Knights & Magic - Book 8: Chapter 109: The Silver Phoenix Knight’s Rematch

The light of dawn drives off the darkness, illuminating the ridge.

Dietrich trembled slightly in the coldness of dawn. The wind passing over the deck makes the hem of his outer coat flutter. In this unobstructed place, it’s just a curse.

“I was really too whimsical…”

He rides in a Levitate ship, an amazing ship that travels in the sky, not on the water. The ship doesn’t know if it’s near the surface, and the temperature around it falls as it rises in the sky. It was even more so on the upper deck of the windswept vessel.

Dietrich woke up early for some reason, just after dawn. He was beginning to regret his choice in not going back to sleep again as soon as possible.

“Well, now, the Bocuse Omori Forest…… I’m getting tired of this scenery.”

The light of the dawn slowly reveals the appearance of the forest. The view below was filled with endless trees.

The Bocuse Omori Forest is a paradise of demon beasts that reject human activities. It once swallowed many knights and has been regarded as contraindicated (forbidden?) in the Kingdom of Fremevira.

“The boss said that he had encountered a man at the edge of the forest. I wonder if that’s true here.”

The ridges if the mountain range blocked the end of the swell of the dense trees. There is a change in the forest, as if it were continuing on.

“Are you here, Our little knight commander?” he asked of the forest in general.

The Levitate Ship he was riding in — the flagship of the Silver Phoenix Knights, ‘Izmo’, once embarked on a survey of the Bocuse Omori Forest as a forerunner of the Second Forest Expeditionary Force and it encountered an unprecedented enemy. It managed to return to Fremevira while losing Ernesti, who was the knight leader, and Adeltrud, who was his assistant. He himself did not participate in the fight. It was in the past, but never once did he think, ‘If I had only been there…’

He shook his head, shaking off his extra thoughts. He hadn’t come here to look back. “But if it’s this big, it’s going to be a pain to find that little ringmaster.” Despite his words, Dietrich had a small smile on his face.

After a war with the insect-like demon beast that created a cloud of acid, Ernesti fell down there with the Ikaruga and Adeltrud followed him in her Sylphiette. It is a near impossible task, to find only two people from that vast forest of demon beasts. He didn’t think it was impossible for some reason.

“Wow, it’s really windy! It’s about time we got back to bridge. Right?” He tried to go back, saying that, and suddenly stopped moving halfway. In the light of the dawn, he felt some sensation go through him. A small, worn black shadow shimmered, pale in a swaying light. There is something flying in the sky of the Bocuse Omori Forest. It’s a Wind Knight?

Perhaps not. If it were a Wind Knight, the Magic light communication equipment should be flashing. It’s not a flying ship either. In the first place, all ships were behind Izmo. Then, the remaining possibility was -.

Dietrich’s expression showed a fearless smile. “It’s hard work for a demon beast, but it’s just right for me. That being the case, it means I wasn’t wrong here!” He dashed into the ship. A hectic day for the Silver Phoenix Knights was about to begin.

The invisible boundary where the beasts active at night passed, and the beast which lived by day rose. There was a huge shadow rising in the twilight just after dawn. It was like a thin-winged beetle with a rainbow-colored light. It resembled a beetle.

“Troublesome Bug-Beasts. So, even I have to fight in the sky? Flying is a real pain.”

There were those that had seen the flying beast off. The existence of a humanoid with a huge body compared to the demon beast. Giants, they were. One of them was taller than the others. He moved his five eyes swiftly; he spat out in a abhorrent manner. “If it is on the earth, there is nothing that can stand against us. But it is difficult to fight the ones swimming in the sky. Just like the Cretvastia once did.”

The fourth giant behind him looked seriously rotten, nodding. The fifth giant who saw it scowled. “I know. That’s why this is the role of beasts.”

The giants whispered agreement and immediately scratched their heads. “This is the Cretvastia that were sent out. I think there are less than before, though.”

“Magi, we can’t make up for what was lost in the last fight.” The fifth’s expression was downright heinous, face red as if he were about to explode. His expression was mercurial, changing often.

“I’m not going to use all the Cretvastia for this.”

Immediately Oberon replied, “Call on me.”

“I know…”

On receiving the fifth life, the giants descended. He returned the rest to the sky, seeing off the giants with one of his eyes.

“Are you the invaders coming from the sky, sweeping the filthy beasts? The time all giant clans unite beneath the Rubel Clan is just around the corner. Hundred Eyes, are you still testing me?”

The mutter melts into the air without any response.

The ship traveling the skies was filled with the sound of a loud bell. The knights, who were awakened by the emergency warning, rushed to their posts. “Forward, Demon Beasts! There in the distance, the number is unknown!”

“I can’t see movement on the ground! There is no separate corps around me!”

“Magical light communication with each ship confirmed as good!”

A number of reports fly through the voice system surrounding each part of the hull.

The bridge of the fleet flagship Izmo was busy with preparations for a proper war.

“Hey, you came out of nowhere!”

“Really, I’m keeping you from getting in here.”

David spoke up, turning around in the captain’s seat. However, he received a report and smiled militantly.

Edgar, who was listening next to him, was checking the air route map. There’s a navigator there as well.

“The sphere of influence of the demon beast we fought last time is reported to be narrow. Among them, specifically, is the territory of the insect type demon beast. Their last attack space exactly overlaps our present location.”

“Hello! Hey Edgar, I’ll leave the rest to you!”

“Throwing me a curve ball immediately, boss?”

When recalling their momentum, Edgar, who was lost in thought, heard the boss’s hearty reply.

“I am just a simple mechanic! Well, I’ll move the ship wisely, so don’t worry, hey?”

“That is really encouraging.”

In the opinion of the boss, the subordinates, who were packed on the bridge – even the mechanics whispered confidently. Even if they weren’t direct combatants.

At any rate, battle is the territory of the cavalry. Dietrich rushed off the bridge as Edgar tried to give instructions.

“Silhouette Knights, you’re ready to go?”

“Di, are you leaving?”

“Ah. If the rumored insect beasts are coming, I won’t be able to use my swords. I’m going to borrow a Wind Knight.”

With those words, Dietrich rushed on.

Edgar’s voice followed him. “First company will protect the fleet. Don’t worry.”

“Naturally.”

As it was, Dietrich hurried to the hold. There, the Wind Knights, who have completed maintenance, are now waiting for the time of their sortie. He jumped on to one of these.

“As expected, the finish is perfect. Tuediane (I’m also seeing this translate as Toediane, left this as a personal preference for now.), let’s get out!”

The Silhouette Gear in the airship is carried by a lift heavy-arm Crane. It secured them in place.

“Captain Di! Please, do your best!

“Leave it to me.”

Dietrich’s Wind Knight was thrown into the air immediately after, catching the wind. The thruster screamed smoothly and it quickly jumped out to the front of the fleet. The squadron aircraft gathered with his flame as their waypoint. They quickly took a dense formation and turned to the enemy.

There, a shadow with a rainbow-colored glow in the sky is seen, gradually increasing in brightness. It is a giant beast, a demon beast that danced in the sky by the action of ether.

“Insect type Demon Beast visual! The number is five!”

“It’s not a good place to be. A small trick or reconnaissance? Well, it’s kind of similar.”

In the windy sky, direct conversation is difficult. The loudspeaker mounted on the Wind Knight is enhanced by using magic, but the effective distance is still limited. For that reason, the formation was dense.

Dietrich decided on his tactics, informing his squad, “We have superior numbers. We’ll drive them in!”

“Confirmed!”

“Let’s collect on that last loan with interest!”

“Second Company, left and spread out!”

Following the command, the Wind Knights split into two dense formations. They moved on the insect like Beast Demon with a pincer formation. The demon beast of this type is known, now. They show a speed which does not suit their huge bodies, closing the distance quickly. The lead Wind Knight of Dietrich’s company flashed the magic light communication machine.

“This is an advantage in range, don’t pack too much distance!” It’s the beginning of their attack run!

The Wind Knights, all at once, used their Silhouette Arms to release fire bullets in succession. A vermilion line was drawn in the sky, connecting the Wind Knights and the insect-type demon beast. And then, the bullets exploded on impact. The flower bloomed in flames one after another, but the insect-type demon beast evaded it with light movements.

“What a quick thing with such a huge body. It’s a good thing I’m not with the national government!”

Dietrich was disgusted, but he didn’t relax. Dense barrages slowed the advance of the bug-type demon beasts, but the distance between the two gradually shrank. Before long, the demon beasts changed their movements. It folded it’s leg, exuding fluid from a node in it’s body.

“The attack is coming! Go down!”

Immediately after, the body fluid bullet that was released burst in the air. It quickly became white smoke and created clouds; A vicious evil that caused all being to die. It’s called an Acid Cloud.

Dietrich opened his eyes and observed the spectacle in his Holomonitor. “There were five body-fluid bullets fired. Depending on the wind, the clouds won’t spread much. In other words, it’s bad to allow them freedom.”

Dietrich lit the magic light communication device. The squadron that followed him immediately changed its movement with his intentions.

“But… Your chances are only within that range, until it narrows down!”

Again, the fire attack began all at once. This time, the density of fire was not raised too much, and it was released to spread. A bullet exploded along the spreading cloud of acid. The blast disturbed the expanding cloud, pushing back a bit of the area carrying absolute death.

The insect-like demon beast lurking in the clouds seemed to be irritated by the cloud of acid, which did not spread as expected. If you are in the clouds, insect-type beasts are invincible. Everything that approaches will be destroyed. But in the first place, the clouds were powerless if they didn’t reach them. Therefore, as a matter of course, the bug-type demon beast choose to advance. The enemy is blocking the clouds with a fire attack. Then, it is only necessary to make the cloud of the acid appear in the same place as the enemy.

“As expected. Get out of here.” Dietrich can’t assume something that even a demon beast can dream up.

A bug-type demon beast jumped out of the cloud. It moved it’s legs and aimed aimed at the Wind Knights. The moment when the body fluid bullet which produces the cloud of death was released, they noticed objects approaching at high speed, facing them. It is just before the insect-type demon beast emerges from the cloud of acid.

“Now, Tridents! This is where they come into play.”

Dietrich’s Wind Knight holds a strange spear in its hand. The center part is a Lance. It was long and extended, with two spears of steel attached to the sides. It’s a strangely shaped weapon with the spears arranged side by side, as opposed to three pronged. (Think three shafts, as opposed to one shaft with a three-pronged head… I think that’s right?)

In response to Dietrich’s operation, a spear attached to the side begins to exhale the flame more violently from it’s back-end.

“Long Lance, fixed release. Begin Acceleration!” As soon as it was removed, the magic flying spear began to accelerate furiously. By dropping a Trident directly into the air, the Rail Arm, manual aim can be omitted and the mechanism can be greatly simplified. This armament works very well with Wind Knights who suffer from weighty payloads (near capacity).

Then, the magic flying spear which was released continues to accelerate while pulling the tail of a long flame. This steel spear, rushing toward the acid cloud, mercilessly attacked the insect-shaped demon beast which had just come out.

“That’s exactly what I wanted to do.”

How amazing is the surprise of the demon beast? The enemy hastily evaded, yet at the same time, the Trident also changed course. It was like a homing missile, following the demon beast’s movement. Dietrich is one of the most skilled humans who has been using it since the middle of the Great West War, when the Trident was created. There’s no easy way to escape from his aim. As if sucked in, the Trident protrudes from the head of the demon beast.

While insect-type demon beasts boast aggressiveness and mobility, its defense isn’t very high. Although it is preferable to be light in order to move quickly through the air using the buoyancy field of ether, it suffers somewhat in it’s loss of defensiveness. The shell of the demon beast was not able to withstand the direct hit of the Trident.

The spear pierced it’s head, penetrating the body through momentum. It acted on kinetic energy on the surroundings. The monster’s body pops as if it were exploding. The head shattered and the soft abdomen broke off. The demon beast that died instantly exploded while scattering body fluids, then it became a huge acid cloud.

“Oh, it worked, but this is… It’s too much trouble to crush it.”

The Wind Knights were vigilant and maintained their distance. They tried to attack the remaining insect-type demons with their Tridents. As before, the demon beasts rarely fired body-fluid bullets in a random way. A wide range of acid clouds are created, blocking the Wind Knights way.

“They’re going to get anything close!”

“It’s too rough for an attack. I’ve read that I can’t rush in, and I’ve blocked my career path. No, I’m going to escape.”

Second Company maneuvered around the acid cloud.

“Control by the magic armament continues. Reconnaissance aircraft! Are the beast shadows around!?”

A reconnaissance plane flying away lights a magic light communication device on the fin wing. Dietrich slowed down after receiving a report of “Zenma no Sokotai-Kaknin”. Dietrich slowed down.

“It’s a good place to stay.”

“Deep pursuit is forbidden. They were reported to be tactical. Maybe the main team is waiting for you.”

Second company had been alert to their surroundings for awhile, turning around after confirming that they couldn’t see the trail.

“It looks like you’re done. Now, let’s go back to the ship and have breakfast.”

“Roger that!”

While sending a signal by the magic light communication machine to the convoy, second company proceeds slowly on its way back. Dietrich encircled the fuselage on his way by.

“…… It’s still here. Here’s Ernesti’s last known position.” (Verbiage is confused on all three sites, how droll…)

Dawn is a memory now and full morning has come. He gazed at the view of the expanding forest and narrowed his eyes.

“But how do I look for it? I can’t just stay up in the air.”

The Omori Sea is too wide to randomly search without any clues. Then he came up with a good idea and clapped his hands.

“No, I guess it’s better to do this. There will be a big fuss somewhere in due course. It’s about Ernesti, we’ll do something!”

It was a matter of course for the Silver Phoenix Knights.

The convoy that recovered the Wind Knight resumed its advance.

Spread beneath them is the area of the giants. Thus, the Order of the Silver Phoenix began to be deeply involved in the fate of this land without knowing it.