Magic Gems Gourmet Chapter 202

Chapter 202

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ED: LonelyMatter

Chapter 202 – Battle of Heim’s Capital Part 1

“As I thought, they seem to have noticed our advance.”

Lloyd answered the scout’s words.

As he said this, he looked at Ain’s profile, steeling himself for the decisive battle that was about to begin.

“Ain-sama, if it comes to that, please put the long-cherished wish of the people of Ishtalika above all else, even if it means abandoning all of us.”

“…Lloyd-san?”

“They will definitely use the miasma. If that’s the case, it’s possible that we won’t be able to set foot in there.”

Lloyd spoke to Ain, his voice tinged with frustration.

“But we can be your s.h.i.+eld. When you have defeated the Red Fox―Anon and Ed―you must think only of your own survival, Ain-sama.”

“I can’t do that…”

“You must. It is our duty and the duty of His Highness the Crown Prince, Ain-sama.”

Lloyd cut through Ain’s hesitation with a particularly strong statement.

“Dill! Come over here!”

“Ha!”

Lloyd then called Dill, who had been standing behind him, over and made him stand next to Ain.

“You don’t have to work as a commander. Remember, no matter what happens, you must never leave Ain-sama’s side. You must not get your priorities wrong.”

“…Understood.”

Lloyd, satisfied with Dill’s answer, puts his hand on Dill’s head without worrying about what the people around them think.

Then, he stroked his head with a strong movement.

“Hey, Fa-Father!?”

“Hmm? What is this, calling me Father in public?”

“No, no, Lloyd-san… It’s too late for that. Even in Birdland, he already called you Father. “

“Hahaha! I forgot about those old days!”

Lloyd’s laughter rang out far and wide, and the Ishtalika Knights, who were a bit nervous, smiled at his cheerful laughter.

“Well then, let’s discuss something.”

Suddenly, Lloyd lowered his voice and opened his mouth.

“I’m going to be the one to deal with Ed.”

“…What do you mean?”

Ain asked.

He was curious about the advantages of choosing a partner.

“As I told you earlier, it is almost certain that there are beings that emit miasma. Therefore, you should give priority to destroying them. If that is the case, I will deal with the people who are in the way. If the enemy comes to Dilll, Dill will deal with it.”

“Ah, I see. I understand the reason, but still…”

Ain had some concerns.

He was worried that it might be too much of a burden for Lloyd to deal with Ed.

When Lloyd sensed Ain’s concern, he responded with confidence.

“Don’t worry. I don’t think I can handle Ed easily either. So, I have a secret plan… Well, it’s not something I want to do, but I have an idea”.

…And so the army of Ishtalika continued its advance.

Targeting the capital city of Heim, now only a stone’s throw away, they took a giant step toward the final battle.

＊＊＊

The capital city of Heim was a stone’s throw from the port city of Roundheart.

If it was a few hours by carriage, it was not a long way at all if you used a warhorse.

Ain felt the scent of the sea breeze coming from the port city of Roundheart and was tormented by a nostalgia he didn’t want to feel.

Even though it was a port city, it was completely different from Magna.

Even though it involved spiritual issues, the difference in mood that Ain felt from the same sea breeze was like heaven and earth.

As he stared at Heim’s army spreading out in front of him, he shook his head, trying not to think about unnecessary things.

“…It’s a big army.”

Heim’s army, stationed in the suburbs of the royal capital, was so large that it was natural for Ain to comment on it.

The long, wide formation was so full of potential that one wondered where they had hidden such a large force.

Looking further into the depths of Heim’s army, the familiar sight of Heim’s capital city and Heim Castle came into view.

Despite the clear weather today, the sky over the capital seems strangely dark. Is it his imagination?

“Where is Grint?”

No matter where he looked, he couldn’t find Grint anywhere.

The man named Grint was supposed to be the greatest treasure of the Kingdom of Heim, a man born as a holy knight.

And yet, it was extremely puzzling that he did not show up for this important battle.

Even though he was young, he was still an important fighting force for Heim.

“Ain-sama! Ain-sama!”

Ain was lost in thought.

From the left wing, Lloyd came galloping on his horse.

“Lloyd-san?”

“Hah… hah… I have confirmed Ed’s army is in the direction of the left-wing, or rather, in the port city of Roundheart. As planned, I will go there to suppress them!”

“Ed is going to the port city? I wonder why he didn’t come to the royal capital’s side.”

“He probably wants to stop our army from coming from the port city.”

“No, Father. You shouldn’t think like that.”

Then Dill, who had been standing right next to Ain, took a step forward and joined the conversation with a menacing smile.

“We should think of him as avoiding Ain-sama. That would raise our morale.”

“I never thought I would be taught by my son, but you may be right.”

Lloyd smiled in a way that was very similar to Dill’s.

Or maybe it was the other way around since they were father and son.

It could be that Dill looked very much like Lloyd, but their expressions were exactly the same.

“Well then, Ain-sama. I will take care of the man who ran away from you.”

“Haha, yes, Lloyd-san. Please don’t overdo it, okay?”

“Nuhahaha! That is an impossible order!”

Lloyd, with his eye patch, now looked even more appropriate for his high-pitched laughter.

As he continued to laugh loudly without losing his composure, Majolica approached him.

“Ara, ara, you’re in a good mood. Here, Your Excellency. You should take this.”

He tossed Lloyd a burlap bag he took from his chest.

“Hmm? Majolica-dono, what is that?”

“The green b.a.l.l.s are restraints, and the blue b.a.l.l.s are processed versions of the Heal Bird’s magic stones. You know what they are, right? They are a parting gift, a parting gift.”

“Oh, this is great! Well, it’s not easy to refine such magic tools, and unless it’s someone like Majolica-dono, it’s impossible to prepare them…”

“Oh, that’s too much of a compliment to be called the best craftsman in the world.”

After enjoying the cheap game, Lloyd tucked the burlap bag into his pocket.

He nodded repeatedly in grat.i.tude for the parting gift, then pulled on the horse’s reins as if enjoying a pleasant play.

“I gratefully accept! Now for our Ishtalika!”

With a shout, Lloyd galloped the horse away.

“Lloyd-san! You really can’t be reckless!”

“Hahaha! There’s nothing to worry about! Although I’m not happy about being outnumbered, I’m sure that our combined forces with the Elf Knight will surely be able to defeat that beast!”

“Um, I’m sorry that my father is acting so strangely at such a time.”

“N-no. That’s all right. Even if he’s a little down…”

Dill apologized for his father’s behavior, looking both apologetic and embarra.s.sed.

“That’s right. The knights following him will also feel better if their commander is in a good mood, right? Well, I’ll get ready as well.”

After giving Lloyd a parting gift, Majolica must have felt satisfied.

Majolica’s precious gauntlet shone in his hand.

“Oh, Your Highness. I’m looking forward to the pre-battle verbal exchange as well.”

“Ah, I knew it would come to that.”

“Of course it would. After all, the opponent is the great general of Heim.”

A wry smile.

Ain showed a face so fed up that he was proud of it, a wry smile that he thought was the best he had ever made in his life.

Pre-battle speeches are a common occurrence, but the problem is the opponent.

“I don’t know what to say. It’s going to be really annoying in another way.”

“Ara, you can’t say that! Everyone will be paying attention to what you say.”

“Majolica-san is putting a lot of pressure on me…”

However, even though he was complaining with his mouth, Ain was smiling with an unexpected look of pleasure.

When Dill, who was standing next to him, noticed this, he also brightened up as if he had gained strength.

“I wish I could have shown this to Kaizer… If only he were still alive…”

As if a tear had fallen, Majolica wiped his eyes with a handkerchief.

Then Dill replied, stunned.

“Majolica-dono, that Instructor Kaizer is engaged in defense in Ishtalika…”

“Oh dear, I mistakenly thought he was dead.”

Ain and Dill smiled wryly at Majolica’s bad joke.

Of course, their eyes weren’t smiling; they were close to a straight face.

“Well then, Your Highness, Guard Officer Dill―good luck.”

He finished in a serious tone, gave a signal in his deep voice, and Majolica set the horse running.

The horse ran vigorously, causing a cloud of dust, and it felt like the battle was about to begin.

“By the way, Ain-sama.”

“Hmm? What is it, Dill?”

“The other day, I overheard some interesting information in Birdland.”

Dill shouted with a look of pride, and Ain, with a look of curiosity, asked him to continue.

“You’re telling me this now, so it must be interesting, right?”

“Yes, it’s really something.”

Dill, who had answered with great enthusiasm, took a breath and then spoke.

“Apparently, the great General Logas of Heim has never defeated Ed.”

“So that means…”

Both of them remembered the battle between Ain and Ed the other day… and the result of that battle.

“That’s right. If Ain-sama defeated Ed, it means that you’re already higher than the great General Logas of Heim.”

Then, with a dazed expression on his face, Ain stopped moving for a few seconds and began to speak with a nostalgic expression.

“…Yes. When I put it into words, it still feels strange.”

“Strange, you say?”

“Yes. It’s really strange. To me, back then, that man was stronger than anyone else… the strongest warrior. But after crossing over to Ishtalika and meeting all kinds of people, I think that feeling has changed. …But I think that feeling of being inferior to him still remains.”

“…Yes.”

Dill listened quietly to Ain’s outpouring of emotion.

He might have been too sentimental before the battle, but he couldn’t stop the feelings from pouring out.

“I won’t let my guard down, but I feel like I’ve overcome a barrier.”

“No, Ain-sama. It’s not just a feeling.”

Dill spoke to him with a voice that encouraged him.

Then, Ain was warmed by Dill’s kindness, and he gradually felt a refres.h.i.+ng sensation in his heart.

“Dill…”

“Ha!”

His mind was already made up.

He suppressed the lingering feelings in his heart, and Ain made up his mind.

“It might change depending on the situation, but… I guess this is one way to settle things.”

“…Ha!”

“I’ll be the one to face General Logas.”

The person who taught him how to use a sword when he was young.

Ain, who had decided to face Logas, looked straight at Heim’s army.

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