Chapter 26 – Hush (2/2)

Is that guy really saying this? Imeria thought.

Viscount Müntzer is truly fortunate that Debordo isn’t the eldest son.

The eldest son, who was a stepchild, was the type who handled everything flawlessly without standing out while doing so.

Debordo’s tongue is often moving. (T/N: He talks/boasts about himself too much as proverb, I guess.)

“Please leave the matter of Vichy to me, then such things like a war will be finished in no time for certain.” (Debordo)

Debordo’s intentions are easy to understand. Imeria judged.

Resolving the friction with Vichy, which was caused by Hifumi’s actions to begin with, he was intending to ask for Imeria’s hand in marriage as reward for such an achievement.

His biggest rival, the eldest son of the Marquis Lagrain household, had died. Apparently he considered himself “on his own accord” to be the strongest candidate.

“Well then, let’s leave this duty to him.” (-)

It wasn’t Imeria who called out to Debordo.

It was Hifumi, who came and entered the office performing an unnatural bow while smiling with a broad grin.

“You bastard, who do you think you are! Currently I am about to be appointed to an important mission by Her Highness the Princess!” (Debordo)

Debordo, who advanced matters arbitrarily, shouted, causing Imeria to sigh now.

In spite of blaming Hifumi earlier, he didn’t even know the face of his opponent.

“It is the Hifumi from the topic just now. Leaving that aside, Imeria.” (Hifumi)

“What is it?” (Imeria)

“I dare say that this guy’s suggestion is a rather nice idea, don’t you think?” (Hifumi)

“B-Bastard! How dare you to speak like this to Her Highness the Princess!” (Debordo)

Being disgraced for not having known Hifumi’s face, Debordo, who turned red from the neck upwards due to anger, raised his voice loudly and tried to thrust Hifumi away. But the power he used to push the shoulder was used upon himself in return and he ended up falling to the floor.

“What a rude behaviour towards a marquis!” (Debordo)

“What are you talking about when you fell on your own? Furthermore, since you aren’t the successor, you shouldn’t use the name of the Marquis household either.” (Hifumi)

“Gu gu” (Debordo) (E: Nonsensical stuttering)

Finally reaching the limit of her patience, Imeria interjected before Debordo, whose dark red blood rose to his head, was able to spat out his next words.

“Müntzer, right now Hifumi-sama and I are talking. Restrain yourself.” (Imeria)

“B-Bu-But …” (Debordo)

“I won’t repeat myself.” (Imeria)

Having been told quite clearly, Debordo left the office while glaring at Hifumi as if he could kill him with no more than that.

“So, what kind of business do you have with me, Hifumi-sama?” (Imeria)

“I want to get your signature for this document.” (Hifumi)

With these words, Hifumi took the document out of the dark magic storage and passed it to Imeria, who took it while frowning.

“… Let me look at it.” (Imeria)

As for the document, it was Orsongrande’s request for reconciliation with the demand to hand over the spy Beirevra as suspect of the incident. This action was required before any kind of negotiation could be considered to begin.

“… Just this demand, this document substantially has no agreement at all.” (Imeria)

“Although I thought about it for a while, I couldn’t come up with any idea how to have Vichy discover and arrest Beirevra. I think this document will corner Vichy to a certain degree by sending it to the fellows in the central government.” (Hifumi)

“As soon as it is delivered it will give Vichy a reason to keep up appearance, right?” (Imeria)

“If they comply, that is, but …” (Hifumi)

Hifumi sat down in the reception prepared in the office and tossed one of the baked sweets, which were placed on the table, into his mouth.

The sweetness gently spreads within my mouth, as one should expect of the purveyor of the princess, it is truly refined.

“That’s what you are saying, but you still intend to look for Beirevra.” (Imeria)

“I am a kind master, don’t you agree?” (Hifumi)

Even though that was the cause, he laughed as he stated it.

“Every person lives by killing, be it directly or indirectly, as they grow up. In their case, they were accidentally involved in the deceiving and cheating between human parties and thus they only decided to conclude this matter by killing the other party. Only in regards to the search, he is a troublesome opponent. Considering this, I only thought that it might be fine for it to become a popular odd job, if a useful reward was to be provided.” (Hifumi)

Looking at Hifumi, who threw another of the baked sweets into his mouth, Imeria picked up the quill and signed the document.

“In such a case I will gladly cooperate with you.” (Imeria)

While gently blowing upon the document for the sake of drying the ink, she murmured in a voice where it was uncertain whether he had heard it or not.

◆◇◆◇◆

And then 10 days passed and the the preparations were finished. Hifumi’s expeditionary force left the royal capital towards Vichy.

Doing it the usual way, he would have left the city magnificently drawing the gazes of the public upon themselves. Since that wasn’t Hifumi’s intention, they split up in several teams and left the city inconspicuously advancing on the main road before the night was lifted by dawn.

Such things like food and materials had been transported to the city Fokalore which was situated close to the national border. The luggage consisted of most of the soldier’s weapons and there were many wagons drawn by the Supply Corps sheltering a large amount of food.

In the first carriage Hifumi and Origa’s group, the three captains, were situated alongside Pajou who acted as the Princess’ representative and witness.

“… I am getting sleepy.” (Alyssa)

“The sun hasn’t risen yet either …” (Kasha)

Apparently Alyssa and Kasha weren’t yet fully awake.

Given that they will set a bad example to others as captains, it was the right decision to toss them into the first carriage, Hifumi assessed.

“Upon entering Fokalore, we will stop there for a night and then set out in the early morning again. Review the contents of the strategy properly.” (Hifumi)

“Um … It is the first time for me hearing of something like “strategy” but …” (Pajou)

For the knight Pajou Hifumi’s method of drafting seemed to feel awkward.

“There is no particular reason for you to do anything. Besides, concerning the general populace I am not overly interested in becoming something like a statesman. Even if I provoked animosity from the beginning, I realized that there are no obstacles in my own way of life, only that we would be chased for our life in a blink of an eye like that.” (Hifumi)

“But …” (Pajou)

“Pajou~” (Hifumi)

Stopping what she was about to say, Pajou looked into the eyes of Hifumi.

There were no friendly feelings there.

Just as he displayed on that night where they met for the first time, there was only deep dark and gloomy darkness as he killed people at that time.

“I won’t tell you that I am fighting for the sake of improving this nation or for its people. Just that there is nothing better than an abundant territory to satisfy my desire to fight. Although I don’t mind if you aim for such a country, but if you become a hindrance to me, I will kill you.” (Hifumi)

It had been a while since she had to face Hifumi’s bloodlust. Pajou didn’t even manage to sweat.

With a dry throat she was gasping to breathe painfully.

Somehow she managed to utter a few words without averting her gaze.

“… I, I will only witness this battle.” (Pajou)

“That’s how it is and that’s how it should be.” (Hifumi)

Finishing this talk, Hifumi jumped off the moving carriage and while running parallel to it, he skilfully climbed on his horse.

After Hifumi was gone, the heavy air within the carriage become a little bit lighter.

“Pajou-san” (Origa)

Origa called out to her as she was drinking water from a leather flask.

“… What’s up?” (Pajou)

“Pajou-san, you never been hostile to Hifumi-sama, isn’t that right?” (Origa)

The style of that question itself was a warning.

Without hesitation, Pajou replied.

“Since I am a knight of Orsongrande, I have to follow my duty.” (Pajou)

“Really? In case this duty causes you to become a hindrance to Hifumi-sama … please be aware of the fact that not only Hifumi-sama will become your enemy.” (Origa)

Closed in among the sleeping Alyssa and Kasha, Pajou wanted to transfer to riding a horse too.