Chapter 235: Oz

Giliath demands your power stones!

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"It's more unbelievable, if anything. There is definitely going to be a lot to process of what happened tonight. At least for the time being, you'll be in Heimdallr under the Vander's care, right Prince Naoto?", Emperor Eugent asked me.

"That's the plan for now. I want to hone my swordsmanship as the evacuation takes place. I feel my foundations have improved greatly since I came back to Erebonia and I feel more confident in tackling the Vermillion Trials now.", I answered with a nod of my head.

"You'll need that confidence to clear those trials, Your Highness. It was a rather eventful day to close off our end of the year. It is now the dawn of the next century. But I think our dear princess requires a much needed rest. Since the Vermillion Knight has fallen into slumber once again and the witches are gone, I see no need to remain here. Why don't we head back up?", Giliath proposed.

"I see no problem with that. Everyone, please follow me back to the platform.", Claire said, ushering us away from the heart of this inactive Infernal Palace. Who knows if it would rise again. I fear it will, seeing Testa-Rossa sealed inside of it. It isn't like the Old Schoolhouse where Valimar waited behind a large room for the Ashen Awakener to come claim it. Testa-Rossa was completely sealed up inside this palace. It's likely being corrupted by the Dark Dragon for years on end now. By some miracle both the Azure and Ashen Awakeners were able to recover Testa-Rossa by defeating the Vermillion Apocalypse, allowing Prince Cedric to pilot it later on, so it's very likely I will have to be prepared for such a fight too.

And it will be a much harder one, considering we have to strike it down with just our party members, with no Divine Knights. Instead I'll have some of the strongest cast of characters backing me up.

Knowing that, I couldn't help but smile, feeling anticipation of what is to come in two months' time. 

"You seem to be in a good mood now, Big Brother.", Princess Alfin said with a smile as the platform began to ascend up the giant shaft.

"Just a bit anticipated. I'll be able to see you more often too.", I responded, proceeding to give Princess Alfin another headpat.

"You can say that again. I just hope the news that's going to sprout from this won't buzz around for too long. As for the evacuation plans, I'll start working with the Chancellor. It won't happen immediately, but we'll likely propose it as a military drill so Heimdallr's citizens don't feel threatened by it.", Emperor Eugent responded.

"That would likely be for the best. After the holiday is over, I will begin to draft up some plans to propose to the current military. I won't be surprised if we include a few of the armored divisions during this operation.", Giliath also responded.

"Haha, it'll help me keep me busy too.", Claire said, letting out a sigh. That was for sure, no doubt Claire will get busier, but she likes to work so I don't think this will fall on Claire too hard.

"Can we keep Big Brother over for just tonight, Papa? It's late into the night, we can figure out the room situation tomorrow.", Princess Alfin proposed. It was around 11:30PM now, we spent only an hour down here, but it was well worth the time. I had no immediate plans the following day, it will be a good time to figure out my lodging situation. Back in Legram, I stayed inside Sir Victor's house. Princess Alfin did suggest earlier that I am to stay inside Valflame Palace, but there were a lot of rooms available to use. Our respective groups have already retreated there for the night, but my place hasn't been decided on yet, at least for tonight. 

"There's no harm in doing so, I suppose. I'll have Priscilla work with the head maid to get your room arrangement after tonight is over, Prince Naoto.", Emperor Eugent said. 

"Thank you, Your Majesty.", I said, thanking the Emperor.

"Thank you, Papa!", Princess Alfin happily responded, only to cling onto my arm, letting me feel her warmth. 

"If I may add, after tonight, the others don't know about this side of me, so please just refer to me as Emma, alright?", Emma also said.

"Haha, it matters not how one is referred to, but if that is your wish, then we will forget about the witches' matter tonight. That won't neglect your other position as a guard, so please continue to protect His Highness, alright?", Giliath asked. Hearing that, Emma nodded her head.

"Don't you worry, Your Excellency.", Emma responded, assuring Giliath. Emma really has come a long way, hasn't she? I remember her being a meek child back during my time spent in the village. She now can hold a sword to herself, and effectively cast magic to boot. I am quite happy to have Emma on my side.

But with that said, the platform rose up, leaving Testa-Rossa behind. Yet before the platform reached the closed shaft, I felt an unfamiliar presence arrive, despite not having my Vermillion Eyes on right now. I don't like to use these eyes unless I have to, but the moment this presence appeared, it acted as if they wanted me to find them.

"Is something wrong, Big Brother?", Princess Alfin responded with a hint of worry in her eyes. Hearing Princess Alfin's voice caused me to shift my eyes to her, and ruffled her hair a bit.

"It's nothing. I'll leave it to you to guide me to my room tonight, alright?", I happily asked, causing Princess Alfin to smile.

"Alright!", Princess Alfin happily responded.

With a happy princess beside me and an aloof father in our near distance, he remained silent as the rest of us began to idly chatter, letting the sole platform rise back up to the sealed area inside Valflame Palace. It was very similar to the sealed vault back in Grancel Castle, but as of now, that sealed area beneath Grancel Castle hasn't been uncovered yet, so there was no large platform to descend down into it. I am sure that certain Colonel Richard was in the middle of plotting how to investigate that area. I am not sure how far Ouroboros's plans are in their Gospel Plan phase, but in the coming year or two, Colonel Richard will propose the formation of Grancel's Intelligence Division, a counterpart to Father's Intelligence Division. They would operate in the shadows, collecting information about enemies and mislead potential threats to deter invasions. 

The overall intent behind Lieutenant Richard's proposal to form the Intelligence Division was pure. He was only led astray by Weissman. It's likely that will still come to pass, but now there's me added into the mix. I will not stand by idly watching a good man forced to enter a role he is not suited for, only to continuously repent for it afterward.

It was good timing for the Gamer System to introduce me to the Subordinate System. I plan to have a more thorough look into what it can all do once tonight is over. If its reach is all who currently work under me, then it will be quite extensive, considering I have partial command of Liberl's Royal Army as a benefit in being its Crown Prince. Grandmother holds the majority over both Liberl's Army and the Royal Army though. But either way, that included a man of Colonel Richard's caliber. It would be a benefit if I could persuade him in becoming one of my Subordinates, even if he partakes in the Gospel Plan.

Thinking that, the platform we were standing on was well into the giant shaft now, making our way back to Valflame Palace. The anticipated look in my eyes only grew more of what was to come in the near future. It was only seventeen months away from the start of the canon story, and when I would enroll in Jenis Royal Academy.

Yet as the platform was now out of sight, the earlier feeling that struck me lingered about. But because the platform was quite high up now, I could no longer feel it in range, but I could only guess whatever it was, it was hiding back down at the bottom of the sealed grounds of the Infernal Palace.

And sure enough, once our group was out of sight, space began to distort. It was a rather small distortion compared to the likes of Roselia or Vita's phantom image, much much smaller. In a mere instant, a spherical-like object clad in an unknown black material soon formed, almost as if it was in the shape of an eye. It wasn't a creature though, it was purely metallic in appearance. It was definitely crafted in one way or another.

Seeing this eye-like device appear out of nothing, it started to look around the room for a bit in silence, before an obscure voice began to speak out of it.

"It would seem over here is still going according to plan. It was a good decision to get into contact with the Master after all, even if he is a bit preoccupied. It isn't easy trying to rule one of the largest countries on the continent, but I couldn't care less about that. As long as his work doesn't hinder the Black Workshop, we will continue our operations from the shadows. Still...", The obscure voice said, only to let the orb shift around to look at the dormant Testa-Rossa for a moment, before its eye looked back up into the shaft where the platform has long since ascended into it.

"That Liberl's prince is quite frightening. Observatory skills are quite hard to come by lately. Master did say to be careful whenever his presence was around, but I didn't think it would be to this extent. Perhaps I should divert some time to look into that family's lineage...", The voice continued to say, wondering of the possibility. The orb shook a bit, quickly denying this suggestion.

"That would be walking into a double-bladed death trap. Master has things handled above ground in Erebonia, so I shouldn't waste time on useless matters like these. I have more pressing matters to attend to.", The obscure voice continued to say, only to have the orb turn around, as if it was looking in another direction, paying no attention where the orb currently was. "Georg! Has there been any progress on the latest Oz models the Master has inquired about?", The orb shouted, as if it was reaching out to another figure who was out of sight. Surprisingly, a second voice spoke into the orb, which resounded inside the Infernal Castle.

"Yes, Master. The blueprints have had their finishing touches put on and are ready for the casting to begin. All we need to do now is to procure the materials.", The second voice said, sporting little to no emotion.

"Excellent. The Master currently is occupied with Erebonia's present state, so we will continue the plan he proposed to us. Start the casting for Oz73 and Oz74's frames immediately.", The first obscure voice commanded.

"Yes, Master.", The second voice simply answered, acknowledging the obscure voice command as if it was natural to them to do so.

With that issued, the orb had one last look at the sealed vermillion knight, before it vanished from the large room. Unexpectedly, the eye sockets of Testa-Rossa dimly lit up in red for a very split second, recording what had just happened before him, only to enter a dormant state once more, waiting for the day his Awakener to eventually claim him for himself.