The independent state of Alsamira. Surrounded by the desert, the resort town had
been enveloped by night as most guests headed to bed.
"It's been a year, Saint Disciple Iska."
On the hotel's fourth floor, the blond girl had snuck into Iska's room, speaking very
calmly from her pinned-down position on the floor.
"Do you remember me?"
"…You're…"
His clearest memory of her had been from the afternoon.
It was the exact same girl who had bumped into him from behind at the intersection.
He had been on the road where they had carried Captain Mismis after she had tuckered
herself out from playing in the pool.
But they had first met a year ago.
"We're enemies."
"But you're letting me go?"
"…You're the one from the jail…?"
"My name is Sisbell. I am honored you remember me." On her back, she offered a small
smile.
A year ago, he wouldn't have thought the girl imprisoned for being a witch was beautiful
by any standards.
…Her clothes and hair were a mess… Even though she was smaller than I am, she was
still trying to stand up to me.
She seemed like an entirely different person now.
Taken by curiosity, her large eyes were looking intently back at him with her
mesmerizing face. Her glossy strawberry blond hair spread across the carpet. Her
dress was simple yet cultured.
…Why did she sneak into my room?… I don't think it'd be easy to get a key. How did she
even find out my room number?
His thoughts went in circles.
"I apologize for forcing my way into your room so late at night… but… um…"
The girl was still on the ground. Her face was slightly flushed, and she turned away
from Iska, who was looking straight at her.
"I'm… not used to being treated in this manner…"
"What?"
"…If you wouldn't mind getting off me, I would be so happy."
He had pinned down a dainty girl, leaning over her. When he finally realized that, Iska
leaped up.
"Oh, s-sorry!… But it's not what you think. When I heard the door open, I thought it
was a thief sneaking in—"
"No… It's fine… I was the one in the wrong." The blond girl got up, her face red.
She brushed off the dust on her dress with her hands, giving him a passing glance
before sitting on the sofa. Every action was hypnotizing. There was no way around not
staring.
She was lovely.
And she had to have been born into royalty or nobility and received years of vigorous
training if she moved with such grace.
…Come to think of it, Alice is the same… She moved with poise when we were in the hotel
together…
He knew it was off that he was reminded of Alice from Sisbell's actions and appearance.
"May I call you Iska?"
He snapped back to his senses, standing in surprise.
The ephemeral girl carefully observed him. He nodded silently to her.
"Iska. I apologize for two of my deplorable actions. First, I forced my way into your
room with a spare key, but most importantly…"
She took a breath.
"When you let me out of the prison, I did not give you a word of thanks. Though it was
rude of me… I was afraid it was a trap at the time. I did not think that anyone from the
Empire would let me free."
"I think that's natural. I knew I was doing something ridiculous, too."
Iska nodded where he was still standing in the living room. He elected not to sit on the
sofa. He didn't know anything about Sisbell's abilities. If she attacked him with astral
power from the front, Iska wasn't confident he could react in time.
He had saved this witch. At the same time, that didn't mean she was his ally, and it was
still possible she could turn on him.
"I will pay you back here."
She had a blue crystal bracelet, reverently holding it out after having tugging it off her
own left wrist. "It is a later piece by the jewel craftsman Bildred Morpheus. It represents
the works of early last century. It's not just beautiful. It has historical value. In every
gemstone shop around the world, even if they low-balled you, it would still get you a
mansion and—"
"W-wait a sec!" Iska shouted as she held the bracelet out in front of his eyes. "What's
going on…?"
"Like I said, a token of thanks for saving me." The witch had the bracelet resting in both
her hands.
Iska gently pushed back her hands, which were pale as though they had never been
burned by the sun.
"I can't take this."
"Why not?"
"That's not why I saved you. I wouldn't have done it if I wanted compensation. And
there's no way to get back my position as a Saint Disciple with money."
"…" Her lips pursed.
"Headquarters have their eyes on me now. If I accept something from you, they'll
definitely think I'm working with the Sovereignty."
"I took that into account."
"What?"
"I came here in order to invite you to our country."
Sisbell's eyes were sincere. Standing up, she put her hand on her chest.
"This past year, I've investigated you. Everyone in the neutral city knows about the
incident that happened while you were under the direct command of the throne."
"…So that's how you knew my name?"
"Yes," she answered with a soft smile. "You lost your position as a Saint Disciple. I don't
think it would be an exaggeration to say your reputation has fallen. It is my turn to pay
you back. I can promise you status and prestige, even greater than before. The
Sovereignty would warmly welcome you."
"…"
"I will guarantee a position for you and your safety. Even though you come from the
Empire, there will be no issues with your livelihood."
This was like de ja vu.
In the wastelands, the Ice Calamity Witch, Princess Alice, had made the same proposal
to him as red dust billowed around them.
"You. Become my subordinate.
"I will secure you a position. You'll become a refugee of the Empire."
Did that mean the girl in front of his eyes had influence that rivaled Alice's? He couldn't
imagine there were many in a country with political power to rival a princess.
"Who…?"
"Yes?"
"Who are you?"
Was she related to Alice?
Iska gripped his hands into fists and stopped himself from saying anything more.
Asking questions related to Alice was off the table. If he asked anything, Sisbell would
suspect he had a relationship with Alice.
…If headquarters catches wind of this… I might actually be executed on the spot.
"It wouldn't be so easy to prepare a position equal to a Saint Disciple."
"I could do it," she assured. "I have access to the royal family… as their attendant."
"So you're close to them?"
"Yes. I am in a position close to the royal family. I have received permission from my
employers to do this. I can assure you."
She was an envoy of the royal family.
In other words, she bore a close relationship to someone who was familiar with the
queen herself. That was why it was possible for her to make a proposal on par with
Alice's.
"Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"
"…Why me?" He turned to Sisbell, who was blushing red. Iska gulped. "I won't deny
you're close to the royal family. I think it must be true, but I'm sure there are others
who could fill this position."
"Uh." Her shoulders shot up.
"The astral corps can mobilize at a single command. Even an Imperial soldier knows
that the royal family has guards," Iska said.
"…"
"Are you inviting me to the Sovereignty because you want someone from the Empire?"
There was a shadow… of sorrow that had made its way into her eyes.
Since Iska had hit the bull's-eye, she had been at a loss for how to answer. From the
way she quivered and bit her lip, she almost looked as though she was desperately
holding back tears.
"…But… it's because I…," the blond girl managed to rasp out, "I have no servants. I can't
trust anyone…"
"What?"
"I can't tell you the specifics right now. But… the Sovereignty isn't as much of a monolith
as it seems to other countries."
"…But what does that have to do with not having any servants?"
Wasn't that an exaggeration? Iska didn't want to accuse her of lying, but he didn't think
that would apply to the one princess he knew.
"I can't trust anyone !" Her voice echoed through the living room.
She stepped up in front of Iska without giving him a chance to say anything as she took
his hand and squeezed it.
"I can't trust anyone in the country. That's why I need to ask you… I need someone to
become a knight and protect me in place of a servant!"
"…"
"If that weren't the case, I wouldn't have come by myself to ask you to do this. I'm weak,
after all… To present myself to a frightening Imperial soldier, a former Saint Disciple…
Do you understand how much preparation it takes to expose oneself alone in this
situation…?!"
At the end, she was practically shrieking, mixed with violent sobs.
"Even when I came into your room, I was genuinely terrified that you might shoot me,
thinking I was a thief… I don't have strong astral powers like my mother and—"
Like her mother?
She immediately realized the suspicion wordlessly floating into Iska's mind. She
finally noticed that she had been talking, swayed by her emotions, without a pause.
"…I'm sorry. I lost my composure." A weak sigh escaped from her.
The witch reluctantly let go of Iska's hand.
"I can't believe, out of all the things I could have done, I let myself ramble when I was
making a request of you… I have no negotiation skills. Please don't get the wrong idea.
I just wanted to rely on you, and I got worked up…"
"—"
"I'd like to do this over again. I'm glad I met you today…"
The girl named Sisbell turned around.
It was as though she were flowing in water. Her fluid gait made her fair hair fan out as
she left Iska's room behind.
Click. The door locked automatically. Beyond the thick door, her footsteps became
fainter until he finally could not hear them.
"What was up with that…?"
She had left him behind. Iska sighed in surprise. He had come visiting a desert far from
the Empire and Sovereignty… and yet, he had somehow met the girl who he had
broken out of prison a year ago.
…Is it a coincidence? No, but… she knew what my room number was. How did she figure
that out?
He could switch rooms just to feel safe. In any case, he probably needed to check for a
bug. He looked around the living room.
"Oh."
His eyes stopped on the sofa where the girl had been sitting.
"She got me…"
It was the blue crystal bracelet—the one that Iska had already turned down. Sisbell
had unashamedly left it behind when she had stood up from the sofa.
—I won't give up , it seemed to symbolize in her place.
He picked it up. After carefully checking whether it was bugged, Iska turned his head
to face the heavens.
"Who is she…?"
The shop streets were illuminated by neon lights.
The freezing winds of the desert whistled through the main thoroughfare as Sisbell
ran as fast as her legs would take her.
"…What…? What do you think you're doing, Sisbell?!"
She had figured out where Iska was staying, sneaking into his room and finally
reaching the point where she could negotiate with him.
Then why?
"This isn't like me…!"
How many years had it been since she had raised her voice?
She had never complained to her mother—not even once. At most, when she was a
child, she had been stubborn to her poor keeper, but that was the extent of her
experiences.
"This is a disgrace. Even after I practiced all the scenarios…"
She had wanted to get closer to the former Saint Disciple Iska.
Sisbell had secretly felt confident when it came to smooth negotiations. Despite her
appearance, she had picked up her mother's techniques while she was young.
Which smile did she weaponize? What kind of tone was necessary?
What did she need to do to make him lower his guard and win him over? She had
wanted to pull him over to her side. She had been confident she could. There was just
one thing that had been outside her calculations.
Iska was too nice of a boy.
How could she have guessed?
How could she have guessed he would have accepted her?
"…If you wouldn't mind getting off me, I would be so happy."
"Oh, s-sorry!"
Sisbell had been the one who had forced her way into his room. What kind of person
would apologize to someone who was breaking and entering? That had bothered her
from the get-go. His words didn't indicate he was an Imperial citizen who feared
witches. He had treated her like another human being.
And that was specifically why Sisbell's emotions had come undone.
With him… she could open up about her true feelings. Even if she yelled and begged
for his help, he would have been okay with her.
For a moment, Sisbell forgot her own circumstances and started yelling.
"…What a disgrace!" She chewed on her bottom lip, repeating that phrase.
She pulled a communications device out of her pocket.
"My lady?"
"Shuvalts, it's me… Yes… Uh-huh. That's right. All we did was meet tonight," she said
to her keeper, who was awaiting orders at the hotel. "I will try again. I'll wait for
another opportunity. You're right. I mustn't rush things. I will definitely make sure I
succeed. I won't give up."
Her mother's life was on the line.
To protect her mother from that monster that hid in the royal family, she would need
a strong ally.
The sun rose over the sandy horizon.
The frosty grains of sand started to absorb the heat, and the independent state of
Alsamira began to blister.
It was enough to make anyone sweat, which was instantly evaporated by the desert
winds.
"Time for barbecuuuue!" Captain Mismis boomed, as passionate as these sweltering
winds.
There was a camping area immediately within walking distance of the hotel. Like the
pool, this popular establishment was emblematic of the resort, which meant it was
flooded with tourists from the early morning.
"This is paradise! I can't believe I get to eat barbecue for breakfast. While we were in
the capital, I didn't even have time to toast bread. I only ate canned stuff." The
commander held a perfectly chilled drink can in her right hand.
As she gulped it down, the winds whipped against her. It had to be delicious.
"I'm so blessed…"
"If you have enough time to get drunk, help us, boss."
Jhin was keeping track of the gas burner's flame. Next to him, Nene was slicing up
vegetables, and Iska was in the middle of cutting the meat.
"I'll cook the meat!"
"Oh, Captain. We need to put the veggies on first, since they won't heat up as fast.
Here!"
"Boo." The captain slumped over when Nene pushed a plate piled with vegetables
toward her.
"…" Iska kept an eye on the captain, even as he intently observed the waves of people
coming in and out of the camp area. Most of them came with their families. The others
were couples or old married pairs of two. Even though his gaze pierced through the
crowd, he couldn't find Sisbell from the other night.
…It just happened yesterday… I thought she would have followed me to the campgrounds,
but I guess not.
He didn't know whether to tell the others. Iska had taken the whole night to think
about the decision, balancing the advantages and disadvantages of his choice.
If he came clean, they would be informed about the risk of an astral mage nearby.
But if he tried talking about Sisbell, he would end up having to divulge details about
the incident from a year before.
After a long night of deliberation, Iska decided he wouldn't tell them yet.
…It would be easy to tell them. I can do it whenever I want… But once I act on it, I can't
take it back.
If he shared the information about the incident of breaking a witch out of jail, he was
worried his friends could be suspected of involvement. They could all be thrown in jail
on the whims of the Eight Great Apostles or headquarters.
And they were in an independent state.
They were all aware of the risk of staying near an astral mage from the Sovereignty,
who had come to this resort for their own reasons. They were prepared for the minute
chance that one might attack. The three of them knew of the possibility that they might
encounter a witch, even if he didn't immediately tell them about Sisbell.
"Aha! I know, Iska! It just came to me!"
"Whoa?!"
The captain hopped right in front of him, grinning suspiciously. Could she have read
his mind? He backed away when he saw Captain Mismis's pointed look.
"Wh-what?"
"Iska, you were looking there, huh? Ta-da! Roasted sausages. I put some special spices
on them! Eat up!"
"…"
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"…Nothing. I just realized I didn't need to worry about some stuff that's been on my
mind."
Captain Mismis didn't find anything off about Iska's response, holding a plate of
roasted sausages out to him.
"Okay, hurry, Iska. Try one."
"Are you sure you want me to be the taste tester? You're the one who was looking
forward to this barbecue."
"It's fine. They're super spicy."
"What?"
"And an opportunity arises!" Mismis shouted, stuffing it right into his open mouth.
Iska immediately felt as though he'd been struck by lightning. With one bite, his tongue
was on fire.
"Nhhhhhh! These are so spicy! Ow!"
"Iska! Water! Drink some water!" shouted Nene.
He tried to wash it away with cold water, but the burning sensation lingered.
"Wow. Specialty spices from the desert don't disappoint. Looks like the rumors were
true. Your tongue gets all swollen, and you feel like you've been electrocuted."
"Please don't make me your lab rat!"
"Ha-ha. It's rated X for spiciness, and I thought you could take it, Iska. Anyway, can I
have everyone's attention?"
There were four sausages roasting over the flame grill. They were browned and
smelled delicious.
"There's one special sausage in the mix! Rated Double-X for spiciness! Which means
it's twice as spicy as Iska's sausage. Time for a little game of Russian roulette!"
Iska, Jhin, and Nene looked at one another. Captain Mismis, the proposer of this evil
game, was the only one with expectant eyes.
"But wait, there's more! If you're the one who eats that sausage, you'll receive another
punishment! You'll have to be the one to eat all the vegetables here!"
"…So that's what you're after."
"…You just don't want to eat your vegetables."
"…Hey, Captain. It's not exactly healthy to only eat meat all the time."
"You've all got it wrong! I'd like to eat my veggies, too! But I think the occasion calls
for a fun little competition! And I won't be the one to stop it!"
Everything about her expression screamed that she was heartbroken. Not that she
could hide the excitement in her voice.
"But there is one saving grace for the person who eats the super-spicy sausage. If they
can pretend it's not them, they won't get the other punishment."
"So you would need to eat the whole thing without changing your expression?" Jhin
downed some ice-cold juice. "Is it actually possible to hide it, Iska?"
"No way." Iska decisively shook his head. "It's like a bomb went off in my mouth."
"Cool. But, Captain, I'm going to warn you: If you get the spicy one, you'll have to eat
all the vegetables. And we won't let you have a single piece of meat."
"Oh-ho? That's what I should be saying to you. All right! Players, fight!"
They each reached out to one of the four sausages on top of the grill and took a big bite.
…This… is fine. It's a normal sausage. I didn't get the spicy one!
Now the only ones that were left were the other three.
Nene took a wary bite of hers. Captain Mismis eagerly bit off a chunk. Jhin had already
polished off his sausage.
"H-huh? Who got the spicy one?" Captain Mismis blinked. "I'm sure it was Nene!"
"I-it wasn't me! You're acting suspicious, Captain Mismis, especially since you accused
me!"
"But it wasn't me, either. But Iska and Jhin seem fine…"
"I know. Maybe the captain forgot to put in the spicy sausage, so we all had normal
ones?"
"Hmm… m-maybe?"
Nene and Captain Mismis seemed puzzled.
Jhin nonchalantly confessed, "It was me." Jhin, of all people.
"I finished without any of you figuring it out, so I guess we have to keep the game going."
"No way?! You, Jhin?!" Mismis exclaimed.
"Whoa! Hey, how'd you pull it off?!" Nene asked.
"With ice." The silver-haired sniper was holding a bottle of juice with ice. "I cooled off
the inside of my mouth. With a numb tongue, I couldn't taste or feel anything."
"Unfair, Jhin!" cried Mismis.
"I just happened to drink some of my juice before we started. I didn't break any rules…
Cough!… Ah, shit. After all that, it's still… Cough…! "
"Jhin?!" Nene yelped.
"…These spices are… totally not normal… I can't believe it'd be this strong after I cooled
down my mouth…"
Jhin was bright red. When Iska and Nene saw his face, they knew… this wasn't
something that could be withstood.
"Anyway, I got through it, so we're going to keep going with the game."
"Ugh… I-in that case, you can't use that strategy anymore!"
The captain pulled out additional sausages from the cooler. As they roasted over the
open flame, they started to smell good again.
"This is rated Triple-X! It's the ultimate delicacy! It even has an age-limit warning for
anyone under fifteen! You won't be able to handle this with your strategies, Jhin!"
"A-are you doing okay, Captain…?"
"I don't want to eat the vegetables!"
"Did you just…?! I knew it was because you were a picky eater!"
The first round was just to get things going. She had been initially scared that she
might end up getting the sausage, but when she confirmed Jhin had been the target,
she was certain: Luck was on her side today.
They could see right through her.
"Okay. The final match. We're going to settle things for good!"
All four of the sausages appeared to be identical.
They each forked a sausage and held their breaths as they took bites.
…Hmm?… It's fine. I didn't get the spicy one!
Iska hadn't been able to withstand the sausage rated X for spiciness.
Jhin had taken the perfect countermeasure, but he hadn't been able to endure one with
Double-X.
When it came to the Triple-X level of spiciness, no one would be able to hide their
reaction. It would immediately show on their face.
"Not mine," Iska said.
"Me neither. What about you, Jhin?" Nene asked.
"Like I'd let myself get it twice in a row."
Three pairs of eyes naturally gathered on their captain.
"Hey, Captain Mismis… Oh." Nene stopped talking.
The commander was locked in place with the sausage in her mouth.
"…You, huh?"
" " She didn't answer.
Her face was as red as a ripe apple. Then it paled. Her face turned sheet white as
though she had burned right out.
"…Bwoof." Captain Mismis barked like a puppy, collapsing on the spot.
"Captain?!"
"O-oh no! This is bad, Iska. Hurry! We need to get her water! Or an ambulance!"
"I'm just so done with this. I have nothing to say."
They lugged their incapacitated captain over to the shade.
She really was the furthest from an actual adult. After they looked down at her, all
three of them turned up to the heavens for mercy.
In the eastern part of the continent. The yellow deserts of Route Herald.
The sandy wasteland enclosed the independent state of Alsamira. It currently served
as a safe route, but it had once been known to be a land where its many victims never
came home.
"This route was established because the survey units risked their lives ascertaining the
territory of the basilisks," explained one of the bus crew in a large loop bus that carried
tourists to Alsamira.
"The animals inhabiting these harsh lands evolved to become stronger to ensure the
survival of their species. As you all know, the top of the ecosystem is the large wandering
beast known as the basilisk."
According to legend, it could turn people to stone with its eyes.
…I've heard those who manage to escape are covered in sand… which is how these
legends started.
They needed to be vigilant about its ferocity.
Even at nearly four yards in length, it was terrifyingly nimble and vindictive. A basilisk
would never allow anyone to step in its nest. There had been records of people being
followed all the way to the ends of the desert after committing this crime.
"But you have nothing to worry about. This bus makes detours around all basilisk nests.
Even if we encounter one, we are equipped with tear gas containing chemicals that the
basilisks hate. There are even two specialist hunters on board who—"
"We're relying on you," Alice answered in a monotone as she leaned onto the window
frame.
She had gone by way of the neutral city on her solitary trip. She had transferred over
to a loop bus from the closest city to the desert of Route Herald and then continued to
ride for another ten hours.
…I'm sick of seeing the desert… And sitting for so long is doing a number on my butt. And
my shoulders feel stiff because I can't move around much.
Most importantly, Rin wasn't with her. Alice was plagued by the anxiety of going on a
trip without an attendant and the boredom from a lack of conversation partner. They
were both emotions that Alice hadn't felt in so long that she'd almost forgotten what
they felt like.
"I guess it's been about ten years? The last time was when my mother took me out
with her on the locomotive."
They had been on a continental railway at night.
Her memories of traveling across the country by railway while accompanied by the
royal palace retainers came back to her. Alice had been riding on a railcar heading in
the direction of the burning lights in the neutral city. She still remembered when she
had been attacked by the group of roving beasts that kept that land as part of their
territory.
…I wonder what got into me back then.
…When I saw those gigantic beasts for the first time, I guess I must have been frightened.
Her body had frozen in place. Even with her astral powers, Alice still hadn't had full
mastery over them as a young girl, scampering away in fear at the back of the train
when faced with the group of beasts.
"I remember that happened…"
It was similar to this situation. The only difference was that present-day Alice wouldn't
be frightened if she encountered a basilisk. Of course, she would prefer to avoid the
nest of a beast if possible.
"Watch out!" the driver yelled.
The bus driver suddenly hit the brakes, jerking to a stop from chugging up a sand dune.
It dug up a mound of sand as it screeched to a halt. Even Alice felt herself almost
launched out of her seat from the recoil.
"Wh-what is going on…? That could have been dangerous."
It seemed like some passengers had hit their bodies on impact. The inside of the bus
became slightly panicked.
"W-we sincerely apologize… Uh, um…"
"We have found prints ahead of us," muttered the operator, causing the passengers to
stir.
Ahead of the bus were curious tracks appearing along the gentle slope of sand. There
were traces that something gigantic had been crossing the desert.
"Hmm? That's…!" Alice stood up from her seat, sprinting over to the back door of the
bus and manually forcing the door open.
"M-miss?! It's dangerous out there! You can't go outside—"
She broke through the cabin crew as they tried to restrain her. She was on top of the
hot sand. Grains of grit whipped around her. Just one step outside made her start
sweating immediately. The scorching winds buffeted her. Alice started dashing down
thedune,followingthetracksonthesand.
They were footprints, traces of something much larger than a human lurking in the
desert.
…A basilisk? But we're far away from any nests… Plus, would it leave clear footprints?
The traces were bipedal. A basilisk slithered over the sand to travel with its peculiar
movements, making prints like someone skating on ice.
What did that mean when it came to these footprints?
An elephant or rhinoceros must have left these heavy tracks while walloping and
swaying over the ground.
"Is it bigger than a basilisk?"
She felt chills run down her spine. The basilisk should have been the king of this
desert's ecosystem. If that was the case, what had created these huge footprints?
"…" Alice noticed the black splotches in and between the tracks.
Is this… blood? When she approached it, her nose was tickled by a faint odor. It wasn't
blood. The malodor that lingered in her nostrils and polluted lungs was—
"Machine oil?"
It brought back memories of her battles with the Imperial soldiers. Even the Imperial
bases that Alice had targeted were always permeated with a similar smell.
"…And it's headed toward…"
The footprints went off to the east, continuing toward the independent state of
Alsamira. Based on the pristine condition of the tracks, it hadn't been long since it had
passed through.
"I was hoping this would be a good opportunity to talk to my sister, but prospects are
looking bleak…"
The wind blowing through the dune swept up her golden hair like so many silk threads.
She held it down to keep it out of her eyes.
"I hope I can reach it today." Alice shook her head slightly.
Within the suburbs of Alsamira was the residential district, neatly lined with wealthy
villas—far from the pools, campgrounds, and shopping areas around the hotels.
It was quiet there.
Past its outstretched roads were desert paths that led to the horizon.
"Hey… Iska, are we at the hotel yet? I'm so tired. I can't walk anymore," Mismis
complained.
"It's just ahead."
"We could have stayed another night at the other hotel…"
The captain stalked forward while Nene and Iska held her hands.
"I can't believe you'd change our hotel. You're so cautious, Iska."
"I'm just trying to save on our budget. Hotels near the shopping streets are all pricey.
This hotel has comparable reviews as the one from yesterday, but it's way cheaper."
"I remember informing you before we left," Jhin reminded, walking behind everyone
with hands full of Captain Mismis's swimming ring and other miscellaneous luggage.
They had been causing a ruckus since the barbecue that morning.
After that, they had swum in the same pool as the day before. They were finally on
their way back home. But at Iska's suggestion, they had changed hotels.
He had done it on the pretext of the residential district hotels being cheaper.
…But Captain Mismis is right for once… I'm changing hotels because I am cautious.
The night before, Sisbell had visited him. The incident had blown over quietly, but
when he thought about what would have happened if it had been an attack by the
tlitthidhii
It wasn't just that he would be in danger. His friends would be involved, too.
…I chose the hotel arbitrarily… I just called in to book it. She shouldn't be able to figure
it out.
No one was trailing them, either.
Until he had come here, Iska had always kept a watchful eye on his surroundings. He
was sure that there weren't any Sovereign assassins dressed as normal people.
"Ah, I'm blessed," Mismis said, seemingly to herself. "It's been a while since I had so
much fun," quietly admitted the captain with blue hair. "Nights can suck on normal
holidays… I end up thinking about heading off to the battlefield when morning comes.
But right now, I'm excited about our fun schedule tomorrow. Just thinking about it
makes me feel happy."
"I'm glad you want to have fun, but make sure you've got enough energy left to walk
on your own two legs."
"Fiiine." Captain Mismis smiled innocently as she gripped Iska's and Nene's arms.
That was when Nene suddenly stopped in a fluster, yanking on the captain's left arm.
"Oh, wait. Stop for a sec, Captain."
"What?"
"It's come off."
A faint green light illuminated through her thin shirt. The radiant light was coming
from Mismis's left shoulder.
"Oh! I-I'm so sorry, Nene! I didn't notice…"
"It's fine. The end of the bandage just curled up. I think it must have happened while
you were swimming in the pool."
She flipped up Mismis's sleeve and reapplied the bandage. In that time, Mismis's smile
had faded.
"R-right… I shouldn't be out having fun. I need to figure out a way to hide this mark."
"You'll be no help. You might as well have fun."
"Jhin! You meanie!"
"Iska, Nene, and I couldn't figure anything out. It'd be better if we clear our heads for
a while and then start thinking up ideas from scratch. We still have that sixty-day
extension."
The sun was setting. The sniper watched the horizon steeped in crimson and suddenly
narrowed his eyes.
"Well, if you're worried about it, boss, let's go to a general market tomorrow."
"A general market? Like the one happening in the back of the roads?"
"This is an independent state. Because it's not the Empire or the Sovereignty, they can
import stuff from either side. It's basically a black market."
There were Imperial guns and bullets and Sovereign fibers woven with special metals
and worn by the astral corps. The source country was unknown and unofficial. Of
course, prices were high due to the exclusivity of the goods sold.
"The general rule of the market is that the early birds are the winners. If we're going
to get anything, we need to be there first thing in the morning."
"Jhin, are you saying we're going to get… that? Um, that thing from back when the
captain was taken hostage at the vortex…?" Nene asked.
"Yeah, the bandage on the former commander Shanorotte."
"Did this surprise you?"
"Y-you're a witch?! O-ow!"
"That's right. I'm what you call a witch."
The former commander Shanorotte had disguised herself as part of the Imperial Army.
She had ripped off the bandage—which hid her astral crest and energy. The stuff on
Captain Mismis's shoulder was just medical tape, which meant it didn't block her
powers, though the mark was unseen to the eye.
"When it comes to researching astral power, they've progressed more than the
Empire—according to the former commander Shanorotte."
The Sovereignty had developed a special textile that could block astral energy. That
didn't exist within Imperial territories.
"It's fine if all we can get is a knockoff. We'll get our hands on the stuff that was
developed in the Sovereignty—even if it's just the instruction manual."
"Of course, Jhin! This makes me happy. You have the biggest potty mouth, but you can
be so reliable when things get rough!"
"Get off me. It's already sweltering."
"What happened to your nice side?! Hey!"
Jhin nimbly sidestepped the captain as she tried to embrace him.
"…Hey. A girl is offering to give you a hug! You're so antisocial."
"Captain, I can see the place where we're staying."
Patting her small back, Iska pointed at the hotel along the road. Compared to the
luxury hotels, it didn't look as nice, but the reviews weren't bad.
Most importantly, this hotel was owned by the Empire. Anyone related to the Nebulis
Sovereignty would think twice about trying to break into it.
"Captain, Jhin, pick up the pace!" encouraged Nene.
They were at the automatic door, which was basked in blinding light. As they all turned
to look back at Iska in the lobby, he gripped his Imperial weapon. This was outside of
Imperial domain. Unless one had the common worldwide currency, it wouldn't be
possible to pay for their stay.
"It'd be bad if the money exchange closed. I'm going to go there right now."
"Okay. But come back soon, Iska. We're heading straight to dinner after this."
"Got it." Holding his money, he hurried outside.
It was evening. The sun was already more than halfway below the desert horizon.
"Let's see—"
He left the other three and headed out of the hotel. He had pretended to go inside the
hotel and immediately ran back over to the road outside.
…I'll make them think I went into the hotel and tail them.
…We'll run into each other here.
He had purposefully chosen a hotel in the quiet residential district because there
weren't as many passersby. If anyone was walking along the sidewalks, they would
catch his eye. But he didn't see anyone suspicious.
"…Guess she's not here."
Sisbell had invaded his room with expertise, somehow managing to obtain Iska's hotel
room number and a spare key from the hotel manager. He suspected the same might
happen again that day… or the astral corps might pay him a visit in his room and—
Although he was hypervigilant, he didn't see anyone who caught his eye on the large
street in front of the hotel.
"I knew she wouldn't come this far."
"Who?" A sweet voice giggled.
Impossible! Iska whipped around toward the hotel entrance. The glass automatic
doors had parted to reveal a blond girl walking coolly out of the lobby.
Iska felt cold rather than surprise.
"Good evening, Iska. Were you looking for me?"
"…Did you use some kind of trick?"
It was unbelievable.
How had she come for him before he had even gotten to the hotel?
"I said I would redo things. I don't intend on giving up."
Her innocent smile immediately settled on a serious expression.
Sisbell was wearing a different dress, elegantly lifting the hem of her skirt once she
was out the door.
"We're in the public eye. If we're seen together, it would spell bad news for both of us.
Would you be open to changing locations?"
"I agree. But where?"
The day was growing dark already. It was too dim to talk at a corner of the building.
And there could be witnesses. But the restaurants were busy with guests having
dinner.
"Over there. You can see a large building on the horizon."
Sisbell was pointing in the direction of the shopping zone. Facing the desert was a big
plot. He could see the shadow of a gigantic establishment that looked like a factory.
"That's…"
"A crude-oil mining facility. They open holes deep in the desert bed with drills to
extract oil. According to rumors, the Empire has its eyes on its wealth of energy."
"You sure know a lot."
"That's because it's part of my duties here. Oh, I can't tell you any more details." The
girl winked mischievously.
"Looks like we'll need to walk awhile."
"That's a good thing. We know there won't be as many people."
"…Okay. But let me tell my friends. I need to let them know it'll take a while for me to
get back."
"Be my guest."
He called Captain Mismis. Sisbell observed him for the duration of their call before
pointing toward the desert.
"Then let us go."
She started walking, her hair trailing after her in the cool wind.
The oil extraction facility had to be a twenty-minute walk on foot. Until they reached
the outskirts of its plot, the blond girl was entirely silent.
And the night wore on.
The entrance warned them against trespassing. They passed by the sign, venturing
farther into the plot.
"I think that we're far enough. It's empty at night, just like I thought."
Sisbell turned around.
Iska needed clarification on the shocking secret to her tricks.
"…From your astral power, huh?"
"What do you mean?"
"I only decided to change hotels today, but you were waiting there ahead of time."
He had been thinking about it all the way here, though he couldn't pinpoint her exact
skills.
"I was wondering about the spell you used."
"A spell? I didn't realize you were a jokester. Or do you think I'm a scary witch?" She
gracefully placed her hands over her chest and looked up at him.
She had called herself a "witch."
"As you've guessed, it's related to my astral power."
The blond girl fiddled with the button at the front of her dress. She used her other
hand to open it before moving down to another button.
Under the sunset, she started to expose her chest. This scene could have been a
painting.
"Um! What're you…?"
"Don't fret. It isn't for nothing."
Under her collarbone was the faint glow of an astral crest that shone out of the gaps
of the fabric.
"My astral power has the ability to reproduce the past, like a projector."
"Like footage?"
"I reproduced it all from this afternoon—when you called this hotel, when you recited
the room number, when you talked about what time you wanted to check in. I can
reproduce everything in front of my eyes. That's how I learned about those things."
"…I never knew there was…," Iska trailed off.
It was the first time Iska had heard of it, but she certainly wouldn't have been able to
get to the hotel ahead of him without something to that extent.
Sisbell spoke about it with nonchalance, but it had to have interfered with time and
space. Even among the many types of astral powers, it was a particularly rare one.
…It doesn't even compare to being tailed. This is diabolical. Nothing would be better for
gathering intelligence.
If this witch snuck into the capital, she would strip down all manner of secret
information, including intel from the organization headquarters, votes in the Imperial
Senate, and profiles of all the Saint Disciples and Eight Great Apostles.
"Yesterday, I told you one lie—about my identity."
"Did you lie about your name being Sisbell? Or that you're an attendant of the royal
family?"
"It's the latter. I'm—"
Her buttons remained open. She placed a hand on her radiant crest.
"I am Sisbell Lou Nebulis IX, a candidate to be the next queen."
"What?!"
"Although I don't have any proof to show you on this trip."
"…"
"Do you find it impossible to believe?"
"…The opposite." Iska shook his head, smiling painfully. His intuition hadn't been
wrong—not when it came to the identity of this girl, who resembled the Ice Calamity
Witch Aliceliese.
…A daughter of the queen. Like Alice… which means she's Alice's sister!
In that case, he could accept her powers. She was one of the Founder's descendants,
one of the mages they called purebreds.
"I'll believe you're telling the truth. That's why I was so surprised… But are you sure
about this? I am an Imperial soldier, after all."
"I want to bring an Imperial soldier on my side. That's why I used my trump card for
this."
Princess Sisbell's lips were trembling slightly. She didn't know when the Imperial
soldier might change his mind and attack her with the knowledge that she was royalty.
"I have no allies, even though I am a princess."
"…" He tried to guess what that meant. "Is it because everyone is scared of your astral
power?"
"Well, they consider me a nuisance. I can't reveal particulars, but our queen is being
targeted… by one of the Founder's descendants."
"Huh?"
"Do you think that will lead to the self-destruction of the Sovereignty? The individual
isn't attempting to steal the Sovereignty. They are seeking to do something even more
catastrophic—the collapse and decline of the world itself. Once they have taken the
queen's life, I am willing to bet they will strike the Empire."
"…Isn't that the same as suicide? Why would they do that?"
"To eliminate anyone who could get in their way within the Sovereignty. I believe they
will try to involve all the powerful members of the royal family in the war to wipe out
everyone."
But they could not hide that plot from Sisbell Lou Nebulis IX. Her astral powers could
see through all plans.
"Which means you're being targeted, too? By the traitors trying to kill the queen?"
Princess Sisbell had no answer to offer. Her large eyes were full of fear.
"Just as I keep an eye on the traitor, they are observing me, too. I still don't know who
is part of this scheme…"
Because of that, she couldn't rely on anyone in the Sovereignty. That was because she
couldn't know if they were traitors.
"My powers are useless in battle… If you were to point a gun at me, my life would be
over." She smiled in self-derision.
Her sweet face crumpled as the purebred bit her lip.
"Iska, I want you!" she yelled, which echoed pitifully through the desolate establishment.
"I am already prepared to welcome you, your family, and your unit as state guests. I
will guarantee absolute safety. All you need to do is stay by my side. I want you to
protect my life!"
"—"
"If the queen falls at the hands of the monster, the country will become its puppet. It
will break out into total war with the Empire. If that happens, those you hold dear
might perish," predicted the witch who could see into the past.
A full-blown war between the Empire and Nebulis Sovereignty wasn't far off. None of
that seemed insincere to his ears.
"Iska, do you seek destruction? One of the two countries will annihilate the other, and
the victor will lose its power and entirely decline. Is that the future you want?"
"…No."
"I want you to help me change it." Her cheeks must have been flushed from passion.
The princess of the Nebulis Sovereignty stepped forward.
"I won't ask you to betray the Empire. Three years… Even two would do just fine. You
only need to be my guard until I become the next queen. After that, you may go back
to the Empire or live in the Sovereignty. You could even escape the war and live in a
neutral city."
"…I didn't expect this proposal. I feel like you're almost wasting this on me, honestly."
"Do you understand the situation?"
She took his response to be positive. The princess from the enemy nation seemed
relieved as she offered her right hand.
"Then, Iska, I ask that you be my guard starting today."
"—"
"Iska?"
"It is an unprecedented proposal, but I can't take your offer."
"What?" She gaped at him, unable to wrap her head around what was happening.
Sisbell's eyes scanned him from the top of his head down to his toes. "I—I must have
misheard."
"I have my reasons. I'm not fighting as an Imperial soldier for nothing."
"I can't. I can't stand on the Sovereignty's side."
"…And why would that be?"
And that was it.
This must have been the fate of this planet all along.
It was destiny for the Sovereign princess to make proposals and for him to turn them
down. It was fate that their paths never converged.
"You were the one who said it. Do I want two countries to be annihilated? Of course
not."
"Th-then why won't you join me?! At this rate, the Sovereignty will become a puppet
nation, and we won't be able to avoid the two nations from going to war! To avoid this,
we need to—"
"That's where we differ."
"What?"
"I hope to end the strife between the two nations."
"How… how?"
"By negotiating for peace."
"That's impossible! There's no way that could ever happen!" she refused, enraged.
"Even if I was to become queen, that is something that would never materialize. I
believe our people… would never forgive the Empire."
"I realize that."
…I know… I've already heard that from Alice.
But had Iska faltered with this knowledge? No.
A full-blown war might be upon them.
Bring it on. That meant it was time to stop the battle before it broke out. That was Iska's
goal, and that was what separated his ideals from Alice's and Sisbell's motives.
"That's why I can't be your follower."
"…But…" The blond girl staggered. Just as she seemed as though she was about to
stumble to her knees, she leaned against a streetlight and desperately stopped herself.
She had been worn down. "—Uh… ugh…"
Her delicate shoulders quivered. A faint sob escaped from her. She ground her teeth,
trying to bear through it, but it overflowed from between her gritted teeth.
"...So… I really have no allies...," she mumbled, as though she was coughing up
blood.
"That's too bad. I am disappointed, Sisbell."
The reply seemed to come from nowhere in particular. Someone was behind them.
"A young girl's tears spilling in the cold night. How poetic. It could be a painting. Or is
that a part of your act to gain sympathy from an Imperial soldier?"
A man in black wearing a mask appeared under the streetlight… followed by an armed
group of four. They were wearing pilot suits made from hides that looked out of place
in a resort, and their faces were concealed by helmets.
"Well, Sisbell. It seems that you're giving your best to find new recruits."
"Lord Mask?!" Sisbell's voice cracked. "Wh-why are you here…?"
"Just on a holiday. I wanted to forget all about what's happening in the country. There
shouldn't be anything strange about that." The masked man dramatically shook his
head.
Iska wordlessly backed away. He had seen this man before. This was not a man who
was easy to deal with.
…This is the guy who restrained Captain Mismis!… This is an independent state—not the
Sovereignty or a battlefield. Why is he here?
Iska had fought against Kissing the purebred, but he had remembered the uncanniness
of this man, who commanded her and whose nature he didn't know.
"You're the one who's strange, Sisbell." He pointed at her.
She started to tremble.
"I wonder who this boy standing next to you could be."
"This… is…"
"There's no need to lie. I encountered this Imperial swordsman during the incident
with the vortex. Though we were both unsatisfied with the outcome. Heh-heh," he
chuckled from beneath his mask.
"Luck is on my side. I never would have known he was an Imperial soldier if I hadn't
been involved with the incident in Mudor Canyon. And it is already too late. I have
proof of your conversation."
The masked man made a show of holding a recorder out in front of him before tucking
it away in the breast pocket of his suit.
"This will devastate the queen. To think her own daughter had ties to the Empire."
"Wait, Lord Mask! I'm not colluding with the enemy. If anything, it is the opposite. I'm
trying to save the country from traitors by—"
"You're the traitor," he calmly interrupted.
"…Ugh." She gaped at him. "I see what you're trying to do…"
Her voice was cold. With wild rage in her eyes that was unfamiliar to Iska, the girl
glared at the masked man and his subordinates.
"To the Zoa family, the truth is not important. You want fragments of the conversation
that you can spin to support your narrative. Your goal is to deceive the queen."
"You are free to think what you like. It's already too late."
"…Who told you where I would be?"
"I will say this again, but I was just visiting the resort. Unfortunately for you, Sisbell, I
must take you in on suspicions of consorting with the enemy."
All four of his subordinates stood ready at once.
Before Iska could say anything, the blond girl turned her back on them, sprinting for
her life into the oil extraction facility along the dim night road.
"You're running? I should have expected that from the queen's daughter. I thought you
would obediently let yourself be captured, but it seems you plan to struggle to the end.
Chasing you in the darkness of night will be a task."
"…So you're Lord Mask."
Chasing after Sisbell from the corner of his eye, Iska turned to face the man.
"Aren't you supposed to be in this together? You're both part of the royal palace, right?"
"If you're asking about our relationship, then there is only one answer: Yeah, right."
Stifled resentment flooded out of the mask.
"The Sovereignty is not a monolith. You must have experienced that firsthand. That
girl schemed to make an Imperial soldier into her underling, of all things. That is a
serious crime."
"…You don't want to know why she reached out to me?"
Princess Sisbell had confided in Iska that she had no allies. Though he couldn't accept
her proposal because of his position, even Iska had seen his decision had left her in
distress. The girl was risking her own life to protect the country.
…She's just like Alice… We're enemies and incompatible with each other, but I understand
where she's coming from.
"Isn't she part of the royal family? Don't you feel like there's something up if she has a
reason to ask for help from an Imperial soldier?"
"I'm sick of this conversation." Lord Mask sighed. "I don't care about her reasons. We're
talking about the fight for the throne. She committed treason. She tried to bring in an
Imperial soldier to the fight. There is no reason for me to ask why she cheated. Breaking
the rules is a crime."
"In that case—"
"Making a commotion in the middle of the night is a crime, too. Don't make me file a
noise complaint."
An intense ray of light shone in on them. One of the facility lamps had been turned on
and lit the grounds as brightly as midday.
"Jhin?!"
"Jeez. I heard you were running late, and I was wondering what you were up to. I can't
believe you've gotten yourself mixed up with the wrong crowd. See, boss? This isn't
the right time to take our time choosing a barbecue place."
"Did you really have to bring that up now?!"
Jhin and Captain Mismis had appeared from the shadows of the extractor machine.
Nene jumped out after them, carefully clutching Iska's astral swords.
"Uh, it's that guy from back then… He's the sorcerer who kicked me!"
"If it isn't my dear hostage. I thought I'd pushed you into the vortex, but it seems you've
made it back alive. Wonderful. I believe you've been in good health?"
The two had a deep connection. Singled out by Mismis, Lord Mask shrugged as though
he was amused.
"Hmm, I see. In other words, Sisbell wasn't just seeking a single pawn. She was trying
to recruit an entire unit."
"Stop spouting nonsense."
The silver-haired sniper set his eyes on the four grunts, who did not so much as
tremble. The man Sisbell had called "Lord Mask" had to be a purebred. In that case,
that made them his accompanying guards.
"Don't get the wrong idea," warned Lord Mask. "Though you seek a battle, we do not."
"…What was that?"
"We came here to retrieve our kindred. We have no desire to play with fire in Alsamira."
He had the conversation between Princess Sisbell and an Imperial swordsman
recorded on a device, though they didn't know what Lord Mask aimed to use it for.
…What should I do? I need to make a call right here.
…We don't have a reason to fight for Sisbell as her shields.
That applied to Captain Mismis, Jhin, and Nene in particular.
Lord Mask could scheme all he wanted. This was an internal conflict of interest within
an enemy nation. It required no intervention from the Imperial unit.
"Looks like you got the picture. Let's focus on capturing Princess Sisbell. Make sure
you play nice. Though she is a traitor, it would be annoying if we had to face public
backlash for injuring a princess."
The masked man snapped his fingers. The ones who answered his call were not the
four men behind him—but something entirely outside their expectations.
Iska and the rest of Unit 907 and even the elites of the Nebulis Sovereignty who Lord
Mask led were taken aback by the intruder's abrupt entry.
"…What is that?"
Pushing past mounds of desert sand, a gigantic object dropped from the sky, tearing
through the curtain of night.
The thing had crashed onto the ground, making the earth rumble.
…It was a heavily armored machine, pitch-black.
The giant was shaped like a human, one that had built muscle on top of muscle. It had
to be about ten feet tall, covered in multiple layers of armored plates. It hummed with
the energy of a large truck.
It held an enormous, reinforced sword in its right hand. Its left hand sported a riot
shield. It looked almost exactly like a knight. Its grave appearance even made Lord
Mask leap back out of caution.
"Is that an Object? One of the extermination machines?!" Nene yelled through the dust
cloud.
"No way… I've never heard of one of these being deployed outside the Empire."
"Astral energy detected," announced a mechanical voice.
Its large frame swiveled, looking at the people gathered at the oil drilling facility,
appraising them. Its gaze landed on Lord Mask and his subordinates.
"Astral power in one, two, three, four, five…"
Finally, the machine turned to Mismis.
"Six. Tally complete. Initiating pursuit of target 'Purebred 9LC' for prioritized restraint."
"…No!" Nene's shriek was in vain.
The armored machine leaped high into the air, making a beeline for the interior of the
oil drilling facility. It was headed toward where Princess Sisbell had run to hide.
"Iska, we need to go after that machine! We can't let it get away! We need to destroy
it!" Nene yelled.
"But isn't that an Imperial weapon?"
…The Object. I'm pretty sure that was the name of the unmanned robot display model…
An anti–astral power weapon.
It was supposed to be their ally. As a top-class engineer, Nene would know the most
about it. Then why was she acting this way?
"It got data on the captain."
"…I see!"
"What? Uh. D-did I do something wrong?" Mismis asked.
"You can keep quiet and feign ignorance, boss. Iska and Nene, go after that huge thing!"
yelled Jhin, piercing through the night.
Propelled by his energy, Iska and Nene didn't miss a beat as they both launched off the
ground at the same time.
…The robot counted Captain Mismis as the sixth member with astral power… If it gets
back to the Empire, then we're over. Headquarters will know the captain turned into a
witch!
That was why they needed to stop it.
"What's going on? You're destroying it?… Are you planning on pinning the blame on us
?!" Lord Mask barked in a cold rage. He must have realized what the Imperial unit was
scheming. "You four! Capture Princess Sisbell and evacuate!"
"We're not going to let you do that."
A gunshot pierced through the darkness. A bullet tore through the air right in front of
the eyes of the astral mages as they were about to start their pursuit.
"Hurry up and go. Nene, don't lag behind."
"Leave it to me!"
Nene sped up. She was right behind Iska. They could still make it in time. They followed
the Object going after Sisbell.
The dust started to settle.
The two Imperial soldiers and five astral mages remained in the hushed area.
"You're getting on my nerves." The man tapped the front of his mask with an extended
finger. "We had no intention of escalating things. Our goal was to take home one of our
fellow mages. Why would an Imperial soldier protect her?"
"You've got the wrong idea."
"Hmm?"
"You're clever, but you only think in circles."
The silver-haired sniper moved forward in place of Mismis. Lord Mask hadn't noticed
the silent rage in the calm voice of the Imperial soldier.
"It was you—the one who dropped the boss into the vortex," Jhin said.
"…"
"There's your reason."
Though only the two of them would be challenging the five elites, including a purebred,
Jhin did not have second thoughts about his will to fight or his self-confidence.
"That's why I want to give you a good beating."
When the Object was in flight, it emitted a white trail of light and vapor in the air.
…The Object is a generic model name… I know that it's supposed to be a witch-hunting
machinated soldier made by the Imperial research institute.
It was an executioner—one that would detect astral energy and pursue witches. The
main issue of concern was the way this one operated.
They didn't know whether it was the mass-produced variety from the Omen Institute
for Astral Research or a custom-made model from the first generation. It could have
been an "unofficial" model that hadn't been announced to the public.
"But they don't have parts that allow them to fly. I haven't even heard of something
that can make the propulsion required for this big machine to fly through the air," Nene
said.
"…So it's a newer model?"
"I'm not sure. I think that it's a model of the Object, though."
They headed to where the trail of light continued.
Iska kept running through the facility grounds with Nene. The trail of light was slowly
making a descent. It had probably found its target.
Sisbell the Witch.
"Anyway, Iska, we can't let that robot get back to the capital!" Nene shouted between
pants. "Captain Mismis was counted as a witch. If headquarters sees that data, they'll
find out that the captain has astral power!"
"I know that. We can stop that happening by destroying it, right?"
But they couldn't just destroy it. The Object was after the purebred Sisbell. Headquarters
would see this as an attempt by Sisbell and her guards.
…In the end, it'll mean I need to save Sisbell… But this is going to be the last time!
He couldn't extend his hand to a princess of an enemy country… because the
descendants of the Founder were the very people Iska needed to capture to realize his
wish for peace.
"Are you trying to say that you desire peace? That's impossible."
"That's why I thought about catching a direct descendant from Nebulis's bloodline."
In the history of the century-long war, the Imperial Army had never once captured a
purebred.
That was what he had been told. Iska believed it. That was exactly why he needed to
be the one to do it.
And he never would have guessed…
"My name is Sisbell. I am honored you remember me.
"I am Sisbell Lou Nebulis IX, a candidate to be the next queen."
How had this happened? What an inexplicable turn of fate. He never would have
guessed that he had let a purebred he was meant to capture escape with his very own
hands.
…And it's the same now… When she's right in front of me, I'm choosing to save her instead
of capturing her.
He was saving Captain Mismis. He was going to destroy the Object.
He didn't have the time to restrain a purebred.
"This has got me beat…" He couldn't help but bark in laughter, even during this serious
scene. "I was sure I was putting everything on the line, but things have gone off the
rails. An ironic twist of fate."
"Iska?"
"…Let's hurry, Nene. We can't let the Object get away."
He gritted his back teeth as he catapulted off the ground and pursued the trail of light.
NO TRESPASSING.
She jumped over a handrail with the sign. Looking up at the towering oil drills, she
went deeper and deeper into the grounds. Sisbell ran without a destination in mind.
"…Uh… ha… ah…!"
Where was she headed?
She was out of breath and sweating.
But where would she hide?
She knew she would be captured. Even if she waited through the night, concealing
herself in the shadow of the oil drills, Lord Mask's subordinates would find her in the
morning.
Even if she ran to the Sovereignty without being caught, her conversation with an
Imperial soldier had been recorded.
There was no point to it anymore.
She'd be damned if she did and damned if she didn't.
"Uh… ha, ah… uh… guh!"
This was the end.
She would be imprisoned as a traitor. That meant anyone who could have battled against
"that monster" in the royal family would be gone. They would go after her mother's
life. Their government would be destroyed, and the Nebulis Sovereignty would be led
to ruin.
ThldbhditdlltitthEiThldti
battling until this planet was destroyed and then, finally, no one would be left.
Why am I still running…?
Her vision was blurring from the tears building up in her eyes.
Her heels weren't suited to running. They were close to falling right off her feet. She
was wheezing. Her sides had started to hurt.
But then why?
"…Don't you dare underestimate me!"
She was obstinate.
Even if she was blamed for a crime when she was innocent, even if they tried to confine
her, Princess Sisbell still had a job to do… to figure out who the traitor was.
"Lord Mask! Who told you about me?!"
Sisbell never officially announced where she would be going. Even within the palace,
only a small handful of people knew this classified information. Her keeper, Shuvalts,
had been by her side, where he could keep an eye on her. Her mother was out of the
question. Because of that, the only suspects were her older sisters, Elletear and
Aliceliese. It must have been one of them.
…If I can just get back to the palace, I can check with Illumination… and find out who
contacted Lord Mask.
Even if she had to crawl through the desert, she would survive out of pure spite and
get back to the palace. She could be captured after that. If she could just tell her
mother, she might be able to protect the queen's life… which meant the Sovereignty by
extension.
"Protecting the country… is the duty of a princess!"
She would not yield.
She could be stubborn. Even if her mother and the retainers found her suspicious,
until she completely fulfilled her responsibilities as a princess—
"Prioritized target for restraint: 'Purebred 9LC' has been secured."
…
…Huh?
"Purebred 9LC." Sisbell realized that it meant her. A cold, mechanical voice and a
gigantic shadow dropped down from the sky… right before her eyes.
"An Object?! A mechanized Imperial soldier… I hope they didn't… pass along my
information to the Empire!"
It wasn't just Lord Mask. The traitor had even told the Empire that Sisbell would be
visiting this country.
"Gah!"
She didn't hesitate for a moment to change course. She turned her back on the machine
that stood in her way and ran for it.
"Skree."
She heard an unpleasant sound. There was something creaking between her feet.
Immediately, Sisbell's right leg lost mobility. A sharp pain ran through her body from
her left calf, making her lower body convulse.
"Suppression bullet fired."
She tumbled over from the impact. She couldn't do anything as she hit the hard
ground. She prepared herself—
"Right in the nick of time."
What? Sisbell had just been about to collide with the ground. But now she was being
held up by someone.
"Iska, it's shifted into auto-elimination mode. Be careful!"
"I know."
The Imperial swordsman prepared his black and white swords. He positioned himself
as though to shield Sisbell, who was immediately behind him.
"I guess I can't say I'm only doing this once. This is the second time, after all."
The former Saint Disciple Iska.
The swordsman who had broken her out of prison one year ago turned around with a
complicated smile on his face.
"I wonder why our fates are so connected."