V1C2 Part2

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

6

“...Ah!?”

When Pariel awoke, the bike was

already inside the ash-colored warehouse. Mahiro was nowhere to be

seen. She thought that she was still clinging tightly onto Mahiro,

but she was the only one left here.

“Huh!? Huh!?”

It wasn't a dream. Somehow, it

seems like that she was still alive. It was almost night by the time

that she exited the warehouse.

“Prince!? Prince Mahiro!?”

Pariel walked towards the center

of the castle, yellling out Mahiro's name and asking passerbys his

whereabouts as she walked along. Well, even though he was an idiot

prince, with the Imperial army this close by, even he wouldn't...

“Prince!”

Pariel headed to the cafeteria

after asking some soldiers and maids. She found Mahiro sitting in his

usual place, complaining about something.

“I...I'm such a chicken.”

He took another bite of his

chicken legs.

“Chicken like this teriyaki

chicken. Only a little bit more. Only a little bit more...and I

could've reached the 200 kilometers an hour benchmark!”

“Don't say that, Prince...”

“Yeah, yeah, you already became

the first person to reach 190 kilometers per hour in the Middle

Plains.”

“Were you using the usual

mountain for a boost of speed? It's already really dangerous to go a

hundred kilos even on the flat plains!”

“Ahh, but still what a

shame...”

Surrounding Mahiro, who was

recounting his tale of glory, were those mechanics from the

maintenance warehouse, as well as ordinary soldiers and maids...wait.

(...Why is everyone so relaxed?)

After all, the Imperial army was

already right under their noses. If everyone knew this, then they

wouldn't be here chatting and enjoying themselves with such a

peaceful atmosphere.

(...Don't tell me that he was so

engrossed in sharing his tale that he forgot to tell them...?!)

“Hey! Chef! Chef, my tankard is

empty! Get me another one!”

Mahiro said, and then a reply

came from within the kitchen.

“Prince, if you drink anymore,

you'll poison your body, you know?”

“Then get me some dried fish!

Make me something called dried Japanese anchovies! What I need the

most now is calcium! I need some calcium to make sure that I won't

crash into the ground when I go over two hundred kilos, and come back

unharmed! I'll turn this failure into motivation for my next attempt,

and with the calcium I can turn the handlebars all the way to maximum

acceleration!”

The chef sighed lightly, and

poured the tankard full of milk before Mahiro's vacant eyes, and then

returned to the kitchen to make dinner.

“What are you doing Prince!?”

“Hmm? Pariel? Can't you see?

We're having a consolation meeting here.”

“This isn't the time for that,

isn't it!? Did you already forget about the Imperial army that we saw

on the mountain!?”

The people around them, hearing

these words, were startled.

Inspite of that.

“...What kind of dream did you

see, Pariel?”

“Huh?! You're the one who's

dreaming!!”

“Seriously, who's the one who

fainted behind me, tearing up, drooling and who knows what else.”

“There weren't anything else!

Only tears! And no that's not the point...”

The atmosphere around her

suddenly chilled, and she was pierced by several icy stares.

“E-eh, huh...? But...”

“Listen, I'm not my father nor

my brother. Do you think I would return alive if I rushed into such a

dangerous place by myself?”

Mahiro wasn't acting as he

normally did, seemingly neither lying nor joking. Well, even then, he

shouldn't be saying something like this with such flair.

“E-eh? H-huh? Then I was

really...dreaming?”

“Hey you, no matter how young

you are, you're still a knight...don't joke around like that, you

know? You almost scared us to death.”

“Yeah, even though Prince

Mahiro is good at running away, if he met the Imperial army even he

wouldn't come back alive.”

“We had a hard time pulling you

off of the prince in the garage, you were holding him so tightly...”

“Come to think of it, maybe

you're the reason that he couldn't reach 200 kilometers, with you

riding behind him and all. How much do you weigh?”

“Actually, maybe it was the

prince being kind enough not going full out out of concern for you.”

“If it's that then oh well.

That's one of the prince's good points. That's why we can't bring

ourselves to hate him even though he's always so stupid.”

“It's also the same for us

maids and housekeepers.”

“Mhm, mhm. If we caught another

guy peeping at us, we would charge him money, but if it's the prince,

then all we would do is punch him two or three times and toss him

into the Connolitto River, mm.”

Ahahahaha.

Aside from Mahiro who turned pale

at the last remark, everyone else calmed down and relaxed.

“No, even with her, I should've

been able to broken two hundred. I have no intention of using Pariel

as an excuse! It was all because I lacked guts!”

The sun had fallen without them

realizing it, and it was time for dinner. The majority of the people

who just came to the cafeteria were here to hear about the recounting of the

prince's challenge. Mahiro was gradually surrounded by a large number

of people. There were people who offered comforting words, people who

said that he'll do better next time, and even those who complained

that they could hear the explosive noises of the bike from inside the

castle. Because Mahiro had the freedom to do as he wanted today,

Pariel was able to see how he gained the trust of his

vassals.

Seeing this was enough, Pariel

thought. Despite his imperfections as a prince, Mahiro was still able

to garner such loyalty from those around him. What he said about

testing out the bike for the mechanics and their plans when they were

caught by Lunas...now that she thought about it, it might actually be

true. Unexpectedly, Mahiro might actually have the best interests of

the country in mind.

Despite the festival mood

here, Pariel had to hurry to report what happened earlier, so she was

about leave from here.

“Anything wrong?”

“Ah? Edelweiss-sama! I have

something to report! Something very important to report!!”

Pariel left the cafeteria with

Edelweiss, who looked as she always did to some place where no one

was around. There, Pariel related everything that happened today to

Edelweiss.

“...So we should hurry and

close the gates, and raise the defenses in the castle...”

“Is that the prince's command?”

“Huh? It's not, but...”

“Then there is no need for

that.”

“Edelweiss-sama!”

Pariel didn't give up so easily.

“His Majesty has already

informed me what happened when you two went into the mountains. The

part about Princess Lunas, too.”

“T-then, why...everyone inside

the castle, why are they so nonchalantly...?”

“His Majesty ordered me not to

tell anyone else.”

Pariel didn't understand.

“Does....does he mean to

surrender Mismarca to the Empire?”

Edelweiss didn't bat an eyebrow

at this, but merely raised her index finger to her lips. It seems

that Pariel was speaking a bit too loudly.

“Pariel, consider this. If you

ever become a general, and receive orders to command your soldiers to

attack a castle...”

Pariel thought that right now, it

wasn't very likely for her to ever become a general.

“Y-yes...”

“What would you do if you found

that your enemy wasn't prepared at all for battle, their defenses

lacking, and their gates open?”

“...I would attack them before

they finished preparing for battle.”

“Naturally.”

(Then why ask?)

This was something that even a

child unfamiliar with warfare or swordsmanship could answer.

“But what would you think if

your enemy didn't react even with your troops right in front of them,

with no preparations for battle and with their gates even wide open?”

“Eh? Um. Then, I would...”

Hesitate. Feel that it was

unbelievable. Suspect that there was a trap.

“Unless there was an idiot

defending the country, anyone would feel the same.”

“Wait, but, there actually is

an idiot defending this country right now!”

“Pariel. Don't say something

like that about your master.”

You said it yourself! Ah, but

this person's master was the king himself, so maybe it was okay that

way. Must be good~.

“Then, conversely, if a

well-known tactician was known to be defending the castle?”

“...It must be a trap then. But

such a person...”

Pariel was half-finished with her

sentence when Edelweiss pointed to herself.

7

“It's time.”

<This is Kaze Number 1. No

changes reported in the castle and the town.>

<Kaze Number 2. The defensive

gate has not been closed. No communications have been observed.>

“No changes in the “rumor”?

<Kaze Number 1 reporting no

changes.>

<Kaze Number 2 reporting no

changes.>

“...What does this mean? Was

that not reconnaissance, after all?”

<I wouldn't call charging into

the middle of the enemy's camp reconnaissance. Only a kamikaze attack

or just pure suicide.>

<But, they returned home

without doing anything...maybe they actually were lost and wandered

in by accident?>

“...”

<...>

<...>

“...Wait a minute. The girl who

was riding in the back is calling out Edelweiss's name.”

<What is she calling her for?>

<I don't understand her reason

for doing so.>

“...”

<...>

<...>

“Then...what does this mean?

Were the princess's words not even conveyed?”

<I wonder. Though the bike

returned to the castle, we still don't know what's happening inside.>

<What if this incident had

something to do with Edelweiss?>

<...It's a trap.>

<It's the only possibility.>

“As I thought...”

<If it was the royal family,

then it might've been out of love for the people, but if that woman

is in command then it's out of the question.>

<If she received the command

to protect the country, she would do so even if she had to raze this

peaceful city to the ground.>

“...I understand. I will report

this possibility to headquarters. Next report is scheduled at two

zero zero zero. No change reported.”

<Number one, acknowledged.>

<Number two, acknowledged.>

“Transmission over.”

*

“...And so that was what the

“Kaze's Rumor” said...there hasn't been any changes in the town.”

The soldier who was reporting in

seemed a bit perplexed. The soldiers who followed military decorum to

the letter were thrown into confusion. The troops were ready to move

out at any time. However, despite it being past the appointed time,

Lunas has yet to give such an order.

Then, she said with some slight

self-mockery.

“I still feel like going in

alone...though I know I would be playing right into Edelweiss's

hands.”

She paused for a bit in

indecision.

“I'll postpone the invasion for

now.”

What she said after her

deliberations shocked everyone.

“Princess...”

Reiner began to voice out

everyone's thoughts.

“Heh, even though I'm like

this, I'm still a general. You guys are all cute. I wouldn't hesitate

if you guys could die in honest and fair battle, but since Edelweiss

is involved, it's not unlikely you could be killed some other way.

Let's observe for a day or two more.”

“But, the king wouldn't

consider making a mere maid a stewardess. Inept as he may be, the

prince is still left behind, after all. If she was behind the

commotion this time, then what reason was it for?”

Hearing Reiner's inquiry, Lunas

smiled.

“Of course it's to crush us.”

“Crush us?”

“I think the Kaze might've been

right in their predictions. The open gates are an invitation to a

trap...she might be planning to use the citizen's panic in order to

launch her assault...or she might be planning to lure us into the

castle. If it's Edelweiss, then she would definitely be

considering something charming for defense.”

“Would the Prince of Mismarca

allow that?”

“She's someone that would do it

even without his permission. Reiner, you're from the Imperial Guards,

you should know the <Noir Rosen>, right?”

“The Imperial Special Servants

Team?”

Reiner naturally looked towards

the two maids standing behind Lunas. Lunas nodded in confirmation.

“Correct. Those two are part of

them, as well.”

“But, what do these maids have

to do with combat?”

Lunas seemed to have already

completely given up on attacking tonight, as she ordered the maids to

open up a cask of sake.

“If they're around me, then

they must be pretty capable. Want to have a spar with them? They're

pretty strong, you know.”

“No, thanks.”

Though the princess was joking

around, she never rated military prowess lightly. What she said was

probably true.

“But if they're serving as

guards, then there's already the Imperial Guards.”

“Oh, that's right, you're part

of them as well. Well, you're a male, would you accompany me even

into my bedroom?”

Reiner seemed to have forgotten

this point, Lunas read from his expressions. She continued on.

“They are raised, covered by

the shadows of the Imperial Guards, as the royal family's secret

weapons. Those of the Imperial Guards learn how to protect the royal

family, but the girls of the <Noir Rosen> learn the hows and

the ways to kill someone.”

The Imperial Guards would guard

against enemies.

As long as they could stand firm

as an iron wall for but one or two seconds, the <Noir Rosen>

would strike from a completely unexpected angle, taking them by

surprise from the back.

Of course, the Imperial Guards

were very capable themselves. Each and every one of them were very

skilled swordsmen. Ninety-nine percent of all enemies would perish by

their hands. But, against the one percent, just as a precaution...the

<Noir Rosen> would serve as the final defense.

One of the maids interjected with

a smile.

“You speak too highly of us,

Princess. We're not as capable as you make us out to be.”

All the other commanders gathered

there felt their hairs standing up at that cold smile. Lunas, on the

other hand, found her response delightful, and started laughing after

gulping down a cup of alcohol.

“Well, as you can see, they're

pretty scary. You guys probably shouldn't test them too much, for the

sake of your health.”

“Then, is Edelweiss also from

the <Noir Rosen>?”

“No, she's not. She's actually

the one who proposed the concept to Father, and founded <Noir

Rosen>. If someone with that mentality is in charge of defending

the country, then sacrificing a few hundred civilians would be simple

for her. In the first place her personality is horrible.”

The two maids behind her were

nodding their heads in agreement with a strict face, though no one

had asked them anything.

“This invasion force was

handpicked from the most elite of the capital defense forces. We

could handle one or two assassins.”

Lunas seemed to have thought of

something, and showed a rare face of weariness, as she looked at the

unrelenting Reiner. She began swirling sake in her cup.

“About that, Reiner...What I'm

troubled by are her extraordinary powers as a Majin.”

Majin. Those born with innate

magical power in their bodies, and are able to use magic without

using spells or crests. No matter whether it was their vitality or

their lifespan, they were far superior to humans.

Lunas, part of the Imperial

Family, Reiner himself, all of the knights gathered here, the two

maids, everyone here were Majins.

But, different from humans,

Majins varied greatly in power. The innate magical energies of

different Majin had vast differences. Lunas, who was able to

match a large number of enemies by herself, has an extremely powerful

innate strength. To give Lunas pause, just how strong was this

Edelweiss...?

“Even if we took advantage of

the confusion the civilians would create, and successfully charge

into the castle in the confusion...we only have five hundred knights.

Reiner, what would you do?”

The silver-haired general

appeared to have already accepted Lunas's words. But, without any

pride, he said calmly.

“I would kill them all.”

Lunas nodded, somehow satisfied,

and gulped down her sake.

“You're a boring and

uninteresting guy in conversations, but your strength lies in your

swordsmanship and your sharp eye. Reiner, go reflect on this later.

Carve what I said about Edelweiss into your heart.”

“I understand.”

8

“However, I do not want my name

to be used in this way a second time.”

Though she said that, she didn't

seem to really mind, watching the neatly cut plants in the courtyard

under the moonlight. Pariel grew shocked after she registered what

Edelweiss said.

“Then...did the prince

calculate everything up to this point...?”

“I don't know.”

Edelweiss said.

“But...I just want to confirm,

the enemy general is Princess Lunas, correct?”

“Eh? Uh, yes...”

“Then there will be no

problems. Her Highness, for the better or for the worse, is a typical

general. She's not a brilliant tactician, nor is she someone who

charges in blindly and idiotically. If the situation does not change,

then they will postpone their invasion for now.”

Listening to such an analysis

made Pariel even more aware that this person was someone who was

formerly from the Empire.

“But...what about afterwards...?”

“I don't know. Maybe the king

will return early, or maybe the prince has some other plans.”

“...If neither happens...then

what do we do?”

“Then I will do something.

Anyway...”

Edelweiss turned around.

“...What I said just now, don't

tell anyone else. His Highness does not want anyone to fall into a

panic.”

“...So that was why he's doing

this by himself?”

So that was why he went to such a

dangerous place, by himself?

“To be honest...though I have

been taking care of the prince ever since his birth, I am still not

certain whether he is a genius tactician wearing the mask of an

idiot...”

Edelweiss seemed to be lost in

her memories, and looked towards the night sky.

“...Or if he is just an overly

kind idiot who is constantly saved by luck.”

She was always strict, so her

words when she criticizes others were strict, even filled with

thorns.

“But...his kindness is

something that's for sure, at least.”

“Do you feel motivated now?”

“Ah...y-yes...though it's a bit

embarrassing...”

Everyone understood the prince's

kindness but her, even though she was the closest to the prince, she

didn't understand his good points...

“From now on I will serve the

prince with everything I have!”

Edelweiss said with an

expressionless face to the Pariel who said such words with a smile.

“Do so. But, if he really is

just an idiot, then I won't be held responsible.”

Why was this person always so

cold? Pariel couldn't help but think this.