Chapter 30

「Ki, kidnapped!?」

When I said that, Dukel and Heirat nodded deeply.

「To be honest, if Taiki-dono became hostile towards the Azul Kingdom, the Kingdom doesn’t have any means other than to surrender.」

「Perhaps, the same thing would be true even for the powerful Blau Empire.」

Dukel and Heirat leaned forward and said such things.

「…… Therefore, if I say I kidnapped Ayla, the princess of Azul Kingdom……」

When I said that, the two nodded again.

「Either way, we can only have some sort of contact if a person leaves this flying island. Therefore, all we need is a letter stating that you kidnapped Princess Letizia. You only need to send a letter one-sidedly, I will not cause you any trouble after that.」

When Heirat explained that, Dukel agreed.

「After all, we can’t come to this place, so we can’t also complain.」

When I heard the words of the two and pondered, Ayla knit her brows and opened her mouth.

「…… to taint the name of Taiki-sama, who is a great magician, for someone like me……」

Hearing Ayla’s words, Dukel and Heirat look at each other, but I smile wryly and shake my head from side to side.

「It’s not really a great name, you know.」

「Th, that’s not what I mean. Under normal circumstances, you should receive a treatment more than a ruler of a great country. But because of me……」

「N, no, Princess, through the kindness of Taiki-sama……」

While I’m looking at Heirat who tries to explain to Ayla, Dukel clapped his hand while raising a strange voice saying ‘Oh!’.

When everyone’s attention gathered to him, Dukel cleared his throat and adjusted his sitting posture.

「…… Taiki-dono, this one has an excellent idea……」

He said that with a very serious face and I felt that my face stiffen.

「Somehow, I have a bad premonition……」

【Azul Kingdom]

「A letter…..!?」

While Reizent raised a surprised voice, a man in luxurious robe nodded while holding a paper. The man shifts his gaze from the surface of the paper to Dukel who stands up at the entrance of the hall.

「The letter says that the lord of that flying island…… No, it is a request from the person named Taiki who is the King of the Heavenly Castle…… no, should I say it is a one-sided declaration? Such things are written here.」

Hearing the man’s words which were mixed with confusion, Reizent groans with a surprised face.

「A, a King who lives on that flying island……? As I thought, is he a legendary great magician? However, what kind of declaration would such an extraordinary existence hand down to our country…… Minister. What is written on the letter?」

While glancing sideways at Reizent who has a lifeless expression like a sinner waiting for his judgment, the man, who is called Minister, sighed and glared at Dukel.

「Just what did the General talk about….. In the letter, it says ‘I will take Princess Letizia’.」

「Princess!? Are you saying that Letizia is on that flying island!?」

When Reizent, who was sitting in the chair, raised his voice while standing up, Dukel, who was silent until then, replied positively.

「I’m sure, I confirmed it personally」

Reizent opened his mouth without concealing his irritation to Dukel’s words.

「Talk about everything you saw in detail. The flying island, that Heavenly Castle, if there is a King, there should also be people….. And, what kind of person is the person named Taiki. Is it an old man like a dead branch in a dress which appropriate for living several hundred years, similar to the legendary great magician which depicted in paintings?」

Reizent asked questions in quick succession, but there was no question about the princess among them and Dukel’s brows rose.

「…… The flying island is as big as a big city and is high as the clouds. The heavenly castle is the most luxurious and gorgeous I’ve ever seen. Maybe it was something made with magic, as there are many things that are beyond my comprehension. I didn’t see a lot of people, but there are many rows of white houses. Perhaps they were taking shelter inside their homes when they interfered in the war.」

When Dukel briefly explained until there, he held his chin as if to ponder.

「Next is, about Taiki who is the King, but…… how should I put it?」

「It’s fine. Just say what you thought and felt about him.」

Reizent rushed Dukel who was still thinking.

「That’s right…… At that time, Taiki-dono manipulated three golems in front of my eyes with a composed look, so there’s no doubt that he is one of the legendary great magician. However, his appearance seems only in the late teens. Even his clothes is something I have never seen.」

「Teen…… no, does that mean, he is not growing old? No way, he isn’t an immortal existence, right?」

「I haven’t learned anything to that extent」

When Dukel shakes his head from side to side, Reizent clicks his tongue and sits back in his chair.

「… maybe it’s a better marriage than with the fourth prince of the Empire, the problem is the reaction of the Empire. If we say that the princess got married on that flying island, they will not believe it.」

When Reizent muttered that, the Minister glared at Dukel.

「Good grief…… Why did you act as an envoy on your own judgement? If I’m the one who went there, I could make the negotiation in favor to Azul Kingdom…..」

When the Minister said a complaint, Dukel narrowed his eyes and raised the corner of his mouth.

「Just what kind of negotiations are you going to propose to an opponent who can destroy a country with a single command to their golems? Besides, don’t you know that this Dukel Klein has not only war talent, but can also do diplomacy?」

When Dukel said that, the Minister open his eyes wide in anger and clench his jaw, and Reizent opened his mouth.

「…… I don’t really understand it, but what did you convey as our request?」

When Reizent asked that, Dukel tightened his face and raised his head.

「Hah! This Dukel Klein has tied a temporary alliance for the Azul Kingdom to the Heavenly King!」

When Dukel announced that, not only Reizent, but also the Minister stoodstill with their eyes wide open.

Dukel with somewhat proud expression raises his index finger against the two who stopped moving and opened his mouth.

「He said, the envoy from the Azul Kingdom must always be this Dukel Klein or General Heirat. And, every six months to one year, he will dispatch a golem to take the envoy to the Heavenly Castle. Afterwards, if the Azul Kingdom will not take a hostile action, the Heavenly King will be a friend of the Azul Kingdom!」

「Wa, wait wait wait! Wait a minute, Dukel!」

Reizent, who can’t withstand it, interrupted Dukel who talked about the contents of the alliance while raising one finger at a time.

「The Alliance is important enough to be signed by the representatives of each country. Such verbal promise is……」

「Th, that’s right! Besides, why is the name of General Heirat…..!?」

When the Minister tried to condemn Dukel by sticking on Reizent’s words, Dukel leaked out a voice with ‘Ah’ with a preoccupied face.

「I forgot to report it, but just like in this Royal Capital, a large army of golems also descended from Heavenly Castle to Falbe Fortress City and I heard from Heirat that the Imperial Army had been forced to withdraw.」

「HAAA!?」

As the Minister’s scream echoed in the hall, Reizent leaned on the back of the chair.

When he exhaled deeply with a worn-out face, he shift his eyes to the ceiling.

「What a day. I receive reports that exceeds my expectation one after another.」

The Reizent’s face bear weariness, but his face seemed to have improved since earlier.

Reizent laughed with a bitter smile on his face and looked at Dukel.

「…… Good, I got it. In any case, we will have no worries that this Azul Kingdom will be trampled by the Blau Empire, so later when the Heavenly King and the General will face, let’s say that the letter was given from me. General Dukel. The negotiation with the Heavenly King is a big matter.」

「Hah!」

Thus, the Azul Kingdom became the first country in history that tied an alliance with the Heavenly Castle.