Chapter 10, A Little Girl, Commanding A Fortress

Translator: Lizz

 

The three of them finally arrived near the fortress.

 

It was now close enough to be seen.

 

“…It’s quite big.”

 

“Since it’s this big, don’t you think someone might be living there? …I wonder if I could get hired…”

 

“Lady Sylvia has been appointed as the lord of the fortress. She has the documents for it. The authority lies with Lady Sylvia. How about we go with the setting that you’re her maid? By the way, I’ll go with the setting that I’m a royal guard.”

 

“Oh, then let’s do that! I look forward to working with you!”

 

Gina and Edward became talkative out of anxiety.

 

The castle was that impressive.

 

There was a forest on the way, and before it, the road split into two.

 

One path seemed to enter the forest and up the mountain.

 

The other path went around it.

 

The path leading into the forest appeared to be the route to the fortress.

 

“Hmm… Is it that way?”

 

“Yes, the castle is at the end of the path.”

 

Sylvia tilted her head, but,

 

“Alright, let’s go that way.”

 

She respected Gina’s and Edward’s opinions and started walking down the forest path.

 

After passing through the forest, they indeed found the fortress.

 

However, there was a large moat, and it was quite far away.

 

…Rather than a moat, it seemed like the fortress was built on the other side of a cliff.

 

The bigger problem was that the drawbridge was raised.

 

“Why is the drawbridge up?”

 

Edward tilted his head, then realized, “Ah.”

 

“The fork in the road earlier – taking the one going around was the right choice. This side is probably only used in emergencies.”

 

After answering himself, he pondered.

 

…That meant they’d have to go back the way they came and take the detour to the front. It looked like it would be quite a long way around.

 

Gina looked up at the fortress in a daze, then turned to Sylvia with a troubled expression.

 

“…It’ll be a detour, but we have to go that way, right? There’s no one to lower the drawbridge, is there? If we can’t cross, we’ll have to go to the gate where the drawbridge is down.”

 

“I’ll lower the drawbridge.”

 

Sylvia reached into her pocket, took out a piece of paper, and held it up to show the fortress.

 

“<I am the master of this fortress. Obey the master, lower the drawbridge, and invite the master inside – [Owner]>.”

 

And then, the fortress shimmered like a mirage.

 

As the shimmering subsided, the drawbridge slowly lowered.

 

“Huh!?”

 

Gina stared at the drawbridge in surprise.

 

Edward looked back and forth between Sylvia and the fortress.

 

“There wasn’t a guard inside who saw your document and lowered it, was there…?  Was it magic?”

 

“It’s Living magic. I used magic to tell the fortress that I am its master.”

 

Edward was astonished.

 

“Seriously…?”

 

This young lady had a spell for everything, Edward thought.

 

Edward and Gina were mesmerized as the drawbridge fully lowered and the gate opened, but they were startled by a thud and turned to see Sylvia had fallen over.

 

“Lady Sylvia!”

 

Panic, Edward held Sylvia in his arms, and she clung to him.

 

“…This is the first time I’ve run out of magic power.”

 

“…Well, using such a great magic would cause you to run out of magic power.”

 

Edward muttered as he lifted Sylvia.

 

Gina, flustered, rubbed Sylvia’s back.

 

Edward scowled at the fortress gate and asked Sylvia,

 

“Lady Sylvia, we can’t confirm it’s safe… Shall we go inside?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“…I apologize. I’m not confident I can protect you while carrying you with my bare hands. May I place you on the cart?”

 

Sylvia nodded at Edward’s suggestion.

 

With Sylvia on the cart, Edward cautiously began to cross the drawbridge.

 

He observed from the shadows, but there was no sign of any presence.

 

– Ideally, he would like to confirm the safety inside before letting Sylvia in.

 

However, when he heard a sound and turned around, the cart had already crossed the drawbridge.

 

Moreover… Now that the drawbridge was down, if anyone was inside, they would have noticed already.

 

“…We have to trust the effectiveness of the magic that made the fortress recognize Lady Sylvia as its Lord.”

 

If there was anyone other than the Lord, the fortress should ensure the Lord’s safety. It should.

 

As they passed through the gate, the drawbridge rose again, and the gate closed.

 

Gina, worried about Sylvia’s condition, had gotten onto the cart.

 

“Lady Sylvia, are you alright?”

 

“…Please let me down.”

 

Thinking Sylvia might be feeling sick from the cart, Gina hurriedly helped her down.

 

Then, Sylvia got on her hands and knees and began to weed the grass.

 

Gina was dumbfounded.

 

“Uh, Lady Sylvia? I understand you want to clean up, but you don’t have to do it in your condition.”

 

When she tried to stop her, Sylvia shook her head.

 

“I’m replenishing my magic power.”

 

“By weeding!?”

 

Gina was astonished.

 

As Sylvia desperately pulled out the grass, Edward also arrived.

 

“Hey!? What are you doing!?”

 

“Well… she said weeding is good for replenishing her magic…”

 

Edward was surprised by Sylvia’s strange behavior, and Gina answered, bewildered.

 

“Weeding!? …Sylvia, can’t we do it instead?”

 

“…”

 

Sylvia thought for a moment.

 

“It seems subordinates can do it too.”

 

“Alright then. Gina, let’s pull the grass. Also, instruct the livestock. If they eat the grass, it will count as weeding.”

 

As if understanding Edward’s words, the livestock began pecking at the grass all at once. They were even digging it up.

 

After a while, Sylvia stood up.

 

“I can stand now. Thank you very much.”

 

Gina and Edward rushed over.

 

“Good, your complexion looks better.”

 

“But don’t overdo it. Should we camp here?”

 

Sylvia shook her head.

 

“We’ll go inside.”

 

Edward frowned.

 

“You don’t need to use magic, just answer my questions. …Can you tell what’s inside with the magic you used earlier?”

 

“I can know generally.”

 

“Is there anyone inside?”

 

“No.”

 

Sylvia stated firmly.

 

“…The fortress recognizes you as its Lord, right? In that case, if someone tries to harm the Lord, will the fortress do anything?”

 

“If commanded, it will defend and attack. But I can’t give commands because I’m out of magic power.”

 

“Got it.”

 

Edward thought for a moment,

 

“…For today, let’s settle in one room and gradually explore once Sylvia’s magic power recovers. Without Sylvia’s magic, even regular camping would be tough.”

 

They had been relying on her so much that their camping equipment was insufficient.

 

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