ãI see. Something like that happened at Nova⦠I have heard some rumors about a Consul going missing. You two have gone through some hardship. You even encountered the Ironblood Chain Brigade, Iâm surprised you came out alrightâ¦ã
After Rafinha finished briefing the events that happened in the town of Nova, Raphael was relieved that at least Rafinha and Inglis were safe.
ãWhat Iâm concerned about is the ãLevitation Magic Formationã. Did the Kingdom give the town away to the Highland fully knowing of its existence?ã
If that was the case then that meant they intentionally sold off the city and its people.
ãThis is the first time Iâm hearing this. Although, who can say if itâs common knowledge amongst the King and his confidant.ã ãIf they knew and still gave it away, big brother, then I think I have some problem with them.ã ãYouâre right, Rani. Itâs exactly as you say. Thank you for the information, Rani, Glis.ã ãItâs nothing. Iâm happy I can help.ã ãYouâre welcome.ã ãThat being said, that creature over there is the Miss Consul that has turned into a Magic Stone Beast, huh⦠Iâm surprised to see a Magic Stone Beast cuddling with a human.ã ãShe was originally a Highlanderâ, not some beasts or insects, and she was very rational before she became like this. Iâm thinking âthose aspects mustâve held down her Magic Stone Beast instinctsâ.ã ãAnd I think that her body being this small might have helped with that.ã 1
ãI seeâ¦ã
Leone and the Hyrule Menace Ripple had their eyes peeled wide as they witnessed these three holding a discussion.
ããâ¦â¦ãã
Each of those three had already wolfed enough food that would last two to three days for a grown man in a single sitting, with their empty dishes piling up a mountain on the table. And even then, they were still busy stuffing their cheeks even while talking. 2
ãUwaah, so itâs not just Raphael, but his little sisters too!ã ãI-, indeed, the food I have at home wouldnât even have been enoughâ¦â¦ã
While popping three steamed chicken legs into her mouth in quick succession, Rafinha asked Raphael. 3
ãAnd what are you doing here, Big Brother?ã ãWeâre here to enact a countermeasure plan to the spontaneous appearance of Magic Stone Beasts phenomenon, the one âyou just helped with, Rani.ã ãAh, that issue is lingering in my mind too. I was thinking of solving that before I left the town, butâ¦ã ãYeah. Which is why itâs going to be alright, Leone. It wonât happen again in the next few days.ã ãWhat are you going to do, big brother Rafa?ã ãWell, Glis. We have assumed that the cause of that is on the frozen corpse of Prisma.4 Which is whyâ¦ã
Raphael, his mouth full of meatâ, explained with a serious look plastered on his face. 5
A few days laterâ¦
All of them were at the Flygear Carrier that floated high in the sky.
This vessel was the mothership for Flygear, as was indicated with the many ports all around the winged circular hull storing Flygears.
The Carrier acted not only as an airborne Flygears carrier but also as the terminal to recharge Flygears.
The basic formation was to have the Flygear Carrier in the center surrounded by Flygears that belonged to it and have them act as a single battle platoon.
ãIf the frozen Prisma is giving birth to Magic Stone Beasts then when that very cause is taken away, Magic Stone Beastsâ shouldnât show up in the middle of the city again.ã
What was happening in front of Inglis and the girlsâ eyes was exactly as Raphael just said.
The roof of the Cathedral where Prisma was enshrined had been removed, and the ice pillar was being pulled up into the sky with countless wires wrapping around it by the Carrier and many Flygears.
They were going to transport the frozen Prisma by air. They deployed hundreds of Flygears around it and the view was âspectacular to behold. The one in charge of this Air Transport Operation was the Holy Knight Raphael. And Ripple, the Hyrule Menace, accompanied him in case the worst-case scenario happened.
ãWhat a sightâ¦! So Flygears can do something like this!ã ãIt sure can. Flygears are actually often being used even on the Highland, itâs a very convenient piece of technology. By acquiring this, things that we can do âincrease by a great magnitude.ã 6
Raphael nodded at Rafinhaâs comment.
ãAnd even if it was a handiwork of those Ironblood Chain Brigade, itâs âlikely that their aim is the frozen Prisma. And so, taking it away will make the town safe again all the same⦠huh.ã
Even though Leone seemed to be most suspicious with the Ironblood Chain Brigade, they managed to convince her after they explained it as such to her.
Transporting Prisma was fine and all, but the bigger question was; where to? If it were to be taken to another town, then the same thing would just happen again in its new resting ground. Butâ¦
ãAnd the place itâll be taken away to is a frontier city where the Prisma will be enshrined near the opposing country. So, if it produces Magic Stone Beasts, the opposing country would have a hard time invading us. Fighting fire with fire, is it? What a wasteâ¦ã
From Inglisâ point of view, this operation was nothing but an enormous waste of opportunity for her to fight and grow, since two of her âopponents were going to attack each other. She had to admit though, this was a very efficient tactic, strategically speaking. 7
ãGlisâ sickness relapsed again⦠isnât this a good idea? We can hinder the enemyâs invasion without losing our own military strength.ã ãThatâs true, but.ã ãEven though Magic Stone Beasts indiscriminately attack people regardless of what country or politics, there are still people who keep trying to invade othersâ¦ã ãThat right. Fighting between humans is a big waste, especially since you live where the Prism Flow falls. Todayâs operation is a step to avoid that pointless fightâ though, it feels like weâre borrowing the strength of Magic Stone Beasts, so it kinda leaves an unpleasant aftertaste.ã
The neighboring country of Venefique had attempted invasions many times in the past. They had continued their attempts in recent years, and now they were the biggest threat to the Kingdom second only to Magic Stone Beasts. Apparently, the primary goal for this transport operation was to move Pisma into the bordering mountain to create a natural barrier against the Venetian army. 8
The one who came up with the idea was Raphaelâs direct superior, prince Wayne. Perhaps the Prince was quite the strategist.
ãNow, Rani, Glis, Leone. The Carrier will head back to the Capital, so you three should go with them. Lady Ripple and I will continue to command the air transport operation.ã ãOkay. Thanks, big brother Rafa!ã ãIâll be under their care.ã ãSir Raphael, thank you very much for everything youâve done for meâ¦!ã ãYeah. Everyone, do your best in the Knighting Academy. Iâm looking forward to the day we can fight together.ã
Raphael gave an affectionate smile to the three girls.
ãHey, hey. Lilâ Inglis, can you come with me~?ã
Then, Ripple took Inglis by herself to the corner of the Carrier and spoke in a hushed voice.
ã⦠Itâs you, right? The incredible girl Eris told me about?ã ãDid you hear about me from Miss Eris?ã ãYup. Though itâs still a secret between us Hyrule Menaces, you know?ã ã⦠Thank you very much.ã ãThen, when you look at that Prisma, what do you âfeel?ã ãitâs regrettable that itâs going away.ã ãAha? Youâre not afraid of it, even a bit? How is it, you think you can win?ã ãThere is no sane man who will fight a losing war.ã ã⦠This is still a secret, okay? But the day you can finally fight it may not be that far from now, you know? ã ãEeh!? Is that trueâ¦? Indeed, for a corpse, I can still feel some power from it, butâã ãYou see, actually, it isnât even dead, to begin with. That guy just froze his own body in that ice⦠I saw it happen. Well, itâs a story from a few decades ago, though.ã ãâ¦! I have heard that Hyrule Menaces have a long lifespan.ã ãWe do. Iâm actually a granny, yanno? Eris too, though.ã
Well, Iâm actually a Grandpa inside tooâ¦Saying it wonât help anything though, so letâs keep silent.
ã⦠We said that itâs a corpse to make everyone feel safe. Despite the fact that it made no movement over the past few decades and yet it suddenly begins to move now, that could only mean that itâs going to be revived. And if itâs going to wake up, then better have it happen in the middle of nowhere, right?ã ãYouâre right. Itâll be a good place to fight since there wonât be any hindrances around.ã ãYour face says youâre excited.ã ãI am, verily.ã ãYup, yup? Youâre good, girl. Youâre not basing it on some heroism. Iâll definitely call on you when that time comes, so come help us. Until then, âpractice diligently and hone your skills, kay?ã ãI understand. Please âdo call on me.ã ãOf course. Why donât we make a pinky promise then?ã ãYes, please do.ã
After they hooked their fingersâ
ãThen, everyone, letâs meet in the Capital once this mission is over!ã ãBye bye~ Do your best, girls! Laters?ã
Raphael and Ripple hopped on a Flygear, then flew away.
ãOkay, off we go! We donât know when it will produce more Magic Stone Beasts! Always be ready for interceptions and peel your eyes wide!ã
Then, under Raphaelâs command, they carried the Prisma away. Inglis and the two watched it from the top of the Flygear Carrier for a while.
Please get revived soon and letâs fight to our heartsâ content! 9
Inglis called out to the Prisma in her heart.
ãThen, the Carrier will head back to base!ã
The Knight who seemed to be the Captain of the Flygear Carrier announced. The figure of the town of Arlman gradually became smaller as the Flygear Carrier soared away.
Leone, who watched her hometown slowly turning into a speck, declared with a determined look.
ã⦠I have to come back here with my chest held high.ã ãYeah, yeah. Just get back at those people.ã ãWe will help you.ã ãThanks, you two.ã
Thus ended Inglis and the girlsâ journey to the Capital, and the days they spent in the Knight Academy would soon come. 10
Eli- I still donât see how being small helps anything. Death beams are still death beams! @Silva Sil- Well, sheâs smol enough that she canât store enough energy to fire a beam that can blast away a city! At most, itâll be like a water spray. Al- Well, technically~ It is not a death beam, itâs a heat ray. Iâm sure the ants will find her to be very destructive xD (bahahahahahahaha)
Sil- I know⦠I know⦠*pat Leone and Ripple*
Al- this is giving me a very very scary mental image!
Sil- Uhehe⦠Al- stop laughing like a creep, bro!
Al- Jesus, learn some table manners, guys! I know yer hungry, but hey!
Mab- hehe
Mab- Believe me, itâs not. Eli- Nothing That Inglis says is a good tactic.
Al- Hmmm⦠considering the nation is called Venefique, Iâdâve thought the people would be called Venefian, but ah wells~
Eli- Anyone ever wonder what youâd do if someone like this showed up in the real world? Someone only looking forward to fighting any and everything they can
Al- Finally, for godâs sake! But then the next chapter will be my last chapter too. Oh wells~