Chivalry of a Hollow Cryo Dragon Devil Knight

by Gaevontracey24

Ayato Kurozakuro Sparda will enter the world of Devils and learn more about himself as Rias Gremory's Pawn & Stella Vermillion Gremory Phenex's Queen , along with his mysterious family past which allows him to wield a legendary demonic sword... and he's the next Red Dragon Emperor. Harem with Stella,Rias and Mio being the main girls.

32. Chapter 32

Chapter 32

"" - Speaking

'' - Thought

….

A phone call came from Johan, the First Prince of Kledelland to Roxanne.

The matter was about『How to respond to a report from《 International Mage-Knight League Headquarters》where it mentions that an extremely dangerous criminal called 《 Marionette King》Or=Gaule belonging to《Rebellion》is hiding in the outskirts of Vermillion and Kledelland, so I would like to have a prior consultation before the war as that is when the traffic of citizens of both countries intensifies』.

And, in addition to that, Johan said this. The samurai who defeated《Crimson Princess》in a distant east country. He wanted to talk with《Cryo Wind Sword Emperor》Kurozakuro Ayato before the war. He was also interested in him as a knight. A request coming from Johan's curiosity.

As for Lunaize, she wanted Ayato to give priority to the strengthening of Tilmitt and company, but since they got Kledelland to forcibly approve the proposal of Ayato, a person of another country as their representative, she lent him to Johan. Therefore, Roxanne reluctantly gave her approval and asked to accompany Ayato.

When Ikki was asked so by Lunaize who was preparing his position as the representative team member of Vermillion as proof of his own value and made various preparations in advance to persuade Sirius, there was no way he could refuse.

Thus Ayato, Roxanne and Stella who had been clinging to Ayato since he was going, the three of them got on a small, royalty exclusive airplane heading straight to Kledelland. – Kledelland and Vermillion are countries that are having wars though that is in accordance with League's rules, so I thought that both countries had a more critical relationship, but to think that in reality it was close enough for both royalties to keep in touch in private.

Ayato, who was summoned and heard the details in the middle of the route, was honestly surprised. Stella agreed with him.

– Certainly, it's an odd story now that you mention it. I played with Johan-nii when I was very young, so I've been considering it like it was natural. But when studying abroad in Japan, I understood well that my family is, how to say it, special.

And then, Lunaize said to the two of them.

– Naturally, we weren't on good terms from the beginning. After all, "Vermillion is a country that won its independence because of the war against Kledelland".

– The hate existing between both royalties and countries was never shallow, they continued competing with each other for a long time and the citizens were also educated to hate each other. It was like that for hundreds of years. They kept passing the hatred from father to son, from son to grandson, they've been hating each other for hundreds of years. But it doesn't mean I've gotten their reasoning for the pain and disgrace though.

… Don't you think it's a ridiculous tradition? Ayato, who was asked for his point of view, returned a short nod.

– … I think so. It's just that… forgiveness is many times more difficult than hate.

– Exactly. It's a silly discussion, but it's also an inevitable discussion. Human history was a history of war. There was no nation that wasn't burdened with their actions. If a country like that were to exist, they wouldn't have the problem of "what to do".

– But, thirty years ago, something even more ridiculously stupid appeared, and worse than such stupid tradition.

– Was that perhaps Otou-sama? Roxanne nodded at Stella's realization.

– Yes, Chichi-ue, in other words, King Sirius. King Sirius marched into Kledelland alone and accessed the throne, fought the opponents, the army of Kledelland, stepped on the royal palace and said to King Clef who was in an isolated state.

『If you hate me, then I'll quarrel with you as much as I want. The war of around one hundred years ago, should then be brought back by the countries?』

*TN: Chichi-ue is a very formal way of addressing one's father.

– Oh, ooooh… – S-so heroic, don't you think? Though it gives a feeling of an international problem if a mistake was made… Roxanne laughed at the two who were speechless. – Even when there wasn't a mistake, it was an international problem indeed. He's truly a big fool.

… But, King Clef didn't seem to think he would make a fool of himself. I can't get to hate this amazing guy, he said. And then he appeared to come to a realization. About the foolishness of forcing a fake anger and fake hatred onto the citizens.

Since then, the two countries have stopped the education of planting hostility in their citizens towards the other country, and so they have been improving their relationships little by little by carrying a positive cultural exchange. The current war still inherits the name of a territorial conflict, but… to tell you the truth, this war doesn't make much difference whether who wins or loses.

– Is that so? – Because the side that wins the rights of the gas fields agrees to be responsible of the infrastructure improvement of the side that lost them after the events of the matter were carried out. This war now is more like an in-name-only joint exercise. – So a lot of food stalls will be part of this, riiight? Ayato, who heard that, understood and realized that the reason the side of Kledelland accepted his participation in the war was because, for argument's sake, he defeated《Crimson Princess》.

In other words, this war was like a friendly party between two countries, so it wasn't like going for the victory was either good or bad. Assuming it was the same for the other party, then thinking like that would be the best if the events were to get exciting because of it.

–Nevertheless, Otou-sama did so. I heard it like to the degree of a rumor, a story of a problem triggered in the old Kledelland. I thought it was a trivial thing because it was about Otou-sama after all. – I didn't know about it until I heard it from King Clef.

People in general kept it a secret, thinking that I would get angry if it was known by me. In fact, since King Clef's ability wasn't great, that would have become the cause of a new war most probably.

– But they were able to work out the ill feeling between Vermillion and Kledelland because your heroic Otou-sama wasn't a slave to such old tradition, yes? But Lunaize shrugged her shoulders with Ikki's words.

– Hmm, I wonder about that. A political idea saying『 Considering the national sentiment, we will maintain this form of war but we will make it to be reduced to a formality and split the profits evenly』and coming from Chichi-ue is utterly unthinkable. I think that the guidance of Haha-ue was in this series of reforms.

*TN: Haha-ue is a very formal way of addressing one's mother. – I have the same feeling. Even now, the internal administration and diplomacy are being led by Okaa-sama. I'm sure the mastermind is Okaa-sama.

(Come to think of it, the other thing Stella said before…)

When Stella came to Japan, she said that Consort Astraea put King Sirius, who strongly opposed her, in prison. It seemed that there was an absolute power balance between those two people.

(… I shall make sure to not anger Ogibo-san)

*TN: Ogibo = mother in law. – Well, that's why Vermillion and Kledelland have taken an appeasement policy initiated by both royalties to ease the ill feelings of the past.

The cultural exchange between the royalties that Ayato surprisingly recalled is a part of that. Even most of the children, or us in that case, became so close regardless of the political situation.

– Johan-nii has been unable to act on an equal basis with Lunanee since ages ago. They truly are like real brothers and sisters.

– If so, then he's like an Onii-san to Stella.

Stella nodded greatly.

– Yup. Johan-nii is one of the strongest knights in this region, and he got me to accompany him to train well. – Though I mostly feel like you just beat him viciously and one-sidedly, didn't you? Roxanne let a wry smile show and looked at the windshield of the airplane. And told the two of them.

– Hey, it can be seen now. That's Lucelle, the capital of Kledelland.

Lucelle, capital of Kledelland.

Ayato and company got down to the airport for the use of the government and persons concerned and finished the entry procedures there. And obviously there was no carry-on baggage inspection or interrogations since they had a VIP treatment. It all ended with Roxanne only exchanging two, three words with the person in charge and the three of them passed the gate.

They got in a limousine coming from the airport main gate and moved to the town center of Lucelle. They arrived at a square, the meeting place with Prince Johan. And so, Ayato, who came for the first time to Kledelland, had his breath taken away with the scenery.

– This is… a wonderful townscape. The Art Nouveau architecture stood in a line as if encircling the plaza. A scene that overflowed a western feeling, like it embodied the townscape of medieval Europe.

It was so beautiful that Ayato, who didn't like taking pictures, wanted to put it in a frame.

– Lucelle, the city itself, is a World Heritage. It's worth seeing it. – Yeah, totally. I feel like I traveled right into the medieval times.

– Fufu, Art Nouveau architecture doesn't go back too much in history, but it seems that Asians get captivated by images of Europe. It's very popular among tourists from over there. Now you finally came. You can walk around the city with Stella later.

– I second that! Let's do so, alright, Ayato!?

– Sure. We're finally here so――

– If you like, you can spend the night alone. In any case, you'll stay here until the end of war. And I'll say nothing to Chichi-ue.

– W-what are you saying, Roxa-nee!? Yes, Stella was blushing because of Roxanne's straightforward way of speaking,

– Lunaize-san! A well-dressed young man called out to the three people and ran up to them.

– My apologies. Have I kept you waiting!? Roxanne showed a malicious smile on her face to the man who asked like he was worried about them and returned.

– No. We thought of coming thirty minutes earlier to our meeting with you so we just joined together to get rid of idle time.

– Ah, ahaha… thank you for your consideration.

And Stella,

– Long time no see! The last time we met was at last year's Christmas?

– Yes, you are correct. It's been half a year. I have heard you did great in Japan. That you outrivaled《Wind Sword Emperor 》.

I even heard that the《Mage-Knights》of Japan are strong; as one would expect of Stella-chan.

– Fufun. Well, they weren't opponents for me, you see.

And so, she exchanged greetings with the young man.

With what he had seen so far, Ayato was able to tell who he was without him being introduced yet.

This blond young man was a person that called themselves Kledelland. The very moment Ayato presumed so――

– And finally… the one who defeated the strong Stella-chan twice is you, yes? The blue eyes of Johan were turned towards Ayato.

– Nice to meet you, Kurogane Ayato-san. I am Johan Kristoff Van Collbrand. Thank you for responding to my selfish request today.

– I-it's nothing, it is I who should say so, thank you very much for the invitation, I am deeply honored.

– Since the broadcast of《Seven Stars Sword Art Festival》was carried out even here, I was able to see the matches.

… You were amazing. You could fight with Stella-chan as your opponent without holding back. I am still overwhelmed by Stella-chan's strength.

– … I feel obliged. – I am very interested as a fellow knight in what kind of training Ikki-san is carrying and what kind of opinion he has when it comes to the sword and Magic power.

Please allow me to study them.

– W-well, I wonder whether or not I can be helpful like…

Due to the polite attitude of Johan, Ayato ended up being in a more than necessary modest state. Honestly, he had a troubled reaction because he was treated politely by the person who was the Prince of the country.

At that moment,

– That's a good greeting, isn't it, Johan? The grim-faced Lunaize forced her way through and put herself between Ayato and Johan.

And then, – Your scarf is all twisted. I always say to you to pay attention to your personal appearance, hmm? You have great looks, but your laziness stands out. Alright, don't move. I'll fix it for you.

– P-please wait, Lunaize-san. There are people in front of us and watching us, it's embarrassing…

– If you're embarrassed, then be careful to not show an embarrassing appearance.

… Besides, Ayato is having a hard time because your greeting is way too formal and you're not thinking about your status. Keep your pacing in mind.

That's what they call a proper decorum.

Roxanne boldly pointed out the cause of discomfort that Ayato evidently felt while adjusting the scarf.

Johan also noticed his own oversight that was pointed out by Lunaize.

– A, ahaha…. I am no match for Lunaize-san, am I? He apologized to Ayato with an「I'm sorry」while Roxanne kept quietly standing upright immovable until the scarf was fixed.

Stella paid a sidelong glance to the two of them and whispered into Ayato's ear.

– You see? They truly look like brother and sister, no? And However, the impression Ikki had about the scene differed a bit.

(The thing is… more than brother and sister, they look alike…)

*Grrrrrrrrrrr*…

– Ah! A sudden strange noise was heard by the ears of the four of them. Roxanne glared at Stella, the source of that noise while making her eyebrows twitch.

– … Are you serious?

Stella. – I-I can't help it, you know!? I haven't lunched yet!

– Yes, but girls of your age don't make noises coming from their bellies, they just don't.

– M-My energy consumption goes negative after awakening the power of the dragon! So don't blame me, alright!? Johan, who saw Stella giving excuses and her face getting deep red, put a smile on his face.

– Now that you mention it, it is the right time to have lunch. So, what do you think? Would you like to eat something before discussing a counterplan regarding the aforementioned suspicious individual?

Food stalls with war as their objective are appearing in the square over there. He suggested the three of them. Stella immediately approved the suggestion.

– I say yes! You too, right,Roxa-nee!?

– … I was talking seriously by the way, that making your stomach rumble is unbearable.

– Alright then, let's go there by walking right away, shall we?

And thus, the four people began to walk towards the center of the park near the National Stadium of Lucelle, the place where the war between Vermillion and Kledelland would take place.

They walked for ten minutes or so to their destination. Although it was a short distance, since the Prince of this country and the Princesses of the neighboring country were walking side by side, gathering the eyes of everybody was a natural thing. Crowds formed at both ends of the path the four people were going through.

『Oh! It's Prince-sama!』

『The Princesses of Vermillion are here too!』

『Even when looking at them live, they are truly beautiful, aren't they…?』

『Kyaa! Roxanne-sama! She's so cool!』

『We're looking forward to the matches! Though the victory will be ours this time!』

– Whaat!?

I'm participating as a representative from this year, so you should be prepared! Stella and Roxanne replied, raised their voices and waved their hands to the welcoming voices that reached them from the left and right.

Such a scene was truly amicable, it didn't let the ill feelings of the past be felt at all. They could see the result of the appeasement policy that the royalties of both countries had been carrying out actively.

But, (H-huh…?) Ayato, who was watching such a genial scene, stopped walking with a strong sense of discomfort. In the crowd. An unnatural wide-opened『hole』was there.

A blank space―――― (No, that's not it)

It wasn't a blank space.

Ayato opened not only his sense of vision but his five senses and gazed steadily at that『hole』. The flow of sound, the stagnation of the atmosphere, the signs―― He compensated for the unnaturally and partially removed visual information and he saw it.

Rising to the surface as it revealed itself.

The place where the only thing that could be seen with nothing but his eyes was a blank space. A woman was standing there.

A silver-haired woman who was staring at him with eyes of different color and who quietly surrounded him at a distance without letting anyone other than Ayato know that she was here.

The appearance that was cladded in such air――Ayato knew it.

(That person is… but why is that person here…?)

– Ayato?

– Waaa…!

As he was directing all his concentration to that woman, Ayato made his body quiver when his shoulder was tapped by Stella.

– D-did something happen? You were all absent-minded…

Stella was also surprised by the overreaction of Ayato and asked him in a bewildered state. To this, Ayato attempted to return his sight to the woman seconds ago while returning a vague

「Ah, no …」.

However, another townsfolk from this city was standing where the woman of moments ago was standing. The figure of that woman wasn't there anymore. Because of that,

– … it's nothing.

– Geez. If you keep staring at the emptiness, then we'll leave you behind, alright?

– S-sorry. I'll pay attention. Ayato apologized to Stella and quickened his steps.

They finally reached the bottom and smashed their way through the reinforced door.

It belonged to a woman

Last, a queen type character who is extremely sadistic like Akeno and Yukina, however she has an abundance of feelings for her underclassmen and is a motherly figure (99cm bust, to be exact) amongst the girls. She has brown hair that is curled at the ends with a large pink bow on top. She wears what resembles pink and white lingerie with white cups, and a diamond shaped opening revealing her cleavage. On her legs and arms are white garments, and she wears a thin white bottom with simple pink high heels. On her back is a large white lab coat lined with many different vials filled with hazardous chemicals. Also, she utilizes a robot that inhabits her lab coat. This machine fills the right arm of her coat with a deadly red chainsaw, and the left with a three fingered robotic arm of its own. She likes to pick on weaker people, especially with Hibari. Her name is Haruka.

"Well, this is certainly a mess that you all have gotten yourselves into," Haruka smirked before frowning.

Ayato easily overpowers Haruka and Haruka throws a light spear at Ayato, but he effortlessly deflected with a devilish grin on his face. Haruka then screamed in fear and flew past Ayato to escape. She was almost to the door when she suddenly felt something on her ankle, and looked to see a spectral arm gripping it.

Like I'll let you escape, so GET THE FUCK BACK HERE, BITCH!

" Ayato shouted, yanking his Dragon Breaker arm back, dragging Haruka back toward him as he jumped forward, his Boosted Gear cocked back, "Say your prayers!"

"Don't touch me! I'm the supreme-!"

Fuck you!" Ayato shouted, catching Haruka with a multi-hitting freezing corkscrew uppercut, making her scream in pain as she hit the glass ceiling, breaking it, as Ayato appeared right above her and punched her back to the ground with his Boosted gear.

『Hey, what's with this broadcast!?』

『The Prince of Kledelland made a declaration of war, you know?』

『What!? Why is the Prince Johan starting a war with Vermillion!?』

『How am I going to know that!?』

『Anyways, the people in the Imperial Capital are telling us to stay inside of our homes, so everyone is going back home!』

Hraesvelgr, the Imperial Capital of Vermillion, fell into chaos with the sudden declaration of war from the neighboring country. Everyone moved about with unease and confusion.

《Crimson Princess》Stella Vermillion ran through the skies of the Imperial Capital. She was heading straight to the royal castle as she jumped from roof to roof of the buildings in the Imperial Capital like Ayato did before.

Because this method was much faster to get to the castle than going along the road. Stella's unease became stronger due to the chaos of the Imperial Capital below her, along the road.

Faster, faster―― She needed to inform everyone that Johan's declaration of war was a farce manufactured by a wicked criminal and that she didn't want Vermillion to hurt the people of Kledelland.

But, – This is…! Stella's legs stopped the moment she finally got near the castle. The main gate of the castle, which was always left open at this hour, was closed. And there were countless armed soldiers standing up under her eyes. The level of defense had been raised to the limit due to the state of emergency brought by the sudden declaration of war from the neighboring country.

Naturally, Stella got down and was allowed to speak with the soldiers and went inside without problems. However, this was just the outer security. But in the castle. She couldn't imagine the number of checkpoints she had to go through to finally reach the palace where Sirius was.

And that―― (I don't have time for such slow things!)

Stella immediately gave up on returning from the main gate. She raised her eyes above her. And looked up at a palace window placed at the back of the high and towering wall. A question was born in the mind of Stella with such a view.

– It's alright, I can do it…! It seemed to be impossible before, but now that she knows her true strength

――. Stella muttered as if encouraging herself and hugged her own arms. And then she put her strength into the hands that hugged her shoulders and held a mental image as she pulled them towards her back. There were things that humans weren't endowed with. However, those things were natural for her who was a『Dragon 』

. A mental image of wings. – ! At that moment, Stella felt a pain that pushed open her shoulder blades.

– AAAAAA――――! A pair of blazing wings that burned red manifested from her back. The ability that《Crimson Princess》Stella Vermillion was proud of――《Dragon》.

With the superpower that manifested the strength of the dragon on her body, Stella regained the ideal form she should have.

The superheated wings were natural organs that Stella was endowed with by nature, she certainly felt that her own boiling blood flowed in them.

She could move them.

As she wished. It wasn't her memory, but her cells that were aware of it.

That being the case,

– Here I goooooooooo! Stella ran off the roof and threw herself into the air.

The body of Stella that was thrown into the air was pulled by gravity, it was about to fall, but then, in an instant.

As soon as the blazing wings flapped once, the strength of the dragon easily ripped off the chains of gravity and elevated the body of Stella into the air powerfully.

Then she could easily jump over the high and towering castle walls and immediately went straight to that palace window―― She went straight through the window without hesitation and jumped into the palace.

– W-what was that sound!?

– No way, is it a missile!? Or a person!?

– It's an enemy attack! Shoot! Shoot them to death!

The soldiers rushed to the sound of the glass that blew off and resounded in the palace without warning and turned their guns towards the one who jumped in from the window without confirming who the person was; they were about to pull the trigger. It seemed that they became agitated with the war against Kledelland that started so abruptly. Stella roared in a carrying voice,

– Calm down! Towards them. With this, the fingers of the soldiers stopped squeezing the triggers. Because they realized that it was their princess who jumped in from the window.

– St-Stella-sama!

– B-but how!? Not that she departed to Kledelland a while ago…!?

The soldiers were surprised. And, – Whaaat, Stella is here!? Sirius came running as he pushed aside those soldiers. When he saw the figure of his beloved daughter unharmed who he thought was alone in Kledelland,

– Yeeeeees! Stella was saaaafeeeee! He opened his hands wide as he shed tears of joy and ran to hug Stella tightly.

――But,

– Haaaaaa! The hug of meeting again was prevented by Stella's counterlike palm heel.

– Fu, bu, but, why…

– Thank you for being worried but I'm sorry! It's not the time to do so right now! Yes, she was happy for see him again, but it was unfortunate.

She had to inform that the army of Kledelland wasn't the enemy before the armies of Vermillion and Kledelland crashed. And for that, Stella looked for her mother Astraea who was the real person commanding the politics of Vermillion, – Stella-chan!

– Okaa-sama! She found the figure of her mother who ran with Daniel Dandelion, the head of the Vermillion Branch of the International Mage-Knights League to where she was.

– You didn't get caught…. Oh, I'm so relieved.

– Yes, I was rescued by《Black Knight》who came from the League and so we came back here with《Divine Gate》.

– I see. By the way, what about Rox-chan and Ayato-san?

– They both came back to Vermillion with us.

Since they were injured, I didn't bring them here, instead I had《Black Knight》 take them to the hospital.

– They're injured!? Wh-what about Rox!? Is Rox alright!?

– Roxa-nee is fine. She just fainted. Ayato was considerably wounded when protecting us… but he's okay and now Torturing The Fallen Angel Haruka with Sex.

He's not the kind of guy who would kick the bucket with something of that degree.

Because that man was a man who surpassed himself and tore off even his fate.

– For the time being, the most important thing is to not get into a situation where they'll take the royal family as hostages.

However, if《Black Knight》has moved, then that means… that she was notified by the headquarters about this strife and the criminal participating in it, isn't that right?

Stella greatly nodded in response to Dandelion's question,

– Listen, Otou-sama, Okaa-sama! There's something very important I have to tell you!

After she arrived at the palace and reunited with her parents, Stella told them everything she saw in Kledelland. That Kledelland and their government, army and even the people should be under control of《Marionette King》 Or=Gaule.

That everything about this declaration of war and violation of territorial sovereignty were crimes committed by Or=Gaule half-joking. … And that King Clef was murdered by his evil hands. And the moment she told them everything, – ――! A strong earthquake shook the Imperial Palace. It was the sound of a pillar in the Imperial Palace that Sirius hit and broke.

– THAT PIECE OF SHIT!

– Otou-sama…

A heat haze that distorted the surrounding scenery rose up from the huge body of Sirius. His friend, who promoted peace between both countries together with him, was killed. Sirius looked like the fury was burning in his body.

– Thank you, Stella-chan.

… The enemy has become a serious matter. -《Marionette King》Or=Gaule.

That power he has was regarded as dangerous by the League in the past, but to think that the degree of the real ability he had could cause such terrible actions is… What is《Rebellion》trying to achieve with this, I wonder?

– He said he already quit《Rebellion》.

Though I don't know if that is true. … But, there's no doubt that this damn guy truly enjoys the misfortune of others, I'm sure of it.

It was… my first time seeing it, the malice that became his happiness as he injured the ones around him. I truly think he's trying to cause a war just to torment us. This was nothing but a game for that devil.

That level of pleasure was like going to the city to watch a movie if it was compared to them. He attempted to mess up both Kledelland and Vermillion for that level of pleasure. This wasn't a ridiculous story. It couldn't be ignored at all.

Because of that, – Otou-sama! Okaa-sama! The army of Kledelland that is heading towards here is being controlled! We only have one enemy that should be defeated! That's why I beg you! To tell this to everyone on the front lines right now! Do not fight with the army of Kledelland! At this rate, we'll just end up hurting our friends who are only being manipulated! If that were to happen, then both sides will have to carry a disgrace on their backs that will never disappear…!

If that was the scenario designed by this devil, then she had to stop it by any means necessary. That was what Stella proposed to Astraea. Astraea gave a nod to that and,

– You're right. It's as Stella-chan says. That's not a ludicrous story.

– Of course not! In that case―― – But, it's impossible to tell this to the ones on the front lines.

She put aside Stella's proposal with a cutting tone of voice that didn't hide her dignity as an Empress and was different from her usual carefree way of talking.

– Eh…?

The scenario of Or=Gaule, the devil. Stella, who only thought that her own proposal of informing the front lines about the contents was going to be accepted unconditionally, couldn't understand the rejection of Astraea.

– W-why!? Why!? Everyone is just being manipulated, aren't they!? Stella persisted while being very agitated. Astraea shook her head with a sad facial expression and said.

– … Stella-chan. I'm very sorry, but it doesn't matter if they are being hostile towards us or not.

– W-what do you mean!?

– Suppose there was a reason why the army of Kledelland invaded the territory of Vermillion with weapons in hand and turned their muzzles towards us. The combat is inevitable to protect both our territory and to evacuate the population.

What… Do you think will happen if the soldiers on the front lines were to listen to the argument that the army of Kledelland is being controlled?

– What will happen…? Ah.

– They certainly will hesitate to pull the trigger towards their friends who want to be saved by them with soundless voices because they're only being manipulated. And… that faltering will certainly cause enormous damages to the army of Vermillion. Stella, who was admonished by Astraea, became aware of it.

It was just as her mother had said. If they were to tell Signard and the others on the front lines about that, they wouldn't be able to turn their muzzles towards the army of Kledelland.

But on the other hand, there was no mercy for the army of Kledelland that was being controlled. If both armies were to clash, the result of that would be self-evident.

– I think you want to save the people of Kledelland. But we are the royal family of Vermillion. We have a duty to prioritize the lives of the citizens of Vermillion above all else. That's why… that information, even if it's true, it will spoil us, it can't be sent to the front lines

. – But! B-but! If, if we do that! Stella tried to object to Astraea's decision, but… she couldn't find the right words for it. Because what Astraea said had no room for objection, it was the right decision as the royal family.

The lives of another country's people or the lives of the people of their country. There was no comparison. Exposing the people of their country to danger to save the people of another country; that in itself was an unreasonable act for the royal family and for the nation.

Even if Stella desperately thought of not wanting to abandon Kledelland, there was no reason or anything of the sort that would go through to set Astraea's claim aside.

But still, (I must do something, one way or another…!) She couldn't help but remember.

The memories of when she was staying in Kledelland when she was a child. It wasn't like something big happened that was unforgettable. There wasn't an obligation like fighting and giving one's life for the sake of Kledelland.

However, the amicable greetings she got when she passed by the side of someone in the streets, when she went shopping and got lots of candies… as well as Johan, King Clef, Luke and the others, and everyone who was kind to her younger self. And when she piled up all those small memories, she finally thought. I want to protect the world around me, including Kledelland.

However――and although it was for the sake of the nation, she had to abandon them, but was that okay? Even though their freedom was stolen and were forced to fight a war they didn't want to, they might be desperately wishing to be saved with soundless voices…!

-〜〜〜〜〜〜〜…!

Stella didn't know what to do, she couldn't move in this narrow space between logic and emotion. Astraea, who attentively watched such kindness, was proud of her. However, being kind wasn't everything; she wouldn't be able to protect what was important as she would be too drunk on her own kindness.

Politicians had to ignore their own kindness so they could sink themselves in reason.

Especially Stella and Ayato who were Vermillion's best fighting power.

(Haruka's Rape with Ayato)

However, Haruka, now naked, was completely ticked off with chains on her wrists and ankles!

Ayato trembled slightly as the warm nectar coated his flesh before he felt the soft heat of her folds press against the end of his dick. "I – It feels so much warmer…"

No Let Me Go! Haruka Said.

She trembled as she was rammed into her by Ayato.

"I – It's going in… it's so… thick…" she grunted lightly, her folds spreading wide as they wrapped around Ayato's two tools.

You're going to get fucked in Both Holes for 24 Hours Sure to Give In Before You Go Insane Okay? Ayato Said.

As If I would! I won't Lose to your Cock! Reynella Said.

However, she stopped suddenly with a subtle lurch and gasp as the head hit against her blockage.

Come on

I-I Won't - AAAAAAAH! Haruka Said as She stuck out her tongue from Ayato's double penetration. You Played,Kid. You got THE Biggest Package Which is Why I'll Take You on First While I'm Still Fresh.

As Requested MY BIG COCK SONNA MAKE YOu SQUEAL!

NOW THAT HE'S SO CLOSE, I REALIZE HOW BIG HIS THING IS... THE TIP ALONE IS THE SIZE OF A CLENCHED FIST. HE MIGHT BE EVEN BIGGER THAN Those other PETTY Blazers .

A soon holds her legs and rest them on your shoulders, then begins ramming into her showing not a single sign of stopping as his dick is pushing Haruka more and more causing her to grab onto the chains as each thrust in and out of her causing her moans to grow with intensity but her mouth is still closed as though she is resisting the pleasure wanting to savior it.

Ayato's eyes narrow and decide he wants to hear her squeal out loud. Spreading her legs farther, he grabs her body and lifts her off the ground as he's now standing up while holding Reynella while shoving her onto his dick harder and harder.

.OHOOO!

"Chuu…ah, kuu…hah " "Mmm…aah, mmm…hah… "chuu, fuu…chuu, haah…fuaaan ", was all Haruka said as she's completely sweaty as her eyes are glazed over, like she is in a trance from being fucked for her first time, Ayato soon takes complete control of her. He thrusts in and out faster and faster, like a piston in an engine, shoving your dick as far inside her as it will go.

The squishing sounds of their love making is only drowned out by Reynella's grunts and her sexy and constant moans.

Her body is completely limp which is in Ayato's control, as he shovels harder and faster inside her. He can feel her pussy tighten around his dick with every orgasm she has, many of them in rows from the hours of sex.

TH-THIS ISN'T GOOD HIS BIZZARE PENIS IS HITTING MY STOMACH!

Ayatto thrusted forward as his cock fully entered her as it hit her womb hard which Reynella's tongue rolls out of her mouth as Ayato began ramming into her over and over again which he soon lifts Haruka off her feet as she turns around and wraps her legs around him as he behind ramming into her pussy as she has her chained arms wrapped around his neck as they soon begin kissing while her pussy was being rammed at a greater speed which they soon separated as Haruka looks up with her her tongue hanging out of her mouth as she begins moving up and down his shaft faster.

THIS IS...

TER-RIFIC!

AH

YEAH,TAKE THAT!

Haruka Is So Freakin Tight...

Her Pussy's Tightly Wrapped Around my Dick!

I Feel Like...

She stares at the ceiling with her tongue sticking out, eyes out of focus, and a thin line of saliva reches from her tongue to her breast. Her entire body shakes as he pounds her. Ayato finally feels his orgasm coming on strong.

His dick swells more as He pound faster and faster and faster at top speed, seeming god-like until finally...

Your Hot Cum is Coming out.

He begins shooting his hot cum deep inside her pussy causing her to moan loudly as he shoots his load inside her but he then pounds harder as he's still coming causing his hot cum to go deeper and deeper in her pussy causing her eyes to widen as she comes again.

After what seemed like forever he finally pulls out, which both hit the ground sweating a lot.

Haruka soon lays against Ayato as he's holding her naked body as both breathe heavily, sweat covering their bodies which Ayato breathes in.

YOU CAME ONCE,SO GET OFF ME, YOU TWO- PUMP CHUMP!

After a minute went by, Haruka places both hands on the wall as she sticks her ass out to Ayato who grabs her ass as he slowly pushed forward until he reached her womb once more which had his sperm inside as he began to roughly fuck Haruka go begins moaning at being fucked again.

YOU MAKING FUN OF ME,HUH? I'LL FUCK YOU SO HARD,YOU WON'T FEEL YOUR LEGS!

Nooo!

Haruka's tongue rolls out again as Ayato was decking her brains out as he went deeper and entering her womb. He kept going violently thrusting for an hour, his balls slapping against her. She lost track of time, with her tongue lolled out of her mouth as Ayato was constantly thrusting up into her womb.

"I'm gonna cum!" She screamed at the top of her lungs as Ayato sped up. With several more thrusts Ayato let loose, the cum filling the Flaming light spear bitch. She could feel the hot spunk entering her womb. At the same time she climaxed and squeezed as their juices mixed. He continued thrusting as the thick blasts of cum filled her already filled pussy. For minutes he never stopped thrusting into her while filling her to the brim.

With one last thrust, Ayato slowly pulled out of her, his cock still throbbing. He erupted on to her body which she fell on the bed laying there out of energy. After one final blast of thick cum on Haruka's chest, Ayato sat down on the bed beside her. She exhaled as her entire body felt numb and her pussy was filled.

Rape/Lemon Ended

(Few Days Later)

Distant thunders resounded above the cloudy Vermillion. There was a small town with refined small buildings made of stone lined up under the sky that seemed like it would collapse at any moment. Caldia city. Located precisely between the border of Kledelland and Vermillion Imperial Capital Flareberg, This rural town once prospered as an inn town and as an important point of transportation between both countries, but now that public transportation such as airplanes and railroads had improved, and because it didn't have any industry in particular, it rarely received people from other places.

But this silent town was now occupied by men dressed in heavy equipment. They were the Imperial Army of Vermillion. Since they received evacuation instructions by means of King's orders, they gathered all the residents of the national border who already had finished evacuating by command of the local police then took them along and started retreating straight to the Imperial Capital Flareberg, however, on the way they received a different order from Sirius.

That command was "you will put a front here in Caldia '' in order to meet the army of Kledelland that was heading straight to the Imperial Capital, their objective, and to release them from the control of《Marionette King》here in this place. General Signard Iron, who commanded Vermillion Army under this instruction, left the evacuation of the residents to the police who had previously entered Caldia by Sirius's command and proceeded with the preparations for the urban warfare against the Army of Kledelland.

The deployment of barbed wire and iron fences. The obstruction of their advance by blowing up the buildings and spreading the debris on the road. All of this was just pestering, but still better than doing nothing. Signard told the soldiers as she gave them directions.

– Everyone, hurry to change your equipment! We don't have much time before the Army of Kledelland arrives! The soldiers dropped their weapons loaded with live ammunition as they were hurried up by Signard's voice which was amplified by a megaphone.

What they took in their hands instead were non-killing weapons used for mob suppression like rubber bullets, stun grenades, stun guns and bulletproof shields that the police brought when they came for the evacuees.

All to help the Army of Kledelland. Since they decided to do so, they couldn't afford to aim at them with weapons loaded with live ammunition.

Therefore, the Imperial Army soldiers replaced their equipment with things that didn't have power to kill, and performed inspections and test firings to know the characteristics of the weapons even if it was a little in the small frame of time they had until they came into contact with the enemy. And then, a person among them, a middle-aged soldier, gave a wry smile.

– This is police equipment, isn't it? The usability itself isn't different from our equipment, but… look at this. There's no hole in this drum.

*Knock knock*

He knocked the drum with the tip of a toe and a big dent carved by the test firing of a rubber bullet was made. It was greatly crushed, but it didn't penetrate it.

"I can't expect too much from something of a man's stopping power like this", he understood.

– Isn't this reliable though? They won't die if we hit them with this. A man of the same age returned in a talkative manner to the complaint of the soldier, and,

– Hey, move, move! You guys are in the way! They were hit by an angry voice. They turned their faces to such a voice and an old man with a grave face turned up from the hatch of the tank and ordered them to veer away to a side of the road because they were in the way.

– Tanks are also being pulled back? The man on the tank nodded.

– Yeah. The big size of the shells will smash people to atoms even if they are rubber bullets. And it will be bad if we leave them more or less scattered around the town. As the man said, the tanks that were supposed to follow them side-by-side were moving to the back of the front before they knew. The middle-aged soldier who complained a while ago shrugged his shoulders before this scene.

– This is getting funny, don't you think? Even though they're being controlled, we can fight with just these toys against opponents who are carrying machine guns and even have tanks lined up. While they don't have ground-to-ground bombers like Vermillion, not having them pass through is absurd. All the soldiers who heard this returned a nod to the grumble of the soldier.

– Yeah, it's absurd. Truly absurd. I couldn't believe my ears when I heard the order. They're asking too much.

– I totally agree. Even though we were attacked all of a sudden and have been extremely busy giving instructions and rescuing the population who lost their homes, now we're trying to save Kledelland. Our King is truly a hopeless goddamn idiot! Discontent and grumbling began to overflow among the soldiers. But that was natural.

Those words were assessed as outrageous by the soldiers in the scene, they deliberately had to lower the grade of their equipment against opponents who were seriously after their lives. How were they going to go to war while worrying about their enemies' safety? Such foolish words. They weren't a joke. Because they were the only ones who would put their lives on the line. Complaints were a certain thing. It was natural to be angry.

――However,

– … Even though you guys say so, you seem to be looking forward to it, don't you? They expressed their discontent and their complaints, and yet, their expressions were somehow bright. – That's how you are. You feel so bad that you're breaking into a smile. When we had real guns in our arms until a while ago, yeah, we had faces like it was the end of the world.

– Hehe.

… There's nothing we can do. Not even I get this at all.

I really don't get it, but… to be able to fight as a soldier of this stupid country that began to say things like "save the people of another country by putting your life on the line" when this might get us killed is…

how to say it, it makes me incredibly happy.

They were shocked when they heard that the Army of Kledelland was invading them. They couldn't believe it. However, when a hurried call and an urgent intercept order were issued and the equipment was allocated, they actually felt it. From this moment, they were going to kill each other against the people of Kledelland.

Just as that happened, the equipment that they had loaded on the trucks many times and that always carried felt very heavy. They thought of wanting to throw these disgusting things they held in their hands away. It wasn't a surprise.

The Imperial Families weren't the only ones who had been promoting peace between the two countries. In the exact same way, the citizens that lived in both countries emulated their Kings and gradually shortened the distance with their neighbors. Particularly their generation, who knew Kledelland and Vermillion before the reign of Sirius.

At that time, they were taught by the man-eating fiend who lived there that they had to detest each other's life. There was certainly a period of time when they were nothing but disgusted by the people of Kledelland.

That seemed to be the same for the Kledelland side. Because of that, it was complicated to meet each other's gaze immediately after the trial of the appeasement policy.

But, due to repeated small exchanges, they got to know each other little by little, demolished the old tradition and cultivated friendship.

"There's no way we want to kill those people". And so, on the way to the front packed with trucks after the order of interception was given, the ones who chose their occupation as "soldier" were full of regret.

But――Sirius wiped out such a gloomy feeling. The Army of Kledelland was just being controlled, they had no animosity towards them. They had other enemies they should kill, they would never kill each other. (I, who's a mere soldier, understands that…) This decision of Sirius――was something he couldn't think of with common sense. Whatever the reason was, the Army of Kledelland was trampling down the territory of Vermillion with weapons in hand.

Interception was natural. A normal nation would make their soldiers pull the trigger to defend themselves from the danger. Certainly that would have happened if the soldiers weren't told that their enemies were controlled by a criminal. The nation should have devoted itself to national defense while hiding everything.

… But that would have resulted in their hands covered with the blood of their innocent friends. That was normal. That was the military. Their King said things that couldn't be think of with common sense. But now that was… they were tremendously glad. That their King wasn't a man who would make them kill their friends.

(… The decision of King Sirius certainly exposed our lives to danger) But that was fine. We are fine with it.

*TN: "We" is the furigana reading for "Vermillion ''. – In a wide world such as this.

That a country that goes to war with such a good-natured pretext is great, don't you agree?

– You're not wrong…! The thinking of this soldier was shared by everyone who was there.

――The same went for Signard who gave instructions to the soldiers.

– You! For how long are you going to chatter pointlessly!? Once the inspection of the equipment is done, start deploying it immediately!

「「「Y-yes ma'am!」」」

Signard gave a sweeping view to the Imperial Army as she rushed the soldiers.

… Her face seemed like it would burst into tears just now, it was hard to believe.

– Guys, listen! Don't kill anyone! Don't make anyone die!

And nobody will die! Those are the direct orders of our King! Show them the pride of the Imperial Army!

「「「Ye Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa H――――!」」」

All members of the Vermillion Army got excited with Signard's oath.

Verge of death with some handicap.

Even though they were forced to go to an absurd fight, everyone's face was full of vitality.

Their will and courage to fight for their friends was overflowing.

The morale of the Imperial Army of Vermillion was reaching its peak since they came here.

――Now they certainly could overcome any predicament. Signard was convinced,

– Our preparations are almost complete.

You are our『eyes』! We trust in you, Kurogane! She told the microphone of the walkie-talkie as she looked up to the sky. Kurogane Ayato, who took his body out from the helicopter flying under the cloudy weather in front of Signards' line of sight, bowed his head in assent.

– Please leave this to me.

『I have an idea about that, but can you listen to it, Father?』

*TN: "Father" is the furigana reading for "father-in-law".

『――――…, tell me about it』 Sirius agreed after a somewhat long silence to Ikki's proposal who came to the Imperial Palace together with Ascaride.

In response to that, Ikki proposed to him. The hubs of Or=Gaule exceeded three digits.

The only method to neutralize them was with their existing force.

And those were――

『I will be the eyes of the Vermillion Army』

『What?』

The strategy suggested by Ayato didn't sound complicated. Ikki, who was able to identify the hubs, got on a helicopter to overlook the battlefield from the air.

In order to identify the numerous hubs with a wide field of view and to provide local information to the Imperial Army.

『So you're going to identify the hubs from the sky while flying around on a helicopter…!?』

『Correct. Vermillion and Kledelland are both member nations of League. Not just ground-to-ground bombers, the retention of aerial military strength that allows long-distance flights outside one's own country is also prohibited by the Treaties of League, so preparations shouldn't exist. This way, I can concentrate on identifying the hubs』

『But how do you intend to tell us their locations? The enemy is composed of tens of thousands of troops. The battlefield is all jumbled up, there's no way to tell who is who』 『

About that, I think we can overcome it if we borrow the ability of Miriallia-san』

『Miri's!?』 Ayato agreed to the surprised Stella,

『That's right. Her ability to grasp space and her eyesight to accurately control distant bullets. Her real ability as a sniper is one of the best. She will put a mark with a paint bullet to every hub that I've found. This should let everyone know where the hubs are』

All the members who were there had a confused facial expression due to Ayato's affirmation. Certainly, if they were marked with paint bullets, then sharing the position of the hubs to all the soldiers was a reality, and the shortage of manpower would be cancelled, but―― 『Do you really know who has really become a relay just by looking over the small soldiers from the sky?』

Could he really do that? That was the question. In fact, 《Black Knight》Ascaride, the fourth strongest person in League, shook her head to the question of Astraea. I can't do that. And Dandelion also, 『… I believe it's impossible for me. Because what I can mostly see is the area at the top of the head from the helicopter』

But Ayato, to such negative reactions,

『I have confidence in my eyesight』 Raised his voice, 『The wounds of my body were healed by《Orichalcos》, but my trump card on my first contact with Or=Gaule. I have a lot of magic power left, and I'm use as a fighting force. But I can't stand doing nothing in this predicament of Stella's hometown. Please let me do whatever I can…!』

And――stared directly at Sirius Vermillion. To believe in him. Sirius returned a long silence to that… and he finally opened his mouth. 『

This is a problem between Kledelland and Vermillion. It has nothing to do with a Japanese brat like you』

『O-Otou-sama! Are you still fixed on that!?』 Stella tried to flare up at the words of rejection of her father. But Astraea interrupted her.

『Stella-chan. Wait』

Sirius continued immediately after that.

『However, if you become one of us, the story would be different』

『Father-in-law-san…!』

『If you lead Vermillion to victory in this war, then I'll also recognize you. Although the situation has changed a bit, that promise is still on foot. … Show me that you're not just a boy with a big mouth』

It wasn't in the form inserted by Roxanne, Or something that he had to say against his will, He promised so with his own words and of his own volition.

"To recognize Kurogane Ayato as a representative of Vermillion''. The challenge of Kurogane Ayato revolves around Stella. He was going to accept it as a man.

『Yes…! Definitely!』

――He was certainly going to accomplish it. Ayato strengthened his determination again while he recalled the promise he made at the Imperial Palace several hours ago with his eyes closed on the helicopter. He couldn't show a pathetic side to the father who accepted his challenge that would probably steal the irreplaceable existence of his Stella.*

*TN: "Stella" is the furigana reading for "daughter".

With his mind sharpened, he settled down his feelings. And with the pulsation of the blood flowing in his body, he raised his eyelids with an extremely high concentration he could even feel a single downy hair being swayed by the wind,

– They came. Ayato saw them. The tall buildings were destroyed by the army with the great visibility of his view.

At the end of that, a black tsunami approached, crossing over the gentle hill. Ayato asked Miriallia Lazy, the girl who had a knee on the floor and who was checking her sniper. – Miriallia-san.

Are you ready? Miriallia showed an unconcealed, displeased look on her face to such words,

– Just call me Miri. Miri-chan dislikes formalities.

– … Miri. Are you ready?

– Lock n' loaded. Miriallia replied, her weapon was ready, loaded with paint bullets. Ayato then switched to the walkie-talkie and asked Signard.

– Enemy forces in the northern hill have been confirmed! How are things on your side, Signard-san!?

『All members were assigned to their designated positions! Start whenever you feel like it!』

Together with that reply, the soldiers raised a war cry that resembled a gust of wind from the ground. Ayato, who felt with all his body that the morale of the troops certainly hit the heavens, thought.

… This is a good country.

(It doesn't matter whether it's Stella's hometown or not anymore)

As a knight ―― what would make the people in this place sad? And then, he told his feelings towards everyone who gathered on the battlefield.

– Let's go! Operation start…!

The 50,000 men of the Kledelland Army controlled by《 Marionette King》Or=Gaule pierced Vermillion in a column formation like an arrow and went straight towards the heart of Vermillion, the Imperial Capital Flareberg, without stopping.

The Vermillion Army, who faced them, used nothing but their whole military force, the 30,000 soldiers they had and could be mobilized, and spread a line of defense in Caldia, which was the halfway point between them and their military advance. Caldia, which once prospered as a trade route connecting both countries, had three main roads that connected both countries: one to the east, another to the west and lastly to the north in its beautiful townscape that resembled Kledelland. Vermillion divided its military strength in three and blocked all of them.

They were prepared to engage the Army of Kledelland. And when the clock exactly marked 5pm, the two forces clashed at last. Firing sounds that sounded like squalls reverberated under the cloudy weather. Signard ordered the whole army in the midst of those noises.

– Don't try too hard! All that you have to do is to slow down the actions of the guys of Kledelland until the knights have found the hubs! If it gets too dangerous, pull back!

「「「Yes ma'am!」」」

There was an absolute equipment difference between both parties. The controlled Army of Kledelland used live ammunition, their tanks included, they had no hesitation in killing their opponents.

On the other hand, the equipment of the Army of Vermillion, which aimed to save them from the control of《 Marionette King》, was an equipment used for mob suppression loaded with rubber bullets.

If it was compared to the equipment of Kledelland, it was just like a toy.

If they exchanged shots directly, it would be impossible to call that a match.

However, the side that had been taking advantage of the battle since the clash was the Army of Vermillion.

– The legs! Aim for the legs! They won't stop moving if you hit their heads, but if you break their legs, their advance will slow down!

– Don't forget to cover! This is not your usual practice! There was something called the『Three-to-one law』in war. This advocated that in order to attack and defeat the enemy, the ratio of the military force must be at least 3 to 1.

Paradoxically speaking, it also meant that a soldier on the defensive could do the part of three soldiers on the offensive.

30,000 soldiers from Vermillion against 50,000 soldiers from Kledelland.

In a simple number comparison, Vermillion had the disadvantage, but if the law previously mentioned was taken into account, the military force of Vermillion that was on the defensive would considerably skyrocket to 90,000.

Moreover, Vermillion had grasped enough cover points and had finished the advance arrangements of effective crossfire points before Kledelland arrived. It was impossible to smash with a charge of 50,000 soldiers the 30,000 soldiers who had prepared all this. The invasion of the Army of Kledelland was being stopped in Caldia.

However, that superiority wasn't going to last long. If the gun battle had a decent distance between the armies, they could have an evenly matched fight against live ammunition as long as they took cover consistently. But if the battle was dragged on and the distance between both armies narrowed, the difference in equipment would actually come into sight. Because the Army of Kledelland would take out the weapons with the power to blow away the walls and shields used for cover.

– H-hey, a soldier over there is preparing…!

– This is bad! It's a rocket!

– Evacuate, everyone eeeeeeeeee! It happened on one of the three roads, on the east main road. A grenadier that had been hiding behind a soldier with an assault rifle until now pulled the trigger of a Kledelland Army weapon aiming at them when the distance of both armies was shortened. RPG-7 Concrete walls and even the armor of a tank were helpless in front of the exploding grenade.

The soldiers of Vermillion fell back in a hurry, but human legs are too slow compared to the speed of a grenade with a propulsion device. The evacuation wasn't done in time, the soldiers shut their eyes and resigned themselves to death, and immediately after, the grenade blasted the soldiers, the concrete wall and everything. It emitted a burst of flames and a roaring sound similar to a crash of thunder. But,

– W-what? The flames didn't reach the soldiers who were prepared for death. How? They opened their eyes and,

– Ah, you're…! – ―――――― In front of the concrete wall they used as a cover point. There was the figure of a black armor that stood hauntingly as if protecting them while being enveloped by the black smoke.

Yes. 《Black Knight》Ascaride dressed in her resilient Device《 Orichalcos》received the grenade with her body and protected the soldiers. – Are you okay? Ascaride, who looked back, asked in a calm tone of voice.

– Y-yeah, we're fine, but, i-is knight-sama alright?

– You were hit directly, no?

-… Not really. Ascaride returned something along the lines of "not at all" to the worried soldiers. In fact, Ascaride hadn't even suffered minor damage from the direct hit of the grenade.

While it was true that Blazers had a strong resistance to physical impacts, the direct hit of a grenade had chances of being fatal, but Ascaride had her body clad in《Orichalcos》 that boasted the hardest defensive power among the current existing and known Devices.

If it was an impact that wasn't accompanied by magic power, this product was able to endure even the direct hit of an anti-ship missile. Therefore, the soldiers of Kledelland emptied their magazines on Ascaride who didn't waver even a bit with the grenade she was struck by, but that wasn't a threat for her either.

She slowly moved forward while being struck by the storm of bullets sprayed at her whole body. She stood alone in the middle of the enemy lines and surveyed her surroundings.

And then,

– I found it. She muttered and manifested a huge battleaxe in her right hand. She started running, aiming at a soldier who fired his machine gun indiscriminately towards her. She shortened the distance in the twinkling of an eye as she repelled each and every flying bullet and brandished the battleaxe.

The soldier flipped up the machine gun he had in his hands, but he was immediately pinned down by her. And then, with a movement similar to a flow, she turned his hands to his back and handcuffed him. Immediately after.

The soldiers around them stopped moving abruptly and crumbled down right where they were like dolls with broken threads.

Yes. The person that Ascaride restrained now was a hub that controlled the soldiers around him, and as a result of the limited movement of the hub, the farthest soldiers were unable to have an adequate balance movement and they fell into malfunction.

The surrounding soldiers of Vermillion applauded Ascaride who had found a hub splendidly and rendered the soldiers around her powerless.

– A-amazing! You didn't even flinch from all that concentrated fire, it's like you're not a human like us!

– The fourth rank in the world is so reliable! We'll be counting on you! Ascaride returned nothing but a nod in silence to this ovation,

– … You really seem to distinguish them from the sky. She looked up to the sky and spilled her admiration. Ahead of her line of sight was the figure of a helicopter flying over the battlefield.

Above Caldia.

There was a helicopter that flew at a low altitude of about 30 meters as if gliding. A medium-sized helicopter for goods transportation had Kurogane Ayato and Miriallia Lazy on board.

– Miri. The next target is the company going south on 45th Street. Do you see them? Ayato took his body out from the opened door of the helicopter and pointed at a part of the battlefield.

– There's a soldier running behind everyone and who has an antenna extending from the rucksack, right? Shoot him.

Ayato had a high-angle view of Kledelland Army with which he distinguished the locations of the hubs. He gave a command to Miriallia who was next to him with a knee on the floor, that is, in a shooting posture.

– Roger. I'm on it〜. In response to this firing instruction of Ayato,

– Aand, here it goes! Miriallia fired the paint bullet at the designated target with the rifle. Miriallia's outstanding space grasping ability to control very distant bullets from her in 3D allowed her to easily hit the target without worrying about the unstable foothold on the helicopter.

And with the paint as a sign of that,

『Alright, that's the guy! The next unfortunate fool has been found!』

『Imperial Guard, to the front! Everyone, chaaaarge!』

『Go go go! Push forward! Go go go! Push forward!』

The Royal Imperial Guard of Vermillion went straight ahead while carrying bulletproof shields. And when they broke through the front of the Army of Kledelland forcibly,

『Capture him immediately yy! Wrap him up gently!』

『With one of the Imperial Guard Style Enforcement Laws: Oilhell man in a mountain of men!』*

*TN: The kanji for the mess written above after the ":" is "漢特盛 り油地獄" which doesn't have any reference in Japanese other than a crappy Japanese movie using "Oil-Hell" which I just pasted here.

『『『Heave-ho!』』』

They stripped their happi coats off and threw themselves upon the soldier of Kledelland that was the hub and completely sealed his movement by lying on top of one another like a mountain. If the hub was squashed by a mountain of muscles, and that made him unable to move even a finger, then the surrounding soldiers would collapse as well.

『A purging law that punishes fools who have created lovers on their own and have disturbed harmony in our group! Helping you in this way is the best there is!』

『Have you realized, you criminal!? This is the strength of Vermillion!』

– Hey, Ayato. May I also shoot the disgrace of the country while I'm at it? Miriallia asked Ikki as she turned the muzzle from far away in the air to the members of the Imperial Guard who declared impressively and who succeeded in neutralizing the hub. Ayato returned a wry smile to her,

– Maybe later.

And replied.

(It's fine if it's later)

Miriallia was a bit surprised by the poisonous return of the gentle Ayato to everyone.

Did those guys do anything to anger him? She wondered.

Well, if that's the case, then I'll shoot a few bullets at them after we've finished. … Be that as it may, (Isn't this going exceedingly well?) The battlefield below. Miriallia, who overlooked the soldiers of Kledelland who fell face down, caught her breath.

Kurogane Ayato had found around 20 hubs since the battle started; they had succeeded in neutralizing all of them due to the cooperation with the Army of Vermillion.

As he had suggested to Sirius, he had almost flawlessly carried out his role as the eyes of the Vermillion Army. Miriallia, who was sitting next to such amazingness, actually felt that more than anyone else.

Because, even though they both were looking at the same scenery, Miriallia didn't have the ability to distinguish who was a soldier and who was a hub at all. ――Honestly speaking, she even felt that her pride as a sniper was hurt. So,

– Hey, umm, how does Ayato grasp the location of the hubs just by looking at them from above? You shouldn't see more than their heads from this place, right? Miriallia asked about his method of discrimination. Ikki answered.

– That's enough for me. Or more precisely, in this case, there's no need to observe closely.

– But that still sounds ambiguous to me? Ayato supplemented Miriallia who inclined her head to the side.

– The precision the ill-natured 《marionettes》of《Marionette King》 have is considerably high. Johan-san, the people of the town of Kledelland and I had a meal together, but I never realized they were being controlled. I'm pretty sure that《 Marionette King》can seize the original personality of a person and their memories through his magic threads.

… It's not something that one can find out by looking at their faces, for example. But then again, detailed information is unnecessary. It's better to look at the whole picture with a wide view even if it's from a distance. The battlefield is something like a lake surface on a rainy day.

By having a commander as the starting point, the ripples of『motion』spread throughout the battlefield.

In this case, the reason is even easier to understand because they aren't being commanded with voice, but actually their movement is transmitted through threads. And there's always a hub at the starting point of those ripples.

– … Oh, I see. A lake surface, huh? Interesting, interesting.

(I don't get at all what he's talking about!)

Miriallia was convinced that the words of Ayato were said with an unwavering self-confidence. In the first place, what they saw was completely different. Even when she was told it looked like a lake surface, the enemy soldiers below her were chattering and moving erratically, so finding where those starting points were was impossible.

The number of information perceived was poles apart. As expected of someone who wasn't acknowledged by Stella for nothing. Reliable to the best of his abilities. In that case, she wasn't going to hold him back from achieving this operation. To Miriallia, who set her weapon again,

– But the only thing I can do is to find them. I don't have the skill to mark the targets accurately with a long-range sniper. ――Thank you, Miri. Thanks to you, I can fight for this country. – 〜〜〜〜…!

Ayato thanked her from the bottom of his heart. Miriallia felt oppression as if her chest tightened with such a tender smile of his, – D-don't get me wrong, I'm not doing this for Ayato. Miri-chan is a knight of Vermillion after all, no? I mean, it's natural to help, right? She looked away as she dodged the matter with an embarrassed and sulking tone of voice. Was it because he had no malice or selfishness? Even though it didn't mean he had a baby face, Ayato's smiling face was innocent like the one of a child somehow, it went through her heart in an instant.

(So this is the reason Stella-chan was attracted to him. This spontaneity of his did so)

She had to be careful to not take that seriously unless she dealt with it. She didn't want to imagine how terrible it would be to become Stella's rival in love.

She decided it wasn't worth it, even if it took her a lifetime. – Well… the next target is a bit troublesome. Then Ayato complained suddenly next to Miriallia who put her respiration in order and calmed her beating.

– Where is he?

– There's a tank going south on the central road, right? There's a soldier sticking his face out from its hatch. Miriallia, who put her respiration in order, asked where the target was and Ayato pointed to a tank that rudely ran on the streets as it mowed down the roadside trees. An opponent is way too dangerous to approach directly.

– First is stopping its movement by any means possible. However, Miriallia shot a paint bullet to the hatch of the tank faster than Ayato could think things through.

And then,

– That's not a problem.

Because Til-chan――is in that area.

『ORA ORA, move, move away! Leave this guy to me!』

At that moment, when the shout was clearly heard even on the helicopter flying in the sky, a girl rushed out from the lines of battle of the Vermillion Army. A healthy tanned light brown skin. A short hair that gave a lively impression. Evidently, she was the original partner of Miriallia, the one she had mentioned just now. She was Tilmitt Gracie. Tilmitt ran in a straight line towards the tank marked by Miriallia. But this was way too reckless. Not surprisingly, the tank reacted immediately to this. It rotated the gun turret and turned the gun port towards the approaching

Tilmitt―― Immediately after, the 88mm cannon sent forth a shell together with a heavy roaring sound. The super heavy blow that exceeded the speed of sound had the power to turn a human into a lump of meat effortlessly just with its wind pressure.

Blazers and non-Blazers were no different before such power. But before such overwhelming and destructive power, Tilmitt laughed boldly,

– 《Stone Dive》!

And plunged into the ground without hesitation. As if she jumped into the water. Generally, if one were to do so, one would just smash one's face on the asphalt.

But――Tilmitt was a knight endowed with the unusual power to go into materials. A splashing sound was made, and the whole body of Tilmitt was absorbed by the road that turned into something like water for an instant, and, at the same time the shell arrived.

It blasted the road and everything in the atmosphere; dust rolled up. However, when the dust cleared up, there was no trace of a human being swallowed up in the site of destruction.

Tilmitt had escaped from the shelling. The puppet-soldier was cautious of a surprise attack, so he pulled his head back inside the tank and closed the hatch. But that was a meaningless move.

It didn't matter if it was a road or a tank, ――The unusual power of Tilmitt could slip into every place! Right after that, the body of the tank shook vertically. And then, the hatch burst open from inside,

– I told you, didn't I――――!?

Tilmitt, who grabbed the nape of the neck of the soldier who was arrested from inside the tank, came into sight. Together with that, the surrounding Kledelland soldiers fell into malfunction and fell flat one after another.

The soldiers of Vermillion praised this sight wholeheartedly.

– Oh yeaaaaaah! You did it, didn't you, Tilmitt!

– Well, that would usually cause nothing but problems, but why don't we get ourselves to help our companions together in this time of crisis?

– Absolutely, leave it to me! Miri! Tell me the location of the targets quickly! It doesn't matter where they are, I'll drag them out!

The efforts of Ayato, Miriallia and Tilmitt were transmitted to Stella who was in charge of the western main road throughout the whole transmission. She wasn't surprised by the courage or the high level of Ayato's ability,

– Those two sure have guts. Tilmitt and Miriallia. Both were assigned as first reservists in the army from this year when they obtained the qualifications of student-knights.

That obviously didn't translate to having combat experience or having done lots of practices. Regardless of that, the efforts of the two were something to be amazed by.

As expected of the two who became friends with her when she couldn't say "don't get close to me so easily".

Their intrepidity wasn't half-hearted. ――She neither couldn't nor wasn't going to lose.

– Well then, Stella-sama. I'm in charge of this, so Stella-sama may head to where Ikki-kun is.

– No. I'll stay here. Wouldn't it be terrible to leave old man Dan alone!? Stella returned a negative to Dandelion's proposal. Those words seemed to have a bit of irritation in them.

The last strategy meeting. 《Black Knight》didn't nominate Stella as a person who could identify the hubs of Or=Gaule.

She understood the reason.

It was a career.

*TN: "Career" is the furigana reading for "experience".

Dandelion was a strong man with a long military service. His level of insight was backed up by his career. The same went for Ascaride. The fourth strongest person in the world was, above all, a relative of Or=Gaule. She probably knew some sort of trick to distinguish them or something. And Ayato and his monstrosity of insight and Senses.

The number of years he had lived was just one more than hers,and he defeated her with his Superior strength because he always sharpened his concentration and his magic to the limit and read all the information in the battle without fail; those methods were always used.

The density of each battle was in a different league than hers. Her experience was greatly inferior to theirs.

However, – I don't want them to look down on《Crimson Princess》…! Stella thought. Certainly, my experience is shorter than theirs. But this wit dwelling in me shouldn't lose to any of the three. If I can't find them out with my insight due to experience, then I'll use another method.

(If I know what the scheme of my opponent is, then there must be something I can do)

Immediately after that, the Army of Kledelland going straight ahead on the road started firing. But Stella stood in front of the barrage without escaping,

– 《Empress Dress》.

Incandescence was emitted from her whole body, she sent back the ashes and all before the bullets of lead touched her body.

But Stella's aim wasn't just to protect herself from the shooting. There was another aim for this《Empress Dress》.

Stella increased the heating power of the flames she was clad in and scattered the phosphorescence of the flames on the west main road that had become the battlefield.

And with that phosphorescence that exceeded tens of thousands and that spread throughout her own mind, she shared her sensation.

*TN: Sensation as in detection of external or internal stimulation. She expanded her sense of touch to a wide range. Normal Blazers couldn't go as far as handle this precisely. However, seriousness was forgotten in the shadow of the back of the overwhelming power, but that didn't mean Stella had an average magic control power.

She possessed something that even drew near《Lorelei》who had such an astounding magic control power that disintegrated and regenerated her own body, even her cells. This level of synthesis power was the strength of《Crimson Princess》.

A meaningless difference in experience was nothing for her. Either way, substitution was effective. Stella literally『grasped』the battlefield with the scattering of this phosphorescence. She grasped where the soldiers were, who moved and of course, the position of the semi-spiritual magic threads. Just like the eyes of a dragon surveying the tiny ground from the skies, Stella perfectly understood everything――

– Over there! She immediately ran towards a soldier who was the focusing point of the threads and mowed him down. After she limited his movement with handcuffs, all the surrounding soldiers of Kledelland fell flat on the ground. This was the proof that the soldier restrained by Stella was the hub controlling the ones around him,

– See? I can do this as well, can't I? Stella threw out her chest towards Dandelion who was also her master of the sword. Dandelion bent his glad-looking, wrinkled face to the growth of this girl.

– The old Stella-sama had the small tendency of underestimating the worth of her talent, but… she went to Japan and became so strong that one could mistake her for someone else. – Obviously. Because I came across the most worthy opponent in Japan! Ayato never underestimate himself, no matter how much he was about to be abandoned by his talent.

He always fought believing that he could do it, even if he had a terrible hand.

*TN: Hand as in one's hand when playing cards. It was preposterous to win against such opponents if he had doubts about his own strength.

– All right, now I'm going to settle this rapidly! Stella let her mood go even higher with Dandalion's praise and headed to the next target. She had already found two more hubs with the scattered phosphorescence.

… The efforts of Stella and the tempestuous, steady advance of Vermillion army centered on Ayato made the hubs of Or=Gaule fell into an incapacitated state one after another. Once an hour had passed since the start of the battle, a third of the Army of Kledelland was released from the control of the threads.

And all of these remarkable results were reported to the Vermillion Imperial Palace in real time. Astraea was pleased, clapping her hands in front of the video sent from the battlefield.

– Amazing, amazing! They have extricated almost a half in the blink of an eye! This is thanks to Ayato-san who's telling everyone exactly where the hubs are, isn't it? Isn't that right, papa? The facial expression of Sirius, who was gazed by Astraea,

– … huh! As if! Had nothing but disappointment on it.

– Ufufu. Papa isn't being honest, is he? But without even denying so, the attitude of Sirius had become considerably positive.

He was also a warrior. It looked like he wasn't going to be able to tamper with this boy who continued showing his reliable strength and who wasn't just a big mouth forever. This was a very good sign.

– It would be great if everything is settled smoothly in this way―― Astraea wished from the bottom of her heart.

And destiny laughed, At such wish of Astraea.

– How so? I wonder about that? Because, you see. Calamity is, even though I come showering these questions on you, something called ordinary. Don't you agree?

「「「――――――!」」」

The unfamiliar voice of a woman suddenly echoed in one of the rooms of the Imperial Palace where Astraea and the others were gathered. Sirius, Astraea and the guard soldiers turned around,

――A person, a tall woman, stood there. Wet-looking black hair. A black dress with a number of slits resembling petals. In something that looked like jet-black flowers hanging down――

– First of all, I apologize for this sudden rude visit, King of Vermillion and Queen-sama. I am… oh, excuse me, since this is a mission, I must not give you my name. Yes, that will do. Please call me "Ain".

The jet-black flowers showed a sinister smile which fully raised the lips of her beautiful face and presented to Sirius and the others a bouquet of white lilies she was hiding in her hands behind her back. And――she told them.

– I came with these flowers in hand to offer them for everyone's funeral procession. A declaration of death.

(Few Days Later)

"What is going on ...?" Vermilion soldiers fought all this time against Cledland's army, controlled by Or-Gole's " threads'' .

The sudden change on the part of the enemy army puzzled them.

- What happened? Why did the Cledland soldiers stop ...?

Cledland's soldiers, abruptly stopping the attack, fell to the ground. Like dolls that snapped threads. And all at once at the same time.

Vermilion's troops were baffled by what happened. After all, doll hubs until this time were not all neutralized by them. But among the soldiers were those who roughly guessed what happened. - It…

They were the Black Knight Airis Askarid and the King of Swords of the Seven Stars of Ayato Kurozakuro. On the battlefield, they were one of the strongest knight magicians. They noticed the presence of the enemy in the sky far on the western main road.

"Or-Gole and ... Roxanne ... !? Meanwhile, Crimson Princess Stella Vermilion stared in disbelief at the unexpectedly arrived " guests

." - What do you mean?

"Vermilion, as a member of the League , formally accepted the declaration of the new Cledland government."

According to the military rules of the League , armies will not fight each other. Instead, both sides will choose five knight magicians, who will be representatives in the war . It is they who have to settle all disputes and contentions. According to the laws of the League , military intervention by other countries is prohibited.

The International League of Mages Knights does not have the right to invade the sovereign territories of the empires of Vermilion and Cledland. It was these words that were spoken by Roxanne, who unexpectedly arrived on the battlefield with the King of the Puppets. Discouraged, Stella completely did not understand what was happening.

Therefore, she asked: "Do you reject League intervention ?" What do you mean by that, Luna-ane? The obvious question in this situation. What's happening? Why is Lunaise with Or-Gole? All her questions and doubts. Decided to dispel the new king of Cledland, who all this time was riding a soaring battle gold horse. Johan Christoph von Colbrand. With a soft and friendly expression on his face, he spoke to Stella: "That's right, Stella." Cledland decided to nullify all the old pacts that had been adopted by the stupid old government and start the war against Vermilion. We will regain our former pride and return all the lands stolen from us earlier. But thanks to Lunaise, which King Sirius handed over to independently resolve issues related to the coming War , we were able to resolve all conflicts and misunderstandings between our empires. And we agreed on the resolution of our disputes with the help of the War , which obeys the military rules of the League . That is why the International League of Knights Mages does not have the right to intervene ... - Shut up ...!

- in an angry voice, Stella interrupted Johan's speech. And after her eyes full of rage, she glared at the ashen-haired boy, Or-Gole, who had been floating in the air next to Johan all this time. "... Stop voicing your stupid thoughts in Johan's voice!" Stella knew that the enemy had turned Johan into his personal puppet. All the words that came from the mouth of Johan belonged to Or-Gole. As a ventriloquist, he forced Johan to voice his thoughts, while silently himself. This act is unacceptable even for the enemy. Such things cannot be forgiven. However, in response to Stella's angry gaze, Or-Gole, like a child caught in mischief, stuck his tongue out. "Ahaha, you're still impulsive, Stella-chan." While the League's eyes are watching us, I want to keep this whole performance, "he said, casting a fleeting glance at Nene, who, without embarrassment, looked at them from the ground. This person seems to be serious. He really wants to prevent the League from intervening in this situation by any means . However, Stella refused to believe in his words. Obviously, his actions were just an excuse for something more. There is no reason to trust him. This is clearly the next intrigues of the enemy.

- …He is right. I really arrived in Cledland and took part in the negotiations. We managed to reduce the scale of the battles. We agreed to end the ongoing hostilities and end the history of our conflict with elected representatives who will take part in the war according to the military rules established by the League . Her sister confirmed the words of this devil. It's unclear.

- What for…? Why did you start all this when the League prepared for us assistance in the amount of a million knight magicians from all countries ...? Stella did not even try to hide her annoyance. She was deeply disappointed with her sister's act. However, Lunaise remained calm. With a steady voice, she answered Stella.

"One million knight magicians ... Yes, this help could help us ... But this huge number of soldiers need a lot of time before they all get together and come to us."

- ...! Stella instantly realized what she had not even tried to think about before.

"... Who will stop Cledland's army and these guys before this tremendous help arrives in Caldia?" What will happen to the troops of Vermilion if you arrange a serious battle with someone strong? I am not at all sure that we will be able to survive when our soldiers have such poor weapons.

- It… Stella's face instantly turned pale. She remembered how, with just one blow, Khabub dried up the earth's crust and destroyed part of the territory. Many of Cledland's soldiers, who were unlucky to be there at the moment, died from this attack. If a blazer with such power begins to rampage seriously, tragedy cannot be avoided.

This picture is easy to imagine in my head. "Pride is great, but we are not omnipotent." We cannot save everyone. Therefore, we should not accept the wrong priorities. We, the imperial family, therefore, must first of all take care of the lives of our people. If there is a war that we planned, then the inhabitants of our empire will have at least one week to leave the dangerous territory. Even if we lose and Vermilion is destroyed, their lives will be saved. - ...! "Even if Vermilion is destroyed" From these words, Stella felt a chill on her back. Her sister's voice felt firm determination.

I Agree to your Conditions to war tournament Or-Gaule Said.

To Be Continued.

…

So with all of that said, to the ones who actually care, read and review and no flames! Flames will be, and shall continue to be ignored!