Hyakuren no Haou to Seiyaku no Valkyria - Volume 22 - Chapter 2

ACT 2

“He’s...surrendering?!”

For a moment, Yuuto didn’t fully comprehend what he was hearing. He was sure he’d imagined it. He repeated the words several times in his head, and sure enough, there was no way to misinterpret them as anything else.

“Yes. Nobunaga is currently located near Glaðsheimr’s west gate. He’s strolling toward us accompanied by a small number of attendants and flying the flag of surrender!”

“No way...” Yuuto’s utterance under his breath came out like a groan. This behavior was decidedly unlike the cautious Nobunaga.

“I am almost certain this is some sort of trap,” Kristina offered. By all accounts, she was probably right. Yuuto recalled the battles of Xiang Yu and Liu Bang during the Chu-Han Contention. Yu, who’d led the Chu side, and Bang, who’d led the Han side, came to a stalemate and agreed to a truce, but Bang quickly broke that agreement, cruelly attacking Yu as he and his men retreated and ultimately clinching the hegemony of China. Yuuto first assumed that this was a tactic to lure him into a similar false sense of security, but...

“This is probably different,” Yuuto decided, shaking his head to emphasize that thought. Yes, Nobunaga could sometimes be as volatile as he was careful, but—

“He’s at a greater risk of being shot at again than I am to be lured. There’s no way he doesn’t know that,” he continued.

He couldn’t know for sure, but he figured that Hveðrungr or Haugspori had already made their move. There was no way Nobunaga wouldn’t be on guard for another attack.

“Also, right now he has no need to make himself a decoy in order to lure me in.”

“I suppose...” After a period of pensive silence, Kristina seemed to also notice how unusual the situation was. Apart from the casualties, the Flame Clan had the advantage when one looked at the overall battle situation. The palace had fallen, the Steel Clan forces had been cleansed from the Holy Capital, and Yuuto was practically in the palm of Nobunaga’s hand. Just looking at the results, it was an overwhelming victory for the Flame Clan.

There was little room for doubt. Yggdrasil was practically Nobunaga’s to rule.

Of course, in order to prevent any future insurrections, Yuuto’s capture was necessary, but Nobunaga certainly wouldn’t put himself in jeopardy for a simple deception ploy at this point. If he were that desperate, it’d have just meant he was afraid of Yuuto, and if that were true, then ruling the heavens and earth was practically a pipe dream for him. There was no way that someone with as much pride as Oda Nobunaga would agree to such a tactic. Taking an action like that would only make him appear less intimidating and would have huge negative consequences for the future management of the nation. It would be a prime example of putting the cart before the horse.

“Looking at it from the opposite angle, that means Nobunaga has some other reason for this. Something significant enough to necessitate surrender while knowing full well the dangers of doing so.”

“Makes sense, but what could he possibly be planning...?” Kristina asked.

“Heck if I know. If I had the answer to that, we wouldn’t be in such trouble,” Yuuto replied and shrugged in resignation. This came as a complete shock. He was unable to come up with a coherent response at that moment. Could it be that Nobunaga actually had been so heavily wounded in the collapse and by the sniper attack that he really did intend to surrender? Did he want to avoid being hunted down by the Steel Clan? No, if that were the case, then Nobunaga wouldn’t be moving toward him so nonchalantly. To begin with, it’d be pointless to give up the Holy Capital after going so far to make it his.

“So, what should we do?”

“Good question.” Yuuto sighed deeply and looked up at the sky. The possibility that it was a trap was slim. To begin with, Yuuto had no interest in the unification of Yggdrasil. Until he was able to escape, he was fine leaving it just the way it was. And he didn’t want to create any more casualties. If the other side was willing to surrender, he’d readily welcome it.

“We’ll accept his surrender.”

He had no other option.

An arrow whooshed toward them from seemingly nowhere, stabbing into the ground with a thunk.

“What in blazes?!”

“Master, stand down! It’s dangerous!” Nobunaga’s retinue of bodyguards snapped into action, suddenly bloodthirsty as they surveyed the area.

Nobunaga gave a small, exasperated smile, and waved his hand for them to cease. “Calm down, men. It’s just a letter.” He gestured toward the arrow, which had a piece of paper tied to it. One of his retinue picked up the arrow, unrolled the paper, and handed it to Nobunaga. On it was just one sentence: “We accept your surrender.”

“Hmph. Well, everything so far has been within my expectations.”

He had long since seen through Yuuto’s motive of trying to buy time by stalling the Flame Clan Army. He knew that his surrender was what Yuuto wanted more than anything else right now. The real battle would be from this point forward.

“Homura.” Nobunaga addressed his prized daughter, who was standing in front of him as if to protect him. There was no response. She was apparently so focused on scanning the area for hostiles that his voice hadn’t reached her ears. She reminded him of a wildcat with its fur standing on end.

“Good grief.” Nobunaga scratched his head vexingly. “Homura, are you listening? HOMURA!”

“Hya!” His charged voice brought Homura back to her senses as she let out a yelp of surprise.

“Do not be so on guard you lose the ability to react when you need to, my daughter.”

“Oh... Um... Okay, daddy...” She was apparently aware of her mistake, as she dropped her head bashfully. Nobunaga wished she was more composed at times like this. If she had been calmer, she would’ve realized that the earlier arrow was never fired with the intent of killing Nobunaga. She was strong, sure, but still far from reliable. Though, since she was still only ten and had just witnessed her father being shot in front of her, perhaps her mistake was to be expected.

“Have you pinpointed the location of the one who shot the arrow?” he asked.

“Eh? Ah, yes, daddy. It came from over there. About six hundred paces away, I think. The archer is good at erasing his presence. If I hadn’t been paying attention, I would’ve lost him too.”

“I see.” Nobunaga couldn’t stop his eyes from widening. One of Homura’s talents as an Einherjar was the ability to sense nearby signs of life. That power of hers was scarily accurate—in fact, the reason the Steel Clan’s self-destructive retreat tactic fell by the wayside was entirely due to her. The fact that even she almost failed to nail down the enemy archer’s location spoke volumes for their ability.

“The enemy is just as skilled as expected, it seems,” Nobunaga stated.

“What should we do, daddy? To be honest, I want to hunt down and kill that archer, but you don’t want me to do that, do you?”

“No, I do not.” Nobunaga met Homura’s upturned eyes with a curt reply. Such an action would nullify the Flame Clan’s intent to surrender. That was something he wanted to avoid at all costs. “Let them be. We do not intend to harm our opponent.”

“Not even if things get ugly?” Homura responded to Nobunaga’s intercession with pursed lips and puffed-up cheeks. The earlier arrow message had apparently been quite traumatic for her.

“Ha ha. Even in the worst-case scenario, I have you to protect me, my daughter. For one as skilled as you, that should be a cinch, no?”

“Of course, daddy! Leave it to me!” Nobunaga’s words seemed to have cheered her up as she pounded her chest with confidence.

“She’s still a kid after all.”

Nobunaga looked upon that display of bravado with extreme fondness. He wanted her to have a happy future.

“Mittsu!”

“Yes, My Lord!”

When Nobunaga called his name, one of his retinue—a young lad—ran to his side and replied. Mittsu was well-built and muscular to begin with, but the muscles in his right arm bulged especially conspicuously. That made sense, considering he was the strongest archer the Flame Clan had. That right arm of his spoke to the years of practice he’d spent honing his craft.

“Just as we discussed, can you fire six hundred paces in that direction?”

“With ease, My Lord.” Mittsu gave a confident nod.

In this era, six hundred paces to a grown adult was akin to approximately four hundred twenty meters in the modern age. The Flame Clan’s bows fired from an effective range of approximately two hundred meters, with the maximum possible range being about four hundred meters. For a messenger arrow to reach beyond that while compensating for the arrow’s weight and resistance to the air required an almost superhuman show of skill, yet his reply was immediate.

“Hah!” With a cry of strength, Mittsu fired the arrow. They’d already expected the Steel Clan to comply, so the message had already been written ahead of time. It read:

Let us meet as fellow supreme commanders so we may have a heart-to-heart.

It clearly sounded like a trap, and there was a strong possibility it would be taken as such. But Nobunaga was running out of time. He had no choice but to reach for the last thread of hope he had left.

“‘Let us meet as fellow supreme commanders so we may have a heart-to-heart,’ huh?” Yuuto repeated the words Kristina had relayed to him. Not too long ago, he’d been struggling in a life-or-death battle against the forces of the man now asking for peace. This sudden call for negotiations, not via letters or messengers but face-to-face as respective leaders, couldn’t have been more dubious. It was typically the losers of a battle that had to beg for their lives; he’d never heard of a situation where the side with the upper hand had surrendered.

“Well, they do keep falling for our tricks. It’d only be natural for them to think we still have the advantage.” His hand on his chin, Yuuto was deep in thought. Sure, there was nothing particularly strange about that line of thinking, but something about this whole situation just didn’t add up. Nobunaga had been on the receiving end of Yuuto’s unusual tactics several times now, so he knew Nobunaga wasn’t the type to back down. If anything, it was quite the contrary—he was the kind of person to take control of the situation and bend it to his will.

“Big Brother, I feel that this is too dangerous,” Felicia advised worriedly. He understood what she meant. Honestly, he’d have been lying if he’d said he wasn’t afraid. In fact, if he threw in the towel and escaped right now, he’d probably be able to see Mitsuki and his children again.

“No, I’m going. Tell them I accept their invitation, Kris,” Yuuto replied.

Yuuto knew full well the danger. He didn’t want to die. On the contrary, he would do whatever it took to live. But sacrificing the brave warriors fighting for him wasn’t an option. Not when he’d been the one to order them to fight in the first place. After coming this far, he would not abandon his responsibility by ensuring only his own survival. He wanted as many of his men as possible to make it through this. That was his duty as a supreme commander.

“Understood,” said Kristina’s quiet voice through the transceiver, but then he heard her sigh. Kristina almost never let emotion show in her voice, but after spending four years around her, Yuuto could tell that she was beside herself with worry.

“I’ve been with you long enough to know how obstinate you can be at times like this,” Felicia chimed in.

“Ow, harsh.” Yuuto reflexively grimaced, but he couldn’t deny the truth of what she’d said, so he didn’t argue. “Sorry you’re always having to deal with me.”

“Oh, I’m used to it by now. Of course, I’ll be coming along with you. It’s my duty to protect my big brother, after all.”

“Huh?! But you...” Yuuto unconsciously glanced at Felicia’s stomach. She had slender, beautiful hips, so he couldn’t really tell, but according to her, she was bearing Yuuto’s child. Nobunaga had his own honor to uphold in this world he hoped to rule, so Yuuto might be able to return home alive, but that was pure conjecture, not a given.

In fact, back in Nobunaga’s youth, when his younger brother Nobuyuki had staged a rebellion against him, he’d feigned illness to lure his brother in and then assassinated him. While that had been a completely different situation, the fact that he’d done something so callous made Yuuto’s judgment of Nobunaga’s integrity waver. Nobunaga also gave in to his emotions easily, and since Yuuto had now put down several veteran Flame Clan warriors, there was no way he wouldn’t harbor a grudge. He absolutely could not take the woman bearing his child to a battlefield like that.

“I promised Big Sister Mitsuki that I would bring you back home safe and sound, Big Brother. I won’t go back on my word!” Her eyes shone with indomitable will as she looked Yuuto directly in the face. At times like these, she could be just as obstinate as Yuuto, but despite her conviction, he still felt major trepidation in taking her along. As he remained at a loss, wondering what to do...

“What if I go with you as well? Then there’ll be no problem, right?” A dignified voice came from behind him. He turned around to see Sigrún, her hair fluttering in the wind.

“Rún! Are you okay now?!” Yuuto, surprised by Sigrún’s sudden appearance, couldn’t help but blurt out.

“Yes. I do apologize for leaving you in such a desperate situation. There could be no greater shame for a warrior such as I.” Sigrún furrowed her brow as she bowed her head in apparent sorrow. After she’d fought one fierce battle after another, and after having spent every last ounce of her stamina, she’d finally passed out following her encounter with Homura. “But thanks to the rest you allowed me, I’ve recovered most of my strength. I believe I shall be of use to you once more.” Her tone was as matter-of-fact as always, but she couldn’t fool Yuuto’s eyes. Her knees were quivering ever so slightly. She’d already entered the Realm of Godspeed twice today. Even a single use of that ability resulted in severe muscle pain that left the user unable to move afterward. A few hours of rest would hardly be enough to recover from its effects.

“Is that so?” Felicia seemed to notice as well, because she approached Sigrún, grabbed her right arm, and yanked it forward while pushing down on Sigrún’s left shoulder with her other hand. Sigrún’s posture immediately crumbled. She then swept Sigrún’s feet from underneath her in a fluid motion using the judo technique known as a sweeping leg throw, sending Sigrún to the ground with ease.

“Are you suggesting you’re battle-ready in that sorry state?” Felicia’s tone was icy as she glared down at Sigrún on the ground.

Sigrún scowled, biting her lip in frustration. Normally, she could have handled any sort of surprise attack with aplomb and would never have made a mistake like leaving her dominant arm open to her foe. Under any other circumstance, Felicia would’ve been the one to end up on the ground—that was just how wide the gap in skill was between the two women. Yet Sigrún had been the one to fall, and she still hadn’t made a move to stand even now. No, it wasn’t that she hadn’t tried to stand, it was that she couldn’t. She was utterly drained.

“Perhaps if you’d come at me with the intent to kill, the outcome would’ve been different,” Sigrún spat stubbornly, still collapsed on the ground. She seemed to be implying that in that instance she’d have entered the Realm of Godspeed to clinch the victory.

“I don’t think so, Rún. You’re not coming with us, and that’s final.” Yuuto stepped in and made the decisive call—he couldn’t allow her to wear herself down any more than she already had. Perhaps an ability that allowed her to stretch beyond her limits would let her fight alongside them even in her current state, but Yuuto was worried that a third use of Realm of Godspeed might cause serious, permanent damage to her body.

“What?! But, Father...!” Sigrún protested.

“As you are right now, you can’t even use your right arm properly. If you continue on in this state, you might even lose the ability to walk on your own. I can’t in good faith let you do that to yourself.”

“I am both your sword and your shield, Father. Even if all four of my limbs break beyond repair while protecting you, I shall have no regrets.”

“Still not happening. You stay here and rest—that’s an order.”

“But—!”

“No means no, Rún.”

“Mmmgh!”

Despite Sigrún’s stubbornness, Yuuto refused to change his mind. Sigrún was always loyal to Yuuto, to the point where if Yuuto said the sky was green, she would proudly also proclaim that it was green. With Yuuto’s position made clear, even the strong-willed Sigrún had to concede with a sigh.

“...I understand, Father. But Felicia, I am also vehemently opposed to you going in my stead. You are carrying Father’s child, are you not?”

“I’m surprised you noticed.”

“The shape of your body has changed, and you smell different. From just that alone, I can tell.”

“That so? But I’ll be fine, Rún. I can still move my body without issue. At least, better than you can.”

“And what will you do if the worst occurs?!”

“Isn’t Big Brother’s safety more important right now than what-ifs?!”

The two raised their voices as they glared at each other. Verbal sparring was nothing new for the pair, but the aura radiating from them this time was different than usual. Perhaps it was because the situation was desperate. They were practically at each other’s throats.

“Hey, you tw—”

“Heh heh, aaaren’t you forgetting someone?”

Just when Yuuto was about to step in, a voice brimming with confidence came from behind him. He turned around to see a girl with red hair done up in pigtails.

“Hildegard!”

“At your service!” She replied immediately when Yuuto called her name. She was like a little sister to Sigrún, as well as her beloved protégé. She possessed a wealth of natural talent as the Einherjar who bore the rune Úlfhéðinn, the Wolfskin, but lately her growth had been even more rapid. She’d taken down one of the Flame Clan’s Five Blades, Ryusai, and rescued an incapacitated Sigrún in the nick of time, bringing her to safety. She was even able to go toe-to-toe with Homura, a twin-runed Einherjar, pretending to duel her to the death while in actuality buying invaluable time to escape. Put simply, her exploits as of late had been indispensable to the Steel Clan’s survival.

“Right, can’t forget about you,” Yuuto nodded in agreement. Come to think of it, her battle capabilities and wolf-like ability to sense danger through sound and smell made her incredibly well-suited to the task at hand. Honestly, how had he not considered her before now?

“That’s right! Just leave it to your girl Hildegard!” She pounded her chest with confidence, but somehow that made her seem less reliable. “Oh yeah, that’s why,” Yuuto thought to himself. Her words and actions were often reminiscent of a small, harmless animal.

“Why are you always like this, Rún?!”

“I daresay I could ask you the same, Felicia!”

“Hey, is anyone even listening?!” Felicia and Sigrún continued their argument, completely ignoring Hildegard. It was like she didn’t even register within either of their consciousnesses. Such was par for the course for Hildegard, a girl born under an unlucky star.

“Please be careful, Big Brother. I mean it.”

“It’ll be fine. They agreed to all of our demands, so there’s nothing to worry about.” Yuuto shrugged his shoulders and grinned reassuringly at a worried Felicia. The Flame Clan had accepted the conditions the Steel Clan had since laid down for the meeting with Nobunaga, and everything was going smoothly. They’d been able to get him to concede on the meeting point being a place far away from the Flame Clan’s main command post, managed to restrict Nobunaga’s retinue to only a small number of troops, and ensured that Homura would be absent during the negotiations. In fact, it was almost going too smoothly—something was strange about having so many of those demands accepted, since they clearly gave the Steel Clan the upper hand.

Sigrún, who stood beside Yuuto, let out a heavy sigh. “Honestly, Hilda, the fact that you’ll be the only one with him has me worried...” She reminded Yuuto of a mother sending her child off to their first day of elementary school. In actuality, that wasn’t too far off the mark.

“Oh come on, Big Sis Rún! Can’t you see me off with a happier look on your face?” Hildegard pursed her lips in dissatisfaction. Being completely ignored earlier had likely soured her mood. “I’m better than I used to be, honest! You must’ve heard how I single-handedly dispatched one of the Five Blades! When will you start seeing me as a full-fledged warrior already?!”

“I do acknowledge your strength. More than anyone else here, in fact. In your fully awakened beast mode, I’m not sure even I could win against you.”

“R-Really?! You’d praise me that much?!” Hildegard was suddenly beside herself with glee. If she’d had a tail, Yuuto had no doubt that it would be wagging furiously right now. That reminded him of how Sigrún used to be back in the day, and he couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

“See, that’s why she’s worried. You let things like that go to your head too easily,” said Yuuto.

“What, you mean she was lying?!”

“I wasn’t necessarily lying to you,” Sigrún explained. “You’re plenty strong, and your excellent sense of sound and smell are perfectly suited for this task. The problem is that you often get full of yourself when things are going your way and end up letting your guard down.” Sigrún frowned in worry, just like a mother would. This operation would determine whether Yuuto, Sigrún’s sworn father, survived, so of course she was worried, but Hildegard was too preoccupied to realize.

“I’m not a child anymore, Big Sis Rún! How about putting some faith in me?!”

“Well, I suppose you’re right about that. Anyway, be sure to keep yourself in check! Understood?”

“Big Sis, saying stuff like that to me is only gonna have the opposite effect! In fact, the old me would probably be getting mad and losing her cool right about now!”

“Hmm, is that so?”

“Yeah. Of course. I’m way calmer than I used to be, though, so I can just laugh off something like that now!” Hildegard gave a wry smile as if to say “Sorry, this is just how I am.” In truth, it was the type of relaxed, natural smile that showed how at peace with herself she’d become. Yuuto knew that feeling well—the feeling of successfully accomplishing something and having the confidence boost that came with it become a pillar in your heart, supporting you. For Yuuto, that was his experience of smelting steel.

For Hildegard, it was most likely defeating Ryusai. A number of times now she had let her chances of gaining acclaim on the battlefield slip through her fingers, and she’d been quite desperate to make up for those shortcomings. Her newfound calmness was probably a result of having that worry dissolved.

“Hm.” Sigrún seemed to have picked up on it too, as her expression changed. Moments after, an overwhelmingly murderous aura began to emanate from her body. It was the type of sharp, cold, and heavy killing intent only a first-rate warrior like Sigrún could produce, despite her currently barely being able to stand. Its intensity made Yuuto swallow nervously. Even without feeling its full brunt, a regular rank-and-file soldier might’ve turned tail. Being right in front of Sigrún, the pressure Hildegard was feeling right now likely couldn’t even compare.

“Sooo, guess that means I pass?” Yet Hildegard’s reply was cool and composed. She, too, was a seasoned warrior. There was no way she didn’t pick up on the aura Sigrún was radiating. She immediately sensed that Sigrún wasn’t serious and deflected that intimidating aura with the strength of her own will. It was something only someone who truly was at peace with themselves could accomplish. The old Hildegard would’ve cowered and run away for certain.

“Hmph.” Sigrún snorted derisively, but the fact that she did not chide Hildegard any further implied tacit acknowledgment. Hildegard must’ve understood that as well, judging by the smug grin on her face. Yuuto could plainly see the deep bond the two of them shared as teacher and pupil from how in sync they were. They probably would’ve denied it had he called attention to it, though.

“Well, let’s head out then, Hildegard.” Sensing the farewells were over, Yuuto called Hildegard over. Her and Sigrún’s exchange had moved him, but nevertheless, it was time to switch gears. The time had finally come to end the long battle against Nobunaga and the Flame Clan.

“So, you’re finally here.” Nobunaga smirked when he saw the black-haired boy approach. Was it his imagination, or had he gotten a bit taller in the year or so since he saw him last? That aside, the most striking change was the expression on the boy’s face.

“Long time no see.”

“Oh yes, it has been a while indeed. Almost too long to keep an old man waiting.”

“Or maybe you just need to learn by example and take it easy,” Yuuto replied with a shrug.

Of course, Nobunaga knew Yuuto wasn’t going to let his guard down around him, but he seemed a lot less nervous than before. Back when Yuuto and Nobunaga had first met in the village of Stórk, Yuuto had impressed Nobunaga with ambition that belied his youth, but he’d also seemed a bit stiff. Here, though, he looked almost haggard with fatigue, yet his eyes burned with an intense will that now felt complete to Nobunaga. Just from a glance, it was clear he’d grown over the past year. He’d become strong enough to put up a fight despite Nobunaga having three times as many troops. He was now someone Nobunaga could rely on.

“Come, let us have a seat.” Nobunaga entered the bowery, where two seats had already been prepared, and sat down with a thump. The location of their meeting was a recreational area on the outskirts of Glaðsheimr that a previous þjóðann had built several generations ago so they could hunt for sport. The bowery was on top of a hill, where an open view with no trees spread out before them—in other words, any lurking mercenaries and soldiers would be in plain sight.

“Sure.” Yuuto nodded and sat opposite Nobunaga. Their bodyguards took up positions on their respective sides outside the bowery. This was a one-on-one meeting between the two men capable of ruling all of Yggdrasil. Involving anyone else at this point would just be cumbersome.

“First, let me express my thanks for agreeing to my cease-fire. Of course, victory would certainly have been mine if this war had gone on much longer anyway,” he said, a smug grin on his face as he delivered the first attack. Nobunaga’s first verbal salvo was intended to keep Yuuto’s ego in check. Nobunaga had swallowed many of the Steel Clan’s demands up to this point in order to get him here, but there was no longer any need to hold back. He would say everything on his mind without hesitation.

As far as Nobunaga was concerned, this war was won, and that victory belonged to the Flame Clan. Nothing Yuuto could say to him would change his mind about that.

“Surely you must be joking. Most of my forces were still in reserve. Forces you didn’t even know about.” Yuuto responded with a sly grin, as if to say he still had tricks up his sleeve.

“Oh? It looked to me like the lion’s share of your troops had already been scattered to the winds!”

“Surely you of all people would have realized that that was part of our trap?”

“Hmph.” Nobunaga rested his cheek in the palm of his hand as if unamused.

Indeed, they had been completely ensnared in that trap. That rout had been the real thing, but that was precisely why he hadn’t seen through the ruse. Thanks to that, they’d been led by the nose straight into the heart of the palace and gotten caught in the rubble of the collapse. If Homura hadn’t been there, Yuuto would likely have won this war then and there. Or so one would think, except—

“I still have fifty thousand of my finest men at my disposal. Shouldn’t you have only several thousand on your side at most now?” Nobunaga inquired.

“Not necessarily.” Yuuto replied with a sly grin.

“I take it you mean the forces in the west? But that should only be ten thousand or so, no?”

“No, you’re correct, but we can manage fifty thousand.”

“Do you take me for a fool?” Nobunaga spat, but then smiled wryly. He already knew those words weren’t just talk. That had been proven in the last battle. Against the Flame Clan Army’s hundred thousand, the Steel Clan’s thirty thousand had held the advantage the entire time. They had been a painful thorn in Nobunaga’s side the whole time. True, with Valaskjálf Palace reduced to rubble, the Flame Clan’s victory was all but assured. However, the Flame Clan had likely suffered over ten times more casualties than the Steel Clan. Nobunaga lost as a commander the moment he’d failed to realize holing up in a castle was most advantageous for the ones on the defensive. Even from a tactical perspective, Yuuto had won—his focus from the start had not been defending Glaðsheimr, but delivering a huge blow to the Flame Clan by preventing their advance to Jötunheimr, and he’d accomplished just that.

In truth, Nobunaga had lost over half his men, and he himself was injured gravely. The Flame Clan could no longer continue its advance, meaning Yuuto had succeeded. Against the great Oda Nobunaga, no less. Nobunaga had no choice but to acknowledge Yuuto’s strength.

“You know, back in the day, in my quest to unify Japan under my rule, there was a man I wanted to avoid conflict with at all costs.” Nobunaga cast a furtive glance at the landscape outside as he fondly reminisced on the past. Yuuto gave a knowing nod.

“Takeda Shingen, right?”

“Indeed. He had many more men than I, thousands more. Not that I’d intended to lose if we did cross paths, but he was the type of opponent I wouldn’t come out unscathed from. To prevent him from exploiting any gaps in my defenses, I continued to butter him up, currying his favor.”

Nobunaga adopted his niece as his own daughter and married her off to Shingen’s son Katsuyori, then he made Shingen’s fifth daughter his son Nobutada’s legal wife to strengthen his connections to Shingen. He frequently sent his in-laws gifts, and he always ensured they were of the utmost quality. When, as an experiment, Shingen decided to shave down some lacquerware that had been nothing more than a mere accessory to one of his gifts, he discovered that the paint had been double and triple-layered, showing how valuable the item had been. After seeing the item’s quality for himself, Shingen had no choice but to acknowledge Nobunaga’s sincerity. Nobunaga recalled that episode fondly.

After his death, Nobunaga was often called an arrogant individual who didn’t even fear God in heaven, but the truth was he was as flexible as his goals required, not hesitating to bow his head and beg pardon when the situation called for it. Heaven and earth weren’t so easy to rule that you could do so with brute force alone. That flexibility mixed with inherent toughness was where Nobunaga’s true strength lay.

“Have pride, Suoh Yuuto. There are only two people in this world I’d rather avoid fighting. You are the second.” Nobunaga exhaled through his nostrils as if bored. With the stronghold of Glaðsheimr no longer impregnable, he had no reason to think he could lose. But another fight with Yuuto would mean many more casualties. He was certain of it. Yuuto was an accomplished enough warrior to make him certain of it.

He was despicable, and at the same time, reliable.

“That is why it has to be you. You are the only man I can entrust my daughter Homura to.”

“What are you saying...?” Yuuto asked with trepidation, his brow knit in confusion. Honestly, this had come out of nowhere. Sure, Nobunaga had talked about it once before during the Stórk conference, but things back then had been completely different.

“I mean exactly what I said. Since time immemorial, when forming an alliance, has it not been commonplace to deepen the bonds between two parties through marriage?” Nobunaga’s lips twisted up into a grin that Yuuto couldn’t see as anything but mischievous. He was clearly proposing this, well aware of how dubious Yuuto found it. Indeed, it was common everywhere for alliances to be set in stone by marrying off their sons or daughters to each other. But that only applied if Homura was a normal girl—not a powerful twin-runed Einherjar.

“Are you telling me that Homura is cheap enough in your eyes to be used as a bargaining chip? I highly doubt that.”

Homura was the strongest member of the Flame Clan—no, she was most probably the strongest person in all of Yggdrasil currently. Yuuto knew firsthand how terrifying her power had been in the last battle they’d fought. Considering how her strength also invigorated the other Flame Clan troops, one could even say Homura was a trump card whose mere presence was equal to fielding an additional twenty thousand or so men. Yuuto could not see a plausible reason why Nobunaga would want to let her go. Was it a ploy to assassinate Yuuto? If so, there was no need to beat around the bush like this. Was it a plot to infiltrate and take over the Steel Clan from the inside? Not when the Flame Clan already had the advantage. In fact, they could usurp the Steel Clan this instant through sheer numbers if they so desired. He couldn’t get a read on Nobunaga’s true intentions at all.

“Hmph. Well, we won’t get anywhere by continuing to pull the wool over each other’s eyes. Look.” Nobunaga gripped his tunic and cast it off, disrobing in an instant. On his bare abdomen, Yuuto saw a severe and painful-looking wound dressed with cotton. “As you can see, I have a hole in my stomach here. That masked man of yours shot me.”

“Masked man...? Oh, Brother Rungr! I see!” Yuuto reflexively expelled a breath of relief. He hadn’t heard from Hveðrungr over the transceiver for a while now, so he’d been worried, but it seemed Hveðrungr had fulfilled his duty as a sniper despite the lack of communication.

“Somehow, I managed to crawl back from the abyss of death, but even so, odds are that I have little more than a month left,” Nobunaga said casually. So casually, in fact, that Yuuto felt something was off. Would Nobunaga, who had overcome countless tribulations through his tremendous innate vitality, really give up so easily?

“I wasn’t aware that the great Nobunaga was such a weakling,” said Yuuto.

“Perish the thought. I could easily manage with a wound of this caliber under normal circumstances. However, this body of mine has already been afflicted with a terminal illness.”

Yuuto’s eyes went wide with surprise. He watched Nobunaga’s face, trying to ascertain if he was telling the truth. Yuuto had assumed that Nobunaga’s haggard complexion was merely due to mental exhaustion from the prolonged war, but truthfully, he did look worse for wear even when accounting for that. The ambition radiating from him was usually strong enough to crush any of his opponents underfoot should they let their guard down, but that typically suffocating aura of his now felt more like a light breeze. Perhaps that was due to Yuuto’s growth as a leader, or perhaps...

“I haven’t succumbed yet because Homura’s power is keeping the illness at bay, but every day my condition worsens.”

Yuuto found himself unable to respond. He continued to listen to what Nobunaga had to say.

“That’s why I can tell. I have managed to hang on through sheer force of will up until now, but I don’t have much longer.” Nobunaga spoke nonchalantly, as though he were talking about someone else. Historically, those in positions of power became more interested in immortality and longevity as their accomplishments continued to rack up, but Nobunaga held fast to the belief that humans are all meant to die someday. It was short, to the point, and simple to understand—very Nobunaga-like, Yuuto mused.

“As one who has taken several of my favorite retainers from me, you are my sworn enemy, Suoh Yuuto. I would love nothing more than to spend the remainder of my dwindling life on revenge, but...” Nobunaga glared at Yuuto with half-lidded eyes. Suddenly, the aura surrounding him became icy—sharp enough to cut like a blade. The retinue of Steel Clan bodyguards standing nearby tensed up in unison. However, it lasted only an instant, the murderous intent enveloping Nobunaga dispersing as quickly as it appeared.

“I’ve weighed my options, and I’ll say it once again: I’ve decided you are the only one fit to entrust Homura to. Truly, irony is a cruel mistress.” He sighed one of the heaviest sighs Yuuto had ever heard. Coming to this decision had to have been agonizing for him. “The moment I die, the Flame Clan as we know it will cease to exist. Homura may be a demon on the battlefield, but she is still only a child of ten, much too young to handle all the trials that come with authority and power.”

“...You speak the truth.” Remembering Homura’s actions and words during their fight at the shrine, Yuuto agreed. She was still quite immature. Her innocence actually made her all the more frightening, but it also meant she was unlikely to play mind games with her opponent, especially given her age. She had no understanding of concepts like reading an opponent’s intentions or disguising her own, nor would she understand what it meant to search for an alternative solution to a seemingly impossible problem or to prepare for a pivotal meeting by maneuvering behind the scenes. These were indispensable tools in the world of politics, and Homura simply did not have the experience necessary.

“My Flame Clan is made up of fierce warriors, all with fire in their bellies. I do not think for a moment they will miss the chance to seize the opportunity should I fall. There is a good chance they will all convene to crush Homura first, as she is the most dangerous entity in the clan.”

The way Yuuto saw it, Nobunaga had probably hit the nail on the head. This was yet another example of the power balance in Yggdrasil. Even looking back through history, the Nomads were a strong meritocracy made up of many clans, but they unified when a leader powerful enough to rule them appeared. Once that leader died, however, they dissolved in an instant. From the information Kristina had gathered, the Flame Clan’s generals were akin to a ravenous pack of wolves—they may have been unified by Nobunaga’s unmatched charisma, but it was clear they would disperse immediately with his absence.

“Ran was set to be my successor, but he perished in the previous battle. Salk is skilled, of that there is no doubt, but he is underhanded. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised for him to be the first to move to take over the Flame Clan. That is the way of Yggdrasil, so I have no room to complain, but I cannot entrust my daughter to such a man. I can easily see him using her to gain authority, then eliminating her when she has outlived her usefulness.” He let loose an exasperated sigh as he rested his hand on his cheek. One of the most precarious issues for a new ruler was how to deal with the family of the previous ruler. If they had no authority of their own to speak of, it was easy enough—they could just be married off and then treated cordially as a show of the new ruler’s gracious generosity. Homura’s circumstances were different, however. She possessed the overwhelming strength of a twin-runed Einherjar. If she wasn’t dealt with, whoever ended up taking over the Flame Clan would regret it once she came of age. Salk was one of the Five Division Commanders and by no means a fool. He of all people would have realized what risks would come with allowing Homura’s continued presence within the Flame Clan.

“The bodyguards I’ve brought with me today are two of the Flame Clan’s Five Blades. They have only muscles for brains, so wit and wiles are foreign to them. They will not be sufficient to protect Homura. When the chips are down and the Flame Clan is in disarray, they will not be able to act. You, however, are different, Suoh Yuuto.” Nobunaga used his index finger to point right at Yuuto as a satisfied smirk crept across his face—as if Yuuto was some pet project he’d become proud of.

“You do know I’m your enemy, right?”

“Of course I do. I’ve got to say, I now know how Shingen must have felt...” Nobunaga said with a sarcastic chuckle. He was probably referring to the episode right before Shingen’s death where he’d told his successor Katsuyori, on his deathbed, to rely on Uesugi Kenshin in the future. Uesugi Kenshin was Shingen’s rival. They’d crossed swords five times on the battlefield in Kawanakajima, and he’d always been a thorn in Shingen’s side when it came to conquering Shinano, which had been Shingen’s greatest desire. Many veteran warriors had lost their lives during their skirmishes, including Shingen’s beloved, reliable younger brother Nobushige. It was said that Shingen had wailed loud enough for heaven to hear when he’d heard the news. Regardless, Shingen’s final message to his son had been to rely on Kenshin. In other words, this situation was similar.

“As one I am meant to defeat, I have researched you thoroughly, Suoh Yuuto. I know you well. You’re an idiot that’s too soft for his own good.”

Yuuto smiled knowingly, unable to deny the comment. “I’m well aware.” Perhaps he’d have been better served being crueler as a leader, but try as he might, it was never in his nature. One could say it was even a complex of his. If he’d been more coldhearted, could he have prevented the casualties he’d suffered? Those were the kinds of questions that often kept him up at night.

“From my perspective, your softness has no merit whatsoever and is only disadvantageous to you. I see it simply as a squandering of the talent the heavens have bestowed upon you. By all rights, you should’ve perished a long time ago in this chaotic world. Despite your shortcomings, you’ve managed to claim victory over and over, cheating death each time to stand before me now.”

“I didn’t do it alone. I’ve been blessed with many wonderful comrades.” For Yuuto, that was the unvarnished truth of the matter. Of course, he couldn’t discount the assistance his smartphone had lent him with its knowledge of the modern world, but if Felicia hadn’t taken care of him when he was weak and useless, Yuuto would be six feet under right now. If it wasn’t for the Wolf Clan’s former patriarch Fárbauti, Loptr would’ve long since cut Yuuto down. If the now-deceased Skáviðr hadn’t taken it upon himself to do the dirty work required of a patriarch, the naïve Yuuto’s heart would’ve shattered beyond repair. Without the master craftswoman Ingrid, Yuuto’s knowledge of the modern world would’ve gone to waste, his ideas remaining only on paper. Without Sigrún’s genius, he wouldn’t have been able to win so many battles. Without Linnea and Jörgen’s unmatched secretarial and political know-how, his half-baked strategies never would have come to fruition and never would have been executed. And lastly, but by no means least, Botvid and Kristina’s information network had rescued him from certain death time and time again.

Because he had been saved by these and so many other people, Yuuto was able to stand where he was today. That was what Yuuto believed from the bottom of his heart.

“So you say. The reason you are able to claim as much is likely the reason you’ve managed to survive up until now in the first place. It’s not like there aren’t examples of benevolent kings throughout history—the Emperor Gaozu of Han during the Han Dynasty, Liu Bei during the Shu Han Dynasty, or even Japan’s own Ashikaga Takauji. Not my type of leadership, though.” Nobunaga snorted, unamused. “But it was precisely because you have that quality about you that I ended up calling a cease-fire. How ironic that the one I could put the most trust in in the end wasn’t a retainer of mine, but my sworn enemy.” His smile seemed somewhat sad as he looked up at the sky wistfully, as if in remembrance. Nobunaga, too, probably had someone he’d been able to trust from the bottom of his heart, and they were likely no longer in this world.

“I would say I’m honored, but I’m not sure that’s the right word to use,” Yuuto replied with a pained smile. Nobunaga had essentially told him he’d trusted him because he was too soft. That wasn’t easy for Yuuto to just accept at face value.

“Don’t worry, it’s an honest compliment. Of course, I won’t let you have my daughter for free. I’ll be taking equivalent compensation.”

“Compensation?” Yuuto couldn’t help but gulp. In the last battle alone, Yuuto couldn’t even begin to quantify how valuable Homura had been. What kind of compensation would be sufficient for someone like that? He couldn’t even begin to imagine.

“Hmm, let’s see. Ásgarðr, Bifröst, and Álfheimr will all be under the Flame Clan’s rule.”

“...Eh?” Yuuto accidentally let an idiotic-sounding noise leave his mouth. But that was not because Yuuto was surprised at the size of the demand. “...Is that all?”

In fact, the demand had been so anticlimactic that Yuuto doubted that was all there was to it. Nobunaga grinned like a child that had succeeded in pulling a prank on someone. It was a beaming grin full of vitality—not the kind one would expect from someone on death’s doorstep.

“‘Is that all?’” he parroted. “How disappointing. I was hoping my request would be completely off the table for discussion. I’m asking you to hand over almost all of the territory you rule over. You understand that, I hope?”

Just as Nobunaga had said, it was a huge chunk of land, to be sure. But because the citizens there had already moved, it was land that Yuuto had long since abandoned. It would be no skin off Yuuto’s nose if Nobunaga took over territory he’d already tossed aside. On the other hand, Yuuto had already deduced Nobunaga’s true motive in this deal.

“With this agreement, you’d have some fine battle spoils on your hands.”

“Exactly,” Nobunaga gave a satisfied nod as if to praise Yuuto for figuring it out. This long battle had caused the Flame Clan forces to dwindle by over ten thousand, and even generals like Shiba and Vasserfall had lost their lives. If the clan’s crown jewel, Homura, was also taken away, no doubt the remaining clan members would be unsatisfied with the outcome.

However, if Nobunaga were to end the war with possession over the lion’s share of the Steel Clan’s territory, Glaðsheimr included, it’d be a different story. No one would be able to complain in the face of such a massive success. They’d all unequivocally state that the Flame Clan had been the victors in the battle to rule Yggdrasil. Most people would probably also assume that marrying off Homura was a ploy to smoothly and peacefully gain the position of þjóðann by annexing the Steel Clan. Most of them would trust Nobunaga’s judgment, and no one would be unsatisfied by the ensuing peace that followed.

“So? Your answer?”

“...May I lay down a condition of my own?” However favorable the conditions of a negotiation may seem, it was foolish to agree immediately. He resisted the urge to jump at the offer, maintaining a poker face.

“Oh? And what would that be?”

“I’d like to propose a treaty—one that allows the peace between us to last for all eternity. I want it to stay in effect even after you’re gone.”

In Yggdrasil, Chalices were everything. But a previous Chalice could be reneged upon the moment the clan had a new successor. Fárbauti, the previous patriarch of the Wolf Clan, had learned that firsthand with Botvid of the Claw Clan. Nobunaga himself had said he didn’t have much longer. Yuuto had to ensure this didn’t happen again before negotiations went any further.

Nobunaga chuckled. “That’s the first thing that comes to your mind, huh? Well, if you weren’t that predictable, I’d actually be anxious.” He grinned like he was having the time of his life. Yuuto had the feeling he was being tested. Nobunaga was exactly the kind of guy to offer up his own daughter and create an amicable mood, then lead his negotiation partner into a trap. His personality truly left much to be desired at times like this; he was an opponent Yuuto couldn’t let his guard down around for even a second.

“Fine. I’ll accept that condition,” Nobunaga replied. “However, I’d like to leave a written record of our contract on both sides using tablets. Does that work for you?”

“That’s perfectly fine with me.”

“So that settles it. Negotiations concluded.” Nobunaga stuck out his hand for Yuuto to shake. Yuuto nodded and grabbed his hand. Yuuto felt the solid, calloused hand of a warrior, who had no doubt trained by swinging a katana every day of his life without rest.

“We are gathered here today to forge a peace treaty between the Steel and Flame Clans. These proceedings will be conducted under the watchful eye of our highest Lord Aurgelmir, creator of this realm. First, both sides confirm the terms of the treaty written on their respective tablets.”

The sonorous voice of Alexis, high priest of the Holy Ásgarðr Empire, echoed throughout the room. Having once conducted all matters of the Chalice primarily in Alfheimr as a goði, his wealth of experience had made him the perfect candidate to preside over the formation of this treaty.

“Now, to each party, I ask, are there any discrepancies?”

“None to speak of.”

“None here either.”

Yuuto and Nobunaga gave the tablets a once-over and nodded their approval. The contents were exactly as they had laid out during their meeting. There were no mistakes and no additional clauses included that Yuuto hadn’t heard about.

“Then, both parties, please place the seal on your respective tablets.”

Yuuto did as he was told and took two cylindrical seals from his pocket. Placing the side of the seal onto the clay tablet, he rolled it around. He wasn’t just fooling around. The signature of the þjóðann of the Holy Ásgarðr Empire was printed firmly on the tablet. In modern Japan, seals were marked by placing the bottom down on the paper, but here in Yggdrasil, it was customary to use the side. Next, Yuuto took the other seal and rolled it underneath the previous seal on the tablet. This seal had his name printed on it. When he looked beside him, he saw Nobunaga had already finished applying his own seal.

“Thank you for granting your seals. I shall now pass each of your tablets to the other party.” Alexis retrieved both clay tablets, placing Yuuto’s sealed tablet in front of Nobunaga and vice versa.

“I know it may seem redundant, but please check the contents once more, and if there are no problems, place your own seal.”

Yuuto checked the tablet again, just as Alexis had told him to. They’d have a problem if Nobunaga had somehow changed the contents during the exchange. He didn’t think Nobunaga would resort to such petty tactics, but he checked just in case. The contents were the same as before. Yuuto rolled his own seal underneath Nobunaga’s. Once that was done, Alexis shouted out in a theatrical voice.

“O Gods in heaven! On this auspicious day, witness that the Steel and Flame Clans have successfully formed a peace treaty!”

A myriad of feelings arose from deep within Yuuto’s heart. Many had lost their lives throughout this long war, including Skáviðr and Thír. He would likely carry those emotional wounds for the rest of his life. There would probably be days of regret ahead where he would wish he had done things differently. Even so, their deaths were absolutely not in vain. It was precisely because they had been there that Yuuto had gotten this far. The long battle to decide Yggdrasil’s fate was finally over with the peace treaty being forged between the Flame and Steel Clans.