Ryuu Kusari no Ori -Kokoro no Uchi no 'Kokoro'-

Chapter 8.38

In order to get away from Arcazam, Triforium had brought Shina to the southern commercial district. Numerous horses and people pass by the south gate and its surroundings, loading and unloading all sorts of cargo.

The south gate, as it were, is the main entrance to Arcazam. On the outer rim in front of the huge gate, unlike other areas, there are spaces for loading and unloading cargo for logistics, warehouses for storing cargo, and management offices for delivering cargo to various parts of Arcazam.

The outer rim and the south side of the commercial district, which is a kind of logistics base. There, Triforium, wearing a hood so that no one would know he was an elf, was looking around with Shina by his side, looking for a carriage that would carry them.

"We have to get out of this town as soon as possible ... the spirits are starting to get agitated ..."

It took him longer than he expected to get to this place. This was due to Shina's occasional attempts to stop and other resistance even as he was pulling her arm along.

Although her mind had been suppressed by Triforium's spirit magic, [Whistle of Manipulative heart], her heart still resisted the old elf's magic.

Even though he had mixed feelings about his great-granddaughter's resistance, Triforium, while disguising the impatience that welled up inside him, called out to the driver of the carriage nearest to him.

"Hey, human over there, can we take a ride in your carriage?"

"Oh? I'm sorry, but you'll have to find someone else."

The carriage was large enough to carry a large amount of cargo, and there were two horses pulling it. The back of the wagon had a large platform, and there was plenty of room for Triforium and Shina to sit on it.

Arcazam is located in the middle of a forest, and the only way to get to the nearby town is by way of a road.

The traffic on the road is busy, there are always carriages and other vehicles on the road, and it is easy to get to the neighboring towns where Arcazam's influence does not extend.

However, Triforium had more trouble securing carriages than expected.

Not only because of the fact that all the coachmen were displeased with his condescending and pompous tone but also because of the suspicious appearance of the two hooded figures in spite of the sunny weather, which made them wary of him.

(We've got to get out of this town fast before Rauls notices us!)

"No other choice. How about this?"

He took out a gold coin from his pocket and put it in the coachman's hand. The face, which had been wary, turned surprised, and then the corners of his mouth turned up in a grin.

"It looks like there's a reason why you're here. Well, as long as you don't make a scene, you're welcome to ride along."

"Hmph……"

While snorting at the coachman, who changed the color of his eyes after having shown him a little gold, Triforium moved to the rear of the wagon with Shina in tow.

The back of the wagon had already been loaded with crates and burlap sacks, and Triforium pulled Shina's hand and sat down, placing their bodies in the gaps in the cargo.

After confirming that they were on board, the coachman shook the reins and steered the carriage toward the south gate.

There are two main roads leading from the commercial district to the outer edge and to the south gate. Each is a one-way street, designed to ease traffic congestion.

Once passing by the logistics base on the outer rim, it was a short walk to the south gate.

But then, a guard on horseback rode past the carriage in which Triforium was riding.

Nearly ten guards with spears were posted in front of the gate as gate guards.

The guard on horseback reported something to the gatekeeper, and the gatekeepers began to move in a hurry. The old elf frowned at the sight, for it was clearly an attempt to respond to some unforeseen situation.

"Did Arcazam make a move? Hmm, just to be safe..."

In order to enhance the connection with the spirits, Triforium gradually channeled a little magic power into the surroundings and called out to the spirits to keep them at bay.

At that moment, a guard, sensing the slight magic power leaked by Triforium, turned his gaze to the carriage in which he was riding.

Triforium's mouth twitched at the slight magical power that was immediately sensed. In the guard's hand was a small, faintly glowing stone.

The old elf had no way of knowing, but the guard was holding a magic tool. It was an instrument to indicate that the magic barriers placed throughout Arcazam as a countermeasure against the violent incident caused by Ken Notis had reacted.

Normally, these magic tools did not show any particular reaction. The fact that it glowed raised the guards' vigilance at once.

"Hey, you there! What are you doing!?"

The four guards in front of the gate rushed to the carriage in which Triforium was riding.

"W-, what? No, nothing serious. I was just a little startled by a rat."

"Although you said so, you didn't seem particularly surprised... Where are you going?"

"To the next town..."

Triforium tried to keep his tone as calm as possible, but the vigilance of the guards did not seem to disappear.

They were originally on high alert because of the arrival of Vitora from the Empire. Naturally, they would not have missed the duo sitting in the back of the wagon with hoods over their heads.

"I see. But why don't you at least take off your hoods when you talk? It's like telling me you're being suspicious."

Upon hearing these words, Triforium gritted his teeth.

If they took off their hoods, it would be obvious at once that they were elves. And the guard in front of him did not miss the slightest hesitation displayed by the old elf.

The guard's eyes turned from suspicion to questioning.

"What's the matter? Is there a reason you can't take it off?"

Triforium fell silent. The guards' vigilance raised another notch, and the four guards moved to surround the carriage.

Having no other choice, Triforium put his hand on his hood. At the same time, he commanded the spirits to change his face into that of an old, featureless human man.

"~! A stronger magical reaction than before! This guy is using some kind of magic!"

However, this action was immediately detected by the guards.

The guards with magic tools shouted loudly as they sensed an even stronger magical power, and the guards surrounding the carriage suddenly became highly agitated.

"You, what was that magic you just used!?"

"Behave yourself!"

"It can't be helped ... -O spirits of the earth. Bind them with chains of stone."

In the face of the guards who were ready to confront him with their spears, Triforium chose to force his way through. He increased his magical power and gave the order to the spirits he had contracted in advance.

The next moment, the paved cobblestones swell like jelly and become countless chains that attack the guards.

"Uwa!"

"What!?"

The chains of stone bind the guards' bodies and sew them directly to the ground.

"Uwaaa!"

"What the hell!"

"Get out of here! Someone is using magic in the town!"

Panic broke out all at once, starting with the coachman abandoning his carriage and rushing out in a panic at the sudden occurrence.

Among those who came to Arcazam, many came from far away as peddlers.

Naturally, many of them have been attacked by bandits or demon beasts, and they react very quickly to any kind of disturbance. To the point of being hypersensitive.

Even if the magic used by the Triforium was intended to restrain them, the merchants who were present at the scene began to evacuate at once, as if a powerful magic had been used.

Once the commotion broke out, the rest was like a big rock rolling down a slope. The commotion grew chaotically, and the guards in the vicinity rushed to the scene at once.

"Tch~, we're in trouble!"

Triforium moved to the coachman's seat and quickly swung his hand with magical power.

The spirits of wind and earth cleared more than a dozen carriages in the direction they were going.

*Burururu, Burururu!*

*Hihi ―― n!*

"It's all right. We're not going to hurt you. We just want you to get out of here and run a little bit."

*Burruru...* *Fushuu~...*

The horses, who had been agitated, instantly regain their composure upon hearing Triforium's voice filled with magic power.

Communicating with animals is one of the unusual abilities of the elf species. The two horses that communicated with the old elf, with the cart carrying them attached, galloped to the south gate that had been left open.

"I won't let you!"

The carriage, which had begun to accelerate, headed in a straight line for the south gate, just as they were about to leave the town. A shadow jumped out between the carriage and the gate with a loud voice and swung a great sword on his back.

With a single left-handed strike, the blade blasted away the stone floor.

"Hihi ――― n!"

The horses pulling the carriage came to a sudden halt, neighing due to the whirlwind and the stones that flew up in the air.

"Tch~, they've already caught up with us!"

"My bad. This road is closed."

A large, blonde-haired young man, Mars, intervened in the path of Triforium's carriage.

Since he had realized that Shina had been taken by his great-grandfather, the first place he would go would be this south gate, the entrance to Arcazam.

He smiled fearlessly as he carried the greatsword he had struck down with his left hand on his shoulder, while his right hand was still wrapped in the triangular bandage.

"It was a bit of a hassle to run all the way here. Stop running around, old man."

"You pretentious human! Get out of my way!"

Triforium, raging with magical power, commanded the horses to gallop past, ignoring the people in front of them. The spirits that he had contracted with also enveloped the carriage, bestowing all kinds of blessings upon it.

He alleviated the horses' fears, further attuned their minds to their master, Triforium, enhanced their physical abilities, and strengthened all the components of the carriage.

It also created a barrier of wind, enveloping the entire carriage in protection.

Then, the carriage, which had received the blessing of the spirit, began rushing toward Mars, which was blocking the road, while being cloaked in a tornado-like wind and smashing the ground with its drastically increased leg strength.

"Phew..."

Mars exhaled calmly and lowered the sword on his back, preparing it to be swung.

He did not look particularly perturbed in the face of the carriage that came charging at him, cloaked in a tornado.

On the contrary, he even showed the leeway to smile.

"Let's test it out."

The next moment, a huge blade of wind was generated on Mars' great sword. A huge blade of wind, perhaps two or three times his height. What was most bizarre was the density of the compressed wind.

The wind was far more powerful than the wind barrier created by Triforium with the help of spirits, and it clung to the blade of the great sword he was holding.

“Zeeei~!”

A single sword strike.

With a single left-handed strike, Mars' wind blade easily cut through Triforium's wind barrier, slicing through the harness connecting the two horses, and crashing to the ground.

It created a shockwave and a storm of wind that blew away the carriage in which Triforium was riding. The carriage jumped up, and the piled-up cargo flew up into the air along with the old elf.

"U, ooooo!"

Triforium hurriedly commanded the spirits to try to cushion the falling momentum of himself and Shina.

The spirit's power protected Shina, but his own body was slammed to the ground with a great force.

"Goho goho, goho..."

While groaning, Triforium got up. The carriage had flipped over and the horse was knocked unconscious from the impact of being knocked to the ground.

The other horses that had gathered at the south gate had also started to flee, which meant that he now had no means of escape.

Triforium ordered the spirits to retaliate, while gnashing his back teeth from humiliation.

The earth and sand that had been shattered and flying through the air gathered in the air and formed countless stone arrows. They were shot simultaneously toward Mars.

The stone arrows rushed toward Mars, aiming to pierce his body. However, the arrows did not penetrate Mars' body, but were broken apart in mid-air.

"That's enough, Triforium-sama."

"As I thought, it's you, Rauls."

From the side, Rauls appeared.

His body exuded magic, and particles of light danced around him. He was the one who disintegrated the stone arrow that was shot at Mars.

"Yes. As expected, your actions this time cannot be tolerated. For the sake of my people, I will stop you."

Triforium's mouth contorted as Rauls came in his way, and he raged his magic as fast as he could. His dark-green magical power prompted him to raise his hand in order to command more spirits.

Reacting to the old elf's movement, Rauls also thrust out his arm, his magical power raging.

Rauls' magical power interfered with Triforium's magical power, preventing it from communicating with the spirits.

"Tch~!"

"As expected, I can't strip you of the spirits you've already contracted with, but I can obstruct you from giving new commands. And it is enough to buy some time."

"What?"

"You let your guard down!"

"Give me back Shina!"

The next moment, behind Triforium. Two shadows jumped out from the billowing smoke. They were Feo and Mimuru, who were waiting behind him.

They jumped on Triforium from behind and pushed the old elf to the ground.

Feo then pulled out a talisman from his pocket and attached it to him, and the magic that had seeped out of the old elf's body dissipated in the blink of an eye.

"It's a magic sealing talisman. Now you can't use your spirit magic anymore."

"Shina!"

"Guuu!"

To begin with, Triforium was not physically strong. There was no way he could shake off a beastman, who had excellent physical abilities and had received more than enough training.

Mimuru, on the other hand, left Feo in charge of restraining Triforium and rushed to Shina's side.

"Shina are you okay? You're not hurt, aren't you!?"

Her mind was sealed by her great-grandfather, and she stared up into the air with an empty expression on her face.

When Shina did not respond to her calls, Mimuru recalled Rauls' words, "He has sealed her will".

"... Return Shina to her original state!"

With a voice tinged with anger, Mimuru looked down at Triforium, who was bound and pinned down on the ground.

A scorching, rage-tinted gaze directed at the old man who had harmed her best friend. But the light behind her eyes was frighteningly cold.

But even in the face of Mimuru, who exuded hostility, Triforium did not lose his attitude.

"... I refuse. You must leave this city as soon as possible. This city will be destroyed sooner or later. By the hand of the Dragon Slayer."

"Damn you!"

"Calm down. Can't you undo this, Rauls?"

While stopping Mimuru from raising her hand, Mars glanced over at Rauls. But he shook his head.

"Impossible. The spirit that maintains the technique is refusing to talk to me. He must have made a very strong contract."

"Then what will happen to Shina!"

"Unless Triforium-dono undoes it, it will remain like this for several decades."

"... Then, what should we do?"

Now that Shina is in this state, Mars looks up to the sky as the only ally who can use spirit magic has given up.

Before he knew it, the sky, which had begun to be covered by thick clouds, was beginning to sprinkle with white flakes.

"Snow? But somehow..."

Certainly, it would not be surprising if it were to fall during the season. However, there was a slight residue of magic in the snow.

At that moment, Mars, who was frowning at the unusual snow, saw a pillar of light rising into the sky in the distance.

"What the hell is that?"

"A pillar of magic power? Even so, a magic power of that magnitude is inconceivable. Besides, the direction where that pillar is ..."

The pillar could be seen coming from the direction to the north from Mars and the others. It was precisely the direction in which the Francilt mansion was located.

====================================

The reception room of the Francilt mansion. In a room decorated with chalk marble and elegant furnishings, a silver-haired beauty was sitting on a leather sofa, sipping a glass of wine.

On this day, Vitora visited the Francilte mansion to formalize the agreement in question.

Outside, the sun was already over mid-south and gradually beginning to tilt to the west.

The air was cold, as winter had already set in. However, unlike back home, Vitora looked up contentedly at the sunny sky.

Behind her, Rugato stood in wait, quietly filling his Lord's wine glass with crimson grape wine whenever it was empty.

As Vitora gazed out the window, the door to the reception room's entrance slammed open.

"I am sorry to keep you waiting, Vitora-dono."

The one who entered was Victor, who has been delegated full authority for this negotiation. Behind him stood Mena, the maid who served him.

"You don't need to worry about it. I was able to enjoy a very good wine. But still, it's a pretty quiet mansion. Are there no other servants?"

Saying so, Vitora raised the wine glass in her hand.

The wine Rugato had just poured was already half gone.

"Considering the importance of this matter, I have sent them away from this mansion for a short period of time. That said, the wine is a special one that can only be obtained in the Br?gne region. Once our two countries have established diplomatic relations, we will be able to deliver enough wine to satisfy Princess in the future."

"Enough of these gibberish pleasantries. Let us begin."

The vampire princess, without looking at Victor, leaning her elbows on the table and playing with her glass, then began to talk about the conditions that had been proposed by the Francilt family in advance.

"What you are asking for is the purchase of mithril ore in our territory. You will be responsible for ensuring the imports, expanding the port facilities at the Ijen port, and building the necessary road for the trade, is that correct?'

Ijen Port is located in the northern part of Forsina and is currently the most northerly ice-free port in the country.

It is close to the border of the Dizzard Empire and is a suitable place to collect goods for trade.

However, the port facilities are not sufficient for large vessels loaded with imported goods to enter the port, so it was necessary to expand the port.

In addition, road construction was also essential. The Francilt family will fully cover the cost of the road construction.

"The goods that the Waziart family demands, we will collect and store them within the Ijen port, and the transaction will take place at the border crossing. The security of the collected goods will be guaranteed up to the border by the Francilt family."

There are deposits of high-purity mithril within the Empire.

The purity of the mithril is undoubtedly the highest on the continent, and it was the resources that the Francilt family sought.

On the other hand, the Francilt family offered to the Waziart family the expansion of the Ijen port, road construction, and assurance of the quality and safety of imported goods to the border.

The assurance of imports also includes insurance for maritime transport.

In maritime transport, such as shipping, many shippers insure their goods in case of loss of value. Given that the ship is designed to transport large quantities of goods, it is not surprising that the insurance is not sufficient to cover the loss of value.

In addition, when transporting cargo by ship, there are always various fees at the port.

These include dockage fees, facility fees, warehouse fees, and so on. These, too, are to be accommodated by the Francilt family.

This places a heavy burden on the Francilt family.

In addition, the Francilt family must also provide extensive maintenance of ports, roadways, and border crossings.

On the other hand, the Waziart family would be the sole diplomatic contact within the Dizzard Empire, and would be in a position to monopolize profits through trade.

The reason is that there are no large ports in the Dizzard Empire, and because of the cold climate, all ports are covered with ice during the winter, rendering them unusable.

The other problem is the exchange rate of money, but this has already been discussed.

In addition, cargo and money will be exchanged at the border, and the Waziart family will rarely enter the Forsina Kingdom

Although the initial investment is enormous, the stable supply of mithril is a major military and diplomatic advantage.

However, the fundamental significance of this agreement is that "two countries that had never had diplomatic relations concluded an agreement, albeit a conditional one."

When money flows, human resources flow, and ties are formed, resulting in friendship, which in turn suppresses wars with other countries.

This was Victor's ultimate goal.

"Yes, if I may ..."

"No need. Rugato has told me everything. There is no need to repeat it again. Let me conclude briefly that I have no objection to signing the agreement."

"Thank you very mu-..."

"However, I would like to add one more condition."

Interrupting Victor's words of gratitude, Vitora turned her meaningful gaze on him, toying with the glass of wine in her hand.

"Son of man, fulfill your duty. Fulfill the contracts you made with my family in the past, and fulfill your obligations. That is the condition of this agreement."

Vitora now brought up the secret agreement from the past once again.

Victor, on the other hand, had already anticipated this turn of events, and he did not seem particularly perturbed, but replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

"I am sure that we have already discussed the past secret agreements. The Francilt family will bear all the financial burden for your country in concluding this treaty. I don't see any disadvantage to your side in concluding this agreement."

"Yes, right. I see no disadvantage for us. But it won't do, unless you fulfill your past agreements."

However, Vitora was also unwilling to back down.

In the face of a favorable treaty that could be taken as the deference of the other party, Vitora was acting out of the ordinary by attempting to break the current agreement herself.

"I cannot accept it. Now that the contract itself has already disappeared, the secret agreement itself is invalid..."

"Does not matter."

"Pardon?"

"I said It doesn't matter. I don't care whether there is a contract, or whether it was a past head of the family who made the secret agreement."

As she drained the wine remaining in her glass and let her attendant pour wine into the empty glass three times, Vitora looked out the window.

Her indifferent eyes did not see Victor. In the first place, from the very beginning of the discussion, nobody in the room was reflected in her eyes.

"To put it bluntly, I don't care what you have to say, nor do I care about this agreement itself. The reason I came to this city in the first place was not to have this talk. Such trivial matters can be left to Rugato."

"Is it Nozom Bountis?"

The moment he mentioned Nozomu's name, a strong light flashed in Vitora's seemingly inorganic eyes.

The eyes of Dead Demon Princess, who has been paying attention only to the Dragon Slayer outside the window and in the distance, finally turned to Victor here.

"Yeah, that's right. Hand that man over to us. Otherwise, hand over the beloved daughter of the Francilt family and fulfill our past agreements."

Hand over Nozomu Bountis. As she spoke so, a look of ecstasy appeared on her face.

Magic power began to rage from Vitora's body as if she was considerably aroused. A cold sensation, as if his whole body was immersed in ice, hit Vitor.

The glass in Vitora's hand froze and cracked, and the cold air that gushed out of her body gradually began to spread throughout the reception room. The entire room creaked and the atmosphere began to scream.

The oozing magic power eventually became dense enough to be seen and began to engulf the entire Francilt mansion, not to mention the reception room.

Victor glanced out the window and saw that it had begun to snow, perhaps under the influence of Vitora's magic.

Truly a witch, or even more than that, an existence literally of a different dimension, separated from the rest of the world. A transcendent being who can spread misfortune as if she were breathing.

While desperately trying to keep his heart from breaking, Victor spun his words as if he were trying to choke them out.

"... I can't do that. He is now a student at Solminati Academy. I do not have the authority to make a decision regarding his status."

Despite being intimidated by the overwhelming presence, Victor uttered words of rejection.

Vitora, who had expected him to hand over Nozomu in exchange for his daughter, turned her gaze of interest for the first time to the mature gentleman in front of her at his unexpected answer.

"Hou~, then, hand over the beloved daughter of the Francilt family..."

"I can't do that either. I already have no daughter."

I have no daughter. Vitora's mouth turned up slightly as she realized what was behind his words.

"I see, I see. So they have been kicked out of their homes. Certainly, if they are already cut ties with you, then I will not be able to touch them under the contract. But you think I will back down because of that?"

"No, I don't believe so. However, I have a better offer for you. At least, a good enough one to relieve your boredom..."

Vitora's magic is so powerful that even her own people are afraid of her, hence the only subordinate in her castle is Rugato.

Even though he was exposed to her magic, the man in front of her looked straight back at her. With an intense desire in his eyes to achieve absolute victory.

In the face of Victor's eyes that seek victory, Vitora's eyes finally began to take on the color of enjoyment.

As an individual, his strength is not worth mentioning. But Vitora was beginning to take an interest in Victor to the extent that she was willing to listen to his offer.

Then, Victor slowly opened his mouth.

"Vitora-dono, I would like you to marry me."

"... Ha?"

From the mouth of the famed witch, a dumbfounded voice, not befitting a place filled with tension, escaped.

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