Fourth Act The Common Sense of the Villainess and the Final Boss Diana brings her fist down on the end of the conference room’s long table with a bang. “Never mind that—just pass this budget.” The people around her exchange looks. Their hesitation makes Diana strike the table again. “Why won’t you pass it? State your reasons. Is it because I’m a woman? Because I’m a Valkyrie? Quit mocking me.” One of the officials finally speaks up. “Er, the distinguished guests from other countries are still here. It’s a rare opportunity to mingle with those from other nations. As the empress, why don’t you attend tea parties instead of council meetings?” “Huh? I did enough mingling during the soirees. Or is there a reason it’s inconvenient to have the empress attend meetings? Are you telling me this is a man’s world and I should butt out?” “N-no, nothing like that… However, groundwork for the second continental conference must be laid, and tea parties are a worthwhile—” “Enough of that. Answer me. Why will you not pass this budget?” “Because they can’t. The figures are wrong.” Claude’s explanation makes Diana grimace. This girl is always cross; it must make her life incredibly unpleasant. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t make fun of me. Do you think I know nothing? You people do corrupt things like this all the time, but I can’t? The double standard is galling.” “If the figures don’t match up, the budget won’t make it through the council.” Appearances must be maintained, even if some sort of deal is struck under the table and the reality is different. That rules and regulations seem to be observed at a glance is what makes corruption so troublesome. Not even trying to observe those protocols isn’t corruption—it’s just a mistake. Apparently, this empress doesn’t know the difference. She snorts contemptuously. “Oh, I see. Then tinker with the numbers so they look right and pass that.” “Who do you mean?” Claude asks. Diana frowns. “I don’t care who does it. The amount of funding the Valkyries receive must match this figure, no matter what.” “Your Majesty, in that case, the rest won’t balance out…” “Don’t give me excuses. Just do something about it. All you have to do is fudge some numbers.” “In that case, allow me to tackle this. Will that do, Your Majesty?” Ernst raises his hand as if he’s been waiting for this exact moment. Claude nods. “Please do. Will you be able to make it before the end of the council?” “Yes, if you’ll look it over during the recess and if some time can be reserved during the second session for discussion.” Diana seems unconvinced that any of this is necessary. “…All you need to do is fix some wrong numbers. This seems like overkill.” “If I change some of the figures, the rest of the budget will have to be readjusted. It will be faster if I settle this. Will that do, Diana—I mean, Your Highness?” Correcting himself to use her title is probably either a reproach or his own brand of sarcasm. Diana responds to the prime minister’s mediation with an irritated tsk. “It has to be easier than physical combat. Don’t talk about the job as if it’s rough. You really are a prime minister through and through, aren’t you?” “—I believe I did the same thing on the battlefield. Managing military logistics, keeping track of equipment and supplies. In particular, determining the distribution of war funds is a senior officer’s job. If we’re negligent here, we’ll leave those in the field in dire straits.” “Don’t lecture me when you succeeded on our backs.” “In order to repay even a small portion of that debt, I must make this empire as prosperous and peaceful as it can be. I consider that my current job and my responsibility.” Ernst had originally been one of the Valkyries’ senior officers. Vica had wanted him to serve as prime minister because he acknowledged the man’s military achievements. From Claude’s perspective, he still had shortcomings, but that was only in comparison to his own prime minister, a genius who’d been educated by his family as the latest in a long line of prime ministers. Ernst’s sincerity would probably hold him back in certain situations, but it would eventually earn him solid popular support. “Do your best to repay it, then. After all, you worked us hard enough.” “Her Highness has granted permission. Let us proceed to the next topic, Your Majesty.” Taking her sarcasm as consent, Ernst quickly changes the topic. Claude laces his fingers together on the tabletop. “Moving on, then. Briefly, the next matter involves the allotment of defense spending near our border with a neighboring country. Bandits have been appearing in locations on both sides of the border, and our neighbors have proposed a joint effort to combat them. That said, at this point, their queen has only made a gentle suggestion to that effect, and—” Before he’s finished speaking, Diana rises and turns to leave. Ernst calls to her: “Where are you going? The council is still in progress.” “Handle the rest by yourselves. I have weapons to inspect. I’m busy.” “Wait. The current matter involves you as well. The queen of the neighboring country has made a request to have tea with you, the empress. You must understand that this is laying the groundwork.” “‘Lay groundwork, lay groundwork’; what is it with you people and groundwork? This is infuriating. Couldn’t you just have her attend a council and state her opinion?” “We can’t treat another country’s queen like that.” “Even if she’s a woman, as long as she has a working brain, she’ll be capable of giving her opinion. Or is this queen only able to write invitations and greeting cards? She only has that privilege because the Valkyries are protecting the empire from demons, right? If the Warrior Maidens’ Great Wall came down, demons would flood our neighbors as well. I swear, it must be nice to be so carefree. Oh, right, your daughter.” Turning abruptly, Diana points at a middle-aged man who’s seated near the middle of the conference table. If Claude recalls, the man’s a count from an old family line in Kilvas. “She’s very popular in fashionable society, isn’t she? I saw men making a fuss over her at the soiree; she looked very happy about it. She’s perfect. Have her entertain the queen. If she’s stringing along that many men, she must be good at doing favors that benefit her more than the other person.” The count’s face goes blank. As someone whose social standing is high enough to attend the council, he doesn’t shoot back, but the new tension in his cheeks shows what he’s feeling. Silently grateful for his mature response, Claude speaks to him. “The empress has made her nomination. Can we ask your family to handle it? Your daughter is certain to be a splendid conversation partner, even for a queen. Ernst, take this opportunity to turn down all requests for tea for the empress. I’d hate to cause trouble with each one.” Claude has intentionally refrained from clarifying whose trouble it would be, and the count gives him a questioning look. Claude responds with a small nod, letting him know he understands his grievance. “…Very well. No doubt my daughter will be delighted to serve as a bridge between two nations.” Only Diana doesn’t understand. She sighs, muttering, “Just do that in the first place. All right, I’m keeping Cattleya waiting. Oh, and she’ll be attending the next council with me, so don’t fail to pass resolutions at that one. Prepare properly in advance.” Having made no apologies from start to finish, Diana leaves. Once she’s gone, the mood in the conference room relaxes. Claude doesn’t overlook this. He scans the assembly. “Thank you for your consideration. She isn’t yet used to court etiquette. That must be how Valkyries fight.” A sensation like a startled, mocking chortle of laughter fills the air. “I’m not sure how to put this… You seem quite reliable today, Emperor Vica. Marriage really must foster a strong sense of responsibility.” “She has her achievements as a Valkyrie, so I feel like I can’t lose.” Right now, everyone is thinking: She may control our military, but with that personality, we can’t expect much from the empress. We shouldn’t give her any more power. And that attitude of hers… We can’t have her souring our diplomatic relationships, either. Compared to her, the emperor is much more reasonable. “However, it’s true that she and others like her have protected our empire for long years. In light of that, I would like to propose a reorganization of the military. Specifically, a review of the Valkyrie system.” He glances at Ernst. As if he understands completely, the other man begins passing out documents. It’s Vica’s measure, the one Claude had found in the trash. Vica must have left it there on purpose, trusting that if Claude saw it, he’d handle it cleverly. His cousin is quite cunning. “The empress has just told us to increase military expenditures. The timing is perfect.” The quicker-witted members of the assembly burst out laughing but try to disguise it as throat-clearing. In order to make things happen, certain procedures must be followed. It takes effort, money, and connections. Laying the groundwork, coordinating the efforts—if screaming that one’s demands should go through without doing any of these things were enough, being a Valkyrie would have to be an extremely easy, magical, all-powerful position… But saying so would be unrefined, so Claude doesn’t. The members of this council are the ones who made Vica a puppet. However, that does prove they’re cunning enough to manage that sort of thing. That’s probably why Vica has kept them around. He’d determined that, if he made a common enemy for them, they would become his allies. That gamble is about to pay off. “—Moving on, then. Let’s hash out the details of what the second continental conference will discuss.” As a first move, it’s going well. To ensure the Valkyries will beg him to leave the empire, Claude tries to make his smile as sociable as his cousin’s. The wall that keeps the demons confined in the far north of Kilvas is very thick and so high that the closer visitors get, the less of the top they can see. “Lady Aileen, we’ll need to go on foot from this point on.” “All right.” She’s already wearing clothing made from thick fabric, designed specifically for regions that get heavy snow. Over that, she puts on a cold-weather cap and thick-soled boots, and on top of everything else, she’s bundled up in a thick fur coat. When she peeks out from under the cart’s canopy, her breath mists white. It seems there really is no autumn in Kilvas. Aileen, Keith, and Vica have come a long way north. They’d made preparations for their flight, then leaped from the train in the dead of night. After resting until morning in a nearby village, they borrowed a cart and continued their journey. It’s been only half a day since their escape, but this is another world. Could some of that be due to the demons’ influence? The light snow that’s begun to fall is making the ground muddy. “Master Vica is searching for the entrance. You really must not be reckless, Lady Aileen. Even Luc isn’t here.” To make it look as though Aileen has returned to Ellmeyer, Rachel and Luc have remained on the train. Rachel is pretending to be Aileen, who is feeling unwell, while Luc is looking after her. “They should have reached the port by now. I do hope they manage to set sail without incident.” The Valkyries will be guarding Aileen’s group only until they board the ship, but there’s no telling what they’ll do if they discover that Aileen vanished en route. There’s danger there as well. Keith, the only one who’s accompanied Aileen, looks around warily. “Worry about yourself first, please. I feel it’s entirely milord’s fault that you’re in this situation, but we can’t have anything happening to you… I wish we could have made contact with the demons, at least. We’ll just have to leave that in Rachel’s hands.” “It would be a great help if we could communicate with the local demons, but if they won’t respond to Master Claude…” “Then our prospects are slim. If these demons have a king of their own, though, that will change things.” “Lady Aileen, Keith, thank you for your patience.” Vica jogs back to them. He changed into shabby clothes on the way, to keep himself from standing out, but Aileen suspects it’s making him stand out more. After all, he has the same face as Claude. The sight of his mud-spattered leather boots makes her squirm a bit. Keith’s lips are pursed in an odd way, so he probably shares her feelings. However, they aren’t in any position to scold him for getting dirty. “There’s a gate we can use to get through the wall near here. Let’s head inside.” “But there must be guards.” “Freezing to death outside is much scarier. I managed to teleport the Valkyrie who was guarding the gate, so I’ll deal with them that way. I should be able to put them to sleep, too, if I try. Oh, let me return this cart to the village.” Vica snaps his fingers, and the entire cart vanishes, horse and all. She’s heard that he used hardly any magic in the capital and that this is all new to him, but just as children learn to breathe without being taught, he’s using magic quite easily. When they leaped from the train, he used magic like an expert and carried them to safety. The only reasons he can’t teleport them to the other side of the wall are his wariness about the spell that’s cast on it and the fact that he isn’t familiar with the world outside the capital. If he keeps this up, no doubt they’ll return to the capital in a twinkling as well. How reliable. “Where did you teleport the Valkyrie to? We can’t afford to have her raise the alarm.” “Oh… Come to think of it, where did I send her? I just thought ‘somewhere far away,’ so… From here, the farthest place I know would be the capital, probably.” Aileen takes her earlier assessment back. He’s still quite shaky. He’s made her remember how Elefas is always lamenting that the way Claude uses magic is careless. “…Let’s keep our use of magic to a minimum. Even teleportation. It will look suspicious if Valkyries start appearing in the capital one after another. More than anything, you don’t yet have a clear picture of how to distribute or use your magic. If you accidentally run through all of it, we’ll abruptly find ourselves in dire straits,” Keith tells him. “All right.” Vica nods obediently, then sets off, taking the lead. They have to press on before the snow covers the muddy ground. However, the gate Vica leads them to already has several Valkyries gathered in front of it. “She vanished when I went to fetch our cold-weather gear. It’s past time for the shift change, too.” “It’s beginning to snow. She wouldn’t have gone on patrol before you came back with the gear.” In the patch of shadow where they’ve taken cover, Vica folds his arms. “A shift change, hmm? Luck was against us. This is a problem.” Keith sighs. “It isn’t ‘a problem’; this is why I’m constantly telling you to think a little before you act—no, I’m sorry. I gave you the same scolding as I would to milord on reflex.” “For now, shall I put them all to sleep?” “I think that would leave us in greater trouble later on.” One might be fine, but there are three of them. It isn’t likely to end up as a story where the Valkyries laugh about how they all happened to nod off by accident. They’re bound to suspect an enemy attack, and security will get tighter. However, Vica smiles lightly. “Oh, it’ll work out somehow.” “That carelessness of yours really is just like him! We’ll think of another way. At the very least, I don’t want to be seen before we’re even inside. Our objective isn’t breaking through; it’s investigating the other side.” “That’s easy to say, but I can’t make us invisible—or maybe I can?” Setting a finger to his chin, Vica looks up, then looks at them. Then suddenly, he’s gone. “Can you see me now?” Aileen can only hear his voice, although it’s coming from the same spot. Keith answers calmly, “We can’t see you. We can hear you, though. Is it a spell to trick the eyes, or a barrier that cuts off the outside world?” “I visualized surrounding myself in a transparent membrane, so probably the latter. I’m impressed you knew.” “Milord used that one quite often when he stole into the castle town to amuse himself behind my back, long ago.” “I see, so that’s how it’s used. That’s informative.” “No, you mustn’t learn that.” Keith scolds him sharply, but Vica’s probably learned it already. For the sake of their future, Aileen quietly vows not to tell him about any more of the uncalled-for things Claude has done. “A barrier might be safer than trying to trick the Valkyries’ eyes. Keith, Lady Aileen, take my hands. I think that will render you invisible. Since you can still hear me, be careful of the sounds you make.” Aileen takes his right hand, Keith takes his left, and Vica starts forward. As they do, a guard says, “For now, let’s search inside the wall. Report this to the captain as well.” One of the Valkyries is facing their way, but as Aileen and the others approach, step by cautious step, she doesn’t notice them. Holding their breath, the three of them make for the raised portcullis and the wall’s interior, past the guards who are still discussing what to do. “I’ll stand guard here, as scheduled. If you find her safe and sound, let me know.” “Understood. If she comes back on her own, report it to us as well.” “The alarm would have sounded if a demon came through, so it should be all right, but we can’t let our guard dow—” Abruptly, a loud, shrill alarm goes off. Both Aileen’s group and the Valkyries stiffen, but the soldiers promptly start scanning the area, looking grim. “What is it, a demon?!” “I see. If I use magic, that’s how the warning system reacts.” Aileen claps a hand over Vica’s mouth, but it’s too late. “Who is it?! Who’s there?!” “It doesn’t matter. Raise the alarm! We’re under attack!” As one of the Valkyries starts to run for it, Keith leaps out from the barrier and strikes her, knocking her out. Letting go of Vica’s hand has made Keith appear out of nowhere, and the remaining two Valkyries recoil in shock. Taking advantage of this, Vica knocks them both out. The alarm is still sounding, though, and footsteps are rapidly approaching from both sides. Keith scoops Aileen into his arms, then shouts to Vica: “Emperor Vica, run before they can trap us between them!” “Oh yes. There should be a gate leading out of the wall over there. I remember the layout.” “Lady Aileen, I beg your pardon, but bear with me for a little while!” Before she can nod, Keith breaks into a run. Several Valkyries are heading straight toward them from the front. Vica jumps lightly, and Keith rises into the air, still carrying Aileen. Vica leaps over the Valkyries, passing just beneath the ceiling. The group of guards is startled, but they promptly change direction. However, an invisible wall springs up to block their way. “Now’s our chance,” Vica says. “A barrier?! What impudence!” One of the Valkyries thrusts with her lance. It’s a magic lance, and as it strikes the barrier, the divine stone set in its hilt glows. The barrier bursts with a bang. Still running, Vica glances back and casts the same thing again as more Valkyries cry out. “Dammit, who is that?!” “Hey, raise the alarm! It’s an intruder. If it comes down to it, we’ll use the—” Aileen, who has been watching the Valkyries from Keith’s arms, thinks of the words that might have been drowned out by the noise of the bursting barrier. She frowns. “This is it; the gate to the other side of the wall, Vica says. “Let’s slip through here and hide for now.” “Wait. I hear footsteps.” Just outside the gate, Keith stops suddenly. Vica stops, too, several steps ahead of him. A third figure has just stumbled and fallen. It’s a human, barefoot in this cold, clothed in threadbare rags. Vica runs up to the unfortunate person before Aileen can stop him. “Are you all right? A human, here? Why…?” “Y-y-you… What’s a m-man doing here?” The human who looks up, trembling so hard that his teeth chatter, is also a man. When he sees Aileen in Keith’s arms, he shrieks. “V-Val— Valkyrie…!” “No, I am not. I’m an ordinary human.” “Liar! Y-you people won’t fool me again! You tr-tricked me!” the man screams, sending spittle flying. Keith is wary; his arms tighten around Aileen. Vica offers the man his hand. “We’ll talk later. The Valkyries are pursuing us. For now, you should get away from here, too.” “…Wh-what are you? If she’s not a Valkyrie, then why is she here…? Don’t tell me—did you volunteer because you wanted to help the Valkyries, too?!” “No, I’m—” “There they are!” A Valkyrie shouts from the gate they’ve just come through. The Valkyries have caught up. “Hey, there’s a fugitive as well!” With another shriek, the man scrambles back, scuttling like a crab. Vica catches his hand and pulls him to his feet. “I don’t understand what’s going on, but come with us. I’m pretty strong. I’ll protect you even if we run into any demons.” “No, it’s no good. Get away from me!” The man shoves Vica hard. In the same moment, one of the Valkyries throws an object of some sort. The sweet, pungent smell makes Aileen’s eyes widen. “…Master Keith, Master Vica, don’t breathe it! It’s demon snuff!” she yells. The substance makes demons lose their reason, and it’s nothing but harmful to humans. Vica, who’s picked up the same scent, grimaces. “What’s that?” Has demon snuff never made its way to the Kilvas Empire? There’s no time to explain it now, though. If Vica has as much magic as Claude, he should be fine, but there’s no guarantee. Aileen knows a cambion who was forcibly changed into a demon by this substance. She doesn’t have the sacred sword, Keith is simply human, and of course the man who’s been called a fugitive is in danger as well. As Aileen looks back, though, a large shadow falls over her. There’s a series of heavy cracking noises. It’s the sound of a skeleton changing, of an entire body being broken and regenerated. Vica stands in front of it, stunned. “Y-you…” “Emperor…Vica…?” The voice that slips through the man’s gritted teeth is still his own. However, his whole body is covered in gray scales, and his face is no longer visible. With tense, crackling sounds, his jaw and neck lengthen and thicken. A tail sprouts from his bent body. Four taloned feet trample the ground, and the demon howls. Just for a moment, his eyes flash, and there’s murder in them. So this is a demon of Kilvas…! Aileen can see what her brother meant when he said they weren’t like Ellmeyer’s. This demon’s form resembles a wingless dragon. The demon launches into a sprint. Vica is still standing in his path, and the demon swings his claws at him as if he’s in the way. Still holding Aileen, Keith grabs Vica’s arm and yanks him out of the way. “Pull yourself together, please! I have Lady Aileen to look out for!” Vica nods, but he doesn’t take his eyes off the demon. “What…is this? A human just…transformed into a demon…?” The demon charges straight at the wall, but the Valkyries have already closed the gate. They must have assumed that if they leave Aileen and the others here, the demon will finish them off. The demon’s attention is focused on the wall, but on this side of it, he’s in his element. The cloying scent of demon snuff still hangs in the air. They need to get away from here fast, before the smell attracts other demons. “At any rate, we have to find a way back into the wall, or we’ll be in danger—” Suddenly there’s a shrill howl. It’s the demon’s scream. He keeps ramming the wall with his head, knocking himself back in the process. It’s probably the spell on the wall that’s responsible. Even so, the demon promptly gets up and flings himself against the wall again—shoulder first this time. When he fails again, he screams. Automatically, Aileen and Keith pause in their flight and look at him. They are the demon king’s wife and his adviser, after all. “…He just wants to get out.” Vica’s still gazing at the demon. He doesn’t move. “Why are they doing this? It can’t be… My sister and Diana can’t have…” “Master Vica?” He’s acting strange. Keith grabs his shoulder. “Calm yourself, Master Vica! You mustn’t lose your composure. You are—” “…Me too?” Beneath his bangs, Vica’s wavering eyes are glowing red. “Will I be like that someday, too?” Jumping out of Keith’s arms, Aileen steps in front of Vica and raises a hand. “I beg your pardon.” A dry sound echoes as the slap connects with his cheek, and she gives him an elegant smile. Vica’s unblinking eyes close, then open again. The red light is gone. “Have you regained your senses?” “Y…yes.” “Very good. Now, while we have the chance, let’s search for a different gate. Then we’ll investigate what that was and what on earth is happening here. You can work toward being the demon king and becoming a demon after that, can’t you?” Aileen’s lips are curved in a smile. Vica blinks at her repeatedly, and then his expression turns grave. “You knew about that? About the aberration in Kilvas’s imperial bloodline—the fact that some of us become demons?” “What? …Well, er, yes. After all, I am the demon king’s wife.” Without thinking, she blurted out something she knew only from the game. Covering for herself with a cough, Aileen turns on her heel. “Now then, lead us to a different gate. Have you forgotten my condition?” “No. Oh, I’m sorry. I did, just a little.” Vica looks back at the demon one more time. He’s still hurling himself against the wall. “Stop that. You’ll hurt yourself.” His words are as soft as a prayer. The demon can’t possibly have heard him. He’s too busy growling at the wall. “…So it’s no good. Could Big Brother Claude have done it…?” Shoulders slumping, Vica turns to her again. He bites his lip, then smiles as if he’s intentionally shaking it off. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting. It’s this way. Let’s hurry.” Vica sets off without looking back. Taking Keith’s hand, Aileen follows him, walking on her own two feet this time. However, she does look back just once. The demon has stopped flinging himself against the wall and is gazing at them steadily. Then he whirls around, bolting toward the far horizon over ground that’s thinly dusted with snow, until he’s finally out of sight. Claude is fairly used to his wife bursting in with the question “What’s going on?” “Didn’t you hear me? I said to pass this budget at the council the other day!” “Diana, calm down.” Diana has stormed into his office, yelling. Behind her, a troubled-looking Cattleya is trying to restrain her. Feigning ignorance, Ernst is making tea, acting like Claude’s adviser even though he’s the prime minister. As Claude waits for tea that’s delicious in a different way from Keith’s, he pauses in his work. “I believe the budget was passed, as you wished.” “Then why haven’t the military funds come through? Not only that, but they tell me the budget’s all been used on other things, so there isn’t any to spare!” “If you use money, it goes away. That seems logical.” He nods, satisfied, and Ernst clears his throat rather unnaturally. He almost burst out laughing and has to cover for himself. Veins standing out on her temples, Diana shouts across the desk at him. “Take it back! You can demand it from Ellmeyer, even.” “Your tea, Your Majesty. Also, here is the report regarding the undertaking the other day.” “Thanks. That’s a big help.” “Wait just a minute. What is that report? I said to call off that business, didn’t I? This guy’s subcontracting work illegally.” “Then we should deal with the illegal subcontracting but continue the project,” Claude says without missing a beat. “Providing free lunches to schoolchildren isn’t something we should stop doing.” “But this criminal’s just taking our money! What sort of operation are you running here?!” “Diana, let’s discuss this calmly. Emperor Claude is only a substitute, you know,” Cattleya says in an attempt to calm her down. “That’s right, I wanted to hear your opinions as well. It’s in regard to retirement for the Valkyries.” “What?” Even as she holds Diana back, Cattleya’s eyes widen. Settling back in his chair, Claude holds out some documents. “I’ve reviewed all the Valkyries’ records. Many have left the front lines, and many more have reached their limit in terms of service age. However, from what I can see, this nation has no system by which Valkyries may retire.” “…That’s right. The men of this country just use us up,” Diana says cautiously. “On that point, I thought those who wished to could become instructors for the military, which we are going to organize.” Diana goes very quiet, her face blank. Cattleya’s expression is grave, too. “The biggest reason is the collapse of Hausel. We won’t be able to make any more Valkyries now. From this point on, Kilvas will need an army in which men and women fight the demons. We should act now, while there are still many Valkyries left.” “Men and women fighting?” Diana asks incredulously. “You’re saying the men should start fighting now, this late in the game?” “There simply weren’t many departments they were eligible to join. Besides, there have been male soldiers before, including Ernst.” “That’s…” He’d expected Diana to snap back with So what? but her gaze wanders uncertainly. Is there something about the idea of male soldiers that makes her uncomfortable? Cattleya promptly steps forward, making Diana retreat slightly. “Emperor Claude, after asking you to be a substitute, I have no right to say this, but interfering with the military is really going too far. We can’t have this, especially not while Vica isn’t here.” “The proposal is Vica’s. It was in the garbage for some reason. I found it in his office. I’ve checked with Ernst and confirmed that it’s definitely Vica’s suggestion. Isn’t that right?” “Yes. We’d discussed it just the other day, so I’m certain of it. I believe it was thrown away by mistake.” “…You heard him. In that case, as Vica’s substitute, what problem could there be with my advancing the proposal?” Cattleya frowns, tucking her chin. Behind her, Diana glares at Ernst. “Ernst, shouldn’t this be considered interfering in domestic affairs? You’re not going to stop him?” “We’re in no position to argue after our scheme to use him as a substitute. On the contrary, I don’t know why you’d be against this. Now that Hausel is gone, the Valkyries will inevitably disappear. Since it’s possible that demons will continue to pop up, preparing our military for the future is an issue we need to address.” “We put out a call for recruits, offering salaries similar to what the Valkyries receive. We already have more than five hundred applicants. I don’t think the men of this country are completely without merit.” Diana, who was about to snap at Ernst, turns to Claude after his comment. “If they’re offered salaries similar to ours without them having to go through surgery like we did, of course they’ll flock to it. I can’t believe this. Did you use up the budget on something that pointless? Just to make worthless soldiers who will only hold us back?” “True, the surgery allowed the Valkyries to be battle-ready immediately, while the men will need to undergo strict training. However, in order for the Valkyries to feel secure about retiring, I think this treatment is necessary.” “…Says a mere substitute who knows nothing about reality.” Diana’s tone is contemptuous. Cattleya thumps her on the shoulder, soothing her. “We were the ones who asked him to act as a substitute, Diana. However, Ernst, this proposal really will offend the Valkyries. Give us time to make adjustments.” “I appreciate your suggestion, but I will make the adjustments. That is what the prime minister is for.” “Don’t get full of yourself,” Diana says with an obvious edge in her voice. “More importantly, how is the search for Vica going? You said to leave it to the Valkyries, but is it really all right to do that?” Smiling as if he knows nothing, Ernst changes the subject. Diana’s eyebrows come down. “Don’t tell me you still doubt us.” “I’m simply confirming the facts. Even on the battlefield, I frequently reminded you to stay in close communication.” “Word has been sent to all the Valkyries, Captain Ernst, and they’re searching diligently. If we consider the timing, it’s conceivable that another nation may have interfered, so we’ve expanded our search to the borders.” In a tone that could be taken as either sarcasm or moderation, Cattleya makes her report to Ernst. The bottom line is that Vica hasn’t been found yet. Claude takes a document from the mountain of papers on the desk. “It would be a great help to me if you found him soon. Has my wife’s party left the port already?” “Yes, we received a report confirming that yesterday. Lady Aileen began to feel unwell during the journey, so their departure was quite rushed, but they were sent off safely.” Feeling unwell. Claude hadn’t heard about this, and he frowns. However, if they’ve set sail, there are demons in the ocean, and they can use the demons’ network to make contact with Ellmeyer. In any case, their outstanding retainers will do something about it. Keith is with her, too. Claude is sure there won’t be any blunders. If he acts now, no doubt it will only raise the potential for trouble in Ellmeyer. Having brilliant followers is important. He knows he’s lucky, and that reminds him of how difficult life must be for Vica. As neighbors with a troublemaking heavyweight like Hausel between them, he’d really like to get along. “In order to set you free as soon as we possibly can, Emperor Claude, I’ll do everything I can to find Vica… It’s been more than three days since his disappearance, but he’s safe, I’m sure,” Cattleya informs him, serious to a fault. Claude smiles at her as kindly as he can. “I know. I’ll do my best as a substitute as well.” “Just behave and stick to passing the proposals we want you to pass.” “Diana, let’s leave this to him,” Cattleya says firmly. That’s unexpected. Diana is clearly unhappy with it, but she quiets down. Cattleya bows, then starts to leave the room, taking Diana with her. Ernst calls after her: “Cattleya…if anything happens, report it.” “Of course. Where is this coming from, Ernst?” Cattleya looks bewildered. Diana glares at him as if demanding to know what he’s implying. Ernst has been about to say something, but he changes his mind, throwing his shoulders back as if he’s shaking it off. “Rescue Vica as soon as possible. He is this nation’s emperor.” Cattleya gives a wry smile, then nods firmly. “Of course. He’s also my precious little brother and the husband of my best friend.” “I see… Yes, that’s true.” After bowing again, Cattleya leaves with Diana, and then the room is quiet. “What was that about?” Claude asks. “…Cattleya can look you in the eye and lie.” Still watching the door she disappeared through, Ernst breaks into a grin. “Diana’s bad at lying, and her gaze wanders. As a result, I don’t know whether what she just said was true.” “Are you saying it isn’t only Diana? Cattleya is distancing herself from Vica as well?” “No. But…to Cattleya, Vica is more her little brother than her emperor.” That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. On the other hand, Ernst wants to support Vica the emperor, and Claude understands what he’s trying to say. There’s quite a gulf between the positions of “little brother” and “emperor.” “Just out of curiosity, let me ask: Weren’t you close to them?” “…My mother was Vica’s wet nurse, and Cattleya is my childhood friend. When she went to see you, she told me about it. She said you were an intelligent, calm, splendid person. I know you corresponded by letter. You were her ideal in everything, so I hated you with a passion.” Claude blinks; he hadn’t been expecting this. Ernst sets a hand to his chest, looking composed. “After all, I also prided myself on being brilliant. I believe Vica is the same. In the end, it’s just a droll story from our childhoods.” “…Well, well. It appears I’ve unwittingly incurred resentment. I’m devoted to my wife now, though. I hope you’ll overlook my transgressions.” When Claude responds with a joke of his own, Ernst laughs. “Overlook what? There’s nothing between Cattleya and myself. She was becoming a Valkyrie, and I wanted to help her, that’s all. That’s why I attended the military academy even though I was a man, then stood on the battlefield as a commanding officer.” “…As answers go, isn’t that more than enough?” Ernst is the third son of a marquis. If these things work the way they do in Ellmeyer, he won’t have the right to inherit, but he’s definitely an aristocrat by both birth and upbringing. Not only that, but he has an exceptional record. He won the position of prime minister due to his military achievements. He must be a genius with both sword and pen… And yet he went out of his way to choose the danger of the battlefield. If he’d simply wanted to demonstrate his loyalty to the princess, there must have been other ways. “She is brilliant, and I wanted to prove to her that I was as well. It was childish pride. If I’d merely sent her and the other Valkyries to the front line and let them protect me, I would have had no right to speak. And so perhaps ‘comrades in arms’ is the best way to describe my relationship with those two. It is what I wanted us to be… Although after the Queendom’s fall, our respective positions have changed substantially.” “Hausel’s fall has had a marked effect on everything, hasn’t it?” “You speak as if it were someone else’s affair. It was you who defeated them.” “That wasn’t due to my power alone.” “Oh, that’s very good. I’d like to make this nation the same way.” Ernst narrows his eyes as if he’s jealous, but promptly looks down. His wits are sharp. He’s well aware that the gears have already begun to slip. “…If anything inconvenient happens later, you and Vica should both come to Ellmeyer. We have quite a lot of territories that are surprisingly difficult to govern, and good help is hard to find.” Claude says this on a whim, but once he’s said it, he thinks it’s a pretty good idea. However, Ernst laughs off the suggestion, then fixes Claude with a stare. “Kilvas won’t become your client state. Don’t underestimate us, Emperor of Ellmeyer.” That wasn’t what he meant, but from the way he phrased it, he can’t blame Ernst for interpreting it that way. His good friend’s advice comes back to him: “You make conversation like the demon king. Fix that.” “I misspoke. My apologies.” “No, I’ve been complaining unnecessarily. Now then, let’s start with these jobs—” Just as it looks as though another heavy armful of documents will join the pile already sitting on the desk, there’s a knock at the office door. Ernst responds promptly. He makes sure to drop off those documents first, of course. “Got a minute? It’s urgent.” Without waiting for Ernst to answer, Isaac walks quickly over to Claude. Behind him, Jasper comes in. Looking around warily, Jasper takes off his beret, then immediately shuts the door. “The emperor might be beyond the wall,” Isaac reports quietly. Ernst turns back sharply. Isaac glances at Jasper, who’s leaning against the door to block it. Jasper continues the report for Isaac, keeping his voice low. “We were staking out the Valkyries’ station in the castle town when a Valkyrie came along, all confused. She said she’d been on guard duty at the wall, and the next thing she knew, she was standing in the middle of the capital.” “…She was teleported?” Claude asks. “There aren’t too many people who can do that. What do you think?” Isaac is asking if Vica could do it. Ernst shakes his head slowly. “I don’t know. Vica couldn’t use his magic properly in the capital.” “In that case, it seems even more likely that it’s him. Maybe that’s why he ended up teleporting her to the capital. There’s a good chance he doesn’t really know how to use his powers.” Vica can’t be used to casting magic yet. No one who was would have sent a Valkyrie on guard duty to the capital. Clearing his throat, Jasper says, “The Valkyrie didn’t seem to know what was going on, either. The outpost managed to check with the wall and confirm that, at the very least, something had happened over there. The Valkyries have a way to communicate with the security detail posted at the wall.” “Was that something invented by Hausel?” This is news to Claude as well. “Probably. So they found out somebody’s gotten past the wall. They haven’t identified them yet, though. The Valkyries here should know that much already.” Isaac turns to Ernst and asks, “They haven’t mentioned it to you?” “Not a word,” Ernst responds briefly. If he’s shaken, he doesn’t show it. He must have been prepared for this back when he asked Cattleya to report if anything happened. Claude puts in a tentative word for them. “Maybe it’s because the Valkyries don’t know the details yet. You two didn’t report this to me immediately, either.” “We didn’t know how the situation was gonna develop, so I prioritized the stakeout,” Isaac replies. “E-easy, easy. We don’t know for sure it’s the emperor, but… The thing is, it sounds like the ‘somebody’ who’s invaded the wall is actually several somebodies, and…uh…” Jasper falters, glancing at Isaac. Isaac gives it to them straight. “There are three of them. It’s probably the emperor, Aileen, and your adviser.” Ernst blinks. There’s a pause. Then Claude claps his hands on the desk. His usual adviser isn’t here. On top of that, he’s acting as Vica’s substitute right now. He has to stay calm. He pulls on the sort of smile one would give a child. “You know there’s no way something that ridiculous could happen. I’ve been told they already set sail for home. Aileen wasn’t feeling well, so they departed hastily…………” Something abruptly occurs to Claude, and he falls silent. Isaac tsks irritably, then says, “Rachel faked it, and Luc stayed with her to make it look right. The emperor must not have left the capital until he was sure you’d be his stand-in. That would match up with the time where you stopped being able to use magic. The train Aileen’s group took was kept out of the public eye so people wouldn’t see you weren’t with them. It had Valkyrie guards, but just the minimum. It would probably have been easier to sneak onto that one than some other train.” “…But Keith wouldn’t allow…” “If they’ve made contact with the emperor, they’ll know you’re weaker than Elefas right now.” Claude would really love to refute that claim, but that isn’t the most pressing issue right now. The question is what Aileen and Keith would think and do once they made that discovery. It isn’t hard to imagine. “Gracious, how awful—we simply must save Master Claude.” “Yes, after all, milord is surprisingly foolish.” He can practically hear their voices and the accompanying laughter. Is he hallucinating? Bracing his elbows on the desk, he laces his fingers together near his lips. “I understand the situation. My wife is as reckless as ever. As befits the adviser of the demon king, my adviser’s methods are crafty. Your theory is quite plausible… It’s my fault. I should never have trusted them.” “W-we don’t know any of this for sure yet, do we? Besides, a personage such as your empress would never—” “That woman would absolutely do it.” For some reason, Isaac’s answer seems to make Ernst anxious. “But surely the people around her wouldn’t permit such a thing…!” “My wife would,” Isaac tells him, sounding exasperated. Claude knows exactly how he feels. “I thought the demon king’s adviser might hold the line, but I read him wrong. If it’s for your sake, that adviser of yours would even use Aileen. Dammit, I’m never trusting any of your people again.” “…Don’t say that. You’ll make me sad.” The smile Claude turns on them this time is natural, and yet Jasper shrinks back against the door. Claude won’t let him make a run for it, of course. “I understand the situation now. Oh yes, I understand perfectly. If it’s come to this, having them cry and beg me to leave won’t be enough. I’ll completely incapacitate the Valkyries as soon as possible.” He’s kept his focus on buying time as Vica’s substitute, but he can’t be that laid-back now. If Aileen is taken hostage, war will break out on the spot. “We can’t conduct a review of military personnel immediately, though,” Ernst says. “There’s a good method that won’t take much time. Isn’t there, Isaac?” “I’ve already set that up. The Valkyrie-bashing should hit like a ton of bricks tomorrow.” “…Valkyrie-bashing?” Ernst doesn’t seem to understand. Jasper tugs his beret back onto his head. “Well, you know, this and that. Yeah. I may not look it, but I’m a journalist, so…” “On its own, that won’t be enough. Since we’ve got the chance, why don’t we try using my face?” Claude’s breezy proposal makes Jasper plaster his back against the door. Apparently, Claude has surprised him. When Claude looks at Isaac, though, the other man’s eyes are gleaming. “That’s okay?” “Of course it’s not. I’m extremely reluctant, and this is humiliating besides. However, I’m sure you’ll be able to use my face with peerless efficiency. Go ahead and ignore both my honor and my pride.” “Leave it to me.” Claude wishes Isaac hadn’t accepted so enthusiastically. “What exactly do you intend to do? I’ll do all I can as well, but…” Ernst still doesn’t seem to get it; he’s the only one in the room who’s bewildered. Isaac glances at him. “The demon king yanked up the standard, but you’ll work, too.” “Uh, I hear you had a fan club in the Valkyries before you became prime minister. Until Diana came along, it sounds like you and Princess Cattleya split the popularity pretty evenly between you.” As Jasper says that while flipping through a notebook, Ernst frowns. “A f-fan club? What is that?” “So becoming prime minister made him less popular, huh? That actually works better.” “We’ve got a good excuse as well. An imperial visit regarding the Valkyries’ retirement system. We’ll start with the capital. We won’t even need to leave the city. And for some reason, Her Highness’s faction is opposed to the retirement system,” Claude puts in. Isaac smirks. “Oh yeah? This’ll really be worth doing.” “Won’t it?” “U-um, if you don’t tell me what you intend to do, you’ll make me uneasy.” Ernst seems worried, so Isaac says, “Don’t worry about it; it’s just a job. We’ll set it all up for you. Plus, if we’ve got the demon king’s face, we’ve basically won already.” “No, um, that’s why I’m asking… Why his face?” Ignoring Ernst, Claude comes to a decision. “All right. It’s a race: We’ll see who can bring down the Valkyries first, us or Aileen. Don’t worry; no matter what happens, it isn’t our fault.” “Right,” Isaac agrees. He also finds Aileen is impressive, but at the same time, her methods have never really sat right with him. For the time being, that makes him and Claude allies. “Everything that’s about to happen is my wife’s fault, for leaving my face all by its lonesome,” Claude says firmly. Jasper claps his hands together as if he’s praying. Ernst is still perplexed, but they’ll just have to make him grow up a bit more. Military power isn’t the only weapon in the world. It’s quite a long way from the district Aileen and the others have infiltrated to the district that’s related to Hausel. That means it’s safer to travel on the outside, away from the wall, where security will definitely have been tightened. Whether they run into demons is a matter of luck—encountering demons will give them more chances to gather information. With that in mind, Aileen’s group presses on until just before sunset, keeping an eye on the wall in the distance. In the end, though, that first demon is the only one they encounter. There’s no sign of pursuit by the Valkyries, either. It’s probably because, while Aileen’s group is on this side of the wall, they might as well be locked in. The Valkyries may also be planning to weaken them before they get rid of them. However, with Vica’s magic, it’s easy for them to rest in the hut they find under the wintry sky. They quickly start a fire and camouflage the entire hut with a barrier. Not only that, but the hut has clearly been used by others. They find water and preserved food inside. Keith uses these to make dinner, and Vica magically removes the dirt from their clothes in the blink of an eye. At this point in time, the only problem is that there’s only one bed. “We’ll sleep on the benches. You take the bed, Lady Aileen,” Keith tells her. He’s spreading out their coats and cloaks and hanging them in front of the bed to form a makeshift privacy screen. “How are you feeling? Any strain or discomfort?” “No, none… I’m more concerned about that.” She glances past a hanging fur coat at Vica. Illuminated by the red glow of the fireplace, Vica is gazing absently out the window. It’s true that Aileen and Keith are conversing in low voices, but he doesn’t even seem to have registered that they’re talking. “I don’t think we need to worry about him using too much magic, but… Watching him makes me rather nervous.” “He’s more levelheaded than Master Claude was during his rebellious phase, though.” When she looks up, Keith smiles at her. “Milord had those things as well: adolescence and a rebellious phase.” “…I can’t even imagine it.” “No doubt. However, even I can only speculate about Master Vica’s relationship with the demons. Not everything about him will be the same as milord… And after what happened earlier, well…” Keith also thinks that Vica’s preoccupied because of the demon they saw that afternoon. A human transformed into a demon. The demon snuff was probably nothing more than a trigger. Demon snuff can grant humans demon-like powers, but they remain human; they won’t physically turn into a demon. The only ones who do that are those with special constitutions, like Claude and James. However, it happened to that human. “That’s probably the primary reason they won’t respond to milord. It isn’t about who’s demon king.” Since they were originally human, they won’t obey the demon king. That does make sense. “Either way, we still know practically nothing. Not even whether we should consider the man who became a demon the rule or an exception.” “…True. We mustn’t jump to conclusions.” “I’ll go get more kindling. I leave Master Vica to you.” Aileen frowns, and Keith winks at her. “You’re the one who’s best suited to it. You’re particularly good at taking those who are at risk of losing their humanity and drawing them back to the human side of things.” “You mean you are. You’re the one who kept Master Claude human.” “You overestimate me. I’m a human who falls in with his own kind at the very end.” Before she can think up an argument against that, Keith puts his cold-weather clothes back on and leaves the hut. Left behind and with no other options, Aileen steps out from behind the screen of fur coats and approaches the table where Vica is sitting. The cup of plain, once-hot water he’s holding has gone completely cold. “Are you feeling unwell?” “…No. That’s not it. Just… I thought I might be able to hear the demons’ voices.” So that’s why he’s been gazing out the window all this time? Aileen seats herself in the chair across from Vica. “It hasn’t worked. I’d hoped leaving the capital would do it, or meeting even one demon, but… Apparently Master Claude really is the only reincarnation of the demon king.” “You seem disappointed… Do you mean resisting the Valkyries wasn’t your reason for wanting to control the demons? Did you genuinely want to be the demon king?” “I…really don’t know. I’ve never had many allies, and to put it bluntly, the Valkyries are my enemies. As a result, I may have gotten the feeling that the demons were my companions.” The eyes of one who’s searching for companions. If she thinks of it that way, the loneliness in Vica’s expression makes sense. She can’t have him going to that side, though. “Aren’t you concerned about your sister or Ernst, or the empire?” “Ernst is brilliant, so I’m not worried about him. My sister… I think she’d prefer to have Claude at her side than me.” “Goodness, dropping hints like that right in front of me? How bold of you.” “You must have noticed.” “I really don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m delighted that Lady Cattleya and Master Claude are such great friends. After all, Master Claude has also had some rotten luck when it comes to his relationships with humans. If he can connect with his relatives, I welcome it.” Vica glances at her, moving only his eyes, as if she’s caught his interest. However, he promptly looks out the window again. “…At this point, I think I’ve done my sister a disservice. I did think she’d win against you by a mile, though. Even for Ernst, I may only have reopened an old wound…” “You keep speaking of others. What about you? Wasn’t there a woman you were fond of?” Vica turns toward her. His reaction is far better than Aileen anticipated, and she blinks. “Gracious. There is, isn’t there.” “I’m…not certain. I’m still not very conscious of… I’m not confident in my own feelings.” There’s something strangely innocent about the way he broods; it makes him look like a normal young man. This may be the real thing. Intensely curious, Aileen leans forward. “We’re alone here. I won’t give you any boorish lectures about how you’ve just married. Go on.” Besides, at this rate, his relationship with Diana is very likely to fail. Vica doesn’t mention this, either. Instead, he laughs as if he’s genuinely entertained. “She doesn’t like me, though.” His face is nice, and he’s obviously a man of means. He’s clever, dynamic, and decisive. He’s friendlier and better with people than Claude is. If she were to sum him up carelessly, he’d be “a younger, mischievous Claude who seems kind.” Was there anyone who wouldn’t fall for such an agreeable young man if he put his mind to it? That doesn’t seem possible. “That’s quite hard to believe. You’re certain you simply haven’t told her how you feel?” “Well, perhaps I haven’t…” “There, you see? It’s that indecisive attitude.” If he isn’t clearly aware of his feelings, he can’t pursue her properly. “It isn’t confidence you lack—it’s courage. Why not make full use of that precious face of yours?” “You say that so easily, but there are some things even this face can’t do.” “So you do know about your good looks. Listen to me—life isn’t so convenient that she’ll notice you if you only gaze at her… Well, no, it could happen with that face, but relying on that is arrogance, plain and simple. You’re counting on her to do the work for you. If you make a properly sincere appeal to the object of your affections—”
Chapter 138
48 min read