Vol 4 Chapter 5 (2/2)

”The one who set fire to this village, no, to all the villages in this entire area was you, Oubary.”

”....”

The subordinates that were behind Oubary looked at each other. They remembered what they had done. As they were turning pale, Oubary silently ordered them out with a wave of his hand.

”Why did you do something like that? It goes without saying that they were people of Mephius. You who are part of Mephius' military, why did you...”

”Deplorable.”

”What?”

”It is deplorable, Your Highness. Could it be, Your Highness, that you believe what can only be called nonsense spouted by the likes of bandits more than you believe in a commander who has faithfully served the imperial family? I, Oubary Bilan, swear by the Dragon G.o.d Mephius that I have never done such a thing.”

”...”

”And, even if... ah, this is speaking hypothetically. Even if I had done so...”

Feeling increasingly superior towards the prince who was remaining silent, Oubary grew greedy. This princeling was oblivious to the ways of the world. Oubary felt like explaining what he had done – and of course he remembered personally setting fire to the area's villages – then using that to tear through the prince’s utter ignorance so that he could look down on him more and more.

”Say it wasn't me but some other commander who was stationed at Apta at the time and who had done that same thing, I wouldn't consider it a crime in the slightest.”

”Why is that?” Gil asked, his entire countenance expressing bewilderment. ”What kind of reason could there be for needing to burn down the people's villages?”

”Forgive me if I appear to be speaking above my position, but as unworthy as I, Oubary, am, if nothing else, I have more experience than Your Highness and that is simply another facet of war.”

”...”

”Your Highness is still young. And until now, you have always gained victory through heroic actions. However various things can happen in war and the outcome of a battle is not always clear-cut. I was indeed unable to protect Apta from Garbera. Nor did I receive sufficient aid from my country. However if I had merely fled and thus allowed Garbera to grow over-confident, then it would also have occupied the villages in the surrounding area and, as a result, it would have been easy for it to march towards our country's centre.”

At the same time.

I see.

Tied to the chair, Gil Mephius – which is to say, Orba – felt that the time he had eagerly been waiting for had finally arrived.

There was no hesitating. He had already steeled his resolve. Because he would not come by a second chance to s.n.a.t.c.h away his mortal enemy's life without letting go of his mask, Orba would not falter.

However, at the very end, Orba desperately wanted to hear from Oubary about setting the village on fire. If you were to ask him why, Orba himself still didn't clearly understand the reason. He harboured a seething hatred towards the man and even though he would not simply attack him from behind, nor simply take his life, Orba had decided that when the time came, he would point his blade towards...o...b..ry.

If I don't, six years of stored up hatred would be completely wasted.

He was possessed by the gruesome demon of revenge.

”In this thing we call war, in one way or another, there will always be a price to pay in victims and sacrifices to be made.”

Oubary triumphantly carried on talking. Naturally he was unware that 'Gil Mephius' had a sword grasped in his hands that were tied behind his back, just as he was unware that 'Gil Mephius' could free himself in an instant of the ropes that bound him.

”In order to protect the people from an even greater sacrifice and to reap benefits for the country, one needs the resolve to be able to throw everything to the flames.”

”I understand.”

Orba's face was positively radiant as he spoke. Truthfully, his heart and mind were perfectly clear.

And with it, he was overflowing with willpower and energy.

”Oubary, it is thanks to the veterans of a thousand battles such as yourself that Mephius can know peace. That you also saved my life is something I will be sure to explain to Father. Now then, come and untie these ropes.”

”Yes, certainly.”

Having heard what he wanted, Oubary was beaming with joy. He walked up to Orba and was about to lean down closer.

He's here.

Orba grasped the sword ever more tightly. He found that the muscles in his shoulders and back were so strained they were rigid. When Oubary was so close that he could almost feel his body heat, Orba would knock back his chair with a kick and leap up.

Then, without pausing for breath, he would swing to hit Oubary who would go down without being able to utter a sound.

”Prince, are you there?”

He heard that voice from outside.

Vileena!

Startled, Orba stopped halfway as he was moving his waist. Oubary had been about to lean over him but seeing the rope drop loose from the prince's torso by itself, he too stopped.

And in his surprise, Orba, who had put too much strength in his movement, dropped his sword.

The sound of the blade hitting the floor with a crash resounded uncannily loud.

Part 3

When princess Vileena had suddenly rushed up on horseback, the soldiers of the Black Armoured Division were dumbfounded.

”Where is the general?”

Still on horseback when she asked that question, she then went up to the village meeting hall under the soldiers' guidance. They had told her that the prince had been discovered there after he had been captured by bandits. A feeling of relief spread through her chest but as she recalled Ran's prophetic words, a twinge of anxiety still remained.

And so,

”Prince, are you there?”

She called out as she was about to step into the hall. Upon which, confusion broke out inside. A metallic sound struck Vileena's ears.

At the same time.

A group of torch-carrying soldiers entered one of the buildings. The prince had already been found but there was no saying that there might not be some valuables to look for.

Suddenly, the one in the lead was knocked off his feet and went flying to the right as though hit from the side by an invisible fist.

Immediately following was the sound of uninterrupted gunshots. They tore through the cheeks of the one now standing first and the force of the impact broke his neck, killing him outright. Then the second, the third; their corpses fell, piled on top of each other. Startled, Vileena whirled around.

”Uwah!”

”M-My, my legs!”

The soldiers fell noisily to the mysterious gunfire. Anyone could tell that it was an ambush. The bandits had made it seem like they had abandoned the village and had concealed riflemen outside of it. However even if they understood that, the surrounding darkness meant that they couldn't see to return fire.

”The flames”, adjutant Sarne yelled. ”Put out the torches' flames! The b.a.s.t.a.r.ds are taking aim by them!”

It was a wise decision. Without losing a second, the soldiers put out their torches. But as soon as they had done so,

”Ah!”

Several of the soldiers suddenly shouted as a crimson tail blazed through the darkness: with a whistling sound, a number of fire arrows drew an arc in the sky overhead. One after another they pierced the roofs of the huts which then burst into fire.

”What!”

Light flooded the road where Sarne was. Just as he was rising in a panic, a bullet flew towards him and pierced his chest, and he fell back without another word.

Arrows were still being fired. The thatch on the roofs had been soaked in oil and no sooner did the arrows pierced them that they burst into flames with a roar like that of wild animals. The surroundings seemed to have turned into another world, wrapped in bright light.

Vileena stood stock still, holding her breath.

This time, from every direction, things that appeared to be water jugs were hurled forward and when the oil they contained splashed over the flames, they stocked them to greater strength. Had they calculated that the smell would alert the soldiers if they poured oil throughout the village from the outset?

At the same moment, a shadow drew up to Vileena from behind. As swiflty as the wind, the shadow raced towards the princess then suddenly seized her by the shoulders and waist and swept her away.

”Wha...”

”It's dangerous here. We have to leave at once!”

Vileena heard a young man's voice call out to her. When she looked, the one who had grabbed her was the Imperial Guard, s.h.i.+que. His expression unusually desperate, he ran dodging the walls of flames that were springing up all over.

”What the...”

Noticing the frenzied uproar in the background, Oubary Bilan stopped moving. He was however a man who had survived many battlefields. When before his eyes he saw the signs of a change in the prince, he immediately jumped backwards.

Gil Mephius - Orba picked up the sword once more.

Sweat glistened on Oubary's forehead. Somehow, it felt as though he were confronting a mysterious presence.

”You , who are you?” Even as he spoke, Oubary's expression changed in sudden realisation. ”You're not the prince, are you?”

”Why is that, General?”

The rope that was wound around his arms was now in his way, so Orba shook it off as he approached Oubary, looking for all the world as though he were about to drape an overly-familiar arm around his shoulders. The general of the Black Armoured Division backed further away. In that time, the fire spread to the walls of the meeting hall. Although the hall had not been doused in oil, unsurprisingly it seemed that some had still spread to it. The fire raced around the building, licking its outer walls while the heat inside soared.

”Tsk.”

His hand to his face for protection, Oubary ran towards the outside but Orba was a fraction faster and stood in his way.

”Bah, move!”

”Don't be in such a hurry, General.”

Orba smiled. Just before, s.h.i.+que's voice had reached his ears.

Good man, Orba had thought from the bottom of his heart.

The reason he had shouted louder than necessary was so that Orba would hear. You can leave the princess to me, now do what you want to do – that was his message.

He could hear the roar of the flames. The blazed had by now engulfed part of the roof and sparks dripped like blood.

”That time too, there was a fire like this one. Won't you revel in this scene a little longer, Oubary Bilan!”

”That time?”

Judging that there could be no more waiting, Oubary struck out with his brawny arm even as he yelled. Orba nimbly dodged and kicked him down from the side. He sat astride him as part of the ceiling collapsed.

Gunshots resounded one after another. The soldiers of the Black Armoured Division tried to hide behind buildings and trees, but with the fire still spreading, the situation was not in their favour. To make matters worse, their surroundings were as bright as though it were the middle of the day. Blood spurted from yet another one of them before he toppled sideways.

”Hey, this way too. Fire! Fire!”

The gun-carrying soldiers finally began to fight back. They could now see their enemies. In a gap in the trees surrounding the village, on top of a hill that rose there, armed men lay in ambush. At long last, those of the Black Armoured Division also had their fingers to the trigger.

In an instant, screams resounded from the village's surroundings and then a large number of angry voices broke out from a heap of piled up straw and rubbish. Swords and axes in hand, the bandits appeared and rushed forward.

”An, an ambus.h.!.+”

”Everyone, draw your swords! The likes of these thieves won't...”

The ring of flames was still spreading ever further. The survivors of the Black Armoured Division fled from there only to head to where the bandits were concealed. Born in the area, the bandits knew both the strength of that night's wind and its direction. With that in mind, they had calculated where to throw the oil and lay hidden in wait for the soldiers in places where the flames wouldn't reach.

The sound of blades clas.h.i.+ng echoed all around. The gun units that lay hidden outside the village maintained their covering fire and one-by-one, the soldiers of the Black Armoured Division were shot without further warning, their heads were smashed with axes, or their chests pierced with swords.

”This is revenge for my parents!”

”How does it feel now, you dogs of Mephius!”

Scorched by the light of the flames, the bandits' faces looked like those of devils. As far as they were concerned however, the demons were none other than the soldiers of the Black Armoured Division.

The hunters and the hunted - Orba and Oubary whose positions had been completely reversed from those of six years ago, both tumbled around on the hunting field.

Shaking off the flames that clung to them, they literally rolled out of the building.

When both stood up, they were covered in black soot. Only their eyes stood out, reflecting the bright red flames.

”Did you plan this, Prince!”

Oubary bellowed. Inwardly, he still couldn't decide whether or not his opponent was the prince. Their features at any rate were entirely the same. But that no longer mattered. Whether his opponent was the prince or an imposter, he had lured the Black Armoured Division into a trap and had brought about the misery of their complete annihilation, and for that he would kill him.

”Even if I did, what would you do about it?”

”You've gone mad.”

Oubary drew the long sword at his waist. Even within Mephius' military, he was something of a giant. His specially-made sword was about two fist-lengths longer than normal.

”If the likes of you succeeds to the imperial throne, Mephius will be ruined. With this sword, I will cut through both that future and your neck.” Around them was a scene of utter carnage. In contrast to Oubary who stood with his sword at the ready, Orba walked towards him, his blade casually lowered, defenceless.

Fool.

Oubary would be done with this fight in a second then he would have to escape from this place. His sword readied in both hands, he haughtily swung it down from above his head.

A rush of air.

As the wind whistled, Oubary received a strong blow to his forehead and staggered backwards.

What the!

He was stunned, his consciousness hazy. But he was back up in an instant, this time swinging his sword in a side blow. His opponent's sword still hung loosely. He should have easily been able to cleave that slender body in half.

Another rush of air.

”Guah!”

Pain ran through his right arm this time. It felt as though he had been struck through his helmet and armour. Oubary confusedly pulled back his sword and took a defensive stance. A rush of air, then another. This time the wind whistled uninterruptedly. Sparks flew as iron hit iron.

T-This b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

Blood was flowing freely from Oubary's brow. His right arm hurt as though it had been broken from where he had repeatedly caught his opponent's slas.h.i.+ng blows. He lost his calm. Though his opponent seemed truly defenceless, again and again he was struck by attacks that were as fast as the wind.

Even though Oubary was of course fighting back, he was only swinging at air. Thoughts of 'why' welled up within him. Why wasn't he striking him, why couldn't he easily bridge the distance between them. He couldn't read his breathing, he couldn't see his opponent's movements, he didn't move as he expected him to.

”Wa-Wait.”

Oubary shouted as they fought. He was steadily retreating and with no time to even catch his breath, he was barely defending against the ferocious attacks.

Orba on the other hand pressed him continuously, deliberately choosing his timing and attacking in a flash. Seeing the tip of the sword coming from behind to strike at his head, he bent his knees, deflected his enemy's blade and in the gap that created, he slashed at his torso. With a strange gurgling sound, Oubary staggered back yet again.

”Wait!” Oubary still yelled. ”This isn't a fight. This is outlandish. Soldiers should face off fair and square!”

Each time he received a blow from Orba's sword, the wound on his forehead opened and Oubary's face was now painted with blood as though with some ghastly make-up. At that point, his consciousness was already seven parts gone. Oubary was not able to comprehend that the person with the prince's appearance was so skilful with a sword. And so he thought he was being cowardly. Even before the fight, he had considered that might be the case.

Orba still dealt his blows. Oubary just barely manage to stop one from landing on his shoulder but his expression twisted in anguish.

”Wait, Prince. Does the prince intend to take the life of one of his retainers with his own hands...?”

The rest of his words were drowned out by the noise of the flames. With the speed of lighting, Orba brought his blade from the left towards...o...b..ry's chest, knocking his sword away.

Oubary finally fell to the ground on his knees. Orba kicked him in the chest. Mephius' long-serving general toppled over backwards. Without pause, Orba's sword rushed towards him. In an instant, a third of the blade was buried in the ground.

”Gyaaaaaa!”

Blood gus.h.i.+ng from his head even more, Oubary rolled on the ground. The blade that had struck by his side had severed his ear. Pulling out the sword with all his might, Orba subjected Oubary, lying like a dying insect, to another blow.

He smashed his right s.h.i.+n. He pierced his left shoulder. Then, when his arms and legs were immobilised, with terrifying speed he brought his sword down on each finger, one after another.

And each time, Oubary screamed.

There were no other cries near them. The fight was coming to an end. The bandits who gradually gathered around Orba stood before their bitter enemy as silently as though the souls had been s.n.a.t.c.hed away.

In the midst of the roaring flames, Oubary watched Orba raise his blood-soaked sword over his head.

”He-He-He” Foaming at the mouth, his eyes streaming with tears, Oubary pleaded in a hoa.r.s.e voice. ”Help, Help me, please.”

”I,”

Orba spoke for the first time since they had crossed swords. Although by no means a loud voice, every person there heard it resonate eerily. ”I heard those screams over and over again.”

A smile appeared on Orba's face, drenched in the blood of his victim. If a beast were to smile at its prey on the verge of death, it would surely be such a smile.

”And when the screams stopped was when everyone was dead.”

Staring at a point in mid-air, Orba strode forward and planted his feet on either side of Oubary's tear-stained face. Filthy from the blood and the mud, he ground his teeth.

Six years – no, it's closer to seven years now.

A great many memories flickered like images across...o...b..'s mind.

Being burned out of the village. Gathering a gang in Birac. And then, when being degraded into a sword slave, doing nothing but swinging a sword each day in order to survive.

Every night he had cursed Oubary.

When the mask's spell felt like it was burning his entire face with its intense heat. He had thought he would go insane. He had been terrified of dying. But every time,

I won't die.

Orba had reaffirmed his resolution.

My life isn't anyone's plaything. My life is for the sake of taking back everything that was stolen from me.

The sword in Orba's hand was the compa.s.s needle that guided him. He had s.n.a.t.c.hed away a great many lives. All had wanted to live to see the next day. Even so, Orba carried on. When he had fought Ryucown, even though he had seen death in his eyes, Orba had crushed his n.o.ble ideals. Simply for the sake of revenge, simply for the sake of achieving his life's one goal.

Looking back, it felt like a mountain of corpses had piled up. And now it felt like one by one, those departed souls were rising and filling the sky, moaning in bitterness and grief.

Indeed - everything was,

All for this moment.

”Hiii!”

The raised sword cast its shadow directly on Oubary's face. It drew a line were that face would be cut through - seeing that, the bandits held their breath while Oubary himself let out a shrill scream.

”Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii”

When that long scream was cut off, Orba threw aside the sword he had swing down.

The watching men had no voice to speak.

Orba's bare skin was visible through his scorched and torn up clothing. And they looked at him anew. When Doug had laid out the plan and they heard that it had come from Orba, they had furiously yelled ”You'd trust our enemy's prince?” To gain their trust, Orba had shown them the same thing as now.

Heaving up and down with his rough breathing was the brand of a slave.

Brightly ablaze, bathed in the colour of fire and blood, the emblem of the branded.

Countless sparks danced in the heavens and black smoke billowed incessantly. Orba looked up and sighed faintly.

It's over...

From flames it had started, in flames it would meet its demise.

Too gruesome and wretched to be called adolescence, that brutally cruel era came to an end.

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