Seirei Gensouki, page 2
“That’s...”
“Starting with your wedding ceremony, Duke Arbor has had a string of failures to address. Charles and Alfred were taken prisoner, and I was able to escape and join the Restoration. I’m sure he’s quite panicked about it, as he has approached us for negotiations.”
“Has the ironclad Arbor family finally started losing its power?”
“It would appear so.”
At present, over a thousand of Beltrum Kingdom’s nobles had joined the Restoration, including spouses and children. But that was still a minority compared to the number of nobles the Arbor faction controlled in Beltrum. And in noble society politics, the size of the faction meant everything. That was why Duke Huguenot’s faction was unable to justify themselves and had lost their place in the capital.
However, power was an uncertain substance in noble society. This was because only a small fraction of the nobles in a faction were invested too deeply to back out—most nobles in the faction were able to switch sides to their convenience as circumstances changed.
In fact, many of the nobles in Duke Huguenot’s faction had joined Duke Arbor when his territory was lost to the Proxia Empire.
“We can’t let this opportunity slip through our hands, then.”
Duke Arbor’s failures could be used to regain those drifting nobles. Their distance from the capital made it difficult to physically contact those nobles, but Duke Arbor’s power was definitely weakening. If he was the one approaching for negotiations, they’d be able to turn things in their favor.
“We’re still in the midst of discussing our agenda for the negotiations, but they’ve requested the return of Charles and Alfred, as well as Alfred’s enchanted sword.”
Charles was Duke Arbor’s heir, and Alfred was the strongest knight in the country. The sword he used, the Light Blade of Judgment, was also a national treasure.
“They’re all powerful cards for negotiation.”
“Yes. And they were all given to us by Sir Amakawa. I wanted to thank him once again for his assistance, but... It seems like things are rather serious over here. I heard Sir Amakawa headed out to rescue Lady Liselotte.”
Christina was acquainted with Liselotte herself and sometimes kept in contact with her. Her expression clouded with worry.
“Sir Haruto will definitely bring Liselotte back to us,” Charlotte stated firmly, her posture upright and confident.
“Yes,” Celia agreed.
“That’s true. If it’s Sir Amakawa...” Christina nodded, biting back her words. She had witnessed his talents and strength up close and personal during the battle with Lucius in the Paladia Kingdom, which was why she believed in Rio as well.
“That’s right! Sir Haruto can definitely do it!” Flora said.
“I don’t know when he will return, but I will send a message out to you when he does,” Celia said cheerfully to Christina, hoping to wipe the gloomy expression from her face.
“Perhaps I can visit again when he returns with Lady Liselotte. We plan on staying in the Galarc Castle for a while.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. The meeting with the Beltrum Kingdom will almost certainly be held at the Galarc Castle, so the plan is to remain here until then.”
“In that case, we should hold a small party once Sir Haruto returns with Liselotte. I’ll be sure to invite the two of you,” Charlotte suggested after listening to their conversation.
“Oh, that would be lovely. Please do!” Flora immediately leapt at the chance, but—
“Flora.” Christina let out an exasperated warning as a reminder to restrain herself in the residence of a foreign noble.
“Oh, but only if it isn’t a bother to you...” Flora added with a blush, ashamed of her behavior.
“Neither a sleepover nor a dinner party will be any bother, so please don’t feel reserved,” Celia said with a giggle, looking at her fondly.
Charlotte agreed with a cheeky but charming grin. “Indeed. I have no right to speak as someone half living in this house out of everyone’s kindness, but please come over.”
She had succeeded in accompanying Satsuki to Rio’s mansion at every possible occasion until she had practically taken up residence there herself, but she also acted as King Francois’s messenger and the main point of contact for any nobles who wanted to get closer to Rio.
Whenever something was required, Charlotte would make the necessary arrangements at the speed of light. She did all her work, sometimes in unseen places, and had won over Rio’s trust enough for the residents of the mansion to accept her. There was even a room for her in the mansion.
“Thank you very much. Then, if you don’t mind...” Christina bowed, accepting the offer.
“Then it’s decided. Everyone will be delighted to have you there. They were wondering how the two of you have been doing,” Charlotte said to Christina and Flora.
“If there’s still time after this, we can invite them all over here,” Celia said.
Miharu and the others were inside the mansion, but had excused themselves from the meeting when they heard the visit was for official business with Celia. Only Orphia was elsewhere outside, but she would have come right away if invited as well.
“We wanted to greet everyone as well, so if you’re not too busy... We’re almost done with what we wanted from Professor Celia too.”
“Is there still something you needed from me?”
“Yes, as a continuation from earlier. If the circumstances suit you, would you be willing to attend the meeting with the Beltrum Kingdom?”
“Me...?” Celia blinked.
“In exchange for returning Charles, I am thinking of demanding several conditions that would benefit Count Claire and the rest of your family.”
“Could I ask the reason why...?” Celia asked hesitantly, shocked at the sudden proposal.
“It hasn’t been officially announced to the Beltrum Kingdom, but even they’ve noticed that you joined the Restoration after being abducted from your wedding ceremony. Count Claire was also suspected of having assisted my escape from the capital. As long as we have Charles, they wouldn’t dare to touch Count Claire, but...”
If the situation changed, the Claire family could be in danger.
“At any rate, there’s no doubt that the Claire family has taken the brunt of all these events. The upper ranks of the Restoration have agreed that it would be proper to compensate him.”
That’s why there was nothing to worry about, Christina implied.
Celia bowed her head in deep sincerity. “Thank you for considering my family.”
“Not at all,” Christina said, continuing the discussion. “We’re still reviewing what kind of conditions should be requested, but...”
It was at that moment.
Boom.
An explosion roared, shaking the room.
“What was that? Some kind of magic training?”
Celia immediately went to look out the window, followed by the others in the room. The booming sounds continued even as they moved. The source of the sound appeared to be scattered in various directions, some near and some far.
“No, it’s too loud to be coming from the training grounds of the castle. I believe the sound is either coming from the castle or somewhere nearby,” Charlotte guessed undauntedly, looking out the window.
After a short time, the sounds stopped.
“Excuse us for entering.”
Charlotte’s head guard Louise and the Beltrum sisters’ head guard Vanessa came into the room. They had both been waiting outside the door, so they naturally heard the noises as well. They both wore the same grim expressions.
“Can you tell what’s going on?” Charlotte asked Louise.
“No. I haven’t received any notice of an event that would create such noises either. The only option I can think of is magic training, but the sound came from too close by for that. I also saw something black fall from the sky through the window. I’ve sent my subordinates to check on the situation, and they’ll be back as soon as they know.”
“I see. In that case, shall we remain waiting in this mansion?”
“Yes. I’ve asked the guards who accompanied us to the mansion to station themselves outside. But please relocate to the safe room just in case.”
The safe room was a place for important figures to evacuate to in times of emergency. The level of refuge varied depending on the type of emergency likely to occur, but they were all made to be secure from outside attack.
This mansion was located on castle grounds, so the castle served as the evacuation point in true times of emergency. Thus, the safe room here was only a simple one.
“All right. Let’s group up with Lady Satsuki and the others first,” Charlotte immediately decided.
“We’re coming in, Char.”
Just then, with Satsuki in the lead, she, Miharu, Latifa, Sara, and Alma entered the room where they were holding their meeting. They must have heard the unnatural explosions and felt the abnormal air, as they all had worried looks on their faces. Sara and Alma even held their weapons just in case.
“You heard that loud noise earlier?” Satsuki asked.
“Yup. We don’t normally hear something like that around here, so we were shocked...” Miharu replied.
“We’re not sure of the situation either, but we were going to go to the safe room just in case. The knights have gone to check things out. Will you come with us?”
“I see... And yes, please.”
Satsuki exchanged a look with Miharu and nodded. At this point, there was still no clear danger, so there was no real sense of urgency yet, but...
“R-Reporting! A group of monsterlike creatures has descended upon the castle!”
“Wha...”
One of Charlotte’s knights came running in a panic, heightening the tension.
“Calm down. What do you mean by monsterlike creatures? Are they not goblins or orcs?” Louise asked her subordinate calmly. Powerful monsters like minotaurs had been commonplace in the Divine War that took place a thousand years ago, but goblins and orcs were the only monsters left in the modern era. There were some exceptions to that rule, but not even adventurers that worked in monster subjugation encountered them very often. Most of them reached retirement without ever seeing a different kind of monster.
“I only saw the knights fighting from afar, but their movements were much faster than those of a goblin or orc. I’ve never seen such a monster before. Their shapes were rather humanoid, but the ferocious expressions on their faces were monstrous. Some had gray skin while others had black skin,” the knight reported.
“Huh...?” Miharu looked shocked, and Satsuki noticed.
“I see. Any information about their numbers and locations?”
“I’m sorry, I prioritized my return to the mansion... However, they appear to have fallen across the grounds. There are battles taking place everywhere.”
Louise didn’t seem to have noticed the change in Miharu, so Satsuki waited for the subordinate to finish speaking. “What’s wrong, Miharu?” she asked, bringing everyone’s attention to her.
“Oh, umm. When I first came to this world, some strange monsters appeared on the outskirts of Amande. Haruto and Ai-chan exterminated them, but they weren’t goblins or orcs. Maybe they’re the same monsters that appeared here?”
“I remember seeing the same monsters during the attack on Amande. They weren’t as strong as minotaurs, but they were fast and powerful,” Celia recalled with a frown. “It would take at least a knight with enhanced physical abilities to take them on...”
“I was there too.” Flora proceeded to give her account of what she had witnessed when she was kidnapped by Lucius in Amande.
“I see... We can’t say for sure, but it’s very likely that they’re the same monsters. The knights have thankfully intercepted them, but any monsters they miss could slip through to this mansion. We will secure the surroundings, so please head to the safe room immediately, Your Highness,” Louise urged.
“I understand,” Charlotte said. She then turned to the group. “Princess Christina, Princess Flora, please come with me. Lady Satsuki and everyone else too.”
“We will assist the guards outside,” Sara offered. At present, she and Alma were the strongest in the mansion, but...
“Oh... That’s...” Louise hesitated. She sparred with Sara and Alma on a daily basis so she knew their strength firsthand, but the two of them were still subjects of her guard.
“Alma and I have the role of protecting Miharu and the others in Haruto’s absence. There is no need to include us as subjects of protection. It’d be easier for us to move around outside than to have no information locked inside.”
“Well, that’s how it is. You don’t need to worry about Sara and me.”
Sara and Alma were both calm, as though they were familiar with such situations.
“...”
Satsuki looked like she was about to say something, but swallowed her words. I will protect this mansion as well—those were the words on the tip of her tongue, but she became uneasy. She understood her position as hero and feared her lack of combat experience would make her a hindrance.
Charlotte noticed Satsuki moving her mouth and purposefully gave Louise a push without looking at Satsuki. “Then we shall rely on you. There aren’t enough people in this mansion right now, and you two are probably the strongest with your enchanted swords.”
“Understood. We shall rely on you.” Louise bowed her head at Sara and Alma.
Sara turned around. “Latifa, you stay with Satsuki and Miharu. We’re counting on you to protect them if the need arises.”
“Okay! Leave it to me!” Latifa nodded firmly in agreement.
“Umm, I’m going to go with the two of them,” Celia stated.
“Huh?”
Everyone looked at her in surprise.
“Monsters drop enchanted gems and disappear when defeated, and you need someone on that side to confirm they’re the same monsters that appeared in Amande last time. I can cast healing magic if needed, and it would be useful to have a sorcerer in the back line. I’ve also trained with Sara and Alma in team fighting before,” Celia said, explaining herself to convince Christina and Charlotte more than Sara and Alma.
“While we would be most grateful to have a sorcerer of your caliber on the back line... There’s no need to expose yourself to danger like that.” Charlotte gave Celia a searching look as though to confirm the truth of her thoughts. Nobles who didn’t pursue military careers still went through some form of combat training, so she knew that Celia had basic fighting skills.
Because of that, it wasn’t unusual for them to join the battlefield when needed—in fact, it was seen as one of the duties of the noble class. However, it depended on the time and place. In the current situation, there was only a slight chance of a monster being missed by the knights. It’d be preferable to keep a count’s daughter protected rather than to have her fight.
“I’d like to do what I can in Haruto’s absence,” Celia replied calmly and clearly. Her intentions were evident on her face—that she wanted to fight, that she didn’t always have to be protected, that Haruto could rely on her if he needed to.
“We’re familiar with Celia’s magic skills, and it would be most reassuring to have her support,” Sara added in approval.
“I see... In that case, it would be insensitive of me to stop you,” Charlotte accepted in a slightly envious tone, glancing at Christina. Although Celia was currently Rio’s assistant, she was still a noble of the Restoration. Christina’s opinion also mattered.
“I will leave it to your discretion, Professor,” Christina said, nodding.
“Thank you very much. Let’s do this, Sara, Alma.”
“Right.”
Sara and Alma were both warriors. Since they’d started living with Celia, they understood her intentions well—and so they nodded firmly.
Beside them, Louise was discussing how to proceed with Vanessa.
“Please go with the princesses and guard the safe room.”
“Understood.”
“In that case, everyone should head through this door that’s connected to the safe room. I will station several knights in this drawing room just in case.”
With the necessary arrangements done, Louise pointed to a different door from the exit. There were three safe rooms in the mansion, and one of them was located in the drawing room for the sake of important guests.
Thus, the residents of the mansion split into those taking refuge in the safe room and those going outside to stand guard.
◇ ◇ ◇
Around the same time, a man floated in the skies above the capital, looking down at the castle grounds below him. It was the perpetrator behind the release of monsters across the grounds—Reiss himself. Less than an hour ago, he had been observing the fierce battle between Rio and Saint Erica from afar, but he had used a disposable teleport crystal to move to the Galarc Castle in an instant.
At present, the noncombatants of the castle were panicking while the knights fought the revenants throughout the castle grounds.
The first movement after sending out my precious magic-sealing orbs and revenants. Hopefully it’ll be enough to smoke someone out... Oh?
Reiss narrowed his eyes. His gaze fixed onto a single point from far above. It was the mansion Rio was gifted by Francois, and Celia, Sara, and Alma had just left through the front door.
It would’ve been problematic if they had shut themselves away inside the castle, so this is perfect. But it’s best not to underestimate those girls when they’re outside. I’ll hold nothing back.
A jet-black shadow sprung from Reiss’s feet, spreading across the blue sky. Five black orbs several meters in diameter appeared.
All five orbs rained down on Rio’s mansion like meteorites. Each descent was accompanied by a booming roar, shaking the building.
That’s all the revenants I have on hand. But I fear they won’t last long against those girls—better call those guys over as quickly as possible.
