Impregnable ≪Dreadnought≫: Prologue 3

Soojiki’s note: Finished college/finals. On a college hiatus and looking for work until Military bootcamp, so then I get to focus more on translating! Yay!? Thanks for all those who participated in the survey too! You have my gratitude! Decided to pick this up after reading the prologue and someone suggesting for it’s revival on Novel Update Forum. Currently putting My Entire Class on HOLD until I revised all previous episodes (on episode 4 so far), and waiting for the LN to actually arrive(Bought via Amazon.jp). Excited to see the book that I Machine Assisted Translated (MAT? Think of something better? Type it in the comments below!). Although this series may be short(24 chapters, including an epilogue and 3 prologues.), I hope you’d enjoy it. So far I’m liking the character interactions. Please let me know how you feel regarding this short series! As always, enjoy!

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“Welcome back. My Knights.”

With platinum blonde hair that extends to the waist and an azure eyes incomparable to any gem.
That beautiful person is an individual among the Astoria royal family. Lilicia Astoria, possessing a charming figure, as she spoke to Mamoru and Cane.

It’s been a few days after the battle.

Boarding a high speed airship heading to Astoria’s capital, Regalia, greeting Mamoru and Cane is the first princess of the Astoria’s Kingdom, Lilicia Astoria, personally.

“In spite of forcibly boarding the airship, welcome back I guess?”

Despite being only 2 years older than himself, Mamoru immediately said such words before the princess who has an icy cold beauty.

Hearing those words, Lilicia got angry, not a surprise, and did not even change her facial expressions.

“It’s because you were so reluctant to sortie. I also had no real intentions of such violent measures.”

“So why was I made to sortie then! Don’t you have various subordinate who’s a stronger Knight than myself!?”

“Unfortunately, Astoria’s Knights are dispatched in various places. For that reason, in order to protect your country, Japan, they have sent you here.”

“……..And?”

Though always having a witty reply, Mamoru, for the time being, hesitantly asked.

“Therefore, I’ve received a resident of Japan, a Knight of mine, for official duty. There’s no complaint from Japan as well.”

“First of all, I’m not your Knight! This is unrelated to Japan too! I am just an ordinary junior high student! A regular 15 year old that’s almost a high school student!”

Mamoru’s remarks, irrelevant in contrast to Lilicia, caused Lilicia to give a small sigh while shaking her head.

“Yuuki Mamoru. You are my Knight. You became my Knight two years ago, did

you not? You’ve already made an oath as my Knight. Or did you forget the time you stole my lips?”

Lilicia merely stating a fact with an indifferent and pretense voice.

Mamoru’s face flushed deep red and could not respond with any rebuttal as he lost his composure.

Cain, standing next to Mamoru the entire time, laughed after seeing his current state.

However, Lilicia’s gaze fell upon him to which she gave a tender smile. She presented the back of her hand, where he gave a kiss.

“I have troubled you. Sir Break”

“I thank you for such personal reception. My lord”

While looking at the pompous acting, Mamoru’s erratically beating heart finally calmed.

That’s troubling. It’s been predetermined already. Even the princess recognized it.

He had no history of blaming himself.

Reaching the conclusion in his mind, Mamoru resolved himself to declare to Lilicia with her outstretched hand

“That’s predetermined and inevitable! Even you recognized that! Although its hard to believe, is that a pretext to work the Knights like slaves!”

“Are you going to take responsibility if its that hard to believe? And then if Mamoru disagrees, it’s fine if you don’t work like the rest of the Knights. However, there’s the thing called formality, where we shall announce it to the whole world. That Yuuki Mamoru is no longer a Knight of mine, but rather”

“Is that a threat!? If my name is know throughout the whole world, it won’t even compare to the troubles right now!”

“So”

Lilicia once again presented the back of her hand to Mamoru.

Urging Mamoru with one glance, he knelt before Lilicia and pushed his lips upon the back of her hand.

Standing after parting his lips, Mamoru huffed a small sigh.

Leaving Mamoru behind, Lilicia turned around and began walking towards the castle.

It’s always, always like this and little by little he’s made to do Knight-like work.

Why can’t he have the resolution to deny, as Mamoru always troubled.

“It’s about time for you to give up, no?”

“If I give up everything, I won’t just be the princess’s Knight but….”

“Don’t you know that plenty of men set their sight on something like that in Astoria?”

“Everyone’s strange then”

“Though you declare that, you’re part of the minority that thinks that, right?”

Mamoru frowned upon Cain’s word and without saying anything, followed after Lilicia.

◆◇◆

The private room of Lilicia Astoria.

Only a small number of Knights are permitted entrance inside.

Mamoru is one those few Knights as he followed Lilicia and entered with her into the room.

“Always the same empty room eh”

Leaking out his impression, Lilicia, upon hearing it, fired back her own impression.

“Though its called a private room, it’s appropriate to be used just for sleeping and waking”

“I see. You’re as always immersed into your job on the daily”

As substitution for the bedridden King, Lilicia is busy with diplomacy, inspections, holding a large number of government affairs and its ceremonies, there’s also visiting Earth, as well as visiting the national border’s base.

Mamoru understood it all too well, being here in kingdom’s capital Regalia and having a mountain load of paperwork to process would make everyday exhausting.

At the same time, he also knew she’s a high spec young lady, capable of easily tidying the mountains of paper with her excellent thought process and having the negotiation skills of obtaining the advantageous conditions during talks of diplomacy.

However, Mamoru felt something out of place emitting from Lilicia, who’s sitting on a chair.
‘Perhaps’ as he thought while incessantly staring at her face.

“Is there something?”

“Are you perhaps……tired?”

There seems to be no sense of weariness peeping from her ever constant expressionless face, yet Mamoru had a feeling she is tired.

Hearing his words, Lilicia showed a rare facial expression of being surprised. Even an ordinary person, to a degree, wouldn’t notice such change.

“You….know me too well”

“Rather, you’re willing to listen to me now but…. You’re tired just as much as anyone else right?”

“Naturally. I am not a machine. Only besides being tough at expressing emotions and my well-being.”

“Rather than tough, isn’t it more like you can’t?”

She’s always a princess in the eyes of the mass.

Is it because she’s aware of that, and while thinking so Mamoru enquired.

However, Lilicia shook her head with her usual cool.

“Its from a long time ago. I had no particular intention in doing so.”

“If you had no particular intention in doing so, then you’re tired of being tired. You rarely surface any emotions but are doing so now because you’re tired, right?”

Mamoru said so while giving an amazed sigh.

Observing Mamoru, Lilicia once again expressed surprise.

‘I’ve changed expression a lot today’as she continued thinking, Mamoru approached where she sat.

“Is there something that you would like to do? Maybe heading out to the field and exterminating some monsters?”

Hearing such an unexpected proposal coming from Mamoru, she blinked many times before falling into silence.

It’s been 3 unexpected responses, so is Mamoru going to predict if tomorrow will rain?

“……..Then, that…..is a shoulder massage unacceptable……?”

“A commoner’s choice of request, eh. Well, it’s fine. But what kind of job made your shoulders so stiff?”

“Lately its due to the massive pile of documents, the many jobs that are opposite of each other, and with my body constitution that easily gets stiff shoulders.”

Hearing about her body constitution, Mamoru muttered silently to himself.

From the view behind Lilicia, Mamoru’s able to see the fine detailed platinum blonde hair, her thin shoulders, and her well-defined chest.

‘Even while wearing her clothes its like that, if he were to take off her clothes, it would still be proportionate’ as he continued thinking so, he gently placed his hands on Lilicia’s shoulder.

His heartbeat increased as his nose is being tickled by the smell of her hair.

Though usually wrapped in an atmosphere like an ice sculpture, regardless if he’s massaging her, her posture still remained the same.

This might be a bit of a mistake, as he regretted his easy-going proposal. Mamoru soon began massaging her shoulders.

“N……A little to the left”

Her voice leaks out once in awhile and intermingled in her usual voice that carries a sense of wisdom, is a slight charming voice. In spite of him starting already, Mamoru couldn’t bear it for much longer.

At this rate, my reasoning would go weak thinking to himself; However, I’ve got to break the ice, but what would something be that’s not half-baked as he thought to himself while being caught in a dilemma, when Lilicia suddenly spoke

“It’s been about half a year ago since you’ve started being nice to me, was it because of the assassins that time?”

“That, do you want me to stop playing the appeal of being mean?  It was around that time…….”

As Mamoru continued reminiscing, image replayed through his mind.

Half a year ago, assassins made an assault against Lilicia, when Mamoru came to her aid.
At that time, Lilicia was in the middle of changing her clothes, so he was able to catch a short glimpse of her in her underwear.

It was overly stimulating and afterword, various issues came about to which

he forgot the cause, but he’s positive he saw it.

He recalled how it was like a sexy gravure idol while still outstanding in an ordinary style, then became aware he’s touching the same body. Glup as he swallowed his saliva.

And yet.
“Ouch!?”

“Though I’m only allowing you to remember the time you saved me, is there anything else you’d like to tell me that you remembered?”

“Is that why you swung? I forgot already……..”

While he was massaging her shoulder, Lilicia returned an additional intense pinch to the back hand of Mamoru. Keeping an expressionless face, she continued her intense pinching on Mamoru.

“Cho!? Ok, I get it! Sorry! It’s forgotten! I’ve forgotten already!”

Almost like an optical illusion, where his skin is being ripped off as Lilicia put even more strength into it, Mamoru immediately apologized.

Whether she believed those words or not, Lilicia fingers parted from his hand.

Mamoru gently shook his hand in pain, and soon was void of such pink thoughts, enabling him to continue the shoulder massage.

He should probably stop for the sake of his reasons but once he begins, he’ll have to continue until Lilicia is fine again.

“Mamoru?

Mamoru’s thoughts were engaged in counting prime numbers when Lilicia’s voice pierced through
Almost about time?, as he thought, so he began to part his hands, when Lilicia’s hand pinned his down.

“I didn’t say it was over”

“E, ah, ok”

“While you’re continuing, please listen to what I have to say. It’s about your future course”

“I have memories of seeking permission of returning to my ordinary high school but……….?”

“I’ve been thinking a lot lately. The Knights are the Kingdom’s precious war potentials, not concluding in just dispatching them, but there’s plenty of loud voice of objections and holding doubts from Earth. Until now, taking into account of your age and your military career as a Knight, I’ve been keeping other people silent.”

Silencing people and that manner of speaking in the past tense, Mamoru recounted an unpleasant feeling.

Wanting to go to an ordinary high school and yet why does an unknown group have to give order for it?

Entertained by the animosity, Mamoru urged Lilicia to continue

“And?”

“As a result, your desire of going to an ordinary high school cannot be done. You should already be aware of this but, an ordinary Earthling that’s a junior high student could never win against a master of Lemuria’s magic.”

“That’s……”

“It is not that hard to be conscious about it. Wanting to be a commoner is something I understand, just like you wanting to have an ordinary life. There are often times I think about not being a princess.”

“……..Seriously………?”

Though she is a princess, she’s probably thought about if she was not a princess and also all sort of other things in her mind, which is unforeseen.

Not minding the dumbfounded Mamoru, Lilicia continued with her story

“This talk has strayed off. And so while you’re thinking, there’s no problem to your desire, but the problem lies in your power which has overstep the limits of ordinary. Whatever you may think of your powers, bear in mind that with great power comes great responsibility.”

“…………”

“You may have an unwanted position. I may ask you to do something unreasonable. However, how you use your power is up to you. The present condition is that you have gain recognition as one of Astoria’s Knight.  I’ve also taken into consideration of your lineage not being leaked, of course. However, if in the case that Lemuria heard such knowledge, they would aim for you. You’ll be fine, but if you returned to an ordinary high school, the students there would have no powers to defend themselves.”

“Others will be involved?”

“Earth and Astoria, the distance between Japan and Astoria is too far. We won’t be able to send out assistance in time. I wanted to grant Mamoru’s wish…….but if you were to go to an ordinary high school, it’d be too great of a risk.”

Hearing her words, Mamoru’s hand pulled away from Lilicia’s shoulder.

She turned her head, taking a peek at Mamoru’s face.

Though expressionless, her eyes showed worry.

Seeing such a face, Mamoru smiled bitterly.

“You’ve tried the best you could, so I can’t say a complaint. Thanks. Not going to high school sucks however….”

“Wrong, you’re not going to an ordinary high school. You’ll be attending an abnormal high school.”

“………Ha?”

“There are 8 schools in Japan that specialized in training magicians known as Magic Academies. And in one of those, Saiun Academy, exists a hole in Saiun city. If something were to happen then we can deal with it. In addition, I myself am one of the academy directors, therefore we can more or less listen to some unreasonable thing”

“……You went that far…….?”

“Yes. The matriculation procedures are almost finished too. Though you’ll be force to stay in the dorms, don’t worry. I’ll entirely do something about explaining to your parents and arranging contractors.”

Mamoru’s face cramped while looking at Lilicia, who kept an absolutely disinterested look while informing him.

It’s futile to go against her, as he learned from experience.

This Lilicia Astoria is a girl who, when decided upon something, chases it without fail.
It was his mistake of telling her he wanted to go to high school, to which he vehemently regretted.

“Now then, my shoulders are fine now. Thank you very much. Mamoru’s very skilled”

“Eh, ah no, its cause I massaged my grandm, NOT! At least consult with me beforehand!”

“Have you not been responding repeatedly with me, Mamoru?”

“Uuu…that’s”

“Maa, I’ve already expected that kind of response from you. And now it’s time to prepare the kaizen plans.”

After saying so, Lilicia stood from the chair and went towards the desk a short distance away.
On top of the desk lays a small machine fitting in a person’s palm, to which she grabbed and returned.

There, she gave to it Mamoru.

“This is…….?”

“Multi Assistant Device. Also known as MAD. Haven’t you heard that this is mainstream in Japan?”
“No, I know that but…. specifically bringing it here and giving it away……”

“Wrong, this is specially made to make calls between Astoria and Japan. So far, in order to make calls, it would require a huge machinery but now the engineering department successfully made a miniature size.“

“…….Seriously? Isn’t this a different world?”

“There’s no meaning if that was a lie. If you use it, you’ll be able to make contact with me in the Kingdom Capital. For the time being, please call me once every two days. It’s still a prototype, so testing is necessary.”

Mamoru, being surprised at the abrupt entrance of a small machinery, soon remembered the flow of the conversation before.

“What does this and the previously mentioned kaizen plan have in relation to each other…….?”

“If we’re not able to get in contact, then I’ll get mad at anything that goes on here right? Therefore, it’s a means of preparation for getting in touch.”

“It’s an kaizen plan for what happens afterword!? Even if I’m going to a Magic Academy, its still not a high scho…….”

Mamoru saw Lilicia’s eyes and dared to not say another word.

Under normal circumstance, the usual icy Lilicia gaze is tolerable, but now it has increase its strength.

Combined with her azure eyes and icy glare, Mamoru’s couldn’t say a word, let alone a single nod.

“……..I understand.  I’ll happily proceed………”

“Very well. And also your gear that you’re currently wearing will be under my supervision. Please receive a substitution gear from the engineering department.  That gear’s use is an highly classified technological information.”

“Then I can’t use Aegis? Well, its fine but”

“…….As always, please make do without the gear’s attachments”

“It’s not something I’ve gone through great length to obtain. In the first place, isn’t it one Astoria’s belonging?”

Having said so, Mamoru unfastened the black gear and handed it over to Lilicia.

And though he said so, he saw Lilicia showing a faint dissatisfied expression, where it immediately dispelled and she received Mamoru’s gear.

“There’s business to take care of. Please don’t forget to contact me”

“Yea yea. Take care now……”

Thus Mamoru uneventfully finished his application and entered the 1^st Magic Academy, Saiun Magic Academy.