Gray Winter (1)
"This has to be a historic moment."
The Empire Newspaper's female reporter, Armang Haberus, spoke facing forward while holding a magitech recorder.
"Exactly 500 years since the gates were built. The door, long sealed by blood and hatred, is finally opening."
Rumble.
"Right at this moment I'm speaking, the final Gibraltar Gate is opening!!"
In the lens of the magitech device perched on her cameraman's shoulder, Armang and the gates slowly parting to her left and right were captured.
"We opened Gate 1 with deception. Gate 2 with war. But right now, in this moment, we're flinging open the final gate not with iron and blood, but with harmony toward the future!!"
Beyond the final gates swinging open to either side... nothing.
"Behold, citizens of the Empire! What's waiting for us beyond the gates isn't a Sword Master of Gibraltar or Nostrum's knight orders—it's the land of peace!!"
Vast grasslands. They'd only passed through a few kilometers of canyon and three gates, but the land beyond the final gate was lush green meadow.
"I'm sorry we can't show you this historic moment live in real time, but I hope this thrill reaches every corner of your homes!"
Scribble, scribble.
The man holding the lens swiped his hand beneath it, and Armang gripped her magitech recorder, settling into position facing forward.
"May peace come to the continent! This has been Armang Haberus of the Empire Newspaper!"
With her bright, upbeat shout, the red light blinking in the lens went out.
"Ha, damn it."
She transformed in an instant.
"Harmony with the future, my ass."
As the light died, it was as if her personality flipped too—Armang rummaged through her coat pockets.
"Editor-in-chief. You can't just light up beyond the canyon."
"Damn it. Is the whole country a no-smoking zone or what?"
"Not in Gibraltar. Anywhere else is fine."
"Damn. No wonder everyone smokes out there in that blood-red wasteland."
Armang grumbled as she shoved back whatever she'd been pulling from her coat pocket.
"Since when did the press become the government's lapdog?"
"Chief, talk like that and the Shadows will drag you off."
"Gotta say what needs saying. What, you gonna report me?"
"Haha. If you get nabbed, I'd go down with you as a set. Why would I?"
The young man Pedro swapped out the round mana stone inside the magitech device on his shoulder for a fresh one, fiddling with the buttons.
"Should I start a new recording? We've still got plenty of mana stones left for it."
"Yeah, do it. Even if they say we can't film that..."
Armang smacked her lips, eyeing the people crossing the wide-open canyon together.
"Queen Carmen and Crown Prince Hapsburg. We should've run that in our paper."
The two nations' powerhouses riding past Gibraltar's gates. Nostrum's king and Tersian's emperor might be absent, but the sight of the de facto king and next emperor riding side by side was picture-perfect.
"The crown prince's lapdog press has it good, huh? Monopolizing shots like that."
"I can hear you."
"Meant for you to. Damn it. All because we put a little pity for Nostrum in an editorial... ugh."
Armang captured the historic scene with her eyes. The crown prince had visited Nostrum by sea multiple times already, but crossing Gibraltar Canyon like this was officially the first time. No—historically the first.
The three gates had opened after 500 years, and the one taking the first step was none other than Hapsburg von Tersian.
"They're all past. Gates aren't closing?"
"The knight order's holding position instead. Look."
Shrrk.
As the crown prince and his imperial entourage passed through the gate, knights in black uniforms—had they been hiding beyond?—took up positions between the gates.
"Those guys..."
"Hey, film it."
"Huh? Mana needs to warm up for recording..."
"Photo mode then. That's the first time she's appeared officially."
Armang fussed toward the tall woman standing amid the black-uniformed knights.
"Mente Lift. Baroness granted the 'canyon' within Gibraltar as her territory."
"A rare 'Blade Master' in the kingdom, right?"
"Yeah."
Click, click.
"Man. You never know when or where a hero's gonna pop up in this kingdom."
"Hero...? She looks the part, but I heard she's over forty."
"Overcame a curse to become a master."
"...Usually, Nostrum heroes are late teens, early twenties, right? Extraordinary, off-spec humans."
"She looks way younger than me and she's a hero. Hey."
Armang giggled, whispering to Pedro.
"Standing all stern, but she's hearing everything?"
"Gah...!"
"If you wanna be editor someday, you gotta butter up these superhumans like it's everyday talk."
"A-alright."
"Remember it. Masters are everywhere, ears always open."
On the road to the capital, inside the carriage.
"A shame we can't stop by the Gibraltar margrave's residence."
Crown Prince Hapsburg casually opened to Queen Carmen sitting opposite.
"Even we can't control the margrave's family."
Queen Carmen shrugged lightly.
"What I mean is..."
"If you insist on getting out and visiting separately, I won't stop you. But I doubt the margrave would draw his sword for it."
"Ha, haha..."
The prince's words dripped with political barbs, but Carmen brushed them off nonchalantly.
"I understand. Opening the canyon gates must've been a huge political burden in the kingdom."
"......"
"Nobles protested at the Gibraltar residence, right? How could they open all three gates to the Empire?"
"They got chased out of the territory quick enough."
Queen Carmen smiled wryly, straightening her posture.
"Let's finish our talk on Orosol Academy and the Golden Sun."
"If it's about enrollees..."
"With both nations' heirs enrolling as first-years, blades are headed their way."
"We're sending them fully aware."
The crown prince smirked.
"Afraid, perhaps?"
"What?"
"That our exchange students might befriend someone who becomes a cornerstone hero of the kingdom."
"Outright provocation. Stirring the knights outside?"
"Just stating facts."
The prince crossed his legs leisurely.
"I'd welcome it, actually. An imperial exchange student and kingdom noble locking eyes, sparking a romance eclipsing Crimson Margrave and Marchioness Charlotte's love story."
"Ha..."
Carmen's brow arched high.
"But I'd prefer no tragedies like broken engagements."
"......"
"That's far too sad for anyone's love, isn't it?"
"You sure pick the nice words."
Carmen let out a dry chuckle.
"Someone already fed me that line, so no need for insincere words, Your Highness."
"......"
The prince uncrossed his legs, straightening up.
"Ho. Interesting. Who?"
"Need I say?"
"......"
"Heh heh heh. Even if you offered something, I wouldn't tell. No plans to drop hints and stir trouble."
"I see. Regrettable, then. Fine. Let's wrap up on Orosol Academy."
The prince erased his smile, face impassive.
"Where is Grey Gibraltar now?"
Click, click.
"Whew. Hate to head back empty-handed. Maybe snag some interviews with outlet staff or customers here?"
"Iferia Outlet?"
"Nah. This one."
Armang gestured around.
"The 'Morgania Outlet' between Gates 2 and 1."
"......"
"Let's see what the Morgania ducal house thinks. Doubt we'll get straight answers, though."
Inside the canyon, buildings lined left and right. Compared to Iferia's wares, these were downright "kingdom-style," but such local goods had a cult following in the Empire too.
"That guy's perfect."
"The young guy carrying boxes?"
"Yeah. Didn't even glance at the crown prince passing by—just kept working."
Armang cleared her throat, approaching the tall youth in work clothes and cap.
"Hello! Armang Haberus, Empire Newspaper! Got some questions on the canyon opening—mind a quick interview?"
"......"
Nod.
From beneath the cap, gray-tinged eyes gave a light nod.
"Fluent in kingdom tongue."
"Oh..."
Armang swallowed unwittingly at the youth's voice.
"Nice voice. Heh heh. May I have your name?"
"Grizzly."
"Age and job?"
"...27, handling export management and transport for Morgania Merchant Company."
"Merchant company... ah. Heh heh. I see."
27. Armang's lips kept drying facing the younger man.
"Gibraltar's gates open after 500 years. Expect lively exchanges between Nostrum and Tersian—what do you think?"
"Will anything change? Probably just live peacefully without war."
Grizzly shrugged nonchalantly.
"Whatever happens, Margrave Gibraltar will handle it."
"Ah, right. Margrave Gibraltar..."
Armang grinned, face flushing.
"Ahem! Working here, dealing with imperial merchants—what's your take?"
"Makes me think imperial work's convenient. Lots of novel stuff too."
Grizzly pointed at Pedro's magitech device.
"That's a camera? Huge."
"Yeah, it's called a camera. Shoots photos and video."
"Video...?"
Grizzly tilted his head, but Armang just smiled faintly and nodded.
"You'll learn soon enough. Any interest in the academy, Orosol?"
"Hm..."
"Separate from the Empire's 17-year-old limit, kingdom's recruiting talent regardless of status, age, job, gifts."
"That's just to enroll nobles, right?"
Kingdom youth Grizzly sneered self-mockingly, twisting his lip.
"Guys like me just go 'oh, cool.' Ah, but that piques curiosity."
"What?"
"Heard one of the Empire's 10 exchange students is Grand Princess Astasia—supposedly stunning. Wanna see her."
"Ah, yes."
Armang felt her pounding heart chill.
"She's a great beauty, yeah."
"Something wrong?"
"Nah, nothing. Just."
You're all the same. Armang barely swallowed the words.
"Thanks for the interview."
"No trouble. Back to work..."
Grizzly hefted boxes in both hands and left. Sturdy build, surely from years of hauling.
"Sigh..."
"What? Bummed your play at seducing an innocent kingdom lad failed?"
"Nah. Just."
Armang smacked her lips at the wide-open gates.
"Gates are open, but will hearts open too?"
"Time will tell. No war's a win. All the war hawks exiled to the western continent."
"Yeah. Farthest from the kingdom—if they show, those gates slam shut again. Yep."
Armang scratched her head.
"How do those gates even open, anyway?"
"Magic, duh?"
"No people or machines?"
"That's why it's magic."
"Huh...? Yeah, guess so."
Click, click.
"Rumor says only Gibraltar blood can open them... who came and went?"
"Dunno. Hey, maybe that boy?"
"Noir Gibraltar? The heir special-admitted to Orosol first-year?"
"Yeah. To make contact with imperial students?"
Armang tilted her head.
"If so, why not that one guy... uh."
"Ray Gibraltar."
"...Name's not Ray, I think."
"Grey Gibraltar. The one who lost 'next-gen sword' spot to his brother."
"Ah, right. Eldest son, but no talent for the family heirloom sword—lost it to his sibling."
Armang tsked, shaking her head.
"Poor guy. Sword Master dynasty, no sword gift."
"Excuse me, coming through."
"Oh, sorry."
Grizzly passed by again, boxes in arms.
"Hard worker, that one."
Armang gazed wistfully at Grizzly hauling three boxes.
"Anyway, Pedro. Remember: Masters abound in Gibraltar, anywhere in the kingdom. Got it?"