For Peace? (3)
Use anything that can be used. It's not the strong who survive, but the survivors who are strong. No matter what anyone of this era says, history belongs to the victor. The one I must kill—that is the emperor's creed. I agree wholeheartedly. So I decided to exploit it to the fullest. Following the emperor's creed, but 'mixed with Grey Gibraltar's way.' Not through blood, violence, and death. In a way more to Grey Gibraltar's taste, I will claim victory. For that—
"Today, we're going for a walk." I declared it to the Whites gathered in one place. "We've come all the way to kingdom soil; we should take a breather. I'll show you the morning canyon."
All the Whites looked stunned.
"To the canyon?!"
"Yeah, Elly."
"Whoa! The daytime canyon! Amazing!"
Astasia cheered with a bright smile, while Naria quietly closed her eyes.
"Everyone moves together. Gate 3, Gate 2, and all the way to Gate 1. I'll show you everything."
"Young master."
"Yeah, No. 9? What is it?"
"...Is it really okay to show all of that to us?"
No. 9's question was valid. They hadn't sworn loyalty to us yet; they were essentially spies.
"No problem. Gibraltar won't crumble just because I show you."
"......."
"Lady Mente. Sir Robert. I have one task for you two this morning."
The two who had been standing silently by the entrance bowed toward me.
"Father will lead the knights on a patrol of the margrave territory. You two protect Mother and the siblings."
"And you, young master...?"
"Just a quick trip to the canyon. What could possibly happen?"
I grinned, but they nodded reluctantly, their faces etched with dissatisfaction—especially at the both of you part.
"Perfect timing; the escort carriages have arrived. You two ride alongside on horseback."
Rumble rumble. Outside the orphanage building, wagons pulled up. Three wheeled carts linked in a train, driven by one coachman handling a pair of horses, arrived at the entrance.
"That armor..."
"It's been a while, hasn't it? Full plate."
Not just any coachman—a knight in gray full plate steel armor.
"I asked Father for an extra guard, and he sent one."
I approached the fully armored knight in the driver's seat and patted his back.
"Appreciate it."
A nod. The face mask below the helmet showed no expression.
"Whoa! Is that the 'Inquisitor's' helmet?!"
Astasia's eyes sparkled at the heavy knight's distinctive helmet.
"The helmet steeped in the kingdom's long tradition! The one they say was used to hunt witches a century ago, right?!"
"That's right. It's much shorter than the old conical ones now—just a face mask."
I lightly knocked on the face mask of the knight in the driver's seat.
"Don't worry. He's a skilled knight."
The sight was intimidating enough to instill a touch of fear in anyone. But as I poked and prodded with no reaction, the Whites gradually relaxed.
"Change into light clothes today, not maid outfits. Think of it as an outing. Meet back here in 30 minutes."
At my command, the Whites hurried to their rooms.
"Jabes. Elly. You two change too."
"Eh, us too...?"
"Yeah. Can't go strolling in maid outfits, right?"
"Hmm..."
Astasia pondered briefly, then whispered something to Naria.
A nod. Naria nodded without a word, and Astasia grabbed her hand, pointing to the first wagon compartment.
"We'll head in first, young master!"
"...Do what you want."
With a long wooden case in hand, I boarded the wagon with them.
"Um, young master. A question..."
"What is it, Elly?"
"Ah, it's Elly. Hmm..."
Astasia glanced nervously at the unmoving knight gripping the reins from the driver's seat and whispered very softly.
"...I hope this isn't the last time."
"Of course not."
This time it was for strategy, but.
"Morning walks are nice, but evening sunset strolls aren't bad either."
Next time, it would be a real outing.
* * *
After loading all the Whites and arriving at the canyon.
"N-no way we're climbing that ladder up there, right, young master?"
"No big deal, is it?"
"Y-young master...!"
Astasia freaked out at the iron ladder leading 50 meters up, and I reached toward the rampart.
"Relax. We will go up to Gate 3, but just to sightsee."
The closest gate to Gibraltar, the empire's frontline's final bastion.
"We'll take that up."
"That's...a lift?"
"Yeah. Right now, it uses a pulley system."
No one operated the pulley. Instead, it reacted to Gibraltar blood, drawing mana from stored mana stones to move the lift up and down.
"You stay here and watch the horses. I'll take them up to see the ramparts."
Thud. The knight remained in the driver's seat, fist to chest, bowing his head.
"Everyone board."
At my order, the Whites piled onto the lift. I grabbed the box last and stepped on just as the pulley began to turn.
Rumble rumble rumble.
The speed was slow. Even with twelve kids, it felt excessively sluggish.
"Hmm..."
"Does the empire have these?"
"We do! Faster ones, and, um..."
Astasia glanced down briefly.
"...Young master. You could drop the formal speech now, you know~."
"Don't drag it out."
"Tch."
"Doesn't casual talk make it more comfortable?"
Informal was more natural than formal anyway.
"Well... no strangers here, so sure. Astasia."
"Yay! I did it!"
"It's just casual address; that exciting?"
"You called me by name! Hehe."
Astasia grinned and reached for the box I held.
"Give that to me! I'll carry it."
"Then you'd just be carrying an empty box."
"Empty?"
I flung open the box and pulled out its contents.
"That's..."
"A musket, right."
The Whites froze instantly.
"Why so shocked? Ha, you think I'd shoot you off the ramparts with this?"
No response. They all shot me maybe he would looks, and the youngest White even nodded unconsciously.
"Not happening."
Traitorous Grey had done it a few times before, but not now.
"This is just the best shooting range. I've never fired one."
"Ah..."
"Anyone here ever shot one?"
Silence. Of course. It'd be weirder if someone had.
"Too bad."
I picked up the musket.
"Was gonna ask if anyone knew how."
Tucked the grip under my right armpit, pulled my right arm back, barely hooking my middle finger on the trigger.
"I've seen empire troops use them. Right?"
Left hand supporting from below, as close to the armpit as possible.
"Like this?"
No answer. Naria and Astasia licked or bit their lips in silence; the others too.
This is shocking.
No one calling out my utterly botched grip?
No. They all know.
From 15-year-old No. 9 to 7-year-old No. 81, all barely restraining themselves from correcting me.
If you're dying to say it, just do it.
They still wouldn't, so I held the awkward pose and spoke.
"Astasia. About this lift."
"Huh, not the musket?"
"Yeah. I've been thinking about ways to make it faster."
To skip the awkwardness quickly, I pivoted to the lift.
"Since it just needs to go up and down, what if we attach mana stones below and use levitation magic?"
"Uh, hmm..."
Astasia tilted her head.
"Is that possible?"
"Budget's no issue."
"Then anything's possible! Mana stones with levitation—shortened to Wind Stone? Hehe."
"......."
A chill ran down my spine for a second.
"Wind Stone. You saying stones float in the sky?"
"Why not? Eventually, people might float too!"
"Wings and flying might be faster."
"That could work too!"
As expected of Erwin's daughter. Keen on magitech engineering, with wildly innovative ideas.
"Then we should research it. How fast could we reach the top with Wind Stones under the lift?"
More precisely, how high could it go.
"We're here. This is Gate 3."
"Whoa."
Astasia gaped toward the empire side. The others marveled at the height and vista—
"...Why do you keep staring at the musket."
"......."
Naria ignored the scenery, fixated on the musket I'd pulled out.
Nice air.
Our escort knight below had hobbled the horses.
Great weather.
The cloud bridge stretching to Gate 2 was too narrow for anyone but the daring.
"Don't stick your head out over the edge."
Beyond the gate.
"No safety features here; it's for receiving empire troops."
Falling empire-side meant instant death.
"Jabes? Hold this for me."
I handed the musket to Naria. She lit up briefly, then tilted her head.
Why give her the musket?
Even as she clutches it like treasure now.
If 17-year-old me had known, I'd have sent muskets instead of jewels or desserts.
What girl prefers magitech rifles over gems or sweets?
Might've changed things at the academy between Naria and me.
Pointless now. I'd given her the musket; my hands were free.
The rest—Come on?
Waiting for the assassin to move.
No better chance than now. Or aiming for Gate 2 or 1?
Plausible. Escape empire-ward from here was just the cloud bridge. Killing at Gate 1 and descending the walls skipped the narrow bridge no one could cross spread-eagled.
Smartest is not trying at all.
That'd be ideal. Spies as escorts, not assassins—more reassuring.
This place decides it.
Assassin? Spy? Shadow guard?
Whoosh.
Wind blew. A cool breeze tickled my ears, brushing my face.
Rustle.
A faint sound with the wind—like rubbing powder in paper.
I nearly clenched my fist.
Coming.
Familiar scent. Riding the wind, Silver Dust's aroma teased my nose.
Silver Dust was nearly odorless without fire, slow to spread. For it to reach me—
She's already ingested it! The breath of someone dosed!
Not the dust itself, but human exhalation.
"Whoa. But yeah, looking down from here..."
Astasia leaned over the rampart railing. One grab from behind, and she'd plummet.
Thud—
Footsteps rang; I moved.
"Eh...?"
Astasia turned in surprise; a chill hit my spine at the sudden sensation.
"Die!!"
A scream-like wail from No. 18—
"Gibraltar—!!"
Anansi. The shadow whose hair I'd cut, grabbed my waist and shoved me over the rampart.
"!!"
"Grey!!"
Not shoving—throwing herself with me.
"Ha."
My body floated. Moments later, plummeting to the ground.
Targeting me, huh.
I'd considered killing Naria to erase the royal heir. Miscalculation.
They might suspect her as princess, but no proof. Killing Astasia for emperor's granddaughter? Impossible with the imperial consort watching.
Come to think of it.
I'd forgotten briefly.
Best target of the three is me.
Gibraltar was always assassination priority one.
That much hatred for Gibraltar.
The deep loathing empire folk held for the kingdom—especially Gibraltar.
"Kihihit...!"
Collar grabbed. Even in freefall, refusing to let go, bobbed-haired Anansi grinned wide.
You die here.
Her eyes said it.
What conversation in a fall? Just eye-contact with the fool who'd secretly ingested Silver Dust for novice knight-level strength, clinging and plummeting.
Foolish... Ah.
Wait. What was her name again? Not important enough to remember.
Her foolish choice deemed her unworthy. No need to recall the name of my killer.
I wouldn't die.
Instead—
"Grey—!!"
Just a chuckle at the cry toward me.
Laughing? Her eyes asked. In this situation? Dare laugh? Mad?
No. Not me.
The mad one thought I'd expose my flank without a guard.
Heroic resolve for mutual destruction, blind to the trap.
"Hey."
Recalling the empire tongue from my future, I sneered at No. 18.
"Daddy chance."
"......!!"
Behind No. 18. Backlit by the sun, the gray-armored knight reached for me. Through the mask's slit, red eyes gleamed.