Triumphal Return .

　Taking advantage of the plough's wards, he led the defeated army that had taken down the seven forts with zero damage and made a triumphant return to the imperial capital.

　Even from a few kilometers away from the city, the city's inhabitants could be seen waiting for them, almost unanimously.
　That's how much the inhabitants were rushing to the entrance of the city, waiting for the victorious parade of the victorious vanquished army that had returned after a complete victory.

　Incidentally, Eliza is not on the palanquin on which I am riding now.
　As she is returning in triumph, she is going to return first to greet the vanquished army as the emperor.

　Now let's first pass this roadside crowd and head for the palace.
　And just as I was thinking...

　--Whoa, whoa, whoa!

　There were loud cheers from the crowd waiting along the roadside.
　The cheers weren't just feelings of joy, but also contained no small amount of surprise and confusion.
　Wondering what's going on, I soon found out why.

　The walls surrounding the imperial city, its open gates.
　From behind it, the emperor Elisabeth appeared.
　The crowd reacts to her appearance.

　I didn't expect to be greeted by the emperor himself ......

　I quickly jumped down from the palanquin and walked over to the emperor and knelt down in front of him in a fluid manner.

"Alexander Carlyle, I am back.
"That was a great cause, Sir Alexander. Your services have been noted. You have done well to remove the worm from the lion's body.
"What a waste of words.

　No one interrupted my interaction with Eliza.
　Almost everyone in the crowd was watching my interaction with the emperor with bated breath.

　I suddenly remembered this defeat, the other objective Eliza mentioned.

　To show the seriousness of the empire.
　That is--it needs to be staged.

　I looked up at Eliza on my knees and said in a crisp, assertive tone, "I am your sword.

"I am your sword. All the enemies of the empire will be seen crushed by Alexander Carlyle here.

　I said to Eliza, with the implication that I would continue to do so.

　At that moment, the tension in the crowd, which had been holding their breath, reached a climax.

Oh, shit!　It's so cool!
"It is the proclamation of the invincible Vice-Emperor,
I'm glad I was born in this era. ......
"Hail to the Emperor!　Vice-Emperor Banzai!

　Amidst the cheers of our praise, Elisa and I entered the castle on a portable shrine, just like in a victory parade.

　Amidst the cheers along the roadside, waving my hands and whispering to Elisa, "I'm surprised, I didn't expect to see you here.

I was surprised that Elisa came to pick me up.
This is also a production, you know.
Yes. Normally, the emperor waits in the audience chamber until he comes to the entrance of the royal palace after a major achievement. I think--
Yeah, that was the case with Hosen.
"It's too good to leave the gates of the city and be greeted outside the capital - to the outskirts, so to speak.

　It's a flowing exchange of dialogues, as if they are trying to answer each other's questions.

　Not the emperor or anything else, but ordinary families.
　It's the same for welcoming visitors to the house and seeing them off.
　Waiting inside the house is quite different from leaving the house and going outside.

　The crowds along the roadside are very excited, just as Elisa wanted.

That's how serious I am (、、、、、、).

　I felt like Eliza's words meant something else, but I was more concerned about the earrings she was wearing.

'What's up?　Look at me like that.
That earrings of Eliza ...... made by Orihalcon?　It's unusual to use orichalcone as an ornament.

　Orihalcon is a precious metal, but its value is due to its hardness and high magic conduction - in other words, its utility in battle.
　Noblemen's accessories are usually made of gems, gold, and other items of high aesthetic value.
　The noblest of nobles, especially the emperor.

　An emperor's formal attire should never include an orichalcon.
　Besides--

Besides...
Because that's what's left of that thing you just melted down at random.
"Huh?
"Didn't you defend against Lord Carlisle's attack the first day we met?
"Oh, father's 'gap! Ka

　I remembered everything that was said.
　I remembered everything. I see...the remains of your father's greatsword that I melted with the magic ball.

Do you need to use that? Do you want me to give it a better shape?
It's okay.

　Eliza waved her hand at the large crowd and said no with a smile.

"It's a commemoration of the first day I met Alec. These things are worth it 'as they were'.
"I see.

　I never thought of the idea, but when I was told, it made sense.
　If Eliza says so, nothing else.
　I just went on and did the triumphant parade with Eliza.



　　　　　*

　Alexander League territory, Zulan region .

　The clan of Nature, the women and children came here with their clan, which had swelled to nearly five hundred people with the joining of the clan.

This is ...... our sanctuary, Zulan ......?

　The youngsters of the clan were baffled.
　It's no wonder that this place that brought them here is seemingly a ruin, an empty grassland.

"There is no mistake: ......

　It was the old man, almost mummified, the head of the family, who said this.
　His voice was hoarse, but weighty.

That mountain, that river, surely this is Zulan, the site of our altar to our god.
"Poof!　The empire, they destroyed it without a trace.
"Not only did they drive us away - the outcast!

　Nature's family spoke of the empire and cursed the emperor a hundred years ago.

Is it still so important?

　When I asked, the most formally tattooed warrior chief, Wooi, replied in a slightly toned-down tone: "Yes, that's where our ancestors, our clan's heroic spirits, are laid to rest.

Yes, that's where our ancestors, the geniuses of our family, rest.
That's pretty important stuff: ...... Okay

　I have it on my person since I heard the Philosopher's Stone.

"Oui, and guys. Give us some space.
"Eh ......, okay.

　Oui was puzzled, but he listened to me.

　When Oui commanded, the warriors and the women and children of the clan.
　Step by step, they slipped away from me.

　When I was sure they were far enough away, I used my magic.
　I reached out and sensed (、、、、、) and spread a magic circle in its place.

　The ground that had looked like a magic circle became limp and distorted.
　After a while, buildings "grew" out of the warped place, like plants.

　With a rumbling sound, the thing that grew out was what anyone would call an altar.

　By the time the light from the magic circle had died down, it had fully descended to earth.
　It was as if it had been there all along.

　I turned to Nature's clan.

"There's the altar, isn't it?
"Did you rebuild it?
Oh, it looks just like what I've heard.
"This is ...... the home of our soul. ......

　Nearly half of Nature's clan was impressed.
　But it is mainly only the young people.

　Those who have grown up to some extent, such as the warrior chief Oui, have a complex expression on their faces all at once.

"What's wrong?
"I am only thankful that you rebuilt the altar. But it doesn't bring back the history of our family that was lost...
"No, this isn't a rebuild, is it?
"--Heh?

　Wooey, who had a complicated look on his face, snapped out of it.

'This isn't a rebuild, this is real.
"Ho, what is the real thing: ......
"A piece of spatio-temporal magic. Pulled exactly what was once here. So it's real.
"......
'In the moment,' that's what's important.
There is no such thing as magic .......

　As Oui was unable to accept it, the clan elder took a shaky step toward the altar.

　Muttering something in front of the altar, he took out a knife and split his palm open, "offering" fresh blood.
　Then something in the shape of a man came out of the altar.

　A translucent human shape with only the upper body.
　It began to come out slowly and painfully.

Whoa!
"Wow, my ancestors!
"It's real!　It's a real altar!

　Nature's clan all knelt in unison and worshipped their ancestors, all with great tears in their eyes.

　As I watched, I secretly thanked Eliza in my heart for teaching me something important.