The Bell Tolls

「You're in there, aren't you, Healer?! If you don't come out, your friends are dead!」

Gorja's voice reached Paula, who was busy healing the injured inside. When she heard the word “friend”, the first person that came to her mind was Lavia. Paula thought that perhaps she made a mistake while she was trying to disable the blast cannon and got captured.

「I-I have to go!」

「My lady! You can't go!」

Galixon reached out his hand, but Paula was faster. As Gorja suspected, she wasn't that far from the field of battle. The light from the magic light soon shone in her eyes.

「Wait…」

It wasn't Lavia who was captured, but Luke and his company. Paula felt relief, but it was still a dire situation all the same. As people she knew a little, she couldn't just sit back and watch them die.

Hikaru and the girls didn't expect Luke and the others to be used as hostages. After all, their death would strain diplomatic relations with Vireocean.

Yet here they are, using them as hostages… Does this mean they've been really cornered worse than what we antic.i.p.ated? Or is there some other reason? She wracked her brains, but couldn't come up with anything.

『Bring her back inside!』Duinkler yelled.

『We will come up with the terms!』Ludend said.

Although confused, Paula's bodyguards positioned themselves as though to protect her. Steeling herself, she walked forward.

I'm sure Hikaru-sama doesn't want them to die here either!

Paula was starting to think “what would Hikaru do”. Ludend smiled as she approached, though it was Gorja who spoke in his stead.

「If you come here, we'll ensure your safety. Anyone who follows you will be guaranteed safe as well. You men have nothing to do with this battle. But if you wish to side with Duinkler, the lives of the hostages are forfeit.」Gorja placed a blade on Luke Landon's shoulder.

「Masked Healer…」Duinkler said, wearing a distressed expression.「We want you on our side at any cost. This nation needs a king. What they're doing is wrong. Very bad.」

Duinkler clenched his fist in frustration. 『I should've studied the language more! I can't convey what I want to say properly. Where's Deena when you need her?!』he said bitterly. Unfortunately among the people present, only Duinkler could speak Paula's language fluently enough.

If I stay here, it'll turn into a battle of attrition. Who will win, we won't know. But that means Luke and his men will die, Paula thought. If I go, me and the bodyguards will be safe. But the king will be killed and the nation will change. What would Hikaru want?

The answer was simple. Hikaru already discussed it beforehand.

Either way is not good.

It wasn't as though Hikaru considered a situation in which either the king or Luke would be killed. He just wanted to save as many lives as possible. That is also why Lavia went to disable the blast cannon. The weapon could kill many people in one shot, and the catalyst used for it was rare and had other uses.

What do I do? What do I do?

As Paula's gaze wandered around the place, she noticed someone on top of the palace wall, seemingly blending in with the darkness, yet showing glimpses of their silver mask.

Lavichan!

Lavia used her right forefinger to draw circles in the air.

A circle? What does that mean?!

Paula was confused. This time, Lavia pointed her finger to the sky and slowly turned it horizontally.

What? The stars? Stars going down? Ah, you mean time? You want me to buy time?

She couldn't confirm it. Paula believed Lavia was smarter than her, so she decided to follow her instruction.

「I have a few questions.」Paula started.

Lavia nodded and disappeared into the darkness. Paula actually guessed right. Lavia wanted her to buy time. Except, Lavia drew circles to denote the hands of a clock, and pointing her finger from up to down meant the rising and setting of the sun. Paula didn't get that, but it worked out in the end.

「Questions?」Gorja looked suspicious. He turned to Ludend.「Fine, go ahead.」he said.

「Err… first, what do you mean by my safety will be guaranteed?」

「You will leave the battlefield, but we will have a few men watch you. I believe that works.」

「I healed the guards. You won't charge me for that crime?」

「Of course not. In fact, we want you to heal every injured person once this is all over. We won't hurt you.」

「Well… I have quite a lot of bodyguards…」

「How many are there?」

「Right now, I believe about sixteen.」

「Sixteen?! That's a lot.」

Gorja talked to Ludend once more. The chief nodded with a sullen look.

「That's fine. On two conditions: they will be disarmed, and Galixon the Hundredman will have his hands tied with a rope.」

Hundredman? He had such an alias? Paula thought, eyeing Galixon.

「A thing of the past.」Galixon said, sounding embarra.s.sed.

「Do you have any other questions?」

「Yes.」

「Really? Shoot.」

「Um… err…」

Paula had no idea what to say. She couldn't come up with anything that would buy more time.

「Well? Talk.」

「Uhm… you see…」

「Wait a minute…」

「Open… Open a path for me! I can't get through otherwise.」

「…Very well.」

Gorja asked for Ludend's opinion. The chief once again nodded with the same expression. There seemed to be a lot of soldiers crammed on their side. As Gorja gave the instruction, they all started moving in droves. It looked like it would take some time.

「Lady Healer, you will not help us?」Duinkler asked.

「Th-That's not it. I'm just buying time.」

「Buy time? I see. Wait for sunrise.」

Wait for sunrise? Really? Paula wasn't sure.

「Please tell them I'm just going back inside to get my things!」Paula left running.

「Wait, Lady Healer!」

Is this okay? I don't know. What do I do, Hikaru-sama?

Fifteen minutes had pa.s.sed since Paula went back inside the palace.

「Where is she?!」

All the soldiers had moved aside and the path was ready for the Healer. But she hadn't come back yet.

『Gorja, kill one of the hostages.』

『Are you sure about that, Sir? That might make them harder to cooperate.』

『We're racing against time! As long as the Healer is out of the way, we can force our way through in just thirty minutes!』

『You're right. Then—』

Gorja drew his sword and thrust it at Luke Landon.

「You're not a warrior.」Luke said.「Taking people hostage through sneak attacks. Is that this country's way of doing things?!」

「This will be a turning point in history. Sacrifices are necessary for change. Now die.」Gorja swung his sword downwards.

「P-Please wait! Don't do it!」

Paula appeared. She was actually watching the situation from the shadows, waiting until the last second before coming out.

「There you are.」Gorja said.「Consider yourself lucky.」he added, this time directed at Luke.

The sword's tip had sliced a few strands of Luke's hair before it stopped. Luke gazed at Paula, grinding his teeth in frustration, as though clenching at his inability to do anything.

「Come here quick, Healer.」

「I-I still have some questions…」

「We've had enough of your questions!」

Paula gave a start as Gorja raised his sword once more.

No… I can't buy any more time. What do I do? Lavichan! Paula's gaze darted around, but she couldn't find Lavia.

「Thank you for everything you've done, Lady Healer.」Duinkler bowed deeply. Galixon and the bodyguards and the soldiers all looked surprised.

「Even now, you are trying to do everything you can. We are grateful for that.」Duinkler said—Duinkler, who was known as a vindictive man.「But from here on, it's our nation's problem. Please go.」

Paula realized there was nothing more she could do.

「Thank you, Healer.」

「You saved me a number of times.」

「We were able to make it this far because of you.」

The soldiers expressed their grat.i.tude one by one and bowed as well.

「I…」

「My lady.」

Urged by Galixon, Paula started walking. Surrounded by bowing men, it looked like she was a priest, and the soldiers were devotees opening up a path for her.

Don't show weakness. Stay strong. All I can do now is give them courage.

She was exhausted. Her gray robe was covered in blood. Still, she walked with her head held high, eyes in front and holding back tears. She looked like a spiritual person walking on a difficult path of religion.

Gorja watched her blankly with mouth wide open. As she approached him, he cleared a path for her.

Paula walked the battlefield, pa.s.sing right by the middle. Under the quiet, dark night, only Paula and sixteen warriors trudged slowly.

It was then that Paula spotted Lavia on top of a roof beyond the palace walls. Drake was on top of her head.

Drake is awake…

Lavia raised both her hands as though telling her not to stop.

What? Really? But I don't know how I can buy any more time…

Paula stopped in her tracks. Everyone stared at her, wondering what was happening. She didn't even know what to do at this point.

「Uhm…」

I have to say something, she thought.

A bell rang. Four successive low-pitched tolls from the bell tower.

『I've never heard of this outside of drills.』Galixon muttered in shock.『It's an emergency evacuation of all citizens.』