v2c3 (1/2)
Chapter 3 - Coeur de Lion[edit]
Part 1[edit]
The Suruga tutelary fort was located on a ion formed from two adjacent mountains in a north-south series
Suruga City lay to the west of these mountains while shi+u and two co doa towards shi+mizu
”So quiet” Masatsuguout theat the streets of Suruga
It was 9a aside the obvious early hour, there was a lack of vibrancy Population was sparse to begin with in this regional city, but there were no pedestrians in the outdoors Cars were few too
It was as though all the residents had gone on vacation—
”It's only natural, Onii-sah school, et hungry easily if you run around for no good reason,” responded Hatsune froetup
Traffic on the road was very light and Hatsune was driving quite fast Also, she had formed her tutelary pact at the water shrine yesterday
”The rations distributed to civilians aren't particularly generous The tutelary fort has also requisitioned gasoline in the city There aren'tabout outdoors”
”In other words The populace is hiding at ho back their anxiety and dissatisfaction, is that right?”
The beauty in the back seat concluded in her lovely voice
This beautiful maiden was dressed neatly in a white blouse and navy-blue skirt with her platinum blonde hair tied in a ponytail with a red ribbon She was Fujinomiya shi+ori, a princess of Imperial japan
Today, her striking and pretty face was adorned by a pair of glasses
Its purpose was for cae It also enhanced her vibes of ”wit and intellect” compared to usual
Furtheruise noetic technique, preventing those unfa her as the princess
Incidentally, Masatsugu earing a white long-sleeved t-shi+rt with black pants
With a black jacket on top, his attire was similar in color to the school uniform
”Are you really sure, Princess? Someone as ia to carry out this kind of mission”
”It is fine, because I a it,” shi+ori replied to Hatsune quite decisively
”Although Suruga has the genie named Sakuya, it would be no easy task to take that insecure child outside the city Besides, she still needs to e the tutelary fort”
”Princess, you ht?”
”And frankly speaking, I would like to leave town for a change of pace too”
”Princess, your Machiavellian tendency to ruin inspiring stories on purpose is totally awesome”
”I estion too”
Masatsugu felt the same way
If anything were to happen to the princess, responsibility would fall squarely upon Rikka as the castellan of Suruga In spite of that, she had accepted shi+ori's suggestion without the slightest hesitation
'To think that Your Highness would be adept in noetic techniques, now that is truly living up to the name of Lord Tenryuu's bloodline There is currently no noetic hness Please lend us your aid'
After shi+ori revealed her own ”ability,” Rikka iave the above response
House Akigase's Chevalier princess prioritized expediency over playing it safe
”Hatsune, our job is to protect the princess If necessary, it won't be just swords We ions Be prepared”
”Of course, Onii-sama!”
The novice Chevalier girl cheerfully answered Masatsugu's reminder
Hatsune's current position was the princess' personal lady-in-waiting as well as a knight under her direct command
In fact, Hatsune had only inherited the Appellation of Kurou Hougan Yoshi+tsune just yesterday When she atteion showed up
Her power had not fully awakened—She was in a proto-Chevalier state
She should be able to surew accustoth was tentatively ”just 1”
Hatsune drove the car along a national highway, speeding through shi+mizu City
Like Suruga City, this region was also isolated like ”an island on land”
There was a marked lack of vibrancy Pedestrian and vehicle traffic was low Continuing along the national highway, they were going to hit the Restoration Alliance's roadblock eventually
”By the way, Hatsune, you encountered a boy during the ritual He was Yoshi+tsune hi you in a dreaht?”
”I think so”
Masatsugu was ian Yoshi+tsune was the Appellation taken straight frou had returned to the human realm as a Resurrectee, but due to certain reasons, Yoshi+tsune had not—
Masatsugu instinctively knew this was the truth
On the other hand, shi+ori said, ”Perhaps Lord Yoshi+tsune turned out to be an unexpectedly helpful person”
”Why do you say that? He was so violent to me~”
”Think about it, we know ends whose veracity is hard to confirm There is a story about Lord Yoshi+tsune, which involves Ushi+wakae in Kyoto It is most likely fictional”
”Then he chose to test e because—”
”Perhaps it was a joke on his part, since he knew that such a legend was circulating in the later world”
This was not a rereement
Even if Yoshi+tsune was a genius invictory as a child against the equally rare hero, Musashi+bō Benkei? In this ti could happen
However, the legend of e definitely sounded contrived
”Of course, it is also possible for truth to be stranger than fiction”
shi+ori shrugged and ended this conversation
The plain do sers
Just as they crossed the Okitsu River and were about to leave shi+mizu City's urban area, Hatsune stopped the car The elevation here was relatively high
The car had been driving along a national highway that followed the coast of Suruga Bay
Literally a seaside road, it alhway of Tōkaidō in the Edo period Steep e was close by Proceeding through the post stations of Yuijuku and Kanbarajuku, one would then reach the Fuji River
On the other side of Fuji River was Fuji City, which was also the tohere the Fuji tutelary fort was located
The ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Hiroshi+ge had also depicted part of this scenery in The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō
This road through mountainous terrain was actually less than twenty kilo and quite a quick drive However, Hatsune parked the car on the shoulder and the trio disembarked
”We will choose the nearer side of Fuji City as our destination for now Fuji River”
shi+ori used noesis to project several visual ies in the air
They all shoide roads in the mountains Every location was buried under landslide debris, evidently impassable
shi+ori had sent retainer beasts for reconnaissance and used noetic control to playback what they saw
”The situation is the saa City—all outbound roads blockaded by the Restoration Alliance At Satsuta Ridge, a little up ahead along our current road, there have been landslides Rather than natural disasters, they were all caused by Crusades”
Next, shi+ori pointed at an ihway toll booth
The toll booth had an inspection checkpoint with many Caucasian British soldiers inside
”They hways intact so that they could use theiven that there are a number of strict security checkpoints and the fact that they have established naval superiority in Suruga Bay, if one wanted to enter the mountains”
shi+ori smiled sardonically
”As soon as the Restoration Alliance's retainer beasts pick up the scent of humans, they will attack like ravenous bears”
”Princess, question here What are the chances of getting attacked?”
”Fro a retainer beast in these kinds of situations is roughly the saames In every zone, the nuures minimum”
”Indeed” Masatsugu looked up in Fuji City's direction ”Three white British wyverns are flying over there”
”Eh, you can see that, Onii-sa at all”
Hatsune squinted, staring intently in the same direction
After twenty seconds, she finally gave up and said in surprise, ”Coht is crazy good”
”Really? I thought this was pretty normal”
Fro northeast On closer examination, the white dots had outlines shaped like wyverns
Ignoring their conversation, shi+ori said confidently, ”However, the situation would be cohly adept in noetic control like myself I will come up with a solution Hatsune, could you please prepare?”
”Roger that~”
Hatsune did as directed, taking out three sliround
The three boards were retainer beast talismans shi+ori touched the talismans as she did before The retainer beast talismans activated and transformed into ”wolves” They were covered in beautiful silver fur and had huge bodies as large as a horse
Three mid-size retainer beasts—Mibu wolves—had appeared
According to legend, Hijikata Toshi+zō had led a pack of these Mibu wolves, fighting across various battlefields in eastern japan
”A all retainer beasts, Mibu wolves have an especially keen sense of smell They will immediately detect any retainer beasts that approach If we are unfortunate enough to encounter ene noesis”
The three of them each rode a Mibu wolf
The wolves began to run They needed to head east towards the Fuji River by traversing theas fast as the wind, the Mibu wolves raced across slopes and round
Occasionally, they would take a detour, probably due to detecting the scent of British retainer beasts
Even so, it took the trio roughly two hours to reach their destination After descending the reenery of a tea plantation
In front of them was also the clear water of the Fuji River
The Fuji River was not ravel deposited on the shore or sandbanks
Over in the northeastern sky was an expansive view of a sacred peak, offering the majestic scenery of Mount Fuji's snowy peak
It looked even bigger and a City
The trio dis on their own feet once again
”Princess, isn't this inside the Restoration Alliance's sphere of influence already?”
”Indeed However, they will not de too suspicious Please behave as calmly as possible”
”Hmm?”
Masatsugu felt intrigued He sensed powerful noesis co from the far shore of the Fuji River
He swept his gaze over the streets of Fuji City, a regional city sia The Fuji tutelary fort, which had been conquered by the British, was more than ten kilometers away in this direction
”Hatsune, do you knohere this weird presence is co from?”
”Huh? H!”
The novice Chevalier looked at the eastern sky and instantly jumped in surprise
Ordinary people were not very sensitive to noetic waves After inheriting Kurou Hougan Yoshi+tsune successfully, Hatsune's senses were gradually augu both detected the sa
Currently, powerful noesis irling in the sky over the Fuji tutelary fort
In the center of that vortex was a gigantic eyeball!
”Is that Morgan le Fay?”
”I would think so The principal ie has been transported to Hakone Checkpoint What remains at the Fuji tutelary fort is probably her shadow,” explained shi+ori to Masatsugu
The Mibu wolves they had been using for locorowled fiercely
They were glaring across the Fuji River, preparing for coan le Fay had deployed for repelling retainer beasts
Mid-size or larger retainer beasts were not very affected by the barrier, but it looked like they did not feel comfortable either
shi+ori waved her hand and the three Mibu wolves ran into the mountain
”Let us prepare immediately”
The trio walked across the tea plantation and roads on foot, heading to the Fuji River's shore
Soon they arrived at the water's edge Masatsugu and Hatsune worked efficiently Using foldable shovels, they dug ten shallow holes
Digging through the gravel on the riverbank was hard labor, but fortunately, both of theth The task was over quickly
shi+ori placed a retainer beast talisles were the size of cards used for writing japanese poehts swiftly buried the holes
”I beseech you to appear May the Gods be with you”
shi+ori touched the buried holes and recited an incantation to complete the preparations
”This will summon retainer beasts that won't lose to the barrier, Princess?”
”I cannot assert with certainty The success rate is roughly 60”
Hatsune's gaze read ”eh, it's not 100” and shi+ori coughed lightly
”It cannot be helped This is a contest of technique to see whether the strength of an le Fay's influence”
”Okay”
”If the noesis I poured into a taliser, it will produce a retainer beast that will not lose to the barrier However, since this is ultimately a barrier deployed by the best spirit of the British forces, it is hard to be optimistic here”
”So that's hoorks”
”Naturally, my noetic control is first rate If I fail here, it means that it cannot be accomplished without a team of expert masters from the Noetic Bureau”
”Taking opportunities to show off your confidence every now and then, Princess, you're so awesome♪”
While listening to the conversation between the two girls, Masatsugu realized so
In front of them was a wide and beautiful view centered on japan's number one sacred peak, Mount Fuji, and an ar across this view
A couple hundred Ka in a spherical formation
An arions also sortied to intercept the Kamuys
Outnuions were similar in appearance to the Crusade but instead of the usual white coloring, they were vivid crimson all over
Part 2[edit]
King Richard I, the Lionheart
Yesterday, after speaking with Edward the Black Prince at Nijou Castle, he immediately left Kyoto
Taking the same combination of land and air travel as his collateral descendant had used to get to Kyoto, he arrived at the Fuji tutelary fort in shi+zuoka Prefecture within the same day
And today, Richard received the long-awaited report
Three hundred Ka the Fuji tutelary fort
”Hohohoho Things are unfolding according to Édoua Edward's plan”
Richard laughed proudly to himself
”In that case, it would make for some brief entertainment if I were to add some blood-red color to his plan Allow Richard the Lionheart, the forefather hom he shares a common bloodline, to do so”
Built at the center of the Fuji tutelary fort was a nation-protecting keep just like the Suruga tutelary fort
Richard was on the roof, ad the view of Mount Fuji that enty kilometers to the north South of this mountain was shi+zuoka Prefecture while to the north was Yamanashi+ Prefecture Both areas were under Tōkaidō jurisdiction
However, shi+zuoka had fallen under the control of the British armed forces
Trying to counterattack, the Tōkaidō provincial army had mobilized three hundred Kamuys to sortie from the southernmost part of Yamanashi+—the Motosu tutelary fort at Fuji Five Lakes
The ene Fuji City from the north
Next to Richard, a girl dressed in a sailor outfit and beret said, ”The Black Prince of the British E at Kyoto Looks like this news, has succeeded in reaching the Tōkaidō higher-ups”
”The boy is having a grand time in Kyoto”
Richard laughed happily
”After attending the ceremony in the castle yesterday, he ran off into the streets Today, he had to go to soh it was to attract attention in a natural manner”
”Morrigan thinks he actually enjoys it”
The Lionheart was talking to a doll possessed by a genie
This was ”Unit 2” Morrigan's principal ie and ”Unit 1” doll had stayed in Hakone For the ti noetic waves from Hakone to possess Unit 2 over here
Further keep was occupied by a gigantic eyeball and powerful noesis
This was also left behind at Fuji by Morrigan's principal i away retainer beasts
”However, it is thanks to his ploy that the old foxes of Tōkaidō have taken the bait”
Edward had intentionally strolled through Kyoto, well aware that the eneence network extended into Kyoto, so as to feed Tōkaidō the impression that the Hakone area eakened in defense
Using thistheir time passively, to attack
The Black Prince had laid an extermination trap for the eneo to Kyoto regardless, he took the opportunity to set up this ploy
”How brave of the enean, analyze the enemy lineup”
”Affirmative”
Morrigan instantly executed the orders of Richard the Lionheart
She co in the air over the nation-protecting keep—ie the swirling noesis—to project noetic waves for enean le Fay's hout Fuji City
These waves captured the Ka in the sky over the outskirts of Fuji City
”Enemy Kamuys Total of 307 Chevaliers, six Chevaliers of Yaion in Tōkaidō, estimated total of ten to twelve Almost half deployed in this operation”
”Excellent, then I shall send out half their numbers”
”One, half? Too few”
”I do not care This is my first battle in japan It is imperative to let the people of japan know that I ae assemble under my name of Richard the Lionheart—”
On the roof of the nation-protecting keep, the English king of old flapped his crimson cape
”Granted the naions!”
Nuan
They looked similar to Crusades but not exactly The noesis of Richard's overwhelreat arions in red
”Now then, hts Soar the sky with me!”
The lion's battle began
The enemy leader, Prince Edward, was absent from Hakone
Tōkaidō higher-ups issued the order to use this opportunity to retake the Fuji tutelary fort If possible, they would ride on their success to capture Hakone
Having received these orders, six Chevaliers of the Tōkaidō Fiefdoion in Fuji Five Lakes to enter Fuji City's airspace—This was basically the current situation
”What!?”
The leader of the Tōkaidō force, Chevalier Ogura, was doubting his eyes The outskirts of Fuji City consisted olf courses The 307 Ka over this zone
The six Chevaliers were also riding blue wyverns to accompany them
The daily replenishthened the bodies of Chevaliers The cold wind blowing at an altitude of several hundredapproached by a British army
The 150 Crusades were colored a fiery crimson
The japanese Chevaliers were not only surprised by the color but also the location of the encounter
Legions only needed one day to revive when they were killed in action near the tutelary fort serving as their stronghold—
Because of that, the defending side would try as hold This was common sense in warfare Unbelievably, this arht in the suburbs!
”What on earth is the ene?”
Seeing the opponent give up houra was stunned
Was there some kind of devious ploy? Or a brainless fool who simply wanted to attract attention? There was still a kilometer between the two armies
Soon after
Roughly a hundred of the cri at the Tōkaidō ar speed!
The 307 Ka in a spherical formation, ready for combat
Meanwhile, the red Crusade are They had fore formation to attack an enemy three times their number
”A fool after all!”
Chevalier Ogura cursed from his wyvern's saddle This enemy was either a fool, or so romanticism in battle, or a probleeneral
However, Chevalier Ogura was not aware of the horrifying truth
The eneeneral was athe ”fool” label
”A knightly charge is the essence of war”
The hundred Escalibors in the vanguard advanced as a ”red wedge”
Riding his white wyvern, Richard watched his troops charge at the eneions that were hovering in the air on standby
In front of the charging vanguard, 307 Tōkaidō Kamuys waited
Iions were clad in blue arures were sliions
The Ka to Richard's sensibilities
These Ka their bayonet rifles The rain of flashi+ng light attacked the Escalibors' wedge formation
307 versus 100 Victory seemed impossible However, the Lionheart continued to smile
”Hohohoho You are too careless, knights of the orient”
The e, Richard I was already certain of his victory As soon as he sensed coe of the Tōkaidō generals' mindset
It was true that they had entered for to the battlefield, but they were still quite far from the Fuji tutelary fort
Richard's beast-like nose had smelled the samurai's carelessness in their preconceived notion that enemies would not attack at such a distance
”Those who cannot distinguish between confidence and carelessness are unfit to be the Lionheart's opponents”
The Escalibors charged at the Ka for them
The two arlow of each barrier was proportional to the army headcount In a shootout with rifles, Tōkaidō held an overwhele
”Hoho, you e nohile you still can”
The particles of light around the Kamuys blocked virtually all of the British shots
In contrast, the rain of flashi+ng light pierced the protective barrier of the hundred Escalibors, striking their red bodies repeatedly, skewering their shoulders, abdomens, and heads
This barrage was definitely sufficient to wipe out the charging British army
In spite of that, the Escalibors soldiered onwards Even with massive holes in their abdomens, amputated limbs, broken heads and helmets—
Like the living dead, the British army advanced nonstop
Not only that, but the hundred Legions accelerated all at once as a single unit
In e surpassed 500 kiloht for the spherical formation of the 307 Kamuys
It looked like driving a criantic blue sphere—
”O Escalibors, I shall secure victory by stepping over your glorious corpses Battle relentlessly”
Watching his troops fight bravely, Richard's voice arm and ecstatic
Meanwhile, the hundred Escalibors continued to charge despite their grievous wounds They crashed violently into the Kamuys' formation!
With rifles raised, they stabbed their bayonets into the flesh of the blue Legions
Paired with blades, the charging attack inflicted daht in the iround
Currently, the cri the blue sphere and was about to pierce through and out the other side
”Hmm, only such battle spirit would be worthy as the Lionheart's Feat of Arms!”
Seeing the charge succeed, Richard was satisfied from the bottom of his heart
Further neatly in a ”wedge,” the Escalibors turned around and raain
The same scene was reenacted
The defending side attee The attacking side soldiered on, charging at full strength
The japanese Legions becae The Tōkaidō side suffered serious casualties with blue corpses crashi+ng into the ground one after another
The Escalibors' second charge had succeeded Richard nodded and said, ”I see that you have ranted by me!”
”Coeur de Lion” was French, lish
A so-called lion's heart referred to a soul of courage, fighting spirit, and indomitable perseverance The Feat of Arms—Coeur de Lion was precisely the ability of Richard I to bestow such heroic fortitude upon his Legions
Invoking this Feat of Arions under his command to become warriors undaunted by even death itself—
Even if they died, they still charged to the bitter end
In fact, after this attack concluded, the hundred Escalibors in the vanguard finally succuuished, they crashed down one after another from the air
Pierced unshots earlier, they were already dead to begin with
After the fierce assault froes, the Tōkaidō side was down to less than a hundred Legions
”A triu Victory is at hand”
Richard still had fifty Legions re by his side
Although he was confident he could ith these nureater priority
”Gather, 's majesty once more”
After saying that, Richard looked southeast
He sed soldiers he had summoned at the tutelary fort earlier—the rehtly earlier using noetic waves
These Escalibors numbered 867
This was undoubtedly a massive army, and he had just led 150 troops to the battlefield Indeed, Richard I's Chevalier Strength had reached 1017!
”Next, I shall crush the enehts, follow me!”
Richard declared majestically
Then riding his wyvern, he personally charged at the re Kamuys
The accoanized theinning to charge like a flying bullet!
”Inform the tutelary fort to send out wyvern squadrons All japanese Chevaliers found on the battlefield must be captured alive I shall end this battle here!”
A sprite retainer beast left to relay his orders
Meanwhile, the Tōkaidō rereat army
They ran north as fast as they could, towards Mount Fuji It was quite commendable that even at this juncture, the Ka out of formation
The lion did not think that it was acceptable to let the eneo just because they numbered less than a hundred
”Pursue them! Bite their tails!”
Richard fully unleashed a carnivorous predator's nature and hunger to hunt down the fleeing prey
Part 3[edit]
”Inconceivable”
An aerial battle between Legions was taking place over the outskirts of Fuji City
Having witnessed the one-sided battle, shi+ori was shocked The 307 Ka rapidly
The surviving Kamuys and Chevaliers retreated north, towards Mount Fuji
Over eight hundred red Legions chased the off in an orderly manner
Watching this scene, Hatsune laed in a straight line, right? Is a direct charge that effective? Oh, it was thanks to the power of the Feat of Arht!?”
”That's one of the reasons, but not all of it,” Masatsugu realized he was al when he replied
Laughing at an ally's defeat was not very respectable His almost smile was unintentional The reason for this was the fact that the eneh brute force by such ridiculous tactics
The eneh the Tōkaidō side's confidence Or rather, carelessness