Vol 14 Chapter 2 (2/2)

Three a castle with size that far surpa.s.sed 2 kilometer was moving. It was a flying imperial villa with luxurious and gorgeous appearance. It was the flags.h.i.+p of Vatlantis Empire, Oldium.

A small s.h.i.+p for landing descended from that Oldium. And then it landed quietly at the welcoming deck where Gravel was standing. The pink haired girl standing on the deck came in front of Gravel with twenty knights accompanying her.

「It’s an honor that the president herself is here to welcome me.」

Gravel bowed her head respectfully.

「Vatlantis Empire’s emperor your majesty Grace Synclavia. Thank you for personally──」

「Oh stop that. I and you are friend. Spare me from all the stuffiness.」

Gravel lifted her head and showed a honest smile.

「Thank you for coming, your majesty Grace.」

「Obviously. It won’t start without me coming here. After all──」

Grace stared at Gravel’s stomach that was swelling up greatly.

「My niece is also in attendance. It’s only natural to be present here as an aunt.」

After she said that, the two laughed together in amus.e.m.e.nt.

Gravel was pregnant.

The stomach part of her white dress was round. It swelled out largely. It was already impossible to hide with that size.

In Atlantis, people were blessed with child by offering blood of two married people to the Genesis. The Genesis was located at Vatlantis Empire, but its offshoot also existed in Izgard and Baldin. It was wors.h.i.+pped as G.o.d in each country since the ancient time and the place where that tower was located was considered as holy land.

However the child inside Gravel’s stomach wasn’t a child that came from Genesis.

「Even so, for you to be pregnant with Nii-sama’s child……」

「Honestly, I was also surprised. I heard that it was a miraculous probability so……that’s why I’m really happy.」

Gravel lovingly caressed her stomach that had grown big.

「You must be. My only worry is whether Aldea is giving you worries. I came thinking that I have to ascertain that.」

Aldea who was hugging Gravel’s arm glared at Grace with an offended face.

「There is no need for worry. After all I have nipped off all of Gravel’s sources of worry.」

However Gravel made an intentional sigh.

「That’s not good. How about it your majesty, can I ask you to scold this undisciplined wife of mine later?」

Grace grinned and nodded.

「Got it.」

Aldea pulled Gravel’s arm with an angry look.

「Gravel? If you say something mean like that──」

Gravel gently separated Aldea’s arm from her.

「Aldea, go ahead and take care of the preparation. I will give a tour for her majesty.」

Aldea made a sullen face, but she obediently followed Gravel’s words and left that place.

「She is unexpectedly obedient.」

「It seems she is working hard to change even though she look like that.」

「Hou……in that case」

──It might be just my needless worry.

「Is something the matter?」

「No. I’m thinking about how I’ll be called an aunt at this age.」

Gravel smiled softly.

「No no, what are you saying. You will be the world’s youngest and most beautiful aunti.」

Grace opened her eyes wide in a bit of surprise.

「I’m surprised that you can make a flattery. Isn’t that right, captain-dono?」

「Ye, yes……ah, no!」

The twenty knights following behind Grace.

Everyone was the elites of the royal guard. All of them were famous knight and even just from taking a glance at their face, there was none of them whose name wasn’t known to Gravel.

But, there was one person with an outstanding fame even among them.

The knight who stood at the forefront and was called captain. She was the most beautiful and emitted overwhelming presence. The uniform she was wearing was also luxurious and gorgeous, drawing attention whether one wanted or not.

Even Gravel unconsciously almost got fascinated by her.

「Leon squad’s──no, new royal guard captain Hyakurath-dono.」

The newly made captain uniform was made from the highest quality white fabric with gold thread decorating it. The additional sky blue color splendidly matched the blond hair and blue eyes of Hyakurath. It was elegant as well as extravagant. In addition it also exposed a lot of skin as though to show off the wearer’s voluptuous body.

That appearance which splendidly put n.o.bility, dignity, beauty, and strength in harmony would make anyone who saw her to sigh in admiration.

The problem was that in contrast of that appearance and skill, the person was abnormally faint of heart and weak toward pressure, but other people didn’t notice that.

「I listened to your inaugural speech as the new royal guard captain. It was very wonderful.」

Hyakurath’s cheeks reddened.

──NOOOOO! Please stop! Please don’t make me remember it! It’s embarra.s.sing-! Something like that was broadcasted to the whole world……I want to die.

She looked down with tearful eyes and replied back somehow.

「Tho, those words are wasted on me. I’m still immature so……this role that is too grand for me makes me feel my lack of ability everyday……I wish that the day I can relinquish this position will come even for a day earlier……」

‘Hahaha’, the surrounding laughed.

「The captain is joking again.」

「As expected it’s really grand to joke like that in front of the emperor and Izgard’s president.」

Everyone held back their laughter and whispered to each other. The place’s atmosphere became softened by a lot. But, the vice captain standing beside Hyakurath was the only one sweating coldly with her mouth forming ‘^’ shape.

It was Mercuria who was forcefully appointed as Hyakurath’s vice captain because she was her best friend. Mercuria was the only one who stood out from the surrounding due to her nervous expression. She was on the tenterhooks wondering if Hyakurath would start crying in front of other people.

Gravel replied with a delighted smile.

「So even the sword saint Hyakurath can joke like that. Well, even as a joke that sounds too humble it might be interpreted as sarcasm you know?」

「Yes……my apologies.」

──You’re wrong! I’m not being humble! Aa, I wonder if Zelcyone-sama hasn’t been found yet. Please return quickly! I want to return home quickly…….

At that time, the form of a gigantic living thing appeared in the air.

Its length was more than 500 meters. It was a golden dragon with four pair of wings. It was a gigantic magic weapon and the battles.h.i.+p of Baldin.

「Golden Dragon──looks like Landred has also arrived.」

The Golden Dragon flapped its wings and landed down n the beach. From the hatch on its torso, Baldin’s queen, Landred appeared just as Grace said.

「Everyone~. Long time no see~」

She ran on the beach toward them with casualness that wasn’t befitting a queen. The way her huge b.r.e.a.s.t.s bounced was amazing, but it seemed the person herself didn’t mind it.

「Welcome to Izgard, Queen Landred.」

「My my my!」

Landred’s eyes s.h.i.+ned staring at Gravel’s stomach.

「So this is the child of headmaster’s little brother.」

She showered Gravel with questions for a while and asked to touch her stomach. After that Landred smiled with an ecstatic expression.

「An existence who is blood related with headmaster in this world……aam this might be G.o.d’s will.」

「But Queen Landred. I am that child’s aunt. I shall have you go through me first for anything concerning that child.」

Grace said something that was unclear whether it was a joke or serious with a smirking face. It seemed they wouldn’t finish talking anytime soon, so Gravel pointed at a white hotel at the other side of the beach.

「Both of you. We shouldn’t talk while standing here, let me show everyone to the waiting room.」

「You’re right. Then please show the way.」

「Forgive us for making you do this despite your pregnancy.」

Gravel stood at the lead while Grace and Landred followed behind her.

「There is no problem because right now is a stable period. More importantly, please also look forward to the dinner at the wedding party. It will be a course made from only Izgard’s product cooked by capable cooks.」

「Hohou. I’m looking forward to that.」

「Agriculture and livestock are Izgard’s pride after all. I heard that Vatlantis is lacking in food due to unstable supply. If you like, please consider importing from us.」

「Good grief. Even the hero has completely become a politician now.」

Grace’s teasing gaze was responded with a wry smile from Gravel.

「Please don’t say that. I’m aware that I’m doing something I’m not accustomed to. However──」

Gravel caressed her stomach.

「If it’s for the sake of creating a country where this child can live in peace without lacking anything……I will do anything. After all this is the happiness of a lifetime that Kizuna gave me.」

「……It’s unfair for you to say it like that. Well, I will think about it. First let’s start from actually eating it!」

「Actually I also have something to mention.」

Landred faced Grace and smiled brightly.

「Oo, if it’s about the matter of Baldin’s wood, I also wish to talk about it.」

「I’m really thankful for that however, actually it’s a different matter.」

「Mu?」

「I wish to ask to temporarily halt the working of Genesis.」

The unexpected request caused Grace to unconsciously stop walking. Gravel also turned around in surprise.

「What did you say? What do you mean by that?」

「Queen Landred, won’t the world collapse again if we do that?」

However Landred smiled softly to calm them.

「Rather I wish to do this in order to prevent the collapse of Genesis like before.」

「What do you mean?」

「Genesis will break down again one day if we don’t hold a religious ceremony for it correctly. However, the thing necessary for that ceremony doesn’t exist in Atlantis right now.」

「……Nee-sama’s Zeros huh.」

Grace tightened her lips into the form of ‘^’ with a troubled look.

「That is also a concern of mine. But, according to the data that was uncovered from Nayuta’s research facility isn’t it also possible to do it in another way?」

「Yes, that method is the Ceremony of Eternity that is equivalent with the maintenance of Genesis. It’ll be necessary to halt Genesis temporarily to hold that ceremony.」

「Fumu……to put it another way, is it the same like when all the magic engines are halted temporarily when it’s time for the periodical inspection of the palace’s magic furnace?」

「Yes. It’s exactly like that.」

Gravel folded her arms with a puzzled expression.

「However Queen Landred, how do know so much like that? Is that also from Nayuta’s research?」

「There is also that but, actually when we went to Odin’s world……I and Nayutsan learned a lot from the mural in her palace. Also, we were able to directly ask about it from Odin herself.」

「From Odin?」

「Yes. What I learned from that time is that there is a deep connection between Odin’s world and Baldin’s culture. Thanatos might use it as reference when creating this world.」

Grace raised her voice in realization.

「That means, there was also Genesis in Odin’s world?」

Landred smiled broadly and clapped her hands.

「Wonderful. That’s exactly the case.」

「Fufun. You shouldn’t underestimate the emperor’s discernment.」

Grace smiled proudly. Seeing that Landred and Gravel secretly thought 「Cute」.

「Even so, why did you keep quiet about such important talk until now?」

Gravel peered onto Landred with a searching gaze.

「I verified it with Baldin’s G.o.d, the tower of ice. Does the method taught by Odin really work at our world? I have finished verifying it, so that’s why I’m proposing this plan at this chance.」

「Can that method also be used with Izgard’s tower of stone?」

The Genesis in Izgard was a quadrangle stone pillar that reached the height of a hundred meter. It was also wors.h.i.+pped here as G.o.d since the past.

「Yes. Both the tower of ice and the tower of rock are branching from Genesis. So the method should be usable for any tower.」

「I understand. However this talk is too important to be decided while standing around like this. How about I prepare another place for a meeting after the wedding is finished?」

「You’re right. This is something that the three countries should do together. If there is something that Izgard can help with then please don’t hesitate to ask.」

And then that day the wedding ceremony was held in the shrine of the tower of stone.

After that the whole country was reveling in the festivity for three days and three nights. The meeting concerning Genesis was held after four days later.

At that meeting, it was decided that the maintenance of Genesis, the Ceremony of Eternity would be done by the three countries together.

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