Saito could not move faster than his usual self, though they still could fight… it was pointless. It was impossible to fight against a mage and his monster pal. They could do nothing but run away.
“Why are you so useless at most crucial moments? Hey!”
The moment when an irritated Louise shouted, an orc group came out of the corner of the street in front.
Trolls from the rear, orcs from the front.
They were completely trapped. There was no way to counterattack.
Rene wiped his lips.
“I wanted to die in the sky at least.”
“Well, I wouldn’t be happy dying from a crash.”
The demi-humans started closing in… but then, looking up into the sky…
Boooooooooom! - the group of orcs ahead blazed up suddenly.
“Dragon knights!”
Rene and others shouted. Saito looked up into the sky as well.
The dragon knight swooped down from the sky, shooting spells and magic breaths, driving the enemy away.
“Our colleagues from the 3rd Company,” Rene shouted. Saito looked up into the sky.
Dressed up in white clothes, Julio was riding the first wind dragon. There were ten knights. Five went after trolls, while the other five landed around Saito and the others.
“Quickly, get on!”
Julio shouted. Saito, Rene and the rest hastily jumped onto the dragons. After confirming that all members got on the dragons, Julio lifted up.
“We saw you being chased from above,” Julio explained.
Louise, feeling relieved, pated her chest, and said thanks to Julio.
“Thank you. We survived.”
“Don’t thank us yet.”
Discouraged Louise’s shoulders dropped.
“We… failed the mission. No good…”
Julio pointed to the ground.
“Indeed. There doesn’t seem to be that much of a change in the general situation.”
The power of Tristain-Germania united armies was huge. The Albion army that consisted only of the demi-humans, which, with their large bodies were not able to fight in tight streets, were now retreating.
“But, differently from the scouting mission, the powers used in diversion weren’t of much use…” Julio said and Louise looked down.
“But I cannot understand using such cute girl like you as a ‘tool’. Well, I am not a soldier.”
Saito, sitting behind Louise, intervened.
“You are not a soldier?”
“I am priest, a servant of god, not army.”
Saito ruminated Julio’s words. What a sly guy – he thought, but didn’t voice it out.
“That’s right, I think so too,” Saito nodded.
“Hey Louise! Are you all right? Why aren’t you complaining? Will those generals be angry for us failing the mission?”
However, Louise declared clearly.
“I wish. Seems not everything is possible.”
Saito, hearing Louise’s words, fell silent, feeling odd again.
The Germania-Tristain united army took over the city of Saxe-Gotha in about one week from the beginning of the attack.
Damage was negligible. Huge demi-humans were not capable of moving well in the urban area suited for humans, and were defeated in even one-on-one battles.
The town was occupied smoothly, due to the residents' cooperation as well. The town residents felt a grudge against Albion's army as it took all their supplies, and one-by-one they cooperated with the allied forces. They informed the allied forces about the buildings where the demi-humans lurked and fought together.
And, at the end of the fourth week of Wynn's month, during day of the week of Ing, in the central plaza of Saxe-Gotha, the town liberation was declared.
All the City Council members of Saxe-Gotha, including the Mayor, the citizens, and the governing staff of the Tristain-Germania united army were gathered.
Going up on the platform constructed at the center of the plaza, General of the united army, Supreme Commander de Poitiers greeted them.
“Thus, I declare the city of Saxe-Gotha liberated. I give the limited self-government right to the Saxe-Gotha City Council under the supervision of Tristain and Germania governments.”
A shout of joy bolted up from residents who were nursing a grudge for the present Albion government.
Among them… Saito was staring at his left-hand.
He gripped Derflinger with his right hand.
Then… the runes slightly shone. He could not feel the same dazzling light as always. It felt as if his batteries started running out.
“Not good, mate.”
Derflinger muttered. Saito nodded.
“It’s in bad condition.”
Since the recent feint mission, he had such a feeling. His body felt heavy, his movements slow. No power.
“It’s over for me, partner.” Saito sighted.
“Don’t say that. Gandálfr's power lies in the strength of the heart. Partner‘s heart was shaken. In other words, you lost your motivation.”
“What?”
“I do not know. Who do you think should know more? Not me, the problem is in your heart, partner. Well, I can guess though...”
Derflinger shook.
“It’s about your noble sweetheart. Haven’t I told you before? Strong emotions are the only source of Gandálfr’s power. Now you started to mistrust your master. You doubt if your master is worth protecting or not. Your emotions were shaken. And the power left.”
“…”
“Mage and familiar. When they trust each other, their power doubles. Legendary ones are not really different.”
Saito thought absent-mindedly.
The way it is now, I cannot fight, right?
An uneasy thought crossed his mind…
But I guess, it doesn’t matter, Saito stole a quick glance at his master.
Louise was having a long talk with the priest from Romalia.
Though Saito saw it, he ignored them. Like when he saw her close to Wardes, a heavy feeling of helplessness covered his shoulders.
What about it… If Louise is taken away by him, you won’t be angry? He thought like that. Something buried deep in the heart, started to tremble.
Saito's feelings sunk further when thinking so, he was wrapped by deep helplessness.
The great general on the platform, was giving a fiery speech. As if Albion was already defeated and the victory of his army was doubtless. These words entered through one ear and left through the other:
For what I am fighting here?
Not long ago, the reason was clear.
For Louise.
Louise is the reason.
The girl, whose sight makes my heart throb…
However, what if it is a girl who rejects my love as well?
What if Louise doesn’t want to know me anymore?
If you are not loved, why are you still hanging around?
I do not know.
I do not know?
No… the mind refuses to admit that reason. That feeling.
He could not allow for Louise’s attitude to hurt him this much.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Louise, who was in a long talk with Julio, felt absent-minded as well. She looked at Julio. He was a pleasant sight. There wasn’t a girl who would not be attracted to him.
However, she only had her eyes set on her familiar. Occasionally, she stole quick side-glances at him. Saito looked in this direction and looked hurt.
Heee, now isn’t that jealousy?
Familiar’s habit is jealousy now.
Hee, heeeeeeeeee, Louise sang a song of victory in her heart.