Part 4 (1/2)
”That's why I said 'just checking', right?! You don't have to get that angry!”
”It's due to that strangely insulting way you put it!”
It gradual y appeared clear that this Integrity Knight Alice's personality had a conclusively horrible affinity with me,
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Chapter 10 - Integrity Knight Alice.
without even considering our respective standpoints, but I continued my questions while restraining the urge to retort.
”...Then, I'm just checking this time too, but... how about calling for that huge flying dragon I hung off al the way here?”
”Your suggestions are becoming increasingly foolish.
Approaching any flying dragons is only permitted on the thirtieth floor's landing platform. No ridden dragon will go close to any higher, not even oji-sama... no, not even the Knight Commander's.”
”Th-There's no way I would know of an arrangement like that, right?!”
”You should have realized it when you knew the flying dragon landing platform was built on the thirtieth floor!”
I had no idea how many times had we done so already, but we glared at each other for another three whole seconds before I swallowed down the anger directed at the great integrity knight's irrational remark and turned my head back, speaking.
”...Then there goes the path of escaping by flying... I guess.”
Alice, on the other hand, seemed to have taken another two seconds before she regained her cool, but her blue eyes glanced this way and she nodded.
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Chapter 10 - Integrity Knight Alice.
”Not even birds approach the upper floors of the cathedral. I do not know the specifics, but I have heard a unique art wrought by the highest minister's hand is at work.”
”So that's it... that's meticulous.”
I surveyed the surrounding again, then saw that although there were bird-like silhouettes extremely far away, they certainly showed no sign of approaching. This could be said to be the embodiment of the transcendental magic ability and unhealthy wariness of the most influential being, Administrator.
On that line of thought, the abnormal height of this tower, too, seemed to be a symbol of her authority while being an expression of fear towards unseen enemies.
”In that case, there are three choices remaining... to descend, to ascend, or to break through the wall again, huh.”
”The third wil likely be difficult. Like the ”immortal walls”, the cathedral's outer walls should endowed with practically infinite Life and the nature to repair themselves. The same applies to the gla.s.s on the lower floors.”
”Then, that makes descending to the windows pointless too, huh...”
When I muttered so, Alice lightly nodded before she spoke.
”...In the first place, I find it hard to believe a hole could have opened up in the wal from within the tower earlier... there is no way to think about it aside from it being an one-in-a-mil ion
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Chapter 10 - Integrity Knight Alice.
stroke of misfortune caused by that abnormal power released when our armament full control arts combined. My goodness, what a meaningless deed you've done.”
We would get into a spiral of quarrels if I retort here, I thought as I held it in, getting it to settle down after merely heavy breathing, before I asked.
”...But in that case, wouldn't it be logical for the wall to break if we bring about that same phenomenon again?”
”The probability is not a complete zero, but... it would be difficult to return inside in the few seconds before the hole automatically repairs and there's one more thing to note, that I have already used this child's... this ”Fragrant Olive Sword”'s full control art twice. I cannot use the art unless I allow it to bask in plenty of sunlight or let it rest in its scabbard.”
”That's true, it's the same for me. I'll have to put it in my sheath... or rather, there's quite a lot of stress being placed on it just by dangling like this, right? It's best to get a move on soon, regardless of whether we're descending or ascending.”