Summons
ーRegalia Empire Royal Palaceー
“Kana-min, what do you think is going on?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t have a very good feeling about it”
Mari and I have such a conversation. Today, the training ended as usual and when we thought ‘Now, let’s go have dinner’, this country’s First Imperial Princess, Imperial Princess Catarina came. And
“Everybody, good work with the training. My apologies for saying this while you are all feeling exhausted, but can I have all of you follow me? Otou-sama is calling”
we were told. Maybe because our ages are close, Imperial Princess Catarina gets along well with Kouki-kun and the others. I can’t trust the cold gaze she shows me sometimes no matter what so I don’t get along that well with her though.
“Yo, Catarina. It’s fine but did something happen?”
“Nothing of that sort, Kouki. He is only just calling. Fufufu”
says Catarina who grabs Kouki-kun’s arm and embraces it by her chest. Ayumi-san who saw that
“Wait, Catarina. Aren’t you sticking a little to close to Kouki?”
says and gets angry. This is a common sight so nobody pays any mind to it though. And then we were brought to a place called the Throne Room after following Imperial Princess Catarina.
It seems we will have an audience with His Majesty here. We all go in and the ministers are lining up inside on both sides. Uu, I’m not used to this kind of place so I’m nervous.
“Kana-min, your face’s pale. Feeling nervous?”
“Mari, that’s a given. I’ve never stood in such a gorgeous place before”
Mari giggles when I say that. Geez! Moreover, the atmosphere of the ministers around is tense. I guess there’s something.
As I’m thinking about such things
“His Majesty arr~ive~s!”
and there’s a voice. In that instant, everybody crouches and kneels on one knee. I learned that this is the initial posture on the occasion of an audience in the Throne Room. And then His Majesty
“Raise your faces”
, I hear that we can’t raise our faces until he says that. And then
“Welcome, Heroes. It has already been a year since you lived here, how is it?”
“Yes, we are living without any inconvenience. This too is thanks to Your Majesty’s consideration”
Kouki-kun who represents us tells His Majesty. Perhaps he’s used to such things, he’s brimming with confidence. Ayumi-san who looks at that next to him is being charmed. Mari is looking at that sight and giggling though. You have bad taste, Mari.
“Is that so, I am glad about that. And why I called you people out is because I thought it is about time to have you people participate in an actual battle”
All of us were shrouded in an air of nervousness the moment we heard that. As I thought, it’s an unpleasant topic.
‘What do you mean by that?”
“Nn? According to what I heard from the Commander, I hear that you people are growing so fast that the training is lacking behind. If that is the case, I thought you people should experience an actual battle next”
“……In what form is an ‘actual battle’?”
I had a feeling that His Majesty smirked when Kouki-kun asked His Majesty that.
“War, obviously”
“Wha!”
Everybody who heard that was lost for words. No way. A war.
“What, I will not tell you to kill people all of a sudden. It will be fine if I have you just follow along with the 100 thousand troops the Commander commands. For the sake of knowing the atmosphere of a battlefield”
Kukuku, laughs His Majesty. No way that’d be it. It’s obvious that we’ll definitely be sent out if we go to a battlefield. That’s the extent of the strength the Heroes possess. Although it’s not a match for the S Rank Adventurer-sans, there are even some people who can go toe to toe with the Commander. I don’t have that much strength though.
“Kana-min……”
As I think about such things, Mari looks at me with a ghastly pale face. That’s right, I’ve decided. I’ve decided to protect this precious bosom friend of mine who worries for me even when we come to a world like this. I grab Mari’s hand
“It’ll be fine. I’ll be by your side, okay”
and say, and it feels like Mari’s complexion somewhat recovered.
“It will be at the end of the winter of next year. Commander. Nurture the Heroes until then”
“Hah! Please leave it to me!”
It’s roughly less than a year until the date. In the meantime, I have to become strong enough to not die.
“Where will the location be?”
asks Kouki-kun.
“The location is Runwalker Border that is at the border of Regalia Empire and the Nanor Kingdom”
I have to survive no matter what it takes. Please protect us from the heavens, Hayato-niisan.
〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜Lei side〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜
I was being shaken in the carriage without even knowing that such a conversation was going on. The reason is that I was summoned by the King. It’s been a week since I encountered the Demon Race.
I rested on the following day after I heard the story from Shishou because I was told by everyone to observe my condition and rest for another day, and when I returned to the academy the day after, I was bombarded with a barrage of questions by Dargris and the others.
I was asked various things like whether my wounds are fine or how’s my condition, and the likes. I feel bad to have caused them that much worry. However, after that was the worst.
“When we saw Lei stabbed with the knife by the Demon Race, both Ely and I instinctively shouted. I mean, it’s a stab straight into his heart. But at that time when Lei grabbed the Demon Race’s hand while saying,『I, won’t let you end it yet』, I was surprised”
“Un, I thought it’s already hopeless and yet he moves”
It’s because Ely and Shizuku are bloody enthusiastically reenacting the battle between the Demon Race and me.
“It was amazing. Lei’s body suddenly started to shine bluish purple and Lei’s body that surged with lightning became lightning itself”
Perhaps she’s feeling excited, Shizuku is talking with a flushed face. Stop it. I’m begging you.
I somehow got over this one week even with such things happening. And then today, Alexia, Ferris and I are riding a carriage and heading to the Royal Castle because of the summons from the King.
“What business did His Majesty summoned me for?”
“Who knows? I was only told by Otou-sama to call you over so I don’t know”
“The reason I was summoned is?”
Ferris also asks Alexia but she just tilts her head. I wonder what’s the matter exactly?
