Chapter 177 - Storming the Elven Palace and Breaking into the Library
Fam and I knelt formally on the floor. The cold touch of the marble seeped through my clothes. I placed my right hand on my thighs, just below my abdomen, then layered my left hand over it, lightly touching my thumbs together to form a circle.
"Is this right?" Fam asked.
"Yes. Your hands should be cupped as if holding a bowl. Don't close your eyes completely; keep them half-open and focused on a point about your own height in front of you. Breathe slowly and clear your mind of all worldly thoughts."
"Clear my mind of worldly thoughts… Is Master truly capable of that?"
"Hey! You've gotten quite bold lately, haven't you? Don't forget, you've gotten a lot more… alluring yourself since we first met!"
"Mmph, that's—"
Just as Fam was about to retort, a staff tapped each of our shoulders.
"Now, now. Focus," Marianne said.
We corrected our posture and continued our meditation in silence. But what exactly was this state of nothingness? You couldn't achieve it without wanting to, yet as long as you were consciously trying to achieve it, it remained forever out of reach. As I pondered this, Marianne pressed her hand against my solar plexus. It was a soft, small hand. Considering her swordsmanship, she must have trained relentlessly. Her hands should have been hard, with calluses at the base of her ring and pinky fingers, but I couldn't feel them through my clothes.
"Mash, your attention is wandering."
At her words, I returned to the routine of telling myself I was nothingness. It was then that I felt a warm mass of heat inside my body, right where her hand had touched.
"You felt a warmth where I placed my hand, yes? It’s difficult to describe its shape, as it differs from person to person, but that is your mana. As you breathe slowly, I want you to visualize it circulating throughout your body."
Marianne removed her hand, but the mass of heat remained in my solar plexus. Following her instructions, I slowly began to move it. I guided it up through the center of my body to the top of my head, then out to my arms, my fingertips, and finally down to my feet and toes. I brought it back to my solar plexus and let it spread throughout my entire body.
"Alright. You may open your eyes."
I didn't feel as if anything had fundamentally changed. And yet, I now understood that mana existed within my body. It seemed strange that I hadn't been able to sense it before. Fam was also staring at her hands, opening and closing them. She must have been experiencing the same sensation.
"So I just have to channel this power into my sword?"
"Exactly. You must perceive everything from the hilt to the tip of the blade as an extension of your own body," Marianne said, nodding with a smile.
"I think I get it, but I'm not entirely sure… I'd like to test it out on Mizuki's behind. Can someone lend me a staff?"
"Why me?!"
Mizuki smacked me with a staff.
After that considerable detour, we finally arrived in front of the library. We all exchanged tense nods, but no one made a move to touch the door.
"There might be a poison arrow trap."
"…My home is not equipped with such dangerous contraptions," Marmie replied to Lini's comment.
"Shouldn't Mash be the one to open it? He's the only man here…" Mizuki said.
"That's sexism."
"What? You haven't done a single cool thing all day. Show us something impressive for once!"
"Fine. Don't regret this."
I cleared my throat, psyching myself up.
"Wait. I have a bad feeling about this. I'll open it."
"What kind of feeling?"
"The feeling that you're about to do something stupid, Mash."
"…"
If that was the case, Mizuki should have just opened it from the start. Annoyed, I grabbed her by the cheeks as she reached for the handle and kissed her.
"Mmph—! Mmph—!"
She didn't resist as much as I expected, so I was about to slip my tongue in when I was struck from behind with a staff. I turned to see Maira, her cheeks puffed out in anger.
"What do you think you're doing in a place like this?!"
"Thanks to you, I nearly bit my tongue."
It was a blow that gave me a glimpse of Maira's true strength. I'd almost bitten Mizuki's tongue along with my own.
"That's enough! I'll open it."
She pushed the door open. Nothing happened.
"Why didn't you do anything to me?!"
"What's that? Fine, I'll give you what you want."
I wrapped my arms around Maira.
"Eek—!"
Just as I was about to push her to the floor, I realized that Cecily, Aira, and Marmie's mother, Marina, were staring at us. The three of them were sitting at a lustrous, high-quality wooden desk, books spread open before them on matching chairs.
"Mash, Maira… are you idiots? What are you doing here?" Cecily said.
"What about you? There's a huge commotion outside, and you're just relaxing in here with your studies?"
"A commotion?"
She tilted her head.
"…Mash, I forgot to tell you. This library is enchanted. It's soundproof, and it's designed so that this room alone will be protected even if there's an earthquake," Marmie explained.
"How convenient!"
So it's like an Area Guardian's room, I thought, scanning our surroundings. Bookshelves were arranged in neat rows throughout the vast space, every shelf packed tightly with what looked like books made of parchment. A unique fragrance filled the air when I inhaled.
"So, I'll ask again. What are you doing here?" Cecily repeated.
"I came for Marmie. I love her. I'm going to make her mine, and I'm taking her on our journey!"
"Is that really a line you should be saying while holding another woman?"
Cecily's reply made me realize I was still clutching Maira.
"Alright, Maira. I'm counting on you for the negotiations."
I helped her up and let her go.
"What are you talking about?! Do you really think anyone will listen to me after we just barged in like this?!"
So much for Maira, the person I had been counting on most as a strategic asset. She was out of the fight before it even began.
"Marmie, are you serious?" Marina's gaze fixed on her daughter. It was a cold look, completely different from when she had welcomed us yesterday.
"…Yes. I… I love Mash."
Marina's gaze shifted to Patricia. The servant let out a short scream and froze, standing ramrod straight. Even the girl who could hit Wake without a second thought was terrified of her. Marianne stepped between them protectively.
"Lady Marina, I am Marianne Wanland. I have come today with a request."
Marianne met Marina's gaze without flinching. As expected of the head of House Wanland.
"This is not a place you should be."
"No, I am here for the future of Migul."
"The future? You deployed your forces under the pretext of aiding your own kind. Do you have any idea how much harm that has caused the future of this country?"
Marianne had advanced her army to the border to subjugate the Crimson Brigade, an act that could have provoked the Demon Kingdom and sparked a war. The elders of Migul had forbidden her from entering the mountains where the Crimson Brigade had fled.
"What is a city? What is a country? What is a nation? For whom do they exist? I simply acted as I believe I should have."
"The people you sought to save are not citizens of this country."
"Lady Marina, the world is changing. The scenery we see today may look the same as yesterday, but it is not. Surely you, more than I, can see the great currents of change, can you not? Can Migul truly remain an exception? A hero from another world is here. I am here, as is Marmie, and the princess of the Earth Dragon Kingdom."
"The princess of the Earth Dragon Kingdom…"
"Lady Yanan Mognato."
Suddenly brought into the conversation and subjected to Marina's icy glare, Yanan scratched her cheek, looking troubled. Having been removed from the line of succession and serving as a knight captain, she looked even less like a princess than Marmie.
"Uhm… it would be great if our countries could, you know… get along…"
She sent me a desperate look, pleading for help.
"And what is it you intend to do using my daughter?"
Now her gaze was on me. I had to say something, but nothing came to mind.
"…I am going to the Demon Kingdom. I will defeat the Demon Lord."
Marmie answered in my place.
"Marmie, you will be silent," Marina snapped, her eyes still locked on me.
"Lady Marina, the throne of Migul has been vacant for a long time. I wish for Mash to become the king of this city."
"What?! We just met yesterday! What do you know about me? Are you an idiot?"
I immediately regretted calling her an idiot, but the words were already out. Marianne turned to me and smiled.
"Marianne, no matter how wonderful your ideals are or how brilliant your policies may be, you can't become king. I have neither of those things. You were born the head of one of the four great houses, yet you can't exercise your political power because your influence has been suppressed by those around you. You've been losing the power game."
"Mash, for someone you just met yesterday, you speak as if you've seen it all. But you are right. By the time I realized it, it was too late. However, I refuse to believe it must always be this way. You came to this city with the Arbiter of the dog-eared race at your side. You carry the same weapon and use the same sword style as Okita Soji. And they say you can summon Lady Racshell, can you not? Mash, you have allies here. You are not alone. I told you I would give you my all."
"Did you say that?"
"Yes. The words may have been slightly different, but it was during the duel…"
She nodded firmly. It was hard to believe she was someone who had been suppressed. There was power in her eyes—they shone with a noble, beautiful light.
"But summoning Racshell just to tell people what to do is wrong."
I kept quiet about the fact that I'd summoned her countless times to put down my enemies.
"Yes. I see you are not one who would wish for such a world."
Talking with her, I felt like everything was expanding into a matter of great importance. She was similar to Maira, but where Maira seemed to see the world I carried, Marianne seemed to see my philosophy on life. In that sense, she was more like Fam. Just then, Cecily, who had been listening to our exchange in silence, stood up.
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