Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Chapter 4
Status: Incomplete
10% completed (estimated)
Chapter 4 - Lost memories, Albion Forest
Part 1
At dawn, Silvia who woke up suddenly felt something on her chest.
“Hey, Eco! Where do you think you are sleeping!?”
“Zzzz…”
Like a child sucking on its mother’s breast, Eco buried her face in Silvia’s chest. Apart from that, her right hand was even grabbing onto Silvia’s breast.
Silvia’s breast shook from Eco moving her fingers.
“Aah… Nnn… I-If you touch it like that… Aah…!”
Without thinking, Silvia sat up and to calm herself down, she pull Eco’s arm away with some force.
“Tsk… How rude can you be…”
She was embarrass at herself for making those unladylike sounds.
It was somewhere past six when she looked at the clock placed by the side of her pillow. Usually, it was around that time Cosette will wake her up.
“How careless of me! How can I…!”
Although it is the summer holidays right now, Silvia’s pride still won’t allow negligence. After giving a few light slaps on the both sides of her face, she stood up from the bed.
She starts her day with some independence training,[1] then with her own hands she will feed Lancelot. Those are her usual routine.
“Ermm… My dragsuit… Where is my dragsuit…?”
Without Cosette, Silvia will have to take care of her own clothings. With this, Silvia now felt the pain of how much she relies on Cosette.
Right at that moment…
-Doooooom!
There was a familiar sound outside of the window.
“Is that… The sound of a Strada landing?”
Silvia opened the window in surprise.
Just as expected by Silvia, by looking down towards the garden of Epona House, there stood a familiar strada.
And a crater was formed around it.
“Tsk… Your riding ability is indeed one of the best but you should change that emergency landing habit of yours. It causes quite some trouble…”
Silvia sighed.
The rider was a lady and was wearing a moss green coloured uniform. Once she noticed Silvia, she immediately leaped off from the saddle and greeted:
"I am the first-class palace messenger, Olietta Blanc! I am here to send the letter that was to be received by Princess Silvia, Her Royal Highness from Cosette Shelley-dono!"
“…From Cosette!?”
Unnoticed by Silvia, she herself was putting all her strength in gripping the window frame.
Part 2
After seeing Olietta off, Silvia walked towards the seventh dragon house.
Since it was the summer holidays, there were no other dragons except Lancelot in the seventh dragon house.
Lancelot too had woken up early to match with Silvia. In contrast to Eco, Lancelot was a dragon who follows the rules.
“Sorry for the wait, Lancelot. It is time for breakfast.”
After Silvia place the defrosted meat in front of Lancelot, Lancelot cried in joy and strat enjoying its food.
Silvia then took out the letter with her back facing Lancelot. It was the letter that she just received from Olietta.
-I want you to return to the palace and investigate the name list of the children who went to the orphan ceremony at the same day as me.
Cosette who obeyed Silvia’s orders to return to the palace had took the trouble to contact with Silvia through the palace messenger.
“Did she manage to find it? Or did anything unexpected happen…?”
Her heart was thumping like the morning alarm.
A little courage was required before she can tear open the envelope.
Dear Princess-sama,
How are you? Right now, I am staying at Fontaine Palace.
About the investigation, it seems that five years ago a fire had burnt off a part of the documents related to the Orphan Ceremony.
In among the documents, it include the name list of the children who succeeded in the Orphan Ceremony in the past ten years.
Even so, the information that I obtain said that the documents that was burnt was a copy and the original name list was kept at a different place.
Now, I will continue my search at the location of the name list.
Please be patient while waiting for the news.
Cosette . Shelley.
Silvia was worn out and gave a long sigh after she finished reading. Lancelot gave Silvia a curious peek.
Silvia grumbled while grooming Lancelot’s fur:
“Tsk… Where in the world is that ‘Location’? Even thought she was a person who has a keen eye for details, it is troublesome when she forgotten to write the most important thing…”
Part 3
After their breakfast, Ash together with Eco and Silvia went to the director’s office.
Although it was in the middle of the summer holidays, Mirabel was still at the director’s office. She seemed to be reading some difficult books. On top of her table was a mountain load of documents. The working room itself looked more like a private room.
Mirabel spoke in a cold voice:
“What’s the matter?”
She said that while looking at her own documents.
“We have something to ask from Anee-ue. It is about the practical test.”
Ash was glad that Silvia spoke first.
Ash was bad with dealing with Princess Mirabel. To him, Veronica seemed a lot more easier to deal with.
After hearing that, Mirabel close her book without any expression changes.
“So you had decide your destination?”
“Yeah. We would like to head to Albion Forest.”
Mirabel tilted her head a little after Silvia answered directly.
“Your chosen destination was located at quite a remote area. Apart from that, Albion Forest is a sacred place. That place should be tightly guarded by the Albion Forest Military Order.”
“Of course I knew that. However, Ash and Eco must head there. And I intend to help them.”
“May you tell me their reasons for that?”
Ash was shivering from Mirabel’s sharp glance. But now is not the time to stay frightened.
“Ermm… Actually…”
Just when Ash was about to answer…
“Hold on!”
Suddenly, Mirabel stopped him and took out a watch. Ash was shocked seeing the royal’s solemnity.
“It is tea time, Eunice.”
“On my way, Princess-sama.”
Eunice who was like a statue spoke for the first time.
“Hey! How can you drink tea when someone was halfway through his talk!”
Ash grumbled at Mirabel who was doing things at her own pace.
“Do you have a problem with that?”
Her ice magic liked glance was putting pressure on Ash.
“No, sorry for bothering you…”
After Ash’s voice turned softer, the room was filled with the smell of bergamot.
Taking a look beside, Eco was sniffing around. It seemed that she took interest in Mirabel’s red tea. It was a different type of interest compare to Ansal. But it was indeed a smell that a dragon would fell in love with.
Eunice spoke when she saw Eco’s interest:
“Would the three of you like a cup of tea?”
Part 4
The three of them were sitting together on a sofa.
Ash who had no interest in tea can only think of ‘I had a nice smell’. However, it was different for Eco.
“This is wonderful… This is the first time I drank such a great cup of tea.”
Silvia explained to Eco who was amazed:
“Anee-ue was picky about red teas. By the way, this tea is called Earl Gloriana from Chalone.”
“Earl… Groo…?”
Eco almost bite her tongue.
“This kind of tea leaf is famous in the world. You should enjoy it properly.”
“It that so? I don’t know anything…”
Eco was enjoying her tea happily.
“Erm… Princess-sama, shouldn’t we start the main topic?’
Ash noticed that it is bad to keep on talking about teas and so he urged Silvia.
“Aah. That’s right. Can we start now, Anee-ue?”
“You have my permission.”
Mirabel agreed.
Part 5
Mirabel’s expression never changes during Silvia’s entire explanation. It is the same even when Silvia mention about Ash and Eco being summoned by Mother Dragon.
Mirabel said something after Silvia finished.
“I understand your situation. Good job for thinking out the idea to finish two tasks in one trip. However, Ash Blake, there is one problem. How do you intend to head there? It will take you two week to reach there by land. Or do you intend to let Eco to transform into a dragon?”
Mirabel glance was like a blizzard approaching Ash.
“No, that is impossible. Eco could not control her transformation with her own conscious.”
“Sorry for being useless…”
Eco puffed up her cheeks. Even so, it was the truth that she couldn’t control her own transformation. There is nothing that she can do about it.”
Right after that, Mirabel threw Eco a cold glance.
“Young dragon Eco, there is nothing bad for being useless. It is a matter of life and death for the Knight country when you transformed at a poor time. Because of you crushing the Empire’s airship Beowolf, the Knight Country’s government is having a headache.”
“Urgh…”
Even Eco turned speechless.
Even she felt responsible for it.
That’s right. Using the reason of Eco’s dragon form crushing Beowolf, the Empire’s government kept on protesting.
According to the latest newest, to achieve peace, the Knight Country’s government intended to pay for the compensation. Of course at the same time it will cause an impact on the Knight Country’s finance.
“But it is all because of the Empire’s fault…”
Ash said what he truthfully thought in front of Mirabel.
“Whatever the case may be, it is also the truth that the Empire’s airship was destroyed by a dragon. If the situation was any worst, it could turn into an all out war. Shouldn’t we be glad we if we can have this settled with money alone?”
For the first time, Mirabel kept her eyes away from the documents she was reading and looked at Ash, Silvia and Eco.
“With that, if you can take back an item that can only be found in Albion, I will consider you pass the exam. About that… In this season a flower called Rex Albioni should be blooming. How about it?”
Ash had heard of the name of the flower before. It was a flower that can only be found in Albion Forest. Every summer, its white coloured flowers will bloom.
“Understood. We will definitely return with Rex Albioni.”
After she declared, Silvia turned her sigh towards Ash and Eco.
“It had been decided. Please prepare your stuff as soon as possible. We will depart tomorrow morning!”
“Aah… That’s right. But…”
Silvia was confused when she saw that Ashwas hesitating.”
“What’s wrong? Are you still worrying about anything?”
Ash nodded and looked at Mirabel.
“Ermm… Princess Mirabel?”
“What your problem?”
“You had certainly had said that you were here in Ansarivan under Princess Veronica’s orders… But the actual reason is to keep an eye on Eco, am I right?”
“That’s right. That is what the muscle freak’s intention.”
“M-Muscle…!?”
“Ara, do you even have to be surprise? What I am saying are the truth.”
Ash was surprised that Mirabel ruined the heroine like Veronica’s character with just only the word ‘muscle freak’. It seemed that Mirabel didn’t think that it is worth respecting Veronica at all.
“P-Putting that aside… Is it really all right for you to allow us away from your sight? Doesn’t it contradict with Veronica’s intention?”
Mirabel suddenly place her tea cup on the table.
“Hmm, you are smarter than I thought you were. But, you don’t have to worry about your assumptions. To me, Veronica’s orders are nothing.”
“What do you mean?”
“Let’s assume that Eco once again turned into a dragon and what can we do about it? If there is a person who can stop this disaster, it can only be Ash Blake the owner of Eco. And we are not Ash Blake. Isn’t it?”
“That… That may be true but why would you took the trouble to come to Ansarivan?”
“With or without Veronica’s orders, I have my own personal matter to solve in Ansarivan. And that’s the sole reason.”
“What kind of a matter is that? Is it possible for you to tell us about it?”
“The answer is NO[2]. You shall not ask anything beyond this.”
Mirabel refusing to answer Ash’s question is like putting an end to their conversation. She once again had her attention back on her documents.
Part 6
On the next morning, Ash, Eco and Silvia who had done their preparation departed from Ansarivan while they rode on Lancelot together.
“It is all up to you, Lancelot!”
After Silvia shouted, Lancelot gave a cheerful roar.
Since part of their motive was for the practical test, Ash and Silvia were wearing their dragsuit.
And Eco as Ash’s Pal was wearing her uniform to show that she too was taking the exam.
Their sitting sequence was Silvia who held the reins at the front, and followed by Eco and Ash.
Actually, right before they took flight, Eco said that she would like to take the middle. Thus, Ash was at the end of the line.
Ash was holding onto Eco’s slim waist. Although he was embarrass, he will face falling from Lancelot if he did not grab on to it tightly.
“Oooooooo….!”
Even with three people on its back, Lancelot was flying without having to break a sweat.
The sky was clear.
Since it was still early, the weather was cooling. However, when noon arrived, the sun would be scorching. I would be better for them to arrive at their destination as soon as possible.
“Err, Princess-sama. What do you think Princess Mirabel’s reason was?”
Ash finally asked the question that was on his mind for some time.
At first, I thought Mirabel was here to keep an eye on Eco. But, for Mirabel to have her own reason…
“How am I to know that?”
Silvia snapped.
“To begin with, about Princess Mirabel… What kind of a person is she? Like Princess Veronica, it is obvious to everyone that she is a fighter.”
Silvia answered while holding the reins:
“Mirabel Onee-sama is a very respectable scholar. Just days ago, she was still doing her research in Espada St Law University.”
“…She must have been famous. Does she have any connections with Holy Espada Agency?”
“Certainly. Espada St Law University is directly under the Holy Agency’s secret service. Regardless of humanities studies or science related field, all the genius in their regarding field were doing their best for their research there.”
“That’s absurd…”
Even though he didn’t know Mirabel’s age, she only looked older than Silvia by a year or two and is still in her teenage years. Even so, for a girl at her age to reserve a spot in the secret service, she is someone to be feared.
Ash finally remembered her nickname- Argento Magus.
“Erm, what is the field Princess Mirabel specialized in?”
“She had already obtained a mechanical engineering degree and an archaeological degree. She seems to have a deep interest in sacred relics that was found in historic ruins.”
“Sacred relic… What are those?”
“You knew nothing of those! In this Ark Strada continent, there are many historic ruins. There are the so called Zono Ton’s[3] Enlightenment’s historic ruins.”
Ash remembered he learned about it in his history lessons.
“In it includes the Zono Ton’s Ark which was a huge historical ruin that was found in the Empire. In it, many ancient machines were found. That includes the airships that run on fossil fuel and magicships that run on Millennium. All these ancient machines were called sacred relics.”
“So, Princess Mirabel is a specialist in those things that are called sacred relics?”
“That’s right. She was even deeply related in the development of Silvanus Magicship of our country. With the help from the exiled scientists form the Empire, they turn the excavated magic engine in the country into a ‘usable’ state. Apart from that, she was even in charge of the ship design.”
“Really!? She is such an incredible person!”
“Just that Silvanus was badly damaged in the previous fight.”
“About that… I deeply apologize.”
Ash sighed.
“Sorry…”
Eco who listened to their conversation silently also apologized.
“No, the two of you don’t have to worry about it. I knew that the Empire is the culprit and Silvanus is in her reparation process. Even though I initially thought that it was completely destroyed, it seems that the magic engine remained unscathed, just narrowly. If the engine is all right, the outer shell can be easily repaired.”
This is the first time Ash heard about it. After it crashed and exploded, Ash never thought that it could even be repaired.
“Is that so…? Thank god. God bless us all.”
To give Eco a peace in her mind, Ash kept on emphasizing the word ‘thank god’.
“Just that, why would a genius like her come to Ansarivan? There is nothing related to mechanical engineering here. Judging from her behavior, she should be able to ignore Princess Veronica’s order.”
In Ansarivan where there are many dragons, there were many tool made from bright dragon crystal. The bright dragon crystal powered lamp is one of them.
Because of this, most of the things in Ansarivan are not related to mechanical engineering and that made it stand out from the Knight Country.
“I also felt the same way. Mirabel Onee-sama was never afraid of Veronica Onee-sama. Normally, she could use her studies as an excuse to refuse. But why would Mirabel Onee-sama who even refused to attend the continental congress with her studies as a reason come to Ansarivan… I wonder.”
“Could it be that she took interest in Eco? Even Angela-sensei became a teacher in the academy because she was interested in Eco… Although I didn’t see any sign of her for the recent few days.”
“That’s impossible. Mirabel Onee-sama is a person who would only be interested in mechanics. I don’t think her target is Eco.”
Ash breathe a sigh of relieve after Silvia ensured him.
Recently, Eco seemed to be emotionally unstable. Ash hoped that nothing will happen, at best.
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
References and Translation Notes
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