Chapter 341 - The Strong and the Protected

Five days have passed since we left the encampment.

I, clad in my Fly King outfit, looked around on Slei as she’s in her second form.

The view from the top of a gentle slope……

Mira’s soldiers advancing on the main road……

I suppose one could say this sight is rather spectacular.

I am now part of a march——— positioned near the front of the line.

At my position, the Mad Emperor is within my field of vision.

He is riding a white horse, surrounded by mounted Imperial Guards.

He sure looks exactly like a prince on a white horse……

Well, he’s actually not a prince, but the Emperor of his country.

Until yesterday, I was riding a horse borrowed from Mira.

Slei was resting because of fatigue and MP consumption.

But today, Slei wanted to take me for a ride.

I guess she wanted a change of scenery.

Well…… For me, as expected, I feel most comfortable riding Slei.

[It seems that the people of the Faraway Country have responded to our request without incident.]

Riding to my side, on a white horse, Seras said.

[It seemed like they were also considerably motivated.]

A few days ago, the messenger who had gone to the Faraway Country sent a magical war pigeon.

It seems that the Faraway Country accepted the request without any problem.

It is said that the Faraway Country immediately sent out three of their corps and their monster units.

As the one organizing matters for those who remained in the country, King Zect stayed behind.

The last remaining corps on their side is the Dragon Light Army led by Kokoroniko Doran.

Just in case, I wanted them to leave some prepared forces behind, so I instructed them to do so.

The Dragon Light Army suffered the most damage in the previous battle against Alion’s Thirteen Cavalries.

The decision to leave them behind was reasonable.

……is what’s supposed to be the case, but looking at it another way……

They have sent out five of their Seven Lights.

They have also sent out more than half of their combat force.

They’re quite cooperative.

I suppose the talks regarding land transfer also worked surprisingly well.

Certainly, being able to own land in the outside world is a big deal for the Faraway Country.

Though I say that, it would only be a temporary lease at first.

“We have obtained the cooperation of the Three Elected Imperial Household, so we will widely publicize the matter of us sending out reinforcements this time, with some exaggerations here and there.”

That is what the Mad Emperor told me.

Therefore, discussions with the Faraway Country proceeded easily, including the persuasion of the domestic market.

Regarding this matter, this was actually an idea I suggested to the Mad Emperor.

If they can own land, they can grow their own crops.

It would also make it easier for them to communicate with the outside world.

……Seems like they had been under Mira’s care.

I didn’t tell them about the Reserve Corps though.

The reason being that we aren’t sure how the Faraway Country’s side feel about them.

There may be tribes with a bad history with them.

At the meeting to start an alliance, the Mad Emperor didn’t bring up the subject of the Reserve Corps either, seemingly having the same concerns as I have.

[Is Munin in the carriage?]

At my words, Seras looked behind us for a moment.

[Yes, together with Itsuki-dono.]

Itsuki frequently visits Munin’s carriage lately.

[Seems like the two of them are getting along well.]

[Itsuki-dono is very friendly and easy to talk to after all.]

[She does speak without any filters sometimes, but well, even jewels can have imperfections.] 

At my words, Seras wryly smiled.

[In Itsuki-dono’s case though, she didn’t have any ill intentions, so I don’t have a bad impression of her.]

If she realized she had spoken out of turn, she would apologize for her words.

My impression of her really has changed from when I was in the previous world.

……No.

If you look at it from everyone else’s perspective, then it’s me who’s the odd one out huh.

Incidentally, Asagi group is marching a few distance behind us.

They had apparently requested the Mad Emperor to be positioned a little further away in the marching line.

[Yesterday, together with Munin, you both got involved with Asagi. From your point of view, what’s your impression of her?]

I did stand near their group and listened to their exchange.

At my question, a subdued wry smile forms on her lips.

Unlike when we were talking about Itsuki, the smile on her face seemed to indicate that she isn’t really good at dealing with Asagi.

[It was our first time properly talking with each other, but I think she’s quite the unique person?]

[You sure are good at putting things softly, Seras.]

[It’s not that I have a bad impression of her though……]

There’s this sense of tension in the expression on her face.

[Before she left…… Do you remember when we were watching that exchange in the barracks and she uttered offensive words to Kobato-dono?]

[Yeah.]

[And the way she apologized right after she kicked her in the leg.]

[When she apologized…… Your signal back then says that it’s the truth.]

[Asagi-dono indeed apologized sincerely…… but after seeing how she was being aggressive before that……]

Seras lowered her head……

[Embarrassing it may be to admit this, but I was confused……]

[Yeah, I can see how she would be the type Seras would be weak around.]

[However, her having favorable thoughts to me seems to be true. That makes me happy———- but I still can’t understand her as a human being……, ————-]

[ ? ]

At that moment, Seras’ ears perked up, seemingly noticing something.

[Ah, about that————- It’s alright, okay, Touka-dono.]

Seras straightened her back and puffed out her chest with a resolute look on her face.

[The ability to comprehend something from others is my good point, but it’s also my bad point————– Please don’t worry, I’ll keep that in mind.]

My lips slackened to a small smile.

[I’m glad to see you’re learning.]

[Yes. If I have judged that a burden is too much for me, I will lower such a burden down.]

[If you feel that a burden is too heavy, you can always rely on me. I’m sure there are many things that I can carry because it’s me carrying them.]

[……Yes.]

[You don’t have to carry everything all by yourself.]

It’s fine to leave all the burdens to the avenger.

[If you force yourself to take on all the burdens……, ————–]

Cutting off my words halfway through, I glanced at the carriage behind us.

That carriage is different from the one with Munin and Itsuki.

Seemingly lured along my gaze, Seras also glanced in that direction.

[Is Ayaka-dono going to be alright?]

[……I wonder.]

Sogou Ayaka has not woken up yet.

Incidentally, sleeping for a long time can cause a bit of practical problems.

But for such a thing, the Mad Emperor prepared a strange magic tool.

“It’s also used when past Emperors fall into a coma. Just to be sure, the Emperors had always brought this with them when they left the Imperial Capital for a long time. I didn’t think it would help in this way though.”

In other words, it’s a magic tool to keep an unconscious person alive.

The main purpose is to support the nourishment of the patient.

It’s like the life support equipment in our world.

When the Takao sisters camp, they sleep in the same carriage as Sogou.

Hijiri also often stays in the same carriage during the daytime.

It was mainly Hijiri who took care of this and that regarding Sogou.

As for the sisters……

“We have been taking care of bedridden old people with our grandmother from our mother’s side. Leave her to us.”

“Grandma’s case was a little special though.”

Come to think of it, I heard a conversation before that sounded like a love story, where I think relatives were brought up.

I wonder if they have strong ties with their relatives.

[If she can become our ally, she would be a welcome addition to our forces.]

[That attack from Ayaka-dono back then…… I could barely block it myself.]

[You were tired from fighting Kirihara after all.]

[No…… Perhaps, Ayaka-dono herself was also exhausted both mentally and physically.]

I feel like just being able to block her, Seras is also quite something.

[In your opinion, what’s Sogou like, Seras?]

[When it comes to combat talent, I think she’s someone out of the ordinary.]

[For example…… If you were to fight her one-on-one, would you be able to win against her?]

At my question, Seras ponders on her horse.

[Let’s see…… If it’s a fight for me to not lose———– Then, yes. I would win such a battle. However, if it’s a fight where my aim is to win against her…… My apologies for disappointing you, but if you ask if I’m confident to do that…… then I could only say no.]

[If you play defensively, you can buy time, but when it comes to bringing her down…… that would be difficult huh.]

[Yes. However, that’s just from the way I see things. I’m not sure what actually happens until we actually fight……]

[…………………….]

It’s generally amazing when you can analyze that much just from that one moment of attack.

We looked once more at the carriage in which Sogou slept.

[But first…… Let’s pray that she wakes up safely.]

[……Right.]

If only the shackles “classmates” that had bound her disappeared……

Looking at pure combat power, Sogou Ayaka would have the highest strength among our allies.

It’s just…….

Her waking up now————— isn’t something I’m quite sure about.

There are also the matters of our classmates left behind in Alion.

“Even if it’s by myself, I will go pick up our classmates.”

She might say something like that.

If that happens, there might be another uproar———–

It really would be best if Nyantan herself takes our classmates out.

[I would like to have a talk with her…… Just the two of us.]

[You talking about Sogou?]

[Yes. I think she’s a very earnest and straightforward person. You see……]

Thereupon, looking somewhat apologetic, Seras wryly smiled.

[I myself have suffered from it———— I have suffered because of my earnestness.]

[……Well, I guess you are both similar in nature.]

Vysis had apparently tried to get Seras before.

If Seras had become Vysis’ “tool”……

Perhaps…… She might have also been broken like Sogou.

[I think I was just lucky…… I have always been protected by others. Now, I have you…….]

Seras lightly lifted her chin, and thoughtfully looked into the distance.

The direction her face had turned was probably……

[And in the past, I had the Princess———— I had Cattleya-sama by my side.]

<Author’s Notes>

The next chapter is scheduled to be updated on May 12th (Friday), around 9:00 pm.