Chapter 308: Kirin
After returning to the village by Portal, we immediately set out for Faubley.
“Firo’s carriage…”
“Uu…”
I can’t warp while taking something of that size along.
One of the other Filo Rials will carry her’s back to the village later.
“Let’s do our best.”
“Yeah”
I took whoever had high combat abilities with me.
Raphtalia, Firo, Rishia, Kiel, Sadina, Taniko, Gaelion, and that Granny, whose combat experience is high (She apparently performed quite a bit in the previous battle, but I never saw it). Motoyasu’s three, and Female Knight were also brought along.
There’s also the Queen, and Trash. I don’t care about the latter, but the Queen will be useful in negotiating with their government.
“What sort of enemy is Kirin?” (Naofumi)
“I have knowledge of it from the game, but I can’t guarantee its accuracy….” (Ren)
Right… Ren’s right.
In the Houou battle, everyone’s info differed, and the real one was also different from all of them.
“Do you know anything, Queen?” (Naofumi)
“It wasn’t?”
The Queen is a lover of legends, right? At least from what I’ve seen.
Perhaps the country of Faubley intentionally concealed the fact. It’s possible.
There’s no way they didn’t know.
“Faubley’s gone through a long period of political upheaval, so I can’t deny the possibility of the information dying out. They also claim to be investigating the four beasts, so you may find something in their large national library.” (Queen)
National Library. I believe Melty was able to remember a bit of info from a book, but what book was it?
I may end up fighting alongside them here.
… There may be the person who caused the incident mixed in as well.
What’s more, if there are Seven Star Heroes summoned from another world, I may be able to ask it from them.
Not that I’m expecting anything great.
Our carriages proceeded at full speed, but…
The time came, and the hourglass in my vision enlarged.
This time, it displayed a 『9』.
But that doesn’t really matter.
The problem is what came afterwards.
I guess it was after about an hour.
Suddenly… the number vanished.
I stopped the carriage, and called out to the Queen, and the heroes.
“What’s this about?” (Naofumi)
“Yeah, the hourglass vanished. As if the beast had already been defeated.” (Naofumi)
“Fumu…” (Naofumi)
Faubley has their own heroes.
How many of them are there right now?
Um… Trash and Fohl are Seven Stars… what about Rishia?
Unlike Fohl’s, hers has settled into a translucent state.
I really don’t think it’s a Legendary Weapon, so what exactly is it?
Anyways, there are five more of the Seven Stars, so it’s not that strange if they were able to beat Kirin.
Then why would people with that sort of power refrain from participating in the Houou battle? It’s strange no matter how you look at it.
“Queen, does Faubley have all of the other Seven Star Heroes?” (Naofumi)
“I’ve heard that five of them mainly operate from their lands. Of course, they also visit other countries.” (Queen)
So Faubley has all of the rest.
It appears we were equal in numbers.
There’s someone among them that I can never forgive.
If that’s the case, they might be trying to get the Heroes to kill each other.
I’ll deliver retribution unto the true culprit.
But…
There’s one large problem.
The number on the blue hourglass is gone.
In its place is the normal Red Hourglass, counting down time to the next wave.
One Week.
It’s certain that something defeated the wave, be it the Seven Star Heroes, or something else. Then where did Ouryuu go?
I turn my eyes to Gaelion.
“KYUA!” (Gaelion)
Taniko’s cuddling with him.
From the start, he doesn’t come out before Ren or Taniko.
… Kirin’s gone. Ouryuu’s left.
It would be troublesome if he appeared with little warning like this time.
I need to ask for the location.
“Ren, Itsuki, Motoyasu, where does Ouryuu revive?” (Naofumi)
“Here.” (Itsuki)
“That way, Father-in-Law.” (Motoyasu)
They each point in different directions altogether.
We can’t determine its location. I never expected this.
“I-it seems we don’t know Ouryuu’s location.” (Ren)
Ren seems to be bewildered.
I mean, everyone’s disagreeing here.
There’s no choice.
We’ll put Ouryuu off ‘til later. I’ll get what I can from Gaelion.
“I’m going to ride Gaelion, and observe Faubley’s situation from the sky.” (Naofumi)
“You can come along if you want. Along with Gaelion.” (Naofumi)
Perhaps that was a bit forced. But since Ren and Taniko are with us, we’ll have to fly up high to speak.
I straddle Firo, and we lift off.
“… And? Tell me everything you know about Ouryuu.” (Naofumi)
“Sorry. I know nothing.” (Gaelion)
I look towards Faubley from up high.
I can’t tell what’s going down there.
“So you aren’t the dragon?” (Naofumi)
“It may be an assimilation of the Dragon Emperor cores…” (Gaelion)
Fumu… because Ouryuu’s seal isn’t breaking, the blue hourglass didn’t appear. Can I look at it like that?
After I conversed with Gaelion, we stopped by a small country.
To easily cross Faubley’s border, the Queen stopped by the castle of said country, and came out quickly.
“Iwatani-sama, I have found out what became of Kirin.” (Queen)
Well, it’s not like I didn’t hear any gossip on the city’s streets, but hearing the Queen’s, and Shadow’s information is for the best.
“The Heroes in Faubley led the army, and managed to subjugate it. The damage caused was 0. Absolutely none.” (Queen)
“I see… that’s good.”
Still, the one who killed off Atlas, and our armies may be there.
Just by thinking that, I feel I need to get there immediately, and make him taste the same, no an even greater pain than that he inflicted on Atlas.
“And? How many of their Seven Star Heroes participated?” (Naofumi)
“One…?” (Naofumi)
One, is it? There seems to be a capable person among them.
They didn’t even go help out with Houou. They didn’t fight the Kirin that appeared right next to them.
It’s as if they’re useless.
“We’re still going to confirm the truth. For Atlas, and the other’s sake as well.” (Naofumi)
“I understand. I’ve already sent messengers ahead to grant us an audience with Faubley immediately.” (Queen)
On the Queen’s orders, the country we stopped in sent messengers to Faubley.
The problem is if we’re setting out yet or not…
“Should we rush there?” (Queen)
“Fue…” (Firo)
Firo’s collapsed on her own carriage.
Though she claims she’s fine, she must be pushing herself.
I bet Faubley will take a while to gather their Heroes as well, so we should rest when we have the chance.
“No, let’s rest, and recover our strength.” (Naofumi)
“Understood.” (Queen)
Like that, the third of the four beasts was defeated, and the wave’s hourglass turned red once more.