Omen

 
 
 ☆
 
 
 The knights lined up, and Otou-sama and I took our place for the audience before long.
 
 From the corridor extending from the main castle, His Majesty made an appearance.
 
 ———it’s been a while since I’d seen him in good health.
 
 The reason I think that, is it because I’ve got three memories within me?
 
 Leticia before returning.
 Miyanohara Mizuki in the dream.
 And then my memories of this time, which leads to [now].
 
 In this time axis, it’s been a month since I’d had the audience.
 For some reason, it feels terribly nostalgic.
 
 
 
 ”The King of Heielland, His Majesty Conrad the Second has arrived!”
 
 Along with the chamberlain’s proclamation, everyone present takes a bow.
 
 The knights draw their swords and hold them high, and my father did a standing bow while holding his right hand to his chest.
 I too lowered my head and bowed with a curtsey.
 
 After a short time———
 
 ”Everyone, be at ease.”
 
 Having sat upon the inspection seat^[1], I raise my head with His Majesty’s words.
 
 ”Thank you for expressly taking the trouble of coming here, despite having fallen ill. Count Owleyes, Miss Leticia.”
 
 To His Majesty’s words of sympathy, Otou-sama replied.
 
 ”Not at all. I’m sorry my daughter’s ill health had caused you trouble and worries, Your Majesty. I’d like to extend my deepest apologies, along with thanks from the bottom of my heart for the concern towards my daughter.”
 
 ”I offer my thanks.”
 
 Following my father, I also express my gratitude.
 
 For the past month or so, a court physician visited the Ainsworth mansion every week, and gave me a medical examination.
 
 The physician’s dispatch was most likely out of concern for me, who had fainted in the royal palace.
 And then at the same time, the purpose was probably also to report on my condition and recovery, wasn’t it?
 
 To my words, His Majesty gave a small nod.
 
 ”Good. The strain of your first visit to the castle must have been combined with the fear from Alvin’s bad manners. Sorry, young lady. I’d heard from the Count in a letter that you’d [recovered], but are you truly alright?”
 
 His Majesty looks at me with concern.
 I respond, along with a bow.
 
 ”Yes. Contrary to Your Majesty’s concerns, as you can see, I have completely recovered.”
 
 ”I see. I’m glad to hear that.”
 
 With a gentle smile floating on his face, His Majesty nodded deeply.
 Next, His Majesty turned to my father.
 
 ”And so, Count. For the occasion of this day’s audience, I hear you have something to present?”
 
 ——— it came.
 Here’s where it begins.^[2]
 
 
 
 Otou-sama lightly lowered his head, and looked up at the king.
 
 ”Indeed. As an apology for the matter this time, the Owleyes House would like to present something to His Majesty.——— Leticia.”
 
 ”Yes, Otou-sama.”
 
 To my fathers call, I held the case I’d brought with, and opened the lid.
 
 ”Ooh, this is…”
 
 His Majesty looked at the magic rifle with interest.
 
 For appearances, His Majesty will be unaware of the contents to be presented.
 But, judging by what His Highness Gerald said earlier and His Majesty’s circumstances, the subject of the new magic weapon and it’s details have presumably already been conveyed to him.
 
 And I suspect, its might too.
 
 Seeing His Majesty’s reaction, it appears that the expectations are high.
 However, this is convenient for me.
 If we’re able to live up to his expectations, the talks of my peerage succession will probably proceed smoothly.
 
 As for my father, he began the presented item’s introduction.
 
 
 
 ”This here is something our Leticia conceived, designed, and produced, a new type of magic weapon. Its name is the [magic rifle]. It is a projectile weapon possessing capabilities surpassing the current magic bow in might and convenience, and surpassing the crossbow in range and reload speed.”
 
 ”You say this weapon was made by the young lady?”
 
 His Majesty’s gaze shifted over to me.
 His eyes, filled with expectation.
 
 I immediately look at His Majesty in return.
 
 ”Yes. Everything about this magic rifle… I did the designs down to every single part, and with the help of the Ainsworth Workshop and many others, we completed it.”
 
 Puffing out my chest, I replied.^[3]
 
 That’s right.
 This magic rifle is my pride.
 And the pride of those who helped me.
 
 I won’t be modest about it or anything.
 
 ”I see, that’s very interesting. ———— then, could you please explain that weapon? Miss Leticia.”
 
 His Majesty smiled somewhat schemingly.
 To that order, I said,
 
 ”Understood. Then in that case, I shall take some of your time, and offer an explanation of this here magic rifle.”
 
 and smiled.
 
 
 ☆
 
 
 ”——— and that is all.”
 
 I took the gun out while my father received and held the case, and explained to His Majesty how to use the magic rifle, as well as its mechanisms.
 
 As for how to use it, it began with replacing the magic stone that serves as its power source, loading the bullets, how to aim, and ending with the method to fire.
 
 And as for the mechanisms, it was the primary acceleration equipment and trajectory stabilisation mechanism, and then ending with the secondary acceleration magic cirle’s activation.
 
 For now, I’ve given a general explanation of the main parts I plan to use for today’s demonstration and the functions.
 
 Furthermore, the magic stone is replaced in the same way as the magic sword, by pulling out a slot from the gunstock’s shoulder pad, taking out the magic stone, and replacing it.
 
 To be honest, I’d thought it was fine at the design stage, but when I actually tried using it, its handling was somewhat bad.
 
 In the improved version that we’ll rebuild for ourselves, I think I’ll modify it to have a lever that one pulls to expose the slot, similar to the bolt-action rifle on Earth.
 
 ——— Of course, this is confidential.
 
 
 
 ”I see. That was an extremely easy to understand explanation, young lady. As expected of the designer, I should say.”
 
 ”I am honoured to receive your praise, Your Majesty.”
 
 To His Majesty Conrad, who was impressed, I lowered my head.
 
 I guess that, for the time being, the first barrier has been passed.
 
 A twelve year old young lass, developing a weapon, and a ground-breaking one at that ——— His Majesty included, it’s something that no one would have believed had they been told so.
 
 At the very least, I’d like to make the explanation of how to use it and the mechanism seem plausible.
 Thinking so, I prepared with all my might.
 
 When I was slightly relieved, His Majesty slowly nodded.
 
 ”Very well. Then, young lady. Could you show me the might and performance of the [magic rifle] at once?”
 
 ”Certainly.”
 
 Giving a single bow, I headed to the firing location, turning around swiftly.
 
 
 
 ———clatter clatter, clatter clatter, clatter clatter
 
 I felt a faint shaking from my shoulder bag.
 
 (Coco? Mel?)
 
 With curious thoughts, I reached for the bag.
 At that time,
 
 ——— iiyyiiin
 
 I felt I heard a faint sound, like wings cutting the wind, or perhaps the sound of revving of an aeroplane’s engine from inside the plane.
 
 ”Huh?”
 
 I looked at my surroundings unconsciously.
 
 However, I could no longer hear the sound, and the surroundings weren’t in an odd state either.
 Touching my bag with my finger, there wasn’t anything odd about it either.
 
 ”Is something wrong? Miss Leticia.”
 
 Turning around, I saw His Majesty looking at me curiously.
 
 ”——— no, it’s nothing. I just thought I heard a strange sound.”
 
 ”Sound?”
 
 ”Yes…… however, it seems it was just my imagination.”
 
 ”Is that so. If there’s anything amiss, you’re free to tell me about it.”
 
 ”Certainly. Thank you for your concern.”
 
 I collected myself and gave a single bow, and headed for the firing location.
 
 

TL Notes:

[1]it literally says that. ↩

[2]sorry, but my heads fried, and I couldn’t think of a way to directly translate this sentence, so I just rephrased it to hold the same intention. ↩

[3]random note here, but remember, she’s 12. The author has used “puffing out one’s chest” almost every time it came to pride regarding the MC. I’m guessing it’s supposed to appear as a cute gesture. ↩

 

The king’s name actually got suggested as Konrath, which admittedly, sounds so much cooler, but considering that his sons’ names are Alvin and Gerald, it sounds more likely that it’s meant to be Conrad.
Sorry, but the boring name stays 😛