87 – Parade #2
After the war, the Victory Festival became the largest event hosted by the Empire.
The biggest highlight of the festival was by far the victory parade held on the last day.
A line-up of knights wearing dazzling armor on horseback, a large-scale parade of soldiers armed with spears and shields, and finally, a splendid and powerful magic performance by the wizards of the imperial palace.
In addition to the magnificent appearance of the Imperial Army that won the victory in the last war, people’s interest in the parade increased even more this year.
That meant that a far greater number of people would flock to the central roads of the islands than ever before.
Of course, the military police will mobilize considerable manpower to control the crowds, but once they arrive at the scene, it will be so crowded that they cannot move properly. It’s a bonus to have to go out early in the morning to watch the parade.
I didn’t want to go through that level of exhaustion just to appreciate the parade. To see the festival, wandering the streets for the past few days has already been enough.
That’s why I am now on the roof of the Opal Black dormitory.
There were students from the Opal Black class, including me, gathered here. Except for Elizabeth.
Marianne let out her deep sigh.
“Haa… She refused her mother’s request to stay with her until the end of the festival and barely came out, but the only place where they gathered was school again….”
“You can go back if you don’t like it.”
From noble mtl dot com
“… No, well, it’s not that I don’t like it, right? Everyone else just left to watch the festival, but since we’re the only ones back at school, it feels a bit strange….”
Marian muttered her displeasure as she sat on the blanketed floor.
“If you don’t like crowded places, you can tell me in advance. Thanks to her grandfather anyway, she can see her from the comfort of her VIP seats. You should be able to watch it quietly there, in a place where no one is around….”
Titania said with a bright smile.
“Ah, Marian. We gathered to cheer for Elizabeth. In that sense, I think this is the best place?”
“That’s true, but….”
According to the information Schurz gave in advance, the airship departed from the imperial palace, flew along the central road, and then returned to the imperial palace.
So, if you were in Fillion Academy, District 3, right next to the Imperial Palace, you would be able to see the airship flying well enough.
Shurtz, who was next to me, said in a calm tone.
“Titania is right, Marian. Actually, you’ve already seen a lot of parades. I guess sometimes this isn’t too bad. If there are too many people, unexpected things can happen. In that respect, I think it would have been the best decision for the students to have them all together here. Am I right, Instructor Ion?”
“Um.”
To be honest, I was most uncomfortable with going to the parade, but I nodded slightly as if I agreed with Schurz.
Then, Schurz looked back at Marian with an expression like, ‘Did you see it?’, And Marian nodded as if she couldn’t win in the end.
“Oh, I got it! I don’t particularly like this, do I?”
Following Marian’s words, Gwynn, who had been quiet for a while, cautiously added.
“I’m a bit disappointed… I wanted to see the 7 continent heroes like Master, in person….”
Gwyn looked a bit regretful, perhaps because she wanted to see the hero and the saint who were revered as the 7 heroes of the continent, like the swordsman. Seeing Gwynn’s expression, Schurz laughed and took something out of the bag.
“Don’t worry. I knew that and prepared for this.”
What Schurz took out was the magic radio he had often seen in the break room, and an object resembling a short stick.
I immediately recognized what it was. It was because it had been seen many times on the battlefield.
“Is it a telescope?”
“Ah, as expected, you recognize the instructor, right?”
“Because it is a sensitive item, it must be one that is not unwound outside.”
“Of course, even I can’t get a military telescope. This is a recently released civilian version. The magnification is adjusted, but it’s not enough to watch the parade here.”
Gwynn asked in a curious voice.
“A telescope? What is that?”
“This is a tool that shows distant places as if they were viewed up close… It will be much quicker to understand if you try it yourself than if you explain it in detail. Would you like to close your eyes for a second?”
“Huh? Uhh… ? Whoa, whoa!! What is this!? It feels like people are right in front of me!”
Gwynn held the telescope in his hand and took a quick glance around him, unable to contain his excitement. Schurz exclaimed in fright as he immersed himself in the telescope and lifted it high toward the sky.
“Wait a minute, Gwynn! If that goes wrong-“
I quickly reached out and grabbed Gwynn.
Grabbing his wrist, Gwynn looked at me with a surprised expression.
“Instructor… ?”
“Don’t look at the sun. You may go blind.”
Shurtz continued with a cold expression.
“That’s right. Looking directly at the sun is dangerous because the light is concentrated through the telescope. So it’s better not to look at the sky. Sorry, I should have told you this first….”
I spoke in a stern tone to the dazed Gwynn.
“It is not a matter of recklessly using a tool that you do not know how to use. Be careful.”
Then Gwynn nodded his head obediently like a well-behaved child.
“… Yes yes. I’ll be careful. Ah- Instructor.”
I think I just changed it midway through trying to call you by a title other than instructor.
I wasn’t sure. Maybe it’s because of my mood.
Gwynn brought the telescope up to his eyes again, this time observing his surroundings more carefully. Seeing her cautious appearance, Schurz smiled lightly and turned on the radio he had brought along with the telescope.
As the radio turned on, the clear voice of a female guide came out.
[Listeners. As everyone expects, the start of the Victory Parade, which will mark the grand finale of the festivities, is drawing near. Since the march is about to begin, citizens on the road should pay attention to the scene in front of them, and those listening to the radio please sit comfortably and listen.]
When Schurz turned on the radio, the heat of the distant scene seemed to come through the radio. The atmosphere of the students was also excited.
“Something interesting… !”
“Sure. The atmosphere is quite plausible, isn’t it?”
Titania and Marian chatted happily, and the other students spread their blankets and sat on the floor or leaned against the railing on the roof to watch the parade in the distance.
And just in time, the voice of the presenter announcing the start of the parade began to flow from the radio.
[Ah, everyone, look! The person who appeared at the front of the parade is the mighty little sun of the Empire, the one chosen by the Holy Sword, His Highness, First Prince Wilhelm von Galatea, the ‘Hero of Light’!]
[The one following him is Charlotte Orsia, the ‘Saint of the Battlefield’. Even after the war, she continued to devote herself to the purification of the Ma continent and did not leave the Ma continent, but she came to Islands specially for today! Citizens are also welcoming the warrior party with enthusiastic cheers!]
[Next is the march of the Royal Guard, the strongest knights who protect the imperial family! At the head of them is Sir Frida von Sternrickt, a member of the warrior party and vice-captain of the Royal Guard, the ‘Iron-Blooded Knight’. The figure wearing that pure white white dragon cloak is really dazzlingly beautiful!]
[And now, with the Imperial Palace Wizards, the ‘Ashen Witch’ Greta von Runhardt, the chief mage, is appearing. Ah, that! The 6-circle magic flame cannon flies toward the skies of the islands! Look at those beautiful fireworks! A really cool parade is unfolding!]
Boom! Puff! The sound of fireworks exploding echoed in the distance.
Calls of people shouting and cheering reached this place.
I didn’t want to hear such a sound, so I deliberately ignored it and lay down on the floor.
When I looked up at the blue sky like this, all I could see was white clouds.
“… ….”
All the fuss and hustle and bustle of the earth will feel like a different world to the clouds in the sky.
Thinking of that, it seemed that living as a cloud wouldn’t be so bad if I was reborn.
At that moment, a familiar roar came from somewhere.
A single airship soared through the clouds into the sky. The students who saw it screamed.
“Look over there! Airship!”
“Elizabeth! Elizabeth! We are here!”
“… Wouldn’t it be useless? I can barely see the dormitory building from up there….”
Gwynne pointed her finger at the sky as the Airship flew off, and Titania waved her hand proudly at the Airship. Schurz looked at that figure with a wry smile, and looked up at the sky with a very surprised expression, pretending not to be Marian.
Saladin leaned against the wall and watched the flight of the fairies with her arms crossed, while Batar carved out pieces of wood with a carving knife, her gaze directed toward the sky. At first glance, Batar’s work seemed to resemble the shape of an airship. Oznia was painfully taking her nap with her head resting on her titania’s lap.
Inadvertently, in such a peaceful atmosphere, a faint smile came to my lips.
Kwaang-!!
However, as if to break the tranquility, a sudden explosion was heard from above.
The moment I witnessed the scene where the airship was engulfed in flames and smoke.
I felt the serenity I had felt disappear.
I think pretty much evey one knew it but it doesn’t look cliche even after that