Black Wing
In the conference room of the Imperial Magic Bureau, Deschamps Edfolk sat in the highest seat beside his wife, Karen, stroking his beard as he listened to Lisleia's report. Before the magic circle that carried her voice, the Imperial Capital's Director of Public Security stood and answered her.
"As for a name, call them trash. These pieces of trash never wrote the operation down, so the details will have to be dug out as we go. What is certain is that the Six Great Mages and the Four Swords are at the point of their blades. You too, Director—someone of your rank. The odds you're on the list aren't exactly low."
"Judging by the faces they've marked, it does seem certain there's someone behind them."
"Yes. Well, things had been peaceful long enough that it was starting to feel unnatural. Still, everyone was keeping a certain edge, weren't they?"
"Even so, since the Unification we've been concentrated on the war against the great beasts. Sabotage and terror by a secret organization breaking the surface like this... it's the first time."
The Director of Public Security answered with his brow deeply knit, and the magic circle on 108 Swords' side flared.
"What we've learned on this end is much the same. Ask about who stands behind them, and they drop dead on the spot. No way to intervene."
"Tana's magic, wouldn't you say?"
"Yes."
At those two syllables—Tana—the conference hall of the Imperial Capital began to stir. The Director of the Magic Bureau, silent until then, opened his mouth with a sharp glint in his eyes.
"This is the Director of the Magic Bureau. What you just mentioned is forbidden to be spoken of. From now on, refer to it as Pitch-Black."
"No."
At Lisleia's flat refusal, the Director's face was hardening to stone when 108 Swords' circle blazed again.
"To continue the report from the southeast—the magic they laid on me was stronger than I expected. But the fact that they attempted it at all weighs far heavier than the spell."
A brief silence followed. Then Deschamps spoke, soft, and yet with weight.
"This is Deschamps. I agree with you entirely. Their attempt failed this time, but I take it for the same thing as throwing a stone into a well whose bottom you cannot see. They were sounding the depth."
"That's exactly what I mean. Next time they'll come sharper, in some way we don't expect, and that could turn into a larger problem than we think."
"Quite. If they're willing to aim at you, and even at Lisleia, what wouldn't they try?"
"What worries me is that we don't know where these enemies have seeped in, or how deep."
The moment the words landed, the hall began to murmur. The officials in attendance stiffened one by one at the possibility that they themselves might be targets.
Karen, who had been listening with her back straight, let out a deep sigh and spoke.
"This is Karen. 108 Swords—is that certain? That these enemies have worked their way in everywhere?"
"However far we guess, I believe it's worse than that. Put Lisleia's report together and they moved as if they knew every route the Magic Bureau takes."
"Then return. You too, Lisleia. 108 Swords. The rest of you as well."
The hall went silent, as if water had been thrown over it. Karen Edfolk was already on her feet, coming down toward the communication circles, and she pressed on in a stubborn voice.
"I will report the contents of this meeting to His Majesty myself."
"Hm..."
"By your own account, they are dissatisfied with the present order. That is a challenge to His Majesty the Emperor, and a grave matter on which the safety of the Empire hangs."
"We haven't even grasped their scale properly yet. Wouldn't it be better to keep watching their movements from the field, as we are now? Lisleia happens to be in Caipol already. If we only send people to the north—"
"When I said return, I meant return to your posts. I did not mean come up to the Imperial Capital."
Neither Lisleia nor 108 Swords added a word. In the brief quiet that followed, Deschamps let out a faint sigh and spoke in a gentle tone that stood in contrast to Karen's.
"For a start, it seems we'll need to establish a department for this, even a temporary one. I'll see that it moves forward quickly with the officials here. And before that, it would be best to settle an official name for these enemies."
"Actually, I did hear one."
Every gaze swung at once toward Lisleia's circle, which flared again a moment later.
"They call themselves the Black Wing."
Black Wing.
The words branded themselves into the mind of everyone present. Deschamps, who had let a low sound slip from his throat as he listened, opened his mouth heavily once more.
"From here on, let us speak of what can be done about them."
Schwern, a city on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital.
A natural fortress ringed by lakes and proud of its beautiful landscape, the place was represented above all by Schwern Castle, with its pastel-orange walls and the golden eagle crest of the Imperial Royal Family set into the stone. The castle had served for generations as a villa of the Imperial family, and Randolph Serdia was staying there under the pretext of preparing for his graduation examination.
Deep in a bedchamber in the castle's inner reaches, he was sorting through the documents that never stopped arriving. He had just finished the pile stacked up since morning, and he took a swallow of coffee and caught his breath. A quiet knock sounded at the door.
"Your Highness, it's Eisen. The minutes of the emergency meeting have come through, and the report on the attacks against Lisleia and 108 Swords has been completed as well."
"Come in."
"Yes."
The white-haired man who entered set the documents on the desk where the prince sat. Randolph's eyes moved busily down the report, hunting for a single name.
"Hervena, Hervena—here she is. Hervena Westriver, conducting a joint operation with Lisleia, succeeded in killing and capturing a portion of the so-called Black Wing. In Lisleia's opinion, judged a promising magical talent with a bright future..."
Having read that far, Randolph covered his eyes with one hand and burst out laughing.
"So this is how it turns out?"
"I'll have reports from Caipol sent up on a regular schedule from now on."
"See that you do. Next year our youngest will be headed that way, after all."
"Yes. I'll have everything prepared without fail."
"Eisen, it's early, but shall we take lunch together?"
"Yes! What shall I have them prepare?"
Randolph, who had been thinking with his arms folded, gave him a faint smile.
"Let's have that pizza they served at the Black Bridge Gathering."
"Yes. I'll have it ready at once."
Eisen bowed with his answer and left the room. Coffee cup in hand, Randolph went to the window and swallowed the laugh that kept trying to escape.
Hills, as the emergency meeting drew to a close.
Blow Deblique had summoned Melo and Jane from Skadi's mansion, and he was already in communication with Rachel.
"Hey! How do you end up with something happening every single day?"
"I ask myself the same thing. Even so, Haghia was an enormous help this time."
"Working her right down to the bone, aren't you? And what's this magic circle? It isn't Haghia's."
"Hervena is handling it."
Beside Haghia, a pipe clenched in her teeth, Hervena was holding the circle. It was her first long-distance communication, and she was a little tense. Blow caught her eye.
"Then that's a relief. Things got briefly chaotic on my end, so I couldn't spare the attention."
"So it seemed. I meant to reach you, but I was told communication would be difficult."
"It's like that during an operation. High-rank beasts came pouring out in a pack."
"Didn't you used to keep a line open even while you were hunting beasts?"
"I can't do that every time, can I? Anyway, you must have had a rough go of it."
"One weight is off my chest. When do you expect to come to Caipol?"
"Who knows? I'll probably stop by before I go up to the Imperial Capital at the end of the month."
"I'm set to go to the Imperial Capital this winter. If the timing works, we might even travel together."
"What? Why?"
To her curious question, Blow laid out what Deschamps had told him, put in order: House Edfolk's decision to support him in full, and Deschamps Edfolk's offer to introduce him into Imperial Capital society.
"Blow Deblique through and through, aren't you?"
"So starting this winter, I plan to try a number of things in Roten. The first will most likely be building a factory for Straight."
"The way you tell it, it sounds exactly like you're telling me to buy land in Roten."
"I certainly wouldn't object if you did. It's territory House Edfolk has already moved into, so there may not be many parcels on the market."
"If anything, the picture would look prettier if Skadi and I split the buying between us. Well, Yulia will parcel it out as she sees fit."
"Of course. Do as you please on that point. As for the rights to use the land—"
"Why would I bother? I'm leaving the whole thing to you and eating whatever crumbs fall."
Blunt as the words were, they meant she would hand him full authority over her land. There was nothing in that for him to dislike.
"If you grant me that, I'll see that it's put to proper use."
"Good. And that matter you asked about—I should be able to settle it within four days."
"You mean your visit to the Aein village?"
"Mm."
"Thank you for seeing to it."
"I'm only keeping a promise. I'll be in touch again."
With that, the communication circle vanished. It had been Hervena's first long-distance link, and she wiped the sweat from her brow with a handkerchief. Haghia came over, clapping.
"What a tremendous talent. I didn't think you'd succeed without it dropping even once."
"It only worked because you explained it so thoroughly, Lady Haghia. Thank you."
"I'm the one who's pleased. It means less work for me."
Haghia smiled as she said it, then shifted her gaze to Blow.
"Young Master, thank you for telling Lady Rachel about my part in it."
"We got a great deal of help this time. That's all."
"Lady Rachel is very clear about rewards. I have a feeling this one will be enormous."
"Then the next time I see her, I'll lay it on even thicker. Has everyone but you gone in?"
"Yes. They all looked exhausted."
"You're the strange one, not looking tired at all."
"I've pulled plenty of all-nighters. I'm fine."
"So, will you have dinner at Hills as well?"
"Lady Lisleia is coming, isn't she? Of course I have to eat. She's not someone you get to see often. Right, Hervena?"
"Yes."
Hervena thought back over the last few days of operating alongside Lisleia. Even after all that time, she still couldn't get a feel for how the woman would act. Recalling it, she decided this would not be easy. Haghia, meanwhile, was watching Blow with a faint smile.
"You do seem to meet an awful lot of people who are hard to meet, Young Master. Truth be told, our Lady Rachel is a very difficult person to see as well."
"Let's hope this is the last time."
"We'll see."
Haghia was chuckling when hoofbeats sounded in front of Hills, and Melo, Jane, Hans, and Skadi climbed down. Though she was the lady they attended, Skadi was the first to the ground, and she ran straight for Blow, who was offering them an awkward wave from inside.
"Blow! Are you all right?"
"Thanks to you worrying."
While Skadi held him tight, Melo quietly wrapped herself around his leg. Jane and Hans watched, smiling with quiet satisfaction.
"I'm really, really glad!"
"You were nervous, huh?"
"Of course I was. How was I supposed to know how it would turn out!"
"I feel bad, making you worry every time. The others, too."
Then everyone's gaze turned naturally to Hervena, standing awkwardly behind them. Skadi, who had let go of Blow at some point, walked up to her, stared for a long moment, and let out a short laugh.
"You okay?"
"Yeah."
"I was worried!"
With that, she smacked Hervena's forearm with a sharp crack. Hervena flinched, then loosened her expression and started grumbling.
"That's too much. You hug the Young Master and hit me?"
"You're my friend."
"So the Young Master isn't a friend, is that it?"
"Th-the rank is different!"
"Funny, coming from someone who never used to talk like that."
The corners of both their mouths lifted. Jane approached Hervena carefully, looked at her, and asked with a low sigh.
"Hervena, there was a reason, wasn't there?"
"Yeah. It was Lady Lisleia, so I had work to do."
"Lisleia. So that was it."
At that name, Jane's face stiffened in a peculiar way. Just as the mood threatened to sink, Skadi called out brightly.
"Me! I want a drink!"
"That might be a little difficult."
"Why not! The job's done, isn't it!"
"What time is it right now?"
"Five o'clock, Young Master."
"We'll have a guest soon."
"Who?"
"Lady Lisleia."
Skadi startled at the name. Melo, meanwhile, looked up at Blow with sparkling eyes.
"Then... should I cook?"
"Yeah. I'm counting on you."
"Wow! It's been so long!"
Eyes brimming, Melo pressed her hands together, and Blow stroked her hair gently.
"You had a few days off. Will you be all right? If it's too much..."
"I'm fine! Lady Skadi was so considerate that I learned a lot from the mansion's head chef."
"Even learning like that, there was still more to learn?"
"Yes! Lately I only had to do breakfast, so she said she felt a little embarrassed, and that this worked out perfectly..."
They had come all the way to Hills for this, and Skadi, apparently embarrassed, cleared her throat. In the distance, a carriage of House Edfolk was coming into view, headed their way.
"Young Master, Lady Lisleia is arriving."
"Got it. Better if we all greet her together."
"Yes!"
By the time everyone had lined up behind Blow, the carriage stopped. Yulia and Mnevoir stepped down first, and Lisleia followed. She stretched, set her feet on the ground, and asked with her eyes narrowed to slits.
"What's this? Did the Crown Prince come or something?"
"No. We came out because it seemed Lady Lisleia had arrived."
"Honestly. Don't do this next time."
"Yes. I'll see to that."
"I haven't eaten a single meal today, so I'm irritable, you understand? I'd like to start with food."
Lisleia smiled as she said it. Blow answered in a clear, courteous voice.
"We'll receive you properly."