Ch.245Chapter 245: Express

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…Did I see something wrong?

Did I misread what was written and misinterpret it?

That’s possible. The aftereffects of the fierce battle with Adorator and Dazier might not have worn off yet, making me unable to properly read even a simple telegram.

So I quickly rubbed my eyes, something I rarely do.

Then I prepared myself to properly check the telegram that had arrived on this airship, but.

「-URGENT-

As of yesterday from the time this telegram is being sent, a special detachment of Imperial Knights led by Iriana Lanos, who was urgently heading north from the archipelago to block the wave offensive of the demon realm, engaged in fierce combat with an unconfirmed large army of magical beasts that entered through an unknown route. Forty percent of the detachment’s personnel were killed in action. According to survivors’ testimonies, Commander Iriana fought valiantly while remaining at the rear of the retreating allied forces to support their withdrawal until the end, but is presumed to have been captured by magical beasts after her strength was exhausted. Since her survival has not been confirmed accurately, I will record her status as missing in this telegram.」

The telegram clearly showed that I hadn’t misread anything.

Realizing I hadn’t misread it, I carefully examined the contents, which were severe enough to be recorded as one of the most devastating defeats in all battles involving the Solarium Empire since its founding after the Great Holy War.

Typically, when about 30% of the total combat personnel become casualties, the remaining troops lose their will to fight and consequently their combat capability, which is why the empire’s combat manual refers to this state as annihilation.

Yet slightly more than that 30%—a full 40% of personnel—were lost in a single battle yesterday, making the scale of damage almost unimaginable.

Moreover, even if a unit composed of ordinary soldiers had suffered such damage, it would have been shocking.

What makes this telegram even more tragic is that the personnel consumed in this single battle weren’t ordinary soldiers, but members of the Imperial Knights, counted among one of the strongest military groups known as the Empire’s Blade.

I briefly turned my head to observe the atmosphere among the people around me who were reading the telegram.

As expected, the expressions of those reading the telegram couldn’t be described as good even as a polite lie.

They were remarkably composed just by maintaining stiff expressions and keeping silent.

Needless to say, I was trying hard to contain the shock I felt inside.

Most of the personnel in the airship were tremendously shocked by the telegram now, including Shizu, whose eyes were trembling with shock though she didn’t cry out.

Only slight stirring was evident because Princess Lucius, the highest-ranking person present, maintained a calm state despite being slightly stiffened.

If the Princess had shown even the slightest shock outwardly about this telegram, the commotion inside the airship would have been unimaginable.

So, as a blood relative of my missing sister, I tried to say something to maintain composure and prevent the atmosphere from sinking further.

But before words could leave my mouth, several additional telegrams came through the airship.

Following the shocking contents of the first telegram, there was a preliminary explanation of why my sister, who should have been focused on rear support, went to the front line.

About two weeks ago, when our delegation left Solarium by airship at the beginning of the subjugation festival.

Initially, thanks to the valiant efforts of the garrison forces united under Lord Nighthart’s command, they succeeded in repelling the enemy’s offensive without major casualties, unlike last year.

But a week before this telegram arrived—when we were supposed to complete our delegation mission in Geumwol and return home this month.

At the moment when our return was confirmed to be delayed by about a week due to discussions related to the military alliance between the two countries, requested by the Geumwol Empire after sensing the threat of the demon realm.

The demon realm’s offensive, which should have subsided after being defeated when the magical energy momentarily surged, instead intensified, causing even greater damage than last year.

Seeing this, my sister led the remaining Imperial Knights forces deployed for rear support from the capital and urgently headed to Night Haven, which is how this situation began.

Although I saw these details with my eyes, none of it registered in my mind.

Missing? My sister missing in the north?

My sister, who should have been staying in Solarium this time to handle rear support.

She organized a reinforcement unit to respond to the magical beast forces that had grown too large for even Lord Nighthart’s valor to handle.

But she couldn’t overcome the demon realm forces that precisely blocked the path of the reinforcements and launched wave attacks, suffering heavy casualties among her command and being captured by them, now in a state of unknown life or death.

I can’t believe what I’m reading in the telegram.

If it were someone else, I might understand.

But Lord Nighthart, the guardian of Night Haven known as the Guardian of the North.

And my sister, who not only overwhelms Lord Nighthart in skill these days.

But is also evaluated as the most experienced field commander in the empire in terms of unit command ability regardless of scale.

That she was captured by their offensive and is now in a state where her life or death cannot be confirmed.

Unlike when I first saw the telegram, when I tried to regain composure to maintain the atmosphere inside the airship.

As the unbelievable content gradually sinks in, I’m overwhelmed by the helplessness felt when blood drains from the body.

Though my blood wasn’t actually draining, so my body didn’t grow cold and my senses didn’t dull.

But the psychological shock I was feeling was that severe.

And as time passed, what followed the helplessness was, ironically, a passion like blood rushing to my head.

The stronger my desire to maintain composure, the more this passion urged my body and mind to suppress such thoughts.

Scream.

Release the anger building in your chest with a single shout.

Go wild.

Rush to the north immediately to confirm the fate of family as precious as life itself.

And if something has happened to that family, smash those demon realm bastards even if it means throwing away everything you’ve built over the past three years.

The impulse surging in my mind was ordering me to do just that.

But knowing too well what would happen if I mindlessly listened to such impulses, I consciously ignored them.

Besides… even if I wanted to listen to the impulse, I didn’t have the luxury.

Why?

“…Let go.”

“Calm down.”

“…Let me go.”

“If I let you go, I know you’ll storm into the cockpit and try to change course to Night Haven.”

“…That’s why I’m telling you to let go.”

“Stay calm. I want to rush there too, but if we go north without preparation, we might not only fail to save Sister but also end up unable to take care of ourselves.”

“Do I look like a fool who only cares about saving his own skin in this situation?!”

Because I had to restrain Excel, whose eyes had rolled back with twice the passion I was feeling.

Grrrrrr-!!

Blue lightning symbolizing Bernstein flickered from his body as he expressed his anger toward me who was trying to restrain him.

If he had let go of his reason in the face of his current passion, lightning powerful enough to completely wreck this airship would have flickered.

The fact that he was controlling its size and power was evidence that he hadn’t completely lost his reason yet.

“This is an urgent situation—how can we wait until rescue forces are organized?! Even if I have to storm the Obsidian Palace alone, I’ll rescue Sister… Iriana!!”

His voice, rising higher with each word he spoke, made it impossible to predict what impulsive action he might take if left unchecked.

I had no doubt that if I released Excel’s arms, he would head straight to the cockpit and change course to Night Haven, even if it meant threatening the pilot.

What should I do? Should I physically restrain him? Or should I keep holding his arms without loosening my grip until he exhausts himself?

All sorts of thoughts flashed through my mind in a brief moment as I tried to prevent Excel Bernstein from going wild like an unbridled colt.

[HAAP!!]

With Fafnir’s sudden battle cry echoing in my mind.

The blue lightning flickering as if absorbing Excel’s passion began to recede and flow back into his body.

“…Gack!!”

Excel collapsed with a peculiarly strange single cry that’s quite awkward to express in words.

With foam in his mouth, to put it bluntly.

…He’s not dead, is he?

[What do you take me for, to utter such nonsense?]

‘Well, it’s natural to worry when you see a friend collapse with foam in his mouth.’

[Rest assured. He was overly excited, and the lightning energy flowing in that youngster’s body was about to be released in an unpleasant way, so I prevented it in advance. If left alone, it would have had a very negative effect on his body.]

As I was contemplating whether to accept Fafnir’s explanation, which seemed believable yet somehow unbelievable, and as the blood rushing to my head began to subside and I was about to regain stability.

“Captain.”

“You called, Your Highness.”

“I want to change course to Night Haven. Please hurry.”

“I was just about to request Your Highness to allow me to show the majesty of this airship to those demon folk in the north, so I thank you for giving this order without me having to speak unnecessarily.”

In my ears, I heard the resolute voice of Princess Lucius responding to this unexpected situation, and the voices of crew members resolutely supporting her order resonating throughout the cabin.

…Excel, if you hadn’t been so excited that your eyes rolled back, you would have calmed your passion seeing the airship heading to Night Haven.

As I looked at Excel, who had fainted rather unsightly, feeling emotions that could be either pity or regret.

“Lord Cal, I understand you must be troubled by the sudden telegram, but please calm your mind while moving your fallen friend to the infirmary.”

Before those complex emotions could take root, the Princess’s calm voice, ordering me to take Excel to the infirmary, stabilized the extreme fluctuations in my emotions.

She considers my precious sister as a dear friend no less than I do.

Though I don’t know for sure, she must have received a great shock inside but is trying hard not to show her emotions to fulfill her responsibility as royalty.

Unlike her calm voice, her slightly trembling eyes made me think that even this capable royal is ultimately human, giving me a sense of stability.

Yes, everyone is shocked by the sudden event.

But they’re focusing on quickly relieving this shock and moving forward in their own way.

Then I too…

As I extended my hand to lift the fallen Excel, trying to steady my wavering heart.

“It will be alright.”

When a hand belonging to the owner of a very warm voice overlapped with mine.

The crack in my heart created by passion was instantly sealed with Shizu’s warm voice.

It was a moment when my expectation of a brief peace after the end of one trial was shattered in the worst way.

But as long as there are people who seek a way forward even in such shattering moments, and people with warm hearts who comfort those around them.

It was also a moment when I believed that the dark impulse would not surge in my mind again.