110 - - The Brave, Favourite to the Emperor

Last week of September.

We were visiting the Madukas Empire to participate in a school battle.

At the entrance of the castle in the capital.

As I was about to enter the castle, I was stopped by the gatekeeper.

"Who are you?

"What, [Henrietta] sent me?"

"Her Royal Highness has no business with a royal like you!　Get the hell out of here!"

The gatekeeper points a spear at me.

Of course I can handle it, but I don't want to make a scene and get my team in trouble.

That's when it happened.

"What are you doing?"

Princess Henrietta!

The princess knight Henrietta (29) appeared, her long hair fluttering in the wind.

"He is our guest. Put down your weapons."

I'm sorry, sir!

The gatekeepers lower their spears and bow their heads.

We leave them and head for the castle.

The castle is as big as the one in the capital.

We cross the corridor, check to make sure no one is around, and then .......

"Darling!　Long time no see!　I've missed you so much!"

Her dignified expression changes and she hugs him with a smile all over her face.

"Have you greeted your father yet?"

"Yes!　Well, sort of."

We talk as we walk to our rooms.

"So, the game's at the Empire. I heard it's here every year. Is that true?"

Yes. But technically, it's where the winning school is located. But since the Imperial Academy has won every year, everyone thinks of the school competition as an Imperial event."

Walking around the castle, the servants bow to Henrietta.

Then they look at me and make a blatantly disapproving face.

"Did I do something?"

"My darling, or rather the people. The empire and the kingdom have always been at loggerheads.

"So, the game against the school will be played completely on the road."

If it's set in the empire, the audience will probably be made up of many people from the empire.

"Are you worried?"

"No way. This won't be a handicap for us.

"Cool~. That's my darling!"

Henrietta clings to me, but when she senses someone's presence, she quickly pulls away and puts on her knightly face.

"So, why did they call me?"

"That's not ....... "Heh heh heh, you know what I mean."

With a mellow expression, Henrietta says.

"You know, we've been dating for almost three months now, right?　I mean, hey ...... it's about time, hey ......?"

Hmmm, I have no idea.

"I want a honeymoon by the sea. Romantic with a sunset view. ......

Before I know what's going on, I'm shown to my room.

It looks like a parlor.

"I'll go get my dad!　You can look around the castle, but you'll get lost, so just stay put."

Boom!　Henrietta waved her hand and walked out of the room.

I waited for a while, but when I was free, I left the room.

"I think I'll go see the chalice."

The winner of this tournament, the Holy Grail.

It is a vessel that contains enormous magical power.

I detect the magic of the chalice and head for it.

I went down some very narrow corridors and stairs to the room where the chalice was placed.

"Hello!

"What?　What the hell are you doing?

It was a small room.

There was a kind of altar at the back, where the chalice sat.

At the front of the room were two men.

"It's nothing suspicious. They were just visitors."

"Don't be silly!　The route to this room is lined with layers of the Empire's strongest concealment!　There is no way a civilian could have discovered it!"

"Oh, you thought you were hiding it?　Isn't that a little too brazen?"

Yikes!　The man with the beard makes a blue streak.

"You!　You dare to taunt me here!　To the death."

"No?"

The other is a quiet-looking older man.

"You must be Julius. You must be Julius.

"Oh. Who's the old man?

"You!　Don't tell me you don't know this man's face!

I don't know.

I just got reincarnated this past April.

I don't know what's going on in the world 2000 years from now.

"Good, Vecta. I'd like to talk to him for a minute. Leave us."

"But, but!"

I won't say it again.

Ugh," the bearded man called Vecta choked on his words.

"If you do anything to this man, I will kill you!"

"No, I won't, I won't."

Vecta leaves the room, leaving me alone with the old man.

"Julius. What are you doing here?　Answer me."

"That's why we're here, to see the Holy Grail."

The old man looks into my eyes.

"Well, you have good eyes."

He smiles and says to me.

As much as I'd like to show you the Holy Grail up close, it's not possible.

"Well, why?"

The old man points to the front of the altar.

"There is an impenetrable protective barrier. The mages of the Imperial Court have spent a long time and a lot of effort to put up these wards. I'm sorry, but it's absolutely forbidden to ordinary people.

"What, are you kidding me?　How is this possible?"

The old man says, "I see.

"You sound as if you think you can break through a barrier like this?"

"Oh. It's pretty full of holes, huh?"

That's when it happened.

"Oh, look. Here comes the enemy."

Kikin!　It sounded as if a sharp knife had been used to cut me.

A demonic god appeared inside the ward.

>

"Oh, that's absurd!"

Vecta comes in and is surprised to see a demon inside the ward.

"Oh, no!　No one can break through the impenetrable barrier that Vecta has developed!　There is no way that there can be!

<<< What is absolutely inviolable with such a gaping ward!　I'll be d*mned! >>

"Really, really."

>

I'm right next to the god of evil.

"What? I just walked straight up to you like a normal person.

<<>

Both Vecta and the demons are surprised.

"This level of strength won't stop me."

<<>

"Teya."

I hit the demon god with a slap.

With that, bosh!　And the being vanished.

"Oh, no!　A student who can strike a demigod with a single blow?　What in the world kind of great magic did you use?

"What, I just slapped him?"

Vecta gives a shocked look.

"Anyway, old man. Can I tamper with your warding a little?　They'll come back if we don't."

"Oh, well, I'll do you a favor."

"Oh, King!　You would entrust the defense of the Holy Grail, the keystone of our national power, to a boy of such mysterious origin?

The king?

"Indeed. You have seen what this boy can do."

But!"

"d*mn it! Hold back, Vecta. Julius, please.

"Yeah."

I'll quickly renew the warding formula.

It's done.

Do the right thing!

Vecta tries to approach the chalice.

At that moment he disappears.

"What happened?"

"We made a part of the inside of the ward into an otherworldly space. If you try to enter, you will be transported to another world.

I'll use the transfer spell and retrieve Vecta.

He has lost his mind, so I stun him and cast a healing spell.

"I also set 9999 traps and defenses to make him impenetrable.

"Ah, that's very impressive. But we can't get to it, can we?

"I made a key. I made a key.

He gives the key he made to the old man.

"You are very good. I'm impressed.

Thank you. I'll leave you to it. Henrietta's going to be worried if I don't get back soon."

I give him a quick hello and leave the old man.

"Tremendous power. This is Julius von Carlisle. This is the strength of the child of prophecy. ...... I want him more and more in my country.

The old man mumbled something small.