Lost Sword story · Main story, Part 1
Chapter 56: Flame Emperor
4 scenes, 188 lines
1. North Forest of the Monastery
44 lines
......
The hero's return...
The alliance's morale will soar higher than ever.
So high it can no longer be contained.
...I have no excuse, Your Majesty.
Raise your head. Apostle or not... no one can deal with every matter without fault.
Your Majesty...!
Thank you for your trust... Next time, I will surely bring back Princess Elizabeth...
No. For now, you should rest.
The wounds you suffered at Elizabeth's hands... they must not have healed yet.
......!
(...)
(This was his plan from the start.)
(Vortigern never truly trusted Rowena...)
(Vortigern never truly trusted Rowena. He knew they would fail, he was only waiting for the right moment.)
...You look as though you don't understand.
I am not condemning you.
I'm saying this is the time to pull back.
......
Even with your own hands, you could not subdue them.
That means the Swordbringer is not someone who can be beaten by sheer force alone.
...That is true. However...
Our purpose is to unify the continent, and seize true peace.
Meaningless sacrifice must be avoided, wherever possible.
So long as your purpose does not differ from mine.
...Of course not.
By Your Majesty's command... the Church will take time to reorganize.
We will not repeat the same mistakes again.
Good.
Sir Mordred.
Yes!
Destroy every bridge along the border at once.
There is no need to clash with the alliance while they are drunk on victory.
For the time being, we will focus on defense.
...You mean, retreat?
Yes.
If the gates are breached, fall back immediately. Burn the villages around us to sever their supply lines.
Not a step closer to the capital shall they come.
...Is that truly necessary?
The alliance is lost in a sweet but cruel dream.
Their arrogance, thinking they can win this war...
When that false hope shatters, they will realize they've been trapped in a nightmare from which they cannot wake.
All we must do... is wait.
Until the key to bringing down the Swordbringer is complete.
2. North Forest of the Monastery
30 linesVortigern and Rowena...
So the struggle for dominance between the two empires has finally begun.
Thanks to the Swordbringer... things will be much easier.
So what's your plan now?
The alliance won't go for a siege. Too many lives would be lost.
Princess Elizabeth cares for her people, she'll either look for another way...
Or focus on gathering reinforcements.
During a truce, there isn't much we can do.
There are still things that can only be done now.
Before the Swordbringer makes a move... we strike first.
The target... Apostle Anessa.
She must be dealt with before sunrise.
That's why we move first.
Even if the blonde knight has returned, the alliance will no doubt view Apostle Anessa as their foremost target for vengeance.
...So you plan to pin it on the Swordbringer?
They used me. I'll just use them in return.
Besides... Apostle Anessa still hasn't recovered from her battle with Princess Elizabeth.
Opportunities this perfect... don't come often.
Alrighty! As expected... I was right to follow you.
Still, we'll need more hands for this mission...
What about that knight from before?
That knight serves Princess Elizabeth.
And our agreement only lasted until she joined the alliance. We can't count on her now.
But... don't worry.
I've already secured a very capable mercenary.
3. North Forest of the Monastery
13 lines
Heh... so you hold a grudge against me?
But what now...?
It's hard to remember every single person at this point...
I don't have a grudge against you personally. But the order you serve... has more than enough sins to answer for.
So I'll have to ask you to retire here.
For my sake... and for the peace of Britannia.
Haha. As if I'd ever come alone.
You'd better be ready...
Because the crimes of your church... can't be repaid with just your life.
4. North Forest of the Monastery
101 lines
Gwoooaaahhh!!!
The top predators of the forest scattered in a panic.
Even when facing an enemy head-on, they bolted without resistance.
They were terrified, as if they had witnessed something that should never be faced.
...Ethan.
Yeah... it's right up ahead.
..! The Abyss... wasn't it said to rival even a demigod...?
You're saying this thing is on the same level as that dumb brute?
Ethan! Someone's collapsed up ahead!
Hm? Already... fresh toys have arrived?
...!
From the thicket, a girl emerged.
A red-haired girl, drenched head to toe in blood.
The instant I saw her, my legs froze in place.
Because that face was far too familiar.
Kay...?
......!
Karishara...?
Why... why are you here...?
......
No... that woman couldn't have survived...
Which means you must be...
The descendant of that foolish man.
Haha... so desperate to protect humans, and in the end...
Not even a scale remains. All that's left is one pitiful blessing.
Didn't I tell you, old woman?
Humans... are nothing but toys.
Crunch.
The figure, presumed to be Kay, stomped down on the corpse of a fallen imperial soldier.
Wait long enough... and they'll just replace themselves with new ones...
Endless, disposable toys!!!
If we didn't act now...
The three lying behind her would surely share the same fate.
I don't know their past.
But even from the brief words they'd once shared, I knew how much they cherished each other.
That's why... I couldn't bear to see Elizabeth forced to raise her blade against someone so dear.
......
Elizabeth stepped forward, her resolve clear.
Are you sure about this?
...Yes.
I won't run anymore.
I'll protect everyone who's believed in me... and followed me this far!
......
So once again...
Fate's been decided.
Fine. As always... I'll play along.
Let's begin this tiresome play... one more time.
She muttered incomprehensible words as she advanced.
I am Ifrit Agnes.
The one who will burn away my foolish master's cage, and reclaim freedom.
Yet the fate of one who sings the truth is cruel...
For slander will hound me, and my faith in the divine shall become my chains.
Even so...
I will gladly be the 'prisoner' who rises to the heavens.
Our beating wings will carry us... into the future of all.
Gaaaahhh!!!
Her power was beyond anything we could withstand.
The Abyss we faced in Isiel... even that could only be forced back relying on the Grail's power.
This outcome was inevitable.
Everyone was giving their all, but annihilation was only a matter of time.
Strange...
No holy sword, no Grail... not even that arrogant Fairy Queen.
The only one of use is the knight of the World Tree...
Don't tell me...
Ifrit gazed at us silently, then burst into mad laughter.
Hahaha!
Haha! Ahahahaha!!!
At last... my wish has been fulfilled!
Ghhk..!
Her chilling smile made the air heavy.
The hand gripping my sword trembled, my legs refused to move.
I've waited... so long for this day...!
Come now. This dull little play... is over.
This tiny cage... your rotten discipline...
I'll burn it all to ash, ugh?!
The murderous aura suffocating us suddenly wavered. She staggered.
Nngh... gaaaahhh!!!
......!
Kay...?!
Then we dashed off in the opposite direction.
...Damn it!
Even knowing whose gentle voice we had just heard...
We had no choice.
All we could do... was flee in disgrace.