Seirei Gensouki's
Chapter 169: Departure and Then

The second day after receiving the mansion from the Restoration, Rio went to visit him the mansion that Celia was using as her residence starting yesterday.

By the way, even though Rio was the real owner of the mansion, since a single man should not live under one roof with a single noble lady who was not his fiancee, either, he is currently staying at the guest house of marquis Rodan.

The reason he visited the mansion today was to sign the official lease contract of the mansion with Celia.

「Thus the official rental contract is concluded with this. Make sure you don't lose this contract, okay? Just kidding . I have to be the one to be careful. 」

After signing the contract that had been prepared, for some reason, Celia smiled melancholy.

「Please set the storage correctly and do not throw away as much garbage as possible. I would be very grateful if there was someone I could trust to keep sensei but............ I expect too much right? 」

Rio unintentionally chuckled while asking that question.

「U ~ hm …………. . There are so many candidates out there, but, finding someone I can take my hard-earned off of is hard. But then, because I won't be too selfish because I'm some kind of temporary landlord, so don't worry too much about it. I can live alone because you even build a barrier around the house. 」

Celia shrugged with a wry smile as she said so. Then–,

「It was true but, mansion ………. . Or should I say, it's more like someone who will also act as a bodyguard for my wits"

Rio started the topic with a serious expression on his face.

「………………. You mean what? 」

Celia straightened herself and asked that question.

「The truth is, I will be leaving Aisia by sensei's side during my trip. 」

「EH? The aisia? 」

"Yes . It should have been more convincing for him to stay by your side in his spirit form, right? 」

「………. . I will definitely feel relieved but, Aisia should have received her magic power supply through her contract with you right? Can you really be separated and go that far from each other? And above all, it would be bad for both of you right? 」

So Celia showed a gloomy expression.

Consumption of magical power should not be a problem as long as he does not materialize himself. I have a way to give him magical powers too. Moreover, Aisia was the one who suggested this plan. 」

"…………………… He did? 」

After Rio told her that with a troubled face, Celia looked at him with disbelief on her face. Then–,

「Because Haruto is worried about you, so I asked him to leave me by your side. 」

Aisia suddenly materialized and told Celia.

「Ahahaha. The conversation becomes more complicated. 」

Rio shrugged as he smiled wryly at her.

「Aisia, Rio .............

Celia muttered their names.

Rod Rodania is the headquarters of the Restoration however, there are many people who come and go every day. The possibility of spies mixing with those people, there was still the possibility of double agents within the organization itself. Although it was hard to imagine they would be as bold and infiltrate as before, sensei was the one who stood out in the organization and hence I was worried about your safety. Am I wrong? 」

After recounting his own thoughts, Rio asked Celia.

「…………. . Exactly . I think you've said the same thing with Princess Christina. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried. 」

「If that's the case, please take Aisia as your bodyguard even if it's just as a precaution. Naturally you will get some bodyguards but, I think no one is more competent than Aisia. 」

Rio said so to Celia who nodded awkwardly.

「Of course it is much more convincing to have Aisia by my side but ………. . I'll count on you two again. 」

Celia looked at them with a very sad face.

「I don't mind that. 」

Aisia answered briefly.

「I'm the same as Aisia. ………… Although it would be better if I was by your side, I had a little business. Sorry 」

Instead, Rio told her with a sad face.

「You don't have to apologize, you know. You have your own circumstances ………. Even though I don't know what you're going to do, I know you have some sort of purpose. 」

Celia said so when she was worried about Rio's pale face at the moment.

「Sensei …………. 」

「Instead, I should be the one to apologize to you. I mean, I became a burden to you during these times. 」

"That's not true . 」

Rio denied that in an instant.

「I know you'll say it. But ……………. I think I have a huge debt to you. I'm feeling this mistake because you're helping me all the time. That's why, will you let me know if you need my help? Because I'll help you as long as it's within my capabilities. 」

After a long sigh, Celia told Rio her thoughts while smiling.

"……Yes.Iya . 」

Rio nodded with a big smile on his face.

Then how long will it take for your trip this time? 」

After looking at each other for a while, Celia asked with a slightly embarrassed face.

「Along two months. One month at the fastest. As for the supply of magical power for Aisia, her consumption was so small in her spirit form that there was no problem in that. The problem is that when he materializes, it's here just in case. 」

After saying that, Rio placed the small bag and metal bracelet on the table. Celia's eyes were fixed on the table.

"Whatis that? 」

「Bracelets are a magical item. The magic item used spirit gems embedded on it as the core but, you Aisia can suck magical power from it if you supply it with your previous magic power. It is also used to strengthen and .. strengthen your magic power. You can use powerful magic with a minimum amount of magic power as long as you have it. TL [TL: Did Rio just give her some sort of legendary grade accessory?] [ED: it's not even close to legendary. Probably higher because he's mediocre about it. ]

「Against your word, not a substitute …………. 」

Celia said so with a narrow face after hearing the effect of the bracelet from Rio. [ED: view]

「I'll leave this for you now. The magical power of Sensei is vast in human standards, so you might be able to supply the magical power to Aisia by opening a temporary path. But, I feel bad if Aisia materializes. 」

「Yah ……………. Exactly . 」

Celia agreed as she gritted her teeth. Although hers paled in comparison to Rio's baseless reserves of magic power, it wasn't easy to cause supernatural-like phenomena called spirits to materialize themselves. So it is easy to imagine the amount of magical power required to maintain its materialized state. Moreover, to say, when spirits use magic in the middle of battle, the consumption of magical power is further accelerated.

Aisia could at least keep the exact amount of magical power she needed but, if she wanted to maintain her materialized condition when separated from her contractor, the amount she saved was far from enough.

「Bi-If you say the value of some people ………. I can't believe I can do it. 」

「I made this for that one special problem. It was made with quite good quality spirit stones. Actually I want to make another magic tool for sensei but, my supplies are limited. 」

Rio said so with a wry smile on his face.

「Ahaha ……………. . Looks like I'm in your care again right? 」

Responding to Celia who said that with a disappointed expression—,

「Uhm, then, here I have something for you in this little bag ………. . 」

Rio said shyly.

「U-Uhn. What'sthat's it? 」

「Sisa the rest of the travel expenses given to me by earl Claire. 」

Saying so, Rio gave the small bag that was still filled to the brim with gold coins to Celia.

「EH? B-From dear father …………. Why are you giving this to me? 」

Celia surprised.

「Yes, the total is 200 gold coins. Please accept. 」

「………………. . No . This is for you . Didn't my father say that? 」

Celia resolutely rejected the small bag and pushed it back to Rio.

「Well, what should I do with this? This money should be more useful for sensei funds for your activities in Restoration but …………. . I can't accept this either because I'm just using this little bit of money. Aren't you going to have different types of expenses in the near future? So how about using this because this is your father's money? 」

「………………………. Ha ~, I'll borrow this money from you then. I will definitely pay it back. 」

Celia looked at Rio who was playing mute for a while and took the money with a slight sneer. It was clear to him that it would turn into an endless debate with Rio, on the spot, if he did not take the money.

"Yes . 」

Rio agreed cheerfully.

◇ ◇ ◇

And the next day. Rio's day of departure has arrived. In the morning, He went to the southern port bordering the city to escort him away as he rode the magic ship Liselotte up to Almond.

The big shots of Recovery were gathered at that port as well along with Christina who represented them to welcome Rio.

「In the end I can't pay most of my debt to you. You even returned Alfred's sword. 」

Christina said so with a grim face.

「If it's just a sharp sword, I already have it, moreover I can't easily accept that national treasure sword. So, please pass the sword to a qualified sword user. 」

Rio shook his head while smiling wryly.

Rio was in charge of guarding the sword after he defeated Alfred, but he returned the sword before his departure. Although Christina told him that she could take the sword, Rio respectfully rejected the idea.

Because the sword might come along with the danger of someone coming to the sword, or such a big problem was misunderstood in noble society because he became too close to the Restoration.

"……I understand . In that case, if you are going to meet Celia-sensei again, please show this brooch to enter the noble district. You can use this instead of a pass card. 」

「.............................. Understood. Thank you very much . 」

Rio respectfully took the brooch from Christina. Although the design of the brooch was similar to the emblem officially used by Christina, Rio was unaware of such things.

It took a bit of a pause before he picked up the brooch as he considered the possibility of whether there were more uses for the brooch than a simple pass. But then, she could not resist something given by a princess in the midst of the public eye without a justified reason, she had no choice but to obediently accept it.

Prying about the brooch would also bring about unwanted trouble as it could be considered disrespectful, so Rio decided to immediately change the subject. Ignorance is happiness.

「By the way, are you okay, Kouta-kun? This way you'll be taken to Almond. 」

Rio looked at Kouta who came with him. For some reason he said he wanted to leave Rodania yesterday.

On the other hand, Rei decided to stay in Rodania. Although it was not like they were fighting, Rio felt that the atmosphere between them was awkward.

「I can't help it if that's the intention. But, I would be happy to bring her back if she wanted to come back. The tail depends on him. Since he will be active around the Almond afterwards, please tell Miss Liselotte to witness his safety. 」

For some reason, Christina said it with a somewhat gloomy expression. Despite being worried about his safety, he continued to stand up not to force it.

"…… I see . Of course 」

Sighing, Rio then nodded at her. Because Rio felt the same way as Christina. Although there would be some danger, there was some kind of stubbornness in Kouta's atmosphere so half-baked interference would only produce the opposite effect.

「………. If possible, I would like to beg Mr. Amakawa to keep him safe within your reach, or at the very least give him some advice. 」

「Of course, I don't mind doing that until we reach Almond. 」

Rio replied thus with a wry smile on his face to Christina who was bowing to him.

A while later, Rio-tachi departed from Almond. In the end Rio ended his farewell with Celia with light words as he had already said a good farewell to Celia the night before. They boarded the magic ship after she finished saying goodbye to Vanessa and Rei and arrived in Almond in the afternoon of the same day.

◇ ◇ ◇

And then, the night of the next day. One magical ship landed on Lake Rodania. Despite the emergency landing, the Recovery immediately identified the magical ship from the flag. In the blink of an eye, the noble district of Rodania became restless.

Christina who came quickly gave the order to save the people. The pale-faced crew on the magic ship was trembling in fear.

The captain of the ship was the highest priority for now, they then heard the story of the crew. They heard a shocking truth from the captain of the magic ship.

After the rescue team arrived at the port with the crew of the magic ship, Christina and the big shots of Recovery who had been waiting there—, Christina,

「Please report what really happened. 」

Christina gave a clear order. Although the commander of the rescue team showed a puzzled face, probably because he had already prepared himself—,

「T-Armada escorting his great daughter Flora towards Rodania is attacked by a black-b dragon. Other escort ships are ………. . Completely annihilated. Their ship seems to be the only one who managed to escape from total destruction. 」

He reported it with a shrill voice.

At that moment, Christina felt like she had just fallen from a height. The shock he received was so strong that the heaven and earth were upside down. His mind stopped working.

「………………. Destroyed? What about Flora? What the hell happened to him? 」

Christina somehow managed to ask that question. But–,

「T-Ship of the second princess, ship Flora-sama seems to be the first ship to be destroyed ……. . 」

The answer to the question is simply.