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"Skill elements" Chapter 36: His Majesty and Eldor
🕑 Added 2023-06-07 07:12:18 +0000 UTC◇ [Arthur's Perspective] ◇
...Was that Takuma?
So, the other person dressed similarly was Mio, right?
I missed the demons too, but it can't be helped because the attack was deflected.
"Onii-sama, it looked like that person riding on the dragon's back was Takuma-sama...?"
"I think it was Takuma. Mio was there too."
"Huh! Did you attack even though you were aware?"
"No, I realized it after being blocked. I don't like to think about my opponent too much during battle. Especially when I'm doing a job I don't like..."
"I'm sorry. Considering the weight of Onii-sama's responsibility as a 『Sword Saint』, it was a very shallow remark."
Mary was right. Even if I noticed it was Takuma, I'm in a position where I have to attack.
I am the king's sword.
Originally, a sword has no will... it must not have a will.
However, there are still things I don't want to cut.
Mary knows that. That's why she apologized to me.
"Don't worry about it. It's a path I chose myself. On the contrary, I feel sorry for getting you involved."
"Please don't worry about that. I'm happy to be of help to you Onii-sama. And also, as a profession..."
In the middle of speaking, Mary her expression suddenly changed to a surprised look.
"Oh, right. There was an important matter. His Majesty is summoning you."
"I have a bad feeling about it. It's not His Majesty who called me, but that vixen, right?"
"Even for this matter with the demon clan, it's that vixen's scheme... Can I not go?"
"No, way. You'll be killed. I'll go with you."
I understand how you feel, but we don't know what might happen.
Even if it's in front of His Majesty.
"Hehehe, just kidding. If we keep her waiting too long, Lady Vixen will get angry. Let's go soon."
I wasn’t thrilled about it, but we headed to the royal palace.
◇
— Melkid Castle
"Arthur.you've worked hard."
“Your Majesty, I let some of the demon clan escape. I apologize for my inability."
His Majesty dismissed everyone else, leaving the woman at his side, Mary, and me.
"Don't be stiff. What's the situation?"
The Kingdom of Melkid is an absolute monarchy.
There are no nobles except for the royal family.
Showing the king's dignity contributes to the stability of the country, but the current King Melkid III dislikes formalities.
He prefers an informal approach unless it's necessary for appearances,
which is very helpful to me.
"When I was about to execute the demons, we were attacked by a dragon ambush orchestrated by the demon clan. While I was engaged in battle with the dragon, the assailants managed to rescue the captured demons."
An elf woman standing beside the king, Ambassador Eldor, glared at me with a mocking smile.
This woman was sent as an ambassador from the elf tribe about two years ago.
Since then, the country has become prosperous, but more than ever before, the Elves’ true colors have come to be seen.
"So you let them escape so easily?"
"If we left the dragon unattended in the city, the damage would have been significant. We prioritized subduing the dragon. After defeating the dragon, we engaged in a battle to exterminate the attackers. But just when we were about to finish, the dragon revived and escaped with a few remaining demons."
"You could have easily killed the dragon. Why did you hold back?"
"It was a battle in the city, so I couldn't attack with full force, but it should have sustained significant injuries. To recover from such wounds, it would require the highest-level healing magic or a large quantity of top-grade potions."
"And that actually happened... You didn't let it slip, did you?"
Eldor looked at me suspiciously.
"Eldor-dono, Arthur is my sword. There is no possibility that he deliberately let it escape," the king reprimanded Eldor.
Then the king continued speaking.
"As for that matter, let's set the pursuit aside... I called you today for a different issue. Are you aware of the case where the Guild Master of Barcery's adventurers was killed?"
Come to think of it, that incident was a hot topic about two months ago. It's still unresolved?
"We also had a few of our elves killed. We need to make them taste suffering worse than capture and death,"
"Do you know who the culprit is?"
"They are a man and a woman, otherworlders. The man's name is Takumi, and the woman is Mia. They wield swords that emit an unfamiliar red glow and use some kind of barrier magic that deflects any attack, even without incantations."
...Is he talking about Takuma and Mio?
"And there were reports that among the group of assailants who escaped on the dragon, there was someone who used a similar barrier magic. Do you know anything about that?"
"My attacks to shoot down the fleeing dragon were blocked by that barrier magic," I replied.
"Oh, you're not hiding it. I thought you would protect your fellow humans. Indeed, you're the 'Sword Saint.' Well then, I command the strongest 'Sword Saint' of the human race. Capture those individuals from another world alive. If you kill them, bring their heads without fail," said Eldor.
This woman... what authority does she have to say such things?
Ignoring Eldor, I stared at the king.
After a while, His Majesty lowered his eyes and nodded weakly.
"...Understood. I will definitely catch that otherworlder."
"With this, the concerns of our King Cyrus should be alleviated. The concerns that the human race has hostile intentions towards our elven race."
Eldor exited from the audience chamber.
"- I'm sorry, Arthur. In order to protect the lives of the entire human race, we can't go against the elves. Please forgive this pathetic king."
"What are you saying? I know firsthand how much sorrow the king is in and how much he agonizes. I am the 'Sword Saint,' and Mary is here too. We will definitely live up to the expectations."
"I'm counting on you, Arthur. What about the pursuit of Takumi? He must have escaped by riding the dragon, right?"
“"Yes, I have an idea. But while we are absent from the capital, there is a fear that the demon race will attack, so Mary and I will handle the pursuit."
"I see. It seems that among the demons targeted for execution this time, there was a demon princess."
"!!"
Idiot... Did they actually abduct the demon princess?
"I was also informed by Eldor just now. She kept it hidden."
"This... We might not be able to avoid a war with the demons. I said earlier that I would bring Takumi without fail, but even if I can't capture him, I will return within a month."
"Yes. We cannot allow the kingdom to be destroyed in Arthur's absence."
Why did Eldor send me to chase Takumi and drive me out of the capital at this timing? What is she plotting?
"Yes. We will depart for the pursuit immediately. Time is of the essence."
And so, Mary and I left the capital.
"Big brother, where are we heading?"
"It's already decided. The Dwarven capital, 'Gonhirrim.' I don't know the exact location, but based on our conversation with them, our destination should be the Shirakami Dungeon."
