Chapter 87: The Battle Begins
The Magic-Powered Airship
As a result of the discussions, the ship that was the crystallization of Sophie’s self-designed and developed cutting-edge magical technology was adopted as the means to travel to the mechanized flying palace.
Although Sophie brought it so casually, this is an invention that could shake the world.
Flight magic has always been considered a highly advanced form of magic, but incorporating it into a magical device was thought to be impossible.
One of the major obstacles was the mana source that powered it.
Ordinary magical tools operate by consuming mana, but the mana consumption for flight magic is enormous.
Even for a person to fly, long-distance travel is difficult. And if that size becomes as large as a ship, the mana consumption increases to an extraordinary degree.
For a flight ship of that size, just to fly for one minute would require charging mana for about a month. In other words, a month’s worth of mana would be depleted in just one minute – the fuel efficiency was that poor. Research was underway to improve the capacity of mana storage tanks and such, but the charging time remained unchanged.
Due to these various issues, magic-powered airships were considered impossible with current technology.
However, the “Steel Prodigy” Sophie made the impossible possible.
Magical tools use mana as their power source. That was common knowledge.
As natural as a person breathing. As obvious as the heart beating to stay alive.
But Sophie focused on that common knowledge.
She gave birth to a new power source capable of withstanding the poor fuel efficiency of flight magic.
That was the high-density mana crystal – the “Philial Diva”.
It seems to be a crystal formed by processing the high-density mana flowing through the ley lines. Not just a lump of mana, but through special processing, she succeeded in maximizing the quality of the mana.
Thanks to this, a magic-powered airship that normally could only fly for one minute after a month’s charge could now fly for several days with just a few days of charging.
It was a groundbreaking invention, an achievement that would be remembered for ages to come.
As for Sophie herself, however-
“I made it because I wanted to visit Niinii while studying abroad,”
she said with a casual look that would make the researchers in the capital faint if they heard it.
Incidentally, Nenel, who happened to be beside her at the time, asked,
“What does ‘Philial Diva’ mean?”
“I included the name of the person who helped me make these crystals, myself, and Niinii.”
“…I get the person who helped and Sophie-sama, but…why is Alfred’s name in there?”
“Because he’s my future husband…♪”
“……………………”
At that moment, I couldn’t make eye contact with Nenel properly.
Sophie…so that’s what the ‘[Phi]li[Al]’ part meant. I would have preferred not to know.
“Then what about the ‘[Diva]’ part?”
“It’s because a beautiful sound like singing can be heard while the crystal’s mana is being consumed.”
“That part actually makes sense…”
Nenel said, and I vehemently agreed with her in my heart.
With this invention from Sophie, we take to the skies.
However, the mechanized palace has continued to reign supreme in the sky since then, and that fact alone suggests that the Orchestra’s technology is extraordinarily advanced.
Against that enigmatic high-tech mechanized palace, Sophie’s magic-powered airship and the Philial Diva are our only countermeasures.
In other words, if we lose them, all we can do is wait for the enemy’s move, which is a clear weakness for us.
While equipment to draw high-density mana from the ley lines and rapid construction of the airship were underway, we stood guard at the site to tighten security.
Since the enemy would use the power of the Sixth Attribute, it was inevitable that we, the royal family, would be on defense.
“Charl, you were here.”
“Al-kun.”
I found Charl keeping watch outside the camp we set up for defense.
“Why don’t you take a break inside soon? You’ll wear yourself out if you keep this up.”
“I’m fine. I’m confident in my stamina.”
“…………”
My fiancée didn’t seem inclined to rest, so I sat down beside her.
“Al-kun?”
“I’ll keep watch on this side, so leave the other half to you, Charl.”
“…Understood.”
Even with the [Shadows] deployed around us, we can’t let our guard down. Of course, we never know when or where an attack might come from, so we need to be ready for battle at all times.
“…I’m not really in a position to say this, but don’t take everything on yourself.”
“–?…Why bring that up suddenly?”
“Looking at you now, I just felt like saying it.”
“…I’ve been asking you to do your best for me.”
“It’s fine to do your best, but don’t overdo it. I won’t be able to keep up with you, Charl.”
“Eh…?”
With a surprised look, Charl gazed at my face.
“I’ve always admired your unyielding strength, Charl. That strength pulled me out of the wrong path I was heading down. Someday, I want to become strong enough to stand beside you.”
From shadow to light. From behind the scenes to center stage.
The one who gave me the courage to take that step was none other than Charl, and her dazzling strength is still something I admire.
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“Unyielding strength…”
“So that’s why–“
I couldn’t continue the words.
“–…!”
A chilling presence that seemed to freeze the core of my soul. A miasmic fog drifting around us.
“They’re here.”
Miasma presses in from right in front of the position we’ve taken up.
From the depths of the darkness, a mass that could be called a swarm of [Ragments] advances, and at its center, three figures stride forward.
One is the helmeted girl.
One is Loretta.
And the last one is–
“Lucille…!”
“Good day to you all. I’m delighted to see you’re in good spirits.”
“Coming at us head-on like this, how brazen. Are you underestimating us?”
“Not at all. Rather, it’s because I value you that I’m committing my forces so unreservedly.”
The Orchestra still reigns supreme in the sky. Yet Lucille and her group have deliberately invaded from the ground.
This implies that at the very least, that mechanized palace lacks weapons capable of a one-sided attack from the air to the ground. Or perhaps they cannot be used yet.
“Still, I was surprised. To think there was power in this era capable of reaching the skies. We had a close call too. If we hadn’t used [Orchestra]’s functions to investigate the ground, we would have missed that facility. Well…concentrating your forces here is practically an invitation for trouble.”
“We knew we’d be found eventually.”
The act of drawing mana from the ley lines naturally leaves a prominent trail to detect.
That’s why we’ve tightened our defenses from the start, prepared to be attacked.
“[Undine]!”
At that moment, an icy strike flashed like lightning. Before the freezing magic could reach, the helmeted girl cut through it with her blade, protecting Lucille.
“That saves us the trouble of forcing our way in.”
“Indeed.”
Sensing the presence, Noel came running, followed by Robe-nii, Sophie, and Princess Marietta who were on standby.
“It’s been a while, Lady Loretta. So the rumors of you becoming an enemy were true.”
“Long time no see, Lord Roberto. To be honest, I don’t really consider myself an enemy. I’m just living for my own joy.”
“Hahaha! Is that so, joy? Well, what one considers joyful differs from person to person! To be frank, I don’t really understand such complicated things! But I don’t need to understand–“
Robe-nii’s sharp gaze quietly settles on Loretta.
“You’ve hurt innocent civilians and my family. Isn’t that reason enough for me to fight?”
The mana emanating from Robe-nii in his combat stance prickles against my skin.
In terms of sheer physical power alone, he’s top-class among our family.
“…So that’s Lucille. Niinii’s enemy.”
“The [Steel Prodigy]. And even the [Snow Fairy] Princess Marietta is here…Fufufu. You’re well prepared this time around, aren’t you, Alfred-san?”
“That’s how it is. It won’t be like before.”
“I see.”
Yet Lucille’s composure remains unbroken.
She must have some kind of scheme…Yes, I’m sure that demon woman has something planned. Who knows what plots she’s brought with her.
“What about Makina?”
“Worried about her?”
“Of course. She’s my subordinates.”
“A subordinate, is she…Fufufu, how pitiful.”
“Pitiful?”
What is she talking about?
“No, I’m referring to us…Yes, of course. Makina-san will be joining us too.”
“…! Where is she…?!”
“Rest assured. You’ll get to see her. Very soon, in fact.”
Instead, Lucille exudes miasma from her entire body.
“Then let us begin. Us witches against you royals. A battle to the death between families.”
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