Alice Tale in Phantasmagoria

The rain that had fallen continuously until dawn rises like smoke.

The reflection of light against the droplets that accumulated on the lawn’s trees sparkle and dazzle the eyes.
The birds that had taken shelter from the rain are also energetically chirping, it’s finally a good feeling morning after these many days.

「Haa――」

I blow out a sharp breath, as if passing a thread through a needle.
I release a palm strike as if to strike through the trunk of a tree.
The soundless impact reverberates through the forest, the tree’s leaves cried vigorously.
I’m soaked from my head down.

「……It’s the bath after this I suppose.」

Daily training is indispensable.
It’s not the case that I was being negligent but, it seems best to think that dimensional movement isn’t my exclusive hidden technique.
Having my own hand cut off for example, I almost fainted didn’t I.
Even thinking back to it now makes me shudder.

「……」

I shake my left hand.
Un, no problem.
Maa as a countermeasure, it’d be better to always be in a mist transformation state while fighting Iona.
Just when I move to attack it’s no good if I don’t materialize so, I have to be cautious of counters there.
However, I can’t rule out the possibility that that person will come at me while doing the same thing.
If it becomes as such, it will be a test of patience at that point.
The one who’s feelings don’t bend until the end will win.

「Fuu.」

I do a roundhouse kick with my nerves sharpened all the way to my fingertips and cut apart the falling raindrops.
I blow off my excess hazy feelings by moving my body.

「Seiyaa!」

I course lightning through my body as if I’m breathing.
Learned directly from the Witch of Ice and Snow, magic power manipulation combat technique……Lightning version!
My admiration is strong so I have quite an interest in what the ice magic is like though don’t I.
That’s right, I’ll be sure to have Silvi-chan master ice magic.

「――Those are good movements.
Unbefitting a magician, aren’t they.」

I’d noticed it a bit ago but, there’s a gallery.

「Will oneechan also, move your body? Wapuu.」

My head was covered by a towel.
Take a breather is it.

「You should stop for now.
You don’t want to hinder the movements in your head, with your actual movements.
Image training would be better.」
「Is it that sort of thing?」

My head is rubbed dry.
By the way it’s a rubbing style that would make Ilya angry if she saw it.
I don’t want to lose, this wildness.

「I’m not grasping, that sensation.」

Apparently oneechan somehow arrived at the pinnacle of swordsmanship, on the battlefield.
She can’t quite recall it but, I suppose that’s up to the person in question’s sense now.

「……Does, your eye not hurt?」
「Aah, there’s no pain you know.
Fufu, I wonder if there’s a side benefit because Alice is being meek?」
「You intend to trample upon my sense of guilt do you.」

I’m troubled even if you push your chest out at me with a proud face.

「Setting that aside, have you heard anything, about Sitra’s matter?」

Given that Shion-san directly showed mercy to her, I’d be concerned if I was told something like she’ll be put to death as a result.

「No, not at this point.
To be sure a council of princes should have gathered a few days ago so, the topic should have been brought up though.」

Because we have had no contact from Kran so far.
Mystery.

「Is that so, it’d be good if the war with the commonwealth, ended well though.」
「It would wouldn’t it……」

Since the issue with the beastmen is kind of particularly, it’s saddening.

「Iona is……I believe she isn’t cooperating with the commonwealth or anything at this point but.」
「Fuーn? I only heard from Solt but, she seems extremely dangerous doesn’t she? That child.」

That man, I take my eyes off him and he goes to chat with Shion-san in places that I don’t know doesn’t he.
……I’m extremely worried.

「Nn? On that note, Solt-san is?」

Lately, I haven’t seen his figure here at all?

「Solt has returned to his country you know.
He said, he wanted to offer flowers in front of a grave you see.」
「Ah――」

I, see……Libra was defeated.
That was a critical juncture to him,

「……If he’d told me, then I also could do that much.」

Unfriendly bastard.
But even if Libra was defeated, my sense that the future is unclear doesn’t change.
Perhaps I should go see the logic of the world.
I suppose that’s the exact thing that’s the truth Libra was trying to bring to light though.
I don’t feel anything like trying to destroy that.
Rather I even feel that no one should touch that.
I suppose it’s that sort of thing.
As such, I feel I should confirm it before Iona.

「――Ojousama.」

This time Ilya unusually came flusteredly running over.

「Ilya, what is the matter?」
「The trees are in the way so it can’t be seen from here, if you would come this way!」

I exchange glances with Shion-san.
I wonder what it is?
Urged on, I and Shion-san went out to the mansion’s plaza with a flower bed around it.
It’s the place with the greatest sense of liberation on the grounds so, Rin-chan and Kyuu are often running around here.
The mansion itself is elevated so, this is also the ideal place to look into the distance.
I lost my words, at the northern sky as seen from there.

「…………What, is that.」

The northern sky is――being consumed by darkness.
It’s not a normal situation.
That’s the direction of the town of Rinal.

「Oneechan!」
「Calm down Alice, that’s further away than the town of Rinal.
Probably……it’s on the other side of the deep green forest where the fairy village is believed to be.」
「It is as stated, and so that’s close to the dragon’s village.
It is also the location of my hometown.」

Perhaps she no longer had any intention like hiding anything, Ilya readily spoke of the reality.

「What could be happening……do you know?」
「……If it accords with prophecy, that dark sky is……Proof of the resurrection of Progenitor Dragon Diadora-sama.」
「――That’s a name I’ve heard isn’t it.」

Closing one eye, the one walking over with her shoulders slumped as if to say yare yare is Eclair.
Everyone of the mansion, is frenetically looking up at the sky.
Nay, I suppose it’s becoming tumultuous as this abnormality is sensed throughout the country.

「The matter where that was being revived in Sacrament isn’t it? ……It absorbed a great many lives.」

Eclair forcibly, shut her mouth.

「……Could it be, that this is also something Libra was doing?」
「Thinking back to her behavior up until now, that conclusion can be reached.」

Just what did she want to do?
Is this what you wanted, Libra?
The revival of the progenitor dragon?
The birth of the Iona who you entrusted the slaying of the gods?

「……Surely the answer, isn’t anywhere except in that place is it.」
「Let’s go then.」

Going of on a short walk or such, Shion-san gave her confirmation with that sort of lightheartedness.

「I as well, as ojousama’s shield.」

Ilya agreed like always while lowering her eyes.

「Eclair is, impossible right.
It really would be pitiable for Lumina to be caught up in this right.」

Because Eclair is a mother-san isn’t she!

「Eclair, I’m sorry I can’t be at your side for you.
Lumina-chan’s matter, and Silvi’s matter, please handle them for me.」

With this Eclair will give that which is Silvi lots of affection, like an adoring parent.
Leave whose child it is aside on this occasion leave it aside.

「Please leave it to me, since I’ll give her a birth with lots of energy.
For this child as well, please give us world peace okay? World first magician-sama.」

Fufu, I end up laughing as such.

「That’s right, the strongest desires peace.」

It’s a tradition since the first generation.
Doing as such, is this time’s journey going to be 3 people?
Overcome the deep green forest with 3 people and, confront the most evil god-sama like existence is it.
I have to keep it together don’t I.
It’s scary for someone called something like a guardian, to take the helm within darkness without emotional support.

「――Ojousama, a message came in just now.
It states that, it is desired that you come to the mansion where the saintess-sama is being imprisoned as soon as you can.」
「? Sitra-san’s?」

Ilya is apparently receiving reports from the maid-sans.

「Hai, according to Krancesca-sama, there is an important conversation and――」

◇■◇■◇

The surroundings are encircled by a river, that mansion was there within a scene that somehow brings back recollections of Wilmington.
Even when imprisoning the saintess a prison for criminals isn’t used.
While calling it an enemy country, she is sort of an important personage of the commonwealth.
Paying meticulous care to the treatment of prisoners of war under international law is standard across all countries.

「Alice, it is good of you to come.」
「Welcome, ufufu.」

I’m guided to her office and, Kran was grappling with the mountain of documents that had piled up on her desk.
Maria-san is smiling elegantly at her side.
But really Kran is doing work wherever she is……

「Etto……is your body alright?」
「There is no need to worry, Alice took Silvi for me after all.
I also slept well at night.」

It’s way too hard with the current Kran raising a child so, that’s good though.
And Silvi-chan is cute.
And Eclair is giving her milk……

「This is sudden but, how the saintess-sama will be dealt with has been decided.」

Kran started speaking while softening the area around her eyebrows.
Should I suppose it really is alright?
Be that as it may dealt with is it……I hold my breath from the heavy sound.

「It is alright even if you are not so tense.
We cannot proceed with an acquittal but, it does not seem to be something bad either……though that does depend on Alice.」

There’s Kran expressing an impish smile like always.
There’s no mistake that she’s thinking something malign but……shiit, she’s as cute as always!

「Moderate your enjoyment of mischief, could I have you hurry and offer your guidance, princess-denka?」

And Maria-san is beautiful isn’t she～, as always.

「……The way you look at Maria is indecent, seriously.」
「Ara ara.」

Kran’s pouting face is rare so this refreshing isn’t it.

「I love that which is Kran so, don’t worry.」

Kran held her head, at my answer.
As if she’s thinking she made some sort of mistake.

「Even for me……that is emotionally unstable is it not.
I am not having such worries.
Maria, offer to guide her.
Since I cannot leave my work here.」
「Affirmative, princess-denka.」

Kran resumed her grappling with documents with her face lowered, as if to hide her face that had become just a little red.
It seems that female people have a lot to deal with when birthing children and, so just a little is you know?
Even if she is called Kran there will be days with emotional instability.

「See you later, Kran.」
「……Sometime this night, I will intrude upon the mansion.
It would be lamentable were Silvi to forget my face.」
「Fufu, that’s so isn’t it.
That might be good.」

Don’t fight with Eclair okay?
I wave my hand lightly and, excuse myself from the room.

「Then this way, Alice-dono.」
「Hai, please do.」

I walk along following after Maria-san down the long hallway.
Maria-san has terrifically good posture, suddenly my back naturally straightens.
She engenders the atmosphere of a capable person with just her back profile.

「Ah, will Maria-san also come to look? Silvi-chan.」
「Maa? Certainly.
It is an honour to be able to meet with Silvis-sama.」

Pon, Maria-san put her hands together as such.
Calming.
But it’s a strange sensation with Maria-san giving Silvi a polite honorific issn’t it.
That child, she’s a princess-sama like that?

「Ah, by the way would it actually be best for Silvi-chan to reside in Wilmington?」
「Surely it is fine now.
However at the least surely it would be best to have her move to our castle when she is at the age to have her feel that Wilmington is her hometown, for everyone involved.」

That’s so issn’t it.
It won’t be worth talking about if Wilmington’s princess-sama, doesn’t feel like Wilmington is her hometown.
That would be unfortunate for both the person in question and the people of the country.

「Nn, I understand.
I will consider moving.
There is a mansion there as well so, there is no problem.」
「Excuse me, Alice-dono.」

Stopping once, Maria-san lowered her head very deeply.

「Wa waa, such a thing.」

This is the me that remembers aspiring toward my elder oneesama.
Having Maria-san act obsequious drives me crazy.

「Ufufu, you are adorable no matter how much time passes are you not, Alice-dono.」
「Muu, people don’t change so simply.」

I’m inflating my cheeks and, she laughed merrily.

「It is not a bad thing.」
「Though that’s fine if so.」

Be that as it may we’re walking then?
I walk the mansion’s long hallway while chatting with Maria-san and, we ended up going outside for a time.
Advancing along a covered walkway connecting to a separated spire, we cross over a bridge stretching over the river’s center.
There are of course guards for the spire so, we have no option but to ascend the stairs following that door.
I see, it’s not the case that it’s called a prison but it does seem she’s confined in a similar place.
Up until now there have been countless guards stationed before the doors we’ve passed through and, it appears there’s even a barrier deployed.
Furthermore while ascending the spiral staircase in the spire, there aren’t even any windows.
I suppose both infiltration and escape are impossible.
Just after we finished ascending the staircase, there was a door for just one room.
Just in front of the room’s door there’s no guard stationed so, it seems they’re protecting a minimal amount of privacy.
Maa, surely it’s sufficient with all that strict security below.

「We’re coming in, saintess-dono.」
「……Go ahead.」

Maria-san knocks and, a composed reply comes back from within.
I sensed a feeling of confinement upon opening the door and entering the room.
I try looking around wondering what it is and, it’s a plain room with only the slight light shining in from a barred window.
Even the smell is cold.
A bed that’s only for sleeping with a simple desk and chair.

……If it was me I’d come to hate it in 3 days.

「……Fairy of Silver Lightning-sama?」

The saintess tried guessing who the guests were, with her eyes still closed.

「Sitra-sama……how do you feel?」
「It is just as you see.」

I went and asked a squarely pointless question didn’t I.
I did something bad to Sitra.

「Should I presume that, my handling has been decided?」

Sitra-san stayed seated in the empty room’s simple chair as, she turned her face toward Maria-san.
I perceived an emptiness in the saintess surpassing that of the cold room.
Because that girl put everything on the line and……lost.
I sensed that she wouldn’t even regret it if she died at this point.
A philosophic atmosphere, befitting that girl who determined her resolve on the battlefield.
While saying that, I haven’t heard anything about the matter before coming here have I?

「Saintess Sitra-sama, it has become such that we will have you undertake the investigation of the fairy village along with Alice-dono.」
「Fairy village……」
「Eeeh!?」

Why did my name!?
Or rather, I wonder why going to the fairy village was decided……
No well, since I did intend to go though?
Kran and Maria-san……scary.

「As such, I will also accompany you as an inspector.
You two, I sincerely hope that we may work well together henceforth.」

There’s Maria-san speaking with a soft smile.
Well, if Maria-san is coming that’s like having the power of a hundred men though!?
Sitra-san made a troubled face like she was confused at the judgement and, glanced between me and Maria-san.

「Ano……Should I assume this is what is called an execution, in a place where people’s eyes cannot reach?」
「――I wouldn’t do, such a thing! I won’t allow, the sort of roundabout methods meant to deceive people.」

Receiving Sitra-san’s words, I ended up unintentionally glaring at Maria-san.
Maria-san isn’t perturbed from the extent of being glared at by me.

「Ara ara, it is the duty of a leader to offer to clean that dirty heart that has become clouded over is it not――There is no cause for concern.
This Marianna・Houston, swears upon her holy sword that such an underhanded act as a surprise attack will not be done.」

A dignified air.
Both I and the saintess are overcome with awe.
She’s, on a different level.

「Etto, I am sorry for behaving in such manner as if to cast doubt on you……what is that vow.」
「Hai?」

It’s not the case that she’s angry but, she was disheartened so she tried examining her with upturned eyes.

「Would it be fine to have it done on Silvi-chan?」
「――」

Maria-san opened her eyes widely, for a moment.
Ah, unusual.
After that, she put her hand to her mouth as if to hold back a laugh.
No, she can’t withstand it, her shoulder is trembling a little.

「Ufufuu, certainly.
I vow upon Silvis-sama, I will not betray everyone-sama’s trust.」

She declared it with a beautiful smile.

「So that’s how it is, Sitra-san.
Please be at ease.」
「Fairy of Silver Lightning-sama……」

Stiff issn’t that.

「It’s fine as Alice you know, Sitra-san.」
「Alice-sama……Haii.」

I took the hand of the Sitra expressing a girlish smile befitting her age.
Yosh, the fairy village is unknown territory so, I assume there’s likely to be plenty of danger.
I have to strengthen my bonds with my comrades don’t I!
Wait for me, Iona and progenitor dragon.
Because I’ll make you understand, who is the world’s strongest!!