ALL NOVEL Chapter 430
The main military force at Arael Fortress is none other than the army from the Count’s House.
Considering that Ainel led all the troops here directly, aside from the Special Mission Team and remaining soldiers, it wasn’t much of a surprise. Unlike Kisia Fortress, here, Count’s soldiers were visible wherever I looked.
The problem was whether our combination of Shione and me looked trustworthy to them.
“Princess Shione and Deputy Commander Ray have arrived at Arael Fortress. Finally, we might be able to breathe a little.”
“Look at this guy whining! Didn’t we already agree that guarding the fortress against such weaklings isn’t that hard?”
“No, you don’t understand. If the Special Mission Team and Deputy Commander Ray stand on the battlements, there won’t even be enemies reaching the walls.”
They started rambling nonsensically all over the place.
Perhaps having become a somewhat famous archer, even though I couldn’t strike up a conversation, quite a few were casting sideways glances at me.
Now it felt like people were staring at the back of my head more than ever.
The conversation we were having was being shielded from slipping out thanks to Elvis’s help, but the attention still felt a bit burdensome.
“Maybe because there are many from other noble houses, it seems… Hmm. I feel like I’m getting more attention than at Princess Rephelia’s social gathering last time.”
“If you feel burdened by their gazes, feel free to let me know anytime.”
“Why are you suddenly acting all formal? What are you going to do if I say something?”
I tapped the sword at my waist, speaking lightly.
“I’ll take full responsibility for everything.”
“Is that all you needed a lower voice for? This was fun coming from our usually stoic Ray.”
“Is that so?”
“…You’re not serious, are you?”
“……”
Even though I knew it was a joke, Shione’s reaction was amusing.
After being stuck between commanders I wasn’t close with until now, bantering like this finally felt like a relief.
When I smiled, Shione shook her head with a frown.
“Ray’s expressions are so consistent that it’s hard to tell whether he’s serious or joking. And he’s just getting more mischievous as time goes on. Honestly, it was easier when there were slave documents.”
“…All of a sudden?”
Shione, what are you talking about…?
“If I could command you like before, there wouldn’t be any worry about this, right? Slaves absolutely obey the commands of their beloved master. Following any order diligently is the basic principle.”
“I sense a sinister implication behind that absolute obedience and principle. But it’s probably just my imagination.”
“……”
“…Shione?”
“I’m just worried about our Ray.”
As I called out to her, Shione wore a bright smile.
Unlike the freezing winter in the north, she radiated the vibrancy of a sunny spring day as she cheerfully responded.
“I’m not joking. This is all serious.”
Today, Shione spilled a handful of her desires once again.
After finishing her words, perhaps feeling embarrassed on her own, she puffed warm breath into her hands and covered her now even redder ears with them.
It seemed that this time her words were genuinely serious.
“Your desires are quite transparent.”
“…Shut up.”
After such a brief joke, we finally arrived at the Central Control Tower where the commander of Arael Fortress was staying.
It was the place where the dragon subjugation operation was specifically organized and now, with the princess visiting, it was a site lacking any power in comparison to the central fortress, presenting alternatives for this great war.
The entrance was heavily guarded.
But—
“Identity confirmed! Enter!”
Even with such strict security, we had no trouble getting in.
As we entered the Central Control Tower, searching for where Ainel would be waiting, I spotted a familiar figure with purple hair approaching gracefully from a distance.
“Your Highness, the Princess.”
“Lady Shianella, Baron Karpel. It’s been a while. How was the escorting of Princess Rephelia?”
“Thanks to Your Highness’s consideration, we were able to arrive at Arael Fortress safely and quickly.”
“Don’t mention it. That was the least I could do for a friend. It’s only natural to help each other out when needed.”
The bright atmosphere she carried suddenly took on a sense of seriousness.
“I have many things I want to discuss. Of course regarding the demons, and what I’ve prepared for you in relation to that. But we’ll have to hold off for now. The Count has been eagerly awaiting your arrival, Lady and Baron.”
Her voice was slow, not hurried or fast, almost gentle, as if she was determined to engrave her words in our minds.
“The Count is waiting for you in that room over there. I sincerely hope you have a pleasant time.”
Finishing her words, she bid us farewell and left.
Shione and I entered the room indicated by the princess and met Ainel.
“Shione, and Baron Karpel. I’ve been waiting for you. I can’t decide whether to be happy or not to see you again at Arael Fortress.”
Following Ainel’s lead, we took our seats.
The warmth from the fireplace set up against one wall enveloped us, warming my slightly chilled skin. The crackling fire brought a sense of peace to my heart, and in this soft atmosphere, the conversation began.
“How was the journey here? I heard it wasn’t an easy one. Are both of you alright?”
“Thanks to the knights of the Special Mission Team guarding the front lines, we were able to finish the battles unharmed.”
Starting with pleasantries.
We engaged in small talk, recounting recent events one by one.
Shione and Ainel shared a slightly awkward but genuine family-like conversation.
“Baron Karpel, now that you’ve commanded troops as the head of your family, you don’t seem to be so tense in front of me anymore. It seems you’re becoming a proper noble and head of the family, and I am genuinely delighted.”
“Thank you, Lady Shianella, I’m glad to have your affirmation.”
“Oh, so that’s why I bring it up. Are you still considering taking our Shione away?”
“That’s… something to think about more seriously.”
“That’s right. Although she is my daughter, she doesn’t have my sharp demeanor and has her own grace. I believe she’d make the perfect bride—”
“W-wait, Mother, what are you saying…!”
Even I, who had been quietly listening, got pulled into the banter as our laughter broke the previously frozen tension, releasing the build-up of stress among us.
Finally, we transitioned to the most pressing topic concerning Arael Fortress’s greatest crisis.
“To put it bluntly, the full-scale battle with the dragon is expected to occur in about 5 days.”
Five days. Much shorter than I had thought.
I had assumed we had at least another week left.
To think the expected date was so soon.
Had we not crossed the Erosion Zone without hearing Shione’s words, we might have missed this harmonious conversation altogether.
Reading the seriousness in Ainel’s eyes, she continued in a calm tone to help us keep our composure.
“Indeed, five days. There’s not much time left. However, Arael Fortress has prepared everything for the battle against the dragon, so if it’s a wounded and weary dragon, we should be able to subjugate it. But there is another problem.”
“…It’s the demons.”
“Just as Princess Shione said, the existence of the demons is also becoming increasingly confirmed to be approaching here. The potential calamity for Arael Fortress now hinges on how the demons will act. Thus, the Princess came here to devise a way to control them.”
Again, Ainel Shianella instinctively began to tap her index finger against the armrest of her chair.
“Over the next three days, I and the subjugation team will prepare for the hunt. Meanwhile, Princess Shione and Baron Karpel must get ready to confront the demons under the Princess’s command. This is what we can call our preparations for victory at Arael Fortress and ultimately ending this war.”
Throughout her speech as she tapped the armrest, Ainel’s index finger suddenly stopped.
Only the sound of the wood crackling remained in the room.
As Ainel’s deep blue eyes, even more vivid than Shione’s, sparkled, she spoke.
“Shione, Baron Karpel. No matter how much experience you have in defeating demons at Dae Su Rim and the Kalia Marquis House together, preparing to face a great evil in just five days will be tough. But that doesn’t mean you should be too afraid.”
“Mother?”
“Arael Fortress has me as your master.”
With the shadowed eyes beneath her bangs.
Her eyes, adorned with bright starlight, held a firm resolve to achieve something, and the belief that she could surely do it was beautiful.
It seemed Ainel was harboring that determination within her.
“That mere dragon will be swiftly taken down. And under the name of the Count’s House, I will personally protect you, Shione and Baron Karpel.”
Indeed, our reliable head of the Count’s House had no intention of faltering in her resolve.