Chapter 281 : Calm Before the Storm (6)
Chapter 281: Calm Before the Storm (6)
Cecilia and Yuran both flinched and trembled at the same time.
“Why is that?”
“……”
“……”
Even when Allen, who stood beside them, asked the question, the two simply looked around their surroundings silently.
Seeing them like that, even Professor Shagas stopped walking.
“Yuran, what is it.”
“…It’s nothing.”
Yuran shook her head.
Then suddenly her eyes met Cecilia’s, and the two stared at each other without speaking.
They exchanged not a single word, yet only through their gazes they shared the ominous feeling each of them had sensed.
“Could it be…”
Cecilia spoke first.
“Could it be that we missed something?”
“I would like to answer with confidence, but even I do not know.”
Professor Shagas replied.
“Still, it seems certain that the situation has mostly been settled. Miss Everglen, your… spirits clearly told you that the number of hostile presences nearby could now be counted on one hand, did they not?”
“Yes.”
“And Yuran, the same goes for the beings that would be caught by your sorcery.”
“…That is correct, Master.”
Professor Shagas nodded.
“It is not something to boast about, but even by my senses the remaining enemies amount to little more than a handful. And besides…”
He glanced up at the sky.
The group of dragons that had been circling the heavens as if ready to burn the capital at any moment had long since disappeared.
Perhaps because of that, the Dragon Knight Order—so difficult to spot earlier—was now filling the sky instead.
“The dragons have disappeared as well. If things continue like this, it seems the situation will conclude nicely.”
“…Is that so.”
“Why? Is something bothering you?”
“……”
Cecilia fell silent.
She could not explain what this feeling she was experiencing was.
‘Just what…?’
No matter how many times she asked, the spirits circling around her only told her that no threat was approaching her.
Ever since she became aware of her power as a spirit contractor, she had become especially sensitive to the energies around her.
Yet even she could not sense any kind of threat.
But why was that?
She felt unbearably uneasy, as if a blade had been placed right before her.
She had no idea where this anxiety was coming from.
“……”
Yuran was silent as well.
But she was even more confused than Cecilia.
‘What exactly is this sensation…?’
The blood of a dragon that flowed through her body—something she had only recently awakened—was now fiercely sending her a warning about something.
‘Does that mean there is still a danger we have not discovered?’
Yuran soon shook her head.
The sensation was different from when an enemy appeared to take their lives.
It was clearly a warning, clearly an omen of something ominous.
Yet Yuran had no way of knowing what exactly it was warning about.
“…Now the problem is what we should do next.”
While the two were lost in thought, Allen muttered as though releasing pent-up emotions.
Even now, his hand trembled faintly, as if he still could not forget the sensation of defeating his own older brother, Kyren.
“What on earth should I tell Father and the rest of the family…?”
“…Today was supposed to have been the grandest day of celebration.”
Professor Shagas murmured with a heavy heart.
He already knew Kyren’s face, and he had even witnessed Allen confronting him while the iron spikes were embedded in his body. That only made the situation more tragic.
“Do you think Rian is safe?”
“Hmm.”
At Cecilia’s sudden murmur, Yuran cleared her throat.
“Our benefactor is strong, so he will be fine. Moreover, there are… even stronger people there.”
“…You’re right.”
Cecilia smiled faintly.
She realized that Yuran was trying to reassure her.
“Mm.”
In truth, Yuran had spoken strongly in order to calm her own anxiety, but she soon nodded as if convincing herself.
After all, Rian Gwendil was not someone who would die so absurdly somewhere.
Besides, as she had said, he was currently with Yeriel Helmont, the Headmaster of the Academy, and the Archmage Professor Windymay.
“…He will truly be fine.”
Yuran nodded after speaking words that could have been meant either for Cecilia or for herself.
It was then.
From afar came the loud clanking sound of heavy armor colliding.
“That is…”
“The Imperial Knight Order.”
Seeing the golden armor gleaming in the distance, Professor Shagas muttered in surprise.
“The Imperial Knight Order should be beside the Second Prince. Why are they here…?”
Even as he spoke, he tilted his head as though unable to believe it.
‘Was it the Second Prince’s command? Surely he could not have cared about the citizens this much.’
The Imperial Knight Order never leaves the side of the imperial family without a direct order.
For them to be roaming the streets in groups under circumstances like this meant they must have received the command of royalty—namely, the Second Prince.
Shagas let out a sigh of relief and nodded slightly.
“At least that is fortunate. If they have stepped in, the remaining forces will quickly be eliminated, and the gaps in security caused by the attack will be filled swiftly.”
However, it did not take long for everyone, including Professor Shagas, to notice something strange about them.
They showed no interest in suppressing the remnants or restoring order.
They were simply searching everywhere as if hunting someone down.
Under the command of royalty.
Searching for someone.
“…Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?”
Having somehow ended up alone together, Artemia suddenly asked.
Belita, who had been lost in deep thought, only realized Artemia had spoken after she called out two more times.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I was thinking about something for a moment…”
“My apologies. I dared to disturb the worries of Her Imperial Highness.”
Artemia bowed her head as she spoke.
Even so, she did not stop scanning the surroundings, remaining vigilant for any possible danger.
“……”
After a brief silence, Belita looked at Artemia.
She knew well that Artemia had once been a famous mercenary who suddenly retired and became a maid at the Academy.
But why was she now moving as a mercenary again—following Rian’s request, no less?
“There is something I would like to ask.”
“Yes, Your Imperial Highness.”
Normally, she would not have asked.
But the moment she realized it was related to Rian Gwendil, the question escaped her lips before she knew it.
“Did you move because you received a request from Sir Rian?”
“…Yes, that is correct.”
“What kind of request did you—ah, no. Never mind.”
Belita waved her hand.
She already knew Artemia would never answer.
“Then may I ask how you came to move as a mercenary again? I mean… what made you decide to accept Sir Rian’s request?”
“……”
After pondering briefly, Artemia slowly nodded.
Remaining silent any longer would be awkward, and this much should be fine to say.
“I once committed a great discourtesy toward Sir Rian.”
“A discourtesy?”
“Yes. Because of a child I was training… Sir Rian was once placed in a very difficult situation. Normally that child should have paid the price, but the circumstances did not allow it. Since I also bore responsibility, I ended up paying the price in that child’s place.”
“And that is why you accepted the request.”
“Yes.”
Belita nodded.
“You still will not tell me what the request was, correct?”
“I am not sure if I have already said this, but for a mercenary, trust is more important than life itself. Even if it is Your Imperial Highness asking, I cannot reveal it.”
“Hmm, I thought so.”
Belita nodded, having expected nothing.
‘Well…’
She could roughly guess what Rian had asked.
Before Annette’s reports had stopped, she had also been receiving updates about Artemia’s movements alongside Annette’s surveillance targets.
Most likely it had something to do with the Headless Man.
“……”
Belita fell silent as she remembered Annette.
Annette, who had always remained loyal to her no matter the circumstances and functioned almost like a trusted limb, had gone completely silent.
That loss was a painful one for Belita as well.
‘Should I ask?’
Belita thought so for a moment, but immediately shook her head.
There was no guarantee Artemia knew anything, and asking carelessly might only give her reason to grow suspicious.
“Then how long do we have to stay here?”
Trying to shake off her thoughts, Belita deliberately spoke aloud.
Artemia continued scanning the surroundings as she replied respectfully.
“It seems it will not be much longer, Your Imperial Highness.”
“Really?”
“Yes. The sounds that had been echoing throughout the streets have almost entirely stopped. However, just in case, it would be best not to leave this place where the Headmaster and Professor Deiare set up a barrier before departing—”
Artemia suddenly stopped speaking and stared intently in one direction.
Belita turned her head in the same direction.
In truth, she already knew who was approaching.
The heavy clanking of armor.
In a situation like this, there were only one group that could produce such a sound.
“Your Imperial Highness!”
“…You are safe!”
Just as expected, the owners of the heavy footsteps were the Imperial Knight Order.
After confirming their presence, Belita deliberately stepped outside the barrier and revealed herself.
Upon seeing her, the knights immediately knelt and offered the formal courtesy reserved for imperial royalty.
“To think that you were suffering in such a place… our incompetence is shameful.”
“…Please do not say that. It is my fault for sneaking out to secretly enjoy the festival without telling anyone.”
Belita replied with a gentle smile.
But her eyes had grown cold.
‘Why are those who should be beside that man here?’
There was no way Gernot would have sent her escorts out of concern for her safety.
Then why…?
‘The Departure Festival was ruined, so he intends to shift the blame elsewhere.’
Belita nodded slightly as she understood.
‘Or perhaps he plans to at least pretend to be doing something after everything ends.’
Exactly the kind of thought that foolish man would barely be able to come up with.
As Belita considered it all terribly trivial, one of the knights who had knelt first carefully spoke.
“We will escort you, Your Imperial Highness. Please come with us.”
“Yes, I gratefully accept.”
At that moment, however, Belita noticed something strange.
Some of the knights were carrying ropes and handcuffs.
There were even sealing devices capable of suppressing magic power and divine power.
“…Sir Knight, may I ask one thing?”
“Yes, please ask anything.”
“Surely you do not intend to place those ropes and shackles on me and drag me away.”
Belita asked coldly as she looked down at him.
“Why bring such ominous items and show them to me?”
“…Forgive our rudeness, Your Imperial Highness. These are merely to apprehend and escort a criminal under the command of the Prince. We would never dare offend Your Imperial Highness.”
“A criminal?”
“Yes.”
“What criminal are you referring to?”
At Belita’s question, the kneeling knight replied in an unwavering voice.
“A man accused of being a major figure in this incident.”
“His name is Rian Gwendil.”