Chapter 34 - A resurrected nightmare…the knights are encouraged by the roar that shakes the shadows.

In my heart, I vowed to deal with the aristocrats that bullied my mother.

I also remembered the fatal race to the succession of the throne.

We would greet one another with smiles yet bargain about killing and being killed under the table – all the candidates were tough opponents.

You have to make sure that to win a race like that, you needed a mother or someone in your family that despised everyone so much that they pushed you to become an evil queen.

My mother never wanted revenge.

She was silent and shy even when Matzo mentioned her past glory.

I looked over at her and sighed.

Funny how when she held that bow against the demon dog, she looked so brave.

My mother actually got depressed after hearing those words meant to praise her, and Captain Matzo struggled to save the conversation,

「No! Why would you say unskilled?! Look at the men’s reactions. They were all very impressed by your performance at His Majesty’s coronation 12 years ago…you really are the pride of this country, right fellows?!」

He seemed to shrink in order to raise mother up.

This man, who never seemed to lose his respect for women, always would cringe at seeing them suffer or hurt. The men behind him all agreed with him in order to support their chief. This had less to do with their total devotion to him and more because they could understand the situation and wanted their chief to look good.

「Even so, I was quite surprised back then. If I may be so bold…your skill and beauty are as unparalleled as that time 12 years ago…also…」

Captain Matzo then looked a bit confused at the remains of the Duke’s residence, which had collapsed into rubble.

「…may I ask? What happened to your manor? We were asked by the Crimson Duke to protect his wife and thus came here immediately. We were told that the dangerous criminal, the trainer of those monstrous Jouhdah demon dogs were head this way to assault you…but this…」

「No need to worry. If you’re searching for them, they’re already crushed under the rubble, which we ourselves buried them under.」

「W…what’s that?!」

Upon hearing mother’s words, Captain Matzo and his knights looked around in awe.

「Captain! Look here!」

And then, several knights that seemed to be patrols trotted up, horses side by side. Ropes were tied deftly around the chests of the horses to prevent them from choking and the ropes lead backwards to two huge beasts that were dragged, following the now standing horses. It almost looked like the horses were plowing the field with the dogs. Those were the two that Bradd had killed earlier. Both knight and horse continually looked back at the two dogs trailing them, fearful that they might pop up and attack them from behind.

The other guards shouted out about the enormous size of the demon dogs…but they looked like puppies compared to the massive Gallam, twice as big as either of them.

「These match the footprints at the gate…are these the demon dogs?」

The patrol asked Captain Matzo nervously.

「Hmmm, they look similar to the message from the Orange Company, which came with the Crimson Duke’s letter for help…」

He thought it over as he passed the message around to the men around him.

「WOUHA!?」I said, so surprised I almost jumped up.

What was that?!

The Orange Company?!

Why is their name involved in this story?

The Orange Company, in which one of the five heroes – Seraphy – that murdered me in the 108 times I lived before led, always appeared suddenly during battles in their speedy craft Blanche, supporting my enemy’s rear continuously and pestering my army.

They were demons on the sea.

There was no way to blockade them.

That damn Blanche would just sneak through our warships and escape into the fog of the sea.

And it was UNARMED…you just had to laugh…how could a ship like that defeat a raging storm…

The rebel army of the “Maiden of Salvation” wasn’t monolithic, either.

It did work properly because the Orange Company connected all of the elements with a supply line completely. If that didn’t happen, supplies and food, troop shipments, information sharing, all of this necessary to an armed force would be hindered completely.

This Orange Company, which caused endless grief to me, had a long time until it would emerge onto the future battle map of Hydrangea, I HAD THOUGHT. Because the previous leader was killed and the company spun into chaos after being hit by the Shylocks, it was currently forced to reduce itself to a much smaller scale, which was good for me…

The future chief, Seraphy, would be about six years old, so there’s no reason that they would have any contact with the great hero of Hydrangea, my father, the Crimson Duke.

So why?

「Ah! So my husband asked you protect us?!」

My mother asks, visibly confused.

Yeah, and I’m worried about the Orange Company…that’s also important.

It was also unthinkable that the Royal Guard would leave the crown and come all the way to the Duke’s residence. They were the last layer of protection for royalty. If something horrific happens, they are in charge of evacuating that family away to somewhere safe. No matter who or how much is offered, they never leave the palace. Only the king can move them…which means…

「That is correct. The Duke requested the crown send us to aid you directly. To protect you and your unborn from the phantom clutches of those Shylocks. We have traversed the land from quite far away, in order to protect you from harm thanks to the achievements of your husband…and…is this your child?」

He glanced to my mother’s stomach and then over to me with a look of confusion.

Yes! He knows that Shylock planned this! They’re screwed!

I put my baby fist up with a mental YESSSSSS and he looked at me and blinked in surprise.

Mother nodded to Matzo’s words.

「I gave birth earlier than expected. That’s my daughter, Scarlet.」

「Premature birth! Well, but, this child has grown so…with such muscle that she can raise her fist so!?」

He almost said it like a complaint, but I was so caught up in my thoughts I ignored him.

…wait, the achievements of my father? There’s no way the crown would be that kind.

Captain Matzo was simply using that as a euphemism for protecting my mother.

No politician is going to play “best friends” like that.

The Royal Guard is the symbol of the crown’s strength and authority.

If you’re just loaning ALL of your knights out, it makes you look weak.

Furthermore, messing with an attack by the Shylocks…that means you’re going head-on against them. The Shylocks have their grubby hands all over the aristocracy. I bet they were against the idea of the knights protecting the Duke.

But, the crown DID dispatch the Royal Knights.

The only reason the royals would do so is as a mitigation against a bigger risk…

Well, the Crimson Duke might have ordered it in exchange for all the unpaid achievements that he did for the crown…I pondered all the possibilities and was convinced.

That amount of money, enough to ruin the crown, would be considered paid…so the crown would be happy as ever to dispatch troops as payment.

And you can see it from both sides.

My father would break his right to his payment in order to have the troops save his wife.

My dad is really something. Even with his sullen face.

I couldn’t help myself from smiling at such a fine strategy employed by dad this early in my life.

Giving everything away to save a wife made him look like a fool to other aristocrats, but I thought it was a fine move.

「Aoho oh oh oh…」

「To hear an infant, just born, sound like she’s laughing…there’s no way!」

Oh…sorry…Matzo…I mean, Sir Valentine.

I would have greeted you with a「it’s been a long time, Valentine!」

Sorry for not sounding like an evil queen.

But I do thank you for saving me those other 108 times.

「Ouahh!」

I raised a hand to him in greeting.

I wanted to greet him gracefully, ceremonially, but I can’t, being an infant.

I’m stuck here, crawling on Bradd’s stomach.

Matzo’s eyes just got bigger after looking at me closely.

「Red hair…and red eyes!」

Oh, you noticed?

You were looking at my muscles and not my face at first, right? Sorry for how I look now, but soon I’m going to be one hot-looking woman, right?

The knights were all fascinated with mother first, then surprised by the collapse of the manor, THEN shocked by the two dead demon dogs, and NOW were gazing at me, surprised…and I can see some familiar faces from my previous 108 lives!

Wow, you guys are young!

「Oauhh! Ouuh! Auuohh!」

I raised my little hand up and called out their names.

Good work! Are they paying you overtime?

They all mumbled loudly at each other…not praise, like to my mother, but more of fear?

They looked at mother with awe, as if under a spell, but now look at me, like I’m a WITCH?!

How rude…I’m the future Jewel of Hydrangea!

I winked at them, trying to appeal to them…and threw a little baby kiss.

They all jumped back, shaken to the core.

Weren’t you more surprised when you saw the demon dogs? That hurts…

「Wow…I guess you have…a very…expressive daughter…」

The captain said, wiping his sweat and trying to calm his troops.

「My Scarlet is very smart…she can understand words, is cute, and at the least is the best baby in Hydrangea!」

Mother said suddenly with pride…while I cringed at the comment.

Mom, stop with the stupid parent mode…thanks for the compliment, but…

「I…I see…the child of the Crimson Duke and the Magical Archer…I can see how miracles could occur from the union. Well, could you explain what occurred? You mentioned that the demon dogs of Juohdah were buried under the rubble there.」

He said, looking away at me, who was trying to hide my face in embarrassment, and returning to the original story.

He then looked over at his knights that were murmuring, 「…miracle?」「I wouldn’t call her a miracle…」

Yeah, I wouldn’t either…I understand your reactions completely.

A newborn baby like me, after all that happened, is going to be an unheard-of phenomenon.

An impact that you’ll never forget.

I COULD have imitated a normal infant if I wanted to.

But the Royal Guard had come.

Now the Shylock’s aren’t going to try and attack…they were all witnesses that I was born and alive. With all these tough Guards here, there’s no way the Shylocks could come after me.

No one can say that the Duke’s daughter was stillborn.

Sorry you all were used to ensure my safety.

I apologized to them all, while my mother explained what happened so far to Captain Matzo.

The Shylock Company hired those Juohdah demon dogs to attack me tonight. There were three dogs, two are dead, lying back there. The last monster-of-a-dog attacked, but was buried in the collapse of the mansion with the trainer..

Of course, Bradd’s identity and the Romalian Flame Flower weren’t revealed, as mother explained that gas had accumulated in the basement and ignited.

There were such accidents in mining tunnels and other underground areas, after all.

「Even so, the scale of the explosion…however, with all those underground tunnels…I guess that explains the collapse…」Captain Matzo said, convincing himself.

「Well, the trainer and the final dog were buried alive in the collapse of the manor. I would like to express my deepest respect for your heroism. That trainer was out of our control in this kingdom, with no one to stop him. He has driven many knights and mercenaries to death and destruction, sometimes several at once.」

Matzo said with a bow of respect.

「And with those footprints by the gate, the other dog must have been TWICE the size of these other two dogs…」

A knight said, looking back at the other dead dogs…while the other knights shuddered and mumbled at the idea of it.

「The archer of Melville…」

「Goddess of the bow…」

「Our kingdom’s treasure…」

The men were nearly babbling in reverence to mother.

They all gazed at her, assuming that her skill in archery had brought about the miraculous victory, alone.

「No…um..I…」

It seems that mother’s pride about everything but her bow had quickly disappeared…and she couldn’t discuss Bradd, as he was the oldest son from the Lawless Crew, so she was lost. But she continued with a stern smile, probably because she was happy about the praise of the knights…

Even so, there was no way to hide that from the Royal Guard that this 10-year-old strange-looking maid that was stretched out on the grass was the true one that had gone up against the demon dog Gallam. It was for some strange reason that Captain Matzo had noticed something interesting about the boy, gazing down wide-eyed onto Bradd. He was snorting, excited, and muttering to himself.

Like Matzo’s heart was beating fast…or he was excited…or that he wanted to fight him…maybe he’s actually some kind of really dangerous sex offender?!

Bradd, sorry, but it seems that your future opponent has already seen you.

And Captain Matzo…or Sir Valentine physically is a beast that can match you when you grow up…if you’re without that “Blood Redemption.”

He’s one of the strongest warriors in my memories of 108 lives.

My Queen’s Royal Guard was totally ineffective Valentine in sparring, too.

He could swing a human around in a circle with one arm and toss him.

The sound effect was great too – FWWOOO FWWWOOOO, like a tornado.

As soon as he grabbed you, the sudden increase in gravity caused you to pass out.

No way to fight it.

And Matzo’s special weapon was a morning star at the end of a long chain!

It was so tough, it could break a two-handed sword in half.

You could wear full-body armor, and the morning-star would crush and collapse all the rivets and joints in your armor, leaving you immoble. Something like a walking catapult. No one could get close because he was so dangerous.

And I had tried to appoint him as captain of the Queen’s Guard, but he refused.

The reason was that his body was failing and mounted battles were wearing hard on his old body. And his steed was a super-muscular warhorse.

But you really have a strange standard for physical weakness.

…after all, you always died protecting me…it’s weird.

Why were you so fervent in allying yourself with me.

Didn’t you feel bad that your queen was hated by everyone?

The rebels would have done anything to welcome you into their ranks.

Bradd, Seraphy, and Arnold all held you in high regard.

But even when you faced certain defeat, you fought all the way to the end.

You always chased me away so I’d escape with stupid excuses and then die on your own.

You’d know that I was sad to leave you, but you’d still happily laugh as you said your last goodbye.

…and it was so strange, no way I could laugh with you!

I would cry silently behind the secret wall that you wanted me to escape with…Ah! Even thinking about it again makes me tear up!

「The Jouhdah demon dogs killed our dear compatriots. We wished to kill them, it was a long cherished desire. They even took the lives of those beloved three veterans, lovers of the sword and wine…we, the Royal Guards, thank you.」

Matzo took his gaze off Bradd and bowed deeply.

And with that, they all gallantly tried to care for us after our battle.

「The night breeze is getting cold. Please, put this on…」

「Are you injured? Please tell us if you feel any.」

「Please sit down here. Let the tree trunk support your backs.」

I was kind of annoying because 30 knights were trying to take care of us at once.

The Royal Guard was not only about strength, but also humane behavior.

This is because anyone tinged by greed could never be expected to guard the crown when they are in distress.

And though you would think we’d have gratitude for that kind of chivalry, they took it to an extent that was unprecedented.

One by one they hung their nightgowns over us and used them as a mattress for us to rest on.

Too many! I’ll drown in fabric!

Bradd is splayed out and completely covered himself.

They’re all combat professionals, but as caregivers they go a bit too far.

「Aouuh!」

I popped out of a seat of nightgowns.

「Okay, be careful, but drink if you’d like to.」

They poured out a strong liquor that smelled of citrus for mother and Mary.

「This is distilled liquor prepared by the Orange Company as a measure against the demon dogs…」

A wide-eyed knight said to us, a bit disappointed he didn’t get to drink it.

What?! That?!

Is that my favorite liquor from the 108 lives I’ve lived?!

That smell and taste becomes an addiction…

I was excited to smell it, like a dog sniffing meat from the kitchen.

But saying that it’s used for the demon dogs…that’s weird.

「It’s made to block the movements of the demon dogs…please, have a little.」

「Don’t be so stingy! Everyone knows the stuff tastes great! And since she defeated those demon dogs, she can have more! Instead of having to deal with drinking it and killing those dogs, we get to drink with these beauties!」

And so the knights chided the one knight, who laughed along with them anyway.

Mother seemed to like it, drinking it all at once, while the guards looked at her aghast.

Wow! Mom seems to be a fan too!

It was quite a strong liquor, so Mary took a sniff and then waved it away.

「Ah…can I have her drink?」

Moooom…asking for another drink so quick…I know I’m part of her bloodline now.

「Um…and another glass, if possible?」

Wait, now a THIRD cup?!

How about one for me…I’m going to be a beautiful woman in the future too!

I looked up at her hopefully, but no one’s going to give a drink to a baby.

Damn! I hate this baby body!

Both mother and Mary never had the experience of being cared for by these knights before, so they were unable to refuse their kindness and were frankly surprised by all the attention.

Matzo, on the other hand, loomed large in front of me.

Mary looked a bit shocked by how huge his shadow was.

Don’t you threaten me! I don’t need you to add your huge nightgown to me!

I want some of that liquor! Give me a drink!

I was like a kitten after a satchel of catnip.

「Aouuuh! Aouuuh!」

…Bradd was asleep, so there was no one to yell at my joke…all alone…

「Sorry. I didn’t want to surprise you. Here…」

And so he apologized and gave Mary a scarf.

「Women shouldn’t have their face wet with tears…here, wipe your face with this.」

「…thank you…」

Mary smiled and thanked him, squinting and nodding, while he left to give directions to the Guard.

Following the Captain, one knight put down his gown on the ground and used the corner of it as a bundling swaddle. He was very anxious in the way he handled it, and I didn’t think he was used to handling babies in such a way, but he finished bundling me quickly and then retreated again looking a bit nervous. I sighed, a bit melancholy. Maybe they were all being too careful.

The reaction in Romalia’s Flame Flower continued, I think, with white smoke swaying and rising from the gaps in the falled manor where Gallam had been swallowed up. It was silent.

And with the tension of battle broken by the arrival of the Royal Guard, Mary and mother leaned against each other and fell asleep, backs on the tree trunk behind them. I could also hear quiet breathing in the lump of gowns next to me, which meant Bradd was sleeping as well.

The nightmare was over.

Thank you, everyone. Have a good night’s sleep.

Maybe I should sleep too…good night.

AND THEN THERE WAS A SUDDEN NOISE.

I sat up as best I could. I saw fragments of rubble rolling around.

The outer wall of the manor was the only thing remaining from the manor, with mortar and pebbles stacked up in zig-zagging patterns between it and the back wall, places exposed here and there. There were Romalia-style pillars jutting here and there, white in the pale moonlight.

Like a monument in the shape of an ancient ruin…or a ruined theater set.

Almost as if the prop-masters had rolled in the setting for the second act…I started to sweat.

Damn. The masters of my destiny always have some twisted follow-up, don’t they?

Whenever I go “hah,” and start to relax, something comes flying in from nowhere to trouble me again.

They really must love writing these wretched tragedies.

Never missing an opportunity, right when everyone relaxes.

The pile of gowns next to me explodes in the air and Bradd jumps up…NOW I KNOW WHY I’M ANXIOUS.

「Hey! It’s not dead yet! Ms. Cornelia! Mary! Get up!」

The horses of the Royal Guard sensed the danger, their ears back and tails shaking, but staying where they were. Any average horse would have rolled their eyes back, thrown the knight, and bolted away in a gallop. As expected, these knights had the finest horses any fighter could wish for.

「Madam!」

Mary said, hurriedly picking me up.

My mother jumped up with her bow, stringed and in her hand, just in case.

「He’s coming out!」

A pile of rubble erupted, and then the ground began to ridge towards us as if a snake was pulsing through a tunnel below.

He was moving through an underground tunnel…the steam spouting out was probably from him moving in those residual flames of the attack.

Even the flames of hell couldn’t kill him!

「Through the ground! Damn this monster!」

Captain Matzo sounded surprised, but his face lit up with joy for the battle ahead.

「Royal Guards! Brothers! Now God has given us a chance for revenge! We will avenge our fathers in war – Brian, Bobby, and Bill!」

The Royal Guard understood the Captain, raised their fists and shouted back.

After hearing the order, the men around fell silent and cooly prepared for battle.

「All spearmen, mount! Form a ring around the rear of the Duchess and Princess! After the archers fire their arrows, front-guard attack head on! When the attack is over, front-guard fall back and secure! Rotate to attack those who are being attacked by the dog!」

Made perfect sense, as it saves the strength of the attackers by rotating them with fresh men, while securing our safety as well. It’s a good strategy against an opponent like Gallam.

「So we need to set up “you-know-what?”」

「Seems that we get to make a name for ourselves quickly!」

「Our horses and spears are sharp for blood!」

Captain Matzo nodded deeply at his men, who were happy to go to war.

「Tire him by attacking over and over like water over a waterwheel! Never besmirch the name of the Royal Guard! And I…」

And so after giving instructions to all men, the Captain grinned and clenched his fist in his upraised gauntlet.

「…Fight with the strongest weapon of man, the iron fist! This dog slaughtered the three great warriors of Hydrangea. This dog will fear my fist as the strongest among you! Don’t let me down brothers! Now, let’s show the strength of the Royal Guard!」

You’re going to punch the dog? Are you crazy!?

「I can’t use the Blood Redemption for a while…so I can’t fight that demon dog Gallam…I regret to say it, but I have to leave the fight to you!」

Bradd said, regretting it, but Captain Matzo grinned widely and laughed his bellowing laugh,

「You can, little hero! You’re probably the one that pummeled that dog and whatever else in close quarters! I can see the signs of a strong man in the future. And I, in the name of the Royal Guard, will do my best not to disappoint you!」

Then the Guard looked back at Bradd with a smirk after hearing their Captain.

The ground in front of us swelled and cracked open…like a aquatic creature that was emerging from its seabed.

In the night, the earth split and earth and sand were thrown up, with the monster appearing from the ground giving a roar that shook the shadows.

The battle horses lurched back in horror.

Steam leaked from the crevasse, with a sickening smell…the hair of the dog had been charred.

That massive torso that had repelled our attacks countless times was burned and the dog’s metal plate armor was peeking out in places.

Disgusting, as they almost looked like bones that had popped out of flesh.

Almost as if Gallam was dead and evil spirits had possessed him and were now directing his corpse.

There were embers burning, still embedded in his flesh.

In comparison with this monster, the other two demon dogs seemed like discarded stuffed animals…this beast was a monstrosity that had descended to hell and was strong enough to return!

「…what a monster…those three great warriors…they were killed by THIS?!」

Captain Matzo groaned as he stood before us…I could see goosebumps all over him.

The dog Gallam looked us all over as he exhaled freely again…the green eyes passed over the armed Royal Guards as if they didn’t exist.

When he finally saw me, his eyes lit up.

He swayed a bit and then pulled his lips back in a fang-filled snarl.

I could tell that his only desire right now was to eat me…I mean, damn, at a time like this, you want to eat me?!

Okay! Let’s finish this!

Works fine for me too! Sorry for making you wait!

Seems that my boys here haven’t gotten a chance to attack you yet.

…okay, boys…now’s your turn! Kill the enemy!

Finish him!

「Aouuu!」

I waved my mighty infant hand.

All of the guard looked at me like they saw something they never should have…damn, still a baby.

Come on guys…it’s the habit of being a queen.

So I put my hand over my face and tried to gurgle like a baby again.