Sagasa Old Town was in a far more serious crisis than Aureatia initially recognized. The residents had a sound grasp on the murders happening there and had no intent to cover it up—they simply acknowledged them and didn’t feel they were a concern. It had also become clear that this abnormality wasn’t peculiar to Sagasa Old Town itself. One of the investigators working under Aureatia’s Twenty-Ninth Minister, Hiroto, had been murdered without putting up any resistance and before the eyes of the other investigators. On top of that, after the men had returned from their work, they didn’t even report the death until the dead member’s absence was pointed out to them. A young girl by the name of Roto the Cross was the criminal behind the string of incidents. While her name and appearance had become clear, her origins and race were still a mystery. She lived in the Sagasa Old Town, rotating around the houses of the residents. “…I have to say, I was too naive in my evaluation of the danger. One of the Okafu mercenaries has died. If I had made a wrong step myself, I could have died as well.” After the incident, Hiroto the Paradox visited Romog Joint Military Hospital. He was there to take tests for the vampire virus infection with the Okafu mercenaries who investigated the incident, as well as several residents of Sagasa Old Town. Additionally, he had needed to negotiate with the head of the Medical Division, Aureatia’s Seventh Minister, Flinsuda the Portent. “Hmmm, it does seem that way, doesn’t it…?” Flinsuda’s corpulent body appeared to have slimmed somewhat. While she was extremely busy, more than that, Hiroto thought that the anxiety and worry she felt for her former hero candidate Tu the Magic played a far larger role in her weight loss, now that she had been designated a self-proclaimed demon king. Depending on how much of a threat to Aureatia Tu posed, Flinsuda could be forced to relinquish her seat on the Twenty-Nine Officials like Hidow the Clamp had done before. “Still, you can relax, Hiroto. Thanks to the antiserum, you weren’t infected at all. That said, the mercenaries and the other residents all tested positive. There’s no denying that a vampire epidemic is spreading through Sagasa.” Vampires infected others with their virus through blood transmission and created corpses. The main routes of infection were considered to be mixing blood through an open wound or by intimate bodily contact. Thus, this latest incident, where an entire town of people had been infected in a very short time, was extremely abnormal. “There are several points that don’t make sense when trying to explain this as part of a vampire’s cognition manipulation. I would like to ask for your cooperation with identifying the characteristics of the Sagasa disease and helping resolve this.” “…Analyzing it will take time. Once you start talking about manipulation from the parent unit, it will be impossible to shed light on the phenomenon just by investigating the pathogen.” “Yes. That is why we will act to secure the parent unit.” The most terrifying point regarding the situation in Sagasa Old Town was that, by its nature, there had to be a considerable number of murders of which Aureatia had no knowledge. That amount could be one a day or just as easily ten. While there still wasn’t any proof that Roto the Cross was a vampire parent unit, getting rid of her would at the very least stop the string of murders happening in Sagasa Old Town. “I understand there is a limited supply, but to capture Roto the Cross, we will need new doses of the antiserum. To save the lives of the Sagasa residents, I was hoping you could provide some number of them to me.” “Hmmm, that will be difficult, I’m afraid.” Flinsuda knit her well-kept eyebrows. “As I am sure you are aware, the vampire antiserum can’t be made just because there’s a demand for it. No vast vault of wealth can do anything about the available supply, unfortunately.” The antiserum, the only thing verifiably effective at preventing and treating the vampire infection, was refined from the bone marrow of the extremely rare dhampir. There were times when two people needed the antiserum, but only one could get it. For Hiroto, it was a bitter memory. “…Yes, of course. We will try to think up any countermeasures that we can on our end.” Amassing wealth couldn’t buy more antiserum. Flinsuda the Portent was absolutely driven by money and greed above all, but in certain ways, she was also the most difficult person for Hiroto to influence with his financial power. When the lives of others were on the line, Flinsuda the Portent mistook what her priorities were. However, in regard to anything else, she could be bribed. “Now then, I have another favor to ask today. Would you allow me to meet with a patient?” In the battle that took place on the Orange Thirty-Six train along the North-South Railway, Kuze the Passing Disaster had been unharmed. It felt like neither Kia activating her Words, nor the current situation, had ever happened. A destructive event that seemed to distort reality itself and a stillness that seemed to reject said event had occurred at the same time. Directly afterward, everything was drowned out in a flash of light and an explosion. At the time, Kuze had believed the explosion came from the clash of two tremendous supernatural abilities, but that, too, was incorrect. It was due to a weapon Yaniegiz and his men brought onto the train. It came from another weapon meant to kill Kia after her Word Arts were neutralized and one that wouldn’t be dissolved by the Word Arts neuralization itself—the industrially manufactured muskets from the new continent, along with some type of explosive. When he arrived in Kuze’s passenger car, Yaniegiz already had a bomb set up in his luggage. Kuze didn’t notice it ahead of time. Why wasn’t I able to do anything? He was powerless. He failed in his role as Uhak’s bodyguard. Even as a priest of the Order, he hadn’t been able to make Yaniegiz give up his plan. He had wanted to save everyone there… Uhak the Silent, Tu the Magic, Kia the World Word, Yaniegiz the Chisel, and all the Aureatia soldiers—but instead, he had simply watched. Kuze was totally unharmed. The doctor had told him it was a miracle he didn’t have a single scratch on him. They also said that after they finished a simple checkup, he could be discharged immediately. He hadn’t lost Nastique’s divine protection, either. She wore the same faint smile as always and watched over Kuze, even now. “Bweh-heh-heh…” A listless chuckle escaped his lips. Lying face up on the bed, he covered his eyes with his arm. He didn’t want to abandon his hopes. He wanted to believe there was salvation in the world. Even if he continued to live on, an end thick with sin and anguish was guaranteed to be waiting for him. So why am I…alive…? So long as no one was here to see it, he wished he could have cried, at least. However, it seemed that his tears had dried up a long time ago. Thus, Kuze the Passing Disaster simply passed the time idly, waiting until he was discharged. Eventually, he had a visitor come to his room. “It is good to see you again, Kuze the Passing Disaster.” “…Oh, hello there, Mr. Hiroto. Thanks for making time for little old me…” “I have brought one more person here with me. Would you mind speaking with Morio the Sentinel as well?” “Morio the Sentinel. This is our first time meeting face-to-face, right? Thanks for seeing us.” Appearing out from behind Hiroto was a large, bearded man. His dangerous aura was completely out of place inside a hospital, but here in Romog Joint Military Hospital, there were plenty of visitors—and patients—who gave the same impression. “Bweh-heh-heh… The commander of Okafu coming to see me in person? Have to wonder to what I owe the honor.” “Right. I’ll get straight to the point.” Morio sat himself down in a chair meant for visitors. “We’ve positively identified Nihilo the Vortical Stampede.” “Uh-huh. Nihilo…?” “That was the name they used. Hiroto here told me that you’re acquainted with her?” “Yes… Though, well, I was just hired by Aureatia to be her bodyguard, so they didn’t give me any sort of information on her identity. She was a construct but a good kid. Friendly, if a bit mischievous.” “I see. So the Nihilo you saw was actually shaped like a person, then?” “Yes, I’d say so…” The young girl had been extensively camouflaged by Aureatia and escorted to Lithia amid continued national tensions. Kuze may have been thickheaded, but even he was able to sense there were some disquieting circumstances surrounding Nihilo. “The Nihilo I saw was a massive revenant, over twenty-five meters tall, constructed out of a tarantula’s body. Hard to believe a totally unrelated construct would be claiming to be her. Anything come to mind when you compare that to the Nihilo you met?” “…Now that you mention it.” Kuze recalled the situation at the time. The operation Hidow the Clamp spearheaded hadn’t only included Nihilo the Vortical Stampede—they were also accompanied by a heavy carriage to disguise the Aureatia troops as traveling merchants. “When I was guarding Nihilo, there was a freight carriage pulled along by a gigant, but I didn’t know what was inside. Nihilo asked me, though, If I said the cargo in the heavy carriage was also me, would you believe me? I thought it was some joke of hers, but…it was a strange turn of phrase, so I remembered.” “So that is what’s going on here. Nihilo the Vortical Stampede… She was that colossal construct itself. A weapon created with the premise that she would board another, larger construct. Given the situation, during the Lithia War, she probably—” “Kuze, thank you for answering our questions.” For some reason, Hiroto the Paradox interrupted Morio. Morio had a slightly suspicious look, but he didn’t seem particularly unhappy about it, and left the conversation to Hiroto. “The reason I’m here today is because I want to get confirmation from you, Kuze, regarding the twelfth match. Do you have the will to continue on through the tournament?” “I mean… ’Course I do; I never would have appeared at all if I did… What’s with the formalities all of a sudden?” Kuze answered, but inwardly he was shaken up. In actuality, he had no plans on advancing through the tournament. His first-round match was the only one he had needed to win no matter what. If he assassinated the Queen during the second round of the tournament, that itself was bound to make continuing the Sixways Exhibition untenable. The symbol of the Aureatia establishment would be killed, no hero would be born, and Kuze would take the fall for the crime without leaving any room for doubt. The Order was in a cooperative relationship with the Gray-Haired Child for the Sixways Exhibition, but this plan to sacrifice many lives and save the faith was hidden from Hiroto the Paradox as well. …Anyone would try to stop a stupid plan like this. If I didn’t know any better, even I would have. “Mestelexil has been assigned to be your opponent in the twelfth match.” “…!” After the incident in the train, Kuze had had a bit of a hunch. At Kuze’s behest, Aureatia searched for another hero candidate to step in for Zeljirga and fight in the eleventh match. Given that Mestelexil had returned under Aureatia’s control, treating Mestelexil’s disqualification in the sixth match as a victory instead was the easiest procedure to make work. Still, the match was going to happen. If anything, this was the news Kuze had been waiting for. “Kuze, considering the matchup, you have no hopes of beating him.” Damn right I don’t, Kuze thought. “Bweh-heh-heh… Don’t pull your punches, do you? Not that I blame you for looking at it that way…” “Aureatia intends to hold the eleventh match, but if you wish, Kuze, I can handle the situation by saying you dropped out of the tournament after getting beneficial concessions from Aureatia. This is because I believe Aureatia doesn’t want to kill you. As far as the Sixways Exhibition is concerned, you’ll suffer a defeat, but it should be more than possible to make them accommodate the activities of the Order going forward.” “…Basically, you’re telling me to lose by default? Can’t really jump on that idea. I have to become the hero and restore the Order’s honor. The whole reason I had them divide up the matches so I could win by default was for the sake of the Order. I didn’t come here to fight just to become a bargaining chip.” He was lying. From the very beginning, Kuze had no intentions of becoming the hero. Kuze was fighting to become a criminal who would be etched in the Kingdom’s history. “Kuze. As a hero candidate, you have cooperated with Aureatian missions several times up until now. At first, the reformation sector was wary of you as part of the Order’s faction, but almost no one suspects you of harboring any rebellious intentions on the current Aureatia Assembly. You must be aware that the Sixways Exhibition also serves as a plan to eliminate the powerful individuals who could become a threat to the Kingdom. It’s possible to negotiate concessions in exchange for your withdrawal because Aureatia has determined that using the tournament to dispose of you would be a net loss for them. Just as it is with Mele the Horizon’s Roar…they see you as a necessary part of their fighting force to drive off threats to the Kingdom.” “…Bweh-heh-heh, I’ll be damned… Didn’t realize that was how things had ended up.” Kuze the Passing Disaster had complied with anything Aureatia asked of him. Escorting Nihilo the Vortical Stampede. Taren the Punished’s assassination plot. Slaying self-proclaimed demon king Alus. Conquering the fungal labyrinth. He had dirtied his hands during almost all of it, and bore witness to tragic and miserable deaths. “…Guess it was all worth it, then.” He could also imagine that the reformation faction’s change of heart had come in part from encouragement from Rosclay. Within Aureatia, Rosclay was the only one who had figured out the plot to assassinate the Queen and expressed a willingness to cooperate. He had assuaged Kuze’s suspicions and prepared for him to carry out the assassination. Knowing Rosclay, it would have even been possible to guide the opinions within the reformation faction while he was still alive. “I prize the wishes of my constituents.” Hiroto sat with his fingers interlocked and stared at Kuze with a smile. Looking at Hiroto’s smile, meant to calm the other party, only made Kuze grow even more nervous. He needed to make sure Hiroto didn’t see through him. “If you wish to fight, then I will make appeals to ensure you do. However… Kuze, is a justification like the title of Hero really necessary to revive the Order? Currently, I am aiding the Order, and as you see, I now hold the position of Twenty-Ninth Minister. It should be possible to wipe away the Order’s poor reputation and make aid for those in need of protection a reality through the proper procedures and without risking your life.” “…Proper procedures, huh?” Appealing to the hearts of the people and saving the Order without killing anyone. It was the best possible approach. Anyone would have wanted that, even the ones conspiring to assassinate the Queen. Kuze’s heart told him he wanted to turn back. There was still time. It could all happen without anyone having to die, right? Wouldn’t it be fine to entrust the future to someone else one more time? Proper procedures. Is he trying to say that my method isn’t proper? Hiroto’s eyes were fixed on Kuze, observing him. Kuze was speaking with a deviant politician. It was impossible for Kuze to outsmart him with logic. How much does Hiroto know? Why did he come here to get confirmation from me directly? Kuze could tell that his palms had gone clammy with sweat. If he disclosed everything about the Order’s plan right now, he might be able to get through this without killing anyone else. The anguish he felt came from self-consciousness of his sins. If he confessed his sins, he could feel better. —But the Order wouldn’t be saved. Instead, it would then mean it wasn’t the criminal guild that hijacked the organization, but devout followers of the Order who had planned to assassinate the Queen. Even the attempt was a heinous crime, worthy of execution in and of itself. The followers’ determination, willing to accept all the sins on their shoulders, would be rendered meaningless, and the Order would suffer endless persecution—not as the victim but instead as the perpetrator. We alone are going to carry out this assassination plot in complete secrecy ourselves, without confiding in anyone… I might be pushing my luck here, but with Hiroto’s power, maybe… Kuze had witnessed for himself many times now what exactly the Gray-Haired Child could achieve. He might’ve been able to do it. On the other hand, Kuze also thought there was no way Hiroto ever would. Kuze had joined forces with Hiroto the Paradox simply to use him in service of the assassination plot without revealing his true intentions. It was a grave betrayal. Kuze couldn’t put any trust in just how far Hiroto would go to defend the traitorous Order or how far he’d carry out his sense of obligation to Kuze. The priests of the Order were quite literally putting their lives on the line and entrusting the future to Kuze. Kuze couldn’t possibly expose the whole plan here solely on his own discretion. “…I assure you in no uncertain terms that I am not proposing this because I have joined Aureatia’s side. I see you as a very precious friend and ally…and I do not want to let my friends die.” Hiroto spoke the sentiments in a solemn tone. It made Kuze believe he wanted to rely on Hiroto, to try trusting him. Thinking that there was no other way but to shoulder the sin of regicide wouldn’t save a soul. It was foolish martyrdom. “Mr. Hiroto. There isn’t any problem if I can win, right?” Kuze murmured quietly. He wasn’t sweating. He spoke as if out of rancor, shutting away all his unrest and sadness. “I need to prepare some sort of chance of victory to do something about Mestelexil. I get now that even if I fall out of the Sixways Exhibition, you intend on continuing to support the Order… But here’s the thing. I’m part of the Order, too. The only thing I’ve been able to do is fight. Besides, if you’re trying to tell me that I’ve fought all this way to lose here…” Kuze squarely met Hiroto’s eyes as they stared at him. “…then what reason did I have for killing Nofelt?” “…” Kuze’s heart was weak. He felt ready to give in Hiroto’s proposal. If he didn’t think about the sacrifices that had been paid to get to where he was now, he wouldn’t have been able to endure it. Kuze had sacrificed the lives of Ripel the Frost Leaf, Nofelt the Somber Wind, and Rique the Misfortune. “…That is fair. I was speaking too selfishly and without considering your own will. Forgive me.” “No worries. I just want…a little time to think.” “I understand. I will take my leave here for today.” “Sorry for giving you the runaround, Mr. Hiroto… I appreciate the concern.” Kuze had managed to stand face-to-face with a devil like Hiroto the Paradox without betraying his faith. It was because Kuze was always being watched. By a pure, unsullied angel, just for him. Nastique. Nastique sat beside Kuze and followed Hiroto’s departing figure with her eyes. He felt glad that she hadn’t been erased. Otherwise, left on his own, Kuze would have given in. They were on the way back from Romog Joint Military Hospital. As the carriage swayed back and forth, Morio questioned Hiroto beside him. “What’re you going to do now? Seriously plan on agreeing with what he said and sending him into a fight to the death with Mestelexil?” “…Unless Kuze’s opinion on the matter changes, that is indeed what will happen. Aureatia wishes to openly hold the eleventh match in order to control the population. Kaete the Round Table in particular likely sees it as a way to showcase Mestelexil the Box of Desperate Knowledge’s abilities to the Queen and all the people watching.” “The reinstated Fourth Minister? After going out of his way to get Mestelexil reinstated after losing once, he’s gotta be planning on using the Sixways Exhibition to grab power.” Aureatia could manipulate who won and lost. The prerequisite being, however, that they had to do the manipulation without revealing the foul play to the people. It would be difficult without consent from both parties involved. “Kuze said he wanted time. There is a chance he might change his opinion in the future,” Hiroto muttered flatly. “However… I do not intend to force my ideas through against the will of my constituent. It is meaningless if I am the one who changes their heart.” “Don’t you think Kuze’s hiding something?” There wasn’t anything specific about his behavior that stuck out, but it seemed that way to Morio. He might have found some meaning even beyond winning or losing his match with Mestelexil. Either that or he had already prepared some trump card that would work on Mestelexil. “Everyone has a secret or two. I’m not going to pry.” “…Secrets, huh? Actually, you cut me off when I was talking about Nihilo, too. Did that on purpose, didn’t you?” “That’s right. There is no doubt that Nihilo the Vortical Stampede was the tarantula revenant who attacked during the Great Lithia Fire. Just as Kuze had been dispatched to assassinate Taren the Punished, Nihilo was an ace up Aureatia’s sleeve that they were saving as a last resort.” “So they were sending constructs to war like they were some self-proclaimed demon king themselves. If you got all the evidence together and presented it to the public, the scandal could turn Aureatia upside down; I get that, but…” Of course, Morio didn’t think Hiroto would do something like that. He had burned evidence of the True Demon King’s identity right in front of Morio’s eyes. He wouldn’t choose a battle that would ruin everything out of some sense of justice, fairness, or to simply dispose of his enemies. “…Is it really a problem if Kuze hears about that? Because there’s a chance the Order might do something uncalled for?” “Oh no, certainly not. I didn’t tell him for a completely different reason.” Hiroto smiled in self-deprecation. “Several civilians were caught up in Nihilo the Vortical Stampede’s slaughter. I didn’t want Kuze to hear that, given he accompanied her.” …Even took that into consideration, did you, Gray-Haired Child? Inwardly, Morio was a bit surprised. At a glance, Hiroto the Paradox seemed to be influencing the world based on some bigger picture the average person couldn’t surmise. However, in actuality, he perceived the value of even the smallest emotions the average person would ignore with far more weight than countless bigger-picture views. Morio went to light his cigar before realizing they were inside a carriage and stopped. “There was another reason I wanted confirmation on Nihilo… As you already know, I have entered into a deal with Enu the Distant Mirror. Mr. Yukiharu Shijima wanted the information that he provided regarding the National Defense Research Institute more than anything else.” “So after predicting the massive coup through several information channels, you then used said coup to crush Rosclay. So what was Yukiharu up to at the same time?” “Mr. Yukiharu Shijima showed interest in another piece of information—the whereabouts of Viga the Clamor. Though her personal history was cleverly purged, there were several points that matched up with a self-proclaimed demon king who attempted to invade Aureatia during the age of the True Demon King. At the time, this self-proclaimed demon king employed a massive tarantula revenant covered in deep celestial charsteel plating—the Vortical Stampede.” This had to be a nickname given by the soldiers at the time who encountered it. It wasn’t a widely known name, unbeknownst even to Kuze, despite his time serving as her bodyguard. When the National Defense Research Institute monster introduced herself, it hadn’t rung any bells for Morio. “On top of that, this Vortical Stampede who showed herself once more was searching for Mr. Yukiharu Shijima’s remains. Isn’t that right?” “…Based on the info you had, it means Yukiharu made contact with Viga. This Viga also had the Vortical Stampede on hand, reclaiming it from Lithia some way or another.” “Indeed. I believe we can assume that after laying low for so long, Nihilo acting so bombastically now would mean that she and Viga no longer have any need to remain dormant… Enu and Viga have made progress on their research project together.” “The Thirteenth Minister of Aureatia and a self-proclaimed demon king with the National Defense Research Institute? Just what kind of research?” “I don’t pry. However, I can hypothesize. I cooperated with capturing the living vampire specimen Enu said he required. The leader of Obsidian Eyes, Linaris the Obsidian.” “…You helped out with something crazy like that?!” “Of course.” There was a radical consistency to Hiroto the Paradox’s actions that Morio couldn’t comprehend. It wasn’t justice or morals that made him take action, but the wishes of his constituents. “…A vampire. It connects to the incidents in Sagasa Old Town.” “Yes. Would you not agree that Nihilo the Vortical Stampede’s activity signals that Enu and Viga’s research project has finished? Either it ended successfully, and they’ve moved to the offensive against Aureatia—or perhaps they failed, and as a result of their experiments, Nihilo and this vampire were set loose.” “Really likely that their research was around making an artificial vampire. That’s this Roto the Cross. We can’t do anything on our end against Roto, but maybe we should pursue the Enu and Viga angle.” “With regard to Roto the Cross, I successfully obtained Flinsuda’s cooperation. She should be able to deploy a fighting force far more suited to the circumstances than we are.” “So that was your goal in coming all the way out to the hospital here…” In any case, the threats to Aureatia hadn’t been completely eradicated yet. The reason Aureatia was sorting out the powerful fighters they were able to control like Shalk the Sound Slicer and Mele the Horizon’s Roar was to eliminate these threats in the future. For these individuals with utility value, it was more convenient for them to have withdrawn from the Sixways Exhibition where they would clash with similarly powerful fighters. “…Hear about the Queen’s comfort tour? I’m sure it’s to show that she’s safe and sound after the attack on the royal palace, but…Okafu’s been included as one of her stops. Might be taking some careful measures against us ahead of the match.” Kuze possessed an invincible superpower, but his weakness was his emotion. Followers of the Order, evacuated from Aureatia, along with Kuze’s sponsor, Nophtok, were being sheltered in the Free City of Okafu. There was a chance that if Aureatia forcibly took them back, they could engineer a victory where Kuze would lose the match unharmed while the match is still shown to all. That had to be a lot more convenient for Aureatia than if Kuze just abstained from fighting. Furthermore, Morio, though leader of Okafu, couldn’t accompany the Queen while on her visit there. Formerly or not, Morio was a self-proclaimed demon king. “I wonder about that. I believe that now, with Rosclay’s defeat, it is unlikely that they would utilize such painstaking and well-thought-out tricks, but…I will get in touch with Maqure just in case.” “Good. I’m having the mercs keep a close eye on the situation. Be a real mark of dishonor for a merc nation if the kids under their protection got taken away.” Hiroto the Paradox was a deviant politician. However, as he gained more and more supporters, the number of things he was saddled with ballooned ever larger. It became difficult to continue protecting them, and he would then be forced into opposing those he once helped. How exactly do you plan on dealing with this inconsistency, Hiroto the Paradox? Up until now, the chaos that the Gray-Haired Child created had been in opposition of the discipline and order Aureatia had tried to build up. However, Hiroto now put himself in a position that also required him to fight in the name of that same system. It was bound to become a fight with far less freedom available to him than before. Would the Gray-Haired Child be able to carry through with his self-imposed restrictions, even under such inconvenient circumstances? Becoming Aureatia’s ally has left him in the most awkward position of all. In some sense, this must be Aureatia’s retaliation for killing Rosclay. One of the many jobs the Queen had performed was going on comfort tours within the Kingdom’s territory. Young Nanal had thought that the only official business required of the Queen was to appear in front of the citizens at each stop and say a few words to greet them. When she became a body double and actually started learning, though, she realized she had been greatly mistaken. The addresses she gave the citizenry didn’t only require appropriate phrasing and mannerisms, but she needed to choose her words based on an understanding of the people’s current situation and with an accurate grasp of their history, as well. A long time was spent in transit, and even when she reached a destination, she needed to attend gatherings day and night. She needed to be constantly mindful of her clothing and makeup, to ensure she was fine with anyone seeing her. Amid all that, she had to do her usual work as well. While most of the government duties were handled by the Twenty-Nine Officials, there were a great number of things that required the Queen’s authorization, and she couldn’t afford to make a single perfunctory decision. Nanal, born a mere pauper, did all of it. It required a considerable amount of effort, even when bearing in mind the long days of learning she had spent in the Annex. Nanal’s young body was able to fully carry out the harsh workload, not because she had perfectly memorized the correct way of speaking or the proper order of her actions. She conducted herself by imagining what Sephite would do if she were there. Sephite was the same age as Nanal and had done the same things. Nanal’s hardship was Sephite’s hardship, as well. When she considered that, she couldn’t be the only one to complain about the situation. The comfort tour had arrived in the Free City of Okafu, far away from Aureatia. The city had only made peace with Aureatia very recently; there were still a great number of citizens who held anti-Aureatia sentiments. The royalty needed to take the initiative and show their goodwill. “Dant, we’re supposed to visit the Order today, aren’t we?” “Yes, Your Majesty. A courtesy call to the Okafu Branch Church members, who live separately from the Okafu mercenaries you met with yesterday.” The shaved-head military official was Dant the Heath Furrow. Nanal was especially nervous in front of him. He was in charge of the palace guard and one of the few individuals who knew Sephite from the time of the United Western Kingdom. Fortunately, she only interacted with him when she was making a public appearance of some kind, but she still couldn’t behave carelessly. “Okafu didn’t always have this branch; it was built specifically to take in followers who moved here from Aureatia. The orphans were evacuated to Okafu after the attack on the Western Outer Ward church, but they must be uneasy about living in a different environment compared to Aureatia. I am sure Your Majesty’s words will encourage them.” “I know. The children are bearing with it wonderfully.” Everything Nanal wore was formal wear tailored to Queen Sephite. For instance, right now she was in a matte navy blue dress with white lace. She looked in the large mirror. When she was dressed in the Queen’s clothes, Nanal’s white looked just as attractive as Sephite’s white. I wonder what sort of lives the Order kids are living here. Nanal’s family had always been followers of the Order. Her life in the Annex was filled with nothing but studying, so she prayed to the Wordmaker far less often than she had when living with her family, but even then she hadn’t renounced her faith. When she thought of yet-unknown Order children, both excited anticipation, as if she was meeting a family member for the first time, and uneasiness welled up inside her at once. …I’m okay. It doesn’t matter if they’re with the Order or are kids just like me; I just need to interact with them the same way I always do… With sincerity, just as Sephite did for me. Though she felt nervous, she didn’t hold her hand up to her chest or take a deep breath. At times like this, Nanal would blink her large eyes open and shut several times. One of Sephite’s unique mannerisms that Nanal had seen countless times and ingrained into her body. Several dozens of children sat obediently in the large assembly room. Behind them were all the adults of the Order from around Okafu. Standing next to the podium was a large-built woman with a rectangular physique—Aureatia’s Twenty-Sixth Minister, Meeka the Whispered. “Her Majesty the Queen has some words for you all.” Meeka welcomed Nanal in with a stiff, blank expression. Nanal assumed Meeka hadn’t said anything more than what was necessary until Nanal arrived. “To all of you in the Order here in Okafu. I am so very glad you have prepared this chance for me to speak with you today. Please let me express my gratitude for all the hard work and consideration you have shown me on this courtesy tour.” She had practiced speaking clearly with her throat fully open more than anything else. Nanal’s actual voice was a bit higher pitched, but even without trying to match Sephite’s voice, as long as she worked to make her intonation, speed, and breathing all similar to Sephite, no one picked up on the difference. “Furthermore, I wish to give my heartfelt sympathies to all the children here regarding the event that brought you to Okafu in the first place. As all of you are aware, our Aureatia is currently confronted with many difficult trials amid many changes. Of course, you were all faced with an unavoidably big challenge yourselves, and seeing you continue your constant and hardworking efforts, as well as seeing the fire of your faith still burning inside, brings me great joy, as if your adversity were my own—” While most of them were paying attention to Nanal’s speech, there were some among the children who had grown bored and began playing by themselves. Seeing their behavior made it feel all the more heartwarming. When Nanal had been little, she had never dreamed about the authority and power of a grand priest or royalty. If anything, without the calamity of the True Demon King, Nanal would have been sitting among the children instead. “In Okafu, I have shared the same meal with the people here and experienced the same culture. My deepest hope…is that through our conversation with you all together, I will be able to feel the way you do and learn what you know.” She closed her eyes and gave a polite bow. There was the sound of scattered clapping. If it were Sephite here, would she have been able to give a more touching speech? “Today, at Her Majesty’s magnanimous discretion, we have prepared time for an exchange between Her Majesty and the children affected by the church attack. Please raise your hand and come up to the podium when called.” “Meeka.” During a pause in Meeka’s stiff words, Nanal quietly informed her, “I’ll go down and talk with them. Fielding questions and answers like in the Assembly is a terrible way to learn how the children truly feel, don’t you think?” “As you wish.” Meeka obeyed without objection. The staging here was exactly as originally planned. The Queen interacting with underprivileged children the same age as herself, as equals. It made everyone know that even in a hostile nation like Okafu, the Queen didn’t feel inferior, nor was she scared of anyone. Having a fairly normal conversation with the children of the Order was something Nanal herself wanted as well. She wanted to know how the children differed from her when they had been caught up in the same irrationality as Nanal had yet, unlike her, were saved by the Wordmaker. “Queen Sephite, talking to us?” “Really? We can do that?” “She’s so pretty…” The children were bewildered at first, and none of them even got close to Nanal, but finally, with a push from one of the adult priests, they began to surround her one by one. What did she normally do for fun? Was the royal palace really busy? How did somebody have to live to get pure-white hair like the Queen? Do you ever think about people who died? What is your favorite food? She received several silly questions asked with childish earnestness, and Nanal similarly asked them several things back. What is your name? Where are you from? What’s the most precious part of your life here? The assembly hall chairs were lined up in a circle, and the children, too many to each get their own chair, took turns talking. If Nanal was ever at a loss for what to say, she could have signaled to Meeka at any time to end the conversation, but she hadn’t needed to at all. Nanal was sure it would have been the same for Sephite. “Queen Sephite…” When both parties had begun to grow comfortable with one another, a girl with long blond hair leaned forward. She was a lovely young girl by the name of Leisha. “…do you have someone you love?” “…Let’s see. I love all the people of Aureatia I rule over.” “Th-that’s… Not like that! I want to know if you love anyone r-romantically! I wondered if even the Queen has feelings like that…” “Leisha, quit it with that stuff.” “How could you ask the Queen something like that…” “Ah yes, well…” In actuality, Nanal had understood. She thought it might have been rude to sidestep the innocuous question. The topic of love was a difficult one. Leisha likely wasn’t talking about her marriage as a royal. While there weren’t any talks about it now because Sephite was still young, since she needed to pass on her royal blood, Sephite would eventually be engaged to someone. However, love was a topic of the heart, different from that sort of practical reality. Nanal didn’t have the slightest idea what sort of love Sephite may have had, and Nanal herself hadn’t seriously fallen in love with anyone before. “…I’m sorry, Leisha. I still haven’t experienced love yet.” When she replied with a sheepish smile, the children loudly exclaimed with excitement. She felt embarrassed. “Aw, but you’re so pretty!” “I thought you got married a long time ago.” “What’re you, stupid? The Queen’s just eleven years old.” “So even the Queen is like that, too…” Nanal sneaked her hand up to her cheek. She was worried her face might have flushed pink. It was a childish question, unrelated to the Kingdom, without any threat of exposing who she really was, yet she became unsure about how exactly Sephite would behave in a moment like this. Nanal’s heart was pounding in her chest. “Queen! I have someone I love! His name is Father Kuze—Kuze the Passing Disaster!” “Kuze the Passing Disaster.” Slowly repeating the name, Nanal gave herself time to think. Someone related to the royal family that Sephite would have known about. Or maybe one of the Aureatia bureaucrats—no, neither were right. The name of a hero candidate. If she remembered correctly, he was a paladin of the Order. “Kuze, the hero candidate, you mean. I hear he is a very brave man who has joined the Sixways Exhibition… What a splendid person to fall in love with, Leisha.” “Th-that’s…right. I’ve loved Father Kuze…for a long, long time…” Leisha expressed her feelings in faltering fragments while the hands in her lap gripped down tightly on her skirt. Nanal stood up without a moment’s hesitation and walked over to Leisha’s chair. She drew in close to Leisha’s trembling shoulders. “…Are you worried about Kuze?” “I am. Father Kuze…is going to get hurt. When he saved all of us, he had wounds everywhere. Your Majesty. I… No, this goes for all of us…! We don’t want Kuze to get killed in the Royal Games.” “…Is that so? You’re very kind, Leisha.” Nanal tried not to be influenced by Leisha’s emotions. She gave her a calm, benevolent smile and drew close without actually touching Leisha. The Sixways Exhibition was held in a format called true duels. A duel from Kingdom antiquity, where individuals were allowed to use any and all methods at their disposal. Both taking a life and losing one’s life were acceptable results. Since she had accumulated the same knowledge as Sephite, Nanal was able to explain why the Sixways Exhibition ended up this way. As these Royal Games were held to establish proof that if one defeated the True Demon King, mock battles or other types of competition wouldn’t create the same conditions as the heroic deed. This fight was set to determine the Kingdom’s future, and everyone wanted to see a victory that was defined without any grounds for complaint. Having lived in the Annex, Nanal didn’t actually know how profound a shadow the terror of the True Demon King had cast over this world. Thus, even knowing the reason, she couldn’t stop the irresponsible thought from coming to her— …They should have figured out a way to decide the Hero without anyone having to die. No matter how accurate and convincing the method may have been, it didn’t justify the loss of heart-bearing lives. Perhaps the reason many people wished for such a thing was because this age saw the Wordmaker’s teaching begin to disappear. “Queen. Even if Father Kuze is the True Hero…I don’t want him to fight in the Sixways Exhibition any more than he has. Is even the Queen’s power not enough to make that happen?” “It isn’t. A person’s heart is something that even I, the Queen, can’t change. If Kuze wished to escape his fight, then of course I can grant his wish. Withdrawing from the Sixways Exhibition is allowed… But I’m sure that Kuze has something more precious to him than his own life, too.” “Is that…even more important than me? More than everyone in the Order? All of us would be so sad if Father Kuze died, so why doesn’t he think his own life is precious, too?” “…” There were no longer any other kids trying to stop Leisha’s hounding questions. Everyone wore a sad look on their faces. Kuze the Passing Disaster had so many people concerned for his well-being. A young female priest couldn’t stand by any longer and admonished Leisha. “Leisha. You can’t keep pestering Her Majesty like that. There are plenty of other children who want to talk with her, too. You’re their elder sister, so you should let them have their turn.” “…Wait.” The restraining word pushed itself out of her mouth. The real Sephite surely wouldn’t act this way. “I want…to let these children see Kuze the Passing Disaster.” She wanted to grant their wishes. These children had long tasted the anxiety that had tormented Nanal the day when she was ripped apart from her family. “That cannot happen, Your Majesty.” A priest stepped out from behind all the other adults. A stern-looking white-haired old man. Nanal struggled to remember what she had learned as all her thoughts threatened to stop. …Maqure the Sky’s Lake Surface. “Queen Sephite. I am one of the grand priests of the Order, Maqure the Sky’s Lake Surface. I thank you very much for showing the children your warm consideration on top of your visit here to Okafu.” Maqure’s voice sounded just as stern as he looked. Nanal was being thanked, yet she felt as if he was mad at her. “If you have an opinion on this, Maqure, I’d like to hear it.” “These children are here in Okafu by the request of none other than Kuze himself. I, too, wish to keep these children from getting caught up in any danger. Legally, they are all residents of Okafu now. Forcefully taking them away could bring an unwanted change in the relationship between our nations. Nor should the Queen be providing any support regarding the circumstances of any one candidate in particular.” “Is that really so?” Maqure the Sky’s Lake Surface was one of the Order’s leaders. He was far cleverer with his tongue than a child like Nanal—and very smart. What he said made logical sense as well. Still, Nanal thought of what to say to persuade him. She wanted to. Right now she was Sephite, and Nanal wanted to show the same empathy Sephite had for her back then. “Leisha and her friends were originally citizens living in Aureatia. Now that Aureatia and Okafu have found peace, is there any problem with letting them return to their former city for a short while? I’m not showing any favoritism to Kuze the Passing Disaster—I’m showing it to these children here.” “This will adversely affect your courtesy visit schedule from here. Please reconsider.” “Meeka.” Nanal called Meeka to the podium without taking her eyes off Maqure. “What do you think, Meeka? I have entrusted Aureatia to all of you… Are you really unable to grant the tiniest wish of these small children?” Nanal couldn’t believe what she was saying. The child who had gotten by with her artless pickpocket skills was giving orders to one of the Order’s grand priests—and one of the Aureatia’s highest-ranking bureaucrats—and trying to make them listen to her selfishness. Meeka, having observed the entirety of Nanal’s interactions with the children without a word, replied briefly. She purposefully didn’t give her view. It was a short, stern rejection. “It will be difficult.” “I’m the Queen.” Nanal then rejected the rejection. “The responsibility lies with me. Difficult or not, I want it to happen.” “Understood. If Your Majesty commands it, there is nothing more I will say.” Meeka didn’t argue any further. She bowed her head. Walking in right up to Maqure, her red pupils stared up into the old man’s sunken eyes. “Maqure. The Order teaches that those with hearts of their own are meant to talk to one another, right? I…wish to see Kuze stand in the arena with the good wishes of Leisha and her friends, and with all of them accepting the situation. It would be so sad for followers of the same teachings to be unable to talk to one another or understand each other’s hearts, no? That’s why I want you to accept this, too.” “…Your Majesty.” Maqure’s stern expression didn’t falter, but there was agony in the long silence. “…You are correct. Kuze should not be allowed…to fight alone and be unable to talk to anyone.” Maqure gave in. A grand priest of the Order. Nanal felt as if everyone gathered in the assembly hall could hear the loud pounding in her chest. It was terrifying. Terrifying. Terrifying. No one could go against her. The authority of the Queen…the power bestowed to Nanal simply for looking similar was far more tremendous than she had thought. The children had also fallen silent in utter amazement. Finally, after the short interval, voices began to stir. Then, they turned into a loud cheer. “Yaaaaay!” “Really?! We really get to go back to Aureatia?!” “She actually beat Father Maqure!” “We get to see Father Kuze! Hey, what should we bring him?!” “Miss Queen! Thank you so much!” “That was amazing! This is all thanks to you, Leisha!” “Queen Sephite…sniff…” Nanal looked at the scene with the vague sense that none of it was real. She had done something so far beyond her station. Nevertheless, she felt a burning happiness spread slowly inside her breast. Using the Queen’s authority, she could wield vast sums of wealth or even cause a war. However, Nanal instead felt the urge to use it on good deeds that didn’t benefit her at all. I was taught a long time ago. The Wordmaker’s salvation…and the angels…all dwell within our consciences. Nanal still believed in the teachings of the Wordmaker. Right now, as the Queen, she couldn’t say that to anyone. However, she felt like she had done her best to achieve something she could be proud of. The Order followers under protection by the Free City of Okafu were going to temporarily return to Aureatia. Though he had planned for the possibility that Aureatia would take them back, the actual method Aureatia employed far surpassed anything Hiroto the Paradox had anticipated. Hiroto first apologized to the person on the other end of the radzio. “Please forgive me. It seems the other side managed to skillfully make use of the Queen’s courtesy visit. I never expected that the Queen herself would make a move.” The long-range radzio call, passed through several relays, was to Maqure the Sky’s Lake Surface. <I, too, wasn’t strong enough. This opportunity to speak with the children happened by accident, after the originally scheduled meeting was postponed. They made use of this incidental change for themselves.> The Okafu mercenaries had been prepared for a violent kidnapping. Maqure would have gotten wise to any plan that used specious excuses to lead them away and put a stop to it. However, when ordered face-to-face by the highest authority, there was no choice but to obey. Though Aureatia’s business was handled by the Twenty-Nine Officials, the Queen wielded ultimate authority. <There can’t be any political justification to bring these children, now considered Okafu citizens, back to Aureatia. That said, there wasn’t enough invalidity to go against a direct order from the Queen, either. They used the scene of the children pleading with her. If it had been an order from the Twenty-Nine Officials, or even an indirect order from the Queen, passed on to him in a message, Maqure would have had enough composure to deal with the situation.> Maqure had been isolated and helpless. The only ones there were the children and the younger generation of priests, with Maqure likely the only one to understand the danger in having the children taken by Aureatia. “Do you believe that Aureatia has complete control over the Queen? Even the largest faction, Rosclay’s reformation faction, hasn’t employed any strategies that make use of her.” <I cannot say… However, if I may give my own view of the situation… The Queen seemed to be extending her hand to the children with purely good intentions. She is a wise and sincere person. She didn’t seem to lose her composure when faced with my objections, either.> “For now, let’s consider this to still be up in the air… I’ll leave the rest to you.” <My apologies.> “There is no need to stress over what has already happened. I am in a position to ensure there are no calls to turn them into hostages.” <I am not apologizing for the outcome. When the Queen pleaded with me, I couldn’t stop from wanting to let the kids go myself.> Maqure the Sky’s Lake Surface’s tone was as matter-of-fact as always, but it had a vaguely sorrowful tenor. <I was the one who decided to make Kuze fight alone in the first place, yet I was all too inexperienced. Even at this age, I only grow more and more indecisive…> Hiroto smiled when he heard Maqure express himself. “Is that really so, though? Hesitation is quintessential. You’ll understand that when you’re older.”
Chapter 243
44 min read