Side: Raus
What should I do?
“Raus Woodlandlight, in recognition of your achievements in the defense of Lichtenfels and the subjugation of the Slume Lord, you are hereby granted knighthood.”
Upon ascending to Amagi Castle, I was summoned to the Audience Chamber and suddenly bestowed knighthood by Emperor Reinhardt.
Well, I knew I was going to be granted knighthood, but I was told it would be several years from now.
However, Seras Lichtenfels, the Daughter of Grand Duke Lichtenfels of Libertà, took a liking to me. My knighthood was expedited, and I was registered as a G-rank Order.
The Grand Ducal House of Lichtenfels is responsible for Libertà’s diplomacy, and is treated almost like royalty in foreign affairs.
Therefore, Seras is, in a sense, a princess of Libertà.
My fiancées are Rebecca, Carol, and Reina. Rebecca and Reina are village girls, and Carol, though a noble of Amister, is the daughter of a count. So, there was a chance I might end up with the Grand Ducal House of Libertà. That’s why they made me a G-rank Order first.
Grand Duke Liar and Seras’s mother, Catafnia, seem to welcome the idea of my engagement to Seras. If we were to get engaged, it would also create a connection with the four Ancient Humans: Yamato, Prim, Mako, and Mana.
In other countries, they would be desperately trying to recruit me, but since the Grand Ducal House of Libertà handles diplomacy, they wouldn’t push too hard, considering international relations.
Thus, I was told that even if I became a G-rank Order at this awkward timing, there wouldn’t be any major issues. It also helped that Libertà is in a state where it’s no exaggeration to say it has already fallen.
“The birth of the youngest G-rank Order. This record will likely never be broken.”
“Indeed. Or perhaps, if Lord Yamato has a child…”
“Who knows about that.”
Emperor Reinhardt and Tolman are having such a conversation, but I, for one, hope that Yamato’s future child will break this record.
“So, Raus, what about Miss Seras?”
“Rebecca, Carol, and Reina respect my decision. However, all three of them seem to get along well with Seras, and are currently invited to a tea party in the garden.”
I heard that Princess Elis is hosting it, and Catafnia’s co-wives and Seras’s older sister, Ciel, are also participating.
Reina is nervous, but since she’s usually in contact with Mana and Yuri, I don’t think she’ll make any fatal blunders.
“Ah, Elis mentioned something about that. In that case, you should probably prepare yourself, shouldn’t you?”
I suppose so.
However, the person who will become my wife will be at least five.
So even if Seras becomes one, she’ll be the fourth.
I don’t know Seras well, but I can tell she’s not a bad person, so maybe it’s okay to accept her for now. Not that it’s not dishonest.
“That’s up to you, Raus. I’ve also heard Lord Gaia’s precognitive dream, so I think it’s fine whatever you decide.”
“I am also going to Solemnne, so I intend to reach a decision after the war is over. I don’t think this is a matter that requires a hasty decision.”
“That would be for the best.”
The Libertà army is not involved in the Deseo conquest.
More accurately, they cannot be involved due to insufficient forces.
I intend to sink the Steam Battleships that are attacking Libertà before departing for Deseo. However, some ships will likely escape, and Lichtenfels is close to Retisencia, so we’ll need to be vigilant there as well.
Grand Duke Liar also understands and accepts this, as we don’t have the leeway to send reinforcements to other cities, let alone participate in the Deseo conquest.
Therefore, even if Seras wishes to accompany me, I cannot take her.
“So, what will you do now? Will you attend the tea party?”
“Are you telling me to die, Your Majesty? No matter how you look at it, it’s a minefield. There’s no way I can go.”
I don’t know what “minefield” means, but it’s a phrase brought by a guest.
It’s conveyed with the proverb “stepping on a landmine,” but I think the meaning is something like “going to one’s own demise.”
“That may be true, but it concerns your future, so you can’t just avoid it, can you?”
Emperor Reinhardt’s malicious smile is hateful.
It’s certainly a matter that concerns my future, but that doesn’t mean I want to go.
“In that case, since Princess Elis will also be there, will Your Majesty accompany us?”
“I would prefer to decline, but since Elis is hosting, I should make an appearance at least once…”
Ugh, I only said that to try and escape, but I never expected him to say that.
This means my escape route is cut off…
I have no choice but to face it.
Side: Seras
Princess Elis, the Queen, has invited us to hold a tea party in the castle gardens. Mother, Sister Ciel, Mother Mail, and Mother Fleur are also here.
On Princess Elis’s side are Raus’s fiancées, Rebecca, Carol, and Reina.
“So, he is Lord Yamato’s disciple, is that right?”
“Yes. Rebecca’s older sister here is one of his wives, so that’s how we’re connected.”
I wanted to know how Raus became a disciple of the Ancient Human, Lord Yamato, but I never imagined that Rebecca’s older sister had become Yamato’s wife.
Moreover, it was a surprise that this wife, Sister Flame, married Lord Yamato only four months ago.
This means Raus evolved to High Class in just four months and gained the ability to single-handedly defeat a G-R rank monster, the Canal Rhinoceros.
“Even though I have evolved, I believe it would be better for you to wait a few more years, Lady Seras.”
“Why?”
“There is a condition called acute mana fluctuation syndrome. This occurs when the body cannot keep up with rapid level-ups, and if it worsens, it can cause a high fever and severe fatigue.”
Furthermore, if a minor evolves to High Class, it can not only hinder their growth but also cause severe pain during growth.
Rebecca and Carol have also suffered from this pain several times, and there were occasions when they couldn’t walk.
I doubted if such a disease truly existed, but I was told by the Healer’s Guild that it is a promotion test for P-rank healers, so it’s not unusual for P-rank or higher healers to have this knowledge.
Moreover, Carol received guidance from Lady Sayuri, a guest and former Queen, so I had to swallow the words that were about to come out of my mouth.
“That’s why we intend to let Reina gain experience slowly and level up at her own pace, Miss Reina.”
Reina is extremely tense, but despite being the same age as me, her level is 27, which is higher than my level 23.
Of course, Reina just registered as a hunter the other day, and she has almost no combat experience, so I would win if we were to fight properly.
This is bad.
I want to walk alongside Raus, but why do I keep thinking about fighting?
“Regarding Seras, are you alright with this?”
“Yes. We spoke a little the other day, but the initial trigger was Raus saving Lady Seras from the Canal Rhinoceros.”
“However, if Raus hadn’t intervened then, Lady Seras would have been at best seriously injured, and at worst, she would have lost her life, so it couldn’t be helped.”
I think so too.
At that time, the Canal Rhinoceros, with Raus’s support, had managed to land the finishing blow on the Ridoceros and was charging at me with water-attribute magic at tremendous speed.
There was also my own issue of being a little dazed after defeating a monster for the first time, but Raus shielded me, used wind-attribute magic and telekinetic magic to reduce the momentum of the Canal Rhinoceros’s charge, cradled me with his right arm, deflected the charge with the shield on his left arm, and used the blade embedded in the shield to sever the Canal Rhinoceros’s horn.
After that, he put some distance between us, lowered me, then imbued his right sword with wind and lightning, thrust it into the place where the horn had been on the enraged Canal Rhinoceros, and ended its life.
Not only did he save me, but he also easily slaughtered a G-R rank monster. I became interested in Raus, but he was concerned for my safety and escorted me all the way to my father and brother Adeline.
It was then that I realized I had fallen in love with Raus.
“Huh? You two were also participating in the Slume Lord subjugation battle in Torencia?”
“Yes. As I am an archer, I was mainly providing rear support, but Carol was tasked with hunting Icicle Tigers and Friezas Tigers alongside Raus.”
…What?
No, wait.
The Icicle Tiger should be a G-rank monster, and the Friezas Tiger should be a P-R rank monster.
I know about the Demise Species Slume Lord subjugation battle that took place in Torencia last month, as it has been reported even in Lichtenfels.
And Raus and the others participated in that Slume Lord subjugation battle?
“High Class monsters had to deal with Icequake Tigers and Avalanche Howls, so Raus and I, with the help of Lord Yamato and Prim’s familiars, were assigned to annihilate the Icicle Tigers and Friezas Tigers. After all, there were 19 Icequake Tigers and 2 Avalanche Howls.”
Our faces must have turned completely white, beyond pale.
The Icequake Tiger is an M-I rank monster, and the Avalanche Howl is an A-C rank monster.
Given the number of those Icequake Tigers and Avalanche Howls, it’s incredible that they succeeded in subjugation, even with five Ancient Classes present.
“From what I hear, you were also the main force…”
“Raus certainly was. After all, they were subjugating Icequake Tigers alongside the Orders.”
My sister is speaking with dread, but Carol reveals an even more shocking fact.
Defeating Icequake Tigers alongside the Orders?
“But Raus himself still feels he has a long way to go. It can’t be helped, since his Master is his Master.”
“Huh? Oh, yes, their master, Lord Yamato, defeated the Slume Lord, didn’t he?”
“Strictly speaking, he wasn’t alone, but the finishing blow seems to have been Yamato’s Unique Magic.”
It’s surprising that Lord Yamato and his first wife, Primrose, have defeated a Demise Species twice.
Moreover, the first Demise Species subjugation was reportedly by Oak Emperor and Orc Empress individually, so I couldn’t understand what they were saying when I first heard it.
However, those Orc Emperors and Orc Empresses have been preserved as taxidermied specimens and presented to Amagi Castle along with their magic stones.
We were also able to see them thanks to Emperor Reinhardt’s generosity, and even as taxidermied specimens, they had a terrifying presence.
After the Slume Lord subjugation, they were officially announced, and the taxidermied specimens were exhibited for a while in the third appraisal room of the Hunter’s Guild Amister headquarters. It is said that some hunters and Orders accepted death upon seeing them.
I was one of them, so I can deeply understand the feelings of those hunters and Orders.
Given that Lord Yamato and Primrose defeated the Orc Emperor and Orc Empress individually, and then went on to defeat the Slume Lord, it’s understandable that even Raus might not feel confident in his own strength.
“Excuse me for intruding.”
“P-pardon us.”
At that moment, Emperor Reinhardt appeared with Raus.
The moment I saw Raus’s face, my cheeks felt hot…
Raus is to be granted knighthood in recognition of his past achievements, but behind this is Emperor Reinhardt’s intention, considering my relationship with him.
Even if I can get engaged to Raus, he is still a disciple of Lord Yamato, an O-rank Order, so he will not move his base of operations to Lichtenfels.
In fact, my father believes that if he can marry me off to Raus, it will create a connection with the four Ancient Classes, Lord Yamato and Primrose, and that alone is enough.
Even so, normally they would try to recruit him with at least a word or two, but there are reasons why they cannot do so, which is the troublesome nature of politics.
“Your Majesty!”
“It’s been a while, Ciel.”
Sister Ciel’s smile blooms like a flower, but Emperor Reinhardt is slightly wary.
It’s understandable, as Sister Ciel has had a crush on Emperor Reinhardt since she was young, and because of that, even at the age of 20, she has no prospect of an engagement.
“Lord Raus, thank you for saving Seras the other day. I express my gratitude once again.”
“Ah, no. I was doing my best.”
“As a token of my gratitude, how about Seras?”
“M-Mother!”
What is she saying all of a sudden!
Raus looks bewildered!
“Um, about that matter, I will also be participating in the Deseo conquest, so would it be alright to give you an answer after that?”
Raus is also participating in the Deseo conquest?
“I-if that’s the case, then I will too!”
I blurted out, instinctively grabbing Raus’s arm.
“Seras, I’m sorry, but that’s not possible. The Deseo conquest will be carried out by an Allied Force of Amister and Torencia. If you were to join, it would be perceived that Libertà was also participating. Furthermore, if Seras is coming, escorts would naturally have to be arranged.”
“That’s right. Moreover, not just Lichtenfels, but the entire country of Libertà doesn’t have the capacity to participate in the Deseo conquest. If you were to participate, it would lead to further complications after the war. We must avoid that.”
I understand what Emperor Reinhardt and Mother are saying.
But it is frustrating that I can do nothing while Raus is heading into mortal danger.
“I will return safely.”
Raus smiled gently at me, who must have looked worried.
Rebecca and Carol also gently put their arms around me.
Reina is also smiling, albeit awkwardly, so she’s probably trying to reassure me.
“Y-you promise, okay? You absolutely have to return safely! Rebecca, Carol, and Reina too, of course.”
“Of course!”
“Our lives are not so cheap that we would give them to a mere Solemnne.”
“I promise!”
With tears in my eyes, I hugged Raus.
“How heartwarming.”
“Indeed. So, Li, what about Sister Ciel?”
“As I’ve said many times…”
“It’s not a bad thing, is it? After the war, Libertà will proceed with reconstruction centered around the Grand Ducal House of Lichtenfels. If the Daughter of the Grand Ducal House of Lichtenfels marries the King of Amister, it will be easier to receive support from Amister, and Libertà’s reconstruction will progress faster. Besides, as I’ve said before, what are my and Maruca’s intentions?”
“W-well, that’s true, but…”
I quickly pulled away from Raus, realizing I had hugged him in front of Mother and the others, but the conversation had turned to Sister Ciel’s situation.
From what I heard, Princess Elis and Princess Maruca seem to approve of Sister Ciel?
“Your Majesty, if I can marry Your Majesty, I am willing to abandon not only Libertà but also Lichtenfels. I have admired you ever since I first met you.”
She said that even to her father, didn’t she, Sister Ciel?
Moreover, these were not mere words of convenience but expressions from the heart, so Father could only give a wry smile. He couldn’t actively move the marriage forward, so Sister Ciel’s marriage plans remained undecided.
“…I will also participate in the Deseo conquest, so the answer will have to wait until we return.”
“That is acceptable. I, along with their Majesties the consorts, sincerely await your safe return.”
Emperor Reinhardt likely had no choice but to answer that way.
The conversation has moved on to Sister Ciel’s marriage prospects, not just mine.
They are apparently scheduled to begin their advance towards Deseo in a few days, so the next time we meet will be in about a month at the earliest.
I sincerely pray for the safe return of Raus, Emperor Reinhardt, and all the Orders, Sabers, and Hunters who will be participating.
