Editing/Standardisation: Medicine Melancholy
Original Translation: Medicine Melancholy
Iris
We turned on our heels to continue the inspection when…
“Iris-chaaaaan!”
“Wah?!”
Suddenly, my face was buried in something soft, and my vision blacked out.
I couldn’t move my body, as if something was restraining me… No, something was indeed restraining me.
“Aaaah… I miss this sensation so much… I feel alive again…”
“Mmh?! Mmgh?!”
Even if I flailed about, the difference in size was simply too great.
I think I’m going to faint…
“That’s enough, Miriam. If you don’t release her, I’m sure the knights here are going to make you unalive.”
“Oops, sorry about that, nya. I’m just so happy to see Iris-chan that I can’t help myself… I said I’m sorry!”
I was finally released from the demon’s clutch and took a deep breath.
“(pants)… Long time no see, Milly-san…”
Seeing Milly-san clasping her hands together and apologizing in a flurry, I let out a chuckle.
“…What are you doing here, by the way?”
Looking around, I saw the other Shadow Regiment members, who weren’t accompanying Ashley-san. They were scaling the walls and drawing on them with what seemed like chalks.
Meanwhile, Milly-san would move from place to place and put her hands on the ground to do something.
It’s hard to tell because the surroundings are bright in daytime, but I could see light emanating from where she just touched.
“Ah, you mean these? It’s just a little something to support my spellcasting, nya.”
“Support?”
“Yeah, I can temporarily store my magic power within these magic circles in advance by touching them, so that I can draw them out later. For simplicity’s sake, just call them ‘batteries’, nya.”
How convenient… I didn’t remember something like that in the game.
“By the way, what those guys are drawing over there are magical formations that boost effective range and power of magic. Each individual formation is only calibrated for a single person, nya, so how about getting some of your own later, Iris-chan?”
“I’d pretty much appreciate that. Do we have a way of doing that ourselves?”
“Uh…”
Milly-san’s face turned sour for some reason.
“Well, I’m sure we can draw it if they teach us how… The thing is, can you see the chalk-like things those guys use to draw?”
“Um, I do. What’s the matter with them?”
“They cost three gold coins each, nya.”
“THREE?!”
I, along with Reiji-san and Nii-sama behind me, choked all at once.
Speaking of the coins, they’re all minted in Acropolis at the center of the world, and circulate as a universal currency. From the lowest to highest value, there’re bronze, copper, silver, gold and mithril coins.
And three gold coins are a month worth of an average person’s income.
Since we were sent here without any money, I’m not sure if we could even afford to buy even one of those…
“Such extravagance…”
“I heard that the chalks are made from mixing powdered magic stones, mithril ores and gypsum before hardening them, nya.”
“No wonder they’re so expensive…”
“At least we know that the elite forces of this country are sooo well-funded, nya.”
“I know right…”
No matter which world we live in, life is tough without money.
“So you’ve come, Prin… Miss Iris.”
Suddenly, a voiced called out from the stairs behind me.
When I looked back, I saw Zeltis-san and Philias-san walking up the stairs… accompanied by another person. If I recall correctly, he’s a magician belonging to the mercenary company…
“Iris-chan hasn’t really talked to him, has she?”
“Yes, I’m sorry about that…”
I affirmed Philias-san’s words.
I was a shy person and avoided talking to men as much as possible, so even though I knew everyone’s face in the mercenary company, I’d never talked to most of them… including this person.
“Considering Iris-sama’s circumstances, it couldn’t be helped. Allow me to properly introduce myself. My name is Diaz. Please to make your acquaintance.”
He bowed to me politely with his hand on his chest.
His demeanor, coupled with his clean-cut, all-back black hair and neatly coiffed appearance, makes him look like a…
“…Did you work as a butler?”
“Yes, that’s correct. He and I were once butler and maid serving the same house.”
“What Lenny-san said. I have a family name, but I have no use for it now, so simply calling me Diaz is fine.”
“I see…”
“More importantly, please take a look at this.”
He then placed the package he was carrying, which was about as long as I’m tall, on a nearby stand and set it down.
“What’s this…?”
“With this length and thickness, I’m assuming it’s a sword.”
Nii-sama and Reiji-san inspected the package with great interest. However…
“It’s cursed, isn’t it?”
The package was hastily wrapped in layers of cloth, with a number of talismans attached to it. For good measure, the metal fittings holding the ends together were shining with the azure glow of a certain magic nullification stone.
Even though it was sealed that tightly, I still felt a cold sweat dripping down my back when I looked at it. A very powerful curse must be residing within.
“Indeed. While we were searching the mayor’s mansion for any items that could be used, we came across this object hidden in its deepest parts.”
“According to the people who know what was going on, it was unearthed from the very same mining site that Iris-chan and the others went down to.”
“…That tunnel?”
The place where Reiji-san and I fell down into a hole, destroying Reiji-san’s sword in the process.
Come to think of it, why was there such a beautiful dome-shaped open space underground? It was by no means a naturally formed terrain.
The dome’s surface was covered with magic nullification stones, all protruding inward. It’s as if it were a cage to seal something in.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your leisurely time… but I have to ask if it’s possible to lift the curse.”
“Eh?! Oh, right, I’m the person to ask when it comes to curses, aren’t I?”
I put my thoughts aside and hurriedly examined the package.
Then I realized. The feeling of powerlessness that permeated throughout my entire body… I was familiar with this curse.
Yes, it’s the same uncanny feeling when I fought against the monster affected by the “Wound of the World” in the previous town.
That means whatever cursed the item inside had something to do with the “Wounds”.
“…It’s a bit difficult, but doable. I’ll begin to lift the curse now.”
There seemed to be no problem with unwrapping the package. I held out my hands to get it done as soon as possible.
“…Sixth True Mantra…”
My hands started glowing faintly.
“That which erases all curses and devilry, the all-encompassing light… Curse Dissolve.”
At the same time I finished chanting, a warm green light enveloped the wrappings, entangling the miasma they were cloaked in and disappearing into thin air.
As I gazed at the light, I felt like something was poured into my brain…
“…With my authority, I shall appoint you as the owner of this sword, ‘Save the Queen’.”
“A-Are you okay with that, XXXXXX-sama? This is an important matter, you should have given it more thought.”
“My, could it be that you’re afraid, XXXXXX? You think you’re not up to the task of protecting me or something?”
“That’s not true at all! More than anyone else, I want to-”
“Then it’s fine, isn’t it? Even if people complain about it, it’s I who have the final say, and I want you to take up this sword. Just like always, please take good care of me, my knight?”
Those two people again.
The cheerful yet mischievous young girl smiled and gave a sword to the boy of the same age as hers, looking troubled but somewhat happy.
This time, they were the youngest I’d ever seen of them. They were about my age… or a little younger. Is this… the memories that dwelled within this sword?
“…Wow.”
Reiji-san’s voice broke the silence, and my consciousness rapidly returned to reality.
When the curse was removed from the package, a sword in a delicately decorated white scabbard emerged from inside.
It was a somewhat large sword with a long handle that could be used with both hands, the so-called “bastard sword”.
I could hear the gasp of everyone present as they looked at this absolute work of art.
“…Iris? Is something wrong?”
“N-No.”
Wiping the tears from the corner of my eyes, I somehow managed to regain my peace of mind. But more than that, there’s something I had to say.
“This sword is… one of the ‘Save the Queen’ series, the ‘White Wisdom Arventia’… I believe that’s what it’s called.”
“Iris, you know about it?!”
“Yes… I don’t really get it, but I was granted this knowledge.”
And the name made my heart flutter. It was as if it is something I had known and cherished for a long time.
“Hmm… ‘Save the Queen’, you say? I’ve heard that name before.”
“Ashley-sama, is that true?”
“Yes. As written in literature, it’s a series of swords that generations of ‘Sacred Daughter’ of the Lightwing race, who were no longer with us, bestowed upon the knights protecting them.”
“And this sword here is one of them.”
“Unfortunately, this is the first time I’ve seen one in person… Oh, it’s stuck.”
Ashley-san grabbed the sword’s handle and tried to pull it out lightly, but it didn’t budge an inch from its scabbard. It seemed to be sealed.
Somehow, I knew the way to do it.
“…Excuse me, may I borrow it for a moment?”
Hearing my words, he immediately stepped aside, allowing me to grab the sword’s handle.
For a moment, light flashed on the golden pattern, which I thought was only decorative, and the scabbard released with a clang.
“It’s responding to Iris…?”
Nii-sama dumbfoundedly muttered.
When I applied slightly more force to it, I could feel the sword moving away from the scabbard.
“It seems that I can pull it out without any problem… And if I decide to entrust this sword to someone, they will be able to do that as well.”
“How did you know about all that…?”
I could only shake my head at Nii-sama’s perfectly reasonable question.
“I’m sorry, I really don’t understand how it worked… I just took a look at this sword, and I gained the knowledge about it, that’s all I can say.”
Carefully, I pulled the sword out of its scabbard a little.
What came out from inside was a pure white, slightly curved blade. Such an elegant blade was adorned with several gemstones… magic stones, perhaps.
“The blades seems a bit cracked.”
“I can’t sense any power from the magic stones either.”
If it had been neglected for many years, that would be unavoidable. However, it still had tremendous power as a weapon.
“At its current state, it’s probably no better than any weapon out there, to be honest.”
“So you’re saying it’s still usable, right?”
“Let Iris, who broke the seal, decide who gets to wield it. Apparently, only the person to whom she entrusts this sword is able to use it.”
“Eh… Ehhhhh?”
Hold on a minute! Isn’t this incredibly embarrassing?!
After all, its name is “Save the Queen”, emphasis on “Queen”!
Am I going to appoint somebody as my knight just like a fairytale queen?!
“My lovely Princess, I assume you’ve already had someone in mind?”
While my mind was in disarray, Zeltis-san “gently” gave me a little nudge.
…He wasn’t wrong. From the moment this process began, I had already decided who I would entrust it to. But I was embarrassed. Afraid, even.
Steeling myself, I put the sword back into the scabbard and held it up.
Then… I moved in front of that person.
I don’t know why, but I was terribly nervous. My own heart was racing and pulsing wildly, and my throat was not quite ready to speak.
But I somehow managed to blurt out my desire.
“…Reiji-san. May I entrust this… ‘White Wisdom Arventia’ to you…?”
“…Me?”
“Ah, um, you see, you don’t have a weapon to use at the moment… Erm, I think this sword is just the right size for you… Yeah…”
Yes, it’s natural that he should get this sword, right?
Silence followed.
“…You don’t want to…?”
“N-No, it’s not like that at all, argh!”
I looked up when he suddenly raised his voice.
He was turning his gaze away from me, but his hands were poised to receive the sword I was holding.
“…Alright then, I’ll take this sword. Can I give it a try?”
For some reason, literally everyone else gave their nod of approval as the fidgeting Reiji-san took the sword I was holding out to him.
With a cool sound, the entire sword’s blade was pulled out of the scabbard.
The single-edged blade, which was pure white all the way to the tip, was much broader than the typical Japanese sword. On the lower half of the blade’s back, there was a handle-like gap, which could be gripped.
A powerful yet graceful sword fitting its “Save the Queen” name. That was my first impression.
“Not bad… It won’t take long for me to get used to this one.”
And so, after swinging it for a few times, he sheathed it with satisfaction and carried it on his shoulder.
“Though, I feel like this sword is a little too overleveled for me to use.”
“How so?”
“I get a bit exhausted when wielding it. Don’t worry, it’s nothing worth concerning.”
“Both you and the sword aren’t in perfect shape yet, I guess.”
“Just imagine how awesome it’d be when we’re actually in perfect shape. Anyway, I like this sword, thanks for giving it to me.”
Reiji-san then patted my head as if in a good mood.
Oh well, as long as he’s happy. I let out a breath of relief.
“Well then, let’s check out the other places too. Hayato must have been outside helping set up the traps, so we should pay him a visit.”
Saul-niisama clapped his hands and urged us onward to the next location.
As everyone began walking, Reiji-san quickly caught up beside me, who was slightly behind.
“I’ve said it many times already… but no matter what happens, I’ll protect you. I swear by this sword.”
“Yes, please take good care of me, Reiji-san.”
I couldn’t help but smile at him next to me, feeling a rush of joy I didn’t understand.
Why is my heart throbbing so much when he said that?
(Author’s Note)
Would “Save the Princess” be a more appropriate name than “Save the Queen”?
APM - Translation 