Chapter 61
──A Few Days Later, in the Town of Noza──
"What? Mariela-sama still hasn't returned?"
Princess Sofia said this to the maids who had brought her dinner.
"I heard she would return soon, so I waited until evening, but..."
"We are very sorry, Your Highness."
The elderly woman who served as head maid bowed deeply.
The other maids lowered their eyes awkwardly.
This was Princess Sofia's private room.
Princess Sofia had spent the entire day waiting for her adjutant, Mariela, to come.
There had been a promise.
It was supposed to be an important matter, one involving military training, but──
"Mariela-sama has been out since this morning."
The head maid told her apologetically in a small voice.
"It seems she intended to return right away, but just a short while ago... word arrived that she might be delayed..."
"We were supposed to discuss the military training today. Does she have some business more important than that?"
"We are very sorry! W-we have no idea..."
"I understand. That will be all."
Sofia said this and returned to her meal.
There was no point blaming the maids.
They were only following Mariela's orders.
(Mariela was supposed to go around the town with me after our discussion about the military training, but...)
The day after they arrived in town, Mariela had promised Princess Sofia, "If you want to see how the people are doing, I'll give you an opportunity to tour the town by carriage."
To ensure it did not become an empty promise, Sofia had made her set a date.
Today was that day.
That was why Sofia had been waiting for someone to come pick her up since morning.
Before noon, she had sent a maid to inquire. Mariela had replied that she would return soon.
Then, after the sun had fully set, they had finally told her it was canceled.
Not only the promise to tour the town, but even the discussion about military training.
(Perhaps I should just sneak out of the mansion and tour the town by myself.)
Thinking that, Sofia shook her head.
Sofia's room was on the mansion's second floor. Maids and guards were stationed in the hallway to protect her.
It would be impossible to sneak past them and get outside.
"Then tell Unit Commander Isaac Mueller that Sofia Dolgaria has an appointment to discuss the military training with Adjutant Mariela. If Mariela is absent, tell him to attend by himself. Otherwise, tell him to set a date for the next meeting."
"...The unit commander has also left town."
"Isaac has too?"
"We are very sorry!"
At Sofia's reaction, the maids all bowed their heads at once.
They seemed to feel that they had been scolded.
"Mariela-sama left in pursuit after seeing Isaac-sama leave town."
The head maid stepped forward and said this.
"We heard that it was an emergency. That must be why informing Your Highness was given lower priority. Please accept our apologies in Mariela-sama's place."
"What on earth happened?"
"...Could you keep what we have told you a secret?"
The head maid suddenly murmured.
She glanced at the other maids. It was probably a signal telling them not to speak of what happened here.
After confirming this, Sofia nodded.
"Of course. I would never do anything that would put you at a disadvantage."
"...Actually, we received a report from one of the townspeople that they had discovered something strange."
Seeing Sofia smile gently must have reassured her.
The head maid let out a relieved breath, then slowly began to speak.
"Your Highness, did you know there is a rocky mountain east of town?"
"Yes. It's marked on the map."
Sofia answered while looking at the map posted on the wall.
"But that is in the opposite direction from the plain scheduled for training, isn't it? I cannot imagine why Isaac and Mariela would need to go all the way there. Surely the soldiers would find it suspicious as well."
"No, apparently most of the soldiers volunteered to accompany them."
"What is supposed to be there?"
"According to the rumors... a 'sealed weapon.'"
The head maid lowered her voice as though afraid someone might hear.
"The soldiers said, 'In ancient times, this land was where the Heroes from another world crossed swords with the Demon Lord's army. It would not be strange for the magical weapons used then to remain behind. Changes in the terrain might even cause one that was buried to emerge.'"
"A magical weapon... I see. So that's what this is about."
Sofia nodded.
Now she understood why Isaac and Mariela had left town.
Few weapons from the age of the Hero remained.
Finding a new one would be a great achievement.
(So that is why Isaac and Mariela left... treating all of their plans as though they never existed.)
After finishing her meal, Sofia let her shoulders slump.
All the tension had left her.
All the preparation for the discussion about military training, and all the thought she had put into what to say to the people, had been wasted.
"I will retire early tonight. You may leave as well."
Sofia told the maids.
After the maids left, Sofia moved a chair beside the bedroom window.
This was the place where she felt most at ease.
There was no door from the bedroom to the hallway, so the maids could not peek in on her.
It was the perfect place to read in peace.
If Isaac and Mariela, as well as most of the soldiers, were absent, the mansion should be quiet too.
She had gone to the trouble of getting herself in good condition for today, only for it to be pointless.
So she decided to read plenty of books to make up for it──and sat down in the chair.
"There do seem to be a lot of owls today."
Sofia murmured absently.
The people of Noza kept owls and cats to ward off vermin. At night, one could see them flying around town.
But there seemed to be unusually many of them today.
Perhaps the owls felt safer because the soldiers had left town.
Looking out on a whim, she saw a small owl perched on a branch of a garden tree.
It was a pure-white owl, only a dozen or so centimeters long.
Perhaps it was interested in Sofia, because it was staring intently at her.
"It is unusual for one to come this close."
Sofia spoke to the owl.
"Since you have come all this way, would you be willing to keep me, Sofia, company?"
At her words, the owl gave a small nod.
Then it spread its lively wings and flew away from the branch.
──At the Same Time, at the Rocky Mountain East of the Town of Noza──
"What a troublesome thing to find!"
Unit Commander Isaac spat the words out as he looked up at the rocky mountain.
This rocky mountain lay near the border with the Demon Lord's Territory.
The mountain was several hundred meters tall.
Medicinal herbs grew all around it, so it was also a gathering site for the townspeople.
And now, a greatsword was stuck near the mountain's summit.
"Oh..."
At the foot of the rocky mountain, the soldiers murmured in awe.
They had probably heard the legends of the Heroes from another world since they were children.
A holy sword stuck in a rock. A sealed magic sword.
Perhaps they were overlaying those legends onto the scene before their eyes.
"Even I, Isaac, cannot help being drawn to that sword. What in the world is it...?"
The sword embedded in the mountain was an ordinary-looking two-handed sword.
It was fixed in place, thrust halfway into its sheath and lodged in a crack in the rock.
Stranger still, the sword was bound with chains.
The chains were wrapped around the sheath and the sword's guard.
They overlapped in layer upon layer, hiding the shapes of the sheath and guard.
The only visible part was the sword's hilt.
If it had been exposed to wind and rain, it might already be rusted.
But there had been cases where someone drew a rusted sword only to find that the blade was imbued with magic.
There were countless legends from the Hero's age of swords revealing their true forms the instant they were drawn.
"What a nuisance. What a truly troublesome nuisance..."
Unit Commander Isaac ground his teeth.
Ordinarily, they should not be wasting time on something like that. They should leave it alone and investigate it during a break in their military training, but──
"Isaac-dono, should you not return to town?"
Adjutant Mariela stood at the foot of the rocky mountain.
Like Isaac, she was looking up at the sword thrust into the mountain.
(...If only this woman were not here, I would leave a sword like that alone.)
Unit Commander Isaac muttered silently.
He was not particularly interested in that sword. But he did not want it to fall into Adjutant Mariela's hands.
If it turned out to be a magic sword, the achievement would go to her.
That, in turn, would become a feather in War Minister Zagran's cap and stabilize his position. The seat of war minister would move farther out of Isaac's reach.
He wanted to avoid that.
"I will say it once more, Unit Commander Isaac. You should return to prepare for the military training."
Adjutant Mariela said this.
"Your mission is to demonstrate the Empire's strength to the Demon Lord's Territory. You should not concern yourself with such trivial matters."
"Protecting the peace of the people is also my duty."
Isaac said this while glaring at Mariela.
"If something unusual happens near the town, I investigate it and resolve it. Otherwise, the people will not be at ease."
"It is only one sword."
"It cannot be dismissed as 'only' that. If it really is a magic sword, people from the Demon Lord's Territory might come to take it. That would make the people anxious."
"A magic sword? Are you seriously suggesting that, Commander Isaac?"
"This was once a land where the Hero and the Demon Lord's army fought. It would not be strange for a lost weapon to be here."
"Then why has no one found it until now?"
"There is a large fissure in the rocky mountain. It was probably buried inside it. There are also signs that part of the mountain collapsed. There must have been a small landslide recently. Perhaps that caused the buried sword to emerge."
"Are you not dreaming a little too much, Commander Isaac?"
"If that is what you think, leave this matter to me and return to town, Mariela-dono."
Isaac fixed his gaze on Mariela and said this.
"Is not your duty to support Princess Sofia?"
"Zagran-sama instructed me to report any unusual occurrences."
Adjutant Mariela gave an almost sarcastically formal bow.
"I will have to report the identity of that sword as well."
"I will inform you once its identity is known. Will that suffice?"
"I appreciate your kindness, Isaac-dono."
Even as she said this, Mariela made no move to leave.
The reason was obvious.
Mariela did not trust Isaac, just as Isaac did not trust Mariela.
(If I leave this matter to Mariela and it turns out to be a magic sword──)
Without a doubt, the magic sword would be sent to War Minister Zagran.
In return, Mariela would show Isaac a similar sword.
That sword was covered in chains. Only the hilt was visible. Finding something similar would be easy.
That was exactly what would happen. He was certain of it.
If Isaac obtained it, he intended to do the same thing.
(...That is why this is such a nuisance. Honestly.)
Just as Unit Commander Isaac was thinking this──
"Commander! The soldiers have reached the sword!"
One of the soldiers suddenly shouted.
When Isaac looked up, several soldiers were standing near the sword on the summit.
"Good. Report. What condition is the sword in?"
"As expected, it is fixed in place with chains! The ends of the chains seem to be embedded deep in the crack in the rock. We cannot undo them or pull them out of the rock."
"You cannot draw the sword either!?"
"...We will try."
The soldiers took hold of the sword.
Bracing their feet firmly against the rocky ground, they exerted their strength.
Four soldiers tried with all their might to pull out the sword. But──
"...It will not move!"
"It does not budge. What is this...?"
"It is as though it has become one with the rock."
Hearing the report, Isaac thought.
He decided they should deal with the sword quickly, then raised his voice.
"Understood. Then prepare an ax. Use it to cut the chains!"
"Wait, Commander."
The moment Isaac shouted, Mariela spoke.
"The chains may have a purpose as well. Should we not use Earth-Attribute magic to break the rock and remove the chains?"
"Do not interfere! I am in command of this unit!"
"I am also the unit commander's adjutant. I have the right to offer my opinion."
"...Tch."
Clicking his tongue, Isaac looked around.
Some of the soldiers were nodding at Mariela's words.
This is difficult, Isaac thought.
Isaac held command here, but once they returned to the Imperial capital, Zagran would make all the evaluations. The soldiers probably could not ignore the opinion of Mariela, his adjutant.
(...Unity of command is a basic principle of military affairs.)
If this were a war against an enemy nation, Isaac's orders would be absolute.
But their mission this time was nothing more than military training.
That was why the soldiers' loyalty was divided between Isaac, the unit commander, and Mariela, the trusted aide of the war minister.
"Very well. We will use Earth-Attribute magical power to dig through the rock, then. I shall select the personnel in charge and leave them here."
Isaac looked at Mariela and said this.
"We will leave the subsequent work to them while Mariela-dono and I withdraw. Once the sword has been acquired, we will discuss what to do with it. How does that sound?"
"I oppose leaving only a small number of soldiers behind. They could be attacked by monsters or people from the Demon Lord's Territory."
Mariela shook her head as though to say, "That is not even worth discussing."
"Leaving soldiers behind at all would send the Demon Lord's Territory a message that this place is important. If that happens, demons and demi-humans may come to take the sword as well. Do you not understand that, Commander?"
Mariela said this in a sarcastic tone.
Isaac glared at her and said,
"...Conversely, is it not possible that someone from the Demon Lord's Territory placed that sword there?"
"For what purpose?"
"To gather us here and attack us. Or to attack the town of Noza."
"If the Demon Lord's Territory wanted to attack the town of Noza, it would have done so before we arrived. What would be the point of attacking now, when the town's military strength has increased?"
"...Hmm."
"If there is any possibility, it would be that they are targeting Princess Sofia herself."
Mariela cut herself off.
Isaac waited for a while, but no further words came.
He understood without her saying it. Princess Sofia had no value as a hostage.
Princess Sofia had no right of succession to the Imperial throne.
Even if they took her hostage and the Demon Lord's Territory made some demand, the Empire would not comply.
Moreover, Princess Sofia was frail.
It was possible she might die after being abducted.
If that happened, the Empire would use it as a pretext to appeal to other nations. "The Demon Lord's Territory is dangerous." Then it could form an allied army and invade the Demon Lord's Territory.
The Empire's council of senior officials had sent Princess Sofia here after thinking things through that far.
"...Princess Sofia is in no danger. She is protected by the soldiers. They should not be able to harm her."
But Isaac spoke as the unit commander responsible for protecting Sofia.
"Her safety is assured. In that case... we will establish a camp here and investigate the sword. We will recover it quickly, and if it takes too long, we will destroy it so the people of the Demon Lord's Territory cannot use it. Is that acceptable, Lady Mariela?"
"I am grateful for the unit commander's wise decision."
"I doubt the Demon Lord's Territory will make a move. They have not even sent scouts despite this many soldiers gathering here."
Unit Commander Isaac turned his gaze north, toward the border with the Demon Lord's Territory.
Tall rocky mountains stretched across the distance.
This was the mountainous border region.
Even from this distance, there was no sign of soldiers from the Demon Lord's Territory.
They were too far away for arrows or magic to reach, but they would notice anything that moved.
The only thing there was a large lizard wandering among the rocks. It was not a monster, just a wild animal.
There was nothing to warrant caution.
"In any case, let us finish the work quickly. Her Highness the Princess... must be worried as well."
At Unit Commander Isaac's order, the soldiers began to move.
To investigate the mysterious sword, they would establish a temporary base here.
──At the Same Time, in the Mountainous Region of the Demon Lord's Territory──
"The Imperial soldiers seem to have taken the bait, Chancellor Kelv-dono."
General Raizenga said this while lying flat on his stomach on the rocky ground.
"As expected of you, Chancellor Kelv-dono. Your plan seems to have worked."
"It was Thor-dono who suggested sticking the greatsword into the rock, though..."
Chancellor Kelv replied in the same position.
The plan to stick the sword into the rocky mountain near town had been carried out during the night.
Chancellor Kelv and General Raizenga had come to the mountainous region to see the results.
The two of them were on a rocky outcrop in the mountainous region.
In the distance, they could see the rocky mountain where they had stuck the sword. They could not make out the Imperial soldiers' faces, but they could estimate their number—somewhere around a hundred and several dozen.
It seemed that most of the soldiers the Empire had sent had come here.
"They do not seem to have noticed us."
"They would never expect people to be up here at the top of such a rocky outcrop."
General Raizenga nodded at Chancellor Kelv's words.
"In the first place, even under normal circumstances, climbing to a place like this would be dangerous. We can scout from here only because of Thor-dono's item."
"I never imagined the 'Chain Lock' could be used like this..."
Chancellor Kelv and General Raizenga turned around.
Behind them was a ladder made of black chains.
The ladder crawled along the cliff face and continued down to the mountain path just below.
Kelv and Raizenga had both used it to climb to the top of the rocky outcrop.
"This 'Improved Chain Lock: Ladder Type' is an incredible thing..."
──────────────────
'Improved Chain Lock: Ladder Type'
(Attributes: Earth Earth Earth Earth, Water) (Rarity: ★★★★★★★★★★★☆)
A 'Chain Lock' connected together in the shape of a ladder.
When supplied with magical power, it enters 'Land Lock' mode and deploys 'Support Chains.'
The 'Support Chains' burrow into gaps in rocks and cliff faces, adhering tightly through their powerful Earth Attribute. This allows them to be used as a stable ladder.
It is secured by ten 'Support Chains,' so it will not budge even with a dozen or more people hanging from it.
'Land Lock' can be removed when the person who locked it supplies magical power.
It can be reused as many times as desired, as long as the chains retain their strength.
──────────────────
"As expected of you, Thor-dono. You make such useful things. The Demon Lord's Territory is safe with this!"
"General, do you realize? This ladder can also attach itself to castle walls."
"...Hm?"
"It can basically be secured to rock or stone, correct? Naturally, that includes stone-built castle walls. As long as you can get close to a wall, you can simply climb over it and enter."
"...Well, it is something Thor made."
"...That is true, but still..."
Chancellor Kelv let out a huffing sigh.
Seeing him, General Raizenga burst out laughing.
"Hmm. I know I should not laugh, but... Chancellor-dono, you look exactly like a lizard."
"If that is the criterion, you look the same, General. We are both wearing 'dress-up pajamas,' after all."
"If I remove the hood, I return to my original form, correct? Shall I try?"
"Let us not. The Imperial soldiers might see us."
"...Indeed."
Kelv and Raizenga, lying on their stomachs, nodded in unison.
Bathed in the evening sunlight, the scales on their bodies gleamed. Their long torsos crawled over the rocky ground, their short limbs gripping the rocks. Their long tails moved according to their will, though neither knew how the mechanism worked.
This was the ability of the magic item 'Dress-Up Pajamas' that Thor had created.
It had been completed several days earlier. It was an extraordinary item that could transform its wearer into another living creature.
Even Thor had apparently struggled considerably to make it. He had said that he could not have done it without the cooperation of Demon Lord Lukie, Mabel, and the Pixies.
So, for reconnaissance, he had given Kelv and Raizenga 'Lizard-Type Dress-Up Pajamas.'
Kelv remembered the explanation he had heard when putting them on.
He had said, 'If you put up the hood, you will completely take on the form of a lizard. If you remove it, you will return to your original form.'
As it was yet another top-secret item, they could not let their subordinates use it.
That was why Kelv and Raizenga had come to scout the Imperial soldiers wearing pajamas.
"What do you think of these 'dress-up pajamas,' General?"
Kelv shook his lizard head as he asked.
Raizenga wagged the thin tongue that emerged automatically and said,
"Agnis said they were cute."
"That is not what I mean. This lizard form is exactly like the real thing. I can move my tail just by thinking about it. That is impossible, is it not? Something like this..."
"It exists, so there is nothing to be done about it."
"Besides, even though my entire body has completely taken the form of a lizard, I can see outside normally... I will have to ask Thor-dono in detail about the abilities of these 'dress-up pajamas' later. I will not be satisfied otherwise. Honestly... Thor-dono is really something. Honestly..."
"Hey. Stop banging your head against the rock. You will damage the pajamas."
Raizenga (in lizard form) moved his long tail and held Kelv's head down.
"In any case, the operation succeeded. The Imperial soldiers have been drawn to that sword. In the meantime... we should negotiate with the actual person in charge."
"How long will that greatsword keep the Imperial soldiers there?"
"Several days at most. Thor-dono repaired the visible parts, but the blade is covered in rust. If they pull it out, they will realize it is just junk."
"In any case, let us return and report to Her Majesty."
"Yes. I am worried about the Pixies who went into town as well."
Chancellor Kelv nodded and turned his back on the Imperial soldiers together with General Raizenga.
Then they removed the hoods of their pajamas.
With a pop, the two returned to human form.
To the adult forms wearing adorable, fluffy green pajamas.
"...I still cannot get used to this. I want to change clothes as soon as possible."
"Agnis did say they were cute, though."
The two descended the chain ladder attached to the cliff on the Demon Lord's Territory's side.
Their subordinates should be waiting on the mountain path. As he thought about changing clothes as soon as possible, Chancellor Kelv remembered those who had gone to the town of Noza wearing the same pajamas.
"They would probably suit this sort of pajama as well..."
They did not suit him. He would never wear them again.
Her Majesty had said they suited him, but that had absolutely been flattery.
There was no way pajamas this green, with lizard-like eyes on the hood and a tail with frills that bounced as it swayed, could suit Chancellor Kelv.
Since they were giving them to him, he would accept them, but only to prevent the item from leaking out.
He planned to leave them in his bedroom for the time being, but there was no ulterior motive. Absolutely none.
"Honestly... Why do Thor's items keep wearing down my spirit?"
Chancellor Kelv headed down to the ground thinking this.
──At the Same Time, in the Town of Noza──
"Greetings, Princess."
Perched on a branch right beside the window, the white owl spoke.
"──Huh?"
Sofia's eyes widened involuntarily.
"The owl... spoke...?"
She thought she had misheard.
Familiars capable of speaking human language did not exist.
They might have existed in the Hero's age, but no concrete records remained.
Before the astonished Sofia, the white owl lifted its little body and gave a neat bow.
"Hmm, hmm. As I thought... you seem to have the same symptoms as Soleil──no, as someone else. Your Light-Attribute magical power is too strong, and seems to be placing a burden on your body."
"H-how do you know that...? No, who are you──"
"I have something to discuss. First, I want you to hear me out."
The white owl spoke over Sofia's words.
"──The owl's liege seeks peace. But the Empire is harassing us near the border. I want to tell you about that fact. And then... I want you and my liege to speak with each other. If that can be arranged, the owl's liege says you may use some health goods."
──That was what the white owl said, calmly, in a small voice.