◇ ◇ ◇

Around the time that Mathew Chima was making contact with the anti-Fuuga faction...

Far from the Duchy of Chima, in the governmental affairs office in the Kingdom of Friedonia’s Parnam Castle, Souma was reading a report from the Black Cats, as well as a routine update from Julius. Both of them essentially said: “The anti-Fuuga faction inside the Union of Eastern Nations is growing more active than ever before. In the not too distant future, the anti-Fuuga faction will take some sort of action against the pro-Fuuga faction.”

“Whew...”

When Souma finished reading the reports he laid them down on his desk, leaning back in his chair with a sigh as he looked around the room. The only ones in the office aside from him were Liscia, the first primary queen; Hakuya, the prime minister; and Kagetora, who had brought him the Black Cats’ report.

Souma told them, “The Black Cats and Julius are in agreement that the anti-Fuuga faction will act soon. Julius notes the anti-Fuuga faction has been maintaining contact with one another across a wide area inside the Union of Eastern Nations. Despite this, it’s been done in a way that keeps the ringleader hidden. We can assume someone rather sharp is on the move.”

“Yes, sire,” Kagetora agreed. “My men have also failed to find whoever is directing the anti-Fuuga faction.”

Souma nodded. “I can’t blame them. That whole country is a mess of marital alliances, after all. Their ability to coordinate their actions internally is incredible, but they’re closed off to the outside. Even for the Black Cats, that has to make gathering intel hard.”

“Indeed...”

“So just how many people are in this anti-Fuuga faction?” Liscia asked, and Souma checked Julius’s report for the answer.

“At least twice as many as the pro-Fuuga faction, apparently.”

“That’s surprisingly large. Hasn’t he made a name for himself retaking part of the Demon Lord’s Domain?”

“Among the people of the Union he has, yes. But the ones that command the troops are the rulers who stand above those people. As far as they’re concerned, the way Fuuga has focused the expectations of the public upon himself is intolerable. If their own people want to be ruled by Fuuga, that makes their own positions pretty tenuous, after all.”

“I see... So even if the people back Sir Fuuga, there are a lot of states that are against him,” Liscia said, clapping her hands together as she figured it out. Souma nodded.

“And the larger the country, the stronger that tendency is. Malmkhitan is a steppe region that was first unified as a nation under Fuuga’s predecessor, Raiga. Being forced to play second fiddle to an upstart nation like that is going to rub a lot of people the wrong way. The longer their traditions and the more pride they have in their position as a powerful country within the Union, the more they’re going to push back against it. In fact, the most powerful nation inside the Union of Eastern Nations, the Kingdom of Sharn, has already declared themselves part of the anti-Fuuga faction.”

The Kingdom of Sharn was a medium-sized state with the largest territory and the greatest power inside the Union of Eastern Nations. They also provided the largest number of troops to the Union Army, a military composed of forces provided by all the member states, giving them the greatest clout in that organization.

They had also provided reinforcements to the Duchy of Chima during the demon wave, and (due to Souma’s withdrawal) been recognized as having made the second largest contribution after Fuuga and Malmkhitan. For this they were awarded the brawny second son of the House of Chima, Nata.

The current King of Sharn was Shamour Sharn. If you were to compare him to someone in the Kingdom of Friedonia, he was a muscular old warrior like Owen or Herman. The country valued strength in a way similar to Mercenary State Zem, so Shamour had welcomed Nata, who could swing around a big ax, as his own son.

Liscia cocked her head to the side and asked, “Then is King Shamour the head of the anti-Fuuga faction?”

“No... ‘Looking at the secrecy in the way the anti-Fuuga faction communicates, I can’t imagine King Shamour is directing them,’ was Julius’s reading of the situation.”

In the same way that the Western Army at the Battle of Sekigahara had Mouri Terumoto as their supreme commander and Ishida Mitsunari as operational planner, there might be another man pulling the strings behind the most powerful member of the faction. The Western Army at Sekigahara... When that thought crossed his mind, the face of a man who probably excelled at this kind of scheming did too. Don’t tell me it’s him... It was none other than Mathew, who he had thought of as being similar to Sanada Masayuki, a supposed two-faced man. But Souma didn’t say anything.

This was just baseless speculation. Besides, considering that Mathew had sent his daughter Mutsumi to marry Fuuga, Souma couldn’t be confident he was in the anti-Fuuga faction. Obviously, that wasn’t out of concern for his daughter. If Fuuga rose to the top, Mathew already had a marital tie to him, so Souma had assumed it was unlikely he would join the anti-Fuuga faction. However, Souma’s reading of the situation could be incorrect. Due to his refusal to use his family as political tools, Souma had put out of his mind the fact that there were people who could. If he had realized Mathew’s scheming at this point, Souma would definitely have tried to stop him—whether he was able to or not. Because all this was doing was feeding the tiger they called a great man.

“There are more in the anti-Fuuga faction than we expected. Enough that it’s possible the pro-Fuuga faction could lose.”

“But you don’t actually believe that, do you, sire?” Hakuya asked, sounding certain, and Souma nodded.

“If Fuuga was an opponent they could beat with mere numbers, I wouldn’t see him as a threat. Even if Fuuga took over all of the Union of Eastern Nations, he would still have less land and power than we do. The thing that makes Fuuga dangerous isn’t numerical superiority or the power of his nation—it’s that he’s riding the flow of things.”

“The flow, you say?”

“Yeah. Of the times... The atmosphere of the era we live in, you could say. Those who join a great man like Fuuga are considered just, and those who oppose him are evil. It’s an atmosphere that naturally assigns roles like that.”

In the final stage of the Warring States period, the actions of great men like Oda Nobunaga, be they good or evil, were largely approved of, or at least tolerated. It’s like how people defend Machiavelli’s The Prince by saying “You can’t see its true value without first understanding the scheming nature of the Italian Peninsula during his time.” The houses of Asakura, Azai, and Takeda which stood in the way of Oda Nobunaga’s conquest were destroyed as they tended to be seen as stubborn fools who couldn’t adapt to the new era. This was especially true for the kind of people who only see them as winners and losers written about in the textbook.

Unless you’re a real history buff, you don’t go around thinking about the situations of those sorts of destroyed houses. Souma sensed that Fuuga was the same sort of great man.

“There are people who are praising Fuuga as some kind of savior. Those who stand in his way will be deemed fools, and if they try to harm him, they’ll be derided as enemies of mankind. No matter how powerful the country, that would be difficult to overturn.”

“Similar to the way people in the Empire venerate Madam Maria as a saint?” Hakuya asked, and Souma nodded deeply.

“Yes, that’s right. The anti-Fuuga faction must not understand that.”

“He’s that much of a problem, huh...” Liscia said with a sigh.

Kagetora quietly stepped forward. “If he disturbs your heart so, my liege, then perhaps we should—”

“Absolutely not!” Souma shouted, cutting off Kagetora’s suggestion of assassination.

“Fuuga is dangerous because he’s riding on the flow of the times. We could call his intentions the will of the times itself. And...this is said frequently, but you can’t change the times with assassinations and terrorism,” Souma said, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed. “Great men are monsters that give birth to eras. This era of confusion longs for the great leaps of a man like Fuuga. So even if someone did manage to assassinate him, the next Fuuga would simply appear to follow in his tracks. No, if anything, after seeing what happened to Fuuga, whoever came next would be even more extreme.”

Even after Oda Nobunaga died in the betrayal at Honnouji, Hashiba Hideyoshi immediately took up leadership of the attempt to unify the country. It didn’t lead to a return to an era of rivalry between warlords. And when Hideyoshi fell, Tokugawa Ieyasu took his place. If you look at it as a transition from an era of rival warlords to that of a single great power, you could say that while the rulers changed, the flow of the era remained unchanged. Great men create eras. To look at that another way, you could also say that eras choose and give birth to great men. That was the sense Souma had gotten from studying history in the world he came from.

For instance, in the world Souma came from, there was a dictator whose name was synonymous with evil. The dictator faced many assassination plots and attempted coups d’état throughout his life, but had any of them succeeded, would the history that followed have changed somehow? This has been said many times, but it was the people of that era who created the dictator. So long as the will of the people and the situation they find themselves in do not change, another similar dictator—or perhaps political party—will simply rise to the top. And won’t the new dictator seek to do what he feels the dead one should have? In a more extreme fashion.

Sima Qian lamented in Records of the Grand Historian that sometimes excellent men die unfairly due to the flow of the era by saying, “The power of Heaven is small.” But if the “Heaven” he was talking about is the flow of the era, then I’d have to say what’s truly small is the power of man, thought Souma.

Machiavelli spoke of the concept of Fortuna, the goddess of chance, in opposition to virtù, or individual initiative, as the fate that could not be changed. Or that could, perhaps, have its flow made more gentle, if only slightly, through virtù.

Right now, Fuuga had to be the man best loved by Fortuna.

Anyone who confronted him directly was in for a world of hurt. That’s why Souma said, “If the times have chosen Fuuga, what we need to change is not him, but the times themselves. If the times have no need of Fuuga, then men like him will cease to be born.”

“Sorry... That was all a little too abstract for me to understand,” Liscia said apologetically. “What exactly are you thinking we should do?”

“I still don’t know yet... But I have the key.”

Souma rose and walked over to stand in front of the map of this continent, slamming his hand on the north of it.

“It’s the Demon Lord’s Domain. The majority of people’s unease now comes from the existence of the Demon Lord’s Domain in the north. If this issue can just be resolved, great men like Fuuga will no longer be needed the way they are now.”

“Huh? But isn’t Fuuga gathering support by doing something about the Demon Lord’s Domain? Isn’t that a contradiction?” Liscia asked.

“Yeah,” Souma nodded in response. “It does look like a contradiction. But I think that’s the essence of what a great man is. They are needed in times of chaos, but not in times of peace. When the great man races to end the times of chaos, he is heading towards the world where he will no longer be needed.”

The great man created by the era transforms the era by his own power and then fades away. Or, because of the changing times, the era chooses a new leader, and the great man is cast aside. That had to be one of the more tragic aspects of the great man.

Then Hakuya said to Souma, “So, to sum up, what you are saying is that we should avoid opposing Sir Fuuga for the time being, Sire?”

“Yeah. We have no choice but to avoid fighting Fuuga while figuring out how to handle the Demon Lord’s Domain, and also strengthening the country in preparation for the conflict... I do see some small hope in regards to the Demon Lord’s Domain.”

Back in the Star Dragon Mount Range, he had encountered a mysterious cube. He’d heard it ask him to “go north.”

If Souma could encounter the being called the Demon Lord with sufficient preparation, he might be able to gain something that would let him move the era. There existed a slight hope of that.

“And if Fuuga attacks us with the Union of Eastern Nations before then?” Liscia asked.

“That is easy to deal with,” Hakuya responded, rather than Souma. “The Fuuga faction’s new country will have no one who has experience running a state of such a large size. He will lack bureaucrats too, so if we simply turn it into a war of attrition, our opponents will be the ones to expend themselves first... That said, Sir Fuuga must know that, so he will not make a move against us until he has the overwhelming advantage, or he finds himself in a desperate situation.”

“What a troublesome opponent...”

“Yeah, you said it.” Souma had to agree.

I’ll have to tell Julius to stay out of the Anti-Fuuga faction, Souma thought as he looked at the map of the Union of Eastern Nations. And also, if it comes down to it, he should flee to the Kingdom with the Lastanian royal family.

Because of their close age, Fuuga and Shuukin had once treated one another casually, like friends. And it wasn’t just Shuukin; there were many others in the army like Moumei, Gaten, and Kasen, who had long been his partners in mischief. Ever since Fuuga took the throne, though, Shuukin had begun showing him the proper respect as a retainer so as to keep his other subjects from disrespecting him. It must have made Fuuga feel a little lonely.

Shuukin shrugged his shoulders with a look of exasperation on his face.

“You’re the sovereign of a nation. Of course I’d pay you due respect. Anyways, we’re on the march, so please wear your armor and helmet. You’re setting a poor example for the troops, and more importantly, it’s careless.”

“Don’t be so stiff. We’ve pretty much wiped out all the monsters around here, haven’t we?”

Shuukin shook his head, a stern look on his face. “You’re right that we won’t see an attack by monsters. However, there are some who have not taken kindly to your profile rising inside the Union of Eastern Nations. There could be assassins along the road, Lord Fuuga. I’ve sent out scouts, of course, but...”

“Human jealousy’s scarier than any monster, huh? What a nuisance,” Fuuga said, digging the wax out of his ears as he listened.

Shuukin furrowed his brow at his liege’s incaution. “How can you talk like this has nothing to do with you? Your life is in danger.”

“Hey, Shuukin... Wouldn’t you say our country has grown?” Fuuga asked, suddenly changing the topic.

“Hm? I suppose it has...” Shuukin cock his head to the side quizzically. “We’ve expanded outside the steppes, and we have a lot of protectorates. It’s fair to say we have the greatest momentum of any country in the Union of Eastern Nations.”

“Yeah. It’s like this was fate. If there’s a will of the heavens, it’s apparently on our side,” Fuuga replied, with a suspiciously calm tone.

“Don’t tell me...you’re saying because the heavens are on our side, we don’t need to worry about assassins?”

Shuukin gave him a pointed look, as if to say, That’s not how things work. Fuuga shook his head with a wry smile, looking up to the sky.

“We’ve overcome all the trials we’ve faced to grow our country. So, maybe that’s why...when things are going too smoothly, it actually makes me more uneasy. Am I moving forward of my own will? Or is there some unseen force pushing me?”

“Lord Fuuga...” Shirin muttered, hearing his sentimental words.

“Well, it’s not a bad feeling. If I keep riding this current, it will take me further—higher. And if I fall along the way, I’ll be able to accept it means I was never cut out for anything more than that. It’s fulfilling, in a way.”

“You shouldn’t talk about falling like that... It’s ominous.”

“Ga ha ha! It’s fine, Sir Shuukin!” said a wolf-eared warrior as he approached.

It was Gaifuku of the mystic wolf race. He flexed his pecs and biceps, striking a pose as he shot the two of them an overbearing smile. He was still a mass of muscle despite having passed middle age.

“If a vile assassin comes anywhere near my lord, my well-toned body will be your shield! I have built this strong back and these abs all for the House of Haan!”

““..........””

Hah! Hah! Gaifuku continued striking poses like a bodybuilder as he spoke. He was sweaty, and the temperature around him had probably risen a good five degrees Celsius from his body heat.

Fuuga and Shuukin did their best not to look at him and kept talking.

“By the way, where’s Mutsumi? I don’t see her around.”

“If you’re looking for Lady Mutsumi, she went on ahead with the vanguard to the city where we will be staying starting today... I believe she was just as bored with the slow journey as you are, Lord Fuuga.”

“She’s such a free spirit. I’m jealous.”

“You’d better not both disappear on me at the same time,” Shuukin said out of exasperation, earning him a shrug from Fuuga. Then...

“Behold these roaring biceps—” Thock!

“Urgh?!”

““?!””

As Gaifuku approached to give them a closer look at his muscles, something suddenly sprouted from his arm. Upon closer inspection, it appeared to be an arrow. If Gaifuku hadn’t raised his arm just then, the arrow would have flown straight at Fuuga.

They instantly grabbed their weapons, looking around the area.

“Weren’t you supposed to be watching out?”

“We were, over a broad area. We used your effective range as a guideline.”

“Which means they’re shooting from outside it. Must be someone skilled.”

Firing such an accurate shot from beyond the scope of their marching procession was no small feat.

“Gaifuku! You okay?” Fuuga asked.

“Th-This is nothing. If I was able to serve as your shield, I could ask for nothing more,” Gaifuku said, tearing the arrow from his arm with a grunt of pain. The wound was shallower than they had thought, causing Fuuga to smile a little.

“Yeah, you saved me. It could be poisoned. Get to a medic immediately.”

“Surely the enemy must still be aiming for you,” Gaifuku protested.

“Don’t worry about it. You prevented their surprise attack. And without the element of surprise...!”

Whoosh... Smack! Another arrow flew in, only to be deflected by Fuuga’s Zanganto.

“That’s how it’s gonna go. If I know the arrow’s coming, then cutting it down’s easy. And that shot just told me roughly where they are. Shuukin, the soldiers who noticed the assassin are starting to make a fuss. Get them to calm down.”

“Don’t tell me you’re planning to go after the sniper yourself! It’s too dangerous!” Shuukin warned him, but Fuuga was having none of it.

“The enemy’s a good distance away. Without Durga’s speed, it’ll be hard to catch them.”

“But that doesn’t mean...”

“Besides, I’m going to make them pay for hurting one of my men. Personally.”

With ferocity in his eyes, Fuuga drove Durga onwards. Having lost the will to argue anymore after seeing those eyes, Shuukin could do nothing to stop him from going.

Then, once Durga had leapt into the sky, Fuuga placed a hand on the flying tiger’s back and said, “I know you can sense the enemy, partner. Lead me to them, would you?”

“Gworghhhh!” Durga roared and they picked up speed.

As they did, Fuuga spotted a figure on top of a distant hill, in the middle of a thick copse of dead trees. This discovery was quite exciting to him. If someone could take a shot at him from that far away, the world still had surprises left to throw.

Then another arrow came flying. Whoosh!

“Ah!”

Because he was closer now, the arrow arrived quicker, and Fuuga twisted out of its way rather than try to cut it down. The closer he got, the faster they would be coming. Despite the increasing danger, Fuuga still smiled.

“I like this! It’s tense! Haven’t felt this pumped up in a long time!”

He soon closed the distance to his enemy. Neither of them would miss at this range.

Fuuga jumped from Durga’s back and spread his wings to glide, taking aim at his enemy in the treetops. The enemy was doing the same. They got the shot off before him. Its aim was true, hurtling straight towards the center of his face.

“Guh...!”

Fuuga instinctively twisted his head to the side, but couldn’t get completely out of the way, and it struck the gap between his helmet and cheek. The arrow must have been magically enhanced; he felt it tear through his cheek’s flesh inside the helmet. But despite feeling his own blood splatter inside the helmet, his eyes never left the enemy.

Twang! Fuuga loosed an arrow from his own great bow. It flew straight, impaling the sniper through the chest. They fell headfirst, like a puppet with its strings cut.

At that moment, either of them could have fallen. The deciding factor had to be where they’d aimed. The sniper, confident in his own abilities, had aimed for the head, certain he would make the kill. Meanwhile, Fuuga knew that even if he messed up the shot, he could still win if he closed the gap, and so had aimed for the center of mass.

“Urgh... Tch!” Fuuga tore the arrow from his helmet as he touched down on the ground.

Having escaped the threat to his life, and with the adrenaline from slaying a powerful foe fading, the gouge in his cheek started to throb with pain. Fuuga took off his helmet and walked over to the sniper. He’d been a young man, no more than twenty years old. The arrow Fuuga fired had taken him in the heart.

Hm? This guy’s... Fuuga had a feeling he knew the man, but couldn’t remember from where.

Not long after, Shuukin and the temsbock riders caught up with him.

“Lord Fuuga, are you all right?!” Shuukin asked, sounding concerned.

“I’m fine,” he replied with a wave. “I took a minor wound, that’s all.”

“You’re bleeding! Please, don’t be so reckless!”

“I’ll be more careful next time. We’ve got more important stuff to talk about now.” Fuuga wiped away the blood running down his cheek, indicating to the sniper with his chin. “This was the sniper. I think I’ve seen him somewhere before.”

“Huh...?! But this is...!”

“You know him?”

“You should too. This man is Gauche Chima. Lady Mutsumi’s younger brother.”

“Wha?!” Fuuga’s eyes bulged as he looked at Gauche’s corpse. He’d seen Gauche at the awards ceremony, but had only had eyes for Mutsumi, and so he hadn’t remembered him.

“My brother-in-law tried to kill me, and I struck him down...?”

Gauche had been a simple warrior. This couldn’t have been something he’d decided to do on his own. Someone must have directed him to make an attempt on Fuuga’s life.

The image of a man flashed through his mind. It was the face of the man who was the father of his darling wife, and who had always seemed suspicious somehow. This is what happens the moment I start moving towards my ambition, huh? His grip on Zanganto tightening, Fuuga looked up to the sky.

At some point, solitary raindrops had begun to fall.

I guess...I’m gonna have to tell Mutsumi about this... Fuuga thought before walking back to Durga, a feeling of hesitation gripping his heart.

◇ ◇ ◇

It was a silent night.

Mutsumi sat at the window of a dimly lit room, idly staring outside. The earlier rain had let up, and a round white moon had shown its face through a gap in the clouds.

I wonder what kind of face I must be making right now... Mutsumi thought to herself.

She had certainly been shocked when she heard about the death of her brother Gauche, and that Fuuga had been the one to kill him. Yet, despite this, she was not as torn up about it as she’d expected to be. That confused her. From the moment she decided to join Fuuga on his road to dominance, she had known this was a possibility. She’d sensed her scheming father might try something. Perhaps that was the reason. It wasn’t that she didn’t feel sadness and anger, but that at some point she had resigned herself to this happening.

She didn’t want to see herself in the mirror now. Because, probably, her face wasn’t that of an elder sister mourning the loss of her younger brother.

As she stared vacantly out the window, there came a knock at her door. It was Fuuga.

“...Can I come in?”

Normally, he would have strode in without asking, but this time he did. Taking note of the consideration he was showing her, Mutsumi smiled a little.

“Yes, please do, darling.”

“Yeah... I will.”

Fuuga closed the door behind him and walked over to Mutsumi.

“Sorry,” he continued, “for shutting you up in your room like this.”

“Have I been shut up in here...? Really?” Mutsumi cocked her head to the side a little. “There are no guards. And the door wasn’t locked.”

“It’s just a temporary measure anyway. My retainers all know what you’re like. They know you wouldn’t do something short-sighted out of anger. But some of the newcomers are worried you might try to avenge your brother. Just try to think of this as us protecting you from them doing anything malicious.”

“Yes. I understand,” Mutsumi said, pressing herself tightly against Fuuga. When she did, his body stiffened a little. “Do you think...I would try to avenge Gauche, darling?”

“No, not really, but...I’m ready to accept your anger and grief. I’m ready to get slapped...no, punched for what I did. I’ll stand here and take it for ten or twenty hits.”

“If I were to punch your brawny body that many times, I think my hands would come off the worse for it.”

Mutsumi smiled a little, but it was short lived.

“I’ve been thinking. What would I be doing now if you were the one who fell? I doubt I’d be nearly as calm.” She stroked the fresh wound on Fuuga’s cheek as she continued. “If the arrow had been a little closer, I might have lost you. If you had died, I don’t think I would have been able to forgive Gauche or my father who no doubt instigated this. I am certain I would have sought revenge.”

“That’s pretty intense. I like that about you though.”

“And yet, I cannot even resent you for what you did. When I think about how little my bond to the House of Chima meant to me, I feel a sense of loneliness.”

Her house had survived in the Union of Eastern Nations with its mess of small- to medium-sized states through subterfuge. In their history, they had repeatedly taken advantage of their own parents, siblings, and children. That was partly why Mutsumi felt a bit of a disconnect with Mathew, obviously, but also her own siblings. The twins, Yomi and Sami, were close, but the other siblings all had their own areas of expertise, and that left little in common for them to talk about.

Mutsumi had really cared about her youngest brother, Ichiha, who had been seen as talentless at the time. If he’d been the one killed, she might have bawled her eyes out. Ichiha had left her side to go to Friedonia, where his gift had been given the chance to blossom. Mutsumi’s only place now was here with her husband Fuuga, surrounded by the men of Malmkhitan’s army.

“I know you just said he instigated it, but...you’re sure it was Duke Chima pulling the strings?” Fuuga asked and Mutsumi nodded.

“It has to have been. Although the plan feels too sloppy to be one of father’s.”

In light of the haphazard nature of the plan, Mutsumi suspected something had gone differently from how Mathew envisioned.

“Nata and Gauche both had a tendency to overestimate their own strength and ability. He may have struck before my father intended him to.”

“Oh, yeah...?”

“I’m a cold woman, aren’t I...? Calmly analyzing my own brother’s death like this.”

“No, I can tell how hurt you are,” Fuuga said, hugging her from behind. “You were betrayed by your own family. There’s no way you wouldn’t be sad. You’re just telling yourself it was inevitable because of the kind of house you were born into.”

“Darling...?”

“Yeah, that’s right. I’m your darling husband. Your family. Tch, these sorts of lines suit that guy better... Well, whatever, just for today, I’m gonna say them. As your husband, I’ll accept all of the sadness and anger you feel towards your family.”

Mutsumi buried her face in Fuuga’s chest, clutching his clothes.

“I...can’t forgive my father.”

“Yeah.”

“I can’t forgive the way he uses us for the stability of the house, and then throws us aside for the same reason. I-I can’t allow him to obstruct your path, darling.”

“Yeah.”

“I want to cry! I never wanted it to come to this!”

“Go ahead and cry. You don’t need to hold it all in.”

Mutsumi let out a little sob, and then a much louder wail. Her complex feelings had left her unable to cry, but now she finally did. The tears flowed ceaselessly like a dam had broken.

Fuuga seethed with anger as he held the bawling Mutsumi.

You made her cry, Mathew Chima. You made Mutsumi cry.

His arms tightened around Mutsumi.

You made my woman cry! That’s gonna cost you! Big!

On this day, Fuuga decided that Mathew was his enemy.

◇ ◇ ◇

Meanwhile...

Slam! On hearing the report of Gauche’s death, Mathew Chima kicked over the chair of the desk in his office.

“Why?! Why did Gauche die?!”

He’d just been told that Gauche had attempted to assassinate Fuuga, which resulted in his death. As Mathew threw a fit, his eldest son, Hashim, watched him with an impassive look on his face.

“Was this not your plan, father...?”

“No! When we gathered the kings of the anti-Fuuga faction for a conference, we talked about a plan to assassinate Fuuga when he was returning from his campaign. We assumed that after eliminating the monsters, he would let his guard down, and it might be possible to slay him.”

Mathew slammed his hands on the nearby table.

“But I never proposed anything this sloppy! Gauche’s skills were suited to the task, so I did discuss an assassination plan centered around him. But the idea was rejected because, if we were to fail, it would put Fuuga on high alert.”

“Yet Gauche carried out the assassination plan,” Hashim pointed out.

“And I don’t know why! What was Gauche doing there alone in the first place?!” Mathew clutched his head. “The proposed operation had him leading a unit, or possibly an even larger force, not going in by himself. That would have lowered the risk of Fuuga escaping. And yet Gauche goes and tries to assassinate him on his own.”

He released his hands and raised his head up.

“It’s also strange that he stayed there and let himself get killed. When you consider his long range, Fuuga shouldn’t have been able to pinpoint Gauche’s location after the first shot. Had he run and hidden when his first attempt failed, he should have been able to get away.”

Mathew looked utterly baffled. Hashim sighed at him.

“I can think of only one possibility. Gauche was acting on his own initiative.”

“What?!”

“Of all my siblings, Nata and Gauche have always been the most confident in their abilities. Overconfident, you might say. And he had been waiting for a chance to put those skills to use and make a name for himself.”

“N-No...” Mathew’s eyes widened with surprise. Hashim nodded.

“It seems probable that Gauche heard about the ambush plan from the King of Gabi, who he served. He then thought that, with his skill at archery, he could definitely slay Fuuga... If this was, indeed, Gauche acting on his own initiative, it would explain why he didn’t bring anyone with him. Knowing his personality, he would have thought that a large group increased the risk of him being found, and they would only get in his way.”

Hashim sighed as Mathew’s jaw hung open.

“And so,” Hashim continued, “the reason he didn’t flee after missing his first shot is that he knew he would have several more as Fuuga closed in on his position. He only needed one of them to hit, and so was certain he could kill Fuuga. That is just how highly he overrated his own abilities.”

“That fool!” Mathew punched the table again. “That damned, overconfident fool!”

Hashim watched his raging father with cool eyes.

You are the one who raised him to be that way, he thought, but he didn’t say it out loud. You praised our abilities far more than we deserved in order to raise opinions of us abroad. That was what made Nata and Gauche arrogant, and they came to look down on those without talent. They were especially harsh to Ichiha, and our sisters hated them.

Nata and Gauche had belittled and tormented Ichiha because, at the time, he was believed to be without merit. Their younger sister, Mutsumi, stood up for him, but Hashim had been uninterested in their quarrels. Later, when Ichiha developed an unusual talent in the Kingdom of Friedonia, Mathew and the other rulers of the Union had deeply regretted letting go of him.

If we consider this most recent outrage, I think it’s clear to see who was truly the talentless one, Hashim was thinking as Mathew suddenly looked up, as if realizing something.

“This is bad. Fuuga’s anger will turn towards us and the Kingdom of Gabi. We can’t afford to sit around. We have to unite the anti-Fuuga faction before he makes his move!” Mathew said, hurrying out of the office.

With a cold look on his face, Hashim snorted as he watched Mathew go.

“I cautioned him against acting rashly, but he goes and embarrasses himself like this, overconfident in his own abilities.” Crossing his arms, Hashim stroked his chin as he thought about it. “Still, this Fuuga Haan... He managed to escape Gauche, did he? No matter how excellent a man is, without the love of the heavens, he will fade away all too easily. I suppose this means that he has the makings of a great man, loved by the heavens. In which case...”

Hashim smirked to himself.

Yuriga and Ichiha panicked as they tried to console a bawling Tomoe. Tomoe really had been blessed with such good friends.

While I was busy being happy for her as a member of her family, Hakuya said, “Now then, sire. What do you want to do about this?”

“What do I want to do? We’ll stick to our original policy and not get involved.”

No, I guess that’s not gonna be good enough, huh?

“However, the assassination plot that was the cause of all this was an act of terrorism, and must be decried. I want to release a statement saying we cannot accept changes to the status quo brought about by terrorism.”

“Is that okay? Won’t you be seen as pro-Fuuga?” Liscia asked, sounding concerned, but I shook my head.

“We have to do it. Because this incident started with an act of terrorism, whether Duke Chima and his people intended for it to happen or not, we can’t justify Gauche’s actions. Whether Fuuga ultimately wins or loses, that remains unchanged.”

If I were to bend my principles on this out of fear of Fuuga, it would leave a lasting effect on my ability to rule.

“That’s the way it is, Ichiha. Are you okay with that?”

“Ah! Yes. I can’t approve of what Big Brother Gauche did either.”

With Ichiha on board, we proceeded as we had discussed. But if...someday, the Kingdom of Friedonia is destroyed by Fuuga, I might come to regret this decision. I might think, If only I had banded together with Duke Chima and the rest to put him down... But that was only one of many possibilities.

Seen from the past, the future is always a series of coincidences.

Seen from the future, the past always looks like it was inevitable.

Then what of the present?

For that...we just have to trust in our own choices.

A long silence passed between them. It was so quiet that the racing hearts of all those who were watching this tense scene unfold sounded noisy.

Once the painful silence passed, Fuuga withdrew his blade from Hashim’s neck, Then, sitting once more, he struck Zanganto’s pommel on the ground.

“It is not to happen again! I want all three of you to remember that!”

“““Yes, sir!””” The three bowed their heads in unison.

Fuuga continued, “Hashim, stay. The other two, leave. The rest of you are dismissed.”

Nata and Gabi took their leave at his command. Once they had left the tent, a short time passed, and then Fuuga handed his Zanganto back to Shuukin before putting his hands on his knees.

“Was that good, Hashim?”

“Yes, sir. An admirable performance,” Hashim said, raising his head with a nonchalant expression on his face. Fuuga smiled wryly when he saw it.

“You were on our side all along. In fact, we were following a plan you dreamed up. I never thought I’d have to call you a traitor.”

As Fuuga said, despite remaining with Mathew and the United Force, Hashim had been leaking information to Fuuga. He had also been the one to suggest using a fake retreat to draw their enemies into the narrow valley where they could eradicate them with a counterattack. This war could largely be considered Hashim’s strategic victory.

Hashim smiled. “The rest of the commanders will hear about the look in your eyes when you told me never to betray you again from King Gabi. That will give them the impression that while you are generous enough to take in your former enemies, you are also frighteningly merciless to those who oppose you.”

Though Hashim could not have known this, what he was saying was remarkably similar to Chapter 18 of Souma’s favorite book, The Prince, which said, “It is necessary for a prince to understand how to avail himself of the beast and the man.”

The law is to be used with men, and force with beasts. This is because in the real world a ruler must at times confront men who will abandon their beliefs like wild beasts, and at those times the ruler must not hesitate to use force to make them submit as beasts do. The lesson is that a ruler must have two faces.

Hashim continued, “Also, if we create the impression that I was the leader of those who switched sides to join you, then every time you recognize one of my accomplishments, you will look like a big man who is not prejudiced against people because of their backgrounds. Most of the soldiers captured in this battle were just following orders. If they see me being treated well, they will feel safe joining you.”

“I see...”

“At the same time, if anyone hopes to conspire against you in future, they will attempt to win me to their side first. When they do, their plans will be exposed, and we can deal with the rebellion before it even begins.”

“Ha ha ha! Wonderful!” Fuuga slapped his knee as he cackled. “I’ve always wanted a man like you—someone who’s always thinking two steps ahead. My followers are all strong, but they’re only a step or two removed from barbarians who think you can solve any problem with fighting. Only Shuukin, Mutsumi, and Kasen would be of any use at political dealing. Although, with Kasen’s young age, no one would follow him.”

“Surely you don’t need to belittle your own followers...” Shuukin chastised him with a sigh.

“It’s the truth. When I think about what’s to come, I know we’ll need to gather people with different abilities that we don’t have, and put them to work. Luckily, there’s someone who’s given us an example of how to do that.”

Fuuga spoke with Souma in mind. He was confident he would never lose to Souma in martial prowess or charisma, but when it came to knowledge and the ability to use people, Fuuga had to acknowledge he was no match.

“That’s a good way of thinking.” Hashim nodded. “To that end, we must take control of the Union of Eastern Nations swiftly, and find the talent hidden there. In particular, our lack of bureaucrats to handle domestic affairs could prove deadly. If we mean to expand our territory, we will need to gather enough administrators to manage all of it.”

“Knowing that’s the truth just makes it more painful to hear...” Fuuga shrugged his shoulders in exasperation. “But of course. I plan to bring in more people and expand. You’ll lead them, Hashim. In your eyes, though...is King Gabi someone we can use?”

Hashim smiled slightly. “My brother Nata fights like a wild beast, and that is all he has in his head, so he is easy to manipulate. King Gabi, however, is the sort of person who puts his own self-preservation before the benefit of the group as a whole. There is a high risk he will turn again, so we cannot give him any important task.”

“I knew he was untrustworthy... Then, what do you think we should do with him?”

“From here on, you will no doubt work to mop up any remaining anti-Fuuga elements, Lord Fuuga. There will eventually be a difficult battle, and when there is, he should be placed on the front lines with orders to ‘Keep our losses to a minimum.’ Then, afterwards, we can hold him responsible for his poor performance. His bowmen are powerful, so let’s place them under your direct command when that is done.”

There was a coldness in Hashim’s eyes, and the look on the honest Shuukin’s face made it clear he didn’t like it. Fuuga, however, laughed raucously.

“Well! It looks like I’m going to need guys who can make suggestions like that from now on... You’ll help me, of course, won’t you?”

“That has been my intention all along. Please, keep marching on through the light of day, Lord Fuuga.” Hashim’s words showed his determination to be the one who would handle all of the work in the shadows.

As he looked at Hashim, Fuuga asked something that had been bothering him. “Tell me one last thing. Did you not feel hesitant to betray Duke Chima...Mathew Chima?”

That question made Mutsumi, who had been quiet all this time, shudder a little. She must have had her own thoughts about her brother who had betrayed their father in order to join them.

Here, for the first time, Hashim’s eyes grew harsh. He looked straight at Fuuga, almost as though he were glaring at him.

“No one, not even you, Lord Fuuga, could possibly understand what we had between us as father and son.”

“Oh...?”

“It was father himself who raised me into the kind of commander who could make a decision like this. You are a great man, known throughout the world, and I determined that you would be able to put my talents—talents which were wasted here in the cage that is the Union of Eastern Nations—to use. Were my father younger, and not as constrained by his position, no doubt he would have taken the same path I have. I am sure that my father understood my actions, just as I understood him.”

Fuuga was overwhelmed for a moment, but soon let out a sigh.

“You really were father and son... Shuukin.”

“Yes, sir.” Shuukin walked before Hashim and dropped to one knee, producing a letter from his pocket which he offered to him. “I am the one who cut down Sir Mathew. I was there for his final moments.”

“I see...”

“This is the letter that Sir Mathew asked me to deliver to you. There was another, that one addressed to Madam Mutsumi.”

When Hashim accepted the letter, Shuukin bowed his head and then returned to his original position.

Mutsumi pulled out her own letter so that Hashim could see it.

“In mine he apologized for opposing Lord Fuuga, worsening my position, and said that he was satisfied with his life. He also wrote that I shouldn’t resent you. It seems...he understood you just as well as you said.”

Mutsumi lowered her eyes in sadness. Hashim closed his.

After some time, Fuuga spoke, “I looked through his letter to you. You should read it.”

“Yes, sir... If that is what you wish.”

Hashim opened the letter, looked through it, then...

“Huh?!”

His eyes went wide.

Unlike in Mutsumi’s letter, there was not one word of apology, not one request for forgiveness, let alone a word of grievance. It only said how things were to be handled after his death. Included were a list of names, and the countries those people were presently attached to. As Hashim processed everything, he held the paper so tight that it crumpled. It was a list of all the human resources that Mathew could think of.

When the main unit of the United Force was destroyed, Mathew had spent all the time he had left before death came for him writing out the names of people they could hire to support Fuuga’s domination. There was not one unnecessary word there. However, that showed that Mathew recognized Hashim’s abilities, and went to the afterlife knowing the family was in good hands.

“What happened...to my father’s remains?”

“They’ve been carefully preserved, and no one will touch them. Mutsumi will hold a funeral for him later.”

“I see...” Hashim hung his head, not looking up for some time.

Tears streaked down Mutsumi’s cheeks as she looked at him, almost as if she were crying because he could not.

Seeing the tears on her cheeks, Fuuga thought, You made her cry twice... You damned fool, as he thought of the late Mathew Chima.

Julius looked at the royal couple.

“So, father, mother, I’m asking you to take care of Tia.”

“Okay... We will do everything as you say, son-in-law.”

“Sir Julius, please stay safe.”

The next day, the Lastanian royal couple and Princess Tia quietly escaped the country with an escort from the Nothung Dragon Knight Kingdom. The people were told they were on a diplomatic voyage to improve relations with the Kingdom of Friedonia.

◇ ◇ ◇

A few days before the invitation arrived in Lastania...

The word “Machiavellianism” takes his view that sometimes, when pursuing political ends, you cannot be picky about the means, and extends that to refer to an ends-justifies-the-means philosophy. Such ruthless people are criticized as being Machiavellian. This was primarily used by the Christian church, with its philanthropic beliefs, to reject Machiavelli’s views, and largely a misconception.

Whether Machiavelli himself was Machiavellian or not is beside the question. However, Hashim Chima, who came into the service of Fuuga Haan, was most definitely Machiavellian. He proposed that Fuuga invite the lords who had been members of the neutral faction to a banquet in his new base, a castle in the former Kingdom of Shamour, then massacre them under the guise of a terrorist attack by the anti-Fuuga faction. Fuuga, who was sitting on the throne, frowned at this, while his wife, Mutsumi, who was standing at his side covered her mouth and gasped.

Fuuga glared at Hashim. “You’re telling me to do that?”

“No. I will do it myself, without your knowledge,” Hashim replied, unfazed. Fuuga rested his cheek on his palm.

“If you’re asking me to turn a blind eye, then that’s no different... Is this necessary?”

“If your goals go no further than unifying the Union and expanding into the Demon Lord’s Domain, then no. However, if you intend to compete with the Gran Chaos Empire and Kingdom of Friedonia for supremacy, it definitely is. There are too many things we lack,” Hashim explained, his eyes serious. “Even if you add up the populations of every country in the Union of Eastern Nations, it is less than half that of the Kingdom of Friedonia. The comparison with the Empire is even worse, with us only having a third, possibly a quarter, of their population. No matter how we expand into the Demon Lord’s Domain, that is not a thing we can overturn. On top of that, both the Empire and Kingdom are stable, with excellent rulers. If things continue as they are, the gap will only continue to widen.”

“Which is why...you want me to hurry along with the unification?”

“Yes. The only area in which we are definitely ahead of them is that we are in an era where people seek great men such as yourself, and you provide a centralizing force.”

“You don’t mince words...” Fuuga shrugged.

Hashim had spoken the truth. A large part of the reason that Malmkhitan, only one country in the Union of Eastern Nations, had been able to expand so much, so quickly was that they were in the right place at the right time. Ever since the Demon Lord’s Domain expanded, the people of the Union had felt closed-in. They saw Fuuga as a leader who could break free from that, and that hope drove them to support him.

“But, at the same time, that is a precarious thing. Because you have gathered the people’s hopes unto yourself, Lord Fuuga, you must always produce results. If you grind to a halt, their disappointment will be the end of you. You will lose the support of your people, and the nation will crumble in no time.”

“So you’re saying, if the people lose their fervor, I’m done.”

“Yes. And we can’t be sure that this era will go on for years.”

“It could happen any time...so hurry up with the unification?”

“Precisely.”

“Brother!” Mutsumi interjected, unable to simply watch any longer. “The neutral faction includes—”

“King Heinrant of Roth and his adopted daughter Sami, right?” Hashim asked, finishing her sentence.

The calmness of Hashim’s response left Mutsumi at a loss for words.

“It still must be done. Even if we are to be divided into friend and foe, the blood and family name must live on. That is how father taught us the head of the House of Chima must be. Besides, we’ll only kill the king. I won’t harm Sami as long as she doesn’t resist.”

“Brother...”

“As Lord Fuuga’s queen, you should be prioritizing the House of Haan, Mutsumi.”

“Yes... I understand that.”

If this was for Fuuga’s benefit, Mutsumi had to back down.

Seeing Mutsumi’s reaction, Fuuga asked Hashim, “This will mean less blood is shed, right?”

“Yes. It will be criticized as a conspiracy for some time. But, if we take the long view of things, this is the method that will have the least sacrifices. People of future generations will understand.”

“Not that I care what some people who aren’t even born yet are gonna think...” Having made up his mind, Fuuga slapped his knee. “Fine. You do what you think is right.”

“By your will.” Hashim bowed his head. Mutsumi lowered her face in frustration.

With Fuuga’s permission given, the plan went into motion.

◇ ◇ ◇

Hashim sent those lords who’d remained neutral in the conflict invitations to a banquet where they would have the chance to better understand one another. There were a small number of countries, like the Kingdom of Lastania, which decided not to participate, but many of the leaders of the neutral faction gathered in Shamour Castle. And then...

Everyone who came was massacred.

Anti-Fuuga faction remnants who had infiltrated the gathering carried out a terrorist attack using gunpowder, and it was announced that everyone present had been caught in the blast. The news caused short-lived chaos throughout the Union of Eastern Nations, but it subsided when it was announced that Fuuga, who “coincidentally” happened to be out of the room at the time of the attack, had survived.

Naturally, some voiced their suspicion that this was all a plot by Fuuga. However, they were drowned out by the cheering of his supporters. The Union of Eastern Nations was an agglomeration of many small- to medium-sized states. Because of their size, the kings had a lot of influence, and with them gone many countries lacked anyone who could make final decisions. Those sorts of countries joined the Fuuga faction without considering revenge. However, a small number of nations fought back after their king was killed.

Such nations fell at the hands of the Fuuga supporters inside them, with one of them being the Kingdom of Roth.

King Heinrant had been killed in the plot. The third daughter of the House of Chima, Sami, issued a statement denouncing Fuuga, and closed the gates of their capital. Lombard, King of Remus, who was a friend of King Heinrant and a supporter of Fuuga led his troops to the gate. The soldiers did not draw their weapons and simply stood in formation. Lombard had not come to attack the city, but to persuade them to open the gates.

“Madam Sami! We have no desire to fight! Please surrender peacefully!”

“Sami! Please! Open the gate!” Yomi called out, desperate to save her twin little sister.

With the Union of Eastern Nations having almost entirely fallen into Fuuga’s hands, one small nation resisting him would have no future. It was clear that his supporters would raze the entire country.

“Yomi, look out!”

“Huh?!”

Lombard grabbed Yomi by the arm, pulling her back. When he did, a mass of ice thudded into the ground right in front of where they had been standing and exploded. The two of them looked up to see Sami atop the walls, her raised hand pointing towards them. The soldiers of the Kingdom of Roth stood with her, bows drawn, keeping the men of the Kingdom of Remus in check.

“Sami...”

That had been a warning shot. If she were serious, Sami had magic that could freeze a wide area.

Looking down at them, Sami said, “Go home, Yomi.”

“Please, Sami! Listen to us!”

“We have nothing to talk about,” Sami told her with eyes as cold as ice. “My father Hein is gone. He treasured me like I was his own daughter, and reminded me of what a warm, loving family is supposed to be like...and then Fuuga Haan murdered him.”

“I’m telling you, that was a suicide bomber from the anti-Fuuga faction...”

“You know that’s a lie, Yomi! This is how Big Brother Hashim operates!”

Yomi had no response to that as she’d figured it out herself.

Lombard stepped forward in her stead. “Even if we go home, Sir Fuuga’s forces will be here in no time. If that happens, the Kingdom of Roth and all its people will be wiped out... I’m disappointed about what happened to Sir Heinrant too. But now that it has, I don’t want to let the ones he loved, you and the people of his country, perish!”

“.........”

“Please, surrender! I’ll defend you and the people even if it costs me my life! Knowing gentle Heinrant, I can’t imagine he would have wanted you to seek revenge!”

“Despite that kindness, brother killed him! My own...brother...” A large tear rolled down Sami’s face. “I had a sneaking suspicion that the banquet was his plot. I told father not to go. But...he said he was worried that would draw suspicion, and he couldn’t put me or his people in danger, so...he went alone...”

“Sami...”

“Madam Sami...”

“I will never forgive our brother—Hashim Chima!”

As Sami declared that, the air chilled around them. Its moisture froze and sparkled. She was likely about to use some serious ice magic. Sami raised her hand and pointed towards Yomi and Lombard.

“Yomi, if you’re siding with Hashim, I won’t hesitate to...”

“Stop it, Sami!”

“So this is how it goes, after all...” said a voice.

“Huh?!” Shocked, Sami turned to the direction of the voice.

At some point, a man wearing a hood had appeared and was standing behind her. It surprised the men of the Kingdom of Roth and Kingdom of Remus too. As Sami reflexively attempted to use magic, the man closed in faster than she could, and delivered a body blow. Sami groaned as she was knocked unconscious.

The defenders turned their bows towards the hooded man with murderous intent, but he held up a hand to stop them as he slowly drew back his hood.

“Put your weapons away. I’m Nike Chima. Little brother to Big Sisters Sami and Yomi.”

Yomi’s eyes widened as she saw him from outside the walls. “Nike?! What are you doing here?!”

“Big Sister Mutsumi’s orders. She saw this coming, so she had me lie low in the Kingdom of Roth to protect Sami because they were in the neutral faction.”

With that explained, Nike hefted the unconscious Sami over his shoulder, and turned to the soldiers of the Kingdom of Roth.

“I will take responsibility for ensuring Big Sister Sami’s safety,” he said. “So you open the gate, and surrender to Sir Lombard.”

There was much chatter among the soldiers. However, after some time...

“Okay...”

...The men put away their weapons. They had been obeying Sami out of a desire to at least protect the girl who King Heinrant had loved so much. Now that Sami’s safety was assured, there was no need to fight.

Seeing the soldiers of the Kingdom of Roth calm down, Nike carried Sami through the open gate on his shoulder. As he did, Yomi and Lombard rushed over to him.

“Nike...”

“Big Sister Yomi. I’ll be taking Big Sister Sami with me.”

“You...can’t stay in this country any longer?” Yomi asked.

“As long as she stays here, Big Sister Sami will only continue to resent Big Brother Hashim and Sir Fuuga. Brother isn’t so soft that he would let that go. He’d kill her eventually.”

“And Big Sister Mutsumi asked you to stop that from happening?”

“Yeah. ‘I don’t want to lose any more family,’ she said.”

“I see...”

Realizing that things were out of her hands at this point, Yomi backed down. Because even if this ended up being the last time the two of them would ever meet, that was still preferable to Sami being killed.

On her behalf, Lombard asked, “Where will you go, Sir Nike?”

“First, I’ll leave Big Sister Sami with Ichiha in the Kingdom of Friedonia. If she’s there, not even Sir Fuuga or our brother can touch her easily. As for myself... Well, I’ll figure that out in time.”

“But didn’t King Souma support Sir Fuuga?”

“When it came to the assassination, yes, but who knows how he really feels. That’s probably why Big Sister Mutsumi specified I should leave Sami with him.”

Nike loaded Sami onto a horse near the gate. Then, mounting it himself, he said his goodbyes.

“Farewell, Big Sister Yomi, Sir Lombard. Take care.”

“You too, Nike. And...tell Sami to ‘stay well’ for me, would you?”

“Sure.”

Nike’s horse started running, carrying Nike and Sami south. Yomi and Lombard watched them until they were out of sight.

◇ ◇ ◇

“The country’s finally in order, huh?” Fuuga said to his advisor Hashim who stood before him as he sat on his throne in Sharn Castle.

Hashim had his arms crossed, and his head lowered.

“Indeed. The anti-Fuuga faction has been wiped away, as have the neutrals who were not clear in their intent to join us. There is no one left in the Union of Eastern Nations to oppose you now, Lord Fuuga.”

“But we made Mutsumi sad to do it...” Fuuga said, resting his elbow on the arm of his throne, and his cheek on the palm of his hand as he stared at Hashim.

“It was our only choice,” said Hashim, lowering his head once more. “If you are going to rule the continent, the country had to be unified as soon as possible. I am sure Mutsumi understands. And besides, Yomi reported that Nike took Sami away unharmed.”

“Yeah... It sounds like Mutsumi gave him his marching orders knowing things would turn out this way. ‘I’m sorry for taking matters into my own hands,’ she said to me. Well, we were able to take the Kingdom of Roth without a drop of blood spilled as a result, so I let it slide. Looks like you were outwitted by your own little sister, huh, Hashim?”

Despite Fuuga’s teasing, Hashim simply shrugged.

“If your wife is a clever woman, and also my younger sister, then surely that is something to be welcomed. However, it does seem that Sami has gone to be with Ichiha in the Kingdom of Friedonia. I can’t say I approve of capable people passing into their hands.”

Hashim didn’t seem to think much of it. Fuuga snorted.

“Hmph. Yuriga’s already there. If Sami still has it out for me, do you think it’s possible she’d do something to Yuriga? Should I ask Souma to protect her?”

“It should be fine, I think. Sami’s a smart girl. If there’s anyone she’s going to target for vengeance, it would be me.”

Hashim seemed unfazed by the fact his own little sister now hated him.

Is this the blood of the Chimas, who had survived through subterfuge? Fuuga thought, narrowing his eyes.

“So, with no enemies left in the country, what now?”

“With the Union of Eastern Nations unified under you, we will announce the creation of a new state. That will show that this is no longer a union of nations, but a unitary state. We will also formally move the center of government here to Castle Sharn, which will receive a new name. With that, the largest city in the country will become the capital of a new nation that you will create, Lord Fuuga.”

“Make the capital of the Kingdom of Sharn our capital? Is my homeland, Malmkhitan, not good enough?” Fuuga asked, but Hashim firmly shook his head.

“No city on the steppes is suited to be the capital of a whole country. If we were to create a new one, and gather people to it, that would be a waste of effort. If we did create a capital in Malmkhitan, the steppe folk and your long-serving commanders would be elated, but far more people would look down on you for it. We have a fine city here, so we should put it to use.”

“Oh, I see...” Fuuga sounded a little disappointed, but he accepted the proposal.

Were Souma here to hear this exchange, he would have been impressed but also troubled, thinking, So Hashim didn’t let him make the same mistake as Xiang Ji.

Xiang Ji, also known as Xiang Yu, succeeded in destroying the Qin, but rejected his vassal’s suggestion to take their capital, Xianyang, with all of its geographical advantages, as his own.

“To succeed and not return home is like dressing up in fine clothes on the road at night. Who will even know?” he said, and moved his capital to Pengcheng.

As a result, the populous and important Guanzhong fell easily when Liu Bang advanced east. This gave Liu Bang an advantage they couldn’t roll back no matter how many victories they won on the battlefield.

In regards to the way to govern cities or principalities which lived under their own laws before they were annexed, Machiavelli offers three options. The first is to destroy them utterly, the second is to reside there, and the third is to install a puppet regime to rule them. Hashim’s plan was the second of these.

Fuuga scratched his cheek, feeling this was all too much trouble. “A new name, huh? Won’t the Kingdom of Malmkhitan do?”

“It will only create a rift between your old and new followers. Although it is only a matter of appearances, it will look as though you’ve extinguished the countries that supported you as well. It would be better to have the people of Malmkhitan continue to serve you under a new name. If it’s too much trouble to think of something, we could simply call it the Kingdom of Fuuga Haan.”

“If I gave it a self-aggrandizing name like that, Shuukin and the others would laugh at me pretty hard.”

“The soldiers and people have gathered to your side. I don’t think it’s strange to call it that, but... There is something we must do first.” Hashim’s face grew serious. “We must handle the last of the neutral countries inside the Union of Eastern Nations, the Kingdom of Lastania. If we leave them as they are, we cannot start a new country.”

“That country on the western edge, huh...?” Fuuga crossed his thick arms and groaned. “That country’s a pain to deal with. They’re allied to the Nothung Dragon Knight Kingdom, which has a lot of powerful dragon knights. And Julius, the man eyed as their next king, is the big brother of Souma’s third primary queen, Roroa. That makes him his brother-in-law. If we lay a hand on him, we run the risk of making an enemy.”

“Yes. Which is why we left him to the end,” Hashim said, pulling out a letter. “This list from father has two meanings. The first is ‘Hire these hidden talents inside the Union of Eastern Nations.’ And the second is ‘If you cannot, then dispose of them before they become your enemies.’”

This was exactly how Fuuga and Hashim had operated thus far. Those on the list who submitted were placed in positions of importance, and those who adamantly refused were killed by subterfuge.

That said, with Fuuga’s fortunes clearly on the rise, the number of people who would refuse to serve was small enough to count on your hands. If he were as obsessed with gathering personnel as Souma, he might have desperately tried to persuade them, but the more pragmatic Hashim was loath to go to such effort.

Hashim slapped the letter shut.

“And the last name on the list is Sir Julius of the Kingdom of Lastania. Father believed he was the most valuable talent in this country. It would be reassuring to have him on our side, but frightening to see him become our enemy.”

“That’s Souma’s brother-in-law, the same guy we were just talking about, huh?”

“Yes. He was the crown prince of the former Principality of Amidonia, and his father Gaius fell in battle against King Souma. After that, his little sister, Princess Roroa, stole the country out from under him and sent him into exile. That’s why I thought we might win him to our side with the promise of revenge against the Kingdom of Friedonia, but...”

“It wasn’t meant to be, huh?”

Hashim nodded.

“During the demon wave, Sir Julius sent his own request to the Kingdom of Friedonia for reinforcements. I approve of his willingness to bow his head to a former enemy when it’s to his own benefit, but they may have become friends at that point. Princess Roroa sent him a wedding gift when he married the crown princess of Lastania, so their relationship has likely been mended too.”

“That means Julius is close to Souma.”

“Yes. So much so that we can’t leave him be. He’s a perceptive one too. He didn’t participate in the banquet where we plotted to wipe out the neutral faction.”

“What a headache...”

If they laid a hand on Julius, they risked stirring up the Kingdom of Friedonia. For Fuuga, who found something inscrutable about Souma, it seemed too soon to be picking a fight with that country. However, Julius was too talented for it to be safe to let him stay in the Union of Eastern Nations. They might be keeping a traitor in their midst.

“I guess we can’t leave the Kingdom of Lastania alone, then...” Fuuga came to a decision. Hashim gave him a big nod.

“Indeed. If we leave Sir Julius alone, every move we make will be leaked to the Kingdom. Besides, Sir Julius is their former enemy. Even if he’s killed, they’ll have no choice but to stay silent. Regardless of how King Souma or Queen Roroa may feel.”

“How do we do it? Have the neighboring states attack?”

“No, when we attack that country, the Nothung Dragon Knight Kingdom will ride to their aid. The Dragon Knight Kingdom was even able to fend off the Empire when it was at its peak... Although, it seems the Empire simply decided to change their policy and ignore them after seeing the heavy casualties.” Hashim shrugged, but immediately took on a serious expression and said, “If we don’t send a credible force, it won’t even put pressure on the Dragon Knight Kingdom. I believe you should lead your best men in the attack, Lord Fuuga.”

“Me, personally?” Fuuga asked and Hashim nodded.

“This is a battle against time. If they face the whole Union of Eastern Nations, then even with the Dragon Knight Kingdom’s help, the Kingdom of Lastania won’t be able to sustain themselves. Their land will be laid to waste, and supplies will dry up. So, if Sir Julius senses the invasion coming, he will likely attempt to flee the country. If he does, that will cause trouble for us.”

“Yeah, you’re right. If he goes to join Souma...that’d be a pain.”

“Indeed. And when the dragon knights come out to fight...”

“Only me and Durga are gonna be able to handle them, yeah.”

Fuuga had seen the Kingdom’s dragon knight Halbert and his partner Ruby once before.

In Fuuga’s entire military, only he and Durga stood a chance against them in a straight-up fight. They were gathering the Union of Eastern Nations’ wyvern cavalry and reorganizing them, but the dragon knights would tear them to pieces.

“Got it... Round up our best men. We’ll attack the Kingdom of Lastania.”

“By your will.”

Fuuga hurriedly gathered his best men, and set out for the Kingdom of Lastania.

Roroa walked up and suddenly slapped him across the face. He looked at her in shock as she pointed at him.

“You’ve got somethin’ else to do before you start offerin’ suggestions! Have you got any idea how worried big sis has been about ya?!”

“But...” Julius started to argue as he rubbed his cheek, but...he must have decided Roroa had a point, because he relented. “Sorry, Roroa...”

“As long as you get it,” Roroa said, crossing her arms and snorting.

Julius showed honest contrition, while Roroa demonstrated her dignity as a soon-to-be mother.

I couldn’t help but laugh at the contrast.

◇ ◇ ◇

A few days later, it appeared that not only the Lastanians had drifted to our land as a result of losing their own to Fuuga and his forces. The third daughter and fourth son of the House of Chima, Sami and Nike, had arrived at the royal castle.

As far as these two were concerned, they had actually submitted an application to enter the country to the border guards before Julius arrived. I gave my permission immediately, but because they were traveling overland, Julius and the others who were coming by air beat them here.

When I received word they had arrived at Parnam Castle, I met them in the audience chamber with Hakuya, Aisha, and their little brother Ichiha. They weren’t acquainted with me like Julius, and didn’t have a position of importance like Queen Sill, so I sat on the throne during the audience while I tried to discern their intentions.

“Madam Sami, Sir Nike. Welcome to the Kingdom of Friedonia,” I said to them in king mode, and Nike was the one to bow his head and respond.

“Thank you for meeting us on such short notice.”

Sami on the other hand, with a vacant expression on her face, said nothing. She just bowed her head at the same time as Nike. It didn’t feel like that was out of disrespect, or because she was plotting something. If anything, she had no plans at all. She felt lifeless, lethargic, like an empty shell.

While that concerned me, I moved the conversation along.

“Think nothing of it. Ichiha offered his services to me. If you’re his siblings, you are welcome here too.”

“You are too kind.”

“So...what exactly happened?” I asked, looking at Sami, and Nike raised his head.

“Sir Souma... Are you aware of the present situation in the union of Eastern Nations?”

“I’ve received reports, yes. Fuuga has taken total control, correct? I heard that your father Mathew was struck down in the war.”

“Yes. If you know, then that makes things quicker.” Nike placed a hand on Sami’s shoulder. “During the conflict, my sister Sami’s adoptive father was murdered in a plot by our elder brother Hashim, and she was driven out of the country.”

Nike went on to explain the events that led to their coming here.

Sami had been adopted by King Heinrant of the Kingdom of Roth. He had loved her like a father, but because he was part of the neutral faction he was killed in a plot by Hashim. Sami had been attempting to fight back and avenge him, but Nike stopped her. I already knew how Fuuga had seized power from Julius’s report. But it felt heavier hearing about it from an actual victim than it did just reading words on paper.

I’m sure...when they write the history books, all it will say is, “Fuuga won the Battle of the Sebal Plains and took control of the Union of Eastern Nations.” I think there was a commentator in the world I came from that said what is left once you remove all interpretation from the facts is history. There was likely more bloodshed than I imagine, and more tragedy.

A purge of those with uncertain loyalties... I had done the same thing. Convincing myself to do it with the justification of rebuilding the country. But while I had that pretext, I’d still struggled with it. Fuuga... How about you? For the dream he races blindly towards. For the dreams others had entrusted to him.

What did that great man think when blood and tears flowed? Did he struggle with it? Did he not care? Was he too dense to notice? Was he prepared for it? Or even drunk on the blood? He was too different for me to even hazard a guess.

But... No matter how he feels about it, I feel like he’ll stand there, facing it head-on.

I was weak, so I needed others to help me. When the guilt of the cruelties I had stained my hands with was about to crush me, Liscia and the others supported and consoled me. That was how I was able to just barely stay on my feet. Fuuga was so strong he wouldn’t need Madam Mutsumi to support him.

That was what I was thinking about while Nike told the story.

Once most of the details were made clear, I asked him, “And? What are you doing here in my country?”

“I wanted to leave Big Sister Sami here, where Ichiha is.”

“Madam Sami?”

“Right. If I leave her in the Union of Eastern Nations now, she’ll spark conflict. Big Brother Hashim isn’t one to let that happen. Which is why Big Sister Mutsumi asked me to get her out of there in order to keep our family from spilling any more of our own blood.”

“This was at Madam Mutsumi’s direction...?”

“Yes. I have a letter from her here.”

Aisha took the letter Nike pulled out of his pocket and brought it to me. It spoke of Mutsumi’s feelings, unable to stop Fuuga because she was his wife, but wanting her sister Sami to be well. It ended saying, “Please take care of her and Ichiha.”

When I finished reading, I passed it to Hakuya and Ichiha to look through.

“Big Sister Mutsumi...”

Ichiha seemed especially pained by what he read there.

I guess Fuuga won’t be demanding that she be handed over, then... I thought.

If he tried, Madam Mutsumi would push back with everything she had. Fuuga wasn’t the type to disregard Madam Mutsumi’s feelings like that. Hashim would probably scowl, but unlike Julius, he wouldn’t go so far as to make an enemy of Mutsumi in order to get his hands on Sami.

I faced Nike and Sami. “We have no intention of stirring trouble with Sir Fuuga’s country. If you’re looking for us to help you with your vengeance, we can’t do it, okay?”

“That is fine. I think what Big Sister Sami needs now is time.”

“Fair enough... And you’re all right with that too, Madam Sami?”

Sami nodded, no emotion showing on her face.

Yeah... The emotional scars are going to take some time to heal, I thought. Then I turned and said, “Ichiha, would you show Madam Sami your room?”

“Okay! Come on, Big Sister Sami.” Ichiha called out to Sami hesitantly, and her eyes widened.

Then, as she looked at his face, massive tears began to stream down her face.

“Ichiha... Ichihaaaa.” She hugged him tight, bawling. “My father... Hein... Hashim, he... he... Wahhh!”

“Yes. I’m listening. You can tell me all about it.”

“Wahhhhhh!”

Sami wailed as she clung to Ichiha. He gently stroked her back, like you would a crying baby. For the rest of us present, all we could do was watch.

Some time after that, when she had settled down a little, Sami left the room with Ichiha. It hurt to see her go, leaning on his shoulder like that.

“We probably shouldn’t let her meet Yuriga for a while...”

“A good point,” Hakuya replied. “I’ll tell Madam Yuriga to be careful not to run into her too.”

Looking at Nike, I said, “You can trust us with Madam Sami. So? What will you be doing from here on, Sir Nike?”

“I wonder that myself... I’m pretty sure I can’t return to the Union of Eastern Nations anymore.”

He was talking a little more casually now, probably out of relief that he had been able to hand Sami off to us. This was probably what he was normally like.

“Will you live here in this country? It’s not much different to me, sheltering two of you instead of just one.”

“Ah ha ha... I appreciate the thought, but this place is too close to the Union of Eastern Nations. Even if you have no intention of instigating anything, we can’t be sure Sir Fuuga won’t start a war with you... If I placed myself in your care, I might end up having to fight against Big Sister Mutsumi. That’s...the one thing I want to avoid.”

“I see...”

He must have really loved his sister. He’d brought Sami here, even at the cost of not being able to return himself, all at Mutsumi’s request.

As I thought, Guess I can’t get him to stay... a familiar voice spoke out.

“Ookyakya! Then how about you come to my place?” Kuu said as he entered the audience chamber. I looked at him with exasperation.

“Kuu. You were listening?”

“Only to what you were saying just now. When I saw Ichiha leaving the audience chamber, I figured you guys were done.”

With that said, Kuu crouched down in front of Nike.

“I remember you from the demon wave. The third or fourth son of the Chimas, right?”

“The fourth. And you are...?”

“I’m Kuu Taisei, future head of the Republic.”

“The Republic of...Turgis?”

“Yeah. On the southern tip of the continent.” Kuu slapped Nike vigorously on the shoulder. “It’s out of the way, and damn cold, so even the Empire hesitated to invade us back in the day. If Fuuga’s gonna expand south, we’ll probably be left until last. That makes us a pretty good fit for you, don’t you think?”

“It does, but...I hate the cold.”

“Ookyakya! It might be a bit tough on a human like you, but you’ll do just fine if you bundle up. Although, even the traveling merchants stop coming in the winter.”

“Whaa...”

“It’s not like you’ve got anywhere else to go, right?” Kuu grabbed Nike by the lapels and pulled him to his feet. “So come to my place. You seem tough, so you’re more than welcome.”

“Aah... It’s already decided?”

“Sure is. You heard that, bro? I’m taking this guy.”

“Hey, wait, Kuu.”

Before I could stop him, Kuu dragged a still-reluctant Nike out of the room... Is this really okay?

“If he has no intention to offer us his services, I believe this is acceptable,” Hakuya said, unfazed. “Sir Nike is an accomplished warrior and a sharp-minded commander, so it’s preferable to him returning to the Union of Eastern Nations to serve Sir Fuuga.”

Oh, that makes sense. I could see Hakuya had a point.

“Thank you for doing this for us. We’re in your care.”

“Ha ha ha, understood. I promise you a safe journey through the skies.”

Sill lifted her hand, signaling Pai and the others to transform into their dragon forms. The dragons each picked up a cart with their horses detached, then the knights climbed onto their backs, and up into the sky they flew. From there, it was straight to the Kingdom.

The dragon knights of Mother Dragon worship saved the saints of Lunarian Orthodoxy. This story would be slightly embellished and spread by those like Souji and the adherents in the Kingdom who did not desire religious strife. Later, when rumors that a large number of moderate bishops had been purged reached the Kingdom, the saint candidates and priests who escaped said, “The true saint was Mary, who moved the dragon knights’ hearts.” While this may not have been true, it did lead them to revere her.

“Why do they try to make me a saint when I’ve already quit being one...” Mary was reported to say, troubled.

Afterword

Thank you for purchasing Volume 14 of Realist Hero. Dojyomaru here, and we have a proper afterword, not a midword, this time.

The theme of this volume is the expansion of Fuuga’s power. The great man chosen by the times moves his allies, and his enemies too.

For those of you who have a hard time imagining the charisma that draws people to Fuuga, please try listening to songs like “Guren no Yumiya,” “Shinzou wo Sasageyou!” and “Gurenge.” That propulsive feeling of... Move! Fight! Burn your life away! Fuuga’s charisma is like a concentrated version of that. Those drawn to him burn their lives away with a sense of intoxication. That’s why his road to glory is stalked by death. His allies will give their lives for him, and his enemies die satisfied to face a foe as strong as Fuuga.

This point is in contrast with Souma.

Souma’s camp tends towards pragmatic compromise. The way they see it, if they die, there’s no point in any of it. What glory is there in death? They are willing to put their opinions aside and use whatever they can. That’s why they can hire former enemies like Julius. It’s an environment where someone like Julius can say, “I guess I’ll have to do it,” and help out. It’s also part of why so few named characters die in Souma’s story.

From a storytelling standpoint, the former is probably more exciting. The popular figures in history aren’t the conservative but the revolutionary ones. However, if you look at it from the perspective of the many who lived in the same era, I have a feeling that opinion might change.

Now then, I give my thanks to the artist Fuyuyuki, to Mr. Satoshi Ueda of the manga adaptation, to my editor; to the designers, to the proofreaders, and to all of the people involved in the anime adaptation, as well as all of you reading this now. This has been Dojyomaru.

I also have another new series going on sale in Japan at the same time as this volume, Yashiro-kun no Ohitori-sama Kouza. It’s a school series, completely different from Realist Hero’s fantasy, with a touch of SciFi.

I started writing it with the thought, “What kind of story can I tell in this sort of world?”

However, as I’m sure Realist Hero fans will know, I love oddly detailed world settings, and planting certain gimmicks in what I’ve written. It may read like a common story in a school setting at first, but if you can read into the character’s actions, you may find something feels off.

If that caught your attention, then please check it out as well as Realist Hero Volume 15.

Bonus Short Stories

Chronicles of the Great Tiger Kingdom: The Legend of Moumei

The Hammer of the Tiger, Moumei Ryoku, human commander of Fuuga’s infantry. Because he was a huge man who fought by swinging a massive iron hammer, he couldn’t ride a horse or temsbock. Instead, he used a steppe yak as his mount. However, despite his rough appearance, he was a learned man and one of the more intellectual members of Fuuga’s men.

This happened when the Union of Eastern Nations was beset by the demon wave...

It was just after the monsters attacking the Duchy of Chima were exterminated by the combined forces of the Union of Eastern Nations and the Kingdom of Friedonia, and it was decided Yuriga would be going to the Kingdom.

A banquet was being held in Wedan Castle, the home of Duke Chima, to celebrate victory with the kings, dukes, and commanders who had been invited. Moumei had attended as one of Fuuga’s commanders, but he was not a gifted conversationalist and found these sorts of gala affairs to be stifling and awkward.

I’m...not so good with events like this.

His fellow warriors might praise him for the way he wielded a great hammer on the battlefield, but he couldn’t even manage a polite smile in response. (Even if he attempted one, the people he talked to never picked up on it.) This made people think he was in a foul mood, and anyone who passed by to converse him beat a hasty retreat. Moumei’s comrades in Fuuga’s forces understood his personality, but as one of the people who’d distinguished himself in battle, he wasn’t going to be able to hang around only with those he knew. In truth, Moumei was the shy, sensitive type who preferred to keep to himself.

He felt awkward, and left for the terrace with a drink and some food. Once outside, he found someone else had gotten there first.

“Little sister...?”

“Oh...! Sir Moumei.”

It was his master’s younger sister, Yuriga. She seemed distracted, leaning on the ledge of the terrace and looking absently into the distance. Normally, Moumei would have simply paid his respects and moved on, but there was something lonely about the way Yuriga looked, and so he resolved to talk to her.

“Is something the matter, little sister?”

“Oh, um, I just wanted to be alone for a bit.”

“You... You did? Should I leave?”

“No...this is good timing. Could you hear me out for a while?” Yuriga beckoned him, so Moumei sat down next to her.

“So... What did you want to talk about?”

“You know how my brother told me to go to the Kingdom?”

“Yes, I do.”

“I can see his reasoning, and I accept it. With Tomoe and Ichiha there, I doubt I’ll be lonely. My brother says he’ll be busy from here on, so this may be a good time.”

Moumei struggled for the right words to say.

Turning to face him, Yuriga said, “But I’m a little wary. This is my first time leaving the steppes. Will I be able to make it in the Kingdom?”

Yuriga rested her back against the ledge and stared up into the sky. Moumei thought about it for some time, but eventually resolved to speak.

“I must admit...I’m a little jealous,” he said.

“Jealous? Of what?”

“There’s not much to be learned on the steppes, after all.”

Due to the physique he had been blessed with, Moumei had been successful as a warrior, but he also enjoyed getting in touch with how things were like beyond his homeland.

“If I’d had the chance, I would have liked to learn in a larger country too.”

“But you’re a gifted warrior, Sir Moumei...”

“Well...with the way I look, it’s expected of me, and I do find my life’s purpose in fighting. But if I were in the world outside the steppes, I suspect there are other livelihoods I could have found as well.”

“Hmm... I can’t imagine you not swinging around a giant hammer...” Yuriga cocked her head to the side. “What kind of life would you have liked to live?”

“Ah, yes, well... I might have enjoyed raising beautiful flowers.”

“Pfft!” Yuriga burst out laughing at the thought of Moumei as a florist.

Imagining this mountain of a man, who could smash through boulders and fortress gates alike with his giant hammer, taking care of little flowers was so surreal she couldn’t contain her amusement. Oh, but maybe it does suit him... she thought.

She had dismissed it out of hand at first, but when she considered it again with his gentle nature in mind, it seemed oddly appropriate. Like a big bear rolling around a ball.

“Maybe you’d surprise us and it would suit you even better than being a warrior.”

“Ah ha ha... You’re embarrassing me.” Moumei laughed bashfully, not expecting her to approve.

When she saw him like that, the unease in Yuriga’s heart melted away. “That’s right, huh? This is an opportunity... I need to enjoy it or I’ll be missing out.”

“Ha ha... That’s the spirit, little sister.”

“Thanks, Sir Moumei,” Yuriga said, extending a hand to him. “If I find anything interesting in the Kingdom, I’ll send it to you.”

“I-I’d appreciate that. Please do.”

Moumei took Yuriga’s hand gently, so as not to crush it, and shook it.

Chronicles of the Great Tiger Kingdom: The Legend of Gaten

The Flag of the Tiger, Gaten Bahr. Fuuga’s charge commander. He skillfully rode both horses and temsbocks using a feathered saddle reminiscent of Poland’s winged hussars. This man competed with Shuukin to be Fuuga’s best warrior and was a rare human among Fuuga’s mostly celestial retainers.

This is a story that happened while Fuuga was on the march with an army to liberate the Demon Lord’s Domain...

As Gaten was at the head of the procession, his feathers ruffling in the wind, Fuuga’s wife Mutsumi rode up alongside him.

“Sir Gaten.”

“Yes, madam? Is something the matter?”

Mutsumi smiled wryly and replied, “My husband is taking a nap on Durga’s back, so I have nothing to do. The scenery around these parts is as uninteresting as ever, so would you mind talking with me for a little while?”

“Bwa ha ha! Leaving his pretty wife alone to take a nap? Our boss has a lot to learn!” Gaten said with his usual raucous laughter. “Of course, if you want to talk to me, I’ll gladly play along!”

“Thank you. Now, let’s get right to it...”

Mutsumi decided to ask something that had been nagging at her for a while.

“I’ve been wondering, but why is it you maintain such a showy appearance, Sir Gaten? Those...feathers you have attached, for instance?”

“To stand out, of course!”

“I know that much. It’s in your personality.”

That wasn’t what Mutsumi meant to ask exactly.

“I believe you have a rare aesthetic sense. My husband is, in some respects, the same way. But...while I understand it in your personal life, isn’t standing out so much a disadvantage on the battlefield? For one thing, if you try to launch a surprise attack, you’re more likely to be spotted. And it must attract enemy soldiers who want to make a name for themselves by taking the head of a commander too.”

“Bwa ha ha! I have all the ladies and the enemies coming right to me!” Gaten replied with a laugh, but it didn’t seem funny to Mutsumi.

“Um... Don’t the people around you tell you you should stop?”

“They do, yes...” Gaten said before grinning. It wasn’t to laugh off her comments like he had until this point, but it was a wry or perhaps self-derisive smile. “Let me ask you a question in turn. What do you think of members of the celestial race like Fuuga?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Aren’t they super showy?!” Gaten’s eyes snapped wide open. “They’ve got wings! Not like the dragonewts who clearly exhibit their dragon blood, but ordinary humans with wings! That’s more impactful than a lot of beastmen!”

“Well, yes...that’s certainly true.”

In Fuuga’s forces, which included many members from a lot of different races, humans like Mutsumi and Gaten were actually in the minority. That was one reason why he felt this so strongly. Beastmen and dragonewts had such distinctive features that they gave the impression of being descended from animals or dragons. But celestials didn’t feel like they were descended from birds; instead, they were like beings that had transcended humanity. It might have been hard for anyone not of the human race to understand how this felt.

Gaten shrugged. “The boss and people who look like him gather everyone’s attention while fighting normally. Their appearance stands out, and they fight in a showy way. I’ve lived surrounded by people like that. If I don’t put in the effort, I’ll get ignored.”

“I see. That’s the origin of your fighting style, then.” Mutsumi sounded strangely convinced of this.

Gaten wasn’t merely a show-off—he was desperate to be noticed in a force full of commanders with great presence. That’s why, even if it put him at a disadvantage by becoming a target, he kept demonstrating “I am here!”

When you consider how Gaten often tries to show young Kasen that he has a sort of mature composure, it’s just adorable, Mutsumi thought.

“But, well, once I started doing it, I found it felt good too,” Gaten said jovially. “The more you show off, the more the men talk about you, and the more stories spread of your accomplishments when the war is over. Also, women who hear them look at me with respect. I just can’t stop now.”

Mutsumi’s shoulders slumped. “Sir Gaten...you just ruined it.”

“Bwa ha ha!” Gaten laughed the same as ever, even though it exasperated Mutsumi.

He’s not a bad guy, but... Mutsumi let out a small sigh.

As usual, it was hard to tell just how serious this show-off was.

Chronicles of the Great Tiger Kingdom: The Legend of Kasen

The Crossbow of the Tiger, Kasen Shuri. The youngest of Fuuga’s commanders and an expert bowman who led the mounted archers. Because he was a celestial like Fuuga, and that they had all known each other for a long time, Fuuga and Shuukin treated him like a little brother. He had the potential to become a wise and powerful commander like Shuukin, but the other commanders treated him like he was still not fully one of them yet.

On the night of the banquet after they finished defending the Duchy of Chima from the threat of the demon wave, he was grumbling to Tomoe and Ichiha for some reason...

“Lord Fuuga and Lord Shuukin still treat me like I’m just a kid. I lead the mounted archers, you know? It sets a poor example for the men.”

“R-Right...”

“I-I see.”

Tomoe and Ichiha smiled politely and nodded along as Kasen complained, his face perhaps a little red from drinking. The people invited to this event were all important figures from other countries, so the average age was on the higher end. It was only natural that the younger guests would cluster together, and that’s how Tomoe and Ichiha had been caught by Kasen.

“Pwah! Besides, I’m in a boring position,” Kasen grumbled, knocking back his drink. “I’m confident in my ability to shoot while riding a horse or temsbock. But Lord Fuuga’s a powerful archer himself, and if our feet are on the ground, he’s better than me. And when we’re mounted, he rides that super strong mystery tiger, Durga, which puts him on another level entirely from other mounted archers.”

“Yeah...you’re right, Yuriga’s brother did seem strong,” Ichiha said. Kasen nodded emphatically.

“Yeah, yeah, that’s it. I’m no match for Lord Fuuga martially, so I try my best in other ways. But we’ve got a lot of really distinct guys around. Sir Shuukin is both wise and brave, and I can’t compete with Sir Gaifuku’s experience. And Sir Moumei looks like a berserker but is actually a learned man. It’s not fair. I could try to stand out on the battlefield, but with a guy as showy as Gaten around, I’ll always be plain by comparison.”

“They sure are a lot of different people in Malmkhitan, huh?” Tomoe said, sounding impressed. Having seen the way Souma obsessed about finding talented people to recruit, Tomoe could see how many capable people were gathered around Fuuga, even if their talents were slanted towards the military side of things.

Kasen let out a long sigh. “Well... If there’s one thing we’re missing, it’s a strategist or a military advisor, but honestly, I’m not cut out for that kind of scheming... I just want to find some way to make myself useful, have a little more presence, and stop being treated like everyone’s little brother...”

Tomoe cocked her head to the side. “Is being treated like a little brother so bad?”

“Huh?”

“I was adopted by the former king and queen and became Big Sister Liscia’s stepsister, which also makes me her future husband’s sister-in-law. She and Big Brother Souma both treat me like a little sister, and so do big brother’s other fiancées. It makes me happy, and I don’t think I deserve it, but...I’ve never been upset about it,” Tomoe explained, and this time it was Ichiha’s turn to nod.

“I’m the youngest of eight brothers and sisters, and I get bullied by two of my older brothers for being weak. It’s only Big Sister Mutsumi who’s nice to me. I’m their real sibling and they treat me like this, so maybe you should just be glad everyone doesn’t mistreat you.”

“Urkh...” Kasen was unsure how to follow up Ichiha’s story, which was heavier than he’d expected. “Uh...sorry. I guess you’ve got it hard too, huh?”

“Ichiha...”

“Ah ha ha... I’m already used to it. And besides...” Ichiha smiled at Tomoe. “I’ve met people who recognize me for who I am now. I’m going to try to do my best in a new environment from here on.”

“Yeah! That’s right, Ichiha!” Tomoe grinned at Ichiha’s positive attitude.

“Ohh...you’re such good kids.” Kasen cried manly tears as he watched the two of them. “I’m embarrassed at myself for having complained.”

“Oh, no, please don’t cry.”

“Um, um, um...” Kasen raised a glass to the two of them as they got all flustered. “I’m going to do my best where I am now, just like you both! I’ll strive to make Lord Fuuga and all the others I respect recognize me not as a little brother, but as a man!”

“G-Good luck with that.”

“We’ll be cheering for you!”

Ichiha and Tomoe offered words of encouragement as Kasen knocked back his drink again, tears streaming down his face.

“What’re you guys doing...?”

This went on until Yuriga came along and exasperatedly put an end to it.

Loading Up the Secret Weapons

It was around the time Souma and the others had gone ahead to the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago and were gathering information on Kishun’s island.

On this day, four women were visiting the Kingdom’s secret arsenal on an island near Lagoon City: Overscientist Genia of the Kingdom, Merula the high elf of the Spirit Kingdom, Third Imperial Princess Trill, and Taru the blacksmith from the Republic. These four were, without question, at the forefront of the Kingdom’s technological development now. The reason they had come to the island was to deliver Mechadra, which had been stored (more like abandoned) in Genia’s dungeon laboratory.

In order to slay Ooyamizuchi, the kaiju currently devastating the Nine-Head Dragon Archipelago, the Kingdom had decided to go all-out and deploy Mechadra into the fray. That was why, despite many of the marines not hearing of the reason they were being dispatched, these four had been informed of the situation.

“Who would have thought this thing would be used for something so important?” Merula murmured, her voice half-filled with awe and half with dismay. “I figured it would just keep taking up space in the lab forever.”

Even its creator, Genia, was laughing. “Ah ha ha, I never expected it to be deployed in a real battle either.”

“Why would you make something you have no plan to use?” Merula asked with dismay.

“You sure are strange, Genia...” Taru agreed.

Merula and Taru believed it was important to focus on developing things that were feasible and actually useful to others. Meanwhile...

“Wow, Big Sister Genia! You come up with ideas that ordinary people never could without batting an eye! What a genius!” Trill squealed, wrapping herself around Genia’s arm.

Genia seemed a little weirded out over the way Trill, who was taller and shapelier than her, was touching her. After a sideways glance at the two of them, Taru looked up at Mechadra.

“But His Majesty had us make additional equipment because he thought he could use it.”

“Oh, geez... Well, it does have the power to go up against large animals,” Genia replied as she tried to peel Trill off of her. “When they were shooting an episode of Overman Silvan, it was able to throw that massive rhinosaurus, even if they were just acting. He must have thought that with the right equipment it could go up against the kaiju in question.”

“I’m...not so keen on the idea,” Merula said, crossing her arms.

Genia cocked her head to the side. “You’re opposed to Mechadra being used as a weapon? I hear we got permission from the Star Dragon Mountain Range, though.”

“It’s not that. I’m worried about deploying an untested weapon into a battle where people’s lives hang in the balance. People are relying on our technology, so when I think about what might happen if anything were to go wrong... Well, you know?”

“I totally get that.” Taru nodded in agreement. “We were given ample funding for development. I think that shows just how much the king is counting on this. You can’t help but worry whether our baby will be able to live up to expectations.”

“GJeez, you’re too easily dispirited! Lady Merula! Lady Taru!” Trill triedsaid, trying to encourage them. “An engineer has to trust in her own abilities! That’s why we spent so long talking things over, checking to make sure there were no malfunctions! This new Mechadra is what we have as a result of all that! I believe in it!”

“She’s right, you know?” Genia said, placing a hand on Trill’s shoulder. “We’ve built the best thing we can with the technology available to us. Both hands are loaded with gunpowder-fired pile drivers, and improvements were made to even the finer details like its claw blades. Then there’s the additional equipment on top of that.”

“Like the drill, big sister!”

“Ah ha ha, that’s right. It can carry the drill that Trill’s so obsessed with now too.” Genia removed her hand from Trill’s shoulder and looked up at Mechadra. “We’ve done our best. Now we just have to believe in the people...the soldiers who’ll be using it. If they have honest hearts, the technology will definitely respond to that.”

“Hee hee, you’re right.”

“Yeah...I think so too.”

“Indeed!”

Merula, Taru, and Trill nodded in agreement.

“But I’ll miss having Mechadra’s heroic form towering over us,” Trill said. “Maybe I should sneak aboard a warship; smuggle myself inside the luggage...”

“Enough! No stowing away!” Merula scolded her and Trill hurriedly shook her head.

“I-It was only a joke! I’m Empress Maria’s younger sister! If I did that, it would cause her no end of trouble!”

“Oh, right...Trill’s a princess.” Taru said, clapping her hands as if she’d just remembered.

“A princess, smuggling herself? You can’t pull that kind of mischievous prank.”

At that time, someone far away may or may not have sneezed. No one can say for certain.