Stocking up on books?
Yeah. Tsukuyomi got a request for some.
The books from the Regulus Empire, right?
Yeah. It's my first time going there, so I got the memory from Lapis-san.
Linze, what are you doing after this?
I plan to read for a little longer.
I feel like you're always in Tsukuyomi now.
Really? I feel like I could be reading even more.
You could read even more?
Don't get too engrossed in it, okay?
Sure!
All right!
Time for a quick trip to buy some books, then!
Episode 4
Upheaval in the Capital and an Imperial Princess
Wh-What's all this?
A fire?
No, this is no ordinary fire.
What's going on?
Gravity!
Boost!
Logan-san mentioned before that there were strange movements in the Empire recently.
He was talking about them strengthening their military,
but I didn't think it would lead to this...
You're safe now!
I shot him with a paralyzing bullet, so he won't be able to move for a while.
What on earth is going on here?
We need to treat you!
The army...
Huh?
The army is revolting...
Revolting?
Meaning... this is a coup d'état?!
I treated his wounds with healing magic,
so he should be safe if stays hidden in here.
For now, I should find the emperor and help him escape with Gate.
Maybe the fighting will settle down once there's no one for them to defeat.
I have no idea where the emperor's room is, though.
Search!
A girl, and someone trying to harm her, within a 100-meter radius!
Search complete. Displaying.
This way?
Are you okay?!
Y-Yes.
Let's heal you first.
Huh?
Come forth, Light.
Soothing Comfort: Cure Heal.
She must have been terribly frightened, to be shaking so much.
You'll be all right now.
Uh...
I-It's nothing!
I-I've just never had much contact with men before,
s-s-so I was a little nervous.
Princess!
Carol!
You're safe?
Yes.
This man rescued me when I was in danger.
And you are...
I'm an adventurer from Belfast.
I used teleportation magic to visit the Empire so I could buy some things,
and I ran into this commotion.
You can use teleportation magic?!
Then I beg of you!
Please teleport the emperor, prince, and princess to safety!
S-Sure.
You will?!
Yeah, that was my plan to begin with.
I apologize for losing my composure.
I am Caroline Riett,
a knight of the Empire's 3rd order.
Please call me Carol.
I am the third princess of the Regulus Empire, Lucia Rea Regulus.
I'm Mochizuki Touya. Nice to meet you.
Mochizuki Touya-sama...
What should we do?
Shall I get Princess Lucia to safety first?
Yes, please do.
No, that can come later.
Touya-sama, please.
Please save Otou-sama and Onii-sama before me.
All right, but...
The chances that the emperor and prince are safe in this situation are...
I'm prepared for the worst.
Even so...
I can't escape on my own before them.
Please take me to Otou-sama and Onii-sama.
All right. Let's go.
I'll lead the way.
It's through there?
Yes. That's the emperor's bedchamber.
Otou-sama!
I guess we were too late?
General Bazur!
What are you thinking, attacking His Imperial Majesty?!
Princess Lucia and the House Riett's daughter...
So you're still alive?
I might as well ask. Why are you doing this?
Who are you?
I'm an adventurer from Belfast.
An outsider.
I don't understand what's going on,
so I haven't been able to decide if I should take a side.
So please tell me why you're doing this.
The emperor has fallen mentally ill.
There has never been a better time to break our non-aggression treaty and invade Belfast,
yet he still hesitates to do so.
Break the non-aggression treaty?
You mean you're taking over the country to try and start a war?
And what if I am?
Belfast has an alliance with its neighbors, Mismede and Refreese.
You think you can beat all three nations?
We can.
Did you think we spent the last 20 years twiddling our thumbs after signing that non-aggression treaty?
What's with his magic capacity?!
Come forth, Dark!
I seek a prince of devils, Demon Lord!
A-A devil!
How were you able to forge a pact with such a powerful devil?
Through sacrifices.
I offered him living sacrifices from the criminals detained in the capital city.
Then where does your exceptional magic power come from?
Is that the work of the devil, too?
My magic power comes from...
An Artifact!
This is the Bracelet of Absorption.
It drains magic power from others.
It drains magic power?
So that's why my body has felt sluggish.
My body is...
This is bad.
I could risk granting him even more magic power if I stay here.
Apport!
You still have magic power left?
Why?
Why didn't my spell work?
One of that devil's unique traits is magic nullification.
Magic attacks don't work on it.
And the same unique trait lies within me, the one who forged a pact with it.
That ability's gonna be a real pain.
In that case...
Too bad for you.
You probably thought a direct attack would work if magic didn't,
but it doesn't work like that.
Another one?
This is the Bulwark Bracelet.
It protects me from all types of physical attacks.
I see.
You drain magic power with the Bracelet of Absorption,
nullify physical attacks with the Bulwark Bracelet,
and nullify magic attacks with the unique trait of your summoned Demon Lord.
This is my invincible defense!
There isn't a man alive with the ability to harm me!
I'm not one to talk, but he's cheating way too much!
He's alive?
We haven't found the prince yet...
But saving lives takes priority here.
Open a Gate.
Targets are the emperor, Princess Lucia, and Carol-san.
Teleport them to my garden.
Understood.
Activating Gate.
You can use teleportation magic?!
Correct.
I'll withdraw for today,
but I promise things won't go as you've planned.
Fool.
I told you that no one can harm me so long as I have the Bulwark Bracelet.
Slip!
Well?
I may not have harmed your body, but I harmed your pride, didn't I?
Wh-What did you...
Of course, he'll stop it soon by absorbing the magic power from the floor with the Bracelet of Absorption.
Damn it!
I'll use illusion magic to leave him one more present before I go.
Mirage!
What did you do this time?!
Farewell, men!
Soon, the Iron Hammer of Babylon will fall upon you all!
Wash your neck and wait for that moment to come!
Bugs!
Oh, man, I could get hooked on this.
So many bugs!
What is this?!
I already used healing magic on the emperor.
The doctor is taking a look at him now,
but the rest is up to him.
Good grief.
Why do you always end up sticking your neck into such trouble?
It's not like I wanted to stick my neck into this.
I can't believe that was happening in the Empire.
I ran a search, and there are over 10,000 soldiers,
while there are only around 1,000 imperial knights.
Nearly ten times as many.
This is a terrible situation de gozaru zo.
If the Empire uses that devil to attack Belfast...
We need to do something about it before then.
But there's nothing we can do if magic attacks and physical attacks won't work.
Touya-dono, do you have any ideas de gozaru ka?
Yeah, I have one that might work.
I'm not really into tormenting someone,
but I guess there's no choice.
Touya-san...
You're plotting something evil again, de gozaru na?
Huh? Huh?
Right?
They said there's no need to worry, as long as he keeps resting.
That's great, right, Princess Lucia?
Thank you so much. It is a great relief.
U-Um...
Would you please call me Lu?
All right, Lu.
Like that?
Yes! That makes me so happy!
Jii~
You startled me, Yumina!
It's a pleasure to meet you.
I am the King of the Kingdom of Belfast― Tristwin Ernes Belfast's daughter... Yumina Ernea Belfast.
P-Pleased to meet you.
I am the Regulus Empire's Emperor Zephyrus Roa Regulus' third daughter... Lucia Rea Regulus.
You must have had a terrible time.
I'm relieved to see you're safe.
Yes, Touya-sama came to my rescue and allowed me to escape this crisis.
That's great to hear.
It makes me happy as Touya-san's fiancée.
Eh? Fiancée?
I-I see...
Yumina, I'm going to head to the castle now and give my report on the Empire.
Understood.
Lucia-sama, you like Touya-san as well, don't you?
Eh?! Th-That's...!
Touya-sama is the man who saved my life, nothing more!
O-Of course, he is very handsome, and he's a wonderful, reliable person, in my opinion...
But as I said, um...
I'm not sure what to say...
I understand!
Eh?
A single word is not enough to describe Touya-san's charm!
I knew you and I would get along!
Er, um...
Lucia-sama, I have some things to discuss with you regarding that.
We would be getting in His Imperial Majesty's way here, so let's talk in my room!
So that's what's happening in the Empire...
I didn't expect to receive both good and bad news today.
Eh?
Ah, Yumina will be getting a younger brother or sister.
Eh?! Congratulations!
I have mixed feelings about it.
I was hoping that Touya-dono would succeed me.
No, no, if you have a boy,
it's only right that he inherits the throne.
Then if it's a girl, you would inherit it for me?
No, that logic isn't right.
Well, jokes aside,
I understand your plan to defeat General Bazur.
I'm sorry to place this burden on Touya-dono, but please proceed with it.
Storage.
Have you finished your preparations?
Yeah.
Both the Bracelet of Absorption and the Bulwark Bracelet, huh?
Do those ring a bell?
If I remember right, I believe there were Artifacts with those abilities in Babylon's Storehouse.
What?!
So... you're saying those bracelets leaked out of the Storehouse and ended up in the general's hands?
Yes.
I believe there's also a chance that many other items there fell down to the surface.
Hold on.
So the Immortal Gem that grants its owner Immortality and caused the stir in Eashen
was also an artifact that leaked out of the Storehouse?!
Yeah, I do think there was something like that in the Storehouse.
I knew it.
The administrator of the Storehouse is a clumsy, careless one.
Touya-sama!
Otou-sama...
He woke up moments ago.
That's great.
So you are Mochizuki Touya-dono?
Yes.
I cannot show enough gratitude to you for saving my life and Lucia's.
Please don't worry about it.
I just happened to be in the imperial capital to do some shopping.
It's a relief to hear you say that.
This uprising was brought about by my own weakness.
It's truly vexing.
So... what will you do now?
I must defeat General Bazur.
I'll need to devise a plan as soon as possible.
It's possible for me to reclaim the capital as early as tomorrow.
As expected of Touya-san.
Um, Touya-sama?
What is it, Lu?
Before you handle General Bazur,
could you look for Onii-sama?
The prince?
If we could at least find out whether he's alive or not...
Well, it's not impossible...
Does the prince have any unique characteristics?
Unique characteristics?
Uh, he has silver hair, and, um... well...
Unique, unique...
He really doesn't have any unique traits, huh?
Lu, hold out your hand for a moment.
O-Okay.
Close your eyes and think of your brother.
Picture how he looked most recently.
O-Okay.
Focus.
O-Okay!
Recall.
Huh?
I-Is something the matter?
I've met this man before.
Eh?
Crap. I left him behind.
Eh?!
Hey, I didn't think he could possibly be the prince!
S-Search.
The imperial prince.
Understood.
Search complete.
Displaying now.
We have his location.
Wh-What is this?
It's my null magic.
Convenient, right?
So, where is this?
That's General Romero's mansion.
The general was always at odds with Bazur.
He's most likely keeping the prince safe there.
That's reassuring, then.
So Onii-sama is safe?
What a relief.
Thank you so much!
I'm glad I could help.
Then we storm the capital first thing tomorrow morning.
Huh?
Hold on a moment!
It's a bit late to ask, but are you sure that's wise?
You'll be facing a devil and an army of over 10,000!
Can you face them by yourself?
I'll manage.
I have powerful allies on my side, after all.
Sango, Kokuyou, Kohaku,
follow Elze and Yae to suppress the army.
Try not to attack anyone who surrenders to us.
Yumina, Linze,
provide cover fire with magic and guns.
I'll take down the Demon Lord and the general.
All right, everyone...
Let's go!
So he did come.
Face me, Demon Lord!
That's close!
Accel, Boost!
If I increase the weight of my blade with gravity magic
the moment it strikes his head...
Gravity!
Glad that went well.
It might have magic nullification or whatever,
but it doesn't have any effect if the spell doesn't target it.
I only applied the spell to the blade, after all.
Touya!
Are you all okay?
Yes, we're fine.
Touya-dono! As expected of you de gozaru!
You defeated it in no time.
That was amazing!
Thanks.
But we still have a few finishing touches left to do.
All right, time for your punishment.
Wh-What are you?!
That was a high-ranking devil!
You shouldn't have been able to defeat it on your own!
Well, maybe not, but I just did.
That won't work against me!
Even if you've defeated the Demon Lord,
I still have its magic nullification trait!
So long as I have the Bulwark Bracelet and Bracelet of Absorption,
I have nothing to fear!
Storage.
Wh-What is that?
This is a Sludge Slime.
It's a very welcome slime that purifies water.
A slime?
It just has one downside.
About an hour after it dies, it emits an unbelievably foul odor.
And the Sludge Slime in there died about one hour ago, you see.
Y-You don't mean...
Gate.
I-It reeks!
The tempered glass made in the Workshop really is amazing.
I can't smell it at all over here.
Hey, you're really hanging in there.
There.
Okay, are you all set?
Yes, please.
Play the video in the sky above the capital.
Understood. Playing now.
Citizens of the imperial capital.
I am the Emperor of Regulus, Zephyrus Roa Regulus.
This recent uprising was caused by a portion of the army gone mad.
However, the man behind this uprising has been captured,
and the capital is once more under our control.
As your emperor, I offer my sincere apologies for the trouble caused by not stopping the army's recklessness sooner.
I am sorry.
Thank goodness.
Touya! You did it!
I'm glad you're all safe, too. Good work.
Touya-sama, thank you so very much.
What is it?
Um, you kind of smell...
Huh?
Oh...
It's because I touched General Bazur when I was retrieving the bracelets.
Touya-san...
So you really did use that slime, then?
I'm surprised you came up with such a disgusting strategy de gozaru na.
That's a talent in its own right.
Hey, no! It's not like I wanted to do that!
But I had no choice! It was the only way!
Is that really true?
Oh, but you seemed to enjoy it so much.
I mean it!