Assassins Pride - Volume 12 - Chapter 1

Assassin Pride Volume 12 Chapter 1
LESSON: I　～The dream is only one step away～

(Unedited)

──She’d been had, it was impossible to not fully realizing it.

While Almedia La Moore annoyingly fluttered the hem of her dress, she walked quickly.

The leading knight went one step ahead and opened the door.

「This way, lord Almedia!」

You don’t have to tell me, Almedia pushed the knight to pass through the door.

A white light──

A complete turn from the obstructive hall way, the dazzling lightness stimulated Almedia’s eyes.

With only that she immediately noticed.

The《color》that original should be inside that room had……suddenly vanished.

「The perpetual motion machine is……!!」

After shockingly looked around the empty room, Almedia groaned.

The place was the giant labyrinth librarian (Bibliagort) that located at the center of Flandre. And on its top layer was── the research division managed by the house La Moore. Due to the pure white stone wall and floor, that place which always full of pure light was called 《Cosmos》 , a name from ancient tongue.

The whiteness was all over the place the feeling of distance couldn’t be grasped at all.

A few scholars wearing white clothes were standing idly.

Originally, there should be a giant equipment like a brass instrument (horn) enshrined at the middle of the room.

The perpetual motion machine ── a dream invention that produced countless energy from restricted fuel.

From the start, it was confiscated in the war between Flandre and the Werewolf before, so the La Moore house whose livelihood was researching was given management of it. The most important division at Flandre’s backbone,《Cosmos》,should have been the most suitable place to preserve the perpetual motion machine.

That means it was an incident happened in a blink of an eye ──

According to the scholars’ testimonies, it seemed that out of nowhere an unrelated group marched in to《Cosmos》when they noticed, then they declared to the scholars who were ready to flee.

『We will BORROW this perpetual motion machine!』

Being pointed at by steam style rifles, the scholars had no way to bite back.

It seemed someone asked『Is this treason to the country!?』

However, the man incited the rebellion floated a smile like that of a pierrot.

『NO, this is a scientific EXPERIMENT!』

There was no doubt about the way he talked and the features of his appearance.

「The bastard Jeanne Krom Clover……!!」

Almedia gritted her teeth.

「That means the large scale military exercise at Ohara was a diversion……」

Speaking of the Leybolt foundation’s real strength which Clover was holding, lately it had become the main irritation for the nobles. The regular army of Flandre, the Burning Calvary Regimen (Guild Phoenix), was consisted of mana capable ones. However Leybolt foundation claimed it was necessary to establish a civil voluntary army.

Its name was Black Sky Machine Regimen (Guild Ordyne) ──

They were the commoner fighters armed with scientific weapons without relying on the mana capable ones.

On one hand they were the headwind against the noble, on the other hand they were the ardent support for the populace.

The two 《Guilds》were always at each other’s throat as they unleashed war of words day and night.

At that arrowhead, the Black Sky Machine Regimen (Guild Ordyne) had forced out a military exercise.

It was an obvious provocation. The Burning Calvary Regimen too also had to mobilize a great number of knights and be on alert. The one who stood at the highest position of the noble, Almedia, too lowered her intention toward the lower world.

With that chance, they successfully caught me unguarded……!

The Leybolt foundation’s desire was here. This perpetual motion machine! Even though I have not the slightest idea why they stolen it, with this Clover had become a clearly wanted man.

That meant the noble’s side also had a just cause.

Almedia jauntily turned her body and announced to the knights hot on her heels.

「Disarm the foolish Black Sky Machine Regimen (Guild Ordyne).──Where have the thieves escape to?」

「They disappeared into the live-ammunition exercise area and headed to the ocean……」

「There is no place to escape. Can’t you just pursuit them?」

As she said that, the knights ceased their footsteps.

They had stood still. They made a painful expression. Almedia turned back in puzzled.

「What happened? Where is that group’s location?」

「…………They are」

According to the knights’ confession which was full of bitterness ──

†　†　†

「What do you mean do lost them!?」

The giant yelled with feminine words.

It was not that she was in anger, but because if she didn’t let out a loud voice the other wouldn’t be able to hear it.

The flow up the salty air, they were on the sea ──

The splendid sailing ship was fiddling on the high waves. Because of the whimsically changing wind, the knights on the deck were moving about in confusion. The sky was as dark as ever so it was impossible to tell the way forward.

But even so, they should have had a clear《landmark》.

The ship captain was the knight named Scotch Schneisen. He was the fully established present leader of the Burning Calvary Regimen (Guild Pheonix). As he was a long time enemy of the Leybolt foundation, capturing the manager Clover was the duty of none other than his.

That captain was losing his composure.

He gripped the telescope in his plumped hand.

「This ship is the fastest in Flandre right!? So there is no way they can escape!」

The tip of the telescope blindly moved as he stared above the sea.

However no matter which point of the compass he looked, the face of the sea still only moved its hectic expression.

That shouldn’t be the case! Up until just a while ago, the boat which those thieves were riding was getting closer in front of their eyes and noses. They should have been able to ram those dimwits’ arses with one more row of the boat.

「But then why aren’t they here!?」

The wave hit and swayed the hull as if saying “you’re on the way”.

「On this none obstacle sea! And without any hiding place!」

In the end, captain Schneisen threw away the useless telescope.

He grabbed the nape of the neck of a nearby knight, and raised him up with one hand.

「Hey, you! Answer me! Where did those lots disappear to!?」

The pitiful knight’s lips turned purple as he couldn’t do anything but trembling.

「I have no idea …………」

The thrown away telescope was swallowed into the sea with a splash ……。

Exactly at the bottom of the sea the telescope had sunk ──

There was something reflecting the light.

While roaring in the sea with deep sound, its real body which scattered bubbles traversed.

A corn shape metal mass ──

In some way, it had a form which was a close resemblance of a mammal.

It had windows.

And peeking out from the window, there were two pair of eyes.

Ruby liked eyes.

And golden hair shined just like a star under the pitch black sea.

「Melida-ojou-sama」

As she was tirelessly stared outside the window, a sturdy hand was placed on her shoulder.

When Melida looked up over her shoulder, she saw her most beloved home tutor.

After she gave him a faint smile, she once again stuck her nose close to the glass window.

「Please look, sensei. We ‘re absorbed, I feel like we’ll keep going down forever……」

Kufa too bent over a little and brought his face closer to the glass window.

She could feel his breath by her ear, Melida’s cheeks became a little hot.

However, it seemed Kufa relaxed his senses at all.

「As expected, even for captain Schneisen, he couldn’t chase us inside the sea」

He stared at the sea with sharp gaze, then raised the upper half of his body.

He turned his heels. As he removed his hand from Melida’s shoulder, she felt a little winter chill. However, that blank space was immediately warmed up by her beloved cousin.

Elise hugged Melida’s right arm, with a bump, she glued their heads together.

Quietly the two split the glass window evenly.

(Illu)

The scarlet eyes and bluish eyes stared backed at each other from both side of the glass.

Melida entwined Elise’s fingers. They both put strength in their soft hands.

She said with a voice only both could hear.

「……This is the first time since born we went outside Flandre」

Elise rubbed her face fawningly.

The silver hair tickled Melida cheeks.

Inside this《Ship》, there were a few other human.

Kufa had to prioritize taking care of Melida, Elise and two more people.

Although it was said that, it seemed the other two were in the same trance state about the sea just liked the Angel sister however.

「Salacha-sama, Mule-sama. How are your conditions?」

The two girls who were also splitting the window evenly turned back at Kufa.

Kufa put his right and left hands on the girl’s shoulders.

──I have to protect them, he braced himself.

Salacha and Mule gave him a smile.

「When we went submerge, my ears were a little “keen”……like that」

「Kufa-sense please see too. Some never seen before fish are swimming」

Kufa again leaned a little and looked outside the window from the middle of two girls’ faces.

However, he immediately raised his upper body.

「──Please endure it a little more」

Saying so he removed his hands, he turned his heel away.

Salacha and Mule looked at each other seemingly a little impatient.

Because after departed from Flandre, Kufa often one-sidedly said「Certainly the situation right now is harsh」, four daughters of the knight duke houses were a little bit troubled.

Even though Kufa-sensei was in the most difficult position ……。

Even though on the contrary, for the four ladies, flying out from the box of school onto this great adventure, indiscriminately their hearts were all stimulated ──and that was the case.

Mule turned back to the window and muttered so that only Salacha could hear her.

「I think that even sense need a rest」

Salacha brought her face closer as if this was a secret talk.

「A rest?」

「A healing time. Because right now is《en route》」

Mule broadly lifted her glossy lips.

「A journey beyond time!」

“I can’t wait”, the black quartz fairy smiled as if saying so.

This《ship》was stretched out from the front and back as it undoubtedly gave of the impression of being inside a marine organism’s body.

When Kufa headed to the bow, he saw the lone pierrot gripping the yoke.

Half of his body was replaced with machine, a《good for nothing clown (Junk Pierrot)》.

He was sticking his face close to a device that reminded people of a binocular, the stretched out tube from that device was absorbed into the ship’s ceiling. He carefully moved his machine fingers and operated the lever.

“I should try not to interrupt”, although Kufa thought so he called out.

「What about the pursuer? Have they noticed us?」

「Seems we successfully shook them OFF」

With his characteristic intonation, the pierrot answered.

He removed his face from the lens and turned back with a sneer, he was Leybolt foundation’s manager Jeanne Krom Clover.

His mechanical eye kyui, kyui, broadened and shrunk as if teasing.

「How do you feel about the ride on this submarine model Manatee Marine? Hohho! Because I had heard about the monster lived in the sea NE～. So if we safely crossed over the night world, then the ship advance inside the sea like this would be necessary, that’s how the situation would develop you know」

「Only with the technical capabilities of the foundation ne. Captain Schneisen was also taken aback right」

「It would have been dangerous if the submerge was ten seconds slowER!」

Even in the midst of chatting, pierrot’s hands continuously to move the lever in detailed.

Right about now, Captain Schneisen’s ship which was on the water surface should have been straining their eyes out up to the horizon searching for Kufa group’s whereabouts. However, they are so wrong ……! Their target was swimming secretly under their feet, at the bottom of their ship, and beneath the sea.

They shouldn’t compete against the guild’s prideful ship with speed.

Therefore, they chose to escape under the ocean right in front of the enemy’s eyes.

When they emerged from the sea, it would look like nothing but an ugly lump of metal.

However, it was a necessary structure to withstand water pressure.

As for this marine organism (Manatee)’s interior, one side of the wall had many valves closely deployed.

It was a mechanical grotesque scene …… Unintentionally Melida timidly stretched out her hand.

However just before that, manager Clover’s artificial eye let out a sharp sighted driving noise.

「No touchING!!」

「Wa……!」

「Manatee is very delicaTE! Hohho!」

After his voice echoed inside the ship, manager Clover suddenly clapped his hands.

「Caesar! My exceptional secretary Caesar!」

Immediately when he did that, from the stern of the ship someone slimed out.

With all due respect, but if he said 「the victim of the sea has entered」, it would be believable……。

It was the figure of a woman in a vest with pretty much no vitality could be felt.

She let out a smile as if a penetrating coldness.

「Did you call me? Manager ……Ufufu」

「Serve these bored ladies tea! No matter when don’t forget your eleganCE!」

「Understood……fufufu, ufufufufu……」

Just like she was returning to the graveyard, the woman drew back to the stern.

Caesar Tsuezari…… for some reasons she was the secretary manager Clover had complete trust in.

She was a shady history woman who once belonged to a criminal syndicate.

Kufa mysteriously turned toward manager Clover.

「……There’s something I have to talk to you right now」

「Do tELL」

「Why would you lend your hands to me and ojou-samas?」

Kufa and the four sisters of the three big duke houses were being aimed at by the Flandre region itself. They were already in the situation they couldn’t gracefully go to school anymore.

On the other hand manager Clover was opposing the nobles that were concerned in the establishment of the Machine regimen (Guild).

……Wouldn’t sheltering Kufa group have much more of risk?

「Surely you think I’m a virtuous person? Hohho, don’t be mistaKEN」

Manager Clover theatrically waved his finger.

「This is──businESS」

「A deal (business)?」

「I’M using you FOR my own ambition ONLY ……If not needed I might betray YOU. So for your side too, if you think I’m a burden then throw me to wolf without a second thOUGHT」

Saying so the pierrot smiled single-mindedly.

「…………」

As expected Kufa also couldn’t answer.

Jeanne Krom Clover …… by nature, this man shouldn’t have this eccentric characteristic. According to what he heard, because of a steam experience four years ago, he was caught in an accident and triggered the situation in which he lost half of his flesh or something ……

「I have received a divine oraCLE」he once proudly said.

But just what kind of belief that oracle originated from ──

†　†　†

They had to carefully confirm the landing point.

At any rate, the human had just started the full-scale invasion of the night world in this year. After fully cutting off the pursuing ship, the submarine model Manatee Marine emerged. When it did so, a number of ship also floated up the water surface like it, one, two, three ……seven ships.

They were bantered together with Leybolt’s private army, the Black Sky Machine Regimen (Guild Ordyne).

As that main force was making a diversion in Flandre, the ones here were the bunch of curious people who followed manager Clover into the night world ── or rather, an elite force.

The view inside the sea was interesting, however certainly for human the seeable sky was calmer.

Melida and Salacha’s group stared at the friendly ships outside the windows and took a breath of relief. How lucky, the sea wasn’t rough. And the scary presences of the Lycanthrope couldn’t be seen either.

Finally, the pitch black land stretch out as far as the eye can see was ──

The《Night’s Domain》that human was afraid of. Wasn’t it because this world was called the night world?

All the numerous research teams that were sent end didn’t even return in body bags……

Melida made a gulf with her slender throat.

There shouldn’t be anything like an ally.

However, in the corner of this land, “glittering”, a signal liked light kept blinking.

And it seemed manager Clover also stared at it while peeping through his lens.

「That’s Saint Elmo’s lead──It seem over there is the landing poINT」

He moved the joystick without hesitation. The remaining six ships also followed as if being dragged along.

Over there was a bent beach. As the reef was obstructing, entering it was difficult, however the steel submarine acted as if that was nothing.

The rear hatch opened as if splitting.

Together with the low mechanical sound, a gigantic《Vehicle》got off.

A detached house ── although it was extravagated to call it so, that thing had a majestic appearance which made people feel like they were seeing an illusion.

If the submarine was the cocoon, then the thing that born from it was an insect ……? Anyway, following the short and stout wheel vehicle, manager Clover satisfyingly got off the ship.

「The overnight bus for the knights ──《Night Caravan》」

As if the engine’s roaring sound was a supreme orchestra, he closed his eyelids.

「I’ve developed this using the concept of a wagon. From the kitchen to the bathroom, all the necessary equipments for human’s life are already arranged, so you’ll have a pleasant exploration of the night world, RIGHT」

The Machine Regimen (Guild)’s 《Machine Soldier (Knight)》 maneuvered the caravans with great skill and lined them up in a row. At the tail of the line and getting off the ship with only admiring faces were the ladies of the knight duke houses, Melida group.

This was exactly the values which weren’t taught in school.

When speaking about exploring the night world, then the image of making camps would surely come to mind. The machine knight (Guild) said that was nonsense. Not to mention animals like horse would be exposed to the miasma of the night world, therefore they couldn’t be brought along. In that case, why don’t you use vehicle, and there you have it.

If the traditional nobles were to hear it they would swoon in grieves.

……Because they are given the cold shoulders by the upper class. While Kufa was getting off the ship, he muttered to himself in his mind.

Manager Clover turned his back toward the seven caravans, and looked at them.

「Moreover the Nectar fuel is sufficed」

「Nectar fuel?」

The blood of the sun or the rainbow oil was its name, a resource characteristic of Flandre.

In exchange of fire, it released holy radiance which swept away the miasma of the night.

Although it was Flandre’s lifeline, he had never heard of it being used as machine’s fuel.

Manager Clover waved his index finger「TCH, TCH, TCH」

「I noticed I can stimulate electricity and generate heat energy with Nectar. With that heat value I can generate steam──Please look OVER THERE!」

Manager Clover pointed at the gigantic things, Kufa and the ladies moved their faces to the right.

The Night Caravans which were like giant insects were releasing steam out of their back parts.

That steam was shinning ……The dust like light was dancing dazzlingly and scattered to the sky.

Manager Clover’s smile was just like that of a kid boasting its toy.

「The Caravan’s engine parts have《charms》to prevent  Lycanthrope from approachING」

「I see」

「Although we actively opened a market toward the Burning Calvary Regimen (Guild Phoenix), as expected it was undersIRED! It must have been because the prize was a bit high?」

At that moment, a walking sound on the sand drew closer to Kufa’s group.

「──Moreover, if there are this vehicle then there will be a reason for the weak in this wasteland right」

It was a beautiful voice as if a stage actor.

With a sudden, the one who turned her face straight at them was Salacha.

「……Onii-san!」

Raising the lantern with one hand, he was a black cloth handsome young man.

That blackness was a mourning dress and at the same time it was the color that showed his sin ──

Serge Shicksal showed fleeting smile and stood in front of them.

「More than anything you have arrived unscathed」

Salacha kicked the sand.

She spread her right and left arms while approaching him ── she must have thought of hugging her brother like that.

However, right before that it seemed she was conscious of everyone’s eyes.

「Thank, thank you for coming to receive us……」

In front of that forced politeness, Serge bent his waist.

「It’s an honor, duke Shicksal──」

He was a one-handed man ……

As the punishment for mutiny, none other than Salacha had taken his left arm. It wouldn’t matter if this place had only Kufa or the knight duke house’s sisters, but right now there were many eyes from the Black Sky Machine Regimen (Guild Ordyne).

Barely finished the brother’s chatting, Serge walked toward manager Clover.

Manager Clover took off his silk hat and bowed.

「For Saint Elmo’s guidance──I am grateFUL」

Serge raised the lantern with his only hand.

「Preparations for the Machine regimen (Guild) are done……however, as expected I was surprised. In such a short time that I’m absent, Flandre has become like this……」

The next one to kick the sand and joined in the conversation was Kufa.

「For the four ojou-samas, Flandre has already become an unsafe place」

「Therefore you seek to escape to this night world of all thing! Yaa, yaa, Kufa-kun. You’re thinking boldly. And then did something bold」

「Serge-sama?」

He who was smiling broadly seemed extremely happy.

……No, he seemed amused.

「Do you remember? When I joined with the werewolf and did something naughty, someone came to give me a very proper preaching, I think. Ah right, none other than you」

「…………」

「As the matter of fact, what the hell! Right now you’re waving the banner of revolt toward Flandre, and come to me, who should be chased away, begging in tear」

You know what I want to say. Serge showed a whole face smile.

「How does it feel being wanted, Kufa-kun?」

「I’m feeling of wanting to smash the cheek in front of my eyes flying first of all」

And as they were glaring at each other with smiling faces, Melida and Mule who couldn’t just watch timidly walked out. 「Ku, Kufa-sensei?」「Serge-onii-sama?」

「「……Please be good friends」」

Being told so by the ladies, Kufa put his hand around Serge’s shoulder, the two weren’t able to do nothing but cheerfully synchronized.

「What are you saying! Me and Kufa-kun are extremely good friends!」

「Just as he said! I’m so happy being able to meet him again!」

──Of course, they didn’t forget to step on each other feet.

As they were quarrelling on the barren beach, it seemed the Black Sky Machine Regimen (Guild Ordyne) had finished preparation long ago.

From six of the Caravans, the horns sounded.

「SASA, let’s leave greetings there and let’s GO!」

Gallantly turning his body away was Serge.

「Naturally. Although this was the Frankanstein clan’s territory, here is still the enemy──Lycanthrope’s territory, don’t forget that」

While Serge was carrying the lantern with his one hand, he opened the Caravan’s door.

With the back ground of full of light inside the car, he turned back.

「Welcome to the night world. I’ll be your guide to the Frankenstein’s clan captial──Carna Navel」

「……」

Melida group moved their throats with a gulp, they walked in one by one.

From the beach, an immoral road stretched out.

It continued to the other side of the forest.

The thick mist hanging over was covering whatever lurked inside.

If Melida could grow wings and look down at this place ──

She would certainly feel dizzy seeing the land filled with seas of tree up till the limit of her vision.

「This is the night world……」

Unconsciously the girls’ feet stiffened. At their backs, Kufa put his right and left hands on them.

「That’s right. This is an endless world of tree and mist. Inside this mist that is called the night’s miasma, you must never let go of the lantern. Once you lost the light, finally──…………」

He didn’t say the rest.

However, with a voice only Melida group could hear, he muttered.

「……you’ll see my birthplace」

What kind of face was he making?

Although Melida wanted to turn back, she couldn’t do such thing.