kscans

Chapter 156 - The Luncheon and the King of Heilon (Part 1)

As the carriage approached, the castle gates opened. The female knight dismounted. 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 answered. It seemed they weren't in any 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 entered the fortress. The remaining knight thanked us, offered a single gold coin, and went inside the castle. The gates closed.

We'd been magnificently shut out.

"Shall we go home..."

Aira nodded at my words. I was honestly a little annoyed, so I thought about shooting the invitation into the fortress with an arrow as proof that we'd come. I was worried about Famu, so getting back to the city sooner was a good thing.

"Wait, that's not right!"

Cecily shouted, 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?"

Just standing in front of the gate was awkward. It looked like we were waiting around, grumbling that our escort fee was too low.

"I know, but—"

"We made an effort. Places like this just aren't for me anyway."

I gave a small shrug.

"If you're okay with it, Mash, then fine..."

"Alright, Aira-sama, you can ride behind whichever one of us you prefer."

When I said that, she surprisingly headed toward me. I offered her a hand and helped her up. Just then, the gate opened again. A guard came running up to us.

"Could you be Lord Mash?"

"Indeed. And the one riding behind me is Aira-sama."

The guard knight 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 gate. I handed the guard our invitation and the letter for the king from the Priest of Heilon that Myra had entrusted to me. Myra had gone to the temple early this morning to have it written. He accepted them reverently and passed them to another guard standing by.

Costumes were provided for the luncheon. They were more extravagant than the ones lent to us at the soiree in Frucht, with some parts I didn't even know how to wear. With the help of a castle servant, I finally finished getting dressed. Then, I headed 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 of it sat a decorative hat with a feather ornament. She wore a light blue dress adorned with fine lace, its bodice cinched tightly. The skirt was voluminous, perhaps held up by wires.

"I'm not falling for that chest!"

Cecily covered her lavishly presented bosom.

"It's not like I asked for this!"

"...Well, whatever. Do a little spin for me."

Though embarrassed, Cecily gave a quick twirl. The hem of her skirt lifted lightly and swayed.

"Mm. Cute. You look like Marie Antoinette."

"Who's that? As for you, Mash... it doesn't suit you at all."

"Hmph. I am the state."

I spun around and struck a pose, which made Cecily burst out laughing. I understood the sentiment. I was wearing white tights and a navy blue cape that felt like a blanket. And a long, curly wig. It was hot, and just standing there made sweat bead on my skin. I was also equipped with a rapier decorated with gold. When I drew it, I saw it had a proper blade. I wanted to take it home as a souvenir for Famu or Mizuki.

"Where's Aira?"

"I don't know. I think she was taken to a different room?"

After a little while, a castle servant came to call for us, and we followed his lead to Aira's location. I offered Cecily my elbow, and she took my arm. We smiled at each other and followed the attendant.

We found Aira in a room off to the side of a chapel. She was wearing what looked like silver chainmail, with a white surcoat over it. And to top it all off, she held a greatsword with jewels embedded in the pommel and crossguard. Though her surcoat didn't bear a cross emblem, she looked just like a crusader knight. She had been dressed in something completely different from us. Was this a costume party?

"Aira-sama, what is that outfit...?"

"They said it's what Akitsuki Uta wore."

"That sword, too?"

Aira nodded. Uta was the otherworlder hero from a hundred years ago. She had called for a Holy War, marched into the Demon Kingdom, and struck down the Demon Lord. When she drew the sword, a silver blade appeared. It wasn't reflecting light; it seemed to be emitting its own. We possessed the sword she had been holding in the church in Nieren, but this one was much larger.

"It looks incredibly powerful, but isn't it heavy?"

"The sword's a little heavy, but this chainmail is light,"

she replied. It must be made of some special metal.

"Hehehe, with this, I can win."

She smiled fiercely, holding the sword aloft.

"Who are you planning to beat?"

She didn't answer my question, just nodded in satisfaction before sheathing the sword. A priestess standing beside her took the weapon. She looked at Aira with deep emotion.

"It is the second coming of Uta-sama."

On the chapel wall was a fresco of a figure in the same attire as Aira, brandishing a sword. The figure had short hair and an androgynous look. It was likely a depiction of Uta, but I still thought she bore a resemblance to Mizuki.

"According to legend, Uta-sama and eight other otherworlder heroes visited this castle and declared a Holy War to the King of Heilon. 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 imperial capital, it had grown to over ten thousand."

The old empire hadn't been invaded by the Demon Kingdom at that time, so they must have launched their campaign from there. The priestess gazed at Aira and the fresco with a rapturous look in her eyes. She seemed like she'd get along with Myra. I should have brought her.

"Was it eight people including Uta?"

"No, nine in total."

One person short. The other heroes must have been summoned by the five goddesses. Unlike me, who was despairing just trying to find Ko-kun, she had managed to gather them all without any information. I wonder if there was some special method.

"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 if I put mine in storage it'd be the same thing, so maybe it was better to carry it openly.

The priestess led the way, with Aira following her, and Cecily and I walking side-by-side behind them, forming a perfect triangle with Aira at the apex.

"Aira-sama, are the injured knights going to be alright?"

"They are fine. They have been treated and are now resting,"

the priestess answered in Aira's stead.

"Can't we somehow get them to give us the gear Aira's wearing?"

I whispered to Cecily.

"I don't know... even if we did, wouldn't it stand out so much that she'd just become a target for the enemy?"

It was true, our equipment was made of leather. We looked like common townsfolk. If I chose my own clothes, they'd be pathetically drab, but since Mizuki picked them out, they were decent enough. Still, she didn't dress outside the bounds of a commoner. The weapons Aidan made for us were high-performance but plainly decorated. If Aira showed up in that gear, everyone would be asking, "Who are you?"

"That could be interesting in its own way."

"Aira only wears what Myra 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 Myra? Still, was it necessary to share equipment? In that case, the only one who could wear that gear would be Mizuki. But then I wouldn't be able to see her panties in battle, which was my only joy. Even if the gods wished for it, I did not. Still, I also felt like our current weapons didn't match the strength of the enemies we were fighting. My weapons hadn't worked against the Earth Dragon King. I did want 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 the sizes were different. If I worked hard and helped Aira grow, would she start wearing the same things? I suddenly craved a sister-donburi bowl. I was currently wearing white tights, so I had to stop these lewd fantasies before things got out of hand.

The luncheon was being held in the courtyard. A giant canvas-like cloth had been set up to block the harsh sunlight. The fabric billowed and swayed in the gentle breeze. Beneath it, food was arranged on tables, and attendants were portioning it onto small plates according to the instructions of people dressed like us in noble attire. It seemed to be a buffet. Some people were sitting on the stone rim of the central fountain, chatting amiably. 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. Since she was holding it with both hands, she couldn't drink or eat.

"Isn't that tough?"

"Oh no, please don't mind me."

For some reason, she answered cheerfully, but I couldn't help but feel concerned. Was she planning on sticking with us without eating or drinking? That would be awkward.

"If you want to eat or drink something, just let me know. I'll take over then."

"I am not permitted to touch the food at this gathering."

The priestess demurred. I had thought she was of high rank since she was wearing finer vestments than Myra and the others usually wore, but it seemed that wasn't the case.

"The leftovers will be for myself and the other attendants, so please, do not trouble yourself,"

she said, lowering her voice. So that's how it worked. But I wondered if anyone could hear that and not be troubled. Just as I was about to go get some food, a woman approached us.

"Thank you very much for your help earlier. And please accept my apologies for my rudeness."

She bowed her head deeply, but I didn't know what she was thanking me for, so I exchanged a look with Cecily.

"You know, from the goblin thing earlier..."

Aira said. It was true, her voice was familiar. She was the knight who had been fighting until the very end. I hadn't realized before because she was in full armor, but she was a young woman. Where she had been standing, there was now an elderly nobleman. It was the man from the carriage we had rescued.

"If you want to thank me..."

I was about to say she could pay me with her body, but my eyes met Cecily's and I stopped myself.

"Are you Lord Mash?"

"I am. And this is Aira-sama."

"O-Of course."

The knight bowed to Aira. Aira looked at me awkwardly. She was the one who had clearly stated that Cecily and I were her servants until today, so I needed her to step up. Aira shot me a look that said she wanted no part of it. Cecily and I pushed it back on her. A fierce battle of shirking leadership ensued.

"Then, is the purpose of your visit today another Holy War to reclaim the old imperial capital?"

"..."

So that's what this was about. I had no such plans, so being told "another"

just confused me. I suppose I should let Aira-sama have her say. Cecily and I both sent our gazes her way.

"...W-Well... that is... what should I say, uh, as for us, the Demon Kingdom is, well... that thing..."

As Aira's eyes darted around, her words trailing off into a jumbled mess, the door we had entered the courtyard through opened. A young man and a stern-looking, middle-aged man dressed like a priest entered. The young man was a handsome fellow who wore his white tights magnificently. The priest-like man radiated an air of authority. His stern face scanned the surroundings as if to intimidate everyone. The female priestess bowed her head deeply to them. The attendants followed suit, and then the seated nobles stood and bowed their heads as well. We were left standing there. The young man raised his hand slightly, and everyone lifted their heads. The chatter resumed, but I could tell that from the corner of their eyes, they were all watching the man's every move. He had to be the King of Heilon. An attendant approached and tried to hand the two a glass of wine. According to Myra's intel, the city of Heilon, due to its relationship with Miglutt, maintained that it was a city of the Empire and not aligned with the Demon Kingdom on the surface, but in reality, it was divided. Their political stance towards the Demon Kingdom was split between moderates and hardliners. The moderates were a faction, mainly composed of nobles, who sought to play their cards carefully while observing the shifting balance of power between the Empire and the Demon Kingdom. Most of the nobles here were likely moderates. Then there was the hardline faction, ready to go to war, who advocated for all manner of resistance and pressure against the Demon Kingdom. This faction was mainly comprised of church officials and the devoutly faithful. The priest serving behind the king was surely a hardliner. He was whispering in the ear of the king, who was accepting the wine, while looking at us. And there was a good chance we were thought to be allies of the hardliners because I had summoned Laciel. That's when it dawned on me—the noble we had just saved was probably a moderate, and he had acted that way because he knew who we were. The king stopped in front of us and raised his wine glass toward me.

"Are you enjoying yourself?"

"Yes. Thank you for inviting us today."

Myra had strongly advised me not to be too deferential, so I was at a loss for how to respond. For now, I decided to start with polite language and sent a look to Aira to join the king's toast. She reluctantly raised her glass along with me.