Volume 3 - CH 6.3

One should say that it was fortunate that the rain was continuing to fall without stopping. No matter how many times they shot flashy magic of that degree, it hardly spread fire to their surroundings, and the left arm which had sustained burns could also cool immediately.

If he counted such trivial good luck one by one, then overcoming the dreary bad luck which waited beyond this might become slightly easy.

Valeria’s magic, which had far exceeded Dimitar’s expectation and speedily exploded, after slightly forcing that girl’s magic back, cancelled each other out and scattered in night sky.

「……」

Lowering his arm that had been making the magic power converge, he grabbed Jagieruka. Dimitar, who had stared at the girl through the veil of drizzling rain, narrowed his eyes and took a step forwards.

「Te, te, i—」

Perhaps she received the aftermath of the two explosive flames that had clashed, the girl who had flown down unsteadily sustained burns on her right hand that held the knife. It wasn’t a damage to the extent of fatal, but the fact that her right arm’s magic crests were sealed didn’t change.

It became a situation where Valeria and the girl’s right arms’ magic crests couldn’t be used. Even if she borrowed the power of magic, it might already be impossible for the girl to do close combat with Dimitar with one arm. Whether she knew that and had the will to fight an extended battle or not—Dimitar lightly swung Jagieruka to show that he could still use the sword with both hands.

「……」

The girl’s chirp stopped, and her eyes which contained trepidation in some respects began to move hurriedly, looking around restlessly. Ironically, that was a very humane reaction that she, who should be a dreadful slaughterer who aimed at people’s vitals without hesitation, showed for the first time.

「!」

Bending her body, the girl who was taking rough breaths on nearly all fours suddenly jumped up. Purple magic crests were drawn on both legs, and they created a strong wind that blew away the raindrops.

「This…!」

Valeria instantly raised her left hand overhead.

「Stop」

Grabbing the hand of Valeria who tried to make a new magic crest emerge, Dimitar sighed.

「—Leave her alone if she’s withdrawing. Cornering a wild animal and receiving a desperate counterattack is also foolish」

「However…!」

「More importantly, close up your right hand’s wound. You’ll collapse due to excessive bleeding, you know」

Jerking his chin lightly, he made Valeria become aware of the depth of the wound that she had received. Valeria’s right hand had been deeply cut open with a “zakkuri” from near the elbow to the wrist, but because of the metal bracelet, it ended without her artery and tendon being cut. One should probably call it “luck among the misfortune”.

However, there was no guarantee that they could count another good luck like that when they further cornered the girl who was fleeing away.

「…I’ll search for the horse」

Leaving Valeria who had begun to obediently treat her right arm’s wound behind at the spot, Dimitar pushed through into the forest. Somehow securing one of the horses that had become frightened by the exchange of flashy magic and ran away, he returned to Valeria’s original position.

Valeria, who was standing stock still in the middle of the path, held her right arm whose wound was healed and glared at Dimitar with a reproachful look. It wasn’t that he didn’t understand what she wanted to say somehow, but he didn’t think that it was a situation where he’d be rebuked either.

Dimitar had instructed Valeria to leave here together with Clotilde. Since Valeria had disregarded that and remained in this place, what she’d experience and what she’d think here, those might be her self-responsibility.

Dimitar secured the clasp of Jagieruka’s scabbard and spoke to Valeria.

「I don’t think that the kid from just now will link up with her escaped comrades…, but I’m worried about Clotilde. Let’s go」

「You, sa…」

「What is it? We don’t have the free time for making pointless talk」

Dimitar straddled the horse and hit the front of his saddle with a “pon”, saying “get on here quickly”.

「—Or is it that you want to be scolded for disregarding my instruction again, here and now?」

「That’s because—that’s because you don’t acknowledge me!」

「…Ha?」

「You don’t acknowledge my power, right!」

Valeria shouted, her cheeks flushing bright red in the cold rain.

「I was chosen to be a Dominas! However, you don’t acknowledge my power, do you!」

「Therefore, you wanted to show me? To show me that you can fight even by yourself, and if I praise you, you’d be fine with that?」

「It’s not like that!」

「Ma… in reality, you weren’t able to fight by yourself」

「—」

Valeria bit her lips and glared at Dimitar with eyes like she was looking at her parents’ enemies.

He could tease Valeria with sound arguments until she cried here, but unfortunately, he didn’t have such free time. It was unthinkable that there were other magic warriors on the level of the girl from just now, but if he thought about the possibility of the worst case, he was worried about Clotilde who had continued the pursuit alone. It’d be better to run after her quickly.

「…If Clotilde and Sigibert die, our position will conversely get worse. We’ll go to see the situation」

Dimitar took a deep breath greatly and extended his left hand to Valeria.

Valeria then grasped that hand.

「…That, you’re really amazing」

Valeria who had muttered in a low voice was fixedly staring at Dimitar’s left arm. The magic crest from just now was still faintly remaining on the skin that had blistered in deep red.

「That is so, isn’t it; you can use such a magic too! You’re knowledgeable in various things, can use a sword, can mount a horse, and are always calm! Since you can be a Hiera Glaphicos, and on top of that, can even use such an amazing magic, it’s natural that I’ll seem like an idiot, right!? That’s why you don’t acknowledge me, right!? No matter how much I did my best, you absolutely won’t acknowledge me!」

「…Do you want to be acknowledged by me?」

「—」

「Think carefully」

Conversely, Dimitar grasped Valeria’s arm back and forcibly pulled her up onto the horse. If he waited for Valeria who had become emotional to calm down, it might take until dawn broke.

Placing Valeria on the horse in such a way as to carry her under the arm, Dimitar made the reins resound.

「—What you’ve been saying since a little while ago was, you want to be acknowledged by me when you’ve become able to kill people too, you know?」

「It’s different!」

「To begin with, you couldn’t see through that kid’s ability. If you knew that the opponent is stronger than yourself, then you might have used the cleverness of at least performing a surprise attack secretly from under cover」

「But… such a thing, isn’t something that a Dominas would do, right!? For a Dominas of Amaddo, no matter who the opponent may be, from the front—」

「Work like murder isn’t requested of the Dominas of Amaddo」

「—」

The situation varied according to countries, but Dominas standing in the battlefields was something that happened occasionally, and there were examples like Clotilde’s as well. However, what the current people of Amaddo were requesting of the Dominas wasn’t that sort of role.

「I said that you’ve your role, right? Bear in mind that the surrounding people are making the efforts to protect that image. …Don’t think that children will feel intimacy towards a Dominas who has killed people and then approach her」

While speaking to Valeria who had cast her eyes down, Dimitar clearly understood. At the least, he believed that he could understand.

For the sake of strengthening the position of Amaddo that was the leader country, Orvieto had been thinking of actively sending Valeria’s party to the outside. Intervention of dispute, inspection of the frontier, inspection work, and also diplomacy—in order to resolve the trouble that arose in the process, it wouldn’t always be concluded with just lip service.

Therefore, Dimitar was assigned to be Valeria’s assistant. Helping Valeria and raising her reputation on one hand, Dimitar would be entirely responsible for the work that would lead to damaging her image because she did it herself. This was often the case in the world of politics.

What Orvieto was requesting of him was the role of a villain like that.

「…In the first place, when did I say that I don’t acknowledge you? Saying that I don’t acknowledge you who is a Dominas means finding fault with the decision of Head Director and His Majesty who had chosen you to be a Dominas, you know? I’m not foolish to that extent」

Dimitar spoke while galloping the horse.

「You’ve a role that the other Dominas don’t, and I acknowledge that. I know that you can use every magic almost equally at a high level, and I also know that you’ve the desire to improve yourself more than others. …What do you want me to acknowledge of you anymore?」

「But…」

Maybe because it had gotten wet in the rain or there were other reasons, Valeria wiped her face with the back of her hand many times, sniffled a little and muttered.

「—You’re actually making fun of me, aren’t you?」

「That can’t be helped. It’s a fact that you do foolish things」

「That… I wish you wouldn’t say “foolish”!」

Valeria suddenly raised her face and hit Dimitar’s arm that gripped the reins.

「—First of all, trying to use a flashy magic like you’re competing with me, you’re really looking down on people! Pretending that you can’t use it despite being able to use even that sort of magic, you were looking at me who had gotten proud and laughing in your mind the whole time, right!?」

「If I were laughing at you, I’d look at your face and laugh openly and above board. It isn’t interesting if your reaction isn’t known」

「Ki—i!」

Tearing off her long hair, Valeria hit Dimitar’s arm even more violently. If it was the usual, it wouldn’t be very painful, but his left arm which was blistered would hurt as expected.

「Ah…」

Perhaps she had realised that like now, Valeria stopped her hand that was hitting Dimitar’s arm. Dimitar then raised his lips and,

「The unrefined me can’t use healing magic. I’d like to have the versatile Costacurta-geika to heal it quickly」

「Saying things that make fun of me like that again—」

Although she grumbled “butsu butsu”, Valeria made a magic crest emerge on her left hand and started the treatment of the wounds on the left arm and chest of Dimitar who was clutching the reins.

「…Are (huh/eh)?」

「What’s the matter?」

「You… did that just now, right? Ano—hora, that!」

「Don’t think that you can have a conversation with just a pronoun. What do you want to say?」

「That’s because, even though it was burned and the magic crests shouldn’t have been usable—magic crests rose up on this arm just now too—」

「Ah, that, huh」

Thoughts of “did she realise it as expected?” and “she didn’t realise it until now?” turned into a jumble, and Dimitar gave a bitter smile slightly.

「That magic crest… the truth is, I never intended to use it again」

「Eh?」

「I certainly used that sort of magic which substitutes projectile weapons by myself before. —However, I understood that I can’t master it well no matter how hard I may try and decided not to use it after that」

「Can’t master it…?」

「It went out of control」

Dimitar laughed at himself. It was a past that he didn’t want to remember much, but it might not be bad in a self-admonition sense.

「No matter how much I injured the skin, it’d never disappear. It’s futile with the degree of a blister. Even though I sustained an even more terrible burn, and the skin was completely burned hideously, this left arm’s magic crest didn’t disappear and didn’t stop going out of control either」

「Such a thing… eh? It really exists?」

「If my story is unbelievable, then you can try asking Babel-geika next time」

「It’s something that Babel-geika knows as well?」

「When this left arm went out of control previously, it was Her Eminence who helped Lucius and me. Honestly, that person is difficult to deal with, but because of just that, I’m indebted to her for my whole life」

At that moment, Dimitar, who had remembered Shakira Babel’s grinning face and knitted his brows, noticed that a small light was lit ahead.

「—There she is」

In the middle of a circle of a dim light was the person in question, Clotilde Diaghilev, who held up the light and Sigibert Duevre who was placed on horseback, tied as he was; moreover, there were people in black from head to toe who had collapsed in the vicinity, not moving with so much as a twitch.

「The both of you… are safe, I see」

The one who came running was Clotilde who had noticed Dimitar’s party; at this unexpected thing for her, she relaxed her mouth like she felt relieved in some respects.

「His Excellency?」

「He’s safe. …It seems that he was made to smell a medicine or something and was put to sleep only」

「As one would expect of the “White Rose of Steel”」

Roughly looking, about five, six thieves had collapsed. Since she defeated the thieves who had mastered magic and swords by merely herself, Clotilde was surely a Dominas suited for combat.

Dimitar, who had carried Valeria under his arm and dismounted the horse, tore off the thieves’ mantles and tore them to appropriate length, and then asked while tying them up quickly.

「Is it certain that this is the deed of Yururogu?」

「We won’t know the exact things unless we try interrogating these thieves…, but there’s no mistake anyway, I think. I’ve recollection of this sword and harness. They’re the things that the rebel army is using if I remember correctly」

「Is that so…」

「Hyowaaaa!? —Uguho!」

An odd scream resounded abruptly, and something made a “dosun” falling sound.

「Ugugugu… w, what on earth is this…? U, untie me, untie me, untie me!? W, who do you think I am—!」

Sigibert, who had tumbled to the ground, was shouting while wriggling like a caterpillar. Although it was good that the medicine had worn off and he had woken up at last, he probably fell from horseback when he stirred.

「Y, Your Excellency…」

The figure of Sigibert, who was covered all over with mud and shouting, completely had no dignity of a military vice-minister of a whole country. Clotilde walked up to him with an astringent expression, and when she untied the binding, Sigibert tried to stand up vigorously, and his foot slipped and he magnificently fell on his bottom.

「Pu—gya!」

Lightly driving his knee into the bottom of Valeria, who had seen that and was about to burst into laughter, and changing it into a scream, Dimitar nonchalantly spoke to Sigibert.

「Are you all right, Your Excellency?」

「U—… to have experienced something terrible」

「You don’t seem to be injured; that’s the best」

「”Best” you say… it’s not the best, good grief! What were the security people doing?」

「The person in charge of security is Your Excellency though」

「That sort of quibble is—eh? Are (huh/eh)? You’re—」

Perhaps Sigibert who had thrown off his mantle, which was covered in mud and became very heavy, and stood up then finally realised that the other parties weren’t his subordinates; he scratched his head with a “pori pori” as he kept opening his mouth halfway.

「Ah—… Richternach-kyou, and even… Costacurta-geika as well. Why in the world are the both of you here?」

「We were searching for Your Excellency together with Diaghilev-geika」

「Eh?」

「Your Excellency was kidnapped from the inn by the hands of the thieves. …Do you not remember?」

Sigibert bent his mouth into a “he (へ)” character and groaned at Clotilde’s question.

「…I certainly remember that someone seemed to have broken in through the window, but I was suddenly covered with something and couldn’t see anything, after that—when I realised, I was here」

「In any case, let’s return to the town. Puyol-geika must be worried as well」

「Ah, umu…」

Sigibert, who had received Clotilde’s help and straddled a horse, then stared at his right hand and sighed. Maybe he didn’t feel at ease if he didn’t have his favourite riding crop.

Clotilde placed one thief who was tied up on her horse and,

「Let’s leave the remaining thieves here. After we return to the town, we can dispatch a party to apprehend them again」

「U, umu. I also think that that’s good」

Dimitar who had straddled a horse together with Valeria spoke to Sigibert who had cleared his throat and said such a thing now.

「—At any rate, it was truly great that Your Excellency is safe. If something were to happen to Your Excellency, how much would our country’s Isaac-denka have grieved… to the extent that I want to inform him of Your Excellency’s safety with a fast horse even at once」

「Eh ah!? Ah, iya, it’s fine, that kind of thing! T, there’s no need to read too much into things like that, un, no need, no need, no need! After all, there’s no need to go out of the way to cause him to worry!」

Sigibert hurriedly shook his head with a “buru buru”. Certainly, the person in charge of security himself was successfully kidnapped by the thieves; furthermore, he received the assistance of Valeria whom he should have protected and was rescued, and if this wasn’t handled properly, it might become an international problem and a mess where he besmirched Haiderota’s honour. Most importantly, if this was known by Isaac, it might become an even more depressing situation than a reprimand from the king for Sigibert.

「Costacurta-geika, sorry to trouble you, but may I ask for a light?」

「Ah, hai」

Relying on the magic light that Valeria held up, Dimitar galloped the horse. Clotilde and Sigibert then followed from the rear.

「—Richternach-kyou」

Clotilde who had come shortening the distance spoke in a lowly subdued voice.

「…I’d like you to not say spiteful things to His Excellency too much」

「If that degree is spiteful, then Isaac-denka’s one is a mental torture. —I thought that maybe that sort of exchange was a proof of friendship between the both of them for sure though」

「Richternach-kyou too, seems to be a person who loves sarcasm as much as that His Highness of yours」

「It depends on the time and situation. It was you who tried to make Our Eminence feel embarrassed at the beginning, so I’m also just matching that style. I was told by His Highness to retaliate if I had something done to me」

「That’s…」

When Dimitar mentioned the matter of the dinner time, Clotilde knitted her brows like she was troubled and glanced at Valeria.

He had just observed for slightly one day only, but fundamentally, Clotilde was a person who was too serious and had a strong sense of responsibility. She also earned the trust from her subordinates, and possessed the disposition of someone who led others much more than Sigibert. Most importantly, she seemed to be fastidious and had a high pride.

It most likely wasn’t her own idea, but probably because it was Sigibert’s instruction that such a person would deliberately bring up that sort of topic at the place of the meal. After all, even if Clotilde had the thought of ascertaining the abilities of Valeria’s party, such a malicious method didn’t quite fit her image.

Clotilde inhaled a deep breath and nodded many times.

「…Very well, I guess. I shall talk to His Excellency myself so that such a thing won’t happen hereafter. I don’t want to create unnecessary discord between allies while it’s turning into a situation like this」

「Thanks then」

When Dimitar nodded his head, Clotilde reduced her speed a little and lined up with Sigibert’s horse. She was probably giving a warning to Sigibert immediately. Although he didn’t know whether the party’s visit to Aurillac would advance as planned from now on or not, at least they should be freed from that sort of sarcasm while they were in Haiderota.

「—Oi」

Estimating the time when Clotilde left, Dimitar spoke to Valeria.

「—Just now, if your magic wasn’t on time, I planned to use a huge magic with the resolution of it going out of control. If a similar thing happens again next, and in the case that I really cause it to go out of control, the possibility of you being nearby is high」

「Eh…?」

Valeria twisted her neck and looked up at Dimitar’s face.

「S, so… what?」

「At that time, you must stop me」

「Huh!? “Stop it from going out of control” you say, if I remember correctly, the magic crest—」

It was precisely because she had received teachings from Orvieto in the Magic Academy (Furigana: Prasa Marefikos) that she, as one would expect, seemed to know at least the method to cope with it when magic power went out of control. In the event that magic became impossible to control due to it going out of control, the thing which one should do first was to sever the magic crest that had the flow of magic power—that was to say, damaged the magic crest and magic power normally wouldn’t flow.

「Normally, it’ll be fine with that. However, my magic crest won’t disappear even if you injure my skin」

「Then what should I do?」

「Hit me with all your strength and make me lose consciousness. It was stopped with that last time too」

「”Last time”… Babel-geika?」

「Yes. I suddenly had something done to me with a “gatsun”, so I don’t understand well, but Lucius said that she seemed to have hit me with all her strength with a stone of the extent of an infant’s head. …If Her Eminence wasn’t a master of curing magic, I might have died as it was」

「You… perhaps, the reason for quitting the Chivalric Order is—」

「It seems that various rumours are floating around, but there’s nothing to be said from my own mouth. —I’ve the obligation to keep secrets」

Wiping his right hand which was slippery due to the rain on the thigh of his trousers—it didn’t have much meaning though—Dimitar struck and made the reins resound.