Volume 3 Chapter 31 (1/2)
Chapter 3 Episode 31
*Unedited*
Daytime Day 25th, 4th month, the Year 2813, western continent calendar.
Pillars of fire blew up from the center of the town spread out under their eyes.
It was the flame signal that everyone standing on the cliffs surrounding the town had waited for. -
A man who had his face covered with a black mask stepped forward in silent toward Sakuya.
Maybe because she felt his presence getting closer to her, Sakuya turned around her body.
”I know... Has everyone ready yet?”
The black shadow responded to Sakuya's words by nodding his head, they all wore kimono with its sleeves being tied by Tasuki, and on their belt, small flower vases were being tied.
It was not something that usually would draw attention.
The vase body was a big round and the vase neck was thin, it was ordinary porcelain vase one can find anywhere.
However, two things were different from the ordinary.
And that two things were that instead of flowers, there were rags being packed inside the vase.
And the other one was the number of those vases.
There were 10 vases hung on their belt using string. -
Since there were 20 men here, there were 200 vases with unknown use.
There must be some reason for them bringing those things around but, if others who didn't understand that saw them like this, they might unintentionally burst into laughter.
However, everyone present here didn't felt shy looking like that.
On the contrary, their gaze felt cold.
They understood properly what they about to do and why they did it as well.
(At the beginning, I don't understand why he explained the detail of the mission to us though...)
For those with authority, it would've been too much of time-consuming to explain each and every detail every time they about to do something.
Indeed that was what usually happened to Sakuya when she got an order from her clan.
If the elders order her to do something, then she just had to carry it out.
It was unnecessary for her to ask about the reason and why she had to do the job, and it was not like she had the right to ask either.
However, this time was different.
Ryouma clearly explained the mission purpose and necessity to Sakuya and Genou and to the other soldiers via Lione.
It was not like the ninjas felt dissatisfaction toward the current situation either.
(But then, the other's fighting spirit, it feels different...)
Their way of calmly erasing their presence was still the same.
But from their perspective, with a clear objective in mind, it had enchanted their physiological state of mind, which manage to drive them harder to plunge into the battlefield.
(But well, I guess it was natural for them to feel this way... Since we finally got ourselves our own city, no one wants someone to touch it... Not even this country's Queen, Queen Lupis...)
Inside Sakuya's mind, the scene of the conference that was held the other day crossed.
On that day, seven men and women are sitting around a big round table inside a room.
An expression of confusion appeared on the men and women after they heard Ryouma's explanation.
”This is the reason why I called everyone... I'm very sorry for disturbing everyone's schedule. Especially Sakuya...”
”Eh? No. It is alright... Besides I've already pre-arranged for some people to take over the job for the guard duty...”
While she shook her head, Sakuya responded Ryouma's words.
Sakuya had been granted the task to exterminated the pirates, and just the other day their scout team had managed to locate the pirates' hideout.
She had conducted a thorough reconnaissance, examined the number of boats and personnel, the topography of the pirates' town in detail, afterward she just needs to carry out Ryouma's order.
By the time she had almost finished her preparation, an order arrived, she was ordered by Ryouma to immediately return.
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”So then... Ryouma-sama, what are we going to do? Are we going to recognize the pirates?”
It was then Lione who answered Sakuya's question.
”Regarding that... Won't that be a hard thing to do? Although they are obedient right now, if we do something like that, those children might grow some dissatisfaction you know?”
”That would be natural... After all, because of those pirates plundering the villages and towns their parents and siblings ended up getting killed, and they themselves were being sold as slaves. No matter how much they feel grateful after being released from the status of slaves, the grudge inside their hearts won't easily disappear, we definitely can't do this...”
Toward Bolts statement, everyone nodded their head. -
All slaves had been released and in exchange, they had become Ryouma's soldiers.
However, the reason why they had become slaves does not disappear because of it.
Furthermore, because their current situation was good, the bitter past should be more profound inside their mind.
”But still, it is really regrettable that we have to discard the pirates' war potential. The a.s.sumption that we have to exterminate the pirates is because they might not obey us. But since we already have those guys allegiance, how about we use their war potential?”
Toward Genou's remark, everyone was silent.
No one could deny his words.
Not only those pirates had value as a maritime power.
They could be used for securing control of the sea area, they also had other useful values that can be used.
Regardless of the future prospects, neither agricultural lands nor fis.h.i.+ng ground had existed within the current Wortenia peninsula, the only things that can be regarded as a source of revenue were to sell materials obtained from the monsters, because there was no option to sell the demi-humans as slaves after all.
”That might be true but... If that is the case, are we going to ignore the soldiers' dissatisfaction?”
If they think about the immediate interest, it was not bad to pardon those pirates.
However, when one was to think about the long-term policy, conflict might occurs between the soldiers and the pirates.
Although it won't happen immediately, it might happen in the future.
Under this kind of unfavorable condition he was in, Ryouma only strength was the quality and high loyalty that his soldiers had.
Although the magic art they had learned was not that high grade, the quality itself was high. Recently they had begun to teach writing and reading to the soldiers
Being released from slavery had made them strongly loyal toward Ryouma.
But after given pardon to the pirates, that loyalty might be ended up getting destroyed. -
This problem was the most important concern for Bolts and Lione who lead those soldiers.
”I have no intention of receiving their allegiance you know?”
A low cold voice echoed inside the room.
”Are you sure?”
Genou watched Ryouma's complexion fearfully.
Truthfully, Genou had no intention of sticking to his opinion.
It was Ryouma's job to make the final decision, and because they understood that they supplement Ryouma's thought by giving him their consideration and opinion.
”Yes, I'm sure... It is impossible for us to accept them, no matter what... After all, they are atrocious criminals...”
This was not because of sentiment or other consideration.
No matter how cheap life can be in this world, it did not mean that this world had no law. -
It was not because whether or not it was appropriate, but it was because a country could not exist without law.
The Wortenia peninsula was formally a territory of the Rozeria Kingdom.
Naturally, under the law of the kingdom of Rozeria, pirates were recognized as criminals.
Furthermore, piracy was punishable by death.
And not just their individual as pirates, the capital punishment also fell to their family members.
Their punishment was heavier compared to ordinary murder because pirates had harmed other people on a daily basis for their own benefits.
Moreover, it would have been hard for a nation to maintain security without showing and convince the people that they uphold the law.
Things such as mercy and pardon were greatly influenced by times, education and living environment.