LIGHTNOVELWORLD Episode 12
Episode 12
Perhaps because I don’t usually go up and down the stairs in my daily life, I can feel that the muscles in my legs, which I usually don’t move much, are cramping.
“Ugh…”
“It’s about time, isn’t it? I’ll cast healing magic.”
Due to the so called doctor’s orders, I sat down on the stairs. The moment I sat down, my legs were hit with intense fatigue and weakness.
I’ll be fine with healing magic, but without it, I don’t think I can stand for a while.
“Hey, what floor are we on now?”
“The 127th floor. You’ve really been working hard.”
“…And we still have another 73 floors to go… I wish I hadn’t asked.”
“Well, why did you ask then?”
Alshade’s exasperated gaze pierces into me.
I couldn’t help but wonder how far we had come.
But the truth is, having 200 stairs is just ridiculous. Whoever made this hidden passage must be insane.
Even if they hadn’t made the stairs this deep, it’s not like they’d hit either the water supply or the sewage system. There’s no need to
worry about other basements.
And did the passage really need all those curves and corners?
While thinking such futile thoughts, I am enveloped in the warmth of the healing magic, and the fatigue in my legs vanishes.
“There, all done. Let’s tackle the remaining 73 floors!”
“Miss, are you okay? I know you’re trained, but you don’t usually climb this many stairs, Right?”
“I wanted to say that I’m used to it, but now it’s getting tough, so I’ll use healing magic a bit more once I climb a little further. If I only cast it on
myself, I can do it even while going up the stairs.”
Alshade says that, but her face looks calm and composed as if it’s nothing.
However, it seems to me that her pace has slowed down considerably compared to when we started climbing.
“…………Rios, there’s something I want to talk about before we get to the surface. There are also things I want to
confirm after that conversation.”
“What is it?”
As we resume climbing the stairs, Alistair speaks with a very serious and tense voice.
I respond with a serious tone as well.
“I want to talk about the expected enemy forces and the situation of my allies. You probably have some idea, even
without prior knowledge, that getting to the surface won’t be the end of it.”
Even without prior knowledge, it’s easy to figure out that Alshade’s abduction by the underground organization and the presence of
multiple betrayers in the Baltzfeld family’s mansion suggests this.
So, I nod, urging her to continue.
“First, about the enemies. I think it’s undoubtedly my uncle, Hyann, the current head of the family. And the enemy forces would include the organisation that kidnapped me, under his order. There might also be some people from the Lumiarde Empire, although their numbers won’t be large.”
“The Lumiarde Empire?”
“Yeah, you must know something about the war with the neighboring country, right?”
“Oh, yes, there were people from the slums who were planning to join as mercenaries or volunteers for the war.”
“If there is a rebellion at this time, the Empire is undoubtedly involved. They may have sent personnel for surveillance purposes.“
As Alshade says, it’s certain that we’ll be fighting not only her uncle and the underground organization but also people from the Empire.
If this were a pre-war subversive activity, it might be possible to avoid leaving any evidence. However, the war has already begun, so even if they fail and get exposed, it wouldn’t matter.
At least, the enemy forces are not opponents that Alshade and I can handle alone. What’s crucial for our victory is our allies, but I can think of only one person, Alshade’s master, who taught her the sword, besides whom I don’t know anyone else.
“What about our allies? Even if there were security guards, including the servants and gatekeepers in the mansion, I assume they’ll be held responsible for your abduction or to be suspected of involvement.”
“That means most of our allies won’t be able to move, and they might have been captured by the enemy already?”
“That’s right.”
Alshade’s master appears in the original story as well. He appears as a mid-boss before Alistair’s battle, and his strength is unquestionable. He is an ally of hers, as far as I know. Well, with him around, any ordinary subordinates might as well not exist.
What concerns me is the underground organization that serves the Baltzfeld family. Did they get outsmarted, or did they betray the cause? Without knowing that, it’s hard to trust them.
“I’ve met the leader of the underground organization before. He values honor and trust, so I think he can be relied on. However, since he was also in charge of surveillance, counterintelligence, and espionage in the underworld, I believe there might be traitors within.”
“Is that safe?”
“At worst, we’ll proceed without relying on the underground organization. We just need some extra hands to prevent the enemies from escaping.”
I see. If Alshade’s master were to chase them all alone, and they scatter in different ways, capturing everyone would be impossible.
Ideally, she wants to capture everyone, prevent the enemy from getting information, and secure their own sources of information. That’s why she would like to use the power of her underground organization if possible.
“Of course, unexpected situations are also possible. For example, what if the Empire sends someone who is as powerful as my master…”
Though she seems to think of it as unlikely, from my perspective with prior knowledge, what Alshade said is not impossible.
The mastermind behind this incident is a person who appeared in the original story, and his underground organization is full of skilled individuals. It wouldn’t be strange if he sent skilled individuals to keep her master in check.
“And… there’s one thing I’ve been hiding from you, Rios. When I asked if you would serve as a soldier, if you agree to come with me, I will help you gain the ability to use magic. Specifically, you will become a knight in my service.”
“A… knight!?”
I was surprised, but it also made sense.
In this world, a knight refers to someone who has been given the ability to use magic by nobles. During the process of gaining the ability to use magic, there’s a certain kind of contract between the noble and the knight, and a connection is formed with the magic. This allows the noble to sense the knight’s emotions. That’s how it was supposed to work.
In other words, becoming a knight means that one’s emotions are transparent to the master, and any disloyalty would be immediately detected.
The thunder attribute is a powerful one against living beings, and making someone proficient in it, a part of the force while also making them less likely to betray would be the most effective choice.
And asking for confirmation at this timing means that even if Alistair relies on her master during the battle against her uncle Hyann, she wants to use me as a Military Force.
“While my master will be there during the battle against Hyann, I can’t guarantee your safety. But you’ve already been spotted by the underground organization and are a target. If you want to live without fear of them, even if there’s no assurance of your life, accepting this proposal is your only
choice. I know it’s unfair. With that said, I want to confirm with you—”
—Do you intend to become my knight? ”
With those words, Alshade stands in an overwhelmingly superior position, seemed somewhat anxious, her turquoise eyes flickering.
___
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