Chapter 156 - The Luncheon and the King of Heilong (Part 1)
As the carriage approached, the castle gate opened.
A female knight disembarked. She must have recovered thanks to Aira's treatment.
Aira got out of the carriage as well.
"What about the other knights?"
"I gave them first aid,"
she replied. It seemed they weren't in a condition to move yet. At any rate, I was glad Aira was with us. Without her, we would have struggled against the goblins, and the knights might have died.
While this was happening, the carriage proceeded into the fortress. The remaining knight thanked us, offered a single gold coin, and then entered the castle herself. The gate closed behind her.
We had been magnificently turned away at the gate.
"Shall we head back…"
Aira nodded at my words. I was a little ticked off, so as proof that we'd come, I considered shooting our invitation into the castle attached to an arrow.
I was worried about Fam, so being able to get back to the city sooner was a good thing.
"Wait, that's not right!"
Cecily cried out, trying to stop us.
"You say that, but they're the ones who shut us out. Besides, how are we supposed to face the guards now with a straight face?"
It was awkward just standing in front of the gate. We looked like we were waiting around to complain that our escort fee was too low.
"I know, but…"
"We tried. A place like this isn't for me, anyway."
I shrugged.
"If you're okay with it, Mash, then I guess it's fine…"
"Well then, Aira-sama, please get on behind whichever of us you prefer."
At that, she surprisingly walked over to my horse. I offered her a hand and helped her up. Just then, the gate opened again.
A guard came running over.
"Could you be Lord Mash?"
"Indeed. And the one riding behind me is Lady Aira."
The guard bowed deeply to Aira. He took her hand and helped her dismount.
Cecily and I also got off our horses and led them by the reins through the castle gate. I handed the guard our invitation and the letter for the king from the priest of Heilong, which Maira had entrusted to me. Maira had gone to the temple early in the morning to have it written.
He accepted them respectfully and passed them to another guard waiting in reserve.
We were lent outfits for the luncheon.
They were more luxurious than the ones we'd been lent for the evening party in Flucht. There were so many pieces I didn't know how to wear them, and I had to have a castle servant help me get dressed.
Then, I went to the room where Cecily and the others were.
Only Cecily was in the room, having just finished getting dressed herself.
Her hair was piled high, and on top sat a decorative hat adorned with a feather ornament.
She wore a light blue dress with fine lace decorations, and the bodice was cinched tightly.
Her skirt was billowed out, probably supported by wires underneath.
"I won't be fooled by that chest!"
Cecily covered her impressively elevated bust.
"It's not like I asked for this!"
"…Well, whatever. Do a turn for me."
Though embarrassed, Cecily gave a little twirl. The hem of her skirt lifted gently and swayed.
"Yes. Very cute. You look like Marie Antoinette."
"Who's that? As for you, Mash… it doesn't suit you."
"Hmph. I am the state."
I completed a full turn and struck a pose, which made Cecily burst out laughing.
I knew how she felt. I was wearing white tights and a navy blue mantle that felt like a blanket. And a long, curly wig. It was so hot that sweat was beading on my forehead just from standing there.
I was equipped with a thin sword adorned with gold decorations. When I drew it, I saw it had a proper blade. I wanted to take it home as a souvenir for Fam or Mizuki.
"Where's Aira?"
"I don't know. I think she was taken to a different room?"
After a while, a castle servant came to call for us, and we followed his lead to Aira's location.
I offered my elbow, and Cecily placed her hand on my arm. We shared a smile and followed the attendant.
Aira was in a room off the side of the chapel.
She was wearing what looked like silver chainmail. Over it was a white surcoat. And to top it all off, she held a greatsword with jewels embedded in the pommel and crossguard. Though the surcoat lacked a cross emblem, she looked exactly like a Crusader knight.
She'd been made to wear an outfit completely different from ours.
Was this a costume party?
"Aira-sama, what's with that getup…?"
"They said Akizuki Uta wore it."
"That sword, too?"
Aira nodded. Uta was the hero from another world from a hundred years ago. She had called for a holy war, marched into the Demon Kingdom, and defeated the Demon Lord.
When she drew the sword, a silver blade was revealed. It wasn't reflecting light; it seemed to be emitting a light of its own. We had the sword she'd held in the church in Nielen, but this one was much larger.
"It looks absurdly powerful, but isn't it heavy?"
"The sword is a little heavy, but this chainmail is light,"
she answered. It must be made of some special metal.
"Hehehe, with this, I can win."
She smiled fearlessly and held the sword aloft.
"Who are you planning on winning against?"
She didn't answer my question, instead nodding in satisfaction before sheathing the sword.
A priestess who had been waiting beside her took the sword. She looked at Aira with deep emotion.
"It is the second coming of Lady Uta."
On the chapel wall was a fresco of a figure in the same attire as Aira, holding a sword high. The figure had short hair and an androgynous look. It was supposed to be a depiction of Uta, but I couldn't help but feel it resembled Mizuki.
"According to legend, Lady Uta and eight other heroes from another world visited this castle and declared a holy war to the King of Heilong. The holy war began from this very castle. When they left, their army numbered less than a hundred, but by the time they reached the Old Empire's capital, it had grown to over ten thousand."
At that time, the Old Empire hadn't been invaded by the Demon Kingdom, so they must have launched their campaign from there.
The priestess gazed at Aira and the fresco with a rapt expression. She seemed like she would get along well with Maira. I should have brought her.
"Was it eight people including Uta?"
"No, nine in total."
That was one short, but the other heroes must have been summoned by the Five Pillars of Genesis. Unlike me, who was despairing just trying to find Ko-kun, they had managed to gather together with no information at all. There must have been some way.
"Now then, everyone is waiting for you in the courtyard. Allow me to guide you."
The priestess began to walk, holding the sword horizontally against her chest.
Was it okay for us to carry weapons like this? I suppose it's the same as having them in storage, so maybe it was better to carry them openly.
The priestess led the way, with Aira following behind her, and Cecily and I walking side-by-side behind them. We formed a perfect triangle with Aira at the apex.
"Aira-sama, are the injured knights going to be okay?"
"They will be fine. They have been treated and are now resting,"
the priestess answered in Aira's stead.
"Can't we somehow get that equipment Aira is wearing?"
I whispered to Cecily.
"I don't know… Even if we did, wouldn't it be too flashy? She'd just become a target for the enemy, don't you think?"
It was true. Our gear was made of leather. We looked like commoners from the city. If I chose my own clothes, they would be plain and lacking in taste, but since Mizuki picked them out, they were decent enough. Still, she also stayed within the bounds of a common citizen.
The weapons Aidan made for us were high-performance but simply decorated. If Aira showed up in that gear, everyone would be asking, "And who are you?"
"That sounds kind of fun in its own way."
"Aira only wears what Maira wears, so she'll probably stop wearing it eventually."
"Is that so?"
I didn't know the reason, but was Aira trying to be more like Maira? Did she really need to share equipment, though? If that was the case, the only one who could wear that gear would be Mizuki. But then I wouldn't be able to see her panties, my one and only joy during battle. Even if a god wished for it, I would not.
Still, I had a feeling that the strength of our weapons didn't match the strength of the enemies we were fighting. Our weapons hadn't worked on the Earth Dragon King. We needed to upgrade our equipment.
"Her underwear too?"
"You've seen them, haven't you, Mash?"
Come to think of it, they were of a similar style but different. Probably because of the size difference. If I worked hard and helped Aira develop, would she start wearing the same ones? Thoughts of being with both sisters at once filled my head.
Right now I was wearing white tights, so if I continued these erotic fantasies, things would get difficult. I decided to stop.
The luncheon was being held in the courtyard.
The sunlight was harsh, so a huge sheet of canvas-like fabric had been set up to provide shade. The fabric swayed and rippled in the gentle breeze.
Underneath it, food was arranged on tables, and attendants were portioning it onto small plates according to the instructions of people dressed in aristocratic attire like ours. It seemed to be a buffet.
Some people were sitting on the stone edge of the central fountain, chatting amongst themselves.
Counting only those in noble attire, there were probably about twenty people in total.
The luncheon had already begun.
An attendant approached and handed us glasses of wine.
The priestess seemed to be accompanying us, still holding the sword. With both hands occupied, she couldn't drink or eat.
"Isn't that difficult?"
"Oh no, please don't mind me."
She replied cheerfully for some reason, but I couldn't help but be concerned. Was she planning on sticking with us without eating or drinking? That would be awkward.
"If you want to eat or drink, let me know. I'll take over then."
"I am not permitted to touch the food at this event."
The priestess said humbly. She was wearing finer vestments than what Maira and the others usually wore, so I thought she was of high rank, but apparently not.
"The leftovers will be the meal for myself and the other servants, so please, do not concern yourself."
she said in a hushed voice. So that's how it worked. But who could hear that and not be concerned?
Just as I was about to go get some food, a woman approached us.
"Thank you for your assistance earlier. And please accept my apologies for my rudeness."
She bowed deeply, but I had no idea what she was thanking us for, so I exchanged a glance with Cecily.
"You know, the goblins from earlier…"
Aira said. The voice was indeed familiar. It was the knight who had been fighting until the very end. I hadn't realized because she was clad in armor before, but she was a young woman. Where she had been standing, an elderly nobleman was now present—the man who had been in the carriage we rescued.
"If you want to thank me…"
I thought about having her pay me with her body, but my eyes met Cecily's, and I stopped my sentence short.
"Are you Lord Mash?"
"That's right. And this is Lady Aira."
"O-Oh, of course."
The knight bowed to Aira. Aira looked at me awkwardly. She was the one who had made it clear that Cecily and I were her servants until today, so I needed her to step up.
Aira sent me a look that said she wouldn't accept such a role. Cecily and I pushed back with our own gazes. A fierce battle of shirking responsibility ensued.
"So then, is the purpose of your visit today truly a holy war to reclaim the capital of the Old Empire?"
"…"
So that's what people were thinking. I had no thoughts on the matter, so being told "truly" didn't help. I suppose we would have to receive a word from Lady Aira. Cecily and I both turned our eyes to her.
"…W-Well… that is… how should I put it, uh, as for us, the Demon Kingdom is, well… that thing…"
As Aira's eyes darted around and her words faltered, the door we had used to enter the courtyard opened. A young man and a middle-aged man dressed like a priest, who appeared to be his attendant, entered. The young man was handsome, pulling off the white tights magnificently. The priest-like man radiated an air of dignity. He scanned the surroundings with a stern face, as if to intimidate.
The priestess with us bowed deeply to them. The attendants followed suit, and then the seated nobles stood and bowed as well. We were left standing alone.
The young man raised his hand slightly, and everyone lifted their heads. The conversations resumed, but I could see them watching the man's movements out of the corner of their eyes. He was undoubtedly the King of Heilong.
An attendant approached to offer them glasses of wine.
According to Maira's prior information, the city of Heilong, due to its relationship with Migul, maintained a surface-level appearance of being a city of the Empire and not aligning with the Demon Kingdom, but in reality, it was divided. It was split into moderate and hardline factions regarding their political stance toward the Demon Kingdom.
The moderates were a faction centered around the nobles, who sought to navigate the situation skillfully while observing the shifting balance of power between the Empire and the Demon Kingdom. Most of the nobles here were likely moderates. And the hardliners were those who were prepared to go to war, advocating for all manner of resistance and pressure against the Demon Kingdom. They were mainly composed of church officials and the devoutly faithful.
The priest serving the king was undoubtedly a hardliner. He was whispering in the king's ear as he accepted his wine, all while looking at us. And there was a high probability that we were thought to have been summoned by the hardliners because we had summoned Racshell.
Then it hit me. The noble we saved earlier was a moderate, and he had acted that way because he knew about us.
The king stopped in front of us and raised his wine glass toward me.
"Are you enjoying yourself?"
"Yes. Thank you very much for inviting us today."
Maira had strongly advised me not to be too humble, so I was at a loss for a reply. For now, I decided to start with polite language and sent a look to Aira, urging her to respond to the king's toast. She reluctantly raised her glass along with me.
Thank you for reading. The likes, bookmarks, and ratings are a great encouragement.