Torn Asunder by War, A Sword Saint for Tomorrow X The Knight Wizards!! – Chapter 87

Chapter 87: Misfortune and Fortune Are Like a Twisted Rope
  Since none of the locally born people had any experience going up in the sky, they all started looking out the windows. Revia, representing everyone, shyly raised her hand slightly.
  
  “Hey, are we okay now?”
  “Yes, you can do whatever you like.”
  
  “Onii-sama, may I also?”
  “I’m flying for the first time too, so I’ll come with you.”
  
  As a result of the Tsukigase siblings and Kotono also moving to the window… only Raizes and Nina remained on the simple benches, pondering with difficult expressions.
  
  The Zephyrus Knight Captain, who was at the helm in the cockpit, scoffed, saying, “The Lord just wants to show off,” but that wasn’t the only reason.
  
  Having reviewed the events so far, I understood the general objective of Lady White Fox. So, I cut to the chase before she could say anything.
  
  “If you provide us with the technology for the airship, I still have some Spirit Gate fragments I can give you.”
  “As I thought, the Knight Kingdom has collected all of them.”
  
  After the battle in the Great Forest, Nina’s words brought back a memory. The scout unit that had been stationed there for a while reported via carrier pigeon that they had driven off a group of armed men. We immediately sent reinforcements.
  
  Since the opponents had information early on, some suspected that Zephyrus forces were already cooperating with them at that time, and perhaps they weren’t entirely wrong.
  
  ‘Well, it’s against manners to ask them directly…’
  
  Deciding to leave the truth in the dark, I looked at Raizes and asked for his opinion on my previous proposal. The middle-aged Vice-Captain, who had been deep in thought, nodded deeply.
  
  “Lately, it’s been nothing but expensive propositions, but this isn’t bad. It seems to be worth it.”
  “I’ve got the consent of our watchdog. What do you say?”
  
  “Of course, I’ll accept. Research on returning home has stalled due to the unauthorized use of Spirit Stones, so… it depends on how much you can share with me.”
  
  I narrowed my eyes at Nina and discussed the details, also receiving an explanation about the principles of the airship.
  
  As far as I, a layman, could understand, it seems that by resonating magic waves of a specific frequency with the fragments of the Spirit Gate… or rather, the Spirit Stones, buoyancy is generated. By connecting this core to two reactors, one at the front and one at the back, and a light, hardened, alchemically-made frame, the hull gains lift.
  
  Therefore, it’s necessary to prepare a separate means of propulsion. For this, an ‘improved version’ of the Burst Mechanism, which uses explosions of pure compressed magic and is also installed in some giant knights, was incorporated.
  
  “Just hearing the overview without any prior knowledge makes it seem like a simple structure…”
  “That’s because you’re an amateur. I’ll have the development materials delivered to Technician Jax.”
  
  “Understood. I’ll leave it to you.”
  “Yes, likewise.”
  
  I took the offered hand, shook it, and let out a sigh. Then, Revia, who had been glued to the window, beckoned me over.
  
  From my experience in my original world, I thought we would only be able to see clouds, but because we were flying at a low altitude, we had a good view of the core city of Winzard and the surrounding forest area.
  
  “That small pack we can see… are those Prairie Fangs around here?”
  “They’re troublesome if you encounter them on the ground, but they’re harmless when you look at them from above…”
  
  “Right? Since there aren’t many large aerial monsters, maybe we can travel safely?”
  “For now, it’s an expensive mode of transportation.”
  
  Since the raw material for the core is enemy material that cannot be manufactured, we can’t expect mass production for the time being.
  
  In that sense, it could be considered a blessing in disguise that the Aberrations had invaded the country and were secretly trying to build Spirit Gates.
  
  ‘But I can’t say that in front of Izana, even if my life depended on it, because it’s also connected to the previous King’s death…’
  
  While cautioning myself not to make any careless remarks that would sadden her, even though “misfortune and fortune are like a twisted rope,” I stood shoulder to shoulder with Revia and gazed at the scenery below.
  
  Eventually, the half-hour sightseeing flight seemed to be coming to an end. The bow of the ship turned towards the small castle in the core city of Winzard and slowly descended.
  
  “Hmm, it’s quite conspicuous, isn’t it?”
  “It’s fine, Kotono. I’ve stopped holding back. No one can imitate this anyway.”
  
  “It’s fine to be open about it, but…”
  
  Sensing something ominous in the refreshed attitude of the Lord’s daughter, I asked about the conclusion of the Imperial Faction’s invasion of Zephyrus territory, which started with the Inquisition. At that moment, she gave me a terrifying smile.
  
  As the slightly intimidated archer girl disrespectfully hid behind the king as a shield, Lady White Fox, who was merely a lord of the Empire, declared,
  
  “For now, we’ll crush that troublesome Lord Heisel, and ultimately, we’ll overthrow the higher-ups.”
  “…After defeating the subjugation army, you’re going to attack the imperial capital, Beril?”
  
  “Even if we win this battle, we’ll only be criticized by the Senate, and the problem won’t be solved.”
  “You mean to get rid of those clinging to the young Emperor.”
  
  In that case, we need to discuss with the three ministers and Izana how far the Knight Kingdom should get involved, but right now, we have to focus on the battle at hand.
  
  ‘It’s not as much as Lady Nina, but if we lose, we’ll definitely suffer real damage.’
  
  Therefore, the next day, after returning to the forest area with a renewed focus… the scout unit stationed on the border with other territories reported the intrusion of the subjugation army, mainly from Rigsia territory.
  
  Under the command of the Lord’s daughter, who went to the battlefield herself to boost morale, twenty-six giant knights, including some that had been returned from the three western territories, were quickly moved to the small city of Begnitz, along with a total of 1,200 troops, including regular soldiers like the cavalry and magicians, as well as the Transport Corps.
  
  Meanwhile, since the plains near the city, which would be the battlefield, had a large lake to the east, we, whose existence was kept secret, hid in the shadows of our allies who were marching openly along the main road, and proceeded north through the forest area that stretched to the west, trying not to stand out.