Chapter 246 (1/2)
811'>
Chapter 246 – The Narrow Path to Vireocean
As promised, Kaglai prepared a carriage for Hikaru where he stayed most of the time. A total of twenty carriages and 500 knights were headed to Vireocean. It was quite the spectacle.
Hikaru checked the knights' Soul Boards, but none really stood out, so he stopped. One had four points on Sword, while most had three. A few even had only two points.
Ponsonia's knights are a bit stronger, Hikaru thought. Forestia's about two levels weaker overall, though.
A remarkably elegant carriage was prepared for the emperor. Hikaru's Mana Detection, however, sensed it wasn't Kaglai who was riding in it, but his double. The real Kaglai was in a carriage behind Hikaru's.
Hikaru couldn't help but give a strained laugh. It was as though the emperor was telling him “You will protect me if something happens, right?”. He seemed to have high hopes on his abilities.
Hikaru's existence itself was being kept secret, but this kind of special treatment drew attention. Moreover, he stayed inside all day and disappeared at night. All he did was have dinner secretly in town and buy food, though.
The knights visited the pubs in town as well. Hikaru followed them without his mask and sat on a table beside them, listening closely to their conversation.
「I know who's riding in that ghost carriage.」one said.
Of all the things to call it, they came up with “ghost,” huh? He couldn't blame them, though. He did try to hide himself the whole time.
The knights huddled together and talked in low whispers, never letting go of their beer mugs.
「Really? Who is it?」
「Don't tell anyone else about this, okay? Apparently, it's the daughter of His Majesty's distant relative. She'll be married to someone in Vireocean.」
「What? That calls for a celebration. Why hide her?」
「Well… it's her looks.」
「Not much to look at, huh?」
「You're being disrespectful.」
「Who cares at this point? We're guarding a carriage we know nothing about.」
「Strengthening our alliance, huh? But why present such a lady?」
「His Majesty doesn't have children. There's probably no other candidate.」
「Strengthening our alliance should be a joyous matter, but her looks calls for things to be done quietly. Is that it?」
「So that's the reason for the sudden trip to Vireocean. To show that His Majesty was handing over someone important, not a plain-looking person.」
「Yes, that makes sense.」
「Right? I heard the Foreign Minister talk about it to his personal attendant. He said there's no other explanation.」
「Wait, that sounds like even the Foreign Minister doesn't know the truth.」
「That's strange, then. The Foreign Minister and the Prime Minister sounds like they'd know.」
「Well, they both stayed behind in the capital.」
Hikaru didn't even know he became Kaglai's distant relative. It would seem that any information related to him was kept top-secret, probably to show that he was valued Hikaru that much.
Well, well. Aren't we good at making arrangements?
Part of him only escorted the emperor because it felt like he didn't have much of a choice. However, he also wanted to visit Vireocean at least once. Furthermore, it was the first time he'd heard of the Ruined Continent. He didn't want to flat-out reject Kaglai as he thought he could build a good relations.h.i.+p with the man.
Nothing unusual occurred on their journey until they approached the border between Vireocean and Quinbland. Advancing through a narrow path in the mountains required the carriages to form a long line with guards positioned at the front and back. High cliffs towered on both sides of the road.
It was early afternoon. Hikaru was lying down, nibbling dried meat while reading a book he bought from the town they stopped at. It was a collection of Vireocean's folklores. It cost him quite a lot since he actually bought it, but he could just sell it after Lavia was done reading.
「We're under attack!」
A high-pitched metallic sound rang out. Enemy attack? Hikaru got up. Then the ground rumbled, followed by shouts.
A monster.
No bandits would think about attacking such a heavily-guarded convoy. Hikaru got out the carriage and climbed up. He saw clouds of dust rising up ahead where the convoy stopped.
「d.a.m.n it, this thing's hard!」a knight wielding a short spear yelled, the tip of his spearhead broken.
They were fighting a Rock Dragon as big as a semi-truck. Overall, it looked like a turtle, but instead of a sh.e.l.l, it carried a rock on its back. The creature had two heads and eight legs as well.
The Rock Dragon's mouth trembled as it released a vibration. Smoke rose. Under the dragon's thick, slightly-opened eyelids were golden eyes. The knights attempted to rain a barrage of attacks on its face, but it quickly withdrew its head into its sh.e.l.l. Spearheads quickly broke as they thrust their weapons onto the rock.
「Surround it! It can't move with its head inside—」
As a commanding officer gave out orders, the Rock Dragon charged into a nearby knight.
「What the?!」