Volume 12 - CH 14

Chapter 14: Vermillion’s Sword

After the battle, Xiaoli was nowhere found in the bottom of the valley that Stella created. The dragon power Xiaoli copied probably protected her and healed her wounds. Xiaoli had returned to the village at the bottom of the mountain on her own and then left after saying she had no right to remain after being defeated. Stella and the others have also left after having a meal at Edelweiss’ house, leaving Edelweiss alone in the house. The 6 days of watching over the growth of Ikki and Stella was fun, and so she feels lonely now that it’s over. She’s glad that she has met them in her last vacation. Edelweiss thinks that after the situation with Or-Gaule and the others is resolved, it probably won’t be long until the beginning of the nightmare that Tsukikage shown her a while ago occurs. Vacation is over for her because she’s not going to just let such a thing happen. It is the responsibility of those with power, which is what she learned from the person who taught her swordsmanship. She then puts back up one of the two picture frames that was placed face down on the shelf. It is a photo of her when she was a kid together with an old Asian man with a fine beard. She bows to the photo and says, “I’m going then, Sensei.”

Stella and the others have arrived back at Vermillion’s capital Flareverg. As Stella and the others have exited the plane, they see Nene and Lunaeyes waiting for them. Nene then walks towards the approaching Stella, and gives an intimidation that is trying to prevent Stella from moving forward as if there’s an invisible wall. The intimidation Nene gave using her ability to influence fate is similar to the one Naseem gave which Stella couldn’t resist against before. However, Stella is able to keep walking forward which causes Nene to realize that it was not a waste for Stella to go to Edelberg. Nene then informs that a formal notice listing Johann Cristoph von Collbrand, Or-Gaule, Naseem Al-Salem, Ein Abgrund and ‘BB’ as Cradleland’s representatives in the war had arrived when Stella and the others were in Edelberg. The war will be a battle royal taking place in the whole area Cradleland’s capital city Lucier and will start at sunset tomorrow. Ikki, Stella, Ascarid, Tatara and Nene who are Vermillion’s representatives have no problem with it. Luna then comes forward and asks Stella for help because something troubling has happened.

At Flareverg’s central park, the people who were supposed to evacuate before the start of the war have gathered there. There are also food stands which makes the whole scene look like it’s a festival and Sirius is seen having fun with the people while drinking. It is preparation for a state funeral and the people insisted on staying even though there shouldn’t be anything they can do since the war will be a representative battle. They still want to cheer for the people fighting for them, and don’t want to just cheer for them from a safe place. Everyone is all one family and so they won’t run away. Luna wants Stella to persuade everyone to evacuate to a safe place, but Stella instead laughs about it and says that she loves everyone when they’re like this. Stella tells Luna to just give up on it because this is the kind of people everyone is. Luna protests it is dangerous for everyone to stay and who knows what kind of dangers will occur if Vermillion is defeated. In order not to let such things occur, Luna even made ‘that kind of deal’. Stella then tells Luna that it will be okay because they won’t lose. While placing her hands on Luna’s cheeks, Stella then says she doesn’t know what kind of deal Luna made with Or-Gaule in order to give everyone time to evacuate but she’s sure Luna has to submit something very important to her. Stella is sure that she can defeat them and so Luna doesn’t have to give up anything like how Stella wouldn’t give up being the ‘Crimson Princess’. For a long time, Luna has killed her emotions and relies on reasons in order to make decisions befitting to be made by someone from the imperial family. However, she now believes Stella will ensure that everything will be okay. Luna asks Stella to save Johann, while shedding tears. This is her personal wish, to keep the promise she made with Johann when they were kids which was to help him when he’s in trouble. Stella then manifests the sword of her reincarnated soul, ‘Laevateinn’, and shoots some fire to the sky as lights for remembering those who have died for Vermillion. She then says to everyone to leave it to her because she will protect everyone including the people of Cradleland, and that the ‘Crimson Princess’ is invincible as long as everyone cheers for her and believes in her. The volume ends with Luna seeing Stella’s unwavering resolve and then finally realizing that a true king that will lead Vermillion to an ideal future has been born.