Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!? - Volume 45 - Chapter 1

Declaration of War and Childhood Friends

Monday, November 14th

To Koutarou, Ralgwin was supposed to be a hated enemy. He had supported Vandarion and then taken up the mantle after him. He’d also done unforgivable things, committed all kinds of crimes and terrorism, and many had fallen victim to them. Now he had a responsibility to face justice to make up for those crimes, which likely meant that he would receive the death penalty.

But when Ralgwin was taken away by Grevanas, Koutarou couldn’t accept it. He was furious. Although being sacrificed or put to death had the same outcome, Koutarou felt that there was a huge difference between them. Then there was how Ralgwin had treasured Fasta. Even in the end, he had stayed loyal to his allies. He had only taken up leadership of the faction after Vandarion because they were family and he was his student. Koutarou could at least sympathize with that.

It was because of this that Koutarou felt Ralgwin being sacrificed was wrong. Taking responsibility for his actions and receiving the death penalty was inevitable, in a way. It was hard for Koutarou to accept, but he could at least understand it to some degree. Ralgwin had done things that couldn’t be undone, but that didn’t mean using him to resurrect Maxfern was acceptable. How could he repent if Grevanas trampled his very soul? Grevanas had no right to do that. And yet, that didn’t mean that they should have sacrificed Fasta. Koutarou didn’t want her to die, and Ralgwin treasured her as well.

Koutarou was going around in circles, unable to find an answer, which was putting him in a bad mood.

Ralgwin being taken away and Fasta-san dying are both wrong. So what should I have done?

Even now, Koutarou was sitting on the sofa in the lounge thinking to himself.

“Satomi-kun is making that face again,” Harumi noted.

“Well, Satomi-kun can be surprisingly sensitive...and he thinks he could have made a better choice,” Shizuka pointed out.

“Oh, so he is remembering his mother...”

The two girls were watching over Koutarou from a little ways away. All of the girls had noticed his anguish and struggled to call out to him, but the problem he was up against was too complex. The first issue was that there didn’t seem to be much of a difference between the death penalty and being sacrificed. On top of that, it had been a choice between Ralgwin and Fasta.

The girls didn’t have an answer for what the right choice was either, so all they could do was watch.

“Can you hear me, Veltlion?!” Clan alone called out to Koutarou. Her voice was coming from the bracelet on his arm. Normally, Koutarou would have to answer a call before her voice would come through, but Clan had used an emergency channel to forcibly reach him.

“Clan?!” Koutarou shot up from his seat when he heard her voice. He couldn’t imagine her using the emergency channel for no reason, so he assumed something serious must have happened.

“If you can hear me, get to the meeting room right away! Something major just happened!” Clan shouted.

“Okay, I’ll be right there!”

With that, Koutarou ran out of the room. It was bad manners to run inside the palace, but given the presumed emergency, he paid no attention to that rule as he made his way to the meeting room.

On the meeting room’s large hologram was an image of Ralgwin Vester Vandarion. As Vandarion’s nephew, Ralgwin continued his uncle’s military activities in his place after the elder was gone. As the leader of the Old Vandarion faction, he was known as the man who kept the anti-government forces together.

“I am sure there are many this does not apply to, but allow me to say it anyway. Greetings, citizens of Forthorthe. I am Ralgwin Vester Vandarion. Like my late uncle, Lord Vandarion, I am one who laments the future.”

The moment Koutarou saw the image, he immediately knew something was wrong. And that feeling only grew as “Ralgwin” continued.

“My uncle stepped off the rightful path, but I wish to continue in pursuit of his original goal, and that is to overthrow the decrepit imperial ruling system that has lingered far too long.”

The feeling that something was wrong reached its peak when Ralgwin spoke of overthrowing the imperial government. Koutarou could see past his gleaming eyes and overwhelming words to the intense hate and vengefulness hiding under the surface.

“I will admit that it was a good system while our society was still maturing. However, it has remained for longer than necessary. As a result, the royal families and those affiliated to them have amassed too much influence and profit, which is distorting society.”

That was a view Ralgwin hadn’t had before. Although he had striven for the same ideal in the past, he hadn’t had any particular obsession with the royal families or imperial government. It wasn’t like he had no feelings about them at all, but his wish had been to fulfill his uncle’s goals. So if he’d had any obsession, it was with his uncle, and he’d had no reason to hate the royal families or government directly.

“Therefore, we have stood up to right this wrong.”

“That isn’t Ralgwin. It’s him,” Koutarou stated.

He was convinced. Although the man had Ralgwin’s appearance and voice, it was a completely different person. Koutarou had an idea of who despised the royal families and current system and wanted to rule everything in their place.

“Violbarum Maxfern...” Alaia’s nemesis and the man that Koutarou had banished beyond space-time. He recognized the hate and vengefulness in “Ralgwin’s” eyes—within him was no doubt the very same man.

“You think so too?” Clan asked with an anxious expression. As someone who had been there two thousand years ago, she had the same impression, which was why she had contacted Koutarou over the emergency channel.

“I stand before you today to show that we are not only asking for reform. In other words...”

Koutarou and Clan were of the same mind. This meant the start of something terrible...and Maxfern’s next words were precisely what they feared.

“We, the Patriotic Band of Knights, and the Forthorthe Liberation Army that we are affiliated with, declare war on the royal families and the Imperial Army.”

“You damn idiot! Not only do you sacrifice Ralgwin to resurrect yourself, you’re trying to start another war, Maxfern!!!” Koutarou shouted, slamming his fist into the table. He didn’t even feel the pain in his hand.

“Veltlion!” Clan exclaimed, her voice worried.

Koutarou didn’t even notice her words as anger welled up inside of him. In the past, Violbarum Maxfern hadn’t been satisfied with merely being the prime minister; he had set his sights on seizing everything. Alaia and the Blue Knight had stopped him, but now, two thousand years later, he had resurrected himself through Ralgwin and was trying to take over the country again.

“Those who share our aspirations, gather under our flag! Let us defeat the Imperial Army together and right this country’s failures!”

Prime Minister Violbarum Maxfern and Grand Wizard Grevanas stood before Koutarou and the royal families once more.

Turning the clock back a bit: after being captured by Grevanas, Ralgwin was held in captivity for a while. Since his room had neither a window nor a clock, he couldn’t tell how much time had passed, but based on the number of luxurious dinners, it had been two or three days. The room was neither cramped nor dirty. It was quite spacious, with antique furnishings. Ralgwin wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about such things, but even he could tell that the bed alone could pay for an expensive car. It was far too luxurious a room to confine someone who wasn’t cooperative.

“I suppose that’s just how serious he is,” Ralgwin muttered to himself with a wry smile.

It wouldn’t have been strange for him to be tied down with his mouth gagged so that he couldn’t kill himself. But Grevanas hadn’t done that. Instead, he had compelled him not to kill himself or attempt to escape using magic, and then locked him inside this room. As long as he remained there, Ralgwin was free to do what he wanted. He had a good idea why Grevanas had done this—he would not only be sacrificed, but his body would also be taken over by Maxfern during the resurrection. Meaning that although it was Ralgwin’s body now, it would eventually become the body of Grevanas’s precious lord. That was why the wizard had used a method of confinement that wouldn’t harm or put stress on Ralgwin.

A voice suddenly answered his muttering. “Of course. I expended a lot of effort for this.”

“Grevanas...”

It was the Grand Wizard himself. He had appeared by the door at some point and now leisurely approached Ralgwin. He had the wrinkled face of a mummy, but there was a sharp gleam in his eyes. To Ralgwin it looked like he was excited.

Seeing that, Ralgwin smiled wryly once more. “If you’re going to show your face, I guess it means the time has come.”

Seeing the normally calm Grevanas so excited, Ralgwin sensed his fate. Yet he remained cool—he had already resolved himself after making his deal with the wizard.

“Indeed, but...” Grevanas calmed down, doubtful about Ralgwin’s reaction.

“What’s the matter? Not happy?”

“I expected you to attack the moment I entered, seeing as it is your last chance.”

Grevanas couldn’t understand why Ralgwin wasn’t resisting and simply appeared to be accepting his fate. It felt different from the man he had known so far.

“I am ready.” Even now, Ralgwin was calm. Contrary to the suspicious Grevanas, he revealed his inner thoughts while keeping his cool. “Besides, I doubt you’re lax enough to have cast a spell that would allow me to resist.”

“You are correct.”

Ralgwin’s calm came from more than just his resolve. He was certain that Grevanas had taken all measures necessary to prevent his escape. If Grevanas could compel him not to attempt suicide, he could prevent him from launching a surprise attack. That was why Ralgwin did nothing. He knew it was meaningless.

“It would be foolish to try to haphazardly fight back for naught, only revealing my intentions,” he explained.

“That is certainly true...but you won’t get any more than a haphazard chance.”

“I am talking about possibilities and strategies. Rather than struggle in vain now, I would rather resist when some kind of distraction arises.”

“So you would rather attack me during chaos, would you? That indeed makes sense.”

Even if he tried, there was next to no chance of Ralgwin being able to escape right now. Grevanas was on the alert, with countermeasures in place. But what if some unexpected trouble occurred? In such a case, escape might be possible. That logic made sense to Grevanas too.

“Of course, it may be a very small chance,” Ralgwin pointed out.

“I shall take that as a compliment.”

“Vexingly so.”

Grevanas had been suspicious of Ralgwin’s behavior, but his doubts had now been cleared up. Resist for naught or hope for the one-in-a-million chance for something bigger... It is a bold decision, but Ralgwin would have no choice but to gamble on that. Now that he mentioned it, it is a strategic way of thinking...

Ralgwin was making sense, and the situation would only allow him to act in the way he had noted.

“Very well. Come with me, Ralgwin-dono.”

“Yes. At least let me walk at my own pace.”

Grevanas chuckled. “I am, oddly enough, in a hurry.”

“Because you’ll be able to meet your lord for the first time in two thousand years? It’s not like I don’t understand, but let me give you a warning.”

“And what is that?”

“Don’t get too involved with Maxfern. Those sorts of feelings are the reason I’m here. There are times when you should give up, even if it is your lord.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Walking on his own power, Ralgwin Vester Vandarion headed for the end of his path.

Preparations were complete. An intricate pattern was carved into the floor as a magic circle. It was already activated, flickering as if it had a pulse. When Ralgwin stood on top of it, the circle started shining brighter and pulsing faster.

“Please sit down on the seat in the middle of the circle,” Grevanas instructed him.

“Okay...”

Ralgwin headed for the throne situated at the center of the magic circle. As he did, Grevanas moved closer to the surrounding equipment and did...something. The equipment was all products of Forthorthe’s latest science and spiritual energy technologies. Magic alone wouldn’t be enough to resurrect Maxfern. It would have been enough to bring back someone who had just died by healing the body and returning the soul. But Maxfern had perished two thousand years ago, and gathering a fragment of his body, let alone the soul, would be a challenge. Instead, Grevanas would use Ralgwin’s body and soul as a base to revive his lord.

“It would appear I lost the gamble.” Ralgwin sighed.

“So it would.”

Grevanas turned his scrawny face toward the control room of the base they were currently at. Far, far past it was the planet of Forthorthe. But the control room was silent. There was no fleet bearing down on them. In the end, no distraction that Ralgwin had hoped for happened. So with a wry smile, he sat down on the throne.

“This is goodbye, Ralgwin-dono.”

“Does it hurt?”

“If it’s going to hurt anyone, it will be Maxfern-sama.”

Maxfern’s resurrection would take place in three stages. First, Ralgwin’s body and soul would be separated. Next, using the gathered technology, his soul would be overwritten using fragments of Maxfern’s soul in order to reconstruct it. And finally, the reconstructed soul would be reconnected to the body. Based on the experiments he’d performed, Grevanas knew that the reconnection stage was accompanied by intense pain. Since the body was responsible for sensations, Ralgwin shouldn’t feel any pain upon being separated from his body. And it wouldn’t be Ralgwin who was being reconnected afterward.

Still, I am sure you will feel intense fear and mental pain from having your existence overwritten... Grevanas chose not to say anything about the mental aspect aloud. It wasn’t wise to risk destabilizing the sacrifice before the ritual.

“I see. So it’s decided,” Ralgwin stated.

“Do you have any final words?” Grevanas asked.

“I’ve already taken care of that. Didn’t you do the same before you started your rebellion?”

“Ah, how nostalgic. You are right. Two thousand years ago, I made a vow to Maxfern-sama and had a long discussion with him before we raised our forces.”

“You should have another long discussion later.”

“I believe I will. Now then, Ralgwin-dono, it is lamentable...but this is the end.”

“Hmph...you don’t lament it in the slightest.”

“How harsh. Well, once again, goodbye. Or perhaps I should say, see you in a moment.”

“Sure.”

And with that, the two said nothing more. After working on the equipment, Grevanas stood at the edge of the magic circle and began his incantation.

“O spirits of mind in the depths of the heart! O spirits of the soul that sit on the throne of the soul! Heed my call!”

He used the same ancient magic language as Harumi and gestured with his hands at the same time to cast his spell. Grevanas would go on to use several spells. From high to low, from strong to weak. It was like a song, except his undead voice was horribly dry, twisted and stagnated. There wasn’t the slightest fragment of elegance one might find in a song.

Ralgwin found himself in darkness. Having been separated from his body, his senses were no longer working, and he couldn’t perceive anything. But he could still think. Despite being only a soul, he had maintained his ability to think.

It seems he wasn’t lying...

Like Grevanas had said, there wasn’t any pain. But he still felt fear. It was terrifying to think that he was being overwritten by someone else. He might have resolved himself to it, but the fear was inescapable. That and the mental strain were so bad that if he could have moved his body, he would have tried to run away in a disgraceful manner to escape it.

“So, you are Ralgwin,” a voice rang out nearby.

He focused on the sound and a figure appeared in the darkness. It was a large, old man wearing very old-fashioned clothes.

Uncle?! No, you’re not him...

For a second, Ralgwin had thought it was his uncle, Vandarion. But when he looked into those eyes, he realized it was someone else. They had the same dark gleam as Grevanas’s eyes.

Are you Maxfern? Ralgwin couldn’t speak, but he could think, and the old man nodded as if he’d read his mind.

“That’s right. I am Violbarum Maxfern, the man who was the Holy Forthorthian Empire’s prime minister. And henceforth I will stand at the top of Forthorthe.”

The old man didn’t answer out loud either, but they were able to hold a conversation. Their souls were communicating.

I thought you were a more intellectual man than that, Ralgwin replied.

He knew about Violbarum Maxfern, someone spoken of in history lessons, and he’d looked deeper into him after meeting Grevanas. Since Maxfern had been the prime minister, Ralgwin had assumed he was more intellectual. Yet now he saw that he was a man of ambition, with a strong will.

“Hahaha, history is so fragile. It twists so easily with a little bit of force. Illusions are also mixed in from other people’s desires. You can tell as much from Grevanas, no? He was more intellectual than that.”

Knowledge of Maxfern hadn’t reached Folsaria, so it was assumed that Grevanas had rebelled on his own. As a result, people’s recognition had twisted and influenced him, turning him into something closer to Maxfern. The fragility of history had changed Grevanas.

True, he did say that he was being eroded by your existence and history, Ralgwin commented.

“This situation is much the same. Like Grevanas, the information that makes me who I am has been eroded and changed. From here on, you will become me.”

Maxfern “spoke” in a harsher tone as he closed in on Ralgwin. It felt like he was telling him that he would crush any resistance.

Do whatever you want. My fate reached its end long ago. Ralgwin’s response was indifferent, as if to say that he had no interest in his destiny.

Maxfern found that frustrating. “Are you giving up? You are my descendant! Keep it together! Try to fight back!” The lack of resistance bothered him. He wanted Ralgwin to crawl desperately across the ground, even if he was at a disadvantage—to fight back. That was how Maxfern himself lived.

Don’t you want to take me over?

“They are two separate issues. I do not want to see my descendant fall so low. After all, my desire is eternal prosperity!”

Maxfern’s goal was to become the ruler of Forthorthe, which also meant that his family would thrive. That included distant relatives like Ralgwin. He was taking over his descendant’s body, but his mindset remained his own.

Do you think that’s possible? When you’re going up against the Blue Knight? Ralgwin wondered.

The royal family and the Blue Knight would stand in Maxfern’s way when he tried to take over the country. The Blue Knight with the sword of kingship was particularly troublesome. Ralgwin recalled when he had cut down his uncle. It had been a powerful blow, as if to cut the planet in half. He could imagine that it wasn’t something the Blue Knight could use whenever he pleased, but he should be expected to bring out that move when true danger was upon him.

In other words, he was a singular enemy who could use a strategic weapon without warning. That was why Ralgwin had needed time to prepare and why Grevanas had ended up taking the initiative. Naturally, Maxfern was likely to face the same problem.

“I will show you! I will be the one to seize the heavens! Even if I face the Blue Knight or the Goddess of Dawn! I will trample all my enemies and seize everything!”

Maxfern was resolved. He was going to fight, well aware of the powers of the Blue Knight and the others. Making up for his failure two thousand years ago, he would bring the Blue Knight and the royal families to their knees. His eyes burned with the powerful ambition to seize it all.

Everything, huh? Ralgwin narrowed his eyes.

“Indeed, everything! I will turn Alaia, the Blue Knight, and everyone who failed to acknowledge me into ashes and create a new world from them!” Maxfern was excited and overlooked the change in Ralgwin.

You are similar to my uncle, Vandarion, but you really are different enough...

Maxfern and Vandarion were similar, from their appearances to their behavior. In fact, Ralgwin had confused them for one another when he first saw Maxfern. However, there was a difference between the two. True, Marswell Daora Vandarion had been a man of ambition, prepared to take Forthorthe no matter the cost—but there had been an exception. He had been kind to his friends and family, and had had a compassionate side when it came to them. That included his nephew Ralgwin and his old friend Grenado Valkyris.

In contrast, Maxfern was different. He would give everything he had, likely including his friend Grevanas. History proved that. Maxfern had even used his niece, Lidith, for the sake of his ambition, attempting to kill her in the end.

“Isn’t that obvious?! Do not compare me to a man who failed to seize the heavens!”

Vandarion attempting to lay claim to everything was fine. As Maxfern’s descendant, it made sense. But he had failed and fallen on the path. It was a detestable folly.

You were no different. Ralgwin knew Maxfern had been bested by the Blue Knight and banished beyond space-time. He had died with despair in his chest.

Those words enraged Maxfern. “I, Violbarum Maxfern, intend to correct that mistake!!! I am nothing like your uncle! I will be the one to seize everything!”

He was furious because it was a stain on him. He knew he was no different from Vandarion, which was why he had to prove that he was superior by resurrecting and taking over the country—that he was the true champion, not the Blue Knight.

Then I look forward to the moment you and the Blue Knight cross blades, Ralgwin said with a faint smile. He was convinced that Maxfern would have the tables turned on him.

Maxfern didn’t like that expression, and his tone grew harsher. “I look forward to it as well! Of course...as someone who is going to disappear, you will never live to see it!”

Ralgwin didn’t answer. He simply stared at Maxfern for a while with his faint smile. It was as if he was looking down on him.

Frustrated, Maxfern brought their discussion to an end. “Now, you will hand over that throne! It belongs to me! I will be taking your body!”

And then, in an instant, large amounts of information were written over Ralgwin’s soul. Or perhaps the information that made up Ralgwin was being erased. He felt an intense sense of loss and the fear of being turned into something else. Even so, his expression never changed. The situation was going as Maxfern and Grevanas wanted, but Maxfern was displeased that at the very end, he had been unable to erase Ralgwin’s smile.

When he first woke up, Maxfern didn’t know where he was. It was a place unfamiliar to him, and with his outdated knowledge, he didn’t even know what material the wall was made of. The only impression he had was that the room was unnaturally bright.

But before long, he was given the information he needed. It was a Vandarion faction headquarters on a certain planet. The wall was made of a resin created by processing petroleum, and the light was coming from the latest in lighting technology. No one had told him this, nor had he studied it. For some reason the information was simply flooding into his mind. It was like reading an encyclopedia.

“How infuriating...”

Those were his first words upon waking up. He was vaguely aware of the source of the information, which was why he was frustrated.

“Maxfern-sama?! You have awoken!”

Grevanas reacted to his voice and ran up. Maxfern was sitting on the throne in the middle of the magic circle.

“It has been a while. But...your face looks terrible, Grevanas.”

“That phrasing! You truly are Maxfern-sama! Finally... Finally, I can see you again!” Surprisingly, Grevanas was crying. His dried-up body didn’t have any way of shedding tears, but his expression and words made his emotions clear. “It has been so long, Maxfern-sama! I am overjoyed to see that you are the same as always!”

Grevanas had sworn loyalty to him and made an oath to take over Forthorthe with him in the past. But in the end, they had failed, and Grevanas had died with regret. Years had passed before an occasion for him to be resurrected had arisen. And now he had finally managed to bring back Maxfern as well. It had been a long journey, and at times, he had been forced to retreat. But he had overcome it all to reach this point.

Although it might sound like an exaggeration, Grevanas had achieved his life’s goal. And from there on, he would proceed with Maxfern to accomplish the goal from their past. It was not surprising that he would cry now.

“Not quite. The memories of that man...Ralgwin, I believe, have been mixed in.”

Maxfern was unhappy at the moment. His knowledge of this place had come from Ralgwin, which meant that the man’s soul must have mixed with Maxfern’s to some degree.

“Please be at ease, Maxfern-sama. There is no intermixing of the soul.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“In the process of your resurrection, I archived Ralgwin’s disposed soul.”

“What for?”

“So that you would be able to live in this era without any inconvenience. You will be able to find any information you need by searching the archive.”

“But does that not mean that Ralgwin is inside of me?”

“An archive is nothing more than the word suggests. It doesn’t run on its own, and nothing will appear unless you wish for it yourself.”

Maxfern had lived two thousand years ago, so if he had simply been resurrected with no plan in place, he would have been thrown into a world where he knew nothing. For instance, how an automatic door opened or what traffic signals meant—there was too much information needed to live in this age, and it would take a long time to remember it all, just like it had for Grevanas.

Even now, Grevanas’s knowledge was lacking in places. If the same thing happened with Maxfern, their plans would be delayed. So Grevanas had stored Ralgwin’s soul, which held information pertaining to his personal experiences and what he had studied. It had been unnecessary for Maxfern’s resurrection, but it couldn’t be discarded entirely, considering how important information warfare was. By archiving the soul and giving Maxfern free access, there was no concern that he would feel inconvenienced by this era.

“I see, so it’s like I have a library of Ralgwin’s memories...”

“An apt description,” Grevanas agreed.

Maxfern laughed. “Grevanas, you’ve turned into a lich! You’ve always been as lively as the dead, but you’ve really taken that and run with it!”

Ralgwin’s memories included how Grevanas had been revived. Maxfern accessed those memories and laughed out loud again.

“Still, it seems some of what makes me up was mixed in with you.”

“I have a more self-assured personality like yours, Maxfern-sama.”

“You always were something of a worrywart, so this should be an improvement.”

“Perhaps so. But right now I am worried about you, Maxfern-sama. How are you feeling?”

“Hmm...better than expected.” Maxfern looked down at his body and confirmed his condition. It was his first time going through a resurrection, so he could understand why Grevanas might be concerned. He checked over his body like the lich wanted.

“Do you feel sick or have a headache?”

“No, I actually feel great.”

Maxfern couldn’t sense any problems. If anything, he felt better than before, having acquired a younger body.

“Are there any signs of the previous owner rejecting you?”

“No, there aren’t. I am the only one in here. I can freely control my body.”

Since he was taking over someone else’s body, one might expect resistance from Ralgwin, either intentionally or instinctively. But Grevanas needn’t have worried; he felt nothing like that. Maxfern appeared to have complete control over his new form.

Hmm, this is somewhat anticlimactic. I took Ralgwin for a man with more backbone...

Grevanas did find the situation odd. Before performing the resurrection, he had conducted many experiments under similar conditions. During those experiments, many test subjects had resisted. Their will could make it harder to move, or cause split personalities or more. The lack of conflict was a rarity.

Or perhaps he is confident that we will be defeated by the Blue Knight. If that is the case, you underestimate Maxfern-sama, Ralgwin...

Grevanas could think of several reasons for Ralgwin’s lack of resistance, but he couldn’t know for sure, which was a point of frustration to him, especially since it concerned the well-being of his lord.

“Perhaps you are a good match or Ralgwin gave up from the beginning,” he mused. “Regardless, it is something to rejoice over.”

Grevanas decided not to tell Maxfern about his misgivings. There was nothing the other man could do about it, so it would only worry him for no reason.

“You are still as cautious as ever, even with some of my components mixed in.”

“Well, it concerns you rather than me, Maxfern-sama.”

I hope nothing happens... These are just my usual fears. Right now I should simply celebrate the resurrection of Maxfern-sama!

It could simply be a matter of Maxfern and Ralgwin being particularly compatible. Although there had been few experiments without resistance, it wasn’t unheard of, so Grevanas chose to bask in the joy of Maxfern’s return and push his doubts into a corner of his mind.

After witnessing Maxfern’s declaration of war, Koutarou’s concerns grew deeper and more difficult. As expected, Ralgwin’s capture had meant Maxfern’s resurrection. Moreover, Maxfern wanted to conquer Forthorthe, so the empire would once again be plunged into war.

Could this have been avoided if I had abandoned Fasta-san? But would that have been the right thing to do? Wouldn’t it have gone against Her Majesty Alaia’s ideals? But...at least it would have prevented people from losing their lives in battle. Just as she hesitated to raise an army, maybe I should have accepted Fasta-san’s death? No, that’s...

War would start again, and Koutarou should have been able to prevent it. If he had let Fasta die and kept Ralgwin, this wouldn’t have happened. However, that was not what he had done. It would be more accurate to say that he hadn’t been able to make a decision, which was why he hadn’t stopped Ralgwin. And the people of Forthorthe would pay the price. Because of his decision, war would break out. Ralgwin and many citizens would lose their lives. But what sin had Fasta committed? Would letting her die really have led to peace and prosperity? At least it would have prevented a war...

Koutarou’s thoughts were running in circles.

“It’s not your fault, Koutarou. It’s that magical uncle’s fault for pushing the choice onto you! And the war too,” Sanae-chan said in anger, putting her hands on her hips. She wasn’t angry with Koutarou, but rather the methods the enemy had used.

“Veltlion understands that too. But he is the Blue Knight, so...” Clan could understand what troubled him. During their journeys two thousand years ago, she had come to understand what Koutarou treasured.

“He is trying to protect everything that Empress Alaia wanted to protect. But doing that brings about another problem,” Theia noted. She was well-versed in the legend of the Blue Knight and had also spent a lot of time with Koutarou. Like Clan, she understood how he felt. Koutarou continuously fought in order to keep from betraying what he shouldn’t betray.

“It is impossible to protect everything. As we are humans, we will eventually hit our limit. But Satomi Koutarou does not settle for that,” Kiriha explained.

“Satomi-san can’t compromise between Satomi-san himself and his hero self,” Yurika added sympathetically.

Koutarou acknowledged that he was a normal person. Yet he was trying to live as a hero and carry the responsibilities that entailed. He felt that it was his duty to live this way after bringing war to so many people. However, there was a gap between a normal person and a hero. He had his limits as a person, and there were lives he couldn’t protect. Situations that made Koutarou choose who would die would always trouble him. He constantly asked himself if he had been wrong, if there hadn’t been a better way, was there really nothing he could have done. He couldn’t be pragmatic about it. It was an ideal quality for a hero but also a cross to bear. All of the girls wondered whether he would be able to carry it.

“After all, Master is far too serious...” Ruth was strictly concerned. The clumsy Koutarou was committed to being a hero through simple honesty and had walked right into a wall. But he had no other way of doing things, which was why he would get increasingly hurt. Ruth couldn’t help but worry about that.

“Is watching all we can do? Can we only wait for time to pass?” Maki was gritting her teeth. Not being able to do anything frustrated her. The problem Koutarou was carrying was just too big and heavy, and she didn’t have an answer. Not being able to do anything for her beloved bothered her.

Everyone is too worried about Satomi-kun to do anything... I will have to do something, even if it’s impossible. Like Maki, Harumi had no answer. But if she did nothing, Koutarou would only continue getting hurt, so she needed to put in effort to prevent it. Harumi, or perhaps the other girl inside of her, made that decision.

At that moment...

“Jeez, he never improves...” Kenji, who had been looking on from a distance, scratched his head and started walking. He had intended to leave it to the girls, but he couldn’t keep quiet. “No, I guess it’s the other way around. This is his worth. I guess it can’t be helped... I’ll take care of this, everyone.” He pointed at Koutarou and walked past the girls.

“Mackenzie-kun, wouldn’t it be better to let him be, right now?” Shizuka called out. She thought it would be best not to irritate him and give him time.

“This isn’t that kind of situation,” Kenji disagreed. He had decided to go talk to Koutarou after thinking things through. He figured that if Koutarou was left alone, it would lead to a lot of problems.

“Maybe so...but...” Maki understood that too, but she loved Koutarou. She couldn’t make a decision that might hurt him.

“It’s okay, Shizuka-san.” Kotori smiled at the worried Shizuka.

“Kotori-chan?”

“I can tell. My brother is different from his usual self. This is the brother I respected for so long, so I’m sure he will be able to do something.” Kotori was strangely overflowing with confidence. She was convinced that with Kenji as he was now, everything would be okay.

“Hey, don’t put me on a pedestal.” Kenji smiled wryly. And yet he was aware that this was the first time in a while he’d been so serious.

“More importantly...please take care of Kou-niisan,” Kotori pleaded.

“Yeah, I know.” Kenji nodded.

“I will ask you the same. He is my—no, all of Forthorthe’s heart,” Theia added.

Koutarou’s slump was their slump, as well as a slump for the royal families. It was even a slump for the citizens who believed in him. Like Shizuka, Theia struggled to take action, so she could only pin her hopes on Kenji.

“Leave it to me. We’ve known each other for a long time,” Kenji reassured them. His eyes were surprisingly convincing. Like Kotori had said, there was something different from the usual Kenji, and Theia nodded. “This is an exception, though. Next time, you girls will have to do something about it. It should already be your responsibility, to be honest.”

He was taking action because of the current situation, but it should have been the girls’ job. They had chosen to support one another. Kenji looked at those who had gathered out of concern for Koutarou and smiled.

“Kenji...I understand; we will take that to heart.” Theia nodded. If they couldn’t save Koutarou, who would? This time, their lack of involvement couldn’t be helped, but it was no doubt their responsibility.

“All right, see you in a bit,” Kenji replied in a light tone. And with equally light steps he walked up to Koutarou like he was going to have a casual chat with a friend. His first words were the same as usual. “Hey, Kou. What’s with the serious face?”

That was similar to what he always said. While the line might have changed slightly, that was typically how their conversations began.

“It doesn’t concern you,” Koutarou said, rejecting the attempt.

He leaned back against the sofa and fell silent. That was different from the norm.

It’s been a while since he’s been like this. It’s really doing a number on him...

Koutarou’s reply had given Kenji insight into how deep his friend’s worries ran. Truthfully, it didn’t have anything to do with Kenji personally. It was, in part, meant to push him away from danger. Even so, it had been a long time since Koutarou had raised a wall between them.

“You think that reply is going to work on me? Has that ever made me shut up and go away?” Kenji asked.

Koutarou stared at him wordlessly.

“Jeez, you never grow up.”

Kenji smiled wryly at him. At that moment, he had given up on using words to make his case. In the end, words were nothing but logic, and it wasn’t logic that Koutarou was agonizing over. It was the idea of being unable to protect what he wanted to—in other words, he was stressing over the difference between himself and the Blue Knight.

Kenji decided to rely on an old trick. “Come on, Kou, let’s go,” he urged him, grabbing hold of Koutarou’s arm and pulling him up.

“Hey—”

“You shouldn’t be sitting around acting all gloomy in a place the sun doesn’t reach. Come on already. Let’s get some fresh air.”

Kenji ignored his friend’s resistance and practically pulled him out of the room. The girls stared with wide eyes as he did.

“It would have been easy for him to free himself if he wanted...” Nana muttered.

Like she said, it would have been simple for Koutarou to shake off Kenji. The fact that he hadn’t meant that he didn’t have any intention of breaking free.

Koutarou was dragged into the palace courtyard, where the sun was shining. This was where Elfaria’s greenhouse was, but it also had a large garden. Once there, Kenji gave him something.

“Here.”

“What...”

He had given Koutarou a baseball glove. Koutarou looked at the glove in surprise.

“It beats just standing there. Play with me,” Kenji said.

After a moment of confused silence, Koutarou eventually put it on his left hand. He didn’t know what Kenji was thinking, but he was tired of his thoughts running in circles, so moving his body wasn’t a bad idea.

Seeing that, Kenji walked several meters away and faced him.

“Here it comes, Kou!” Koutarou didn’t answer, but Kenji didn’t hesitate to throw the ball. With a thwack, Koutarou caught it and tossed it back. His body was reflexively moving on its own to play catch.

Thwack.

“Nice ball.”

Thwack.

The two continued their game. During that time, Koutarou was silent and Kenji was the only one to speak. Even so, Koutarou was spontaneously playing along.

Thwack.

“Your control is lacking. Have you gotten rusty?”

Thwack.

By the time the ball had been thrown back and forth a hundred or so times, Koutarou finally spoke up.

“I wanted to save them. Both Fasta-san and Ralgwin.”

Thwack.

Although surprised by the sudden statement, Kenji answered with a light smile.

“Fasta-san is one thing, but wasn’t Ralgwin going to get the death penalty anyway?” he asked, secretly relieved that Koutarou was finally speaking his mind.

Thwack.

“Even so, that’s far better than ending up as he did. It’s unfair,” Koutarou protested.

Thwack.

“And with your way, Fasta-san might even have been able to break him out, huh? You’re strict but kind, Kou.”

Thwack.

“Mackenzie, do you think I was wrong?”

Koutarou held the ball for a short while, and in that brief break, Kenji could tell that this was the problem that was bothering him the most. After thinking it through, he stopped moving around and gave an honest answer.

“I can’t say. When reality is so complicated, what’s right and wrong is based on hindsight.”

Since it was something so troubling to Koutarou, he knew he couldn’t give a casual answer and had to admit that he didn’t know.

Thwack.

“I see...” Koutarou’s shoulders dropped slightly at Kenji’s answer. There hadn’t been much change in his demeanor because he’d expected that sort of answer. So he didn’t stop playing catch.

Thwack.

“But there is one thing that I can say that you’re wrong about for sure.” Kenji couldn’t answer Koutarou’s question, but there was one thing he knew, and he felt he had to tell Koutarou about it.

Thwack.

“And what is that?”

Thwack.

“You’ve stopped moving.”

That was the mistake Kenji had picked up on.

“Mistakes happen; nothing you can do about it. And thinking about how to improve is right, but it’s wrong to get stuck,” he clarified.

A human couldn’t do everything perfectly, and it was fine to worry, but Koutarou had come to a standstill as a result, and Kenji thought that was a mistake.

Thwack.

“But—”

“Don’t you get it, Kou?! If you don’t take action, Fasta-san will go it alone! But her enemy is strong! If she does that, Ralgwin’s determination will go to waste!”

The world was still moving while Koutarou stayed in place. The moment of battle was getting closer, or perhaps Fasta was going to save Ralgwin or at least recover his body. If left to her own devices, she would die too. That wasn’t an outcome Koutarou wanted.

“Right or wrong, good or evil, no matter the conclusion, don’t stop moving, Kou. If you move, Forthorthe will move in that direction too. But if you stop, a lot of people will be lost and more will suffer—Fasta-san, the army, and probably the civilians too. Don’t forget that you’re standing at the front!”

It wasn’t just Fasta. If Koutarou failed to act, the people following him would lose their way, and their lives would be in danger. So he needed to continue even if he was carrying a heavy weight. That was the duty, and responsibility, of those who stood at the front.

“Mackenzie...”

“That’s about all I can say.”

Kenji had said everything he wanted. Koutarou looked down at the ball in his hand and pondered for a dozen seconds or so before finally looking back up.

“Hang with me for a minute, Mackenzie.”

“Idiot, that’s what I’ve been doing all this time.”

“I guess so. Then here I go, Mackenzie!”

Koutarou pulled his arm far back and threw a shockingly quick fastball.

Thwaaack.

“You idiot! Who throws a serious ball with no warning?!”

Thwaaack.

“Shut up! You just need to catch it, you lady-killing bastard!”

Thwaaack.

“Oh, now you’ve done it! How could you say that to your best friend!”

Thwaaack.

“Who cares! Haaaaaaaaahhhh!!!”

Thwaaack.

Koutarou and Kenji went wild, throwing the ball back and forth at full force. There was no technique or worries in those balls, and they continued playing catch for a while.

The girls looked on with concern, but when the pair started throwing the balls so hard, the atmosphere around them softened. It felt like the real Koutarou had come back.

“Koutarou-sama actually wanted help...and only Mackenzie-san understood that...” Nalfa said, wiping her tears. She’d been worried sick about him, and now the built-up tension had been released through tears of relief.

“My brother can handle things when he sets his mind to it.” Kotori puffed up her chest. That was her brother, the Matsudaira Kenji that she knew. Her evaluation of him had been in a steep decline recently, but with this, it had returned to its former place perfectly.

Theia nodded along with her words. “It’s frustrating, but I have to admit, we are no match for Mackenzie.”

Kenji had been able to do what they had not in less than an hour. Theia had to acknowledge that difference. Since she hated losing, it had a profound impact.

“I agree. But, Theia-dono, you don’t intend to let things end like this, do you?” Kiriha fearlessly smiled.

“Of course not! I will become a woman who can support Koutarou. I don’t know if there will be another time, but Mackenzie won’t get a turn if there is!” Theia declared.

“Hehe, agreed.” Kiriha smiled.

They were no match for Kenji yet. However, if there was a next time, they would resolve it themselves. After all, they had chosen to live together and support Koutarou. All the girls present were overflowing with resolve.

“Now then...I have work to do,” Clan announced.

“Allow me to come with you, Clan-sama. See you later, Your Highness.” Ruth bid her farewell.

“Very good. Go work hard.” Theia nodded.

“Now that I’m so relieved, I’m getting hungry,” Sanae said.

“Me too! Let’s go eat something!” Yurika agreed.

Shizuka stopped them. “Ah, wait up, you two! I’m coming also!”

“Kasagi-san, what about your diet?” Maki asked.

“Aika-san! Don’t make me remember that!”

“That reminds me, the people at the operations department wanted to talk with you, Harumi,” Maki pointed out.

“Me? Why?” Harumi asked.

“It seems that they want to make an exclusive flag for you,” Maki explained.

“Why would they want to make something like that?!” Harumi shouted in surprise.

“Nal-chan, why don’t we film that while we’re here?” Kotori said.

“Yes! I will go get the equipment right away!”

Leaving behind Koutarou and Kenji playing catch, the girls scattered. Koutarou was back to normal, which meant a lot of things would begin to move. And the girls had preparations they needed to make.

Around the same time that Maxfern, looking like Ralgwin, made his declaration of war, Fasta was trying to get up. Her objective was clear.

“I must recover Ralgwin-sama!”

She wanted to take back Ralgwin’s body. Maya had said that he had been captured in order to save Fasta’s life. If so, it was her responsibility to get him back.

“Hold up! If you try to move with that injury, you’re going to die!” Maya shouted. She grabbed hold of Fasta’s shoulder and stopped her. Although Fasta was alive thanks to Ralgwin, she was seriously injured and in no position to go rescue him right now.

“But...”

Fasta tried to go even so. She shook off Maya’s hand and attempted to raise her body.

“You will fail if you go with that injury. I understand your frustration, but you’ll die for nothing.”

“Ugh...”

“Right now you need to calm down and focus on recovering. Your injuries were forcibly opened up with magic, so they’re healing slowly.”

“Urgh, dammit... I never thought this would happen...”

With Maya’s persuasion, Fasta lay back down, vaguely understanding that she would die needlessly if she went now. She covered her face and tears welled up in her eyes as she bit her lip in frustration. She’d gone to save Ralgwin, yet she had pulled him down, and now she couldn’t even go save him. It was the biggest regret of her life, and her tears of frustration were overflowing.

“We need more time, Fasta-san. Not just for you to recover, but to make preparations to save Ralgwin,” Elexis told her.

His words made Fasta show her face once more. “What? Is that possible?!”

She was shocked. She had planned to retrieve Ralgwin, but the only thing on her mind was securing his body. She had no idea how to restore his soul.

“Darkness Rainbow—no, I suppose they are the court magicians now. Anyway, they might be able to do it if they prepare a large-scale ritual,” Elexis explained.

He glanced over at Maya, who firmly nodded. Like he said, it would take time, but the court magicians should be able to do it.

“With magic?” Fasta’s eyes opened wide. She knew about magic, so it wasn’t the ritual itself that surprised her, but rather that Elexis and Maya had a connection with the court magicians.

“Maxfern took over Ralgwin’s mind with magic, so it should be possible to reverse it. But a large-scale ritual is needed, so it’s not something that can be casually attempted. It would have been impossible for me to do alone back when I was a magician. We would need the court magicians at the very least,” Maya said.

Returning Ralgwin to normal should be possible by following the steps taken to revive Maxfern, so it wasn’t impossible. Chances of success were particularly high for Ralgwin. He was a modern human and traces of his soul were everywhere. Moreover, he had a lot of acquaintances. However, it needed a major spell, and at the moment, the only possibility was to request the court magicians’ aid. They were an agency of Forthorthe, but Ralgwin’s return should benefit the empire as well, so they would likely cooperate.

“Can I ask that of you, Courier?” Fasta swiftly made a decision. She would hire Elexis and Maya once more, and use their connections to rescue Ralgwin.

“This one will cost you. We would be going up against a legendary tyrant, after all.” Elexis shrugged.

Maxfern had chased out the royal family and temporarily ruled Forthorthe with their authority. Now that the tyrant had been resurrected and was leading a rebel army under the name of the Forthorthe Liberation Army, the danger of assisting Fasta was immeasurable. Without a sufficient reward, it wasn’t worth the risk.

“I know, but I don’t have the room to care about the cost,” Fasta said without hesitation. Rescuing Ralgwin was her top priority; money was not a concern to her.

“Very well.” Elexis nodded solemnly. He could understand her resolve, but that was as serious as he’d get. “So how much should we charge, Maya?”

When he turned to Maya, he was back to the usual Elexis, and he asked his partner the question in his usual carefree tone.

“Wouldn’t a few bottles of good wine do?” Maya was unfazed by his behavior. Having seen through his intentions, she gave her usual response.

“That’s a good idea. Let’s go with that. So there you have it, Fasta-san. Your price will be a few bottles of fine wine.”

“Are you serious?! This job should cost much more than that!” It was Fasta who was shocked. As an adjutant and agent, she had access to Ralgwin’s secret accounts, which had a large amount of money. She’d feared even that might not be enough, so their reaction was completely unexpected.

“Maybe so, but you heard what Maya said.”

“We actually have a reason to fight too. If Folsaria is to return to Forthorthe, we can’t have a rebellion spreading. If the Grand Wizard causes a tragedy, the people of Forthorthe will turn against Folsaria. Besides, we want the court magicians to be safe,” Maya explained.

Elexis had said the price was high to test Fasta’s resolve, though in reality, he’d been planning on cooperating with her from the start. He and Maya had their own reason to fight, so some bottles of wine were more than enough.

“Besides, I’m sure Koutarou-kun will foot the bill,” Elexis said.

“You idiot. It would have been an emotional scene if you hadn’t said that!” Maya shouted.

“Haha... Hahaha...”

Looking at the pair, a laugh finally escaped Fasta’s lips. It wasn’t like she was feeling refreshed, but she wasn’t feeling as cornered anymore.

Seeing the change in her bearing, Elexis and Maya exchanged looks.

Why are we doing this? Elexis wondered.

This is all that boy’s fault! He’s even got us acting strange! Maya grumbled internally.

Complaints and dissatisfaction were whirling within them, but it didn’t feel all that bad.