Riding on my storm gryphon I led my party toward the capital. Since we were flying, the land obstacles were nothing to us and we could just fly straight to the capital. But, to avoid any unnecessary attention we landed in the forest near the capital. 

Sora who was unable to enter the capital without a rider dashed toward our direction. But, as expected of a horse, despite have been evolved by the crest of zodiac brave, he was still neighing as ever. I was unable to understand what he said but it seems like Karina and Fianna were able to speak with him. Perhaps there was a mind link between the members of the braves.

"Sora said that the princess was already brought inside two days ago. Based on what he had heard from passing by merchants, the king was going to hold a marriage ceremony with her by tomorrow."

Karina explained. I felt my irritation was reaching the peak. I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists. 

WHACK!!

I received a hit on my head.

"What was that for!!"

I shouted at my mother who had hit me out of nowhere.

"You need to calm down, idiot son. If you go on a rampage now, you will be branded as a criminal for sure. Rescuing Alicia-chan indeed important but you must choose your method carefully. If you force your way to the castle now, not only it will damage the capital, it will also make your image as a hero fall to the bottom and you might slaughter the innocents who you want to free from that tyrant."

My mother explained.

"I'm sorry."

I apologized for my foolishness.

"So, have you make a plan?"

She asked.

"It might be reckless but I think I will steal the bride during the ceremony."

I said.

"Hou, that was quite interesting methody you're thinking. So, how will you do it?"

She asked again.

"I plan to infiltrate the capital tonight. We'll make a hole with alchemy on the wall near the west gate which was connected to the slum. As for tomorrow, I will directly rush to the wedding venue to wreck it. But, I will only bring Karina, Fianna and Sora. Mother and Anastasia will move as a separate unit. I want Mother's group to neutralize the anti-air measure and lead our mounts inside for our escape."

I said.

"I see... Then, let's do that. But, don't kill anyone alright?"

Mother warned.

"I know it mother. But, I might demolish the building used for the ceremony."

I added.

"If it's held in the castle, minimize the damage as much as possible."

She said.

"If the building belong to the church?"

I asked.

"Maa, I won't have any complain on that. Or rather, can you demolish it in my stead? I'm already too irritated with that holy man wannabe the most."

She said as if she was joking. But, her eyes showed her hatred toward the church's personnel very much.

"I understand."

I could only reply her with affirmation.

The night of the capital was very quiet. It was unlike the old capital he knew in the past which the night was filled with life of the night street stalls. The only activities that could be sensed is just the vicinity was the movements of the night patrol or stray animals in the alleyway. 

Making a hole using alchemy created less sound and with the cover of darkness, I was sure nobody would be able to find us. We spent a night in an abandoned house in the slum. I fetched some ready-to-eat food from my storage as dinner and breakfast.

The day of ceremony had arrived. I walked in the alleys and approached the holy cathedral. I stood in daze when I saw Alicia's figure in her wedding dress. She was looked very beautiful that made me forgot how to breathe.

"Milord, shouldn't we move right away?"

Karina question made me returned to reality. I joined the commoners who came to watch the ceremony from the outside. I took a breath and took a step forward.

"Lullaby"

I muttered a single word. My arms glowed faintly and my 'Sacred Treasure' manifested. The white silverish gauntlet covered my arm till my elbow. On a single glance it looked like my arms were partially transformed into a dragon's.

"This dream which you like to see within this shattered reality"

I muttered a single phrase. The crowd's eyes became looked like in a daze. I walked leisurely toward the cathedral entrance and gathered my mana into my soles. I kicked the door open to make my entrance more flashy. 

"HOLD IT!!"

I shouted as i kicked. I was dumbfounded for a second. The door which looked sturdy was sent flying by my simple kick along with the frame. It was quite lucky that the door didn't fly toward Alicia or cause any wound on anyone.

"If you want to take her, then you must step over my dead body!!"

I declared. I glared at Daigo who was glaring back at me.

"I've waited for you, Ren Concerto. I'll catch you right here and right now and make you see your beloved girl becoming mine. Pope-sama, please continue the ceremony.:

He said to the Pope who lead the ceremony. I stepped forward but from the audience seat, six knights wearing gaudy armors stood in my way.

"REN-SAMA!!"

I heard Alicia's cry from the altar. 

Just wait a bit Alicia, I'm coming for you.

I made up my mind.

'Fianna, Kariana, Sora, take care of these pawn for me.'

I sent a command to my subordinates. Three shadows leaped to the knights before me. Karina and Fianna sent a flying kick to two knights before landing beside me. Sora who had a figure of a horse just did an incomprehensible thing. He jumped toward the knight in the middle. He landed on the knight's shoulders with his forefeet before kicking him using his back feet to kick his torso and did an acrobatic somersault and landed behind me. The three knights who received an instant attacks were sent flying and fainted flatly with foot marks on their armors.

Daigo turned his sight toward me. He looked very irritated. I activated my 'Sacred Treasure'. I leaped forward with my utmost speed as she gazed at the illusion I had left behind. I ignored him who gaudily summoned his regalia. 

The audience looked frightened seeing the angered hero king. The ones who was sitting near the exit were fleeing right away in fear.

"It seems like I have to take care of you first."

He said arrogantly. I ignored him and looked at the Pope who was looking at the scene with amused look. Just seeing him smiling like this made me having an urge to puke. I grabbed his face in irritation and thoughtlessly buried him into the wall. 

Alicia who wasn't affected by my illusion looked at me with relieved expression. 

"Well then, let's finish our business here."

I said before picking Alicia up into a princess-carry style. I lost my concentration when my eyes met with Alicia's eyes. When I realized it, my illusion was undone and Daigo and the audience were looking at me.

Daigo gritted his teeth in irritation. He swung his sword at me. Normally such attack would be unavoidable but with or large level difference such attack was meaningless as they were slow. I leaped away and reactivated my illusion. 

I dashed toward the entrance and looked outside. The crowd was still in daze and the escaped audience were confused by such scene. They were trying to wake the knights to save them but no avail.

The skill I used on the crowd was akin to hypnosis so it wasn't undone when I lost my concentration. I turned back to the inside. There, I saw Daigo was rampaging around like a berserker and attacked every direction. There were some audience who got caught in the attacks.

Fianna and Karina led Sora toward me.

"Is something wrong, Milord?"

Karina asked.

"Nothing. It's just our ride hasn't arrived yet."

I said. I looked at Alicia. She was burying her face to my chest. Her arms were holding me tight as if not willing to let me go. Her breathing was calm and I sensed any disorder in her.

"Alicia"

I called her lightly. She reluctantly looked up.

"Ren-sama, I'm sorry."

She apologized. She started to cry.

"I failed to protect our daughter. I'm not worthy to be her mother."

She added. I smiled.

"It's alright. The fault isn't entirely yours. I also failed to be a father as I left you two behind."

I said. 

"Milord, our ride as arrived."

Fianna called. I looked outside. The gryphon, wyvern, and thunderbirds were already outside. I clicked my fingers. The illusion and hypnosis became undone in instant. I could hear the crowd panicked and ran away from the A-ranked monsters which suddenly appeared before them.

I turned toward Daigo who got tired from rampaging around.

"Sorry for disappointing you but, my purpose here is to steal the bride. I don't have any interest in fighting you right now as I need to meet my daughter who is being rescued by my other subordinates."

I said that parting word. I turned away and leaped toward our rides and escaped to the Western Sky. Alicia who was tired of crying was asleep in my arm. I embraced her tightly as I wasn't willing to be separated anymore from her.