Alice Tale in Phantasmagoria Chapter 150

Being embraced by Marisan, that warmth made it seem like tears would come out as my heart made a startled jump.
Is she injured, for example?
Or rather is she a ghost, for example?

「……」
「Ara? Ara ara ara?」

Marisan is tilting her head, as my hands wordlessly crawl up her body.
Ilya is firmly, merely standing by at my side with a serene face.
It may be an artful confirmation but, it kind of seems that they think I'm doing something strange again or such.
No I also wouldn't not think something of this but……since I was worried?

「There are hands, there are feet……even fingers.」

I tried confirming her fingers like I was interlacing with them but, Marisan is letting me do as I will with a smile.
Is she the holy mother?
I pushed my ear up against her breast and, tokun tokun, I heard the excessively rea.s.suring sound of her heart come.

「Not a ghost right?」
「Truly……It's truue……」

I ended up showing my tears without intending to.
With the war as it is, life has become cheaper than in times of peace.
Especially for the soldiers and officers standing on the front lines.
As such, the safety of precious people is a joy more irreplaceable than anything.

「I believe you but……somewhere in my heart, that you were dead……tsu」
「Alice-dono……truly is adorable. Pardon me.」

Marisan gave my head a yosh yosh.
This is bad, my tears won't stop if I'm treated kindly right now though!?

「I always end up putting you in painful positions, with my worthlessness do I not.」
「Something like worthlessness! If Marisan wasn't here, just how many sacrifices would have emerged in the princ.i.p.ality and kingdom……Please don't say, something like you're worthless!」

For all that I lacked power I held her firmly with all my force.

「There is nothing to be proud of, the result was that the princ.i.p.ality ended up being a battlefield, the burden on our people was severe. Furthermore, I do not intend to belittle you but, since people of youthful ages like Alice should not be sent out to war……」

As a commander and, as an adult, Marisan is carrying the responsibility for the results.
She's completely different than the arrogant people Kran was dealing with in the kingdom.
I suppose the cheap words of someone like me won't sway her from sorrow to joy.
Even so I want to say it.
Because if this person wasn't here, I might have lost my beloved people and country.

「But, fufu, I am grateful to you. As the representative of the people, I offer thanks for that kind nature.」
「ah……no, since I am……only, doing as I please.」

It's super embarra.s.sing, to be given thanks by a wonderful person like Marisan……

「Ufufu」

To hide my embarra.s.sment, I'm doing something incredible in wedging my face into Marisan's b.r.e.a.s.t.s though.
I try glancing up, at a warm laughing voice.
My eyes meet with those of the Marisan expressing the holy mother's smile.

「My prided imouto has ended up becoming two people has she not, really what shall I do?」
「……」

I, I wonder what she means.
I certainly am concerned about Kran's matters but, is it possible that this person knows something……?

「Ma, maa, eto, that is great! Marisan, what have you been doing up until now?」

I'm reluctant to part but, I separate from Marisan and sit properly.
I shake off the magic power of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

「I suppose then……It certainly was a narrow escape from death. We sealed the pa.s.sage to stop a large ma.s.s of enemies, invited them into the forest and, were fighting a disorganized battle to gather time but, we were greatly outnumbered, in the end I fell into a deep river flowing through the West Petra Great Forest.」

Marisan didn't discuss much of it but, as the enemy army got fed up with that overly incredibly strong Marisan they sent chimeras one after another on suicide attacks and pushed her back, I heard only that sort of situation from the surviving soldiers.

「And so, the story ended up becoming almost like a fairy tale after that but……」

After pausing for 1 tempo, Marisan makes a slightly troubled sort of face.
Unusual.

「When I woke after losing conscious, I was receiving treatment in a remote village.」

Village?
In that, great forest that's on the same sort of level as the Amazon?

「Was there a princ.i.p.ality village, in the West Petra Great Forest?」

Marisan, shakes her head to the side.

「There being a village in a place like that is not something that is among the sort of reports I have heard. And beyond that, that village might, not have been a place that invites those who feel like going.」
「?」
「The villagers called it, the interval between worlds. It might have been like the entrance to the fairy village.」
「Fairy village……?」

To think I would hear that name in this sort of place.
However given that, the commonwealth's aim is……

「Nn? But, Marisan returned from there by walking right?」
「That is……」

That endlessly troubled face of Marisan's is already most beautiful.

「I was planning to take my leave after conveying my thanks to the villagers but, I could not leave under my own power.」
「A barrier, or such?」

To be sure it seemed the elves's forest also had that sort of thing.

「I suppose that might be so. As a result, I borrowed a bed having been told please stay one more night and when I woke up……I was in the place where I fell into the river, in the deep forest within the West Petra Great Forest.」

Oi oi……isn't it a little awful to have such an end like being thrown out.
It's a story like being bewitched by a tanuki or fox.
……Nn, fox?
The face of the Kyuu that came to be entrusted to my mansion floated up.

「……But Marisan, for something like nearly half a year of recuperation to have been necessary, that must have been a rather awful injury right? It's good that you recovered.」

Ah, Marisan is making a troubled face again.

「……I'm also bewildered but, my injuries were not anything impressive. My stay in the village was a matter of only a few days. As such, I am surprised at this current situation.」
「A few days? But since the communications from Marisan were severed, half a year……has already pa.s.sed right?」

I look at Ilya for confirmation and, she nodded that there was no mistake.
Marisan's face is also clouded.

「Eei, it is a somewhat mysterious situation but, it does seem that way. In this time of war, I am always causing hards.h.i.+p.」

The composed Marisan is, trying to take in reality as reality.
It has in fact been half a year, you could say Marisan was safely thrown out of the great forest because I stole back the dominion of this area.
When I think if she had been thrown out into the enemy's domain, it makes me shudder……
……Fuumu, deep within the West Petra Great Forest is, a mysterious village.
The entrance to the fairy village.
The reason that the commonwealth is repeatedly attacking here.

「U～n. It does concern me but……right now dealing with the realistic issues comes first doesn't it.」

I suppose we're unanimous in that regard.
I strongly met my eyes with Marisan's and, nodded.

「Eei, let us show the commonwealth be pushed back.」

Holy knight Marianna・Houston.
A person that is this reliable has, now, come back here for us.
There is nothing more heartening than this.

「Of course, since I will also help. I request that you leave pointless debates be, Marioneesama.」

Marisan held her mouth and smiled, as I made a silly display.

◇■◇■◇

「Sally forth!」
「「「Yes, mam」」」

The unit sortied from the fort, on the command I issued from the galloping horse I'm riding with Ilya.
The high command has been returned to a peerless person so, there are absolutely no worries, not even the slightest thereof.
I will only do the things I want to do, as I want to do them.

「We'll start by searching for oneechan. Contact with Solt-san is?」
「There is none.」

I am of course worried about kurozuk.u.me's well being but, s.h.i.+on-san is the more pressing issue.
It's been a full day, since she was in a situation where I can't think she came out uninjured.
Thinking normally, her survival is based on navigating a narrow pa.s.sage.

「I heard that Solt-san sortied with all that recovery medicine. If perhaps he arrived at oneesama's side, there is hope.」
「I'll be troubled if that isn't so.」

He's a nimble man.
Speedily moving through the battlefield, if he went to lay low somewhere.
I quell the uproar in my chest with deep breaths.

「Ah」

A horn called out from the fort.
It's the signal to the deployed units.
Our allies fighting with the enemy main force element, hurriedly switch out.

「As expected of Marisama. Her tactics obviously but, there's a difference in the soldiers's morale isn't there. It seems that our soldiers are becoming yet stronger with the hope of the sort that we can win now that Marisama is here.」
「Truly, whether me or Kran we still aren't there yet are we.」
「Ojousama and Krancescsama, are people who are still developing.」

Whether politics or war, there's nothing but to have Kran keep developing from here on.
It isn't my domain.

「Furthermore, in the meaning of morale, ojousama is no different from Marisama.」
「U.」

That isn't something I don't know.
――Don't let Fairy of Silver Lightning-sama die.
――Protect her no matter what.
Such words come to enter my ears in every place.

「Somehow, it's like the type of morale is different with Marisan……」
「Fufu, that's because you're beloved, ojousama.」
「Please stop……」

Maa, in a certain sense it could also be said that I and Marisan have swelled the current morale in the fort to it's apex.

「――Incoming. a.s.sault unit vanguard to the front! Cut a path open for ojousama!!」

I focus my mind with Ilya's command.
They're coming then……
The captain for the a.s.sault unit's vanguard is Myan.
It's also the most dangerous role.

「Counterattack rear guard! Don't slacken your means of magic! Please support the a.s.sault unit's vanguard with your maximum fire power!」

My position while riding a horse with Ilya is the center of the rear.
Thus for my allies, the resolve to hunt.

「It will stand out if ojousama fires magic so, please refrain.」

Eeh～……

「……If there is a need, we'll go without holding back.」
「That is of course.」

Maa the enemies came flooding in toward me last time due to that.
To the contrary it could be said that it would bother the unit if I used magic.
I covered myself deep in my overcoat again.

「――ah」

Just after I thought to become small, I sensed a gaze.
An unpleasant gaze, that I remember from somewhere.

「Ojousama?」

Ilya worries at my appearance of having frozen up.
My blood boils.
My bodily condition is?
――Flawless.
Preparations are?
――Nothing has been left out.
True power is?
――At this point I have no intention of losing to anyone.

「……」

As Myan's group charges, I take my eyes off the intensifying land battle to look up to the sky.
There was a witch with red eyes floating, in that place.

「………………You've come then, right in front of me, is that so.」

A tumult forms, deep in my chest.

「What cowardly methods have you prepared this time, have you set a trap with your roundabout methods?」

I took my overcoat off and discarded it.
Such like the possibility of being found by the enemy, such things are fine irregardless from here on.

「Had Till, felt like killing you you would've been killed……Do you understand the meaning of that? Even so, if you've shown yourself on the battlefield again……」

――Hate!
I understand that this feeling, isn't necessary.
But it's impossible.
Because Till was too large to me.
I won't simply forgive the opponent who stole that from me.
Suppressing my fury is impossible.
At my gaze, Ilya also noticed her.

「Ilya, please continue the search for oneechan as such.」
「……Affirmative.」

Ilya didn't hold me back anymore.
I stand up on horseback.

「May you find fortune in battle.」

After nodding, I fill my body with magic power and jump.
I left the belt of hectic battle with a jump many times as refined as the one during the Austia battle some time ago.
The sharp winds of the upper sky, strike my cheek like a blade.
Glancing about, she's properly coming after me.
My body trembles.
Is this fear or excitement.
Probably, both.
I land, in a place slightly distant from the battlefield.
I turn around and, that girl also landed shortly afterwards.

「……」
「……」

The dragon boy she always has with her isn't here.
Brown skin with red eyes, and pure white hair.
That appearance like a death G.o.d is, like a witch that brings misfortune.

「The normally talkative you is, rather quiet aren't you――Libra.」
「……That's so isn't it, imouto disciple.」

At a glance, I can't see any ambition in Libra.
It's an impression like an empty sh.e.l.l.
While saying that, it's not something that matters.

「Saa, please come. I will give proof, of just how much of a hindrance I have become to you.」

I refine magic power.
It's bubbling up to me without limit.
I have any number of cards.

「Fu, ahaha. A valiant imouto disciple. No, it's that isn't it. I suppose the current me isn't a match for you.」
「……Ha? ……Ha?」

I was strangely irritated, at that lack of an intent to fight.
It's not a conversation at the level of a let down.
My hatred roils.

「What are you saying, aah, no, pardon me. Things like discussion don't matter at this point do they? Is it fine to begin already? You, I――――――want to kill.」

My killing intent unavoidably poured out and, Libra expressed a craven smile.

「Can we, not make a single negotiation?」
「It's impossible okay.」

I tried tilting my head as if to say, I totally don't understand the meaning of what you're saying.
It's fine so, hurry up and be killed.

「Aha, ahahaha! You're quite warped arren't you imouto disciple. What would o-baba think if she were here?」
「I'll think about it after I kill you.」

Saa let's do this, let's do it now, let's do it immediately.
Perhaps she sensed that there was no room for negotiations at all from my appearance, no perhaps she understood from the start, Libra expressed a rather ephemeral smile.

「Maa it's fine so, I'll let you borrow my chest imouto disciple.」
「Eei, good bye, ane disciple.」

Everything will come to an end, with this.

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Next time『Libra』