Published at 18th of July 2022 1:24 am

Volume 2, Chapter 2 - Ironblood Valkyrie, Part 4-8

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

Part 4

Under the gaze of the welcome party and guard escort, the first Princess and the fourth Princess officially met.

"Anything not alright, my dear sister? Look at your knees, shaking like that?"

"I-I am not… trembling. Silvia Lautreamont herself wholeheartedly… Welcomes Anee-ue’s arrival."

"Tsk. Seems to me, that apart from your breast and your butt, you haven't grown at all."

Clink… With the sound of her sabatons, Veronica steps forward.

"I’ll say again. Silvia, you disappoint me!"

- WHACK!

A hard and dry sound echoed in all four corners.

Veronica's iron-fisted swung toward Silvia which ended as a slap in the face.

"Sob …!"

Silvia cannot help but stagger, but she eventually stood firm, however the place that was slapped became swollen.

Veronica coldly stared at Silvia and with a plain tone she said:

"… I had already heard the report of the attacks. Rebecca Randall courageously protected the city and also the mysterious person who cleverly drove out the Necromancia are worthy to be praised."

Ash was surprised. Because the one who drove out the Necromancia was no other than Ash himself!

"But what did you do? Even though there was someone who witnessed Lancelot flying in the sky, but… you were helplessly circling aimlessly in the sky, right?"

Silvia became speechless and just kept on trembling. Ash annoyingly clenched his fists. The information seems like it wasn't properly conveyed to Veronica. Perhaps the focus was placed on the fact that Ash drove off the Necromancia, instead of details about the middle part of the fight which had obviously been omitted. The problem was the unrecognized fact, that Silvia and Ash actually fought side by side. Without the assistance of Silvia, Ash could not have single-handedly defeated the Necromancia. Ash was anxious, but Veronica naturally didn't not know about this, and thus she declared:

"Accept the punishment, Silvia."

Among those watching… there was no one who wasn't looking pale.

Veronica pulled out a the broad-sword hanging around her waist and before there was any chance to respond there was a silver flash in front of everyones’ eyes. Even though it seemed like a gigantic two-handed sword Veronica easily wielded it with one hand. The sound of the wind whizzing.

Without knowing how much blood it drew in the past… the broad sword, shining with a glaring light, rushed towards Silvia.

"-!"

The sword glazed Silvia's chest pitifully.

"Princess!"

Ash was scared and he screamed.

“Silvia-sama! "

"Veronica-sama has lost her mind!"

"How could such absurd thing occur!"

"Doctor, quickly call for a doctor!"

The welcome party members moaned one after another. From the beginning of the incident; the only ones who weren't yelling at all and kept their cool were Rebecca, Cosette, and Angela. Silvia, who was glazed on her chest hobbled, and in the end fell to the ground on her butt. Unbelievably, there was no blood.

And then her uniform suddenly fragmented further, turning into pieces of of cloth, together with her underclothes which fell off gently–– As if the clothing suddenly remembered the fact that they had just been Slashed.

"Huh …?"

Silvia froze a moment looking downward feeling puzzled.

It turned out that Veronica’s slash only cut off the clothes that wrapped around Silvia’s upper body.

Her shoulder is as white as snow, her busty breast, and the contract imprinted on her chest–– 'Seikoku'––all of them were exposed in broad daylight.

"Kyaa…!"

Silvia red in the face scream at the top of her voice, with both her hands, covered her chest.

"Princess!"

Ash could stand it no longer and rushed forward. He quickly took off his jacket and draped it over Silvia's body.

"…?"

The moment he witnessed Silvia’s < Seikoku > Ash suddenly sensed something strange, although confused, but now was not the time to be concerned about such problems. Veronica looked coldly at Ash’s action and then put back her broad-sword back in its sheath.

"Anything wrong Silvia? If you encountered the same situation on the battlefield… Will you only scream to hide your embarrassment?"

Silvia could not talk back as there were tears filling her eyes.

"Look, this is your nature. Even when you wear the aura of a Dragner, you are just a good for nothing blonde. It is better for you to pursue the so-called woman's happiness!"

"… What do you mean by this?"

Veronica’s behaviour of scolding Silvia, made Ash furious. The anger that he was holding back for a long time suddenly exploded. Even though he faced the first Princess, he couldn't just sit by and watch any longer.

"Hey–Hey… Ash?"

Ash's menacing walk forward made Max quickly whisper from behind to stop him, however Ash naturally turned a deaf ear. Logically speaking the one who should be the first to stop Ash ought to be Rebecca but without knowing what she was thinking or maybe she was just waiting for a nice show… She didn't comment on anything.

Ash sternly talked to Veronica.

"I do not know how great the first princess is… However, since you were not there when the incident took place, what is this nonsense that you are now talking about just now based on!"

The moment he blurted it out a sharp sword was pointed at Ash’s neck.

“Uhh…!”

Ash was caught by surprise. The one who pointed the sword at him was the Dragner who he suspected was the captain of the escort. The man had a beautiful face, and there was nothing wrong in calling him good-looking. Just that his pair of eyes hidden under his Ark had a cold glare, hard to feel a single trace of emotion. Ash felt like he was being stared down by a ghost.

"Glenn! Whatever happens next.. The opposite party is just an ordinary student.”

"Sorry. Your Royal Highness Princess."

Ordered by Veronica, the Ark-Dragner called Glenn obediently stepped aside. The moment Ash felt free from the sword he broke out into a cold sweat. It was lucky that the sword pointing at him was just a normal sword. If at that time what he had pulled out was the Ark-Dragner's personal Ark-weapon, maybe even with just magic fluctuations alone, it might have been enough to remove his head.

"Long time no see Princess Veronica-sama."

Waiting until now, Rebecca finally made her move. She stood in front of Ash and respectfully gave a bow.

"Oh. Aren't you Rebecca? Why are you still staying in this school fooling around? I would like to advise you to hurry up and quit school to join our Dragners…"[4].

Rebecca replied with her elegant response to resolve Veronica’s pressure.

"I had for many a time declined the invitation to join the Dragners, and now I just want to enjoy my identity as a student."

"Hmm. You obviously haven’t been able to learn anything new from this school for some time… I really don't understand you. Having said that, is this guy also from the student council?"

Veronica's sudden stare at him made Ash’s hair stand.

“Yes, that's right."

"It seems that you have recruited a subordinate who's full of energy."

"… May I tell you something?"

Veronica generously nodded regarding Rebecca request, indicating that she didn't seem particularly displeased. Leaning towards Veronica’s ear, Rebecca softly whispered something. Veronica’s eyes suddenly shined brightly. The gaze from her eyes made even Cú Chulainn, Arianrhod, Eco and the other Dragons feel fear.

There was a rumour in the society–– It is said that the reason that Veronica was not chosen as a breeder during the 'Orphan Ceremony', was that the Mother Of Dragons thought that the eyes of the seven year old Veronica were much too frightening––

"Hmm… Seems like I don’t even need to waste any effort. It saves me from the trouble of finding him. Glenn, arrest that guy for me!"

"Yes, Princess."

With Veronica’s order Glenn immediately took action.

"Wh-What are you doing!"

But in a blink of an eye, Ash was caught by Glenn and he was place under his armpit.

"Hey…. Let me down!"

While feeling the cold temperature from the Ark at the same time, Ash was swinging his limbs and struggling. But the more Ash struggled… Glenn’s hands, holding his body, became tighter and tighter. That kind of strength surprised everyone and maybe it was the Ark that enhanced his arm’s strength .

"I have a mountain of problems, and I want to question you."

Veronica calmly left the welcoming party as they stood there, mostly frightened. She lifted her cloak and walked towards the school building.

Part 5

Veronica did not appear to be visiting Ansarivan for the first time, as she was familiar with the environment, she headed directly to and opened the door of the guest room.

––In the beginning, there were only the three of them in the room. Veronica, Glenn, and Ash.

"You all go and 'wash' the school premises."

After being given orders by their captain Glenn, the other six escorts salute and split up.

The 'Wash' was not as simple as its literal meaning, but to find and to remove suspicious persons and or items which acted as a cypher. Even Ash understood this. This was Ash's first time in the guest room. Anyhow, since Ansarivan was a special Academy for dragon breeders, naturally there were always a lot of domestic and foreign nobles who came to visit. For the guest room; only the word 'gorgeous' can be used to describe its design. Even the furniture, such as sofas, tables, carpets, and bookshelves, were all imported from the Chevron Kingdom.

Unfortunately, Ash couldn't enjoy such a classy atmosphere.

"Glenn, put that kid on the chair."

"Yes, Princess." answered Glenn, without any expression.

Ash was dragged to then nearby chair and was made to sit on it.

"By the way, tie him up."

"Yes, Princess."

"The ass who keeps on 'Yes, Princess-ing!' St-Stop right now-"

Although Ash made his best effort to resist his opponent, being the Captain of the escort and all, he was, without a doubt no match for him. With some rope and binding tools, Ash was easily tied onto the chair, and he even lost his own ability to stand up.

"What do you want!?"

A cold white sword is at the back of Ash’s neck

"Little devil, the one you’re speaking to is Princess Veronica Lautreamont, Her Royal Highness, you should not make any rude remarks."

Veronica scolded Glenn:

"Don’t make things any more difficult for him, according to Rebecca, he seems to be the one who drove away the Necromancia, the hero who saved Ansarivan, we must thank him properly with courtesy."

"Is this what you call courtesy?!"

Ash was so agitated that he almost fell to the ground with the chair. Being tied up indiscriminately, they even dared to talk about courtesy. Unfortunately, Ash’s complaints were completely ignored.

"But, Veronica-sama, this student is way too savage and rude."

"Glenn, in this world, only achievement and result mean anything, why do we care about that rude point?"

"The problem is––"

"Do you have any opinions regarding what I just said?"

Veronica's eyes suddenly release a murderous intent. Even an amazing man like the captain kept his silence.

"I beg your forgiveness. A small slip of my tongue."

At the moment Glenn was apologizing––

The door was suddenly hit, and it flew open followed by some noisy sound.

"Hold on! You. What are you doing to my slave?!"

Unexpectedly, Eco actually rushed in. Perhaps she ran all her way here because her cheeks are bright red.

"… Eco?"

"Huu? Hey brat don’t tell me you are this child’s slave?"

When he heard Veronica emphasis on the word "slave" Ash shook his head and rejected it.

"I-I am not her slave!"

"Hmm. It seems things are not as simple as it seems …"

"About the relationship between the two of them… I will explain it to you later."

The person who appeared from behind Eco was Angela.

Beside Angela was Rebecca with a bitter smile.

"You still cause a lot of trouble. Ash. "

So-

The meeting with Veronica was going to start with the absence of the mayor, the council and the principal.

Part 6

Even though she was in the guest room, Veronica refused to take off her armour. This made Ash remember about the Valkyries in fairy tales.

"That armour… isn’t it heavy?"

Ash casually asked but Veronica threw him a cold glare.

"A silly question. Armour is beauty! Apart from bathing and sleeping, I always remind myself to wear my armour as much as possible."

"Really…"

While ignoring Ash, who was stunned, Veronica looked around the crowd.

"We will sit right there."

Following Veronica’s proposal everyone moved towards the sofa. Angela, Rebecca, and Eco followed in sequence until they were sitting opposite to Veronica.

"Uh … What about me?"

Seeing that the sofa seemed fluffy, which should be very comfortable to sit on, but Ash was the only one to be tied to the chair.

Ash felt baffled because he was tied up like a prisoner.

"Oops. I had already forgotten your presence. Glenn, go carry him over.

"Yes, Princess."

Glenn lifted Ash up altogether with the chair, and moved them both next to the sofa. Then he silently moved to the door and stood up straight.

"Well… I think you should have known that my purpose for coming to Ansarivan is not just for condolences."

"Is the purpose of your trip really to investigate the Necromancia’s incident?"

Angela's eyes were bursting out with a light of intellectual interest through their lens's.

"Ermm. I must be at the place of the incident to find out the truth that cannot be written in the report. Now please do not waste any more time. Can I trouble one of you to describe the attacks that occurred?"

"Then I will say it."

Rebecca who was actually involved in the fight began to talk about the situation of that time.

Part 7

After listening to Rebecca's explanation, Veronica sighed.

"Well… Does it mean that at present we still don't know the identity of the culprit? Only that, if what is recorded in the report regarding Eco’s Dragweiss is true, the Necromancia is magic engineering. To put it bluntly, it should be the product of magic and engineering. Engineering has always been the Zepharos Empire's pride, maybe the mastermind is in the Empire’s army… Rebecca, what’s your opinion?"

"I also think that the Empire is the greatest suspect, but… I do not know whether it should be counted as fortunately or unfortunately, but the Empire’s territory doesn't include the dragons’ habitat."

"Then what is the problem?"

"The problem is that this attack originated from a 'dragon'. Unless we find some definite evidence, even if we investigate the Empire on diplomatic reasons, I'm afraid it will be futile. The other side will certainly point out, to forestall any accusations, that ‘problems of dealing with dragons are the Knights of Lautreamont's business'."

"Hmm. What Rebecca says's is not unreasonable…. It seems like the search for evidence must go on, but, then again-"

Veronica stared at Ash without warning.

"So the hero who successfully resolved the severe crisis… Is this kid?"

"…"

Since he was tied to a chair it made him impossible to hide. Ash took a grip on himself, put on some courage, and stared back into Veronica’s eyes.

"Hmm. Very manly."

Veronica grinned while admiring him.

"Thank you for your praise."

"Well. I want to hear it from you. The most confusing spot on the report is how you defeated the monster.

"Th- That is…"

Ash didn't know where he was going to start from, but Eco suddenly shouted:

"If you want to ask that question… How can you forget about me!?"

"Hmm… Then I will listen to you. Little bean[5]."

"My name is Eco, Eco!"

"For a shorty like you, little bean is enough for you, if you are not satisfied I don’t mind calling you daphnia[6]!"

"Y-You really have a foul mouth! How dare you call a noble Dragon a daphnia!"

Eco was jumping around angrily, which completely spoiled the nice dress she had put on.

"Please forgive me for interrupting, Princess Veronica. She is Ash Blake’s Pal and at the same time she is also the reason that the Necromancia was repelled––Young Dragon Eco."

To help Eco to get rid of her embarrassment, Angela respectfully explained.

"Oh. This shorty?… I see, when you look closely, there are horns on her head."

Veronica's eyes suddenly shined.

"Then you must quickly transform and show it to me."

"Huh? What am I going to transform?" Eco impetuously looked at Veronica.

“Do you even need to ask, of course the Ark. I heard that it is because you presented the Ark to this kid… that he was able to defeat the Necromancia."

"What!… P-P-Presented?"

Eco jumped up on the spot. Her whole face including her ears are flushed.

"Ple-Please stop joking! That was just an emergency makeshift. W-Why must I present the Ark to this guy!"

"Your reaction is really interesting. Why would you strongly deny him to this extent?"

Veronica, was curiously and wildly interested, seemingly from the depths of her heart. She intended to scrutinize Eco. Angela then explained with a bitter smile:

“For dragons, to present the Ark is a proof of loyalty to their master, the meaning is no different when compared to marriage. Having said that, Eco has not yet recognized Ash as her master. Besides that personality of hers is…"

"That said… She just called her owner 'slave'. It's really disappointing to hear that the great hero who saved the city, who made me think him as a great man… But in the end, you who are called Ash, couldn’t even tame your own Pal?"

"Err …"

When he was looked down upon, Ash felt bitterness in his heart. When he was seen as a worthless thing by the beauty of the century, naturally he experienced an extraordinary degree of suffering.

"Forget about that, I hereby re-order to you instantly show the Ark you wore when defeating the Necromancia. And also, not letting the others help you, show me how you got loose from being tied."

After hearing that, Ash understood why Veronica wanted him to be tied up. All of that was for this moment. Perhaps she thinks that, when Ash is in the ark, it would be child's play for him to break himself free from those ropes! Veronica even gave her orders as Princess.

The situation did not easily allow either Eco or Ash to refuse.

"Are you able to do it, Eco?" asked Ash nervously.

But Eco replied with confidence:

"Why, sure I can! That Ark that has already been completed. I can re-summon it for you anytime!"

Part 8

Eco stood still in the centre of the room and like a nun closed her eyes while beginning to chant incantations.

"Almete, Gorjal, Peto, Espaldar…"

Even this was Ash’s first time witnessing the process of Eco constructing the Ark.

"Brafoneras, Faldaje, Escarcelas …"

Veronica, who always looked calm before, was witnessing the whole process with a nervous expression. Rebecca, was also observing Eco with a keen look. Even Glenn, who was normally emotionless, unconsciously glanced at Eco.

“Bufetas, Hombreras, Brazales, Codales, Antebrazos, Manoplas… "

As for Angela, she quickly took out a pen and paper and recorded the detail of the situation.

"Quijotes, Guardas, Grebas, Escarpes…"

The only thing was, although it was a very solemn ceremony, since Ash was the only one to be tied to a chair, he had no feeling of nervousness.

“-Espolón!"[7].

After Eco shouted the last word, a shining white light enveloped in the room, a thunder-like rumble can be heard. At the same time Ash felt his own body coated by powerful magic.

––Similar to that time…!

Ash remembered the fight with the Necromancia. The < Seikoku > on his left arm glowed and became painful. When the pain reach its maximum point… Ash’s body wrapped itself in a silver Ark. It was a completely weightless, magically constructed Ark. Perhaps they couldn't withstand the magic released by the Ark, the binding tools, ropes and chair all exploded.

"Oh … there is a proverb in the east that said 'The Buddha has to be covered with golden cloth, and man must be covered with cloth”[8], and the Ark really suits you. Glenn, what are your opinions? In your eyes does that look like an Ark?"

Glenn respectfully answered the Veronica’s question:

"Yes, I can’t be wrong. I sensed the unique magic that only an Ark possesses, and its element should be light. It's just that…"

"It's just that?"

"It is not exaggerating to say that it is an armour which doesn't have the feel of its creator at all."

As worthy of the captain of the escort, Glenn’s opinion directly hit the point.

"You cannot blame me for this!"

Eco declare to Glenn. It was undeniable that Eco was still a young dragon and did not have the power to create a true Ark on her own. On the other hand she was able to take the individual armour body parts, which were particularly suitable to Ash's body, from the massive blueprint stored in the Dragweiss, and then reassemble them. Thus, this present Ark was created.

"But… I don’t understand, even if this is not a complete Ark, what good does it do?"

Angela answered Veronica’s simple question.

"To tell the truth… He has a special talent. Although I have not yet identified the reason… He has a nickname of ‘The Boy Who Can Ride Any Dragon’ in this school. As far as I know, he is the only person who can ride other people's pal and his own. "

"I see. So that rare talent and the incomplete Ark enabled him to successfully defeat the Necromancia?"

Upon seeing Veronica’s happy facial expression Ash becomes angry.

"The facts are not like what you say! If not because of Princess-sama leading Lancelot to assist me, it would have never been possible for me to jump on to the Necromancia! But you… How you treat Princess!"

However Veronica, even after listening to Ash’s claims, remained unmoved.

"In other words… Silvia only played the role of a 'driver'."

Veronica’s comments towards Silvia are still bitter as ever. Just at that time the Ark turned into light particles and vanished. Upon seeing this, Veronica curls her lip to expose a harsh sneer.

"There is a time limit? Because of that it cannot be called a weapon, but it looks like it can be a tool used for an entertainment sideshow."

Veronica’s tone angered Ash.

"This is not a sideshow! Although it is just temporarily assembled. It is still an Ark that Eco created!"

“Are you Dumb? Weapons that only last a few minutes, if it is not a sideshow, what is it?"

"Err …"

"Also… Your relationship with Silvia is quite close. Are you a couple?"

At the very start to be asked such blatant questions made Ash blush. What’s more, hearing the word "couple" coming from Veronica’s mouth was also unexpected.

"I-I. How are we a couple?!"

"Hmm. A weird reaction, which makes people unsatisfied… I am really very dissatisfied!"

Veronica got up from the couch and stood before Ash.

"Well, I have decided! Ash, or whatever, I command you to temporarily serve as my servant! Glenn. Catch this kid for me!"

"Yes, Princess."

"What? Your nonsense… Are you even–– Ouch, owow!"

Glenn didn't give Ash any chance to raise any objections and carried him under his armpit.

"Glenn, prepare to head back to the Silvanus.”

Veronica flipped back her cloak and left the room with Glenn, carrying the resisting Ash, following her.

"Ironblood Valkyrie ~A.B.S.1365.5~" is closed.

Notes:

4. Full name should be Dragners of Lautreamont since my raws just write half the name I will let it be.

5. "Little bean" is more commonly used as a nickname of little boys who are small size, but also use for girls who are considered cute, energetic, and boyish.

6. Small, planktonic crustaceans, I have no idea where the author got this idea from.

7. The chant is made of parts of a suit of armour in spanish. They are, in order "armet" (a head protection similar to a helmet, but more comfortable), "gorget" (neck protector), "breastplate" (for the breast), "backplate" (for the back), "chausses" (sock or tights made from chain mail), "faulds" (something like a metal skirt to protect what must be protected), "tassets" (little plaques that hang from the faulds to better protect the leg area), "gardbaces" (for the collarbone), "pauldron" (for the shoulder), "rerebrace" (for the upper arm), "couters" (for the shoulders), "forearms" (this is a body part; i suppose she meant "vambraces"), "gauntlets" (for the hands), "cuisses" (for the upper leg), "guards" (to cover the mobile parts, I suppose she meant "poleyns" for the knees), "greaves" (for the lower leg), "sabatons" (for the feet) and "spurs" (a short spike or spiked wheel that attaches to the heel of a rider's boot or knight's sabaton and is used to urge a dragonhorse forwar; the word selected names the single spike kind that, on occasions, can double as a stabbing weapon).

8. This proverb means that everybody must present themselves in what is suitable for them.

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