Chapter 97
──Princess Liana's Perspective──
"Grand Duke Charon-sama. There is something I do not understand."
Inside the carriage traveling toward the fortress, Princess Liana murmured softly.
Seeing Grand Duke Charon nod calmly, she said,
"You said that you had investigated the flow of funds from the Imperial Capital regarding the new demon beast incident."
"Indeed."
"Does that mean... you were certain that someone from the Empire was involved in this incident? That it was not an attack from another country, but the work of someone within the Empire?"
Grand Duke Charon did not answer.
He merely looked out the window and sighed.
It was the first time.
Grand Duke Charon was cheerful and a master of the sword.
Yet now, he appeared troubled.
"I had anticipated it. I had hoped I was wrong, though."
"Why would someone from the Empire do such a thing?"
"I believe the cause lies in the past. After the Hero departed, the Empire made several mistakes in steering the nation. I believe those mistakes continue to affect us even now."
After a while, Grand Duke Charon said,
"When I was young, the Empire drove out innocent people and lost something important because of it. That may be why the Empire has become what it is today. However, I cannot say more in a place where soldiers are nearby."
"Does something from the past still affect the nation even now...?"
"It was a mistake made long before Princess Liana was born."
"What happened...?"
"The Imperial family lost someone they should never have lost. That is why they have continued seeking a power to replace that person. That is all I can say here. Please forgive me."
Grand Duke Charon said this and turned his gaze toward the window again.
"I will tell you the rest after the demon beast investigation is over."
"You will tell me once it is over?"
"I promise."
"But... I may not be able to understand it properly. May I tell Sister Sofia as well?"
"Of course. You are an honest one, Your Highness."
"I only just met Sister Sofia the other day, and she scolded me."
Liana instinctively pressed a hand to her cheek.
She remembered how Sofia had scolded her, made her cry, and then wiped away her tears.
"I am still an inexperienced girl who is constantly scolded by my sister. Even the way I use the Holy Sword still has room for improvement. That is why I have decided to rely on people who understand the things I do not."
"To acknowledge one's own inexperience... That is not easy to do, Your Highness."
Grand Duke Charon looked at Princess Liana with admiration.
Then, as though speaking to himself,
"If only the Empire of that time had possessed such humility... We would not have lost those people. Why did my grandfather...?"
("My grandfather." Grand Duke Charon-sama's grandfather?)
He was the grandfather of the current Emperor, and the great-grandfather of Liana and Sofia.
Liana knew almost nothing about that generation.
(Is he saying that something which happened during Great-Grandfather's generation is connected to the new demon beast?)
She could not ask aloud.
Grand Duke Charon, seated across from her, looked deep in thought.
But immediately afterward──
Clack, clack.
The horses made wary sounds, and the carriage shook.
"Stop the carriage!"
Grand Duke Charon suddenly shouted.
He immediately took up his sword and leaped outside.
Liana hurriedly took the Holy Sword and followed him.
"The horses are acting strangely. They are unusually frightened... They seem to be on guard. There was a similar situation before, when a demon beast was approaching. We should investigate."
When Liana stepped outside, Grand Duke Charon was stroking the horses harnessed to the carriage.
The horses snorted heavily and kicked at the ground in short, nervous movements.
If they had not been harnessed to the carriage, they would have fled already.
"Perhaps these creatures sensed a presence or killing intent imperceptible to humans. Nona, halt the formation and prepare for an interception."
Grand Duke Charon gave an order to his adjutant, Nona.
Adjutant Nona bowed to the Grand Duke and said,
"Understood. I will send scouts immediately."
"Please do. I will look ahead from the high ground."
With that, Grand Duke Charon ran toward a rocky area beside the highway.
He was fast.
Though one of his arms should have been impaired, he climbed the steep rocks with ease.
Liana found herself chasing after him.
Her special skill was tree climbing.
When Sofia still lived in the palace, Liana had once climbed trees to gather fruit for her.
Compared to that, a low rocky outcrop was nothing.
And so, when she reached the top of the rocky rise──
"────Is that... a scorpion?"
She saw a black scorpion coming straight toward them along the highway.
'Shagya! Shagyaaaaaaaaaah──!!'
The demon beast approached Liana and the others while letting out a scream.
It was a type of demon beast she had never seen before.
It was roughly five meters long.
It had two enormous pincers, and a large stinger on its tail.
What was more, it was wounded. Some of its legs had been scorched black, and it was crying out in anger.
Its eyes were red, and it stared intently in Liana's direction.
"Could that be... the new demon beast?"
Grand Duke Charon narrowed his eyes and stared intently at the new demon beast──the giant scorpion.
"It seems to have already fought someone. Are those scorch marks on its legs from magic? Yet its movements are smooth. Does that mean its wounds have already healed? What terrifying vitality."
"Grand Duke Charon-sama. What is that!?"
"Yes. It is definitely coming this way. We must prepare to intercept it at once."
"No! Behind that giant scorpion... There is something strange."
Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble────!
"It is a ball! Grand Duke Charon-sama, a cute ball is coming from behind the giant scorpion!"
"I see it. But is it cute?"
"I think it is cute. The way it makes those tiny, snappy movements..."
Could that also be a new demon beast?
She did not know. Liana had never seen a cute demon beast before.
Perhaps there were demon beasts that used their cute appearance to make humans let down their guard before attacking.
If so, they would have to defeat it.
"Shagyagyagya..."
Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble────!
But it was fast. Far too fast.
The ball running behind the giant scorpion suddenly accelerated.
In an instant, it passed the giant scorpion and came straight toward Liana, like a puppy that had found its owner.
When Liana saw this, she ran down the rocky rise.
The ball had already come close enough for her to see it clearly.
It was a white sphere.
It had no eyes, nose, or mouth. It was simply a smooth sphere.
It rolled along as though it possessed a will of its own.
"──Princess Liana!"
"Protect Her Highness──!!"
Grand Duke Charon and the soldiers shouted.
But Liana did not move.
It was intuition.
As the ball spun with a whir, changed direction with a twirl, and approached with a sharp whoosh, the figure of a certain person appeared in Liana's mind.
"Mage soldiers! Attack that ball!!"
Grand Duke Charon's voice rang out.
The white ball continued approaching.
When it was only a dozen or so seconds away, the ball stopped and split open from top to bottom.
A piece of white cloth protruded from the opening.
(That is!?)
Liana ran toward the ball.
She recognized that handkerchief.
A few days earlier, it had wiped away Liana's tears after she had been scolded and begun crying.
"Mage soldiers! Attack──"
"Please wait!"
Liana shouted.
"That is not an enemy! It is a messenger from my sister, Sofia Dolgaria!!"
Liana reached the ball.
Once she knew it was an ally, she found it unbearably cute.
When she reached out, the ball opened wide from the center with a soft snap.
There was a space inside for carrying things.
As expected, it contained her sister Sofia's handkerchief.
Beside it was a piece of parchment. Something was written on it. It was not her sister's handwriting. This was──
"What do you mean, a messenger from Princess Sofia?"
Grand Duke Charon approached and peered into the ball over Liana's shoulder.
"It is not a demon beast... Is it a golem?"
"There was a handkerchief belonging to Sister Sofia inside. That means this was definitely made by one of my sister's friends."
"A friend of Princess Sofia?"
Grand Duke Charon's eyes widened.
"N-no... I do not mean to doubt Your Highness's words, but... Is there really anyone capable of making something like this?"
"There is."
"...There is?"
"Besides, only that person would write something like this."
A smile escaped her before she knew it.
Only the bare minimum was written on the parchment.
"'The giant scorpion demon beast was summoned by the people in the Imperial fortress. It was ordered to hold up the Grand Duke and Princess Liana. It went berserk and headed south. I will pursue it right away, but if it looks like it can escape, let it go──'"
"I see... That is more or less what I expected. But I do not quite understand the writing that follows."
The Grand Duke scratched his head with a troubled expression.
"There are only strange sounds written here. Is this... a code?"
"It is something like that. Only Sister Sofia and I can understand it."
But Liana clearly understood what the words meant.
They were almost identical to words she had heard at Sofia's residence.
"...I understand. I understand your words, Alchemist-sama."
Liana hugged the parchment to her chest.
How extraordinary that person was.
With only the few words Liana had told him, he had understood the proper way to use the Holy Sword.
And he had sent her information on how to defeat the demon beast like this.
"Thank you as well, Cute Ball-san."
Rumble, rumble.
The ball returned to its spherical form and rubbed itself against Liana's leg.
I will think of it as that person's avatar.
Determined not to let herself appear pathetic, Liana picked up the mysterious ball.
"Nona-san, please take this cute ball somewhere safe."
Then Liana handed the parchment to Charon.
"This also explains the demon beast's abilities. Please read it and inform the soldiers as well."
"Magic has little effect on it, it can regenerate, and its hide is hard... What a troublesome demon beast."
"What will you do, Grand Duke Charon-sama?"
"Naturally, we have no choice but to fight and defeat it."
Grand Duke Charon took up his single-edged sword and smiled fearlessly.
"That creature was likely summoned because of the distortions within our Empire. As someone descended from the Imperial family, I cannot leave it alone. If it were to harm the people... I would never be able to forgive myself."
"I also wish to fulfill my duty as the wielder of the Holy Sword."
Liana gripped the Holy Sword tightly.
This was different from when she had fought 'Demon Beast Galgarossa.' Now, Liana could see her enemy clearly.
Grand Duke Charon stood beside her.
The person who had sent a messenger for Liana would arrive here soon.
Therefore, the new demon beast did not frighten her.
"Let us defeat that demon beast before my sister's messenger arrives."
"Indeed. Then, Nona! Lead the mage soldiers and attack!"
Grand Duke Charon gave an order to his adjutant, Nona.
"Magic is not very effective against that demon beast. However, we should be able to stop its movements. While it is staggered, Princess Liana, the swordsmen, and I will charge in! We will cut off at least a few of its legs."
"I would rather not recommend close combat..."
"We shall not act recklessly. Our objective is to damage the demon beast and render it unable to move."
"...Understood."
Adjutant Nona bowed and withdrew.
"Princess Liana."
"Y-yes, Nona-sama."
"Once this is over, I would like to escort Your Highness to 'Noza Town' once again. Imagine meeting your sister. Please do not get hurt."
"...I understand."
Liana nodded.
"I have something I wish to promise my sister when I see her again."
After a brief discussion, the battle began.
"Show them the strength of the Grand Duchy! Mage soldiers! All-out attack!!"
"'Icicle Lance'!!"
The Grand Duke's mage soldiers simultaneously unleashed Water-Attribute Magic.
Fire-based magic had little effect on the giant scorpion, 'Demon Beast Nozerias.' They should first use ice magic to restrict its movements.
That was what the parchment had said.
"...Who could have written that?"
Adjutant Nona murmured.
Whoever had written it must have known a great deal about the demon beast.
Could it be that they had actually defeated it...?
"Fire the second volley──!!"
"Oooooooooh!!"
Another 'Icicle Lance' volley struck 'Demon Beast Nozerias.'
They aimed for its legs and joints. If they could restrict its movements even slightly, it would make things easier for the close-combat unit.
But──
"...It is having an effect, but it does not appear to have caused any damage."
"...How pathetic. We are the elite of the Grand Duchy."
"...Do not give up! Reduce the burden on the Grand Duke and Her Highness, even if only slightly!!"
They fired a third volley in succession.
As it struck, Adjutant Nona and the mage soldiers shouted,
"Now! Grand Duke Charon-sama! Your Highness!!"
"How about we make a wager, Princess Liana?"
Grand Duke Charon said this.
The words were so unexpected before a battle that Liana tilted her head.
"A wager, Grand Duke Charon-sama?"
"Indeed. A wager over which of us will inflict more damage on 'Demon Beast Nozerias.'"
Grand Duke Charon and Princess Liana ran forward with their swords in hand.
Ice magic clung to the legs and pincers of 'Demon Beast Nozerias.'
The enemy's movements had slowed. This was their chance to attack.
Princess Liana gripped the Holy Sword tightly.
Even with an enormous demon beast before her, she was not afraid.
After seeing Sofia's handkerchief and that parchment, it was as though her fear had vanished.
"What will the reward for the wager be?"
"The secrets of the Imperial family."
Grand Duke Charon announced this while casually holding his single-edged sword at his side.
"If Your Highness delivers the final blow to that demon beast, I will tell you everything I know. If I deliver the final blow, I will tell you only the basic facts. There are things I would rather not discuss, after all."
"I understand. However..."
"However?"
"May I tell someone I trust what you tell me?"
"Princess Sofia? I have no objection."
"My sister, and someone whom both my sister and I trust."
"...I would prefer that person not be from the Empire."
"That person is from another country. Even if I do not tell her, my sister will."
"If that is someone trusted by both Princess Liana and Princess Sofia, I suppose it cannot be helped. Very well, let us make that conditional on your winning the wager!"
Grand Duke Charon increased his running speed.
Liana understood why he had proposed such a wager.
He was probably trying to ease her tension.
Liana had little experience in actual combat.
In her previous battle, 'Demon Beast Galgarossa' had nearly killed her.
Grand Duke Charon was worried that fear might slow her movements.
That was why he had offered her a small 'wager' to distract her.
"Thank you, Grand Duke Charon-sama."
Liana suddenly had a thought.
Perhaps Grand Duke Charon and that person would get along well.
The sword and alchemy were different fields, but both of them were striving to master a single path.
And both of them were very kind.
(I would like to introduce those two to each other.)
To do that, she had to defeat 'Demon Beast Nozerias.'
With that thought in mind, Liana charged toward the demon beast.
'Shugoooooooooah!'
"New demon beast. I will dissect you and determine what you are!"
Grand Duke Charon reached the demon beast's feet first.
He ran while drawing his black single-edged sword.
And then──
"I think I will take one of your legs first. Demon beast!"
Grand Duke Charon swung his single-edged sword in a single flash.
Just as he brought it down—or thought he had—there was a hard sound, and the blade passed through the demon beast's leg.
The next moment,
'Guaaah!'
One of the legs of 'Demon Beast Nozerias' was severed and fell away.
"──Amazing."
Liana could not follow Charon's sword with her eyes.
All she understood was that the black single-edged sword had severed 'Demon Beast Nozerias's' joint.
The demon beast's body was covered in hard skin.
That was why Grand Duke Charon had slipped his blade into the movable part of the leg──the gap in its hide.
He had even avoided the areas covered in ice magic.
'Shagya! Shagyaaaaaah!!'
'Demon Beast Nozerias' swung a pincer at the Grand Duke.
"An accurate counterattack. It is clever for a demon beast."
Before the enormous pincer could reach him, Grand Duke Charon swung his single-edged sword.
Clang!
The black blade bit into the base of 'Demon Beast Nozerias's' pincer.
He cut through it.
The demon beast's blood sprayed into the air.
But──
"──I cannot sever it completely. You are hard, aren't you?"
Grand Duke Charon's sword had only cut through half the flesh at the base of the pincer.
Even so, the demon beast's movements slowed.
Having lost a leg and part of the base of a pincer, it had lost its balance.
"This is... the swordsmanship of Grand Duke Charon, the former Sword Saint..."
Liana murmured in a daze.
Grand Duke Charon swung his sword at an imperceptible speed, slipping the blade into the gaps in the demon beast's hide.
And he did it using only his right arm.
That speed and precision were nothing short of divine.
"Now! Aim for the demon beast's belly!!"
"Follow Grand Duke Charon-sama──!!"
The Grand Duchy's swordsmen charged toward the demon beast.
The demon beast's movements stopped completely.
"Now, Princess Liana! Use the Holy Sword!"
"Yes!!"
The plan was simple.
Grand Duke Charon would charge in and cut the demon beast's legs, taking away its mobility.
Once its movements slowed, the soldiers would attack it.
After immobilizing the demon beast, Liana would inflict massive damage with the Holy Sword.
After that, they would repeatedly use magic and close-range attacks to wear down the demon beast's vitality.
In short, the plan was to make it bleed and gradually weaken it.
Grand Duke Charon and Liana were responsible for creating those wounds.
(...But I do not possess swordsmanship as skilled as Grand Duke Charon's.)
Grand Duke Charon deftly avoided 'Demon Beast Nozerias's' attacks and cut off its legs.
Liana could not do that.
Her role was to strike the demon beast with a powerful blow from the Holy Sword.
That was all she could do now.
(Then I will... fulfill my role!)
Liana──felt the weight of the Holy Sword clasped in both her hands.
If Alchemist Thor Kanan's theory was correct, Mithril had been used in its core.
Now that he had mentioned it, she could feel it.
She could sense magic power seeping into the blade with a 'Juwaaa.'
It was as though the sword and Liana had become one through magic power.
The parchment carried by the cute ball contained a message only Liana and Sofia could understand.
That was why she was certain it was a letter from Thor Kanan.
All she had to do was follow his advice.
('Shub,' 'Shul,' 'Zuzun,' 'Zuban'──No, that is not right.)
Thor Kanan had taught her a better way.
She would trust him.
And──once she met her sister, she would promise to become that person's absolute ally.
Because he was an alchemist, and to her sister Sofia, he was──someone precious──
"──Hm? Princess Liana!? The 'Light Blade' is...!?"
"──The Holy Sword's blade is swelling!?"
"──This is different from what we heard! What is that enormous blade!?"
"──Has Princess Liana awakened as a Hero!?"
Grand Duke Charon and the soldiers' voices lay outside Liana's awareness.
Liana focused solely on the Holy Sword.
She felt the magic power she had poured into it with a 'Juwaaa' filling the blade to the brim.
She infused it with magic power with a 'Shuuu,' calmed it, and took control of it.
The 'Light Blade' created with a 'Zukyun' was no longer than usual.
However, its thickness and width were different. If the previous 'Light Blade' had been a slender sword, this one was a machete or an axe.
As she kneaded the magic power with a 'Gyurun,' Liana shouted, "It's dangerous, so please move away!"
(This is the correct answer, Alchemist Thor Kanan-sama.)
At the end of the parchment carried by the ball, these words had been written:
'"Juwa," "Shuu," "Zukyun," "Gyurun," and "Zubabaan."'
──That was all.
It was a secret message only Liana and Sofia could understand.
When he visited 'Noza Town,' he had given Liana advice in the same way.
That had been Liana's first experience.
It had felt as though his words were seeping into her──
And even now, his words were sinking deeply, deeply into Liana.
'Shu, shugyagyagyagya──!'
Perhaps frightened by the Holy Sword's light, 'Demon Beast Nozerias' let out a scream.
But Liana would not let it escape.
Liana's role was to inflict a great wound on 'Demon Beast Nozerias' and make it bleed.
She already knew how to do that.
Therefore, Liana raised the Holy Sword and shouted,
"Demon beast! Take this! 'Holy Sword's Photon Blade—Zubababaaaan!!'"
The more-than-ten-meter-long 'Holy Sword's Light Blade' bit into the head of 'Demon Beast Nozerias.' It sliced through!
The hide that repelled swords and magic resisted──but yielded in less than a second.
The Light Blade pierced the skin covering the demon beast's body and cleaved through its head.
Then its torso. The aftershock of light cut into its legs.
'────Shagya...'
Burned by the tremendous magical light, the demon beast let out its final scream.
The Light Blade pierced the demon beast and had already begun scorching the ground.
The demon beast, more than five meters long, was sliced in half.
If Liana had been any closer to 'Demon Beast Nozerias,' the 'Holy Sword's Light Blade' would have cleaved all the way through its tail as well.
Liana sighed at the sensation and shouted,
"I have wounded the demon beast, however slightly! Everyone, deliver the final blow!!"
"──No, Your Highness. The demon beast is already dead."
"Huh?"
Liana dispelled the Light Blade and looked at the demon beast.
The giant scorpion, 'Demon Beast Nozerias,' lay collapsed on the ground, spraying poisonous blood.
It did not twitch at all.
"........I-I did this?"
"This is far beyond bleeding. It is a fatal wound. That was incredible, Princess Liana──"
"...N-no, that is not it."
"That power will go down in the history of the Empire. Magnificent, Your Highness."
"I-it was not my power. This is... well..."
"Does the parchment from earlier have something to do with it?"
As expected of Grand Duke Charon. He was sharp.
But she could not speak of Thor Kanan.
(I have decided. I will become that person's absolute ally. I will never wield the Holy Sword's power against him or the people he cherishes.)
She could not cause him trouble.
"That was... written by someone precious to me, to encourage me."
"'Juwa,' 'Shuu,' 'Zukyun,' 'Gyurun,' and 'Zubabaan.' So it was something like a charm to cheer Your Highness up."
Grand Duke Charon nodded as though convinced by Liana's words.
"To think that it could activate Your Highness's magic power. I see... You must hold very strong feelings for that person."
"...Huh?"
"Do not worry. If the writer of the letter is the person Your Highness loves, this Grand Duke Charon will help. I will use whatever means necessary to ensure that you and that person are united."
"Grand Duke Charon-sama!? N-no, it is not like that!"
"Indeed. Your Highness is at the age for such things. There must be matters you cannot discuss with an old Grand Duke."
"I-it is not like that! It is not... probably."
Liana shook her head, her face bright red.
Grand Duke Charon's words were far too unexpected for Liana.
Since childhood, she had wielded a sword as the Holy Sword Princess.
She had thought only about the sword, her sister, and the country.
As the 'Holy Sword Princess,' Liana would never be sent abroad. She had vaguely assumed that she would eventually enter a political marriage with some noble from within the country, but she had never fallen in love with anyone.
And yet──
(That person... Could I have feelings for that person? Impossible. Because...)
Her sister Sofia had feelings for that person.
Now she understood why her sister had become so angry when Liana mentioned the 'Wandering Alchemist.'
Why Sofia had looked so sad while lecturing Liana.
For some reason, Liana now understood clearly that it was because of Sofia's feelings for Alchemist Thor Kanan.
Why she understood this, Liana did not know.
(...I-I am getting confused. What am I supposed to do?)
In any case, she had to thank Thor Kanan.
It was thanks to him that she had defeated 'Demon Beast Nozerias' without a single casualty.
But... she wanted to wait a little first.
Holding her pounding chest, Liana thought,
It was because the Grand Duke had said something strange. If she met Thor now──she would surely become self-conscious──
"Oh, that is the flag of 'Noza Town.' It appears your sister's unit has arrived, Your Highness."
"──Eek!?"
A strange sound escaped her.
When she looked north along the highway, she saw the flag representing 'Noza Town' in the distance.
(...What am I going to do?)
Sofia's unit had arrived before Liana could prepare herself mentally.
Thor Kanan was probably among them.
What should she do?
Should she release the 'Holy Sword's Photon Blade' into the sky with a Zubababaaaan as a gesture of welcome?
If she did that, she would surely run out of magic power. Then she might be forgiven for not meeting him face-to-face. No, that was reckless. Grand Duke Charon would scold her, and Sofia's unit would find it suspicious. Then what should she do...?
While she was thinking, Sofia's unit drew closer and closer.
Liana's heart pounded violently.
She wanted to use the excuse that she had just finished fighting and sit down right there.
(N-now is not the time. Really... I can't.)
Liana instinctively covered her face with both hands.
An emotion had welled up inside her without warning. She had no idea how to deal with it.
Thinking that she was still terribly inexperienced, Liana could not tear her eyes away from the approaching flag. She realized that she was searching the unit for Thor Kanan. She could not look away.
"Your Highness, would it not be better to put away the Holy Sword?"
Grand Duke Charon suddenly spoke.
"It does appear that Minotaurs──people from the Demon Lord's territory──are traveling with the 'Noza Town' unit. However, they are allies who informed us about the demon beast. Would it not be rude to remain on guard and clutch the Holy Sword?"
"N-no, this is my emotional support..."
"I do not quite understand, but there is no need to worry. Nona, take the Holy Sword."
"Yes. Your Highness, this way."
Liana inadvertently handed the Holy Sword to Nona when the adjutant held out her hand.
She had always done so after a battle. She had reflexively acted the same way this time.
Once the Holy Sword was gone──Liana became anxious again.
It was the same as when she had traveled to 'Noza Town' to meet her sister.
She felt as though she were standing there naked.
Defeating the demon beast had given her confidence as the 'Holy Sword Princess,' but now another problem stood before her. She had no idea how to overcome this one.
Because this was something she absolutely could not discuss with her sister Sofia.
"Then let us go greet your sister's unit, Your Highness."
"...Yeees."
Prompted by the Grand Duke, who did not understand a maiden's heart, Liana began to walk.
And so, she found herself facing the 'Noza Town' unit.