Assassins Pride - Volume 4 - Chapter 2

Volume 4 Chapter 2

LESSON II: ~The Inevitable Travelers~
(Unedited) 

「I’ve always felt strange, why does King need a parade? 」

Grace, one of the maids, asked in a unhurried voice. Although she is good at manual work and very reliable, sometimes she forgets to use honorific even in the face of the master, which is a shortcoming of perfection.

They sat facing each other on the balcony seats, and Melida, who was in the middle of the room, glanced at Elise and motioned to her, then answered Grace’s question.

「The King Parade has various meanings. It’s like for all the people to know the new king, and for the King to look back on the country he ruled; besides, it is only a formality, but it has to pass the test of being a recognized king. 」

「What test? 」

「Search for Sacred Crystal and Excalibur. 」

Another maid, Neche, answered. She was a quiet girl, a bookish reader. She often lent Melida books she recommended.

Neché lightly explained to her colleagues what she probably learned from the intelligence journal.

「This is a custom since ancient times. The King must personally preparethe Excalibur that symbolizes the protection of the country and would make him kings. The Excalibur material is 「the Sacred Crystal「. Insert the Sacred Crystal into a famous sword made by a first class blacksmith, and it will become the Excalibur. Then the King swears the oath to the Excalibur at the coronation, and will be officially recognized as the king.」

「The process of searching forthe Sacred Crystal and Excalibur is commonly referred to as a parade.」

Myra, a good laugh of maids, raised her forefinger. She looked like an arrogant person, but she was thoughtful.

「Only this thing cannot be ordered to do. The Lord King himself must travel all over Flandre, looking for EXCALIBUR. Especially in the lower class residential area outside the city, the Duke’s head rarely goes. And all the places Lord King would pass would be sensational. Just like before.」

「Everyone is dying to catch a glimpse of the future king.」

Melida whispered in a complicated voice, looking out of the window.

The current head of the Angel Family is Melida’s father, Felgus. In other words, it’s only a matter of time before he sits on the throne of this country. However, Melida was not clear about how his impression of him would change. All she felt that her father seemed to become even more distant.

Although Amy might not have noticed Merida’s state of mind, she sitting on the left combed Melida’s blonde hair gently. Her family had been Angel’s servants for generations, and she has served Merida as an exclusive maid since she was a child. To Melida, Amy was like a sister.

「Where does the Lord King go next? What a coincidence to be able to ride in the same car with Lord King. 」

「What a coincidence… 」

Elise, who was sitting opposite, repeated quietly, and fumbled for her pocket slowly.

She stared intently at the train ticket she had brought out and murmured in a cautious voice:

「The ticket has a specified date and time. We will take this train. It was decided long ago. 」

「Do you mean Kufa-kun deliberately arranged this so we could meet the King? You’re thinking too much ~」

Grace smiled nonchalantly and put his arms around Elise’s slender shoulders.

「And if that’s the case, the first thing you need to know is when and where the Lord King will pass by, isn’t it? 」

「After all, the parade route doesn’t go public」

「If they do that, it will cause an even more commotion. 」

「Maybe someone in the regiment told him? 」

Myra mentioned the possibility, and the girls looked at each other. Someone murmured:

「… So, which regiment does Mr. Kufa belong to? 」

「Somewhere in Holy King District, I think… who knows? 」

「I don’t know anything about military affairs, so I didn’t ask him. 」

「The lady knows something, doesn’t she? 」

Melida shook her head at the sight of the maids’ eyes on her.

「I. . . I don’t know. 」

After answering, Melida regained consciousness and looked down at her slender thighs.

「I…… don’t know anything about Sensei’s previous job. Also I did not ask the teacher to tell me the contact way during the vacation… eh…? 」

Melida let out a shocked voice unknowingly.

Living together every day for nearly a year, watching him sooner or later, Melida thought she knew almost everything about him. Like her feelings for him that surpassed the relationship between master and servant, Merida was very relieved that the two had already forged a bond that no one could break.

Was that just a fantasy? As soon as he was out of sight, Melida’s inner certainty turned into something fragile and illusory in the blink of an eye. If Sensei never comes back to the mansion, she can’t even chase him, right?

Have I sought him out so far in this vague fog?

「Sen, sensei……..」

Her body went cold so fast that Melida hugged her shoulder. She hated herself for lounging on her bed in her room, waiting for Kufa to return. Why can we believe that Kufa will come back without any doubt? Why didn’t I ask the reason more carefully before saying goodbye?

He left the house, perhaps to meet a lover whom Melida did not know. Maybe there will be a smile that would never be shown in the work of a tutor.

All the elements that make up Kufa are not the only ones that Melida knows──…………

「Lita, are you all right…? 」

Elise worried about Merida who suddenly fell silent, and stretched out her hand from the other side. As she comforted Melida’s stiff fingers with her soft fingers

「Hey, what’s that? 」

「Look out the window! 」

There was a sudden disturbance among the passengers in the carriage. The people around them got up and left, clinging to one side of the window. Melida and the other six also turned their faces by the window, which Amy was sitting at.

Cambell, the twenty-five blocks that make up Flandre, was housed in a lantern insulated from the Anima of the night, and lay at high altitude. Contorted pillars jut from the Bibliagoth, the huge labyrinth in center of the urban, its front part supported the block.

Of course, there were elevated track groups that connect blocks to blocks in swooning space which was thousands of meters above the ground. The train running on the track looked like flying in the sky from a distance. The Golden Bridge was said to have the same long history as Flandre, and no one had the opportunity to set foot on it besides the maintenance personnel. ──

But now, outside the window where the passengers are staring intently, a 《Bat》 was flying at the same altitude as the train. The Bat spewed white smoke from behind with astonishing aura and moves side by side with the train. The figure grew slowly, the outline became clearer, the metal it worn on reflected light, and its fierce eyes glared at a passenger who yelled.

「It’s, It’s a man! There’s a man in the air! !」

Melida also could see it clearly. The train was chased by a man in a fantastic suit of armor, hurtling through the air without any resistance. He emitted a great deal of         vapor from the back, and with that momentum accelerated like a cannonball, like an ominous shooting star.

「Not just one, but a lot! 」

The young man said so, darting to the opposite window of the carriage. There were also multiple《bats》dragging white steam, rumbling in the dark sky, and gradually approaching the train. At first glance, the number of people that can be identified adds up to more than 10.

「Is this a show…? 」

When Amy murmured unconfidently Melida’s eyes widened in surprise. Because one of the《bats》, flying side by side with the train, slowly stretched out his arm.

Only Melida and Elise reacted to the sight of a muzzle flash on the front of his arm.

「「Get down!!」」

As they shouted, they grabbed the maids on either side and pulled them under the seats.

Immediately afterwards, the windows of the carriage were shot through with the noise of gunfire. The glass flew around shiningly with deafening wailing. Passengers caught in the impact squeezed each other and fell. Seeing the blood flowing across the floor, Melida felt horrified.

Suddenly, the《bats》itself invaded the train. They rushed to the window with flying momentum, lightly adopted the protective method and jumped up. They were skilled fighters.

They covered their faces with helmets and goggles for unknown purposes. They looked around the carriage in front of Melida and Elise, who were staring intently. There was no dead or wounded. ──Of course not, they immediately began to scream nervously.

「It’s general carriage! 」

「The goal is at the end! Move!!」

The eight men who invaded the carriage moved smoothly in two directions. Four of them jumped from the window onto the roof of the carriage again, while the other four sprinted straight through the carriage to the rear. The sound of rough footsteps transmitted the seats of the box where Melida and the others were seated.

「What’s going on here? 」

The door to the rear carriage opened and several knights in uniform galloped in. At the front is a man with a mustache who blocks the audience at the station in Cardinals Academy District.

As soon as he saw the miserable condition of the general carriage, he immediately pulled out his saber.

「Carriage robbers? Where did you sneak in? 」

The black bats didn’t answer, each pulled out their weapon neatly, which never saw before. The knife body with a mechanical structure, slid up immediately, and then burst out fierce steam.

It was like the steam of Dragon’s breath, but not the flame of Mana. The captain of the guard bellowed.

「They’re not Mana capable ones! DISPERSE THEM! 」

「「「Yes, sir! !!」」」

The replied young knight stepped forward. Liberated their Mana from bodies, they wield their swords at a speed that people couldn’t even catch with the naked eye. But the bats ahead accurately blocked the skillful swordplay. Although the bats physical ability was slightly inferior, he could predict the offensive with his rich combat experience.

After that, it developed a situation that made people more suspicious of their own eyes. It was generally thought that the bats would force into a knife-edge position and be overpowered. There was a diamond and ice gap between Mana capable ones and non-Mana capable ones, Mana weapons and ordinary weapons. The bat’s mechanical sword also cracked violently.

But not long after, from the inside of the Mechanical Sword sounded like a beast driving sound, and fierce steam came out again. At that moment, Melida saw something strange embedded inside the sliding blade. It was a crystal that emits fierce light and was roughly cut out by a stone pillar.

What was that? The more violent impact blows away the fragments of doubt. The bat’s unexpectedly just pushed the knight’s arrogant wrist back, and broke the knight’s saber smoothly. Half of the broken sword pierced the ceiling, and the flame of the Mana blew out emptily.

「Wooo… Whoa!?」

Then the young knight slumped to the ground with an incredulous expression. As a mana capable ones, he never dreamed that he would be defeated by a thief who wasn’t even a nobleman.

The knight could only look up in shock as the bat with a supernormal mechanical sword approached him.

「It is a necessary sacrifice ── if you want to stop it, die」

「Hi…..!!」

When the Bat wielded his sword, the following knights pounced on him in quick succession. But the results were the same. Every time the Mechanical Sword growled like a beast, the Mana capable ones, which should be proud of its overwhelming superiority, flew away, breaking in half from the middle.

「What, what’s going on? What the hell is going on! Stop him! Stop him! 」

The captain of the garrison, with his handlebar moustache, shouted rudely. But the number of companions was decreasing. Eventually all the knights were knocked to the ground and one of the bats approached the guard captain who was the last one.

He randomly slammed a backhand to the middle-aged man’s nose. Th ebat pointed his sword at the captain of the guard, who fell to the ground with nosebleed, and ordered his companion behind him.

「I have something to ask this guy. You guys go ahead. 」

“Understand”, Three people who responded so concisely pulled out the same mechanical swords and rushed to the rear carriage.

Melida crouched in the carriage seat, making sure the maid wasn’t hurt. Then, just when she made up her mind to come forward, a slender hand grabbed her shoulder.

Elise’s face frowned solemnly and shook her head again and again.

Actually, either she or herself, there was no weapon at that moment!

Never expecting to be drawn into such a situation, Melida and Elise keep their beloved mock swords in the mansion. No, in the final analysis, even if there were weapons or the students themselves and others did not know what could they do. A Knight of the King was undoubtedly the elite of the cavalry regiment. What is the sacred group of the bats that can easily suppress them and are not Mana capable ones.

The Bat asked grimly, aiming his sword at the nosebleed guard captain.

「You’d better answer my question discreetly and honestly. How much do you know? 」

「You…you…what are you saying…? 」

「There must be some reason why you were assigned to the King Guard? How much did that guy tell you? Did he describe his vision to you? 」

「Watch your language, vulgar man! The expectation of the King is to banish heresy! To keep the peace in Flandre! What else! 」

「What about── the Primavera? 」

Not only had the captain of the guard, but Melida and Elise also frowned at the enemy’s intentions.

One of the black bats rolled over as the rear door blew away and the pieces of iron scattered. Among the three people who had taken a step earlier just now, the remaining two rushed back in panic and raised their weapons.

「It’s the King! He’s strong…..！」

The bat, who had been threatening the captain of the guard, also quickly turned the tip of his sword.

A figure in a dress emerged from the rear door, which had become a vent. As seen from a distance at the station in the Cardinals Academy District, the ornate hat that almost covered the face remained the same. But the moment she saw his flawless standing posture, an intuition flashed through Merida’s mind.

「That man is…..」

Melida turned to Elise, who likewise had a look of recognition, and they look at each other.

The King let the dress flutter in the wind and take a step, one step, and two steps. The Bat group tensed up and burst out from under its helmet.

「uRAAAAAAAA!!」

Bang! The two men attacked so strongly that the floor shook. Although their physical abilities are not as good as the Mana capable ones, they have magical mechanical swords. The body of the bat was accelerated by the dragon-like breath of the armor that is worn throughout the body.

But the King moved more quickly and more easily. He drew out his weapon like a thunder, sweeping the first man like a counterpunch, and splitting the second man’s arm with the sword. The first blow was to slash with the back of the katana. Including the enemy who rolled over at the beginning, he seemed to have mercy from them to avoid killing them.

One bat who like the captain, though unconsciously retreating, still calls out at the same time:

「Don’t be shaken! We are protected by the《Ambrosia》!」

But even that call was too late. While the second man with the dominant hand injured removes the weapon, the katana he drawn from the scabbard attacked the enemy freely. The second man was beaten with the back of katana, fell to the floor shortly afterwards.

The light reflected sharply from the black katana in the King’s hand.

「……You monster!!」

The Captain of bat immediately tried his next move. In other words, he realized that a frontal attack could not be won and planned to take hostages. He scanned the interior of the carriage instantly, and immediately stopped in the next compartment seat.

He seemed to judge that the children were more usefully and reached out to Melida and Elise. The Angel Sisters immediately tried to free Mana,before a black storm blew up. The King Immediately thrust into between the two sides, and swept his katana as if threatening.

「Don’t touch them. 」

「Damn you……！」

He had to wield the mechanical sword to hook the King’s hat. The petals fell, the feathers of the birds shattered, and the hats flew high up to the ceiling. The shiny black hair that emerges from under the hat makes Melida scream with a mixture of wonder and emotion.

「Kufa sensei!!」

His black hair and slender eyelashes sway in the wind. The dress he was wearing made the impression that he was different from the normal military uniform, and he kept his black katana on his waist and glared at the enemy. The bat shivered back as he raised his mechanical sword.

「Im, imposible! He’s not Serge Shicksal….!? He’s an impostor!?」

The bat staggered back two or three paces with a confused look on his face. But then something hit him in the back of the head. With the sound of water splashing, the droplets splash all over the bat’s body.

「You…How dare you treat Milord..! Screw up our rare family trip…!」

It was a female passenger with blood on her head who bravely threw the kettle at the bat. Although it felt like a foolhardy move, the bat did not react as Melida had expected.

「Damn it, mistake! 」

He looked down at the wet body, and for some reason ran out of it like a rabbit. He leaped toward the window with all his attention, and fled outside the carriage.

After they gaped at the bat left, Melida suddenly grasped the back in front of her.

「Sen, sensei! Why are you here? Also, your outfit is ……!」

But still couldn’t rest assured. Then there was rumbling sound like a collision accident, and fierce vibrations shook the carriage. All passengers who had barely gotten up fell to the floor.

「Ladies, please don’t move from here. 」

Kufa told Melida, nudging her on the shoulder and pushing her back into the compartment seat. Then he stepped on the broken frame of the window, and turned out from the window onto the carriage.

Kufa, leaping with perfect balance, landed on the roof of a moving train. As he pulled out his black katana again, a few brilliant streaks of steam burst from everywhere with the sound of explosions.

「Is that the King? Shoot him! Shoot!」

Black Bats, whose faces seemed unrecognizable, fired their guns recklessly from all sides. Kufa kicked the floor neatly, traversing the bullets, swinging his katana in a perfect trajectory. He bounced the bullet from the front with the back of katana, which bounced back to the bat behind. That ricochet hit the target with the spark, let the enemy spiral and fall.

「Kill him! By any means necessary!」

One of them seemed so eager to do his duty that he drew his mechanical dagger and rushed towards Kufa. However, he couldn’t match Kufa’s reflexes and attack speed at close range. The bat of the assault train crossed Kufa on roof of the train, and after flying past, their bodies suddenly burst and scattered.

The armor he was wearing was sprinkled with mechanical fragments, his body was burned by steam and flames, and he fell to the ground several thousand meters away. The remaining bats flinch away.

Immediately, a dark figure flew vertically across the side of the train from sky. At the same time there was a rumbling sound and a shock. Then there was the thick steam that obscures Kufa’s vision.

「Idiots! Look at the enemy’s fighting methods carefully! 」

It was a black bat, also wearing a flying armor that launched a blow like a bird of prey. After raving around in a female voice, she spewed a tremendous amount of steam from the back and rose sharply.

She swung again as she flew by. The frame of the train bounced off with a metallic sound, rubbing with the rails, bursting out sparks that seemed to burn the eyes. Rising to a sufficient height, the female bat struck again. Like an arrow shot from the sky, a flash of light passed by the train.

Kufa tried several times to attack, but missed the opportunity and stepped on the air. Changing from rapid descent to rapid ascent, without a single blow from the counterattack gap, air combat proficiency is far better than other attackers. At this rate, the train may be forced into an impassable predicament.

Kufa made his decision instantly. He put the katana away and burst into explosive azure flames.

「《Phantom Sword Art──…………」

While drawing the katana, dozens of Mana blades diffuse with a hard slashing sound.

「《Empty Burial Lotus》!!」

The Sharp, Shiny azure flame, starting with Kufa, radiate away. The flames directly hit the bats, which were flying in the air in a chaotic orbit, and shot down several people together. It was a giant azure firework puffed up, triggering a chain of crimson explosion.

One of the Mana attacks a female bat. But she swung the mechanical spear in her hand to free the high pressure Mana who did not loss to Kufa. The countervailing flame suddenly went out in mid-air.

「Stay away, shadow warrior! 」

(Illu)

The female bat roared from under her goggles, instantly commanded the subordinates who disrupted the team. That was leadership and loyalty. The drenched bats borrowed the shoulder of them companion and flew out of the enemy formation. They were the survivors of the guys who just invaded the train.

「Miss! That guy is not Serge Shicksal. It’s a fake! 」

「I know! Get out of here, everyone! 」

The woman’s command caused the bats to emit sparkling steam at the same time. They glided back in midair and flocked to the other end of the tracks. Lacking the means to pursue them, Kufa saw them leave from the train.

The female bat, who had been in the rear position, finally turned and looked Kufa. Even through his goggles, it could feel a searing anger through Kufa.

「Sooner or later you will regret it! Don’t forget, we are justice! 」

She spewed dragon breath from the back and flew high into the sky. She hovered over the train as if threatening, and soon after flying away to the other side of the sky with her subordinates.

Kufa saw her left, until the figure was as small as a bean, and finally put away the black katana.

He looked down at the train with badly damaged shell, and frowned as he recalledthe tragedy inside.

「Is it justice to involve innocent passengers? 」

He gazed at his black katana and recalled the blood whose had seeped into it.

「We have no justice. Only survive or die. 」

Kufa murmured it, turned away, and the tuxedo swaying in the wind.

　　　　†　†　†

「Are you saying that the assassination of the Rotating King……!?」

A few weeks ago. At the desk in the palace, Serge Shicksal nodded to Kufa, who couldn’t help looking surprised. He sauntered across the room, narrating in a voice as melodious as an actor’s.

「By rights, it should be said to assassinate me. So far, there have been a few such signs, but they failed each time. What a bunch of bad guys. 」

「What are those so-called assassins……」

「It was Shicksal’s branch family, could you understand it?」

The young Duke smiled faintly and mournfully at Kufa, who could not speak.

「In other words, it is not the Angel family who’s busy with power struggles. 」

「…In other words, do they want to kill you, the current head of the Shicksal family, and they can turn the King crown into the branch family…? 」

「Probably so. It’s impossible to question them in public. 」

The Duke’s nonchalance attitude caused Kufa to sigh with a suffocating breath.

「…Is that why you asked me to be the shadow warrior on the parade?」

「You’re so smart. Yes, they’ve had several failed assassinations so far, and they’re feeling impatient. They know it would be too late for me to take the throne at the Rotating King, so they will definitely launch the final offensive during the parade. And it was a very tough method, but considering the future of the Shicksal family, or for the future of Flandre, such behavior can’t be said to be a smart choice. Do you know why? 」

Kufa thought quickly, and the Duke spoke as if he were about to make the first step:

「Vanpir-kun. Have you ever heard of the Lycanthrope, the natural enemy of human, being divided into several cliques? 『Attack and destroy the human race now』『No, we should proceed with caution『It is better to let a few people survive』『Leave the humans alone, they are just a candle flickering in the storm』……Although our Flandre is not qualified to speak of others, Lycanthrope society is also not united. 」

The Duke, for some reason, seemed to relish it, and waved his forefinger.

「There are several meanings in The King’s parade. In order to broaden the knowledge, in order to gain national identity, and most important thing is to ensure Flandre’s strength at home and abroad. If it became the case that the most important King was killed on this parade, it might give the hard-liners of the Lycanthrope, who are also waiting for an opportunity to invade… I’m not going to interfere in the outcome of the battle, but surely there will be a large number of casualties among the citizens of Flandre. 」

Kufa nodded heavily. We don’t have time for infighting in a world sealed off by night, when Flandre was cornered.

Regarding this point, Serge seemed to agree, even though he raised his lips playfully and his long, thin eyes sparkled sharply.

「The separation may have been eager to kill me, but they should avoid doing that now. Isn’t it? 」

「That’s why you want me to be a stand-in… 」

「That’s it. If there was no one to kill, they would have to stop. 」

The young Duke shook his shoulders and laughed, and Kufa raised his final doubt.

「But if you do that, you won’t be able to deploy escorts as a genuine King during the parade. It cannot be said that there is no risk at all. 」

「Don’t worry about me, because I have a very good《guard dog》. 」

The Duke evaded the question with a mysterious smile and raised his index finger to Kufa.

「The problem still lies with the 《shadow warrior》. This task cannot be entrusted to a normal knight. It requires intensity that can easily repel attackers, as well as showmanship that can deceive the public. In addition, I can think of only one candidate–whose the height and physique should be similar to me and can be trusted」

Serge returned to Kufa again and laid his hand on Kufa’s shoulder from the same height.

「I think we could be good friends. Will you accept my request? “Death god of the white night” -kun. 」

There was only one thing Kufa could say in response to him who had the hearty smile but oozed from muddy malice.

　　　　†　†　†

「That’s it. So I was commissioned to serve as the shadow warrior of the Duke Shicksal. 」

Kufa omitted the main points, so that the blond and silver haired angels were even unable to nod in response, only to fall silent.

In the long-distance sleeper train, which had finally recovered its composure after repelling the bat attackers, they were in the chartered carriage at the back of the train. In chaos, Kufa took the daughters of the dukes to a place that should have been tightly guarded by guard.

Melida bit her lip and grasp Elise, who was sitting next door.

「No matter how much they want the crown, they actually try to kill their cousin.Well, that’s」

「Oh. Bloody power struggle. Isn’t that a common theme? 」

Said as if watching a good show, it was the La Moore’s daughter, Mule Moore, the same age as Melida. She crossed her legs with the grace of an actress and smiled flirtatiously.

「I’ve heard that Lady Othello of the Elise family has done terrible things to Melida? But it seems to be relatively peaceful recently. 」

「That is…..」

Melida was speechless, and the fourth daughter of the Duke leaned forward on the table.

「I’m sorry, Melida. It was the Shicksal family’s fault, but my brother involved Kufa in it. 」

「It’s, it’s okay! It’s not Salacha’s fault……」

So whose fault is it? Melida didn’t know where to vent the anxiousness hovering in her thin chest. She lowered her head to look at her thigh again, and fell silent.

The V.I.P. compartment has a luxurious lounge with two couches facing each other across a long table. The room where King and others waved to the crowd at the station of Cardinals Academy District happened to be here. Mule and Salacha sat on one of the couches with Kufa right in the middle, while Melida and Elise sat on the opposite couch. Why wasn’t Kufa next to herself? The helpless feeling flashed across Melida’s chest.

Kufa was dressed in a distinguished gown disguised as Serge Shicksal instead of his usual uniform. Probably because there was no one else in the room, the hat was always taken off. But after that commotion, maybe the average passenger knew the truth about the King.

Kufa put his hat on his leg and the shattered feather decoration made him frown.

「It should not be a hard task. Although they belong to Shicksal family, most of them are not mana capable ones but servants. The method and scale of the attack are supposed to be entirely predictable, but we never expect that they would utilize 《Ambrosia》.」

「Sensei, what is that wonderful equipment used by the enemy? 」

Melida looked up and tried to change her mind by asking questions. Kufa put his hat on the table and instead picked up the rough metal from the floor. It was none other than the flight armor confiscated from the captured bats, and the sword of the mechanism.

「The Ambrosia is the fuel which is compressed by 《Nectar》 the limit and crystallized it. The power furnaces equipped with these outfits are filled with a wealth of Ambrosia. 」

「Nectar…」

「It is the lantern light which is illuminating the city… that is, the liquid fuel called the Blood of The Sun. It is undoubtedly lifeline of Flandre to exude the brilliance that allows us creatures to maintain physical and mental health, as well as the indispensable for plant growth. The flame of our mana is thought to be the same thing as the Blood of The Sun.」

Kufa picked up the Mechanical Sword to confirm the structure and carefully slid the part of the blade. As witnessed during the attack just now, the dazzling light of the stone pillar illuminated the lounge.

「And then, the thing that compresses the sacred power of the Blood of The Sun to its limit, is the Ambrosia. This will evaporate at a violent speed while liquefying, that pressure will produce a huge power source. And weapons forced to be activated like this will emit the same sacredness as the 《Blood of The Sun》! As a means of confronting Lycanthrope alongside Mana, it attracted much attention at the time of its invention, but unfortunately, Ambrosia has three fatal defects. 」

「Three defects? 」

「One is the durability of the equipment.   」

Kufa slides the blade again, isolating the intense brilliance of the Ambrosia. He carefully placed the Mechanical Sword on the table, looking at the four Duke’s daughter.

「Because of the extraordinary pressure, weapons that take advantage of this need to have corresponding durability. Just the cracking of a pipe would probably trigger a chain reaction to the explosion. And another defect is water. 」

「Water? 」

「The Ambrosia will overreact with the water, emitting an extremely exaggerated heat. And this equipment sometimes let the cylinders move back and forth in order to exhaust. In that moment, the Ambrosia will be exposed it may be necessary for miniaturization, but in this way, it will become suicidal behavior when use it in the rain and so on. 」

Melida looked back on the fight in the carriage. The Bat, who looked like the commando, was only splashed with water from a kettle at last, but was in a hurry to escape, which means he can’t keep wet to fight.

Kufa nodded, and further informed with a deep voice that seemed to move people’s hearts:

「And the last fatal defect is that The Ambrosia uses an enormous amount of Blood of The Sun in its manufacturing process. In other words, the relative amount of light that is supposed to protect the city. There’s a saying that every time Ambrosia refined, Flandre’s life expectancy will be shortened by a year. 」

「A. . . A year’s Blood of The Sun」

「That turned out to be the key to the opposition’s victory, and now that research has been frozen, the technology, named《the lock of Ambrosia》, has been designated the ultimate taboo. 」

Melida sighed slightly after seeing Kufa who had finished the long line.Kufa looked at Elise and asked in a voice that seemed nonchalant:

「Miss Elise. What happened to Miss Rosetti. I don’t saw her in the carriage」

「Roze Sensei is on leave. She said she was going home. 」

「Oh. So, she once said with a bitter face that her family sent her letters. 」

Melida, was sensitive to the teacher who didn’t care about her, dropped her shoulders slightly disappointed. Despite the usual bickering, Rosetti, the famous First Marquis, was one of the few comrades who can fight together with Kufa. If she could be on the scene right now, she would become a reliable of Kufa.

Melida clenched her fist unconsciously and bit her lip. When the ineffable restlessness hovered within, the door to the lounge at the rear open.

Then there were the plural footsteps on the carpet and the male voices speaking in feminine words.

「Wait wait, fake king-sama. An accident happened suddenly, isn’t it? 」

Melida and Elise looked back, their shoulders stiffened with fear.

Although it was rude, that person was so strange. Sparkling trousers and high-necked dress shirt, the decorations around the neck appeal to the eyes abnormally; the tall figure with slightly female waist, coupled with deep facial features, was even more unreal. That man is like a mannequin made by a radical fashion designer with a drunk head.

As he strutted the catwalk like beautiful model, he gave an uninteresting glance at the Angel Sisters who were leaning against each other stiffly.

「Another kids again. Are they your friends from school or what? If this continues, this stage will become a children’s carnival. 」

It seemed that he hadn’t noticed that Melida and the others were noble. The sarcastic remark made the sisters frown, and Mure, sitting across from her, began to say.

「Girls, let me introduce them to you. This is head of Daby Troupe, which is based in the Holy King District. And Lucille-san and Lyra-san, who are also in charge of costumes and make-up in the troupe. 」

「「Hello~」」

The two young girls who followed the head waved to this side with the same way voice. Judging by very similar appearance, it might be twins. The brown skin and the style of some unique ethnic dress, and sure enough, they are still a little immature, but far more humane and friendly than the head.

Melida nodded slightly in response, and asked.

「Why… why does the King follow by the troupe…? 」

「Because the King’s Parade will become a drama. 」

Salacha replied. Because of the brother, so many people involved, as expected, let her feel a little guilty.

「Since not all citizens could see the King, it was customary for members of the troupe to travel with the King as storytellers, adapting it into a drama as real as possible. Until the throne is replaced three years later, it will be re-staged several times, and it is said that they are proud of its astonishing mobilization every year. 」

「Then, this time selected as a glorious storyteller, was our Daby Troupe. BUT, it was a fake parade. 」

The head said as if showing off, and unceremoniously grabbed Kufa’s hair. Is it because the impression of femininity is so strongly? Melida let out a 「AH」from her throat.

「I thought I could turn the beautiful figure of Lord Serge into a drama, but it is a fake. Ugh, how do you solve the gap of my passion? Why this year? Ah, or is it because it would be a sham parade, so they choose an insignificant troupe? 」

「Lord Shicksal said he  trusts very much Mr. Daby and others」

「Personally, I don’t like black hair and you don’t smile, which is so different from Lord Serge’s image. Do you understand? Your actions will turn out to be the actions of Lord Serge, but there is no way to inspire anything in this way! 」

「I will change it. 」

Melida became angry instead of the calm Kufa. Just when Merida wanted to say something to refute, the meddlesome head said 「Ah」and let go.

「Is it all right for you to be so lazy? Unlike us, we were forced to despair from the start. What will the guy who’s been duped all the way think? Finally, you goofed. 」

The rough footstep overlapped with the head words and approached the lounge. It was the middle-aged guard captain with a bandage on his nose who slammed the door without knocking.

As he dirtied the carpet with his boots, he approached the table, glanced down at the four girls on the sofa, looked at head Daby with cold eyes,and finally looked at the black-haired youth in the King dress.

「What the Hell is going on! 」

He roared so loudly, but no one answered. Amid the gloom, the captain went on:

「We, the Togrony team, are King Guards. But where is the King? Who on earth noticed that Duke Serge Shicksal wasn’t the real King? 」

He looked at the people in the lounge one by one, but everyone just looked away with embarrassment.

「As sisters, Miss Salacha must has heard. Also, Miss Mule, as charge of monitoring, has heard, too. ──So, who are you? 」

He detected Melida and Elise, who were obviously in the wrong place, and without waiting for an answer, nodded stagy.

「You bring a pretty ladies in; you think you’re looking at flowers. That means you don’t care about our guards, does it? You really know how to enjoy yourself! Mother Daby, do you know anything about this? 」

「I know. 」

「I see!!」

The captain stretched his arms out dramatically. It was like he was on stage, showing his surprised.

「This means we’re the only ones that didn’t hear about it. That is, we were unknowingly forced to carry the Sedan Chair for the IMPOSTOR! Ha Ha, must be very funny!」

「Captain Togrony. 」

Kufa couldn’t stand it, spoke bravely, bearing the hostile gaze of a middle aged knight.

「I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you before. We need firepower. 」

「If there is a high probability of attack, I wish you could tell me in advance! Thanks to you, our team is seriously injured! No honor, no gain. Force into a futile battle! 」

「Please, hold on. Are there the prisoners be handed over to your guards? 」

The captain snorted from his nose like a horse, and with self-loathing tone saying:

「They’re already dead. Suicide! It appears to have been poisoned beforehand. That’s a hell of a loyalty. What are the real faces of the attackers? 」

「..I have to say I am not clear yet. 」

「That’s impossible! What are you hiding? Why are we the only ones who haven’t heard anything? 」

「According to Shicksal, to deceive the enemy, you must first deceive own people. 」

「We’ve been completely duped! Did you have a great time? Fake King! 」

Togrony twisted his lips and turned away. Kufa stopped him in an indomitable spirit.

「Please, wait. Captain, where do you want to go? 」

「The enemy also knew that the King are shadow warrior. In this case, the Real Duke Serge Shicksal is in danger. We, Togrony team, got off at next station to look for a King. Looking for the real King! 」

「Wa, wai, wait, wait a minute, that won’t work! 」

It was head Daby who was panicked. He gesticulated to keep the captain.

「I told you this parade would become a drama! It wouldn’t be funny if the guards had run off! How do you explain this contradiction? 」

Togrony turned his head over his shoulder and snorted with a troubled look on his face.

「We were never here in the first place! Don’t mention Togrony’s name on that stage! 」

「That’s so mean! Wait a minute! My stage will……!!」

The captain ignored the pleas and stepped forward, slamming the door with what sounded like sarcasm.

The sound of angry footsteps faded away, leaving only the dismal atmosphere in the luxurious lounge. Breaking the silence was the shrill voice of head Daby.

「Another accident! My plans are all messed up! 」

「I’m so sorry, Daby-san. It’s because I’m not strong enough」

「In addtion! Anyway, we need more actors! How can such an empty member be a lineup of the King! Do you want me to be the laughingstock of Flandre? 」

He screamed hysterically and approached Kufa with appalling beauty.

「You’re a knight of the cavalry, aren’t you? Please send some people to support you! 」

「I am very sorry, but I cannot explain my internal situation」

「AHHH! In this case, bring the servants from the House! If you are a nobleman, you should be able to do such these things! In short, only the number of people is ok. 」

「That’s… impossible. Because I am a person without a single relative. 」

「What the hell is wrong with you? 」

Daby pointed his forefinger at Kufa, speaks unceremoniously. Kufa’s expression was as straight as ice, but Melida didn’t know what he was thinking.

「With no one to help you and no family, are you really a nobleman? 」

「I’m a noble because I’m a mana capable ones. 」

「What troops do you belong? You must be from a remarkable family if you are to be Lord Serge’s shadow warrior! 」

「Obscurity…you can think so, no matter what. 」

「Isn’t that just a simple man in black? 」

Unable to find a moment to interject, Salacha timidly raised his hand and tried to say something.

「Da, Daby-san. Insulting him is not」

「Out of my way! Unattractive kid! 」

Being yelled at, Salacha reflexively shut her mouth. It didn’t feel like the right thing to say to the Duke’s daughter, but Daby was angry enough to lose his head.

Daby leaned back, folded his hands around his chest, and twisted his lips as if to vent his dissatisfaction.

「I’m not captain, but I’m starting to suspect you. If you want our help, prove it. Just one. Let’s see if you want to go public with your family name, or you want to go public with your troop, or you want to bring your own! Well, can you do that? You can’t do it, can you? 」

「I can. 」

The shot as if it were about to explode, caught everyone’s attention.

Melida stood on the sofa like she was about to kick it off. Everyone in the room change their faces, their eyes fixed on the girl’s noble blonde. From the corner of Melida’s eye, the young man’s eyes, which were supposed to remain calm, widened slightly for the first time.

「Ojou-sama……？」

Melida stomped loudly before Kufa’s low whisper reached someone’s ear. She unclenched her trembling fist as if to relax, pressing the tips of her fingers on her thin chest.

She accepted everyone’s gaze, stared back at the head, there was flames in her crimson eyes. ──

She said in a loud voice:

「I am sensei── I mean Kufa-sama’s servant (maid)! From his family!」