Chapter 240: Among the Swaying Flowers
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 240: Among the Swaying Flowers
Around the time Historia was busy smashing cannons, the Princess, with nothing else to do, had mounted Selphy and was taking a leisurely stroll around the perimeter. Naturally immune to hostility, she watched Historia’s martial prowess with relaxed admiration.
That was when someone approached, targeting the Princess. While everyone else was focused on Historia, one officer had not forgotten the girl and her white horse.
They say to aim for the horse, not the rider. If I capture that girl and take her horse, the enemy will be immobilized.
Muffling his footsteps, he crept stealthily toward the Princess and her steed. The only ones who could see him were the Regressor, observing from a distance, and myself, reading her thoughts.
But the Regressor wasn't particularly worried. Neither was I.
Because…
“Hah! Got you—!”
“Woof! Got you!”
Hee-hee-heeing!
Azzy leaped out with a loud bark. The horse, startled, spotted the enemy and shied away.
The Princess, seeing the threat, clutched her chest in relief.
“Oh! Oh my…! Thank you, Miss Azzy!”
“I’m good at herding sheep! And horses, too! Puff!”
Azzy puffed out her chest, smiling proudly.
As expected of a guard dog. Since Azzy is a dog, I can’t just lock her in the cargo hold like Tyr or Nabi. She needs to be active anyway, so she might as well be put to use protecting people. It’s a good way for her to relieve stress, too.
Now that he was discovered, there was no reason to hide. The officer burst from the bushes, shouting.
“Surrender! Or the horse dies!”
The fact that he specified killing the horse was proof that his hostility had once again bypassed the Princess.
The officer thrust a long spear forward and charged at Selphy. Though his aggression naturally veered away from the Princess to target the horse, it was still a sharp and menacing strike.
The spear lunged toward Selphy, who was still backing away nervously. The Qi-wreathed spearhead looked as if it would pierce the horse’s neck at any moment. Just then…
“Aah! Selphy! Look out!”
The Princess swung the reins. They whipped around in a circle, skillfully wrapping around the spear’s shaft.
Huh. That’s a trick that can’t be pulled off with just luck or bloodline. What? The Princess is kinda strong, isn’t she?
The officer, having reached a similar conclusion, froze for a moment. His spear was stuck fast, as if it were fixed in place. It wasn’t that the Princess was overwhelmingly strong; she was merely using the power of the reins and the horse. Of course, the skill she displayed was all the more surprising.
The reins were tight against the horse. The rope was entangled. Add the horse’s strength to the mix, and there was no room for the spear to be pulled free. The officer’s face was turning shades of red and purple as he struggled with the shaft.
Hee-hing.
Selphy, the white horse, shook her body from side to side. The spear couldn’t keep up with the sudden, violent movement. In that brief opening, the horse bit down on the spear shaft with its protruding snout.
For a second, the officer tried to engage in a tug-of-war with the horse. It was a bad move. A human cannot overpower a horse.
Especially not a noble white steed passed down exclusively through the royal family.
The horse twisted its neck forcefully. In that instant, the officer holding the spear didn't even have a chance to let go. He was sent flying into the distance, still clinging to the shaft.
“Good job, Selphy! You’re so smart!”
Ph-hee-hing.
Selphy flared her nostrils, snorting in derision at the soaring human.
Her work done, Historia trudged back. Selphy lowered her body slightly, allowing Historia to mount.
The Princess greeted her warmly.
“You fight so well even with both arms tied! You’re amazing!”
“…This is embarrassing. Could you not talk to me?”
“Huh? Why? You were so cool! You didn’t even use your arms, only your legs! Hah! And you’re so slender and long-limbed, it looked incredible!”
Stop. Historia’s sense of shame has already hit rock bottom. The look on her face is screaming for a cigarette.
The battle ended simply. A member of the Six Generals was, after all, one of the Six Generals. She could handle officer-level opponents with both arms tied behind her back, though a fellow general might have been a different story.
The Regressor stared at Historia and muttered.
“No matter how I think about it, she doesn’t seem like she’d betray us. Maybe I should untie the Sky Silk…?”
What nonsense was this? Releasing an enemy’s restraints? Since when were you so soft-hearted?
Besides, Historia’s objective was different from ours. We were planning to raid the command center to stop the war, but Historia was only after me and Shiati—
Ugh, how could I even explain this? Too lazy to try, I just said:
“It’s more fun to keep her tied up, isn’t it? It makes for a better picture. Let’s keep her that way, shall we?”
“You have seriously twisted tastes… Hey! Watch the road!”
It was only after the Regressor shouted that I noticed something had suddenly appeared in front of us. Something was falling from above, aimed directly at me.
Hey, if I’m not watching the road, you should be! What do you think the passenger seat is for?
“Tch!”
The Regressor quickly raised Chun-aeng. I appreciated the sentiment of her trying to protect me…! She really was the most reliable person to have on your side…!
Huh? Wait a minute! That’s…!
Recognizing the falling object, I grabbed the Regressor’s body with my right arm. A sharp cry escaped her lips as she was about to swing her sword.
“H-Hey, where are you touching me?!”
“Wait, Shei-ssi! That’s…!”
Because I had restrained her, my arms were open. A synchro-type magic golem with arms and legs dropped right into them with a thud. It was the same model I’d seen more than enough of in the Abyss.
It had chosen its landing spot well. If it hadn’t been my lap, it would have bounced off hard. The moment it landed in my arms, the golem spoke urgently.
『This is Captain Ivy of the Military State’s Signallers. Cease any attack on this unit. I request a dialogue with you and your subversive group.』
The Regressor scowled.
“A dialogue?”
‘This is the first timeline they’ve openly requested a dialogue. Did these things even have a concept of conversation?’
Even in its golem body, it seemed to be able to sense the Regressor’s hostility. The golem nodded its head and bounced up and down frantically, as if pleading not to be attacked.
『Affirmative. I am an intermediary. Your opinions will be relayed directly to Command through this unit. If you understand the aforementioned terms, please agree to negotiate.』
However, my rebellious Regressor despised listening to what others had to say. Perhaps she’d been deceived too many times throughout her regressions, but she had a habit of turning a deaf ear to the words of anyone she didn’t trust.
To her, the golem, a herald of the Military State, was just another suspicious entity. Without much thought, she rejected the offer flat out.
“I have nothing to say to you—.”
“So impatient. Hold on a second, Shei-ssi.”
“Stop grabbing my collar so casually! And I told you to drive properly! You’ve been looking everywhere but the road!”
“As long as we don’t crash, it’s fine. Anyway, stop with the baseless golem-hating. It doesn’t take that much effort to hear them out, does it? Did a golem burn you once or something?”
‘Of course it did! These damn Signallers never show their faces, they only ever talk through golems every single timeline! Even if I manage to find someone suspicious, they just clam up, so I can’t learn anything! How can I like people who guard their secrets so annoyingly well every time?’
Her disgruntled thoughts remained, but there was no harm in talking. The Regressor eventually conceded to my point and grumbled.
“…Make it quick. It’s not good to let them keep observing us.”
“I know, I know. Now lift the golem and hold it to my ear. I need to watch the road while I drive.”
“Are you treating me like a servant now?!”
『Time is short, so I will get straight to the point.』
The golem interjected into our conversation. The Regressor grumbled some more before lifting the golem and holding it out.
Positioned in the Regressor’s hand, the golem spoke in a clear, articulate voice.
『You were supposed to head north and escape into the Fallen Dominion. That was the only path left to you, and simultaneously the safest route. Command predicted as much, and you must have judged it so as well, up to a point.』
“Tch. See? I knew it was a trap to lure us in.”
For someone who said she wouldn’t talk, the Regressor had just completely affirmed the golem’s speculation with her muttering. Well, it was something we both expected, so it didn’t matter… but really, aren’t you the one who needs this conversation the most?
『However, you have suddenly changed course and are committing acts of aggression against the Military State. This is an irrational and unexpected action. Why are you advancing toward Command?』
“Why do you think?”
『That is what I am asking. If we can ascertain the reason for your advance, there may be room for negotiation.』
“Negotiation, you say? To send us off to the Fallen Dominion? Does that mean you’re willing to pay a price for it?”
『Affirmative.』
This was surprising. The Military State had always met threats with a consistent lack of response. For them to offer to meet the demands of terrorists like us? Did that mean our actions were so threatening that they were willing to set such a precedent?
But our Regressor was just as unwilling to negotiate with subversive groups. She barked at the golem with a resolute tone.
“If we had escaped to the Fallen Dominion, you were planning to use that as a pretext to invade them, weren’t you? Since you’re going to fight them over the Abyssal Wastelands anyway!”
『Affirmative. However, what concern is that of yours?』
The golem replied, sounding puzzled.
『The war has nothing to do with you. The Military State needs to eliminate you as a risk factor before the war begins. We no longer require a deterrent. You, likewise, have no reason to remain in the Military State.』
“But we have no reason to leave, either.”
『Acknowledged. Therefore, Command wishes to provide you with a reason to leave. What do you desire? Money? Valuables? We are prepared to provide them within reason.』
The golem’s tone was dry, but for the Military State, this was practically a plea. Just how cornered must they feel to offer money and make such a request?
Of course, not that the Regressor cared.
“Disarm.”
『…What is the meaning of that?』
“The army you’ve gathered to capture us. Disband it. That’s all.”
An order for the Military State to disarm was, in essence, an order to commit ideological and national suicide. It was obviously something Command could never accept.
The golem replied stiffly.
『…In that case, may I take this as an act of hostility toward the Military State?』
“You’re just figuring that out now? You’re slow on the uptake.”
Finally realizing the Regressor’s true intentions, the golem spoke in a much graver tone.
『I would advise against it.』
‘You shouldn’t have come. It’s dangerous here.’
Huh?
Wait a minute. Was that… mind reading?
What was that? I tilted my head. Strange. I could normally only read the thoughts of those nearby.
I had never heard a golem’s thoughts before. Even with Captain Abbey, I knew nothing until I met her in person.
But just now, that was…
“Is that a threat? Anyway, I assume we’re done talking now?”
『…Negotiations have broken down. If you wish to make an enemy of the Military State, then I suggest you prepare for the consequences.』
“Alright, then. Goodbye.”
The Regressor sliced the golem in one swift motion. With a creak, it was instantly cut in half. A fizzing, mechanical sound followed, and the golem fell completely silent.
Just before it did, I thought I felt the faint scent of flowers tickle my nose. It wasn’t the season for flowers to bloom yet.
Ah, so that’s why the golem fell toward me from the start. Even knowing it could be destroyed if discovered.
“Looks like they’re scared, too?”
“It seems so.”
From that place, a place so distant it was hard to even fathom, a clear fragrance drifted over. The scent of dry leaves long-cured under the sun was faint, but unmistakable.
And considering the thought I just heard…
“Shei-ssi. Get ready.”
“For what?”
“It told us to prepare ourselves. So we should.”
I pressed the pedal harder and gripped the steering wheel tighter. The automaton carriage, pushed to its limit, let out a rough scream. Even the Regressor flinched and grabbed the handle. It was at that moment…
An enormous roar erupted. The white horse reared in terror, and we all instinctively ducked, screaming. Through the scattering dust and dirt, I saw the devastation the enemy had wrought.
The road before us had been split in two.