Chapter 89

The next morning.

The short vacation had come to an end, and the day had arrived for us to return to the academy.

“Alright, Seika. Is this everything?”

Luft looked over the line of carriages and said this.

On the way back, it wasn’t just us. Fiona’s entourage and the squad led by Glaive to protect them were also with us. Besides the impressive line of carriages, there were also soldiers on horseback, lightly armed.

It seemed like it would be a safer journey than when we went to Astiria.

“Yeah, thanks, big brother.”

“Try to stay in good spirits when you get back to the academy.”

“I know.”

“And decide what you want to do after you graduate from the elementary department. Your father probably wants you to continue your studies, but...”

“Ah, I, I know...”

I answered with a strained smile.

I hadn’t told Blaze or Luft about my plan to become an adventurer.

I intended to keep it a secret until the last moment. I’d be in trouble if they started talking about not paying for tuition...

“Eifa, stay healthy. You’ve been working hard, right? Did you get a good rest?”

“Hehe, I’m fine. Please take care of yourself, Lord Luft.”

Eifa said with a smile.

During our stay at the mansion, Eifa had been helping with the housework alongside the servants and slaves. She said she didn’t need to do it anymore, but she had nothing else to do.

Perhaps she wanted to spend time with the people she got along with well. The next time we meet might be a long time from now.

“Miss Mabel, please come again if you have the chance.”

“...Yes.”

Mabel nodded wistfully.

I looked at her with half-lidded eyes.

Mabel had been completely relaxed during her stay.

It was fine since she was a guest, but it was enough to make me want to scold her.

“Ugh... I wanted to stay here forever...”

“Do you... act like this at home too?”

“I pretend to be a cat in front of them... so, it’s a bit tiring.”

“You should let your guard down here. Why were you so relaxed?”

“I understand how girls who want to marry nobles feel... I want to live like this forever.”

“Hey, those girls also have the resolve to bear children, enter society, and support their husbands’ careers. They don’t just want to be lazy like you!”

“Why are you saying such mean things...”

“Everyone is living by their own efforts. So, try to study hard when you get back to the academy.”

“Ugh... I don’t want to...”

I looked down at Mabel, who was on the verge of tears, with a sigh.

This girl had such a personality. Eifa and Ami were the type who would move on their own, so they were quite different.

“Hey, Seika! What are you doing there?!”

Suddenly, Glaive’s voice echoed.

My second older brother, who had returned from the squad’s carriage, was glaring at me with his hands on his hips.

“It’s time to go, why are you dawdling?!”

“Shut up...”

“Sorry, Glaive. I was the one holding him back.”

“Hmph... then it’s fine. See you, big brother.”

“Glaive...”

“What? You’ll come to the capital occasionally, right? We’ll see each other then.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Fiona appeared from behind Glaive and said this.

“Of course, as long as Glaive doesn’t get killed by an assassin sent to me. Hehe.”

“...Hey. Don’t say such ominous things at a time like this.”

“Hehehe, I’m just joking... I’m joking. So, don’t worry.”

“Oh...”

Fiona was laughing.

Perhaps it was her way of assuring that Glaive wouldn’t be killed by an assassin.

“Your Highness...”

“Lord Luft. I thank you for your hospitality. Before returning to the capital, this visit provided a great comfort. I apologize for the long stay and the inconvenience it caused. I will certainly express my gratitude to Lord Blaze as well.”

“I am honored, Your Highness. It was a great privilege to host you in our territory. If it served as a respite, I am glad. We will continue to strive for the empire, the development of our territory, and the advancement of magic studies.”

“Hehe. I will be borrowing your excellent younger brother.”

“If he is suitable, please use him as you see fit.”

“Hmph!”

At that moment, a red-haired girl’s face appeared from the window of a nearby carriage.

“Huh? Everyone isn’t getting in yet? Should I get out too?”

I smiled a little and raised my hand to Luft.

“See you, big brother. Stay healthy.”

When would we meet again?

I had never thought of this brother as family... but I somehow hoped that the opportunity would come again.

****

The return trip didn’t have the same group of people in the carriages as the trip there.

Fiona insisted on having me ride in her carriage.

The two maids from before strongly opposed it, but Fiona was as stubborn as ever.

So, now, Fiona is sitting across from me with a smile.

Glaive, who was also designated to ride along, is sitting next to me.

What a lineup.

“You don’t talk much when you’re in a carriage, do you?”

Glaive said with a sigh.

I replied with a grim expression.

“...I don’t want to get motion sickness from unnecessary talk.”

“You really are uncomfortable in carriages, aren’t you? You’ve been like this for two days. Even though the ride is relatively smooth.”

“I’m sorry for not being good company. I’ll avoid dirty talk, but I won’t be a bother.”

“Hehe, don’t worry about it.”

“Still, I didn’t expect you to have a weakness.”

“I was told the same thing by Eifa two years ago.”

Everyone has their weaknesses. We’re human, after all.

And then— I turned my attention to the spell I had cast outside.

The line of carriages was approaching a road flanked by trees on both sides.

“Glaive, brother.”

“Huh?”

“By the way, is it okay for you to be here? You’re the squad leader.”

“It’s fine. I’ve entrusted most of it to Lauren. Besides, I can’t command the return to the garrison anyway. And with the princess’s orders, I can’t refuse.”

“Hehe, you seem reluctant.”

“I’m not saying that.”

“But what if something happens?”

“To prevent something from happening, I brought a large number of people. This isn’t a battle; it’s about intimidation."

“But what if it does happen?"

“Tsk. If it does, I’ll protect the princess and take command. It’s not that difficult.”

“I see, that’s good. By the way, changing the subject, how many bandits are there usually in this country?”

“Bandits? They can range from a few to a hundred, but I haven’t heard of large groups around here.”

“Hmm, I see.”

I muttered.

“Then, what is that?”

At that moment— a loud noise echoed from the front of the carriage.

Shouts, screams, and the neighing of horses rose up.

“What!?”

“It seems a decoy carriage was attacked.”

The air tensed, and Fiona said calmly.

I smiled lightly and opened the carriage door.

“The unexpected has happened.”

As I leaped out, I grabbed the edge of the ceiling and kicked the floor, landing on the roof of the carriage in a backward somersault.

“Phew. It’s been a while since I did such acrobatics.”

Thanks to this, I could see the surroundings clearly.

A group of dozens of roughly dressed people had spread out on both sides of the road.

Looking ahead, I saw that the cargo carriage disguised as the princess’s carriage had been crushed by a huge rock.

There were no high cliffs around. It must have been an earth magic spell.

“Missed! The ‘Yellow Jade’ has moved to six, the ‘Steel Jade’ is aiming for the eighth carriage with arrows! The left rear should target the one on the roof! Two, one...”

At the voice of the apparent leader, the surrounding bandits aimed their crossbows at Fiona’s carriage and me. They seemed intent on shooting through the carriage walls to kill the people inside.

Still, they’re quite well-equipped bandits. Oh well.

The crossbows seemed to prioritize portability and were much smaller than the ones I had seen in the West. They probably wouldn’t have much power.

This should be enough.

“Fire!”

The arrows were shot almost simultaneously.

At that moment, I activated a spell with the human-shaped figure floating above my head as the starting point.

《Phase of the Sun—Magnetic Cloud Technique》

The swarm of arrows approaching.

They all—changed course mid-air, avoiding the carriage and me, and flew off in different directions.

I smiled, lifting the corners of my mouth.

“Ha, where are you aiming?”

“L... Leader!?”

“What!? ‘Soft Jade’ move to eight for support! ‘Steel Jade’ reserve, kill the one on the roof!”

A few crossbows that had been held back were aimed at me.

But it was the same result. The arrows veered off and flew into the sky and the forest.

“What... what is this? Is it magic!?”

“Hehe, that’s right.”

I laughed and whispered in response to the bandits’ shocked voices.

When metal approaches a strong magnetic field created by the energy of the sun, the metal turns into a magnet and repels the initial magnetic field. This is the principle.

As long as the arrowheads are made of metal, they cannot penetrate the magnetic field of the 《Magnetic Cloud》.

“Leader! Six and seven are also decoys!”

“The enemy squad is starting to counterattack, Leader!”

“Eight! There’s a mage in the guard! ‘Yellow Jade’ team, crush them with magic!”

In the group rushing towards us, I saw someone with a staff.

They were hurriedly chanting a spell.

“Rise, O yellow! O immovable rock, descend now and become a hammer of wrath, Rockfall!”

A huge rock appeared far above the mage and came down at an angle towards me. It was the same rock that had crushed the carriage earlier.

But it—disappeared in mid-air just before it reached me.

“What!? A, a barrier!?”

“Dealing with magic is easy.”

Such a basic barrier can nullify anything.

The leader’s eyes widened in panic as he looked around the group and shouted.

“You, draw your swords! Ignore the mage in the guard! Everyone, attack the target inside...”

At that moment— a gust of wind blew from inside the carriage.

It knocked several bandits standing in front of it and silenced the group instantly.

“Crossbows, stop! Finally, I can let loose.”

Glaive, who had come out of the carriage with his staff-sword, raised his voice loudly.

“You all! This is a perfect opportunity to save the Holy Princess! Is there anyone who wants their bravery to be sung by poets!?”

A brave cheer rose from the soldiers who were fighting the bandits.

The morale of the enemy was visibly dampened.

Wow. He can actually do his job as a captain.

“Lord Seika.”

As I was impressed, I heard Fiona’s voice from the carriage below.

“Can you capture the enemies alive?”

“How many?”

“The more, the better. It would be even more helpful if we could capture the leader.”

“Understood.”

《Phase of the Tree—Vine Bind Technique》

Green vines sprouted from the ground all around.

They wrapped around all the enemies, turned into wood, and tightened to restrain them.

Glaive watched the scene of the bandits being captured by plants with a stunned expression.

The soldiers who were raising their morale and exchanging blows were also taken aback by the sudden turn of events.

The street, which had been a battlefield, was now completely silent.

I said to Fiona, who was also silent in the carriage.

“What do you think? I’ve captured everyone for now.”

※Magnetic Cloud Technique

A spell that uses Lenz's law to deflect arrows. When an arrow enters the magnetic field created by the energy of the sun, a special induced current called an eddy current is generated in the metal part of the arrowhead, causing the arrow to produce its own magnetic field. This magnetic field always repels the initial magnetic field, causing the arrow to veer off course. This principle, known as Lenz's law, is used in modern braking systems for railway vehicles.