CH 136

Characters in this chapter:

Sapphiras Perfectio, 2nd son of the Earl of Aldridge

Percival Belisario, 3rd son of Margrave of Vanderwall on the Eastern Frontier

Aurora Steinfeld, daughter of the Duke of Bloomfield

Clawis Omnibus Worstitters/Clawis Garcia, Crown Prince of Worstitters

Rivera Hernández, Clawis’ aide/escort

Gabriel McMillan, Commander of the Order of Magicians

His Majesty the King’s entrance was announced in high spirits, and the nobles in the hall bowed their heads as if a ripple was spreading.

I followed suit and bowed.

“Raise your heads, everyone.”

His Majesty the King’s voice echoes in the silent hall. When I look up, I see Clawis and the other goodwill ambassadors of the Beastmen Kingdom standing alongside the royal family of Solmontana. And one step behind His Royal Highness the Crown Prince stood Aurora, leaning close to him. Her pale gold shiny dress suits her well.

Although it has not yet been officially announced, it has been decided that Aurora is to become the Crown Prince’s fiancée. She’s really going to marry into the royal family, but considering how valuable her magic is, it’s probably better for her personal safety. Everyone would want a precious holy magic user. Besides, unlike Prince Foolish, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would take good care of Aurora.

When I was thinking about such things, before I knew it, His Majesty the King’s greeting had ended, and His Highness the Crown Prince was talking about the great significance for both countries of forming an alliance with the Beastmen Kingdom. I was nodding my head in agreement, when Percival suddenly covered me.

Almost simultaneously, the stained glass of the large window near the ceiling shattered, and a scream echoed through the great hall. Over Percival’s shoulder, I could see several dark red creatures flying.

“Wyverns?”

Oi, oi, who the hell invited wyverns? At least tell them to enter through the door!

The sudden intruder caused chaos in the hall, with people turning left and right. There were many well-dressed ladies. With this, even if they don’t get attacked by wyverns, people will get hurt. I jumped out of Percival’s arms to quickly burn it down before that happened, but someone’s magic froze the wyvern in mid-air. My face twitched as the wyvern, which has turned into a block of ice, falls down with a thud.

Wait a minute! Have you confirmed that there was no one down there!? In such a place where people are gathered, you’ve done a very violent thing!

“Everyone, please calm down! The royal castle is currently under attack by wyverns, but rest assured. Our magic division will destroy them before long.”

Saying to calm down, the wyverns are frozen and dropping, which has caused more trouble than usual.

What’s more, the royal castle is under attack from wyverns. What in the world could have made that happen?

The voice is probably that man, isn’t it? I stand on my tiptoes to see who it is.

“……As expected, it’s the Earl of Aldridge.”

No wonder the attack was so crude. The most likely to be that the Earl. He must have pushed the wyvern outside to Gabriel and kept the good part for himself. Well, I guess this is the best he can do with his magic. If he’s fighting in the lead outside, he’ll quickly find out that he can’t use much magic.

“Father! Please listen to me! We have discovered that this wyvern attack was led by the beastmen! The Beastmen Kingdom was planning to use this occasion of this evening party to take over Solmontana! Forming an alliance with such a vicious country is out of the question…! Please reconsider!”

Haa?

The Second Prince, who was supposed to be in the northern fortress, was standing there pompously. In the first place, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had said that the Second Prince is never to leave the northern fortress, so why is he in the royal capital?

A rustle of unrest spread through the air. Some of them take the words of the foolish prince at face value and saying things like, as expected……,oh my god. Of course, not everyone is in favour of the alliance with both hands raised, but even so, you can see that this is absurd.

Today’s event is an evening party to deepen the friendship with the Beastmen Kingdom, and even the Crown Prince of his own country is attending, so there’s no way he would do such a thing. If they really wanted to take over this country, they should scheme better and be more carefully prepared. As usual, the plan is sloppy.

“Wha! What is the basis for such a thing? Our country has done no such thing!”

Rivera, who was standing to protect Clawis, quickly retorted. Clawis admonishes Rivera, who is trying to step forward. In normal times, this would be a funny scene, but it’s a bad idea to get emotional here.

“If it’s evidence, here it is!”

An unknown aristocratic-looking man standing next to the foolish prince signals behind him, and several soldiers drag the restrained and half-beast beastman out. He must have been hurt considerably, he was covered in wounds and his eyes were vacant.

“What a terrible thing to do……”

“This man has been hiding in the castle and playing this dragon flute. It seems he was planning to call the dragon here and take advantage of the chaos to kill His Majesty.”

“That’s absurd……”

Clawis mutters in dismay.

Dragon flute? I remember something like that. Something similar happened at the academy, didn’t it? At that time, I was about to be made the culprit. No matter how you look at it, it’s definitely a false charge, but it’s harder to prove you didn’t do it than to prove you did. If things go on like this, they will take the initiative. If that happens, it will be a little difficult to prove that they didn’t do it.

On the whole, if they make such a disturbance and fail to stop the alliance, it could lead to war. Idiots.

“You lowly beastmen! You can no longer get away with this!”

That’s when the Second Prince shouted. Suddenly, Clawis and the other beastmen start groaning, and in the blink of an eye they transform into beasts.

The hall is again filled with screams. The guard knights draw their swords to protect His Majesty the King.

Uh-oh, this is bad.

I won’t let you take the initiative. I’m in charge here!

“Cait Sith!”

“Did you call nya!”

Cait Sith jumped out of the summoning circle and did a somersault, and as soon as he landed, his ears trembled nervously.

From that appearance, I am sure.

Just as I thought.

Cait Sith, find the source of the sound you find offensive! Percival, don’t let anyone Cait Sith finds get away!”

“Nya!”

“Got it. Sapphiras, don’t push yourself too hard.”

Percival said, and followed Cait Sith as he ran off.

It’s okay, no need to worry. Nothing is impossible for me.

Leaving Percival with the key to keeping this place in check, I wrapped the entire hall in barrier magic to prevent even a single insect from leaking out, and trapped the goodwill ambassadors of the beastmen who had turned into beasts in ivy cages. Now they can’t hurt anyone, and the guard knights can’t hurt them. That ivy is hardened and reinforced like steel. Even the claws of a magical beast bear can’t tear it.

And then, without a moment’s delay, I transferred directly in front of Clawis, poked Rivera with the tip of my wand to stop him from moving, and at the same time, pushed my left arm into 

“Clawis! Come to your senses!”

Sharp fangs sunk into my arm and made a grinding sound. I was almost overpowered by the shock of the impact on my whole body, but I immediately pressed the tip of my wand against Clawis as well. The two beastified men stopped moving completely. I’m sorry, but I want you to endure in that form for a while.

“……Sa-Saphiras-sama……!”

In the His Highness the Crown Prince’s arms, Aurora let out a trembling voice. That’s rare from her who is always dignified and stately. She must have been very frightened. Nevertheless, she moved.

When Clawis turned his fangs on His Highness the Crown Prince, Aurora jumped forward without hesitation. She took a risk to protect the Crown Prince. However, in order to protect Aurora, His Highness the Crown Prince was hugging her.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, you are really brave to risk your life to protect your fiancée, but it is a disqualification for someone in a position of honour. What did you plan to do if something happened to you?”

If His Highness the Crown Prince had been hurt by Clawis here, I don’t know what would have happened between the two countries. No matter how much Aurora heals his wounds with holy magic without leaving a trace, the fact that Clawis attacked the Crown Prince of Solmontana cannot be erased.

“Hahaha……Sapphiras, you’re pretty relentless. But how can I protect the country if I can’t protect a single woman I love?”

“……That is certainly true1左様でございますか (sayou de gozaimasuka) is an old fashioned way of speech, it made me think of Rurouni Kenshin .”

What, love words2惚気 (noroke): to speak fondly of one’s sweetheart or to go on about one’s love affair, like scattering dog food. ? But if you have the composure for that, I guess that’s okay. You’ll be able to make a calm decisions.

When I gently touched Clawis’ face, which had turned into a wolf, to convey my intentions, his light blue eyes swayed as if pleading. It’s okay. I will definitely clear the humiliation of Clawis and the beastmen. I guess my thoughts were conveyed. I Pulled my arm out of Clawis’ mouth, which was beginning to lose strength.

The fangs bit into me quite deeply, but if I had been seriously eaten, my slender arm would have been easily torn off. Clawis desperately resisting the beastly nature that had forcibly shaken him. I think he endured well even though he was about to lose his sanity. As expected of a man who is prepared to carry the country on his shoulders in the future. He has a strong spirit.

“Did you see it? They showed their true colours when they were about to be exposed for their crimes! Your Highness the Crown Prince, you are wrong! Do you seriously think that you can join hands with beastmen!”

“Fargerson-kyou, aren’t those remarks too disrespecful? Can you really say that this disturbance was caused by the people of the Beastmen Kingdom?”

Aurora retorts firmly. She was trembling just a moment ago, but she is a strong young lady.

More importantly, is that man Marquess Fargerson? So, the Earl teamed up with Marquess Fargerson. I wonder why that man only snuggles up to useless guys like this. Could it be that he has a desire to ruin himself?　

“Hmm, you seem to feel good about being called a saintess, but you’ve been very much in favour of the beastmen. Wasn’t it you who communicated with the beastmen and led them to this country?”

Even Aurora was at a loss for words at the stupid prince’s words. This is exactly what it means to be dumbfounded, but you can say as much as you want to say now. You’re just strangling yourself. That’s more convenient for me.

When I turn my gaze to Clawis and the others, the beastification has begun to lift. That means it’s time for Percival and Cait Sith to return.

Now, I need to clean up quickly and get Aurora to heal my arm. The pain in my arm is going to make me go berserk this time.