Changing location…
It was a place where there was nothing. There was only hills, farms, and a few houses.
Inside of the Runa Empire.
Ryner and Ferris had completely ignored the prohibition sign, heading toward Rajit Village.
The sun had already set in the west, the sky was slowly darkening.
Ryner looked to the sky, using a sleepy expression like usual to say:
“Ah~ Look, didn’t I say so before? I said we should go to the church. Hasn’t the sun set now? And what kind of village is this where it’s so distant, it doesn’t seem as if there is anything… Can we really find somewhere to stay? Since there are signs prohibiting entry, the inns should have closed down? Anyway, some corner of this desolate village may had been cursed by the Demon?”
His tone was unhappy, Ferris said to him:
“Yes. Isn’t it because it received the Demon’s curse that it became desolate?”
Ryner hearing this, looked again at the village that did not seem to have any scenic spot, only depending on farming as their source of income, and really did not have anything outstanding.
“No, I feel that the bad scenery, has no relation with the Demon’s curse…”
At this moment, they discovered that a villager had walked out from one of the houses, Ryner asked quickly:
“Ah, the lady over there, please wait, we have something to ask you… is there any inns in this village…”
Before he finished speaking, the female villager saw Ryner—
“Wu, ah…?!”
Suddenly she ran away, hiding back into the house.
Ryner seeing this, revealed a slightly surprised expression.
“Wu… what was that, what was going on? Why did she suddenly run away?”
Ferris hearing that, replied with her usual bland tone:
“Yes. That woman’s judgment was right. At this time of night, meeting a pervert like you, it wouldn’t be strange if she escaped.”
Here she goes again…
Ryner said:
“Ah, if she really escaped because of me, then that would really be a shock…”
“Wu. I think that shouldn’t be wrong.”
“Ah, don’t rub salt on the wound. Wu…”
At this moment he saw a male villager walking towards them…
This time, Ryner used a tone that was much gentler than previously to ask:
“Ah, excuse me, the man over there…”
“Wu?!”
The person escaped again…
Ferris seeing this said:
“It seems to be the case. You have reached the extent in the realm of accomplished perverts where people will know that you are a pervert just by looking at your face. Should I praise you?”
She said with an indifferent cadence, Ryner was a little disappointed…
“What kind of face do I have… Ne, what do you think of that person’s response? It’s obvious, there’s something strange about this? I deliberately used a seemingly youthful and charismatic voice to greet them, how can they escape like this… What is wrong? What happened to this village?”
Ferris replied simply:
“So it’s said that there is a demon’s curse?”
“So we were talking about it earlier, what kind of curse is it? I wanted to ask someone, but no one is willing to answer. What’s going on…”
At this moment, another villager appeared…
Ryner said upon seeing the situation:
“…If I appear again, it’ll probably be the same response as just now. It’s never ending…”
Ferris said:
“Alright. Then, let me go this time? I’ll let you see, a beauty like me who can be thought to be an angel, has a great difference compared to a perverted man like you.”
Ryner shrugged.
“Then let me see your abilities.”
“Yes. I’m going.”
Ferris said, then walked towards the villager.
“Hey, the sir over there, please wait.”
She used a tone that was very far away from ‘good friends’ to say that.
The villager seeing the situation—
“Wu…’
Before the villager screamed, Ferris had already disappeared.
Actually she moved so fast that anyone would think that she had disappeared. In a moment, she actually appeared in front of the villager who had turned around to escape…
She still used an unfriendly tone to say:
“I have something to ask…”
“Ah?!”
The villager turned around, getting ready to run.
But, Ferris blocked the villager again…
After that, no matter how the villager tried to escape, Ferris would always appear in front of where he was about to run to…
“What, what is going on?!”
The villager was about to cry, yelling loudly, in extreme terror.
Ferris nodded and said:
“Wu. From his terrified expression, the demon’s curse is pretty scary.”
She said that…
Ryner couldn’t help but mutter in his heart.
(That’s not right, it’s because you’re scarier than the demon…)
Ryner thought secretly in his heart, as he walked slowly to the unmoving villager who was frozen to his original position.
“Eh, it looks like you’re willing to listen to us now… I want to ask… what is the demon’s curse? Why is entry prohibited to this village?”
When Ryner finished asking, the villager’s face turned white immediately…
“I, I can’t answer…”
His voice was trembling. It was obvious, his appearance was odd.
Ryner and Ferris seeing this, exchanged looks…
Ryner asked again:
“You can’t answer? What does that mean? If you tell us, will something bad happen…?”
But, the villager used a trembling voice to say:
“It’s, it’s the mountain… we’re possessed by the demon in the mountain… so, so every day…”
The villager started to say something that contradicted himself.
Ryner asked:
“The demon in the mountain? Possessed? That’s what we wanted to ask…”
In a moment.
“N, no?! I, I didn’t say anything about a mountain?! I didn’t say anything at all?! I will, will be killed… killed… I… Wa~”
The villager said and escaped.
This time, Ferris didn’t chase after him. There couldn’t anything more asked from the villager right? It was obvious, there was something wrong with his mentality.
Ryner hugged his elbows when he saw this…
“About his words earlier… What do you think?”
Ferris looked around her as she said:
“Wu. They seem to be scared of something. Have you discovered it? The villagers are watching us behind the windows?”
Ryner hearing this, looked around too…
In every room of each house, there were people at the windows watching them with eyes that were so tired that they seemed dead…
Ryner shrugged when he saw this…
“…Even if we beg them to let us stay for one night… it seems as if no one will heed us…”
Ferris nodded her head too…
“So that’s why I hate traveling with a pervert. Even finding a place that is livable is…”
“Ah, don’t say it again…”
At this moment Ryner stopped speaking again,
He saw a sixteen seventeen old girl, running towards them desperately from the back of the village…
There were five big men chasing after her.
“Brat… escape…”
“It’s you… what were you thinking…!!”
Because they were at a distance, they couldn’t hear clearly, but the men seemed to be shouting something.
It seemed, these men didn’t seem to be playing hide and seek with the girl…
Ryner seeing this said:
“Eh? What are those people doing…”
But, he didn’t finish speaking.
Something unbelievable was happening in front of them.
The men caught up with the girl, she was violently struck at. The girl flew out, landing on the ground…
“Eh?! What are those people doing! It seems like they are not being merciful?”
Ferris nodded her head when she heard this.
“Yes. It seems so. It seems as if the girl is about to be killed by men who have special tastes for girls like you. Wu… it’s convenient.”
“Ah? Convenient? What do you mean… ah, I see…”
At this moment, Ryner seemed to think of something, punching his palm…
“It’s really convenient. Then—”
“Yes.”
The two exchanged looks…
Although the girl suffered from a strong impact, sprawling on the ground, but she still tried hard to stand up, attempting to continue escaping, Ryner and Ferris rushed towards her…
It was at an unbelievable speed.
The men dragged the girl up, about to start hitting her again…
Ryner had appeared behind them suddenly, grabbing the man’s arm, using his sleepy eyes to look at the man…
“Uncle, uncle. It’s not good hitting children right?”
“You, who are you? Ah?! Don’t butt in, stranger!”
The man threw off Ryner’s hand, about to start hitting the girl again, Ryner grabbed him again, using a slightly tired voice to say:
“Don’t let me repeat myself. At least let me listen to the reason, the reason! Why do you treat the child…”
At this moment, Ryner looked at the girl on the ground, she looked at the interaction between Ryner and the man in surprise… In a moment, he narrowed his eyes. The girl was covered with wounds. Arms, legs, face…
The girl had brown hair and a cute face. Her body seemed frail and fragile, but it could be seen that she was a cute girl.
And, she was injured…
“… What is your reason, that you have to hit such a small child?”
But the man replied:
“It’s none of your business! If you continue to be such a busybody, we’ll settle you too! You know, we, we had to suffer from what kind of treatment because of her… wa?!”
Then, the man stopped.
Ryner twisted the man’s arm, saying:
“Oh dear me, is it painful? I’m so sorry. And, I don’t know about the treatment that you suffered because of this child, but…”
Ryner’s voice turned slightly dark and soft.
“… But, I believe, the wounds on that child’s face is greater than your arm. I’ll ask you again, so answer me obediently. Why do you hit this child? Ah, I might as well tell you… if your reason is not enough, I might accidentally break your arm…”
The man hearing this, glared at Ryner violently.
“Don’t speak nonsense! What do you understand!! Hey, what are you doing! Think of something to stop the mouth of this stranger!”
He shouted to the other men, but…
“…”
No one replied.
“Hey, what is it?! I told you to beat up this guy!”
“…”
“Hey, hey… I say you…”
Ryner grabbed the man’s arm, allowing him to turn around.
“Ah~ The companions you speak of… are they the ones sleeping over there?”
There was only a pile of men collapsed on the ground…
And Ferris sat on the men, taking out her favorite tea set that had been prepared unknowingly, resting leisurely…
“…”
Ryner looked at this half-lidedly.
“…I say, what are you doing?”
Ryner hearing this, simply answered:
“Eh? Do you want to drink it? But, regretfully, the dangos are not in stock.”
“…I’m not talking about that…”
Ryner seemed to groan. Then, he looked at the man again.
“Wu, forget it… it’s like this, because of this person, the situation is like that… Your companions have become the tables for the tea set, so they can’t come and help you… Will you answer my questions obediently now? – Why do you hit this child? And, what is wrong with this village? It seems a little strange?... You were talking about a demon’s curse.”
The man hearing that, suddenly started trembling.
“N, no?! I, I can’t… I, I will be killed…”
Ryner hearing this, frowned.
“Ah, here it comes again. Why are you so scared?”
“Can’t, can’t say. If I say it… I will be killed…”
At this moment, Ryner karate chopped the back of the man’s neck, the man stopped speaking, losing consciousness, collapsing on the ground.
Ryner looked back at Ferris.
“It’s like that, there seems to be no way to interrogate these people.”
Ferris replied:
“No problem. It’s just as predicted.”
Ryner spoke too:
“Yes. Then…”
This time he turned back again, looking at the girl who was on the ground, looking at him with a surprised expression…
The girl’s line of vision met with Ryner’s, revealing a slightly timid expression.
“…Wu, that… thank, thank you for rescuing me.”
Ferris hearing that, poked her head out from behind Ryner and said:
“Yes. We didn’t rescue you for free. If you want to repay us, you’ll have to give something?”
Ryner shrugged.
“Having it said like that, I seem to have become a card, how annoying…”
The girl revealed an even more timid expression.
“Th, that… I also thought… to express my gratitude, but… my family is poor, so we have no money…”
Ryner hearing this, shook his head frantically.
“Ah, no no. We don’t need you to give us money or anything… we just came to this country… it’s a little troublesome, we weren’t able to find anywhere to stay for the moment. So, if it’s convenient, could we stay at your house… how do I say this? As long as the sky darkens, I feel like sleeping…”
“Eh… Th, then… you aren’t Runa people?”
Ferris nodded.
“Yes. We are traveling to all the countries because of various reasons. If we could stay at your house temporarily, we would also pay you…”
But the girl interrupted Ferris’s words.
“Please, please save him?!”
She suddenly cried, tightly grabbing Ryner’s leg…
“My, my childhood friend… is about to be killed… s, so, please save him?!”
Ryner hearing this.
“Why did something like this suddenly happen? Does it have anything to do with the demon’s curse?”
The girl shook her head vigorously.
“No! Arua, Arua he… is not a demon! But, he was brought into the mountains by the Runa soldiers… if we don’t save him, he will… definitely be killed…”
Saying that, the girl started crying.
Ryner hearing that, revealed a distressed expression.
“Ah, wa, wait, when did this happen? You said, your childhood friend… is called Arua? Taken away by the Runa soldiers? And the reason for them taking him away is because Arua is a demon…”
Then—
“I told you Arua is not a demon!!”
The girl shouted, then started to wail.
Ryner scratched his head in distress… then said:
“Wu… so, Arua is not a demon, but he was called a demon, and was taken away by the Runa soldiers… is that it?”
“Yes.”
By saying that he finally gained the girl’s confirmation, Ryner sighed in relief, then asked:
“But, why is that person called Arua called a demon? Can you tell us in detail?”
So the girl said:
“Eh, that…”
At this moment Ferris interrupted her.
“Wait. Let’s change our location? If we talk here, it’s not good for the wounds on that child?”
Ryner hearing that, revealed a surprised expression.
“Ah, that’s right. Wu, this is the first time I’m seeing Ferris being concerned for others. I didn’t think you would have your strong points.”
Ferris nodded as if it were expected.
“Yes. I’m worried that she will die halfway through her explanation, that would be troubling.”
Ryner hearing that…
“…If you didn’t say that then it would have been fine… never mind, so it’s like that… then, is it fine if we go to your house?”
Ryner asked, the girl said:
“That, big brother is looking for a place to stay, right? I know of a good place! Follow me!”
Saying that, the girl ran ahead…
“Ah, hey… you don’t have to run… ah, really… how troublesome…”
“Uh.”
So, Ryner and Ferris chased after her…
Like that, the trio left the men lying on the ground, leaving the area.
The girl bought them to a house.
It was a house that was made of wood and it was not very big.
About the interior, it could not be said to be very clean.
Even—
“Wa… what is this…”
Ryner looked at the interior… he couldn’t help but exclaim.
The room could be said to be devastated.
The table was flipped over, the book shelves were toppled over, the cutleries were shattered, all on the ground…
A tornado seemed to have swept through the house…
The girl revealed a sad expression.
“…Two days ago it was still neat and organized…”
“Two days ago? That means, this is your house?”
“…Yes. This is the place where Arua stayed before he was taken away. I think, if Arua came back to see that the house was so dirty, he would be upset. But every time I clean it, everyone would mess up the house again… Ah, I’m really embarrassed. I’ll start to clean up now, you, you can wait for a while! As the current messy state there is no space for sleeping, right…”
The girl said, starting to clean up the house…
Ryner seeing that said:
“Ah, it’s fine it’s fine. We’re only staying for one night, there’s no problem.”
He quickly moved the chairs and table to the middle of the room, sitting on a chair and said:
“On the other hand, can you explain the situation? What has happened? The house has been messed up… you being hit by a group of adults… and the reactions of the villagers… what has happened here? And…”
Ryner looked at the girl’s face, continuing:
“And, I haven’t asked for your name. Ah, I might as well tell you, I’m called Ryner. And this emotionless person is called Ferris.”
The girl politely said:
“That, that, I’m called Kuku, Ryner-sama, Ferris-sama, please look after me.”
She bowed her head deeply.
“Yes, me too.”
“Yes. Then, the self-introductions are over, can you start to tell us now?”
“Yes.”
So Kuku started to narrate the events.
She raised her face to look at the ceiling as if she were thinking about something, then said:
“I am Arua's neighbor . Our relationship has always been good. My parents are on good terms with Arua’s parents… Every day, every day I would play with Arua. We were on good terms with the villagers… Our lives were normal, it was a good place…”
She thought back as she spoke slowly. When she spoke of Arua, Kuku’s face had a happy and lonely expression.
Anyway, the Rajit village she spoke of, was originally a calm and beautiful village…
But, currently this village did not resemble those times. It felt as if it had become darker, sinister and mad, it couldn’t help but make one doubt that she was speaking nonsense.
But…
Ryner…
“…”
He understood this atmosphere.
The atmosphere where people were suspicious, fearful, angry and despairing as they lived…
“Then why did it turn to this?”
Ryner asked, the girl’s face immediately clouded over.
“This village has changed… from that day. The village’s taxes were suddenly raised… in the past, it wasn’t easy to get by, but after the taxes were raised, no one was able to deal with it… but everyone didn’t dare to go against the royal family’s edict… so everyone grit their teeth and paid the taxes. Everyone worked hard… they didn’t even eat. My parents didn’t even have food to eat, but every day, every day they worked until night… They were so hard working? They didn’t even relax? But, in the end our family couldn’t pay the taxes. We couldn’t pay the taxes… so the royal family immediately… the lord governing this land came…”
Ryner could see, the expression on Kuku’s face, was becoming tense slowly because of fear.
She used a trembling voice to say:
“He bought a large army. It was only our family who couldn’t pay the taxes, but he bought many, many soldiers… In the beginning my father was killed. In front of the villagers… it was only a moment. My father’s upper body disappeared because of magic… there was a lot of blood.
“At the moment I saw that, my mind went blank…”
She cried. The tears welled out from her eyes…
What she had often seen.
It was common, but it was a story that was hard to bear.
The past Roland…
The Roland before Sion sat on the throne, these matters were common.
The nobles had greedily wished for entertainment and bullied the people, madly killing the people...
And the target of the mad nobles was Arua?
This boy was a demon, so he had to be killed.
Since the nobles had said that, then this boy was definitely a demon. The words of the nobles were absolute. Daring rebels, would be killed. No, if it was only killed it was better. Before the victim died he would bear anguishing pain, facing humiliation, then he'd killed in the end.
This country was like that.
A country that had allied with Roland in the past…
A corrupted country, coupled with corrupted nobles…
It was said that this country’s magic was used with the power from god.
Borrowing god’s—power.
They used this power, to kill this girl’s father.
They used this power, to take the lives of people.
What kind of beautiful god was it?
“…How disgusting.”
Ryner softly muttered with a voice that was unheard.
Mad nobles governing a mad country.
The girl continued speaking. Her tears continued to flow…
“But, even so, things didn’t end there. I was caught next… I saw my mother crying uncontrollably. But the lord laughed. He saw my father die, he saw my mother crying… but he laughed. I don’t know what was so funny. He kept laughing, kept laughing, he said, kill that kid too, he said it would be a warning to other… the magic was right in front of me…”
The ending was undescribable.
But…
The girl seemed to recollect the scene then, speaking slowly:
“But, at this moment… something unbelievable happened. Arua… Arua… used magic… in tha past Arua never said that he could use magic… But, at that moment Arua was as if a different person… everyone seemed to know that. Because, everyone looking at Arua, revealed a scared expression… a strange design appeared in Arua’s eyes…”
In a moment.
With a bang, the table in front of Ryner bounced up. No, it was Ryner who had jumped up.
What did this girl say?
A design had appeared in Arua’s eyes…
Kuku seeing that, stared at Ryner…
“Ah, that, I, I said something I was not allowed to…”
“Eh? Ah, no, no that’s not it…”
At this moment Ferris interrupted:
“Kuku, don’t worry, this fellow will do this sometimes, doing some strange things. Continue speaking.”
She said that to Kuku.
Ryner frantically said:
“Yes, yes. It’s like that. Perhaps it’s because I’m tired lately? My arm seems to be slightly twisted… It’s because my arm didn’t listen to me, it knocked the table. I interrupted you, I’m sorry. Please continue…”
Although Ryner said that, but he could feel his face tensing.
How could it be…
Hearing this kind of matters in this kind of place…
Because Ryner persuaded her to continue, Kuku nodded.
“Yes, just now I had stopped… After that, the lord was very scared of Arua, he returned… it was Arua who saved me. But… mother warned me not to speak to Arua. The villagers said Arua was a demon who had killed many people, they started to avoid him… After a while, the lord came again, this time, he brought more soldiers than the previous time, he took away Arua. He said he would do research on the demon in the mountains. He said that the Runa army commanded him to research on the demon, allowing to have his achievements. He laughed again. After that, the taxes in the village were raised again… it was harder to live…”
Saying that, she revealed a sad expression.
“In the beginning, there were people who wanted to escape. But, they were all killed. The lord ordered the villagers not to leave the village because he did not want the secret of the research on Arua to be leaked out. Not only that, if this matter was spread to the people visiting the village, they would be killed. Many people were killed, the taxes continued to rise… Everyone’s minds became a little strange. Everyone started to push the blame to Arua…”
Ryner hearing that, narrowed his eyes.
“So, you were hit?”
“…Yes. But, I’m fine. Because, if it were not for Arua saving me, I would be dead. But, Arua and… Arua’s parents… because they saved me…”
Ryner hearing that, looked around the room.
Arua’s parents seemed to have been taken away.
Ryner was clearer than anyone… what kind of experiment they were carrying out in the mountains.
The strange design in the boy’s eyes.
Suddenly using magic that he should not have known of.
The events happening on that boy’s body…
Previously the Roland government had carried out various experiments on Ryner’s body, awakened in his mind…
Ryner asked Kuku:
“I want to ask you, how long has it been since Arua was taken away?”
Kuku answered:
“Eh? That… more or less eight days…”
“Then, how long has it been since Arua’s parents were taken away?”
“Around five days ago.”
“…”
Ryner hearing that, frowned.
It was too late. It had been too long since then.
Even if he rushed over now…
But, Ferris stood up.
“Alright, then, let’s go?”
Ryner hearing that, looked at her.
“But…”
And, Ferris used a steady expression to look at Ryner’s face, then said:
“There’s no more time, right?”
“Eh… Ah, yes. That’s right, if we don’t hurry, it’ll be too late.”
“Then go! We have to protect that boy. It’s like that, Kuku. You’ll wait here. We’ll bring person called Arua back.”
Kuku hearing that, revealed a disbelieving expression.
“You’re willing, willing to help me? The other party is the nobles?”
But, Ferris answered simply:
“Runa nobles do not concern us.”
“But, but, they have Runa soldiers…”
“No problem. If there is something up, I’ll use this foolish man as bait, and escape myself.”
She actually said that.
“Hey, why do you treat me as bait!”
Ryner couldn’t help but yell at Ferris as usual. Ferris replied:
“Yes. Looking at you, there should be no problems.”
“Eh? You…”
“Then let’s go.”
Saying that, Ferris walked out of the room, Ryner seeing that said:
“Ah? I say, you say let’s go, but do you know where the mountain is?”
He asked as he chased after her. Ferris pointed at the northern mountains:
“When we came to this village, I saw a light there. It should be there right?”
It was night time now, but in the deep mountains, there was a flickering light where Ferris had pointed…
Ryner seeing that.
“Ah, can’t be mistaken, thats the place…”
At this moment Kuku said too:
“That’s right. It’s there. Arua is there…”
She said, Ryner hearing that, seemed to be depressed.
“Wu, the position of the light seems to be quite high? If we climb up now, it’s going to be troublesome.”
He said as he walked forward…
Ferris said:
“Yes. Walking on a mountain path with a pervert, it’s really a suicidal action.”
“Who are you calling a pervert!”
“Of course it’s you.”
The two spoke, walking towards the mountains.
Kuku seeing this.
“Ah, that, me too…”
But, Ryner turned around and spoke to her:
“Ah, it’s not a problem. If it’s the two of us we can save him, Kuku. Why don’t you clean the house for us? Ne, if Arua comes back, and sees that the house is dirty, he’ll be upset right?”
Kuku hearing that, nodded vigorously.
“That’s right! Then let me do the cleaning! Big brother you have to do your best!”
“Oh.”
Ryner waved, then continued to walk up the mountain.
But.
Ryner’s expression at that moment…
“…”
In the darkness, several lights moved.
The mountain where the boy called a demon was imprisoned.
Ryner and Ferris walked towards the mountain, and began to scale the mountain in the dead of the night.
Changing locations, Roland castle.
Late at night.
When Sion had not slept for more than thirty hours, and was starting to get sleepy, the missive suddenly came.
There was a frantic knocking on his door.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty! It’s not good!”
Sion hearing that, opened his eyes slightly, saying to the door:
“What is it? What is the problem?”
He said with a slightly tired voice. He had been woken when he was about to fall asleep, he felt his head start to ache.
This time there was a voice.
“Please get out of bed, Your Majesty! There is an urgent matter.”
The person who was shouting at the door, seemed to be Eslina. Her tone was quite urgent… When Sion heard her voice, his eyes opened. Eslina had received Calne’s orders, she seemed to always watch Sion, frightened that he would over work. Today after she and Calne had ate together, they saw that Sion had not rested, they were angry and they persuaded him, with much difficulty they managed to get Sion to bed.
Now, they were calling him up when Sion had not closed his eyes completely, that meant…
Sion raised his body up, arranging the front of his slightly loose shirt as he said:
“Please wait. I’ll come out now. What has happened?”
“It’s like this…”
At this moment, Calne’s voice spoke from beyond the door.
“Claugh senpai?! I told you now? Doctor! Let the doctor look at you first?!”
“You’re noisy! Let me see Sion first. What can this kind of wound count for…”
“Of course it matters! If it were me, I would have fainted and died?”
“That’s because you aren’t me!”
“I’m talking about common sense! It’s really enough, Eslina, Noa-sama, say something…”
This conversation took place outside the door…
This moment, the door was not knocked on, it was opened…
Claugh’s chest and arm were bleeding, behind him was Noa whose hair was stained with blood.
Sion narrowed his eyes. Then said:
“Calne, Eslina, call the doctor over, even if you talk a lot, Claugh most likely wouldn’t listen, let him receive treatment here.”
Calne and Eslina received the order, chorusing: “Yes.”
Saying that they ran off quickly, Sion confirmed that they had left, then looked at Claugh again.
Then…
“You have protected Noa-sama well. As the king, I thank you, Claugh.”
Claugh hearing that, used his sharp eyes to stare at Sion.
“How did you know that Noa would be attacked? Unless, you already knew that this would happen…”
But Sion shook his head.
“Noa-sama is covered with blood, and, you are injured, rushing into my room with a furious expression… From that, the only answer is this one right? You fought with someone outside, injuring yourself, so you came to find me?”
“Ah? How can that be?”
“So, it should be Noa-sama who was attacked… Am I right?”
Noa hearing that.
“Your Majesty has deep insight… I admire you.”
But, Sion shook his head, then frowned slightly.
“…It’s not insight… When you say that, I really don’t have a stand. I could predict that this would happen, but… I’m very sorry. I was too careless.”
Saying that, Sion turned to Claugh.
“I cannot explain myself to you too, you’ve helped a lot.”
Claugh hearing that, revealed an even more enraged expression.
“Ah? Could be predicted? What does that mean? Then, you knew who was the one who sent the assassins?”
Sion couldn’t get the chance to answer when Noa had answered:
“At the moment the only people who can benefit from killing me are only them, Klom.”
Claugh hearing that, turned to Noa.
“Them? The ‘them’ you’re talking about… the nobles?”
Noa nodded with a grave expression.
“If they kill me, a conflict would occur between Estabul and Roland that have been joined together with much difficulty.”
Sion said:
“At the present, the Estabul people had a great amount of trust in Noa-sama. Many Roland people respect your spirit too. If something happens to you, it probably would not stir up something as trivial as a conflict between two countries right? If you die now, the rebellion from Estabul would not be something unavoidable. And a meaningless conflict would weaken the country, the feelings of dissatisfaction would be towards me who was supposed to protect you. Their current methods will not benefit the country. So that I will be pulled off stage, to satisfy their personal pleasures, they will do anything.”
Claugh hearing that, revealed an anxious expression.
“What does that mean? For that, they will let Noa receive this kind of treatment…”
Sion lowered the head towards the two of them.
“But, this time’s matter is my fault. This was clearly something that could have been prevented, I just didn’t think that the nobles would move that quickly… It was an error in my judgment. I’m sorry.”
But Claugh said:
“It’s nothing too serious. No one is blaming you, Sion. You always have to think about things that would take a few people to handle, your hard work is witnessed by many people. The ones who should take responsibility are those nobles. Noa escaped by luck this time. But, what about after today? The villians are all coming, are we going to continue to keep silent all the while…”
But, Noa said:
“No, I think that it is ill-advised for His Majesty to take action against the nobles now.”
“Noa, what are you saying? They have treated you like this…”
But, Noa shook her head decisively.
“It doesn’t matter if it is me. I’m fine. What is important, is that more effort should be put into maintaining the stability of the country’s political situation. With the matters of the country taking precedence, we cannot fall into the trap of those lowly people, increasing the size of the problem just for protecting me.”
“But…”
Noa interrupted Claugh who was still clinging on to the issue, smiling warmly.
“Furthermore… in the most urgent moment, Major-General Klom will protect me like this time. The protection of the Crimson Fingered Claugh Klom, makes many people feel reassured? Or, does Major-General Klom have no confidence in protecting me from the bullying of those villains?”
“Ah, no, urgh…”
Claugh frowned, looking at Sion with an unhappy expression.
“Ah, really, Sion you should say something!”
Sion shrugged, then looked at Noa.
“Thank you for your understanding. But, towards this matter, I am unable to immediately make a decision. Of course, I will try to think of the best method so as not to disappoint you… Ne, it’s late, I will send someone to help you prepare a room in the castle, and someone to prepare hot water. Rest well.”
Noa bowed her head respectfully to express her gratitude.
“Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty.”
Following that, Sion looked at Claugh.
“With that, you should go down too. I will prepare a room by her room, and let you protect her… but, you should go and deal with your injuries first.”
Claugh hearing that, frowned again.
“I said that these injuries aren’t fatal…”
“Claugh!”
“Ah, really, you’re so naggy. I’ll go and treat my injuries, is that fine? Really… don’t be so angry.”
But Sion shook his head.
“I’m not angry. I only hope that you can understand. She is one of the people who definitely cannot meet any danger presently in our country.”
“…Even if I am a clumsy person I know that…”
Sion interrupted Claugh.
“But, if you forget that you are also a very important person of this country, I will be very troubled. If you weren’t here, my path to repressing the tyranny would be delayed. Not only that… if you died…”
Sion paused, smiling. That was a smile that was a little sheepish, but it was filled with confidence.
It was a smile that would attract everyone’s attention and charismatic.
Sion looked at Claugh.
“If you die, I will cry? You had better not make me cry.”
“You…”
When Claugh heard this, he revealed a stunned expression…
At this moment.
“Ah, Your Majesty Sion! I have brought the doctor. It’s already late at night, no one was willing to wake up… but, I specially went to wake him up, so, Claugh senpai, you have to obediently receive treatment!!”
Sion hearing that, waved his head, as if chasing away the people…
Claugh turned around with an unhappy expression again and said:
“Ah, it can’t be helped. My friend is having difficulties sleeping alone in the middle of the night, he’s so stubborn, I think I should just trouble myself, accept the treatment?”
Sion laughed when he heard this.
“Nonsense. Ne, I had the rare chance to sleep properly, but I was woken up by you, I want to sleep now. Scat now.”
The surrounding people exchanged words in this way.
For some reason, Noa was looking at this scene happily…
Then everyone left the room.
It was silent…
Sion slowly went back to his bed.
He tried to think about the things after today, but felt that his headache grew worse.
Assassinating Noa…
The nobles had moved first again…
First was Fiole.
Fiole was killed, as a warning to Sion…
And this time it was Noa.
But, the riskiness this time could not be compared to the time with Fiole. If they moved wrongly, judgement would be unavoidable. But, the nobles tried to kill Noa no matter what.
So that they could achieve their goal, they did not care about anything else.
“……Damn.”
Sion muttered as if groaning.
This time Noa was luckily rescued by Claugh. If Claugh was not able to protect Noa… even if it didn’t cause a direct impact, but maybe everything would have ended. At least, the internal situation of unifying the country would have stepped back… this way, perhaps there would be no chance to fortify the country against the invasion?
This time Claugh had saved everything.
But next time?
What would happen next time?
He couldn’t always stay in a dangerous situation… exposing the people to harm.
He had to think, think of some plan that would do…
As for a plan…
At this moment…
Sion raised his head, carrying a mocking smile on his face.
“……You really appear at the most opportune times…”
So, a black shadow slowly appeared in front of Sion…
Froaude.
Froaude replied:
“If I can meet Your Majesty’s expectations, then it would be a great honour.”
Saying that, he bowed his head.
Sion said to him:
“You don’t have to be so polite… and, I know what you are thinking.”
Froaude revealed a shallow smile.
“Everything has been prepared, Your Majesty. We didn’t have to move out, the other side has already started moving. What kind of choices does Your Majesty wish for after today?”
“…… The path you pointed out to me?”
“I have mentioned it before—welcoming the nobles. At the present the life of Noa Ehn-sama is being threatened… but, Your Majesty holds no unhappiness to the nobles, and you don’t chase after the issue. You have to present an image that you accept the nobles, and are willing to rule this country with the nobles. Let them suck up the honey, sate their appetites, at that moment cut down the nobles who have lowered their guard, wouldn’t that be easy?”
Sion hearing that, revealed an empty expression.
“Killing them without leaving anything behind?”
“If there is a need.”
“I said it before, the people…”
“…”
But, Froaude did not reply.
“I have acted according to your orders, everything has been prepared fully.”
He only said that… Sion narrowed his eyes when he heard that.
“Unless… the one who sent the attackers after Noa-sama was you…”
But, Froaude shook his head.
“Regrettably, that was not my doing. The instigation of the nobles to attack Noa-sama… creating the current situation. This is only a tactic to target the scheming. If I sent out assassins, there would be no need to worry about Noa-sama’s life… but, this matter was not my doing.”
“……Is that so? You can go down.”
“Yes. Then I’ll retreat now. It will probably be more busy after today. Please rest well, Your Majesty.”
Saying that, Froaude left the room.
But, after he left, Sion still lay on the bed not speaking, in the end, that night, he was unable to sleep at all.
The next morning.
Roland entered a state of confusion that had never been seen before.
The king was announcing to everyone in the country.
Just by looking at the current situation, the contents of the order made people confused…
The places of the Sion’s subordinates, and the nobles who trusted and chased after Sion were raised greatly.
And the one who was raised to the highest position was…
The person who was promoted from Major-General to Field Marshal… that was Claugh klom who was promoted to the highest position in the army.
The people who carried the anti-king flag, almost all the current nobles were crowded out, assuming important positions…
Some people celebrated, some were jealous, some felt annoyed, some felt troubled by the sudden changes in the surroundings.
Other from the large alterations in human resources, because of the overlapping that caused some jobs to be joined, this also caused Roland to enter a state of extreme confusion.
So…
In the hall of the king. Many people were gathered here.
Claugh came too of course, but when he appeared…
“…What is this, Sion! I can’t accept this! Even if you didn’t graciously let me have this achievement, just by my abilities, I would have quickly ascended to the general position. But you…”
He shouted angrily at Sion.
Calne followed up:
“That’s right, Your Majesty Sion! Having this happen suddenly, it would be strange if it didn’t shock us. Even if you were considering something, you should have told us first…”
Noa also raised her disagreement.
“As of the current situation the country is in, shouldn’t you think more when choosing these measures? I know I sound rude, and… This way, it’s not only the nobles, probably even the people will suspect that you have finally revealed yourself as a tyrant. I can understand that Your Majesty wants to pass the matters, the feeling of allowing your trusted people to handle these matters, but… the nobles hold a large amount of authority. If you ignore the reality and make this choice… it will cause troubles. If something goes wrong in the process of spreading the order, I think it would be prudent to retract the command.”
Her expression was very serious. Yesterday she had clearly said, the affair that she was nearly assassinated was not known by the public, it would be advisable to lay low, but now her expression said that she was unable to accept this matter.
And there was Eslina, Froaude and Lord Gnule who had stood with Sion since the beginning, and other nobles who supported the king who were assembled here…
Sion shrugged.
“How troublesome. Everyone has become successful, but there are many who are unsatisfied, you lot have little ambition.”
Lord Gnule who was aptly described as a warm and honest and sincere knight, his face stiffened when he heard that.
“Why does Your Majesty say that? Do you really think that we are following you for success? The people who follow you… no, at least the people assembled you are ones who treat fame as dirt. They are people who really think well for the country, they don’t wish to see the country continue to be shrouded in darkness like before. And, this order for the human resources… it gives people a feeling of being betrayed. This way, Your Majesty is announcing to the people—let go and gain authority! Please, Your Majesty, retract the order…”
At this moment Froaude interrupted:
“No, it’s already too late. The nobles in the anti-king faction, will have definitely used His Majesty’s actions to purposely buy horses and welcome soldiers, attempting to trigger a conflict. If they move, even if the order is retracted, it would be impossible to stop it…”
Everyone in the hall momentarily went silent.
Yes.
It had already began.
The battle to gain the control of this country…
It was happening as if too quickly.
The rebellion movement in Estabul, it had only ended not long ago. Even if that was only a façade of temporary peace, it should have last longer?
Everyone had a ‘is the king mad?’ expression.
And…
After Sion breathed in deeply, he looked around the hall slowly. There were quite a lot of people, if these people were Sion’s… no, if they looked out for this country… if they really thought for the safety of this country, not only working hard for the country because of his or her personal gains…
This battle could possibly be won.
Sion breathed in again.
Then said:
“I understand everyone’s thoughts. But, will everyone listen to my thoughts?”
Everyone focused their attention on Sion. When Sion confirmed that everyone was listening to him—
“Many people are surprised by my plan, right? I knew that everyone would be surprised. Perhaps many of you would think, this kind of change in the human resources is too sudden… the timing is not right… this change easily attracts the rebound of the nobles who remain from the old system… but, before everyone expresses their unhappiness, please listen to me. Does everyone know of the country Gastark?”
Most of the people in the hall tilted their heads in suspicion.
But, Sion continued:
“Then, does everyone know of the country Stohl? In the Menoris Continent, it is the only big country. That has five times our military and national power. I want to ask everyone, if Stohl invaded Roland, what kind of situation would it be then?”
Gnule answered:
“…Urgh, of course we would be unable to win. We would be wiped out. But, talking about it, we and Stohl… just by the geographic location of that country and Roland, wouldn’t it be too far? The chances of Stohl’s invasion reaching here…”
Sion nodded.
“I think that there is no possibility too. Yes, Stohl probably would not invade here? So we don’t need to worry.”
When he said that, Gnule frowned.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. As of the current state I still do not understand your meaning… Stohl would not invade here, so, we do not need to worry, I understand that. But what has that got to do with the order you gave out?”
Sion replied:
“Yes, there is a connection. Stohl may not invade us, but… according to the information I received today morning… two thirds of Stohl’s territory has been occupied by the country called Gastark.”
“Ah?!”
The atmosphere in the hall changed.
Sion continued:
“Not only that. Like the original impression everyone had, Gastark was a small country in the extreme north that was unknown. But, now their strength has increased. Not only Stohl, if it includes the small countries, they have already swallowed up many countries… Honestly speaking… it’s unknown as of now. Ah, after all they are far from us…”
Gnule hearing that, seemingly to comfort himself he said:
“B, but, it is a distant country after all. There are many countries like Runa and Nelpha between Roland and Gastark. Other than that, there are four big countries that almost have the magnitude of power that Stohl had. It should be hard… for them to invade here…”
But, Sion shook his head.
“Gastark may not reach here. But, so as to defend against Gastark, the other countries may expand their lands, national power and military power, and start to invade each other, isn’t that true?”
“Th, that…”
“At the present there are reports showing that, there are people that do not belong to Nelpha who are within the Imperial Nelpha borders, secretly moving. And… even our allied country Runa…”
“…”
No one dared to speak.
The world was changing.
Everyone felt it. The huge war that had not occurred yet, there was a feeling of premonition that it was about to happen…
That was no longer those kind of small-scale military competitions between Roland and Estabul.
It was wiping out other countries, or else they would be wiped out themselves…
When everyone in the hall understood this, Sion continued:
“…We don’t have the time anymore. We don’t have the time to leisurely continue the ugly internal conflicts in our country. So, Froaude had a solution. This solutions was: set a trap, allowing the protesting nobles to gather together, then purge them at one go.”
Everyone looked at Froaude…
Claugh glared at Froaude viciously again and said:
“Purge? Even if it is adults or children, all are to be purged? This kind of action is no different from the previous evil king…”
But Sion interrupted him.
“No, Claugh. Froaude’s solution is not wrong. I think too, that is a viable option.
“But—I am the king of this country. I am the king of the people living in this country. Even if it is the nobles who wish to kill me, they are the people of Roland too. Even so, I think that they should be protected too. I want to save them, even if it may not be many people. I wish that under the situation where there is no violence, to unify this country. So, I would pick this intense measure.
“I want to use this opportunity, to completely wield the authority over Roland.
“If the nobles are willing to follow me, I will not pick over their past offences, accepting them.
“But, if they wish to rebel till the end, I will purge them. Perhaps another battle will be raised over this.
“But, there is no more time.
“So that I can rescue most of the citizens in this country, probably I will need many people to sacrifice themselves.
“Even so, I still want everyone’s help. I need the help of the people who are thinking for the country, if everyone was not here, I would not be able to continue.
“We cannot let this country be destroyed.
“Will you be willing to save this country with me?”
He said that.
He said all of that.
So that this country would be unified quickly, even if his companions increased it would not be too many.
There was no more time. If the power of those nearest to him were unable to come together…
Everything would end…
At this moment, Claugh put his hand over his chest, bowing his head and said:
“I will endeavor to comply to my liege’s orders.”
Following that, Gnule, the nobles… all of them bowed their head, chorusing:
“I will endeavor to comply to my liege’s orders.”
Sion seeing this, narrowed his eyes.
The battle was about to begin.
Not only the internal war in Roland.
Roland was taking the first step to fight against the world…
The atmosphere in the hall rose slowly. Everyone was intoxicated with the charisma of this king.
Froaude left the hall alone, softly saying:
“It’s really… my king. The actions that a king should have, he has performed them perfectly. Wishing to help more people, even if it is only a small portion… is that it? This is a perfect king…”
A shallow trace of a smile appeared on his face.
Yes.
Even if the sacrifices that would cause would be more than the trap that I set for the nobles to jump into and purge them…
The king needs to progress on a tyrannical path.
Even if he has to step over many mountains of corpses to proceed…
A king needs to progress on a tyrannical path.
So, I will follow you.
I will follow a perfect king, although it causes heart ache, it is destined that you will take away the lives of many people…
Has His Majesty discovered his helplessly?
No, he has already helplessly discovered it, but he did not think much of it.
Is that pattern that a king goes through…?
And you are troubled over this.
Even so, I have to lessen your troubles, even if is only a drop in a bucket…
That is my duty.
To sacrifice the least to gain a large effect…
All of the blood stained duties should be settled by me…
Froaude walked to the entrance of the hall, then turned back.
The interior of the hall was glowing.
Froaude narrowed his eyes, looking at this scene.
Then, he put his hand on his chest, bowing his head.
“I will endeavor to comply to my liege’s orders.”
He said in a low voice, then his shadow vanished from the hall.
The darkness moved.
Froaude had started two plans.
One was to the powerful nobles. He sent out assassins, to the quarters of those who had not shown that they were supporting the king or not, or the people who were in the anti-king faction.
If they were inclined to the anti-king faction, or the more intense anti-king faction, then they would protest even more? At that time it would be inevitable that they would be killed.
If they were slightly inclined to supporting the king or neutral, then they would not be dealt with. They would be eventually swallowed by the large power of the king right?
In this way, the nobles who should be killed and the nobles who would survive, could be clearly differentiated this way.
And the second plan was…
Changing location…
It was a place where there was nothing. There was only hills, farms, and a few houses.
Inside of the Runa Empire.
Ryner and Ferris had completely ignored the prohibition sign, heading toward Rajit Village.
The sun had already set in the west, the sky was slowly darkening.
Ryner looked to the sky, using a sleepy expression like usual to say:
“Ah~ Look, didn’t I say so before? I said we should go to the church. Hasn’t the sun set now? And what kind of village is this where it’s so distant, it doesn’t seem as if there is anything… Can we really find somewhere to stay? Since there are signs prohibiting entry, the inns should have closed down? Anyway, some corner of this desolate village may had been cursed by the Demon?”
His tone was unhappy, Ferris said to him:
“Yes. Isn’t it because it received the Demon’s curse that it became desolate?”
Ryner hearing this, looked again at the village that did not seem to have any scenic spot, only depending on farming as their source of income, and really did not have anything outstanding.
“No, I feel that the bad scenery, has no relation with the Demon’s curse…”
At this moment, they discovered that a villager had walked out from one of the houses, Ryner asked quickly:
“Ah, the lady over there, please wait, we have something to ask you… is there any inns in this village…”
Before he finished speaking, the female villager saw Ryner—
“Wu, ah…?!”
Suddenly she ran away, hiding back into the house.
Ryner seeing this, revealed a slightly surprised expression.
“Wu… what was that, what was going on? Why did she suddenly run away?”
Ferris hearing that, replied with her usual bland tone:
“Yes. That woman’s judgment was right. At this time of night, meeting a pervert like you, it wouldn’t be strange if she escaped.”
Here she goes again…
Ryner said:
“Ah, if she really escaped because of me, then that would really be a shock…”
“Wu. I think that shouldn’t be wrong.”
“Ah, don’t rub salt on the wound. Wu…”
At this moment he saw a male villager walking towards them…
This time, Ryner used a tone that was much gentler than previously to ask:
“Ah, excuse me, the man over there…”
“Wu?!”
The person escaped again…
Ferris seeing this said:
“It seems to be the case. You have reached the extent in the realm of accomplished perverts where people will know that you are a pervert just by looking at your face. Should I praise you?”
She said with an indifferent cadence, Ryner was a little disappointed…
“What kind of face do I have… Ne, what do you think of that person’s response? It’s obvious, there’s something strange about this? I deliberately used a seemingly youthful and charismatic voice to greet them, how can they escape like this… What is wrong? What happened to this village?”
Ferris replied simply:
“So it’s said that there is a demon’s curse?”
“So we were talking about it earlier, what kind of curse is it? I wanted to ask someone, but no one is willing to answer. What’s going on…”
At this moment, another villager appeared…
Ryner said upon seeing the situation:
“…If I appear again, it’ll probably be the same response as just now. It’s never ending…”
Ferris said:
“Alright. Then, let me go this time? I’ll let you see, a beauty like me who can be thought to be an angel, has a great difference compared to a perverted man like you.”
Ryner shrugged.
“Then let me see your abilities.”
“Yes. I’m going.”
Ferris said, then walked towards the villager.
“Hey, the sir over there, please wait.”
She used a tone that was very far away from ‘good friends’ to say that.
The villager seeing the situation—
“Wu…’
Before the villager screamed, Ferris had already disappeared.
Actually she moved so fast that anyone would think that she had disappeared. In a moment, she actually appeared in front of the villager who had turned around to escape…
She still used an unfriendly tone to say:
“I have something to ask…”
“Ah?!”
The villager turned around, getting ready to run.
But, Ferris blocked the villager again…
After that, no matter how the villager tried to escape, Ferris would always appear in front of where he was about to run to…
“What, what is going on?!”
The villager was about to cry, yelling loudly, in extreme terror.
Ferris nodded and said:
“Wu. From his terrified expression, the demon’s curse is pretty scary.”
She said that…
Ryner couldn’t help but mutter in his heart.
(That’s not right, it’s because you’re scarier than the demon…)
Ryner thought secretly in his heart, as he walked slowly to the unmoving villager who was frozen to his original position.
“Eh, it looks like you’re willing to listen to us now… I want to ask… what is the demon’s curse? Why is entry prohibited to this village?”
When Ryner finished asking, the villager’s face turned white immediately…
“I, I can’t answer…”
His voice was trembling. It was obvious, his appearance was odd.
Ryner and Ferris seeing this, exchanged looks…
Ryner asked again:
“You can’t answer? What does that mean? If you tell us, will something bad happen…?”
But, the villager used a trembling voice to say:
“It’s, it’s the mountain… we’re possessed by the demon in the mountain… so, so every day…”
The villager started to say something that contradicted himself.
Ryner asked:
“The demon in the mountain? Possessed? That’s what we wanted to ask…”
In a moment.
“N, no?! I, I didn’t say anything about a mountain?! I didn’t say anything at all?! I will, will be killed… killed… I… Wa~”
The villager said and escaped.
This time, Ferris didn’t chase after him. There couldn’t anything more asked from the villager right? It was obvious, there was something wrong with his mentality.
Ryner hugged his elbows when he saw this…
“About his words earlier… What do you think?”
Ferris looked around her as she said:
“Wu. They seem to be scared of something. Have you discovered it? The villagers are watching us behind the windows?”
Ryner hearing this, looked around too…
In every room of each house, there were people at the windows watching them with eyes that were so tired that they seemed dead…
Ryner shrugged when he saw this…
“…Even if we beg them to let us stay for one night… it seems as if no one will heed us…”
Ferris nodded her head too…
“So that’s why I hate traveling with a pervert. Even finding a place that is livable is…”
“Ah, don’t say it again…”
At this moment Ryner stopped speaking again,
He saw a sixteen seventeen old girl, running towards them desperately from the back of the village…
There were five big men chasing after her.
“Brat… escape…”
“It’s you… what were you thinking…!!”
Because they were at a distance, they couldn’t hear clearly, but the men seemed to be shouting something.
It seemed, these men didn’t seem to be playing hide and seek with the girl…
Ryner seeing this said:
“Eh? What are those people doing…”
But, he didn’t finish speaking.
Something unbelievable was happening in front of them.
The men caught up with the girl, she was violently struck at. The girl flew out, landing on the ground…
“Eh?! What are those people doing! It seems like they are not being merciful?”
Ferris nodded her head when she heard this.
“Yes. It seems so. It seems as if the girl is about to be killed by men who have special tastes for girls like you. Wu… it’s convenient.”
“Ah? Convenient? What do you mean… ah, I see…”
At this moment, Ryner seemed to think of something, punching his palm…
“It’s really convenient. Then—”
“Yes.”
The two exchanged looks…
Although the girl suffered from a strong impact, sprawling on the ground, but she still tried hard to stand up, attempting to continue escaping, Ryner and Ferris rushed towards her…
It was at an unbelievable speed.
The men dragged the girl up, about to start hitting her again…
Ryner had appeared behind them suddenly, grabbing the man’s arm, using his sleepy eyes to look at the man…
“Uncle, uncle. It’s not good hitting children right?”
“You, who are you? Ah?! Don’t butt in, stranger!”
The man threw off Ryner’s hand, about to start hitting the girl again, Ryner grabbed him again, using a slightly tired voice to say:
“Don’t let me repeat myself. At least let me listen to the reason, the reason! Why do you treat the child…”
At this moment, Ryner looked at the girl on the ground, she looked at the interaction between Ryner and the man in surprise… In a moment, he narrowed his eyes. The girl was covered with wounds. Arms, legs, face…
The girl had brown hair and a cute face. Her body seemed frail and fragile, but it could be seen that she was a cute girl.
And, she was injured…
“… What is your reason, that you have to hit such a small child?”
But the man replied:
“It’s none of your business! If you continue to be such a busybody, we’ll settle you too! You know, we, we had to suffer from what kind of treatment because of her… wa?!”
Then, the man stopped.
Ryner twisted the man’s arm, saying:
“Oh dear me, is it painful? I’m so sorry. And, I don’t know about the treatment that you suffered because of this child, but…”
Ryner’s voice turned slightly dark and soft.
“… But, I believe, the wounds on that child’s face is greater than your arm. I’ll ask you again, so answer me obediently. Why do you hit this child? Ah, I might as well tell you… if your reason is not enough, I might accidentally break your arm…”
The man hearing this, glared at Ryner violently.
“Don’t speak nonsense! What do you understand!! Hey, what are you doing! Think of something to stop the mouth of this stranger!”
He shouted to the other men, but…
“…”
No one replied.
“Hey, what is it?! I told you to beat up this guy!”
“…”
“Hey, hey… I say you…”
Ryner grabbed the man’s arm, allowing him to turn around.
“Ah~ The companions you speak of… are they the ones sleeping over there?”
There was only a pile of men collapsed on the ground…
And Ferris sat on the men, taking out her favorite tea set that had been prepared unknowingly, resting leisurely…
“…”
Ryner looked at this half-lidedly.
“…I say, what are you doing?”
Ryner hearing this, simply answered:
“Eh? Do you want to drink it? But, regretfully, the dangos are not in stock.”
“…I’m not talking about that…”
Ryner seemed to groan. Then, he looked at the man again.
“Wu, forget it… it’s like this, because of this person, the situation is like that… Your companions have become the tables for the tea set, so they can’t come and help you… Will you answer my questions obediently now? – Why do you hit this child? And, what is wrong with this village? It seems a little strange?... You were talking about a demon’s curse.”
The man hearing that, suddenly started trembling.
“N, no?! I, I can’t… I, I will be killed…”
Ryner hearing this, frowned.
“Ah, here it comes again. Why are you so scared?”
“Can’t, can’t say. If I say it… I will be killed…”
At this moment, Ryner karate chopped the back of the man’s neck, the man stopped speaking, losing consciousness, collapsing on the ground.
Ryner looked back at Ferris.
“It’s like that, there seems to be no way to interrogate these people.”
Ferris replied:
“No problem. It’s just as predicted.”
Ryner spoke too:
“Yes. Then…”
This time he turned back again, looking at the girl who was on the ground, looking at him with a surprised expression…
The girl’s line of vision met with Ryner’s, revealing a slightly timid expression.
“…Wu, that… thank, thank you for rescuing me.”
Ferris hearing that, poked her head out from behind Ryner and said:
“Yes. We didn’t rescue you for free. If you want to repay us, you’ll have to give something?”
Ryner shrugged.
“Having it said like that, I seem to have become a card, how annoying…”
The girl revealed an even more timid expression.
“Th, that… I also thought… to express my gratitude, but… my family is poor, so we have no money…”
Ryner hearing this, shook his head frantically.
“Ah, no no. We don’t need you to give us money or anything… we just came to this country… it’s a little troublesome, we weren’t able to find anywhere to stay for the moment. So, if it’s convenient, could we stay at your house… how do I say this? As long as the sky darkens, I feel like sleeping…”
“Eh… Th, then… you aren’t Runa people?”
Ferris nodded.
“Yes. We are traveling to all the countries because of various reasons. If we could stay at your house temporarily, we would also pay you…”
But the girl interrupted Ferris’s words.
“Please, please save him?!”
She suddenly cried, tightly grabbing Ryner’s leg…
“My, my childhood friend… is about to be killed… s, so, please save him?!”
Ryner hearing this.
“Why did something like this suddenly happen? Does it have anything to do with the demon’s curse?”
The girl shook her head vigorously.
“No! Arua, Arua he… is not a demon! But, he was brought into the mountains by the Runa soldiers… if we don’t save him, he will… definitely be killed…”
Saying that, the girl started crying.
Ryner hearing that, revealed a distressed expression.
“Ah, wa, wait, when did this happen? You said, your childhood friend… is called Arua? Taken away by the Runa soldiers? And the reason for them taking him away is because Arua is a demon…”
Then—
“I told you Arua is not a demon!!”
The girl shouted, then started to wail.
Ryner scratched his head in distress… then said:
“Wu… so, Arua is not a demon, but he was called a demon, and was taken away by the Runa soldiers… is that it?”
“Yes.”
By saying that he finally gained the girl’s confirmation, Ryner sighed in relief, then asked:
“But, why is that person called Arua called a demon? Can you tell us in detail?”
So the girl said:
“Eh, that…”
At this moment Ferris interrupted her.
“Wait. Let’s change our location? If we talk here, it’s not good for the wounds on that child?”
Ryner hearing that, revealed a surprised expression.
“Ah, that’s right. Wu, this is the first time I’m seeing Ferris being concerned for others. I didn’t think you would have your strong points.”
Ferris nodded as if it were expected.
“Yes. I’m worried that she will die halfway through her explanation, that would be troubling.”
Ryner hearing that…
“…If you didn’t say that then it would have been fine… never mind, so it’s like that… then, is it fine if we go to your house?”
Ryner asked, the girl said:
“That, big brother is looking for a place to stay, right? I know of a good place! Follow me!”
Saying that, the girl ran ahead…
“Ah, hey… you don’t have to run… ah, really… how troublesome…”
“Uh.”
So, Ryner and Ferris chased after her…
Like that, the trio left the men lying on the ground, leaving the area.
The girl bought them to a house.
It was a house that was made of wood and it was not very big.
About the interior, it could not be said to be very clean.
Even—
“Wa… what is this…”
Ryner looked at the interior… he couldn’t help but exclaim.
The room could be said to be devastated.
The table was flipped over, the book shelves were toppled over, the cutleries were shattered, all on the ground…
A tornado seemed to have swept through the house…
The girl revealed a sad expression.
“…Two days ago it was still neat and organized…”
“Two days ago? That means, this is your house?”
“…Yes. This is the place where Arua stayed before he was taken away. I think, if Arua came back to see that the house was so dirty, he would be upset. But every time I clean it, everyone would mess up the house again… Ah, I’m really embarrassed. I’ll start to clean up now, you, you can wait for a while! As the current messy state there is no space for sleeping, right…”
The girl said, starting to clean up the house…
Ryner seeing that said:
“Ah, it’s fine it’s fine. We’re only staying for one night, there’s no problem.”
He quickly moved the chairs and table to the middle of the room, sitting on a chair and said:
“On the other hand, can you explain the situation? What has happened? The house has been messed up… you being hit by a group of adults… and the reactions of the villagers… what has happened here? And…”
Ryner looked at the girl’s face, continuing:
“And, I haven’t asked for your name. Ah, I might as well tell you, I’m called Ryner. And this emotionless person is called Ferris.”
The girl politely said:
“That, that, I’m called Kuku, Ryner-sama, Ferris-sama, please look after me.”
She bowed her head deeply.
“Yes, me too.”
“Yes. Then, the self-introductions are over, can you start to tell us now?”
“Yes.”
So Kuku started to narrate the events.
She raised her face to look at the ceiling as if she were thinking about something, then said:
“I am Arua's neighbor . Our relationship has always been good. My parents are on good terms with Arua’s parents… Every day, every day I would play with Arua. We were on good terms with the villagers… Our lives were normal, it was a good place…”
She thought back as she spoke slowly. When she spoke of Arua, Kuku’s face had a happy and lonely expression.
Anyway, the Rajit village she spoke of, was originally a calm and beautiful village…
But, currently this village did not resemble those times. It felt as if it had become darker, sinister and mad, it couldn’t help but make one doubt that she was speaking nonsense.
But…
Ryner…
“…”
He understood this atmosphere.
The atmosphere where people were suspicious, fearful, angry and despairing as they lived…
“Then why did it turn to this?”
Ryner asked, the girl’s face immediately clouded over.
“This village has changed… from that day. The village’s taxes were suddenly raised… in the past, it wasn’t easy to get by, but after the taxes were raised, no one was able to deal with it… but everyone didn’t dare to go against the royal family’s edict… so everyone grit their teeth and paid the taxes. Everyone worked hard… they didn’t even eat. My parents didn’t even have food to eat, but every day, every day they worked until night… They were so hard working? They didn’t even relax? But, in the end our family couldn’t pay the taxes. We couldn’t pay the taxes… so the royal family immediately… the lord governing this land came…”
Ryner could see, the expression on Kuku’s face, was becoming tense slowly because of fear.
She used a trembling voice to say:
“He bought a large army. It was only our family who couldn’t pay the taxes, but he bought many, many soldiers… In the beginning my father was killed. In front of the villagers… it was only a moment. My father’s upper body disappeared because of magic… there was a lot of blood.
“At the moment I saw that, my mind went blank…”
She cried. The tears welled out from her eyes…
What she had often seen.
It was common, but it was a story that was hard to bear.
The past Roland…
The Roland before Sion sat on the throne, these matters were common.
The nobles had greedily wished for entertainment and bullied the people, madly killing the people...
And the target of the mad nobles was Arua?
This boy was a demon, so he had to be killed.
Since the nobles had said that, then this boy was definitely a demon. The words of the nobles were absolute. Daring rebels, would be killed. No, if it was only killed it was better. Before the victim died he would bear anguishing pain, facing humiliation, then he'd killed in the end.
This country was like that.
A country that had allied with Roland in the past…
A corrupted country, coupled with corrupted nobles…
It was said that this country’s magic was used with the power from god.
Borrowing god’s—power.
They used this power, to kill this girl’s father.
They used this power, to take the lives of people.
What kind of beautiful god was it?
“…How disgusting.”
Ryner softly muttered with a voice that was unheard.
Mad nobles governing a mad country.
The girl continued speaking. Her tears continued to flow…
“But, even so, things didn’t end there. I was caught next… I saw my mother crying uncontrollably. But the lord laughed. He saw my father die, he saw my mother crying… but he laughed. I don’t know what was so funny. He kept laughing, kept laughing, he said, kill that kid too, he said it would be a warning to other… the magic was right in front of me…”
The ending was undescribable.
But…
The girl seemed to recollect the scene then, speaking slowly:
“But, at this moment… something unbelievable happened. Arua… Arua… used magic… in tha past Arua never said that he could use magic… But, at that moment Arua was as if a different person… everyone seemed to know that. Because, everyone looking at Arua, revealed a scared expression… a strange design appeared in Arua’s eyes…”
In a moment.
With a bang, the table in front of Ryner bounced up. No, it was Ryner who had jumped up.
What did this girl say?
A design had appeared in Arua’s eyes…
Kuku seeing that, stared at Ryner…
“Ah, that, I, I said something I was not allowed to…”
“Eh? Ah, no, no that’s not it…”
At this moment Ferris interrupted:
“Kuku, don’t worry, this fellow will do this sometimes, doing some strange things. Continue speaking.”
She said that to Kuku.
Ryner frantically said:
“Yes, yes. It’s like that. Perhaps it’s because I’m tired lately? My arm seems to be slightly twisted… It’s because my arm didn’t listen to me, it knocked the table. I interrupted you, I’m sorry. Please continue…”
Although Ryner said that, but he could feel his face tensing.
How could it be…
Hearing this kind of matters in this kind of place…
Because Ryner persuaded her to continue, Kuku nodded.
“Yes, just now I had stopped… After that, the lord was very scared of Arua, he returned… it was Arua who saved me. But… mother warned me not to speak to Arua. The villagers said Arua was a demon who had killed many people, they started to avoid him… After a while, the lord came again, this time, he brought more soldiers than the previous time, he took away Arua. He said he would do research on the demon in the mountains. He said that the Runa army commanded him to research on the demon, allowing to have his achievements. He laughed again. After that, the taxes in the village were raised again… it was harder to live…”
Saying that, she revealed a sad expression.
“In the beginning, there were people who wanted to escape. But, they were all killed. The lord ordered the villagers not to leave the village because he did not want the secret of the research on Arua to be leaked out. Not only that, if this matter was spread to the people visiting the village, they would be killed. Many people were killed, the taxes continued to rise… Everyone’s minds became a little strange. Everyone started to push the blame to Arua…”
Ryner hearing that, narrowed his eyes.
“So, you were hit?”
“…Yes. But, I’m fine. Because, if it were not for Arua saving me, I would be dead. But, Arua and… Arua’s parents… because they saved me…”
Ryner hearing that, looked around the room.
Arua’s parents seemed to have been taken away.
Ryner was clearer than anyone… what kind of experiment they were carrying out in the mountains.
The strange design in the boy’s eyes.
Suddenly using magic that he should not have known of.
The events happening on that boy’s body…
Previously the Roland government had carried out various experiments on Ryner’s body, awakened in his mind…
Ryner asked Kuku:
“I want to ask you, how long has it been since Arua was taken away?”
Kuku answered:
“Eh? That… more or less eight days…”
“Then, how long has it been since Arua’s parents were taken away?”
“Around five days ago.”
“…”
Ryner hearing that, frowned.
It was too late. It had been too long since then.
Even if he rushed over now…
But, Ferris stood up.
“Alright, then, let’s go?”
Ryner hearing that, looked at her.
“But…”
And, Ferris used a steady expression to look at Ryner’s face, then said:
“There’s no more time, right?”
“Eh… Ah, yes. That’s right, if we don’t hurry, it’ll be too late.”
“Then go! We have to protect that boy. It’s like that, Kuku. You’ll wait here. We’ll bring person called Arua back.”
Kuku hearing that, revealed a disbelieving expression.
“You’re willing, willing to help me? The other party is the nobles?”
But, Ferris answered simply:
“Runa nobles do not concern us.”
“But, but, they have Runa soldiers…”
“No problem. If there is something up, I’ll use this foolish man as bait, and escape myself.”
She actually said that.
“Hey, why do you treat me as bait!”
Ryner couldn’t help but yell at Ferris as usual. Ferris replied:
“Yes. Looking at you, there should be no problems.”
“Eh? You…”
“Then let’s go.”
Saying that, Ferris walked out of the room, Ryner seeing that said:
“Ah? I say, you say let’s go, but do you know where the mountain is?”
He asked as he chased after her. Ferris pointed at the northern mountains:
“When we came to this village, I saw a light there. It should be there right?”
It was night time now, but in the deep mountains, there was a flickering light where Ferris had pointed…
Ryner seeing that.
“Ah, can’t be mistaken, thats the place…”
At this moment Kuku said too:
“That’s right. It’s there. Arua is there…”
She said, Ryner hearing that, seemed to be depressed.
“Wu, the position of the light seems to be quite high? If we climb up now, it’s going to be troublesome.”
He said as he walked forward…
Ferris said:
“Yes. Walking on a mountain path with a pervert, it’s really a suicidal action.”
“Who are you calling a pervert!”
“Of course it’s you.”
The two spoke, walking towards the mountains.
Kuku seeing this.
“Ah, that, me too…”
But, Ryner turned around and spoke to her:
“Ah, it’s not a problem. If it’s the two of us we can save him, Kuku. Why don’t you clean the house for us? Ne, if Arua comes back, and sees that the house is dirty, he’ll be upset right?”
Kuku hearing that, nodded vigorously.
“That’s right! Then let me do the cleaning! Big brother you have to do your best!”
“Oh.”
Ryner waved, then continued to walk up the mountain.
But.
Ryner’s expression at that moment…
“…”
In the darkness, several lights moved.
The mountain where the boy called a demon was imprisoned.
Ryner and Ferris walked towards the mountain, and began to scale the mountain in the dead of the night.
Changing locations, Roland castle.
Late at night.
When Sion had not slept for more than thirty hours, and was starting to get sleepy, the missive suddenly came.
There was a frantic knocking on his door.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty! It’s not good!”
Sion hearing that, opened his eyes slightly, saying to the door:
“What is it? What is the problem?”
He said with a slightly tired voice. He had been woken when he was about to fall asleep, he felt his head start to ache.
This time there was a voice.
“Please get out of bed, Your Majesty! There is an urgent matter.”
The person who was shouting at the door, seemed to be Eslina. Her tone was quite urgent… When Sion heard her voice, his eyes opened. Eslina had received Calne’s orders, she seemed to always watch Sion, frightened that he would over work. Today after she and Calne had ate together, they saw that Sion had not rested, they were angry and they persuaded him, with much difficulty they managed to get Sion to bed.
Now, they were calling him up when Sion had not closed his eyes completely, that meant…
Sion raised his body up, arranging the front of his slightly loose shirt as he said:
“Please wait. I’ll come out now. What has happened?”
“It’s like this…”
At this moment, Calne’s voice spoke from beyond the door.
“Claugh senpai?! I told you now? Doctor! Let the doctor look at you first?!”
“You’re noisy! Let me see Sion first. What can this kind of wound count for…”
“Of course it matters! If it were me, I would have fainted and died?”
“That’s because you aren’t me!”
“I’m talking about common sense! It’s really enough, Eslina, Noa-sama, say something…”
This conversation took place outside the door…
This moment, the door was not knocked on, it was opened…
Claugh’s chest and arm were bleeding, behind him was Noa whose hair was stained with blood.
Sion narrowed his eyes. Then said:
“Calne, Eslina, call the doctor over, even if you talk a lot, Claugh most likely wouldn’t listen, let him receive treatment here.”
Calne and Eslina received the order, chorusing: “Yes.”
Saying that they ran off quickly, Sion confirmed that they had left, then looked at Claugh again.
Then…
“You have protected Noa-sama well. As the king, I thank you, Claugh.”
Claugh hearing that, used his sharp eyes to stare at Sion.
“How did you know that Noa would be attacked? Unless, you already knew that this would happen…”
But Sion shook his head.
“Noa-sama is covered with blood, and, you are injured, rushing into my room with a furious expression… From that, the only answer is this one right? You fought with someone outside, injuring yourself, so you came to find me?”
“Ah? How can that be?”
“So, it should be Noa-sama who was attacked… Am I right?”
Noa hearing that.
“Your Majesty has deep insight… I admire you.”
But, Sion shook his head, then frowned slightly.
“…It’s not insight… When you say that, I really don’t have a stand. I could predict that this would happen, but… I’m very sorry. I was too careless.”
Saying that, Sion turned to Claugh.
“I cannot explain myself to you too, you’ve helped a lot.”
Claugh hearing that, revealed an even more enraged expression.
“Ah? Could be predicted? What does that mean? Then, you knew who was the one who sent the assassins?”
Sion couldn’t get the chance to answer when Noa had answered:
“At the moment the only people who can benefit from killing me are only them, Klom.”
Claugh hearing that, turned to Noa.
“Them? The ‘them’ you’re talking about… the nobles?”
Noa nodded with a grave expression.
“If they kill me, a conflict would occur between Estabul and Roland that have been joined together with much difficulty.”
Sion said:
“At the present, the Estabul people had a great amount of trust in Noa-sama. Many Roland people respect your spirit too. If something happens to you, it probably would not stir up something as trivial as a conflict between two countries right? If you die now, the rebellion from Estabul would not be something unavoidable. And a meaningless conflict would weaken the country, the feelings of dissatisfaction would be towards me who was supposed to protect you. Their current methods will not benefit the country. So that I will be pulled off stage, to satisfy their personal pleasures, they will do anything.”
Claugh hearing that, revealed an anxious expression.
“What does that mean? For that, they will let Noa receive this kind of treatment…”
Sion lowered the head towards the two of them.
“But, this time’s matter is my fault. This was clearly something that could have been prevented, I just didn’t think that the nobles would move that quickly… It was an error in my judgment. I’m sorry.”
But Claugh said:
“It’s nothing too serious. No one is blaming you, Sion. You always have to think about things that would take a few people to handle, your hard work is witnessed by many people. The ones who should take responsibility are those nobles. Noa escaped by luck this time. But, what about after today? The villians are all coming, are we going to continue to keep silent all the while…”
But, Noa said:
“No, I think that it is ill-advised for His Majesty to take action against the nobles now.”
“Noa, what are you saying? They have treated you like this…”
But, Noa shook her head decisively.
“It doesn’t matter if it is me. I’m fine. What is important, is that more effort should be put into maintaining the stability of the country’s political situation. With the matters of the country taking precedence, we cannot fall into the trap of those lowly people, increasing the size of the problem just for protecting me.”
“But…”
Noa interrupted Claugh who was still clinging on to the issue, smiling warmly.
“Furthermore… in the most urgent moment, Major-General Klom will protect me like this time. The protection of the Crimson Fingered Claugh Klom, makes many people feel reassured? Or, does Major-General Klom have no confidence in protecting me from the bullying of those villains?”
“Ah, no, urgh…”
Claugh frowned, looking at Sion with an unhappy expression.
“Ah, really, Sion you should say something!”
Sion shrugged, then looked at Noa.
“Thank you for your understanding. But, towards this matter, I am unable to immediately make a decision. Of course, I will try to think of the best method so as not to disappoint you… Ne, it’s late, I will send someone to help you prepare a room in the castle, and someone to prepare hot water. Rest well.”
Noa bowed her head respectfully to express her gratitude.
“Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty.”
Following that, Sion looked at Claugh.
“With that, you should go down too. I will prepare a room by her room, and let you protect her… but, you should go and deal with your injuries first.”
Claugh hearing that, frowned again.
“I said that these injuries aren’t fatal…”
“Claugh!”
“Ah, really, you’re so naggy. I’ll go and treat my injuries, is that fine? Really… don’t be so angry.”
But Sion shook his head.
“I’m not angry. I only hope that you can understand. She is one of the people who definitely cannot meet any danger presently in our country.”
“…Even if I am a clumsy person I know that…”
Sion interrupted Claugh.
“But, if you forget that you are also a very important person of this country, I will be very troubled. If you weren’t here, my path to repressing the tyranny would be delayed. Not only that… if you died…”
Sion paused, smiling. That was a smile that was a little sheepish, but it was filled with confidence.
It was a smile that would attract everyone’s attention and charismatic.
Sion looked at Claugh.
“If you die, I will cry? You had better not make me cry.”
“You…”
When Claugh heard this, he revealed a stunned expression…
At this moment.
“Ah, Your Majesty Sion! I have brought the doctor. It’s already late at night, no one was willing to wake up… but, I specially went to wake him up, so, Claugh senpai, you have to obediently receive treatment!!”
Sion hearing that, waved his head, as if chasing away the people…
Claugh turned around with an unhappy expression again and said:
“Ah, it can’t be helped. My friend is having difficulties sleeping alone in the middle of the night, he’s so stubborn, I think I should just trouble myself, accept the treatment?”
Sion laughed when he heard this.
“Nonsense. Ne, I had the rare chance to sleep properly, but I was woken up by you, I want to sleep now. Scat now.”
The surrounding people exchanged words in this way.
For some reason, Noa was looking at this scene happily…
Then everyone left the room.
It was silent…
Sion slowly went back to his bed.
He tried to think about the things after today, but felt that his headache grew worse.
Assassinating Noa…
The nobles had moved first again…
First was Fiole.
Fiole was killed, as a warning to Sion…
And this time it was Noa.
But, the riskiness this time could not be compared to the time with Fiole. If they moved wrongly, judgement would be unavoidable. But, the nobles tried to kill Noa no matter what.
So that they could achieve their goal, they did not care about anything else.
“……Damn.”
Sion muttered as if groaning.
This time Noa was luckily rescued by Claugh. If Claugh was not able to protect Noa… even if it didn’t cause a direct impact, but maybe everything would have ended. At least, the internal situation of unifying the country would have stepped back… this way, perhaps there would be no chance to fortify the country against the invasion?
This time Claugh had saved everything.
But next time?
What would happen next time?
He couldn’t always stay in a dangerous situation… exposing the people to harm.
He had to think, think of some plan that would do…
As for a plan…
At this moment…
Sion raised his head, carrying a mocking smile on his face.
“……You really appear at the most opportune times…”
So, a black shadow slowly appeared in front of Sion…
Froaude.
Froaude replied:
“If I can meet Your Majesty’s expectations, then it would be a great honour.”
Saying that, he bowed his head.
Sion said to him:
“You don’t have to be so polite… and, I know what you are thinking.”
Froaude revealed a shallow smile.
“Everything has been prepared, Your Majesty. We didn’t have to move out, the other side has already started moving. What kind of choices does Your Majesty wish for after today?”
“…… The path you pointed out to me?”
“I have mentioned it before—welcoming the nobles. At the present the life of Noa Ehn-sama is being threatened… but, Your Majesty holds no unhappiness to the nobles, and you don’t chase after the issue. You have to present an image that you accept the nobles, and are willing to rule this country with the nobles. Let them suck up the honey, sate their appetites, at that moment cut down the nobles who have lowered their guard, wouldn’t that be easy?”
Sion hearing that, revealed an empty expression.
“Killing them without leaving anything behind?”
“If there is a need.”
“I said it before, the people…”
“…”
But, Froaude did not reply.
“I have acted according to your orders, everything has been prepared fully.”
He only said that… Sion narrowed his eyes when he heard that.
“Unless… the one who sent the attackers after Noa-sama was you…”
But, Froaude shook his head.
“Regrettably, that was not my doing. The instigation of the nobles to attack Noa-sama… creating the current situation. This is only a tactic to target the scheming. If I sent out assassins, there would be no need to worry about Noa-sama’s life… but, this matter was not my doing.”
“……Is that so? You can go down.”
“Yes. Then I’ll retreat now. It will probably be more busy after today. Please rest well, Your Majesty.”
Saying that, Froaude left the room.
But, after he left, Sion still lay on the bed not speaking, in the end, that night, he was unable to sleep at all.
The next morning.
Roland entered a state of confusion that had never been seen before.
The king was announcing to everyone in the country.
Just by looking at the current situation, the contents of the order made people confused…
The places of the Sion’s subordinates, and the nobles who trusted and chased after Sion were raised greatly.
And the one who was raised to the highest position was…
The person who was promoted from Major-General to Field Marshal… that was Claugh klom who was promoted to the highest position in the army.
The people who carried the anti-king flag, almost all the current nobles were crowded out, assuming important positions…
Some people celebrated, some were jealous, some felt annoyed, some felt troubled by the sudden changes in the surroundings.
Other from the large alterations in human resources, because of the overlapping that caused some jobs to be joined, this also caused Roland to enter a state of extreme confusion.
So…
In the hall of the king. Many people were gathered here.
Claugh came too of course, but when he appeared…
“…What is this, Sion! I can’t accept this! Even if you didn’t graciously let me have this achievement, just by my abilities, I would have quickly ascended to the general position. But you…”
He shouted angrily at Sion.
Calne followed up:
“That’s right, Your Majesty Sion! Having this happen suddenly, it would be strange if it didn’t shock us. Even if you were considering something, you should have told us first…”
Noa also raised her disagreement.
“As of the current situation the country is in, shouldn’t you think more when choosing these measures? I know I sound rude, and… This way, it’s not only the nobles, probably even the people will suspect that you have finally revealed yourself as a tyrant. I can understand that Your Majesty wants to pass the matters, the feeling of allowing your trusted people to handle these matters, but… the nobles hold a large amount of authority. If you ignore the reality and make this choice… it will cause troubles. If something goes wrong in the process of spreading the order, I think it would be prudent to retract the command.”
Her expression was very serious. Yesterday she had clearly said, the affair that she was nearly assassinated was not known by the public, it would be advisable to lay low, but now her expression said that she was unable to accept this matter.
And there was Eslina, Froaude and Lord Gnule who had stood with Sion since the beginning, and other nobles who supported the king who were assembled here…
Sion shrugged.
“How troublesome. Everyone has become successful, but there are many who are unsatisfied, you lot have little ambition.”
Lord Gnule who was aptly described as a warm and honest and sincere knight, his face stiffened when he heard that.
“Why does Your Majesty say that? Do you really think that we are following you for success? The people who follow you… no, at least the people assembled you are ones who treat fame as dirt. They are people who really think well for the country, they don’t wish to see the country continue to be shrouded in darkness like before. And, this order for the human resources… it gives people a feeling of being betrayed. This way, Your Majesty is announcing to the people—let go and gain authority! Please, Your Majesty, retract the order…”
At this moment Froaude interrupted:
“No, it’s already too late. The nobles in the anti-king faction, will have definitely used His Majesty’s actions to purposely buy horses and welcome soldiers, attempting to trigger a conflict. If they move, even if the order is retracted, it would be impossible to stop it…”
Everyone in the hall momentarily went silent.
Yes.
It had already began.
The battle to gain the control of this country…
It was happening as if too quickly.
The rebellion movement in Estabul, it had only ended not long ago. Even if that was only a façade of temporary peace, it should have last longer?
Everyone had a ‘is the king mad?’ expression.
And…
After Sion breathed in deeply, he looked around the hall slowly. There were quite a lot of people, if these people were Sion’s… no, if they looked out for this country… if they really thought for the safety of this country, not only working hard for the country because of his or her personal gains…
This battle could possibly be won.
Sion breathed in again.
Then said:
“I understand everyone’s thoughts. But, will everyone listen to my thoughts?”
Everyone focused their attention on Sion. When Sion confirmed that everyone was listening to him—
“Many people are surprised by my plan, right? I knew that everyone would be surprised. Perhaps many of you would think, this kind of change in the human resources is too sudden… the timing is not right… this change easily attracts the rebound of the nobles who remain from the old system… but, before everyone expresses their unhappiness, please listen to me. Does everyone know of the country Gastark?”
Most of the people in the hall tilted their heads in suspicion.
But, Sion continued:
“Then, does everyone know of the country Stohl? In the Menoris Continent, it is the only big country. That has five times our military and national power. I want to ask everyone, if Stohl invaded Roland, what kind of situation would it be then?”
Gnule answered:
“…Urgh, of course we would be unable to win. We would be wiped out. But, talking about it, we and Stohl… just by the geographic location of that country and Roland, wouldn’t it be too far? The chances of Stohl’s invasion reaching here…”
Sion nodded.
“I think that there is no possibility too. Yes, Stohl probably would not invade here? So we don’t need to worry.”
When he said that, Gnule frowned.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. As of the current state I still do not understand your meaning… Stohl would not invade here, so, we do not need to worry, I understand that. But what has that got to do with the order you gave out?”
Sion replied:
“Yes, there is a connection. Stohl may not invade us, but… according to the information I received today morning… two thirds of Stohl’s territory has been occupied by the country called Gastark.”
“Ah?!”
The atmosphere in the hall changed.
Sion continued:
“Not only that. Like the original impression everyone had, Gastark was a small country in the extreme north that was unknown. But, now their strength has increased. Not only Stohl, if it includes the small countries, they have already swallowed up many countries… Honestly speaking… it’s unknown as of now. Ah, after all they are far from us…”
Gnule hearing that, seemingly to comfort himself he said:
“B, but, it is a distant country after all. There are many countries like Runa and Nelpha between Roland and Gastark. Other than that, there are four big countries that almost have the magnitude of power that Stohl had. It should be hard… for them to invade here…”
But, Sion shook his head.
“Gastark may not reach here. But, so as to defend against Gastark, the other countries may expand their lands, national power and military power, and start to invade each other, isn’t that true?”
“Th, that…”
“At the present there are reports showing that, there are people that do not belong to Nelpha who are within the Imperial Nelpha borders, secretly moving. And… even our allied country Runa…”
“…”
No one dared to speak.
The world was changing.
Everyone felt it. The huge war that had not occurred yet, there was a feeling of premonition that it was about to happen…
That was no longer those kind of small-scale military competitions between Roland and Estabul.
It was wiping out other countries, or else they would be wiped out themselves…
When everyone in the hall understood this, Sion continued:
“…We don’t have the time anymore. We don’t have the time to leisurely continue the ugly internal conflicts in our country. So, Froaude had a solution. This solutions was: set a trap, allowing the protesting nobles to gather together, then purge them at one go.”
Everyone looked at Froaude…
Claugh glared at Froaude viciously again and said:
“Purge? Even if it is adults or children, all are to be purged? This kind of action is no different from the previous evil king…”
But Sion interrupted him.
“No, Claugh. Froaude’s solution is not wrong. I think too, that is a viable option.
“But—I am the king of this country. I am the king of the people living in this country. Even if it is the nobles who wish to kill me, they are the people of Roland too. Even so, I think that they should be protected too. I want to save them, even if it may not be many people. I wish that under the situation where there is no violence, to unify this country. So, I would pick this intense measure.
“I want to use this opportunity, to completely wield the authority over Roland.
“If the nobles are willing to follow me, I will not pick over their past offences, accepting them.
“But, if they wish to rebel till the end, I will purge them. Perhaps another battle will be raised over this.
“But, there is no more time.
“So that I can rescue most of the citizens in this country, probably I will need many people to sacrifice themselves.
“Even so, I still want everyone’s help. I need the help of the people who are thinking for the country, if everyone was not here, I would not be able to continue.
“We cannot let this country be destroyed.
“Will you be willing to save this country with me?”
He said that.
He said all of that.
So that this country would be unified quickly, even if his companions increased it would not be too many.
There was no more time. If the power of those nearest to him were unable to come together…
Everything would end…
At this moment, Claugh put his hand over his chest, bowing his head and said:
“I will endeavor to comply to my liege’s orders.”
Following that, Gnule, the nobles… all of them bowed their head, chorusing:
“I will endeavor to comply to my liege’s orders.”
Sion seeing this, narrowed his eyes.
The battle was about to begin.
Not only the internal war in Roland.
Roland was taking the first step to fight against the world…
The atmosphere in the hall rose slowly. Everyone was intoxicated with the charisma of this king.
Froaude left the hall alone, softly saying:
“It’s really… my king. The actions that a king should have, he has performed them perfectly. Wishing to help more people, even if it is only a small portion… is that it? This is a perfect king…”
A shallow trace of a smile appeared on his face.
Yes.
Even if the sacrifices that would cause would be more than the trap that I set for the nobles to jump into and purge them…
The king needs to progress on a tyrannical path.
Even if he has to step over many mountains of corpses to proceed…
A king needs to progress on a tyrannical path.
So, I will follow you.
I will follow a perfect king, although it causes heart ache, it is destined that you will take away the lives of many people…
Has His Majesty discovered his helplessly?
No, he has already helplessly discovered it, but he did not think much of it.
Is that pattern that a king goes through…?
And you are troubled over this.
Even so, I have to lessen your troubles, even if is only a drop in a bucket…
That is my duty.
To sacrifice the least to gain a large effect…
All of the blood stained duties should be settled by me…
Froaude walked to the entrance of the hall, then turned back.
The interior of the hall was glowing.
Froaude narrowed his eyes, looking at this scene.
Then, he put his hand on his chest, bowing his head.
“I will endeavor to comply to my liege’s orders.”
He said in a low voice, then his shadow vanished from the hall.
The darkness moved.
Froaude had started two plans.
One was to the powerful nobles. He sent out assassins, to the quarters of those who had not shown that they were supporting the king or not, or the people who were in the anti-king faction.
If they were inclined to the anti-king faction, or the more intense anti-king faction, then they would protest even more? At that time it would be inevitable that they would be killed.
If they were slightly inclined to supporting the king or neutral, then they would not be dealt with. They would be eventually swallowed by the large power of the king right?
In this way, the nobles who should be killed and the nobles who would survive, could be clearly differentiated this way.
And the second plan was…
