Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan - 12, page 1
Intermission - The resolution of the First Princess
Time goes back, one hour before the clash between Vermillion Army and Kradleland Army.
When Vermillion Army established a battle formation in Caldia City.
Lunaize Vermillion, the First Princess of the Empire of Vermillion, who was brought to the hospital by Kurogane Ikki and《Black Knight》Iris Ascaride, had heard the response of her father Sirius Vermillion about the current situation on the bed of the hospital room, namely that Kradleland was advancing into Vermillion with the magic of《Marionette King》Or-Gaule.
In other words, the fact that he moved Vermillion Army, armed with police equipment used for mob suppression to save their friend country Kradleland controlled by magic.
To that decision, she,
- What did you say!?
She raised her voice due to the great surprise.
- Is, is that true!?
- Yes. As one would expect of King Sirius. I have never been so proud of being born in Vermillion than today.
- ……
The young messenger soldier spoke with proud while making his eyes sparkle like a boy.
Certainly, Lunaize thought that was a choice typical of her father.
Vermillion and Kradleland compromised with each other to bridge the gap of history until today. And there haven’t been a moment in which Kradleland had needed the help of Vermillion recently. And in the last moment, they turned a self-protection and changed their attitude quickly. Her father wasn’t a man who would make such a selfish decision with a heartlessness like that.
That was the virtue of her father as the King.
――But still, Lunaize declared.
“That this decision of her father was a big mistake”.
There wasn’t that much of a big difference between the military strength of Kradleland and Vermillion.
If they were to fight them at home, they should be able to make the war situation stalemate even with inferior equipment.
Besides, Vermillion now had《Black Knight》.
She should have already requested an emergency intervention to League headquarters.
Reinforcements would come from neighboring member nations of League.
It was evident that the number of those reinforcements overwhelmed Kradleland both in quantity and quality.
In that case, they may be able to successfully save Kradleland from the hands of《Marionette King》.
――Yes, all of these were convenient delusions. Nothing but wishful thinking.
First and foremost, there was no way the reinforcements would move immediately.
Perhaps Vermillion would need to maintain the war front unassisted for the entire day.
With poor police equipment.
Moreover, it could be possible that the opponent was Kradleland Army only, but,
――The enemy, they weren’t alone. That demon was behind Johan and the others. 《Marionette King》Or-Gaule.
An enemy with a fearsome strength that quickly made of Kradleland his own.
And perhaps, her circle of friends were also in it.
If the opponents were also those people and they were to fight against them without having a decent attack power――they would certainly suffer big losses. Thousands. No, tens of thousands. With the result of many people losing their sons, fathers and husbands.
The situation would be worse if the enemy had a Blazer with a strength similar to Stella’s.
It was inevitable that with a large-scale battle like this even common people would be dragged into it.
(Why Haha-ue didn’t stop him…!?)*
*TN: Very formal way to address one’s mother.
Her father and Stella were excellent warriors.
But for that reason, they tended to be too brave.
That in itself was their charisma, it wasn’t a bad thing, but――
Never, no matter what happened, a country shouldn’t have bravery as their motive power.
Politics were performed with minimal losses in mind, and not with best war results.
Saving both Vermillion and Kradleland ――was possible.
They shouldn’t cling to such thin expectations.
(The best choice in this situation is to throw away the emotions and carry out a defensive battle with maximum firepower equipment)
Because they, the imperial family, carried the lives of the people on their backs.
Because they existed to protect the lives of the people.
(――I must stop them)
The one who took care of the current war between Kradleland and Vermillion from the beginning was her.
That responsibility was on her.
But, how do so?
In their previous meeting, Or-Gaule was showing a behavior in which he was suspiciously interested in Stella. What came from the type of emotions he had wasn’t within the category of comprehension, but it appeared to be impossible to stop war itself as long as the enemy was interested in Stella.
It wasn’t realistic anymore to change the equipment of Vermillion Army to conventional weapons again and perform a complete resistance, because the fact that Kradleland Army is being controlled is already well-known by the soldiers.
Then almost everything was too la――
(… No, wait)
The smart head of Lunaize derived to a solution as she thought.
She certainly could no longer stop the war.
But――it was possible to stop this battle.
(At this rate, the League will soon do an armed intervention with a large army)
《Black Knight》’s figure should have seen Or-Gaule.
And that wasn’t a convenient situation for Or-Gaule and company.
While Or-Gaule and the others were powerful Blazers, 《League》was an enormous organization that divided the world into two.
Fighting directly against them was a great disadvantage.
Rather, the chance to win was nonexistent.
They would be exterminated without fail.
In that case, at that moment, there would be room for negotiation.
(I will explain the reasons to prevent a forced intervention by taking on the appearance of doing war with what’s in the League Treaty as originally planned)
If the scale of war were to be reduced to a war of representatives, then they would have enough time to make people find shelter outside the country.
If this was the case, then taking the risk of facing the enemy with poor equipment was not necessary.
If worst comes to worst, if Vermillion was defeated, the lives of the people could be protected.
… However, the choice of discarding the number advantage and dropping the winning chances of Vermillion drastically while at the same time lowering the probabilities of saving Kradleland was…
『Relax, Johan! If there’s something that you can’t handle by yourself, then at that time, I’ll come and give you a hand』
(I’m sorry…)
Lunaize apologized in a small way with a disgusted expression as she recalled the words she returned to Johan who made feeble complaints about whether he would actually be fit for a King when they were children.
Oaths and friendship… were of little importance when compared to the responsibilities this person was burdened with.
There was only one action she could do now.
With that in her heart, Lunaize got up from the bed.
- Ah! Lunaize-sama, you can still move.
- I need you to tell the director to prepare a helicopter as soon as possible.
- Eh!? W-what do you mean――
- I will go to Kradleland. This is an order as the First Princess.
Lunaize commanded with a strong tone of voice that didn’t let him say yes or no, covering the words of the young soldier with it.
Chapter 10 - Their duty as the Imperial Family
「「「Eh…!?」」」
The soldiers of Vermillion who fought against Kradleland Army controlled by the『threads』of Or-Gaule.
A change like that happened all of a sudden in front of them, who fought against the threat.
- What? Is it my idea or Kradleland Army stopped moving abruptly?
Yes. The soldiers of Kradleland stopped moving suddenly and collapsed into the ground.
Just like a puppet with cut threads.
All of them.
The soldiers were confused. “How did this happen when we haven’t destroyed the hubs?”
While that happened,
《Black Knight》Iris Ascaride, who had a remarkably high true strength, and《Seven Stars Sword King》 Kurogane Ikki, noticed the presence of an enemy who came flying in the air from the far west.
- That’s Or-Gaule, and… Lunaize-san!?
――《Crimson Princess》Stella Vermillion, who confronted them in the air, also saw the unusual change of the battlefield below her.
(What does that mean?)
『Vermillion, as a member nation of the League, has officially accepted the declaration of war of the new government of Kradleland. According to the rules of League, the battle will not be done by our armed forces, but instead, both sides will carry out a battle of representatives done by 5《Mage-Knights》selected from their current national military strength to settle the war. These are legitimate war rights exercised in accordance with the rules, and as such, neither governments allow any emergency intervention by the《International Mage-Knights League》within the territories of Vermil lion and Kradleland』
The words said by Lunaize who appeared with Or-Gaule unexpectedly.
Her head couldn’t keep up with the situation below.
That’s why, Stella,
- You’re rejecting the intervention of the League? What do you mean with that, Luna-nee!?
She threw a question to the person who should be questioned.
What on earth happened?
Why was Lunaize with Or-Gaule?
The one.
The one who replied to all those questions was Johan Kristoff Von Collbrand, the new King of Kradleland who straddled a soaring golden warhorse.
He told Stella with a tender expression and with affection put into it.
- That’s exactly what it means, Stella-chan. Kradleland decided to eliminate the secret pact signed by the stupid former administration and to go to war with Vermillion to take back all the stolen territory and pride. And well, Lunaize-san accepted it with the power she was entrusted with from King Sirius. The misunderstandings and misinformation ended up causing unfortunate armed conflicts, but since I discussed this with Lunaize-san when she visited Kradleland not long ago, both countries have agreed to carry out a war based on new rules. Therefore, the reason why《League》interrupting it is――
- Shut up!
Stella cut and discarded the words of Johan with a stinging voice.
And turned her eyes filled with anger that felt as if they spouted flames next to Johan. She glared at《Marionette King》Or-Gaule, the boy with white hair who stood in the air.
- Don’t keep talking about ridiculous stuff with Johan’s voice…!
She knew that Johan had already fallen under the evil influence of Or-Gaule.
All the words that came out from Johan now belonged to Or-Gaule.
Or-Gaule just handled him like a ventriloquist’s dummy to make him speak by proxy with his own voice.
It was an insult of the greatest category to an individual.
That couldn’t be forgiven.
However, Or-Gaule stuck his tongue to Stella’s fury like a kid who was questioned for his mischief,
- Aha You don’t seem to jump into the mood so easily, huh. Since there are eyes of the League in this, I want to keep up appearances.
He sent a fleeting glance to Nene who looked up towards them from the ground as he said so without being shy.
It looked like this guy was seriously trying to prevent an intervention of《League》 with the excuse he gave moments ago.
However, Stella decided such a thing wasn’t going to be allowed.
It was an obvious excuse.
There was no reason to believe it.
There shouldn’t be, and yet――
- It’s as he said now. I went to Kradleland to have a discussion to reduce the scale of the battle. And so, we agreed to suspend the ongoing battle actions and put an end to the history of conflict between the two countries with a battle of representatives in accordance with the rules established by《League》.
Her older sister said she accepted it.
She didn’t understand that at all.
- Why are you doing such a…!? Even though《League》had already prepared 1 million troops to help us!
Stella charged to reveal the frustration she had about the behavior of her incomprehensible older sister.
Lunaize, with an always composed and calmed voice,
- One million, huh. As long as they’re reliable, that is. It’s a very large scale, with such a great number――but also too late.
- ――!
She explained the hard fact that Stella failed to notice.
- Who are the ones stopping those guys of the Kradleland Army while that big army comes slowly? … Not even you can imagine what would happen if such a force were to be used in place of the Vermillion Army. To say nothing of the poor equipment that Vermillion Army has.
- … That’s.
Stella’s complexion, who was told so, was growing pale.
The crust that was smashed by a hit of《Haboob》.
Because of that, the soldiers of Kradleland were swallowed by the ground, with town and all.
If a《Blazer》with such a strength were to act violently and seriously, there was no way to avoid a tragedy.
She could easily imagine so.
- Pride is a good thing, but we aren’t Gods. We can’t save everyone. Don’t confuse priorities. The most important thing is to protect the lives of the people. We, the Imperial Family, have the obligation to think and act about that above all else. If war is done as we originally planned, it can be postponed for a week. In the meantime, it can be possible to let the people escape to a safe country. If so――and in the worst case, if we are defeated in the war, even if Vermillion is destroyed, their lives can be protected.
- Ugh…
Even if Vermillion was destroyed.
Stella felt a chill on her spine because of the tone of voice of her older sister who told so.
A heavy resolution was put into it.
Lunaize even considered their downfall, the downfall of the Vermillion Imperial Family.
She considered even the worst ending, moreover, she thoroughly thought the method to protect the『citizens』once they have reached the worst ending and implement it.
They would defeat Or-Gaule and company and save both Vermillion and Kradleland.
Always for the people, without clinging to such light expectations.
To fulfill the pride of the Imperial Family and to serve aka to protect the people even if they die.
- ――
That’s right, in this case, the choice they could take as the Imperial Family was no other than that.
There was no room for objection.
Stella had no choice but to say no more.
And,
- Well, although that’s not something we know about.
Or-Gaule continued, facing Stella.
- But… honestly, the movement of League has been so fast so far that it has been unexpected for us. I’m finally able to play with Stella-chan, and yet, as things are, I have no interest in being mixed with those guys. It’s not that I can’t win, but it’s annoying to hit a fly that flies before your eyes. … In short, the proposal of Her Highness, in which the war between the two countries will be done in the form of a battle of representatives as planned is also beneficial to us. So, we took part in it. But will you be able to give us your consent?
- …
The explanations from both points of view.
Stella understood this, that this proposal was certainly a proposal with advantages for both sides.
But,
(What is… this unsatisfied feeling?)
Certainly, the course of events had their logic, but they felt terribly disgusting.
She could understand them, but not accept them.
It felt like something, like something very important was overlooked.
Then, at that moment.
- Why are you settling this on your own, you bastard…!
A black gust of wind blew right next to Stella who fluttered in the air with wings of flame.
- 《Haboob》…!
A man with loose and disheveled hair and with black clothes covering his whole body.
The《Blazer》known as the strongest mercenary in the world.
《Haboob》Naseem Al-Salem.
Naseem ascended to the sky by riding a sandstorm then attacked Or-Gaule with his left fist together with an irritated and angry voice.
Or-Gaule prevented the direct hit by catching it with《Spider web》――a barrier of threads stretched around the surroundings of his body. But, the strongest mercenary wouldn’t be stopped with something of this level.
Naseem didn’t care that his left hand was caught by the threads, he wrenched open the《Spider web》that protected Or-Gaule with all his strength and thrust his right hand.
Then, he constricted the collar of the hood Or-Gaule had put on.
- The hell are you doing just when I’m finally getting up…!? If you’re watering this down… then I’ll kill you, you《Shitty brat》!
*TN: Shitty brat is the furigana reading for Marionette King.
- Aha you’re very excited, aren’t you? I see that you were very pleased with《Princess Yaksha》.
His bloodshot eyes had not even a fragment of other emotion than murderous intent.
Naseem was serious.
The community of lone wolves didn’t have a feeling of friendship from the beginning.
