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Vol 3: Chapter 51
A huge hole was formed in the garden. Sediments scattered around, and black smoke was rising from the hole. It seems that “Queen of the Night” was loaded with a fairly powerful shell.
As for the arrow lodged in my shoulder, I cast【Flower Magic】on the vines of a nearby tree and entwined it around the arrow firmly. The arrow was pulled out as I leaned away from the tree (tears came out because of the pain), and I applied first aid with【Healing Magic】and Mimino-san’s salve.
Thank you… Mimino-san. Since she loves herbs more than the three meals a day, I should present her some fascinating herbs.
The servants and soldiers of the mansion came out and were in a commotion, so I ran in the shadows of the garden while silencing my footsteps with【Sprinting Technique】. Right then–
「As I expected… you are Reiji-san.」
「!!」
A voice came down from above. It was Polina-san.
She was perched on the high wall of the mansion, her bow ready to lose an arrow.
「What is your reason for attacking Her Highness Anastasia?」
「I wasn’t attacking her… I’m just dressed like this so that my identity wouldn’t be found out.」
「…………」
The tensed string of her bow was at its limit. …She’s super suspicious of me, ain’t she.
「I captured the Labyrinth of Fear at the behest of Her Highness, you know? I don’t really have any reason to hurt her…」
「Why are you sneaking like this then?」
「Before I talk about that, are you on Her Highness’ side? Or are you an enemy? You are the one who is sneaking in the shadows.」
I can hear sirens. And even the commotion from the buildings over the wall.
People will come around here as well before long. If that happens–well, I wouldn’t be able to escape, right?
「Reiji-san, I’ll let you go if you didn’t hurt Her Highness. But I won’t go easy on you if you approach her again.」
Polina-san turned around and jumped off the wall.
…Man, I couldn’t even talk to her properly. She could’ve at least apologized. “Sorry for attacking without confirming first,” or something like that. Though, I’m not sure I would have accepted such a light-toned apology.
「Feels like Polina-san is living a secret life. She even infiltrated the Golden Brigade party to enter the country, after all… hmm.」
Well, whatever. I guess it doesn’t concern me anymore.
Her Highness Anastasia will surely be able to live without problems if she practices using mana from now on. That’s good enough. I won’t have to get involved anymore.
…Though, she was trying to say something a while ago.
I wonder what it was. Gratitude? No, it felt like something else, but… I don’t know.
「There’s no point thinking about something I don’t know.」
I pulled myself together and started running. By the time I escaped from the site and into the city, I had changed from the thief-style to the adventurer-style clothes. There were traces of blood on my right shoulder, but it’s dark so it’s manageable.
「Now, then. Let’s go back to Muge-san’s company.」
In the city, people were talking in an elated tone about the sudden appearance of the “Queen of the Night” and the airships pursuing it.
「Good luck, Empire!」
「That’s the “Queen of the Night”, huh… It’s amazing.」
「I wonder if they’ll be able to catch up to it?」
I walked while listening to such clamouring. A lot of things happened today, so I just wanna go home and sleep peacefully… I’ll sleep until noon tomorrow…
Then, I just suddenly looked up for no reason. “Queen of the Night” was passing right overhead.
A human figure could be seen from a window on one of the rooms in the ship—it felt like the figure was looking down at me.
「…………?」
Even with enhanced eyesight, the room was too dark and I couldn’t really make out what I was looking at.
However, I couldn’t take my eyes off of it.
Is that a…
A white palm touched the window.
That hand… I have seen it somewhere.
Why? Why can’t I remember?
My memory was unclear as if it was blocked by haze. Almost like, Orihime and Hikoboshi across the Milky Way know that the other is there but cannot meet each other because of the rain clouds.
[TL Note: According to legend, the lovers, Orihime and Hikoboshi, are separated by the Milky Way, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. However, they cannot meet if it rains on that day, and have to wait for the next year.]
「H-Hey, what’s that…?」
After the “Queen of the Night” passed by, I heard the voice of a confused citizen.
As I glanced in his direction–
I was greatly startled…
「Seriously? Right at this time?」
A single ray of light beamed into the night sky.
One of the labyrinth capture teams that went to capture the “Labyrinths of 9 Emotion” had successfully captured a labyrinth, as a pillar of light rose from a labyrinth.
** Lev Magic Empire Emperor **
Reports on the capture status of the “Labyrinth of 9 Emotions” were delivered to the Emperor every day. The central figures of the Empire, who were elated by the unexpected capture of the Labyrinth of Fear, were even more excited by the news that the Capture Division 1 had passed through numerous traps and reached the final ordeal-like place.
The capture might be completed by midnight, so many cabinet ministers were enjoying light meals and a small amount of alcohol in the conference room with even the Emperor present.
「Oho, I wonder when Capture Division 1 will complete the capture?」
「Since there are two successful captures, this project will be a great success.」
「Although, the success of Division 1 is within expectations.」
Originally, it was planned to proceed with the capture of the Labyrinth of Hatred by Capture Division 1. However, the big incident where the “Queen of the Night” was stolen occurred, and in order to recover from that, it became a capture of 4 labyrinths at once.
It is almost certain that many sacrifices will be made by the time one capture is completed, so even the Emperor couldn’t readily order for the full capture of the “Labyrinth of 9 Emotions”.
Capture Division 1 consisted of ace-class personnels for both combat and magic tool research, so the capture of the Labyrinth of Hatred was certain–but the ministers, even now, couldn’t believe that the Labyrinth of Fear was captured first.
Amidst that, the “Queen of the Night” appeared over the Empire, so the conference room was improvised to become the operational headquarters.
「I want all our airships in the sky! Absolutely don’t let them get away! But don’t shoot inside the city airspace!」
The Commander-in-Chief of the Empire’s army took charge of the scene and gave orders.
The “Queen of the Night” was already about to escape from the Empire’s territory. So the state of the matter now was the army pursuing it with all their airships.
「Why don’t we have the fast airships of private companies to pursue it too?」
「Will the companies accept it?」
「Just force them to do it.」
「No, if we say it’s their chance to recapture “Queen of the Night” and bathe in the entailing glory, they will happily oblige.」
「Would “glory” be effective for companies? Wouldn’t “gold” speak louder?」
As the ministers were exchanging as such back and forward–
「Transmit that, when we succeed in recapturing “Queen of the Night”, the most active company will be granted an airship. Ignore the companies that don’t move.」
「Yes, sir!」
When the Emperor decided so, the Commander-in-Chief rewrote it into an order, and it was handed down throughout the Empire.
Large companies that have an airship have a magic tool for communication, so as soon as they saw the order with the Emperor’s name signed on it, a number of airships belonging to various companies appeared in the sky.
The sky of the Empire was jumbled with wide-reach searchlights and flying vessels.
「OOOH! That light!!」
At that time, one person shouted, pointing out the window.
The light signifying the capture of the Labyrinth of Hatred rose like a pillar. As everyone stood up and was fixed at it–
「Your Majesty.」
A messenger rushed in, out of breath. Despite the excitement of the ministers, the messenger approached the Emperor, and whispered the report.
「It seems that a shell has fallen into the mansion of Her Highness Anastasia.」
「What?」
「Her Highness is safe, but together with that, there are reports that thieves had sneaked in… perhaps the servants of the mansion were just confused.」
The Emperor stroked his beard, with a “hmm”.
「Bring Anastasia here. Now that two auspicious ceremonies have occured, the recapture of “Queen of the Night” and the successful capture of the Labyrinth of Hatred, it would make sense to have it stand by my side.」
In the Emperor’s mind, the successful recapture of the “Queen of the Night” is already certain.
Nodding deeply, the messenger left the conference room.