Chapter 155 – Soldier (2/2)

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Like this, a calamity spread into Vichy alongside the downfall of the small country called Pyursang.

There’s no one left who remembers that a former messenger was the cause for all this. Although he became a phantom king, there’s generally no doubt that he was a foolish king, who took along extremely many lives with him, in this world.

Escaping the attacks of the reinforced soldiers, the people, who somehow got away, informed Vichy about those news as well, but extreme damage spread until a report, which has authenticity causing the central committee to get its heavy body moving, came in.

And finally from there on the information was circulated to Orsongrande and Horant as well.

☺☻☺

Hifumi, who took several soldiers for the sake of steering a platform wagon from Fokalore’s army, sat in front of Origa and Viine on top of the shaking load-carrying platform.

“Nevertheless, it was wonderful swordsmanship. As expected of Hifumi-sama.” (Origa)

Next to Origa who is piling up one word of praise after the other towards Hifumi, Viine agreed while making her head go up and down like a toy. Her sole rabbit hear above her head is swaying while being one beat late in comparison to her head.

However, Hifumi discarded it completely with 「Such stuff doesn’t matter at all」.

“The part you should pay attention to isn’t that.” (Hifumi)

First he tells them to remember the time when they were attacked by Levi. And then Hifumi says that they have to think about the problematic issue Levi did there.

“Umm… her holding a weapon was easy to understand, is it about that?” (Viine)

“Greeting and then being unprepared at the time of the attack is the problem, isn’t it?” (Origa)

Hifumi nodded and said “there’s that as well” towards their answers.

“You should consider the difference in reach between me and Levi, too, you know? If she reduced the distance to a range more favourable for a dagger or if she made sure that I can’t use a weapon by slashing my arm, she could have fought me directly for a bit longer.” (Hifumi)

Even so, since there existed a fundamental difference in technique and physical strength, it was hopeless either way.

“Besides, if one thinks I will kill you, I will kill you with all their might, the hostility can be immediately read by the opponent.” (Hifumi)

The only capable of such thing is you, the attending soldiers of Fokalore thought simultaneously the same thing, but of course they didn’t voice it out.

“It’s that. If you always think about killing people, the air around you will stagnate and the expression of your eyes will become weird as well.” (Hifumi)

Due to his statement which seems to be completely blind to his own shortcomings, Viine was dumbfounded, but Origa nodded obediently.

“There’s no need to ponder about things that seriously while killing people. Of course it’s indispensable to prepare and refine your techniques in order to be capable of killing, but it’s unnecessary to mind it too much.” (Hifumi)

Taking out a flask, he gulps down a mouthful of the water inside.

“Drink water if you are thirsty and have a meal if you become hungry. Sleep when you become sleepy. Sign documents when necessary… it’s the same as that. Kill since you want to kill. Kill since it’s no good if you don’t kill.” (Hifumi)

“What’s necessary isn’t fighting spirit or resolution”, Hifumi says.

“Umm… master, what will happen if I kill? Don’t you think about such things as well?” (Viine)

Hifumi returned a smile due to Viine’s question.

“I’m not really a homicidal maniac? Not considering the consequences while killing is the deed of a mere fool. Having the necessity to kill, it’s only natural to accept the outcome from that, I think.” (Hifumi)

“T-Then, the readiness to accept that outcome is…” (Viine)

Hifumi lightly puts his hand in Viine’s direction.

“Why are you living while being so nervous?” (Hifumi)

“What an odd fellow”, Hifumi smiles and the soldiers’ faces are filled with tension.

“You don’t know when you will have a meal, right? There are still three days remaining until the next salary. It’s the same with the hesitation whether to eat a meal at a cart for 5 copper coins or at the dining hall for 20 copper coins at the time when you can’t use more than 30 copper coins. if you choose to eat in the dining hall, it will be wrong if you don’t decrease the number of meals for the remaining two days. How many hours will you be troubled because of that?” (Hifumi)

Origa answers 「It’s just as you say, Hifumi-sama」 while smiling. Viine answered that she agreed even while being confused.

The soldiers send pitying looks towards Viine.

“If you think that you should kill, then kill. It’s necessary to think about the result of that, but there’s no need to hold back regarding the matter of killing itself. It’s no more than a means. … In that sense, Imeraria might be ((ready)) soon as well.” (Hifumi)

Drawing the katana in order to maintain it, Hifumi muttered delightfully while lining up the tools.

“What about Her Majesty the Queen?” (Origa)

Even while her face is smiling, Origa’s eyes aren’t.

“That person will probably soon reach the stage where she can prepare by pondering “how to kill him?” since she has no other goal but killing me. She has felt the atmosphere of battle, and furthermore she even experienced herself giving the order to kill others on-site. Her emotional, evasive sense against killing has faded, and she has reached the point where she can consider murder as one of the possible means.” (Hifumi)

Viine is captivated by the complex structure of the katana, but Origa looked seriously at Hifumi.

“Her feeling of wanting to remove me, to kill me, probably isn’t weird. But it’s about removing me more calmly. She is able to think about the consequences of that. In that case, her thinking will likely revolve about a method to kill me with a further cooled down brain in reverse.” (Hifumi)

Confirming the condition of the tang, he carefully wipes it.

“Hifumi-sama…” (Origa)

Origa started to say something but stopped.

Hifumi doesn’t ask Origa either.

“This part is beautiful, master.” (Viine)

“Ah, it’s called guard and is originally for the sake of protecting the hand. I have an obsession regarding this. The design is simple for the sake of strength. With the holes being as small as possible as well, it’s to make sure that the point of of a sword never enters.” (Hifumi)

The guard, which was presented by holding it aloft in front of Viine, had six tiny, open holes in the vicinity of the hole for the sword blade to go through. The character of “一” has been carved into the open space, but Viine can’t see it as anything but a simple horizontal line having been drawn. (T/N: The character means “hitotsu” (one/single) and is also part of Hifumi’s name (一二三))

“I don’t know its value, but… I see that it was created thoroughly.” (Viine)

“Isn’t that fine then? If you think that it’s nice by the scope of what you know, that means it has value for you. If I consider that it received praise with such meaning, I’m happy as well.” (Hifumi)

“Fufu”, while spilling a laughter, he spreads oil on the wiped blade.

“Shall we create a new weapon while listening to the news about the battle after we return to Fokalore? I wonder what happened to Vichy. There’s probably no way that they were crushed in the blink of an eye, but I’m looking forward… no, no, after I meddled with that Horant, having too much expectations is rash, isn’t it?” (Hifumi)

After he finished maintenance, Hifumi tossed the katana into his storage and lied down.

“Let’s look forward to it just a bit. Origa, I leave the assistance to you once we return to Fokalore, though it will increase your troubles. Since it’s obvious that Caim will push the work on us anyway.” (Hifumi)

“I don’t consider it to be trouble.” (Origa)

Quietly approaching Hifumi who is facing upwards, Origa gave him a kiss.

“I’m your wife, Hifumi-sama. Until the day we perish together… no, even after we perished, my soul will be together with you, dear.” (Origa)

“I see.” (Hifumi)

Origa moves quietly and places the head of Hifumi, who replied her briefly, on her lap.

Viine, who intently glanced at their exchange while blushing, gently mutters 「I’m jealous」.

Origa, who heard that, revealed a composed smile and wasn’t able to say 「Me too」 until the end while Viine moves her lips with a *monyu monyu* having an expression mixed with jealousy and embarrassment.