items added by wouldn’t disappear even if I dropped it before I cancel the ability. For example, if I used , a $10,000 bill would become two bills. That way you could buy things worth $20,000. This ability was literally made for breaking the law.
“You seem to be ready.”
Kito said to me as he got up after finishing his stretches. Ryuji and I simultaneously nodded our heads.
“Alright, then let’s get started.”
Kito shouted with a very imposing manner. A few seconds later, fireworks started, which meant the start of the battle.
The white smoke rose up extremely high, and the loud sounds of explosion resounded in the air.
Seconds later, Kito lowered his body and started to charge up. He probably wanted to make himself enormous like last night.
Ryuji and I took aim and sped towards him. As we ran towards the motionless Kito, we pulled out the sword. We were going to pierce him from the upper-right in one go.
The reason was simple for using quick attacks at the beginning of the battle. If someone wanted to beat Kito, their best chance would be before he became a giant.
——However, in reality, it wouldn’t be as successful as I imagined it would be. Kito already saw through my intentions. He enlarged his right arm in an instant and swept horizontally with tremendous force. Ryuji and I were hit and sent flying backwards.
Fortunately, the attack earlier didn’t do us much harm. It was probably because it was a sudden counter-attack, so there wasn’t much power put in.
We immediately adjusted our formation. Ryuji and I put a little more distance between us.
“——Kito. From what just happened, we can clearly see that you’re ability has a huge weakness.”
While paying attention to Kito’s movements, I said this, which made him shudder.
“It would be better to call it a limit rather than a weakness.”
“Limit? What do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb.”
As he said that, I reminisced about what happened last night. When we encountered Kito in the vicinity of the school campus, he only made his right arm enormous. There was no sign of him chasing us during the time he was making his whole body gigantic.
“You probably can’t make your whole body gigantic in an instant. To achieve gigantism, it would take somewhere around ten seconds. During this time, you’ll be completely vulnerable.”
After hearing me point out his weakness, Kito made a wry smile.
“How surprising. You deduced that just from our encounter yesterday.”
“I am very observant.”
“Hmph, but my right arm can instantly become gigantic.”
“That’s true, but this is a lot easier to fight against compared to a complete giant.”
“So, you decided not to wait until I turn gigantic?”
“That’s right, but it would be better to say that I took this opportunity to engage.”
While I was pretending to chat with Kito, Ryuji launched a surprise attack from behind.
“——Eat this!!”
However, Kito’s enlarged his right foot and jumped away with an unbelievable amount of force from where he was.
“That’s a pity. I saw your other self moving with my peripheral vision.”
“I knew from the beginning that trick wouldn’t work. ——However, it could still be considered a small success since I know your feet can get bigger now as well.”
“While analyzing my ability, you’re planning on slowly forcing me into a corner.”
“Do you think that’s improper?”
“No, actually I think it’s a great strategy. ……Anyways, have you heard any information about from other people?”
“What do you mean?”
“Stop playing dumb. When I activate , there’s another effect. Do you know what it is?”
“……….”
I probably already guessed what Kito wanted to say. While and are completely different classes, there are some similarities.
——It’s that 「you can add more of yourself」.
“To answer the question from earlier, it should be 「when you activate , anything you touch will also become huge」, right? Otherwise, your uniform would have been ripped into shreds when you turned gigantic last night.”
“You have very good observation skills. You can even deduce this when you use it.”
While talking, Kito put his hand down his jacket’s front pocket, seemingly trying to pull something out.
“Actually before the battle, I picked up all the medium sized rocks around the area.”
“——Could it be you!”
“Ah, that’s exactly right.”
Kito held a small rock while making his right hand gigantic. During the moment I spaced out, he threw the rock in his hand, which was around thirty meters, towards Ryuji.
——That’s not right, it was no longer the size of a stone. It was a boulder.
“Eat a blow from my right fist as well!”
The moment he said that, Kito had already threw his giant fist at me.
The giant right fist came at me, and countless rocks flew towards Ryuji. I hesitated for a moment. I then finally canceled , which made me disappear.
After, my body suffered the impact of numerous rocks. The sharp stones pierced my skin all the way to the bones. My head started feeling a little dizzy.
“——You aren’t the only one who learnt from last night’s battle. As long as you cancel , you can avoid one of them from being attacked. So, if I want to attack you, I have target both of you at the same time for it to work.”
Kito proudly said to me, as I fell on the ground.
Although I avoided a fatal wound, both my elbows hurt so much that I couldn’t lift them up. Because I wanted to protect myself from the rocks, I got this wound instead. I questioned whether I should keep fighting.
“——AHHHHHH!!”
I shouted as I stubbornly got up. I finally stood up.
However, after I adjusted my posture, Kito had already turned into a giant.
“……Ok. I’m completely ready now. Let’s start this battle again!”
Kito’s roaring voice came from above. He had already lifted his gigantic right foot to flatten me.
Predicting where he was going to land, I desperately tried to jump away from there. An unbelievably enormous shoe flattened where I just stood at.
The ground shook violently, the area rumbled, and sand flew everywhere. Because there was such a huge gap in strength, I was flabbergasted.
Now Kito’s foot was the size of my whole body. If I was stepped on, it would completely KO me.
Cold sweat dripped from my forehead. Looking at the situation, there was no chance of winning.
——Then, I should take this opportunity to run away.
I put the sword back into its sheath and swiftly ran towards the school building. The sand obscured Kito’s line of sight. There were a couple seconds that he couldn’t find me.
“——Hey, wait Yagumo!! Where are you going !?”
“I’m sorry! I really have no chance of winning, so I’m running away!”
“You’re giving up way too quickly!! Don’t run away so openly!!”
“A great man once said that if the situation is too desperate, running away is the only logical way out!”
“That’s Sun Tzu! Under the circumstances that you have no countermeasures, running away is really a good idea! However, I’m not going to let you get away!!”
Because I assumed Kito would shout angrily as he ran towards me, I hadn’t thought he would just jump towards me. His body flew like a bullet and landed in the empty parking lot, easily getting ahead of me. Because of the huge impact, the asphalt surface cracked, and black debris flew everywhere.
However, I already knew that he would get to the school building before me. So, I activated , then Ryuji and I each ran in opposite directions.
“——!! What an annoying ability!!”
After Kito hesitated, he grabbed for me with both hands.
However, I immediately canceled and disappeared from his huge palms. In a hair’s breadth, I once again used , and we once again went in opposite directions.
I wouldn’t say anything about crossing swords, but I was super confident in my ability to run away!
I finally arrived at the wide open window that faced the corridor. This way I could successfully escape into the school building. I could finally be at ease——.
Just as I was finally calming down, Kito used his giant right hand to get into the building by breaking the window next to me. Even though I barely managed to avoid his fist, the scattered sharp shards of glass still pierced my face and hands.
“……Yo, Yagumo. We meet again.”
From the other side of the window, Kito stared at me with his giant eyes..
My heart was seized by fear, all I wanted to do was escape this place as soon as I could. However, my feet wouldn’t move as if they were frozen in fear. Also, the passage leading into the school was completely blocked off by his giant arm..
“Did you think running into the school, would force me into returning to my normal size? That’s really unfortunate. Even in my current state, I could still play hide and seek with you.”
“……D-does the disciplinary committee randomly sabotage school buildings?”
“Don’t worry. Even if the whole school was destroyed, we can restore everything by asking any member from beautification committee to fix it.”
“I see. That’s true.”
“Even if it’s me, destroying the school still distresses me. So how about it? Want to obediently come out?”
“……I got it. I surrender——”
“You’re not the type of person to say that.”
Kito sneered and clenched his left hand tightly. It seemed like he still wanted to punch the front of the school one more time.
This is the longest I can keep Kito’s attention on me. After deciding this, I canceled and combined with Ryuji.
Actually, when Ryuichi was buying time, Ryuji had already entered the school building from another entrance.
“Yagumo!! Where did you go!!”
The howling of Kito came from the other side of the building. As if the sound of his roar was chasing me, I quickly ran up the stairs.
As I was running up the stairs, I heard the sound of shattering come from all of the windows in the school building. It seemed like he started from the first floor and didn’t miss a single window. What a scary thought.
“I found you!!”
I heard Kito’s yell, then the window in front of me broke. The brutal punch of the giant was coming towards me.
The front of my body suffered the blow from the huge fist. I was sent flying backwards, down the stairs.
“Hahahahahahaha!! At this time, there’s no one left in the building!!!! It’ll be easy as pie for me to find you, no matter how much you run around!! ”
Kito shouted with a grim smile.
On the other hand, I, who was injured in an instant, laid on the hallway of the third floor. I checked how badly I got hurt.
Being hit by the huge fist, made my face and solar plexus ache endlessly. Not only that, the shards of glass that flew towards me caused me to become covered in blood.When I fell downstairs, I severely injured my back and waist. Of course, being hit by rocks on both arms didn’t help either. If I was in an RPG right now, my HP would be in the single digits. I have long passed the yellow bar. I would already be in the red bar now.
——But, I definitely won’t give up!!
I activated lying down. After, I appeared within a three meter range, which was in the hallway of the fourth floor. I then deactivated my ability, and created another self in the three meter range once again.
Although I nearly died, I finally succeeded in reaching the roof. …… Then again, it would have been better if I did this from the start…….
Although the numerous wounds crippled my body, I still desperately stood up even though I could barely walk.
I dragged my leg to the edge of the roof. The fireworks used for signaling the start of the match was carelessly put there. It seemed like I could use it to attack.
“Hahaha, you’re finally willing to come out of the school.”
Just as I reached the edge of the roof, Kito met my eyes. His forehead was around the size of the roof. Only after standing at such a high place did I personally feel how massive my upperclassman had grown.
“So, what do you want to do? If you jump from there, you might be able to hit my head with your sword?”
It might have been because he hit the front of my body that made him seem very happy, or it might be from seeing my crippled body, which made him already convinced of his victory.
“……You’re right. As a last prank, to risk my life just to hit you doesn’t sound like a bad idea.”
As I said that, I canceled , which made the Ryuji in the hallway of the fourth floor disappear.
——This was my last chance. If this attack fails, the only place I’ll be going to is the punishment room. Moreover, the sword I got from the basement would be taken away.
I continued onward without considering the state I was in, I grabbed the railing and activated .
After, my consciousness moved above Kito’s head. Although my view didn’t change much, being in the air made the scenery under my feet completely different.
However, the biggest difference was when I appeared above his head, Kito was overshadowed by an enormous shadow.
“——What!?”
Kito looked up, shocked, with eyes wide open. No wonder. It was because a huge school appeared in the sky.
——When I thought of this strategy, I saw Kito activating to make the rocks in his hand become boulders. At that moment, a question came to mind. 「When I activate to double, is there really no limit in size?」
Of course, I didn’t think it was true at the beginning. However, with Kito’s size right now, there was no other way than making something larger than he is to flatten him.
Although it was a stupid idea, it was worth a try. So, even if I needed to drag myself, I had to make it to the roof. Finally, I held the railing and activated while imagining an identical version of the school in the sky.
Although it was a desperate gamble, the result was a pretty successful copy of the entire school. Also, in order to prevent hitting the original school building, I purposely held the railing of school, letting it be completely directed downwards.
“——Take this!!”
I yelled as the duplicate school fell down altogether. Although I really wanted to go to the roof where Ryuji was at, the copied school would also disappear if I deactivated . So, my only choice was to fall down with the building (having said that, actually, Yuki could help deal with it by using .
When the duplicate school fell down, it still hit the original building. A part of the broken sections fell onto Kito’s colossal body.
Although Kito’s current height and the height of the school were around the same, it was still an overwhelming unfavorable in terms of width and depth. It was like the difference between a person and a truck. That’s to say, his current situation was like walking on the street and suddenly getting hit by a truck from the side.But, this wasn’t from the side. It was from the above.
So, Kito was helpless against the school building.
“Guwahhhhhhh!!”
He looked completely different from his satisfied expression earlier. Kito tried to catch the building with his hand, yelling a savage cry.
But, sure enough, Kito’s strength couldn’t support the whole school. Being unable to support it, he lost his balance and was overpowered by the school.
Kito’s feet were gradually pushed backwards, which uprooted various plants. Also, the sports department’s gym that was next to the sports field was crushed into ruins by Kito’s back. It was literally like the end the world.
On the other hand, I, who didn’t have a parachute, jumped from the rooftop and was stopped mid fall by an invisible force, arriving next to Yuki. I landed safely thanks to her, Yuki, my soul mate.
Finally, a great roar came from the school. Kito was completely buried under the school, lying there motionless.
The school dormitory that smashed into Kito shattered even more after it was slammed into the ground. Fragments of concrete mixed with the sand from the sports field. All kinds of dust flew into the air.
However, it was too early to relax. I was stopped by the sound of an avalanche, then I walked towards Kito. If the blow earlier didn’t get rid of him, I should take care of him right now, before he can get back up.
I walked to where Kito was. I found out that even though he was being pressed down by a lot of rubble, he still didn’t faint and was trying hard to get out.
So, I tried climbing his tree trunk-like neck and drew my sword while standing on his collarbone.
“Kito, please surrender immediately. Even if we take into account our size difference, I’m pretty confident that I can still cut your carotid artery. .”
Kito could feel the edge of the sword on his neck and made a face of disgust. He obediently stopped resisting.
“The battle has been decided! The victor: Yagumo Ryu!”
Then, Shiranui, who came out of nowhere and now stood beside me, declared the end of the battle.
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LNWNCentral_Dual Sword Liberator
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Dual Sword Liberator - Volume 01 Chapter 01-02/Dual-Sword-Liberator-Volume-01-Chapter-01-02-[Unknown][Unknown]/xubi5lvl.ilu.txt
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Full Chapter
Full Chapter
Translator: Xintus, Nya~ko
Translation Checker: GG
Editor: Shozenn
Another Fake Full:
Starting about thirty years ago from 「April 1 the year when I was 15」 to 「March 31 the year when I was 18」, some people appeared who were capable of using abilities. They became known as 「Exceed」, and I, Yagumo Ryu, was one of them.
From April 1st of this year, I became a person with abilities right after I woke up from bed.
Now that I think about it, it was very strange. As soon as I opened my eyes, I became aware of my abilities. It was just like how a baby knows how to move his hands or feet. I don’t know how I became able to understand how to activate my ability, .
Though I panicked about it for a moment, I quickly accepted my fate. The news on TV often broadcasted on Exceeds. Middle school students now learn about 「Exceed Ability」 as a mandatory course, which has now been added as a class. The existence of Exceeds became universally known. Not to mention, for about two hours before I slept that night, I hoped that I might become an Exceed tomorrow.
According to the class we attended in middle school, around one hundred high school students will become Exceeds. Now that I think about it, I feel like that kind of luck is akin to winning a one hundred million yen lottery prize. Even though there are many Exceeds in the world, I didn’t think I would become one. It’s that kind of feeling.
After getting out of bed, I wanted to try my ability. I activated it, and my other self appeared. Whether it was appearance, height, or clothes everything was the same. It was like looking into a full-length mirror.
“……Yo.”
“…..Ouh~”
There was a response from my greeting. Even the voice sounded the same. Standing next to someone who is the same, honestly makes me feel a little uncomfortable.
Whilst trying to endure the uncomfortable feeling, I tried to communicate without speaking.
“Ah——testing, testing.”
“Oh, I can hear it in my head. Is this telepathy?”
The two mes seemed to feel better and laughed together. Using this ability would make it easy to cheat on tests.
After playing around with telepathy for about five minutes, I canceled and started to change my clothes. Now that I confirmed that me being an Exceed was not an illusion, I decided to go the nearest place that was holding the「Exceed Examination」.
The Exceed examination is held on the first of April throughout Japan for fifteen year olds. It’s used to determine whether or not they have awakened to an ability. I don’t know the complex theories behind it, but through the collection of a small amount of blood, they can immediately determine if one is an Exceed or not.
The cost of having a free test was that everyone had to accept the examination. Unless it was for an important reason, if someone didn’t check in before noon, then they would be placed on the wanted list of that country.
Although I think publicly demonstrating would be easier, I decided to follow the procedures. The result was positive. Coincidentally, April’s fools is today. I don’t know if my friends would believe me if I told them 「I have become an Exceed!」.
Because I became an Exceed, my parents were called here immediately to accept instructions from government personnel . For the next three years, I will be staying on government grounds. I will be attending the 「The City of God Academy」, which is directly managed by the government. Because having abilities carry risks, they must be under constant surveillance. If someone rejects studying at the City of God Academy and runs away instead, they will be wanted by the whole country. People could abuse their powers for malicious reasons, if they really wanted to. Therefore, by obtaining this incredible power, you can expect not to live a normal life.
The school’s name is 「City of God」, its name was taken from the location where the construction took place. It’s rumored that previously, the school’s perimeter was surrounded in uncultivated fields and hills. It took several years to build this school for Exceeds to study in. It looks like it took a considerable amount of effort.
I left home on the morning of April second. I sat in a car, owned by the government , used specifically for the purpose of moving Exceeds. It traveled along a bumpy road until finally arriving at the City of God. When I moved in, I had not been arrested yet or otherwise been treated inhumanely. However, life could not have been considered very carefree. We got all sorts of rewards in return for cooperating in the simple tests that were occasionally held.
During the entrance ceremony on April tenth, I was told to sit next to Yuki. It must have been fate. We then had this conversation:
“I heard that each year there’s only around one hundred people who could become Exceeds in high school. I wouldn’t have thought I would be one of them. It feels like I’ve won the lottery without even buying a ticket. Lucky——”
Yuki showed a carefree smile while saying this. She was dressed in a brand new gray suit jacket, paired with a cream colored sweater wrapped around her upper body. Around her neck, she wore a ribbon-like tie. Her whole body emitted a very mature charm. Once again, I realized that my living environment had already changed.
“Oh, yeah, Yagumo. Did you read the booklet that they gave us when we got here? It says that outside of school hours, we can read as much manga as we want, play as much as we want, and eat as many snacks as we want.”
“Ah. You mean the line that says 「As long as it’s something you want, even if it’s within the Earth, we will dig it out for you」. I feel like that’s a little too good to be true.”
“Also, when we’re outside, there are SP-driven luxury coach cars to drive us. It’s almost like VIP treatment isn’t it.”
“Well, the driver is actually sent to monitor us. Also, this school is in a completely remote area with no neighborhoods around. If we don’t have a car to drive us, we wouldn’t even have a way home.”
“Even if it is like that, I bet ordinary people wouldn’t even be able to ride a luxury coach car in their lifetime.”
“I guess so. However, there’s been some weddings lately where the couples were sent in luxury coach cars.”
“Oh, I see~ Yagumo’s really familiar with this kind of thing. Could you be married?”
Cough cough
“Now that I think about it, luxury cars are expensive to rent aren’t they.”
“It should be a couple tens of thousands of yen per hour…….Now that I think about it, these benefits are only available to us until graduation. I’m going to enjoy my life here.”
This put us into high spirits. During the first month after we were admitted, life was very comfortable.
For example, the school sometimes invited twenty different manufacturers of salty potato chips, and held a tasting assembly (we couldn’t what the difference was at all).
Sometimes, they would prepare a bathtub filled with ten thousand yen bills for us to take a picture like a millionaire (the money was taken back after).
I came to know the benefits of being friends with Yuki, who scheduled a trip to Egypt during Golden Week. She used the influence of the pyramids to enhance the persuasiveness of her request (because near the end, there wasn’t much to say).
Obviously, if I asked for a one hundred karat diamond, it wouldn’t be approved, However, in a situation like this where every request was answered, there wouldn’t be anyone who would use their powers for evil.
Ahh, if you lived in a place like this for three years, you would definitely become someone super useless or something along those lines. April twenty-eighth would later become the day I would never forget.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The day that we were sealed in, we had no knowledge of what was going on. On that morning at eight o’clock, the whole school was summoned to the gym for an assembly.
It was on a day with warm weather that made people drowsy. The doors were closed, and you could hear the birds chirping outside. None of the approximately three hundred students were late. They were lined up in the gym. Before the assembly started, the students were talking——
When I first looked up, the scene was very normal. However, I felt uneasy. It was because in the big stadium, not even one teacher was around. It wasn’t just the teachers. Even the Exceeds who worked for the government, that lived nearby, and who were here to monitor us were also suddenly gone.
……This kind of thing has never happened before……
Although it felt a little uneasy, I didn’t think too much about it. It could be that they just needed to do something without letting us students know and left us for a little while.
Right after I accepted the explanation I came up with, the third-year student council secretary, Kirihara Syuji came out from the side of the stage. He alone, stood in front of the microphone. It seemed like the assembly was finally going to begin.
——But after Kirihara slowly flipped the microphone switch, he suddenly gave all the students this order:
“Attention everyone! You are not to take one step out of the City of God Academy’s dormitories without my permission!”
“——!?”
When I finally understood what was happening, it was already too late. Because Kirihara possessed the ability , no one would be able to go against his orders.
So to this day, even if I wanted to create a copy of myself using to escape, it wouldn’t work.
What’s more is that all the students in the same year as me don’t know how serious the situation was. Yuki, who stood beside me asked, “What activity is this? Is it a belated welcome to the 1st-years?”
She began asking those types of carefree questions.
“……Hey, Yuki. Don’t you think it’s strange that there’s no teacher in this whole gym.”
“Huh?——You’re right. I didn’t notice at all. Are the teachers in a meeting?”
Yuki agreed with me and tilted her head. I stood next to her, feeling uneasy.
Why would Kirihara issue an order like this——
As I was wondering about the suspicious situation, the seniors of the Student Council came out from the side and approached the microphone.
“The order that Kirihara just issued was not just his idea. It was the intention of all third-years. Suddenly doing something like this must have confused all you first and second years, so let us explain the rules of the game we’re about to play.”
After hearing those words, the tension in the gym clearly eased up. What was I suspicious about. Of course, it’s just an activity.
“As you all know, we third years will be losing our abilities by March of next year. So until then, we would like to have a little more fun with our irregular lives here. So we would like to ask the first and second years students to join this game that we made up. The game is called 「School Lockdown」. Before this game ends, no one is allowed step off campus. Games will last until March of next year.
Suddenly, the stadium began to fill with noise again. I can’t leave the school? And it lasts until March of next year?
“After yesterday, the easy-going school life we had ended. All future requests will be ignored, and items unrelated to school will not be given. ——Oh, lessons will be held as usual. Having said that, because school personnel have been forcibly ejected, class will be taught by video. If someone boycotts the classes or disturbs the school environment, he will be immediately punished. Make sure to take note of this.”
——We’re forced to stay on school campus, but we could also get punished? Will this kind of thing be allowed?
….No, it has been allowed. The Student Council president is hailed as the strongest in history with an S-Class ability (Exceed), having a very powerful force. As long as he wanted it, ruling over all students would be simply effortless.
“Then, I’ll tell you the method of retrieving your former steady life. There’s only one way, and that’s to pass the Academy Blockade game. Passing is very simple, it’s 「Using your abilities to defeat the 5 Dominators: Student Council President, Discipline Chairman, Health Chairman, Beautification Chairman and Librarian Chairman」. This is nothing more than setting up our game’s BOSS”
The kind smiling Student Council President calmly proposed the clearance condition that was impossible to achieve. Not because of anything else, but this year’s Third Years were known for consisting of many well-known militants with special abilities. And as the people nominated from these several, the leaders were all outstanding, even out of those who had S-Class and A-Class (Exceed) abilities.
On the other hand, among the First Year and Second Year students, there were no special ability users of S-Class. There were only a handful of A-Class users in Second Year. The majority of us only had B-Class and C-Class special abilities(Yuki and I are both C-Class).
Therefore, the conditions for clearing this game that he made were basically impossible. We didn’t even know if we could defeat a single one of the five leaders before the deadline——. After calmly analyzing it, I could not help but bite my lip.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Within the first week of the game, the first-year and second-year students were divided into two factions. One called the 「Braves」 and the other the 「Observers」.
The Braves, as the name suggested, are the students who wanted to defeat the Dominators. On the other hand, the Observers, which made up most of the students, wanted to watch the Braves. Basically, the 「Braves」 are the 「foolhardy guys」 and the 「Observers」 are the 「ones with no willpower」.
During the week, there were numerous times when the Observers were called 「cowards」 and when the Braves were called 「foolish」 in this kind of situation. I felt these things began the internal strife among us.
By the way, I’m obviously on the Observer’s side. However, because I have been careful about my attitude toward the Braves, I have not received any criticism on the surface yet.
But then again, do the Braves really have the right to criticize the Observers? A week has already passed, but the Brave haven’t made any progress. Because they know the way they are right now, they can’t challenge the Dominators.
For example, take the books chairman. If you wanted to challenge him, it’s necessary to beat at least a few of the third-year members of the books commission.
When the game at the academy began, all committee compositions were updated. All first-year and second-year students were removed from the committees. At the same time, to gather more members, the festival committee and the electoral affairs commission were abolished. The members were split between the books commission and the health committee.
Now all committee chairs are held by third-year students. Although I’m not clear on how to challenge them and the amount of people allowed to fight, the journey would sure be tough because most third-years had B-rank and above Exceeds.
Also, although I considered attacking Kirihara in order to force him to lift the , he was always surrounded by several different S-class and A-class Exceeds. So,compared to beating the game, overcoming his powerful protection seemed even harder.
Using one phrase to summarize the current situation: it would be helpless. We’re nothing but caged birds.
Because of the very limited amount of freedom we had, the boys were very thirsty for porn.
……No, although it sounds funny, it’s a very serious problem. The house arrest alone made everyone nervous, so something like porn that heals is something that can’t be overlooked.
At the beginning of the game, all our cell phones were taken away. Also, anything related to computers were all cleared. All TV channels were blocked from receiving signals. Basically, all the methods that we could have used to watch porn were severed.
I used desperate measures. I got in a good relationship with Yuki to relieve my endless depressed mood. She’s like a cute pet. Just looking at her makes you happy.
“——Hey, Yagumo, have you heard that there’s a sacred sword hidden somewhere in this school?”
From the morning of May 5th, it started pouring. When I was gloomily eating my breakfast in the cafeteria, a gigantic body wearing a cream-colored sweater suddenly appeared in front of me——oh nevermind, it’s Yuki holding a tray.
“A sacred sword? Nope, never heard of it. Is it something like the seven great mysteries?”
“Nope. Actually, this one has a lot of credibility to it. Apparently, a couple years ago, one of the students at City of God had the ability to create powerful equipment. However, the sacred sword was too powerful, and if someone used it for evil, it could lead to the end of the world. Afraid that someone would use it for evil, he used some kind of technique to seal it away somewhere in the academy.”
“Something like a sacred sword that could destroy the world…..that’s the first time I’ve heard of it.”
“I only heard it from Saki yesterday, but if it really does exist, don’t you think it’s amazing? If we found it, we could possibly be able to compete with the five dominators.”
Yuki’s eyes were sparkling as she leaned forward and said that. Because that position made her breasts stand out even more, I didn’t know where to look.
“First of all, let’s start by searching all the possible places where the sword could have been sealed away. Yagumo, should we do it together? You see, since you have , wouldn’t it be easy for you get inside the room even if it’s locked?”
“Ah, um. If we’re just looking for something, I’ll come too. There’s nothing to do at the dorms anyways.”
Since it’s golden week, there’s no class so there was nothing much to do. Even back at the room, the only things I could do was read the manga I was already tired of reading and play the games, which were scattered across the floor that I was already tired of playing.
Although midterms were coming up, it was only a formality. Even if someone fails, there probably won’t be anyone who said anything.
Also, by giving the sacred sword to the Braves faction, the reputation of the Observers will improve. In turn, making the relationship between the two factions better.
“That’s great~but the rumors have not been confirmed yet, so it’s not good for people to get their hopes up too high. Therefore, we should only select a few people to investigate. So, it’s only going to be me, Saki, and Yagumo.”
“Really. Since I have the opportunity to be one of the selected three, I’m very honored.”
Even though the only reason I was selected is because can unlock doors.
After breakfast, under the thick cloudy sky, each of us held an umbrella and walked towards the school building. Even though we can’t watch the weather forecast, it looked like it was still going to rain for a while.
I closed my umbrella at the entrance and shook it. While doing so, I asked a question:
“Anyways, do you have any idea where the sacred sword is sealed?”
“Nope, not at all.”
Minase Saki said as she shrugged, shook her blonde hair, and bit her lower lip.
“Also, there’s no way to guarantee it’ll be indoors. Anyway, we have to search every corner of each building first. I think we should start from the east side of the campus. What do you guys think?”
“Sure, why not.”
I said that while putting my umbrella into the umbrella stand.
The City of God’s academy had school buildings on the east and west sides, which are connected by a corridor. The west side is used for the usual lessons, while the east side is for things like music lessons and science experiments.
We went forward together. We started by searching the first floor of the east building. If we found somewhere that the sacred sword could be sealed in, I’ll use to unlock the door so that we can search together.
……Although, it’s easy to say 「the room that the sacred sword could be sealed」 but what is the room actually like?
“Ah! This room’s glass is frosted, and you can’t see inside? The sword might be inside.”
Minase said as she stopped at the sign that read 「Science Preparation Room」and pointed at the small window on the door.
“Hey, Saki. This room is very suspicious isn’t it? Aren’t the pronunciations of 「sacred sword」 and 「bio」 very similar?”
This time, it was Yuki who stood at the doorway of the room that stated her reasoning.
Hm. Seems like there’s quite a lot of rooms that the sacred sword could be sealed in.
Just as I was sighing, Minase, who stood next to me, had her skirt suddenly fall down.
Her white panties suddenly appeared before my eyes. It was the kind that had a pink-colored butterfly knot with lotus leaves on the edges.
“——Kyaaaaaah!!”
When Minase quickly lifted up her skirt, I got a hard slap on my left cheek.
“Pervert!! Sex Maniac!! You’re the worst!!”
“No, it’s not!! It wasn’t me earlier——”
However, her face was full of tears, flowing out of her eyes at lightning speed. I didn’t even get a chance to defend myself.
……Minase probably thought as I was standing next to her, I purposely pulled her skirt down. During this moment, I felt like there’s no way to survive in this world. Farewell, the me that only lasted until yesterday. Starting today, I have to endure the name of 「Pervert」 or will it be 「Sex Maniac」.
I nervously looked towards the side, and of course, Yuki looked at me with suspicion as well.
“……Hey, Yagumo? Let me just make sure, but you don’t pull down……other people’s skirts, right?
“Of course not! It must be a trap! Someone must have set me up! Besides, pulling down your classmate’s skirt is a stupid move! Why not just lift it up instead!”
“……Hm, I think lifting up skirts isn’t a normal thought either, is it?”
“……Then, sorry. I was too excited and I started saying things——”
Just as I was explaining myself, I saw a shadow behind a pillar from afar.
——Could this person also want to pull down Yuki’s skirt!?
After I noticed the mysterious person, I immediately went towards the lower body of Yuki and buried my face in her sweater. I used my hands and pressed firmly on Yuki’s skirt.
“Huh!? Wait, wait a second, Yagumo what are you doing!?”
Feeling like she was being harassed by a pervert, Yuki let out a high-pitched scream. In order to protect her skirt, I touched her butt. If I get sued for this, I have no chance of winning.
During the moment where I couldn’t help but think about my life in prison, the skirt suddenly got heavier. It felt like I was lifting an iron plate.
“Yuki! Slowly squat down! That way, the skirt shouldn’t fall!”
“I-I understand.”
While Yuki slowly squatted down, she held her skirt with both hands. But honestly, I could completely see her pink panties from my view. However, I think the ends are more important than the means.
Yuki knelt down in the hallway. We succeeded in preventing the skirt from falling. At least the Exceed on the other side didn’t see anything.
“Hey, Samejima. Come out.”
I shouted towards our classmate, Samejima Gota, who was hiding in the shadows leaning against the pillar.
“That was your earlier wasn’t it? If I remember correctly, your ability can increase the weight of an object within a ten-meter radius by up to fifty kilograms, right? By only increasing the weight of the skirts, the skirts fell by themselves. That’s a really dirty way of using it.
I guess he wasn’t able to disprove my deduction. A large blue-haired man came out slowly from there.
Samejima looks like a bad boy and scary on the outside, but he’s actually very timid. He’s the kind of guy who will spend his breaks alone, playing the string pattern game by himself. However, this only frightened people even more, and no one in the class would talk to him.
“……”
It looks like changing Samejima’s perception is impossible. This guy probably has a sadistic nature. Obtaining a powerful ability made him want to experiment on weaker people. I don’t understand.
“I get it, Samejima. First take a hundred steps back, I’ll let you beat me up . However, can you let go of Yuki?”
“No, Yagumo——”
“If you just want to bully someone weak, then I alone am enough, right?”
“No can do. If I let her go, then she’ll tell her friends to come.”
After cruelly rejecting my request, Samejima came in front of me and slowly raised his thick right foot.
“Wait a minute, Samejima. If you start attacking me, then there’s no going back. I’ll have to fight back.”
While I said it, I activated . Ryuji appeared behind Samejima, sandwiching Samejima in the middle.
——However, when Ryuji appeared, it was affected by making it completely immobile.
“I already knew what you were trying to do. You were trying to put the copy of yourself behind me, and when I wasn’t looking, attack me right? It’s such a pity. No matter where you place your copy, it will automatically be targeted by my gravity. Also, the range that can be used is only three meters, so there’s no way that you could get out of the range of my abilities. Come on, if you can counter attack in the embarrassing state you’re in right now, then go ahead and try.”
“……There’s obviously a way to fight back because your is not without its flaws.”
“Flaws?……that’s right, my abilities only work within a ten-meter range. If you use things that fly from a distance——like a shot bullet, for example, then I would have no way to fight back. However, isn’t that kind of weapon banned on school grounds? That’s to say, there’s no way I can lose!!”
Samejima yelled as he aimed his right foot to step down on my head.
The moment he stepped on me, I canceled and we combined back. The Ryuichi that was targeted by Samejima disappeared in a nick of time.
“……I see. Even within the range of , you have a way to escape.”
Samejima was little surprised and quickly turned towards me.
“But Yagumo. The only reason you were able to escape my attack earlier was because I moved very slowly, right? If I stepped down on you earlier at full speed, you couldn’t have dodged it. If you don’t use to create a copy first, then there’s no way that you can dodge.
“……Maybe.”
“Also, you can’t attack from a long distance. How are you going to defeat me by just escaping, huh!?”
Just as Samejima was speaking, a shoe hit the back of his head. Yuki tried her best to take off her shoes and used the resistive force of to throw it at him.
Unfortunately, it didn’t do much damage to Samejima. What’s worse is we made him mad.
“……I guess I really need to teach Nanami a lesson……”
Samejima’s face became worse. He looked like a carnivorous animal that was about to pounce on his prey.
“Yagumo, I still have things to do later. Can you quickly let me crush you.”
“You better get all these pretentious lines out now because you’re definitely going to lose.
“Huh? What are you talking about? Even if one of you do manage to get out, wouldn’t it still be hard to move within my ? And you still think you’re going to beat me?”
“Haha, do I still need to explain myself. I already prepared to fight back.——Look behind you!!”
“What did you say!?”
Samejima took a look back, but there was nothing. Obviously. I said that I was prepared to fight back, but that was only to get him to turn his back to me.
“……What, it was only a bluff. You startled me.”
I took advantage of when the relieved Samejima turned his back at me. I activated again. This time, I put Ryuji on top of him.
“——What!?”
As Samejima let a surprised cry, Ryuji’s right foot kicked him in the head violently. Because of the effect of , Ryuji weighed twice as much as he usually did. Imagine the power of the kick.
Samejima probably thought that could only be used on the ground within a three meter radius, but it can actually be used in a spherical radius of three meters. In other words, I just created a copy of myself above my opponent’s head and just simply started to attack.
When my kick hit him, Samejima fainted. Because of that the effect of disappeared, and my body is relaxed again.
After cancelling , I took a deep breath. I picked up Yuki’s shoe on the ground and gave it to her.
“——Thank you, Yagumo. Also, thanks for protecting me earlier.”
Yuki unsteadily got up and thanked me after she was freed from the gravity.
“You’re welcome. Also, any suspicion towards me should be cleared. If we could have quickly cleared the misunderstanding with Minase, it would have been better. It would be better if no one knew of what he did here..”
“Huh?……Oh, oh. I get it.”
“Then, thank you. Let’s take this guy away.”
After requesting his reputation to be returned, we decided to move his unconscious body in one go. ——However, his body was too heavy, so we couldn’t lift it up.
“Well, it seems like our only choice here is to go and borrow a trolley.”
“…….Um, Yagumo. Could it be that you want to send Samejima to the health center?”
Yuki asked the question completely confused. I nodded my head.
“The attack earlier had a big impact. We can’t just leave him here. What if something happens to him.”
“…..Um, Yagumo.This is just a question, so don’t get mad at me.”
“Hm? What?”
“Didn’t Samejima try to hurt us earlier? How can you help him considering what he did to us?”
“……Hm, probably because he can be considered both the perpetrator and the victim? Think about it, didn’t the third-year’s limit our freedom as well? Considering the situation, wanting to commit some minor crimes is understandable.”
“Y-you can understand?”
“Oh, no, I obviously wouldn’t really do it…..but if I took one wrong step, I might have done what Samejima did.”
I was only taking the side of justice. We can’t just easily tell if Samejima was the good guy or the bad guy here. In this world, people aren’t that black or white but gray, and these people account for the overwhelming majority.
Moreover, Samejima could have used for something a lot more sinister, but this time, it was only to pull down a girl’s skirt. That’s because this guy has always been a sadist. Also, I want to believe that through this event, he could possibly re-emerge as a new person.
“Besides, we have nowhere to hide, right? If everyone at school found out about the bad things he did, and even if Samejima couldn’t stay at this school anymore, there would be no way for him to transfer or skip class. Thinking about it this way, I have a lot of sympathy for Samejima. …… I don’t know if Minase will agree, since this is only my wishful thinking.”
I said this while showing a smile, so we could forget about it. However, Yuki had a serious expression. She was treasuring the shoe I returned to her earlier, tightly in her arms.
“That’s not true. I think Yagumo was amazing. If I was in Yagumo’s shoes, there would have been no way that I could have been so considerate and selfless toward others. Also, Yagumo had plenty of chances to beat Samejima, but you didn’t. You kept on trying to persuade him.”
“In the end, there was no way to change his mindset. I had to use violence.”
I said that whilst scratching my head and feeling a little embarrassed. Yuki looked like she made some sort of decision. She put on her shoes and quickly touched Samejima’s body.
“I’ll help move Samejima to the health center. If I use to create a weak resistive force between Yagumo and Samejima, then he would be easier to carry right?”
“That helps a lot. Otherwise, taking this guy to the health center would take a lot of effort.”
“……But. If I use , then I would have to touch Yagumo’s body.”
“Hm? Oh, I understand. Please feel free.”
“……”
Yuki put her head down, looking like she didn’t even want to touch me. She stretched out her right hand many times, but immediately pulled it back each time.”
“……Why do I always feel a little embarrassed when I try to do it?”
“Hey, why? You didn’t mind when you touched Samejima’s body, right?”
“That’s true……but the situation with Yagumo is different from Samejima’s.”
“What do you mean!? You can touch Samejima, but you can’t touch me!?”
“T-that’s not what I meant!! It’s more like I want to enjoy feeling you all over!”
“Feeling all of me!? That’s just as bad!? Is it because you’re still mad that I accidently touched your butt while I was pressing your skirt down earlier!?”
“——Ah!! That’s right!! When you were touching me, you took the opportunity to feel my butt up as much as you could!!”
“Can you not say something so misleading!? It was completely unavoidable!!”
“……Ah, I’ll admit that you protected me.. For that, I am grateful.”
“Ah, um, no problem.”
Although having said that, I already saw the great scenery under her skirt while protecting her.
“Also, after hearing what Yagumo said, I came to a realise something. Touching the opposite sex’s body because of unavoidable circumstances is something that happens often in everyday life.”
“Huh?……Ah, yes. Even though using 「often」 to express the frequency is a little too much……”
“So, I’m going to start touching.”
“Being so straightforward about it feels a little weird..”
“Then, where is a good place to touch~”
“Wait a minute! Since it’s just to activate , isn’t it the same no matter where!?”
“That’s not true. The place to touch for is very specific, so I have to touch all kinds of different places for it to work.”
“Didn’t you just casually touch Samejima earlier!? Also, can you not wiggle your fingers like that while saying you want to touch all kinds of different places!? I feel like my v card is at stake!!”
“There’s no problem. It’s only a little scary at the start.”
“That makes you sound like a criminal!!”
“Oh, also. I’m going to start calling Yagumo 「Ryu」 now. Please take care of me.”
“Hm? Why did you pick this time to——”
“An opening!!”
Yuki yelled as she quickly put both of her hands under my armpits.
“Ha, success!”
“W-wait a minute! It tickles! Stop! Save me!”
“How is it, Ryu? You’re going to admit defeat right!”
While Yuki was tickling me, she happily shouted my name. This crossed the line of unpreventable. This is obviously asking for trouble.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
For two months after that event, Yuki and I did all sorts of things together. Sometimes she begged me to teach her, and in return, I got biscuits. Occasionally, we even went to look for the sacred sword, but in the end, we found nothing.
While I was looking at the swaying water, reflecting the moon, I started to reminisce about all the things that had happened. These unexpected feelings aren’t really bad things; it’s that just I’ve felt like it was a little unbelievable. Also, if it weren’t for the house arrest, I wouldn’t have been able to get so close to Yuki. I also wouldn’t have gotten the chance to be able to see her in a swimsuit.
……Well, although I saw something way better than Yuki’s bikini…….
From the time when I saw her boobs till now, only thirty minutes had elapsed. I had already changed into my uniform, but Yuki, who was still in the locker room, didn’t seem like she wanted to come out.
“……Hey, Yuki. Wouldn’t it be bad if we don’t go back to the dormitory soon?”
Although we can’t see each other, I had made up my mind to call her out. After a while, the girl’s locker room’s door opened just a crack. From there, I could see Yuki’s face.
However, when our eyes met, she looked completely ashamed and immediately shrinked back in.
……What’s a good way to comfort her in this situation…….
“……I’ll start with the good part. I don’t feel shy at all.”
A brave voice said from the inside, while I was silently standing outside the gray door.
It’s rare to hear someone who would say such an obvious lie. I know because when I saw her eyes earlier, they were full of tears.
“I’m not lying. Also, even if I felt a little ashamed about having my boobs seen, I saw Ryu’s uncovered chest, which means we’re even, right?”
“……”
What should I do. I don’t understand what Yuki is saying at all.
However, I couldn’t just ignore her. I guess I’ll just go along with her.
“What you said seems pretty reasonable. Even though we’re at the swimming pool, having young men show their bare chests isn’t right, but I really was a little too bold. I didn’t only let you see my right nipple, but also the left one. I feel like I’ll die from shame.”
“——Hey, Ryu.”
“Hm? What’s up?”
“Can you just shut up?”
“……”
It seemed like I angered her. I just wanted to go along with what she was saying, how could this happen.
“And anyways, why is seeing the left nipple more shameful than seeing the right one! What kind of logic is that! Both the right and the left are the same! They’re both nipples! They’re equal!”
“Huh? Why did I just get scolded? Is it because I treated the right and left nipples differently?”
“That’s right. Give me an apology for not treating both nipples equally.”
“Hey——but think about it. Don’t people have a dominant hand? Isn’t the right hand more important than the left hand for right-handed people?”
“Even if that’s the case, it only applies to hands. Have you ever heard of something like that for nipples?”
“Are you sure? It even applies to the eyes and feet. It’s just that probably no one thought about it. Maybe it applies to nipples as well? For example, the one that’s closer to the heart gets the heart rate up faster or something of the sort. ——Oh yeah, how about starting from now we grope each others’ nipples to see which one is the dominant nipple?”
“Who would say such things!! This kind of invitation of yours already counts as harassment!! Also, starting from earlier, I’ve already said the word nipple too many times!!”
Yuki started to complain.
I didn’t know if it was because of her yell earlier, but Yuki finally came out of the locker room, wearing clothes, of course.
“……Um, uh. Well, it’s already pretty late. Do you want to go back?”
“……Yeah.”
Yuki nodded her head to my response, so we started preparing to go back to the dorms.
However, when we were jumping over the fence of the swimming pool, Yuki refused to hold my hand while using . It seemed like she was too shy to hold hands. It looks like the exposure earlier dealt a heavy blow to her.
So, I could only use . I just used the simple method of putting Ryuji on the other side of the fence and making the Ryuichi on this side disappear.
After leaving the pool, we didn’t talk at all while walking down the wide path from the campus to the dorms. It was a super awkward atmosphere.
However, I can understand why Yuki couldn’t go back to being her usual self. We’re both high schoolers, and she showed something so indecent in front of someone else. That’s why I looked up at the clouds covering the full moon, and silently walked towards the dorms ahead.
……Well, time will make everything go back to normal. I guess I’ll comfort Yuki tomorrow. I think up this plan while gazing at the faraway gate.
But at this moment, a flashlight, which came from the shadows in front of the school building, shone on us.
“Hey, you two!! What are you doing here!!”
From the silent campus, a male voice shouted. I was so shocked that I almost dropped my swimming bag.
The light was dazzling. For a moment, I couldn’t identify the person’s voice……However, it could only be the disciplinary committee patrolling.
I felt ashamed of our failure. I was so focused on thinking about how to fix my relationship with Yuki, I completely forgot that we were trying to sneak back into the dorms.
“Ryu, run!”
As she said this, Yuki quickly grabbed my hand and ran as fast as she could towards the swimming pool. Even though my feet weren’t listening to me, I still hurried to catch up to her.
But at the next moment, I saw a gigantic unknown object, that was five meters tall, on the edge my of vision.
When I looked closely, it turned out to be the disciplinary members we saw earlier. Starting from the right shoulder, the right arm started to abnormally become bigger. It must have been the use of an ability.
His right hand grew like this. His palm was about the size of a bicycle and it started extending to us at an incredible speed. I pushed Yuki aside to use myself as bait. I prepared to face off against the powerful arm heading towards at us.
But because I never planned a counterattack against the giant hand, I directly collided with it. The moment when I was grabbed, I felt a huge shock throughout my body.
After a moment of dizziness, I noted that all five fingers were firmly wrapped around my back and legs. His grip, constricted my chest, making it extremely difficult to breath.
I was grabbed by a hand with inhuman strength, and I became unable to get to the member of the discipline committee’s side. If this went on, wouldn’t I become an ingredient for a hot pot and be eaten?
——Don’t let it end like this!!
Unwillingly, I activated , I summoned Ryuji then I deactivated the Ryuichi captured by the discipline committee member. I had finally gotten away!
Finally restoring my original form, I swiftly changed directions and put some distance between the member of the disciplinary committee and me. If I repeatedly used , hopefully it would confuse him enough, for me to escape!
However, I looked back while running away. I noticed that the disciplinary committee member had no intention of chasing me. He just restored his right hand back to normal, and stood there eerily, looking as if he had given up on his duty.
——What’s happening? Why isn’t he making his hand big again? It couldn’t be that he hadn’t noticed that I escaped from his hand, right?
Just when I was starting to feel suspicious, I turned back to look at him again. His entire body began to grow at an amazing speed. Within a second, he had swollen to such a size that he looked like a human balloon, transforming into a giant that was several tens of meters tall.
His height was almost equal to that of the school buildings nearby, almost as if a four story tall building was built before my eyes. Although I had seen quite a few abilities within the last three months, I could confidently say that this ability has had the greatest impact.
—— It wasn’t until now that I realized which member of the discipline committee that I had met. Considering the ability he has, it should be Kito Kyosuke, a senior who was B ranked. According to what I remember, his ability should be called . I had heard that he could transform into a giant tens of meters tall, but I didn’t expect for him to be able to enlarge that part of himself too.
Kito bent his body forward to a running position and charged at me. His steps were incredibly large, easily as large as a house. Every time his feet touched the ground, the surrounding ground would rumble.
—— How am I supposed to hide when I’m playing hide and seek with someone like this!!
“Yuki! Go hide in the dormitory! He shouldn’t be able to catch up to you there in his current form!”
I quickly changed directions, and randomly found a classroom’s window, preparing to break in.
However, in an instant, a giant shadow eclipsed me, and the darkness became even darker. The speed of Kito’s Shadow was only one step ahead of Kito.
Small typhoons sprung up nearby, sending small particles of sand into my face and hands. It was difficult to even open my eyes.
In the middle of this chaotic situation, a gigantic arm came down from the sky——
“Ryu! Catch!”
I heard this unexpected cry, I instinctively turned towards the direction of Yuki and reached out with my right hand. After grabbing her hand, our bodies immediately flew high into the sky. Yuki activated her , creating a strong repulsive force towards the ground.
We used this method to jump to the second floor’s balcony of the school dormitory. Next, I would just need to activate to open the door from the inside——
However, I sensed danger. I immediately stopped my activation, turned to Yuki, and quickly pushed her down.
“R-Ryu, what are you doing?”
The sudden action made Yuki flinch, but after seeing the giant’s wrist above us, I shouldn’t have to explain myself anymore.
Kato’s high speed punch very easily broke through the two-layered glass window. Following a sharp sound, clear fragments of glass flew all over the place. Luckily, most of the broken glass had scattered inside the classroom, so Yuki and I had not suffered any major injuries.
“—— Yuki, could you use your ?”
Without waiting for her answer, I grabbed Yuki’s right hand and used it to touch Kato’s gigantic wrist. Yuki, in her fright, hadn’t opened her eyes, Even I thought that doing this was a bit tough, but we absolutely couldn’t miss this chance.
Sure enough, Kato quickly pulled his hand from the broken window. Honestly, Yuki didn’t even have the time to activate her ——
Yuki answered me with a smile. Starting from that moment, we were prepared to use in order to retaliate against Kato.
“Um, could you to use your on the unbroken windows?”
“Okay~”
Yuki understood what I planned to do just like that. While she straightened out the upper half of her body, she used right hand to touch the nearest window.
I got up at the same time, making use of the broken window to get into the classroom.
“——Hah, hah!!”
With an imposing roar, I broke the window that Yuki had touched. Then, the shattered fragments of the broken window, using ’s effect, flew towards Kito’s right hand.
“Ahhhhhhh!!”
The transparent shards of glass sunk into Kito’s arm just like I planned. A rugged moaning sound echoed through the school.
“Yuki! Take this chance to run away!”
“Ok!”
Yuki answered me with renewed vigor, then slipped into the pitch-black classroom.
“S-stop! —— dammit, how could I allow you to escape!”
Kato moaned, probably from the pain from his right wrist. He’s hesitating to keep attacking us for now.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, we sped through the hallway and headed towards the stairs without a shred of hesitation. When I looked back, it seemed that Kato stopped trying to catch us.
“It think we might have finally escaped!”
Yuki raised her voice and said that when we finally reached the stairs. Just as she was about to go down to the first floor, I grabbed her sleeve. My firm grip stopped her.
“Wait up, Yuki. We should go up first.”
“Huh? Why? Aren’t we going to escape from the main door?”
“Think about it, Kato still hasn’t caught up, maybe he’s planning to ambush us at the exit. Also, since you just yelled so loudly. It could have attracted quite a few disciplinary committee members here.”
“—— So it’s like this. If we went to the gate, it’s very likely we could encounter members of the disciplinary committee.”
“That’s right, so, we want to go towards the opposite direction. We should run upstairs to observe the situation a little.”
“Ok.”
Yuki nodded her head. While she was going up the stairs, she paid attention to not make too much noise.
We stopped at the platform that was between the third and fourth floors, crouching down and wiping off the dust that had stuck to our bodies. We carefully listened for any sounds coming from the lower floors. The school was silent. This meant that reinforcements hadn’t arrived yet.
“……. But, still I was really scared.”
Yuki whispered as she was kneeling on the ground and looking scared.
“Elena specially reminded me that the discipline committee does patrol every direction. I totally forgot about it”
Yuki suddenly mentioned our classmate Kujyo Elena’s name.
“Hm? Could you have gotten all that information about the disciplinary committee from Kujyo?
“Mhm. Elena sneaks into the school from time to time, so she investigated the disciplinary committee a little.”
“Huh? She sneaks into the school in the middle of the night? Could it be that Kujyo is looking for the sacred sword?”
“Hm——she told me she was doing something in the science classroom, but she didn’t tell me the details.”
“So it’s like this, it’s true that secrecy is kind of like Kujyo’s style. ……However in the science classroom, she should have a goal other than the sacred sword.”
Being in the science classroom late at night, could it be that she’s making things like bombs? ……When thought of this unrealistic idea, I suddenly realized that this person could definitely do it. I could not help but panic.
Thinking of Kujyo’s cold look, I couldn’t help but force a wry smile.
Kujyo is a First Year with a very rare B class ability. She’s a beautiful girl with long silver hair, and red pupils, but her personality is very harsh so it’s very hard to get close to her. Even during the summer, she would wear the long-sleeved uniform. Because of this, she is called 「Platina Queen」by some of the male students, and her many fanatic fans that support her.
“Ha…… . How long will these kinds of days continue.”
Yuki whispered appearing listless and nervous while holding her breath. Her body was already small, so doing this made her look like a little kid. Although it strongly stimulated my desire to protect her, I couldn’t encourage her when I’m a mere C class.
“….We have to endure all this till the third years lose their abilities in April next year. It’s already been two months since this game began, but I haven’t seen a single person try to fight a dominator, yet.“……
“Um, yesterday, there were a few B class second year students who went to challenge the library chairman, but I heard that their attacks didn’t even scratch him.”
“Hmm…… they’re really desperate, huh….”
Librarian chairman Igarashi Alice is A ranked. If we can’t even defeat her, then wanting to defeat someone with a S class ability would be insane.
“……Um, Ryu, I wanted to ask you this a long time ago, but why don’t you ever go challenge the dominators?”
Yuki timidly asked this as she changed from hugging her knees to leaning against the wall. If i wanted to, it wouldn’t take much to see her panties. I laughed self-deprecatingly.
“I don’t fight enemies that I don’t have the capability to beat. Even a B class can’t beat them, so there’s no way a C class like me could.”
“But, didn’t Ryu easily defeat the C class Samejima earlier? It looks like in the ranks of the C classes, you would be one of the top. If you want to defeat people with higher ranks, it isn’t impossible.”
Yuki spoke while changing to a crawling position on the floor, approaching me with a serious expression. Being given strange expectations, made me feel ashamed.
“That was just because works well against . I’m not very high ranked within the C rankers.”
“But……”
“Well, we’re going to have to end this conversation. We need to think about to escape from here first.”
I found a random reason for Yuki to stop pursuing these questions, then I gathered my concentration on listening to movements downstairs. It was just as quiet and still.
We already stayed here for about twenty minutes. We should be able to start moving now.
“Okay, Yuki, we should go back to the dorm.”
“——Huh? We’re going to go back just like that?”
I don’t know why Yuki looked so surprise while asking me that.
“B-but, the discipline committee could still be patrolling, so wouldn’t it be dangerous? I think we should stay here a little longer.”
“Really?”
“I’m sure it’s better that way. It’s definitely better.”
Yuki clasped her hands and nodded with a sparkle in her eyes
“……. Hey, why do you look so happy?”
“I-I’m not happy.”
“Seriously? We can’t keep playing hide and seek.”
“I-I obviously know that. ……… ah~ being caught by the disciplinary committee members is so scary~”
“Why are you being so dramatic?”
“I’m not being dramatic at all~ but I was thinking that it would be better to stay here until daylight~ obviously, Ryu needs to be with me~”
“We shouldn’t need to… I think you’re worrying too much. Also, the floor here is so hard that there’s no way we could sleep at all.”
“Ah~ then why don’t we go to the sports warehouse? There are mats there. We could lie there and talk until morning.”
“What are you saying? We’re in the middle of escaping. Also, compared to the sports warehouse, going back to the dormitory would be faster.”
“You’re right….. Hmph. Ryu really doesn’t understand people’s feelings at all.”
Yuki pouted unhappily.
“Huh, what do you mean? Did I say something wrong?”
“Nothing. Since Ryu wants to go back so much, then we’ll follow your wishes and quickly go back to the dormitory, okay?”
“……I don’t know why you’re suddenly using honorifics, but you can feel free to do so. ——Ah, before we go back, let’s go to the science room to see Kujyo.”
“Why!? Do you care that much about what Elena is doing!?”
Despite only giving her some advice, Yuki showed an extreme response.
“It’s not really being worried about Kujyo. It’s more being interested in what she’s doing at night in the science classroom.”
“Um……I can’t say I’m not concerned……”
“Right? Also, if she really is in the school, she should have heard the glass shattering just now. We better go explain to her what had happened. If she doesn’t understand the situation, then she shouldn’t act too freely.”
“…… Ryu really cares for other people…..”
“I’m just a worrywart. Come on, let’s go.”
“Okay…..”
Although Yuki looked unsatisfied, she obediently followed me when I stood up and walked out.
It was quiet in the school yard, but there should be members of the disciplinary committee hidden in the darkness. In order to be able to respond to an encounter at any time, I was alert to the surrounding darkness while creeping down the stairs.
Finally arriving in front of the science room, we tried our best not to make any noise while slowly putting our hands on the door handle.
However, no matter how hard to pulled it, the door did not move an inch. It seemed that it was locked.
—-Maybe Kujyo didn’t come today.
As I was thinking that, I heard something move from inside the classroom.
Because we couldn’t yell in the corridor, I decided to use my ability to get inside the classroom. Because I could decide between sending Ryuichi and Ryuji, this time i sent Ryuichi inside.
“Kujyo, are you is that you?”
After I putting down my swimming bag on the table, I used and made a copy of myself inside the room using it to call Kujyo.
“……What? Oh, it’s Yagumo.”
I turned my head to the direction of the sound. From the faint light of the window, I saw the beautiful girl with a black tie on her silver hair. She was staring at me with her sharp red eyes. It was definitely Kujyo Elena.
“I thought you were you of the disciplinary committee that came. I was almost going to attack you.”
“……Then it seems I dodged a bullet.”
If B class Kujyo attacked, I would have definitely been unable to leave.
“So, Kujyo, what are you doing here? I heard Nanami say that you’ll be going to the pool, but I haven’t heard anything about you coming to the science room? Also, the sound of shattering glass from approximately thirty minutes ago , did you two destroy it for fun?”
“No, that should have been the disciplinary committee.”
While I went to open the door, I told her about what had happened. The door slowly opened. From the door that only fits one person at a time, Yuki and Ryuji finally got inside.
“……That’s outrageous.”
After hearing what had happened, Kujyo replied that to me while looking at me with a shocked expression.
“If you could use to fight back, why didn’t you just kill him.”
“How could we do that. What’s worse is that we came out of the school in the middle of the night.”
“Hmph. So, starting from two months ago, the school had already become a 「ability ranked」 school system? In short, it’s basically 「the strong can do anything」, which everyone had to acquiesce. Therefore, the problem wasn’t that you sneaked into the school, but rather that you didn’t beat Kito. How weak are you going to be?”
“……The things like the strong rule was all determined by the third-years.”
“That’s true. However, aren’t the constitution and laws determined by our predecessors? If someone who stands at the top changes, then the rules would also change. The people that can’t adapt will become extinct. Unfortunately, that’s how the world works, so before you whine about it, become stronger.”
Kujyo looked at me unmercifully while relentlessly critiquing me. Not even talking about how the world works, this kind of idea in human society is already wrong. However, in this kind of place, I couldn’t think of anything to refute her.
……Well, it’s pointless to keep on arguing with Kujyo. It would be better to show my mature side and sincerely apologize.
“——Even if you’re right, it’s hard to imagine doing this kind of thing to the third years.”
Before my words of apology were even been said, the Ryuji behind me became nosy.
“What can a C class like me do when even B class Exceeds can’t beat them.”
“Hmph. That’s just an excuse. Even if your opponent is stronger than you, that doesn’t mean you’re definitely going to lose. If you just think of something like a strategy, then there would definitely be a way to win.”
“I wouldn’t even try to think of something like a strategy. Kujyo, you don’t understand the mindset of the weak.”
“Really. So, even though you don’t agree with the status quo, you would obediently endure it?”
“Right. Even if we think of a way to defeat a B class, we would still have a long way to go to before we could beat an S class. No matter how much effort we put in, it’s still impossible to defeat a S class Exceed.”
“——Huh?”
Kujyo looked like she was in a bad mood, and made smacking sounds with her mouth. She grasped Ryuji’s tie and pulled him towards her.
“You can’t win against an S class no matter how hard you work? Shouldn’t you say that after working to death?”
“——!?”
“I think you’re just trying to run away by saying what you said earlier. I’ll tell you right now. That phrase 「I will not fight what I can’t beat」 is really lame. You only said it in a more pleasant way. Basically, you want to get results without working. Comparing people like you who pretend to be strong with the people who work to death but still lose like crap. The people who work are a hundreds times cooler than you.”
“……!!”
I was speechless. Everything was as Kujyo said.
I was being treated unfairly by third-years. However, among the people who faced the same situation as me, there are plenty of people who were trying to break through the status quo. Compared to them, I did feel a little ashamed.
Ryuji, who was being scolded, had the same dumbfounded expression as I did. It would be better to say he was relentlessly scolded, he probably felt a greater shock than I did. Because of what Kujyo said, he was in disarray. His heart was struck deeply by her blunt gaze.
——After analyzing Ryuji’s situation, Ryuji’s body trembled as he said these affectionate words to Kujyo as she restrained him.:
“Listen to me, Kujyo! Right now, I really want to do naughty things with you!”
“…………………”
The room went completely silent.
What Ryuji said made Kujyo flush. She opened and closed her mouth several times. On the other hand, Yuki stared blankly with rounded eyes.
I tried hard to understand what was going on because I wasn’t sure what had happened. Even Ryuji didn’t know what exactly was happening.
“……Um, wait a second. You said words of sexual harassment as I was scolding you. What kind of retaliation is this?”
After a few seconds, Kujyo, who recovered from the shock, immediately asked the question on her mind.
In contrast, Ryuji hadn’t calmed down from his excited state, yet. He replied with a crazed tone.
“What Kujyo told me earlier made me realize that I really have been a pussy.”
“……Mhm, that I can understand.”
“I have this feeling that I, who hasn’t worked at all, could never understand the people who have challenged the dominators many times.”
“Yes, that’s right, too.”
“So, I can’t suppress the desire to you pursue, Kujyo.”
“It’s that!”
Kujyo lifted her right hand and pointed at Ryuji’s nose.
“That kind of thinking is going too far. Why do you suddenly want my body?”
“Do I even have to explain myself? It’s obviously so Kujyo can have my kids.”
“How’re you so serious when you’re saying something so crude!?”
Showing lament, Kujyo immediately increased the distance between them.
“I obviously didn’t think you would understand me. However, you have no chance of winning. I intend to convey all my feelings for you.”
While sexual harrassing her, Ryuji’s expression was sincere. Across from me, this strong-willed fool doesn’t even care about having a good impression on Kujyo. In his head, the only thing he cares about now is how to get together with Kujyo.
“Kujyo, I’m serious! I’m a changed man! So if it’s possible, I hope you could be by my side! One day you’ll come to love me and become my woman!”
“……What is this boring jokester doing……”
Kujyo mumbled this quietly and shyly put her head down. At first glance, it seemed like Ryuji actually had a chance to get her. He’s really good.
——Ok, we should be able to stop now. If I keep letting Ryuji go on like this, I would close myself in because of my self-loathing.
Also, Yuki, who was on the side, had unimaginable expression of despair rarely seen on this world. She started chanting Amitabha. If I don’t end this kind of ambience, then it could become a problem.
I stepped in between the two of them. I then pointed at Ryuji and apologized for him.
“Sorry, Kujyo. This guy isn’t normal. Please think about what happened earlier as a nightmare and forget about it.”
Kujyo looked at me with contempt.
“Then don’t say these kinds of things so casually. How could I forget about it so easily after being openly sexually harassed?”
……That’s true.
“Besides, he’s a part of you. You actually said 「that me」 like you didn’t have anything to do with it. Isn’t that way too weird?”
“Ah, no it’s not. There’s actually a reason for this……”
Wearing a stiff smile, I started explaining .
“Actually, when I use I split into two. Although our appearances are the same, our personalities are completely different.”
“——Different personalities?”
“Yes. ……Although it’s somewhat difficult to explain, basically, I’m the normal one and that part of Ryuji is the stupid copy.”
“Huh? Ryuichi, you’re okay with calling yourself stupid?”
“Ryuji you don’t have the right to call anyone stupid. You’re annoying. Be quiet for me.”
After Kujyo used a stern tone to order him to shut up, I continued my explanation. ……However, because it’s was so troublesome, I started to get a headache. To use appropriate words to describe the two mes of is really difficult.
If I were to describe Ryuji by personality, he’s pretty simple. He’s basically a real person, but he’s the kind that acts on instincts and feels that only enjoying yourself in the moment matters.
Compared to him, I’m very black bellied. I’m always suspicious. Compared to the social group, I’m more like a lone wolf. My motto is 「lying is expedient」, and I’m always worried about my future.
If a girl wearing a miniskirt appears before Ryuji and me, we would both immediately think of ways to try and peek at her underwear. During this time, the obviously perverted Ryuji would immediately give up, unable to bear the guilt. On the other hand, I would try to take a closer look, without feeling any guilt at all. This is because I think that if you want to wear a miniskirt, you should be able to bear the risk of being peeped at.
——If I had actually said this, however, I would be looked at in a negative light. So, I decided to use some more proper examples to explain.
“For example, using will create two mes, under the same environment, you would only need two weeks of time to clearly see the difference. Ryuji might have a lot of friends by his side. Every weekend, he might go karaoking with his friends or go biking at the beach. In contrast, I, Ryuichi, would rather be alone. I wouldn’t have many people close to me. On the weekends, I would close myself in at home, watch television or read a book.”
“W-wait. You two were originally one person, so why is there such a big difference?”
Kujyo folded her arms, seemingly unable to understand.
“No matter how you think about it, that’s too extreme. Maybe you actually have split personality, and after splitting, you each got your own body?”
“Hey……. even if it’s not a split personality, doesn’t everyone have many different sides to themselves? Think about it, aren’t people who are normally very honest, violent when they’re drunk? This is the same concept, Ryuji is the part that relies solely on emotion and action, and I am the part that utilizes reasoning. It’s that kind of thing.”
“Ah…… the original Yagumo would be dominated by emotions, and his sexual desire would erupt.”
“What?”
This statement is actually true. I can’t refute it at all.
“…… Forget it. I’ll reluctantly accept your explanation.”
Satisfied from seeing my speechless look, Kujyo showed a faint smile.
“So, the Ryuji who sexually harassed me, are you planning to use the drunk man excuse to write it off?”
“Ah, I wouldn’t be so deceptive. I apologize if you thought I was being distasteful.”
Deactivating , I merged back together and bowed.
“The words that I said earlier were very stupid. I’m really sorry.”
“No problem, Yagumo. You don’t need to apologize.”
Being urged to raise my head, I stood up straight. As soon as I did, I saw Kujyo’s malicious smile.
“Apologizing is very simple, you only have to say it. However, if you want me to forget about what happened today, that would depend on your attitude in the future. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“…………..”
Basically, it seems that her meaning was that this time, resistance was futile. Although I deserved it, it would be closer to the truth that this formidable opponent grasped my weakness.
“But, then again.”
While peering at the face of Yuki, who was still rambling, Kujyo shyly touched her cheek. Just as I was thinking about what to do, she grabbed my right hand.
“Come with me for a bit.”
She pulled me to the corner of the room, and put her face close to my ear, then asked me in a whisper.
“…….Hey, is there no problem with you sexually harassing me in front of Nanami? I think Nanami——”
“Huh? What are you talking about, Kujyo? Even if Yuki wasn’t there, sexual harassment is still a problem. Don’t you know that?”
“——The person who did the harassing has no right to say that!!”
At the same time as shouted that, she punched me on the left left cheek.
If I were to make a straight man comment, it would be that she used a bit too much force there.
“…….Whatever. I’m too lazy to meddle with your problems.”
“Huh? Our problems?”
“Nothing. I just think that it isn’t easy for Yuki. It makes me feel a bit sympathetic for her.”
“………..? What do you mean?”
However, Kujyo didn’t answer my question. She shrugged and returned to where she was before. Confused, I just followed her.
“Right, what were you doing in the science lab so late?”
I finally asked her for the reason why she had come to the science room.
“I heard from Yuki that you would often sneak into school.”
“Hmph, that’s a really stupid question. There would only be one reason for someone to sneak into a school. It’s so that other people wouldn’t know.”
“Could it be something dangerous?”
“Something dangerous? What are you referring to?”
“For example, making bombs.”
“….. Bombs, huh…. That’s not a bad suggestion…”
Kujyo stroked a silver strand her hair and sneered.
“No, no, I wasn’t trying to give you any suggestions……”
“But it’s really unfortunate, I don’t really know how to make bombs. Because we can’t use the internet, I have no way of researching it either.”
“Could you not consider this so seriously?”
If Kujyo really managed to get her on hands on some bombs, she definitely wouldn’t hesitate to use them to beat the third-years. She’s so scary.
“—-By the way Yagumo, are you able to represent the name [Tachibana Sogo] in numbers? Perhaps with just the surname, or the first name as numbers.”
“Huh? Representing the first name into numbers? What’s that, a riddle?”
“Something like that. To put it simply, Tachibana Sogo, a self-proclaimed god, has seemingly used his name as his password. But I have been struggling to figure out the answer.”
“Oh~”
After I looking around a little, I answered.
“Using numbers to represent hiragana, it’s usually in the order of the japanese syllabary. If it’s 「Tachibana], 「ta」 is 16, 「chi」 is 17,「ha」 is 26, and「na」 is 21, so it should be 16172621? However, I don’t know what to do with 「ba].
“Unfortunately, it’s not that. If it was that easy,I would’ve cracked it already. No matter what order I put the kana in, and I’ve tried them all, none of them are correct. I even tried using english names and letters a few times.”
“Oh——maybe we should look at in a different light way we’re looking at it……”
While talking to myself in a low voice, I changed my way of looking at the problem.
“Oh, have you tried binary codes? For example [0000] or [0001].”
“I don’t how many digits the password has, only that it’s at most ten. It might be three or ten. And if you happen to make three mistakes in a single day, you have to wait until the next day to try again.”
“How about directly hacking it?”
“Without both phones and computers, how do you expect me to do something so difficult? However, if the other side put in some kind of firewall. Then the instant we connect to it with a device, the entire system could be destroyed.”
“It really has a tight security system…….”
What’s going to happen even if we do crack the password. Although I’m very interested, it looks like Kujyo doesn’t intend to tell me.
“By the way, I just translated [宗吾] into english, and it turned out to be [Sogo]. I thought that the letters and 5090 were very similar. Try typing it in and see if it works or not.”
“Ah, they really are similar….. Tachibana…..Sogo…..
I folded my arms across my chest and paced back and forth, thinking about the question nonstop. The whole room once again went quiet. The only sounds were from Yuki quietly chanting Amitabha. ………She’s still doing it.
While doing a straight man act, I kept on pacing. My eyes inadvertently swept onto the Periodic Table on the wall.
“——!!”
I saw all the atomic numbers before me, and suddenly, I had an idea.
“Hey, Kujyo. 「Tachibana」 in Roman is 「Tatibana」, right?”
“No, if we use roman words to spell it, the correct way to write it would be [Chi]. Although, you can also type [Ti] on the computer.”
“Then let’s say it’s written as 「Ti」. Next, let’s separate the letters of 「Tatibana」 into pairs and match them with the atomic number.”
“Huh?……Ah!!”
“Right? 「Ta」 is Tantalum with an atomic number of 73, 「Ti」 is 22 for Titanium ,「Ba」 is 56 for Barium, and「Na」 is 11 for Sodium. If you put them all together, then the number is 73225611.”
After hearing my deduction, Kujyo rushed towards the periodic table like a bullet, and studied every atomic number as she did this her expression became much warmer. While I was thinking this, she had already rushed to the room’s cabinet and opened the bottom drawer.
Just as I was wondering what she was doing, she had already started concentrating on moving a large amounts of textbooks. If you crouched down a little, you could see that a control panel was fixed onto the wall.
Kujyo turned on the control panel, and asked me to input the eight numbers. Immediately after, a loud ‘click’ sound came from the center of the science room. Surprised, I immediately looked towards the source of the sound, and discovered that something similar to four square shaped floorboards had slowly popped out. It was about the height of my ankle.
Kujyo immediately rushed forward, and shoved her finger into the gap, opening the thick floorboards. A small tunnel that could fit a single person had been unveiled.
“Amazing…….. It looks like you guessed right”
Surprised, Kujyo said as she cautiously looked at me with her rounded eyes.
“I had spent so many days on this and I still couldn’t figure it out!”
“Well, this kind of mind game needs someone with a good sense. Also, my luck in this science room could be considered ‘good’.”
“Even if it’s like that, you’re still incredible. I always thought that Yagumo was a retard. I guess God really does give everyone a bit of talent. Although you have the talent to crack codes, it’s completely useless in your daily life, God really is great.”
“Say, Kujyo. Can you stop complimenting me so sarcastically, also isn’t it about time for you to explain to us, what’s happening? Could this be a secret passageway?”
“That should be right. From my deductions, it should lead to a certain place.”
“A certain place?”
“The laboratory of the man called Tachibana Sogo.”
This was completely different from last time, this time Kujyo answered my questions directly. Since we had already got the answer, it looked like we could finally know her reason for sneaking into the school.
“Do you know about the legend of the two swords hidden in the school? This was the Exceed ability of Tachibana Sogo, who created the sacred sword and demonic blade.”
Yuki and I couldn’t help but look at each other for a moment.
“We’ve heard of this legend as well, but we’ve only heard about the sacred sword.”
“Then the source should be the same. Originally, I was the one who investigated it in detail by reading many books in the library.”
Kujyo proudly puffed out her thin chest and then continued to explain.
“A few years ago, I learnt about Tachibana Sogo who had used his power to create the sacred sword and demonic blade at this school. The sacred sword was also known as the 「Sacred Dragon’s Claw」, and the demonic blade was also known as the 「Demonic Dragon’s Fang」. The sacred dragon’s claw could cut anything apart, and the demonic dragon’s fang could consume anything…….. However, the weapons were said to be too strong. So, Tachibana Sogo used a mechanism to seal both swords together.”
“The sacred dragon’s claw and the demonic dragon’s fang….. It feels like a very abstract ability..”
“But the legends said it was like this.”
“So, what you’re saying is that if the legends are true, then the two swords are hidden in this hole?”
“Of course I can’t say I’m completely sure about this, but if we want to defeat a S ranked Exceed, then we can only hope that this kind of ethereal thing actually exists. After deciding upon my objective in May, I started reading all kinds of books in library for information to find out the location of the sacred sword and demonic blade.”
“Ah……. In the end, you found it in the science classroom, and every time you thought of a password, you would sneak in here to try it out.”
“In simple terms, that’s correct.”
While Kujyo was explaining the situation, she crouched down by the entrance of the cave and shone her flashlight into the hole. The hole was approximately two meters deep and had an ancient entrance at in its innermost recesses, extending towards the direction of the corridor. Because the length of the bridge wasn’t very close, we couldn’t see where the ancient entrance led.
“Hey, Yagumo. Don’t you have any interest to go explore where this tunnel leads?”
“—Huh? Wait a second. Why don’t you go by yourself?”
“There might be traps inside. I don’t want to act rashly when I can’t guarantee my own safety.There’s a saying, a smart man doesn’t stand under a collapsing wall.”
“……Ohhh, so you’re going to make me the victim instead.”
What a cruel woman.
“Besides, isn’t perfect for this job? All you have to do is split into Ryuichi and Ryuji, and make one of them go in the hole. Even if there’s some sort of danger, you could immediately get out by deactivating your ability.”
“……I see. You do have a point.”
Although I felt like I was being tricked, she did sound pretty convincing.
However, a good plan and whether or not it could be carried out were two different things. This kind of job that requires thinking is best left to Ryuichi, but because of what had happened earlier, I didn’t really want to leave Ryuji here. If it doesn’t go well, Kujyo would scold me.
“……Um, could I go with Ryuji?”
Immediately after I was thinking about who to send into the tunnel, Yuki broke the silence by volunteering.
“What? Yuki, you want to go into this worrisome hole?”
“It’s not that I want to go in……It’s just that I have some things I want to talk to you about. It’s for the best if it’s just the two of us.”
“You want to be alone with me? Isn’t it a little inconvenient inside a cave, though?”
“T-that’s true, but……”
“——Yagumo, stop wasting time. Since Nanami asked you, just quickly get down there.”
Kujyo suddenly said with a commanding tone. Then, she threw me the flashlight from behind.
“If you dare refuse, I will spread that stupid thing that you did everywhere.”
“………..”
Since she said it like that, I couldn’t do anything about it. I could only give up and agree to investigate the hidden passage.
After pondering about it, I decided not to directly use to go inside. Nevertheless, if there is any trouble, then it would be problematic. That’s why I would lead the way. That way, even if I couldn’t move, I could use to get out.
After we went down the hole, we laid down and turned into the entrance next to us. The passage seemed to go very far, so I could only use my teeth to clench onto the flashlight to light our way. We slowly crawled through the narrow hole. It was okay that our uniforms were covered by sand, but there was a lot of spider webs. They stuck to our faces. It was disgusting. However, I should be glad. Other than the cobwebs, there wasn’t any traps to prevent intruders.
“That’s right, Yuki. You said that you wanted to tell me something. What is it?”
I took the flashlight out of my mouth, and asked Yuki, who was behind me. However, she didn’t reply. There was only the sound of friction from crawling.
……I wasn’t sure what she was hinting at. Did she want me to move forward a little longer or did she want to talk about it later?
After going forward a little longer, we reached the end. It was about thirty meters away from the entrance.
I used the flashlight to light up and carefully examine our surroundings. I found a button buried. It was under a large amount of sand. There was no way to tell at first glance.
“Hey, Ryu. Did you find something?”
“Mhm. Although there’s no path from here, I found a very small button.”
“A button? If you press it, could we keep moving forward?”
“It’s possible, but if you turn that statement around, it could be a trap. ……Should I just push it, or should we stay on the safe side and go back…….”
The part of me that’s always suspicious of danger started to take over. Yuki, who was behind me, in a dependable tone said to me,
“Let’s try and click it. Even if something happens, I could use to support you from behind.”
“Is there really no problem with this? If this doesn’t go well even you could be in danger, you know?”
“No problem! Because our fates are intertwined together!”
“Huh? I think this is the first time I’ve heard that.”
“We’re soul mates!! Ever since school started, we’ve always been together and we’re friends with a strong bond!!”
“No, no. What are you talking about always being together? Didn’t we just meet three months ago?”
“Then it’s soul food!!”
“Even if you want to use an imposing manner to convince me, it’s still not soul food.”
Things that could be regarded as soul food are the Japaneses’ miso soup or the Indians’ curry. No matter how far-fetched the explanation, it still shouldn’t be used to describe relationships.
“……However, since you told me to, I guess I’ll just try pressing it down.”
“Yeah, be careful.”
After hearing Yuki’s response, I gently wiped off the dirt on top of it, determined to press it down.
“——Wahhh!?”
“Ah!!”
The floor underneath us suddenly disappeared. We fell for about two meters and then landed on something bouncy.
“That scared me……I didn’t think that the floor would suddenly disappear.”
I immediately got up and surveyed our surroundings. However, everything was shrouded in darkness. I couldn’t see anything.
“Ryu, it’s so dark——where’s the flashlight?”
Yuki, who fell down with me, sounded very disturbed as she asked me that question.
“Sorry, I was too surprised, so I couldn’t hold it properly. Also, it looks like the battery fell out when it hit the ground.”
While explaining, I tried to feel the ground for the flashlight. It shouldn’t have rolled very far——
While I was feeling for it in the dark, I suddenly felt something incredibly soft on the palm of my right hand. To confirm what it was, I tried squeezing it a few times.
“Ah!! Ryu, you pervert!!”
“Huh?——Ah!! Sorry!!”
“Ah!! That place is off limits!!”
“Off limits!? Where did I actually touch?”
Even I couldn’t help but sound regretful as I quickly distanced myself from that place.
“Sorry, Yuki! Forgive me! It really wasn’t on purpose!”
“……Really? It really wasn’t on purpose?”
“Of course! I swear it wasn’t on purpose! It was completely unintentional!”
“Boo——”
Yuki seemed to have made a dissatisfied moan. After that, she didn’t talk anymore.
Then, after going through lots of hardship, I found the flashlight. I put the batteries back in and then turned it on. I shone it around me and got face to face with Yuki, who was completely red to the ears.
“……Seriously! Ryu did many things to my chest that shouldn’t be done!”
Yuki complained while pressing my chest with her hands. She’s really someone who gets mad easily.
That aside, Yuki’s tits was incredibly soft. My palms still had that warm feeling. Even with her clothes on, it was already this soft. I wonder what it would feel like if I touched them directly. Everytime I thought back to this point, I remembered the scene I had seen at the swimming pool——
“You can’t remember that!!”
“Yes! I’m very sorry!”
As I tried to get those two incidents out of my mind, I shone the flashlight around my surroundings.
It seemed like a secret room had been built underground. It was approximately the size of an ordinary classroom. All the walls and floorboards were made of rocks. However, the place where we had fallen down onto had been coated with something soft.
……. If he had the time to prepare something like that, why didn’t he think of another way to enter this place……
I used my phone as a flashlight in order to illuminate the ceiling, there were many lights lined up. There was only one place like a cardboard lid separating the middle. Could it have been that when the button was pressed, that that would open up.
“By looking at the direction that we came from, this should be the underground floor, right?”
“That should be correct. Although, the City of God Academy shouldn’t have an underground floor, right?”
“Then this part of the Academy wasn’t recorded in the construction blueprints, so shouldn’t this room be a「room that shouldn’t exist」?”
I shone my light on every corner and finally found a switch on the wall. It looked exactly like the classroom’s light switch.
Although I had a bad feeling because we fell for the trap earlier, using a flashlight to investigate is very arduous. After being pressured to turn it on by Yuki, I gingerly pushed the ON switch.
Suddenly, all the lights on the ceiling turned on, making the entire room shine as bright as day. It seemed as if electricity was still connected to it.
Because the entire room lit up, we could not only see the desks, chairs, and refrigerator, but also an enormous bookshelf and everyday furniture like a large cabinet. There were a lot of resources stored in the bookshelf, and there was also a silver laptop on the desk.
Walking in front of the desk, we found the laptop’s cover had a gigantic dragon sticker stuck onto it. To have called the sacred sword ‘the sacred dragon’s claw’ and the evil blade ‘The demonic dragon’s fang’, the person named Tachibana must have really liked dragons.
There was no response when we pressed the laptop’s power button. I thought that was a bit suspicious, so we checked it out. I found out that there was no power cable. Without a power source, this computer might as well be a decoration.
We then retrieved some random files from the bookshelf to look at. Those were all sealed with dragon stickers, too. To like dragons to this extent, would make some people feel a bit irritated. When we casually opened up one of the files, inside was filled with bound volumes of data on things like experiments. It had just been as Kujyo had guessed. This really was Tachibana’s laboratory.
“Hey, Ryu. Isn’t this the sword that Elena was talking about?”
Opening the closet’s highest drawer, Yuki pointed at the sword inside and asked me.
I threw down the documents that I had in my hands, quickly walked to the cabinet, and peaked inside.
“……. I feel like hiding the sacred sword and the demonic blade here is a little careless.”
Although it was still in its sheath, it wasn’t being placed in a decent pedestal, nor was it wrapped in something luxurious, it looked as if it was placed here on a whim.
“However, it doesn’t look like it’s been sealed. It’s hard to believe that this was the sacred sword or the demonic blade.”
“Is this to make us let our guard down? If it was discovered by some random person who fell down here, even they wouldn’t think that this is a very powerful weapon.”
“If you want to enter that secret passageway, you would need to crack that code. Would there really be people falling in here randomly?”
“Ah, that’s true. Then, is it something like: although it might look like a normal sword, only a true hero could pull it out?”
“Ahem, ahem. Saying that to someone like me, who really likes RPGs is getting me really pumped up.”
I got excited by Yuki’s words, so I grabbed the sword with both hands. Originally wanting to pull the sword out in one go, it turned out that the sword easily came out of its sheath without even needing to use any strength.
“…….. I didn’t expect to pull it out so easily.”
“Does that mean Ryu is the hero that was chosen by the heavens!?!?”
“How could that be possible. Yuki, you try, too.”
After putting the sword back into its sheath, I handed the sword to Yuki. It turned out that anyone could pull the sword out, Yuki pulled the sword out and put it back in several times to make sure.
We carefully examined the sword. No matter from which angle we looked at it from, it still just looked like a normal sword.
“We should be able to conclude that the sword is neither the sacred sword nor the demonic blade.”
“B-but, maybe knowledgeable people can see that it’s a powerful weapon? You see, on this world, something may just look like graffiti to us, but it’s actually a painting worth millions of yen?”
“Yuki, I think you’re just being too hopeful……Besides, aren’t two swords being sealed? Other than this, we didn’t see anything else, right?”
We opened the rest of the drawers, but only the top drawer held anything.
……At least, it was better than nothing. Although, it seemed like this was nothing but an ordinary sword.
We were fascinated by the mysterious sword, which led us to being confused. We decided to go back to the science room. After turning off the lights, we used the ladder to climb back up through the ceiling, then we crawled forward in the dark and cramped tunnel. Because we had already cleared all the spiderwebs when we entered earlier, it was a lot easier compared to then.
“——Ah, you’re finally back. You guys are way too slow.”
The moment that our heads peeped through the opening, Kujyo ran over. She looked quite impatient, and didn’t pay too much attention. Thanks to this, I was able to see her with her legs crossed from a downwards perspective.
Also, the flashlight that I bit on had the light on, and coincidentally shone under Kujyo’s skirt.
“——Ah!! No!!”
Kujyo noticed her blunder a second too late, and let out a cute moaning sound. At the same time, she held down her skirt.
However, it was too late. I had already confirmed the secret color hidden under Kujyo’s skirt. It was white with blue stripes.
“——Now, Yagumo. Do you want to try hibernating right now? If you sleep for maybe about a hundred years, you should forget about anything unneeded.”
“W-wait a moment! I’ve already found the sword, so please forgive me!”
The moment I begged her forgiveness by quickly pulling out the sword, Kujyo immediately darted towards me.
However, after inspecting all of the unknown sword that had been pulled out from its sheath. Kujyo’s expression became gloomy.
“Ah….. Unfortunately, it seems that this is neither the sacred sword nor the demonic blade.”
“Huh, really?”
“Yes. The books inside the library recorded that 「The sacred sword and demonic blade, upon contact, would feel different from other blades, they’re weapons that surpass imagination」. However, this sword has no reaction no matter how I wield it. That is to say, we found ourselves a fake. …… Damn, to do something so annoying.”
Kujyo disappointedly put the sword back into its sheath, then tossed it at the me who had just climbed out from the cave.
“Yagumo cracked the code, so you’re responsible for disposing it.”
“I’m being forced to dispose it as well!?”
“What did you say, Yagumo, you can’t decide that the sword is fake so quickly. Maybe it might provide a clue to where the sacred sword and demonic blade’s really buried. Therefore, before the necessary time comes, I hope you’ll keep it safe.”
“There’s no way you were thinking that right!? You just said 「you have to take responsibility and dispose of it」. These words had already exposed your intentions!”
Kujyo really was going overboard…… Whatever, I did accidently see her underwear earlier, so it’s alright.
“Hey, Ryu. Do you want me to throw it away? Although I don’t know what kind of sword this is.”
“Ah, probably dangerous stuff.”
After answering, an idea suddenly sprouted within my brain.
“——No, actually, I won’t throw it away. I’ll use this sword to figure out a plan to defeat S ranks!”
After saying that, I gripped the sword tightly. A major reason why wasn’t suitable for combat was because it had no offensive skills. Even if it was a normal sword, if I used it in the right way, and maybe I could defeat a superior opponent.
“Because Kujyo once said, 「don’t fight a battle where you don’t have the capability」, it really suck, ah…”
“——Hmph, that’s really frank.”
Kujyo said with a smile.
“I have no interest in this kind of ordinary sword anyways. Tomorrow, I’ll be looking for the real location the sacred sword and demonic blade are hidden.”
“If you encounter another unbreakable code, remember to ask me for help.”
“That’s true. Although I don’t really want to, you’re much better than me or Yuki at solving these kinds of puzzles.”
Kujyo began insulting me again. I couldn’t help but smile a bit.
“Maybe next time we’ll be tricked again by false information, and we’ll find a hammer.”
“To be able to find a few weapons isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Also, the truth is that since the underground room exists, that means that the authenticity of the sacred sword and demonic blade also increases. Don’t you think that this also counts as getting closer to our target?”
“True. However, I’m afraid that wherever they’re true location, might be, it’ll be filled with really scary traps waiting for us.”
“Yes. And at that time, we’ll have to rely on you, trap master Yagumo.”
“Wait a minute, what kind of nickname is that? I haven’t learned anything about disarming traps.”
“No, no, no, you were able to successfully get through a tunnel that’s not long at all, and successfully retrieve a sword that’s basically useless. If you’re not a master, then what are you.”
“Aren’t you treating me as an idiot again? Kujyo, do you really need to treat people like they’re stupid?”
After bantering a bit with Kujyo, I suddenly recalled something. In the end, I wasn’t able to ask Yuki what she was the 「only for us two wanted」 she wanted to tell me.
……. Forget it. Too much had happened today, I was already tired enough. After tomorrow, there are still the chances to be alone with her, I’ll ask her again when there’s time.
Our late-night adventure had finally ended, and we decided to return to the dormitories.
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LNWNCentral_Dual Sword Liberator_Dual Sword Liberator - Volume 01 Chapter 01-02
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Dual-Sword-Liberator-Volume-01-Chapter-01-02-[Unknown][Unknown]/a31cnqi4.jtf.txt
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Full Chapter
Full Chapter
Translator: Xintus, Nya~ko
Translation Checker: GG
Editor: Azu, Kuroe, Shozenn
Greed Giant Full:
The next day would be the 30th of June. Awoken at 7:30 by a loud alarm. I thought of the piece of the alarm clock that my sister had given me that I had broken. I couldn’t help but feel a bit melancholic. This was completely because my swimsuit bag had knocked the clock onto the floor, and it broke last night.
This alarm clock was given to me by my little sister on the day that I decided to go to study at the City of God Academy. I was given this gift with these wishes:
「Big brother won’t be lonely with this, even when you are alone, and you’ll be able to wake up when I’m not there.」
Every time I see this clock, I would think of my sister’s pure smile. After our mobile phones were confiscated, this alarm clock was the only thing to remind me of my family.
…I guess I’ll go to the school store to buy some glue after school. As long as it’s fixed, my heart full of homesickness would ease a bit.
After making the important decision of what to do after school, I got out of bed, changed my clothes, and left my room.
In this school, the students dined in a place called the「Restaurant Floor」. It was a two-storey building built between the boys’ and girls’ dormitories. Shops were on the first floor, and a cafeteria on the second.
After the Schol Lockdown Game had started, the cafeteria was only open at three set times each day. These slots were 「7:00 – 8:00」 , 「12:30 – 13:30」 and 「18:00 – 19:00」. We would go to the cafeteria during those time periods, and choose our favorite food to eat from a buffet-styled arrangement.
If you go over the set time periods, then you would be mercilessly kicked out of the cafeteria, and the food would be confiscated. Being able to eat was your own responsibility, so it would suck if you overslept. If you really couldn’t take it anymore, then you could only go to the store to buy some snacks for calories.
Immediately after going out of the dormitory, I squinted from the dazzling rays of sunlight. It was probably because the air was quite dry, so it didn’t feel very hot.
From exit of the staircase to the cafeteria on the second floor, more than half of the 200 seats were taken. I held a plastic meal tray. There were about fifty different dishes placed in the middle of the cafeteria. I followed my instinct and picked my favorite foods: chocolate croissants, pasta, fried chicken nuggets and roasted beef.
After filling my plate with high calorie foods, I started wondering about where I should sit. Usually I would eat with Yuki, but I couldn’t see her anywhere today. Normally at this time, she would already be at the cafeteria. Did something happen? Also , what was she chanting last night? Could it have been that she felt sick?
…Now that I think about it, I still haven’t told Kujyo about the laptop and research data that was in the underground room…
As I was reminiscing about what happened last night, I suddenly remembered. After calmly considering the situation, I thought that it was a mistake that anyone would hate. Although being scolded severely is making me scared, I should immediately rush to her and tell her about it if I saw her.
Scanning the cafeteria, I immediately spotted Kujyo’s figure. She always sat at the farthest spot, near to the wall. It seems that this had already become her habit.
Separating myself from the crowd, I walked towards Kujyo.
“Hey, Kujyo. Good Morning.”
“—What. Oh, it’s Yagumo. What can I do for you?”
Kujyo poked at the salad and looked at me with a bored expression. I felt a little suffocated. I first put my plate on the table, then sat across her.
“Actually, I came here to apologise to you.”
“…This is my first time being greeted and immediately apologised to right after. So, what are you apologizing for?”
“Um, I hope you don’t get angry after hearing it—”
“That’s impossible.”
“I haven’t even said anything, yet!?”
“It should be clear. Even if it’s something not worth getting angry at, I’ll still get angry. It would always end up like that whenever you come talk to me.”
“Our relationship is simply terrible!”
“Stop rambling and quickly get to the point. What a waste of time.”
“Isn’t that too unreasonable!?”
While holding in the unpleasant feelings from being scolded before even getting to the topic, I told her what I saw yesterday in the underground room.
“…Basically, what you’re saying is that there’s a huge bookcase in the underground room with lots of documents. And there was also a laptop on the table, right?”
Kujyo showed a scary expression, glared angrily at me.
“B-but, the laptop didn’t have a power cable, so it couldn’t be turned on at all, right?”
“Even if it’s like that, why didn’t you tell me yesterday? Maybe there’s crucial information on the sacred sword and demonic blade in there!”
“I’m really sorry. I was only thinking about the sword that we had found yesterday.”
“Hmph. Then after finding out that the sword was a fake, you should’ve thought about reporting this information to me.”
“Even if you say that, you didn’t ask me about the details of the underground room.”
“What did you say?”
“S-Sorry…”
I Involuntarily retorted. I could only only apologise non-stop now.
“…However, if Kujyo feels like it’s necessary, I could go retrieve the laptop and the data right now.”
After giving my own humble opinion, Kujyo seemed very unhappy and shook her head.
“We can’t. If we skipped class, then the third years might find out. Also if we don’t handle it right, the situation on the underground room would be exposed. If we want to retrieve the documents, the best time would be after school.”
“However, if I just use , I could make one of my selves go to class, while my other self skips class and goes to the underground room.”
“—I see, there was that method.”
Kujyo slapped her leg, she seems to have accepted this suggestion.
“Then, can I leave the matter of the underground room to you?”
“Of course.”
After getting my reliable answer, Kujyo smiled with satisfaction. It seemed like I had finally succeeded in restoring my reputation.
“Good morning you two!!”
I turned back towards the energetic voice. Yuki stood there full of happiness. Her plate was filled with vegetables.
“Can I sit here?”
She sat to my left before I could even answer. The whole atmosphere of the table seemed to liven up.
However, after Kujyo meaningfully scanned Yuki with a meaningful eye, she quickly stood up.
“I’ve finished eating. I’ll head to the classroom first. I’ll have to trouble you with the matter concerning the documents.”
Kujyo searched her bag for a flashlight while talking and threw it to me. It should be useful in the tunnel.
In the end, she still had some salad left over on her plate. Kujyo quickly left the table. There was still some of time before we had to go to class. However, she had always liked working alone, so I wasn’t extremely mindful about it.
“…It’s really rare, you eating breakfast with Elena.”
I wasn’t sure if it was just me, but I always felt that Yuki looked at me with a piercing gaze. Being stared at by such a gaze, I would still feel a bit flustered, even if I had done nothing wrong.
“No, actually, I just remembered that there were many files and documents stored inside that underground room. After I told her, she scolded me like usual. However, because I said that I would go retrieve it immediately, I seemed to have already received understanding.”
“O-oh, so it’s like that…Because of what happened last night, I thought that Ryu and Elena would definitely have a fight.”
“—Huh? Me?”
I shrugged, thinking she was joking. However, Yuki actually had a very serious expression.
“…Actually, what happened last night was actually a very big blow to me. I didn’t know that Ryu saw Elena in that way…It’s obvious the person always next to Ryu is me…”
Yuki put her head down. She muttered in a barely audible voice to me.
…Eh, what did those words she just said mean? 「What happened last night」 should be me sexually harassing Kujyo last night, right? However, this didn’t have anything to do with 「It’s obvious the person always next to Ryu is me.」
…Could Yuki be thinking that since we’re always together, if I wanted to sexually harass someone, I should be doing it to her?
—No, that would be unthinkable. That pure Yuki would definitely not be one of those people who take pleasure in being sexually harassed.
…I’ll first put aside the unclear significance of her words. Last night, Ryuji’s sexual harassment could be considered a downright accident. In order not to make the same mistakes, it would be better to clearly explain it.
“…Um, Yuki. I already explained yesterday. Ryuji’s confession to Kujyo in the science classroom was all because of the side effects of .”
“Side effect?”
“Yes. You know how my personality and Ryuji’s are completely different, right?”
“Yes. Ryuji is a little more stupid.”
“That’s right, and what’s even more annoying is that he’s a super aggressive pervert. Kujyo said it yesterday, 「Could it be that you have split personality and they become separated into their own bodies」. Actually, that’s basically what happens. After activating Ryuichi and Ryuji, who have two completely different personalities appear. Ryuichi’s personality is closer to mine. In other words, Ryuji and I have completely different ways of thinking, so I wouldn’t want to be held accountable for his stupid actions.”
“…Ok…”
“You can’t accept it?”
“Yep, I can’t accept it at all.”
“I see…”
I tried very hard to explain, but it still didn’t work…
“…Um, then just let me confirm something. Ryu, you don’t plan to keep trying to get close to Elena, right?”
“That’s right. Don’t mention in the same sentence with that idiot.”
“Oh, so it’s like this…Although I still can’t fully accept it, I do feel a bit relieved.”
Seeing Yuki relieved and putting her hand on her chest, I could not help but smile.
“You’re such a bizarre person. Why would you feel relieved?”
“Huh!?…T-that way this matter is all better!! It has nothing to do with Ryu!!”
“W-wouldn’t it be better to say this matter only pertains to me?”
“So noisy!! Actually, I regard Elena as the opposite sex. If Ryu becomes competition, then I would feel very frustrated!!”
“Hm—As I thought, Yuki really isn’t good at lying.”
“That’s not true, and I’m telling the truth!”
“So, so, rather than treating him/her as the same ‘sex’, I’ll treat him as having different ‘last name’!”
“Then I’ll treat her as someone with a different last name, instead of the opposite sex. ”
“Isn’t that how it is for everyone normally?”
“Now that you say, you’re right!…Ryuu-kun even though you can’t see the characters, I’m amazed that you could figure out I was talking about ‘gender’ vs ‘surname’.” ***
“I could guess anything you’re thinking. I’m the one who you said is always with you when you said 「It’s obviously the person who’s always next to Ryu is me」
“C-can you stop repeating other people’s embarrassing phrases!!”
Yuki blushed, and kept hitting my left shoulder.
“Really! Topics that make people embarrassed shall end here! —A-anyways, Ryu. What I wanted to tell you before was to at least eat some vegetables.”
She pointed at the very unbalanced breakfast in front of me. Yuki very stiffly changed the subject.
“I always thought that Ryu doesn’t eat enough vegetables.”
“Huh? No, no. Could it be that you check the food that I chose every time?”
I half-jokingly asked her, but she gaze was very serious.
“Of course I would look. I look at it very carefully every morning. So Ryu, you have to be constantly aware that your life is being monitored.”
“I-I always feel a little bit scared…”
“That’s right. How about I help you choose your meal next time? I’ll be your nutrient manager.”
“O-oh…”
Looking at Yuki’s plate that’s filled with vegetables, I couldn’t resist making an irritable sound.
“…If I left it to Yuki, what food would you chose for me.”
“Ah, that. First, it would be the red-bellied snake that makes people full of energy.”
“Red-bellied snake!? The buffet menu has that!?”
“There’s also live turtles.”
“There’s definitely no turtles on the menu, right!? I’m not lacking so much energy that I would need to eat this kind of thing, right!?”
“Right, it is because Ryu is a herbivore. A herbivore doesn’t eat vegetables is weird. It’s a fatal contradiction.”
“It is troubling that you described me that way.”
“So, in order to resolve this contradiction, it’s necessary to intake a sufficient amount of red-bellied snakes and live turtles. If we could stay alone in a small room after you have eaten, then that would be even better.”
“Why!? What would you do with the energetic me!?”
“Huh!? T-to…to wrestle?”
Yuki, who turned completely red, replied in shy whisper.
…That was unfortunate. I had basically no knowledge on wrestling, but do men and women really wrestle each other? Also, wrestling is quite exhausting, but do we really have to eat red-bellied snakes and live turtles?
My head was full of questions, but I just had a feeling that if we kept on talking about this topic, it would lead to a bad outcome, so I just faked a smile and moved on.
***Note: Gender and Last name are pronounced the same way and written similarly.
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After I finished eating, Yuki and I separated. I returned to my room to retrieve the sword and my bag, then I set off towards the science room at the east branch of the premises. Because normally, nobody would go to the east side at this time, I thought that I would definitely be suspected if I was caught by a third year. I couldn’t help sweating all over.
I tiptoed down the empty hallway, finally arriving safely in front of the science classroom. Fortunately, up until now, I didn’t come across anyone. I immediately activated , sending the me who was holding the flashlight into the science classroom. The Ryuji, who was outside, rushed to back to class.
I entered the password on the control panel. I then entered the hole while turning on the flashlight. After getting used to it, I found the channel breezy and surprisingly comfortable.
Finally coming to the end of the secret passageway, I then pressed the same button as I had yesterday, which activated a mechanism to make the floor disappear. I then dropped down, but made sure that my heart was ready, so that I wouldn’t drop the flashlight this time.
——But almost at the same time as the floor opened, I noticed something very strange. The ceiling lights were somehow all on. Yesterday, when we left, we had already shut them off——
“I’ve been waiting for you for a long time, Yagumo Ryu.”
The person who had gotten to the underground room before me said when I had just landed.
I instantly recognized voice, and went into battle mode.
“Kito, why are you here?”
“Heh, you seem to be very surprised. I didn’t wait here for nothing.”
Kito stood astride in the middle of the room, ignoring my question and sneered.
“If you were thinking of coming to investigate the data here, then it’s really a shame. Because this morning, the laptop and all of the information had already been confiscated.”
“What……!?”
Looking around, the bookshelf had already been swept clean, and the laptop on the desk was gone.
This was too unlucky. Just because of this tiny difference, all the stuff had been taken away.
…….No. No matter what, this timing is way too coincidental. The morning right after we cracked the code, the third years immediately followed.
“…… Could you have deliberately let us go?”
“Oh~ your head works fast. That’s exactly it.”
Seeing Kito’s indifferent smile, I instantly understood everything.
“Then, basically, Kujyo getting the information related to the sacred sword from the library were all just part of the third year’s trap.”
“You’re quite keen. You’re completely correct. However, this was originally only the librarian committee chairman’s idea. We had already noticed this laboratory before, but we couldn’t find the exact location. So, we advertised the rumor of a sacred sword and demonic blade. We then put the information into the library’s books, and waited for a kouhai that could solve the puzzle to appear.”
After having said that, Kato raised his right hand, and pointed towards the direction of the science classroom.
“You guys didn’t notice that there was a surveillance camera on the ceiling of the science room, right? It’s been disguised as something like a fire alarm. If it isn’t dismantled, it definitely won’t be found. So, we heard everything that you guys talked about here last night, loud and clear.”
“……….”
We lost badly. When I heard Kujyo had went to the library to gather information, I should have immediately have raised my alertness level.
“…… Basically, you didn’t continue chasing us last night because you wanted to let us go meet with Kujyo at the science room?”
“That’s right, it’s just as you said. … Although I want to say that, it was really just a coincidence. The glass that you hit me with all pierced my wrist. It wasn’t the right time to chase after you. Because I thought you guys would immediately go back to the dorms, I called it a day and went to the infirmary to pull out the glass.”
While recalling the pain from last night, Kito used his left hand to hold the right hand exposed by his T-shirt. It seemed like there’s no more injury now. The healthcare members probably used their abilities to cure it.
“……Uh, we troubled you on that.”
“Rest assured. I definitely won’t let you go for that.”
He glanced at me without hesitation. I should quickly change the subject.
“Since there are security cameras in the science classroom, you guys noticed that Kujyo was sneaking in there a long time ago.”
“Of course, Kujyo Elena could possibly help us decipher the code. So, we gave her freedom to do anything while monitoring from the side. Well, we just didn’t expect too much.”
“However, last night we successfully opened the entrance to the underground room.”
“We were a little bit careless. When we found of about it, you guys were already heading back. Fortunately, you guys only took away a sword, so we immediately rushed here and took away all the data.”
“………”
Once again, I greatly regretted that I didn’t bring out the documents. If I took it away yesterday, this would have preempted the third years.
“By the way, I can tell you one thing. The reason I was waiting here is because one of my companions overheard you guys’ conversation at the cafeteria. Why didn’t you find a private place to talk about something so important.”
“………Um.”
Now that I thought about it, we were careless from the beginning of our operations yesterday. Originally, we wanted to begin before the third years, but we were just playing into their hands.
…… I always make this kind of stupid mistake, and yet I talk about beating the third years……
“——Ok, spoilers end here. We should get to the main topic now.”
Kito said with an oppressive tone as he walked towards me. His height of one hundred and eighty meters paired with his body full of muscles. This kind of oppressive aura simply isn’t a joke.
“I don’t have to say more, do I. Your conduct yesterday clearly violated the rules. It must be punished.”
“Breaking the rules or whatever was just decided by the third years I bet.”
“Hmph, you have the nerve to say that when you snuck into the school at night.”
“I don’t want to be told that by the people who placed us under house arrest.”
“That’s true, but I must fulfill my duties as a disciplinary member. I also want to return the favor for what you did to my right hand last night.”
“…… Are you trying to make every effort to punish me?”
“That’s exactly right, or are you saying you want all the disciplinary members to beat you black and blue?”
“……….”
In this situation, I obviously didn’t have the guts to say 「This abuse is lynching, right?」. I should stop resisting. It would be better to give in obediently.
However, if it’s ends like this, why did we desperately try to run away.
“Looking at your expression, I’m guessing you’re not going to try and resist, right?”
“Of course not. How could I make such a suicidal act as to the disciplinary committee my enemy.”
“I see. It’s such a shame that you are so sensible.”
“Is that so?”
Does he really want to beat me up that badly.
“……Anyways, Yagumo. Before I punish you, I need to ask a favor of you. I hope you can give me the sword that you got from the underground room.”
“……Huh? The sword?”
“Yes. It’s like you guys said yesterday. That sword could be the key to finding the location of the sacred sword or demonic blade.”
“…..What if I say I don’t want to give it?”
“We obviously won’t make you give it to us for nothing. Last night you broke into the school and hindered the disciplinary committee’s duties. According to rules, you and Nanami Yuki are supposed to be punished for ten days. However, if you hand out the sword, I can cut it in half. Just five days is enough. Also, Kujyo Elena is supposed to have three days of punishment, but I can lessen her’s it by one day. Just two days are enough.”
“……….”
The exchange that I was offered gave me a headache. All the information in the underground room was taken up. The only thing we have left that contains clues to the sacred sword and demonic blade is this sword. How could I give up the sword just for the benefit of having my punishment halved.
Even though I said that, I definitely didn’t want to stay in the punishment room for ten days based on the current situation. Also, looking at the tough measures the third years have been making in the past couple of months, they could find a suitable reason such as 「retrieving equipment that have been taken out without permission」 while we were imprisoned in the punishment to obtain the sword.
——And, I also want to try to prevent getting Yuki and Kujyo thrown into the punishment room as well.
“…… Kito, how about this?”
After thinking about it, I gave him a proposal.
“After school, I’ll have a duel with you.”
“——What! A duel!?”
“That’s right. If I win, I would like you to forget our violation of the rules yesterday.”
Kito mockingly shrank his shoulders towards my proposal.
“Although I don’t know how you came up with dueling, it does seem like a good idea. ——But, it would be good to hear beforehand. What happens if you lose?”
“For twenty days, starting today, I will stay in the punishment room. Of course, I will also hand in the sword from the underground room.”
“——Oh.”
Kito’s expression changed.
“Don’t underestimate the punishment room. If you lose, then you would be stuck in a pitch dark room that doesn’t even have windows for twenty days. Towards the students who are put in there, nothing edible will be provided other than drinking water. Knowing this, can you easily say such a thing?”
“I’m not casually saying this. I said it because I have confidence that I can win.”
Even though I made this kind of bluff, I didn’t have a plan. It was because even if I was to be locked inside such a punishment room, I have confidence in using to escape the punishment room. Also, if I just made either me or Ryuji stay in the punishment room, then the discipline committee would definitely be unable to find out. If I disguise myself, I could definitely eat all the snacks that I wanted outside!
After I indifferently came up with my strategy, I continued speaking.
“I heard that people only need water to survive a month. Even if I’m under imprisonment for twenty days, I still shouldn’t die.”
“…..Hmph. I can only assume that your brain has problems.”
Holding his arm, Kito sneered with disdain. However, I couldn’t cower here.
“So, what’s it going to be? Are you going to accept these conditions?”
“Wait for a minute. This is indeed a fascinating proposal, but there is a bigger premise. Disciplinary committee members can’t turn a blind eye towards the violation of the school rules——”
“It wouldn’t be a problem if you won. Not only did you not let go of the rule breaker, but you also gave him double the punishment. Not only that, you can even get your hands on the sword. Or, are you scared of losing to me?”
“That’s obviously using provocative tactics on me.”
“Because of what happened yesterday, I guess you don’t find me very pleasing to the eye, right? The glass that pierced into your arm yesterday hurt badly, right?”
“Although it causes a lot of anger, those two things are completely different matters. I will not mix duty with our private matters.”
“………..”
Kito is actually such an exemplary person. I thought that if I put it this way, he would have definitely taken the bait.
If that was the case, then I would have to desperately gamble on this.
“Ok, I understand now. If you don’t accept this proposal, then I guess I’ll just have to destroy the sword immediately.”
After hearing what I said, Kito’s face contorted. It seemed like I hit a nerve.
“You know what I can do, right? Actually, the sword is in the classroom. So, if you refuse to fight me, I’ll have the other me, who’s in the classroom, immediately break the sword.”
“……….”
“I could use telepathic abilities with my other self. It would be better to say that my other self is completely ignoring class and keeping his eyes peeled for any new developments. Even if you want to retrieve it immediately, you definitely won’t make it in time.”
“……Are you serious?”
“Of course.”
I looked back with a provocative gaze towards Kito, who towered above me.
After a while, Kito pretendingly sighed and scratched his head.
“Ok, I get it. I’ll just accept your challenge.”
“That means you agree to have a duel with me, right?”
“How many times do you want me to say it, so annoying.”
Kito waved his hand like he was driving away flies.
“Oh, that’s right, Yagumo. You look like you haven’t dueled before. Did you know there are a few rules in the school lockdown game. The student council president should have already explained what would happen on April 28th.”
“…..Ah, I seem to remember something of the sort, but I’m not clear about the specific details anymore.”
“Firstly, you have to ask for a duel in advance. You can’t ambush. Secondly, without a particular reason, you cannot duel outside of the school campus.”
Kito started reciting the rules of dueling. I wasn’t sure if it was just me, but Kito seemed to have a smug look on his face.
“Thirdly,the duel must be under the supervision of the health committee chairman.”
“If the health committee chairman is there, then wounds could be treated immediately even if someone was seriously injured during the duel.”
“That’s right. However, if you accept treatment, then you’re basically admitting defeat.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Fourthly, battles will generally last until one side admits defeat or loses consciousness. However, if one side is seriously hurt, the supervisors will determine if there is any danger with continuing the fight. That would also immediately determine the winner.”
“I guess that’s to prevent people from battling to the death.”
“That’s right. There are some other rules, but only these four pertain to this duel. The rules would subtly change for each duel pertaining to the opponent. If you get the chance, ask someone else to explain to you. ——Also, let me handle the application for this duel.”
“That would really be appreciated.”
“Then I will confirm one more time. The results of this duel will determine whether you are pardoned or punished. Is there really no problem with this?”
“Of course not.”
After getting my confirmation, Kito took out his student handbook and briefly recorded what we talked about earlier.
「If Yagumo Ryu wins: he will be pardoned for all of his punishments.」
「If Yagumo Ryu loses: starting today, he will be locked up for twenty days and will give the sword he found in the basement to the third-years.」
“Let me say this beforehand. This time it’s a special case. Don’t think this will happen again.”
“Mhm, obviously there isn’t a problem with that, Kito. However, where you wrote 「if Yagumo Ryu wins」, could you also add 「Nanami Yuki and Kujyo Elena’s punishment will also all be pardoned」?”
“…..Huh? I obviously can’t allow that. There was no such condition when we discussed earlier——”
“I guess I’ll destroy the sword.”
“——Ok, fine. I got it. I really lost big on this one.”
“Thank you very much. I always knew Kito would be able to do it.”
“Shut up, you low life pretending to be like other people who protect girls.”
“It’s not only to protect them because they’re girls, but also because they’re my friends.”
“Hmph, kill yourself.”
“How could you talk trash about me so frankly?”
“Ah, that’s right. Changing the subject, I have a couple things to add about the punishment room.”
“Right after you pretend like nothing happened and changed the subject!”
“I think you should know without me telling you. To Exceeds, the lock on doors is nothing other than a decoration. So, anyone who enters the punishment room will all receive an order to not escape the room with Kirihara’s .
“——Huh?”
“However, seeing the way you boasted of your amazingness, you definitely shouldn’t have considered anything cowardly like escaping.”
“……T-that goes without saying. It’s really annoying. I definitely didn’t think of a strategy like going outside to eat snacks until I’m full.”
“I also think that way. You really have such a manly spirit. I’m really thankful for that. I’m really looking forward to our duel after school.”
As Kito said that, an evil smile appeared on his face.
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“——So, that’s why I’m going to duel Kito.”
A period of time elapsed. It was now first period’s break. I lifted , and I told Yuki and Kujyo, who were in the classroom, about the negotiations I had in the basement earlier.
“……I can only say that you’re too hasty.”
Kujyo said coldly with a complex expression and her arms crossed.
“It really is commendable that you want to prevent having me thrown into the punishment room, but you have basically no chance of winning.”
“Nope, Elena. How dare you curb his enthusiasm in one of the few instances where Ryu has vigor? I support you, Ryu.”
“Seriously Nanami, you’re spoiling Yagumo too much. …..Having said that, I don’t detest reckless guys. Even though you’ll lose badly, good luck.”
In response to Kujyo’s insincere support accompanied with a half-smile, I retorted like this.
“Heheh. It’s a pity, Kujyo. I shouldn’t lose this match.”
“Oh? Could it be that you have some sort of countermeasure?””
“Ah. It’s just like you said. Yuki used on Kito’s right hand last night. So, immediately after the battle begins, I’ll let Yuki activate and throw large amounts of glass shards just like yesterday. I don’t even have to do anything and Kito will be unable to fight.”
This is the trump card that I’ll use in the duel with Kito. The sly Ryuji would never provoke in a situation that has no chance of winning.
On the other hand, Kujyo frowned after hearing this countermeasure.
“That strategy is too petty.”
“However, we would definitely win.”
“You say it like this, but isn’t this completely relying on outside factors?”
“You can call it whatever you want. As long as we win, it wouldn’t matter.”
“…..Um——”
At this moment, Yuki suddenly interrupted with a very sorry appearance.”
“I’m sorry to tell you that ’s mark resets whenever I sleep…… So, if you want to use it on Kito again, I would have to touch him again.”
“……Huh? Are you serious?”
“Mhm, completely. So, the strategy of using on Kito is completely unworkable.”
“……….”
This was an unexpected obstacle.
“…..Uh, then let’s look for opportunities of approaching Kito before school ends and think of whatever way we can touch him…..”
“Our opponent isn’t stupid. He will definitely be alert of Yuki who’s on your side. It’s probably very difficult to even approach him.”
“………”
Kujyo’s remarks made me speechless. I was in a state of despair.
“Yagumo, don’t be so depressed. We’ll see you after you come out of the punishment room twenty days later.”
“You already determined that I’ll lose.”
“You don’t have any other battle plans, right? Or are you saying you’ll terminate the duel?”
Kujyo scornfully shrugged.
“I don’t really care much. I was already prepared to enter the punishment room.”
“——Hey, hey, Kujyo. You’re wrong about me. I definitely won’t run away.”
I declared to Kujyo, who didn’t have any faith in me.
“The me that took pride in avoiding unsure battles died because of Kuyjo’s words yesterday. Now take a good look at the reborn me”
“——Hmph. You can really talk. Judging by your incessant chatter, you must have thought of other strategies to defeat him, right?”
“Of course.”
“Interesting. If you can really defeat Kito, then I’ll give you a reward.”
Just as Kujyo said that sneering, the bell for the second class started ringing. The gigantic TV in front of the room started playing a recording. The class began.
We immediately returned to our seats and took out our math notebooks. Because there are surveillance cameras on top of the TV, it will catch everything going on in the classroom and transfer it to the third years. If you weren’t seriously studying, then you’ll be taken to the punishment room by the disciplinary committee.
The ringing ended, and the teacher on the TV started lecturing.
……Ok.
I’m already forced to a dead end. What should I do now?
I can’t turn back having told them these things. I can’t see any hope in defeating Kito. However, I don’t want to be suspended for twenty days. Knowing this, I should have confirmed the effects of earlier……
I had a sad expression as I was troubled with this. Although I still like math, this isn’t the time to study.
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After sixth period ended so did the school day. I carried the sword from last night and walked with Yuki and Kujyo to the main entrance (the sheath made of rope, which held the sword, was all made for me by Yuki during breaks).
I couldn’t believe how calm I was. I couldn’t get it off my mind this morning. However, as it got closer to the duel time, I actually became more relaxed. I already gave up. I’ll just let whatever happens happen!!
As we were walking on the small path that led westward, we went down a series of concrete stairs covered with lush green grass and arrived at a sand covered playground. There wasn’t a single cloud in the sky. It looked like the duel wouldn’t be cancelled due to rain.
When we arrived, Kito was already there, sitting. It seemed like he wanted to be prepared to duel at a moment’s notice, so he did preparation exercises.
There was no one else around other than Kito. I couldn’t help myself from taking a breath of relief. In order to have the supervisors gather before the battle begins, notices would always be posted at the main entrance beforehand.
After the school lockdown game started, there would be a lot people watching every single battle due how rare they were. However, because the third years were always the overwhelming winners, the number of students who came and watched became less and less.
Moreover, this battle was completely unrelated to the school lockdown game. It was a battle between a B class and a C class. Only Kujyo and Yuki were here.I’m really thankful for this because I was going to lose really badly.
“——Yo, Yagumo. You have to work hard today.”
I suddenly heard a voice behind me. I instinctively turned my head around. A beautiful girl dressed in white appeared before me. There were red lines on her skirt indicating that she was a third year.
Her waist length hair was tied up with bright red accessories, and the plumpness of her chest could match that of Yuki’s. However, what was more striking was that she left her white cape, which was worn on top of her uniform, drooping on her shoulders. It was clear that she showed less skin than other girls, but this kind of drooping fashion was actually slightly more erotic.
Her name was Shiranui Himeka, a S class Exceed. She served as the health committee chairman, who is one of the Game Masters of the school lockdown game.
“Have we met before? I think I met you when you sent one of your classmates to the health center during Golden Week. However, you left without saying anything to me.”
“…..Yes, thank you very for taking care of him that time.”
“Shucks, it’s just the health committee’s responsibility. If I use my . Treating wounds only takes two seconds.”
Shiranui said confidently as her dark black hair swayed gracefully.
“As long as you have me supervising, you don’t need to show any mercy for your opponent. Enjoy the battle to your heart’s content.”
“……Ok.”
I reluctantly answered as I walked towards center of the campus. I wasn’t in the mood to chat with the Dominators at the time.
“——In that case, I’ll go all out.”
I told myself as I activated .
Ryuji and I split, side by side carrying the sword in its scabbard. After activating , doesn’t only make a copy of myself but also my clothes and accessories.
However, if this didn’t happen, there would be a naked person every time we split. That would be a big problem.
By the way, the items added by wouldn’t disappear even if I dropped it before I cancel the ability. For example, if I used , a $10,000 bill would become two bills. That way you could buy things worth $20,000. This ability was literally made for breaking the law.
“You seem to be ready.”
Kito said to me as he got up after finishing his stretches. Ryuji and I simultaneously nodded our heads.
“Alright, then let’s get started.”
Kito shouted with a very imposing manner. A few seconds later, fireworks started, which meant the start of the battle.
The white smoke rose up extremely high, and the loud sounds of explosion resounded in the air.
Seconds later, Kito lowered his body and started to charge up. He probably wanted to make himself enormous like last night.
Ryuji and I took aim and sped towards him. As we ran towards the motionless Kito, we pulled out the sword. We were going to pierce him from the upper-right in one go.
The reason was simple for using quick attacks at the beginning of the battle. If someone wanted to beat Kito, their best chance would be before he became a giant.
——However, in reality, it wouldn’t be as successful as I imagined it would be. Kito already saw through my intentions. He enlarged his right arm in an instant and swept horizontally with tremendous force. Ryuji and I were hit and sent flying backwards.
Fortunately, the attack earlier didn’t do us much harm. It was probably because it was a sudden counter-attack, so there wasn’t much power put in.
We immediately adjusted our formation. Ryuji and I put a little more distance between us.
“——Kito. From what just happened, we can clearly see that you’re ability has a huge weakness.”
While paying attention to Kito’s movements, I said this, which made him shudder.
“It would be better to call it a limit rather than a weakness.”
“Limit? What do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb.”
As he said that, I reminisced about what happened last night. When we encountered Kito in the vicinity of the school campus, he only made his right arm enormous. There was no sign of him chasing us during the time he was making his whole body gigantic.
“You probably can’t make your whole body gigantic in an instant. To achieve gigantism, it would take somewhere around ten seconds. During this time, you’ll be completely vulnerable.”
After hearing me point out his weakness, Kito made a wry smile.
“How surprising. You deduced that just from our encounter yesterday.”
“I am very observant.”
“Hmph, but my right arm can instantly become gigantic.”
“That’s true, but this is a lot easier to fight against compared to a complete giant.”
“So, you decided not to wait until I turn gigantic?”
“That’s right, but it would be better to say that I took this opportunity to engage.”
While I was pretending to chat with Kito, Ryuji launched a surprise attack from behind.
“——Eat this!!”
However, Kito’s enlarged his right foot and jumped away with an unbelievable amount of force from where he was.
“That’s a pity. I saw your other self moving with my peripheral vision.”
“I knew from the beginning that trick wouldn’t work. ——However, it could still be considered a small success since I know your feet can get bigger now as well.”
“While analyzing my ability, you’re planning on slowly forcing me into a corner.”
“Do you think that’s improper?”
“No, actually I think it’s a great strategy. ……Anyways, have you heard any information about from other people?”
“What do you mean?”
“Stop playing dumb. When I activate , there’s another effect. Do you know what it is?”
“……….”
I probably already guessed what Kito wanted to say. While and are completely different classes, there are some similarities.
——It’s that 「you can add more of yourself」.
“To answer the question from earlier, it should be 「when you activate , anything you touch will also become huge」, right? Otherwise, your uniform would have been ripped into shreds when you turned gigantic last night.”
“You have very good observation skills. You can even deduce this when you use it.”
While talking, Kito put his hand down his jacket’s front pocket, seemingly trying to pull something out.
“Actually before the battle, I picked up all the medium sized rocks around the area.”
“——Could it be you!”
“Ah, that’s exactly right.”
Kito held a small rock while making his right hand gigantic. During the moment I spaced out, he threw the rock in his hand, which was around thirty meters, towards Ryuji.
——That’s not right, it was no longer the size of a stone. It was a boulder.
“Eat a blow from my right fist as well!”
The moment he said that, Kito had already threw his giant fist at me.
The giant right fist came at me, and countless rocks flew towards Ryuji. I hesitated for a moment. I then finally canceled , which made me disappear.
After, my body suffered the impact of numerous rocks. The sharp stones pierced my skin all the way to the bones. My head started feeling a little dizzy.
“——You aren’t the only one who learnt from last night’s battle. As long as you cancel , you can avoid one of them from being attacked. So, if I want to attack you, I have target both of you at the same time for it to work.”
Kito proudly said to me, as I fell on the ground.
Although I avoided a fatal wound, both my elbows hurt so much that I couldn’t lift them up. Because I wanted to protect myself from the rocks, I got this wound instead. I questioned whether I should keep fighting.
“——AHHHHHH!!”
I shouted as I stubbornly got up. I finally stood up.
However, after I adjusted my posture, Kito had already turned into a giant.
“……Ok. I’m completely ready now. Let’s start this battle again!”
Kito’s roaring voice came from above. He had already lifted his gigantic right foot to flatten me.
Predicting where he was going to land, I desperately tried to jump away from there. An unbelievably enormous shoe flattened where I just stood at.
The ground shook violently, the area rumbled, and sand flew everywhere. Because there was such a huge gap in strength, I was flabbergasted.
Now Kito’s foot was the size of my whole body. If I was stepped on, it would completely KO me.
Cold sweat dripped from my forehead. Looking at the situation, there was no chance of winning.
——Then, I should take this opportunity to run away.
I put the sword back into its sheath and swiftly ran towards the school building. The sand obscured Kito’s line of sight. There were a couple seconds that he couldn’t find me.
“——Hey, wait Yagumo!! Where are you going !?”
“I’m sorry! I really have no chance of winning, so I’m running away!”
“You’re giving up way too quickly!! Don’t run away so openly!!”
“A great man once said that if the situation is too desperate, running away is the only logical way out!”
“That’s Sun Tzu! Under the circumstances that you have no countermeasures, running away is really a good idea! However, I’m not going to let you get away!!”
Because I assumed Kito would shout angrily as he ran towards me, I hadn’t thought he would just jump towards me. His body flew like a bullet and landed in the empty parking lot, easily getting ahead of me. Because of the huge impact, the asphalt surface cracked, and black debris flew everywhere.
However, I already knew that he would get to the school building before me. So, I activated , then Ryuji and I each ran in opposite directions.
“——!! What an annoying ability!!”
After Kito hesitated, he grabbed for me with both hands.
However, I immediately canceled and disappeared from his huge palms. In a hair’s breadth, I once again used , and we once again went in opposite directions.
I wouldn’t say anything about crossing swords, but I was super confident in my ability to run away!
I finally arrived at the wide open window that faced the corridor. This way I could successfully escape into the school building. I could finally be at ease——.
Just as I was finally calming down, Kito used his giant right hand to get into the building by breaking the window next to me. Even though I barely managed to avoid his fist, the scattered sharp shards of glass still pierced my face and hands.
“……Yo, Yagumo. We meet again.”
From the other side of the window, Kito stared at me with his giant eyes..
My heart was seized by fear, all I wanted to do was escape this place as soon as I could. However, my feet wouldn’t move as if they were frozen in fear. Also, the passage leading into the school was completely blocked off by his giant arm..
“Did you think running into the school, would force me into returning to my normal size? That’s really unfortunate. Even in my current state, I could still play hide and seek with you.”
“……D-does the disciplinary committee randomly sabotage school buildings?”
“Don’t worry. Even if the whole school was destroyed, we can restore everything by asking any member from beautification committee to fix it.”
“I see. That’s true.”
“Even if it’s me, destroying the school still distresses me. So how about it? Want to obediently come out?”
“……I got it. I surrender——”
“You’re not the type of person to say that.”
Kito sneered and clenched his left hand tightly. It seemed like he still wanted to punch the front of the school one more time.
This is the longest I can keep Kito’s attention on me. After deciding this, I canceled and combined with Ryuji.
Actually, when Ryuichi was buying time, Ryuji had already entered the school building from another entrance.
“Yagumo!! Where did you go!!”
The howling of Kito came from the other side of the building. As if the sound of his roar was chasing me, I quickly ran up the stairs.
As I was running up the stairs, I heard the sound of shattering come from all of the windows in the school building. It seemed like he started from the first floor and didn’t miss a single window. What a scary thought.
“I found you!!”
I heard Kito’s yell, then the window in front of me broke. The brutal punch of the giant was coming towards me.
The front of my body suffered the blow from the huge fist. I was sent flying backwards, down the stairs.
“Hahahahahahaha!! At this time, there’s no one left in the building!!!! It’ll be easy as pie for me to find you, no matter how much you run around!! ”
Kito shouted with a grim smile.
On the other hand, I, who was injured in an instant, laid on the hallway of the third floor. I checked how badly I got hurt.
Being hit by the huge fist, made my face and solar plexus ache endlessly. Not only that, the shards of glass that flew towards me caused me to become covered in blood.When I fell downstairs, I severely injured my back and waist. Of course, being hit by rocks on both arms didn’t help either. If I was in an RPG right now, my HP would be in the single digits. I have long passed the yellow bar. I would already be in the red bar now.
——But, I definitely won’t give up!!
I activated lying down. After, I appeared within a three meter range, which was in the hallway of the fourth floor. I then deactivated my ability, and created another self in the three meter range once again.
Although I nearly died, I finally succeeded in reaching the roof. …… Then again, it would have been better if I did this from the start…….
Although the numerous wounds crippled my body, I still desperately stood up even though I could barely walk.
I dragged my leg to the edge of the roof. The fireworks used for signaling the start of the match was carelessly put there. It seemed like I could use it to attack.
“Hahaha, you’re finally willing to come out of the school.”
Just as I reached the edge of the roof, Kito met my eyes. His forehead was around the size of the roof. Only after standing at such a high place did I personally feel how massive my upperclassman had grown.
“So, what do you want to do? If you jump from there, you might be able to hit my head with your sword?”
It might have been because he hit the front of my body that made him seem very happy, or it might be from seeing my crippled body, which made him already convinced of his victory.
“……You’re right. As a last prank, to risk my life just to hit you doesn’t sound like a bad idea.”
As I said that, I canceled , which made the Ryuji in the hallway of the fourth floor disappear.
——This was my last chance. If this attack fails, the only place I’ll be going to is the punishment room. Moreover, the sword I got from the basement would be taken away.
I continued onward without considering the state I was in, I grabbed the railing and activated .
After, my consciousness moved above Kito’s head. Although my view didn’t change much, being in the air made the scenery under my feet completely different.
However, the biggest difference was when I appeared above his head, Kito was overshadowed by an enormous shadow.
“——What!?”
Kito looked up, shocked, with eyes wide open. No wonder. It was because a huge school appeared in the sky.
——When I thought of this strategy, I saw Kito activating to make the rocks in his hand become boulders. At that moment, a question came to mind. 「When I activate to double, is there really no limit in size?」
Of course, I didn’t think it was true at the beginning. However, with Kito’s size right now, there was no other way than making something larger than he is to flatten him.
Although it was a stupid idea, it was worth a try. So, even if I needed to drag myself, I had to make it to the roof. Finally, I held the railing and activated while imagining an identical version of the school in the sky.
Although it was a desperate gamble, the result was a pretty successful copy of the entire school. Also, in order to prevent hitting the original school building, I purposely held the railing of school, letting it be completely directed downwards.
“——Take this!!”
I yelled as the duplicate school fell down altogether. Although I really wanted to go to the roof where Ryuji was at, the copied school would also disappear if I deactivated . So, my only choice was to fall down with the building (having said that, actually, Yuki could help deal with it by using .
When the duplicate school fell down, it still hit the original building. A part of the broken sections fell onto Kito’s colossal body.
Although Kito’s current height and the height of the school were around the same, it was still an overwhelming unfavorable in terms of width and depth. It was like the difference between a person and a truck. That’s to say, his current situation was like walking on the street and suddenly getting hit by a truck from the side.But, this wasn’t from the side. It was from the above.
So, Kito was helpless against the school building.
“Guwahhhhhhh!!”
He looked completely different from his satisfied expression earlier. Kito tried to catch the building with his hand, yelling a savage cry.
But, sure enough, Kito’s strength couldn’t support the whole school. Being unable to support it, he lost his balance and was overpowered by the school.
Kito’s feet were gradually pushed backwards, which uprooted various plants. Also, the sports department’s gym that was next to the sports field was crushed into ruins by Kito’s back. It was literally like the end the world.
On the other hand, I, who didn’t have a parachute, jumped from the rooftop and was stopped mid fall by an invisible force, arriving next to Yuki. I landed safely thanks to her, Yuki, my soul mate.
Finally, a great roar came from the school. Kito was completely buried under the school, lying there motionless.
The school dormitory that smashed into Kito shattered even more after it was slammed into the ground. Fragments of concrete mixed with the sand from the sports field. All kinds of dust flew into the air.
However, it was too early to relax. I was stopped by the sound of an avalanche, then I walked towards Kito. If the blow earlier didn’t get rid of him, I should take care of him right now, before he can get back up.
I walked to where Kito was. I found out that even though he was being pressed down by a lot of rubble, he still didn’t faint and was trying hard to get out.
So, I tried climbing his tree trunk-like neck and drew my sword while standing on his collarbone.
“Kito, please surrender immediately. Even if we take into account our size difference, I’m pretty confident that I can still cut your carotid artery. .”
Kito could feel the edge of the sword on his neck and made a face of disgust. He obediently stopped resisting.
“The battle has been decided! The victor: Yagumo Ryu!”
Then, Shiranui, who came out of nowhere and now stood beside me, declared the end of the battle.
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LNWNCentral_Dual Sword Liberator_Dual Sword Liberator - Volume 01 Chapter 01-02
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Dual-Sword-Liberator-Volume-01-Chapter-01-02-[Unknown][Unknown]/xubi5lvl.ilu.txt
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Full Chapter
Full Chapter
Translator: Xintus, Nya~ko
Translation Checker: GG
Editor: Shozenn
Another Fake Full:
Starting about thirty years ago from 「April 1 the year when I was 15」 to 「March 31 the year when I was 18」, some people appeared who were capable of using abilities. They became known as 「Exceed」, and I, Yagumo Ryu, was one of them.
From April 1st of this year, I became a person with abilities right after I woke up from bed.
Now that I think about it, it was very strange. As soon as I opened my eyes, I became aware of my abilities. It was just like how a baby knows how to move his hands or feet. I don’t know how I became able to understand how to activate my ability, .
Though I panicked about it for a moment, I quickly accepted my fate. The news on TV often broadcasted on Exceeds. Middle school students now learn about 「Exceed Ability」 as a mandatory course, which has now been added as a class. The existence of Exceeds became universally known. Not to mention, for about two hours before I slept that night, I hoped that I might become an Exceed tomorrow.
According to the class we attended in middle school, around one hundred high school students will become Exceeds. Now that I think about it, I feel like that kind of luck is akin to winning a one hundred million yen lottery prize. Even though there are many Exceeds in the world, I didn’t think I would become one. It’s that kind of feeling.
After getting out of bed, I wanted to try my ability. I activated it, and my other self appeared. Whether it was appearance, height, or clothes everything was the same. It was like looking into a full-length mirror.
“……Yo.”
“…..Ouh~”
There was a response from my greeting. Even the voice sounded the same. Standing next to someone who is the same, honestly makes me feel a little uncomfortable.
Whilst trying to endure the uncomfortable feeling, I tried to communicate without speaking.
“Ah——testing, testing.”
“Oh, I can hear it in my head. Is this telepathy?”
The two mes seemed to feel better and laughed together. Using this ability would make it easy to cheat on tests.
After playing around with telepathy for about five minutes, I canceled and started to change my clothes. Now that I confirmed that me being an Exceed was not an illusion, I decided to go the nearest place that was holding the「Exceed Examination」.
The Exceed examination is held on the first of April throughout Japan for fifteen year olds. It’s used to determine whether or not they have awakened to an ability. I don’t know the complex theories behind it, but through the collection of a small amount of blood, they can immediately determine if one is an Exceed or not.
The cost of having a free test was that everyone had to accept the examination. Unless it was for an important reason, if someone didn’t check in before noon, then they would be placed on the wanted list of that country.
Although I think publicly demonstrating would be easier, I decided to follow the procedures. The result was positive. Coincidentally, April’s fools is today. I don’t know if my friends would believe me if I told them 「I have become an Exceed!」.
Because I became an Exceed, my parents were called here immediately to accept instructions from government personnel . For the next three years, I will be staying on government grounds. I will be attending the 「The City of God Academy」, which is directly managed by the government. Because having abilities carry risks, they must be under constant surveillance. If someone rejects studying at the City of God Academy and runs away instead, they will be wanted by the whole country. People could abuse their powers for malicious reasons, if they really wanted to. Therefore, by obtaining this incredible power, you can expect not to live a normal life.
The school’s name is 「City of God」, its name was taken from the location where the construction took place. It’s rumored that previously, the school’s perimeter was surrounded in uncultivated fields and hills. It took several years to build this school for Exceeds to study in. It looks like it took a considerable amount of effort.
I left home on the morning of April second. I sat in a car, owned by the government , used specifically for the purpose of moving Exceeds. It traveled along a bumpy road until finally arriving at the City of God. When I moved in, I had not been arrested yet or otherwise been treated inhumanely. However, life could not have been considered very carefree. We got all sorts of rewards in return for cooperating in the simple tests that were occasionally held.
During the entrance ceremony on April tenth, I was told to sit next to Yuki. It must have been fate. We then had this conversation:
“I heard that each year there’s only around one hundred people who could become Exceeds in high school. I wouldn’t have thought I would be one of them. It feels like I’ve won the lottery without even buying a ticket. Lucky——”
Yuki showed a carefree smile while saying this. She was dressed in a brand new gray suit jacket, paired with a cream colored sweater wrapped around her upper body. Around her neck, she wore a ribbon-like tie. Her whole body emitted a very mature charm. Once again, I realized that my living environment had already changed.
“Oh, yeah, Yagumo. Did you read the booklet that they gave us when we got here? It says that outside of school hours, we can read as much manga as we want, play as much as we want, and eat as many snacks as we want.”
“Ah. You mean the line that says 「As long as it’s something you want, even if it’s within the Earth, we will dig it out for you」. I feel like that’s a little too good to be true.”
“Also, when we’re outside, there are SP-driven luxury coach cars to drive us. It’s almost like VIP treatment isn’t it.”
“Well, the driver is actually sent to monitor us. Also, this school is in a completely remote area with no neighborhoods around. If we don’t have a car to drive us, we wouldn’t even have a way home.”
“Even if it is like that, I bet ordinary people wouldn’t even be able to ride a luxury coach car in their lifetime.”
“I guess so. However, there’s been some weddings lately where the couples were sent in luxury coach cars.”
“Oh, I see~ Yagumo’s really familiar with this kind of thing. Could you be married?”
Cough cough
“Now that I think about it, luxury cars are expensive to rent aren’t they.”
“It should be a couple tens of thousands of yen per hour…….Now that I think about it, these benefits are only available to us until graduation. I’m going to enjoy my life here.”
This put us into high spirits. During the first month after we were admitted, life was very comfortable.
For example, the school sometimes invited twenty different manufacturers of salty potato chips, and held a tasting assembly (we couldn’t what the difference was at all).
Sometimes, they would prepare a bathtub filled with ten thousand yen bills for us to take a picture like a millionaire (the money was taken back after).
I came to know the benefits of being friends with Yuki, who scheduled a trip to Egypt during Golden Week. She used the influence of the pyramids to enhance the persuasiveness of her request (because near the end, there wasn’t much to say).
Obviously, if I asked for a one hundred karat diamond, it wouldn’t be approved, However, in a situation like this where every request was answered, there wouldn’t be anyone who would use their powers for evil.
Ahh, if you lived in a place like this for three years, you would definitely become someone super useless or something along those lines. April twenty-eighth would later become the day I would never forget.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The day that we were sealed in, we had no knowledge of what was going on. On that morning at eight o’clock, the whole school was summoned to the gym for an assembly.
It was on a day with warm weather that made people drowsy. The doors were closed, and you could hear the birds chirping outside. None of the approximately three hundred students were late. They were lined up in the gym. Before the assembly started, the students were talking——
When I first looked up, the scene was very normal. However, I felt uneasy. It was because in the big stadium, not even one teacher was around. It wasn’t just the teachers. Even the Exceeds who worked for the government, that lived nearby, and who were here to monitor us were also suddenly gone.
……This kind of thing has never happened before……
Although it felt a little uneasy, I didn’t think too much about it. It could be that they just needed to do something without letting us students know and left us for a little while.
Right after I accepted the explanation I came up with, the third-year student council secretary, Kirihara Syuji came out from the side of the stage. He alone, stood in front of the microphone. It seemed like the assembly was finally going to begin.
——But after Kirihara slowly flipped the microphone switch, he suddenly gave all the students this order:
“Attention everyone! You are not to take one step out of the City of God Academy’s dormitories without my permission!”
“——!?”
When I finally understood what was happening, it was already too late. Because Kirihara possessed the ability , no one would be able to go against his orders.
So to this day, even if I wanted to create a copy of myself using to escape, it wouldn’t work.
What’s more is that all the students in the same year as me don’t know how serious the situation was. Yuki, who stood beside me asked, “What activity is this? Is it a belated welcome to the 1st-years?”
She began asking those types of carefree questions.
“……Hey, Yuki. Don’t you think it’s strange that there’s no teacher in this whole gym.”
“Huh?——You’re right. I didn’t notice at all. Are the teachers in a meeting?”
Yuki agreed with me and tilted her head. I stood next to her, feeling uneasy.
Why would Kirihara issue an order like this——
As I was wondering about the suspicious situation, the seniors of the Student Council came out from the side and approached the microphone.
“The order that Kirihara just issued was not just his idea. It was the intention of all third-years. Suddenly doing something like this must have confused all you first and second years, so let us explain the rules of the game we’re about to play.”
After hearing those words, the tension in the gym clearly eased up. What was I suspicious about. Of course, it’s just an activity.
“As you all know, we third years will be losing our abilities by March of next year. So until then, we would like to have a little more fun with our irregular lives here. So we would like to ask the first and second years students to join this game that we made up. The game is called 「School Lockdown」. Before this game ends, no one is allowed step off campus. Games will last until March of next year.
Suddenly, the stadium began to fill with noise again. I can’t leave the school? And it lasts until March of next year?
“After yesterday, the easy-going school life we had ended. All future requests will be ignored, and items unrelated to school will not be given. ——Oh, lessons will be held as usual. Having said that, because school personnel have been forcibly ejected, class will be taught by video. If someone boycotts the classes or disturbs the school environment, he will be immediately punished. Make sure to take note of this.”
——We’re forced to stay on school campus, but we could also get punished? Will this kind of thing be allowed?
….No, it has been allowed. The Student Council president is hailed as the strongest in history with an S-Class ability (Exceed), having a very powerful force. As long as he wanted it, ruling over all students would be simply effortless.
“Then, I’ll tell you the method of retrieving your former steady life. There’s only one way, and that’s to pass the Academy Blockade game. Passing is very simple, it’s 「Using your abilities to defeat the 5 Dominators: Student Council President, Discipline Chairman, Health Chairman, Beautification Chairman and Librarian Chairman」. This is nothing more than setting up our game’s BOSS”
The kind smiling Student Council President calmly proposed the clearance condition that was impossible to achieve. Not because of anything else, but this year’s Third Years were known for consisting of many well-known militants with special abilities. And as the people nominated from these several, the leaders were all outstanding, even out of those who had S-Class and A-Class (Exceed) abilities.
On the other hand, among the First Year and Second Year students, there were no special ability users of S-Class. There were only a handful of A-Class users in Second Year. The majority of us only had B-Class and C-Class special abilities(Yuki and I are both C-Class).
Therefore, the conditions for clearing this game that he made were basically impossible. We didn’t even know if we could defeat a single one of the five leaders before the deadline——. After calmly analyzing it, I could not help but bite my lip.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Within the first week of the game, the first-year and second-year students were divided into two factions. One called the 「Braves」 and the other the 「Observers」.
The Braves, as the name suggested, are the students who wanted to defeat the Dominators. On the other hand, the Observers, which made up most of the students, wanted to watch the Braves. Basically, the 「Braves」 are the 「foolhardy guys」 and the 「Observers」 are the 「ones with no willpower」.
During the week, there were numerous times when the Observers were called 「cowards」 and when the Braves were called 「foolish」 in this kind of situation. I felt these things began the internal strife among us.
By the way, I’m obviously on the Observer’s side. However, because I have been careful about my attitude toward the Braves, I have not received any criticism on the surface yet.
But then again, do the Braves really have the right to criticize the Observers? A week has already passed, but the Brave haven’t made any progress. Because they know the way they are right now, they can’t challenge the Dominators.
For example, take the books chairman. If you wanted to challenge him, it’s necessary to beat at least a few of the third-year members of the books commission.
When the game at the academy began, all committee compositions were updated. All first-year and second-year students were removed from the committees. At the same time, to gather more members, the festival committee and the electoral affairs commission were abolished. The members were split between the books commission and the health committee.
Now all committee chairs are held by third-year students. Although I’m not clear on how to challenge them and the amount of people allowed to fight, the journey would sure be tough because most third-years had B-rank and above Exceeds.
Also, although I considered attacking Kirihara in order to force him to lift the , he was always surrounded by several different S-class and A-class Exceeds. So,compared to beating the game, overcoming his powerful protection seemed even harder.
Using one phrase to summarize the current situation: it would be helpless. We’re nothing but caged birds.
Because of the very limited amount of freedom we had, the boys were very thirsty for porn.
……No, although it sounds funny, it’s a very serious problem. The house arrest alone made everyone nervous, so something like porn that heals is something that can’t be overlooked.
At the beginning of the game, all our cell phones were taken away. Also, anything related to computers were all cleared. All TV channels were blocked from receiving signals. Basically, all the methods that we could have used to watch porn were severed.
I used desperate measures. I got in a good relationship with Yuki to relieve my endless depressed mood. She’s like a cute pet. Just looking at her makes you happy.
“——Hey, Yagumo, have you heard that there’s a sacred sword hidden somewhere in this school?”
From the morning of May 5th, it started pouring. When I was gloomily eating my breakfast in the cafeteria, a gigantic body wearing a cream-colored sweater suddenly appeared in front of me——oh nevermind, it’s Yuki holding a tray.
“A sacred sword? Nope, never heard of it. Is it something like the seven great mysteries?”
“Nope. Actually, this one has a lot of credibility to it. Apparently, a couple years ago, one of the students at City of God had the ability to create powerful equipment. However, the sacred sword was too powerful, and if someone used it for evil, it could lead to the end of the world. Afraid that someone would use it for evil, he used some kind of technique to seal it away somewhere in the academy.”
“Something like a sacred sword that could destroy the world…..that’s the first time I’ve heard of it.”
“I only heard it from Saki yesterday, but if it really does exist, don’t you think it’s amazing? If we found it, we could possibly be able to compete with the five dominators.”
Yuki’s eyes were sparkling as she leaned forward and said that. Because that position made her breasts stand out even more, I didn’t know where to look.
“First of all, let’s start by searching all the possible places where the sword could have been sealed away. Yagumo, should we do it together? You see, since you have , wouldn’t it be easy for you get inside the room even if it’s locked?”
“Ah, um. If we’re just looking for something, I’ll come too. There’s nothing to do at the dorms anyways.”
Since it’s golden week, there’s no class so there was nothing much to do. Even back at the room, the only things I could do was read the manga I was already tired of reading and play the games, which were scattered across the floor that I was already tired of playing.
Although midterms were coming up, it was only a formality. Even if someone fails, there probably won’t be anyone who said anything.
Also, by giving the sacred sword to the Braves faction, the reputation of the Observers will improve. In turn, making the relationship between the two factions better.
“That’s great~but the rumors have not been confirmed yet, so it’s not good for people to get their hopes up too high. Therefore, we should only select a few people to investigate. So, it’s only going to be me, Saki, and Yagumo.”
“Really. Since I have the opportunity to be one of the selected three, I’m very honored.”
Even though the only reason I was selected is because can unlock doors.
After breakfast, under the thick cloudy sky, each of us held an umbrella and walked towards the school building. Even though we can’t watch the weather forecast, it looked like it was still going to rain for a while.
I closed my umbrella at the entrance and shook it. While doing so, I asked a question:
“Anyways, do you have any idea where the sacred sword is sealed?”
“Nope, not at all.”
Minase Saki said as she shrugged, shook her blonde hair, and bit her lower lip.
“Also, there’s no way to guarantee it’ll be indoors. Anyway, we have to search every corner of each building first. I think we should start from the east side of the campus. What do you guys think?”
“Sure, why not.”
I said that while putting my umbrella into the umbrella stand.
The City of God’s academy had school buildings on the east and west sides, which are connected by a corridor. The west side is used for the usual lessons, while the east side is for things like music lessons and science experiments.
We went forward together. We started by searching the first floor of the east building. If we found somewhere that the sacred sword could be sealed in, I’ll use to unlock the door so that we can search together.
……Although, it’s easy to say 「the room that the sacred sword could be sealed」 but what is the room actually like?
“Ah! This room’s glass is frosted, and you can’t see inside? The sword might be inside.”
Minase said as she stopped at the sign that read 「Science Preparation Room」and pointed at the small window on the door.
“Hey, Saki. This room is very suspicious isn’t it? Aren’t the pronunciations of 「sacred sword」 and 「bio」 very similar?”
This time, it was Yuki who stood at the doorway of the room that stated her reasoning.
Hm. Seems like there’s quite a lot of rooms that the sacred sword could be sealed in.
Just as I was sighing, Minase, who stood next to me, had her skirt suddenly fall down.
Her white panties suddenly appeared before my eyes. It was the kind that had a pink-colored butterfly knot with lotus leaves on the edges.
“——Kyaaaaaah!!”
When Minase quickly lifted up her skirt, I got a hard slap on my left cheek.
“Pervert!! Sex Maniac!! You’re the worst!!”
“No, it’s not!! It wasn’t me earlier——”
However, her face was full of tears, flowing out of her eyes at lightning speed. I didn’t even get a chance to defend myself.
……Minase probably thought as I was standing next to her, I purposely pulled her skirt down. During this moment, I felt like there’s no way to survive in this world. Farewell, the me that only lasted until yesterday. Starting today, I have to endure the name of 「Pervert」 or will it be 「Sex Maniac」.
I nervously looked towards the side, and of course, Yuki looked at me with suspicion as well.
“……Hey, Yagumo? Let me just make sure, but you don’t pull down……other people’s skirts, right?
“Of course not! It must be a trap! Someone must have set me up! Besides, pulling down your classmate’s skirt is a stupid move! Why not just lift it up instead!”
“……Hm, I think lifting up skirts isn’t a normal thought either, is it?”
“……Then, sorry. I was too excited and I started saying things——”
Just as I was explaining myself, I saw a shadow behind a pillar from afar.
——Could this person also want to pull down Yuki’s skirt!?
After I noticed the mysterious person, I immediately went towards the lower body of Yuki and buried my face in her sweater. I used my hands and pressed firmly on Yuki’s skirt.
“Huh!? Wait, wait a second, Yagumo what are you doing!?”
Feeling like she was being harassed by a pervert, Yuki let out a high-pitched scream. In order to protect her skirt, I touched her butt. If I get sued for this, I have no chance of winning.
During the moment where I couldn’t help but think about my life in prison, the skirt suddenly got heavier. It felt like I was lifting an iron plate.
“Yuki! Slowly squat down! That way, the skirt shouldn’t fall!”
“I-I understand.”
While Yuki slowly squatted down, she held her skirt with both hands. But honestly, I could completely see her pink panties from my view. However, I think the ends are more important than the means.
Yuki knelt down in the hallway. We succeeded in preventing the skirt from falling. At least the Exceed on the other side didn’t see anything.
“Hey, Samejima. Come out.”
I shouted towards our classmate, Samejima Gota, who was hiding in the shadows leaning against the pillar.
“That was your earlier wasn’t it? If I remember correctly, your ability can increase the weight of an object within a ten-meter radius by up to fifty kilograms, right? By only increasing the weight of the skirts, the skirts fell by themselves. That’s a really dirty way of using it.
I guess he wasn’t able to disprove my deduction. A large blue-haired man came out slowly from there.
Samejima looks like a bad boy and scary on the outside, but he’s actually very timid. He’s the kind of guy who will spend his breaks alone, playing the string pattern game by himself. However, this only frightened people even more, and no one in the class would talk to him.
“……”
It looks like changing Samejima’s perception is impossible. This guy probably has a sadistic nature. Obtaining a powerful ability made him want to experiment on weaker people. I don’t understand.
“I get it, Samejima. First take a hundred steps back, I’ll let you beat me up . However, can you let go of Yuki?”
“No, Yagumo——”
“If you just want to bully someone weak, then I alone am enough, right?”
“No can do. If I let her go, then she’ll tell her friends to come.”
After cruelly rejecting my request, Samejima came in front of me and slowly raised his thick right foot.
“Wait a minute, Samejima. If you start attacking me, then there’s no going back. I’ll have to fight back.”
While I said it, I activated . Ryuji appeared behind Samejima, sandwiching Samejima in the middle.
——However, when Ryuji appeared, it was affected by making it completely immobile.
“I already knew what you were trying to do. You were trying to put the copy of yourself behind me, and when I wasn’t looking, attack me right? It’s such a pity. No matter where you place your copy, it will automatically be targeted by my gravity. Also, the range that can be used is only three meters, so there’s no way that you could get out of the range of my abilities. Come on, if you can counter attack in the embarrassing state you’re in right now, then go ahead and try.”
“……There’s obviously a way to fight back because your is not without its flaws.”
“Flaws?……that’s right, my abilities only work within a ten-meter range. If you use things that fly from a distance——like a shot bullet, for example, then I would have no way to fight back. However, isn’t that kind of weapon banned on school grounds? That’s to say, there’s no way I can lose!!”
Samejima yelled as he aimed his right foot to step down on my head.
The moment he stepped on me, I canceled and we combined back. The Ryuichi that was targeted by Samejima disappeared in a nick of time.
“……I see. Even within the range of , you have a way to escape.”
Samejima was little surprised and quickly turned towards me.
“But Yagumo. The only reason you were able to escape my attack earlier was because I moved very slowly, right? If I stepped down on you earlier at full speed, you couldn’t have dodged it. If you don’t use to create a copy first, then there’s no way that you can dodge.
“……Maybe.”
“Also, you can’t attack from a long distance. How are you going to defeat me by just escaping, huh!?”
Just as Samejima was speaking, a shoe hit the back of his head. Yuki tried her best to take off her shoes and used the resistive force of to throw it at him.
Unfortunately, it didn’t do much damage to Samejima. What’s worse is we made him mad.
“……I guess I really need to teach Nanami a lesson……”
Samejima’s face became worse. He looked like a carnivorous animal that was about to pounce on his prey.
“Yagumo, I still have things to do later. Can you quickly let me crush you.”
“You better get all these pretentious lines out now because you’re definitely going to lose.
“Huh? What are you talking about? Even if one of you do manage to get out, wouldn’t it still be hard to move within my ? And you still think you’re going to beat me?”
“Haha, do I still need to explain myself. I already prepared to fight back.——Look behind you!!”
“What did you say!?”
Samejima took a look back, but there was nothing. Obviously. I said that I was prepared to fight back, but that was only to get him to turn his back to me.
“……What, it was only a bluff. You startled me.”
I took advantage of when the relieved Samejima turned his back at me. I activated again. This time, I put Ryuji on top of him.
“——What!?”
As Samejima let a surprised cry, Ryuji’s right foot kicked him in the head violently. Because of the effect of , Ryuji weighed twice as much as he usually did. Imagine the power of the kick.
Samejima probably thought that could only be used on the ground within a three meter radius, but it can actually be used in a spherical radius of three meters. In other words, I just created a copy of myself above my opponent’s head and just simply started to attack.
When my kick hit him, Samejima fainted. Because of that the effect of disappeared, and my body is relaxed again.
After cancelling , I took a deep breath. I picked up Yuki’s shoe on the ground and gave it to her.
“——Thank you, Yagumo. Also, thanks for protecting me earlier.”
Yuki unsteadily got up and thanked me after she was freed from the gravity.
“You’re welcome. Also, any suspicion towards me should be cleared. If we could have quickly cleared the misunderstanding with Minase, it would have been better. It would be better if no one knew of what he did here..”
“Huh?……Oh, oh. I get it.”
“Then, thank you. Let’s take this guy away.”
After requesting his reputation to be returned, we decided to move his unconscious body in one go. ——However, his body was too heavy, so we couldn’t lift it up.
“Well, it seems like our only choice here is to go and borrow a trolley.”
“…….Um, Yagumo. Could it be that you want to send Samejima to the health center?”
Yuki asked the question completely confused. I nodded my head.
“The attack earlier had a big impact. We can’t just leave him here. What if something happens to him.”
“…..Um, Yagumo.This is just a question, so don’t get mad at me.”
“Hm? What?”
“Didn’t Samejima try to hurt us earlier? How can you help him considering what he did to us?”
“……Hm, probably because he can be considered both the perpetrator and the victim? Think about it, didn’t the third-year’s limit our freedom as well? Considering the situation, wanting to commit some minor crimes is understandable.”
“Y-you can understand?”
“Oh, no, I obviously wouldn’t really do it…..but if I took one wrong step, I might have done what Samejima did.”
I was only taking the side of justice. We can’t just easily tell if Samejima was the good guy or the bad guy here. In this world, people aren’t that black or white but gray, and these people account for the overwhelming majority.
Moreover, Samejima could have used for something a lot more sinister, but this time, it was only to pull down a girl’s skirt. That’s because this guy has always been a sadist. Also, I want to believe that through this event, he could possibly re-emerge as a new person.
“Besides, we have nowhere to hide, right? If everyone at school found out about the bad things he did, and even if Samejima couldn’t stay at this school anymore, there would be no way for him to transfer or skip class. Thinking about it this way, I have a lot of sympathy for Samejima. …… I don’t know if Minase will agree, since this is only my wishful thinking.”
I said this while showing a smile, so we could forget about it. However, Yuki had a serious expression. She was treasuring the shoe I returned to her earlier, tightly in her arms.
“That’s not true. I think Yagumo was amazing. If I was in Yagumo’s shoes, there would have been no way that I could have been so considerate and selfless toward others. Also, Yagumo had plenty of chances to beat Samejima, but you didn’t. You kept on trying to persuade him.”
“In the end, there was no way to change his mindset. I had to use violence.”
I said that whilst scratching my head and feeling a little embarrassed. Yuki looked like she made some sort of decision. She put on her shoes and quickly touched Samejima’s body.
“I’ll help move Samejima to the health center. If I use to create a weak resistive force between Yagumo and Samejima, then he would be easier to carry right?”
“That helps a lot. Otherwise, taking this guy to the health center would take a lot of effort.”
“……But. If I use , then I would have to touch Yagumo’s body.”
“Hm? Oh, I understand. Please feel free.”
“……”
Yuki put her head down, looking like she didn’t even want to touch me. She stretched out her right hand many times, but immediately pulled it back each time.”
“……Why do I always feel a little embarrassed when I try to do it?”
“Hey, why? You didn’t mind when you touched Samejima’s body, right?”
“That’s true……but the situation with Yagumo is different from Samejima’s.”
“What do you mean!? You can touch Samejima, but you can’t touch me!?”
“T-that’s not what I meant!! It’s more like I want to enjoy feeling you all over!”
“Feeling all of me!? That’s just as bad!? Is it because you’re still mad that I accidently touched your butt while I was pressing your skirt down earlier!?”
“——Ah!! That’s right!! When you were touching me, you took the opportunity to feel my butt up as much as you could!!”
“Can you not say something so misleading!? It was completely unavoidable!!”
“……Ah, I’ll admit that you protected me.. For that, I am grateful.”
“Ah, um, no problem.”
Although having said that, I already saw the great scenery under her skirt while protecting her.
“Also, after hearing what Yagumo said, I came to a realise something. Touching the opposite sex’s body because of unavoidable circumstances is something that happens often in everyday life.”
“Huh?……Ah, yes. Even though using 「often」 to express the frequency is a little too much……”
“So, I’m going to start touching.”
“Being so straightforward about it feels a little weird..”
“Then, where is a good place to touch~”
“Wait a minute! Since it’s just to activate , isn’t it the same no matter where!?”
“That’s not true. The place to touch for is very specific, so I have to touch all kinds of different places for it to work.”
“Didn’t you just casually touch Samejima earlier!? Also, can you not wiggle your fingers like that while saying you want to touch all kinds of different places!? I feel like my v card is at stake!!”
“There’s no problem. It’s only a little scary at the start.”
“That makes you sound like a criminal!!”
“Oh, also. I’m going to start calling Yagumo 「Ryu」 now. Please take care of me.”
“Hm? Why did you pick this time to——”
“An opening!!”
Yuki yelled as she quickly put both of her hands under my armpits.
“Ha, success!”
“W-wait a minute! It tickles! Stop! Save me!”
“How is it, Ryu? You’re going to admit defeat right!”
While Yuki was tickling me, she happily shouted my name. This crossed the line of unpreventable. This is obviously asking for trouble.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
For two months after that event, Yuki and I did all sorts of things together. Sometimes she begged me to teach her, and in return, I got biscuits. Occasionally, we even went to look for the sacred sword, but in the end, we found nothing.
While I was looking at the swaying water, reflecting the moon, I started to reminisce about all the things that had happened. These unexpected feelings aren’t really bad things; it’s that just I’ve felt like it was a little unbelievable. Also, if it weren’t for the house arrest, I wouldn’t have been able to get so close to Yuki. I also wouldn’t have gotten the chance to be able to see her in a swimsuit.
……Well, although I saw something way better than Yuki’s bikini…….
From the time when I saw her boobs till now, only thirty minutes had elapsed. I had already changed into my uniform, but Yuki, who was still in the locker room, didn’t seem like she wanted to come out.
“……Hey, Yuki. Wouldn’t it be bad if we don’t go back to the dormitory soon?”
Although we can’t see each other, I had made up my mind to call her out. After a while, the girl’s locker room’s door opened just a crack. From there, I could see Yuki’s face.
However, when our eyes met, she looked completely ashamed and immediately shrinked back in.
……What’s a good way to comfort her in this situation…….
“……I’ll start with the good part. I don’t feel shy at all.”
A brave voice said from the inside, while I was silently standing outside the gray door.
It’s rare to hear someone who would say such an obvious lie. I know because when I saw her eyes earlier, they were full of tears.
“I’m not lying. Also, even if I felt a little ashamed about having my boobs seen, I saw Ryu’s uncovered chest, which means we’re even, right?”
“……”
What should I do. I don’t understand what Yuki is saying at all.
However, I couldn’t just ignore her. I guess I’ll just go along with her.
“What you said seems pretty reasonable. Even though we’re at the swimming pool, having young men show their bare chests isn’t right, but I really was a little too bold. I didn’t only let you see my right nipple, but also the left one. I feel like I’ll die from shame.”
“——Hey, Ryu.”
“Hm? What’s up?”
“Can you just shut up?”
“……”
It seemed like I angered her. I just wanted to go along with what she was saying, how could this happen.
“And anyways, why is seeing the left nipple more shameful than seeing the right one! What kind of logic is that! Both the right and the left are the same! They’re both nipples! They’re equal!”
“Huh? Why did I just get scolded? Is it because I treated the right and left nipples differently?”
“That’s right. Give me an apology for not treating both nipples equally.”
“Hey——but think about it. Don’t people have a dominant hand? Isn’t the right hand more important than the left hand for right-handed people?”
“Even if that’s the case, it only applies to hands. Have you ever heard of something like that for nipples?”
“Are you sure? It even applies to the eyes and feet. It’s just that probably no one thought about it. Maybe it applies to nipples as well? For example, the one that’s closer to the heart gets the heart rate up faster or something of the sort. ——Oh yeah, how about starting from now we grope each others’ nipples to see which one is the dominant nipple?”
“Who would say such things!! This kind of invitation of yours already counts as harassment!! Also, starting from earlier, I’ve already said the word nipple too many times!!”
Yuki started to complain.
I didn’t know if it was because of her yell earlier, but Yuki finally came out of the locker room, wearing clothes, of course.
“……Um, uh. Well, it’s already pretty late. Do you want to go back?”
“……Yeah.”
Yuki nodded her head to my response, so we started preparing to go back to the dorms.
However, when we were jumping over the fence of the swimming pool, Yuki refused to hold my hand while using . It seemed like she was too shy to hold hands. It looks like the exposure earlier dealt a heavy blow to her.
So, I could only use . I just used the simple method of putting Ryuji on the other side of the fence and making the Ryuichi on this side disappear.
After leaving the pool, we didn’t talk at all while walking down the wide path from the campus to the dorms. It was a super awkward atmosphere.
However, I can understand why Yuki couldn’t go back to being her usual self. We’re both high schoolers, and she showed something so indecent in front of someone else. That’s why I looked up at the clouds covering the full moon, and silently walked towards the dorms ahead.
……Well, time will make everything go back to normal. I guess I’ll comfort Yuki tomorrow. I think up this plan while gazing at the faraway gate.
But at this moment, a flashlight, which came from the shadows in front of the school building, shone on us.
“Hey, you two!! What are you doing here!!”
From the silent campus, a male voice shouted. I was so shocked that I almost dropped my swimming bag.
The light was dazzling. For a moment, I couldn’t identify the person’s voice……However, it could only be the disciplinary committee patrolling.
I felt ashamed of our failure. I was so focused on thinking about how to fix my relationship with Yuki, I completely forgot that we were trying to sneak back into the dorms.
“Ryu, run!”
As she said this, Yuki quickly grabbed my hand and ran as fast as she could towards the swimming pool. Even though my feet weren’t listening to me, I still hurried to catch up to her.
But at the next moment, I saw a gigantic unknown object, that was five meters tall, on the edge my of vision.
When I looked closely, it turned out to be the disciplinary members we saw earlier. Starting from the right shoulder, the right arm started to abnormally become bigger. It must have been the use of an ability.
His right hand grew like this. His palm was about the size of a bicycle and it started extending to us at an incredible speed. I pushed Yuki aside to use myself as bait. I prepared to face off against the powerful arm heading towards at us.
But because I never planned a counterattack against the giant hand, I directly collided with it. The moment when I was grabbed, I felt a huge shock throughout my body.
After a moment of dizziness, I noted that all five fingers were firmly wrapped around my back and legs. His grip, constricted my chest, making it extremely difficult to breath.
I was grabbed by a hand with inhuman strength, and I became unable to get to the member of the discipline committee’s side. If this went on, wouldn’t I become an ingredient for a hot pot and be eaten?
——Don’t let it end like this!!
Unwillingly, I activated , I summoned Ryuji then I deactivated the Ryuichi captured by the discipline committee member. I had finally gotten away!
Finally restoring my original form, I swiftly changed directions and put some distance between the member of the disciplinary committee and me. If I repeatedly used , hopefully it would confuse him enough, for me to escape!
However, I looked back while running away. I noticed that the disciplinary committee member had no intention of chasing me. He just restored his right hand back to normal, and stood there eerily, looking as if he had given up on his duty.
——What’s happening? Why isn’t he making his hand big again? It couldn’t be that he hadn’t noticed that I escaped from his hand, right?
Just when I was starting to feel suspicious, I turned back to look at him again. His entire body began to grow at an amazing speed. Within a second, he had swollen to such a size that he looked like a human balloon, transforming into a giant that was several tens of meters tall.
His height was almost equal to that of the school buildings nearby, almost as if a four story tall building was built before my eyes. Although I had seen quite a few abilities within the last three months, I could confidently say that this ability has had the greatest impact.
—— It wasn’t until now that I realized which member of the discipline committee that I had met. Considering the ability he has, it should be Kito Kyosuke, a senior who was B ranked. According to what I remember, his ability should be called . I had heard that he could transform into a giant tens of meters tall, but I didn’t expect for him to be able to enlarge that part of himself too.
Kito bent his body forward to a running position and charged at me. His steps were incredibly large, easily as large as a house. Every time his feet touched the ground, the surrounding ground would rumble.
—— How am I supposed to hide when I’m playing hide and seek with someone like this!!
“Yuki! Go hide in the dormitory! He shouldn’t be able to catch up to you there in his current form!”
I quickly changed directions, and randomly found a classroom’s window, preparing to break in.
However, in an instant, a giant shadow eclipsed me, and the darkness became even darker. The speed of Kito’s Shadow was only one step ahead of Kito.
Small typhoons sprung up nearby, sending small particles of sand into my face and hands. It was difficult to even open my eyes.
In the middle of this chaotic situation, a gigantic arm came down from the sky——
“Ryu! Catch!”
I heard this unexpected cry, I instinctively turned towards the direction of Yuki and reached out with my right hand. After grabbing her hand, our bodies immediately flew high into the sky. Yuki activated her , creating a strong repulsive force towards the ground.
We used this method to jump to the second floor’s balcony of the school dormitory. Next, I would just need to activate to open the door from the inside——
However, I sensed danger. I immediately stopped my activation, turned to Yuki, and quickly pushed her down.
“R-Ryu, what are you doing?”
The sudden action made Yuki flinch, but after seeing the giant’s wrist above us, I shouldn’t have to explain myself anymore.
Kato’s high speed punch very easily broke through the two-layered glass window. Following a sharp sound, clear fragments of glass flew all over the place. Luckily, most of the broken glass had scattered inside the classroom, so Yuki and I had not suffered any major injuries.
“—— Yuki, could you use your ?”
Without waiting for her answer, I grabbed Yuki’s right hand and used it to touch Kato’s gigantic wrist. Yuki, in her fright, hadn’t opened her eyes, Even I thought that doing this was a bit tough, but we absolutely couldn’t miss this chance.
Sure enough, Kato quickly pulled his hand from the broken window. Honestly, Yuki didn’t even have the time to activate her ——
Yuki answered me with a smile. Starting from that moment, we were prepared to use in order to retaliate against Kato.
“Um, could you to use your on the unbroken windows?”
“Okay~”
Yuki understood what I planned to do just like that. While she straightened out the upper half of her body, she used right hand to touch the nearest window.
I got up at the same time, making use of the broken window to get into the classroom.
“——Hah, hah!!”
With an imposing roar, I broke the window that Yuki had touched. Then, the shattered fragments of the broken window, using ’s effect, flew towards Kito’s right hand.
“Ahhhhhhh!!”
The transparent shards of glass sunk into Kito’s arm just like I planned. A rugged moaning sound echoed through the school.
“Yuki! Take this chance to run away!”
“Ok!”
Yuki answered me with renewed vigor, then slipped into the pitch-black classroom.
“S-stop! —— dammit, how could I allow you to escape!”
Kato moaned, probably from the pain from his right wrist. He’s hesitating to keep attacking us for now.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, we sped through the hallway and headed towards the stairs without a shred of hesitation. When I looked back, it seemed that Kato stopped trying to catch us.
“It think we might have finally escaped!”
Yuki raised her voice and said that when we finally reached the stairs. Just as she was about to go down to the first floor, I grabbed her sleeve. My firm grip stopped her.
“Wait up, Yuki. We should go up first.”
“Huh? Why? Aren’t we going to escape from the main door?”
“Think about it, Kato still hasn’t caught up, maybe he’s planning to ambush us at the exit. Also, since you just yelled so loudly. It could have attracted quite a few disciplinary committee members here.”
“—— So it’s like this. If we went to the gate, it’s very likely we could encounter members of the disciplinary committee.”
“That’s right, so, we want to go towards the opposite direction. We should run upstairs to observe the situation a little.”
“Ok.”
Yuki nodded her head. While she was going up the stairs, she paid attention to not make too much noise.
We stopped at the platform that was between the third and fourth floors, crouching down and wiping off the dust that had stuck to our bodies. We carefully listened for any sounds coming from the lower floors. The school was silent. This meant that reinforcements hadn’t arrived yet.
“……. But, still I was really scared.”
Yuki whispered as she was kneeling on the ground and looking scared.
“Elena specially reminded me that the discipline committee does patrol every direction. I totally forgot about it”
Yuki suddenly mentioned our classmate Kujyo Elena’s name.
“Hm? Could you have gotten all that information about the disciplinary committee from Kujyo?
“Mhm. Elena sneaks into the school from time to time, so she investigated the disciplinary committee a little.”
“Huh? She sneaks into the school in the middle of the night? Could it be that Kujyo is looking for the sacred sword?”
“Hm——she told me she was doing something in the science classroom, but she didn’t tell me the details.”
“So it’s like this, it’s true that secrecy is kind of like Kujyo’s style. ……However in the science classroom, she should have a goal other than the sacred sword.”
Being in the science classroom late at night, could it be that she’s making things like bombs? ……When thought of this unrealistic idea, I suddenly realized that this person could definitely do it. I could not help but panic.
Thinking of Kujyo’s cold look, I couldn’t help but force a wry smile.
Kujyo is a First Year with a very rare B class ability. She’s a beautiful girl with long silver hair, and red pupils, but her personality is very harsh so it’s very hard to get close to her. Even during the summer, she would wear the long-sleeved uniform. Because of this, she is called 「Platina Queen」by some of the male students, and her many fanatic fans that support her.
“Ha…… . How long will these kinds of days continue.”
Yuki whispered appearing listless and nervous while holding her breath. Her body was already small, so doing this made her look like a little kid. Although it strongly stimulated my desire to protect her, I couldn’t encourage her when I’m a mere C class.
“….We have to endure all this till the third years lose their abilities in April next year. It’s already been two months since this game began, but I haven’t seen a single person try to fight a dominator, yet.“……
“Um, yesterday, there were a few B class second year students who went to challenge the library chairman, but I heard that their attacks didn’t even scratch him.”
“Hmm…… they’re really desperate, huh….”
Librarian chairman Igarashi Alice is A ranked. If we can’t even defeat her, then wanting to defeat someone with a S class ability would be insane.
“……Um, Ryu, I wanted to ask you this a long time ago, but why don’t you ever go challenge the dominators?”
Yuki timidly asked this as she changed from hugging her knees to leaning against the wall. If i wanted to, it wouldn’t take much to see her panties. I laughed self-deprecatingly.
“I don’t fight enemies that I don’t have the capability to beat. Even a B class can’t beat them, so there’s no way a C class like me could.”
“But, didn’t Ryu easily defeat the C class Samejima earlier? It looks like in the ranks of the C classes, you would be one of the top. If you want to defeat people with higher ranks, it isn’t impossible.”
Yuki spoke while changing to a crawling position on the floor, approaching me with a serious expression. Being given strange expectations, made me feel ashamed.
“That was just because works well against . I’m not very high ranked within the C rankers.”
“But……”
“Well, we’re going to have to end this conversation. We need to think about to escape from here first.”
I found a random reason for Yuki to stop pursuing these questions, then I gathered my concentration on listening to movements downstairs. It was just as quiet and still.
We already stayed here for about twenty minutes. We should be able to start moving now.
“Okay, Yuki, we should go back to the dorm.”
“——Huh? We’re going to go back just like that?”
I don’t know why Yuki looked so surprise while asking me that.
“B-but, the discipline committee could still be patrolling, so wouldn’t it be dangerous? I think we should stay here a little longer.”
“Really?”
“I’m sure it’s better that way. It’s definitely better.”
Yuki clasped her hands and nodded with a sparkle in her eyes
“……. Hey, why do you look so happy?”
“I-I’m not happy.”
“Seriously? We can’t keep playing hide and seek.”
“I-I obviously know that. ……… ah~ being caught by the disciplinary committee members is so scary~”
“Why are you being so dramatic?”
“I’m not being dramatic at all~ but I was thinking that it would be better to stay here until daylight~ obviously, Ryu needs to be with me~”
“We shouldn’t need to… I think you’re worrying too much. Also, the floor here is so hard that there’s no way we could sleep at all.”
“Ah~ then why don’t we go to the sports warehouse? There are mats there. We could lie there and talk until morning.”
“What are you saying? We’re in the middle of escaping. Also, compared to the sports warehouse, going back to the dormitory would be faster.”
“You’re right….. Hmph. Ryu really doesn’t understand people’s feelings at all.”
Yuki pouted unhappily.
“Huh, what do you mean? Did I say something wrong?”
“Nothing. Since Ryu wants to go back so much, then we’ll follow your wishes and quickly go back to the dormitory, okay?”
“……I don’t know why you’re suddenly using honorifics, but you can feel free to do so. ——Ah, before we go back, let’s go to the science room to see Kujyo.”
“Why!? Do you care that much about what Elena is doing!?”
Despite only giving her some advice, Yuki showed an extreme response.
“It’s not really being worried about Kujyo. It’s more being interested in what she’s doing at night in the science classroom.”
“Um……I can’t say I’m not concerned……”
“Right? Also, if she really is in the school, she should have heard the glass shattering just now. We better go explain to her what had happened. If she doesn’t understand the situation, then she shouldn’t act too freely.”
“…… Ryu really cares for other people…..”
“I’m just a worrywart. Come on, let’s go.”
“Okay…..”
Although Yuki looked unsatisfied, she obediently followed me when I stood up and walked out.
It was quiet in the school yard, but there should be members of the disciplinary committee hidden in the darkness. In order to be able to respond to an encounter at any time, I was alert to the surrounding darkness while creeping down the stairs.
Finally arriving in front of the science room, we tried our best not to make any noise while slowly putting our hands on the door handle.
However, no matter how hard to pulled it, the door did not move an inch. It seemed that it was locked.
—-Maybe Kujyo didn’t come today.
As I was thinking that, I heard something move from inside the classroom.
Because we couldn’t yell in the corridor, I decided to use my ability to get inside the classroom. Because I could decide between sending Ryuichi and Ryuji, this time i sent Ryuichi inside.
“Kujyo, are you is that you?”
After I putting down my swimming bag on the table, I used and made a copy of myself inside the room using it to call Kujyo.
“……What? Oh, it’s Yagumo.”
I turned my head to the direction of the sound. From the faint light of the window, I saw the beautiful girl with a black tie on her silver hair. She was staring at me with her sharp red eyes. It was definitely Kujyo Elena.
“I thought you were you of the disciplinary committee that came. I was almost going to attack you.”
“……Then it seems I dodged a bullet.”
If B class Kujyo attacked, I would have definitely been unable to leave.
“So, Kujyo, what are you doing here? I heard Nanami say that you’ll be going to the pool, but I haven’t heard anything about you coming to the science room? Also, the sound of shattering glass from approximately thirty minutes ago , did you two destroy it for fun?”
“No, that should have been the disciplinary committee.”
While I went to open the door, I told her about what had happened. The door slowly opened. From the door that only fits one person at a time, Yuki and Ryuji finally got inside.
“……That’s outrageous.”
After hearing what had happened, Kujyo replied that to me while looking at me with a shocked expression.
“If you could use to fight back, why didn’t you just kill him.”
“How could we do that. What’s worse is that we came out of the school in the middle of the night.”
“Hmph. So, starting from two months ago, the school had already become a 「ability ranked」 school system? In short, it’s basically 「the strong can do anything」, which everyone had to acquiesce. Therefore, the problem wasn’t that you sneaked into the school, but rather that you didn’t beat Kito. How weak are you going to be?”
“……The things like the strong rule was all determined by the third-years.”
“That’s true. However, aren’t the constitution and laws determined by our predecessors? If someone who stands at the top changes, then the rules would also change. The people that can’t adapt will become extinct. Unfortunately, that’s how the world works, so before you whine about it, become stronger.”
Kujyo looked at me unmercifully while relentlessly critiquing me. Not even talking about how the world works, this kind of idea in human society is already wrong. However, in this kind of place, I couldn’t think of anything to refute her.
……Well, it’s pointless to keep on arguing with Kujyo. It would be better to show my mature side and sincerely apologize.
“——Even if you’re right, it’s hard to imagine doing this kind of thing to the third years.”
Before my words of apology were even been said, the Ryuji behind me became nosy.
“What can a C class like me do when even B class Exceeds can’t beat them.”
“Hmph. That’s just an excuse. Even if your opponent is stronger than you, that doesn’t mean you’re definitely going to lose. If you just think of something like a strategy, then there would definitely be a way to win.”
“I wouldn’t even try to think of something like a strategy. Kujyo, you don’t understand the mindset of the weak.”
“Really. So, even though you don’t agree with the status quo, you would obediently endure it?”
“Right. Even if we think of a way to defeat a B class, we would still have a long way to go to before we could beat an S class. No matter how much effort we put in, it’s still impossible to defeat a S class Exceed.”
“——Huh?”
Kujyo looked like she was in a bad mood, and made smacking sounds with her mouth. She grasped Ryuji’s tie and pulled him towards her.
“You can’t win against an S class no matter how hard you work? Shouldn’t you say that after working to death?”
“——!?”
“I think you’re just trying to run away by saying what you said earlier. I’ll tell you right now. That phrase 「I will not fight what I can’t beat」 is really lame. You only said it in a more pleasant way. Basically, you want to get results without working. Comparing people like you who pretend to be strong with the people who work to death but still lose like crap. The people who work are a hundreds times cooler than you.”
“……!!”
I was speechless. Everything was as Kujyo said.
I was being treated unfairly by third-years. However, among the people who faced the same situation as me, there are plenty of people who were trying to break through the status quo. Compared to them, I did feel a little ashamed.
Ryuji, who was being scolded, had the same dumbfounded expression as I did. It would be better to say he was relentlessly scolded, he probably felt a greater shock than I did. Because of what Kujyo said, he was in disarray. His heart was struck deeply by her blunt gaze.
——After analyzing Ryuji’s situation, Ryuji’s body trembled as he said these affectionate words to Kujyo as she restrained him.:
“Listen to me, Kujyo! Right now, I really want to do naughty things with you!”
“…………………”
The room went completely silent.
What Ryuji said made Kujyo flush. She opened and closed her mouth several times. On the other hand, Yuki stared blankly with rounded eyes.
I tried hard to understand what was going on because I wasn’t sure what had happened. Even Ryuji didn’t know what exactly was happening.
“……Um, wait a second. You said words of sexual harassment as I was scolding you. What kind of retaliation is this?”
After a few seconds, Kujyo, who recovered from the shock, immediately asked the question on her mind.
In contrast, Ryuji hadn’t calmed down from his excited state, yet. He replied with a crazed tone.
“What Kujyo told me earlier made me realize that I really have been a pussy.”
“……Mhm, that I can understand.”
“I have this feeling that I, who hasn’t worked at all, could never understand the people who have challenged the dominators many times.”
“Yes, that’s right, too.”
“So, I can’t suppress the desire to you pursue, Kujyo.”
“It’s that!”
Kujyo lifted her right hand and pointed at Ryuji’s nose.
“That kind of thinking is going too far. Why do you suddenly want my body?”
“Do I even have to explain myself? It’s obviously so Kujyo can have my kids.”
“How’re you so serious when you’re saying something so crude!?”
Showing lament, Kujyo immediately increased the distance between them.
“I obviously didn’t think you would understand me. However, you have no chance of winning. I intend to convey all my feelings for you.”
While sexual harrassing her, Ryuji’s expression was sincere. Across from me, this strong-willed fool doesn’t even care about having a good impression on Kujyo. In his head, the only thing he cares about now is how to get together with Kujyo.
“Kujyo, I’m serious! I’m a changed man! So if it’s possible, I hope you could be by my side! One day you’ll come to love me and become my woman!”
“……What is this boring jokester doing……”
Kujyo mumbled this quietly and shyly put her head down. At first glance, it seemed like Ryuji actually had a chance to get her. He’s really good.
——Ok, we should be able to stop now. If I keep letting Ryuji go on like this, I would close myself in because of my self-loathing.
Also, Yuki, who was on the side, had unimaginable expression of despair rarely seen on this world. She started chanting Amitabha. If I don’t end this kind of ambience, then it could become a problem.
I stepped in between the two of them. I then pointed at Ryuji and apologized for him.
“Sorry, Kujyo. This guy isn’t normal. Please think about what happened earlier as a nightmare and forget about it.”
Kujyo looked at me with contempt.
“Then don’t say these kinds of things so casually. How could I forget about it so easily after being openly sexually harassed?”
……That’s true.
“Besides, he’s a part of you. You actually said 「that me」 like you didn’t have anything to do with it. Isn’t that way too weird?”
“Ah, no it’s not. There’s actually a reason for this……”
Wearing a stiff smile, I started explaining .
“Actually, when I use I split into two. Although our appearances are the same, our personalities are completely different.”
“——Different personalities?”
“Yes. ……Although it’s somewhat difficult to explain, basically, I’m the normal one and that part of Ryuji is the stupid copy.”
“Huh? Ryuichi, you’re okay with calling yourself stupid?”
“Ryuji you don’t have the right to call anyone stupid. You’re annoying. Be quiet for me.”
After Kujyo used a stern tone to order him to shut up, I continued my explanation. ……However, because it’s was so troublesome, I started to get a headache. To use appropriate words to describe the two mes of is really difficult.
If I were to describe Ryuji by personality, he’s pretty simple. He’s basically a real person, but he’s the kind that acts on instincts and feels that only enjoying yourself in the moment matters.
Compared to him, I’m very black bellied. I’m always suspicious. Compared to the social group, I’m more like a lone wolf. My motto is 「lying is expedient」, and I’m always worried about my future.
If a girl wearing a miniskirt appears before Ryuji and me, we would both immediately think of ways to try and peek at her underwear. During this time, the obviously perverted Ryuji would immediately give up, unable to bear the guilt. On the other hand, I would try to take a closer look, without feeling any guilt at all. This is because I think that if you want to wear a miniskirt, you should be able to bear the risk of being peeped at.
——If I had actually said this, however, I would be looked at in a negative light. So, I decided to use some more proper examples to explain.
“For example, using will create two mes, under the same environment, you would only need two weeks of time to clearly see the difference. Ryuji might have a lot of friends by his side. Every weekend, he might go karaoking with his friends or go biking at the beach. In contrast, I, Ryuichi, would rather be alone. I wouldn’t have many people close to me. On the weekends, I would close myself in at home, watch television or read a book.”
“W-wait. You two were originally one person, so why is there such a big difference?”
Kujyo folded her arms, seemingly unable to understand.
“No matter how you think about it, that’s too extreme. Maybe you actually have split personality, and after splitting, you each got your own body?”
“Hey……. even if it’s not a split personality, doesn’t everyone have many different sides to themselves? Think about it, aren’t people who are normally very honest, violent when they’re drunk? This is the same concept, Ryuji is the part that relies solely on emotion and action, and I am the part that utilizes reasoning. It’s that kind of thing.”
“Ah…… the original Yagumo would be dominated by emotions, and his sexual desire would erupt.”
“What?”
This statement is actually true. I can’t refute it at all.
“…… Forget it. I’ll reluctantly accept your explanation.”
Satisfied from seeing my speechless look, Kujyo showed a faint smile.
“So, the Ryuji who sexually harassed me, are you planning to use the drunk man excuse to write it off?”
“Ah, I wouldn’t be so deceptive. I apologize if you thought I was being distasteful.”
Deactivating , I merged back together and bowed.
“The words that I said earlier were very stupid. I’m really sorry.”
“No problem, Yagumo. You don’t need to apologize.”
Being urged to raise my head, I stood up straight. As soon as I did, I saw Kujyo’s malicious smile.
“Apologizing is very simple, you only have to say it. However, if you want me to forget about what happened today, that would depend on your attitude in the future. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“…………..”
Basically, it seems that her meaning was that this time, resistance was futile. Although I deserved it, it would be closer to the truth that this formidable opponent grasped my weakness.
“But, then again.”
While peering at the face of Yuki, who was still rambling, Kujyo shyly touched her cheek. Just as I was thinking about what to do, she grabbed my right hand.
“Come with me for a bit.”
She pulled me to the corner of the room, and put her face close to my ear, then asked me in a whisper.
“…….Hey, is there no problem with you sexually harassing me in front of Nanami? I think Nanami——”
“Huh? What are you talking about, Kujyo? Even if Yuki wasn’t there, sexual harassment is still a problem. Don’t you know that?”
“——The person who did the harassing has no right to say that!!”
At the same time as shouted that, she punched me on the left left cheek.
If I were to make a straight man comment, it would be that she used a bit too much force there.
“…….Whatever. I’m too lazy to meddle with your problems.”
“Huh? Our problems?”
“Nothing. I just think that it isn’t easy for Yuki. It makes me feel a bit sympathetic for her.”
“………..? What do you mean?”
However, Kujyo didn’t answer my question. She shrugged and returned to where she was before. Confused, I just followed her.
“Right, what were you doing in the science lab so late?”
I finally asked her for the reason why she had come to the science room.
“I heard from Yuki that you would often sneak into school.”
“Hmph, that’s a really stupid question. There would only be one reason for someone to sneak into a school. It’s so that other people wouldn’t know.”
“Could it be something dangerous?”
“Something dangerous? What are you referring to?”
“For example, making bombs.”
“….. Bombs, huh…. That’s not a bad suggestion…”
Kujyo stroked a silver strand her hair and sneered.
“No, no, I wasn’t trying to give you any suggestions……”
“But it’s really unfortunate, I don’t really know how to make bombs. Because we can’t use the internet, I have no way of researching it either.”
“Could you not consider this so seriously?”
If Kujyo really managed to get her on hands on some bombs, she definitely wouldn’t hesitate to use them to beat the third-years. She’s so scary.
“—-By the way Yagumo, are you able to represent the name [Tachibana Sogo] in numbers? Perhaps with just the surname, or the first name as numbers.”
“Huh? Representing the first name into numbers? What’s that, a riddle?”
“Something like that. To put it simply, Tachibana Sogo, a self-proclaimed god, has seemingly used his name as his password. But I have been struggling to figure out the answer.”
“Oh~”
After I looking around a little, I answered.
“Using numbers to represent hiragana, it’s usually in the order of the japanese syllabary. If it’s 「Tachibana], 「ta」 is 16, 「chi」 is 17,「ha」 is 26, and「na」 is 21, so it should be 16172621? However, I don’t know what to do with 「ba].
“Unfortunately, it’s not that. If it was that easy,I would’ve cracked it already. No matter what order I put the kana in, and I’ve tried them all, none of them are correct. I even tried using english names and letters a few times.”
“Oh——maybe we should look at in a different light way we’re looking at it……”
While talking to myself in a low voice, I changed my way of looking at the problem.
“Oh, have you tried binary codes? For example [0000] or [0001].”
“I don’t how many digits the password has, only that it’s at most ten. It might be three or ten. And if you happen to make three mistakes in a single day, you have to wait until the next day to try again.”
“How about directly hacking it?”
“Without both phones and computers, how do you expect me to do something so difficult? However, if the other side put in some kind of firewall. Then the instant we connect to it with a device, the entire system could be destroyed.”
“It really has a tight security system…….”
What’s going to happen even if we do crack the password. Although I’m very interested, it looks like Kujyo doesn’t intend to tell me.
“By the way, I just translated [宗吾] into english, and it turned out to be [Sogo]. I thought that the letters and 5090 were very similar. Try typing it in and see if it works or not.”
“Ah, they really are similar….. Tachibana…..Sogo…..
I folded my arms across my chest and paced back and forth, thinking about the question nonstop. The whole room once again went quiet. The only sounds were from Yuki quietly chanting Amitabha. ………She’s still doing it.
While doing a straight man act, I kept on pacing. My eyes inadvertently swept onto the Periodic Table on the wall.
“——!!”
I saw all the atomic numbers before me, and suddenly, I had an idea.
“Hey, Kujyo. 「Tachibana」 in Roman is 「Tatibana」, right?”
“No, if we use roman words to spell it, the correct way to write it would be [Chi]. Although, you can also type [Ti] on the computer.”
“Then let’s say it’s written as 「Ti」. Next, let’s separate the letters of 「Tatibana」 into pairs and match them with the atomic number.”
“Huh?……Ah!!”
“Right? 「Ta」 is Tantalum with an atomic number of 73, 「Ti」 is 22 for Titanium ,「Ba」 is 56 for Barium, and「Na」 is 11 for Sodium. If you put them all together, then the number is 73225611.”
After hearing my deduction, Kujyo rushed towards the periodic table like a bullet, and studied every atomic number as she did this her expression became much warmer. While I was thinking this, she had already rushed to the room’s cabinet and opened the bottom drawer.
Just as I was wondering what she was doing, she had already started concentrating on moving a large amounts of textbooks. If you crouched down a little, you could see that a control panel was fixed onto the wall.
Kujyo turned on the control panel, and asked me to input the eight numbers. Immediately after, a loud ‘click’ sound came from the center of the science room. Surprised, I immediately looked towards the source of the sound, and discovered that something similar to four square shaped floorboards had slowly popped out. It was about the height of my ankle.
Kujyo immediately rushed forward, and shoved her finger into the gap, opening the thick floorboards. A small tunnel that could fit a single person had been unveiled.
“Amazing…….. It looks like you guessed right”
Surprised, Kujyo said as she cautiously looked at me with her rounded eyes.
“I had spent so many days on this and I still couldn’t figure it out!”
“Well, this kind of mind game needs someone with a good sense. Also, my luck in this science room could be considered ‘good’.”
“Even if it’s like that, you’re still incredible. I always thought that Yagumo was a retard. I guess God really does give everyone a bit of talent. Although you have the talent to crack codes, it’s completely useless in your daily life, God really is great.”
“Say, Kujyo. Can you stop complimenting me so sarcastically, also isn’t it about time for you to explain to us, what’s happening? Could this be a secret passageway?”
“That should be right. From my deductions, it should lead to a certain place.”
“A certain place?”
“The laboratory of the man called Tachibana Sogo.”
This was completely different from last time, this time Kujyo answered my questions directly. Since we had already got the answer, it looked like we could finally know her reason for sneaking into the school.
“Do you know about the legend of the two swords hidden in the school? This was the Exceed ability of Tachibana Sogo, who created the sacred sword and demonic blade.”
Yuki and I couldn’t help but look at each other for a moment.
“We’ve heard of this legend as well, but we’ve only heard about the sacred sword.”
“Then the source should be the same. Originally, I was the one who investigated it in detail by reading many books in the library.”
Kujyo proudly puffed out her thin chest and then continued to explain.
“A few years ago, I learnt about Tachibana Sogo who had used his power to create the sacred sword and demonic blade at this school. The sacred sword was also known as the 「Sacred Dragon’s Claw」, and the demonic blade was also known as the 「Demonic Dragon’s Fang」. The sacred dragon’s claw could cut anything apart, and the demonic dragon’s fang could consume anything…….. However, the weapons were said to be too strong. So, Tachibana Sogo used a mechanism to seal both swords together.”
“The sacred dragon’s claw and the demonic dragon’s fang….. It feels like a very abstract ability..”
“But the legends said it was like this.”
“So, what you’re saying is that if the legends are true, then the two swords are hidden in this hole?”
“Of course I can’t say I’m completely sure about this, but if we want to defeat a S ranked Exceed, then we can only hope that this kind of ethereal thing actually exists. After deciding upon my objective in May, I started reading all kinds of books in library for information to find out the location of the sacred sword and demonic blade.”
“Ah……. In the end, you found it in the science classroom, and every time you thought of a password, you would sneak in here to try it out.”
“In simple terms, that’s correct.”
While Kujyo was explaining the situation, she crouched down by the entrance of the cave and shone her flashlight into the hole. The hole was approximately two meters deep and had an ancient entrance at in its innermost recesses, extending towards the direction of the corridor. Because the length of the bridge wasn’t very close, we couldn’t see where the ancient entrance led.
“Hey, Yagumo. Don’t you have any interest to go explore where this tunnel leads?”
“—Huh? Wait a second. Why don’t you go by yourself?”
“There might be traps inside. I don’t want to act rashly when I can’t guarantee my own safety.There’s a saying, a smart man doesn’t stand under a collapsing wall.”
“……Ohhh, so you’re going to make me the victim instead.”
What a cruel woman.
“Besides, isn’t perfect for this job? All you have to do is split into Ryuichi and Ryuji, and make one of them go in the hole. Even if there’s some sort of danger, you could immediately get out by deactivating your ability.”
“……I see. You do have a point.”
Although I felt like I was being tricked, she did sound pretty convincing.
However, a good plan and whether or not it could be carried out were two different things. This kind of job that requires thinking is best left to Ryuichi, but because of what had happened earlier, I didn’t really want to leave Ryuji here. If it doesn’t go well, Kujyo would scold me.
“……Um, could I go with Ryuji?”
Immediately after I was thinking about who to send into the tunnel, Yuki broke the silence by volunteering.
“What? Yuki, you want to go into this worrisome hole?”
“It’s not that I want to go in……It’s just that I have some things I want to talk to you about. It’s for the best if it’s just the two of us.”
“You want to be alone with me? Isn’t it a little inconvenient inside a cave, though?”
“T-that’s true, but……”
“——Yagumo, stop wasting time. Since Nanami asked you, just quickly get down there.”
Kujyo suddenly said with a commanding tone. Then, she threw me the flashlight from behind.
“If you dare refuse, I will spread that stupid thing that you did everywhere.”
“………..”
Since she said it like that, I couldn’t do anything about it. I could only give up and agree to investigate the hidden passage.
After pondering about it, I decided not to directly use to go inside. Nevertheless, if there is any trouble, then it would be problematic. That’s why I would lead the way. That way, even if I couldn’t move, I could use to get out.
After we went down the hole, we laid down and turned into the entrance next to us. The passage seemed to go very far, so I could only use my teeth to clench onto the flashlight to light our way. We slowly crawled through the narrow hole. It was okay that our uniforms were covered by sand, but there was a lot of spider webs. They stuck to our faces. It was disgusting. However, I should be glad. Other than the cobwebs, there wasn’t any traps to prevent intruders.
“That’s right, Yuki. You said that you wanted to tell me something. What is it?”
I took the flashlight out of my mouth, and asked Yuki, who was behind me. However, she didn’t reply. There was only the sound of friction from crawling.
……I wasn’t sure what she was hinting at. Did she want me to move forward a little longer or did she want to talk about it later?
After going forward a little longer, we reached the end. It was about thirty meters away from the entrance.
I used the flashlight to light up and carefully examine our surroundings. I found a button buried. It was under a large amount of sand. There was no way to tell at first glance.
“Hey, Ryu. Did you find something?”
“Mhm. Although there’s no path from here, I found a very small button.”
“A button? If you press it, could we keep moving forward?”
“It’s possible, but if you turn that statement around, it could be a trap. ……Should I just push it, or should we stay on the safe side and go back…….”
The part of me that’s always suspicious of danger started to take over. Yuki, who was behind me, in a dependable tone said to me,
“Let’s try and click it. Even if something happens, I could use to support you from behind.”
“Is there really no problem with this? If this doesn’t go well even you could be in danger, you know?”
“No problem! Because our fates are intertwined together!”
“Huh? I think this is the first time I’ve heard that.”
“We’re soul mates!! Ever since school started, we’ve always been together and we’re friends with a strong bond!!”
“No, no. What are you talking about always being together? Didn’t we just meet three months ago?”
“Then it’s soul food!!”
“Even if you want to use an imposing manner to convince me, it’s still not soul food.”
Things that could be regarded as soul food are the Japaneses’ miso soup or the Indians’ curry. No matter how far-fetched the explanation, it still shouldn’t be used to describe relationships.
“……However, since you told me to, I guess I’ll just try pressing it down.”
“Yeah, be careful.”
After hearing Yuki’s response, I gently wiped off the dirt on top of it, determined to press it down.
“——Wahhh!?”
“Ah!!”
The floor underneath us suddenly disappeared. We fell for about two meters and then landed on something bouncy.
“That scared me……I didn’t think that the floor would suddenly disappear.”
I immediately got up and surveyed our surroundings. However, everything was shrouded in darkness. I couldn’t see anything.
“Ryu, it’s so dark——where’s the flashlight?”
Yuki, who fell down with me, sounded very disturbed as she asked me that question.
“Sorry, I was too surprised, so I couldn’t hold it properly. Also, it looks like the battery fell out when it hit the ground.”
While explaining, I tried to feel the ground for the flashlight. It shouldn’t have rolled very far——
While I was feeling for it in the dark, I suddenly felt something incredibly soft on the palm of my right hand. To confirm what it was, I tried squeezing it a few times.
“Ah!! Ryu, you pervert!!”
“Huh?——Ah!! Sorry!!”
“Ah!! That place is off limits!!”
“Off limits!? Where did I actually touch?”
Even I couldn’t help but sound regretful as I quickly distanced myself from that place.
“Sorry, Yuki! Forgive me! It really wasn’t on purpose!”
“……Really? It really wasn’t on purpose?”
“Of course! I swear it wasn’t on purpose! It was completely unintentional!”
“Boo——”
Yuki seemed to have made a dissatisfied moan. After that, she didn’t talk anymore.
Then, after going through lots of hardship, I found the flashlight. I put the batteries back in and then turned it on. I shone it around me and got face to face with Yuki, who was completely red to the ears.
“……Seriously! Ryu did many things to my chest that shouldn’t be done!”
Yuki complained while pressing my chest with her hands. She’s really someone who gets mad easily.
That aside, Yuki’s tits was incredibly soft. My palms still had that warm feeling. Even with her clothes on, it was already this soft. I wonder what it would feel like if I touched them directly. Everytime I thought back to this point, I remembered the scene I had seen at the swimming pool——
“You can’t remember that!!”
“Yes! I’m very sorry!”
As I tried to get those two incidents out of my mind, I shone the flashlight around my surroundings.
It seemed like a secret room had been built underground. It was approximately the size of an ordinary classroom. All the walls and floorboards were made of rocks. However, the place where we had fallen down onto had been coated with something soft.
……. If he had the time to prepare something like that, why didn’t he think of another way to enter this place……
I used my phone as a flashlight in order to illuminate the ceiling, there were many lights lined up. There was only one place like a cardboard lid separating the middle. Could it have been that when the button was pressed, that that would open up.
“By looking at the direction that we came from, this should be the underground floor, right?”
“That should be correct. Although, the City of God Academy shouldn’t have an underground floor, right?”
“Then this part of the Academy wasn’t recorded in the construction blueprints, so shouldn’t this room be a「room that shouldn’t exist」?”
I shone my light on every corner and finally found a switch on the wall. It looked exactly like the classroom’s light switch.
Although I had a bad feeling because we fell for the trap earlier, using a flashlight to investigate is very arduous. After being pressured to turn it on by Yuki, I gingerly pushed the ON switch.
Suddenly, all the lights on the ceiling turned on, making the entire room shine as bright as day. It seemed as if electricity was still connected to it.
Because the entire room lit up, we could not only see the desks, chairs, and refrigerator, but also an enormous bookshelf and everyday furniture like a large cabinet. There were a lot of resources stored in the bookshelf, and there was also a silver laptop on the desk.
Walking in front of the desk, we found the laptop’s cover had a gigantic dragon sticker stuck onto it. To have called the sacred sword ‘the sacred dragon’s claw’ and the evil blade ‘The demonic dragon’s fang’, the person named Tachibana must have really liked dragons.
There was no response when we pressed the laptop’s power button. I thought that was a bit suspicious, so we checked it out. I found out that there was no power cable. Without a power source, this computer might as well be a decoration.
We then retrieved some random files from the bookshelf to look at. Those were all sealed with dragon stickers, too. To like dragons to this extent, would make some people feel a bit irritated. When we casually opened up one of the files, inside was filled with bound volumes of data on things like experiments. It had just been as Kujyo had guessed. This really was Tachibana’s laboratory.
“Hey, Ryu. Isn’t this the sword that Elena was talking about?”
Opening the closet’s highest drawer, Yuki pointed at the sword inside and asked me.
I threw down the documents that I had in my hands, quickly walked to the cabinet, and peaked inside.
“……. I feel like hiding the sacred sword and the demonic blade here is a little careless.”
Although it was still in its sheath, it wasn’t being placed in a decent pedestal, nor was it wrapped in something luxurious, it looked as if it was placed here on a whim.
“However, it doesn’t look like it’s been sealed. It’s hard to believe that this was the sacred sword or the demonic blade.”
“Is this to make us let our guard down? If it was discovered by some random person who fell down here, even they wouldn’t think that this is a very powerful weapon.”
“If you want to enter that secret passageway, you would need to crack that code. Would there really be people falling in here randomly?”
“Ah, that’s true. Then, is it something like: although it might look like a normal sword, only a true hero could pull it out?”
“Ahem, ahem. Saying that to someone like me, who really likes RPGs is getting me really pumped up.”
I got excited by Yuki’s words, so I grabbed the sword with both hands. Originally wanting to pull the sword out in one go, it turned out that the sword easily came out of its sheath without even needing to use any strength.
“…….. I didn’t expect to pull it out so easily.”
“Does that mean Ryu is the hero that was chosen by the heavens!?!?”
“How could that be possible. Yuki, you try, too.”
After putting the sword back into its sheath, I handed the sword to Yuki. It turned out that anyone could pull the sword out, Yuki pulled the sword out and put it back in several times to make sure.
We carefully examined the sword. No matter from which angle we looked at it from, it still just looked like a normal sword.
“We should be able to conclude that the sword is neither the sacred sword nor the demonic blade.”
“B-but, maybe knowledgeable people can see that it’s a powerful weapon? You see, on this world, something may just look like graffiti to us, but it’s actually a painting worth millions of yen?”
“Yuki, I think you’re just being too hopeful……Besides, aren’t two swords being sealed? Other than this, we didn’t see anything else, right?”
We opened the rest of the drawers, but only the top drawer held anything.
……At least, it was better than nothing. Although, it seemed like this was nothing but an ordinary sword.
We were fascinated by the mysterious sword, which led us to being confused. We decided to go back to the science room. After turning off the lights, we used the ladder to climb back up through the ceiling, then we crawled forward in the dark and cramped tunnel. Because we had already cleared all the spiderwebs when we entered earlier, it was a lot easier compared to then.
“——Ah, you’re finally back. You guys are way too slow.”
The moment that our heads peeped through the opening, Kujyo ran over. She looked quite impatient, and didn’t pay too much attention. Thanks to this, I was able to see her with her legs crossed from a downwards perspective.
Also, the flashlight that I bit on had the light on, and coincidentally shone under Kujyo’s skirt.
“——Ah!! No!!”
Kujyo noticed her blunder a second too late, and let out a cute moaning sound. At the same time, she held down her skirt.
However, it was too late. I had already confirmed the secret color hidden under Kujyo’s skirt. It was white with blue stripes.
“——Now, Yagumo. Do you want to try hibernating right now? If you sleep for maybe about a hundred years, you should forget about anything unneeded.”
“W-wait a moment! I’ve already found the sword, so please forgive me!”
The moment I begged her forgiveness by quickly pulling out the sword, Kujyo immediately darted towards me.
However, after inspecting all of the unknown sword that had been pulled out from its sheath. Kujyo’s expression became gloomy.
“Ah….. Unfortunately, it seems that this is neither the sacred sword nor the demonic blade.”
“Huh, really?”
“Yes. The books inside the library recorded that 「The sacred sword and demonic blade, upon contact, would feel different from other blades, they’re weapons that surpass imagination」. However, this sword has no reaction no matter how I wield it. That is to say, we found ourselves a fake. …… Damn, to do something so annoying.”
Kujyo disappointedly put the sword back into its sheath, then tossed it at the me who had just climbed out from the cave.
“Yagumo cracked the code, so you’re responsible for disposing it.”
“I’m being forced to dispose it as well!?”
“What did you say, Yagumo, you can’t decide that the sword is fake so quickly. Maybe it might provide a clue to where the sacred sword and demonic blade’s really buried. Therefore, before the necessary time comes, I hope you’ll keep it safe.”
“There’s no way you were thinking that right!? You just said 「you have to take responsibility and dispose of it」. These words had already exposed your intentions!”
Kujyo really was going overboard…… Whatever, I did accidently see her underwear earlier, so it’s alright.
“Hey, Ryu. Do you want me to throw it away? Although I don’t know what kind of sword this is.”
“Ah, probably dangerous stuff.”
After answering, an idea suddenly sprouted within my brain.
“——No, actually, I won’t throw it away. I’ll use this sword to figure out a plan to defeat S ranks!”
After saying that, I gripped the sword tightly. A major reason why wasn’t suitable for combat was because it had no offensive skills. Even if it was a normal sword, if I used it in the right way, and maybe I could defeat a superior opponent.
“Because Kujyo once said, 「don’t fight a battle where you don’t have the capability」, it really suck, ah…”
“——Hmph, that’s really frank.”
Kujyo said with a smile.
“I have no interest in this kind of ordinary sword anyways. Tomorrow, I’ll be looking for the real location the sacred sword and demonic blade are hidden.”
“If you encounter another unbreakable code, remember to ask me for help.”
“That’s true. Although I don’t really want to, you’re much better than me or Yuki at solving these kinds of puzzles.”
Kujyo began insulting me again. I couldn’t help but smile a bit.
“Maybe next time we’ll be tricked again by false information, and we’ll find a hammer.”
“To be able to find a few weapons isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Also, the truth is that since the underground room exists, that means that the authenticity of the sacred sword and demonic blade also increases. Don’t you think that this also counts as getting closer to our target?”
“True. However, I’m afraid that wherever they’re true location, might be, it’ll be filled with really scary traps waiting for us.”
“Yes. And at that time, we’ll have to rely on you, trap master Yagumo.”
“Wait a minute, what kind of nickname is that? I haven’t learned anything about disarming traps.”
“No, no, no, you were able to successfully get through a tunnel that’s not long at all, and successfully retrieve a sword that’s basically useless. If you’re not a master, then what are you.”
“Aren’t you treating me as an idiot again? Kujyo, do you really need to treat people like they’re stupid?”
After bantering a bit with Kujyo, I suddenly recalled something. In the end, I wasn’t able to ask Yuki what she was the 「only for us two wanted」 she wanted to tell me.
……. Forget it. Too much had happened today, I was already tired enough. After tomorrow, there are still the chances to be alone with her, I’ll ask her again when there’s time.
Our late-night adventure had finally ended, and we decided to return to the dormitories.
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LNWNCentral_Dual Sword Liberator_Dual Sword Liberator - Volume 01 Chapter 01-02_Dual-Sword-Liberator-Volume-01-Chapter-01-02-[Unknown][Unknown]
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a31cnqi4.jtf.txt
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Full Chapter
Full Chapter
Translator: Xintus, Nya~ko
Translation Checker: GG
Editor: Azu, Kuroe, Shozenn
Greed Giant Full:
The next day would be the 30th of June. Awoken at 7:30 by a loud alarm. I thought of the piece of the alarm clock that my sister had given me that I had broken. I couldn’t help but feel a bit melancholic. This was completely because my swimsuit bag had knocked the clock onto the floor, and it broke last night.
This alarm clock was given to me by my little sister on the day that I decided to go to study at the City of God Academy. I was given this gift with these wishes:
「Big brother won’t be lonely with this, even when you are alone, and you’ll be able to wake up when I’m not there.」
Every time I see this clock, I would think of my sister’s pure smile. After our mobile phones were confiscated, this alarm clock was the only thing to remind me of my family.
…I guess I’ll go to the school store to buy some glue after school. As long as it’s fixed, my heart full of homesickness would ease a bit.
After making the important decision of what to do after school, I got out of bed, changed my clothes, and left my room.
In this school, the students dined in a place called the「Restaurant Floor」. It was a two-storey building built between the boys’ and girls’ dormitories. Shops were on the first floor, and a cafeteria on the second.
After the Schol Lockdown Game had started, the cafeteria was only open at three set times each day. These slots were 「7:00 – 8:00」 , 「12:30 – 13:30」 and 「18:00 – 19:00」. We would go to the cafeteria during those time periods, and choose our favorite food to eat from a buffet-styled arrangement.
If you go over the set time periods, then you would be mercilessly kicked out of the cafeteria, and the food would be confiscated. Being able to eat was your own responsibility, so it would suck if you overslept. If you really couldn’t take it anymore, then you could only go to the store to buy some snacks for calories.
Immediately after going out of the dormitory, I squinted from the dazzling rays of sunlight. It was probably because the air was quite dry, so it didn’t feel very hot.
From exit of the staircase to the cafeteria on the second floor, more than half of the 200 seats were taken. I held a plastic meal tray. There were about fifty different dishes placed in the middle of the cafeteria. I followed my instinct and picked my favorite foods: chocolate croissants, pasta, fried chicken nuggets and roasted beef.
After filling my plate with high calorie foods, I started wondering about where I should sit. Usually I would eat with Yuki, but I couldn’t see her anywhere today. Normally at this time, she would already be at the cafeteria. Did something happen? Also , what was she chanting last night? Could it have been that she felt sick?
…Now that I think about it, I still haven’t told Kujyo about the laptop and research data that was in the underground room…
As I was reminiscing about what happened last night, I suddenly remembered. After calmly considering the situation, I thought that it was a mistake that anyone would hate. Although being scolded severely is making me scared, I should immediately rush to her and tell her about it if I saw her.
Scanning the cafeteria, I immediately spotted Kujyo’s figure. She always sat at the farthest spot, near to the wall. It seems that this had already become her habit.
Separating myself from the crowd, I walked towards Kujyo.
“Hey, Kujyo. Good Morning.”
“—What. Oh, it’s Yagumo. What can I do for you?”
Kujyo poked at the salad and looked at me with a bored expression. I felt a little suffocated. I first put my plate on the table, then sat across her.
“Actually, I came here to apologise to you.”
“…This is my first time being greeted and immediately apologised to right after. So, what are you apologizing for?”
“Um, I hope you don’t get angry after hearing it—”
“That’s impossible.”
“I haven’t even said anything, yet!?”
“It should be clear. Even if it’s something not worth getting angry at, I’ll still get angry. It would always end up like that whenever you come talk to me.”
“Our relationship is simply terrible!”
“Stop rambling and quickly get to the point. What a waste of time.”
“Isn’t that too unreasonable!?”
While holding in the unpleasant feelings from being scolded before even getting to the topic, I told her what I saw yesterday in the underground room.
“…Basically, what you’re saying is that there’s a huge bookcase in the underground room with lots of documents. And there was also a laptop on the table, right?”
Kujyo showed a scary expression, glared angrily at me.
“B-but, the laptop didn’t have a power cable, so it couldn’t be turned on at all, right?”
“Even if it’s like that, why didn’t you tell me yesterday? Maybe there’s crucial information on the sacred sword and demonic blade in there!”
“I’m really sorry. I was only thinking about the sword that we had found yesterday.”
“Hmph. Then after finding out that the sword was a fake, you should’ve thought about reporting this information to me.”
“Even if you say that, you didn’t ask me about the details of the underground room.”
“What did you say?”
“S-Sorry…”
I Involuntarily retorted. I could only only apologise non-stop now.
“…However, if Kujyo feels like it’s necessary, I could go retrieve the laptop and the data right now.”
After giving my own humble opinion, Kujyo seemed very unhappy and shook her head.
“We can’t. If we skipped class, then the third years might find out. Also if we don’t handle it right, the situation on the underground room would be exposed. If we want to retrieve the documents, the best time would be after school.”
“However, if I just use , I could make one of my selves go to class, while my other self skips class and goes to the underground room.”
“—I see, there was that method.”
Kujyo slapped her leg, she seems to have accepted this suggestion.
“Then, can I leave the matter of the underground room to you?”
“Of course.”
After getting my reliable answer, Kujyo smiled with satisfaction. It seemed like I had finally succeeded in restoring my reputation.
“Good morning you two!!”
I turned back towards the energetic voice. Yuki stood there full of happiness. Her plate was filled with vegetables.
“Can I sit here?”
She sat to my left before I could even answer. The whole atmosphere of the table seemed to liven up.
However, after Kujyo meaningfully scanned Yuki with a meaningful eye, she quickly stood up.
“I’ve finished eating. I’ll head to the classroom first. I’ll have to trouble you with the matter concerning the documents.”
Kujyo searched her bag for a flashlight while talking and threw it to me. It should be useful in the tunnel.
In the end, she still had some salad left over on her plate. Kujyo quickly left the table. There was still some of time before we had to go to class. However, she had always liked working alone, so I wasn’t extremely mindful about it.
“…It’s really rare, you eating breakfast with Elena.”
I wasn’t sure if it was just me, but I always felt that Yuki looked at me with a piercing gaze. Being stared at by such a gaze, I would still feel a bit flustered, even if I had done nothing wrong.
“No, actually, I just remembered that there were many files and documents stored inside that underground room. After I told her, she scolded me like usual. However, because I said that I would go retrieve it immediately, I seemed to have already received understanding.”
“O-oh, so it’s like that…Because of what happened last night, I thought that Ryu and Elena would definitely have a fight.”
“—Huh? Me?”
I shrugged, thinking she was joking. However, Yuki actually had a very serious expression.
“…Actually, what happened last night was actually a very big blow to me. I didn’t know that Ryu saw Elena in that way…It’s obvious the person always next to Ryu is me…”
Yuki put her head down. She muttered in a barely audible voice to me.
…Eh, what did those words she just said mean? 「What happened last night」 should be me sexually harassing Kujyo last night, right? However, this didn’t have anything to do with 「It’s obvious the person always next to Ryu is me.」
…Could Yuki be thinking that since we’re always together, if I wanted to sexually harass someone, I should be doing it to her?
—No, that would be unthinkable. That pure Yuki would definitely not be one of those people who take pleasure in being sexually harassed.
…I’ll first put aside the unclear significance of her words. Last night, Ryuji’s sexual harassment could be considered a downright accident. In order not to make the same mistakes, it would be better to clearly explain it.
“…Um, Yuki. I already explained yesterday. Ryuji’s confession to Kujyo in the science classroom was all because of the side effects of .”
“Side effect?”
“Yes. You know how my personality and Ryuji’s are completely different, right?”
“Yes. Ryuji is a little more stupid.”
“That’s right, and what’s even more annoying is that he’s a super aggressive pervert. Kujyo said it yesterday, 「Could it be that you have split personality and they become separated into their own bodies」. Actually, that’s basically what happens. After activating Ryuichi and Ryuji, who have two completely different personalities appear. Ryuichi’s personality is closer to mine. In other words, Ryuji and I have completely different ways of thinking, so I wouldn’t want to be held accountable for his stupid actions.”
“…Ok…”
“You can’t accept it?”
“Yep, I can’t accept it at all.”
“I see…”
I tried very hard to explain, but it still didn’t work…
“…Um, then just let me confirm something. Ryu, you don’t plan to keep trying to get close to Elena, right?”
“That’s right. Don’t mention in the same sentence with that idiot.”
“Oh, so it’s like this…Although I still can’t fully accept it, I do feel a bit relieved.”
Seeing Yuki relieved and putting her hand on her chest, I could not help but smile.
“You’re such a bizarre person. Why would you feel relieved?”
“Huh!?…T-that way this matter is all better!! It has nothing to do with Ryu!!”
“W-wouldn’t it be better to say this matter only pertains to me?”
“So noisy!! Actually, I regard Elena as the opposite sex. If Ryu becomes competition, then I would feel very frustrated!!”
“Hm—As I thought, Yuki really isn’t good at lying.”
“That’s not true, and I’m telling the truth!”
“So, so, rather than treating him/her as the same ‘sex’, I’ll treat him as having different ‘last name’!”
“Then I’ll treat her as someone with a different last name, instead of the opposite sex. ”
“Isn’t that how it is for everyone normally?”
“Now that you say, you’re right!…Ryuu-kun even though you can’t see the characters, I’m amazed that you could figure out I was talking about ‘gender’ vs ‘surname’.” ***
“I could guess anything you’re thinking. I’m the one who you said is always with you when you said 「It’s obviously the person who’s always next to Ryu is me」
“C-can you stop repeating other people’s embarrassing phrases!!”
Yuki blushed, and kept hitting my left shoulder.
“Really! Topics that make people embarrassed shall end here! —A-anyways, Ryu. What I wanted to tell you before was to at least eat some vegetables.”
She pointed at the very unbalanced breakfast in front of me. Yuki very stiffly changed the subject.
“I always thought that Ryu doesn’t eat enough vegetables.”
“Huh? No, no. Could it be that you check the food that I chose every time?”
I half-jokingly asked her, but she gaze was very serious.
“Of course I would look. I look at it very carefully every morning. So Ryu, you have to be constantly aware that your life is being monitored.”
“I-I always feel a little bit scared…”
“That’s right. How about I help you choose your meal next time? I’ll be your nutrient manager.”
“O-oh…”
Looking at Yuki’s plate that’s filled with vegetables, I couldn’t resist making an irritable sound.
“…If I left it to Yuki, what food would you chose for me.”
“Ah, that. First, it would be the red-bellied snake that makes people full of energy.”
“Red-bellied snake!? The buffet menu has that!?”
“There’s also live turtles.”
“There’s definitely no turtles on the menu, right!? I’m not lacking so much energy that I would need to eat this kind of thing, right!?”
“Right, it is because Ryu is a herbivore. A herbivore doesn’t eat vegetables is weird. It’s a fatal contradiction.”
“It is troubling that you described me that way.”
“So, in order to resolve this contradiction, it’s necessary to intake a sufficient amount of red-bellied snakes and live turtles. If we could stay alone in a small room after you have eaten, then that would be even better.”
“Why!? What would you do with the energetic me!?”
“Huh!? T-to…to wrestle?”
Yuki, who turned completely red, replied in shy whisper.
…That was unfortunate. I had basically no knowledge on wrestling, but do men and women really wrestle each other? Also, wrestling is quite exhausting, but do we really have to eat red-bellied snakes and live turtles?
My head was full of questions, but I just had a feeling that if we kept on talking about this topic, it would lead to a bad outcome, so I just faked a smile and moved on.
***Note: Gender and Last name are pronounced the same way and written similarly.
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After I finished eating, Yuki and I separated. I returned to my room to retrieve the sword and my bag, then I set off towards the science room at the east branch of the premises. Because normally, nobody would go to the east side at this time, I thought that I would definitely be suspected if I was caught by a third year. I couldn’t help sweating all over.
I tiptoed down the empty hallway, finally arriving safely in front of the science classroom. Fortunately, up until now, I didn’t come across anyone. I immediately activated , sending the me who was holding the flashlight into the science classroom. The Ryuji, who was outside, rushed to back to class.
I entered the password on the control panel. I then entered the hole while turning on the flashlight. After getting used to it, I found the channel breezy and surprisingly comfortable.
Finally coming to the end of the secret passageway, I then pressed the same button as I had yesterday, which activated a mechanism to make the floor disappear. I then dropped down, but made sure that my heart was ready, so that I wouldn’t drop the flashlight this time.
——But almost at the same time as the floor opened, I noticed something very strange. The ceiling lights were somehow all on. Yesterday, when we left, we had already shut them off——
“I’ve been waiting for you for a long time, Yagumo Ryu.”
The person who had gotten to the underground room before me said when I had just landed.
I instantly recognized voice, and went into battle mode.
“Kito, why are you here?”
“Heh, you seem to be very surprised. I didn’t wait here for nothing.”
Kito stood astride in the middle of the room, ignoring my question and sneered.
“If you were thinking of coming to investigate the data here, then it’s really a shame. Because this morning, the laptop and all of the information had already been confiscated.”
“What……!?”
Looking around, the bookshelf had already been swept clean, and the laptop on the desk was gone.
This was too unlucky. Just because of this tiny difference, all the stuff had been taken away.
…….No. No matter what, this timing is way too coincidental. The morning right after we cracked the code, the third years immediately followed.
“…… Could you have deliberately let us go?”
“Oh~ your head works fast. That’s exactly it.”
Seeing Kito’s indifferent smile, I instantly understood everything.
“Then, basically, Kujyo getting the information related to the sacred sword from the library were all just part of the third year’s trap.”
“You’re quite keen. You’re completely correct. However, this was originally only the librarian committee chairman’s idea. We had already noticed this laboratory before, but we couldn’t find the exact location. So, we advertised the rumor of a sacred sword and demonic blade. We then put the information into the library’s books, and waited for a kouhai that could solve the puzzle to appear.”
After having said that, Kato raised his right hand, and pointed towards the direction of the science classroom.
“You guys didn’t notice that there was a surveillance camera on the ceiling of the science room, right? It’s been disguised as something like a fire alarm. If it isn’t dismantled, it definitely won’t be found. So, we heard everything that you guys talked about here last night, loud and clear.”
“……….”
We lost badly. When I heard Kujyo had went to the library to gather information, I should have immediately have raised my alertness level.
“…… Basically, you didn’t continue chasing us last night because you wanted to let us go meet with Kujyo at the science room?”
“That’s right, it’s just as you said. … Although I want to say that, it was really just a coincidence. The glass that you hit me with all pierced my wrist. It wasn’t the right time to chase after you. Because I thought you guys would immediately go back to the dorms, I called it a day and went to the infirmary to pull out the glass.”
While recalling the pain from last night, Kito used his left hand to hold the right hand exposed by his T-shirt. It seemed like there’s no more injury now. The healthcare members probably used their abilities to cure it.
“……Uh, we troubled you on that.”
“Rest assured. I definitely won’t let you go for that.”
He glanced at me without hesitation. I should quickly change the subject.
“Since there are security cameras in the science classroom, you guys noticed that Kujyo was sneaking in there a long time ago.”
“Of course, Kujyo Elena could possibly help us decipher the code. So, we gave her freedom to do anything while monitoring from the side. Well, we just didn’t expect too much.”
“However, last night we successfully opened the entrance to the underground room.”
“We were a little bit careless. When we found of about it, you guys were already heading back. Fortunately, you guys only took away a sword, so we immediately rushed here and took away all the data.”
“………”
Once again, I greatly regretted that I didn’t bring out the documents. If I took it away yesterday, this would have preempted the third years.
“By the way, I can tell you one thing. The reason I was waiting here is because one of my companions overheard you guys’ conversation at the cafeteria. Why didn’t you find a private place to talk about something so important.”
“………Um.”
Now that I thought about it, we were careless from the beginning of our operations yesterday. Originally, we wanted to begin before the third years, but we were just playing into their hands.
…… I always make this kind of stupid mistake, and yet I talk about beating the third years……
“——Ok, spoilers end here. We should get to the main topic now.”
Kito said with an oppressive tone as he walked towards me. His height of one hundred and eighty meters paired with his body full of muscles. This kind of oppressive aura simply isn’t a joke.
“I don’t have to say more, do I. Your conduct yesterday clearly violated the rules. It must be punished.”
“Breaking the rules or whatever was just decided by the third years I bet.”
“Hmph, you have the nerve to say that when you snuck into the school at night.”
“I don’t want to be told that by the people who placed us under house arrest.”
“That’s true, but I must fulfill my duties as a disciplinary member. I also want to return the favor for what you did to my right hand last night.”
“…… Are you trying to make every effort to punish me?”
“That’s exactly right, or are you saying you want all the disciplinary members to beat you black and blue?”
“……….”
In this situation, I obviously didn’t have the guts to say 「This abuse is lynching, right?」. I should stop resisting. It would be better to give in obediently.
However, if it’s ends like this, why did we desperately try to run away.
“Looking at your expression, I’m guessing you’re not going to try and resist, right?”
“Of course not. How could I make such a suicidal act as to the disciplinary committee my enemy.”
“I see. It’s such a shame that you are so sensible.”
“Is that so?”
Does he really want to beat me up that badly.
“……Anyways, Yagumo. Before I punish you, I need to ask a favor of you. I hope you can give me the sword that you got from the underground room.”
“……Huh? The sword?”
“Yes. It’s like you guys said yesterday. That sword could be the key to finding the location of the sacred sword or demonic blade.”
“…..What if I say I don’t want to give it?”
“We obviously won’t make you give it to us for nothing. Last night you broke into the school and hindered the disciplinary committee’s duties. According to rules, you and Nanami Yuki are supposed to be punished for ten days. However, if you hand out the sword, I can cut it in half. Just five days is enough. Also, Kujyo Elena is supposed to have three days of punishment, but I can lessen her’s it by one day. Just two days are enough.”
“……….”
The exchange that I was offered gave me a headache. All the information in the underground room was taken up. The only thing we have left that contains clues to the sacred sword and demonic blade is this sword. How could I give up the sword just for the benefit of having my punishment halved.
Even though I said that, I definitely didn’t want to stay in the punishment room for ten days based on the current situation. Also, looking at the tough measures the third years have been making in the past couple of months, they could find a suitable reason such as 「retrieving equipment that have been taken out without permission」 while we were imprisoned in the punishment to obtain the sword.
——And, I also want to try to prevent getting Yuki and Kujyo thrown into the punishment room as well.
“…… Kito, how about this?”
After thinking about it, I gave him a proposal.
“After school, I’ll have a duel with you.”
“——What! A duel!?”
“That’s right. If I win, I would like you to forget our violation of the rules yesterday.”
Kito mockingly shrank his shoulders towards my proposal.
“Although I don’t know how you came up with dueling, it does seem like a good idea. ——But, it would be good to hear beforehand. What happens if you lose?”
“For twenty days, starting today, I will stay in the punishment room. Of course, I will also hand in the sword from the underground room.”
“——Oh.”
Kito’s expression changed.
“Don’t underestimate the punishment room. If you lose, then you would be stuck in a pitch dark room that doesn’t even have windows for twenty days. Towards the students who are put in there, nothing edible will be provided other than drinking water. Knowing this, can you easily say such a thing?”
“I’m not casually saying this. I said it because I have confidence that I can win.”
Even though I made this kind of bluff, I didn’t have a plan. It was because even if I was to be locked inside such a punishment room, I have confidence in using to escape the punishment room. Also, if I just made either me or Ryuji stay in the punishment room, then the discipline committee would definitely be unable to find out. If I disguise myself, I could definitely eat all the snacks that I wanted outside!
After I indifferently came up with my strategy, I continued speaking.
“I heard that people only need water to survive a month. Even if I’m under imprisonment for twenty days, I still shouldn’t die.”
“…..Hmph. I can only assume that your brain has problems.”
Holding his arm, Kito sneered with disdain. However, I couldn’t cower here.
“So, what’s it going to be? Are you going to accept these conditions?”
“Wait for a minute. This is indeed a fascinating proposal, but there is a bigger premise. Disciplinary committee members can’t turn a blind eye towards the violation of the school rules——”
“It wouldn’t be a problem if you won. Not only did you not let go of the rule breaker, but you also gave him double the punishment. Not only that, you can even get your hands on the sword. Or, are you scared of losing to me?”
“That’s obviously using provocative tactics on me.”
“Because of what happened yesterday, I guess you don’t find me very pleasing to the eye, right? The glass that pierced into your arm yesterday hurt badly, right?”
“Although it causes a lot of anger, those two things are completely different matters. I will not mix duty with our private matters.”
“………..”
Kito is actually such an exemplary person. I thought that if I put it this way, he would have definitely taken the bait.
If that was the case, then I would have to desperately gamble on this.
“Ok, I understand now. If you don’t accept this proposal, then I guess I’ll just have to destroy the sword immediately.”
After hearing what I said, Kito’s face contorted. It seemed like I hit a nerve.
“You know what I can do, right? Actually, the sword is in the classroom. So, if you refuse to fight me, I’ll have the other me, who’s in the classroom, immediately break the sword.”
“……….”
“I could use telepathic abilities with my other self. It would be better to say that my other self is completely ignoring class and keeping his eyes peeled for any new developments. Even if you want to retrieve it immediately, you definitely won’t make it in time.”
“……Are you serious?”
“Of course.”
I looked back with a provocative gaze towards Kito, who towered above me.
After a while, Kito pretendingly sighed and scratched his head.
“Ok, I get it. I’ll just accept your challenge.”
“That means you agree to have a duel with me, right?”
“How many times do you want me to say it, so annoying.”
Kito waved his hand like he was driving away flies.
“Oh, that’s right, Yagumo. You look like you haven’t dueled before. Did you know there are a few rules in the school lockdown game. The student council president should have already explained what would happen on April 28th.”
“…..Ah, I seem to remember something of the sort, but I’m not clear about the specific details anymore.”
“Firstly, you have to ask for a duel in advance. You can’t ambush. Secondly, without a particular reason, you cannot duel outside of the school campus.”
Kito started reciting the rules of dueling. I wasn’t sure if it was just me, but Kito seemed to have a smug look on his face.
“Thirdly,the duel must be under the supervision of the health committee chairman.”
“If the health committee chairman is there, then wounds could be treated immediately even if someone was seriously injured during the duel.”
“That’s right. However, if you accept treatment, then you’re basically admitting defeat.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Fourthly, battles will generally last until one side admits defeat or loses consciousness. However, if one side is seriously hurt, the supervisors will determine if there is any danger with continuing the fight. That would also immediately determine the winner.”
“I guess that’s to prevent people from battling to the death.”
“That’s right. There are some other rules, but only these four pertain to this duel. The rules would subtly change for each duel pertaining to the opponent. If you get the chance, ask someone else to explain to you. ——Also, let me handle the application for this duel.”
“That would really be appreciated.”
“Then I will confirm one more time. The results of this duel will determine whether you are pardoned or punished. Is there really no problem with this?”
“Of course not.”
After getting my confirmation, Kito took out his student handbook and briefly recorded what we talked about earlier.
「If Yagumo Ryu wins: he will be pardoned for all of his punishments.」
「If Yagumo Ryu loses: starting today, he will be locked up for twenty days and will give the sword he found in the basement to the third-years.」
“Let me say this beforehand. This time it’s a special case. Don’t think this will happen again.”
“Mhm, obviously there isn’t a problem with that, Kito. However, where you wrote 「if Yagumo Ryu wins」, could you also add 「Nanami Yuki and Kujyo Elena’s punishment will also all be pardoned」?”
“…..Huh? I obviously can’t allow that. There was no such condition when we discussed earlier——”
“I guess I’ll destroy the sword.”
“——Ok, fine. I got it. I really lost big on this one.”
“Thank you very much. I always knew Kito would be able to do it.”
“Shut up, you low life pretending to be like other people who protect girls.”
“It’s not only to protect them because they’re girls, but also because they’re my friends.”
“Hmph, kill yourself.”
“How could you talk trash about me so frankly?”
“Ah, that’s right. Changing the subject, I have a couple things to add about the punishment room.”
“Right after you pretend like nothing happened and changed the subject!”
“I think you should know without me telling you. To Exceeds, the lock on doors is nothing other than a decoration. So, anyone who enters the punishment room will all receive an order to not escape the room with Kirihara’s .
“——Huh?”
“However, seeing the way you boasted of your amazingness, you definitely shouldn’t have considered anything cowardly like escaping.”
“……T-that goes without saying. It’s really annoying. I definitely didn’t think of a strategy like going outside to eat snacks until I’m full.”
“I also think that way. You really have such a manly spirit. I’m really thankful for that. I’m really looking forward to our duel after school.”
As Kito said that, an evil smile appeared on his face.
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“——So, that’s why I’m going to duel Kito.”
A period of time elapsed. It was now first period’s break. I lifted , and I told Yuki and Kujyo, who were in the classroom, about the negotiations I had in the basement earlier.
“……I can only say that you’re too hasty.”
Kujyo said coldly with a complex expression and her arms crossed.
“It really is commendable that you want to prevent having me thrown into the punishment room, but you have basically no chance of winning.”
“Nope, Elena. How dare you curb his enthusiasm in one of the few instances where Ryu has vigor? I support you, Ryu.”
“Seriously Nanami, you’re spoiling Yagumo too much. …..Having said that, I don’t detest reckless guys. Even though you’ll lose badly, good luck.”
In response to Kujyo’s insincere support accompanied with a half-smile, I retorted like this.
“Heheh. It’s a pity, Kujyo. I shouldn’t lose this match.”
“Oh? Could it be that you have some sort of countermeasure?””
“Ah. It’s just like you said. Yuki used on Kito’s right hand last night. So, immediately after the battle begins, I’ll let Yuki activate and throw large amounts of glass shards just like yesterday. I don’t even have to do anything and Kito will be unable to fight.”
This is the trump card that I’ll use in the duel with Kito. The sly Ryuji would never provoke in a situation that has no chance of winning.
On the other hand, Kujyo frowned after hearing this countermeasure.
“That strategy is too petty.”
“However, we would definitely win.”
“You say it like this, but isn’t this completely relying on outside factors?”
“You can call it whatever you want. As long as we win, it wouldn’t matter.”
“…..Um——”
At this moment, Yuki suddenly interrupted with a very sorry appearance.”
“I’m sorry to tell you that ’s mark resets whenever I sleep…… So, if you want to use it on Kito again, I would have to touch him again.”
“……Huh? Are you serious?”
“Mhm, completely. So, the strategy of using on Kito is completely unworkable.”
“……….”
This was an unexpected obstacle.
“…..Uh, then let’s look for opportunities of approaching Kito before school ends and think of whatever way we can touch him…..”
“Our opponent isn’t stupid. He will definitely be alert of Yuki who’s on your side. It’s probably very difficult to even approach him.”
“………”
Kujyo’s remarks made me speechless. I was in a state of despair.
“Yagumo, don’t be so depressed. We’ll see you after you come out of the punishment room twenty days later.”
“You already determined that I’ll lose.”
“You don’t have any other battle plans, right? Or are you saying you’ll terminate the duel?”
Kujyo scornfully shrugged.
“I don’t really care much. I was already prepared to enter the punishment room.”
“——Hey, hey, Kujyo. You’re wrong about me. I definitely won’t run away.”
I declared to Kujyo, who didn’t have any faith in me.
“The me that took pride in avoiding unsure battles died because of Kuyjo’s words yesterday. Now take a good look at the reborn me”
“——Hmph. You can really talk. Judging by your incessant chatter, you must have thought of other strategies to defeat him, right?”
“Of course.”
“Interesting. If you can really defeat Kito, then I’ll give you a reward.”
Just as Kujyo said that sneering, the bell for the second class started ringing. The gigantic TV in front of the room started playing a recording. The class began.
We immediately returned to our seats and took out our math notebooks. Because there are surveillance cameras on top of the TV, it will catch everything going on in the classroom and transfer it to the third years. If you weren’t seriously studying, then you’ll be taken to the punishment room by the disciplinary committee.
The ringing ended, and the teacher on the TV started lecturing.
……Ok.
I’m already forced to a dead end. What should I do now?
I can’t turn back having told them these things. I can’t see any hope in defeating Kito. However, I don’t want to be suspended for twenty days. Knowing this, I should have confirmed the effects of earlier……
I had a sad expression as I was troubled with this. Although I still like math, this isn’t the time to study.
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After sixth period ended so did the school day. I carried the sword from last night and walked with Yuki and Kujyo to the main entrance (the sheath made of rope, which held the sword, was all made for me by Yuki during breaks).
I couldn’t believe how calm I was. I couldn’t get it off my mind this morning. However, as it got closer to the duel time, I actually became more relaxed. I already gave up. I’ll just let whatever happens happen!!
As we were walking on the small path that led westward, we went down a series of concrete stairs covered with lush green grass and arrived at a sand covered playground. There wasn’t a single cloud in the sky. It looked like the duel wouldn’t be cancelled due to rain.
When we arrived, Kito was already there, sitting. It seemed like he wanted to be prepared to duel at a moment’s notice, so he did preparation exercises.
There was no one else around other than Kito. I couldn’t help myself from taking a breath of relief. In order to have the supervisors gather before the battle begins, notices would always be posted at the main entrance beforehand.
After the school lockdown game started, there would be a lot people watching every single battle due how rare they were. However, because the third years were always the overwhelming winners, the number of students who came and watched became less and less.
Moreover, this battle was completely unrelated to the school lockdown game. It was a battle between a B class and a C class. Only Kujyo and Yuki were here.I’m really thankful for this because I was going to lose really badly.
“——Yo, Yagumo. You have to work hard today.”
I suddenly heard a voice behind me. I instinctively turned my head around. A beautiful girl dressed in white appeared before me. There were red lines on her skirt indicating that she was a third year.
Her waist length hair was tied up with bright red accessories, and the plumpness of her chest could match that of Yuki’s. However, what was more striking was that she left her white cape, which was worn on top of her uniform, drooping on her shoulders. It was clear that she showed less skin than other girls, but this kind of drooping fashion was actually slightly more erotic.
Her name was Shiranui Himeka, a S class Exceed. She served as the health committee chairman, who is one of the Game Masters of the school lockdown game.
“Have we met before? I think I met you when you sent one of your classmates to the health center during Golden Week. However, you left without saying anything to me.”
“…..Yes, thank you very for taking care of him that time.”
“Shucks, it’s just the health committee’s responsibility. If I use my . Treating wounds only takes two seconds.”
Shiranui said confidently as her dark black hair swayed gracefully.
“As long as you have me supervising, you don’t need to show any mercy for your opponent. Enjoy the battle to your heart’s content.”
“……Ok.”
I reluctantly answered as I walked towards center of the campus. I wasn’t in the mood to chat with the Dominators at the time.
“——In that case, I’ll go all out.”
I told myself as I activated .
Ryuji and I split, side by side carrying the sword in its scabbard. After activating , doesn’t only make a copy of myself but also my clothes and accessories.
However, if this didn’t happen, there would be a naked person every time we split. That would be a big problem.
By the way, the items added by wouldn’t disappear even if I dropped it before I cancel the ability. For example, if I used , a $10,000 bill would become two bills. That way you could buy things worth $20,000. This ability was literally made for breaking the law.
“You seem to be ready.”
Kito said to me as he got up after finishing his stretches. Ryuji and I simultaneously nodded our heads.
“Alright, then let’s get started.”
Kito shouted with a very imposing manner. A few seconds later, fireworks started, which meant the start of the battle.
The white smoke rose up extremely high, and the loud sounds of explosion resounded in the air.
Seconds later, Kito lowered his body and started to charge up. He probably wanted to make himself enormous like last night.
Ryuji and I took aim and sped towards him. As we ran towards the motionless Kito, we pulled out the sword. We were going to pierce him from the upper-right in one go.
The reason was simple for using quick attacks at the beginning of the battle. If someone wanted to beat Kito, their best chance would be before he became a giant.
——However, in reality, it wouldn’t be as successful as I imagined it would be. Kito already saw through my intentions. He enlarged his right arm in an instant and swept horizontally with tremendous force. Ryuji and I were hit and sent flying backwards.
Fortunately, the attack earlier didn’t do us much harm. It was probably because it was a sudden counter-attack, so there wasn’t much power put in.
We immediately adjusted our formation. Ryuji and I put a little more distance between us.
“——Kito. From what just happened, we can clearly see that you’re ability has a huge weakness.”
While paying attention to Kito’s movements, I said this, which made him shudder.
“It would be better to call it a limit rather than a weakness.”
“Limit? What do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb.”
As he said that, I reminisced about what happened last night. When we encountered Kito in the vicinity of the school campus, he only made his right arm enormous. There was no sign of him chasing us during the time he was making his whole body gigantic.
“You probably can’t make your whole body gigantic in an instant. To achieve gigantism, it would take somewhere around ten seconds. During this time, you’ll be completely vulnerable.”
After hearing me point out his weakness, Kito made a wry smile.
“How surprising. You deduced that just from our encounter yesterday.”
“I am very observant.”
“Hmph, but my right arm can instantly become gigantic.”
“That’s true, but this is a lot easier to fight against compared to a complete giant.”
“So, you decided not to wait until I turn gigantic?”
“That’s right, but it would be better to say that I took this opportunity to engage.”
While I was pretending to chat with Kito, Ryuji launched a surprise attack from behind.
“——Eat this!!”
However, Kito’s enlarged his right foot and jumped away with an unbelievable amount of force from where he was.
“That’s a pity. I saw your other self moving with my peripheral vision.”
“I knew from the beginning that trick wouldn’t work. ——However, it could still be considered a small success since I know your feet can get bigger now as well.”
“While analyzing my ability, you’re planning on slowly forcing me into a corner.”
“Do you think that’s improper?”
“No, actually I think it’s a great strategy. ……Anyways, have you heard any information about from other people?”
“What do you mean?”
“Stop playing dumb. When I activate , there’s another effect. Do you know what it is?”
“……….”
I probably already guessed what Kito wanted to say. While and are completely different classes, there are some similarities.
——It’s that 「you can add more of yourself」.
“To answer the question from earlier, it should be 「when you activate , anything you touch will also become huge」, right? Otherwise, your uniform would have been ripped into shreds when you turned gigantic last night.”
“You have very good observation skills. You can even deduce this when you use it.”
While talking, Kito put his hand down his jacket’s front pocket, seemingly trying to pull something out.
“Actually before the battle, I picked up all the medium sized rocks around the area.”
“——Could it be you!”
“Ah, that’s exactly right.”
Kito held a small rock while making his right hand gigantic. During the moment I spaced out, he threw the rock in his hand, which was around thirty meters, towards Ryuji.
——That’s not right, it was no longer the size of a stone. It was a boulder.
“Eat a blow from my right fist as well!”
The moment he said that, Kito had already threw his giant fist at me.
The giant right fist came at me, and countless rocks flew towards Ryuji. I hesitated for a moment. I then finally canceled , which made me disappear.
After, my body suffered the impact of numerous rocks. The sharp stones pierced my skin all the way to the bones. My head started feeling a little dizzy.
“——You aren’t the only one who learnt from last night’s battle. As long as you cancel , you can avoid one of them from being attacked. So, if I want to attack you, I have target both of you at the same time for it to work.”
Kito proudly said to me, as I fell on the ground.
Although I avoided a fatal wound, both my elbows hurt so much that I couldn’t lift them up. Because I wanted to protect myself from the rocks, I got this wound instead. I questioned whether I should keep fighting.
“——AHHHHHH!!”
I shouted as I stubbornly got up. I finally stood up.
However, after I adjusted my posture, Kito had already turned into a giant.
“……Ok. I’m completely ready now. Let’s start this battle again!”
Kito’s roaring voice came from above. He had already lifted his gigantic right foot to flatten me.
Predicting where he was going to land, I desperately tried to jump away from there. An unbelievably enormous shoe flattened where I just stood at.
The ground shook violently, the area rumbled, and sand flew everywhere. Because there was such a huge gap in strength, I was flabbergasted.
Now Kito’s foot was the size of my whole body. If I was stepped on, it would completely KO me.
Cold sweat dripped from my forehead. Looking at the situation, there was no chance of winning.
——Then, I should take this opportunity to run away.
I put the sword back into its sheath and swiftly ran towards the school building. The sand obscured Kito’s line of sight. There were a couple seconds that he couldn’t find me.
“——Hey, wait Yagumo!! Where are you going !?”
“I’m sorry! I really have no chance of winning, so I’m running away!”
“You’re giving up way too quickly!! Don’t run away so openly!!”
“A great man once said that if the situation is too desperate, running away is the only logical way out!”
“That’s Sun Tzu! Under the circumstances that you have no countermeasures, running away is really a good idea! However, I’m not going to let you get away!!”
Because I assumed Kito would shout angrily as he ran towards me, I hadn’t thought he would just jump towards me. His body flew like a bullet and landed in the empty parking lot, easily getting ahead of me. Because of the huge impact, the asphalt surface cracked, and black debris flew everywhere.
However, I already knew that he would get to the school building before me. So, I activated , then Ryuji and I each ran in opposite directions.
“——!! What an annoying ability!!”
After Kito hesitated, he grabbed for me with both hands.
However, I immediately canceled and disappeared from his huge palms. In a hair’s breadth, I once again used , and we once again went in opposite directions.
I wouldn’t say anything about crossing swords, but I was super confident in my ability to run away!
I finally arrived at the wide open window that faced the corridor. This way I could successfully escape into the school building. I could finally be at ease——.
Just as I was finally calming down, Kito used his giant right hand to get into the building by breaking the window next to me. Even though I barely managed to avoid his fist, the scattered sharp shards of glass still pierced my face and hands.
“……Yo, Yagumo. We meet again.”
From the other side of the window, Kito stared at me with his giant eyes..
My heart was seized by fear, all I wanted to do was escape this place as soon as I could. However, my feet wouldn’t move as if they were frozen in fear. Also, the passage leading into the school was completely blocked off by his giant arm..
“Did you think running into the school, would force me into returning to my normal size? That’s really unfortunate. Even in my current state, I could still play hide and seek with you.”
“……D-does the disciplinary committee randomly sabotage school buildings?”
“Don’t worry. Even if the whole school was destroyed, we can restore everything by asking any member from beautification committee to fix it.”
“I see. That’s true.”
“Even if it’s me, destroying the school still distresses me. So how about it? Want to obediently come out?”
“……I got it. I surrender——”
“You’re not the type of person to say that.”
Kito sneered and clenched his left hand tightly. It seemed like he still wanted to punch the front of the school one more time.
This is the longest I can keep Kito’s attention on me. After deciding this, I canceled and combined with Ryuji.
Actually, when Ryuichi was buying time, Ryuji had already entered the school building from another entrance.
“Yagumo!! Where did you go!!”
The howling of Kito came from the other side of the building. As if the sound of his roar was chasing me, I quickly ran up the stairs.
As I was running up the stairs, I heard the sound of shattering come from all of the windows in the school building. It seemed like he started from the first floor and didn’t miss a single window. What a scary thought.
“I found you!!”
I heard Kito’s yell, then the window in front of me broke. The brutal punch of the giant was coming towards me.
The front of my body suffered the blow from the huge fist. I was sent flying backwards, down the stairs.
“Hahahahahahaha!! At this time, there’s no one left in the building!!!! It’ll be easy as pie for me to find you, no matter how much you run around!! ”
Kito shouted with a grim smile.
On the other hand, I, who was injured in an instant, laid on the hallway of the third floor. I checked how badly I got hurt.
Being hit by the huge fist, made my face and solar plexus ache endlessly. Not only that, the shards of glass that flew towards me caused me to become covered in blood.When I fell downstairs, I severely injured my back and waist. Of course, being hit by rocks on both arms didn’t help either. If I was in an RPG right now, my HP would be in the single digits. I have long passed the yellow bar. I would already be in the red bar now.
——But, I definitely won’t give up!!
I activated lying down. After, I appeared within a three meter range, which was in the hallway of the fourth floor. I then deactivated my ability, and created another self in the three meter range once again.
Although I nearly died, I finally succeeded in reaching the roof. …… Then again, it would have been better if I did this from the start…….
Although the numerous wounds crippled my body, I still desperately stood up even though I could barely walk.
I dragged my leg to the edge of the roof. The fireworks used for signaling the start of the match was carelessly put there. It seemed like I could use it to attack.
“Hahaha, you’re finally willing to come out of the school.”
Just as I reached the edge of the roof, Kito met my eyes. His forehead was around the size of the roof. Only after standing at such a high place did I personally feel how massive my upperclassman had grown.
“So, what do you want to do? If you jump from there, you might be able to hit my head with your sword?”
It might have been because he hit the front of my body that made him seem very happy, or it might be from seeing my crippled body, which made him already convinced of his victory.
“……You’re right. As a last prank, to risk my life just to hit you doesn’t sound like a bad idea.”
As I said that, I canceled , which made the Ryuji in the hallway of the fourth floor disappear.
——This was my last chance. If this attack fails, the only place I’ll be going to is the punishment room. Moreover, the sword I got from the basement would be taken away.
I continued onward without considering the state I was in, I grabbed the railing and activated .
After, my consciousness moved above Kito’s head. Although my view didn’t change much, being in the air made the scenery under my feet completely different.
However, the biggest difference was when I appeared above his head, Kito was overshadowed by an enormous shadow.
“——What!?”
Kito looked up, shocked, with eyes wide open. No wonder. It was because a huge school appeared in the sky.
——When I thought of this strategy, I saw Kito activating to make the rocks in his hand become boulders. At that moment, a question came to mind. 「When I activate to double, is there really no limit in size?」
Of course, I didn’t think it was true at the beginning. However, with Kito’s size right now, there was no other way than making something larger than he is to flatten him.
Although it was a stupid idea, it was worth a try. So, even if I needed to drag myself, I had to make it to the roof. Finally, I held the railing and activated while imagining an identical version of the school in the sky.
Although it was a desperate gamble, the result was a pretty successful copy of the entire school. Also, in order to prevent hitting the original school building, I purposely held the railing of school, letting it be completely directed downwards.
“——Take this!!”
I yelled as the duplicate school fell down altogether. Although I really wanted to go to the roof where Ryuji was at, the copied school would also disappear if I deactivated . So, my only choice was to fall down with the building (having said that, actually, Yuki could help deal with it by using .
When the duplicate school fell down, it still hit the original building. A part of the broken sections fell onto Kito’s colossal body.
Although Kito’s current height and the height of the school were around the same, it was still an overwhelming unfavorable in terms of width and depth. It was like the difference between a person and a truck. That’s to say, his current situation was like walking on the street and suddenly getting hit by a truck from the side.But, this wasn’t from the side. It was from the above.
So, Kito was helpless against the school building.
“Guwahhhhhhh!!”
He looked completely different from his satisfied expression earlier. Kito tried to catch the building with his hand, yelling a savage cry.
But, sure enough, Kito’s strength couldn’t support the whole school. Being unable to support it, he lost his balance and was overpowered by the school.
Kito’s feet were gradually pushed backwards, which uprooted various plants. Also, the sports department’s gym that was next to the sports field was crushed into ruins by Kito’s back. It was literally like the end the world.
On the other hand, I, who didn’t have a parachute, jumped from the rooftop and was stopped mid fall by an invisible force, arriving next to Yuki. I landed safely thanks to her, Yuki, my soul mate.
Finally, a great roar came from the school. Kito was completely buried under the school, lying there motionless.
The school dormitory that smashed into Kito shattered even more after it was slammed into the ground. Fragments of concrete mixed with the sand from the sports field. All kinds of dust flew into the air.
However, it was too early to relax. I was stopped by the sound of an avalanche, then I walked towards Kito. If the blow earlier didn’t get rid of him, I should take care of him right now, before he can get back up.
I walked to where Kito was. I found out that even though he was being pressed down by a lot of rubble, he still didn’t faint and was trying hard to get out.
So, I tried climbing his tree trunk-like neck and drew my sword while standing on his collarbone.
“Kito, please surrender immediately. Even if we take into account our size difference, I’m pretty confident that I can still cut your carotid artery. .”
Kito could feel the edge of the sword on his neck and made a face of disgust. He obediently stopped resisting.
“The battle has been decided! The victor: Yagumo Ryu!”
Then, Shiranui, who came out of nowhere and now stood beside me, declared the end of the battle.
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LNWNCentral_Dual Sword Liberator_Dual Sword Liberator - Volume 01 Chapter 01-02_Dual-Sword-Liberator-Volume-01-Chapter-01-02-[Unknown][Unknown]
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xubi5lvl.ilu.txt
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Full Chapter
Full Chapter
Translator: Xintus, Nya~ko
Translation Checker: GG
Editor: Shozenn
Another Fake Full:
Starting about thirty years ago from 「April 1 the year when I was 15」 to 「March 31 the year when I was 18」, some people appeared who were capable of using abilities. They became known as 「Exceed」, and I, Yagumo Ryu, was one of them.
From April 1st of this year, I became a person with abilities right after I woke up from bed.
Now that I think about it, it was very strange. As soon as I opened my eyes, I became aware of my abilities. It was just like how a baby knows how to move his hands or feet. I don’t know how I became able to understand how to activate my ability, .
Though I panicked about it for a moment, I quickly accepted my fate. The news on TV often broadcasted on Exceeds. Middle school students now learn about 「Exceed Ability」 as a mandatory course, which has now been added as a class. The existence of Exceeds became universally known. Not to mention, for about two hours before I slept that night, I hoped that I might become an Exceed tomorrow.
According to the class we attended in middle school, around one hundred high school students will become Exceeds. Now that I think about it, I feel like that kind of luck is akin to winning a one hundred million yen lottery prize. Even though there are many Exceeds in the world, I didn’t think I would become one. It’s that kind of feeling.
After getting out of bed, I wanted to try my ability. I activated it, and my other self appeared. Whether it was appearance, height, or clothes everything was the same. It was like looking into a full-length mirror.
“……Yo.”
“…..Ouh~”
There was a response from my greeting. Even the voice sounded the same. Standing next to someone who is the same, honestly makes me feel a little uncomfortable.
Whilst trying to endure the uncomfortable feeling, I tried to communicate without speaking.
“Ah——testing, testing.”
“Oh, I can hear it in my head. Is this telepathy?”
The two mes seemed to feel better and laughed together. Using this ability would make it easy to cheat on tests.
After playing around with telepathy for about five minutes, I canceled and started to change my clothes. Now that I confirmed that me being an Exceed was not an illusion, I decided to go the nearest place that was holding the「Exceed Examination」.
The Exceed examination is held on the first of April throughout Japan for fifteen year olds. It’s used to determine whether or not they have awakened to an ability. I don’t know the complex theories behind it, but through the collection of a small amount of blood, they can immediately determine if one is an Exceed or not.
The cost of having a free test was that everyone had to accept the examination. Unless it was for an important reason, if someone didn’t check in before noon, then they would be placed on the wanted list of that country.
Although I think publicly demonstrating would be easier, I decided to follow the procedures. The result was positive. Coincidentally, April’s fools is today. I don’t know if my friends would believe me if I told them 「I have become an Exceed!」.
Because I became an Exceed, my parents were called here immediately to accept instructions from government personnel . For the next three years, I will be staying on government grounds. I will be attending the 「The City of God Academy」, which is directly managed by the government. Because having abilities carry risks, they must be under constant surveillance. If someone rejects studying at the City of God Academy and runs away instead, they will be wanted by the whole country. People could abuse their powers for malicious reasons, if they really wanted to. Therefore, by obtaining this incredible power, you can expect not to live a normal life.
The school’s name is 「City of God」, its name was taken from the location where the construction took place. It’s rumored that previously, the school’s perimeter was surrounded in uncultivated fields and hills. It took several years to build this school for Exceeds to study in. It looks like it took a considerable amount of effort.
I left home on the morning of April second. I sat in a car, owned by the government , used specifically for the purpose of moving Exceeds. It traveled along a bumpy road until finally arriving at the City of God. When I moved in, I had not been arrested yet or otherwise been treated inhumanely. However, life could not have been considered very carefree. We got all sorts of rewards in return for cooperating in the simple tests that were occasionally held.
During the entrance ceremony on April tenth, I was told to sit next to Yuki. It must have been fate. We then had this conversation:
“I heard that each year there’s only around one hundred people who could become Exceeds in high school. I wouldn’t have thought I would be one of them. It feels like I’ve won the lottery without even buying a ticket. Lucky——”
Yuki showed a carefree smile while saying this. She was dressed in a brand new gray suit jacket, paired with a cream colored sweater wrapped around her upper body. Around her neck, she wore a ribbon-like tie. Her whole body emitted a very mature charm. Once again, I realized that my living environment had already changed.
“Oh, yeah, Yagumo. Did you read the booklet that they gave us when we got here? It says that outside of school hours, we can read as much manga as we want, play as much as we want, and eat as many snacks as we want.”
“Ah. You mean the line that says 「As long as it’s something you want, even if it’s within the Earth, we will dig it out for you」. I feel like that’s a little too good to be true.”
“Also, when we’re outside, there are SP-driven luxury coach cars to drive us. It’s almost like VIP treatment isn’t it.”
“Well, the driver is actually sent to monitor us. Also, this school is in a completely remote area with no neighborhoods around. If we don’t have a car to drive us, we wouldn’t even have a way home.”
“Even if it is like that, I bet ordinary people wouldn’t even be able to ride a luxury coach car in their lifetime.”
“I guess so. However, there’s been some weddings lately where the couples were sent in luxury coach cars.”
“Oh, I see~ Yagumo’s really familiar with this kind of thing. Could you be married?”
Cough cough
“Now that I think about it, luxury cars are expensive to rent aren’t they.”
“It should be a couple tens of thousands of yen per hour…….Now that I think about it, these benefits are only available to us until graduation. I’m going to enjoy my life here.”
This put us into high spirits. During the first month after we were admitted, life was very comfortable.
For example, the school sometimes invited twenty different manufacturers of salty potato chips, and held a tasting assembly (we couldn’t what the difference was at all).
Sometimes, they would prepare a bathtub filled with ten thousand yen bills for us to take a picture like a millionaire (the money was taken back after).
I came to know the benefits of being friends with Yuki, who scheduled a trip to Egypt during Golden Week. She used the influence of the pyramids to enhance the persuasiveness of her request (because near the end, there wasn’t much to say).
Obviously, if I asked for a one hundred karat diamond, it wouldn’t be approved, However, in a situation like this where every request was answered, there wouldn’t be anyone who would use their powers for evil.
Ahh, if you lived in a place like this for three years, you would definitely become someone super useless or something along those lines. April twenty-eighth would later become the day I would never forget.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The day that we were sealed in, we had no knowledge of what was going on. On that morning at eight o’clock, the whole school was summoned to the gym for an assembly.
It was on a day with warm weather that made people drowsy. The doors were closed, and you could hear the birds chirping outside. None of the approximately three hundred students were late. They were lined up in the gym. Before the assembly started, the students were talking——
When I first looked up, the scene was very normal. However, I felt uneasy. It was because in the big stadium, not even one teacher was around. It wasn’t just the teachers. Even the Exceeds who worked for the government, that lived nearby, and who were here to monitor us were also suddenly gone.
……This kind of thing has never happened before……
Although it felt a little uneasy, I didn’t think too much about it. It could be that they just needed to do something without letting us students know and left us for a little while.
Right after I accepted the explanation I came up with, the third-year student council secretary, Kirihara Syuji came out from the side of the stage. He alone, stood in front of the microphone. It seemed like the assembly was finally going to begin.
——But after Kirihara slowly flipped the microphone switch, he suddenly gave all the students this order:
“Attention everyone! You are not to take one step out of the City of God Academy’s dormitories without my permission!”
“——!?”
When I finally understood what was happening, it was already too late. Because Kirihara possessed the ability , no one would be able to go against his orders.
So to this day, even if I wanted to create a copy of myself using to escape, it wouldn’t work.
What’s more is that all the students in the same year as me don’t know how serious the situation was. Yuki, who stood beside me asked, “What activity is this? Is it a belated welcome to the 1st-years?”
She began asking those types of carefree questions.
“……Hey, Yuki. Don’t you think it’s strange that there’s no teacher in this whole gym.”
“Huh?——You’re right. I didn’t notice at all. Are the teachers in a meeting?”
Yuki agreed with me and tilted her head. I stood next to her, feeling uneasy.
Why would Kirihara issue an order like this——
As I was wondering about the suspicious situation, the seniors of the Student Council came out from the side and approached the microphone.
“The order that Kirihara just issued was not just his idea. It was the intention of all third-years. Suddenly doing something like this must have confused all you first and second years, so let us explain the rules of the game we’re about to play.”
After hearing those words, the tension in the gym clearly eased up. What was I suspicious about. Of course, it’s just an activity.
“As you all know, we third years will be losing our abilities by March of next year. So until then, we would like to have a little more fun with our irregular lives here. So we would like to ask the first and second years students to join this game that we made up. The game is called 「School Lockdown」. Before this game ends, no one is allowed step off campus. Games will last until March of next year.
Suddenly, the stadium began to fill with noise again. I can’t leave the school? And it lasts until March of next year?
“After yesterday, the easy-going school life we had ended. All future requests will be ignored, and items unrelated to school will not be given. ——Oh, lessons will be held as usual. Having said that, because school personnel have been forcibly ejected, class will be taught by video. If someone boycotts the classes or disturbs the school environment, he will be immediately punished. Make sure to take note of this.”
——We’re forced to stay on school campus, but we could also get punished? Will this kind of thing be allowed?
….No, it has been allowed. The Student Council president is hailed as the strongest in history with an S-Class ability (Exceed), having a very powerful force. As long as he wanted it, ruling over all students would be simply effortless.
“Then, I’ll tell you the method of retrieving your former steady life. There’s only one way, and that’s to pass the Academy Blockade game. Passing is very simple, it’s 「Using your abilities to defeat the 5 Dominators: Student Council President, Discipline Chairman, Health Chairman, Beautification Chairman and Librarian Chairman」. This is nothing more than setting up our game’s BOSS”
The kind smiling Student Council President calmly proposed the clearance condition that was impossible to achieve. Not because of anything else, but this year’s Third Years were known for consisting of many well-known militants with special abilities. And as the people nominated from these several, the leaders were all outstanding, even out of those who had S-Class and A-Class (Exceed) abilities.
On the other hand, among the First Year and Second Year students, there were no special ability users of S-Class. There were only a handful of A-Class users in Second Year. The majority of us only had B-Class and C-Class special abilities(Yuki and I are both C-Class).
Therefore, the conditions for clearing this game that he made were basically impossible. We didn’t even know if we could defeat a single one of the five leaders before the deadline——. After calmly analyzing it, I could not help but bite my lip.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Within the first week of the game, the first-year and second-year students were divided into two factions. One called the 「Braves」 and the other the 「Observers」.
The Braves, as the name suggested, are the students who wanted to defeat the Dominators. On the other hand, the Observers, which made up most of the students, wanted to watch the Braves. Basically, the 「Braves」 are the 「foolhardy guys」 and the 「Observers」 are the 「ones with no willpower」.
During the week, there were numerous times when the Observers were called 「cowards」 and when the Braves were called 「foolish」 in this kind of situation. I felt these things began the internal strife among us.
By the way, I’m obviously on the Observer’s side. However, because I have been careful about my attitude toward the Braves, I have not received any criticism on the surface yet.
But then again, do the Braves really have the right to criticize the Observers? A week has already passed, but the Brave haven’t made any progress. Because they know the way they are right now, they can’t challenge the Dominators.
For example, take the books chairman. If you wanted to challenge him, it’s necessary to beat at least a few of the third-year members of the books commission.
When the game at the academy began, all committee compositions were updated. All first-year and second-year students were removed from the committees. At the same time, to gather more members, the festival committee and the electoral affairs commission were abolished. The members were split between the books commission and the health committee.
Now all committee chairs are held by third-year students. Although I’m not clear on how to challenge them and the amount of people allowed to fight, the journey would sure be tough because most third-years had B-rank and above Exceeds.
Also, although I considered attacking Kirihara in order to force him to lift the , he was always surrounded by several different S-class and A-class Exceeds. So,compared to beating the game, overcoming his powerful protection seemed even harder.
Using one phrase to summarize the current situation: it would be helpless. We’re nothing but caged birds.
Because of the very limited amount of freedom we had, the boys were very thirsty for porn.
……No, although it sounds funny, it’s a very serious problem. The house arrest alone made everyone nervous, so something like porn that heals is something that can’t be overlooked.
At the beginning of the game, all our cell phones were taken away. Also, anything related to computers were all cleared. All TV channels were blocked from receiving signals. Basically, all the methods that we could have used to watch porn were severed.
I used desperate measures. I got in a good relationship with Yuki to relieve my endless depressed mood. She’s like a cute pet. Just looking at her makes you happy.
“——Hey, Yagumo, have you heard that there’s a sacred sword hidden somewhere in this school?”
From the morning of May 5th, it started pouring. When I was gloomily eating my breakfast in the cafeteria, a gigantic body wearing a cream-colored sweater suddenly appeared in front of me——oh nevermind, it’s Yuki holding a tray.
“A sacred sword? Nope, never heard of it. Is it something like the seven great mysteries?”
“Nope. Actually, this one has a lot of credibility to it. Apparently, a couple years ago, one of the students at City of God had the ability to create powerful equipment. However, the sacred sword was too powerful, and if someone used it for evil, it could lead to the end of the world. Afraid that someone would use it for evil, he used some kind of technique to seal it away somewhere in the academy.”
“Something like a sacred sword that could destroy the world…..that’s the first time I’ve heard of it.”
“I only heard it from Saki yesterday, but if it really does exist, don’t you think it’s amazing? If we found it, we could possibly be able to compete with the five dominators.”
Yuki’s eyes were sparkling as she leaned forward and said that. Because that position made her breasts stand out even more, I didn’t know where to look.
“First of all, let’s start by searching all the possible places where the sword could have been sealed away. Yagumo, should we do it together? You see, since you have , wouldn’t it be easy for you get inside the room even if it’s locked?”
“Ah, um. If we’re just looking for something, I’ll come too. There’s nothing to do at the dorms anyways.”
Since it’s golden week, there’s no class so there was nothing much to do. Even back at the room, the only things I could do was read the manga I was already tired of reading and play the games, which were scattered across the floor that I was already tired of playing.
Although midterms were coming up, it was only a formality. Even if someone fails, there probably won’t be anyone who said anything.
Also, by giving the sacred sword to the Braves faction, the reputation of the Observers will improve. In turn, making the relationship between the two factions better.
“That’s great~but the rumors have not been confirmed yet, so it’s not good for people to get their hopes up too high. Therefore, we should only select a few people to investigate. So, it’s only going to be me, Saki, and Yagumo.”
“Really. Since I have the opportunity to be one of the selected three, I’m very honored.”
Even though the only reason I was selected is because can unlock doors.
After breakfast, under the thick cloudy sky, each of us held an umbrella and walked towards the school building. Even though we can’t watch the weather forecast, it looked like it was still going to rain for a while.
I closed my umbrella at the entrance and shook it. While doing so, I asked a question:
“Anyways, do you have any idea where the sacred sword is sealed?”
“Nope, not at all.”
Minase Saki said as she shrugged, shook her blonde hair, and bit her lower lip.
“Also, there’s no way to guarantee it’ll be indoors. Anyway, we have to search every corner of each building first. I think we should start from the east side of the campus. What do you guys think?”
“Sure, why not.”
I said that while putting my umbrella into the umbrella stand.
The City of God’s academy had school buildings on the east and west sides, which are connected by a corridor. The west side is used for the usual lessons, while the east side is for things like music lessons and science experiments.
We went forward together. We started by searching the first floor of the east building. If we found somewhere that the sacred sword could be sealed in, I’ll use to unlock the door so that we can search together.
……Although, it’s easy to say 「the room that the sacred sword could be sealed」 but what is the room actually like?
“Ah! This room’s glass is frosted, and you can’t see inside? The sword might be inside.”
Minase said as she stopped at the sign that read 「Science Preparation Room」and pointed at the small window on the door.
“Hey, Saki. This room is very suspicious isn’t it? Aren’t the pronunciations of 「sacred sword」 and 「bio」 very similar?”
This time, it was Yuki who stood at the doorway of the room that stated her reasoning.
Hm. Seems like there’s quite a lot of rooms that the sacred sword could be sealed in.
Just as I was sighing, Minase, who stood next to me, had her skirt suddenly fall down.
Her white panties suddenly appeared before my eyes. It was the kind that had a pink-colored butterfly knot with lotus leaves on the edges.
“——Kyaaaaaah!!”
When Minase quickly lifted up her skirt, I got a hard slap on my left cheek.
“Pervert!! Sex Maniac!! You’re the worst!!”
“No, it’s not!! It wasn’t me earlier——”
However, her face was full of tears, flowing out of her eyes at lightning speed. I didn’t even get a chance to defend myself.
……Minase probably thought as I was standing next to her, I purposely pulled her skirt down. During this moment, I felt like there’s no way to survive in this world. Farewell, the me that only lasted until yesterday. Starting today, I have to endure the name of 「Pervert」 or will it be 「Sex Maniac」.
I nervously looked towards the side, and of course, Yuki looked at me with suspicion as well.
“……Hey, Yagumo? Let me just make sure, but you don’t pull down……other people’s skirts, right?
“Of course not! It must be a trap! Someone must have set me up! Besides, pulling down your classmate’s skirt is a stupid move! Why not just lift it up instead!”
“……Hm, I think lifting up skirts isn’t a normal thought either, is it?”
“……Then, sorry. I was too excited and I started saying things——”
Just as I was explaining myself, I saw a shadow behind a pillar from afar.
——Could this person also want to pull down Yuki’s skirt!?
After I noticed the mysterious person, I immediately went towards the lower body of Yuki and buried my face in her sweater. I used my hands and pressed firmly on Yuki’s skirt.
“Huh!? Wait, wait a second, Yagumo what are you doing!?”
Feeling like she was being harassed by a pervert, Yuki let out a high-pitched scream. In order to protect her skirt, I touched her butt. If I get sued for this, I have no chance of winning.
During the moment where I couldn’t help but think about my life in prison, the skirt suddenly got heavier. It felt like I was lifting an iron plate.
“Yuki! Slowly squat down! That way, the skirt shouldn’t fall!”
“I-I understand.”
While Yuki slowly squatted down, she held her skirt with both hands. But honestly, I could completely see her pink panties from my view. However, I think the ends are more important than the means.
Yuki knelt down in the hallway. We succeeded in preventing the skirt from falling. At least the Exceed on the other side didn’t see anything.
“Hey, Samejima. Come out.”
I shouted towards our classmate, Samejima Gota, who was hiding in the shadows leaning against the pillar.
“That was your earlier wasn’t it? If I remember correctly, your ability can increase the weight of an object within a ten-meter radius by up to fifty kilograms, right? By only increasing the weight of the skirts, the skirts fell by themselves. That’s a really dirty way of using it.
I guess he wasn’t able to disprove my deduction. A large blue-haired man came out slowly from there.
Samejima looks like a bad boy and scary on the outside, but he’s actually very timid. He’s the kind of guy who will spend his breaks alone, playing the string pattern game by himself. However, this only frightened people even more, and no one in the class would talk to him.
“……”
It looks like changing Samejima’s perception is impossible. This guy probably has a sadistic nature. Obtaining a powerful ability made him want to experiment on weaker people. I don’t understand.
“I get it, Samejima. First take a hundred steps back, I’ll let you beat me up . However, can you let go of Yuki?”
“No, Yagumo——”
“If you just want to bully someone weak, then I alone am enough, right?”
“No can do. If I let her go, then she’ll tell her friends to come.”
After cruelly rejecting my request, Samejima came in front of me and slowly raised his thick right foot.
“Wait a minute, Samejima. If you start attacking me, then there’s no going back. I’ll have to fight back.”
While I said it, I activated . Ryuji appeared behind Samejima, sandwiching Samejima in the middle.
——However, when Ryuji appeared, it was affected by making it completely immobile.
“I already knew what you were trying to do. You were trying to put the copy of yourself behind me, and when I wasn’t looking, attack me right? It’s such a pity. No matter where you place your copy, it will automatically be targeted by my gravity. Also, the range that can be used is only three meters, so there’s no way that you could get out of the range of my abilities. Come on, if you can counter attack in the embarrassing state you’re in right now, then go ahead and try.”
“……There’s obviously a way to fight back because your is not without its flaws.”
“Flaws?……that’s right, my abilities only work within a ten-meter range. If you use things that fly from a distance——like a shot bullet, for example, then I would have no way to fight back. However, isn’t that kind of weapon banned on school grounds? That’s to say, there’s no way I can lose!!”
Samejima yelled as he aimed his right foot to step down on my head.
The moment he stepped on me, I canceled and we combined back. The Ryuichi that was targeted by Samejima disappeared in a nick of time.
“……I see. Even within the range of , you have a way to escape.”
Samejima was little surprised and quickly turned towards me.
“But Yagumo. The only reason you were able to escape my attack earlier was because I moved very slowly, right? If I stepped down on you earlier at full speed, you couldn’t have dodged it. If you don’t use to create a copy first, then there’s no way that you can dodge.
“……Maybe.”
“Also, you can’t attack from a long distance. How are you going to defeat me by just escaping, huh!?”
Just as Samejima was speaking, a shoe hit the back of his head. Yuki tried her best to take off her shoes and used the resistive force of to throw it at him.
Unfortunately, it didn’t do much damage to Samejima. What’s worse is we made him mad.
“……I guess I really need to teach Nanami a lesson……”
Samejima’s face became worse. He looked like a carnivorous animal that was about to pounce on his prey.
“Yagumo, I still have things to do later. Can you quickly let me crush you.”
“You better get all these pretentious lines out now because you’re definitely going to lose.
“Huh? What are you talking about? Even if one of you do manage to get out, wouldn’t it still be hard to move within my ? And you still think you’re going to beat me?”
“Haha, do I still need to explain myself. I already prepared to fight back.——Look behind you!!”
“What did you say!?”
Samejima took a look back, but there was nothing. Obviously. I said that I was prepared to fight back, but that was only to get him to turn his back to me.
“……What, it was only a bluff. You startled me.”
I took advantage of when the relieved Samejima turned his back at me. I activated again. This time, I put Ryuji on top of him.
“——What!?”
As Samejima let a surprised cry, Ryuji’s right foot kicked him in the head violently. Because of the effect of , Ryuji weighed twice as much as he usually did. Imagine the power of the kick.
Samejima probably thought that could only be used on the ground within a three meter radius, but it can actually be used in a spherical radius of three meters. In other words, I just created a copy of myself above my opponent’s head and just simply started to attack.
When my kick hit him, Samejima fainted. Because of that the effect of disappeared, and my body is relaxed again.
After cancelling , I took a deep breath. I picked up Yuki’s shoe on the ground and gave it to her.
“——Thank you, Yagumo. Also, thanks for protecting me earlier.”
Yuki unsteadily got up and thanked me after she was freed from the gravity.
“You’re welcome. Also, any suspicion towards me should be cleared. If we could have quickly cleared the misunderstanding with Minase, it would have been better. It would be better if no one knew of what he did here..”
“Huh?……Oh, oh. I get it.”
“Then, thank you. Let’s take this guy away.”
After requesting his reputation to be returned, we decided to move his unconscious body in one go. ——However, his body was too heavy, so we couldn’t lift it up.
“Well, it seems like our only choice here is to go and borrow a trolley.”
“…….Um, Yagumo. Could it be that you want to send Samejima to the health center?”
Yuki asked the question completely confused. I nodded my head.
“The attack earlier had a big impact. We can’t just leave him here. What if something happens to him.”
“…..Um, Yagumo.This is just a question, so don’t get mad at me.”
“Hm? What?”
“Didn’t Samejima try to hurt us earlier? How can you help him considering what he did to us?”
“……Hm, probably because he can be considered both the perpetrator and the victim? Think about it, didn’t the third-year’s limit our freedom as well? Considering the situation, wanting to commit some minor crimes is understandable.”
“Y-you can understand?”
“Oh, no, I obviously wouldn’t really do it…..but if I took one wrong step, I might have done what Samejima did.”
I was only taking the side of justice. We can’t just easily tell if Samejima was the good guy or the bad guy here. In this world, people aren’t that black or white but gray, and these people account for the overwhelming majority.
Moreover, Samejima could have used for something a lot more sinister, but this time, it was only to pull down a girl’s skirt. That’s because this guy has always been a sadist. Also, I want to believe that through this event, he could possibly re-emerge as a new person.
“Besides, we have nowhere to hide, right? If everyone at school found out about the bad things he did, and even if Samejima couldn’t stay at this school anymore, there would be no way for him to transfer or skip class. Thinking about it this way, I have a lot of sympathy for Samejima. …… I don’t know if Minase will agree, since this is only my wishful thinking.”
I said this while showing a smile, so we could forget about it. However, Yuki had a serious expression. She was treasuring the shoe I returned to her earlier, tightly in her arms.
“That’s not true. I think Yagumo was amazing. If I was in Yagumo’s shoes, there would have been no way that I could have been so considerate and selfless toward others. Also, Yagumo had plenty of chances to beat Samejima, but you didn’t. You kept on trying to persuade him.”
“In the end, there was no way to change his mindset. I had to use violence.”
I said that whilst scratching my head and feeling a little embarrassed. Yuki looked like she made some sort of decision. She put on her shoes and quickly touched Samejima’s body.
“I’ll help move Samejima to the health center. If I use to create a weak resistive force between Yagumo and Samejima, then he would be easier to carry right?”
“That helps a lot. Otherwise, taking this guy to the health center would take a lot of effort.”
“……But. If I use , then I would have to touch Yagumo’s body.”
“Hm? Oh, I understand. Please feel free.”
“……”
Yuki put her head down, looking like she didn’t even want to touch me. She stretched out her right hand many times, but immediately pulled it back each time.”
“……Why do I always feel a little embarrassed when I try to do it?”
“Hey, why? You didn’t mind when you touched Samejima’s body, right?”
“That’s true……but the situation with Yagumo is different from Samejima’s.”
“What do you mean!? You can touch Samejima, but you can’t touch me!?”
“T-that’s not what I meant!! It’s more like I want to enjoy feeling you all over!”
“Feeling all of me!? That’s just as bad!? Is it because you’re still mad that I accidently touched your butt while I was pressing your skirt down earlier!?”
“——Ah!! That’s right!! When you were touching me, you took the opportunity to feel my butt up as much as you could!!”
“Can you not say something so misleading!? It was completely unavoidable!!”
“……Ah, I’ll admit that you protected me.. For that, I am grateful.”
“Ah, um, no problem.”
Although having said that, I already saw the great scenery under her skirt while protecting her.
“Also, after hearing what Yagumo said, I came to a realise something. Touching the opposite sex’s body because of unavoidable circumstances is something that happens often in everyday life.”
“Huh?……Ah, yes. Even though using 「often」 to express the frequency is a little too much……”
“So, I’m going to start touching.”
“Being so straightforward about it feels a little weird..”
“Then, where is a good place to touch~”
“Wait a minute! Since it’s just to activate , isn’t it the same no matter where!?”
“That’s not true. The place to touch for is very specific, so I have to touch all kinds of different places for it to work.”
“Didn’t you just casually touch Samejima earlier!? Also, can you not wiggle your fingers like that while saying you want to touch all kinds of different places!? I feel like my v card is at stake!!”
“There’s no problem. It’s only a little scary at the start.”
“That makes you sound like a criminal!!”
“Oh, also. I’m going to start calling Yagumo 「Ryu」 now. Please take care of me.”
“Hm? Why did you pick this time to——”
“An opening!!”
Yuki yelled as she quickly put both of her hands under my armpits.
“Ha, success!”
“W-wait a minute! It tickles! Stop! Save me!”
“How is it, Ryu? You’re going to admit defeat right!”
While Yuki was tickling me, she happily shouted my name. This crossed the line of unpreventable. This is obviously asking for trouble.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
For two months after that event, Yuki and I did all sorts of things together. Sometimes she begged me to teach her, and in return, I got biscuits. Occasionally, we even went to look for the sacred sword, but in the end, we found nothing.
While I was looking at the swaying water, reflecting the moon, I started to reminisce about all the things that had happened. These unexpected feelings aren’t really bad things; it’s that just I’ve felt like it was a little unbelievable. Also, if it weren’t for the house arrest, I wouldn’t have been able to get so close to Yuki. I also wouldn’t have gotten the chance to be able to see her in a swimsuit.
……Well, although I saw something way better than Yuki’s bikini…….
From the time when I saw her boobs till now, only thirty minutes had elapsed. I had already changed into my uniform, but Yuki, who was still in the locker room, didn’t seem like she wanted to come out.
“……Hey, Yuki. Wouldn’t it be bad if we don’t go back to the dormitory soon?”
Although we can’t see each other, I had made up my mind to call her out. After a while, the girl’s locker room’s door opened just a crack. From there, I could see Yuki’s face.
However, when our eyes met, she looked completely ashamed and immediately shrinked back in.
……What’s a good way to comfort her in this situation…….
“……I’ll start with the good part. I don’t feel shy at all.”
A brave voice said from the inside, while I was silently standing outside the gray door.
It’s rare to hear someone who would say such an obvious lie. I know because when I saw her eyes earlier, they were full of tears.
“I’m not lying. Also, even if I felt a little ashamed about having my boobs seen, I saw Ryu’s uncovered chest, which means we’re even, right?”
“……”
What should I do. I don’t understand what Yuki is saying at all.
However, I couldn’t just ignore her. I guess I’ll just go along with her.
“What you said seems pretty reasonable. Even though we’re at the swimming pool, having young men show their bare chests isn’t right, but I really was a little too bold. I didn’t only let you see my right nipple, but also the left one. I feel like I’ll die from shame.”
“——Hey, Ryu.”
“Hm? What’s up?”
“Can you just shut up?”
“……”
It seemed like I angered her. I just wanted to go along with what she was saying, how could this happen.
“And anyways, why is seeing the left nipple more shameful than seeing the right one! What kind of logic is that! Both the right and the left are the same! They’re both nipples! They’re equal!”
“Huh? Why did I just get scolded? Is it because I treated the right and left nipples differently?”
“That’s right. Give me an apology for not treating both nipples equally.”
“Hey——but think about it. Don’t people have a dominant hand? Isn’t the right hand more important than the left hand for right-handed people?”
“Even if that’s the case, it only applies to hands. Have you ever heard of something like that for nipples?”
“Are you sure? It even applies to the eyes and feet. It’s just that probably no one thought about it. Maybe it applies to nipples as well? For example, the one that’s closer to the heart gets the heart rate up faster or something of the sort. ——Oh yeah, how about starting from now we grope each others’ nipples to see which one is the dominant nipple?”
“Who would say such things!! This kind of invitation of yours already counts as harassment!! Also, starting from earlier, I’ve already said the word nipple too many times!!”
Yuki started to complain.
I didn’t know if it was because of her yell earlier, but Yuki finally came out of the locker room, wearing clothes, of course.
“……Um, uh. Well, it’s already pretty late. Do you want to go back?”
“……Yeah.”
Yuki nodded her head to my response, so we started preparing to go back to the dorms.
However, when we were jumping over the fence of the swimming pool, Yuki refused to hold my hand while using . It seemed like she was too shy to hold hands. It looks like the exposure earlier dealt a heavy blow to her.
So, I could only use . I just used the simple method of putting Ryuji on the other side of the fence and making the Ryuichi on this side disappear.
After leaving the pool, we didn’t talk at all while walking down the wide path from the campus to the dorms. It was a super awkward atmosphere.
However, I can understand why Yuki couldn’t go back to being her usual self. We’re both high schoolers, and she showed something so indecent in front of someone else. That’s why I looked up at the clouds covering the full moon, and silently walked towards the dorms ahead.
……Well, time will make everything go back to normal. I guess I’ll comfort Yuki tomorrow. I think up this plan while gazing at the faraway gate.
But at this moment, a flashlight, which came from the shadows in front of the school building, shone on us.
“Hey, you two!! What are you doing here!!”
From the silent campus, a male voice shouted. I was so shocked that I almost dropped my swimming bag.
The light was dazzling. For a moment, I couldn’t identify the person’s voice……However, it could only be the disciplinary committee patrolling.
I felt ashamed of our failure. I was so focused on thinking about how to fix my relationship with Yuki, I completely forgot that we were trying to sneak back into the dorms.
“Ryu, run!”
As she said this, Yuki quickly grabbed my hand and ran as fast as she could towards the swimming pool. Even though my feet weren’t listening to me, I still hurried to catch up to her.
But at the next moment, I saw a gigantic unknown object, that was five meters tall, on the edge my of vision.
When I looked closely, it turned out to be the disciplinary members we saw earlier. Starting from the right shoulder, the right arm started to abnormally become bigger. It must have been the use of an ability.
His right hand grew like this. His palm was about the size of a bicycle and it started extending to us at an incredible speed. I pushed Yuki aside to use myself as bait. I prepared to face off against the powerful arm heading towards at us.
But because I never planned a counterattack against the giant hand, I directly collided with it. The moment when I was grabbed, I felt a huge shock throughout my body.
After a moment of dizziness, I noted that all five fingers were firmly wrapped around my back and legs. His grip, constricted my chest, making it extremely difficult to breath.
I was grabbed by a hand with inhuman strength, and I became unable to get to the member of the discipline committee’s side. If this went on, wouldn’t I become an ingredient for a hot pot and be eaten?
——Don’t let it end like this!!
Unwillingly, I activated , I summoned Ryuji then I deactivated the Ryuichi captured by the discipline committee member. I had finally gotten away!
Finally restoring my original form, I swiftly changed directions and put some distance between the member of the disciplinary committee and me. If I repeatedly used , hopefully it would confuse him enough, for me to escape!
However, I looked back while running away. I noticed that the disciplinary committee member had no intention of chasing me. He just restored his right hand back to normal, and stood there eerily, looking as if he had given up on his duty.
——What’s happening? Why isn’t he making his hand big again? It couldn’t be that he hadn’t noticed that I escaped from his hand, right?
Just when I was starting to feel suspicious, I turned back to look at him again. His entire body began to grow at an amazing speed. Within a second, he had swollen to such a size that he looked like a human balloon, transforming into a giant that was several tens of meters tall.
His height was almost equal to that of the school buildings nearby, almost as if a four story tall building was built before my eyes. Although I had seen quite a few abilities within the last three months, I could confidently say that this ability has had the greatest impact.
—— It wasn’t until now that I realized which member of the discipline committee that I had met. Considering the ability he has, it should be Kito Kyosuke, a senior who was B ranked. According to what I remember, his ability should be called . I had heard that he could transform into a giant tens of meters tall, but I didn’t expect for him to be able to enlarge that part of himself too.
Kito bent his body forward to a running position and charged at me. His steps were incredibly large, easily as large as a house. Every time his feet touched the ground, the surrounding ground would rumble.
—— How am I supposed to hide when I’m playing hide and seek with someone like this!!
“Yuki! Go hide in the dormitory! He shouldn’t be able to catch up to you there in his current form!”
I quickly changed directions, and randomly found a classroom’s window, preparing to break in.
However, in an instant, a giant shadow eclipsed me, and the darkness became even darker. The speed of Kito’s Shadow was only one step ahead of Kito.
Small typhoons sprung up nearby, sending small particles of sand into my face and hands. It was difficult to even open my eyes.
In the middle of this chaotic situation, a gigantic arm came down from the sky——
“Ryu! Catch!”
I heard this unexpected cry, I instinctively turned towards the direction of Yuki and reached out with my right hand. After grabbing her hand, our bodies immediately flew high into the sky. Yuki activated her , creating a strong repulsive force towards the ground.
We used this method to jump to the second floor’s balcony of the school dormitory. Next, I would just need to activate to open the door from the inside——
However, I sensed danger. I immediately stopped my activation, turned to Yuki, and quickly pushed her down.
“R-Ryu, what are you doing?”
The sudden action made Yuki flinch, but after seeing the giant’s wrist above us, I shouldn’t have to explain myself anymore.
Kato’s high speed punch very easily broke through the two-layered glass window. Following a sharp sound, clear fragments of glass flew all over the place. Luckily, most of the broken glass had scattered inside the classroom, so Yuki and I had not suffered any major injuries.
“—— Yuki, could you use your ?”
Without waiting for her answer, I grabbed Yuki’s right hand and used it to touch Kato’s gigantic wrist. Yuki, in her fright, hadn’t opened her eyes, Even I thought that doing this was a bit tough, but we absolutely couldn’t miss this chance.
Sure enough, Kato quickly pulled his hand from the broken window. Honestly, Yuki didn’t even have the time to activate her ——
Yuki answered me with a smile. Starting from that moment, we were prepared to use in order to retaliate against Kato.
“Um, could you to use your on the unbroken windows?”
“Okay~”
Yuki understood what I planned to do just like that. While she straightened out the upper half of her body, she used right hand to touch the nearest window.
I got up at the same time, making use of the broken window to get into the classroom.
“——Hah, hah!!”
With an imposing roar, I broke the window that Yuki had touched. Then, the shattered fragments of the broken window, using ’s effect, flew towards Kito’s right hand.
“Ahhhhhhh!!”
The transparent shards of glass sunk into Kito’s arm just like I planned. A rugged moaning sound echoed through the school.
“Yuki! Take this chance to run away!”
“Ok!”
Yuki answered me with renewed vigor, then slipped into the pitch-black classroom.
“S-stop! —— dammit, how could I allow you to escape!”
Kato moaned, probably from the pain from his right wrist. He’s hesitating to keep attacking us for now.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, we sped through the hallway and headed towards the stairs without a shred of hesitation. When I looked back, it seemed that Kato stopped trying to catch us.
“It think we might have finally escaped!”
Yuki raised her voice and said that when we finally reached the stairs. Just as she was about to go down to the first floor, I grabbed her sleeve. My firm grip stopped her.
“Wait up, Yuki. We should go up first.”
“Huh? Why? Aren’t we going to escape from the main door?”
“Think about it, Kato still hasn’t caught up, maybe he’s planning to ambush us at the exit. Also, since you just yelled so loudly. It could have attracted quite a few disciplinary committee members here.”
“—— So it’s like this. If we went to the gate, it’s very likely we could encounter members of the disciplinary committee.”
“That’s right, so, we want to go towards the opposite direction. We should run upstairs to observe the situation a little.”
“Ok.”
Yuki nodded her head. While she was going up the stairs, she paid attention to not make too much noise.
We stopped at the platform that was between the third and fourth floors, crouching down and wiping off the dust that had stuck to our bodies. We carefully listened for any sounds coming from the lower floors. The school was silent. This meant that reinforcements hadn’t arrived yet.
“……. But, still I was really scared.”
Yuki whispered as she was kneeling on the ground and looking scared.
“Elena specially reminded me that the discipline committee does patrol every direction. I totally forgot about it”
Yuki suddenly mentioned our classmate Kujyo Elena’s name.
“Hm? Could you have gotten all that information about the disciplinary committee from Kujyo?
“Mhm. Elena sneaks into the school from time to time, so she investigated the disciplinary committee a little.”
“Huh? She sneaks into the school in the middle of the night? Could it be that Kujyo is looking for the sacred sword?”
“Hm——she told me she was doing something in the science classroom, but she didn’t tell me the details.”
“So it’s like this, it’s true that secrecy is kind of like Kujyo’s style. ……However in the science classroom, she should have a goal other than the sacred sword.”
Being in the science classroom late at night, could it be that she’s making things like bombs? ……When thought of this unrealistic idea, I suddenly realized that this person could definitely do it. I could not help but panic.
Thinking of Kujyo’s cold look, I couldn’t help but force a wry smile.
Kujyo is a First Year with a very rare B class ability. She’s a beautiful girl with long silver hair, and red pupils, but her personality is very harsh so it’s very hard to get close to her. Even during the summer, she would wear the long-sleeved uniform. Because of this, she is called 「Platina Queen」by some of the male students, and her many fanatic fans that support her.
“Ha…… . How long will these kinds of days continue.”
Yuki whispered appearing listless and nervous while holding her breath. Her body was already small, so doing this made her look like a little kid. Although it strongly stimulated my desire to protect her, I couldn’t encourage her when I’m a mere C class.
“….We have to endure all this till the third years lose their abilities in April next year. It’s already been two months since this game began, but I haven’t seen a single person try to fight a dominator, yet.“……
“Um, yesterday, there were a few B class second year students who went to challenge the library chairman, but I heard that their attacks didn’t even scratch him.”
“Hmm…… they’re really desperate, huh….”
Librarian chairman Igarashi Alice is A ranked. If we can’t even defeat her, then wanting to defeat someone with a S class ability would be insane.
“……Um, Ryu, I wanted to ask you this a long time ago, but why don’t you ever go challenge the dominators?”
Yuki timidly asked this as she changed from hugging her knees to leaning against the wall. If i wanted to, it wouldn’t take much to see her panties. I laughed self-deprecatingly.
“I don’t fight enemies that I don’t have the capability to beat. Even a B class can’t beat them, so there’s no way a C class like me could.”
“But, didn’t Ryu easily defeat the C class Samejima earlier? It looks like in the ranks of the C classes, you would be one of the top. If you want to defeat people with higher ranks, it isn’t impossible.”
Yuki spoke while changing to a crawling position on the floor, approaching me with a serious expression. Being given strange expectations, made me feel ashamed.
“That was just because works well against . I’m not very high ranked within the C rankers.”
“But……”
“Well, we’re going to have to end this conversation. We need to think about to escape from here first.”
I found a random reason for Yuki to stop pursuing these questions, then I gathered my concentration on listening to movements downstairs. It was just as quiet and still.
We already stayed here for about twenty minutes. We should be able to start moving now.
“Okay, Yuki, we should go back to the dorm.”
“——Huh? We’re going to go back just like that?”
I don’t know why Yuki looked so surprise while asking me that.
“B-but, the discipline committee could still be patrolling, so wouldn’t it be dangerous? I think we should stay here a little longer.”
“Really?”
“I’m sure it’s better that way. It’s definitely better.”
Yuki clasped her hands and nodded with a sparkle in her eyes
“……. Hey, why do you look so happy?”
“I-I’m not happy.”
“Seriously? We can’t keep playing hide and seek.”
“I-I obviously know that. ……… ah~ being caught by the disciplinary committee members is so scary~”
“Why are you being so dramatic?”
“I’m not being dramatic at all~ but I was thinking that it would be better to stay here until daylight~ obviously, Ryu needs to be with me~”
“We shouldn’t need to… I think you’re worrying too much. Also, the floor here is so hard that there’s no way we could sleep at all.”
“Ah~ then why don’t we go to the sports warehouse? There are mats there. We could lie there and talk until morning.”
“What are you saying? We’re in the middle of escaping. Also, compared to the sports warehouse, going back to the dormitory would be faster.”
“You’re right….. Hmph. Ryu really doesn’t understand people’s feelings at all.”
Yuki pouted unhappily.
“Huh, what do you mean? Did I say something wrong?”
“Nothing. Since Ryu wants to go back so much, then we’ll follow your wishes and quickly go back to the dormitory, okay?”
“……I don’t know why you’re suddenly using honorifics, but you can feel free to do so. ——Ah, before we go back, let’s go to the science room to see Kujyo.”
“Why!? Do you care that much about what Elena is doing!?”
Despite only giving her some advice, Yuki showed an extreme response.
“It’s not really being worried about Kujyo. It’s more being interested in what she’s doing at night in the science classroom.”
“Um……I can’t say I’m not concerned……”
“Right? Also, if she really is in the school, she should have heard the glass shattering just now. We better go explain to her what had happened. If she doesn’t understand the situation, then she shouldn’t act too freely.”
“…… Ryu really cares for other people…..”
“I’m just a worrywart. Come on, let’s go.”
“Okay…..”
Although Yuki looked unsatisfied, she obediently followed me when I stood up and walked out.
It was quiet in the school yard, but there should be members of the disciplinary committee hidden in the darkness. In order to be able to respond to an encounter at any time, I was alert to the surrounding darkness while creeping down the stairs.
Finally arriving in front of the science room, we tried our best not to make any noise while slowly putting our hands on the door handle.
However, no matter how hard to pulled it, the door did not move an inch. It seemed that it was locked.
—-Maybe Kujyo didn’t come today.
As I was thinking that, I heard something move from inside the classroom.
Because we couldn’t yell in the corridor, I decided to use my ability to get inside the classroom. Because I could decide between sending Ryuichi and Ryuji, this time i sent Ryuichi inside.
“Kujyo, are you is that you?”
After I putting down my swimming bag on the table, I used and made a copy of myself inside the room using it to call Kujyo.
“……What? Oh, it’s Yagumo.”
I turned my head to the direction of the sound. From the faint light of the window, I saw the beautiful girl with a black tie on her silver hair. She was staring at me with her sharp red eyes. It was definitely Kujyo Elena.
“I thought you were you of the disciplinary committee that came. I was almost going to attack you.”
“……Then it seems I dodged a bullet.”
If B class Kujyo attacked, I would have definitely been unable to leave.
“So, Kujyo, what are you doing here? I heard Nanami say that you’ll be going to the pool, but I haven’t heard anything about you coming to the science room? Also, the sound of shattering glass from approximately thirty minutes ago , did you two destroy it for fun?”
“No, that should have been the disciplinary committee.”
While I went to open the door, I told her about what had happened. The door slowly opened. From the door that only fits one person at a time, Yuki and Ryuji finally got inside.
“……That’s outrageous.”
After hearing what had happened, Kujyo replied that to me while looking at me with a shocked expression.
“If you could use to fight back, why didn’t you just kill him.”
“How could we do that. What’s worse is that we came out of the school in the middle of the night.”
“Hmph. So, starting from two months ago, the school had already become a 「ability ranked」 school system? In short, it’s basically 「the strong can do anything」, which everyone had to acquiesce. Therefore, the problem wasn’t that you sneaked into the school, but rather that you didn’t beat Kito. How weak are you going to be?”
“……The things like the strong rule was all determined by the third-years.”
“That’s true. However, aren’t the constitution and laws determined by our predecessors? If someone who stands at the top changes, then the rules would also change. The people that can’t adapt will become extinct. Unfortunately, that’s how the world works, so before you whine about it, become stronger.”
Kujyo looked at me unmercifully while relentlessly critiquing me. Not even talking about how the world works, this kind of idea in human society is already wrong. However, in this kind of place, I couldn’t think of anything to refute her.
……Well, it’s pointless to keep on arguing with Kujyo. It would be better to show my mature side and sincerely apologize.
“——Even if you’re right, it’s hard to imagine doing this kind of thing to the third years.”
Before my words of apology were even been said, the Ryuji behind me became nosy.
“What can a C class like me do when even B class Exceeds can’t beat them.”
“Hmph. That’s just an excuse. Even if your opponent is stronger than you, that doesn’t mean you’re definitely going to lose. If you just think of something like a strategy, then there would definitely be a way to win.”
“I wouldn’t even try to think of something like a strategy. Kujyo, you don’t understand the mindset of the weak.”
“Really. So, even though you don’t agree with the status quo, you would obediently endure it?”
“Right. Even if we think of a way to defeat a B class, we would still have a long way to go to before we could beat an S class. No matter how much effort we put in, it’s still impossible to defeat a S class Exceed.”
“——Huh?”
Kujyo looked like she was in a bad mood, and made smacking sounds with her mouth. She grasped Ryuji’s tie and pulled him towards her.
“You can’t win against an S class no matter how hard you work? Shouldn’t you say that after working to death?”
“——!?”
“I think you’re just trying to run away by saying what you said earlier. I’ll tell you right now. That phrase 「I will not fight what I can’t beat」 is really lame. You only said it in a more pleasant way. Basically, you want to get results without working. Comparing people like you who pretend to be strong with the people who work to death but still lose like crap. The people who work are a hundreds times cooler than you.”
“……!!”
I was speechless. Everything was as Kujyo said.
I was being treated unfairly by third-years. However, among the people who faced the same situation as me, there are plenty of people who were trying to break through the status quo. Compared to them, I did feel a little ashamed.
Ryuji, who was being scolded, had the same dumbfounded expression as I did. It would be better to say he was relentlessly scolded, he probably felt a greater shock than I did. Because of what Kujyo said, he was in disarray. His heart was struck deeply by her blunt gaze.
——After analyzing Ryuji’s situation, Ryuji’s body trembled as he said these affectionate words to Kujyo as she restrained him.:
“Listen to me, Kujyo! Right now, I really want to do naughty things with you!”
“…………………”
The room went completely silent.
What Ryuji said made Kujyo flush. She opened and closed her mouth several times. On the other hand, Yuki stared blankly with rounded eyes.
I tried hard to understand what was going on because I wasn’t sure what had happened. Even Ryuji didn’t know what exactly was happening.
“……Um, wait a second. You said words of sexual harassment as I was scolding you. What kind of retaliation is this?”
After a few seconds, Kujyo, who recovered from the shock, immediately asked the question on her mind.
In contrast, Ryuji hadn’t calmed down from his excited state, yet. He replied with a crazed tone.
“What Kujyo told me earlier made me realize that I really have been a pussy.”
“……Mhm, that I can understand.”
“I have this feeling that I, who hasn’t worked at all, could never understand the people who have challenged the dominators many times.”
“Yes, that’s right, too.”
“So, I can’t suppress the desire to you pursue, Kujyo.”
“It’s that!”
Kujyo lifted her right hand and pointed at Ryuji’s nose.
“That kind of thinking is going too far. Why do you suddenly want my body?”
“Do I even have to explain myself? It’s obviously so Kujyo can have my kids.”
“How’re you so serious when you’re saying something so crude!?”
Showing lament, Kujyo immediately increased the distance between them.
“I obviously didn’t think you would understand me. However, you have no chance of winning. I intend to convey all my feelings for you.”
While sexual harrassing her, Ryuji’s expression was sincere. Across from me, this strong-willed fool doesn’t even care about having a good impression on Kujyo. In his head, the only thing he cares about now is how to get together with Kujyo.
“Kujyo, I’m serious! I’m a changed man! So if it’s possible, I hope you could be by my side! One day you’ll come to love me and become my woman!”
“……What is this boring jokester doing……”
Kujyo mumbled this quietly and shyly put her head down. At first glance, it seemed like Ryuji actually had a chance to get her. He’s really good.
——Ok, we should be able to stop now. If I keep letting Ryuji go on like this, I would close myself in because of my self-loathing.
Also, Yuki, who was on the side, had unimaginable expression of despair rarely seen on this world. She started chanting Amitabha. If I don’t end this kind of ambience, then it could become a problem.
I stepped in between the two of them. I then pointed at Ryuji and apologized for him.
“Sorry, Kujyo. This guy isn’t normal. Please think about what happened earlier as a nightmare and forget about it.”
Kujyo looked at me with contempt.
“Then don’t say these kinds of things so casually. How could I forget about it so easily after being openly sexually harassed?”
……That’s true.
“Besides, he’s a part of you. You actually said 「that me」 like you didn’t have anything to do with it. Isn’t that way too weird?”
“Ah, no it’s not. There’s actually a reason for this……”
Wearing a stiff smile, I started explaining .
“Actually, when I use I split into two. Although our appearances are the same, our personalities are completely different.”
“——Different personalities?”
“Yes. ……Although it’s somewhat difficult to explain, basically, I’m the normal one and that part of Ryuji is the stupid copy.”
“Huh? Ryuichi, you’re okay with calling yourself stupid?”
“Ryuji you don’t have the right to call anyone stupid. You’re annoying. Be quiet for me.”
After Kujyo used a stern tone to order him to shut up, I continued my explanation. ……However, because it’s was so troublesome, I started to get a headache. To use appropriate words to describe the two mes of is really difficult.
If I were to describe Ryuji by personality, he’s pretty simple. He’s basically a real person, but he’s the kind that acts on instincts and feels that only enjoying yourself in the moment matters.
Compared to him, I’m very black bellied. I’m always suspicious. Compared to the social group, I’m more like a lone wolf. My motto is 「lying is expedient」, and I’m always worried about my future.
If a girl wearing a miniskirt appears before Ryuji and me, we would both immediately think of ways to try and peek at her underwear. During this time, the obviously perverted Ryuji would immediately give up, unable to bear the guilt. On the other hand, I would try to take a closer look, without feeling any guilt at all. This is because I think that if you want to wear a miniskirt, you should be able to bear the risk of being peeped at.
——If I had actually said this, however, I would be looked at in a negative light. So, I decided to use some more proper examples to explain.
“For example, using will create two mes, under the same environment, you would only need two weeks of time to clearly see the difference. Ryuji might have a lot of friends by his side. Every weekend, he might go karaoking with his friends or go biking at the beach. In contrast, I, Ryuichi, would rather be alone. I wouldn’t have many people close to me. On the weekends, I would close myself in at home, watch television or read a book.”
“W-wait. You two were originally one person, so why is there such a big difference?”
Kujyo folded her arms, seemingly unable to understand.
“No matter how you think about it, that’s too extreme. Maybe you actually have split personality, and after splitting, you each got your own body?”
“Hey……. even if it’s not a split personality, doesn’t everyone have many different sides to themselves? Think about it, aren’t people who are normally very honest, violent when they’re drunk? This is the same concept, Ryuji is the part that relies solely on emotion and action, and I am the part that utilizes reasoning. It’s that kind of thing.”
“Ah…… the original Yagumo would be dominated by emotions, and his sexual desire would erupt.”
“What?”
This statement is actually true. I can’t refute it at all.
“…… Forget it. I’ll reluctantly accept your explanation.”
Satisfied from seeing my speechless look, Kujyo showed a faint smile.
“So, the Ryuji who sexually harassed me, are you planning to use the drunk man excuse to write it off?”
“Ah, I wouldn’t be so deceptive. I apologize if you thought I was being distasteful.”
Deactivating , I merged back together and bowed.
“The words that I said earlier were very stupid. I’m really sorry.”
“No problem, Yagumo. You don’t need to apologize.”
Being urged to raise my head, I stood up straight. As soon as I did, I saw Kujyo’s malicious smile.
“Apologizing is very simple, you only have to say it. However, if you want me to forget about what happened today, that would depend on your attitude in the future. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“…………..”
Basically, it seems that her meaning was that this time, resistance was futile. Although I deserved it, it would be closer to the truth that this formidable opponent grasped my weakness.
“But, then again.”
While peering at the face of Yuki, who was still rambling, Kujyo shyly touched her cheek. Just as I was thinking about what to do, she grabbed my right hand.
“Come with me for a bit.”
She pulled me to the corner of the room, and put her face close to my ear, then asked me in a whisper.
“…….Hey, is there no problem with you sexually harassing me in front of Nanami? I think Nanami——”
“Huh? What are you talking about, Kujyo? Even if Yuki wasn’t there, sexual harassment is still a problem. Don’t you know that?”
“——The person who did the harassing has no right to say that!!”
At the same time as shouted that, she punched me on the left left cheek.
If I were to make a straight man comment, it would be that she used a bit too much force there.
“…….Whatever. I’m too lazy to meddle with your problems.”
“Huh? Our problems?”
“Nothing. I just think that it isn’t easy for Yuki. It makes me feel a bit sympathetic for her.”
“………..? What do you mean?”
However, Kujyo didn’t answer my question. She shrugged and returned to where she was before. Confused, I just followed her.
“Right, what were you doing in the science lab so late?”
I finally asked her for the reason why she had come to the science room.
“I heard from Yuki that you would often sneak into school.”
“Hmph, that’s a really stupid question. There would only be one reason for someone to sneak into a school. It’s so that other people wouldn’t know.”
“Could it be something dangerous?”
“Something dangerous? What are you referring to?”
“For example, making bombs.”
“….. Bombs, huh…. That’s not a bad suggestion…”
Kujyo stroked a silver strand her hair and sneered.
“No, no, I wasn’t trying to give you any suggestions……”
“But it’s really unfortunate, I don’t really know how to make bombs. Because we can’t use the internet, I have no way of researching it either.”
“Could you not consider this so seriously?”
If Kujyo really managed to get her on hands on some bombs, she definitely wouldn’t hesitate to use them to beat the third-years. She’s so scary.
“—-By the way Yagumo, are you able to represent the name [Tachibana Sogo] in numbers? Perhaps with just the surname, or the first name as numbers.”
“Huh? Representing the first name into numbers? What’s that, a riddle?”
“Something like that. To put it simply, Tachibana Sogo, a self-proclaimed god, has seemingly used his name as his password. But I have been struggling to figure out the answer.”
“Oh~”
After I looking around a little, I answered.
“Using numbers to represent hiragana, it’s usually in the order of the japanese syllabary. If it’s 「Tachibana], 「ta」 is 16, 「chi」 is 17,「ha」 is 26, and「na」 is 21, so it should be 16172621? However, I don’t know what to do with 「ba].
“Unfortunately, it’s not that. If it was that easy,I would’ve cracked it already. No matter what order I put the kana in, and I’ve tried them all, none of them are correct. I even tried using english names and letters a few times.”
“Oh——maybe we should look at in a different light way we’re looking at it……”
While talking to myself in a low voice, I changed my way of looking at the problem.
“Oh, have you tried binary codes? For example [0000] or [0001].”
“I don’t how many digits the password has, only that it’s at most ten. It might be three or ten. And if you happen to make three mistakes in a single day, you have to wait until the next day to try again.”
“How about directly hacking it?”
“Without both phones and computers, how do you expect me to do something so difficult? However, if the other side put in some kind of firewall. Then the instant we connect to it with a device, the entire system could be destroyed.”
“It really has a tight security system…….”
What’s going to happen even if we do crack the password. Although I’m very interested, it looks like Kujyo doesn’t intend to tell me.
“By the way, I just translated [宗吾] into english, and it turned out to be [Sogo]. I thought that the letters and 5090 were very similar. Try typing it in and see if it works or not.”
“Ah, they really are similar….. Tachibana…..Sogo…..
I folded my arms across my chest and paced back and forth, thinking about the question nonstop. The whole room once again went quiet. The only sounds were from Yuki quietly chanting Amitabha. ………She’s still doing it.
While doing a straight man act, I kept on pacing. My eyes inadvertently swept onto the Periodic Table on the wall.
“——!!”
I saw all the atomic numbers before me, and suddenly, I had an idea.
“Hey, Kujyo. 「Tachibana」 in Roman is 「Tatibana」, right?”
“No, if we use roman words to spell it, the correct way to write it would be [Chi]. Although, you can also type [Ti] on the computer.”
“Then let’s say it’s written as 「Ti」. Next, let’s separate the letters of 「Tatibana」 into pairs and match them with the atomic number.”
“Huh?……Ah!!”
“Right? 「Ta」 is Tantalum with an atomic number of 73, 「Ti」 is 22 for Titanium ,「Ba」 is 56 for Barium, and「Na」 is 11 for Sodium. If you put them all together, then the number is 73225611.”
After hearing my deduction, Kujyo rushed towards the periodic table like a bullet, and studied every atomic number as she did this her expression became much warmer. While I was thinking this, she had already rushed to the room’s cabinet and opened the bottom drawer.
Just as I was wondering what she was doing, she had already started concentrating on moving a large amounts of textbooks. If you crouched down a little, you could see that a control panel was fixed onto the wall.
Kujyo turned on the control panel, and asked me to input the eight numbers. Immediately after, a loud ‘click’ sound came from the center of the science room. Surprised, I immediately looked towards the source of the sound, and discovered that something similar to four square shaped floorboards had slowly popped out. It was about the height of my ankle.
Kujyo immediately rushed forward, and shoved her finger into the gap, opening the thick floorboards. A small tunnel that could fit a single person had been unveiled.
“Amazing…….. It looks like you guessed right”
Surprised, Kujyo said as she cautiously looked at me with her rounded eyes.
“I had spent so many days on this and I still couldn’t figure it out!”
“Well, this kind of mind game needs someone with a good sense. Also, my luck in this science room could be considered ‘good’.”
“Even if it’s like that, you’re still incredible. I always thought that Yagumo was a retard. I guess God really does give everyone a bit of talent. Although you have the talent to crack codes, it’s completely useless in your daily life, God really is great.”
“Say, Kujyo. Can you stop complimenting me so sarcastically, also isn’t it about time for you to explain to us, what’s happening? Could this be a secret passageway?”
“That should be right. From my deductions, it should lead to a certain place.”
“A certain place?”
“The laboratory of the man called Tachibana Sogo.”
This was completely different from last time, this time Kujyo answered my questions directly. Since we had already got the answer, it looked like we could finally know her reason for sneaking into the school.
“Do you know about the legend of the two swords hidden in the school? This was the Exceed ability of Tachibana Sogo, who created the sacred sword and demonic blade.”
Yuki and I couldn’t help but look at each other for a moment.
“We’ve heard of this legend as well, but we’ve only heard about the sacred sword.”
“Then the source should be the same. Originally, I was the one who investigated it in detail by reading many books in the library.”
Kujyo proudly puffed out her thin chest and then continued to explain.
“A few years ago, I learnt about Tachibana Sogo who had used his power to create the sacred sword and demonic blade at this school. The sacred sword was also known as the 「Sacred Dragon’s Claw」, and the demonic blade was also known as the 「Demonic Dragon’s Fang」. The sacred dragon’s claw could cut anything apart, and the demonic dragon’s fang could consume anything…….. However, the weapons were said to be too strong. So, Tachibana Sogo used a mechanism to seal both swords together.”
“The sacred dragon’s claw and the demonic dragon’s fang….. It feels like a very abstract ability..”
“But the legends said it was like this.”
“So, what you’re saying is that if the legends are true, then the two swords are hidden in this hole?”
“Of course I can’t say I’m completely sure about this, but if we want to defeat a S ranked Exceed, then we can only hope that this kind of ethereal thing actually exists. After deciding upon my objective in May, I started reading all kinds of books in library for information to find out the location of the sacred sword and demonic blade.”
“Ah……. In the end, you found it in the science classroom, and every time you thought of a password, you would sneak in here to try it out.”
“In simple terms, that’s correct.”
While Kujyo was explaining the situation, she crouched down by the entrance of the cave and shone her flashlight into the hole. The hole was approximately two meters deep and had an ancient entrance at in its innermost recesses, extending towards the direction of the corridor. Because the length of the bridge wasn’t very close, we couldn’t see where the ancient entrance led.
“Hey, Yagumo. Don’t you have any interest to go explore where this tunnel leads?”
“—Huh? Wait a second. Why don’t you go by yourself?”
“There might be traps inside. I don’t want to act rashly when I can’t guarantee my own safety.There’s a saying, a smart man doesn’t stand under a collapsing wall.”
“……Ohhh, so you’re going to make me the victim instead.”
What a cruel woman.
“Besides, isn’t perfect for this job? All you have to do is split into Ryuichi and Ryuji, and make one of them go in the hole. Even if there’s some sort of danger, you could immediately get out by deactivating your ability.”
“……I see. You do have a point.”
Although I felt like I was being tricked, she did sound pretty convincing.
However, a good plan and whether or not it could be carried out were two different things. This kind of job that requires thinking is best left to Ryuichi, but because of what had happened earlier, I didn’t really want to leave Ryuji here. If it doesn’t go well, Kujyo would scold me.
“……Um, could I go with Ryuji?”
Immediately after I was thinking about who to send into the tunnel, Yuki broke the silence by volunteering.
“What? Yuki, you want to go into this worrisome hole?”
“It’s not that I want to go in……It’s just that I have some things I want to talk to you about. It’s for the best if it’s just the two of us.”
“You want to be alone with me? Isn’t it a little inconvenient inside a cave, though?”
“T-that’s true, but……”
“——Yagumo, stop wasting time. Since Nanami asked you, just quickly get down there.”
Kujyo suddenly said with a commanding tone. Then, she threw me the flashlight from behind.
“If you dare refuse, I will spread that stupid thing that you did everywhere.”
“………..”
Since she said it like that, I couldn’t do anything about it. I could only give up and agree to investigate the hidden passage.
After pondering about it, I decided not to directly use to go inside. Nevertheless, if there is any trouble, then it would be problematic. That’s why I would lead the way. That way, even if I couldn’t move, I could use to get out.
After we went down the hole, we laid down and turned into the entrance next to us. The passage seemed to go very far, so I could only use my teeth to clench onto the flashlight to light our way. We slowly crawled through the narrow hole. It was okay that our uniforms were covered by sand, but there was a lot of spider webs. They stuck to our faces. It was disgusting. However, I should be glad. Other than the cobwebs, there wasn’t any traps to prevent intruders.
“That’s right, Yuki. You said that you wanted to tell me something. What is it?”
I took the flashlight out of my mouth, and asked Yuki, who was behind me. However, she didn’t reply. There was only the sound of friction from crawling.
……I wasn’t sure what she was hinting at. Did she want me to move forward a little longer or did she want to talk about it later?
After going forward a little longer, we reached the end. It was about thirty meters away from the entrance.
I used the flashlight to light up and carefully examine our surroundings. I found a button buried. It was under a large amount of sand. There was no way to tell at first glance.
“Hey, Ryu. Did you find something?”
“Mhm. Although there’s no path from here, I found a very small button.”
“A button? If you press it, could we keep moving forward?”
“It’s possible, but if you turn that statement around, it could be a trap. ……Should I just push it, or should we stay on the safe side and go back…….”
The part of me that’s always suspicious of danger started to take over. Yuki, who was behind me, in a dependable tone said to me,
“Let’s try and click it. Even if something happens, I could use to support you from behind.”
“Is there really no problem with this? If this doesn’t go well even you could be in danger, you know?”
“No problem! Because our fates are intertwined together!”
“Huh? I think this is the first time I’ve heard that.”
“We’re soul mates!! Ever since school started, we’ve always been together and we’re friends with a strong bond!!”
“No, no. What are you talking about always being together? Didn’t we just meet three months ago?”
“Then it’s soul food!!”
“Even if you want to use an imposing manner to convince me, it’s still not soul food.”
Things that could be regarded as soul food are the Japaneses’ miso soup or the Indians’ curry. No matter how far-fetched the explanation, it still shouldn’t be used to describe relationships.
“……However, since you told me to, I guess I’ll just try pressing it down.”
“Yeah, be careful.”
After hearing Yuki’s response, I gently wiped off the dirt on top of it, determined to press it down.
“——Wahhh!?”
“Ah!!”
The floor underneath us suddenly disappeared. We fell for about two meters and then landed on something bouncy.
“That scared me……I didn’t think that the floor would suddenly disappear.”
I immediately got up and surveyed our surroundings. However, everything was shrouded in darkness. I couldn’t see anything.
“Ryu, it’s so dark——where’s the flashlight?”
Yuki, who fell down with me, sounded very disturbed as she asked me that question.
“Sorry, I was too surprised, so I couldn’t hold it properly. Also, it looks like the battery fell out when it hit the ground.”
While explaining, I tried to feel the ground for the flashlight. It shouldn’t have rolled very far——
While I was feeling for it in the dark, I suddenly felt something incredibly soft on the palm of my right hand. To confirm what it was, I tried squeezing it a few times.
“Ah!! Ryu, you pervert!!”
“Huh?——Ah!! Sorry!!”
“Ah!! That place is off limits!!”
“Off limits!? Where did I actually touch?”
Even I couldn’t help but sound regretful as I quickly distanced myself from that place.
“Sorry, Yuki! Forgive me! It really wasn’t on purpose!”
“……Really? It really wasn’t on purpose?”
“Of course! I swear it wasn’t on purpose! It was completely unintentional!”
“Boo——”
Yuki seemed to have made a dissatisfied moan. After that, she didn’t talk anymore.
Then, after going through lots of hardship, I found the flashlight. I put the batteries back in and then turned it on. I shone it around me and got face to face with Yuki, who was completely red to the ears.
“……Seriously! Ryu did many things to my chest that shouldn’t be done!”
Yuki complained while pressing my chest with her hands. She’s really someone who gets mad easily.
That aside, Yuki’s tits was incredibly soft. My palms still had that warm feeling. Even with her clothes on, it was already this soft. I wonder what it would feel like if I touched them directly. Everytime I thought back to this point, I remembered the scene I had seen at the swimming pool——
“You can’t remember that!!”
“Yes! I’m very sorry!”
As I tried to get those two incidents out of my mind, I shone the flashlight around my surroundings.
It seemed like a secret room had been built underground. It was approximately the size of an ordinary classroom. All the walls and floorboards were made of rocks. However, the place where we had fallen down onto had been coated with something soft.
……. If he had the time to prepare something like that, why didn’t he think of another way to enter this place……
I used my phone as a flashlight in order to illuminate the ceiling, there were many lights lined up. There was only one place like a cardboard lid separating the middle. Could it have been that when the button was pressed, that that would open up.
“By looking at the direction that we came from, this should be the underground floor, right?”
“That should be correct. Although, the City of God Academy shouldn’t have an underground floor, right?”
“Then this part of the Academy wasn’t recorded in the construction blueprints, so shouldn’t this room be a「room that shouldn’t exist」?”
I shone my light on every corner and finally found a switch on the wall. It looked exactly like the classroom’s light switch.
Although I had a bad feeling because we fell for the trap earlier, using a flashlight to investigate is very arduous. After being pressured to turn it on by Yuki, I gingerly pushed the ON switch.
Suddenly, all the lights on the ceiling turned on, making the entire room shine as bright as day. It seemed as if electricity was still connected to it.
Because the entire room lit up, we could not only see the desks, chairs, and refrigerator, but also an enormous bookshelf and everyday furniture like a large cabinet. There were a lot of resources stored in the bookshelf, and there was also a silver laptop on the desk.
Walking in front of the desk, we found the laptop’s cover had a gigantic dragon sticker stuck onto it. To have called the sacred sword ‘the sacred dragon’s claw’ and the evil blade ‘The demonic dragon’s fang’, the person named Tachibana must have really liked dragons.
There was no response when we pressed the laptop’s power button. I thought that was a bit suspicious, so we checked it out. I found out that there was no power cable. Without a power source, this computer might as well be a decoration.
We then retrieved some random files from the bookshelf to look at. Those were all sealed with dragon stickers, too. To like dragons to this extent, would make some people feel a bit irritated. When we casually opened up one of the files, inside was filled with bound volumes of data on things like experiments. It had just been as Kujyo had guessed. This really was Tachibana’s laboratory.
“Hey, Ryu. Isn’t this the sword that Elena was talking about?”
Opening the closet’s highest drawer, Yuki pointed at the sword inside and asked me.
I threw down the documents that I had in my hands, quickly walked to the cabinet, and peaked inside.
“……. I feel like hiding the sacred sword and the demonic blade here is a little careless.”
Although it was still in its sheath, it wasn’t being placed in a decent pedestal, nor was it wrapped in something luxurious, it looked as if it was placed here on a whim.
“However, it doesn’t look like it’s been sealed. It’s hard to believe that this was the sacred sword or the demonic blade.”
“Is this to make us let our guard down? If it was discovered by some random person who fell down here, even they wouldn’t think that this is a very powerful weapon.”
“If you want to enter that secret passageway, you would need to crack that code. Would there really be people falling in here randomly?”
“Ah, that’s true. Then, is it something like: although it might look like a normal sword, only a true hero could pull it out?”
“Ahem, ahem. Saying that to someone like me, who really likes RPGs is getting me really pumped up.”
I got excited by Yuki’s words, so I grabbed the sword with both hands. Originally wanting to pull the sword out in one go, it turned out that the sword easily came out of its sheath without even needing to use any strength.
“…….. I didn’t expect to pull it out so easily.”
“Does that mean Ryu is the hero that was chosen by the heavens!?!?”
“How could that be possible. Yuki, you try, too.”
After putting the sword back into its sheath, I handed the sword to Yuki. It turned out that anyone could pull the sword out, Yuki pulled the sword out and put it back in several times to make sure.
We carefully examined the sword. No matter from which angle we looked at it from, it still just looked like a normal sword.
“We should be able to conclude that the sword is neither the sacred sword nor the demonic blade.”
“B-but, maybe knowledgeable people can see that it’s a powerful weapon? You see, on this world, something may just look like graffiti to us, but it’s actually a painting worth millions of yen?”
“Yuki, I think you’re just being too hopeful……Besides, aren’t two swords being sealed? Other than this, we didn’t see anything else, right?”
We opened the rest of the drawers, but only the top drawer held anything.
……At least, it was better than nothing. Although, it seemed like this was nothing but an ordinary sword.
We were fascinated by the mysterious sword, which led us to being confused. We decided to go back to the science room. After turning off the lights, we used the ladder to climb back up through the ceiling, then we crawled forward in the dark and cramped tunnel. Because we had already cleared all the spiderwebs when we entered earlier, it was a lot easier compared to then.
“——Ah, you’re finally back. You guys are way too slow.”
The moment that our heads peeped through the opening, Kujyo ran over. She looked quite impatient, and didn’t pay too much attention. Thanks to this, I was able to see her with her legs crossed from a downwards perspective.
Also, the flashlight that I bit on had the light on, and coincidentally shone under Kujyo’s skirt.
“——Ah!! No!!”
Kujyo noticed her blunder a second too late, and let out a cute moaning sound. At the same time, she held down her skirt.
However, it was too late. I had already confirmed the secret color hidden under Kujyo’s skirt. It was white with blue stripes.
“——Now, Yagumo. Do you want to try hibernating right now? If you sleep for maybe about a hundred years, you should forget about anything unneeded.”
“W-wait a moment! I’ve already found the sword, so please forgive me!”
The moment I begged her forgiveness by quickly pulling out the sword, Kujyo immediately darted towards me.
However, after inspecting all of the unknown sword that had been pulled out from its sheath. Kujyo’s expression became gloomy.
“Ah….. Unfortunately, it seems that this is neither the sacred sword nor the demonic blade.”
“Huh, really?”
“Yes. The books inside the library recorded that 「The sacred sword and demonic blade, upon contact, would feel different from other blades, they’re weapons that surpass imagination」. However, this sword has no reaction no matter how I wield it. That is to say, we found ourselves a fake. …… Damn, to do something so annoying.”
Kujyo disappointedly put the sword back into its sheath, then tossed it at the me who had just climbed out from the cave.
“Yagumo cracked the code, so you’re responsible for disposing it.”
“I’m being forced to dispose it as well!?”
“What did you say, Yagumo, you can’t decide that the sword is fake so quickly. Maybe it might provide a clue to where the sacred sword and demonic blade’s really buried. Therefore, before the necessary time comes, I hope you’ll keep it safe.”
“There’s no way you were thinking that right!? You just said 「you have to take responsibility and dispose of it」. These words had already exposed your intentions!”
Kujyo really was going overboard…… Whatever, I did accidently see her underwear earlier, so it’s alright.
“Hey, Ryu. Do you want me to throw it away? Although I don’t know what kind of sword this is.”
“Ah, probably dangerous stuff.”
After answering, an idea suddenly sprouted within my brain.
“——No, actually, I won’t throw it away. I’ll use this sword to figure out a plan to defeat S ranks!”
After saying that, I gripped the sword tightly. A major reason why wasn’t suitable for combat was because it had no offensive skills. Even if it was a normal sword, if I used it in the right way, and maybe I could defeat a superior opponent.
“Because Kujyo once said, 「don’t fight a battle where you don’t have the capability」, it really suck, ah…”
“——Hmph, that’s really frank.”
Kujyo said with a smile.
“I have no interest in this kind of ordinary sword anyways. Tomorrow, I’ll be looking for the real location the sacred sword and demonic blade are hidden.”
“If you encounter another unbreakable code, remember to ask me for help.”
“That’s true. Although I don’t really want to, you’re much better than me or Yuki at solving these kinds of puzzles.”
Kujyo began insulting me again. I couldn’t help but smile a bit.
“Maybe next time we’ll be tricked again by false information, and we’ll find a hammer.”
“To be able to find a few weapons isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Also, the truth is that since the underground room exists, that means that the authenticity of the sacred sword and demonic blade also increases. Don’t you think that this also counts as getting closer to our target?”
“True. However, I’m afraid that wherever they’re true location, might be, it’ll be filled with really scary traps waiting for us.”
“Yes. And at that time, we’ll have to rely on you, trap master Yagumo.”
“Wait a minute, what kind of nickname is that? I haven’t learned anything about disarming traps.”
“No, no, no, you were able to successfully get through a tunnel that’s not long at all, and successfully retrieve a sword that’s basically useless. If you’re not a master, then what are you.”
“Aren’t you treating me as an idiot again? Kujyo, do you really need to treat people like they’re stupid?”
After bantering a bit with Kujyo, I suddenly recalled something. In the end, I wasn’t able to ask Yuki what she was the 「only for us two wanted」 she wanted to tell me.
……. Forget it. Too much had happened today, I was already tired enough. After tomorrow, there are still the chances to be alone with her, I’ll ask her again when there’s time.
Our late-night adventure had finally ended, and we decided to return to the dormitories.
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles
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Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18/Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/Section0001.txt
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Shini
Yasui Kōshaku Reijō to Nana-ri no Kikōsh
Arc
1
by
Terasu Senoo
Novel
Updates
Translation
Group: Starry
Night Translation
Epub:
Trollo
WN/LN EPUB
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles
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Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18/Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s1.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Prologue: Erica Aurelia, the Villainous Lady
Prologue: Erica Aurelia, the Villainous Lady
“How did this happen…?”
I, Erica, the Duke of Aurelia’s daughter, couldn’t move when I
saw myself in the mirror.
Dark golden hair like honey was gently rolled elegantly.
The skin was white like milk, and the cheeks were rosy.
Although it was still the young face of an 8-years-old, she had
high eyebrows and emerald eyes that looked arrogant.
—Is that, me?
Wrong! That wasn’t me! That was—
I began to feel a sense of incompatibility with the hair color,
skin color, and eye color.
Above all, this characteristically vertical roll……!!
This was the villainous lady of the romance-fantasy girl
game『Liber Monstrorum ~Phantom Beasts and the Winter Princess~』
Erica Aurelia!1
I was seized by a sensation that made my feet wobbly, and I
leaned on the mirror to stabilize myself.
One by one, the memories of my past life was gushing forth like
a spring, and I felt sick.
Does this mean that I was reincarnated and awakened the
memory of my previous life?
I thought that was absurd, but just now, the recollection about
my life as Erica said that this was the world of『Liber Monstrorum
~Phantom Beasts and the Winter Princess~』
And that was why I had nothing but bad feelings no matter how
good my face was now.
More than that, it was that villainous lady, Erica
Aurelia.
I knew that Erica was bullying the heroine who entered the magic
academy, and she was the first person to die as the time for the
bizarre incident started.
If I grew up like this, when the drama for the heroine and her
chosen capture target reached the climax and the murder case began,
I would die!
I really wanted to avoid that.
Being suddenly attacked and died again, that would be too
regrettable.
—Again?
And the memory that I didn’t want to remember rushed into my
head.
It seemed to be the memory of my last moment in the previous
life.
I was shocked because I could see shiny things.
I felt a burning heat in the side of my flank and when I
stretched out my hand there, it was bright red with blood.
I escaped to ask someone for help, but I was stabbed many
times as I shouted—.
I see, after that, I was dead……
He was my colleague, I thought he was a man who never talked
much.
Suddenly, on my way back from work, he stabbed me many times
while saying ‘You betrayed me’, but why?
The only contact with him that I could remember was lending him
a retractable umbrella when it began to rain, but what was his
problem?
Or was it that?
There was a similar incident during high school.
I belonged to the Geography Club, and everyone in the club
(which consisted of boys except for me) said ‘I fall in love
with you’ and in the end it was misunderstood that I was
supposed to have a physical relationship with everyone, and that
rumor was circulated around the school.
It was hell.
I was weak and poor; I couldn’t clear up the
misunderstanding.
One of the member who truly believed it hit me from behind at
night……
By the time I left the hospital, the Geography Club had become
deserted and I had the worst nicknames, such as ‘Circle Crusher’,
‘Small Carnivorous Plant’, or just plain ‘Slut’……, hahaha…
Painful.
Even at university, or even in society, it was not as serious as
that, but there were similar incidents.
I failed at trying to overcome real human relationships as
safely as possible.
It was troublesome trying to be involved with other people other
than for business, and so I got addicted to something.
It was game speedruns2.
Fiction wouldn’t try to go as far as trying to hit me through
the display screen!
How wonderful!
The memories I had remembered were mostly my disastrous
experiences and the main strategy method of the game.
I was biased in my life experiences.
The more I traced as I followed the memory threads, there was no
choice but to accept because I experienced it in real life.
So, I didn’t dislike Erica.
Strong spirit.
Prideful.
Active.
She was a girl who seemed to embodied the strengths I admired in
the past life.
She was close to my ideal except for the harassing people
part.
If I were a girl like this, I wouldn’t be harassed or stabbed by
a misunderstanding Yandere man.
Maybe an ordinary human being would also be able to overcome it,
but that was a trivial thing.
That’s it!
I could change this romance-fantasy girl game into a
happy-go-lucky fantasy girl game!
But, was it really possible?
At minimum, I would have to escape my mysterious deaths.
Then I felt like I could live more freely than my previous
life.
Not bad.
Surely clues could be found in the memories of my previous
life.
Why did Erica die?
That was because Erica trampled over the lives of other
characters.
If I avoided that, I might be able to seek refuge in the middle
of a fatal situation.
The dark past of each capture targets.
It was a death flag that Erica built herself.
Since that was the case, I could strike down the death flags
with all my power.
However, there was something I want to check before that.
This ‘memory’ could also be my delusion.
It was possible that this wasn’t a reincarnation but a sign that
I was going crazy.
The young Erica was just playing with her 20-years-old older
brother.
She got sleepy when she read an easy-to-read book with a lot of
pictures from her older brother’s collection.
She fell asleep on a chaise longue and she just came in front of
the mirror with her messy hair again.
In order to judge whether my memory was a delusion or not, I had
to make sure whether something that I knew had happened or not.
“Are you okay, Erica?”
It was my older brother that came close to me, worried about me
who was leaning against the mirror.
Just in time.
“Your complexion isn’t good.”
My brother’s name was Edward Aurelia.
He was the first child of Duke of Aurelia and one of the
heroine’s capture target.
He had the same blonde hue as Erica’s, but his eyes were very
kind and sweet.
“Onii-sama, thank you very much. I just got a little tired for a
moment.”
“I see, you just read variety of books until a while ago. You
should eat sweet things.”
Edward took out a small package from a small box on the table,
and unwrapped the package.
“Here, open your mouth.”
When I opened my mouth, the chocolate grain was thrown in.
Onii-sama was always sweet to me.
“Is it delicious?”
“Yes.”
“Yeah, you’re a good girl, Erica.”
He stroked my hair with a gentle hand.
If I had such an older brother, I wouldn’t blame anyone for
being a brocon.
Well then, I needed to get the information I wanted from my
gentle older brother.
“Um, Onii-sama.”
“Hm, what is it, Erica? Do you want more chocolate?”
“If I ate too much before supper I would get fat.”
I felt bad for making my older brother’s smile dimmed a
little.
But, I had to ask him about the incident at the beginning of
this game.
“May I ask you about things in the northern, the ice and
snow-covered, Lucanrant territory?”
“……What are you talking about?”
“About what happened in the North last year.”
“…You mean the Dukedom of Lucanrant Tragedy, huh…”
Edward-oniisama looked sad as he said it.
“That’s, when Erica gets a little older……I will tell you in
detail at that time, now I want you to forgive me.”
“……I understand, Onii-sama. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s okay, I’m sorry for being fussy, Erica.”
It would have been better if I could have a confirmation that
there was a tragedy in the North called ‘Werewolf Massacre
Incident.’
I didn’t think that the 20-years-old older brother would explain
such a gruesome story to his 8-year-old sister in more details.
“Then, I will return to my room.”
With this, it was confirmed that this world is『Liber
Monstrorum』
The phantom beasts – numerous monsters, werewolves, vampires –
were the beginning of a strange world where they were engulfed in
the shadows of the night.
1 Liber Monstrorum: it is the latin of Book of
Monster. It is a late seventh-or early eighth-century Anglo-Latin
catalogue of marvellous creatures. (source)
2 Speedruns: a term in gaming where you tried to
challenge yourself while gaming, whether it was to beat the highest
score, beat it in the fastest time, or make all routes
play-throughs.
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles
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Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18/Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s10.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 9: Ruins of Visitor (part three)
Chapter 9: Ruins of Visitor (part three)
“‘Pass under the crescent moon gate and look for the twin
half-moon’…?”
“This is……it’s the handwriting of Edward-oniisama.”
“It’s that guy’s handwriting!?”
I found a trace of Edward-oniisama in the Ruins of Visitor and I
felt relieved.
It was the feeling of finding Buddha in hell.
Onii-sama, who was wearing an archaic smile in my mind, was
waving his hand sweetly.
“It might be some hint that Onii-sama left when he explored this
ruins.”
“Now then, let’s follow this.”
“I agree.”
I packed up my box of wands that was spread on the floor and
other tools in my bag and stood up.
According to the message, we needed to go through the exit where
the mark of the crescent moon was drawn in the arch part.
As we went through a dark passage for about 30 meters, the light
of Moonlight Gallnut Ink came into our sight.
Two semicircular signs were arranged side by side.
This had to be the twin half-moon.
“This…!?”
“Wait, something is also written on it.”
“‘When the full moon rises high in the sky, the road will
open’…”
“Full moon? But, I don’t see a circle mark anywhere……?”
“Wait. There is the word ‘rises’ in the message. That
means—”
Again, the heavy machine sound resonated.
The shape of the room had changed nearby.
“This hint, is it supposed to be written assuming that the
labyrinth will move?”
“That means, that sound means that the full moon has risen some
time ago – in other words, it was a sound that leads to the room
where the next hint was written.”
“Ah. That’s right. The sky……If the moon has risen to the highest
position, the direction to go is south1.”
“Oh no. I didn’t bring a compass with me.”
“Leave it to me. While it is impossible to use high tier magic
and large area magic due to the consumption of magical power, I can
still use magic of this degree.
Klaus was chanting wholeheartedly while holding the wand
perpendicular to the floor.
The language he used was the same ancient language of Harvan,
but unlike the magical chant he normally used, it was a nursery
rhyme.
When he released his hand from the wand as he finished his song,
the wand turned around and fell down towards the direction where we
just came from.
“This direction is south.”
“It’s somewhat plain.”
“Because it is. But it’s unexpectedly convenient to remember
this kind of thing.”
Certainly, it was of great use.
Without this strange thing, I seriously thought of whether I
should extract a magnet from the core material or not.
Because of Klaus’ knowledge, the wallet of Edward-oniisama was
saved.
My older brother’s hint implicitly told us that in addition to
the passage of time, our moving weight was also a condition for the
labyrinth’s mechanism to change its shape.
If at first we searched with two groups, I might not be able to
rejoin with Klaus.
Holding hands with Klaus so that we wouldn’t get separated, we
moved toward the south through the dimly lit ruins.
While checking with our lamps at some places, we searched
carefully.
After a while, I saw a glowing round light emerging in the
darkness.
“A circular mark…that is the full moon!”
“Looking at the distance, is there any message?”
“Is this the end point?”
“What was your brother doing in this place?”
At the entrance where the sign of the full moon was drawn, a
brand new wooden door was set up.
Fortunately, the door was not locked.
While slowly watching for signs of movement beyond this door, we
slowly opened the door.
“This is……”
“A box…is it?”
In the room with the full moon mark, five large storage boxes
were placed.
Each storage box was made to be sturdy by being reinforced with
a metal frame and they were supposed to be locked.
If they were placed in a ruin like this, they looked like
treasure boxes.
Each storage box was carved with a crest of Aurelia.
On the attached labels, there were notes with Onii-sama’s
handwriting.
Apparently, the inside of the boxes seemed to be items that
Onii-sama kept for exploring the labyrinth.
There were two rolls of blankets on the side of the boxes, and
there were traces of fire as well.
“Is this a simple base camp?”
“Thoroughly prepared, huh. It sounds like my older brother.”
“There may be items that can be used.”
“If so, it can’t be helped.”
I tried to open the storage box, but all of them were locked
tightly.
It was really carefully prepared, it certainly seemed to be
Edward-oniisama.
“Klaus-sama, unfortunately, I didn’t bring a Wand of Skeleton
Key2……”
“Don’t worry. Somehow, my magical power has recovered enough to
use the magic of Unlock.”
“Well then, please.”
“Oh, leave it to me.”
Klaus put his staff on the box and cast a spell.
Unlike our wands, the staffs used by the eastern mages served as
a magical amplifier.
But, for a mage of Klaus’ degree to use a staff for a basic
spell, wasn’t that a little excessive?
Light-red light magic circle appeared as if wrapping the storage
box.
The magic circle slowly rotated and shrunk down, converging on
the lock part.
Click, and with that sound, the lock opened.
“Okay, I guess you can open it now.”
“Let’s open it, Klaus-sama.”
“Ah.”
Klaus opened the heavy lid of the clothing box.
I shone it with a lamp, I saw a number of items.
“Some scrolls and food, yeah, this is nice, we’re saved.”
“Does it have something that looks useful?”
“Look, it’s a magical recovery potion.”
Small bottles of candy colored glasses that contained potions
were arranged in order.
As expected of Edward-oniisama!
“If we have these, I don’t have to depend on your wand. I will
be able to do more in our search.”
“Sounds helpful.”
Huh? Alchemists shouldn’t have to worry about running out of
magical power.
Why did Edward-oniisama keep so many potions for magical
recovery?
For the companion who accompanied him……?
Onii-sama’s friend, I wondered if he was from Harvan or
Lucanrant.
Oops, now was the time to confirm the rest of the items.
After he opened one with the potions, Klaus was unlocking the
rest of the boxes one after another.
He had recovered his magical power, and now he was in a perfect
condition, like a fish that got water.
Aah! Four boxes had been opened while I was day dreaming!
“I will open this box.”
I was going to open the last box.
—GING!
The light protection pattern that had been embroidered on the
hem of my older brother’s clothes enveloped every thread with
special magical power.
At the same time as opening the lid, a vast purple magic circle
was spreading.
Hii! This was obviously a kind of curse.
I tried to avoid it quickly, but faster than I reacted, the
light of the magic circle broke like a chain and entangled me.
“……Eh!?”
“……!! This is bad! A trap!”
(Why does it—!?)
That’s right~~!
If you left behind a baggage full of items in a dungeon, you
would take measures against thieves!
This, the death flag was quite serious and dangerous!?
This was painful…!
Klaus cast Glam Sight and stared at me.
He was confirming the details of the curse that I was given.
His eyes shook, and blood drained from his head as he stared at
me.
When Klaus finished analysing the curse, he turned down his eyes
as if mourning.
Uwa! That was a reaction like a doctor who would announce an
incurable disease!
“……Sorry, Erica. This is…the curse of death.”
Hii, as expected!
Many of Aurelia’s people had a strong pride in their
craftsmanship.
So, most alchemists were strict toward thieves…
“……This is the work of Edward-oniisama, right?”
“Ah. The creator is Edward Aurelia, your older brother, it was
made about a month ago.”
Klaus’ facial expression was dark, he wouldn’t look into my eyes
and his eyebrows were furrowed.
Anyway, was I going to die, right now!?
“Curse of Merciful Death……After a certain period of time, even
without suffering, it will bring death promptly.”
“Eh, after a certain amount of time…?”
“Estimated to be a little more than eight hours and less than
twelve hours.”
“……Eh!?”
“It is to give some moral suffering to the victim, huh. Or maybe
there is an intention of dispelling it if the victim was begging
for forgiveness.”
You were a devil, Edward-oniisama.
As expected from someone with the infamous dark smile among the
seven capture targets, the retribution was very dark ……!!
I was always feeling refreshed by looking at my friendly older
brother’s gentle and sweet side.
It was too regrettable that I hadn’t played Onii-sama’s scenario
yet—
“……Erica, are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m okay.”
For a moment, it seemed that I had been escaping reality, but I
returned to see Klaus’ worried face.
“Erica, let’s return. There is still time to go to the palace.
Your father would be able to resolve it.”
“No, let’s give priority to your sister now.”
I decided to bear it.
Even if it didn’t have monsters or ghosts, this Ruins of Visitor
was dangerous enough.
There was no guarantee that Onii-sama and other explorers hadn’t
set any other deadly traps.
I couldn’t leave the young Ann in such a place.
Generally, I was accustomed to severe experiences.
I didn’t want to get used to it at all.
In the first place, it was not merely death, but the mercy
itself was that I could spare eight hours.
I took out the silver pocket watch out of my coat pocket.
The current time was past 21 o’clock.
“It’s still fine to escape by 5 o’clock tomorrow morning and
solve it.”
“What are you talking about! How much can we postpone it, if
something happened to you, I—”
“I’m more concerned about your sister.”
“But……”
“Let’s stroll around the garden of Spring Palace tomorrow, this
time it will be the three of us. Promise me, Klaus-sama.”
It was rude to interrupt other people’s speech, but I had to
interrupt him.
If I was seriously worried about it, it would be rather hard for
myself.
I smiled at Klaus.
A smile was important.
Even if Erica Aurelia was a villainous lady, would her smile be
enough to relieve anxiety?
“You……”
“If there is such a grace, if I don’t have a bad luck, I won’t
die.”
“I don’t know, Erica……you look like you have a very bad
luck.”
I know, right~.
In the one out of five Russian Roulette treasure chest just a
moment ago, I magnificently caught the jackpot!
1 This is a navigation using the moon
location. All celestial objects – sun, stars, planets and moon
– arc across the southern sky when viewed from northern latitudes.
They all reach their highest point in the sky when they cross your
meridian or line of longitude and this will occur when they are
exactly due south of you. That’s why, Klaus deduced that the next
hint is in the southern direction. (source)
2 It is written as Wand of Universal Key. So it is a
wand that can unlock everything.
…At first I don’t understand why the next hint is in the south
direction, but after reading it once again I finally understand and
added that first note.
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles
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Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18/Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s11.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 10: Ruins of Visitor (part four)
Chapter 10: Ruins of Visitor (part four)
“Erica, is there a painful place somewhere?”
“I’m alright, Klaus-sama.”
“I see……Then, do you feel sluggish, cold, or something like
that?”
“I’m alright!”
“I see……If you feel somewhat bad, don’t overdo it and say it
quickly.”
“Yes, yes. I will tell you.”
We were organizing and sorting the items that were stored in the
storage boxes of Edward-oniisama.
I mainly focused on the wands, while Klaus on the scrolls and
spell cards.
……It was supposed to be a time for preparations, but Klaus’
hands were stopping frequently.
Every time he stopped, he asked me about my condition.
“Erica, you, are you really…”
“Klaus-sama, I will get angry, you know?”
On his face, a big sign of ‘Worried!’ was written.
He resembled Edward-oniisama when I caught a cold.
Both of them had the same eldest son’s color on their soul’s
aura.
Onii-sama who had a black-belly dark smile was a good person,
similarly, maybe Klaus who would grow up to be a Do-S was also a
good person.
“Klaus-sama, how is it?”
“There is no curse in the range of my Glam Sight. These spell
cards can be diverted to Harvan’s magic without problem. Wait a
little more for the analysis of these scrolls.”
“That’s fortunate. Please don’t forget to restore your magical
power by drinking the potion.”
“Ah, I know. What about you, Erica?”
I read the parchment notes about the classified wands.
Wand of the Death1.
Wand of Fire Bolt.
Wand of Lightning Bolt.
Wand of Magic Missiles.
They all came from the trapped box of death.
Although the remaining amount of usage was few, all of them were
powerful offensive wands.
It was not unreasonable for Edward-oniisama to be vigilant about
thieves.
“You mean they were Edward’s leftovers?”
“The fact that the offensive wands were used is probably because
a fairly large battle had happened.”
“Well, it was strange that there were no monsters that
would protect the ruins at all, but maybe they were already wiped
out?”
“Probably so.”
Yes, the Ruins of Visitor had already been conquered.
In this regard, I would like to thank Onii-sama obediently.
Even though the mechanism of this labyrinth alone was
sufficiently troublesome, I shuddered when I thought that a monster
would also come out.
“Ooh! I can use this!”
Klaus raised a shout of joy as he was analyzing the scrolls
while making constant reference to his personal notebook.
He seemed to be in a good form ever since his magical power was
recovered.
I also stopped my hands that were packing items into my bag and
looked into the scroll.
“Have you found magic that seems useful?”
“Far better than being useful, it’s not an exaggeration to say
that this is a trump card. What is described here is a Pass
Wall.”
Klaus showed me the page of the notebook and scrolls, pointing
alternatingly with excitement.
Yup, but you see, I couldn’t read the magic language of the
eastern Harvan.
The result of a magical research was written carefully in the
notebook.
This was nostalgic, Klaus (older) of the game also carried
magical research notes that was as thick as a Japanese
dictionary2.
With this, he would grow up as a hardworking genius.
“Is it a magic that let you freely passing through the wall? It
is also a magical way for labyrinth searchers to cheat.”
“I don’t feel even a bit ashamed, because right now we don’t
have enough time anyway.”
Certainly, in the situation that mine and Ann’s life were on the
line, we didn’t have time to keep track of the maze of the
labyrinth.
But if I thought about this carefully, Onii-sama had always
prepared this cheat spell when searching inside a labyrinth.
As expected, Onii-sama……somehow immature.
“So it’s like this, let’s use the large, hateful mechanical
labyrinth as an example. If it was an ordinary labyrinth, we would
just have to walk through the walls and walk from one end to the
other end.”
“But we don’t understand the laws of the labyrinth, it won’t be
strange even if a fatal incidence occurs because we failed to
confirm everything.”
In addition to the passage of time, the Ruins of Visitor
detected the weight of its intruder and changed its shape.
The message of Edward-oniisama, who explored the ruins first,
was not left in every room.
Because there weren’t many hints, it would be unreasonable if we
didn’t try to decipher the laws of the changing labyrinth from now
on.
“If we don’t understand the rule, at least we should be able to
supress the change of the labyrinth.”
“Time passage, weight…, huh…”
“The manipulation of time is the highest-ranking magic. I
memorized about the chants and the magic circle configuration as
much as I could, but they place a heavy burden on someone as
immature as I am. I have never succeeded even once in casting
it.”
“You memorized it, huh. The highest-ranking magic.”
“If it was only memorizing spells, everyone can do it if they
try. Once I matured, I would finally be able to practice it.”
No, but even though he was only 10-years-old, he had memorized
the highest-ranking magic, I believed that not everyone could do
it, you know?
Because this was a genius who had not noticed that he was
actually a genius!
Well, but time was impossible anyhow.
Then, the remaining was weight.
Weight, weight, weight……ah!
“Klaus-sama, there is a Wand of Levitation. With this Pass Wall,
combined with—”
“I see, a flying-based magic! Then, it’s as good as no
mechanical labyrinth!”
Wand of Levitation was made from fossils of a large wyvern.
On the stick head was an amber, and the handle part had yellow
brass in a pattern of a feather.
The core material was fossil of the wing of an
archaeopteryx.
Incidentally, this was also very expensive, but in this
situation I couldn’t afford to be frugal.
Unlike flying, it was impossible to finely adjust the height of
Levitation.
However, since we only wanted to avoid a mechanical labyrinth,
we only needed to float a little from the ground.
Levitation had a weak effect, but it was useful enough.
“Then the next step is decided. Using Levitation in combination
with Pass Wall, we will search each layer one by one.”
“If we also combine them with Urd Sight, it seems we will be
able to significantly shorten the time.”
“There are two Pass Wall scrolls. I think one piece is for
returning, we will return temporarily if we cannot join with Ann
before the first piece effect timeout.”
“It can’t be helped. In the case that Ann-sama is in a safe
place – let’s leave a note in various places so that we can guide
her to this simple base camp.”
There was a possibility that it might not be noticed at all
depending on the weather, if it was only written on the wall with
Moonlight Gallnut Ink.
Just by dropping scraps of parchments that squeezed out the
instructions on the conspicuous points such as the entrance, the
discovery rate would rise significantly.
“Erica, I said this many times, but we will return home as soon
as you feel unusual about your condition. No matter how much effect
time the Pass Wall scroll has left.”
“Klaus-sama…”
“I am worried about Ann, but if you have any chance to be saved,
I will not forgive myself for the rest of my life if you die. If
only I looked at the magic trace a bit more carefully, that trap
could have been prevented.”
“Klaus-sama has a quite stubborn personality, aren’t you?”
“You……”
I appreciated him for being worried about me.
But it was due to my carelessness that I was caught on a
trap.
Because it was burdensome to be taken care of too much, I
diverted the topic to miscellaneous things.
Nonetheless, to be honest, I felt glad that Klaus was actively
seeking to withdraw.
Was it because I received a sentence of death?
It was a good thing.
—No, no, that was not good at all.
After the confirmation of items was finished, we prepared for
our departure.
Klaus wore a belt with a potion holder found from Onii-sama’s
storage box around his waist from above his robe.
He hooked the magical recovery potions to all of its special
shaped metal fittings.
He drank three potions that couldn’t be fitted on the holder to
restore his magical power, the rest would be put into the cloth bag
that Klaus had brought with him.
Three potions……he was only 10-years-old, but the maximum value
of his magical power was high.
If it was an average adult mage, I heard that their magical
power would be fully restored after drinking two and a half
potions.
“Wh-what is it? Why are you staring at me like that?”
“No, never mind. If I must say, I’m worried whether your magical
power has completely restored or not.”
“I see…… Ah, if wide area magic is not hindered, I have enough
magical power to run exploration magic on all the layers so
far.”
“Klaus-sama, if I look closely your face is red, how is your
physical condition?”
“Oh, aah……why is this? Was there also sake in the ingredients of
the potion…?”
When Klaus turned toward the other way, he gathered spell cards
with great vigour.
He was like a banker who counted bills or a magician who
shuffled cards!
He bundled about 20 sheets of spell cards, and put them into
hidden pockets in various parts of his robe.
Hmm? Wait a moment, did he bring hundreds of them?
Even just by glancing at him, it seemed like he had put over 300
sheets in just one sleeve.
“Klaus-sama, no way, are you going to bring all of the spell
cards? There are about 2000 sheets, you know?”
“If we go to the deepest layer, there is a possibility that we
will come across an unknown monster. By the way, there are less
than 2000.”
“Being the mage of the East is a hard work too, huh.”
“We also put an importance in preparation. It is the same as the
fundamental of you western alchemists. Unlike the northern
swordsmen who can fight with each other, or the southern dragon
knights who are unbeatable as long as they have dragons.”
“Considering all that, you still came to this ruins without
preparation……”
“Because, at that time I was weird. No, I reflect on it. I will
never do something like this without preparation again.”
It was harsh that he was feeling ashamed about it.
His behavior was due to the curse of the vampire
(?)3, so I didn’t mean to blame him.
I fastened the lamp that tends to block my hand on the bag, and
wrapped the belt that had the wand holder around my waist.
It only barely caught around my waist, as expected it was truly
a belt for Onii-sama.
I picked up the two wands of Magic Missiles and Lightning Bolt
from the offensive wands, and the three wands of Levitation,
Feather Falling, and Urd Sight among the wands for convenience, and
put them in the holder.
Too many would just bring confusion and couldn’t be used.
It was the theory of alchemists’ way of fighting, to insert a
reasonable number of wands into the belt and exchanged them
alternatingly with the wands inside the bag as occasion
demands.
……Edward-oniisama was selling out.
“Ah, right. Klaus-sama take these too, please. These are the
Wand of Levitation and Feather Falling…In other words, they are for
flying and falling. Because these two have a short range, please do
self-management to the best of your ability during the move.”
“I understand the Levitation, but when would we use the Wand of
Feather Falling?”
“This is important. We can’t say that there would be no such
thing like pitfall, and it can also be used when we float too high.
Because Levitation has a high altitude rise, it often happens if
you swing it too many times by mistake.”
“How high is it specifically?”
“Usually around 5 cm. 25 cm when you swing it once more. And 125
cm if you swing it again. The altitude will rise exponentially with
each swing.”
“Huh. That’s interesting.”
Ah, 10-years-old and he already understood the exponential
function.
As expected, he was the hardworking genius, Klaus Harvan.
Although there was also a possibility that he would float away
appropriately.
Let’s take care that he wouldn’t overswing the Wand of
Levitation.
“Let’s go, Erica. From here it’s a race against time.”
“Yes, Klaus-sama. Let’s help Ann-sama as soon as possible.”
Klaus read aloud the scroll of Pass Wall.
White light spread out from his staff and spread a magic circle
over us.
From the magic circle overhead, drops of light came down like
raindrops.
The drops of light which passed through us, spread like a ripple
when it fell to the ground and formed another magic circle.
The two magic circles intersected slowly so as to sandwich us
and the trajectory of white light enveloped us.
After confirming the invocation of Pass Wall, I swung the Wand
of Levitation which was made of amber, bone, and brass, twice.
Feathers made of golden lights fell to our feet.
Light touched our shoes, and when it touched our shoes, it
changed into a golden magic circle.
The magic circle of Levitation spread as if covering our shoes,
pushing our body up in the air.
As we held hands so that none of us would get stuck in the wall,
we kicked in the air and jumped into the wall.
1 The literal translation is actually Wand of the
Armor of Death.
2 It actually said 広○苑, but I know that it refers to
広辞苑 (Koujien) or a Japanese dictionary written by Shinmura Izuru.
For reference, it is this size. So, Klaus (older)’s research journal is
very thick.
3 This question mark is in the raw. This is because
Erica still wasn’t sure that the magic spelled on the stone was
from the vampires. It was still pure speculation.
If you want to see how they look like after their preparation,
look at the cover for this series
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles
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Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18/Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s12.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 11: Ruins of Visitor (part five)
Chapter 11: Ruins of Visitor (part five)
It was my first time to experience Pass Wall.
So, my body penetrated the wall, and the feeling of passing
through the wall was an unknown and incomprehensible sensation—
No, wait……There was something similar to this sensation, what
was it?
The memory of my previous life revived in my mind.
At a very common tavern and a bento shop, I experienced a
sensation similar to this magic.
(—Oh, it is a short curtain1.)
Should it be said that it was a sensation of going through a lot
of whole-sized curtains in a passage of about three meters.
There was an approximate experience where I didn’t expect
it.
(What exactly is fantasy…Ah, but this is surprisingly fun.)
The effect time of Levitation was sufficient.
The sign for the end of the effect was that the diameter of the
magic circle around our foot had become about half the size.
Before the magic circle stopped supporting our body, I swung the
wand again.
“Perhaps, isn’t it better for us to exit the Ruins of Visitor by
passing through the walls, so that we wouldn’t use too many
wands?”
“It’s risky.”
“Why?”
“Outside of the Ruins of Visitor are considerably thick rocks.
If we made a mistake in estimating the depth and couldn’t pass
through the rocks during the effect time…”
“We would be squeezed inside the rocks. That’s wretched.”
“It is. Moreover, even if we successfully passed through the
rocks, the outside of the Ruins of Visitor is mostly the sea. If
our escape angle is wrong…”
“We would drown. That’s wretched.”
“It is. I don’t want to increase any more bizarre cause of
deaths.”
“More what?”
“Oops! About this. Please don’t mind it.”
“Erica, you……”
I looked away in a hurry.
I was about to carelessly mouth off the collection of bizarre
deaths of Erica, the villainous lady.
He wouldn’t understand my previous life knowledge in every
sense.
It should rather be left unsaid that there was a story in the
game about what happens when you failed at
teleporting2.
Somehow, from Klaus, I felt like I was being seen with eyes like
watching a painful child.
……Harsh.
With such a situation, we had explored each layer at ultra-high
speed even when there were trivial and personal failures.
While we were exploring using the Pass Wall, Ann finally began
to appear in Urd Sight.
They were nothing more than images of a time that had
passed.
Even if we tried to follow her past footprints, we would be
obstructed by the wall immediately because of the labyrinth which
had already changed.
However, it seemed that some of Klaus’ worry eased a little.
Thanks to the confirmation of Ann’s moving figure.
I wanted to meet the real Ann quickly.
When I thought about the sad future where those siblings would
be separated by death, my heart felt painful.
“Wait, Erica. There is something.”
We were about two layers down from where the simple base camp
was.
Klaus extended his hands to shield me and glared at the end of
the passage.
“Eh……”
“Sounds of something being dragged on the floor shake the air
slightly. I wonder if it was a monster or a beast that broke away
from your older brother.”
Eh, a monster?
Wait a moment, I had been preparing for a battle, but my heart
wasn’t ready yet for the actual battle.
If I listened carefully, I could hear faint fricative sounds
were steadily getting closer.
Should we run away?
“Don’t make a sudden move. Stay behind me.”
“Oh, yes.”
Klaus kept me behind his back and held his staff at the height
of his waist.
What should I do, I had to help him. What wand should I use?
Offensive wands were on the right side of the belt……Aah, I
didn’t take out the Wand of Hold!
“Don’t push yourself. Be ready to escape at any time.”
“Eh, but–”
“It is a man’s job to protect a woman. Your job is to calm down
by taking a deep breath. On the battlefield, a friend who is
panicking is scarier than the enemy.”
“Fuh…haah…Klaus-sama is calm, aren’t you?”
“I’m undergoing combat training and I’ve accompanied my father
in hunting and deadly extermination.”
So the duke and his son went directly to get rid of evil
spirits, huh.
In the ancient royal family era, there was a story that said
Harvan of the East was also the highest priest of the indigenous
Sun God.
We saw a shadow of something wriggling in the passage
corner.
Klaus quickly got two spell cards from his bosom with his left
hand and threw them toward the shadow and cast a few words of spell
quickly.
The thrown spell cards flew while expanding a magic circle,
bursting open mid-air and emitted bright white lights.
Light hit the upper right corner and the lower left corner of
the passage – and diagonally shone the true form of the shadow.
“—A flock of moving bones!? And moreover, this number is…”
Various types of beasts bones were grouping together while being
suspended mid-air.
How many? Several tens of heads?
Lots of bone chunks that couldn’t be counted were filling up the
passage and drew near in a surge.
That was the identity of what was illuminated by the magic of
Light.
“They have enough Magic Resist to trick my Glam Sight……No, they
are monsters with magical structures that I don’t recognize……, no,
what are those!?”
“Klaus-sama……”
“Listen to me. When I give you a sign, run away and don’t look
back. If you keep going straight using Levitation and Pass Wall,
there should be a valid exit.”
Tension ran on the face of Klaus.
After glancing towards me, he pulled out a bundle of hundreds of
spell cards from his sleeve at once.
No matter how much battle experience he had, no matter how much
of a future genius mage he was, if those bones were undeads it
would be inevitable—.
In fact, if we encountered such a huge number of undeads, it was
a crisis of death.
—However, looking at those figures, on the contrary, I was
relieved.
“Klaus-sama, it’s alright.”
“What!?”
“That is the cleaning automaton that my older brother made, an
acid hydrogel golem.”
“—Ha!?”
Those were not undeads.
The large amount of bones was floating inside a golem made of
translucent jelly-like substances.
Unlike the regular golem, he was not humanoid but a cube.
He spread his flexible body all the way into the passage and
performed cleaning by swallowing up every garbage without
exception.
A few days before regaining memories of my previous life, I had
seen prototypes of this in Onii-sama’s room.
It was an appearance like an apple jelly that moved.
I thought it was convenient, but I never thought that the real
golem was so huge……
As expected, Onii-sama……it was on a different scale……
“The inside is strong acid, but the outside is made of gel. It’s
said that it is a smart and safely designed golem that swallowed
only carcasses and the expensive materials are protected with
neutral ingredients.”
“Why!! Why does your older brother put such a thing inside the
labyrinth!?”
“Because of the cleaning……Because there were so many monsters’
dead bodies, I think that the golem cleaned up bone remains to
collect materials for alchemy.”
“Eei! That’s so confusing!!”
That was exactly right.
But, that was something you should tell Onii-sama directly, not
me.
Oops, I remembered important things.
“Ah, but, if we penetrated into him in this Pass Wall state, we
would be killed instantly by the strong acid without being stopped
by the outer shell.”
“Kuh, Edward Aurelia……!!”
“We may as well stop exploring for now.”
Edward-oniisama himself was a nice, gentle person.
But regarding alchemy he had no mercy and would never go easy on
other people, without that dangerous flaw he was a perfect
person.
If we kept going without noticing, would the white bones of me
and Klaus also float over there?
Wait a minute, I just noticed it now but were my death flags all
caused by Onii-sama?
The star crystal necklace.
A trap of death set in a storage box.
And now the acid golem and Pass Wall scroll combo.
“Is everything okay, Erica, your eyes seem dead……?”
“Oh, I’m alright, Klaus-sama.”
That was not good, I was about to get caught up in the darkness
of my mind.
I actually began to doubt whether the gentle Edward-oniisama was
trying to kill me.
Let’s put some more trust in other people, me.
Well, let’s keep going and stop the golem.
If it was an ordinary golem made of earth, stone or metal, it
would be difficult unless I was the maker.
However, if it was a slow-moving golem made from translucent
gel, I could stop it.
First of all, proceed to the front of the moving golem while
trembling, observed his interior while holding a lamp.
By using Glam Sight, I quickly discovered the core of the golem
– a shard engraved with activated spells – among the countless
bones.
With this, I should be able to stop the movement of the
golem.
Huh? Near the shard, there was something floating—
“Klaus-sama, there is something familiar floating in the body of
the golem.”
“What do you recognize?”
“That, over there, doesn’t it look like Ann-sama’s hair
pin?”
Klaus stared at a certain point about one-meter high.
What was floating there was a white material……It was probably an
object made of porcelain or bone.
The metal pin seemed to have melted, but the characteristic
petal-like decoration remained intact.
“……!!”
“Klaus-sama. It’s alright. Ann-sama shouldn’t be using the
scroll of Pass Wall.”
Klaus tightly clasped the heart part of his clothes.
He wore a painfully sad expression.
“Ann-sama is not inside. Surely, the golem was just picking up
what Ann-sama has dropped.”
“Oh, yeah…I didn’t see anything that seems like human remains. I
know that. I’m fine.”
That said, he looked much paler than when we thought we were
going to battle strong undeads.
He didn’t seem to be alright.
Although he was jumping to a wrong conclusion for certain, it
was impossible not to be affected when it had something to do with
the life and death of a blood relative.
Klaus was also a 10-years-old child, although he was getting
stronger.
The stress that was received by his mind was immeasurable.
I hoped this clue successfully leads us to Ann.
“The acid may splash, let’s step back a little.”
While retreating, I took a Wand of Mage Fingers from my leather
bag.
The Wand of Mage Fingers was made of yew.
At the end of the wand was an opal, and the handle was golden
with a pattern of spider’s nest and legs.
The core material was the foot of a giant
spider3.
A little magic circle in the rainbow color surrounded the five
fingers of my right hand like a ring after I shook the wand with my
left hand.
It was visible through the Glam Sight that the Mage Fingers made
with magical power were formed inside the golem.
I tried to open and close my right hand.
—Alright, it moved.
The Mage Fingers were opening and closing following the movement
of my right hand.
If I could reach the core, stopping the golem was a simple
work.
Moved the Mage Fingers and grabbed the shard.
From the characters of emet engraved there, I scraped
one character with Mage Fingers and changed it to
met.4
Soon the golem broke its shape like a boiling hot water and
melted into the ground.
“I see, the death of an automaton.”
Klaus said with a strange expression.
Certainly, if you lived in the East, it might be hard to see the
collapse of the golem.
Rainbow colored magic circle on my right hand immediately
gone.
That was because of my emphasis on scraping the characters on
the golem.
Because of this delicacy, Mage Fingers could only be used for
fine work.
The hundreds of beasts bones that were swallowed by the golem,
the core of the golem, and the hair ornament were falling.
I washed away the acid that adhered, and picked up the core of
the golem.
I had to return this to Onii-sama.
Klaus too, he picked up the hair ornament that seemed to be
Ann’s.
It was a pretty hair ornament that imitate the flowers of
eastern country with elaborate workmanship.
“I certainly remember this. The material also made of the horn
of a unicorn that lived in the Harvan’s forest. I have no doubt
that this is Ann’s.”
“Then, Ann-sama passed by this point, wasn’t she?”
However, as soon as we were ten meters beyond the turning point
we met a dead end.
Both of us swung the Wand of Urd Sight.
I could see Ann Harvan’s back walking towards the end of the
dead end.
She noticed something and expressed a startle, then she started
to run.
Maybe because she was in a hurry, Ann didn’t notice that her
hair ornament had fallen.
I was certain that she saw the bones masses inside the
golem.
A sigh of relief from Klaus was heard nearby.
“I have a feeling that we have neared Ann-sama, but the
labyrinth is changing.”
“It’s okay. Since we know the direction, we could use Pass
Wall.”
“Yes, Klaus-sama, let’s chase after her.”
There was some margin in the effective time of the first Pass
Wall scroll.
If we could join with Ann quickly, the three of us could escape
together with the second scroll.
At least, we should catch up with her soon before the encounter
with the sealed ancient evil spirit in the bottom layer!
We used Levitation, kicked off the air quietly and ran to the
direction of Ann.
1 暖簾 (noren) is short curtain hung at shop entrances,
or split curtain used to divide spaces in a house in Japan.
(source)
2 I don’t really understand this sentence:
テレポートに失敗するといしのなかに入ってしまうあのゲームの話なんて、言わずもがなだ。 but I think it’s
referring to a game called Wizardry, where there is a teleporter’s
trap which sent the party into a wall and caused instant death for
the party.
3 Giant spider (大蜘蛛) here is the alternative name for
Tsuchigumo, the name for a race of spider-like youkai in Japanese
folklore. (source)
4 In Jewish folklore, a golem is inscribed with
Hebrew words on its forehead, such as the word emet (אמת,
“truth” in Hebrew). The golem could then be deactivated by removing
the aleph (א) in emet, thus changing the inscription from
“truth” to “death” (met מת, meaning “dead”).
(source)
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles
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Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18/Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s13.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 12: Ruins of Visitor (part six)
Chapter 12: Ruins of Visitor (part six)
We went down the stairs following the past Ann that we saw using
Urd Sight.
This was the eighth layer.
How far would we go down?
We went down to the next layer as usual, starting from the
unchanging staircase.
However, the scene ahead was completely different from what we
had seen in Ruins of Visitor so far.
It was full of the scent of death.
When we arrived, dead bodies of unfamiliar creatures were
scattered about everywhere.
Blood covered beasts, chopped reptiles, crushed huge bugs.
Multipod monsters that had become charred, plenty of chopped
meat—
I felt dizzy.
It was fortunate that we had not been exposed to such bad odor,
as they had been subjected to simple preservation treatment.
There was no animal I recognized among the corpses, and it was
fortunate that all the other monsters had irregular shapes.
Otherwise, I might not have been able to suppress the
nausea.
Two filters, olfaction and vision, changed the scenery into an
impression like seeing a game or a realistic movie.
You were useful in unexpected places, game brain.
Those thoughts were making myself smile unexpectedly in spite of
the nauseating scene, keeping my mind from panicking.
“Uh……, are you alright, Erica?”
“I’m not alright, but I will be fine. What about
Klaus-sama?”
“I’m familiar with this kind of scenery. See, going to the same
places with my father, getting rid of monsters……”
“Your speech is becoming messy, Klaus-sama.”
It was nice to have a conversation with a friend.
Shocking videos, too, were surprisingly less damaging when you
watch them with other people.
But that meant the person who saw this alone was taking it
harder than us—
“Let’s hurry. Ann should be there.”
“Yes. I’m sure she would find it hard to feel fine.”
Most of the pillars were knocked down, large holes were opened
all over the walls.
Mechanism of huge gears to move the labyrinth was exposed, and
there were also damaged parts.
It was a trace where the power of terrible destruction was
demonstrated.
“This is why your older brother accumulated so much money.”
“These monsters were his opponents, huh.”
“Although I intended to be armed perfectly when we left the
simple base camp……I feel frightened when I think that all these
carcasses were living and moving.”
When Klaus said that, shivers also ran over my spine.
What if the group of Edward-oniisama had not wiped out these
monsters?
I didn’t know what would happen to the three of us.
The reason why the Ruins of Visitor was said to be the most
dangerous area in Aurelia territory was finally felt by our
skin.
How long had we been walking around?
Thanks to the creepy mountains of carcasses, I felt like it was
longer than the actual search time.
It felt like Edward-oniisama had guided us toward this
situation.
We stopped in front of a room.
At the entrance of the room, there was a message written by
Moonlight Gallnut Ink.
“‘Do not step on the stars. Otherwise’…huh? It
disappears?”
“It seems that there is a thick cloud right now. The first row
was ‘Do not step on the stars’, wasn’t it?”
“It seems that way, but…”
“I don’t know what will happen if we step on it, but I haven’t
seen the mark of stars yet in this layer, so I think we’re safe for
now.”
With Onii-sama’s note, this kind of warning was the first time,
so I felt a bit nervous.
When going in and out of the room, we might have to observe
carefully whether there was a mark of a star in the state of not
emitting light.
In addition, since the Levitation effect time was almost over,
we should swing the wand……
When I thought about such a thing, Klaus suddenly crouched on
the spot and started to investigate something.
“Klaus-sama, is it a mark of a star?”
“No, it’s not……This is the eastern spell card. Magic of
Alarm1 that narrowed the range and increased
accuracy……That’s how this spell works.”
Klaus suddenly stood up, stepping over the spot where the spell
was cast, and took a step into the room.
“……Ann! Are you there!?”
It was a room with relatively few traces of destruction.
A small girl was crouching and trembling at the other side of
Klaus.
She noticed us and raised her face.
Oh, good……we came in time……!
“……Klaus-oniisama? ……Erica-sama!?”
The lamp attached to the end of the staff illuminated the little
girl who looks like Klaus.
Ann Harvan’s face was ghastly pale with fatigue and fear.
I could see how hard this had been for her, just by looking at
her face.
There were traces of tears tracks on Ann’s cheeks.
But the tears that flowed down her cheeks now were different
from other tears.
Klaus ran to Ann and hugged her.
Ann also hugged Klaus back.
“Onii-sama……Onii-sama! ……Onii-sama, you idiot!”
“……It was bad. I was bad. Ann, I caused you a bitter
hardship.”
“I was lonely……I was really scared, you know……?”
“Aah, I’m really sorry.”
It was probably because Ann’s tension thread broke after she
joined Klaus.
She burst into tears with a loud voice.
Klaus gently stroked Ann’s head with a gentle face that I had
never seen before.
While being stroked, Ann returned it with a warm-hearted punch
like a spoiled child.
“I’m glad you’re okay……I was worried all the time.”
“Mou……mou……that’s my line. You’re bothering Erica-sama!”
“Aah, it’s all my fault. Ann, did you come to such dangerous
ruins in order to stop me?”
“—Eh?”
“……Hm?”
“Ah—, yes. That’s right. I tried to bring you back without
telling Otou-sama. Please appreciate it.”
“I see. You used your mind……”
Ann……your eyes were swimming……
That’s right. I felt that way from the very beginning.
If it was only to stop Klaus, she could stop him when he used
the sleeping magic.
As we talked about it during the dinner party, I wondered if her
interest in the ruins came to her at that time.
These people were really siblings.
Once she finished crying, Ann left Klaus.
She wiped away her tears, stretched her spine and faced me.
“Erica-sama, I’m sorry for having caused you trouble.”
“I’m glad, Ann-sama. You are okay, I’m really glad.”
“Erica-sama……”
I cleaned the face of Ann who had fallen apart again with a
beautiful handkerchief.
Her expression, it changed to the same smile as when I saw it in
Knot Garden.
With this, I was finally at ease.
(I had a bad feeling when we arrived at this layer, but it seems
to end in peace safely~~!!)
If the three of us could escape from this Ruins of Visitor, the
death flag would have been successfully avoided–!
After this, it was a simple task of simply using the Pass Wall
while rising up with Levitation, going through the transfer gate,
and then sleep.
Aah, there was also a sermon by Otou-sama before going to
bed…but compared with the fate of the death event that was waiting
six years in the future, it was overwhelmingly better!
Klaus took out the magical recovery potions and let her drink
it.
Ann also lost most of her magical power while searching the
ruins.
Rather, it was amazing that she kept her magical power so far by
herself.
The fact that her precision magic was better than wide area
magic, was compatible with the characteristics of the
labyrinth.
Now then, the excursion was an excursion until we went home.
It slipped through my mind now that we had joined with Ann, but
I didn’t know what would happen on our way home.
First of all, until Ann could move, we would rest in this
room—
“Hmm?”
Since a little while ago, I thought that the moving sounds of
the mechanical labyrinth would be done.
This sound was the sound that I heard frequently since entering
the Ruins of Visitor.
Therefore, I got used to it, and it was kept away from my
consciousness.
But, somehow, wasn’t it too long?
I looked back to the way where we came from.
There was no particular change.
However, there were ruins devastated by battle and many dead
bodies.
“What’s wrong, Erica?”
“No……somehow, I feel like there is something wrong……”
Far from stopping, the moving sounds were growing louder and
louder.
Somehow, I felt like it was getting closer.
“By the way, Onii-sama, Erica-sama – I have been worried for a
long time, but what is that?”
“‘That’?
“Yes. I think that it is Moonlight Gallnut Ink……”
“Ha!? Erica! Hide the lamp!”
Klaus looked at the direction pointed by Ann, shouting like in a
hurry.
He covered the lamp attached to his staff with the sleeve of his
robe.
I also imitated him and put the lamp in my bag.
—Indeed, in the outside world the clouds that were covering the
moon seemed to have cleared up.
A light bluish golden light shone on the whole floor of the
room.
We were standing above the starry sky drawn with Moonlight
Gallnut Ink.
In my mind, the warning message written at the entrance came to
my mind.
Do not step on the stars. Otherwise— Otherwise, what
would happen?
Fearfully, I shifted my shoes.
There was a mark of a star in the place where my shoes had
stepped on.
Uwah, I, I was too lucky!?
“Ann! Erica! Hands–!”
The crumbling sound of the stones obstructed Klaus’ cry.
The field of view tilted obliquely.
No, it was the floor of the labyrinth that was inclined.
I could see the hard stone floor swelling like a stormy sea.
Floor, wall, pillar, ceiling—-
The layer itself fell as it crumbled.
We were caught up in it and were thrown into the air.
(Uwah, this, in such a place? The three of us finally got
it……!)
Ann who was close to Klaus barely caught in his arms.
However, I was watching the reunion of the brother and sister
from a little distance away, so I was separated.
While protecting Ann, Klaus had hundreds of spell cards to shape
like an umbrella.
It was a Protective Circle to protect themselves from the
collapsed debris.
However, they were five meters or more away from me.
A trap of wide area magic interference – if that was the case,
the Protective Circle wouldn’t reach me!
Uwah, what should I do!
“Calm down, Erica! The Pass Wall is still in effect!”
……As he told me, that was correct.
If I looked carefully, Klaus ignored the rubbles that fell on
him, and the spell cards only repelled the rubbles that were likely
to hit Ann.
Accelerated gravel stones hit me and Klaus, but they all flew
through us.
What a handy magic!
Edward-oniisama, thank you for preparing the immature
scrolls!
The pit made by the collapse was deep and unexpectedly wide.
Although we should have fell down for quite some time, the
bottom of the hole still couldn’t be seen.
I thought that we would plunge into the gigantic Crevasse that
was made in the bedrocks when we passed through the labyrinth.
But, on the walls of the surroundings, there were cavities to
store the artificially made star crystal lamps.
It might be like a cathedral with a height of…several tens of
meters, no, over 100 meters.
It would be safer to drop slowly and reach the bottom.
“Klaus-sama! The Wand of Feather Falling!”
“Oh, I understand.”
I instructed Klaus briefly while pulling out the same wand.
Coordinated the timing to swing the wand with Klaus, I also used
the Feather Falling.
Beneath us, magic circles like white thin membranes were
deployed.
When jumping into it, the magic circle crumbled and disappeared
into a shape of a small feather.
Fluffy, a feeling like being wrapped in a soft air wall, and my
body was being held gently against the gravity.
The falling speed became very gentle.
The broken stones and the remnants of the mechanism of the
mechanical labyrinth overtook us.
After a while, the collapsed layer dropped to the bottom of the
hole and the sound of a rumble in the ground was echoing.
“Ann-sama! Are you alright?”
“Y-yes! Erica-sama! Thanks to Onii-sama, there are no
injuries!”
“Is Erica still alright?”
“Yes. Thank you for your patience.”
Klaus and Ann were reaching out their hands to reach me.
However, since we were more than five meters away from each
other, they wouldn’t reach me.
I took out a magical rope from the bag and ordered it.
“Stretch, like a snake! Tie, like a rope!
Like a snake that jumped over to its prey, the rope shrunk once
like a spring and then quickly jumped out.
Flying with a loose parabola form, the rope firmly wrapped
around the arm of Klaus.
“You’re really well prepared.”
“Because I am an alchemist of Aurelia.”
These were actually prepared by Onii-sama, though~.
When Klaus pulled the rope, I was drawn to his body.
With this, the three of us were finally be able to be
together.
“What the heck was that? Was that a trap?”
“A trap…Rather than that, it may be caused by a malfunctioning
trap.”
“Malfunctioning?”
“Perhaps deep damages accumulated in the mechanism of the trap,
the floor of the labyrinth, and the pillar itself, due to the
battle of Onii-sama and his friends.”
“Well, there certainly was a place where the broken gears are
exposed, the mechanical labyrinth tried to work, but the labyrinth
itself couldn’t bear that movement.”
Thinking about it, there were other strange things.
Dead bodies of those monsters were almost left untouched.
In the higher layer, there was a golem for material recovery
wandering around.
Maybe because he was aware that if the mechanical labyrinth
operated the layer might collapse, Onii-sama didn’t install a golem
in that layer.
But, Onii-sama……It was impossible to predict such a collapse
accident with only that hint.
“Ah……”
“What is it, Ann?”
“No, somewhat, it’s beautiful……”
The star crystals contained in the wall were shining pale blue
in response to our magical powers.
In such fantastic sight, we connected our hands, and fell down
slowly in a circle.
“Ann, you…”
“I’m sorry to say that at such a time.”
“No. It’s alright. I was just thinking about something
similar.”
That was true. Even if I care about it, I couldn’t help it.
If I thought about it, it was a wonderful experience if I
limited it to only the pit of these star crystals.
It sounded like a movie from Studio Ghibli2.
If there was my star crystal necklace, it might become even more
similar to that.
I was packing the star crystal lamp and hunting knife in my bag
too!
……But I hoped there was no someone with a colonel
position3.
Outside our anxiety and impression, the magic of Feather Falling
gently brought us to the depth of the ruins.
☆
After a while, we reached the bottom of the Ruins of
Visitor.
The feeling of the structures and decorations was similar to the
cathedral from the ancient times of Aurelia.
There was an arched entrance between the nave where we arrived
at and the inner court.
On both sides of the arch, if it was a cathedral above the
ground, there would be statues of the distinguished Duke of Aurelia
of the past adorned, here there were statues of a legendary
alchemist who was supposed to live in the era before we visited
this continent.
However, the familiarity ended there, there were numerous
differences with this cathedral in the labyrinth as deep as
this.
First of all, the ceiling was a few hundred meters from the
ruins that we had fallen from.
Naturally, there was no window.
On the wall of the side aisle where the windows should be,
constellations which were imparted by the alchemist, which couldn’t
be seen on this land, were engraved.
Mythological figures such as monsters, animals, and tools for
navigation.
They became reliefs, star crystals were embedded in the part
corresponding to the stars, and they were shining pale blue.
Well, it seemed that the carcasses of the monsters from the
labyrinth were scattered all around.
In addition to the carcasses, fragments of debris falling from
the eighth layer were also scattered around.
It was a force majeure, but it was a scene that my ancestors
were likely to get angry at.
When I had thought of such a thing, some of the magic circles
that surrounded the three of us turned into particles of light and
disappeared.
I caught a glimpse of the silver pocket watch and checked.
It seemed that the effect of Pass Wall had expired.
“I’m glad that the collapse has subsided, if so many big rocks
fall down, my Protective Circle might not be able to repel
them.”
“This seems to be an important place for the people of Aurelia
and I feel sorry if it was ruined by the falling rocks.”
“Yeah. It feels majestic. Erica, is this like a shrine?”
“Well, I guess that is probably the case…”
I looked around carefully.
In the inner palace of the cathedral – originally should be the
place where the altar of St. Brendan was – there was a star crystal
megalith instead.
There were several cracks running on the megalith due to the
collapse just now.
I looked at it and tilted my head.
“‘The God of the Visitor, the Altar of Bren’……, it is
supposed to be that……”
The materials were different, but this megalith was the altar of
the worshiped god of Aurelia itself.
The altar of Aurelia’s founder Bren, or St. Brendan was decided
as a megalith.
Originally in the West we worshiped the god named Bren, which
was the god of voyage, star, and alchemy.
However, when consolidating with the other three countries on
this continent, Aurelia also converted to the same religion in
order to align the states with each other.
The religion of the Union Kingdom was a monotheism derived from
the southern continent which was worshiped by Ignitia of the
South.
The religion of Ignitia was tolerant to the god of other
religions.
In this religion, as a part of the governance policy, we
incorporate the gods of other people as angels and saints.
It might be a familiar way of thinking with the Japanese’s
Daikokuten which was derived from Shiva4.
Thus Aurelia’s god Bren, which we still held faith today, became
a saint, St. Brendan, and was serving the god of Ignitia.
(If it’s the game setting, shouldn’t there be a sealed ancient
evil spirit? Although it seems as though the ancient gods are
enshrined……)
If I looked closely, there were letters engraved on the star
crystal megalith.
It was the letters of ancient Aurelia used in Aurelia-style
scrolls and runestones.
In this way, I could barely read them myself as someone who was
lacking in study.
“‘Crossing the ocean of the far away star, I will bury you
here together with the long journey. Sleep peacefully, our no name
friend. I hope that this abundant land will be your eternal
cradle–’”
When I read the poem that was engraved on the megalith, Klaus
and Ann took a prayer stance.
“Not an altar, maybe it’s a repository. For Aurelia’s people who
died before reaching this Ichthyes continent…”
“Somehow, it’s a sad inscription.”
“That’s right. But, I wonder why my ancestors buried this person
with the same rites as a god…”
I touched the inscription on the megalith with my finger without
a care.
Huh? Was it only my imagination?
The place where my finger touched carelessly became
corrupted—
—From far away, I heard a voice.
The air of the cathedral was trembling.
Sounds like treble and bass, string-like instruments and brass
instruments were played and heard.
It was a sad voice like the sounds of a child weeping, like a
sound of a whale singing.
Every time the voice echoed, the star crystal megalith turned
black from the inside and became corrupted.
The star crystal which was shining blue was now dyed in
black.
From the cracks on its surface, black water was overflowing.
It looked like the megalith was shedding tears.
“Eh……?”
The moist wind breathing the scent of tidal, shook my hair.
In response to the magical power rising in the cathedral, the
star crystals on the walls and ceiling strengthened their
lights.
Somehow, the overflowing black water covered the whole floor of
the cathedral.
The black wave washed my boots.
Klaus, Ann, and I were perplexed as we looked around us.
We all saw the spectacle that couldn’t be seen at the bottom of
the underground ruins.
There, the black sea which endlessly continued to the other side
of the horizon, and the sky full of stars was spreading out.
1 Magic of Alarm: Set an alarm against unwanted
intrusion. Until the spell ends, an alarm will alert you whenever a
tiny or larger creature touches or enters the warded area. You can
also designate creatures that won’t set off the alarm. (source)
2 In the raw it actually said ジ○リ but I know it was
referring to Studio Ghibli.
3 These three sentences are actually referring to the
movie Laputa: Castle in the Sky, a movie from Studio
Ghibli. In the movie, Sheeta had an aetherium crystal necklace. And
she was being chased by Colonel Muska for her necklace.
4 So, like the Japanese which incorporated Shiva as
their own god, Daikokuten, the religion of Ignitia incorporated
other countries’ god as angels and saints. So, while in Aurelia
Bren was a god, in the Union Kingdom he became St. Brendan, a
saint. (please correct me if I’m wrong about the Japanese god).
Edit: I think the author got her inspiration from Saint Brendan.
In the Legend of Saint Brendan, there was an island he landed on,
which turned out to be a giant sea creature named Jasconius. And
Jasconius, in Middle East, was also called as Zaratan. (Brendan, Jasconius)
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles
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Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18/Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s14.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 13: Megalithic Altar (part one)
Chapter 13: Megalithic Altar (part one)
A sad song echoed from far away.
On the walls and ceiling, it was a galaxy of crystals that shone
blue.
At our foot, the sea of black water that seeped out of the
megalith was far exceeding the volume of the megalith.
The sound of waves, the scent of the tide, the moist winds, the
homesickness were stealthily and smoothly entered my mind, trying
to make the illusion that this was not the underground but the sea
with starry sky.
They tried to make me feel the illusion that it was the
nostalgic ocean of the Visitor’s Clan.
I shook my head to shake off the delusions that had entered.
I had to be firm.
I had never travelled by a ship, and even before my incarnation
I had not taken a boat ride for more than five hours in total.
So there was nothing like a nostalgic ocean!
“Klaus-sama! Ann-sama! It’s kind of dangerous, escape now…”
In retrospect, the Harvan siblings were struggling and suffering
on the black sea.
Eh!? This had become a serious matter!?
“Sad, sad, sad……Aah, Onii-sama, Erica-sama……please help……my
head…”
“Kuh……Keep your mind firmly, Ann……! Concentrate on the
circulation of magical power, keep up your Magic Resist!”
Ann was trembling with a pale face while muttering
incoherently.
Klaus hugged her, and protected themselves by wrapping
themselves in the barrier of Protective Circle.
He pushed a magical recovery potion into Ann’s mouth and forced
her to drink it.
Klaus also drank a bottle of the potion, it seemed that he cast
some spells and the barriers for defense were piling up.
“Both of you! Are you okay?”
“Erica, you weren’t affected!?”
“Eh, yeah……Rather, I want you to tell me what happened……”
“Ah–…I see, Aurelia was dense against such magic.”
Well, surely Aurelia was dense against a kind of magic.
Besides, I was dubbed by Otou-sama as someone particularly dense
even among Aurelia’s people.
Right now it was useful, so wasn’t that good?
“I received a tremendously strong mental interference. It pushed
back nostalgia and loneliness, and finally it seemed like it was
going to capture my soul itself.”
“I thought that my heart will be hijacked and I will
disappear…”
“That was really dangerous.”
“You’re really dense……I didn’t think the day would come when I
would feel envious of Aurelia.”
Somehow, it didn’t feel like I was being praised.
Just to be sure, I moved inside Klaus’ Protective Circle.
Looking towards the megalith, its changes were advancing
further.
The lump of star crystals melted and became smaller as if it had
been eroded over a long period of time.
The carcasses of the monsters that had been scattered around in
the cathedral were also affected by the erosion by black water.
From the soft parts such as meat and internal organs, they were
melted along with their skins, scales, and bones……
“Huh? Klaus-sama, if we are in this liquid as we are right now,
aren’t we also in danger?”
“Don’t panic. It seems like a kind of magical effect that
doesn’t work for intelligent creatures.”
“It would have been dangerous if my mind was destroyed with the
mental interference ability just now.”
The Harvan’s siblings explained the information obtained by
using Glam Sight.
Well, I was jealous of the Harvan people like this.
But, I felt like I understand it.
Originally, Ann should have encountered the collapse of the
eighth layer alone.
Of course, she didn’t have the Wand of Feather Falling or even
Klaus’ Protective Circle.
Ann would expend defense magic by consuming the majority of her
magical power, but she also couldn’t completely prevent injury, and
then she would arrive at the cathedral in that condition.
What awaited her was the destructive mental interference magic
and black water that melted and took in what it touches.
If so, this water—
As if to affirm my answer, the black water that had spread
throughout the room was beginning to move.
Before long it dissolved completely, the black water was
gathering in the place where the star crystal megalith was, which
had become the size of the little finger.
The black water raised while swirling and it condensed.
“Eeeh–? Well, after all, is this the evil spirit—-!?”
“Evil spirit? Isn’t that the altar of a god? But, is there even
a liquid evil spirit? Onii-sama, Erica-sama?”
“I have never heard of it either. It is true that it’s similar
to a kind of spirit body – similar to the magical structure of a
wraith……”
Oops. I said it out loud.
Anyways, a wraith, that was an even more ridiculous talk.
He should be the spirit of an alchemist who was killed by his
compatriots because he made the Philosopher’s Stone.
Then, wasn’t that a ghost?
The mass of black water repeatedly expanded and contracted, and
gradually formed a shape.
The body that was liquid changed, with hard scales covered the
surface of its body.
Two twisted horns resembling a sheep or a goat.
Thick limbs that looked like logs with claws.
A large mountain-like body covered with shells and
protrusions.
It was similar to a dragon.
It was similar to a turtle.
A monster that had never been seen nor heard before in the
present world.
I wanted to say…I wanted to say even if I couldn’t communicate
it to anyone……
In that game where you trained monsters while trying to collect
a lot of them, if you painted black the combination of Lapras and
Sandslash, it will be like this1.
—-GRRRAAAAAHHHH!!!
The roar of the monster echoed in the cathedral.
The very loud voice that about to shatter our eardrums was
enough to make our legs that were about to escape frozen in
fear.
“What the heck is that!? You said it was an evil spirit, I can’t
judge whether that is alive or dead, but it’s a dragon or another
monster.”
“It was supposed to be an evil spirit…He was the legendary
alchemist named Zaratan who created the Philosopher’s Stone, who
led the Visitor’s Clan to this continent and found the gold
lodes.”
“Why is such great man became an evil spirit?”
“That was a human – however, because he was betrayed by
my ancestors, that grudge…”
A grudge?
I knew that if you had grudges you would become an evil spirit.
But would it become such an appearance only because of a
grudge?
I felt that the black monster looked at me, distorted its lips
and laughed.
No, it wasn’t my imagination.
The growls of the monster gradually changed to something akin to
human voice.
『This me……this, me, a human? An alchemist?
Kukukuku……everything is wrong……You……』
The monster’s massive build was trembling.
Was he crazy?
—No, this time it was different.
He was angry. He was angry, trembling with excitement that
couldn’t be suppressed.
『Did you forget, Aurelia!
I always remember……There have never been any forgotten
even after hundreds years of being frozen…!
Your smell and the pain you gave to me!!』
“Pain……? Then, after all, you are…”
『Oh, how nostalgic……
That face, that golden hair, those green
eyes……
—But yet, you……about me…after just a few hundred years,
did you forget!
This me!
……You guys killed, this me!!!』
My whole body was shocked as if it was struck by a hard object,
my sight was instantly distorted.
The air was forcibly pushed out from my lungs, and I was
confused due to my brain whose supply oxygen was cut off, as if I
was dragged into the pool for playful attacks.
When I noticed it, I was pressed against the stone floor by the
front leg of the black monstrous monster.
『Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha–!
This is just by stroking gently…this is how weak
creature humans are!
It seems that this has not changed even after as long as
hundreds of years has passed.』
“Guh……, tsu……, kah, haah……”
『Kukukukuku, don’t worry, golden madness.
This degree won’t kill you……I won’t kill you, this
easily……!
I will have you dead after letting you taste it……My
pain, my regret, my loneliness, my, my……
I believed in you guys! I thought you were my true
friends!
Well……well, you betrayed me!!』
Black droplets dribbled down from the empty eye sockets looking
into me.
Oh, no doubt about it.
It was different from the legend and game settings, but he
certainly was betrayed by Aurelia’s ancestors.
『Remember…….
Until the fire of your life disappears, just carve it in
that soul……Praise the devilish golden
madness!
Zaratan is not my name.
As you are a human race, I am a race called
Zaratan.
I am the only one Zaratan.
The rich Zaratan.
I am the one who lost the opportunity to carve my name
in the future for eternity……by you, the Aurelia
traitors!!!』
It was a monologue full of anger, yet full of suffering like
tearing out himself.
I nodded a little while being caught.
The emotion of his grudge had gently entered my mind somehow,
rather than the mental interference ability that appealed for
nostalgia and sorrow.
The moment my heart shook, a small explosion broke out in front
of me.
Because he was pressured by the impact, the restraint of Zaratan
relaxed.
At that moment, something wrapped around my body and I was
pulled with great power.
“I don’t know……I don’t know anything, Monster. Ignore us, and
don’t make up a story without permission.”
Before the exit of the inner sanctum, there were the Harvan
siblings.
Klaus set the Wand of Fire Bolt and pierced the black monster
with his staff, while Ann was grasping the opposite of the magical
rope wrapped around me.
That’s right, my bag……when I was pressed down by Zaratan, it was
falling down.
“Erica-sama! Do you have an injury!?”
“Nn……I’m alright. Thank you for your help, Ann-sama,
Klaus-sama.”
“I’m not okay.”
“Y-yes? What’s wrong, Klaus-sama?”
“If you die as you please, I’m not okay. Carve it deep into your
soul more than the words of that monster. Harvan’s men will protect
women in front of anything! So, don’t make a gaze as if resigning
yourself to such a thing!”
I had not. I had not made such an ominous gaze.
—I hadn’t done it, right?
It didn’t matter, and I was thankful that you would help me, but
this was a tough one.
“Onii-sama……Be more honest……”
“Ann! Don’t give unnecessary retort! Untie the rope as soon as
possible!”
Ann untied the rope while sighing, and she returned my bag and
wands to me.
Klaus’ sister was having trouble with him.
I wanted you to live firmly.
Ann had a bunch of spell cards and a staff, she stood diagonally
behind Klaus.
I also came to my senses and stood up, having the wand handed to
me by Ann at the ready.
Too late, Zaratan had recovered his stance and was walking
slowly towards us.
A burnt-like smell still remained in the air, but the monster’s
body didn’t even show traces of flame injuries.
Was it been hindered by the hard scales or did he already
regenerated?
『Nostalgic……I miss everything……
I remember. The magic of a crafty
alchemist.
I was surprised because it was a long time ago, but such
magic tricks will never pass.』
“I see. If that’s the case, next time you will be surprise by
Harvan’s exquisite skills. Don’t think that you will have the
opportunity to live and see my magic twice.”
『Ha–! What a proud little boy!
You do not seem to be an Aurelia. The smell is
different.
Were you lured by a small sum of money, or have you been
misled by the girl’s charm–
It is not something I knew either way, but in the end
you will be betrayed by Aurelia just like me.
I reject it. I have no grudge nor interest in
you.』
“Are you going to retreat? Move aside, Monster. Sooner or later,
if I don’t bring along this showy lady and my sister, you will
receive a good scolding from my father who is 100 times more
frightening than you.”
Klaus continued to look after us as he stood in an imposing
stance, he dismissed the huge monster he was facing in a grand
gesture.
Even though deep down he had to feel terribly frightened.
His strong point was his sense of responsibility, that didn’t
change even when he was very young.
(But—-)
I glanced fleetingly at the wand that was handed to me by
Ann.
The stick head was rock salt. The shaft was cherry tree.
There was a skin of boar wrapped around the handle.
Core material……the leg of a pig which was preserved.
Yes, this was the Wand of Grease.
I believed that it was an instruction from Klaus, but…what did
he want me to do with this wand?
The monster and Klaus was still glaring at each other in a tense
atmosphere.
In this situation of conflict, my confusion was deepened.
1 I don’t think I need to say this, but this is
referring to Pokemon. And seeing the cover of this series, Zaratan
does seem like a combination of Lapras and Sandslash. Something
like this but paint it black, all four legs have claws, and with
empty eye sockets:
Edit: Apparently, Zaratan is another reference to D&D.
Zaratan is the name of a giant turtle that looks like an island.
(source)
Thank you to Ultimatecalibur for telling me
this!
Also, I tried making Zaratan more menacing by bolding his speech
and giving the sense of hurt by writing some of the words in
italic. What do you think?
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles
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Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18/Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s15.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 14: Megalithic Altar (part two)
Chapter 14: Megalithic Altar (part two)
Klaus raised a cry while heading for the ancient black monster
Zaratan.
The lump of innumerable spell cards spread around him formed a
huge arm that couldn’t beat Zaratan’s.
I remembered children’s picture books. It was the same way that
small fishes gathered together and formed a bigger body.
But could we compete with this?
Zaratan swung his forearm.
Klaus concentrated the spell cards in front of him like a shield
and caught the thick forearm.
The moment when the claws of the monster touched it, a large
magic circle was deployed from the spell cards which organized in
order.
Something like a big spark was scattered between the two, and
the magical residue fluttered in the air like scales.
Klaus was pushed back about two meters and he was on his
knees.
He seemed to turn out unscathed somehow.
Oops, he looked over here with a triumphant look.
I understood that you were strong, but it was bad for my heart,
so stop that.
“What are you doing, Erica! Use the wand!”
“Yes! Klaus-sama!”
Oops, he stopped giving me a triumphant look and started to
glare.
Come to think of it, that’s right.
Klaus had incorporated almost all of the spell cards into the
expanded Protective Circle.
His means of attack now was only the Wand of Fire Bolt.
Besides, the leftover of that wand was about one shot left,
right?
No matter how old he was, Klaus couldn’t fight against an
obviously strong monster on a one-on-one basis.
I glanced at Ann.
She seemed to be hiding in the shadow of the wall separating the
main road leading to the altar and the inner sanctum.
I also copied Ann by jumping into the shadow of a pillar.
The battle between the mage Klaus and the huge monster Zaratan
continued.
Klaus was the one on the defensive.
Sometimes, he attacked with magical power by putting the spell
cards together.
However, there was not a single scar on the hard scales of the
monster.
I thought he was amazing at averting it, but his magical power
was not inexhaustible.
Besides, there was also a limit on the number of magical
recovery potions.
(I have to cover Klaus……!)
But, Grease didn’t cause damage.
I opened my bag for wands.
I didn’t assume there would be such situation like a boss fight,
so only few wands could be used for battle.
I should change the wands in my belt’s wand holder.
Lightning Bolt.
Magic Missiles.
Hold.
Gust.
Castling.
Levitation.
Could the Klaus-directed Grease be used for battle for once?
While switching over, I noticed a wand that could be used as a
trump card.
It was a Wand of Death.
The material was cypress. The stick head had twelve pyrope
garnets.
The surface of the wand was brilliantly polished and engraved
with words of the Aurelia-style condolences.
The core material was the final breath of a creature dying of
natural cause wrapped in a linen cloth soaked into myrrh.
Only creatures that were smaller than the creature used as the
core material of Wand of Death could be killed by it.
When it was used in a person-centered war, we used the last
breath of a horse.
This wand was for exploring the labyrinth.
As we had to fight against beasts and monsters, it should use
the last breath of big creatures.
Zaratan was about a little smaller than an elephant.
(The remaining charge is one. If the core material is an
elephant or a whale this wand will win. If it is a bear or a tiger,
let’s give up and run away.)
Klaus deflected the claws of Zaratan and took several steps
back.
At that timing, I jumped out of the shadow of the pillar.
“Over here, Monster!”
In response to my words, the monster stopped moving.
He looked at my figure and smiled with delight.
『A, A, A, A, A, Aurelia!!!』
The cry of deep grudge shook the air of the cathedral.
It should be frightening, but why was it comfortable for some
reason.
The monster cut off his eyes completely from Klaus, turned
towards me and put strength on his hind legs.
Targeting that moment, I swung the wand.
A dark, unobtrusive magic circle composed of crimson and black
floated at the tip of the wand.
From there, ill-boding shadows that looked like three distorted
hands stretched towards the huge monster.
The long black hands of death caressed him gently.
『I remember……I remember this magic, you cowardly
dwarf!
Stupid child.
Bigger creature than this me, such being doesn’t exist
anywhere in this world!
I am this land……I carried you vagabond dwarfs crossed
the ocean, I am this city itself!』
……Formerly city sized!? Then even a whale was impossible!
The huge monster Zaratan kicked the ground and rushed at a speed
that didn’t match his huge build.
I threw away the Wand of Death and pulled out the Wand of
Hold.
(Not good! I will not make it!)
I instinctively curled myself and closed my eyes.
A crashing sound like a car colliding with thick walls of
concrete shook my eardrums.
Klaus protected me and stood between me and the monster.
He added several hundreds of spell cards to the Protective
Circle to take on the attack of Zaratan.
“Klaus-sama!”
“Erica! You, why did you attack……aah, no, was my explanation
insufficient?”
“Eeh? I apologize, was that not good?”
“If you attack that beast, then my attack to distract him would
be wasted, right?”
Did you manage aggro in a net game, Klaus?
A person with high defense would attract attacks and other
people would give a degree of aid enough not to pose a threat.
So that was why you tried to get me to aid you with Grease.
But, if someone didn’t make a decisive attack, then wouldn’t
Klaus who was attracting the aggro be in danger?
Because the one who could easily handle the high-level healing
magic was the people of Lucanrant.
“I still have Hold and Lightning Bolt. It would be impossible to
defeat him, but let’s make a gap and run away.”
“I appreciate your thought but keep the offensive wands. The
moment when simultaneous attack is required, when that time
comes……”
Zaratan’s claws hit the Protective Circle.
The continuous attacks loosened the spell cards’ solidarity,
nearly half of them were bounced off.
From the rip of the Protective Circle, the smile of Zaratan
could be seen.
『Ku, ku, ku, ku, have you finished the cheap
play1?』
“Erica! Grease!”
“Yes, Klaus-sama.”
Klaus was holding down the monster using half of the spell
cards.
In that moment, I pulled out the Wand of Grease.
Was Grease effective for this situation?
I only had to trust Klaus.
Shaking the Wand of Grease, white magic sphere was expanding
from the stick head.
Magical power was transformed into a substance and expanded the
magic sphere to the size of a basketball, giving form to a big
bubble of grease.
“Hit it!”
I waved the wand and threw the grease bubble toward Zaratan.
The Grease flew slowly while fluctuating up and down.
When the grease bubble came close to the tip of his nose,
Zaratan put on a bored expression.
It was avoided easily.
If our opponent was a human that wore an armor, generally
speaking it would be impossible to hit the monster which jumped
around as he pleases.
Klaus’ Protective Circle of spell cards were blown off.
“Klaus-sama……!?”
Klaus rolled to the other side of the room as he was.
And, with slow gait as if enjoying the situation himself,
Zaratan came closer to me.
“……Kuh!”
『It was a useless small workmanship, dwarf.
That’s right, you are always, always nothing
but tricks.
Everything is nostalgic……Even when I killed
you.
That night when we reached this continent, to me who was
exhausted and sleeping, you guys…!
Shameless golden madness! Even though I beat and killed
countless number of offenders, you still wanted the
Philosopher’s Stone that much!?』
“Is it the Philosopher’s Stone?”
The alchemists’ of Aurelia family’s wishes.
Turn base metal into gold – that was, a miracle stone that
transformed everything into the desired substance.
In the game setting, the reason why the alchemist Zaratan was
killed was to take away the Philosopher’s Stone from him.
『Do you care about the Philosopher’s Stone?
Indeed, you are also a descendant of Aurelia the Greedy.
No wonder.
However, it is useless.
Those shallow thoughts of yours, everything,
is useless!
The Philosopher’s Stone, my soul itself—whether you rip
open my belly, gouge my entrails, you won’t find
it!』
I understood.
It was an overly optimistic idea that I could break my death
flag if I saved Ann.
Zaratan – he would never forgive me or my family.
His hatred and grudge towards the people of Aurelia.
His death was a sin that all people of Aurelia owed.
As long as we, the alchemist citizen of Aurelia, sought out
golden sacrament, that sin would keep on going.
『Throw away the wand, daughter of Aurelia.
I know all of your magic. You cannot kill me even if you
dropped stars2.
Well, what will you do?
You look like that girl who grew up with
me.
If you are the only one, I am willing to give you
mercy.
However……that is only if you betrayed the other two and
kill them with your hands!
Like what your ancestors did to
me!!』
The monster opened his big mouth widely that it seemed to be
torn apart, baring off each of his sharp fangs in a grotesque
smile.
“I will not do such a thing!!”
I raised a loud voice to the bad sensation.
What a pitch black fate trade.
『Isn’t that riiiiiiiiiiight!?
You are just a liar who talks big, you said you will not
kill other humans, huuuuuuhhhh!?
So, this is my first choice.
The girl hiding theeeeere!
If you left the daughter of Aurelia and ran away, I will
save you and the boy!
Anyway this girl, just like her ancestors, she’s just a
cute low-life woman.
Either way, even if you abandon her, your heart won’t
feel pain, right?』
Zaratan stretched out his hands with an exaggerated gesture like
a stage actor and looked at Ann who was hiding.
That was such a low act, to give choices like that to a little
girl.
I glared at the monster.
The monster accepted my enmity and looked like he was having fun
from the bottom of his heart.
“Don’t seduce other people’s sister without permission.”
Along with Klaus’ voice, there was a sound of the wind
blows.
Spell cards surrounded both knee joints of the monster, making
threefold of rings.
It was a magic of Bind which fixed the target at one point of
place.
Zaratan was bound by a threefold Bind, he fell forward as his
feet was fixed in place.
“Anything you said, you have to defeat me first.”
『Brat, so you can still move. Don’t throw away the life
that I generously overlooked.』
“Rather than throwing away my pride, I would rather throw away
my life. I will not abandon those I had decided to protect.”
Klaus walked slowly, pouring magical power into the spell that
formed Bind from his staff.
His clothes were torn in the middle, bruises and abrasion had
formed.
He seemed to have wounds all over his body, but it was a relief
that there was no haemorrhage or broken bones.
Klaus continued after spitting some saliva mixed with blood.
“…But this guy really has an intolerably gaudy face.”
That was an unnecessary comment.
I wondered if it was really a comment he had to say now.
Why did he even have to diss his face, this guy.
『It’s useless, brat. You cannot penetrate my armor with
your magic. It is the same with that Aurelia’s Fire Bolt
wand.』
“Don’t underestimate the magic of Harvan, Monster.”
『No matter how different the blood flowing in each human
is, everyone is equally stupid.
Will you defend Aurelia three times and hinder my
revenge?
Besides, you will probably fasten a constraint on
me.
Please realize how charitable I was, after I turn
you into a second lump of meat that couldn’t
see!』
Zaratan clenched his fists and roared with a terrible voice.
When he put strength into his whole body, the body that looks
like steel or rock cracked, his large biceps distorted as if
swelling out.
It was almost as though his armor couldn’t bear the pressure
from the inside.
Between the broken scales and shells, body fluids like black sea
water oozed out and hardened again.
Repeating that, the monster expanded rapidly.
It seemed that he was trying to regain his original form.
Zaratan’s legs became twice thicker than the Bind around his
knee joints.
Even on the points where the Bind was constraining him, the
spell cards themselves were gradually pushed back by the force from
the inside.
The magic circle that formed the spell became distorted.
From the magic of Bind which had been torn away, magical power
was leaking as fine particles of light.
“Klaus-sama, the Bind technique!”
“Although this is still too early……damn it! It can’t be
helped!”
Klaus manipulated the spell cards by swinging his staff to every
direction.
Countless number of spell cards stuck to Zaratan’s exterior like
a shroud as if concealing him.
“If just Fire Bolt doesn’t work, what about Fire Bolt with
increased firepower using Grease!”
If I looked closely, something like oil was sticking on the
spell cards that covered Zaratan.
Apparently Klaus seemed to have secretly used the spell cards to
recover the Grease which was avoided before.
A magic of Fire Bolt was fired from the wand that Klaus held
towards the grease-covered monster.
Flame spread in a fan shape at once and enveloped Zaratan.
The flammable grease burst into flames in a blink of an eye and
a blazing column several times the height of Zaratan rose up.
The blistering flame illuminated the dark labyrinth just like
daylight.
“……Did we do it?”
Deep laughter could be heard as if responding to Klaus’
muttering.
『What, brat. Saying something with that kind of
boldness, but it was only to this degree?
With such pitiful fire, you cannot even kill
bugs.』
With terrible momentum, Zaratan walked over here calmly while
being covered in a blazing fire.
The Bind seemed already broken.
The monster spread his enlarged arms, and slowly brought his
hands together in front of him.
Following the movements of his hands, the flames that were
covering him were getting smaller as if being sucked in between his
palms.
By the time Zaratan had completely brought his hands together,
the flame had completely disappeared.
“Damn it! Bind him again……”
『I won’t receive the same technique
twiceeee!』
Zaratan shortened the distance between us step by step, while
the spell cards were taking form of a battle formation before
dispersing.
Somehow, his power was increasing in proportion to the
enlargement of his body, to say nothing of his motivation.
It was obvious that the next blow might be too much for
Klaus.
In order to prevent Zaratan, I used the Wand of Lightning
Bolt.
The moment the Lightning Bolt shot from the wand penetrated
Zaratan, a torrent of flame similar to Fire Bolt shot from the
mouth of the monster.
Flames and lightning cancelled each other.
After the two magical effects cleared away, the uninjured
Zaratan stood.
“Magic? Why……”
“What……his ability, perhaps……”
『It is no use noticing that now!
Both of you, get crushed and
dieeee!!!』
Klaus hurriedly tried to reinstate the Protective Circle, but it
was unlikely to be in time.
I pulled out the Wand of Hold.
But, my hand that was wearing the alchemists’ leather glove was
blocked by the Wand of Lightning Bolt.
Again, this wouldn’t make it in time.
On top of us, a huge arm that looked like a bunch of logs was
raised overhead.
In front of me, the back of Klaus who was trying to spread his
arms and protect me appeared suddenly.
—-A beam of light crossed my field of vision.
The thin intense light cast from behind us hit Zaratan’s left
knee.
The thick monster scales break and penetrated to the other
side.
After a moment, a pale flame exploded at the place where the
hole was drilled by light, and the knee joint was exploding from
the inside.
Zaratan who was trying to step into our space, lost one of his
legs and broke his balance, fell on the spot and propped himself up
with both hands.
“Onii-sama! Erica-sama! Please escape!”
“Ann, well done!”
Klaus pulled my hand and headed for the exit of the inner
sanctum.
With her staff at ready, Ann who had sweats drenched her
forehead was waiting there.
In exchange for us, a bottle was thrown by Ann and flew towards
Zaratan.
That was, a bottle of Obscuring Mist.
The glass bottle hit the monster and broke down into pieces and
spread a thick, milky white fog.
The fog thickened rapidly and covered the entire inner sanctum
of the cathedral.
“Ann, you’re late. We were nearly dead.”
“I don’t even have the experience of combat training. Even if it
was only that kind of attack, it was a good performance, wasn’t
it?”
“I consumed too much magical power. A bit later and I would have
died.”
“Mou! Onii-sama, please move your legs and not your mouth!”
I just didn’t understand the situation.
I listened to the Harvan’s siblings banter and ran with full
power anyway.
Anyway, the siblings who seemed to get along well with each
other to be able to banter were refreshing.
I was a single child in my past life and I had never fought with
Edward-oniisama because we were past being chummy with each
other.
“Onii-sama. At least give an explanation, was it not good?”
“Eeh!? You didn’t say anything to Ann-sama!?”
“Aah, my bad. But, I didn’t have time to do that…”
“Simply tell Erica-sama to escape would be enough! When
Onii-sama faced that monster, I remembered that I felt
conflicted.”
“Ann, so it was to that extent……”
“Rather, I was anxious because Klaus-sama was just like
usual.”
“You guys, just what do you think about me.”
While running, Ann and I averted our eyes away from Klaus.
“Klaus-sama is……brimming with self-challenging spirit, an
embodiment of self-confidence……”
“Onii-sama is courageous, courageous, and very courageous……”
“You guys……”
A roar resounded in the background.
Looking back, the bulkhead separating the inner court and the
nave had collapsed.
A huge shadow appeared in ocher-colored haze mixed with dust and
Obscuring Mist.
A monster popped out of the haze.
Zaratan who lost one leg was running with three legs with both
arms on the ground, and launched his assault.
“That guy, he can move already!? Both of you, hurry up!”
We went through the nave and jumped into a narrow passage.
In no time, the passage trembled along with the sound of a
collision.
Dust filled the narrow passage.
Zaratan’s body couldn’t pass through the entrance of the passage
and seemed to have crashed into the wall.
Something huge had stretched from the fallen entrance.
Claws that looked like an execution axe brushed against the tip
of my nose.
“Uwah!?”
“Erica, the back! Advance to the back!”
“Erica-sama, quickly go to the place where the monster’s arm
wouldn’t reach!”
Klaus and Ann pulled me out of terror.
The claws of Zaratan were swinging in every direction before our
eyes.
The monster was scratching the floor and the walls near the
entrance of the passage many times over trying to seize us.
Zaratan who understood that we were out of reach were
withdrawing his hand and looked into this passage by his eye
alone.
With eyes like a hollow and dark cave.
『…Grudge…grudge, grudge, grudge, grudge, grudge, grudge,
grudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudge——-
The cowardly Aurelia……Those damn kids who are standing
by Aurelia……
Both are absolutely unforgivable.
I will slowly torture you to death, until you
indeed begging for death……』
When Zaratan drew back after saying so, he began to destroyed
the walls near the entrance of the passage with his claws.
The stones which were supposed to be hard, were gently scooped
out as if they were made of styrofoam or something.
It was an amazing skill.
“Hii!?”
“Kyaaa!?”
“L-let’s go! Talk later! Now let’s just escape somehow!”
I thought that I would die this time.
I was thinking of stopping because of a series of shocking
situations, but I continued to advance my feet in a hurried
manner.
1 三文芝居 (sanmon shibai): a low-level play not worth
enough to pay quarrel money. It is used as an expression pointing
to behaviors such as behind-the-scenes behaviors.
2 ‘Even if you dropped stars’ here referring to the
Wand of Sailor’s Song, where it was said that it could drop stars
in exchange for the user’s life.
About the alchemists’ leather gloves, if you don’t remember,
Erica gave one to Klaus, so they both each wear one (not a pair,
but one). It seems that the gloves are to alleviate the reaction
from the wands. Up to this chapter, there is still no explanation
about what kind of reaction the wands give to the user. But it
seems that they couldn’t use wands with the hand that doesn’t wear
the glove.
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles
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Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18/Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s16.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 15: Megalithic Altar (part three)
Chapter 15: Megalithic Altar (part three)
As we escaped until a certain distance, the sound of destruction
by Zaratan couldn’t be heard anymore from behind us.
Turning from the branch point many times, it was a place that
was of a considerable distance from the cathedral.
We were totally lost, but in the end there was no problem
because we planned to escape with Pass Wall and Levitation.
……There was no problem, right?
“In short, we had to earn more time.”
After a little while of quietness, Klaus broke the ice and
immediately got to the point.
“When a big monster is your opponent, in many cases you couldn’t
escape because of its legs’ length and strength. No matter how
stupid they seem to be, you cannot underestimate them.”
“He certainly was rushing at an extremely high speed, that’s why
we hurriedly created some distance from him…”
“Oh, yeah. It’s dangerous to face that monster in a place where
there is no shielding even if we have some distance.”
“That speed was unexpected since he was in the state where he
lost one of his legs, Klaus-sama.”
The rush at that time was really scary.
I felt a sudden fear, I knew that my body had solidified.
“But, why did you let Ann-sama attack……you told me not to attack
him.”
“That couldn’t be helped.”
“Because Erica-sama, concentrating magical powers is my special
quality.”
Ann talked with her hand raised to her chest in a windshield
style.
By the way, I heard that personal qualities were heavily
involved with the mages of Harvan.
“Ann can release a magic of higher power than ordinary mages
against the amount of magical power used.”
“It takes time to do so, and I’m not good at wide area
magic.”
“Because she is also good at precision manipulation, she’s
perfect for range attacks.”
“I see……You’re amazing even though you’re still very young,
Ann-sama.”
His sister Ann was good at concentrating her magical power
instead of using wide area magic.
It was a focused, high-density precision magic, so it could have
penetrated Zaratan’s body which couldn’t be penetrated by Aurelia’s
wands or Klaus’ spell cards.
“That’s why, usually I wouldn’t use large firepower magic like
Scorching Ray, instead used beginner offensive magic,
Onii-sama.”
“Isn’t it seriously better than shooting low-power magic and
failed to penetrate the shell?”
“Huh? Then why didn’t Klaus-sama attack with Scorching Ray?”
Klaus was a man who would become a versatile mage.
Then, shouldn’t he be able to use any type of magic to some
extent?
“My hands were full with keeping up the Protective Circle. I
couldn’t take on the pressure of that monster’s power unless I
expanded the spell cards to the maximum.”
“I see……”
“By the way, Onii-sama. Before long, the Protective Circle would
dispel, right? Let’s hurry and use the Pass Wall to escape.”
“That’s right……There are things I’m concerned about. Both of you
had seen it too, right? The ability of that monster.”
“Yes, Onii-sama.”
“Eh? What ability, Klaus-sama, Ann-sama?”
I had known about the monster’s character, but I didn’t know the
details of his ability.
What was it?
“You didn’t use the Glam Sight, huh. That said, the effect time
of Glam Sight that I used from the wand was short.”
“Yes, during battle I didn’t have time to redo the Wand of Glam
Sight.”
“Do you know that magic didn’t work on that monster?”
“Yes, I can deduce that much.”
“When the magic was erased, it seemed that his ability in
controlling space slightly came into play. Since then I was
suspicious, but when that monster blew fire, that suspicion turned
into certainty when I saw that the Fire Bolt’s creator was Edward
Aurelia.”
That flame, was a magic made by my older brother?
I thought that it certainly looked like Fire Bolt, but
perhaps—
“Is it a monster that absorbs and reflects magic……?”
“Aah. I guess that’s the case.”
What a pesky ability.
It was hard enough that his defense was strong, and his power
was strong, and now in addition that he was strong, magic didn’t
work on him.
No, then, that attack after all was peculiar since it wasn’t
absorbed.
“Why was Ann-sama’s Scorching Ray not reflected?”
“Probably because it isn’t an ability that activated
automatically. He responds to attack manually by absorbing and
reflecting, so it was probably an effective surprise attack.”
“It’s the same as Aurelia’s alchemists, huh. It seems to be a
monster of ancient Aurelia.”
That means, that kind of shooting wouldn’t work for that monster
the second time.
Based on the assumption that he would be shot, next time he
would absorb the shooting magic itself.
Terrible.
“But Klaus-sama. So why did you postpone in using the Pass
Wall?”
“The moment we touch that monster in the Pass Wall state, we may
burn up and die.”
“Eh……!?”
“That monster has absorbed one more Fire Bolt. In other words,
there is a possibility that flames are burning inside of him.”
I see, the inside was the same as the acid hydrogel golem.
After passing through the object that was saving the flames
inside of him, we would definitely burn to death.
It was extremely dangerous.
“What should we do, Klaus-sama?”
“I will put up a Protective Circle and prevent contact with the
monster. Meanwhile, Ann, you will cast the Pass Wall on
everyone.”
Klaus prevented contact with the monster, so that we wouldn’t
pass through the monster’s body when we used the Pass Wall even in
the unlikely event.
If we got to that point, we might not be able to successfully
escape next time.
“……What about me?”
“Only mages can use the Harvan’s scrolls.”
“I’m sorry, Ann-sama, Klaus-sama……”
“N-no! Erica-sama doesn’t need to apologize.”
I was full of guilty feelings since I wasn’t useful.
Was there anything that I can do?
“First, let’s find a small room of reasonable size, or a
corridor that leads to dead end. Because it’s impossible to protect
an entire area against that monster.”
“But Onii-sama, if that monster approached us after turning back
into his liquid form, doesn’t that mean he could attack us from
anywhere?”
“No, he seems to need a space of a certain size to create the
outer shell. If I cast a Protective Circle that specialized to the
opposing body throughout the room, he wouldn’t be able to enter the
room from the cracks between the stones.”
Somehow the visual was kind of like a Japanese horror or a house
with an evil spirit that would come out.
Speaking of which, this was the ruins where an evil
spirit came out……
When I was proceeding alone in this ruins, I thought that ghosts
were scary, but the fear I felt right now was completely different
from that time.
The evil spirit was not the exaggerated type either, since it
was a monster.
I seemed to be in a panic movie1 right now.
“Anyway, why is it so detailed, have you grasped the power of
Zaratan, Klaus-sama?”
“Huh? Onii-sama, you don’t understand that much from the Glam
Sight?”
“Oh, in fact, I tried to seal a part of that monster.”
Klaus showed a bottle to us.
It was a bottle of magical recovery potion, but inside was a
dubious-looking black liquid.
This, was this a part of that monster……?
“Klaus-sama, when did you get such things……”
“Onii-sama……”
“It was when Ann blew off the monster’s leg. The content of that
monster have a composition similar to a wraith. I thought that the
seal magic that works for a wraith would be effective.”
“You have that much free time, huh, Onii-sama……”
You had a considerable nerve to touch that thing, Klaus.
I didn’t want to touch it for a while. No, I didn’t want to ever
touch it.
Even the bottle was a bit much.
“The shell of that monster seems to have been made by
transforming the carcasses of the monsters that fell from the
eighth layer. Seal didn’t work on the outer shell.”
“That’s why it’s only when he was in his liquid state that you
can seal him in the bottle, huh.”
“That’s right. If we plan to seal him again, we need to destroy
all of the outer shells once and for all. This information must be
conveyed to the people of Aurelia.”
With Zaratan unleashed, not only us but other citizen of Aurelia
would be attacked.
Even if we could escape from here safely, the battle would
continue.
Especially the Duke of Aurelia, who was the lord, would fight at
the forefront.
Ann glared at her older brother with sharp eyes.
“Hey, Onii-sama. What do you think about the reason why that
monster could track us since forever?”
“Ah, that is……”
Did he sense where a part of him was and followed it with
purpose?
Or it might be that the part was attracting the main body.
Because of how angry Zaratan was, I thought that it was strange
that he would follow us forever even when he couldn’t see us.
“Onii-sama! Please hold it firmly! If it cracks it will be a
catastrophe!”
“Erica…what should I do?”
“Why did you ask me! Please don’t pass it to me because it’s
impossible!”
I was given the small bottle filled with the monster’s part and
I truly thought that I should have never come to this Ruins of
Visitor.
☆
As I stood at a branch point, I shook the Wand of Mage
Finger.
The invisible fingers grasped the bottle that sealed a part of
Zaratan, floated and went to a dark passage smoothly.
Ann’s Alarm was also set on the bottle.
If the monster picked it up, the bell that she held would emit a
sound.
“With this, if we move on to another passage, we will earn more
time.”
“As expected your craftiness function well, Erica. Your mind and
your face are an equal.”
This guy……
There were some things, do not despair.
“Oh my, I’m sorry that my mind and my face are bad.”
“N-no, it’s different Erica, what I mean was……”
“Onii-sama, Erica-sama, there is no meaning in earning time if
we don’t get out of here quickly.”
Ann kicked off Klaus’ back and urged him forward.
I would like for the sister to train her older brother more.
“Even so, Onii-sama, Erica-sama, the sense of direction has
become ambiguous.”
“It can be said even if there is little to no magical power
consumption of the guidepost Cantrip2, there is still
the magical power trap in this layer. So yeah, I can’t use it
frequently.”
Klaus and Ann’s complexions were dark with fatigue.
As expected, this ruins might be too harsh for mages.
“I am worried that we will go around and return to the monster.
What should we do in that case, Klaus-sama?”
“……It’s alright. The passage is narrow. If that monster was
approaching, you can tell by the sound of his claws digging the
wall.”
“Before the monster came to us, he is supposed to go towards the
bottle first. We are safe until the Alarm rings, Erica-sama.”
At that moment, there was a loud sound that seemed to make the
ground trembled.
We stood up reflexively.
However, I immediately noticed it. This was not the sound of
Zaratan digging.
Squeaking sound of gears, the sound of rubbing stones.
“This is the sound of the mechanical labyrinth, isn’t it? I
thought it was that monster.”
“Ah.”
“That said, the mechanical labyrinth has not changed as usually
it would, Erica-sama.”
The mechanical labyrinth kept moving even after we threw off
Zaratan.
This mechanism was kind of annoying, so it sounded somewhat
ominous.
At the end of the passage we saw something.
On the wall on the right side of the end of the passage, there
was an entrance to a room closed with an iron door.
“I hope it’s a small room this time.”
“Let’s open it first, Onii-sama.”
Klaus opened the door, which seemed to be a large room.
Should we search again?
However, the last branch point was the place where I put the
bottle for Zaratan to earn us time.
If we turned back, that strategy would be wasted.
I hope there was another entrance in this room.
Huh?
But as we entered the room, it seemed like another room I saw
today.
“Wait! It’s bad here……Erica, Ann, get out of this room
quick–”
I finally understood what Klaus said.
Decorative walls and pillars, countless of rubbles scattered
around, ceiling which had crashed down.
This was the cathedral where Zaratan was sealed – we were on its
side entrance.
At the moment we tried to retreat, something fell down before
the entrance where we entered.
Black rigid scales, empty orbits like the abyss, sharp nails
that could tear rocks easily like butter.
With his hind leg that was supposed to have been destroyed
already regenerated, Zaratan in his full condition was there.
Did he climb the wall and ambush us?
Even though he had such a huge body, somehow he was really agile
and shrewd.
『I am tired of waiting, humans.』
“What! No way, this must be a coincidence!”
『It is not a coincidence, I am the one who brought you
here.
I used the mechanism of the changing
labyrinth.
This is the place where my body was. I understand the
construction most intimately.』
Looking at the direction shown by Zaratan, the walls and the
others were destroyed, and there were places where the gears inside
were exposed.
Did he directly interfere with the gears and manipulate our
moving directions?
“Onii-sama, what about the scroll of Scorching Ray?”
“I don’t have another one. Before that, that monster would
reflect whatever other magic we use.”
“Then, what should we do……”
“I don’t know……, we have come this far……”
After running away so far, we were now like cornered rats.
All of our escape paths were blocked for sure.
“Ann, Erica! His assault is dangerous! Disperse and hide in the
shadow!”
Klaus scattered all his remaining spell cards and formed the
Protective Circle to the maximum.
With little hesitation, he rushed towards the monster.
Ann and I dispersed in two directions and hid in the shadows of
thick columns as he told us to.
However, as the huge monster sent Klaus flying with a blow, the
air froze.
The monster’s arms had become even thicker, longer, and brutally
distorted than how they were seen last time.
『I also got tired of playing with brats like
you.
Well, how should I kill you?
Hey, Golden Madness!?
That’s right, daughter of Aurelia.
First of all, let’s kill people other than you, in front
of you, for you.』
Zaratan declared with a voice full of pleasure while looking at
me.
“What did you say!?”
『Fu, ha, ha, ha, ha,
haaa……wonderful.
Your pain is my bliss!
Now, I will season your soul with deep despair and
loneliness!
Your soul and your tempting flesh and blood offering,
dedicate them to me!』
As he seemed happy, as if singing, the monster raised a
shriek-like sound.
『First of all, the smallest, most innocent and the
strongest among you.
Who gave me the deepest wound—
Your hope, I will cut it off!』
Zaratan crushed the pillar where Ann was hiding by swinging his
two arms.
She was freezing from fear, but she was still trying to fight
without giving up by shaking the staff towards the monster.
“Come, Monster! The one you’re really scared of is not Ann but
me, right? If you want to kill my sister, fight me first!”
Klaus stood up with body full of wounds.
Along with the provocation, he attacked with spell cards, but
Zaratan didn’t pay it any mind.
『Kuhahahahahaha! I can feel it, little
girl!
The smell of your noble and strong soul!
Your soul seems to be great next to the daughter of
Aurelia’s!』
The space in front of Zaratan became slightly distorted.
It was a magical phenomenon similar to spatial manipulation.
From there came something like a vast black shadow.
(He’s going to unleash the magic that would take in Ann’s
body!)
More than that, what Zaratan chose was the magic of Death.
If he struck against the small Ann with this, it would certainly
bring death.
“Stop it—–!!”
“Kya!”
Was Ann going to be killed?
I had come so far, but couldn’t escape from the fate of her
death!
In my mind, the memories of Ann would be gone.
I didn’t want that.
Did such thing have to happen?
Would such a small girl, who died before anyone else, forgive
such unreasonableness?
At that moment, I moved.
Without thinking of the consequences, I waved the Wand of
Castling3.
1 Panic movie or a disaster film is a genre of movies
depicting people who confront sudden abnormal situations such as
disasters and catastrophes.
2 Cantrip: is a category of spells that can be cast
at will, without using magical power and without having to prepare
in advance. Repeated practice has fixed the spells in the caster’s
mind and infused the caster with the magic needed to produce the
effect over and over. (source)
3 Wand of Castling: If you forget, this wand can
trade the user’s place with the target, just like a move in chess
where the King was swapped with one of the Rook. (I edited the
explanation in chapter 5 since this makes more sense)
The magic of Death that Zaratan used was the one he absorbed
from Erica’s attack earlier in the previous chapter.
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles
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Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18/Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s17.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 16: Megalithic Altar (part four)
Chapter 16: Megalithic Altar (part four)
Castling had succeeded.
I went to the coordinates where Ann was supposed to be, and Ann
went to the coordinates where I was in.
We were swapped in a blink of an eye by the magic circle
deployed beneath the feet of the two of us.
Before my eyes was Zaratan the vengeful huge beast.
From him, shadows that looked like countless number of black
arms, just like grotesque-looking black flower petals, were
stretching out.
It was an instant death curse which was absorbed from the Wand
of Death and amplified using the power of the Philosopher’s
Stone.
Black arms surrounded me without any gaps, all of which were
surely aiming at me.
They couldn’t be avoided.
At the corner of my eyes, I could see Klaus and Ann, who looked
at me with sorrowful expressions.
The object of the resentment of Zaratan was merely the Visitor’s
Clan……and I was their descendant.
The Harvan siblings were unrelated to the monster’s revenge.
So—
(Please escape. Please, even if it’s only both of you,
escape……)
There was no pain, no suffering.
The hands of the long black shadows touched me gently.
I closed my eyes and accepted it.
My body which lost its power slowly fell on my back.
Onii-sama, Otou-sama, please forgive me for dying before
you.
Thank you for being kind to someone who said nonsensical things
like me.
Erica went to Okaa-sama.
The eight years I had lived as Erica was a short but fulfilling
life.
It was a precious experience that I could spend all my time
freely.
If it was my precious life, I wouldn’t be able to do it at
all.
If I reincarnated again next time, I would like to be a pasture
emperor penguin.
(……Huh? Maybe, I’m not dead yet?)
Unlike the Curse of Merciful Death, death by the magic of Death
would be fulfilled promptly.
So, it was almost time…no, I should have lost my consciousness a
long time ago.
Then why?
Besides, it was high time I struck the ground.
I opened my eyes.
I saw Erica Aurelia’s trademark blonde vertical roll.
It was not a tightly rolled vertical roll that I always used to
see, but it was a bit messy due to intense exercise.
Such a difference could be clearly seen.
Her hair remained stationary as if it had stood in the wind.
No, it wasn’t just the hair.
The ribbon with plain color that had tied her hair was still
dancing in the air.
There was also the Wand of Castling that I had let go.
Dust in the air as well.
The remains of the pillars where Zaratan had destroyed.
And also the monster Zaratan.
(Is this…my lantern lights1?)
No, it wasn’t.
It was not that everything stopped.
Only the ones around 4 to 5 meters in radius from me had stopped
moving.
There couldn’t be such lantern lights like this.
Outside the space where everything stopped, there were countless
tiny objects circling at high speed while shining silver.
(Silver? Flying object? UFO……No, are those spell cards?)
Spell cards were flying over and formed a silver magic circle
with a radius of 5 meters.
It seemed that those spell cards formed the barrier that slowed
the speed of time.
But, it was strange.
Like the magic of spatial manipulation, the magic of time
manipulation was located at the top.
Both Klaus and Ann shouldn’t be able to use such magic.
Klaus who was standing upside down slowly walked toward this
direction.
He came into the barrier carelessly.
Apparently, Klaus didn’t seem to be affected by the time
manipulation.
『Br, ……brat……., yo, you……, bastard……, wh……what,
did……』
“Shut up.”
A voice full of deep hatred interrupted Zaratan’s words.
It was such an unfeeling and grave voice, I would never think it
came from a 10-years-old boy.
“……How dare you.”
As Klaus swung his arm, Zaratan was hit by something.
It was a sound like a heavy metal hammer striking a thick iron
plate.
There was a small crack in the armor of the attacked
monster.
“How dare you.”
Once again, Klaus swung his arm.
This time I saw it.
Spell cards jumped out of the Protective Circle he made and hit
Zaratan very hard.
The exterior of the monster that was attacked in the same place
cracked, black liquid splashed from inside, and stopped still
midair.
Klaus raised his face.
His facial expression was missing.
Cold, severe, rigid, expressionless face.
The eyes of Klaus, which looked like transparent sapphires,
turned into a grayish color that seemed to suck everything.
From one of his eyes, a single drop of tear was flowing.
“How dare you.”
The spell cards hit the monster.
Again, a little part of Zaratan’s body broke.
Even if the Protective Circle had a specialized effect on
Zaratan, there was a limit.
Just which one of them had a faster acceleration as they
clashed.
In this barrier to delay time, Zaratan had no technique to
resist.
He could neither avoid nor protect himself.
Neither regeneration nor transformation took place on time.
Even if he wanted to absorb the attack, he didn’t seem to be
able to adjust the timing by the difference between his
consciousness and his body.
Even if he could absorb the attack, it was a Protective
Circle.
The magical spell that merely became a defensive magic was
immediately destroyed by another spell.
“How dare you.”
Every time Klaus swung his arm, the armor of Zaratan broke, and
black liquid that was his main body became exposed.
It was just a one-sided violence.
Although the spell card was only a small piece of paper by
itself, the blows would crush the monster like a huge iron
hammer.
Swung his arm. Crush.
Swung his arm. Crush.
Swung his arm. Crush.
Swung his arm. Crush.
Just like a machine, Klaus kept striking in a quiet fury.
Unexpectedly, he stopped all of the spell cards in the air.
Klaus raised his staff overhead and assumed a stance.
From his clear grey eyes, one more tear dropped.
I thought indiscretely that it was very beautiful.
“How dare you……, how dare you, killed……my
friend……?”
With the end of his staff, he struck the stone floor.
With that as a signal, countless spell cards that formed the
Protective Circle leap upon Zaratan all at once.
Klaus’ magic looked like a silver tornado.
It was very beautiful in appearance, but it was a storm of
destruction that crushed everything just by touching it.
Zaratan, who had already been disintegrated into pieces, was
literally crushed until he couldn’t keep his current shape.
Zaratan returned to black liquid, spell cards wrapped around him
without any gap.
“I will never forgive you.”
The spell cards sphere gradually became smaller.
This time it emitted a rainbow-colored light, as if squeezing
Zaratan inside.
Eventually, the spell cards sphere which contained Zaratan
became about the size of a tennis ball.
Perhaps not just time manipulation magic but also spatial
manipulation magic?
They said an inexperienced body and an unstable mind would
hinder the eastern magic.
However, they also said that a strong emotion could amplify
magical power enough to overturn that disadvantage.
Klaus took out an empty potion bottle and cast a spell as if
singing.
The ancient monster, which was imprisoned with the spell cards,
was sucked into the small bottle .
The lonely huge beast Zaratan would be sealed and fell asleep
for the second time.
The spell of Seal that Klaus cast seemed like a sorrowful song
to me.
“……Erica, I, ……you.”
Klaus crouched down powerlessly when the sealing of the monster
was over.
At the same time, the time that had stopped started to move.
I fell to the floor on my back.
Uu……, I rubbed my waist.
“It huuuuurts~~~~!!”
While screaming, I crawled in search of a flat floor.
Klaus flinched, trembling, and then slowly turned to my
direction.
“Eh……?”
Oops, our eyes met.
I waved gently and smiled.
Expression returned to Klaus’ face.
Somehow, was he angry?
No, surprise, glad, embarrassed……
Wrong. Angry.
As expected, he was very mad.
This was bad.
How do I get away from him?
While I was worrying about that, Ann came running and hugged
me.
“Erica-sama! I’m glad, you are okay!”
“Yes……, it’s alright now, Ann-sama……”
Due to extreme tension, Ann’s cheeks were cold.
As I was stroking her back as gently as possible, Klaus was also
coming up to my side.
He was still mad, but in front of Ann it seemed that he couldn’t
say anything.
I felt like an aphid living together with ants.
If that was the case, I couldn’t let the Ladybug Klaus
attack!2
When I was thinking of such rude things, Ann turned over with a
bashful appearance, and separated from me.
Aah, Ann-sama, you could hug me a little longer!
Please protect me!
“You……, how come you are alive!”
“……How indeed?”
“If you are alive, then say that you are alive! You made me
misunderstood!”
“Erica-sama was taken into the barrier of Onii-sama’s time
manipulation, right?”
“Kuh……!”
“I live safely at great pains, so could you feel more
pleased?”
Where did the mature-looking expression go?
Klaus was resembling a 10-years-old child, with his clenched
fists trembling like that.
“Ha!? Klaus-sama, no way!”
“Wh-what?”
“Truthfully, do you dislike me being alive…?”
“Uwah……, Onii-sama……the lowest…”
“No! That’s not the case!”
No, no, I couldn’t thoughtlessly play around with this.
It seemed that I also felt embarrassed at expressing my
gratitude obediently.
I couldn’t say it to other people.
“Klaus-sama.”
“What’s next!”
“Thank you for your help.”
“A, ah……”
“Also, thank you for being angry as a friend.”
Although I was a little late, I told Klaus my heartfelt
appreciation.
Whether he felt irritated or embarrassed, I didn’t know him well
enough to understand it, he turned his eyes away from me.
“Well, good……I, if you’re okay, that, that’s good……I’m, about
you Erica……”
“Ah!”
“W-what is it suddenly!”
“What’s wrong, Erica-sama?”
“Maybe, the Curse of Death conflicted with the Onii-sama’s Curse
of Merciful Death?”
That was the reason why I didn’t die by the Curse of Death.
I was already destined to die in a few hours by the Curse of
Merciful Death.
This contradicted the destiny of Death’s immediate death.
As the result of conflicting destinies, the more powerfully made
Merciful Death won.
Fortune and misfortune twisted like a rope, and the future of
human beings was unpredictable, huh.
As expected, Onii-sama……
Not everyone could make such a powerful death trap.
I mean, this, could a serious practitioner even cancel
this……?
A tinge of anxiety crossed my mind, but I pushed it back.
“You……Didn’t you cast it aiming at that?”
“No, not at all. I completely forgot.”
“If so, why?”
“……Why indeed?”
“Don’t ask me……”
“Like this, I was swept by the mood, so I carelessly did
it?”
“You! Don’t throw away your life irresponsibly!”
“Klaus-oniisama! If you say more rude things toward Erica-sama,
I will not forgive you!!”
For some reason Klaus and Ann fell into a sibling fight.
I quietly leave that circle so as not to irritate the two of
them.
These two people were good friends in any way.
While thinking about such things about the other people’s
affairs, I enjoyed watching the exchange between the two of
them.
☆
The three of us could escape from the Ruins of Visitor
safely.
In the end, it was a simple task to swing the Wand of Levitation
in a Pass Wall state.
By the time we returned to Spring Palace, the date was about to
change.
About four hours had passed since I entered the ruins.
It was much shorter than the perceived time.
It was the longest and most intense four hours I had ever felt,
including the previous life.
Klaus cancelled the magic of Phantasmal Maze and we headed for
our fathers.
“So there was something like that happened, Erica.”
Because I was worried about how far should I talk honestly, I
only said that I caught the trap on the storage box that
Edward-oniisama set up in the Ruins of Visitor.
There was no courage to say more than that, such as going to the
lowest layer, released the seal of an ancient monster, not to
mention that it was resealed with my life on the line.
“……I apologize, Otou-sama.”
Just apologize.
It was a Japanese negotiation style learned in my previous
life.
When I showed that I was feeling remorse by keeping a
low-profile, Klaus came in and cut the conversation as if defending
me.
“That was my fault. I got her involved. Erica did nothing
wrong.”
“Klaus-kun……thank you for protecting Erica. Did she go into that
ruins and have returned unscathed because you guarded her?”
“No, that wasn’t it. Rather, I was—”
“Yes, that’s right, Otou-sama. Klaus-sama guarded me.”
I cut off Klaus’ words and said my piece to cover it.
The real reason was because the story got complicated, but it
was true that I was thankful that he guarded me.
“I see……Klaus-kun, for me, Erica is a treasure that can’t be
replaced by anything. As a father, as the Duke of Aurelia, I
promise that I will pay you back.”
That being said, the Aurelia official himself bowed to a boy who
was over thirty years his junior to express the highest respect for
a nobility.
It seemed that Klaus still wanted to say something, but he
didn’t persist.
My father let Klaus and Ann go back first.
The Harvan couple was waiting for them.
“Erica…”
“Yes.”
And my father said nothing more, just hugged me quietly and
gently.
I felt guiltier than if I was being scolded for a long time.
When I treated myself roughly, I realized there was someone who
would be sad.
After that, my father dispelled the Curse of Merciful Death
without delay.
☆
“Aah~~~~, I can finally sleep……”
It was two hours after my father finished the solution spell
that I came home to Spring Palace.
During the ceremony of the solution spell, the worried Klaus
came to check my situation many times.
Eventually, I was escorted to my bedroom.
He was a sincere person.
I threw the bag I borrowed from my older brother, took off my
clothes and left them scatter around, and then laid on the bed.
No more.
I would not move another step.
I mean, I would not go into the labyrinth ever again.
To play in a dungeon, inside a game was enough.
As I was idling about, my hand hit something hard, it seemed
that it rolled out from the pocket of the clothing I took off.
When we escaped from the labyrinth, I got it from Klaus.
“Oh, this is……, there is still some work to do.”
With vacant eyes, I headed to my working desk.
Searching the shelves containing alchemy materials in every
corner, somehow I found the material that I was looking for.
I wondered if I could put the skills I already learned into
practical use.
But, this, it seemed that this would take quite a while to
finish.
……This might take all night.
I looked back to my bed with bitter eyes.
Oh, my beloved duvet……
Shaking off my reluctance, I tried to concentrate on the loot
that I put on my working desk.
1 Like a lantern light: This is an expression in
Japan, expressing something like a shadow appearing in a lantern
light, it is referring to the various visions appearing in mind
when someone is about to die. The western equivalent would be
‘memories flashing before my eyes.’ So, Erica thought that what she
saw was visions as she was about to die.
2 Aphids are small sap-sucking insects. So-called
dairying ants have a mutualistic relationship with aphids, tending
them for their honeydew, and protecting them from predators. One of
aphids’ predators is Ladybug. (source) In this analogy, Erica is an aphid, Ann is
an ant, and Klaus is a Ladybug.
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles
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Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18/Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s18.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 17: To the Promised Land
Chapter 17: To the Promised Land
“Now, Klaus-sama, please hold this flower properly.”
I picked a faint thin pink rose with pruning shears.
I handed it to Klaus who turned into a bouquet-creation
machine.
Klaus seemed to have been scolded by his parents last night,
there were bags under his eyes.
He didn’t suffer major injuries, but his whole body should be
full of scrapes and abrasions.
There was also a large bandage plastered on his cheeks and
forehead, which made him look like a boy from a manga.
Nevertheless, the spots where his skin wasn’t ruined were
youthful as was his privilege as a beautiful character.
Ah, my Erica the Marvelous Villain’s body also didn’t have rough
skin.
It was appreciated by the plain fact that there wasn’t any
muscle pain even though usually I only exercised a little.
“Ufufu, Klaus-oniisama. Today you will listen to what I say,
right?”
Today we were walking through the Knot Garden of Spring Palace
as promised.
All of the gardeners were looking happily at Ann who seemed to
be in high spirits.
Followed by me with the pruning shears, and Klaus who held a lot
of flowers.
There was an impression about our group that Ann was a princess,
while Klaus and I were her attendants.
Spring green eyes froze.
Klaus’ eyes were also blinking rapidly. Ooh, comrade.
“Erica, did you stay up all night?”
“Yes, I was cleaning up a little……Klaus-sama, good work on
enduring the scoldings.”
“It’s not ‘good work.’”
Huh? Was he feeling tired?
I tried to think in Japanese, but in fact it was a conversation
in this world’s language.
Here the polite expressions were fuzzy, so there shouldn’t be
any regulation about that.
“……The preaching, ……no, my father’s teaching, it’s not over yet.
I just had a momentary break.”
“Hii.”
“After that, it seems to be my mother’s turn……”
“Hii……Klaus-sama, please live.”
It seemed to be a considerably strict family.
But, that was the Harvan couple way of showing their
affection.
They were strict because they were worried inside out.
Surely.
“There is a very beautiful rose over there!”
“I guess we have no choice. There are only two or three
more.”
“Onii-sama! If you don’t reflect properly, I would like to let
Otou-sama and Okaa-sama know……”
“Kuh…! Let’s go, Erica! If we let her be, she will reap all the
roses in this garden!”
“I won’t do that!”
“Yes, yes. Ann-sama, you can cut as much as you like.”
Klaus was reluctantly going along with his sister’s selfishness,
while his sister was enjoying herself to the utmost
uninhibitedly.
Above all, these siblings were good friends with each other.
(Aaah~~, at last, one of my death flags has completely
broken……it was a tough death flag……)
I felt completely out of my mind.
The lack of sleep was also adding to that, I was just like a
flower-picking machine with a fully automated garden commentary
feature.
It was wonderful that I wouldn’t die even if I was
absentminded.
“Erica-oneesama, what is that yellow flower over there?”
“It is a wooden rose native to the southern part of the
continent.”
“Lovely! Erica-oneesama, I’m going to see it up close!”
“Yes, go ahead, Ann-sama.”
Since last night, Ann had been calling me ‘Onee-sama.’
What was it, this classic girly novel sensation.
I felt a bit happy, but I was pretty embarrassed by the
compensation.
Could you let me replace the rosary?
Since there was no culture to wear a cross on this continent, as
expected, it became the star crystal necklace? Sounds ominous.
“Good grief……, I don’t know where she gets her inability to stay
calm, that girl.”
A lot of flowers chosen by Ann were held in both hands of
Klaus.
Today’s Ann was unforgiving towards her older brother because of
the lingering excitement of yesterday’s adventure.
I also dazedly cut the rose as Ann commanded and handed it over
to Klaus.
With that synergy, suddenly he was holding a tremendous amount
of roses.
Beside the massive amount of flowers that Klaus currently held,
what was horrible was that the flowers that had been brought to
Ann’s room was about three times of those flowers.
It was not a joke or a hyperbole, she could truly reap all the
flowers throughout the garden.
“She’s exactly like Klaus-sama. She’s very curious. Aah but,
Klaus-sama lacks Ann-sama’s courteousness.”
“Oi, Erica……no, Lady Erica. Just now, what did you say?”
“Oh my, Klaus-sama. Please, have a look. It’s a lovely
large-flowered rose.”
Slanders were more likely to carry to other people’s ears, how
troublesome.
While turning my eyes off him who was pouting, I cut out a
diluted crimson rose that caught my eyes with pruning shears.
I adorned Klaus’ hair with the cut out rose, glossing over his
previous question while making fun of him.
Fuhaha. How was it? It was inevitable if both hands were
blocked!
“Oh, it really suits you, Klaus-sama.”
“Wait a minute! Stop that!”
Klaus’ cheeks were dyed in shame.
This one was excellent!
In order to shake off the rose inserted in his hair, Klaus
hurriedly shook his head.
However, it seemed that the thorns tangled well with his hair,
and it didn’t fall off easily.
I did it, that was fun! Rose-san good job!
“Oya, Klaus-kun, you’re surprisingly pretty cute.”
“Well! Edward-oniisama, welcome back!”
“Geh, Edward!?”
My older brother’s traveling clothes were the same as when he
was about to leave, and in his hand he was holding a leather bag,
which was the Wunderkammer.
Although it was a groomed appearance and a graceful conduct with
no gap as usual, I could see a slight tiredness in his
complexion.
Did Edward-oniisama stayed up all night?
“Damn……! Stop it! Don’t look at me like this!”
Klaus concealed his face with a bunch of roses.
His ears were bright red.
Anyway, that phrase, you’d better quit it somehow, Klaus.
“You don’t have to hide. Isn’t it pretty?”
“Guh……Remember this, Edward Aurelia! This shame, I will
definitely get rid of it!”
Leaving behind a needlessly embarrassing parting remark, Klaus
ran in the direction of Ann and escaped.
I wondered if it was that embarrassing to be seen by
Onii-sama.
Maybe he had a one-sided rivalry with the alchemist Edward.
“Because the news reached me by owl delivery, I came home in a
hurry, but……I’m sorry, Erica. Did you almost die because of the
trap I set up?”
“No, I was able to dispel it safely, so it’s alright.”
Rather, I gave a lifetime of thanks to his super powerful death
trap.
I couldn’t go to bed with my feet facing
Onii-sama1.
“Rather than that, I’m sorry I devastated your supplies for
exploration.”
“It’s okay. I heard the story from father yesterday. To think
that the leftover of my supplies had helped my lovely little sister
to survive. I’d rather be proud.”
“Onii-sama……”
Onii-sama crouched down to look at me and gave a soft smile.
For a moment, I felt tears seeping out.
It was nice, to have an older brother.
However, with the next words, the angelic smile of Onii-sama
changed instantaneously to a dark smile.
“Oh, but for the time being, please tell me later, as much as
you remember about the details of who used it and how much they
used it.”
“……What are you going to do?”
“It’s a secret. Erica doesn’t need to be bothered by that, so
please be relieved.”
Klaus……Onii-sama seemed to charge a full payment for the wands
and the potions.
What a salt to his injury. Misfortunes never came singly.
If my older brother’s invoice arrived, I guessed he would be
selling out some forest from the planned inheritance.
Let me plead to my older brother at least to repaid my life
debt.
Anyway, after Klaus became Duke of Harvan, he should do his best
in territory management and compensated for the deficit.
Even so, I was at a loss.
Whether it was alright to tell my family about what happened in
the Ruins of Visitor.
That huge monster Zaratan could be a scandal of Aurelia of the
West.
“I also went to the ruins secretly a few times, but I could
hardly reach the place I wanted.”
“What is the destination place?”
“My friend investigated through literatures, but in the deep
part of that ruins, the remains of an unknown gigantic creature
seem to be sealed.”
“O-oh……, is that so–. I don’t believe it–”
“In relation to the surrounding soil and the distribution of
star crystals and the distribution of veins, with Ruins of Visitor
as the center, even if it is a small estimation, it is likely that
a diameter of at least 5 kilometers is formed on the base of the
remains of that creature.”
“Hii……5 kilometers, huh……?”
“It’s an impossible dream, isn’t it?”
I heard that it was formerly city sized, but to think that it
was a creature that exceeded 5 kilometers in length.
Somehow, the imagination was too much.
It was good that the Zaratan we met was in his small form.
I didn’t feel like we had a winning chance at all if it was the
original size Zaratan.
Ancient alchemists would be forced to use the Wand of Sailor’s
Song and risked their lives on that last resort.
“That’s right. I don’t think you will go to the ruins anymore,
but if you get lost for some reason, don’t go deeper than the
seventh layer.”
“Uu……why is that?”
“A group of tough monsters were living in the eighth layer. The
good thing is that they were barely wiped out, but if you used a
few big magic, you would unfortunately deal a fatal damage to the
labyrinth. Worst, the layer might collapse.”
“T-that is dangerous……”
“I was consulting with a collaborating researcher whether we
should reinforce the labyrinth or dig a tunnel to repair it. Either
way, since it is beyond the scope that can be investigated secretly
from father, I must arrange a way to send an official investigation
team through Leandez Magic Academy.”
The shrewd Onii-sama had to have secured a position in that
investigation team.
I understood.
Oh, by the way, my stomach was feeling painful because I was
feigning ignorance.
“That reminds me, yesterday, when we were inside, we heard a
loud noise that felt like the ground was breaking downstairs.”
“Ah, maybe it has collapsed already. Is digging a tunnel the
right choice? Even so……what was the trigger, there should have been
no mechanical linked with other layers……maybe I missed it……”
It was painful to be pointed out the inconsistencies more than
this.
After all they were poor lies and the secret was getting
ridiculous.
“By the way, Onii-sama! It’s amazing that there was such a big
creature!”
“Oya, are you also interested in the giant creature, Erica?”
Rather than interested, perhaps I should say that I had a bad
experience with that creature himself.
“Alchemist Jaconius, commonly known as Zaratan, Erica also knew
about that, right? There is a theory that the person called Zaratan
was possibly the name of that gigantic creature.”
“There are people in Leandez who noticed such a great thing,
huh…”
“There are also other theories, such as that theory, the secret
organization theory, and the alien theory, that it was an ancient
super-energy generator facility with a built-in space control
mechanism.”
As one would expect, those were such outrageous theories,
Onii-sama.
It seemed that he had a group of professional editor that loved
outrageous conspiracy theories.
“Onii-sama, the giant creature theory……”
“Oh, there are several folklores that supports it.”
Edward-oniisama was hesitating for a moment.
It was a gentle smile as ever, but a little bit of sad
atmosphere had been weaved into it.
“Alchemist Jaconius, as what recorded in Aurelia’s family’s
official history – there were differences between the story of the
Philosopher’s Stone and the solitary Zaratan, and the story that
was circulated in the ancient Aurelia’s family.”
“I only knew the story of Zaratan that appeared in the fairy
tale.”
“Yes. Actually, it is a hidden legend that is conveyed to the
dukes of Aurelia. In the legend of our family, Zaratan was killed
by the magic that drops a star, but in the official history that
Erica has yet to learn, in the end he was killed with a knife while
he was sleeping.”
I was surprised.
Certainly, that was what Zaratan himself had said. He was killed
in the gap when he was exhausted and slept.
For Aurelia, killing Zaratan should be a taboo.
That truth became a small fragment and it remained in the
present age.
“I have a friend who loved that story first. At first I was
helping him, but before I noticed, I was completely absorbed in the
story more than him……Our taciturn ancestors wanted to leave
something for their distant descendants……somehow, isn’t that kind
of story fascinating?”
“Onii-sama, do you know what happened to Zaratan?”
“It is not perfect because the folklore was being scattered and
ultimately lost, but–”
With that preliminary talk, Onii-sama started talking.
Our ancestors lived beyond the shining and distant seas of the
stars.
But, due to a disaster or some other reason, they were driven
out from their home land.
An ancient alchemist reported as Jaconius created one artificial
organism at sea.
The name of the creature was Zaratan.
Zaratan grew to the size of a huge island after a long period of
time, and carried our ancestors in place of an aging ship.
A city was built on the shell of Zaratan and the bones of
Zaratan became precious ores, including star crystals and star
steels.
After a long voyage, in which leadership had changed, they
arrived at Ichthyes.
However, the alchemist who was the leader at that time killed
Zaratan who was a meritorious creature and the person who was the
son or daughter of Jaconius.
It was said that they did it to obtain the Philosopher’s Stone
which was thought to be hidden in the body of Zaratan.
But no matter how much they dissected the body of Zaratan, they
couldn’t find the Philosopher’s Stone.
The alchemist opposed their own deeds and regretted their
sins.
They buried the child of Jaconius carefully in the depths of the
body of Zaratan.
The alchemists made a deep labyrinth that nobody could approach
its deep, while still being a tomb.
Do not let anyone interfere with the sleep of Zaratan along
with the child of Jaconius.
The youngest brother of Jaconius who survived and the daughter
of the leader got married and became the new head of the Visitor’s
Clan.
That was the beginning of the Duchy of Aurelia.
“The alchemists seemed to have broken one contract when killing
Zaratan, an artificial creature, but I don’t know yet what that
contract was.”
“It’s a sad story……”
“I don’t know if everything was true, but I think that the truth
is hidden somewhere in this story and it may be the role of us who
are the descendants of Jaconius to unravel it……that’s how it
is.”
Onii-sama smiled brightly to cheer me up.
“In my hypothesis, I think that they were not only buried, but
they were enshrined as gods. I believe that the faith of the
god2 Bren was made by combining the clan of Jaconius and
Zaratan.”
“Zaratan, a god……”
“If the altar of Bren faith was found at that ruins, it will
support my hypothesis……If the labyrinth collapsed, I wonder how
many years it will take for a full-scale investigation…”
Ah, so it was like Sugawara no Michizane3 or Taira no
Masakado4, huh.
Even though he bore grudges against humans, he had been made a
god by humans, huh.
Betrayed, killed, and to appease him, worshiped—
I thought that I could empathize with him somehow.
Defined unreasonably, loved selfishly, unreasonably killed,
wasn’t that the same as me?
He was also a companion who was beaten by a blunt weapon.
Well, a crowbar couldn’t compare to something like a meteor,
though.
“By the way, Erica, that golem……made of star steel, huh? When
did you make it?”
Oops!
I panicked and looked at my feet.
A large stuffed toy-sized, steel body, full-armor was sitting
quietly.
When did he followed me to the garden!?
“Ah……that, yesterday, I reused Onii-sama’s acid hydrogel golem’s
core……”
“Haha…I don’t mind, since I can make as many acid hydrogel golem
as I want.”
“I will appreciate it if you say so.”
“But, I thought that it was a golem made of star steel. Because
it will deform to some extent with magical powers, it could do
living organism’s natural movements.”
“Y-yes! That’s right!”
“It’s quite interesting–……Oya? Perhaps, this is a two-layer
structure?”
“Hii! It’s a top secret technology that is still under
experiment right now!”
“I see–, too bad……Oops, it’s already this time……”
I was already at my limit in glossing over the questions!
As I thought that, my older brother began to check his
watch.
Y-yosh! I seemed to dodge the bullet!
“I will return to my room at once. Erica seemed to have
completely devastated my supplies.”
“Uu.”
“Let’s talk about that necklace when you have calmed
down. I found out something interesting about it. Then, later,
Erica.”
That said, Edward-oniisama went back to his room.
When I looked at my feet, I could see the back of the star steel
golem.
In truth, it was not a golem.
A certain someone was just wearing a small armor made of star
steel.
“Why did you follow me?”
『I decided that I’m interested.』
“About what?”
『Why did you make use of me?』
“Pity, maybe?”
『I dislike compassion. You do not understand my feelings.』
“That’s true.”
『But, I also heard good things.』
“The story that Onii-sama just told us?”
『Aa.』
Tears were spilling from the black cavities.
『I was not betrayed by him. He was also killed. 』
“Looks like it. It is a thorough folklore.”
『I—』
“Yes.”
『May I cry for him too? 』
“Yes.”
Last night, after the ceremony of the solution spell, I was
handed the bottle where Klaus sealed Zaratan.
‘You can do whatever you want with it,’ he had
said.
So I immediately decided to take advantage of that and take up
on his offer, and unsealed him.
“I think that your revenge is justifiable, and I want to fulfil
the contract that my ancestors had with you.”
『Why is that?』
“Compassion, you don’t have to understand my feelings.”
The Zaratan that was unsealed got even smaller, due to the
effect of space compression magic by Klaus.
An anomalous dragon with the size of a cat.
That was what he was now.
Black scales like a night sky. Two twisted horns like a ram.
Sharp saw-like fangs were lining in lines like those of a
shark.
Short and sharp claws for all of his ten fingers.
The scales on his back were particularly thick and coalescing,
and they looked like a shell.
Perhaps he was taking shape as his juvenile form, his head and
forearms were large while his upper arms and tail were small.
The balance was exactly like a teddy bear.
He could be called a fish due to his scales and web-feet, and
could be called a turtle due to his shell.
Called the Philosopher’s Stone, called a god, called an evil
spirit.
But in the end, they couldn’t give him a name to call
himself.
There was only one lonely anomalous black dragon in this
world.
I made a small armor last night.
The material was the star steel which responded to magical power
and changed its shape as much as we liked.
The spell was physically carved and built with an athame
knife.
I was one of the few alchemists that couldn’t build spells or
charge magic.
And then I released his soul inside the armor.
One of the reasons was to disguise him as a golem.
The other was so that he could infinitely expand the cage of his
body.
『……My revenge is over.』
“Is that okay?”
『I thought I killed you once.
At that time, my heart was filled with joy to the extent that
nothing would matter.
You look like that guy.
I did not care about Aurelia.
I only care about killing him.
Only he was special to me.
Therefore, it is good. That guy has already gone.』
“The truth is, you wanted to kill him by using Alchemist’s Star
in revenge, right?”
『……You understand well.』
The small black dragon who passed the age of over six hundred
years laughed happily from the inside of the armor.
“If I can, I will carry out the contract in the behalf of my
ancestors.”
『My wishes have not change even now……I wish for a friend, and
then, I wish for a new name.』
“Is it okay with just that?”
『……That’s right.』
I bent over and touched the black dragon Zaratan’s clawed
hand.
“Then, I will give you a new name–”
At that time, the beautiful and brave Harvan siblings came home
with a lot of roses.
A refreshing wind blew through the flower-lined Spring
Palace.
In this way, the curtain for my first adventure had fallen.
☆
“Come, my friend, let’s give a new name to the Promised Land
over this sea: Tír na nÓg5.”
1 Referring to the idiom ‘cannot sleep with my feet
facing in his/her direction’: expressing that we are grateful for
what that person has done for us. In Japan, showing our feet is an
act of disrespect, so conversely, if you don’t show that person
your feet, you are showing him/her respect.
2 The god here is actually referring to an ancestor
that was worshiped as a deity.
3 Sugawara no Michizane was a scholar, poet, and
politician of the Heian Period of Japan. Today he is revered in
Shinto as the god of learning, Tenman-Tenjin. (source)
4 Taira no Masakado was a samurai in the Heian Period
of Japan who led one of the largest insurgent forces in the period
against the central government of Kyoto. He became a demigod to the
locals who were impressed by his stand against the central
government, while at the same time feeling the need to appease his
malevolent spirit. (source)
5 Tír na nÓg is the name of the Promised Land/The
Land of the Dead in the Irish mythology and folklore. (source)
Edit: So, in the folklore, Jaconius and Zaratan were the same
person, but that wasn’t true. In actuality, Jaconius was killed by
Alchemist’s Star while Zaratan was killed with a knife.
That’s what I inferred from reading between the lines, anyway.
Zaratan was happy that his maker, Jaconius actually didn’t betrayed
him.
Edit 2: While in the raw it said ‘Jaconius’ (ヤコニウス), I think the
author got her inspiration from Jasconius. In medieval bestiaries,
there is a fabled sea creature called Aspidochelon, described as a
vast sea turtle or a sea monster with huge spine on the ridge of
its back. It was so huge it often got mistaken as an island. In
Middle East, Aspidochelon was also called as Zaratan. And in Irish
folklore, this creature was also called as Jasconius, which also
mistaken as a vast island. (source)
If you remember, in chapter 6, the command words that were
engraved on the transfer gate was:
“Come, my friend, let’s give a new name to the Promised Land
over this sea.”
In this chapter, the words Promised Land has the readings of Tír
na nÓg on top of them, and I tried to incorporate it like what is
shown in this chapter.
If you don’t get it, the new name for Zaratan that Erica gave is
Tír na nÓg. But for later chapters, the author wrote it as
Tirnanog.
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles
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Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18/Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s19.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 18: Klaus Harvan’s Letter
Chapter 18: Klaus Harvan’s Letter
Klaus Harvan’s letter.
Dear Erica Aurelia,
A month has passed since we returned to Harvan’s Gineda
Castle.
Even now I still remember the case at the Spring Palace as if it
was yesterday.
I finally settled down, so I decided to send a letter to
you.
To tell the truth, I didn’t think much about the visit to
Aurelia at that time.
I think that I remembered that father and Duke Aurelia’s
conversation face to face was about mine development and forest
resources.
However, you may not have noticed, but it seems that they were
consulting about an engagement between you and me secretly behind
the scenes.
When we were gathered together, our parents’ arrangement about
the political marriage had already took part.
I have never thought that I would get into a political marriage
with you like this.
‘The Aurelia’s daughter would be a spoiled and an
intolerable girl anyway.’
‘Why should I be a couple with someone who is a showy,
ill-natured girl?’
I was thinking about such prejudiced things.
But the truth is different.
You are much stronger than I am.
Strong……?
No, your merit cannot be measured by a strong-weak
criterion.
You have been more than me……
I wonder what.
I cannot express it well.
The only thing that I can say is that it was the first time I
saw a woman like you.
Well, let’s get back to the story.
I was…At the bottom of that place, I couldn’t do anything.
Even when I was stuck with being blocked by the traps of the
labyrinth.
Even when my younger sister was likely to be killed by a strange
monster.
It was you that saved us all the time.
You thanked me for it, but it is not so. It is the opposite.
It is I who is thankful.
Thank you for protecting my sister, Ann.
If I couldn’t make it in time, I wouldn’t be able to forgive
myself for the rest of my life.
I want to be a person that balances you.
I am weak now.
So, someday I want to apply for an engagement with you if I
gained enough strength to suit you.
Of course, if you don’t like it, you may decide not to follow
through with this engagement.
Remember.
You do not need to be mine, but remember that I am yours.
When something happens to you, I will rush to you earlier than
anyone else.
And even if I have to throw my life away, I will protect
you.
From your eternal shield, Klaus Harvan.
☆
“Ann!!! Why are you reading other people’s letter without
permission!? Give it back!!”
“This is not good, Klaus-oniisama! Absolutely not good!”
Before Klaus noticed it, Ann was drawing near and snatched away
the letter he had just completed, and he became terribly
flustered.
Ann completely disregarded her older brother who was becoming
agitated.
Klaus was not good at dealing with his sister who was three
years younger than him.
“Onii-sama. Why are you writing a sultry letter?
As soon as I take my eyes off, you immediately wrote
incomprehensible things that was just an exercise in futility.”
“Who said it’s sultry!?”
“It’s definitely a declaration that you will become a yandere
stalker anyway!
If she received this, Erica-oneesama will definitely become
annoyed!!”
“What! What did you say!”
“Your feelings are too heavy!!”
“Before that, about the ‘yandere stalker’, I don’t understand
the meaning!!”
He didn’t understand the meaning, but Klaus also knew that there
were serious mistakes in his letter.
First of all, he had to listen properly to the argument of his
foolish sister who was exasperated.
No matter what, because Ann was one of his few source of
information about the Duke of Aurelia’s daughter.
“When I had a girl talk with Erica-oneesama……”
“‘Girl talk’?”
Klaus didn’t really understand the meaning of ‘girl talk.’
Ann was starting to use odd words due to the influence of Erica
Aurelia.
At present, it was only Ann that could grasp the meaning of
those words.
When such a story came out, Klaus was obliged to follow his
sister.
“I heard the type of Onee-sama’s favorite gentleman.
That is, she has no favorite type, but there are the types she
disliked.”
“……Then we can guess her preferences by elimination method.”
“That’s right.”
“This is important information, please continue.”
“A man who shoved his feelings without permission.
Also, a man who at first glance seemingly favourable, but in
fact he has no interest in communicating.”
“Certainly, that’s a man with a bad quality.”
“Worst of all, she doesn’t even want to breathe the same air
with them, you know?”
“Kuh, doesn’t even want to breathe the same air……!?”
“This is serious, you know?”
“This is serious……”
Klaus secretly recorded Ann’s information as an important item
in the memo pad of his heart.
These should be the profound reasons behind Erica’s state.
If he conducted those acts unintentionally, there was a
possibility that he would receive Erica’s absolute refusal.
Klaus thought so, not knowing anything.
“After that, a man who suddenly hit her from behind, and she
also refused any type of stabbing……”
“That……, isn’t that a matter of course?”
Klaus was ashamed.
What kind of experience did his fiancé candidate has when she
was still an 8-years-old?
Was it an assassination?
Was it because of an experience that someone she knew was likely
to be assassinated?
Was that why she sometimes has such gloomy eyes?
Klaus strongly set his will to ‘I must protect them as
well.’
“There are many things that I don’t understand in this
world…”
“Erica-oneesama is friendly to everyone at first glance, but in
fact she hates a fierce man……
No, there is even the likelihood of human dislikes.”
“Eh……?”
“Oh, Onii-sama is insensitive so you don’t understand.
Erica-oneesama has a smiling poker face, right?”
Klaus was further ashamed.
He recalled Erica’s figure when he was staying in Spring
Palace.
Even without saying that he would be liked, he didn’t think
about the possibility of being hated.
Because Erica smiled thinly all the time.
“It is a smile that everyone will accept gently, or rather it is
a smile that doesn’t let anyone come near—.
No way, did you not think about that at all?”
“Kuh……”
“That it was a smile that absolutely doesn’t allow people to
shrink their distance beyond a certain point?”
“That……that is……”
“Even when she was surrounded by a lot of people, did you notice
that she sometimes turned her lonely sight towards far away?”
“……Ah, I noticed that.”
“Good! Just barely above the safe line, Klaus-oniisama!”
Rather than lonely eyes, they were dazed eyes.
It seemed like that to Klaus, but he refused to go against
her.
No matter what he said to his sister when she was like this, he
couldn’t win with words.
Thinking about such a thing, Ann stared at Klaus with serious
eyes.
The older brother drew his body back a little. Those were
really serious eyes.
“As far as I concerned as a younger sister, it is nice for
Erica-oneesama to become my sister-in-law.”
“O-ou……”
“Klaus-oniisama, you can work harder, right? You haven’t gotten
serious yet, have you?”
“Ou……”
“Let’s forgive such a weak attitude for now.”
“Forgive, me?”
Why, do I have to be forgiven by you, Klaus trembled at
the unreasonableness of this world.
“Yes, you’re still fine now. Klaus-oniisama still has the
advantage of time.”
“What are you fighting against?”
“What are you talking about! Seriously, Klaus-oniisama is the
one that must take the initiative and fight!”
“Ou……”
For a moment, Klaus felt afraid of Ann’s threatening
attitude.
As expected women are difficult to deal with, he
thought.
“In other words, what do you mean?”
“It’s because Erica-oneesama is beautiful.”
“Nn……well, that’s right……that girl, is somewhat beautiful, I
guess……”
“Haa!? Look into my eyes, and say that once again, please?”
“Aa, I thought that she is beautiful for a child……Stop it, I can
see your eyes……”
Klaus lost his nerve and turned his eyes away.
Hidden behind her brother, Ann had a strange expression on her
face.
“In a few years Erica-oneesama will surely become as gorgeous
and bewitching as a large-flowered rose, she will become a peerless
beautiful woman.
With that indecisive attitude, it will be too late by then, you
know?
Do you understand, Klaus-oniisama?”
“What do you mean by ‘too late’?”
“Onii-sama. Erica-oneesama will inherit the vast territory of
her deceased mother when she reached adulthood.
Aurelia’s abundant silver ore……What do you think will happen if
there is a rare beauty there?”
“What’s wrong with that?”
Even if she was an incomprehensible girl, there was an elegance
to make her a wife after all.
It was Klaus who switched back with such a thing, but Ann’s
reaction to that was unexpected.
“It would be a property that exceeded excellent quality! It
would be very popular! Full of rivals all over the continent!”
“Wh……what……”
“For example, Urus of Lucanrant, the Margrave of Harlan, will
almost certainly aim for her.”
“W-what……!? He’s 26 years older than Erica, right!?”
The 34-years-old Urus of Lucanrant, the Margrave of Harlan was
rumored to be reeking of blood.
Moreover, they said that he slaughtered the husbands of the
female population of the fief to monopolize them.
Deliberately murdered his subordinates and such things as young
girls of the fief by having everybody enclosing on them.
A maid who appeared in the service, who was found pregnant by
the passing of the second month, regretted her circumstances and
threw away her life.
Etc. etc.
In vague places where the boundary between law and humanity was
ambiguous, plundering of women in barbarous degree by nobility was
a normal business.
But, even so, Harlan was killing too much people.
“The infamous First Prince of Ignitia, His Highness
Auguste-sama.
He is 10-years-old, the same age as Onii-sama. He might be the
biggest competitor.”
“What! That Auguste! That’s unforgivable!”
Auguste, First Prince of Ignitia, was also a person who only had
bad rumors surrounding him.
Born from the queen’s unfaithfulness, he grew up without
affection.
Because the blood of the royal family didn’t flow, he wasn’t
blessed by the dragons which were the guardians of Ignitia and he
was unable to ride on their backs.
He was doing improper conducts self-indulgently, exactly like a
foolish ruler.
The bishops unanimously predicted that the age of darkness would
come if he succeeded the throne.
However, concerning Prince Auguste, Ann didn’t hear that there
was a clear victim.
Ann was of the opinion that it wasn’t good to believe such
uncertain rumors.
Erica, who was notorious as a future wicked lady around here,
also was a real example that rumors and the real thing were
completely different.
However, if she considered it as a material to provoke her older
brother, it was another thing.
Let’s take advantage of uncertain rumors, Ann thought
so.
There were many aristocrats who didn’t want to get married, but
Klaus’ level of knowledge about evil deeds, this area was the
limit.
“If His Highness Auguste-sama was her partner, she will never be
happy even if she became a queen consort. Especially if she became
a concubine.”
“Concubine!? That Erica!?”
“But, His Highness Auguste-sama is the one who will be the king
of the Union Kingdom.
In the unlikely event that Klaus-oniisama tried to save
Erica-oneesama after the marriage was already decided, do you know
what would happen?”
Klaus furrowed his eyebrows.
If that happened, it would be a crisis of civil war.
It had to be avoided.
Because the old royal family would never endure humiliation by
their own vassal.
“But why are you familiar with the circumstances of aristocrats
other than Harvan?”
“Because it’s not an unrelated matter.”
“How so?”
“If the political circumstances of Harvan became worse, I could
also get married to the aforementioned Margrave or the First
Prince.”
“I will not allow that to happen.”
“Onii-sama should never do that.”
“Whatever happens, I will never allow that, especially you, do
you have an ideal man—”
“Mou! Enough about me!”
Incidentally, even though she was tough to her older brother
Klaus, her ideal type was her older brother.
She didn’t want to marry a man who was as strong or stronger
than her older brother.
So, in fact, it was Ann who had the most antipathy to this
engagement talk.
However, at first she was also on the fence about the girl
called Erica Aurelia.
It was when she was first guided along the rose garden of the
Spring Palace.
At that time, Ann already determined the character of Erica and
thought that maybe she could leave her older brother Klaus at the
hand of this woman.
It shouldn’t be necessary to explain that during their case in
the deepest part of the Ruins of Visitor, that conjecture turned
into certainty.
“As long as the relationship between Harvan and Aurelia is
strengthened, my marriage will also be fine.”
“Yes. Certainly, as far as you are concerned, this is not
somebody else’s problem.”
“That’s why, communicate properly with Erica-oneesama! In
moderation! Please convey your favor to her!”
“O, ou…….”
Klaus turned his eyes away from Ann’s sharp gaze.
Originally oblivious to his own feelings, now Klaus’ civilities
were at rock bottom.
He didn’t know how to process and arranged his true thoughts
into what moderate sentences would be like.
“……You’re making an embarrassed and unwilling look on your
face.”
“Uh.”
“……You look like you find it difficult and troublesome.”
“No. There is no such thing. Don’t worry.”
“Then, a little bit more mild and light, yet it is rewritten to
ensure that Onii-sama’s love is transmitted!”
“L-love!?”
“That’s not it?”
“N-no, absolutely, absolutely, that’s not it!!!”
“Aah mou! You’re so stubborn……!”
Ann’s scolding and Klaus’ scream echoed in the beautiful
Harvan’s Gineda Castle.
☆
It was around a month and a half since the case in the
ruins.
A letter arrived at the place of the western duke’s daughter
Erica Aurelia.
Written on a fine vellum paper, it was a letter from the eastern
young noble Klaus Harvan.
『A letter from that black haired, good-looking dwarf?』
The source of that voice was the Zaratan – now the black dragon
Tirnanog – who had completely adapted himself to Erica.
In the end, even if Tirnanog was to break free from the
constraint of his armor, there was no particular problem.
Right now, we were just in the middle of bathing leisurely in
the hot water set in the tub.
“Yes, that’s right. Gift from Ann-sama has also arrived.”
『Hou, is it an offering? As expected of the girl who had given
me sufferings in a fight. That girl showed promise.』
“Offering……? I wonder if it is an offering, hmm. Well,
perhaps.”
『Am I allowed to open them?』
“Yes, go ahead.”
When he received permission from Erica, Tirnanog finished up his
bath.
And then, he started unpacking with a cheerful air.
『Ooh! Pig’s thigh!』
“Wah~~……, a very top quality dry-cured ham. How nice~~……”
The ankle of the ham was wrapped with a label with an emblem of
Duke Harvan.
It was a gem that was aged carefully.
Or rather, I thought it was very large and heavy.
The specialties of the East were the abundant of acorns from the
forest, the fattened pigs, and calves that were brought up with
tender white clovers.
Such information was coming up to Erica’s mind.
『Can I eat it?』
“Yes. Ah, save a portion for me.”
『Umu. I will. I never starve my friend.』
As a girl, was it okay for me to feel pleased with meat?
At first she hesitated, but Erica decided to banish her doubt
immediately.
Anyway, people who produced meat were not bad people.
In the meantime, Tirnanog was sinking his teeth into the ham
heartily.
“Well, let’s take a look at the letter.”
Erica opened the seal of the letter.
At first, Erica was looking at the paper with a loose smile, but
gradually her expression clouded.
After reading, she stared into the air with a mysterious
expression.
Tirnanog noticed it and raised his face from the ham.
『What’s the matter?』
After holding her silence for a while with an expression that
seemed to be suffering from a headache, Erica showed her letter to
Tirnanog.
『‘You are strong. I will become a man who will not lose to
you.’ Wait a minute, this is……』
“……What do you think?”
『A letter of challenge.』
“Oh, so it’s not just my imagination……”
『He is strong, but you can definitely win. I knew it.』
“No, it’s not that…”
Erica understood that she might have been regarded as a rival by
the genius mage from the East.
She didn’t understand at all what went wrong.
This, perhaps, might be a new death flag.
She thought that she had made friends.
Or that she might have a decent friend of the opposite sex, for
the first time in her life, including her previous life.
Erica Aurelia chewed her bottom lip slightly.
Her level of human distrust seemed to have risen again by
one.
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles
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Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18/Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s2.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 1: Spring Palace (part one)
Chapter 1: Spring Palace (part one)
On the north of Ichthyes1 continent where we
lived, there was a country called Lucanrant.
It was a tough country in winter, it was also called Lucanrant
the Ice and Snow Country.
I knew about the tragedy that happened in Lucanrant from the
memory of my previous life.
One of the people in the Duchy of Lucanrant had gone mad and
killed all of his family members.
—It was rumored that he wasn’t mad, but he was a werewolf, and
somehow that whispered rumor seemed very plausible.
Actually, there was one person who survived this ‘Werewolf
Massacre Incident.’
That person was the heroine of this game, Chloe Lucanrant.
After this incident, Chloe was hidden by a wealthy merchant’s
family, and used the pseudonym Chloe Croakina.
She would enter the Leandez Magic Academy in the autumn when she
was 14-years-old, seven years after the Incident, and would be
involved again in a bizarre incident.
Pretty sure there were seven capture targets. And each hero had
an individual scenario.
If you cleared the initial scenario, it was the type of a game
where scenarios were released one after the other.
I was still in the middle of playing this game and had only
cleared up two scenarios.
I had just started the third scenario in the commuter train in
my last day.
Yeah, I had not completed the game.
I was stabbed three days after the release date!
Hahaha, it’s painful, isn’t it!
Apart from that.
First of all, I had to summarize the memory of my past life and
my current life.
Let’s spread out the large parchment of a map and let us
confirm the geography of this world.
This continent was roughly composed of four regions.
Lucanrant in the north, Harvan in the east, Aurelia in the west,
and Ignitia in the south.
These were all old country names, and royalty of those old
countries dominated these areas.
The northern Lucanrant was an extremely old country where its
people had to migrate north just to make their own country, and
they produced many brutal swordsmen who were strong and
healthy.
The eastern Harvan was the second oldest country made by an
ethnic group that visited this continent, it was located deep in
the forest, and they produced versatile mages.
The southern Ignitia was a country of dragon knights who could
ride on dragons.
At that time when they came to the southern region, the one who
dominated Ichthyes was a country called Cascadia.
Ignitia destroyed Cascadia by the mighty strength of the dragon
knights and conquered the southern part of this continent.
They were proud conquerors.
The western Aurelia was the alchemists’ country made by the
〈Visitor’s Clan〉 who was the last to come to this continent.
It was still impossible to turn lead into gold, but since we
found enormous gold veins, it was the wealthiest region.
The current Duke of Aurelia was my father.
My mother died before I was three years old. Since then, my
father was still single without remarrying.
My memory about mother was very few.
I could only remember her gentle singing voice and the touch of
a gentle fingertip touching my cheek.
Was it because I was an unfeeling child or because it was hard
to establish memory before three years old?
“Erica-sama~~, where are you~~?”
I heard the voice of the maid who was searching for me.
I was caught up in the sentimentality about my mother, but now
not so much.
An event that would probably trigger my death flag could start
anytime soon.
Now I wanted detailed information about the Aurelia in the west
and Harvan in the east.
I would like to reinforce the knowledge I had lived as Erica
Aurelia.
Especially, because—
“Oh, found you. Don’t trouble your maid too much, Erica.”
I was found by my older brother.
By the way, this was my older brother’s study room.
It was not impossible for him to find me here.
“Onii-sama, I wasn’t hiding or running away. Before triggering
my death flags, I have to collect information and be prepared!”
“Death flag……?”
Oops, my mouth slipped.
“Ah, no, never mind.”
“Hm, then, let’s go. Everyone is waiting for you.”
I didn’t think that I would meet that person the next day after
I remembered the memory of my previous life.
I was just barely surpassed the save line.
I would have committed an irreparable mistake if I was late
another day in remembering my past life.
Today was the day when the eastern Harvan family visited the
western Aurelia family.
Among them, he was the capture target of the starting scenario
of 『Liber Monstrorum』– he was Klaus Harvan.
The Klaus who I knew, that was, the Klaus who was one of the
game’s capture targets had such characters.
At the age of sixteen, he was a versatile mage.
A dignified sharp face.
A cruel character.
He was a boy with dark eyes filled with regrets that couldn’t be
wiped out and a human being who looked resigned all the time.
Although he was supposed to have blue eyes and black hair in the
setting, in the CG his eyes were drawn with a color as close to
black as possible.
Why did he become such a person?
That was because he thought Ann Harvan, his sister, was killed
due to his fault.
But, the one who actually killed Ann Harvan, was me.
To be precise, it was me who brought Ann to a place where the
danger of death was hanging in plain sight.
It was the young villainous lady Erica Aurelia, who was the
cause of Klaus’ sister’s death.
(This part will become the cause of my death six years
later.)
Every owl that were used to deliver a letter was killed, the
land where the magic academy resided become a solitary island.
And then, with her whole body turned into gold, the dead body of
Erica Aurelia was discovered.
This was the beginning of the first scenario, ‘The Golden
Madness Murder Case.’
If I had to spoil it, so Ann went into the ancient ruins of
Aurelia and was possessed by an evil spirit.
The evil spirit of the ancient ruins was a legendary
alchemist.
He, who was the only one that succeeded in creating the
Philosopher’s stone, had been killed by his compatriots who were
trying to get the secret of its creation.
An evil spirit possessed by revenge, nostalgia, love, and hate
caused a continuous death by ‘the Curse of Midas2’ at
the academy.
Ann, who had been assimilated with the evil spirit for six
years, aimed first at me who had killed her and killed me.
Yes, I could understand that feeling so much.
So.
Today I met that pair of brother and sister, Klaus and Ann!
I didn’t feel bad, but I didn’t know what would happen and I was
afraid of dying!
What if when I met Klaus and Ann, I woke up as a villain?
Like the original Erica, I might become a villainous lady that
pushed a person into a trap – I couldn’t stop trembling when I
thought about everything that could go wrong.
“Erica, are you okay? Are you cold, you seem to be
trembling……”
My gentle older brother carefully put his hand on my
forehead.
Thank you very much, Onii-sama.
He treasured his younger sister who had awaken the memory of her
past life without change.
“I’m okay, Onii-sama. I will be seeing some of Harvan’s people
for the first time, so I am a bit nervous.”
“You can rest assured, Erica. Eastern people are gentle and
kind. Oh yeah, the son of Duke Harvan is older than you by two
years, while his daughter is a year younger than you.”
“Yes, I have heard from Otou-sama. Klaus-sama and Ann-sama,
right?”
“It will be good if you can become friends.”
“Yes.”
I had calmed down when I was talking to my older brother.
I would do my best.
It was yesterday that I awaken the memory of my previous life,
so the countermeasure hadn’t been prepared properly.
Still, it wasn’t good to be crushed by tension from the
beginning.
“Aah, that’s right. I will give this to you. Because a spell for
courage was put on the stone, even the shy Erica surely can be
friendly to your new friends.”
As he said that, my older brother hung a necklace with a stone
which had a hint of blue light around my neck.
(This is, a star crystal……)
The star crystal was a mineral which was Aurelia’s special
product.
It had another name which was 〈star of the navigator〉.
It was a crystal of a special mineral that emits light as its
surroundings got darker in response to weak magical powers.
When you used a piece of star crystal in the size of the tip of
a fingernail into a glass tube and used it as a lamp, it kept the
same brightness as a candle.
In this 〈Spring Palace〉, such star crystal lamps had been
installed everywhere.
However, I had never seen crystals that were large in size and
weren’t put into a container like this necklace.
“Onii-sama, this is–”
“This is a secret from father, okay? This is the result of my
friend from the magic academy’s research into the Ruins of Visitor.
I thought that it’s a good gift for Erica. I had the stone cut and
tailored it to a necklace. Star crystals of this size, it shouldn’t
exist anywhere in this world except in that ruins.”
“Eeh……!?”
Ruins of Visitor.
The moment I heard those words, I stiffened.
“Onii-sama, thank you very much. But Otou-sama said that the
ruins are dangerous……?”
“That’s why, keep this a secret from father.”
〈Ruins of Visitor〉 was a place where Ann would lose her life and
it was the place where the evil spirit was sleeping.
The reason why Klaus and Ann sneaked into the Ruins of Visitor
at the game『Liber Monstrorum』was the star crystals.
To Ann who wanted this beautiful jewel, the young lady Erica
told Ann about the dangerous ruins.
Erica’s line in the game played in my head with her character’s
voice.
(This is an important stone from Onii-sama! If you want it,
you can find it yourself!)
This was–! This was my true death flag!!
I almost threw the necklace away from the window just now, but I
couldn’t do it to the present from my older brother and his
friend.
If possible, I would like to avoid wearing it too noticeably
when meeting with the Harvan family.
I spoke with my older brother carefully and smartly so that no
suspicious behaviors appeared.
“Onii-sama, I’m very happy, but……it’s too obvious. Otou-sama
will be there with us after all.”
“Hmm, as expected that’s not good.”
“Then, how about hiding it under my dress?”
“I see, that’s alright.”
I will steadily strike down the death flags.
1 Ichthyes (イクテュエス): means Pisces in Greek. The more
you know lol.
2 Midas: it was a story about a king who was so
greedy and wished that everything he touched turn into gold.
Meaning, the Curse of Midas is where people died by turning into a
gold statue.
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles
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Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18/Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s3.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 2: Spring Palace (part two)
Chapter 2: Spring Palace (part two)
At the drawing room of Spring Palace, we had a meeting with the
Duke of Harvan.
The theme of this visit seemed to be the conversation about the
development of the silver ore veins at the boundary between Aurelia
territory and Harvan territory and the surrounding forest
resources.
My father, Duke of Aurelia, was in his forties.
His stroked back golden hair had some white hairs mixed
within.
He had short beards on his jaw.
His looks and personality were similar to Edward-oniisama.
He was very sweet to his family, but he was also a proud person
with many meritorious deeds.
My older brother and I who had dressed up was lining next to
him.
Then, Duke Harvan and his wife, along with their two children
appeared before us.
The Duke of Harvan was younger than my father.
Although he was already in his thirties, he had a beautiful
youth style with black hair and gray eyes with a sharp
impression.
He was wearing the magician’s formal wear which consisted of
loose pale grey robe.
At first glance it was plain and simple, but it was a very
beautiful clothing with fine silver embroidery.
The Duchess was a bit young.
She was a woman who seemed energetic and refreshing.
She was wearing a light blue dress with little decorations, her
black hair was in an updo, and she had deep azure eyes.
She was an adult woman who combined elegant beauty with mellow
cuteness.
Then, there were Klaus the first child and Ann the second
child.
Klaus was wearing a black extravagant clothing with silver
threads, while Ann was wearing a neat white dress with silver
threads.
Both of them were similar to their father in facial expression,
while their hair and eyes were similar in color with their
mother.
Their straight black hair looked silky, and their intense blue
eyes were impressive.
Klaus was especially stood out with the transformation from his
dark impression in the game to the bright, child-like facial
expression he wore right now.
He looked like a healthy boy who had never been hurt with plenty
of confidence.
I wished he could grow up as a refreshing, healthy young lad as
he was.
After the greetings and introductions, Duke Harvan and my father
talked about the subject of today’s agenda.
The Duchess of Harvan deemed to decide to take a look around
inside the Spring Palace, accompanied by my older brother.
Then I, Erica Aurelia, along with the Harvan siblings, were told
to play in the palace’s extensive garden.
During this season, Spring Palace, just like its name, was a
flower-filled palace.
And the most beautiful place in the palace, Knot Garden, an
ornamental flower garden1, was a large garden with
hundreds of flowers, consisting of three gardens of roses.
“Then, from now on I will introduce the garden.”
“Oi, woman. I don’t feel like getting along with you, absolutely
no way.”
—Did this person have a personality like this?
I mean, why was a 10-years-old boy calling a girl who was
younger than him by two years with the term ‘woman’?
No, this was right.
Klaus Harvan was not only ruthless and gloomy, but he was also a
Do-S man. I forgot about that because of his refreshing boyish
looks.
“In the first place, I don’t even want to came here! I don’t
understand why should my father have to come here, the newcomer of
the west.”
Even if you told me such a thing.
In the Spring Palace of Aurelia, there were many transfer gates
installed, in addition it was perfect for observing the surrounding
mines and forest……that was how it was.
In the first place, Aurelia’s 〈Visitor’s Clan〉 arrived on this
continent about six hundred years ago, so it was troubling to be
called a newcomer.
“Hmph, I have no interest in such a place. Flowers are
crap.”
“Onii-sama, please don’t say something childish like that. That
is rude to Erica-sama.”
While I was thinking for a matter of seconds about how to
counter that in a friendly way, help came when I was silent.
Ann was one year younger than me.
“That was such a rude thing to say to Erica-sama who will guide
us through the gardens of Spring Palace, which is an honour.”
“Aah, I don’t want to be with you, Ann. If I’m together with
women I will become weak.”
Well, I guessed he was this kind of person, yeah.
As expected, opposite sex should be limited to 2D.
However, it was slightly surprising that he took this kind of
attitude towards his sister.
Even though he was a terrible siscon in the game.
“That’s alright. Then, Klaus-sama please do whatever you like. I
will show Ann-sama this garden.”
“……Aah, I will do that.”
Klaus left us and went into the palace quickly.
Even so, I wondered what he was going to do in other people’s
palace alone?
Well, whatever.
I should entertain Ann right now.
Today’s mission was to protect her safety, not to take care of
Klaus’ mood.
Absolutely, I wouldn’t even get close to the western Aurelia’s
number one Ruins of Visitor!
“I apologize, Erica-sama. My older brother has done something
very rude.”
“I don’t mind it. Thank you for your consideration,
Ann-sama.”
“I should be the one thanking you, Erica-sama.”
Even though she was younger than Klaus, Ann was prim and
polite.
Her favourable rating within me rose steadily.
Also, one of my concerns was solved.
As a result of meeting Klaus and Ann, Erica Aurelia, the
villainous lady who was sleeping within me, was awakened!
……Nothing like that happened, I was still me.
“I was looking forward for this very much. I heard it from the
rumors. This large garden is so wide that you can’t see everything
even if you exhaust yourself.”
“Oh my, is this your first garden?”
“Yes. There are no people in the east who have low-cut trees
like this. So it is very unusual – Ah, those flowers are–!?”
Although Ann was still seven years old, Ann was very
intelligent.
Then she seemed to have a lively, child-like sensitivity.
After we went to the area of Knot Garden that consisted only of
evergreen trees, we headed towards the ornamental garden in which a
wide variety of flowers were in full-bloom.
Each one seemed to be unusual for her.
“These are dwarf lavenders. It is an improvement form of the
original, so their petals are larger.”
“Their pale purple colors are very beautiful……Ah, what is that
single white flower?”
“It is one of our original rose species. If you like it, I will
tell the gardener to pick several of them for you.”
“……Is it alright?”
“Yes. Please add your favorite flowers to your liking.”
It wasn’t bothersome to listen to the little girl’s request.
I believed that being nice was the basic manner to become
intimate with children.
“Is it really alright?”
“Yes, Ann-sama is my precious guest.”
I kept smiling to her.
Ann’s face turned red.
“……Thank you very much……”
Unlike her brother, she was very honest and cute.
Well, Klaus was not honest because that was his selling point,
so it couldn’t be helped.
Because there was a demand for that in the world of my previous
life.
And, in my mind, I remembered the world where Ann had died.
(That kind of thing absolutely should not happen. I don’t want
such a child to die.)
Of course, there was also her cuteness.
I sincerely felt bad that she would be cursed and killed by an
evil spirit.
1 Actually written as a parterre (パーテア), which is an
ornamental garden with paths between the flower beds.
…And no, there is no yuri here.
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles
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Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18/Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s4.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 3: Spring Palace (part three)
Chapter 3: Spring Palace (part three)
The tour of the garden ended pleasantly.
Ann was very happy.
She looked very surprised at the improved flowers in the western
Aurelia and enjoyed the tour.
I remembered to return to the gardener on my way back to bundle
the flowers Ann picked up and decorate her room with them.
She would be pleased when she got to her room.
Once I was about to return to my room before the dinner party
began, I came across a surprising thing.
“…Haah, not yet, another round…!!”
“This in an embarrassment. Aren’t you already out of breath,
Klaus? I’m already hungry, so let’s stop this here…”
It seemed that Klaus and my older brother Edward had been
sparring in the courtyard of the palace.
Klaus had a long staff that was used by the mages of the East,
while Edward-oniisama had a short wand that was used by the
alchemists of the West.
Apparently, Edward-oniisama was winning.
As expected from Onii-sama.
No, wait, your sparring partner was a child so go easy on him,
you 20-years-old man.
The lawn of the courtyard roughly had hollowed out, huh.
“Oh, Erica. How was it for you?”
Edward-oniisama came over with a look like ‘I was
saved’ when he found me.
I saw Klaus trembling from hearing his voice…
A scene of being thoroughly defeated like that, he wouldn’t want
anyone to see it.
“Well, Ann-sama was very pleased. Have the two of you been
bonding with each other?”
“Aah, Klaus-kun said he wants to try my strength. Well, he’s
very good. I was defending against him.”
“Oh my, is that so?”
I hoped for your continued humility.
It was better for you to be careful as exaggerating humility
felt unpleasant to see, Onii-sama.
Perhaps he invalidated all aggressive magic that Klaus sent with
a calm face?
“Tch……!”
See, the trembling Klaus turned red.
In the first place, in this spar Klaus was in a disadvantage, if
you thought about it.
Basically, mages far outperform alchemists with their degrees of
freedom and variation of spells.
However, the physical and mental burden was correspondingly
high.
That was because to perform a spell, mages used magical power
that they generated from their own body.
Such things like inexperienced body and an unstable mind would
obstruct everything.
Conversely, the magic composed by evoking a strong emotion
became enormously powerful.
Alchemists created some constructions with built-in spells
beforehand and filled them with magical power, which could be
stored for various utilizations.
Then, performed magic as necessary afterwards.
Neither physical condition nor mental health was relevant.
The question was whether or not they had prepared for the
situation properly.
As the result, the alchemist Edward who had stored items
sufficiently, with the mage Klaus who had not complete his physical
maturity, it would not even be a match.
By the way, I, Erica was an inferior student which was rarely
found in Aurelia family in recent years.
The fatal thing was, I couldn’t build spells nor store magical
power.
I could barely use the items created by other alchemists.
Actually, that could be done by any human, even if they weren’t
alchemist…but…, hahaha.
Harsh!
Right now I was under the patronage of my father and older
brother, but what would happen when I entered the academy!?
Apart from that.
“Both of you, the dinner party will start soon. Isn’t it better
to use the time to prepare?”
I passed on my calm brother who was not sweating, and looked at
Klaus’ body.
“That’s why, Klaus-kun. This game is a draw, so time out.”
“…Tch, I will not lose next time…”
“Oh, that’s right. I was called by my friend from school a few
days ago. After dinner party I will be returning to Leandez Magic
Academy.”
“What did you say……!?”
“Well, I’m sorry. Klaus-kun.”
This was my first time hearing that my older brother would be
returning to Leandez Magic Academy tonight.
I guessed Edward-oniisama used this chance to flee from
Klaus.
“That’s so sudden, isn’t it possible to stay, at least while the
Harvan’s people are here?”
“This is urgent. Make friends with Klaus-kun for my part too,
Erica.”
“Eh……? Alright.”
And then Edward-oniisama left.
Klaus and I were left behind.
This was awkward.
I glanced at Klaus and caught him scowling at me openly.
Smiling while thinking on what to do, he scowled at me even
more.
“……I apologize for saying something rude before.”
He stopped scowling at me, just looking at me with honest
eyes.
“It’s fine, Klaus-sama.”
“It seems that I was originally weak even before I caught the
weakness from the others.”
Klaus looked like a dejected puppy.
Edward-oniisama, just what did you do……?
“You are the sister of that man. You must be a refined
alchemist.”
“No, I have no alchemy talent at all.”
“……Do you like such humility?”
Aah, after Edward-oniisama’s exaggerating humility, it
would be suspicious.
“No, it’s true. Unfortunately, the magical power for spells and
magic is obstructed inside my body.”
“……! I see, I’m sorry to hear that.”
Even in the western Aurelia this kind of constitution was a bit
severe, but in the eastern Harvan this was quite a fatal
constitution.
Suddenly Klaus’ eyes that were looking at me turned
sympathetic.
Reflecting on this, I was seriously concerned about my
future.
Surely the Erica in the original game would have been distorted
by her inferiority complex in this area.
“But, ah……don’t take this the wrong way, but there’s a problem,
I feel a trace of strange magic around you. If that is not your own
magical power, I wonder what generates that magic?”
Oops, what was it?
“Oh my, I have not noticed anything at all.”
Of course, I also had items with defense magic.
However, this was the home of Aurelia family.
There was no need to use such magic at home ground.
“That’s concerning. Sorry, can I come a little bit closer?”
“Eh? Yes, it’s alright.”
Klaus said so and came close to me.
He began to look at me closely.
“Hmm……”
Did you understand something?
As expected from someone who would be a versatile mage in the
future.
“I understand, it comes from your chest. Are you holding some
special ornaments with magical power?”
Aah, you mean that–!
The star crystal necklace I got from Onii-sama.
“I got this from my older brother this morning. I didn’t know
that such powerful magic was embedded within.”
I couldn’t show this to Ann, but since it was just Klaus there
shouldn’t be any problem.
Having said that, I pulled out my necklace from under my
dress.
Right now it was evening.
Blue light from the star crystal overflowed in the dim
surroundings.
“…Beautiful. So this is the famous Aurelia’s star light…”
“This is a good luck charm for me to make friends.”
I thought it was just on the level of a good luck charm, but it
seemed that it seriously fascinated other people?
Klaus stared at me as if he was fascinated.
“It is not your brother’s magic. On the contrary, it is a type
of magic I don’t know. It doesn’t belong to Harvan or to
Aurelia.”
“Well, I heard that this was what was found in the Ruins of
Visitor. It may be some kind of ancient magic.”
“Ruins of Visitor, huh.”
Oh no, something was wrong.
Somehow the fact that the keyword itself came out, it felt like
a prelude for bad things to happen.
“But, why didn’t Edward-oniisama notice the magic inside this
stone?”
“I also thought that it’s just my imagination since the magic is
very faint. But, magic that I don’t know, this is quite rare.”
This was Klaus who was an excellent mage.
He probably noticed it since he was using Glam Sight1
that could visually sense traces of magic.
His magic would activate automatically even when he was not
conscious.
Unfortunately, us western alchemists couldn’t respond to
unexpected events.
It was no wonder that Edward-oniisama didn’t notice this.
Even so, Klaus was surprisingly someone who had great ambition,
huh~
Although he had not entered the magic academy, he had covered
the East and West magic.
“It’s amazing that you noticed that, Klaus-sama.”
“Naturally. This is the result of training to my utmost every
day.”
I felt that Klaus’ eyes were glittering.
Talented people were curious and greedy for their favorite
field.
“I also want to go to the ruins. Erica, will you show me the
way?”
–This flow, I only had bad feelings about this.
Somehow my death flag seemed to have been raised.
In the game, Ann was possessed by the evil spirit in the Ruins
of Visitor.
If Klaus went to the ruins instead of Ann, Klaus would be
possessed by evil spirit, and then he would curse me~~!!
“That’s impossible. Because that is a dangerous place.”
“Wasn’t it possible for Edward to go there without problems? Or,
do you think it’s impossible for me?”
Oh no, I triggered a strange sense of rivalry from him!
I guessed I would hurt his pride if I said that was the
truth.
What should I do?
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles
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Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18/Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s5.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 4: Spring Palace (part four)
Chapter 4: Spring Palace (part four)
After that, I escaped from the pursuit of Klaus somehow and
headed for the dinner party.
As soon as Klaus talked about the matter of the ruins during
dinner, my father and Duke of Harvan stopped him very solemnly.
It couldn’t be helped. It was not a place where a 10-years-old
child could go.
When the topic about the ruins came out, I found it secretly
amusing that my older brother looked unruffled on the outside but
feeling anxious inside.
It was a good thing that I forbid Klaus to speak about the
matter of Edward-oniisama went into the Ruins of Visitor~~.
When the dinner party was over, Edward-oniisama was about to
head to Leandez Magic Academy that was located in the central part
of the continent through the Spring Palace’s transfer gate.
Transfer gates were located in the basement of important
buildings and provided warp function by magically connecting the
gates at each sites.
My older brother received one key from father after the dinner
party, and he would use the one-time-key to go to the academy.
I suddenly felt uneasy because of my conversation with
Klaus.
I wanted to hear about the magic that was spelled in this star
crystal, so I caught up with my older brother who was holding a
baggage in his room.
“Onii-sama, I’m sorry to hold you up when you are in a hurry,
but could I ask you something about this necklace?”
“Hm, what about the necklace, Erica?”
“Klaus-sama was concerned about the magic inside this necklace.
Very special magic.”
“Hee, a special magic, huh……Please lend it to me, Erica.”
With his eyebrows slightly furrowed, my older brother was
staring at the star crystal.
Edward-oniisama spread out his leather handbag on the floor
while crouching on the spot.
“Is that Wunderkammer……?”
We sorted our reservoir of gathered alchemists’ prepared items
into a miracle room, Wunderkammer.
The leather bag seemed to have an expanded interior space.
My older brother built a Wunderkammer inside it.
“Well, the magic for expanding space was very expensive…”
“That’s right…”
My older brother said that with distant eyes.
Incidentally, even the materials to create the kind of wands
that were stored inside cost an enormous amount of money.
I guessed this was quite a splurge, Edward-oniisama.
I didn’t know the specific price, but even if I just looked at
it roughly, I believed that I could sell off one or two silver
veins that my older brother would inherit in the future.
“Well, I will investigate it now.”
Edward-oniisama picked out a piece of sugar maple wand from
among the large number of short wands inside the Wunderkammer.
At the end of the wand was a piece of emerald.
On the part of the handle, there was a workmanship imitating a
feather of a peacock made from mother of pearls.
Perhaps the core material was a feather of a peacock.
The length of the short wand was just the length of a
conductor’s baton.
On such a small tool, more than 50 charges, or over 100 charges
if it was the finest wand, of magic was put into it.
How convenient~ I thought, but each one could only
contain one type of magic.
To deal with every situation, countless short wands were
needed.
So preparation was important for the western alchemists.
Edward-oniisama swung the wand like a conductor.
Green light spread around my older brother and converged on his
eyes.
With this, Edward-oniisama’s eyes temporarily turned into Glam
Sight.
The magic of an alchemist in this world was all done
manually.
“I see. This is amazing.”
“How is it?”
“Because I found it at the Ruins of Visitor, I thought that the
magic was of that era. But in actuality, it is older. At least
before Ignatia conquered the southern part of this continent.”
It was around 650 years ago that the founder of the western
Aurelia arrived at this place.
When the invading Ignatia destroyed Cascadia and placed the
southern part of this continent under their control, that was the
story of about 150 years ago before that.
Together it would be 800 years ago.
Cascadia was a country of vampires.
It was a dark nation where the vampire royalty and aristocracy
dominated human beings like a livestock—at least, that was how it
was reported.
In other words, the magic put on this stone was likely to belong
to the vampires of Cascadia.
It was not necessarily the truth, though.
“It means that it was the magic used by the vampires.”
“Aah, I see.”
On this continent, vampire was a phantom beast that had been
extinct hundreds of years ago.
But, it seemed that vampires would come out in the scenario
which I had not yet completed.
“Fortunately it is safe for us. Because us western human beings
are all dense to the magic of this kind. But—I’m afraid that both
East and North humans are sensitive and will be affected by
it.”
“What kind of magic was put inside the stone?”
“I will say that it’s close to a fascination, but it’s more than
that…Yes, it seems to be spelled to evoke desire…It seems better
for me to hold on to this stone a bit longer.”
Magic that evoked desire, huh.
Suddenly I remembered the tragedy of Klaus and Ann
in 『Liber Monstrorum』. In the first place, why would the very
polite Ann want the necklace that Erica had?
—It might be because of the desire evoked by this necklace.
“Erica, I don’t know if it will replace me, but here.”
This was the key for Onii-sama’s wonderful Wunderkammer.
The stored items were also equivalent to a lifeline for our
family.
“Onii-sama, why are you giving this important thing to me?”
“Because you seem very uneasy. I have to go to Leandez Magic
Academy for my friend. Actually I’d like to be by your side……But
I’m also needed there for something.”
“Onii-sama……”
“It’s alright, if there is nothing extraordinary, I should be
able to come back tomorrow morning.”
After he said that, my older brother went to Leandez Magic
Academy through the underground transfer gate.
I headed towards the guest room at Spring Palace.
It was to confirm the safety of Klaus and Ann.
I didn’t care that my long dress entangled with my legs, I was
running in the palace corridor at night.
Events that had occurred today were floating in my mind one
after the other.
Ann’s smile, with dyed cheeks among the blossoming flowers.
Klaus’ sparkling eyes when looking at the magic of my star
necklace.
The necklace with ancient magic—faint but bewitching blue
light.
I wanted to see Ann’s smile and Klaus’ scowl as soon as possible
to give me a peace of mind.
☆
The guest rooms that were used as accommodation for the children
of Duke Harvan, were plentifully decorated with the flowers of this
spring garden.
There was a fragrant scent of flowers in the room.
However, I couldn’t find the figures of Klaus and Ann.
All the maids serving Duke of Harvan were falling asleep by
magic.
I made sure that Ann was not confused among the sleeping maids,
but she wasn’t there either.
–Perhaps this was the work of Klaus.
Although he was only a 10-years-old boy, Klaus’ magical
abilities were exceptional.
These women weren’t just maids, but maids that had served the
duke.
In other words, they had some knowledge of magic.
If so, they should have a mild magic resistance.
I believed that the maids were took out by a powerful sleeping
magic so that he could sneak away.
I wondered what time was this magic used.
It was also worrying that the one who disappeared was not only
Klaus, but Ann too.
A person like Klaus would have headed for Ruins of Visitor.
Ten to one, no doubt.
For Ann, if good luck was on my side, she might be with the Duke
and Duchess of Harvan.
(For confirmation, I should hurry up and see the Duke of Harvan
or my father, shouldn’t I?)
It wasn’t good if this situation became widespread and panic
occurred.
I closed the door, crossed the corridor and headed to my
father’s room.
I walked about fifteen minutes.
I should have reached my father’s room since a long time ago,
but I reached the original room I set out from.
At this point, I understood that I was lost in a familiar
place.
It was a magic that turned the palace into a labyrinth.
However, no matter how much an excellent mage Klaus was, he
shouldn’t be able to use space distortion magic.
This was probably a Phantasmal Maze.
It was a magic that dazzles as though it was a labyrinth by
messing out the sense of direction of a passing human being and put
them under an illusion.
Because of this magic, Spring Palace seemed to have been divided
into several compartments.
I couldn’t even go to the Duke of Harvan or my father, the Duke
of Aurelia, and the adults would never reach their children’s
room.
For a 10-years-old to be able to master this complex magic……
I couldn’t hide my surprise at Klaus’ talent.
(I mean, this kind of careful preparation is too much,
Klaus–!)
Taking a deep breath, at this time I should calm down and
think.
“Edward-oniisama, it seems that I’m going to use it this
soon.”
I looked at the key to the Wunderkammer that I received from my
older brother earlier.
I put it into the keyhole of an appropriate room and turned
it.
This key itself was a magic item that could turn any door in
this palace into a door that was connected to my older brother’s
Wunderkammer.
When I opened the door, the Wunderkammer of the alchemist Edward
Aurelia appeared before me.
So if you don’t understand the work of a wand, the amount of
magic inside a wand is depending on the maker. For example, a wand
is charged 100 times with magic, that means the user can only use
that wand for 100 times. And each wand could only be powered with
one type of magic.
The difference with a staff of Harvan is that a staff is a
medium for mages to channel their magic. So it used the magical
power generated by the user, while a wand used the magical power
that had been stored inside it.
That’s why, while mages are depending on the versatility and the
magical power of the user, alchemists are depending on the type of
wands they have prepared beforehand.
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles
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Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18/Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s6.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 5: Spring Palace (part five)
Chapter 5: Spring Palace (part five)
This was my first time to step in to my older brother’s
Wunderkammer.
Wunderkammer was not only an alchemist’s workshop, but it was
also a museum of magical materials collected from every corner of
the world.
In the center of the room there was a large desk-like
workbench.
Some burn mark-like stains and traces of some kind of liquid
overflowing were there.
On the large desk, there were various laboratory equipment and
processing instruments.
Glass test tubes, distillation bottles, burners, oil lamps, etc.
were in order.
On the right cabinet, there were specimens of eidolon
beasts.
Especially noticeable was the horn of the unicorn that was
ordered from Harvan of the East and the fossil of a basilisk we got
from the southern region.
There were many fossil specimens, but a lot of bottled preserved
specimens were also stored.
On the left cabinet, there was a tightly displayed ore samples
from Aurelia.
Not only regular ores, but also special ores with original
magical effects were collected.
All specimens were stored in boxes and bottles of a certain
size, and labels describing their origins and characteristics were
stuck on them.
The meticulous older brother’s personality was well-represented
by the cabinets.
Inside the front cabinet were stocked a number of wands with
built-in magic that were made using these materials.
Boxes of wands were stacked so that they couldn’t be
counted.
Inside these small boxes were also stored detailed notes on the
spelled magic and materials that were used.
There were many wands that could use the same magic, but their
power and effects differ slightly depending on which material used
to make it.
It seemed that my older brother was living here day and night
researching to grasp the differences of each and draw out the best
magic.
From what I understood, there was no such wand to cancel Klaus’
Phantasmal Maze.
The next action was decided by this.
It would be difficult to seek help from my father or other
adults.
At least, I had to keep track of Klaus and Ann.
I examined the clothes boxes in one corner of the
Wunderkammer.
Of course the clothes boxes were also labelled.
While checking the label, I found the clothes box that my older
brother was using around eight years old and opened it.
I dragged out my older brother’s boyhood clothes that I had
found.
I took off my clothes and wore my older brother’s old
clothes.
My hair was gathered behind with a ribbon.
Put a silver pocket watch into the coat pocket.
Fitted on the alchemists’ leather gloves.
After putting on the black leather boots, I slung the biggest
leather bag I found in this room over my shoulder.
Both were waterproofed with grease.
Put two lamps made of fragments of star crystal quenched with
antioxidant in the bag.
The most important thing was choosing the wands that had been
filled with magic.
Wand of Glam Sight.
This was the same wand as what Edward-oniisama used.
The effect lasted for about 30 seconds.
Wand of Hold.
It was made of amber, and the stick head was made using the
fossil of cockatrice coated with celluloid.
On the handle, there were workmanships of a chicken and snake
made of sterling silver.
The core material was a dried basilisk tail.
The duration of the effect was about 3 seconds.
Stuffed two or three for each enchanted wand into the leather
bag along with other wands that could be used.
Wand of Gust.
Wand of Urd Sight1.
Wand of Levitation.
Wand of Castling2.
Wand of Feather Falling.
Wand of Lock.
Wand of Grease.
Wand of Mage Finger3.
Wand of Water Walking.
I was looking over the wands and found a wand that was strictly
locked.
This was……a Wand of Sailor’s Song.
Only this wand was special.
When singing a specific song while swinging this wand, it was
said that 〈Alchemist’s Star〉 would fall.
With the magic of 〈Alchemist’s Star〉, we were also called
〈Aurelia the Star〉.
On the other hand, the reaction when it was used was not on the
degree of other wands.
If a mediocre alchemist used it without understanding how to
make use of it, it was said that just dropping one star would drop
his own life.
It was too dangerous, I couldn’t use it.
One magical rope.
It seemed that the utilization was similar to a wand.
It could be used freely a certain number of times.
One bottle of Obscuring Mist.
One bottle of Moonlight Gallnut Ink.
It was an ink made from Harvan’s special ore.
The letters written with this ink emit light only when the moon
was out.
Because there was no ordinary Gallnut Ink, this had to be enough
for the time being.
A piece of chalk.
Just to be safe, I packed a pen and a scrap of parchment.
Put a bottle of distilled liquor and a small box of chocolate
for precaution.
Finally, I picked up an athame knife4.
I left my older brother’s Wunderkammer, close the door, and
locked it.
First of all, let’s use the Wand of Glam Sight.
Pale green magic circle appeared and converged on my eyes.
When the magic showed its effect, I quickly used it on Spring
Palace, and then detailed information about the magic of Phantasmal
Maze appeared before me.
Creator unknown, the performer was Klaus Harvan, the time it was
set up was about thirty minutes ago.
Speaking of thirty minutes ago, it was when I saw Onii-sama
off.
It seemed that Klaus went out of the room due to my blunder.
Duration of the magic was three to four hours from the time of
creation.
It was as I thought.
It would be too late if I waited for the effect to be over
before asking help from my father or Duke Harvan.
The creator and the performer were different, because it was a
magic that was launched from a scroll.
This magic was set up by the magical power of Klaus and the
spell cards.
There seemed to be small spell cards on several places in this
palace.
Both scrolls and spell cards were mainstream magic in the
eastern Harvan.
They should have roles like a blueprint and an amplifier
respectively.
It seemed that the spell cards that had been spread out create a
barrier and amplified the enchanted magic, so they created a vast
labyrinth.
Next, let’s examine the underground transfer gates.
As I began to run, I remembered the scene when my older brother
was going to go to the magic academy.
—Huh? The underground transfer gates were managed by one-time
keys.
How did Ann go to the Ruins of Visitor in the original
scenario?
1 Urd is the name of one of the three Norns (Fates)
in Norse mythology. Urd is the one representing the past. So, Wand
of Urd Sight means that the wand could be used to see the past.
2 Castling is the act of moving the King to a safe
position in a blink of an eye, by trading the King’s place with one
of the Rook. So, Wand of Castling is for trading the place of the
user with the target.
3 Wand of Mage Finger: The Japanese version of Mage
Hand in D&D, it appears as a spectral, floating hand. The hand
lasts for the duration or until the user dismisses it as an action.
In this novel, it can only be used for fine works. (source)
Edit: I have been translating this wrong as a hunting knife, but
it is actually this:
4 Athame knife: a ceremonial blade, generally with
black handle. The athame was not to be used for actual physical
cutting. (source)
So the Phantasmal Maze divided the palace into several
compartments. People in one compartment couldn’t go to another
compartment unless they cancel the magic. This was why Erica
couldn’t go to the adults’ rooms. Since Erica could go to Klaus and
Ann’s room from Edward’s room, and from there go to the underground
transfer gate, this means that all those rooms are in the same
compartment. Besides, if Klaus and Ann’s room were in different
compartment from the underground transfer gate, they wouldn’t be
able to go to the Ruins of Visitor either. (Thank you
thatguy572 for your helpful explanations!)
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles
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Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18/Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s7.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 6: Spring Palace (part six)
Chapter 6: Spring Palace (part six)
I ran down the dark stairs of the palace.
(Aah, it’s a great thing that I had changed my clothes–)
I felt light compared to when I ran in a dress.
I mean, it was painful to wear a dress as someone who had a
modern human’s sensitivity.
Or it might be just my low femininity.
After a while, I arrived in the underground transfer gates.
The place was illuminated in the night in the warm light by the
star crystal lamps.
“Maybe he’s not here anymore.”
I wished he was still sticking around in front of the transfer
gates, but this was not the easy mode.
All around me, there were a lot of arched stones of the transfer
gates lining up.
These were the transfer gates to go to the important places all
over the country.
Each transfer gate was given a design representing its
destination.
Every transfer gate had a faint glow with rotating magic circle
floating around it.
They were magically sealed so that it couldn’t be activated
without one-time keys.
Without hesitating, I ran towards the deepest transfer gate.
It was where the transfer gate to the ancient Ruins of Visitor
was.
I arrived in front of the intended transfer gate and I felt
disappointed.
“It needs keys…”
In addition to the one-time key magic circle, it also had a
physical lock.
Even if you falsified the one-time key in some way, you still
couldn’t use the transfer gate.
What an awful ending.
Even though I borrowed supplies from my older brother’s
Wunderkammer, and I had assembled the perfect battle
preparation.
However, rather than something happened, it was better that
nothing happened.
–A sense of relief……was it alright to feel it?
But then, where did Klaus go?
I used the Wand of Glam Sight just to be safe.
Huh? This – this lock, it was a phantom!
The genuine lock was destroyed by someone.
But, somehow the one-time key magic circle was also an
illusion.
The phantom that showed the lock as it was before destruction
was created by Klaus Harvan.
He made it about thirty minutes ago.
The illusion of the one-time key was the thing that Duke of
Aurelia, who was my father, made ten years ago.
The transfer gate to Ruins of Visitor was already outdated and
old.
Therefore, it might not have been possible to set up a one-time
key seal.
Instead, it was locked with a physical lock, and disguised it
with an illusion as if there was a one-time key seal.
It was an effective camouflage for the western Aurelia who
needed to spend a huge amount of money just to use Glam Sight.
But as the opponent was from the East, Klaus who was also an
excellent mage, it wasn’t effective at all.
Klaus looked at this camouflage and immediately realized that
the seal was fake.
After destroying the physical lock, he disguised it with a
phantom lock that was identical with the one my father made in
order to mislead.
As a result, the false images of the magic and physical locks
were completed.
“As expected, I have to go to the ruins and bring them
back.”
To be honest, I was scared.
Even in my past life I was not good with evil spirits and ghost
stories.
It was very scary to go to the Ruins of Visitor where such
things really exist.
But—
“Wait for me, Klaus, Ann.”
If the Harvan siblings were in such a place—
If they were lost in the ruins without knowing what was going on
or what was in there, then I had to save them.
I took a step forward into the transfer gate to the Ruins of
Visitor.
If I was not mistaken, the words praising the land of the
destination should be the command words to activate the magic.
I read the command words that were engraved on the transfer
gate.
“Come, my friend, let’s give a new name to the Promised Land
over this sea.”
☆
—I felt a slight dizziness.
When I opened my eyes, I was on the first layer of the Ruins of
Visitor.
The transfer gate was an ancient system in which spells were
engraved on the floor openly.
In contrast to the Spring Palace which was made of white solid
stones, the ruins were created by cutting out ordinary stones and
piling them up.
The ruins were located near the west coast of the Aurelia
territory.
I thought that I could smell the waves slightly.
Even though evening had come all the way, it was not completely
dark.
The lamps which contained star crystals were installed on the
wall, the weak gentle light which had a faintly yellowish color was
illuminating the room.
Long time ago, the family that founded Aurelia of the West, was
the last people who visited this continent.
Ethnic groups who had lived in this area first called them the
Visitor’s Clan.
They were excellent navigators, alchemists, and people of a
destroyed country who had lost their homeland.
Or maybe, they might have destroyed their homeland through
excessive alchemy……but the details were uncertain.
Where they came from and what kind of past they had, were all
covered in the darkness of history and disappeared.
Due to the inclusion of a piece of truth in those lore, the
people of Aurelia had destroyed some of their forbidden
technologies.
For example was their homunculus creation technology, which was
imparted only through the lore.
It was said that the secret of the ancient alchemy that had not
yet been elucidated was preserved in this Ruins of Visitor.
I looked at my surroundings carefully with the Wand of Glam
Sight.
At the moment, there was no other traces of magic than the magic
of the transfer gate.
First of all, that was a relief.
(As expected, this thing is useless when I applied it on the
ruins.)
Additionally, I used the Wand of Urd Sight five times.
Five white lights generated from the wand spread throughout the
room and converged on my eyes as the ripples reflected and
returned.
Through the Urd Sight which reads and interprets the incidents
that had passed, I could see the back of Klaus leaving from the
exit on the left side of the room.
“Klaus……you came alone.”
When I continued to look around the room, I saw Ann reached this
room through the transfer gate.
She seemed to have noticed something, and seemed that to have
searched for one point in the room.
After that, she also headed for the exit on the left—
The past view ended there.
Apparently, after Klaus headed alone for this ruins, Ann who had
noticed it seemed to have been following him. It would be
preferable if the only one who entered the ruins was Klaus who had
some skills.
I also looked at the place where Ann seemed to find
something.
There was a spell card.
But it seemed that the magic had not been executed yet.
Since it was in a state not holding magical power, my Glam Sight
didn’t notice it…!
The spell card which was made with a parchment, had spells
written in ancient characters of the eastern Harvan.
I was not particularly fluent in foreign languages.
If I could read the letters I might have gotten more hints, but
even this alone was enough for me to keep track of them.
Let’s chase Hansel and Gretel’s unused spell cards of bread
crumbs1.
As I passed through the exit on the left side of the room, there
seemed to be several rooms with similar composition.
Ah, I could see a narrow passage in the distance.
Once I arrived in the passage, there were lamps. It was not
completely dark.
But, this was scary, though?
This ancient building, the Ruins of Visitor was in the
underground and it had the atmosphere of an underground
dungeon.
“I’m not scared of ghosts, I’m not scared, not scared……!”
For the sake of giving myself a fighting spirit, I raised my
voice repeatedly.
Mustering a little bit of courage, I used the Wand of Glam Sight
and Wand of Urd Sight alternatingly, and chase the back of the past
Klaus and Ann.
Had I move 200 meters from the entrance? I had walked down the
stairs four times, so my sense of direction became ambiguous.
I thought that monsters and ghosts were scary, but as I ran down
the dark passage, I suddenly remembered my past life.
It was a memory when I was hit from behind at night during high
school.
It was not fear that froze my spine, it was just a dark, gloomy
feeling.
(No, I’m scared of human beings……Ah, I feel like I can score
easy victory with such things like ghosts.)
Yes, humans were very scary.
The resentment of living humans, the envy, the hatred.
Such things were really, truly frightening.
As I remembered that memory, I met a human.
“You, are you Erica……!?”
There was the exhausted face of the eastern mage, Klaus
Harvan.
1 She compared the Harvan siblings with Hansel and
Gretel, so if in the H&G story they used bread crumbs to
remember the way, the Harvan siblings used unused spell cards.
About the transfer gates, I imagined it combined three of these
pictures. Imagined it as the arched stone in the second picture
(without the stairs), with the circle in the number 2 in the first
picture, but changed the circle as the glowy magic circle in the
third picture.
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles
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Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18/Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s8.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 7: Ruins of Visitor (part one)
Chapter 7: Ruins of Visitor (part one)
“Klaus-sama! Are you okay? You’re okay, right!?”
I rushed towards Klaus in spite of myself.
I could finally see the face of Klaus who until now I could only
see the back of, I was relieved from the bottom of my heart.
I guessed I was also relieved since I met a familiar face.
Gradually, the harsh expression on Klaus’ face disappeared.
“Aah, I have no problem. You are the one who is alone……You,
what’s with that appearance?”
Uh, he got right to the point.
First of all, I thought about putting emphasis on practicality,
and more than that I was in a hurry.
Regarding my coordination, it was quite appropriate.
“I borrowed the clothes of Edward-oniisama, thinking that you
are in the ruins, because I couldn’t come to a place like this
wearing a dress.”
“Oh, that sort of thing……you, you suit this appearance
better.”
“Oh, it is a great honor to be praised by you.”
Well, it was still impossible for me to wear a luxurious dress
after all!
I thought that Erica’s face suits it well enough.
Was the femininity of my soul insufficient as expected?
No, it was good enough that practical clothing suits me.
Let’s feel good.
“I’m glad I found you, this is the most dangerous place in
Aurelia territory, you know?”
“I’m aware of that, I just didn’t expect to waste my magical
power to such extent by searching this ruins for such a short
time.”
Klaus had a hard face.
It was a dark and scary place, so I certainly felt like I was
getting frustrated—
Had I had any difficulty in spending magic so far?
“Klaus-sama, what do you mean by that?”
“Erica, you, didn’t you notice it when you come to this
place?”
“Not at all.”
“……You’re dense.”
“It couldn’t be helped because Western human beings are
different from Eastern human beings.”
A dense place with a good sense, that was the virtue of the
human beings from Aurelia territory.
I might not have noticed it because my efforts and talent
weren’t enough, though.
“The magical effect that absorbs magical power is working on
this ruins, even the activation of lower tier magic took a heavy
burden since a little while ago.”
“Is there such a trap put on somewhere? Can you find out
something if you use Glam Sight?”
“I already identified things that seem to be the starting point
of the trap. But the spell to solve it doesn’t seem to be
effective. I don’t know what kind of trap is this.”
“Surely, metals and jewels that impede magic are physically
embedded.”
I heard that there were metals with such effects in
Lucanrant.
Depending on the combination of minerals that I didn’t know, the
same effect might be invoked, it was not only limited to the
northern metals.
“It seems that wide area magic is blocked, and magic with
effective range of 5 m or more in radius has failed.”
“That said, I heard from Onii-sama that there is a trap that has
been activated, but I don’t know the effect.”
“Got it.”
Although we from Aurelia didn’t mind the effect, people from
Harvan seemed to be pretty incompatible with it.
Ruins of Visitor were like the culmination of the lost
techniques of Aurelia of the West.
Unexpectedly, these missing technologies might be said to be
‘abandoned’ by choice because of problems, rather than being
‘lost’.
Like a trap that obstructed the magical power that was not
friendly to outsiders, for example.
“Because of that……I’d like you to see this for a moment.”
Klaus spread a parchment.
There were large rectangular outline and the name of the god of
wind was written in twelve directions so as to surround it.
It was the most commonly used template in this world’s maps.
But, except for the frame and several lines of Harvan’s magic
language, it was almost blank, and things that seemed like maps
were not drawn.
“I tried to use Auto-mapping and put spell cards along the
route. However, thanks to the troublesome trap, even if I cast the
spell it wouldn’t react at all.”
“Oh, so it is a spell for that.”
“If I knew a little sooner that Auto-mapping would be
invalidated, I wouldn’t search so deeply.”
Klaus shrugged his shoulders.
When the talk finished, I asked what I was really concerned
about.
“Well, Klaus-sama. Where is Ann-sama?”
“Wha—! Why are you talking about Ann now?”
Klaus’ body jumped in alarm.
Huh, this guy, didn’t he feel like a small animal?
“In order to follow Klaus-sama, I was using Urd Sight. Then I
could see Ann-sama as well as Klaus-sama……”
“I have not brought my sister here.”
“It seemed that she was pursuing Klaus-sama.”
“But, I’m certain that I had put my sister to sleep with a
sleeping magic……, no way, that girl, did she use a reinforced Magic
Resist in anticipation of me getting out?”
In his own way, he devised a plan to make sure his sister didn’t
come to this dangerous place.
I thought that he was cold to Ann, but he was a good older
brother.
However, it seemed that his sister was one step ahead of
him.
The young Ann was also an excellent mage like Klaus.
So, as a result of her insight and effort, she successfully
Resist her brother’s magic.
This, Klaus’ secret was backfiring, wasn’t it?
The more he said that she couldn’t come, the more he hid it, the
more she would be worried about it.
They were a curious pair of brother and sister.
“I didn’t see my sister on the way so far, it seems that she
followed another road somewhere.”
In the middle of devoting myself pursuing Klaus’ back, I
neglected to confirm Ann’s whereabouts.
It was also because I was reluctant in using the expensive Wand
of Urd Sight.
Perhaps it should have been used more finely.
“Would you like to trace our way back again, Klaus-sama? Let’s
go find your younger sister on our way back.”
“……That’s right. Apparently, I’m not prepared enough to get
around these ruins.”
Klaus glanced at my appearance and said that.
His gaze moved steadily to my alchemist’s leather gloves, to my
leather bag that was overflowing with wands, and to my boots that
seemed to be durable on the floor.
“If I’m not cautious like you, it is likely to lose my way in
the ruins.”
I was feeling a bit relieved at being obediently heard.
I couldn’t beat him if he said, ‘I will definitely not turn
back!’
“If you decide so, let’s search for Ann-sama immediately.”
“Ah.”
“If we couldn’t find a way to find Ann-sama, we’ll go back to
Spring Palace at once.”
“Ah, this maze is too much for children to navigate alone.”
“Speaking of maze, please dispel the Phantasmal Maze in Spring
Palace.”
I had to ask him not to forget about it.
It was no wonder if many maids were distressed during this
time.
“Mmm, you noticed it, didn’t you?”
“If I didn’t notice, I wouldn’t bother to pick you up like
this.”
“I thought that you are much more enthusiastic in searching this
ruins, so that is not really the case?”
“It’s not!”
It would be troublesome if it was misunderstood.
I had not come to explore like Klaus. I came to stop Klaus from
exploring.
I didn’t even know if my father or Duke of Harvan would get
angry at me, alright?
“While tracing our way back, let’s use Urd Sight at each branch.
So we can see where Ann got deviated.”
“Is that a Wand of Urd Sight? Will you also let me use it? I
have been using Glam Sight until you joined, it seems that it will
take time to recover my magical power because of that.”
“I see. It might be more efficient for both of us to use Urd
Sight rather than just me.”
Eastern magic cut not only mental power but also physical
strength.
No matter how much a genius Klaus was, he was still a
10-years-old boy.
The Ruins of Visitor had an intense magical power obstruction,
and he had been using Glam Sight since the start.
Or rather, I admired that his magical power had been kept well
until now.
Then, I was concerned about the amount of magic that was charged
into the Wand of Urd Sight.
I had already consumed about 60 charges before finding
Klaus.
The leftover was about 40 charges.
The Wand of Urd Sight was a wand created from ash
tree1.
The top of the wand was a yellow tourmaline, while the handle
part was given a pattern that was weaved in gold.
It was the core material that was distinctive.
Silk weave of 10 meters in length stitched with gold and silver
threads.
It was compressed into several millimeters by space magic, it
was lightweight and used as a core.
Then, it was necessary to replace the core material when
recharging the magic inside a wand.
What was my point?
In other words, this magic was incredibly expensive.
(Edward-oniisama, I’m sorry……!!)
While apologizing in my mind, I opened my bag for the second
Wand of Urd Sight.
I wondered how many wands would I use overnight.
I was afraid of thinking about that for a moment.
1 Ash is a type of tree. In this story, it refers to
Fraxinus japonica, or Japanese ash.
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles
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Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18/Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s9.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 8: Ruins of Visitor (part two)
Chapter 8: Ruins of Visitor (part two)
I handed over a Wand of Urd Sight and one of alchemist’s leather
gloves to alleviate the reaction of the wands to Klaus.
And for myself, I took out a brand new wand.
“This wand of Aurelia, how do you activate it?”
“To use it, just wave it while saying the spell in your
mind.”
“It looks like it’s surprisingly easy. Is it okay to try
it?”
“Sure. Go ahead.”
Klaus carefully swung the wand.
The magic of Urd Sight activated safely and white magic circle
converged on his eyes.
Klaus looked around while blinking over and over.
His long eyelashes made pachipachi sounds as he blinked
with vigour as if his eyes dried out.
“…This is useful. I myself didn’t consume any magical power at
all, I could see you from a few minutes ago.”
“Events that had passed over time cannot be pursued by Urd
Sight. Keep in mind about what you want to know when you activate
it, you should focus on events related to that particular
person.”
“Do I have to explore while thinking about Ann?”
“That’s right. Let’s go then.”
The lamps in the surroundings were weak because the oxidation of
the star crystals were proceeding.
This could make us overlooked the important places.
I searched my bag and took out a lamp.
“Klaus-sama, please also have this lamp.”
“Hm.”
Klaus attached the lamp he got from me to his staff.
When I thought of what he wanted to do, he demonstrated that he
could light up high places with his staff.
Ooh, that was great.
……Well, there was no Ann in such a place.
You still somewhat wanted to explore, right? That was not good,
you know?
We occasionally swung our wands and walked with two lamps
carefully shining on our way home.
“Somehow, I can see the past you were mumbling.”
“Please don’t tease me.”
“Erica……You, are you scared of monsters or ghosts?”
“Klaus-sama, please concentrate on finding your sister.”
Klaus looked amused as he turned his line of sight to the
front.
I would be in trouble for a while.
Because, right now I was an innocent 8-years-old girl, you
know?
Isn’t it okay to be scared of something?
Aah, but if I considered my actual age in the previous life, it
was painful to say whether it was okay or not……, ahaha.
“Your mood was terribly suspicious and you had gloomy eyes……Are
you really an 8-years-old child?”
“Hey! Please search for Ann-sama seriously!”
“You, you sometimes have eyes that said you give up on
life…”
Eei, I didn’t want you to tell me that!
Somehow, Klaus’ sensitivity increased until it almost felt like
he had a penetrating gaze1!
I would hold down what I wanted to say.
Even if Klaus sometimes seemed he had the tendency of a small
animal, when it came to it, he could grasp the opponent’s weakness
and play with it…!
Was this a glimpse of someone who would become a Do-S character
in the future!?
No, no, now I had to focus on searching for Ann!
“Klaus-sama, have you seen the back of Ann-sama yet?”
“No, I can’t see anything about Ann yet. For now, I have only
caught on to you in my Urd Sight.”
“Are you keeping in mind properly about your sister?”
“Oh, I definitely think about her. Even so I can only see you,
it’s annoying.”
This, this guy……!!
No, no, no, this was not the time for such a thing.
“Did you really see Ann? There is no trace that she ever went
through here before.”
—H-huh?
Just now, I felt like there was something weird.
“……Hey, Klaus-sama, could you please show me the place of the
spell card that you installed for Auto-mapping?”
“Oh, I remember…The spell card in this room is……”
Klaus ran to the corner of the room and looked around the
wall.
Oh, he seemed to have some trouble.
He walked around while lighting the walls many times and then
returned with a strange expression.
“It’s not here.”
“Really?”
“What does it mean? I’m certain that I put it there……It’s
strange, this is—”
He was not wrong.
I didn’t remember it very clearly, but I remembered seeing an
unused spell card around the area he was looking at.
But now that spell card didn’t exist.
—-I got a bad feeling.
“This Ruins of Visitor, seems to be moving the rooms and
passages, it’s probably not magic, but mechanical.”
At that time, I heard a bad sound.
It sounded somewhere in this ruins.
“A mechanical labyrinth……!”
“I have heard from my father that it was a kind of mechanism
that the ancient Aurelia people used to avoid thieves, but I never
thought that there is a mechanical labyrinth in such a large
building.”
Along with the tremendously loud sound of moving mechanism, our
feet shook unnaturally.
It was not an earthquake.
Right now, the room where Klaus and I stood was moving.
“……You saw Ann and I went out of the transfer gate.”
“Yes.”
“Did you see Ann that one time in the first room?”
“Yes.”
Klaus wrinkled across his brow,
Sharp eyes stared at me.
“When I passed through and when you chased me, it was probably
the same passage, but when Ann passed through, that passage was
connected to another place.”
“That’s probably right.”
“And now, too, the trick of the labyrinth has started, and we
lost our present position……That’s how it is, Erica.”
“Yes. In this way, there is no guarantee that we can go back to
the transfer gate.”
We lost the clues to find Ann and also lost the way to return to
the Spring Palace.
The mummy hunter himself became a mummy2.
We intended to find a lost child, but now we became lost
children.
We were too late in noticing it, and everything else might had
been lost.
“You’re quite calm.”
“Of course? I will act flustered when I feel flustered.”
“Well, aren’t you cheeky.”
The thing I most worried about now was Ann.
I was calm because we were still together.
A small girl was wandering around alone in this dimly lit Ruins
of Visitor.
Just thinking about it, I felt my heart squeezed tight.
Besides, if she had already been touched by an ancient evil
spirit—
No, I had to stop the pessimistic thoughts right now.
Look for Ann, return to the original place, I only had
to think about these two.
However, I felt stuck in this search.
Waiting for the night to come like this, wouldn’t father and
Duke of Harvan notice and send a search party?
—-No.
If that happened, Ann would die according to the original
game.
Because my relationship with her was changing, I didn’t know if
she would kill me six years later.
However, no matter how much death flags were broken, I didn’t
want such a thing to happen.
I didn’t want to give up on the life of a young girl I had
become emotionally attached to.
“If we move thoughtlessly, things will likely become worse.”
“There should be something we can do. Let’s think together for a
little while, Klaus-sama.”
I spread my leather bag on the floor.
What can we do with what we have right now? We had to
check the means that could be taken.
“You have brought so much.”
“I don’t know what will happen, because it is said that there is
no feeling of grief if you are prepared.”
Was there any magic that could break through our current
situation?
I turned over the box of wands and checked the label.
“……Wand of Grease? It’s a magic to improve slippage. If you put
it on your opponent’s hand, their hand would slip and they wouldn’t
be able to grasp anything. But what are you going to use in this
labyrinth? Something like a niche magic.”
“Because I was in a hurry, I packed it noncommittally!”
Klaus looked into the bag curiously and started picking out
items together with me.
“There is no convenient wand that will turn this situation
around in one shot. It’s difficult, huh. At most if the wide area
search magic is effective.”
“Please blame that matter towards my vigilant ancestors.”
Klaus also carefully read the labels, but it seemed that the
idea was not readily apparent.
But I couldn’t give up yet.
When I was persistently searching my leather bag, a weak light
that was different from the star crystal lamp came from the deepest
part.
“This is Moonlight Gallnut Ink, huh.”
“Ah, I often use it back in Harvan.”
There was a mineral particular to the eastern Harvan region
called moonlight ore.
It began to shine faintly as the moon rises, and lost its
radiance with the moonset.
When clouds shaded the moon, the moonlight ore became shaded as
well.
It was such a strange stone.
Since ancient time, the eastern mages utilized the
characteristic of the moonlight ore, that was specialized to
respond to the moon, to make Moonlight Gallnut Ink.
“The moon rise……right now it’s roughly 20 o’clock.”
In the ink bottle, a bluish yellow light that was permeated was
swaying gently.
It was a much weaker light compared to a star crystal lamp.
The night sky tonight was cloudy.
“Klaus-sama, this is……”
I covered my star crystal lamp and gazed at the moonlight ore’s
light, I noticed something.
Pale light of the same color as the ink was also shining on the
walls of the room.
Moreover, it was blinking repeatedly at the same timing as the
ink.
“You also noticed?”
“Well, it is as sparkling as the ink, isn’t it?”
Perhaps the intensity of the light was linked to the flow of
thin clouds that shaded the moon.
I noticed that it was such a weather.
I put the lamp into my leather bag, and Klaus covered his lamp
that was attached on the tip of his staff with the sleeve of his
robe.
Because the strong lights were blocked, the faint light of the
characters drawn on the wall was emphasized and emerged.
What was drawn on the wall was a crescent moon mark.
And under the mark was a familiar handwriting—
It was a message left by senior explorers who had challenged
this labyrinth.
What the golden moonlight illumination revealed was truly a
bright light3.
1 Actually it said レイプ目 (rape gaze), but I think it’s
inappropriate, so I changed it to penetrating gaze.
2 An idiomatic expression, means: intending to
persuade someone and instead being persuaded himself. Or, a person
who went to bring the person to his side will instead stay on the
other side.
3 Bright light here means hope, but the author made
it a pun, so I keep it as it is.
About the Auto-mapping, so Klaus installed spell cards en route
(the one Erica found in chapter 6). They are used to mark the
places where he goes through, and when he activated the spell, they
supposedly will create a map in the parchment he has in the
previous chapter. But, since there is a trap that invalidated wide
area magic, the spell cards were found by Erica in a state of
unused/inactive.
About the Moonlight Gallnut Ink, if the moon rose, the ink would
shine yellow/golden light. If the moon was shaded, it would shine
bluish yellow light just like in this chapter. It depends on the
current state of the moon, so even if it was indoor, as long as the
moon has risen, the ink would shine.
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Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/Section0001.txt
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Shini
Yasui Kōshaku Reijō to Nana-ri no Kikōsh
Arc
1
by
Terasu Senoo
Novel
Updates
Translation
Group: Starry
Night Translation
Epub:
Trollo
WN/LN EPUB
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Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s1.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Prologue: Erica Aurelia, the Villainous Lady
Prologue: Erica Aurelia, the Villainous Lady
“How did this happen…?”
I, Erica, the Duke of Aurelia’s daughter, couldn’t move when I
saw myself in the mirror.
Dark golden hair like honey was gently rolled elegantly.
The skin was white like milk, and the cheeks were rosy.
Although it was still the young face of an 8-years-old, she had
high eyebrows and emerald eyes that looked arrogant.
—Is that, me?
Wrong! That wasn’t me! That was—
I began to feel a sense of incompatibility with the hair color,
skin color, and eye color.
Above all, this characteristically vertical roll……!!
This was the villainous lady of the romance-fantasy girl
game『Liber Monstrorum ~Phantom Beasts and the Winter Princess~』
Erica Aurelia!1
I was seized by a sensation that made my feet wobbly, and I
leaned on the mirror to stabilize myself.
One by one, the memories of my past life was gushing forth like
a spring, and I felt sick.
Does this mean that I was reincarnated and awakened the
memory of my previous life?
I thought that was absurd, but just now, the recollection about
my life as Erica said that this was the world of『Liber Monstrorum
~Phantom Beasts and the Winter Princess~』
And that was why I had nothing but bad feelings no matter how
good my face was now.
More than that, it was that villainous lady, Erica
Aurelia.
I knew that Erica was bullying the heroine who entered the magic
academy, and she was the first person to die as the time for the
bizarre incident started.
If I grew up like this, when the drama for the heroine and her
chosen capture target reached the climax and the murder case began,
I would die!
I really wanted to avoid that.
Being suddenly attacked and died again, that would be too
regrettable.
—Again?
And the memory that I didn’t want to remember rushed into my
head.
It seemed to be the memory of my last moment in the previous
life.
I was shocked because I could see shiny things.
I felt a burning heat in the side of my flank and when I
stretched out my hand there, it was bright red with blood.
I escaped to ask someone for help, but I was stabbed many
times as I shouted—.
I see, after that, I was dead……
He was my colleague, I thought he was a man who never talked
much.
Suddenly, on my way back from work, he stabbed me many times
while saying ‘You betrayed me’, but why?
The only contact with him that I could remember was lending him
a retractable umbrella when it began to rain, but what was his
problem?
Or was it that?
There was a similar incident during high school.
I belonged to the Geography Club, and everyone in the club
(which consisted of boys except for me) said ‘I fall in love
with you’ and in the end it was misunderstood that I was
supposed to have a physical relationship with everyone, and that
rumor was circulated around the school.
It was hell.
I was weak and poor; I couldn’t clear up the
misunderstanding.
One of the member who truly believed it hit me from behind at
night……
By the time I left the hospital, the Geography Club had become
deserted and I had the worst nicknames, such as ‘Circle Crusher’,
‘Small Carnivorous Plant’, or just plain ‘Slut’……, hahaha…
Painful.
Even at university, or even in society, it was not as serious as
that, but there were similar incidents.
I failed at trying to overcome real human relationships as
safely as possible.
It was troublesome trying to be involved with other people other
than for business, and so I got addicted to something.
It was game speedruns2.
Fiction wouldn’t try to go as far as trying to hit me through
the display screen!
How wonderful!
The memories I had remembered were mostly my disastrous
experiences and the main strategy method of the game.
I was biased in my life experiences.
The more I traced as I followed the memory threads, there was no
choice but to accept because I experienced it in real life.
So, I didn’t dislike Erica.
Strong spirit.
Prideful.
Active.
She was a girl who seemed to embodied the strengths I admired in
the past life.
She was close to my ideal except for the harassing people
part.
If I were a girl like this, I wouldn’t be harassed or stabbed by
a misunderstanding Yandere man.
Maybe an ordinary human being would also be able to overcome it,
but that was a trivial thing.
That’s it!
I could change this romance-fantasy girl game into a
happy-go-lucky fantasy girl game!
But, was it really possible?
At minimum, I would have to escape my mysterious deaths.
Then I felt like I could live more freely than my previous
life.
Not bad.
Surely clues could be found in the memories of my previous
life.
Why did Erica die?
That was because Erica trampled over the lives of other
characters.
If I avoided that, I might be able to seek refuge in the middle
of a fatal situation.
The dark past of each capture targets.
It was a death flag that Erica built herself.
Since that was the case, I could strike down the death flags
with all my power.
However, there was something I want to check before that.
This ‘memory’ could also be my delusion.
It was possible that this wasn’t a reincarnation but a sign that
I was going crazy.
The young Erica was just playing with her 20-years-old older
brother.
She got sleepy when she read an easy-to-read book with a lot of
pictures from her older brother’s collection.
She fell asleep on a chaise longue and she just came in front of
the mirror with her messy hair again.
In order to judge whether my memory was a delusion or not, I had
to make sure whether something that I knew had happened or not.
“Are you okay, Erica?”
It was my older brother that came close to me, worried about me
who was leaning against the mirror.
Just in time.
“Your complexion isn’t good.”
My brother’s name was Edward Aurelia.
He was the first child of Duke of Aurelia and one of the
heroine’s capture target.
He had the same blonde hue as Erica’s, but his eyes were very
kind and sweet.
“Onii-sama, thank you very much. I just got a little tired for a
moment.”
“I see, you just read variety of books until a while ago. You
should eat sweet things.”
Edward took out a small package from a small box on the table,
and unwrapped the package.
“Here, open your mouth.”
When I opened my mouth, the chocolate grain was thrown in.
Onii-sama was always sweet to me.
“Is it delicious?”
“Yes.”
“Yeah, you’re a good girl, Erica.”
He stroked my hair with a gentle hand.
If I had such an older brother, I wouldn’t blame anyone for
being a brocon.
Well then, I needed to get the information I wanted from my
gentle older brother.
“Um, Onii-sama.”
“Hm, what is it, Erica? Do you want more chocolate?”
“If I ate too much before supper I would get fat.”
I felt bad for making my older brother’s smile dimmed a
little.
But, I had to ask him about the incident at the beginning of
this game.
“May I ask you about things in the northern, the ice and
snow-covered, Lucanrant territory?”
“……What are you talking about?”
“About what happened in the North last year.”
“…You mean the Dukedom of Lucanrant Tragedy, huh…”
Edward-oniisama looked sad as he said it.
“That’s, when Erica gets a little older……I will tell you in
detail at that time, now I want you to forgive me.”
“……I understand, Onii-sama. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s okay, I’m sorry for being fussy, Erica.”
It would have been better if I could have a confirmation that
there was a tragedy in the North called ‘Werewolf Massacre
Incident.’
I didn’t think that the 20-years-old older brother would explain
such a gruesome story to his 8-year-old sister in more details.
“Then, I will return to my room.”
With this, it was confirmed that this world is『Liber
Monstrorum』
The phantom beasts – numerous monsters, werewolves, vampires –
were the beginning of a strange world where they were engulfed in
the shadows of the night.
1 Liber Monstrorum: it is the latin of Book of
Monster. It is a late seventh-or early eighth-century Anglo-Latin
catalogue of marvellous creatures. (source)
2 Speedruns: a term in gaming where you tried to
challenge yourself while gaming, whether it was to beat the highest
score, beat it in the fastest time, or make all routes
play-throughs.
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Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s10.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 9: Ruins of Visitor (part three)
Chapter 9: Ruins of Visitor (part three)
“‘Pass under the crescent moon gate and look for the twin
half-moon’…?”
“This is……it’s the handwriting of Edward-oniisama.”
“It’s that guy’s handwriting!?”
I found a trace of Edward-oniisama in the Ruins of Visitor and I
felt relieved.
It was the feeling of finding Buddha in hell.
Onii-sama, who was wearing an archaic smile in my mind, was
waving his hand sweetly.
“It might be some hint that Onii-sama left when he explored this
ruins.”
“Now then, let’s follow this.”
“I agree.”
I packed up my box of wands that was spread on the floor and
other tools in my bag and stood up.
According to the message, we needed to go through the exit where
the mark of the crescent moon was drawn in the arch part.
As we went through a dark passage for about 30 meters, the light
of Moonlight Gallnut Ink came into our sight.
Two semicircular signs were arranged side by side.
This had to be the twin half-moon.
“This…!?”
“Wait, something is also written on it.”
“‘When the full moon rises high in the sky, the road will
open’…”
“Full moon? But, I don’t see a circle mark anywhere……?”
“Wait. There is the word ‘rises’ in the message. That
means—”
Again, the heavy machine sound resonated.
The shape of the room had changed nearby.
“This hint, is it supposed to be written assuming that the
labyrinth will move?”
“That means, that sound means that the full moon has risen some
time ago – in other words, it was a sound that leads to the room
where the next hint was written.”
“Ah. That’s right. The sky……If the moon has risen to the highest
position, the direction to go is south1.”
“Oh no. I didn’t bring a compass with me.”
“Leave it to me. While it is impossible to use high tier magic
and large area magic due to the consumption of magical power, I can
still use magic of this degree.
Klaus was chanting wholeheartedly while holding the wand
perpendicular to the floor.
The language he used was the same ancient language of Harvan,
but unlike the magical chant he normally used, it was a nursery
rhyme.
When he released his hand from the wand as he finished his song,
the wand turned around and fell down towards the direction where we
just came from.
“This direction is south.”
“It’s somewhat plain.”
“Because it is. But it’s unexpectedly convenient to remember
this kind of thing.”
Certainly, it was of great use.
Without this strange thing, I seriously thought of whether I
should extract a magnet from the core material or not.
Because of Klaus’ knowledge, the wallet of Edward-oniisama was
saved.
My older brother’s hint implicitly told us that in addition to
the passage of time, our moving weight was also a condition for the
labyrinth’s mechanism to change its shape.
If at first we searched with two groups, I might not be able to
rejoin with Klaus.
Holding hands with Klaus so that we wouldn’t get separated, we
moved toward the south through the dimly lit ruins.
While checking with our lamps at some places, we searched
carefully.
After a while, I saw a glowing round light emerging in the
darkness.
“A circular mark…that is the full moon!”
“Looking at the distance, is there any message?”
“Is this the end point?”
“What was your brother doing in this place?”
At the entrance where the sign of the full moon was drawn, a
brand new wooden door was set up.
Fortunately, the door was not locked.
While slowly watching for signs of movement beyond this door, we
slowly opened the door.
“This is……”
“A box…is it?”
In the room with the full moon mark, five large storage boxes
were placed.
Each storage box was made to be sturdy by being reinforced with
a metal frame and they were supposed to be locked.
If they were placed in a ruin like this, they looked like
treasure boxes.
Each storage box was carved with a crest of Aurelia.
On the attached labels, there were notes with Onii-sama’s
handwriting.
Apparently, the inside of the boxes seemed to be items that
Onii-sama kept for exploring the labyrinth.
There were two rolls of blankets on the side of the boxes, and
there were traces of fire as well.
“Is this a simple base camp?”
“Thoroughly prepared, huh. It sounds like my older brother.”
“There may be items that can be used.”
“If so, it can’t be helped.”
I tried to open the storage box, but all of them were locked
tightly.
It was really carefully prepared, it certainly seemed to be
Edward-oniisama.
“Klaus-sama, unfortunately, I didn’t bring a Wand of Skeleton
Key2……”
“Don’t worry. Somehow, my magical power has recovered enough to
use the magic of Unlock.”
“Well then, please.”
“Oh, leave it to me.”
Klaus put his staff on the box and cast a spell.
Unlike our wands, the staffs used by the eastern mages served as
a magical amplifier.
But, for a mage of Klaus’ degree to use a staff for a basic
spell, wasn’t that a little excessive?
Light-red light magic circle appeared as if wrapping the storage
box.
The magic circle slowly rotated and shrunk down, converging on
the lock part.
Click, and with that sound, the lock opened.
“Okay, I guess you can open it now.”
“Let’s open it, Klaus-sama.”
“Ah.”
Klaus opened the heavy lid of the clothing box.
I shone it with a lamp, I saw a number of items.
“Some scrolls and food, yeah, this is nice, we’re saved.”
“Does it have something that looks useful?”
“Look, it’s a magical recovery potion.”
Small bottles of candy colored glasses that contained potions
were arranged in order.
As expected of Edward-oniisama!
“If we have these, I don’t have to depend on your wand. I will
be able to do more in our search.”
“Sounds helpful.”
Huh? Alchemists shouldn’t have to worry about running out of
magical power.
Why did Edward-oniisama keep so many potions for magical
recovery?
For the companion who accompanied him……?
Onii-sama’s friend, I wondered if he was from Harvan or
Lucanrant.
Oops, now was the time to confirm the rest of the items.
After he opened one with the potions, Klaus was unlocking the
rest of the boxes one after another.
He had recovered his magical power, and now he was in a perfect
condition, like a fish that got water.
Aah! Four boxes had been opened while I was day dreaming!
“I will open this box.”
I was going to open the last box.
—GING!
The light protection pattern that had been embroidered on the
hem of my older brother’s clothes enveloped every thread with
special magical power.
At the same time as opening the lid, a vast purple magic circle
was spreading.
Hii! This was obviously a kind of curse.
I tried to avoid it quickly, but faster than I reacted, the
light of the magic circle broke like a chain and entangled me.
“……Eh!?”
“……!! This is bad! A trap!”
(Why does it—!?)
That’s right~~!
If you left behind a baggage full of items in a dungeon, you
would take measures against thieves!
This, the death flag was quite serious and dangerous!?
This was painful…!
Klaus cast Glam Sight and stared at me.
He was confirming the details of the curse that I was given.
His eyes shook, and blood drained from his head as he stared at
me.
When Klaus finished analysing the curse, he turned down his eyes
as if mourning.
Uwa! That was a reaction like a doctor who would announce an
incurable disease!
“……Sorry, Erica. This is…the curse of death.”
Hii, as expected!
Many of Aurelia’s people had a strong pride in their
craftsmanship.
So, most alchemists were strict toward thieves…
“……This is the work of Edward-oniisama, right?”
“Ah. The creator is Edward Aurelia, your older brother, it was
made about a month ago.”
Klaus’ facial expression was dark, he wouldn’t look into my eyes
and his eyebrows were furrowed.
Anyway, was I going to die, right now!?
“Curse of Merciful Death……After a certain period of time, even
without suffering, it will bring death promptly.”
“Eh, after a certain amount of time…?”
“Estimated to be a little more than eight hours and less than
twelve hours.”
“……Eh!?”
“It is to give some moral suffering to the victim, huh. Or maybe
there is an intention of dispelling it if the victim was begging
for forgiveness.”
You were a devil, Edward-oniisama.
As expected from someone with the infamous dark smile among the
seven capture targets, the retribution was very dark ……!!
I was always feeling refreshed by looking at my friendly older
brother’s gentle and sweet side.
It was too regrettable that I hadn’t played Onii-sama’s scenario
yet—
“……Erica, are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m okay.”
For a moment, it seemed that I had been escaping reality, but I
returned to see Klaus’ worried face.
“Erica, let’s return. There is still time to go to the palace.
Your father would be able to resolve it.”
“No, let’s give priority to your sister now.”
I decided to bear it.
Even if it didn’t have monsters or ghosts, this Ruins of Visitor
was dangerous enough.
There was no guarantee that Onii-sama and other explorers hadn’t
set any other deadly traps.
I couldn’t leave the young Ann in such a place.
Generally, I was accustomed to severe experiences.
I didn’t want to get used to it at all.
In the first place, it was not merely death, but the mercy
itself was that I could spare eight hours.
I took out the silver pocket watch out of my coat pocket.
The current time was past 21 o’clock.
“It’s still fine to escape by 5 o’clock tomorrow morning and
solve it.”
“What are you talking about! How much can we postpone it, if
something happened to you, I—”
“I’m more concerned about your sister.”
“But……”
“Let’s stroll around the garden of Spring Palace tomorrow, this
time it will be the three of us. Promise me, Klaus-sama.”
It was rude to interrupt other people’s speech, but I had to
interrupt him.
If I was seriously worried about it, it would be rather hard for
myself.
I smiled at Klaus.
A smile was important.
Even if Erica Aurelia was a villainous lady, would her smile be
enough to relieve anxiety?
“You……”
“If there is such a grace, if I don’t have a bad luck, I won’t
die.”
“I don’t know, Erica……you look like you have a very bad
luck.”
I know, right~.
In the one out of five Russian Roulette treasure chest just a
moment ago, I magnificently caught the jackpot!
1 This is a navigation using the moon
location. All celestial objects – sun, stars, planets and moon
– arc across the southern sky when viewed from northern latitudes.
They all reach their highest point in the sky when they cross your
meridian or line of longitude and this will occur when they are
exactly due south of you. That’s why, Klaus deduced that the next
hint is in the southern direction. (source)
2 It is written as Wand of Universal Key. So it is a
wand that can unlock everything.
…At first I don’t understand why the next hint is in the south
direction, but after reading it once again I finally understand and
added that first note.
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18
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Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s11.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 10: Ruins of Visitor (part four)
Chapter 10: Ruins of Visitor (part four)
“Erica, is there a painful place somewhere?”
“I’m alright, Klaus-sama.”
“I see……Then, do you feel sluggish, cold, or something like
that?”
“I’m alright!”
“I see……If you feel somewhat bad, don’t overdo it and say it
quickly.”
“Yes, yes. I will tell you.”
We were organizing and sorting the items that were stored in the
storage boxes of Edward-oniisama.
I mainly focused on the wands, while Klaus on the scrolls and
spell cards.
……It was supposed to be a time for preparations, but Klaus’
hands were stopping frequently.
Every time he stopped, he asked me about my condition.
“Erica, you, are you really…”
“Klaus-sama, I will get angry, you know?”
On his face, a big sign of ‘Worried!’ was written.
He resembled Edward-oniisama when I caught a cold.
Both of them had the same eldest son’s color on their soul’s
aura.
Onii-sama who had a black-belly dark smile was a good person,
similarly, maybe Klaus who would grow up to be a Do-S was also a
good person.
“Klaus-sama, how is it?”
“There is no curse in the range of my Glam Sight. These spell
cards can be diverted to Harvan’s magic without problem. Wait a
little more for the analysis of these scrolls.”
“That’s fortunate. Please don’t forget to restore your magical
power by drinking the potion.”
“Ah, I know. What about you, Erica?”
I read the parchment notes about the classified wands.
Wand of the Death1.
Wand of Fire Bolt.
Wand of Lightning Bolt.
Wand of Magic Missiles.
They all came from the trapped box of death.
Although the remaining amount of usage was few, all of them were
powerful offensive wands.
It was not unreasonable for Edward-oniisama to be vigilant about
thieves.
“You mean they were Edward’s leftovers?”
“The fact that the offensive wands were used is probably because
a fairly large battle had happened.”
“Well, it was strange that there were no monsters that
would protect the ruins at all, but maybe they were already wiped
out?”
“Probably so.”
Yes, the Ruins of Visitor had already been conquered.
In this regard, I would like to thank Onii-sama obediently.
Even though the mechanism of this labyrinth alone was
sufficiently troublesome, I shuddered when I thought that a monster
would also come out.
“Ooh! I can use this!”
Klaus raised a shout of joy as he was analyzing the scrolls
while making constant reference to his personal notebook.
He seemed to be in a good form ever since his magical power was
recovered.
I also stopped my hands that were packing items into my bag and
looked into the scroll.
“Have you found magic that seems useful?”
“Far better than being useful, it’s not an exaggeration to say
that this is a trump card. What is described here is a Pass
Wall.”
Klaus showed me the page of the notebook and scrolls, pointing
alternatingly with excitement.
Yup, but you see, I couldn’t read the magic language of the
eastern Harvan.
The result of a magical research was written carefully in the
notebook.
This was nostalgic, Klaus (older) of the game also carried
magical research notes that was as thick as a Japanese
dictionary2.
With this, he would grow up as a hardworking genius.
“Is it a magic that let you freely passing through the wall? It
is also a magical way for labyrinth searchers to cheat.”
“I don’t feel even a bit ashamed, because right now we don’t
have enough time anyway.”
Certainly, in the situation that mine and Ann’s life were on the
line, we didn’t have time to keep track of the maze of the
labyrinth.
But if I thought about this carefully, Onii-sama had always
prepared this cheat spell when searching inside a labyrinth.
As expected, Onii-sama……somehow immature.
“So it’s like this, let’s use the large, hateful mechanical
labyrinth as an example. If it was an ordinary labyrinth, we would
just have to walk through the walls and walk from one end to the
other end.”
“But we don’t understand the laws of the labyrinth, it won’t be
strange even if a fatal incidence occurs because we failed to
confirm everything.”
In addition to the passage of time, the Ruins of Visitor
detected the weight of its intruder and changed its shape.
The message of Edward-oniisama, who explored the ruins first,
was not left in every room.
Because there weren’t many hints, it would be unreasonable if we
didn’t try to decipher the laws of the changing labyrinth from now
on.
“If we don’t understand the rule, at least we should be able to
supress the change of the labyrinth.”
“Time passage, weight…, huh…”
“The manipulation of time is the highest-ranking magic. I
memorized about the chants and the magic circle configuration as
much as I could, but they place a heavy burden on someone as
immature as I am. I have never succeeded even once in casting
it.”
“You memorized it, huh. The highest-ranking magic.”
“If it was only memorizing spells, everyone can do it if they
try. Once I matured, I would finally be able to practice it.”
No, but even though he was only 10-years-old, he had memorized
the highest-ranking magic, I believed that not everyone could do
it, you know?
Because this was a genius who had not noticed that he was
actually a genius!
Well, but time was impossible anyhow.
Then, the remaining was weight.
Weight, weight, weight……ah!
“Klaus-sama, there is a Wand of Levitation. With this Pass Wall,
combined with—”
“I see, a flying-based magic! Then, it’s as good as no
mechanical labyrinth!”
Wand of Levitation was made from fossils of a large wyvern.
On the stick head was an amber, and the handle part had yellow
brass in a pattern of a feather.
The core material was fossil of the wing of an
archaeopteryx.
Incidentally, this was also very expensive, but in this
situation I couldn’t afford to be frugal.
Unlike flying, it was impossible to finely adjust the height of
Levitation.
However, since we only wanted to avoid a mechanical labyrinth,
we only needed to float a little from the ground.
Levitation had a weak effect, but it was useful enough.
“Then the next step is decided. Using Levitation in combination
with Pass Wall, we will search each layer one by one.”
“If we also combine them with Urd Sight, it seems we will be
able to significantly shorten the time.”
“There are two Pass Wall scrolls. I think one piece is for
returning, we will return temporarily if we cannot join with Ann
before the first piece effect timeout.”
“It can’t be helped. In the case that Ann-sama is in a safe
place – let’s leave a note in various places so that we can guide
her to this simple base camp.”
There was a possibility that it might not be noticed at all
depending on the weather, if it was only written on the wall with
Moonlight Gallnut Ink.
Just by dropping scraps of parchments that squeezed out the
instructions on the conspicuous points such as the entrance, the
discovery rate would rise significantly.
“Erica, I said this many times, but we will return home as soon
as you feel unusual about your condition. No matter how much effect
time the Pass Wall scroll has left.”
“Klaus-sama…”
“I am worried about Ann, but if you have any chance to be saved,
I will not forgive myself for the rest of my life if you die. If
only I looked at the magic trace a bit more carefully, that trap
could have been prevented.”
“Klaus-sama has a quite stubborn personality, aren’t you?”
“You……”
I appreciated him for being worried about me.
But it was due to my carelessness that I was caught on a
trap.
Because it was burdensome to be taken care of too much, I
diverted the topic to miscellaneous things.
Nonetheless, to be honest, I felt glad that Klaus was actively
seeking to withdraw.
Was it because I received a sentence of death?
It was a good thing.
—No, no, that was not good at all.
After the confirmation of items was finished, we prepared for
our departure.
Klaus wore a belt with a potion holder found from Onii-sama’s
storage box around his waist from above his robe.
He hooked the magical recovery potions to all of its special
shaped metal fittings.
He drank three potions that couldn’t be fitted on the holder to
restore his magical power, the rest would be put into the cloth bag
that Klaus had brought with him.
Three potions……he was only 10-years-old, but the maximum value
of his magical power was high.
If it was an average adult mage, I heard that their magical
power would be fully restored after drinking two and a half
potions.
“Wh-what is it? Why are you staring at me like that?”
“No, never mind. If I must say, I’m worried whether your magical
power has completely restored or not.”
“I see…… Ah, if wide area magic is not hindered, I have enough
magical power to run exploration magic on all the layers so
far.”
“Klaus-sama, if I look closely your face is red, how is your
physical condition?”
“Oh, aah……why is this? Was there also sake in the ingredients of
the potion…?”
When Klaus turned toward the other way, he gathered spell cards
with great vigour.
He was like a banker who counted bills or a magician who
shuffled cards!
He bundled about 20 sheets of spell cards, and put them into
hidden pockets in various parts of his robe.
Hmm? Wait a moment, did he bring hundreds of them?
Even just by glancing at him, it seemed like he had put over 300
sheets in just one sleeve.
“Klaus-sama, no way, are you going to bring all of the spell
cards? There are about 2000 sheets, you know?”
“If we go to the deepest layer, there is a possibility that we
will come across an unknown monster. By the way, there are less
than 2000.”
“Being the mage of the East is a hard work too, huh.”
“We also put an importance in preparation. It is the same as the
fundamental of you western alchemists. Unlike the northern
swordsmen who can fight with each other, or the southern dragon
knights who are unbeatable as long as they have dragons.”
“Considering all that, you still came to this ruins without
preparation……”
“Because, at that time I was weird. No, I reflect on it. I will
never do something like this without preparation again.”
It was harsh that he was feeling ashamed about it.
His behavior was due to the curse of the vampire
(?)3, so I didn’t mean to blame him.
I fastened the lamp that tends to block my hand on the bag, and
wrapped the belt that had the wand holder around my waist.
It only barely caught around my waist, as expected it was truly
a belt for Onii-sama.
I picked up the two wands of Magic Missiles and Lightning Bolt
from the offensive wands, and the three wands of Levitation,
Feather Falling, and Urd Sight among the wands for convenience, and
put them in the holder.
Too many would just bring confusion and couldn’t be used.
It was the theory of alchemists’ way of fighting, to insert a
reasonable number of wands into the belt and exchanged them
alternatingly with the wands inside the bag as occasion
demands.
……Edward-oniisama was selling out.
“Ah, right. Klaus-sama take these too, please. These are the
Wand of Levitation and Feather Falling…In other words, they are for
flying and falling. Because these two have a short range, please do
self-management to the best of your ability during the move.”
“I understand the Levitation, but when would we use the Wand of
Feather Falling?”
“This is important. We can’t say that there would be no such
thing like pitfall, and it can also be used when we float too high.
Because Levitation has a high altitude rise, it often happens if
you swing it too many times by mistake.”
“How high is it specifically?”
“Usually around 5 cm. 25 cm when you swing it once more. And 125
cm if you swing it again. The altitude will rise exponentially with
each swing.”
“Huh. That’s interesting.”
Ah, 10-years-old and he already understood the exponential
function.
As expected, he was the hardworking genius, Klaus Harvan.
Although there was also a possibility that he would float away
appropriately.
Let’s take care that he wouldn’t overswing the Wand of
Levitation.
“Let’s go, Erica. From here it’s a race against time.”
“Yes, Klaus-sama. Let’s help Ann-sama as soon as possible.”
Klaus read aloud the scroll of Pass Wall.
White light spread out from his staff and spread a magic circle
over us.
From the magic circle overhead, drops of light came down like
raindrops.
The drops of light which passed through us, spread like a ripple
when it fell to the ground and formed another magic circle.
The two magic circles intersected slowly so as to sandwich us
and the trajectory of white light enveloped us.
After confirming the invocation of Pass Wall, I swung the Wand
of Levitation which was made of amber, bone, and brass, twice.
Feathers made of golden lights fell to our feet.
Light touched our shoes, and when it touched our shoes, it
changed into a golden magic circle.
The magic circle of Levitation spread as if covering our shoes,
pushing our body up in the air.
As we held hands so that none of us would get stuck in the wall,
we kicked in the air and jumped into the wall.
1 The literal translation is actually Wand of the
Armor of Death.
2 It actually said 広○苑, but I know that it refers to
広辞苑 (Koujien) or a Japanese dictionary written by Shinmura Izuru.
For reference, it is this size. So, Klaus (older)’s research journal is
very thick.
3 This question mark is in the raw. This is because
Erica still wasn’t sure that the magic spelled on the stone was
from the vampires. It was still pure speculation.
If you want to see how they look like after their preparation,
look at the cover for this series
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18
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Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s12.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 11: Ruins of Visitor (part five)
Chapter 11: Ruins of Visitor (part five)
It was my first time to experience Pass Wall.
So, my body penetrated the wall, and the feeling of passing
through the wall was an unknown and incomprehensible sensation—
No, wait……There was something similar to this sensation, what
was it?
The memory of my previous life revived in my mind.
At a very common tavern and a bento shop, I experienced a
sensation similar to this magic.
(—Oh, it is a short curtain1.)
Should it be said that it was a sensation of going through a lot
of whole-sized curtains in a passage of about three meters.
There was an approximate experience where I didn’t expect
it.
(What exactly is fantasy…Ah, but this is surprisingly fun.)
The effect time of Levitation was sufficient.
The sign for the end of the effect was that the diameter of the
magic circle around our foot had become about half the size.
Before the magic circle stopped supporting our body, I swung the
wand again.
“Perhaps, isn’t it better for us to exit the Ruins of Visitor by
passing through the walls, so that we wouldn’t use too many
wands?”
“It’s risky.”
“Why?”
“Outside of the Ruins of Visitor are considerably thick rocks.
If we made a mistake in estimating the depth and couldn’t pass
through the rocks during the effect time…”
“We would be squeezed inside the rocks. That’s wretched.”
“It is. Moreover, even if we successfully passed through the
rocks, the outside of the Ruins of Visitor is mostly the sea. If
our escape angle is wrong…”
“We would drown. That’s wretched.”
“It is. I don’t want to increase any more bizarre cause of
deaths.”
“More what?”
“Oops! About this. Please don’t mind it.”
“Erica, you……”
I looked away in a hurry.
I was about to carelessly mouth off the collection of bizarre
deaths of Erica, the villainous lady.
He wouldn’t understand my previous life knowledge in every
sense.
It should rather be left unsaid that there was a story in the
game about what happens when you failed at
teleporting2.
Somehow, from Klaus, I felt like I was being seen with eyes like
watching a painful child.
……Harsh.
With such a situation, we had explored each layer at ultra-high
speed even when there were trivial and personal failures.
While we were exploring using the Pass Wall, Ann finally began
to appear in Urd Sight.
They were nothing more than images of a time that had
passed.
Even if we tried to follow her past footprints, we would be
obstructed by the wall immediately because of the labyrinth which
had already changed.
However, it seemed that some of Klaus’ worry eased a little.
Thanks to the confirmation of Ann’s moving figure.
I wanted to meet the real Ann quickly.
When I thought about the sad future where those siblings would
be separated by death, my heart felt painful.
“Wait, Erica. There is something.”
We were about two layers down from where the simple base camp
was.
Klaus extended his hands to shield me and glared at the end of
the passage.
“Eh……”
“Sounds of something being dragged on the floor shake the air
slightly. I wonder if it was a monster or a beast that broke away
from your older brother.”
Eh, a monster?
Wait a moment, I had been preparing for a battle, but my heart
wasn’t ready yet for the actual battle.
If I listened carefully, I could hear faint fricative sounds
were steadily getting closer.
Should we run away?
“Don’t make a sudden move. Stay behind me.”
“Oh, yes.”
Klaus kept me behind his back and held his staff at the height
of his waist.
What should I do, I had to help him. What wand should I use?
Offensive wands were on the right side of the belt……Aah, I
didn’t take out the Wand of Hold!
“Don’t push yourself. Be ready to escape at any time.”
“Eh, but–”
“It is a man’s job to protect a woman. Your job is to calm down
by taking a deep breath. On the battlefield, a friend who is
panicking is scarier than the enemy.”
“Fuh…haah…Klaus-sama is calm, aren’t you?”
“I’m undergoing combat training and I’ve accompanied my father
in hunting and deadly extermination.”
So the duke and his son went directly to get rid of evil
spirits, huh.
In the ancient royal family era, there was a story that said
Harvan of the East was also the highest priest of the indigenous
Sun God.
We saw a shadow of something wriggling in the passage
corner.
Klaus quickly got two spell cards from his bosom with his left
hand and threw them toward the shadow and cast a few words of spell
quickly.
The thrown spell cards flew while expanding a magic circle,
bursting open mid-air and emitted bright white lights.
Light hit the upper right corner and the lower left corner of
the passage – and diagonally shone the true form of the shadow.
“—A flock of moving bones!? And moreover, this number is…”
Various types of beasts bones were grouping together while being
suspended mid-air.
How many? Several tens of heads?
Lots of bone chunks that couldn’t be counted were filling up the
passage and drew near in a surge.
That was the identity of what was illuminated by the magic of
Light.
“They have enough Magic Resist to trick my Glam Sight……No, they
are monsters with magical structures that I don’t recognize……, no,
what are those!?”
“Klaus-sama……”
“Listen to me. When I give you a sign, run away and don’t look
back. If you keep going straight using Levitation and Pass Wall,
there should be a valid exit.”
Tension ran on the face of Klaus.
After glancing towards me, he pulled out a bundle of hundreds of
spell cards from his sleeve at once.
No matter how much battle experience he had, no matter how much
of a future genius mage he was, if those bones were undeads it
would be inevitable—.
In fact, if we encountered such a huge number of undeads, it was
a crisis of death.
—However, looking at those figures, on the contrary, I was
relieved.
“Klaus-sama, it’s alright.”
“What!?”
“That is the cleaning automaton that my older brother made, an
acid hydrogel golem.”
“—Ha!?”
Those were not undeads.
The large amount of bones was floating inside a golem made of
translucent jelly-like substances.
Unlike the regular golem, he was not humanoid but a cube.
He spread his flexible body all the way into the passage and
performed cleaning by swallowing up every garbage without
exception.
A few days before regaining memories of my previous life, I had
seen prototypes of this in Onii-sama’s room.
It was an appearance like an apple jelly that moved.
I thought it was convenient, but I never thought that the real
golem was so huge……
As expected, Onii-sama……it was on a different scale……
“The inside is strong acid, but the outside is made of gel. It’s
said that it is a smart and safely designed golem that swallowed
only carcasses and the expensive materials are protected with
neutral ingredients.”
“Why!! Why does your older brother put such a thing inside the
labyrinth!?”
“Because of the cleaning……Because there were so many monsters’
dead bodies, I think that the golem cleaned up bone remains to
collect materials for alchemy.”
“Eei! That’s so confusing!!”
That was exactly right.
But, that was something you should tell Onii-sama directly, not
me.
Oops, I remembered important things.
“Ah, but, if we penetrated into him in this Pass Wall state, we
would be killed instantly by the strong acid without being stopped
by the outer shell.”
“Kuh, Edward Aurelia……!!”
“We may as well stop exploring for now.”
Edward-oniisama himself was a nice, gentle person.
But regarding alchemy he had no mercy and would never go easy on
other people, without that dangerous flaw he was a perfect
person.
If we kept going without noticing, would the white bones of me
and Klaus also float over there?
Wait a minute, I just noticed it now but were my death flags all
caused by Onii-sama?
The star crystal necklace.
A trap of death set in a storage box.
And now the acid golem and Pass Wall scroll combo.
“Is everything okay, Erica, your eyes seem dead……?”
“Oh, I’m alright, Klaus-sama.”
That was not good, I was about to get caught up in the darkness
of my mind.
I actually began to doubt whether the gentle Edward-oniisama was
trying to kill me.
Let’s put some more trust in other people, me.
Well, let’s keep going and stop the golem.
If it was an ordinary golem made of earth, stone or metal, it
would be difficult unless I was the maker.
However, if it was a slow-moving golem made from translucent
gel, I could stop it.
First of all, proceed to the front of the moving golem while
trembling, observed his interior while holding a lamp.
By using Glam Sight, I quickly discovered the core of the golem
– a shard engraved with activated spells – among the countless
bones.
With this, I should be able to stop the movement of the
golem.
Huh? Near the shard, there was something floating—
“Klaus-sama, there is something familiar floating in the body of
the golem.”
“What do you recognize?”
“That, over there, doesn’t it look like Ann-sama’s hair
pin?”
Klaus stared at a certain point about one-meter high.
What was floating there was a white material……It was probably an
object made of porcelain or bone.
The metal pin seemed to have melted, but the characteristic
petal-like decoration remained intact.
“……!!”
“Klaus-sama. It’s alright. Ann-sama shouldn’t be using the
scroll of Pass Wall.”
Klaus tightly clasped the heart part of his clothes.
He wore a painfully sad expression.
“Ann-sama is not inside. Surely, the golem was just picking up
what Ann-sama has dropped.”
“Oh, yeah…I didn’t see anything that seems like human remains. I
know that. I’m fine.”
That said, he looked much paler than when we thought we were
going to battle strong undeads.
He didn’t seem to be alright.
Although he was jumping to a wrong conclusion for certain, it
was impossible not to be affected when it had something to do with
the life and death of a blood relative.
Klaus was also a 10-years-old child, although he was getting
stronger.
The stress that was received by his mind was immeasurable.
I hoped this clue successfully leads us to Ann.
“The acid may splash, let’s step back a little.”
While retreating, I took a Wand of Mage Fingers from my leather
bag.
The Wand of Mage Fingers was made of yew.
At the end of the wand was an opal, and the handle was golden
with a pattern of spider’s nest and legs.
The core material was the foot of a giant
spider3.
A little magic circle in the rainbow color surrounded the five
fingers of my right hand like a ring after I shook the wand with my
left hand.
It was visible through the Glam Sight that the Mage Fingers made
with magical power were formed inside the golem.
I tried to open and close my right hand.
—Alright, it moved.
The Mage Fingers were opening and closing following the movement
of my right hand.
If I could reach the core, stopping the golem was a simple
work.
Moved the Mage Fingers and grabbed the shard.
From the characters of emet engraved there, I scraped
one character with Mage Fingers and changed it to
met.4
Soon the golem broke its shape like a boiling hot water and
melted into the ground.
“I see, the death of an automaton.”
Klaus said with a strange expression.
Certainly, if you lived in the East, it might be hard to see the
collapse of the golem.
Rainbow colored magic circle on my right hand immediately
gone.
That was because of my emphasis on scraping the characters on
the golem.
Because of this delicacy, Mage Fingers could only be used for
fine work.
The hundreds of beasts bones that were swallowed by the golem,
the core of the golem, and the hair ornament were falling.
I washed away the acid that adhered, and picked up the core of
the golem.
I had to return this to Onii-sama.
Klaus too, he picked up the hair ornament that seemed to be
Ann’s.
It was a pretty hair ornament that imitate the flowers of
eastern country with elaborate workmanship.
“I certainly remember this. The material also made of the horn
of a unicorn that lived in the Harvan’s forest. I have no doubt
that this is Ann’s.”
“Then, Ann-sama passed by this point, wasn’t she?”
However, as soon as we were ten meters beyond the turning point
we met a dead end.
Both of us swung the Wand of Urd Sight.
I could see Ann Harvan’s back walking towards the end of the
dead end.
She noticed something and expressed a startle, then she started
to run.
Maybe because she was in a hurry, Ann didn’t notice that her
hair ornament had fallen.
I was certain that she saw the bones masses inside the
golem.
A sigh of relief from Klaus was heard nearby.
“I have a feeling that we have neared Ann-sama, but the
labyrinth is changing.”
“It’s okay. Since we know the direction, we could use Pass
Wall.”
“Yes, Klaus-sama, let’s chase after her.”
There was some margin in the effective time of the first Pass
Wall scroll.
If we could join with Ann quickly, the three of us could escape
together with the second scroll.
At least, we should catch up with her soon before the encounter
with the sealed ancient evil spirit in the bottom layer!
We used Levitation, kicked off the air quietly and ran to the
direction of Ann.
1 暖簾 (noren) is short curtain hung at shop entrances,
or split curtain used to divide spaces in a house in Japan.
(source)
2 I don’t really understand this sentence:
テレポートに失敗するといしのなかに入ってしまうあのゲームの話なんて、言わずもがなだ。 but I think it’s
referring to a game called Wizardry, where there is a teleporter’s
trap which sent the party into a wall and caused instant death for
the party.
3 Giant spider (大蜘蛛) here is the alternative name for
Tsuchigumo, the name for a race of spider-like youkai in Japanese
folklore. (source)
4 In Jewish folklore, a golem is inscribed with
Hebrew words on its forehead, such as the word emet (אמת,
“truth” in Hebrew). The golem could then be deactivated by removing
the aleph (א) in emet, thus changing the inscription from
“truth” to “death” (met מת, meaning “dead”).
(source)
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18
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Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s13.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 12: Ruins of Visitor (part six)
Chapter 12: Ruins of Visitor (part six)
We went down the stairs following the past Ann that we saw using
Urd Sight.
This was the eighth layer.
How far would we go down?
We went down to the next layer as usual, starting from the
unchanging staircase.
However, the scene ahead was completely different from what we
had seen in Ruins of Visitor so far.
It was full of the scent of death.
When we arrived, dead bodies of unfamiliar creatures were
scattered about everywhere.
Blood covered beasts, chopped reptiles, crushed huge bugs.
Multipod monsters that had become charred, plenty of chopped
meat—
I felt dizzy.
It was fortunate that we had not been exposed to such bad odor,
as they had been subjected to simple preservation treatment.
There was no animal I recognized among the corpses, and it was
fortunate that all the other monsters had irregular shapes.
Otherwise, I might not have been able to suppress the
nausea.
Two filters, olfaction and vision, changed the scenery into an
impression like seeing a game or a realistic movie.
You were useful in unexpected places, game brain.
Those thoughts were making myself smile unexpectedly in spite of
the nauseating scene, keeping my mind from panicking.
“Uh……, are you alright, Erica?”
“I’m not alright, but I will be fine. What about
Klaus-sama?”
“I’m familiar with this kind of scenery. See, going to the same
places with my father, getting rid of monsters……”
“Your speech is becoming messy, Klaus-sama.”
It was nice to have a conversation with a friend.
Shocking videos, too, were surprisingly less damaging when you
watch them with other people.
But that meant the person who saw this alone was taking it
harder than us—
“Let’s hurry. Ann should be there.”
“Yes. I’m sure she would find it hard to feel fine.”
Most of the pillars were knocked down, large holes were opened
all over the walls.
Mechanism of huge gears to move the labyrinth was exposed, and
there were also damaged parts.
It was a trace where the power of terrible destruction was
demonstrated.
“This is why your older brother accumulated so much money.”
“These monsters were his opponents, huh.”
“Although I intended to be armed perfectly when we left the
simple base camp……I feel frightened when I think that all these
carcasses were living and moving.”
When Klaus said that, shivers also ran over my spine.
What if the group of Edward-oniisama had not wiped out these
monsters?
I didn’t know what would happen to the three of us.
The reason why the Ruins of Visitor was said to be the most
dangerous area in Aurelia territory was finally felt by our
skin.
How long had we been walking around?
Thanks to the creepy mountains of carcasses, I felt like it was
longer than the actual search time.
It felt like Edward-oniisama had guided us toward this
situation.
We stopped in front of a room.
At the entrance of the room, there was a message written by
Moonlight Gallnut Ink.
“‘Do not step on the stars. Otherwise’…huh? It
disappears?”
“It seems that there is a thick cloud right now. The first row
was ‘Do not step on the stars’, wasn’t it?”
“It seems that way, but…”
“I don’t know what will happen if we step on it, but I haven’t
seen the mark of stars yet in this layer, so I think we’re safe for
now.”
With Onii-sama’s note, this kind of warning was the first time,
so I felt a bit nervous.
When going in and out of the room, we might have to observe
carefully whether there was a mark of a star in the state of not
emitting light.
In addition, since the Levitation effect time was almost over,
we should swing the wand……
When I thought about such a thing, Klaus suddenly crouched on
the spot and started to investigate something.
“Klaus-sama, is it a mark of a star?”
“No, it’s not……This is the eastern spell card. Magic of
Alarm1 that narrowed the range and increased
accuracy……That’s how this spell works.”
Klaus suddenly stood up, stepping over the spot where the spell
was cast, and took a step into the room.
“……Ann! Are you there!?”
It was a room with relatively few traces of destruction.
A small girl was crouching and trembling at the other side of
Klaus.
She noticed us and raised her face.
Oh, good……we came in time……!
“……Klaus-oniisama? ……Erica-sama!?”
The lamp attached to the end of the staff illuminated the little
girl who looks like Klaus.
Ann Harvan’s face was ghastly pale with fatigue and fear.
I could see how hard this had been for her, just by looking at
her face.
There were traces of tears tracks on Ann’s cheeks.
But the tears that flowed down her cheeks now were different
from other tears.
Klaus ran to Ann and hugged her.
Ann also hugged Klaus back.
“Onii-sama……Onii-sama! ……Onii-sama, you idiot!”
“……It was bad. I was bad. Ann, I caused you a bitter
hardship.”
“I was lonely……I was really scared, you know……?”
“Aah, I’m really sorry.”
It was probably because Ann’s tension thread broke after she
joined Klaus.
She burst into tears with a loud voice.
Klaus gently stroked Ann’s head with a gentle face that I had
never seen before.
While being stroked, Ann returned it with a warm-hearted punch
like a spoiled child.
“I’m glad you’re okay……I was worried all the time.”
“Mou……mou……that’s my line. You’re bothering Erica-sama!”
“Aah, it’s all my fault. Ann, did you come to such dangerous
ruins in order to stop me?”
“—Eh?”
“……Hm?”
“Ah—, yes. That’s right. I tried to bring you back without
telling Otou-sama. Please appreciate it.”
“I see. You used your mind……”
Ann……your eyes were swimming……
That’s right. I felt that way from the very beginning.
If it was only to stop Klaus, she could stop him when he used
the sleeping magic.
As we talked about it during the dinner party, I wondered if her
interest in the ruins came to her at that time.
These people were really siblings.
Once she finished crying, Ann left Klaus.
She wiped away her tears, stretched her spine and faced me.
“Erica-sama, I’m sorry for having caused you trouble.”
“I’m glad, Ann-sama. You are okay, I’m really glad.”
“Erica-sama……”
I cleaned the face of Ann who had fallen apart again with a
beautiful handkerchief.
Her expression, it changed to the same smile as when I saw it in
Knot Garden.
With this, I was finally at ease.
(I had a bad feeling when we arrived at this layer, but it seems
to end in peace safely~~!!)
If the three of us could escape from this Ruins of Visitor, the
death flag would have been successfully avoided–!
After this, it was a simple task of simply using the Pass Wall
while rising up with Levitation, going through the transfer gate,
and then sleep.
Aah, there was also a sermon by Otou-sama before going to
bed…but compared with the fate of the death event that was waiting
six years in the future, it was overwhelmingly better!
Klaus took out the magical recovery potions and let her drink
it.
Ann also lost most of her magical power while searching the
ruins.
Rather, it was amazing that she kept her magical power so far by
herself.
The fact that her precision magic was better than wide area
magic, was compatible with the characteristics of the
labyrinth.
Now then, the excursion was an excursion until we went home.
It slipped through my mind now that we had joined with Ann, but
I didn’t know what would happen on our way home.
First of all, until Ann could move, we would rest in this
room—
“Hmm?”
Since a little while ago, I thought that the moving sounds of
the mechanical labyrinth would be done.
This sound was the sound that I heard frequently since entering
the Ruins of Visitor.
Therefore, I got used to it, and it was kept away from my
consciousness.
But, somehow, wasn’t it too long?
I looked back to the way where we came from.
There was no particular change.
However, there were ruins devastated by battle and many dead
bodies.
“What’s wrong, Erica?”
“No……somehow, I feel like there is something wrong……”
Far from stopping, the moving sounds were growing louder and
louder.
Somehow, I felt like it was getting closer.
“By the way, Onii-sama, Erica-sama – I have been worried for a
long time, but what is that?”
“‘That’?
“Yes. I think that it is Moonlight Gallnut Ink……”
“Ha!? Erica! Hide the lamp!”
Klaus looked at the direction pointed by Ann, shouting like in a
hurry.
He covered the lamp attached to his staff with the sleeve of his
robe.
I also imitated him and put the lamp in my bag.
—Indeed, in the outside world the clouds that were covering the
moon seemed to have cleared up.
A light bluish golden light shone on the whole floor of the
room.
We were standing above the starry sky drawn with Moonlight
Gallnut Ink.
In my mind, the warning message written at the entrance came to
my mind.
Do not step on the stars. Otherwise— Otherwise, what
would happen?
Fearfully, I shifted my shoes.
There was a mark of a star in the place where my shoes had
stepped on.
Uwah, I, I was too lucky!?
“Ann! Erica! Hands–!”
The crumbling sound of the stones obstructed Klaus’ cry.
The field of view tilted obliquely.
No, it was the floor of the labyrinth that was inclined.
I could see the hard stone floor swelling like a stormy sea.
Floor, wall, pillar, ceiling—-
The layer itself fell as it crumbled.
We were caught up in it and were thrown into the air.
(Uwah, this, in such a place? The three of us finally got
it……!)
Ann who was close to Klaus barely caught in his arms.
However, I was watching the reunion of the brother and sister
from a little distance away, so I was separated.
While protecting Ann, Klaus had hundreds of spell cards to shape
like an umbrella.
It was a Protective Circle to protect themselves from the
collapsed debris.
However, they were five meters or more away from me.
A trap of wide area magic interference – if that was the case,
the Protective Circle wouldn’t reach me!
Uwah, what should I do!
“Calm down, Erica! The Pass Wall is still in effect!”
……As he told me, that was correct.
If I looked carefully, Klaus ignored the rubbles that fell on
him, and the spell cards only repelled the rubbles that were likely
to hit Ann.
Accelerated gravel stones hit me and Klaus, but they all flew
through us.
What a handy magic!
Edward-oniisama, thank you for preparing the immature
scrolls!
The pit made by the collapse was deep and unexpectedly wide.
Although we should have fell down for quite some time, the
bottom of the hole still couldn’t be seen.
I thought that we would plunge into the gigantic Crevasse that
was made in the bedrocks when we passed through the labyrinth.
But, on the walls of the surroundings, there were cavities to
store the artificially made star crystal lamps.
It might be like a cathedral with a height of…several tens of
meters, no, over 100 meters.
It would be safer to drop slowly and reach the bottom.
“Klaus-sama! The Wand of Feather Falling!”
“Oh, I understand.”
I instructed Klaus briefly while pulling out the same wand.
Coordinated the timing to swing the wand with Klaus, I also used
the Feather Falling.
Beneath us, magic circles like white thin membranes were
deployed.
When jumping into it, the magic circle crumbled and disappeared
into a shape of a small feather.
Fluffy, a feeling like being wrapped in a soft air wall, and my
body was being held gently against the gravity.
The falling speed became very gentle.
The broken stones and the remnants of the mechanism of the
mechanical labyrinth overtook us.
After a while, the collapsed layer dropped to the bottom of the
hole and the sound of a rumble in the ground was echoing.
“Ann-sama! Are you alright?”
“Y-yes! Erica-sama! Thanks to Onii-sama, there are no
injuries!”
“Is Erica still alright?”
“Yes. Thank you for your patience.”
Klaus and Ann were reaching out their hands to reach me.
However, since we were more than five meters away from each
other, they wouldn’t reach me.
I took out a magical rope from the bag and ordered it.
“Stretch, like a snake! Tie, like a rope!
Like a snake that jumped over to its prey, the rope shrunk once
like a spring and then quickly jumped out.
Flying with a loose parabola form, the rope firmly wrapped
around the arm of Klaus.
“You’re really well prepared.”
“Because I am an alchemist of Aurelia.”
These were actually prepared by Onii-sama, though~.
When Klaus pulled the rope, I was drawn to his body.
With this, the three of us were finally be able to be
together.
“What the heck was that? Was that a trap?”
“A trap…Rather than that, it may be caused by a malfunctioning
trap.”
“Malfunctioning?”
“Perhaps deep damages accumulated in the mechanism of the trap,
the floor of the labyrinth, and the pillar itself, due to the
battle of Onii-sama and his friends.”
“Well, there certainly was a place where the broken gears are
exposed, the mechanical labyrinth tried to work, but the labyrinth
itself couldn’t bear that movement.”
Thinking about it, there were other strange things.
Dead bodies of those monsters were almost left untouched.
In the higher layer, there was a golem for material recovery
wandering around.
Maybe because he was aware that if the mechanical labyrinth
operated the layer might collapse, Onii-sama didn’t install a golem
in that layer.
But, Onii-sama……It was impossible to predict such a collapse
accident with only that hint.
“Ah……”
“What is it, Ann?”
“No, somewhat, it’s beautiful……”
The star crystals contained in the wall were shining pale blue
in response to our magical powers.
In such fantastic sight, we connected our hands, and fell down
slowly in a circle.
“Ann, you…”
“I’m sorry to say that at such a time.”
“No. It’s alright. I was just thinking about something
similar.”
That was true. Even if I care about it, I couldn’t help it.
If I thought about it, it was a wonderful experience if I
limited it to only the pit of these star crystals.
It sounded like a movie from Studio Ghibli2.
If there was my star crystal necklace, it might become even more
similar to that.
I was packing the star crystal lamp and hunting knife in my bag
too!
……But I hoped there was no someone with a colonel
position3.
Outside our anxiety and impression, the magic of Feather Falling
gently brought us to the depth of the ruins.
☆
After a while, we reached the bottom of the Ruins of
Visitor.
The feeling of the structures and decorations was similar to the
cathedral from the ancient times of Aurelia.
There was an arched entrance between the nave where we arrived
at and the inner court.
On both sides of the arch, if it was a cathedral above the
ground, there would be statues of the distinguished Duke of Aurelia
of the past adorned, here there were statues of a legendary
alchemist who was supposed to live in the era before we visited
this continent.
However, the familiarity ended there, there were numerous
differences with this cathedral in the labyrinth as deep as
this.
First of all, the ceiling was a few hundred meters from the
ruins that we had fallen from.
Naturally, there was no window.
On the wall of the side aisle where the windows should be,
constellations which were imparted by the alchemist, which couldn’t
be seen on this land, were engraved.
Mythological figures such as monsters, animals, and tools for
navigation.
They became reliefs, star crystals were embedded in the part
corresponding to the stars, and they were shining pale blue.
Well, it seemed that the carcasses of the monsters from the
labyrinth were scattered all around.
In addition to the carcasses, fragments of debris falling from
the eighth layer were also scattered around.
It was a force majeure, but it was a scene that my ancestors
were likely to get angry at.
When I had thought of such a thing, some of the magic circles
that surrounded the three of us turned into particles of light and
disappeared.
I caught a glimpse of the silver pocket watch and checked.
It seemed that the effect of Pass Wall had expired.
“I’m glad that the collapse has subsided, if so many big rocks
fall down, my Protective Circle might not be able to repel
them.”
“This seems to be an important place for the people of Aurelia
and I feel sorry if it was ruined by the falling rocks.”
“Yeah. It feels majestic. Erica, is this like a shrine?”
“Well, I guess that is probably the case…”
I looked around carefully.
In the inner palace of the cathedral – originally should be the
place where the altar of St. Brendan was – there was a star crystal
megalith instead.
There were several cracks running on the megalith due to the
collapse just now.
I looked at it and tilted my head.
“‘The God of the Visitor, the Altar of Bren’……, it is
supposed to be that……”
The materials were different, but this megalith was the altar of
the worshiped god of Aurelia itself.
The altar of Aurelia’s founder Bren, or St. Brendan was decided
as a megalith.
Originally in the West we worshiped the god named Bren, which
was the god of voyage, star, and alchemy.
However, when consolidating with the other three countries on
this continent, Aurelia also converted to the same religion in
order to align the states with each other.
The religion of the Union Kingdom was a monotheism derived from
the southern continent which was worshiped by Ignitia of the
South.
The religion of Ignitia was tolerant to the god of other
religions.
In this religion, as a part of the governance policy, we
incorporate the gods of other people as angels and saints.
It might be a familiar way of thinking with the Japanese’s
Daikokuten which was derived from Shiva4.
Thus Aurelia’s god Bren, which we still held faith today, became
a saint, St. Brendan, and was serving the god of Ignitia.
(If it’s the game setting, shouldn’t there be a sealed ancient
evil spirit? Although it seems as though the ancient gods are
enshrined……)
If I looked closely, there were letters engraved on the star
crystal megalith.
It was the letters of ancient Aurelia used in Aurelia-style
scrolls and runestones.
In this way, I could barely read them myself as someone who was
lacking in study.
“‘Crossing the ocean of the far away star, I will bury you
here together with the long journey. Sleep peacefully, our no name
friend. I hope that this abundant land will be your eternal
cradle–’”
When I read the poem that was engraved on the megalith, Klaus
and Ann took a prayer stance.
“Not an altar, maybe it’s a repository. For Aurelia’s people who
died before reaching this Ichthyes continent…”
“Somehow, it’s a sad inscription.”
“That’s right. But, I wonder why my ancestors buried this person
with the same rites as a god…”
I touched the inscription on the megalith with my finger without
a care.
Huh? Was it only my imagination?
The place where my finger touched carelessly became
corrupted—
—From far away, I heard a voice.
The air of the cathedral was trembling.
Sounds like treble and bass, string-like instruments and brass
instruments were played and heard.
It was a sad voice like the sounds of a child weeping, like a
sound of a whale singing.
Every time the voice echoed, the star crystal megalith turned
black from the inside and became corrupted.
The star crystal which was shining blue was now dyed in
black.
From the cracks on its surface, black water was overflowing.
It looked like the megalith was shedding tears.
“Eh……?”
The moist wind breathing the scent of tidal, shook my hair.
In response to the magical power rising in the cathedral, the
star crystals on the walls and ceiling strengthened their
lights.
Somehow, the overflowing black water covered the whole floor of
the cathedral.
The black wave washed my boots.
Klaus, Ann, and I were perplexed as we looked around us.
We all saw the spectacle that couldn’t be seen at the bottom of
the underground ruins.
There, the black sea which endlessly continued to the other side
of the horizon, and the sky full of stars was spreading out.
1 Magic of Alarm: Set an alarm against unwanted
intrusion. Until the spell ends, an alarm will alert you whenever a
tiny or larger creature touches or enters the warded area. You can
also designate creatures that won’t set off the alarm. (source)
2 In the raw it actually said ジ○リ but I know it was
referring to Studio Ghibli.
3 These three sentences are actually referring to the
movie Laputa: Castle in the Sky, a movie from Studio
Ghibli. In the movie, Sheeta had an aetherium crystal necklace. And
she was being chased by Colonel Muska for her necklace.
4 So, like the Japanese which incorporated Shiva as
their own god, Daikokuten, the religion of Ignitia incorporated
other countries’ god as angels and saints. So, while in Aurelia
Bren was a god, in the Union Kingdom he became St. Brendan, a
saint. (please correct me if I’m wrong about the Japanese god).
Edit: I think the author got her inspiration from Saint Brendan.
In the Legend of Saint Brendan, there was an island he landed on,
which turned out to be a giant sea creature named Jasconius. And
Jasconius, in Middle East, was also called as Zaratan. (Brendan, Jasconius)
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18
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Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s14.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 13: Megalithic Altar (part one)
Chapter 13: Megalithic Altar (part one)
A sad song echoed from far away.
On the walls and ceiling, it was a galaxy of crystals that shone
blue.
At our foot, the sea of black water that seeped out of the
megalith was far exceeding the volume of the megalith.
The sound of waves, the scent of the tide, the moist winds, the
homesickness were stealthily and smoothly entered my mind, trying
to make the illusion that this was not the underground but the sea
with starry sky.
They tried to make me feel the illusion that it was the
nostalgic ocean of the Visitor’s Clan.
I shook my head to shake off the delusions that had entered.
I had to be firm.
I had never travelled by a ship, and even before my incarnation
I had not taken a boat ride for more than five hours in total.
So there was nothing like a nostalgic ocean!
“Klaus-sama! Ann-sama! It’s kind of dangerous, escape now…”
In retrospect, the Harvan siblings were struggling and suffering
on the black sea.
Eh!? This had become a serious matter!?
“Sad, sad, sad……Aah, Onii-sama, Erica-sama……please help……my
head…”
“Kuh……Keep your mind firmly, Ann……! Concentrate on the
circulation of magical power, keep up your Magic Resist!”
Ann was trembling with a pale face while muttering
incoherently.
Klaus hugged her, and protected themselves by wrapping
themselves in the barrier of Protective Circle.
He pushed a magical recovery potion into Ann’s mouth and forced
her to drink it.
Klaus also drank a bottle of the potion, it seemed that he cast
some spells and the barriers for defense were piling up.
“Both of you! Are you okay?”
“Erica, you weren’t affected!?”
“Eh, yeah……Rather, I want you to tell me what happened……”
“Ah–…I see, Aurelia was dense against such magic.”
Well, surely Aurelia was dense against a kind of magic.
Besides, I was dubbed by Otou-sama as someone particularly dense
even among Aurelia’s people.
Right now it was useful, so wasn’t that good?
“I received a tremendously strong mental interference. It pushed
back nostalgia and loneliness, and finally it seemed like it was
going to capture my soul itself.”
“I thought that my heart will be hijacked and I will
disappear…”
“That was really dangerous.”
“You’re really dense……I didn’t think the day would come when I
would feel envious of Aurelia.”
Somehow, it didn’t feel like I was being praised.
Just to be sure, I moved inside Klaus’ Protective Circle.
Looking towards the megalith, its changes were advancing
further.
The lump of star crystals melted and became smaller as if it had
been eroded over a long period of time.
The carcasses of the monsters that had been scattered around in
the cathedral were also affected by the erosion by black water.
From the soft parts such as meat and internal organs, they were
melted along with their skins, scales, and bones……
“Huh? Klaus-sama, if we are in this liquid as we are right now,
aren’t we also in danger?”
“Don’t panic. It seems like a kind of magical effect that
doesn’t work for intelligent creatures.”
“It would have been dangerous if my mind was destroyed with the
mental interference ability just now.”
The Harvan’s siblings explained the information obtained by
using Glam Sight.
Well, I was jealous of the Harvan people like this.
But, I felt like I understand it.
Originally, Ann should have encountered the collapse of the
eighth layer alone.
Of course, she didn’t have the Wand of Feather Falling or even
Klaus’ Protective Circle.
Ann would expend defense magic by consuming the majority of her
magical power, but she also couldn’t completely prevent injury, and
then she would arrive at the cathedral in that condition.
What awaited her was the destructive mental interference magic
and black water that melted and took in what it touches.
If so, this water—
As if to affirm my answer, the black water that had spread
throughout the room was beginning to move.
Before long it dissolved completely, the black water was
gathering in the place where the star crystal megalith was, which
had become the size of the little finger.
The black water raised while swirling and it condensed.
“Eeeh–? Well, after all, is this the evil spirit—-!?”
“Evil spirit? Isn’t that the altar of a god? But, is there even
a liquid evil spirit? Onii-sama, Erica-sama?”
“I have never heard of it either. It is true that it’s similar
to a kind of spirit body – similar to the magical structure of a
wraith……”
Oops. I said it out loud.
Anyways, a wraith, that was an even more ridiculous talk.
He should be the spirit of an alchemist who was killed by his
compatriots because he made the Philosopher’s Stone.
Then, wasn’t that a ghost?
The mass of black water repeatedly expanded and contracted, and
gradually formed a shape.
The body that was liquid changed, with hard scales covered the
surface of its body.
Two twisted horns resembling a sheep or a goat.
Thick limbs that looked like logs with claws.
A large mountain-like body covered with shells and
protrusions.
It was similar to a dragon.
It was similar to a turtle.
A monster that had never been seen nor heard before in the
present world.
I wanted to say…I wanted to say even if I couldn’t communicate
it to anyone……
In that game where you trained monsters while trying to collect
a lot of them, if you painted black the combination of Lapras and
Sandslash, it will be like this1.
—-GRRRAAAAAHHHH!!!
The roar of the monster echoed in the cathedral.
The very loud voice that about to shatter our eardrums was
enough to make our legs that were about to escape frozen in
fear.
“What the heck is that!? You said it was an evil spirit, I can’t
judge whether that is alive or dead, but it’s a dragon or another
monster.”
“It was supposed to be an evil spirit…He was the legendary
alchemist named Zaratan who created the Philosopher’s Stone, who
led the Visitor’s Clan to this continent and found the gold
lodes.”
“Why is such great man became an evil spirit?”
“That was a human – however, because he was betrayed by
my ancestors, that grudge…”
A grudge?
I knew that if you had grudges you would become an evil spirit.
But would it become such an appearance only because of a
grudge?
I felt that the black monster looked at me, distorted its lips
and laughed.
No, it wasn’t my imagination.
The growls of the monster gradually changed to something akin to
human voice.
『This me……this, me, a human? An alchemist?
Kukukuku……everything is wrong……You……』
The monster’s massive build was trembling.
Was he crazy?
—No, this time it was different.
He was angry. He was angry, trembling with excitement that
couldn’t be suppressed.
『Did you forget, Aurelia!
I always remember……There have never been any forgotten
even after hundreds years of being frozen…!
Your smell and the pain you gave to me!!』
“Pain……? Then, after all, you are…”
『Oh, how nostalgic……
That face, that golden hair, those green
eyes……
—But yet, you……about me…after just a few hundred years,
did you forget!
This me!
……You guys killed, this me!!!』
My whole body was shocked as if it was struck by a hard object,
my sight was instantly distorted.
The air was forcibly pushed out from my lungs, and I was
confused due to my brain whose supply oxygen was cut off, as if I
was dragged into the pool for playful attacks.
When I noticed it, I was pressed against the stone floor by the
front leg of the black monstrous monster.
『Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha–!
This is just by stroking gently…this is how weak
creature humans are!
It seems that this has not changed even after as long as
hundreds of years has passed.』
“Guh……, tsu……, kah, haah……”
『Kukukukuku, don’t worry, golden madness.
This degree won’t kill you……I won’t kill you, this
easily……!
I will have you dead after letting you taste it……My
pain, my regret, my loneliness, my, my……
I believed in you guys! I thought you were my true
friends!
Well……well, you betrayed me!!』
Black droplets dribbled down from the empty eye sockets looking
into me.
Oh, no doubt about it.
It was different from the legend and game settings, but he
certainly was betrayed by Aurelia’s ancestors.
『Remember…….
Until the fire of your life disappears, just carve it in
that soul……Praise the devilish golden
madness!
Zaratan is not my name.
As you are a human race, I am a race called
Zaratan.
I am the only one Zaratan.
The rich Zaratan.
I am the one who lost the opportunity to carve my name
in the future for eternity……by you, the Aurelia
traitors!!!』
It was a monologue full of anger, yet full of suffering like
tearing out himself.
I nodded a little while being caught.
The emotion of his grudge had gently entered my mind somehow,
rather than the mental interference ability that appealed for
nostalgia and sorrow.
The moment my heart shook, a small explosion broke out in front
of me.
Because he was pressured by the impact, the restraint of Zaratan
relaxed.
At that moment, something wrapped around my body and I was
pulled with great power.
“I don’t know……I don’t know anything, Monster. Ignore us, and
don’t make up a story without permission.”
Before the exit of the inner sanctum, there were the Harvan
siblings.
Klaus set the Wand of Fire Bolt and pierced the black monster
with his staff, while Ann was grasping the opposite of the magical
rope wrapped around me.
That’s right, my bag……when I was pressed down by Zaratan, it was
falling down.
“Erica-sama! Do you have an injury!?”
“Nn……I’m alright. Thank you for your help, Ann-sama,
Klaus-sama.”
“I’m not okay.”
“Y-yes? What’s wrong, Klaus-sama?”
“If you die as you please, I’m not okay. Carve it deep into your
soul more than the words of that monster. Harvan’s men will protect
women in front of anything! So, don’t make a gaze as if resigning
yourself to such a thing!”
I had not. I had not made such an ominous gaze.
—I hadn’t done it, right?
It didn’t matter, and I was thankful that you would help me, but
this was a tough one.
“Onii-sama……Be more honest……”
“Ann! Don’t give unnecessary retort! Untie the rope as soon as
possible!”
Ann untied the rope while sighing, and she returned my bag and
wands to me.
Klaus’ sister was having trouble with him.
I wanted you to live firmly.
Ann had a bunch of spell cards and a staff, she stood diagonally
behind Klaus.
I also came to my senses and stood up, having the wand handed to
me by Ann at the ready.
Too late, Zaratan had recovered his stance and was walking
slowly towards us.
A burnt-like smell still remained in the air, but the monster’s
body didn’t even show traces of flame injuries.
Was it been hindered by the hard scales or did he already
regenerated?
『Nostalgic……I miss everything……
I remember. The magic of a crafty
alchemist.
I was surprised because it was a long time ago, but such
magic tricks will never pass.』
“I see. If that’s the case, next time you will be surprise by
Harvan’s exquisite skills. Don’t think that you will have the
opportunity to live and see my magic twice.”
『Ha–! What a proud little boy!
You do not seem to be an Aurelia. The smell is
different.
Were you lured by a small sum of money, or have you been
misled by the girl’s charm–
It is not something I knew either way, but in the end
you will be betrayed by Aurelia just like me.
I reject it. I have no grudge nor interest in
you.』
“Are you going to retreat? Move aside, Monster. Sooner or later,
if I don’t bring along this showy lady and my sister, you will
receive a good scolding from my father who is 100 times more
frightening than you.”
Klaus continued to look after us as he stood in an imposing
stance, he dismissed the huge monster he was facing in a grand
gesture.
Even though deep down he had to feel terribly frightened.
His strong point was his sense of responsibility, that didn’t
change even when he was very young.
(But—-)
I glanced fleetingly at the wand that was handed to me by
Ann.
The stick head was rock salt. The shaft was cherry tree.
There was a skin of boar wrapped around the handle.
Core material……the leg of a pig which was preserved.
Yes, this was the Wand of Grease.
I believed that it was an instruction from Klaus, but…what did
he want me to do with this wand?
The monster and Klaus was still glaring at each other in a tense
atmosphere.
In this situation of conflict, my confusion was deepened.
1 I don’t think I need to say this, but this is
referring to Pokemon. And seeing the cover of this series, Zaratan
does seem like a combination of Lapras and Sandslash. Something
like this but paint it black, all four legs have claws, and with
empty eye sockets:
Edit: Apparently, Zaratan is another reference to D&D.
Zaratan is the name of a giant turtle that looks like an island.
(source)
Thank you to Ultimatecalibur for telling me
this!
Also, I tried making Zaratan more menacing by bolding his speech
and giving the sense of hurt by writing some of the words in
italic. What do you think?
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18
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Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s15.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 14: Megalithic Altar (part two)
Chapter 14: Megalithic Altar (part two)
Klaus raised a cry while heading for the ancient black monster
Zaratan.
The lump of innumerable spell cards spread around him formed a
huge arm that couldn’t beat Zaratan’s.
I remembered children’s picture books. It was the same way that
small fishes gathered together and formed a bigger body.
But could we compete with this?
Zaratan swung his forearm.
Klaus concentrated the spell cards in front of him like a shield
and caught the thick forearm.
The moment when the claws of the monster touched it, a large
magic circle was deployed from the spell cards which organized in
order.
Something like a big spark was scattered between the two, and
the magical residue fluttered in the air like scales.
Klaus was pushed back about two meters and he was on his
knees.
He seemed to turn out unscathed somehow.
Oops, he looked over here with a triumphant look.
I understood that you were strong, but it was bad for my heart,
so stop that.
“What are you doing, Erica! Use the wand!”
“Yes! Klaus-sama!”
Oops, he stopped giving me a triumphant look and started to
glare.
Come to think of it, that’s right.
Klaus had incorporated almost all of the spell cards into the
expanded Protective Circle.
His means of attack now was only the Wand of Fire Bolt.
Besides, the leftover of that wand was about one shot left,
right?
No matter how old he was, Klaus couldn’t fight against an
obviously strong monster on a one-on-one basis.
I glanced at Ann.
She seemed to be hiding in the shadow of the wall separating the
main road leading to the altar and the inner sanctum.
I also copied Ann by jumping into the shadow of a pillar.
The battle between the mage Klaus and the huge monster Zaratan
continued.
Klaus was the one on the defensive.
Sometimes, he attacked with magical power by putting the spell
cards together.
However, there was not a single scar on the hard scales of the
monster.
I thought he was amazing at averting it, but his magical power
was not inexhaustible.
Besides, there was also a limit on the number of magical
recovery potions.
(I have to cover Klaus……!)
But, Grease didn’t cause damage.
I opened my bag for wands.
I didn’t assume there would be such situation like a boss fight,
so only few wands could be used for battle.
I should change the wands in my belt’s wand holder.
Lightning Bolt.
Magic Missiles.
Hold.
Gust.
Castling.
Levitation.
Could the Klaus-directed Grease be used for battle for once?
While switching over, I noticed a wand that could be used as a
trump card.
It was a Wand of Death.
The material was cypress. The stick head had twelve pyrope
garnets.
The surface of the wand was brilliantly polished and engraved
with words of the Aurelia-style condolences.
The core material was the final breath of a creature dying of
natural cause wrapped in a linen cloth soaked into myrrh.
Only creatures that were smaller than the creature used as the
core material of Wand of Death could be killed by it.
When it was used in a person-centered war, we used the last
breath of a horse.
This wand was for exploring the labyrinth.
As we had to fight against beasts and monsters, it should use
the last breath of big creatures.
Zaratan was about a little smaller than an elephant.
(The remaining charge is one. If the core material is an
elephant or a whale this wand will win. If it is a bear or a tiger,
let’s give up and run away.)
Klaus deflected the claws of Zaratan and took several steps
back.
At that timing, I jumped out of the shadow of the pillar.
“Over here, Monster!”
In response to my words, the monster stopped moving.
He looked at my figure and smiled with delight.
『A, A, A, A, A, Aurelia!!!』
The cry of deep grudge shook the air of the cathedral.
It should be frightening, but why was it comfortable for some
reason.
The monster cut off his eyes completely from Klaus, turned
towards me and put strength on his hind legs.
Targeting that moment, I swung the wand.
A dark, unobtrusive magic circle composed of crimson and black
floated at the tip of the wand.
From there, ill-boding shadows that looked like three distorted
hands stretched towards the huge monster.
The long black hands of death caressed him gently.
『I remember……I remember this magic, you cowardly
dwarf!
Stupid child.
Bigger creature than this me, such being doesn’t exist
anywhere in this world!
I am this land……I carried you vagabond dwarfs crossed
the ocean, I am this city itself!』
……Formerly city sized!? Then even a whale was impossible!
The huge monster Zaratan kicked the ground and rushed at a speed
that didn’t match his huge build.
I threw away the Wand of Death and pulled out the Wand of
Hold.
(Not good! I will not make it!)
I instinctively curled myself and closed my eyes.
A crashing sound like a car colliding with thick walls of
concrete shook my eardrums.
Klaus protected me and stood between me and the monster.
He added several hundreds of spell cards to the Protective
Circle to take on the attack of Zaratan.
“Klaus-sama!”
“Erica! You, why did you attack……aah, no, was my explanation
insufficient?”
“Eeh? I apologize, was that not good?”
“If you attack that beast, then my attack to distract him would
be wasted, right?”
Did you manage aggro in a net game, Klaus?
A person with high defense would attract attacks and other
people would give a degree of aid enough not to pose a threat.
So that was why you tried to get me to aid you with Grease.
But, if someone didn’t make a decisive attack, then wouldn’t
Klaus who was attracting the aggro be in danger?
Because the one who could easily handle the high-level healing
magic was the people of Lucanrant.
“I still have Hold and Lightning Bolt. It would be impossible to
defeat him, but let’s make a gap and run away.”
“I appreciate your thought but keep the offensive wands. The
moment when simultaneous attack is required, when that time
comes……”
Zaratan’s claws hit the Protective Circle.
The continuous attacks loosened the spell cards’ solidarity,
nearly half of them were bounced off.
From the rip of the Protective Circle, the smile of Zaratan
could be seen.
『Ku, ku, ku, ku, have you finished the cheap
play1?』
“Erica! Grease!”
“Yes, Klaus-sama.”
Klaus was holding down the monster using half of the spell
cards.
In that moment, I pulled out the Wand of Grease.
Was Grease effective for this situation?
I only had to trust Klaus.
Shaking the Wand of Grease, white magic sphere was expanding
from the stick head.
Magical power was transformed into a substance and expanded the
magic sphere to the size of a basketball, giving form to a big
bubble of grease.
“Hit it!”
I waved the wand and threw the grease bubble toward Zaratan.
The Grease flew slowly while fluctuating up and down.
When the grease bubble came close to the tip of his nose,
Zaratan put on a bored expression.
It was avoided easily.
If our opponent was a human that wore an armor, generally
speaking it would be impossible to hit the monster which jumped
around as he pleases.
Klaus’ Protective Circle of spell cards were blown off.
“Klaus-sama……!?”
Klaus rolled to the other side of the room as he was.
And, with slow gait as if enjoying the situation himself,
Zaratan came closer to me.
“……Kuh!”
『It was a useless small workmanship, dwarf.
That’s right, you are always, always nothing
but tricks.
Everything is nostalgic……Even when I killed
you.
That night when we reached this continent, to me who was
exhausted and sleeping, you guys…!
Shameless golden madness! Even though I beat and killed
countless number of offenders, you still wanted the
Philosopher’s Stone that much!?』
“Is it the Philosopher’s Stone?”
The alchemists’ of Aurelia family’s wishes.
Turn base metal into gold – that was, a miracle stone that
transformed everything into the desired substance.
In the game setting, the reason why the alchemist Zaratan was
killed was to take away the Philosopher’s Stone from him.
『Do you care about the Philosopher’s Stone?
Indeed, you are also a descendant of Aurelia the Greedy.
No wonder.
However, it is useless.
Those shallow thoughts of yours, everything,
is useless!
The Philosopher’s Stone, my soul itself—whether you rip
open my belly, gouge my entrails, you won’t find
it!』
I understood.
It was an overly optimistic idea that I could break my death
flag if I saved Ann.
Zaratan – he would never forgive me or my family.
His hatred and grudge towards the people of Aurelia.
His death was a sin that all people of Aurelia owed.
As long as we, the alchemist citizen of Aurelia, sought out
golden sacrament, that sin would keep on going.
『Throw away the wand, daughter of Aurelia.
I know all of your magic. You cannot kill me even if you
dropped stars2.
Well, what will you do?
You look like that girl who grew up with
me.
If you are the only one, I am willing to give you
mercy.
However……that is only if you betrayed the other two and
kill them with your hands!
Like what your ancestors did to
me!!』
The monster opened his big mouth widely that it seemed to be
torn apart, baring off each of his sharp fangs in a grotesque
smile.
“I will not do such a thing!!”
I raised a loud voice to the bad sensation.
What a pitch black fate trade.
『Isn’t that riiiiiiiiiiight!?
You are just a liar who talks big, you said you will not
kill other humans, huuuuuuhhhh!?
So, this is my first choice.
The girl hiding theeeeere!
If you left the daughter of Aurelia and ran away, I will
save you and the boy!
Anyway this girl, just like her ancestors, she’s just a
cute low-life woman.
Either way, even if you abandon her, your heart won’t
feel pain, right?』
Zaratan stretched out his hands with an exaggerated gesture like
a stage actor and looked at Ann who was hiding.
That was such a low act, to give choices like that to a little
girl.
I glared at the monster.
The monster accepted my enmity and looked like he was having fun
from the bottom of his heart.
“Don’t seduce other people’s sister without permission.”
Along with Klaus’ voice, there was a sound of the wind
blows.
Spell cards surrounded both knee joints of the monster, making
threefold of rings.
It was a magic of Bind which fixed the target at one point of
place.
Zaratan was bound by a threefold Bind, he fell forward as his
feet was fixed in place.
“Anything you said, you have to defeat me first.”
『Brat, so you can still move. Don’t throw away the life
that I generously overlooked.』
“Rather than throwing away my pride, I would rather throw away
my life. I will not abandon those I had decided to protect.”
Klaus walked slowly, pouring magical power into the spell that
formed Bind from his staff.
His clothes were torn in the middle, bruises and abrasion had
formed.
He seemed to have wounds all over his body, but it was a relief
that there was no haemorrhage or broken bones.
Klaus continued after spitting some saliva mixed with blood.
“…But this guy really has an intolerably gaudy face.”
That was an unnecessary comment.
I wondered if it was really a comment he had to say now.
Why did he even have to diss his face, this guy.
『It’s useless, brat. You cannot penetrate my armor with
your magic. It is the same with that Aurelia’s Fire Bolt
wand.』
“Don’t underestimate the magic of Harvan, Monster.”
『No matter how different the blood flowing in each human
is, everyone is equally stupid.
Will you defend Aurelia three times and hinder my
revenge?
Besides, you will probably fasten a constraint on
me.
Please realize how charitable I was, after I turn
you into a second lump of meat that couldn’t
see!』
Zaratan clenched his fists and roared with a terrible voice.
When he put strength into his whole body, the body that looks
like steel or rock cracked, his large biceps distorted as if
swelling out.
It was almost as though his armor couldn’t bear the pressure
from the inside.
Between the broken scales and shells, body fluids like black sea
water oozed out and hardened again.
Repeating that, the monster expanded rapidly.
It seemed that he was trying to regain his original form.
Zaratan’s legs became twice thicker than the Bind around his
knee joints.
Even on the points where the Bind was constraining him, the
spell cards themselves were gradually pushed back by the force from
the inside.
The magic circle that formed the spell became distorted.
From the magic of Bind which had been torn away, magical power
was leaking as fine particles of light.
“Klaus-sama, the Bind technique!”
“Although this is still too early……damn it! It can’t be
helped!”
Klaus manipulated the spell cards by swinging his staff to every
direction.
Countless number of spell cards stuck to Zaratan’s exterior like
a shroud as if concealing him.
“If just Fire Bolt doesn’t work, what about Fire Bolt with
increased firepower using Grease!”
If I looked closely, something like oil was sticking on the
spell cards that covered Zaratan.
Apparently Klaus seemed to have secretly used the spell cards to
recover the Grease which was avoided before.
A magic of Fire Bolt was fired from the wand that Klaus held
towards the grease-covered monster.
Flame spread in a fan shape at once and enveloped Zaratan.
The flammable grease burst into flames in a blink of an eye and
a blazing column several times the height of Zaratan rose up.
The blistering flame illuminated the dark labyrinth just like
daylight.
“……Did we do it?”
Deep laughter could be heard as if responding to Klaus’
muttering.
『What, brat. Saying something with that kind of
boldness, but it was only to this degree?
With such pitiful fire, you cannot even kill
bugs.』
With terrible momentum, Zaratan walked over here calmly while
being covered in a blazing fire.
The Bind seemed already broken.
The monster spread his enlarged arms, and slowly brought his
hands together in front of him.
Following the movements of his hands, the flames that were
covering him were getting smaller as if being sucked in between his
palms.
By the time Zaratan had completely brought his hands together,
the flame had completely disappeared.
“Damn it! Bind him again……”
『I won’t receive the same technique
twiceeee!』
Zaratan shortened the distance between us step by step, while
the spell cards were taking form of a battle formation before
dispersing.
Somehow, his power was increasing in proportion to the
enlargement of his body, to say nothing of his motivation.
It was obvious that the next blow might be too much for
Klaus.
In order to prevent Zaratan, I used the Wand of Lightning
Bolt.
The moment the Lightning Bolt shot from the wand penetrated
Zaratan, a torrent of flame similar to Fire Bolt shot from the
mouth of the monster.
Flames and lightning cancelled each other.
After the two magical effects cleared away, the uninjured
Zaratan stood.
“Magic? Why……”
“What……his ability, perhaps……”
『It is no use noticing that now!
Both of you, get crushed and
dieeee!!!』
Klaus hurriedly tried to reinstate the Protective Circle, but it
was unlikely to be in time.
I pulled out the Wand of Hold.
But, my hand that was wearing the alchemists’ leather glove was
blocked by the Wand of Lightning Bolt.
Again, this wouldn’t make it in time.
On top of us, a huge arm that looked like a bunch of logs was
raised overhead.
In front of me, the back of Klaus who was trying to spread his
arms and protect me appeared suddenly.
—-A beam of light crossed my field of vision.
The thin intense light cast from behind us hit Zaratan’s left
knee.
The thick monster scales break and penetrated to the other
side.
After a moment, a pale flame exploded at the place where the
hole was drilled by light, and the knee joint was exploding from
the inside.
Zaratan who was trying to step into our space, lost one of his
legs and broke his balance, fell on the spot and propped himself up
with both hands.
“Onii-sama! Erica-sama! Please escape!”
“Ann, well done!”
Klaus pulled my hand and headed for the exit of the inner
sanctum.
With her staff at ready, Ann who had sweats drenched her
forehead was waiting there.
In exchange for us, a bottle was thrown by Ann and flew towards
Zaratan.
That was, a bottle of Obscuring Mist.
The glass bottle hit the monster and broke down into pieces and
spread a thick, milky white fog.
The fog thickened rapidly and covered the entire inner sanctum
of the cathedral.
“Ann, you’re late. We were nearly dead.”
“I don’t even have the experience of combat training. Even if it
was only that kind of attack, it was a good performance, wasn’t
it?”
“I consumed too much magical power. A bit later and I would have
died.”
“Mou! Onii-sama, please move your legs and not your mouth!”
I just didn’t understand the situation.
I listened to the Harvan’s siblings banter and ran with full
power anyway.
Anyway, the siblings who seemed to get along well with each
other to be able to banter were refreshing.
I was a single child in my past life and I had never fought with
Edward-oniisama because we were past being chummy with each
other.
“Onii-sama. At least give an explanation, was it not good?”
“Eeh!? You didn’t say anything to Ann-sama!?”
“Aah, my bad. But, I didn’t have time to do that…”
“Simply tell Erica-sama to escape would be enough! When
Onii-sama faced that monster, I remembered that I felt
conflicted.”
“Ann, so it was to that extent……”
“Rather, I was anxious because Klaus-sama was just like
usual.”
“You guys, just what do you think about me.”
While running, Ann and I averted our eyes away from Klaus.
“Klaus-sama is……brimming with self-challenging spirit, an
embodiment of self-confidence……”
“Onii-sama is courageous, courageous, and very courageous……”
“You guys……”
A roar resounded in the background.
Looking back, the bulkhead separating the inner court and the
nave had collapsed.
A huge shadow appeared in ocher-colored haze mixed with dust and
Obscuring Mist.
A monster popped out of the haze.
Zaratan who lost one leg was running with three legs with both
arms on the ground, and launched his assault.
“That guy, he can move already!? Both of you, hurry up!”
We went through the nave and jumped into a narrow passage.
In no time, the passage trembled along with the sound of a
collision.
Dust filled the narrow passage.
Zaratan’s body couldn’t pass through the entrance of the passage
and seemed to have crashed into the wall.
Something huge had stretched from the fallen entrance.
Claws that looked like an execution axe brushed against the tip
of my nose.
“Uwah!?”
“Erica, the back! Advance to the back!”
“Erica-sama, quickly go to the place where the monster’s arm
wouldn’t reach!”
Klaus and Ann pulled me out of terror.
The claws of Zaratan were swinging in every direction before our
eyes.
The monster was scratching the floor and the walls near the
entrance of the passage many times over trying to seize us.
Zaratan who understood that we were out of reach were
withdrawing his hand and looked into this passage by his eye
alone.
With eyes like a hollow and dark cave.
『…Grudge…grudge, grudge, grudge, grudge, grudge, grudge,
grudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudge——-
The cowardly Aurelia……Those damn kids who are standing
by Aurelia……
Both are absolutely unforgivable.
I will slowly torture you to death, until you
indeed begging for death……』
When Zaratan drew back after saying so, he began to destroyed
the walls near the entrance of the passage with his claws.
The stones which were supposed to be hard, were gently scooped
out as if they were made of styrofoam or something.
It was an amazing skill.
“Hii!?”
“Kyaaa!?”
“L-let’s go! Talk later! Now let’s just escape somehow!”
I thought that I would die this time.
I was thinking of stopping because of a series of shocking
situations, but I continued to advance my feet in a hurried
manner.
1 三文芝居 (sanmon shibai): a low-level play not worth
enough to pay quarrel money. It is used as an expression pointing
to behaviors such as behind-the-scenes behaviors.
2 ‘Even if you dropped stars’ here referring to the
Wand of Sailor’s Song, where it was said that it could drop stars
in exchange for the user’s life.
About the alchemists’ leather gloves, if you don’t remember,
Erica gave one to Klaus, so they both each wear one (not a pair,
but one). It seems that the gloves are to alleviate the reaction
from the wands. Up to this chapter, there is still no explanation
about what kind of reaction the wands give to the user. But it
seems that they couldn’t use wands with the hand that doesn’t wear
the glove.
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18
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Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s16.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 15: Megalithic Altar (part three)
Chapter 15: Megalithic Altar (part three)
As we escaped until a certain distance, the sound of destruction
by Zaratan couldn’t be heard anymore from behind us.
Turning from the branch point many times, it was a place that
was of a considerable distance from the cathedral.
We were totally lost, but in the end there was no problem
because we planned to escape with Pass Wall and Levitation.
……There was no problem, right?
“In short, we had to earn more time.”
After a little while of quietness, Klaus broke the ice and
immediately got to the point.
“When a big monster is your opponent, in many cases you couldn’t
escape because of its legs’ length and strength. No matter how
stupid they seem to be, you cannot underestimate them.”
“He certainly was rushing at an extremely high speed, that’s why
we hurriedly created some distance from him…”
“Oh, yeah. It’s dangerous to face that monster in a place where
there is no shielding even if we have some distance.”
“That speed was unexpected since he was in the state where he
lost one of his legs, Klaus-sama.”
The rush at that time was really scary.
I felt a sudden fear, I knew that my body had solidified.
“But, why did you let Ann-sama attack……you told me not to attack
him.”
“That couldn’t be helped.”
“Because Erica-sama, concentrating magical powers is my special
quality.”
Ann talked with her hand raised to her chest in a windshield
style.
By the way, I heard that personal qualities were heavily
involved with the mages of Harvan.
“Ann can release a magic of higher power than ordinary mages
against the amount of magical power used.”
“It takes time to do so, and I’m not good at wide area
magic.”
“Because she is also good at precision manipulation, she’s
perfect for range attacks.”
“I see……You’re amazing even though you’re still very young,
Ann-sama.”
His sister Ann was good at concentrating her magical power
instead of using wide area magic.
It was a focused, high-density precision magic, so it could have
penetrated Zaratan’s body which couldn’t be penetrated by Aurelia’s
wands or Klaus’ spell cards.
“That’s why, usually I wouldn’t use large firepower magic like
Scorching Ray, instead used beginner offensive magic,
Onii-sama.”
“Isn’t it seriously better than shooting low-power magic and
failed to penetrate the shell?”
“Huh? Then why didn’t Klaus-sama attack with Scorching Ray?”
Klaus was a man who would become a versatile mage.
Then, shouldn’t he be able to use any type of magic to some
extent?
“My hands were full with keeping up the Protective Circle. I
couldn’t take on the pressure of that monster’s power unless I
expanded the spell cards to the maximum.”
“I see……”
“By the way, Onii-sama. Before long, the Protective Circle would
dispel, right? Let’s hurry and use the Pass Wall to escape.”
“That’s right……There are things I’m concerned about. Both of you
had seen it too, right? The ability of that monster.”
“Yes, Onii-sama.”
“Eh? What ability, Klaus-sama, Ann-sama?”
I had known about the monster’s character, but I didn’t know the
details of his ability.
What was it?
“You didn’t use the Glam Sight, huh. That said, the effect time
of Glam Sight that I used from the wand was short.”
“Yes, during battle I didn’t have time to redo the Wand of Glam
Sight.”
“Do you know that magic didn’t work on that monster?”
“Yes, I can deduce that much.”
“When the magic was erased, it seemed that his ability in
controlling space slightly came into play. Since then I was
suspicious, but when that monster blew fire, that suspicion turned
into certainty when I saw that the Fire Bolt’s creator was Edward
Aurelia.”
That flame, was a magic made by my older brother?
I thought that it certainly looked like Fire Bolt, but
perhaps—
“Is it a monster that absorbs and reflects magic……?”
“Aah. I guess that’s the case.”
What a pesky ability.
It was hard enough that his defense was strong, and his power
was strong, and now in addition that he was strong, magic didn’t
work on him.
No, then, that attack after all was peculiar since it wasn’t
absorbed.
“Why was Ann-sama’s Scorching Ray not reflected?”
“Probably because it isn’t an ability that activated
automatically. He responds to attack manually by absorbing and
reflecting, so it was probably an effective surprise attack.”
“It’s the same as Aurelia’s alchemists, huh. It seems to be a
monster of ancient Aurelia.”
That means, that kind of shooting wouldn’t work for that monster
the second time.
Based on the assumption that he would be shot, next time he
would absorb the shooting magic itself.
Terrible.
“But Klaus-sama. So why did you postpone in using the Pass
Wall?”
“The moment we touch that monster in the Pass Wall state, we may
burn up and die.”
“Eh……!?”
“That monster has absorbed one more Fire Bolt. In other words,
there is a possibility that flames are burning inside of him.”
I see, the inside was the same as the acid hydrogel golem.
After passing through the object that was saving the flames
inside of him, we would definitely burn to death.
It was extremely dangerous.
“What should we do, Klaus-sama?”
“I will put up a Protective Circle and prevent contact with the
monster. Meanwhile, Ann, you will cast the Pass Wall on
everyone.”
Klaus prevented contact with the monster, so that we wouldn’t
pass through the monster’s body when we used the Pass Wall even in
the unlikely event.
If we got to that point, we might not be able to successfully
escape next time.
“……What about me?”
“Only mages can use the Harvan’s scrolls.”
“I’m sorry, Ann-sama, Klaus-sama……”
“N-no! Erica-sama doesn’t need to apologize.”
I was full of guilty feelings since I wasn’t useful.
Was there anything that I can do?
“First, let’s find a small room of reasonable size, or a
corridor that leads to dead end. Because it’s impossible to protect
an entire area against that monster.”
“But Onii-sama, if that monster approached us after turning back
into his liquid form, doesn’t that mean he could attack us from
anywhere?”
“No, he seems to need a space of a certain size to create the
outer shell. If I cast a Protective Circle that specialized to the
opposing body throughout the room, he wouldn’t be able to enter the
room from the cracks between the stones.”
Somehow the visual was kind of like a Japanese horror or a house
with an evil spirit that would come out.
Speaking of which, this was the ruins where an evil
spirit came out……
When I was proceeding alone in this ruins, I thought that ghosts
were scary, but the fear I felt right now was completely different
from that time.
The evil spirit was not the exaggerated type either, since it
was a monster.
I seemed to be in a panic movie1 right now.
“Anyway, why is it so detailed, have you grasped the power of
Zaratan, Klaus-sama?”
“Huh? Onii-sama, you don’t understand that much from the Glam
Sight?”
“Oh, in fact, I tried to seal a part of that monster.”
Klaus showed a bottle to us.
It was a bottle of magical recovery potion, but inside was a
dubious-looking black liquid.
This, was this a part of that monster……?
“Klaus-sama, when did you get such things……”
“Onii-sama……”
“It was when Ann blew off the monster’s leg. The content of that
monster have a composition similar to a wraith. I thought that the
seal magic that works for a wraith would be effective.”
“You have that much free time, huh, Onii-sama……”
You had a considerable nerve to touch that thing, Klaus.
I didn’t want to touch it for a while. No, I didn’t want to ever
touch it.
Even the bottle was a bit much.
“The shell of that monster seems to have been made by
transforming the carcasses of the monsters that fell from the
eighth layer. Seal didn’t work on the outer shell.”
“That’s why it’s only when he was in his liquid state that you
can seal him in the bottle, huh.”
“That’s right. If we plan to seal him again, we need to destroy
all of the outer shells once and for all. This information must be
conveyed to the people of Aurelia.”
With Zaratan unleashed, not only us but other citizen of Aurelia
would be attacked.
Even if we could escape from here safely, the battle would
continue.
Especially the Duke of Aurelia, who was the lord, would fight at
the forefront.
Ann glared at her older brother with sharp eyes.
“Hey, Onii-sama. What do you think about the reason why that
monster could track us since forever?”
“Ah, that is……”
Did he sense where a part of him was and followed it with
purpose?
Or it might be that the part was attracting the main body.
Because of how angry Zaratan was, I thought that it was strange
that he would follow us forever even when he couldn’t see us.
“Onii-sama! Please hold it firmly! If it cracks it will be a
catastrophe!”
“Erica…what should I do?”
“Why did you ask me! Please don’t pass it to me because it’s
impossible!”
I was given the small bottle filled with the monster’s part and
I truly thought that I should have never come to this Ruins of
Visitor.
☆
As I stood at a branch point, I shook the Wand of Mage
Finger.
The invisible fingers grasped the bottle that sealed a part of
Zaratan, floated and went to a dark passage smoothly.
Ann’s Alarm was also set on the bottle.
If the monster picked it up, the bell that she held would emit a
sound.
“With this, if we move on to another passage, we will earn more
time.”
“As expected your craftiness function well, Erica. Your mind and
your face are an equal.”
This guy……
There were some things, do not despair.
“Oh my, I’m sorry that my mind and my face are bad.”
“N-no, it’s different Erica, what I mean was……”
“Onii-sama, Erica-sama, there is no meaning in earning time if
we don’t get out of here quickly.”
Ann kicked off Klaus’ back and urged him forward.
I would like for the sister to train her older brother more.
“Even so, Onii-sama, Erica-sama, the sense of direction has
become ambiguous.”
“It can be said even if there is little to no magical power
consumption of the guidepost Cantrip2, there is still
the magical power trap in this layer. So yeah, I can’t use it
frequently.”
Klaus and Ann’s complexions were dark with fatigue.
As expected, this ruins might be too harsh for mages.
“I am worried that we will go around and return to the monster.
What should we do in that case, Klaus-sama?”
“……It’s alright. The passage is narrow. If that monster was
approaching, you can tell by the sound of his claws digging the
wall.”
“Before the monster came to us, he is supposed to go towards the
bottle first. We are safe until the Alarm rings, Erica-sama.”
At that moment, there was a loud sound that seemed to make the
ground trembled.
We stood up reflexively.
However, I immediately noticed it. This was not the sound of
Zaratan digging.
Squeaking sound of gears, the sound of rubbing stones.
“This is the sound of the mechanical labyrinth, isn’t it? I
thought it was that monster.”
“Ah.”
“That said, the mechanical labyrinth has not changed as usually
it would, Erica-sama.”
The mechanical labyrinth kept moving even after we threw off
Zaratan.
This mechanism was kind of annoying, so it sounded somewhat
ominous.
At the end of the passage we saw something.
On the wall on the right side of the end of the passage, there
was an entrance to a room closed with an iron door.
“I hope it’s a small room this time.”
“Let’s open it first, Onii-sama.”
Klaus opened the door, which seemed to be a large room.
Should we search again?
However, the last branch point was the place where I put the
bottle for Zaratan to earn us time.
If we turned back, that strategy would be wasted.
I hope there was another entrance in this room.
Huh?
But as we entered the room, it seemed like another room I saw
today.
“Wait! It’s bad here……Erica, Ann, get out of this room
quick–”
I finally understood what Klaus said.
Decorative walls and pillars, countless of rubbles scattered
around, ceiling which had crashed down.
This was the cathedral where Zaratan was sealed – we were on its
side entrance.
At the moment we tried to retreat, something fell down before
the entrance where we entered.
Black rigid scales, empty orbits like the abyss, sharp nails
that could tear rocks easily like butter.
With his hind leg that was supposed to have been destroyed
already regenerated, Zaratan in his full condition was there.
Did he climb the wall and ambush us?
Even though he had such a huge body, somehow he was really agile
and shrewd.
『I am tired of waiting, humans.』
“What! No way, this must be a coincidence!”
『It is not a coincidence, I am the one who brought you
here.
I used the mechanism of the changing
labyrinth.
This is the place where my body was. I understand the
construction most intimately.』
Looking at the direction shown by Zaratan, the walls and the
others were destroyed, and there were places where the gears inside
were exposed.
Did he directly interfere with the gears and manipulate our
moving directions?
“Onii-sama, what about the scroll of Scorching Ray?”
“I don’t have another one. Before that, that monster would
reflect whatever other magic we use.”
“Then, what should we do……”
“I don’t know……, we have come this far……”
After running away so far, we were now like cornered rats.
All of our escape paths were blocked for sure.
“Ann, Erica! His assault is dangerous! Disperse and hide in the
shadow!”
Klaus scattered all his remaining spell cards and formed the
Protective Circle to the maximum.
With little hesitation, he rushed towards the monster.
Ann and I dispersed in two directions and hid in the shadows of
thick columns as he told us to.
However, as the huge monster sent Klaus flying with a blow, the
air froze.
The monster’s arms had become even thicker, longer, and brutally
distorted than how they were seen last time.
『I also got tired of playing with brats like
you.
Well, how should I kill you?
Hey, Golden Madness!?
That’s right, daughter of Aurelia.
First of all, let’s kill people other than you, in front
of you, for you.』
Zaratan declared with a voice full of pleasure while looking at
me.
“What did you say!?”
『Fu, ha, ha, ha, ha,
haaa……wonderful.
Your pain is my bliss!
Now, I will season your soul with deep despair and
loneliness!
Your soul and your tempting flesh and blood offering,
dedicate them to me!』
As he seemed happy, as if singing, the monster raised a
shriek-like sound.
『First of all, the smallest, most innocent and the
strongest among you.
Who gave me the deepest wound—
Your hope, I will cut it off!』
Zaratan crushed the pillar where Ann was hiding by swinging his
two arms.
She was freezing from fear, but she was still trying to fight
without giving up by shaking the staff towards the monster.
“Come, Monster! The one you’re really scared of is not Ann but
me, right? If you want to kill my sister, fight me first!”
Klaus stood up with body full of wounds.
Along with the provocation, he attacked with spell cards, but
Zaratan didn’t pay it any mind.
『Kuhahahahahaha! I can feel it, little
girl!
The smell of your noble and strong soul!
Your soul seems to be great next to the daughter of
Aurelia’s!』
The space in front of Zaratan became slightly distorted.
It was a magical phenomenon similar to spatial manipulation.
From there came something like a vast black shadow.
(He’s going to unleash the magic that would take in Ann’s
body!)
More than that, what Zaratan chose was the magic of Death.
If he struck against the small Ann with this, it would certainly
bring death.
“Stop it—–!!”
“Kya!”
Was Ann going to be killed?
I had come so far, but couldn’t escape from the fate of her
death!
In my mind, the memories of Ann would be gone.
I didn’t want that.
Did such thing have to happen?
Would such a small girl, who died before anyone else, forgive
such unreasonableness?
At that moment, I moved.
Without thinking of the consequences, I waved the Wand of
Castling3.
1 Panic movie or a disaster film is a genre of movies
depicting people who confront sudden abnormal situations such as
disasters and catastrophes.
2 Cantrip: is a category of spells that can be cast
at will, without using magical power and without having to prepare
in advance. Repeated practice has fixed the spells in the caster’s
mind and infused the caster with the magic needed to produce the
effect over and over. (source)
3 Wand of Castling: If you forget, this wand can
trade the user’s place with the target, just like a move in chess
where the King was swapped with one of the Rook. (I edited the
explanation in chapter 5 since this makes more sense)
The magic of Death that Zaratan used was the one he absorbed
from Erica’s attack earlier in the previous chapter.
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18
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Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s17.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 16: Megalithic Altar (part four)
Chapter 16: Megalithic Altar (part four)
Castling had succeeded.
I went to the coordinates where Ann was supposed to be, and Ann
went to the coordinates where I was in.
We were swapped in a blink of an eye by the magic circle
deployed beneath the feet of the two of us.
Before my eyes was Zaratan the vengeful huge beast.
From him, shadows that looked like countless number of black
arms, just like grotesque-looking black flower petals, were
stretching out.
It was an instant death curse which was absorbed from the Wand
of Death and amplified using the power of the Philosopher’s
Stone.
Black arms surrounded me without any gaps, all of which were
surely aiming at me.
They couldn’t be avoided.
At the corner of my eyes, I could see Klaus and Ann, who looked
at me with sorrowful expressions.
The object of the resentment of Zaratan was merely the Visitor’s
Clan……and I was their descendant.
The Harvan siblings were unrelated to the monster’s revenge.
So—
(Please escape. Please, even if it’s only both of you,
escape……)
There was no pain, no suffering.
The hands of the long black shadows touched me gently.
I closed my eyes and accepted it.
My body which lost its power slowly fell on my back.
Onii-sama, Otou-sama, please forgive me for dying before
you.
Thank you for being kind to someone who said nonsensical things
like me.
Erica went to Okaa-sama.
The eight years I had lived as Erica was a short but fulfilling
life.
It was a precious experience that I could spend all my time
freely.
If it was my precious life, I wouldn’t be able to do it at
all.
If I reincarnated again next time, I would like to be a pasture
emperor penguin.
(……Huh? Maybe, I’m not dead yet?)
Unlike the Curse of Merciful Death, death by the magic of Death
would be fulfilled promptly.
So, it was almost time…no, I should have lost my consciousness a
long time ago.
Then why?
Besides, it was high time I struck the ground.
I opened my eyes.
I saw Erica Aurelia’s trademark blonde vertical roll.
It was not a tightly rolled vertical roll that I always used to
see, but it was a bit messy due to intense exercise.
Such a difference could be clearly seen.
Her hair remained stationary as if it had stood in the wind.
No, it wasn’t just the hair.
The ribbon with plain color that had tied her hair was still
dancing in the air.
There was also the Wand of Castling that I had let go.
Dust in the air as well.
The remains of the pillars where Zaratan had destroyed.
And also the monster Zaratan.
(Is this…my lantern lights1?)
No, it wasn’t.
It was not that everything stopped.
Only the ones around 4 to 5 meters in radius from me had stopped
moving.
There couldn’t be such lantern lights like this.
Outside the space where everything stopped, there were countless
tiny objects circling at high speed while shining silver.
(Silver? Flying object? UFO……No, are those spell cards?)
Spell cards were flying over and formed a silver magic circle
with a radius of 5 meters.
It seemed that those spell cards formed the barrier that slowed
the speed of time.
But, it was strange.
Like the magic of spatial manipulation, the magic of time
manipulation was located at the top.
Both Klaus and Ann shouldn’t be able to use such magic.
Klaus who was standing upside down slowly walked toward this
direction.
He came into the barrier carelessly.
Apparently, Klaus didn’t seem to be affected by the time
manipulation.
『Br, ……brat……., yo, you……, bastard……, wh……what,
did……』
“Shut up.”
A voice full of deep hatred interrupted Zaratan’s words.
It was such an unfeeling and grave voice, I would never think it
came from a 10-years-old boy.
“……How dare you.”
As Klaus swung his arm, Zaratan was hit by something.
It was a sound like a heavy metal hammer striking a thick iron
plate.
There was a small crack in the armor of the attacked
monster.
“How dare you.”
Once again, Klaus swung his arm.
This time I saw it.
Spell cards jumped out of the Protective Circle he made and hit
Zaratan very hard.
The exterior of the monster that was attacked in the same place
cracked, black liquid splashed from inside, and stopped still
midair.
Klaus raised his face.
His facial expression was missing.
Cold, severe, rigid, expressionless face.
The eyes of Klaus, which looked like transparent sapphires,
turned into a grayish color that seemed to suck everything.
From one of his eyes, a single drop of tear was flowing.
“How dare you.”
The spell cards hit the monster.
Again, a little part of Zaratan’s body broke.
Even if the Protective Circle had a specialized effect on
Zaratan, there was a limit.
Just which one of them had a faster acceleration as they
clashed.
In this barrier to delay time, Zaratan had no technique to
resist.
He could neither avoid nor protect himself.
Neither regeneration nor transformation took place on time.
Even if he wanted to absorb the attack, he didn’t seem to be
able to adjust the timing by the difference between his
consciousness and his body.
Even if he could absorb the attack, it was a Protective
Circle.
The magical spell that merely became a defensive magic was
immediately destroyed by another spell.
“How dare you.”
Every time Klaus swung his arm, the armor of Zaratan broke, and
black liquid that was his main body became exposed.
It was just a one-sided violence.
Although the spell card was only a small piece of paper by
itself, the blows would crush the monster like a huge iron
hammer.
Swung his arm. Crush.
Swung his arm. Crush.
Swung his arm. Crush.
Swung his arm. Crush.
Just like a machine, Klaus kept striking in a quiet fury.
Unexpectedly, he stopped all of the spell cards in the air.
Klaus raised his staff overhead and assumed a stance.
From his clear grey eyes, one more tear dropped.
I thought indiscretely that it was very beautiful.
“How dare you……, how dare you, killed……my
friend……?”
With the end of his staff, he struck the stone floor.
With that as a signal, countless spell cards that formed the
Protective Circle leap upon Zaratan all at once.
Klaus’ magic looked like a silver tornado.
It was very beautiful in appearance, but it was a storm of
destruction that crushed everything just by touching it.
Zaratan, who had already been disintegrated into pieces, was
literally crushed until he couldn’t keep his current shape.
Zaratan returned to black liquid, spell cards wrapped around him
without any gap.
“I will never forgive you.”
The spell cards sphere gradually became smaller.
This time it emitted a rainbow-colored light, as if squeezing
Zaratan inside.
Eventually, the spell cards sphere which contained Zaratan
became about the size of a tennis ball.
Perhaps not just time manipulation magic but also spatial
manipulation magic?
They said an inexperienced body and an unstable mind would
hinder the eastern magic.
However, they also said that a strong emotion could amplify
magical power enough to overturn that disadvantage.
Klaus took out an empty potion bottle and cast a spell as if
singing.
The ancient monster, which was imprisoned with the spell cards,
was sucked into the small bottle .
The lonely huge beast Zaratan would be sealed and fell asleep
for the second time.
The spell of Seal that Klaus cast seemed like a sorrowful song
to me.
“……Erica, I, ……you.”
Klaus crouched down powerlessly when the sealing of the monster
was over.
At the same time, the time that had stopped started to move.
I fell to the floor on my back.
Uu……, I rubbed my waist.
“It huuuuurts~~~~!!”
While screaming, I crawled in search of a flat floor.
Klaus flinched, trembling, and then slowly turned to my
direction.
“Eh……?”
Oops, our eyes met.
I waved gently and smiled.
Expression returned to Klaus’ face.
Somehow, was he angry?
No, surprise, glad, embarrassed……
Wrong. Angry.
As expected, he was very mad.
This was bad.
How do I get away from him?
While I was worrying about that, Ann came running and hugged
me.
“Erica-sama! I’m glad, you are okay!”
“Yes……, it’s alright now, Ann-sama……”
Due to extreme tension, Ann’s cheeks were cold.
As I was stroking her back as gently as possible, Klaus was also
coming up to my side.
He was still mad, but in front of Ann it seemed that he couldn’t
say anything.
I felt like an aphid living together with ants.
If that was the case, I couldn’t let the Ladybug Klaus
attack!2
When I was thinking of such rude things, Ann turned over with a
bashful appearance, and separated from me.
Aah, Ann-sama, you could hug me a little longer!
Please protect me!
“You……, how come you are alive!”
“……How indeed?”
“If you are alive, then say that you are alive! You made me
misunderstood!”
“Erica-sama was taken into the barrier of Onii-sama’s time
manipulation, right?”
“Kuh……!”
“I live safely at great pains, so could you feel more
pleased?”
Where did the mature-looking expression go?
Klaus was resembling a 10-years-old child, with his clenched
fists trembling like that.
“Ha!? Klaus-sama, no way!”
“Wh-what?”
“Truthfully, do you dislike me being alive…?”
“Uwah……, Onii-sama……the lowest…”
“No! That’s not the case!”
No, no, I couldn’t thoughtlessly play around with this.
It seemed that I also felt embarrassed at expressing my
gratitude obediently.
I couldn’t say it to other people.
“Klaus-sama.”
“What’s next!”
“Thank you for your help.”
“A, ah……”
“Also, thank you for being angry as a friend.”
Although I was a little late, I told Klaus my heartfelt
appreciation.
Whether he felt irritated or embarrassed, I didn’t know him well
enough to understand it, he turned his eyes away from me.
“Well, good……I, if you’re okay, that, that’s good……I’m, about
you Erica……”
“Ah!”
“W-what is it suddenly!”
“What’s wrong, Erica-sama?”
“Maybe, the Curse of Death conflicted with the Onii-sama’s Curse
of Merciful Death?”
That was the reason why I didn’t die by the Curse of Death.
I was already destined to die in a few hours by the Curse of
Merciful Death.
This contradicted the destiny of Death’s immediate death.
As the result of conflicting destinies, the more powerfully made
Merciful Death won.
Fortune and misfortune twisted like a rope, and the future of
human beings was unpredictable, huh.
As expected, Onii-sama……
Not everyone could make such a powerful death trap.
I mean, this, could a serious practitioner even cancel
this……?
A tinge of anxiety crossed my mind, but I pushed it back.
“You……Didn’t you cast it aiming at that?”
“No, not at all. I completely forgot.”
“If so, why?”
“……Why indeed?”
“Don’t ask me……”
“Like this, I was swept by the mood, so I carelessly did
it?”
“You! Don’t throw away your life irresponsibly!”
“Klaus-oniisama! If you say more rude things toward Erica-sama,
I will not forgive you!!”
For some reason Klaus and Ann fell into a sibling fight.
I quietly leave that circle so as not to irritate the two of
them.
These two people were good friends in any way.
While thinking about such things about the other people’s
affairs, I enjoyed watching the exchange between the two of
them.
☆
The three of us could escape from the Ruins of Visitor
safely.
In the end, it was a simple task to swing the Wand of Levitation
in a Pass Wall state.
By the time we returned to Spring Palace, the date was about to
change.
About four hours had passed since I entered the ruins.
It was much shorter than the perceived time.
It was the longest and most intense four hours I had ever felt,
including the previous life.
Klaus cancelled the magic of Phantasmal Maze and we headed for
our fathers.
“So there was something like that happened, Erica.”
Because I was worried about how far should I talk honestly, I
only said that I caught the trap on the storage box that
Edward-oniisama set up in the Ruins of Visitor.
There was no courage to say more than that, such as going to the
lowest layer, released the seal of an ancient monster, not to
mention that it was resealed with my life on the line.
“……I apologize, Otou-sama.”
Just apologize.
It was a Japanese negotiation style learned in my previous
life.
When I showed that I was feeling remorse by keeping a
low-profile, Klaus came in and cut the conversation as if defending
me.
“That was my fault. I got her involved. Erica did nothing
wrong.”
“Klaus-kun……thank you for protecting Erica. Did she go into that
ruins and have returned unscathed because you guarded her?”
“No, that wasn’t it. Rather, I was—”
“Yes, that’s right, Otou-sama. Klaus-sama guarded me.”
I cut off Klaus’ words and said my piece to cover it.
The real reason was because the story got complicated, but it
was true that I was thankful that he guarded me.
“I see……Klaus-kun, for me, Erica is a treasure that can’t be
replaced by anything. As a father, as the Duke of Aurelia, I
promise that I will pay you back.”
That being said, the Aurelia official himself bowed to a boy who
was over thirty years his junior to express the highest respect for
a nobility.
It seemed that Klaus still wanted to say something, but he
didn’t persist.
My father let Klaus and Ann go back first.
The Harvan couple was waiting for them.
“Erica…”
“Yes.”
And my father said nothing more, just hugged me quietly and
gently.
I felt guiltier than if I was being scolded for a long time.
When I treated myself roughly, I realized there was someone who
would be sad.
After that, my father dispelled the Curse of Merciful Death
without delay.
☆
“Aah~~~~, I can finally sleep……”
It was two hours after my father finished the solution spell
that I came home to Spring Palace.
During the ceremony of the solution spell, the worried Klaus
came to check my situation many times.
Eventually, I was escorted to my bedroom.
He was a sincere person.
I threw the bag I borrowed from my older brother, took off my
clothes and left them scatter around, and then laid on the bed.
No more.
I would not move another step.
I mean, I would not go into the labyrinth ever again.
To play in a dungeon, inside a game was enough.
As I was idling about, my hand hit something hard, it seemed
that it rolled out from the pocket of the clothing I took off.
When we escaped from the labyrinth, I got it from Klaus.
“Oh, this is……, there is still some work to do.”
With vacant eyes, I headed to my working desk.
Searching the shelves containing alchemy materials in every
corner, somehow I found the material that I was looking for.
I wondered if I could put the skills I already learned into
practical use.
But, this, it seemed that this would take quite a while to
finish.
……This might take all night.
I looked back to my bed with bitter eyes.
Oh, my beloved duvet……
Shaking off my reluctance, I tried to concentrate on the loot
that I put on my working desk.
1 Like a lantern light: This is an expression in
Japan, expressing something like a shadow appearing in a lantern
light, it is referring to the various visions appearing in mind
when someone is about to die. The western equivalent would be
‘memories flashing before my eyes.’ So, Erica thought that what she
saw was visions as she was about to die.
2 Aphids are small sap-sucking insects. So-called
dairying ants have a mutualistic relationship with aphids, tending
them for their honeydew, and protecting them from predators. One of
aphids’ predators is Ladybug. (source) In this analogy, Erica is an aphid, Ann is
an ant, and Klaus is a Ladybug.
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18
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Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s18.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 17: To the Promised Land
Chapter 17: To the Promised Land
“Now, Klaus-sama, please hold this flower properly.”
I picked a faint thin pink rose with pruning shears.
I handed it to Klaus who turned into a bouquet-creation
machine.
Klaus seemed to have been scolded by his parents last night,
there were bags under his eyes.
He didn’t suffer major injuries, but his whole body should be
full of scrapes and abrasions.
There was also a large bandage plastered on his cheeks and
forehead, which made him look like a boy from a manga.
Nevertheless, the spots where his skin wasn’t ruined were
youthful as was his privilege as a beautiful character.
Ah, my Erica the Marvelous Villain’s body also didn’t have rough
skin.
It was appreciated by the plain fact that there wasn’t any
muscle pain even though usually I only exercised a little.
“Ufufu, Klaus-oniisama. Today you will listen to what I say,
right?”
Today we were walking through the Knot Garden of Spring Palace
as promised.
All of the gardeners were looking happily at Ann who seemed to
be in high spirits.
Followed by me with the pruning shears, and Klaus who held a lot
of flowers.
There was an impression about our group that Ann was a princess,
while Klaus and I were her attendants.
Spring green eyes froze.
Klaus’ eyes were also blinking rapidly. Ooh, comrade.
“Erica, did you stay up all night?”
“Yes, I was cleaning up a little……Klaus-sama, good work on
enduring the scoldings.”
“It’s not ‘good work.’”
Huh? Was he feeling tired?
I tried to think in Japanese, but in fact it was a conversation
in this world’s language.
Here the polite expressions were fuzzy, so there shouldn’t be
any regulation about that.
“……The preaching, ……no, my father’s teaching, it’s not over yet.
I just had a momentary break.”
“Hii.”
“After that, it seems to be my mother’s turn……”
“Hii……Klaus-sama, please live.”
It seemed to be a considerably strict family.
But, that was the Harvan couple way of showing their
affection.
They were strict because they were worried inside out.
Surely.
“There is a very beautiful rose over there!”
“I guess we have no choice. There are only two or three
more.”
“Onii-sama! If you don’t reflect properly, I would like to let
Otou-sama and Okaa-sama know……”
“Kuh…! Let’s go, Erica! If we let her be, she will reap all the
roses in this garden!”
“I won’t do that!”
“Yes, yes. Ann-sama, you can cut as much as you like.”
Klaus was reluctantly going along with his sister’s selfishness,
while his sister was enjoying herself to the utmost
uninhibitedly.
Above all, these siblings were good friends with each other.
(Aaah~~, at last, one of my death flags has completely
broken……it was a tough death flag……)
I felt completely out of my mind.
The lack of sleep was also adding to that, I was just like a
flower-picking machine with a fully automated garden commentary
feature.
It was wonderful that I wouldn’t die even if I was
absentminded.
“Erica-oneesama, what is that yellow flower over there?”
“It is a wooden rose native to the southern part of the
continent.”
“Lovely! Erica-oneesama, I’m going to see it up close!”
“Yes, go ahead, Ann-sama.”
Since last night, Ann had been calling me ‘Onee-sama.’
What was it, this classic girly novel sensation.
I felt a bit happy, but I was pretty embarrassed by the
compensation.
Could you let me replace the rosary?
Since there was no culture to wear a cross on this continent, as
expected, it became the star crystal necklace? Sounds ominous.
“Good grief……, I don’t know where she gets her inability to stay
calm, that girl.”
A lot of flowers chosen by Ann were held in both hands of
Klaus.
Today’s Ann was unforgiving towards her older brother because of
the lingering excitement of yesterday’s adventure.
I also dazedly cut the rose as Ann commanded and handed it over
to Klaus.
With that synergy, suddenly he was holding a tremendous amount
of roses.
Beside the massive amount of flowers that Klaus currently held,
what was horrible was that the flowers that had been brought to
Ann’s room was about three times of those flowers.
It was not a joke or a hyperbole, she could truly reap all the
flowers throughout the garden.
“She’s exactly like Klaus-sama. She’s very curious. Aah but,
Klaus-sama lacks Ann-sama’s courteousness.”
“Oi, Erica……no, Lady Erica. Just now, what did you say?”
“Oh my, Klaus-sama. Please, have a look. It’s a lovely
large-flowered rose.”
Slanders were more likely to carry to other people’s ears, how
troublesome.
While turning my eyes off him who was pouting, I cut out a
diluted crimson rose that caught my eyes with pruning shears.
I adorned Klaus’ hair with the cut out rose, glossing over his
previous question while making fun of him.
Fuhaha. How was it? It was inevitable if both hands were
blocked!
“Oh, it really suits you, Klaus-sama.”
“Wait a minute! Stop that!”
Klaus’ cheeks were dyed in shame.
This one was excellent!
In order to shake off the rose inserted in his hair, Klaus
hurriedly shook his head.
However, it seemed that the thorns tangled well with his hair,
and it didn’t fall off easily.
I did it, that was fun! Rose-san good job!
“Oya, Klaus-kun, you’re surprisingly pretty cute.”
“Well! Edward-oniisama, welcome back!”
“Geh, Edward!?”
My older brother’s traveling clothes were the same as when he
was about to leave, and in his hand he was holding a leather bag,
which was the Wunderkammer.
Although it was a groomed appearance and a graceful conduct with
no gap as usual, I could see a slight tiredness in his
complexion.
Did Edward-oniisama stayed up all night?
“Damn……! Stop it! Don’t look at me like this!”
Klaus concealed his face with a bunch of roses.
His ears were bright red.
Anyway, that phrase, you’d better quit it somehow, Klaus.
“You don’t have to hide. Isn’t it pretty?”
“Guh……Remember this, Edward Aurelia! This shame, I will
definitely get rid of it!”
Leaving behind a needlessly embarrassing parting remark, Klaus
ran in the direction of Ann and escaped.
I wondered if it was that embarrassing to be seen by
Onii-sama.
Maybe he had a one-sided rivalry with the alchemist Edward.
“Because the news reached me by owl delivery, I came home in a
hurry, but……I’m sorry, Erica. Did you almost die because of the
trap I set up?”
“No, I was able to dispel it safely, so it’s alright.”
Rather, I gave a lifetime of thanks to his super powerful death
trap.
I couldn’t go to bed with my feet facing
Onii-sama1.
“Rather than that, I’m sorry I devastated your supplies for
exploration.”
“It’s okay. I heard the story from father yesterday. To think
that the leftover of my supplies had helped my lovely little sister
to survive. I’d rather be proud.”
“Onii-sama……”
Onii-sama crouched down to look at me and gave a soft smile.
For a moment, I felt tears seeping out.
It was nice, to have an older brother.
However, with the next words, the angelic smile of Onii-sama
changed instantaneously to a dark smile.
“Oh, but for the time being, please tell me later, as much as
you remember about the details of who used it and how much they
used it.”
“……What are you going to do?”
“It’s a secret. Erica doesn’t need to be bothered by that, so
please be relieved.”
Klaus……Onii-sama seemed to charge a full payment for the wands
and the potions.
What a salt to his injury. Misfortunes never came singly.
If my older brother’s invoice arrived, I guessed he would be
selling out some forest from the planned inheritance.
Let me plead to my older brother at least to repaid my life
debt.
Anyway, after Klaus became Duke of Harvan, he should do his best
in territory management and compensated for the deficit.
Even so, I was at a loss.
Whether it was alright to tell my family about what happened in
the Ruins of Visitor.
That huge monster Zaratan could be a scandal of Aurelia of the
West.
“I also went to the ruins secretly a few times, but I could
hardly reach the place I wanted.”
“What is the destination place?”
“My friend investigated through literatures, but in the deep
part of that ruins, the remains of an unknown gigantic creature
seem to be sealed.”
“O-oh……, is that so–. I don’t believe it–”
“In relation to the surrounding soil and the distribution of
star crystals and the distribution of veins, with Ruins of Visitor
as the center, even if it is a small estimation, it is likely that
a diameter of at least 5 kilometers is formed on the base of the
remains of that creature.”
“Hii……5 kilometers, huh……?”
“It’s an impossible dream, isn’t it?”
I heard that it was formerly city sized, but to think that it
was a creature that exceeded 5 kilometers in length.
Somehow, the imagination was too much.
It was good that the Zaratan we met was in his small form.
I didn’t feel like we had a winning chance at all if it was the
original size Zaratan.
Ancient alchemists would be forced to use the Wand of Sailor’s
Song and risked their lives on that last resort.
“That’s right. I don’t think you will go to the ruins anymore,
but if you get lost for some reason, don’t go deeper than the
seventh layer.”
“Uu……why is that?”
“A group of tough monsters were living in the eighth layer. The
good thing is that they were barely wiped out, but if you used a
few big magic, you would unfortunately deal a fatal damage to the
labyrinth. Worst, the layer might collapse.”
“T-that is dangerous……”
“I was consulting with a collaborating researcher whether we
should reinforce the labyrinth or dig a tunnel to repair it. Either
way, since it is beyond the scope that can be investigated secretly
from father, I must arrange a way to send an official investigation
team through Leandez Magic Academy.”
The shrewd Onii-sama had to have secured a position in that
investigation team.
I understood.
Oh, by the way, my stomach was feeling painful because I was
feigning ignorance.
“That reminds me, yesterday, when we were inside, we heard a
loud noise that felt like the ground was breaking downstairs.”
“Ah, maybe it has collapsed already. Is digging a tunnel the
right choice? Even so……what was the trigger, there should have been
no mechanical linked with other layers……maybe I missed it……”
It was painful to be pointed out the inconsistencies more than
this.
After all they were poor lies and the secret was getting
ridiculous.
“By the way, Onii-sama! It’s amazing that there was such a big
creature!”
“Oya, are you also interested in the giant creature, Erica?”
Rather than interested, perhaps I should say that I had a bad
experience with that creature himself.
“Alchemist Jaconius, commonly known as Zaratan, Erica also knew
about that, right? There is a theory that the person called Zaratan
was possibly the name of that gigantic creature.”
“There are people in Leandez who noticed such a great thing,
huh…”
“There are also other theories, such as that theory, the secret
organization theory, and the alien theory, that it was an ancient
super-energy generator facility with a built-in space control
mechanism.”
As one would expect, those were such outrageous theories,
Onii-sama.
It seemed that he had a group of professional editor that loved
outrageous conspiracy theories.
“Onii-sama, the giant creature theory……”
“Oh, there are several folklores that supports it.”
Edward-oniisama was hesitating for a moment.
It was a gentle smile as ever, but a little bit of sad
atmosphere had been weaved into it.
“Alchemist Jaconius, as what recorded in Aurelia’s family’s
official history – there were differences between the story of the
Philosopher’s Stone and the solitary Zaratan, and the story that
was circulated in the ancient Aurelia’s family.”
“I only knew the story of Zaratan that appeared in the fairy
tale.”
“Yes. Actually, it is a hidden legend that is conveyed to the
dukes of Aurelia. In the legend of our family, Zaratan was killed
by the magic that drops a star, but in the official history that
Erica has yet to learn, in the end he was killed with a knife while
he was sleeping.”
I was surprised.
Certainly, that was what Zaratan himself had said. He was killed
in the gap when he was exhausted and slept.
For Aurelia, killing Zaratan should be a taboo.
That truth became a small fragment and it remained in the
present age.
“I have a friend who loved that story first. At first I was
helping him, but before I noticed, I was completely absorbed in the
story more than him……Our taciturn ancestors wanted to leave
something for their distant descendants……somehow, isn’t that kind
of story fascinating?”
“Onii-sama, do you know what happened to Zaratan?”
“It is not perfect because the folklore was being scattered and
ultimately lost, but–”
With that preliminary talk, Onii-sama started talking.
Our ancestors lived beyond the shining and distant seas of the
stars.
But, due to a disaster or some other reason, they were driven
out from their home land.
An ancient alchemist reported as Jaconius created one artificial
organism at sea.
The name of the creature was Zaratan.
Zaratan grew to the size of a huge island after a long period of
time, and carried our ancestors in place of an aging ship.
A city was built on the shell of Zaratan and the bones of
Zaratan became precious ores, including star crystals and star
steels.
After a long voyage, in which leadership had changed, they
arrived at Ichthyes.
However, the alchemist who was the leader at that time killed
Zaratan who was a meritorious creature and the person who was the
son or daughter of Jaconius.
It was said that they did it to obtain the Philosopher’s Stone
which was thought to be hidden in the body of Zaratan.
But no matter how much they dissected the body of Zaratan, they
couldn’t find the Philosopher’s Stone.
The alchemist opposed their own deeds and regretted their
sins.
They buried the child of Jaconius carefully in the depths of the
body of Zaratan.
The alchemists made a deep labyrinth that nobody could approach
its deep, while still being a tomb.
Do not let anyone interfere with the sleep of Zaratan along
with the child of Jaconius.
The youngest brother of Jaconius who survived and the daughter
of the leader got married and became the new head of the Visitor’s
Clan.
That was the beginning of the Duchy of Aurelia.
“The alchemists seemed to have broken one contract when killing
Zaratan, an artificial creature, but I don’t know yet what that
contract was.”
“It’s a sad story……”
“I don’t know if everything was true, but I think that the truth
is hidden somewhere in this story and it may be the role of us who
are the descendants of Jaconius to unravel it……that’s how it
is.”
Onii-sama smiled brightly to cheer me up.
“In my hypothesis, I think that they were not only buried, but
they were enshrined as gods. I believe that the faith of the
god2 Bren was made by combining the clan of Jaconius and
Zaratan.”
“Zaratan, a god……”
“If the altar of Bren faith was found at that ruins, it will
support my hypothesis……If the labyrinth collapsed, I wonder how
many years it will take for a full-scale investigation…”
Ah, so it was like Sugawara no Michizane3 or Taira no
Masakado4, huh.
Even though he bore grudges against humans, he had been made a
god by humans, huh.
Betrayed, killed, and to appease him, worshiped—
I thought that I could empathize with him somehow.
Defined unreasonably, loved selfishly, unreasonably killed,
wasn’t that the same as me?
He was also a companion who was beaten by a blunt weapon.
Well, a crowbar couldn’t compare to something like a meteor,
though.
“By the way, Erica, that golem……made of star steel, huh? When
did you make it?”
Oops!
I panicked and looked at my feet.
A large stuffed toy-sized, steel body, full-armor was sitting
quietly.
When did he followed me to the garden!?
“Ah……that, yesterday, I reused Onii-sama’s acid hydrogel golem’s
core……”
“Haha…I don’t mind, since I can make as many acid hydrogel golem
as I want.”
“I will appreciate it if you say so.”
“But, I thought that it was a golem made of star steel. Because
it will deform to some extent with magical powers, it could do
living organism’s natural movements.”
“Y-yes! That’s right!”
“It’s quite interesting–……Oya? Perhaps, this is a two-layer
structure?”
“Hii! It’s a top secret technology that is still under
experiment right now!”
“I see–, too bad……Oops, it’s already this time……”
I was already at my limit in glossing over the questions!
As I thought that, my older brother began to check his
watch.
Y-yosh! I seemed to dodge the bullet!
“I will return to my room at once. Erica seemed to have
completely devastated my supplies.”
“Uu.”
“Let’s talk about that necklace when you have calmed
down. I found out something interesting about it. Then, later,
Erica.”
That said, Edward-oniisama went back to his room.
When I looked at my feet, I could see the back of the star steel
golem.
In truth, it was not a golem.
A certain someone was just wearing a small armor made of star
steel.
“Why did you follow me?”
『I decided that I’m interested.』
“About what?”
『Why did you make use of me?』
“Pity, maybe?”
『I dislike compassion. You do not understand my feelings.』
“That’s true.”
『But, I also heard good things.』
“The story that Onii-sama just told us?”
『Aa.』
Tears were spilling from the black cavities.
『I was not betrayed by him. He was also killed. 』
“Looks like it. It is a thorough folklore.”
『I—』
“Yes.”
『May I cry for him too? 』
“Yes.”
Last night, after the ceremony of the solution spell, I was
handed the bottle where Klaus sealed Zaratan.
‘You can do whatever you want with it,’ he had
said.
So I immediately decided to take advantage of that and take up
on his offer, and unsealed him.
“I think that your revenge is justifiable, and I want to fulfil
the contract that my ancestors had with you.”
『Why is that?』
“Compassion, you don’t have to understand my feelings.”
The Zaratan that was unsealed got even smaller, due to the
effect of space compression magic by Klaus.
An anomalous dragon with the size of a cat.
That was what he was now.
Black scales like a night sky. Two twisted horns like a ram.
Sharp saw-like fangs were lining in lines like those of a
shark.
Short and sharp claws for all of his ten fingers.
The scales on his back were particularly thick and coalescing,
and they looked like a shell.
Perhaps he was taking shape as his juvenile form, his head and
forearms were large while his upper arms and tail were small.
The balance was exactly like a teddy bear.
He could be called a fish due to his scales and web-feet, and
could be called a turtle due to his shell.
Called the Philosopher’s Stone, called a god, called an evil
spirit.
But in the end, they couldn’t give him a name to call
himself.
There was only one lonely anomalous black dragon in this
world.
I made a small armor last night.
The material was the star steel which responded to magical power
and changed its shape as much as we liked.
The spell was physically carved and built with an athame
knife.
I was one of the few alchemists that couldn’t build spells or
charge magic.
And then I released his soul inside the armor.
One of the reasons was to disguise him as a golem.
The other was so that he could infinitely expand the cage of his
body.
『……My revenge is over.』
“Is that okay?”
『I thought I killed you once.
At that time, my heart was filled with joy to the extent that
nothing would matter.
You look like that guy.
I did not care about Aurelia.
I only care about killing him.
Only he was special to me.
Therefore, it is good. That guy has already gone.』
“The truth is, you wanted to kill him by using Alchemist’s Star
in revenge, right?”
『……You understand well.』
The small black dragon who passed the age of over six hundred
years laughed happily from the inside of the armor.
“If I can, I will carry out the contract in the behalf of my
ancestors.”
『My wishes have not change even now……I wish for a friend, and
then, I wish for a new name.』
“Is it okay with just that?”
『……That’s right.』
I bent over and touched the black dragon Zaratan’s clawed
hand.
“Then, I will give you a new name–”
At that time, the beautiful and brave Harvan siblings came home
with a lot of roses.
A refreshing wind blew through the flower-lined Spring
Palace.
In this way, the curtain for my first adventure had fallen.
☆
“Come, my friend, let’s give a new name to the Promised Land
over this sea: Tír na nÓg5.”
1 Referring to the idiom ‘cannot sleep with my feet
facing in his/her direction’: expressing that we are grateful for
what that person has done for us. In Japan, showing our feet is an
act of disrespect, so conversely, if you don’t show that person
your feet, you are showing him/her respect.
2 The god here is actually referring to an ancestor
that was worshiped as a deity.
3 Sugawara no Michizane was a scholar, poet, and
politician of the Heian Period of Japan. Today he is revered in
Shinto as the god of learning, Tenman-Tenjin. (source)
4 Taira no Masakado was a samurai in the Heian Period
of Japan who led one of the largest insurgent forces in the period
against the central government of Kyoto. He became a demigod to the
locals who were impressed by his stand against the central
government, while at the same time feeling the need to appease his
malevolent spirit. (source)
5 Tír na nÓg is the name of the Promised Land/The
Land of the Dead in the Irish mythology and folklore. (source)
Edit: So, in the folklore, Jaconius and Zaratan were the same
person, but that wasn’t true. In actuality, Jaconius was killed by
Alchemist’s Star while Zaratan was killed with a knife.
That’s what I inferred from reading between the lines, anyway.
Zaratan was happy that his maker, Jaconius actually didn’t betrayed
him.
Edit 2: While in the raw it said ‘Jaconius’ (ヤコニウス), I think the
author got her inspiration from Jasconius. In medieval bestiaries,
there is a fabled sea creature called Aspidochelon, described as a
vast sea turtle or a sea monster with huge spine on the ridge of
its back. It was so huge it often got mistaken as an island. In
Middle East, Aspidochelon was also called as Zaratan. And in Irish
folklore, this creature was also called as Jasconius, which also
mistaken as a vast island. (source)
If you remember, in chapter 6, the command words that were
engraved on the transfer gate was:
“Come, my friend, let’s give a new name to the Promised Land
over this sea.”
In this chapter, the words Promised Land has the readings of Tír
na nÓg on top of them, and I tried to incorporate it like what is
shown in this chapter.
If you don’t get it, the new name for Zaratan that Erica gave is
Tír na nÓg. But for later chapters, the author wrote it as
Tirnanog.
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18
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Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s19.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 18: Klaus Harvan’s Letter
Chapter 18: Klaus Harvan’s Letter
Klaus Harvan’s letter.
Dear Erica Aurelia,
A month has passed since we returned to Harvan’s Gineda
Castle.
Even now I still remember the case at the Spring Palace as if it
was yesterday.
I finally settled down, so I decided to send a letter to
you.
To tell the truth, I didn’t think much about the visit to
Aurelia at that time.
I think that I remembered that father and Duke Aurelia’s
conversation face to face was about mine development and forest
resources.
However, you may not have noticed, but it seems that they were
consulting about an engagement between you and me secretly behind
the scenes.
When we were gathered together, our parents’ arrangement about
the political marriage had already took part.
I have never thought that I would get into a political marriage
with you like this.
‘The Aurelia’s daughter would be a spoiled and an
intolerable girl anyway.’
‘Why should I be a couple with someone who is a showy,
ill-natured girl?’
I was thinking about such prejudiced things.
But the truth is different.
You are much stronger than I am.
Strong……?
No, your merit cannot be measured by a strong-weak
criterion.
You have been more than me……
I wonder what.
I cannot express it well.
The only thing that I can say is that it was the first time I
saw a woman like you.
Well, let’s get back to the story.
I was…At the bottom of that place, I couldn’t do anything.
Even when I was stuck with being blocked by the traps of the
labyrinth.
Even when my younger sister was likely to be killed by a strange
monster.
It was you that saved us all the time.
You thanked me for it, but it is not so. It is the opposite.
It is I who is thankful.
Thank you for protecting my sister, Ann.
If I couldn’t make it in time, I wouldn’t be able to forgive
myself for the rest of my life.
I want to be a person that balances you.
I am weak now.
So, someday I want to apply for an engagement with you if I
gained enough strength to suit you.
Of course, if you don’t like it, you may decide not to follow
through with this engagement.
Remember.
You do not need to be mine, but remember that I am yours.
When something happens to you, I will rush to you earlier than
anyone else.
And even if I have to throw my life away, I will protect
you.
From your eternal shield, Klaus Harvan.
☆
“Ann!!! Why are you reading other people’s letter without
permission!? Give it back!!”
“This is not good, Klaus-oniisama! Absolutely not good!”
Before Klaus noticed it, Ann was drawing near and snatched away
the letter he had just completed, and he became terribly
flustered.
Ann completely disregarded her older brother who was becoming
agitated.
Klaus was not good at dealing with his sister who was three
years younger than him.
“Onii-sama. Why are you writing a sultry letter?
As soon as I take my eyes off, you immediately wrote
incomprehensible things that was just an exercise in futility.”
“Who said it’s sultry!?”
“It’s definitely a declaration that you will become a yandere
stalker anyway!
If she received this, Erica-oneesama will definitely become
annoyed!!”
“What! What did you say!”
“Your feelings are too heavy!!”
“Before that, about the ‘yandere stalker’, I don’t understand
the meaning!!”
He didn’t understand the meaning, but Klaus also knew that there
were serious mistakes in his letter.
First of all, he had to listen properly to the argument of his
foolish sister who was exasperated.
No matter what, because Ann was one of his few source of
information about the Duke of Aurelia’s daughter.
“When I had a girl talk with Erica-oneesama……”
“‘Girl talk’?”
Klaus didn’t really understand the meaning of ‘girl talk.’
Ann was starting to use odd words due to the influence of Erica
Aurelia.
At present, it was only Ann that could grasp the meaning of
those words.
When such a story came out, Klaus was obliged to follow his
sister.
“I heard the type of Onee-sama’s favorite gentleman.
That is, she has no favorite type, but there are the types she
disliked.”
“……Then we can guess her preferences by elimination method.”
“That’s right.”
“This is important information, please continue.”
“A man who shoved his feelings without permission.
Also, a man who at first glance seemingly favourable, but in
fact he has no interest in communicating.”
“Certainly, that’s a man with a bad quality.”
“Worst of all, she doesn’t even want to breathe the same air
with them, you know?”
“Kuh, doesn’t even want to breathe the same air……!?”
“This is serious, you know?”
“This is serious……”
Klaus secretly recorded Ann’s information as an important item
in the memo pad of his heart.
These should be the profound reasons behind Erica’s state.
If he conducted those acts unintentionally, there was a
possibility that he would receive Erica’s absolute refusal.
Klaus thought so, not knowing anything.
“After that, a man who suddenly hit her from behind, and she
also refused any type of stabbing……”
“That……, isn’t that a matter of course?”
Klaus was ashamed.
What kind of experience did his fiancé candidate has when she
was still an 8-years-old?
Was it an assassination?
Was it because of an experience that someone she knew was likely
to be assassinated?
Was that why she sometimes has such gloomy eyes?
Klaus strongly set his will to ‘I must protect them as
well.’
“There are many things that I don’t understand in this
world…”
“Erica-oneesama is friendly to everyone at first glance, but in
fact she hates a fierce man……
No, there is even the likelihood of human dislikes.”
“Eh……?”
“Oh, Onii-sama is insensitive so you don’t understand.
Erica-oneesama has a smiling poker face, right?”
Klaus was further ashamed.
He recalled Erica’s figure when he was staying in Spring
Palace.
Even without saying that he would be liked, he didn’t think
about the possibility of being hated.
Because Erica smiled thinly all the time.
“It is a smile that everyone will accept gently, or rather it is
a smile that doesn’t let anyone come near—.
No way, did you not think about that at all?”
“Kuh……”
“That it was a smile that absolutely doesn’t allow people to
shrink their distance beyond a certain point?”
“That……that is……”
“Even when she was surrounded by a lot of people, did you notice
that she sometimes turned her lonely sight towards far away?”
“……Ah, I noticed that.”
“Good! Just barely above the safe line, Klaus-oniisama!”
Rather than lonely eyes, they were dazed eyes.
It seemed like that to Klaus, but he refused to go against
her.
No matter what he said to his sister when she was like this, he
couldn’t win with words.
Thinking about such a thing, Ann stared at Klaus with serious
eyes.
The older brother drew his body back a little. Those were
really serious eyes.
“As far as I concerned as a younger sister, it is nice for
Erica-oneesama to become my sister-in-law.”
“O-ou……”
“Klaus-oniisama, you can work harder, right? You haven’t gotten
serious yet, have you?”
“Ou……”
“Let’s forgive such a weak attitude for now.”
“Forgive, me?”
Why, do I have to be forgiven by you, Klaus trembled at
the unreasonableness of this world.
“Yes, you’re still fine now. Klaus-oniisama still has the
advantage of time.”
“What are you fighting against?”
“What are you talking about! Seriously, Klaus-oniisama is the
one that must take the initiative and fight!”
“Ou……”
For a moment, Klaus felt afraid of Ann’s threatening
attitude.
As expected women are difficult to deal with, he
thought.
“In other words, what do you mean?”
“It’s because Erica-oneesama is beautiful.”
“Nn……well, that’s right……that girl, is somewhat beautiful, I
guess……”
“Haa!? Look into my eyes, and say that once again, please?”
“Aa, I thought that she is beautiful for a child……Stop it, I can
see your eyes……”
Klaus lost his nerve and turned his eyes away.
Hidden behind her brother, Ann had a strange expression on her
face.
“In a few years Erica-oneesama will surely become as gorgeous
and bewitching as a large-flowered rose, she will become a peerless
beautiful woman.
With that indecisive attitude, it will be too late by then, you
know?
Do you understand, Klaus-oniisama?”
“What do you mean by ‘too late’?”
“Onii-sama. Erica-oneesama will inherit the vast territory of
her deceased mother when she reached adulthood.
Aurelia’s abundant silver ore……What do you think will happen if
there is a rare beauty there?”
“What’s wrong with that?”
Even if she was an incomprehensible girl, there was an elegance
to make her a wife after all.
It was Klaus who switched back with such a thing, but Ann’s
reaction to that was unexpected.
“It would be a property that exceeded excellent quality! It
would be very popular! Full of rivals all over the continent!”
“Wh……what……”
“For example, Urus of Lucanrant, the Margrave of Harlan, will
almost certainly aim for her.”
“W-what……!? He’s 26 years older than Erica, right!?”
The 34-years-old Urus of Lucanrant, the Margrave of Harlan was
rumored to be reeking of blood.
Moreover, they said that he slaughtered the husbands of the
female population of the fief to monopolize them.
Deliberately murdered his subordinates and such things as young
girls of the fief by having everybody enclosing on them.
A maid who appeared in the service, who was found pregnant by
the passing of the second month, regretted her circumstances and
threw away her life.
Etc. etc.
In vague places where the boundary between law and humanity was
ambiguous, plundering of women in barbarous degree by nobility was
a normal business.
But, even so, Harlan was killing too much people.
“The infamous First Prince of Ignitia, His Highness
Auguste-sama.
He is 10-years-old, the same age as Onii-sama. He might be the
biggest competitor.”
“What! That Auguste! That’s unforgivable!”
Auguste, First Prince of Ignitia, was also a person who only had
bad rumors surrounding him.
Born from the queen’s unfaithfulness, he grew up without
affection.
Because the blood of the royal family didn’t flow, he wasn’t
blessed by the dragons which were the guardians of Ignitia and he
was unable to ride on their backs.
He was doing improper conducts self-indulgently, exactly like a
foolish ruler.
The bishops unanimously predicted that the age of darkness would
come if he succeeded the throne.
However, concerning Prince Auguste, Ann didn’t hear that there
was a clear victim.
Ann was of the opinion that it wasn’t good to believe such
uncertain rumors.
Erica, who was notorious as a future wicked lady around here,
also was a real example that rumors and the real thing were
completely different.
However, if she considered it as a material to provoke her older
brother, it was another thing.
Let’s take advantage of uncertain rumors, Ann thought
so.
There were many aristocrats who didn’t want to get married, but
Klaus’ level of knowledge about evil deeds, this area was the
limit.
“If His Highness Auguste-sama was her partner, she will never be
happy even if she became a queen consort. Especially if she became
a concubine.”
“Concubine!? That Erica!?”
“But, His Highness Auguste-sama is the one who will be the king
of the Union Kingdom.
In the unlikely event that Klaus-oniisama tried to save
Erica-oneesama after the marriage was already decided, do you know
what would happen?”
Klaus furrowed his eyebrows.
If that happened, it would be a crisis of civil war.
It had to be avoided.
Because the old royal family would never endure humiliation by
their own vassal.
“But why are you familiar with the circumstances of aristocrats
other than Harvan?”
“Because it’s not an unrelated matter.”
“How so?”
“If the political circumstances of Harvan became worse, I could
also get married to the aforementioned Margrave or the First
Prince.”
“I will not allow that to happen.”
“Onii-sama should never do that.”
“Whatever happens, I will never allow that, especially you, do
you have an ideal man—”
“Mou! Enough about me!”
Incidentally, even though she was tough to her older brother
Klaus, her ideal type was her older brother.
She didn’t want to marry a man who was as strong or stronger
than her older brother.
So, in fact, it was Ann who had the most antipathy to this
engagement talk.
However, at first she was also on the fence about the girl
called Erica Aurelia.
It was when she was first guided along the rose garden of the
Spring Palace.
At that time, Ann already determined the character of Erica and
thought that maybe she could leave her older brother Klaus at the
hand of this woman.
It shouldn’t be necessary to explain that during their case in
the deepest part of the Ruins of Visitor, that conjecture turned
into certainty.
“As long as the relationship between Harvan and Aurelia is
strengthened, my marriage will also be fine.”
“Yes. Certainly, as far as you are concerned, this is not
somebody else’s problem.”
“That’s why, communicate properly with Erica-oneesama! In
moderation! Please convey your favor to her!”
“O, ou…….”
Klaus turned his eyes away from Ann’s sharp gaze.
Originally oblivious to his own feelings, now Klaus’ civilities
were at rock bottom.
He didn’t know how to process and arranged his true thoughts
into what moderate sentences would be like.
“……You’re making an embarrassed and unwilling look on your
face.”
“Uh.”
“……You look like you find it difficult and troublesome.”
“No. There is no such thing. Don’t worry.”
“Then, a little bit more mild and light, yet it is rewritten to
ensure that Onii-sama’s love is transmitted!”
“L-love!?”
“That’s not it?”
“N-no, absolutely, absolutely, that’s not it!!!”
“Aah mou! You’re so stubborn……!”
Ann’s scolding and Klaus’ scream echoed in the beautiful
Harvan’s Gineda Castle.
☆
It was around a month and a half since the case in the
ruins.
A letter arrived at the place of the western duke’s daughter
Erica Aurelia.
Written on a fine vellum paper, it was a letter from the eastern
young noble Klaus Harvan.
『A letter from that black haired, good-looking dwarf?』
The source of that voice was the Zaratan – now the black dragon
Tirnanog – who had completely adapted himself to Erica.
In the end, even if Tirnanog was to break free from the
constraint of his armor, there was no particular problem.
Right now, we were just in the middle of bathing leisurely in
the hot water set in the tub.
“Yes, that’s right. Gift from Ann-sama has also arrived.”
『Hou, is it an offering? As expected of the girl who had given
me sufferings in a fight. That girl showed promise.』
“Offering……? I wonder if it is an offering, hmm. Well,
perhaps.”
『Am I allowed to open them?』
“Yes, go ahead.”
When he received permission from Erica, Tirnanog finished up his
bath.
And then, he started unpacking with a cheerful air.
『Ooh! Pig’s thigh!』
“Wah~~……, a very top quality dry-cured ham. How nice~~……”
The ankle of the ham was wrapped with a label with an emblem of
Duke Harvan.
It was a gem that was aged carefully.
Or rather, I thought it was very large and heavy.
The specialties of the East were the abundant of acorns from the
forest, the fattened pigs, and calves that were brought up with
tender white clovers.
Such information was coming up to Erica’s mind.
『Can I eat it?』
“Yes. Ah, save a portion for me.”
『Umu. I will. I never starve my friend.』
As a girl, was it okay for me to feel pleased with meat?
At first she hesitated, but Erica decided to banish her doubt
immediately.
Anyway, people who produced meat were not bad people.
In the meantime, Tirnanog was sinking his teeth into the ham
heartily.
“Well, let’s take a look at the letter.”
Erica opened the seal of the letter.
At first, Erica was looking at the paper with a loose smile, but
gradually her expression clouded.
After reading, she stared into the air with a mysterious
expression.
Tirnanog noticed it and raised his face from the ham.
『What’s the matter?』
After holding her silence for a while with an expression that
seemed to be suffering from a headache, Erica showed her letter to
Tirnanog.
『‘You are strong. I will become a man who will not lose to
you.’ Wait a minute, this is……』
“……What do you think?”
『A letter of challenge.』
“Oh, so it’s not just my imagination……”
『He is strong, but you can definitely win. I knew it.』
“No, it’s not that…”
Erica understood that she might have been regarded as a rival by
the genius mage from the East.
She didn’t understand at all what went wrong.
This, perhaps, might be a new death flag.
She thought that she had made friends.
Or that she might have a decent friend of the opposite sex, for
the first time in her life, including her previous life.
Erica Aurelia chewed her bottom lip slightly.
Her level of human distrust seemed to have risen again by
one.
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18
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Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s2.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 1: Spring Palace (part one)
Chapter 1: Spring Palace (part one)
On the north of Ichthyes1 continent where we
lived, there was a country called Lucanrant.
It was a tough country in winter, it was also called Lucanrant
the Ice and Snow Country.
I knew about the tragedy that happened in Lucanrant from the
memory of my previous life.
One of the people in the Duchy of Lucanrant had gone mad and
killed all of his family members.
—It was rumored that he wasn’t mad, but he was a werewolf, and
somehow that whispered rumor seemed very plausible.
Actually, there was one person who survived this ‘Werewolf
Massacre Incident.’
That person was the heroine of this game, Chloe Lucanrant.
After this incident, Chloe was hidden by a wealthy merchant’s
family, and used the pseudonym Chloe Croakina.
She would enter the Leandez Magic Academy in the autumn when she
was 14-years-old, seven years after the Incident, and would be
involved again in a bizarre incident.
Pretty sure there were seven capture targets. And each hero had
an individual scenario.
If you cleared the initial scenario, it was the type of a game
where scenarios were released one after the other.
I was still in the middle of playing this game and had only
cleared up two scenarios.
I had just started the third scenario in the commuter train in
my last day.
Yeah, I had not completed the game.
I was stabbed three days after the release date!
Hahaha, it’s painful, isn’t it!
Apart from that.
First of all, I had to summarize the memory of my past life and
my current life.
Let’s spread out the large parchment of a map and let us
confirm the geography of this world.
This continent was roughly composed of four regions.
Lucanrant in the north, Harvan in the east, Aurelia in the west,
and Ignitia in the south.
These were all old country names, and royalty of those old
countries dominated these areas.
The northern Lucanrant was an extremely old country where its
people had to migrate north just to make their own country, and
they produced many brutal swordsmen who were strong and
healthy.
The eastern Harvan was the second oldest country made by an
ethnic group that visited this continent, it was located deep in
the forest, and they produced versatile mages.
The southern Ignitia was a country of dragon knights who could
ride on dragons.
At that time when they came to the southern region, the one who
dominated Ichthyes was a country called Cascadia.
Ignitia destroyed Cascadia by the mighty strength of the dragon
knights and conquered the southern part of this continent.
They were proud conquerors.
The western Aurelia was the alchemists’ country made by the
〈Visitor’s Clan〉 who was the last to come to this continent.
It was still impossible to turn lead into gold, but since we
found enormous gold veins, it was the wealthiest region.
The current Duke of Aurelia was my father.
My mother died before I was three years old. Since then, my
father was still single without remarrying.
My memory about mother was very few.
I could only remember her gentle singing voice and the touch of
a gentle fingertip touching my cheek.
Was it because I was an unfeeling child or because it was hard
to establish memory before three years old?
“Erica-sama~~, where are you~~?”
I heard the voice of the maid who was searching for me.
I was caught up in the sentimentality about my mother, but now
not so much.
An event that would probably trigger my death flag could start
anytime soon.
Now I wanted detailed information about the Aurelia in the west
and Harvan in the east.
I would like to reinforce the knowledge I had lived as Erica
Aurelia.
Especially, because—
“Oh, found you. Don’t trouble your maid too much, Erica.”
I was found by my older brother.
By the way, this was my older brother’s study room.
It was not impossible for him to find me here.
“Onii-sama, I wasn’t hiding or running away. Before triggering
my death flags, I have to collect information and be prepared!”
“Death flag……?”
Oops, my mouth slipped.
“Ah, no, never mind.”
“Hm, then, let’s go. Everyone is waiting for you.”
I didn’t think that I would meet that person the next day after
I remembered the memory of my previous life.
I was just barely surpassed the save line.
I would have committed an irreparable mistake if I was late
another day in remembering my past life.
Today was the day when the eastern Harvan family visited the
western Aurelia family.
Among them, he was the capture target of the starting scenario
of 『Liber Monstrorum』– he was Klaus Harvan.
The Klaus who I knew, that was, the Klaus who was one of the
game’s capture targets had such characters.
At the age of sixteen, he was a versatile mage.
A dignified sharp face.
A cruel character.
He was a boy with dark eyes filled with regrets that couldn’t be
wiped out and a human being who looked resigned all the time.
Although he was supposed to have blue eyes and black hair in the
setting, in the CG his eyes were drawn with a color as close to
black as possible.
Why did he become such a person?
That was because he thought Ann Harvan, his sister, was killed
due to his fault.
But, the one who actually killed Ann Harvan, was me.
To be precise, it was me who brought Ann to a place where the
danger of death was hanging in plain sight.
It was the young villainous lady Erica Aurelia, who was the
cause of Klaus’ sister’s death.
(This part will become the cause of my death six years
later.)
Every owl that were used to deliver a letter was killed, the
land where the magic academy resided become a solitary island.
And then, with her whole body turned into gold, the dead body of
Erica Aurelia was discovered.
This was the beginning of the first scenario, ‘The Golden
Madness Murder Case.’
If I had to spoil it, so Ann went into the ancient ruins of
Aurelia and was possessed by an evil spirit.
The evil spirit of the ancient ruins was a legendary
alchemist.
He, who was the only one that succeeded in creating the
Philosopher’s stone, had been killed by his compatriots who were
trying to get the secret of its creation.
An evil spirit possessed by revenge, nostalgia, love, and hate
caused a continuous death by ‘the Curse of Midas2’ at
the academy.
Ann, who had been assimilated with the evil spirit for six
years, aimed first at me who had killed her and killed me.
Yes, I could understand that feeling so much.
So.
Today I met that pair of brother and sister, Klaus and Ann!
I didn’t feel bad, but I didn’t know what would happen and I was
afraid of dying!
What if when I met Klaus and Ann, I woke up as a villain?
Like the original Erica, I might become a villainous lady that
pushed a person into a trap – I couldn’t stop trembling when I
thought about everything that could go wrong.
“Erica, are you okay? Are you cold, you seem to be
trembling……”
My gentle older brother carefully put his hand on my
forehead.
Thank you very much, Onii-sama.
He treasured his younger sister who had awaken the memory of her
past life without change.
“I’m okay, Onii-sama. I will be seeing some of Harvan’s people
for the first time, so I am a bit nervous.”
“You can rest assured, Erica. Eastern people are gentle and
kind. Oh yeah, the son of Duke Harvan is older than you by two
years, while his daughter is a year younger than you.”
“Yes, I have heard from Otou-sama. Klaus-sama and Ann-sama,
right?”
“It will be good if you can become friends.”
“Yes.”
I had calmed down when I was talking to my older brother.
I would do my best.
It was yesterday that I awaken the memory of my previous life,
so the countermeasure hadn’t been prepared properly.
Still, it wasn’t good to be crushed by tension from the
beginning.
“Aah, that’s right. I will give this to you. Because a spell for
courage was put on the stone, even the shy Erica surely can be
friendly to your new friends.”
As he said that, my older brother hung a necklace with a stone
which had a hint of blue light around my neck.
(This is, a star crystal……)
The star crystal was a mineral which was Aurelia’s special
product.
It had another name which was 〈star of the navigator〉.
It was a crystal of a special mineral that emits light as its
surroundings got darker in response to weak magical powers.
When you used a piece of star crystal in the size of the tip of
a fingernail into a glass tube and used it as a lamp, it kept the
same brightness as a candle.
In this 〈Spring Palace〉, such star crystal lamps had been
installed everywhere.
However, I had never seen crystals that were large in size and
weren’t put into a container like this necklace.
“Onii-sama, this is–”
“This is a secret from father, okay? This is the result of my
friend from the magic academy’s research into the Ruins of Visitor.
I thought that it’s a good gift for Erica. I had the stone cut and
tailored it to a necklace. Star crystals of this size, it shouldn’t
exist anywhere in this world except in that ruins.”
“Eeh……!?”
Ruins of Visitor.
The moment I heard those words, I stiffened.
“Onii-sama, thank you very much. But Otou-sama said that the
ruins are dangerous……?”
“That’s why, keep this a secret from father.”
〈Ruins of Visitor〉 was a place where Ann would lose her life and
it was the place where the evil spirit was sleeping.
The reason why Klaus and Ann sneaked into the Ruins of Visitor
at the game『Liber Monstrorum』was the star crystals.
To Ann who wanted this beautiful jewel, the young lady Erica
told Ann about the dangerous ruins.
Erica’s line in the game played in my head with her character’s
voice.
(This is an important stone from Onii-sama! If you want it,
you can find it yourself!)
This was–! This was my true death flag!!
I almost threw the necklace away from the window just now, but I
couldn’t do it to the present from my older brother and his
friend.
If possible, I would like to avoid wearing it too noticeably
when meeting with the Harvan family.
I spoke with my older brother carefully and smartly so that no
suspicious behaviors appeared.
“Onii-sama, I’m very happy, but……it’s too obvious. Otou-sama
will be there with us after all.”
“Hmm, as expected that’s not good.”
“Then, how about hiding it under my dress?”
“I see, that’s alright.”
I will steadily strike down the death flags.
1 Ichthyes (イクテュエス): means Pisces in Greek. The more
you know lol.
2 Midas: it was a story about a king who was so
greedy and wished that everything he touched turn into gold.
Meaning, the Curse of Midas is where people died by turning into a
gold statue.
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 2: Spring Palace (part two)
Chapter 2: Spring Palace (part two)
At the drawing room of Spring Palace, we had a meeting with the
Duke of Harvan.
The theme of this visit seemed to be the conversation about the
development of the silver ore veins at the boundary between Aurelia
territory and Harvan territory and the surrounding forest
resources.
My father, Duke of Aurelia, was in his forties.
His stroked back golden hair had some white hairs mixed
within.
He had short beards on his jaw.
His looks and personality were similar to Edward-oniisama.
He was very sweet to his family, but he was also a proud person
with many meritorious deeds.
My older brother and I who had dressed up was lining next to
him.
Then, Duke Harvan and his wife, along with their two children
appeared before us.
The Duke of Harvan was younger than my father.
Although he was already in his thirties, he had a beautiful
youth style with black hair and gray eyes with a sharp
impression.
He was wearing the magician’s formal wear which consisted of
loose pale grey robe.
At first glance it was plain and simple, but it was a very
beautiful clothing with fine silver embroidery.
The Duchess was a bit young.
She was a woman who seemed energetic and refreshing.
She was wearing a light blue dress with little decorations, her
black hair was in an updo, and she had deep azure eyes.
She was an adult woman who combined elegant beauty with mellow
cuteness.
Then, there were Klaus the first child and Ann the second
child.
Klaus was wearing a black extravagant clothing with silver
threads, while Ann was wearing a neat white dress with silver
threads.
Both of them were similar to their father in facial expression,
while their hair and eyes were similar in color with their
mother.
Their straight black hair looked silky, and their intense blue
eyes were impressive.
Klaus was especially stood out with the transformation from his
dark impression in the game to the bright, child-like facial
expression he wore right now.
He looked like a healthy boy who had never been hurt with plenty
of confidence.
I wished he could grow up as a refreshing, healthy young lad as
he was.
After the greetings and introductions, Duke Harvan and my father
talked about the subject of today’s agenda.
The Duchess of Harvan deemed to decide to take a look around
inside the Spring Palace, accompanied by my older brother.
Then I, Erica Aurelia, along with the Harvan siblings, were told
to play in the palace’s extensive garden.
During this season, Spring Palace, just like its name, was a
flower-filled palace.
And the most beautiful place in the palace, Knot Garden, an
ornamental flower garden1, was a large garden with
hundreds of flowers, consisting of three gardens of roses.
“Then, from now on I will introduce the garden.”
“Oi, woman. I don’t feel like getting along with you, absolutely
no way.”
—Did this person have a personality like this?
I mean, why was a 10-years-old boy calling a girl who was
younger than him by two years with the term ‘woman’?
No, this was right.
Klaus Harvan was not only ruthless and gloomy, but he was also a
Do-S man. I forgot about that because of his refreshing boyish
looks.
“In the first place, I don’t even want to came here! I don’t
understand why should my father have to come here, the newcomer of
the west.”
Even if you told me such a thing.
In the Spring Palace of Aurelia, there were many transfer gates
installed, in addition it was perfect for observing the surrounding
mines and forest……that was how it was.
In the first place, Aurelia’s 〈Visitor’s Clan〉 arrived on this
continent about six hundred years ago, so it was troubling to be
called a newcomer.
“Hmph, I have no interest in such a place. Flowers are
crap.”
“Onii-sama, please don’t say something childish like that. That
is rude to Erica-sama.”
While I was thinking for a matter of seconds about how to
counter that in a friendly way, help came when I was silent.
Ann was one year younger than me.
“That was such a rude thing to say to Erica-sama who will guide
us through the gardens of Spring Palace, which is an honour.”
“Aah, I don’t want to be with you, Ann. If I’m together with
women I will become weak.”
Well, I guessed he was this kind of person, yeah.
As expected, opposite sex should be limited to 2D.
However, it was slightly surprising that he took this kind of
attitude towards his sister.
Even though he was a terrible siscon in the game.
“That’s alright. Then, Klaus-sama please do whatever you like. I
will show Ann-sama this garden.”
“……Aah, I will do that.”
Klaus left us and went into the palace quickly.
Even so, I wondered what he was going to do in other people’s
palace alone?
Well, whatever.
I should entertain Ann right now.
Today’s mission was to protect her safety, not to take care of
Klaus’ mood.
Absolutely, I wouldn’t even get close to the western Aurelia’s
number one Ruins of Visitor!
“I apologize, Erica-sama. My older brother has done something
very rude.”
“I don’t mind it. Thank you for your consideration,
Ann-sama.”
“I should be the one thanking you, Erica-sama.”
Even though she was younger than Klaus, Ann was prim and
polite.
Her favourable rating within me rose steadily.
Also, one of my concerns was solved.
As a result of meeting Klaus and Ann, Erica Aurelia, the
villainous lady who was sleeping within me, was awakened!
……Nothing like that happened, I was still me.
“I was looking forward for this very much. I heard it from the
rumors. This large garden is so wide that you can’t see everything
even if you exhaust yourself.”
“Oh my, is this your first garden?”
“Yes. There are no people in the east who have low-cut trees
like this. So it is very unusual – Ah, those flowers are–!?”
Although Ann was still seven years old, Ann was very
intelligent.
Then she seemed to have a lively, child-like sensitivity.
After we went to the area of Knot Garden that consisted only of
evergreen trees, we headed towards the ornamental garden in which a
wide variety of flowers were in full-bloom.
Each one seemed to be unusual for her.
“These are dwarf lavenders. It is an improvement form of the
original, so their petals are larger.”
“Their pale purple colors are very beautiful……Ah, what is that
single white flower?”
“It is one of our original rose species. If you like it, I will
tell the gardener to pick several of them for you.”
“……Is it alright?”
“Yes. Please add your favorite flowers to your liking.”
It wasn’t bothersome to listen to the little girl’s request.
I believed that being nice was the basic manner to become
intimate with children.
“Is it really alright?”
“Yes, Ann-sama is my precious guest.”
I kept smiling to her.
Ann’s face turned red.
“……Thank you very much……”
Unlike her brother, she was very honest and cute.
Well, Klaus was not honest because that was his selling point,
so it couldn’t be helped.
Because there was a demand for that in the world of my previous
life.
And, in my mind, I remembered the world where Ann had died.
(That kind of thing absolutely should not happen. I don’t want
such a child to die.)
Of course, there was also her cuteness.
I sincerely felt bad that she would be cursed and killed by an
evil spirit.
1 Actually written as a parterre (パーテア), which is an
ornamental garden with paths between the flower beds.
…And no, there is no yuri here.
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Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s4.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 3: Spring Palace (part three)
Chapter 3: Spring Palace (part three)
The tour of the garden ended pleasantly.
Ann was very happy.
She looked very surprised at the improved flowers in the western
Aurelia and enjoyed the tour.
I remembered to return to the gardener on my way back to bundle
the flowers Ann picked up and decorate her room with them.
She would be pleased when she got to her room.
Once I was about to return to my room before the dinner party
began, I came across a surprising thing.
“…Haah, not yet, another round…!!”
“This in an embarrassment. Aren’t you already out of breath,
Klaus? I’m already hungry, so let’s stop this here…”
It seemed that Klaus and my older brother Edward had been
sparring in the courtyard of the palace.
Klaus had a long staff that was used by the mages of the East,
while Edward-oniisama had a short wand that was used by the
alchemists of the West.
Apparently, Edward-oniisama was winning.
As expected from Onii-sama.
No, wait, your sparring partner was a child so go easy on him,
you 20-years-old man.
The lawn of the courtyard roughly had hollowed out, huh.
“Oh, Erica. How was it for you?”
Edward-oniisama came over with a look like ‘I was
saved’ when he found me.
I saw Klaus trembling from hearing his voice…
A scene of being thoroughly defeated like that, he wouldn’t want
anyone to see it.
“Well, Ann-sama was very pleased. Have the two of you been
bonding with each other?”
“Aah, Klaus-kun said he wants to try my strength. Well, he’s
very good. I was defending against him.”
“Oh my, is that so?”
I hoped for your continued humility.
It was better for you to be careful as exaggerating humility
felt unpleasant to see, Onii-sama.
Perhaps he invalidated all aggressive magic that Klaus sent with
a calm face?
“Tch……!”
See, the trembling Klaus turned red.
In the first place, in this spar Klaus was in a disadvantage, if
you thought about it.
Basically, mages far outperform alchemists with their degrees of
freedom and variation of spells.
However, the physical and mental burden was correspondingly
high.
That was because to perform a spell, mages used magical power
that they generated from their own body.
Such things like inexperienced body and an unstable mind would
obstruct everything.
Conversely, the magic composed by evoking a strong emotion
became enormously powerful.
Alchemists created some constructions with built-in spells
beforehand and filled them with magical power, which could be
stored for various utilizations.
Then, performed magic as necessary afterwards.
Neither physical condition nor mental health was relevant.
The question was whether or not they had prepared for the
situation properly.
As the result, the alchemist Edward who had stored items
sufficiently, with the mage Klaus who had not complete his physical
maturity, it would not even be a match.
By the way, I, Erica was an inferior student which was rarely
found in Aurelia family in recent years.
The fatal thing was, I couldn’t build spells nor store magical
power.
I could barely use the items created by other alchemists.
Actually, that could be done by any human, even if they weren’t
alchemist…but…, hahaha.
Harsh!
Right now I was under the patronage of my father and older
brother, but what would happen when I entered the academy!?
Apart from that.
“Both of you, the dinner party will start soon. Isn’t it better
to use the time to prepare?”
I passed on my calm brother who was not sweating, and looked at
Klaus’ body.
“That’s why, Klaus-kun. This game is a draw, so time out.”
“…Tch, I will not lose next time…”
“Oh, that’s right. I was called by my friend from school a few
days ago. After dinner party I will be returning to Leandez Magic
Academy.”
“What did you say……!?”
“Well, I’m sorry. Klaus-kun.”
This was my first time hearing that my older brother would be
returning to Leandez Magic Academy tonight.
I guessed Edward-oniisama used this chance to flee from
Klaus.
“That’s so sudden, isn’t it possible to stay, at least while the
Harvan’s people are here?”
“This is urgent. Make friends with Klaus-kun for my part too,
Erica.”
“Eh……? Alright.”
And then Edward-oniisama left.
Klaus and I were left behind.
This was awkward.
I glanced at Klaus and caught him scowling at me openly.
Smiling while thinking on what to do, he scowled at me even
more.
“……I apologize for saying something rude before.”
He stopped scowling at me, just looking at me with honest
eyes.
“It’s fine, Klaus-sama.”
“It seems that I was originally weak even before I caught the
weakness from the others.”
Klaus looked like a dejected puppy.
Edward-oniisama, just what did you do……?
“You are the sister of that man. You must be a refined
alchemist.”
“No, I have no alchemy talent at all.”
“……Do you like such humility?”
Aah, after Edward-oniisama’s exaggerating humility, it
would be suspicious.
“No, it’s true. Unfortunately, the magical power for spells and
magic is obstructed inside my body.”
“……! I see, I’m sorry to hear that.”
Even in the western Aurelia this kind of constitution was a bit
severe, but in the eastern Harvan this was quite a fatal
constitution.
Suddenly Klaus’ eyes that were looking at me turned
sympathetic.
Reflecting on this, I was seriously concerned about my
future.
Surely the Erica in the original game would have been distorted
by her inferiority complex in this area.
“But, ah……don’t take this the wrong way, but there’s a problem,
I feel a trace of strange magic around you. If that is not your own
magical power, I wonder what generates that magic?”
Oops, what was it?
“Oh my, I have not noticed anything at all.”
Of course, I also had items with defense magic.
However, this was the home of Aurelia family.
There was no need to use such magic at home ground.
“That’s concerning. Sorry, can I come a little bit closer?”
“Eh? Yes, it’s alright.”
Klaus said so and came close to me.
He began to look at me closely.
“Hmm……”
Did you understand something?
As expected from someone who would be a versatile mage in the
future.
“I understand, it comes from your chest. Are you holding some
special ornaments with magical power?”
Aah, you mean that–!
The star crystal necklace I got from Onii-sama.
“I got this from my older brother this morning. I didn’t know
that such powerful magic was embedded within.”
I couldn’t show this to Ann, but since it was just Klaus there
shouldn’t be any problem.
Having said that, I pulled out my necklace from under my
dress.
Right now it was evening.
Blue light from the star crystal overflowed in the dim
surroundings.
“…Beautiful. So this is the famous Aurelia’s star light…”
“This is a good luck charm for me to make friends.”
I thought it was just on the level of a good luck charm, but it
seemed that it seriously fascinated other people?
Klaus stared at me as if he was fascinated.
“It is not your brother’s magic. On the contrary, it is a type
of magic I don’t know. It doesn’t belong to Harvan or to
Aurelia.”
“Well, I heard that this was what was found in the Ruins of
Visitor. It may be some kind of ancient magic.”
“Ruins of Visitor, huh.”
Oh no, something was wrong.
Somehow the fact that the keyword itself came out, it felt like
a prelude for bad things to happen.
“But, why didn’t Edward-oniisama notice the magic inside this
stone?”
“I also thought that it’s just my imagination since the magic is
very faint. But, magic that I don’t know, this is quite rare.”
This was Klaus who was an excellent mage.
He probably noticed it since he was using Glam Sight1
that could visually sense traces of magic.
His magic would activate automatically even when he was not
conscious.
Unfortunately, us western alchemists couldn’t respond to
unexpected events.
It was no wonder that Edward-oniisama didn’t notice this.
Even so, Klaus was surprisingly someone who had great ambition,
huh~
Although he had not entered the magic academy, he had covered
the East and West magic.
“It’s amazing that you noticed that, Klaus-sama.”
“Naturally. This is the result of training to my utmost every
day.”
I felt that Klaus’ eyes were glittering.
Talented people were curious and greedy for their favorite
field.
“I also want to go to the ruins. Erica, will you show me the
way?”
–This flow, I only had bad feelings about this.
Somehow my death flag seemed to have been raised.
In the game, Ann was possessed by the evil spirit in the Ruins
of Visitor.
If Klaus went to the ruins instead of Ann, Klaus would be
possessed by evil spirit, and then he would curse me~~!!
“That’s impossible. Because that is a dangerous place.”
“Wasn’t it possible for Edward to go there without problems? Or,
do you think it’s impossible for me?”
Oh no, I triggered a strange sense of rivalry from him!
I guessed I would hurt his pride if I said that was the
truth.
What should I do?
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Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s5.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 4: Spring Palace (part four)
Chapter 4: Spring Palace (part four)
After that, I escaped from the pursuit of Klaus somehow and
headed for the dinner party.
As soon as Klaus talked about the matter of the ruins during
dinner, my father and Duke of Harvan stopped him very solemnly.
It couldn’t be helped. It was not a place where a 10-years-old
child could go.
When the topic about the ruins came out, I found it secretly
amusing that my older brother looked unruffled on the outside but
feeling anxious inside.
It was a good thing that I forbid Klaus to speak about the
matter of Edward-oniisama went into the Ruins of Visitor~~.
When the dinner party was over, Edward-oniisama was about to
head to Leandez Magic Academy that was located in the central part
of the continent through the Spring Palace’s transfer gate.
Transfer gates were located in the basement of important
buildings and provided warp function by magically connecting the
gates at each sites.
My older brother received one key from father after the dinner
party, and he would use the one-time-key to go to the academy.
I suddenly felt uneasy because of my conversation with
Klaus.
I wanted to hear about the magic that was spelled in this star
crystal, so I caught up with my older brother who was holding a
baggage in his room.
“Onii-sama, I’m sorry to hold you up when you are in a hurry,
but could I ask you something about this necklace?”
“Hm, what about the necklace, Erica?”
“Klaus-sama was concerned about the magic inside this necklace.
Very special magic.”
“Hee, a special magic, huh……Please lend it to me, Erica.”
With his eyebrows slightly furrowed, my older brother was
staring at the star crystal.
Edward-oniisama spread out his leather handbag on the floor
while crouching on the spot.
“Is that Wunderkammer……?”
We sorted our reservoir of gathered alchemists’ prepared items
into a miracle room, Wunderkammer.
The leather bag seemed to have an expanded interior space.
My older brother built a Wunderkammer inside it.
“Well, the magic for expanding space was very expensive…”
“That’s right…”
My older brother said that with distant eyes.
Incidentally, even the materials to create the kind of wands
that were stored inside cost an enormous amount of money.
I guessed this was quite a splurge, Edward-oniisama.
I didn’t know the specific price, but even if I just looked at
it roughly, I believed that I could sell off one or two silver
veins that my older brother would inherit in the future.
“Well, I will investigate it now.”
Edward-oniisama picked out a piece of sugar maple wand from
among the large number of short wands inside the Wunderkammer.
At the end of the wand was a piece of emerald.
On the part of the handle, there was a workmanship imitating a
feather of a peacock made from mother of pearls.
Perhaps the core material was a feather of a peacock.
The length of the short wand was just the length of a
conductor’s baton.
On such a small tool, more than 50 charges, or over 100 charges
if it was the finest wand, of magic was put into it.
How convenient~ I thought, but each one could only
contain one type of magic.
To deal with every situation, countless short wands were
needed.
So preparation was important for the western alchemists.
Edward-oniisama swung the wand like a conductor.
Green light spread around my older brother and converged on his
eyes.
With this, Edward-oniisama’s eyes temporarily turned into Glam
Sight.
The magic of an alchemist in this world was all done
manually.
“I see. This is amazing.”
“How is it?”
“Because I found it at the Ruins of Visitor, I thought that the
magic was of that era. But in actuality, it is older. At least
before Ignatia conquered the southern part of this continent.”
It was around 650 years ago that the founder of the western
Aurelia arrived at this place.
When the invading Ignatia destroyed Cascadia and placed the
southern part of this continent under their control, that was the
story of about 150 years ago before that.
Together it would be 800 years ago.
Cascadia was a country of vampires.
It was a dark nation where the vampire royalty and aristocracy
dominated human beings like a livestock—at least, that was how it
was reported.
In other words, the magic put on this stone was likely to belong
to the vampires of Cascadia.
It was not necessarily the truth, though.
“It means that it was the magic used by the vampires.”
“Aah, I see.”
On this continent, vampire was a phantom beast that had been
extinct hundreds of years ago.
But, it seemed that vampires would come out in the scenario
which I had not yet completed.
“Fortunately it is safe for us. Because us western human beings
are all dense to the magic of this kind. But—I’m afraid that both
East and North humans are sensitive and will be affected by
it.”
“What kind of magic was put inside the stone?”
“I will say that it’s close to a fascination, but it’s more than
that…Yes, it seems to be spelled to evoke desire…It seems better
for me to hold on to this stone a bit longer.”
Magic that evoked desire, huh.
Suddenly I remembered the tragedy of Klaus and Ann
in 『Liber Monstrorum』. In the first place, why would the very
polite Ann want the necklace that Erica had?
—It might be because of the desire evoked by this necklace.
“Erica, I don’t know if it will replace me, but here.”
This was the key for Onii-sama’s wonderful Wunderkammer.
The stored items were also equivalent to a lifeline for our
family.
“Onii-sama, why are you giving this important thing to me?”
“Because you seem very uneasy. I have to go to Leandez Magic
Academy for my friend. Actually I’d like to be by your side……But
I’m also needed there for something.”
“Onii-sama……”
“It’s alright, if there is nothing extraordinary, I should be
able to come back tomorrow morning.”
After he said that, my older brother went to Leandez Magic
Academy through the underground transfer gate.
I headed towards the guest room at Spring Palace.
It was to confirm the safety of Klaus and Ann.
I didn’t care that my long dress entangled with my legs, I was
running in the palace corridor at night.
Events that had occurred today were floating in my mind one
after the other.
Ann’s smile, with dyed cheeks among the blossoming flowers.
Klaus’ sparkling eyes when looking at the magic of my star
necklace.
The necklace with ancient magic—faint but bewitching blue
light.
I wanted to see Ann’s smile and Klaus’ scowl as soon as possible
to give me a peace of mind.
☆
The guest rooms that were used as accommodation for the children
of Duke Harvan, were plentifully decorated with the flowers of this
spring garden.
There was a fragrant scent of flowers in the room.
However, I couldn’t find the figures of Klaus and Ann.
All the maids serving Duke of Harvan were falling asleep by
magic.
I made sure that Ann was not confused among the sleeping maids,
but she wasn’t there either.
–Perhaps this was the work of Klaus.
Although he was only a 10-years-old boy, Klaus’ magical
abilities were exceptional.
These women weren’t just maids, but maids that had served the
duke.
In other words, they had some knowledge of magic.
If so, they should have a mild magic resistance.
I believed that the maids were took out by a powerful sleeping
magic so that he could sneak away.
I wondered what time was this magic used.
It was also worrying that the one who disappeared was not only
Klaus, but Ann too.
A person like Klaus would have headed for Ruins of Visitor.
Ten to one, no doubt.
For Ann, if good luck was on my side, she might be with the Duke
and Duchess of Harvan.
(For confirmation, I should hurry up and see the Duke of Harvan
or my father, shouldn’t I?)
It wasn’t good if this situation became widespread and panic
occurred.
I closed the door, crossed the corridor and headed to my
father’s room.
I walked about fifteen minutes.
I should have reached my father’s room since a long time ago,
but I reached the original room I set out from.
At this point, I understood that I was lost in a familiar
place.
It was a magic that turned the palace into a labyrinth.
However, no matter how much an excellent mage Klaus was, he
shouldn’t be able to use space distortion magic.
This was probably a Phantasmal Maze.
It was a magic that dazzles as though it was a labyrinth by
messing out the sense of direction of a passing human being and put
them under an illusion.
Because of this magic, Spring Palace seemed to have been divided
into several compartments.
I couldn’t even go to the Duke of Harvan or my father, the Duke
of Aurelia, and the adults would never reach their children’s
room.
For a 10-years-old to be able to master this complex magic……
I couldn’t hide my surprise at Klaus’ talent.
(I mean, this kind of careful preparation is too much,
Klaus–!)
Taking a deep breath, at this time I should calm down and
think.
“Edward-oniisama, it seems that I’m going to use it this
soon.”
I looked at the key to the Wunderkammer that I received from my
older brother earlier.
I put it into the keyhole of an appropriate room and turned
it.
This key itself was a magic item that could turn any door in
this palace into a door that was connected to my older brother’s
Wunderkammer.
When I opened the door, the Wunderkammer of the alchemist Edward
Aurelia appeared before me.
So if you don’t understand the work of a wand, the amount of
magic inside a wand is depending on the maker. For example, a wand
is charged 100 times with magic, that means the user can only use
that wand for 100 times. And each wand could only be powered with
one type of magic.
The difference with a staff of Harvan is that a staff is a
medium for mages to channel their magic. So it used the magical
power generated by the user, while a wand used the magical power
that had been stored inside it.
That’s why, while mages are depending on the versatility and the
magical power of the user, alchemists are depending on the type of
wands they have prepared beforehand.
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 5: Spring Palace (part five)
Chapter 5: Spring Palace (part five)
This was my first time to step in to my older brother’s
Wunderkammer.
Wunderkammer was not only an alchemist’s workshop, but it was
also a museum of magical materials collected from every corner of
the world.
In the center of the room there was a large desk-like
workbench.
Some burn mark-like stains and traces of some kind of liquid
overflowing were there.
On the large desk, there were various laboratory equipment and
processing instruments.
Glass test tubes, distillation bottles, burners, oil lamps, etc.
were in order.
On the right cabinet, there were specimens of eidolon
beasts.
Especially noticeable was the horn of the unicorn that was
ordered from Harvan of the East and the fossil of a basilisk we got
from the southern region.
There were many fossil specimens, but a lot of bottled preserved
specimens were also stored.
On the left cabinet, there was a tightly displayed ore samples
from Aurelia.
Not only regular ores, but also special ores with original
magical effects were collected.
All specimens were stored in boxes and bottles of a certain
size, and labels describing their origins and characteristics were
stuck on them.
The meticulous older brother’s personality was well-represented
by the cabinets.
Inside the front cabinet were stocked a number of wands with
built-in magic that were made using these materials.
Boxes of wands were stacked so that they couldn’t be
counted.
Inside these small boxes were also stored detailed notes on the
spelled magic and materials that were used.
There were many wands that could use the same magic, but their
power and effects differ slightly depending on which material used
to make it.
It seemed that my older brother was living here day and night
researching to grasp the differences of each and draw out the best
magic.
From what I understood, there was no such wand to cancel Klaus’
Phantasmal Maze.
The next action was decided by this.
It would be difficult to seek help from my father or other
adults.
At least, I had to keep track of Klaus and Ann.
I examined the clothes boxes in one corner of the
Wunderkammer.
Of course the clothes boxes were also labelled.
While checking the label, I found the clothes box that my older
brother was using around eight years old and opened it.
I dragged out my older brother’s boyhood clothes that I had
found.
I took off my clothes and wore my older brother’s old
clothes.
My hair was gathered behind with a ribbon.
Put a silver pocket watch into the coat pocket.
Fitted on the alchemists’ leather gloves.
After putting on the black leather boots, I slung the biggest
leather bag I found in this room over my shoulder.
Both were waterproofed with grease.
Put two lamps made of fragments of star crystal quenched with
antioxidant in the bag.
The most important thing was choosing the wands that had been
filled with magic.
Wand of Glam Sight.
This was the same wand as what Edward-oniisama used.
The effect lasted for about 30 seconds.
Wand of Hold.
It was made of amber, and the stick head was made using the
fossil of cockatrice coated with celluloid.
On the handle, there were workmanships of a chicken and snake
made of sterling silver.
The core material was a dried basilisk tail.
The duration of the effect was about 3 seconds.
Stuffed two or three for each enchanted wand into the leather
bag along with other wands that could be used.
Wand of Gust.
Wand of Urd Sight1.
Wand of Levitation.
Wand of Castling2.
Wand of Feather Falling.
Wand of Lock.
Wand of Grease.
Wand of Mage Finger3.
Wand of Water Walking.
I was looking over the wands and found a wand that was strictly
locked.
This was……a Wand of Sailor’s Song.
Only this wand was special.
When singing a specific song while swinging this wand, it was
said that 〈Alchemist’s Star〉 would fall.
With the magic of 〈Alchemist’s Star〉, we were also called
〈Aurelia the Star〉.
On the other hand, the reaction when it was used was not on the
degree of other wands.
If a mediocre alchemist used it without understanding how to
make use of it, it was said that just dropping one star would drop
his own life.
It was too dangerous, I couldn’t use it.
One magical rope.
It seemed that the utilization was similar to a wand.
It could be used freely a certain number of times.
One bottle of Obscuring Mist.
One bottle of Moonlight Gallnut Ink.
It was an ink made from Harvan’s special ore.
The letters written with this ink emit light only when the moon
was out.
Because there was no ordinary Gallnut Ink, this had to be enough
for the time being.
A piece of chalk.
Just to be safe, I packed a pen and a scrap of parchment.
Put a bottle of distilled liquor and a small box of chocolate
for precaution.
Finally, I picked up an athame knife4.
I left my older brother’s Wunderkammer, close the door, and
locked it.
First of all, let’s use the Wand of Glam Sight.
Pale green magic circle appeared and converged on my eyes.
When the magic showed its effect, I quickly used it on Spring
Palace, and then detailed information about the magic of Phantasmal
Maze appeared before me.
Creator unknown, the performer was Klaus Harvan, the time it was
set up was about thirty minutes ago.
Speaking of thirty minutes ago, it was when I saw Onii-sama
off.
It seemed that Klaus went out of the room due to my blunder.
Duration of the magic was three to four hours from the time of
creation.
It was as I thought.
It would be too late if I waited for the effect to be over
before asking help from my father or Duke Harvan.
The creator and the performer were different, because it was a
magic that was launched from a scroll.
This magic was set up by the magical power of Klaus and the
spell cards.
There seemed to be small spell cards on several places in this
palace.
Both scrolls and spell cards were mainstream magic in the
eastern Harvan.
They should have roles like a blueprint and an amplifier
respectively.
It seemed that the spell cards that had been spread out create a
barrier and amplified the enchanted magic, so they created a vast
labyrinth.
Next, let’s examine the underground transfer gates.
As I began to run, I remembered the scene when my older brother
was going to go to the magic academy.
—Huh? The underground transfer gates were managed by one-time
keys.
How did Ann go to the Ruins of Visitor in the original
scenario?
1 Urd is the name of one of the three Norns (Fates)
in Norse mythology. Urd is the one representing the past. So, Wand
of Urd Sight means that the wand could be used to see the past.
2 Castling is the act of moving the King to a safe
position in a blink of an eye, by trading the King’s place with one
of the Rook. So, Wand of Castling is for trading the place of the
user with the target.
3 Wand of Mage Finger: The Japanese version of Mage
Hand in D&D, it appears as a spectral, floating hand. The hand
lasts for the duration or until the user dismisses it as an action.
In this novel, it can only be used for fine works. (source)
Edit: I have been translating this wrong as a hunting knife, but
it is actually this:
4 Athame knife: a ceremonial blade, generally with
black handle. The athame was not to be used for actual physical
cutting. (source)
So the Phantasmal Maze divided the palace into several
compartments. People in one compartment couldn’t go to another
compartment unless they cancel the magic. This was why Erica
couldn’t go to the adults’ rooms. Since Erica could go to Klaus and
Ann’s room from Edward’s room, and from there go to the underground
transfer gate, this means that all those rooms are in the same
compartment. Besides, if Klaus and Ann’s room were in different
compartment from the underground transfer gate, they wouldn’t be
able to go to the Ruins of Visitor either. (Thank you
thatguy572 for your helpful explanations!)
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Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]/s7.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 6: Spring Palace (part six)
Chapter 6: Spring Palace (part six)
I ran down the dark stairs of the palace.
(Aah, it’s a great thing that I had changed my clothes–)
I felt light compared to when I ran in a dress.
I mean, it was painful to wear a dress as someone who had a
modern human’s sensitivity.
Or it might be just my low femininity.
After a while, I arrived in the underground transfer gates.
The place was illuminated in the night in the warm light by the
star crystal lamps.
“Maybe he’s not here anymore.”
I wished he was still sticking around in front of the transfer
gates, but this was not the easy mode.
All around me, there were a lot of arched stones of the transfer
gates lining up.
These were the transfer gates to go to the important places all
over the country.
Each transfer gate was given a design representing its
destination.
Every transfer gate had a faint glow with rotating magic circle
floating around it.
They were magically sealed so that it couldn’t be activated
without one-time keys.
Without hesitating, I ran towards the deepest transfer gate.
It was where the transfer gate to the ancient Ruins of Visitor
was.
I arrived in front of the intended transfer gate and I felt
disappointed.
“It needs keys…”
In addition to the one-time key magic circle, it also had a
physical lock.
Even if you falsified the one-time key in some way, you still
couldn’t use the transfer gate.
What an awful ending.
Even though I borrowed supplies from my older brother’s
Wunderkammer, and I had assembled the perfect battle
preparation.
However, rather than something happened, it was better that
nothing happened.
–A sense of relief……was it alright to feel it?
But then, where did Klaus go?
I used the Wand of Glam Sight just to be safe.
Huh? This – this lock, it was a phantom!
The genuine lock was destroyed by someone.
But, somehow the one-time key magic circle was also an
illusion.
The phantom that showed the lock as it was before destruction
was created by Klaus Harvan.
He made it about thirty minutes ago.
The illusion of the one-time key was the thing that Duke of
Aurelia, who was my father, made ten years ago.
The transfer gate to Ruins of Visitor was already outdated and
old.
Therefore, it might not have been possible to set up a one-time
key seal.
Instead, it was locked with a physical lock, and disguised it
with an illusion as if there was a one-time key seal.
It was an effective camouflage for the western Aurelia who
needed to spend a huge amount of money just to use Glam Sight.
But as the opponent was from the East, Klaus who was also an
excellent mage, it wasn’t effective at all.
Klaus looked at this camouflage and immediately realized that
the seal was fake.
After destroying the physical lock, he disguised it with a
phantom lock that was identical with the one my father made in
order to mislead.
As a result, the false images of the magic and physical locks
were completed.
“As expected, I have to go to the ruins and bring them
back.”
To be honest, I was scared.
Even in my past life I was not good with evil spirits and ghost
stories.
It was very scary to go to the Ruins of Visitor where such
things really exist.
But—
“Wait for me, Klaus, Ann.”
If the Harvan siblings were in such a place—
If they were lost in the ruins without knowing what was going on
or what was in there, then I had to save them.
I took a step forward into the transfer gate to the Ruins of
Visitor.
If I was not mistaken, the words praising the land of the
destination should be the command words to activate the magic.
I read the command words that were engraved on the transfer
gate.
“Come, my friend, let’s give a new name to the Promised Land
over this sea.”
☆
—I felt a slight dizziness.
When I opened my eyes, I was on the first layer of the Ruins of
Visitor.
The transfer gate was an ancient system in which spells were
engraved on the floor openly.
In contrast to the Spring Palace which was made of white solid
stones, the ruins were created by cutting out ordinary stones and
piling them up.
The ruins were located near the west coast of the Aurelia
territory.
I thought that I could smell the waves slightly.
Even though evening had come all the way, it was not completely
dark.
The lamps which contained star crystals were installed on the
wall, the weak gentle light which had a faintly yellowish color was
illuminating the room.
Long time ago, the family that founded Aurelia of the West, was
the last people who visited this continent.
Ethnic groups who had lived in this area first called them the
Visitor’s Clan.
They were excellent navigators, alchemists, and people of a
destroyed country who had lost their homeland.
Or maybe, they might have destroyed their homeland through
excessive alchemy……but the details were uncertain.
Where they came from and what kind of past they had, were all
covered in the darkness of history and disappeared.
Due to the inclusion of a piece of truth in those lore, the
people of Aurelia had destroyed some of their forbidden
technologies.
For example was their homunculus creation technology, which was
imparted only through the lore.
It was said that the secret of the ancient alchemy that had not
yet been elucidated was preserved in this Ruins of Visitor.
I looked at my surroundings carefully with the Wand of Glam
Sight.
At the moment, there was no other traces of magic than the magic
of the transfer gate.
First of all, that was a relief.
(As expected, this thing is useless when I applied it on the
ruins.)
Additionally, I used the Wand of Urd Sight five times.
Five white lights generated from the wand spread throughout the
room and converged on my eyes as the ripples reflected and
returned.
Through the Urd Sight which reads and interprets the incidents
that had passed, I could see the back of Klaus leaving from the
exit on the left side of the room.
“Klaus……you came alone.”
When I continued to look around the room, I saw Ann reached this
room through the transfer gate.
She seemed to have noticed something, and seemed that to have
searched for one point in the room.
After that, she also headed for the exit on the left—
The past view ended there.
Apparently, after Klaus headed alone for this ruins, Ann who had
noticed it seemed to have been following him. It would be
preferable if the only one who entered the ruins was Klaus who had
some skills.
I also looked at the place where Ann seemed to find
something.
There was a spell card.
But it seemed that the magic had not been executed yet.
Since it was in a state not holding magical power, my Glam Sight
didn’t notice it…!
The spell card which was made with a parchment, had spells
written in ancient characters of the eastern Harvan.
I was not particularly fluent in foreign languages.
If I could read the letters I might have gotten more hints, but
even this alone was enough for me to keep track of them.
Let’s chase Hansel and Gretel’s unused spell cards of bread
crumbs1.
As I passed through the exit on the left side of the room, there
seemed to be several rooms with similar composition.
Ah, I could see a narrow passage in the distance.
Once I arrived in the passage, there were lamps. It was not
completely dark.
But, this was scary, though?
This ancient building, the Ruins of Visitor was in the
underground and it had the atmosphere of an underground
dungeon.
“I’m not scared of ghosts, I’m not scared, not scared……!”
For the sake of giving myself a fighting spirit, I raised my
voice repeatedly.
Mustering a little bit of courage, I used the Wand of Glam Sight
and Wand of Urd Sight alternatingly, and chase the back of the past
Klaus and Ann.
Had I move 200 meters from the entrance? I had walked down the
stairs four times, so my sense of direction became ambiguous.
I thought that monsters and ghosts were scary, but as I ran down
the dark passage, I suddenly remembered my past life.
It was a memory when I was hit from behind at night during high
school.
It was not fear that froze my spine, it was just a dark, gloomy
feeling.
(No, I’m scared of human beings……Ah, I feel like I can score
easy victory with such things like ghosts.)
Yes, humans were very scary.
The resentment of living humans, the envy, the hatred.
Such things were really, truly frightening.
As I remembered that memory, I met a human.
“You, are you Erica……!?”
There was the exhausted face of the eastern mage, Klaus
Harvan.
1 She compared the Harvan siblings with Hansel and
Gretel, so if in the H&G story they used bread crumbs to
remember the way, the Harvan siblings used unused spell cards.
About the transfer gates, I imagined it combined three of these
pictures. Imagined it as the arched stone in the second picture
(without the stairs), with the circle in the number 2 in the first
picture, but changed the circle as the glowy magic circle in the
third picture.
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 7: Ruins of Visitor (part one)
Chapter 7: Ruins of Visitor (part one)
“Klaus-sama! Are you okay? You’re okay, right!?”
I rushed towards Klaus in spite of myself.
I could finally see the face of Klaus who until now I could only
see the back of, I was relieved from the bottom of my heart.
I guessed I was also relieved since I met a familiar face.
Gradually, the harsh expression on Klaus’ face disappeared.
“Aah, I have no problem. You are the one who is alone……You,
what’s with that appearance?”
Uh, he got right to the point.
First of all, I thought about putting emphasis on practicality,
and more than that I was in a hurry.
Regarding my coordination, it was quite appropriate.
“I borrowed the clothes of Edward-oniisama, thinking that you
are in the ruins, because I couldn’t come to a place like this
wearing a dress.”
“Oh, that sort of thing……you, you suit this appearance
better.”
“Oh, it is a great honor to be praised by you.”
Well, it was still impossible for me to wear a luxurious dress
after all!
I thought that Erica’s face suits it well enough.
Was the femininity of my soul insufficient as expected?
No, it was good enough that practical clothing suits me.
Let’s feel good.
“I’m glad I found you, this is the most dangerous place in
Aurelia territory, you know?”
“I’m aware of that, I just didn’t expect to waste my magical
power to such extent by searching this ruins for such a short
time.”
Klaus had a hard face.
It was a dark and scary place, so I certainly felt like I was
getting frustrated—
Had I had any difficulty in spending magic so far?
“Klaus-sama, what do you mean by that?”
“Erica, you, didn’t you notice it when you come to this
place?”
“Not at all.”
“……You’re dense.”
“It couldn’t be helped because Western human beings are
different from Eastern human beings.”
A dense place with a good sense, that was the virtue of the
human beings from Aurelia territory.
I might not have noticed it because my efforts and talent
weren’t enough, though.
“The magical effect that absorbs magical power is working on
this ruins, even the activation of lower tier magic took a heavy
burden since a little while ago.”
“Is there such a trap put on somewhere? Can you find out
something if you use Glam Sight?”
“I already identified things that seem to be the starting point
of the trap. But the spell to solve it doesn’t seem to be
effective. I don’t know what kind of trap is this.”
“Surely, metals and jewels that impede magic are physically
embedded.”
I heard that there were metals with such effects in
Lucanrant.
Depending on the combination of minerals that I didn’t know, the
same effect might be invoked, it was not only limited to the
northern metals.
“It seems that wide area magic is blocked, and magic with
effective range of 5 m or more in radius has failed.”
“That said, I heard from Onii-sama that there is a trap that has
been activated, but I don’t know the effect.”
“Got it.”
Although we from Aurelia didn’t mind the effect, people from
Harvan seemed to be pretty incompatible with it.
Ruins of Visitor were like the culmination of the lost
techniques of Aurelia of the West.
Unexpectedly, these missing technologies might be said to be
‘abandoned’ by choice because of problems, rather than being
‘lost’.
Like a trap that obstructed the magical power that was not
friendly to outsiders, for example.
“Because of that……I’d like you to see this for a moment.”
Klaus spread a parchment.
There were large rectangular outline and the name of the god of
wind was written in twelve directions so as to surround it.
It was the most commonly used template in this world’s maps.
But, except for the frame and several lines of Harvan’s magic
language, it was almost blank, and things that seemed like maps
were not drawn.
“I tried to use Auto-mapping and put spell cards along the
route. However, thanks to the troublesome trap, even if I cast the
spell it wouldn’t react at all.”
“Oh, so it is a spell for that.”
“If I knew a little sooner that Auto-mapping would be
invalidated, I wouldn’t search so deeply.”
Klaus shrugged his shoulders.
When the talk finished, I asked what I was really concerned
about.
“Well, Klaus-sama. Where is Ann-sama?”
“Wha—! Why are you talking about Ann now?”
Klaus’ body jumped in alarm.
Huh, this guy, didn’t he feel like a small animal?
“In order to follow Klaus-sama, I was using Urd Sight. Then I
could see Ann-sama as well as Klaus-sama……”
“I have not brought my sister here.”
“It seemed that she was pursuing Klaus-sama.”
“But, I’m certain that I had put my sister to sleep with a
sleeping magic……, no way, that girl, did she use a reinforced Magic
Resist in anticipation of me getting out?”
In his own way, he devised a plan to make sure his sister didn’t
come to this dangerous place.
I thought that he was cold to Ann, but he was a good older
brother.
However, it seemed that his sister was one step ahead of
him.
The young Ann was also an excellent mage like Klaus.
So, as a result of her insight and effort, she successfully
Resist her brother’s magic.
This, Klaus’ secret was backfiring, wasn’t it?
The more he said that she couldn’t come, the more he hid it, the
more she would be worried about it.
They were a curious pair of brother and sister.
“I didn’t see my sister on the way so far, it seems that she
followed another road somewhere.”
In the middle of devoting myself pursuing Klaus’ back, I
neglected to confirm Ann’s whereabouts.
It was also because I was reluctant in using the expensive Wand
of Urd Sight.
Perhaps it should have been used more finely.
“Would you like to trace our way back again, Klaus-sama? Let’s
go find your younger sister on our way back.”
“……That’s right. Apparently, I’m not prepared enough to get
around these ruins.”
Klaus glanced at my appearance and said that.
His gaze moved steadily to my alchemist’s leather gloves, to my
leather bag that was overflowing with wands, and to my boots that
seemed to be durable on the floor.
“If I’m not cautious like you, it is likely to lose my way in
the ruins.”
I was feeling a bit relieved at being obediently heard.
I couldn’t beat him if he said, ‘I will definitely not turn
back!’
“If you decide so, let’s search for Ann-sama immediately.”
“Ah.”
“If we couldn’t find a way to find Ann-sama, we’ll go back to
Spring Palace at once.”
“Ah, this maze is too much for children to navigate alone.”
“Speaking of maze, please dispel the Phantasmal Maze in Spring
Palace.”
I had to ask him not to forget about it.
It was no wonder if many maids were distressed during this
time.
“Mmm, you noticed it, didn’t you?”
“If I didn’t notice, I wouldn’t bother to pick you up like
this.”
“I thought that you are much more enthusiastic in searching this
ruins, so that is not really the case?”
“It’s not!”
It would be troublesome if it was misunderstood.
I had not come to explore like Klaus. I came to stop Klaus from
exploring.
I didn’t even know if my father or Duke of Harvan would get
angry at me, alright?
“While tracing our way back, let’s use Urd Sight at each branch.
So we can see where Ann got deviated.”
“Is that a Wand of Urd Sight? Will you also let me use it? I
have been using Glam Sight until you joined, it seems that it will
take time to recover my magical power because of that.”
“I see. It might be more efficient for both of us to use Urd
Sight rather than just me.”
Eastern magic cut not only mental power but also physical
strength.
No matter how much a genius Klaus was, he was still a
10-years-old boy.
The Ruins of Visitor had an intense magical power obstruction,
and he had been using Glam Sight since the start.
Or rather, I admired that his magical power had been kept well
until now.
Then, I was concerned about the amount of magic that was charged
into the Wand of Urd Sight.
I had already consumed about 60 charges before finding
Klaus.
The leftover was about 40 charges.
The Wand of Urd Sight was a wand created from ash
tree1.
The top of the wand was a yellow tourmaline, while the handle
part was given a pattern that was weaved in gold.
It was the core material that was distinctive.
Silk weave of 10 meters in length stitched with gold and silver
threads.
It was compressed into several millimeters by space magic, it
was lightweight and used as a core.
Then, it was necessary to replace the core material when
recharging the magic inside a wand.
What was my point?
In other words, this magic was incredibly expensive.
(Edward-oniisama, I’m sorry……!!)
While apologizing in my mind, I opened my bag for the second
Wand of Urd Sight.
I wondered how many wands would I use overnight.
I was afraid of thinking about that for a moment.
1 Ash is a type of tree. In this story, it refers to
Fraxinus japonica, or Japanese ash.
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 8: Ruins of Visitor (part two)
Chapter 8: Ruins of Visitor (part two)
I handed over a Wand of Urd Sight and one of alchemist’s leather
gloves to alleviate the reaction of the wands to Klaus.
And for myself, I took out a brand new wand.
“This wand of Aurelia, how do you activate it?”
“To use it, just wave it while saying the spell in your
mind.”
“It looks like it’s surprisingly easy. Is it okay to try
it?”
“Sure. Go ahead.”
Klaus carefully swung the wand.
The magic of Urd Sight activated safely and white magic circle
converged on his eyes.
Klaus looked around while blinking over and over.
His long eyelashes made pachipachi sounds as he blinked
with vigour as if his eyes dried out.
“…This is useful. I myself didn’t consume any magical power at
all, I could see you from a few minutes ago.”
“Events that had passed over time cannot be pursued by Urd
Sight. Keep in mind about what you want to know when you activate
it, you should focus on events related to that particular
person.”
“Do I have to explore while thinking about Ann?”
“That’s right. Let’s go then.”
The lamps in the surroundings were weak because the oxidation of
the star crystals were proceeding.
This could make us overlooked the important places.
I searched my bag and took out a lamp.
“Klaus-sama, please also have this lamp.”
“Hm.”
Klaus attached the lamp he got from me to his staff.
When I thought of what he wanted to do, he demonstrated that he
could light up high places with his staff.
Ooh, that was great.
……Well, there was no Ann in such a place.
You still somewhat wanted to explore, right? That was not good,
you know?
We occasionally swung our wands and walked with two lamps
carefully shining on our way home.
“Somehow, I can see the past you were mumbling.”
“Please don’t tease me.”
“Erica……You, are you scared of monsters or ghosts?”
“Klaus-sama, please concentrate on finding your sister.”
Klaus looked amused as he turned his line of sight to the
front.
I would be in trouble for a while.
Because, right now I was an innocent 8-years-old girl, you
know?
Isn’t it okay to be scared of something?
Aah, but if I considered my actual age in the previous life, it
was painful to say whether it was okay or not……, ahaha.
“Your mood was terribly suspicious and you had gloomy eyes……Are
you really an 8-years-old child?”
“Hey! Please search for Ann-sama seriously!”
“You, you sometimes have eyes that said you give up on
life…”
Eei, I didn’t want you to tell me that!
Somehow, Klaus’ sensitivity increased until it almost felt like
he had a penetrating gaze1!
I would hold down what I wanted to say.
Even if Klaus sometimes seemed he had the tendency of a small
animal, when it came to it, he could grasp the opponent’s weakness
and play with it…!
Was this a glimpse of someone who would become a Do-S character
in the future!?
No, no, now I had to focus on searching for Ann!
“Klaus-sama, have you seen the back of Ann-sama yet?”
“No, I can’t see anything about Ann yet. For now, I have only
caught on to you in my Urd Sight.”
“Are you keeping in mind properly about your sister?”
“Oh, I definitely think about her. Even so I can only see you,
it’s annoying.”
This, this guy……!!
No, no, no, this was not the time for such a thing.
“Did you really see Ann? There is no trace that she ever went
through here before.”
—H-huh?
Just now, I felt like there was something weird.
“……Hey, Klaus-sama, could you please show me the place of the
spell card that you installed for Auto-mapping?”
“Oh, I remember…The spell card in this room is……”
Klaus ran to the corner of the room and looked around the
wall.
Oh, he seemed to have some trouble.
He walked around while lighting the walls many times and then
returned with a strange expression.
“It’s not here.”
“Really?”
“What does it mean? I’m certain that I put it there……It’s
strange, this is—”
He was not wrong.
I didn’t remember it very clearly, but I remembered seeing an
unused spell card around the area he was looking at.
But now that spell card didn’t exist.
—-I got a bad feeling.
“This Ruins of Visitor, seems to be moving the rooms and
passages, it’s probably not magic, but mechanical.”
At that time, I heard a bad sound.
It sounded somewhere in this ruins.
“A mechanical labyrinth……!”
“I have heard from my father that it was a kind of mechanism
that the ancient Aurelia people used to avoid thieves, but I never
thought that there is a mechanical labyrinth in such a large
building.”
Along with the tremendously loud sound of moving mechanism, our
feet shook unnaturally.
It was not an earthquake.
Right now, the room where Klaus and I stood was moving.
“……You saw Ann and I went out of the transfer gate.”
“Yes.”
“Did you see Ann that one time in the first room?”
“Yes.”
Klaus wrinkled across his brow,
Sharp eyes stared at me.
“When I passed through and when you chased me, it was probably
the same passage, but when Ann passed through, that passage was
connected to another place.”
“That’s probably right.”
“And now, too, the trick of the labyrinth has started, and we
lost our present position……That’s how it is, Erica.”
“Yes. In this way, there is no guarantee that we can go back to
the transfer gate.”
We lost the clues to find Ann and also lost the way to return to
the Spring Palace.
The mummy hunter himself became a mummy2.
We intended to find a lost child, but now we became lost
children.
We were too late in noticing it, and everything else might had
been lost.
“You’re quite calm.”
“Of course? I will act flustered when I feel flustered.”
“Well, aren’t you cheeky.”
The thing I most worried about now was Ann.
I was calm because we were still together.
A small girl was wandering around alone in this dimly lit Ruins
of Visitor.
Just thinking about it, I felt my heart squeezed tight.
Besides, if she had already been touched by an ancient evil
spirit—
No, I had to stop the pessimistic thoughts right now.
Look for Ann, return to the original place, I only had
to think about these two.
However, I felt stuck in this search.
Waiting for the night to come like this, wouldn’t father and
Duke of Harvan notice and send a search party?
—-No.
If that happened, Ann would die according to the original
game.
Because my relationship with her was changing, I didn’t know if
she would kill me six years later.
However, no matter how much death flags were broken, I didn’t
want such a thing to happen.
I didn’t want to give up on the life of a young girl I had
become emotionally attached to.
“If we move thoughtlessly, things will likely become worse.”
“There should be something we can do. Let’s think together for a
little while, Klaus-sama.”
I spread my leather bag on the floor.
What can we do with what we have right now? We had to
check the means that could be taken.
“You have brought so much.”
“I don’t know what will happen, because it is said that there is
no feeling of grief if you are prepared.”
Was there any magic that could break through our current
situation?
I turned over the box of wands and checked the label.
“……Wand of Grease? It’s a magic to improve slippage. If you put
it on your opponent’s hand, their hand would slip and they wouldn’t
be able to grasp anything. But what are you going to use in this
labyrinth? Something like a niche magic.”
“Because I was in a hurry, I packed it noncommittally!”
Klaus looked into the bag curiously and started picking out
items together with me.
“There is no convenient wand that will turn this situation
around in one shot. It’s difficult, huh. At most if the wide area
search magic is effective.”
“Please blame that matter towards my vigilant ancestors.”
Klaus also carefully read the labels, but it seemed that the
idea was not readily apparent.
But I couldn’t give up yet.
When I was persistently searching my leather bag, a weak light
that was different from the star crystal lamp came from the deepest
part.
“This is Moonlight Gallnut Ink, huh.”
“Ah, I often use it back in Harvan.”
There was a mineral particular to the eastern Harvan region
called moonlight ore.
It began to shine faintly as the moon rises, and lost its
radiance with the moonset.
When clouds shaded the moon, the moonlight ore became shaded as
well.
It was such a strange stone.
Since ancient time, the eastern mages utilized the
characteristic of the moonlight ore, that was specialized to
respond to the moon, to make Moonlight Gallnut Ink.
“The moon rise……right now it’s roughly 20 o’clock.”
In the ink bottle, a bluish yellow light that was permeated was
swaying gently.
It was a much weaker light compared to a star crystal lamp.
The night sky tonight was cloudy.
“Klaus-sama, this is……”
I covered my star crystal lamp and gazed at the moonlight ore’s
light, I noticed something.
Pale light of the same color as the ink was also shining on the
walls of the room.
Moreover, it was blinking repeatedly at the same timing as the
ink.
“You also noticed?”
“Well, it is as sparkling as the ink, isn’t it?”
Perhaps the intensity of the light was linked to the flow of
thin clouds that shaded the moon.
I noticed that it was such a weather.
I put the lamp into my leather bag, and Klaus covered his lamp
that was attached on the tip of his staff with the sleeve of his
robe.
Because the strong lights were blocked, the faint light of the
characters drawn on the wall was emphasized and emerged.
What was drawn on the wall was a crescent moon mark.
And under the mark was a familiar handwriting—
It was a message left by senior explorers who had challenged
this labyrinth.
What the golden moonlight illumination revealed was truly a
bright light3.
1 Actually it said レイプ目 (rape gaze), but I think it’s
inappropriate, so I changed it to penetrating gaze.
2 An idiomatic expression, means: intending to
persuade someone and instead being persuaded himself. Or, a person
who went to bring the person to his side will instead stay on the
other side.
3 Bright light here means hope, but the author made
it a pun, so I keep it as it is.
About the Auto-mapping, so Klaus installed spell cards en route
(the one Erica found in chapter 6). They are used to mark the
places where he goes through, and when he activated the spell, they
supposedly will create a map in the parchment he has in the
previous chapter. But, since there is a trap that invalidated wide
area magic, the spell cards were found by Erica in a state of
unused/inactive.
About the Moonlight Gallnut Ink, if the moon rose, the ink would
shine yellow/golden light. If the moon was shaded, it would shine
bluish yellow light just like in this chapter. It depends on the
current state of the moon, so even if it was indoor, as long as the
moon has risen, the ink would shine.
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Shini
Yasui Kōshaku Reijō to Nana-ri no Kikōsh
Arc
1
by
Terasu Senoo
Novel
Updates
Translation
Group: Starry
Night Translation
Epub:
Trollo
WN/LN EPUB
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Prologue: Erica Aurelia, the Villainous Lady
Prologue: Erica Aurelia, the Villainous Lady
“How did this happen…?”
I, Erica, the Duke of Aurelia’s daughter, couldn’t move when I
saw myself in the mirror.
Dark golden hair like honey was gently rolled elegantly.
The skin was white like milk, and the cheeks were rosy.
Although it was still the young face of an 8-years-old, she had
high eyebrows and emerald eyes that looked arrogant.
—Is that, me?
Wrong! That wasn’t me! That was—
I began to feel a sense of incompatibility with the hair color,
skin color, and eye color.
Above all, this characteristically vertical roll……!!
This was the villainous lady of the romance-fantasy girl
game『Liber Monstrorum ~Phantom Beasts and the Winter Princess~』
Erica Aurelia!1
I was seized by a sensation that made my feet wobbly, and I
leaned on the mirror to stabilize myself.
One by one, the memories of my past life was gushing forth like
a spring, and I felt sick.
Does this mean that I was reincarnated and awakened the
memory of my previous life?
I thought that was absurd, but just now, the recollection about
my life as Erica said that this was the world of『Liber Monstrorum
~Phantom Beasts and the Winter Princess~』
And that was why I had nothing but bad feelings no matter how
good my face was now.
More than that, it was that villainous lady, Erica
Aurelia.
I knew that Erica was bullying the heroine who entered the magic
academy, and she was the first person to die as the time for the
bizarre incident started.
If I grew up like this, when the drama for the heroine and her
chosen capture target reached the climax and the murder case began,
I would die!
I really wanted to avoid that.
Being suddenly attacked and died again, that would be too
regrettable.
—Again?
And the memory that I didn’t want to remember rushed into my
head.
It seemed to be the memory of my last moment in the previous
life.
I was shocked because I could see shiny things.
I felt a burning heat in the side of my flank and when I
stretched out my hand there, it was bright red with blood.
I escaped to ask someone for help, but I was stabbed many
times as I shouted—.
I see, after that, I was dead……
He was my colleague, I thought he was a man who never talked
much.
Suddenly, on my way back from work, he stabbed me many times
while saying ‘You betrayed me’, but why?
The only contact with him that I could remember was lending him
a retractable umbrella when it began to rain, but what was his
problem?
Or was it that?
There was a similar incident during high school.
I belonged to the Geography Club, and everyone in the club
(which consisted of boys except for me) said ‘I fall in love
with you’ and in the end it was misunderstood that I was
supposed to have a physical relationship with everyone, and that
rumor was circulated around the school.
It was hell.
I was weak and poor; I couldn’t clear up the
misunderstanding.
One of the member who truly believed it hit me from behind at
night……
By the time I left the hospital, the Geography Club had become
deserted and I had the worst nicknames, such as ‘Circle Crusher’,
‘Small Carnivorous Plant’, or just plain ‘Slut’……, hahaha…
Painful.
Even at university, or even in society, it was not as serious as
that, but there were similar incidents.
I failed at trying to overcome real human relationships as
safely as possible.
It was troublesome trying to be involved with other people other
than for business, and so I got addicted to something.
It was game speedruns2.
Fiction wouldn’t try to go as far as trying to hit me through
the display screen!
How wonderful!
The memories I had remembered were mostly my disastrous
experiences and the main strategy method of the game.
I was biased in my life experiences.
The more I traced as I followed the memory threads, there was no
choice but to accept because I experienced it in real life.
So, I didn’t dislike Erica.
Strong spirit.
Prideful.
Active.
She was a girl who seemed to embodied the strengths I admired in
the past life.
She was close to my ideal except for the harassing people
part.
If I were a girl like this, I wouldn’t be harassed or stabbed by
a misunderstanding Yandere man.
Maybe an ordinary human being would also be able to overcome it,
but that was a trivial thing.
That’s it!
I could change this romance-fantasy girl game into a
happy-go-lucky fantasy girl game!
But, was it really possible?
At minimum, I would have to escape my mysterious deaths.
Then I felt like I could live more freely than my previous
life.
Not bad.
Surely clues could be found in the memories of my previous
life.
Why did Erica die?
That was because Erica trampled over the lives of other
characters.
If I avoided that, I might be able to seek refuge in the middle
of a fatal situation.
The dark past of each capture targets.
It was a death flag that Erica built herself.
Since that was the case, I could strike down the death flags
with all my power.
However, there was something I want to check before that.
This ‘memory’ could also be my delusion.
It was possible that this wasn’t a reincarnation but a sign that
I was going crazy.
The young Erica was just playing with her 20-years-old older
brother.
She got sleepy when she read an easy-to-read book with a lot of
pictures from her older brother’s collection.
She fell asleep on a chaise longue and she just came in front of
the mirror with her messy hair again.
In order to judge whether my memory was a delusion or not, I had
to make sure whether something that I knew had happened or not.
“Are you okay, Erica?”
It was my older brother that came close to me, worried about me
who was leaning against the mirror.
Just in time.
“Your complexion isn’t good.”
My brother’s name was Edward Aurelia.
He was the first child of Duke of Aurelia and one of the
heroine’s capture target.
He had the same blonde hue as Erica’s, but his eyes were very
kind and sweet.
“Onii-sama, thank you very much. I just got a little tired for a
moment.”
“I see, you just read variety of books until a while ago. You
should eat sweet things.”
Edward took out a small package from a small box on the table,
and unwrapped the package.
“Here, open your mouth.”
When I opened my mouth, the chocolate grain was thrown in.
Onii-sama was always sweet to me.
“Is it delicious?”
“Yes.”
“Yeah, you’re a good girl, Erica.”
He stroked my hair with a gentle hand.
If I had such an older brother, I wouldn’t blame anyone for
being a brocon.
Well then, I needed to get the information I wanted from my
gentle older brother.
“Um, Onii-sama.”
“Hm, what is it, Erica? Do you want more chocolate?”
“If I ate too much before supper I would get fat.”
I felt bad for making my older brother’s smile dimmed a
little.
But, I had to ask him about the incident at the beginning of
this game.
“May I ask you about things in the northern, the ice and
snow-covered, Lucanrant territory?”
“……What are you talking about?”
“About what happened in the North last year.”
“…You mean the Dukedom of Lucanrant Tragedy, huh…”
Edward-oniisama looked sad as he said it.
“That’s, when Erica gets a little older……I will tell you in
detail at that time, now I want you to forgive me.”
“……I understand, Onii-sama. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s okay, I’m sorry for being fussy, Erica.”
It would have been better if I could have a confirmation that
there was a tragedy in the North called ‘Werewolf Massacre
Incident.’
I didn’t think that the 20-years-old older brother would explain
such a gruesome story to his 8-year-old sister in more details.
“Then, I will return to my room.”
With this, it was confirmed that this world is『Liber
Monstrorum』
The phantom beasts – numerous monsters, werewolves, vampires –
were the beginning of a strange world where they were engulfed in
the shadows of the night.
1 Liber Monstrorum: it is the latin of Book of
Monster. It is a late seventh-or early eighth-century Anglo-Latin
catalogue of marvellous creatures. (source)
2 Speedruns: a term in gaming where you tried to
challenge yourself while gaming, whether it was to beat the highest
score, beat it in the fastest time, or make all routes
play-throughs.
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 9: Ruins of Visitor (part three)
Chapter 9: Ruins of Visitor (part three)
“‘Pass under the crescent moon gate and look for the twin
half-moon’…?”
“This is……it’s the handwriting of Edward-oniisama.”
“It’s that guy’s handwriting!?”
I found a trace of Edward-oniisama in the Ruins of Visitor and I
felt relieved.
It was the feeling of finding Buddha in hell.
Onii-sama, who was wearing an archaic smile in my mind, was
waving his hand sweetly.
“It might be some hint that Onii-sama left when he explored this
ruins.”
“Now then, let’s follow this.”
“I agree.”
I packed up my box of wands that was spread on the floor and
other tools in my bag and stood up.
According to the message, we needed to go through the exit where
the mark of the crescent moon was drawn in the arch part.
As we went through a dark passage for about 30 meters, the light
of Moonlight Gallnut Ink came into our sight.
Two semicircular signs were arranged side by side.
This had to be the twin half-moon.
“This…!?”
“Wait, something is also written on it.”
“‘When the full moon rises high in the sky, the road will
open’…”
“Full moon? But, I don’t see a circle mark anywhere……?”
“Wait. There is the word ‘rises’ in the message. That
means—”
Again, the heavy machine sound resonated.
The shape of the room had changed nearby.
“This hint, is it supposed to be written assuming that the
labyrinth will move?”
“That means, that sound means that the full moon has risen some
time ago – in other words, it was a sound that leads to the room
where the next hint was written.”
“Ah. That’s right. The sky……If the moon has risen to the highest
position, the direction to go is south1.”
“Oh no. I didn’t bring a compass with me.”
“Leave it to me. While it is impossible to use high tier magic
and large area magic due to the consumption of magical power, I can
still use magic of this degree.
Klaus was chanting wholeheartedly while holding the wand
perpendicular to the floor.
The language he used was the same ancient language of Harvan,
but unlike the magical chant he normally used, it was a nursery
rhyme.
When he released his hand from the wand as he finished his song,
the wand turned around and fell down towards the direction where we
just came from.
“This direction is south.”
“It’s somewhat plain.”
“Because it is. But it’s unexpectedly convenient to remember
this kind of thing.”
Certainly, it was of great use.
Without this strange thing, I seriously thought of whether I
should extract a magnet from the core material or not.
Because of Klaus’ knowledge, the wallet of Edward-oniisama was
saved.
My older brother’s hint implicitly told us that in addition to
the passage of time, our moving weight was also a condition for the
labyrinth’s mechanism to change its shape.
If at first we searched with two groups, I might not be able to
rejoin with Klaus.
Holding hands with Klaus so that we wouldn’t get separated, we
moved toward the south through the dimly lit ruins.
While checking with our lamps at some places, we searched
carefully.
After a while, I saw a glowing round light emerging in the
darkness.
“A circular mark…that is the full moon!”
“Looking at the distance, is there any message?”
“Is this the end point?”
“What was your brother doing in this place?”
At the entrance where the sign of the full moon was drawn, a
brand new wooden door was set up.
Fortunately, the door was not locked.
While slowly watching for signs of movement beyond this door, we
slowly opened the door.
“This is……”
“A box…is it?”
In the room with the full moon mark, five large storage boxes
were placed.
Each storage box was made to be sturdy by being reinforced with
a metal frame and they were supposed to be locked.
If they were placed in a ruin like this, they looked like
treasure boxes.
Each storage box was carved with a crest of Aurelia.
On the attached labels, there were notes with Onii-sama’s
handwriting.
Apparently, the inside of the boxes seemed to be items that
Onii-sama kept for exploring the labyrinth.
There were two rolls of blankets on the side of the boxes, and
there were traces of fire as well.
“Is this a simple base camp?”
“Thoroughly prepared, huh. It sounds like my older brother.”
“There may be items that can be used.”
“If so, it can’t be helped.”
I tried to open the storage box, but all of them were locked
tightly.
It was really carefully prepared, it certainly seemed to be
Edward-oniisama.
“Klaus-sama, unfortunately, I didn’t bring a Wand of Skeleton
Key2……”
“Don’t worry. Somehow, my magical power has recovered enough to
use the magic of Unlock.”
“Well then, please.”
“Oh, leave it to me.”
Klaus put his staff on the box and cast a spell.
Unlike our wands, the staffs used by the eastern mages served as
a magical amplifier.
But, for a mage of Klaus’ degree to use a staff for a basic
spell, wasn’t that a little excessive?
Light-red light magic circle appeared as if wrapping the storage
box.
The magic circle slowly rotated and shrunk down, converging on
the lock part.
Click, and with that sound, the lock opened.
“Okay, I guess you can open it now.”
“Let’s open it, Klaus-sama.”
“Ah.”
Klaus opened the heavy lid of the clothing box.
I shone it with a lamp, I saw a number of items.
“Some scrolls and food, yeah, this is nice, we’re saved.”
“Does it have something that looks useful?”
“Look, it’s a magical recovery potion.”
Small bottles of candy colored glasses that contained potions
were arranged in order.
As expected of Edward-oniisama!
“If we have these, I don’t have to depend on your wand. I will
be able to do more in our search.”
“Sounds helpful.”
Huh? Alchemists shouldn’t have to worry about running out of
magical power.
Why did Edward-oniisama keep so many potions for magical
recovery?
For the companion who accompanied him……?
Onii-sama’s friend, I wondered if he was from Harvan or
Lucanrant.
Oops, now was the time to confirm the rest of the items.
After he opened one with the potions, Klaus was unlocking the
rest of the boxes one after another.
He had recovered his magical power, and now he was in a perfect
condition, like a fish that got water.
Aah! Four boxes had been opened while I was day dreaming!
“I will open this box.”
I was going to open the last box.
—GING!
The light protection pattern that had been embroidered on the
hem of my older brother’s clothes enveloped every thread with
special magical power.
At the same time as opening the lid, a vast purple magic circle
was spreading.
Hii! This was obviously a kind of curse.
I tried to avoid it quickly, but faster than I reacted, the
light of the magic circle broke like a chain and entangled me.
“……Eh!?”
“……!! This is bad! A trap!”
(Why does it—!?)
That’s right~~!
If you left behind a baggage full of items in a dungeon, you
would take measures against thieves!
This, the death flag was quite serious and dangerous!?
This was painful…!
Klaus cast Glam Sight and stared at me.
He was confirming the details of the curse that I was given.
His eyes shook, and blood drained from his head as he stared at
me.
When Klaus finished analysing the curse, he turned down his eyes
as if mourning.
Uwa! That was a reaction like a doctor who would announce an
incurable disease!
“……Sorry, Erica. This is…the curse of death.”
Hii, as expected!
Many of Aurelia’s people had a strong pride in their
craftsmanship.
So, most alchemists were strict toward thieves…
“……This is the work of Edward-oniisama, right?”
“Ah. The creator is Edward Aurelia, your older brother, it was
made about a month ago.”
Klaus’ facial expression was dark, he wouldn’t look into my eyes
and his eyebrows were furrowed.
Anyway, was I going to die, right now!?
“Curse of Merciful Death……After a certain period of time, even
without suffering, it will bring death promptly.”
“Eh, after a certain amount of time…?”
“Estimated to be a little more than eight hours and less than
twelve hours.”
“……Eh!?”
“It is to give some moral suffering to the victim, huh. Or maybe
there is an intention of dispelling it if the victim was begging
for forgiveness.”
You were a devil, Edward-oniisama.
As expected from someone with the infamous dark smile among the
seven capture targets, the retribution was very dark ……!!
I was always feeling refreshed by looking at my friendly older
brother’s gentle and sweet side.
It was too regrettable that I hadn’t played Onii-sama’s scenario
yet—
“……Erica, are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m okay.”
For a moment, it seemed that I had been escaping reality, but I
returned to see Klaus’ worried face.
“Erica, let’s return. There is still time to go to the palace.
Your father would be able to resolve it.”
“No, let’s give priority to your sister now.”
I decided to bear it.
Even if it didn’t have monsters or ghosts, this Ruins of Visitor
was dangerous enough.
There was no guarantee that Onii-sama and other explorers hadn’t
set any other deadly traps.
I couldn’t leave the young Ann in such a place.
Generally, I was accustomed to severe experiences.
I didn’t want to get used to it at all.
In the first place, it was not merely death, but the mercy
itself was that I could spare eight hours.
I took out the silver pocket watch out of my coat pocket.
The current time was past 21 o’clock.
“It’s still fine to escape by 5 o’clock tomorrow morning and
solve it.”
“What are you talking about! How much can we postpone it, if
something happened to you, I—”
“I’m more concerned about your sister.”
“But……”
“Let’s stroll around the garden of Spring Palace tomorrow, this
time it will be the three of us. Promise me, Klaus-sama.”
It was rude to interrupt other people’s speech, but I had to
interrupt him.
If I was seriously worried about it, it would be rather hard for
myself.
I smiled at Klaus.
A smile was important.
Even if Erica Aurelia was a villainous lady, would her smile be
enough to relieve anxiety?
“You……”
“If there is such a grace, if I don’t have a bad luck, I won’t
die.”
“I don’t know, Erica……you look like you have a very bad
luck.”
I know, right~.
In the one out of five Russian Roulette treasure chest just a
moment ago, I magnificently caught the jackpot!
1 This is a navigation using the moon
location. All celestial objects – sun, stars, planets and moon
– arc across the southern sky when viewed from northern latitudes.
They all reach their highest point in the sky when they cross your
meridian or line of longitude and this will occur when they are
exactly due south of you. That’s why, Klaus deduced that the next
hint is in the southern direction. (source)
2 It is written as Wand of Universal Key. So it is a
wand that can unlock everything.
…At first I don’t understand why the next hint is in the south
direction, but after reading it once again I finally understand and
added that first note.
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18_Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 10: Ruins of Visitor (part four)
Chapter 10: Ruins of Visitor (part four)
“Erica, is there a painful place somewhere?”
“I’m alright, Klaus-sama.”
“I see……Then, do you feel sluggish, cold, or something like
that?”
“I’m alright!”
“I see……If you feel somewhat bad, don’t overdo it and say it
quickly.”
“Yes, yes. I will tell you.”
We were organizing and sorting the items that were stored in the
storage boxes of Edward-oniisama.
I mainly focused on the wands, while Klaus on the scrolls and
spell cards.
……It was supposed to be a time for preparations, but Klaus’
hands were stopping frequently.
Every time he stopped, he asked me about my condition.
“Erica, you, are you really…”
“Klaus-sama, I will get angry, you know?”
On his face, a big sign of ‘Worried!’ was written.
He resembled Edward-oniisama when I caught a cold.
Both of them had the same eldest son’s color on their soul’s
aura.
Onii-sama who had a black-belly dark smile was a good person,
similarly, maybe Klaus who would grow up to be a Do-S was also a
good person.
“Klaus-sama, how is it?”
“There is no curse in the range of my Glam Sight. These spell
cards can be diverted to Harvan’s magic without problem. Wait a
little more for the analysis of these scrolls.”
“That’s fortunate. Please don’t forget to restore your magical
power by drinking the potion.”
“Ah, I know. What about you, Erica?”
I read the parchment notes about the classified wands.
Wand of the Death1.
Wand of Fire Bolt.
Wand of Lightning Bolt.
Wand of Magic Missiles.
They all came from the trapped box of death.
Although the remaining amount of usage was few, all of them were
powerful offensive wands.
It was not unreasonable for Edward-oniisama to be vigilant about
thieves.
“You mean they were Edward’s leftovers?”
“The fact that the offensive wands were used is probably because
a fairly large battle had happened.”
“Well, it was strange that there were no monsters that
would protect the ruins at all, but maybe they were already wiped
out?”
“Probably so.”
Yes, the Ruins of Visitor had already been conquered.
In this regard, I would like to thank Onii-sama obediently.
Even though the mechanism of this labyrinth alone was
sufficiently troublesome, I shuddered when I thought that a monster
would also come out.
“Ooh! I can use this!”
Klaus raised a shout of joy as he was analyzing the scrolls
while making constant reference to his personal notebook.
He seemed to be in a good form ever since his magical power was
recovered.
I also stopped my hands that were packing items into my bag and
looked into the scroll.
“Have you found magic that seems useful?”
“Far better than being useful, it’s not an exaggeration to say
that this is a trump card. What is described here is a Pass
Wall.”
Klaus showed me the page of the notebook and scrolls, pointing
alternatingly with excitement.
Yup, but you see, I couldn’t read the magic language of the
eastern Harvan.
The result of a magical research was written carefully in the
notebook.
This was nostalgic, Klaus (older) of the game also carried
magical research notes that was as thick as a Japanese
dictionary2.
With this, he would grow up as a hardworking genius.
“Is it a magic that let you freely passing through the wall? It
is also a magical way for labyrinth searchers to cheat.”
“I don’t feel even a bit ashamed, because right now we don’t
have enough time anyway.”
Certainly, in the situation that mine and Ann’s life were on the
line, we didn’t have time to keep track of the maze of the
labyrinth.
But if I thought about this carefully, Onii-sama had always
prepared this cheat spell when searching inside a labyrinth.
As expected, Onii-sama……somehow immature.
“So it’s like this, let’s use the large, hateful mechanical
labyrinth as an example. If it was an ordinary labyrinth, we would
just have to walk through the walls and walk from one end to the
other end.”
“But we don’t understand the laws of the labyrinth, it won’t be
strange even if a fatal incidence occurs because we failed to
confirm everything.”
In addition to the passage of time, the Ruins of Visitor
detected the weight of its intruder and changed its shape.
The message of Edward-oniisama, who explored the ruins first,
was not left in every room.
Because there weren’t many hints, it would be unreasonable if we
didn’t try to decipher the laws of the changing labyrinth from now
on.
“If we don’t understand the rule, at least we should be able to
supress the change of the labyrinth.”
“Time passage, weight…, huh…”
“The manipulation of time is the highest-ranking magic. I
memorized about the chants and the magic circle configuration as
much as I could, but they place a heavy burden on someone as
immature as I am. I have never succeeded even once in casting
it.”
“You memorized it, huh. The highest-ranking magic.”
“If it was only memorizing spells, everyone can do it if they
try. Once I matured, I would finally be able to practice it.”
No, but even though he was only 10-years-old, he had memorized
the highest-ranking magic, I believed that not everyone could do
it, you know?
Because this was a genius who had not noticed that he was
actually a genius!
Well, but time was impossible anyhow.
Then, the remaining was weight.
Weight, weight, weight……ah!
“Klaus-sama, there is a Wand of Levitation. With this Pass Wall,
combined with—”
“I see, a flying-based magic! Then, it’s as good as no
mechanical labyrinth!”
Wand of Levitation was made from fossils of a large wyvern.
On the stick head was an amber, and the handle part had yellow
brass in a pattern of a feather.
The core material was fossil of the wing of an
archaeopteryx.
Incidentally, this was also very expensive, but in this
situation I couldn’t afford to be frugal.
Unlike flying, it was impossible to finely adjust the height of
Levitation.
However, since we only wanted to avoid a mechanical labyrinth,
we only needed to float a little from the ground.
Levitation had a weak effect, but it was useful enough.
“Then the next step is decided. Using Levitation in combination
with Pass Wall, we will search each layer one by one.”
“If we also combine them with Urd Sight, it seems we will be
able to significantly shorten the time.”
“There are two Pass Wall scrolls. I think one piece is for
returning, we will return temporarily if we cannot join with Ann
before the first piece effect timeout.”
“It can’t be helped. In the case that Ann-sama is in a safe
place – let’s leave a note in various places so that we can guide
her to this simple base camp.”
There was a possibility that it might not be noticed at all
depending on the weather, if it was only written on the wall with
Moonlight Gallnut Ink.
Just by dropping scraps of parchments that squeezed out the
instructions on the conspicuous points such as the entrance, the
discovery rate would rise significantly.
“Erica, I said this many times, but we will return home as soon
as you feel unusual about your condition. No matter how much effect
time the Pass Wall scroll has left.”
“Klaus-sama…”
“I am worried about Ann, but if you have any chance to be saved,
I will not forgive myself for the rest of my life if you die. If
only I looked at the magic trace a bit more carefully, that trap
could have been prevented.”
“Klaus-sama has a quite stubborn personality, aren’t you?”
“You……”
I appreciated him for being worried about me.
But it was due to my carelessness that I was caught on a
trap.
Because it was burdensome to be taken care of too much, I
diverted the topic to miscellaneous things.
Nonetheless, to be honest, I felt glad that Klaus was actively
seeking to withdraw.
Was it because I received a sentence of death?
It was a good thing.
—No, no, that was not good at all.
After the confirmation of items was finished, we prepared for
our departure.
Klaus wore a belt with a potion holder found from Onii-sama’s
storage box around his waist from above his robe.
He hooked the magical recovery potions to all of its special
shaped metal fittings.
He drank three potions that couldn’t be fitted on the holder to
restore his magical power, the rest would be put into the cloth bag
that Klaus had brought with him.
Three potions……he was only 10-years-old, but the maximum value
of his magical power was high.
If it was an average adult mage, I heard that their magical
power would be fully restored after drinking two and a half
potions.
“Wh-what is it? Why are you staring at me like that?”
“No, never mind. If I must say, I’m worried whether your magical
power has completely restored or not.”
“I see…… Ah, if wide area magic is not hindered, I have enough
magical power to run exploration magic on all the layers so
far.”
“Klaus-sama, if I look closely your face is red, how is your
physical condition?”
“Oh, aah……why is this? Was there also sake in the ingredients of
the potion…?”
When Klaus turned toward the other way, he gathered spell cards
with great vigour.
He was like a banker who counted bills or a magician who
shuffled cards!
He bundled about 20 sheets of spell cards, and put them into
hidden pockets in various parts of his robe.
Hmm? Wait a moment, did he bring hundreds of them?
Even just by glancing at him, it seemed like he had put over 300
sheets in just one sleeve.
“Klaus-sama, no way, are you going to bring all of the spell
cards? There are about 2000 sheets, you know?”
“If we go to the deepest layer, there is a possibility that we
will come across an unknown monster. By the way, there are less
than 2000.”
“Being the mage of the East is a hard work too, huh.”
“We also put an importance in preparation. It is the same as the
fundamental of you western alchemists. Unlike the northern
swordsmen who can fight with each other, or the southern dragon
knights who are unbeatable as long as they have dragons.”
“Considering all that, you still came to this ruins without
preparation……”
“Because, at that time I was weird. No, I reflect on it. I will
never do something like this without preparation again.”
It was harsh that he was feeling ashamed about it.
His behavior was due to the curse of the vampire
(?)3, so I didn’t mean to blame him.
I fastened the lamp that tends to block my hand on the bag, and
wrapped the belt that had the wand holder around my waist.
It only barely caught around my waist, as expected it was truly
a belt for Onii-sama.
I picked up the two wands of Magic Missiles and Lightning Bolt
from the offensive wands, and the three wands of Levitation,
Feather Falling, and Urd Sight among the wands for convenience, and
put them in the holder.
Too many would just bring confusion and couldn’t be used.
It was the theory of alchemists’ way of fighting, to insert a
reasonable number of wands into the belt and exchanged them
alternatingly with the wands inside the bag as occasion
demands.
……Edward-oniisama was selling out.
“Ah, right. Klaus-sama take these too, please. These are the
Wand of Levitation and Feather Falling…In other words, they are for
flying and falling. Because these two have a short range, please do
self-management to the best of your ability during the move.”
“I understand the Levitation, but when would we use the Wand of
Feather Falling?”
“This is important. We can’t say that there would be no such
thing like pitfall, and it can also be used when we float too high.
Because Levitation has a high altitude rise, it often happens if
you swing it too many times by mistake.”
“How high is it specifically?”
“Usually around 5 cm. 25 cm when you swing it once more. And 125
cm if you swing it again. The altitude will rise exponentially with
each swing.”
“Huh. That’s interesting.”
Ah, 10-years-old and he already understood the exponential
function.
As expected, he was the hardworking genius, Klaus Harvan.
Although there was also a possibility that he would float away
appropriately.
Let’s take care that he wouldn’t overswing the Wand of
Levitation.
“Let’s go, Erica. From here it’s a race against time.”
“Yes, Klaus-sama. Let’s help Ann-sama as soon as possible.”
Klaus read aloud the scroll of Pass Wall.
White light spread out from his staff and spread a magic circle
over us.
From the magic circle overhead, drops of light came down like
raindrops.
The drops of light which passed through us, spread like a ripple
when it fell to the ground and formed another magic circle.
The two magic circles intersected slowly so as to sandwich us
and the trajectory of white light enveloped us.
After confirming the invocation of Pass Wall, I swung the Wand
of Levitation which was made of amber, bone, and brass, twice.
Feathers made of golden lights fell to our feet.
Light touched our shoes, and when it touched our shoes, it
changed into a golden magic circle.
The magic circle of Levitation spread as if covering our shoes,
pushing our body up in the air.
As we held hands so that none of us would get stuck in the wall,
we kicked in the air and jumped into the wall.
1 The literal translation is actually Wand of the
Armor of Death.
2 It actually said 広○苑, but I know that it refers to
広辞苑 (Koujien) or a Japanese dictionary written by Shinmura Izuru.
For reference, it is this size. So, Klaus (older)’s research journal is
very thick.
3 This question mark is in the raw. This is because
Erica still wasn’t sure that the magic spelled on the stone was
from the vampires. It was still pure speculation.
If you want to see how they look like after their preparation,
look at the cover for this series
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 11: Ruins of Visitor (part five)
Chapter 11: Ruins of Visitor (part five)
It was my first time to experience Pass Wall.
So, my body penetrated the wall, and the feeling of passing
through the wall was an unknown and incomprehensible sensation—
No, wait……There was something similar to this sensation, what
was it?
The memory of my previous life revived in my mind.
At a very common tavern and a bento shop, I experienced a
sensation similar to this magic.
(—Oh, it is a short curtain1.)
Should it be said that it was a sensation of going through a lot
of whole-sized curtains in a passage of about three meters.
There was an approximate experience where I didn’t expect
it.
(What exactly is fantasy…Ah, but this is surprisingly fun.)
The effect time of Levitation was sufficient.
The sign for the end of the effect was that the diameter of the
magic circle around our foot had become about half the size.
Before the magic circle stopped supporting our body, I swung the
wand again.
“Perhaps, isn’t it better for us to exit the Ruins of Visitor by
passing through the walls, so that we wouldn’t use too many
wands?”
“It’s risky.”
“Why?”
“Outside of the Ruins of Visitor are considerably thick rocks.
If we made a mistake in estimating the depth and couldn’t pass
through the rocks during the effect time…”
“We would be squeezed inside the rocks. That’s wretched.”
“It is. Moreover, even if we successfully passed through the
rocks, the outside of the Ruins of Visitor is mostly the sea. If
our escape angle is wrong…”
“We would drown. That’s wretched.”
“It is. I don’t want to increase any more bizarre cause of
deaths.”
“More what?”
“Oops! About this. Please don’t mind it.”
“Erica, you……”
I looked away in a hurry.
I was about to carelessly mouth off the collection of bizarre
deaths of Erica, the villainous lady.
He wouldn’t understand my previous life knowledge in every
sense.
It should rather be left unsaid that there was a story in the
game about what happens when you failed at
teleporting2.
Somehow, from Klaus, I felt like I was being seen with eyes like
watching a painful child.
……Harsh.
With such a situation, we had explored each layer at ultra-high
speed even when there were trivial and personal failures.
While we were exploring using the Pass Wall, Ann finally began
to appear in Urd Sight.
They were nothing more than images of a time that had
passed.
Even if we tried to follow her past footprints, we would be
obstructed by the wall immediately because of the labyrinth which
had already changed.
However, it seemed that some of Klaus’ worry eased a little.
Thanks to the confirmation of Ann’s moving figure.
I wanted to meet the real Ann quickly.
When I thought about the sad future where those siblings would
be separated by death, my heart felt painful.
“Wait, Erica. There is something.”
We were about two layers down from where the simple base camp
was.
Klaus extended his hands to shield me and glared at the end of
the passage.
“Eh……”
“Sounds of something being dragged on the floor shake the air
slightly. I wonder if it was a monster or a beast that broke away
from your older brother.”
Eh, a monster?
Wait a moment, I had been preparing for a battle, but my heart
wasn’t ready yet for the actual battle.
If I listened carefully, I could hear faint fricative sounds
were steadily getting closer.
Should we run away?
“Don’t make a sudden move. Stay behind me.”
“Oh, yes.”
Klaus kept me behind his back and held his staff at the height
of his waist.
What should I do, I had to help him. What wand should I use?
Offensive wands were on the right side of the belt……Aah, I
didn’t take out the Wand of Hold!
“Don’t push yourself. Be ready to escape at any time.”
“Eh, but–”
“It is a man’s job to protect a woman. Your job is to calm down
by taking a deep breath. On the battlefield, a friend who is
panicking is scarier than the enemy.”
“Fuh…haah…Klaus-sama is calm, aren’t you?”
“I’m undergoing combat training and I’ve accompanied my father
in hunting and deadly extermination.”
So the duke and his son went directly to get rid of evil
spirits, huh.
In the ancient royal family era, there was a story that said
Harvan of the East was also the highest priest of the indigenous
Sun God.
We saw a shadow of something wriggling in the passage
corner.
Klaus quickly got two spell cards from his bosom with his left
hand and threw them toward the shadow and cast a few words of spell
quickly.
The thrown spell cards flew while expanding a magic circle,
bursting open mid-air and emitted bright white lights.
Light hit the upper right corner and the lower left corner of
the passage – and diagonally shone the true form of the shadow.
“—A flock of moving bones!? And moreover, this number is…”
Various types of beasts bones were grouping together while being
suspended mid-air.
How many? Several tens of heads?
Lots of bone chunks that couldn’t be counted were filling up the
passage and drew near in a surge.
That was the identity of what was illuminated by the magic of
Light.
“They have enough Magic Resist to trick my Glam Sight……No, they
are monsters with magical structures that I don’t recognize……, no,
what are those!?”
“Klaus-sama……”
“Listen to me. When I give you a sign, run away and don’t look
back. If you keep going straight using Levitation and Pass Wall,
there should be a valid exit.”
Tension ran on the face of Klaus.
After glancing towards me, he pulled out a bundle of hundreds of
spell cards from his sleeve at once.
No matter how much battle experience he had, no matter how much
of a future genius mage he was, if those bones were undeads it
would be inevitable—.
In fact, if we encountered such a huge number of undeads, it was
a crisis of death.
—However, looking at those figures, on the contrary, I was
relieved.
“Klaus-sama, it’s alright.”
“What!?”
“That is the cleaning automaton that my older brother made, an
acid hydrogel golem.”
“—Ha!?”
Those were not undeads.
The large amount of bones was floating inside a golem made of
translucent jelly-like substances.
Unlike the regular golem, he was not humanoid but a cube.
He spread his flexible body all the way into the passage and
performed cleaning by swallowing up every garbage without
exception.
A few days before regaining memories of my previous life, I had
seen prototypes of this in Onii-sama’s room.
It was an appearance like an apple jelly that moved.
I thought it was convenient, but I never thought that the real
golem was so huge……
As expected, Onii-sama……it was on a different scale……
“The inside is strong acid, but the outside is made of gel. It’s
said that it is a smart and safely designed golem that swallowed
only carcasses and the expensive materials are protected with
neutral ingredients.”
“Why!! Why does your older brother put such a thing inside the
labyrinth!?”
“Because of the cleaning……Because there were so many monsters’
dead bodies, I think that the golem cleaned up bone remains to
collect materials for alchemy.”
“Eei! That’s so confusing!!”
That was exactly right.
But, that was something you should tell Onii-sama directly, not
me.
Oops, I remembered important things.
“Ah, but, if we penetrated into him in this Pass Wall state, we
would be killed instantly by the strong acid without being stopped
by the outer shell.”
“Kuh, Edward Aurelia……!!”
“We may as well stop exploring for now.”
Edward-oniisama himself was a nice, gentle person.
But regarding alchemy he had no mercy and would never go easy on
other people, without that dangerous flaw he was a perfect
person.
If we kept going without noticing, would the white bones of me
and Klaus also float over there?
Wait a minute, I just noticed it now but were my death flags all
caused by Onii-sama?
The star crystal necklace.
A trap of death set in a storage box.
And now the acid golem and Pass Wall scroll combo.
“Is everything okay, Erica, your eyes seem dead……?”
“Oh, I’m alright, Klaus-sama.”
That was not good, I was about to get caught up in the darkness
of my mind.
I actually began to doubt whether the gentle Edward-oniisama was
trying to kill me.
Let’s put some more trust in other people, me.
Well, let’s keep going and stop the golem.
If it was an ordinary golem made of earth, stone or metal, it
would be difficult unless I was the maker.
However, if it was a slow-moving golem made from translucent
gel, I could stop it.
First of all, proceed to the front of the moving golem while
trembling, observed his interior while holding a lamp.
By using Glam Sight, I quickly discovered the core of the golem
– a shard engraved with activated spells – among the countless
bones.
With this, I should be able to stop the movement of the
golem.
Huh? Near the shard, there was something floating—
“Klaus-sama, there is something familiar floating in the body of
the golem.”
“What do you recognize?”
“That, over there, doesn’t it look like Ann-sama’s hair
pin?”
Klaus stared at a certain point about one-meter high.
What was floating there was a white material……It was probably an
object made of porcelain or bone.
The metal pin seemed to have melted, but the characteristic
petal-like decoration remained intact.
“……!!”
“Klaus-sama. It’s alright. Ann-sama shouldn’t be using the
scroll of Pass Wall.”
Klaus tightly clasped the heart part of his clothes.
He wore a painfully sad expression.
“Ann-sama is not inside. Surely, the golem was just picking up
what Ann-sama has dropped.”
“Oh, yeah…I didn’t see anything that seems like human remains. I
know that. I’m fine.”
That said, he looked much paler than when we thought we were
going to battle strong undeads.
He didn’t seem to be alright.
Although he was jumping to a wrong conclusion for certain, it
was impossible not to be affected when it had something to do with
the life and death of a blood relative.
Klaus was also a 10-years-old child, although he was getting
stronger.
The stress that was received by his mind was immeasurable.
I hoped this clue successfully leads us to Ann.
“The acid may splash, let’s step back a little.”
While retreating, I took a Wand of Mage Fingers from my leather
bag.
The Wand of Mage Fingers was made of yew.
At the end of the wand was an opal, and the handle was golden
with a pattern of spider’s nest and legs.
The core material was the foot of a giant
spider3.
A little magic circle in the rainbow color surrounded the five
fingers of my right hand like a ring after I shook the wand with my
left hand.
It was visible through the Glam Sight that the Mage Fingers made
with magical power were formed inside the golem.
I tried to open and close my right hand.
—Alright, it moved.
The Mage Fingers were opening and closing following the movement
of my right hand.
If I could reach the core, stopping the golem was a simple
work.
Moved the Mage Fingers and grabbed the shard.
From the characters of emet engraved there, I scraped
one character with Mage Fingers and changed it to
met.4
Soon the golem broke its shape like a boiling hot water and
melted into the ground.
“I see, the death of an automaton.”
Klaus said with a strange expression.
Certainly, if you lived in the East, it might be hard to see the
collapse of the golem.
Rainbow colored magic circle on my right hand immediately
gone.
That was because of my emphasis on scraping the characters on
the golem.
Because of this delicacy, Mage Fingers could only be used for
fine work.
The hundreds of beasts bones that were swallowed by the golem,
the core of the golem, and the hair ornament were falling.
I washed away the acid that adhered, and picked up the core of
the golem.
I had to return this to Onii-sama.
Klaus too, he picked up the hair ornament that seemed to be
Ann’s.
It was a pretty hair ornament that imitate the flowers of
eastern country with elaborate workmanship.
“I certainly remember this. The material also made of the horn
of a unicorn that lived in the Harvan’s forest. I have no doubt
that this is Ann’s.”
“Then, Ann-sama passed by this point, wasn’t she?”
However, as soon as we were ten meters beyond the turning point
we met a dead end.
Both of us swung the Wand of Urd Sight.
I could see Ann Harvan’s back walking towards the end of the
dead end.
She noticed something and expressed a startle, then she started
to run.
Maybe because she was in a hurry, Ann didn’t notice that her
hair ornament had fallen.
I was certain that she saw the bones masses inside the
golem.
A sigh of relief from Klaus was heard nearby.
“I have a feeling that we have neared Ann-sama, but the
labyrinth is changing.”
“It’s okay. Since we know the direction, we could use Pass
Wall.”
“Yes, Klaus-sama, let’s chase after her.”
There was some margin in the effective time of the first Pass
Wall scroll.
If we could join with Ann quickly, the three of us could escape
together with the second scroll.
At least, we should catch up with her soon before the encounter
with the sealed ancient evil spirit in the bottom layer!
We used Levitation, kicked off the air quietly and ran to the
direction of Ann.
1 暖簾 (noren) is short curtain hung at shop entrances,
or split curtain used to divide spaces in a house in Japan.
(source)
2 I don’t really understand this sentence:
テレポートに失敗するといしのなかに入ってしまうあのゲームの話なんて、言わずもがなだ。 but I think it’s
referring to a game called Wizardry, where there is a teleporter’s
trap which sent the party into a wall and caused instant death for
the party.
3 Giant spider (大蜘蛛) here is the alternative name for
Tsuchigumo, the name for a race of spider-like youkai in Japanese
folklore. (source)
4 In Jewish folklore, a golem is inscribed with
Hebrew words on its forehead, such as the word emet (אמת,
“truth” in Hebrew). The golem could then be deactivated by removing
the aleph (א) in emet, thus changing the inscription from
“truth” to “death” (met מת, meaning “dead”).
(source)
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18_Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]
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s13.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 12: Ruins of Visitor (part six)
Chapter 12: Ruins of Visitor (part six)
We went down the stairs following the past Ann that we saw using
Urd Sight.
This was the eighth layer.
How far would we go down?
We went down to the next layer as usual, starting from the
unchanging staircase.
However, the scene ahead was completely different from what we
had seen in Ruins of Visitor so far.
It was full of the scent of death.
When we arrived, dead bodies of unfamiliar creatures were
scattered about everywhere.
Blood covered beasts, chopped reptiles, crushed huge bugs.
Multipod monsters that had become charred, plenty of chopped
meat—
I felt dizzy.
It was fortunate that we had not been exposed to such bad odor,
as they had been subjected to simple preservation treatment.
There was no animal I recognized among the corpses, and it was
fortunate that all the other monsters had irregular shapes.
Otherwise, I might not have been able to suppress the
nausea.
Two filters, olfaction and vision, changed the scenery into an
impression like seeing a game or a realistic movie.
You were useful in unexpected places, game brain.
Those thoughts were making myself smile unexpectedly in spite of
the nauseating scene, keeping my mind from panicking.
“Uh……, are you alright, Erica?”
“I’m not alright, but I will be fine. What about
Klaus-sama?”
“I’m familiar with this kind of scenery. See, going to the same
places with my father, getting rid of monsters……”
“Your speech is becoming messy, Klaus-sama.”
It was nice to have a conversation with a friend.
Shocking videos, too, were surprisingly less damaging when you
watch them with other people.
But that meant the person who saw this alone was taking it
harder than us—
“Let’s hurry. Ann should be there.”
“Yes. I’m sure she would find it hard to feel fine.”
Most of the pillars were knocked down, large holes were opened
all over the walls.
Mechanism of huge gears to move the labyrinth was exposed, and
there were also damaged parts.
It was a trace where the power of terrible destruction was
demonstrated.
“This is why your older brother accumulated so much money.”
“These monsters were his opponents, huh.”
“Although I intended to be armed perfectly when we left the
simple base camp……I feel frightened when I think that all these
carcasses were living and moving.”
When Klaus said that, shivers also ran over my spine.
What if the group of Edward-oniisama had not wiped out these
monsters?
I didn’t know what would happen to the three of us.
The reason why the Ruins of Visitor was said to be the most
dangerous area in Aurelia territory was finally felt by our
skin.
How long had we been walking around?
Thanks to the creepy mountains of carcasses, I felt like it was
longer than the actual search time.
It felt like Edward-oniisama had guided us toward this
situation.
We stopped in front of a room.
At the entrance of the room, there was a message written by
Moonlight Gallnut Ink.
“‘Do not step on the stars. Otherwise’…huh? It
disappears?”
“It seems that there is a thick cloud right now. The first row
was ‘Do not step on the stars’, wasn’t it?”
“It seems that way, but…”
“I don’t know what will happen if we step on it, but I haven’t
seen the mark of stars yet in this layer, so I think we’re safe for
now.”
With Onii-sama’s note, this kind of warning was the first time,
so I felt a bit nervous.
When going in and out of the room, we might have to observe
carefully whether there was a mark of a star in the state of not
emitting light.
In addition, since the Levitation effect time was almost over,
we should swing the wand……
When I thought about such a thing, Klaus suddenly crouched on
the spot and started to investigate something.
“Klaus-sama, is it a mark of a star?”
“No, it’s not……This is the eastern spell card. Magic of
Alarm1 that narrowed the range and increased
accuracy……That’s how this spell works.”
Klaus suddenly stood up, stepping over the spot where the spell
was cast, and took a step into the room.
“……Ann! Are you there!?”
It was a room with relatively few traces of destruction.
A small girl was crouching and trembling at the other side of
Klaus.
She noticed us and raised her face.
Oh, good……we came in time……!
“……Klaus-oniisama? ……Erica-sama!?”
The lamp attached to the end of the staff illuminated the little
girl who looks like Klaus.
Ann Harvan’s face was ghastly pale with fatigue and fear.
I could see how hard this had been for her, just by looking at
her face.
There were traces of tears tracks on Ann’s cheeks.
But the tears that flowed down her cheeks now were different
from other tears.
Klaus ran to Ann and hugged her.
Ann also hugged Klaus back.
“Onii-sama……Onii-sama! ……Onii-sama, you idiot!”
“……It was bad. I was bad. Ann, I caused you a bitter
hardship.”
“I was lonely……I was really scared, you know……?”
“Aah, I’m really sorry.”
It was probably because Ann’s tension thread broke after she
joined Klaus.
She burst into tears with a loud voice.
Klaus gently stroked Ann’s head with a gentle face that I had
never seen before.
While being stroked, Ann returned it with a warm-hearted punch
like a spoiled child.
“I’m glad you’re okay……I was worried all the time.”
“Mou……mou……that’s my line. You’re bothering Erica-sama!”
“Aah, it’s all my fault. Ann, did you come to such dangerous
ruins in order to stop me?”
“—Eh?”
“……Hm?”
“Ah—, yes. That’s right. I tried to bring you back without
telling Otou-sama. Please appreciate it.”
“I see. You used your mind……”
Ann……your eyes were swimming……
That’s right. I felt that way from the very beginning.
If it was only to stop Klaus, she could stop him when he used
the sleeping magic.
As we talked about it during the dinner party, I wondered if her
interest in the ruins came to her at that time.
These people were really siblings.
Once she finished crying, Ann left Klaus.
She wiped away her tears, stretched her spine and faced me.
“Erica-sama, I’m sorry for having caused you trouble.”
“I’m glad, Ann-sama. You are okay, I’m really glad.”
“Erica-sama……”
I cleaned the face of Ann who had fallen apart again with a
beautiful handkerchief.
Her expression, it changed to the same smile as when I saw it in
Knot Garden.
With this, I was finally at ease.
(I had a bad feeling when we arrived at this layer, but it seems
to end in peace safely~~!!)
If the three of us could escape from this Ruins of Visitor, the
death flag would have been successfully avoided–!
After this, it was a simple task of simply using the Pass Wall
while rising up with Levitation, going through the transfer gate,
and then sleep.
Aah, there was also a sermon by Otou-sama before going to
bed…but compared with the fate of the death event that was waiting
six years in the future, it was overwhelmingly better!
Klaus took out the magical recovery potions and let her drink
it.
Ann also lost most of her magical power while searching the
ruins.
Rather, it was amazing that she kept her magical power so far by
herself.
The fact that her precision magic was better than wide area
magic, was compatible with the characteristics of the
labyrinth.
Now then, the excursion was an excursion until we went home.
It slipped through my mind now that we had joined with Ann, but
I didn’t know what would happen on our way home.
First of all, until Ann could move, we would rest in this
room—
“Hmm?”
Since a little while ago, I thought that the moving sounds of
the mechanical labyrinth would be done.
This sound was the sound that I heard frequently since entering
the Ruins of Visitor.
Therefore, I got used to it, and it was kept away from my
consciousness.
But, somehow, wasn’t it too long?
I looked back to the way where we came from.
There was no particular change.
However, there were ruins devastated by battle and many dead
bodies.
“What’s wrong, Erica?”
“No……somehow, I feel like there is something wrong……”
Far from stopping, the moving sounds were growing louder and
louder.
Somehow, I felt like it was getting closer.
“By the way, Onii-sama, Erica-sama – I have been worried for a
long time, but what is that?”
“‘That’?
“Yes. I think that it is Moonlight Gallnut Ink……”
“Ha!? Erica! Hide the lamp!”
Klaus looked at the direction pointed by Ann, shouting like in a
hurry.
He covered the lamp attached to his staff with the sleeve of his
robe.
I also imitated him and put the lamp in my bag.
—Indeed, in the outside world the clouds that were covering the
moon seemed to have cleared up.
A light bluish golden light shone on the whole floor of the
room.
We were standing above the starry sky drawn with Moonlight
Gallnut Ink.
In my mind, the warning message written at the entrance came to
my mind.
Do not step on the stars. Otherwise— Otherwise, what
would happen?
Fearfully, I shifted my shoes.
There was a mark of a star in the place where my shoes had
stepped on.
Uwah, I, I was too lucky!?
“Ann! Erica! Hands–!”
The crumbling sound of the stones obstructed Klaus’ cry.
The field of view tilted obliquely.
No, it was the floor of the labyrinth that was inclined.
I could see the hard stone floor swelling like a stormy sea.
Floor, wall, pillar, ceiling—-
The layer itself fell as it crumbled.
We were caught up in it and were thrown into the air.
(Uwah, this, in such a place? The three of us finally got
it……!)
Ann who was close to Klaus barely caught in his arms.
However, I was watching the reunion of the brother and sister
from a little distance away, so I was separated.
While protecting Ann, Klaus had hundreds of spell cards to shape
like an umbrella.
It was a Protective Circle to protect themselves from the
collapsed debris.
However, they were five meters or more away from me.
A trap of wide area magic interference – if that was the case,
the Protective Circle wouldn’t reach me!
Uwah, what should I do!
“Calm down, Erica! The Pass Wall is still in effect!”
……As he told me, that was correct.
If I looked carefully, Klaus ignored the rubbles that fell on
him, and the spell cards only repelled the rubbles that were likely
to hit Ann.
Accelerated gravel stones hit me and Klaus, but they all flew
through us.
What a handy magic!
Edward-oniisama, thank you for preparing the immature
scrolls!
The pit made by the collapse was deep and unexpectedly wide.
Although we should have fell down for quite some time, the
bottom of the hole still couldn’t be seen.
I thought that we would plunge into the gigantic Crevasse that
was made in the bedrocks when we passed through the labyrinth.
But, on the walls of the surroundings, there were cavities to
store the artificially made star crystal lamps.
It might be like a cathedral with a height of…several tens of
meters, no, over 100 meters.
It would be safer to drop slowly and reach the bottom.
“Klaus-sama! The Wand of Feather Falling!”
“Oh, I understand.”
I instructed Klaus briefly while pulling out the same wand.
Coordinated the timing to swing the wand with Klaus, I also used
the Feather Falling.
Beneath us, magic circles like white thin membranes were
deployed.
When jumping into it, the magic circle crumbled and disappeared
into a shape of a small feather.
Fluffy, a feeling like being wrapped in a soft air wall, and my
body was being held gently against the gravity.
The falling speed became very gentle.
The broken stones and the remnants of the mechanism of the
mechanical labyrinth overtook us.
After a while, the collapsed layer dropped to the bottom of the
hole and the sound of a rumble in the ground was echoing.
“Ann-sama! Are you alright?”
“Y-yes! Erica-sama! Thanks to Onii-sama, there are no
injuries!”
“Is Erica still alright?”
“Yes. Thank you for your patience.”
Klaus and Ann were reaching out their hands to reach me.
However, since we were more than five meters away from each
other, they wouldn’t reach me.
I took out a magical rope from the bag and ordered it.
“Stretch, like a snake! Tie, like a rope!
Like a snake that jumped over to its prey, the rope shrunk once
like a spring and then quickly jumped out.
Flying with a loose parabola form, the rope firmly wrapped
around the arm of Klaus.
“You’re really well prepared.”
“Because I am an alchemist of Aurelia.”
These were actually prepared by Onii-sama, though~.
When Klaus pulled the rope, I was drawn to his body.
With this, the three of us were finally be able to be
together.
“What the heck was that? Was that a trap?”
“A trap…Rather than that, it may be caused by a malfunctioning
trap.”
“Malfunctioning?”
“Perhaps deep damages accumulated in the mechanism of the trap,
the floor of the labyrinth, and the pillar itself, due to the
battle of Onii-sama and his friends.”
“Well, there certainly was a place where the broken gears are
exposed, the mechanical labyrinth tried to work, but the labyrinth
itself couldn’t bear that movement.”
Thinking about it, there were other strange things.
Dead bodies of those monsters were almost left untouched.
In the higher layer, there was a golem for material recovery
wandering around.
Maybe because he was aware that if the mechanical labyrinth
operated the layer might collapse, Onii-sama didn’t install a golem
in that layer.
But, Onii-sama……It was impossible to predict such a collapse
accident with only that hint.
“Ah……”
“What is it, Ann?”
“No, somewhat, it’s beautiful……”
The star crystals contained in the wall were shining pale blue
in response to our magical powers.
In such fantastic sight, we connected our hands, and fell down
slowly in a circle.
“Ann, you…”
“I’m sorry to say that at such a time.”
“No. It’s alright. I was just thinking about something
similar.”
That was true. Even if I care about it, I couldn’t help it.
If I thought about it, it was a wonderful experience if I
limited it to only the pit of these star crystals.
It sounded like a movie from Studio Ghibli2.
If there was my star crystal necklace, it might become even more
similar to that.
I was packing the star crystal lamp and hunting knife in my bag
too!
……But I hoped there was no someone with a colonel
position3.
Outside our anxiety and impression, the magic of Feather Falling
gently brought us to the depth of the ruins.
☆
After a while, we reached the bottom of the Ruins of
Visitor.
The feeling of the structures and decorations was similar to the
cathedral from the ancient times of Aurelia.
There was an arched entrance between the nave where we arrived
at and the inner court.
On both sides of the arch, if it was a cathedral above the
ground, there would be statues of the distinguished Duke of Aurelia
of the past adorned, here there were statues of a legendary
alchemist who was supposed to live in the era before we visited
this continent.
However, the familiarity ended there, there were numerous
differences with this cathedral in the labyrinth as deep as
this.
First of all, the ceiling was a few hundred meters from the
ruins that we had fallen from.
Naturally, there was no window.
On the wall of the side aisle where the windows should be,
constellations which were imparted by the alchemist, which couldn’t
be seen on this land, were engraved.
Mythological figures such as monsters, animals, and tools for
navigation.
They became reliefs, star crystals were embedded in the part
corresponding to the stars, and they were shining pale blue.
Well, it seemed that the carcasses of the monsters from the
labyrinth were scattered all around.
In addition to the carcasses, fragments of debris falling from
the eighth layer were also scattered around.
It was a force majeure, but it was a scene that my ancestors
were likely to get angry at.
When I had thought of such a thing, some of the magic circles
that surrounded the three of us turned into particles of light and
disappeared.
I caught a glimpse of the silver pocket watch and checked.
It seemed that the effect of Pass Wall had expired.
“I’m glad that the collapse has subsided, if so many big rocks
fall down, my Protective Circle might not be able to repel
them.”
“This seems to be an important place for the people of Aurelia
and I feel sorry if it was ruined by the falling rocks.”
“Yeah. It feels majestic. Erica, is this like a shrine?”
“Well, I guess that is probably the case…”
I looked around carefully.
In the inner palace of the cathedral – originally should be the
place where the altar of St. Brendan was – there was a star crystal
megalith instead.
There were several cracks running on the megalith due to the
collapse just now.
I looked at it and tilted my head.
“‘The God of the Visitor, the Altar of Bren’……, it is
supposed to be that……”
The materials were different, but this megalith was the altar of
the worshiped god of Aurelia itself.
The altar of Aurelia’s founder Bren, or St. Brendan was decided
as a megalith.
Originally in the West we worshiped the god named Bren, which
was the god of voyage, star, and alchemy.
However, when consolidating with the other three countries on
this continent, Aurelia also converted to the same religion in
order to align the states with each other.
The religion of the Union Kingdom was a monotheism derived from
the southern continent which was worshiped by Ignitia of the
South.
The religion of Ignitia was tolerant to the god of other
religions.
In this religion, as a part of the governance policy, we
incorporate the gods of other people as angels and saints.
It might be a familiar way of thinking with the Japanese’s
Daikokuten which was derived from Shiva4.
Thus Aurelia’s god Bren, which we still held faith today, became
a saint, St. Brendan, and was serving the god of Ignitia.
(If it’s the game setting, shouldn’t there be a sealed ancient
evil spirit? Although it seems as though the ancient gods are
enshrined……)
If I looked closely, there were letters engraved on the star
crystal megalith.
It was the letters of ancient Aurelia used in Aurelia-style
scrolls and runestones.
In this way, I could barely read them myself as someone who was
lacking in study.
“‘Crossing the ocean of the far away star, I will bury you
here together with the long journey. Sleep peacefully, our no name
friend. I hope that this abundant land will be your eternal
cradle–’”
When I read the poem that was engraved on the megalith, Klaus
and Ann took a prayer stance.
“Not an altar, maybe it’s a repository. For Aurelia’s people who
died before reaching this Ichthyes continent…”
“Somehow, it’s a sad inscription.”
“That’s right. But, I wonder why my ancestors buried this person
with the same rites as a god…”
I touched the inscription on the megalith with my finger without
a care.
Huh? Was it only my imagination?
The place where my finger touched carelessly became
corrupted—
—From far away, I heard a voice.
The air of the cathedral was trembling.
Sounds like treble and bass, string-like instruments and brass
instruments were played and heard.
It was a sad voice like the sounds of a child weeping, like a
sound of a whale singing.
Every time the voice echoed, the star crystal megalith turned
black from the inside and became corrupted.
The star crystal which was shining blue was now dyed in
black.
From the cracks on its surface, black water was overflowing.
It looked like the megalith was shedding tears.
“Eh……?”
The moist wind breathing the scent of tidal, shook my hair.
In response to the magical power rising in the cathedral, the
star crystals on the walls and ceiling strengthened their
lights.
Somehow, the overflowing black water covered the whole floor of
the cathedral.
The black wave washed my boots.
Klaus, Ann, and I were perplexed as we looked around us.
We all saw the spectacle that couldn’t be seen at the bottom of
the underground ruins.
There, the black sea which endlessly continued to the other side
of the horizon, and the sky full of stars was spreading out.
1 Magic of Alarm: Set an alarm against unwanted
intrusion. Until the spell ends, an alarm will alert you whenever a
tiny or larger creature touches or enters the warded area. You can
also designate creatures that won’t set off the alarm. (source)
2 In the raw it actually said ジ○リ but I know it was
referring to Studio Ghibli.
3 These three sentences are actually referring to the
movie Laputa: Castle in the Sky, a movie from Studio
Ghibli. In the movie, Sheeta had an aetherium crystal necklace. And
she was being chased by Colonel Muska for her necklace.
4 So, like the Japanese which incorporated Shiva as
their own god, Daikokuten, the religion of Ignitia incorporated
other countries’ god as angels and saints. So, while in Aurelia
Bren was a god, in the Union Kingdom he became St. Brendan, a
saint. (please correct me if I’m wrong about the Japanese god).
Edit: I think the author got her inspiration from Saint Brendan.
In the Legend of Saint Brendan, there was an island he landed on,
which turned out to be a giant sea creature named Jasconius. And
Jasconius, in Middle East, was also called as Zaratan. (Brendan, Jasconius)
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18_Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]
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s14.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 13: Megalithic Altar (part one)
Chapter 13: Megalithic Altar (part one)
A sad song echoed from far away.
On the walls and ceiling, it was a galaxy of crystals that shone
blue.
At our foot, the sea of black water that seeped out of the
megalith was far exceeding the volume of the megalith.
The sound of waves, the scent of the tide, the moist winds, the
homesickness were stealthily and smoothly entered my mind, trying
to make the illusion that this was not the underground but the sea
with starry sky.
They tried to make me feel the illusion that it was the
nostalgic ocean of the Visitor’s Clan.
I shook my head to shake off the delusions that had entered.
I had to be firm.
I had never travelled by a ship, and even before my incarnation
I had not taken a boat ride for more than five hours in total.
So there was nothing like a nostalgic ocean!
“Klaus-sama! Ann-sama! It’s kind of dangerous, escape now…”
In retrospect, the Harvan siblings were struggling and suffering
on the black sea.
Eh!? This had become a serious matter!?
“Sad, sad, sad……Aah, Onii-sama, Erica-sama……please help……my
head…”
“Kuh……Keep your mind firmly, Ann……! Concentrate on the
circulation of magical power, keep up your Magic Resist!”
Ann was trembling with a pale face while muttering
incoherently.
Klaus hugged her, and protected themselves by wrapping
themselves in the barrier of Protective Circle.
He pushed a magical recovery potion into Ann’s mouth and forced
her to drink it.
Klaus also drank a bottle of the potion, it seemed that he cast
some spells and the barriers for defense were piling up.
“Both of you! Are you okay?”
“Erica, you weren’t affected!?”
“Eh, yeah……Rather, I want you to tell me what happened……”
“Ah–…I see, Aurelia was dense against such magic.”
Well, surely Aurelia was dense against a kind of magic.
Besides, I was dubbed by Otou-sama as someone particularly dense
even among Aurelia’s people.
Right now it was useful, so wasn’t that good?
“I received a tremendously strong mental interference. It pushed
back nostalgia and loneliness, and finally it seemed like it was
going to capture my soul itself.”
“I thought that my heart will be hijacked and I will
disappear…”
“That was really dangerous.”
“You’re really dense……I didn’t think the day would come when I
would feel envious of Aurelia.”
Somehow, it didn’t feel like I was being praised.
Just to be sure, I moved inside Klaus’ Protective Circle.
Looking towards the megalith, its changes were advancing
further.
The lump of star crystals melted and became smaller as if it had
been eroded over a long period of time.
The carcasses of the monsters that had been scattered around in
the cathedral were also affected by the erosion by black water.
From the soft parts such as meat and internal organs, they were
melted along with their skins, scales, and bones……
“Huh? Klaus-sama, if we are in this liquid as we are right now,
aren’t we also in danger?”
“Don’t panic. It seems like a kind of magical effect that
doesn’t work for intelligent creatures.”
“It would have been dangerous if my mind was destroyed with the
mental interference ability just now.”
The Harvan’s siblings explained the information obtained by
using Glam Sight.
Well, I was jealous of the Harvan people like this.
But, I felt like I understand it.
Originally, Ann should have encountered the collapse of the
eighth layer alone.
Of course, she didn’t have the Wand of Feather Falling or even
Klaus’ Protective Circle.
Ann would expend defense magic by consuming the majority of her
magical power, but she also couldn’t completely prevent injury, and
then she would arrive at the cathedral in that condition.
What awaited her was the destructive mental interference magic
and black water that melted and took in what it touches.
If so, this water—
As if to affirm my answer, the black water that had spread
throughout the room was beginning to move.
Before long it dissolved completely, the black water was
gathering in the place where the star crystal megalith was, which
had become the size of the little finger.
The black water raised while swirling and it condensed.
“Eeeh–? Well, after all, is this the evil spirit—-!?”
“Evil spirit? Isn’t that the altar of a god? But, is there even
a liquid evil spirit? Onii-sama, Erica-sama?”
“I have never heard of it either. It is true that it’s similar
to a kind of spirit body – similar to the magical structure of a
wraith……”
Oops. I said it out loud.
Anyways, a wraith, that was an even more ridiculous talk.
He should be the spirit of an alchemist who was killed by his
compatriots because he made the Philosopher’s Stone.
Then, wasn’t that a ghost?
The mass of black water repeatedly expanded and contracted, and
gradually formed a shape.
The body that was liquid changed, with hard scales covered the
surface of its body.
Two twisted horns resembling a sheep or a goat.
Thick limbs that looked like logs with claws.
A large mountain-like body covered with shells and
protrusions.
It was similar to a dragon.
It was similar to a turtle.
A monster that had never been seen nor heard before in the
present world.
I wanted to say…I wanted to say even if I couldn’t communicate
it to anyone……
In that game where you trained monsters while trying to collect
a lot of them, if you painted black the combination of Lapras and
Sandslash, it will be like this1.
—-GRRRAAAAAHHHH!!!
The roar of the monster echoed in the cathedral.
The very loud voice that about to shatter our eardrums was
enough to make our legs that were about to escape frozen in
fear.
“What the heck is that!? You said it was an evil spirit, I can’t
judge whether that is alive or dead, but it’s a dragon or another
monster.”
“It was supposed to be an evil spirit…He was the legendary
alchemist named Zaratan who created the Philosopher’s Stone, who
led the Visitor’s Clan to this continent and found the gold
lodes.”
“Why is such great man became an evil spirit?”
“That was a human – however, because he was betrayed by
my ancestors, that grudge…”
A grudge?
I knew that if you had grudges you would become an evil spirit.
But would it become such an appearance only because of a
grudge?
I felt that the black monster looked at me, distorted its lips
and laughed.
No, it wasn’t my imagination.
The growls of the monster gradually changed to something akin to
human voice.
『This me……this, me, a human? An alchemist?
Kukukuku……everything is wrong……You……』
The monster’s massive build was trembling.
Was he crazy?
—No, this time it was different.
He was angry. He was angry, trembling with excitement that
couldn’t be suppressed.
『Did you forget, Aurelia!
I always remember……There have never been any forgotten
even after hundreds years of being frozen…!
Your smell and the pain you gave to me!!』
“Pain……? Then, after all, you are…”
『Oh, how nostalgic……
That face, that golden hair, those green
eyes……
—But yet, you……about me…after just a few hundred years,
did you forget!
This me!
……You guys killed, this me!!!』
My whole body was shocked as if it was struck by a hard object,
my sight was instantly distorted.
The air was forcibly pushed out from my lungs, and I was
confused due to my brain whose supply oxygen was cut off, as if I
was dragged into the pool for playful attacks.
When I noticed it, I was pressed against the stone floor by the
front leg of the black monstrous monster.
『Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha–!
This is just by stroking gently…this is how weak
creature humans are!
It seems that this has not changed even after as long as
hundreds of years has passed.』
“Guh……, tsu……, kah, haah……”
『Kukukukuku, don’t worry, golden madness.
This degree won’t kill you……I won’t kill you, this
easily……!
I will have you dead after letting you taste it……My
pain, my regret, my loneliness, my, my……
I believed in you guys! I thought you were my true
friends!
Well……well, you betrayed me!!』
Black droplets dribbled down from the empty eye sockets looking
into me.
Oh, no doubt about it.
It was different from the legend and game settings, but he
certainly was betrayed by Aurelia’s ancestors.
『Remember…….
Until the fire of your life disappears, just carve it in
that soul……Praise the devilish golden
madness!
Zaratan is not my name.
As you are a human race, I am a race called
Zaratan.
I am the only one Zaratan.
The rich Zaratan.
I am the one who lost the opportunity to carve my name
in the future for eternity……by you, the Aurelia
traitors!!!』
It was a monologue full of anger, yet full of suffering like
tearing out himself.
I nodded a little while being caught.
The emotion of his grudge had gently entered my mind somehow,
rather than the mental interference ability that appealed for
nostalgia and sorrow.
The moment my heart shook, a small explosion broke out in front
of me.
Because he was pressured by the impact, the restraint of Zaratan
relaxed.
At that moment, something wrapped around my body and I was
pulled with great power.
“I don’t know……I don’t know anything, Monster. Ignore us, and
don’t make up a story without permission.”
Before the exit of the inner sanctum, there were the Harvan
siblings.
Klaus set the Wand of Fire Bolt and pierced the black monster
with his staff, while Ann was grasping the opposite of the magical
rope wrapped around me.
That’s right, my bag……when I was pressed down by Zaratan, it was
falling down.
“Erica-sama! Do you have an injury!?”
“Nn……I’m alright. Thank you for your help, Ann-sama,
Klaus-sama.”
“I’m not okay.”
“Y-yes? What’s wrong, Klaus-sama?”
“If you die as you please, I’m not okay. Carve it deep into your
soul more than the words of that monster. Harvan’s men will protect
women in front of anything! So, don’t make a gaze as if resigning
yourself to such a thing!”
I had not. I had not made such an ominous gaze.
—I hadn’t done it, right?
It didn’t matter, and I was thankful that you would help me, but
this was a tough one.
“Onii-sama……Be more honest……”
“Ann! Don’t give unnecessary retort! Untie the rope as soon as
possible!”
Ann untied the rope while sighing, and she returned my bag and
wands to me.
Klaus’ sister was having trouble with him.
I wanted you to live firmly.
Ann had a bunch of spell cards and a staff, she stood diagonally
behind Klaus.
I also came to my senses and stood up, having the wand handed to
me by Ann at the ready.
Too late, Zaratan had recovered his stance and was walking
slowly towards us.
A burnt-like smell still remained in the air, but the monster’s
body didn’t even show traces of flame injuries.
Was it been hindered by the hard scales or did he already
regenerated?
『Nostalgic……I miss everything……
I remember. The magic of a crafty
alchemist.
I was surprised because it was a long time ago, but such
magic tricks will never pass.』
“I see. If that’s the case, next time you will be surprise by
Harvan’s exquisite skills. Don’t think that you will have the
opportunity to live and see my magic twice.”
『Ha–! What a proud little boy!
You do not seem to be an Aurelia. The smell is
different.
Were you lured by a small sum of money, or have you been
misled by the girl’s charm–
It is not something I knew either way, but in the end
you will be betrayed by Aurelia just like me.
I reject it. I have no grudge nor interest in
you.』
“Are you going to retreat? Move aside, Monster. Sooner or later,
if I don’t bring along this showy lady and my sister, you will
receive a good scolding from my father who is 100 times more
frightening than you.”
Klaus continued to look after us as he stood in an imposing
stance, he dismissed the huge monster he was facing in a grand
gesture.
Even though deep down he had to feel terribly frightened.
His strong point was his sense of responsibility, that didn’t
change even when he was very young.
(But—-)
I glanced fleetingly at the wand that was handed to me by
Ann.
The stick head was rock salt. The shaft was cherry tree.
There was a skin of boar wrapped around the handle.
Core material……the leg of a pig which was preserved.
Yes, this was the Wand of Grease.
I believed that it was an instruction from Klaus, but…what did
he want me to do with this wand?
The monster and Klaus was still glaring at each other in a tense
atmosphere.
In this situation of conflict, my confusion was deepened.
1 I don’t think I need to say this, but this is
referring to Pokemon. And seeing the cover of this series, Zaratan
does seem like a combination of Lapras and Sandslash. Something
like this but paint it black, all four legs have claws, and with
empty eye sockets:
Edit: Apparently, Zaratan is another reference to D&D.
Zaratan is the name of a giant turtle that looks like an island.
(source)
Thank you to Ultimatecalibur for telling me
this!
Also, I tried making Zaratan more menacing by bolding his speech
and giving the sense of hurt by writing some of the words in
italic. What do you think?
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LNWNCentral_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles_Duke's Daughter Who is Liable to Die and the Seven Nobles - WN Chapter 00-18_Duke's-Daughter-Who-is-Liable-to-Die-and-the-Seven-Nobles-WN-Chapter-00-18-[Unknown][Trollo]
|
s15.txt
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EpubPress - Wed Jun 20 2018 - Chapter 14: Megalithic Altar (part two)
Chapter 14: Megalithic Altar (part two)
Klaus raised a cry while heading for the ancient black monster
Zaratan.
The lump of innumerable spell cards spread around him formed a
huge arm that couldn’t beat Zaratan’s.
I remembered children’s picture books. It was the same way that
small fishes gathered together and formed a bigger body.
But could we compete with this?
Zaratan swung his forearm.
Klaus concentrated the spell cards in front of him like a shield
and caught the thick forearm.
The moment when the claws of the monster touched it, a large
magic circle was deployed from the spell cards which organized in
order.
Something like a big spark was scattered between the two, and
the magical residue fluttered in the air like scales.
Klaus was pushed back about two meters and he was on his
knees.
He seemed to turn out unscathed somehow.
Oops, he looked over here with a triumphant look.
I understood that you were strong, but it was bad for my heart,
so stop that.
“What are you doing, Erica! Use the wand!”
“Yes! Klaus-sama!”
Oops, he stopped giving me a triumphant look and started to
glare.
Come to think of it, that’s right.
Klaus had incorporated almost all of the spell cards into the
expanded Protective Circle.
His means of attack now was only the Wand of Fire Bolt.
Besides, the leftover of that wand was about one shot left,
right?
No matter how old he was, Klaus couldn’t fight against an
obviously strong monster on a one-on-one basis.
I glanced at Ann.
She seemed to be hiding in the shadow of the wall separating the
main road leading to the altar and the inner sanctum.
I also copied Ann by jumping into the shadow of a pillar.
The battle between the mage Klaus and the huge monster Zaratan
continued.
Klaus was the one on the defensive.
Sometimes, he attacked with magical power by putting the spell
cards together.
However, there was not a single scar on the hard scales of the
monster.
I thought he was amazing at averting it, but his magical power
was not inexhaustible.
Besides, there was also a limit on the number of magical
recovery potions.
(I have to cover Klaus……!)
But, Grease didn’t cause damage.
I opened my bag for wands.
I didn’t assume there would be such situation like a boss fight,
so only few wands could be used for battle.
I should change the wands in my belt’s wand holder.
Lightning Bolt.
Magic Missiles.
Hold.
Gust.
Castling.
Levitation.
Could the Klaus-directed Grease be used for battle for once?
While switching over, I noticed a wand that could be used as a
trump card.
It was a Wand of Death.
The material was cypress. The stick head had twelve pyrope
garnets.
The surface of the wand was brilliantly polished and engraved
with words of the Aurelia-style condolences.
The core material was the final breath of a creature dying of
natural cause wrapped in a linen cloth soaked into myrrh.
Only creatures that were smaller than the creature used as the
core material of Wand of Death could be killed by it.
When it was used in a person-centered war, we used the last
breath of a horse.
This wand was for exploring the labyrinth.
As we had to fight against beasts and monsters, it should use
the last breath of big creatures.
Zaratan was about a little smaller than an elephant.
(The remaining charge is one. If the core material is an
elephant or a whale this wand will win. If it is a bear or a tiger,
let’s give up and run away.)
Klaus deflected the claws of Zaratan and took several steps
back.
At that timing, I jumped out of the shadow of the pillar.
“Over here, Monster!”
In response to my words, the monster stopped moving.
He looked at my figure and smiled with delight.
『A, A, A, A, A, Aurelia!!!』
The cry of deep grudge shook the air of the cathedral.
It should be frightening, but why was it comfortable for some
reason.
The monster cut off his eyes completely from Klaus, turned
towards me and put strength on his hind legs.
Targeting that moment, I swung the wand.
A dark, unobtrusive magic circle composed of crimson and black
floated at the tip of the wand.
From there, ill-boding shadows that looked like three distorted
hands stretched towards the huge monster.
The long black hands of death caressed him gently.
『I remember……I remember this magic, you cowardly
dwarf!
Stupid child.
Bigger creature than this me, such being doesn’t exist
anywhere in this world!
I am this land……I carried you vagabond dwarfs crossed
the ocean, I am this city itself!』
……Formerly city sized!? Then even a whale was impossible!
The huge monster Zaratan kicked the ground and rushed at a speed
that didn’t match his huge build.
I threw away the Wand of Death and pulled out the Wand of
Hold.
(Not good! I will not make it!)
I instinctively curled myself and closed my eyes.
A crashing sound like a car colliding with thick walls of
concrete shook my eardrums.
Klaus protected me and stood between me and the monster.
He added several hundreds of spell cards to the Protective
Circle to take on the attack of Zaratan.
“Klaus-sama!”
“Erica! You, why did you attack……aah, no, was my explanation
insufficient?”
“Eeh? I apologize, was that not good?”
“If you attack that beast, then my attack to distract him would
be wasted, right?”
Did you manage aggro in a net game, Klaus?
A person with high defense would attract attacks and other
people would give a degree of aid enough not to pose a threat.
So that was why you tried to get me to aid you with Grease.
But, if someone didn’t make a decisive attack, then wouldn’t
Klaus who was attracting the aggro be in danger?
Because the one who could easily handle the high-level healing
magic was the people of Lucanrant.
“I still have Hold and Lightning Bolt. It would be impossible to
defeat him, but let’s make a gap and run away.”
“I appreciate your thought but keep the offensive wands. The
moment when simultaneous attack is required, when that time
comes……”
Zaratan’s claws hit the Protective Circle.
The continuous attacks loosened the spell cards’ solidarity,
nearly half of them were bounced off.
From the rip of the Protective Circle, the smile of Zaratan
could be seen.
『Ku, ku, ku, ku, have you finished the cheap
play1?』
“Erica! Grease!”
“Yes, Klaus-sama.”
Klaus was holding down the monster using half of the spell
cards.
In that moment, I pulled out the Wand of Grease.
Was Grease effective for this situation?
I only had to trust Klaus.
Shaking the Wand of Grease, white magic sphere was expanding
from the stick head.
Magical power was transformed into a substance and expanded the
magic sphere to the size of a basketball, giving form to a big
bubble of grease.
“Hit it!”
I waved the wand and threw the grease bubble toward Zaratan.
The Grease flew slowly while fluctuating up and down.
When the grease bubble came close to the tip of his nose,
Zaratan put on a bored expression.
It was avoided easily.
If our opponent was a human that wore an armor, generally
speaking it would be impossible to hit the monster which jumped
around as he pleases.
Klaus’ Protective Circle of spell cards were blown off.
“Klaus-sama……!?”
Klaus rolled to the other side of the room as he was.
And, with slow gait as if enjoying the situation himself,
Zaratan came closer to me.
“……Kuh!”
『It was a useless small workmanship, dwarf.
That’s right, you are always, always nothing
but tricks.
Everything is nostalgic……Even when I killed
you.
That night when we reached this continent, to me who was
exhausted and sleeping, you guys…!
Shameless golden madness! Even though I beat and killed
countless number of offenders, you still wanted the
Philosopher’s Stone that much!?』
“Is it the Philosopher’s Stone?”
The alchemists’ of Aurelia family’s wishes.
Turn base metal into gold – that was, a miracle stone that
transformed everything into the desired substance.
In the game setting, the reason why the alchemist Zaratan was
killed was to take away the Philosopher’s Stone from him.
『Do you care about the Philosopher’s Stone?
Indeed, you are also a descendant of Aurelia the Greedy.
No wonder.
However, it is useless.
Those shallow thoughts of yours, everything,
is useless!
The Philosopher’s Stone, my soul itself—whether you rip
open my belly, gouge my entrails, you won’t find
it!』
I understood.
It was an overly optimistic idea that I could break my death
flag if I saved Ann.
Zaratan – he would never forgive me or my family.
His hatred and grudge towards the people of Aurelia.
His death was a sin that all people of Aurelia owed.
As long as we, the alchemist citizen of Aurelia, sought out
golden sacrament, that sin would keep on going.
『Throw away the wand, daughter of Aurelia.
I know all of your magic. You cannot kill me even if you
dropped stars2.
Well, what will you do?
You look like that girl who grew up with
me.
If you are the only one, I am willing to give you
mercy.
However……that is only if you betrayed the other two and
kill them with your hands!
Like what your ancestors did to
me!!』
The monster opened his big mouth widely that it seemed to be
torn apart, baring off each of his sharp fangs in a grotesque
smile.
“I will not do such a thing!!”
I raised a loud voice to the bad sensation.
What a pitch black fate trade.
『Isn’t that riiiiiiiiiiight!?
You are just a liar who talks big, you said you will not
kill other humans, huuuuuuhhhh!?
So, this is my first choice.
The girl hiding theeeeere!
If you left the daughter of Aurelia and ran away, I will
save you and the boy!
Anyway this girl, just like her ancestors, she’s just a
cute low-life woman.
Either way, even if you abandon her, your heart won’t
feel pain, right?』
Zaratan stretched out his hands with an exaggerated gesture like
a stage actor and looked at Ann who was hiding.
That was such a low act, to give choices like that to a little
girl.
I glared at the monster.
The monster accepted my enmity and looked like he was having fun
from the bottom of his heart.
“Don’t seduce other people’s sister without permission.”
Along with Klaus’ voice, there was a sound of the wind
blows.
Spell cards surrounded both knee joints of the monster, making
threefold of rings.
It was a magic of Bind which fixed the target at one point of
place.
Zaratan was bound by a threefold Bind, he fell forward as his
feet was fixed in place.
“Anything you said, you have to defeat me first.”
『Brat, so you can still move. Don’t throw away the life
that I generously overlooked.』
“Rather than throwing away my pride, I would rather throw away
my life. I will not abandon those I had decided to protect.”
Klaus walked slowly, pouring magical power into the spell that
formed Bind from his staff.
His clothes were torn in the middle, bruises and abrasion had
formed.
He seemed to have wounds all over his body, but it was a relief
that there was no haemorrhage or broken bones.
Klaus continued after spitting some saliva mixed with blood.
“…But this guy really has an intolerably gaudy face.”
That was an unnecessary comment.
I wondered if it was really a comment he had to say now.
Why did he even have to diss his face, this guy.
『It’s useless, brat. You cannot penetrate my armor with
your magic. It is the same with that Aurelia’s Fire Bolt
wand.』
“Don’t underestimate the magic of Harvan, Monster.”
『No matter how different the blood flowing in each human
is, everyone is equally stupid.
Will you defend Aurelia three times and hinder my
revenge?
Besides, you will probably fasten a constraint on
me.
Please realize how charitable I was, after I turn
you into a second lump of meat that couldn’t
see!』
Zaratan clenched his fists and roared with a terrible voice.
When he put strength into his whole body, the body that looks
like steel or rock cracked, his large biceps distorted as if
swelling out.
It was almost as though his armor couldn’t bear the pressure
from the inside.
Between the broken scales and shells, body fluids like black sea
water oozed out and hardened again.
Repeating that, the monster expanded rapidly.
It seemed that he was trying to regain his original form.
Zaratan’s legs became twice thicker than the Bind around his
knee joints.
Even on the points where the Bind was constraining him, the
spell cards themselves were gradually pushed back by the force from
the inside.
The magic circle that formed the spell became distorted.
From the magic of Bind which had been torn away, magical power
was leaking as fine particles of light.
“Klaus-sama, the Bind technique!”
“Although this is still too early……damn it! It can’t be
helped!”
Klaus manipulated the spell cards by swinging his staff to every
direction.
Countless number of spell cards stuck to Zaratan’s exterior like
a shroud as if concealing him.
“If just Fire Bolt doesn’t work, what about Fire Bolt with
increased firepower using Grease!”
If I looked closely, something like oil was sticking on the
spell cards that covered Zaratan.
Apparently Klaus seemed to have secretly used the spell cards to
recover the Grease which was avoided before.
A magic of Fire Bolt was fired from the wand that Klaus held
towards the grease-covered monster.
Flame spread in a fan shape at once and enveloped Zaratan.
The flammable grease burst into flames in a blink of an eye and
a blazing column several times the height of Zaratan rose up.
The blistering flame illuminated the dark labyrinth just like
daylight.
“……Did we do it?”
Deep laughter could be heard as if responding to Klaus’
muttering.
『What, brat. Saying something with that kind of
boldness, but it was only to this degree?
With such pitiful fire, you cannot even kill
bugs.』
With terrible momentum, Zaratan walked over here calmly while
being covered in a blazing fire.
The Bind seemed already broken.
The monster spread his enlarged arms, and slowly brought his
hands together in front of him.
Following the movements of his hands, the flames that were
covering him were getting smaller as if being sucked in between his
palms.
By the time Zaratan had completely brought his hands together,
the flame had completely disappeared.
“Damn it! Bind him again……”
『I won’t receive the same technique
twiceeee!』
Zaratan shortened the distance between us step by step, while
the spell cards were taking form of a battle formation before
dispersing.
Somehow, his power was increasing in proportion to the
enlargement of his body, to say nothing of his motivation.
It was obvious that the next blow might be too much for
Klaus.
In order to prevent Zaratan, I used the Wand of Lightning
Bolt.
The moment the Lightning Bolt shot from the wand penetrated
Zaratan, a torrent of flame similar to Fire Bolt shot from the
mouth of the monster.
Flames and lightning cancelled each other.
After the two magical effects cleared away, the uninjured
Zaratan stood.
“Magic? Why……”
“What……his ability, perhaps……”
『It is no use noticing that now!
Both of you, get crushed and
dieeee!!!』
Klaus hurriedly tried to reinstate the Protective Circle, but it
was unlikely to be in time.
I pulled out the Wand of Hold.
But, my hand that was wearing the alchemists’ leather glove was
blocked by the Wand of Lightning Bolt.
Again, this wouldn’t make it in time.
On top of us, a huge arm that looked like a bunch of logs was
raised overhead.
In front of me, the back of Klaus who was trying to spread his
arms and protect me appeared suddenly.
—-A beam of light crossed my field of vision.
The thin intense light cast from behind us hit Zaratan’s left
knee.
The thick monster scales break and penetrated to the other
side.
After a moment, a pale flame exploded at the place where the
hole was drilled by light, and the knee joint was exploding from
the inside.
Zaratan who was trying to step into our space, lost one of his
legs and broke his balance, fell on the spot and propped himself up
with both hands.
“Onii-sama! Erica-sama! Please escape!”
“Ann, well done!”
Klaus pulled my hand and headed for the exit of the inner
sanctum.
With her staff at ready, Ann who had sweats drenched her
forehead was waiting there.
In exchange for us, a bottle was thrown by Ann and flew towards
Zaratan.
That was, a bottle of Obscuring Mist.
The glass bottle hit the monster and broke down into pieces and
spread a thick, milky white fog.
The fog thickened rapidly and covered the entire inner sanctum
of the cathedral.
“Ann, you’re late. We were nearly dead.”
“I don’t even have the experience of combat training. Even if it
was only that kind of attack, it was a good performance, wasn’t
it?”
“I consumed too much magical power. A bit later and I would have
died.”
“Mou! Onii-sama, please move your legs and not your mouth!”
I just didn’t understand the situation.
I listened to the Harvan’s siblings banter and ran with full
power anyway.
Anyway, the siblings who seemed to get along well with each
other to be able to banter were refreshing.
I was a single child in my past life and I had never fought with
Edward-oniisama because we were past being chummy with each
other.
“Onii-sama. At least give an explanation, was it not good?”
“Eeh!? You didn’t say anything to Ann-sama!?”
“Aah, my bad. But, I didn’t have time to do that…”
“Simply tell Erica-sama to escape would be enough! When
Onii-sama faced that monster, I remembered that I felt
conflicted.”
“Ann, so it was to that extent……”
“Rather, I was anxious because Klaus-sama was just like
usual.”
“You guys, just what do you think about me.”
While running, Ann and I averted our eyes away from Klaus.
“Klaus-sama is……brimming with self-challenging spirit, an
embodiment of self-confidence……”
“Onii-sama is courageous, courageous, and very courageous……”
“You guys……”
A roar resounded in the background.
Looking back, the bulkhead separating the inner court and the
nave had collapsed.
A huge shadow appeared in ocher-colored haze mixed with dust and
Obscuring Mist.
A monster popped out of the haze.
Zaratan who lost one leg was running with three legs with both
arms on the ground, and launched his assault.
“That guy, he can move already!? Both of you, hurry up!”
We went through the nave and jumped into a narrow passage.
In no time, the passage trembled along with the sound of a
collision.
Dust filled the narrow passage.
Zaratan’s body couldn’t pass through the entrance of the passage
and seemed to have crashed into the wall.
Something huge had stretched from the fallen entrance.
Claws that looked like an execution axe brushed against the tip
of my nose.
“Uwah!?”
“Erica, the back! Advance to the back!”
“Erica-sama, quickly go to the place where the monster’s arm
wouldn’t reach!”
Klaus and Ann pulled me out of terror.
The claws of Zaratan were swinging in every direction before our
eyes.
The monster was scratching the floor and the walls near the
entrance of the passage many times over trying to seize us.
Zaratan who understood that we were out of reach were
withdrawing his hand and looked into this passage by his eye
alone.
With eyes like a hollow and dark cave.
『…Grudge…grudge, grudge, grudge, grudge, grudge, grudge,
grudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudgegrudge——-
The cowardly Aurelia……Those damn kids who are standing
by Aurelia……
Both are absolutely unforgivable.
I will slowly torture you to death, until you
indeed begging for death……』
When Zaratan drew back after saying so, he began to destroyed
the walls near the entrance of the passage with his claws.
The stones which were supposed to be hard, were gently scooped
out as if they were made of styrofoam or something.
It was an amazing skill.
“Hii!?”
“Kyaaa!?”
“L-let’s go! Talk later! Now let’s just escape somehow!”
I thought that I would die this time.
I was thinking of stopping because of a series of shocking
situations, but I continued to advance my feet in a hurried
manner.
1 三文芝居 (sanmon shibai): a low-level play not worth
enough to pay quarrel money. It is used as an expression pointing
to behaviors such as behind-the-scenes behaviors.
2 ‘Even if you dropped stars’ here referring to the
Wand of Sailor’s Song, where it was said that it could drop stars
in exchange for the user’s life.
About the alchemists’ leather gloves, if you don’t remember,
Erica gave one to Klaus, so they both each wear one (not a pair,
but one). It seems that the gloves are to alleviate the reaction
from the wands. Up to this chapter, there is still no explanation
about what kind of reaction the wands give to the user. But it
seems that they couldn’t use wands with the hand that doesn’t wear
the glove.
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