Act 16- The Knight's Respite

Act 16- The Knight's Holidays.
Seirei Gensouki 16 - Kishi no Kyuujitsu (精霊幻想記16.騎士の休日).

Summary
The Knight that fulfilled his revenge, reaches the place he wanted to return to...

Rio escaped successfully the unexpected assault on the Rubia kingdom and delivered Bertram's sister princesses safely to Galarc's kingdom royal castle. While the big nations continue the information exchange about a series of disturbing moves Rio will be rewarded with a house in Galarc's capital for his achievements until now. Also, Galarc's princess, Charlotte, who doesn't hide her love, will take a furious approach with Rio. Do the two of you intend to get married with Haruto? On the holidays of the knight who overcame his fight the girls' love shakes greatly.

Prologue: Reunion
After learning that Rio has just arrived bringing Christina and Flora with him François decides to have them guided to the room where everyone was already gathered after the marriage interview, when Hugenot, Hiroaki and Roana finally arrive again to the room where François stayed with Satsuki, Charlotte, Liselotte and her parents, the conversation begins. 

François looks at Rio with a face half troubled, half giving up that he’s a man that always goes beyond his expectations, at the same time everyone looks at Rio with similar expressions. Rio apologizes for the uproar with a troubled face and François answers laughing that he was praising him, that the surprise was just too strong and he was a little overwhelmed. Charlotte boasts a little about how her prediction about Rio accumulating more and more achievements in no time at all was spot on while François smiles at her. 

François now states that Christina’s and Flora’s survival was even more surprising than hearing about how he rescued Miharu from Takatrash and apologizes for not praising that before because that is something really important for the Galarc kingdom and Restoration. Duke Huguenot thanks Rio in the name of Restoration, Roana cries while saying that the safety of the Princesses is most important. Hiroaki also congratulates their return without any feeling in it. He is still is in a bad mood for being rejected and trying to keep Liselotte out of his sight.

Flora thanks them for the feeling and says that thanks to Rio they’re already back, Hiroaki makes a complicated face and François asks now why did they go missing and why is Rio with them. Christina notes that as she expected, the message from the Rubia Kingdom wasn't sent. She takes a deep breath, looks at Rio, makes a serious face and says that from now on she will tell step by step what happened to them, that it will be long so first they should listen to her story and save the questions for later.

Chapter 1: Report
After Christina finished her explanation, François states that Christina’s and Flora’s return is a happy thing but that there isn’t time to enjoy it because it seems undeniable that the Proxia empire is behind their kidnapping. Christina agrees because Lucius’ subordinates were certainly connected to the Proxia empire. Duke Huguenot reports to them that Celia saw Reis in Restoration’s headquarters at the same time that the magic ship transporting the Princesses arrived in Rodania and the uproar about their disappearance began. They worry about Celia, but Huguenot tells them next that she’s safe and that Reis ran away the moment he was discovered, Rio thinks to himself that he may hear about what really happened when he returns to Rodania, that maybe Aisia protected Celia then and promises himself to go back the moment he has the chance. 

Now François talks about how for the time being there isn’t evidence enough for accusing the Proxia empire of anything but the Rubia kingdom is different. That Galarc and Restoration must break their alliances with them and that he will send a formal complaint about the assault to Rio, Christina and Flora. Christina agrees and says she will issue one as well. Hiroaki asks if that won’t be useless, Christina agrees to that, that with the alliance broken, the chance of their complaints being ignored is high. Hiroaki then asks why to complain if they understand that it will be useless, François then explains to him that for attacking the Rubia kingdom in retaliation, they have to cross another small kingdom in the way and it’s likely to be impossible to make them agree to let their troops through their lands. Christina also explains that Restoration doesn’t have the strength to war with another country. Hiroaki believes that they will be underestimated if they don’t do anything. 

François says that he intends to take reprisals against them through other allied small kingdoms and to publicize their bad acts. Plus that Rubia will troubled too if he just makes Rio, the most affected person this time, rampage alone through Rubia’s capital in revenge. François checks Rio’s reaction while laughing and Rio just says to him to not jest with a stiff and troubled face. Satsuki protests to the King's statement, saying he shouldn't make Rio do something so extreme, François laughs it off as a joke and that he doesn’t have the authority to move Rio. Satsuki tries to scold him saying that even if he has the authority such a dangerous action is pointless, François then says that he doesn’t know about the Proxia empire but that if Rio were to rampage in Rubia’s capital, they will be the ones in danger. 

Hiroaki laughs mockingly. Satsuki pouts saying that she can’t deny such a scenario, but that it will still be dangerous and that Rio would gain the enmity of the entire country that way. Christina agrees with Satsuki and says that she doesn’t want to have her savior to do something so dangerous. Hiroaki sulks when he listens to Christina worrying about Rio. Charlotte adds that she wants Rio to accumulate more achievements but that she doesn’t want him to be feared. Rio responds with a troubled face that everyone is overestimating him and wonders in his head just what everyone think he is, because he felt that everyone is really convinced that he alone is enough to damage seriously a country. At the same time everyone looks at him as if wanting to say with their gazes, just what is this guy saying. 

Charlotte now asks Liselotte about Rio’s lesser known achievements like when he saved her life and Flora’s before Amande’s raid, then she begins to list all of Rio’s achievements: from Amande’s defense, Flora’s rescue from Lucius, repelling the black wyvern, defeating Alfred and sending back Bertram’s five thousand army, Lucius’ defeat again and finally his victory against Rubia’s troops during the assault and asks if they’re really overestimating him. Rio says that it’s an honor but that if it’s about defending the royal capital he’s sure that the Rubia kingdom will prepare strong warriors. Charlotte says that the only famous warrior in the Rubia Kingdom is Silvie and that by Christina’s story she doesn’t stand a chance against Rio. Rio insists that the fifth hero was there too. Satsuki asks if he hadn’t already defeated that hero too during the assault. Rio affirms that he defeated him but that he didn’t really fight with him that much, and that he pulled back before the fight was resolved. 

Hiroaki asks if the opponent was really a hero, Rio believes he was. He wielded a halberd that controlled ice, like the other divine weapons. Hiroaki doesn't think a hero can be defeated that easily. Satsuki retorts that he seems against the idea that the heroes can be defeated, and she asks him if he believes that he can beat Rio. Hiroaki remembers his duel with Rio and shuts up. Charlotte asks Christina and Flora how the fight between Rio and Renji look to them. Christina said that Rio overwhelmed him and Lucius' subordinates from beginning to end, while looking at Rio’s troubled face. Flora said that it was incredible with shining eyes while nodding strongly. Charlotte pouts, saying that she wanted to see it too and that she’s envious. Satsuki retorts saying not to be, because she would have had to be kidnapped too to be there. Hiroaki sarcastically states that it’s certainly enviable, that he keeps being more like a hero than the real heroes. Roana is by his side, gets completely stiff when hearing him. 

François decides to end the jokes about Rio’s strength and says that even if it’s better and faster to send Rio alone there, he won’t do that. Hiroaki states that Rio’s achievements don’t matter, whats important is what they will do about the Rubia kingdom. François says that publicizing their bad acts with a hero on their side may be really troublesome. Talking to them and finding a realistic way of imposing sanctions on them is the only way. Christina agrees and says that the Rubia kingdom can’t be forgiven, and that if they try to hide behind their hero they will take appropriate measures. 

Now François asks how is it that Rio found Christina’s and Flora’s location. Rio explains that he heard from a certain source that Lucius was working as mercenary around the Paladia kingdom and that he went to Paladia’s capital to gather more information. When he arrived there, Prince Duran was organizing a contest where he promised to fulfill the wish of anyone strong enough to resist a serious attack from him. He participated to ask for information on Lucius because he heard that they were acquaintances. Charlotte then guesses that Rio passed Duran’s trial without problem and got the information from him. Rio confirms and says that he was told to go to the village where Christina and Flora were. 

Now François wonders if Duran and the Paladia kingdom were involved in Christina’s and Flora’s kidnapping, Christina says that she doesn’t really trust Duran but that she doesn’t think he was involved in the kidnapping. If he was an accomplice, it would have better to have them teleported directly to Paladia’s royal castle rather than the middle of the forest.  

François agrees but stops. Christina asks what is his concern, Francois responds that if Paladia’s involvement is unlikely due to them being sent to the middle of the forest, then the same could apply to the Proxia empire. Hiroaki asks him to explain. The King explains that if the Proxia empire hired the mercenaries for kidnapping Christina and Flora, then it’s strange to not have them teleported directly to Proxia’s castle. Sending them to another country and even consulting with its royalty just raises the risk of being exposed. He thinks that having them sent to Paladia’s forest was Lucius’ plan for using them as hostages against Rio. Christina doesn’t want Rio to feel guilty about it, and tries to argue that it was because the Proxia empire wanted it that way so they could sever ties with Lucius if needed. François agrees that it’s obvious to make your dirty work difficult to tie back to you but that Lucius didn’t seem to be careful about that. 

Hiroaki summarizes that the chance of Lucius kidnapping Christina and Flora was for the sake of using them as hostages against Rio, and asks if it isn’t a coincidence. Christina sighs while asking what is incredible. Hiroaki then asks sarcastically and with a strangely loud voice if it isn’t possible that their kidnapping is his fault while pointing his finger at Rio. Christina denies it and he asks why. Christina states that even without having a past with Rio, Lucius would have kidnapped them, as he had already tried to kidnap Flora at Amande and that was unrelated to Rio. Also that Lucius' subordinates already tried to kidnap her too on her way to Rodania and that was unrelated to Rio as well. Hiroaki states that Flora’s kidnapping at Amande might be Rio’s fault too. 

Liselotte doesn't believe so, Hiroaki asks why, and she says that because Rio’s and Lucius’ encounter at Amande was by happenstance. Hiroaki wonders angrily inside his head why he’s just called by his yuusha title, but that she properly calls Rio by his name. He says that maybe it’s a lie that it hasn't been long since their last meeting. Liselotte asks Flora, that was at the scene, and she said that their conversation was one as if it has been a long time since they last saw each other. Flora confirms that and says that at that time Lucius didn't even remember Rio at first. Now Hiroaki is frustrated because everyone is protecting Rio. Like Lieselotte, Flora is calling Rio by name from the beginning. He reluctantly gives up on blaming Rio and says that it must be as everyone says then. 

François is now organizing on his head everything said until now, he doesn’t believe that Lucius kidnapped Christina and Flora due to his past with Rio, that it’s normal to think that the Proxia empire was behind him, now he wonders why the forest in the Paladia kingdom, that he doesn’t understand the reason for that, then he asks Rio about their fight at Amande, Rio says that Lucius was able to escape that place with a painful defeat, he says then that he can understand in that case why Lucius resents him that strongly and why he may have a different goal from his employer’s: The Proxia empire, and that he aimed at Christina and Flora because they were related somehow to Rio. 

Christina confirms those words and says that if not for Rio neither Flora or her would be there, that maybe they could be at Proxia’s castle right now, that if there hasn’t been a past between Rio and Lucius they wouldn’t have been saved, lastly she says with a face a little sad that the debt to him just keeps going up, Hiroaki then says sarcastically that he’s curious about how many good places Rio keeps appearing in as if that is his objective, Roana is sweating cold next to Hiroaki. 

Christina call his name while sighting, Hiroaki asks what and she says that for the sake of protecting her and Flora, Rio had to put himself in a position so disadvantageous that he could have lost his life if he had taken a wrong step, Hiroaki asks again that then what, Christina says that even if he’s a hero she won’t forgive any other rude behavior towards Rio, Hiroaki then says that it was his bad without any feeling on it, he excuses himself on his mood being bad and decides to leave, he stands with a face as if wanting to say something more to Christina but he swallows his thoughts and walks to the door, then Christina orders Roana to accompany him, Hiroaki leaves the room while murmuring really what a shit and Roana follows him. 

Christina apologizes to Rio with a sad face for Hiroaki’s rudeness, Rio says with a troubled face that there isn’t a reason to apologize, François then explains to them that Hiroaki was in a bad mood because a little before their arrival there was a marriage interview between Hiroaki and Liselotte, Christina that finally understood why everyone was reunited there and guessed the situation face palmed herself for enduring the headache, Liselotte then apologizes a little nervous, Christina says she has no reason for apologizing and that everything is Hiroaki’s fault for asking the impossible while the tiredness of her faces goes up, Liselotte tries to comfort her again and then François says that a lot problems got resolved with just their safe return for trying to chance the topic. 

Christina says that her head hurts just from thinking about the Rubia kingdom’s and the Proxia empire’s responses to this matter and that if the Proxia empire really obtained teleportation magic they’re a troublesome opponent, François says that he didn’t really saw it but that he doesn’t want to think that it’s a thing so free, even more when choosing the destination, that if they can teleport people inside castles it will be dangerous, that if he takes into account that magic he can explain how the assassins invaded the evening party in the past, Hugenot and Cedric agree to that saying that that would be frightening. 

While they talk about that Rio is thinking that at that time he wasn’t able of feeling the activation of the teleportation magic, and that even if the people from the Stralh region can’t see the magic power a magic power detection magic tool should have been able to detect the activation too, then he begins to think with a barrier strong enough for blocking the vibrations of the mana and odo on the air it may be possible, while Rio thinks about that everyone keeps worrying about the possibility of assassins teleporting directly inside their rooms, then Rio decides to calm them saying that that it’s unlikely, François asks why and Rio says that for teleporting it’s necessary to set the destination coordinates in advance, that you can just teleport to the place that the magic tool that marks your destination is set in, and that setting it in their bedrooms is too complicated, François then says that his explanation is strangely detailed, Rio then excuses himself in that being something that he heard from Celia for dodging the question, he then apologizes to Celia in his head for using her name that way, and everyone indeed swallows the lie just because Celia is a famous magic researcher. 

François asks if there was someone collaborating with the Proxia empire between the party’s guests they could help the assassins to teleport inside, Rio then says that for someone between the guests that wouldn’t have been complicated, François asks if it could have been the Rubia kingdom and he nods slowly François wonders full of anger if they were already betraying them back then, Rio says that if he’s worried about the presence of the magic tool that set the teleportation destination it may be a good idea to make a magician that can use area detection magic to go through the castle because that magic tool has to be loaded with magic power, so it must be detected if it’s somewhere. 

François is relieved with this and thinks it may be a good idea to rise the number of magic power detection magic tools inside the castle from now on, François thanks Rio for the information, then Christina offers to describe the form of the magic tool that teleported her and Flora in case it’s useful, François thanks her too, in her head Liselotte decides to properly investigate Amande too when she goes back, at the same time everyone decides to have their own places properly investigated too, Christina then described how her and Flora were teleported and everyone concluded that the magic tool can just teleport things inside a certain range or a limited number of people at the same time, that if someone goes out of that range or puts away the magic tool before the magic activates they should be fine, François says that for the time being that topic should be settled with that and it’s already time of talking about Rio. 

Rio corrects his posture and gets a little stiff hearing that and asks what about him, François says that about his reward and Rio immediately says he doesn’t need it, François says to him to joke on celebrating days, Rio says he isn’t joking and François answers that his lack of greed is troubling and asks him if he intends to retire already at his age, Rio then says that if possible he wants to have a calm life while smiling wryly, François talks to him again about how a country needs to reward the extraordinary accordingly or it won’t have a good future because all the competent people will leave, Christina feels those words stabbing her when she remembers how her kingdom treated him, Rio says that he understands that, François says to just take the reward if he does, that bringing Christina and Flora back is very beneficial for the kingdom, that whatever reward wouldn’t be excessive, that he wanted to reward him too for helping Christina to go from Kreia to Rodania but since the evening party he didn’t came to the castle at all, Rio apologizes about that and François says to him again that if it’s like that to decide a proper reward and properly receive it this time. 

Charlotte laughs at how reluctant and depressed Rio looks for having to receive a reward and lastly while sulking says that he didn’t really appear at the castle at all, he excuses himself in having to have been going from place to place, then she says that he still met Satsuki and Liselotte, Rio can’t answer to that and François says to Charlotte to not tease him because now it’s about his reward, then she says that she will talk about that slowly at another time while smiling brightly at Rio, Rio tried to ask Satsuki for help with his gaze but she just shrugged her shoulders as if wanting to say reflect on it. 

Christina says that she wants to give something too in the name of Restoration if possible, and Rio says that since he already received a house in Rodania from Restoration he can’t think of anything else to ask for, Christina sights without strength at the expected answer, Hugenot then says that it would be really bad for Restoration’s honor if they don’t reward him accordingly and asks him to please take something, when François hears about the house in Rodania he said that it was strange for him to not have a house in the Galarc kingdom but having one in Rodania, so he decides to give him a mansion inside the royal castle grounds, everyone there hold their breaths with the exception of Charlotte who is smiling. 

Everyone’s reaction worry Rio about how unusual of a reward he has just received and says that it seems like something like the other nobles have never seen, and François says that of course because those mansions belong to the royal family, that not even Liselotte’s father has one and Hugenot didn’t have one in the Bertram kingdom either (TLN: the size of a noble’s mansion and its distance to the royal castle are ways of measuring the power, richness, importance and authority of that noble house, giving Rio a mansion inside the royal castle walls is the same as recognizing him as the most important noble in the kingdom.) Rio is beginning to fear that his reward may come with a meaning really troublesome and tries to asks about it and François readily explains to him that it would be as recognizing as the top noble of the kingdom, Rio tries to act as if he’s appealing to François’ common sense and asks if it isn’t enough a mansion in the noble district, François says that inside the castle walls Satsuki can come and go freely and that Miharu can come and sleep over too and asks if that isn’t good. 

François says him to not worry about the noble’s reaction because when hearing about Haruto’s achievements they won’t have another option that shutting up, he then asks Cedric if it isn’t like that, he says he will indeed keep silence but that people who doesn’t like this will certainly appear, that the nobles who work on the royal court will specially dislike it, that thinking about Rio’s future he shouldn’t have many enemies on the court, François says that that is just the same as always, that they can be dealt with by having proper allies himself too and that the majority will be too scared for doing something to Rio who has himself, Cedrick and Satsuki on his side, then Cedric and François decide to take care together of helping Rio with the objecting nobles who will come and it’s decided that Rio will receive a mansion inside the castle grounds, Rio says thanks with a troubled face. 

François says to him that the mansions there are all ready to move in whenever, that soon he will need to bring in servants but that he needs to find on his own reliable people, that he’s fine with advising him about that, Rio asks to be given some time for thinking about that, that he isn’t used to having servants so he doesn’t want to hire anyone right now, François says to him that it’s fine too to borrow some temporary ones and that with that Galarc’s rewarding is over, then he asks Christina what will Restoration do, Christina asks for some time for thinking about what to give to Rio that it’s proportional to his achievements, François asks Rio if he’s fine with that and he agrees to it, François declares the talk ended and says that he wants to discuss several things with Cedric and asks if there is someone who still has something to say. 

Charlotte says then that Rio should stay with Satsuki and her now, Rio accepts and François asks him what are his future plans, he says that he wants to show his face to Celia who is in Rodania so he intends to accompany Christina’s group until there, that it will be bad if he doesn’t return to Miharu and the rest of his homemates too, François asks if it is better to give the mansion after that, Christina says that she needs to show her and Flora’s healthy appearances in Rodania soon so she intended to go back to Rodania the next morning, Charlotte pouts while saying that they finally were able to meet again and Satsuki agrees with her, Charlotte suggest to just bring everyone to the castle then, Rio tries to refuse with the excuse of a lot people on his group not being used to the noble society. 

He remembers about everyone and thinks Celia and Miharu may come but he isn’t sure about the rest, that he doesn’t want to have the group separated again because until now he wasn’t really able of spending that much time with everyone since he came to the Stralh region, especially with Latifa, Charlotte insist saying that Satsuki wants to meet Miharu again too, Satsuki says that if possible she wants to meet her  but she doesn’t insist because she thinks that everyone must have their own circumstances, Charlotte says then that he doesn’t need to worry about that, that if they meet at Rio’s mansion they may need to show their faces to her father but she can keep the rest of people away with her authority, Rio thinks if possible he wants to let Miharu to meet with Satsuki too, that it may be fine if he can keep the rest of the people of the castle away from Latifa, that she may be fine if it’s like that and decides to try to invite them to the castle, Rio then says that he can’t promise anything about bringing them without fault but he will try talk to everyone besides Miharu too and Charlotte says that she’s expecting it.

Now François asks if it’s better to give Rio his mansion before his departure and asks Charlotte if she remembers about a mansion near the tower where Satsuki lives, Charlotte says she will give the mansion to Rio, François tells her to take Satsuki with them too and Charlotte says to Liselotte to also come with them, she tries to invite Liselotte’s mother too but she refuses saying that she doesn’t want to be a hindrance, Rio says to her that there isn’t a way she will be one, Charlotte realizes that Flora was watching them go with an envious face and invites her and Christina saying that she wants to listen more about their travel with Rio, Christina wonders about what to do and after Rio says that there isn’t a need of holding back Christina decided to take the offer after seeing Flora’s face, Charlotte offers the two to change to aristocratic clothes first and says to Rio that she will send a change of clothes for him to the mansion and to change clothes there, Christina says that she will come back later to Hugenot and he says that he will go to check Hiroaki’s condition.