Lost Sword story · Main story, Part 1
Chapter 27: Aurelia
2 scenes, 91 lines
1. Southern Desert
75 linesHot desert, blazing sun.
We were wandering in the heart of the scorching desert.
This is all Ethan's fault!
What?! You should have told me it would break easily!
You should have dodged the attacks instead of recklessly taking them! Ugh...
That's right.
The artifact broke under the guardian's attack...
This is really too much...
Haa... Princess... I think this is it for me... I hope you can be a whale swimming in a cool beach in your next life...
Hurk... I should tell him...
Urgh...
My consciousness began to fade.
Is this really it this time? I lost my senses, overwhelmed by the harshness of reality that I couldn't believe.
Uhm...?
Are you okay?
This is...
Hehe, you were lucky.
If you hadn't been found by the search party, you would have become a skeleton.
And you are?
She looked down at me with her long black hair flowing as she stood up.
Congratulations, Princess Elizabeth. He awakened safely.
Ethan! Are you back to your senses?
I'm glad, Ethan!
... She...
She's already having a meal.
Typical of a gluttonous fairy...
Once you've regained your strength, please come to the reception room. I'll see you there.
I woke up in the Aurelia Principality.
It was a republic on the southern continent, facing off against the Ygritte Grand Empire.
Thanks to the invention of Magitek Weaponry, this place was able to maintain equal status and avoid becoming a colony of Ygritte.
Reception Room
So, did you rest well?
Thank you, Duchess. I owe you my life.
She was Duchess Isabelle, the ruler of this place. We expressed our gratitude for her hospitality and discussed our circumstances.
Isabelle seemed very intrigued when she heard about the ruins in the desert.
Oh, a map to the Holy Sword.
If I were to take that map from you now, I could find the Holy Sword myself, right?
That's...!
Hehe, just kidding.
Even the Holy Sword is just a magical artifact that appears in legends.
If that's the case, it would merely be a symbol to prove the legitimacy of royal authority.
Yes... that's correct.
Let's get to the point. What can you do for us if we help you?
Uh... Open trade between our nations and provide tariff benefits...
That's insufficient, you know? We're already living abundantly thanks to the Magitek Weaponry.
Moreover, preparing ships to the northern continent incurs significant costs.
And if it becomes known that you helped us, we could become an enemy of Vortigern, who seized power in Britannia.
Wouldn't that benefit only the Ygritte Grand Empire?
...
Indeed, there's a reason she ascended to the position of duchess at such a young age.
If I can't make an attractive offer here, I might get chased away.
... That woman had a solid pride in her Magitek Weaponry.
Then...
We teleported from the Britannia continent to here in one go.
Do you have such artifacts in your Magitek Weaponry?
Distances like that... would be impossible even with Magitek Weaponry. I was curious ever since I heard the situation.
Then how about this? This will help with your research.
Ethan! That's from Vivien!
It's already broken and useless anyway. Let's bet on that woman's curiosity.
...
That's a very interesting proposal.
The last artifact left by the ancient fairy Oberon...
You know how to negotiate, don't you?
If you're not interested, we could just sell it to the Ygritte Grand Empire and rent a ship.
Hmm...
Isabelle, who had fallen into thought for a moment, soon came back with an answer.
Alright. I'll provide a ship.
Ah, thank you, Duchess!
However, before preparing the ship, I'd like you to help with some artifact research.
Please gather the mana stones that come from the guardians near the ruins.
Sure. That sounds easy enough.
The artifact Vivien gave us broke down, and we drifted in the middle of the desert until we lost consciousness. Fortunately, we were rescued by the Aurelia Principality, ruled by the young Duchess Isabel. I proposed a deal to Duchess Isabelle in order to secure a ship.
2. Oberon's Ruins F4
16 linesOh, hey Morgana. A stranger just appeared...
You said we don't know what might pop out, right?
Ugh... I almost died...
That's an enormous mana stone...
This amount is more than enough. Let's head back.
Aurelia Castle Reception Room
Hehe. So, you really are as impressive as they say, the Swordbringer?
You've brought us a mana stone that our duchy would take a year to gather.
It's almost like seeing our founder.
Is the ship ready?
Yes, it's docked at the pier.
Hehe, we should be the ones thanking you, Princess Elizabeth.
Thanks to the mana stones you brought, our budget for the year is more than sufficient.
We were able to board the ship after bringing the mana stones. We are heading back to Cameliard.