Vol 11 Chapter 1 (2/2)

“I-If you go, His Majesty the emperor will have you killed,” the young and pale-faced soldier said, following which, the soldier in the prime of life cried with a desperately resolute expression – “Please, if you would, stay here and govern Nedain. All of us are ready to offer our lives to defend you as Your Highness’ spears and s.h.i.+elds.”

Pas.h.i.+r quite literally kicked aside their hands, which seemed about to reach out towards...o...b..’s boots any moment now.

“Get back, you insolent curs. The likes of you lowly soldiers dare to interfere?”

“Wait, Pas.h.i.+r.” Orba quietly caught his ma.s.sive shoulder. He then bestowed a smile upon the soldiers. “This is proof that everyone is thinking about the future of this country. I am different from my father. I wish to create a country in which everyone can express their opinions without reserve.”

“Aye,” Pas.h.i.+r drew back.

Orba turned to the soldiers next and spoke directly to them. “I don’t plan on giving up my without resistance. Don’t worry.”

The soldiers lowered their heads as far as they could go. You could sense resolve from each of them, and the older soldier had been moved to tears.

Afterwards, Orba and Pas.h.i.+r climbed up to the top of the ramparts that surrounded Nedain. Sentries were placed on duty here and there, but they were some distance from them.

While enjoying the gentle wind beneath the pale sky, Orba sent Pas.h.i.+r a sidelong glare.

“Don’t force yourself into an act you can’t pull off.”

“You’re the one who got me mixed up in it. It felt like my face was going red.”

“Everyone’s uneasy. If the prince’s att.i.tude isn’t seen to be indomitable, it could create enemies from within.”

Pas.h.i.+r had deliberately taken the role of a savage warrior who could not understand the feelings of the common people.

“It doesn’t suit you,” Orba shook his head. “If it comes to it, I’ll look for a better role for you. You’re a gladiator who climbed up to being an Imperial Guard. It’d be a problem rather if you didn’t have the support of the people and soldiers.”

“Hmm,” Pas.h.i.+r gave a vague nod then. “Was it that bad?” He asked with a serious expression.

Orba turned his head towards the back to stop himself from laughing. A man who was a skilful fighter and an able commander in a battle, but who was not deft by nature; hence why he felt that it didn’t suit. As to who that was referring to, it went without saying.

They climbed down from the ramparts and inspected various points around Nedain. Just before the afternoon, messengers arrived from different quarters, carrying the regular reports from Apta, Birac and Solon. There was no noteworthy new information. According to what he heard from Solon, however, there was a rumour that Kaseria Jamil’s forces would soon arrive at the port of Zonga, north of Ende.

Ende had recently lost its Grand Duke and it was the second prince, Eric, who was to become the successor. When he had first heard that information, not even Orba had been able to conceal his surprise.

That guy?

He had fought him in Garbera’s territory. And afterwards, they had met along with the Garberan prince, Zenon.

He’s young – he thought, without actually taking his own age into account. Still, in these turbulent times, there was nothing strange about a young warrior in his twenties becoming a reigning lord from one day to the next.

If it’s him, will he be able to lead Ende’s army against Allion?

There was a sequel to the information from Solon: it seemed that Prince Eric of Ende had sent messengers begging Mephius and Garbera for reinforcements. So far, Emperor Guhl had given no sign of replying. Which could be said to be completely natural, given that Mephius was in the middle of a civil war that had split the country in half. They did not have the leeway to help other countries.

There was still more information related to Allion.

Apparently, Allion was approaching Dairan not only by sea, but also overland. Just as Eric had when he had received the news, Orba could not hide his astonishment and groaned inwardly.

When he closed his eyes, it felt as though he could hear the tramping of army boots coming from the east. This was not going to be a transient event.

There’ll be a large-scale war – he felt.

If even just a part of Ende were to be seized, Allion would then have foothold from which to launch an all-out advance on the centre of the continent. The surrounding countries could not indefinitely continue labelling this as someone else’s problem.

With that being said, Mephius and Garbera had yet to recover from the wounds of a decade of war. Would they be able to withstand a war between countries?

No matter what, Eric has to win this first battle against Allion – thought Orba, while he mentally sorted out the information from all the various quarters. If it was for that, he would even consider lending his help by riding to Ende’s a.s.sistance himself. But – first, there was Mephius.

Ende’s a.s.sistance himself. But – first, there was Mephius.

They could not afford a long face-off, like they had after taking Birac. Prolonging the civil war would cause ruin for the people. And if the country was weakened, it would not be able to oppose the increasingly large and carnivorous beast that was Allion. The end result would be that they would be swallowed up, and even the t.i.tles of emperor and crown prince, held by the two currently competing, would lose all meaning.

While Orba silently continued to mull over his thoughts, the messenger from Birac held out a letter, saying, “Sir Gowen entrusted me with this.”

The elderly soldier had remained in Birac, where he was organising troops consisting mainly of the new recruits.

His acquaintance with Gowen went back a long way, but this was the first time he had received a letter from him. To be frank, he did not even know if Gowen could read and write. When he unsealed the letter, he saw handwriting about as bad as his own. A wry smile involuntarily crossed his face, but as he read the contents, his expression quickly reverted back to being serious.

“What’s wrong?” Asked Pas.h.i.+r, who was, as usual, sticking close by. “Has there been some kind of movement in Birac?”

“No… It’s about Layla.”

The name was not without relevance to Pas.h.i.+r. He nodded with deliberation.

She who was supposed to be a lady’s maid to Princess Vileena of Garbera had, one evening, lured Crown Prince Gil to an isolated tower and had attempted to kill him with a poisoned dagger. In the process, she had also ushered in quite a few of her comrades. As mentioned previously, if Pas.h.i.+r had not been keeping a close eye on the prince and on Layla, Orba would currently be laid out as a cold corpse.

And yet, at the very last minute, that same Layla had thrown herself in front of him to protect from the a.s.sa.s.sins’ blades.

Layla.

It was a name that Orba had heard even before then. On the very day of her wedding, the crown prince before Orba – in other words, the real Gil Mephius – had claimed the right to the first night from her. He had certainly never expected to meet her like that.

To be more precise, they had met for the first time in a western village. What had a Mephian like her been doing there and how had she come to work as a lady’s maid for the princess?

There were too many puzzling points about it.

More importantly, Orba instinctively sensed that any information she had about the crown prince might prove fatal to him.

Out of necessity, Orba had decided to keep Layla confined in a room in the tower. There had been the option of executing her as the instigator of the a.s.sa.s.sination attempt, but she was also someone who had once been a lady’s maid to the Garberan princess. He wanted to try and get a detailed explanation from her.

It seemed, however, that Gowen shared his opinion about the threat posed by whatever information Layla might have.

“Given the circ.u.mstances, we’ve kept the number of guards at the minimum, but I believe that we can’t continue that way,” said the letter. It then went on to suggest that she be executed.

For a moment, Orba was left speechless by the appealing contents of the note. He felt as though he was seeing a different side to his long-time acquaintance. It was probably not Gowen’s real wish though. In a way, it was similar to the resolve that Orba himself carried.

You’ll have to bear the burden of an entire country while deceiving everyone around you – That also meant being prepared to use any means necessary to protect his secret.

Orba conjured up a mental image of the elderly warrior who had always seemed to, more or less, look out for him ever since back when he had been an overseer of slaves. After adopting Hou Ran, he had been giving off a somewhat “fatherly” atmosphere, which had given Orba and s.h.i.+que a good laugh.

And he was suggesting that it might be necessary to kill a girl who was around the same age as his “daughter” in order to seal her mouth. This too was a distortion caused by Orba – by the likes of a slave of unknown origin – pretending to be the crown prince.

Orba tore up the letter and went back to the ramparts once again. Pas.h.i.+r silently followed along.

Part 3

The sun was setting.

Fields spread out both within and beyond the ramparts. The soil around Nedain was not particularly fertile, but through effort and ingenuity, the people of the fief had continuously improved it; and so, for example, the grapes from this area were contenders for producing the first or second best wine within Mephius.

Lines of soldiers armed with spears and swords could be seen patrolling around the fields. Airs.h.i.+ps were dotted around here and there, ready to swiftly carry information. Carriers were also stationed at all four corners of the ramparts.

Orba’s gaze suddenly turned towards the east. For a while, he looked hard beyond the pale pink sky.

“How long has it been?”

At those words, which had unintentionally burst from his mouth, Orba felt as though he was seeing clear to his own mind for the first time. Before Pas.h.i.+r could enquire what he meant, he continued, “right, it’s not like it’s got nothing to do with you. Ever since Zaat Quark’s rebellion. When I prevented it and left for Apta with you.”

“Are you talking about Solon?” Pas.h.i.+r asked. “You can’t possibly be thinking of responding to the emperor’s invitation?”

“You were also listening at the council of war, weren’t you? If I stay like this without making a move, I’ll damage my cause and be letting Allion do whatever they please. Apta, Birac, and Nedain would eventually turn against me. The result would just be me bringing about my own ruin. And besides…”

“Besides?”

“Allion is obviously a threat to Mephius but… this could also be taken as a once in a lifetime ‘opportunity’.”

At those words, which had unintentionally burst from his mouth, Orba felt as though he was seeing clear to his own mind for the first time. Before Pas.h.i.+r could enquire what he meant, he continued, “right, it’s not like it’s got nothing to do with you. Ever since Zaat Quark’s rebellion. When I prevented it and left for Apta with you.”

“Are you talking about Solon?” Pas.h.i.+r asked. “You can’t possibly be thinking of responding to the emperor’s invitation?”

“You were also listening at the council of war, weren’t you? If I stay like this without making a move, I’ll damage my cause and be letting Allion do whatever they please. Apta, Birac, and Nedain would eventually turn against me. The result would just be me bringing about my own ruin. And besides…”

“Besides?”

“Allion is obviously a threat to Mephius but… this could also be taken as a once in a lifetime ‘opportunity’.”

Orba was saying that being pressed by Allion meant being helplessly cornered into destroying a favourable situation. And yet, he declared that it was also an “opportunity”. Pas.h.i.+r could not understand his thoughts.

He did not understand, but –

“You’re not saying that you’re planning on just handing over your life, right?” There was one thing that he single-mindedly could not let go of.

“I’m not planning on going there to let myself be killed.”

“Same thing. Have you forgotten the a.s.sa.s.sination attempt in Birac? It’s obvious the emperor had a hand in it.”

“Now that he’s openly summoned me, he won’t be thinking of using a.s.sa.s.sination.”

“Don’t be stupid,” yet a smile flitted across Pas.h.i.+r’s slightly bruised and battered face. “Hasn’t the emperor of Mephius lost touch with common sense? That’s why people like General Rogue or General Folker are willing to follow you.”

“Yeah. But somehow, I feel like I understand.”

“You understand?”

“What Guhl was thinking when he summoned me.”

At this point, the emperor was probably feeling that they had reached a stalemate. Mephius’ centre of trade had been stolen from him and, following closely on the heels of that defeat, his loyal subject, Simon, had died, which in turn had started to sow dissent among his retainers. The emperor had then been unable to dispatch the reinforcements he had planned to send to Nedain, as a result of which, even that town had fallen to the crown prince’s side. a.s.sa.s.sination – his last resort – had also failed, and he could no longer use the same method for fear of rumours spreading to Solon.

In terms of the military potential that each held, the emperor still had the advantage. However, a ‘wind’ which was not so easy to overturn was blowing throughout all of Mephius. It had been raised by Orba himself who had successively taken Apta, Birac, and Nedain; it had been supported by Rogue, Odyne and Folker, who had aided his advance; and finally, it had been protected by Princess Vileena, who had turned back Salamand, an invader into Mephian territory.

In a way, from when he had decided to rise up as the crown prince in Apta, what Orba had set his sights on was – how can I stir up more ‘wind’ and ‘waves’? For now, it could be said that he had accomplished that goal.

And the emperor desired a meeting with Gil simply because he could no longer afford to ignore that influence. Since things have turned out this way, I should meet him in person and show the retainers our difference in might – was probably what he was thinking.

In a sense, it would be a duel.

“You say you understand?” Pas.h.i.+r spoke half in exasperation. “What do you understand? You weren’t born to royalty and Guhl’s not your real father. In the first place, you’re not even that well-acquainted with Guhl.”

Orba deliberately did not answer. Just as Pas.h.i.+r had pointed out, the environment in which Orba and Guhl had been born and raised were as different as heaven and earth. It was a fact that they were fighting like this simply because their thoughts and their vision of the future were at odds.

Yet even so, Orba felt that – I would think the same thing if I was in Guhl’s situation.

Neither moving troops nor killing in secret. In a situation where the wind was blowing in the enemy’s favour daily, and Allion, a powerful outside foe, was approaching, he too would want a direct confrontation. He also would, after baiting the newcomer jeopardising his position​, use the authority of his own acc.u.mulated achievements and experience, in front of the a.s.sembled retainers, to verbally corner his opponent.

The final gamble – he too shared that thought.

For all that he said that it was great opportunity, he privately thought that his own strength might not be enough. Beyond that, he could only leave things to the ‘wave’ that he had himself raised. The messenger that Guhl had sent proved that he had successfully managed to move ‘time’. It was time to see the conclusion through with his own eyes.

“Don’t be stupid,” repeated Pas.h.i.+r. “You think the retainers, who’ve shut their eyes to Guhl’s tyranny this long, are suddenly going to awaken to a sense of honour? That the n.o.bles that you used to hate enough to kill are now going to protect you from the emperor? That soft way of thinking isn’t like you.”

“Guess not,” Orba answered shortly, then laughed unintentionally. He thought it had been a long time since his gladiator self had been in contact with Pas.h.i.+r. “But you know, Pas.h.i.+r… The ones who carry a country are its people. Is it really so foolish to entrust your life and future to those people’s feelings?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“I won’t go unprepared. Even if something happens to me, I’ll get ready what’s needed to prevent a war between Mephius and the west, and to drive the emperor further into a corner.”

Orba’s expression looked strangely refreshed. With the fervour for fighting gone from it, his appearance truly matched his age and he looked like a boy who had thought up a way of pulling a silly prank. It seemed to just fan the flames of Pas.h.i.+r’s anger though.

“If something happens,” the long-serving swordsman’s voice grew harsh. “When anything happens to you, it’ll mean ruin for all the rest of us. For the generals and soldiers who joined you because they believe in you, obviously, but also for their families who’ll be put in danger again.”

“I know. And it’s a gamble. But no matter what, we can’t stay in a stand-off with the capital like this. I’ve already said it, but if we draw things out now, we’ll lose the moral high ground and allow Allion to do whatever it likes. I chose to go to war with the emperor so as to protect Taúlia. This time, I’ve got to go to Solon to protect Mephius. It’s the same thing.”

“It’s not the same thing. There’s got to be another way.”

“Pas.h.i.+r, this isn’t a fight which will be over once the emperor has been brought down. Looking at what happens after that, then no matter what…”

“It’s too dangerous. For everyone. So I can’t let you carry on like that. ‘No matter what’.”

His expression still harsh, Pas.h.i.+r started to draw the sword at his waist. His intention was clear. Orba however made no move in response. He gave a half-smile.

“And, what are you going to do? Kill me? You’re the one who said that everyone will be annihilated if I die, right?”

“Yeah, I won’t kill you. But I can cut off your arms and legs so that you can’t just do as you please,” said Pas.h.i.+r. “And after that, I’ll pull your tongue out. So that you won’t be able to say too much afterwards.”

“…”

Hearing the stern verdict, Orba wiped the amused expression from his face. Pas.h.i.+r was saying that he only needed to be alive. He was saying that the crown prince’s figure and life alone were enough to be a flag for those who followed him.

Pas.h.i.+r continued his now half-unsheathed sword. “What is it. Not saying anything? Don’t you have enough resolve to step over my corpse?”

“Pas.h.i.+r.”

Orba softly called out. He quietly stretched out his hand and touched Pas.h.i.+r’s sinewy, log-like arm. He had once been known as “Strong-armed”, an undefeated gladiator.

“I’m going,” Orba was almost whispering. “If you have things you want to protect enough to step over my corpse to do so, then you can just slash me in the back. I won’t resist.”

After he had finished speaking, he turned his back towards Pas.h.i.+r.

He walked one step, then two.

Behind him, he could feel Pas.h.i.+r’s presence like a scorching wind. Any moment now, it might transform into steel and rain down on Orba from above.

Right, this is the final gamble – thought Orba, as he continued to walk further and further away.

In the distance, he could hear what seemed to be the voices of young men and women singing a popular song.

If I can’t move ‘time’ from here on out, nothing will change.

He and Mephius would perish together… In choosing to see things that way, Orba was urging on his own resolve and actions.

His feet arrived at the staircase. The presence was still there, ferocity rolling like flames from it, but, in the end, Pas.h.i.+r had not moved from where he was.

Just before the sun had finished fully setting, Orba, having left Pas.h.i.+r, went to see Fedom, who had arrived in Nedain just the other day. Nedain was geographically closer to the capital and the lord of Birac was desperate to gather information there.

“A letter came from Indolph.” Fedom’s tone made clear his pride in this achievement. “It looks like that man will soon have resolved himself to finally take action. It’ll be exactly as I said. When Indolph’s forces also make their move, and threaten the capital from the rear, the other lords will have no choice but to clarify their standpoint.”

Fedom Aulin’s eyes were gleaming. The long-cherished desire that he had concealed in his breast was now right before his eyes; and in his current frame of mind, he felt as though he was conscious when sleeping, and dreaming when awake.

Actually, it was clear from his appearance that he was hardly sleeping at all. And because he was in that state, when he first heard Orba say “even so, I’m thinking of leaving here tomorrow and going to the capital,” after first gaping at him, Fedom then burst out laughing as though he had just heard a good joke.

But when it gradually dawned on him that Orba was serious, his face flushed bright red with rage. His ferocity was every bit as intense as Pas.h.i.+r’s, who had drawn a steel sword to stop Orba, and it seemed as though, at any moment, he might reach out his thick arms to seize him by the neck and strangle him to death.

“T-This is the limit,” Fedom screamed, wheezing and gasping for breath. “I’m not letting you do whatever you like, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d. What do you think you’re saying at this point? You can’t just do whatever you like right before my greatest ambition comes true! Bah, I won’t listen to anything more you say. You’re not going even if I have to tie you down!”

“Now, now, calm down.”

You’re the one trying to do whatever you like – thought Orba, although he did not actually say it out loud.

“I don’t think it would bad for you, though.”

“W-What?”

“Your worry is that after I nonchalantly stroll into the capital, my real ident.i.ty will be exposed and I’ll be killed, right?”

“Of course it is. If your past as a gladiator became known at this point in time, not only would you lose your life, but all the resolve and expectations gathered around you would all come to nothing!”

“I wonder…” Orba brushed his hair back. “Saying that everything would be spoiled seems like such an exaggeration.”

“b.a.s.t.a.r.d, what are you saying, even now you’re not taking your position into…”

“Even if I died, you’re in the crown prince’s camp, aren’t you? You, Fedom Aulin.”

“W-What?”

Orba faced the lord of Birac, who was blinking in confusion.

“Apta, Birac, Nedain. Even if I die, their strength won’t just abruptly fall to the emperor’s side. On the contrary, if you raise the cry for a war of revenge for the crown prince, even more soldiers than now will gather, and it might even give rise to conspirators within Solon itself. Right – after the crown prince’s death, all the soldiers a.s.sembled in the three cities would become yours.”

“…”

“And the hero who would take command of that entire army to take Solon and at long last liberate Mephius from the unjust emperor would be none other than you, Fedom Aulin. That could be what happens.”

Fedom gulped. Having swallowed too much of his own saliva, he was seized by a brief but violent coughing fit.

“R-Ridiculous,” his eyes were still teary. “If your real ident.i.ty is revealed in the capital, that’ll be the end of it. Who would rally to a war of revenge for the likes of a slave?”

“There are as many possible explanations as you like. For example: ‘to show his contempt for the crown prince who had become a threat to him, the emperor deliberately had him murdered then branded his back so as to lie about his real ident.i.ty.’ After that, well, Fedom, you’re a guy who’s usually proud of your own abilities. Wouldn’t you be able to convince everyone to follow you through your words and att.i.tude? The emperor’s cruel and inhuman behaviour would be highlighted even further than before my death, and would actually make it easier to take action. You of all people aren’t going to tell me that’s impossible, right?”

Fedom was still breathing raggedly, but the reason for that seemed to be somewhat different from earlier. He peered closely into Orba’s face.

“You said ‘even further than before my death’…? You’re talking exactly as though you didn’t care in the slightest about your own life.”

“Wasn’t I originally picked up by you? If you hadn’t appeared at Tarkas’ Gladiator Group back then, riding a Tengo in such a great hurry – back when it wouldn’t have occurred to me for even a second that you had the outrageous plan of using a slave to replace the crown prince – I would still be wielding a sword every day as a gladiator, drenched in sweat and fighting desperate, b.l.o.o.d.y battles. Or no, after close to two years of that, maybe my devil’s luck would already have run out and the sand of the coliseum would be absorbing my blood around about now.”

“…”

“Say, this is getting tedious: forget my enemies, I’m even being doubted by my allies. More importantly, it would be best for you to take action. Isn’t that right? Lord Fedom?”

Orba gazed almost affectionately at the man in front of him. Right, as a matter of fact, he did feel affection for this man, Fedom Aulin.

Just as he himself had said, if this man had not existed, he himself would not be where he was now.

If this man was smarter than he actually is, or even just a little bit less prudent… Then that overly-ambitious plan would have collapsed in no time, and Orba and Fedom’s severed heads would have been lining the road to Solon by now, each adorning the tip of a spear.

Although, of course, there would be no end to it if one were to discuss that sort of thing. If, at that time, his prediction had been off even by a little; if, at that time, he had not met that person; if, at that time, the sword had slipped in his sweaty hands…

Out of the tens of thousands of possible paths, the he who was here now had picked only one to follow to the end.

Orba engraved that awareness into his mind.

That evening, Orba summoned Rogue, Odyne, and Folker to Nedain Castle.

It took him about twice as long to explain the same thing that he had told Pas.h.i.+r. General Rogue of the Dawnlight Wings Division opposed it with the vehemence of a raging fire. General Odyne of the Silver Axe Division revealed a distressed and conflicted expression, while General Folker of the Black Steel Sword Division remained silent from beginning to end.

“Y-Your Highness, that is the one thing… the one thing you must not do,” Rogue Saian repeated it time and time again.

In that, it was similar to the times with Pas.h.i.+r and Fedom. Naturally, Orba had not been expecting them to just silently see him off. He listened to the veteran general’s spirited persuasion for a while, then –

“Rogue,” he addressed him softly. “What do you think is the one thing that we cannot lose sight of in this fight of ours?”

“That…” Rogue Saian’s voice choked up, “the banner that we raised.”

“Right. And that is not me myself,” a.s.serted Orba. “It isn’t me but the cause that impels me to take action. If the hearts of the people doubt our cause, then we are already as good as defeated. We will be letting Guhl Mephius ridicule us without even putting up a fight, and we will bear the disgrace of being remembered in history, I as the Impostor Crown Prince, and you as rebels.”

The generals had not, of course, imagined that the crown prince would choose of his own free will to travel to the imperial capital.

At the same time, however, the three of them were not as inflexible in their opposition to his going to Solon as Pas.h.i.+r and Fedom had been. After all, none of Mephius’ stalwart generals knew the real name of the man before them. They believed that he was the legitimate inheritor of the imperial family’s bloodline, Gil Mephius. And so, at no point had they experienced the fear that Pas.h.i.+r and Fedom held about his real ident.i.ty being exposed.

“This is no longer the time to raise our swords against our fellow countrymen. It’s been a harsh road up until now because of that. From now on, what we need to do is to demonstrate our resolve. Rogue, don’t take me for a plague-ridden coward. Don’t take me for a mere fool who continues to make a show of savage courage without knowing how to read the signs of the times. Don’t take me for a criminal who continues to spill the blood of his countrymen. Well, there’s no helping whatever future historians might say, but now, here and now, here and now, we cannot lose the hearts and trust of the people.”

Rogue’s eyes were glistening with tears. He was, of course, well able to read the signs of the times. Up until now, he had been desperately racking his brains to try and come up with a way to improve the situation other than by having the crown prince personally go to Solon. However, no matter what new plan or strategy he came up with, he could not find in it that which Gil Mephius himself had just spoken of: the very “cause” that Rogue also adhered to.

In the end, he had no choice but to despairingly nod in consent.

Gazing at his despondently drooping head of white hair, Orba remained deliberately expressionless, then rose from his seat.

“Rogue, Odyne, Folker – you will stay here in Nedain and ensure its defence along with Raymond Peacelow. Yuriah’s fleet, bolstered by Walt’s ground forces, will regroup in Birac.”

The generals stood up and clicked their heels before the “Crown Prince”.

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