Kimi to Boku no Saigo no Senjo, Aruiha Sekai ga Hajimaru Seisen

Chapter 5

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Chapter 5

‘Founder’

A moment ago.

The royal palace of Nebulis was going through an unprecedented rumbling. The rumbling which could be a.s.sociated with the end of the world cracked the earth, and broke windows in the royal palace one after the other.

"Each and every star spirit in the Imperial Household Agency is resonating? What is going on?"

Mirabelle Lou Nebulis VIII, the queen of Nebulis was walking down the hidden pa.s.sage while the rumbling was happening. At the end of the natural limestone cavern, illuminated by a bonfire, two soldiers down on their knees rose before her.

"What is going on? To have called me here in such a situation."

"Ha! That’s…!"

The two who raised their faces pointed behind them. A ma.s.sive black pillar. And crucified on it, the sleeping Founder Nebulis was─

"The Founder’s bindings have been undone!?"

The chain that had been binding both her hands and feet, had shattered to pieces.

"What happened?"

"We also do not… But, the Founder suddenly swung her arm─"

"Are you saying that she tore off the chains on her own? And, at the same time this rumbling broke out. So that is why you have called me here."

While floating in the air, the dark skinned girl did not show the slightest movement. Her head was hanging down, and both her eyes that could barely be seen were shut tight. Just from her appearance, she seemed to still be asleep.

"…"

And so, the dark skinned girl slowly raised her head.

"Star sword… The wavelength of a strong star spirit… Is fighting…?"

She spoke as if talking to herself, and immediately following that, her body rotated in the air, and the star crest on her back began to pour out a jet black mist.

"Is that a star spirit!? The star spirit in her body is…!"

The star spirit manifested as jet black wings on her back. And as those wings flapped slowly, the girl’s eyes remained shut.

"The star spirit’s automatic defence? The star spirit, is protecting the Founder!?"

The queen did not know what those words ‘star sword’ that the Founder spoke of were referring to, but it was a grave matter if the star spirit within the Founder was taking action to protect her.

"Founder!"

"─Star sword… Return it, to me…"

The jet black wings covered the girl’s body. And immediately following that, the body of the oldest star mage vanished as if unifying with the air.

"She vanished?"

The soldiers stood there with dumbfounded expressions. Giving them a backwards glance, the queen looked at the black pillar before her and drew nearer. She then touched the surface of the stone which served as the Founder Nebulis’ bed with her finger.

"… The reason is unknown. But there is nothing more we can wish for than our dear Founder awakening. As long as we have her honourable power…"

Without being seen by anyone, the queen made a cold smile.

"I can see the Empire’s defeat."

Sand kicked up like fine particles.

After the wind drove away the cloud of sand which was thick enough to visually obstruct anything one metre away, what Iska witnessed, was an enormous scar in the earth in the shape of a ma.s.sive bowl like depression.

The slightly elevated slope had been completely destroyed, and created a gaping wide hole in the ground. Iska had seen Imperial cannons firing on uninhabited open fields in the training grounds, and the destructive force on display here was comparable to that. However, the decisive difference here was─

The strike which caused such destruction was invisible, it wasn’t clear what had happened. And the one who created that scar, was a single little girl.

"The Founder Nebulis…"

She was a small girl with dark skin and pearl grey hair. On her back, what appeared to be jet black wings had manifested, and she was floating far off in the empty sky.

"I-Iska-kun? U-um… By Founder, you don’t mean…"

"It’s probably just as Captain Mismis is thinking. The Great Witch Nebulis is still alive. For one hundred years, ever since she caused that incident in the Empire."

The una.n.a.lytical energy of the stars, ‘star spirits.’

Everything began when scientists from the Empire discovered it deep underground. The una.n.a.lytical energy possessed a portion of humans, and granted its host unusual powers. That was the origin of the star mages ─ the ones called witches and warlocks by the Empire.

… And among them, the girl who bathed in the absolutely most powerful energy.

… That is definitely, the one the Empire at the time feared the most as a witch.

Having received a far crueller persecution than any other, she was the star mage who bore the deepest grudge against the Empire. That was the girl known as the Great Witch.

"That’s unfair! Even though it’s just me and Iska-kun…!"

The pet.i.te female captain mustered up her strength and yelled in complaint as she pointed at the two star mages in front of her eyes.

"The Founder Nebulis… To have such a legendarily strong witch tailing us. Are you saying it’s fine to do anything you want just because negotiations broke down? Is that how you do things in Nebulis!?"

"W-wait!"

Her eyes met Alice’s. And with a frantic look, she replied while her blonde hair was thrown out of order.

"You’re wrong! I didn’t do anything!"

"… Eh?"

"Rin, it couldn’t be you?"

"I-it wasn’t. The last time I saw the esteemed Founder was in the underground pa.s.sage together with Alice-sama. I haven’t been informed of such a thing by the Queen either!"

The attendant was yelling to the point where her voice was hoa.r.s.e. And overhead as she did, the jet black wings of the Founder flickered.

‘Interfere with the memory of the stars.’

‘Connect with the ‘will’ using the third layer. Call forth the surface of the star."

With a crack, a fissure formed in the air at the Great Witch’s feet. Through that crack in the blue sky, ‘something’ red could be seen.

… What is that? Something is coming out of that s.p.a.ce just like Nebulis did.

… Red. Call forth? It couldn’t be, that’s…

It was bad. Believing in his intuition, Iska let out a cry from where he was standing.

"Dive into the crater!"

Grabbing Mismis’ hand forcefully, he pulled her into the crater.

"Take cover, Alice!"

"Eh?"

"You’ll be swallowed by the flames!"

Together with Mismis, Iska slid down the side of the crater. And as Alice and Rin also tumbled down, that, came out of the shattered s.p.a.ce with a bright red glow.

The star spirit of flame. No ─ that, had already surpa.s.sed the concept of a star spirit, it was an eruption of una.n.a.lytical energy that had human intelligence.

"Mow them down."

A tremendous detonation.

The atmosphere scorched by the star spirit of flame expanded into a shockwave at the speed of raging billows, and as the flames bonded with oxygen, they triggered a violent chain reaction of explosions. There was likely no other way of escaping those explosions other than taking cover in the crater. However…

"Hot!?"

Mismis screamed out as she put her hands to her ears.

"This is bad Iska-kun. The heat wave is reaching the bottom of the─"

"Seal it."

At Alice’s command, cold air took action. Like white gems, a sparkling wall of frost was born, and became a curtain to seal off the heat wave.

"Alice-sama. Are you even going to protect these people?"

"This isn’t the time for that is it?"

Rin pointed a vigilant gaze over to Alice. On the other hand, Alice scowled at the wall of ice in the air and didn’t move an inch. The Founder should have been the ultimate reinforcement for them, but looking at her profile, it was clear the she was also bewildered.

"With both the first attack, and with the explosive flames now, the esteemed Founder has been attacking even us."

"Th-that’s… Is it not because only the Imperial soldiers entered her vision?"

"It’s inexcusable to attack even us just for that kind of reason. Even just now, if Iska had not said anything, we wouldn’t have gotten away in time. Isn’t that right?"

"… That’s, certainly true."

While clenching her fists, Rin agreed.

"It is the truth… That we were saved by an Imperial swordsman. In the Founder’s eyes, perhaps she sees us as his companions?"

"Wait. Isn’t that Founder you’re talking about your ally?"

Iska interrupted the attendant who had fallen to her knees while replying. Setting aside the fact that they were being attacked by the Great Witch Nebulis, Iska and Mismis knew practically nothing of the circ.u.mstances of the ones on the Imperial Household Agency’s side.

"In the first place, we don’t even know if that is really Nebulis herself."

"After being shown such power, do you still doubt that she is a fake?"

Rin scowled at Iska.

"The star mage that the Empire calls the Great Witch. As the one who founded our country, the people of Nebulis call her the Founder."

"Then, why is that Founder attacking her direct descendant Alice?"

"…"

The star mage went silent with a gulp. Answering would be a leak of confidential information, and as she remained silent, the other star mage present spoke of it eloquently with her gaze cast down.

"It is likely the star spirit’s automated defence."

"… Alice-sama."

"There’s already no point in hiding it before someone who knows that the Founder is alive."

Nebulis’ princess turned towards Iska.

"A hundred years ago, when the Founder was exhausted from the battle with the Empire, it is said that she went to sleep to heal her body. The true nature of the star spirit within the Founder’s body is unknown to all. We call it the ‘star spirit of s.p.a.ce and time,’ but that is nothing but a nickname."

"A star spirit unknown to all…"

"That star spirit of s.p.a.ce and time protects the sleeping Founder."

Alice spoke of it like it was only natural. Among the star spirits, there were star spirits who protected their host humans. Iska had also heard before that the larger the star spirit, the more remarkable it was, but in the Empire, it was all still at the level of hypothesizing.

"Is Nebulis still sleeping?"

"She probably is. Setting aside what she reacted to, the attack from the star spirit of s.p.a.ce and time is far too indiscriminate, it is likely because the Founder who controls that star spirit is sleeping. I can comprehend it if that is the case, but…"

Nebulis’ princess stopped for a moment there. And then, with a worn out voice…

"How frustrating…"

"Frustrating?"

Ever since she started staring up at the girl in the sky, she turned to face Iska for the first time. Like red moons, her ruby eyes opened widely, and without blinking or swaying, she silently stared at Iska.

"I… For just this matter, I wanted to settle it just between you and I."

Alice bit her lower lip. As if enduring something, she looked like she was crying while smiling.

"Ever since meeting you in the Neutral City, a strange haze has been building up inside me… That is a failure of me as a princess. Today, I came with the intent of severing all that off. I was thinking of bringing an end to the fight that was interrupted in the Nelka Forest. That’s why I came wearing the same uniform as that time. The same clothes as when we first fought."

Nebulis’ royal garments. And while gripping the crumpled hem of her skirt…

"… I really put my spirit into it. I didn’t report it to Mother, and I even made sure that Rin would not interfere at all. I thought I would be able to settle it just between the two of us without anybody getting in the way after all. And yet, of all things, for that kind of b.i.t.c.h to thoughtlessly b.u.t.t in, it’s a huge nuisance!"

"Th-th-that kind of b.i.t.c.h!? Alice-sama how can you speak of the Founder that─"

"Enough. At any rate, we can’t just stay here immobile. We’re breaking out."

Alice snapped her fingers. The curtain of ice burst open and flew into the sky as it collided with the current of flames still blowing violently overhead. And as if devouring each other, the heat wave and cold wave cancelled each other out.

"Captain, run."

They ran up the slope of the crater. Waiting for them in the sky filled with a countless number of embers, was the Great Witch, still making the same expressionless face as if nothing had happened with her eyes tightly shut.

… It’s true that I can’t sense her consciousness.

… Alice’s description of her being still asleep is probably on point.

Having sensed an Imperial soldier, she was automatically counterattacking from above. It was safe to a.s.sume that being given that order before Nebulis went to sleep, even after a hundred years, the star spirit of s.p.a.ce and time faithfully continued to protect her.

"Our esteemed Founder, I thank you for providing your a.s.sistance in the fight between this Imperial soldier and I. However, I wish to settle the score with this one just between the two of us!"

Alice mustered up her voice and yelled to the skies.

"Please return to the royal palace!"

The oldest star mage remained silent. Even unconscious as she was, as she continued to float there with her head drooping down, it certainly looked like Alice’s words reached her ears. However…

"It’s hopeless! You can’t, Alice-sama!"

Rin grabbed her master’s hand as she pulled her back. As a first cla.s.s star mage, as the one who was polished to serve as Alice’s guard ever since she was a child, it was possible for her to predict what would occur the instant the Founder began moving using her ability to sense danger.

"A star mage would get in my way? If you are to consort with the Empire…"

To the oldest star mage, even if it were the words of another star mage, they were nothing but droplets of water before the raging flames that was her hatred. Alice did not know that. In other words, all that would obstruct her vengeance were her enemies.

"Vanish from this star."

A ma.s.sive sword of fire.

Higher in the blue sky than where Nebulis was floating, a red blotch was given birth. And from that crack in s.p.a.ce, a flame modelled after a blade came crashing down towards the earth. Severing the atmosphere, it was a super high temperature blade which could fuse the earth itself. And as the blade which measured over a hundred metres long closed in…

"Alice-sama, look out!"

A golem rose up out of the earth at Rin’s feet. Despite showing devotion to the one known as the Founder, precisely because she held caution against her deep in her heart, she secretly had a countermeasure prepared beforehand.

"Rin!?"

The golem pushed Alice out of the flaming blade’s range. What Mismis could see while being carried by Iska, was only up until that moment.

─The flaming sword bore into the earth.

The earth struck by the sword fused and turned into magma, and the earth further down the trajectory of the slash split open, spewing up a ma.s.sive heat wave along with sparks. The sparks shot up into the air, and spread flames out over an even wider area.

"Iska-kun! The flames are going to the city…!?"

Mismis shrieked. Seeing the skies above the Neutral City dyed in red, the squad captain from the Empire made an expression full of grief.

"We have to save them!"

"Calm down Captain. It looks showy, but there are only sparks falling down. Most of them will vanish when they hit the ground, if we deal with it calmly it won’t break out into a conflagration… Instead of that, we need to focus on the enemy in the sky."

Just how could they deal with the absolute worst enemy imaginable, the Founder Nebulis? Even if they requested reinforcements from the Imperial capital, they were too far away. They couldn’t even get support from Jhin or Nene. While Iska was about to say this, what came into his sight was─

"Rin!? Rin, answer me!"

The young attendant who had collapsed onto the hideously burned earth.

The figure of Alice who was holding her with a frantic expression as she screamed her name.

In front of them, the golem had crumbled to pieces, and returned to clumps of earth on the wasteland.

She succeeded in getting Alice out of the range of the ma.s.sive flaming sword, but Rin herself wasn’t able to get away in time. She managed to escape a direct hit from the flame itself using the golem, but she could do nothing about the heat wave in the air.

"Rin, I’m begging you, open your…"

"Don’t move her around too much."

Grasping a black star sword, Iska commanded Alice to stop shaking her attendant’s shoulders, and jumped in front of the two girls.

一A single slash.

As the second wave of flames came down on a defenceless Alice, the black blade severed it. And then, as if dissolving into the air, the flames vanished.

"That’s what your star spirit is for isn’t it?"

"Eh?"

"Cool Rin’s body with ice. Deal with the burns while you still can."

"…!"

Nebulis’ princess raised her face in astonishment. And at the same time, cold air gathered at her fingertip, and she slowly wrapped the air around Rin’s body.

"Captain Mismis, take her to a hospital! If you can, please show her to a specialist when it came to star spirit cases!"

Iska pointed at the Neutral City Ayin, the city that sparks continued to rain down on.

"And make a request for the citizens of the city to remain where they are. Absolutely do not let them leave the city’s walls. This wasteland is about to become an extremely dangerous battlefield."

"… Eh? U-um.."

"Quickly!"

"U-un! Iska-kun, be careful!"

The female captain’s determination came quickly. Carrying the star mage who was supposed to be her enemy on her back, she ran towards the city that could be seen far away. Without seeing her off, Iska directed his gaze at the enemy in the sky.

The Founder Nebulis.

The ultimate star mage who had become obsessed with the flawed idea of vengeance.

"Nebulis."

A black star sword in his right hand, a white star sword in his left hand. While brandishing the only star swords in the world that were entrusted to him by his master…

"A hundred years ago, you may have been the hope which guided all star mages. However, you’re wrong. I can tell from watching your actions. You are─"

"You are no longer needed in this day and age!"

A voice which sounded like a bell made of ice. Strong, clear, and without a single hint of hesitation. It rang out through the wasteland.

"What kind of Founder are you? You should be ashamed. This age does not wish for you!"

The one who made that declaration, was the girl standing beside Iska.

"Getting in the way of me settling things with Iska, causing harm to the Neutral City, and to even wound Rin, another star mage…! Nebulis, only you are truly a witch!"

Aliceliese Lou Nebulis IX.

The one who carried the burden of being the current princess of the Imperial Household Agency, thrust her finger at the founder of that same Imperial Household Agency.

"Nothing can be born of your power. It won’t make anybody happy."

"Agreed. This is, no longer the age that you know of."

One step, the two moved forwards.

"Imperial soldier. Star mage. You b.a.s.t.a.r.ds─"

""Silence!""

Cutting off the Founder’s words, standing before the witch who was caught in her endless dream, their voices cried out in perfect harmony.

"Your actions are nothing but a vain effort. The future that I seek does not exist there."

"Nor does the world I desire."

The two of them understood each other. They were enemies. The day that they would collide would come. However, that conclusion was something the two of them would bring about only between them. Unwanted interventions were not needed.

"That’s why─"

""You should once more, sleep for another hundred years!""

The Successor of Black Steel Iska and the Ice Witch of Calamity Alice. Entrusting their backs to each other, the two roared in unison.

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