Chapter 60 - The General Assembly
It’s a clear, crisp winter day, perfect for a pleasant outing.
The morning of the assembly, I ride in a jeep driven by Shelby to formally collect the Bloomstar Galaxy.
Finally, the completion of this special machine. I’m finally getting the Bloomstar Galaxy!
In the jeep are Shelby, the driver, me, who’s more excited about the Bloomstar Galaxy than the assembly, and Siegrune. A few others are also with us.
Many members wanted to come and wait for us at the Clad Family residence, even though they can’t attend the assembly. However, we can’t have too many people waiting around, so I allowed only those who could fit in the jeep.
Ultimately, Valeria, the head of my personal guard, and the First Combat Unit joined us.
I hadn’t told anyone about the Bloomstar Galaxy, so they were curious about our destination. They’ll understand once they see it.
Following my instructions, Shelby drives the jeep to the Dominic Cruel Workshop.
"What is this place?"
"Dominic Cruel Workshop?"
"We don’t often patrol this area."
It’s not immediately obvious what kind of workshop it is with the garage doors closed. It’s a mystery why we’re here.
As everyone looks at me, I enter the garage through a side door, as if it’s my own place. The door isn’t locked at this time, as I had informed Doc in advance.
"Doc, I’m here!"
I call out into the dim garage, and the old man slowly appears.
"You finally made it! Time for the grand reveal!"
"It’s dark in here. Open the garage door. I want everyone to see it."
"These are your friends? Alright then, let them see! This is the Bloomstar Galaxy!"
He presses a button on the wall, and the garage door starts to open, gradually revealing its majestic form.
The first thing that catches the eye is its size.
It’s more than twice the size of a regular box bike, a massive and imposing form.
The sleek, mechanical yet classical design in black and silver exudes a certain beauty, captivating anyone who sees it.
It has a unique and mysterious aura, blending elegance with a hint of ferocity and solitude.
In one word, it’s romantic.
I’ve been test-riding it since the prototype, and this is the final version after several iterations.
While I’ve seen it before, the polished, sunlit form of the Bloomstar Galaxy is breathtaking.
"Doc, thank you again. It’s perfect."
"Heh, thanks to your sponsorship."
We shake hands firmly, acknowledging each other’s efforts. The cheers of the Kikyo Society members echo around us.
"What the hell is that!"
"It’s amazing!"
"It’s a bike, right? Completely different from Rosabel’s!"
"Wow!"
I exchange a grin with Doc, seeing the excitement in their faces. Even members not usually interested in bikes are captivated. All the hard work was worth it.
"Yukari-dono, is this what you’ve been working on?"
Even the normally uninterested Siegrune is intrigued.
"Onee-sama, are you going to ride this?"
"Yes, Siegrune can sit behind me."
"Me too?"
Siegrune is surprised but clearly delighted.
"That’s not fair!"
"Onee-sama..."
"I want to ride too!"
Everyone wants a turn, but we don’t have time to play. Maybe another time.
Ignoring their disappointed murmurs, I straddle the Bloomstar Galaxy with a flourish.
"Siegrune, get on behind me."
Siegrune, despite her nervousness, climbs on with a smile and holds onto my waist cautiously.
I put on a pair of large sunglasses to shield against the sun’s glare and hand one to Siegrune. We’re ready to go.
"We’re leaving now. Everyone, get in the jeep."
The members, still reluctant to leave, get into the jeep.
Valeria’s disappointed expression resonates with me. I’ll let her ride behind me later.
The roar of the engine is intentionally loud, drawing attention. We’re making quite a scene, especially since the jeep is moving slowly.
The vehicle’s speed is mechanically and magically limited to about thirty kilometers per hour. This is true even for military vehicles.
However, the Bloomstar Galaxy is different. With my magic, it can bypass these limitations. Of course, breaking the rules is forbidden. But for outlaws like us, rules are just suggestions.
I want to let it loose on the empty streets outside the city. Sometimes, a woman just wants to feel the wind.
The engine is set to a particularly loud mode for today. I’ll have it toned down later, but for now, I want to make an impact.
The deafening roar draws a lot of attention as we approach the Clad Family’s outer gate. Many people come out to see what’s happening.
I understand their curiosity. A loud, unfamiliar sound would make anyone cautious.
Amid the astonished faces of the tough-looking men, we pass through the outer gate and enter the large parking area between the outer and inner gates.
I park in an empty spot, remove my sunglasses, and dismount the Bloomstar Galaxy. The jeep arrives shortly after.
"That vibration was nice. I bet it would be even better at full speed."
"I was a bit tense but it was fun. I’d like to ride again, but I’ll let Valeria have the back seat on the way back."
Siegrune, though nervous, is smiling. I’m glad she enjoyed it.
A crowd has gathered around us, but no one approaches us directly.
A friendly conversation would be fine, but I don’t have time to wait around. Let’s go inside.
Shelby and the others get out of the jeep and see us off.
The Clad Family’s grounds are filled with their members, ensuring security. It’s unlikely anything will go wrong.
"Onee-sama, here’s the gift."
I gently stroke Valeria’s soft hair, and the tension in my chest eases a bit.
"I’ll be back soon."
Today, I’m wearing the Kikyo Society’s formal attire, the silver coat with the purple crystal Kikyo emblem. My indigo hair is styled with a magical hairpin, and I’m wearing combat pants and boots for a cool, edgy look.
Siegrune is similarly dressed in a silver coat with a purple crystal badge, carrying her sword.
While the Clad Family will provide security for the event, armed guests are allowed. It’s a gesture to ensure everyone feels safe, even if they’re unlikely to use their weapons.
My usual weapons are my custom gloves, stowed in my pocket. My spear is in the jeep, and I have a few throwing knives for emergencies.
I stride confidently, my elegant silver coat fluttering in the wind, and show our invitations to the guards at the inner gate. We’re directed inside.
We have to pass through a courtyard to reach the fortress-like building. The straight path and central fountain, surrounded by green hedges, create a beautiful and spacious garden. It’s almost like a castle, though there’s no castle at the end.
Lily would probably enjoy this. Our Kikyo Society’s aerial garden might be smaller, but it’s of higher quality.
I spot a few women and children behind the hedges but ignore them. They’re not worth greeting, and I don’t know who they are.
We reach the building’s entrance and are checked again by the guards.
"You must be from the Kikyo Society. Show them to the main hall."
We’re taken to a large hall, where about half the seats are already occupied, and the other guests are waiting for the host to arrive.
We’re led to a seat near the entrance, likely the last row. The guide leaves after ensuring we’re seated. It’s fitting for our status.
Siegrune and I observe the room discreetly.
The seating arrangement has the center of the hall open, with two rows of chairs facing each other. I sit in the front row, and Siegrune sits behind me.
The two seats at the far end are likely for the host.
"Siegrune, can you identify anyone?"
"I apologize, but I’m not very useful in these situations. I can only recognize one person, but I don’t know the others."
I lean back and whisper.
"Same here. But the closer to the front, the more important they are, right?"
"That makes sense. The important figures haven’t arrived yet. They’re making a grand entrance, I suppose."
"Big shots are always like that."
As we chat, the seats fill up, and the important figures finally arrive.
I watch them closely, trying to memorize their faces. It’s a good opportunity.
These are the leaders of the Five Great Families and their equivalents. While I don’t know who’s who, they’re all impressive figures.
I can feel their attention on me, but they don’t look directly at us.
That’s fine. The host is the only one left to arrive.
As we wait, the door at the back opens quietly.
The man leading the group is likely today’s host, Balgar Clad.
He looks to be in his early thirties, though his age is unknown. Despite his youth, he exudes a charismatic presence, befitting a leader.
He doesn’t seem to be a formidable fighter, but he has a commanding and regal aura. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt for today.
Behind him is a man around the same age, who looks more like a seasoned warrior. He gives off a dangerous aura, as if he could cut anyone who approaches.
"That’s..."
Siegrune leans in and whispers.
"Yukari-dono, the man behind him is Bernar Craon."
"Who is he? A celebrity?"
"You don’t know him? Swordsmen revere his name."
"I’m not a swordsman, so I don’t recognize him."
"That’s Bernar Craon, also known as ‘Cloud Cutter.’ He’s one of the best swordsmen in the world. I’d love to spar with him."
So, the Clad Family has such a renowned swordsman. Impressive.
"He’s been out of the public eye recently, but I didn’t expect to meet him here."
Siegrune is clearly excited, like meeting a hero. This is rare for her.
"What’s the ‘Cloud Cutter’ about?"
"It’s his nickname. The legend goes that his blade is so sharp it can cut through clouds."
In a world with magic, it might not be just a tall tale.
He’s a formidable opponent. The weapon he carries seems unusual.
"The sword he’s holding is interesting. I can’t tell what it’s made of."
"If even you can’t identify it, it’s likely not a mineral. Could it be a monster material?"
"That’s likely. ‘Cloud Cutter’ is known for his training in uncharted territories. If he defeated a powerful monster, it would make sense."
A top-tier swordsman with a weapon made from an unknown monster material. A fascinating story. I’d love to hear more, but he doesn’t seem like someone to chat with casually. Maybe there’ll be a chance.
As we chat, the host takes his seat, and the assembly begins.
"Thank you all for coming. Let’s start the assembly."
With Balgar Clad’s opening remarks, the atmosphere becomes more serious.
I wonder how this will affect the Kikyo Society.