Published at 18th of July 2022 1:23 am

Volume 2, Chapter 2 - Ironblood Valkyrie, Part 1-3

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

Part 1

The following morning, Ash was having his ecology class.

Eco, as usual, was also attending class in her uniform. But since the lecture was too abstruse…

"Huff… Puff…"

She was fast asleep on the table.

"…In other words; Stradas' element is wind, Asias' element is wind/earth and Hydras' element is water."

The one standing on the lectern, lecturing all the students, was Professor Angela. She had an unusual concern for Eco as a researcher, so Ash did not wish to let her gain opportunities to approach Eco…

"Well, then what is a Maestro’s element?"

Angela questioned with a stern tone as her eyes fell on the class register.

"This question… Let's have Princess Silvia answer it."

Even after she had been called out by Angela, Silvia just gazed blankly outside the window.

"Princess? What’s the problem?"

Angela continued to question her, but Silvia remained silent.

"Geez… Jessica Valentine. Please answer."

"Yes!"

Jessica, who was just named, stood up from her seat energetically.

"A Maestro’s element is light."

Jessica proudly replied, but Angela sneered back.

"Right… is what I would like to say, but unfortunately you were only half-right. A Maestro’s element is light, but it's not just that. Maestros also completely inherit the element that it was born with. In other words… A Maestro who was once a Strada has both light and wind elements…”

"Hey, Ash. Is something wrong with the Princess?"

Raymond, who was not paying attention to Angela’s explanation, asked Ash.

Ash sighed.

"She… she has been out of it since she heard that the Ironblood Valkyrie was coming to Ansarivan. It looks like she has received a great and devastating blow…"

Raymond seemed confused.

"‘Ironblood Valkyrie’ is the princess’s elder blood sister, right? What possible impact could she receive from that message?"

"About that… I’m not sure…"

"Do the two of you need my explanations?"

Suddenly someone interrupted their conversation. Ash was shocked.

“Cosette? Why are you here?"

Cosette, sitting obediently in an empty seat, was also wearing the standard uniform for maids who were serving the royals. It was hard not to notice her.

"Hehehe. Since Her Royal Highness The Princess is dispirited, I must guard her quietly from the shadows. I have also received the permission of Angela-sensei."

"You call this 'quietly from the shadows'? Anyways, I'm concerned about the reason she is suffering."

"Are you concerned for her as her classmate or as a man?"

Ash suddenly felt his cheeks turn hot.

"Y-You… What are you talking about!? The princess and I have fought alongside each other as comrades and we are both members of the Student Council. It's normal that I’m concerned about her."

"Are you sure? Then let's leave it at that. Hehe."

Cosette, after a mischievous smile, jumped back into the topic.

"Her Royal Highness Veronica is a well-known warrior. She has a militant-like attitude, which is also the reason that the princess was forced to do a lot of training when she was young."

“The training… was it tough?"

"In fact… I’m not exaggerating when I say she was living in hell every day. The princess had not only been pushed into lakes, she was also sent into ruins to do explorations, climbed the city walls and was brought to well-known haunted forests to learn to survive in the wild… "

Ash was dumbfounded.

"I think that is plain bullying…"

"Incidentally, I played the role of the ghost in the forest."

"Come on! How come you are also one of the culprits!?"

"Perhaps Silvia's timid side is because of Veronica (and Cosette)…", Ash thought.

"Because of the shadow of her childhood, Her Royal Highness Veronica has become a symbol of terror in the eyes of the princess…”

"I see…"

Her violent attitude aside, it seemed that Veronica had a lot of personality problems. Ash, as one of the Student Council members, must greet this 'difficult' princess. He had a headache just from imagining it.

"The title ‘Ironblood’ is not just for show. However, Ash… I also like women who are strong." muttered Raymond with a grin.

"Don’t you worry. I won’t ever care what kind of girl you like…"

"…Strada, Asia and Hydra… What conditions do they require in order to become a Maestro?"

Even though Ash was troubled… Angela’s lesson, of course, would not be interrupted.

"Ash. Please answer this question."

"What? Me?"

Called rather abruptly, Ash appeared to have felt embarrassed. Angela's sight was as sharp as a scalpel. Just being stared at by her made you feel like you were lying on the operation table waiting to be butchered. On the other hand, that dangerous glare, at the same time, seemed to fall on the sleeping Eco. Ash's spine shuddered as he silently stood up from his seat.

“Uh-h… I don’t know."

"Correct."

"I'm sorry… What? Correct?"

Angela revealed a playful smile.

"That’s right. About the reasons the dragons transform into a Maestro, there are different opinions among scholars; the truth is yet to be found out."

Angela closed the textbook and looked around the students.

"Old records show that all dragons will eventually become a Maestro naturally. However, since recovering from the verge of extinction, the conversion rate of regular dragons to Maestros has dropped significantly. Though, logically, each dragon should qualify to become a Maestro."

The students immediately turned into quite a storm. It was also the first time that Ash heard about this.

"That is why the existence of breeders has been called into question. Why is it that now, in modern times, dragons that die before they become a Maestro have become the majority…? Perhaps the key factor to becoming a Maestro is in the hands of a breeder."

The school bell, that announced the class's dismissal, sounded at that time. Silvia, with Cosette's assistance, shakily left the classroom. Meanwhile, Ash had this uneasy feeling.

"The Princess is alright, right…?"

There were six more days before Princess Veronica’s visit… Even though Silvia still couldn't calm down, the day of Princess Veronica’s visit was nearing. Why did Veronica choose this time to visit Ansarivan?

"Officially, this visit is being made 'to inspect the City of Ansarivan, which was under attack'. But according to rumours, Veronica is coming as a representative of the Royal Knight’s Hawks."[1]

The inspection was probably a cover. The true reason was to investigate the condition of the city and the strength of the Necromancia – this was Rebecca's view on the matter. In fact, Veronica had been involved in the strife between races all across the continent and she even had the experience of stopping a war. It was said that she was only twelve years old during her first expedition. Even though she was not selected to become a breeder; Veronica, who needed to overcome her congenital condition which put her at a disadvantage, was extremely powerful and also braver than anyone on the battlefield. She led the way and charged forward, chopping down the enemy mercilessly one by one. There was a rumour that whenever Veronica swung her sword, three heads were sent flying through the air at the same time.

Wise and strong. Victorious and has never been at a disadvantage. There was no swordsman whose skills were on par with her. Veronica became famous after she killed a basilisk with just her sword alone. Even poet laureates turned her achievements into poetry. Basilisks were big violent lizards. Some saw them as a close relative of the Asia.

This famous Veronica was given the nickname ‘Ironblood Valkyrie’ by the people. According to Rebecca, once people heard that Veronica was coming to Ansarivan, they suddenly frowned. Veronica, in order to extinguish the flames of war on the continent, heroically fought in a war in her teens. However she had also indirectly become the cause of problems. Veronica unconsciously made a lot of enemies. The remnants of the rebels still wanted to take Veronica’s life. It was not surprising that she could be assassinated at any given time.

Just right after the attack of the Necromancia, another difficult task was received. Anyone could tell that the chief of Ansarivan was in trouble.

Part 2

The midday bell rang loudly. Led by the mayor and the principal, the important figures of the City Council, the Academy Council and also members of the Student Council… A welcoming group of more than 20 people were lining up at the entrance of the school’s first block waiting for the arrival of Veronica.

"For Princess Veronica to visit the city personally… How long has passed since her previous visit?"

Dr Angela Cornwell, who changed her usual white lab coat for her rarely seen formal dress, also joined the welcoming party. Angela, who unexpectedly became a lecturer recently, was in fact a national treasure who was given much authority to do research. Although all the representatives of Ansarivan were gathered together; for the occasion of welcoming a princess, such numbers were regarded to be on a very small scale. Usually, even the mobilisation of all the members of the public to hold a grand welcoming ceremony would not be unexpected.

However, Veronica was well-known for her preference to keep things simple. They even received prior notice to dispense with all complicated ceremonies, so even the school was operating as usual. The Student Council was represented by Rebecca, Max, Ash, as well as Eco. Not only that, but the figures of Maestro Cú Chulainn and Maestro Arianrhod could also be seen.

Cú Chulainn was Rebecca's Pal and was also truly the Academy’s strongest Maestro. His silver fur was really dazzling and his unbelievable growth made it unable to put on any mounting gear on his mammoth like body. It made anyone who saw him stare, dumbfounded. Arianrhod was Max's Pal, and although already a noble Maestro, his age is still that of a child. Different from the imposing Cú Chulainn, he was filled with an atmosphere that made people to pamper him.

"Hey, Eco, are you really… Are you, too, going to welcome Princess Veronica?"

"What? Do you have something against it?"

Eco joined the welcome party as the mascot of the student council and was wearing the same black dress that she wore during the ceremony before. It seemed she had taken quite a liking to it. That aside, it was the problem with Silvia that made people a lot more worried.

"The Princess, is she really not coming?"

After hearing Ash’s question, Rebecca shrugged her shoulders and sighed.

"Look, if she was scared to that extent, we can't possibly force her to participate in this. Right? She seems to have some trauma regarding Veronica."

"It's really hard to believe that she turned out to be so afraid of her own sister…"

"Who's afraid of what?"

The person who interrupted Ash was precisely Silvia herself.

"Princess…!"

The City Council and the School Council immediately bowed respectfully upon the appearance of Silvia.

The Silvia with her status as Princess generously replied "Thanks for your hard work" and approached them.

"Are you all right now?"

Immediately after Ash spoke to her, Silvia exposed a smile brimming with confidence.

Not only did she look pumped up, but her hair was also glossier than ever. Despite wearing her uniform she looked a lot more dashing than her usual self.

"Who do you think you're talking to? I'm Silvia Lautreamont! Even though I had displayed an unbecoming side of mine before, but now I’m alright."

"Is that so?… Then I’m relieved."

Although it was surprising that she looked a bit too well… For now, it was enough to be reassuring. While Ash was thinking that to himself… Rebecca was lecturing her in a stern tone.

"How can you be so insouciant? Silvia, as a Dragner, how can you meet your sister without Lancelot?"

Lancelot was also a Maestro, Silvia's Pal. Because of the Necromancia's attacks from a few days ago Ash has become quite familiar with the dragon.

"Sorry that there was no prior notice… Anee-ue, she doesn't really like Lancelot."

Silvia’s answer made Rebecca frown.

"Is this related to Veronica not having been chosen as a Breeder?"

"Well… It should be something like that."

After throwing a glance at Silvia, who gave such strangely ambiguous answer, for some reason Rebecca revealed a merciful smile.

"Is that so? Well, let's leave it like that."

"…?"

Ash couldn't understand what Rebecca was thinking.

At that moment, all the adults began muttering amongst themselves…

“I can see it!”

"Oooh! That is Princess Veronica's…!"

"They were even able to make such a vehicle!"

"It seems similar to an Empire-made[2] airship …!"

Ash, too, couldn't help but curiously look up into the blue skies. A foreign body that could not be natural appeared near the edge of the cobalt blue sky. As the minutes ticked past it grew, from the black dot of that foreign body, as its outlines were gradually revealed. That flying body was escorted by seven Dragners.

"… It couldn't be!"

To Ash’s dismay he couldn't help shouting out loud.

By comparing it to the dragons flying alongside it, one could immediately get a feel of the actual size of the gigantic ship. In contrast to the huge flying object, even the dragons, that served as the guard, looked just like beans in comparison. Rebecca, while standing beside Ash, looking sternly and said:

"That is Princess Veronica’s personal plane–– The magicship ‘Silvanus’."

Part 3

—Silvanus.

This was done by Princess Veronica as she had gathered many exiled scientists of the Zepharos Empire who successfully developed the beta version of the ship. Silvanus, which looked like it was going to occupy the entire open space, slowly landed in front of the school’s block. Like a bird that lands on a lake, the landing was very stable. The magicship design was based on a streamlined shape, which often made people think that it was a Maestro with outspread wings. The red lines together with the white colored armour produced a stunning appearance. Attached at many locations across the body of the magicship were the cannons’ trapdoors.

Ash stared at the magnificent magicship dumbly. He had heard so much about Silvanus but this was the first time he witnessed it with his own eyes.

"This thing is just too big… How can it fly?"

Seeing that Ash was transfixed in his place, Silvia explained:

"This magicship uses Bright-Dragon-Crystal as fuel. Anee-ue, even though she didn't become a breeder, used the combination of Dragon magic and Mechanical Engineering technology from the Empire to construct the Silvanus."

"So, literally, it is the Oracle’s power that allows it to fly…!"

"That is the way it is. But the only thing that can be used as fuel is a special type of Bright-Dragon-Crystal called Millennium, so there is no method of mass production."

“Millennium?"

"The dragon fossils in the ground, after a thousand years, may produce crystals with massive power.

"I don’t even know about this…"

"It's just that, Silvanus, compared to an Empire made aviation ship, not only does it have a smaller size, but it also has defensive problems. The places where the armour is weak can only be reinforced with a Dragner. You have already seen them right?'

Silvia was right. Because just now, the seven Dragner serving as escorts precisely landed each of their dragons on the ground. Out of the seven Dragners, only the leading one had an Ark. He was likely the escort’s captain.

"Veronica is going to alight the ship so please do not whisper." scolded Rebecca, with a low voice.

Ash and Silvia had no choice but to keep their mouths shut. As the crowd watched Silvanus' door slowly open accompanied by the operating noise of it's gears, the boarding ladder lowered automatically. Under the gaze of everyone––

The Ironblood Valkyrie, escorted only by the sound of her footsteps, which sounded just like iron being hit with a hammer, landed on the ground.Ash gasped, his eyes fixed on Veronica’s figure.

Even though called a princess, she looked more like a Valkyrie… thought Ash.

It is not surprising that she is Silvia’s sister, the two of them looked identical. Their dazzling blond hair and white skin was their common feature. However, the aura of command, emitted by the tall slender figure, outshone Silvia's. The important thing was her eyes -- Like an eagle that fixed on its prey from up high. Her eyes were as sharp as blade. Just by being stared at by her, it would feel like the heart had been thoroughly pierced through. Flipping over her red cloak, Veronica with a loud voice said:

"Thanks to everyone who is here to welcome me. Sorry for the trouble!"

Her voice was powerful like a highly resilient whip. When the cloak was flipped up, the armour adorning Veronica’s limbs became instantly exposed. Obviously they were crafted with steel, heavy and dazzling. Only then did Ash realize that the unusual sounds of footsteps were the sounds of her sabatons[3] striking the ground. She wore a broad sword which required both hands to wield. Presumably that sword was the weapon that drew the blood of numerous rebels and the basilisk. Veronica, leading the seven escorts, began marching their way.

A group led by the mayor panicked and wanted to kneel down and salute, but Veronica with a disgusted look on her face waved them off.

"Please forget about those unnecessary and over-elaborate formalities. More importantly… Where is Silvia?"

With the speed of a hawk’s eye she quickly scanned the faces of the crowd.

“We haven’t meet for a long time. Anee-ue. "

Silvia answered Veronica’s call by stepping forward.

"We haven’t met each other in four years, two months and twelve days, my dear sister."

"From the day I left the palace, and came to Ansarivan for my school enrollment… We haven’t met each other since."

The way Silvia spoke with such fluency was calmer than what he had expected. Ash quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

However-

The next instant, Ironblood Valkyrie revealed her true nature that matched her nickname.

"I'm really disappointed, Silvia!"

Veronica raised her right hand. Just when he thought that Silvia was going to be slapped, the next second Ash witnessed an incredible scenario. Silvia easily avoided Veronica’s palm, and easily jumped five meters off. She even did a somersault in mid-air, and gorgeously landed on the ground.

No matter what… That doesn't look like a skill of a normal human.

"Are you mad, Anee-ue?"

Silvia smiled haughtily.

For Ash at least, that was the first time seeing Silvia laugh that way.

"How dare you make fun of me… It seems like you had borrowed some guts from heaven, faker!"

After a moment of silence… Ash cried out in dismay.

"Fake!?"

"Whew… I already knew of such thing." muttered Rebecca softly, standing beside Ash.

It seemed that Rebecca, since long ago, had known the truth.

"Tee hee. This action is worthy of Veronica Her Royal Highness."

Originally he thought that Silvia was making some tearing sound but she then ripped off her mask, together with her blond-hair wig, from her face.

And the true face behind the mask was––

"Cosette?"

Ash was dumbfounded.

The 20 people from the welcome party led by the mayor also became speechless by this unexpected change of events.

"Sure enough, there's no hiding from the eyes of Veronica Her Royal Highness."

Cosette, facing the Ironblood Valkyrie face to face, not only didn’t she act timid she even exposed a happy smile.

"That is obvious because I didn’t feel any fear from within you! The Silvia who is not afraid of me is not Silvia!"

"Hehe… I will use that as a future reference."

Her insolent answer made Veronica frown.

"I regret that a woman like you is not able to come under my command. How about it Cosette? It is still never too late. Come and follow me!"

Cosette with a resolute attitude answer.

"The person I serve–– is only Princess Silvia-sama."

"That kind of timid blond girl? What are her good points?

"Everything about her are her good points. "

Cosette answered without a hint of confusion, and at the same time giving everyone beside her the shock of their life.

"Tsk… All this nonsense will stop here. You better quickly tell me… Where is Silvia?"

"Princess…"

While Cosette stiffened her face, trying to wriggle out––

"I… I'm here!"

Silvia in her uniform appeared behind the welcome party.

This time should be the real Silvia. The best evidence, was that she was making the others dismay with her trembling legs.

"Will Her Royal Highness Princess be alright…?"

Ash muttered nervously.

"Rest assured, at least her life is safe."

Rebecca said those terrifying words with an alarmingly calm expression.

"You… You are dismissed. Cosette."

"I will. Princess."

After receiving Silvia’s command, Cosette left with a serious expression on her face.

Notes:

1. 骑士王室鹰派 lit. "Hawks Division of the Royal Knights".

2. For those who don’t know Empire is Zepharos Empire and Kingdom is Chevron Kingdom.

3. Foot guards or iron boots, generally not found on most armour.

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