The request for help was heard.
But nobody could do anything. It was not like they had any serious injury, it was not like they were far away from their goal, and it was not like they didn't have any transport to get there. The reason why they were not helping was because of their own stand and the political problem.
The one who had sent out the SOS was the British Royal Family's specialized long distance carriage.
In truth, this carriage originally should have had a perfect protection net, in a magical sense. From when the carriage was made, someone quipped that even if this planet was to be cut in half, it was unlikely for this carriage to release an SOS signal. This carriage should already have been strengthened to such an extent, and it was already far stronger than the special nun's habit Walking Church. This was a combination of all the techniques and history of this large magical country called Great Britain; forming the 'Moving Iron Wall', the name for this Royal Family carriage. No attacker could probably get away with it.
But an SOS. could be heard from that carriage.
This thing couldn't possibly happen in ordinary situations.
And the meaning behind it was simple.
This was a 'deal' that arose due to political reasons.
The third princess of England became that abandoned Chess piece.
Along the Straits of Dover, the Knights could only listen silently to that anguish plea for help.
Everyone could only grit their teeth and grip their fists, as if their palms were going to bleed.
The Knights of England were meant to prevent the 3 factions and 4 cultures of England from breaking up, and they were willing to sacrifice their lives in order to protect those from the Royal Family.
The men of the Knights of England who were in planning were often stuck in such harsh conditions. Thus, they were able to guess the situation.
The people who had abducted the third princess of England were the Spanish Astrological Sect. They were one of the few major factions in the Roman Catholic Church. Ever since Queen Elizabeth I buried their Invincible Fleet, there had been quite some history between the Spanish and English magic sects.
The reason why the English Royal Family would completely ignore this was because they hoped to use this chance to launch an attack on the Spanish Astrological Sect. Because of the spread of Christianity during the Age of Discovery, most of the old cultures in South America were still controlled by the Spanish Astrological Sect. England wanted to take this influence of South America back from the Roman Catholic Church and the Spanish Astrological Sect and expand. And the third princess of England didn't really have any huge power. In comparison to a continent, she became a sacrifice.
It was the Knights' job to protect the Princess.
Even if there weren't any cries for rescue, it was natural for them to be near the Princess. Besides, it was impossible for them to ignore this plea for help in front of them.
However,
Only now, only in this instant, did the Knights of England have to become stone.
France had declared that they would settle this magic battle near the Straits of Dover and requested England not worry. In truth, the hidden meaning behind it was that before the battle reached English soil, they wouldn't take action.
"…"
William Orville walked out of a tent in this camp of the Knights of England.
There was a light that continued to shine opposite the Straits of Dover. That wasn't a light from a lighthouse, the light that came from French territory was the aftermath of the magic attacks launched by the Spanish Astrological Sect.
"Are you going?"
A voice came from behind him.
William turned around, and standing there was the leader of the Knights of England, Knight Leader. Unlike Acqua, he exuded elegance, and this was because of his upbringing. And because he continued to serve those with the Royal blood, he had to understand all the workings and rituals in the castles and palaces.
William Orville however was merely a mercenary who worked for whoever paid him money.
A Knight Leader who would risk his life for his own country, normally, these two people were as incompatible as water and fire.
But in reality, both of them would go out and drink when they were free, and Knight Leader tried many times to tempt William to join the Knights of England, but William always refused. But every time, after a battle on any certain place on Earth, he would naturally come back to England just to have a drink. These two were completely different people, whether in terms of status, position, battle methods, way of living; but incredibly, these two identified with each other well.
Thus, Knight Leader knew what William was thinking as he said nothing and walked out of the tent.
"As people who protect the country, you people have things that can't be said, and being the shield of the country's people, this would be seen as the intention of the country. Seems like we can't just casually barge into French Territory and do whatever we want to the Spanish Astrological Sect, right?"
William set the large mace on his shoulder and said silently,
"But I'm different, I'm just a mercenary. Even if I'm to go overboard in my actions, it would be completely irrelevant to what England thinks, and won't represent England at all."
"Do you think I'll let you go alone?"
Knight Leader opened his lips.
"Even if you're a mercenary, I can't just leave it to you alone. With that damned luck of yours, you can't possibly die, but from the Princess' standpoint, how can I allow a nameless mercenary to protect her? Even if she's only 14, she's almost at a suitable age to marry. It'd be a country's crisis if she was taken away by someone who's possibly of ill reputation."
"Are you listening to me?"
Acqua said impatiently.
He realized that all these objections that Knight Leader raised were just some flimsy made-up excuses.
And to Knight Leader himself, this was just nothing more than a joke.
Those two only exchanged looks, to the state where even their breathing was in sync.
They had such great chemistry.
"You're saying that the Knights that support England can't do anything in this situation?"
Knight Leader said, and then pulled out something like a pure gold medal from his chest. This was the proof of his bloodline; the patterns on the shield-shaped medal had his family crest. It was his identification medal. Knight Leader looked a bit lonely as he stared at the medal, and finally released his hand.
Without even looking at the identification medal that dropped onto the floor, Knight Leader gazed into Acqua's eyes seriously.
"I'll lose my right as a Knight, so let me go as well. The distress signal's still being released, that means that the third princess is still alive."
"I see, as expected of what you would do."
William Orville knew of his determination, and revealed a slight smile.
Like Knight Leader, he knew all these. They were drinking partners, and they were extremely clear of what each other's like.
And because they each understood, Acqua was a comrade that he could rely on to cover his back.
Knight Leader looked uneasy as he saw the flickering light, prompting William.
"Hurry up, even if we don't do anything, the carriage's defensive capabilities should be functional…since this is something that the 'Royal Family' is taking part in directly, we can't hope for the defenses to continue on. Got to get there fast."
"You're right."
William wholeheartedly agreed, and the next moment, his fist slammed hard into Knight Leader's abdomen. With a heavy sound, Knight Leader had a look of disbelief as he stared at William's face.
"What…are you doing…?"
"Nope, I can't let you go. You should understand that."
William kept his fist back, and Knight Leader lost support as he fell onto the floor. Even so, Knight Leader, who had underwent rigorous training, didn't lose consciousness completely. But William didn't look at Knight Leader for even one bit, only saying,
"I used my identity as a mercenary to allow myself to move about freely on all the battlefields in the world, but I can't enter the English Castle or Palace. Only you can do that."
"Wil…liam…"
"If you really want to protect the third princess, you have to look ahead at the future, not just now. With such a ploy to fight for the throne, it seems like the same thing will happen to the third Princess again. At that time, it's better to have someone accompany her. Protect her well, Knight Leader, not just the third Princess, but also the 'Royal Family' who have become so corrupted. This is not something I can do as a mercenary, this is something that only you as a Knight can do."
"WIIILLLLIIIIAAAAMMMM OOORRRVVVIIIILLLEEE!!!"
Abandoning Knight Leader who was shouting on the floor, William headed towards the battlefield.
Knight Leader once heard of a magic name.
It belonged to a mercenary.
Flere210.
"The time for me to proclaim my name has arrived, my name—'The one who changes the reason of tears'!!"
Smack down in the middle of England and France,
Was William Orville, who could manipulate water spells, and was breaking past the country boundary.