kscans

Chapter 158 - Episode 1, Part One. A Return to Daily Life?

"Hey, so what happened then?"
"What happened next?"

Bathed in the afternoon sun of early spring, I walked toward the lab in our backyard. Behind me, I could hear the lively chatter of girls' voices. The three of them were quite literally blossoming in conversation. The scene alone created an atmosphere that would make any guy feel out of place...

"When Senpai appeared in Kurtheite, he took one long look at me, whom he hadn't seen in a while, and then..."

In the center was Mia, whose tone was a bit too flat for a storyteller. Alfina and Rilka pressed in from either side, with Claudia standing behind them. Just watching them was a feast for the eyes.

"...he began business negotiations to make Princess Maytyl his own."

"What kind of embellishment is that!"

I couldn't stop myself from whirling around.

"Embellishment? You declared to Princess Maytyl that you came to negotiate, Senpai..."

Mia tilted her head, feigning innocence.

Even if she is an Imperial Princess, once you get her to the Royal Capital, you can do whatever you want with her. That's what I heard Senpai's inner voice say.

"That's purely your imagination, isn't it?"

"Well, maybe half... twenty-five percent of it is a joke. In any case, I heard after I got back that there are plenty of other problems."

Mia put on an exasperated look.

"Seriously. To get back a single subordinate, you drag out His Majesty the King and interfere with the lines of succession for both the Kingdom and the Empire? You're blowing things way out of proportion. Therefore, your grade as a strategist this time is a failure. Proof complete."

"No, the way you're phrasing it is the real exaggeration. The situation with Prince Craig was already just a matter of time. And Princess Maytyl came of her own... You saw that, didn't you?"

"What are your thoughts, Lady Alfina?"

Mia ignored me and posed the question to Alfina. Come to think of it, Alfina had seen me off back then without saying a word.

"I believe it was unavoidable to achieve your goal. However, when my aunt told me that you surrounded His Majesty the King with Prince Craig... His Highness the Crown Prince, the Duke, and the Director, and threatened him..."

Alfina said something truly outrageous. Why is Euphillia adding her own horrifying embellishments to the story? Not that I can say I have absolutely no memory of it.

"E-everyone was happy to help. Right, Rilka? You and the others ran all over the place for us."

"Well, that's what friends do............ Wait, that's what was going on at the top!?"

Rilka, who had been smiling just moments ago, now looked as if she had overheard something she shouldn't have. The look she gave me was full of resentment, like a commoner who had unknowingly been dragged into a grand conspiracy involving the royal family. Hey, that's my position, too.

"...W-well, anyway. Look, Mia, you didn't feel too bad about it, did you? Even Vinder must have said at least one clever thing. I want to hear about that."

Rilka blatantly tried to change the subject. Too bad. There was no such cool scene. After all, I had returned while leaving Mia behind.

But Mia simply lowered her face.

"Huh, your face is red, Mia."

"...Those words alone are a secret."

"Eeeh! No way."

"Now I am very curious."

Both Rilka and Alfina were looking on with immense curiosity. At this rate, they would find out my story about what happened in Kurtheite was full of holes meant to protect my own skin.

"S-speaking of which, how is Princess Maytyl doing at the academy?" I asked Rilka.

Rilka stared at me for a moment, then sighed. "Haa."

"...Um, we're in different years, so I don't know much, but I don't think she's been coming to the academy much at all, has she?"

"Is that so? I heard her studying abroad was merely a pretext..."

If I recall correctly, the ducal house that took her in was the one the First Princess married into. The very mansion where we had that anko versus chocolate showdown during Lisabet's welcome party. It doesn't seem like a bad choice of guardian. Besides, the Grand Duchess's residence in the west already has three people staying over. And her position is her position.

Plus, it would be a problem if she went strutting around the academy with that attitude of hers. There are bound to be people at the academy whose acquaintances, relatives, or family members were sacrificed in the war, or whose lands and homes were damaged.

"...That is a little pitiful."

Alfina seemed sympathetic. That's because she hadn't seen Maytyl's outrageous behavior when she first arrived. I doubt she's such a docile person.

Still, the knowledge of that Sorcery Princess is indispensable.

"By the way, how is the crystal?" I asked, lowering my voice.

Apparently, shortly after I left the Royal Capital for Kurtheite, Alfina began visiting the cathedral about once a week. That meant the crystal had started showing signs of a premonition.

"It's a little different from before. The interval between reactions is very long. And yet, the reaction itself is strong. Of course, no image appears at all. So, at this point, we don't even know if it is a prophecy."

It would be for the best if no prophecy came at all. I would prefer if the reactions just faded away. Of course, considering the recent anomalies in the magic veins, such wishful thinking was out of the question. We had to move forward with the assumption that a prophecy was coming.

"If I recall, the interval between signals is supposed to shorten before an image appears, correct?"

"Yes."

We have to act as quickly as possible while we still have time. The fact that the pattern is different this time is unsettling. And...

"Lady Alfina. For now, please try to stay away from the crystal as much as possible."

"But, that is my duty as a princess..." Claudia interjected.

"She is right. As the Oracle Princess, I must find out as soon as possible... Otherwise you might do something reckless again..."

Alfina protested. From her perspective, the sooner she could see the prophecy, the more damage she could prevent. She was absolutely right. Prevention is the best form of disaster management. And yet...

"Please, don't push yourself until it reaches the stage where an image properly appears."

"But then I will be of no use at all..."

A shadow fell over Alfina's face.

"Well, putting that aside, is it really okay to bring an Imperial Princess here? Researching together with someone from the country we were at war with until just recently... and all that?" Rilka asked.

"There's no way it's okay. But considering the situation with the magic veins, we can't afford to be picky," I said, watching Alfina's expression. It wasn't a lie, of course.

But there was another reason. The prophecy crystal has been a great help, but I don't trust that overly powerful magical artifact. I remembered the magical feedback that affected the captured knight from the Horse-Dragon corps, the burn-like swelling that spread from the magic circuit carved into his arm.

And Dagobard had said, "This is not just someone else's problem." Of course, he might have just been trying to confuse us. But seeing the Empire's actions this time, it's clear there's something about magic we don't know, and the Empire has knowledge of it.

I have to extract as much information as possible from Maytyl in our discussion today. Which is why...

"Lady Alfina, I would be very grateful if you would act as a bridge between the magic research team and Princess Maytyl."

If it were just a matter of technical discussions, it would be fine. Most of them can communicate through numbers. But since we'll be researching together, it won't stop there. And the magic team is full of people just as socially awkward as I am. She's a foreigner, a royal, a hostage, and a spy. My team is full of people who would find it impossible to interact with someone like that.

"In Bertold, you coordinated wonderfully with the craftsmen like Bowgan. And you mediated so well during the honey project. I would like to borrow your strength for this."

"I understand. Princess Maytyl must be anxious in this unfamiliar land as well. I will do my best."

A bright smile returned to Alfina's face at my words.

"Senpai..." Mia looked at me with concern.

I want to rely on Mia, who already knows her, but as usual, I can't have her tied down to just the magic team. She's indispensable on the business side of things, too.

"Vinder, I'm worried too," Rilka said, her expression also anxious.

"This is the perfect person for the perfect job, isn't it?"

They are matched in status and are both women, and what I just told Alfina contained zero flattery. But Rilka and Mia just exchanged glances.

"Anyway, before our guest arrives, I need to talk to the Director and Noel about what they can and can't say... Huh? Why is she already here?"

We had arrived earlier than the scheduled meeting time for a pre-briefing. But standing in front of the lab were two knights in uniforms different from those of the Anti-Monster Knight Order. One was from the First Knight Order, and the other, judging by his crest, was a retainer of the ducal house that was hosting Maytyl.

◇◇

"What is this room for? What's inside that glass?"

"Um, well, I can't say just yet. No, you can't come in..."

When I opened the lab door, I found Noel, the research institute's number two alchemist and a court magician, being cornered by Maytyl the Sorcerer. Maytyl, her bright violet hair tied back haphazardly, had pinned Noel against the wall.

It looked like Noel's impressive chest was about to be squashed against Maytyl's more modest one. A state secret, one that must not be leaked, seemed on the verge of tumbling out.

"Ah, Ricardo. You're finally here. Mia, it's been a while."

In an instant, Maytyl switched her target to me. As always, she used my name without an honorific. She closed the distance until I could feel her breath on my face.

"When I saw this tiny shed, I thought I'd been tricked. But looking inside, what is all this? I can't understand what you're doing at all. It's fascinating. Hey, you're going to properly explain everything today, right? About that magic catalyst and all of it."

Maytyl rattled on, not bothering to hide her excitement. The newly liberated Noel, by the way, was now hiding behind Mia. For someone as shy as Noel, that onslaught must have been unbearable. She has probably already developed a strong aversion to her.

I expected difficulties, but to start off like this...

"Please allow me to greet you. It is a pleasure to meet you, Princess Maytyl. My name is Alfina Crownheite."

Alfina stepped between me and Maytyl, both figuratively and literally. Good, I'll leave the socializing with Maytyl to Alfina, just as planned. Facing the princess of a very recent enemy nation, even Alfina's voice sounded a little stiff.

"Alfina... I see. So you are the Oracle of the Ancient Dragon's Eye. Yes, a pleasure to meet you."

Though the light in her eyes was a little sharp, Maytyl responded with a perfectly normal, sociable attitude. Still, Oracle of the Ancient Dragon's Eye?