Ch#176
* * *
"C'mon, c'mon! This way!"
"My goodness, these are all the weapons that arrived from the Weaponless Zone? For the notoriously picky factory manager to provide this much support......!"
Two days later.
A long line of carriages stretched down the middle of Rosewell Street.
Nobles passing by whispered among themselves.
"Is that Agavert?"
"Yeah, a mana stone appeared at the Old Palace ruins recently too. They say they're teaming up with the Luminen family to siege it."
"What if mana stones start popping up in the noble district too......?"
"Don't even say such ominous things! If that happens, the Holy Knights will siege them!"
"But lately, mana stones are increasing outside the capital, right? What if the Holy Knights get stretched thin sieging those?"
"Ha, come on! Why would the Holy Knights care about outside the capital?! Their duty is to steadfastly guard inside the ancient gods' boundary here! If even a single troop leaks out, I won't stand for it!"
Libia, leaning against the carriage, let out a laugh.
She poked Aleric beside her and muttered.
"The capital nobles are really something else, huh? They must be terrified a mana stone might pop up near their houses."
"I can hear you, Libia."
"Good, I meant for you to. It's fine if hundreds die outside the capital every day. But a mana stone near their homes? Absolutely not? Only their lives matter?"
Aleric sighed.
Libia shut her mouth with a sulky expression.
Meanwhile, in another carriage behind, Veil was wrestling with Tie on his lap.
"Kid! I told you to wear something comfortable 'cause you don't know what you'll have to do!"
Tie turned her head sulkily, her cheeks squished in Veil's grip.
"But Tie wanted to wear a princess dress!"
"That damn princess dress again! You gonna run if magical beasts chase you wearing this?!"
"Tie can do it! Tie will rip the dress coolly and then run!"
"Why rip the clothes?! Who taught you that?!"
"Saw it on TV! Veil bro's a naggy dummy!"
Every time Tie shouted, Ppuppue sneakily punched Veil—pow, pow.
Beside them, Marbas had his head buried in Tie's bag with a weary expression.
[Twenty enhanced teleportation circles in three days...... I'm burned out......]
Marbas had worked five times harder than usual over the past three days for this siege.
Of course, Tie shared her mana when his power ran out.
But even so, he looked as parched as dried wood grain.
At that moment, Tese tan entered the carriage.
Tie's mouth fell open wide, and Veil glared at him irritably.
"Why're you in this carriage?"
Tese tan sat in the corner seat without even glancing at Veil.
"Guess you didn't hear from Basto."
"Hear what."
Just then, Basto climbed in and answered.
"We're going to briefly refine the plan on the way, Veil."
Veil furrowed his brow.
"Plan? What plan. Don't we have to do everything with the Luminen side?"
"That's why I came along."
Leonardo appeared from behind Basto.
And right after him,
"Hope there's room."
Was the Association President of the Sori Association, who had recently joined the mission.
Veil sighed and muttered just loud enough for Tie to hear.
"......We're taking a full day's carriage ride to save on teleportation circles. So much for a comfy trip."
Everyone took their seats one by one.
The six-person carriage filled up quickly.
Front seats: Basto, Tie, Veil.
Opposite them: Tese tan, Ardiana, Leonardo.
'......Exciting!'
Tie gulped, sandwiched between Basto and Veil.
She knew they were heading to siege a mana stone.
But sitting diagonally across from Dad made her heart race uncontrollably.
Lately, Dad had gotten much nicer and no longer treated her coldly like before.
As the carriage departed, Leonardo spoke up.
"We plan to set up camp about 50 die away from the Old Palace ruins."
'Camp?'
As Tie tilted her head, Basto replied.
"Isn't that too close to the mana stone location? Wide-ranging magical beasts could narrow it down in no time."
Leonardo nodded.
"That's why we'll set up barriers. Not just mine, but double or triple layers for safety."
As he looked at Tese tan, Tese tan answered.
"Aleric knows how. Stealth magic."
"Tie knows too!"
Tie quickly raised her hand too, as if to show Tese tan.
And swiftly created a round barrier around the moving carriage.
"Like this, super strong!"
Leonardo smiled and patted Tie's head.
"Call if you need help."
Tie puffed out her chest and leaned back.
Tie's barrier must have been impressive, as she felt Tese tan's gaze linger briefly before moving away.
The adults resumed their meeting.
"Weapons enough?"
The Association President nodded at Veil's question.
"The Weaponless Zone factory manager provided more than needed. Consumables are plentiful too. Planning for a one-month siege?"
"For now. If it drags longer, we'll use teleportation circles for more supplies."
"Can't we just form a supply team midway and send to the capital? Wouldn't that be faster?"
"Then we'd need to scout for other mana stones along the route."
Veil hummed and suddenly eyed Tie's bag like a hunter spotting prey.
Marbas had poked his head out of the bag by then.
"Can't we squeeze more out of that guy? Moving without teleportation circles is all stamina and money."
Marbas yelped—eek!—and hid in the bag.
Ppuppue snickered at Marbas once more.
"How will we divide the combat teams?"
"First, with Agavert forces and Holy Knights, it'd be good to distribute based on strengths. Plus the thirty private soldiers Tie brought in, and the five from the Association President......"
Tie began dozing off at the increasingly complex talk.
As her head lolled, Tese tan turned an uncomfortable gaze her way.
At that moment, Tie nearly toppled forward.
Veil beside her quickly rested her head on his arm.
Seeing that, Tese tan barely pulled back his half-extended hand to his knee.
* * *
Tie opened her eyes in the dim carriage interior.
Looking around, the seats were strangely empty.
Voices came from outside.
"Thought I was gonna die of stiffness. I said we should've just used the teleportation circle."
"......How many times have I said we need to save them, Veil."
"Tie okay? It's been ages since she rode a carriage this long. Not tired?"
"Old man, you worry too much. She's been out cold the whole way here and even now, so no need."
A sly smile spread on Tie's lips.
'It was nap time!'
The child rose from her seat to go out.
The door burst open as two people entered.
For some reason, Tie squeezed her eyes shut without thinking.
Peeking, she saw Dad leaning tiredly in the corner and Ardiana neatly sitting beside him, organizing a small bag.
"Not stuffy?"
At that moment, Dad spoke in a low voice.
Tie pretended to sleep and watched him.
In the dim interior, she could see Dad looking at the princess Association President.
"Not really."
The Association President replied.
The two stared at each other.
Dad spoke again.
"Guess you'll be like that even at the siege site. Must be tiring hiding your face all day."
Ardiana stared steadily at Tese tan.
She replied haughtily.
"It's something I endure. You're awfully interested in others' faces."
Tese tan, who had slightly furrowed his brows, let out a hollow laugh.
A while later, he spoke.
"Isn't it natural? Looking at your eyes makes interest arise even if there wasn't any."
Ardiana froze stiff.
Her cheeks visible above the mask flushed bright red.
"......Wh-what did you say."
"It's just intriguing how remarkably featureless they are."
Tese tan spoke softly and leaned against the opposite wall.
Ardiana, who had blanked out, soon bristled.
"Such rudeness......!"
Tie watched Dad and Ardiana with curious eyes.
It was dark, but she could clearly see.
A faint smile lingered on Dad's lips.
Tie tilted her head.
