From the Warlord's Empire (26 page)

“…A
bow
?!”

Kojou let out a voice of admiration. Sayaka’s sword was now transformed into a beautifully arched, silver bow. It had the modern, occidental shape of a recurve bow.

Lifting up her own skirt, she drew a metal dart from a leather holster wrapped around her thigh.

“Der Freischötz. This is Lustrous Scale’s true form.…”

In one smooth, beautiful motion, she notched an arrow and powerfully drew the bow.

“…I, Dancer of the Lion, Archer of the High God, beseech thee.”

A crystal-clear chant flowed out from Sayaka’s lips.

The ritual energy welling up in her body further amplified the bow’s power as she fired the silver arrow at the heavens.

Sayaka had said Lustrous Scale had two abilities. The first was to nullify physical attacks with an absolute defensive barrier. If that was so, what was the other…?

“Most Brilliant Flaming Horse, Illustrious Kirin, He Who Governs Heavenly Thunder, pierce these evil spirits with thy wrath…!”

Sayaka loosed her silver arrow.

Soaring with a shrill sound as it split the air, what seemed like a voice of lament that morphed into an ominous thunderclap. This high-pitched sound was the true ability of Der Freischötz, the Cursed Magic Bow.

“…Sound?!”

Kojou, too, realized what calamity the magic bullet had wrought. The arrow Sayaka had loosed was not aimed at the Nalakuvera. The silver arrow was in actuality a whistling arrow, a ritual arrow releasing a great sound to banish demons.

Sayaka had chanted in a ritual as she had used the magic bullet. The cry of the whistling arrow enveloped the entire battlefield in its spell, drawing a giant, invisible magic circle over a kilometer in radius.

Then, the enormous miasma that spewed forth poured over the ancient weapons, neutralizing their mechanical functions.

“Senpai!”

Yukina’s silver spear flashed out as she sprinted.

The miasma was so grand that even weapons of the gods could not resist it. The life of any normal human bathed in it was surely forfeit. It
was unclear if even vampires could withstand it. But Yukina’s spear, able to slice apart any magical power, neutralized the miasma.

Kojou ran as well, chasing after her. They had one target: the Queen Nalakuvera.

But it had already learned the attacks of Kojou’s Beast Vassals. Then what should he do…?

“C’mon over…Regulus Aurum! Al-Nasl Minium!”

That instant, the sight of Vattler fusing his two Beast Vassals together rushed up from the back of Kojou’s mind.

As things stood, Kojou was incapable of such a skillful feat. But if it was a simple simultaneous attack…

The lightning lion and incandescent bicorn rose up, withstanding the miasma, and attacked the Queen Nalakuvera. It was not lightning. It was not a shock wave. It was an enormous, explosive pressure spawned by the simultaneous attacks from the left and right. That was Kojou’s goal.

Having not learned this attack, even that weapon of the gods could not endure it. With nowhere to run, the super-high pressure smashed the huge ancient weapon’s armor, loudly crushing its interior frame.

Thanks to the queen being rendered inoperative, the small Nalakuvera all around them became inert as well.

It was not a mortal blow. But until it finished repairing itself, they were nothing more than piles of junk.

“…Ha-ha-ha, war is so much fun, Sword Shaman!”

Kojou and Yukina heard the voice of Gardos from above them. The bestialized aged officer opened the Queen Nalakuvera’s cockpit, emerging with his body covered in blood.

No doubt he meant to fight them even in the flesh. Gardos drew his knife with his left hand.

As the madness of battle held him in its grip, Yukina looked up at him and shook her head, as if pitying him.

“This is not a war. You are a mere common criminal. Someone like you without a country to protect has no right to speak about
war
!”

Yukina’s murmur made Gardos’s smile twitch. Kojou realized that a single sentence from a young, “helpless” girl had engraved decisive defeat upon the bottom of the aged officer’s heart.

Roaring in rage, Gardos charged toward Yukina.

Yukina did not even poise her spear, making but the slightest movement of her body.

A soaring, wind-ripping arrow pierced Gardos’s left shoulder, staggering him. Of course, Sayaka had fired the arrow. And furthermore:

“…It’s over, old man!”

Kojou powerfully rammed his fist into Gardos’s wide-open belly.

Kojou punched him again. And again. For having abducted Asagi and Nagisa. And one more for Yukina.

Finally, Gardos’s tall frame gently fell to the ground, his strength seemingly exhausted.

The Beast Vassals, too, had finally reached the limits of their robust constitutions.

“Break thyself, Nalakuvera.”

Yukina, climbing into the now-empty cockpit, played the audio file Asagi had provided.

Leaving sounds like frail, lamenting voices behind, all of the ancient weapons fell to the ground like rotted trees.

Unable to withstand the impacts of the falls, cracks ran all across the Nalakuvera armor. They resembled heavily eroded boulders, finally making a great sound as their giant bodies cracked open. It was the work of the program Asagi had made.

Sending their self-repair function into berserk, the Nalakuvera had dismantled themselves. Finally, all of the ancient weapons crumbled to dust, carried by the wind into the sea, vanishing.

The entire process had taken less than five minutes.

“…Got any problem with this, Vattler?”

Kojou languidly looked back as he asked his question. The young aristocrat of the Warlord’s Empire, who hadn’t even broken a sweat, had just come close, clapping his hands with a “bravo!”

“Ahh, not at all. You have quite satisfied me, Kojou. I shall not be bored for some time, I think.”

“Ah?”

Kojou’s bloodlust rose at his implication that when he did get bored again, he’d kick up a brand-new incident.

Vattler made no sign of noticing as he approached the fallen Gardos.

“Fine if I take the Black Death Emperor Front members into custody? They shall be punished according to the laws of the Warlord’s Empire. They sunk my ship after all; I would feel amiss if I did not do at least that much.”

“…Do as you like.”

Kojou acknowledged Vattler’s egotistical statement with an annoyed wave of his hand. If Kojou refused, Vattler would just demand the Japanese government extradite the criminals itself. If he wanted to deal with the fallout, it was best to leave it all in his hands.

Having lost all of the Nalakuvera, the Black Death Emperor Front no longer posed any threat. For Kojou and the others, their duty was done.

“Oh yes. Do not be concerned, they shall not be executed. I would find it so boring to kill a mighty foe trying to kill me; they’re quite precious.”

As Vattler dropped that disturbing statement just before leaving, Kojou felt his headache increasing that much more.

Apparently that man had learned absolutely nothing. He’d surely search for another enemy to come for his head and kick up a similar incident someday. All Kojou could do was pray he wouldn’t be caught up in it.

And there was one more reason Kojou’s spirit was weighed down…

“So you sucked on Sayaka’s blood, didn’t you, senpai?”

Yukina looked up at Kojou as she inquired, her eyes like a very deep lake.

Kojou’s breath caught. This was the situation he was most afraid of. In the first place, as Kojou’s watcher, Yukina had been granted the authority to eliminate Kojou according to her own judgment.

He’d sucked on her friend’s blood where Yukina couldn’t see. It would be natural if Yukina flew into a rage over it. He’d hoped if he said nothing that maybe it wouldn’t come out, but unsurprisingly, that hope was in vain.

“Ah, er… No, that’s ah, well…”

“An emergency situation. Yes, it was an emergency situation, Yukina.”

Side by side, Kojou and Sayaka desperately made excuses. Yukina was expressionless as she looked them over.

“Is that so?”

“That’s right. We were buried underground with debris plugging the exit with water coming in on us.”

Yukina’s unexpectedly calm reaction unnerved Kojou and Sayaka even further.

“R-right. At that rate, I thought we were gonna drown underground. Feeling we should keep it secret from you was just…”

“Why are both of you so nervous?” Yukina asked them in a calm, composed tone of voice. Then, Yukina unexpectedly shifted her gaze toward Sayaka.

“Come to think of it, Sayaka, that’s senpai’s parka, isn’t it.”

Sayaka made a “hiuu” sound as her entire body froze.

“You’re wrong, Yukina. This man suddenly forced his parka on me against my will…”

“Now hold on,” Kojou said loudly in her direction.

“I didn’t have to work
that
hard to get it onto you! And didn’t you like getting the royal princess treatment?!”

“You idiot! Why are you saying something like that now?!”

With a sound of annoyance, Sayaka began smacking Kojou’s forehead. Yukina stared for a while as both engaged in what could only be thought of as a lover’s quarrel.

“I’m glad both of you are getting along so well. Though I’d be quite upset if you’d sucked on Sayaka’s blood against her will, senpai.”

Finally, she made a very deep sigh. Kojou awkwardly turned his head and looked at Yukina.

“Then…you’re not angry now…right?”

“No. Not at all. Not even a little.”

Yukina made a strained smile. Seeing it, Sayaka was so relieved that she limply slumped to the ground.

It was a show of weakness that made her earlier valiant fighting seem like a mirage. As Sayaka clung to her, saying “I’m so glad,” Yukina gently petted her head, going “There, there.”

When, seeing the two of them so intimate, Kojou breathed a sigh of relief, he suddenly met Yukina’s eyes as she looked straight at him. Yukina had a pretty grin on her face as she spoke.

“…It’s not as if I’m thinking whatsoever about how senpai called me cute when he sucked on
my
blood!”

It was a high-class hotel inside Keystone Gate, the central section of Itogami Island. Dimitrie Vattler was sitting easily in an elegant chair, watching the guests in the lobby come and go.

He sensed someone slowly walking behind him. It was a small person, no doubt. Making light steps that felt like they had no weight to them, the person sat in a chair with its back facing Vattler.

As a little time passed without anything occurring, the person finally asked Vattler with a murmur as if speaking to oneself. “…Have you concluded your inquiries?”

It was a young girl’s voice. Though the tone of voice was respectful, it didn’t sound formal.

It sounded as if she was smiling as she teased.

“Oh yes. Being a diplomat has its advantages.”

Vattler did not look back, either, replying as if to no one in particular.

“It has been a while, ‘Paper Noise’…or should I address you as foremost of the Three Saints of the Lion King Agency?”

“You are free to use either.”

She let out what seemed like a self-effacing exhale in response to his exaggerated formality.

Vattler made a sarcastic laugh as he bounced a question back at her.

“So what brings you today? Though if you have come to kill me, I welcome you to try?”

“Unfortunately, that must await another opportunity. Today, I simply came to bring the document you requested… And if I may ask just one thing?”

He sensed her taking out a thin envelope. “Hmm,” went the young aristocrat, urging her to continue.

After a momentary, silent pause, she asked her question. “Did
he
put this Black Death Emperor Front plot into motion?”

It was as if she was afraid of forming the name with her own lips.

Vattler sat back, closing his eyes, and chose his words very carefully.

“I caused this entire uproar for my own personal amusement. Let us leave it at that. It’s all right, there’s still a little time.”

“Is that so?”

A weight seemed to be lifted from her shoulders as her tone returned to its normal flourish. She was about to get up on that note when Vattler called out to her nonchalantly, “Incidentally, is it safe to say you won your wager?”

“My,” she murmured, her voice sounding like a child caught playing a prank.

“So you indeed noticed.”

“Oh yes,” Vattler went, making a sound of pride with his throat.

“She fell for him surprisingly quickly. When I heard she hated men, I wasn’t sure what might happen.”

“If you knew our objective, why cooperate?”

She inclined her head ever so slightly.

“If one desires a tasty meal, one must at least fatten the game appropriately. Such a rarified feast ought not be consumed before it’s properly grown.”

Vattler made a smile of apparent pleasure, his sharp fangs poking out from his lips.

“There is nothing wrong with our mutual interests coinciding this time around. One hopes it will go so well the next time as well.”

“Agreed.”

Readjusting the edge of her school uniform’s skirt as she rose, she walked off without even glancing his way.

Intertwining with the wave of people in the lobby, she immediately vanished from sight.

Having finished arranging lodging at the front desk, Sayaka Kirasaka returned to the lobby.

Along the way, she passed by a girl with an unfamiliar face. She was a high school girl, wearing glasses and carrying a book under her arm. What made her eyes fall casually upon the girl was the fact she wore the same high school uniform that Yukina did.

But paying no further particular attention, Sayaka headed toward the young aristocrat whose appearance stood out far more.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Duke Ardeal.”

“Ah, welcome back. How was it?”

Vattler was brushing his blond hair back, looking over a letter she hadn’t seen before as he asked.

“No problems whatsoever. The room is all set to go, apparently.”

Sayaka spoke in a dutiful, businesslike tone. She’d switched out of her soaking wet school uniform into a very adult-looking gray jacket-and-pants combo. Thanks to her height, she looked very much like a corporate executive. Vattler had asked Sayaka to make arrangements for them to stay at this hotel.

As the
Oceanus Grave
had been sunk in the turmoil of combat, they had urgently required a place to stay that night.

It was a very sudden request, but twisted as he was, Vattler was still a great noble of the Warlord’s Empire, so the hotel prepared a royal suite as urgently as it could manage. Though Vattler himself had been deeply intrigued at the notion of staying up all night at a 24-7 family restaurant–slash–manga café, she’d somehow managed to talk him down from that and drag him all the way here.

“Thank you. Pardon me, making you make hotel arrangements. I am, well, short on competent butlers at the moment.”

“…I’m your watcher, after all.”

Sayaka was beside herself as she remembered all over again Vattler’s recklessness in hiring a butler who was a terrorist actively trying to kill him.

“Come to mention it, why don’t I arrange a plane ticket for the return trip, too?” Sayaka asked with the implicit desire that he get out of Japan as soon as possible. Now that his prized cruise ship had sunk, a plane would be the only thing Vattler could use to get back to his home nation.

Now that he’d completed his objective of apprehending the Black Death Emperor Front, he had no reason to remain on Itogami Island any longer.

However, Vattler said, in a completely indifferent tone…

“Ahh, no need for that.”

“Eh?”

“I’m not going back.”

Sayaka looked at Vattler dumbfounded, as if he was a child making a selfish statement.

Desperately suppressing her desire to scream, Sayaka forced her voice to come out calmly.

“What do you mean by…”

“A letter arrived just now, while you were gone. See?”

Vattler withdrew some kind of fancy letter from within the envelope.

It was an official document issued by the Japanese government officially consenting to the establishment of an embassy. In other words, the Japanese government had granted formal permission for the Warlord’s Empire to open an embassy within the Demon Sanctuary of Itogami City.

The embassy would be headed by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Duke of Ardeal, Dimitrie Vattler…

Now he would be able to continue to remain on Itogami Island as long as he pleased; on the same island as Kojou Akatsuki, the Fourth Primogenitor.

“I’m sure you’ll be receiving a new notice of appointment in short order. Well, best regards,
now and hereafter
.”

Vattler made a grinning smile as he spoke the words. Sayaka simply put her hands on her head and sighed.

That evening…

Asagi Aiba awoke in a room illuminated by the seemingly lingering red setting sun.

Her scrupulously maintained hair was all in a mess, with her refined good looks currently more youthful than dazzling. She was wearing her turquoise earrings. Kojou peered nervously at her face as her unfocused eyes looked up at the ceiling.

“You’re conscious, Asagi?”

“…Kojou?”

Asagi called out Kojou’s name in a somewhat broken voice. An expression of relief came over her face, with her usual leering grin finally returning to her lips.

“Does this mean you were watching my face while I was sleeping?”

“At least call it lookin’ after you, geez.”

Kojou’s lips twisted with a strained smile mixed in. He’d been worried she’d suffered psychological trauma from being kidnapped, but if she was flippantly shooting the breeze the moment she opened her eyes, she was probably all right.

“Where am I?”

Asagi partially sat up as she spoke.

“The school clinic. The middle school one, though.”

He thought better of adding that the high school clinic room was still closed off due to Astarte being shot.

“…The Nalakuvera?”

Asagi’s voice hardened in unease. Kojou vaguely shrugged his shoulders.

“All wrecked. Some vampire went wild and smashed ’em all. Natsuki said it was all thanks to the virus you whipped up.”

“I see. Natsuki saved us, didn’t she?”

“Yeah.”

This time Kojou made a firm nod. Technically, it was not a lie.

Unsurprisingly, Asagi flopped back on the bed in apparent relief.

“Nagisa and them?”

“They headed out to eat something. They hadn’t had anything to eat since breakfast. Might be best you get something in your belly, too. They’ll be taking your statement later.”

“
Uwaa
…what a bother…”

Asagi tossed and turned on top of the bed. Kojou made a strained smile at her characteristically rude manner of speech.

“I heard about most of it from Himeragi. Sounds like it was pretty rough.”

“Yeah. Had to use my head a little…but… Ah, right, Himeragi, huh…?”

She stopped moving while facedown, glancing sideways to look at Kojou.

“So what are you all beat-up like that for? You have blood on your uniform and you stink of sweat.”

“Uh?! Er, this is, I was all worked up when I heard you were kidnapped, er, so I fell into the sea?”

Even for Kojou, these were thin excuses, but a pitying look was what came over Asagi’s face.

“Hmm…there’s a mountain of things I wanna ask you and Himeragi later, but it’s fine. Don’t worry. I’ll forgive you, just for today.”

“Hard to rest easy the way you’re puttin’ it, but…”

Kojou’s annoyed murmur never left the inside of his mouth.

“Ah, that’s right. There is one thing I absolutely have to tell you, though.”

This said, Asagi strongly got up off the bed. Kojou sent a suspicious look back as she knelt on top of the bed in classical Japanese form. He was a bit tense, sensing that whatever Asagi was up to, no good would come from it.

“What is it?”

“Errr, before that, could you take a look at this earring? Doesn’t the gemstone look a bit loose?”

Asagi looked up at Kojou as she touched one of her earlobes.
Don’t make this too much trouble
, Kojou thought, drawing near her with his guard down.

“This side?”

The instant he peered at the side of Asagi’s face, she grabbed hold of Kojou’s face with both hands. Then…

“…?!”

Suddenly feeling something soft pressing on his lips, Kojou’s breath stopped.

All sound vanished from the world.

Though forceful, it was an awkward kiss. Both of their breaths melted together.

Kojou’s head went blank. He didn’t know how much time passed.

When he returned to his senses, Asagi was back in her formal kneeling position atop the bed.

Her eyes were faintly moist as she smiled.

“So that’s how it is.”

Asagi smiled as she spoke, as if concealing a blush. Though her tone was the same as it always was, Kojou could only nod in shock at how she’d conveyed what were, by her standards, very serious feelings.

“…R-right.”

The light of the setting sun made Asagi’s cheeks glow red. The breeze blowing in from the window made her forelocks flutter.

As she seemed to brush her hair from her cheek in annoyance, her slender neck became exposed.

And Asagi’s eyes widened as she gaped at Kojou.

“Wait a… K-Kojou?! Are you all right?! Kojou?!”

She cried out in fright at the force of the blood gushing from Kojou’s nose.

That moment, the door of the clinic room opened with two girls wearing middle school uniforms emerging side by side. Realizing something was amiss from Asagi’s alarmed voice, they peered in through the gap of the curtains at the corner of the bed.

“A-Asagi, you’re awake?! I’m so glad you’re all ri… Hey, Kojou. What’s that?! A nosebleed?! Geez, that’s a lot coming out! What were you two doing?!”

Nagisa Akatsuki was in a state of confusion as she yelled. Asagi seemed to blush a bit as she stuck her tongue out.

“Mm, what I wonder. Perhaps I should say…practice for the sports festival?”

“Ehh…?”

A suspicious look came over Nagisa’s face as she looked between her older brother’s face and his friend’s.

Kojou, with a hand still pressed over his blood-covered mouth, graciously accepted the box of tissues offered to him from the side. He wiped his face and his dirty hand as the bleeding finally eased. As he touched a folded tissue to his nose…