Chapter 209 The Magical Girls and the Imperial Princess
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Sister… look over there,” Lilia whispered.
”I see it. No mistake-it’s them. I never imagined an Imperial envoy would actually show up here,” I replied.
Following the transmission from Shoichi, Lilia and I triggered our transformations immediately. Stepping out into the open as Magical Girl¹-, we found the air thick with anticipation. We had already coordinated with Iris and the others; the plan was for us to take point on the initial contact.
Vectra stood nearby, looking sharp in her maid uniform. I knew exactly what she was capable of, and her presence was the only thing keeping my nerves in check. If things went south, she was our insurance policy.
The real complication, however, was Lilia-or rather, Sardonyx’s legs. We wanted to keep our flight magic a secret if possible, but Sardonyx literally couldn’t move without hovering. Her solution was to float just a hair’s breadth above the grass, mimicking the motion of walking with her feet. It was a delicate masquerade.
Truthfully, I could have handled this solo, but Lilia… well, she’s always had a thirst for high-stakes negotiations. She wasn’t about to sit this one out.
Above the estate, a Skygoon² circled like a bird of prey. It was spiraling lower, clearly preparing for a landing. It had been waiting for a formal reception, it seemed. With several of our maids flanking us, we’d made it abundantly clear that this was where the conversation would happen.
”Sardonyx… do you have anything on the Empire’s Skygoon riders?” I asked quietly.
”They’re usually high-ranking nobility,” she replied.
”What? Really?”
”Honestly, Sister, how do you not know this…?” Lilia muttered.
I didn’t have a good answer for that. Back home, I’d been systematically isolated from the capital’s inner circles. Looking back, I realize Viorga had orchestrated that environment perfectly-keeping me in the provinces where it was easier to manipulate a coup.
The Skygoon loomed closer now, and the reality set in. This was an Imperial messenger, no doubt about it. They were even flying a massive, ostentatious standard.
We really need a flag, I thought. No crest, and no colors… maybe Lilia and I should design something?
My internal musings were cut short as the Skygoon finally touched down. From the ornate cabin held in its massive talons, a woman stepped out into the light.
”Good day. Am I correct in assuming this is the seat of the Magic Labyrinth King?” the woman asked.
The tone was classic Imperial: polished, condescending, and utterly self-assured. She was a beastman, and despite her refined air, I knew her physical specs were off the charts. I couldn’t afford a single lapse in focus.
While I fed a play-by-play to Shoichi via our comms, Sardonyx stepped forward to take the lead.
”Oh, my. And who might you be?” Sardonyx asked, her voice dripping with mock curiosity. “I don’t recall seeing any beastmen on our guest list for today.”
I could tell she was annoyed. She was immediately signaling that they weren’t exactly welcome-a calculated move to put them on the defensive. By forcing them to introduce themselves first, she was asserting our home-field advantage.
But it wasn’t the first woman who responded.
A second beastman leaped from the Skygoon’s back, landing with the grace of a falling leaf.
”Hehe… I do apologize for dropping in without an appointment. It was quite rude of us, wasn’t it? no-desu-no” the newcomer said.
”………”
This newcomer looked much younger than the first. If the first was elegant, this girl was adorable. But that cuteness was a mask for terrifying power. The drop from the Skygoon’s back was significant, yet she’d stuck the landing without a sound.
She was clearly the one in charge. The elegant woman didn’t utter a word as the girl stepped forward, placing a hand over her heart and offering a slight, rhythmic bow. The Imperial salute.
”To think we’d be greeted by two practitioners of flight sorcery. We really must be welcome guests, wouldn’t you say? desuwa-ne” she added.
”……!?”
Sardonyx kept her poker face, but my eyes widened. She knows? She already knows we can both fly?
We’d barely started the verbal sparring, and she’d already landed a preemptive strike. Before I could recover, she pressed the advantage.
”I have come as a goodwill ambassador from the Egdia Empire. I am Listarte Roa³ Egdia. This is my attaché, Clary,” she said.
”Wha…!?”
”……!?”
Hearing that name, I finally lost my composure.
I knew they were Imperials, but Imperial royalty? And not just any minor royal. In the Egdia Empire, those who hold the name “Roa” signify a direct claim to the throne. There are plenty who draw the blood of the Emperor, but those with the Roa name are a limited few. We were standing in the presence of a high-ranking Princess.
Listarte didn’t miss my reaction. A small, knowing smile played on her lips.
”Ah… its’s surprising. It seems you both understand the weight of the name ‘Roa.’ Even some of our provincial nobles are ignorant of the naming conventions, let alone foreigners…” Listarte noted.
”…………”
She was already digging, testing our backgrounds. By admitting we knew the name, we’d effectively outed ourselves as something more than mere commoners.
Sardonyx didn’t miss a beat, tilting her head with feigned nonchalance. “Is that so? We simply assumed it was common knowledge. Is it not?”
”Ah? Is that so?”
”Of course. And I find it hard to believe any Imperial noble would be so uneducated as to not know their own royalty. That seems… unlikely,” Sardonyx replied.
”Not really. You’d be surprised,” Listarte countered smoothly. “Especially among the nobility of frontier states we’ve recently annexed. They can be quite… behind the times.”
”Then they are simply lazy,” Sardonyx snapped. “Given that our territories share a border, it’s only natural to keep tabs on one’s neighbors.”
Listarte’s eyes sparkled at that.
”So… you are claiming the Demon Forest as your territory? And you’ve been keeping a close eye on the Empire as well?”
”I believe that’s what I said,” Sardonyx answered.
”Ufufu… I knew I made the right choice in not bringing my older sister-no-desu-no,” Listarte said.
”Eh…?”
Before I could finish, Clary, the attaché, stepped between us.
”We have introduced ourselves. We would like your names now. Unless… is one of you the Magic Labyrinth King?” Clary asked.
I realized we had to keep things moving if we wanted to figure out their actual goal. Without knowing their motive, we couldn’t decide how to play our hand.
”I am Emerald.”
”And I am Sardonyx,” Lilia added. “We serve the King of the Magic Labyrinth, overseeing the development of these lands.”
”What lovely, fitting names-no-desu-no! Now then… might we be granted an audience with the King himself-no-desu-no?”
”As I mentioned,” Sardonyx said, her tone turning to ice, “the King has no such meeting on his schedule today. If you have business, you can relay it through us.”
Clary’s brow furrowed. “You realize a Princess of the Empire has traveled here personally?”
”And do you realize the Empire’s prestige holds no value in this land?” Sardonyx countered.
”Of course. Or does your King truly believe that hiding under the Republic’s wing will protect him from the Empire’s reach?” Clary asked.
The air turned frigid. The Empire clearly thought we were playing for the Republic’s team.
Listarte raised a hand, silencing her attaché with a simple gesture.
”Clary, stop it-no-desu-no. We did arrive unannounced, after all. …Tell me, would an audience be possible depending on the nature of our business?” Listarte asked.
”That would depend on the business-and the King’s availability,” Sardonyx replied.
”I see. Very well, I shall be direct. I, Listarte, stand here as the representative of the Empire. My goal is to foster a rapid friendship with the King of the Magic Labyrinth-the Dominator⁴ of this land-and to begin a dialogue that will be mutually… profitable-no-desu-no.”
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Summary:
A massive Skygoon carrying an Imperial envoy arrives at the mansion. Emerald and Lilia transform to meet the guests, only to discover that the primary envoy is Princess Listarte of the Egdia Empire. Tension rises as Sardonyx engages in a verbal chess match regarding territorial claims and the Empire’s influence.
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Character Insight:
Emerald continues to struggle with her lack of high-society knowledge due to her past isolation. Meanwhile, Lilia (Sardonyx) shows a surprising aptitude for diplomatic confrontation, refusing to be intimidated even by Imperial royalty.
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Behind the Scenes:
The ‘Roa’ name drop is a pivotal world-building moment, establishing a clear hierarchy within the Egdia Empire and setting high stakes for the King’s upcoming interactions.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Vectra – A Unique Individual maid with white skin and white hair. Height 170cm, Bust Size D. Class: Duelist. Attribute: Darkness. Weapon: Star-Strike Battle Axe Volkein
• Sard – Magical Girl version of Liliarette. A-cup, wolf cut hair, class guardian knight. Yellowish-red vibe.
• Viorga – The First Princess of the Emmeld Kingdom. She is a beautiful, young woman with long golden hair and sharp blue eyes, always dressed in an elaborate crimson and gold royal gown. She is utterly ruthless, viewing all people—including the summoned Heroes and her own family—as disposable assets in her political games. Looks like Aileen Lauren from certain series.
• Listarte – Judiette’s younger half-sister. A fox beastman sorceress and the only Imperial citizen capable of riding the Skygoon. Have long dark hair. Wearing ornate Imperial princess robes with gold trim.
• Clary – A rare beastman sorceress and follower of Judiette. Older than Judiette, she speaks bluntly despite the princess’s status. She has light purple hair split in the middle and reaching down to her waist. She is described as having a large bust and wears dresses with loose necklines.
• Emerald – Magical Girl version of Cleonora. Smaller, side-tailed, green-and-white mini-skirted girl.
• Ami – A palm-sized fairy-like being from a world separate from both Earth and the isekai realm. She has light blue hair tied in a ponytail, mischievous blue eyes, and tiny wings that flutter behind her. Her outfit consists of a provocative high-cut leotard and a short jacket that looks like a miniskirt from the back, leaving her legs bare. Despite her playful appearance, she is actively searching for a contractor who can protect her from dangerous pursuers in exchange for the powers she offers.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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