Alice Tale in Phantasmagoria Chapter 130

――Side: ???――

「It doesn’t get boring doees it, I thought that this country was stronger though? It seems I overevaluated it a little diidn’t I. Ahahaa.」

The witch at my side is holding her belly while seeming to enjoy herself.
The night that’s illuminated by the twin moon and is bright like the evening, is further illuminated by a whirling flame like the setting sun.

「This is a good time issn’t it? Even presuming our expectations were off holding back isn’t my doctrine. Send the signal, give the message such that the invasion may proceed according to plan.」

Conveying as such to the messenger, the witch looked down at the battlefield from high in the sky.
I don’t know such things as the tactical situation very well from here but, I ascertain enough to grasp where things are going well or poorly.
Most likely, Wilmington will end in a few days now.

「Ahahaa, that silver flash……You’re doing your best arren’t you imouto disciple.」

The witch let out a seductive voice and, licked her lips.
Almost like getting excited by imagining her crush.

「Become strong, beyond what I can imagine okayy……ahahaa! Is it about time for her to become independent? That sort of time is you see, there’s a need to separate decisively isn’t there. From the person who protects you……!」

The witch’s eyes are bloodshot.
Dessert is eaten in the end, after deciding that the prey she’s alwaays been yearning for is, finally going to be reaped.
She’s saying I’ve endured well, I won’t wait anymore.
That ecstatic expression says it all.

「Ku, ahahahahaa! I won’t hand you over to anyone, your life is my possession! Ahahahahahahahahahaa.」

A mad laughing voice echoes, across the overly bright battlefield of night.
A could wind blows, as if to drown that out.
When I incidentally look down, the city that had been wrapped in whirling flame is being extinguished in the s.p.a.ce of a moment.
A heat wave rises up from the surface along with the vanis.h.i.+ng flame and, rocks my hair.

「……She came, she came she came she came she came she came she caamme!!! Ahahahahaa!」

Even so the witch laughs.

「Hahaa, now then saintess-samaa. G.o.d’s iron hammer for heretics.」

I could do nothing but merely nod at, that voice like she perhaps feels pleasure in this war――

◇■◇■◇

――It’s no good there’s no end!
It’s too much for my hands regardless of anything……!
Slaughtering whatever number of chimera it is at this point, they’ve finally managed to get behind me.
Even though I a.s.sume the evacuation still isn’t finished!

『――Ojousama!』
「Ilya?」

I answer the voice from the magic crystal while hiding my body.
It’s already become tough stamina wise.

『Are you well?』
「I’m still alright.」
『As expected, however there is bad news.』
「……What’s happened?」
『Sacrament has declared war, and is coming to invade the eastern national border in 1 pair of days, it is that matter……』

I swooned.
I fought while thinking, something will come of it every time.
However, this is……this war is?

「Marisan is!?」
『Marisama is heading out to the western national border defensive line. The royal guard’s division is deploying in the east. The commanding officer is colonel Bernstein. The personage who administers the royal guard division.』

There is a hand to play, I want to believe as such but……

「Everyone’s situation is? Aim is also safe over

here.」
『Oneesama’s squad is acting as an indomitable force, no casualties, while keeping the surface forces pinned down with raids. At the present point my squad is also guiding the evacuation smoothly, there is no visible disorder among the people. Surely, Marisama believes in everyone-sama. Eclair-sama has not been awoken as of yet.』

For the backlash from the dragon contract with Fleurety to go this far……
Eclair has been sleeping for several days following our return.
There’s no problem according to what Till has said, there is that though.
I really can’t contract with Ilya right now at this time.

「Ilya, I will reduce the aerial enemies along with Aim as much as I’m able to. By taking back aerial supremacy, they’ll be unable to counterattack and――」
『No, come back immediately idiot disciple. You must change jobs at once.』

Till!?

『And then put your stuff together quickly and evacuate.』
「――I don’t want that! Are you saying Wilmington has fallen!?」
『I have not said that. Fortunately, that holy knight has thought well on the people’s safety. The retreat has been completed at speed sufficient to be surprising. I suppose she’s working out her next plan, without mistaking the difference in military power between us and them, acting while accepting that……It’s something a normal person cannot do you know.』

Is she saying Marisan has been fighting with the presumption of defeat?
Then, for what purpose did Marisan set out for the front lines?
Just to――――gather time!?

「I don’t like it!! If Marisan isn’t saved!!」
『Don’t wail idiot disciple. You will flee, and that holy knight will finally be able to escape as well. A retreat is doable once the people have fled. But she she cannot pull out until that is accomplished. I do not believe that person needs your aid. Something at the level of a cat’s a.s.sistance isn’t needed you know.』

Holy knight Marianna・Houston.
The capable and beautiful commander who draws the world’s attention.
Kran’s gentle mannered, cousin.
The capable person who gave advice on Ilya and Oneechan’s battle.
The enemy troops here in this place are, nothing more than a small number that came from the sky in the end.
Compared to that, we’re fighting this much of a harsh battle.
Thus, Marisan’s group that went to hold back the main force is……?

『……If you contract with the dragon girl, the opponent may no longer be able to get a blow in. Tonight is that chance. Don’t let that go. It’s thinkable that they purposefully aimed to come on this day when the moon waxed full, so as to stop that. Don’t go along with the opponent’s expectations, take their flank, don’t sneer, smile back.』

――Tsu!
Certainly, is it okay to simply put off a chance to contract with Ilya?
Is there really, another time?
……In terms of Ilya’s bodily condition, this already isn’t the time to be saying leisurely things.
If……I don’t make a decision!

「……Ilya!」
『――Hai, ojousama.』

After the s.p.a.ce of an instant, the other side switched to Ilya.

「Return, so as to do the contract together……!」
『In, in that case……No, pardon me ojousama, I will be waiting.』

In that case――this country is?
Perhaps I should suppose Ilya, wanted to say that.

「Aim! We’re pulling out for now.」
「Nn, I heard. Go. There are few who can strike aerial enemies, I will, not pull out.」

――s.h.i.+t!
This is my judgement miss!
If the original judgement is wrong, it

it takes several times as long to correct that……!
But wailing at this point won’t help!

「Aim I’m asking this of you! Meet up with oneechan if you can, so as to not fight alone!」
「Roger.」

Leaving this to me, holding that pride, Aim raised her thumb while having become a little arrogant.
There’s only hurrying after this, to take back this mistakedelay at my highest speed.
Filling my body with lightning, I flew toward the mansion with my full power.

「Please――don’t interfere!!」

I cut down the chimera that came to ensnare me with Lightning・Blade.
The enemies that still continue to pursue me are, skewered by supporting fire from the surface.
I’m grateful……!

◇■◇■◇

While I returned to the mansion, I reclaimed my bearing while surrounded by the smoldering fumes in the sky over the princ.i.p.ality capital that was dyed red.
This is unmistakably, Till’s ice magic.
That that wide area of flame was extinguished in its entirety……!
As expected of Till!!

「――I have returned!」

I land from the sky into the mansion’s lawn.
I do of course have a free pa.s.s for the mansion’s barrier.
Splash, I pa.s.s through the airs.p.a.ce with that kind of uneasy sense like being submerged in water.

「Ojousama! Well done safely……!」

The surrounding maid-sans bowed, at the same time as Ilya promptly came running up to me.
I try looking about and, the figures of the injured aren’t low in number.
It’s changed to the appearance of a commander center overlaid with a field hospital all of a sudden.
This is the base so, I suppose Ilya has been making due with the available combat potential.

「The situation of the city’s evacuation is?」
「It is around 9 parts, finished.」
「That much?」

Fast, I suppose Marisan did everything in her power ahead of time just as Till said.
The remaining 1 part……it’s definitely not a small number of people though.

「Please use all available options to guide the evacuation. I will change jobs now. After that Ilya――」

I look straight into Ilya’s eye, from directly in front of her.
Beautiful eyes like inlaid emeralds waver in doubt.

「I will contract with you.」
「Ha, i……However, that is……I will, the entirety of ojousama’s magic power……」
「Like Eclair, I’ll become unable to move my body for a time right?」
「……Most likely.」

She had despaired of the world――the time when I first met Ilya, she somehow had such an atmosphere.
Something like other people’s matters are fine either way, she might have thought in that manner.
But currently, looking at the Ilya showing her doubt, I know a part of this child’s true nature well.
She wants to save as much as she wants to be saved.
That’s her honest feeling right?

「It’s not the case that Eclair collapsed immediately, I’ll show I can make it through on guts for the extent of 1 day. Protect the people within that precise period and, let’s go brazenly to the kingdom.」
「……Hai.」

Including the maid-sans, everyone’s morale is high.
While saying that, there aren’t people here who would misread the state of battle.
These girls, understand the extent to which this country is in a critical situation right now enough that it hurts.
As proof of that, underneath the vigorous voices flying about, their various expressions are stiffly frozen in place.
Judgement or decision, those sorts of things are truly difficult.
You always want to make the best choice but,

choice but, life is lived without allowing for that sort of thing……
Taking the diamond out from my pocket, I emplace it on the ground again.

「The power I desire is――」

I make a declaration, to no one in particular.
The diamond emits radiance yet again and, a magic system――rune is carved in.
Drawing a circle, while patterning it after a pentagram, bluish white phosph.o.r.escence illuminates one side.

「――The power that allows only my will.」

With that power, I won’t let anyone laugh at me, I won’t let anyone cry.
I desire such a power, a power selfish to that extent.
My entire body burned, as light enveloped my body.
The pain is sufficient to lose conscious, even so there’s no fear.
I’ve tasted pain and agony countless times, since the time when I decided to live in this world.
Therefore this is, a warning not to cause that hereafter.
The flame meant to reach the origin.

「――――」

The world vanished from my vision and, I saw a light.
Whatever the purpose for which I came to this world, there wasn’t a grand reason.
However, now I’m so overflowing with feelings to the point that I want to scream.

「Know this――」

Being half playing around for instance, being a fake self for instance, such things don’t matter anymore.
Currently, there’s just one reason for which I move my body to the limit here in this way――

――It can’t be helped, since, it’s because I made people who I want to protect in this world!!

「――Hold thy phantasm, achieve thy highest form.」

Imaging just my selfishness, I strike a letter of challenge onto the phantasmal world.
A white whirlwind wells up.
My body creaks, from wave after wave of power surging forth.
Sakura petals fluttering down like snow, float in the back of my mind as the scene of origin.
Everything is burned in a ma.s.sive bluish white flame――

「――」

I open the eyelids that were closed at some point.
The sublimation towards the heights is finished solemnly.

Name: Alice
Race: Half Elf
Age: 15 years
Gender: Female
Job: Arcana
LV: 1

New Skill: Latent Ability

「Ojou……sama?」

I check my status with a strangely calm mood and, my eyes met with an Ilya making a surprised face of a sort that I haven’t seen before.

「Ilya, it seems I have succeeded in the job change.」
「Ha, i……Congratulations. I am grateful for the matter of being able to observe, a divine secret of this sort.」

I look and, all of the maid-sans with Ilya included are awaiting my command on one knee.

「It’s fine, don’t do something pointless. There isn’t time to rest our hands right now.」

Even so facing me without attempting to hide their sense of reverence, those girls didn’t move for some time.
I’ll let them do as they will, for the s.p.a.ce of moment.

「――u」

I went dizzy.
It’s no good, the burden from changing jobs is absurdly large.
My body is raising a scream that something like fighting here is insane.
And beyond that, the dragon contract that puts on a further burden is also impossible.
Just, with the fact of having managed to change jobs without delaying it, it’s become possible to contract with Ilya at any time.
It definitely wasn’t a bad move.

「Ojousama!」

Being supported by Ilya, I somehow managed to hold on without collapsing.

「Throat, collapsing.

「Throat, dry……huh?」

I look and, the scenery has changed significantly from before I began changing jobs.
Since it seems like the maid-sans have switched out, and above all the position of the twin moons is significantly different.

「Is it possible, time……Just how long has it been!?」
「Hai, from when ojousama silently began meditating, it has been a length of 1 hour when looking at the pocket watch I was given.」
「Wha――」

If it was the time I experienced, it’d be a moment’s event right!?
1 hour?
No, there’s nothing but to accept it is there.

「The situation is……?」
「Hai, the evacuation is basically finished. Those who won’t move from the capital anymore, excepting those sorts the guidance is finished.」
「That so……」

My emotional attachment is deep, if I’m going to die then I’ll do it here, forcibly moving people with those sorts of thoughts is difficult.

「――Tsu!」

I found a familiar face, in one corner of the mansion that’s changed into a field hospital.
While receiving Ilya’s support, I brought my legs to that place.
That guy bears an awful injury.
No, calling it an injury is impertinent at this point.
The maid-sans who can use Heal are plentiful in this mansion.
Even with what those girls have, healing『that』is impossible.

「John, san?」

The nickname I randomly gave him.
He had protected the castle’s gate, the soldier who had said he revered that which is Kran.

「Lightning Fairy-sama……that, you are well……」

There’s too much blood flowing out……
It’s questionable if my figure is even being reflected in his vision anymore.

「I……protected……」
「Hai, I understand.」

It was frustrating.
Just when I thought I wouldn’t lose anymore, I am……

「I……Krancescsama, Mariannsama……help……」
「You did well, please rest leisurely after this, Baal-san.」
「……」

While moving his mouth countless times, John――the soldier with the name said as Baal had his breath taken from him.
On the battlefield, a helplessly common scene.
But it isn’t the case that I don’t feel responsible.
Biting my lips at my lack of power, blood trickled down.

「……We’re retreating, Eclair and Fleurety in the carriage. Each of you make your preparations, we’re abandoning this place and heading toward the kingdom. Prioritizing the injured, don’t let down your guard.」
「Haa!」

I call out to the maid-san acting as lieutenant, and leave the rest to her.

「Ojousama as well, with that body……please ride the same carriage as Eclair-sama and flee quickly.」
「No, it’s most dangerous during a retreating battle. I will――」
「I will act as rear guard.」

Till turned up, as if from nowhere.
I suppose she’s probably been running about the battlefield up until now, her hair is disordered.
Even so I can do nothing but admire the Till who didn’t receive one spurt of blood.

「Is that insufficient?」

As if to test me, a cunning smile like a child’s.

「No, if Till is insufficient, surely it’s impossible whoever does it.」
「Kufu, then it’s fine to sleep in the carriage, without wandering about.」
「……That’s acknowledged.」

Till, immediately turned her back on me.

――――!?

「What is it?」
「N, no……」
「Fun, strange person. Then let’s go. There’s no time.」

While seeing Till off as she ran into the sky on footholds of ice, I shook off a mysterious vision that I couldn’t put to words.

――What, was the scene I just saw……?

I turned to the carriage, while holding a bit of anxiety.