Chapter 105 - Volume 10 (1/2)
Going back in time a little. Precisely when Ririana and them arrived in the Royal Palace.
Pakyaa~aaaaan!
[Tsu!? Just what is-!?]
Towards the unpleasant sound of glass being broken, Shizuku Yaegashi who was sleeping in her room quickly jumped into alert mode and got out of her bed sheets while grabbing onto her black katana which was beside her pillow. It was clearly the movements of a person who continues being cautious of their surroundings even while resting.
[…….]
For a while, Shizuku hid her breathing with a stern expression and was ready to draw her katana at any moment, however there were no abnormalities within her room so she leaked out a sigh of relief.
The reason why Shizuku was releasing this kind of alertness was because over the past several days, there were absolutely no signs or sightings of Ririana or Aiko.
Even for some time before that, she noticed a sense of incongruity within the Royal Palace. On that day, the day when Aiko returned, she disappeared after announcing that she had something important to tell them at dinner time, due to this shizuku suspected that something bad had happened to Aiko in order to silence her.
Naturally, she searched for the two missing peoples whereabouts, though they were told that Aiko and them were just being questioned by the head of the church, Ishtar, at the main temple, she wasn’t allowed to meet them directly. In addition they even forcefully avoided her by declaring to Shizuku that they would be released in a few days, moreover, Ririana’s father, King Erihido also said to not worry about them, she could do nothing but withdraw reluctantly for the time being.
However, even then her vague anxiety didn’t disappear, just like now, when going to bed she was vigilant and cautious like a spy.
When Shizuku soundlessly got off her bed, she quickly straightened up her equipment in a few seconds and carefully left the room. Since Kaori decided to travel with Hajime, Shizuku was the only person in the room now. When she confirmed that there were no abnormalities within the corridor, she immediately knocked on Kouki and Ryutaro’s door which was opposite to hers.
The door opened immediately and Kouki’s appearance was seen. Ryutaro was in the back of the room and seemed to be fully awake. It appears that they’ve also woken up like Shizuku due to the loud sound a while ago.
[Kouki, please have more caution. To suddenly open the door…..wouldn’t it be troublesome if it was an assailant? *unsure of this line, ????????????????*]
Shizuku’s eyebrows drop a little when Kouki opened the door without any caution and warned him. On the other hand, Kouki had an astonished expression. Even though he heard the breaking sound, he didn’t think that there would be any immediate dangers in the corridors of the Royal Palace. It appears that he wasn’t fully awake yet.
These past several days, Shizuku had a sense of incongruity within the Royal Palace and about Aiko and them, [Something is wrong, keep your guard up], is what she continually said but, Kouki and Ryutaro thought she was thinking too much about it and didn’t take it seriously.
[More importantly, Shizuku. What was that a while ago? It sounded like something was breaking……]
[……I don’t know. Anyways, lets wake everyone up and gather information. Whatever it is, I’ve got a bad feeling from it….]
Shizuku only said that and turned around to knock on her classmates doors one after another. Most of the students were gathered for an immediate meeting due to the sudden crashing sound from a while ago. Uneasily, Kouki began to raise his voice as the students began to gather in the corridor looking annoyed that their slumber was disturbed.
Then, at that time, one of the maids that was friends with Shizuku rushed in. She comes from a house which enjoys fencing and had the linage of knights, due to this connection she became intimate with Shizuku.
[Shizuku-sama…..]
[Nia!]
The maid called Nia ran up besides Shizuku while looking like she was in low spirits. It was a shadow of her usual dignified atmosphere, Shizuku remembered the sense of incongruity and raised her eyebrows, but it was overtaken by surprise at the information that Nia brought, her sense of incongruity was completely blown away.
[The first large barrier was broken]
[……What was that?]
Nia plainly tells the truth as Shizuku instinctively asked back.
[The Majinzoku*fixing Ninzoku errors lol* are invading. A huge army was developed on the outskirts of the Kingdom’s capital and their attack broke the large barrier]
[….it can’t be, just how did they…..]
The information was far too unbelieveable, even Shizuku lost her calm and became stunned.
The other classmates were also the same, they began to mutter noisily. The Majinzoku’s army, it was impossible for them to be able to invade the King’s capital without arousing anyones attention, with the large barrier broken it became even harder to take in. It’s unavoidable that they wouldn’t be able to keep calm.
[…..Is only the first barrier of the large barrier broken?]
Within that, with a stern expression Kouki asked Nia. The large barrier that protects the Kingdom was composed of 3 pieces, The first on the outside, second, then third barrier, the third barrier was the strongest as it covered the smallest scale of land out of the others.
[Yes. For now…..however, the first barrier was broken in a single blow. It’s only a matter of time before they topple though everything……]
Towards Nia’s answer, Kouki suggested to everyone that they should help out in repulsing the army.
[Even if just a little we should help buy time. In the meantime the Kingdom’s residents should take shelter, if the army corps and knights are prepared….]
There were few that showed a resolute expression towards Kouki’s words. Shizuku and Ryutaro, Suzu, it was only the front groups such as Nagayama’s party.
The other classmates only had a gloomy look while turning their eyes away. They are the people who have lost their will to stand on the front lines. To suddenly challenge a huge army was only further increasing their hesitation.
Then even if by ourselves, Kouki began to resolute his heart, surprisingly, Eri Nakamura answered.
[Wait, Kouki-kun. Rather than fighting on your own, I think we should quickly join with Meld and them]
[Eri….but]
[Nia-san, the army……how much do we know about them?]
[……they’re roughly 100,000 in strength]
The students all held their breaths when they heard the number.
[Kouki-kun. We can’t suppress them if it’s only us. …..We have to oppose numbers with numbers. Even if we’re stronger than an ordinary person, I think that you should go to the place where you’re most needed. That is, shouldn’t we cooperate side by side with Meld’s group…..]
Although it was from the modest and docile glasses girl Eri, the strength in her eyes wasn’t below that of Kouki and the others. And her opinion was justifiable.
[Un, Suzu is also in favor with Eririn. As expected of Suzu’s Eririn! Those glasses aren’t just for show!]
[Suzu~u……The glasses are unrelated~]
[Fufu, I also agree with Eri. I lost my calm a little there. What about you Kouki?]
Towards the 3 girls opinions, Kouki was hesitating. However, after carefully thinking over Eri’s judgement, Kouki also trusted her quite a bit, in the end, he decided to join up with Meld’s knights and army corps just as Eri said.
Kouki and them began to run towards where the knights and soldiers were mobilizing. No one noticed the smile in the shape of a crescent by their side…….
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Kouki and them reached the point which was designated as the emergency meeting place, a lot of soldiers and knights have already lined up in an orderly manner, the deputy leader of the knights, José*In case you guys didn’t know it’s pronounced ho-zay* Rankaido, was on the platform and briefing them in a loud voice. While bathing in the moonlight, the soldiers were all standing still with pale and stunned expressions, they just stared at José with no vigor.
Then, José who noticed that Kouki and them just entered the plaza stopped talking and beckons Kouki.
[……Good job coming here. Do you understand the situation?]
[Yes, We’ve heard from Nia already. Ehtto, where’s Meld-san?]
Kouki nodded towards the welcoming words and question of José, and he didn’t see Meld’s appearance as he looked around so he asked about his whereabouts.
[The head is dealing with a few things. More importantly, sa~a, come into the center. The Hero is our leader after all….]
As José said, Kouki and them were guided into the center where the soldiers were lined up. The classmates who stayed behind, [Eh? Us as well?], showed a puzzled expression, while being crowded by silent soldiers they could do nothing but follow Kouki and them.
Passing through the silence, the surrounding soldier’s expressions hardly changed at all too, along with the knights appearances, the feeling of incongruity began to swell up within Shizuku. It was the bad feelings that she felt ever since the beginning when she woke up, Shizuku’s heart was conflicted. Unconsciously, she put power into her hand that was gripping her black kanata.
And when Kouki and them were completely surrounded by the soldiers and knights, José restarted his speech.
[Everyone, the situation draws near. However, there’s nothing to fear. There is no enemies who can stand against us. We do not know defeat. Death shall not strike us. Sa~a, everyone, welcome our Hero. Right now, we exist specifically for this day. Sa~a, take up your swords]
The soldiers and the knights draw out their swords altogether.
[It’s the beginning of the slaughter. Watch closely]
José took something out of his bosom and held it over his head. As instructed, not only the soldiers but also kouki and them payed attention.
And….
Ka!!
Light bursted out.
The thing José was holding shot out bright light which was comparable to Hajime’s flashbang. Kouki and them who were paying attention to it were completely defenseless, they immediately avert their eyes and cover them while releasing a short scream, their sights have been temporarily blocked out by looking straight at the light.
And, in the next instant……
Zuburi~
countless vivid sounds ring out.
[Agu~?]
[Ga~a!]
[Gufu~!?]
Following that, muffled screams were heard from many places.
The screams were different from the ones caused by the light a while ago. It was the voice that leaked out when in agony and pain. Then immediately afterwards, there was the sound of countless people falling onto the ground ~Dosa Dosa~.
Inside that, only Shizuku understood the cause. After entering the open space, her caution was raised to the maximum. She felt a sense of incongruity within José’s speech. Thats why, immediately when the flash of light exploded, she took up a defensive stance without being shaken and immediately after that she was able to block the assassin’s blade with her black kanata. It was likely the gift of training that allowed her to only rely on the presence she felt while her eyes were blinded.
And, after the light settled down, Shizuku began to look around her surroundings as her sight began to recover, every single one of her classmates were pierced in the back by the knights and soldiers swords and being held down onto the ground.
[Wha, this…..]
They raised their groaning voices as they were knocked down and suppressed from above, furthermore, looking at her classmates appearances that had swords in their backs, Shizuku’s voice was stuck in her throat. It can’t be, she began to imagine the worst outcome that they were all dead but, it appears that everyone was just barely alive as they all raised out voices in agony.
Although she was slightly relieved when knowing that, Shizuku turned a stern glance towards the surrounding soldiers in the unpredictable situation, a strange scene was reflected within the mesh of the crowd and she unintentionally stiffened up.
[Ara-ra, should I say that it was as expected? …….Ne~e, Shizuku?]
[Eh? Eh…..what are you-!?]
Right, while all other classmates were in critical condition on the ground, there was only 1 other student that was calmly standing. That student was completely different from their usual self, with a glutinous voice they talked to Shizuku. Since their atmosphere changed too much, Shizuku’s questions and doubts were stuck in her throat.
In that moment, once again, a knight thrusted out their sword towards Shizuku’s back.
[Ku!?]
While being shaken up by the other persons sudden change, Shizuku was barely able to dodge and turned towards the student with an amazed glance.
[You also dodged this huh…..really, Shizuku is troublesome huh?]
[What are you sa-!?]
Further increasing in intensity, the soldiers and knights join in and thrust their swords out. Shizuku surpassed them all then suddenly turned her gaze as her name was called out.
[Shizuku-sama! Help……]
[Nia!]
There the appearance of Nia was thrown on the ground with a knight on top of her and a sword about to stab into her. Shizuku immediately arrived nearby Nia’s location in an instant with her high-speed movement skill “No Rhythm”, she swung her sheath at the knight who was on top of Nia and blew him away.
[Nia, are you alright?]
[Shizuku-sama……]
While supporting up Nia who was on the ground, Shizuku looked around her surroundings in caution.
Towards that Shizuku, Nia murmurs and clings both hands around her.
And,
……A dagger was stabbed into Shizuku’s back.
[Agu~!? Ni, Nia? Wh, why…….]