The office of the mansion.
　Eliza was sitting at the desk usually used by her father.

"............

　I heard your father spit in his mouth next to me.
　I know how you feel.

　Just before Eliza's previously crushed demeanor, she sat down at her desk, picked up her pen, and straightened up.
　The air became stern.

　The Emperor, Elisabeth Shih-Forsize.
　Even without the authority of her clothes, she is the emperor without a doubt.

　She flicked her pen and then pointed the tip of her index finger with the knife she had prepared.
　A drop of fresh blood dripped from her fingertip - and stopped in mid-air.

　The emperor chanted the incantation with a stern expression on his face.
　The red blood spread and became the imperial crest, printed on paper.

　It's a magical stamp, a less-than-advanced spell that can only be used by a special bloodline, and is used to prove the emperor's charter.

　Eliza rolled up the imperial edict, tied it on a string and gave it to her father.

"Please, Lord Carlisle.
"Ha, leave it to me.

　Father left the room with the imperial letter in a reverent manner 180 degrees different from his usual manner.

What is that?
It is a royal decree ordering the Imperial Guard to go into battle.

　Eliza rose from her chair, her tone and mood instantly reverted from Emperor to Eliza.
　The speed of the switch was disturbing, but now I was more concerned about the imperial letter.

''Going into battle?　Wasn't that what you wanted me to do?
That's right. The rebellion, the rebellion, we've had the guards take them out many times, but it's been a long time coming without any decisive results.
"If that's so ...... why did you order me to go to war?
"The guards will be sent out as usual. In the meantime--

　Eliza looked at me and grinned mischievously.

"Use your trump card to take out the enemy's general's head at once.
"...... I see.

　It made me want to look up.
　I thought I'd be forced to lead an army I'd never even tried before when I heard the word "suppress the rebellion," so I was relieved to hear that I wasn't.
　But this was too hard a mission in our case.

　　　　　You know.

　The High Bear region, also known as the Fairy Hill.
　The center of all commercial activity in the empire, the land that alone accounts for 20% of the empire's tax revenue.

　It's also known as the Heavenly Domain because it's governed by the Empire itself and not by the nobility.

　Near High Bear is the fort of Kulau.
　The rebel-occupied fort was about to be attacked by the Heavenly Guards.

　Eliza and I are watching from such a distance that people look like peas.

It's happening.
You've started: ......
Now, I wonder what they're going to do about it.
Isn't that exciting?
I do?

　Eliza simply said, "What do you take for granted? He made a face.

"Lord Carlisle has told me how great you are, and I've heard so much about you that I'm going to hear about it. Then you'll want to see what it's really like, won't you?
"Father ...... I hate you. ......

　I sighed, and then regained my composure and straightened up.

"Just to be sure, I'll be able to sneak in and get the rebel leader.
"Yes, I do. I don't care if you kill me. Either way, under Imperial law, rebellion is punishable by death.
I see. One more thing. Are you coming with me?
Of course, I'll make sure I see it with my own eyes.

　Eliza, who answers immediately, as if there is not an ounce of doubt in her mind.
　What would you do in this situation?　I felt like I was being told.

　I thought for a moment and made a magic sphere.

　You release your magic and turn it into a sphere.
　It's now a yellow, earthen magic ball.
　I'll make three of them.

What are you going to do with them?
I'll do this.

　The magic sphere was sent to the ground while spinning.
　As soon as he touched the earthen magic ball, the ground was fried.

　It was like melting butter with a hot knife.
　The ground is gouged by the magic sphere without any resistance.

What is this?
The stairs, just watch your step.

　Digging towards the ground, making a staircase with the magic ball of earth.

　At a depth of about three stories below the ground, when you can no longer hear the voices above, you start digging horizontally.
　I was digging with the magic ball.
　His speed is the same as my normal walking speed as a child.

"So you're digging underground.
Yes. ." "This will allow you to get into the fort in the middle of that melee.


"Where do I leave from ...... is the place okay?
"It's okay.

　Once he stopped, the magic ball flew upward.
　The magic sphere flew straight up to the ground.

　A light shines through the hole that leads to the ground.

"I'm going to keep track of where I am like this.
"I see.

　He put the magic ball back in and, again, dug a hole.

But ...... I've never seen anything like it. That's amazing.
"This digging?
"How is it normal to go on digging?
It could be.

　I chuckled and dug further.
　I sent the magic ball upward at a certain distance to confirm my current position.

　Eventually the underground passage passed through the outer wall without incident and entered the basement of the fort.

　Now you have to gradually dig your way upwards to get to the surface.

　After climbing the hill, a hole dug by a magic ball of earth led to the surface.

Am I in the ...... building?
For all we know, this is the finest building in the fort. Maybe this is where they are.
Okay, then, let's go.

　Smiling at Eliza as she turned and left the underpass.
　Outside, there was an echo of angry voices, screams, and the clash of metal.

　We proceeded inside the infiltrated building.

This way.
"Yes.

　Eliza strolls forward and I go with her.

　A building like this, used by a central figure in some group, shows a pattern in its structure.
　For the sake of command, for the sake of dignity.

　They are all built in the same place.

　Eliza and I both know that pattern.
　So we walked forward, and we came to a very fine room.

I can hear him talking--that's it.
What's going on?
I'd like to hear what you're talking about, preferably unnoticed.
Then I'll do this.

　Using a magic ball of dirt dug out of an underground passage.

　Like a hot knife, the wall is chipped away evenly.

　The heavy doors and walls were chipped away, leaving only a plank for a relief.
　And you can hear the voices inside.

It's about time.
Well, now that we've achieved a certain amount of success, it's time to pull out.
"I'll send a chase after you just in case. If they find out we're doing a fixer-upper, it'll ruin everything.
I know, just do it right.
"Oh.

　The conversation is over.
　There seems to be two men in the room, and the sound of one's footsteps approaches.

　Then the door opens.

Hmm?　What is a child here--you!

　The man dressed as a nobleman first tilted his head at the sight of me, a child, and then flinched at the sight of Eliza.

"Hey, Your Majesty. Why are you here?
"Lord Fleming, what was that all about?
"Yes, it's ......

　The nobleman called Fleming became impatient, and in an instant, his fat sweat began to trickle out.

"Hey Fleming, who are those guys?
"...... I don't know about the children. This is the Emperor.
"What?

　The other man is surprised.

You betrayed me. ...... is not a plane. That means you've been swept off your feet and found out about it all.

　Fleming made a pained face.
　Eliza's face grew increasingly grim.

...... hand-tied in a play.
Why should you do that?
The cost of the war.

　I explained to Eliza.

Even in defeating them, there is money to be made if you send an army. For example, you could report a man who isn't dead and have his family members receive a fraudulent bounty for reporting him as dead. Of course he gets it, but these people can cut out the middleman too. And then when they cool off, you get them to enlist again, and then you defeat them, and then you fake their deaths again - a kind of alchemy.
"...... Lord Fleming

　Eliza--the emperor's voice dropped two octaves.

...... Phew, it can't be helped.
"I know. Do you kill it?　Or do you want me to kill you?


"Don't worry, I won't mess with you.

　Their eyes, the words became a dangerous thing.
　I'm going to kill them. Surely killing them now would be the right choice, since it would make things go away.

"I'm sorry, but now that this has happened, your majesty will have to go into hiding.
"......
I'm sorry!

　Fleming drew his ornate ornamental sword from his waist and swung it down to Eliza without hesitation.

　Eliza did not move - I moved.

　With a magic ball of fire that I instantly created, I melted Fleming's ornamental sword.
　The magic ball that even melted your father's orichalcong's greatsword. Fleming's sword blade vanished without a trace in an instant.

　Then he creates the black magic sphere.
　It hits the two men.

　They were surprised and bewildered by my magic and thought I was a child, and then the magic ball struck them.

　--Thud!

　The two men fell down like a puppet whose strings had been broken, unable to move.

What's this?
"Life force, well, physical strength, but it's something that can be snuffed out. It's not physically damaging at all, but it's got to be as exhausting as running for an entire day.
What's that, I've never heard of that kind of magic?
"No way!　Such advanced-looking magic by such a child!

　The two of you are astonished.
　I don't think this is the time for that.

　Sure enough, Eliza takes a step forward.
　She stands up straight, with her emperor's face.

　She looked down at them with cold eyes--especially at Fleming.

"In the name of the Imperial Emperor Elisabeth Shih-Forsize, I declare. FLEMING Luz. He is hereby deprived of all titles and rights.

　　　　　*

　In the tunnels.
　I, magically transporting them both unconscious.

　I used a magic ball of clay to rebuild the tunnels.
　Now no one can come behind us and we can escape in peace.

　All that's left is to take the two of them back home and let the emperor take care of everything, and we're done.

　Eliza, you've been staring at me for a while now.

What's the matter?
"Thank you for your time at ...... . It was helpful.
It's just a normal thing to do.
This is the first time someone has saved my ...... life.
"It's better to never have a life threatened. It's better not to have been rescued.
"......

　I say jokingly, Eliza stares at me more closely.

"What's wrong?
"Uh-uh. . nothing.

　Eliza turned away, her cheeks turned away.
　What the hell is wrong with me.