Kuro no Hiera Glaphicos Volume 3 Chapter 5 Part1

Disclaimer: I do not guarantee a 100% accurate translation. Do kindly notify me if you see any mistake.

What’s Dreadful is—

The current king of Haiderota, Remi Christian Duevre, was a person of legitimate lineage among Haiderota’s legitimate lineage.

On the other hand, the leader of the “Rebel Army”, which had spread its influence centring on Yururogu in Haiderota’s northern part, was Euchemard Duevre. Although he was of illegitimate lineage, he was a person who had inherited the blood of the respectable royal family.

The biggest cause of Haiderota’s break-up turmoil prolonging this much was, in contrast to the successors of the legitimate lineage, who under normal circ.u.mstances were faultless, being entirely mediocre people only, people who were certainly allowed to be called “great men” appeared one after another in the successor of the illegitimate lineage and that family.

Maybe it was because various things happened that even though she should be tired, she couldn’t sleep very well that night.

However, due to that, she noticed the commotion immediately.

「…!」

Valeria, who had pushed the blanket aside and stood up on the bed, pointed at the candlesticks which were installed on the room’s wall in turn. “Shupii, Shupii”, tiny flame arrows ran and gradually expelled the darkness from within the dark room.

「Karin, Petra! Wake up!」

Calling out to them so, she jumped down from the bed. When she had changed her underwear in a big hurry and worn her usual ceremonial dress, Valeria rushed over to the window and pulled open the curtains.

「…What’s~the matter? It’s not morning yet, right…?」

Groping for her gla.s.ses that were placed at the bedside and then grabbing it, Petra complained in a seemingly sleepy voice. Karin, the other party, straightened up her back and got up, and then narrowed her eyes and seemed to be listening carefully.

「…The horses are neighing」

「It’s noisy outside. Something might have happened!」

Valeria pushed open the window and revealed her face.

The town, which had already fallen asleep when Valeria’s party got into their beds, was ruled by an unexpected commotion. The voices as if many people were shouting, the neighs of horses, and moreover the sounds of horses’ hooves could be heard from extremely nearby. In addition, a burnt-like smell was somehow permeating the night air that carried a little moisture.

「…A fire?」

「It looks like a fire has broken out from the rear stable」

When she was startled by a voice that flew here suddenly and looked to her left, similarly opening the window, Dimitar was leaning forwards. He had already finished changing his clothes. Or rather, since it was this alert boy, he might have been taking a nap in a war preparation state without even changing his clothes in case of an emergency.

「How are Karin-sama and Gla.s.ses?」

「They’re awake, but—」

「Finish changing your clothes. I’ll take Gacha Pink and go to your room」

Saying so one-sidedly, Dimitar then withdrew his face.

「…What does he mean? What happened?」

Karin asked Valeria who had closed the window and turned around.

「I don’t know yet…, but for now, it looks certain that a fire has occurred at the rear stable. Richternach-kyou said that he’ll arrive shortly」

「Eh—, I wish that he’d wait just a little」

When Valeria looked, Petra, who was dressed in her underwear, was looking into the mirror and fiddling with her hair. Valeria put her hand on her temple and sighed “ha~a”.

「…Will you put on your clothes before combing your hair?」

「I don’t mind in particular though~」

Looking at Valeria with a glance across the lens, Petra smiled meaningfully. Valeria put on a thin dress and her tabard and snorted slightly.

「If you’re saying that, even he isn’t interested in you, and he won’t care either, will he? He said that he likes older women」

「Are~? This is surprising; Valeria, you had that sort of conversation with him~?」

「……」

Intending to lightly sidestep it and yet was strangely hounded, Valeria became at a loss for words.

Then, there was the “domu domu” sound of a knock with weight and a little girl’s voice that could be called carefree.

「Valeria-sama—! Karin-sama—! Petra-sa~n—! Please open up!」

「You don’t have to confirm one-by-one」

The voice of an arrogant boy and a “gain” sound similar to striking metal was heard, and the door opened with a “gachari”.

「Iya~n, I haven’t finish changing my clothes yet~」

While fastening the b.u.t.tons of her blouse, Petra raised an unnaturally sweet scream. However, Dimitar just glanced at her and ignored her, and quietly closed the door after checking the corridor once.

Bettina, who had ran up to Valeria with a “ga.s.sha ga.s.sha”, stamped a little with a “dosu dosu” and spoke, looking excited somehow.

「It’s terrible! The fire at the back, it seems like an arson!」

「An arson?」

「…If you think about it, that is so, isn’t it? In this season, the stable originally isn’t a place that seems to use fire after all」

Karin calmly a.n.a.lysed.

「The soldiers on the lookout had noticed the outbreak of fire and taken the horses out from the stable for the time being, but it seems that they behaved violently and ran away. I think that it’s noisy because of that…, but if we a.s.sume it to be arson, it becomes a troublesome matter」

「……」

This tabard inn was a.s.sumed to be where special envoys of Haiderota or Amaddo would fundamentally sojourn. Setting fire to the establishment there meant that it might be valid to think that it was the deed of the people who held animosity towards Haiderota or Amaddo.

In addition, if he set fire at this timing, the possibility that this was an offence of someone who aimed for Valeria’s party also existed. The fact that Dimitar was placing one hand on the hilt of his favourite sword as he stood near the door indicated the tensed current situation.

「—」

Dimitar tightened his mouth and looked at the door. That face was a face that had sensed something. Valeria could hear the noisy footsteps of “dota dota” approaching as well.

「E, excuse me!」

Malena, who was wearing her military cap, came flying into the room in a hurry without even a knock. Letting sweat float on her forehead and busily breathing “fuu fuu”, she looked around the room’s interior.

「I-i, it, it looks like there’s no abnormality—f, for the Amaddo’s guests; t, that’s the most important thing! W, well then, I’ve to hurry, so—」

「Wait」

Grabbing the back collar of Malena who had turned on her heel with a “kurori” and tried to leave the room, Dimitar spoke.

「What on earth happened?」

「Ehh? No, that’s, um…」

「It’s evident that some emergency has occurred… for the sake of protecting both Her Eminences too, I believe that I’ve the right to hear what happened though?」

「Ah, that’s, I understand what you’re saying, but—」

「…I’d like to ask Diaghilev-geika or Sigibert-kakka directly. Where are the both of them staying at?」

「Awa… Dia, Diaghilev-geika is, um… s, searching for, His Excellency—」

The complexion of Malena, who was mentally overwhelmed by Dimitar, suddenly changed after explaining to that extent. It felt as if she had unintentionally made a slip of the tongue.

Valeria knitted her brows and asked Malena.

「By any chance… did something happen to His Excellency?」

「N, noo! There’s completely! N, no such thing no such thing! H-H, His Excellency is alive h-h-h-haii!」

At her panic state that was too terrible to look at, it was understood that something had happened to Sigibert as expected.

Dimitar shook Malena lightly while grabbing the nape of her neck, and then discarded his courteous tone and spoke in a low voice.

「What’s the matter with His Excellency? If you don’t speak honestly, I’ll make the matter of Haiderota making light of our country’s Dominas into an international problem, you know? I’ll have you take responsibility for it too」

「Ahhhh, l, like I said, D, Diaghilev-geika is, properly, searching for, H, His Excellency」

「Is His Excellency missing? And Diaghilev-geika is searching for him?」

「T, that’s right!」

「So, in the meantime, the state guests from Amaddo are left as they are without being informed anything? This is a big problem」

「Ehhhhh!? It’s a big problem even though I’ve spoken honestly!?」

「That might be so. After all, the leader of the Gale Chivalric Order (Furigana: Rorudor Rafuale), which is in charge of security, is missing, and the vice-leader left us alone and went to search for the leader. …If something happens to us in the meantime, it’ll be a break-up of diplomatic relations, and a war if things don’t go well, you know?」

「Hiiiiii!?」

「If an unforeseen situation happens to both Our Eminences, our country will have to deal with your country with a firm stance. Of course, since it means that the seals will be insufficient, the need to make an excuse to each nation of the alliance will arise, you know? —Saa, if you understand that, then say the truth quickly. For the sake of protecting yourselves as well, accurate information is necessary」

「Awawawa…」

Pressed for an answer by Dimitar, Malena’s chubby skin turned ghastly pale and she became frightened. It was natural that Malena who originally looked timid would wilt if she was pressed for a decision which might become such an international problem while the two people at the top position weren’t here.

And then, Dimitar had probably seen through that too, so he threatened her severely. Before long, Malena caused her throat to exaggeratedly sound a “gokuri” and started to explain the situation in a faltering tone.

「T, the truth is… His Excellency and Diaghilev-geika, before resting, had an arrangement to discuss about the plans for tomorrow and thereafter, but His Excellency didn’t come to the hall even though it was time for the appointment. Thereupon, just when Her Eminence who had felt suspicious was about to go towards His Excellency’s room, flames rose at the stable—」

「In the end, His Excellency is missing?」

「It, it seems to be like that… and because of that, Her Eminence ordered me to confirm your safety—」

「Before confirming our safety, you should say such an important matter without glossing over it」

Making usual drastic cuts of sound argument typical of this boy, Dimitar went out to the corridor.

「What shall we do, Richternach-kyou?」

「Go to His Excellency’s room. Diaghilev-geika should also be there anyway」

「Ah!? P, please wait just a minute! I’d like everyone to stand by in the room—」

Although Malena tried to restrain them desperately, there was n.o.body who would obey her. Following Dimitar, Valeria and Bettina, and moreover Karin and Petra, walked in the corridor at a quick pace in succession. If one were to add a reason that looked real in curiosity, huddling together and taking action with everyone was easier to protect themselves at the critical moment—was what one could probably say. One would think that perhaps this decision wasn’t wrong.

Sigibert’s room which was prepared on the first floor was a little smaller than the room that Valeria’s party was resting in, but if one considered that he stayed alone, it was quite s.p.a.cious. However, that gorgeous room was now devastated, a mere shadow of its former self; Clotilde Diaghilev who had snugly worn her uniform was standing stock still beside the window that was casually left open.

When Clotilde, who had known that Valeria’s party had came along, knitted her brows slightly, she bowed lightly and began to talk of her own accord.

「I’m sorry for the report being late. It’s a state of emergency, so—」

「It… certainly looks like a state of emergency」

Looking around the interior of the ruined room, Dimitar sighed.

「It… doesn’t seem to be a thief」

「Hai. For a deed of a thief, it’s too skilful」

It didn’t mean that one could just secretly open the window to enter Sigibert’s room to steal. He’d also need to traverse that vast garden without being discovered by the members on the lookout, and in the first place, Sigibert’s sword which seemed really expensive was left as it was in this room. There was no way that a thief would disregard such a thing.

「Is it a kidnapping?」

Even though Dimitar asked, Clotilde neither denied nor affirmed it. Maa, as long as one saw this situation, the impression it left of a kidnapping was very likely.

Even in such a tensed scene, Clotilde—in contrast to Malena who kept being nervous—didn’t destroy her resolute expression.

「…At any rate, we’ll put the effort into His Excellency’s search and rescue. I’d like the guests from Amaddo to remain here, please」

「I’m sorry… that, are you telling us to handle the firefighting at the stable and the confusion of the members there?」

When Karin indifferently asked a question in return, Clotilde exchanged glances with Malena and kept silent as if she was troubled.

「We’ll be troubled if either one of Your Eminences doesn’t stay」

Dimitar continued Karin’s words.

「The gentlemen of the Gale Chivalric Order most likely won’t move on our instructions. Not to mention, if they heard that His Excellency who is the heart of the group was kidnapped, isn’t it possible that the members who have strong patriotism will shake free from our control and start saying that they’ll go to the search for His Excellency?」

「…I think that such a thing won’t happen though」

Biting her lips, Clotilde shook her head.

「Puyol-geika, please remain here together with Arushanbor, consolidate the members and control the situation」

「Haa! U, understood!」

「Afterwards, upon making the vigilance strict and ensuring the guests’ safety, send out a search party for His Excellency with Arushanbor as the commanding officer」

「Understood! …H, however, Diaghilev-geika, what will you do…?」

「I’ll be going ahead」

The minute that she said so, Clotilde bowed to Valeria’s party and jumped out through the window with a speed similar to that of a wind.

「W, well then, I’ll return to my mission too!」

Saluting with a “bis.h.i.+!”, Malena then ran out to the corridor with a “dota dota” too. “After ensuring the guests’ safety”—even though she was told something like that, to have left Valeria’s party there, she was someone with quite a careless nature.

Inside the ruined room where a night wind which smelt burnt blew in, the Amaddo team of five people, it was unclear who had influenced the rest first, gradually and mutually started to exchange glances.

「…What shall we do?」

「What shall we do~?」

「Ano, I’m sleepy, so I think that it’s fine if we return to our rooms and sleep」

「…Before that, I think that it’s better to help with the extinguis.h.i.+ng of the fire though」

「A, ano sa」

Valeria looked at Dimitar fleetingly while caressing her lips.

「What… do you think we should do?」

「Are you asking me?」

Curving his mouth, Dimitar asked Valeria back as if it was unexpected.

「Maa… if I clear away my prejudice and a.s.sess it, then “is the best person who can make the decision which is beneficial to us in such a state of emergency not me or Karin, but you?”… is what I think though」

「…That’s a rare, decent conclusion」

Dimitar, who had grinned broadly, folded his arms and nodded exaggeratedly.

「If we consider your safety to be first, then it goes without saying that we should remain here and pa.s.s the night. Most likely, the thief’s aim from the beginning is the kidnapping of Sigibert-kakka. Therefore, even if we remain here, the possibility of the thief coming to attack again is low」

Setting his personality aside, Sigibert was the cousin of the current Haiderota’s king, and a royalty who also possessed the throne inheritance right; hence, it was perfectly thinkable for him to be a target of kidnapping. In particular, since this place was a provincial town that was distant from the capital, and the security system too, speaking of which one, was put together centring on Valeria’s party, this was probably the ideal chance for the kidnapper.

「…Is there also a pattern where you don’t consider our safety to be first?」

「Should I call it “Amaddo’s national interest”… ma, if our Crown Prince is present, he’d probably give an order like this」

「What’s that?」

「If His Highness had come, perhaps he’d tell us to rescue that His Excellency and then amply demand grat.i.tude. I individually think that that’s better too」

“However—”, Dimitar looked at Karin.

「If it’s only me and you, it’ll be all right even if I decide and make you follow me, but Rudbeck-geika is also here after all. Discuss by both Your Eminences and decide. —You’re fine with that, right, Gla.s.ses?」

「That “Gla.s.ses” way of calling me may not be nice~」

「Then I’ll attach a “chan”」

「A, ano~ …Dimi-san?」

「I don’t intend to listen to your opinion from the beginning. Do shut yourself away in the toilet」

「N, no way!」

「Be quiet. Even if you shake your body with a “furu furu”, it doesn’t look cute. Or rather, the metallic sound is nothing but jarring on the ears」

Kicking Bettina’s body lightly with his boots that had increased its strength due to metal plates, Dimitar gazed at Valeria and party as if hurrying for a decision.

「W, what shall we do, Karin? What shall we do?」

「Even if I’m told “what shall we do”… I’m sorry, try to think about it calmly, Valeria」

Karin pointed at Petra and then explained clearly in an easy-to-understand manner.

「In the current situation, it’s impossible to prepare a carriage, isn’t it? Therefore, in order to pursue the criminal who had kidnapped His Excellency, we’ve no choice but to leave Petra who can’t ride a horse here」

「Ah, I see」

Valeria and Karin, even if there were no horses, could move at a considerate speed if they used their magic, and Bettina could also follow them. But nevertheless, it felt pitiful to leave only Petra here.

「Dimitar, what’s the best thing to do in order to move the fastest in the current situation?」

When Valeria asked so, Dimitar put his hand on his slender chin and nodded after opening his eyes wide as if he was slightly surprised.

「That’s right… ma, there’s the pattern of me running and pursuing by myself. If it becomes a very long distance pursuit drama, a horse is indispensable no matter what though」

「It’s unacceptable that it’s you alone! Since we’ll be braving dangers and demanding grat.i.tude, it’s no good if we don’t properly make it into an “Amaddo’s Dominas surpa.s.s Haiderota’s Dominas” that sort of composition!」

「…Did you eat something bad?」

「Hai?」

「Iya… the you of tonight is saying nothing but relatively decent things」

「If that’s the case, you can just praise me honestly, right!」

Although she angrily folded her arms, she didn’t feel bad somehow.

「Well then, Dimitar and I, and the other is Bettina…」

「Iya, it’s better to leave Gacha Pink behind」

「Eh~? Why? I won’t say that I’m sleepy anymore!」

「Since we don’t know how much distance the pursuit drama will become or how much time it’ll take, the possibility of the cartridge becoming empty on the way can also exist. If you become unable to move, there won’t be a pursuit or anything. Besides, this person will immediately say indecent topics and hold us back」

「It’s not an indecent topic! I really want to urinate only!」

「Anyway, we can’t take such a you along with us and carry out a long distance pursuit drama. You’ll be the house-sitter」

Dimitar then looked at Karin, seemingly wanting to say that he wanted to hear her opinion.

「…If Valeria is fine with it, I also don’t mind though」

「Then it’s decided. Karin and Petra will a.s.sist with extinguis.h.i.+ng the fire and… the medical treatment if there are wounded people. It feels uneasy if it’s just that plump-chan somehow」

「Understood」

「And then, Bettina— eto」

「Why did you hesitate to speak there!?」

「Iya, after all… is there physical labour, I wonder?」

「You can let Gacha Pink retrieve the horses that had escaped into the entire town. —You’ve also become familiar with the treatment of horses in your own way already, I think」

When Dimitar interrupted the conversation from the side, Bettina clapped her hands and shouted with exultation.

「Hai, I understand! If so, I’ll do my best too~!」

「Then, I’ll leave the rest to you」

Dimitar stepped over the window frame and went out to the garden.

Amidst the darkness, members who carried torches were coming and going, appearing busy. Everyone was becoming restless to the extent that it was slightly doubtful whether the division of roles into “people who would extinguish the fire” and “people who would stand guard” was properly done. However, Valeria and party weren’t question by anyone even though they came out to the garden because of that.

「…So, what should we do specifically—」

Just when Valeria started to say so, her body was pulled by a strong force.

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