Chapter 302: Chapter 266: Skip (1)

Going back in time for a bit…

Due to the nature of their job, the servants from Elfante were used to dealing with all kinds of people.

From royalties, members of different species, to even beings from another dimension. After all, Elfante was like a treasure trove of those kinds of mysteries and unknowns.

However…

Even those servants couldn’t just deal with this particular scene as if they were ‘familiar’ with it.

Then again…

Anyone would feel the same way if they were to see a giant machine and the Devil’s Vessels sitting around for a tea.

“…”

“…”

An awkward silence filled the space.

Professor Astrid had made it known that she wasn’t fond of the Vessels, while Dowd had done the same exact thing to the giant. And so, it was hard for the Vessels to decide how to behave themselves around her.

In the end, the only thing they could do was to just shut their mouth while reading the room.

“Everyone.”

Suddenly, a synthesized machine voice broke the ongoing silence.

“I’m going to show you something for just three seconds. Watch carefully.”

The tip of the giant’s finger that she slightly raised opened slightly. From it, some kind of image was projected into the air. If Dowd were to see this, he’d probably recognize it as a hologram.

Although, if he was really there, he’d be dealing with a massive headache upon seeing what she did with such an advanced technology.

“This is Dowd’s picture from when he was a baby.”

Following her words, a picture of baby Dowd, who was sleeping soundly, popped up above the round table everyone was sitting around.

She did this so suddenly, but everyone gave out quite a dramatic reaction.

“…”

“…”

“…”

While they kept their mouths shut, their piercing gazes would suffocate anyone who laid their eyes upon them.

If a gaze possessed some kind of physical force, sparks would probably have flown all over the room.

Their ‘observation’ was so intense, as if they were trying to burn this sight in their eyes for as long as possible.

“Alright, that’s it.”

“…Ah.”

As Professor Astrid stayed true to her words—only showing the picture for three seconds before closing it—one of the Vessels let out a disappointed sigh before asking…

“…Why only three seconds?”

The one who asked that was Faenol.

Compared to the others, she looked considerably more relaxed, probably because she had used her magic to ‘store’ the picture inside her brain as soon as she saw it.

…She really did all that…?

Meanwhile, Iliya—who had seen her doing exactly that from the side—threw a look of disbelief at her.

“Because I cherish this picture.”

“…”

“Just be grateful. Normally, I’d rather kill myself than showing this picture to others.”

“…Thank you, but if that’s the case, why did you show it to us?”

…At least they can still feel thankful in the midst of all this.

Iliya thought so while checking her surroundings with a displeased expression. Meanwhile, Professor Astrid continued.

“Because I figured I’d show you some evidence.”

“Evidence…?”

“Evidence for the fact that I have a lot of ‘information’ regarding that boy that you people don’t know.”

“…”

As if they started to understand where the conversation was going, each of the Vessel’s expressions changed.

Although, whatever it was that they had in their minds were completely overwritten by Professor Astrid’s next words.

“Look, I dislike you guys and you guys probably bear the same feelings toward me, so let’s just get this over with and only talk about ‘what we need to talk about’, got it?

“…By what we need to talk about…”

Eleanor, who had been sitting silently, said in a serious voice.

She was the one who threw the most piercing gaze at Dowd’s baby picture—it was as if she was about to eat it—but now, she was the one who seemed to be the most composed out of all the women.

“What exactly did you mean by that?”

“This time as well, that boy is thinking of doing everything by himself.”

“…”

But, the moment she heard those words, her brows immediately twitched.

“If you guys are smart enough, you should’ve noticed by now. A civil war is going to break out soon and Dowd seems to be trying to prevent that from happening. However…”

Professor Astrid continued while letting out a deep sigh.

“I believe there’s no need for him to go through the hard way when you guys can just accomplish the same thing easily.”

“…What do you mean?”

“All of you here can overthrow a whole country as long as you work together. Are you guys trying to tell me that with all that power you’re going to let Dowd struggle all by himself?”

“Right…”

Riru said while crossing her arms.

“Back when the Crimson Night or whatever incident happened, that punk actually tried to do everything by himself. And even after all that mess happened, he still hasn’t changed. That fool!”

“Yes, yes! The Chieftain’s daughter knows what’s up.”

Professor Astrid chirped to Riru’s words before looking around. Then she continued with a voice that sounded slightly mixed with laughter.

“That’s why, I want us to help that boy before he asks us to. Surely you guys can do that much?”

She paused before continuing again.

“Also, that bastard, Count Ravel or whoever, is trying to harm him.”

“…”

Hearing that, everyone’s expressions turned quite…’threatening’.

Riru rested her chin in her hand while snorting, Faenol held back a sharp smile, while Iliya crossed her legs as if finding the news ridiculous.

“…How foolishly brave of him.”

As Faenol said coldly, Professor Astrid continued…

“That’s to say, I have a suggestion; I will give anyone who helps out that boy the most, a present.”

“…By helping him, you mean…?”

“Take care of the cause so that the civil war won’t end up happening.:

Professor Astrid said with a smirk.

“That should be possible as long as ‘all’ of you step up, no?”

“…”

Her words made everyone lost in their thoughts.

It was because they didn’t know what her goal was of offering them such a suggestion.

However, their stances immediately changed the moment they heard what she said after that.

“All of you want to strip him down, no?”

Every one of them could swear…

That they definitely saw an illusion of ‘a cunning smile’ behind the machine giant’s expressionless face.

“…Although it is a little weird, I know that everyone here is dying to win the ‘race’.”

Iliya looked around with a bitter smile.

Actually, upon hearing those words, everyone tried to avoid Astrid’s gaze while showing an ‘embarrassed’ gesture.

Everyone, save for one person.

Eleanor, who was looking down pensively at the table.

…What’s wrong with her?

Iliya had thought that when it came to this kind of topic, this person would immediately explode the moment she heard it.

While saying ‘Dowd is mine’ and ‘Don’t even think of having an eye on him’

.

However, before Iliya continued having such thoughts, Astrid said something that even she couldn’t just ignore.

“You see, I might know of some sure ways that will ‘definitely work’ on him.”

“…”

They still couldn’t trust this person fully.

After all, they didn’t even know what she was trying to do.

However…

“…Hm.”

There was no doubt that…

The ‘bait’ she was throwing at them was way too attractive to pass on.

●

That was probably the root of everything.

The main reason why Siston—the person in charge of Ravel Comital’s military force—was experiencing the most disastrous night in his life.

In short…

Ravel Comital’s military force was currently collapsing because of an attack from a few female students.

“What did you say, Adjutant? Can you repeat that?”

“We’re fucked, Sir.”

“…”

Holding an important position in the count’s territory wasn’t easy.

For starters, one needed to always have a calm judgment that would never waver in front of their subordinates, intelligence that would never wane against all kinds of slander, and outstanding combat capabilities.

These three were the most fundamental things, but it was also important to have absolute dignity so that their subordinates wouldn’t stab them in the back.

That was why Siston looked extremely calm outwardly.

Even though inwardly, he just wanted to scream because of everything that had happened.

“Uh…”

He cleared his throat before continuing.

“Adjutant, tell me. Am I having a hallucination?”

“…”

But, even though he tried his best to act calm, his words clearly suggested that he wasn’t.

“…Would you please tell me first what it is that you’re looking at, Sir?”

Good, that’s the right answer.

Siston nodded before continuing.

“From what I can see, it seems like a dark-skinned woman is destroying all of our mounted division barehanded.”

“It’s exactly as you’ve described, Sir. You aren’t hallucinating.”

“…”

If anything, Siston would prefer it if his adjutant just straight up called him crazy.

Ravel Comital’s military had been pushing themselves to train day and night for the upcoming ‘revolt’ that would decide the fate of the country.

They had been simulating something that was as close as possible to a real battle. It was as if they would actually kill anyone who dared to interrupt their training.

And yet, their terrifying cavalry were being smashed by a woman who seemed to be around half their age.

The horses and the knights riding them combined should be unimaginably heavy, but they all flew into the air the moment they met every punch and kick she made. It was such a surreal scene.

“Wait, I don’t remember Count Ravel doing something that could earn him the grudge of such a powerful person. There must have been some kind of misunderstand—”

“Count Ravel, you bastard—! Come out—!”

“…”

Siston’s optimistic outlook was immediately crushed to pieces by the female warrior’s thunderous shout.

That was enough proof that she came here with a very clear purpose.

“…It doesn’t seem to be the case, Sir.”

“…”

I know already, you punk.

Siston barely managed to suppress the urge to slap the adjutant as he continued…

“I have one more question.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“The outer rampart seems to have been split into several cuts.”

Said outer rampart was made by a very famous architect, using only the best materials.

But everytime the two women outside the rampart swung their swords, everything was cut down like rotten old trees.

The defense facility that could even withstand a battering ram was being crushed to pieces by the swords of the two women—who seemed to be also less than half their age.

“…You surprised me, Yuria. It seems like you’ve gotten a little stronger.”

“Y-You too, Lady…”

Not only that, the two women nonchalantly continued their ‘work’ while talking to each other.

They made the rampart look more fragile than a sand castle…!!n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

As he thought so, the Adjutant next to him cut off his words heartlessly.

“Yes, Sir. You described the scene accurately, Sir..”

“…Hm.”

Siston stroked his chin a few times.

All while suppressing his urge to scream like a girl while holding his head before letting himself faint with foam in his mouth.

Although, he was struggling to even do that.

He couldn’t even care about his subordinates’ opinions if they were to see his trembling legs and point it out as he had no leniency to do that.

“…Alright, take out all of the Magic Tower equipment we have. We should be able to face them somehow if we were to use that.”

Though crazy stuff was going on everywhere, to the point that he was wondering if he was currently dreaming, they still had the equipment that the Magic Tower gave them.

If we were to deploy all of those, maybe—!

“Sir! Look at the sky!”

“…”

Fucking hell!

What is it again this time?

Siston turned his head around while stroking his chin, almost as if he was going to tear it apart. And what came into his view was…

The sky, which was ‘turning red’.

And a huge column of fire, the source of such a phenomenon.

“…What the fuck is that?!”

“Sir, you dropped your dignity in your speech.”

So what?!

Is that something I should care about in this kind of situation?!

He managed to not say those words out loud, thanks to him holding onto the last semblance of restraint he had, but he still couldn’t help but point at the sight while shouting with a completely reddened face.

“Is that…the Red Devil?! Is the Crimson Night Incident going to start again?! Wait, does that mean they brought a Devil’s Vessel here?!”

Siston’s eyes reddened.

“I don’t know who the fuck they are, but are they out of their mind?! We could turn the entire continent into their enemy if we were to spread a rumor that a Devil is involved—!”

“Sir, with all due respect.”

The adjutant called out to the furious Siston calmly.

“I believe they won’t need to deal with that kind of aftermath as long as they manage to destroy us completely right here.”

“…”

Is that how it’s gonna be?

Siston grounded his teeth while quickly flicking an abacus bead in his head.

“…Seek help from the other Upper Nobles Association forces nearby. They should be able to make it here in the nick of time!”

At the end of the day, the Upper Nobles Association still held one of the best military organizations on the continent. Actually, if they were to pull out their full force, they would probably be able to suppress this attack somehow.

Of course they wouldn’t just do that since they still had a whole civil war to fight next, but seeing that they were facing this kind of situation they might just—

“Sir! The hero is coming towards us! She’s holding the Holy Sword—!”

The moment he heard that, Siston immediately passed out.