Published: September 6, 2025
“Lady Rosemine, please wake up. It’s time to start preparing.”
I was awakened by Liselotte after taking a short nap. Even a little sleep made me feel much more refreshed. Liselotte and Grethia helped me change into my riding uniform, and after carefully putting Ferdinand’s Offering Stones into my leather pouch, I left the room. The guard knights clad in mana stone armor were already assembled downstairs.
“Liselotte, Grethia, Razapham, please take care of the library in our absence. As for the defensive magic tools…”
“It’s all right, Lady Rosemine. Don’t worry about us. Please focus solely on rescuing Lord Ferdinand. Aub is waiting for you.”
Liselotte smiled, cutting me off, urging me to contact my Foster Father. I sent a message to him via Ordnance.
“Foster Father, this is Rosemine. We’re departing now. Are you ready?”
“I’m ready. Head to the first training ground. Come quickly.”
Following Brother Cornelius and Leonore at the front, the riding mounts took off toward the knights order’s first training ground within the castle. I wasn’t entirely sure what the first training ground was, but I just followed along.
My mini bus was loaded with magic tools and healing potions, and Hartmut and Justox were riding along to manage these supplies.
“I don’t think Justox really needs to come along…”
“We have to review the types and procedures for administering the medicines to Lord Ferdinand. If anyone gets off, it should be Hartmut.”
Since Hartmut would never agree to get off, in the end, both of them came along. Hartmut was excited about what I might do during this rescue mission, while Justox was poking at the mini bus, saying it was “an amusing riding mount as always.”
…So, I’m going to be with these two the whole time.
“Lady Rosemine!”
“Hey, clear the way! The riding mounts are coming down!”
Even though it was midnight, there were more knights than usual at the first training ground. Night shift knights had been increased and were on alert to respond at any moment. Their stern expressions made it clear they were preparing for Georgine, creating a tense atmosphere.
“Here.”
On the huge teleportation circle set up at the first training ground, my Foster Father and his close aides were waiting. This teleportation circle was designed exclusively by Aub to transfer people instantly. We were going to use it to move quickly to Kilnberga.
“Thank you for this, Foster Father.”
“This is a rehearsal to confirm whether we can transport large numbers of people in preparation for the Arensbach invasion. Don’t worry about it. If it works well, it will be a great advantage for us too.”
While I talked with my Foster Father, all the other mounts except mine, which was loaded with luggage, were cleared away, and everyone boarded the teleportation circle.
In that brief moment, Father lightly tapped Eckhardt Brother’s and Brother Cornelius’s shoulders.
“Eckhardt, Cornelius, as Guard Knights, protect Lord Ferdinand and Lady Rosemine and return safely.”
“You can count on us.”
Once everyone was on the teleportation circle, my Foster Father raised his hand. The guard knights lined up behind him began moving quickly, kneeling and placing their hands on the magic circle. Mana was infused into the circle, swirling with darkness and light. The Ehrenfest-colored cloaks fluttered in the wind. Amidst this, my Foster Father raised his stave.
“Nenryussel Kilnberga.”
As when teleporting to the noble academy, the view distorted oddly. I closed my eyes to endure the nausea and faint floating sensation. Then I heard a voice say, “Welcome, Aub Ehrenfest.” Opening my eyes, I saw Gibe Kilnberger with several knights waiting to greet us.
…We really arrived.
This was a corner of Gibe Kilnberger’s Summer Hall. Since knights needed to respond quickly whenever trouble arose on the territory, Aub had installed a teleportation circle at Gibe’s Mansion. Because no large-scale trouble requiring dispatch of many knights had happened for generations, even Aub seemed to have forgotten it existed. After learning about it from The Book of Mestionora, I proposed using it for this journey, and my Foster Father revived it for use.