Knights & Magic - Volume 7 - Chapter 93

Vol 7 Chapter 93

Chapter 93 What he always seeks

Capital of Fremmevira Kingdom, Känkänen.

On the city main street, there was a horse-like Silhouette Knight who lined through the center of the street. The Centaur Knight ‘Tzendrinble’, which designed by having upper torso as a human and the lower body of a horse, leading the other steel horse that making a hard-like sound mixing with the crowd.

A large number of residents looking on the side of a street while cheering and waving their hand to the leading centaur knight. The flag of national crest of Fremmevira Kingdom and a Silver Phoenix’s emblem that spread its wings, raised on every building along the road.

Eventually the Tzendrinble ceased their advancement after reaching Castle Shreiber.

The centaur knight opens its armor and revealing the person inside the cockpit. The one who come from the cockpit is no other than Ernesti Echavalier, the commander of Silver Phoenix Knight. Unlike his usual knight runner attire, he was wearing glorious clothes used for ceremony.

He turns the beautiful embroidered mantle over, and reach out his and to the cockpit. It was Aldtrud Olter, also as commander assistant who take his hand with her slender arm. Her attire was also not wearing her usual easy-to-move knight runner uniform, but a lovely dress which made by several layers of fabric.

The two of them dressed themselves with their fullness.

As Eru wanted to draw Addy’s hand, he turns his hand to her back after looking at hard-to-move dress and hold her with his both hands. Even though Eru looked too small for bearing Addy who have taller body than him, but that kind of problem was solved because of absurd benefit of his magical abilities.

Eru who held Addy with his both hands smiled once, and immediately show himself from the Tzendrinble back with casual manner. While the mantle and dress skirt fluttering in the air, they use Air Suspension Magic to decelerate before reaching the ground. Afterward, those two fell down softly and letting their costume tucked each other. And then went to the castle while keeping their appearance as before.

In the castle, the knight guards who holding a sword in their hand were lined up each other with a salute gesture.

“Silver Phoenix Knight, the commander of knight order, Echavalier, entering!”

The sound of trumpet and bell ringing together.

Eru who still hugging Addy, continue walking on the carpet that stretches toward them.

“Uehehehehe. Look, everybody is celebrating us!”

“Yeah. Of course, they will do. Since this is our wedding ceremony, His Majesty will also be going to give us a word too”

From her facial expression, Addy who still held by Eru looked as the happiness itself as she embraced Eru tightly.

Although, with that position Eru should not able to see, somehow his footsteps were firm enough for him to walk.

“I cannot believe we are able to held the ceremonies・・・I have been waiting for this long. It sure was difficult to find a way to get home back then!”

While talking over each other, Eru began to step into the podium.

In the vast space, the decorated Silhouette Knight were arrayed up while in the innermost presence, there are the King Riothamus seated on his throne and the King’s machine ‘Raids of Valor’, standing up behind him.

Before the King Riothamus, the member of Silver Phoenix Knight Order; Boss, Edgar, Dietrich were lined up in a straight line. And in the far side of them there is Eru’s parent and Addy’s mother.

“Don’t think too much about it, we’re already returned right. Well then, we have arrived. Everyone is waiting us, here we go my beloved Addy”

“Yes, my dear, let’s go!”

Eru who had dropped Addy, now holds her hand while walking together on the carpet that continued into the king. It was very unusual for a king to manage the ceremonies. But that also mean a person named Ernesti have a great influence in the kingdom.

“I still cannot believe, I will together with Eru-kun as a married couple now・・・・”

While walking, Addy still confirming the truth that befall before her. The bond she makes with him was more important than blessing from the surrounding.

“From now on, we will be together, my beloved Addy”

“Yes, I will definitely stay with you forever!”

They are even fell into the demon’s forest back then, with no one can foresee difficulties that can separate them. Because now, Addy was filled with determination and unshaking confidence.

“We will together・・・・as a married couple right. And then, we will have a child afterwards・・・・・・uhehehe, Eru-kun! How many children you want?”

“I want a lot. If possible until we can make our own Knight Order with it”

“Eru-kun・・・・・!”

Although, they were still in the middle of the ceremony, Addy who in overexcited appearance tightly embracing Eru. Within her arm, Eru raises his face after smiling at her. Eventually their eyes were aligned and then those two faces closing each other.

“Like I said Addy, it’s already morning”

“・・・・・Eru-kun?”

Eru suddenly asked if their lips were touching or not for no reason, which make him wonder what does she mean about it.

The surprised Addy opened her eyes, and remembering the smiling Eru after closing to her face———

“How long are you planning to sleep. Get up”

———When Addy leisurely opens her eyes, the first thing she look was Eru worried face which covered in a blanket and shook Addy shoulder as she continued to daydream. While looking at her surrounding, there was nothing like a royal castle but it was nothing else than a simple tent.

“・・・・・Mu. Huh? Eru-kun? Where is our Knight Order・・・?”

“What are you talking about? We are now doing our best to get back to our Knight Order, right?”

She was still spacing out for a moment but, gradually woke up for real this time and let out a big sigh.

“It was a dream after all・・・・・”

As soon as she is being sulky after feeling drained out, her hand was reaching out to the Eru waist that sat beside her, dragging her face and closely hug his chest. On the other hand, Eru who got embraced, softly hug her back with a bitter smile on his face.

“Are you perhaps dreaming about the Knight Order? It sure had been long time since we got stranded on this forest”

A half-sleep response can be heard between his arm if one of Addy’s curly hair got strained after going to fall sleep again. Eru muttered with a soft voice when he closely put his face on Addy ears.

“Let’s do our best in order to return to Fremmevira, there are a lot of things we have to tell to my father, mother, and also aunt Ilma right?”

Addy who was still trying to sleep again now waking up at once.

“That right! We need to report for holding the ceremonies properly too!! Alright, Eru-kun, let’s do our best!”

“Yes, yes. Let’s start it with breakfast first”

Leaving aside the over excited Addy. Eru just walked over by bringing the pot with one hand.

There is one small tent between the corner of the settlement in the Kaellous Clan, one of titan clan. A tent where Eru and Addy lives that looks like actual toys if it compared to the other tent.

In the front of the tent, the pot placed on a small furnace that lit with fire. There is a small amount of wild grass and dried meat that had warmed up inside the pot.

Those two always prioritize consuming the preserved food since they have come to this settlement. Although, no matter how much they preserve, one day it would not change for a food to become rotten.

It sure was convenient to have a proper house. Because they were able to live in the titan settlement, they now afford to store things and arranging various thing in their tent.

“You are rather late to wake”

The voice come from over their head, the figure of Three-eyed Seat of Brave (Fortissimos De Terrias Okrys) sighted as they looked up. The brave who lightly dressed without helmet and armor got curious after seeing the small pot beside those two.

“Hou. Is that your cooking?”

“Yes, that’s right. Thank you for giving us your preserved food yesterday”

“Do not heed. Your kind of appetite was too small for us”

Although Addy and Eru always prioritizing to consume the preserved food, there is no way they could able to eat all of it. For a titan, giving two human who have different stature and appetite was too insignificant. Even if just the edge was already enough for two of them. But they were also securing the fresh food as well beside the food that had been hunted by the titan before.

“Most of the giant eating by hunting the prey, right? Have you tried to eat a fruit?”

“There is no fruit that can fulfill our belly. It also takes too much time to find. If our body was small like yours, it might be worth considering though”

“It can’t be helped. But, somehow eating with just a meat, kind of too bland・・・・”

In general, the dishes that made by the titan was most likely cooked through roasting the prey and most of the dishes were prepared by only using animals. As for other ingredient like fruit was not enough to fill their stomach. Although most of the plant that grown up in this forest were huge enough to have a giant fruit, but even so, its still can be considered as a snack for them.

In this forest, they will never run out of beast to hunt. So, the meat was their staple food after all.

Eru who finished his breakfast after having that kind of conversation, start to get up and seems like he decided on something.

“As a guest, it seems we can’t always ask for food. Let us help your hunt too”

“So, you wanted to hunt for yourselves. That’s a good spirit, let’s have a good sight of the Hundred Eyes together”

The Brave nods his face. Although, they were not worrying about sharing their food. Compared to how much they usually eat, Eru and Addy portions were nothing to fulfill stomach at all. Nonetheless, there is nothing wrong either if they wanted to collect their own food.

That was the Brave though first, but Eru shook his head and denying the Brave statement.

“No, we will help hunting the same prey like yours. Although, it wasn’t that much, we will gladly lend our strength”

“What?”

After the Brave heard Eru proposal, he began to twist his head strangely. While the Brave still looked contemptuous, Eru and Addy who finished cleaning their meal, began to prepare swiftly. In the end, the two of them entering the forest after persuading the Brave who still leaning his head in confusion. Although, the Brave didn’t notice that he was being drifted on the moment.

In the forest, a titan footstep can be heard clearly because of their weight. Indeed, their size were big yet, their walking speed were also fast. In this world, because of the strengthening effect could strengthen the body, an enormous existence can be petty agile regardless of the size. Despite of their speed, the two small shadows flies around between the trees.

Eru, and Addy who wearing the silhouette gear.

They were utilizing the Aero Thrust magic on tree’s branch as a footing then proceeding to fly away. This way would be faster than running normally.

After proceeding through the forest, eventually they caught presence of a beast among the trees. A wild boar-like duel class beast with a huge tusk as a main feature of their body.

The Brave hold his new stone axe and take his stance after comes forward to the front.

“Fumu. You two, wait here. Immediately got one, I’ll get the food at once”

“That’s won’t do. Since we already here, let’s us show how we hunt first.・・・・・Addy”

“Ro-ge-r”

Although the Brave wanted to say something, the two of them already flies around leaving the speechless Brave. They left behind a titan who somewhat having a complex expression after remembering the duel he had not too long ago.

The small hunters quickly shorten the distance to the demonic beast. And after they got close, the demonic beast finally realized their presence.

While it looked like a wild boar, it was still classified as a duel class demonic beast. Sighting Eru and Addy who got close at a tremendous speed yet, the beast reaction was too dull. Originally, that kind of beast was not being cautious after all.

And that kind of negligent would be fatal. There is no mercy for those two who aim to hunting the beast. As Eru jump forward by using his foot, there is a countless magic released at once. His aim was the beast leg, although it was a non-powerful magic, anyone couldn’t ignore the power if it launched one after another in a concentrated point.

A small-like explosions continued toward the leg’s joint. The demonic beast leaking a short scream as soon as tilting its own body. But the beast quickly regained its stiffness and began to take back its position. As they though, that four legs were no joke at all, it wouldn’t fall down even if it already wounded.

The demonic beast raises its scream and quickly turns into a rage, eventually start looking for the small enemy———the figure of Eru who attacked and turned it into that state. Normally, the beast wouldn’t mind at all but, in the case when the beast got hurt, there is no reason to overlook it.

However, that kind of behavior already anticipated by those two. After the beast got enraged, this time Addy comes to the beast’s blind spot. The magical phenomenon has already activated on the palm of her Silhouette Gear. Her target was also the leg’s joint. A flood of fireball magic aiming for the unscratched forefeet.

The demonic beast raises a brief scream again. But this time, the beast was unable to endure the damage and eventually fall down to the ground. Even for the demonic beast couldn’t stand a chance if their feet were injured. A two small shadow now approaching the demonic beast who trying to get up after enduring the injured feet.

07-083

The Three-eyed Seat of Brave who behold that kind of spectacle, can’t help to cross his arm and raises a groan.

“As I expected for the Brave who could beat me・・・・”

In front of his eyes, the demonic beast who got cut on the neck, splatted its blood and collapsed. As the bleeding continues, the demonic beast movement gradually weaken.

A splendid demonic beast which have a firm meat and muscle, also having superior rushing power by utilizing its own weight. Even if the opponent were the titans, it could even break their bone. Of course, the Brave could take it down alone. But this time, the one who attained it were two goblins. To response with that, the titan Braver show its head in amazement.

“Hunting together, and eat together. This is more than a guest”

While the Brave nod his head in consent, Eru had come to his feet as if he was feeling apologetic for some reason.

“I’m sorry. There is something I would like you to help me”

“What. You already take it down. There is nothing I could help you to slay it”

“Err, no. Although we certainly slay it, we sure will have trouble if we take it to the settlement by ourselves・・・・”

“・・・・Sound reasonable”

In the end, not only his own prey but the Brave also carrying Eru and Addy prey to the settlement. Next time, he secretly decided to bring more people as baggage holder when they go out for hunting.

In the center of the village, the gathered titans filling the crowded grounds. It was a rare scene in the past but, soon after Eru and Addy lives here, it has become frequently can be seen.

There is a duel class demonic beast corpse in the center——the hunted prey. That was one of their prey.

“I am, by offering the Brave eyes, I will swear to the Hundred Eyes. This prey is surely hunted by the goblin Braver”

The Brave began to explains to everyone. As the one who know that battle, the titan also recognizing the goblin Braver were strong enough. However, the amazement precedes them after seeing them doing the same thing like themselves.

“Therefore, they were not only as a guest. As the one who hunt and eat together, we should welcome them as a companion in our clan”

It was like a rule for them. When wanting to joint another clan, it was required to hunt and eat together before recognized as a member of the clan. Although, it was unprecedented to applying to a goblin yet, all the titans were already giving their consent.

After the Brave nods with satisfactorily, he swift his sight into the small person on his feet with gloomy expression.

“But I was forgot about this・・・・if it is a member of the clan, you must decorate yourself with the prey you hunted but”

The titan’s clan traditionally make various weapon and armor using the prey they hunted. By doing that, they can clearly display their competence to the surrounding. For that reason alone, the prey they hunted for the first time is regarded as important. As for the titan who don’t have that much, making the tools using that kind of material was customary to make memorable items.

If Eru and Addy use the hunted beast’s material, they could make many tools and equipment as they like. But the problem is, there were no technology for the titan to make the ‘smaller one’.

Eru who looked at the puzzled Brave, nodded with a smug smile on his face.

“Yes. Since we already accepted as clan member, I’d like to make an armor with this prey”

“Nu, although I want to give it as a celebration, to match with goblin is・・・・”

While the Brave cross his arm and worrying it, Eru respond it with a calm and fresh expression.

“Don’t worry about it. You can make it the ‘same’ armor like yours”

“・・・・・It’s not possible for you to wear it. No matter it was a celebration for a new clan member, if you cannot use it then there is no meaning making it”

As expected, they couldn’t let the two small Braver using the same armor like them. It’s not like there is a problem with it, but for sure they would likely be crushed. For the Kaellous clan who didn’t have close relations with the goblin, they couldn’t sure how to handle this kind of case.

“No, I’m not forcing myself to wear it. However, since this is an occasion, you can decorate it to somewhere”

“・・・・Fumu. If you wanted it that bad, fine then. I am as a Brave will prepare an armor for you”

Although the Brave was somewhat irritated, but somehow Eru able to convince him that there is no difference in decorating for the honor anyway.

“Ah・・・・・I might know what are Eru-kun thinking right now”

Addy, the only one person who always known Eru for a long time can imagine what kind of treatment he wanted to do with the titan. As for the titan, they were genuinely wanted to make the armor by using the demonic beast skin with honor.

The huge leather armor made by duel class demonic beast which Eru and Addy had been hunted not too long ago was stored inside the Brave’s house. There is no way for this huge thing could enter Eru and Addy house, and yet the Brave didn’t even hesitate or suspicious thinking about it.

The armor that made from the prey for the first time. Unlike the titan, Eru was pleasingly looking at it with a joy. While Eru looked like he was imagining things with a smile, Addy strangely take her distance from him.

“Still planning something again・・・・”

“No, no way I plan something dangerous. If we could process all kind of thing with this condition, I just thought if we could make a Silhouette Knight by using this leather”

Of course, Eru was not thinking to make a leather armor just because they were in occasion. What he always aims is only one. A huge humanoid weapon———to make a way to build Silhouette Knight.

“Hmm, but I’m sure it will be difficult. We could might use the Inner Skeleton as substitute for demonic beast’s bone? Or might not”

Addy began to counting her finger. No matter how much they could make the outer body, they still couldn’t make the Silhouette Knight. Because, there is no inner part to move them away.

Eru also nodded at Addy statement. In the first place, there is too many problems to begin with, but there were two main problems.

“The last thing we would need is Crystal Tissue after all”

“Uun. Then, why not we ride inside the giant instead!”

“That would be a normal giant then”

While exchanging the vague discussion, they were thinking about any various possibilities. Leaving aside about Eru’s hobby, they surely need Silhouette Knight to return back to Fremmevira Kingdom. Addy was also encouraged about it too.

“However, using demonic beast as a material・・・・・I couldn’t even think about this back in the kingdom”

“Isn’t that too troublesome?”

“That’s right. Its only takes much time and effort for processing it”

Back in the kingdom, there are blacksmith who have wielded technology and have enough facilities to process metal. Also, it was more flexible when using metal as the material. In that sense, using material from demonic beast was sure hard to handle. Didn’t even fulfill the standard and mass producing, it can be said that is a method which emerged in emergency situation.

“Its not just a matter time and effort. Because a living being is filled with their own Mana and Script, it would not accept any other than them even if we overwrite it. That’s why the Crystal Tissue that can be moved and controlled from the outside is very useful”

Furthermore, it was not so easy in the case using the demonic beast as a material. Because there are various restriction exists.

“On the contrary, if it just a corpse that can suspended the mana supply and maintain it by using a script, it would be possible to use it as a material on that kind of basis, though”

“Eru-kun. As I thought, wouldn’t too much riding such a Silhouette Knight that made from dead demonic beast meat”

“Yes, first of all, that kind of thing would likely rot soon after we make. The mobile efficiency also still uncertain too, as I thought it was not practical at all”

Although, Addy reason was fundamentally different from Eru, she decided not to mind it deeply.

“Crystal Tissue are crystal catalysts, that has been modified through alchemy. In other words, it doesn’t exist naturally. We can’t also dig it out either. Umu, I didn’t have much knowledge about alchemy though・・・・・”

With materials and technology, Eru will accomplished it no matter how long it takes. But there were too many things left.

“If we could salvage any Silhouette Knight nearby”

“Then what about Shii-chan? Although it was crashed and already broke, the inner part should be fine”

The Syrphrine was destroyed after crashing from the impact, while Ikaruga had almost lost all the parts other than the center. And if they recover it, it could be used as a material.

“Of course, I will collect both Syrphrine and Ikaruga. But that alone were not enough right. I wonder where we could find many Silhouette Knight lying around・・・・・haaa. I want to go to the western countries and pick up some wreckage”

“Isn’t that too much convenient for us～”

Although Addy was already fed up with it, while Eru suddenly think another possibility.

“・・・・・No. Perhaps, it might not be the case”

Eru was smiling faintly towards Addy who has a strange look on her face.

“Historical question: What is the reason Bocuse Sea of Trees becoming prohibited land before Fremmevira Kingdom established?”

“Eh? Err, a・・・・・the ‘Forest Military Campaign’?” [1]

——Forest Military Campaign.

It was a history when the entire human race was burning in the ambition to rule everything after the west already conquered by eastern army. The disastrous military campaign that crossed Aubigne Mountain Range by gathering a large-scale division of Silhouette Knight toward the Bocuse Sea of Trees.

Although at that time, the Silhouette Knight was far more inferior than the latest one. The division demonic beast was also treated as brigade class demonic beast back then. Furthermore, the demonic beast that living in the forest was catastrophically tyrannize the Military Campaign until destroyed. Eventually wears down to the extent barely annihilated, and returned with the remaining main troops.

Although the campaign was considered as a big failure, the only achievement is succeeded securing some territory on the east of Aubigne Mountain Range. After that incident, that land will be known as the Fremmevira Kingdom.

In the first place, there is meaning when using Levitate Ship as a preliminary survey for the second Forest Military Campaign.

“Its still unknown how deep they come to Bocuse. But the possibility for recovering their heritage should not be impossible after all”

No matter how low is the hope, Eru could not help to expecting it to be happen. If the debris still remains and reusable, his goal will be increased significantly.

“And if we were able to gather all the material・・・・the remaining problem is, one more. Very important problem”

Addy was puzzled. She thought after hearing all of the problem, it would be possible if they can do something about the material.

“That point is, from the collected material, how can we assemble it into a Silhouette Knight”

If Boss was here. Even it will take time, they could able to assemble it. Certainly, Eru is knowledgeable about the design, but its not like he can do any blacksmithing. In the first place, it was necessary to have many skilled people to build Silhouette Knight.

“Hey, hey! We know how to use demonic beast material. We might manage to build it even without Boss assistance, right?”

“I see. We can also plan to educate the giants if it comes to・・・・ufufufufu”

Addy keeps her distance and hit her hand after Eru who began to leak his ecstatic laughter.

“L-let’s pick up Shii-chan first! Ah, was it better for Ikaruga first? Shii-chan won’t even move if we don’t do something to Etheric Levitator, right?”

“Well, yes・・・・・yes? Huh? Technically speaking, the Levitator was more important considering the way we could go home”

“I see. We did think to return by walking, right. But isn’t that more complicated than Silhouette Knight?”

It was out of the question if they were returning by walk from the distance that traveled using Levitate Ship. Also, even if they can build the Silhouette Knight, it should be difficult to return from walking alone.

They could do faster than using their body. But, if they move without stop, the Silhouette Knight will be exhausted. Furthermore, it might be broken again after encountering the demonic beast along the way. The most realistic way to leave the forest was securing the ‘way to flies in the sky’.

“Too much problem!! Give up?”

“Not really. Since it come to this, let’s use the demonic beast until the most. For now, let’s study about the Stained Beast’s material”

Eru was remembering Ikaruga’s last battle. He saw it during that battle, a Stained Beast was flying with the shining rainbow wings. That light is similar to Etheric Levitator reaction. In other words, it can be assumed that Stained Beast is also flying with the same principle.

While Eru seemingly motivated, Addy had confused looks on her face.

“Are you sure? Isn’t that Eru-kun enemy?”

“For me they were an enemy I must destroy, and if they were died, that would be a good thing, right?”

Although it was such a dangerous reason yet, since there is no other person who could respond his statement, Addy was able to convinced so easily.

“Alright, lets talk with the giants first. After getting along, they will come and help us to gather the materials・・・・we should think how can do from now on”

With this, they were going to spend their days in the titan settlement while continuing various trial and error for their own purpose.

TL note

[1] original text: (森伐遠征軍) can also meaning (Forest Military Expedition)