Chapter 117
Chapter 117
Special Unit (2)
“Calm down.”
“S. S. S. Calm.”
Winter trembled harder than ever before, her body shaking violently from nerves. Even being told to calm down had little effect.
“Silent Bell.”
“Ah. Ahh!”
After asking the Vice-Commander for permission, I mentioned Silent Bell. Only then did Winter remember its existence and wave the flag.
—Ding.
The sacred resonance born from Silent Bell quickly stabilized Winter’s body and mind.
“You don’t need to feel too pressured.”
The Vice-Commander stepped forward for the sake of the trembling Winter. She explained just how generous and benevolent the person she served was.
But the more she heard those words, the paler Winter’s face became.
“Ah. Um, at the auction house, I…”
“You fell asleep. Right in front of Her Imperial Highness, the Imperial Princess.”
The moment I finished speaking, silence instantly settled over the room. Even the Vice-Commander, who had been trying to comfort and encourage her somehow, closed her mouth.
“……Her Imperial Highness probably doesn’t hold it against you that much. Probably.”
In the end, the Vice-Commander’s encouragement did not have much effect.
Even if Winter knew she had been forgiven back then, that did not mean the Imperial Princess necessarily viewed her favorably.
“Wow.”
As Winter walked while continuously shaking Silent Bell, she secretly marveled at the corridor she was seeing for the first time in her life.
The corridor connected exclusively to the Imperial Princess’s residence was not a place just anyone could walk through. It was not excessively extravagant, yet elegant decorations throughout the hall naturally drew one’s gaze.
“Please hand me all weapons you are carrying.”
Before heading to the Imperial Princess’s room, we stopped briefly. At the Vice-Commander’s words, I handed over the Candela pouch I had tucked inside my clothes.
“The flag.”
“Ah.”
I quietly whispered to Winter, who was blankly staring at us. Since the flag was undeniably treated as a weapon, it also had to be surrendered.
Looking as though she had completely forgotten, Winter hurriedly took out the flag and handed it over. I wondered whether it would throw a fit over being separated from her, but the flag remained quiet.
“Once you enter, kneeling on one knee and saying, ‘I greet Her Imperial Highness, the Imperial Princess,’ will be enough.”
The Vice-Commander spared no advice for Winter, who was still unfamiliar with such etiquette. Winter nodded with a solemn expression, as if steeling her resolve.
—Knock knock.
“Her Imperial Highness. It is Sheila.”
Standing before the most splendid door among them all, the Vice-Commander knocked. In response, Winter tightly shut her eyes and swallowed dryly.
—Enter.
At the elegant voice coming from beyond the door, the Vice-Commander slowly opened it.
“I greet Her Imperial Highness, the Imperial Princess.”
“I greet Her Imperial Highness, the Imperial Princess.”
Looking at the Imperial Princess seated with dignity, Winter and I knelt on one knee and greeted her.
“That is enough. Come and sit.”
Only after receiving the Imperial Princess’s permission did we raise our heads and stand up. The Vice-Commander seated us before the Imperial Princess and prepared tea.
“First, I apologize for summoning you so suddenly.”
“Not at all, Her Imperial Highness. It is an infinite honor to behold Your Highness’s radiant appearance in this manner.”
“That is enough. Do not flatter me.”
Surprisingly, the Imperial Princess apologized first. I hurriedly added my response, but the Imperial Princess, who disliked pointless flattery, immediately stopped me.
“We are both tired, so I shall ask directly. Davide.”
“Yes, Her Imperial Highness.”
“That thing called a Fiendbeast. What relationship do you have with it?”
It was a question I had expected. Not only the Imperial Princess, but also Winter and the Vice-Commander focused their gazes on me.
“Her Imperial Highness. I despise Fiendbeasts more than anyone else, and I have made it my goal to kill every last one of them in this world.”
Because that was how I would reach the ending. At my resolute answer, Winter made a somewhat subtle expression.
“As though it were a ‘revelation’?”
At the words that followed from the Imperial Princess’s mouth, Winter flinched in shock. Revelation was not a word that could be used lightly.
Especially in matters of faith, revelation was the voice of a god, and the influence it carried was not something one could easily imagine.
“That is correct, Her Imperial Highness.”
There was also the matter of bringing about the destruction of the Magus, but I refrained from saying more than that. After hearing my answer, the Imperial Princess fell into thought.
“Here.”
After first pouring tea into the Imperial Princess’s teacup, the Vice-Commander filled mine and Winter’s in turn.
Winter hesitated awkwardly, only carefully sipping her tea after the Vice-Commander reassured her it was fine.
“There are cookies as well. Eat.”
At the Imperial Princess’s words, the Vice-Commander quickly brought over cookies. Seeing the cookies suddenly appear before us, Winter and I were left dumbfounded.
Winter cautiously placed one in her mouth, and just as she seemed to melt away from the taste, she slowly but continuously reached for more cookies without stopping.
“Davide.”
“Yes, Her Imperial Highness.”
After pondering for quite some time, the Imperial Princess finally spoke again. It felt somewhat early, but I roughly knew what she was about to say.
“I once sought to kill you, yet you proved your usefulness.”
Winter, who had been chewing on the expensive cookies, suddenly froze. The abrupt mention of death clearly startled her.
I silently waited for the Imperial Princess to continue. This was the moment when the Imperial House truly began intervening in the story.
“However, Fiendbeasts are currently being discovered throughout the Empire. Those vicious lifeforms are artificially created creatures—in other words, Chimeras—and our Imperial House and Empire must eradicate those Chimeras.”
“That is correct, Her Imperial Highness.”
The Imperial Princess brushed back her crimson hair and stared at me with an expressionless face.
“I wish to establish a unit with a special purpose.”
After Episode 4, the story split into two major paths.
At this very moment, depending on the Imperial Princess’s choice, it would be decided whether she would confront the Magicians of the Magus or the Fiendbeasts instead.
“An anti-Fiendbeast unit. A force capable of unquestionably killing Fiendbeasts. I desire to create such a unit.”
And the Imperial Princess had chosen to confront the Fiendbeasts. Without saying a word, I met her eyes.
Depending on which enemies the Imperial Princess primarily fought against, the hidden mastermind’s forces during the Magus boss battle would change.
If she formed an anti-Fiendbeast unit, then when the time came to face the final mastermind, we would instead have to confront countless Magicians. I would also need to recruit the proper NPCs to assist during the boss battle.
“I wish for you to become the beginning of that unit, Davide.”
Under the table, Winter tightly clasped her hands together.
Though there were many unfamiliar terms she did not fully understand, even she realized this was by no means an easy matter.
“It is an honor, Her Imperial Highness.”
“……You answer quite easily.”
I had no reason to hesitate. Since I accepted immediately, the Imperial Princess instead appeared somewhat dissatisfied.
My objective was, in the end, to eliminate the hidden mastermind behind the Magus.
And if I could receive substantial support from the Imperial House—especially from the Imperial Princess herself—during that process, there could be nothing better.
“This is all due to my loyalty toward Her Imperial Highness.”
“Davide. There is no need for empty flattery.”
The Imperial Princess clicked her tongue at the instinctive flattery that slipped from my mouth. Only then did she raise her teacup. Seeing that, the Vice-Commander stepped in on her behalf.
“Her Imperial Highness wishes to place both students into the special unit.”
“M… Me too?”
“Yes. You as well, Student Winter.”
Winter cautiously glanced toward the Imperial Princess, whose presence somehow felt faint merely from the act of lifting her teacup. Winter quickly averted her gaze and continued fidgeting nervously.
“I apologize for involving you in something dangerous, but this is a matter of great importance. Not only Her Imperial Highness, but I as well believe that Student Winter will be more than capable of fulfilling her role.”
I listened indifferently to the Vice-Commander’s explanation. It was true that Winter’s abilities would be helpful. However, they did not understand Winter’s true worth.
The reason they spoke like this despite that was simple. They wanted a leash on me. Those who knew at least a little about the Anaye Order did not view Winter as merely a priestess.
“Of course, you may refuse if you wish. I assure you there will be absolutely no disadvantages. That is also Her Imperial Highness’s will.”
A founding contributor of the Anaye Order. The priestess Davide treasured the most. The only individual who possessed the Holy Relic known as Silent Bell.
They were essentially saying they wanted to keep such a person as collateral. Though judging from their attitude, it was closer to insurance than a hostage.
“You can do whatever you want.”
Winter quietly stared at me. In response to the look asking what she should do, I calmly answered.
Tightly shutting her eyes, Winter took a deep breath and relaxed her tension.
“It is an honor to stand alongside Her Imperial Highness’s great vision.”
Winter answered with a resolute expression. The Imperial Princess, who had appeared indifferent until now, raised one eyebrow with interest, while the Vice-Commander wore the satisfied smile of a proud mother.
“Her Imperial Highness. Though I am unworthy, I have two proposals I wish to offer.”
“A proposal? Hm. Speak.”
The direction had been decided, and now it was time to shape it properly. I had no intention whatsoever of moving solely according to the Imperial Princess’s will.
At the mention of a proposal, the Imperial Princess’s eyes gleamed as she granted me permission to speak.
“First, I believe Lady Ulbushis must absolutely be incorporated into this unit.”
At the mention of Canis, the Imperial Princess slightly furrowed her brow.
The Imperial House was constantly checked by noble authority, and naturally, the Imperial Princess herself was not particularly fond of such nobles.
“The reason?”
“Compatibility.”
The reason she showed obvious displeasure was because the Ulbushis Family was one of the five greatest noble houses in the Empire.
In response to the Imperial Princess’s question, I answered firmly. This was why I had left Canis alone until now.
Why I had hesitated over whether to kill her or not.
“Compatibility?”
“Yes, Her Imperial Highness. Eradicating Fiendbeasts is naturally important. However, Her Imperial Highness, unless the source is removed, those disgusting creatures will continue to appear.”
“The source…”
The Imperial Princess rubbed her chin with the hollow between her thumb and index finger. The mention of a source had clearly piqued her interest.
“There must certainly be individuals who created the Chimeras. The Magician I encountered in the Ulla Desert was likely one of them.”
I did not want this special unit to remain merely an anti-Fiendbeast force. I intended to utterly destroy not only Fiendbeasts, but the Magicians behind them as well.
I planned to create a unit dedicated solely to opposing the Magus. Of course, using the Imperial Princess’s money rather than my own.
“Chimera creation is an Ancient Magic. And among the Magicians currently present at the Academy, the one most knowledgeable in Ancient Magic is Lady Ulbushis.”
The Imperial Princess turned to look at the Vice-Commander. The Vice-Commander nodded. Among the five great houses with immense authority, the Ulbushis Family was the only family of Magicians.
“That is reasonable. Do as you suggest.”
The Imperial Princess, who had silently fallen into thought, nodded in approval.
The Imperial Princess was not only powerful in combat, but also exceptionally intelligent as a character.
She had immediately grasped the benefits of recruiting Canis.
“What is your next proposal?”
“I intend to establish monk priests and a Holy Knight Order within the Anaye Order.”
At my words, the only one visibly shocked was Winter, who was knowledgeable in religion. The Imperial Princess and the Vice-Commander, comparatively unfamiliar with such matters, merely tilted their heads in confusion.
“You there. Winter.”
“Y-Yes! Her Imperial Highness.”
“Explain what you know.”
At the Imperial Princess’s words after observing Winter’s reaction, Winter deeply lowered her head and began speaking.
“M-Monk priests are those who live ascetic lives while devoting themselves to their religion. Since monks usually lived apart from the secular world, they often stored valuable items and books. Because of this, they were frequently targeted by outside attacks and thus often possessed their own military power. In the present day, they are no longer distinguished separately, but the Holy Knight Orders originated from monk priests.”
After listening quietly to Winter’s explanation, the Imperial Princess turned back toward me.
“And their purpose?”
“I intend to designate the Fiendbeasts and those behind them as heretics.”
“And the Anaye Order’s Holy Knight Order would take responsibility for dealing with them?”
I nodded toward the Imperial Princess, who had immediately grasped my intentions. The Imperial Princess let out a faint chuckle.
“So you intend to make use of me.”
At the Imperial Princess’s words, I hurriedly tried to offer an excuse, but she instead raised her hand and stopped me.
“Very well. Do as you wish.”
The Imperial Princess granted permission without hesitation. A Holy Knight Order. Inquisitors of heresy.
This was immense authority, and she was effectively granting that authority to us.
With this, the growth of the Anaye Order had become merely a matter of time.