Chapter 853 – Meanwhile, on the Ground -3-

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Contrary to the situation in the fortress being favorable to Cleon and his party, the situation on the ground was moving rather quickly.

First, there were simultaneous incidents of automata disguised as Cleon attacking people at the shelter, and some people could not stand it and ran away from the shelter.

Once the government army or anti-ghost troops entered such a place and suppressed the automata, it was inevitable that the government army, which was already lacking in personnel, would become even more scarce.

In the end, there was no choice but to request support from the main unit guarding the palace.

Fortunately, there were no deaths.

“Thank you, Miss Noctis. I never would have thought that he was planning to imitate Cleon and harm people.”

Herti, who was leading the evacuation of people with his adoptive father, expressed his gratitude to a girl named Noctis who came riding a huge bird along the way.

Thanks to this, we were able to quickly convey the full story of the incident to the employees of the company stationed at the shelter, so they could prepare, and were able to give instructions not to allow the automata disguised as Cleon into the underground shelter.

All that remains is to stabilize the shelter where panic occurred before the command was delivered and evacuate the people who escaped to the ground again underground.

“Oh, no. I am truly glad that Herti was of help…”

Noctis answered Herti’s words, stuttering as if he was a little nervous, and swallowed her saliva.

＇This person… Is the mistress of the Dark Dragon Company. This is my first time seeing it this close. I’ve heard that she’s a person who seems a little removed from the world, but is she really blind?

When Noctis heard that Herti was a blind person who walked by relying on the sound of a cat’s bell, he thought that she must be a very fragile person.

When I saw her up close, I saw that she was so healthy that I couldn’t believe she was blind, and she was acting as if she could see.

It was before Noctis’ adoptive father died that she became the owner of the Dark Dragon Company.

And his advice to Herti is not to even think about selling her identity.

It reminds me of what she said: It is because, in turn, it leads to the benefit of Asteris and the safety of the people.

Noctis still didn’t know the reason, but since it was the words of his father, who did not give in to any injustice and risked his life to investigate corruption, it had to be a lie if he didn’t care.

I thought that if I had the chance to get close to her, I would be able to learn a little about him, but after meeting her in person, I felt like I still didn’t know.

You could tell that she was not an ordinary person just by being close to her, but she felt a sense of discomfort as to what exactly was unusual about her.

Moreover – a woman named Kalia who is by her side.

As far as I know, she is Herty’s secretary, an old friend, and like her family.

Noctis secretly sensed that her eyes changed slightly when she saw herself, but she only felt that she did not know the reason.

‘Do you really know my identity?’

Until now, she had never revealed her identity to anyone except Cleon, even if it was the newspaper boss who treated her like his daughter.

Is it a bit of excessive worry or imagination that she, the secretary of the Dark Dragon Company, knows information that cannot be counted no matter where you try to count it?

＂… Herti. We too, slowly.”

And then, as if she was wary of Noctis talking to her at length, Calia came in between the two’s conversation.

“That’s right… Let’s go back to the business office first and check if there are any employees who haven’t evacuated yet, and then we—”

Herti nodded her head at Calia’s words and tried to decide her next move.

That is, until the next moment, when a loud explosion was heard from the palace where Miyeom-gong was.

With the vibration shaking the ground, all three of Herti, Calia, and Noctis flinched, and Zuzu fluttered in surprise, flying up into the sky and landing.

＂Po, binge-drinking…? Which direction is it?”

When Herti spoke while gently straightening her back, Calia frowned and answered while looking towards the palace.

＂Anyway, something seems to have happened to Lord Miyeom.＂

＂Herti! Are you okay!”

At that time, when Lionel, who was reassuring people in a nearby underground shelter, quickly runs up the stairs, Herti nods his head and looks back, although he still looks worried.

“Yes, it’s okay, father? However, the direction from which the heavy drinking occurred was towards the royal palace…”

＂What…!?＂

“Maybe the palace was attacked by the enemy.”

At Calia’s words, Lionel looked unusually embarrassed and at the same time put his hand to his forehead as if trying to calm himself down and find a way to resolve the situation.

And after a while, he is talking to Calia.

“Kalia. Go to the palace and support Miyeom-gong.”

＂Father?＂

When Lionel said that, Noctis and Herti looked a little surprised, and Calia kept her mouth shut for a moment, then looked at Herti next to her with concern.

＂But, if that happens, Herti…＂

“I won’t protect Herti. Don’t worry, Bahamut is there too.”

＂Hey-ong.＂

As if responding to Lionel’s words, when Bahamut cried, Calia looked at him for a moment and then stroked his head.

“All right. Because it was ‘that kind of contract.'”

Calia mumbled something like that, and she quietly pulled out the hairpin she had put on her head and placed it in Herti’s hand.

Her black hair, which was usually tied up more neatly and neatly than anyone else’s, began to flow down and become long and disheveled.

“Herti, please do me a favor. Please keep it.”

At the same time, her tone – speaking as she did when she was younger, when she was like her sister, Herti held her hairpin, said nothing for a moment, and then nodded. Br〉

“… Okay, I have to come back safely.”

Herti said this as if she was asking her to do so, and sent her on her way.

When Calia lightly nods her head and runs towards the road in the direction where the palace is located, Noctis stays silent for a moment as if he is at a loss for words and then speaks to Lionel.

“─Why her? No matter where you look at Kalia, it looks like she is not a combatant.”

She definitely felt that her eyes were sharp, but she didn’t feel like she lived there.

Lionel answers Noctis’ question by looking back at her.

“When it comes to judging whether a person has the power to fight or not, there is nothing more uncertain than her appearance.”

However, Lionel responded as if he believed that his judgment was correct.

＂Her person, she has the strength to fight that others don’t have. That too – she was originally protecting Herty by borrowing her power to protect the royal palace.”

So, according to the contract, if something happens to the palace or the royal family, you must participate in the war as if giving back your strength to protect it.

Lionel didn’t say that much, but it was relayed too Noctis to some extent.

“Okay then, let’s move slowly. The situation is becoming more urgent than expected. If you don’t act quickly, you’ll fall prey to their next move.”

“Yes. Miss Noctis, please go back to the shelter now.”

When Herti said that to him, Noctis hesitated for a moment.

I myself want to do something more for Asteris when Cleon returns.

But, is there anything more that can be done for someone who can’t fight?

Rather, her will was gradually weakening, fearing that if she remained on the ground and was targeted, she would be a hindrance to others.

Lionel’s hand is placed on her shoulder.

The hand was hard and firm, like a rock, but even Noctis could tell that he was trying to reassure the anxious-looking Noctis.

＂I know very well that you become impatient when a crisis is right in front of you, little girl. However, as the saying goes, the right place for the right person, the battlefield is divided into those who go to fight and those who support the fight behind the scenes.”

“It’s just as my father said. Thanks to Miss Noctis, we were able to respond to the automata attackers.”

You have done a big enough job, says Herti.

Noctis looked at the two people, and she could only nod her head quietly.

As the two people said, there is no need to be impatient.

She could not fight like Cleon, nor did she have the power to move people like Herti.

But, that doesn’t mean she had no intention of being satisfied and settling for that.

“… All right. Well then, I’ll just leave. Both of you, please be careful.”

While Noctis said that, he climbed on Zuzu’s back next to him.

“If you two get hurt, a lot of people will definitely be sad.”

Unlike himself, who was still nothing, both Herti and Lionel were people who were respected by many people in Asteris.

After saying that they should worry about their own safety more than anyone else, Noctis climbed onto Zuzu’s back and flew into the sky.

＂… Father, she…＂

And, not long after her pretense of popularity disappeared, she quietly opened her mouth.

Then, Lionel nodded her head.

“Ah. She is the daughter of an old friend of mine. She grew up quite well.”

As Lionel said that, he relaxed his shoulders.

“At this age, running around Asteris still takes its toll on you.”

“I’ll give you a massage when I’m done with work.”

As Herti spoke playfully, Lionel smiled wryly as she sighed.

“I have no choice but to admit that there is nothing better for this body than your poor massage.”

“Oh. I am also much better now. Kalia became my practice partner.”

Herti says so, and she goes to the Chamber of Commerce with Bahamut.

So that the people waiting for his return and guarding the commercial building can evacuate with peace of mind.