Fire is in my heart. It burns deep within.
I know that this fire connects us all.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Yes. Yes, that’s right. I am unsatisfied with the way things are run on the Frontier,” I declare, rubbing my belly, even though it doesn’t hurt. As I speak, a mustachioed gentleman nods happily. “I am the captain of the northern lands. It may not compare to the Frontier Army, but my authority is at least equal to a newly appointed Minister of War. So why in the world was I stationed in an infantry platoon? Are they calling me a disposable pawn, not even worthy of a horse? And what is this vice-captain business? My commanding officer is a priest? Do they wish me to die?” Rumblings of agreement echo about, but none of them truly understand. When one wants to believe something, it appears as the sweetest nectar, yet sweetness is the best way to hide poison. Back in seminary, we used to mix laxatives in with sweet tea.
“The supplies and reinforcements requested from the fort are suspect, as well,” I continue. “Talk about excess. You could be in league with the merchant on some massive fraud scheme. There’s also the Willows... they treat the cavalry like their own personal soldiers. They could be plotting some kind of coup.” Upon hearing the surname “Willow,” some pitch forward. Which means I should be able to narrow down my suspect to one of the noble conservatives. Let’s close the net tighter. “This hierarchy makes no sense.” Oh, it seems I’ve hit the nail on the head. I’ve got enough information to be sure now. Time to finish things.
“Don’t you agree? Power should follow tradition and customs in order to be used properly. I am merely concerned that this refusal to invite the appropriate person from the capital means there is something rotten afoot.” I grimace and hang my head. Yes, yes, thank you for your concern. Come again. Next time, however, I suspect there will be quite some arguing. For the various rotten lords and nobles of the capital, deciding on a representative is the same as giving away authority.
Next on the agenda is... a drink of water, I think. I ring the servant bell.
Thank you for the pitcher, my lady. I’ll be sure to increase your wages generously. After all, not only is she attending to the needs of others, she’s also helping me obtain secret information.
“Yeesh! They’re finally gone. You call that a visit to the sick? Don’t make me laugh. The central dignitaries seem to have no idea what is going on below them... they don’t understand the reality of the Frontier,” I complain. I find it difficult to get behind tricking someone who’s lost their family, though. “They should just send the coins and supplies already. We’ve already got the soldiers. My friends from the fort came, after all.” But I guess it can’t be helped if my spy is an anti-elf. These are the types that harbor grudges against society.
“Honestly, I hate their long ears and white faces. Who do they think they are, hanging around here? Someone should set fire to the northern gate area and be done with it.” See? I’m a convenient person, so just put your radical destructive plans on hold until I can do my thing.
I sympathize, of course. The betrayal at the northern gate... Their family was killed by elves. It must hurt. I can only imagine the suffering. They probably hate anyone who looks even the least bit happy.
“Oh, I hate them, too. But their medicine, at least, is top-notch. It really heals you quickly,” I respond. I sympathize, but... this is war. It’s not something so simple that can be solved with pure hate, nor are we strong enough to take on the elves and the vampires at the same time. We must utilize what is available to us as efficiently as possible. Anyone empty-headed enough to claim that they don’t care about our circumstances is just a hindrance. It is truly unfortunate.
So, come on, take my information and back down, please.
Now, what next... oh? Look who’s here.
“Yo, fort guy. Still got you doing dirty work, I see.”
“Greetings, younger Willow. I smile with my face, but cry in my heart.” Good timing. Just as I had planned. This young knight may appear rough, but he is quite considerate. It must have been his good upbringing. “I’d rather be busy with military drills and negotiations. It’s quite vexing.”
“Oh, funny. What’s so amusing about wrapping bandages on something that doesn’t require it?”
“Any situation can be enjoyed depending on your schemes.”
“So you’re slathering fake medicine on? Doesn’t that get boring?”
“Ah, you don’t understand. It can be quite... stimulating to have a lady wrap your bandages.”
“Well, as long as you’re enjoying yourself.”
I’m worried, even though I say everything’s fine. It’s true that I am the only survivor of the three hundred cavalry I brought from the fort, but that doesn’t mean I wish to die. I have so much left to do first.
“So, did you bring what I requested?” I ask.
“Here. Careful how you handle it, though.” Hidden amongst the basket of fruits, wine, and dried meat are fire bombs and an ignite canister.
“My, my... it’s quite heavy.”
“You can go ahead and fill them with mana, but don’t accidentally ignite them. The range and firepower are difficult to understand unless you’ve experienced them yourself.”
“Yes, I’ll be careful. Is work on the mass production going smoothly?”
“It’s okay. The people from the Hell Expanse are starting to fabricate them.”
“Oh, that is good to hear. Carefully packed in boxes and delivered here... there’s no way anyone would believe that.”
“Ugh, that excited smile. No wonder you and the priest get along.”
“I also get along with your younger brother. He read me one of his poems the other day.”
“Marius... I wish I didn’t, but I understand. You two really seem like you’d see eye to eye.”
“Perhaps a certain other brother should also recite some poetry. Even a sword dance would be fine.”
“A sword dance? That’s more Agias’s thing.”
“I’m quite adept at clapping along with the rhythm. Go on, start.”
“No way. You want me to perform a sword dance for your recovery? Are you crazy?”
I think it would be fun. This conversation is enjoyable enough, though. After the younger Willow leaves, I’m still smiling. A bit of a refresher really lightens the mood. I chow down on the dried meat and take a swig of the wine. Then I practice my magic.
I close my eyes. Sharpening my mind, I seek the bottom of the darkness. There’s nothing to be scared of. Black is the color of Lady Kuroi. Deep within, I can see hints of red. It’s small but burns red hot, waiting for the moment to ignite.
Lady Kuroi’s fire. Ever since that day, it’s been inside me as well. And my men—the men I brought with me from the fort are there now, too. When the time comes, I shall hasten to join them in Lady Kuroi’s grace. Good. Very good. What a wonderfully delightful job.
Just you wait. I’ll join you eventually. And it won’t be just me. Many people will be turned into flames. There’s no telling how many infernos will burn. That’s the scale of the war we’re waging. The flames will roar with the souls of the people scattered by the war.
I will not allow hatred to be everything. If it all ends as simply pent-up grudges, that won’t be any fun at all. Why even bother to exist at that point? It’d be easier to just die. Talk about depressing. I want to say goodbye to this world with a big smile on my face.
Hope. We need hope. One can die with pride when there is hope, regardless of whether it’s passed on to someone else or not. Right, men? I’m right, aren’t I? I failed to die, but that’s how I feel. Your hope shines beautifully even now. As the survivor, I must do my job perfectly and transform it into something tangible. I have to make some sort of progress.
In my mind, hope doesn’t flash periodically in the sky; that wouldn’t be something you could reach with your hands. No matter how far away it is, it has to exist somewhere on this continent.
It exists. It must. Lady Kuroi is leading the way, so I’m sure it exists.
“Fort guy!”
Oh, the younger Willow is back. Shoot. I couldn’t focus on my magic at all. I blame you, my men. Why are you suddenly so good at listening?
“What is it, younger Willow? Your feathers seem ruffled.”
“Come to the church right this instant! Keep pretending to be injured, I don’t care! I’ll put you on a wagon!”
“My, my... what’s happened?” With a government in place, we’ve been holding meetings in the church’s office. Only the top leaders are invited. Our discussions mainly concern extremely pressing matters. But my information network hasn’t picked up on anything that would trigger this reaction. In other words, it’s not an internal threat. And the anti-elf people didn’t seem off, nor looked suspicious, so it can’t be them. In other words...
“The vampires!”
Yes, the vampires. However, this is quite sudden. And he came galloping on his fastest horse. Whatever happened, it was enough to send even a Willow man into a panicked state.
“They’ve made a final declaration of war! They’re going to wipe out elves and humans alike!”
Ah, I see. I see... Did you hear that, men? Summon your pride. Your efforts in the previous battle had truly earth-shaking results. This land has finally been acknowledged as a great battlefield between three tribes. We humans are now on the stage.
Here is where it starts. Yes, it all begins now. Right at this moment, we are truly standing on the path to hope. All that’s left is to work desperately towards our goal, even if it means death.
“Good! Now go forth, younger Willow! Make this wagon fly!”
“You got it! Hold on tight!”
“Why, such enthusiasm. I like it!”
Men, I hope you’re excited. We shall soon fight a great battle together. We shall soon burn like an inferno.