Charge on the Floating Castle
The Brutal Force charged like a wild beast, sending soldiers diving aside in panic.
Buwaaaaaaang!!
Tires clawed the ground in a bizarre howl as the chassis bucked hard. The soldiers scrambled after a steel rhinoceros they had never seen in their lives, but it was hopeless.
The Brutal Force breezed into Sky Peak Territory and rolled through the streets.
Perched at more than five hundred meters of elevation, the whole of Sky Peak Territory clung to the mountain ridge, buildings lining terraces cut into the slopes. It looked nothing like the territories of other houses.
"Wow… This is amazing."
"…Haven't you seen it before?"
"W-well, yeah? Haha."
What caught the eye first was the enormous castle rising from the heart of the territory. From below, its upper reaches vanished into cloud. That was the Floating Castle where the Lahen family lived. Looking up at it, the sheer presence of the place felt mystical on its own.
"Lahen's mages command the wind. They read the wind—and through it, they sense changes in the world."
"Is that even possible?"
"It is. That's the power of Lahen."
Sabina Lahen, head of the house, was known as the Prophet Mage. The essence of that power was said to be the wind itself.
Weird.
The Brutal Force rumbled along the well-kept road.
Vroom! Vroom! Buwaaaaang!!
The roar of the exhaust, the massive frame—and on the front, the gleaming silver crest of Blædwin sat proud, flaunting its presence.
Residents threw open windows and stepped outside, murmuring at the sight.
"This is getting on my nerves."
"Keep your posture. Don't diminish Lobel's authority."
"Understood."
The three Lobel knights rose with hands on their swords, drawing every eye with their imposing stance—like knights astride a great steel beast. Among the Four Great Houses, only the people of Lahen's territory had never encountered an automobile. Lobel and Blædwin—even the Helek family—had Black Teraholes.
That made the thing all the more wondrous, and all the more terrifying. Who knew when that enormous, oppressive beast might turn on them? At the same time, the knights riding it looked magnificent.
"Did the Blædwin family make that too?"
"Amazing. How can it move that fast with so many people aboard?"
"I want to ride it."
"They ride things like that because they can't use magic."
"And you can?"
"Shut up!"
"But why are Blædwin and Lobel together?"
Rumors about them spread through the whole of Sky Peak Territory—and at the center of every conversation was the Brutal Force.
"Is that the Black Terahole or whatever it's called?"
"No way. I saw one when I went to the duchy last time. The Black Terahole doesn't look like that."
"Then what is it?"
"I heard the third son of Blædwin modified a Black Terahole… Is that it?"
"Whatever it is, it's impressive. Do the other houses ride around in things like that?"
"I didn't know Blædwin had come this far."
"Maybe I should visit Ironcliff Territory sometime."
The Brutal Force slowed and sped up by turns. At corners it swung hard, sometimes spinning a full circle.
"Ooooh…!"
"So cool! Oh my."
"How do they even do that?"
Cheers erupted from every direction with each maneuver.
"Uweeeeeeegh!"
"Lord Erdin! Are you all right?"
"Damn it—this is training too! I won't fall off a horse ever again."
The Lobel knights, who had long since slipped from Ted's attention, clung to the rails for dear life, trying not to fall.
Before long the Brutal Force reached the Floating Castle, where Lahen soldiers and mages stood in ranks before them.
"They're blocking the road."
"Are they trying to stop us?"
"Probably."
Compared to the climb into Sky Peak Territory, the slope leading to the Floating Castle's gate was impossibly steep and long. Ordinary carriages couldn't even attempt it, and only the hardiest horses made it up without collapsing from exhaustion.
Ted looked up with cold eyes.
"Hold on tight."
His right hand danced over the gearshift while his left and right feet worked the clutch and accelerator in turn.
Buwaaaaang!!
The Brutal Force bellowed and tore up the slope.
"Aaaaah!"
Robon clung to the overhead handle with both hands. Even with the seatbelt on, Ted's momentum made him half-expect them to plow straight through the soldiers—and it was a little terrifying.
The Brutal Force never slowed. The soldiers and mages waiting casually at the Floating Castle gate startled into chaos.
"What is that?!"
"It's climbing this slope that fast?"
"Didn't they say even a Black Terahole struggles to get up here?"
"That isn't a Black Terahole!!"
There were reasons the Floating Castle was called an impregnable fortress. Any enemy trying to attack would exhaust themselves climbing the slope, unable to fight at full strength. A horse carrying an armored knight could barely make the climb—and even if it did, it would likely fall to ranged attacks along the way.
But—
"Halt there! Or we will treat you as enemies and open fire!"
Ted didn't slow for the gatekeeper's shout. He accelerated harder.
Buwaaaaaaang!!
The ear-splitting exhaust made soldiers and mages clap their hands over their ears.
"This is it."
Ted murmured with satisfaction.
"Stop them."
The mages and soldiers at the entrance drew bows and raised staves.
Thwip-thwip-thwip-thwip!!
Dozens of arrows hammered the Brutal Force in the first volley—leaving only light scratches. It didn't even flinch.
"What the hell is that thing?"
"Arrows don't even scratch it?"
"It's a carriage made of steel!"
"You idiots! Shoot more! Shoot until it breaks!!"
A second hail of arrows rained down. This time wind magic enhanced them—faster, harder—and they dented the hood.
"Those arrows are dangerous! If they hit the tires, they'll blow!"
"Don't worry."
Screeeech!
Ted, already fully adapted to manual driving, weaved with dazzling skill—dodging every magic arrow while tanking the ordinary ones with the vehicle.
"Those bastards. Attacking even after seeing the Blædwin crest?"
"I can see exactly how much authority Blædwin has in Lahen. Heh."
Erdin sneered, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
"This isn't the time for that, Erdin. If they start throwing magic, we're in danger too."
Sernia's expression hardened as she drew her sword.
"Don't worry about it."
Erdin snorted, jumped up onto the front of the pickup, lowered his center of gravity with aura, and roared:
"I am Erdin of Lobel! Cease your attack immed—"
Whooooosh!
Crack!
Gast batted aside an arrow aimed straight at Erdin's face with his sword.
Shiiing—!
Sernia drew and shot forward like a bolt.
"They don't even fear Lobel."
She extended her senses and swept her blade through the air. The atmosphere rippled and scattered; sharp cutting sounds struck the ground and vanished.
"These bastards… You dare keep attacking after hearing the name Lobel?"
Erdin's pride was clearly wounded—his face flushed red and purple. Shiiing! He drew his sword and, with Gast and Sernia, took the lead, cutting down every spell and arrow that came their way.
Thanks to them, Ted and Robon climbed the slope in comfort. Occasional deflected gusts battered the chassis, but it was built so solidly that they only left tiny scratches.
"That female knight is quite something."
Ted seemed to approve only of Sernia, but Robon found all three knights impressive. Cutting invisible winds as if they were nothing looked like a scene from a movie. The biggest surprise was Erdin. Who would have thought the guy who usually looked so stupid was such a formidable knight?
"Don't be too shocked. Your brothers are stronger than they are."
Robon nodded at his father's words.
They had reached the midpoint of the slope. The enemy assault was completely blocked—but they would tire soon. The moment their movements dulled, a different kind of wind magic struck the three knights by surprise.
Crack!!
Erdin Lobel took the hit first. His breastplate caved inward; he bounced and tumbled down the slope.
"Guh!"
"Lord Erdin!"
While Gast rushed to support Erdin, Sernia shot forward like a beam of light.
Among the mages stood one alone in a robe embroidered with a brilliant green crest.
Wiiiiiiing!!
A piercing noise born of intense vibration rolled through the air. A mana axis spinning at unnatural speed, and the wind blades born from it. Ten spinning blades, flying freely through the air along mana threads at the mage's fingertips, all surged toward Sernia at once.
Dodging was useless. Wind magic's strengths were speed and stealth—its destructive power was comparatively low.
No point dragging this out.
She cut the blades rushing from every side with aura and took the four that aimed for her blind spots on her armor—a judgment born of certainty that as long as she had armor, she could avoid a fatal wound.
Screeeeech!!
Four blades sheared into her armor and lightly scored the flesh beneath—but—
"Stop them now!"
The mage, never expecting her to close in, allowed the distance and was seized helplessly by Sernia. Blade at the mage's throat, Sernia shouted at the others:
"One more attack and this one dies!!"
The tables flipped in an instant. Sernia's bold judgment bound every Lahen soldier hand and foot. While they stood frozen, stunned by her skill, the Brutal Force—now carrying Erdin and Gast—reached the entrance.
Kuuuuuung.
The great doors of the Floating Castle slowly began to open. A woman waiting inside greeted them in a cold voice.
"I am Elin Lahen. Mother says I'm to bring you in."
"Elin Lahen? The Mage of the Atmosphere?"
Erdin muttered from the cargo bed.
"That's right. Further conflict won't benefit either side, so would you ask your knight to release our mage?"
Ted nodded, and Erdin called Sernia back. She clicked her tongue, climbed onto the Brutal Force, and removed her helmet.
"You attacked first."
"And you tried to enter this place without permission."
"You took my people without leave and tortured them!"
Robon, temper flaring, shouted at her. Elin Lahen regarded him with an impassive gaze.
"You must be Robon Blædwin?"
"Yeah. If you hadn't taken Andersen on your own judgment, none of this would have happened."
"He is a dangerous element. A threat to the duchy."
"Saying that without evidence—"
"Enough. Guide us to Sabina."
Ted's single word carried a weight the others' did not. Even Elin Lahen, who had been so stiff, could not maintain the same attitude toward him.
"This way."
She stepped lightly—and glided across the ground at high speed. Ted snorted and floored the accelerator.
Buwaaaaaaaang!!
The wheels spun up sand and shoved the ground away. RPM soared. The charging Brutal Force overtook Elin Lahen and pulled ahead.
She scowled and pushed her speed, barely managing to keep up. The realization that without the hills and corners the gap would have been even worse hit her hard.
That fast with so many people aboard?
It was faster than a Black Terahole—and the cornering wasn't even comparable.
Did Robon Blædwin make this too?
Pride stinging, Elin poured more mana into her magic. Her jump power roughly doubled; only by nearly eliminating air resistance did she manage to pull even with the Brutal Force. Mana was draining fast, but she kept a poker face as if nothing were wrong.
The Brutal Force's window rolled down; Ted Blædwin's eyes met hers. A smirk curled at his lips.
Buwaaaaaaang!!
With a cloud of white smoke, the Brutal Force surged ahead again. The Lobel knights in the cargo bed watched her fall behind and murmured among themselves.
"The Mage of the Atmosphere isn't much, is she?"
"I heard she was faster than a horse. Guess cars are a different story."
"Even that famous speed must have been exaggerated."
Grit—
Elin clenched her teeth and poured in still more mana. The speed was excessive. She had never layered levitation magic this hard before. Her body shook; keeping balance was hard enough, let alone holding the spell. Her concentration had never been higher.
Screeeech!
As if performing a victory ceremony, the Brutal Force spun one hundred eighty degrees and stopped in front of the Lahen manor. Elin arrived at the same moment, grabbed a pillar, and gasped for air.
"Haa… haa… haa…"
While Elin Lahen panted from overusing magic, the Blædwin and Lobel knights stepped down as if nothing had happened and glanced at her.
Heh—
Their pitying looks, without a single word spoken, only made her angrier.
Then the head of the Lahen family herself stepped out of the manor to receive them. Snow-white hair cascading past her neck, mint-green eyes that radiated an air of mystery.
"Come in. Let's talk."
In her usual alluring voice, she called to Ted as if nothing were amiss.
But—
"Sabina Lahen."
Shiiing—.
For the first time since they set out, Ted—who had never once touched his scabbard—drew his sword.
"Bring me Andersen. This is not a request. It is an order."