Arc 25: The Wall (2)

Later, in Aten’s room at the lodgings.

Aten began explaining, writing things out on a sheet of paper as she went.

“First, magic usually goes through four stages before completion: mana regulation, incantation, spell-formula arrangement, and release. Sometimes the incantation is omitted, and you only need to add mana to a completed spell, Saibel, so we’ll leave incantations for later. What matters first is the ‘formula.’ A spell generally has a minimum arrangement required to manifest, and you add spell formulas to that according to the situation and your preferences. With each addition, you get a first formula, a second formula, and so—”

“U-um, Aten?”

Saibel, who had been listening quietly, raised her hand.

“I’ve never used magic or anything. Can I really do this?”

Saibel was struggling to keep up with the situation. Aten had sounded so calm that she had agreed before she knew it, but now that the explanation had begun in earnest, she felt utterly lost.

“We’ll have to do our best.”

“I think you’d be better off calling another mage.”

“Even if we wanted to, no one would come.”

For one thing, no mages were volunteering. Knights could be brought in one way or another through loyalty, honor, or money, but mages were not the sort to find those things enticing.

Of course, if Aten asked her older sister Sale, she would have someone dispatched by imperial decree. But by the time they reported the wall’s condition, held a meeting at the Imperial Palace, determined which mage would be suitable, submitted an official request, and requisitioned a mage to send here, Teibeon would no longer exist.

“Even so, five days is far too short...”

Saibel murmured, her voice lacking confidence.

“Frondier said you could do it. He even said you would be better than another mage.”

Frondier really had said that. Even if there were a mage available for immediate service in Teibeon, he would choose Saibel.

Whether that was an accurate judgment based on facts, a misunderstanding on his part, or the result of personal feelings for Saibel, Aten couldn’t say.

“Seriously. What does Frondier know, making me do this?”

Exactly. Aten barely managed to stop herself from agreeing aloud.

Saibel certainly possessed extraordinary talent. She was famous for it at Constel. Apparently, she had even mastered Aura in no time at all.

But that talent was strictly as a swordswoman. Never mind having talent as a mage—Saibel had never even used magic.

Yet Frondier had confidently declared, “Saibel can do it within five days,” in front of Aten herself, the knights, their commander, and even the head of House Urpa.

What did Frondier really know?

“Frondier said that even calling you a ‘once-in-an-era genius’ wouldn’t do you justice.”

Aten repeated his words exactly. Whether they were true or not, what mattered was giving the anxious Saibel some confidence.

“... Hmm. Did he?”

Saibel tried to sound nonchalant, but Aten could see her straining to keep the corners of her mouth in place.

“Well, then, shall we see how far I can get? I have to do it anyway.”

“Yes.”

Aten nodded, surprised at how much more effective praise was on Saibel than she had expected.

* * *

Sanders’s office.

Sanders clutched his head over the report that had just arrived.

After hearing Frondier’s account, he had ordered an inspection of the wall. Frondier had been right.

It was a wonder the right-hand section was still standing. Judging by the wall’s condition, its entire center of gravity was shifting toward that section.

To keep the precarious wall standing at all, they had to prevent the monsters from even getting close.

Even if Saibel really did learn to use mana within five days, what were they to do during those five days?

Frondier had said he would try handling it alone, but the truth was that Sanders found that hard to believe.

“How is a single student supposed to hold off the monsters from Outside?”

KNOCK, KNOCK.

Just then, someone knocked on his office door.

“It’s the head of House Urpa. May I come in?”

The voice belonged to Lidwe. Somewhat surprised, Sanders quickly rose and opened the door.

“My lord, what brings you here...?”

“Ho ho, must there be a reason? I was bored, so I came for a visit.”

Lidwe’s expression did not suggest a social call at all. When Sanders fell silent, at a loss for words, Lidwe grinned and raised a hand.

“I mean it. Take a look at this.”

He was carrying a bottle of liquor and cups. Was there something he needed to discuss openly? Sanders bowed his head.

As Lidwe entered, Sanders pulled out a chair for him.

They sat facing each other, and Lidwe briefly looked around the room.

“Oh, you’ve already rearranged the place?”

“Yes. I wanted my surroundings to be as similar as possible.”

Sanders had arranged the office almost exactly like his office with the Shroud Knights. Of course, the furnishings themselves were completely different, but simply changing their placement gave him that familiar feeling of Shroud.

Lidwe uncorked the bottle. Sanders reached out to pour for him, but Lidwe waved him off.

He filled his own cup, then Sanders’s.

They sipped their drinks and made small talk. Sanders felt a gentle warmth spreading through his body, and his mind eased a little.

“Ho ho, I expect this place is less comfortable than what you’re used to. Yours is an order renowned for its history and traditions, after all.”

“... It’s merely old and worn-out.”

Sanders was not being modest. His bitter tone and the furrow around his eyes made it clear that he meant it.

“What are you saying? Didn’t your order once hold sway over the continent? I know Shroud played no small part in establishing the boundary between human and monster territory. Surely you know what a glorious achievement that was.”

“Of course, it was then. Everyone in the Shroud Knights took pride in themselves and their order. So did I.”

“... Meaning you no longer do?”

At Lidwe’s question, Sanders narrowed his drink-clouded eyes.

“In recognition of our achievements, the previous emperor summoned the Shroud Knights to the central region and granted us privileges and safety. At the time, we considered it a reward we rightfully deserved, and we engraved a corresponding loyalty into our hearts. But too much time has passed.”

The previous emperor had died, and the current emperor, Bartello, had grown old.

And throughout all that time, Shroud had remained in the central region.

“Now the order is too busy hiding in the central region. The glory that once struck fear even into the monsters of Outside faded long ago.”

Citizens unaware of the internal situation believed Shroud had merely relinquished its place at the top and was still powerful.

But to Sanders, Shroud was now all appearance and no substance.

Lidwe spoke consolingly.

“People grow lax when peace lasts too long. It’s the same everywhere, not just Shroud. But when the time comes, you’ll rise again. Even tigers need their rest.”

“Tigers... There was a time when they called us that. I miss those days.”

A self-deprecating smile crossed Sanders’s lips. Lidwe felt a pang of sympathy.

“The Shroud Knights of today are nothing but old dogs.”

“... Sir Sanders.”

“What use is a tiger that’s lost its claws and teeth, with a maw that can’t chew a thing? That’s why we live in hiding. We’re old. It’s only natural.”

With that, Sanders took another sip. The more he drank, the more bitter it tasted. Had this liquor always tasted like that?

“... The Shroud Knights as we are now wouldn’t hold a candle to the Roach Knights.”

The Roach Knights.

The knightly order of Ampere, head of the Roach family.

His ability to keep monsters from ever breaching his defenses was not limited to his own prowess. Naturally, his knights were another key pillar of the Iron Wall’s achievements.

Some thought naming the order after his own family showed a lack of effort, but no one doubted their capabilities.

“Roach, eh? Ho ho.”

Lidwe chuckled.

“Then what do you think of Frondier?”

“... Why do you mention that boy?”

“Why else? Because Frondier is Frondier de Roach.”

Sanders’s mouth fell open.

“Then Frondier is that...”

“That’s right. Not a cousin or a relation on his mother’s side. Ampere’s own son, the second son of the Roach family.”

“... That’s surprising. I did wonder when I saw his name. To think Lord Ampere would send his own son to Teibeon.”

“Frondier says he came of his own accord.”

“... That’s even more surprising.”

Sanders recalled Frondier’s sleepy face. Judging by that expression, everything in the world seemed like a bother to him.

“So? What about Frondier? Is he worth recruiting into your order?”

“... His talent is remarkable. Certainly worth taking an interest in. I still don’t know what it is, but from a knight’s perspective, it need only be useful.”

Sanders was praising Frondier, but his expression suggested quite the opposite.

“You look as though you’re about to say ‘but.’”

Sanders smiled at Lidwe’s observation. He was right.

Sanders nodded.

“But has a child that young ever fought with his life on the line? Surely all he’s done is fire that mysterious technique from a distance. Right now, he’s more like a high-performance catapult or ballista. Of course, he’s far superior to any siege engine, but a siege engine cannot become a knight, can it?”

“... Hmm, I see.”

Lidwe nodded and drank, making a show of agreeing with Sanders.

And thought:

‘... A siege engine? Did the boy really seem like that?’

Perhaps because he was drunk, Sanders had forgotten something.

Lidwe had yet to see Frondier fight since the boy’s arrival.

* * *

The next day.

The bell announcing a monster invasion rang out loudly.

Everyone thought the timing could not have been worse. The very next day after Frondier had warned them that the wall was at its limit.

Frondier had said he would stop the monsters alone, but everyone took their usual positions. Naturally.

“You’re standing too far forward, Frondier.”

Sanders warned him.

Because of what Frondier had promised, Sanders had initially intended to watch what he did. But Frondier was pressed right up against the front edge of the wall.

“It’s all right. I’ll protect him.”

Selena spoke from beside him.

Sanders had also observed Selena in action. Her claim to be Frondier’s bodyguard evidently wasn’t just an excuse; she was quite skilled. She intercepted every monster and stray attack coming his way.

At first, Sanders had wondered why the monsters that came near him kept dropping dead. On examining the corpses, he had found needles embedded in them.

How could such tiny needles do anything? Yet the monsters were indeed dying.

“Selena.”

“Yes, young h—Lord Frondier.”

Selena stopped herself from calling him the young heir and corrected her words. Frondier had warned her sternly. She was forbidden to call him the heir in front of others.

“Give me your orders whenever you wish. I will protect you to the very end, Lord Frondier.”

Selena spoke with complete confidence.

Of course, every syllable she had just uttered was a lie, but Frondier would like it.

Frondier nodded in acknowledgment. Just as expected of the arrogant Frondier with his deep-seated inferiority complex—

“You fall back too.”

“Huh?”

“You’re in the way. Stay out of my line of sight.”

An abrupt dismissal. Selena reined in the anger that surged through her and stepped back. At the back of Frondier’s head, she silently mouthed every curse she could think of.

“Everyone, prepare to fire!”

Sanders shouted. The archers standing ready drew their bows.

Meanwhile, Sanders glanced at Frondier without thinking. After this order, Frondier always suspended those unidentified weapons in the air. No matter how often Sanders saw it, the sight never ceased to amaze him.

‘Hmm?’

But today, Frondier was holding a bow as well. Just like the other archers, he nocked an arrow and drew the string.

‘Where did he get a bow like that...?’

But there was no time to dwell on it. The monsters were drawing closer by the moment.

By his visual estimate, their numbers were about the same as before. In other words, another grueling battle awaited them.

Sanders judged the timing and shouted:

“Fire!”

At that command, Frondier released his bowstring.

Fireworks manifested.