Knights & Magic - Chapter 108: The seeds of conflict

The goblin’s town that warped in the darkness of night. The town is painted in unique kind of trees that mixed up with the building that creating a strange outline in the dark. In the top of the castle walls that located on the center of the town, Adeltrud is looking at the town scenery under cover of the dark, and finally she heaved a sigh in resignation.

“Yeah, I knew it would happen”

“On the way when we had come here, I’m sure the ‘workshop’ is around here. Let us be haste then”

Beside her, Eru is pointing his finger on a certain direction in the darkness excitedly. Although he’s still not really familiar with the town’s topography, but his obsession to find something that related to any kind of robot is real.

In the first place, mastering a map is one of the required skills as a knight runner. Moreover Eru is a knight commander, in order to take command, he must decide what kind of route he need to choose. Therefore, he cannot forget once he has seen it before——even without that, he cannot forget the workshop location.

He immediately set his sight on what he was looking for and jump off easily on the night sky.

“I guess, I have no other choice. We’re talking about Eru-kun here”

The wind that has been blowing across the forest caressing Addy’s hair softly. As she made a wry face, she grasped the Gunstaff by lowering her waist a little. She is following Eru’s back like she was rushing to the night of townscape.

For some reason, the two of them are able to go out in the night town like this even though the guard was supposed to watch them back in the room. And answer was rather simple, they just can’t stop Eru who full in armament by the iron bar and a mere guard alone.

They easily removed the window and left the room, climbing the wall then went up to the roof. Like he always does, using the Aero Thrust magic and flying to the sky as he please, he takes off for sightseeing in the night town. No matter how highly classified place they are targeting, it couldn’t stop Eru at all.

“Now then, we’re here in their workshop, huh”

“It doesn’t seem have a different appearance like in the Fremmevira”

Although they have been separated by several hundred years, either the people in Fremmevira and the goblin have same kind of culture. Among of it, the size of the workshop was rather big, so it has tendency of practical use. It is no wonder for the similar facilities to be like that.

“In that case, then entrance must be somewhere・・・・there it is”

“Are we really going to sneak in?”

“Of course we are. Since we haven’t told that much about the Mystical Knight, they must be referred us to see it by ourselves, I suppose”

“I’m sure it wasn’t like that but stopping Eru-kun would be impossible too, right”

While they’re chatting, Eru and his companion smoothly descended to enter the vent and since they were invading from the unexpected place that normally not a height where people might come, their invasion has come to a success.

“Anybody here? Seems like nobody here. Let’s begin then”

There was a thick darkness in the unlively night workshop. There’s no such thing as a light anywhere. Then Eru activated his magic by using the tip of his Wincester. He set the Fire Torch magic into a fixed state before it began launch, thus spreading the blurry light around them.

In order to move the crane, the two of them are going down swiftly on the top of the beam. Eventually in the middle of the unreliable light, a giant object has showed its appearance that had been lined up in the wall of the workshop.

“・・・Mystic Knight”

It was different than they thought as if they were still not used seeing that. The Silhouette Knight that had been remodeled repeatedly long time ago, now have a completely different appearance. Was it because they had to use demonic beast material to repair or they have a motive behind it to separate their original shape——

“Let’s take a good look at their problem then”

Eru went to the Mystical Knight feet while skipping cheerfully with Addy who chasing his back and look at the Mystical Knight thoroughly.

“I’m sure they look weird. I rather like Silhouette Knight’s design, I guess～”

“I can see their effort even though the materials have changed a lot. Isn’t great”

“Eru-kun, could you stop say anything goes like that?”

While they are chatting, Eru runs up to the machine and dive into body-like area. Together with the clicking sound, the compressed air-like sound and the armor has opened.

“Fufu. They didn’t change the way to open pilot seat after all”

“So, they are still Silhouette Knight buddies even though it looks like this, eh”

When Eru hops into the opened cockpit, he grasps the control stick like he was already accustomed by it. He could sense the faint mana feeling that flowed ahead the passage. Then a smile of satisfaction spreads on Eru’s face.

“As expected, it would be hard if dissemble them all. Let’s take a look at the Magius Engine first”

Same like the cockpit, the Mystical Knight’s Magius Engine was completely defenseless against intruder. Although it can’t be helped because they couldn’t anticipate for the strange existence like Eru.

On his consciousness, he captures a large amount of script that stored in the Magius Engine in fine detail.

“From what I see, I already know most of them. Body performance, output command・・・but on the back side, there is something I’ve never seen before. I am sure”

Moreover, this function can’t be performed by Silhouette Knight but only in the Mystical Knight. The quality of Eru’s smile has clearly changed.

“It’s been a long time since I analyzed for real, it would be great if my skill didn’t get dull though”

While saying that, he began to eat away the unknown type of magic without delay. The basic of analysis are sorting and comprising. What he doing is mobilizing all kind of script he knows until this moment and searching for the slightest resemblance.

Although it was known mind-separating works due to the quantity, for someone like Ernesti, he didn’t bother it at all. It can be said his capability to coding any relation about magic is one of his greatest ability.

What kind of evolution this humanoid weapon has undergone in this strange land so far? With that kind of situation, he is proceeding his analysis in super-duper happy like a child who just received a gift for his birthday.

While Eru was sitting in the cockpit and focused with the analysis, Addy examined the Mystical Knight’s body itself. Even though the shape was not her liking, it’s not like she wasn’t interested in it at all. She’s thought she’d be bored if just sitting around.

Since the goblins are under control of the titans, their movement were also restricted in many ways. And the most difficult part is the acquisition of the resources. Any small amount of metal will be prioritized for the titan usage, while the remaining metal wasn’t being supplied to the goblin properly. On the other hand, there are plentiful the demonic beast’s material instead.

Bocuse Sea of Trees was known as a paradise for demonic beast. Whether it is for self-defense of hunting, there’s no shortage of opportunities to fight against the demonic beast. The demonic beast’s material is rather easy to supply (if they could defeat it as a precondition). In fact, Eru had made Kasasagi by using the demonic beast’s material in the mind.

“Somehow, they are weirder than their looks. It’s not cute at all～”

Although she was having simple examination on the limbs and body, her face showing a dubious expression. Of course, she is not in Eru’s level but Addy was also familiar with the structure of the Silhouette Knight on her own way. In the first place, it is obvious for the Knight Runner to know thoroughly the machine they will rode, in her case, she has a personal story when its something involved from the manufacturing.

“Huh? Is this, not for air intake?”

That’s why she noticed it. The pipes that covers the area around the body are way too unnatural.

“Where it should be connected, I wonder? I think it would be meaningless if you don’t connect the exhaust pipe to the Ether Reactor. Besides, there is・・・・an emblem glyph inside it”

Exhaust pipe is used as air intake system to flow the ether from Ether Reactor. Normally, there’s no need to engrave the emblem glyph inside it. Although, it is somewhat similar like Magius Jet Thruster, it is not a technology which not supposed to be spread in here.

“・・・・Uuun. I’ve no idea what’s engraved on it at all!”

As soon when she tried to read the emblem glyph, she immediately given up. There’re also many scripts that she’d never seen before. Beyond this point would be Eru’s job.

“Eru-kun, I don’t know how but, there’s something weird in here”

“Did you also find something, Addy?”

“Yep. How about you Eru-kun?”

The faint light of the flame torch illuminates Eru who still in the cockpit. It looks like he still calculating on his part as he vaguely takes a glance while speaking.

“In the engine, there’s something clearly fishy script in there. Normally, that kind of function is not used in the first place. Yet, in despite of that・・・” a puzzled expression showed on his face while Addy tilted her head to the side. It was rare for Eru who didn’t have a clear grasp of the situation. “From the script I know, the ones which have outmost similarity would be・・・’the song of life’. It is one of those ‘elf’ secret and it shouldn’t have been something that can be handled by a normal person. I wonder why they are used in this such place”

His query is disappeared in the thin air as if being dissolved in the night’s atmosphere. It can be said they could feel something really important behind that strangeness.

“Mystical Knight. Apparently, they were not a distant relative of Silhouette Knight. I feel more interested all of sudden”

That moment, they could hear a noise to their ears. Although it is still far away, but suddenly springing up everywhere.

“Eru-kun, it could be someone will be coming here, right?”

“Yeah, I wonder if we’re already discovered. Even though we just have our fun by now・・・・”

Their movement was rather quick by the time Eru heaved a sigh in loneliness. When they put it back where it was and erasing any trace on the Mystical Knight, they once again jump to the beam near the ceiling. After they are rushing over the top of the beam, they turned off the flame torch light when they begin snuck inside the vent.

In the workshop that engulfed with the darkness, the hectic footsteps are coming closer. Eventually, they never seen any light that have been raised by someone. Soon after, a lot of people will surely come here. Eru and his companion are hurriedly returning back to avoid the trouble and once again set into the night town.

◆

The town of goblin, which was supposed to be sleeping on the late night, suddenly had been forced to wake up. The lights are also increasing in the city along with the hectic footsteps that can be heard everywhere. This also applies in the castle. Or somehow it is only applied on the center of the town.

A sound of knock can be heard from the door room which was addressed for Ernesti and his companion.

“・・・yes, please come in”

A few people came into the room after receiving the reply. Oberon, which is the King himself brought some people with him.

While Eru and Addy are———facing the guests with an innocent looks on their face, even though they were just got back by now.

“Is there any problem?”

“I’m sorry for intruding in the late night! This might be sudden but, we got an urgent business here”

“Important matter you say”

Fortunately, it wasn’t the matter of Eru being able to sightseeing in the night. Either they didn’t know or just don’t care, it couldn’t be read from the King’s condition alone. Or rather, he is clearly in a bad mood now.

“That’s right. Well, I couldn’t help to hide it from you but, just now, we have received an order from Rubel Clan”

After hearing an unexpected word, Eru and Addy looks at each other face. And Oberon who takes it wrong nodded his head as if he understood it.

“Good grief that bunch of Rubel Clan! They most likely treat us like a small fry after all. Calling us like a whim!” he clenched his fist but, soon he lowered it again. “Someday I will pay this debt to them. But now is not that time yet. Because we must obey their order first”

After he finished informing that, he stood up right away. It seems he doesn’t really have a time even he just explaining the bare minimum to the two of them.

“That is, we got a job here. I would like to continue our conversation but, I’m happy if you would wait patiently for a while, my guest”

“Understood. It’s a pity but we have no other choice, don’t we?”

“I’m glad. I’ll send you my men, just tell them is something happens”

As if the King comes in hurry, he also left in hurry after finishing his business with the two of them. When they are leaving, Eru and Addy relieved while sending them off.

“That was dangerous huh Eru-kun”

“Yes. We also can’t inspect at ease with this kind of fuss however” he crossed his arm and crocked his head to the side. “What on earth has happened to the giants I wonder?”

The noisy atmosphere of the town transmitted only from the other side of the dark night. What happened to the titans, in truth. Even Eru and his companion couldn’t foresee about it either.

◆

In the night sky, the sound of wind wafted into the air. There was something that going through in the middle of the silent and sleepiness night.

The wind is getting stronger. It does like fanned by the wind but it was something like fueled by the wind itself. Those set sail like a fin and cuts through the night sky.

Then it proceeds. To the darkness of the forest night space.

In order to take back what’s left behind, once again has invade the sky with resolve.

The true identity of those was a ‘ship’. A strange ship that doesn’t sail in the water but through the sky———the Levitate Ship.

They have raised flags on the huge hulls. There’s a crest that coated in sword and shield. Just below it, a figure of a bird that widen its silver wings.

The flagship of Silver Phoenix Knight Order; the wing carrier Izumo, landing ship, cargo ship, and a number of Undine Style ship. The largest fleet in the west is swimming in the sky of Bocuse.

To greet their chief who disappeared during the battle. The Silver Phoenix Knight was trying to break into the realm of the titans again.