Volume 1 22.5 (Aftermath)

Volume 1 Chapter 22.5 (Aftermath)

Translator: HASUTSUKI, Editor: Thorrium.

“What did you intend to say?!”

An angry voice resounded during audience.

The owner of the voice is a person nicknamed the prime minister of iron and blood, Lord

Dornest.

The emperor who should have been the most important person silently listened to Sardina’s report while resting his elbow on the armrest of the throne.

“That’s all for the report. I’m willing to receive any punishment.”

In front of the Emperor, five people was kneeling down, the five being Sardina,

Saitou then Seria, Rolph and Orlando.

Within Sardina’s mind the event that had happened a few days earlier, was replaying itself.

After letting Ryouma escape, Sardina had waited round for dawn to come, and the soldiers that had been scattered to return. She bet on the chance that she might be able to catch up to him.

Since her mistake had lead to his escape, was due to having sent to many soldiers out searching. So in order to be able to change the situation, she had waited until she had regrouped with all the soldiers before starting the pursuit again.

However, in the end, Sardina was unable to catch a glimpse of Ryouma’s figure again.

“I knew it; it’s impossible huh…”

Hearing what Sardina had muttered, Saitou responded with a sour expression.

“It cannot be helped… It was hard to gather all of the soldiers after all…”

For Ryouma, he might have expected something like this to happen.

To said it plainly, he might have calculated that they would be unable to continue the pursue until he had crossed the borderr.

“That guy, he’s not careless at all it seems…”

Not having naive mind might be the greatest strength that Ryouma possesses.

Sardina bites his lips for realizing that she’s being too optimistic.

“It can’t be helped… Let’s return to the imperial capital.”

Saitou’s face shows a clouded expression after listening to Sardina’s words.

Indeed since they had failed to capture Mikoshiba Ryouma, there’s no meaning for them to stay inside the forest for much longer.

Not only do they need to immediately let the border to be opened again, to make sure it does not inflict much damage to the empire economy, but they also have to inform Seria and the other that had gone to the south.

Although Saitou could understand the situation, he still felt uneasy about the treatment that

Sardina would receive.

After all, it was a big loss for them to have failed to capture Ryouma. And the worst part is, they let the arrested person to escape.

Furthermore, there are some casualties among the knights.

Although there was some unexpected events, like Ryouma having companions, it would not be an easy failure to ignore.

“Dornest face had definitely turned into rage eh~…”

In spite of Sardina’s joking words, Saitou’s expression remained stiff.

“Indeed…”

In Saitou’s mind, he can imagine Dornest figure yelling toward Sardina in front of the emperor.

He was nicknamed the prime minister of blood and iron, due to being a politician that has a strong mind like iron and having the determination to shed blood.

He won’t change his attitude toward Sardina just because she’s royalty.

He will definitely won’t let this case end like this.

Furthermore, there’s also another concern.

“I think there’s also an issue, regarding how to handle Seria-sama after this…”

Sardina nodded when hearing Saitou’s subdued voice.

The one who’s the most enthusiastic about this mission is Seria who had lost her family member. What are they going to say to Seria?

“Well, we will manage it somehow. Seria is not that stupid after all. I think if I were to explain the situation to her properly, she wouldn’t complain too much…”

(That is the case if it was the usual Seria though…”

Saitou was in a complicated stat right now, being oddly in control yet, showing signs of not being able to remain calm whenever something about her grandfather came up. Maybe she read him having such complexion on his face.

Sardina shrugged her shoulders and said,

“Well, leave that matters to me. In any case, there’s no other choice than to return to the imperial capital.”

A while later, Seria, Rolph, and Orlando sat down in front of Sardina.

“Is that so…”

Seria’s voice lacked her usual energetic vibe.

After the decision of returning to the imperial capital, Sardina recalled the three who had gone to the southern border, and she decided to join them at the town south the imperial capital in order to share the information before having an audience with the emperor.

This where they met up, was one of the suburbs of Oito, where the road junction merge.

In the tent that was set up, Sardina told them the situation.

“I see… If the situation ends up like that, no wonder you’ve failed to catch them huh.”

Rolph’s face turned sour.

His expression indicated his regret to be unable to accompany Sardina.

Orlando also had the same expression.

“But still… Right after being summoned, that person, Mikoshiba Ryouma was it? He has people who help him? Furthermore, they have such a degree of ability?”

Toward Rolph question, Sardina shakes her head.

That question was the one that Sardina and Saitou had contemplated seriously along the road as well.

“I’ve also thought of that along with Saitou… But to be honest, we are not sure either.”

Toward Sardina who shook her head, Orlando asks a question reservedly.

“Emm… Your highness, how are we going to report to the emperor?”

This was a question that all of them except Sardina were worried about.

The Emperors orders are absolute.

Since they could not fulfill their order, they were at worst at risk of the death penalty.

“I will report things as they are…”

Saitou nodded his head in agreement with Sardina’s words.

That is because the two of them had agreed between themselves as to what to do when they are on the way toward Oito.

“Is that alright?”

The complexion on Rolph’s face indicating that he wondered if it was really fine to do that.

If they report it as it is, all the responsibility would hang over Saitou’s and Sardina’s head.

Although one of them is a member of the imperial family, she might not get out from it unscathed.

“There’s no helping it. It was a fact after all.”

Sardina answered as such quietly. And she had prepared to do so…

“Even if you’re an imperial princess, to report something like this!”

“Dornest… Be silent for a bit…”

The emperor’s voice interrupted Dornest angry shouting at Sardina.

Saitou shook off the imagination that appears within his mind and turned his consciousness to the emperor’s words.

“In response to Sardina’s report, I have no intention to criticize.”

A heavy voice comes from the throne.

A surprised expression appears on Dornest face.

“However… Your majesty!”

“Listen to what I had to say… Dornest!”

The Emperor presses his elbow on the armchair harder and called him with a low voice.

“Indeed Sardina had failed to fulfill my order. That is a fact. However, an unexpected strong person also appeared. What do you think they can do in that situation?”

Dornest was unable to reply the emperor’s question.

Certainly, that was the truth.

No, being able even to capture the other world person once is already close to a miracle.

After all, at first they didn’t even know the name nor the face of him. That was something Dornest understood.

“But still… To let the otherworlder escape!”

“I also know that. However. Sardina and Saitou are an important part of the empires strength. No matter how much we want to suppress that hateful man, that killed Gaies, we can’t put the empire in danger! Not to capture or kill one person… don’t you agree?”

They should avoid losing the leader and deputy of the Succubus Knights, which they are so proud of at the same time.

Now with Gaies have died, the empire power has declined, and if they also had to part with the leaders of the newly formed main force, the empires hegemony would without a doubt get threatened.

Considering all of these matters, Sardina judgment was right.

“However…”

The Emperor was looking at Sardina.

“Although be that as it may, it is also a fact that you was unable to fulfill my order.

Therefore you will take over Gaies mission, conquering the Eastern countries.

Sardina, you will be in charge of command.”

After that words reverberated within the audience hall, Sardina and the other four lowered their heads at once on the spot.

Instead of giving them punishment, the emperor gave them the opportunity to gain merits to offset their mistakes.

“We will certainly respond to your expectations. Your majesty!”

The End of Volume 1: Being Summoned to another world.