91 - Septem
"I won't let you!"
As Monica's voice rang out, she descended from above Celes in a spinning motion.
Clutching maces in both hands, Monica unleashed a strike upon Celes that would have brought a miserable end to anyone it hit.
On a street where the accumulated snow was stained red in places, I did not meet my final moment.
No, perhaps it was simply that my time had been extended.
Celes caught the descending mace with her rapier.
The impact and wind pressure sent the snow around Celes dancing into the air, and as the spinning Monica came to a halt in mid-air, their hair fluttered softly.
It was an unbelievable sight.
Monica's strike was truly heavy.
For a person—and with a slender rapier, no less—to catch it would normally be impossible.
Yet, somewhere in my mind, I felt it was only natural that Celes could pull it off.
"You are only the second person to make me feel hostility."
Leaping back from Celes, Monica readied the maces in her hands.
In the next instant, I saw Aria's back in front of me.
Aria, who had appeared as if sliding in between me and Celes, was breathing heavily.
"Using it this many times in a row... is a first... but it looks like I made it in time."
Looking around, Aria seemed to realize the danger of the situation. She didn't have her spear, but she had drawn the dagger at her waist and held it ready.
Celes cast her gaze toward the yellow jewel on her rapier, then slowly turned her eyes toward Monica and Aria.
"One skill-user, and one ancient automaton... how interesting. I'd love to add you to my collection."
Celes looked toward me.
My body would not move as I wished, and I glared at Celes while remaining on my knees on the ground.
Aria also seemed to notice something was wrong.
"What on earth are you..."
Celes, who had been staring at Aria, let out a small sigh.
She seemed quite troubled.
"No good. Normally, just staring would be enough. As for that automaton, do you have any interest in becoming mine? I'll cherish you far more than Riel does."
Monica threw a mace at Celes and pulled a new mace from her skirt.
Celes deflected one with her rapier and sliced the other in two.
The deflected mace rolled toward me.
"My, what a shame."
To Celes's words, Monica shot back.
"I am an automaton, not just a mechanical doll, I would prefer you call me a maid. However, for me to feel hostility... are you even human?"
Celes's manner of speaking suggested she was not human, but internally, I was certain of it.
I got the impression that Celes was becoming something that had already transcended humanity.
Giggling, Celes spoke to Monica.
"For a fake that emerged from a labyrinth, you certainly are particular."
Celes spoke as if she knew something, but Monica scoffed.
"The fact that I exist and that the chicken coward is my master remains unchanged. Whether I'm a fake or the real thing is secondary!"
The Fourth conveyed the current situation to me simply.
'Even with two more people, the situation remains unfavorable. Riel, check if anyone else is heading this way. And... make absolutely sure to check if Novem-chan is coming.'
The Fourth sounded tense, yet also suspicious of Novem.
However, I felt as though his voice also contained a hint of self-loathing.
He didn't want to suspect her, but Novem's name had come from Celes's mouth.
"...Aria, where is everyone else?"
I checked with Aria in a low voice.
Aria replied in a low voice as well.
"Everyone will be here soon. Only Monica and I went ahead."
Hearing that, I asked.
"Did Novem say anything?"
"She seemed quite panicked. 'Is Novem already here?' 'I rushed here as fast as I could!' But still, why aren't the people around us moving?"
Following Aria's gaze as she looked around, I checked the surroundings as well.
Knights, soldiers, bystanders—everyone was staring at Celes.
Some of the bystanders were even shedding tears.
I squeezed out every bit of strength I had and gripped the mace that had rolled nearby.
The Fifth spoke.
'Riel... why are you going that far? Are you frustrated by the loss? Or is it just stubbornness? What's the point of getting angry just because you were mocked!'
The Fifth seemed worried about me.
(It's been over half a year since we've been together... I've started to understand a lot of things.)
The Third, who was always aloof, gave me some advice.
'Riel, can you hold out until Novem-chan arrives?'
The Sixth didn't particularly like Novem.
It felt more like she was just the daughter of a family they had dealings with.
'Third, do you have some kind of plan?'
The Seventh worried for me.
'A way for Riel to survive and get through this?'
However, the Third denied it.
'She's more troublesome than imagined. She's moody and harbors strong hostility toward Riel. Since Novem-chan's name came up, something might move if you can hold out until then. I don't know if that will be convenient or inconvenient for us, though.'
I should have just run away.
Even now, I didn't think that.
Having fought her, I understood.
I couldn't have escaped Celes. She would have caught up to me, and it would have led to a battle anyway.
The Fifth seemed to understand that as well.
'The difference in strength is too great. I didn't think it would be this much... I was naive. With the current Riel, I thought escaping would be possible based on the impressions I'd heard.'
The Fourth spoke to me.
'He can probably buy some time, but I wonder how far Monica and Aria-chan can go.'
I took a deep breath and smiled at Celes.
"...I wonder what's so funny?"
"No, nothing."
Saying that, I looked at Celes with a smirk.
Celes's eyebrow twitched in reaction, and she stepped in between me and Aria.
Aria, who had been flanked, widened her eyes and looked back.
Celes grabbed me by the collar and lifted me up, but I continued to smile.
Monica, holding maces in both hands, rushed toward Celes, and Aria thrust her dagger—only to be blown back into a wall.
The two of them were blown into the wall in an instant, Aria managed to get up, perhaps having defended herself with a skill.
As for Monica, she leaped out from a different wall than the one where the hole had been made.
I was the one who was surprised, but Celes kicked Monica away.
Monica, who rolled across the ground and was blown far away, stood up and charged toward Celes again.
"That's enough!"
When I tried to stop her, Celes looked up at me.
"Chicken coward..."
I knew Monica was trying to do something about the situation, but the opponent was far too formidable.
"Just watch from there."
In the next instant, my back slammed hard against the wall.
Celes had slammed me into the wall while still holding me.
Expressionless, Celes looked at me and opened her mouth.
"You're quite composed. Have you given up already?"
Blood flowed from my mouth, and I endured the pain and the feeling that my consciousness was about to slip away, looking at Celes with a smile.
She seemed to hate being mocked, I realized that in that regard, she was childish.
"Are you satisfied?"
"Huh?"
Celes stopped her composed smile and glared at me.
"I'm asking if you're satisfied. Is it fun to crush the weak with overwhelming power? Good for you... it suits you perfectly."
As I said that, Celes pierced my left arm with her rapier and pinned it to the wall. She twisted it, and I screamed.
"AAAAAAAH!!"
I let out a sound that wasn't even a voice, yet I still looked at Celes and smiled.
(That's right, she loves to toy with people! I figured you'd do this... damn it, it hurts!!)
The Third spoke.
'Riel, you have to keep the provocations in moderation. However, I'll praise you for not sacrificing the other two. It was a real gamble, but it looks like you made it in time. Well, what's important is how you move from here.'
Then, Novem rushed onto the scene.
"Lord Riel!"
—Novem saw Celes instinctively pull the rapier from Riel's left arm and create distance.
She had followed Riel after he left House Walt. Therefore, it had been over half a year since they had last seen each other.
He had grown even more than before, and his aura had become even more bewitching.
Possessing a beauty unbecoming of her age, Celes neither spoke nor attacked as she watched Novem rush toward Riel, out of breath.
Novem, who immediately began treating Riel on the spot, kept her back turned to Celes.
Riel, who seemed on the verge of losing consciousness, spoke to Novem.
"Monica is probably out of the question, but treat Aria, Shannon, and Eva first..."
As he said that, the strength left Riel's body, and Novem embraced him.
After slowly laying him down on the snow, Novem turned back to Celes.
Miranda, who had arrived, went to Aria's side.
And Clara headed toward Monica.
Standing as if to shield Riel, who had received first aid, Novem pointed her staff toward Celes.
"...This is not what we agreed. You said you wouldn't lay a hand on him, didn't you?"
Hearing this, Celes flickered her gaze toward the yellow jewel.
As if defying the will of the jewel, Celes herself seemed to want to cut Novem down right then and there.
Novem understood this as well.
Celes sheathed her rapier and spoke to Novem.
Once Celes put away her weapon, the knights gathered around her.
"Yes, yes, I'm sorry. My apologies! But you were the one who made the first move."
Looking at the giggling Celes, Novem turned her gaze to the surroundings and saw Alfred and the soldiers lying where snow had begun to accumulate.
She understood that Celes had done both.
"That is a lie. Lord Riel is not that kind of person. Was it not Lord Alfred who made the first move?"
Novem knew of Alfred's actions up until now. After all, she was the daughter of the Foxuz family, which had deep ties to House Walt.
Celes replied innocently.
"I don't knooow! But they were fighting when I got here."
Giggling, she attempted to leave the scene.
Novem spoke to the departing Celes.
"If Lord Riel had died... I would have fought you, even if you were Lady Celes."
Celes stopped, and the surrounding knights placed their hands on the hilts of their swords.
Among them were several knights Novem knew.
"Does the daughter of the Foxuz family dare point a blade at Lady Celes!"
"A failure of a fiancée is, as expected, a failure!"
"A mere second daughter of the Foxuz family—"
Novem ignored the knights.
She had no choice.
The emotion Novem felt was 'pity'.
(To think the knights of House Walt have come to this...)
They had originally been splendid knights, and they had once rejoiced in Riel's growth. Some had made a fuss about who would participate in Riel's first battle, enjoying themselves while drinking alcohol.
Alfred, too, had previously cherished Riel like a younger brother.
And yet—.
"Will you not answer? Or... should I call you Septem?"
As Novem tightened her grip on the staff, preparing to cast magic at any moment, Celes turned around with a terrifying expression.
"Do not call me by that name. I am Celes... the daughter of House Walt—the house that you people of the Foxuz family have so carefully protected. Do you think you can lay a hand on me?"
By the end, Celes was looking at Novem with a triumphant expression.
Novem lowered her staff.
For the Foxuz family, House Walt held a very important meaning.
(As long as she is still Lady Celes, I cannot lay a hand on her.)
For that reason, the clan had supported House Walt from the shadows for generations.
"...You were supposed to promise not to lay a hand on Lord Riel."
Celes spoke disinterestedly.
"I forgot. Sorry about that. But... the next time I see him, I'll really carve him up. I'll show you too, so make sure you stay out of my sight from now on. Oh, but..."
Celes leaned forward and placed her right index finger against her lips.
The pose was cute and innocent.
"There's an important announcement in three days, so you can come to the plaza. Tell Riel too... that he should watch with his thumb in his mouth while his parents watch."
Celes began to laugh and left the scene, surrounded by the knights.
She glanced at Miranda and Clara, but when the two showed no interest, she looked bored.
As the soldiers recovered the bodies of Alfred and the others, the place was left with only piles of rubble and accumulated snow.
Miranda, lending a shoulder to Aria, watched Celes as she departed.
"...She's become worse than when I last saw her."
Miranda, who had met her several years ago, could tell that Celes had grown even more.
Aria looked at Celes's back with frustration.
"To think I couldn't do anything."
Novem spoke to the frustrated Aria.
"No, Aria-san, you resisted splendidly."
"I don't need consolation. It's a fact that I couldn't do anything."
Clara also walked over, accompanied by Monica.
(Normally, people can't even do that, though.)
She was concerned for Monica, who was not in top form because Riel had fallen.
Then, Monica glared at Novem.
"You know something, don't you? Answer me. What is your objective!"
Monica, judging that Novem might become an enemy to Riel, pressed her for answers.
Novem was slightly bewildered but gave a wry smile.
"Let's treat Shannon-chan and Eva-san first. It's cold here. We need to move Lord Riel quickly as well."
Monica, wanting to prevent Novem from touching Riel, tried to carry him herself.
Then, a carriage arrived on the sparsely populated street and stopped right in front of everyone—.