Published: August 10, 2026
We flew out of the castle on our Mounts. Compared to Ehrenfest, it was much warmer here; even though it was the time of the prayer ceremony, the temperature already felt like early summer.
When we came to Arensbach, it had been shrouded in darkness, but now that night was fading, the sky was painted in a gradient from pale purple to soft yellow, revealing the streets of Arensbach. There were walls and gates surrounding the Noble District, but the commoners' town seemed to have neither walls nor gates.
On the sea, which was a shade darker than the sky, three silver ships had just departed from the port and were still moving slowly toward the boundary gate. I could also see one more silver ship still in the port. It looked like its departure preparations had not finished yet.
Ferdinand sent out Ordnance after Ordnance, ordering the Dunkelfelger knight guarding the Lanzenave mansion and the Arensbach knight atop the boundary gate to continue their watch as they were.
It seemed the knights left in the castle had already relayed the message, because Arensbach knights who had been busily carrying out rescue operations all over the Noble District gradually gathered. As the knights came together, they all wore the same stunned expression when they saw my mini bus.
Some even drew their staves and shouted, "A greun?" only to be stopped by nearby knights who said, "It's not a demonic beast! It's the new aub's Mount!"
...I'm not a greun.
"Heisshitze, Eckhardt. Form groups of ten and appoint group leaders. From this point on, orders will be given by unit. Commanders and their closest aides will descend once to the gate pillar on the outer wall. Everyone else remains in the air."
"Yes!"
Heisshitze and Brother Eckhardt obeyed the order issued while riding their Mounts, and as they moved through the air, the knights from each territory were divided into groups and group leaders appointed.
"rosemine, that is the gate pillar on the outer wall. When you arrive there, distribute the magic tools by group."
"Then Matthias, Laurenz, Leonore, Brother Cornelius, please help me. Angelica will be my guard knight."
"Yes!"
The commanders and group leaders descended to the roof of the gate pillar on the outer wall, which surrounded the Noble District. Their Mounts were dismissed once, except for the boarding-type Mounts carrying luggage.
Following Ferdinand's instructions, my guard knights distributed flashbang grenades to the first and sixth groups, support magic tools for wide-area magic to the second and seventh groups, and so on.
"Lady Hannelore, you could have taken your own knights and rested at the castle..."
Ferdinand said this while looking at Hannelore's boarding-type shumil Mount, suggesting she return to the castle, but Hannelore shook her head with a troubled smile.
"I came here to wipe away the shame of ditter. I cannot afford to flee again. I am thinking about whether the volgenir we obtained in this Noble District might be able to enter the Lanzenave ship."
Hannelore said that while gesturing toward her Mount. In the cargo area, three volgenir were lying side by side in a crouched position. I had heard that volgenir were pet-type demonic beasts with a dog-like appearance and were relatively popular among nobles, much like shumils.
...Put pets on a ship?
I had no idea what Hannelore intended to do with the volgenir, but Ferdinand seemed to understand immediately.
"...I see. That would be an effective measure against Lanzenave soldiers."
It sounded like he muttered, "Indeed, a woman of Dunkelfelger," though I wasn't sure whether that was praise. Hannelore was smiling shyly, so it must have been praise. I decided to take it as praise.
"Then we will leave that ship that has not yet departed to Lady Hannelore. First and second groups, accompany her for hostage rescue and protection."
"I am honored."
Ferdinand pointed toward the sea. I could see the silver ships beginning to pick up speed little by little.
"You know that magic does not pass through those silver ships, yes? But if magic does not pass through, then they cannot transfer. Therefore, once they approach the gate, those ships will turn black. We will strike at that moment."