Priestess of Lamentation

The meeting wrapped up soon after the Emperor left. The main topics had already been covered, and the stench of vomit was starting to spread through the room.

I followed Elinabelle straight out of the castle, and now we were riding a carriage headed to the detachment station in the east of the Imperial Capital.

"Haah… worn out already, and it's barely morning…"

"Hell of a country you've got here. The Emperor, uh… well, how do I put it…"

"Feel free to say it bluntly. As a ruler, he's unbelievable… something along those lines, right?"

"Well…"

I mean, the guy burst into the meeting room half-awake and still reeking of booze, threw the whole thing into chaos, puked his guts out, and then left.

No way to sugarcoat it: I really couldn't see him as fit to be a ruler.

"That old guy, Zeppenbar or whatever. He was definitely fuming."

"The Minister of Military Affairs. And… yeah, he was probably fuming."

So that old man was the Military Minister. Which meant he was the top of the department overseeing the Knight Order.

Setting that aside, there was something that had been nagging at me.

"Hey. That Serialis the Emperor was talking about… who is that?"

Earlier, the Emperor had said something like "as long as Serialis is around, the Imperial Capital is fine"… right in front of Ambelta and Elinabelle, two of the strongest knights.

Depending on how you took it, he was basically saying the two of them weren't absolutely necessary for defending the Imperial Capital.

"… Serialis Markride. One of the Twelve Radiant Generals of Imperial History, and its 1st Seat. In other words… truly the strongest knight in the Empire."

"Huh? 1st Seat…?"

"… Fine. Once we get to the station, I'll have some time after giving my orders to the subordinates. I'll teach you about this country properly then, over lunch."

So, while being jostled around in the carriage, we arrived at the detachment. Elinabelle fired off orders to her subordinates one after another, and once she'd confirmed the day's schedule, we sat down to eat.

"Mm… this is good."

"You really do say everything's delicious…"

"Hey now, I don't go for spicy stuff. So, you're gonna give me a crash course on what I absolutely need to know?"

"Yes. Listen carefully."

While we ate, Elinabelle explained the current state of the country.

"You understand that the Kainzbern Empire is currently in the middle of a civil war, right?"

"Yeah, the old guy gave me the rundown before."

If I remembered right, it kicked off when the previous Emperor died and everyone started arguing about who would inherit this massive empire. Right now, the elder brother (that Emperor) was holding the Imperial Capital.

Meanwhile, the younger brother's faction was also powerful, and the Empire was split roughly in half, locked in continued conflict. Since the elder brother technically held the capital, anyone opposing him got lumped together and called the Rebel Army.

"A lot of people must figure that Emperor isn't fit to run the empire, right? That's why the Rebel Army keeps gaining ground."

Otherwise, there's no way a nasty guy like Alchrom could be hiding out in the capital.

Maybe there were rebel sympathizers inside the capital helping him slip in, but either way, the Rebel Army clearly had the manpower and momentum.

"But everyone's pretty obediently following that Emperor, huh. I'd figure some nobles would defect and side with the rebels."

"His Majesty Aarlankz doesn't command much loyalty, that's true. And plenty of nobles do side with the Rebel Army. But even so… the scales don't tip entirely in their favor."

So what she meant was, the Rebel Army didn't have an overwhelming advantage. Were there really that many nobles still loyal to that Emperor…?

Apparently my confusion was showing on my face, because Elinabelle furrowed her brow and sipped her soup.

"… His Majesty Aarlankz, for better or worse, is an aristocratic traditionalist. He has no intention of significantly changing the current system."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"To put it simply, he has no intention of dismantling the current system, which benefits the great nobles the most."

The Empire had a long history. And over that long history, a rigid system had been built up where nobles managed the commoners.

On top of that, noble society was a class society. Those at the top ultimately received the greatest benefits.

"The great nobles have built all sorts of frameworks to cement their vested interests. But it's not all bad. It's precisely because of this system that the Empire grew into the largest territory on the continent."

I guess those with the greatest power had exercised strong leadership and pulled everyone below them along. Top-down had its drawbacks, but when the top was competent, the benefits were huge.

"And the younger brother… Prince Yugdvaarn is a reformist."

"A reformist, huh…?"

"Regardless of bloodline or family rank, he places capable people in suitable positions. Commoners with magical power, and low-ranking nobles like Alchrom, are being given important roles under him."

So that guy was a noble…? Mighty dangerous noble, if you ask me.

… Though the noble lady knight in front of me was pretty dangerous too.

"I won't say meritocracy is bad. But as a result, those of higher birth risk being outranked by those beneath them…"

"… Right, I'm starting to see it. The Emperor may be lacking as a ruler, but the bigger the noble, the more their vested interests get protected."

Take that meeting just now. Everyone there except maybe Elinabelle must have been upper nobility.

But if you leaned too hard on meritocracy, the ones sitting in those meeting-room chairs might end up being lower-ranking nobles instead.

For prideful great nobles, that wouldn't be tolerable.

"Exactly. It's not like the current Empire completely rejects meritocracy either. Talented people have always been taken in as retainers by upper-rank nobles. But some nobles claim their retainers' accomplishments as entirely their own. And in noble society, that's considered a kind of natural right."

"So the retainer is their property, and the property's accomplishments are their accomplishments, huh. Well, considering it took skill to spot that retainer in the first place, I can't totally dismiss it…"

After all, it meant the noble had recognized and valued that talent. If both parties were satisfied with the arrangement, there wasn't really a problem.

In practice, though, I doubt things usually work out that cleanly.

"You made me your retainer pretty casually, huh…"

"Oh my. I do recognize your talents, Onii-san."

My dick's talents, maybe! Well, I recognized Elinabelle's body too, so I guess that makes us a win-win.

"Anyway. Because of all this, commoners and lower nobles who see hope in Prince Yugdvaarn tend to back the Rebel Army. But most of the great nobles side with His Majesty Aarlankz. And the great nobles have overwhelming superiority in supplies, territory, and funds."

So even if the Rebel Army attracted talented people, they probably didn't have the supplies or finances to make full use of them.

That must be why a guy like Alchrom was running guerilla operations inside the capital.

"Hm? But didn't you say earlier at the meeting that you were short on both money and manpower?"

"It depends on location and affiliation. For instance, the Knight Order is the Empire's… well, the Emperor's own fighting force. But some upper-rank nobles govern vast territories, and those nobles maintain their own private armies in their domains."

In other words, there were still plenty of military forces scattered across other territories backing the Empire. As long as they generally followed the Emperor's wishes, the lords could mobilize their own armies.

A "great domain" was basically like an independent country within the Empire… I think I had it right.

"What's lacking is the manpower of the Knight Order under His Majesty's direct command…"

"And funds, too. I'm not proud of it, but these days the capital has plenty of people actively supporting the Rebel Army."

Apparently even within the Knight Order, there were some with suspected ties to the rebels. The Imperial Capital was essentially being held together by aid from the great nobles.

"… Hang on, if the system's set up for the top to siphon off everything, why is the capital broke?!"

"A lot of reasons… Most of them being His Majesty Aarlankz, though…"

Having finished her meal, Elinabelle pressed her hand to her forehead like she had a headache.

Ah, right. He probably blew through all his money on women and booze. He's probably making a lake of wine and hanging meat on trees to frolic around.

"Well, I get the general situation. But what about Serialis? You said she's the 1st Seat of the Twelve Radiant Generals of Imperial History, right?"

"Exactly what I said, nothing more and nothing less. The Twelve Radiant Generals of Imperial History, as the name suggests, are the twelve strongest knights in the Empire. Their seats are ranked based on political power, financial backing, and family status."

So basically, the Empire's strongest knights were engaged in a power-flex contest with each other. And Elinabelle was 5th Seat. That was actually pretty high up…

"But the seats above 5th also factor in battlefield accomplishments."

"Oh yeah? … Wait, then that means you too…?"

"Yes. I went to the battlefield soon after becoming one of the Twelve Radiant Generals. I earned a major military accomplishment capturing a fortress the Rebel Army had been using as a base."

"Whoaaa…"

So she'd been in real life-or-death fights. No wonder she didn't flinch against Alchrom.

Well, it was that kind of era. Guys younger than me were probably fighting on the front lines too.

"But the 1st Seat is different. Political power and accomplishments aren't irrelevant, of course. But traditionally, the 1st Seat is occupied by the strongest knight among the Twelve Radiant Generals of that era."

Elinabelle met my eyes again.

"The current 1st Seat, Serialis Markride. Also known as Serialis of the Radiant Moon Blade. Undefeated once she draws her sword. Literally the strongest knight in the Empire."

Holy crap, that's cool…! I never imagined there'd be a manga-style "strongest knight" running around here.

And for Elinabelle, who was clearly confident in her own skills, to put it this way… she must be absurdly strong.

After that, Elinabelle's retainer lesson continued. But it was all input, and my brain was getting worn out.

"… Looking bored?"

"Not bored, exactly. Just, it's all stuff I'm hearing for the first time, and my head's wearing out…"

I got that as Elinabelle's retainer, this was all necessary knowledge…

"Study's important, but you need to move your body every so often, or you won't stay focused."

I stood up and moved over to Elinabelle's side.

"Sigh… Touya's already lacking common sense as it is, so even if you're bored, you need to properly… mmmph!?"

I hooked a finger under her chin mid-sentence and tilted her face up. At the same time, I kissed her out of nowhere.

"Nn, mm…"

I pressed my lips softly against hers, sliding my tongue in through the gap. Then I forced my tongue to tangle with Elinabelle's.

But here Elinabelle pulled her face back and broke the kiss. I wasn't about to let her escape though, so I wrapped my arm around the back of her head, pulled her in forcefully, and resumed the kiss.

"Nmm, nn, nnn…!"

I poured plenty of saliva into her mouth, loosening up Elinabelle's tongue. After making out for a good while, I slowly pulled away.

A string of saliva stretched lewdly between our tongues. Elinabelle glared at me, cheeks flushed.

"Hey…! What was that all of a sudden?!"

"I told you, didn't I? You need to move your body sometimes, or you can't keep your focus."

"Huh…?"

Even at school, you don't just study nonstop. There are recess periods in between to move around.

Study then exercise, exercise then study. As someone who's received a modern high-level education, I understand the importance of this cycle very well…!

In other words! Since I've been studying hard up to now, I should properly exercise…!

So there was nothing unreasonable about my actions. Q.E.D. Without hesitation, I slipped my hand under the skirt of the still-seated Elinabelle.

"…!? Wh-what are you thinking?!"

"Exercise, exercise. I just had a meal and a lecture too, so it'd throw off my balance not to get some exercise in."

"What are you talking about?!"

Even while saying that, Elinabelle didn't resist too hard. Taking advantage of it, I used the arm I'd slipped under her skirt to touch her pussy through her underwear.

"Nn…! Y-you…! Know the time and place…!"

"It's fine. Everyone's hard at work, and no one's gonna come bursting into this room."

"That's not the point… auun?!"

I finally slipped my fingers into her underwear and touched her pussy directly. I ran my middle finger along the slit, giving the sensitive spots a thorough rub too.

"You know you're already wet, Elinabelle."

"…! Th-that's…! B-because you started kissing me like that out of nowhere!"

Apparently she'd started getting wet just from the kiss. She was still new to sex, and she'd clearly been studying on her own time as well.

Her brain probably still wasn't used to sexual arousal. Maybe even small stimulation was enough to make her wet.

So I kept playing with Elinabelle's pussy without holding back. My middle finger stirred away inside her hot vagina.

"Nnn, ah, nfuu…! N-not there…!"

Despite her protests, Elinabelle was opening her legs. She must've been getting turned on by the idea of doing this in the office, in the middle of the day with her subordinates still working…

"T-Touya…! Someone might come in…!"

"… Yeah."

Saying that, I pulled my arm out of her underwear. My fingertips came away coated in thick fluids.

I moved in front of the seated Elinabelle. Then I pulled out my already-hard dick.

I grabbed both of Elinabelle's legs and spread them open. Then I pushed her underwear aside, exposing her nicely-soaked pussy.

"…!? W-wait…!? Wh-what are you doing?!"

"What do you mean…? Better to get this over with quick, right?"

"What do you mean, 'get over wi…' nnnghhhh?!"

I pressed the tip of my dick to her entrance and, without any delay, drove it straight in to the deepest spot.

Inside Elinabelle…! So damn hot…!

Elinabelle gripped the seat of the chair with both hands, clenching her teeth. Since I was standing, she naturally looked up at me with pleading eyes.

"Y-you're really… d-doing it, here…?"

"I said we're gonna finish quick…!"

"Ahnnn!"

Despite what she said, Elinabelle was definitely into this too…!

I grabbed both of her legs, spread them wide, and just kept thrusting my hips. In modern Japan, this would be the scenario of having sex with your female boss at work, wouldn't it?

Thinking about it like that got me even more excited…!

"Nah, uu, hiyuuu…! H-hurry… and d-do it…"

Elinabelle was actually begging me to hurry up and cum inside her. Can't be helped, then.

"Nyaaah?!"

I pulled my hips back, withdrawing my dick entirely from her tight vagina. The moment it hit open air, I felt the cold.

My dick, which had been mercilessly ravaging Elinabelle's pussy, throbbed as it dripped with her fluids.

"Elinabelle. Let's finish quick, so put your hands on the desk and stick your ass back here."

I could've just kept going with her spreading her legs on the chair and cum inside her there… but the angle made it hard to thrust properly unless I dropped my hips at just the right height.

I wanted to cum soon, and Elinabelle wanted it too! From here, no stopping until I'm done…!

Thinking that, I had Elinabelle stand and place her hands on the desk. Then I grabbed the ass she was sticking out toward me and reconnected, taking her from behind in a standing position.

"Nhaaah…"

"Then… here I go…!"

"Nhi?!"

I grabbed her slim hips and started thrusting hard. This pace was clearly different from before, aimed at climax. Elinabelle had to realize I was about to cum.

"Ah, haa, n, ahyun?! Ha, ah, no, ah, nhii!"

"You're being too loud…! People outside the room can hear you…!"

"I-it's no use…! I-I'm gonna…! C-cummmm…!"

"Nkh…!"

I leaned forward and reached my right arm up to Elinabelle's face. Then I clamped my hand over her mouth.

"Nn, nnnn, n, nniii…!"

But all jokes aside, imagining the door right in front of me suddenly opening… there was something incredibly thrilling about that…!

Her subordinates probably never imagined that their superior was having sex with her retainer in the office…!

I was seriously getting off on screwing this high-ranking noble Elinabelle at work, in the middle of the day. My excitement traveled straight to my dick, making it harder.

My dick, now as hard as steel, carved and ground ruthlessly through Elinabelle's vaginal walls.

Plus, thanks to standing doggystyle, I could hit her deepest spot over and over. Rough, animalistic thrusting, with zero consideration for Elinabelle. From the outside, this really would look like beasts rutting.

My right hand, which had been covering Elinabelle's mouth, was now soaked with her saliva. Every time I heard a muffled moan, I wanted to fuck this female harder.

"Nkh…! Elinabelle… I-I'm… about to… cum…!"

"… … … … …!?"

Her vagina tightened up, squeezing my dick. Oh crap… the friction just got more intense…!

I was at my limit. I wanted to unload into this female's womb ASAP. Giving in to that urge, I shoved my dick in as far as it would go, jabbing her deepest spot.

"Nhyu?!"

Right then, her vagina started contracting rhythmically, and my dick pulsed hard inside that hot, tight hole.

"～～～～～～～～～!? Ah, ～～～～～～～～～～～～～… …!"

With every throb, semen got pumped into Elinabelle's womb. What an amazing feeling…!

Every ounce of my lust-soaked heat traveled through my dick, seeding Elinabelle's womb. Creampie-ing her in the office with only my lower half exposed… I could get addicted to this thrill…!

Elinabelle was trembling, back and ass shaking. She must be climaxing from being creampied. Moments like this really made me feel the benefits of Kyui's cheat ability…!

"Ow?!"

Elinabelle was biting down on the hand over her mouth. Hard…! My hand hurt, but the pleasure of ejaculation didn't fade…!

"Nhyuuu…! Ha, nuuuu…!"

She was biting my finger to desperately stifle her voice. What does it feel like to climax while holding in your voice, I wonder…!

Either way, her screaming out here would be a problem for me too. I endured the bite and kept enjoying the ongoing release.

 

*

 

"Geez…! Don't get all worked up in a place like this!"

"Sorry, sorry. But it was good exercise. And it felt good for you too, right?"

"Th…! … … W-well, it did feel good, but…"

I knew it felt good! And seriously, Elinabelle just straight up loves sex, doesn't she?

Elinabelle was fixing her appearance, but cleanup after the act was quite the chore. She looked totally normal now, but thinking about how she'd been having sex with me just moments ago, and still had my semen in her womb… this was exciting!

Looks like I wouldn't be letting Elinabelle sleep tonight either…!

"You got some good exercise and feel refreshed, right? Okay, back to studying!"

"… Sigh. Enough lectures. The timing's right, let's head out on patrol. You come with…"

"Lady Elinabelle!"

In the middle of Elinabelle's sentence, there was a loud knock at the door. Elinabelle looked a bit puzzled, but the voice calling her name carried a note of urgency.

"Wh-what is it? You may enter."

Having just been having sex, Elinabelle's voice wavered a bit. Close one…!

"Pardon me!"

A single soldier came into the room. He continued with a tense expression.

"Urgent news from the castle! Alchrom broke into Lady Filmeria's mansion and kidnapped her!"

"Wha…?!"

"Details are in here! Lady Elinabelle, you are to find Alchrom immediately and recover Lady Filmeria at all costs…!"

Elinabelle received a single sheet of paper from the soldier. She began reading its contents.

"…! Gather everyone with magical power rank 2 or above! Now!"

"Y-yes!"

The soldier replied and hurried out of the room. A whistle sounded sharply.

Meanwhile, Elinabelle was quickly donning her gauntlets and gear.

"H-hey. Elinabelle…"

"Emergency situation. I'm about to take everyone capable of a certain level of physical enhancement and sweep through the capital. Touya, you won't be able to keep up, so wait here."

"Huh…"

Elinabelle's whole atmosphere changed in an instant. She finished her preparations mid-conversation and headed out of the room.

"Assemble at the front! Quickly!"

Soldiers gathered at Elinabelle's voice.

"You've all confirmed the situation, yes?! Anyone who hasn't, ask someone who has while you move! Every second counts! Split into six teams and follow the designated patrol routes…"

Elinabelle's orders were delivered with commanding authority. She divided the assembled soldiers into appropriate teams and gave instructions for what to do upon finding Alchrom.

"Let's move!"

"Yes!"

And then they all left the station at a speed no Olympic athlete could ever match.

"… Holy crap. That was fast…"

"Hm… A grave emergency, it seems."

"Sounds like Alchrom kidnapped that Filmeria girl…"

"That name. A girl with the power to see the future, if I recall."

Right, that's what it was. Elinabelle and the others had mentioned her before. Said her predictions had never missed.

"Judging by Elinabelle's reaction, either prophets are rare, or this Filmeria herself is of exceedingly high status."

"Both, probably. And since Alchrom's involved, from Elinabelle's position she has to recover the kidnapped noble and catch Alchrom too."

Elinabelle had said something about gathering those with magical power rank 2 or higher. Presumably people at that rank could enhance their physical abilities above a certain baseline.

So unlike normal patrols, they'd be sprinting through the capital at enhanced speed.

"No surveillance cameras in this world, either."

"Ambelta is probably on the move as well, but I have concerns."

"Hm? Concerns?"

"Think about it. Alchrom is on par with Elinabelle, if not stronger. And he has a hostage. Even if they corner Alchrom… can Elinabelle win without getting hurt?"

"…"

I couldn't just say "sure, she'll be fine." This wasn't peaceful Japan. There were enemies and allies here. Once you ran into an enemy, it could escalate into a fight to the death.

And Elinabelle had been pushed back by Alchrom before. Both of them had probably killed people before, and they were real warriors. If they met again, it would likely be another life-or-death battle.

Elinabelle. Our first meeting hadn't gone well, but now she was my identity guarantor and the imperial knight who gave me a job and a status as her retainer. And a woman I still wanted to keep sleeping with.

Thinking all that, I realized I'd already walked out of the station.

"Didn't Elinabelle tell you to wait?"

"… She say something like that?"

Even if I went running around this massive capital, I couldn't see myself actually finding Alchrom. And even if I did, I wasn't sure what I could do.

But if Alchrom and Elinabelle did clash, maybe I could be of some help again, like last time.

"… Haah. Enjoying a fantasy sex life in another world isn't as easy as it sounds."

"Fu… It seems that once you've laid claim to a woman, you must suck her dry to be satisfied."

"Hey, phrasing."

"You find it a pity to lose a woman you can casually breed."

"Seriously, phrasing!"

Well, I could come up with any number of reasonable-sounding excuses, like not wanting to lose my backing here, or wanting to maintain my base in this world.

But fundamentally, Kyui was right. I didn't want to lose a woman I could have breeding sex with… didn't want to lose Elinabelle. After screwing her this many times, I'd developed some feelings.

"You're starting to sound like a proper hero. I am pleased."

"The kind of hero Kyui-san likes, huh."

"Indeed. As my contractor, I shall search for Alchrom from the skies as well."

"…! That's…!"

Kyui, with his high intel-gathering ability, would search for Alchrom from the air…!

"It's large, yes, but the capital's population is nothing compared to a modern city. I'll find him before long."

 

*

 

Filmeria Fimirune. A noble of the Empire, she was a girl known by those around her as the "Priestess of Lamentation," and kept at a distance.

House Fimirune's history was long. Going back far enough, one of the original Twelve Radiant Generals of Imperial History was her ancestor.

They had produced many members of the Twelve Radiant Generals over time, making them an absolute elite among noble houses.

Moreover, the current head of House Fimirune had married into the imperial family, and past blood relatives had been taken as queens, so they also held the status of 2nd-rank Baron.

Filmeria, born into such a house, was not House Fimirune's heir. So rather than being a 2nd-rank Baron, she was one rank lower, a 3rd-rank Baron.

Furthermore, although her magical power was enormous, she could only use it in limited ways.

(I'm… a defective product…)

She couldn't use her magical power to enhance her physical abilities, nor to cast spells. She was simply a vessel with immense magical power. A true case of wasted treasure.

Because of this, she had spent her childhood being told over and over that she had nothing going for her besides her bloodline.

That environment changed when she turned ten. Astonishingly, by consuming enormous amounts of magical power in her sleep, she could now have prophetic dreams.

And in daily life, her intuition had sharpened.

Things like, "I feel a visitor coming after lunch," or, "It's going to rain suddenly this afternoon."

Among those with magical power, rarely some displayed their talents in such peculiar ways. Filmeria was one of them.

And the founder of House Fimirune had, according to legend, left behind a Book of Prophecy about the Empire's future. Their house was said to have originally been a line that passed down such mysteries.

When Filmeria awakened to her power of prophecy, people around her grew excited. Many thought that perhaps it was the same kind of power as the founder of House Fimirune.

But the dreams Filmeria saw were always tragic futures.

Disasters, murders. She never saw peaceful prophetic dreams. And they all came true. No matter how much detail she conveyed about the dream's contents, not once had the unfortunate future been avoided.

And then one day, she dreamed that a certain noble died in agony. That noble was utterly despondent. "Of all people, to appear in Filmeria's dream…"

Ten days later, that noble was poisoned, and just as in the dream, he writhed in agony and died.

From there, various rumors about Filmeria began to spread. Some even went so far as to say, "She's probably dreaming up misfortunes for nobles she dislikes."

Filmeria also had heterochromia, with different-colored eyes.

When her prophetic power first awakened, nothing had been said about it, but now even that trait was whispered about as creepy behind her back. The nickname that stuck to her was "Priestess of Lamentation."

(I don't want… to have these dreams. Why do I have to have this power, of all things…?)

Filmeria didn't choose to dream of people dying. From the perspective of a ten-year-old girl at the time, it was nothing but a nightmare.

Over and over, she had these nightmares, while others spread groundless rumors about her. Filmeria's spirit was rapidly worn down.

Now she found it a burden to meet and talk with people, and she lived quietly in a remote corner of the Noble District where few people ventured.

Even so, people would still come by asking, "Have you had any prophetic dreams?"

Some, wishing misfortune on their political rivals. Others, worried about misfortune befalling themselves.

One day, while cloistered in her mansion, two imperial knights came calling. They were current members of the Twelve Radiant Generals, holding the 8th and 5th Seats.

"There's been a series of incidents recently in the capital where imperial soldiers are cut cleanly in half at the torso. You haven't seen any prophetic dreams like that, have you?"

They were in charge of public safety in the capital, and wanted to head off the next incident before it could happen.

If they saw the same prophetic dream in advance, they could get to the scene first. And catch the culprit.

But when Filmeria saw the pink-haired knight, she was so shocked she couldn't speak for a moment. She'd just dreamed a few days ago of that very female knight being cut in half at the torso.

(Elinabelle Vonrod. Same as me, a 3rd-rank Baron…)

But if she honestly told them the content of the dream, she didn't know what the girl in front of her would say. She might, like other nobles, show a look of despair and accuse her of casting a curse. So.

"… A-an imperial knight… meeting that end… I saw… it."

"…! R-really?! Where?! When and where?!"

Filmeria had lied on the spur of the moment.

… Well. Since Elinabelle was also an imperial knight, it wasn't entirely a lie.

And she could tell roughly when a prophecy would come to pass. But the location, she didn't know well.

So Filmeria described the scene she had seen in as much detail as she could. Thinking she'd never meet this knight again.

But something unexpected happened. The date of the prophecy passed, and Elinabelle was still alive.

When she asked, apparently a black-haired man with a bird on his head had called out to Alchrom, and the imperial soldiers were saved.

(It was the first time I'd ever been happy that a prophecy failed.)

So her prophecies weren't absolute. They could be avoided. For Filmeria, this was a ray of hope. However.

(But… of all the dreams I've had, that was the only one that failed. I can't believe… the next one will fail too.)

The girl's heart was too worn out to cling to such a small hope. And there was also the matter of probability.

Even if one unfortunate future had been avoided, her prophecies came true at a rate approaching 100%.

And the dream Filmeria had seen recently was… her own death.

"You are Filmeria Fimirune? Come with me."

Right now, a man had just entered Filmeria's room.

The moment she saw him, she understood that the prophecy she'd seen was finally coming true.

 

*

 

Based on his failure last time, Alchrom had determined that capturing Filmeria was a high priority.

For the sake of their victory, it was highly likely the capital would eventually become a battleground. And if they were going to keep running guerilla operations, they needed to neutralize Filmeria's prophecies.

Otherwise, there was no telling when the Twelve Radiant Generals would catch wind of his movements.

With this in mind, Alchrom had infiltrated the Noble District, stuffed Filmeria into a burlap sack, and shouldered her as he ran through the capital. With his physical abilities enhanced, his speed was considerable.

Choosing times and places with the fewest people, he ran on with caution and boldness, taking care not to be seen.

How long had he been running? Alchrom had arrived at the former site of an old park in a remote corner of the capital.

Park in name only; there were few residents left in the area. Long ago it had been a somewhat lively district, but as other areas developed, people stopped living here.

In a city as massive as the Imperial Capital, the largest on the continent, such districts weren't rare. And since the kind of people who couldn't walk the main streets sometimes lived in such places, most people avoided them.

In a place like that, Alchrom set down the burlap sack. He untied the rope and freed Filmeria.

"I apologize for the rough handling… actually, no, I won't apologize. Filmeria Fimirune. Your power will serve our Liberation Army from now on."

"…"

Filmeria kept her eyes downcast and said nothing.

She was shy to begin with, and with her own death approaching, there was no way she felt like communicating with the man in front of her.

"What's wrong? … I see. So you too… you too consider the current state of this empire acceptable!"

Alchrom's anger was plain on his face. Filmeria flinched despite herself.

"Upper nobles, all of you…! You don't care what happens to others, as long as you're fine! You're one of those rotten nobles too!"

Just by not meeting his eyes and staying silent, Filmeria only fueled Alchrom's anger. But at that moment, another woman appeared.

"Lord Alchrom."

"… Mireia."

The newly-arrived woman wore light armor and carried a longsword at her waist. Her appearance was the very picture of a knight.

"Preparations for escape are complete. His Highness is waiting eagerly for your return, Lord Alchrom."

"… I see."

"That is… the target?"

Mireia looked over at Filmeria. In her eyes, she saw a demure girl, the very image of a sheltered young lady.

"That's right. Originally I'd intended to bring her before His Highness, but we can't afford dead weight escaping the capital. Answer me, Filmeria Fimirune. Do you side with that man who falsely claims to be Emperor?"

Abandoning any pretense of hiding his bloodlust, Alchrom pressed Filmeria. With killing intent leveled at her like that, the girl couldn't possibly answer properly.

Whatever he made of her silence, Alchrom drew his longsword.

"Lord Alchrom…"

"This way, I can return to His Highness sooner. Besides, we must finish off this Priestess of Lamentation here. Without question, she'll be a source of future trouble!"

Ah. This is where I die. Exactly like in the dream. And as expected, I have no power to avoid this future.

She'd known this was coming, and she'd been ready to give up her own life. But with a sword pointed at her like this, the thought that she didn't want to die welled up strongly.

I don't want to die. No. I still want to live. Why does this have to happen to me? Is my life just going to end unhappy like this?

If I die here, haven't I just been living this whole time to be unhappy?

"N… no…"

Tears welled up in both her eyes. Despite having given up on her life moments ago, faced with death, she overwhelmingly wished to live.

So. To defy fate even just a little, she let out the loudest cry of her life.

"Noooooooooo!! Someone, help meeeee!!"

"How pathetic…! Carve the anger of those you've unknowingly trampled into your body!"

Alchrom dismissed the screaming Filmeria as pathetic and swung his longsword down. And just as the blade was about to touch Filmeria's slender body…

"Gugagh?!"

From behind the girl, passing right by her side, a fist-sized stone came flying.

The stone struck Alchrom's torso precisely, and Alchrom, instantly realizing he was under attack, leapt backward.

 

*

 

"Hm… Found him."

"That was fast?!"

A few minutes after Kyui took to the skies, a loli voice reached my ear informing me that Alchrom had been spotted.

"Wait, Kyui and I are pretty far apart, but I can hear you fine…"

"Contractor's privilege. Though there are distance limits, of course. More importantly, Alchrom's location. He's just past the spot where you first met Elinabelle."

Following Kyui's directions, I sprinted through the capital with everything I had.

Huh…? I'm running at incredible speed…?

"What about Elinabelle?!"

"She hasn't tracked down Alchrom yet. The hostage girl is unharmed… Hm."

"What?!"

"The hostage girl. She's quite the beauty, actually. Just my type."

"Your type?!"

Which means she's my type too! No, this isn't the time for that! Um, first I should tell Elinabelle…?!

While I was debating, I'd already closed in on Alchrom's location.

Fast! My legs are super fast!

"Diagonally to the left ahead. See him?"

"Where?!"

I don't know the area, I'm in a place I've never been, and they're telling me "diagonally left ahead"… how am I supposed to spot him?! I'm not looking down from above like Kyui!

Just as I was about to complain, I heard a loud cry from the front-left.

"Noooooooooo!! Someone, help meeeee!!"

"…!"

I reflexively grabbed a stone on the ground. Then, taking aim, I hurled it with everything I had.

The stone flew straight and true, spinning as it went. It passed by the girl's side and hit Alchrom's torso. It didn't pierce him, but it connected.

Alchrom leapt far backward. Beside him stood a woman who looked unmistakably like a knight.

(Crap! I threw a stone without knowing the situation! W-well, the girl was in danger! All's well that ends well!)

Without any plan for what to do next, I ran toward Alchrom. Alchrom noticed me immediately.

"You…! That guy from before…!"

"Yo, Alchrom. Been a few days."

No, this isn't the time for casual greetings! But I don't know what else to say!

"… So you've come to reclaim the Priestess of Lamentation."

"Huh? Who's that? I just spotted you and decided to get revenge for last time with another stone."

Nine times out of ten, "Priestess of Lamentation" referred to that girl… Filmeria.

But if Alchrom realized I was trying to save Filmeria, it would confirm her value as a hostage.

(Wait… did I come here to save Filmeria?)

I thought my main motivation was to help Elinabelle, not this.

Well, let's not sweat the details! Because Filmeria-chan was…!

(Super freaking cute! What the heck, this girl?!)

Yes. She was adorable.

Her age looked about the same as Elinabelle's, or maybe a little younger. Her long silver hair gave her a mystical air, and her big eyes glittered, the right one purple, the left one green.

Her bangs were parted in the middle, and her side and back hair all reached down to her waist.

And above all. Even through her clothes, you could tell her boobs were huge…! Short, pretty face, and yet… huge tits…!

Kyui descended from above and landed on my head.

"Filmeria Fimirune. Height 141 centimeters, E-cup. No sexual experience, not even a kiss. Now this… this is a female who's truly worth the effort of defiling…!"

Kyui let out an evil-sounding comment. An E-cup, though…! That's huge…!

While Kyui and I were busy ogling Filmeria-chan, Alchrom hadn't let his guard down for a second.

"You deliberately… threw a stone at me for revenge?!"

"That's what I said, yeah?"

"You… do you know who I am?! Do you understand who I'm fighting for, saying such things?!"

While quietly moving closer to Filmeria's side, I kept my eyes on Alchrom.

"Who…? That'd be your boss, the royal, Yubababarn or whatever?"

"Prince Yugdvaarn! And His Highness and I fight even now for the sake of you commoners…! And you…!"

Just like Elinabelle said. Young and talented, but of low status. Those were the types most likely to be devoted to Yugdvaarn. Well, given that Emperor, I could understand.

And especially for those with ability who never got their due, meritocracy would seem incredibly attractive.

I mean, I used to be a salesman. I understood wanting to be in a workplace where you could earn based on your own power. But…

(At the end of the day, I'm not even a resident of this world. Honestly, I can't bring myself to care that much about the fight between the conservative current Emperor and his reformist brother.)

More precisely, I wanted to keep my distance. I didn't want to get too deep into this world's politics.

… Well, I'm a 15th-rank Baron now. And since Elinabelle's taking care of me, that might not be so easy.

(Actually, come to think of it, this guy didn't really try to do anything to me last time either… Elinabelle was getting pushed back, so I just chucked a stone from out of nowhere…)

From Alchrom's perspective, it must have felt like a commoner he was trying to protect suddenly threw a rock at him. Well, can't undo what's done!

And since I had no intention of getting involved in political issues myself, my employer Elinabelle, who I could also have breeding sex with, was worth more to me than the Rebel Army.

"Well, sorry to say, I can't exactly root for you."

"…? What are you talking about?"

Glad I sorted out my feelings…! Elinabelle, please hurry up and get here…!

Alchrom looked straight at me and raised his longsword.

That sword, it transforms into a greatsword, right…? I have no idea what kind of mechanism it's got…!

"I'll say this only once. You threw that stone out of a sense of chivalry, wanting to save that woman, didn't you. I respect that spirit. However…! That woman absolutely must be killed here…! Stand aside! I'll spare your life if you do it now!"

From Alchrom, I felt something similar to what I'd sensed from Harakara. Must be killing intent or something like that.

But thanks to my contract with Kyui, it wasn't enough to rattle me.

"Hah?! Why the hell would I turn a blind eye when a cute silver-haired girl's about to get killed right in front of me?! Also…! You threw a whole freaking barrel at me last time…! Let me repay you for that…!"

I needed to keep Alchrom's attention on me. Beside him, the knight woman was standing back and watching.

"Foolish… Do you, a man with barely any magical power, think you can match me, Alchrom Avalfer, wielder of the Mechanical Greatsword Raidele…?! You hitting me with a stone twice was just lucky timing on a surprise attack…! If you stand in my way, I won't show mercy even to a commoner!"

Alchrom dropped his stance and closed the distance in an instant. Fast!

"Hah!"

He swung his longsword in one flowing motion. He brought it down from above and then cut back across to the right.

I evaded the first strike by stepping back, and the second by dropping my hips low.

"Hmph!"

The moment Alchrom completed his swing, I launched a palm strike up at his torso. But Alchrom instantly raised his left knee and blocked my hand.

"Hmph!"

Then with that same raised left knee, he kicked. I couldn't get a proper guard up in time and just got straight-up kicked away.

"Ow?!"

As painful as Harakara, maybe a bit more…! Damn, was it because he was enhancing himself with magical power…?!

Alchrom kicked off the ground to come at me again. He closed the distance and swung his sword in another series of strikes… but.

(…?! What…? I can see his strikes better than before…?!)

Alchrom was enhancing his physical abilities too, so his speed was like a normal person's movements sped up 2x. In the time a normal person could swing a sword once, Alchrom could swing twice.

But my eyes were starting to track his movements. I dodged the incoming chain of attacks relying on instinct, reflexes, and my eyes alone.

A dance of death where one misstep would get me sliced up. But my heart didn't race. I stayed perfectly calm.

And then.

(…! Here!)

The moment Alchrom completed a swing, my eyes clearly caught the brief opening that appeared.

And my body, inching closer to a hero's, naturally moved to exploit that opening.

"Gah…?!"

My right fist buried itself in his torso. Alchrom's stance wobbled slightly.

But the new opening that created was practically inviting me to attack more.

"Oooohhhh!"

I threw punches in alternating rapid succession. Alchrom guarded with his gauntlets, barely avoiding direct hits.

He couldn't swing his longsword properly either, since I'd closed to near-zero distance.

Just when I thought I could press the advantage… Alchrom, being battle-hardened as he was, kicked at my legs just as I got carried away with punching.

"Ow…!"

This time I lost my balance. But Alchrom didn't follow up. Instead, he leapt back a large distance. Then he looked at me with a sharply wary gaze, completely different from before.

"You… what are you…?"

"Huh…?"

I glanced over and saw the knight-like lady also looking at me with astonishment.

"I sense no magical power. Despite fighting this much, no magical power is leaking from him. He clearly doesn't have magical power to begin with. Yet how can he keep up with my movements to this degree…?!"

Ah… I see. Same as with Harakara. He was creeped out that I could go toe-to-toe without enhancing myself.

Well, it's all thanks to my contract with Kyui! An unexpected bonus on top of the fantasy sex life!

"If you have that much strength…! No, a man like you especially should join us in the Liberation Army! His Highness would evaluate your abilities fairly, regardless of whether you were born a commoner."

"Uhh…?"

What…? Am I being recruited?

"Haven't you been worked to the bone by people inferior to you until now? Haven't you wondered why, despite having excellent abilities, you aren't fairly evaluated? You're on our side. We can walk together as comrades… Come. Join us."

"…"

High-minded! Phrasing aside, he was basically saying: can you really stand being ordered around by a section chief with lower sales numbers than you?

And that in their workplace, those frustrations could be resolved.

A little while ago, I might've taken that pretty favorably. But unfortunately, I couldn't exactly say "sure, I'll join the Rebel Army～!" right now. Because.

(I finally got a foothold in another world! Why would I go off somewhere unknown now?!)

There were other reasons, but it basically came down to that.

If I'd been born and raised in this world, I might've been able to think along proper ideological lines: "I agree with the current Emperor's methods," or "the younger brother's path is what will brighten the Empire's future."

But I just wasn't that invested in the Empire's future. So I ended up leaning toward whichever side was more convenient for me at the moment.

And for me, that was Elinabelle's camp… which by extension was the puking Emperor's camp. Kind of annoying when I put it that way!

Well, that was that. Might as well clearly turn him down!

"Hahaha… Yeah, getting invited by a dude doesn't make me happy at all!"

"…"

"And yeah, like you said, I'm a commoner. But not long ago, I was taken in as a retainer by a certain someone."

Come to think of it, what's the pay structure for retainers? I hadn't even checked…!

"I'm a 15th-rank Baron now. Sure, I'll admit there's plenty wrong with the current Emperor. But as long as my master doesn't switch sides, I'm not gonna stand next to you."

"… I see."

The air around Alchrom shifted. I knew it from watching Harakara…! He's going to get serious…!

"Filmeria, of course. And you, here…! I absolutely must finish off both of you…! You'll become a massive problem later…! Here and now! I'll remove an obstacle to the Liberation Army! Mechanical Greatsword Raidele! Show your power here!"

Alchrom held his longsword horizontally. Particles of light poured out of the blade, and with a crisp mechanical click, the blade expanded.

An instant later, it had transformed into that massive greatsword I'd seen before.

Seriously, the coolest sword…! And I'm bare-handed?!

"Hm… That sword really is troublesome. As you are now, your odds aren't good."

"Same as with Harakara, huh…! Then…!"

"Manifest lewd tools to counter it again? Unlike the previous demon, whether we can destroy that greatsword is uncertain."

"Huh, seriously?"

So it was on par with the holy strongest vibrator?!

But now that he mentioned it, Harakara had manifested armor clad in pale blue flames using his own ability. Alchrom, on the other hand, had already come equipped with a weapon Kyui respected.

So the situation was a bit different from the Harakara fight, I guess.

(And even if I manifest the strongest vibrator, the reach on a greatsword is way too different…! Plus, I don't have the confidence to block a sword that big!)

I mean, the guy was swinging that massive greatsword around like it was a twig.

I had to wonder how far my legs and the strongest vibrator could really hold up against that.

"We have no choice but to stall for time and wait for Elinabelle to arrive, drawn by the commotion."

"Wow, defeatist much?!"

"What are you muttering about?!"

Alchrom charged forward at a speed that didn't betray the weight of the greatsword at all. He swung it in a wide horizontal arc.

"Whoa?!"

I jumped to dodge. Alchrom immediately cut back, but the moment my feet touched ground I stepped back to evade.

(Dammit…! Alchrom's reach got longer, so I can't get in close…!)

Like Kyui said, the odds were against me. But I wasn't feeling the kind of life-or-death pressure like I'd take a fatal blow. So.

"Kyui! Use Hero Points and somehow boost my physical abilities!"

"… Honestly, enhancing your body further from here will require a considerable number of points. And unlike before, the change won't be that dramatic. Are you sure?"

It's going to take more Hero Points to lower Kyui's seal level further…?! But rather than waiting around for Elinabelle who might not come in time…!

"Do it! Let's…"

The moment I committed to spending Hero Points. Alchrom made like he was swinging at me, but suddenly shifted direction.

Beyond him was Filmeria.

(…! This guy, a feint…!)

But I had no choice but to bite. My body naturally slid in between Alchrom and Filmeria.

Alchrom swung that greatsword down mercilessly.

"Nghh…!"

Just barely, I managed to scoop Filmeria up and get away. But I felt a burning heat across my back.

"Ah…"

Filmeria let out a small sound in my arms. I immediately turned to look back, but the moment I did, my legs wobbled.

"Wha…?"

Glancing down at the ground, I saw several bloodstains.

Not Filmeria's blood, not Alchrom's blood. Whose…?

"Y-your… back…"

Filmeria whispered in a cute, thin voice. And Kyui called down from a distance in the air.

"You've been sliced deep across the back. Don't move too wildly. You'll bleed more."

What…?! Seriously…?!

Dammit, my back felt strangely hot…! So that was when he cut me…!

"Looks like this is as far as you go."

Alchrom wore a triumphant smile.

Dammit…! He'd read that I'd move if he aimed for Filmeria…!

Even if I hadn't moved, he could have killed Filmeria…! Either outcome worked for Alchrom…!

(He made that move because he judged I couldn't break through his greatsword's reach…! Dammit, I was the one leaving openings…!)

But I haven't given up yet! Like hell I'm going to take this lying down…!

At this point I'd burn through every Hero Point I had…! I'd manifest two strongest vibrators and boost my physical abilities…!

Just as I resolved this and was about to call out to Kyui, Alchrom readied his greatsword and charged.

"Kyu…!"

… i…! I was trying to yell the rest, when a literally massive slash of light streaked between me and Alchrom.

"What?!"

Caught off guard, Alchrom leapt backward again. What the hell was that…?!

"Alchrom Avalfer. That sword… the Mechanical Greatsword Raidele… is not fitting for someone like you, a mere 10th-rank Baron. Leave it here along with your life."

"?!"

A clear, ringing woman's voice. Standing there was a stunning beauty with near-white blonde hair.

"…! You're…!"

"What…! Another beauty…!"

Kyui's voice came out a little excited. But I couldn't blame him. Even in this situation, I was captivated too.

Her look could be described as "mini-skirt female knight."

Her narrow, sharp eyes shone blue, beautiful like embedded gemstones. Her hair was tied back in a half-up style.

"Hm…! I can't read her stats at all…?!"

What a shame! Such a pity!

While Elinabelle had a cute-type face and Filmeria-chan's face skillfully blended cute and pretty, this knight was purely the dignified, refined type.

Any Japanese would agree: this was exactly what a female knight should look like.

And in her hand was a sword with exquisite ornamentation. It suited her way too well…!

Who on earth was she…?! I wondered, but Alchrom told me her identity.

"1st Seat of the Twelve Radiant Generals of Imperial History…! Serialis of the Radiant Moon Blade…!"

"… A lowborn noble has no right to speak my name so casually. Allow me to shut that insolent mouth at once."

Th… this woman… was that Serialis, truly the strongest in the Empire…!

Her aura felt totally different…! I think…!

Alchrom's expression had changed too, different from when he'd faced me. A light sheen of sweat glistened on his brow.

"Mireia. Retreat from here."

"… Yes."

The knight-woman standing beside Alchrom backed away from the scene. But even seeing this, Serialis didn't pursue.

"Letting her go so easily, are you?"

"…? Why would I bother pursuing an insect? Unless she had an Imperial Relic of Illumination like you, perhaps."

Ouch. She doesn't even consider her worth her attention…

But Alchrom didn't show any reaction to that. He readied his greatsword.

"To think I'd meet the 1st Seat here…! If I cut you down in this very spot, the Empire will lose much of its momentum!"

"Fu… I just came to the lower town out of curiosity when I heard Filmeria had been kidnapped. That young man did better than expected. It's thanks to him I noticed the disturbance here… It's hardly worth giving a lowborn noble the honor of further conversation."

I had no idea what just happened.

Serialis had literally just flicked her sword lightly where she stood.

But almost simultaneously, multiple slashes of light were arcing toward Alchrom.

"…!!"

Probably magic… maybe? The mechanism was beyond me.

But the slashes of light must have carried real weight individually, because Alchrom had readied his greatsword with a strained expression and was focusing entirely on defense.

"Alchrom Avalfer. I heard you were a wielder who had activated the Mechanical Greatsword Raidele… but it seems my expectations were too high. I needn't even cross blades with you directly."

"Ngh…!"

Alchrom was still frantically dealing with the sudden bursts of slashing light. He couldn't dodge them and could only keep blocking with his greatsword. And then.

"Kooohhhhhh!"

The greatsword shone with particular brightness, somehow shattering the slashes of light. At the same time, he slammed the greatsword into the ground.

"Earthrend: Shockwave Rupture!"

From the point where the greatsword struck, a shockwave rushed along the ground toward Serialis.

But Serialis swung her sword sharply the instant the shockwave reached her. That alone erased the entire shockwave.

"Damn…"

I glanced back to where Alchrom had been. No one there…?

Somewhere along the way, that man had vanished.

"… He fled. Rather than face me, he spent his technique on saving his own hide. A mere insect after all."

Serialis sheathed her bare sword in its similarly lavish scabbard. Then she walked over to me.

"You're unharmed, Filmeria?"

"… Y-yes… Um. This man… h-helped me…"

Serialis turned her gaze to me.

Mm… such a dignified person…

"A commoner, I take it? You took a wound to your back defending an upper noble, Filmeria, and stalled Alchrom. I'll grant you the special honor of speaking to me."

"… Thanks."

I'd meant to stall until Elinabelle arrived, and instead bought time until some ridiculous knight showed up…! Well, not complaining!

"State your name."

"… Touya."

"A shabby name, very fitting for a commoner. It suits you perfectly."

What the hell is that supposed to mean?! Apologize to my parents! My dad's dead and I don't even know where my mom is, but still!

Setting that aside, my back hurt. Really, really hurt.

Until now I'd just felt heat, but now I could clearly feel pain.

"Your willingness to sacrifice yourself to save an upper noble is admirable conduct for a commoner. Come, Filmeria. We're heading back."

"Ah…"

Serialis walked past me and reached for Filmeria's hand. And at that moment, I collapsed to the ground.

…? What? My body isn't moving right…?

"You've lost a lot of blood. It's not fatal yet, but if left untreated, it'll be a while before you can move again."

Seriously…?! That's pretty severe, isn't it?!

"Conversely, given time, you will be able to move again. You can thank our contract for that too."

Crap… I can't get my words out right…

"L-Lady Serialis…! Please… tend to his wounds…!"

"Unnecessary. He won't die from this."

Hey, harsh! Could you be a little gentler?!

"Um… H-he… who should have died… saved me… He's my life-saver…"

"… That's something you saw in a prophecy?"

"Y-yes…"

Mm… They're saying something, but… my consciousness is… getting… hazy…