Episode 17: The Blood-Stained Princess ⑥ – The World as Seen by the Eyes of the Divine Bow II  ・ The Celestial Knight

　After my sister's state funeral, we were on the verge of war.

　After I collapsed the enemy fort and killed all the soldiers, including the prince and his men, the neighboring country quit the small incursions along the border and put its entire army into the front line. When I announced the declaration of war and told them of the barbaric act against my sister and the slaughter of the prince in retaliation, the royal family of the Principality began to target me as an enemy.
　 The Elven Kingdom is the same in terms of getting serious about war just like me, my father and all the soldiers are ready to kill because the princess had been so ruthlessly murdered.
　Both countries were now at war with no way to make peace, and there was no turning back, but I was ready for it when I eradicated the people in that fortress.

　I cried when I found a finished hand-knitted bracelet in a cherished closet in my sister's room after my husband left.
　I don't even have to mention who she was going to give it to. I assume she planned to share her feelings with him the next time he visited the country.
　We elves have a culture of giving hand-knitted bracelets to our loved ones to express our feelings for them, and it is said that the more elaborate the bracelet is, the greater the feeling it expresses for the person it is intended for.
　My sister wove it like an exquisite work of art, and each weave was endowed with a blessing of protection. I believe she was making this in secret, praying for his well-being and safety.
　Looking at the bracelet, which will never be handed over and which has been tucked away with her feelings, I simply felt a sense of despair.
　What in the world would a goddess who is said to control people's destiny be thinking about in doing this? Why did my sister have to die?

"……This is not fair, it's just not fair."

　These words spilled out unintentionally accompanied by tears.
　Hey Raoul, what are you doing right now? While you were gone, my sister died……

　Like this, my sister's trampled feelings became a strong driving force to push me to the battlefield and set my heart ablaze.
　I remember when Raoul said that the only people who can shoot are those who are ready to be shot, and now I am ready for that. You can hate me and take up the sword in revenge for the families, lovers, and relatives of the people in that fortress, because that's what freedom means.
　Of course, I have no intention of being beaten up, so regardless of whether my opponent took up the sword for revenge or not, I will not hesitate to kill anyone, young or old, male or female, from the neighboring country.

　In battle, they would capture enemy soldiers and torture them.
　It seems that the reason why my sister was kidnapped was because the king of the Principality originally had her kidnapped as a bargaining chip with us, and the idiot prince interpreted that he could do whatever he wanted with her because he kidnapped her and then did something like that. What the hell, I wish he would just die…… Ahh, he's already dead, I killed him.

　How many months have passed since the battle began? I don't have a clear count because long-lived elves generally don't care much about time, but the war is still going on.
　In the meantime, Mouja-san passed away.
　The friends who fled the Kingdom are now the people of the Elven Kingdom, and all of the Elven people consider them friends, but the same people felt guilty and distressed that a human had slaughtered my sister.
　Even if there was a war with the Principality, there was no discrimination or distinction because they were human beings, and Father and Mother visited everyone and talked to them, but Mouja-san became ill and passed away. We are all grateful to Mouja-san for bringing the concept of various delicious breads to the Elven Kingdom, and for teaching and spreading them, so although we do not resent or hate him, Mouja-san collapsed and died in a fit of sorrow and rage against the Principality.
　The elf nation respected Mouja-san so much that they were all saddened by his death, and of course, I was saddened as well. ……Concerning my sister, I cannot face Raoul like this.

　I fought on the front lines to escape such sorrow and bitterness. However, there is an overwhelming difference in numbers and quantity between the Principality and the Elven Kingdom, and since the king is a relative of the Empire, he is indirectly backed by the Empire, so the odds seem to be stacked against us. ……Indeed, there is no end to the number of soldiers in the Principality, even though they blow hundreds of people in every battle. But speaking of the Empire, Roger should be there, but what the hell is he really doing? I have no way of knowing for sure right now.

　There is indeed a clear difference in troop strength, but this side has me.
　The forces of the Principality could easily be wiped out simply by shooting, or rather bombing, at the surface from a high altitude beyond human reach.
　The generals of the Principality are exhausted by my arrows in every battle, shouting, “Come down, you coward!"――― But I have abandoned my warrior's honor at that fort.
　I told myself that this was a pest extermination, and I just had to kill all the humans with a fine-tooth comb to avoid causing damage to my allies.

　In a localized battle, I could dominate with just myself, but the Elven army, which is outnumbered in terms of military strength, must avoid losing men as much as possible.
　The most frightening thing would be to have hostages taken, so I would gradually push up the battle line while having the ordinary soldiers concentrate on fortifying the defenses. And just like this.
　I was planning to attack the opponent's home country and unleash the full power of my divine bow skills and Sovereign Lunar Bow to end this war, but I was informed of a single terrible news.

　　The Dragon King, Hroboros, who destroyed the kingdom, and its army were on their way to our Elven Kingdom.
　After destroying the kingdom, Hroboros seems to have attacked neighboring countries, forts, and villages, but after destroying all of them, it seems that it is now heading toward us.
　The front line is on the border with the Principality, located in the northern part of the Elven country. In contrast, the forces of Hroboros were attacking from the south of the Elven Kingdom, leaving our country sandwiched between two armies, one to the north and the other to the south.

　……The worst. I bit my nails, thinking that if I were only dealing with an army of humans, it wouldn't matter, but at a time like this, of all times.
　I have no choice but to strike at Hroboros. The dragon species, which is resistant to long-range attacks, and my bow are not a good match, but this is not a situation where I can whine.
　Since the front line with the humans would be left empty, we decided to retreat the front line with the humans to the defensive fortress in the forest and have everyone lock themselves in and hold firm.

　The only way I can do that is to push back Hroboros and his army as fast as I can or make them give up that invasion and get back to the front line against the humans. It's a mess, but despite being outnumbered, the soldiers in this country are not weak, so this would cause the least amount of wear and tear on the troops.
　Naturally, the human side will also attack with great force while I am away, so this will be a race against time.

"Ah, I wonder if this would have happened if you were still alive."

　He is gone now, I mutter to no one, remembering that boy, and I fly in the direction where the army of Hroboros is attacking.

　As I was waiting outside the forest, I saw the army of Hroboros like a black cloud haze, so I unleashed my full force right from the start to sweep the area.
　The rain of arrows that blasted the army of demons along with the surface of the earth slowed their movements, but at the same time, I also sensed “it” and braced myself.

　The huge dragon that flew in landed with a ground-shaking boom, sending tremors through the earth. A huge black dragon the size of a fortress…… This is Hroboros.
　This was an overwhelming force that could easily bring down a single country.
　Even with all my strength, I don't know if I can beat it――― Such a disastrous black dragon was glaring at me. ……It clearly identifies me as an enemy and is targeting me.

"I'm your opponent. I'm not going to let you mess with this country! "

　I shouted as if to rouse myself, challenging it.
　And as if in answer to my cry, Hroboros also howled.
　Flame breaths, claws, and fangs aimed at me, so I would use the power of the Sovereign Lunar Bow to avoid them by flying at high speed and shooting back arrows.
　……But alas, it was obvious that I was at a disadvantage because of the affinity.
　The scales of the dragon species are resistant to long-range attacks like bows and arrows, so even precise marksmanship will not bring down Hroboros.
　I have neither the most powerful strike like Al's holy sword, nor the best defense like Raoul's shield, but I do have a special technique that was borne from my travels.
　The only way for me to win is to take the initiative and put everything I have into that blow.
　Having restrained Hroboros and stopped his movement, I sewed him to the earth with binding chains woven with magic power, and then I flew up into the sky.

　Pulling the bowstring to its limit, I poured as much magic as I could muster into the arrow, weaving the magic in the air. The arrow was then “loaded” with a cherry-colored mass of magical power that was further folded into layers of magic power.
　This was my trump card. A magic projectile, made possible by the combined use of the divine bow technique and the Sovereign Lunar Bow, which takes in the surrounding magic power and explosively multiplies it.

"――――I'll be giving it my all from the beginning, so don't take it personally."

　The unleashed bombardment engulfed Hroboros, becoming a pillar of light that could swallow an entire city, obliterating the earth around it and drawing a huge crater in the earth.
　However…… Hroboros was alive and well. Although it took a lot of damage, it was not enough to kill it, partly due to the affinity disadvantage.
　Sweat was running down my face at the fact that I couldn't beat him even though I played my best trump card on the first move.

　　―――Still, I can't fall down. If I die here and now, this country will end.
　
　I gritted my teeth as Hroboros looked up at me and roared, and I continued the battle.
　Shooting while flying around, I damaged Hroboros. A lot of my magical energy was drained, and my movements grew sluggish.
　In such a moment, I was caught in a momentary gap, and unable to avoid a tail cleave, I took a direct hit and was shot down to the ground, and even then, I rolled on the ground and was blown away with a power that was just barely strong enough to not kill me.　
　Perhaps the damage I received was too great, but I couldn't get up right away. I could see Hroboros standing up, stepping on the earth with its hind legs, and standing tall, holding its magical power in its mouth. ……That is the full force of Hroboros' breath.
　I can't move, I can't dodge. It would still take a long time to gather magic power and fly.
　We will all die. I, my father, my mother, and everyone in this country will die. I don't want it, no.

"……Help. Help me, Al."

　I was surprised at the words that came out of my mouth. After killing so many humans, it is so unbecoming and foolish of me to ask for help from a hero in the face of death. ……Even though there are no more heroes in this world.
　As the breath of Hroboros was released toward me, and I stared at it as it approached, resigned to death, someone's back plunged through the air.

"All right. ……But sorry I'm not Al."

　His cloak became tattered, and his armor, once shining white and gold, was stained a lusterless black, but his back was one that I knew well.
　The back that I always saw on my journey to defeat the Demon King. His shield caught the breath of Hroboros.

"……Raoul？!"

　The Celestial Knight Raoul. A young man who was a fellow traveler and a close friend and companion of Al, the hero…… And the person whom Sister Luqur had feelings for.

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 ToC  

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