Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!? - Volume 24 - Chapter 1

The Press Conference

Friday, November 26th

The leader of Elfaria’s faction was of course none other than Elfaria herself. However, due to complicated circumstances, she never directly addressed the public in person. Lord Pardomshiha took care of speeches for her, while she at best left video messages.

However, with the country divided and on the verge of erupting into civil war, that was a luxury she couldn’t afford. If she didn’t appeal for her own legitimacy and answer to the doubts of the citizens herself, she would hardly seem fit to lead them into the bloody battle ahead. And in that interest, it was decided that Elfaria would give a speech and partake in a press conference.

“It is perfectly reasonable that you would have doubts about me,” she began, addressing her citizens. “After all, the military fabricated enough evidence to drag me from the throne. Even after hearing me denounce their lies, there may yet be some lingering doubt. In fact, I should thank those of you who still put your faith in me.”

Elfaria was currently at her faction’s base, transmitting her speech throughout all of Forthorthe via the network. Her appearance was dignified and beautiful, reinforcing her usual impression: the very image of benevolence and strength. It was what many of the citizens had been hoping to see.

“However, we cannot just simply allow the wool to be pulled over our eyes. That is the reason why I am not appearing for trial. If I allowed such a trial to take place, I would be found guilty with the false evidence mounted against me. If I am to stand trial, it must be fair and just. We must restore that balance. The false evidence must be exposed, and our courts must be relinquished from the deathly grasp of the military’s influence. Then—and only then—will I go before the judge.”

The situation was bad, and Elfaria knew it. There was no denying that she had run away from a trial. Even as the reigning empress of the Holy Forthorthe Galactic Empire, not even she was exempt from the law. A formal, serious summons to appear in court was absolute. And yet despite that, Elfaria had refused. To make matters worse, she mobilized part of the army in order to resist. All things considered, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if the end result was Elfaria’s impeachment. But if what she was insisting was true, she had only done what was necessary in order to protect herself and Forthorthe. Because of that, national opinion was divided on the matter. Not just Elfaria’s reputation, but the people’s trust in her and her entire administration was at stake now.

“All is made clear from the various evidence I have presented. The military decided to use biological weapons, and then attempted to pin the blame on us. The current leaders of your military are unconcerned for you or your safety. They had no qualms involving civilians in such attacks. That is the kind of evil we’re dealing with. That is the kind of fight we have ahead of all of us. I am aware of the difficulty of what I’m asking, but it must be done in order to protect Forthorthe. Over two thousand years have passed since Her Majesty Alaia and the citizens of Forthorthe came together to protect this country. We must follow in their footsteps. We shall not allow it to fall into the hands of such despicable men! Not now! Not ever!”

At first, public opinion was critical of Elfaria fleeing trial. Accusations of embezzlement and murder were enough to make the people’s trust in her waver. But as of late, that had started to change little by little. That was because word of the battles between Elfaria’s supporters and the military had begun spreading.

Elfaria’s faction took the utmost care when fighting to keep casualties an absolute minimum. In contrast, the military was unabashed in its use of force. They had even resorted to using biological weapons. The words of Elfaria and her supporters matched their actions but the same could not be said of the military, and it was that obvious, undeniable difference that had started to curb public opinion in Elfaria’s favor. There were now fewer and fewer people criticizing her for refusing to stand trial. Public opinion was roughly split in half, but Elfaria had one more thing going in her favor. It was the existence of a certain someone who was rapidly attracting the attention of the citizens.

Elfaria’s speech lasted for half an hour or so, and its conclusion marked the beginning of the press conference in the form of a question and answer session. Journalists standing by remotely would send in questions over the network.

“I’m Galesbarn of The Forthorthe Periodical. Your Majesty, you said in your explanation that while it was announced that you were sick, you were actually being held under house arrest. Can you tell us exactly when that was happening?”

“Just a moment. Well, it started during the spring spirit festival, so... more accurately, it was―”

Primarily, the conference consisted of inquiries confirming the details of Elfaria’s speech, ultimately trying to resolve the doubts that arose from it. Considering the complex nature of what she had covered, the journalists had a lot of questions. Elfaria answered each and every one of them patiently and politely.

“I’m Laupaur of Daily Religion. Your Majesty, your imperial authority has currently been revoked by the Imperial Council. Would your mobilization of the army not be considered privatization of the army, or possibly even a revolt?”

“I am of the standpoint that such a revocation based on false evidence is invalid. I am of course aware that this is a potentially dangerous opinion not shared by everyone. That’s why I have requested that the military submit their evidence to be verified, but they have yet to comply. Considering their lack of cooperation, in the scenario that there is not time to verify the evidence in court―”

Of course, there were many criticizing voices too. The news organizations under the military’s influence—or rather, under Vandarion’s—were quite vocal in their disapproval of Elfaria. Even the neutral news outlets questioned whether or not Elfaria’s actions were legal. Yet Elfaria remained calm and polite. Her method was to stay that way until she won out.

Comparing the news organizations in Elfaria’s favor to those who weren’t, the naysayers outnumbered her supporters by a narrow margin. That meant that there was something of a disconnect between the news and public opinion, likely because of the military’s influence over the media. Really, despite how the numbers looked at face value, it was a great sign for public support of Elfaria.

But there was one more thing on the journalists’ minds. Since it was something unrelated to the contents of Elfaria’s speech, it wasn’t something that anyone was willing to ask right away. No one broached the subject until the latter part of the conference, and the man to break the silence was a young journalist who had deliberately delayed his turn for this moment.

“I am Danesford of The Mastir Economist. I have a question for Her Highness Theiamillis.”

“For me?” Theia’s eyes opened wide in surprise.

While she had taken part in the conference, she hadn’t expected that she would get any questions. Considering the situation, she was sure that the subject of everything would be her mother, Empress Elfaria. And while the question took Theia by surprise, it was none other than Elfaria sitting next to her that answered in her place.

“I don’t mind.”

“Mother!”

“Theia, you are a princess of Forthorthe. You have a duty to answer,” Elfaria replied with a quick wink.

Theia took it as a sign that Elfaria was enjoying herself, and that she should answer the question as she pleased.

“I understand, Mother...” Theia steeled her nerve and nodded her head. “Let’s hear your question. I shall answer to the best of my ability.”

“Thank you very much, Your Majesty, Your Highness.”

The young journalist bowed deeply before moving on to his question. The news organization he was a part of, The Mastir Economist, published a long-running newspaper from Theia and Elfaria’s homeland, the Mastir territory. Since they were known supporters of Elfaria, Theia assumed that it would be a simple question to answer. But that was a big mistake.

“Then if I may... Your Highness, just who is that knight in blue armor that you brought with you?”

“Wha―”

Theia was at a loss for words. But she wasn’t the only one. The atmosphere in the room where the journalists were gathered went quiet. No one had actually been willing to ask it yet considering the gravity of the situation at hand, but everyone was wondering it themselves. Now they were all focused on Theia with rapt attention.

“Ever since Her Majesty Alaia’s reign, knights have customarily avoided wearing blue armor. However, the armor this knight wears is quite plainly blue,” the young journalist continued.

“W-Well, that armor is part of the control scheme for my battleship and he just ended up wearing it, so―”

Theia was panicking. She knew even before the conference that the citizenry had an interest in Koutarou, but she never expected to be questioned about it here. If anything, she thought her mother would have to be the one to explain. But now she found herself racking her brain for the words she needed, hurriedly cobbling together an answer. The journalist noticed Theia’s panic and pressed the subject even further.

“Moreover, the knight in question has an engraved symbol on his armor that indicates he is an established knight, dubbed by Your Highness.”

“Ugh...” Theia was stumped.

“That means he is the first person knighted by the royal family given the honor of wearing blue armor in over two thousand years. That’s why we want to know... Just who is he? And what is Your Highness’s reason for giving him such an appointment?”

In contrast to Theia, the journalist had considered the question beforehand. The easy way the words flowed out of his mouth now was a testament to that. But it wasn’t just how he spoke. His eyes were brimming with confidence... And curiosity. He was eagerly awaiting the answer to his question.

“Like I said, he just happened to end up wearing that armor, and he’s been using it ever since.”

“So you say there’s no special meaning to it?”

“Th-That’s right! He just happened to end up wearing it!”

Theia answered the journalist’s question as best she could. She couldn’t be too honest, but she couldn’t deny the truth. It was a precarious situation to be in, meaning that she couldn’t really give a full answer.

“Then what is the reason behind giving him a rank and title?”

“It was to repay him for saving my life. As we met on my travels, I had no other reward to bestow upon him. I also never expected him to appear in public in Forthorthe, so I did as my maiden heart desired.”

If Theia were to reveal the truth now, there would be many who claimed that Elfaria was using Alaia’s legend for her own means. The onus would be on her to prove otherwise, and she would need irrefutable evidence to do so. But doing that would put the only person who could provide that evidence in a difficult situation. There was also a chance that the validity of the royal families of Forthorthe would be called into question. Now just wasn’t the right time to tell the entire truth. Only a small fraction of it could be safely revealed.

“So you really mean to say that there is no special meaning behind it?” the journalist asked, continuing to fish for an explanation.

“That is correct,” Theia replied.

While Theia hadn’t told the entire story, everything she had said was truthful. Koutarou really had ended up wearing the armor by chance. The title of Blue Knight had been given to him because it was something she wanted to do and because she believed at the time that he would never come to Forthorthe. It wasn’t like she had known it would lead to this. No one could have.

“Thank you for your answer.” The journalist finally backed down.

Theia was quite relieved at his words. As her body was more dexterous than her mind was when it came to expressing herself, she couldn’t help feeling like she had just narrowly escaped great danger. But that was a mistake.

“Then one final question. About his silvery sword... How did that sword, engraved with Her Majesty Alaia’s crest, end up in this knight’s hands?”

This was really the question he had been waiting to ask. A sword with Alaia’s crest, even one made recently, was not something a mere knight could casually use. It was a very special item, yet there was a knight who appeared to be using such a sword openly. It could only mean the royal families had permitted its use. But why was that? It was a fastball thrown just as Theia had let her guard down.

“H-Huah?!”

What escaped Theia’s lips was more of a sound than it was a word. She was unable to readily answer the posed question. She had thought she’d gotten herself out of this predicament, and it was a bit difficult to come up with a coherent reply when she found herself suddenly thrown back to the wolves. She couldn’t exactly tell them that it was Alaia herself that had given him the sword.

“W-W-W-Well, that’s, uh... Um...”

“It’s... what? Please tell us, Your Highness!”

“...N-No comment! He’s a man in a complex situation, so I am unable to reveal everything.”

After all of her hesitation, Theia chose silence. She felt like it was the only way she could escape the question without having to lie.

But the floodgates had been opened. After the first young journalist, question after question about the knight in blue armor poured in. Theia answered them as sincerely as she could, openly admitting that there were certain things she couldn’t go into detail about. But the fact that the questions continued made it clear how interested the citizens were in the mysterious knight in blue armor.

“Well, that’s true... Then from now on, please call us the Reborn Forthorthian Army. That’s easier to use than ‘the Elfaria faction,’ isn’t it?” Elfaria conceded.

The questions reached a peak when a journalist pointed out that referring to her supporters as ‘Elfaria’s faction’ or ‘the Elfaria faction’ could be confusing and problematic. Many considered it disrespectful to use the empress’s name without including “Her Majesty.” “The Reborn Forthorthian Army” was what Elfaria suggested in its stead. As it was the same name Alaia had used for her army so long ago, it caused quite a stir among the journalists. The citizens who were watching the press conference over the network were equally excited.

“That vixen... She’s as good at inciting the citizens as ever,” said Vandarion disdainfully.

“Her capabilities when it comes to information warfare must be acknowledged,” replied Granado.

In contrast to Elfaria’s supporters, Vandarion and Granado were resentfully watching the press conference unfold. They had accepted that the knight in blue armor was a force to be reckoned with, but they believed that he was in part meant to be used as propaganda. Really, they had assumed that they’d put blue armor on a passable knight and claimed that he was much stronger than he really was. They thought Elfaria was using the legend of the Blue Knight as a means to her own ends. That’s why when Elfaria announced her intention to use the name of the Reborn Forthorthe Army, they figured it was just part of her plan. Of course she would choose that name.

“It looks like it would be wise to make a move before those gullible fools start making a fuss,” said Vandarion.

“The legend of the Silver Princess and the Blue Knight would indeed be the ultimate weapon,” Granado acknowledged.

In Forthorthe’s long history, the story of Alaia was considered to be one of the major events that shaped the nation into what it had become. If they idly stood by and allowed Elfaria to use that to curry favor, she would have public opinion in the palm of her hand. They needed to take action before that could happen. Even though the knight in blue armor might just be a tool, Vandarion and Granado weren’t going to treat the matter lightly.

“But do you have a plan?” Vandarion asked.

“I have already prepared several,” Granado replied.

“As expected of you, Granado”

“This is all in range of what I’ve predicted.”

“And so was me saying that, wasn’t it? Hahaha!” Vandarion let out a satisfied laugh.

His old advisor had already considered the current situation and planned a move based on Vandarion’s wishes. His work exceeded expectation as usual.

“Execute whichever plan predicts the most casualties on both sides,” Vandarion ordered.

“Not the least, but the most?”

But in the end, it was Vandarion that surprised Granado. Taken aback by what he thought he heard, Granado stared at Vandarion. Vandarion replied with a nod overflowing with confidence.

“Of course! In the legend, the people supported Alaia’s army because she kept the casualties to a minimum on both sides since it was a war between citizens of the same country. This is no different.”

“So maximizing casualties will be a weapon to break down Elfaria’s propaganda.” Granado slowly nodded in acceptance.

Being a rational man, he sought an efficient victory. But he was unable to make bold decisions such as taking advantage of losses like Vandarion. That’s why Granado followed him. It was Vandarion’s resolve and decisiveness that made him a true leader. All Granado could do was advise him. Understanding Vandarion’s intentions and how he intended to achieve them, Granado once more understood his place here. This was his destiny.

“We’ll teach that vixen the difference between mere myth and harsh reality.”

“Understood. I shall make the preparations.”

With a course of action decided, they readied themselves for the next battle. They had unfaltering confidence in their victory. If Elfaria was going to shield herself with a wall of propaganda, they would knock it down and crush her along with it. But their self-assurance was far from unfounded. They had spent a long time making deliberate preparations for this and paid large sacrifices to see it through.