Chapter 89
──Thor's Perspective──
"...I am sorry for saying such rude things the other day... As a princess, and as Liana, your younger sister, I sincerely apologize. I'm sorry... I'm so sorry."
Some time after Princess Sofia and Princess Liana began talking in a room on the second floor.
When Princess Sofia called for me and I entered the room, Princess Liana was bowing deeply.
Her shoulders were trembling. She clutched her skirt with both hands and apologized in a tearful voice.
...What in the world had the two of them been talking about in here?
"Alchemist-sama... no, Kanan-sama, you are helping Sister Sofia as a human living in the Demon Lord's territory, aren't you?"
"Um, yes. Something like that."
I nodded.
That was the story we had settled on, as Princess Sofia had told me earlier.
"I am a hostage who was sent to the Demon Lord's territory, but His Majesty the Demon Lord has granted me freedom of movement. He wishes for friendship between the Demon Lord's territory and the Empire. That is why I came to this town."
I had not told a single lie.
Lukie had granted me freedom of movement, and she wished for a friendly relationship with Princess Sofia.
That was also why we were planning a joint investigation of the demon beasts by the Demon Lord's territory and the Empire.
I had come to 'Noza Town' for that very discussion.
"...F-for someone who thinks so much about Sister... how could I have been so rude to you...?"
"That's right. Thor Kanan-sama is always helping me."
Princess Sofia spoke while gently stroking her sister's back.
"Thor Kanan-sama saved my life. Not just once, but many times."
"...I-is that so...?"
"I have the deepest respect for Thor Kanan-sama."
At Princess Sofia's words, Princess Liana bowed deeply once again.
So what in the world had happened in here...?
"I also apologize for the rude things my sister said during the battle to subjugate the 'Demon Beast Galgarossa.'"
Princess Sofia spoke beside her sister.
"I have made Liana understand her mistake. I believe she will reconsider her views from now on. If Thor Kanan-sama is angry, then I, Sofia, am prepared to offer myself to calm his anger."
Princess Sofia said this and performed a formal princess's bow.
It was a stark contrast to Princess Liana, who was bowing with trembling shoulders.
Besides, when a princess apologized to you in tears, how were you supposed to respond?
"...For Sister to get that angry... for you to be so important to her... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"Please raise your head, Princess Liana."
I spoke.
I decided that enough was enough.
To be honest, when Lukie had told me what Princess Liana said before, I had been pretty angry.
But there had been no actual harm done.
Princess Liana was desperately apologizing, and that was more than enough.
"More importantly, I apologize for not introducing myself earlier. My name is Thor Kanan. I was formerly an Imperial noble, and I now live in the Demon Lord's territory."
"Y-yes. Thank you for earlier..."
Princess Liana finally raised her face.
"I was able to meet Sister because of you and that girl. You also taught me about the lives of the people, and how deeply the people of this town care for Sister. You gave me a precious experience."
"It was just a coincidence. I did not realize that Your Highness was here until partway through."
"Even so, you and the girl opened my eyes to the world."
Princess Liana performed a formal princess's bow toward me.
"I am grateful for everything that happened today. Thank you very much, Kanan-sama."
"I'm honored, Your Highness."
Come to think of it, when Princess Sofia had come to call us earlier, she had said,
'Liana is not a bad girl. She is simply too straightforward and too easily influenced by the people around her...'
──that was what she had said.
Princess Liana had been gifted with exceptional sword talent since she was a child.
She had a natural genius for it and could immediately absorb anything she was taught.
So she had rarely needed to think deeply or agonize over things.
She readily absorbed all kinds of things, but that also meant she was influenced by the people around her──or so I had heard.
"Thank you for apologizing properly, Liana."
Princess Sofia looked at her sister and smiled.
"I am truly relieved. I... had resolved to leave for a distant land if Liana were ever rude to Thor Kanan-sama again..."
"W-what!? Sister!?"
"It is all right, Liana. I trusted you."
Princess Sofia clasped her hands as if praying and closed her eyes.
Princess Liana looked as though she were about to cry. She really was weak when it came to Princess Sofia.
"...A-Alchemist-sama. Kanan-sama!"
"Yes?"
"If there is anything you would like this Liana to do, please tell me!"
It came out of nowhere.
Princess Liana looked at me with a serious expression as she said this.
"If Kanan-sama wishes to return to the Empire, I can use my influence to──"
"I have no intention of returning. Please leave me alone."
"I can provide financial support within the limits of what I can control──"
"Please give that to Princess Sofia. His Majesty the Demon Lord provides everything I need for my life and work."
"Th-then, I can help defeat demon beasts! If there is a formidable opponent, I can──"
"I usually live in the Demon Lord's territory. It would be difficult for Your Highness to come all the way there."
"...I see."
Princess Liana's shoulders slumped.
But that could not be helped.
If I accepted support directly from Princess Liana, it might arouse suspicion in the Empire.
Princess Liana was the 'Holy Sword Princess.' She was the focus of attention from the imperial family and the nobility.
If I received support from her, I would attract the nobles' attention──and might ultimately cause trouble for the Demon Lord's territory.
"B-but I... I will not be satisfied unless I apologize properly. Please──"
"Then, could you tell me about the Holy Sword?"
I spoke.
"You brought the Holy Sword with you for this demon beast investigation, did you not, Your Highness?"
"...Er, yes. I obtained permission to bring it with me."
Princess Liana hesitated briefly before nodding.
"However, it has been entrusted to the main force, so I cannot show it to you──"
"No, I am not asking you to show it to me or lend it to me."
When I said this, Princess Sofia looked startled.
Why were you surprised? Even I would not say, 'Lend me the Holy Sword' or 'Let me appraise it.' I mean it!
"I only want to ask what the Holy Sword is like."
I collected myself and continued asking questions.
"You are the Holy Sword Princess. So you must know what materials the Holy Sword is made from, and how it creates its blade of light, do you not?"
"...I am sorry. I do not know."
However, Princess Liana shook her head.
"Holy Sword Dolgaria is normally kept in the treasury. I only wield it after receiving permission. I have never appraised it, and I do not know what materials it is made from."
"Then could you tell me how to use the Holy Sword?"
"How to use it?"
"I have heard that the Holy Sword can create a gigantic blade of light──the 'Holy Sword's Photon Blade.' I would like to know the steps used to create it."
"Even if you ask me that... I only pour magic into the Holy Sword..."
"You pour magic into the Holy Sword?"
"Yes. I pour in Light magic with a 'swish,' let it seep into the blade with a 'shlur,' create the blade of light with a 'thrum,' and then release it all at once with a 'slash!'"
Princess Liana said this.
She was completely serious.
She did not seem to be joking.
She poured in magic with a 'swish,' let it seep into the blade with a 'shlur,' and created a blade of light with a 'thrum.'
Then she released it all at once with a 'slash!'
I see... So that was how the legendary Holy Sword Dolgaria was used... I had no idea.
"I am sorry, Thor Kanan-sama. As I mentioned earlier, Liana has a natural genius for things..."
Princess Sofia murmured this in a fading voice.
She pressed a hand to her forehead as though trying to endure a headache.
"Liana has a talent for handling things flawlessly. Her greatest talent is her ability with the sword, but... as a result, she cannot explain very well how she actually does these things."
"...Y-yes. It is embarrassing."
"But, Liana, there is such a thing as choosing your words. Is that really how you describe using the Holy Sword?"
"That is true."
I nodded.
"If you are pouring magic in with a 'swish,' then charging the Holy Sword takes about 2.8 seconds. But there is a rumor that Mithril is used in the Holy Sword. If that is true, 'swish' sounds like you are pouring the magic in too quickly. Wouldn't that cause some loss of magic?"
"How do you know that!?"
Princess Liana cried out.
"Th-then would 'whoooosh, swish' be better for pouring in the magic?"
"I think that would improve it. But going a little more slowly would be better──"
"...Um, Thor Kanan-sama?"
Princess Sofia was staring at me with wide eyes.
"Thor Kanan-sama, can you understand all that from Liana's explanation?"
"Because I am an alchemist."
To make magic items, you have to run magic through the materials.
I am always sensing what that feels like──whether the magic moves with a 'swish,' a 'shwa,' or a 'gradual seep.'
Besides, people who commission items are not always good at explaining what they want.
I had studied so that I could fulfill any request.
"If Your Highness has been flowing magic into the Holy Sword with a 'swish,' then the magic may not have permeated the blade evenly."
"Y-yes! There have been times when the magic did not spread evenly."
"Then it seems the Holy Sword really does use Mithril."
That was valuable information.
I would have liked to talk a little more about how to channel the magic... but still.
It would be a problem if my advice increased the Holy Sword's power.
There was always a chance the Empire might turn the Holy Sword against the Demon Lord's territory.
I was an alchemist, and my dream was to surpass the items of the Hero's world.
But that did not mean I wanted to say, 'I will not be satisfied unless the Holy Sword displays its true power!'
I would simply give her a little advice here.
Instead, I would ask about the Holy Sword's materials and how to channel magic into it.
If that allowed me to create a magic sword that surpassed the Holy Sword, it would benefit Lukie.
"──So after pouring in the magic, you should let it permeate the whole blade with a 'suuuuh.'"
"Not a 'shlur'?"
"That sounds as though it would add rotation to the magic. Wouldn't the magic bounce around inside the blade and create resistance?"
"Th-that's exactly right! You understand it!?"
"Because I am an alchemist."
"You are exactly right! After a 'swish' followed by a 'shlur,' the blade of light forms quickly, but I felt slight resistance when releasing the blade of light."
"Then I think it would be better to let the magic permeate with a 'suuuuh.' Even if it delays the blade's formation, it would only be by one or two seconds. Since more magic would permeate the blade, the blade of light should extend farther. That would give you a wider reach and make it easier to fight, would it not?"
"Kanan-sama. You are..."
"I have no intention of returning to the Empire, you know?"
"I understand. But as an imperial princess, I am ashamed. The Court and the High Officials' Council made the fatal mistake of losing you..."
"More importantly, I want to know about releasing the blade of light. What does it feel like when you release the blade with a 'slash!'?"
"Y-yes! I will explain in detail!"
After that, Princess Liana and I discussed the supply of magic to the Holy Sword.
Princess Liana kept nodding while demonstrating the motions of swinging a sword.
As I spoke with her, I gradually came to understand the flow of magic within the Holy Sword.
There was no doubt that Mithril was used in its construction.
I did not know about the other materials, but this was more than enough of a clue.
I would try making a magic sword based on how magic was channeled into the Holy Sword.
Princess Liana's method was to pour in magic with a 'swish,' let it permeate with a 'shlur,' create the blade of light with a 'thrum,' and release it with a 'slash!'
But if my prediction was correct, 'sizzle,' 'whoosh,' 'zhing,' and 'vwoom!' should produce more power. It might also be a good idea to condense the magic with a 'whirl' once after the 'zhing.'
That was how I could make a magic sword capable of competing with the Holy Sword.
I would experiment when I got back.
"Thank you very much, Kanan-sama."
"No, thank you. You gave me some valuable information."
During our conversation, Princess Liana also told me about the progress of the demon beast investigation and Grand Duke Charon.
Apparently, the demon beast investigation had not begun yet.
Still, Grand Duke Charon, the former Sword Saint, was with them.
If he was a former Sword Saint, he might capture the person summoning the demon beasts in no time.
"...Um, Kanan-sama."
"What is it, Princess Liana?"
"Earlier, Sister told me that I should interact with more people and learn more about the world."
Princess Liana said this with her head bowed.
"I am an imperial princess. I am also a member of the imperial family that drove you into the Demon Lord's territory. And... I have said rude things to you. But──"
She hesitantly extended a hand toward me.
"I have never met anyone as easy to talk to as you. So... if you do not mind... I, um, would like to be frie..."
"Friends?"
"O-of course, I do not intend to cause you any trouble. But if you do not mind, when Sister sends me a letter, could you also... write a line or two... something... for me...?"
Princess Liana's hand was trembling.
In that brief exchange, I felt that I had come to understand her a little.
Princess Liana was a natural genius. She could handle anything flawlessly.
But she did not know how she accomplished those things, and she found it difficult to share what she felt with other people.
That was why she had only been influenced by her tutor.
Her tutor had watched Liana for a long time and understood her to some extent.
But Princess Liana had begun to realize that this was not enough.
She was trying to change so she would not lose her precious twin sister, Sofia.
If that was the case──
"Exchanging letters should be fine."
I took Princess Liana's hand.
"Just to be safe, I will use a pseudonym, though."
"I do not mind. I... want to remain connected to the person Sister chose."
"Understood. Then when Princess Sofia sends Princess Liana a letter, I will write something as well."
I looked toward Sofia.
"Is that all right, Princess Sofia?"
"Of course. I think it is an excellent idea."
Sofia clapped her hands happily.
"It will help Liana grow, so I will be happy to cooperate as well."
She placed her hand over mine and Princess Liana's.
Princess Liana saw this and let out a relieved sigh.
At this rate, she would not tell anyone in the Empire about me.
Princess Liana cared deeply for Princess Sofia. She had come all the way to a border town just to see her.
There was no way Princess Liana would betray her sister.
Exchanging letters under pseudonyms should be fine.
"Kanan-sama, please thank that incredible girl for me, too."
Princess Liana suddenly spoke.
"The way she caught the robber was far beyond anything Nona-sama or I could do. Someone like her might be able to carry on Grand Duke Charon-sama's swordsmanship."
"Understood. I will tell her."
"Someone that remarkable must have a reason for not giving her name. I will keep her identity to myself. I do not want to be scolded by Sister..."
"Oh, Liana."
Princess Sofia smiled gently, while Princess Liana trembled at her sister's smile.
What in the world had the two of them been talking about in here...?
...I would ask Princess Sofia later.
After that, we drank tea and talked about various things.
I asked about the resistance, while Princess Liana listened happily to stories about the border town.
As we continued, time passed──
"Princess Liana. It is almost time to leave the town."
Grand Duke Charon's adjutant, Nona-san, came to call Princess Liana.
By the way, 'Nona' was her real name.
While we had been talking, she had apparently been discussing matters with Isaac-san downstairs.
That was to keep the fact that Princess Liana was here a complete secret.
"I should mention this, just in case. I have a message from Grand Duke Charon-sama. 'If Princess Liana and Princess Sofia are able to reunite, there is no need to hurry back. Though I am old, this Charon can at least fulfill the duty of investigating the demon beasts.' That is what he said."
Grand Duke Charon seemed like a good person.
He and my father apparently had not gotten along, so I had not thought he was a bad person.
"──I will return."
Princess Liana shook her head at Nona-san's words.
"I have already received more than enough. I also understand what I lack. I want to show Grand Duke Charon-sama what I have accomplished."
"Understood. Then, Isaac-sama."
"Y-yes, understood! I will arrange an escort!"
The matter was settled.
Princess Liana would now return to Grand Duke Charon and carry out the demon beast investigation.
Our objectives were the same, but we could not act together.
They had received a formal order from the High Officials' Council in the Imperial Capital.
If we conducted the investigation together, it would probably lead to all sorts of trouble.
There were likely civil officials and strategists from the Imperial Capital with them as well.
We would conduct our own investigation separately.
"Thank you very much, Sister."
"Take care, Liana."
Princess Sofia walked to the entrance to see her sister off.
Agnis and I were hiding in a room on the first floor. We could not exactly stand out in the open to see her off.
"...I-I will be waiting for your letters."
Princess Liana whispered this to Princess Sofia.
Her gaze was directed toward the living room where we were staying.
And so Princess Liana returned to the town she had come from with her escort.
"Thank you, Thor Kanan-sama."
After seeing Princess Liana off, Sofia murmured those words.
I had returned to Princess Sofia's room. This time, Agnis was with me as well.
"Thank you for speaking with that girl. I am sorry for imposing on you."
"No, I am glad I got to speak with Princess Liana, too."
I had gotten to hear about the Holy Sword, after all.
Besides, by meeting and talking with her in person, I had learned that Princess Liana was an awkward person.
That alone had made it worthwhile.
──I would tell Lukie later about what had happened here.
"Hearing you say that... puts my mind at ease."
Princess Sofia pressed a hand to her chest and sighed.
"Liana is not a bad girl... but she is awkward and always fails to say enough... That is why she relied on Zagran, who pretended to understand her."
Zagran──he had been the former Minister of Military Affairs, if I remembered correctly.
Apparently, he had been Princess Liana's tutor.
"As a princess, she can face people properly. But she has hardly ever faced anyone as an individual. So she relied on Zagran and me. But Zagran is gone, and I came to the border region. Having lost the people she relied on, she..."
"She came to see you, Princess Sofia."
"Yes. But here, with your and Agnis-sama's guidance, she was able to see how the people lived. Then she saw how much I had changed. It seems that gave her a positive change as well."
As she said this, Sofia bowed to me once again.
"Thank you, Thor Kanan-sama and Agnis-sama."
"I did not do much."
"Agnis did not do much either."
"Then, allow me to speak with you as an envoy from the Demon Lord's territory."
I changed the subject.
"His Majesty the Demon Lord wishes for the Demon Lord's territory and Princess Sofia's soldiers to search for the demon beast and the person who summoned it."
"A joint investigation. I agree."
"Grand Duke Charon and Princess Liana will also be investigating, but if they find the summoner first, they might not share the information with us."
It had nothing to do with what kind of people Grand Duke Charon and Princess Liana were.
This was an issue between nations.
The Empire had absolutely no reason to give the Demon Lord's territory information about the person who used summoning magic.
"Yes... that is true. Liana and Grand Duke Charon-sama are the field unit. The High Officials' Council in the Imperial Capital will probably interrogate the culprit. His name, motive, and the details of the incident..."
"There is a chance they will not tell us..."
"That is why I think we need to hurry with our own investigation. It would be good if we could find some kind of clue..."
"Come to think of it, Isaac said something that concerns me."
Sofia suddenly murmured this.
"He apparently found signs that something large had passed through the eastern forest. The grass had been flattened and trees had been broken. It was different from the place where the 'Giant Centipede' passed the other day, so perhaps a new species of demon beast had gone through there. But..."
"That alone probably will not be enough of a clue."
"You are right, Agnis-sama. Even if a demon beast passed through there, that is all it tells us. We do not know where it went..."
"No, we might be able to do something."
I took a sheet of parchment from my 'Ultra-Compact Simple Storage.'
I had copied an item from the 'Mail-Order Catalog' onto it.
The catalog itself was important, so I had left it in the workshop's 'Simple Storage.' Besides, the item I was going to make was somewhat complicated, so I wanted to prepare a proper blueprint.
"What kind of item is this...?"
"I will explain it now. I would like to hear your opinions as well, Princess Sofia and Agnis."
Apparently, this item had been a luxury product in the Hero's world.
The 'Mail-Order Catalog' had used a full two-page spread to introduce it.
It was a magic item that used the latest technology of the Hero's world to clean up its surroundings.
"With this item, we may be able to find the demon beast itself from its traces."
I began my explanation.