Chronicle Legion:Volume 1 Epilogue

Epilogue

Chevaliers of the Kinai Fiefdom had led an army of roughly two hundred Kamuys to invade Suruga.

The following day after this army's defeat at the hands of Tachibana Masatsugu...

Akigase Rikka recovered early in the morning from her unconscious state.

Hearing news of victory, she nodded contentedly. She was currently at the tutelary fort's office, reviewing combat videos recorded by the genie Sakuya.

The red-purple Kamuys active on the screen were apparently named Kanesadas.

"Impressive."

Watching the Kanesadas' battle and Tachibana Masatsugu's command, Rikka could not help but offer praise.

Using noetic control to play the records, Sakuya was standing quietly in front of the desk. Of course, she was a non-corporeal image.

"Say, he only summoned a hundred Legions? As suspected, he is hiding his true name and Chevalier Strength, isn't he...? Sakuya, share your thoughts."

"Impossible to speculate. I cannot answer."

The spirit's response left Rikka hanging. She recalled Masatsugu's handsome face.

Fine, whatever. She would ask him personally the next time she saw him. Or perhaps, she could pay a visit to the princess' residence today to have a unhurried discussion.

"I must thank him. As fellow Chevaliers, there are also topics to chat about..."

Justifying herself, Rikka looked at the top of the desk.

While she was unconscious, a pipe fox messenger had arrived from outside of Suruga City, bringing many news and orders.

First of all, Rikka's attention fell to "The British forces confirmed so far."

The British Imperial Forces aiding—no, leading—the Restoration Alliance belonged to the Far East Fleet's First Expeditionary Brigade.

The Legion-deploying knightly fleet included seven Chevaliers and three large destroyers.

In addition, there were four landing crafts crewed by their respective marines. Others included supply vessels in charge of military logistics, special enchanted ships of the retainer beast task force, etc...

After that, Rikka read the message sent by her father, Akigase Shouzan.

There was no personal letter at all, purely orders issued by the Tōkaidō region's Governor General.

"Defend the Suruga tutelary fort until further instructions... That is simply unreasonable. But to think that he ordered me to remain here..."

Rikka smiled wryly. She originally thought her father would order her to leave Suruga City, just as the princess had speculated a few days earlier.

"This means he has a plan to counterattack—?"

It was the fourth day since Suruga's invasion.

After the eventful weekend, it was finally Monday. However, the imposition of martial law in Suruga City had not changed.

With the Restoration Alliance blockading the surroundings, no one could leave Suruga City.

However, at Rinzai High's Black Lily Dorm—the imperial princess' residence—there were a number of changes.

The lady of the house had recruited a knight, and that man had obtained both a dangerous Japanese sword and an army of Legions within a few short days.

It was after 9am. After a late breakfast...

Shiori, Masatsugu, and Hatsune were gathered in the conversation lounge.

"Oh no! It's raining!"

The lady-in-waiting, Hatsune, left the room in a rush.

Large raindrops were falling outside the window. She must have gone to retrieve the laundry.

"It feels kind of strange." Left alone with the princess, Masatsugu told his new liege, "This city is facing war, yet as residents, we're simply going about with our relatively normal lives."

Likewise, everyone was busy with their own laundry and cooking. Random shops in the city were still in business.

After the proclamation of martial law, educational institutions had suspended classes. Taisei had sent a message earlier to say that many students were still gathering in Rinzai High's school building. Masatsugu and company also planned to check it out later.

"Times are different nowadays compared to the ancient or medieval world. Besides, with the Charter of Chivalry in place, doing anything too heinous would lead to international isolation. But of course..." replied Shiori, relaxing while sitting on the sofa.

Masatsugu was at the window side, looking out at the rain that was getting heavier.

"There are many battlefields in this world where such 'ideology' does not apply."

"I see," Masatsugu nodded in agreement.

More precisely, this concerned the difference between "expansionist warfare" and "civil war / coup d'etat."

"By the way, Masatsugu-sama..." Shiori asked him a question, "Do you still... not know what era and country you were born in?"

"No, I don't, Princess. There aren't enough clues in the fragmented memories you helped me to see."

At the water shrine, Masatsugu had gotten a glimpse of his past. He actually could not recall most of the details, such as what kind of armor he wore or how the horses were outfitted in his former life.

It was like the ambiguous contents of a dream.

If he could recall the style of equestrian gear, there might be a chance to unravel the mystery of his past.

"To be honest," Masatsugu said candidly, "I'm not interested in my past at all. For the past two years, it's been very clear to me that I can live on despite amnesia."

"Well..."

"It's just that knowing my true name will make it easier to replenish ectoplasmic fluid. With that accomplished, it should be possible... for me to match that Chevalier from last night," said Masatsugu, gazing out the window.

Having become Princess Shiori's knight, a clash with that top general of the British was inevitable. Before that showdown, he must bolster his own combat strength.

Yet he still had not found the key to opening the door to his memories.

What a worrying future—Just as Masatsugu thought that, he noticed something.

He was at the window looking at the rain scenery. The glass reflected the scene behind him, which happened to include the princess sitting on the sofa.

Shiori seemed a bit restless.

It looked like she wanted to say something but stopped herself every time.

After seeing it repeat four times, Masatsugu spoke up, "Princess, what's with you?"

"N-Nothing, please do not mind me!" Greatly shaken, Shiori coughed lightly before saying, "M-Masatsugu-sama, could you please come over?"

Shiori inexplicably made such a request but Masatsugu had no reason to refuse. He walked over to the sofa and sat down on Shiori's left. She extended her left hand—

Her delicate hand settled gently on top of Masatsugu's right hand.

So warm. Masatsugu could feel a comfortable warmth from her palm.

"I knew it..." Shiori sighed. "Masatsugu-sama, your body normally tends to be cold."

"I guess. I've had my body temperature measured a few times. The average is thirty-four degrees Celsius."

"Th-This number is clearly abnormal. My guess is that is undoubtedly related to the problem of ectoplasmic fluid supply!"

"I see, so that's why."

For the past two years, whenever Masatsugu had his temperature taken at places like hospitals, everyone always found it unbelievable.

After knowing the reason, Masatsugu nodded.

Turning her head away, deliberately avoiding Masatsugu's face, Shiori said, "Consequently... We must properly prepare on a regular basis."

"Prepare?"

"Indeed. Daily or once every few days, if I were to share the precursor of ectoplasmic fluid—the warmth of my blood—with you in suitable quantities..."

The princess kept her warm palm on top of Masatsugu's right hand the whole time.

"Masatsugu-sama, you should be able to use even more Kanesadas."

Masatsugu was instantly enlightened. So there was this solution too. However, how much energy he could store and how great a burden this would impose on Shiori's health were questions that could only be answered after trying it.

Regardless, this experiment was worth trying for sure.

"Princess."

Masatsugu called out to Shiori in gratitude, gazing intently at the side of her face.

Shiori still refused to make eye contact. The reason was very simple. Holding hands was very embarrassing already and she was too bashful to look upon Masatsugu's face.

However, Shiori replied, "P-Please pay no mind to it. Masatsugu-sama, we share the same destiny now... I have also promised to assist you in every way possible."

"That's true, then I'd better hurry and liberate Suruga City before the date of the school festival."

"A-Are you referring to the beauty contest...?"

"Don't forget to wear a swimsuit, Princess."

"Ooooooh..."

Masatsugu's reminder prompted Shiori to hang her head in embarrassment.

During the whole time, their hands remained superimposed together. Then—

"Princess, Onii-sama! I successfully retrieved the laundry without getting a single raindrop on it at all!"

A patter of running footsteps could be heard from the corridor. They heard Hatsune's cheerful report.

Having fulfilled her duties as lady-in-waiting and chorewoman, Hatsune returned to the conversation lounge.

"Princess, what's going on here?"

"Nothing at all, I am simply checking the stains on the ceiling."

Hatsune was astonished by Shiori's elegant reply.

Five seconds earlier, the princess was still sitting next to Masatsugu, holding his hand. Now, she was standing on the low table in front, wearing a serene smile.

Indeed, the instant she heard Hatsune's voice...

Shiori was very afraid of letting Hatsune witness the sight of them holding hands.

Hence, she had released Masatsugu's hand and stood up from the sofa in such a rush that she ended up jumping onto the table.

Considering her poor athleticism, this was quite a feat of agility.

The maiden's sense of shame must have awakened dormant potential (?) within herself.

"May I trouble you to prepare a cup of black tea...? I am so sorry for asking you to do this immediately after your return."

"No problem, right away~" answered Hatsune cheerfully to the princess standing on the table.

Blessed with outstanding intelligence and beauty, Fujinomiya Shiori was a master of facades.

However, she often tripped up in Tachibana Masatsugu's presence, exposing her panicking and anxious sides once in a while. Masatsugu's liege in the modern world was truly a fascinating girl.

As for Tachibana Masatsugu himself, he was an ancient warrior with a forgotten name and lost memories, a powerful Chevalier... Unfortunately, he could not draw upon his power freely.

In any case, the battles facing these two were only just beginning.

Imperial Japan, the Eastern Roman Empire, and the British Empire. The ever-shifting alliances and rivalries between these three countries would plunge the islands of Japan into conflict and turmoil—

The curtain had risen upon a dramatic tripartite era, mirroring that of the Three Kingdoms.

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