The Barrier Protecting the Royal Capital

When I saw the jet-black night sky dyed red by the massive number of meteors, for a moment I couldn't comprehend whether this was a sight from this world.

That's how abnormal the scene was.

If it were happening far in the distance, I might have just thought I'd seen something strange.

But if it was raining down upon me, it was nothing but a disaster.

If this weren't the Royal Capital, protected by a powerful barrier, the meteors would have blown everything away without a trace.

The sudden event had screams and shouts flying all around.

People who didn't understand what was happening panicking and fleeing, people who'd just woken up and couldn't grasp the situation.

There were also people trying to rescue others from the rubble despite the danger.

It was similar to the scene I'd witnessed after the earthquake. The difference, perhaps, was that there were more fires.

Having helped with rescue after the earthquake just the other day, I snapped out of my momentary daze and was able to take in my surroundings quickly.

What should I do now?

I desperately wracked my brain while annoyed by my heart's loud beating.

Azu and the others were on alert but waiting for instructions.

Aside from Finn and Orleans, they were slaves, and those two were under employment.

In other words, the one who had to decide what to do here was Yohane.

I couldn't leave it to someone else.

"Let's go to the royal castle."

My biggest concern was that I'd seen part of a meteor strike the royal castle.

It should be the most heavily defended place, so it was probably targeted for concentrated attack.

The proof was that, from what I could see, the damage was smaller the farther from the royal castle.

Of course, "smaller" was only by comparison. The places where meteors had fallen were nothing short of horrific.

Still, I didn't think that I shouldn't have come.

"Understood."

Azu responded with just that single word and ran toward the royal castle.

Along the way, we could see Kingdom soldiers hastily gathering.

They must be confused too, but they were still beginning rescue and evacuation guidance. Reassuring.

"The barrier…"

At Elza's words, I looked up at the sky while running.

The massive barrier protecting the Royal Capital was shattering before my eyes.

"It was destroyed by that?! I heard it could withstand any magic!"

"Please calm down, Master. The barrier's core is still functioning. The royal mages should restart it soon."

"I hope so."

According to Alexia's explanation, the barrier can be activated immediately so long as the magic circle exists and there's mana.

I recalled how Alexia and Elza had drawn various things on the ground when they put up barriers.

It seemed the barrier protecting the Royal Capital worked on the same principle.

I thought a large barrier would require considerable mana, but apparently the Royal Capital was built in a location that was abundant in mana and could accumulate it.

That thinking didn't change even for the Empire's imperial capital.

"That said, if that continues repeatedly, the barrier won't hold."

"You've got to be kidding me!"

"I wish I were. This isn't normal magic. How on earth did they do this…?"

While we were talking, the royal castle came into view.

At that moment, several white lights appeared in the sky.

The lights spread to envelop the Royal Capital and became a barrier.

It seemed the barrier had been reconstructed.

"They must have rushed to reinforce the mana. The barrier has been considerably strengthened."

Elza said this after looking at the barrier. Honestly, I couldn't tell the difference.

But it certainly felt more powerful.

Come to think of it, I had wanted to ask Elza various things, but the situation had made that impossible.

The grand gate of the royal castle had completely collapsed from the meteor and was unmanned.

I gasped involuntarily. Fortunately, the royal castle itself was still standing.

It seemed the meteor had struck near the annex.

… But that was where Princess Tianis resided.

It had taken a direct hit, and I could see a hole had opened.

There might be no survivors in there.

"That way. If anyone asks what we're doing, tell them we've come to rescue Princess Tianis and Lady Anatia Deiancle."

Entering the royal castle without permission would surely be severely punished.

If it was in the name of rescue, we should be pardoned as long as one of them was alive.

I didn't want to think about what would happen if both were dead.

There was no sign of the military or the knight order at the royal castle.

No figures heading toward the annex either.

Perhaps they were protecting the king.

In extreme terms, royalty functioned as long as any one of them survived.

Those with closer succession rights must have been gathered near the king.

And Princess Tianis had the lowest succession rights, seen as little more than a spare.

That's why she was given the annex and kept separate.

What terrible luck that the annex of all places was damaged, I thought.

The rescue would probably come after the safety of the king and those around him was confirmed.

But if we waited for that, who knows what might happen.

Even if she was a willful princess who pushed difficult work onto us, she was a backer and a customer.

I couldn't have her dying in a place like this.

The annex door was warped from the impact, so we had Azu and Alexia break it down to get in.

This area shouldn't have had meteors fall on it, but there was visible damage from the shockwaves.

Several servants lay collapsed.

The rubble might fall.

We carried them outside to safety.

Going further in, we arrived at the location where the meteor had struck.

From the layout, it appeared to be a bedroom.

But it could no longer be called a room.

The walls had collapsed, and a fire had broken out, perhaps from the meteor's heat.

"This is just too much…"

I heard Finn murmur.

I felt the same, but it wasn't confirmed they were dead yet.

We should still check.

"Yohane-san?"

As I tried to enter the room, I heard someone call my name nearby.

I turned to see Lady Anatia standing with her hand against the wall.

Her clothing appeared to be a negligee, but it had become so tattered that her skin was visible.

In her right hand was the Anti-Magic Orb.