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c72: Uncovered Secret
With Maria-san’s permission, we went ahead and preceded to the location.
Saira and Rin-chan are standing by in the principality’s capital.
Till refused to attend.
Maa, if that person acts seriously then even if there’s a little distance she’ll come soon so I suppose it’s fine.
The plan this time is to take three days via galloping horse, today is just the day when we expected to arrive.
By going at a forced march while stopping along the way at garrisons or the like every day and having our horses switched out, it was especially tiring.
……Though we were just riding you know!
So, each time’s routine, if you won’t let me ride with you I won’t ride horse-san!
Maybe, I should learn horse ridingミ.
「Oneechan, are you okay?」
「Aah.」
While looking up in her breast, I look at Shion-san’s face.
From her expression it’s just as she said, I don’t see any fatigue.
However, with Eclair and Aim as well everyone seems to be riding.
Is this just me, or am I someplace’s princess-sama?
I’ve become something like that haven’t I.
Maa since staying in oneechan’s breast is exceptional, I don’t feel a need to especially hurriedly learn.
That’s the problem.
But Shion-san is also like that though, regarding Ilya also, while everyone’s tired there isn’t a person who would complain here is there.
I do think it’s impressive, impressive that is.
But, I think that when you’re tired you should say you’re tired.
If no one says they’re tired after coming this far, in reverse it becomes difficult to say even after becoming tired doesn’t it?
At this point……shouldn’t I put in some effort and help out?
If someone doesn’t say this, won’t we fall into an uncuttable vicious cycle?
――Yosh!
The one to become a sacrifice will be, me.
If I won’t speak, who will speak!
「Oneechan, haven’t you become tired?」
「No, not particularly.」
「……Just a little, tired out then?」
「That’s probably not the case.」
「Your butt, hurts doesn’t it?」
「Since I’m used to this, that’s not the case you know.」
…………I’m not done yet!
「Ilya! You’re extremely, tired aren’t you!?」
「No, if it’s that extent.」
Calling out to Ilya as she ran beside me, the result is the same.
How shy everyone is!
They should let themselves out more!
From the countenance of the people beside me asking them is no good!
That’s it, no one will stop with Eclair running earnestly at front with no appearance of stopping.
I’ll see culprit, stopped!
「――Master, you’re making a good face.」
With Aim riding lined up with me on Ilya’s other side, she called out to me.
「Fufu, so you understand is it?」
「Nn, I’m following.」
Aim’s sleepy eye turned into one belonging to a hunter.
「What should we do?」
「It’s okay, since such a thing would happen I――have prepared carrots.」
「――I see, for the unexpected.」
「Yare yare……」
Though I heard a sigh from behind me, it’s my imagination, imagination.
Now――!
「――Eclair, let’s take a break soon.」
「Shion……I suppose then.」
After Eclair called out to oneechan, she lowered her horse’s speed.
「……」
「……Master, don’t mind.」
Looking up like I was resentful, Shion-san tousled and stroked my head.
The three principalities had the kingdom as their center, looking at it from the north it’s set out like an inverted triangle.
In the south Wilmington.
In the west Austia.
In the east Sacrament.
The three principalities and the kingdom have their borders adjoined, each is grouped with one adjacent country.
For Austia, the commonwealth.
For Wilmington, Sacrament.
After finishing our break, we arrived along that national border.
Wilmington’s force had already finished deploying.
They certainly have their execution down, and they certainly have experience.
Right now at the national border’s outpost’s viewing platform, I’m partway through scanning the surrounding area.
As it’s built upon a hill with it it’s possible to look over even distant areas.
But from here, Sacrament’s force still can’t be seen.
……Impossible, I wouldn’t think they’d come and attack.
「Strong aren’t they……Wilmington.」
「Eclair?」
While gazing from far away at Wilmington’s troops deployed along the border, Eclair made a grim face.
That being as it is, just what should we do then?
Since the place where bandits were said to have come out, is after all within Sacrament’s national borders soo.
There’s no way we can cross in this tensed situation.
In reality, from here there’s nothing besides monitoring the passage is there.
Though it would be fine if that would satisfy Eclair……
「Alice……take Eclair, and jump.」
……Something like that, isn’t reasonable is it.
「This can’t be but, for me to perform a border transgression……that’s what you’re saying right.」
Since Eclair’s eyes were serious, I became convinced even without hearing her reply.
U, u～n.
This is problematic isn’t it.
Though for now there’s no mistake that I’m a civilian, it’s important to think from an objective viewpoint isn’t it.
First off, my name is known to a certain extent.
Second off, that I’m intimate with Kran is also known.
In short, as I have deep ties to Wilmington, for me to perform a border transgression in this tense environment, that would be foolishly pouring oil onto a fire……
At the time when it gets found out, I should expect that the idea that I didn’t know won’t pass.
「I’m sorry, Eclair. It’s impossible……」
「Alice……aren’t you idiotic! Don’t make that face, I’m sorry for saying something strange.」
With Eclair giving me a smile, I was slightly relieved.
But her face soon became serious and, she walked toward the edge of the viewing platform.
「Aim, bandits…… present?」
She asked Aim, who had been gazing toward the national border with a face more serious than Eclair’s this entire time.
「Nn……bandits, they’re not that. Most likely, they’re a small elite unit in disguise.」
「You can tell!?」
「As expected, I can’t work out the details from here. As such――」
「Intuition, is it.」
Moving her head, Aim nodded.
Aim’s……intuition, is it.
「Ilya, can you read the situation?」
I tried asking Ilya as she stood listening silently just beside me.
「Something like bandit suppression is too overt of a pretext, on top of that as a self aggrandizing blindfold……I think their plot is a little too distasteful.」
「……Which means?」
Ilya nodded as if confirming reality.
「――I get the premonition that they’re serious.」
Serious――
Thinking back to the kingdom’s battlefield, my mood became worse.
Sacrament is, why to Wilmington?
Is it really that they don’t like that Kran is staying in the kingdom?
「Maria-san is?」
「Most likely, she’s commanding from the principality’s capital. I believe that the direct commander is different.」
I see, regarding the tactics for each and every trivial skirmish, the top can’t go rushing out can it.
But because it’s the commander that Maria-san chose, that should not be a problem as such.
「……」
Then, what is the issue.
We can’t read the enemy’s aim.
Are they seriously――intent on starting a war?
Or is it that……?
I’m not Eclair but, I definitely want to enter and find out.
Once it becomes night, should I go?
――No, let’s stop being rash.
Thinking that that could become the pretext for battle, I shouldn’t move in a thoughtless manner.
As expected, watching silently is better.
……Though, I note that it’s not best.
「Alice.」
「Oneechan, is there any sort of movement?」
Acting separately from us, Shion-san returned after talking with a knight.
「Aah, to investigate the bandits, we’re sending an investigation unit from our side. Since the acknowledgement of Sacrament has been taken, if there’s something you want to confirm then――」
「We’ll go!!」
While Shion-san hadn’t finished speaking, Eclair expressed that we’d participate.
No……umm well?
I get the feeling that this isn’t something outsiders can freely participate in though……
「I thought you’d say that, so I asked for us to go with them.」
「Eeh!? Did you receive acceptance!?」
「It is an honor to be able to be with Fairy of Silver Lightning-dono, that’s what they said I assume? Fufu.」
Oneechan, didn’t you determine that I’ll accompany them……
Maa, it’s fine I guess?
If we can investigate by acting heavy handedly, there’s no better option than that.
The ten members selected from the knights and, I, Eclair, Shion-san, Ilya, and Aim for the sum of fifteen members, crossed Sacrament’s national border.
Leaving the border checkpoint, Sacrament’s knights soon came to greet us.
Meeting, we move to this incident’s bandit’s stronghold.
As it was a patrol mission to begin with.
The national border has mountains and the mountains’ reasonably spacious flatland as the relevant area.
And so, though mountains did tower close to either side, bandits are apparently somehow present in their stronghold deep within the mountains.
They are said to attack merchants on the roads in this area, and conduct evil in the nearby towns and even the villages if that’s right?
……If their existence, is real.
I’ll try asking Aim.
「Intuition.」
And, one word.
She felt my gaze and the reply came.
Somehow this gives a bad premonition doesn’t it.
「Ilya.」
As Ilya walked beside me I approached, and softly whispered into her ear.
Ilya turned her face toward me, and nodded.
Nn……close.
……Her feel, is coming to mind.
My eye is going to her lips without my notice.
No no, that’s unseemly.
Let’s distinguish time and location.
As we traveled, we exited into an open region within the mountains.
There, there’s a mountain cabin.
It’s obviously suspicious but, that’s not the only thing that’s suspicious.
「――Alice, you understand right?」
Being warned by Shion-san’s small voice, I replied by nodding.
――Sacrament’s troops, were too lacking in hesitation.
This is, not a patrol mission is it?
Even if they finished scouting in advance, the criminals could’ve moved during that time, so there’s a possibility that they could launch an attack from the thickets.
Even with that, as I didn’t see cautious behavior, we were led directly to the mountain cabin.
That, rather than calling it a patrol, they’re guiding us.
「This way.」
Perhaps because Sacrament’s knights were also aware of this, they boldly began guiding us to the mountain cabin.
Meeting my eyes with Wilmington’s knights, I nodded while determining my resolution.
Having put our hand in this deep, I suppose we’re not simply here to be eaten.
Being guided into the cabin, what’s there is――
「Leoneil Sacrament――」
His red hair was slightly long for a male, his eyes were grey.
A sort of person that brewed a prince-sama’s atmosphere, Sacrament’s royal son-sama who I’ve only met at the arena competition.
……A more important figure than I expected is here isn’t he.
「So it’s Alice-san, it’s been a while. Ever since the arena competition I suppose.」
「Ee, I’m surprised. It’s been a while.」
With that said, I didn’t reach a resolution with this guy.
……If I had fought at that time, would I have won?
「I wouldn’t have expected something as impossible as you deigning to come here but, this might be fairly good.」
Huh?
Though the atmosphere has become one like I’m speaking as the representative, is that fine, all you knights-san?
Looking to them, the unmoving straight standing knights-sama are waiting behind me.
I don’t want to though?
So you know?
I am just, what to Wilmington……
「……Is there some sort of, confidential discussion here? Leoneil-sama.」
「That’s right I suppose, if I speak so as to get straight to the point our business is――we want to form an alliance, in secret like this.」
「Why?」
「So as to otherthrow the commonwealth, surely it is time we should also become a dependable organization should we not?」
……Most likely Austia has secretly joined with the commonwealth like always.
if this can manage the outlook on whether the state of affairs hereafter tilts toward war, that’s an extremely proper suggestion but――
「I don’t understand the reason you want to conduct the negotiations in secret. If you want to put pressure on the other side, you should do the reverse and boldly display them.」
「Like that Austia will become obstinate. Officially speaking, they’re finally repenting, and are in the process of paying reparations to the kingdom. If we can have them hang their heads for a while, that would make sense for us wouldn’t it.」
There wasn’t a sense of wrongness but, I suppose I should expect that, for the things I have questions about, they’ve obviously prepared answers.
――No, before that there’s a fundamental oversight.
「……is this a conversation you can do, at the negotiation seat without choosing your partner?」
「As explained, we intend to secretly――」
「Then」
After I glanced at the knights standing by behind me as if to confirm their presence, I once again looked back to the prince.
「In the case where only these people had come, what would you have done?」
The mouth does not have a door built into it.
If they discuss an alliance, the risk that it will leak somewhere becomes high.
From the start, Kran, Maria-san, they really should have discussed this with such top level people.
If they say this was to be secret, even more so.
「This is a false front isn’t it, Leoneil-sama.」
The reaction to my words was――
「Indeed, Alice. That is exactly what’s called a false front! Faced with a good child, grandfather-sama’s marionette is still the same!」
It was from Eclair who had been silently present this entire time.
She had something like an atmosphere where she couldn’t stay quiet anymore.
「I am a soldier. I protect the people of my country, loyalty to my orders from above is, to the contrary, an honor.」
「You also have no shame!」
With one glance at Eclair being indignant, the prince looked back toward me.
「let me answer your question from before, Fairy of Silver Lightning.」
Leoneil raised one hand.
In an instant――the Sacrament knights within the mountain cottage drew their swords.
――Most likely, so as to surround the mountain cottage, they’re also in formation outside.
「So as to cut open the chaos of battle’s container, I intend to have you become a sacrifice.」
As Leoneil spoke with a smile containing no malice my heart burns with disgust!
As if we’ll really let ourselves be eaten so simply!
I’ll turn this around in one round and surprise them, with this as it is.
「――Whether the knights here can attack faster, or I can take your head faster, should we test it out?」
Narrowing his eyes, Leoneil looked me over from the front.
Just a bit, I ran lightning through my body.
「Fairy of Silver Lightning. Though it was outside our predictions that you would come――We are, prepared!」
From the ceiling, black flame attacked by blasting through the roof.
Precisely toward the few of us over here!
「Ilya!!」
「Yes, my, lady!」
Ilya deployed her field widely, and received it completely.
This resistance is because Ilya had perpetually maintained a defensive posture, in advance.
Just, maybe because the force itself was strong and painful, a little blood is flowing over my lips.
「Break through!」
As Shion-san drew her katana, she cut down an enemy troop that was near the exit.
「Aim, cover me!」
「Roger, I’ll secure our exit route.」
With Aim’s fast shots, enemy troops fell one after another.
Kicking down the door, Shion-san exited to the outside.
From behind her, our allied knights proceeded outside with caution.
「……」
「……」
Looking at that out of the corner of my eye, I and Leoneil bashed our gazes into eachother without moving a step.
Together――――We didn’t move.
Definitely, he’s the worst opponent.
「――I’ll let you burn to nothing!」
Within the slowly mounting tension, Eclair forced herself in.
With this!
The instant I thought that――
「――Isn’t that my line. This is plenty enough, your selfishness has gone too far.」
Leymia came breaking through the ceiling――With black flame, she flashed Eclair.
「――A」
「Eclair!?」
A fatal wound……she hasn’t taken one.
Her injury isn’t to such an extent.
But, Eclair is dazed……I saw her necklace fallen at her feet torn off and shredded.
Always, even when she was in the bath, the necklace that hasn’t been removed is.
「Check, mate.」
Leymia murmured dispassionately.
「A, AAAAAAAa――――AaAAaAAaAa!!」
――Suddenly, Eclair pressed down on her right eye and fell to her knees.
「Leoneil, afterwards this way.」
「I apologize but, I leave it to you.」
Saying only that, Leoneil quickly departed through the back exit.
「……Leymia!」
「We met unexpectedly soon didn’t we, Fairy of Silver Lightning. Saves me effort.」
「What did you do to Eclair!」
「――Nothing?」
With Eclair cowering in pain, Ilya drew close.
「This is……!?」
Ilya, let out a surprised voice.
「Right, this one merely released it for her. That which she had to begin with you see.」
Momentarily, a crimson shock wave centered around Eclair and radiating outward was released.
Ilya was blown away, the Sacrament troops remaining in the building were blown away, the building was half demolished.
I and, Leymia somehow stood our ground.
In short――A wave of magic power is it!
「It certainly is different isn’t it, a real gem holder.」
As Leymia murmured, Eclair stood up like a revenant.
Looking back that face, that right eye is――
「Crimson, odd eye……?」
That glowing crimson eye was somehow mysterious――――Somehow, ominous.
While Leymia deployed defensive magic, she spoke indifferently to Eclair after she finished standing.
「It’s been a while, princess. Worst――――Demon eye holder.」