Alice Tale in Phantasmagoria Chapter 144

Summary up to the previous chapter

In order to reach a conclusion with Sacrament's army, Eclair tried to ride directly into the main camp so as to defeat their commander but……?

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Side: Noa

――It's bad.

Eclair-sama's plan for a surprise attack is already a failure.
While saying that it's, because the opponent came to attack before we could take action.
As such there's nothing left but to meet them on the plains, the battlefield is moving towards the worst attrition battle.
The land's favour is there for the opponent and, we're a force that came from across a vast distance at a forced march.
Our force's deployment was dulled by fatigue.
What's even worse is, Eclair-sama's bodily condition is even less favourable than the person in question believes.

「……」

Looking to my side, the face of that Eclair-sama who occasionally gives support to the front line with magic has turned pale.
Any more than this will endanger her life.
While a situation like this was also hypothesized, I feel anger toward my own inability having done nothing except give warning but, the time for that has pa.s.sed.
Now even if we discard our lives, if we consider how to safely return Eclair-sama to Alice-ojousama's side through any means necessary……

「Everyone! If we lose Eclair-sama here, we won't be able to face Alice-ojousama even in death!! Accept arrows while using that body as a s.h.i.+eld, become a wall against magic! Even if your limbs are lost bite the enemy's throat and stop their breath! Don't let even a single soldier near the headquarters! If at least Eclair-sama is safe, it's fine with that!」

I spread my voice above the members of the 2nd unit firming their guard by forming a circular formation.

『Affirmative!!』

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Side: Eclair-sama

――Not bad.

I thought that, while looking at the Noa giving reprimands to the maid-sans.
The general summary is, Eclair's role is to buy time.
The matter of occupying Sacrament is not an absolute condition.
It's enough, if we're able to prevent Sacrament's rear guard's military power from turning toward the kingdom.
Given that, this quagmire of a situation isn't ideal and it isn't the worst.
……If I look at the overall situation, it becomes that sort of thing.

「……There is the problem that the value of my own life wasn't included in the calculations though.」

If Alice changes the military situation in Wilmington while I'm dawdling here, I a.s.sume reinforcements will be sent out from the kingdom.
It's vexing but, I can't even imagine Alice losing.
Probably, even now, n.o.body has realized the current Alice's strength.
Having fought that child who succeeded the strongest from Witch of Ice and Snow, Eclair alone sensed that with her body.
It's an amusing tale but, I a.s.sume even the person in question doesn't understand her own true power that well.

「I wonder if it was destiny, for Alice to have met Witch of Ice and Snow.」

I was unintentionally pressing against my right eye.
I blew a laugh from my nose.
If it's convenient it's destiny, even if it's bad it's destiny.
If there's such a thing, even whether people live or die loses its meaning.

「――Fire, set! Go!」

Even a little support, for the allied soldiers fighting desperately.

「Please stop, Eclair-sama! Consider your own bodily condition first! If you act overly rashly too often――」
「Will you bind me and bring me to Alice's side? Seriously, you all really do love Alice don't you.」

Looking at them, the members of Alice's 2nd unit to include Noa are ragged.
Even so, I can grasp a heroic resolve deep within those pupils.

「You all as well, don't consider ridiculous things.」
「I was thinking that there's no reason for Eclair-sama to be here anymore, if your objective has become buying time.」
「If Eclair flees now, the entire battle line will collapse in moments you know? That isn't the sort of conversation about whether to provide support, it's a conversation about morale you see. What do think is the one single support of the heart for, the soldiers laying their lives down on the front line?」
「……」

Noa hung her head down, as if she'd bitten down on a bitter bug.

「It's that I think there's worth in laying a life down, on this battlefield. It's just that you see. A battlefield of the sort where the commander runs off, do you believe that exists?」
「Occasionally it's a soldier's duty to, become a discarded stone.」
「Who would be convinced, of such a cold duty.」

This discussion is over, I waved my hand going shoo shoo.

「――Because it was the 3rd unit, that couldn't do that and foolishly allowed their commander to die! We, want to be allowed to not be bestowed that same dishonor!」
「――――!」

Such a conversation, I didn't know until now at this moment.
Even though I conversed with Alice yesterday, she didn't say anything.
No one, nothing.
The 3rd unit's, captain was……

「……It doesn't feel real at all, she went on, that person……?」
「To say that she and the enemy general took eachother out, it was a heroic end……」

Despite your cowardice as someone like a sniper, what were you doing……

「Don't go out in front, you idiot dwarf……」

But, I understand her feelings.
You also had things you wanted to protect right?
Things you didn't want to be stolen in something like this sort of unreasonable war.

「……Fun, there's no way Eclair can let whatever it was that you managed to protect while laying your life down, become a waste then right.」
「Eclair-sama!」

「――There's no use in worrying!!」

I gave my rebuke with a voice loud enough to resound across the battlefield.

「Eclair・Sacrament is here! She won't fall until her end! She won't take one step back either! Warriors, please be at ease and wager your lives! I will carry all of your feelings for you!」

The voice of a war cry rose from the chaotic battlefield.
Frankly, I don't think there exists charisma like that of that scheming princess or Alice in me.
Even so, I want to bestow even a little meaning to the soldiers.
It's only that okay!

「Before searching for a pessimistic excuse, please give the effort to cut the way forward open, Noa!」

The surprised Noa with her long thin eyes opened just a little wide, hung her head.

「Affirmative. Please forgive, my numerous transgressions. Royal wife-sama.」
「Who is this royal wife.」

We laughed together a little and, turned back to the battlefield.
Perhaps it was my imagination, I now felt like my force had begun to push back.

「Master-sama, awesome……」
「That's right that's right.」

I stroked the head of the Retty that haphazardly came over.
I also stroked my stomach.
We, can't be dying in this sort of place okay.

「Sorry Retty, I want you to display courage to the troops in Eclair's stead.」

The current Eclair would become a hindrance if she fought on the front line.

「I understand! Is it okay, if I do dragon transformation?」
「There's no need to be excessive, because just you being there will become pressure on the opponent.」
「Un, simple!」

I wonder if that's true?
She's forcing a smile out from deep inside those eyes filled with hopes unsuited to the battlefield.

「There's no need to push yourself to kill the opponent, it's fine doing as much as giving our allies cover, can I request this?」
「Leave it to me!」

Retty's body s.h.i.+nes blue.
The magic power from her body disperses.
I feel like vomiting but, I don't show it on my face.
If a bluff is followed through on it's no different from the real thing.

「――――――tsutsu!!」

Enveloped in blue light, the Retty that transformed into a dragon's body raised a roar toward the battlefield.
Retty's dragon transformation is, of course conveyed to our allies.
Since without doing that, even our side will fall into chaos won't it.
It's uplifting to our forces but, it conveys unrest to the enemy force.
With this, it's fine if something comes of it but――

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Side: ???

The one commanding Sacrament's force was, the traitor called s.h.i.+gen.
s.h.i.+gen's wish for which he betrayed As.h.i.+taka kingdom was a simple thing.
He just felt he wanted to obtain the woman he loved.
That desire was just used by a witch.
The seven desires have been something like the devil's favourite dish, since ancient times.

「If that woman comes back to life, how about it――?」

The devil's whispers, caused s.h.i.+gen's heart to loosen as if they were a sweet nectar.
That woman with a composed face, as my possession――thinking that his heart jumped.
That became the power to act and, raise the flag of rebellion against his country.
Desiring a woman, he caused the Yamata no Orochi to awaken for the objective that started from just and only that.
As the result of that, what he was shown in the commonwealth by the witch was a person placed inside a large water tank――a being like that.
That certainly did resemble a woman――nay, it was identical.
If in that place――even a heart resided there.
s.h.i.+gen was dejected beyond his expectation, at the imitation that gave no reaction at all.
Wondering what it was that he had even betrayed his country for.
However, the witch whispered into his ear.

「If a being with the same flesh and blood is used, I wonder if even the heart would reside within.」

――Her daughter.

If he obtained her daughter.
The truth was, he had intended to retrieve her after releasing the Yamata no Orochi――If there hadn't been interference.
You wouldn't expect that, it was possible for a monstrosity that could defeat that monstrosity to appear.
That detestable, Fairy of Silver Lightning.
But surely there will be opportunities if he rides the chaos of war.
It became such that he cooperated with Sacrament's force to occupy the kingdom.
Being attached to a mission defending Sacrament, on that day――――――until losing his life.

「―――――?」

At that time gazing at the Wilmington, As.h.i.+taka allied force that had already held out for longer than expected.
The last moment of his life, came abruptly.
Things like regrets or terror, without the leisure even to hold those sorts of feelings.
With a blank look, he just stared at the black jewel the witch brought.
And so――――devoured by the expanding black jewel, s.h.i.+gen's life met its end.

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Side: Eclair

「Just what is, that!!?」

A black light is expanding up, from the enemy formation.
I sense the errieness of the devouring dark colored light, in the sound from my teeth calling out from outside my awareness.
There's no need for questions, I feel terror from the instinctual domain.

「That light of darkness……the enemy……Sacrament's soldiers are being swallowed into it!?」

No wrong, it's eating lives in the order of what's close at hand――it's only that.
There's a commotion behind me……!
A feeling that can't be expressed in words builds up deep within my chest.
Sacrament's soldiers are……dying……!

「――tsu!」

But I don't move.
At this point, something like I want to save the soldiers of Sacrament is insane.
At what point did, my position become so heavy……!
I became irritated with my self that's like it's immobilized within tight restraints, and trembled.

「To tremble on the battlefield, you've become quite the gentle person haven't you, Eclair.」
「……I don't have the leeway to go along with your jokes you know.」

I want to punch, Leoneil's carefree face……!
At some point he was standing next to me, while I was wandering about in circles.

「In terms of the situation, that light of darkness is "eating" the soldiers of my country isn't it.」
「……I suppose so, if you look at only the current situation, it's working to this side's advantage.」
「Un, just, is that the result of some sort of mistake?」
「……What do you mean?」

Leoneil put his arms together with a composed face.
It irritates me since he's acting kind of cool.

「One other reason that I joined this side for is, so as to save my home country from『something』. If so, that might be, one of those.」
「……By something, what? Something like a bomb? They're totally self destructing though.」
「I really can't feel it's something that simple.」

Just as Leoneil said, the situation is too simple in that case.

「Furthermore I can't ignore this situation, so I'm going.」
「Please wait, the commander is Eclair! Acting of your own discretion is not permitted.」
「Thus, I thought to try taking my imouto's heart into consideration though you see.」

It seemed like my head was going to be stroked so, I quickly threw him off.

「At this point.」
「If you have that vigor, it seems you'll be alright. It somehow seems that the commander was dragged into that over there so, they haven't established a command structure. I'll try directing the evacuation.」
「Even though you're also, a traitor right.」
「Isn't this not the situation to be saying such a thing right now?」

Leoneil expressed his smile as always and, was setting off toward the enemy formation.
I couldn't stop him.
Beside him, Leymia goes along as if it's natural.
And so――

「Then, perhaps we should also go.」
「Jin-san? Even though you all aren't related right.」
「I suppose I have a disposition that comes to want to stand against the absurdities before my eyes.」
「I totally can't see you like that though……」
「Fu, that's the negative influence of the Fairy of Silver Lightning.」
「Well I'll be……」

He has a flippant mouth but, his objective might be elsewhere.

「……Even if it's only one person, please save more soldiers for me.」
「Leave it to me.」

Jin-san follows after Leoneil with a nod.
This sort of sense of powerlessness where I can't work as much as I want, becomes such that it's like I'll be crushed.

「――Kukuku, stop it stop it.」
「Yo, youu!」
「That's something that shouldn't be approached if you value your life.」

The army's headquarters, a strange element suddenly appeared, inside that.
The reaction of the maids in the personal guard was fast.
Quickly surrounding the area, Noa stands in front of Eclair.

「……Imitation Alice, what is your business?」

Including Noa, a bewildered voice rises from the maids.
Alice had a child, it's an appearance similar enough for that to pa.s.s when stated, so that isn't unreasonable.

「Welll, I suppose I thought to teach something regarding that?」

As if jerking her chin, she points toward the black light.
Don't put on airs, she accused as such with her gaze.
Perhaps something was amusing, imitation Alice laughed.

「As for what that is? It's the ritual to revive the vessel of black dragon Diadora, the ancestor of every dragon you see.」
「Black dragon Diadora? That, fairy tale's……? The tale of the high elf and divine dragon's?」
「Divine dragon is it. Maa it's something like that. With souls gathered on the battlefield called the battlefield, it's finally close to manifestation.」

……What will be done by reviving such a being?
Can it be controlled?
By who?
……The commonwealth?
No……Libra?
But there's a dragon with Libra.
My question was, answered by the existence before my eyes with an unbeatable smile.

「It can't be……」
「Just, how long has it been……Now then, I must go now. To the proper place to suppress that.」

If that isn't done then a good for nothing crazed dragon will be born here, as such imitation Alice let out a sigh from which a deep time could be sensed, while seeming truly regretful.

「……You, what do you know?」
「Everything.」

I give the imitation Alice acting like a G.o.d, a sneer to the best of my ability.
As if imitation Alice was satisfied with something, fun, she made that laugh.

「If you have interest, it'd be best to bring an end to this pointless battle and come.」

Imitation Alice floats above the battlefield.

「Look to the dream of the beginning and, to the promised land.」

――This day, after imitation Alice left along with the light of darkness, Eclair's group's victory was determined.
The Sacrament invasion battle, took a form that no one expected and ended.
……While leaving numerous mysteries.

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Next time『Saintess』