73 – 73. Unbroken Shackles (1)
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be of any help.”
Except for the prosperity of the temple, the Archbishop, who is in the highest position, said that and handed over cool cold water.
“It’s not the Archbishop’s job to apologize.”
“Isn’t it originally the responsibility of the temple? I apologize for making Countess Beryl work so hard.”
“So even if it’s okay. The oracle interpreted by divine power is this complicated spell, so what can I do?”
An oracle is interpreted by priests and bishops of the original temple using divine power.
But now, the problem was that it could not be solved with divinity alone.
Since the content of the oracle that was meant to be interpreted as divinity was of a very high level, it was impossible to give an answer right away.
So Denis arrived here.
She was the only one who could interpret this impregnable spell that even Meuniher was unable to interpret.
“That Meuniher also stuck out his tongue and said there was no answer, so I’m here. Who else can interpret this?”
“Thank you for saying so…”
The archbishop politely lowered his stance and said that the temple could help or ask for anything he needed, and then he left.
‘I said so…’
It was a challenge.
On the outside, there are only a few hands and a clock face to place the hands on, but inside there are tangled magic spells.
I don’t know if the single spell is complex, but the two spells are overlapping.
I have to concentrate my whole mind not to break the spell, but I can barely read the contents of the oracle written on the hands of the clock. Is it necessary to say?
“What is going on in the principality that such an oracle falls into?”
I just do my duty, assuming it’s the will of the two constellations.
***
Most of the festivals held as annual events had a strong banquet feel, but this year was different.
Unlike banquets enjoyed only by nobles, there were festivals enjoyed by men and women of all ages.
“How about it. Isn’t it more fun to play after sweating a lot?”
“It’s fun to play without sweating!”
As I promised, I decided to join this festival as a reward for Rhenias for faithfully training.
Of course, I was grateful that I was angry instead of yesterday, so I actually just said that, but I was going to look around the night market anyway.
I also intended to find out what the atmosphere of the festival was like, and also look at the inventory status of the Mana Stones that I was concerned about yesterday.
And then the concern became a reality.
“Hmm… Is it because of my mood? It looks like an academy…”
As expected, it is very sensitive to magical power.
It is very meaningful to say that it is an academy, but despite the overflow of students, they do not perceive it well.
In a yard where each person has different magical powers, there is no way that all stones with magical powers are the same.
As the saying goes, these magic stones used in festivals were originally used in the academy. That’s why you feel that the quality is a little better.
Anyway, I started thinking about how to prepare for this.
Since it’s similar to the defense of Osoptera, I actually know the method. It’s two things too.
The problem was that both methods could not be implemented immediately, and the risk was too great.
As I was concentrating so deeply in my thoughts, I heard a sound from behind that broke my concentration.
“Renias, wait.”
“Yes? Wow…!”
Instinctively, I sensed danger from their outspoken behavior and pulled Rhenias into a hug.
For some reason, I thought I could hear the murmur of citizens behind me and the sound of horses hooves kicking on the ground getting closer and closer. I also didn’t hear it wrong.
“Get out of the way!”
“Oh!”
“Senior. Are you okay?”
“What are you talking about…”
They continued to run without slowing down the horse.
Riding a horse in a street that is already crowded with people, walking right in front of it, and not even slowing down.
Aren’t they crossing the city as if it doesn’t matter if people get hurt?
“What are they doing? Aren’t they hurt?”
“Yes, yes! Senpai caught me, so no doubt!! That’s why, you can let go now!”
“Hmm? Oh, that’s right.”
“Okay, excuse me for a minute. You suddenly have a fever?! Ahahahaha…!”
And then he suddenly pushed me away with both hands and shook his head from side to side with his back to me.
…He’s really not hurt, right? Before I turned my head, the color of the face I saw at first glance seemed to be a little red… But that has nothing to do with it.
First of all, it seems to be okay since he didn’t get hurt with his mouth. Externally, it doesn’t look like it’s hurt at all. Then what happened
Renias, who had returned to normal and cleared his throat, looked at the people who had just passed by and said,
“By the way, it’s strange… Looking at that seal… It’s not the family you see here.”
“Which family are you from?”
“I’m Count Kutelli, located in the eastern part of Algeniv. I don’t really have anything to do with Levant.”
“…What?”
As soon as I heard that, I felt a sense of incongruity.
A Count Kutelli. Why did Archduke Ardelion and the hostile faction, a representative family belonging to the aristocratic union, set foot in this festival night market?
Not even the henchmen who came out as scouts, but knights who guarded the family.
Even if I didn’t want to doubt it, I couldn’t help but doubt it.
“Senior? Let’s go together!!”
I feel sorry for Renias, but his body went out first.
My back hurt, because there must have been something going on around here.
The House of Count Kutelli.
The fact that the knights of that family came… I could only hear that they were aiming for Sylvia.
Where was the direction of the horses the knights rode?
And after searching for the destination of the horses, I finally found out what their goal was.
─────!
The prediction was correct.
Secluded? Smooth? Comfortable?
Such words do not fit in this place where a festival is held.
But even in such a place, there are always blind spots.
Evenings are dark, but the wide and bright lights of the night market do not fade.
However, there are places where the light does not reach well.
Dark and empty places exist even in night markets crowded with people due to festivals.
─If you continue like this, we will have no choice but to take you by force, young lady.
—I don’t even need to be there. It must have been excommunicated!
—I told you. It is not that the lady was excommunicated.
─So let’s go. Because the lord will be waiting for you.
─Let it go, let it go! Why did you come looking for me now!!
My teeth gnashed at hearing a familiar voice.
From noble mtl dot com
And I heard it clearly.
The last name I heard.
─Sorry. Miss Sylvia.
I don’t know what happened, but the fact that she had to rescue Sylvia who was nearby didn’t change.
The sense of incongruity brought back memories from before returning.
That Sylvia had secretly disappeared from her academy.
***
A long-awaited festival.
It’s a festival that comes up every year, but this time it was a little different atmosphere.
“Mmm~ This is it. This is a festival! You think so too, Sylvia?”
“Even if you say that, I don’t know.”
“What? Haven’t you been to banquets so often that you’re sick of it?”
“I used to go to socialites mostly. Aside from that, uhm… During festivals, I filled the seats for family exchange…”
Besides, it was the first time I had ever celebrated a festival with an open atmosphere like today.
All they did was kill time by getting stuck in a small lounge after exchanging ostentatious greetings in a banquet hall clogged with the manners of aristocrats.
Hearing that from her side, Henna sent her meaningful eyes, then held her hand and said that it could be so.
He even hugged me, saying, “My pitiful Sylvia,” But… What does that mean?
“Only believe in this unnie and follow me. You have to play with me on a day like today.”
“Is that so…?”
Actually, even though the night market was open, I didn’t think much of it.
With the start of a new semester, textbooks needed for lectures have changed, and there are lectures that require preparation materials, so I’m just stocking up on them in advance.
However, Henna felt frustrated seeing herself like that and led her by the wrist.
I wonder if Henna’s appearance changed day and night, as if she had gone on a picnic or outing.
After she headed to the night market, she had an experience she hadn’t even thought about.
She visits here and there, recommending jewelry, and choosing inexpensive, high-quality clothing items.
After that, things like snacks and things to see.
I enjoyed the night market and the festive atmosphere that I walked around holding Henna’s hand for the first time in many ways.
Then they appeared.
“Huh? Who are you?”
“Take care of it.”
“Oooh! Ugh!!”
“What are you doing!! Let go of that hand!!”
A man who shuts up henna and takes it somewhere.
He tried to wield an armor of condensed wind at him, but he couldn’t interfere.
Henna struggled, and after getting hit on her neck, she sagged and was carried away like a piece of baggage.
“My lady, please come back to the mansion.”
The moment he heard that, he felt his heart sink.
‘No way… No. I don’t think so.’
At the same time, both eyes naturally went to the place where the seal of the armor was drawn.
A seal painted on his chest. Sylvia had the family seal in her eyes that she did not want to see again.
“I’ll take you to Count Kutelli’s house, Lady Sylvia.”
The shackles were not yet broken.
***
Life as a student unrelated to the family and life as the daughter of Count Kutelli.
Les Brandt Academy and Count Coutelli.
A body out of status and a body bound by the shackles of the countess’s daughter.
It was a prison without bars, so there’s no way I want to go back.
“Am I excommunicated? I have no reason to go back to the county anymore.”
“I’m sorry, but Lady Sylvia still belongs to Count Kutelli.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! I haven’t heard from you since the test ended!”
I was so nervous before the final evaluation because I knew it was the end.
The Count’s will, who hinted that he would be expelled, was also certain, so there is no more proof than this.
However, the knight of Count Kutelli’s family held on to his attitude.
“If you continue like this, we will have no choice but to take you by force, young lady.”
“I don’t even need to be there. I’d be excommunicated!”
“I told you. The young lady is not excommunicated.”
“So, let’s go. The head of the household will be waiting for you.”
“Let go! Let go! Why are you looking for me now?!”
Sylvia shows her will to escape somehow, but there’s no way things will go as she pleases.
Whether it was magic or physical strength, the gap was clear, and there was no way to do it because they were inferior in numbers.
“Somebody help me here!! I’m trying to take someone by force!!”
I don’t want to go back like this, so I shout to the people around me for help, but my voice is savagely drowned out by the sound of firecrackers.
“Haa… You’re making trouble all the way.”
“I’m sorry, Miss Sylvia.”
The hand of the oncoming knight.
It was the moment when Sylvia’s eyes closed tightly and a drop of her tear flowed.
“Kuh…?!”
“What are you doing!!”
One of the knights was kicked and rolled, and Sylvia’s arm was freed from his grip.
“Uh…?”
A man standing in front of her raises her arm as if to stop her from even approaching her.
Her hair, blacker than the night sky, flutters. It seems that even the lights of the night market cannot illuminate his hair.
“Are you okay, Sylvia?”
His name was Junon.