第２０１掘：動き出す敵と今日の御飯 (Part2)
*Clatter, crash.*
"I see. That would certainly cause a stir. To think that Light—a Holy Sword user—was defeated."
As I brushed my hair, I slipped into the formal attire Prism had retrieved for my audience. While I dressed, Prism tidied the room and explained the situation. Apparently, Light, the Holy Sword user sent to counter the Zilba Empire’s invasion, had been defeated.
"Honestly, the dust in here is atrocious... The difference between the areas that get used and those that don't is staggering. And it’s not just that a Holy Sword user lost. The defeat happened a week ago. Do you understand the implications of that?"
She waved her hand in front of her face as if to ward off the stuffiness. How rude, in a maiden’s room of all places.
"Well, I’ll turn a blind eye to your attitude in a maiden’s room, Prism. But about the defeat a week ago—hasn't that fortress been under siege for a long time?"
"No, the invasion had stalled. There hadn't been a peep from them for nearly six months."
"Right. I don't know the reason, but during that lull, we sent reinforcements and our trump card, Light, to solidify the defenses, didn't we?"
"Yes. And yet, that supposedly impregnable fortress fell in just half a day."
"...Half a day, huh? Did they have a Holy Sword user of their own?"
"No. According to the soldiers who returned, three Magic Sword users appeared at once. They destroyed the gates in an instant, silenced the guards on the ramparts in the blink of an eye, and finished the job before any real resistance could be mounted."
"...Hmm, that’s strange. It’s true that the magic swords we wield are powerful. But to shatter gates and clear the ramparts in an instant... that should be impossible without storing a massive amount of magical energy and unleashing a devastating magical attack."
My field of research, if I may be so bold, is the study of these magic swords. Or perhaps, the study of magic and magical energy itself?
Though I haven't been at it long enough to call it "many years," my research has revealed that magic swords possess the property of accumulating magical energy. The spells cast by these swords are powered by that stored energy. That is why Prism and I intentionally channel our own magic into our blades every day.
Technically, magic swords are supposed to accumulate energy when they slay enemies, but since modern Magic Sword users are treated as trump cards, the inefficient tactic of charging into enemy lines to rampage is something I’ve only ever heard of from the Zilba Empire’s Wind Princess Knight, Marly.
However, this fact is known only to the King and a handful of high-ranking officials. It’s not something visible to the naked eye; we simply speak of the energy being "stored" based on the intuition we feel as users. If it were visible, that would be a problem in itself. In the worst-case scenario, we might be ordered to slaughter our own citizens just to charge our blades.
Regardless, while we do accumulate energy daily, I don't believe that alone is enough to destroy a gate in an instant.
"...Prism, is there any way your dual-wielding style could shatter a gate in an instant?"
"...I’ve thought about that, too. With my Earth magic sword, I could cause the ground beneath the gate to heave or collapse, which would bring the structure down. Though, it would likely drain the sword's energy completely."
"Even having a method is impressive. My Lightning magic sword would probably only be enough to pick off the soldiers on the ramparts."
"Agil’s magic sword is also convenient for clearing out soldiers since it ignores armor-based defenses."
"Well, everything has its uses. But after talking with you, Prism, I think I’m starting to see why we lost."
"And what reason is that?"
"Three Magic Sword users were present. They must have divided the tasks. The ramparts for the Wind Princess Knight. The gates for the Flame Princess Knight. And the cleanup for the Water Princess Knight. Wouldn't that do the trick?"
"Hmm. The soldiers are intimidated by the Wind sword, the gate is heated by the Flame sword so no one can approach, and then a tsunami of water from the Water sword finishes them off?"
"Exactly."
I finished my preparations for the audience.
"But if we explain that..."
"It looks like we’ll have to head out there ourselves. Well, I want to recover the Holy Sword anyway, and having you with me is reassuring, Prism."
"The feeling is mutual, Agil."
So, there are Magic Sword users out there who have surpassed the Holy Sword... The world is truly vast. It seems I still have much to learn.
***
**Side: Low-ranking Goblin A (The group following Yuki)**
"Oh, what a flavor!!"
"It truly is. It’s delicious!!"
Right before my eyes, Lord Horst and his wife are eating the food prepared by Weed—no, by the General himself—and they look delighted. Well, of course it’s delicious. We can’t eat it right now because we’re on guard duty, but we’re scheduled to have some later. The General is kind in that regard. Even if the training is hell.
But even for a General I owe so much to, there are times I hate him.
"Yuki-san, here, say 'ahhh'."
Sister Riel is doing something that makes me incredibly jealous.
"I’m the one who made it, you know," the General says, yet he accepts the bite from Sister Riel quite happily.
"May I have some too?"
"Me too."
Tori and Sister Kaya follow suit. And then, naturally:
"As Yuki-san's aide, I must ensure you are fed!!"
"Big brother, me too!!"
"Brother!!"
"U-um, me too!!"
Ria, Aslin, Firia, Shera... The General is surrounded by beauties and beautiful young girls.
A little further away...
"Should I be doing that as well?"
"That’s only something you should do if you truly want to, Jessica. If you do it reluctantly, the other person will just feel guilty."
"Is that so? And what about you, Labyris? Aren't you going to?"
"Of course I am. Mouth-to-mouth, at that."
*Heh heh heh.* At this very moment, I think to myself: If only hatred could kill people!!
I’ll have to let Captain Steve know later. *Click, click* (the sound of a digital camera).
Come on, come on, the great enemy is on the move!! But today is all about the food!!
*Hatred can't kill people, you know?*