"How can I be calm? Iris is missing, you know? She might even be dead by now. Even if she's alive, she might be captured by the rebels. I want to confirm her safety as soon as possible!"
"I feel the same way."
"Hey, hey."
Saffron nonchalantly interrupted our conversation.
"This 'Iris' person, judging from the name, is she a woman?"
"Yes."
"Beautiful?"
"Yes."
"Aww, poor thing. If she's alive but captured, I can imagine how she's being treated."
"Shut up!"
Instructor Cattleya yelled at Saffron, who casually voiced our worst fears about Iris. Both Instructor Cattleya and I were concerned not just about whether Iris was alive or dead but also about her chastity. Especially knowing what soldiers on the battlefield might do to a woman. For Cattleya, who probably knew all too well, this worry was even more intense.
"I'm going to the site right now! I'll definitely find Iris and...!"
"Instructor...!"
I grabbed Instructor Cattleya's shoulders.
"There's no way I'd ask you to stay here! Your help is crucial if we're to save Iris. But first, calm down. What do we need to get to the site as soon as possible? How can we confirm whether Iris is alive or not? How can we locate and rescue her?"
"That doesn't mean you should rush to the scene, Instructor. I'll use Ramlei to fly you to the site. I'll ask Holly to search for Iris. And then, we'll save Iris. Absolutely, assuredly, and as quickly as possible. So first, please calm down. There's nothing I can do. So, you're the one who has to save her."
"... Crow..."
"I'll make preparations. Let's meet in front of the stable where Ramlei is tied."
"Okay. I'm betting on you."
With those words, Instructor Cattleya ran off towards her private quarters. I spoke to Saffron, who had been watching the situation unfold.
"What will you do?"
"I'll come with you. I'm free, after all."
"... Honestly, I'm grateful. Your ability might be the most effective for this situation."
"Oh? You think there's another use for me besides assassination? I'm looking forward to seeing what that might be."
"Holly! Holly!"
I parted ways with Saffron and, as I was getting ready in my room, I called out for Holly, who should always be by my side.
"What do you want?"
"I'm heading to the battlefield. Actually, you already know since you were there with me. I need you to come with me to look for Iris."
"Well, I don't mind, but..."
For some reason, Holly didn't seem too enthusiastic at that moment.
"...? What's the matter?"
"When I hear that a Twin Sword wielder has gone missing in a war against mere humans, it's hard to believe."
"Hard to believe?"
"It's unheard of for a Twin Sword wielder to be at a disadvantage against humans. I didn't think Iris was that weak..."
"Holly, you know as well as I do that Iris is a powerful Twin Sword wielder. There's no way she'd be bested by mere humans."
"But, the reality is..."
"Could the one who got to Iris also be a Twin Sword wielder?"
"Ah, I see..."
"People have used the Twin Swords for assassination. It wouldn't be surprising if someone used them for treason. In that case, depending on the compatibility of the Twin Swords, even Iris could lose."
"That's true. The Icebound Sword that she possesses is well-balanced, but it often falls behind when up against other Twin Swords with more specialized abilities. Plus, she seems to have less experience than that child-faced woman, Cattleya."
Holly placed a hand on her chin, deep in thought.
"So, you're saying that it was a battle between Twin Sword wielders? This is unprecedented. To think there are those who would use the divine Twin Swords for personal gain..."
"I'd like to depart as soon as possible."
"No matter how advanced their personalities might be, what are the other divine swords thinking when choosing their wielders?"
"Coming from you, who's infatuated with the heroes of the past, that doesn't carry much weight."
"What do you mean?"
"Aren't you picking wielders based on your personal preferences?"
"Well, I won't deny that I've been in love with the heroes, but if I were choosing based on personal preference, I wouldn't have chosen the current hero. Who would willingly choose such a brat as a hero?"
"So, you're choosing those who can wield it properly? Isn't that what the other divine swords are doing?"
"Even if they can wield it, does that mean their character doesn't matter? But why Shion..."
Holly seemed to have a complicated expression.
I wonder if even Holly is starting to question the criteria for choosing heroes and Twin Sword wielders.
Once I finished my preparations and reached the stable inside the castle,
"You're late! What were you doing?"
"I've been waiting!"
Both Instructor Cattleya and Saffron were already waiting.
"I'm sorry. I was talking with Holly for a bit."
"Crow, if you're using Ramlei to transport multiple people, use a carriage."
"Huh? Can Ramlei fly with a carriage attached?"
"Ramlei's ability is gravity control. As long as it's in contact, the total weight doesn't matter."
I see. Normally, attaching a carriage to a flying Pegasus would make the carriage flip and any passengers or cargo would fall. But if it's like that, I'll borrow a lavish carriage from the castle without hesitation. With Instructor Cattleya and Saffron's help, I attached a large carriage to Ramlei. I had the two of them board the carriage while I took my place on the driver's seat. From behind, I heard:
"Hey, are you sure this will work?"
"I have a feeling we're going to get thrown off!"
Ignoring their complaints, I tightly gripped Ramlei's reins.
"Alright, let's go!"
The moment I shouted, Ramlei lifted the carriage into the air, soaring energetically from in front of the carriage shed inside the castle. But then,
"Wait!"
In an instant, we fell to the ground.
"Ugh!"
I tumbled from the driver's seat, letting out an uncool cry of pain, as I heard the screams of Instructor Cattleya and Saffron from inside the carriage.
The reason Ramlei, the Pegasus Sword, suddenly dropped was clear.
"Big brother, where are you going?! Take me with you!"
Shion had rushed over, objecting to our departure with a panicked look.
Ramlei is the only weapon among the Twin Swords dedicated solely to the hero. As long as Holly is by my side, Ramlei should obey my commands, but it couldn't disobey when the hero herself, Shion, shouted "Wait!"
It seems Shion noticed my absence from the castle and hurriedly chased after me.
"Big brother, I'm coming with you. Without me, you can't do anything. You'll get captured and executed again."
Looking down at me as I writhed on the ground, Shion said such things.
Shion, while what you're saying is true, you almost killed me just now. If Shion's command to Ramlei had been a moment later, we would have fallen from an even greater height. We would have undoubtedly died instantly.
"Hey, Shion. If I leave the capital without permission and you disappear too, it'll cause problems for Crow, your guardian. You should stay here," said Instructor Cattleya, emerging from the carriage.
"Be quiet."
Shion's face turned expressionless as she mechanically uttered the word "silence". Instructor Cattleya, a seasoned warrior familiar with the Twin Swords, took a step back, intimidated by the mere ten-year-old girl's immense pressure. But that's to be expected. Experts can gauge an opponent's strength with a single glance. Though I might be entirely powerless and numb to such things, when Shion loses her temper, she has the power to destroy a country. If she shows her killing intent, one has no choice but to obey.
Yet, Saffron, who seemed used to such an intense atmosphere, smirked and said,
"Shion~. Crow here is thinking of your best interest when..."
"Quiet."
Shion silenced him mid-sentence, and he retreated to Instructor Cattleya's side. No one can oppose Shion. I forced myself to get up, suppressing the pain from the fall, and looked down at Shion. In this situation, where Iris went missing and we were ordered to annihilate the rebel army she was supposed to subdue, we can't rely on Shion's power.