Fifth Act The Villainess’s Magnificent Clandestine Maneuver Exercise is a must for pregnant women…but only in moderation. “Why did you set off the alarm after you said it would be fine, Master Vica?!” Aileen yells. “I’m sorry, I’m still not used to my magic. I thought it would go better.” “You’re planning to use that excuse for everything, aren’t you?” Keith asks as they run. “Wait, isn’t that it? That dead end! That’s the elevator you mentioned, isn’t it, Lady Aileen?!” “Yes, hurry and get inside!” The elevator’s door is already open. That’s immensely helpful. Aileen runs in first and immediately hits the button to close the door. Keith dives in right behind her, followed by Vica. One of their Valkyrie pursuers shouts, “Stop! That’s… Wait, Emperor Vica?! What’s he doing here?!” The pure-white elevator door shuts. Apparently, the elevator has a fixed destination, because it begins to move without any action on their part. From the way gravity noticeably pulls on her shoulders, Aileen thinks they’re probably descending. For the moment, they’ve managed to elude the Valkyries, but Vica tsks irritably. “This elevator neutralizes magic.” Aileen gently touches the pure-white wall. The elevator is spacious, but its blank whiteness makes it feel oddly oppressive. It gives off the same impression as the floating palace. “It must be made of divine stones. It’s being propelled by sacred power… Also, they may have finally realized who we really are.” Having learned from their experiences the day before, Vica cast a spell on the Valkyries so that even if he, Keith, and Aileen triggered alarms and could no longer hide, the Valkyries wouldn’t be able to see them properly. However, during their escape into the elevator, Vica’s face had been spotted. Aileen bitterly regrets their slipup. Keith speaks up cheerfully. “Assuming we have been found out, what should we do, Lady Aileen? That’s the important part.” Drawing a deep breath, Aileen quickly switches gears. “That’s obvious: We claim dastardly Master Vica threatened us and forced us to accompany him. If they catch us, we’ll testify that we know nothing.” “What…? I mean, it’s fine, but that’s not the least bit persuasive.” “Gracious, it should do quite well. Master Claude spoils me, and I’m a useless girl who knows nothing of the world. That’s the image they have of me, at any rate.” Aileen gives a charming smile. Keith returns her nod, beaming. “That’s the demon king’s wife, all right. You have no qualms about deceiving others or tossing them aside like yesterday’s garbage.” “I shall take that as a compliment.” “Are you sure that’s what it was…? It seems to me as i-if…” Vica’s voice wavers unnaturally. The elevator is slowing down. They’re nearing their destination. Keith pushes up his glasses, then glances her way. “Come to think of it, Lady Aileen. Why did you suggest making for this elevator?” “What? …W-well, Kilvas doesn’t have the technology it would take to descend underground, and of course Ellmeyer doesn’t, either. That means both this elevator and wherever it leads must have been made by Hausel.” She remembered that in the game, you always used an elevator whenever traveling to a place connected to Hausel for the Valkyrie surgery or for medical treatment. Despite needing to come up with an alternate reason on the spot, she’s made a rather persuasive case. Vica nods. “The elevator wasn’t included in the building’s plans. I also think something must be hidden here. Your eyes are as sharp as a vulture’s, Lady Aileen.” “Y-yes, I— Wait, was that really a compliment?” “I also consider your keen vision worthy of constant admiration, Lady Aileen,” Keith agrees. She gets the feeling they’ve said something rude to her, but arguing would just come back to bite her, so she holds her tongue. What’s more important is the destination of this elevator; it doesn’t even have a display that shows floor numbers. A sound signals that they’ve arrived, and the door opens. A black floor and ceiling stretch away from the door in a straight line. Lights gleam at regular intervals in both surfaces, seemingly showing the way. This is most definitely a corridor that goes somewhere important. Steeling herself, Aileen steps out of the white box—and when she sees what opens up around her, her next words slip out involuntarily. “The queen’s blue country…” “Is this…? Are we at the bottom of the ocean?” Cautiously, Keith touches the transparent wall. It seems to be made of very thick glass. On the other side, the world is a deep blue. Higher up, small schools of fish swim past, and white diaphanous jellyfish drift by. Vica follows them with his eyes, then comes to his senses with a jolt. “Wait. As far as I know, there is no ocean near the wall.” “That elevator may be a transfer device,” Aileen says. “We might be on the outskirts of Hausel.” Hausel is an island nation. In those lands, the ocean is never far. Vica exhales in what could be either wonder or fear. “So this…is the Queendom of Hausel…” “Don’t be scared. It’s time to get moving. We aren’t here on a pleasure trip.” With those words of reassurance, Aileen sets off. Vica and Keith quickly follow after her. Without warning, the lights in the ceiling wink out. The underwater corridor is ending. As she takes a careful step into the space beyond it, bright light glares down from an even higher ceiling. The room is large and circular. An ornamented pillar stands in the center, encircled by a round table and haphazardly placed chairs. The walls are still glass, but the view beyond them is no longer the ocean. It’s a spacious room with gray walls. Several people come into view. They’re all dressed in simple clothing, and they all seem dazed. They’re standing up or hugging their knees, and their eyes are hollow and unfocused. They don’t seem to have noticed Aileen’s group. Even when she calls to them, there’s no response. Perhaps they can’t see through the glass. Vica murmurs quietly, “It doesn’t appear to be a jail for prisoners. The location’s too inconvenient.” “I’d imagine not… I think those are all men,” Keith says. At that, the same thought occurs to all of them. The man who became a demon before their eyes. The really concerning thing is the surgical table in the inner room. If I recall, the room used for the Valkyries’ treatment and surgeries looked like this in the game art… However, there are no women in that vast room. The abrupt crash of something breaking yanks Aileen back to the present. “Wh-what was that?! Have they caught up to us?!” “Oh, I’m sorry. I broke this, and— Whoa! Aggghhh!” Vica tried to pull out something that had been stored beneath the round table in the center, and it’s spilled everywhere. There’s shelving under the table, and what Aileen thought were ornaments on the pillar are demon stones. “Warn us before you act, please. You startled me,” she says. Then she notices something. “Master Vica?” Vica has been flipping through the booklet he pulled off the shelf, and he stiffens. When Aileen approaches, wondering what’s happened, the sight of the book he’s holding makes her freeze as well. “The Demon King Creation Project…?!” Aileen can’t believe her eyes. “Huh? What did you just say?” “Look at this, Master Keith. This is a backup project; its objective is to artificially create a demon king by performing the Valkyrie surgery on men—” As is common with the Queendom’s documents, it’s written in the old tongue. Vica seems able to read it. He turns the pages rapidly, his eyes hungrily drinking in the words. Aileen explains to Keith the parts she’s managed to make out. “It says that incompatible subjects become demons—they transform.” Keith takes another look around, his eyebrows drawing together. “Then are these men test subjects? It’s likely they’ve been operated on alread— Master Vica?” “I’ll save them.” Suddenly flinging the book aside, Vica starts toward the glass, behind which the men are trapped. “W-wait, Master Vica. I understand how you feel, but if we do that—” “It’s all right. It looks as though I can use magic here. I’ll be able to teleport them all out.” As Vica reaches for the glass, there’s a crackling noise, and his hand is repelled. Some sort of spell has been cast on the glass. It’s magic, not sacred power. Sacred power isn’t suited to imprisoning people. Vica reaches out again, and there’s a series of audible cracks as his magic and the spell repel each other. Wind rages around them. Aileen raises her voice. “Even so! We don’t know what sort of state those men are in. It isn’t safe!” “Then are you saying we should just leave them like this? When it’s my fault—” Vica’s turned around, but then he covers his mouth with a hand and staggers. “Master Vica?” “Stay away!” he yells sharply. Leaning against the glass, he raises his hands to his face. Those hands are covered in black scales, and they’ve begun to sprout sharp claws. His red eyes waver—a premonition of mounting resignation and despair. An omen that he is becoming a demon. Why now?! Is it because he’s been using magic when he wasn’t used to it? At any rate, Aileen moves closer. “Master Vica, calm yourself. If you lose yourself in a place like this—” “Be…quiet. Someone’s coming…!” As she tries to look back, she feels herself rise off the ground. She and Keith are shoved into a corridor that’s different from the one they used to enter, and she falls on her rump. When she tries to get up, her head bangs into something. It’s a barrier. A thin, dome-shaped membrane covers their immediate surroundings. It’s clear whose work it is. “Master Vica! What’s—?” “You don’t seem to be feeling well. It’s because you got carried away and used magic.” A mocking voice echoes from the corridor on the opposite side. They’ve been found. Not only that, but the woman at the head of the group isn’t just a Valkyrie. What is she doing here? —No, thinking like that isn’t productive. The wall that was linked to this facility was built by Hausel. It wouldn’t be odd if there was a device or two that could transport her here from the capital in a flash. Raising his glaring red eyes, Vica sighs. “…Hi there…Di…ana.” “I never thought I’d find you here. Where are the other intruders?” Diana scans the room. She has to have seen Aileen and Keith, but her eyes move on as if she hadn’t. A cloaking barrier… Vica’s hiding them. If they stay quiet and still, they’re very unlikely to be discovered. “Well, it doesn’t matter. Not compared to the fact that you faked the attack on yourself.” Diana lifts a hand, and the Valkyries raise their weapons. The tips of their lances are all pointed at the emperor of their own country. “I thought it was odd, but it all makes sense now. So Ernst was in on it, too. Was this a plot to gain power over the Valkyries? How unfortunate for you. Oh, I won’t kill you. You’re still useful.” “…That’s an awful…thing to say to…your brand-new…husband…” “I wouldn’t have needed you once the wedding was over anyway. If you’d behaved yourself, though, you could have lived a little longer. By making a break for it, you’ve shortened your own life. You’ve really done something nobody needed. Thanks to you, we’ve been saddled with a substitute emperor, and on top of that, Cattleya… Whatever, it’s fine. She’s probably given up on the substitute emperor by now.” “…Did Emperor Claude…do something?” “He’s done plenty. That womanizer.” The word doesn’t fit the tense atmosphere. Aileen frowns. What has that husband of hers been doing? “Still, it’s about time for Cattleya to make her move. The narrative’s changed, but now we have a reason to invade Ellmeyer. We’ll make this empire understand it needs the Valkyries. I won’t let anyone treat us as useless.” Diana spins the magic lance in her hands, then raises it high. “You’re going to transform. Then you’ll lead the demons and destroy Kilvas. That is the destiny of the red-eyed demon.” Aileen catches Keith’s arm to stop herself from leaping out at them. Keith hugs her shoulders, as if he’s holding himself back as well. “If you have any last words, I’ll hear them.” “I have scores of them, but…I wonder if my sister will be sad.” “Cattleya is kind. There’s no other option, though. She’s steeled herself for this. No doubt she doesn’t want her life to be this constrained.” “…And you? Won’t you be sad?” Vica looks up at Diana. He’s wearing his usual gentle smile. Diana’s eyebrows twitch as if Vica has offended her. “Die, monster. It’s your fault. This damnable life… Don’t even joke about that.” Accepting those words, Vica looks Aileen and Keith’s way. The emotion in those lovely, soft, red eyes is resignation. This is how it was meant to be. And that’s fine. Aileen bites her lower lip. She can’t go out there now. She’ll ruin everything. The dull thud of a magic lance piercing a shoulder rings out. There’s a spray of blood. At the same time, the Valkyries unfurl a net of glittering crystal and cast it. Aileen knows what it is. It’s the magic item Hausel used to capture demons. The net swallows Vica like it’s catching a fish, transforming him into a small crystal. It falls to the floor with a light clink, and Diana picks it up, looking as if she’s lost interest in him already. At the same time, Aileen vaguely senses that the membrane surrounding them has vanished. Diana’s group hasn’t noticed them yet. Gently, Aileen sets a hand against the glass wall. She can see the ocean through it. These are probably the waters near Hausel. Demons who adore Claude are quite close. Demolishing a building in a ruined country won’t cause an international incident. When she catches Keith’s hand, he squeezes hers back. That’s enough for her to know that they’re thinking the same thing. In the next moment, the building rocks as if the earth has moved beneath it. “…What was that? We’re underwater. It can’t be an earthquake…” “Lady Diana, it’s a demon! A demon is attacking us!” “But demons never come near Hausel.” Diana’s correct. However, they will if the demon king orders them to. The ceiling and floor begin to creak. An enormous squid demon has wrapped its arms around the corridor. Cracks race through the glass walls, and seawater floods in. Apparently, the demon means to break the entire structure. Diana and the others hastily retreat into the corridor where they emerged. With a terrific crack, the thick glass walls shatter. Keith pulls Aileen into his arms. They’re flung out into the ocean with tremendous force and are welcomed by the wide, gaping mouth of a whale demon. After that, they simply have their new friend carry them to the surface. Even if she weren’t pregnant, this mode of transport is far too grueling for comfort. After Keith hoists her up onto the top of the whale’s head, Aileen sighs. “I do believe this child will be quite sturdy…” “How about that.” Keith is completely soaked as well. Once he’s set her down, Aileen wrings out her hair and her skirts. The sunlight is warm, but the end of summer is near. Both for herself and the sake of the child she’s carrying, she needs to warm up quickly. “What would you like to do now?” Keith asks her, as they stand side by side in the sea wind. “It looks as if things are about to get rough in Kilvas… Should we return to Ellmeyer? I ordered the demons to rescue us, so they’ll take us back. To either country.” Aileen laughs a little. “‘To either,’ hmm? …Master Vica’s face really is against the rules.” “It is, isn’t it? It reminded me of something. When he was about that age, milord often used to gaze out the windows of the old castle, and his expression looked just like that.” This is how it was meant to be. And that’s fine. If I can protect something by giving up, then… “Yes… Master Claude did wear that expression, didn’t he?” “Master Vica isn’t Master Claude, of course. I don’t want you to misread this. With that in mind, let me ask you: Which country shall we head toward?” “Hausel.” “Pardon?” Keith blinks. Aileen giggles. “As I’ve told you time and time again, I’m well aware that I am about to be a mother. I’ll stick to behind-the-scenes work this time. Perhaps I’ll be the shadow commander in chief.” “…Sigh. I really can’t bring myself to believe you.” “Don’t be rude. We mustn’t underestimate the Valkyries. Not only that, but this is about Kilvas. If Ellmeyer gets too involved, we’ll be accused of interfering in domestic affairs. Master Claude is trapped there already. If he can’t use magic, he’s weaker than Elefas… Ah, my poor Master Claude. To save that face of his, we must rescue him without wounding his pride. Being a wife is very trying.” Keith bursts out laughing. Aileen continues primly, “Rachel and the others will have called Ellmeyer at Hausel’s port by now. Besides, we should have a little time before the Valkyries make Master Vica attack the capital. Wouldn’t it be dashing to strike just as that woman’s feeling triumphant and has lowered her guard?” “I see. That’s very like a shadow commander in chief, yes. I imagine Bel and Almond will be delighted.” That should do nicely. The red-eyed demon. If things are progressing according to the game, Diana shouldn’t know that bit of information yet, so why did she say it? Until they’ve clarified that, Aileen will keep all her cards hidden. And while she is extremely reluctant to do so, there’s someone she would like to contact. Aileen certainly isn’t relying on her, and this doesn’t mean she believes her. Still, to save Vica, that woman’s advice is necessary. Particularly if the enemy is just like them. “For the sake of winning, I’ll use everything at my disposal. That’s quite fitting for the demon king’s wife, isn’t it?” When she sweeps her wet hair aside, the scattering water droplets glimmer in the light. Laying a hand over his heart, Keith bows respectfully. Taking a defiant tone, issuing gag orders, instigating a cover-up—they really aren’t pulling their punches. Ernst sighs; he’s seen the headlines of the newspaper Claude is skimming. “…It isn’t settling down at all, is it?” “The empress must have gone on a serious rampage. As you’d expect, Cattleya seems to be reining her in now, and she’s calmed down somewhat. Still, the Valkyries are no longer a united front.” The article also clearly states that Diana is opposed to the retirement system. Meanwhile, Irena has declared that she is in favor. The Valkyries have a growing schism in their ranks. “Public opinion is leaning toward the emperor… I’m not sure how to put this. I can’t believe it. Hardly two weeks have passed since the wedding. Everything is going so smoothly…” “It’s just a facade, Ernst. Nothing’s actually changed.” All they’ve really done is generate backlash against the Valkyries among the general public. It hasn’t solved the most fundamental problem: the difference in military strength. “If we had time, we’d be able to capitalize on the criticism and gradually chip away at their power…but I doubt we’ll manage that.” Now then, how will this go? From this point, Isaac has predicted three possible paths. First, the opposition will continue, and they’ll resort to drastic measures. In that case, the country will inevitably be forced to endure some turmoil. Their top priority is to prevent that turmoil from reaching Ellmeyer. If that’s what comes to pass, it won’t be long before Claude gets an invitation to leave the imperial capital as soon as possible, and it will be vital to time his departure carefully. The second possibility is, no matter what Diana and Cattleya actually think, they’ll back down for now. This is the alternative that’s easiest on Claude. He can just have Vica take over and deal with the rest. The last option is also the most troublesome one. They’ll ask for my cooperation. The situation will be complicated whether I refuse or accept… The worst-case scenario will be if Aileen and the others have been captured. However, on beautifully clear, peaceful days like this, bad premonitions always prove to be correct. “Ernst, I’m sorry. I’d like to speak with His Majesty alone.” Claude has been holed up in his office since morning, approving documents, when Cattleya comes to see him. Ernst gives him a questioning look, and Claude nods. It would be stranger to refuse her. Ernst appears uneasy, but that’s probably inevitable. They’ve already done everything they can. “Master Claude,” Cattleya says, once they’re alone. She must intend for this to be a personal conversation. Claude clasps his hands on the desk and waits for her to continue. “I’m told you sent an official notice to the newspapers telling them to refrain from printing articles about the empress. Thank you very much.” “It was the natural thing to do. Business like that will impact the authority of the imperial family. Even as a substitute, I can’t overlook it.” “It was done too skillfully, so we investigated as well. It appears that a journalist from Ellmeyer was behind it. I’m told he’s a friend of Lady Aileen’s. A disaster for you, too, isn’t it?” Even though Claude braced himself, he looks stunned. Cattleya smiles wryly. “I’ve heard that life was hard for Lady Aileen in Ellmeyer, since others constantly compared her to the Maid of the Sacred Sword. Diana’s position is similar, and seeing her must have made Lady Aileen uneasy. Articles the journalist prepared to curry favor with Lady Aileen have been circulating.” “I don’t think my wife is like that…” Claude accidentally lets slip what he actually believes. As a result, his words come across as quite genuine. Cattleya gives him a sympathetic look. “We aren’t sure yet whether Lady Aileen actively issued instructions…but it appears you really didn’t know.” “Yes, this is the first I’ve heard of it… I never even dreamed a thing like this could happen.” “Women are frightening, Master Claude. Especially when they fear their husband or lover may be taken from them, many women will go completely out of control. Lady Aileen must be that type. I’m not saying there was any malice behind it. However, in terms of how she behaved toward the empress of another country, it was very poorly thought out. I managed to calm Diana down, but…” “I’m sorry for the trouble we’ve caused you. Once I’m home, I’ll lecture her thoroughly.” His wife does let things get out of hand quite often. Cattleya isn’t technically wrong about that, so his apology is also very sincere. This development is concerning, though. Something Claude did has been blamed on “Aileen going out of control.” Isaac and Jasper would never make a mistake like that. If it came down to it, they would cheerfully have sold Claude out to Cattleya’s faction instead. That means this information was intentionally leaked, and he doesn’t know why. “We were the ones who asked you to act as a substitute. I can’t speak too harshly. No doubt Lady Aileen was privately unhappy with the idea. Master Claude, is life difficult for you in Ellmeyer?” He’d been confident he could calmly handle anything she said to him, and yet his expression tenses. “I’m told the power of Lady Aileen’s family was a large factor behind your installation as emperor. However, the house of d’Autriche was also a driving force behind your disinheritance. Was your marriage and ascension to the throne truly what you wanted? Is it painful for you? You’re in Kilvas now; no one is listening. Please tell me what you really— Master Claude?” “Uh…… No, I…” The act he’d planned to put on has been completely blown away. At his wits’ end, Claude covers his mouth and averts his eyes. To Cattleya, it may look as if he’s suffering. So that’s what they were after! Jasper and Isaac falsified foolish behavior on Aileen’s part in order to provoke Cattleya into inviting Claude to join the other side. His wife’s right-hand man may genuinely have sold him out. He might even be thinking of having him disposed of, along with these people. Claude’s starting feel that, if he makes a single wrong move here, it will be fatal to his dignity as a husband. “Actually, Master Claude, just between you and me…,” Cattleya begins. Claude looks up. She’s calm, and he can’t tell how far she’s managed to read his mind. After all, she’s no fool. “…the demons are growing more active. I think it’s because Vica is near them.” “You’ve found Vica? Where…?” “Beyond the Warrior Maidens’ Great Wall—the wall meant to keep the demons at bay. Vica seems to have gone there to meet them. We believe he orchestrated the attack on himself. Ernst was probably his accomplice. I’ve asked my subordinates to restrain him so he can be questioned.” Claude’s eyes go to the door Ernst left through, then return to Cattleya. She’s impossibly calm. “I apologize for dragging you into this.” “…Then am I being dismissed?” “That is what I would like to discuss with you. Vica is on the verge of transforming into a demon. Just as you did, Master Claude.” “I’m the demon king. Vica is human. He isn’t even a cambion. I doubt there’s any reason for him to turn into a demon.” Claude has a bad feeling about this, so he tries to take the conversation as far off-topic as possible. However, Cattleya continues impassively, “In order for Hausel to maintain its authority and remain a global power, they needed the demon king. There was too much uncertainty in simply waiting for Ellmeyer’s legend to come to pass. A century or two would be one thing, but if it took longer… And so Hausel attempted to artificially create a demon king by performing the Valkyrie surgery on men. Or perhaps a surgery meant to create the demon king was repurposed for the Valkyries. Either way, the first emperor of Kilvas was their only success.” Claude’s eyes widen. Cattleya flashes a troubled smile. “Now you understand why the imperial family of Kilvas received support from Hausel. Vica, a son of the imperial family, was your spare. He’s an artificial demon king created by Hausel, and he is capable of controlling the demons on the other side of the wall. “…Is this true? Is there a way to return him to his human form?” The question seems to startle Cattleya a little. “It’s too late. He used a lot of his magic after leaving the capital, and it’s beginning to weigh on him physically. We’re holding him here and suppressing the transformation, but it’s only a matter of time. Master Claude, please.” Cattleya leans over the desk, fixing her tranquil gaze on him. “Fight alongside the Valkyries as the emperor of Kilvas.” “That’s…” “Long ago, I was young, and I couldn’t rescue you from Ellmeyer. But things are different now. We can say the demons Vica leads are an attack from Ellmeyer.” Cattleya doesn’t look away. Her eyes look the same as when she asked if he was happy, but this time, she’s asking something quite different. “Or will you remain bound to the empire that used you however it pleased? If demons invade us, Ellmeyer will surely become the focus of all the anger and resentment. If you are its emperor, you’ll be blamed again. Not just by your own country, but by the entire world.” Probably so. That’s precisely why Claude is here to stop that from happening. “We’ve run off everyone who came from Ellmeyer with that journalist. There’s nothing left to tie you to it now. All you need to do is refrain from leaving the capital.” “…Are you proposing that because you know I can’t use my magic here?” “Ernst must have said something. I’m not doubting you, though.” Even when Claude frowns at this, Cattleya’s expression doesn’t change. “You tried to make Irena and the other Valkyries your allies due to your strong sense of responsibility as Ellmeyer’s emperor. You knew nothing. Let’s say that’s how it was, shall we?” She puts him in check, neatly cutting off his escape route. She has no illusions that she’d be able to deceive him with flowery words. Sensing a hint of salvation in that, Claude responds with another wry smile. “I don’t seem to have many options.” “You are my one regret. Please let me make up for it.” Valkyries flood into the office. They don’t actively restrain him, but with no magic or allies, Claude has no way to resist. “I assume Ernst and Irena are safe? This country needs both of them.” For a moment, Cattleya’s expression turns bitter, but her tranquil smile doesn’t take long to reappear. It finally occurs to Claude that smiling that way is a habit for her. “I’ll persuade them… I really doubt Ernst will understand, though.” “That just means you’re using the wrong methods of persuasion.” Claude rises to his feet. Cattleya doesn’t respond. They leave the office. When Claude peers through the large window in the corridor, he can see the Valkyries’ barracks. Part of the “preferable treatment” that has been lambasted in the newspapers lately is that they are being fully renovated; construction has already begun. “Over here, right?” An energetic boy smiles over an unfurled blueprint. A young man with an eye patch is silently relocating flowers from the flower beds. Claude recognizes both of them, and he sighs. “The work begins today, as scheduled.” Cattleya is probably trying to say that fluctuations in public opinion don’t bother them one bit. He nods quietly, then follows her. The uproar starts before they reach the emperor’s private chambers. One Valkyrie seems to be in a great hurry; she runs up the stairs toward them, shouting as soon as she sees Cattleya. “Lady Cattleya, Ernst has disappeared from jail!” “Disappeared?” Cattleya turns to her, but her gaze promptly returns to Claude. Claude shrugs. “As you can see, I can’t use magic. Perhaps Irena saved him?” “She’s in the dungeon… You wouldn’t think it now, but the man was a commissioned officer. There may have been a rat we didn’t know about. Hurry and track him down. This way, Master Claude.” Cattleya opens the door to the emperor’s chambers. The moment Claude steps inside, an unpleasant feeling wells inside him. Some sort of spell has been cast on the whole space. “This room was made by Hausel so that we could confine the demon king in an emergency.” “…Well, well, well. To think you’d protect me so graciously when I have no magic.” “If you behave yourself, you won’t be harmed… Maybe we can even share a meal together.” Cattleya gently closes the door. They’ve left him alone, but he’s probably being watched. It’s likely that the room itself has an access-restricting barrier cast on it. Anyone who wants to enter will have to be an accomplished mage. For the moment, Claude seats himself in a chair, looks up at the ceiling, and sighs. “‘Save my sister,’ hmm?” What a troublesome request. He understands the role he’s been given, but this situation irritates him to no end. Fortunately, it looks as if he’ll have time to think. Still, they rescued Ernst before me? Who gave that order? Looks like I’ll be disposing of my wife’s subordinates after all, he vows, closing his eyes. Ernst was sure he was in the dungeon, but what he’s seeing now clearly isn’t the imperial castle’s interior. What makes it more confusing is that he recognizes this place. It’s Irena’s outpost, the one he visited just the other day. He rubs his eyes hard with his arm, but the outpost doesn’t disappear. Not only that, the one who’s raised a hand and called to him from the back of the room isn’t Irena or another Valkyrie—it’s Isaac. “Glad to see you’re safe. Man, your reactions are slow. Hey, sneaky mage, you’d better not have done anything weird.” “I didn’t. He’s been abruptly teleported without his consent, so I imagine he’s just wildly disoriented.” “Teleported,” Ernst murmurs quietly to himself. The man who abruptly appeared behind him in the dungeon and grabbed his arm comes to stand in front of him, pushing back his hood. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Elefas. I’m told Master Claude is deeply in your debt.” Ernst has heard that name before, and he blinks. “Elefas… You’re the one who…” “I categorically refuse to hear the rest of that. I apologize for the lack of explanation earlier. Our top priority was getting you to safety.” “Then… This really is Irena’s outpost? Why isn’t anyone here?” Ernst scans the room. Isaac answers nonchalantly, “The Valkyries hauled them in last night. They’re all in the dungeon right now. It sounds as if Diana’s people are planning to take them somewhere, but we dunno where yet. Jasper’s been held responsible for those articles and expelled from the capital. It sounds like the mage here protected him, so he should be fine. As an aside, I made it seem like I had Jasper take the heat and I scuttled back home ahead of him. From the looks of things, nobody’s caught on yet.” “No, wait! What’s the meaning of this? They arrested Irena’s unit? No one mentioned anything to me. There’s no way that would be allowed without consent from either myself or the emperor, and neither of us ordered—” “The empress has control over the Valkyries’ personnel decisions. Besides, did you forget where they stuck you? Things have gone waaay past that level.” Realizing that Cattleya and the others have finally made their move, Ernst clenches his hands into fists. “Well, Isaac? What do we do next?” Elefas asks. “It’s just a question of whether we’ll make it in time. Seriously, my guy, why can’t you teleport a bunch of people all at once like the demon king can? We can’t use those human weapons this time around, and the only ones with a shot at making it in time are flying demons.” “As I’ve said many times before, please don’t group Master Claude and me together! I can teleport despite being neither the demon king nor the holy king, yet everyone treats me with so little respect. The only one who thanked me was Jasper, you know!! He said he’d run an advertisement for my wife’s new product… He’s so kind!” “You’re boasting about teleporting, but it took you two full days to get here, with breaks… You had the demons carry you quite a ways from Hausel, didn’t you?” “Er, don’t the demons listen only to Emperor Claude?” Ernst still hasn’t caught up with the situation, but he asks that question anyway. Sitting down in a chair by the wall, Isaac scratches his cheek. “As a rule, yeah, but there are ways to work around that.” “Specifically, tricking them by saying it’s for the demon king’s sake, telling them sob stories, and bribing them with sweets, you mean. And having the demon king’s wife threaten to stand on the front line works pretty well, too,” Elefas adds. “…W-wait a moment. Do you mean Empress Aileen?! Th-the front line…? I-i-is that all right? Having the empress do a thing like—” “It totally isn’t, so everybody’s hell-bent on stopping her. That adviser’s a real tyrant.” Does that mean they’re acting on the adviser’s instructions right now? Ernst is having trouble understanding this situation. “We’ll chat later. Listen up, Emperor Kilvas has been captured by the Valkyries,” Isaac informs them. “Master Vica?! They’ve found him…?! That must be why they arrested me.” All of Ernst’s other questions fly right out of his mind. With a gasp, he looks up. “Then what about Emperor Claude?! Don’t tell me the Valkyries also have him!” “Probably.” “No! It’s our fault… We must rescue him at once—and who knows what will happen to Vica…” Ernst is tormented by regret. Elefas speaks seriously. “This person is a good man. He’s been serving as Master Claude’s attendant, hasn’t he?” “It’s probably because the demon king stayed real focused on his work,” Isaac explains. “Huh? Wait just a minute. What’s this? Master Claude didn’t run or make impossible demands? He just diligently went to work? You must be joking. Then why does he make us do all of that back home…?” “Let’s talk that over with the rest of our group later. You don’t have to worry about the demon king. We’ve already taken the appropriate steps. Those Valkyries are probably chatting him up right now.” Another question occurs to Ernst, and he thinks hard. “Is this the third potential path you mentioned? But you said the chances of it happening were low…” “I made it more likely. I bet they’ll pick that path. After all, making an ally of the demon king is better than making an enemy of him.” Isaac sounds fairly certain now. “Did you do that at your own discretion?” Ernst can’t imagine Claude giving that instruction. Was this a violation of orders? He knows this is trivial, but he can’t have them taking the ladder away and leaving him stranded on it later. Isaac’s expression is sour. “…Nah. It was my decision, but the order came from the shadow commander in chief.” “……I’m sorry, is that an Ellmeyer-style joke?” “Look, please don’t draw attention to it. Just let it go.” Isaac is in agony. Beside him, Elefas laughs. “Oh, what’s wrong with it, the shadow commander in chief’s right-hand man?” I think that title’s perfect for you. After all, you’re about to do something foul enough to be worthy of the name.” “You’re the last person I want to hear that from, you sneaky mage. Actually, you people should be grateful to me: I pinned down the demon king for you. He can just use that face of his to string the Valkyries along, and we’ll have more freedom to move.” “This has nothing to do with me. As Master Claude’s faithful subordinate, I could never say something so dreadful. I intend to draw up an official record stating I was against it.” So who’s actually giving the orders here? Ernst is confused. Isaac’s gaze returns to him. “Never mind that. What comes next is more important. Timewise, I think finding your emperor is pretty close to impossible, so we’re discarding that plan. You’ve led Valkyries before, right?” Ernst nods, and Isaac opens a map. “If a huge army of demons gets past the wall and makes for the capital, and the Valkyries counterattack, point out the easiest battlefield that gives them the biggest advantage. The route, too. We’ll collect Emperor Kilvas there.” “Are you saying Vica’s going to appear there? Why would he be with the demons—?” Before Isaac answers, a certain premonition makes Ernst choke slightly. “Don’t tell me… Has Vica become a demon? Just as the legend says?” Tradition has it that a man with black hair and red eyes will be the reincarnation of the demon king, and that men of the imperial family of Kilvas turn into demons. Taken in combination with the warning that this man must never leave the capital, it’s a cleverly designed legend. Ernst never seriously believed it. Even Vica laughed and said life would be easier if he could become the demon king. However, Cattleya—and after a certain point, Diana—certainly believed it. As a result, both Vica and Ernst always felt that something wasn’t quite right. That was why Vica was determined to leave the capital. Ernst never imagined it could be real, though. Isaac, on the other hand, harbors no such preconceptions. “If nothing changes, I hear that’s what’s going to happen to him. Turns out your emperor really is a demon king.” “Even if that’s true, why would he become a demon?! Emperor Claude is properly human…” While Ernst is still speaking, it hits him: The Valkyries have captured Vica, and they’ve done something to him. Realizing what Diana and Cattleya are plotting, Ernst gasps. The thought, It can’t be true, runs around and around in his mind, but Isaac’s unflinching gaze instantly dispels that naive wish. Although he doesn’t want to believe it, those two have changed. It began the day Hausel fell. Elefas is watching Ernst and Isaac steadily. His eyes are soft, but he doesn’t look away. “This is the first question you should ask, Isaac: ‘If Emperor Kilvas becomes a demon king, can you still serve him?’” Ernst smacks his own cheeks sharply. Elefas and Isaac both blink. “I’m sorry. All sorts of things have happened at once, and I’m afraid it made me panic.” “…Well, yeah, panicking is a perfectly normal reaction. It’s just that we’re short on time, so…” Isaac isn’t unsympathetic, but the clock is ticking. “Yes, there’s no problem. Even if he is the demon king, Vica is the emperor of Kilvas. More importantly, he needs me. What could be better than being wanted by the demon king emperor and being able to serve him? I can’t wait. It sounds like fun.” Ernst laughs. Isaac looks turned off. “Do the demon king’s people all think about serving him like that?” “I’m under no obligation to tell you,” Elefas says brusquely. Ernst pauses for the space of a breath. “After I dragged you into our affairs this much, apologizing would probably be rude, wouldn’t it?” “Yes, perhaps. We’re doing what’s convenient for us anyway,” Elefas says. Clapping both hands onto his knees, Ernst sits down emphatically. Facing Isaac across the table, he looks him straight in the eye. “I am grateful to Ellmeyer. I vow we’ll repay this favor someday.” Both Isaac and Elefas seem startled. However, they quickly break into smiles. “Don’t worry about it too much. We fully plan to collect. Besides, the reason’s probably his face anyway,” Isaac explains. “His face… Emperor Claude’s? …No, Vica’s?” “That’s right. The face that has dazzled even our shadow commander in chief is what will save you and your people in the end.” “Who on earth is this shadow commander in chief? It can’t possibly be your wife, can it, Isaac?!” After a brief pause, Elefas bursts out laughing, and Isaac massages the spot on his forehead right above his nose. “Never mind that,” he says, shoving the map at Ernst, and in the end, Isaac and Elefas refuse to tell Ernst who it is. The world is filled with inconsiderate people. Crumpling the newspaper, Diana tosses it away. She’s in a spire of the imperial castle, below the bell tower, and the wind catches the paper, sweeping it into the streets of the capital. She sighs. “…That was a waste of my time.” The newspapers are still filled with hilarious stuff about the empress. Diana simply made a justifiable complaint. She explained in scrupulous detail, and yet nobody in this empire was even trying to understand—although she’d known they wouldn’t. Staring at the newspaper Diana discarded, Cattleya speaks mildly. “It will all change drastically tomorrow.” “What about that woman? Has she repented in the dungeon?” “No. She insists she believes the emperor. She always was a conservative.” “Ha! Without even knowing the emperor’s a substitute? Well, why not? An incompetent middle-aged lady who’s getting on in years and beginning to feel uneasy about her future kissed up to a man, that’s all. She wouldn’t be much in a fight, and I wasn’t counting on her anyway.” “However, since we’re against the retirement system, the wind has begun to turn against us. People are wondering if we intend to use the Valkyries until they’re dead.” Those are words people have thrown at the empire, at the world. It doesn’t matter. It’s a trivial thing. Diana has no need to even object to it. “They still haven’t found Ernst, but I doubt he can do anything. Do you have any other concerns about proceeding?” “None. You’re too cautious, Cattleya. No matter whose side Kilvas takes, it’s just part of the process. And yet you keep saying things that demand patience, like ‘Until we find the sacred sword.’” “I do regret that. I misjudged Emperor Claude’s brilliance. I never dreamed he’d drive a wedge between the Valkyries. I bet both sides have been influencing each other, making it more likely for irregularities to occur. He can’t do anything now, though, and Ellmeyer has no Maid of the Sacred Sword. There is no way to stop us.” “What about Ashmael? Things have gone strange over there as well, haven’t they? The holy king is still alive.” “They have no reason to meddle with us this time.” That kingdom must still see everything happening as a distant event in a land across the sea. “Most of all, Ashmael hasn’t so much as hinted that they’ll do anything. There’s very little possibility that they’ll interfere.” “I suppose not. All right, let’s get started.” Diana stretches. It’s partly due to the cold, but her movements are dull. “What will it be, twenty-four hours from now? Or do we have a bit longer? I may be a little rusty.” “It’s been a while since I was on a battlefield myself.” The demons will soon break through the Warrior Maidens’ Great Wall, and the first reports will reach the imperial capital. Irena’s Valkyrie unit has been stationed partway down the route. The demon horde will naturally overwhelm them and wipe out the unit. They should be grateful. They’ll have the privilege of laying their lives down in honorable combat. Once the demons reach the capital and cause some mayhem, the Valkyries will kill them and the demon king. The end result will be a tale of heroism even a child can understand. Will this card be playable in a world where Hausel has fallen? It’s worth a try. Diana’s magic lance is lying on the floor haphazardly. She reaches down for it. When her hand closes around the haft, the center of her chest glows. It’s responding to the divine stone that’s set in the lance. Pointing the tip of the lance at the flagstone floor, she raises it high. “…Vica, I’m sorry.” She doesn’t reproach Cattleya for her soft murmur. Instead, she brings the lance down. There is no way to save that man. That character was doomed from the start. She pitied him for that, if nothing else. Pierced by the lance, the magic array that runs all through the castle develops a crack. Now the massive wall that imprisoned the demons for so long will lose its magic. In the space of a few hours, it will become mere stone. When it does, the communication lines to the capital will stop functioning as well, but the Valkyries have made their preparations already. A bell begins to toll with almost perfect timing. Three hours later, the first reports of a vast horde of demons breaching the Warrior Maidens’ Great Wall spreads through the capital. “In honor of our bond as former comrades.” That’s what the Valkyries said as they gave Irena’s group pitying looks and magic lances that had their divine stones removed before they left. About thirty of her subordinates were captured and brought here along with her. For a moment, Irena looks around, lance in hand. “Lady Irena, where…?” “All I know is that we’re near the wall.” She can see the fortifications in the distance. It’s a familiar sight, though currently the wall is only as tall as her thumb. Unfortunately, there’s no way they’ll be welcomed with open arms even if they can reach it. They’d simply be thrown on the other side. She has nothing but questions about why Diana’s followers haven’t done that already. Survival comes first, though. “If I recall, we’ll reach a village if we backtrack a bit. Let’s go impose on them.” Irene’s Valkyries were given lances, but they have no money to pay their way or for equipment to make camp. In this season, even with the Valkyries’ advanced physical abilities, spending the night with nothing but the clothes on their backs would be hard. If we can borrow a barn, at least, we’ll be set, Irena thinks. She checks the direction, and then she and her several dozen subordinates start back the way they came. If they leave now, even if they’re walking, they should make it there by nightfall somehow. However, as they march, they can’t keep their feet from dragging a bit. “Diana’s group may have authority over personnel affairs, but treating Lady Irena like this… Is Diana planning to set the Valkyries against one another?” “If she were, she’d have had us killed already. I heard from a guard that they caught Captain Ernst as well.” “Then they’ve probably got His Majesty, too.” Irena’s remark makes the others fall silent. “I wonder if I misjudged him… I may not look it, but my instincts have never been wrong in a pinch before.” That’s how Irena managed to survive this long. However, surviving in the political arena probably requires different instincts compared to surviving on the battlefield. If it were just her own life at stake, Irena could be more cavalier about it and leave it at, These things happen. She can’t help but feel bad for the subordinates who’ve followed her and share her fate. Some of them are still very young. “…Why do you suppose they released us, though? Especially in a weird, in-between place like this.” “They even gave us weapons. Even if the divine stones are gone, we’ll be able to fight… Although I imagine fighting demons will be a lot harder.” “They can’t be trying to make us attack the village up ahead, can they?” Irena turns back to her indignant comrades. “There really wouldn’t be any point in doing something that convolu—” Then she sees it. The long, long wall that seems to crawl along the entire horizon shines with a light as red as the evening sun. “Wha—? Lady Irena, what’s that?!” She doesn’t have an answer. It’s the first time she’s ever seen this. The red light shoots high into the sky, then silently fades away. As they watch, holding their breath, they begin to hear a low, distant rumble. It’s easy to guess that it’s the work of the demons on the other side. Before long, with an enormous crash, a section of the wall collapses. The magically reinforced wall has always repelled demons and attacks from magic lances without any trouble. Now it’s been obliterated by the demons as if it were just a regular wall of rock and stone. It can’t be—did they break the spell?! The spell that maintains the Warrior Maidens’ Great Wall is in the imperial capital. Every Valkyrie knows that. There’s no need to hide it. After all, no Valkyrie would attempt to break it. At this point, too late, Irena understands just how naive that assumption was. So far, the empire has been protected by exploiting the Valkyries’ goodwill, their sense of duty, and their lives. Diana’s criticisms were about to confront the nation in a visceral, violent way. “L-Lady Irena! The demons are going to get out!” “…I guess we know why they dumped us here, then.” Irena smiles wryly. Gripping her lance, one of her subordinates speaks up. “There’s no telling how long we’ll last with magic lances that don’t have divine stones.” “You’re not wrong, but the village, lots of towns, and the capital are behind us.” Everyone gasps and pales. Irena feels bad for them. However, she’s proud of each and every one of them as well. So the exploitation never ends, hmm? She’s sure Diana’s faction is right. More and more places along the wall are beginning to break. The demons had been pretty well behaved lately, but Diana’s people must have done something to them, because they’re all trying to break through. If she and her Valkyries fight here, they’ll be lucky if they manage to hold the demons back for an hour. They’ll die for nothing. Or rather, they’ll die honorably in battle, as Valkyries. They can’t flee from it, though. This is how they’ve always lived. “Anyone who wants to run, go warn the village. Everyone else, stay with me. Will you follow me?” When Irena raises her head, the entire group nods. “Looks like we’re destined to always get the short end of the stick, huh? Thanks to that, we’ll be able to die thinking this was a good life.” That probably counts as being lucky. A horde of demons is already hurtling straight at them, kicking up a cloud of dust. They don’t stand their ground and wait for them. Irena gives the order, and they charge, refusing to give up a single inch of ground to the demons—and that’s when it happens. “Irena!” A horse gallops toward them from the village. On its back is the undependable commanding officer she’d once taught the ways of the battlefield. “Ernst! What, they didn’t catch you after all?” “Your whole unit’s still safe. Thank goodness we made it in time… It’s all right. Reinforcements are on the way!” All the Valkyries stare at him in confusion. “So please lend me your strength! Help me find Vica.” “His Majesty? What do you mean?” “He’s become a demon. According to a certain individual, as long as we can rescue Vica and restore his humanity, it will stop the rampaging demons.” “No, wait, what do you mean by ‘reinforcements’? And who do you mean by ‘a certain individual’? Don’t tell me they’ve got you on the ropes so badly you’ve gone delusional. Listen— there’s no one in this country besides the Valkyries who can fight a horde of demons. And—” “All personnel, condition one battle stations!” calls a loud voice above Irena’s group, and a large shadow falls over them. Wondering if it’s an enormous bird, they look up, and immediately realize their mistake. It’s a massive flock of crows, flying in a bow-shaped formation. “Search party, move out! Objective: Find the demon king’s little brother. Looks exactly like him! Poor thing!” “Rescue mission, rescue mission! Reward is fruit tarts!” There are some rather dim-sounding yells now and then, but that isn’t the problem. The birds are clearly rousing one another with words. “Th-those crows are…talking?!” “I hear they’re Ellmeyer’s demons.” “Demons talk?! That’s ridiculous.” “Hey, you over there! Humans! Do you want to die? Get out of the way now, or you’ll get dragged into this.” This time, there’s a human in the sky—no, he only looks human at first glance. Horns protrude from his head, and wings sprout from his back. He’s something inhuman that wears a human form. Is this also one of Ellmeyer’s demons? “Beelzebuth!” Ernst shouts, “They’re allies. Valkyries from my country.” Beelzebuth looks Irena’s group over from the sky. He seems unimpressed. “Fine. Just don’t hold us back.” “We’re grateful for your aid. Even though we were the ones who dragged Emperor Claude into this…” “I’ll overlook it. After all, I’m currently the shadow chief of staff! I must fulfill my contract… More than anything, I’ll prove I’m not like the nobodies who can’t do a thing unless the king orders them!” His tone is far too boastful for what he’s actually saying. He spreads his arms wide, nostrils flaring. “That said, those numbers are impressive. We won’t lose. But, humans, if you want to run, go now while you still can.”
Chapter 140
47 min read