v1c2 parts1-2 (1/2)

Chapter 2 - Invading Legions (2)[edit]

Part 1[edit]

”By the way, Her Highness shi+ori certainly made quite a bold move”

Akigase Rikka offered her sincere reaction

It was the middle of October, on a sunny Friday afternoon

Rikka was visiting Suruga's city hall, located roughly tenof over seventy years and featuring red glazed tiles had been constructed next to the historical site of Sunpu Castle where Tokugawa Ieyasu once lived

Rikka had coant city hall, in other words, the roohest authority

”Even though it was a local program, to think that a princess of the imperial family dared to make a public appearance on television”

Rikka smiled She did not dislike the princess' style of audacity

Her conified man in his early sixties, dressed in traditional japanese attire of haori and hakaase Rikka was only seventeen years old—

Her gorgeous black hair reached waist length and she was a nified face

However, her lips were shaped into a smile of resilience Her attire was also different froh school students in the city Her blackofficers in the Imperial Army and she even had a japanese sword at her waist

Incidentally, her excellent figure was visible even beneath the military uniform

Her bountiful bosoenerously while the round curves of her hips also indicated appropriate voluptuousness

ChronicleLegion 01 BW04jpg

”Did you watch the interview?”

Despite Rikka being young enough to be his granddaughter, the mayor spoke to her with unusual reverence in his tone

One would hardly blame him Rikka was the holder of two positions First of all, she was the eldest daughter of the Tōkaidō Governor General who ruled over the three prefectures of Aichi, shi+zuoka and Yamanashi+ Secondly, she was a Chevalier of the Tōkaidō provincial army—

Either one of these positions would rank her above a overnor

Facing the one as in charge of Suruga City's administration on her father's behalf, Rikka replied, ”Yes, I watched it Her Highness is surely refreshi+ng in her s I a the i If those ladies-in-waiting in the Eram, I am certain it would vex them to no end”

Iain

”If Her Highness shi+ori is not simply an obedient princess Then it would see ”

”Akigase-sama”

The elderly mayor smiled uncomfortably and tactfully cautioned Rikka

Seeing as she was a ase's Chevalier princess, it was very rare for anyone to dare estions to her Most people tended to shower her with sycophancy

Grateful for the mayor's well-intentions, Rikka smiled wryly and sed the rest of her irreverent words

Ever since the end of Second World War and japan accepted Lord Tenryuu's protection

The islands of japan had been divided into twelve provinces, each ruled by a hereditary Governor General Bluntly stated, it had returned to the Edo period's feudal clan system

The twelve regional Governor Generals each had their respective ar rise to the name of the Twelve Fiefdoms

The Hokkaidō Fiefdom The Ōshū Fiefdom The Hokuriku Fiefdom The Kantō Fiefdom The Tōsandō Fiefdom The Tōkaidō Fiefdom

The Kinai Fiefdooku Fiefdom The shi+koku Fiefdom The Kyūshū Fiefdom The Okinawa Fiefdom

Rikka was the eldest daughter of the Akigase fa over Tōkaidō

”As I recall, tomorrohen you will pay the princess a visit, is that correct?”

”Indeed, I wish to make a trip to the tutelary fort if time permits, so as to meet with Sakuya Her condition has not been the best for the past few ht be even harder than the princess”

After the amiable conversation, Rikka put on a serious expression and said, ”However I must first speak to that man today”

”Are you referring to Kawazoe-dono? The castellan of the Suruga tutelary fort—Or rather, the fored in such clandestine dealings,” the mayor remarked painfully

Rikka shrugged and said, ”He was an avariciousat all What is truly probleents of the British Empire”

The Chevalier serving as the castellan of the Suruga tutelary fort had been arrested by the ations of corruption Reportedly, he had accepted bribes froains—

It was during this case's investigation that his second crime was uncovered

”To think that the Britain Faction has appeared in our Tōkaidō, and even a Chevalier too,” the hed in dismay

The Eastern Roman Empire and japan had ”entered an alliance” for over ten years now

But in recent years, more andan alliance with ”the other major power” involved in Asia, so as to cleanse japan of Rome's influence

This was the so-called ”Britain Faction,” which had oku and shi+koku

”The fiefdoland ever since the Bakumatsu era—since the Satchō Alliance—but the same cannot be said for Tōkaidō,” said Rikka with a nod

”This is not only the place where Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu was born and raised but also his long-term base of operations, as well as where he retired after stepping down as the shogun In honor of the Tokugawa legacy, we must uphold absolute loyalty to the i mettle as a samurai family”

After expressing her principles as a descendant of samurai, Rikka smiled ironically

”Regrettably, whom the current imperial family currently trusts is not us but the powerful Roman Empire”

”Akigase-sama”

”Oh, o see Kawazoe-sama”

The ain and she hastily took her leave

Rikka was a Chevalier answering directly to the Tōkaidō Governor General and noroya

She had coa City to meet the suspect on her father's behalf After that, she was scheduled to have an audience with princess of rumor, Fujinomiya shi+ori

Part 2[edit]

After school, Masatsugu left Rinzai High with Hatsune immediately

Riding a military truck that caa tutelary fort

The vehicle drove to the ion formed from two adjacent 300m-tall hills On the Mount Udo peak on the north side was a slightly sloping plateau known as ”Nihondaira” Built on this military land and wilderness that stretched as far as the eye could see was a tutelary fort, so that could be described as a modernized ”castle”

The truck finally stopped clia tutelary fort

”So this is the place huh,” u to himself

The Surugu tutelary fort occupied roughly five times the area of the Tokyo Dome stadium at the imperial capital

The fortification walls surrounding this vast area were approximately seven meters tall

From an overhead view, the walls formed a five-pointed star, the sa the name of Goryōkaku Fortress In fact, fortification walls were coions

The nificent star shape could serve to boast of ht

”Let's go, Onii-sama”

Leaving the u

She still dressed as a student in the style of the Haikara-san a

Masatsugu earing the stiff-collar h The Imperial Army and the provincial armies led by the Twelve Houses all used black stiff-collar h school uniforms Consequently, he did not look too out of place surrounded by soldiers here despite being a student

In contrast, Hatsune was very conspicuous in her meisen kimono, hakama and boots

The two students walked for a while and arrived at a side gate at the wall Masatsugu was treated to quite a sight

Standing on the two sides of the gate were two blue giants

They were eight meters tall and equipped with blue armor and military uniforms Each of them had a white mask on their face which seemed like porcelain in texture Their coures too

The two giants were equipped with ”bayonet rifles”

These eapons consisting of afunctionality as both a gun and a spear Both giants were standing at attention with their guns in upright position

They suddenly turned their necks, pointing their faces and gazes slightly doards

From behind theirsternly at the approaching Masatsugu and Hatsune

This ilant of their surroundings as door guards!

”So these are japan's Legions The type known as 'Kaht?”

Today was Masatsugu's first tiions in action

Masatsugu's height was 175ciant's foot up to the knee He was deeply iht meters tall

”That's right The castellan probably stationed theenerally do this kind of thing”

”Keep up appearances?”

”Think about it Inexperienced recruits and visitors would all react like you, Onii-sama”

Masatsugu understood the nugget of co to him

In the ions were both the mainstay weapons and the decisive weapons One would easily conclude frouard a gate would be an absolute waste However, it definitely looked very impressive

Hatsune seeirl who had been a trainee at the imperial palace

”Do these Legions only follow the castellan's orders?”

”Strictly speaking, yes However, if the Chevalier serving as castellan carries out a cereenies and noetic masters, they can also issue simple orders”

There was also a huuard

Hatsune presented her authorization document and u looked up at the ions

The blue ar under the sunlight

They were not onlyvibe of seasoned veterancy In fact, every Legion was not only tall and i but also a master of martial arts and marksmanshi+p

With a pull of the trigger, they could easily strike and kill targets several kilometers away

Were Tachibana Masatsugu an ene the tutelary fort, he would probably have been ”instantly slaughtered” in a single second—

In that u's mind

Inexplicably, Masatsugu doubted Would he actually be ”instantly slaughtered”? The Kaions in front of hih, he did not think he was going to lose

Without any grounds, Masatsugu believed If necessary, he should have the ability to defeat these giant soldiers

What was up with this? While Masatsugu was grappling with his puzzling thoughts, Hatsune said to him, ”This way, Onii-sama”

”Okay”

Passing through the side gate, the two of thea tutelary fort

The pree stretch of green lawn, olf course However, there were surprisingly few buildings

Masatsugu recalled one explanation he had heard Since battles between Legions ht take place within tutelary forts, iround to minimize casualties

Of the structures above ground, there was nothingthat the central ”tower”

It was a tower built with red bricks, roughly forty iant round clock at the very top, re

”Isn't that what people call a fengshui wheel?”

The object at the top of the toas not a giant clock

A net was installed in the center, surrounded by multiple concentric circles Fine lines were used to divide each ring into equal-area sections, resulting in a wheel packed with characters, syua series of ”qian, dui, li, zhen, xun, kan, gen, kun,” the heavenly ste, xin” and the earthly branches of ”zi, chou, yin, mao, chen, si, ei, shen, you, xu, hai”

”I don't know the details but tutelary forts apparently need to be a sanctuary where spirits and noesis can gather easily in addition to functioning as alike that”

”It's definitely quite difficult to understand”

Looking at the toith the fengshui wheel, the two of them continued

”By the way, Hatsune, it's time you told htest clue”

”No, Onii-sama, you'll knohen you see the princess”

Besides, why have an audience at a military facility?

Finally, Masatsugu was taken into a certain building A one-story building constructed fro and ad past theovernment officials than ”soldiers”

The two of them arrived at what appeared to be a reception room

There was leather sofa and a classy business desk and office chair that would presuirl with platinu there

Fujinomiya shi+ori, a princess of Imperial japan

Dressed in Rinzai High's feu with a s all the way out here I have heard so much about you from Hatsune and Old Man Tachibana”

”Did my relatives mention me on purpose?”

Masatsugu accidentally responded to this surprising news, but he regretted it greatly

It was i with nobility and the correct ould be to speak through the lady-in-waiting, Hatsune

Although Masatsugu was bothered by his rash slip of the tongue, shi+ori immediately replied, ”Didn't you know? The Tachibana clan of Suruga has served House Fujinoeneration”

”First ti it”

Their gazes entle smile Her brilliant platinum blonde hair was undoubtedly the same color as Lord Tenryuu as seen on television

”May I ask why you wanted to meet me at a military base?”

”There is a matter ill-suited to discussion within the city Please allow racefully, picked up a suently

A feh the door

She was pushi+ng a trolley that carried all kinds of tea ware The princess was apparently inviting Masatsugu for tea Standing on the side, Hatsune gestured for Masatsugu to sit on the sofa

”Onii-sama, please be seated”

Masatsugu hesitated ed

After sou sat down si to be forot to the decided so, Masatsugu sat down facing the princess as behind the business desk

In front of Masatsugu was a low glass table

The young female soldier placed the teacup there and poured black tea Then she walked to the princess' desk and likewise poured a cup of tea

At that very instant, Masatsugu was struck by a sense of dissonance

Even if he was the invited guest, what logic is there in serving the high school student before the princess? Consequently, Masatsugu was able to react to the trouble co The teacup that the female soldier had placed on the desk—

shi+ori picked it up and threw it hard

Her target was Tachibana Masatsugu, sitting on the sofa a few meters away!

”!”

Widening his eyes, Masatsugu saw that the teacup was undoubtedly aimed at his face

However, Masastsugu's body reacted autoing the rapidly flying cup

The teacup passed through where his face had been o

The cup was throith such force that it rolled off the sofa and onto the carpet before Masatsugu could see it land

His body er behind him

Indeed, sou's back to attack him with a wooden sword!

Masatsugu's head would have split open if he had dodged a second later With fluid u stood up swiftly

He turned to face the assailant behind the sofa and saw her identity clearly

”It's you, Hatsune!”

”Impressive as always, Onii-sama!”

Wielding a wooden sword, Hatsune was standing behind the sofa

Sixteen years of age, Tachibana Hatsune was a girl with a slender build Currently, she was exuding an accoan stance, she had the wooden sword's tip pointed straight at Masatsugu's face

With brilliant footwork, Hatsune instantly closed in on him

Attacking fro the wooden sith a sharp sound of slicing wind Masatsugu hastily ed the slash nimbly

”Here I coain!”

Hatsune executed a fierce thrust at Masatsugu's face

Masatsugu tilted his head to evade but a second strike ireat ju hi soman

Hatsune seized the chance to take a great stride forward and delivered a doard diagonal slash

Masatsugu avoided the strike deftly Missing its target, the wooden sword proceeded with an upward diagonal slash in a fluid combination offense Hatsune's swordsmanshi+p was sharp and fast as the wind

The wooden sword used by Hatsune was very short, coth

Swinging a massive sword like in historical dra or the walls Hence, Hatsune had chosen the handy and convenient kodachi

Impressed with such impeccable attention to detail one would not expect frou did his best to survive these attacks

Also, the fe tea had already left It looked like she knew in advance this was going to happen

Meanwhile, Hatsune entered another hed fiercely

”Fufufufu, you can't win if all you do is run, Onii-sama!”

”Is the purpose of this farce to test my abilities?”

”Indeed, the head of the Tachibana clan has decided to select frouards for the princess Onii-sama, you have been chosen”

”Why me?”

”Onii-sasters left in our clan are you and me”

Masatsugu accepted this clear and siht, all the relatives he had met for the past two years were all adults over forty

”By the way, I really had no idea you were this a”

”The Tachibana clan prides itself th and valor I've trained in ht trouble is regarded as part of a warrior's training, so this level of ability is only to be expected”

”Listening to your confession, I'ot yourself into”

”Have you had enough warin for real We will decide who is the strongest of the young Tachibanas!”

Masatsugu was quite troubled to see his adorable cousin pressuring him

”Now that puts me in a dilemma I don't really want to hurt you”

”Ah, that's quite a lovely line, Onii-sama It feels like a fated rival is about to release his pohat a great vibe Attack with this sort of spirit!”

”I don'tas you wish But as I've said before, I don't have any memory of my past”

Hatsune's attitude was flippant but her abilities were the real deal

Masatsugu spoke earnestly, ”It's true that I use er I suppose I must have trained in rained into my body But”

Tachibana Masatsugu had apparently learned unarmed combat and swordsmanshi+p since childhood At least, this hat his relatives had told hi his memory, he had not practiced at all

Incredibly, he did not feel any urge to practice either

Hence, he could not reht be considered a move or a skill in swordsmanshi+p or unarmed combat

He couldthe opponent's attacks, however

”When I attack—It tends to be a bit dangerous”

”You're gettingsounds a lot like 'Get out of ht unless you want to die Settle down, my left arm!'”

Hatsune's eyes were getting excited for some reason

Masatsugu nodded and said, ”Yeah, onna snatch that teapot over there to scald you with boiling water, then straddle you and beat your face to a pulp' That's uess?”

”Eh? Really?”

”The martial arts I learned before seems to be a style quite focused on real-world co back If there are beer bottles nearby, I'll grab them to smash on people When an opponent tries to starehim out directly”

Back when they first entered high school, Masatsugu and Taisei had accidentally found theht

Unfortunately, they encountered seven or eight low-lifes and were taken to a deserted back alley This hen Masatsugu dehter he could be

After that, Masatsugu had gotten into similar troubles a few times

”Shouldn't you fight a?”

”I agree, but you don't really have any round to say that when you ambushed me with a wooden sword”

”On the contrary, all the men in our Tachibana clan are superbly skilled They'd never feel bothered by little tricks of this sort Aren't you alive and kicking right now? B-Besides, I-I don't have a choice!”

Hatsune suiltily while she spoke

”After a discussion with the princess, I decided 'this would be ,' you know? The princess consented too, so”

”The princess authorized this farce?”

Masatsugu frowned at the revelation of the unexpected truth

However, on further thought, he recalled that Princess shi+ori was precisely the first person to make a u stole a glance at the problematic character in question

”Technically, this is a test for bodyguard aptitude”

The beautiful princess su

Her dignified sance that was the talk of the town all over Suruga

”An easily cleared test would be pointless Hence, we decided to step things up a little”

Evidently, the princess was nowhere near ”obedient” as her appearance would suggest—

This was Masatsugu's first glimpse at Fujinomiya shi+ori's true self She was the noble princess, the intelligent and elegant beauty, yet hidden inside her were all kinds of secret aspects

shi+ori continued to speak to the pensive Masatsugu, ”That being said, this test has proceeded long enough Tachibana-sauard The last requirement is your consent”

”I see”

Having been given the right to decide, Masatsugu agreed quite readily

”Since serving Your Highness is the business of my clan, I have no objections”

Masatsugu did not feel any loyalty to the imperial family but he was indebted to his clan Further Hatsune in her work should not be a problem Just as he made his decision, a certain notion crossed his mind Perhaps this was an excellent chance to solve ”a certain problem” too

Masatsugu decided that he needed to review the matter properly, but unfortunately, he did not have the luxury of tiht now

Unexpectedly, a siren blared at the scene to signal an eency situation

Part 3[edit]

The sudden siren sounded throughout the Suruga tutelary fort

Fujinomiya shi+ori i Taking Tachibana Hatsune and her new subordinate, Tachibana Masatsugu, she led the way

”Where are we going, Princess?”

”The nation-protecting keep It is where information is pooled We will head there to find out exactly what happened,” replied shi+ori to Hatsune following behind her

”But will they be willing to tell outsiders like us?”

”Worry not Suchon my clout—No, I will assuredly resolve it”

”As expected of the princess A cheerful smile paired with villainous lines, it's absolutely lovely”

shi+ori's words and behavior did not seem like a sheltered princess'

Already used to it, Hatsune joked around to liven up theshi+ori dutifully

In contrast, Tachibana Masatsugu followed last, apparently not too fazed shi+ori's sudden demonstration of initiative did not raise his doubts much either

No one knew if it was because he had a cals at his own pace Or perhaps elements of both?

The previous scene had shown that he was no ordinary person, but that was not enough He race the annals of history for all time

This was also the shi+ori's intent in su him to the tutelary fort on purpose

To let him breathe air related to the battlefield Perhaps it would offer hie within Tachibana Masatsugu—

shi+ori had done this with such hopes

In any case, shi+ori led them briskly and arrived at the heart of the tutelary fort after fivein the center of the pre keep

A tower roughly forty shui wheel installed at the top

The facility itself had been built a few decades ago and was quite old in style shi+ori stepped into the ground floor hall boldly

Thefree access to the ground floor

There were fourteen or fifteen soldiers of the Tōkaidō provincial ar the platinuazes of surprise at her one after another

shi+ori originally wanted to ask for one of the officers but then it occurred to her that there should be soher ranked at the scene

”Chevalier Kamamoto, may I trouble you for a moment?”

”Certainly, Princess, I am at your service”

The elderly Chevalier serving as the temporary castellan was surrounded by several of his subordinates

These subordinates stepped back to provide a path for shi+ori as soon as they saw her approach, allowing her party to reach the old man in the black officer's uniform

”What caused the earlier siren? Please explain to me as much as is permissible”

”Pirates apparently The dragons at Suruga Bay are currently handling them”

”In other words, ara City?”

”There are no confirmed reports of shi+ps yet, but it is very likely”

shi+ori had already contacted the old man a few hours earlier to borrow a room in the tutelary fort

As part of the privileged class, Chevaliers often turned into stubborn and arrogant old ood-natured old man

The elderly man's tone was cordial, probably in an attempt to reassure Princess shi+ori

”Please rest assured I do not believe this would develop into a major incident Please feel free to return safely to the city, Princess”

Three days earlier, the Suruga tutelary fort had lost the official serving as its castellan The previous castellan had been arrested on charges of corruption and was currently detained at the military police headquarters in the countryside

Taking over his duties was Chevalier Kamamoto who had retired for seven years and more

Unless there was a shortage of personnel, the castellan of a tutelary fort must be a Chevalier—Due to this unwritten rule, a retired old

”Pirates, is that it?” murmured shi+ori to herself

Ten years ago, when Imperial japan became the Eastern Rome's tributary ally

Some soldiers had deserted the army, determined to oppose Rome to the bitter end There were also radicals who launched terror attacks, rallying to drive Roage in piracy on occasion when they faced shortages in funding