Midnight in Valentine (7)

[…It was here that the synchronization with Oscar was cut off.]

The place where Yuriana’s shadow guided Delphina and Rubila’s group was a secluded corner of a back alley with few people around.

[The last person Oscar contacted was someone named ‘Helia Rangold’.]

“The one who was forced to drop out by Prince Cardinando…?”

[That’s right.]

The shadow puppet nodded with a creaking sound.

[I had placed several of my shadow puppets in the surrounding area, but when the synchronization with Oscar was cut off, all the shadow puppets disappeared as well.]

“…Hey, Your Highness.”

At that moment, Rubila muttered quietly.

“In this empire, are you the only one who can use this ‘shadow puppet’ skill?”

[…As far as I know, yes.]

“I see. Then…”

Rubila drew one of the three swords at her waist and said quietly.

“What are those things?”

“…!!”

Only then did Delphina belatedly notice the anomaly in their surroundings.

“Aren’t all those shadow puppets yours, Your Highness?”

“…T-that can’t be.”

Including Delphina and Rubila, there were at most seven people present.

In contrast, the number of pitch-black figures lined up surrounding them was at least several dozen, even by a rough count.

“…The total power I sense from each individual isn’t that great… but there are too many of them. If we fight in such a narrow alley…”

“I know that too.”

A knight wearing a cloth robe embroidered with red decorations whispered to Rubila.

[…That’s impossible. Those things, what are…]

“Are they Your Highness’s shadow puppets?”

[Yes. But I’m not controlling them.]

The shadow puppet under the Princess’s control shook its head. In response, the shadow puppets lined up around them moved in various ways.

“How can we trust the Princess’s words?”

Rubila shrugged.

“To be blunt, it’s possible that the Princess conspired with someone to deliberately separate us from the Princess.”

[…I’d like to deny it immediately, but you’re right.]

The Princess readily agreed.

[I have no evidence to prove my innocence.]

“But…!”

[However, can you follow my instructions here? I have a way for us to safely escape…]

“That won’t be necessary, Your Highness.”

-Bang!!

The head of one of the shadow puppets that had been gradually closing in exploded with a clean popping sound.

Behind the shadow puppet that collapsed like a blob of ink, someone wearing an old cloth like a hood revealed themselves.

“Who are you?!”

“Don’t be so wary, warrior of the proud Flame Knight Unit.”

The man said while drawing his sword. In the dark back alley, the pure white blade reflected what little light there was and sparkled.

“I am your ally… or while I cannot assert that with certainty right now, I am at least certainly the enemy of your enemy.”

“…Valen, lower your weapon.”

Rubila said quietly.

“But Captain.”

“I don’t sense any hostility. And…”

Rubila glanced at Delphina and the other members of the Flame Knight Unit and whispered.

“…He’s stronger than me.”

“…”

Valen silently frowned and slowly backed away.

[Y-you… why are you here.]

“Let’s save the joy of reunion for later, Your Highness.”

Toward the surprised shadow puppet of the Princess, the man shook his head and said.

“First, let me provide an explanation on behalf of the Princess.”

The man wearing the old cloth began to speak.

“These shadow puppets are a kind of avatar created by the shadow spirit serving the Princess. However, their control has been temporarily usurped by someone else.”

“…”

“The power felt from each individual might seem insignificant… but their actual combat power is absolutely not what meets the eye.”

The man shook his head and thrust his sword into the ground.

“So, with great apologies to the Princess… I will use ‘Sacred Law’ to drive them away.”

At his words, the Princess’s shadow puppet silently nodded.

Simultaneously, the blade of the man’s sword stuck in the ground glowed white.

If the previous light was brilliant from reflecting the faint sunlight, the current light was dazzling as the blade itself became a source of light.

[…I’ll see you later, everyone.]

Through the shadow puppet, the Princess spoke softly.

With the light emitted by the nameless man, the “usurped” shadow puppets surrounding them, including the Princess’s shadow puppet, were all annihilated at once.

“…This is.”

Delphina murmured softly.

“To manifest such a high-level Sacred Law without even reciting a prayer…”

Feeling her hand unconsciously tighten on her hammer, Delphina asked in a tense voice.

“Who exactly are you?”

“…Don’t be so wary, young Holy Knight.”

The man removed his hand from the blade stuck in the ground and took off the hood covering his head.

“I’ll introduce myself. My name is Jean.”

Beneath the discarded hood, brilliant white armor flashed.

“Jean Saturnus, Former General and Commander-in-Chief of the Valentine Imperial Guard.”

[So, the Right General and Rear General…]

“Not just them. Over 90% of the Imperial Guard has already been neutralized, and only a few of us, including myself and Left General Gilbert, have barely managed to escape without having our minds taken.”

The facts revealed by Jean Saturnus through Yuriana’s shadow puppet, which had belatedly rejoined the group, were shocking.

“…This might be karma. Perhaps it’s a divine trial imposed on us who thought that the invasion of the Demon King’s Army was none of our concern.”

Jean murmured with a bitter expression and lowered his head.

Except for the armor that gleamed with the protection of Sacred Law, the cloth parts were already worn and tattered.

As if he had been wearing only that outfit for days.

To him, as he lowered his head and sighed, Delphina cautiously asked.

“Then, where is this… Left General now?”

“That friend is staying at our base. It’s not a severe injury, but there are more wounded than expected, so they cannot move easily.”

[I’ll send a medical team right away…]

“No, Your Highness. You must not act hastily.”

However, Jean shook his head at the Princess’s words.

“The Imperial family has also mostly been occupied, and even we cannot clearly distinguish who is an enemy and who is an ally. If Your Highness acts hastily, you might be branded as having gone mad.”

[…This can’t be.]

The shadow puppet hopelessly hung its head.

“…I might be able to help.”

At that moment, Delphina cautiously raised her head.

“My Sacred Law specializes in healing and stabilization. That… Lord Saturnus’s Sacred Law is clearly impressive, but with that level of power and range, it must be extremely specialized in protection, right?”

“…You are correct. My Sacred Law is an aggressive one specialized in protection and evil destruction. I am not permitted to borrow the power of healing from God.”

“Then, I’ll take care of treating the wounded at your base.”

Delphina stepped forward and said.

“Really?! That would be more than…”

Jean, who was surprised, soon drooped his head and murmured.

“…No, I should decline after all. I cannot accept such a great favor from a young Holy Knight who has come from another country and has not even been formally knighted yet.”

Jean shook his head.

“I’m sorry. Please allow me to just accept your kind intentions.”

“…Then!”

Grasping Jean’s hesitant hand firmly, Delphina spoke again.

“What about a deal, how about making a deal?”

“…A deal?”

“Yes. You said that Oscar’s disappearance was also a plot by the Demon King’s Army that has taken control of the imperial family, right?”

“That’s for certain. I heard it directly from their mouths, and the Left General even confirmed it with his own eyes…”

“Then I’ll heal the remaining Imperial knights for you, so Lord Saturnus and Rubila, please head to the palace right away.”

“Right away… you say?”

Jean murmured in a confused voice, and only then did Rubila shout.

“That’s right, the Princess!”

[Princess Evangeline is alone at the imperial palace…!]

“I don’t think the Princess would be defeated so easily… but if what you say is true, the Princess who went there alone is in danger.”

Still firmly holding Jean’s hand, Delphina pleaded.

“I am the weakest among us… I don’t think I’d be much help if I went there.”

Delphina bit her lip with a bitter expression.

“Why is Princess Evangeline at the imperial palace?”

“Yes.”

[My father had been strangely persistent in requesting a private audience with Lady Evangeline… but I never imagined that would be his intention.]

“…This is dangerous.”

Jean murmured. After contemplating for a moment while his hand was held by Delphina, he eventually nodded.

“…Very well. We will act according to Lady Delphina’s proposal.”

“Really?!”

Only then did Delphina release Jean’s hand and rejoice as if about to jump.

Glancing down at his now free hand, Jean inwardly muttered.

‘…This is an absurd strength. Is she really a student?’

With his hand now bright red, Jean took out an old piece of paper from inside his clothing and handed it to Delphina.

“What’s this?”

“A rough map marking the hideout where our allies, including the Left General, are concealed.”

Jean said to Delphina, who had received the paper.

“Show that paper to a young man with a red cloth wrapped around his wrist and a dagger at his waist, and he’ll recognize you as someone I sent and help guide you.”

“…I understand!”

Delphina nodded, carefully accepting the map with both hands as if it were made of gold.

“Please… take care of the Princess.”

Delphina murmured with her head bowed, then quickly left.

“…”

Rubila, who had been silently watching her, soon turned her head and said quietly.

“Let’s go, to the imperial palace.”