Ch.133The Declining Imperial Family (4)

# The Night at the First Defense Line is Long

The night at the First Defense Line is long.

Since their purpose is to guard against monsters heading toward the Empire, they need to watch the night more carefully than the day.

Even now, monsters could be seen prowling around the outer perimeter of the First Defense Line. Amelia was watching them with eagle eyes while eating her lunch box atop the fortress wall.

“Ame, Ame!”

Just then, Charlotte came running with a bright smile.

“…!”

Amelia, who recognized Charlotte with her innocent face, was horrified.

“What have you brought?!”

“Tonight’s dinner!”

“I don’t eat orc!”

She was carrying a massive orc several times larger than herself on her shoulder.

Charlotte lowered the orc from her shoulder to the ground.

A heavy thud echoed across the fortress wall.

‘…How disgusting!’

It’s true that people in the North often eat monster meat because food is not abundant.

However, there were some meats they didn’t eat. One of them was orc. It might taste decent, but regardless of taste, it was primarily a humanoid monster—

Above all, its uniquely disgusting appearance completely ruins one’s appetite.

“Oh come on, it’s good! How long are you going to just eat Cerberus?”

“Kerker is delicious. Please take back that statement.”

Amelia, who took food very seriously, spoke earnestly. Then suddenly remembering something, her pupils dilated.

“Charlotte, did you go outside?”

“Of course~ There are no orcs on the fortress wall!”

“When did you… The gates haven’t been opened.”

“You could call it the power of love. I love the night, so the night hides me too.”

“……”

Amelia’s expression quickly turned gloomy.

Since learning that monsters were gathering at the First Defense Line, she had been constantly monitoring the situation from here.

Though Charlotte spoke playfully, it was only because of her kind nature.

To think she hadn’t noticed an ally slipping outside the gates.

‘…If it had been my sister, things would have been different.’

Charlotte was the Vice-captain of the Windsor First Knights.

Naturally, she was one of the most skilled individuals in the North.

But even taking that into account, not being able to sense her presence at all made Amelia depressed.

Perhaps it was even more so because Charlotte’s specialty wasn’t assassination.

“You look worried.”

Charlotte bent down toward Amelia and smiled softly. Her twin tails gently tickled Amelia’s face.

Amelia briefly pouted her lips, then stood up pretending nothing was wrong.

“I’m not worried about anything, Charlotte. Don’t forget. My specialty isn’t dueling, but fighting monsters.”

“Yes, yes. That’s certainly true. Ame’s monster-hunting skills are unmatched even by the Captain.”

“…That’s not true.”

“No?”

“My sister is superior to me in every way.”

“Hmm? No. Our Captain isn’t very good at slashing attacks.”

“But instead, she can swing her sword at invisible speeds and cut down thousands of monsters.”

“Hmm. Ame. Have you forgotten what I always say?”

Charlotte patted Amelia’s head.

“With swords, you know, the simpler the better. If you can kill many enemies with a single strike, there’s nothing better than that.”

“Charlotte…”

Amelia spoke in a distant voice.

“You smell like orc.”

“Huh?!”

Charlotte was startled and sniffed her body.

“Is it strong?!”

Amelia sighed.

“Go wash up quickly.”

“Ahem, sorry!”

Charlotte leaped over the fortress wall and disappeared.

Amelia, who had been staring at her retreating figure in disbelief, quietly looked at her own sword.

The divine weapons that each Windsor should possess, suited to their individual characteristics.

Amelia’s sword, Amantite, had the effect of amplifying magical power.

Irene’s sword, Deluna, had the effect of stealing the opponent’s life force.

Ruide’s sword, Winter, had the power to freeze everything.

And among these, only Amelia’s sword didn’t require skill.

What it needed was innate magical output ability.

That was the only area where Amelia had confidence.

‘Why… do I lack talent?’

Ruide boasts excellent magical skills, while Irene possesses swordsmanship that surpasses human limits.

Both deserve to be called geniuses. But not herself.

Her sword was crude and unremarkable. All she could do was load it with massive magical power and release it.

‘I need to work harder. This isn’t enough. I can’t be helpful to the family.’

Amelia gripped her sword tightly.

At that moment, Hersy rushed over to where Amelia was.

“Lady Amelia.”

“Ah, Hersy. Were you resting well?”

Amelia asked kindly, hiding her gloomy demeanor.

Hersy shook her head.

“No. I couldn’t rest while you were constantly monitoring the situation.”

“Well… this is my duty, and I’m fine. Hersy, you’re still an Academy student.”

“…Lady Amelia, you’re an Academy student too.”

Amelia cleared her throat awkwardly.

“Anyway, I’m fine. There’s still no sign of monsters moving, so please rest comfortably. And don’t forget that the Academy students’ duty is strictly rear support.”

“Lady Amelia, may I ask you one thing?”

“Of course.”

“…Have you seen Ruide recently?”

“Hmm? If it’s Rui, he’s probably hiding somewhere in the snow right now.”

Hersy shook her head.

“I know he’s been spending time with Lady Irene recently.”

“…Ah, with my sister Irene.”

Amelia’s expression turned bitter.

“That’s natural too. Since my sister Irene excels in every aspect, Ruide can’t help but like her.”

“No. That’s not it.”

“Pardon?”

“I know it’s certainly rude to say this, but.”

Hersy hesitated slightly.

What she was about to say might make Amelia uncomfortable.

No, it would definitely make her uncomfortable.

Because—during her stay in the North, she had realized.

The Windsors got along extremely well with each other.

From an outsider’s perspective, it seemed like there was no room to intervene.

But still, her instinct told her she needed to speak up.

“I think Lady Irene is teaching Ruide something that isn’t good while taking him around.”

“…Something that isn’t good?”

“Yes. I…”

Hersy bit her lip slightly.

She spoke in a sad tone.

“I’m worried because Ruide seems to be changing gradually.”

**

The idea that there was an assassin in the North was absolutely absurd.

It was common sense that there was nothing to gain by harming the Windsors who protected this territory.

Yet the fact that someone had attacked him meant they were likely from outside.

“If they had attacked someone other than Ruide, it would have been dangerous.”

“Dangerous?”

Ruide was walking hand in hand with Irene.

“Our Ruide doesn’t even get scratched by ordinary attacks, but other children are different.”

“Is this person that skilled? Compare them to Sister Amelia.”

“Hmm, they’re no match for Ame. But if it were a surprise attack, she might have struggled quite a bit. That child is clumsy at using her own power.”

Ruide’s expression hardened.

‘Did they target me because I look young? Thinking I was the weakest.’

Though he had become quite famous, humans are foolish creatures.

They can only judge so much by appearances. Especially his reputation—to skeptical people, it might seem like “mere propaganda.”

“It’s not just one person.”

“That’s right.”

“Couldn’t the Windsor Knights filter them out?”

Ruide was in a very bad mood.

The thought that Amelia might have been hurt was extremely unpleasant.

“The First Defense Line’s security is at its weakest right now. Monsters at the front, and at the rear, forces dispatched to clean up the mess Ruide created.”

Only then did Ruide realize that fierce battles were also taking place at the Ninth Defense Line.

Indeed, the First Defense Line was currently understaffed.

‘…Was my magic too irresponsible?’

As he was thinking this—Irene, as if reading his thoughts, grinned.

“Next time, could you clean up more neatly? Rui.”

“…Sorry.”

Ruide, at a loss for words, answered timidly.

“At first.”

Irene lifted Ruide’s face to meet her eyes.

A faint madness rose in Irene’s clear blue eyes.

“At first, this much is quite sufficient.”

Ruide smiled awkwardly.

‘Is that… praise?’

It didn’t feel that way.

But since Irene seemed pleased, he didn’t feel bad about it.

‘I wonder if Irene really wants me to become more violent.’

Ruide was aware that he possessed enormous power.

In fact, because his power was so strong, he vaguely feared it.

Indeed, if he wanted to, he could kill tens of thousands with just a word.

Ruide’s nature was lazy, not evil.

But recently, he had been having these feelings.

Should he really hold back?

How much should he endure, how much should he understand?

Wouldn’t restraint actually take him further from the peace he so desperately wanted? Wouldn’t it create more troublesome situations?

Wouldn’t it be simpler and better to show overwhelming power that no one would dare oppose, and subdue them?

“Rui?”

“Ah, yes.”

“What are you thinking about?”

Ruide stopped his contemplation and shook his head.

“Nothing.”

“I see.”

Irene looked as if she had noticed something. Quietly smiling, she whispered to Ruide.

“Then Rui, let me ask you one thing.”

“Yes.”

“How should we deal with the enemies who have infiltrated the North?”

Ruide hesitated for a moment.

But still—

Just as people can’t change in a day, the same was true for Ruide.

“I want to scold them moderately and send them back.”

To kill someone ‘directly.’

It was still a difficult issue for Ruide.

Irene didn’t rush him.

She simply stroked Ruide’s head and said:

“I have no intention of forcing whatever choice you make. But—”

Irene lowered her voice.

“I’d still prefer if you leaned toward my side.”

It was a statement whose meaning wasn’t entirely clear.

Irene straightened up from her bent posture, looked down at Ruide with a mysterious expression, and said:

“I’m thinking of checking if Amelia is doing well. What will you do?”

“I want to go with you, sister.”

“I’m sorry, but if Ruide goes to the defense line, the Windsor Knights will get their hopes up, so I can’t allow it.”

“…Really?”

“Rather than that.”

Irene took something out from her bosom.

It was a paper with writing on it. When he received it, this is what was written:

“Isn’t there somewhere else for the tip of Ruide’s staff to point?”

——

Garter Knights.

Galahad.

Nolan.

Judith.

Shearer.

List. Below—

3-4-2 51st Street. Staying at the First Defense Line mercenary quarters.

——

“Ah.”

Ruide rubbed his eyes.

“These people still haven’t come to their senses.”