Magic Gems Gourmet

The night Ain said he would contact the Krones, in a corner of the king's city. Warren took Chris to visit the Queen instead of her, who was not yet in good health.

The queen's place of house arrest, which he has also visited many times, is still in a quiet corner of the castle town today.

The queen had a different calm than before, as if she were following the quiet atmosphere.

― ― ― She greeted the Warrens with her sidekick, Lil, and asked them why they had come.

Actually, it's true.

And Warren opens his mouth as usual.

It invited a bitter smile from Chris, who was next to him.

I've known him for a long time. It was easy to imagine that everything that appeared on the front was not real, and that there were many stupid schemes behind it.

"The situation of the Iron King's Hammer has changed, so it was necessary for the Queen to cooperate."

"Um... something happened to the Iron King's hammer...!?"

"Yes, but it's also true that there's still a lot of ambiguity in our technology. So I remembered that the queen said that I could only stop the iron hammer myself."

After listening quietly, Chris never opened his mouth and secretly thought in his heart.

(...... I'm definitely thinking about something)

In the first place, you don't have to show your weaknesses like this.

There is an overwhelming difference in power, so there is no need to make any concessions to the Queen here. Rather, you should be strong and putting pressure on the people of the iron country who are also dangerous.

Warren's words were also mixed with lies, as I know that the investigation on Ishtarika's side was going well.

Chris understands the reason as a matter of course.

Warren, of course, and Ein are trying to get a former consultant on the Golden Route as well.

As for the queen...

Hah, yes, that's why!

"As for us Ishtarika, we have not yet allowed the queen to behave like an iron kingdom." However, from a humanitarian point of view, I think we should first solve the problem of the hammer. "

"... thank you."

"So, what do you say?" In some cases, it may be necessary for the Queen to return to the Iron Nation once. "

That's a funny story, too much concession.

But Warren was never kidding, he said it in a serious voice.

Then, the queen also brightened her cheeks because of her childishness to the conspiracy, and impregnated her voice with joy from the bottom of her heart.

I'm so happy! I'll work with you!

At first glance, it was smiling, but there...

Serving beside the queen who had listened quietly, Lil opened her mouth and made a hard voice.

"Forgive me for speaking in the presence of a sidekick. I am also a civil servant, so I hope you will forgive me."

The queen suddenly opened her mouth and closed it, pressed by that tone, beside Lil, who began to speak in a slightly different and strong tone.

Warren smiled at the queen and immediately turned to Lil.

"Yes, what can I do for you?"

"Since the situation of the Iron King's Hammer has changed, I also feel that it is a dubious situation. However, there is still some doubt that the Queen will return to the Iron Kingdom in that situation."

"What is a question...?"

"... Prime Minister, how much do you believe in the destructive power of the Hammer?"

"If so, basically everything you've told us. We at Ishtarika do not take the information we receive lightly, and we will never be alarmed."

However, I don't understand excessively.

And Warren went on like this.

Then Lil took a few seconds to hold the Queen's shoulders and say, "I'm going to shelter you."

"Unlike when we were in the Iron Kingdom, the current Iron King's Mallet is likely to be making unexpected moves. Then it is no surprise that the Queen will arrive and at the same time she will be completely rampant."

"--Hmm. If so, do you want the Queen to help you locally?"

"Of course, it is of paramount importance to us that the Queen returns to the Iron Nation. However, I am aware that this is not the case at present.... so I'd like to make a contribution. Even with the Chancellor, the presence of the Queen is still important. If so, we should avoid endangering the queen's life."

The word spoken in the tongue is that of a loyal minister who troubles his lord.

Warren understood the words, and Chris nodded secretly as he listened to them.

(Besides, from their point of view, it's no wonder we planted something on the hammer.)

It's a tricky way, but if Ishtarika thinks she's going to make the queen dead in the guise of an accident.

After that, by providing generous assistance, the inhabitants of the Iron Nation swear allegiance to Ishtarika, because it is not impossible.

However, the queen looked terrible while being sheltered.

She has just calmed down a little, but she has left her country of birth and is being held hostage.

Even if they are treated humanely, if they are stopped by their subordinates who once thought they could return to their country, the impact on their hearts will not be small.

"I understand." Then I don't want to take back what kind of cooperation I will give to the Queen. "

"Ahhhhh..."

The queen stretched out her hand without strength and looked up at Warren, who was sitting right now.

But Warren said, "I'm sorry," and took Chris out of the room.

◇◇◇◇

... after that, when they were completely gone.

The remaining queen was held by Lil's shoulders and her body trembled with tears.

Lil leaned closer and said that she was also weeping in her eyelids.

"For us, you are more important than anything else." You may dislike me for saying something like this. But it's all for our country. "

"Ugh... I know... I'm sorry for everything!"

A sad sight. The two captives are exactly that.

Even if for Ishtarika the queen is the king of the invaders, this sight alone will break the hearts of almost everyone.

◇◇◇◇

Warren, who had left the building, had heard from the knights guarding the building.

"--- That's it. It looks like you two are comforting each other as soon as you leave the room."

"Is that so?" Thank you very much. "

"... but I'm not satisfied. Even though they were the ones who invaded first, how could they even behave like victims... when they think of their fellow victims, their anger is rising and they can't stop."

"Your Majesty understands everyone's feelings." Even so, His Majesty is proud to have acted as our knight without mistake. ― ― ― ― Please leave it to me.

The knight seemed unhappy.

But Warren thinks he can't help it.

So he said,

"Ein-sama said that too." Instead, you risk your life for Ishtarika. "

And Ain said the words which he had spoken before he departed the king's city.

However, the knights are unaware of Ain's secret departure from the capital. Naturally, no one thinks that Ein has done anything, and if Ein left many legends and said that, the knights of this country will have nothing to disagree with.

We will be with His Royal Highness the Prince.

"That's comforting. I'll tell Ein-sama what I said."

Warren paid tribute to the knight and immediately made his way back to the castle.

Still...

When you walk, Warren is a short walk away.

Ein-sama did what he expected.

"Um... is Ein-sama here?"

"Yes, apart from Ein-sama contacting you, Ein-sama also contacted me about this Warren."

The night in the capital of the kingdom is filled with stars on this day.

The wind that stroked Chris's cheek snatched the golden thread from his hair.

◇◇◇◇

On the evening of the same day, Ein received a report from Warren, and one of them was on the deck.

(Riordo, the deputy guardian, wants the queen back. He's coming under the Queen's rule... I know that.)

Meanwhile, Lil's behavior worried me.

Ein contacted the King's City and asked Warren about the Queen and Lil's place.

(So, why doesn't Lil send the Queen back to the Iron Kingdom?)

Since then, Lil has been strongly concerned about the Queen's safety, and it may be that Riordo and I have expressed different opinions this time.

But Ein wondered if that was really all.

Even if her body was in danger due to the sudden rampage of the Iron King's hammer, it was doubtful whether she would make the statement as if she had abdicated her responsibilities.

In the first place, Lil is in tune with what Giddo said before.

It is in response to the saying, "If you take the head of the queen, more of the earth will sink into the sea with the hammer of the iron king."

I don't understand the intention of making the same statement to keep the Queen away in case of an emergency.

At least Ein had a reason to keep the Queen away.

Your Highness, are you here?

Ein's ears, immersed in thought, suddenly heard the voice of Mutton.

Why would he be here when he was supposed to be on the airship that Leonard was on? Shearling her feet next to Ein with a twisted neck, Mutton held a large bottle in one hand.

How about Your Highness?

I see. Liquor.

Mutton says, knowing what Ein thought when he tried to be rude.

"It's fruit and water, so don't be shy."

Ah, well then.

To be ready, Mutton had even prepared a vessel for two people, and as soon as he heard Ain's reply, he began pouring fruit water for two people.

I was wondering if it was a drink after work.

"Well, it's definitely over." But didn't I tell you before? Even after work, I don't drink much on days when I have work to do. Instead, you can drink something sweet and rest your head. "

"Ahh... with reason."

"That's why I want to hear it from you." At a time like this, it's a measure to come to our ship. "

Mutton says, pouring the fruit water all at once.

Ein, for once, takes a sip and then asks the following question.

No matter how much shearwater we call it, at this time, it would not have moved the scaffolding of the steel tower from another ship on purpose, and would not have been a mere public conversation.

"It's an Iron King's hammer, but I knew it would be bad without the Queen." Perhaps there is a special technology like... one generation at a time. Among the mechanisms for managing the whole thing, there were some of them. "

"Well then, it wasn't a lie..."

"Well, that's not all." In addition to the mechanism I mentioned, there were also tricks that seemed to work without special magic wavelengths. This is the most important part of the management mechanism of the Iron King's Mallet that won't be activated without the royal ID. "

The analysis seems to be progressing smoothly and is reliable.

Ein listening to the story was delighted to learn that the importance of the queen I heard from the giddos was not a lie, and I still thought it would be more convenient to call the queen.

... but she frowned at Mutton's words.

"So, here's the thing."

Likewise, Mutton's voice became stiff.

"As I said earlier, there is the most important part of the Iron King's Hammer, right?" That's an interesting mechanism inside. "

The person who was registered as the administrator of the Iron King's Mallet... that is, the royal family, but the Iron King's Mallet had a mechanism to send special magic power to the royal family in an emergency to notify them of the abnormality.

I also know that I need special magic power and blood to be an Administrator.

Needless to say, it's royalty.

This mechanism was finally discovered by an intelligent Ist researcher over a long period of time.

Even if I asked the other dwarves, they said they didn't know how it worked.

Therefore, researchers and Mutton think that the mechanism is information that only royalty can know, and they have continued to investigate carefully recently.

But interestingly, there's never been a trace of how it worked in the last decade or so.

"Hmm? But if something doesn't happen to the Iron King's hammer, I won't be able to move...?"

"Your Highness, that's a misunderstanding." All I said was that there was no trace of any mechanism being activated, including the registration of the person in charge. "

Shearling continued to look at Ain with her eyes wide open.

"By the way, when I take over the management of the Iron King's Hammer, it seems that the king of that time will take the next king to the Iron King's Hammer." Because of its destructive power, only royalty inherits the information of the hammer under strict control. "

Ein listened quietly so that she could enjoy the taste of fruit and water while taking in the night breeze. But suddenly, the surprise of not knowing the taste attacks Ein.

It all depends on the discomfort of Mutton's words.

Your Highness, do you know what's wrong with you?

"Ah, ahhh... it's a lie if you don't know... then it's like..."

Ain looked up at the night sky in amazement and closed her eyes.

I didn't expect this to happen.

"The Queen does not inherit the blood of the royal family."

When she heard Ain's voice melting in the evening wind, Mutton murmured the same as "I guess so."