Magic Gems Gourmet Chapter 205

Chapter 205

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ED: LonelyMatter

Chapter 205 – Battle of Heim’s Capital Part 4

…Chris walked with a relaxed gait through the port city of Roundheart.

Then, noticing that the bombardment had stopped, Heim’s soldiers began to advance.

However, in a head-on clash on the main street, the difference in their strength was clearly evident.

In addition, Heim was thwarted in one of this strategies.

The way they had cornered Lloyd in the Birdland didn’t really make sense in the city.

“Continue through the center. Continue towards the capital of Heim.”

Yes, to His Highness!

The surrounding knights replied in unison, forming a formation and riding their horses.

“Christina-sama, please take this horse.”

“…Yes.”

The royal knight came over to Chris.

He handed her the reins of the white horse he brought and said, “Good luck,” before riding off.

“Well, let’s do our best.”

Chris spoke to the white horse she had been given and gently stroked its mane.

She then mounted the horse, gathered her strength, and turned her attention to the single path that had formed on the main street.

The cobblestones, melted by the intense heat, had now cooled enough that the horse would not be burned.

As Chris walked the horse carefully, step by step, the white horse showed no signs of any particular pain.

The smell of burning was still in the air, but it was a smell that could be found on any battlefield.

The white horse didn’t seem to mind and waited silently for Chris’ instructions.

Chris smiled at the white horse, which obediently followed her, and took the reins to make the horse run forward.

“Kill the barbarians of Ishtalika!”

“Do not let them defile our sacred land! Kill as many Istalikans as you can!”

The Heim soldiers raised their voices as if to inspire themselves.

One by one, they pushed their way into the main street and turned their murderous intent on the Istalikans.

Chris also drew her sword for battle… or rather, she was about to.

“Commander! Commander Christina!”

Suddenly, a voice calling out to Chris echoed down the main street.

Chris, who had been looking at the Heim soldiers, turned to see a knight approaching her, out of breath.

“You weren’t supposed to come with me. How did you get here?”

The Royal Knight’s face was familiar.

But this time, he was not supposed to be on a mission with Chris.

When Chris realized this, she looked at the Royal Knight with a questioning expression.

“Your Excellency, I have come to deliver a message from Lloyd-sama. I made a detour and came here.”

“Lloyd-sama…?”

Something was definitely wrong.

Chris realized that it must be something urgent because they would not have sent a messenger all the way here for no reason.

“Go on.”

When Chris Asked him to continue, the Royal Knight struggled to catch his breath.

Then he stands next to Chris and opens his mouth.

“Ha! Then I will tell you! Lloyd-sama said――”

What was being told was Lloyd’s plan.

The Royal Knight told Chris and the others that he wanted to fight alongside them in order to face Ed.

Chris, listening to the story, opened her eyes wide in surprise.

Even from Chris’s point of view, Lloyd was a man of outstanding ability, a man who had no blemish as the Marshal of Ishtalika… this was Lloyd.

A man like Lloyd, who was so skilled, was defeated without leaving a single scratch.

Hearing this, a shock runs through Chris’ mind.

“Besides me, there is another Royal Knight running to deliver the message, but this is all from Lloyd-sama.”

“…So it is true that Lloyd-sama was defeated so easily, is it not?”

“…Yes. In addition, Lloyd-sama lost his left eye in the battle the other day…”

Chris’ hands holding the reins were covered in sweat.

The fact that he had been driven to the brink of death made Chris’ pulse quicken.

“I understand―then we will break through the main road as soon as possible.”

“I understand. I will now come under the command of the leader.”

As the Royal Knight joined Chris’ command, he joined the formation with a practiced air.

An obstacle appeared to join Ain.

Normally, this would have increased her bad mood.

But when the opponent was someone against whom Lloyd could do nothing, there was no time to think about such things.

“Oh, by the way, Commander. The one who finally defeated Ed was His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“…Huh?!”

＊＊＊

A moving wall.

The army under Chris’s command can be summed up in a single word.

A straight road was built in the port city of Roundheart.

It should be said that it was built rather than made, but the army of Ishtalika pa.s.sed through it as if it were their own.

Rather than the crossbow artillery they brought with them being effective, it was the difference in the strength of the land that allowed Ishtalika to continue their advance.

…From time to time, Heim soldiers would emerge from the side streets and attack, swords in hand.

However, in a battle with equal numbers of troops, the difference in strength between Ishtalika and Heim was clearly visible.

“What’s the damage situation?”

Chris shouted.

Then the reports came in, and finally, the Royal Knight summarized them and pa.s.sed them on to Chris.

“Commander! There are only a few dead and seriously injured. There are many lightly injured, but it will not affect our operational activities.”

The fact that they did not give detailed figures showed that Ishtalika was almost completely intact.

Chris wiped the sweat from her brow as she breathed a sigh of relief.

“So, shall we continue to deploy on both flanks?”

“…No, we won’t split our forces. We will continue to advance as one collective unit.”

“…Ha!”

And so Chris looked around.

Chris checked the damage as the battle had calmed down.

Princess Olivia’s attack and the bombardment from the battles.h.i.+p were no joke.

In addition, the terrain of the main road that had become a battlefield worked to their advantage, and Ishtalika’s army was able to pa.s.s through the port city of Roundheart with only minor damage.

Looking to the side, the road leading to the capital of Heim can be seen.

The formations of Heim soldiers stationed here and there can also be seen, but unless they all attack at once, the army led by Chris won’t be pushed back.

The difference in strength is so great that even a child can see it, and just like Ain, Chris is unable to understand the Red Fox’s goal.

“…No, now is not the time to think about it. We must act quickly.”

Chris was not stupid.

But she has no idea what the Red Fox’s goal was.

“Where are they…?”

A messenger sent by Lloyd.

As reported, Chris decides to hurry to Lloyd’s side.

Looking around, Chris searches for Lloyd’s army.

“There they are… over there!”

In this place, where many Heim soldiers and the army of Ishtalika are mixed together, Chris searched for Lloyd with her eyes wide open.

Then, aside from the main force―the army believed to be led by Ain―a single conspicuous group caught her eye.

Though she couldn’t see the details, Chris spotted something that looked like Lloyd.

Noticing the figure, she shouted instructions at the top of her lungs.

“We’re heading for the Marshal’s reinforcements! Line up the crossbows on the flanks and advance while attacking the enemy soldiers!”

After a few more formation orders, Ishtalika’s army changed its appearance.

With such a coordinated movement that it almost looked like a single creature, it chased after Chris, who had started running and galloped toward the army led by Lloyd.

＊＊＊

“Huh? Is that you?”

It was the place Chris was heading for.

This was the place where the two armies had met, and there was a place where only two men stood, like a sanctuary.

With a gentle expression on his face, like a gentleman, Ed greeted Lloyd with a spear in his hand.

Even though there was a fight for life going on all around them, this place had an air about it that made you think a little tea party could start here.

“Ah, it’s me. Or… was it more convenient for you to have Ain-sama here?”

Lloyd, who had been standing in front of Ed, dismounted from his horse.

He drew the large sword he carried on his back and stuck it into the ground.

“…Well, unfortunately, there’s no one else who can compete with me except that boy.”

“Hmm. That’s for sure.”

Ed was stunned.

He had said those words with the intention of stirring things up, but Lloyd agreed without hesitation.

Has he learned his place? Ed watches Lloyd, but all Lloyd showed was a cheerful expression.

“But that’s not enough to make up for what you’ve done.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s simple. You, who avoided Ain-sama, are a suitable match for us.”

Then Lloyd fired back at Ed.

Ed, acting like an old gentleman, pulled a face for a moment.

But when his pride allowed him to relax once more, Ed leaned forward and bowed his head like a butler.

“Well, that was a pretty good comeback. I get excited when I have exchanges like that.”

His expression was calm, but the veins in Ed’s hand, which held the spear, bulged boldly.

“This is the best.”

“…So why are you here? Even if you came alone, you wouldn’t be an obstacle for me.”

Ed asked a similar question again.

He put his hand to his mouth and looked thoughtful, then asked Lloyd with a look of genuine wonder on his face.

“If you’ve come to fight, you’ve made a mistake in your a.s.sessment of the situation. Are you here to make a fool of yourself like you did on your last mission?”

“Haha, that hurts my ears. It’s true that my behavior the other day will probably result in me being punished when I get back home.”

“I’m sure it will. You made a mistake in judgment, and you almost got wiped out because of it.”

Ed mentioned the Birdland incident.

At these words, Lloyd tilted his head in confusion.

“Oh, did your Lord tell you to come and die? If that’s the case, there’s nothing I can do. If you allow me to be presumptuous, I’ll be your opponent.”

“If Ain-sama said that, I would gladly die. But this time, I have no intention of dying.”

He drew his big sword from the ground and turned his eyes to Ed, ready to attack.

Though he was now only one-eyed, Lloyd’s fighting spirit seemed to have increased.

When Ed noticed the aura surrounding Lloyd, he let out a low, evil laugh.

“The fox prays for the pleasure of melting brains.”

He wielded his spear skillfully, then slid his tongue over his lips as if he were watching a feast.

“The fox dreams of the sensation of the moment of accomplishment that lasts forever.”

Ed spoke as if he were singing, and then his feet suddenly swayed.

He moved his feet forward in a movement that could be mistaken for art, and Ed, who had stepped into the gap, thrust his spear.

…but Ed’s spearhead felt no resistance.

“Sorry, I don’t like to fight like this, but… this is not an opponent where I can choose my means.”

The moment Ed started to move, Lloyd took a few easy steps back.

He planted his prized greatsword back into the ground to use as a wall and threw the green ball he had taken from his pocket at Ed.

Yes, it was the magic tool he had received from Majolica.

It was thrown at Ed, and then it burst in front of him.

“What? A trick!”

Ed, who had become alarmed, took a few steps back.

…but the direct hit of the magic tool outpaced his speed.

“Cough… cough… what is this…?”

Translucent powder began to drift from the burst ball.

It flew towards Ed, still gathering momentum, and stuck to Ed’s exposed skin, such as his neck and face.

“Raven b.u.t.terfly scales… How could you use such a tacky magic tool…!”

…Raven b.u.t.terfly.

This was the monster Ain encountered during his fieldwork.

It laid eggs in the bodies of humans and had the ability to paralyze the mother.

Apparently, Majolica had given Lloyd a magic tool made from the material of the Raven b.u.t.terfly.

When Ed recognized the material, he saw his hands tremble slightly and cut himself with the knife he had taken from his pocket.

“But there’s no point in buying time like this. Look, my body will soon…”

Ed immediately did something about the numbness.

He looked at Lloyd with a triumphant smile on his face.

But Lloyd also had a similar look on his face.

“Ah, that’s right. This is just an act… but this is the real thing!”

Lloyd drew his sword and attacked Ed.

Ed looked at Lloyd in disbelief, but Lloyd’s face remained unyielding.

“It’s not unusual to go crazy on the battlefield. So don’t be ashamed…”

At that moment, he was about to plunge the spear into Lloyd’s neck.

Suddenly, a flash of silver light flashed from an unexpected angle and aimed at Ed’s side.

“Is this a surprise attack…?

He twisted his body violently and swung his spear in defense.

Ed turned to see what had happened, and there was the figure of a woman with golden hair―Chris.

“I thought I was completely out of your sight, but I’m surprised you were able to defend yourself.”

Realizing that Ed has noticed her, Chris took a few steps back, looking surprised.

She exhaled and spoke to Lloyd.

“Lloyd-sama, I’m sorry I’m late.”

“No, that’s not true. In fact, I’d say the timing was perfect.”

They exchange words as if smiling at their fellow soldier, and then both look at Ed with satisfied expressions.

Chris and Lloyd both prepared their weapons, ready to attack Ed.

“You… ah, I met you before in Euro, you were the Royal Guard, weren’t you?”

“Yes, it’s been a while. If it’s going to come to this, I should have attacked you then.”

“Don’t be silly. Besides, just because there are two of you, it’s not a good sign to be so confident, is it?”

Chris glanced at Ed as he continued to speak nonchalantly and noticed the pain in Lloyd’s eye patch.

Lloyd notices Chris’ look and changed the subject as if to show that he was concerned about Chris.

“Chris, it looks like you made it through the port city of Roundheart without any trouble.”

“Yes, it was a straight road all the way here, so I made it without any trouble.”

“A-a straight road? I thought it was a bit complicated…”

“No, it was a straight road.”

Chris insisted it was a straight road.

Lloyd thought back to what he had learned earlier, but he still couldn’t believe that the port city of Roundheart was a straight road.

However, he didn’t question Chris’ words in detail.

“W-well, it’s okay! Just the fact that you came here is enough!”

When he stopped questioning the true meaning of Chris’ words, he let out a cry of joy at having gained such a reliable ally in Chris.

However, Ed did not change his hard stance even when Chris came.

“Hah… I don’t understand. Just because there are two people like you, why do you have so much confidence…”

“What are you saying? Didn’t I say we?”

Lloyd, completely unyielding, throws the words back at Ed.

Ed, stunned and speechless, replies to Lloyd as if to say, “So what?”

“Well, just because there are two of you…”

…and at that moment, Ed waves his hand in exasperation.

A single cut appears on Ed’s cheek.

“What… oh…?”

He puts his hand to his cheek, still smiling half-heartedly, and feels the warm, slippery blood running down his cheek.

He played with the blood on his hand with his thumb and middle finger, then looked up to check the expressions of Lloyd and the others.

“Don’t get the wrong idea, Red Fox.”

“Yeah, that’s right. Who said anything about two against one?”

As Lloyd spoke, Chris lowered her waist and readied her sword.

She raised her fighting spirit higher than ever, ready to attack at any moment.

…Lloyd and Chris stood facing each other.

When Ed realized they weren’t going to attack him, he let out a soft click of his tongue.

Looking around to see what had happened, he noticed a small woman standing at a distance from the two of them, almost as if she was apologizing for being there.

“That’s right, that’s right, isn’t it? If you’re experienced, you should be more careful about jumping to conclusions.”

She spoke to him in a mischievous voice and approached him with quick steps.

Then Ed noticed the shape of a dagger in the ground at his feet.

“I see. You’re going to use that dagger to wound me.”

She nodded with a broad smile in response to Ed’s words.

“Isn’t that good? I’m confident about it.”

She exuded a seductiveness that didn’t match her small body, and then she pushed her hand into her ample chest.

She took out two daggers from her cleavage and played with them with her nimble hands.

“Looks like you’re not satisfied with two against one. How about three against one?”

“…Who exactly are you?”

Ed continued to smile.

But that was just his expression, and his voice was beginning to lose its composure.

As proof, the way he asked her about her ident.i.ty started to sound a bit rushed.

“My name is Lili. I don’t really like fighting in open places like this, but I’ll do my best, okay?”

…This was Lloyd’s secret plan. But even though it was a secret plan, it was still a simple plan.

However, with three of Istalika’s most skilled fighters gathered, Ed tightened his grip on his spear.

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