“Hey, give it up man, it’s no use talkin’ to them.”
“But it’s possible they’ll change their minds, right?”
Upon arriving in the capital, Nagi, Keele, and Tess headed to Cobalt’s shared quarters. The neo-nobles of Cobalt, including Crow, didn’t live in the palace. It helped cement their claim that they hadn’t reinvented the old order. But how was it in reality? The three visitors were denied entry at first.
“Lord Crow is busy. He doesn’t have the time to meet anyone without an appointment.”
Hearing this, Keele poked Nagi. “Hey, give ’em your name.”
“What?”
“Just do it.”
“I’m Strano’s... no, Garuga Village’s Nagi.”
The gate guard’s reaction was dramatic.
“Th-The Commoners’ Hero?!”
“What’s with that?”
“Oh come on, the man himself don’t know ’bout it? I can’t get a decent drink anymore without hearin’ your name praised in song. This is what happens when you only visit the palace and Garuga Village,” Keele remarked.
“No, he might be a fake. Pardon me, but do you have any proof of being the Commoners’ Hero?”
“Even if you ask me for proof...”
Nagi was troubled by the question, until the memory of the password he once used with Crow flashed into his mind.
“Oh, tell this to Crow: Captured Princess. He’ll get it.”
The gate guard left for a while, then returned.
“I’ve gotten confirmation. Please excuse me for keeping you waiting.”
Nagi was surprised by how much the gate guard’s attitude changed. However, when Nagi and Keele tried to pass, the guard stopped them once more.
“Pardon me... I only have permission to let the hero enter. As for the two Crestfolk, um...”
“Huh? They’re both Crow’s acquaintances.”
“Aah, give it up. It’s useless. We’ll just kill some time around here and meet up with you later.”
“Nagi, don’t worry about us. We’re used to it.”
Keele and Tess put a stop to Nagi’s objections. With no other choice, he was guided into the building on his own. Crow awaited him within the room he was brought to. Nagi felt odd; Crow was hardly ever alone when they’d met before.
“Where’s Senak?”
“Oh, he quit. Our ideologies didn’t mesh.”
“He quit? Wasn’t he your friend going way back?”
“In the end, that man took offense to the fact that he wasn’t given Amrita. He was jealous of us. Just like your older brother. The two of them seem to be conspiring together. There are suspicions he stole confidential documents from the palace. He should be thanking me that I chose to stop at simply ending our friendship.”
Crow’s words were far too bitter for someone talking about a former friend.
“So, what did you need? We’re busy here. We’ve got many responsibilities now. Meeting you like this on the spur of the moment really is a special exception.”
“I want to stop Kyou’s execution. It’s Saya’s request.”
Crow knit his brows. “How foolish.”
“He’s her little brother. Isn’t it obvious she wants to save him?”
“She is the Sovereign before all else. Making such emotional decisions is a mistake.”
“Maybe so, but he’s her only family.”
“And how many commoners do you think were killed by nobles because of this family of hers? The same goes for the Crestfolk, doesn’t it?”
“That’s true... But still.”
“In any case, stopping the execution is out of the question. We’re about to start a new battle, after all.”
“A new battle? I didn’t hear anything about this.”
“It’s already begun. We’re fighting against the backlash. There are too many forces out there looking to waste the fruits of the revolution. Our next battle is to eliminate them and firmly root the new order.”
Nagi felt an ominous ring from Crow’s words.
“Is this why we’re still executing people?”
“Precisely. We fill the gallows now with the nobles who can’t keep pace with our reforms and the merchants who support them. They’re conspirators, counterrevolutionaries... There are far too many of them to write off as harmless crackpots. They’ll lose their foundation upon Kyou’s execution. That’s why we can’t stop it, even if it is the Sovereign’s request. It’s a good thing you’re here now, though. I have something to speak with you about.”
Crow spread his arms wide.
“Please move to the capital. You were one of our own to begin with; we would welcome you. I can even prepare a seat in Congress for you. The Commoners’ Hero has that much value.”
“No thanks, I’ll pass. I have a mountain of things to do at Garuga Village.”
“So, you still remain with the Tainted. You aren’t the type of person meant to concern yourself with such trifling matters. If you wish to protect Lady Saya, then you should be in the capital.”
Nagi didn’t miss Crow’s slur; he decided to pretend he didn’t hear it.
“I can’t be by Saya’s side. I’ll want to see her all the time if I stay in the capital.”
“That’s your problem as an individual. You just need to protect her as a public figure. Right now, the Sovereignty Faction reigns supreme. It’s the Granapalt administration. You know that man is dangerous.”
“But Lernaean fought by Cobalt’s side against Gratos.”
“There was no other choice at that point in time. It’s clear as day he intends to be the next Gratos. When that time comes, Lady Saya will be his marionette. Are you fine with that?”
“So will Cobalt let her be free?”
“Of course we will. We’ll grant her wishes.”
“Saya’s wish is to save Kyou’s life.”
“That’s a different matter.”
They were talking past each other.
“In any case,” Crow continued, “we evaluate your worth highly. Just as I said, I can prepare a seat for you in Congress. I’m not sure you properly understand the significance of this.” Crow paused there for a single breath. “All members of Congress are granted Amrita. You can obtain a longer lifespan.”
Nagi remembered now. This had once been his dream.
“You don’t have much time left. After you die, Lady Saya’s life will continue. Who’s going to protect her then?”
Crow did have a point. Regardless, Nagi put his answer on hold. Now wasn’t the time to be thinking about this.
“I’ll consider it... In any case, it seems nothing can be done about Kyou.”
“Please give it up. Execution is the only option.”
“Understood.”
“Well, that’s about the gist of it. They’re totally actin’ like they’re nobles now,” Keele said as he chomped down on a meat skewer he’d bought somewhere or other.
The three of them were now seated at a table by the road near the marketplace. The way Keele wiped the juices from his lips using his thumb made it look like he was really enjoying himself.
“I’ve got some for you too.”
Nagi accepted the meat from his brother and took a bite. Nobody was watching him. He could scarcely believe he was being called the Commoners’ Hero.
“It’s good, but three bloodpence? It’s a fuckin’ rip-off,” Keele grumbled.
“The price on everything has gone up. Everyone’s pissed,” Tess added. She had long finished her own meal. “It’s because everyone stupidly believed everything would get better once the False Sovereign was defeated. There’s no way it would. And then there’s the execution parties they’re throwing every single day to try and distract people from their dissatisfaction... Haah, they’re sure having fun.”
“Is that the reason they’re executing Kyou?” Nagi asked.
Keele scoffed at this. “They’ve got hundreds of years of grudges piled up; it’s useless to ask for forgiveness.”
“Wasn’t it all Gratos’ fault?”
“Even if he was a fake, that kid called himself the Sovereign. That means he’s got some responsibility. No helpin’ that.”
“Keele, aren’t you here to help?”
“Yeah, I am. I still get to kill me some goddamn vampires here.”
“You really never change.”
“That so? From my view, everyone else is changin’ too much. Or not; I guess you haven’t. You’re the same ol’ softie as before.”
“Can it.”
“Tess, how ’bout it? You turn into a fine woman yet? Oh, but fallin’ for a guy like this is, you know... You’re not gonna be a fine woman if you don’t fall for a good man.”
“Shut up.”
Keele was in strangely high spirits as he chattered on pointlessly, listening to their complaints.
“So, what do we do?”
“The new moon Lernaean mentioned is tomorrow. Our only choice is to sneak into the palace at that time.”
“It could be a trap, ya know?”
“Still, there’s no other way.”
“There is. A simple one. Just abandon Kyou.”
“We can’t. He’s Saya’s family,” Nagi immediately replied.
“He ain’t her real brother, right?”
“Even so, I think he’s her family... What would you do in this case? Say I was being executed.”
Nagi asked on the spur of the moment, but thought he was being stupid for doing so.
“I’ll abandon you. Obviously.”
Keele’s answer was just as expected. Nagi felt relieved to hear it for some reason. Everything around him was changing, but his older brother was still the same. He was the same hateful brother Nagi always knew.
Keele then averted his eyes. “Well, just as I said, I’ll lend you a hand. I’m pretty bored here... If this is a trap, it just means I get to kill me even more nobles.”
“Tess, you wait for us out here. If... If we don’t come back, let the village know.”
“That’ll be a problem. In that case, I’ll go. I can’t have any kids, so it doesn’t matter if I die. You can’t die, Nagi.”
“You still have to protect the village, don’t you?”
“The same goes for you. I want you to live.”
“You can cut the lover’s quarrel there... Sorry Nagi, you’re both coming. We need every fightin’ hand we can get.”
“Why’re you giving out the orders?”
“Shut it, you’re supposed to listen to your older brother.”
Nagi was getting annoyed, but Tess seemed to be in agreement.