by Takehaya
“So rather than looking for Princess Alaia now, they’ve decided to beat her to the punch and make it to the checkpoint before she does, huh?”
“They’ll probably try to ambush her on the road there.”
While there were plenty of roads to the Mastir checkpoint, they gradually connected as they got closer to it. There were only a few roads leading up to the actual checkpoint, so the most efficient place for an ambush would be where the roads in the area converged.
“And they’ll probably bring backup too after seeing what you can do.”
“Hmm...”
Koutarou believed Clan’s assessment was dead on.
So that’s how this is going to go down...
Even if they chased after Alaia as a group of ten, it would be pointless if they were just defeated by Koutarou again when they caught up to her. Instead, it would be better to set up an ambush and call for backup. With enough men, no matter how strong Koutarou was, he would have a hard time defending Alaia.
While Koutarou was thinking, he caught sight of a small light up ahead. It wasn’t a steady, electric white light, but a flickering red one. It was most likely a camp fire.
“What’s that?”
“Layous-sama, the waterfall is ahead. I’m sure everyone is gathered there!”
Alaia’s voice leaped with joy. She was happy that she would be able to regroup with her allies. Especially so after fearing she may have to travel to the Pardomshiha territory alone.
“Let’s hurry, Your Highness.”
“Yes!”
Alaia quickly passed Koutarou and hurried towards her friends. She was not normally rash, but she was acting without thinking now. Lifting the hems of her long skirt, she dashed forward along the dark road.
“By the way, Clan...”
“What?”
“What would you prefer? Meeting the princess’s allies while being carried, or walking on your own?”
“Let me down right this instant!”
“Yes, yes, as you wish...”
Koutarou and Clan hurried after Alaia shortly thereafter.
“Sister!”
“Your Highness!”
“Alaia-sama!”
Spotting Alaia, the five girls by the bonfire all stood up and welcomed her.
“I’m glad you’re all okay!”
Positively beaming, Alaia joined the group.
“I’m glad you’re safe!”
“We were worried when only your horse returned!”
“Your Highness, I’m so glad to see you!”
“I knew you were okay!”
The girls all smiled and rejoiced that Alaia was safe. But the smallest of the bunch, a young, blonde girl, expressed her joy with her actions as well as her words. She ran up to Alaia and jumped at her.
“Welcome back, sister!”
“Charl!”
Alaia caught the flying girl in a hug. This seemed to be an everyday display of affection, and Alaia reacted accordingly, embracing her little sister lovingly.
“I’m back, Charl...”
“I knew you would be okay!”
Alaia’s silver hair and Charl’s golden locks both reflected the orange firelight. The tears they both were shedding shone much the same way. Of course, they weren’t the only two crying. Tears were forming in the eyes of all the girls present. Alaia wasn’t just royalty to them. She was friend and kin to each one of them, which was why they’d all been worried sick ever since the attack that split them up.
“H-Hey, isn’t that...”
“It can’t be...”
Koutarou and Clan watched over the six girls rejoicing in their reunion by the waterfall. Unlike the delighted girls, however, the two of them looked confounded.
“That’s Theia, isn’t it?”
“Indeed... She looks just like Theiamillis-san when she was a child...”
The blonde girl that Alaia was hugging, the girl she called Charl, looked just like Theia... just not Theia as she was now. Charl was young, probably not even ten years old yet. She was the spitting image of how Clan recalled Theia looking at that age.
“What an amazing coincidence...”
“It might not be a coincidence.”
“What?”
“They are from the same lineage after all.”
Theia and Charl were both descendants of the Mastir family. It wasn’t unrealistic that there would be a family resemblance.
“Oh yeah, that makes sense.”
“Look. That Pardomshiha should look a little familiar too, no?”
“Yeah, her hairstyle and stuff are different, but she does kinda look like Ruth-san.”
Out of the five girls, only one of them was wearing a knight’s armor. Her hairstyle, hair color, eye color, and the way she dressed were all different, but her face had similar features to Ruth’s.
“That’s probably the Pardomshiha of this age, the famous lady knight Flairan.”
“Ah, that’s right!”
That was when Koutarou realized that he already knew the names of the girls. Alaia and the others were all characters that appeared in the play.
“Princess Alaia, who might those two be?”
It was also about that time that Flairan looked over towards Koutarou and Clan. The girls had had their most welcome reunion, but now that the excitement had worn off, they were cautious of the strangers that had accompanied Alaia.
“Flair, these two saved me.”
“Is that so?”
The girl Alaia called Flair stepped forward to guard her. She looked at Koutarou and Clan with a serious expression, clearly assessing them for herself. The stern, powerful look in her eyes indicated she would cut them down on the spot if need be.
“...Who are you?”
Flair put her hand on the pommel of her sword as she addressed Koutarou. The weapon she used wasn’t a knight’s sword like Koutarou’s Saguratin. It was thinner, closer to a saber or rapier. To make up for her feminine physique, she fought using a nimble sword to easily target weak spots.
“I’m Layous Fatra Veltlion. I’m a wandering knight on a training journey. And this is my servant, Clan.”
Koutarou carefully answered her question. The Blue Knight was a squire, and Flair was an established knight. He had to mind his manners. He responded like the Blue Knight in the play, though the part about Clan was ad-libbed. Knowing that he would be struck down if he said something careless, he stayed quite serious.
“I am grateful that you saved Her Highness. However—”
“Flair, please stop. You mustn’t be rude to my saviors.”
Alaia interjected and grabbed Flair’s arm, imploring her to stop. But Flair didn’t stand down right away.
“Your Highness, he’s a stranger we know nothing about! He might have been sent to kill all of us!”
“If that was the case, he would have already done so. This stranger, Layous-sama, defeated the men that scattered us all on his own.”
While admonishing Flair, Alaia put her hand around Flair’s as it grasped the handle of her sword. Alaia was nowhere near as strong as Flair. She knew she wouldn’t be able to keep Flair from drawing her sword, but her action nonetheless had the power to make Flair relent. She was a knight that had sworn loyalty to the royal families, and as such, she decided to faithfully trust in Alaia’s judgement.
“...I understand, Your Highness.”
“Thank you, Flair.”
After thanking Flair, Alaia then turned back to Koutarou.
“I am sorry, Layous-sama.”
“Not at all. A wandering knight just happening upon the princess in her hour of need does sound too good to be true. It is only natural to be wary.”
Alaia had apologized, but Koutarou believed that Flair’s reaction had been appropriate. This wasn’t a movie or a play. Considering the circumstances, it was extremely reasonable to be untrusting of strangers.
If anything, Princess Alaia trusting me is what’s so remarkable... But I guess that’s part of w
hat makes her a legendary princess...
Koutarou started to get a sense of how amazing Alaia truly was, and he was happy that she’d chosen to put her trust in him.
“As long as you are aware of that, there’s no problem. But if you try anything strange, I will cut you down where you stand.”
“That’s fine with me.”
Koutarou then realized one more thing.
If they weren’t this careful, they probably wouldn’t have gotten this far...
He realized just how difficult their journey up until now must have been. If the plays and history books were to be trusted, these girls had already endured hardship after hardship before meeting the Blue Knight. It wasn’t hard to imagine that the only knight, Flair, had helped carry them through such dangerous times. Their enemies outnumbered them so dramatically that staying on their guard played a critical role in their survival.
Looks like I need to stay alert too. If I think about this like just following a script, I’m in for a world of hurt... This journey is serious business. This decides the fate of a country after all...
Koutarou had started to relax when Alaia rejoined her group, but seeing Flair’s serious demeanor reminded him he needed to stay on top of his game.
“Well then, Layous-sama, allow me to reintroduce my friends.”
“Your Highness, calling us friends is going too far...”
“Heehee. It’s fine, isn’t it? This is an emergency after all.”
Alaia smiled at Flair and began the introductions by putting her hand on Charl’s head.
“This girl here is Charl. More formally, she is Charldrissa Daora Forthorthe, my sister and the second princess of this country.”
On cue, Charl took a step forward and looked up at Koutarou with her large eyes.
“Blue Knight or whatever it was...”
“What can I help you with, Princess Charl?”
Koutarou took a knee before her. Once kneeling, his eyeline was just slightly below Charl’s. It was easier to talk to her this way, and he was no longer looking down on royalty.
“It seems you took care of my sister. Good work.”
“It was the natural thing for a knight of Forthorthe to do.”
Hearing Koutarou’s answer, Charl’s expression lit up. The innocent smile of such an honest, energetic child warmed Koutarou’s heart.
“That’s good, Blue Knight! Continue proving your loyalty!”
“Of course. As you wish, my princess.”
Charl patted Koutarou on the shoulder a couple of times with a smile before walking around behind him to climb up his back and onto his shoulders.
“Rise, Blue Knight.”
“As you wish.”
Obeying Charl, Koutarou stood, lifting her small body up with him.
“Oooh, it’s so high!”
Riding on Koutarou’s shoulders, she stood taller than anyone else there. Pleased by that, her energetic smile grew even bigger.
I wonder if Theia was like this when she was a child...
As he looked up at Charl’s profile, Koutarou thought of Theia. And partly because of that, a small smile made its way across his lips.
“Heehee! Oh Charl...”
“Your Highness...”
Alaia smiled too as she watched Koutarou and Charl. With Charl on his shoulders, Koutarou was smiling the same way he had when he was carrying Clan. That made Alaia happy.
I see. So this is the man Her Highness believes in...
Seeing her master now, Flair could faintly understand why Alaia had put her trust in Koutarou. And since Flair herself felt like she could believe in the same thing, her suspiciousness of Koutarou began to ease slightly.
Not good... It’s still too early to let my guard down!
However, she quickly pulled herself together again. Because of her position, it was her duty not to readily trust Koutarou. As she was dealing with those complex feelings, Alaia introduced her to Koutarou.
“Layous-sama, this is Flair. She is my friend and an established knight from the Pardomshiha family that has served the royal families for ages.”
“Flairan Nye Pardomshiha. Nice to meet you.”
“I’m Layous Fatra Veltlion. I apologize for my appearance.”
With Charl still on his shoulders, Koutarou presented his right hand. Because handshakes were a custom in Forthorthe just as they were on Earth, Flair took his hand.
“Blue Knight, Blue Knight!” Charl suddenly whispered to Koutarou.
“What is it?”
“Flair is diligent and stubborn. But she doesn’t hate you as much as she says. Don’t worry.”
“Hearing that puts me at ease. I might not end up being cut down after all.”
Koutarou and Charl laughed together.
“Princess Charl!”
“I leave the rest to you, Blue Knight!”
“As you wish, my princess.”
Sensing that Flair was in a bad mood, Charl withdrew to Koutarou’s back and peeked over his shoulder. Playing around with Charl reminded Koutarou of goofing off with Theia or Sanae, so this almost didn’t feel like it was their first time meeting. Thanks to that, they seemed to be making fast friends with each other already, despite their difference in station.
“Ahahahahaha!”
Watching Koutarou’s back and forth with the other girls, the girl wearing a more plain dress than everyone else began laughing.
“You’re no match for Princess Charl, Flairan-sama.”
The girl’s friendly tone helped Koutarou, who was a bit nervous from dealing with Flair, to ease up a little. When she noticed Koutarou looking her way, she started to introduce herself before Alaia could even open her mouth.
“I’m Marietta Alsein. A maid from the imperial palace. So Blue Knight-sama, which of the girls here is your type? Is it Alaia-sama?!”
Hearing her rapid-fire self-introduction, Koutarou was reminded of a certain someone back on Earth.
This girl is like Landlord-san...
Although they didn’t look very similar, her obvious penchant for gossip and friendly way of talking reminded Koutarou of Shizuka. Really, however, those might just have been things they had in common as girls of a particular age.
“Mary, asking Layous-sama that is rude.”
“Ahahaha! But you won’t get angry, right, Layous-sama?”
“I guess not.”
“See?”
“That won’t do at all, Mary. You’re my maid, so it’s only natural for Layous-sama to respond like that.”
Even though this is the ancient Forthorthe, they’re still all just normal girls...
As he had that thought, Koutarou scanned the girls’ faces again. Alaia, Charl, Flair, and Mary. They all had unique personalities, but to Koutarou, they still all qualified as normal girls. His thought process was influenced by his daily life with the invader girls, but Koutarou himself wasn’t conscious of that.
Two more, huh?
Koutarou then looked at the two girls that hadn’t been introduced to him yet.
One had long hair and sharp eyes. She was wearing something flashier than Mary, but it could have been called stylish attire. Together with her figure, she gave off the impression of being rather intelligent.
The other girl was wearing an outfit that had a very different feel to it. She was wearing a long, white robe and had a star-shaped pendant hanging around her neck. She looked less like an aristocrat and more like clergy from a church. Her face had soft, childish features, and combined with her outfit, she gave off a very friendly impression.
“Ah, did those two catch your eye? That’s unexpected.”
Noticing that Koutarou was looking at the other two girls, Mary began running her mouth again.
“Those two are Lidith Maxfern-sama and Fauna Mordraw-sama. Lidith-sama is a famed scholar despite her young age, and Fauna-sama is a priestess that serves the Goddess of Dawn. She was also a classmate of Alaia-sama’s from her seminary days.”
Even though she wasn�
��t talking about herself, Marietta seemed full of pride as she introduced the two girls. After being introduced, they both greeted Koutarou.
“I am Lidith Maxfern. Pleased to meet you.”
“I’m Fauna Mordraw. Thank you for saving Alaia-sama!”
Their greetings were polite and friendly. And it wasn’t just because of their personalities. It also had something to do with their respective professions.
“Nice to meet the both of you.”
Koutarou responded with a nod while thinking about Alaia and her group.
Hmm, an intelligent girl and a mysterious girl, huh?
Charl looked just like Theia when she was a child. Flair bore a resemblance to Ruth. Mary, Lidith, and Fauna didn’t particularly look like anyone, but their personalities reminded him of Shizuka, Kiriha, and Sanae respectively. With that thought in mind, Koutarou couldn’t escape the impression that Alaia’s allies were all very similar to the girls of Corona House.
“This almost feels like deja vu.”
“I guess this might be what you would call synchronicity.”
Clan was getting a very similar feeling, and she agreed with Koutarou’s muttering. Ever since her defeat in November, she had constantly been observing room 106, so she knew a lot about its residents and their personalities.
“Synchro-what?”
“Synchronicity. Even though they’re hypothetically unrelated, similar people will gather or similar events will occur as if guided by fate.”
“But that wouldn’t really apply here because we have people connected by the same bloodline, right?”
“That’s true. It may indeed just be coincidence then.”
That was Clan’s ultimate conclusion, and Koutarou felt the same way. If this was fate or what Clan called synchronicity, he felt that everyone gathered here would bear a stronger resemblance to their counterparts from the future.
Wait, everyone?
However, that was when Koutarou realized someone was missing. Theia, Ruth, Shizuka, Kiriha, and Sanae were here in spirit, but there was one more resident of room 106.
“Yurika’s not here...”