Vol 1 Chapter 1 (2/2)
”Tch.Even though it's so cute.”
it was pleasant, it did not look as though it disliked it, and it opened its
Upon seeing those large knife-like fangs, Lyle abruptly fainted.
Milla gently stroked Lyle who was green in the face on his back. That
Lyle was rather pitiable, as a man.
”You're welcome.”
Before long, having had her fill of the exotic wild beast, Maria's attention
”Hmm? Doesn't that look pretty fun?”
example, but it seemed like what that stall used were toys with a spring
mechanism that had just been made practical recently. It was a rather
elaborate toy.
1
”Welcome. It'll be seven coppers for three tries.”
”Please take a look at our prizes. There are perfumes famous in the
industrial city of Imata. They may be expensive, but there is a good reason for
”I see. Well then—Lyle”, as she was saying that, Maria pa.s.sed over the toy
”I want that earring.”
”Lyle, I'm doing it for your benefit, y'know? It's a girl's responsibility to leave
”So it's that kind of reason......”
an interest in such an unusual game.
Aiming at the centre of the wooden tokens that represented the prizes, he
its mark.
Maria hit the back of his body, giving him a pep talk. Does she really like that
got a little more used to it after the earlier try, the shot would not be as off as
wrong direction.
Because the parabola was totally different from earlier, Lyle noticed the trick
the centre of gravity had been purposely altered.
At the words of the shopkeeper who was wearing a peaceful expression, Lyle
(...... No other choice.)
well.
pocket, touching the amber that was inserted onto the cover with his
”———— That which exists at the end of light, the end of darkness. That
heretic gold.That which is the cradle of time. ————”
surroundings.
incantation known as <oracio>.
watch in the pocket, a tiny warmth that could not be said to be heat was
The hidden amber resonating with his mind, Lyle started constructing the
(The acceleration due to gravity is fixed at 9.806m/s^2—the ma.s.s of the
Magecraft was a study of how one could, using magical power, interfere with
was necessary for one to have a deep understanding of the underlying
being distorted.
Although magic could distort even the laws of reality for the desired results,
excessively unreasonable 'magic', and receive the entire backlash of the
However, what was being manipulated this time was the trajectory of the
In accordance to 'magic', Lyle formed a mental image of the trajectory. That
— *Pon*.
image, and hit dead centre of its mark.
”B-bull's eye....”, said the shopkeeper while ringing the bell, flabbergasted.
Lyle contemplated a little.
eye. They are but illusions made into fabrication.' —that was an unspoken
the Church had been powerful.
him to use it at target practice stand in the festival.
felt much better about it.
It was a high-grade item, but Maria already had as many of them as she
attire, he thought that the bead earrings which matched her emerald green
”Yep. It looks really good on you.”
With a clap, Maria took into her hands the toy rifle that was used for target
”Where was this made?”
indebted to my family.”
the factory that made this and obtain an exclusive contract.”
The shopkeeper stared in wonder at the exchange between Maria and Milla.
Though the Highlines were just one household among others that were
the rest even amongst that. Both her grandfather and father had complained
—Then again, whether it was in a man or a woman, that had nothing to do
Within Lyle's field of vision, Maria had turned her head back abruptly.
”As if. I'm always seeing you around, so much that I get tired of it. I was
”Oh? Well, let's just leave it at that.”
returned the toy gun, seemingly in high spirits.
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Wandering about in the day, Lyle and the others continued their sightseeing
And then, what had caught their eyes was a performance stage that involved
A man had his entire body up to his neck entirely covered in an oblong box,
”Whoa, doesn't that pierce straight into the centre!”
The master and servant pair Maria and Milla, and the surrounding spectators
”Thrusting the sword in is part of their show, isn't it?”
”I think that that guy is a contortionist. They'd be able to perform that kind of
that would play a trick on their minds, wouldn't it?”
The spectators who heard that slowly started to spread the information, and
”P-Please wait a second, everyone! Since you've said that much, then we
Upon saying that, the magician pushed in a wagon that a big box was placed
”Now, we'll split the body of the man inside the box into two—”
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legs sticking out. They use a slanted mirror inside so the audience sees that
The men on the stage hardened their business smiles.
”L-Look at what you have done, you brat!”
”Not good! Let's run away!”
hurry.
sound of angry voices slowly receded. His hands on his knees, Lyle tried to
”Oh dear...... Come to think of it, it's been a while since I've been chased
Looking around, he saw neither shape nor shadow of either his copper-haired
them while running away.
Just as he was thinking of heading back to the horse carriage, he heard the
nearby in a panic. Hiding himself behind the curtains, the pa.s.sing angry men
”—Are you a customer?”
at Lyle suspiciously after he had suddenly entered the tent.
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He would feel embarra.s.sed if he had just left like that. Paying the admission
Inside the tent, twenty or so spectators were sitting on benches. For some
like the numbers were filled up. Before long, the tent was closed up.
the host appeared on the stage and bowed his head.
beautiful, one-of-a-kind songstress, who will be gracing us with her heavenly
Aah, no wonder. Lyle now understood the reason why there was an unusual
the 'beautiful songstress'.
original intention to partic.i.p.ate, the illumination in the tent was
When the light was relit, the illumination revealed a ma.s.sive birdcage in the
but a lonesome small girl.
It had not been a lie. The girl inside the birdcage was truly, extremely lovely
Her pale silver hair was softly undulating as it reached down to her waist,
Because of the repeatedly overlapping thin black cloth, the wings of a bird
From the openings of the dress were limbs so fine that they seemed like they
candle's flame. It might have been because of that, that the choker and lock
imprisoned. As though it was a play depicting an imprisoned nightingale.
She was probably around two or three years younger than Lyle. Her features
charming eyes that were obscured by her long eyelashes.
an impression of being man-made, inhuman.
While he was thinking that, the girl on the stage looked towards Lyle.
Lyle's breath was taken away at the sight of the girl's golden eyes that were
forward, expressionless.
the girl. Her black dress that opened up wide at the shoulders and back
emotionless face, in some respects that had a charm that invited perversion.
”....... Aah————————”
changed.
astonishment and wonder.
—What a......
on ends, Lyle thought.
Almost as though someone was plucking the strings of the midwinter night
pale moonlight—was her extremely clear voice.
He noticed that he had been deeply moved emotionally, after the girl's song
rest of the audience who seemed as though they had their souls extracted
Without a change in her expression, the girl bowed.
”Had it not been a treat for the ears? However, our show has not quite
To the words of the man who was saying that it was a 'secret not meant to
people focused upon him, Lyle smiled and waved his hand apologetically.
does not just have a beautiful face and a heavenly voice, but is also a user of
As the man finished his speech, the girl went out of the birdcage onto the
sky.
The audience raised their voices in surprise. The two candlesticks at both
flickering, they flew around in circles above the audience's heads.
In the midst of the audience who were making a stir, Lyle was overcome with
It is no optical illusion, nor a trick using thread. Whilst that may be true.... I
Lyle was then struck with a sudden realisation, and thrust his hand into his
off a fleeting luminescence without <oracio>.
genuine magic!
phenomenon was happening to the girl. She was perspiring heavily at her
previous emotionless expression.
The girl moaned, and her body began to shake violently.
momentarily,
Cried the spectators who suffered burns from the flames of the falling
The inside of the tent turned into an uproar, and the performance was
Part 5
Outside the tent, a youth who had been burned raised his voice. Because of
a wealthy one at that.
”That was an unforeseen occurrence...... We'll return your admission
”As if that can compensate for this! What are you going to do about my
The youth, holding up his burnt hair—though in all honesty, he did not have
”We, the family of Count Schwatten, have served the country of Ilsestein ever
you've gone too far!”
overbearing young man.
all of whom were well-dressed youths like him, and they surrounded the
”H-How should I apologise in order to......”
The group of young n.o.bles grinned broadly, having thought of something.
personally.”
”In other words, we'll take care of her. Surely you guys won't want to keep
the issue further and let bygones be bygones.”
with coercion. Lyle then slipped out from the crowd.
concealing his worry, he walked into the backstage. In a small room
The silver haired girl then opened her closed eyelids, and faced Lyle with a
”Is there something you require of me?”
”....... The men whom you dropped the candlesticks on earlier, it seems like
”Yes.”
over.”
Lyle frowned at the completely unchanging voice and expression of the girl.
”It was my mistake. I cannot be a burden to those who had taken me in.”
made it seem like those were the affairs of strangers.
approach of others from the back.
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hiding by the girl.
entered without calling out.
The young n.o.ble boldly approached the girl, and lifted her chin up casually.
indescribable elegance. By any chance, are you from a n.o.ble family that had
”..........”
have no need to worry about either food or clothing.”
The youth angrily manhandled her face. The girl was probably thinking
However, the girl only looked back at him intently in silence.
The girl's slender body fell from the chair, her pale silver hair fluttering.
Readily throwing aside the image of a well-dressed n.o.ble, the youth leaned
feeling a sense of superiority at the sight of the girl's agonised look.
face— !”
Smas.h.i.+ng the chair downwards onto the youth's back, Lyle winced, his hands
approaching Lyle, fell on top of the girl.
Taking the hand of the girl with a vague, unsure expression, Lyle rushed out
”H-Hold it right there! H-He got away— ! Give chase! Get him— !”
plaza.
young n.o.bles then came running, out of breath.
”Not here. They're pretty fast.”
While cursing loudly, the group of young n.o.bles then dashed off elsewhere.
”....... Why did you do something like that?”
emotionless expression, tilting her head to the side.
cannot stand by and do naught.”
finding it hard to comprehend.
were gone, and then Lyle started running again.
showing on her porcelain-like face, and she asked Lyle for the second time.
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”You noticed?”
magic, I clearly sensed the magical power of amber..... because I had been
”That's not the only reason, is it? If you were in such a weakened state, it is
The slenderness of the girl's arm that he gripped. It could not be explained
was already tottering, unsteady on her feet.
”There they are!”
had raised his voice angrily.
Hearing the bellows of rage chasing him from behind and finding no escape
”There!”
held on a stage. And onto that stage, Lyle jumped, carrying the girl.
”Let me borrow the casket.”
stage. As the magician was confused, the party who were chasing Lyle had
”We've got him!”
The youths, with clenched fists, vigorously threw off the lid of the casket.
The youths were all looking at the interior of the casket, but they could see
”Oooh!”
disturbances were a part of the performance, the group of young n.o.bles
”What on earth....”
In the direction that one of the youths was pointing, were the figures of the
”D-d.a.m.n it!”
Although they shoved their way through the applauding audience, they were
smaller and smaller.
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”...... Did we lose them?”
earlier. Lyle let out a sigh of relief.
Lyle looked to the side.
intently at Lyle.
this interval of time.”
”I will be returning. I cannot be a burden to them.”
Lyle said while looking into the girl's eyes. The peculiar colour of those eyes
”You're able to cast magic without the use of amber, and those [Eyes of
The girl's expression wavered, even if only a little.
Different from human magi who had to draw out magical power from amber,
Phantasm was the general term for races like fiels, lycans and devils. Once,
However, as magic was a.s.sumed to be a thing of fairy-tales, they too, were
During the Dark Ages, when the church's oppression had been at its peak, the
and the Phantasm, hating the conflict that had been brought about, secluded
tread.
now you're in such a weakened state because you're lacking in magical
you belong to, right away.”
For the first time, a faint trace of emotion flickered across the girl's pale face.
like it was self-derision.
From the crowds in the distance, once again he could hear the sounds of
”n.o.bles nowadays sure have a lot of free time on their hands. Let's get away,
The girl's face was growing increasingly paler and paler, her breathing was
Lyle hurriedly caught her swaying, slender body.
”Absolutely not.”
Lyle replied, slightly irritated.
Saying that, he was just about to move, but from the path ahead, the sounds
the group of young n.o.bles.
they were sightseein
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