Category: Hagure Seirei Ino Shinsatsu Kiroku

For Presha-san, Astina-denka is her direct superior. But until now, she did not have the opportunity to receive words from her directly. This was because, as the third princess, she was constantly being watched by those around her, so Astina-denka was forced to behave cautiously all the time.

In the Knights of Lezenia, it is customary for knights with authority over the commanding officer to give instructions to their subordinates through an adjutant who acts as an assistant. It is not recommended to speak directly with a certain subordinate knight.

Quasi-knights are elites in the army as a whole, but because of their high combat abilities as an individual, they often go on the front lines with the general soldiers. And from the perspective of the senior knights, they are subordinate who is likely to be unrepatriated. They believed that it would reduce the accuracy of their command if they had emotional attachment to one of them.

―But Astina-denka is different. She’s willing to break the customs and cause her superiors to have bad opinion on her. She came here thinking of Presha-san, her subordinate.

Raquel-san, who always stood straight, straightened her posture even more to express her gratitude to Her Highnesss. Her Highness responded with a small wave of her hand and stood in front of the cell where Presha-san is.

Across the bars, Her Royal Highness stands in front of Presha-san’s misty line of sight. Presha-san can feel her divine presence ―but at the same time, the whispering voice on her ears made her speak unexpected words.

“…This is not a place where Your Highness should go to. I don’t want to be forgiven. I still regret not being able to kill those who sold my village.”

“Uh! …Presha, can’t you even feel why Her Highness came here? You…”

“It’s fine, Raquel. I was unaware of Presha’s thoughts and I just asked her to take the lead as an excellent spear knight. ….I thought Presha’s bravery was dependable. I didn’t even know what kind of emotion she felt as she wielded that spear.”

Without saying anything, Presha-san looked up at Her Royal Highness’s eyes which were filled with gentle glow.

Raquel-san told Presha-san a little about Astina-denka’s character. Though she’s born as a princess, she did not want her life to end being used as material for politics. And in order to protect her homeland and her close relatives, she entered the Knight’s Academy at the same age as Presha-san. She graduated after she finished the entire course in two years, which should normally take four years to complete.

With her beauty, which is said to be immense, the leaders of the Knight’s Order had contacted her many times, dreaming of marrying the princess of the kingdom –However, Astina-denka never did what they expected, with her own efforts alone, she repeatedly gained merits on war until she was called as the “Lone Sword Princess”.

Astina-denka stands farther away from Raquel-san, who is the object of admiration for Presha-san.

―But, even her, can never punish an officer from a noble family who abandoned their people to protect themselves. Astina-denka successfully waged war in the East and eventually returned to the Capital. Being on the front line itself should be an exception, so she’s clearly different from a soldier who seeks to end his life in the war like herself.

 “….I hate them, I only fight because I don’t want the unforgivable ones to live. The one who betrayed our village and the ones from the Grunica City Alliance are no different. I hate those traitors more for being the noblemen of this kingdom.”

(―You’re kind, Presha. You are the pride of your mother.)

(―You should kill anyone who stands in your way. Our suffering will never be understood by this fair maiden.)

I can hear a gentle voice which is just like a curse. An indiscriminate killing intent boils up inside Presha-san –not by justice, nor by her will. With the current her, no matter how strong she is, I don’t think she can survive for long on the battlefield.

It seems like, from this time, she wouldn’t be able to move to Lezenia.

That’s because even though it was caused by someone, inside Presha-san’s mind, she only had the desire to kill Her Highness who is in front of her. Astina-denka should have noticed it too. And yet, she just stood there, taking in all of Presha-san’s emotions as they are.

“There is no law in this kingdom right now that can punish those who caused your village to be attacked by the enemy. His Majesty, the King, must decide on the punishment in person….. However, the only thing reported to His Majesty by the Knights is the victory and defeat on the battle.”

At that time, the war in the East and South was fierce, and His Majesty was lying in his sickbed again. Bartolomeo XXV, once known as the Sun of Lezenia, became incapacitated after a serious illness in his fifties –his public appearances declined so much that Queen Cassandra II even took over as the king’s deputy.

They appealed to His Majesty for the punishment of the nobles who have thrown Presha’s village into danger. Her Highness’ eyes with deep melancholy showed that it was impossible even for her.

Even though she is a princess, she has no authority. They have no intention of punishing the traitor. Presha-san was not disappointed with that.

Then, a black stain falls on Presha-san’s worn-out heart. Her spirit as a person is being eroded―

“I doesn’t matter how many people died… It’s fine as long as you defeat the enemy. It’s what you’re saying right……?”

“Presha! To say such… in front of Astina-denka… uh!”

“It’s okay, Raquel. I can’t punish them… I didn’t even relieve my subordinates’ remorse, I’m not qualified as a commander.”

(―Don’t be fooled, Presha. This person is just trying to win you over with her fake words. )

(―The princess wants freedom. She just want to make you a convenient piece that she can discard for her achievements. )

“Un… I know… Mother…”

“…Presha”

It was a soft murmur. However, Her Highness and Raquel-san did not miss it. Raquel-san is biting her lips. Astina-denka looked at her and turned to Presha-san again.

…No. If I leave Presha-san any longer… But…

Even if I know this is all in the past, I wish I was here. I must immediately wipe off the darkness that seems to be entwining around Presha-san right now.

―However. The magical power of Astina-denka, who should have been sealed at that time, slightly overflows from her body.

Her Royal Highness did not give up nor try to give up no matter how much Presha-san rejected her. I know it well, it was a power that made Presha-san feel her care –even though this overflowing magical power puts a heavy burden on Her Highness’ body.

“The battle with the Kingdom Alliance has been in a stalemate for the past month… the burden on both sides is so great that there is now a movement to seek opportunities for discussion.”

“Astina-denka, with all due respect…. The current situation is that we are losing a key border point to the City Alliance. I’m afraid that if we don’t change that situation, the movement for the discussion will not proceed….”

“….That is, if the situation does not change. The Governor General of the Eastern Army has just made a decision on the operation a week later. To destroy the City Alliance’s position and display the might of our army… We will attack the enemy’s fortress in the Aldrone Valley.”

Aldrone Valley ―It is a natural fortress called the “Corridor” that goes east to west through the southern border between Lezenia and Grunica. Snowfall makes it impassable during winter, but with the current season and until summer, the infantry and horses can travel through it. However, those from Grunica’s side built a fort adjacent to the valley, and when enemies approach the border, they’ll mercilessly rain arrows on them.

However, if you are a “brave commander” who defies the common sense like Astina-denka, Raquel-san and Presha-san, you can dash through the valley while riding a horse.

“If we put the Aldrone Valley under our control, the Grunica army will try to recapture it at all costs. But we’re merely a unit… if our main force doesn’t move, it will also be hard for us to split the troops in the valley. Now that they’re in a favorable terrain, they can just deploy troops like they are now.”

If we try to build a fort in the valley, the enemies will be in the way. However, we can’t attack them from here ―Not thinking that the valley would be a strategically important place and not building a base there was such a lax foresight.

Astina-denka should be able to determine where to seize by just looking at the topographic map around the border ―That’s because she had the power to foresee the battlefield even before signing a contract with the sacred tree…

Presha-san, who was listening to the conversation, anticipates on what she was going to be told. 　Her Highness came to punish her in the punishment cell. And that was something that Presha-san was pleased with. That’s because punishing a traitor and slaying an enemy soldier are equivalent for her.

“…If I cut in… and open the way…”

With Presha-san’s strength, and if she risk her life as she use that power to move forward, she can run through the valley. But that wouldn’t be the case. Like the way I knew her now, Astina-denka did not change. Since long before, she never forced her subordinates to sacrifice.

“No…. you will not be alone. Presha, you will go with us. The three of us will ride a horse through the valley.”

“Uh! …..Your highness, that won’t do! No matter how strong Your Highness is, for you to personally…”

“Right now, I’m only taking care of my unit. The difference between a captain and her subordinates isn’t as big as absolute….. isn’t that right?”

Her Highness dares to disregard the fact that she is the third princess who has the right to succeed the throne. Raquel-san tries to say something. However, Her Royal Highness’ eyes filled with determination did not waver.

“…Together… We… the three of us…?”

That reckless conviction of Her Highness made Presha-san regain her human-like emotions. The hatred for the nobles who caused her mother’s death faded, and the original brilliance of Presha Hortensia, the brave spear knight, returns.

“Yes. Me and the two of you. The three of us are the only ones who can do it.”

At that time, neither the Kingdom of Lezenia nor the Grunica City Alliance was aware of it. That Astina-denka, who will later be called the Sword Princess General, and the two knights who serve her, each have the strength of a matchless warrior.

◆ ◇ ◆

In the next scene I saw, Presha-san had already left the punishment cell.

After she finished reporting to Raquel-san, her superior, a guy she know, jeeringly called out to her while she’s walking in the corridor on the fortress as she head for training.

―Dadram. The guy from before who called out to Presha-san with a group of people and tried to get her to follow him, but couldn’t.

“How did you butter up the princess? ….Well, I know. To join that knight’s order, you have to be a woman as that princess is only interested in women…”

“Uh!…..Thi-this woman, she’s looking at Dadram-sama like that again! uh…”

Presha-san, who did not mean to glare, swallowed her anger nonetheless even though she has a heartfelt contempt for Dadram and his crony men.

“I don’t care what you say about me, but I won’t allow you to say bad things about Her Highness.”

“Hahaha… Such display of courage again. I know that you tried to touch my uncle so you were asked for severe punishment.”

“Uh…!”

Those words mean that Dadram’s uncle sold Presha-san’s village. Just how corrupt are the knights stationed at this Vulcanus Fortress?

It’s not surprising that she’s upset. But Presha-san understood that there was no point in taking out her anger on Dadram.

“Even if you leave the punishment cell, you’re done for Presha. I’ll give you another chance… Follow me. If you do, I’ll see to it that you remain a knight in the future.”

He even has the nerve to say that. However, Presha-san was noticeably different from how she had been before she met Her Highness –she was closer to the young woman I knew, when she’s behaving cheerfully.

“I’m not worth your attention. Rather than an incompetent woman who only knows how to fight, I think you’ll get a much better companion.”

“…Don’t regret it, Presha. I already extended my warm heart to you the second time.”

Dadram blurted those words and leaves with his followers. Presha-san who remained there clenches her fist tightly –then her strength loosened.

Raquel-san followed Presha-san as she was worried about her. She then approached Presha from behind, puts her hand on her shoulder and pats her gently a few times.

“Even though the kingdom has a large percentage of women, the Knight’s Order is mostly for men. Even more so, there are those who come from the nobility that gain power without even experiencing an actual battle….. Such men only see the female knights as nothing more than the object of their desire. You did well on holding back your words.”

Even though they weren’t related by blood, Raquel-san’s action towards Presha-san were like that of her own sister.

When Presha-san touched Raquel-san’s hand, she smiled as if saying she didn’t need to worry that much. The blue-haired girl’s smile was reflected in Raquel-san’s jet-black eyes.

“If I’m as beautiful as Raquel-ane, they’ll be interested in me, wouldn’t it? Besides, if they saw Her Highness, it seems like men and women alike, won’t care about me even more.”

“…..Some men find it satisfying to subdue a woman who has the power to fight. Rather than that, you have such low opinion of yourself Presha. But that’s not the case at all you know.”

“Well that, I think it’s just you saying that. That’s all because Raquel-ane is kind, No… you are kind and strong.”

“Why did you correct it? ….Do you think I’d be embarrassed if you just said that I am kind?”

It’s an exchange that makes me, who’s watching this, smile more. Presha-san’s desolate heart is definitely being healed by the presence of Her Highness and Raquel-san –her allies in the Knight’s Order. Still, there are some scars that won’t disappear just by quietly covering them up. The threat I had felt watching Presha-san had continued since then.

“….We must not show any weakness. The nobles see us as nothing more than pawns.”

The one in front of Presha-san’s line of sight –Dite-san, spoke. At this time, she had a completely different impression from what she is today. Rather than a knight, I felt that she’s more like a noble young woman wearing an armor, she looks too delicate that war was not suitable for her.

“Presha… I know about your situation, but not all the nobles in this kingdom are who you think they are. Please correct your words just now.”

“….I think Dite-san’s archery skills are great. For a nobleman, you’ve honed your skills well and even managed to join the Order….”

“If you recognize me as a colleague, even for a little bit, I’d be happy to give you my opinion…”

“If you want my thoughts to be what you want, beat me. By then, I’ll do what you tell me to do…”

A clear provocation –that’s something you shouldn’t normally do to the same knight.

However, Dite-san remained calm. Taking Presha-san’s words head-on, she was completely unmoved – even Presha-san was inwardly surprised at her indifference.

A dainty noblewoman. Presha-san sensed something that she could relate to Dite-san, who should have been born and raised in completely different circumstances.

“Our duty, as members of the Knight’s Order, is to defeat the enemy nation. I hope that Presha will appreciate me for the kind of work I do.”

“…Presha, Dite is right. Don’t make the mistake of pointing your spear at the wrong person.”

“…It’s not that I don’t appreciate it or anything. I’m the one who asked Her Highness and Raquel-ane to see if they can use me.”

“I know it sounds like an impertinent thing to say, but…. If you think you’re being ‘used’, you didn’t really understand Astina-denka, nor do you understand Captain Raquel. As someone watching from the sidelines, I know much better than you do.”

Dite-san is someone that can’t be dealt with ordinary means either. She replied to Presha-san’s challenge, she gave a ladylike bow and walked away. Raquel-san looked at Presha-san without saying a word –but suddenly, the edges of her mouth loosened and she sighed.

“You don’t dislike a knight with a backbone like that, do you?”

“…It’s enough to have Raquel-ane to be nosy like that, it’s not like she’s my big sister or something.”

Raquel-san only smiled at Presha-san’s reply.

A peaceful moment passed between the battles. But it was only for a brief moment –the Eastern Sector’s Army will carry out a major operation two days later.

While the main unit of Vulcanus Fortress is attracting the main force of the enemy, a separate unit will attack the City Alliance’s fortress, which is just beyond the Aldrone Valley.

Among those members selected for that separate force was Astina-denka’s unit, who had volunteered to shake off the enemy in the surroundings.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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Raquel-san took Presha-san to the headquarters of the Eastern Front, where she decided to study as a knight candidate at a Knights’ Training Academy.

Although there were few opportunities to receive guidance from Raquel-san, Presha-san kept her words well and devoted herself in training so she won’t lose to the male candidates. However, to build up her present self, that memory of Presha-san which was filled with bitterness was left untouched.

At first, it was a stick that had no weight, she wields it 300 times a day. When she felt that there’s no change, she made her own training device (a stick with a weight attached on it) and kept swinging it outside of her regular class hours.

Presha-san, who had short hair and looked like a boy, was told by the boys that she was a “feminine man”, but she couldn’t care less. She wants to become a knight, and to achieve that goal, she decided that it was meaningless to be conscious of her gender.

She overcame excessive training for a girl at an early age of 10 by spending her magical powers on physical recovery. Thus she acquired physical abilities that could not be imagined from her petite body. There, she learned about spirit magic and her path to becoming a magician was lost ―she didn’t realize her accomplishment as a magic warrior, but the people around her noticed that extraordinary power and gradually, they became afraid of her.

Eventually, Presha-san began to participate in mock battles, manipulating a stick far longer than her own height. Since she’s just like a beast that greedily aimed at her opponent’s weak point, she ended up being called in another term, a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”.

There is no one who can beat her, even the instructors can’t. Two years after becoming a knight candidate, by only her Taijutsu performace, the petite 12 year old girl became a leader.

―However, Presha-san’s desire to be placed on the front line did not come true and the one who was selected as an officer was a male candidate with noble bloodline. He’s an 18 year old youth. And as he may have been a little proud, he unabashedly mocked Presha-san who he could never defeat in Taijutsu.

“You are so cocky in spite of being a poor. Just because the non-commissioned officers liked you, you got conceited. Look, the place that you hit is still swollen. What will you do about it?”

“…I don’t know that one. I don’t remember hitting it during the training.”

“Even if you don’t remember, it’s right here!”

He took a number of his male followers and took them to the back of the school building so that Presha-san couldn’t fight back. With a sense of security and triumph, he approaches Presha-san, who is just standing there and touches her chin.

“Know your position. Poor people should stay put like a poor person does. Even you, can’t do anything without a weapon.”

Why can a person have such malicious intent towards others? I can’t keep still even though this incident happened in the past. However, this is already an event that happened in the past and all I can do is watch. But―

“Haha, have you finally understood? Fine then, I’ll carry out what is the fitting discipline for a bitch’s child like you. Hey, keep an eye out so no one can come here.”

From the next moment, the memory is a bit fuzzy. I can only interpret it as her burning anger and murderous intent.

“―Don’t say bad things about my mother!”

Presha-san didn’t have her stick with her. So the boys who surrounded her were all unguarded ―but,

“Thi― This girl… Guaa!”

Presha-san first aimed at the opponent who had a weapon –a wooden sword for self-defense. She took control over him with only her Taijutsu. In a blink of an eye, she swiftly steals the weapon from the opponent’s hands and heads straight for the noble youth who mocked her.

“I will never forgive anyone who insults my mother …!”

“Hiii…!”

The young noble screams pathetically. With an intent to take his life, Presha-san swings up the wooden sword with all her strength. However,

“Uh…Let go… let go… this guy… this guy uh… to my mother…!”

It was Raquel-san who grabbed the wooden sword with an amazing grip and stopped it. Her aura has changed a lot with her short hair, but there is no doubt about it, she was more like a warrior now than when she brought Presha-san here. Even I couldn’t help but tremble just looking at her in this memory.

“I will listen to her story in the guidance room. Report your actions to your instructor. It’s no longer class hours now so go back to your dormitory immediately.”

“S-Stop bullshitting me… t-this girl tried to kill me! She dared to hit me, a candidate successor of the Viscount family, with a wooden sword! Can such thing be forgiven!?”

The noble youth keeps blabbering and even put himself on the pedestal to make excuses. Seeing that, Raquel-san said nothing and just looked around the three people surrounding Presha-san.

“…Why did you call her, a junior student alone? According to the rules of the Knights’ Training Academy, other than school works, personal interference with the opposite sex should have been forbidden.”

“W-Well, that’s because… t-this girl was so defiant against us… hiii…!”

Raquel-san, who had not shown any emotional movement until that moment, had this sharp glint in her eyes –that alone made the noble youth tremble and move back a few steps. 　

“It is forbidden to fight privately with other candidates or to put pressure on them in groups. If such a thing were done, the punishment would be severe but…”

“…W-We… did not do anything. I never planned to beat…”

“Enough with that. If you’re spreading around some malicious content about her, this will be considered as a problem for the entire training academy.”

“Kuu… uh…”

Unable to face Raquel-san’s gaze, the young man looks at Presha-san with regret. He also had another emotion other than hostility and fear of her.  That’s right, it’s fascination.

What was his purpose of calling Presha-san? Even after I realized that, I can only think of it as he’s too childish. What would be the point of telling someone who you like by force.

“Da, Dadram-sama, for the time being it’s better to pull…”

“Tsk… I already know that without you telling me! Let’s go…!”

A young man called Dadram quickly leaves with his followers in tow. Presha-san, who was the only one who remained there, was still looking down and she wouldn’t let go of the wooden sword.

“…It’s not the right weapon for you. I promise to give you a spear when you became a quasi-knight. I you can’t endure the things here, you can’t achieve that either.”

Presha-san learned the spear from Raquel-san only during Raquel-san’s short stay at the training academy. However, Presha-san looked up to Raquel-san as her spear teacher. Otherwise, Presha-san would have struck Raquel-san as well as she was not herself back then. Presha-san has never forgiven anyone who has insulted her mother and in order not to make Raquel-san sad, she contained her murderous intent.

“I… I can never be like Raquel-ane. I have to put up with it until I become a knight in order to defeat my mother’s enemies…”

“…Presha, if I were in the same situation as you, I would have been just as incensed. You don’t have to be ashamed of that. If you swing your spear to protect your pride, I think I shouldn’t have stopped that.”

“……No. If I killed him, his noble parents will surely show up and try to execute me… If that happens, Raquel-ane who brought me here will be inconvenienced. I know I’m stupid but I do know that much.”

Presha-san spoke resolutely but she cannot hide the trembling of her voice. Raquel-san hesitated a bit but in the end, she did not hug Presha-san like how she used to. At the training academy, you really won’t know who has their eyes on you. If rumors spread that Raquel-san, an active military officer, made things for the convenience of Presha-san, who’s also one of the candidates, it could jeopardize Presha-san’s position.

“Some people forget their aspirations to protect the country and deviate sideways to satisfy their desires. Presha… I and my Lord, never forgive such people. This dirty water doesn’t fit you, qualify as a knight as soon as possible.”

“……Yes. Raquel-ane… I wonder if I can go… to the place where I want to go.”

Presha-san’s words were not only directed to Raquel-san in front of her. It’s also for someone who isn’t here –Presha-san spoke with an empty gaze while looking somewhere far away.

“…..You’ll be able to go there, I promise you that. But please don’t forget, hurrying to live is not going to make up for anything.”

Her voice seemed to be trembling as she stifled her emotions. Presha-san’s anxious heart softened slightly. She certainly felt comforted by Raquel-san’s words. And―

“Thank you, Raquel-ane. I’m going to be stronger than ever before on the battlefield. I want to repay you for everything you’ve done for me.”

I think she said that with a smile. I’m looking at these past events from Presha-san’s point of view so I don’t really know what her expression is.

―But those words were only meant to cover up her true feelings. Even if she was now pulled back from the darkness by Raquel-san’s hand, all along, Presha-san could still hear that voice. When Raquel-san turned back and walked away, Presha-san looked at the wooden sword and said,

“……I’m sorry, Raquel-ane. I……”

Presha-san had already been able to use her magic power unknowingly to strengthen her physical abilities. Her emotions that had no place to go were put into the hand that held the wooden sword’s hilt – the wooden sword, which should not have been shattered by the girl’s grip, creaked and snapped with a cracking sound.

The sharp edges of the snapped wood scratched Presha-san’s palm. Presha-san did not hesitate to put her lips on her hand as her blood on it runs down her fingers. She feels no pain. Presha-san did not even care about the wounds that would otherwise require immediate treatment.

―She had lost her sense of being alive long ago. It wasn’t her own will that drove her to this point though, but that voice that she kept hearing.

　◆◇◆

Then, about a year passed.

Presha-san was given the title of a quasi-knight, the youngest at the time, and was assigned to the front line of the Eastern Front as requested by Raquel-san, who wanted her to be her subordinate.

The first unit that Presha-san belonged to was the 57th Cavalry Squadron led by Astina-denka. Presha-san, who had studied horsemanship at the training academy, was given her own horse and the long spear that Raquel-san had promised her. And there, she demonstrated her abilities as a magic warrior and made military achievements one after another. But―

It was about three months after she was assigned to the team, Presha-san, who was on the verge of being promoted to a regular knight, was placed in a punishment cell on the Vulcanus Fortress in the eastern base.

Dressed in rags and bound with wooden fetters on her arms and legs, she was staring at the rats that lived in the corner of the prison.

“……Presha”

At the sound of that voice, Presha-san, who was sitting with her back against the wall, slowly looked up. Standing outside the bars was Raquel-san, whose hair had grown out. A magic warrior’s body metabolism was improved by magic power and her hair would grow much faster than an ordinary person. It also meant that Raquel-san was constantly putting herself in fierce battles.

Around this time, her body had already began to scream under the load ―it could be seen that she was constantly wielding the super-heavy lance on top of riding a horse. Even if it was the image in Presha-san’s memory, I could tell that.

It appears to be night time. The light coming in from the window was the moon’s light –Inside, Raquel-san was quietly staring at Presha-san.

“….Why didn’t you tell me? That you are investigating about the officers stationed in this fortress.”

“If I tell Raquel-ane…., it will trouble you…..”

When Presha-san said that in a small voice, Raquel-san couldn’t hide the distress on her face. It looked as if she was about to cry.

“They did something that should be punished… But, there should have been others ways to do it. Without you doing something that would put you in prison…….”

“….It wasn’t just the guys from the neighbouring kingdom that I had to deal with. That day… the people who negotiated to our enemies, those people who ruined my village… They are still alive and the fact that they sold out my village….. to those innocent, just like a joke….uh”

Presha-san investigated the reason why enemy forces had invaded her village –it turned out it was because the troops defending her village did not respond to the enemy forces when they attacked.

“…The troops defending the village where Presha-san lived were of low skill level and were far from the area where the battle was originally taking place. The enemy forces that set them up were cunning…..”

“But…. they ran away before Raquel-ane and the others could come to their rescue. They knew that once they came to the village, they’ll want various things. But in the end, they sold the village… They are just full of excuses, to say that it could not be helped because they had no choice….”

That was the reason why enemy forces had infiltrated across the border and raided Presha-san’s village. For the sake of temporary gain, they sold the village where the innocent people lived to the enemy forces in order to avoid the danger of fighting them their selves.

But they could not be blamed for the crime, as they were supposed to have committed a great crime against military discipline.

“….Those sons of those nobles can secure a territory by building their military exploit as knights. But not all of them are brave enough to make a difference in war.”

“Since they are nobles…… they won’t be guilty for abandoning my village and running away. They won’t even be blamed for laughing at such thing.”

Raquel-san did not answer.

I’m not that well versed with matters regarding the nobles. But even when I was at the academy, there were students who were accommodated because they came from a noble family. It’s not just about drawing the “winner” spirit, it’s also about having excellent grades.

I’ve never strongly questioned that. It’s not just a matter of being a noble, it’s a matter of being a nation where people with high family status are given preferential treatment. Now, after seeing the attitude of those noble youths towards Presha-san, I can only feel ashamed of that. But we can’t easily change the structure of the kingdon or the perception of the people either. Knowing this, Raquel-san is unable to say anything.

“My village was only worth so much to this kingdom. I’d rather fight as a knight like those traitorous guys….”

“….We talked about it sometime before. You shouldn’t stop wielding that spear if you’re trying to protect your pride.”

“Then…… why can’t I kill those guys…..? Mom says to kill them……!”

Raquel-san’s eyes widened. For the first time, at this moment, she realized the identity of the thing that is driving Presha-san.

“If I can make those guys pay for their sins….. it’s fine if I can’t become a knight.”

“What’s left if you did that……? It’s okay if you just hit them and be done with it. There’s also a problem with what they said after all… But if the same thing happens next time…”

“….Raquel-ane will also eventually listen to those noble. Raquel-ane’s family is related with the aristocrats after all… From birth, you are clearly different from me. You just feel sorry for me…”

Raquel-san took in all of Presha-san’s words in silence.

Seeing the sad look on her face, Presha-san realized it too. That there was no point in blaming Raquel-san -and that she was doing something irreversible.

Nevertheless, Presha-san, knowing that she shouldn’t say it, still said the rest of her words.

“Whether or not I could avenge my mother’s death didn’t matter to Raquel-ane……. That’s right, it doesn’t matter. I’m just a picked up child…”

Her heart was just empty. When she became Raquel-san’s subordinate and achieved her first battle, Presha-san was praised by Raquel-san. She was truly happy about it. The kind smile that the reticent Raquel-san sometimes shows in her lips made Presha admire her, and she longed to be as strong and beautiful as she was.

She cannot become strong unless she forgets to be a woman. Presha-san, who thought that, began to grow her hair because she wanted to be as close to Raquel-san’s appearance as possible. To Presha-san, Raquel-san was more important than anyone else, and she admired her so much.

But the face of her mother, who was supposed to be kind, warned Presha-san. Every time her mind tried to leave the past, there was no escape.

“…Presha. All this time, in your heart…. you didn’t believe in me, didn’t you…?”

That’s not true. She wants to answer that, but Presha-san can’t put it into words. There is no point in taking back the regret of not being able to fulfil one of her revenge on Raquel-san. Even though she knows this, Presha-san’s will is twisted by the voice she hears.

―Will you forget about me this way? Presha is a kind child.

I can hear the voice of someone who wasn’t there loud and clear. To Presha-san, it is real and not an illusion or anything else. Yes, it is definitely there. The spirit body of her mother who is trying to hold Presha-san from behind.

―You are strong, so avenge your mother’s death.

But it’s not. It’s not the mother that Presha-san knows. It’s a spirit drawn by her guilt, a spirit that has changed in response to her remorse.

Events caused by a spirit are deeply imprinted in a person’s memory. That’s why I was able to notice it. If there is a spirit doctor at the time, he might have been able to notice the disease that was consuming Presha-san earlier.

“I…. don’t believe in anyone or anything…..”

Those final words spilled out. Presha-san can’t look Raquel-san in the eye, her heart breaks and aches, but she can’t stop it. But before those empty words can come to an end, a voice reached their ears.

“Presha, about that, it can’t be your real intention.”

“Uh……, Your Highness, why are you here…..?”

The heavy air in the prison seemed to be purified by the clear qi she’s wearing.

―Astina-Lezenia. In Raquel-san’s line of sight, the third princess with golden hair, stood there wearing a silver armor.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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At the Isle Rose Fortress, captains of each knight troops have a private room in the “Officer’s Building”. Right now, Presha-san should also be back in her private room.

On the third floor of this fortress, there is a part where it is not covered with roof and one will have to pass through there when heading to the “Officer’s building”. The moon is floating between the clouds in the sky –compared to when I saw it with Dite-san before, the moon got occluded a little.

After having Dite-san use the “night flower”, her health has improved considerably. Sleep contributes to both recovery from fatigue and maintaining mental balance so if your sleep cycle is broken even a little, you should work on improving it.

The knights on this fortress, who have long struggled against Zirconia’s attacks, may have symptoms that can turn into an illness. Even if they are not visibly harmful to their health, I think we should do a health check for everyone. But I’ll think of everything else after the success of this operation.

There was only one middle-aged guard in front of the entrance to the officer’s building, and when she saw me, she salutes to me. For me, she looks like a woman of the same age as mother except that her body is well-trained, and with her standing there with her cane, she has this unapproachable atmosphere.

―But as soon as she saw me, she smiled broadly. Apparently, she knows who I am.

“Welcome Grass-sensei. Are you looking for the officers? Everyone is in the room except for Chloe-sama who is patroling around at night.”

Even only by looking at that cheerful smile, I get this impression that she is a nice aunt. Everyone is really ―when I first saw them, many of them have this murderous look. But now, even though the current situation isn’t very good, their facial expressions are gentle.

The period of the nonagressive defense ended thru Astina-denka’s resolve. That also means that they have already heard about it from their superiors.

“I heard that depending on the outcome of tomorrow’s war council, we will immediately attack Zirconia. Grass-sensei, please take care of our friends that will remain in this fortress.”

“No, I’ll also go. If we magicians do not give our best, we can’t overcome our current plight… Oh, I’m sorry. It’s only been a short time since I came here but I am already saying that.”

She was surprised when I said that I would accompany them too, then she showed her heartache without hiding it in her expression. The reason why she makes such a face is probably because she thinks that as a military doctor, it is dangerous for me to join them.

I myself know that I can’t let my guard down. If the enemy’s general, Alejandro, understands the usefulness of spirit’s magic in the military when he took Noin along, he will for sure prioritize to target them if he knows that Noin or a magician is here.

“I’ve heard that magic can exert unimaginable power in the war. But still… I’m sorry, I selfishly thought of my son upon seeing Sensei. I volunteered to be a soldier so that my still young son won’t be sent into war in the future you see.”

“…Is that so? Your son, is he still…”

“My family lives in Portolo town and I have the opportunity to go home twice a year. It’s worth living to see my son grow up every time I return home. I often wonder if my son feels lonely because he doesn’t have his parents by his side but that’s not the case. He seems to be proud that I’m in the Knights order.”

I understand why she speaks this much. At the same time, I will make sure that not only this person, but all the knights, especially those who have someone waiting for them, return.

Moreover she’s already determined before the dispatch. She wants to tell someone –about her family, about her son who she wants to protect even at the cost of her life.

“When you return to Portolo, your son will be even more splendid for sure.”

That may be insensitive of me. Saying what I think right now, not caring for what might happen tomorrow, or the day after that. Still, I said it while also admonishing myself. For what reason did I learn magic for? For what reason did I learn to save people for?

“Let’s all come back together. So please let me fight with everyone.”

“Sensei is really… Even though you’re still so young, you are a splendid “doctor” after all. When you talk like this, I feel that you’ve seen thru everyone’s feelings.”

“I haven’t finish the medical examination of everyone yet. For that reason too, it is necessary for us all to win and come back… Ah right, though it’s late, can I ask for your name?”

“My name is Odessa. If I…”

After giving her name, she tries to tell me something. I already knew what it was, and  I was going to hear her out but Odessa-san shook her head and put the words she was about to say in her heart.

“No. I’m glad I was able to talk to Grass-sensei.”

“Me too. It gets cold at night so I’ll bring a drink that can warm your body later.”

I can only do little. When I entered the officer’s building, it seemed that our conversation outside has been heard by the female attendant who was about to go and give Odessa-san a drink.

“Thank you for the hard work tonight, Sensei. Though it may be impertinent of me, I would like to give the drinks to the guards from now on.”

“Thank you. Uhm, which one is Captain Presha’s…”

When I asked her, the woman’s facial expression darkens. She hesistated but still answers my question.

“Only Raquel-sama is supposed to visit Presha-sama’s room at night. But if it’s Grass-sensei…”

“…I’ll only go until the front of the room. Can you allow me up to that point?”

“Y-Yes. I heard that Grass-sensei is trusted by Presha-sama. Presha-sama’s room is on the second floor.”

After she told me where the stairs to go up is, I started walking towards it. And when I went upstairs –I found a black-haired woman looking out from the window in the hallway.

“Knight Captain Raquel…”

When I called her name, she slightly jolt and then slowly turned around. She wore a robe over her thin sleeping clothes, unlike her appearance as a strict knight captain during the day, she had a gentle expression that I couldn’t help but admire.

―But those eyes were tinged with sorrow as soon as she looked at me. The moonlight falls on her long eyelashes and she was staring at me without saying anything.

“…About Presha, I intended to keep her secret between me, Her Highness, and Dite only. I think Presha herself wouldn’t want you to know just yet.”

“For me to know… Maybe Presha-san is…”

I will ask if there was something she was hiding from me, but I reconsidered that it was not the case. Everyone has something they carry. It’s only natural that there are things they can’t reveal to me, who just came here recently.

“…The way I see it, Presha-san seemed to be in a hurry. If she insists on sacrificing herself in order to lead this battle to our victory, I think that this is the right time to talk to her that’s why I came here.”

“I know. While Presha was speaking, you became tense and I knew that Grass have something in your mind… Her Highness should have noticed it too.”

Her Highness and I are connected through our contract with the sacred tree. So Her Highness could have stopped me when she sense that I was about to meet Presha-san. But I’m here now. I know I shouldn’t be haughty about it but since I get here without being reproach or anything, it means that I’m allowed to meet with Presha-san.

However, I thought that Raquel-san was here to test my resolve. She realized that I would come to see Presha-san and waited for me here to judge if I’m ready to meet her.

“…Don’t be surprised no matter what the Presha looks like now. I want you to accept her even if she looks different to the usual Presha during the day. Can you promise me that?”

“Of course. I didn’t come here in jest or on a whim. It’s my duty to manage the health of the knights who goes to battle. Presha-san is in a position which brings many knights together… The anxiety I felt while looking at her is something I just can’t leave alone.”

It’s best to say that I’m concern about Presha-san herself but I can’t express it very well. However, I thought that I should tell her that I was not acting driven by my self-interest.

Raquel-san folded her arms and closed her eyes as she listened. I think that she’s doing it not to intimidate me but to carefully analyse the words I’ve said.

“…I see. That’s right. I’m sorry if I tested you. I can spend the night without enduring the burning pain because I was treated and my body was now in good condition. I know that I should leave everything to you first.”

“It is necessary for Knight Captain Raquel to continue to receive treatment. If you have time, I would like to continue your treatment after this.”

“No…I’m fine for tonight. Please just think about Presha now. And hopefully, from the nightmares that she’s been having for a long time, with your hands…”

“Saying everything now is over protectiveness you know? Let’s leave the rest to Sensei.”

“…Dite, since when were you listening? Isn’t eavesdropping against the pride of the nobles?”

Whether her bedroom is on the same floor, Dite-san shows herself. Although her sleeping clothes are from a noble family, it’s not that luxurious, but since I have always seen her wearing armor, her appearance right now is very fresh to me.

As I reaffirm that the every Knights here are all beautiful, my heart beats inevitably faster―I thought I didn’t have that urge, but is this what is called preservation instinct? As with the hunting instinct of animals, it is difficult to suppress it with reason.

“Fufu … If you react too much like that, you’ll make me conscious that I am a woman you now.”

“W-What are you talking about…? Good grief. Like Grass would react…”

“Ah, n-no… I mean both of you have different impressions than usual… I’m sorry, I know it’s natural because it’s before bedtime.”

I don’t think it’s a case to be embarrassed, but when I see Dite-san and Raquel-san with their hair down, I feel that this is not a good place for a man to enter. Whether or not she knew my inner feelings, Dite-san went down the stairs halfway, turned behind me, and touched my shoulder to urge me to move forward.

“I’d really like you to come into my room to check if I correctly placed the flowers I received before. But now, as my consideration as her colleague, I want you to think only about Presha.”

“Yeah… Dite, let’s wait inside the room just in case. There wasn’t one these days, but if Presha suddenly had a nightmare…”

“Nightmare… is that the cause of the unreasonable but compulsive ideas that Presha-san always has?”

“…Emotional scars are not easy to heal. Even if you know the cause, it’s something you can’t do anything about. Since the past cannot be changed and what is lost cannot be returned.”

Even so, they said that they will let me go to see Presha-san. I would never want to betray that trust.

“I’ll be fine. Both of you please rest in your rooms. Can I perform another medical examination at a later date?”

Keeping the air heavy would put strain on the two of them. I wasn’t sure if I acted well enough but I smiled at them. Their eyes reddened –I didn’t want them to look like that, but they were both really kind and thought of Presha-san that much.

“…I’ll leave that child to you Grass-sensei.”

“I also beg you. Don’t let Presha throw her life away in the war someday… even just a little, her heart…”

There are many cases in which I am confident in the treatment as it has been proven that physical injuries and illnesses can be cured. Emotional illness is the one that is as difficult to treat or even more difficult than the others, and sometimes, no answer can even be found. There were even knights in this fortress who suffers from prognostic symptoms of the war –but now, they were able to laugh when they see me.

Nothing will start if I give up from the very beginning. Rather than giving up because it’s difficult, I want to find what I can do.

I separated from the two of them and proceeded through the dimly lit corridor. Then I stood in front of Presha-san’s room. I tried to knock on the door but I thought that Presha-san maybe asleep so I shouldn’t wake her up. By touching the wooden door and listening to the “voice” heard from the wood products in the room, I can see what Presha-san is doing.

There is almost no “voice” of plants from inside the room. I can see that the wooden products have shelves for storing weapons and clothes and beds, but it felt very gloomy.

…This voice… is she talking to someone? No… it’s different…

I thought I mistakenly heard it. Anyone could be sleep talking –but.

There’s a wooden bed in the room. Presha-san, who was sleeping on it, felt like crying to me.

―Mom… Forgive me…. Don’t leave me…. I’ll be a good girl….―

What do those words mean? Even if I don’t understand, I experience some sort of pain that makes me feel like something is crushing my heart.

Right now, she is dreaming. There is a way to see if this is what Raquel-san calls as “nightmare”―with the help of Arlaune, a spirit that makes it possible to touch people’s hearts.

I placed a bulb as a medium near my feet then I chanted in a small voice.

“Oh lustrous flower that blooms in the enchanted garden… Appear in this world once and show your power.”

In response to my summon, grass roots form a magic circle around the bulb. Then the flowers bloomed and Arlaune appeared.

“Thank you for calling me, Summoner-sama. Fuaah, recently whenever I’m summoned, it’s always pitch black outside nanodesu.”

“I’m sorry, for calling you this late at night.”

“I can make a lot of nutrients even in the moonlight nodesu. Please take a look, my leaves are so lively nodesu.”

Laune shows the flowers blooming on her head. It looks like a flower hair ornament but it absorbs the moonlight that shines into this corridor and converts it into magical power.

“…I can hear Presha-onesan crying nodesu. Summoner-sama wants to help her, right?”

“I would like to do that if possible. But… though I’m already up here, entering her room while she sleeps is …”

“Now is not the time to say that nodesu. It seems very painful nanodesu. If her nightmare continues like this, her heart will be eroded more and more nodesu. A sad dream is like a bug that kills the roots of flowers nanodesu.”

Arlaune desperately appeals to me. Dite-san was also insomniac and was worn out, but in order to maximize the power that Presha-san have, it’s naturally better not to have any nightmares.

While I’m thinking like this, Raquel-san and Dite-san came to see the situation before returning to their room.

“…It seems that you’re holding back so I need to tell you after all. Not long ago, when Presha was dreaming, I was with her since we used to sleep together. Only I, who has the longest relationship with her, can calm her down… However, Presha has grown up now. She doesn’t want to be spoiled by me so she started to sleep alone but… to be honest, I can’t help but be worried.”

“Presha said she was worried about letting Grass-sensei and another woman in the same room. She would have been willing to let Sensei stay in her room. Though this is just a possibility, but if that really happened and she showed Sensei herself having nightmare… perhaps that would make Presha suffer.”

Being in the same room as me is just an example. Dite-san wants to say that Presha-san will always try to be strong in front of me and hide the fact that she’s having nightmares.

“If Presha invites Grass to her room, at that time she won’t show you her “current state”. There’s no meaning then. I want Grass to look at her room right now. It may be an excessive interference but she’s in a state where leaving her alone will…”

“I understand. If Presha-san gets angry when I entered the room without her permission, I will accept and resign myself to it. Though I will try to avoid that as much as possible.”

“Saying everything is your responsibility and taking the burden on yourself is Sensei’s bad habit desuwa. We and Presha are colleagues, and it may look like I’m saying something naïve but… we are companion who spent long time together. The one that child will get angry with, should be us for our nosiness.”

Raquel-san nods to Dite-san’s words then she quietly opened the door. I went inside the room with Laune and look around –accepting the scene as it is.

If Raquel-san hadn’t told me in advance, I would have been shaken. Perhaps it was made by the spear, there are many scratches on the wall and floor that look like they have been cut, and there are also traces of repairs.

Near the wall of the room was an old wooden bed that was unlikely to be used by a Knights’ executive. Presha-san is not lying on it but was sitting while holding something and leaning against the wall. What she holds is a worn out doll. And the spear leaning against the bed is always within her reach.

“…Summoner-sama, you shouldn’t approach now nanodesu. If it’s not Raquel-neesan and you approach Presha-neesan, for sure…”

Even in this state, everyone in the Knights treated Presha-san as a “captain”. That’s because Presha-san’s pride as a knight has nothing to do with her trauma.

“It’s as what Laune says. Right now, you are not allowed to get any closer.”

The anger she showed when blaming her compatriots for betrayal against our country, Lezenia. To say it nicely, it was hatred. While fighting together, she recognized me as a companion and called me “sensei”. Still, somewhere, I felt that there was something I couldn’t understand with regards to Presha-san.

“…Good grief, what an incompetent doctor I am. Somewhere in my heart, I was scared when I saw Presha-san’s strength. And I dare saying that I wanted to heal her wounds.”

“Summoner-sama…”

The floor under my feet is also scratched with a spear. If I took one step further, I may be attacked by her while she’s having a nightmare.

“I will fill this distance. Arlaune, can you lend me your power?

“… Yes. If it’s for Summoner-sama, it’s rather easy nanodesu…”

Laune answers then she touches the ground. Arlaune’s vines that grew from my feet entwined, runs along the floor then reached Presha-san’s bed.

And the vines make a single flower. The flower opens scattering pollen around that leads me to sleep –while keeping the consciousness of me and Presha-san connected.

I will make her show me the dream she been dreaming of. Even if I could imagine how painful it was, I didn’t want to step back from where I was standing.

　◆◇◆

There is a sound of something like metal colliding with each other. The sound of horse hoofs, the sound of people in armor walking –and screams.

What is this I’m seeing? In the faded scene, only the black smoke rising in the sky and the red color of the flames burning the houses are vividly colored.

“―Mom! Just wait, I’m gonna help you soon … uh!”

That voice is a little younger than her current voice and still contains innocence but― it certainly belongs to Presha-san. This is the dream that Presha-san has. As a child, she picks up a wooden staff and runs to her village, which is being attacked by someone.

Stop, don’t go … Presha-san, if you go now, you’ll be killed…!

“Waaaaaaaaa!”

This is an event that happened in the past. Soldiers raising the flag of the enemy country― it’s not Zirconia, it’s the scene of the army of the “Grunica City Alliance”, a country facing the eastern border of the kingdom, attacking the village.

From the moment our consciousness connected, Presha-san’s memory flows into me. However, the enormous amount of information and her emotions burned into that memory cause tearing pain ―not in my body which is not here but directly into my heart.

The young Presha-san runs with all her might―jumping through a hole in the fence that surrounds the village which was destroyed by force and even if the enemy cavalry notices her, she runs at a speed you can’t believe for a child.

“Mom, mom, mom…!”

While roughly wiping her tears,she repeatedly calls her mother. Every time that happens, my chest tightened, but right now I can’t do anything.

―I can’t change the past. However, I am not allowed to avert my eyes. I was still just trying to see a part of how terrible the consequences of the war were. The young Presha-san opens the door to her own house, the house that seems to have been burned.

“…..Mom….?”

Even if I want to shout “don’t look”, I can’t change her past actions.

Presha-san follows the blood stains left on the wooden floor and proceeds to the back of the house. Then, she enters the dining room where she should have eaten with her mother and witnesses the randomly destroyed room. Everything else turns gray. However, only the blood that has flowed to Presha-san’s feet burns my view red above anything else.

“…Nooooooo…!”

Dropping off the staff she was holding, Presha-san rushed to her mother, who had already stopped moving, and clung to her body. Memories of her time with her mother flowed into me. It loses its color one by one until it is painted black.

The last word Presha-san’s mother said, “Today is Presha’s birthday, so I’ll put all my skills to make a delicious food.”

“If only I go home a little earlier.” “If only I pushed my selfishness and take her with me to the forest”― while having such regrets, Presha-san noticed it. The needle wound on her mother’s fingertips while she was griping her hand.

In the room that had been mowed down, “it” was in the wreckage of furnitures. A hand-sewn doll that her mother probably made for Presha-san.

Prepared gifts to please children were rarely available in this village. Presha-san, who wanted the expensive paper book in the village, knew that her mother was making dolls, but she could not feel happy with it.

Presha-san holds the doll with her blood-soaked hands. When she hugged it, a shadow extending from behind was reflected in front of her.

“If you didn’t come back, you wouldn’t have to die … don’t blame me for this.”

―When she heard that voice, she didn’t cower in fear.

Reflexively, she picked up the staff beside her and swing it to the man behind him, who might have come to take away her mother.

“Guu … this brat…!”

It’s a sharp blow ―but it couldn’t be a deadly blow against a soldier covered in armor.

The soldier got furious at the unexpected counterattack and brandished his longsword. It can’t be repelled with a wooden staff ―Still, Presha-san chose to sacrifice herself in order to stab the enemy and prepare to unleash a thrust.

“–Ahhhhh …!”

It doesn’t matter if I’m killed. Only this man, with my own hands―.

The thrust that she unleashed to hit her enemy, completely cuts only an empty space. That’s because a weapon with a huge mass mowed down the soldier where he stands. A master with a steel cavalry lance ―a black-haired knight with the same spirit as she is now, Raquel-Litkasha, was there on the ground.

“Aah… ahh…”

The blown enemy soldier did not move. Raquel-san’s eyes shows traces of sorrow when she sees Presha-san holding a staff.

“…I’m sorry. If we have arrived a little earlier…”

Even if she knows that they are allies, Presha-san can’t lower her wooden staff. Her emotions that have nowhere to go makes her unable to move freely. She can only stare at the knights who saved her. Even so, Raquel-san kept silently faced Presha-san.

“…You fought well. However, it is difficult to survive in this desolate battlefield just by using a staff.”

“…I’ll be together… with my mom… she won’t leave me alone. This is… Something like this…”

Is just a bad dream. Before Presha-san can say that, Raquel-san let go of her cavalry lance and appeared in front of Presha-san holding a staff without fear of being attacked.

“―Stay away!”

Raquel-san avoided the staff swung reflexively by simply tilting her head then grab it.

“Release me…! Release me…!”

“…You have the talent for martial arts. The enemy troops that attacked your village were wiped out by our Lezenia Kingdom’s Army… Under the command of My Lord, Her Royal Highness, Astina.”

“I don’t know any of that … Even though our village wasn’t at fault …”

“…No matter how strong you became, you cannot protect everything. However, our army wants to make it possible. Even if it is just a distant ideal.”

The force she put into the staff loosens. It was because she saw tears on Raquel-san’s cheeks.

Her field of vision became blurry. Presha-san cried once again― she who forgot to cry even when faced with sufferings, only remembers when she saw Raquel-san’s tears. The dropped staff rolls on the floor. Raquel-san also knelt on the floor and hugged Presha-san.

That was the beginning.

A knight named Presha Hortensia was born on the day she lost everything.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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Once I returned to my room, I instructed Noin and Leslie on what we should do next. Both of them are more of my assistants than military magician so I can share the work around this large fortress with them. I’ll ask them to help me check the health of the knights.

“At first, it’s better to have you two work together. Once Noin gets used to this, let’s decide the division again.”

“Certainly, as Milord commands.”

“…That Milord thing is startling everyone so I think it’s better to call him in a different way.”

Leslie does not hesitate to give her opinion to Noin, who’s older than her. Noin didn’t seem to be particularly offended and was happy instead as she look at Leslie.

“For me, there’s no other word to call him though.”

 “Uh…T-That… the one to decide that is not you, but Grass-nii so…”

Since the opportunities for Leslie to address me like that was considerably reduced, I somehow felt some kind of deep emotion on that one. Even if she’s dressed up as a man and acts as my assistant, Leslie will always be Leslie after all.

 “…Leslie, it’s better if you will be a little more honest with yourself. But that purity of yours is something I really like.”

“I… I’m not as pure as what you’re trying to say. I’m just doing what I want…”

“Is that so? Then, I’ll like you even more now.”

I, who doesn’t know much about Noin yet, totally can’t understand the real meaning of Noin’s words just by listening to their current exchange.

Noin became a court magician like she wanted but her will was twisted by Jorge Frost. While she was possess by the dark spirit, the pain she suffered in her mind and body is something very hard for me to even imagine.

“I’m really sorry, Milord. Though I think that Leslie-sama’s opinion should be respected as much as Milord, there are things that are difficult for me to concede.”

“W-Well… I do agree with Leslie but I also think it might be best to let Noin do what you want to do…”

“…Grass-nii, aren’t you so lenient towards Noin-san? At the academy, she was famous for being very beautiful and talented, so Grass-nii too…”

“I’ve been paying attention to Milord since I was at the academy. I remember that Milord often looks at the plants in the courtyard.”

“Hahaha… well, I was treated as a weirdo at that time. Only Leslie and Sven spent their time with me you know.”

I look at Leslie who somehow seemed to be dissatisfied but she still laughed with nostalgia.

“I wonder if the spirits that are said to be “flop” by the rules of the academy are indeed true… No one ever tried to doubt it… However, that was a mistake. I think that the constitution of the academy will change if they found out how great Milord’s magic is.”

“It’s not something that can be changed overnight. But I think it will be good if the assessment of spirit users other than the elemental spirit users will be given re-evaluation. Though from my perspective as a “flop”, the things I can do are really limited.”

Silvana Magic Academy. The highest institute of education in this Kingdom that was able to produce magicians who support the kingdom.

For the first time after I left that place, I realized that my magic was valuable and that people needed it more besides the spirits that were useful for war.

At that academy, I have my stepsister, Millenia. I’m sure that she, who didn’t give up on me, harbour doubts about the current constitution of the academy. Nevertheless, she’s not able to create a policy of not discriminating against spirits, probably due to the tradition of the kingdom itself.

“…Grass-nii’s spirit magic is really incredible. Therefore, it is better not to spread it too much and keep it a secret. If not, the enemy might target you.”

“Right… Even if I can exchange my life to protect Milord, it’s important to act so as not to be targeted. Milord, is it alright to think this way?”

“It would be helpful if you could do that. There are occasions where it would be better to be scorn after all.”

“Only a limited number of people understand the greatness of your spirit magic… So it’s that setting alright. It would be a great honor for me to be one of them.”

“…Grass-nii is weak to praises, so don’t say too much.”

“W-Well… it’s as Leslie said, I would like it if you don’t lift me up too much. I’m also just a human being, so too much might make me stuck-up.”

As expected, with three person including Noin in a room, a very serious problem that I might become a degenerate comes up. It’s only in the level of being told to recognize the harshness of the current situation and be more careful though.

◆◇◆

I asked Leslie and Noin to look for someone who felt sick inside the fortress and bring them to the sanitary building for treatment. Fortunately, I was able to prepare medicines for all cases with my own herbs.

Some knights have already left the sanitary building and returned to their duty. They wrote me a letter but I haven’t had the time to read it yet.

“Everyone loves Grass-sensei you know. I think they can tell that you always care for them. I even heard someone who has not been able to talk to you for a long time to ask if it’s not Grass-sensei’s duty yet.”

Katie-san, who is helping me with my work at the sanitary building, wipes the tears spilling from her eyes while she’s talking about it.

“Still, since I just came here… On the contrary, I feel sorry if they are this grateful. When I receive a letter, I tend to get shy and I can’t open it easily.”

“After you calm down…Though I’m not one to talk, please read it. I’m also nervous as if you’ll be reading my own letter you see.”

“I’m the same. I’d be happy if something good was written for me.”

“…Grass-sensei is too humble. You should know the extent on how you healed the injured knights…”

I’m glad to hear that. But I treat everyone for the sake of sending them back even though not all in the frontline but still to the battlefield.

I wish I could bring the knights back to a peaceful life, not to a battlefield. I vowed to follow Astina-denka not only to embrace her as an ideal, but to make such thing happen.

―But by doing so, wouldn’t I run into conflict with my stepsister? If that happens, how can we avoid to fight? From now on, I think I have to think about it as a possibility.

“…But sometimes you have a very complex expression. If such a kind doctor was brought to the battlefield, then after seeing dreadful situations, if you become like my predecessor…”

“Don’t worry about that. I am myself, so I won’t change that easily you know. My friends even told me that I never break under any situation, see.”

“You have such nice friends… Ah. Is it perhaps Lendl-san?”

“Eh, Ah… Well, Lendl-san is also one of them.”

Katie-san still thinks that Leslie is a man named “Lendl”. Considering Leslie’s family, it’s best to have a limited number of people who know her real identity –so I haven’t told Katie-san yet.

“Maybe if I went to the Magic Academy to learn magic, I would be able to be Grass-sensei’s… Such thing is, it’s not good to make a dreamlike analogy, right. I’ll take over the night shift.”

“Please don’t overdo it. I’ll give you some medicine to help get rid of your fatigue. If you put it in a tea and drink it, it will surely warm your body.”

“Thank you very much… Grass-sensei is really kind.”

Recently, I’m starting to feel like I am overly complimented, so I’d like to somehow restore the balance of human relationships –isn’t that usually the opposite?

I waved at Katie-san with full bloom smile and left the sanitary building. It’s about time for dinner, but first, let’s visit Presha-san.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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The knights under Astina-denka have the same feeling. However, our cause goes against the decree of His Majesty.

No matter what the Second Queen thinks of, this Isle Rose Fortress will never fall. It is necessary to protect this area and prevent the Western Territory from being occupied by Zirconia even if it’s only temporary. Otherwise, the peasants and townspeople who have returned to their restored farmlands will be overrun by the enemy’s forces.

Now that many soldiers from both armies had shed blood, it is only an undependable optimistic thought that the enemy army will not harm the people of Lezenia. I can only imagine how fierce the looting during the war would be –it is inevitable that the unskilled people in this fortress will suffer first.

Katie-san, the captain of the medical unit and the others who work in this fortress. As well as the maids who serve Astina-denka. To protect them, it’s not just about defense, there is no other choice but to attack after all.

“Before the enemy troops make a move, we will take the initiative first. We have seized a warship, Noin’s whereabouts is also unknown… and by detaining Baile as a prisoner of war, the enemy’s headquarters would be in mayhem.”

“With Grass’ magic, the soldiers at that fort should be in a state of devastation… It would be ideal if we attack before the enemy could get ready.”

“You can see that there is a grace period of a day or two before Alejandro makes a move. During that time, we will show our superiority. We will disembark on Zirconia’s side and siege the enemy’s main camp with 2,000 soldiers.”

“Two thousand… That’s certainly logical considering the size of the enemy’s previous army. There is a possibility that reinforcements are being sent from behind.”

“Zirconia desired the Western Territory to get their hands on the farmlands. You may not know that there has been a poor harvest in the recent years, but the citizens still supply enough food to support not only themselves but also our 3,000 soldiers. Zirconia is a huge kingdom so they must be struggling to find enough food to sustain their army.”

After we entered Zirconia, a wide plain spread out. I think the reason why that area was untouched is because Zirconia avoided developing farmland along the river. That’s also probably why Zirconia thinks of Isle Rose Fortress as a threat.

Strong soldiers need to eat a lot of meat and beans to maintain a strong body, but livestock production requires a lot of feed and manpower. The land at the riverside that should be good enough to make forage is not used just because it is close to the border –that’s also one of the useful information for us.

If ceasefire happens, Zirconia will also have a lot of advantages. Still, the reason why they are trying to attack is because the King of Zirconia trusts General Alejandro’s ability… Is he afraid that by having ceasefire, he’ll be given a trade-off?

It is better to have men that are strong and can do livestock farming, but at present, those men that can work are collected as soldiers ―although there is a policy that they could live as a farmer when there is no war, partly because they are exempt from labor, they pursue military service. This is not quite well-suited.

Even in this fortress, soldiers have been engaged only in military service until now. It’s true that they can maintain their strength by focusing on training but that’s only because the farmers in the Western Territories are diligent and were willing to gather food.

“This season, it will probably be a rare good harvest during the harvest season as the benefits of the sacred tree spreads throughout the Western Territory. Subsequently, as Zirconia declines more, they’ll covet this land.”

The Western Territory heads for prosperity with the blessing of the sacred tree. Her Royal Highness’ surplus magical power is always returned to the sacred tree which in turn brings blessings to the land from that garden. And the crops that are produced should have some resistance to bad weather and are incomparably richer than the land without the protection of the sacred tree.

If Zirconia knew that fact, they would surely want this land desperately. Nevertheless, I have no intention of surrendering that garden where the sacred tree Yuserish is rooted in to anyone else.

“The influence of the sacred tree tells me about the future when I’m trying to protect this land from those who threatens it. Even if it withers so much, Yuserish was still working with me… And in addition to that, if Grass hadn’t come, it would have reached its limit long ago. If I realized the value of the beings known as spirit earlier…”

“In truth, spirits are beings that keep their distance from humans. We studied at the Magic Academy to understand such existence and borrow their power. In a sense, they, who live in peace where drawn out for the convenience of the magicians, something like that.”

“That’s not really the case nodesu. We are really interested in the human world nodesu, otherwise, we wouldn’t be summoned nodesu.”

Laune, who was observing while being held by Leslie, says so –next to her is Rei, who is held by Noin. I refrained from taking them to the round table where the knights sit, but that sight was so pleasing that even if we are in the war council, it made us calm down.

“Other than how Summoner-sama thinks of me, I’ve always been a bad child… I’m very satisfied when I’m pulled out and suck the vitality of the living creatures around me. Mandrake is that kind of specie you see. The vitality sucked by my fissions becomes the nutrition of my body.”

“T-That’s… it’s something like a succubus who shows people a dream and sucks their vitality huh.”

Rei just smiled faintly and did not answer clearly –speaking of vitality, does it have that meaning as well? I wonder if Rei, who looks so young, is fine as she’s sucking power from strong soldiers.

“This is how I can entwine my vines then suck them nodesu.”

“Uh….w-wait. You don’t have to show an example here.”

“Awawa~… As expected, Summoner-sama’s magical power is the best nanodesu. However since I have a contract, even if I suck from the Summoner-sama, Summoner-sama’s power remains nanodesu.”

The vines of a plant, which is Arlaune’s avatar, emerges from the ground and entwines me. I’m not being gripped but I feel restless.

Her Highness stared earnestly –even though it’s not the time to play around, as she tried to fix her collar, she speak with interest.

 “So that’s how it is huh… Me and Grass also communicate through the sacred tree but my magical power does not always flow into him. If you increase the power that’s being discharged, does it mean that Arlaune’s power will also increase?”

“Fuaa… t-that’s certainly the case nanodesu. You’re asking what would happen to me then, right?”

“Although Arlaune is powerful enough as it is, but when it comes to strengthening, she may exert unimaginable power. The same is true for Rei.”

“…If I get stronger, everyone will die just by pulling me out. The living creatures around who heard me will die.”

She’s speaking of something extreme but Rei is just saying it in a matter-of-fact tone. If Mandrake’s power grows stronger, it’s more than just reaping one’s consciousness.

“Rei’s power will be tremendous in the battle, but I think Laune’s power is equally effective if it’s used on the opponent’s weak point.”

“I(boku)… No, I(watashi) think so too. I will rely on these young girls in the battlefield…”

“I’m fine with it nanodesu! I want to help the Summoner-sama as much as possible nodesu!”

“The appearance of spirits does not change with age. It’s just that the appearance of a child consumes less magical power to keep its reified form.”

If I informed them that, their feeling of reluctance to enter the battlefield with these children would no longer be an issue.

From the beginning, I was planning to volunteer to accompany the Knights even if I was stopped. Given my magical contribution, I will be in the forefront of the entire army – I’m prepared even if there is a danger of an arrow flying. I just need to protect myself.

“If I can accompany you, I will do my best to contribute as a magician. However, I also think that Noin’s magic will be a big key.”

“Yes, to conceal the warship, it is necessary to maintain the water spirit’s illusion magic. And one more thing… Though it will put a heavy burden on Noin, until we surround the enemy’s army I have something I want to ask of you.”

“Certainly, Your Highness. I’m a magician who follows Grass-dono. I would be grateful if I could join him in this Knight’s order.”

“I understand that your life has been saved but, aren’t you changing your attitude a little bit fast…?”

“…I wouldn’t be standing here without Grass-dono. I no longer exist. So I want to continue to exist only at the will of Grass-dono.”

Noin blushed –I’m more embarrassed seeing that. I know it’s a big deal if your life was saved but to even call me “Milord”, the change in her attitude is certainly too rapid.

“…I am also Grass-sensei’s attendant so I will follow him on the battlefield. Sensei’s magic and mine… are compatible so I will definitely be of help.”

Leslie proposes as she thinks that she might be left behind. I did think about getting her out of it for a little while but if I insist that, I’ll just be forcing her.

Water, air, and plants. Compared to spirits such as fire and wind, it is not specialized in combat, but if these three attributes unite, the number of effective combinations will increase dramatically.

Combining airballs with hypnotic pollen is also a coalescing magic, but with the option of water spirits added to that, what can we do? –We might be able to come up with a strategy to slaughter Alejandro’s army.

“Chemistry huh…? That kind of feeling is important between magicians, isn’t it?”

Since Dite-san speaks of it in a suggestive way, everyone on the spot felt awkward. Only Her Highness was calm but Raquel-san was clearing her throat.

“Ah, b-by the way… Leslie-, since you’re a woman, to be in the same room with Sensei…”

Presha-san says that as if she has just realized it now. As I’m told that, even though we’re talking about a military doctor with his assistant, it’s indeed true that a man and a woman use the same room… then, wouldn’t that be considered as us disturbing the fortress’ public morals?

“There’s no problem with that. I’ll have Noin sleep in the same room with Grass and Leslie. With three people, nothing will go wrong.”

“N-No… I want to move to another room. It doesn’t matter if it’s in a warehouse, so if you let me sleep there…”

After saying till that point, for some reason, Raquel-san suddenly stands up. With a start, my body shook as I thought she got angry.

“What are you saying? You’ve been instructing me on how I made a toll my body while I’m being treated. But now you are allowed to be unconcerned on your own body? Do you think I’ll permit that? I’ll be troubled if Grass would sleep on an ordinary bed. I think it should be fine if you are given something similar to my bed.”

Raquel-san screamed immediately–it’s as if she’s got angry for herself. At the same time, I regret that I made such careless remark so I just said my thanks.

“Thank you, Knight Captain Raquel. Thank you so much for your concern for me… I understand, I’ll focus more on my work as a military doctor so that I won’t get misunderstood by everyone.”

“U-Uhm… Ahem! Pardon me, you’re just too humble that’s why…”

“When you suddenly said that something similar to your bed would be fine, I thought Grass-sensei would move to Knight Captain’s room.”

 “…I-Is that okay? I, I still have a space to put another bed in my room… I mean, it calms me more if I’m in a narrower one…”

Raquel-san sits down quietly and returns to a knight-like posture, but her ears remained beet red.

Not denying it means that… No, it’s not like that. If she denies it, it would feel like she’s stubbornly refusing to be in the same room as me.

And even Presha-san has an attitude that it’s ok to move to her room if I’m going to change room. I can’t think she’s the same person who greeted me with killing intent when I just came to this fortress –it feels like a tiger that transform into a cat.

She is definitely an unparalleled tiger on the battlefield. However, even if her heart can be brought closer to steel due to the scene of carnage that she had experience many times, it’s not like her fragile part is also completely lost.

Leaving what she holds inside as is might lead to her getting injured on the battlefield. It’s not that I don’t believe in Presha-san’s courage but leaving it alone while noticing it is something I can’t help but get stuck in my heart.

 “…Grass, it’s not about moving rooms, but since you’re thinking of something, I’ll give you my permission. You are free to visit the commander’s room and get permission to start medical treatment. Though it’s important to the physical body, I’ve seen and knew that injury or sickness is not the only thing you can heal.”

“Uh…Y-Yes. Thank you for your permission, Your Highness.”

It seems that my thought of getting permission from Her Highness was conveyed through our contract with the sacred tree. Even if I don’t voice out my thoughts, it looks like any requests or the likes I have for Her Highness can be easily conveyed just by flashing it in my mind – so that means I can’t think carelessly..

“We’ll talk about the operation again tomorrow at noon. The person working in the territory… Under the influence of Vaiseck, some territories may be worried that we’ll attack Zirconia. We need to tell you to some extent that we will attack Zirconia as part of our defense and what our future prospects are.”

“I understand, I’ll send a messenger to each division of the Knights in the territory. Especially, I need to reconfirm the cooperation with the Reinfeld family.”

Schneider of the Reinfeld family seemed to be a good person who puts the people first to me. That is why, when shaken by Vaiseck, who claims to be His Majesty’s messenger, there is a good chance that protecting the people will be his priority.

For now, it’s fine as long as he doesn’t turn into an enemy. Allowing the invasion of Zirconia while keeping the Capital’s mood on check is something we should not allow at all cost. The Reinfeld family should know that.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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The main gate of the fortress is on the east side but there is also a hidden entrance on the west side. Dite-san of the archer corps called it a “back door” though it was said that it was often used except when returning to the fortress with a big announcement to the knights.

Guided by the knights, we entered the fortress through the back door then Dite-san first stopped by the armory on the first floor of the fortress.

“To be able to use this thing in this kind of situation… As Your Highness has predicted, I guess we can say that it’s good that the enemy soldiers came here to do some work. It’s quite ironic, though.”

The situation changed a lot during the night. By using Zirconia’s warship, it became possible to send a large number of soldiers from this side to Zirconia’s side and loading weapons on the warship itself became doable.

There are cannons carried by Zirconia’s craftsmen. Dite-san ordered her subordinates to prepare ammunitions and set of wheels for transport to make it ready for use anytime.

The “fire lance” made from the cannon ammunition seems to have a considerable destructive power as portable firearm but if the cannon itself can be carried and used, it should be a stronger trump card than the “fire lance”…

◆◇◆

Without taking a break, we head to the round table and started the war council.

“We should think that the enemy army still has some sort of trump card. Or did they sent their craftsmen to test their new weapons… In any case, we have to pay attention to the enemy’s firearms.”

“Her Highness’ intuition is also guided by the sacred tree. Perhaps General Alejandro’s troops really have powerful firearms.”

“Cannons… or you mean they may use a gunpowder tube just like what Dite-san has made?”

A fire lance explodes once there’s an impact and it is said to be a weapon that shoots out blazing bullets.

However, I heard from my stepsister that there is a weapon that turns the explosion of gunpowder into propulsion and shoots metal bullets from an iron cylinder thinner than a fire lance –it is known as “iron fire cylinder”. It has the power to penetrate a knight’s armor and even has the potential to significantly change the outcome of the battle.

Fortunately it has not been mass-produced yet. And because it should be a weapon made in the south of our kingdom, it’s unlikely that Zirconia is deploying them in large numbers. There are no knights seen equipped with it in an actual battle and even if the necessary resources are available, it is considered that there is no technology to make an “iron fire cylinder” yet.

“Since gunpowder was used in warfare, I began to think that the knight’s era would end someday. You can clearly see that at first glance, those weapons took the lives of many knights from a long distance. Such weapons will eventually replace swords, spears, and bows. It will be using a lot of mineral resources but if you have a shooting weapon as powerful as an “iron fire cylinder”, you don’t have to make heavy armor to protect yourself.”

Astina-denka is thinking about the “changes in the military”. When the technology of “iron fire cylinder” which can produce a large amount of gunpowder is transmitted to Zirconia, it will be difficult for Isle Rose fortress to repel the Zirconia army if it’s only with the use of traditional weapons.

Now that we can fight with the infantry, knights and archers’ formation, we need to determine the battlefield –we must break Zirconia’s fighting spirit.

“From those who were first interrogated by Grass, it turned out that Zirconia received weapons from our side. They have more troops than we do but not everyone is equipped… With that, I think we should attack from here before they were able to send weapons to Zirconia via other routes. Then we have to defeat General Alejandro…”

“Raquel-ane… I’ll do it. When Alejandro comes out on the front line next time, I’ll rush in and raise the enemy’s decapitated head by all means necessary.”

“Wait a minute Presha. Even if it’s you, I don’t think you’ll be able to handle the attack if you rush to a place where all the Zirconia soldiers are readily available.”

“…I still have to do it because that’s all I can do for everyone who died.”

The danger that Presha-san keeps within herself… I felt it from her until now. Though I’m not certain what it really is before, but at this moment, I clearly understand what it is. It’s the feeling of resignation from seeing the death of many people. She was the same as me whose heart became worn out during the war. She started feeling like she’s willing to sacrifice herself just to end this battle.

“…You can’t save anything by giving up your life. It’s just your pride. If you really think of the remorse of those who died, you have to live.”

I’ve been wondering from the beginning.

Why was Presha-san so indignant when she first took me to the dungeon and witnessed the interrogation?

The smuggled weapons by the betrayal of the Royal Army may have been used to kill her subordinates and she couldn’t take out her anger at that time.

If I make even a little suspicious movement, she’ll kill me. When she said that, her heart had reached its limit. Still, she had been waving her spear so far.

I wonder why I did nothing in front of her who’s walking with her open wounds. Well this is a proof that I neglected to examine her mind because I was only concerned about physical injuries…

“…Yes. I understand… I’m sorry. Once I think of what will happen if I, an attack captain, charge alone… that action will indeed only endanger my subordinates again.”

“Until now, we were on the defense-only fight. We were not allowed to attack… but now, it’s different. Still, that doesn’t change that Her Highness fights to protect Lezenia.”

There are those who try to convey it to the Capital by twisting it as a “command violation” or rebellion. Vaiseck – that man who insulted Astina-denka and did not even mourn for the victims.

“Your Highness, you said that you are watching Vaiseck. What about his movements…?”

Astina-denka presents us with a report from the spy. When she saw what was written there, Raquel-san closed her eyes then she tightly clenched her fists on the desk.

“…He contacted Hartner Reinfeld, the patriarch of the Reinfeld family in his sickbed. He said that if he worked with Astina-denka to fight against Zirconia, it would be considered as a rebellion… If that is the case, Vaiseck…”

With the guise of following the order from the Capital, he is working to avoid a full-scale war with Zirconia –it’s not something that pleasant for sure.

In order to defeat Astina-denka, he is trying to lose the battle against Zirconia.

“Why is such a thing happening… it’s like…”

Dite-san too already has an idea about it. The reason why Vaiseck behaves with such insolence is because there is a person in power behind him.

Right now, I have to say what I heard from Noin. Who is the person that until now is only known as a “royalty”, the traitor who colluded with Zirconia.

“…Astina-denka. Zirconia is acquainted to Queen Cassandra… and Jorg Frost, a court magician who works with her.”

The second queen wants her child, the prince, to succeed the throne. Even I, a student, knew it from rumors so there’s no way they don’t know that.

However, there’s no conclusive evidence. Even if there is, they will immediately rebel against Astina-denka –it was not a reason to appeal directly to the King and denounce the actions of the Second Queen either. It is true that we are hostile to Zirconia, and since this fortress serves as a shield to protect the people, she’s been focusing only to that and fight continuously.

“…Suppress the enemy’s base and curb further invasions. Let Zirconia agree to a ceasefire. I have to do that. Even if Cassandra is trying to get rid of me, I want to get to the negotiation table once.”

“Why…? His Majesty should have acknowledged Astina-denka’s achievements right? Then with His Majesty not listening at all, it’s something…”

Astina-denka shook her head quietly at Raquel-san’s idea. I can see the gloom that cannot be hidden from the expression of Her Highness who is always composed. She brushes up her golden thread-like hair and it feels like her eyes are looking somewhere far away.

I know that since I am connected to her through the sacred tree. What she feels is loneliness.

She couldn’t be loved by her father or mother and she can’t think of her parents as her allies. And getting spoiled will only weaken her heart that fought as a knight until now –that’s how she strictly controls herself.

“His Majesty wants Cassandra-sama to be someone he can rely on. Well, that is not unreasonable… My mother is in poor health and couldn’t always be with him as a queen. I heard that Cassandra-sama, a child of a family with the same rank as mother’s, was able to relieve his heart a lot. Now, even if I denounce Cassandra-sama, His Majesty will only try to pull me out of the army.”

“Even if the Second Queen is trying to destroy this kingdom? If you allow her to take over, this Western Territory will surely be cut off. Many people will die just to satisfy Queen Cassandra’s personal desire to defeat you Astina-denka.”

“…It will be a thorny path whichever way we choose. If we’re fighting the kingdom, it will affect the morale of the knights because some of them have family in the Capital.”

The course of action for this Knights Order is in dire straits. His Majesty cannot be expected to be on our side –It’s also not strange for Zirconia to attack at any time.

But if Vaiseck is left unattended, he will continue to work behind the scenes in the Western Territory –if the people ruled by the powerful families stop cooperating with us, this fortress could come to an end in the form of food shortage.

The queen doesn’t care about the Western Territory, and she won’t mind even if it’s cut off. Even if His Majesty is unaware of Queen Cassandra’s intentions, that is already what’s happening now―if that’s the case then…

“…Rather than being trampled down by Zirconia, we should establish a governing system so that the Western Territory can defend itself while maintaining its ability to continue the war.”

“With our own force… Grass, do you know what that means?”

“The enemy is attacking across the canal. It’s already invading the border. The decree of not fighting back is no longer feasible.”

Queen Cassandra will probably make Astina-denka take the responsibility of allowing the invasion of Zirconia, or order her to die for honor. She knows nothing about Astina-denka’s efforts and sufferings. All she’s doing is piling crimes just to make her child who’s still young into a king someday.

“…To rule over the Western Territory as an independent territory huh. You’re saying that I should do that, right?”

“Yes. That’s the only way to continue to work with the people to maintain the strength of the fortress. It will be irreversible after a series of defectors.”

We will explain to the people that Her Highness will become the Lord in order to fight against Zirconia. We will make necessary arrangements to ward those with influence to disturb or slander it –As for Vaiseck, I think we need to detain him. Well, even if we do that, a replacement for him will surely be sent again…

“Until now, I was only acting on behalf of His Majesty’s orders. As it stands until now, I can’t even restrict Vaiseck’s movements, let alone blame him for his actions.”

“Your Highness possesses His Majesty’s bloodline and you have the right to succeed to the throne. Originally, even if you’re not a knight, you would get a spouse and you would have been a feudal lord.”

“Y-Yes… that’s right. If Astina-denka isn’t a knight…”

“In that case, I would not have received the territory and I would have been used as a material for political tactics to form an alliance with the enemy kingdoms. I am glad that I chose to take the sword. I am still grateful for the permission of His Majesty…but…”

She’ll point her sword at his father –His Majesty, the king. If she declares herself as the ruler of the Western Territory, Queen Cassandra’s faction will always interpret it that way.

From the first time I saw Her Highness, I felt holiness different from humans. I wonder if that is why she can move my emotions visibly–because she’s just too perfect to me.

Her hands tremble. To suppress the trembling, she holds her own body.

Raquel-san’s tears spilled out when she saw that. Presha-sanand Dite-san stood up and wanted to rush over–but before that, Her Highness spoke with her quivering voice.

“Even if I will be scorned as a traitor… Even if His Majesty forsake me… I will definitely protect the people who believe in us. And I want to walk as one country with everyone.”

Presha-san covers her face. Dite-san looked down and she can’t raise her face. Leslie, who had been standing beside me all this time, touched my shoulder. Her hands were trembling and Leslie cried as if she was stifled to death.

The light seems far and it’s not spreading forward. But no matter how narrow or steep the road is, if there is a road –if Her Highness is there, we will never lose hope.

“Whether the people will recognize me or not, it will be decided in the next war. I will defeat『Alejandro』.”

He is not called as “general”. Perhaps it was because Astina-denka formally recognized that she had to defeat him. Presha-san wipes her eyes, with her bright red eyes she stands upright and puts her hand on her chest.

Raquel-san and Dite-san also followed suit. Her Highness unsheathes the gleaming silver sword, put her forehead on the fuller and prayed. Then she presented it forward.

The three person who usually use spear and bow also have sword on their waists. The sword that is the pride of a knight – those four people with it is what I felt the most dazzling thing I’ve ever seen.

I am honoured to be present at this place. At the same time, the anxiety about the difficulties ahead –such emotions spring out from them.

“We pledge to fight together, live together, and die together. In the name of Astina Lezenia, I declare an attack operation against Zirconia.”

Goosebumps wrap all over my body. How much their brave appearance would inspire the hearts of the people –just imagining that shook my heart.

「「「Glory to my Knights! 」」」

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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While Zirconia’s fort is in turmoil, we sailed up a tributary and arrived on our own shore without difficulty. Raquel-san lifts the anchor that holds the ship in place by herself. She will hurl it into the shallow water a little further away from the shore –if the ship gets too close to the shore, it will run aground and we will have to fix it in that case.

“Oh Apsaras, guide the chains that hold our ship to the bottom of the water…!”

At the command of Noin, Apsaras dances in the air above the surface of the water –then a vortex is formed on the water’s surface. It will guide the anchor to the bottom of the water.

“―Seyaaa!”

When Raquel-san throws the anchor, far from slowing down due to the water resistance, it goes underwater while rotating at a tremendous speed instead. After throwing a number of anchors needed to fix the ship in place, Dite-san wiped Raquel-san’s sweat.

“Thank you for your hard work, Knight Captain. Against your strength and magic combined, enemies are nothing right.”

 “Indeed, the power of magic is great. However, I can only exert my full strength thanks to Grass-dono…”

“Grass-sensei, did you also treat Raquel-ane? And personally…?”

Presha-san has a curious look on her face. For sure she’s wondering when did we do such a thing. After I applied the spirit mark on Astina-denka, in the room next to it ―If I explain it like that, Raquel-san may feel embarrassed. In fact, she is now holding her mouth as if she just made a mistake.

“N-No. That… It’s because I’m also a doctor you see. Just by looking at it, I can tell where the strain on your body is. I will notice it even if you hide it.”

“Uhmm… I’m energetic and not hurt anywhere so I didn’t receive any treatment. But if you have time, I’d like you to check up on me too. You know, just in case.”

“That’s what everyone thinks. I also got helped to cure my insomnia… If you take some time to ask for a medical check up, you are likely to become less energetic.”

There is also the word preventive medicine, like checking their nutrition and the daily burden on their body, then I can adjust and maintain it with my own hand on a daily basis.

But, I wonder why –was it because everyone is relieved that our mission was completed safely? I feel that the way they look at me is closer to those coming from a woman than from a knight.

“…Milord is really being yearned for. From how I see it, I think it’s close to being worship.”

Noin says with a smile while her light blue hair flutters in the river breeze. It seems that she is still grateful to me, but since she is from the same school and is close to my age, the term “Milord” feels a little bit off after all.

“The one to be worshiped should be Astina-denka as she is the shrine maiden of the sacred tree, I am just a spirit user.”

 “The one who can bring out the power of the sacred tree through me is you. And that is…”

“N-No, please don’t speak anymore than that. I’m one of the subjects who follow Your Highness, and I’m in the same position as everyone else.”

I knew it from the time I signed contract with the sacred tree. Her Highness, who is connected to the sacred tree, is changing her attitude towards me.

A maiden from the Royal family shows an attitude of being equal to me, or perhaps she will even obey me. Even now, if I didn’t stop her, she could have said that I, who also contracted with the sacred tree should be the one worshipped than her who is only a shrine maiden –well, this maybe me exaggerating things.

―But if Her Highness wouldn’t say anything just because I interrupted her, that would be a different story.

“Grass who made a contract with the sacred tree became an existence on the same level of the sacred tree. I believe that it is my mission to worship the sacred tree, respect its power, and convey its benefits to the people. I view Grass who can use the “miracles” of the sacred tree as his magic as the most important person on the Knights Order.”

The river’s breeze calms down and passes between us. Even though I knew that Astina-denka gave me the best compliment, I don’t know how to react. The first person to respond was Raquel-san. When she looked at me, her gaze had a lot of trust that I couldn’t even imagine from the time I first met her.

“From now on, our knights’ order will reach a major turning point. With the presence of Grass-dono and the others, by having three magicians, we were able to change the situation where we could only be cornered. For Astina-denka and for the people, I can continue to wield my sword and move forward without bending my belief. I am really grateful for that.”

“At first, I thought you’d soon be scared of the battlefield and run away, but it was totally different. I don’t know how to apologize to Grass-sensei for that misunderstanding…”

“It was the same for me too. We defended against Zirconia without relying on men and I thought we had to continue to do that. That is, Grass-sensei… it was because I just didn’t know any gentleman who can be an unwavering pillar like you.”

Why do the three of them says it to this extent?

It’s like if they don’t say it now, they won’t be able to say it anymore.

―It is because we don’t know if we can survive in the upcoming battle with General Alejandro.

“…Well for me, since I met everyone, since I came to Isle Rose Fortress, I started to think that I am not a “flop”, that even I can help others too.”

I had to work hard even just to acknowledge my own self. When I was at the academy, I think I was often down while trying not to become useless. Since I met the elders and started talking to them, I’ve been looking up a lot. It became natural for me to look up at the branches of a big tree.

Leslie wasn’t depressed when she pulled the “air” spirit and goes off the path of the elites. When she spent more time with me, she talked about things that I don’t know if she was serious or not –Sven taught me how to live without worrying as things will happen if it’s bound to take place.

There was nothing wrong with my journey so far. So that it will stay that way from now on, I need to earnestly think on what I can do to keep everyone alive even if I know they are already prepared for it.

“I don’t want anyone to die. I don’t want to convince myself anymore that I’ve done what I can just by healing those who are injured while seeing someone die without being able to do anything.”

This is not something that should be said especially since everyone here is a knight. Even so, I don’t want to send them to the battlefield without conveying it.

“…So please let us think about it together. Like a strategy where we could avoid any damage when confronting the enemy army.”

Me, Leslie, and Noin are combat magicians. With the addition of this new forces and the acquisition of a warship, it should be possible to defeat the enemy base where Alejandro is located. We could make it fall in a way that was not possible before.

We were able to neutralize the base where the warship was being built with only a small number. We have Laune and Rei, the familiars of the sacred tree –there is Earia and Apsaras too. With all these spirits, if the enemy doesn’t have a magician, we can create the situation overwhelmingly favourable to us.

“…Not having any casualty is the ideal. However, any commander takes casualties into account when planning a strategy.”

I know it’s exactly as what Astina-denka has said. My thoughts are childish and I’m not really facing the reality. But she did not negate me.

“However… The power of the spirits will surely make the impossible possible, I want to believe that too. I have witnessed the miraculous events that you have caused many times you see.”

“…Your Highness…”

“Grass, Leslie, Noin. The three of you, please help us. Noin, when I said I can’t forgive your sins, thinking of what I said I…”

“No. I only have the desire to work with all my heart to make Milord’s ideal a reality. I am already satisfied if I can be forgiven for that.”

Noin would easily sacrifice herself for me. That’s why I have to be careful. That’s the case for Leslie too. She’s always protecting me in a moment notice –it was fine until now, but if that continues, she could be seriously injured someday.

“…If I’ll be with Grass-nii, I’ll also… I will try to be as useful as possible with my magic.”

“Thank you, Leslie. You really hold Grass dearly right.”

“……I’m……”

Leslie’s answer couldn’t be heard because of the wind. Astina-denka seemed to know what Leslie was trying to say. Before I can ask her, Her Highness approaches the edge of the ship. Looking down on the shore, there are scouts from Isle Rose Fortress who came to patrol. They are Dite-san’s subordinates.

“Y-Your Highness… this ship is…”

Because it is hidden by the magic of fog, you can’t see it unless you get very close to the warship. As a result, the scouts are quite stunned. When Dite-san also appeared from the top of the ship, the soldiers salute in a hurry.

“This is Zirconia’s warship. It’s magically concealed so it will take some time before the enemy detects it.”

“We’ll use this to proceed to the next operation. You should scout the eastern part of the fortress. If there is an enemy movement on the opposite bank, let us know immediately.”

“Y-Yes… We understand!”

As Her Highness commanded, the scouts run on horseback. After seeing them off, we got off the boat using the rope ladder and stood on the ground. Passing through the reed beds, we headed to Isle Rose Fortress. Seeing the fortress with the sunrise on its back makes me feel proud rather than nostalgic.

“…We managed to come back without losing anyone.”

The knights opened their eyes wide to Astina-denka’s words. Her Royal Highness was also worried about this operation of sneaking into the enemy’s territory –Although she said that she’s not afraid, she still voiced her relief.

 “Of course, neither I nor everyone is doing half-baked training.”

“Haa～… I was nervous though. I thought I had to fight everyone in that fort.”

“Before that happens, I was going to do something about it. But I was able to save that too.”

It was the gunpowder weapon prepared by Dite-san, the “Fire Lance”. Using that newly developed weapon carries great risks. The fact that it was not used can be said as a good fortune.

Even if I know that the knights are always fighting with their lives, I still can’t help but think.

I won’t let anyone die. I’ll use all the means I can use to achieve that –I’ll protect everyone who said I was their “support” with my own hands.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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When I boarded the warship, Noin taught me how to set sail. After Presha-san and Raquel-san removed the chains that hold the ship together, Noin stands on the pontoon bridge.

It’s still far from morning but the moon is starting to tilt. The sound of the movement of Zirconia’s cavalry that we heard from the east is already approaching right outside the fort.

“If they find out that Baile became our prisoner, the enemy’s response will be quicker. If possible, I’d like to distract them even a little…”

“When the enemy enters the fort, you will use the “trap” that you have prepared. Since we can also involve the soldiers coming from outside of this fort, the function of this fort will completely stop. That’s what you meant to do right?”

Even though I proposed doing that, Her Royal Highness did not agree immediately. She bites her lips and she exudes some kind of remorse.

“Fighting is not your job. Despite that… and even though we know that you don’t want to use spirits to hurt other people, we rely solely on you.”

I will now specifically use my magic to attack the enemy soldiers. If the mandrake was pulled out, some soldiers will die as their life force will be sucked up.

“…I’m saying this based on our own selfish ideal thought but… Grass, I don’t want you to kill people like we do.”

“Yes… that’s right. Grass-sensei… you’re different from me. One day, you can live in a peaceful and lively place… you need to live and forget everything about this war.”

“Truthfully, it’s just a naive thought but… We know how kind you are so we can’t help but hope that you won’t change.”

Then I… ―I want to go back to the time before the war broke out and before everyone killed the enemy soldiers with their own hands.

But no matter how much we wish for it, it’s inevitable. Our relationship with the neighbouring kingdom’s had already deteriorated even before we were born and we couldn’t maintain the shape of this kingdom without fighting. I became a military doctor hoping to help others. There is really nothing different from these girls who became knights to protect the people.

“…Summoner-sama will not change. I will never let him change. Rei thinks so too.”

In response to Arlaune’s words, the root of the mandrake in my pocket glowed –Rei, who materialized, looked up at me and said,

“…Once I suck up the enemy’s life force, if you don’t want them to be sucked more and die, tell them to throw away their weapons and run away. I don’t know what will happen after that… But that’s not a matter Summoner-sama has to worry about. Besides, the enemy killed dozens of Summoner-sama’s companions. Honestly, I myself can’t help from dying after that.”

Rei’s principles ​​would represent the spirits’ perception on the human world. Originally, as a resident of the spirit world, they sometimes contract with humans to help them but they rarely interfere with them.

But still, Rei understood my feelings. It may kill people so she thinks that I won’t want that.

“It’s possible to kill all the enemy soldiers in this fort. But, Rei won’t do that… she knows that even if she does, nothing will change.”

“…Summoner-sama”

Rei who is only half as tall as me got a little teary-eyed. I bent over and stroked her head.

Instead of hair, she has this characteristically large leaves that grow like hair ornaments. The mandrake’s leaves itself may have the power to heal people. I can’t just expect Rei to serve as a tool for battle.

“It’s fine even if you can only make the soldiers here to become a “burden”. If General Alejandro sends troops to give Noin a new command, they will also get drag to it and will stop moving.”

“During that time, we will attack Alejandro’s main corps. As quickly as possible… right?”

The knights nod to Astina-denka’s words. Our strategy has been decided –we will escape while this fort is in turmoil.

“…Noin, can we use Baile to mislead Alejandro?”

“That’s… I’ve came here to make sure if Baile is really loyal to Alejandro. And Baile is essentially a man who is faithful to his desires. But he got angry at Alejandro for using me to buy his loyalty. If he sneaked out of the fort alone to remonstrate Alejandro, maybe we can make it possible.”

Noin doesn’t seem to notice it herself, but she’s trying to hold her body involuntarily.

What was she told to do for Baile? Why did she choose to resist the command even at the stake of her life?

When I think about it, inconsolable feeling wells up in me.

He made Noin fight her home kingdom, but not only that, he also tried to use her for something else. Alejandro… I don’t know what he looks like but…

“We can’t expect to defeat Alejandro using Baile, and even if we take Baile as a POW to negotiate, he will only be discarded for sure. If he turned himself in for not being able to control the turmoil in the fort, there certainly is a possibility that he can meet Alejandro face to face.”

Her Royal Highness looks at Raquel-san and listens to her opinions.

“If Baile can make contact with Alejandro while he’s under Arlaune’s hypnosis, we may be able to extract information from him. It may be possible to shake him up directly.”

 “I have the same opinion as Raquel-ane but… if Baile is refused an audience then it can’t be helped in that case.”

 “We won’t know anything even if we killed him so it’s better to try to find out something… I think it’s time to get away from here. Grass-sensei…”

I nod to Dite-san. I already resolve myself –I’m going to fight with everyone in the truest sense.

“Rei… No, it’s Mandrake. Don’t hesitate to attract the enemy until they enter the fort and approach the barracks. Command your other part to『Scream loud』.”

“Yes, Summoner-sama”

Rei, who doesn’t always show her expression, smiles slightly. It seemed to represent her pure joy in being asked to become my strength.

“―『My other-half who share my soul. Move further away from the Pangaea garden, think of a distant land and scream out loud. 』”

Rei’s body is covered with a magenta glow –a magical color that is poisonous to humans. Her other self is probably covered with the same light. Alejandro’s troops entered the fort. Realizing that, Leslie spread out a wall of air that blocks sound and wrap around the entire ship.

Noin too. While interfering with the flow of water and moving the warship, she orders Apsaras to use a large amount of water to create fog.

“―『Oh celestial maiden born from the sea of ​​clouds, Apsaras. Together with the fog of illusions, give a dance. 』”

As soon as the ship leaves the shore and slides into the river, it is surrounded by the fog rising from the surface of the water. The illusion of fog wraps around the wall of air that blocks the screams of the unleashing Mandrake without interfering with Leslie’s magic or cancelling each other out.

I borrowed the view of Rei’s other self to see what was happening inside the fort. Looks like it became a situation where it is no longer necessary to hide within an illusion. The few soldiers who escaped the direct hit of Mandrake’s cry are extremely confused in front of the fallen soldier.

―What is that horrifying cry I just heard…? All the ones who heard that collapsed…!

―What happened to Baile and Commander!? What the hell is this…? What the hell is going on!?

―Find that magician! She did it!

―No, she’s a water magician. I can’t find any traces of “water” here…!

Noin could even use the water they drink as a medium but the enemy soldiers do not seem to know that. Fortunately the Zirconia army had little knowledge about the spirit’s magic.

“…It seems that the enemy is unlikely to go after us. Well done Rei.”

“I thought Summoner-sama… didn’t want to use me because I have a poison that kills people. But I was mistaken… I’m glad I can be of help to Summoner-sama.”

Just because it’s a poisonous plant doesn’t mean that it’s not useful in medicine –to me, the natural power of a plant including its poison or its ability to protect itself is irresistible.

“…The flow of water is reversed only in the direction this ship is going. Like it’s carrying us… So this is the power of a water spirit…”

 “But it can’t match with Grass-dono. No, I’m sure Grass-dono would say that every spirit has its strengths and can’t be compared…”

Raquel-san sees thru my thoughts brilliantly. Plants, air, water –all of them can be different. And they can even work together as we do now.

Noin also seemed relieved that it all went well. But I can’t relax just yet and she’s still blaming herself –then,

“Noin, when this ship goes out into the canal, please dock a little west of Isle Rose Fortress.”

“Yes. Your Highness… Before that, there is something I need to tell you.”

She must be planning to tell Astina-denka that our enemy is Cassandra, the Second Queen.

And after that, when we have confirmed who should we fight, we will be forced to make a decision.

Further ahead the battle against Alejandro, it’s about the Second Queen Cassandra and the Court Magician Jorg –how should we face them from now on.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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Someone screamed. It’s not just Leslie, everyone else’s voice too. However, only Astina-denka watched without saying a word. She knows that she doesn’t have to worry about anything.

With its bared black fangs, the snake that is headed towards me came into a halt. I then hold my hand over the snake –I felt like the sacred tree, Yuserish was telling me to do so.

「―Mistilteinn that lives in my branches, out of this tainted water, bring out the drops that are the source of all life. 」

“…Aaahhhhh…!”

Noin produced a voice laced with suffering –it was also the agony of death of the dark spirit that dwells inside her as it was pulled out from her. It’s the type of pain that afflicts both mind and body which occurs when a spirit is purified.

However, the one that healed her is also one of the sacred tree’s familiars, the mistletoe. As it entwined on Noin’s legs, it sucks up the vitality that was taken by the dark spirit. And as we look on, it withers as it returns the tainted power to its original vitality and gives it back to Noin and Apsaras.

Apsaras, who was on the verge of death after being incapacitated, regained her energy –her whole body is tinged with faint light, her figure with a light silk was exactly as the one referred as a celestial maiden.

Then, the dark spirit disappears completely –no, it returned to the realm of the dead.

Noin, who was just freed, looked at me. It was the first time that our gaze met and it was done purely by her own will.

“…This…this is really…”

Noin covers her face. Truthfully, I think that she has tormented herself too much. Dragged by the word “death”, Noin’s appearance could only be described as tragic but brave. But there is no need for her to despair anymore. The dark spirit that was bound to her was already purified by the power of the sacred tree.

When the mistletoe leaves Noin, it undoes its materialization at once. Then it materialized again as if it was entwined in my arm. Yuserish tells me not to be afraid.

The will that dwells in the mistletoe is directly calling me.

「―Through the Great Mother, Yuserish-sama’s order, we will recognize you as our master and serve you. From here on, we’re pleased to make your acquaintance. 」

“Yeah, please treat me well.”

「―Please do not hesitate to order me in case of danger. Other than the one I showed you this time, I have an “original role”.」

That’s right. This is why I’m always attracted to plants as they have more than just one feature. And the more I research about them, the more different aspects I can see.

Mistilteinn will also be useful in other situations as well. Arlaune too, as well as Mandrake, the plants I met in the garden of the sacred tree, the floating prickly water lily –I really want to study the healing power of plants. I’m grateful to them for helping me fight in this way.

“Noin, you are now free from the dark spirit. You no longer need to listen to their orders unwillingly…”

Before I finished speaking, Noin knelt on the magic circle and bowed deeply to me.

“Y-You don’t have to do that since we are about to fight together. Raise your head.”

However, she only looked up slightly. Does that mean she’s thanking me separately?

The battle isn’t over yet, but rather, this is just a stepping stone. After defeating Alejandro and we have a truce with Zirconia, we must take countermeasure against our opponents. I know it’s not within the military doctor’s scope to think about the Knights’ future. I did not forget that but, I just want to do what I can.

“I thought that I’m living just to die. When I killed lots of knights from Isle Rose, I know that there’s no place I can return to and I will just end up being exhausted by Zirconia… But, you changed it.”

“…I just wanted to get Noin’s help because I needed it for the Knights’ sake. That’s all of it for me. There’s nothing for you to be thankful towards me.”

“But still, I can’t help but say that I’m living this way now because of your power that freed me.”

There is no hesitation in Noin’s eyes. It wasn’t a one-time thing, those words showed her intention to join in a long-lasting battle.

“Grass Weed… No, Grass-sama. I pledge allegiance to you and the Knights of Isle Rose. Please use this life that you saved for that.”

“…Astina-denka was the one who told me to. I think everyone knows that Noin was forced to obey the enemy’s orders.”

Those who have died will not be resurrected. But Noin is not the one to be blamed here. There is another person we need to pursue. With the current Noin, she can say that without being restricted.

“Noin… Who is our enemy who sent you to Zirconia?”

“…Second Queen Cassandra. There is a court magician who is close to her. Jorg Frost, he’s the man who led the magicians unit on the Northern front. He was the one who put the dark spirit inside me and sold me to Zirconia. Shortly after that, he went up to the Royal Capital to serve the second prince, Cassandra’s son.”

Corruption is deeper than I have imagined and it’s endless –no, it appeared to be so only because from the start, we didn’t know the actual situation. As expected, the Second Queen was working behind the scenes to dismiss Astina-denka. However, there is a limit to what Cassandra can do alone, and apparently, there are people who have helped her.

Jorg Frost. The achievements of a court magician belonging to the military may or may not be publicized so I don’t know much about him. I only know his rank as a court magician.

14th Ranked –Three ranks higher than Millenia Weed, “The Jade Witch”.

“…At the time when he was studying the spirits, as a magician, he committed the taboo in this Kingdom. We have to do something about that man named Jorg or we can’t do well in the future.”

“I will do anything to beat that man…”

“You may be praised for winning even if there are sacrifices but it doesn’t suit my nature. I don’t think alone as I don’t stand alone.”

“…Yes. I will follow Grass-sama’s instructions.”

Somehow, some parts of her answers are too obedient and baffling, but when it comes to showing her sincerity, it seems unwise to correct her each time.

“Well then, this is my first command. Noin, move the warship right away.”

“Understood, Master-sama.”

Is she making fun of me? Or…

―It is natural that my contracted spirit’s calls me as “Summoner-sama” but I never imagined that a day will come when a human will call me as such…

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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If Noin use her magic to support us, the dark spirit will immediately take her life. It means that she can’t use magic until she undoes her bond with the dark spirit.

Noin’s fog can cover the entire fort. If only she could work with me… No, that idea is not good from the start.

In addition, there’s an issue on whether I can really succeed in the treatment of that dark spirit. If it fails, though Astina-denka has some power to go against the dark spirit, the three knights (Raquel-san and the others) are at risk.

A dark spirit is not a boon to living creatures, it is a curse itself. In accordance with that contract, it was bonded to Noin while having some constraints. It would indiscriminately attack anything that hinders it –there is a record that one village has been destroyed just because that person made a mistake in dealing with the dark spirit. As a result, it became forbidden. It was said that there was a book sealed in the back of the school’s library that describes the dark spirits but it is not something that ordinary students can see.

However, Noin actually contains a dark spirit inside her. It only suggests that some of the books in the Academy could be read and exploit.

Even in the Academy… not all of them are on our side. It is unlikely that my stepsister knows about this and overlooks it –I want to think that she, the headmaster of the Academy, doesn’t even know the entire Academy’s staff and the court magicians, what more of their personal connections.

“…Grass, are you worried about Millenia?”

“Uh…S-Sorry. Right now… this case is…”

“Headmaster Millenia Weed has nothing to do with me. I’m merely the tip of it so I can’t say for sure… But, I haven’t heard of any conspiracy where she’s been involved in since she was in the military though. On the contrary, she has been asking for a proper report about the status of the student’s who became a court magician.”

Did my stepsister know that some of the court magicians were making some suspicious move? Or did she ask for it to show the success of the students that the Academy produced to encourage the juniors?

―Considering the character of Millenia Weed that I know of, I think it’s both.

“If the Headmaster is really an “ally of the Kingdom”, there’s nothing wrong with it… If possible, I don’t want her to be an enemy.”

In case the Academy is under a pressure and they were forced to turn against Astina-denka… I will eventually have to fight the magicians who learned in the same school as me, and of course those court magicians who are much more capable than Noin.

“If our attack on Zirconia is relayed to the capital, those from the opposition in the Royal family may move because we violated the decree. No… they will surely try to capture me. Their aim is for my loss and maybe, to imprison me.”

If Her Highness suffers a major defeat in the battle, she will be blamed for it while using that as a weakness. Those in the Capital, whom should have been our ally, will try their best to drive her out.

But even with such situation, I think it was still a good fight. So far, though she was walking on a thin ice, she has led the Knights up to this point so she cannot be punished for her actions to protect her subordinates and the people.

“Your Highness…I have something I want to talk to you right now. It’s about Your Highness’ mother the first Queen… her son, the first prince and your sister, the second princess.”

“Noin, if you say that, your life will be at risk. For now, give priority to yourself first.”

In reality, she really wants to know about it right away. However, Her Highness refused to do so without showing any regret.

We escaped from the path we used to invade and went outside the commander’s lodging. Baile, who’s still unconscious, was lifted by the plant’s vines and brought out of the window –using the same vines, we went out and join the three people (Raquel-san and the others) who were hiding in the material shed.

“Is this man…Your Highness, is he a prisoner?”

Upon seeing the commander’s badge on Baile’s shoulder, Raquel-san immediately perceived things out. Her Highness nodded then I summoned Arlaune and made Baile inhale her pollen.

“Uh…”

“You’ll have to accompany us from here on. I will not allow you to go against us.”

“……I understand……”

His eyes are out of focus but the hypnosis worked well. This will prevent Baile from interfering in our moves.

“You will lead us to the warship’s location. Is there a hidden doorway?”

“……This way……”

Baile initially wobbled but he gradually became steady and guided us to a pier next to the river by a route that was out of sight of the lookouts.

There are two access gates from the fort to the dock, but only one of them is guarded by the guards, and one seems to be watched from the turret. But with the use of hypnotic air balls, they could be easily incapacitated.

There are also lookouts in the pier ―but since we came this far, it wouldn’t be that hard to get rid of enemy troops that weren’t even that skilled. Hiding in the blind spots of those lookouts, we hold their breath and let them fall one by one.

The last one was guarding the area on the pier for boarding the warship, but Baile showed up to attract his attention then Presha-san, who went around behind him, hit him with the spear handle and knocked him down.

“I’m afraid it’s going too well…”

“Yes… but, the direction of the wind isn’t very good after all. If this goes on, we can’t get out of the canal as we will be washed away to the Zirconia’s side.”

“If we can use the water spirit’s magic, we can move the ship at will…. But in this headwind, we can only expect the direction of the wind to change.”

Dite-san says so while holding down her fluttering hair while Noin could only give out a bitter smile. I didn’t think she would have that kind of look, that was unexpected.

“We have to deal not only with the wind, but also with the flow of the river. The only way to get this warship to the canal in the current weather is with the “water’s cooperation”.”

“…Spirit’s magic is terrifying after all. But at the same time, it’s reliable.”

Dite-san looks at me as she says that. It’s like she’s saying, “I’m counting on you, but trusting Noin is risky.”

The reason I decided to pull Noin into our side was because I witnessed it –my responsibility would be heavy but my experience as a doctor tells me that Noin is not lying.

“…Wait! What is that sound…? This…. Is it a horn…?”

As Raquel said that, we too heard the sounds coming from the west –a group of enemy soldiers are approaching this fort while treading on the grass.

“Don’t tell me… No, it’s not you. You’re eyes are already determined.”

“…Alejandro should have sensed my betrayal. So if he sent troops after me… they would step inside this fort and try to find me.”

“We don’t have time to waver… Everyone, please board the warship. I’ll “purify” Noin’s dark spirit here.”

“Grass-nii, I can also attend the ritual. I can draw magic circles for the spirit too.”

“All right… Leslie, I’ll leave it to you. Noin, I’ll hypnotize you a little.”

If the dark spirit responds to her “will to resist her restraint”, it would be dangerous just to have it watch the progress of the ritual.

“Ugh… Summoner-sama, this person can resist my children.”

“…I’ll try to weaken the resistance. I’m sorry, I’m a magician you see… ugh…”

Combat magicians appear to be training to respond and defend against enemy’s magic that affects the mind. Noin weakened her defense with her own will.

When the hypnosis begin, Noin’s eyes appeared to be intoxicated and her body weakens. At her feet, Leslie drew up a magic circle using a paint that allows magic to pass through.

“Grass-nii, this is…?”

“What we are trying to purify is the “dark spirit”… we need to use the “spirit wedge method”. If we are to purify a normal spirit, we don’t need to use a “wedge”.”

The current Noin was forced to contract with the dark spirit. In order to revoke that contract, another spirit, a third Spirit, must intervene between the water spirit that Noin originally contracted and the dark spirit then play the role of a “wedge” as it is necessary to let the “third spirit” take over the contract temporarily.

What happens if we do this? ―Since Yuserish will temporarily take over the dark spirit’s contract, that would mean that she can have a power over Noin.

However, there would be no problem in that because Yuserish would not threaten Noin’s life. The question is, to transfer the contract, can my power seal the dark spirit that will soon be revealed?

“…All right. Leslie, together with Laune, please stay further away.”

“Grass-nii… Be careful. Don’t overdo it.”

There is no time to waver. Leslie understands that, so as I instructed her to hold Arlaune, they approached the rope ladder for boarding the warship.

With me left on the pier, I drink the extract of a “cluster pine” to control my tension. I had Raquel-san drink it before but I know its effect best because I was the one who made it –my idle thoughts before disappeared and my vision becomes clear.

“Noin, tell me the name of the water spirit you originally contracted.”

“…Water and sky… Apsaras…”

Even in the book about elemental spirits, it’s a high-ranking spirit belonging to water element –as expected, Noin’s ability is considerable. The names often mentioned are “Undine” and “Nereid”, although these spirits are elemental spirits, they do not have the power to cause natural disasters.

Apsaras has the appearance of a beautiful woman. Now that a dark spirit is also contained inside her, what kind of state is it in?

I must get rid of this disease as quickly as possible. I made up my mind and began to chant with the help of the sacred tree’s power.

“You, the spirit from the realm of the dead who dwells inside Noin Flores, transfer that contract to my spirit and return to where you should be!”

I chanted out and pressed my hands on the ground. At that moment, a sinister presence coiled around the spirit mark engraved on Noin’s chest appeared as if it was torn off from her body.

“…Grass-nii…!”

“Don’t come here Leslie!”

Black Snake ―an enemy of water spirits, it’s a water spirit from the realm of the dead. It absorbed Noin’s magical power and forcibly manifested itself, it wrapped around Apsaras’ whole body and tightened its grip.

Her contracted spirit was weakened, the fact that it’s on the verge of dying means that the magician’s life force was undermined. The black snake that bites on Apsaras neck sucked up the pure magical power of the water spirit and fattened its sluggish body.

Is this the disease…? Can it be sealed by my power? No, I’ll seal it…!

The moment I swore that, grass sprouted rapidly on the borderline of the magic circle, it became a vine, it then stretched on the ground and spread out, forming a huge cage that enclosed me and Noin.

This is the barrier-weaved by the sacred trees’ familiar. It was created by Yuserish to contain the dark spirit and prevent it from getting away.

Now I don’t need to fear on getting everyone involved. However, Noin’s life force is still being sucked up by the black snake ―all of that power must be returned to the owner!

“…I want you to disappear from here. It’s not your place…!”

The black snake separates its fangs from Apsaras’ neck. The next moment, the snake’s jaw opened wide and attacked at a speed that I can’t even follow with my eyes ―but,

“Summoner-sama, it doesn’t matter even if it’s a tainted water! If it’s the sacred tree…!”

“Uh…!”

Yes ―the result was already decided. The sacred tree’s familiar rooted at Noin’s feet immediately entwined her body with vines.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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