Sword, Magic and Academic Society-Chapter 312Vol. 1 - - Saintess’s Attendant (1)

New Event: Global Dungeons Daily Releases

A day after we had slain the King of Flies. The reinforcement from Leverance arrived at the Holy Land in succession.

I was amazed at their swift arrival too. I had been completely expecting them to take three days at earliest, as Kiana-san had informed me.

Apparently, the Madam Marquis, Jeu's mother, had been in fumes when she learned her abducted daughter was carried to Holy Land. Even before the report of King of Flies could've reached her, she had already mobilised the volunteers from over one-thousand noble families of Leverance Marquistate.

The situation further ignited when the nobles learned of the incident, and it had turned into an over-the-top scenario. They'd already gathered an army big enough to siege, and if required then destroy the Holy Land, but as the reason for the call of the army spread around, it got them worked up, gathering an even bigger army.

They also had a specialised squad to tackle the unmaintained and dangerous unofficial route.

Was I stunned beyond reason when I saw the arrival of a ridiculously huge army. Just to be sure, I posed Marquis Leverance my doubt, "T-the army is only here as a display of threat to facilitate negotiation, right?!"

However, with a pale face, he gestured with a horizontal shake of his head, and showed a letter, "It's from my wife Doly." I peered into it, and in a very neat and beautiful writing, it said only three words, "destroy them all."

"Gaahh," escaped a groan from me. I immediately snatched it, crumbled it into a ball and tossed it away. Well, the priests and paladins shivered when they saw our exchange. So I say the letter was just the case of the 'killing the chicken without knife' scenario, while the authorities would be conducting a high-profile political play. ...Yep, let's hope so...... please.

Such things happened. Once the Holy Land had enough soldiers to administer it, we set out to return our way with Dante-san.

Dante-san was our guard, and as well as the messenger to report the situation at Royal Capital. As a fact, they'd a little exchange on who to assign for this duty. When my Master posed that, Parth-san and Justine-san immediately raised their hands. Kiana-san instead pretended as if she was invisible. At the end, Dante-san was designated as a result.

Besides Dante-san, there was the whole procession—a full-fledged platoon, undoubtedly an excessive force for a mere return trip. The whole extravagant use of soldiers felt as if we were some royalty from period drama out on their journey.

Encased at the centre of the soldiers, we took the official route. The huge procession followed till a military garrison in Leverance where they finally disbanded. From there, we boarded Knight Order's mana car which took us straight to the Royal Capital.

At long last, I was freed from the unbearable atmosphere. I felt like I was sitting at a pin-cushion the whole journey all because of the needless remark of Marquis, "My words, Allen Rovenne. You're a man of immovable fortitude. If it wasn't enough to sneak inside Holy Land alone, you even succeeded in uncovering the vile deeds of those rotten crowds. So, I entrust my darling daughter in your good hands." He was so melodramatic, with eyes brimming with tears as he spoke cryptically.

My words, you'd look at the faces of his guards. Throughout the journey, they'd given me those tepid 'aww' gazes like those nosy relatives.

I didn't ask for your daughter's hand for god sake!

I never had such an intense urge to escape the hell out of it in my two lives.

Fortunately, Jeu didn't display any change of behaviour, so that was one silver lining protecting my sanity.

◆◆◆

"I am sorry Allen, and Jeu. I had all the chances, but I still failed in capturing the mastermind. ...It's my fault I was too weak."

In the rear seat of the mana car heading to Royal Capital, Coco uttered in a vexed tone.

It appeared he had managed to read the clues and figured out the hidden escape route from Holy Land to outside. He ambushed the geezer, I think Cornal or whatever, and his subordinates there.

'I just read the traces,' he made it like such attention could've been noticed by anyone. But there's no way an escape route, meant for truly important people, would be so easily discoverable. To put it into other words, spotted by someone of selfish intention, like a thief, they would've infiltrated inside the Holy Land and dealt great harm. The hidden passage was just as vital an aspect of the Holy Land.

A well concealed facility of such importance could only be found if someone paid attention to every minute details, like Coco.

Anyway, Coco had stayed outside the Holy Land as a messenger to relay the situation to any incoming force. And when the Beelzebubble was finally subjugated, its minions dispersing, that's where he encountered the three people.

As soon he had noticed the traces, he secured some Dorian fruits and was seeking to capture them through it. And he did. He tricked the two subordinates, causing them to faint due to the effect of the fruit. But the true mastermind, the geezer, managed to withstand the effect with Holy Magic, and fled from the scene.

He appeared depressed at the fact.

"It's alright, Coco. And honestly, I could tell they're far more experienced. You'd even risk being killed if you faced them head on, forcing yourself. I know this well. And honestly, two are already a big haul."

I wasn't putting on an ad-lib to cheer him. It truly was better he didn't force himself. Cornal, who appeared like those shriveled ghosts from horror shows, in particular gave me creeps on the level of Godorfun-sensei.

After all, if they're so easily manageable, then we wouldn't have to go through the whole King of Flies bait. It was obvious any other option led to doom, I had to reluctantly agree for that.

"I concur here. It's a splendid achievement to capture even the two of his subordinates. As a fact, even Dew-san had been quite impressed at your rationale yet decisive action, Coco-kun. And believe me, that person is stingy when it comes to such praises. ......Now, if only Allen-kun learns from you."

Dante-san jabbed at me with a snicker.

......Hey there, I, too, follow the 'be humble and stable in spirit' creed of the Rovenne fam—......Fine. I had to say even I couldn't feel much weight in my words, so I bitterly swallowed the complaint that I was about to utter.

Either way, Dante-san's honest praise did its charm. The brooding expression of Coco finally cleared away to display a thin smile.

Just then, Jeu deeply bowed her head to me and Coco.

"Once again, I can't explain my gratitude enough for you two. I believe mother and father will be issuing their formal gratitude, but... I want to explain my gratitude myself."

...Truly, how was I supposed to respond now?

"Besides Coco, you really do not owe me anything, Jeu. Dolittle might have his own thoughts, but it was apparent that the old ghost's target was me all along the moment they went after Rina. I had said it before, and I repeat it, I feel you only got caught up due to me."

Coco followed with a node after me.

"Yeah, cut yourself some slack. And if determining who owes who, I owe you an apology for not immediately tapping on the situation back at the garden. ...And it's not just us. Fey-chan, and even Leo too. They all must have been using their own means to help you. Moreover, had it been us, you would've done the same, wouldn't you?"

—Because we're friends.

At the ending remark of Coco, Jeu finally stopped with her words.

Ack, the air was taking the awkward turn I disliked most. I need to change the subject.

"It reminds me. How did you know Rina has talent for Holy Magic, Jeu? I am sure I heard there's no means to learn about Holy Magic naturally, not unless you test your aptitude."