Chapter 196: The Tin Knight and The Crossroads of Swords and Magic (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 196: The Tin Knight and The Crossroads of Swords and Magic (6)
Inside the Tower of Annihilation, in a reception room.
“I will go and fetch a reply, so please wait here. If you need anything, tell the golem next to you, and it will assist you.”
With only those words, the mage departed.
Her attitude was far from friendly, but still…
“…She’s more moderate than I expected.”
“Yes, she is.”
Contrary to their expectations of being made to wait indefinitely outside the gate or being met with overt hostility upon entry, their treatment was not so bad.
The reception room was simple but tidy, and none of the mages they had encountered on the way had shown any blatant animosity.
Clomp, clomp.
A golem made entirely of wood, barely reaching Adelaide’s chest, diligently moved its short body to serve them tea and snacks. The sight was, frankly, rather cute.
Adelaide cautiously stroked the golem’s cylindrical head and found its texture surprisingly soft and plush.
After enjoying the sensation for a moment, she sheepishly withdrew her hand as the golem stared at her intently, as if asking if she needed anything else.
“This tastes quite good.”
Seeing Sophia pop a cookie into her mouth without a second thought, Adelaide, who had been about to ask, ‘Is it okay to eat that so carelessly?’, quickly realized the question was pointless.
Dorothea had repeatedly taught her that it was basic sense not to carelessly consume food and drink from an unfamiliar place, but there was likely no one in the world better suited for the role of a poison taster than Sophia.
The crushing pressure that had weighed them down had vanished since they entered the tower, allowing the two to converse comfortably.
“Why do you think the tower’s attitude has suddenly changed?”
“Well, we can speculate on many things, but the most immediate reason is likely because we came as ‘official’ envoys. If an opponent who hasn’t even entered the tower collapses on their own, that’s their problem. But if something were to happen to us inside the tower, the responsibility would fall on them.”
“So it’s because of the political risk?”
“What that means is…”
“We probably won’t be threatened any further. Once we receive the reply and head back, that should be the end of it. Though we’ll still need to be careful on the way back.”
Phew. Adelaide let out a sigh of relief.
In the City of Scales, I ended up needing help from others, but this time, it seems I can handle it on my own. What a relief… a relief?
Adelaide’s intuition sounded an alarm.
Based on her experiences so far, whenever she thought things were finally over, something else would invariably happen.
To put it in the Tin Knight’s terms, ‘Nothing good ever comes from raising unnecessary flags.’
It was just after Adelaide had steeled her resolve to be ready for anything.
Slam!
Without a word of warning or even a knock, the reception room door was thrown open, and someone strode inside.
Taller than most men, with long, slender limbs and a sharp, venomous beauty, the woman plopped down onto an empty sofa.
“I am the Head of the Tower of Annihilation. Frandol Herteite.”
“……”
While Adelaide was frozen by the sudden turn of events, Sophia was, as expected, Sophia.
She brushed off the woman’s audacious behavior as if it were perfectly normal and calmly introduced herself.
“It is an honor to meet the mightiest spear of the Magic State. My name is Sophia. And this is Lady Adelaide.”
“Hmph, doesn’t the little one over there have a mouth?”
“It is only because the Tower Head’s actions were so swift. I ask for your understanding.”
Frandol scoffed at the jab, which implied it was her fault for barging in without any greeting.
“I’ve read the letter. I suspect the old man at the dojo has gone senile.”
“We are but mere messengers, so we are not privy to the contents of the letter.”
“He proposed a cultural exchange. An event where the dojo teaches us martial arts, and we teach them magic. I read it and was so dumbfounded that I came straight down here.”
“……”
For once, Sophia merely smiled wryly, offering no rebuttal. It was a sign that she, too, thought the proposal was quite a stretch.
Adelaide, regaining her senses a moment later, shot a worried glance at the silent Sophia but soon realized there was no need.
If their objective had been something like ‘secure an agreement,’ they would have been in a difficult position. But they were just messengers.
Whether the answer was yes or no, as long as they returned with a reply, their job was done.
Except for one thing.
“—Besides, it hasn’t even been that long since your side tried to invade by bypassing the eastern continent. Cut the crap about it being some rogue collateral line’s doing. Tell that old geezer Norman to properly acknowledge it and apologize before pulling stunts like this.”
Those words, flowing from Frandol’s lips, stripped Adelaide of her leisurely calm.
Words spilled out before rational thought could catch up.
“W-wait a moment! Could you please tell me more about that?”
“What?”
“I mean, the story about the invasion from the east.”
Perhaps sensing the bewilderment, confusion, and desperation in Adelaide’s voice, Frandol stared at her with a look of curiosity.
It was as if she was no longer seeing a mere errand girl to deliver her message, but assessing the young woman before her as an individual.
Her gaze flickered between Adelaide’s hair and eyes, their colors changed by Dorothea’s potion.
Seemingly concluding that Adelaide was a disciple and not of the Lion Duke’s bloodline, Frandol shrugged.
“Don’t they properly educate their disciples at the ducal house? Fine. I’ll grant you a special favor.”
With a rather condescending attitude, the Head of the Tower of Annihilation began her explanation.
“About a year ago, various crimes began to occur frequently in the territories governed by the Tower of Control. An investigation revealed that bandits from the lawless areas of the eastern continent had crossed over in search of fertile land. The Tower of Control sent troops to subjugate the bandits. —And they suffered near-annihilation.”
A chilling coldness emanated from the Tower Head’s face.
“What we thought was a simple bandit group was, in fact, a top-tier elite force. Not only that, but there were also ambushing troops that hadn’t been discovered during the preliminary reconnaissance. It was a trap from the start. If their plan had gone smoothly and the subjugation force had been wiped out, it was a threatening enough attack that the Tower of Control itself might have fallen.”
The Tower Head was speaking in hypotheticals.
Which meant, conversely, that it hadn’t come to that.
“But despite their pincer attack, a part of the subjugation force managed to escape and report the situation, allowing the Tower of Control to regroup just in the nick of time. Though a part of their domain was burned, they ultimately finished off the bandits. But when they took off the helmet of the commander, who had been concealing his face, out popped someone with golden hair and violet eyes.”
Adelaide’s hands, resting on her lap, trembled.
“We, of course, questioned the Empire. Not only was the leader of the bandits that ran rampant in our lands of the Lion Duke’s bloodline, but we also had intelligence about additional troop movements near the Imperial border. But the Empire feigned ignorance. Do you know what they said?”
—We never gave such an order.
—It was merely the unilateral action of a single collateral line that has little connection to the main family.
“Opinions were divided between Control and us, who wanted revenge, and Foresight and Protection, who wanted to mediate. In the end, after several negotiations, it was concluded as an ‘unfortunate misunderstanding between both sides.’ What a bunch of lukewarm fools.”
“Unfortunate… misunderstanding…”
Adelaide hung her head low.
Interpreting this as ‘shame over the petty actions of the school she was taught by,’ the Tower Head’s voice softened, if only slightly.
“It seems the Empire either fabricated a completely different story about the incident or covered it up entirely. If you ever think of leaving your current place, you’re welcome to come to our ‘Annihilation.’ Unlike those stuffy fools from Foresight, I don’t discriminate against competent people, even if they aren’t mages. With enough spirit to withstand the pressure of the three spirits and come before me, I’m sure I can find a use for you somewhere.”
In place of the speechless Adelaide, Sophia replied.
“Thank you for the kind and detailed explanation, Head of the Tower of Annihilation. But from the way you speak, it seems you did not experience or witness the battle yourself?”
“I was dying to fly over when I heard the news, but our designated front is down in the southwest. With the Lion of Nemea Castle crouching there, I can’t just move my forces carelessly.”
“So, you heard the story from others?”
“It’s based on what I heard from those Control fools, with some additional investigation.”
“I see. This has been an informative time. Well then, we shall be on our way. We will think deeply about your offer.”
The Tower Head seemed quite pleased with Sophia’s final remark, and without any further prickliness, she readily wrote them a reply.
It was a letter instantly created by scorching a piece of parchment with fire instead of ink, but a reply was a reply. It was sufficient proof that they had completed their task.
On the road, walking away from the tower.
Clatter, clatter!
The bone mouse, seemingly worried about the perpetually silent Adelaide, tried to elicit a reaction by clattering its teeth and jaw or climbing onto her head, but to no avail.
The bone mouse looked at Sophia as if to say, ‘Aren’t you going to do something about this?’, but Sophia just shook her head quietly.
It was as if she was saying they had to wait for Adelaide to speak first.
And so, after some time had passed…
“Miss Sophia.”
“Yes.”
“This story we just heard… could it be true?”
Adelaide’s voice held a tone of hope.
Knowing this, Sophia spoke calmly.
“It could be true, or it could not be.”
“……”
“One of the most important things to remember when reading a book is to not blindly believe its contents are the absolute truth. The same goes for conversations with people. The Head of the Tower of Annihilation could have lied to deceive you, Lady Adelaide. She could have been mistaken about something. And—it could all be true.”
Her voice was a little more serious, a little heavier than usual.
Like an adult who must teach a child how to doubt others.
“What I can tell you for certain, Lady Adelaide, is that there is no need to rush to a judgment.”
Slowly.
With a very slow movement, Adelaide nodded.
As if that was enough for now, Sophia stroked Adelaide’s head.
“Well then, shall we head back for now? Or-”
“-Let’s go to the dojo. There’s something I want to ask there, too.”
At Adelaide’s words, Sophia agreed.
The bone mouse seemed a little displeased but soon hid itself within Adelaide’s hair again, as if it had no choice.
The main gate of the Lennart dojo.
Dong— Dong— Dong—
The bell, its tone somewhere between light and heavy, rang out as always, and the young man they had met before appeared once more.
When Sophia waved the parchment in her hand, the young man’s eyes widened.
“My goodness. You actually succeeded! It was something no one, including myself, could accomplish. That’s truly amazing.”
“You’re too kind. Is the representative instructor in?”
“He is. He is, but, um.”
The young man hesitated for a moment before explaining the situation.
“While you were away, people from the Lennart main family came to visit. A whole crowd of them. The instructor is currently attending to them, so it might be difficult to see him right away like last time. Would you mind waiting for a little while?”
Perhaps it was because he knew Adelaide was a skilled individual who had already acquired more than three tokens.
Even though she was hiding the distinctive appearance of her bloodline, the young man’s attitude was extremely polite.
Just as the two were about to nod in understanding.
“—Aha, so it’s you?”
Right behind her.
So close she could practically feel their breath, a voice spoke.
Before her rational mind could feel the alarm of someone approaching so closely without her noticing, the instincts honed by her training with the Tin Knight lashed out like a scream.
Kaaaang!
Sparks flew as sword met sword.
The sudden intruder, realizing it was impossible to block Adelaide’s strike with brute force, skillfully deflected the momentum and created distance.
Beautiful golden hair was thrown into disarray.
Violet eyes, as deep in color as Adelaide’s, glinted with ecstasy.
The unknown girl from the Lion Duke’s bloodline curled her lips into a smile and said,
“—You’re the one who struck first, you know?”