Heavenly Swords of the Twin Stars: Volume 3 (eBook)

Riku Nanano (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2024
250 Seiten
J-Novel Club (Verlag)
978-1-7183-1564-8 (ISBN)

Infos

An invasion from the powerful Gen Empire is on the horizon, and after the ill-fated Seitou battle left the Chou family army as the only military force able to defend Ei, Emperor Adai Dada plans on completely wiping them off the map with a final attack. Unfortunately for Sekiei and Hakurei, overwhelming external threats aren't the only thing they have to deal with; spies, conspiracies, and corruption are flourishing within Ei's borders. These are the worst odds they've ever faced, but that won't stop them. With just a genius merchant, a strategist, and the unwavering loyalty of their outnumbered soldiers, this undefeated general princess and reincarnated legendary hero must stand between Ei and total destruction. The stage is set for the final showdown.

Textauszug

As soon as they reached us, Hakurei crossed her arms and glared up at me. “Sekiei? What do you think you’re doing in front of all these people?”

“I’m sure this is an everyday occurrence for you two, but you’re really standing out,” Ruri added. Unlike Hakurei, whose anger was in part genuine, Ruri seemed like she was just having fun and stirring up the situation.

Th-This strategist and her love of pranks! Without a choice, I looked over to the furious princess of the Chou family and explained, “Uh, this isn’t of my free will—”

“Here you are, Little Miss Third Wheeler!” Before I could finish, Meirin butted in. “Coming all the way here to interfere in my relationship with Lord Sekiei... Why don’t you read the room a little?! Ruri, you agree with me, right? Right?!”

Oh? This seems like the perfect opportunity to get away...

“Don’t drag me into this,” Ruri complained.

“Would you care to repeat that one more time?” Hakurei asked Meirin in a cold voice. “Whose relationship with whom, did you say?”

As expected, Hakurei had fallen for the taunt, and they started fighting over who would have Ruri on their side. Heck yeah. Holding my breath and concealing my presence, I started to move away from the three girls when I heard someone calling out to me.

“Lord Sekiei, Lord Sekiei!”

When I looked in the direction of the voice, I saw Miss Shizuka calling from the shadows of some boxes. What a considerate young lady! I hid there with her.

“Lord Sekiei,” Miss Shizuka said, “thank you so much for taking care of Lady Meirin. She seemed quite depressed this morning, but it looks like I won’t have anything to worry about now.”

In the face of her gratitude, I hurried to say, “Ah, please raise your head! It was nothing...is what I’d like to say, but you and Meirin really helped us out these past few months. We should be the ones thanking you.” I hadn’t heard how Miss Shizuka had ended up as Meirin’s attendant, but this beautiful woman who hailed from a foreign country had a wide range of knowledge. She often offered me, Hakurei, and Ruri advice when we were troubled.

We bowed to each other and then started giggling as one. We could still hear Hakurei and Meirin’s argument; it was impossible to tell if their relationship was a good or bad one.

Hakurei narrowed her eyes as she sighed, saying, “I can’t believe you would hug someone like that in public. Why don’t you conduct yourself in a more demure manner?”

“Ohh? So based on what you said, it’s all right for me to hug Lord Sekiei as long as we’re in private? Hee hee! ♪ It looks like the Chou family’s heiress has finally gotten with the program! Once Lord Sekiei and I become man and wife, you’ll be my little sister-in-law, so— Mmrgh!”

Hakurei reached out and covered Meirin’s mouth. Then she looked at me, even though I should have been hidden away by the shadows of the boxes, and pouted. Uh, what do you want me to do? I remained silent.

In response, Hakurei said in a voice so loud it could only be on purpose, “Please be quiet. Otherwise, I’ll tell Sekiei that you’ve been coming to Miss Ruri and me these past few nights, crying about how you don’t want to return to Rinkei!”

“Mmrgh?!” Meirin’s face flushed red.

“Won’t he hear you if you yell it like that?” Ruri asked in an exasperated tone, placing her hat back onto her head.

Meirin managed to break free from Hakurei’s hold and was bravely attempting to attack her. Miss Shizuka, watching her mistress with an affectionate gaze, murmured, “Ever since she was a child, Lady Meirin has displayed her talents both publicly and privately. As a result, she wasn’t able to make any friends her age.” She sat up straighter and then looked at me, her eyes glittering like black pearls. They housed a strong sense of worry. “Ever since we came to this city, she seems to have so much fun every day. As her attendant, I know of no greater joy. Lord Sekiei...”

“I know. I won’t let Hakurei or Ruri die.”

The political situation now was even worse than it had been seven years ago, back when the former Gen emperor tried to invade us. The invasion that had been caused by our foolish lieutenant chancellor’s avarice and the royal guard marshal’s desperation for accomplishments ended up costing Ei many of its generals. As of right now, the only people who could protect this country were my father and the grand chancellor You Bunshou in the capital.

I touched White Star’s paired blade Black Star, which hung from my waist, and looked over at the three girls. Hakurei was playing with Meirin, while Ruri was pulled along by their antics. They’re probably the only people I’ll be able to save.

“Kuuen, Shun’en,” I called out. “You’re there, aren’t you?”

“Y-Yessir!” The foreign boy and girl, who had finished preparing for their trip, appeared in an instant.

They were volunteer soldiers who’d asked to join the army before we left for the Seitou invasion. They were both thirteen years old. According to Teiha, who was my vice-commander, they were the youngest in the army, but even so they were much too small and childlike. Maybe they’re even younger than thirteen. Even when they were at their limits, they never showed that they were struggling. They looked up at me with matching anxious expressions.

“Teiha already told you your job, didn’t he? I want you two to serve as bodyguards for Meirin and Miss Shizuka. To tell the truth, it hurts to let you two go. Not only did you survive the battle in Seitou, but you were also able to keep up with me and Hakurei on horseback, and hand us our quivers.”

The siblings were doing their best to survive in this unknown land. When I reached down and patted them on their shoulders, they raised their voices in confusion.

“Ah...”

“Y-Young master?”

“I’m leaving them to you. You’ll bring shame if anything happens to the saviors of the Chou family. This is a very heavy responsibility.”

“Y-Yessir!”

“We will guard them with our lives!”

The two of them pressed their hands to their chests, flushing. My past memories flooded to the surface of my mind. People who made expressions like theirs usually didn’t survive on the battlefield.

I shook my head and said, “Idiots. You won’t be able to accomplish anything if you’re dead. Live on. Survive and fulfill your duties. I know Meirin; once the weather gets better, she’ll want to come back over here. When she does, have her make you tag along. All right, there’s no time left! Get on the boat!”

“Y-Yes, Lord Sekiei!” Both of them said it at once before they marched towards the ship, not even trying to hide their excitement.

In neither this life nor the past had I ever believed in gods, but I said a prayer to the peach tree in Routou, which had survived over the past thousand years and served as a symbol of my promise to unify the country with my old friends. Please, make a world where those twins will never have to set foot on a battlefield again.

After I opened my eyes, I said, “Miss Shizuka, please take care of—”

“Yes, of course. Please leave everything to me.”

“Thank you so much.”

I know. Of course I know. I’m being hypocritical. There are many women and children who couldn’t make it onto the boat this time. During the winter the Chou family had done its best to evacuate as many people as we could, but once the ice to the north melted and Gen’s invasion started, then...

The raucous sound of a bronze gong rang out. It was time for the ship to depart.

Hakurei, Meirin, and Ruri’s disagreement had taken a turn for the physical. Miss Shizuka, still holding her handheld luggage, watched as they exchanged some light punches before she opened her mouth. The cold breeze played with the dark strands of her hair.

“Lord Sekiei, allow me to repeat these words: the most important thing a person can do is survive. We all return to nothing in death, after all. Please never forget that. I...I’ve also gone through a similar experience in the past.”

Miss Shizuka’s homeland must no longer exist. She could also tell that I was perfectly willing to risk my life if the situation called for it.

“I’ll keep your advice in mind. I don’t plan on dying until I become a civil official.”

Miss Shizuka’s expression softened and she giggled. “Dreams are such ethereal notions. I wish you luck.” With that, she turned and walked towards the boats.

Luck, huh? She’s right. I’m going to need a heaping pile of it—a pile as large as the Nanamagari Mountains!

After Miss Shizuka left, Hakurei walked up and stood next to me as if it were a given the spot was hers. Her gaze remained fixed on the paddlewheeler sporting the Ou family flag. When I looked over there, I happened to see Miss Shizuka meet up with Meirin again. Next to them were Kuuen and Shun’en. They were introducing themselves to the two women, identical nervous expressions on their faces. It seemed that Ruri planned to get closer to the ship to see them off.

Hakurei sighed. “Ugh, that Meirin... What were you and Miss...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 11.9.2024
• Reihe/Serie: Heavenly Swords of the Twin Stars
• Illustrationen: Cura
• Übersetzer: Stephanie Liu
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Fantasy / Science Fiction ► Fantasy
• Schlagworte: action • Historical • lazy male protagonist • Light Novel • Military • past Life • snarky heroine
• ISBN-10: 1-7183-1564-3 / 1718315643
• ISBN-13: 978-1-7183-1564-8 / 9781718315648