Chapter 20 “The Empire’s Strongest Knight”
.
Part 1
Near the Empire’s territory, Arcadia was anchored near one of the floating islands.
Normally, it should be over the Imperial Capital, which is located in the center of the continent, but circumstances forced it to move.
The reason for that is——.
[Buddy, they’re coming back!]
“One after another, they’re a persistent bunch!”
——The legacies of the old humans coming for Arcadia.
This is because the artificial intelligences that have awakened attack them day and night.
Artificial intelligences also varies, ranging from robots that seem to be only for work to huge flying battleships.
Where did they come together, only this time, three flying battleships and a swarm of robots attacked them.
Finn and Brave are the ones who are dealing with them.
He deploys his magic armor to cut down the robots.
“How long have you been hiding?”
If you look at the robots, many of them have moss growing and some parts are missing.
Even the flying battleships are not in perfect condition.
The magic knights other than Finn are also participating actively to defeat them, and they are being destroyed one after the other.
[Buddy, the troublesome one’s coming!]
“Aa, I can see it.”
It was a fighter aircraft that looked like a missile that flew into such a battlefield.
Powered by artificial intelligence, its weapon charges towards Arcadia.
“Kurosuke, let’s go!”
[Call me Brave once in a while.]
The magic knights are passed one by one, and the enemy closes in on Arcadia.
Finn, who was wearing Brave, catches up with it, and swings a longsword in his right hand.
“I will protect the place where Mia is.”
As he said that, the cut-off fighter aircraft exploded.
[Alright, now we just need to get the rest —— Hmm]
“What’s wrong?”
[Their movement has changed]
As Brave said that, there was a change in the artificial intelligences that had been aiming for Arcadia earlier.
Unlike before, when they were just trying to attack, this time they seemed to be keeping their distance and keeping an eye on the situation.
Flying battleships have also launched sporadic attacks on Arcadia.
Knowing that the defensive field will protect them, they start shooting optical weapons at the entire area instead of concentrating them in one place.
The pressure is fading, but Brave judges the enemy’s movements to be ominous.
[I have a bad feeling about this. Let’s get this over with, buddy.]
“Aa.”
(What’s up with these guys? They suddenly changed their movements. It’s as if —— they’re checking us out.)
When thorns appeared from both shoulders, lightning strikes were fired around them, causing a number of robots to explode.
The flying battleship is also damaged, and the other magic knights follow and destroy it.
“Is it over? What’s next?”
Finn, who remains vigilant even after he finishes defeating them, Brave searches for the enemy.
[Looks like it’s over. I was told to return from Arcadia as well.]
“Arcadia?”
He turns around in the air and returns to Arcadia, where he talks to Brave along the way.
“If he told us to return, would that be a new order? He’s gonna make us work hard.”
[They’re gathering the magic knights in the audience chamber. Apparently, they have a big announcement to make.]
Finn remembers and raises his eyebrows at what seems to be a major announcement.
“It’s probably about invading the Kingdom, right?”
[No doubt about it.]
.
Part 2
When he returned to Arcadia with the other Magic Knights, he went straight to the audience chamber, without removing his magic armor.
When Finn and the others arrive, the other magic knights line up behind them.
But only Finn walked close to the throne where the Emperor sat.
In doing so, Gunther looked at Finn with a bitter look on his face, but he did not care and stepped forward to the Emperor.
On the way, a newcomer, a magic knight [Reimer Lua Kirchner], looks at Finn and mutters.
“That’s the first seat? Not as good as I thought he would be.”
He has short red hair and is a hot-blooded young knight —— he is Leenhardt’s older brother.
It is also rare that both siblings are magic knights.
Reimer, who was talented and brilliant, had a quarrelsome attitude toward Finn.
It was a beautiful young man [Hubert Luo Hein] with long black hair who warned Reimer of such a situation.
A slender, tall, and graceful man, he has the air of a scholar rather than a knight.
“Don’t judge him by his looks. Your little brother knows what he is capable of.”
When told that Leenhardt acknowledges him, Reimer is pissed off and turns his head away.
“My little brother had nothing to do with it.”
Hubert shrugs his shoulders.
Finn stops, kneels down, and bows his head.
“I have come at your call, Your Imperial Majesty.”
Behind Moritz, looking down from the high seat, was Arcadia, glaring at Finn and Brave.
He looked reluctant, but he didn’t complain because Mia was in the corner of the high seat.
Finn is relieved to see that Mia is safe.
Moritz’s had a troubled look on his face in front of Finn.
“Well done for coming, Finn Ruta Herring——the strongest knight in the Empire, the first-seat Magic Knight.”
The strongest knight in the Empire —— that’s Finn.
In the Empire, there is a hierarchy of Magic Knights.
Being a Magic Knight with a seat was a sign of excellence.
And the first seat is a position that can be held by the strongest knight representing the Empire.
Moritz was troubled in front of Finn, who hung his head.
“As you are all aware, the Empire is now about to invade the Kingdom.”
Arcadia whispers to Moritz, who is regretting his decision with his hand over his face.
[There is nothing to fear, Your Majesty. We will win. Yes, for sure.]
“There is also the option to forgive with Bartfalt’s head. The terms we gave for peace were a mistake.”
[What are you talking about now? There is no turning back now. Besides, are we just going to let the kingdom off the hook and abandon the people of the Empire?]
“W-We can’t do that.”
Moritz knew, too, that this battle was a struggle for survival between the new and old humans.
He is troubled by the fact that he knew.
From now on, he will sacrifice many people to save the people of the Empire.
He may not think his decision is wrong, but he still seems hesitant.
To Moritz, Arcadia whispers.
[It’s not your fault. It’s for the good of the Empire. This is an important battle for the future of you, the descendants of the new humans. Let’s destroy those in the kingdom together.]
“I know!”
Finn had mixed feelings about Moritz, who was raising his voice.
He is the person who killed Karl, whom he hates, but he sympathizes with him as he struggles with a situation that is out of his control.
In the first place, there is no chance of winning against Arcadia.
While everyone was unable to speak up, Mia was the only one who was different.
“A-Ano!”
Moritz glares as a lovely voice echoes through the audience chamber.
Not your place to speak, his face said.
But Arcadia is different.
[Princess, what’s wrong?]
Ignoring important moments, it prioritized Mia.
Mia says with her head down.
“Do we really have to destroy them? I have friends in the kingdom. Something like this, I don’t know how to say it”
Arcadia desperately tries to convince Mia, who is unable to put it into words.
[We cannot do anything about it, even if it is the wish of the Princess. As we have explained many times, we too are deeply sorry. However, for the sake of so many lives —— please understand.]
Mia bursts into tears and, unable to bear it any longer, runs out of the audience chamber.
[Princess! You guys, go after the princess!]
After having the small magic creatures chase after Mia, Arcadia forcefully settles the situation.
[That is all. Your Majesty, this concludes the announcement to Magic Knights.]
“——Aa, yes.”
Seeing Arcadia’s overprotective attitude toward Mia, Moritz raised his eyebrows.
He is worried about betrayal because it prioritizes Mia over himself.
Finn thinks.
(There is no guarantee that Moritz-sama will not assassinate Mia. If possible, I would like to protect her by her side.)
His position as the strongest in the empire makes it difficult for him to be Mia’s personal knight.
Finn’s position was even more heavy because a war with the kingdom was about to begin.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login