Nagata-chou, Tokyo.
Let’s go back in time to about half a month ago, when Itami and his group were hanging around Rondel. Kano Taro, who has been appointed as Minister for Foreign Affairs among Morita’s cabinet, is having lunch with Noji and the other secretaries in the Minister’s office. The secretaries, all of whom aspired to become politicians, listened intently to Kano as they ate.
They weren’t only appreciatively accepting what Kano had to say though, as they would sometimes refute him, and sometimes, they would express their own ideas and opinions. Among the people working under Kano, there was an atmosphere where they could discuss anything. Just like this, they summarize each other’s ideas and identify the advantages and disadvantages of their arguments.
[Why is it that Japan’s economy is worsening while the numbers show that business is booming…… In short, it’s because there’s a lack of medium-class jobs.]
[Medium-class jobs?]
[That’s right. There are a lot of those fellows spinning about business jargon, but in short, I think that was what all of them meant. High-paying jobs require a high level of skill, good judgment and a lot of knowledge…… such a way of thinking still somehow exists in Japan. However, I hate to say this, but there are some jobs that can be done even without being Japanese. These jobs are being taken to foreign countries where the labor cost is cheaper in order to cut costs. This means that the only jobs that remained are service jobs with relatively low wages. Moreover, these jobs are being filled by exchange students and foreigners. That leaves the people of our country with lacking jobs to take.]
[Is that why the disparity has widened?]
[Once again, it isn’t that the disparity has widened. That disparity has always existed. It’s just that the so-called middle-class, who used to work middle-class jobs and earn middle-class incomes, disappeared. That’s why that disparity became conspicuous.]
[Then, what should we do if we want to have an economic recovery?]
[In my opinion, we shouldn’t be too friendly with foreign countries. I’m talking about China and South Korea. It’s important to keep a sense of tension or distance from these countries, to the extent that companies are a little reluctant to set up factories or branch offices, which gives people the medium-class jobs, in foreign countries. This will bring the medium-class jobs back to Japan. I believe that Houjou-san’s visit to Yasukuni Shrine when he was the prime minister had such a purpose. However, those corporate bureaucrats who profit from foreign commerce only have their eyes on short-term profits, saying things like “long live friendship”, not even realizing that they are making a choice that will hurt their country and its people……]
[I see.]
[If I had to use a simple analogy to describe the way we run our nation today, it would be nomadic. Cows and sheeps are our country’s corporations, while we are their herders. We need to lure the cows and sheeps into the grasslands of Japan, and enrich our people with the milk, wool and meat they produce. However, the cows and sheeps want to go to other grasslands where they can eat more delicious grass. The best way to keep the herd from running away is to enclose them in……]
The globalization of the economy would mean having this enclosure removed.
[If we were to do that…… the cows and sheeps would complain, wouldn’t they?]
[That’s why, we need to create a situation where cows and sheep are discouraged from going to the neighboring grasslands in a way where we don’t have to enclose them in. However, please keep in mind that there would be some idiots who, without thinking ahead, want to turn all the sheep and cows into meat (raise the corporate tax rate) so that the people can eat their fill. If such a thing is done while we’re currently under a recession, Japan would definitely decline tremendously.]
[If that happens, all the cows and sheeps will flee.]
[Right? Well, the truth is that corporations aren’t as cute as cows and sheep. In the past, the state was compared to a leviathan, the leviathans now are those corporations. Surrounded by such beings, we need to be monster tamers.]
That being the case though, how were they going to control these monsters? Not wanting to miss his words, the secretaries leaned forward. But just as Kano was about to speak though , the door to the office was slammed open.
[Minister. Excuse me for interrupting your meal.]
Without waiting for a reply, one of the counselors pushed open the door and rushed in with a stack of papers in hand.
[What’s the matter, making such a ruckus at mealtime?]
[Urgent report from the Special Region. A simultaneous crackdown on the peace camp has begun in the Imperial Capital.]
Putting his chopsticks aside, Kano skimmed through the stack of reports before muttering a few words.
[The heck is this?]
A deep crease appeared between his brows.
[They seriously went and did this. Op…… Oprichniya?]
[Oprichnina, Minister. It’s the abbreviation for the local term “Committee for Protecting and Restoring the Emperor’s Sovereignty and Authority”.]
[So, Shirayuri and the others who are staying there are safe, right?]
[Yes. It seems that the Empire has no intention of breaking the agreement with our country. The Jade Palace, where they are staying, has been surrounded by Princess Piña’s Knights to ensure their safety, so they should be fine for now.]
[For now…… huh. That means you don’t know how long that situation will persist, right?]
[Yes. But the most urgent problem is that the pro-peace senators and nobles are being arrested one after another.]
[Is it that bad over there?]
[Yes. The problem with that special Oprichnina law is that the “Oprichnina” subjectively determines what constitutes as a violation of imperial rights.]
[That means, it wouldn’t matter for them if they’re acting on a pretense huh?]
[Yes. Under the interpretation that “recovery from a situation in which the sovereignty and authority of the Emperor is threatened takes precedence over all else”, that special law permits coercive searches and the arrest and detention of suspects even without concrete evidence. Every human being will have some frustrations with the status quo. If it’s beaten hard enough, even a freshly woven cloth will gather dust. However, this law determines that even such animosity defiles the authority of the Empire.]
[And there would be no neutral people in the eyes of that “Oprichnina” huh. As I thought……]
Even though Kano had said as such, he thought that it wouldn’t turn out too bad.
[Based on the comprehensive information from the site, it seems that they are all made up of people actively advocating for war. Moreover, they are all radical young people, 400 of them. Their numbers are still rapidly increasing. With such a situation, we can’t expect any impartiality or neutrality at all. In fact, what this “Oprichnina” is doing is almost the same as what the “People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs (NKVD)” did, brandishing their power in the former Soviet Union.]
The People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs is the parent organization of the KGB (the Secret Police). To give an idea of what kind of people they were, as depicted in films such as “Stalingrad”, instead of helping retreating allied generals, they would shoot them from behind from one side to the other and force to “fight if they don’t want to die”. In short, if you act suspicious, you’ll be shot to death. Even if you weren’t acting suspiciously, they were fellows who would just shoot someone to death on a whim. For example, Sulla of the Ancient Rome created the Cornelli to slaughter the popular factions, and Hitler created the Waffen-SS. There’s also Mao Zedong who organized the Red Guards and carried out a great oppression under the name Cultural Revolution.
[They’re completely ruling through fear. Would that Zorzal fellow really got that far?]
[Yes. If you say one word of criticism about them, you will be caught. The citizens of the capital are so afraid of them that they stay at home and shut their doors.]
As if to throw in front of him, a few photographs of the scenery around the Imperial Capital were placed in front of Kano. It was as if it were a dead city, completely devoid of people.
[This is terrible.]
[Yes.]
As the Imperial Capital had been under near martial law since Zorzal seized power, it can’t be said that this happened suddenly. However, there were few responses back then. And now, this has happened. Hearing about this report, Kano worries how the people in the capital are living now.
[Anyway, what should we do about the pro-peace faction? The only safe places for them now are Arnus or the Jade Palace.]
[Hmmm, what are you trying to say?]
[As a matter of fact, I’ve been approached by some of the pro-peace members to see if we could shelter them……]
[We can’t do that, oi!]
Slamming his desk, Kano stood up.
[Now, try to imagine the situation where we support the pro-peace faction. The mainline warriors are going to think even more that what they’re doing is right. They’d be like “See that, I knew they’re in league with Japan. Root out the traitors!”]
[But Minister, if we continue to overlook this, we will be criticized when the media finds out about it. The press are about to start entering Arnus, and I suggest that you be considerate of that……]
[Leave those who criticize for the sake of criticizing alone. Those they arrested haven’t been executed yet, have they?]
[Nevertheless, it would only be a matter of time.]
Kano’s lips twitched in response. Thereupon, just like a superior giving guidance to a subordinate who wasn’t good at making decisions, he spoke.
[Half-hearted help will only make the situation worse for those who are being held captive. If you are going to help, make sure you help everyone at once…… By helping some of them, think about how the people you left behind will be treated. Such a situation would prompt them to tear them to pieces, right?]
[Ahh…… You’re right.]
[Listen, make sure you talk to the guys on site about that too. I’m not saying we aren’t going to help them. I’m telling them to keep an eye for the opportunity. Also, get in touch with the Minister of Defense, Natsume-san, as soon as possible. We need to get the JSDF to discuss a rescue plan……]
[Why don’t we just go ahead and occupy the Imperial Capital?]
[That’s no good. Japan currently can’t afford to go that far. The stability of the Special Region must be maintained by the Empire. We would end up just like the US, which has exhausted its national strength by occupying Iraq and Afghanistan, if we were to do that. We can’t risk Japan itself by taking on too heavy a burden just for a cheap sense of justice. Am I clear?]
[……I understand.]
As he watched the Counselor’s back as he walked out of the Minister’s office, Kano’s scowl deepened and he clicked his tongue.
[D*mn, what a mess.]
Having completely lost his appetite, Kano left most of his lunch uneaten. However, the situation in the Imperial Capital was far worse than what was reported to Kano. For although reports had been made to Kano that many people were being held captive, the description of what had happened to those who had escaped and were being pursued had been completely omitted. The “Oprichnina”, which was described by Foreign Ministry officials as the Empire’s version of NKVD, had shown leniency by imprisoning, rather than executing on the spot, those who had obediently let themselves be captured. But once they resisted or fled, they did not hesitate to reveal their true nature.
Marquis Casel, known as the leading figure in the pro-peace movement, had been hiding from the pro-war faction by hiding out in a distant relative’s mansion since just before the proclamation of the special Oprichnina law. He did have the option of escaping the Imperial Capital and returning to his fief on the frontier. In fact, he had his family and clan members flee the Imperial Capital along with their servants and other staff. However, in the “Special Region”, where information transmission is slow, being away from the Imperial Capital means that one can’t grasp the situation. If something were to happen, he wouldn’t be able to respond quickly. Having considered this as dereliction of his duties as a politician, Casel missed the time to escape.
Just as he had hoped, as long as he remained in the Imperial Capital, information continued to come in. However, all he received were ominous reports that his fellow senators and nobles had been captured or were being pursued. In addition, there were even messages that sounded like screams, telling of their plight and asking to be sheltered. However, there was nothing that Casel could do. He has the military might and wealth of a frontier lord, but they are located far from the capital and are of no use at a time like now.
He could bring a private army to the Imperial Capital, but that would take time and would be meaningless without the army being of a certain scale. In the first place, calling soldiers to the Imperial Capital without the Emperor’s order or permission would mean starting a rebellion. Because of that, he spent his days worrying about the future of the Empire, feeling helpless and unable to do anything.
[Casel-sama. Would you like some more wheat porridge?]
As if to cheer him up, the girl smiled at him. Casel wonders if perhaps, the frustration was showing on his face. Not wanting to grow too old to appreciate her thoughtfulness, Casel forced his drawn cheeks to a smile and expressed his gratitude like a good-natured old man.
[I’m fine, Sherry. In fact, you should eat some more. You’re still growing.]
Thereupon, the young lady of the household who was serving her bashfully smiled.
[Please don’t worry, I’m eating plenty. But if I eat too much, my stomach will become flabby and Sugawara-sama might dislike me.]
Having the body of a child, it’s already a handicap when it came to seducing Sugawara, or so the young lady blurted out. She even said that if it’s possible, she would have liked to have a little more plumpness around her chest. How long has it been since the doors in the Imperial Capital closed their doors? The Tyueli family’s reserves must be running low already. However, the cheerfulness of the Tyueli family, as if they didn’t consider this life of poverty a hardship, made even Casel feel saved.
[Oya oya, you’re already at the age where you worry more about sexual appeal than food? You’re very precocious, aren’t you?]
[Sexual appeal, please don’t say such things, Marquis-sama. Showing contempt to the pure love of a maid, you have a way with words, aren’t you?]
[Oh, I should apologize then.]
[No, that won’t work. As punishment, you’ll properly eat all of this wheat porridge.]
With pursed lips, Sherry filled the Marquis’ plate with a heaping portion of gruel. When the Marquis saw the heaping pile, he looked surprised and exaggeratedly screamed “I can’t eat this much. Help me!”, to which everyone laughed.
[You’ve raised a very good child, haven’t you?]
Patting Sherry’s head, Casel praised the young head of the Tyueli family and his wife.
[Unfortunately, she’s also a bit cheeky.]
[No, no, cheekiness is a quality that should be praised. That means she had the insight that didn’t match her youth. And yet, she remains modest. I believe that her wisdom will support my family in the future.]
[However, for this to have happened.]
The head of the Tyueli family’s shoulders slumped, but Casel cheered him up.
[No night is ever too dark. Even storms will eventually pass. Until then, the key is to endure and survive. We just need to eat and save our strength.]
With those words, Casel rolled up his sleeves and gently thrusted his spoon into the pile of porridge on the plate in front of him.
Suddenly, however, there was a violent banging on the door and shouts, and there were even those that sounded like a scream from the front door.
[This is bad! Master, the “sweepers” broke in!]
As soon as they heard the servant’s warning, the married couple sat up.
[Marquis. There’s a passage in the cellar leading to the river outside. Please use it to run away!]
[Umu, alright. You lot too, get ready quickly!]
[Yes!]
In a panic, the two ordered their servants to pack up their personal belongings. If they were going to escape for survival, they couldn’t just leave on their body. At the very least, they needed to have money and clothing. Especially if they were fleeing with nowhere to go. At the entrance, the sound of something heavy and solid banging against the door could be heard already, as if they’re trying to break it down.
[That’s not good! They brought out the battering rams. The door won’t last that long!]
Just as the Marquis said this, there was the sound of wood being crushed and doors being breached. Immediately after, the sound of countless footsteps entered the mansion. Even the screams and cries of desperation could be heard, and most of the people in the room could guess what those who had broken in were doing.
[Marquis, please run! Sherry, it’s an underground aqueduct. Lead the Marquis away from here. Understand?]
[Yes. Mother, Father, please hurry.]
[I know. Your mother and I will be right behind you, so you go ahead!]
Nodding at her father’s words, Sherry walked into the cellar with Casel in hand. Having seen them off, Sherry’s father turned and exchanged glances with his wife, before they nodded their heads. Quickly moving a cupboard in front of the entrance to the cellar, they blocked it off and began piling up tables, chairs and other furniture in front of it.
[As long as Sherry is alive, the Tyueli family will live on.]
[Don’t worry. She’s got the support of her husband.]
[Yes, she has a good eye for men. He may look cold at first glance, but inside, he is a man of strong feelings. There must be. I’m sure there is. She’ll definitely be safe.]
In the end, the wife took out a couple of bottles of amber-colored liquor that she kept in a cupboard, pulled off the lid and said “That girl’s cleverness was because her father taught her well”. Responding with “What do you mean, haven’t she got her capabilities from you?”, the head of the family pulls over a lit candlestick close.
[I mean, you chose me, right? That’s proof that you had a good eye for me. Don’t you agree?]
Realizing that they were just praising themselves, the two of them chuckled to each other. But then, without any tact, a member of the Oprichnina and the men commanded by him appeared. The men were dressed in long black robes that would have made them look like temple priests, and they wore helmets on their heads that resembled Kobolds. Held in their hands were custom-made brooms made from the fur of a beast. It was a symbol of their will to bite traitors like Kobolds and sweep them out of the land. Because of this appearance, they were given the epithet “sweepers” by the people. The hallway was so narrow that only the couple could only see three or four people among the intruders, but there appeared to be an even larger group waiting behind them. Behind them, they saw the fallen figure of a servant who had been working to organize their everyday life. Having faced the death of a person they knew, the two stood side by side in a relaxed, unforceful manner.
[My, oh my, it seems we have guests. I wonder what’s the purpose of your sudden visit?]
[The head of the Tyueli family and the madam, right?]
Although he thinks it’s very rude to ask someone in response to a question, the head of the Tyueli family answered in a calm manner.
[Indeed. And who are you?]
[We are the Oprichniina. You are suspected of infringing upon imperial authority. Obediently allow yourselves to be bound and follow us.]
[If it’s “treason”…… I know what that means, but “infringing upon imperial authority”, those were terms I’m unfamiliar with. Could you tell me what exactly constitutes as infringing upon imperial authority for future reference?]
[No, it’s not that those words were difficult to understand. In short, every word and action that is unfavorable to his Majesty constitutes as infringement of his imperial authority.]
[Unfavorable to his Majesty…… I may have spoken badly or insulted, but that’s about it. I’m sure we’ve never done any acts that were considered as such.]
[That would be an act of defiling the authority of the Empire. Such a thing, by its very nature, is unacceptable.]
[Wait, wait, stop for a moment, okay? Does that mean we can’t complain or express our bad emotions, like “I don’t like this country” or “I hate this or that”? There’s no such thing as a pure and innocent person. I have never seen a person who has remained pure of heart. Everyone has thought or even said things like “I hate this person” or “that race is unpleasant to be around”, don’t they? I know such a part of a person isn’t commendable, but isn’t that within the scope of freedom of the inner mind and freedom of expression? And, generally speaking, who gets to judge that, and by what criteria?]
[We will make our own subjective judgment based on the allegation that the authority of the Empire has been tarnished. If you are cleared of suspicion, you will not be punished. The only thing we ask is that you tell us where Marquis Casel, who has already been found guilty of personal diplomacy, is located, even if we have to make you speak by force.]
[Incidentally, may I ask whose allegation brought you here?]
[I originally wouldn’t be able to answer your question because we must keep the existence of the petitioner confidential, but within these circumstances, I suppose I don’t mind. Actually, it’s my allegation.]
[As I thought. You are the ones who interrogate and judge too, right?]
[Yes. That’s exactly right.]
[In that case, I’d hate to be obediently caught by you here.]
The head of the family shrugged.
[That’s right. See yourself off and never come back again. I hate ugly and brazen men like you.]
The wife too, looked as if she was turning down the advances of a persistent man.
[Oh my, even madam is saying such things……Speaking of which, I don’t seem to see the young lady of the house. We suspect she may be guilty of the same charges.]
When asked where their daughter had run off too, they both answered in unison that they didn’t know.
[She’s a girl who’s somewhat used to debauchery after all, she had probably fallen for some man and is likely indulging herself in some sort of sex play.]
[Husband. Isn’t that a bit much? She’s only 12 years old.]
[Hmph! If you ask me, whether they’re one of those who politely greets or those acting like a sneaky thief, it’s all the same when your daughter becomes someone else’s.]
[Oh my, are you jealous? How very mature of you.]
The couple suddenly started arguing, and the members of the Oprichnina were taken aback.
[Ahh, hello? Hello!? Could you and your wife leave your quarrel for later?]
[Ara, I’m sorry. We were having fun with our conversation that, look, our guests were feeling left out.]
[It seems like conversation with you is futile. We will now only use force.]
With his words, the men slowly began to make their way towards the couple.
[Ahh, that’s right. I forgot to provide our guests some drinks.]
[What, you don’t have to mind us. We’ll immediately finish our jobs here…… Oi, you lot.]
[Yes.]
Thereupon, men with ropes stepped forward to seize the couple.
[Now that won’t do. It would be a disgrace to the Tyueli family for generations to come if we failed to serve even one drink to our guests.]
As Sherry’s mother said this, she splashed the alcohol from the bottle she was holding onto the men. This bottle was among the three bottles gifted to them by Sugawara, sake with 50% alcohol content. The men who had been exposed to the alcohol didn’t hide their agitation at the cool sensation of the alcohol that was rapidly taking away their body heat. Meanwhile, those who were drenched on the head and got alcohol on their eyes held onto their faces, groaning in pain.
[Uwaaahhh, w- what is this!!!?]
[Madam. D- Doing this won’t buy you any more time!]
Giving the enraged men a sidelong glance, the head of the family and his wife gulped down what little sake they had left, as if making a toast.
[This alcohol sure is strong. I’ve always dreamed of sharing a drink with the man who would be Sherry’s husband…… but it’s a shame that we had to spend it on something like this.]
[I wish I could have held my grandchildren in my arms.]
[It’s a shame I can’t see her on her wedding day. Oh no, have I always been such a greedy man? All these regrets just keep coming up and my resolve is getting shaken.]
[I just hope you’re satisfied with the fact that you have married me.]
[I suppose. Most of my wishes were certainly fulfilled with that. As for the rest of my wishes……]
Nodding his head, the head of the Tyueli family stepped forward with a lit candlestick. Sensing what he was about to do, the expression on the men’s faces immediately changed.
[W- Wait. Wait wait wait, we can talk this out!]
[Hmph. There’s nothing I want to talk out with you lot.]
Saying thus, the head of the family set the alcohol around them on fire. Within a blink of an eye, bluish-white flames spread everywhere, and with their screams, the members of the Oprichnina were instantly set on fire. The bluish-white flames burned mercilessly into the men’s black clothes, changing its color to red.
[Uwaaaahhhh!]
[Hyyiiiihhh! It’s hot! It hurts! Help me! I’m on fire!]
Amidst the screams of the fleeing men and the amused laughter of the couple, the mansion of the Tyueli family was quickly engulfed in red flames and began to billow black smoke.
The underground aqueduct, as the head of the Tyueli family said, led to the river’s edge, from which one could get above ground. As expected, the garrison did not seem to think that the Tyueli family’s basement was connected to such a place, and there were no guards or pursuers to be seen as far as they could see around them.
[Geez, Mother and Father really are taking their time. I wonder if they got so greedy with their luggages that they became stuck along the way?]
Sherry was out on the river’s edge, waiting for her parents to appear. She was anxious, looking around and peering into the underground aqueduct over and over again. Beside her, Marquis Casel was pondering how to interpret the warning from the head of the Tyueli family that he had been confronted with at the time of their separation.
If it really was as he thought……. No, perhaps, it might just be his imagination. However, if he just kept on hesitating, he would be wasting the precious time that the couple had made for them.
But even if that’s so, even if that were the case……
In the end, he couldn’t be ruthless enough to make an immediate decision. Unable to give up hope that the couple would escape with them, Casel decided to hide in the undergrowth on the riverbank. However, just as long as the time they hid there, the fear that the sweepers might arrive before the two of them did surfaced. The mere thought of it made him so nervous that even the slightest rustle of his clothes or the sound of the wind rustling the leaves and grass made him unable to even breathe.
In the midst of all this, Sherry finally couldn’t take it any longer and sat up.
[Marquis. I’m going to go back and fetch my parents and the others.]
Saying this, she tried to go back to the underground aqueduct. However, Casel hurriedly reached out and caught the girl’s arm.
[You must not return!]
[P- Please let me go. Mother and Father must have run into trouble.]
Casel thought. Perhaps, this girl is aware of her parents’ true intentions. That must be why this intelligent daughter of theirs is so anxious. But if that really was the case, he had to be more determined. As the person who had been entrusted with their daughter, he couldn’t let her return to the jaws of death.
[You can’t go back!]
[Stop! Marquis, please take your hands off me. Please let go of me!]
[No. We need to get out of here right now.]
Finally making up his mind to leave…… which is also a decision to abandon the couple, Casel carried Sherry’s small body up. However, even with a larger build than her, Casel still found it difficult to continue to carry her when she was resisting so desperately, and he almost dropped her several times along the way.]
[Father! Mother!]
[Be quiet!]
Casel tried to make her stay silent, but he couldn’t think of the right words to say. At a time like this, all he could come up with was a curt “Be quiet”. Even though he was old enough to know better, he was getting tired of himself for not being able to come up with sensible words.
At that moment, black smoke began to rise from the direction of the mansion. Sherry, who witnessed it, let out a shrill scream.
[NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! FATHER! MOTHER!]
[My goodness……]
Witnessing it himself, Casel also involuntarily stood still.
[Marquis, please put me down! Father and Mother are still……!]
[No. Your parents sacrificed themselves to save you! You’re going to let their feelings go to waste!]
[That’s a lie! Father said he’d be coming with us!]
In the end, Casel could no longer carry Sherry, who was violently flailing about. He had to bring her down once to keep the young lady from being accidentally thrown to the ground.
However, the young lady tried to run out as soon as she got her feet on the ground, to which Casel desperately tried to hold her back.
[I said you can’t. It’s not safe to go back!]
[No. I don’t want to, please let me go. Father! Mother!]
Casel finally raised his hand, and slapped Sherry’s cheek as hard as he could. He had no choice but to slap her.
[Listen to what I’m saying!]
The pain and shock of Casel’s slap caused Sherry to fall to the ground, absentmindedly holding onto her cheek.
[Come, get up.]
Forcing the young lady to stand up, Casel pulled her hand away. Pulled by the old man, Sherry wobbled along, like a puppet that needed the directions of others.
[Uuuuu, uwuuuuu……]
[Stop crying! It’s depressing!]
[Uuuuu, hic……]
Him, who couldn’t even encourage a single girl at a time like this, is supposed to be a politician who is supposed to assist the Emperor and lead the people. How could he save the country if he couldn’t even save just one person? Scolding himself within his mind, Casel despaired.
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
The fire at the Tyueli house was extinguished spontaneously that evening. Fortunately, the stone buildings haven’t caught their neighboring houses on fire. However, the interior of the house was in a terrible state. Stepping into the building, where the air was still hot, the scene inside felt as if one had walked into a hearth. The interior plasters, furniture, stairs, ceiling paneling, curtains, and other furnishings must have been burned up in the fire, and the interior walls were black with smoke and soot. The floor was littered with charred wood and debris from the fire, and there were objects lying in the crevices that could have been either furniture…… or perhaps, human remains.
It was a stark reminder of how terrifying fire is.
Among such piles of rubbles, the members of the Oprichnina dug up clues to find survivors, who are unlikely to still have remained in that mansion engulfed in flames, and possible fugitives. Whenever they found an object that they were certain was the corpse of a former comrade and a former resident of the mansion, they would carry it out. But no matter how they looked through them, there were no clues left that would allow them to imagine what they looked like before they died. Therefore, they had no choice but to mourn them all together.
At the end of such work, the men discovered the entrance to the underground aqueduct. At that point, however, half a day had already passed since they had entered the mansion. If anyone had managed to escape, it was highly doubtful that they would be able to catch them. It was at this very moment when it was confirmed that the underground aqueduct was connected to a nearby river that the Vice-Praetor, Luflus, accompanied by the Crown Prince’s representative, arrived at the site to urge his subordinates with their work.
[Casel and the people that escaped with him must have escaped from here. We shall pursue them immediately.]
The Committee Hee of the Oprichnina told Luflus that they were going to pursue.
[It will be too late now. Do you really think that Casel would just wait for us?]
[Ah, no, but just in case……]
[Your sloppy leadership has resulted in the loss of some of our excellent men. Not only that, the head of the pro-peace group escaped. Committee Head, what are you going to do about it?]
[I- I’ve never expected that the Tyueli family would go so far as to set their house on fire.]
[Did you really think the whole pro-peace faction was a bunch of cowards? As rotten as they may be, they’re still nobles. There were even some of them who had chosen to die with pride. In that sense, the final moments of the head of the Tyueli family and his wife were truly magnificent. They deserve our respect. If the situation weren’t as it is, I would call them my friends. Can the same be said of you though? All you do is make excuses and produce no results. These were actions that should be looked down on, don’t you think?]
[H- However, Praetor-dono. I have also arrested many members of the pro-peace faction. I have searched through 65 homes and detained 263 people. Saying that I’ve done nothing is……]
[It’s not about the numbers. What matters is the disappearance of the important targets.]
Interrupting from the side is Tyuule. Acting as the Crown Prince’s representative, her tone sounded cold and dismissive, and heer everyone word seemed to compel everyone like an invisible blade.
[Where did Prince Diabo run off to? Why has the Marquis Casel, the leader of the pro-peace faction, not been found yet? I can only assume that someone’s negligence has caused this situation. There must be someone who does well running off their mouth, but secretly rebels against his Highness. As you can tell, my ears are good at hearing things. If any of these people are being negligent, just a little whisper will suffice, so I would appreciate your cooperation as well.]
Tyuule looked at the surrounding members of the Oprichnina with a snicker.
[T- There is no one who is being negligent. With a sense of duty in our hearts, everyone is searching diligently.]
Lufluf straightened his posture, forcing his back muscles, which were trying to contract, to straighten out.
[I’d like to see proof of that sense of duty. Preferably, in a tangible way.]
Perhaps sensing Tyuule’s piercing gaze, Luflus nervously shivered and cold sweat dripped down his forehead. Being the Vice-Praetor, he’s supposed to have the second most important position in the Empire after the Minister. He’s supposed to be in a position in which he leaves the work to his subordinate politicians in his office and just complains about their work. Despite this, cold sweat dripped down Luflus’s body at the scene, fearing and showing respect to Tyuule, who was supposed to be nothing more than the Crown Prince’s favorite slave.
Here shows the reality of his position and that of Tyuule’s. Nowadays, within the Empire, everything is determined by how close one’s position is to Crown Prince Zorzal.
[It is rather unfortunate that I have to report this to his Highness.]
Seemingly overbearing, Tyuule said. It was a tone that seemed to corner, provoke and spur him on.
[P- Please wait, Tyuule-sama!]
As if to cling on her, Luflus called out to Tyuule before turning towards the Committee Head and pressed him on.
[Don’t disappoint us! You also have a family of your own too, right!?]
[Ah, no, but Praetor-dono. But, ummm……]
Seemingly fumbling his words, Luflus spoke.
[Think carefully before you speak. What is it that ‘s important to you? Consider how far the consequences may extend depending on your decision.]
[……A- As long as I…… As long as I take responsibility, w- what about my family?]
[It’s alright. His Highness doesn’t mistreat those who fell in battle. He hates only cowards and those who do not fulfill their duties.]
Saying this, Luflus takes out a dagger from his pocket and pressed the sheathed blade against the Committee Head’s chest. At first, the Committee Head looked as if he didn’t understand what he was being forced to do. Slowly, he looked at the sword in his hand, then pulled out the blade out of its sheath and gazed at it, seemingly finally realizing what he was holding. Eventually, with a trembling hand, he pressed the tip of the blade against his neck.
Seeing him do as such, Tyuule turned away, as if she had already lost interest, and began asking Luflus questions. She doesn’t even pay attention to the sound of something falling down a short distance away.
[You people are responsible for finding the Marquis. Am I wrong? I am not mistaken, yes? Therefore, you should pursue them. Don’t pretend to be something you are not. It’s just a matter of whether you’re doing your duties or not……]
[Y- Yes. That is correct. W- We’ll get right to it.]
Luflus turned around and gathered the members of the Oprichnina, showing how he was only in a position where he decipher and convey orders.
[How are we going to search for the Marquis and that household’s young lady!? Someone give a suggestion. Now!]
The end of Luflis’ statement was changed in tone that it sounded somewhat like a scream. One could even describe it as a desperate cry. Perhaps, infected by his sense of urgency, the expressions on the members of the Oprichnina changed, and as if all of them had something to say, everyone started speaking one after another.
[L- Let’s pursue them immediately.]
[Vague. Give me something concrete!]
[Put a bounty on their head to encourage people to give out their locations.]
[We’ve already done that!]
[Let’s increase the bounty!]
[Have then increase it then!]
[Let’s arrest his family and make an example of them.]
[Casel’s family is in a remote territory. How many days do you think it will take to send troops over there? Moreover, most of his family in the Imperial Capital had fled before the law was enforced. The only relatives he had left here was the Tyueli family!]
[Then, let’s go after that family of his! There must be others who have fled outside the Imperial Capital. We should go after all of them, including those who have escaped!]
Among the Oprichnina, a relatively young man stepped forward.
[T- That’s going to take a lot of work, isn’t it?]
[However, it’s better than sitting around doing nothing.]
[Are you going to do it then? Very well, take a single squad from the garrison and go!]
[Yes!]
The man who had suggested the pursuit went off in a heroic fashion, as if he had finally found an excuse to get away from this place.
[Now, what do the rest of you propose?]
[We can comb through the Imperial Capital.]
[That’s why I’m asking for your damned suggestion! Be more specific!]
When asked so, the man pulled a map of the Imperial Capital from his pocket. His hands were shaking, as if he was nervous.
[P- Please take a look at this.]
Upon his words, everyone came up to look at the map.
[The underground aqueduct coming out of the house of the Tyueli family was connected to the Purom River. So, we should blockade all roads and alleys within two leagues of the riverside and search all the houses there.]
[Do you think we have the manpower for such a thing? Do you have any idea how many houses we have to search?]
[No, in fact, I don’t think we would need to search that many houses.]
[What do you mean? Say it.]
[We can intentionally leave one area of the encirclement lacking in personnel. Searching houses in itself would cause a commotion in the city, so we don’t actually have to take the time and effort to search every single one of the houses. It would just be to keep appearances.]
[I- I see. Searching houses is just to smoke out the prey.]
[Yes. Casel currently doesn’t have a reliable hiding place. Therefore, they will surely appear in the area with few personnel. With this plan, all that is needed is the force necessary for the blockade, so it should be enough to mobilize the entire garrison of the Imperial Capital.]
[Your name?]
[Hahh! I am Gimlet Gin Lime.]
[Gimlet, that was a very specific and good suggestion. Excellent. Truly excellent. I hereby appoint you to the position of Committee Head. You have the responsibility and authority to carry out this plan.]
[T- Thank you very much.]
Seeing this, one of the relatively older members of the Oprichnina raised his hand.
[P- Pardon me, Vice-Praetor. May I speak?]
[What is it? I hope you’re saying something constructive.]
[Ah, no, ummm, it’s just…… Within two leagues of that river, ummm…… is the Jade Palace, so would that be alright?]
[Ahh? Ahh, you’re talking about that huh. There’s no need to worry about them. The guards there are Princess Piña’s Knights. We may not be able to go near it, but neither can Casel and that young lady with him.]
Still flustered though, the Oprichnina member continued.
[However, if they were to ask for help from those knights…… ]
[Can’t we just ask the knights to hand them over?]
[Will the women there really hand them over just like that?]
[They will have to. The special Oprichnina law was passed by the Senate and officially proclaimed by his Highness, the Crown Prince in the name of his Majesty, the Emperor. If they try to disobey the special Oprichnina law, they will be rebelling against the Empire.]
[I have a suggestion. How about we send some men over there to keep an eye on them?]
[Are you volunteering?]
[Y- Yes. I will stay on watch and keep an eye on the Knight Order.]
[I approve your suggestion. Well then, get to work!]
Thus, the members of the Oprichnina began to move again. As if agitated by fear, as if they were driven by their fear……
After making all the arrangements, Luflus timidly turned around and peeked at Tyuule’s face. But from what he sees, the bored-looking Tyuule only seemed to be mumbling something to herself, toying with a liquor bottle that had been burned and distorted by the high heat, with her toes. Had he been a little closer, he might have realized that she wasn’t talking to herself, and was instead having a conversation with someone. However, the atmosphere around Tyuule seemed to make it difficult for him or anyone to thoughtlessly approach her.
[Bouro, are you there?]
Upon her words, an insidious-sounding voice echoed low from the other side of the rubble.
[Yes, what do you desire?]
[For the situation to become more interesting. I believe I don’t have to tell you the rest.]
[The hounds are currently chasing the fleeing prey. Seeing them trampling over the flower beds and overturning tables would certainly be quite entertaining. Understood, I will do my best. Kuhihihihihi.]
Meanwhile, Casel and Sherry, who had escaped from the Tyueli family’s mansion, were walking in a residential area of the Imperial Capital that had lost all signs of life, and they chose to only move along the alleyways. However, although they kept walking, they didn’t actually have a specific destination in mind, nor did they have any guidelines for what they would do to escape. However, if they stayed in one place, they would attract people’s attention. That’s why, they kept moving.
If they felt that she was about to meet someone, they would turn a corner, and if they felt someone following them from behind, they would turn down a corner and let them pass. They just kept on mechanically repeating this.
Just like that, they kept going around and around the same place over and over again. It became a natural process of avoiding the main street and intersections where the soldiers stand guard. They knew they had to get out of the Imperial Capital. If they could, they would have done that. However, the walls that protect the Imperial Capital can also serve as a cage in times like these.
No matter where they ran, in the end, they were still inside a cage. The only difference is whether they’re captured within a small cage or a wide one. That being the case, their exhausted mind started to amuse them with the thought that it would be better to let themselves be captured. However, even though the Imperial Capital is much larger than an actual prison, it’s at least possible that you can decide for yourself what you want to do with your future.
[I’m tired from all this. Sherry, are you alright?]
Casel spoke to the young lady, who had remained silent for a long time, as if trying to put her in a good mood.
[It would have been great if I had properly eaten as you had told me. As expected, I’m getting hungry too, hahaha.]
So far, no matter how much the old man called out to her, the young lady showed no sign of responding, and simply continued walking as Casel led her.It was as if she had lost her will itself.
[I suppose it can’t be helped……]
—–seeing as she lost her parents like that. Moreover, here she is, running around with no time to grieve. If she looked really energetic at a situation like this, Casel would have been worried instead. It would be up to him, the adult, to think about their current situation. He should be happy that she’s walking on her own. Urging his old bones, Casel looked around. The sun was starting to set. They should soon find a place to hide and rest their weary bodies.
[Now then, what shall we do?]
[First would be obtaining food.]
To Casel’s surprise, Sherry answered his mutterings. The young lady, who had never shown any intention to do so, spoke to him.
[I too am hungry. Anyhow, we need to eat food and build up our strength.]
[Be that as it may, I forgot to bring any money.]
Even as Casel was puzzled by the fact that Sherry, who had been silent until then, had suddenly started talking, he told her that he had been so surprised by the commotion that he had failed to take his wallet with him. Moreover, there is a shortage of food in the Imperial Capital. The stores were all closed, and even if they had the money, buying in itself isn’t something they couldn’t do.
Probably dismayed at having exhausted her energy by walking around unnecessarily under such circumstances, Sherry looked like a mother looking at her troubling child. Nibbling on her thumbnail, she slightly tilted her head in contemplation.
[In that case, we should just ask the locals.]
As if spurred on by the moment, Sherry took her hand off Casel and started knocking on doors of the middle-class’ homes everywhere. She began to call the homeowners and politely asked them to share their food. The first ten houses she knocked on refused, telling her “they don’t have enough to share”, but after knocking on the eleventh house, the owner of the house showed his true colors as he asked her, “What is she offering?”.
[Would this be good enough?]
Cutting the string of the pearl necklace Sugawara had given her, Sherry pulled out two pearls and presented them to him.
[I’m sure your wife would enjoy new earrings.]
Looking at the white pearls shining in Sherry’s tiny palm though, the man shook his head.
[That wouldn’t be enough.]
One small pearl like this is worth more than a gold coin. However, food prices seemed to be skyrocketing.
[How about four then?]
[I can trade with you if it’s for the whole thing.]
The man demanded Sherry’s necklace itself. Hearing this, Sherry didn’t falter, and with shine in her eyes, she warned him.
[While I don’t mind giving you the entire thing, it’ll just cause discord in your household.]
[Why?]
[This necklace is only large enough to fit around the neck of a child like me. Your wife should be an adult woman, right? For her to be able to wear this, you will need at least…… yes, at least ten more of these pearls. But Homeowner-sama, wouldn’t you have to do a lot of hard work to buy more?]
[I suppose so. But if that’s the case, I can just take two of them out and use them as earrings, and sell the rest off. How about that?]
The man looked proud, as if he had thought of a very good idea. However, Sherry was not to be outdone, as she responded to him with a teasing smile on her lips.
[On the contrary, that wouldn’t be possible because of a woman’s greed.]
[Hmmm? Why not?]
[Only men would think of using two of them as earrings and selling the rest for your daily needs. Women would inevitably think that If only they had ten more, they would have been able to show off their necklace. Just ten more. Just thinking about how they would only need ten more of these, the color of their eyes would change, sometimes to the point where their personality also changes. And, just who do you think will she start pushing to give her that?]
[H- Hmmm.]
As if he had just imagined the scene Sherry described, the man shuddered.
[If you only had two to begin with, I’m sure your wife would be satisfied with the earrings.]
[I- In that case, I should just hide the other pieces from my wife and not show them to her. What do you think about that idea?]
[Oh my, that’s even worse! Ahh, I can already imagine it. Even though you had hidden it in a place that shouldn’t be found by anyone, before you know it, it’s on your table. And there standing beside it is your wife, glaring at you with her arms crossed. Greeting you with the words “And who were you planning to give these to? Even though you only gave me two!”]
[Whaaaaa, I’m begging you, stop already!]
Even though he didn’t actually hear her say that, the man turned pale and held his head, as if his wife had yelled at him.
[It seems that you have experienced something similar.]
[I’m sorry, I apologize already so don’t say any more than that.]
I’m sure the same thing will happen even if you exchange them for money. “How did you get this much money and what do you intend to spend it on? Or perhaps…… what have you already spent it on?” I can assure you that doing such a thing would have you condemned to the harshest degree.]
[If it’s my wife, she’d definitely do that. That’s just about right. That’s exactly what’s going to happen.]
[That’s why, I’ll tell you this. Please make do with four…… no, five.]
[Why five?]
[One of them would be for you to spend. The other four would be for you to give to your wife. Tell her that this is all you have for now, but that one day, you will collect enough to hang around her neck.]
[With the money I earn though, that doesn’t seem very realistic……]
[The fact that it’s unrealistic is why it’s great. If it’s such an outrageous dream, your wife won’t actually expect it, and will thus be truly happy about your gift.]
Men are creatures who see reality at the end of their dreams, but women are creatures who dream within reality. They calmly look at reality and know its tastelessness. That is why they adore men with grand dreams, telling him to do his very best. And if it’s for their own sake, why would they hate him for doing such a thing?
[Y- Young lady. How old are you? You look pretty young to me.]
[I recently turned 12.]
[At your age, you’re terrifying…… I’m starting to feel sorry for the man who will be your husband, young lady. I mean, if you’re too cunning, you won’t find many suitors like that.]
[There’s no need to worry, I already have a partner.]
[I feel sorry for that guy. He must have been a daring person. ……Alright. I’ll settle for five, just like young lady said.]
After the man withdrew into the house, he handed her a bag of food that he had been carrying. Sherry also handed five pearls to the man, who deeply bowed to him in gratitude, and inspected the contents of the bag.
[Ara, it’s in Japanese……]
Inside was the JSDF’s combat rations. The olive-drab painted exterior read “cracker meal” in black letters, and the nutritional values were written below it.
[Hmmm, you can read that? Truth is, I worked as a manservant at the Jade Palace. I begged a guest to share some of that with me. That’s why we had some food to spare. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to share my food with others, no matter what you trade them for.]
[Are the Japanese people there alright?]
[The Jade Palace is fully guarded by Princess Piña’s Knights. As long as they’re in there, they will be at peace.]
[Is that so……]
Sherry nodded in relief. Seemingly having thought of something upon seeing such a Sherry, the man turned his gaze to a distance.
[……………………….Young lady.]
[Yes, what is it?]
[They have two guard shifts a day, one in the morning and one in the evening. The lady knights over there are really formal, and they have to go through this exaggerated ceremony of changing guards every time. Their security at those times was so lax that even I could see it.]
After momentarily blanking out upon his words, Sherry deeply bowed her head again and politely thanked him. She then left that house.
[I think that as long as we manage to leave the Imperial Capital, we would somehow be able to manage. Why don’t we go to a village or a settlement somewhere, find horses and food, then return to my territory?]
Renting a room in a private house, Casel suggested what to do next while eating a beef ham steak from the cracker meal that Sherry had procured. Looking like a squirrel with puffed out cheeks as her mouth was filled with crackers, Sherry asked back.
[Is the Marquis’ territory far away?]
[The Empire is vast. Even if we traveled by horse, it would take us about 30 days.]
[With that distance, I don’t think our traveling expenses would be able to last.]
Sherry clutched on her few pearls, which couldn’t be called a necklace anymore. At first, they tried to rest and eat on the side of the road. However, in a time of food shortage, doing so in the Imperial City would have drawn the murderous stares of people looking for food for their family and their children. So, they hurriedly knocked on the door of a house, and by offering a few pearls and half of their provisions, they managed to get a place to stay for the night. Whether the owner of the house could be trusted or not though was a gamble they could only bet on.
[……Even though we have to go such a far distance from now on, we currently aren’t able to leave the small range of 1 or 2 leagues in every direction.]
[We are surrounded after all.]
[I’m sure those sweepers will start tightening that net they’ve spread out.]
[Umu. You’re right…… but what method do you think we could use instead?]
[Of course, since they aren’t actually casting a net, they’re probably trying to corner us somewhere.]
[I see, so they want to smoke us out. I’m not sure how they’re going to do that, but that makes sense.]
[I’m pretty sure they prepared some kind of escape route somewhere.]
[I see, so that would be where they’re waiting for us.]
Thinking about such a situation, Casel deeply sighed. He realized that if they did that, they would have to jump in even if they knew it was a trap. They had found themselves in a desperate predicament before they knew it. At that moment, Sherry spoke.
[Marquis. Let’s seek asylum.]
[But how? You just now said that we couldn’t pass through the walls of the Imperial City. My territory is far away, and the borders of the Empire are even farther.]
[No. As a matter of fact, there is a foreign soil within the Imperial Capital.]
[What nonsense are you talking about?]
[No, it’s true. Due to a diplomatic agreement, the Jade Palace could be described as another country. No one from the Empire would be able to do anything within its territory.]
[How surprising. You want us to take refuge in the Jade Palace? However, do you think the Japanese envoys will welcome us with open arms?]
[I will cling upon Sugawara-sama’s pity. There’s nothing else we can do now.]
Hearing the name brought up, Casel grunted, seemingly having thought of someone.
[It’ll cause him quite some trouble.]
[This Sherry will atone for her sins by serving him for the rest of my life.]
[I bet it won’t be just that. Doing this will probably cause trouble for a lot of people. This action may cause more of a ruckus than the word “trouble” can possibly describe.]
[Marquis. I am actually a rather scheming girl.]
[Hoho…… A scheming girl, you say?]
[I got close to Sugawara-sama for the Tyueli family’s sake, which was on the verge of collapse.]
[Umu, for a child of your age, you’re remarkably resourceful.]
[By being right in between the Empire and the country of Japan, I thought we could greatly benefit.]
[In a way, such a decision was right. Had this not happened, your name would have had considerable weight in diplomacy.]
[However, such a decision also caused Mother and Father……]
[That’s not true. That’s only because your family sheltered me to safety.]
[No, I think the Oprichnina would have come to our household even if the Marquis hadn’t come. They didn’t like those who were friendly with the Japanese.]
[That might indeed be the case. Even when we don’t particularly want to be friendly with them……]
[This scheming girl here is wondering…… if there’s a way for me to get revenge for my parents.]
[Against the sweepers?]
[No, against something much larger. However, in order to fight against something greater, I will need far more power than what I have now. And now, I’m thinking of how to pull such a power to my side.]
[……That would trouble many people.]
[Yes. Great power is difficult to handle. One needs to be delicate and attentive, for such a power can shatter all sorts of things, including the toughest boulders. However, I hope everyone will take the brunt of such a power.]
[Do you think we…… no, do you think you have the right to do that?]
[No. But it can’t be helped, I don’t want it to simply end like this. I am only 12 years old, and I plan to live for another 70 years or so, seeing, hearing, tasting, and enjoying all kinds of things. For that reason, I will do whatever it takes to get through this situation.]
[Perhaps, the main target of thoses sweepers should have been you.]
[I learned from history that it is always only those who are willing to fight, not those who are righteous, who survive. There are two kinds of peace: the peace that is fought for and won through battle, and peace gained by making others submit, stolen away from others. Those who are unwilling to fight for fear of sacrifices and dirty their hands with sin will be forever deprived and forced to submission. Isn’t that the natural order of things? Or perhaps, it was only human society that is special? I don’t think that would be the case though. Therefore, as I go on, I will stain my hands with blood. I don’t care about those who will be inconvenienced by my actions. If anyone later blames me, I will show them an apology worthy of praise, while sticking my tongue out at them behind their backs.]
[I understand. I too will shoulder the burden of those sins.]
[I’m sure…… this will move things along very nicely.]
Looking at Sherry, who was quietly speaking of her decision with a downcast look on her face, Casel couldn’t tear her eyes away.
[Sherry. I want to apologize to you.]
[For what?]
[For hitting you back then.]
[No. I believe you didn’t have any choice.]
[However……]
[I was able to resolve myself thanks to that, as I no longer have the luxury to cry like a child. Thank you for worrying about me, but I’m fine now. So, there’s no need for you to apologize.]
Casel was feeling very apologetic, for it was he who had not allowed her to be a child. It could be said that their circumstances dictated it, but it was an inescapable fact that he was one of the reasons why it happened. Even though she had been a clever child who lacked childishness, even the little bit of childishness that remained in her was forcibly cut away and she was rushed to become an adult. Moreover, she had to change into someone unreasonable. This was definitely a tragic experience for her.
After midnight, Sherry woke up from her improvised bed, rubbing the sleepiness out of her eyes. Thereupon, she shook Casel, who was sleeping beside her.
[Marquis, Marquis.]
After a while, Casel raised himself, sounding rather displeased.
[What’s the matter? It’s still dark. Can’t you let me sleep a little longer?]
[This isn’t the time for that. Don’t you hear that?]
Listening carefully, they heard the sound of something approaching from a distance, like the beating of gongs and drums. It sounded like beaters rousing their prey when hunting in the forests or mountains.
[T- That is……]
Hearing that sound, Casel muttered in dismay.
[We aren’t gray bears. That’s not something you do on the street.]
[However, it’s extremely effective.]
Sherry held her chest as she said this.
[It’s making my heart pound fast. It makes me feel unsettled.]
[Yeah. It’s not too much, but that sounds make me unable to sit still.]
Since they aren’t likely to be carefully searching houses door to door, they have the option of closing the door and keeping themselves hidden. However, this was a method only allowed when the owner of the hiding place could be trusted. If they remained holed up in the house, there was a strong possibility that they would be tipped off by the family members who had fallen into a panic. They felt the need to suspect not only the people in the house, but also the neighbors.
[Let’s run away, making sure the people here won’t notice……]
Sherry and Casel packed their bags. However, they were two people who had run out of the house with nothing but their clothes on. They only packed what little remnants of food they had left. The sounds approached from the west. In other words, they are trying to drive their prey to the east.
[Let’s go north, straight to the Jade Palace.]
[If we’re going to the Jade Palace, I would have preferred as the guard shifts were changing, when there would be a gap in their security.]
[It can’t be helped. In such a situation, we have no choice but to take a random chance.]
Just like that, the two quietly closed the door so as not to wake the homeowners and disappeared into the darkness of the city.
However, this concern may have been unnecessary. The owner of the house was in a state where could be bothered whether they made noise or not, for he was currently lying on the floor in a pool of blood, clutching a wanted poster in hand. From the looks of it, someone must have stabbed him in the back when he tried to tip the Oprichnina off about the two’s presence in this house. Shadows carrying blood-soaked swords snickered as they watched the two depart.
[Now, dance for us and make things more interesting. Kuhihihihihihihihi.]
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
[What is that sound?]
Emerging from the large tent for the Commander-in-Duty, Bozes asked the sentry who was standing watch in her field of vision.
[Bozes-sama……]
After regaining his composure, the sentry quickly salutes and raises his voice.
[North Tent No. 1, Sentry No. 4, Private Mark, standing watch. I am reporting an anomaly. Some kind of noise seems to be coming from the west.]
The area around the Jade Palace is large enough to include gardens and is not immediately bordered by the city. Despite this, the commotion in the city could be heard, so it was clearly an unusual situation.
[Private Mark. Under my responsibility and authority, I am temporarily relieving you of your guard duty. Call all the officers on duty who are taking a nap. After that, you will return to your current duties. Give any reports to the on-duty Junior Officer.]
[Y- Yes.]
The soldier left his post and ran. Bozes looked around at the rows of tents set up in the gardens of the Jade Palace and saw that there was no unrest, at least not within the Knight Order. The only people moving about would be the sentries on duty. Soon, the upper brass knights gathered in the command tent. Instead of Panache, who was working on intelligence gathering while studying language at Alnus, Beefeater, who had taken over the role of leader of the White Rose Knights, showed up to make sure everyone was present.
[Everyone, I’m sorry to wake you all up in the middle of the night, but I want you to find out what all the fuss is about.]
Thereupon, Beefeater replied, “I’ve already sent out scouts.”
[That helps us greatly. There is so much unrest in the Imperial Capital that it wouldn’t be strange for an uprising to occur. In the meantime, all those on duty who are taking a nap are to wait on standby. Also, depending on the situation, we may have an emergency call out to all soldiers. Any questions? It seems not, so you are dismissed……]
After giving these instructions, Bozes reached for a basket of citrus fruits on the table. Lately, she’s often found herself munching on a pile of yellow citrus fruits from the basket, often eating them with the peel intact. The aroma wafted through the command center tent, almost making the people watching her feel the sour taste in their own mouth. Seeing such a Bozes, the girls, who were 14-15 years old Officer Candidates, timidly asked.
[Bozes-sama. You’ve been eating a lot of citrus fruits lately.]
[Yes. For some reason, I’ve been craving sour foods lately.]
Licking the juice of the citrus fruit from her thumb, Bozes reached for another piece of fruit.
[I- I doubt this is the case but……]
[What’s the matter?]
[No, it’s just, ummm……]
As the younger girls seemed to be having difficulty to find the words to say, Bozes curiously tilted her head. The short-haired beauty Beefeater, watching all the events occuring, frankly spoke.
[These girls are worried that you might be pregnant. Not that there’s any way that’s true though, ahahahahahahahahahaha.]
[Pregnant……………………….. Perhaps, I am.]
[Hahahahaha…………….. Huh!?]
[Eeeeeeeehhhhhhh!?]
The astonished voices of the women echoed through the tent.
[B- Bozes-sama!]
[T- That’s a big deal. What should we do!?]
[What’s the big deal? You say the strangest things. I too am a maiden. It wouldn’t be strange if I get pregnant once or twice, don’t you think?]
[No, no, no, that’s not what we’re talking about here.]
[Then, what’s the problem?]
[Anyhow, I suggest that you get some rest right away, Onee-sama…… This isn’t the time to be on military duty. We need to boil the water.]
[That aside, we need a doctor. I shall bring a doctor here!]
The girls began moving left and right, saying and doing things that lacked coherence. It was as if they were under the mistaken impression that Bozes is about to go under labor right away, saying things like boiling water and calling a doctor. In short, they were panicking and confused. The mention of Bozes’ pregnancy had shaken them that much.
[You lot, calm down!]
At Beefeater’s words, Bozes nodded.
[That’s right. Even if I’m pregnant, since my belly hasn’t started swelling up yet……]
Saying this, she counted with her fingers and calmly told them, “we’re still seven or eight months away from that.”
[No, no, no, no, no, no, I understand what you’re saying, but can’t you be a bit more shaken? Rather, the problem here is that you’re still unmarried. Ah, did you already have a partner?]
[Of course. It wasn’t as if one of the Gods had descended and snuck into my bed at night, so if I got pregnant, it had to be with the right person.]
[L- Like I said! The problem here is exactly that partner! Is it him? I it perhaps that man? That strange fellow named Tomita!?]
[Yes. He’s the only one I’ve laid with. I can’t think of anyone else. Also, I’m saying this now, but he’s not a strange fellow.]
[Can’t you be a bit more shaken!?]
Grabbing Bozes by the shoulders, Beefeater violently shook her, making the vertically curled rolls of Bozes’ luxurious blonde hair whirl up and down.
[Can you please stop? Also, in the first place, why should I be shaken? Even if this was the outcome, I had already been prepared to leave myself in his hands. I’ve never treated our relationship as a mere way to pass time.]
[That’s even worse!]
[I’d like it if you don’t say that. I am feeling very happy right now. Yes, this soft fluffy feeling I have right now…… may be what happiness is all about.]
Hearing what Bozes proclaimed, some simply shook their heads while some felt dizzy instead.
[Uwaaaaa, someone do something about her!]
Holding her head in her hands, Beefeater turned to her colleagues instead.
[Beefeater-sama, w- wouldn’t this be the part where we congratulate and give her our blessings?]
[No, I really don’t think this would be any good. Being the daughter of the Palesti family, do you think that would be alright?]
[It’s fine. I had once been prepared to offer my body to someone I don’t want to be with, but now, I am blessed with a child with the one I have decided to be with. If you don’t call this happiness, then what do you call this? If my father is unhappy with this, I am prepared to abandon my family name.]
[Wait, that, ehhh……]
[H- How wonderful……]
If one were to call what she feels as the Bozes Disease, the girls around her were certainly infected with it in an instant, as dreamy expressions appeared on their faces.
[Reporting.]
At that moment, the tent was suddenly opened and a scout soldier came in to give his report.
[Ummm, am I interrupting something?]
However, feeling as if he had walked into some place he shouldn’t have entered as a man, he felt uncomfortable. Restlessly looking around, the head scout asked, perplexed.
[No, don’t mind it…… The conversation about me ends here. Thank you for waiting, let’s hear your report.]
The soldiers reported that the commotion approaching from the west was a disturbance being created by the sweepers to drive away the fugitives. It seems that the Jade Palace is completely encircled in the siege of the commotion.
[Which team is on guard duty tonight?]
[That would be my team, Onee-sama.]
In place of Bozes, who was now the Acting Commander and was in charge of their whole group, Nikolashka, her protégée, was now in charge of the Yellow Rose Knights.
[In that case, Nikolashka, issue a special call-up for all of the Yellow Rose Knights. Set up a battle formation and stay on high alert. Beefeater, your White Rose Knights are to remain on standby. This situation might take a while.]
When Bozes’ order was issued, the relaxed atmosphere that had prevailed up to that point suddenly vanished. Even the expressions on the faces of the Officers and the Apprentices, who had been letting out shrill voices just a few minutes before, became serious and dignified, as if they were bows ready to be drawn.
[Special call-up for the Yellow Rose Knights! Equip Type-2 Equipment and gather!]
With the voice of the Junior Officers’ rebuking voice echoing out, the soldiers leaped to their feet, donning their equipment and came out of their tent in droves. The Knight Order is a place where veteran soldiers who have been active in the frontier originally come to enjoy a comfortable retirement. Therefore, the level of skill of each of their individual members was extremely high, and no confusion occurred even when a call-out happened in the dead of the night. In the blink of an eye, the soldiers were lined up in formation.
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